Based on the book Playing the Enemy, Invictus is the true story of how Nelson Mandela united his nation behind their rugby team and led them to the World Cup. An unusual political move, Mandela used the team to galvanize a previously divided country, and in so doing moved the hearts and minds of many who had formerly opposed him.
I am not a great historian, and even though this is a major event for a major political figure in my lifetime, I did not know the story going into this film. I think that was a good thing, because it meant I didn't know how it would end. Now, I probably could have guessed as the plot is pretty predictable and has a "movie of the week" feel to it, but I didn't.
So, it's predictable, but it's well-acted (of course it is, Morgan Freeman is just too darned good, and Matt Damon's no slouch, even though he doesn't really do much in this film) and very enjoyable. It's easy to get swept up in the emotion of the film, and that's partly the point. Add the fact that you get to watch some blood-pumping rugby games, and you've got a nice evening at the theater.
Come Oscar time, expect at least one acting nod, although I can't guarantee a win. Moms, nope, probably not, considering the heavy shadow of Apartheid which hangs over the film (purposefully); everybody else, check it out.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Friday, January 8, 2010
Sherlock Holmes
Continuing our Robert Downey, Jr. fest, we saw Sherlock Holmes. Inspired by the books of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the film takes a somewhat different tack. In this movie, Holmes is an eccentric detective who makes up for his lack of social graces with his tremendous martial skill and deductive reasoning. His relationship with Dr. Watson is almost mythic, their connection seems practically telepathic/empathetic as they understand each other almost without using words.
The story begins with the capture of a serial killer. Just before the criminal is executed, he asks to see Holmes. His last statement is that three more will die and Holmes will not be able to stop the deaths. And the game is afoot!
Okay, this movie is hokey and predictable, and not in the same vein as any of the books (I'm still scared of "The Case of the Speckled Band" to this day, btw), but it is so much FUN. I enjoyed the clever repartee, the relationship between Holmes and Watson (LOVE Jude Law in almost anything anyway), and the big revelation as the case was solved. Sure, it's a popcorn flick, but it was good time.
This is also not a moms movie, and I don't think it is going to be a successful launch of a new film franchise for Robert Downey, Jr., but that's okay. Iron Man 2 comes out in the spring.
The story begins with the capture of a serial killer. Just before the criminal is executed, he asks to see Holmes. His last statement is that three more will die and Holmes will not be able to stop the deaths. And the game is afoot!
Okay, this movie is hokey and predictable, and not in the same vein as any of the books (I'm still scared of "The Case of the Speckled Band" to this day, btw), but it is so much FUN. I enjoyed the clever repartee, the relationship between Holmes and Watson (LOVE Jude Law in almost anything anyway), and the big revelation as the case was solved. Sure, it's a popcorn flick, but it was good time.
This is also not a moms movie, and I don't think it is going to be a successful launch of a new film franchise for Robert Downey, Jr., but that's okay. Iron Man 2 comes out in the spring.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
The Soloist
Based on a book, The Soloist is the true story of Nathaniel Ayers - a talented musician whose mental struggles have left him living in the streets - and Steve Lopez - the LA Times reporter who saw the music of his story. One chance encounter sets things in motion. Lopez is drawn to Ayers first simply as a byline, but Ayers in turn is drawn to Lopez, seeing him as something of a savior, protector, and lifeline. Through their friendship, both men become something more than who they were in the beginning.
I had heard good things about this film, so when it showed up on HBO, we watched it one evening. The acting is great, the music is beautiful, and the story is very moving - although somewhat difficult to follow. Like life, there isn't a total resolution - lots of plot lines are not neatly tied-up for the viewer by the end of the movie - but it is based on a true story, which is still ongoing. All in all, this was a nice little film about intriguing characters.
Sorry, moms, I think it's too intense for you, though.
I had heard good things about this film, so when it showed up on HBO, we watched it one evening. The acting is great, the music is beautiful, and the story is very moving - although somewhat difficult to follow. Like life, there isn't a total resolution - lots of plot lines are not neatly tied-up for the viewer by the end of the movie - but it is based on a true story, which is still ongoing. All in all, this was a nice little film about intriguing characters.
Sorry, moms, I think it's too intense for you, though.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Friday, January 1, 2010
Happy New Year 2010!
Can you believe it's a new decade? Me either. Where has the time gone? No matter.
May 2010 bring us all health, happiness, prosperity, and peace.
Rabbits, rabbits!
May 2010 bring us all health, happiness, prosperity, and peace.
Rabbits, rabbits!
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Nine
My favorite movie of all time - Fellini's 8 & 1/2 - was the best foreign film of 1963. A black and white visual masterpiece, it's in Italian (and some French, German, and English) with subtitles. It tells the story of Guido, a film director, and his difficulties making the movie he's currently working on. It has long been lauded as a masterwork.
So, of course, someone decided to add songs and adapt it into a Broadway show. And, of course, that stage musical had to be brought to the silver screen. Thus, Nine.
Here is Guido, working on another broad picture with his famous leading lady (an interesting reference to Fellini's frequently working with his wife, Giulietta Masina?). The press is hounding him, his last two films were "flops" and here he is trying to bring another grandiose concept to the screen. He's freaked out, stressed out, tired out, and just plain down and out. So he skips out of the press conference and drives to a spa to get away from it all. He calls his wife, but doesn't tell her where he is, and instead calls his mistress and invites her to come down to the spa. In the meantime, his producer has found him and brought the entire production office to town so they can finish the movie on time. Needless to say, this does not help Guido de-stress. Then his wife arrives.
All of this is very similar to 8 & 1/2, often line for line and shot for shot, but, as Bruce pointed out, it's not the same movie. There are differences in character realization and plot development. Some characters are not in the movie at all, others have been morphed into someone only similar. Some scenes never happen, some are condensed into other scenes, or only referred to briefly.
Nine moves a lot faster than 8 & 1/2, I kept noticing that throughout the movie. Part of it is the condensation and the whittling down of the cast to fewer characters. Of course, bursting into song is also the tried and true method of advancing the plot, encouraging major character development, and letting the audience into the characters' heads -- all of which helps explicate and expedite the story.
So, I mentioned that 8 & 1/2 is my favorite movie, right? I love the intricate layers upon layers of action going on. I love the dialog and the amazing hyperbole it contains. Most of all, I love the ending - you've built up to it all along, and when it comes it's like the perfect bow on the present. Nine is like the other path diverging in the famous yellow wood - while Fellini & I take the one less traveled by, everyone else is on the one with a guard rail and signs. I didn't dislike the movie - there were some musical numbers I really liked, and some great shots - but I really felt like it was a watered-down version made for American audiences who are afraid of subtitles and just want everything spelled out for them. Bruce loved it, btw.
So, of course, someone decided to add songs and adapt it into a Broadway show. And, of course, that stage musical had to be brought to the silver screen. Thus, Nine.
Here is Guido, working on another broad picture with his famous leading lady (an interesting reference to Fellini's frequently working with his wife, Giulietta Masina?). The press is hounding him, his last two films were "flops" and here he is trying to bring another grandiose concept to the screen. He's freaked out, stressed out, tired out, and just plain down and out. So he skips out of the press conference and drives to a spa to get away from it all. He calls his wife, but doesn't tell her where he is, and instead calls his mistress and invites her to come down to the spa. In the meantime, his producer has found him and brought the entire production office to town so they can finish the movie on time. Needless to say, this does not help Guido de-stress. Then his wife arrives.
All of this is very similar to 8 & 1/2, often line for line and shot for shot, but, as Bruce pointed out, it's not the same movie. There are differences in character realization and plot development. Some characters are not in the movie at all, others have been morphed into someone only similar. Some scenes never happen, some are condensed into other scenes, or only referred to briefly.
Nine moves a lot faster than 8 & 1/2, I kept noticing that throughout the movie. Part of it is the condensation and the whittling down of the cast to fewer characters. Of course, bursting into song is also the tried and true method of advancing the plot, encouraging major character development, and letting the audience into the characters' heads -- all of which helps explicate and expedite the story.
