Okay. So despite having extra time this summer, I managed to not post a single time after the ever-so-brief Star Trek review. Don't know how that happened, but let me try to catch up.
Summer was really pretty great. For one thing, as an educator, I get summers off too. Even with teaching summer school, I still had three day weekends and was done by 1pm. Not too shabby I'd say.
This was a great summer to be Lorelei's daddy. She's made so much progress, it's amazing. She's a little mimic; show her something once, then she learns it and does it. For example, last week, we went raspberry picking up in Oak Glen, also known to us as "the apple ranch." I showed her how to pick a bright red raspberry once; after that, she followed her mommy down the rows and when a bright red on caught her eye, she picked it and popped it into her mouth. Or right now, she's attempting to put sunscreen on herself after I showed it to her last week when were getting ready to go to the beach. She's still not really talking yet, but she understands a lot, nods yes or no and can say some single words. We also took her to swim lessons where she was the, of course, star of the class. Both instructors we had were impressed with how adept and natural she was in the water.
We somehow managed to see lots of movies this summer also. Star Trek, Harry Potter 6, Funny People, District 9, (500) Days of Summer, Julie & Julia, Public Enemies, Up and I think that's it. That's pretty darn good for us, especially with a toddler. But both sets of grandparents were pretty eager to spend time with Daddy's Little Coppertop, they missed the daily babysitting while we were working. None of those movies were clunkers, but only a few were really great. I'd say Star Trek, District 9 and (500) Days of Summer were the best of the bunch and were all pretty radically different from each other.
We managed two vacations this summer also. Three days a piece. The first one was with Lorelei down to San Diego to take her to Sea World and the San Diego Zoo. Wow did she love Sea World. She loved bouncing on the hotel bed too, but she really enjoyed the shows and the displays of all the fishies and whatnot. Utterly fascinated her. Not so much the Zoo; she was still tired from Sea World the day before, but she still enjoyed seeing the different critters.
The second vacation was for Amanda and I's anniversary. We went up to Monterey Bay for another three days. Hit the Wine Makers' Celebration and had *way* too much to drink. Did the Ghost Trolley tour that night and it was okay. It was interesting to get a taste for just how much history is there. The next day was mellow; we did the 17 Mile Drive and had lunch in Carmel. Out anniverary dinner was that night at the Sardine Factory and wow. Incredible dinner. The next day we took our time getting home.
We had some great food on those trips. The Sardine Factory in Monterrey was fine dining at it's best. Hodad's in San Diego had the best hamburgers I've ever had in my life. And the seafood at the Blue Water Cafe in San Diego was incredible too. In some ways, that's kinda the joy of vacations for us anymore; we love hitting these little joints that make great food. Read about Hodad's on CNN and saw the Blue Water Cafe on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives on the Food Network.
That's kind of the Cliff's Notes version of the summer for me. There's more details to be shared in person, of course, but suffice it to say, it was a great summer. I think it was kind of special for the three of us.
Showing posts with label movie review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label movie review. Show all posts
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
Star Trek Review
Short and sweet. Loved it.
I really enjoyed this film. The beginning had an unusual emotional tug to it. The rest of it was great to see the familiar turned to something new. Like, for example, what happens to the red shirt.
I didn't find anything substantive of fault in the film. A great way to kick off the summer blockbusters.
I really enjoyed this film. The beginning had an unusual emotional tug to it. The rest of it was great to see the familiar turned to something new. Like, for example, what happens to the red shirt.
I didn't find anything substantive of fault in the film. A great way to kick off the summer blockbusters.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Slumdog Millionaire
We actually saw this over a week ago. I decided to take a day off, a Friday, simply because I felt like I hadn't really had a winter vacation due to the three of us being sick. We took one of the gift cards we received from my parents and had lunch at Chili's (after dropping off Lorelei at my Mom & Dad's) and another gift card for the tickets at AMC.
Lunch was good. Had a pretty good burger with the thickest bacon slices I think I've ever seen.
