An interesting combination.

This weekend I stepped into the 21st century and purchases myself an IPhone. In the past, I usually purchases the $99 with the $100 mail-in rebate. The phones that typically had a lifespan of 6 months and whose coolest feature is the ability to send and receive text messages. I learned that I was due for an upgrade with Verizon - about damn time, it only took two years of loyalty to often times less than stellar service - and perused my options. There was not much difference between the Droid phones and the IPhone but my Verizon customer representative, the attractive Derek, made a convincing argument that I would be ultimately happier with the IPhone. I was leery at first. In the past, I have been known to rant and rave about IPhones and the annoying people who decided to buy them, I even blogged about my annoyance in the past. However, I realized that my prejudice was narrow-minded, especially when I was holding my beautifully new IPhone in hand, then my perspective shifted ever so slightly. I asked my roommate the other day if it is wrong to be in love with an inanimate object, to find such joy in an IPhone. He unabashedly told me "yes" - he is also the roommate that doesn't have a phone because he feels it is a way for the "man" to subvert us through technology, so he probably was the wrong person to ask.  

Something else that brought joy to my life this weekend was the premiere of Thor. My fellow gay nerd enthusiast and I decided to go see the film featuring the talents of Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Rene Russo, and Anthony Hopkins - I would be lying if I didn't say that the chiseled body of Chris Hemsworth might have served as a huge contributing factor to my wanting to go. Based on Norse Mythology, Thor is the son of Odin - the all father and ruler of Asgard - and is line for the thrown along with his clever and mischievous brother Loki. Thor's rash and selfish with the Ice Giants - the main enemy of our story - forces Odin to banish Thor to the realm of Earth where he must learn to put aside his selfish desires for the good of his people and of mankind. It is there on Earth that he meets Natalie Portman, the energetic yet sometimes annoying scientist, who has magically come into his life to show him the error of his hedonistic tendencies and present him a better way. 

The movie was actually spectacular - not just because Thor truly is the Thunder from Down Under and tended to wear tight leather pants throughout the entirety of the movie. The movie had a believable and authentic storyline, with incredible special effects which served to enhance the overall movie - not simply there to overshadow a lack of plot which tends to happen in other movies. I recommend spending the few extra dollars and seeing the movie in 3D - the graphics in Asgard are stunning.  Make sure you also stay to the end of the credits, for with all Marvel movies, there is a little teaser paving the road for the greatest superhero cinema event of the century; the Avengers movie. Can I just say that I might spontaenously combust the day I go see that movie. Imagine, some of Hollywood's hottest leading men, in ridiculously tight costumes, fighting other men in equally tight-fitting costumes ... I'm just saying

So, Valentine's Day was kind of a little bit of a bust. I was recovering from the show, and somehow after a drag show my entire body hurt and I basically laid in bed all day. The only point in the day that I stirred was when my friend Nayte called me to nerd out with him and go see Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief. Although I love sci-fi/fantasy and pre-teen novel series that I can become ridiculously obsessed about, I had not read this series yet, and relished the opportunity to see the movie before reading the book. I also saw that the movie had an impressive cast including heartthrobs Logan Lerman and Kevin Mckidd as well as the fierce divas of Rosario Dawson & Uma Thurman; so I was game to go. Since I have the attention span and tastes of a thirteen year old girl, it doesn't take a whole lot to impress me; some special effects, fierce divas, a few Greek gods, and some battle scenes is all I really need.

The movie follows the story of Percy Jackson, a slightly emo-ish high school student, discovers that he is the son of Poseidon, and therefore a demigod. Percy is accused of stealing the powerful lightning bolt of Zeus, which sends the Gods and Heavens in an uproar. Everyone is vying for the lightning bolt in an attempt to overthrow Zeus and rule the world. If the lightning bolt is not returned in 14 days, Zeus will declare war upon the Earth the other gods contriving storms and other natural disasters to wipe out humanity. Percy, along with a few friends, must battle minotaurs, gorgans, hyrdras, and more in order to discover who is the lightning thief and return the bolt to Zeus before war begins.

My friend Nayte had read the books prior to the movie and had mixed feelings about the movie. Although generally enjoying the movie, the movie took some liberties on the details of the book, screwed up a few important elements that apparently are recurring themes in future books, and left some characters out, which Nayte was generally not pleased about. I however, ignorant to the books, thought the movie was pretty good. It had a logical plot line some funny moments – as well as some cheesy overdone ones – but all in all I was entertained and sometimes that is all need from a movie. Most of the time I do not need life lessons or an intense complex psychological examination of the human psyche. I checked out reviews of the movie at Rotten Tomatoes – my favorite place to learn about movies – and people were generally split about the movie. For whatever reason, critics kept referencing Harry Potter in their reviews, stating that the movie is a far cry from Harry Potter or a poor imitation there of. I understand that the idea of a “chosen one” with unique abilities who holds a revered place in a mystical world unknown to humans who has two best friends that help him in all of his ridiculously dangerous adventures sounds like Harry Potter but it is not. Ok maybe a little bit …. ok a lot … but simply put, Harry Potter is about magic and Percy Jackson is about the Olympian Gods. They're different, and as much as I love Harry Potter – which is a lot – Greek gods are just infinitely cooler than witches and wizards. Seeing a 60 foot tale armored-clad Kevin McKidd as Poseidon was one of the most delicious things ever. All I know is that I am planning on making a trip to the book store today and heading straight for the preteen section and start indulging myself.