Last month I came up with my personal creed which include 8 values that I am trying to live by. Transparency is the first one.
Live With Transparency
Be open, vulnerable, and honest. Have real, open, and sincere communication with others, especially those closest to me. Always be my true self.
“The first thing is to be honest with yourself. You can never have an impact on society if you have not changed yourself”Nelson Mandela
I define as transparency as being being authentic to ones self, and to the people around us. It's being open, honest and real with others.
Through out the past month though I have been able to learn and experience a lot when it comes to this topic and I want to share a few of those things. First off I have realized that being authentic and transparent can often be very difficult.
The other night Taylor and I were watching the show Extreme Weight Loss, and this particular episode was about a father daughter duo trying to loose weight together and also repair a broken relationship. When they first start working out, they also took time to let out their raw, caged emotions. It was uncomfortable and sad to watch these two people who were trying to change bring back dark emotions and have such a painful experience both physically and emotionally. I realized that sometimes in order to change and be transparent with the people around us we may have to experience some discomfort in order to reach the happiness and alignment we so long for. It's like the saying, sometime things have to get worse before they get better.
As I've been on my journey of being more transparent and authentic I have had a few of these moments myself. Though not quite as dramatic they still have been uncomfortable but eventually they have led to the results I have wanted. I've really learned though that it important to be authentic and to feel the emotions we have inside of us. I think that it's okay to let them, out even the negative ones (at the appropriate time). The most important part though is making sure that these emotions don't overcome or control us.
Another part of being being real and acknowledging our emotions is balancing optimism with it. One of the things I have always been very good at is being optimistic. It's a strength that I thank the Lord everyday that I have. It has helped me navigate through so many of life's difficult challenges. But sometime when someone is very optimistic they don't always see reality, or they don't always understand why another person can't overcome something difficult in their life.
For example, I remember I once had a friend come to me with a problem that was starting to cause deep depression in their life, and my advice to them was you just have to have a positive attitude and look and things different. Now it's not that my advice was bad, its that I never acknowledged that their struggle was real, and it's probably something my friend had heard numerous times. I feel that being transparent and authentic has helped me recognize that there is more to optimism then just telling ourselves to be happy.
One of my favorite quotes about optimism and happiness is:
"I am determined to be happy and cheerful in whatever situation I may find myself in" Martha Washington
I use to think that this meant that we need to be happy and cheerful in every single second of lives, and while that's a great goal it's not always realistic. I now think that the key word in this quote is "determined". We won't be happy in every moment, but we can be determined to be. That doesn't mean sweeping our feeling under the rug, that means embracing them and learning how to conquer those negative feelings.
I'm not the best at being authentic, but my wife Taylor is. She is one of the most open and real people that I have ever met. She has had to bear so much in her life and because of that she really gets people and their struggles. She has been an inspiration to me, and has help me learn to express my real emotions.
After a month of trying to be authentic, transparent, and sincere I feel I still have A LOT to work on, but I also feel like I have made some progress. I'm excited to continue my journey on being authentic and I look forward to trying to incorporate it into expressing more gratitude in my life.
Throughout my whole life I have been given so much, and blessed with so many incredible people and experiences. I have two loving families that I'm a part of, a happy marriage, a good job, a car that works, and so much more. I'm part of a faith that I love and that brings me so much joy. I have so much to look forward to in life.
For a while now, I have felt that my life has been a little unfocused and disorganized. I've struggled being motivated, and I get distracted easily. I have felt as though I have been living each day without any real purpose. I've wanted something to bring some sort of consistency and some of sort of focus for each day.
With so many changes happening in my life the last few months, I have felt that it has been slipping out of my control. So I decided to craft for myself a personal creed, or a set of values and absolutes to try and live by.
This has been something that I have always wanted to do and I first got the idea when I was a missionary in Australia. My mission president told me a story about one of our early church leaders (I can't remember which one) who had their own personal creed that he used to guide his actions and decisions. That night I was inspired to start writing my own personal creed, but I never got around to finishing it.
A few months back my brother Myke, wrote a blog posted entitled Creed (which I was hoping would was going to be about the band at first) and I was again inspired. This simple, but deliberate declaration compelled me to want to take more control of my ownlife. To live by a code that would steer me in a path of living with purpose. After a few months of pondering, tinkering, and trial and error, I have come up with a personal creed that I feel will help point me in the direction I need in my life.
My creed consists of 8 core values of which I want to strive to live by. (My idea for this came from the book Delivering Happiness, written by the Zappos CEO, and also from Benjamin Franklin's 13 virtues.) Some of them are tangible things that I can work on improving, while others are more reminders or a change in mindset.
8 Values and Absolutes to Live By
Live With Transparency
Be open, vulnerable, and honest. Have real, open, and sincere communication with others, especially those closest to me. Always be my true self.