Slumdog Millionaire? It's pretty good. But for fuck's sake, it's not worth all the insufferable hype it's getting. It's basically just a Frank Capra feel-good flick set in India. That's about all you need to know. I found the constant flashbacks (part of the framing device for the film's plot) annoying and quite frankly over-directed. In fact, through the middle, oh, 60-70% of the film I was just bored.
Now the Academy nominations are out and I find that not only has it recieved 10 nominations, but The Dark Knight is shut out Best Picture and worst of all, 2 Slumdog songs and NO Bruce Springsteen? Fuck you Academy. It's rare that I fall in love from a song from any movie, but I had to have Springsteen's The Wrestler as soon as it showed up on iTunes. Which was before the film was released anywhere! I loved it just from the trailer. And the Academy in it's infinite wisdom shuns Bruce in favor of two songs from Slumdog Millionaire?
Let me say it again.
Fuck you Academy.
Oh, and Slumdog Millionaire is overrated.
Lunch was good. Had a pretty good burger with the thickest bacon slices I think I've ever seen.
Slumdog Millionaire? It's pretty good. But for fuck's sake, it's not worth all the insufferable hype it's getting. It's basically just a Frank Capra feel-good flick set in India. That's about all you need to know. I found the constant flashbacks (part of the framing device for the film's plot) annoying and quite frankly over-directed. In fact, through the middle, oh, 60-70% of the film I was just bored.
Now the Academy nominations are out and I find that not only has it recieved 10 nominations, but The Dark Knight is shut out Best Picture and worst of all, 2 Slumdog songs and NO Bruce Springsteen? Fuck you Academy. It's rare that I fall in love from a song from any movie, but I had to have Springsteen's The Wrestler as soon as it showed up on iTunes. Which was before the film was released anywhere! I loved it just from the trailer. And the Academy in it's infinite wisdom shuns Bruce in favor of two songs from Slumdog Millionaire?
Let me say it again.
Fuck you Academy.
Oh, and Slumdog Millionaire is overrated.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
The Wrestler
We managed to sneak out of the house Friday afternoon to go see The Wrestler. Went up to the Laemmle in Pasadena after having lunch at Barney's Beanery. Good food by the way.
The Wrestler is a beautiful, moving film. It is also easily the most heartbreaking film I have ever seen.
Once the opening credits finish (well done by the way), the heartbreak begins. It's just tragic to see this washed-up, broken down wreck of a man unable to give up on wrestling. He just can't move on, because it's the one place where everything makes sense to him, it's the one place where his soul can't be hurt though his body is battered. For that, you can't blame him. But you also see how it's stunted every other part of his life.
Mickey Rourke just disappears into the role of Randy "the Ram" Robinson. At no point was I thinking about the actor, I just saw The Ram. Part of that was the very smart choice to film at real Combat Zone Wrestling and Ring of Honor events and have real wrestlers interacting with The Ram and not just in the ring. When you see the Necro Butcher or Ron Killings or Frankie Kazarian hanging out with The Ram and treating him like one of the guys, it's not Mickey Rourke they are hanging out with backstage, it's Randy "The Ram" Robinson, wrestling legend.
Gotta give a shout out to Marissa Tomei too. Great work as the aging stripper, totally afraid of human contact but desperately wanting it. And hotter than a lot of girls half her age.
I loved the ending. Perfectly done. The last few minutes are utterly heartrending and when the screen goes black, it makes sense. The screen stays dark as Bruce Springsteen's song comes on and stays that way for something like 30 seconds or more, forcing you to listen to the lyrics of the song specially written for Mickey and the film. Unusual, but highly effective.
Beautiful film. Mandatory watching for any fan, present or former, of wrestling. And just incredible work by Rourke, Tomei and Darren Aronofsky.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Review: the Dark Knight
Ho
Lee
Shit.