So, I mentioned that 8 & 1/2 is my favorite movie, right? I love the intricate layers upon layers of action going on. I love the dialog and the amazing hyperbole it contains. Most of all, I love the ending - you've built up to it all along, and when it comes it's like the perfect bow on the present. Nine is like the other path diverging in the famous yellow wood - while Fellini & I take the one less traveled by, everyone else is on the one with a guard rail and signs. I didn't dislike the movie - there were some musical numbers I really liked, and some great shots - but I really felt like it was a watered-down version made for American audiences who are afraid of subtitles and just want everything spelled out for them. Bruce loved it, btw.
The Road
Based on the novel by Cormac McCarthy, The Road is the story of a man and his son and their struggle to survive. There has been a cataclysmic event which has sunk the Earth into conditions similar to nuclear winter. All we know about the event is that "The clocks stopped at one seventeen one morning. There was a long shear of bright light, then a series of low concussions." No one appears to have any deformities, so it doesn't seem like the event actually was nuclear, but that is really immaterial to the movie.
The man and his son are traveling south, trying to find someplace warmer, some place with food, some place safe. As they go, they encounter resistance in the forms of difficulties, obstacles, and bad people. But it's not all darkness, they have good moments along the road, too, finding a bomb shelter full of food, a house where they can bathe, a grandfatherly man who travels with them for a bit. Through it all, flashback sequences show us the time before the catastrophe, and the early days of the boy's life. Those memories give the film a bit of a time frame, the viewer knows, roughly, that the world has been in distress for the boy's entire life, which helps explain the amount of desolation and despair.
So, The Road came out in limited release back in November, it finally came to NC last week and landed in only 2 area theaters - both of them art houses. We expected good things. We didn't get them. Sure, Viggo Mortensen is a great actor, there are many other good performances in the film, the cinematographer obviously went to a lot of effort to get the stark, startling shots. But the movie is just flat, imho. So, they need to go south - why'd it take them 10 years to make up their minds to do so? What are they really going to find when they get there? Do they really think it will make a difference? And why are we supposed to care?
The movie unfolds exactly the way you'd expect it to, you really don't have to think about it. I spent most of my time wondering why nobody just went into town and knocked off a Payless store - I have about a dozen pairs of shoes in my closet right now, I gotta think they would last me 10 years (some of them already have!), I wouldn't be wearing bags on my feet like the characters were, I don't think. When you have time to think about crazy stuff like that, something is not succeeding in the film. While I suspect there is a strong message about environmental consciousness and man's inhumanity to man, it didn't translate from the book to the screen.
Also, definitely not a Moms Movie.
The man and his son are traveling south, trying to find someplace warmer, some place with food, some place safe. As they go, they encounter resistance in the forms of difficulties, obstacles, and bad people. But it's not all darkness, they have good moments along the road, too, finding a bomb shelter full of food, a house where they can bathe, a grandfatherly man who travels with them for a bit. Through it all, flashback sequences show us the time before the catastrophe, and the early days of the boy's life. Those memories give the film a bit of a time frame, the viewer knows, roughly, that the world has been in distress for the boy's entire life, which helps explain the amount of desolation and despair.
So, The Road came out in limited release back in November, it finally came to NC last week and landed in only 2 area theaters - both of them art houses. We expected good things. We didn't get them. Sure, Viggo Mortensen is a great actor, there are many other good performances in the film, the cinematographer obviously went to a lot of effort to get the stark, startling shots. But the movie is just flat, imho. So, they need to go south - why'd it take them 10 years to make up their minds to do so? What are they really going to find when they get there? Do they really think it will make a difference? And why are we supposed to care?
The movie unfolds exactly the way you'd expect it to, you really don't have to think about it. I spent most of my time wondering why nobody just went into town and knocked off a Payless store - I have about a dozen pairs of shoes in my closet right now, I gotta think they would last me 10 years (some of them already have!), I wouldn't be wearing bags on my feet like the characters were, I don't think. When you have time to think about crazy stuff like that, something is not succeeding in the film. While I suspect there is a strong message about environmental consciousness and man's inhumanity to man, it didn't translate from the book to the screen.
Also, definitely not a Moms Movie.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Merry Christmas 2009!
Even though it's a rainy day in NC, the Christmas spirit is still shining. We had a wonderful morning opening presents together and chatting by phone with loved ones back in the Midwest. No matter where you are, dear readers, we hope you are spending your day surrounded by those who are dear to you, enjoying love and laughter.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Avatar
A live-action and CGI 3-D extravaganza, Avatar, is the story of disabled Marine veteran Jake Sully and how one assignment changes his life. Jake's twin brother was a scientist working on a project which combined human and alien DNA to create "avatars" which the humans could then use in the colonization of the planet Pandora. The avatars would give the humans the ability to interact with the native Na'vi population on the planet. Jake's brother dies unexpectedly before he is able to complete the project and, as his twin thus having the same DNA, Jake is offered the chance to take his brother's place.
Going in I was leery. I am not a big fan of director James Cameron, nor do I like Sigourney Weaver, who is one of the stars. The early TV commercials made this look more like a video game than a movie (there already is a game version out, btw). So, I wasn't really psyched. Well, the plot is very predictable, the acting is all right, but the visuals are what really sell the film. There are a couple of points where the 3-D effect is distracting - makes you feel like you're on one of those cutesy rides at an amusement park - but the rest of the time it's just splendid. Also, the movie is 2 hours and 40 minutes long, but does not feel like it at all. Even though you know what's going to happen, you're sufficiently engaged in the action (oh, and there are some fabulous action sequences, too!) that the time just flies by.
I hate to say it, but this is probably another movie that is not one our mothers should see. Everyone else, however, Oscar is going to be looking very hard at this contender and you need to see it on the big screen in 3-D, so get thee to a cinema!
Going in I was leery. I am not a big fan of director James Cameron, nor do I like Sigourney Weaver, who is one of the stars. The early TV commercials made this look more like a video game than a movie (there already is a game version out, btw). So, I wasn't really psyched. Well, the plot is very predictable, the acting is all right, but the visuals are what really sell the film. There are a couple of points where the 3-D effect is distracting - makes you feel like you're on one of those cutesy rides at an amusement park - but the rest of the time it's just splendid. Also, the movie is 2 hours and 40 minutes long, but does not feel like it at all. Even though you know what's going to happen, you're sufficiently engaged in the action (oh, and there are some fabulous action sequences, too!) that the time just flies by.
I hate to say it, but this is probably another movie that is not one our mothers should see. Everyone else, however, Oscar is going to be looking very hard at this contender and you need to see it on the big screen in 3-D, so get thee to a cinema!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Reel Recap 2009
So, apparently I have not posted a movie review (other than Buckaroo Bonzai) since Watchmen back in March! Oy. And we've actually caught quite a few movies overall this year. So, in the interest of time, here is a brief synopsis/review of all the other films we've seen so far.
The International stars Clive Owen as an Interpol agent trying to expose the titular bank's role in backing international arms dealers. Basically, this movie falls into what is fast becoming one of our new favorite film genres - the S/He's Pretty and Stuff Blows Up genre, except that this time mostly stuff gets *shot* up, not blown up. While we really like Clive, and we had a good time watching the crazy chase scenes and stuff, mostly this isn't even a "popcorn flick." There's a big action sequence that takes place in the Guggenheim, and it really looks like the whole movie was developed around the idea of "hey, how about we have a gunfight in the Guggenheim?" The most telling thing about this film is that the next day we watched X-Files: I Want To Believe, and Bruce said that film was more realistic than The International.
Duplicity stars Julia Roberts and Clive Owen as a pair of corporate spies, working for different agencies, who hook up in a complex plan to double-cross both their bosses and end up with a big enough payoff to retire together. As you can probably guess, this movie also falls into that aforementioned genre, but it was a heck of a lot better! There are flashback sequences, from both points of view, which work to explain the backstory, and throughout the film the twists and turns of the intricate plan wind around each other so much that it is difficult to figure out what they're actually up to, and who knew what and when. But it is so well written and acted that the movie is a delight to watch and the denoument is great. Too violent a movie for our moms, but anybody else wanting a fun afternoon, rent this.