“The first thing is to be honest with yourself. You can never have an impact on society if you have not changed yourself”Nelson Mandela
Be Grateful in Every Circumstance
Seek to be grateful in every situation of my life. Learn to not complain or make excuses. Appreciate the beauty in my life, even when life is at it's darkest.
“How much of life do we miss by waiting to see the rainbow before thanking God that there is rain?” Dieter Uchtdorf
Do What I Say I Will Do
Be dependable. Find solutions to problems, don’t be the problem. Be different from the crowd. Do what I say I will do. Take action, and live to tell stories.
“Do or do not, there is no try” Yoda
Live My Passions
Align my activities with my dreams and passions. Don’t waste my time doing things that do not create value and happiness. Do not mistakes this as not doing hard things, but rather maximizing my time to do the most important things.
“There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.” Nelson Mandela
Seek Happiness, Not Pleasure
Pleasure and lust create momentary enjoyment, happiness creates lasting fulfillment and joy. Identify what brings true lasting happiness, and what brings temporary enjoyment. Align myself with things that bring happiness, not pleasure.
"Your Short Term Desires Are the Enemies of Your Long Term Dreams" Anonymous
Talk to Everyone
Be invested and interested in people. People are NOT objects. Say hello to the people around me. Seek to do things to benefit the people around me. Every person has a story to tell. Listen to others, and seek ways to to increase my circle of friends.
“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.” Charles Dickens
Surround Myself with Greatness
I can not succeed on my own. Every day of my life align myself with someone or something that will help me reach success. Find people who I can share my goals, dreams, and desires with that will listen, counsel, advice, and ultimately let me make my own choices.
“Surround yourself with the dreamers and the doers, the believers and thinkers, but most of all, surround yourself with those who see the greatness within you, even when you don’t see it yourself.” Edmund Lee
On My Path to Success, Failures Will Happen
I cannot succeed without first failing. Mistakes and obstacles will happen, learn to pivot and move past them. Embrace them, learn from them, and move forward. Most importantly, BE CONSISTENT!
“Why do we fall? So we can learn to pick ourselves back up” Thomas Wayne
I realized that trying to accomplish 8 things at once would probably be an impossible task, so I decided that I would focus on a different value each month, and then repeat over and over again until I am perfect at each. So pretty much, I will be focusing on these goals for the rest of my life, unless I happen to live till 150, I should be pretty good at them by then. While I don't expect to perfect all of these things in the next months, or even years, I do however, expect to make small improvements in my life that will help bring the focus and purpose I'm yearning for. If you see me, ask me how I am doing at my goals. I need the accountability, plus it means you read my blog.
Now, I think it's time to go listen to some Creed.
I have recently started doing movie reviews with Mormons at the Megaplex! You can check out my first review of the Fault in Our Stars! I will still be using this blog to write all of my randoms thoughts and experiences, but a lot of my movie focused posts will be over there now.
What do they have in common? Well not a lot really.......expect for one other thing.
A few weeks ago X-Men Days of Future Past came out. I loved the movie for a lot of different reasons but one of the things that stayed with me the most is the overall premise of X-Men.
X-men is all about a group of people who are feared and judged because they appear different. In reality though, they are the exact same as other humans, just with certain physical gifts or powers. But because they are mutants they are treated differently.
As many people know my Grandma Kendall passed away very recently. Before she died, a few family members and I had the opportunity to sit down and talk with her. She was in excruciating pain and it was incredibly difficult for her to sit and talk (but it was a moment that I will always treasure because I got to have one last conversation with her).
One of the last things my sweet and spunky Grandma said to us was to love and accept people, no matter what they do. Even if people are doing things we don't agree with, love them.
Even those closest to us who we may think we need to change. We can not control them, we can love them and accept them. Those words will always stay with me.
Really when you think about it, it's such a simple concept, but yet it can be so hard to actually do.
Accepting others just the way they are is something that my Grandma was a pro at. Even in her later years when she was deathly sick she always went to an extra effort to accept people into her home.
She always made a place in her home for anyone who had no where else to go. Whenever I would bring friends over she would embrace them like they were her own grandchildren.
She was a big believer in never giving up on people, and always loved and accepted other regardless of what they chose to do with their life. In the latest X-Men film (which is where I'm going with the connection) there is a line that I think perfectly explains one of my Grandma’s philosophies of life:
“Just because someone stumbles and loses their path, doesn’t mean they can’t be saved.”
Charles Xavier
She emulated this motto till the end and I’m so grateful for her incredible example.
