Yes, I've gone to the dark side.
After hearing about this particular series for months, I finally gave in. It was innocent - curiosity got the best of me. I had nothing else to read, the current book I was reading was mindless (augh, it got so bad that I started reading chick lit!) .. and then I was hooked.
I actually feel a bit ashamed for admitting to it because a) it's about vampires. I mean, not really cool (especially from a girl who loves the Harry Potter series, in all its wizardly goodness). And b) this was the book that people have been calling the "new" Harry Potter series! I was appalled. Nothing could compare.
But after finishing the Twilight series, I'll admit that it was a good read. I mean, the last book didn't really draw me in as much as the first one did, but it did its job: it kept me reading. And I guess it that sense, I can see the parallel to the Harry Potter series, as it kept the reader wanting more.
But unlike the Harry Potter series, it definitely isn't a book for all - a lot more females read this book (I seriously have not met a male reader), probably because of the whole Romeo & Juliet-esque romance, with the two main characters being somewhat of a pair of star-crossed lovers. Not to say that boys won't enjoy a good romance, but in that sense, Harry Potter has its mass appeal.
Overall, the Twilight series is a good read in its own way. And that's good enough for me.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Obsession of the Week: Twilight Series
Monday, December 7, 2009
The First of Many Teasers: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Who's still going through New Moon mania?? (raises hand!!)
Well, now that New Moon finally came and conquered our hearts, it's time to look forward to .. other things. Any Harry Potter fans out there?? (raises hand!!)
Here's the first of perhaps many, many teasers for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, which is set to be released in November 19, 2010.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 Preview One
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Party of the Day: Harry Potter Anniversary at Scholastic Headquarters
To celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the release for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone TODAY, the Scholastic Store headquarters will be hosting a read-a-thon for the novel (Harry Potter Cover to Cover Day). The first 100 readers will get a free copy of the 10th anniversary edition of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, whereas all participants of the read-a-thon will not only get to sit in the same seat that JK Rowling, herself, sat in when reading at Carnegie Hall and Radio City Music Hall - but you get a free mystery souvenir! And there will be a few mystery celebrities there to participate in the reading fun...
The read-a-thon begins at 8AM, but you might want to be there earlier!(blog.scholastic.com)
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Yes, yes, I am a nerd -_-
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Trailer
Harry Potter fans rejoice! The first official trailer for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is here .. and oh boy, it looks freaking grood (good + great).
Anyone who knows me will tell you how much of a Harry Potter fan I am. And the 6th book coming to the big screen? I don't even think that the movie can eff it up for me (don't even get me started about how much better the books are, and about how the past 5 movies have taken away from the many details in the series) because the 6th book was THAT good (in my opinion). The trailer itself gave me the chills!
And I think it's kind of cool that Ralph Fiennes's 10-year-old nephew plays the younger Tom Riddle/Voldemort in Half-Blood Prince. For those who don't know, Ralph Fiennes plays the adult Lord Voldemort.
Yeah, yeah. I'm a nerd. But you can bet your money that on November 21, 2008, I'll be watching this in theaters.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Best News EVER!
Following the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling wrote The Tales of Beedle the Bard, which was mentioned in the 7th book. The only catch: she made 7 handwritten copies, complete with her own illustrations, and gave 6 of the 7 to her close friends. The 7th book? Sold to Amazon.com at an auction for 2 million pounds (or $4 million).
But in hopes to raise money for charity, The Tales of Beedle the Bard will be published on December 4, 2008, with Amazon selling a special collector's leather-bound edition for $100. The new edition will include all of Rowling's original illustrations, as well as comments by Albus Dumbledore.
Nerdy news? Yes! But really, for all die-hard Harry Potter fans, this is BIG NEWS.
Now my friends will know what to get me for Christmas ..
