C is for Cheeseburger

I'm finally going to finish off the Cs today!  It feels like I have been doing this forever and I am only finishing up my third letter of the alphabet.  Wow, I will be at this for a while.  Good thing I am enjoying myself!

Before I do the last 4 reviews, I wanted to touch on the fun thing I have been doing on Facebook.  Obviously everyone reading this blog knows about my love for burgers; the absolute best food known to man.  A few years ago I took a picture of every burger I ate for the year and posted them on the blog.  I forgot exactly how many I ate in the year but think it averaged out to one every 5 days or so for the whole year.  This year I wanted to get people involved and started a burger loving group on Facebook.  I asked people to join and post a picture of every burger they ate throughout the year.  My goal, my DREAM, was to see if we could get 1000 burger pictures in 2013.  Through the first month and 5 days, we are up to 159 burgers!  We are well on pace to make the 1000 burger pictures in the year goal.  I am so excited with how well the group has taken off and how well received it has been.  It is awesome to see how many other people share my love of burgers.  So exciting!

Now, let's finish off the Cs!



Movie Review #59 - Con Air

 On any other day, that might seem strange. 

Con Air is so friggin' goofy but it works because it is absolute nonstop action that keeps you on the edge of your seat.  But action alone won't make a good movie.  The amount of colorful villains is what truly makes this film, from Malkovich to Ving to Buscemi, to Trejo, man, they just keep this movie so entertaining.  They are all at their top of their game, Malkovich especially.  They are what make this movie as entertaining to me as it is.  Nic Cage is his usual self meaning half the time he is cool and half the time he is over the top ridiculous.  And his accent in this movie - good lord it is bad but it fits with the cartoon like feel the whole movie has.  And why is he squinting for half the movie?

Con Air is about as unbelievable as any action movie made in the last 20 years.  Yeah, even the Fast and the Furious movies are more believable.  But if you suspend all disbelief and enjoy the movie for what it is, pure action for entertainment value, you can sit through it.  Don't nitpick it for not being possible.  Of course it isn't.  What it is is a fun movie that I can watch over and over again.

8 out of 10 cheeseburgers

 Movie Review #60 - Cool Runnings

Feel the rhythm! Feel the rhyme! Get on up, its bobsled time! COOL RUNNINGS!

Everyone loves a good underdog story and Cool Runnings is one of my absolute favorites.  In fact, it is one of the few movies that almost makes me tear up the end.  I just find it so inspirational and such a wonderful story of overcoming odds.  Throw in a little bit of that Disney magic and I find it such a joy to watch over and over again.  I love the 4 bobsledders too; so much fun.

When I was watching it the other day, I couldn't help but think how much I miss John Candy.  He made so many great movies in his career and although he was the serious one in the film for a change, he still was the heart of the movie even here at the ending of his career.   

Olympics, underdog story, fun characters, John Candy, tear jerking moments, this movie has so much going for it.  I never tire of it.

8 out of 10 cheeseburgers

 Movie Review #61 - Copycat

  I'm death and life to you, doc... death and life. 

I have said it before and I will say it again, Copycat is an underrated movie.  Cursed with being released at around the same time as Se7en, many people overlook this movie because it isn't quite as good.  But that is not a bad thing.  Se7en is a spectacular film and hard to top in the thriller genre.  But on its own, Copycat is really good thriller and also quite creepy.

I think the thing that appeals to me is the way the killer goes about his crimes in the film.  I love true crime type of stuff and the fact that the killer bases all his murders on real life serial killers is quite entertaining to me as disturbing as that may sound.  Although, like Silence of Lambs, the most memorable villain in the film isn't the one doing the actual murders, but the one in prison who is "helping" with the investigation.  Harry Connick Jr. is the best part of the film and is quite awesome as Daryl Lee Cullen.  I wouldn't have minded if they had made a sequel or prequel based on his character because he was absolutely creepy in that role.  If only it could have been because he was the best part of the movie.

7 out of 10 cheeseburgers

 Movie Review #62 - The Count of Monte Cristo

How did I escape? With difficulty. How did I plan this moment? With pleasure!