Where do I start? The Dark Knight is an incredible film. We saw it on IMAX last Friday afternoon in a packed theatre. Before I really start, you really owe it to yourself to catch it in IMAX. About 20 minutes of the finished film were shot on the larger format and it is visually stunning. Several of the aeriel cityscapes are in IMAX and they are vertigo inducing.
The film is grim, dark, violent and surprising. There were a number of "Holy Crap!" moments where Christopher Nolan steers the film into territory that isn't normal for a comic or superhero film. The Joker's 'pencil trick' alone was a dark and violent moment that I'm surprised was kept in a PG-13 film. And the reveal of Two Face is quite gruesome.
Much like Wall-E, this film delves into a numbers of different thematic elements. Pick what you want from it; the 9/11 elements, the personal morality plays, the personal costs involved, it's all there.
The acting is of course top-notch. Heath Ledger as the Joker, Gary Oldman as Jim Gordon, Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent may just be the best of the best here. Incredible acting by all involved, as all of them really sink into their characters. Some films, some actors, you always know who is acting on screen. Jack Nicholson is in that territory now; you always know it's Jack on screen. Ledger? Oldman? They dissappear into their roles and become their characters. There is nothing about Ledger's performance of the Joker that reminds you of the man; he is, for all intents and purposes, the Joker.
Go see this film if you haven't all ready. Go see it in IMAX if you haven't yet; the extra cash is worth it.
Best film of the year so far.
Lee
Shit.
Where do I start? The Dark Knight is an incredible film. We saw it on IMAX last Friday afternoon in a packed theatre. Before I really start, you really owe it to yourself to catch it in IMAX. About 20 minutes of the finished film were shot on the larger format and it is visually stunning. Several of the aeriel cityscapes are in IMAX and they are vertigo inducing.
The film is grim, dark, violent and surprising. There were a number of "Holy Crap!" moments where Christopher Nolan steers the film into territory that isn't normal for a comic or superhero film. The Joker's 'pencil trick' alone was a dark and violent moment that I'm surprised was kept in a PG-13 film. And the reveal of Two Face is quite gruesome.
Much like Wall-E, this film delves into a numbers of different thematic elements. Pick what you want from it; the 9/11 elements, the personal morality plays, the personal costs involved, it's all there.
The acting is of course top-notch. Heath Ledger as the Joker, Gary Oldman as Jim Gordon, Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent may just be the best of the best here. Incredible acting by all involved, as all of them really sink into their characters. Some films, some actors, you always know who is acting on screen. Jack Nicholson is in that territory now; you always know it's Jack on screen. Ledger? Oldman? They dissappear into their roles and become their characters. There is nothing about Ledger's performance of the Joker that reminds you of the man; he is, for all intents and purposes, the Joker.
Go see this film if you haven't all ready. Go see it in IMAX if you haven't yet; the extra cash is worth it.
Best film of the year so far.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Review: Wall-E
Great film.
Just gonna state that right off. Incredible movie from the fine folks at Pixar, easily the best animation house in the world today. The animation is incredible, as you would expect from them. But what makes Pixar the best in the business, even better than their parent/partner Disney, is the strength of the story.
The story is strong and multi-layered, just like the characters and the thematic elements. Wall-E isn't the goofy little simpleton he appears to be in the commercials. The theme is far more than just an environmental warning.
I don't want to say too much for fear of revealing spoilers, but I genuinely loved the many different layers to this film.
I don't care that this is an animated movie, stereotypically the domain of children. This is a great movie, one of the best of the last five years and is deserving of a Best Picture nomination when the time comes.
Just gonna state that right off. Incredible movie from the fine folks at Pixar, easily the best animation house in the world today. The animation is incredible, as you would expect from them. But what makes Pixar the best in the business, even better than their parent/partner Disney, is the strength of the story.
The story is strong and multi-layered, just like the characters and the thematic elements. Wall-E isn't the goofy little simpleton he appears to be in the commercials. The theme is far more than just an environmental warning.
