He ain't no P-P-P-P-P-Porky P-P-P-P-Pig...

It's ever so hard to believe that April showers should bring may flowers when the sky is an ominous hue of gray with looming clouds rushing in to cover the light of the sun. The day had moved from the typical early briskly cool to a sharply cutting blade of freezing temperatures. Eventually, the heavens opened and began to weep it's with held tears to clean away the remnants of Old Man Winter's long embrace. The cool early afternoon found Jack Frost busily courting Madame Spring like two star crossed lovers. In their embrace, they waltzed across the remaining day's long hours turning the moisture ladened dust particulates of Madame Spring's rain drop dress into a swirling dress of frost ferns and cottony snow. Weather Madam Spring was joyous or not, we may never fully know, but the day was reverted into a frozen northern sheet of white as the two conspiring lovers danced the day away casting off the snow that made Madame Spring's dress so lovely.

With the day's work completed, I make the slippery drive home through inches of snow covered streets. With the Magnum's traction control flashing like a strobe light to signal ever slippage, I sputter the Traction controlled seizing vehicle to the curb-Or what I think is the curb-since the blowing snow was so heavy that I'd wager that even a snow fox would be challenged to find it's own tracks if it quickly turned to find them. In the moments that the car door opens to the time I reach the breezeway door, I take a note of how beautiful this momentary reprieve is. The city lights are on early and reflecting their bright white glow through the falling snow and illuminating the street below. The tracks in the street are ever changing to reveal hues of; grays, burnt umber, ivory, cream, even streaks of blue, rose, sage, and violet. What a marvelous sight the changing of colors. Even the placed one may find them can be a wonder.

As Bobbie, Max, Courtney find the time to help me dig out a path for the car and clear the sidewalks, we enjoy the time that we are working together. Our shared toil, grunts and groans make quick work of the wintry mess. As we shoveled the cement ways clear, our dogs Mitzy and Lucy inspect our thoroughness and look to us as if to assign an approval. The day's are longer now and the darkening light still confines the sky to ever darkening shades of gray. We finish not a moment too soon and retreat into our home to settle in for the night.

With sighs of completed relief, we make our way to the living room, onto the new couch and under the down comforter that Bobbie pirated off of our bed. Warm and comfortable with the wind picking up it's force outside, we watch this:

It's just after the roaring twenty's and King George V has passed on. The sons of the king must make their stand for the the crown, the empire and their people. On one hand, we have the reluctant playboy Prince who is very much self engrossed and cares only for his own personal exploits. The younger Prince-a much sterner man-is more likely to reign with the people's mind nearer his heart. The younger Prince does have a flaw that creates a sense of weakness about him. He has an awful stammer that will ultimately lead him on a road to self revelation, self discovery, and a self actualization of his life. He learns what it means to be a stronger man...A man who's fears can be overcome and how one's life can be transformed from that moment on.

I flat out enjoyed this film. It's a brilliant piece of work. The actors are so skilled in their craft that the audience is transported to the era. Firth conveys with an exacting precision what a personal fear can do to the person who's suffering from it. Rush, with his many varied credits, is such a magnificent character actor that he adapts to the role so convincingly that one could never tell that he'd ever played a contra role such as Javert in Les Miserables. An uplifting tale of that is not only heartfelt and powerful, this picture show is what great films are made of. If you need to, beg, borrow, or steal this one. You won't be disappointed. There's a reason why Colin Firth won an Oscar for this, and it shows.

Another great film to join the ranks of emotionally compelling screen plays like Life is Beautiful, The King's Speech will have you rooting for the underdog.

For it's marvelous content, and flawless story telling, this film ranks a 9 out of 10 royal scepters...Even with out CGI.

Off with her head!

After much thought, I final sat here to jot down my thought for the other week's movie:

In a distant land filled with magic and wonder, we find a kingdom much like any other. We have a hopefully overbearing king, the valiant first son of the king, a saved maiden, the faithful man servant, a spirited heroine, and the dopey second son of the king. With the forces of evil, our confident eldest prince finds his true love stolen from him on his wedding day. Because of these ill doings, our second-more home spun-Prince must venture forth with his bother to find and return his brother's soon to be bride.

Opening night is usually filled with wonder and a sense of heightened expectations before one enters the cineplex parking lot. After a great meal at the local Irish pub, we entered the theater with filled bellies stuffed with corned beef, Shepard's pie, and fish and chips. The day's expectation of this movie gave me much hope that this will be humorously vibrant film. Sadly, this was not to be. Though the movie did have it's moments of hilarity, the second oldest prince played by Danny McBride is like many other roles that he's been scripted in before. His rendition of an English/Scottish/Irish accent can be forgivable, but when his motions and speech reflect his persona from the HBO series Eastbound and Down, it's almost unforgivable-Even if it's Danny McBride. After all, he was pretty good in Up in the Air-Even when he was paired with George Clooney. The only saving grace for this movie is a nearly naked Natalie Portman in a chastity belt standing next to a pool. I guess that'll give it one more point on my scale.

Though this portrayal wasn't for me, I'm sure there are folks out there that will love this screen play. Those people would more than likely be fans of filmed tales like; Pineapple Express, Walk Hard, and the Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.

For it's simpleton humor and an almost naked Natalie Portman, this film gets 3 out of 10 Labyrinths-Just pray that the Minotaur kills you-or does worse-before you need to see the rest of the showing. 

Up, up and...Away?

Though there has been a back log of films that Courtney and I have viewed during her spring break from school, we unfortunately have come to the conclusion that a movie a night for 365 days will not be feasible. Between; working late, gym time, homework and Courtney's High School soccer season, we'll be running a tight enough ship in the few hours that we'll have together. Trying to fit in two hours for a movie just may not work till something goes away.

It's with this information that I would like to say that we are not abandoning our resolution, but, we are streamlining the deal. We have decided that we will review one movie a week instead. We should be able to keep up on the weekly posts much easier as well. Though if there is something that we're able to view, we will post it here for you all to see.

With that said, I'll move on to the this weeks rental pick of choice.

For your reviewing pleasure, please meet:

When the world is imperiled...When evil surrounds you...When danger is lurking...Who do you call? 

Captain Excellent...

This is how we find Mr. Richard Dunn. A nondescript man with may a though running through his mind. With no way to find the expressions of those thoughts he employs a respite to figure out a way to sync his mind and his hands or find a muse to "kick start" his disjointed connection. In a sleepy coastal town he finds more that he bargained for and explores much more than he has in decades. Once a friendship has been struck between himself and a town local, they find together that they are more similar than they are able to imagine. Armed with their new friendship, they are able find a way to heal and make peace with the past.

I've wandered past this DVD cover may times at the local Family Video rental store, gave it a passing glance, then moved on. I'm not sure why I chose to pick it up today, but knowing that Ryan Reynolds, Jeff Daniels, and Emma Stone are all pretty funny, I gave it a go. To my surprise, I was flabbergasted at how rich and nuanced the plot was. One can empathize with all of the actors and actresses as they struggle with the humorously degradating moments that surround them. They are also versed well enough to "sucker punch" the audience with some strikingly beautifully craft that will tear up all the eyes within viewing distance. A funny movie accentuated with bits of sorrow, this Sundance movie proves why it's peculiar sense of vision is wonderfully fantastic. It's akin to eating a really good Szechuan Hot and Sour soup. 

An off kilter comedy that viewers of ; Garden State, Juno and Pleasantville, will enjoy, this is not one to miss.

