Forgiveness (The Runaway Found)

It's all about forgiveness.
Something we all can take heed of, that people are worthy of being forgiven because it is not up to us to condemn. That is for God to decide.
Yep I got that from The Runaway Found, episode 18 of One Tree Hill S4 (Thanks for pic), ain't it amazing what you can be reminded of out of a little television show.
I am guilty of letting hurts or anger get in the way of clearing the air when in dispute with someone, when a simple apology or discussion would solve the issue. Doesn't it suck how stubborn we (especially guys) are.
So while viewing this pivotal episode where Peyton offers forgiveness to the man who stalked and tried to harm her (as pictured) the message of letting go of anger or whatever you are holding onto and offering forgiveness is vital as it is the first step towards healing.
We are all human. We all make mistakes. We all let pride get in the way. We are all weak.
What makes us strong is knowing that there is forgiveness out there if you want to accept it.
Only three episodes of S4 to go until I get stuck into the new ones, set four years later.
Can't wait.

Australia Day

It's that day of the year where we remember how fortunate we are to be Australian. And by remember I mean celebrate, because that's what Aussies do pretty well.
So today there will be the obligatory fireworks display (getting a bit over them) and packed beaches. Fortunately it is a nice, warm day.

Congrats to Lee Kernaghan for being named Australian Of The Year. At least it wasn't a cricketer this year.

The best crap movie ever...maybe

And the award goes to.....Shoot 'Em Up.
Yes it's a straight to DVD action comedy (has to be rated a comedy) starring Clive Owen and Paul Giamatti. You read it right, two of the better actors of our present time. How they ended up in this film I don't know, hopefully they wanted to poke fun at the genre.
The acting is terrible, the script is terrible and unclear at times but the action. The action makes the acting and the script unimportant.
It's so over the top and ridiculous this film is one of the funniest I've seen in a while, right up there with Blades Of Glory and Good Luck Chuck which were actually meant to be comedies.
The good thing is that with the title, you know what you're in for.
Great exchange from Owen and Giamatti where Owen, holding a carrot I think, says `What's up doc?' and Giamatti replies `why you are a wascaly wabbit aren't you'. Crap, but gold.

A single cloud hanging

As far as permanency goes, I am for all purposes churchless at the moment.
I like it.
I am enjoying the freedom that comes from having no fixed abode. I have been going to church from time to time. Again I enjoy seeing what else is out there.
This is not to say that what had before wasn't significant. Six years is a long time but it was becoming clear, quite a while ago, that it was long enough.
I'm not going devote any time now to deep explanation as to why I have made the decision to move on. It wasn't quite `simply time' but that will do for now.
One problem I do have is that I am a loyal person so that makes it difficult to part ways with something that has been a large part of life. I have to say that I grew immensely, spiritually, from the six years.
Funnily enough my first experience there came on the September 11. Talk about red letter days, so it makes it easy to remember the first night.
However, my time there also coincided with some of the most difficult times in my life so far, not just the obvious one. Such is my nature, throughout the last six months or so I have done a few experiments to help me make this decision. Since every one of them failed it was a pretty easy call.
I have only one regret that is clear in my mind from the whole period and it relates to something that happened about a year ago that taught me a valuable lesson and cost me potentially a very good friendship. Well almost, as I haven't given up on it.
Church is a very important part of life, particularly for a Christian, but what is also important is the right one. Consider that the single cloud hanging over me at the moment.
That search has been going for a short time, and over the past six months or s I have been fortunate to meet and get to know some great people as a result, but it hasn't been serious yet, I haven't felt ready to try one out properly. That will come as the burnout wears off.

Juno

Juno MacGuff (Ellen Page) is not your average 16-year-old.

Not only does she have an odd name (after Zeus' wife so we are told but it is apparently Jupiter's wife) she has odd friends, odd parents, lives in an odd town and has a very odd best friend in Paul Bleeker (Michael Cera).

After a period of boredom Juno amuses herself and Michael comes along for the ride - the result is a somewhat surprising (to Juno) pregnancy.

She decides she doesn't want a baby at 16 and decides to terminate but can't go through with it.

Then she comes across a couple desperate to adopt, Mark and Vanessa (played by Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner), and decides to give them the baby when it is born.

Things aren't all they seem with the happy couple. But it's not what you think. And it's not what you're thinking now I've said that either.

That's your basic rundown.

Offbeat goes a long way to describe this film. It's very easy to watch, quite amusing and even a shade touching.

Juno is not for everyone but it is very enjoyable. While it won't feature in the top five for the year it gets a very odd 7.5 out of 10. I enjoyed it and that's all you can ask in most films.