Fourteen years ago superhero movies were not really a thing. Sure people knew who Spider-man, Batman, and Wolverine were, but besides that, the common public didn't really know much about superheroes. I would even bet that some people didn't even know who Ironman, Thor, or the Avengers were. But, in the summer of 2000 the first X-Men film was released and the rest is history. While the X-Men films started out strong, they eventually started to wander a little bit, and for a while kind of got push aside to make room for other superheroes. With X-Men: Days Future Past being both critically and financially successful it looks like the X-Men films series is back on track.
In anticipation for the latest film my brother Matt and I re watched all of the X-Men films, and I was reminded how great this film series is. There not all created equal, but they each have their place. The thing I love about X-Men is that there is so much more to them than just being superheroes. They are stories of survival, fear, oppression, acceptance of others and yourself, working as a team, and overcoming incredible odds. So for my latest blog entry I have decided to outline my favorite moments from from the X-Men films. So without further adieu, here they are! (Heads up there are spoilers)
15. Wolverine Fighting in Every American War: X-Men Origins: Wolverine
The first Wolverine movie was the weakest of all the films, but it had one of the coolest opening scenes from any movie I've seen. In about 5 minutes it shows Wolverine and his brother Sabertooth fight in just about everyone American war starting with the Civil War all the way up to the Vietnam war. In 5 minutes this scene showed us who the character of Wolverine really is, and that he's been through a lot of crap.
14. Wolverine Kills Jean Grey: X-Men: The Last Stand
Throughout all the first three movies Wolverine is constantly trying to hook up with Jean Grey. But when he finally has the opportunity she decides to go crazy. Wolverine knowing that he is the only one who can stop her is faced with a difficult decision; kill the women he loves, or let thousands and maybe even millions die. It's a pretty dark and heart wrenching scene. It is a very bitter sweet moment.
13. Bullet Train Chase Scene: The Wolverine
The next Wolverine stand alone film was filled with a lot great action scenes and character moments, but I think my favorite is the fight scene on top of the bullet train. It's both thrilling, and innovative, and it shows Wolverine in a vulnerable state which makes the situation even more intense.
12. The Future Opening Battle: Days of Future Past
Days of Future sure did open with bang. In about 5 minutes we got so see about 5 new awesome mutant powers and we got our first look at the sentinels, and man were those sentinels scary. We see the likes of mutants such as Ice-man, Blink, Sunspot, and Warpath killed in matter of minutes. This scene not was an awesome sequence but it set up the tone of the movie, and showed that what our heroes were going to be facing would not be a cake walk.
11. Jean Grey Sacrifices Herself: X2: X-Men United
Another powerful moment featuring Jean Grey. This scene is great because it's emotional, and heartbreaking as we see one of the legendary X-Men give up her life to save those she cares about. It's also really the first time we see how powerful Jean Grey can really be.
10. Wolverine Saves Rogue: X-Men
One of the best things about the first X-Men film was the relationship between Wolverine and Rouge, and this scene demonstrates that Logan isn't all that tough, and that he does have a human side to him. It's a very touching scene that shows Wolverine going out of his way to help one of his fellow X-Men.
9. Xavier Sees His future: Day of Future Past
While DOFP features a lot of different characters, it's real main character is Xavier, and about the redemption of his soul and finding hope again. I love this scene in the movie because he finally begins to accept who he is again and embrace his powers. I loved seeing both James McAvoy and Patrick Stewart together on the same screen as well.
8. Quicksilver Jail Break: Days of Future Past
Quicksilver was definitely the breakout character in the newest X-Men film, and this scene was both hilarious and exciting! Quicksilver is was one the most visually impressive X-Men. I can't wait to see more of him in the next film.
7. Xavier vs Magneto Airplane Show Down: Days of Future Past
One of the best things about the new films is the relationship between Professor X and Magneto. Once great friends turned to bitter rivals, and this scene we finally get to see the two hash it out. But the scene is not one of great mutant powers, but rather it's an emotional battle of words. We learn about what both of theses characters have been through and we can relate to both of them.
6. Death of Professor X: The Last Stand
I was so shocked the first time I saw this. I could not believe that they would kill off Professor X and because of that it was incredibly emotional for me the first time I saw it. The fact that it was Jean Grey was the one the killed him made it that much more shocking. This scene also has a pretty awesome fight scene between Wolverine and Juggernaut.
5. Nightcrawler's Attack on the White House: X2: X-Men United
The first scene in the second X-Men film opens with a huge bang! In about 5 minutes we see one mutant take out the entire secret service. This scene is one of the most visually impressive scenes in any movie. It's both fun and terrifying as we see Nightcrawler demonstrate how lethal he can be.
4. Wolverine Wakes Up in the New Future: Days of Future Past
This end scene was both triumphant and touching. It reminded me of the final scene of Inception when Cobb, wakes up from his dream. It great to see that Wolverine's mission was successful and they had prevent the terrible future and see old characters back from the dead.