P.S. - Happy Birthday to Harry Potter! (which makes sense about J.K. Rowling's "gift" to her fans)
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
New Movie Clips, Trailers: Twilight, Harry Potter
Twilight and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - two movies that I cannot wait to see. This week, a new clip for Twilight and a new trailer for The Half-Blood Prince were released. Enjoy!
Twilight: Cafeteria Scene
Twilight is set to be released on November 21, 2008.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, which was originally set to be released on November 21, 2008, got pushed back to July 17, 2009.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Things I Love Update: Harry Potter, Twilight
After all that drama with New Moon's upcoming production (as well as the issue about recasting the role of Jacob Black), I just want them to start production already! But it'll be a lot riding on Chris Weitz's back, especially since the Twilight series are considered to be more for girls, and if he effs it up, a whole army of Twilight fans will be sure to make his life a living hell..
Friday, April 17, 2009
New Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Trailer
Time for another Harry Potter post!
I just saw the latest movie trailer for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince .. and I am beyond stoked to see it :x With an earlier release date (July 15), this is definitely my summer blockbuster movie to see :D
Watching the trailer definitely makes me want to reread Half-Blood Prince. Time to prep myself up for another journey to Hogwarts! (omg, I know I sound uber geeky, but whatevs!)
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Daniel Radcliffe Gets Lost in Translation
Harry Potter mania has swept the world once more, thanks to the latest film of the series, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Personally, I saw the movie last Monday night whilst visiting Seattle .. which was two days before the movie actually premiered in theaters (yes, I am very proud of this).
Anyway, check out this hilarious, funny, and awkward video of Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe on a Japanese tv show, where he meets one of his biggest fans:
Friday, April 25, 2008
Late Night Readings
I clearly remember the day the whole sixth grade class got the class polls to fill in each category with a classmate who best fit it. Throughout the day friends, foes, and even the people I barely talked to came up to me to tell me that they put my name down as the class bookworm. Nerdy, yes. But hey, if you thumb through my old elementary school yearbook, you'll see a proud picture of myself, voted as the [female] sixth grade class "Bookworm." Represent.
With that said, I love reading. Nothing can be more pleasant than finding a great book that takes you to another time or place. And living the busy lives we have, doing whatever takes up time, I've found it best to read before turning in for the night. But I have this habit of rereading some oldies but goodies at least once every three months or so. Why? Some books make you have that good, nostalgic feeling. Other books make you discover new things about it, each time you read it. And for the most part, a select few number of books are just too damn good. But to each their own.
Anyway, here's a few of the current books that are in rotation for this bookworm's readings before bed.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (or any of the Harry Potter books) - Say what you want about J.K. Rowling, but I think she's bloody brilliant. Haters refuse to go near her series, yet their ignorance has kept them from reading probably one of the greatest books of our time. Readers can get easily lost in the world of Hogwarts, and true Potter fans comb through each novel for clues which led up to the final book of the series. And what better way to go to sleep, after having your conscious mind wander into a world in its own?
Pride and Prejudice - If you're a well-read girl, Pride and Prejudice is the crème de la crème of must-read novels. From the witty writing to the memorable characters, true Janeites know that deep down inside, Mr. Darcy is their first love. Also, it probably helps if you are going through an Austen phase :x
The Perks of Being a Wallflower - This book has impacted the way I feel about reading and writing in so many ways. From the innocent and observant narration of Charlie to his dynamic relationships with other characters, The Perks of Being a Wallflower has been dubbed The Catcher in the Rye for our generation. It's not really a recommended read for everyone, but anyone with appreciation for life should read this.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Book of the Day: Twilight
After a whole summer of rereading some oldies, but goodies, and going through mindless other books, I finally found something worth reading.
I was pretty reluctant to read Twilight, but once I started, it was hard for me to stop. I'm currently on the final book of the series, but really, the first book stood out by far for me.
And of course, it helps that the movie is coming out soon (replacing Harry Potter's original release date), and that the actor who played Cedric Diggory (Robert Pattinson) will be playing the lead role of Edward Cullen (he was pretty hawt in the Harry Potter films, but not too sure about his chalk-white vampire look for the Twilight movie..).