I don't want to say too much for fear of revealing spoilers, but I genuinely loved the many different layers to this film.
I don't care that this is an animated movie, stereotypically the domain of children. This is a great movie, one of the best of the last five years and is deserving of a Best Picture nomination when the time comes.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Indiana Jones 4 Review
Okay, so we went to see Indiana Jones - the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull last Thursday afternoon.
Pretty good stuff. Worthy of being with the other three films.
Now, it's not perfect. It takes the pulp aspects of the Indy films more than a bit too far in several instances. For example, when Mutt Williams (Shia LeBouf) swings through the vines of the jungle trees just like Tarzan, complete with monkeys swinging with him. That was just epically stupid. Or how Indy survives a test nuclear blast. There's a dash of logic to that one, but it's a bit hard to swallow. Or multiple falls down rather large and apparently rocky waterfalls.
But then again, this is a world in which the Ark of the Covenant is not only real, but has intense magical power and is kept in a wharehouse in Area 51. So let's be honest; this isn't the most realistic of worlds we are dealing with here.
But it was fun. It was thoroughly enjoyable and ultimately, that's about all you can ask for when it comes to an Indiana Jones movie. Harrison Fords owns that character. Even LeBouf did a pretty good job playing the greaser stereotype (well, on the outside anyway, there are actually glimpses of more inside his character).
It'll be on my DVD shelf next to the original three when the time comes. Brilliant film? No. A whole lot of fun? Heck yeah.
Pretty good stuff. Worthy of being with the other three films.
Now, it's not perfect. It takes the pulp aspects of the Indy films more than a bit too far in several instances. For example, when Mutt Williams (Shia LeBouf) swings through the vines of the jungle trees just like Tarzan, complete with monkeys swinging with him. That was just epically stupid. Or how Indy survives a test nuclear blast. There's a dash of logic to that one, but it's a bit hard to swallow. Or multiple falls down rather large and apparently rocky waterfalls.
But then again, this is a world in which the Ark of the Covenant is not only real, but has intense magical power and is kept in a wharehouse in Area 51. So let's be honest; this isn't the most realistic of worlds we are dealing with here.
But it was fun. It was thoroughly enjoyable and ultimately, that's about all you can ask for when it comes to an Indiana Jones movie. Harrison Fords owns that character. Even LeBouf did a pretty good job playing the greaser stereotype (well, on the outside anyway, there are actually glimpses of more inside his character).
It'll be on my DVD shelf next to the original three when the time comes. Brilliant film? No. A whole lot of fun? Heck yeah.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Ironman: movie review
Well, we dropped off Sweet Pea with her grandma and grandpa and took in Ironman (we also hit other errands afterwards, but hey, like you care!).
It lived up to the hype as far as I was concerned. Very well constructed film with tight editing, excellent special effects (not always easy to tell where the digital Ironman began and the practical man-in-suit ended) and very sharp acting.
Robert Downey Jr. was excellent as Tony Stark. He brought a certain flippant gravitas to the role. I know, flippant gravitas, what the hell? Downey Jr. was able to be serious as required but also the playboy that is late because he's "doing a Vanity Fair piece." In that case, piece of ass...great line by the way. His transformation didn't seem in-depth, but did seem believable enough and real enough.
I find personally that the great cinematic actors have very expressive eyes. As in somehow, they are able to let you into their character's soul with their eyes. Downey I think is able to do that here.
So excellent film, great way to start off the summer blockbuster season. Don't forget to stay until the final scene after the credits...
It lived up to the hype as far as I was concerned. Very well constructed film with tight editing, excellent special effects (not always easy to tell where the digital Ironman began and the practical man-in-suit ended) and very sharp acting.
Robert Downey Jr. was excellent as Tony Stark. He brought a certain flippant gravitas to the role. I know, flippant gravitas, what the hell? Downey Jr. was able to be serious as required but also the playboy that is late because he's "doing a Vanity Fair piece." In that case, piece of ass...great line by the way. His transformation didn't seem in-depth, but did seem believable enough and real enough.