Ellen Page is very good in the lead role and Michael Cera is at his awkward best. I do fear that he is in very grave danger of being typecast, much like say Jason Biggs, because he is the same awkward teen here as he was in Arrested Development.

Pictures of You

A thought provoking episode of One Tree viewed last night (picture is of Brooke (Sophia Bush) and the interesting new character Chase (Stephen Colletti)focusing on how you see yourself and how others see you.
Characters were paid off with a list of activities for their assignment before they take their `picture of you':
1. Share something personal with your partner.
2. Lighten up. Do an impression of a celebrity or a famous character.
3. Admit something that worries you, or something you are afraid of.
4. What do you want to be in ten years?
5. Tell your partner something secret.

So I thought I'd try that here.
1. I have a lot of trouble believing in myself, in my ability to achieve things.
2. I do a good Bill Lawry, a good Chandler Bing, bit hard to do that one in this space.
3. I worry/am afraid that there is nothing I can do to prevent a relapse and focus far too much on it. My mum says I've always been inclined to worry too much.
4. I'd love to think in 10 years I am married and have a child. You never know.
5. The thought of going to church at the moment is unpleasant.

Hmmm. Anyway One Tree is trucking along nicely, can't wait to get to the end of season 4 to get stuck into the next one. That's if the other guys don't hold things up too long!

Self fulfilling prophecies

I was just doing a bit of fishing around my room, checking what I had in storage (if you can call it that) and came across my old journals from university.
It't not that I didn't know they were there, just it's been a while since I looked through some things from that era.
Anyway, I noticed something I wrote dated October 4, 1995, that really struck me.
``In the end, the only thing I have to fall back on when all else fails is my work and I have to devote as much time to that as possible.''
Hmmm. Any wonder I am like I am now? I've always been that way, even before I had a job.
Speaking of jobs, a few weeks later (dated October 28, 1995) I wrote the following, so it isn't all bad.
``Hopefully, I'd like to be a racing journalist because I relly enoy the races and have been enjoying them for 10 years.''
So, some dreams do come true.
Here's one for those who like a laugh, from November 6, 1995.
``I have a reputation around here as being a TV addict....'', some things never change. I recall packing about half a dozen people into my dorm room (which wasn't really big enough for 6 people) to watch the first ever episode of Friends. I was the only one who laughed.
I hope you enjoyed this blast from the past.

I Am Legend

What would we do without Will Smith to save the world yet again?
This time, though, the result is not satisfying in I Am Legend.
The scene of New York deserted and decaying is unsettling, the animals that now roam the streets that have been overgrown with bushland prey on each other and the one man left trys to prey on them.
This is all well and good until we find out the creatures that come out at night are the remaining people who weren't killed off by the virus that took 90 per cent of the world's population.
Smith is one of the 1 per cent who were mysteriously immune and being hunted by the other nine per cent who mutated, for want of a better word, as a result of the virus.
Robert Neville (Smith) is desperately trying to cure the virus but he's also losing hope as a result of being the only person around. He even tries using mannequins as `friends' in a few slightly amusing yet saddening scenes.
The problem with I Am Legend, which is yet another Hollywood remake, is that it's a pretty ordinary film. There is little to no suspense, I didn't find it scary (not sure whether it was supposed to be scary either) and you weren't given enough insight into Smith's character. What we do know was told in flashbacks (which is getting very tired) and they spent very little time going into Neville's unravelling after his companion dog Sam succumbs to the virus.
Technically the film is quite good but it lacks substance. Maybe I had higher expectations than I should have but I can only go as high as a 5 out of 10. Pretty disappointing and makes Independence Day look like a masterpiece.

The Woodenelves

I know 2008 is only 11 days old but I think I might have stumbled upon the Aussie album of the year.
Perhaps it didn't come out this year but I came across it by chance today and haven't been able to put it down.
The band in question is The Woodenelves and their debut album called Trips Between Worlds.
How to describe it. Soft rock fits best and that's probably my favourite type of music (some would argue pop is my favourite but despite it being very well represented in the collection I assure you soft rock is the one).
This short review of them is on one and a bit listens (first impressions are always significant) but their songs are all original and that's a great recommendation. They don't need covers and I admire that.
On the first listen the tracks that hit me were A Little Bit Of Me, You've Only Got Yourself To Blame, What It Is and Everything.
If you see this band around the traps check them out. I think I'm going to enjoy this CD for quite a while because if I like it so much on one listen they tend to get even better.
Only negative, and it's a gripe I have quite a bit, is that there are no lyrics in the package.