3. Wolverine Goes Berserk in the Mansion- X2: X-Men United
When Strikers sends his goons to attack the mansion they didn't expect to run in a crazy, butt kicking Wolverine. This was the first time we really got to see Wolverine do some real damage. This is one of the most heart pounding scenes of the whole series. Hugh Jackman does an amazing job at portraying the pent up anger that's been brewing inside of Wolverine.
2. Xavier becomes a Cripple: First Class
I loved First Class, but there aren't a ton of memorable scenes, except this one. Like I said before, one of the best things about these movies is the relationship between Charles and Eric. This is scene is heartbreaking as we see them fight for the first time and eventually see Xavier become crippled because Magneto. This scene poses the questions, are we willing to stick to what we believe in, even if it hurts the people around us? That's exactly what happens as Magneto so full of hate for humans wishes to destroy them, that he ends of hurting the person closest to him.
1. Final Battle: Days of Future Past
The last 20 minutes of the final battle, that rotates between Magneto's attack on the white house and the sentinel attack in the future is the most intense, thematic, and emotional scene of the all of the X-Men films. Not only does it have amazing action sequences and incredible special effects (Magneto freaking picks up a football stadium!) it also has a lot of heart to it. I'm not going to lie I got a little tear eyed when I saw the death of many of the mutants in the future scenes. But the thing I liked the most it is that I felt that this final battle was really more about saving the soul of Mystique, rather than the actual physical fight. That fact alone makes it that much more thrilling, and profound. Along with stopping Magneto, Xavier is trying to save his life long friend from a life a despair and suffering. It's an incredibly exciting and thought provoking ending to the best X-Men movie yet.
Those are some of my favorite scenes. Did I miss any other good ones?
Just over 10 years ago I lost someone very close to me. Someone who had so much of his life still ahead of him. But regardless of how long he lived in his mortal body, he played an incredible part in my life. In 1991 I was almost three years old when my family moved from Colorado to Arizona. It was not long after that I met a brown skinned, curly haired kid named Carl. I can't say I remember the first time we met, but I remember that we were always the best of friends.
Growing up I was a pretty shy and timid kid, but not Carl. He was adventurous, determined, and ambitious. He was a dreamer. At one point he wanted to be a dolphin trainer at Sea World, as well as an airplane pilot. If he was still alive today I would not be surprised if ended up doing both.
Carl was one of the few people I know that always chased his dreams and did what made himself happy. If he wanted to do something he never stopped to hesitate, he went after it and did it. He lived his life the way he wanted but he always made sure to include people in his adventures. I don’t know if I have ever met a more fun person than Carl. He was always up for anything and everything.
One of my favorite memories was when Carl, and our friend Zack and I were about 13. We spent most of the day in the wave pool at Big Surf riding the waves with our rafts. As the day was coming to an end Carl leaned over to Zack and I and said “This is the best day ever”. The thing is, that’s pretty much how almost every day ended with Carl.
Like I mentioned before, I was a shy and timid little boy, and sometimes those traits still resonate in me. Sometimes I hesitate to go after the things that I want, and sometimes I wish I would be more determined and adventurous. I wish I had my friend Carl by my side to help me with these things.
But today, 10 years after his death, I hope that rather than sitting around and expecting things to happen, I am determined to be more like Carl and go after what I want. Not waiting around for life to happen, but to go live my dreams. Make time for the important people in my life. End each day by saying "This is the best day ever". And just like Carl, do the things that make me happy! I love you buddy, thank you for making my life so much fun and teaching me to chase after my dreams. Until we meet again!
On March 15th, my wife, Taylor and I began our longest road trip together. We left Kansas City early that morning and began the trek back to our hometown of Mesa, Arizona in a large moving truck. The days before were very exciting and enjoyable that were spent with my family touring Kansas City, visiting LDS historic sites, eating delicious food, and then celebrating my brother Myke’s wedding. There
was so much happiness and love that was felt as I witnessed my brother and new
sister in law, Sarah, and her son Miles, join together as a family.
Taylor and I volunteered to drive Sarah’s things from Kansas
City to Mesa and we were looking forward to our long road trip together. A few
hours into the drive we found ourselves in Oklahoma City enjoying some delicious
cheeseburgers when we heard just about the worst news anyone can experience in
this life. Taylor’s cousin CJ had passed away.
He was an 11 year boy with down syndrome and he died valiantly
trying to rescue his dog from a canal. He was
a young man so full life, with the ability to make everyone around him happy. A few months after our wedding Taylor became
one of CJ’s respite workers. Over the past three years we both became very close
to this beautiful young man. Whether we were chasing him through the halls at
church, or playing “slam dunk” with him at the basketball court, he brought so much joy into our lives.
It was almost impossible to be around CJ and not feel happiness.