I find personally that the great cinematic actors have very expressive eyes. As in somehow, they are able to let you into their character's soul with their eyes. Downey I think is able to do that here.
So excellent film, great way to start off the summer blockbuster season. Don't forget to stay until the final scene after the credits...
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Three Summer Movies
There are a number of films I'm looking forward to. Indiana Jones, Wall-e, and The Dark Night are just three of them. We actually have a list of the films we both want to see, starting with Ironman, on the our computer desk whiteboard. Thought I'd drop a few poster images here of the three that I think I'm most excited about.
*EDIT* Just saw the newest Dark Knight poster and had to replace the old one with the new one...
Saturday, February 9, 2008
My Cloverfield review
I loved it. It gave me a headache.
It inspired me, it made me want to vomit.
No, really. I've been interested in this film since the untitled trailer this summer. The biggest thing about Comic Con this year was JJ Abrams and I missed it! Still pissed about that. But baby came the day before the film's release, so there was no opening day/opening weekend visit to the local cineplex to check it out.
Instead we waited a bit over two weeks and after visiting one set of grandparents, we visited the others. The in-law grandma had complained of not even getting a chance to change the babies diapers yet! WTF? Oh, she got to change one all right...because we snuck over to the new theatre about five minutes away from their house to catch Cloverfield. Figured at 88 minutes long, it would be an ideal first time out without baby. Not too long.
The film was awesome. I love the concept. I love the lack of a clear ending. I love the lack of explanation. I love the sense of reality for a 'fantasy' film.
But oh my god I wanted to be sick. My urge to vomit wasn't too powerful, but it gave me a headache that lasted for hours afterwards. I had to look away at times, not because of what was on screen, but because everything on that damn screen was bouncing like mad. I did fine with Blair Witch, another "handheld" film that made others ill. But this was hardcore.
I'm not so sure about some of the acting, and let's be honest, who the hell is going into the jaws of hell for a girl just so you can tell her "I love you?" For a wife, sure. A child, yeah. But a friend or girlfriend? Sorry babe, but I'm sure the monster will enjoy you more than all the others it's gonna snack on. No offense or anything. But I gotta go.
Honestly, I do recommend the film, just with the caveat that you better have either a strong stomach or an empty one. And some Advils in your pocket. Might want to take one of those when the previews start...
It inspired me, it made me want to vomit.
No, really. I've been interested in this film since the untitled trailer this summer. The biggest thing about Comic Con this year was JJ Abrams and I missed it! Still pissed about that. But baby came the day before the film's release, so there was no opening day/opening weekend visit to the local cineplex to check it out.
Instead we waited a bit over two weeks and after visiting one set of grandparents, we visited the others. The in-law grandma had complained of not even getting a chance to change the babies diapers yet! WTF? Oh, she got to change one all right...because we snuck over to the new theatre about five minutes away from their house to catch Cloverfield. Figured at 88 minutes long, it would be an ideal first time out without baby. Not too long.
The film was awesome. I love the concept. I love the lack of a clear ending. I love the lack of explanation. I love the sense of reality for a 'fantasy' film.
But oh my god I wanted to be sick. My urge to vomit wasn't too powerful, but it gave me a headache that lasted for hours afterwards. I had to look away at times, not because of what was on screen, but because everything on that damn screen was bouncing like mad. I did fine with Blair Witch, another "handheld" film that made others ill. But this was hardcore.
I'm not so sure about some of the acting, and let's be honest, who the hell is going into the jaws of hell for a girl just so you can tell her "I love you?" For a wife, sure. A child, yeah. But a friend or girlfriend? Sorry babe, but I'm sure the monster will enjoy you more than all the others it's gonna snack on. No offense or anything. But I gotta go.
Honestly, I do recommend the film, just with the caveat that you better have either a strong stomach or an empty one. And some Advils in your pocket. Might want to take one of those when the previews start...
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