Yesterday I went to see New Moon, the second film in the Twilight series. 

I enjoyed the series and, although I think it has some serious issues, I think it's harmless fun.  Out of the four books in the series, New Moon is my least favorite so I was curious to see how the film would go, especially considering the first one was a bit of a disappointment (which I blame on the studio giving them a tiny budget and even tinier shooting schedule).

I have to say, I enjoyed the film more than I enjoyed the book.  I'm so glad they didn't recast the role of Jacob because Taylor Lautner really stepped up and did a good job.  Every now and then his acting was a bit shaky, but most of the time he was right on track.  Robert Pattinson is still overly melancholic (and, therefore, occasionally amusing) as Edward and Kristen Stewart is even more perfect as Bella.  I absolutely adore her in the role.  I know a lot of people don't like Bella, but I do.

To answer all the critics saying it was slow and depressing: try reading the book; it's even more so.  What did you want this to be, a Disney film?  Teenage girls get depressed when they get dumped - like, depressed for real, not like a Disney star who gets dumped and then wears dark pink instead of bright pink for a week.

I really like Eclipse and Breaking Dawn (the third and final books of the series), so I'm really looking forward to those films.  I think they're going to be fantastic.

Twilight is my favorite book in the series, but 2nd place is a close tie between Eclipse and Breaking Dawn.  I think Eclipse might win in the end, but Breaking Dawn has the best cover.  Chess imagery is always so powerful.

Even though today is really the start of the week (I always think of Monday that way), it feels like seeing the movie yesterday was kind of like a good start to the week.  The only day I officially have off this week is Thursday, but I took a vacation day on Wednesday so I could get some work done and do some relaxed baking instead of trying to squeeze it all in after work.  I do have to work on Friday.  (Yuck.  Anyone else?)

Yesterday, Danielle and I went to see The Time Traveler's Wife film.  I recently read the book and totally loved it so I was a bit nervous for the film.  I've been studying the translation of novel into film since 1994 (when I took my first course on it) so I am not one of those people that expects the movie to be like the book.  I think to hope for that is ridiculous.  It's also never fair to say the book or the film is "better."  They're different mediums and one must consider the film an interpretation of the book.  If I were to make a painting based on a novel, no one would expect it to include everything from the novel.  The same goes for films based on books.

That said, I really enjoyed the film.  They did leave things out, but I am happy with 95% of what they left out.  There's just one scene at the end that I really, really wish they left in.  As expected, I cried my eyes out (I skipped eye makeup yesterday because I expected to cry).  When I read the book, I was home alone and sobbed my eyes out - I mean like, "waaaaah! *sniffle sniffle*" eighty tissues later kind of sobbing.  If I were watching this film at home by myself, it would have been similar (maybe forty tissues).  Instead, I sat in the theater holding a double tissue up to my eyes to catch the tears as I bit down on the other end of the tissue in order to stifle any sobbing noise that may have wanted to escape.

I really like the casting for the film a lot.  Rachel McAdams is wonderful as Claire and Eric Bana did a great job playing the different ages and emotions of Henry.  The girls cast as Alba (sisters playing her at different ages) did a truly wonderful job as well.

I have to add... Eric Bana is hawwwt hot hot.  Mmm, those thighs.  *sigh*

If you haven't read the book, I highly suggest reading the book first so you have the full story.  It won't be the same if you see the film first.  But I highly recommend both the book and the film. Two thumbs up!

So that was yesterday.  Today I went to IKEA (on a Saturday?  I know, I have a death wish) and got a few household items, but still can't find:

1. A solution to our DVD storage problem (300+ DVDs, nowhere to put them)
2. Curtains I like for our bedroom and ruffles for the kitchen windows
3. Fabric to cover my corkboard

Tonight there's a pseudo-surprise birthday dinner for yours truly (b-day is coming up).  I know we're going to dinner, but I don't know exactly who will be there or where we're going OR what we're doing afterwards.  I was just told to wear sneakers (yay).

Tomorrow I'm having brunch with my parents and siblings at a great local steak place.  Then it's the usual laundry and dinner at the in-laws.  Now if that isn't a great way to spend your last weekend as a 33-year-old, what is?