For pure viewing pleasure with a slightly obtuse delivery, this screen view receives an very exuberant 8 out of 10 imaginary friends.

Hardtack anyone?

Many, many, many apologies for my missing a posting for the Friday before last. I beg that your forgiveness will extend to me further-as I'm surely going to be sporadic with some of these reviews.

For the Friday before last, Courtney and I "held on to our horses" long enough to staple our butts to the-ever weakening-couch springs. Once the drinks were sitting within reach, we clicked the DVD player's remote to find our miasma sights.

Last Friday's movie spun and clicked, then flashed the living room with white light as the introduction screen read:

Presented in a documentary format with stock black ans white footage of Mr. Ford's production line and pictures of the times, we are transported back to the 1920's. It is in this time that we find our cast starting their plights in different places and with their own difficult times we follow them to a singular passage. While our story's specters move about in their own separated "emotional deaths", the storyline finds them drifting into a homogeneous state that is unavoidable. In doing such, they begin to breath life back onto one another and slough off the "waking death's" that they've created for them all.

I thoroughly enjoyed this great family movie from the opening credits. The film presents a warm hold as we are lulled by the narration of David McCullough's voice. McCullough's readings seem to add a sense of believability and ground the audience into the era since he narrates many of the PBS documentaries filmed by Ken Burns. It's in this state that we are able to delve deeper into the times and the turmoil that helped to create a sense of hope during such desperate times. Though there are different stories on the convergence, the director seems to find the correct balance of apathetic scenes so that the viewers can see the relevance and the similarities that all the characters have in common. The end result yields a film that inspires with; hope, forgiveness, understanding, and heart.

A feel good movie that is sure to become a family classic if your unit loves Secretariat and even Balto.

I must give this a solid 6 out of 10 lucky horse shoes.

This belongs on the Red Planet.

The other day while Courtney and I cruised the new release wall at our local Family Video rental store looking for a few titles that we would like to add to our year long film fest, I was drawn to this DVD jacket:

In the future, we join a daring crew of astronauts that are delving into a discovery of a long distant life form that has fossilized on the Red Planet. In their...

...Awe, what am I doing? I can't even try to write this as a positive viewing experience.

Let's face it folks, this is a shotty film with horrible directing and even worse acting. The plot is fragmented beyond belief which only accentuates the shabby special effects work. If there is such a thing as a shoe-string budget movie, this is the picture was less than that. It'd equate to the plastic ferrule at the end of the shoe string. I can get behind a movie that has a lot of "grind house" features, but this one was well below even that standard. The local newscaster has more range in acting craft than the yahoos in this waste of time.

I can't even bring myself to suggest other horrible abuses of celluloid that would equate to this abomination.

The tale lasered onto this disc isn't even worth the plastic that was used to create said disk. And for that, this movie rates a 1 out of 10 on my lost satellite list.

Everlast.

Looking into the ever changing electrical inputs of red, green and blue, my dearest daughter is finding an new found respect of the exploited and the self abusing characters that grace this next script. Loaded on screen is a tour de force known as:

We see this story of perseverance detailed by a once prised fighter who has become a second rate "stepping stone" for other pugilists trying to make a name for themselves in the ring. As our boxer tries to find a way out of this ever ensnaring tangle of supporting his family with his wins, he begins to see the writing on the wall and makes a final attempt to validate his talent. With his parasitic mother as his manager and his drug hazed brother and trainer in cahoots with mother, our brawler finds love and eventual vice with the help of bartender who becomes his love interest. With an inspiring outcome, this is a feel good movie that gives us a glimpse into the trials and tribulations of others.

Wahlberg, Bale, and Adams are a sight to behold. Though this picture is another victory story told from ringside, the craft of these three actors are a sight to behold. bake with his physical metamorphosis is utterly believable with the level of commitment to get his role done correctly. Wahlberg does a fantastic interpretation of his model as he's torn by his desire to achieve his goals which is offset by a humanizing look at what his character is unwilling to lose. Adams, is a force to be recon with in her contrast, long gone are the cute rosy read cheeks of the roles that she'd been cast in before. Gritty, brash, and a lot of in-your-face-trampy edginess is what she portrays...And she does it well too.

Again, like I've said before, this is a film that we've seen already. The victory is achieved in the same way and the you'll be cheering for our hero and feeling his heartbreak as well.

Fans of; Rocky Balboa, Million Dollar Baby, Cinderella Man, and In America will definitely find an emotional cord with this one.

A great way to spend a few stolen minutes will rank this film a 7 out of 10 Golden Glove trophies in my book.

Hold on tight.

I suppose I could call this last Wednesday's frozen deluge from the heavens an emotional conundrum. In the moment when the snow falls gently to the cover the grass I'm relived to see that the Earth's current covering will be born anew with a fresh blanket of snow that resembles a fluffy white down comforter that is covering everything that is laid out before our eyes. A clean white sheet to mark a fresh start-An unadulterated canvas in which we can paint our new day, if you will. A beautiful sight created for one and all from the only planet that rounds our beaming solar body that holds liquid water in it's atmosphere.

In the negative, This Humid Continental environment should be hurried along to defrost and allow it's inhabitants to venture forth from their above ground caves made of; wood, stone and glass to reacquaint themselves with the radiating warmth of our daytime solar body sending it's lovingly warm particles to the scuttling humans that dot the world's northern hemisphere. In this envelopment of light, one must feel-to their inner core- the embraces of the enveloping light of our Sun and forget-even if momentarily-the listless floating of the long nighttime hours that make us feel alone and separated in the extended dark night that winter brings.

With the clearing toil of walkways and driveway aprons shoveled clear for the evening's rest bit, our nuclear family finds some solace in the vision of tonight's escape. We find the activation of the Sony Blu-Ray disk player is interpreting the hard copied information of transcribed light to our minds electrical gathering amplifiers with this particular vision:

On distant British isles, we find a select group of young people who have been raised to become the saviors for the rest of man kind. Raised to a naive state and equipped with a rudimentary plan of what their lives will entail, they must venture forth and find their way and struggle with terms of endearment of afflictions of desire that will be set in front of them. How they must find the way to cope with every decision that they make and in some fashion of their own design, they must make the their world tolerable.

A well told yet saddening movie event with magnificent weight and range of emotional depth transcribe by the director and cast is the example that is presented to us here. Told from a one particular view our heroine shows us how life can be; challengingly difficult, vibrantly elating, and forever hopeful. How a life without meaning can quickly become something to the counterpoint. Asking stout moral questions of what lengths human beings will subject other human beings to is always at the forefront of this film. How life, love, and the pursuit of happiness may be out of our hands and the acceptance of that may be all that is left to find hope in. In that summation, this cautionary tale will leave the audience asking if the decisions that we make everyday will cause undo harm to others-Even if the Chaos Theory is relevant.

For morally involved fans of cine-plays like; The Island, Children of Men, and Gattaca, this should be a "must see" for you.

For an unabashed alternate view into what we may be-Or what we may become-this indie film ranks an 9 out of 10 "donations" in my book. Aside from; District 9, Saving Private Ryan, and Life is Beautiful, I've yet to see another "benchmark work" such as this in a good long while.

There's a Spring snow storm outside, but it's warm in here.