Star Trek JJ Abrams reboots the franchise magnificently in this prequel. I had my doubts going in: young Kirk and young Spock, all new CGI effects, a well-established story...so many chances to totally blow it. Oh, but folks, I was sold and weeping before the opening credits! Okay, I did keep waiting for Zachary Quinto (Spock) to lapse into his other famous role (Sylar from Heroes) and start killing people to absorb their powers, and Simon Pegg (Scotty) was a little too comic at points, but all in all, this is a really brilliant revision. They take the obvious out for tinkering with the timeline (alternate universe), but it's well enough done not to seem hokey, IMHO. Seriously, this was a great film - another one not right for our moms, but we're looking forward to seeing how they continue the franchise revamp.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine stars Hugh Jackman and the rest of the X-Men cast in another prequel attempting to refresh a franchise. Sadly, this does not succeed as well Star Trek. The movie tells the story of how Logan came to be the mutant Wolverine. It also has him crossing paths with my favorite X-Man - Gambit - in New Orleans back in the day. Unfortunately, the story is hokey and campy and the acting mostly matches - lots of scenery chewing! Liev Schreiber as Sabertooth is probably the best part, actually, he's got great lines and delivers them well. Of course, Hugh is also super hot. Other than that, not the worst comic book movie I've seen....
Angels & Demons Tom Hanks returns as Professor Robert Langdon, the expert on early Christian symbolism. This time the Vatican calls for his help when a group suspected of being the infamous Illuminati captures four cardinals during the conclave assembling to elect a new pope. As before, Professor Langdon, aided by a beautiful woman, has to decipher clues and codes from ancient manuscripts to solve the riddle before a deadline is reached - in this case, the death of the kidnapped cardinals. Maybe it was the fact that I hadn't read the book first, but I actually enjoyed this one more than The DaVinci Code. I did not figure it out before it ended, and I liked seeing places in Rome, which I haven't visited in nearly 20 years. That said, it was still a rather basic movie. The National Treasure series is probably more fun, although Angels & Demons was enjoyable.
Sunshine Cleaning stars Amy Adams as Rose, a single mother who supports her young son and aging father by working as a Merry Maid-type contract household cleaner. She's dating her high school sweetheart, who is married to someone else. He's a police detective and, after going on a job, suggests to Rose that she become a crime scene cleaner because they make more money. At first, she's offended, but circumstances arise and Rose decides to give it a go. She partners with her sister, Norah, and they create their own business. This is a great little character-driven film! It's got some gross points, as the subject matter would indicate, but overall it is just a well-written, well-acted, slice-of-life movie, the kind you're just glad you found at the cinema. Probably not safe for moms, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Oscar give this little gem some attention.
Up This animated film tells the story of Carl and Ellie. They meet as children when they are both fans of arctic explorer Charles Muntz, but they soon discover other common bonds. They grow up as best friends, get married, and live happily ever after. Until, as an old woman, Ellie becomes sick and dies. Alone, Carl is faced with the city wanting to tear down his house to build a mall, and trying to move him into a retirement community. He decides to finally fulfill his and Ellie's dream of traveling where their explorer idol had gone. He attaches helium balloons to his house and lifts it right off the foundations, steering it towards South America. Adventures ensue. Folks, this movie is so much more than the synopsis, more than the commercials advertised, it is just awesome. Don't go expecting a "kiddie movie" or thinking that, because it's made by Pixar, it's going to be just cutesy, but do see it. This is one of the best movies of the year, and quite likely the Best Animated Feature winner come February.
Public Enemies stars Johnny Depp as John Dillinger during the last years of his life. As the country is struggling to come out of the Great Depression, the government is seeking strengthen its position as protector and is developing the FDIC and the FBI. Dillinger's path obviously crosses these nascent organizations. Filmed on location in Chicago and environs, among other locales, and featuring a pretty impressive cast in addition to Johnny, this movie was on my radar for months! It's pretty, it's well acted overall, it's got a fascinating story...but, it's not all that and a bag of chips, sadly. They compress and alter the history to fit in a feature film length, some of the acting is terrible, it really just goes out with a fizzle - kind of like Fourth of July fireworks that you think are going to blossom into big designs in the sky, but instead end up just doing little poofs of color. Disappointing.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is the screen version of Book 6 of the series. In this installment, Lord Voldemort has taken flesh, assembled his henchmen, and begun his attack on both the muggle and the wizarding worlds. Meanwhile, at Hogwarts under intense security measures, school is continuing and Harry has picked up an old copy of the potions textbook which has helpful notes in the margins. At the same time, Professor Dumbledore has discovered that Voldemort created Horcruxes, items of great magical power as they possess a portion of the creating wizard's soul; as long as one of these items survives the wizard, s/he can be resurrected. Dumbledore enlists Harry's aid in finding and destroying these items. Harry, however, is still a typical 16 year-old boy, and has just realized he is in love with Ron's sister, Jinny, who has loved him from the start. A lot of goings-on during a time of war! Too much, in fact, to fit into a 2 & 1/2 hour movie. That's the biggest problem with the film, it becomes really obvious where they've begun to quickly condense the story, especially if you've read the book. Also, they alter a couple of important plot points that will come up again in Book 7, so it will be interesting to see how they account for those changes. All in all, an okay film, but the book was better.
The Taking of Pelham 123 is a remake of the 1974 movie of the same name. This time starring Denzel Washington as the subway dispatcher and John Travolta as the leader of the group hijacking the titular train. Demands are made and a deadline is set, if it is not met, Travolta and his men will begin killing passengers on the train. Behind the scenes, a desperate race is going on as both men attempt to get information they can use as leverage against the other - Washington in hopes of diffusing the situation, Travolta as a guarantee against his demands and his future freedom. It's your basic thriller, but it is well done, intriguing, and lots of fun.
District 9 Aliens arrive in a spaceship hovering over South Africa in 1982. 28 years later they are living in refugee camps, which are barely more than militarized ghettos, they have no rights and are living in squalor. The situation has deteriorated sufficiently that a large corporation is enlisted to evict them and "clean up the mess." What follows is not what you expect. The movie is shot documentary style and has a very realistic feel to it. The acting is very good, the story takes some unexpected turns. This is a movie that it is better if you don't know too much going in, just know that it is great. Sorry, moms, definitely not one for you, however.
Where the Wild Things Are is the story of how young Max escapes his day-to-day life, where he feels unappreciated, and finds the world Where The Wild Things Are. In order to bring the children's book to the big screen, they had to add a lot of story to fill time, but they did a good job of dovetailing it into the story of the book. The film is a visual masterpiece with amazing costuming and effects that made it worth seeing in the theater. The boy cast as Max does a great job - my favorite part was how they made his knitted winter hat in the "real world" sequence have points like his monster pajama ears! The rest of the cast is good, it was a little odd hearing familiar voices come out of the Wild Things characters, though. The director made a conscious choice to shoot the film as if you're seeing through the eyes of a child - there is a lot of hand-held camera work, and the angles are shot low to high, it can get a little "Blair Witch" at times, in fact. Go into it with the nostalgia you have from the book, and a desire to see amazing visual realization and effects, and you'll enjoy it.
Rifftrax: Plan 9 From Outer Space This was a special opportunity we just couldn't pass up! Rifftrax is a group comprised of folks originally part of Mystery Science Theater 3000, the guys who made fun of lousy movies on Saturday morning cable-access TV. Plan 9 From Outer Space is purported to be the worst sci-fi film of all time...and it is pretty bad. Aliens come to Earth and create zombies and vampires from our dead to prevent us from making a solar-powered bomb. Bela Lugosi, who is one of the leads, died during the filming and director Ed Wood used the same clips of him over and over in the final film, along with getting his doctor (who looked nothing like Lugosi) to play him in the rest of his scenes. It just gets worse from there. Now, add in the guys who took snarkiness to a new level when it comes to trash-talking movies, and you've got a gold mine! The best part? It was a live, nationwide simulcast with the cast on stage in Nashville and uplinked to select theaters across the country! Hilarity so totally ensued. Just don't drink your entire large super soda before the film!
