Studying: You're the Devil

[trinityvixen]

I was supposed to do nothing but study this weekend. I even drove up to the middle-of-nowhere house so that I could be as far removed from the internet and video games that might distract me from my studies. I did okay, but I'm not yet satisfied with my progress on studying for my test tomorrow night. I won't be, really, until I take the test and get a grade so I can judge both a) how hard the tests will be, b) whether my studying method is appropriate for the tests I'm to be given, and c) how well the rest of the class does relative to me. That last is important, seeing as Biochemistry is a subject likely to be stocked choc-a-block with serious nerds whose lighter schedules give them a distinct advantage in terms of securing time to study, and who are more likely than not to be either pre-meds or related-science majors, both of whom are of the study-to-death, grub-for-every-point archetype--that archetype absolutely RUINS some class curves.

So, I was supposed to do nothing but study. I got five-six hours in on Saturday, more like 3 on Sunday. I just cracked. I needed a break on Saturday night, so I went to see Let Me In. It's fine. It's serviceable. It's the same goddamned movie as Let the Right One In but in English. Perhaps I would have enjoyed it more if I hadn't seen the Swedish version first. Perhaps--and this seems more likely to me--I'm more forgiving of movies filled with ponderous silences that are filmed in other languages in which I can pretend thirty seconds elapsing between bits of dialogue could be the norm.

While sitting in the theater for Let Me In, I was seized with the notion I should see Devil, and so, the next day, I did. Seeing two movies in a weekend? What, am I back in high school? Devil, by the by, is disappointing only in that it wasn't worse. It was a middling-to-okay thriller. Not having M. Night Shyamalan in the actual movie was a big step in the right direction. I admit to being biased towards disappointment more than most, however, as SPOILER (not really) the Devil was not, in fact, the elevator itself. That would have been too awesome. Also, the building got a bad rep despite the fact that it was really just the elevator that was misbehaving. And, as I may have mentioned, it wasn't even the elevator's fault, really.

That was my weekend. On the plus side, I seem to know the structures of most of my relevant compounds for the test. On the minus side, well, I did waste several hours (and dollars) on movies that were only eh-level of interest to me. I think the growing unease I have about the test is making me antsy--anything for a distraction. I predict that I'll get home tomorrow afterwards and not give a rat's ass what I do since there won't be any pressure on me not to do it....

Comments

[six-demon-bag.livejournal.com]

I don't think you should be too hard on yourself for not studying as much as you wanted to. It sounds to me like you still did quite a bit and a break was probably advisable. It's said to death, but there is such a thing as too much and all that. I totally understand the pressure though.

I saw Let The Right One In and enjoyed it, but I haven't been able to muster up the interest to see Let Me In. I was irritated they were even doing a remake for American audiences until I heard from a friend that the writer was all for it and was apparently disappointed with how the original film was done. Still, you said it's the same damned movie and, if that's the case, what's the point? Thank you for the review -- I was kind of on the fence before and now I'll definitely at least wait to see it on video.

I haven't seen Devil and wasn't going to see it in the theater, but I heard from a couple people it wasn't terrible. And I'm with you in that that's actually a disappointment. It could at least be entertainingly bad. I probably will see this one, but not in the theater.

I was seeing a lot of movies in the theater for a while there, but it's tapered off dramatically since the summer. I've been talked into commiting to the new Resident Evil film, and I enjoy those movies, but I'm finding it difficult to get excited about this one. Could be partly because I'm not a fan of it being a 3D release only. *shrug*

Anyway, I'm under the impression you'll rock the test, but best of luck anyway.

[trinityvixen.livejournal.com]

Resident Evil 3D was fun, if highly annoyingly 3D-ized. As in, multiple slo-mo shots of things coming out at the screen and lots of very dim shots made worse by the dimming effect of 3D glasses. God, I do not love 3D. But if that's how a movie is made, it will be worse for being on DVD.

Thanks for the kindly wishes. I will attempt to pass this test in about 24 hours time. I'll need all the help I can get.

[six-demon-bag.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that was my main concern. But it's a lock for Thursday, so now that it's officially planned, I am starting to look forward to it a bit.

[droidguy1119.livejournal.com]

This is kind of after-the-fact, but there are 2D showings of Resident Evil Afterlife as well.

[six-demon-bag.livejournal.com]

You know, one of my roommates told me he went and saw it in 2D a couple days later and I was pissed 'cause I was told that there were none. So I saw the crappier version AND paid more money to do so. Argh.

[ecmyers.livejournal.com]

Good luck on the test!!!

[trinityvixen.livejournal.com]

Thanks, dude. I'll certainly need it.

[edgehopper.livejournal.com]

Don't go home after the test, go play Rock Band 3!

[trinityvixen.livejournal.com]

But I am le tired! Or, I will be...

[droidguy1119.livejournal.com]

The one central difference between Let the Right One In and Let Me In that I liked was that -- SPOILERS -- when Eli saves Oskar, it felt protective, like she was saving his innocence, whereas in the remake, when Abby saves Owen, it feels more like a "fuck everyone else" bit of teenage rebellion. The original film is better than the remake, but I like the anger in the remake.