Body of Lies review

After having this movie in my house for about a month (I am reconsidering my NetFlix subscription), I finally watched this movie last night.  Or rather, I watched half of the movie and then put it in the return envelope and went to bed.  Yea, it was that interesting.No, I take that back.  It was interesting - I just couldn't get over 2 main things: 1. the pace was really slow (the 'romance' I think made it worst) and 2. yep - that is SOOOOOO not Jordan.  I had wanted to see this movie and then put it aside until I came across a blog that talked about this movie and how it was supposed to be in Jordan, but that it was VERY obviously not in Jordan.  So, I wanted to see the movie anyways and thought - maybe this person was just very sensitive and maybe it's not THAT bad.  ... well - it's pretty bad.

Now, I can't say anything about the Iraqi part.  I've never been to Iraq and while I think it did look more like Morocco there than Iraq... I have not been to Iraq.  (or Morocco for that matter, but I'm more familiar with their landscape and geography - sad, huh?  I should be more familiar with Iraq)  But, Jordan?  Now, that was pretty bad.  I mean - it was pretty OBVIOUS that it was NOT Jordan.  It was good to see some green, but just everything was wrong about the landscape.  

OMG - I laughed so hard when I saw the "American Embassy!"   They made the Embassy like a regular building (for the most part), but for those of you who have been to Jordan, the embassy is essentially a fort.  As in... 1. I can't figure out how to get in - a problem if I'm ever in trouble.  There are huge walls around the entire thing and Humvees with soldiers with AK-47s on each corner.  2. The embassy is a compound and has all of the admin buildings, plus housing for workers. 3. The

 embassy in Jordan is pretty much smack in the middle of a residential area and takes up an entire block of land - so you don't just go down the street and turn into it (unless there is a side entrance

 that I don't know about which is possible since, as mentioned before, I have yet to see how you get in) like they show in the movie.

They tried to insert the King Abdullah mosque into the city scape - I assume that here they used the same technique that was used in The Kingdom where they put in the Kingdom Centre 

(Al Mamlaka) - see picture to the right - into their

 view of what was part of Dubai, I believe...  They actually wanted to film this movie in the UAE, but that was denied and so we got the filming in Morocco.  But, they didn't really work to make the area look like Jordan and Amman.  I mean, Amman is a rather new city.  They are celebrating their 100 anniversary this year.  There has been SO much development there since the Hashimates came to Jordan in the 1920s.  JORDAN for the most part is pretty new - they were part of the Roman empire and then had villages as part of the Holy Land and during the crusades and then as Bedouin tribes - but I don't think people how NEW Jordan is as a nation.  And how somewhere in between 60-80% of the population is not native Jordanian, but is from Palestine.  ...but I digress. :)  (let me know if you want me to write more about this and I'll do extra research)

So, the movie was interesting in how it had the CIA working in the Middle East and how they work with the locals and the partner government agencies (2nd complaint - the head of the Jordan police -or whatever - is VERY not Jordanian - the actor is Mark Strong - complete with a very small pointy noise and everything.  I think he did ok with the accent - it would come and go, but I anyways think that to speak Arabic better you have to think in a British accent to get the vowels correct, but his body language was all off.  He tried to be smooth, which was good, but he couldn't get the defensive posture that I find in every Arab male in that area.  lol - it's quite funny; I can write about that at any request).  They put Leo's character as willing to understand the area and work with people and learn the culture/language and Russel Crowe's character as an ignorant, cowboy jerk.  To which - they both did very good jobs in there roles - I really don't like Crowe's character and I know that's the point. :)  But, the pace was getting rather painful to watch.  So, I stopped...

Now - this movie was taken off a book written by  David Ignatius, a columnist for The Washington Post.   I like reading Ignatius and so I would hope that the BOOK is better than the movie - slow paced stories usually are better to read.  I understand that the romance in THAT book is even more painful, but at least I can skip over it if I need to.

So - the movie is NOT worth renting, but I would try to watch it again if it came on tv...