The Twilight Saga: New Moon is the sequel to the wildly popular teen vampire flick Twilight. Bella and Edward are still young and in love. As they attempt to figure their relationship out, reality intrudes - Bella is mortal, and tasty, and not all of Edward's family can control their thirst for blood. Instead, the entire clan leaves town, leaving Bella brokenhearted. In the meantime, the vampire bounty hunter returns for her, and in so doing triggers Bella's childhood friend, Jacob, to turn into a werewolf. Jacob is also in love with Bella and has been using the opportunity of Edward's absence to try and win her, an attempt he abandons when he becomes a lycan. Which leaves Bella, still mourning Edward's departure, now feeling completely alone. Worry not, it all ends well, although the characters do have a lot of hoops to jump through to get there. This film was a lot of fun, I had heard that it was better than the first, and it may have been. We had a good time, despite the Gaggle of Giggling Girls sitting down front cooing every time one of the favorites came on screen. Sometimes, a good teen vampire/werewolf flick is just what you're in the mood for!
And now it's December and lots of movies are beginning to come out in anticipation of Oscar nods. I think I'll be spending a bunch of my holiday vacation time in the cinema.
The International stars Clive Owen as an Interpol agent trying to expose the titular bank's role in backing international arms dealers. Basically, this movie falls into what is fast becoming one of our new favorite film genres - the S/He's Pretty and Stuff Blows Up genre, except that this time mostly stuff gets *shot* up, not blown up. While we really like Clive, and we had a good time watching the crazy chase scenes and stuff, mostly this isn't even a "popcorn flick." There's a big action sequence that takes place in the Guggenheim, and it really looks like the whole movie was developed around the idea of "hey, how about we have a gunfight in the Guggenheim?" The most telling thing about this film is that the next day we watched X-Files: I Want To Believe, and Bruce said that film was more realistic than The International.
Duplicity stars Julia Roberts and Clive Owen as a pair of corporate spies, working for different agencies, who hook up in a complex plan to double-cross both their bosses and end up with a big enough payoff to retire together. As you can probably guess, this movie also falls into that aforementioned genre, but it was a heck of a lot better! There are flashback sequences, from both points of view, which work to explain the backstory, and throughout the film the twists and turns of the intricate plan wind around each other so much that it is difficult to figure out what they're actually up to, and who knew what and when. But it is so well written and acted that the movie is a delight to watch and the denoument is great. Too violent a movie for our moms, but anybody else wanting a fun afternoon, rent this.
Star Trek JJ Abrams reboots the franchise magnificently in this prequel. I had my doubts going in: young Kirk and young Spock, all new CGI effects, a well-established story...so many chances to totally blow it. Oh, but folks, I was sold and weeping before the opening credits! Okay, I did keep waiting for Zachary Quinto (Spock) to lapse into his other famous role (Sylar from Heroes) and start killing people to absorb their powers, and Simon Pegg (Scotty) was a little too comic at points, but all in all, this is a really brilliant revision. They take the obvious out for tinkering with the timeline (alternate universe), but it's well enough done not to seem hokey, IMHO. Seriously, this was a great film - another one not right for our moms, but we're looking forward to seeing how they continue the franchise revamp.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine stars Hugh Jackman and the rest of the X-Men cast in another prequel attempting to refresh a franchise. Sadly, this does not succeed as well Star Trek. The movie tells the story of how Logan came to be the mutant Wolverine. It also has him crossing paths with my favorite X-Man - Gambit - in New Orleans back in the day. Unfortunately, the story is hokey and campy and the acting mostly matches - lots of scenery chewing! Liev Schreiber as Sabertooth is probably the best part, actually, he's got great lines and delivers them well. Of course, Hugh is also super hot. Other than that, not the worst comic book movie I've seen....
Angels & Demons Tom Hanks returns as Professor Robert Langdon, the expert on early Christian symbolism. This time the Vatican calls for his help when a group suspected of being the infamous Illuminati captures four cardinals during the conclave assembling to elect a new pope. As before, Professor Langdon, aided by a beautiful woman, has to decipher clues and codes from ancient manuscripts to solve the riddle before a deadline is reached - in this case, the death of the kidnapped cardinals. Maybe it was the fact that I hadn't read the book first, but I actually enjoyed this one more than The DaVinci Code. I did not figure it out before it ended, and I liked seeing places in Rome, which I haven't visited in nearly 20 years. That said, it was still a rather basic movie. The National Treasure series is probably more fun, although Angels & Demons was enjoyable.
Sunshine Cleaning stars Amy Adams as Rose, a single mother who supports her young son and aging father by working as a Merry Maid-type contract household cleaner. She's dating her high school sweetheart, who is married to someone else. He's a police detective and, after going on a job, suggests to Rose that she become a crime scene cleaner because they make more money. At first, she's offended, but circumstances arise and Rose decides to give it a go. She partners with her sister, Norah, and they create their own business. This is a great little character-driven film! It's got some gross points, as the subject matter would indicate, but overall it is just a well-written, well-acted, slice-of-life movie, the kind you're just glad you found at the cinema. Probably not safe for moms, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Oscar give this little gem some attention.
Up This animated film tells the story of Carl and Ellie. They meet as children when they are both fans of arctic explorer Charles Muntz, but they soon discover other common bonds. They grow up as best friends, get married, and live happily ever after. Until, as an old woman, Ellie becomes sick and dies. Alone, Carl is faced with the city wanting to tear down his house to build a mall, and trying to move him into a retirement community. He decides to finally fulfill his and Ellie's dream of traveling where their explorer idol had gone. He attaches helium balloons to his house and lifts it right off the foundations, steering it towards South America. Adventures ensue. Folks, this movie is so much more than the synopsis, more than the commercials advertised, it is just awesome. Don't go expecting a "kiddie movie" or thinking that, because it's made by Pixar, it's going to be just cutesy, but do see it. This is one of the best movies of the year, and quite likely the Best Animated Feature winner come February.
Public Enemies stars Johnny Depp as John Dillinger during the last years of his life. As the country is struggling to come out of the Great Depression, the government is seeking strengthen its position as protector and is developing the FDIC and the FBI. Dillinger's path obviously crosses these nascent organizations. Filmed on location in Chicago and environs, among other locales, and featuring a pretty impressive cast in addition to Johnny, this movie was on my radar for months! It's pretty, it's well acted overall, it's got a fascinating story...but, it's not all that and a bag of chips, sadly. They compress and alter the history to fit in a feature film length, some of the acting is terrible, it really just goes out with a fizzle - kind of like Fourth of July fireworks that you think are going to blossom into big designs in the sky, but instead end up just doing little poofs of color. Disappointing.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is the screen version of Book 6 of the series. In this installment, Lord Voldemort has taken flesh, assembled his henchmen, and begun his attack on both the muggle and the wizarding worlds. Meanwhile, at Hogwarts under intense security measures, school is continuing and Harry has picked up an old copy of the potions textbook which has helpful notes in the margins. At the same time, Professor Dumbledore has discovered that Voldemort created Horcruxes, items of great magical power as they possess a portion of the creating wizard's soul; as long as one of these items survives the wizard, s/he can be resurrected. Dumbledore enlists Harry's aid in finding and destroying these items. Harry, however, is still a typical 16 year-old boy, and has just realized he is in love with Ron's sister, Jinny, who has loved him from the start. A lot of goings-on during a time of war! Too much, in fact, to fit into a 2 & 1/2 hour movie. That's the biggest problem with the film, it becomes really obvious where they've begun to quickly condense the story, especially if you've read the book. Also, they alter a couple of important plot points that will come up again in Book 7, so it will be interesting to see how they account for those changes. All in all, an okay film, but the book was better.