Songs To Love And Die By

We don't realise how precious life is and how little things like telling the people you love that you care about them can make a difference.
We don't realise until something bad happens.
Since I saw the film It's A Wonderful Life in late 2006 it has struck me that you just don't realise the impact you can have on other people and the impact other people have on your life.
I'm here to say we should start realising.
Of all places I was reminded of this when I was getting back into One Tree Hill last night. Based on the aforementioned classic movie is the episode Songs To Love And Die By, where Lucas gets the opportunity to see what life would have been like in Tree Hill if he was a different type of person, that is, not the good guy he is.

In a voiceover Lucas (pictured) says: Have you ever wondered what marks our time here? If one life can really make an impact on the world? Or if the choices we make matter? I believe they do. And I believe that one man can change many lives... for better or worse!

There are a number of people who have had a profound impact on my life and were they not there I am certain I would be a different person myself and may well be in a different situation.
What a difference you could make to someone just by smiling at them or saying hello, asking how they are. You never know what is going on in someone's life and by acting kindly or doing something positive could change their life for the better.
You don't need to be a super hero to save someone. You just have to be there.

I try to make sure those I care about know that. Sometimes I might sound silly but at the end of the day I'd rather them know how I feel.
Life is too short. Take the risk, a leap of faith. Tell your friends. It can only do good.
And at times there seems there isn't enough good in the world. Even if there is, there is always room for more.
So what are you waiting for?

Furry Happy Monsters

Proving that REM has a sense of humour is this video, a rip off of their song Shiny Happy People.
It's pretty funny, though I must say I was hoping the yellow monster attacked the band member at the end. Still, you can't have everything.
Enjoy.

Chris and the magic bus

I've been thinking about what I've seen and read with Into The Wild, the story of Chris McCandless' ill-fated trip into the Alaskan wilderness.
Assessing Chris is a difficult task but it is helped by reading Jon Krakauer's account of his short life which ended in 1992 in tragic circumstances (you don't realise how tragic until you read the book).
I have got to say that I recommend seeing the movie first. Having read the book later I find that it fleshes out the movie very nicely, making me appreciate the movie more and understand Chris that little bit better.
Personally I don't understand the urge to abandon society and the trappings of the wealth we experience in western society. But that's just me.
From a young age it seems Chris disliked being priveliged and comes across as a shade self-centred. This is explained a bit by his relationship with his father who led a life of bigamy for a period before settling with Chris' mother.
He was a smart young man, there's no doubt.
He was also somewhat of a paradox. On one hand he comes across as righteous yet is emotionally detatched from most things. He's single minded yet clearly has a big heart. He leaves to be on his own but makes friends so easily and seemingly craves the company when he comes across it. He seeks advice yet disgregards any kind of warning about what he's getting himself into.
It's like he's having a midlife crisis at 24.
What struck me about Chris while reading the book, and this doesn't come across so much in the film, is that I found him to be a shade crazy. A nutcase almost.
But on closer inspection he isn't, though it is very disconcerting that much of the diary entries in the book are in the third person. Clearly he didn't want to be Chris while in the wilderness, he wanted to be Alex.
I could go on for ages. He was a fascinating person and it is a huge shame he didn't survive to be able to tell his tale in person. It's clear he was planning to return to the world not long before he succumbed to posioning and malnutrition in the magic bus. Perhaps the story wouldn't have been as poignant but there would be fewer questions about why he acted as he did.
If you haven't read the book or seen the film yet, it's riveting but do the film first.

P.S. I Love You

It's New Year's Day and the traditional light film to start the year, usually a romantic comedy and 2008 is no exception.
P.S. I Love You is a rom-com with a slight difference in that the leading man dies early on (no it's not Ghost) and his widow must learn how to move on with her life.
Gerry (Gerard Butler) has arranged for 10 letters written by him to be sent to Holly (Hilary Swank) over the course of several months to aid the healing process. Strangely enough it works.
I must admit it took a while to warm to Hilary Swank in the romantic lead as I'd only really seen her in tough girl roles. Maybe next time. Gerard Butler was a standout and I think he made up for where she lacked a bit.
The support cast was great including Lisa Kudrow, James Marsters (Spike from the Buffy TV show) and the always brilliant Kathy Bates.
This isn't the best film of its genre in recent years but it certainly is warm, funny at times, emotional at others, and easily watchable. It wasn't up there with recent classics like The Holiday and Love Actually but was a good two hours spent.
A 7.5 out of 10 and a solid start to the year.