Another year comes to a close...too bad I haven't been keeping up with my posts enough to really remember it!! Just as an update...I passed all of the tests that I had been studying so hard for a few months back. I have also been accepted to the CalTeach program through Cal State Fullerton. I start the program on January 7, 2008. It will take about 16 months to complete and then I will be a certified teacher!! I still work at Pacific Trend Properties and Restoration as an Office Assistant. It is very busy work and my boss still hasn't hired someone new for when I start school. My program has the classes online and then I will be student teaching part time every day for the whole program. So, I will only be able to work part time. I told John months ago about the program and he was supposed to be looking for someone new...yet still nothing! I am curious to see what my life will be like next year. Part time job, part time student teaching, and online classes. I think I will be busy!
It seems that the end of the year brings lots of changes and lots of new movies that the studios hurry to get out. Recently, I saw both "Enchanted" and "The Golden Compass." I really enjoyed "Enchanted." It was a real return to the Disney classics. I would watch it again, and I will probably purchase the DVD. Now, for "The Golden Compass." I have never read the books so I went in with no expectations and no idea what the story was really about. I had seen many trailers and the movie looked really great! Plus, my rebellious side really wanted to spite all those boycotters who kept spamming my email with "Boycott this movie, it kills God and religion" emails. So, I went into the film with an open mind and was ready to love it. I only liked it a little.
I felt as though I was missing most of the plot. Like the only way I would truly enjoy and get everything out of the film was if I had read the books. The graphics were amazing, of course. I liked a lot of little details of the film. The only thing that I had a real problem with was the lack of character development. Through the whole film I felt like "why do I care about these characters? Why do they have these relationships with each other? Why are they motivated to do the things that they are doing?" I felt like the film was pushing these relationships on the characters and not really explaining them. For example, without giving too much away, there is a scene near the beginning of the film where Lyra and Nicole Kidman's character are shopping and trying on clothes and doing very girly bonding. The scene is scattered and random and seems like it was just a last minute decision to put the scene in there. I don't think that I am explaining how I felt about it very well. But I am sure when you see the scene you will understand what I mean. I know that the studio was planning on sequels, and I liked the film well enough that I am perfectly willing to see them. But I don't think that they will happen because of the box office results. I did poorly, from what I hear, in the U.S. and only slightly better oversees. I guess I'll just have to read the books to find out what happens.
I don't know if I will get another chance to post this year. So, in case I don't, I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I wish you all the best and I hope that you are all blessed and content this holiday season. I also hope that the new year brings you everything you want it to!!