The Taking of Pelham 123 is a remake of the 1974 movie of the same name. This time starring Denzel Washington as the subway dispatcher and John Travolta as the leader of the group hijacking the titular train. Demands are made and a deadline is set, if it is not met, Travolta and his men will begin killing passengers on the train. Behind the scenes, a desperate race is going on as both men attempt to get information they can use as leverage against the other - Washington in hopes of diffusing the situation, Travolta as a guarantee against his demands and his future freedom. It's your basic thriller, but it is well done, intriguing, and lots of fun.
District 9 Aliens arrive in a spaceship hovering over South Africa in 1982. 28 years later they are living in refugee camps, which are barely more than militarized ghettos, they have no rights and are living in squalor. The situation has deteriorated sufficiently that a large corporation is enlisted to evict them and "clean up the mess." What follows is not what you expect. The movie is shot documentary style and has a very realistic feel to it. The acting is very good, the story takes some unexpected turns. This is a movie that it is better if you don't know too much going in, just know that it is great. Sorry, moms, definitely not one for you, however.
Where the Wild Things Are is the story of how young Max escapes his day-to-day life, where he feels unappreciated, and finds the world Where The Wild Things Are. In order to bring the children's book to the big screen, they had to add a lot of story to fill time, but they did a good job of dovetailing it into the story of the book. The film is a visual masterpiece with amazing costuming and effects that made it worth seeing in the theater. The boy cast as Max does a great job - my favorite part was how they made his knitted winter hat in the "real world" sequence have points like his monster pajama ears! The rest of the cast is good, it was a little odd hearing familiar voices come out of the Wild Things characters, though. The director made a conscious choice to shoot the film as if you're seeing through the eyes of a child - there is a lot of hand-held camera work, and the angles are shot low to high, it can get a little "Blair Witch" at times, in fact. Go into it with the nostalgia you have from the book, and a desire to see amazing visual realization and effects, and you'll enjoy it.
Rifftrax: Plan 9 From Outer Space This was a special opportunity we just couldn't pass up! Rifftrax is a group comprised of folks originally part of Mystery Science Theater 3000, the guys who made fun of lousy movies on Saturday morning cable-access TV. Plan 9 From Outer Space is purported to be the worst sci-fi film of all time...and it is pretty bad. Aliens come to Earth and create zombies and vampires from our dead to prevent us from making a solar-powered bomb. Bela Lugosi, who is one of the leads, died during the filming and director Ed Wood used the same clips of him over and over in the final film, along with getting his doctor (who looked nothing like Lugosi) to play him in the rest of his scenes. It just gets worse from there. Now, add in the guys who took snarkiness to a new level when it comes to trash-talking movies, and you've got a gold mine! The best part? It was a live, nationwide simulcast with the cast on stage in Nashville and uplinked to select theaters across the country! Hilarity so totally ensued. Just don't drink your entire large super soda before the film!
The Twilight Saga: New Moon is the sequel to the wildly popular teen vampire flick Twilight. Bella and Edward are still young and in love. As they attempt to figure their relationship out, reality intrudes - Bella is mortal, and tasty, and not all of Edward's family can control their thirst for blood. Instead, the entire clan leaves town, leaving Bella brokenhearted. In the meantime, the vampire bounty hunter returns for her, and in so doing triggers Bella's childhood friend, Jacob, to turn into a werewolf. Jacob is also in love with Bella and has been using the opportunity of Edward's absence to try and win her, an attempt he abandons when he becomes a lycan. Which leaves Bella, still mourning Edward's departure, now feeling completely alone. Worry not, it all ends well, although the characters do have a lot of hoops to jump through to get there. This film was a lot of fun, I had heard that it was better than the first, and it may have been. We had a good time, despite the Gaggle of Giggling Girls sitting down front cooing every time one of the favorites came on screen. Sometimes, a good teen vampire/werewolf flick is just what you're in the mood for!
And now it's December and lots of movies are beginning to come out in anticipation of Oscar nods. I think I'll be spending a bunch of my holiday vacation time in the cinema.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Waiting Room
The woman across from me has fabulous sandals.
The kind with those metal discs
- which are supposed to represent antique coins -
and some shiny beads interspersed among them.
Even if I weren't "into" shoes, I'd be staring at them,
because looking any higher in the tiny optometrist's office is entirely too painful
with my eyes as big as a cat's, reacting to every nuance of sunlight.
But it's all right, because I'm fascinated by the shoes.
Her legs are crossed and the foot on the floor is so perfectly fit into the sandal -
I can see why she liked them.
The other sandal dangles carelessly off the foot in the air.
It looks awkward, half-forgotten, and makes me think of other shoes -
probably laying strewn about her closet or bedroom floor -
and I wonder what made her choose the sandals today -
because they're pretty? because it's hot outside? because they were near the door?
What insight would a glimpse at my shoes provide her?
The kind with those metal discs
- which are supposed to represent antique coins -
and some shiny beads interspersed among them.
Even if I weren't "into" shoes, I'd be staring at them,
because looking any higher in the tiny optometrist's office is entirely too painful
with my eyes as big as a cat's, reacting to every nuance of sunlight.
But it's all right, because I'm fascinated by the shoes.
Her legs are crossed and the foot on the floor is so perfectly fit into the sandal -
I can see why she liked them.
The other sandal dangles carelessly off the foot in the air.
It looks awkward, half-forgotten, and makes me think of other shoes -
probably laying strewn about her closet or bedroom floor -
and I wonder what made her choose the sandals today -
because they're pretty? because it's hot outside? because they were near the door?
What insight would a glimpse at my shoes provide her?
Monday, October 26, 2009
Seasons
Whenever people ask me (or I get one of those "getting to know you" e-surveys) I say that my favorite season is Spring. And it is. The weather is usually mild and pleasant, I love to see all the flowers that bloom, it starts staying light longer, and my birthday is in the spring.
But Fall is a close second and constantly makes a play for my affection. The weather could usually be better (cold, windy, rain), but the colors are marvelous! Just this past weekend the trees popped into full brilliance with some amazing reds and oranges. The weather here in NC hasn't been all that bad either, actually. And even in Ohio there is something about a crisp afternoon/evening and the smell of wood smoke in the air and maybe some church bells tolling in the distance....
Hmm, I think I really am Seasonally Affected. :-)
But Fall is a close second and constantly makes a play for my affection. The weather could usually be better (cold, windy, rain), but the colors are marvelous! Just this past weekend the trees popped into full brilliance with some amazing reds and oranges. The weather here in NC hasn't been all that bad either, actually. And even in Ohio there is something about a crisp afternoon/evening and the smell of wood smoke in the air and maybe some church bells tolling in the distance....
Hmm, I think I really am Seasonally Affected. :-)
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Drought vs H1N1
2007 was a really rough year in NC. We experienced unprecedented drought conditions. I can never remember which is actually worse - Severe Drought or Extreme Drought - so I think I'll just refer to the situation as Uber Drought. Anyway, throughout the summer many municipalities started setting water restrictions - only water your lawns every other day, only wash your cars once a month, etc.. One of the best indicators of the severity (uberness) of the drought was that it simply did not rain from the end of September until the day after Christmas. Really. Three straight months, no rain.
In some ways, we were fortunate at that time. We were living in a duplex which happened to be on a private well. So, city/county restrictions did not apply to us because we weren't on their water systems. On the other hand, we were also living on a much more limited supply of water because we weren't on the city system. While we never watered the lawn (we were renting, our landlord handled all that) and we rarely washed our car, we still had normal needs for water.
We started being stringent with our conservation. We bought big packs of paper plates and cups and those aluminum baking pans at Sam's Club. (We still used regular silverware - I can't cut anything with plastic knives, they just don't work!) We bought gallon jugs of drinking water at the grocery store - I would microwave a mugful to make tea in the mornings. I got rather creative about washing what dishes we did use - I would fill the tea kettle and boil it, then pour that into the sink with the dishes, repeating as many times as need to cover the dishes. We had installed a water-conserving shower-head when we moved in, so we actually started using it properly - cutting the water off while lathering and only turning it on again to wet or rinse. We started taking our laundry to the laundromat (we even bought extra undies so we could go longer between trips).
Despite all those efforts, we still tapped the well in early December 2007. For a while thereafter, sediment was visible in the water. I can't begin to tell you how happy we were to see rain as the year ended.