 I read Count of Monte Cristo as an 8th grader and absolutely loved it.  It was a long-ish book for someone  of that age and I loved every page of the book.  I haven't read the book since for some reason, but I know when the movie was set to release, I still eagerly anticipated it even though it had been about a decade since I had read the book.  And thankfully, I wasn't disappointed.  It has been so long now since I have read it that I can't remember how well the movie follows the book, but the basic element still remains - a man is wronged and spends many years of his life planning and acting out his revenge.  It's a perfect story.

The acting in the film is decent enough, nothing bad, nothing spectacular, but it carries the story well enough.  I find it funny that whenever I hear Richard Harris speak in the film, all I hear is Dumbledore now (despite him only being in a couple of the films before his death).  It's funny how a role does that.  Acting aside though, it is the story that makes me like this film so much.  There are certain parts in the film, even after watching it so many times, that make me smile as the lead exacts his revenge.  It is nice to see wrongs get righted.  It is nice to see Karma come full circle.  If only real life always worked so well.

8.5 out of 10 cheeseburgers

Why I Don't Get Political on Facebook...

...and finishing off the "C" movies.

As I try to get through this monumental task of watching all my movies and writing reviews on all of them, the bigger chore becomes trying to get the motivation of writing about other things on the blog as well so as not to make the readers bored.  I have a very low readership (I am just assuming this by the number of comments) so I want to make it so the blog doesn't become so monotonous.  But writing all those movie reviews plus coming up with other topics to write about can be time consuming.  I'm trying though.

Over the weekend I was having a discussion with a friend or two about political debates on Facebook.  Surprisingly, I try to stay out of them for the most part on Facebook.  I was a little vocal with the whole Chick-fil-A topic only because I started talking about way before it became such a hot topic and I felt very strongly about it.  But I noticed that no matter how strongly I felt about it, no matter how many points I tried to make, I didn't sway anyone to my side of the argument.  And therein lies the problem.  People have strong opinions on a variety of subjects and it pretty much takes an act of God to get them to change their mind.

I've yet to see on the countless political posts on my wall someone say, "You know, that is an excellent point, I am changing my view on this."  It just doesn't happen.  So despite my very strong feelings that I see on Facebook, I stay out of it.  Obama, gun control, etc, these are all things that I could talk endlessly about.  But why?  What would it accomplish other than letting people know where I personally stand?  Does anyone really care?  I post enough on Facebook as it is, does anyone need me to share posts about my political views 20 times a day?  Hell, that might even get me blocked by some people.  I know I block people that post these all day long.  I get your view.  I got it after the first or second post.  I don't need to see it fifty times.  And that is not how I want people to feel about me.  Look, I am a pretty opinionated guy, but I just feel it is in my best interest to stay out of these things.  I know I'm not changing anyone's mind any time soon.
 Soapbox done.  Let's finish off the Cs.

Movie Review #56: Cliffhanger

If you're looking for Qualen, try about 4,000 feet south of here. He'll be the one wearing the helicopter.

I LOVE Cliffhanger.  When I first started this blog, I did a review of my favorite, non Rocky or Rambo films and this came in at number 2.  On a sidenote: Why don't I own Cobra, my number 3 movie?  Back to the point, Cliffhanger is just an awesome action movie.  You want nonstop action, this is good choice.  And it starts off right from the beginning.  I challenge you to find a more suspenseful first 5 minutes of a film than the one in this one, at least the first time you see it.  It really is edge of your seat stuff and it while it never reaches that level of intensity in the rest of the film, you can't help but have your blood pumping throughout the film.

Besides the great action, it is really John Lithgow who makes this film.  He is completely awesome as the villain in this film.  A little over the top, but it really works!  While looking up this movie, I noticed that he was nominated for a Razzie for Worst Supporting Actor (along with 3 other nominations for the film).  This is one of the reasons why, despite the Razzies being fun, I often don't pay attention to them because they are nominated on reputation alone.  I think Lithgow was considered for worst supporting actor simply because he was in a Stallone film.  C'mon, man, broaden your horizons.  The film is just fun action, not an attempt to win Best Picture.  But lighten up a little, it isn't bad at all.

7.5 out of 10 cheeseburgers

Movie Review #57: Collateral 

 There's no good reason, there's no bad reason to live or to die.

