The Purge: Anarchy

Rating: 

On July 17th, I teamed up with my friends from work to carry on a tradition before we left - seeing the next horror flick as a group. To be honest, I wasn't going to hold my breath as I entered the theater. I remember watching the first move 'The Purge' last year and coming out disappointed. Why? Because we watched the purge take place from inside a protected house of a wealthy family.

This time, we were on the streets. We were able to witness the good and ugly of society during this "American tradition". The idea that good people don't participate in the purge was ripped to shreds -I was pleasantly surprised.

This movie addressed justice and the truth behind the Purge law as well. We were given an inside look into everyone's logic for participating, even if we found the truth gruesome. We watched how the Purge changed characters into people they didn't know they could become and then have to deal with the consequences.

 Also, there was actual action. The entirety of the plot wasn't given away in the commercials, there were a few plot twists that even I wasn't expecting. The movie was raw and exposed parts of our society that we tend to ignore. It was very well done.

If you haven't seen either movie, I would recommend only watching this one. There's no ties to the first movie, except for one character who comes in at the end and The Purge, itself. Also, other than a few unpleasant gory scenes, the movie is not as much horror as intense action.

I was impressed and I would watch this one again.

Deliver Us From Evil

This past weekend, I was able to go and hang out with a very good friend of mine from high school. One of the things we decided to do was watch a newer movie we had both heard a bit about - Deliver Us From Evil.

Now, if you're not into demons or possession, this movie is not for you. Typically, I stay away from these movies myself. However, I'm a sucker for a good scare.

I'm not sure what I was expecting when I walked into that theater, but It wasn't really this. DUFE is based (key word) off an actual experience a police officer of the NYPD had. The movie as a whole was pretty good, but it dragged a bit for me. The beginning was intriguing; it gave you a hint about what may be coming, but it never fully clarified what was happening until you saw the full scene closer to the end. The next thing you knew, it was three years later and in New York.

I felt that the first half of the movie went on at a fairly quick pace. Hints were being dropped about who was involved, we learn that we can never trust painters, some phenomenal acting was done by those being possessed (especially Ms. Olivia Horton), and then it started to drag a bit. Past bits were told about Detective Sarchie, but I wasn't how sure that it was completely necessary it was. It explained a couple of things that were happening to him and his family, but immediately stopped after he confessed about it. I found that a bit odd...

The part that was hardest for me to handle was the exorcising of the demon from the veteran. That was difficult for me, mainly because of the gore. However, the random cop behind the one way mirror being used as comic relief was just inappropriately placed. 

I'll admit, I jumped a few times and hid my eyes as Sarchie's partner was attacked with a pick-axe, but it wasn't terribly scary. This was one of those movies that wasn't terribly bad, but it's not what I would rate as a high class thriller, either. 

Until next time,

Kaity

Painting The Temple

I know that there are a lot of debates about people who get a tattoo - especially if that person happens to be Christian. Many people see it as destroying God's temple. I see it as a way of painting it.

I have always been fascinated with the ideas of tattoos - being that the commitment to the image being inked into your body is longer than most relationships that you will ever experience. I love hearing the reason behind each artwork, because most people don't take being inked lightly. There is pride behind the portrait, a reason that a person is so willing to show part of themselves right on their sleeve (literately). And then there are those people who just like wearing art.

I am definitely part of the first group. What I did for my 22nd birthday was not spur of the moment, boredom, or to brag that "I've done it". It was to show that I have been through hell and back and been okay. It is to show that even though I am terrified of the future, I know that God will take care of me and has my back. I am showing that I am open to His plan and that I, despite what it may be, will rise to the challenge asked of me.

The tattoo itself is very simple, but it means a lot to me and I'm proud of it. There are two parts to it, but they complement each other. The first part is an open triangle. The triangle represents the Greek work "delta". If you have ever taken any higher math courses, you know that this word and symbol means "change". What I have recently learn is that if you take out a part of that triangle, the meaning becomes "open to change".