The chilly Spring day broke with grass trying to sip the water from the defrosting remnants of disappearing snow banks. The birds were chirping a song that hasn't been heard in some time in this northern snow locked region. A red squirrel squawks out an alarm call as neighbors briskly walk under the tree that it's caught in. Above, the overcast sky presents a teasing sliver of a torn cloud that allows a sharply delineated ribbon of orange-yellow morning sunlight to boldly blind any viewer who dares to state at it's wondrous beauty. Spring has seemingly made it's appearance.

For the way the morning had started, the afternoon must have been bested by all the other times of day at the gambling table and-due to the loss-must have had to entertain 'Ol Jack Frost for one more frolic. As the day progressed, the spotty rain fall digressed into a miasma of premium Snowman making snow, then it converted itself to a slick covering of sleet, which then decided to reinvent itself into mini hail pellets-That could be confused for mini pea shooter pellets.

Now late into the evening, the foul weather has become a fusion of rain-and the aforementioned mini peas shooter pellets-only this time it's accompanied by a few bright flashes of cloud generated electricity and the rumbles of thunder. Oh, what a wondrously confusing storm has this Spring season brought.

While the precipitation contemplates it's confusion outside, Bobbie has fallen asleep. Courtney struggles-valiantly-against the ever impending sleep that is trying to coerce her into an early nights rest. I, on the other hand, still receive nightly visits from Mrs. Insomnia and we dance late into the evening hours looking out into the darkness of the dimly lit city streets with wonder like the little boy in Maurice Sendak's book In the Night Kitchen. What I'm to see is still yet to be revealed.

Hence the night was frequented by a rainy-snowy-haily-thundery front, Courtney, Bobbie, and I wanted to venture  to a warm place. We decided on a Los Angeles crime saga:

We begin our picture following a armored car heist on the streets of the City of Angels. Seeing through a series of second lenses the story of our criminals and their law abiding counterparts are engaged in a game of "cat and mouse" for the soul of blind justice. as the picture materializes, we see how both sides are willing to, take down the big operation, move on to another life, another gig, or just find another way to right a wrong for their past dealings.  

For those of you who may not have seen this tale by Michael Mann, this is a modernized telling of a "western". The players are set on stage in a clear cut fashion. The bandits, the lawmen, how they interact with each other and their tactical styles. We see how each group is in an arms race to identify and out maneuver the other for any sort of advantage. Mann also creates his magic during the direction of this film to allow for our actors to express their characters hopefulness and also punctuate their vision of what they are wanting to create for their future lives. During the telling of this saga, we see our nemesis's find a respect for one another and in this discovery we see that they are a "Yin and Yang" example of good and bad, law and anarchy.

A gritty yet sleekly refined movie is ultimately what we have here. I suggest that anyone who likes a crime drama see this feature. If you've enjoyed: The Town, Collateral, Miami Vice, or Hard Boiled.

No doubt this one gets a high rating for it's great story line and fast moving action sequences. I feel this reel deserves an 8 out of 10 bags of bearer bonds.
 

We the people...

With one dog snoring away and another cleaning her paws, Courtney, Bobbie and I are reclining into a pile of feather pillows as though we were three chubby cherubs peering from the clouds of a Greek heaven. From this vantage point, we look out and into the dancing pixels that will transport us to another time and place.

Tonight we're getting political. On the agenda for tonight's viewing is:

We find ourselves looking into an alternate government as our President is under attack by his own missteps. As our President crumbles under his own sabotage, our new public servant Dave is introduce to fill in for the ailing President due to his similar looks. Ice Dave discovers how his associates in this ruse are manipulating his presence, he begins to find the goodness in change that holding this particular office can invoke. How one person can be called to arms and make a difference in the lives of many. And when the time has come to leave the office and disappear into the night's mist, our fill-in-President can leave with his pride intact knowing that he has done what's right and not what's popular.

A great romantic comedy with a fantastic cast, this screen play will have one cheering for the correct motions of office than the manipulating undertow of the officials. A story of good versus bad, right versus wrong, and accepting the outcomes of what one may have inherited, and being satisfied with a job well done is what this tale sung to me. Though I've had plenty of screenings for this picture, it's still a pleasure to watch weather it's a television broadcast or a spinning disk in the DVD player. Silly and fresh as we take a look into the presidency, this will always pull a light laugh and cheer from me.

This is a film for views who loved The American President.

This one gets a 5 out of 10 votes.

Bondo anyone?

While stealing a few hours from a Sunday afternoon, Courtney, Bobbie, and I, were making up for last week's missing features. As we fiddled though our Road Runner Cable listings, we came across a rebroadcast of the 1992 hit on HBO:

Once upon a time, there was a woman who was self absorbed and was always scheming to barter a better way to, "Have her cake and eat it too." With her arch enemy breathing down her neck, she succumbs to the pressure for her own desire for perpetual youth. When she's jilted by her young lover, the proverbial "straw that broke the camel's back" was laid upon her broken youth. In her quest for youth, she ventures to a mysterious home to find a supplement that'll help her aging problems. Once our diva sees first hand what the results can be, she immediately purchases the supplement to turn back the hands of time. Then, the unraveling of her present situation is set on a path that can not be reverted...or derailed.

A great campy comedy accentuated with a witty sarcasm, this picture is still as funny today as when it was released in the early 90's. The C.G.I. execution in this feature was also done so well that-by today's standards-it still looks as fresh as anything that is currently released. A great acting chemistry that follows all of the major actors and actresses can not be denied. Intertwining and aggressively captivating, is the theme of the hilarity for those feature. Once you're in, you're in.

This story is a great accompaniment for other films like; The Twilight Zone, The Witches of Eastwick and even Love Potion #9.

A bountiful 6 out of 10 Proactive bottles is what I feel this movie deserves.

Where's ET? Maybe Elliot knows?

While hoping for an eventfully Saint Patrick's Day, I was surprised by the lack of enjoyment that the day brought. Plans were canceled, and situations were shifted. Irritations were passed around and a bit of discourse was shared.

I did have a pint of Murphy's Irish Stout to celebrate the ridding of Ireland of snakes by St. Pat. That was nice...except the drunken lady that kept talking to me while I was in a foul mood. As the strange lady spoke in her slurred style,I forced a few smiles and nodded politely as she kept telling Bobbie and I about how she drove across town to frequent this particular business. Between her brewery breath and the spittle firing from her drunken lips peppering my face, shirt and coat, I felt like I was on a bad episode of MTV's Boiling Point. I kept thinking of something Ewan McGregor said in his docu-drama Long Way Round, "Get me out of f***ing London."

Once home, I had to get away to suppress the emotional outbursts that-I'm pretty sure-were on their way.

So, out I went into the night to see:

The premise of this script is the present day and the earth is under attack by extraterrestrials trying to harvest the Earth's resources. Upon the arrival of the of the xenos, the areas around the impact zones are set alight with explosions and tumbling buildings. Our tactical force is sent in to secure the front line and extract civilians trapped beyond the engagement zone. Once in the danger zone, our team experiences internal turmoil and a call to leadership that can keep the audience watching.

The screen didn't reveal the aliens immediately like District 9 did, so, there was some of the "old school" mental suspense that the audience projected to the of world beings till they're caught on film. Once there was an appearance of the off world aggressors, the mental impact-for me-was a bit of a let down. Much like other sci-fi movies, the new arrivals are bipedal and carry weaponry that seemed, well, similar to what we have developed here on Earth. So much for other worldly.

Those who've enjoyed screen stories such as, Starship Troopers and Outlander, will more than likely want to see this feature. 