Within 24 hours we went from experiencing feelings of pure
joy to sadness and despair. As we got into the large moving truck to continue the long journey home I felt completely helpless as
I watched my wife cry for the loss of her dear cousin. I wanted so bad to do
something to comfort her, and myself. We drove in silence for a while, with the occasional
updates from Taylor’s parents. I began to wonder, why
do these things happen? I believe there is a loving God in heaven who watches out for
us, and I found myself asking why would he take away this sweet child?
Eventually Taylor and I began to talk about CJ and the incredible life
he lived. We talked about his love of ice-cream, the Phoenix Suns, his animals, and his fighter guys. We couldn't help but laugh as we reminisced about how he owned the dance floor at our wedding, or when he would say things like "you owe me 5 bucks". Despite knowing that I would not see this little stud again in this life, hope began to be infused back into my soul, as we talked about his amazing life. The thought of him in heaven with his dear grandpa, who he was named after, also helped us to find more purpose in this tragic event.
The week following CJ's death we had the amazing experience to be apart of the viewing and funeral that celebrated his life. His viewing and funeral did not feel like the traditional somber events that those things typically are. Rather, they were joyous testaments to the wonderful life CJ lived. He did so much in those short 11 years, and he is an inspiration to live each day to the fullest, and treasure all the moments that we have. His parents did an incredible job of honoring their sweet son. I couldn't help but walk away from these two events feeling uplifted and motivated, despite the fact that it was a tragedy. I felt closer to my wife, and greater love and appreciation for my family and friends.
Life is short, but it is sweet. Whether we are experiencing the joys of a wedding, or the death of a loved one, I have come to know that all of these things have meaning and purpose. All of these events, I believe, point to an eternal God who has a plan for us. All of these things can bring us closer to the ones we love, and to the God who created us.
A few months ago I recommitted myself to have faith in Jesus Christ, and I am so glad that I did. I believe that through Him, I will be able to see my dear friend CJ again, and the other people I have lost in this life.
Life is such a great phenomenon that allows us to experience immense joy, and also brings about great tragedy, but at the end of the day, not matter how hard life is sometimes or how how blissful it can be, I believe that "all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be
for thy good" (Doctrine and Covenants 122:7).
***Also, I want to say thank you to all of the countless people who reached out their arms of fellowship and words of sympathy. Even the simple "sorry" and "I am thinking about you and your family" from texts, Facebook posts, and phone calls meant so much to us! I know it's really hard to comfort another person when they have lost someone, but those little things go a long way.
Two weeks ago I started my final semester of my undergrad at ASU (woohoo!) and one of my classes this semester is called Deductive Logic, Leadership/Management Techniques (CON 294). So far its been a really awesome class (probably one of the best classes I've taken in my undergrad) and I would recommend it anyone. The first week of class we talked about whether or not randomness/chance, control, and influence are real, and whether or not they effect decision making.
As I thought about what control and influence really are I was reminded of a few different things. The first of those things was the film the Dark
Knight (sorry if you haven’t seen it, there are some mild spoilers). In the movie the Joker's one goal is to corrupt the people of Gotham City, especially the three main
heroes, Batman, Commissioner Gordon, and Harvey Dent by creating chaotic
situations that pushes each of them to their limits. Throughout the film the
Joker does many things to try and influence their decisions but ultimately the only one to fully give into the Joker's enticements is Harvey Dent.
In my class we talked about whether or not influence or control
really exist, and at the end of the class we were told that it ultimately does
not exist. But as I thought about this movie I noticed that the through the Joker’s influence he was able to affect Harvey’s decision making. Then I reflected back to about how Batman and Commissioner Gordon faced the same chaos from the Joker, but they did not
give into the Joker's influence.
After some more thought I came to the conclusion that influence only
exist if we allow it to. Ultimately everyone has a choice and no matter how
much someone tries to make us do something or change us, it’s our choice on how
we respond to it. In the case of this movie, terrible things happen to each of
the three main characters that were out of their control, but the one thing that was in their control is how they responded to them, and whether or not they allowed these bad things influence or control them. So in the case of Harvey, he allowed the
influence and chaos the Joker created, to control him and affect his decision
making. He allowed uncontrollable external factors determine his fate.
A few days after this thought process I watched my favorite team, the
49ers play in the NFC championship game. They ended up losing, which was very
disappointing to me, but ultimately I had the choice to let their loss, something
that was not in my control, affect me in a negative way, or chose to move past
it and look for something positive. Either the way the choice is mine. I realize that these examples may seem trivial to some, but I think that it they demonstrated perfectly the ability we as human beings have to control our own fate, and to not let the "uncontrollable" things of our lives control us. It's definitely easier said then done, but I think that's an important principle to remember.
