Frozen film review

   Disney and their animated films have been a staple for countless children growing up over decades. The quality of some films has waxed and waned every few years, but as a whole the House of Mouse has released what has to be considered the penultimate American animation features going back generations. While their entry into the field of CGI has been fraught with hits and misses, Frozen is a film that guarantees to please those who wants something new to watch with the family as well as those looking for Disney to continue their efforts into CGI.

Stuff the Disney Princesses Taught Me About Life

Growing up, I loved Ariel from The Little Mermaid. I mean who doesn’t want to live underwater, have fish friends, sing about thing-a-ma-bobs and brush your hair with a fork? In fact, on several occasions I attempted brushing my hair with a fork. That didn’t work out.

This doesn't hurt at ALL!
Via austenrisolvato

I wanted to be like Ariel. I mean, she is adventurous, has many talents and is extremely sociable, what’s not to love? Now, looking back, I see that there are a few huge drawbacks with Ariel’s story that Disney legitimized. Like… selling your soul and your voice to an evil sea witch for some guy you just met.

For the last portion of my “Stuff I learned” section, I’ll be giving close inspection to the fair, the sweet, the animal-charming Disney Princesses. The negative messages characterized by Disney Princess movies and franchises can be broken down into four parts, so let's get this video cassette tape rolling! 

Via SilentMermaid21

UT Tyler students get student discounts at movie theaters

                Who doesn’t love movies? No one…exactly. Watching movies should be the unofficial pass time in America, along with baseball. We all love walking into the theater and smelling the great smell of popcorn.

                Tyler offers three different movie theaters: Carmike, Hollywood Theater, and Times Square Cinema.  Hollywood Theater and Times Square offer student discounts. At Hollywood it costs $6.75 and at Times Square it will cost you $6.50. Great rates right? So take your student I.D. and show it as you buy the ticket.

                The closest ones to the university are Times Square and Carmike, but try to go to all three and see how each three is to your liking.

                Times Square is located in a shopping center appropriately called Times Square shopping center. There you will find other options to hang out such as eating at Double Dave’s Pizza, Julian’s restaurant, and other amenities.

                Carmike is located more down South Broadway Avenue, where in its own center there are dining options like Taco Bell and Long John Silver’s, with a TCBY frozen yogurt store, Wingstop and Smashburger right across the street.

                Hollywood Theater offers two dining options at its local such as Chicken Express and Rudy’s BBQ.

                Speaking of movie theaters, if you haven’t been recently, you really need to do so. There have been really great movies that you all should watch. Recently I have seen Man of Steel, Monsters University, Despicable Me 2 and the Heat.

                These four movies have been really entertaining to watch and you are sure to enjoy them. If you love comedies, Monters U, Despicable Me and the Heat are sure to get your funny bone going. For the animated movies, there are really entertaining moments, such as the appropriate college references in Monsters University and the hilarious shenanigans of the minions in Despicable Me.

Check out the trailer for Monsters U to the left!

                If you would like to reminisce on your childhood, definitely watch Man of Steel. This movie is absolutely amazing with the Superman storyline. It is packed with action, drama, and excitement that is sure to get your blood pumping as you sit in the theater. Check out the trailer to Man of Steel to the right!

So if you're ever just sitting at your dorm or apartment, get some friends and go enjoy these fun places that Tyler has to offer!

Ani-What-Now? Anime and You PART 2

Anime and You
PART 2: Deeper Themes & Genres

   In the last blog I got to talk about a small section of the Anime-Cake which included what an “opening animation” was, as well as some genres ( although, obviously, not all of them could be included – I’ll mention some more here … )

Ani-what-now? Anime & You!

Ani-What-now? Anime & You! 

PART 1 - An Introduction! 

[Disclaimer ~ Anime is a huge topic. HUGE! It is about as 'deep' as trying to explain the diversity in literature or novels. As such, this blog covered very, very broad strokes of content. I'd love to go more into some weirder shows like Hellsing, Berserk, Kenshin, or others, but for now this introduction is possibly the best entry point into the anime waters. Deeper subjects to follow? We'll see! ]

Pink Hair? Ninja? Must be anime ...

One of my favorite things in the world is "anime", Japanese animated programming that has subject content that ranges from being OK for young adult audiences all the way to R-Rated content. Much like our own American TV system, Japanese anime can cover topics from the adorable to the violent, it just depends on what you like and what you consider "worth watching". While the legal rights system which governs showing copyrighted TV content here at the University of Texas at Tyler has prevented out long-standing Anime Club from being able to show these titles, it does not keep this topic from being particularly popular and beloved by many UT Tyler students.