Though the visuals were superb and Aaron Eckhart's square jaw allows for good screen presence, those two aspects couldn't save the plots lean story line. But, the explosions were nice, so, it still has that going for it. For these reasons, I'll need to rate this at a 3 out of 10 broken spaceships.

Turn on the light...Please?

To make up for missing last Friday's movie, I watched a movie titled:

It picture takes place in Italy during the 40's after Mussolini's demise. Though the opening scenes started out promising, as the plot unfolded, it soon became apparent that this wasn't a flick that carried the cast to it's-possible-potential. I couldn't help but to take stock in how long it took to set the scenes and introduce the players.

The development of this drama/thriller/detective story isn't really all that it should be considering the actors listed in the cast. I'm going to chalk this one up to poor directing. Normally, I'd turn a boring film like this off as quickly as I'd pull the plug on movies like; Biker Boyz, Torque, and Harley Davidson and The Marlboro Man.

The only thing that saved this film was Paz Vega. Her dance steps were enough to watch it through the lounge sequence, but after that, pull it and turn on your local broadcasting.One of the inexcusable aspects of this picture was that Paz Vega is supposed to be an Italian national, but one can clearly tell by her accent that she's Spanish. I guess a pretty face can't save a lack of talent for dropping her native accent.

As for a film rating, this one gets 2 bullets in the head out of 10-Because I was so stupid by renting it that I need a "double tap" for doing so.
.
My recommendation is to either save your cash or rent Inception instead.

What a sad state of affairs.

Moving through the day has been easier than I thought it would've been today-For this I am grateful.
Last night, I previewed today's movie should I be caught in the work net and need to stay there.

Tonight's reel is:

Set during the Nazi occupation of Poland, we find a this boy's journey a remarkable telling of; faith, hope, awakening and self actualization. As our character discovers himself, he finds kindness in a remote home. Moving through his new state of being, he needed to wrap himself in the robes of Catholicism to avoid his Jewish past. Once our movie son arrives at his hide-a-way, he is tutored by a priest that enlightens him on the identity of Jesus and awakens a new emotional destination for his foster brothers.

This picture is a visual travel that engulfs the viewers gaze in such completion that one must have the hardest of hearts to not be engaged. Moving through a young persons views during such a turbulent time is definitely an exercise in empathy. The acting craft of all of these young actors and actresses are worth the view alone.

This is a must see for those who loved Life Is Beautiful.

This tale ranks-in my book-an 8 out of 10 rosaries.

I didn't hear Oasis playing in the back ground.

After running the Vue to a mechanic friend for some barter work to be completed, Bobbie and I were returning home and came upon the idea that we didn't want to cook dinner. We bypassed our home and made a bee-line for the local Subway Sandwich Restaurant. After Bobbie reappeared from inside the restaurant doors, we then made a break for the driveway apron. One home, I must admit that I was quite fatigued. there was nothing special to note from work. The day was neither hectic nor was it notably mentally draining.

Somehow, I found my way onto the bed and was roused around 8:00 o'clock p.m.. Making my way out of the now evening darkened room, I stumble out into the neon light of the hall and peeped sleepily around into the living room to see that Courtney was about to start tonight's pixel parade.

On tap tonight was:

Alright, I have to admit that this wasn't one of the films I'd selectively seek to view in a cineplex, but, as a rental, it's cheap enough for me to not feel so guilty to have spent some time on it. So, as usual, we've placed our behinds into the dents that we've made in the couch from previous film screenings. I couldn't help but to keep my iPod at arms length should I need to find a break from the television screen.

Pleasantly surprised, this is a "cute" story of  a woman who's been let go from a job in the television production business. We follow her as she seeks gainful employment with another televising firm and heads up their B-rated-if not forgettable-morning show. As she takes charge, she begins to find the niches of the people that she is working with and forges a "family" from those "loose ends".

A story of, perseverance, hard work and commitment with a sweet "she lived happily ever after" ending, is what this title presents. One can watch this with anyone who may have enjoyed The Devil Wears Prada.

This is a typical vanilla movie without much range of character depth, but the saving grace is that it's a "cute" film that chicks will love. For this, the movie receive 4 out of 10 CARA ratings.

Not your average Comic Convention topic.

Helping an old friend with his home construction Thursday and Friday has monopolized the time that I was able to spend with Courtney. It's a wonderful thing to know that she let's me do these things with an unparalleled understanding of what friends do for each other. It's good to see that she and her brother have a deep understanding of this concept. It's not that friends may stay in one's life for the entire time, but it is about being dedicated to a bond and nurturing the growth of that bond.

My children are a sight to behold as the grow to early adulthood. It brings me much hope that I haven't corrupted them with my own personal demons-On that note, we'll continue this prospect where we left off.

For the next viewing we chose:

To my amazement, I hadn't realized that Courtney's never had the opportunity to see this feature in it's entirety. After a game of Life, she and Max moved to positions on the over sized chair and the couch to continue the visual onslaught of this Tarantino gore fest-It was grand to know that they are mature enough to understand the series of story plays is purely for the shock value-Not to mention that they can follow the jagged sequenced story line.

Set in Tarantino's vision of Los Angeles, the fragmented story tracks the exploits of two hit men as they argue about moot points, have bloody exploits and contemplate moral issues that ensnare their works. Many more players are introduced into the story to give the movie more depth but the hit men are the glue to the segments. Much like the Coen brothers, Tarantino envisions much of this campy L.A. life with his own twits. A great script with brilliant banter and the use of role shifting actors, this is defiantly one of the director/writers best works-In my opinion.

Do I need to suggest any more films to view with this? If I must, just check out the other Tarantino flicks. I mean, if you liked this one, you'll probably enjoy his other grind house styled pictures.

This'll rate a 8 out of 10 brief cases for the witty banter alone.

I hope Marsellus Wallace doesn't know about this-because if he finds out, I may end up like Zed.

This isn't Peter the Dragon.

Maybe I slept too long or had too much belly pain from too much Tabasco sauce today, but I was a bit unruly into the early part of the evening. I must admit that I was a bit short with Courtney when she asked me what movie we should see tonight. I felt badly after Bobbie pointed out to me the error of my ways.

With a slumping sorrowful feeling pinned to my dragging tail, I made my way out to the living room to watch a film of her selection. I'm glad that she picked out something fun ad full of naive commentary about self realization-That completely spun the emotional direction of my evening around.  

Upon Max's suggestion earlier this week, Max, Courtney, and I sat down to see:

I must admit that I was never a fan of this book and had no plan to see this feature. Sure, this one was a C.G.I work of art, but I had my reservations about the story since the book wasn't that long. After all, we all saw what Spike Jonze did with Where The Wild Things Are. I just didn't want that same disjointing feeling in my mouth again. Max eased my concerns with a this quote, "You know Dad, this film was nominated for an Oscar because of it's computer work." Alright, that statement did it, I parked my rump on the couch and didn't move...much.

With great surprise, I was drawn into this flick and was emotionally involved with the main characters and the plight of the dragons. Much a story of finding one's voice against the constraints or the expectations of others, this is also a story of being without prejudice or pre-existing ideas. How living together may be the best way to join two cultures versus fear of each other, because in most cases, when the "shoe is on the other foot", the empathy can be the same on both sides.

Spectacularly presented, with enough sublime visuals to keep the rods and cones in the back of your eyes rapidly stimulated, this family film shouldn't be missed.