One of the simplest ways I've heard it said and what I think sums up what I'm trying to say is:
"Pain is something that we can't stop, but misery is optional"
Todd Chirstofferson
To sum it up, don't let the "Jokers" or uncontrollable factors in your life determine who you will become, or what you will do. That choice is up to us!
It's that time of year again, time for me to make a list of my favorite movies from 2013. Taylor and I saw a lot of movies this past year, and I mean a lot! Were talking like 30 plus movies! Not all of them were in the theaters, but still that's a lot of movies. For this post I decided to pick out my 10 favorite movies from 2013, and also point out the 10 movies I look forward to seeing most in 2013. It's a little different from the one I did last year. The 10 movies below are not only the most enjoyable movies of 2013, but also movies that I connected with on an emotional level, and had a wow factor to them. So with out further adieu, here they are!
Top 10 movies of 2013
10. Thor: The Dark World
Directed by: Alan Taylor
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston
Released: November 8
It was tough call between this and Iron Man 3. I really enjoyed both of Marvel's newest phase 2 films, but I think Thor barely edges out Iron Man 3. While this movie wasn't quite as good as the first, and there were a few flaws, overall it was still a very fun and exciting film. The action was very exciting and done in unique way. I loved being able to see more of Asgard in this movie, as well as the some of the other cosmic worlds. This movie had a lot of great twists and turns that I wasn't quite expecting, and of course Tom Hiddleston nailed it again as Loki. It was a lot of fun to see him and Thor working together in this one. Can't wait for more Thor and more Avengers!
9. Saratov Approach
Directed By: Garrett Batty
Starring: Corbin Allred, Maclain Nelson
Released: October 9
This film tells the true story about 2 Mormon missionaries being kidnapped in Russia. First let me just say that a lot of the movies in the "Mormon Cinema" genre are not very good, but this is not one of them. It does a lot more than just tell an incredible story, it inspires hope and understanding in the world we live in. This movie does a great job at mixing thrilling, intense, and realistic settings with hopefully and inspirational messages. It helps demonstrate how bad things happen to good people, but that even though bad things happen we don't have to let it make us miserable. I might be biased because I am Mormon and I went on a mission, but I think this is a movie that anyone would enjoy and should see.
8. 42 Directed by: Brian Helgeland
Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Harrison Ford
Released: April 12
I'm usually a sucker for sports movies, even some of the very cliche and not very good ones, but 42 is not one of the mediocre sports movie. It has a great story about an amazing man, who had to overcome a lot. I really like that they stayed true Jackie Robinson character and portrayed him how he really was, a virtuous and noble person. Many times movies take away those traits to make the character more interesting, but I found him to be even more interesting, and I loved the way they showed his patience and frustration as he tried to put up with all the persecution he received. Chadwick Boseman does a tremendous job as playing Jackie Robinson, but I think Harrison Ford may have stole the show. He was so awesome in this movie (which makes me excited about him returning as Han Solo soon). Even if you don't like sports I think that this is great movie that anyone would enjoy. Overall this is an outstanding film, that shows the power of what good values and sportsmanship can do to change the world.
7. Saving Mr. Banks Directed by: John Lee Hancock
Starring: Emma Thompson, Tom Hanks, Collin Farrell
Released: December 20
Another movie based on a true story makes my list. I'm sure this movie doesn't tell the real story completely accurately, but that doesn't mean it doesn't tell a great story. It's a pretty simple story, but it teaches so many great things in it, such as forgiveness, letting go, embracing adversity, determination, the power of collaborating, the power of imagination, the influence of fathers on their children, relying on others to reach success, and the power of storytelling. I loved that this movie emphasized that storytelling is what brings people hope and inspiration. My favorite quote from this film is when Disney says "That’s what story tellers do. We
restore order to imagination. We bring
hope". This movie told a beautiful story that reminded me of that. The acting was excellent by both Tom Hanks as Walt Disney and Emma Thompson as P.L Travers, but I think my favorite role was Collin Farrell as the optimistic yet tragic father. This movie also made me nostalgic for old Disney movies, and made me really excited to go to Disneyland later this year.
6. Captain Philips
Directed by:
Paul Greengrass
Starring:
Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi
Released:
October 11
Another Tom
Hanks and true story makes my list of favorite movies from 2013. This was one
intense and dramatic movie. I went into this one not expecting much, but I came
out being completely blown away by it! Out of all the Tom Hanks movies I've
seen this is one of his best. This movie was intense (like Dark Knight
intense), emotional, and so realistic that it makes you feel as if you are
witnessing all of this for real. I really enjoyed though that this movie doesn't
just show Captain Philips side of the story, but we also get to see the
perspective of the captors. We are able to understand their desperation and we
see why they do what they do (still doesn't make it okay, but it is interesting
and sad to see their motivation). Showing their desperation helps create
awareness and understanding. It also makes the movie very well rounded and that
much more interesting.