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Mania of the Day (well, OF THE WEEK): Twilight
Oh, Twilight. I resisted your charm. I was unknowingly there, at the release party for Breaking Dawn back in August, and scoffed at the fake vampire tattoos that your many fans adorned. I wrinkled my nose in disgust when people started comparing the series to that of Harry Potter. I did not know, and if anything, the idea of a vampire novel kept me away.
But now I know. And awesomely enough, I've spread my love for the series to many other friends, who in turn, have done the same to their friends.
Twilight-mania continues to sweep across the country, with the cast closing down on their Hot Topic tour as the premiere approaches. Buy your tickets in advance, and get there early, ya'll - it's going to be pretty EPIC.
Not to mention that the latest trailer for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (yes, there's a NEW trailer!) will be shown before the Twilight movie.
Monday, May 19, 2008
[Feature] Moving Out
After graduating from college, it’s understandable that a graduate may miss various aspects of college. Friends from different states, the local campus eateries, taking courses that you actually were interested in…the list can go on. But the one thing that all graduates can say they miss the most is living away from home.
It’s a bit of a bittersweet feeling, actually. The prospect of no longer having to study ever again seems like sweet victory (unless you’ve got plans to head straight away to grad school, law school, or any other variation of further education), but after living away for a good majority of the past four years, the idea of being home for more than the usual stay of summer break is torturous for many. Think of it as Harry Potter, having to move out from Hogwarts, and back to live with his crazy, restrictive guardians FOREVER (or so it seems). Hm. Probably a bit of a stretch for an analogy, but what I'm trying to get to is that being back home for more than three months can strain relationships back at home.
For those who are fortunate to have a decent paying job and their finances in order (this includes having the means to pay off your student loans, credit card bills, etc.), moving out might be the next logical step into adulthood. But before you do go searching for your own humble abode, recognize that living at home for at least the first year is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED (seriously, ask people who are living on their own, and besides the whole freedom aspect, they’ll most likely tell you that living at home is always an overlooked privilege). If you are serious about eventually moving out, SAVE SAVE SAVE while you are living at home. A recommended tip would be to put aside whatever amount of money you think you’d be paying in rent [for each month living at home] into your savings account. Try working around this so-called “rent” and manage your budget accordingly.
For those who are gung-ho about the big move, here are some pointers for finding a place:
Where To Search
Whether it’s in NYC or Bergen County, location is a pretty big deal when it comes to finding a place of your own. The best ways to find a good deal is either through friends and acquaintances you could trust, or better yet, a realtor. Sure, a realtor may have fees they want you to cough up for their services, but you might as well be legit, with someone who knows what to look, for doing the dirty for you. An alternative is searching for a place yourself, whether it is by driving around town, looking for those “For Rent” signs, or checking out apartments on Craigslist. However, remember that Craigslist is a breeding ground for scammers, so make sure that the listing you are inquiring for is legit.
What Questions To Ask
After an initial phone call, it’s no big surprise that you must go check out the place yourself. Besides your first impression of the place (such as seeing whether or not if it’s pretty, clean, or livable), make sure to have a list of questions in mind to ask the landlord. Top questions that I’ve asked include the following: are utilities included with the rent, and if so which? / what are the lease terms? / why did the last person move out? / are pets allowed? / how strict are you with noise volume? / [if utilities are not included] about how much is the gas, electric, water bill on average per month? / are you going to be doing any improvements or adjustments to the physical condition of the place itself before someone moves in?
Also, especially if you do like the place, make sure to make an amiable impression!
Roommates or Living Alone
If you think you can afford living it out alone, both financially and socially, go for it. But for those looking to take the big move out in baby steps, you should consider having a roommate. A friend made a good point that not only would it be easier for you in a financial sense, but it’ll be a good transition, especially living with someone who would be dealing with the same things as you. Yes, misery does love company!