Some Pictures of Amman, although they don't do it justice:

Oxford visit

I won't bore you with the school pictures, but here are some others from my site visit to Oxford.  We have students in Christ Church College, Trinity and... one more that I'm blanking on!  (sorry)

Impression of Oxford - great city; very studious and there is definitely a social 'thing' going on that

 makes me prefer the anonymity of London...

Christ Church College from the Medows (left) ; Random road in Oxford (right)

Oxford market (left) Christ Church College Main Quad (right)

Christ Church Statues (left) Face in Christ Church Cathedral (right)

Alter in Chirst Church Cathedral (left) Window in Christ Church Cathedral (right)

Christ Church College Dinning Hall Oxford, Bridge of Sighs

aka. Harry Potter Dinning Hall (rip-off from Venice)

(left) (right)

Oxford buildings - by the Bodleian (left) The Camera (Library) (right)

Food from Jamie's: Polenta appetizer and a pasta and truffle dinner.  Sooooo gooooood!

Inside the initiation into "No Peel" Burnt into door outside Christ

the Bodleian (left) Church College Dinning Hall, in reference to PM Peel (right)

Angel & Demons Review

So... I had been looking forward to seeing Angels and Demons; in part because I love fluff like that and in part because I think that story is much better than the DaVinci code.  Dan Brown may be no where near the best writter in the world (OMG - sometimes I am reading it and thinking, is he in High School?  Like, any time he tries to bring in romance and sexual attraction.  It's not his strong suit.  Leave it alone!), but he still can carry a good book with deception (abeit a bit see-through), conspiricy and action.

So, the movie...  Well- aparently, we are back to those times when the movies a loosely based of the books.  I understand there are time constraints, but this movie went pretty far off some of the book's points.  And not in a good way, in my opinion.  First off- (I will take it that this is more realistic though) there is a whole team working on creating anti-matter.  So, the idea of recreating the "big bang," for which the creation on anti-matter is a bi-product and not the main point, is not important in this story.  Which devalues the role of the priest/scientist at CERN.  So, we have a team working on the project (yes, more realistic, but does take away a latter plot twist - although they weakly try to bring it in) and Vittoria is a member of the team who, with the priest, she is the main people in charge.  Fine.  But, NOTHING about the priest being Vittoria's (adopted) father and there is NO branding of the Illuminati symbol on the priest.

Second, the Vatican contacts Robert L and not CERN.  In fact, the head of CERN is not in the story at all.  Vatican wants Robert to come since he is so knowledgeable about Illuminati and his previous involvment with the church.  Which leds to the film trying to cover this difference by showing a relectant Swiss Guard which doesn't make sense for, as Robert says, "You invited me."  So, that whole dimention of science vs the Church is pretty much thrown out the window...  (not good considering that is kinda' the point behind the Illuminati vs the Church)

So, they get going along the plot with the different parts of the path with minor changes... The assassin is NOT part of Hashshashin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hashshashin), something I kinda' liked due to their part during the crusades, and he is not sadistic at all (they make him seem religous for some reason)... The first part of the path was filmed mid-day which bugged me because it's supposed to be 8 at night... Vittoria's position is lowered down to kinda' a side note... The Camerlengo is made less important within the Vatican...  They have the main cardnal who presides over the conclave, give up his role to be included in the vote (makes him seem very political)...  They kinda' skip over everything about the Illuminati and Gallieo besides making it since so much more-- bloody?

Third, they cut out the media.  This can be seen as not important to the plot, but where it WAS important was how it made the Camerlengo so important to the Church and to the public.  That speach about the war between science and the Church (which is much more harsh in the movie than how I read it), is done in the book in front of the media (BBC) and the media is following the path with them as the assassin contacts them so that they are aware of what is going on.  It's sad they cut that out.

They cut out the romance, but I'm not sorry for that - as I said above - Dan Brown can't write romance.  Besides, I don't like sex for the point of sex when everyone is going to die.

Fouth - they let the last cardnal live.  WTF?!!!!

Fifth - they don't have Robert L go up in the hellicopter.  Although I did think the fabric thing was pretty unlikely anyways, but it was a good ah ha moment for Robert L in the book.  Plus, it let to the Camerlego's performance on the balcony afterwards.

