Three Rants for the Price of One

Black Friday

Black Friday will be here next week. I’m guessing you already knew this, of course. But for you unfortunate fangirls overseas, this is the time of year – the day after our Thanksgiving – when Americans get up at ungodly hours of the morning, and freeze to death waiting in ridiculously long lines, just to grab a bargain or two for things we most likely don’t need.

Don’t look at me like that, it’s tradition, especially in my family.

The sale papers are read weeks ahead of time; plans are made; items listed, highlighted, and circled. It’s all rather tiring, I admit. You rush through the sliding doors, hoping and praying the other thirty or so people ahead of you don’t want the exact same thing as you. You got there early enough, so it shouldn’t be a problem, but the incessant butterflies – from the cold or your upcoming secret mission (No one really knows) – make you determined to throw and elbow or two, if need be.

For film and TV nerds like me, it’s an especially wonderful time of year. TV seasons usually priced at forty dollars or more suddenly transform into ten-dollar deals. Films you’ve been dying to see or have been waiting to add to your overstocked collection follow similarly, prices falling lower than you’ve ever seen before. Clothes. Electronics. Music. Games. Everything you could ever want or need discounted for a reasonable price. It’s a smorgasbord of sales!

However, this year, stores are opening earlier than ever have before. Of course, that’s all fine and dandy. I’ll gladly get up at two o’clock in the morning just so that I can get the latest season of The Big Bang Theory for five dollars (True story). Except, don’t we have to draw the line somewhere? Eight o’clock on Thanksgiving evening is a bit extreme, even for the seasoned Black Friday shopper, like me. The time that we usually set aside for our families now has been cut short by the need to shop until we drop. Is it really worth it?

The dominant fangirl part of my brain is shouting Hell, Yes! at the top of her lungs. Nothing will deter her from her goal. The other, more subdued, part of my brain is tucked up warm in her bed, dreaming of acquiring the same deals – clad in her fuzzy slippers and pajamas – on Cyber Monday.

What will she do? Which is the right path for her to take?

Should we start calling it Black Thursday now?

What’s up with that?

Breaking Dawn (Part 2)

My fellow twihards, it may come as a shock to some of you, but please try to understand what I’m about to say: I’m not excited for Breaking Dawn (Part 2) at all. Nada. Zip. Zilch.

Yes, it’s true.

I’ve recently realized, I’ve always been a Twilight fan (An Edward fan. A Cullen fan), but I’ve never been a fan of the film franchise. I’ll probably never will be, either.

In the early years, you would have seen me with that familiar sly smile of anticipation – much like the one that graces your face now – first in line, clad in all my Edward paraphernalia. It was a different time, back then. I had hope; hope that they’d turn things around; hope that there would be no more monotone voices of doom; hope that they’d actually follow the book. After three films, I started to drift. Twilight fanfiction had taken hold, replacing the hole left by the disappointing film saga. I just didn’t see the point anymore. I never thought the film adaptations were worthy of the novels, anyway. What did it matter if I wasn’t seated in the theatre opening night?

When Part 1 came and went, I felt little remorse. That’s not to say I didn’t snatch up the DVD when it came out, because I did (You have to have a completed collection, you know). But I didn’t watch it. I still haven’t.

I may be a cynic – thinking that this film will also not live up to my expectations – but I have no interest in seeing the final installment of the saga. My probably too high standards are only part of the problem, I admit, as well. You need only guess the others. I just don’t recognize the films to be a part of Stephenie Meyer’s comprehensive universe.

Some may feel differently, but the books are my Twilight; they always will be.

But if you happen to go to the theatre this weekend and see Breaking Dawn (Part 2) . . . you know, you could always tell me what that super-secret surprise ending is all about. For my curiosity’s sake, of course. It’s not like I care or anything. Because I don’t.

(5 Seconds Later)

Please tell me! I need to know! It’s driving me insane! Arrrgggggg.

The Host

A couple of days ago, the second trailer for The Host was released. In case you were wondering, my first reaction played as follows:

HOLY OH MY GOD AWESOME FUDGE!! {Incoherent Babble} THAT WAS AMAZING. {Incoherent Babble} PERFECT. Seriously, is it March yet?

I predict your thoughts ran along the same lines.

I have to say, after this, I feel a hundred times more optimistic that this film will be utterly fantastic. Don’t let me down, Andrew Niccol. I’m counting on you.

What did you think of these random ramblings? Will you be out shopping Black Friday? What deals are you hopping to get? Are you going to see Breaking Dawn this weekend? What do you think the surprise ending is? What did you think of the newest trailer for The Host? Did it exceed your expectations? Team Jared or Team Ian? Tell me in the comments!

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