Besides all of that jazz, the one thing to keep in mind is that you shouldn’t expect a gleaming palace at a great price, especially for your first place. Sure, there are some great deals here and there, but ultimately, you should keep your priorities in check when it comes to finding a place of your own. If location is a higher priority than bedroom size, and if you are on a tight budget, be prepared to make some sacrifices.
Happy Huntings!
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Happy Birthday, Life in Boxes!
It all started with a tiny idea, wondering how it would work, if it would work, and who would work for it. Thoughts were shared and words were exchanged, until the first of many Thursday night blog meetings was established. "Yes, this is it!" we all thought, nervous in anticipation and out of fear of the unknown. And here we are, with a year of blogging under our belts..
So in lieu of our one year anniversary of blogging, the editors of Life in Boxes reflect on a year of blog meetings, posts, features, and .. Life in Boxes:
Jen Shin
I can't believe it's been a year since we started Life in Boxes, it's amazing how fast time flies. The blog lasting this long is a testament to how committed we the editors are to it. Some of you might think we're big dorks for having weekly blog meetings, but honestly, without that effort on our parts, you wouldn't be reading half the stuff you find on our blog. For all the time we spend with and talking to each other, we're lucky that we actually like one another. :)
I remember my first post being about the simple conundrum of finding the perfect cereal-milk ratio. While I still occasionally write about hard-hitting issues such as that, my forte is more along the lines of tv/movie/music, with the occasional and passionate Britney Spears posts thrown in. :) I think my favorite post that I've done is 'What to do when your car gets towed' which was never meant to be a hard guide on what to do when your car gets towed, rather me venting about what had happened to me, but became one of the most visited pages of our blog. I also loved my open letters to Miley and Hillary who just happen to be one of my least favorite and one of my most favorite women in media, respectively. As for my fellow bloggers' work, I always enjoy mythbusters by our mythbusters resident Yuri- who knew that the 'close door' button on elevators just doesn't work? See, our blog is educational as well as being entertaining.
We hope to be around for much longer, so we all appreciate you guys visiting and commenting (WE LOVE COMMENTS, even the occasional hateful ones). Thanks for keeping our little blog chugging along!
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Julia Park
Like all blog writers, we all come from humble beginnings; sure, our first few posts weren't exactly stellar, but we were excited to blog and share our words out in the blogosphere. But from our humble pie beginnings to our more recent posts, the editors of Life in Boxes have definitely grown up a bit, learned a lot, and have changed some (such as our layout!). Lesson learned: investing time into something yields to something. Surprise, surprise! Thursday blog meetings do make a difference (so stop making fun of us for Thursday night blog meetings!).
For the most part, the posts I found most enjoyable to write were ones which I felt super-passionate about. So all of those posts about Harry Potter (nothing but genuine excitement, here!), rants about Top Chef (I bet you loved my photoshop skillz, as much as I enjoyed making them!)...100% passion! And like Jen, I guess I would consider myself to be more of the tv/movie/music writer, with occasional news, marketing bits, and Cuteoverloading.
I think that my favorite post that I personally wrote was my feature on Moving Out, since it was something that I was (and still am) considering to be my next big step in life, and something that people my age-range can definitely relate to.
As for my favorite post written by the other editors? Definitely the joint post on 30 Things To Do Before You're 30.
Anyway, cheers to a full year's worth of blogging experience; keep the comments rolling and let the suggestions for making Life in Boxes legen-waitforit-dary better flow in!
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Yuri Kim
Looking back at our one year anniversary for Life in Boxes, I realize that it hasn't really been about getting readers or trying to express our ideas to the internet (although that was a great bonus :x). As cheesy as it sounds, it has been about personally getting through this odd time that comes after graduation.
As I look back on a year of posts, I am able to confirm that I am cheap and that I love food, Kanye West, and the Do-It-Yourself subculture. It was really through the discipline of posting multiple times a week and having our weekly meetings that I was kind of able to manage all of this. If you think about it, that's pretty cool.