I was blown away by Collateral the first time I saw it.  The storyline, the performances, the subtlety of it; all amazing.  I just love how much happens in this film and how intense it is when really, the movie is pretty slow, plodding, quiet, and pretty low key.  There are a few action moments, but for the most part, the story keeps going at the same slow pace throughout the film, but I think that is really what makes the movie works.  The movie is about the characters in the film, their interactions, and life in general and and full on action movie, while possibly making it more exciting, wouldn't have made it into the great film it turned out to be.

Good story or not, the film wouldn't have worked if it wasn't for the great performances put on my Foxx and Cruise.  I LOVED seeing Cruise as a bad guy in this film.  He was totally believable and I loved how evil he was without being over the top psycho.  He needs to be a villain more.  And I loved Foxx in this.  While I liked his earlier performance in Ray which I had seen earlier, I liked him even more because it was a more down to earth role that I really feel he sunk in to.  It was this film, not Ray, that convinced me of his acting abilities.  I think a lot of people missed this movie, but it is worth a rental.

7.5 out of 10 Cheeseburgers

 

 Movie Review #58: Commando

 You're a funny guy Sully, I like you. That's why I'm going to kill you last.

Everything you need to know about this film can be summed up in this video.  This is every one of Arnold's estimated 87 kills in the film:


 Who needs a plot when you have utter destruction like this?  Although it may seem like a pointless movie, this was really a movie that brought Arnold out as the action star he is today.  Sure he was a novelty in Conan and a killer cyborg in Terminator, but this was his first role set in a "real" life and what led to so many other films of the same prototype not only for him, but many other actors of the 80s.  I can't begin to tell you how many times I watched this film as kid.  And you know what, it still hold up today.  Not as a movie masterpiece by any means, but as the epitome of mindless action.  Well, mindless action and over the top one liners.  It was this film that made me expect cheezy one liners in every Arnold movie that followed.  They way he spewed them out in Expendables 2 was a throwback to what he started here and you realized than no matter how ridiculous they were, you looked forward to them.

6.5 out of 10 cheeseburgers

Ok, maybe I won't finish the Cs off here.  Three more to go and I will save them for the next blog post.  Until then.  Thanks for reading and an even bigger thank you for commenting. 

C is for Cinema and Counting Blessings

Jess and I just went through another miscarriage (#4), but I am not sure how much I want to actually write about it.  It is what it is.  At this point, we don't really expect this to happen for us and the hurt was a lot less this time.  In the end, we know we have a good life together and although if we never have a kid, we'll know we'll have a little emptiness in our lives, we can't complain about all the other blessings we have been given.  With that, on to more movies.   

Plenty of movies to review.  I'll just keep going!

Movie Review #51: Cinderella 

No matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep on believing, the dream that you wish will come true. 

So far in my movie watching, I have been fairly disappointed with the classic Disney movies that I have been watching.  They haven't been bad, but nothing spectacular.  Cinderella, thankfully, turned it all around.  This film is true Disney magic and I was surprised how much I enjoyed it.  I was also surprised how many words I knew from the songs that were sung.  I must have watched this movie a lot as a kid or something.  It gives me a lot of hope for the viewings of future Disney Princess films.

7 out of 10 cheeseburgers

Movie Review #52: City of Angels

I wait all day, just hoping for one more minute with you, and I don't even know you. 

This may be the first time I have seen this movie since the theaters.  I remember being fairly touched by it the first time I saw it, but this time, I don't know, it seemed kind of corny to me.  Maybe because I knew how the film was going to end up, but it just didn't do anything for me this time.  Nic Cage seemed hokey as hell and while I can appreciate that it was a decent love story of  desiring someone you can't have, I've seen much better.  It's not a bad film, but it didn't seem to age well past the first viewing.  Meg Ryan sure used to be cute though.

5 out of 10 cheeseburgers

Movie Review #53: Clerks

 I'm not even supposed to be here today! 