   While I think it might be worth covering Japanese anime in more depth across different blog posts, I think an "Introduction to Anime" post might be fun! I'll cover the genres anime can (broadly) cover, the opening animations/songs, and the difference between anime for TV, OVA ( Japan's answer to Direct-to-DVD shows ), and movies that appear in cinema.

Movie-Viewing Entertainment

So, it's definitely getting to be that time in the semester when everyone is stressing out. Mid-terms are causing a campus-wide panic, and we realize that we really DO need to study and pass these classes! Luckily, if you LOVE going to the movies (like me), Tyler has plenty of options for your trip to the theater.

There are several movies that are currently out in theaters that I want to see! Just yesterday I crossed one off of the list when I got to see Pitch Perfect, and it was absolutely HILARIOUS! :) If you think the preview looks funny, then you have to go see this movie! You will have done a work out from laughing so much after this movie, and it would definitely be an awesome study-break.

Other movies that are currently in the theater that I want to see are: Here Comes The Boom, Perks of Being a Wallflower, Seven Psychopaths, Taken 2, and Trouble With The Curve.

My personal favorite movie theater in Tyler is Times Square Cinema. They have good prices, a student price (must have valid and current student ID), and they are pretty close to UT Tyler! (Here is a list of all of their promos/deals).

Well there you have it! You can probably learn a lot about someone by what movies they like/want to see. :)

What is there to do in Tyler, Texas?

One of my favorite things to do in my free time is to explore Tyler and the surrounding area and see what new fun things I can find to do. Tyler has a lot of activities to check out. Here are a few of my personal favorites.

Liberty Hall Movie Theater is an amazing little theater in downtown Tyler that has about two movie showings every week. They show movies ranging from Cinderella to Raiders of the Lost Ark, and it's always a fun experience.
The Center for Earth & Space Science Education at Tyler Junior College is a must-see for anyone who finds the stars and the universe to be incredible. They have a nice museum and top of the line planetarium shows daily. They even have laser rock shows every week.
The Cowan Center is easily my favorite extracurricular features of UT Tyler. They have events ranging from Broadway musicals to guest speakers like George W. Bush and Bill Cosby. And to make it even better, students can get free tickets to many of the events!
The Cliffs in Lindale, Texas are a great place to go during the summer. It's an old abandoned rock quarry that has been filled with spring water over time, and they have opened it to the public to use as a swimming area. The main attraction to The Cliffs is that they have several cliffs ranging from five to sixty feet around the "pond" that are safe to dive from. It's a scary load of fun!
Sky Dive East Texas is another adventure for those looking for an adrenaline rush. It's located at the Gladewater Airport about thirty minutes outside of Tyler, and Outdoor Adventures at the HPC normally does a group trip there every semester for only $150 (about $70 less than the usual fee).
Tyler State Park is located just north of I-20, and is about 20 minutes from campus. It has wonderful hiking and biking trails as well as beautiful camp sites. To help you enjoy the beautiful lake the park office rents out everything from kayaks to small fishing boats on the weekend, for a small fee.
The Tyler Rose Garden is Tyler's claim to fame. It's a great place to go for a leisurely walk and enjoy the scenery. The best part of it is that it's always free year round.
Tiger Creek is a great local non-profit whose goal is "To provide rescue and rehabilitation of big cats that have been abused, neglected or displaced." It's only $10 to enter and you get the experience of a zoo without the crowds, and they have guided tours Monday through Saturday.
Caldwell Zoo is a classic entertainment destination in Tyler. With over two thousand animals on eighty five acres, Caldwell Zoo is a prefect place to go if you're a fan of all things animal related.

Free Movie

Tuesday night, I went to the UC Theatre for a free screening of a movie called Cairo Time. At first, I thought it was going to be a documentary about Egypt. I was totally into a documentary, regardless of how long I’d have to sit still. After I looked it up I discovered that it was a romantic drama, I wasn’t sure if I’d be into romance.

I thought twice about going. Maybe it would be lame? It was free and I had already invited a friend, so I attended anyway.
Best decision I’ve made for myself in a while.
It was a magnificently filmed and acted movie, even with the gooey lovie dovie parts.

Aside from that, it was a movie of clashing American and Middle Eastern culture. The way women were seen, specifically, interested me.

In one part Juliette, the leading lady played by Patricia Clarkson, enters a coffee shop to find her friend Tareq, played by Alexander Siddig. She talks to him for 5 minutes of the movie, and finally notices that everyone was staring at her, and asks why. She finds out that coffee shops are only for men! Everyone that was staring at her didn’t say anything because “it wouldn’t be polite”.

The GATE Program, or Global Awareness Through Education, is a two-year residential learning program and a series of planned events on campus that are designed for students. They are globally engaging, culturally diverse, and always fun.

 Free movies, too.