Sixth - they don't explain AT ALL WHY this whole situation begins.  Which is a HUGE point.  I don't get why they don't bring that in AT ALL considering it's importance.  I guess they though the conspiracy was more important that a motive.

So, overall, I was pretty disapointed and wish I hadn't read the book yet.  F---- seemed to like it although he did see the parts that didn't make sense in the movie because they didn't go over them at all like in the book.

My rating: D

Topic Winner: Long Flights

So, my one vote was to write about long flights...

Well, I have certainly been on my share of long trips.  Growing up, we would drive from Northern CA to Southern CA which, with 3 kids in the car, takes 9 hours.  (as we got older, we got it down to 5 hours - man, we must have stopped a lot!)  I have never been able to sleep in the car and that has moved over to flights as well.  So, when I face the prospect of a long flight, I prepare myself for boredom.  (It's really not that bad...)

My first long flight was probably to Washington, DC in 6th grade (and again in 8th grade).  About 6 hours total non-stop, that was longer than any flight before hand of about 2 hours, tops.  And everything was still new and exciting.  But, I think that it is a good thing that I took so many long trips when I was young.  I know how to amuse myself.  That goes with any other boring things like dull baseball games, etc.  I went with my mom and a friend to a Nationals game a few years ago and it got more and more dull throughout the game (just not a good game that day) and we are talking and blah, blah, blah.  My friend was getting more and more bored (apparently he had never gone to a baseball game), but my mom and I just talked.  And eventually, I noticed a spider hanging down from the stadium overhead.  This spider must have been hanging down about 30-40 feet from the overhead and it was interesting to watch it swaying in the wind.  My mom and I started to comment on that and eventually she said, "You know, I never had to worry about finding entertainment for you.  You always found something to do."   ... I hope my kids are the same!  They certainly will have their share of long trips between the US and Jordan or the east coast and west coast (depending on where the future finds us).

Back to flights...

Where the long flights started to make a difference is when we fly overnight somewhere.  Again, I don't sleep and we usually arrive in the morning to said country and so I have to stay awake the entire day.  But, I learned how to deal with that... it helps if you have work to do.  Then you HAVE to be perky...

But, you think in your mind that it is now morning and that is that.  You are going through a normal day and basically ignore the fact that you didn't sleep and that it's 2 am back home.  DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT THAT!  And it helps that there is a time change.  By the time that first day is done, it is time for bed in the host country and still afternoon back home so the overnighter you just pulled is ultimatly not that bad.  Certainly, staying active helps the most- if you can be active and move around, you will stay awake.  And then - you are on schedule!  Now, the minute you sleep in late within the first 2 weeks in the host country you will feel the jet lag, but for short trips it is helpful to just force yourself into the new time schedule.

My most recent worry about long flights was when I flew to China from DC.  It was very odd - I started obsessing over the length of the flight and what I was going to do for 13 hours.  I think that began when I booked the flight on United.  

Ok - I'm such an airline snob.  And United is NOT my favorite airline.  Their service ON the flight is great, but the customer service on the ground - SUCKS.  The airplanes themselves - SUCK (for the most part).  

And so, I was obsessing over what I was going to do.  It got to the point that I was worried that I was not going to adjust in China because I basically wasn't thinking of my trip (culture-wise) beyond the flight.  (it was fine - Shanghai is like NYC/Amman and Beijing is like... hmmm - maybe Budapest? sort-of...)  

Which, my fears were acknowledged when... 1. got to the airport to find my flight to Chicago (to connect to direct to Shanghai) was canceled and they put me on the next day's flight.  Which is stupid for them to do for people flying international and something I was NOT going to go along with considering I was only in Shanghai for 2 days anyways and so if I arrived a day late, I would miss ALL my meetings!!  (F--- got AMEX to get me on a direct flight to Beijing and transfer to Shanghai)  I NEVER got any email/phone call, etc about the cancellation... what if I DIDN'T live in the area?!  2. The plane was from the late 90s or something and going there, the cabin switched between too hot and too cold and there was just the films on a schedule to choose from.  Coming back - the plane was SOOOOOOOO cold and I got sick on the flight.  I don't do well with cold and I could feel myself getting more and more stuffed up as time went along...