Water was one of the reasons that we moved last summer, actually. While North Carolina is no longer in a state of Uber Drought, it is still nice to be on city water and not have to worry about tapping a well if things get bad again. Nonetheless, I've held onto several of the habits I got into during our extreme conservation mode. I think they're good ideas as far as being environmentally aware. OK, I have a dishwasher now, so I don't have to boil water in the tea kettle anymore, and I do tend to let the water run while I am showering again (but I take lots faster showers now than I used to!), but I am still trying to be water-conscious.
This is where H1N1 comes into play. Ever since the drought, I wash my hands by getting them quickly wet, then turning the water off while I lather, then back on again for a quick rinse. And I use cold water. Well, the best way to protect yourself against a possible pandemic is to wash your hands, for 30 seconds, in hot water (which you have to run for at least 30 seconds beforehand to get it hot enough in the first place). So, what do we do? Protect ourselves or the Earth?
I vote for Earth. Just start packing a lot of hand-sanitizer and get your flu shots!
In some ways, we were fortunate at that time. We were living in a duplex which happened to be on a private well. So, city/county restrictions did not apply to us because we weren't on their water systems. On the other hand, we were also living on a much more limited supply of water because we weren't on the city system. While we never watered the lawn (we were renting, our landlord handled all that) and we rarely washed our car, we still had normal needs for water.
We started being stringent with our conservation. We bought big packs of paper plates and cups and those aluminum baking pans at Sam's Club. (We still used regular silverware - I can't cut anything with plastic knives, they just don't work!) We bought gallon jugs of drinking water at the grocery store - I would microwave a mugful to make tea in the mornings. I got rather creative about washing what dishes we did use - I would fill the tea kettle and boil it, then pour that into the sink with the dishes, repeating as many times as need to cover the dishes. We had installed a water-conserving shower-head when we moved in, so we actually started using it properly - cutting the water off while lathering and only turning it on again to wet or rinse. We started taking our laundry to the laundromat (we even bought extra undies so we could go longer between trips).
Despite all those efforts, we still tapped the well in early December 2007. For a while thereafter, sediment was visible in the water. I can't begin to tell you how happy we were to see rain as the year ended.
Water was one of the reasons that we moved last summer, actually. While North Carolina is no longer in a state of Uber Drought, it is still nice to be on city water and not have to worry about tapping a well if things get bad again. Nonetheless, I've held onto several of the habits I got into during our extreme conservation mode. I think they're good ideas as far as being environmentally aware. OK, I have a dishwasher now, so I don't have to boil water in the tea kettle anymore, and I do tend to let the water run while I am showering again (but I take lots faster showers now than I used to!), but I am still trying to be water-conscious.
This is where H1N1 comes into play. Ever since the drought, I wash my hands by getting them quickly wet, then turning the water off while I lather, then back on again for a quick rinse. And I use cold water. Well, the best way to protect yourself against a possible pandemic is to wash your hands, for 30 seconds, in hot water (which you have to run for at least 30 seconds beforehand to get it hot enough in the first place). So, what do we do? Protect ourselves or the Earth?
I vote for Earth. Just start packing a lot of hand-sanitizer and get your flu shots!
Thursday, September 17, 2009
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai
Just over 19 years ago, Bruce and I met at Steve's and Pamela's wedding reception. Most of you already know the story - he was the best man (and darned cute in his tux!) and I was my friend Meredith's guest because she was dating Pamela's brother and he was already in the wedding party - but you probably didn't know this little bit of what happened next.
During the conversation at the reception, it came up that Bruce had never seen Buckaroo Banzai. To which Meredith and I replied, "come on!" And, as soon as it was acceptable etiquette to leave the reception, we all went over to Meredith's house and watched the movie on tape. I think most of you also know that from that first meeting on Bruce and I were pretty much inseparable. We met on September 1st, 1990 and began dating on September 2nd.
Anyway, yesterday, I was reading the local movie listings online and saw that Buckaroo was playing in a special one-night showing at a local art house cinema! I instant messaged Bruce who replied, "Wasn't that the first movie we ever saw together?" From there, we decided that it would be a darned romantic way to spend the evening, so I skipped choir practice and we went to the movies!
Such fun!! The theater was pretty full. Most of the people there had seen the movie before, but a few (like the lady in front of us) hadn't. This cinema does a series called Cool Classics where they've been showing a classic movie every month over the summer (too bad I missed Labyrinth last month!). When we walked in they were actually playing the soundtrack from Buckaroo as the in-house music! Even more fun, they ran period previews before the film! We saw the trailers for War Games, Grandview USA, and Solarbabies. Ah, 80's cinema.... (Everyone in the theater had a moment of sighing, tributary silence during the preview for Grandview USA when Patrick Swayze came on the screen.)
Then it was time for Buckaroo Banzai...born of an American mother and a Japanese father...a brilliant neurosurgeon and rock star.... Why is there a watermelon there? ... Where are we going? Planet 10! When? Real soon!
Such a fun, fun night! :-)
During the conversation at the reception, it came up that Bruce had never seen Buckaroo Banzai. To which Meredith and I replied, "come on!" And, as soon as it was acceptable etiquette to leave the reception, we all went over to Meredith's house and watched the movie on tape. I think most of you also know that from that first meeting on Bruce and I were pretty much inseparable. We met on September 1st, 1990 and began dating on September 2nd.
Anyway, yesterday, I was reading the local movie listings online and saw that Buckaroo was playing in a special one-night showing at a local art house cinema! I instant messaged Bruce who replied, "Wasn't that the first movie we ever saw together?" From there, we decided that it would be a darned romantic way to spend the evening, so I skipped choir practice and we went to the movies!
Such fun!! The theater was pretty full. Most of the people there had seen the movie before, but a few (like the lady in front of us) hadn't. This cinema does a series called Cool Classics where they've been showing a classic movie every month over the summer (too bad I missed Labyrinth last month!). When we walked in they were actually playing the soundtrack from Buckaroo as the in-house music! Even more fun, they ran period previews before the film! We saw the trailers for War Games, Grandview USA, and Solarbabies. Ah, 80's cinema.... (Everyone in the theater had a moment of sighing, tributary silence during the preview for Grandview USA when Patrick Swayze came on the screen.)
Then it was time for Buckaroo Banzai...born of an American mother and a Japanese father...a brilliant neurosurgeon and rock star.... Why is there a watermelon there? ... Where are we going? Planet 10! When? Real soon!
Such a fun, fun night! :-)
Monday, August 31, 2009
August Recap
So, it's been a pretty full summer, but I still can't believe it's almost fall!
August held some great moments this year. At the beginning of the month I flew up to Grand Rapids, MI to get together with my K College buddies. We used to celebrate our birthdays together when we were in school and, now that we're marking our 40's, we decided it was time to do so again! Mitch hosted the gang at his beautiful house and the rains let up long enough for us to have a delightful afternoon on the beach at Lake Michigan followed by a wonderful evening on the porch back at Mitch's.
Of course, Bruce and I also marked our 17th wedding anniversary this month! A delightful milestone which included a surprise guest appearance by our friends Kevin and Raechel as they stopped off on their way home from Arkansas.
And we rolled up characters to begin a new D&D campaign later this fall - Bruce will be back at the helm of this adventure, I will once again be playing an Elf Ranger.
So, good times had with more to come!
August held some great moments this year. At the beginning of the month I flew up to Grand Rapids, MI to get together with my K College buddies. We used to celebrate our birthdays together when we were in school and, now that we're marking our 40's, we decided it was time to do so again! Mitch hosted the gang at his beautiful house and the rains let up long enough for us to have a delightful afternoon on the beach at Lake Michigan followed by a wonderful evening on the porch back at Mitch's.
Of course, Bruce and I also marked our 17th wedding anniversary this month! A delightful milestone which included a surprise guest appearance by our friends Kevin and Raechel as they stopped off on their way home from Arkansas.
And we rolled up characters to begin a new D&D campaign later this fall - Bruce will be back at the helm of this adventure, I will once again be playing an Elf Ranger.