The movie that introduced the world to Kevin Smith.  I am not even sure how I heard of this movie enough to rent it with some friends right when it came out, but I am glad I did.  I sat there dumbfounded that they were saying the things they were saying in a movie like this.  But it wasn't just pure raunchiness, it was smart at the same time.  It was something fresh and I am glad the film caught on enough so that Smith could make more films.  On repeated viewings, the films just doesn't get old to me.  Partially because the film is so funny and partially because the film is so quotable, I can simply watch this film over and over again and not get tired of it.

7.5 out of 10 cheeseburgers

Movie Review #54: Clerks II

Thirty-two and you're flipping burgers? Jesus, anybody else from our graduating class back there?

Clerks II is one of those rare movies that keeps getting better and better with each repeated viewing.  I enjoyed Clerks II the first time I watched it, but there was the slightest amount of disappointment that it wasn't as comical as the first one.  This one had a lot of serious things going on underneath the usual vulgarity.  But the more I watch it, the more I find things I can relate to and it becomes a more personable movie and I see why Smith names this as his favorite film he has made to date.  The jokes are still funny as hell and it crosses that line that you didn't think it would go, but I find the story amazing.  It is because of this that I now enjoy Clerks II more that the first one.

8 out of 10 cheeseburgers

Movie Review #55: Click

 Shut up, James Earl Jones! 

Off the top of my head, this was the last Adam Sandler movie that I enjoyed.  Hell, most of them I am have skipped just because of how terrible they looked.  Even this film has some eye rolling moments, but if you look past some of the cringe-worthy comedy, it has a story with a good lesson.  I don't really laugh out loud at any of the parts as I did when I first saw the film, but I am still touched by the point the film is trying to make.  I wish funny Adam Sandler would come back to Earth.

6 out of 10 cheeseburgers

I think I have about 6 or 7 more movies to review in the Cs and then I am finally done (and hopefully caught up)!  

"C" What I Have Been Watching

Geez that title is terrible...

Since there are so many reviews, I will try to keep it short.


Movie Review #45: Cabin in the Woods

Cleanse them. Cleanse the world of their ignorance and sin. Bathe them in the crimson of... am I on speakerphone?

When I first went to see this at the movies last year, I didn't know what to expect other than the fact it was getting good buzz and heard it was not what you would expect.  I walked out of the theater having just watched one of the most fun movies I had ever seen.  The movie is truly unique, especially for a horror genre that seems to recycle the same storyline over and over.  After multiple viewings, it has become one of my all time favorites.  I really don't get sick of watching it because it is just so much fun.  Good horror elements, great comedy, and a storyline that I just did not expect.  It starts off looking so cliche and by the end, you can't believe the originality that you just saw.  Absolutely love it!

9.5 out of 10 cheeseburgers

Movie Review #46 - Cable Guy

Come back here, so that I may brain thee!

I don't know why this movie gets such a bad rap.  I think it may be my second favorite Jim Carey movie.  I think I like it because it is somewhat dark and creepy.  It's not just a comedy film with Carey doing his goofy schtick.  It's actually kind of sad and although Carey does some goofy things in the film, he is more of a disturbed individual.  This could have very well been turned into a top shelf thriller.  But they did make it into a comedy and there are some absolutely hilarious parts.  But it is that dark undertones that carry the film and I love every second of it.

8 out of 10 cheeseburgers

  

Movie Review #47 - Captain America

 I knocked out Adolf Hitler over 200 times.

I loved Captain America.  Even if it didn't have the background of being a Marvel comic, I would have loved it as it such a cool feel good story.  The story of Steve Rogers and his determination to serve his country one way or another is so inspiring, something you wouldn't expect to come from a comic book.  Sure, it has some comic-y type characters,  but at the root of the film is a story about overcoming odds.  And they did an awesome job.

8 out of 10 cheeseburgers

Movie Review #48 - Changing Lanes

Money. You... you think I want money? What I want is my morning back. I need you to give my time back to me. Can you give me back my time? Can you give my time back to me?

 I like this movie because it shows how seemingly good people can be driven to bad things because of circumstances that are almost out of control.  I like movies that make you think, "What would I do in that situation?"  Samuel L. Jackson and Ben Affleck are generally good people in the film, but they are driven to be so mean to each other, even if they know deep down it is wrong.  I like the solemn tone the film has because there really is nothing nice about what is going on in the film.  It's not depressing, but it sure makes you think.