My long flights (outside US only and over 6 hours):

Japan - 1995 - 14 hours total (2 to Vancouver, 12 to Tokyo) (I think) (Air Canada)

UK - 2001 - 7/8 hours (Virgin Atlantic)

Slovenia - 2002 - 8 to Switzerland/1 to Slovenia (Swiss)

Hungary/Poland - 2006 - 8-ish hours (+ 12 hr train ride in between) (Luftansa/LOT)

Jordan/Dubai - 2007- 13/14 hours to/from Dubai, 3 hours between Jordan and Dubai (Emirates)

UK - 2007- 7/8 hours (Vigrin Atlantic)

Spain - 2007 - 7/8 hours (Iberia)

Italy - 2007 - 8/10 hours (to Amsterdam and then Italy) (KLM & Altalia)

China - 2008 - 13/15 hours (13 direct and 2 hrs to Shanghai) (United &... Shanghai Air?)

Jordan - 2008 - 12/15 hours (going - 7 to Paris + 5 (?) to Amman; coming - 13 to NYC, 1 to DC) (Delta - not the new planes :()

Next week... 2009- UK - 7/8 hours (British Airways)

That last flight to Jordan kinda' sucked - it was Delta and they are changing out their fleet, but we got the old planes.  Well - going there it was Air France so - yay!  Coming back - it was Delta and there were NO individual screans!!!  Seriously?  For a 13 hour flight?  WHYYYYYYYY?

I am looking forward to flying BA - I usually hear good stuff about them.  My favorite airlines have been KLM, Emirates and Swiss.  My least favorite have been United, Virgin Atlantic and Iberia.

Monday swimming

So, between my arriving at 6:35, getting the monthly pass and waiting for a lane to open up- I only got about 25 minutes of swimming in:

200 warm-up

**** can't remember ******

6 x 50 (kick down, swim back) on :60

200 (IM down, free back)

50 eggbeater (side, side, front, back)

200 warm down

Anyways, not a lot, but at least something!  I am still sore from last week.  And I need to start with the Wii, My Fitness Training (I'll write a review later - for now... FABULOUS!).

So, the pool lanes always have 2 people in them, swimming as a split lane.  I understand why they don't do circle swimming - the group is for the most part older persons and everyone seems to be on different swim work outs.  But, today I waited about 10-15 minutes for a lane to open up!  

It reminded me of London (but opposite)- I got a monthly pass for the neighborhood gym and pool.  So, I was thinking that most people would just be working out and not swimming... I mean, I have never really heard of lots of Brits swimming before.  So, I get there and 1 - there is both and indoor pool.  Yay!  I VERY MUCH prefer outdoor pools- better ventilation and temperature control, etc.  So, I think that I may be one of the faster swimmers because I have been swimming since I was 5 and, while I hadn't swam in about 1 1/2 years, I wasn't horribly out of shape.  So, I choose a lane and get in.  So - the Brits are in VERY good shape!  My goodness - those guys totally were fast and very serious about their swimming!  They had great form and really did some good workouts, from what I could tell.  I was a bit embarrassed that I was passed up by others and very impressed that they were so good!  And, after that, I only went a few more times to the pool before stopping completely.

Swim Log - Thursday, April 30

Swim day!  I'm making a slow start to my swimming - just Monday and Thursday this week.  I am working towards going every morning...  I also only had about 45 minutes today.

200 warm-up freestyle

10 x 50 (1:00 min) freestlye

200 arms only freestyle (ok - I can't remember exactly what I did - it was pulling, but I can't remember the set)

6? x 50 scull down w/eggbeater and freestyle back

6 x 100 kick (10 second rest between each) (odd- backstroke; even- freestyle w/kickboard)

200 warm-down freestyle

Gosh, this seems so short!  I didn't do any cardio really, but I feel like I'm missing something... I need to start writting down my workouts exactly after I do them (or before!).

A day in the life of international education

I thought I'd share with you what has been going on around on my desk.