For families that love; Wall-E, Spirited Away, and Metropolis(2001 anime created by Osamu Tezuka), this movie is for you.

For bringing a great expansion to the original story, I need to rank this one at a 7 out of 10 bags of guarded treasure.

Paint balls, snakes, and poo.

Tuesday's the day for new releases. Pulling into the parking lot of the video rental store, I was a bit excited to continue with our New Year's resolution. As I made my way inside, the gals at the counter yelled their very happy greeting toward me. Swiftly spinning on my heels, I raised my arm in acknowledgment of their zeal filled welcome. With a smile, wink and a quick flutter of my raised hand, I convey my return hello.

So many new releases to chose from today. I wish I could rent them all, but what would we watch tomorrow if I binged on disks tonight? Selecting only three titles, I figured that I'd be safe by letting Courtney chose tonight's poison.

Of the three rentals, Courtney and Max chose:

Not to say that I'm a Jackass aficionado, but, I do enjoy their style of hijinks's. The distillation of their creativity may be questionable and their execution of said stunts may be repetitive, but the stars' of this choreographed reel are quite fearless. I believe that it's this fearlessness that makes this series so remarkable...and copied.

Watching grown men acting like 12 year old children can be quite a relief compared the daily mundane routine that most of us trudge through. All in all, there is much juggling of humor-and disgust-that can be enjoyed from this edition of a long running MTV television show. The fact that; getting kicked in the "beans" by a burro , playing Tether Ball with a bee hive, or getting punched in the head by your friend can add up to a load of laughs.

If you are the person who laughed hysterically at; Jackass, Jackass II, and shows like Wonder Showzen, you'll enjoy your time seeing this picture.

Though I didn't find episode 3 as funny as releases 1 or 2, it's still quite funny. I'll rank a 4 out of 10 on my "Sick-o-meter".

Why was it so funny you ask? That's an easy answer.
Because in every adult male lives a 12 year old prankster waiting to get out.

I can hear The Tokens singing now.

With much disdain for treadmill work at the gym, I was sweetly shuffled off to the gym by my beautiful bride with a reassurance that it'd make me feel better. I don't know about me "feeling better", but, it did do me good to run along the cylindrical road-Even if it wasn't at a rapid rate.

Sweetly, we stopped at the grocery store for some Oregano leaves, but, as always, we bought the store instead. Wanting to only spend $3.00, we tallied $153.00 on groceries that Bobbie and I figured we needed. Needed? More like wanted.

After unloading the needed/wanted goods into our cupboards and refrigerator, Bobbie spearheaded the cooking exploits of tonight's meal. Baked Parmesan Chicken and steamed beans were on the menu for our taste buds. Once Max, Courtney, and the two gals from down the street that Courtney was caring for a bit were fed, we cleaned like a team of Tasmanian Devils straight out of a Loony Toons cartoon. Shortly there after, the little gals found their way back into their mother's automobile, they waved good bye and proclaimed to their mother how much they enjoyed playing with Max's ferrets and Courtney's dogs.

After that, we had time to settle in for tonight's movie.

Knowing full well that Courtney hasn't had the chance to see this one, I knew she'd be in for a treat.

This motion picture tell us the story of a boy who is sent to live with a pair of eccentric Grand-uncles in the midst of his mothers desire to find herself. During their collision, our boy finds out what happens to his Grand-uncles and begins a tour de force of his own discovery and the truth that makes his bonds with others a beautiful, and sometimes a bitter-sweet, need. Humor abounds with punctuated emotional outpourings that will have you looking retrospectively into your own values and your family ties.

Second Hand Lions is a tale that distills all of the wonderful things that a family can be. Grand achievements, personal losses and the knowledge that, in the end, our bonds can make us whole. One should defiantly see this with someone they love.

For the discerning viewer that found, Unstrung Heroes and Lost in Yonkers a pleasure to the eyes, this one will fit right in their mix.

A fresh take that's always amusing to watch the first time or the hundredth time, this screen play gets a very heartwarming 6 out of 10 Foreign Legion Badges.

 

Xenophobes!

It's Saturday morning and the living room is echoing with propeller compressions and buzzing aeroplane fly-bys. Discovery HD Theater is rebroadcasting of the Red Bull Air Racing  2008 season opener from Abu Dhabi. I look away briefly to watch the pilots roll and spin their race planes in, around and through raised inflatable cones. It's tough not to marvel at the skill and precision that these pilots skillfully exert.

As I take stock for the morning, I can hear Max blurting out directions and locations upstairs-He must be playing some game on-line. Bobbie is resting for the day as she'd worked through the night as we all slept soundly. Courtney has been gone to a Key Club convention since yesterday and she's checked in to let us know that she's safe and having a grand time. The dogs are doing what dogs do...Slepping on their soft beds. Today's going to be a good day, if not, I'll make it a good day-Wow! Larry Pegram's on T.V.! That's one cool Ducati 1198R! See, the day's looking better already.

Thinking back to last night, Max and I made a run to the local Family Video joint directly after Bobbie departed for work. We meandered around the perimeter of the older movies and perused the new releases. Is I went though my check list, I keep mentally checking off the movies that I'd already seen. The only thing left was I Spit On Your Grave. Guess what? I simply chose from the inner corral of films. With Max satisfied with a couple of video games, I settled on two titles that I hadn't even given a fleeting thought to before. One was Afterschool, the other was Alien Autopsy.

Once we were in the house Max and  I had a  snack and talked some about the days events before he excused himself to venture off into the Playstation's virtual world till he's "dog tired"-Which makes me wonder where that term stems from since dogs sleep all day so they should be well rested...All of the time.

Anyway, I chose to drop...

...into the DVD tray. I figured that if I fell asleep watching this flick, I wouldn't be missing anything anyway. To my surprise, I found a spriteful comedy about some true-if embellished-events. The date is 1995 and our two blokes are trying to make the next quick quid. One hatches a hair brained idea to shell his mates car to fund a trip to the United States and purchase Elvis Presley memorabilia as a way to stock their hawking business. As their buying frenzy escalates, our blokes discover a mysterious man who claims to have stock footage from a crash incident during 1947. The place Roswell, New Mexico. Once home in Jolly 'ol England, one of our scheming pals decides to fund the purchase of the mysterious crash footage by enlisting an very peculiar-and intimidating-investor. Once the stock footage is acquired, hilarity ensues as our moronic mate tries to save his hide.

A good humorous photo play that'll have you rooted in one place as the proverbial "train wreck in slow motion" evolves, this one will appeal to those who've enjoyed; The Full Monty and Waking Ned Devine.

I must place this moving picture a bit better than a 5 out of 10 on my spotted dick scale.

Jeepers creepers where'd ya get those peepers.

As I stumbled into the house by way of the back door, I find Bobbie, Max and Courtney scuttling about the kitchen in a pre-storm dinner making frenzy. Courtney is watching the ground beef as it began it's browning session on the stove, Max is folding what appears to be a cardboard box, and Bobbie is finishing the stocking of the refrigerator with the added groceries she'd just bought. On the counter top a few items were strewn about. A couple of Roma tomatoes, an onion, the remains of a garlic bulb, a handful of Cilantro and head of lettuce were piled closely to each other.

Then it hits me...Were having taco salads tonight.
Great! Another night of gas. Thank you Honey-I know you'll enjoy being near me later.

Since I've ascertained-through years of trial and error-that it's the spices in those "all in one" taco spice packets that seem to have me distending like a balloon, I omit the taco meat and make a vegetarian taco salad...Or would that just be considered a salad? I think it'd be the latter.