So, good times had with more to come!
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Happy Anniversary to Us!
Today we marked our 17th wedding anniversary! In some ways, it is really hard to believe that it's been that long (it feels like yesterday!) in others it seems like we've always been together. :-)
Despite some not-so-pleasant weather -- muggy temps and on-again/off-again storms -- we've had a nice day. Kevin and Raechel spent last night here on their way home from Arkansas, so we spent the morning visiting with them before they got on the road. We ran some errands and included a little extra playtime while doing them (bought imported chocolate!), despite the rain. We topped off the evening with our traditional steak dinner out.
Must take a moment here to recommend the Capital City Chop House - yummy! We made a reservation and informed them that we were celebrating our anniversary. When we got there, our waiter brought us a complimentary split of champagne to celebrate! Throughout the meal the service was fabulous. In addition, the food was pretty great! The tenderloin tips appetizer was fantastic, as was the tomato and mozzarella salad (recommended by our waiter). For dinner, Bruce had the strip steak -- which was good -- and I had the filet mignon -- which was excellent. We both had the asparagus with bernaise sauce, which was great. And we did a little experiment and concluded that bernaise sauce can indeed make anything taste better (it was amazing on the steak as well as the veggies).
Seventeen years. Hard to believe, but all together awesome. Here's to the next 17, and the 17 after that, and....
Despite some not-so-pleasant weather -- muggy temps and on-again/off-again storms -- we've had a nice day. Kevin and Raechel spent last night here on their way home from Arkansas, so we spent the morning visiting with them before they got on the road. We ran some errands and included a little extra playtime while doing them (bought imported chocolate!), despite the rain. We topped off the evening with our traditional steak dinner out.
Must take a moment here to recommend the Capital City Chop House - yummy! We made a reservation and informed them that we were celebrating our anniversary. When we got there, our waiter brought us a complimentary split of champagne to celebrate! Throughout the meal the service was fabulous. In addition, the food was pretty great! The tenderloin tips appetizer was fantastic, as was the tomato and mozzarella salad (recommended by our waiter). For dinner, Bruce had the strip steak -- which was good -- and I had the filet mignon -- which was excellent. We both had the asparagus with bernaise sauce, which was great. And we did a little experiment and concluded that bernaise sauce can indeed make anything taste better (it was amazing on the steak as well as the veggies).
Seventeen years. Hard to believe, but all together awesome. Here's to the next 17, and the 17 after that, and....
Friday, July 31, 2009
July Recap
My friend Kevin does these monthly update posts on his blog. The way life has seemed to become so overwhelmingly busy of late, I'm beginning to think he's on to something!
So, the month of July featured two major highlights for Chez Loebrich South. The first, obviously, was Suzanne's and Tim's wedding (and the visit home which encompassed it). The second was my 6th year hosting a Kalamazoo College student externship. The two events even dovetailed nicely, as you'll see.
We drove up to Ohio on June 26th and spent the weekend in Columbus with Debbe, Duncan, and Derek. Mom and Dad Loebrich were there, too. We had a delightful day at the Origins International Gaming Fair, and also enjoyed a wonderful afternoon visit with Steve and Pamela and Alex. Of course, we spent a great deal of time playing with our dear nephew, too! From there it was on to Toledo where we got to see Dad's and Cindy's fabulous remodeling job, spend some more quality time with Mom and Dad Loebrich, and visit Mom Stahl and Larry in Ann Arbor before the Wedding Stuff truly began.
Suzanne's and Tim's wedding (as previously described) was lovely! In the days leading up to the Big Day we did some fun family/girly stuff including time at the salon and trips up to Aunt Karen's and Uncle Chris' to help set up. The rehearsal dinner was a lot of fun - even though we had to learn a special dance - and the wedding itself was just perfect.
The day after the wedding, we drove into Ann Arbor to meet my new student - Dahlia. She and her mom had driven from Kalamazoo (90mins away) to meet us at the mall. We had a yummy lunch and a good visit before getting on the road home. Debbe and Duncan graciously agreed to be our "midway point" on the way home, too, so Dahlia got to meet Derek - who immediately wanted her to join in our Batman and Handy Manny game!
We made it safely back to NC and Dahlia began work at the station. She was an editing whiz which was a huge help to me as I had had a large archival editing process backlogging on my desk for months. In addition, she went out on two shoots, ran camera for a couple live broadcasts, and helped work on editing for the daily broadcast. Outside of work we took her to the usual touristy spots - Duke University and Gardens, UNC campus and Chapel Hill, Foster's Market, etc. - went out for some yummy dinners, and even took in a free outdoor concert one evening. She is now in Ecuador for her Junior Term Abroad.
Busy month. And more of those ahead. I tell you, my friend Kevin is on to something with these synopsis posts! Kevin, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. :-)
So, the month of July featured two major highlights for Chez Loebrich South. The first, obviously, was Suzanne's and Tim's wedding (and the visit home which encompassed it). The second was my 6th year hosting a Kalamazoo College student externship. The two events even dovetailed nicely, as you'll see.
We drove up to Ohio on June 26th and spent the weekend in Columbus with Debbe, Duncan, and Derek. Mom and Dad Loebrich were there, too. We had a delightful day at the Origins International Gaming Fair, and also enjoyed a wonderful afternoon visit with Steve and Pamela and Alex. Of course, we spent a great deal of time playing with our dear nephew, too! From there it was on to Toledo where we got to see Dad's and Cindy's fabulous remodeling job, spend some more quality time with Mom and Dad Loebrich, and visit Mom Stahl and Larry in Ann Arbor before the Wedding Stuff truly began.
Suzanne's and Tim's wedding (as previously described) was lovely! In the days leading up to the Big Day we did some fun family/girly stuff including time at the salon and trips up to Aunt Karen's and Uncle Chris' to help set up. The rehearsal dinner was a lot of fun - even though we had to learn a special dance - and the wedding itself was just perfect.
The day after the wedding, we drove into Ann Arbor to meet my new student - Dahlia. She and her mom had driven from Kalamazoo (90mins away) to meet us at the mall. We had a yummy lunch and a good visit before getting on the road home. Debbe and Duncan graciously agreed to be our "midway point" on the way home, too, so Dahlia got to meet Derek - who immediately wanted her to join in our Batman and Handy Manny game!
We made it safely back to NC and Dahlia began work at the station. She was an editing whiz which was a huge help to me as I had had a large archival editing process backlogging on my desk for months. In addition, she went out on two shoots, ran camera for a couple live broadcasts, and helped work on editing for the daily broadcast. Outside of work we took her to the usual touristy spots - Duke University and Gardens, UNC campus and Chapel Hill, Foster's Market, etc. - went out for some yummy dinners, and even took in a free outdoor concert one evening. She is now in Ecuador for her Junior Term Abroad.
Busy month. And more of those ahead. I tell you, my friend Kevin is on to something with these synopsis posts! Kevin, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. :-)
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Recycling Woes
When gas prices got really ridiculous last summer, we decided to move closer to work. We found a really nice apartment which we dearly love. It has a lot of amenities that our previous home - while adorable and in a great neighborhood - did not. The one thing our complex does not have, however, is on-site recycling.
Let me amend that statement. They do recycle cardboard - specifically boxes such as moving or shipping cartons. That's it. Sometime before we moved in, there was a more robust recycling program on-site. Unfortunately, so many of the residents violated the regulations by not only not sorting their recyclables, but (grosser!) not even separating their trash from their recyclables, that the provider canceled the contract. As was their right.
This was not really a big deal because, a few weeks after we moved in, we discovered that there was a county recycling drop-off site just up the street from the grocery store we frequent. So, we bought these great Rubbermaid bins with lids that seal shut and every other week we took our recycling with us on our usual grocery run. In fact, we last did that on Sunday, July 12th.
In a most amazingly bad fluke of timing, Durham's county recycling program shut down all but the main drop-off site on Monday the 13th. With no posted notice that we saw. We didn't find out until we went there today...and the hoppers were just gone. There was still no sign, by the way, we had to look it up online just so we could figure out where to take the stuff. (Oh, yes, I was quoting Arlo as we drove off looking for somewhere else to put the recycling!)