Last week - UK visa situation broke and faxed cancellation to consulate in LA and calls between me and partner in London (poor thing - they sounded EXHAUSTED).  Partner is staying open until about 11 pm GMT to take our calls and questions.  They are also willing to cover some reapplication costs, although it's really not their fault.  It's just a sucky situation.  Very nice of them to cover costs though and we are taking them up on it...

No way to contact consulate (very usual - this is part of WHY we tell students to apply early...), so in hold to see when documents come back...

Monday, April 27

UK visa stuff (much calmer than the constant emails from last week)

Tracking down delinquent student (no luck so far, we will drop her from program Thurs if no reply and she will owe $7,200)

Copy Italian partner program acceptance forms and email students for pick up

Copy Belgium partner program acceptance forms and email student for pick up

Contact service for UK visa help (mailing that is, so visas get back by Mary 19 - students leave May 20th)

Flu info updates (most emails during weekend, nothing too new- no one canceling programs)

Tuesday, April 28th

Office email to currently abroad and summer students:

"Dear students:
As you may have heard in the local and international press, there has been an increase in the number of swine flu cases in recent weeks.  Our office is continuing to monitor this carefully and in this email will provide you with some resources for your benefit.
As of this time, there are no program changes or cancellations.  As with all flu strands, please be sure to take the necessary precautions of washing your hands frequently, using a tissue when you sneeze or blow your nose, and avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
Centers for Disease Control: http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/
State Department: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_4488.html
World Health Organization: http://www.who.int/en/
__ Health Insurance: http://www.aetnastudenthealth.com/stu_conn/travel_howtouse.aspx
ISIC Health Insurance: http://www.isic.org/sisp/index.htm?fx=static&page=istc_info/isic_helpline.html
(see __________________ for additional information)
Please contact us if you have any questions.
Warm wishes,
_____________________

Students pick up acceptance forms and go over visa process (Italy)

UK visa emails (continue with updates)

Update Blackboard with Permisso info (Italy), ISIC health insurance info, __ Health Insurance info and claim info

Oxford site visit organization

Email SMUC student for meeting in London

Wednesday, April 29th

Oxford site vist organization

Email/Facebook/call delinquent student for CV and PS (and dismissal from program if don't return by noon)

Call about expressing visa applications (drop off Monday)

Emails about delinquent student...

Australia updates

Thursday, April 30th

"Serious" talk with delinquent student (so, I find I'm not so serious, but I told her to apologize to partner and called her out on lying about sending email documents)

Found new express UK visa service (drop off forms next Thursday) - thank goodness!

Missing UK items (from Consulate back to student)

Returning student emails

Student workers forms

Contact in Oxford email (hmm, I haven't heard back from them!)

Follow up with SMUC contact

UK visa update emails

And then I was out on Friday...

Swim Log - April 27

So, I finally (FINALLY) got to the pool and swam this morning.  I had been wanting to do this for a long time now, but... well, I'm lazy and don't wake up early.  I prefer to sleep and I can't really swim in the evening (need to make dinner and other stuff at home), so it must be in the morning.

So... last night I put out my work clothes, jewlery, hair dryer, brush, make-up (this is the first day in months that I have dried my hair and wore make-up to work) as well as my swim suit, goggles, cap and towel, and shampoo/conditioner, etc.  I forgot my shoes, but thankfully remembered them this morning before I left.  I sent my alarm for 5:45 am and went to sleep around... well, got to sleep around 12:30 am.

But - I woke up! Yay!  This is something I REALLY like about summer - it gets hot and sticky and is hard to stay asleep because it's so hot and sticky.  So, it's much easier to wake up as opposed to the winter when it's dark and cold and I want to stay in bed to stay warm...