Once we're ready to take the late day meal together, we again left the dinning room table vacant for a more plush spot in front of the television to watch tonights screening of:

Set in New York City this horror outlines the life of an actor and his wife as the find a new apartment. Once the apartment is obtained, the neighbors are introduced and the couple seems to adjust to their new environment. Shortly though, the darkness creeps in and the bizarre noises turn to strange dreams. Isolation sets in on Rosemary(Mia Farrow) as she finds herself pregnant. Situations move increasingly askew as she continues down the road to motherhood until she finds out the truth.

Though I've only seen bits and pieces of this horror classic, I've never had the chance to see this whole picture reel in a complete format. Due to the horror movies of today's standards, this feature is quite dated. The only special effects are a few flashes of overlapping pictures and a man in a chintzy brown suit...But what would you expect from a movie that was made in the '60s? Though the plot isn't something new, but, the content-for the day-was a frightening proposition for-the then-more reserve and conservative audience. I can see why it pushed the boundaries of the film industry when it was originally released. The thought of being enclosed and thwarted at every turn with nobody to ask for help aids in the isolated state that Mia Farrow's character experiences. This feature does a great job at allowing the viewer to see how one can be thought of as insane when telling their observation of the truth. Again, the director creates a great dichotomy of the being entrapped even though there are millions of people bustling on the streets below.

Rosemary's Baby is a good view if you're a fan of these other picture shows; The Devils Advocate and The Omen.

For being a good solid horror, this picture will get a 5 out of 10 baby rattles.

Ouch! That'll leave a mark.

It was about time that dramas took a back seat to something that'll chill the spine. Stephen King's novel coupled with a small and skillfully arranged cast presents nothing but sheer gasping shock that I know will have Courtney and Max clinging to the couch arms.

What was selected tonight was a thriller that truly peeks into a fractured and bipolar mind.

Corralled on a distant farm in the Colorado Rocky Mountains is where we find our injured writer. held hostage by his number one fan, he's subjected to horrific torments all in the name of her loving desire for him. In the bleak mid winter months, our writer summons strength to find a solution to his bizarre happenstance while trying to muster the courage to escape.

In my opinion, this motion picture is almost unparalleled in the vast seclusion in which the circumstances occur. Masterfully presented by Rob Reiner, this film does for horror what Stand By Me did for the coming of age drama. The sense of helplessness that the injured party must endure is translated so sharply by James Caan that it's hard to look away when his screen persona is struggling  for freedom. Much appreciation must be given to Kathy Bates for an unflinching description of a secluded psychopath. A frightfully believable undertaking by Bates, this is a blood curdling riot to watch.

This photoplay has always been a favorite of mine and if you like it too, I'd suggest you bundle some of the old thriller classics with it-Motion pictures such as; Rear Window, The Shinning and even something new like Monster.

For the excellent expansion of time and compression of panic, this one definitely rates an 8 out of 10 sledge hammers.
  
Archie Bunker says, "Way to go Meathead!"

1 + 1 = 11?

Shhhhh...Courtney doesn't know that I'm going to sneak this one in.

After she'd gone to bed, Bobbie and I decided to get another film in. We curled up under the down comforter and hit the play button on the DVD player remote and we began to watch a documentary titled:

This is a startling look at our education system and some of the systems pit falls. An unabashed look into the infrastructure and the hierarchy of our schools and the processes that define the programs are the topics on hand. In layman's terms, we are allowed to see how Charter and Kipp schools work and why they are successful and why the 1950s education model may not be the best choice in this day and age. Industry leading C.E.O.s also leave their statement as to what the economy will need from our up coming students to be functioning members in our ever changing world.

This documentary is not skewed to any political side or argument. A solid view from the directors research, this film will have you questioning the craft, the motives and the results of the department that we pay for and utilize for the mental growth of our young people. It will also have the viewer question if they've done enough for the unhindered progress of the nation's young people.

A hard nosed film that takes no prisoners, this film should be viewed with your teens-if you should have any-to allow for a more broad perspective about making the right choices about schools and why it's important to be studious.

This is a great reel that rivals other such as; The Cove and Super Size Me.

Well done, and informative, this one ranks 6 out of 10 broken pencils.

Not just for the Sopranos anymore.

41 degrees Fahrenheit is what the dashboard read in my car as I traversed the familiar city streets on the way home. The snow banks still bright white from the latest heavy frozen deluge are slowly melting their deeply hidden gem like barbs as the sun sooths it's caress over their grip of the cold's long embrace. What a nice break to remind us all that spring is just around the corner. Maybe the ground hog was correct about spring being early.

On the way past the local Family Video, I stopped to enlist some new movie titles for the resolution and ended up with four DVD cases instead of one.

For tonight, Courtney could chose what she'd like to view. She chose to see:

When the film started, I looked at James Gandolfini and only saw one thing-Mobster Boss. As the movie progressed, the wise-guy persona was sloughed off and a much darker more sullen person arose. This was a welcome sight from a artist such as Gandolfini. His screen presence is in full bloom as he guides the story along. Great supporting actresses round out the main cast, but, I must confess that I felt Kristen Stewart could've done much better with her role-She seemed a bit...lackluster. Stewart definitely did not seem as engrossed in this role as much as some others-One of those roles being; Georgia Kaminski in the 2007 film The Cake Eaters.

Welcome to the Rileys is a spartan look at a dysfunctional marriage after the death of a child. As Mr. and Mrs. Riley tango with their own mental and emotional trauma, they are forced to seek the truth and find one another in the most unlikely fashion. As Mr. Riley is off on a work conference, he crosses paths with a lost soul and a discovers a desire to help this wayward teen to find his own redemption. In the end, these three people find a family bond that stretches beyond the D.N.A. strands and into the soft spot of the human heart.

This movie will appeal to those who've enjoyed Leaving Las Vegas.

The Rileys will get relatively high marks for me. They'll find themselves ranked 7 out of 10 Po' boys.

Bon chance!

During our brisk walk to the High School, I picked Courtney's mind about the film that we'll be seeing at the auditorium. She mentioned that this was the last film-in a series of films-that the foreign language arts classes puts on. It's free to the public and this one is supposed to be good, but, it's subtitled.

Armed with only that much information from Courtney, we made our way through the brass and glass doors of the auditorium. We made our purchases of Bon Bon candies then staked our claim on a pair of seats two rows back from the projector.

Before long, the screen glitches were ironed out and the room lights dimmed to reveal this tale:

Set in France-of course-we find a recluse in an apartment who maintains a collection of butterflies(hence the title Le Papillon). Recent additions to the tenement building are a mother and daughter who happen to live in the apartment above the semi-hermit. As the days go on, a chance meeting between the young girl and the older gentleman lead to a wonderful story of; self discovery, tolerance, understanding, and love. It's in this relationship that the girl understands what a parental love can be and how opening himself up to others can help him heal his emotional wounds.

Shot in the grand mountain scape of the French Alps, this film is utterly stunning to view. Valleys of tall green grass speckled with yellow and white flowers flanked by magnificent pine forests and the blue cathedral sky vaulted by mountain peaks give a view of grandeur that will have the audience feeling as though they were on location with our storytellers.

This is a great family film that will have everyone thinking about what it means to be part of a nuclear unit. Thank goodness for the translation, because if you know a little French, you may realize that some words aren't translated into their direct mean-Isn't that correct Courtney? :-D

This is a film that shouldn't be missed by any family. If you've enjoyed, Heidi or Frankie Starlight, this on will be another added to that beloved list.