5. Gravity
Directed by:
Alfonso Cuarón
Starring:
Sandra Bullock, George Clooney
Released:
October 4
When I was a
kid I wanted to be astronaut when I grew up (probably from watching too much
Star Wars), but after seeing this movie, heck no! I know there has has been a
lot of hype and talk about this movie, and it rightfully deserves it. First
off, the visuals are astonishing. It makes you feel as if you are literally in
space with the characters. The visuals create both a beautiful image to look
at, and an incredibly intense and terrifying experience. Second, the acting is
great. Sandra Bullock does an incredible job at helping you feel like you are
trapped in space. Third, the score is amazing. And fourth the story, like
Saving Mr. Banks, is very simple but also deeply profound. The simple tale of
survival is taken to a whole different level with the characters being lost in
space. It was incredibly inspiring and motivating. Along with that I felt that
this movie was a beautiful allegory to life and the urgency to push on when
obstacles become too great to overcome. I really love this quote from one of the last scenes of the movie. "The way I see it, there are only
two possible outcomes. Either I make it down there in one piece and I have one
hell of a story to tell! Or I burn up in the next ten minutes. Either way,
whichever way... no harm, no foul!"
4. Star Trek Into Darkness Directed by: JJ Abrams
Starring: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Benedict Cumberbatch
Released: May 16
JJ Abrams set the bar pretty high with the first Star Trek, but I have to say, I think he may have past it with Into Darkness. It's a very fast paced
action adventure film, but it also delivers a lot of great character moments.
It carries on the momentum and fun that was established in the first film, and
adds to it. JJ Abrams does a great job at making this a very fun action adventure movie, and also an emotional and moving one as well. Usually movies like this are either one or the other. Another thing I love about this movie is how well the characters
interact with each other. It's does a great job at focusing on the main characters and their
progression, but it also makes very good use of all the supporting characters. The
action is incredible, and there are so many twists and turns throughout. This
movie had me on the edge of my seat the whole way through. The villain, played
by Benedict Cumberbatch, was so fun to watch. It also gave me a great reminder
of the importance of friendships, and putting the needs of others before our
own. Watching this movie makes me so excited to see
what J.J. Abrams will do with Star Wars!
3. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Directed by: Peter Jackson
Starring: Martin Freeman, Ian Mckellen, Richard Armitage Released: December 13 It's no secret that I love the world of Middle Earth (check out my blog about Lord of the Rings), and the second entry to the continuing story of the Hobbit did not disappoint! This movie was incredible! While the first Hobbit suffered from slow pacing, this one did not. The movie is almost three hours and I was never once bored. It had all of the amazing things you would expect from a movie set in Middle Earth, incredible cinematography and set pieces, outstanding special effects (Smaug looks amazing), and intense action sequences (I think the barrel and spider sequences are among the best action scenes this year). Many people have complained that these movies are adding unnecessary elements to the films, but I found Gandalf's sub plot about discovering the return of Sauron really interesting and exciting. I also really enjoyed that they brought Legolas back, and introduced the new character of Tauriel. I thought that both of them fit perfectly into the film, and Peter Jackson's world of Middle Earth. Overall this was a solid entry to an already amazing film series, and I can't wait to see the epic conclusion at the end of this year!
2. Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Directed by: Francis Lawrence Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth Released: November 22 Wow, what a movie this was! I haven't ever read the books, but I enjoyed the first film. It was a very well done movie, and while I looked forward to seeing Catching Fire, I didn't expect it to be as good as it was. The new director, Francis Lawrence, really stepped up and delivered. He did an amazing job at making me feel as if I lived in this world. I was able to feel the emotion of the characters and all that was at stake. I felt really connected to the characters, and the situations they were placed in. Jennifer Lawrence and the rest of the cast once again nailed it. Along with being an outstanding drama, this movie was also a great action adventure movie. The scenes in the arena were much more intense and fierce than the first one.This movie packs an emotional punch and it starts from the second it starts and doesn't stop until the credits start rolling. I also founding the story very moving and inspiring. It seems that many people think that these films are simply about violence, but I found the film to a moving story about courage, compassion, and the strength to stand up to things that are wrong.