But, I got up (ok- around 6:10 I think) and brushed my teeth and put on my suit and left the house!  (Big applase for my small ackomplishment)

I am going to my local community center for the pool.  (http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/)  I don't know why people always knock their community centers.  I do realize that my county is pretty freakin' rich, but I have never found community centers to be lacking (I think the poorest community center I used was in Antioch and DC and they weren't that bad at all).  Anyways, this one is NICE.  It's $6.90 (?) a day and something like $65 a month for in county residents.  They open at 5 am - 9:30 pm for weight room, arobic classes, raket ball (or whatever that game is called that is like tennis where you hit the wall...), and the pool.  The pool opens at 6:30 am, but when I got there, there were swimmers getting out and part of the pool was in use for a USS team.  I think they must start at 5 am with special permission.  They were a young group - I think the youngest swimmers were around 6-7 years old.  It's good to see that people are into swimming, but - what time does school start for these guys?  They didn't leave until after I did and I got out at 7:30 and left at 8:10 am...

Anyways - the pool is a 50 meter pool, with lanes cut across it so it's 25 yd laps.  Thank goodness!  I wasn't sure how the pool would be set up and I was afraid it would be set up at 50 meter lanes.  I knew I was not ready for THAT.  In fact, I wasn't all that ready for the 25 yds!

I am SOOOOOOOOOOOO out of shape.  I have never felt the lack of mus

sles in me like I did this morning.  It was very sad.  I am glad that the more I swam, the better it got, but I am going to be feeling it and my workout was pretty sad... I just couldn't do any more!

Workout (Hmm, I'm trying to remember what I did now):

100 warm up (I want to say 200, but I can't remember if I did!)

10 x 50 freestyle on 1:00 min

200 kick (freestyle/backstroke)

6 x 100 (1,3,5 - kick, right, left, swim; 2,4,6 - under, wrist, finger drag, swim) (I wanted to do 10, but think I only did 6)

10 x 25 (easy/sprint on :30)

a few (I can't remember - 4/6/8?) laps of scull/kick and 30 seconds eggbeater at each end

200 cool down

That seems short, but is probably what I did.  So sad... ;)

So, I got out of the pool and went to the locker room.  Where I discovered that my face was VERY red.  After shower - still red.  After dressed - still red.  Went down a bit by the end of blow drying my hair.  Used lots of powder to try to get that down.

I think that shows HOW out of shape I am!!! :)

But, I feel good and will try to get to the pool every day this week (minus Friday, of course). Yay!!!

Are you an expat bore?

From Time Out Dubai...

We've found the top 25 things that mean you've been Dubai-ed. Fact. There's no escaping it

1... you can make your way around five different malls without a map.  (well, I don't think that is too hard, but maybe I'm used to large malls)

2...you have friends from 10 different countries. (I've got 6 - do American living abroad count - that should get me up to 10)

3... you can tell as soon as there’s a sand storm a’comin’.  (F--- can, I'll have to wait for that)

4... the taxi driver knows where you’re going.

5... letters in local newspapers no longer seem like the rantings of the insane. (tehehehe)

6... you’ve stopped complaining about people tailgating you in the fast lane, and started complaining about people driving too slowly in the fast lane.  (yep)

7... it’s not a belly, it’s the Dubai stone. 

8... you can recite the recorded Arabic welcome message from the RTA taxi number, word for word, and with a flawless accent. (lol)

9... you say the summer ‘isn’t that hot.’

10... you look round the lobby of a five-star hotel and yawn. (totally!)

11... you get excited and dance around whenever it rains.

12... you don’t know how to clean your own apartment. (lol!)

13... you feel ‘the fear’ when someone suggests the all-day brunch at Waxy O’Conner’s.

14... you know that ladies’ nights are actually all full of blokes. (isn't that everywhere?)

15... you need both hands to count the number of international music acts you’ve seen this year.

16... you find it a real challenge to paint your own nails. (lol)

17... you can’t stop checking the exchange rates between the dirham and your home country’s currency – and you’ve actually managed to send some money home.

18... you’ve forgotten how to fill up your car with petrol.

19... you don’t know when you last walked more than 100 metres in one go. (see?!  No walking - crazy (and walking the malls don't count... but, that helps)

20... you’ll only attempt a drive across town on a Friday morning (when there’s no traffic). 

21... Al Mallah/Al Hallab/another Lebanese eatery is on your mobile’s speed dial.

22 ... you consider anything below 30° to be ‘cardigan weather’.