Because the film was propelled by such a great script, I need to rank this feature a 7 out of 10 chrysali. 

Deja vu? Absolutely.

With Friday behind me and Dear Bride off to the Animal Shelter Fundraiser, I had time to round up Max and Courtney for a meal at one of the local restaurants. The food was fair, the atmosphere was enjoyable, but the company was even better. As we feasted on London Broil and endless tureens of Fish and Chips, we mentally gathered our time and reminisced about the days events, caught free Wi-Fi, and perused silly pictures on line as we giggled and spoke loudly of the kids next ski trip. As I peered momentarily out the window, I was thankful for the cold and the looming front on the horizon that'll bring a flurry or two. At least they'll have some fresh snow to blanket the man made stuff.

Once we've gorged our bellies on flaky battered fish and a slab of cow, we waddled to the car to trek across town to our home. There was a fleeting mention of stopping for ice cream, but when a pale drawn look pasted over Max and Courtney's face, I figured that would be out of the question. I think I'm going to have Max and Courtney go to confession because we surely did glutt...In nomine Patris-et Filii-et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.

Once we were home, the dogs were shushed out, and shortly there after, returned to the inner warmth of our castle. Max excused himself for more Playstation exploits as Courtney and I settled on watching our Friday night movie in the master bedroom. We decided to view it there because-like a lion after eating a huge portion-we needed to lay down take the weight off of our bellies.

For this night, Courtney had a desire to see:

Now, as you all know from an earlier post, I really don't have a burning in my bosom for Father of the Bride, and I have a sneaking suspicion that I won't have have burning desire to own this one either. Why you ask? That's easy. It's because Mean Girls didn't get an Oscar Nomination either.

Not unlike other Disney teen angst movies this film doesn't "break the mold". Here we see our characters-young and old-try to resolve their undesirable High School years at a later date. A wedding in the family coordinates the multiple collisions that could leave one laughing...If one's ten years old that is. Aside from the typical sweet moral education about asking for forgiveness and coming to grips with that action, this movie really has no extraordinary merit. There is one redeeming scene was in the film though. It's of Tom(a jilted lover played Kyle Bornheimer). With comedic brilliance,and a fearless execution of acting craft, he storms the wedding rehearsal dinner with his song of love that steals the sequence-It's very reminiscent of Steve Buscemi during the toasting scene of The Wedding Singer.

Though watching Tom spouting a love song won't redeem the whole movie, it is a bitter consellation...Or should I say, concession.

If you feel the need to seek out this movie, be warned. If you like or own; Father of the Bride, Mean Girls, and  Confessions of a Teen Age Drama Queen, you may want to go for this.

As for me, this film gets a 3 out of 10 ant bites.

Sorry folks, the sight of Kristen Bell in a tight running outfit couldn't even save it from that rank...Though it did raise it one point.

It's money time.

Today resolves itself with a fine finish. Bobbie and I made it to the gym together where we proceeded to burn some calories before we would pack a few more in. My cousin Mary was also at the gym and we had a chance to exchange some conversations about the day and how sore she was-Since the previous day she'd been beating herself up with her weight training session. Once the exercise routine was completed, we returned home just in time for me to make spaghetti for dinner. I think we needed-or wanted-the carbs.

With the spaghetti gravy bubbling away happily permeating the house with the fragrant wafting of rosemary and oregano, I finished off the pasta to a nice al dente texture so that it could finish cooking as it sat in the collinder...and no, I didn't rinse the noodles-Just a splash of extra virgin olive oil and some freshly milled sea salt lightly season the spaghetti. 

With the preparation out of the way, we plate a pile of noodles topped with a beautiful red sauce making the plate look like a nuclear Kilimanjaro. Though we were not taking a meal at our dinning room table, we are all together on a cold night enjoying each others company and loving the food.

 For tonight's entertainment, we settled on this:

Set in Charleston Massachusetts, this is an action thriller from the get go. Much like any other heist movie, the robbery team is a group of friend that have had a checkered past. Of course, there is a federal agent who's out to capture this team of bandits. With minimal information, he uses all possible means to build the robbery case that can find the law breakers in a Federal penitentiary. 

Say what you will about Ben Affleck and some of his questionable role choices, but as a director, he's outstanding. Never flashy or over the top, he delivers a great sequence of screen shots that will draw the viewer in from the opening credit to the final fade to black. He does a fantastic job finding the perfect casting agent to enlist some of the best new actors to move this story along. With such strong supporting actors as Rebecca Hall and Jeremy Renner, Affleck's movie was assured to be a blockbuster.

A thrill ride with a great story is what you should expect...and this celluloid delivers.

This film will appeal to fans of movies such as; Gone baby Gone, Heat, and 3000 Miles to Graceland.

Rating for this one calls for a solid 8 out of 10 "Benjamin's".

Nice placenta.

For Wednesday's viewing pleasure, we rented the comedy:

Cameos abound in this bit of comedy. Our two passengers, Peter(Downey) and Ethan(Galifianakis), are tossed together through a course of events that keep them intertwined till their journey's end. From the airport to the hospital, this is a typical script of two fundamentally different people who find compromises in their eccentricity's to come to grips with each other and see things through each other's perspective...with a heavy dose of downward spiraling events.

Though I enjoy much of the works of Robert Downey Jr. and Zach Galvani's, I couldn't find the side splitting laughs in this film-Not to say that it isn't funny. It is very humorous. I was really expecting to be in stitches over this one, but unfortunately, the raucous belly laughs were non existent. The more I watched this, the more I reminded of another film. That film being Planes, Trains and Automobiles.

I'd have to consider this a retelling of the afore mentioned John Hughes film, the score is different, the sets are different but the tale remains the same...but without the annoyingly endearing presentation that John Candy donated to the original role of course.

For those who've enjoyed; Road Trip and Planes, Trains and Automobiles this one may be right up your ally.

For lack of creativity and using Hughes' manuscript, this film gets a 4 out of 10 Glaucoma Rx's.

"Awe...How cute!" -Courtney Her

On Tuesday night, with Bobbie and Courtney nestled on the couch and I sprawled out on the chair like a bearskin rug, we took time to see the family classic;

Holy cow!
The cinematography is awful.
The picture can be out of focus at times.
The costumes aren't the correct period.
The lighting is poor.

But hey, what do you get with film work circa 1974.

That aside, the story is as I remembered. It was like seeing an old friend in a grocery store. Though the times may date your relationship-The moment hasn't changed and you pick up where you've left off.

Always a great telling about; perseverance, companionship, determination and love between a boy and his dogs, this is a heart warming tale that'll leave have you giggling over the naive comedy and have your puppy loving family members in tears. This is a great screenplay that captures the feel of Wilson Rawls' book of the same title. Check this one out if you, or anyone in your family, is a dog lover. You'll start for the dogs, but you'll be amazed at the story.

Bobbie would probably say that if you like this film, you should also see; The Sound of Music, Two Brothers and Pollyanna.

This one scores an easy 7 out of 10 raccoon pelts.

Even our dogs Lucy and Mitzi would give this a "thumbs up"...If they had thumbs.

On with the show.

Spring has turned into winter once more. Shovels and snowblowers buzz and scrape outside windows to steal the thunder from alarm clocks in the early hours of daybreak. The only thing to show the slow turn of the earth's rotation is the daylight. Longer days and more minutes will eventually lead to the warmth of summer...and that'll be a welcome release.