1. Man of Steel
Directed by: Zack Snyder
Starring: Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon
Released: June 14
I absolutely loved
this movie! Of all the movies I saw this year this was the one that stayed with me the most after seeing it. The cast is excellent, from Henry Cavill stepping into the difficult role of
Superman/Clark Kent, to Kevin Costner and Russell Crowe as Clark's fathers, and
Michael Shannon as the tyrant ruler General Zod. The relationship that Clark
has with both his real parents and adoptive parents is one that I thought was
depicted perfectly in this movie, and one of the strongest aspects of the film. From the opening sequences on Krypton, to the final shot of Clark Kent
in the Daily Planet, I was completely engaged in this movie. I felt a real
connection to Clark’s journey of him trying to discover who he really is. They
showed him as a lost and confused soul, who is seeking to find his place in a world
where he shouldn't fit in. Hans Zimmer's score was also one of his best. Some people found the action to be a little
overboard, and while I can see why they feel that way, I loved it. I thought
that the action added such an intensity to the movie, that other Superman
films, and other superhero movies are missing. I’m not sure what a lot people
were expecting when they watched this film, or what they saw, but what I saw
was a movie that was full of intense action, great drama, emotionally engaging,
and profoundly moving. For that I can't wait to see this new universe of
Superman unfold, and I'm especially excited to see how Superman and Batman will
face off in the sequel.
Honorable Mentions: Oblivion, Iron Man 3, World War Z, The Way Way Back, Ender's Game
Movies I'm looking forward to most in 2014
10. The Lego Movie
Directed by: Phil Lord & Chris Miller
Starring: Chris Pratt, Will Ferrell, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett
Release Date: February 7
I've always really like Legos, not as much as brothers, but I still really appreciate them, and a movie about Legos just sounds awesome. And plus this movie has a great cast, and it looks hilarious. Also Batman is in!
9. Transcendence
Directed by: Wally Pfister Starring: Johnny Depp, Paul Bethany, Rebecca Hall Release Date: April 18
This is director debut of Wally Pfister, who has done the cinematography for almost all of Christopher Nolan's movies. So that right there already caught my attention. Plus its an original Sci-fi film, which I usually always enjoy, and the trailer makes it look very interesting.
8. Dawn of the Planet of Apes
Directed by: Matt Reeves
Starring: Andy Serkis, Gary Oldman, Jason Clarke
Release date: July 11
I really enjoyed the first movie, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and so with that I am eagerly anticipating the sequel. Add Gary Oldman to the mix along side Andy Serkis, and this should be pretty cool movie.
7. Guardian of the Galaxy
Directed by: James Gunn
Starring: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Vin Diesel, Bradly Cooper
Release date: August 1
I honestly don't really know much about this movie, or the comics these characters are based on, but the premise of it sounds really interesting, and it's got a really unique cast. Also it's a Marvel movie, so that pretty much means I'm going to see. I feel like this is either going to be really awesome, or really bad, but we shall see.
Sorry no trailer yet:(
6. The Amazing Spider-man 2
Directed by: Marc Webb
Starring: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Jamie Foxx
Release date: May 2
If you have read any of my old blogs you will know that I am a very big Spider-man fan, and that I really enjoyed the The Amazing Spider-man. This sequel looks like it will be a lot of fun, and it won't have to go through the origin story again like the first one had to.
5. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Directed by: Anthony & Joe Russo
Starring: Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan
Release date: April 4
I really enjoyed the first Captain America movie, but it wasn't my favorite of the Marvel movies. With that said though by the looks of this trailer this movie looks amazing, and a lot of fun! I'm really excited to see Captain take on the Winter Soldier and see what other surprises this movie will bring. (Side note: This movie has an interesting set of directors. There main credits are directing shows like Arrested Development and Community)
4. Hunger Games: Mocking Jay Part 1
Directed by: Francis Lawrence Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth Released: November 21 Before seeing Catching Fire, this movie might not have been on my list, but with that cliff hanger and knowing that Francis Lawrence is coming back to direct I can't wait for this one.
3. Interstellar
Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Michael
Caine Release date: November 7 I don't really know much about this movie, and the trailer doesn't really explain too much either. All I really know is that it's an original script from the Nolan brothers (Johnathan and Christopher), it's got a solid cast, and it's directed by Christopher Nolan. I love Nolan's Batman movies, but I almost love his other movies just as much (Memento, The Prestige, Inception), so I am really excited to see what they have come up with for this one.
2. The Hobbit: There and Back Again
Directed by: Peter Jackson
Starring: Martin Freeman, Ian Mckellen, Richard Armitage Released: December 17 There's no trailer for this one yet, but I'm I think we can expect great things from this final movie. I'm excited to to see Smaug one last time and the epic Battle of Five Armies.
1. X-men: Days of Future Past
Directed by: Bryan Singer
Starring: Hugh Jackman, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Ian McKellen, Patrick
Stewart
Release date: May 23
Out of all the movies coming out next year I am most excited for this one. I have always loved anything X-men, but since X2 I feel like there hasn't really been a truly epic X-men movie to do it justice. I think that this movie just might be the one though. It has the cast back from the original trilogy and the cast from First Class, it's based on one of the best X-men comics, and this trailer looks amazing! Can't wait!
Well thanks for reading. I really appreciate it! So what are some your favorite movies from 2013? And which ones are you looking forward to most in 2014?
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