So, now, it turns out that we can only take our recycling to the main center on the north side of town. It is a very nice facility - huge! - we've been there before because that was the only place you could take stuff like old antifreeze. The people who work there are all super helpful, which is good because there are multiple buildings and figuring out which one takes your stuff is tricky, but their hours are darned inconvenient if you, say, work for a living. Their only weekend hours are Saturdays from 7:30am till Noon. Saturday has traditionally been my only morning to sleep in, it's also when I talk to my mom.
So, I guess we're going to have to plan to get up early every other week so we can hike over to the recycling center. Or, go to Orange County where we can drop stuff off at Southern Season and then pop in to buy some imported chocolate. Nice perk, but I really wish folks could just figure out how to sort their stuff so this kind of thing wouldn't happen.
Let me amend that statement. They do recycle cardboard - specifically boxes such as moving or shipping cartons. That's it. Sometime before we moved in, there was a more robust recycling program on-site. Unfortunately, so many of the residents violated the regulations by not only not sorting their recyclables, but (grosser!) not even separating their trash from their recyclables, that the provider canceled the contract. As was their right.
This was not really a big deal because, a few weeks after we moved in, we discovered that there was a county recycling drop-off site just up the street from the grocery store we frequent. So, we bought these great Rubbermaid bins with lids that seal shut and every other week we took our recycling with us on our usual grocery run. In fact, we last did that on Sunday, July 12th.
In a most amazingly bad fluke of timing, Durham's county recycling program shut down all but the main drop-off site on Monday the 13th. With no posted notice that we saw. We didn't find out until we went there today...and the hoppers were just gone. There was still no sign, by the way, we had to look it up online just so we could figure out where to take the stuff. (Oh, yes, I was quoting Arlo as we drove off looking for somewhere else to put the recycling!)
So, now, it turns out that we can only take our recycling to the main center on the north side of town. It is a very nice facility - huge! - we've been there before because that was the only place you could take stuff like old antifreeze. The people who work there are all super helpful, which is good because there are multiple buildings and figuring out which one takes your stuff is tricky, but their hours are darned inconvenient if you, say, work for a living. Their only weekend hours are Saturdays from 7:30am till Noon. Saturday has traditionally been my only morning to sleep in, it's also when I talk to my mom.
So, I guess we're going to have to plan to get up early every other week so we can hike over to the recycling center. Or, go to Orange County where we can drop stuff off at Southern Season and then pop in to buy some imported chocolate. Nice perk, but I really wish folks could just figure out how to sort their stuff so this kind of thing wouldn't happen.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Hilton Head Flashback
You probably guessed, from the previous post, that we recently took a trip up to the Midwest. Well, we also traveled this spring and I somehow did not get around to posting about it! So, before recapping our July trip, return with me now to yesteryear...or, at least, May....
The Annual Loebrich Family Vacation spanned the last week of April and the first week of May. Debbe and Derek flew into Durham a few days early and enjoyed spending time with Uncle Bruce at the Museum of Life and Science - their playground is awesome! Mom and Dad Loebrich drove down and joined the party on Saturday. On Sunday, the four of them headed on to Hilton Head where the weather was lovely.
Bruce and I joined them for the second week in the timeshare - which also happened to include my birthday. I got a pleasant surprise upon our arrival, Derek had chosen a balloon for me, even though it wasn't my birthday yet. It's even more impressive when you know that Derek is 3 and picked the balloon himself from among all the ones in the store, Dad just told him we needed a birthday balloon and he chose it (it says "happy birthday" on it and was amid many graduation-themed balloons in the display). It is still in my apartment, by the way, and has only recently lost enough helium to stop floating.
Anyway, we spent our time in SC enjoying the wonderful swimming pool by the condo and the gorgeous weather on the beach. The nearby pool had an added bonus - the maintenance folks were repairing the accompanying hot tob and had drained it into the pool, so the water temperature in the pool was a balmy 85, which was just perfect at 9am! Derek loves to run and play on the beach and in the ocean, and he is fearless, we "old fogeys" often had a hard time keeping up with him! I got some fabulous pictures of the family as we relaxed and enjoyed our time together.
On my actual birthday we had a quiet day capped off with presents, family dinner, cake, and a thunderstorm that was pretty to watch. Besides celebrating birthdays and swimming, we took in our usual favorite activities - shopping at the outlet mall, tooling about downtown Hilton Head, and, of course, I bought fudge!
Bruce and I returned a day early because I had committments at church. Then, on Sunday evening, the rest of the family returned to Durham. Cousin Amy was able to come over and join us for dinner that night, which was also nice. Mom and Dad headed back to Ohio on Monday while Bruce took Debbe and Derek to a different hands-on museum to wrap up their time in NC.
Some good quality family time filled with fun and R&R, to be sure!
The Annual Loebrich Family Vacation spanned the last week of April and the first week of May. Debbe and Derek flew into Durham a few days early and enjoyed spending time with Uncle Bruce at the Museum of Life and Science - their playground is awesome! Mom and Dad Loebrich drove down and joined the party on Saturday. On Sunday, the four of them headed on to Hilton Head where the weather was lovely.
Bruce and I joined them for the second week in the timeshare - which also happened to include my birthday. I got a pleasant surprise upon our arrival, Derek had chosen a balloon for me, even though it wasn't my birthday yet. It's even more impressive when you know that Derek is 3 and picked the balloon himself from among all the ones in the store, Dad just told him we needed a birthday balloon and he chose it (it says "happy birthday" on it and was amid many graduation-themed balloons in the display). It is still in my apartment, by the way, and has only recently lost enough helium to stop floating.
Anyway, we spent our time in SC enjoying the wonderful swimming pool by the condo and the gorgeous weather on the beach. The nearby pool had an added bonus - the maintenance folks were repairing the accompanying hot tob and had drained it into the pool, so the water temperature in the pool was a balmy 85, which was just perfect at 9am! Derek loves to run and play on the beach and in the ocean, and he is fearless, we "old fogeys" often had a hard time keeping up with him! I got some fabulous pictures of the family as we relaxed and enjoyed our time together.
On my actual birthday we had a quiet day capped off with presents, family dinner, cake, and a thunderstorm that was pretty to watch. Besides celebrating birthdays and swimming, we took in our usual favorite activities - shopping at the outlet mall, tooling about downtown Hilton Head, and, of course, I bought fudge!
Bruce and I returned a day early because I had committments at church. Then, on Sunday evening, the rest of the family returned to Durham. Cousin Amy was able to come over and join us for dinner that night, which was also nice. Mom and Dad headed back to Ohio on Monday while Bruce took Debbe and Derek to a different hands-on museum to wrap up their time in NC.
Some good quality family time filled with fun and R&R, to be sure!
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Congratulations & Best Wishes, Suzanne & Tim!
It was a beautiful day in Onsted, Michigan as Katy's sister, Suzanne, and her beloved, Tim, were united in marriage. The weather was perfect for the gorgeous outdoor setting - special thanks to Aunt Karen and Uncle Chris for opening their home and yard for the Big Day! - despite forecasts which predicted a slight chance of rain, the clouds parted and the sun came out, temperatures were in the low 80's, and there was a gentle breeze off the lake. The gathered family and friends witnessed a very personal ceremony filled with laughter and tears, and followed by a delightful reception that was much more of a party than a formal event. Great food and great fun capped off a perfect day celebrating the wedding of two people very much in love.
Katy was delighted to stand up as a bridesmaid and Bruce graciously did whatever was necessary (his biggest task was transporting The Dress to Aunt Karen's house!) to help out. We were both just thrilled to be there and to participate in Suzi's and Tim's special day. Congratulations, guys, we love you both!
Katy was delighted to stand up as a bridesmaid and Bruce graciously did whatever was necessary (his biggest task was transporting The Dress to Aunt Karen's house!) to help out. We were both just thrilled to be there and to participate in Suzi's and Tim's special day. Congratulations, guys, we love you both!
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