I think each editor probably can also find out a bit more about their own personality through their posts. Whether it's them loving sports, Britney, or loving to hate pirate hookers, we all have a voice that is unique, but still from that same viewpoint of recent college grads.
Things will change. We'll all eventually grow up. Hopefully you readers will be able to see it all unfold through our posts!
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Jorge Feliz
Oh LIB, what can I say that hasn't been said already. From choosing a name to writing the features, it has been nothing short of interesting. To LIB I say, stay charming. To the readers I say, keep reading, especially my stuff.
My favorite posts are those that are useful to you. Yuri's Gift Guide for the Christmas season was something that I think most of us last minute shoppers used. Julia's Top College Majors By Salary made me contemplate learning more about computers and her 20 Healthy Foods>$1 made us think about getting more french fries (technically potatoes and on Wendy's Value Meal). Jen's What To Do When Your Car Gets Towed was a big hit with readers, and having had a part in the ordeal, I learned a lot. That being said, my favorite post has got to be Say What Karaoke. Why? I really like singing. Clicking on those videos and singing along to those songs are like crack to me.
Happy Bday LIB, get drunk, and I'll see you again next year.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
What are you doing this weekend?
Forecast
Fri: 32° / 50°F, Rainy
Sat: 27° / 44°F, Sunny
Sun: 37° / 47°F, Partly Cloudy
See
21 (Starring Kevin Spacey, Jim Sturgees, Kate Bosworth, Laurence Fishburne)
Run, Fat Boy, Run (Starring Simon Pegg, Hank Azaria)
Superhero Movie (Starring Drake Bell, Pamela Anderson, Tracy Morgan)
Events
Wizard Rock - Friday at 8pm at the Sidewalk Cafe (94 Avenue A in New York), come see bands that were inspired by Harry Potter. Bands set to perform include The Moaning Myrtle's, The Whomping Willows, and the Malfoys.Cheap Gaming @ Dave and Busters - Cheap and Dave and Busters is not something you normally hear in the same sentence, but from today til Monday, the Dave and Busters in Time Square will be having a super cheap deal: Buy $10 worth of gaming and get $10 dollars free. To get on this deal, download the coupon here.
Closing Weekend for the Flower Show and the Auto Show - The Macy's Flower Show and the New York International Auto Show are both closing this Sunday. This weekend is going to be your last chance to catch them, otherwise you're going to have to wait a whole year.
Monday, February 18, 2008
[Feature] Dear Hollywood, From Your Dissatisfied Lover
What was the last movie you ever watched in theaters? I bet you that chances are, you probably saw a remake of an older, successful film or an adaptation of some sort of literary work.
These days, amongst the sea of reality tv competition shows, it seems like America is always trying to find the next best thing: singers, dancers, models, apprentices, gladiators,…you name it, there is a chance that America is looking for the next top whatever. But even in the midst of trying to find something new, it doesn’t necessarily mean that we are trying to find the next innovative thing; rather, we’re looking for a fresher face that could represent the same thing. ‘Cause what worked the best in the past is the safest [and most lucrative] bet, right?
In the case of movies, it seems like Hollywood is taking a step backward. Looking at this past weekend’s top 3 films, 2 of the 3 were based on novels (Jumper is based on the 1992 same titled sci fi novel, and The Spiderwick Chronicles is based on a popular children’s book series). I guess it’s good to see that at least someone in Hollywood is keeping up with their summer reading list; though, maybe they should consider taking a summer make-up course in creative writing…oh snap. Yes, I said it.
After the success of the American remake of the Japanese film, Ringu (better known in America as The Ring), Hollywood seemed to go on a crusade to remake and adapt every and any possible successful source of media in the past. Ocean’s 11, once made famous by the Rat Pack of Hollywood, will now be known as the 2001 caper with Hollywood hunks, George Clooney and Brad Pitt. Children [and adults] across the world feel no need to read the Harry Potter series, after seeing and anticipating the highly successful movie adaptations. Did your English teacher assign you “Pride and Prejudice” to read? Fear not: rather than reading those pesky Cliffnotes on Jane Austen’s classic novel, you can see the film adaptation with Keira Knightley!* I mean really, Gawd forbid you read Cliffnotes, right?