23... you think Ski Dubai is a perfectly normal concept.

24... you consider your doorman as one of your mates.

25... you’ve heard the same Dubai urban myths from 10 different people.

And you know someone’s definitely not a Dubai resident when…

1... they’re petrified of Sheikh Zayed Road. (it's not THAT bad)

2... they don’t know what baba ganoush/tabouleh/fatoush is. (who doesn't now a days - I think the receipies were in Marta Stewart this year!)

3... they’re shocked at the idea of getting a cab from one side of the road over to the other. (lol)

4... they get their Burj’s confused (Al Arab and Dubai, that is). (I just think of the ice cream - is that still around?  It was some place near the Persian court I think in Ibn Battuta mall)

5... they’ve been on the Big Bus Tour – and know more about Dubai than actual expats. (I should do that sometime...)

Time Out Dubai 21 April 2009

(F----l says this is a good list for all of the Middle East -well, the Gulf)

Becoming Jane

So, I FINALLY saw "Becoming Jane" last night...

I think I have had this for about a month now - my Netflix is NOT paying off.  I think I need to just get committed to it.  We aren't seeing any other movies, although I'm sure that will change as we go into summer.  (Wolverine, Star Trek... (yea, I'm a geek))

Overall, I enjoyed the film and I'm glad I saw it.  I think I would have seen it in the theatre as well, but it's not a movie that I am dying to rewatch (I put it in the mail this morning without even going through the extra features - well, I went through one, got bored and turned it off).  

I think I most enjoyed how they portrayed the time period.  That seems to be a trend in the most recent Regency films - to have this kind of roughish nature to it, but I admit I do like that bit of perceived realism (does any one know if this is any more real than the other interpretations?).  It just is darker than earlier Regency films, but it's hard to tell how real it is.  I'm sure if Austen were to come back and see that, she would immediatly see things that

 stand out as too old or too new in the sences.  Also - EXACTLY how much propriety is used in that time?  

So, the story is to be that of Jane Austen when she mets the (presumaly) love of her life while she is starting as a writer.  The man in questions is (presumaly) the model for Mr. Darcy (apparently Darcy was an Irish name and this man is of an Irish father).  Man is somewhat of a scoundrel and, while studying law, also fights and sleeps around (I assume so anyways although we don't see it...) and whatnot.  Man is at the whim of his rich uncle and is sent to countryside to... learn patience and manners?...

Man meets Jane and is arrogant, but they argue and he 'challenges' her.  She reads Tom Jones and further 'explores' real life.... Sub plot, rich neighboorhood lady (cue Lady Catherine) has nephew (Mr. Collins- in part, it kinda' switches later on to other guy) who wants to marry Jane, but she doesn't love him. Mom says that love can't always servive poverty... Jane set to marry, then goes to London to try to get rich uncle to approve of the marriage (ie, so Man can still get money).  Letter comes (guess from Lady, later find other guy who wants Jane) (note: did Jane REALLY have that many suitors?), uncle mad (what DID that letter say?), no marriage.  Break up (slap of reality to Jane), and go back home.  Sister's fiance dead and so she won't marry either.  Man is back in town, Jane and Man decide to elope.  All good until Jane realizes how much Man's family depends on him for money through uncle.  Jane breaks up and everyone lives their lives.

Years down the road, Jane is published author that people love (Ok - I know THAT isn't true; she published annoynmously).  At concert, Jane sees Man (who runs away, but brother brings him back).  Man and daughter (named Jane - significant looks abound) meet Jane again and lots of angst, but happy looks.  The end.

So - it was very good, but I can't get over - how acurate is this?  I probably would have enjoyed it better if it wasn't Jane Austen or it may have been the flow of characters and plot... Something just seemed off.

I do recomend to see it - I love how they show the society and the countryside and houses.  It's like in the 2006 (?) P&P where they add that part where Charlotte tells Elizabeth not to judge her because she is older and doesn't have many prospects.  I think we need those types of interpretations today, which of course, makes movies and such less authentic, but it makes it mroe authentic to us because our understanding is so much more improved....

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