The last two weeks have left my work schedule compressed for time and therefore, my movie viewing time with Courtney has been compromised. Though I'm able to see the films piece meal, I have not been able to settle on the couch with her to see our selections. This is not the way we planned things to be, unfortunately, this is the way it has to be for the moment.

Monday night's movie was:

I have never had a chance to watch this Scorsese feature and wanted to give it a go. With many other Scorsese films to my liking, I figured that this was going to be a safe bet. There are many actors that-I believe-the director favors and all are present here as well. De Niro and Pesci utilize their great on screen presence to accentuate the roles played. I was surprised ad how the roles were reversed from other Scorsese movies that involve these two actors. De Niro usually plays the role of the mores soft spoken "wise-guy" and Pesci is the loose cannon. In this switch, I was quite surprised.

Though the film had a campy feel and the look of a black and white 1950s film, I feel that the story could've been better. The plot moved from one angry scene to the next, which may have been what the director wanted, but after a time, the viewer becomes a desensitized to the violent activities and then the story becomes a bit of a "train wreck in slow motion". The story is a bit lean but you can't seem look away since our main subject makes bad choices and spirals out of control.

If you're a boxing movie fanatic, I'd suggest this movie.
If you're looking for boxing movies with more heart felt involvement, I'd suggest; Cinderella Man, Million Dollar Baby, Rocky, Rocky Balboa and The Fighter.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 10 world championship title belts. 

Be careful where you go.

Max cruised into the master bedroom as I was lounging on the bed tapping away on my iPod's keyboard. He broke into a semi excited sentence and said, "Dad, you've got to see this video game trailer. Courtney cried because it was so sad. She never even made it to the end of the trailer-And that was the best part."

Engrossed in what I was doing at the moment,I half heartily said, "Alright I'll check it out."
Dropping my iPod onto the fluffy down comforter, I began the slow rise out of the bed like an old man creeping his way out of his favorite recliner.

About mid sit up Max said, " What are you doing? You can stay right there and watch the trailer on that new fancy iPod. It has a speaker in it. Did you forget?"

"Yep." I said. "Let's check it out together." I added.

Max made no hesitation to jump onto the comforter right next to me. We then began our short video game trailer journey together. With the iPod doing it loading rotation, we waited intently so that he could share this short trailer with me.


Warning: This trailer is graphic. Viewers be advised.

You all may have been waiting to hear about what Courtney and I have viewed, but, this short explanation of a game seemed to stand out more poignantly in my mind this weekend. I've never had the chance to view such a skillful game teaser such as this. Not only is this emotionally impacting, but it's also visually arresting. One marvels at the state of what is a completely computer generated image such as these. The time, care, observation and love that these designers have for their craft is clearly evident in this body of work. Much can be gleaned of the facial recognition programs that may have been written to cover the subtle facial expressions that couldn't be generated even by the last version of  whatever software was used. When movies like Terminator 2 and Avatar use the surface of the actors who embody the film characters to drive the motion capture devices, the outcome is superb. In stark contrast, this software is a free standing unit and works independently of the human body to create it's own framework. The software even codes correctly how light should radiate through skin to reveal the underlying colors in soft rosy tones. And it's in those facts that-I feel-the C.P.U. driven bodies are an unadulterated-almost artistic-rendering of the human form...and this is where the "art" converges with the "science".

I hope the entire game will be executed with this type fit and finished, but sadly, as most games are, there will be glorious frames unveiling the story line, but the play graphics will be much like any other playtime generated images. Either way, I think I'm going to have to buy another Playstation 3 just for this game. It's either that or commandeer Max's PS3 unit.

Again, keep in mind that this trailer is graphic, so, be advised.

This trailer can be seen here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTtv3DyXRow


For a short story, this one gets a 9 out of 10 for shear brilliant execution of the tale , how many hours it must have taken the digital crafters to convey the beautifully rendered details that's made even more compelling with a magnificently tailored score.

This is a glorious piece of C.G.I.. See it if your stomach will let you.

They're coming through the wire.

After a trip to the gym with Courtney and Bobbie, we arrive home to wind down for the evening and disappear into the couch for another night's movie. Briefly catching up on the day's events we spend a series of seconds blabbing while the DVD finds it's title screen.

As the disk player launches the show, we blast into the past because we've chosen to view:

Courtney wasn't too enthralled with this one at first. She would sputter a few paragraphs about something that made up her day from time to time. As the movie progressed, the paragraphs became shorter and shorter till soon, she was engrossed with the flashing scenes on the television. Once the village sequence arrived, she was watching with intently at what was unfolding. Empathetically her eyes welled with extra moisture as Barnes delivered his questions to the village elder while holding his daughter at gun point. Bobbie vocalized how she was disgusted by the sights-But she says that every time we see this part of the film. Max had even pulled himself from the draw of his Playstation 3 to complete our nuclear family because of the impact of this movie. Here we all were, occupying a living space and staring into an electric screen. It was wonderful.

Well, what can I say about Oliver Stone's vision of the Vietnam war. For those that have seen it, it's one of the most compelling tales of this category. The narration of Chris is soulful and poetic in comparison to the horrors of war. Yet through the grief and the fear, a bond that is made between brothers in arms is brilliantly conveyed and poignantly felt by the viewer. We watch the main character grow from a naive new grunt to a battle hardened warrior who tries to make sense of the jagged world around him. In the end, he begins to find the truth in himself, of what the war has taken from him, and what he'll never regain from the battles that have scarred him.

I'm sure you've probably seen this film and others like it. If you want to make a day out of this, you can follow up this DVD with; Apocalypse Now and Full Metal Jacket.

This movie will always be compelling if it's being watched the first time or if it's being watched the 100th time. For this, I'm ranking this narration as an 8 out of 10 M-16's.

Before the invasion.

Before Grunge, before Acid Rock, before Punk Rock and before the "Video killed the Radio Star", there was one pinnacle band that helped to unleash the offshore music tidal wave known as the British Invasion.

I know that you've figured it out. It's the Beatles.

But with every success story, there's always a back story. This is that story:

Before John Lennon found his voice and the Beatles were comprised of George Harrison, Paul McCartney, and Ringo Starr. Long before the slim black suits, psychedelic drugs, Yoko Ono and Wings, this was the tale.

John Lennon's life-in some ways-was not unlike any other young man's. It was a struggle to understand the changes of his youth contrasted with the difficulties of how to come to terms with the future man. During the youth of Lennon, we see how he was conflicted with his contorted family life, how the loss of his parents affected him and we see the final peace he makes so that he can come to grips with the truth-What find understanding what having a family means and how it defines his life.

This is not a happy telling of experiences. There's no dreams of making it big on the world stage. and certainly no talk of the Beatles. On the contrary, this is heartfelt and determined film that will have you mesmerized by the sight of growing pains.

The outstanding screen presences of Aaron Johnson and Kristin Scott Thomas move the film to a greater level. Johnson, speaks, walks and-to an extent-looks so much like John Lennon that it's difficult to believe that he wasn't actually Lennon. Kristin Scott Thomas carries her part with such skill that one can't look away while she graces the screen.

If you're a fan of story driven films such as; Life is Beautiful and District 9, don't let this one get by you.

I'm loving this film so I'm giving this one a 8 out of 10 plates of Bangers and Mash.