Hollywood, why can’t you just give it a try? We’re in no rush to see a new movie about the same old thing. It’s like being in a relationship with no spice – we love to be surprised. We’d love to be titillated. We’re willing to try anything new; yes, Cloverfield was nice and different. The mysterious viral campaign behind it kept us intrigued. But even that was playing it a bit safe – the whole new view of shaky camera angles made us a bit sick. And we saw it a few years ago…maybe The Blair Witch Project might ring a bell? And a monster attacking New York? A bit reminiscent of Godzilla or whatever, but it worked. But how about something more fresh?
All in all, we’re willing to give it another try, Hollywood. You see, despite your recent [horrible] action [flicks], we still can’t help but to think back to the better memories. Remember the look of surprise on our face when you served us The Usual Suspects? We held your hand tight when Luke learned that Darth Vader was his father. And yes, you had us at “Hello” with Jerry MacGuire.
We’re ready when you are.
*Writer’s note: Please read “Pride and Preudice.” It’s such an awesome book, and [arguably] one of the best works of literature.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Banned Books Week
It's Banned Books Week this week, so why don't you celebrate your freedom to read by picking up a banned book? Here is a list of books that were challenged or banned in 2008. In celebration, libraries and bookstores around the country are holding various events that you might want to check out. Some of my favorite books of allll time are on the list: Curtis Sittenfeld's Prep, Lois Lowry's The Giver, Toni Morrison's Beloved, Alice Sebold's The Lovely Bones, pretty much all of the Harry Potter books. And, one of Julia's favorites, Stephen Chbosky's The Perks of Being a Wallflower. There are some really good books on the list.
Isn't it interesting that we go watch movies with violence and sex all the time without a second thought, yet books get banned or challenged for a gamut of things, like one "inappropriate" sex scene or curse word whatever? My favorite book, J.D. Salinger's A Catcher in the Rye, holds the distinction of being the most censored book AND the second most taught book in the US. And the main reason for censorship? Vulgar language. If I recall correctly, Holden says the F-word once in the entire novel. The fact that these books have been banned or challenged for whatever reason (whether you think the reasons are valid or not) makes them that much more intriguing, no? Books can be exciting!! :D Yeah?? Happy reading.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Hottie of the Day: Robert Pattinson
Every once in awhile, I get completely obsessed with a male celebrity. When I say obsessed, I mean like recording every interview, reading every article, buying every magazine with said celebrity. The list of people who I think are hot is pretty long, but these special men have very special places in my heart, and there are only a handful of them. Michael Vartan (of Alias and Never Been Kissed fame) is my first celebrity boyfriend, John Krasinski (of The Office) is my 'I'm SO marrying him' celebrity boyfriend, and you can now add British HOTTIE Robert Pattinson (of Twilight and Harry Potter films) to my celebrity boyfriend list.
I don't think anyone would have been quite prepared for the insane-ness that the upcoming release of Twilight has bestowed upon the actors of the film, in particular Robert. He's handling the whirlwind of publicity tours and screaming (crying/fainting) fans particularly well, I think. He's pretty gracious and thoughtful in his interviews (you know, when he doesn't look exhausted and out of it) and he seems to understand that really, the girls are screaming for the character he is playing in the movie, not necessarily for him as a person. So while I am at the height of my Robert Pattinson obsession, and while he still seems like a pretty down-to-earth guy in the midst of the fan frenzy, he is officially my Hottie of the Day (week/month/year). RPatt, FTW! :)
Bonus: Here is a beginner's guide to Twilight.
And for those of you who think he's just a pretty face, here's a positive review of the movie, in particular, a positive review of his performance.