The second part of this tattoo is a Bible reference, Jeremiah 29:11. " For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." This verse has been following me around my entire life and has become extremely prominent during these last two years. Change isn't a new concept for me, but I feel that as of late, it has been what the majority of my life has been.

I fully believe that these two years have been a preparation for what is to come this fall. I needed to become more dependent on Him and less on those around me because this next stretch of my life isn't going to be an easy task. Logically, I know what has to be done, but mentally - I'm still gearing up for it.

That's the story behind my ink. It was a way to mentally prepare myself for what's to come. There will be pain involved, and at times it's going to hurt (especially when it lands right on the bone), but if I keep a level head and just breathe, I will make it through.

Until next time, dear readers,

Kaity

The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P.

Personal Rating:

   
This novel follows a man named Nathaniel (who also goes by Nate) as he is waiting for his own book to be published and complaining to the world how there is no woman that is proportionate between beauty and intelligence that could actually keep him interested long enough for a relationship to develop.

     Nathaniel is a egotistical pig - but I believe that he had to be for the message to come across.

     Waldman's main purpose is to show us how a male academic scholar's mind works when it comes to addressing women. If this is truly an accurate replica of a man's mind (and many reviews have professed that it is) it is a heartbreaking reality. I, myself, started to look back into my own relationships and began to wonder if I came across as shallow as many of these female characters do to Nathaniel P. Or is it that in Nathaniel P.'s mind, all women are shallow and manipulative?

     I found myself also frustrated that this book did not have much of a plot. There was nothing exciting about the content, nothing that really had me thumbing the next page as I hurriedly read to the end. In fact, I found myself wanting more and more to remove my bookmark from the pages and just start on the next book in the pile that sits beside my bed.

     Out of all the characters, I found myself annoyed with Nathaniel the most. Being blessed with the insight of a character's mind also means that you are cursed with seeing the difference between what they think and what they said to others. I found myself constantly yelling at him to just speak his mind to whatever girlfriend he was on at the time. It was infuriating to watch his relationships fall apart when he really could have prevented a lot of it himself.

     At the end, with his newest girl, I feel his personality changes a bit, as almost as someone has finally beaten him just enough to make this newest relationship work. It was not what I was expecting. I felt that the ending of this book was rushed, as if there was nothing else to be written but something had to be put down.

     This was recommended to me as a beach read, but I would not recommend this book unless you need help falling asleep at nights.

The Required Introduction

Hello Readers,

I hope that you have stumbled across this small blog on a favorable day.

My name is Kaity and I am a 21 year old born and raised Texan moving 1,817 miles to Boston University to work on a Masters of Education in Deaf Education degree. In essence, I am moving across the nation to basically start fresh.

Texas will always be my home, but sometimes even this colossal state can feel suffocating. Nearing the end of my Bachelor's degree, I began to realize that I no longer clicked well with where I lived for the past four years. I took my time, did research, college visits, and interviews until I found my dream school. And then I decided that I would not let this dream slip through my fingers.

It won't be an easy change for me. I have never really done large transitions very well. Not only am I moving to an area where there is no one familiar, I am experiencing what it is like to be financially independent of my family. Loans, scholarships, coupons - learning how to use each of these things (and many others) to their fullest potential is quite a learning curve.

Thankfully, I have had this summer to start the transition. It has given me time to complete the items listed on my 'Moving To-Do's. I have a wonderful support system within my family, friends, and coworkers who have been nothing but encouraging. This next leap would not be possible without them.

Many people have asked me to keep them informed about my new City Girl life in Boston - I figured that a blog would be the easiest thing to do. Why am I starting this blog now? Because, dear friends, the adventure has already begun.

As many people know, I am an avid reader and movie watcher and therefore, I will be writing reviews on these things as well. I always love recommendations, so let me know if you want me to do any one book or movie specifically. I don't think I've turned down a recommendation yet.

So there you are. A little about me and the future of this here blog. Until next time, dear Readers.

Yours,

Kaity