7 out of 10 cheeseburgers

Movie Review #49 - Chasing Amy

What did I tell you? She just needs the right guy. 

After the hilarity that was Clerks and Mallrats, I was not expecting Kevin Smith's third film to be what it ended up being.  Sure, it is hilarious, but at the heart of the movie is a love story so it was kind of funny that me and three of my guy friends went out to see this in the theater when it came out.  But as it turns out, it was Smith's best written film to date.  It had the hilarious aspects of his first two films while also including a deep story that is both believable and touching.  It doesn't quite end up how one would expect, but I think I commend it even more for not giving it that typical romantic comedy ending.

7.5 out of 10 cheeseburgers

Movie Review #50 - Chicago

Pop. Six.  Squish.  Unh-uh.  Cicero.  Lipschitz.

I didn't want to see Chicago when it was out in theaters but had to because of it being nominated for Best Picture.  It was a musical.  I hate musicals.  I think by the ten minute mark of the film, I was hooked.  Chicago is so fun because not only is it just a good story, but the songs, the aspect I dread, are even more fun than the spoken dialogue.  That is what makes this film so enjoyable to me.  Hell, I even own the soundtrack and have it on my iPod.  I think that says something.  Because of this movie, I don't quite go into a musical with the same negative attitude, but I have yet to find a musical I have enjoyed anywhere as much as this film.

8.5 out of 10 cheeseburgers

Back and Better Than Ever?

Ok, I'm back to the blog.  I won't promise anything, but I fully intend to post more than the 20 times I did in 2012.  That is just terrible.  Since I last blogged at the beginning of November, I have been so incredibly busy.  It's not an excuse, just the truth.  So what has happened since then?

Well, we had an amazing 10th anniversary vacation.  I am truly blessed with a wonderful wife.  I had my photography exhibit  and that went amazingly well.  I feel so honored to not only be asked to have my works on display, but that people actually bought some stuff.  My pictures are good enough for people to want to pay for them and display them in their home!  It feels so good and yet, I can't believe it!  The Christmas season was equally amazing with a Disneyland trip and the normal Christmas awesomeness.  And of course New Years was wonderful as always with our always fun group of friends.  

Jess and I were talking about how compared to the last couple of years, 2012 was a pretty damn good year.  2010 and 2011 were filled with so much heartache that the great times of 2012 were even more appreciated and needed than would could ever imagine.  Here is to hoping that 2013 is just as wonderful if not even more wonderful than 2012.  I mean, we can always hope, right?

I certainly have not given up on my goal to watch all my movies in alphabetical order.  In November I moved on to the letter C and because I was so busy work-wise, got to watch a bunch of them.  But because I was so busy, I didn't have a chance to write about them.  Then December hit and because I was so behind on actually writing the reviews, I didn't keep watching films because I didn't want to get even further behind on reviews.  Thus, my movie viewing was kind of put on hold until I could write my reviews.  So, next blog post will be short reviews of what I have watched since the last review and I will TRY to stay on top of it.  Probably.  Maybe.  

Defining Our Marriage, Part 2

Make sure you have read the first part of this entry to know what it is I am talking about.  I'll continue with talking about the events or characteristics that have defined our first ten years of marriage.


Friends and Family:  We have been blessed with amazing friends and family.  Some people don't have family that they are really close to or perhaps, that they don't get to see that often.  Other people may not have a big set of friends with whom they can let loose, have fun, and enjoy wonderful times together.  We are lucky enough to have both and we fully take advantage of that.  I think we have done a really good job at balancing family time with friend time.  Sure, we have had to miss various things because of choosing one over the other, but in the end, it has been a really good balance over these ten years and we have had so many wonderful memories with both groups.

Loss:  At the beginning of our marriage, it was unthinkable that by the end of our first decade of marriage, Jess would have lost both of her mothers already.  Hell, even five years into our marriage, it didn't seem like something even remotely on the radar.  But things took a drastic turn and within a year and a half period, Jessica lost both of her moms.  The deaths, while significant and devastating because we had two absolutely strong, beautiful, courageous women taken from us, are only part of the story.  If anything, the things I will remember will be everything leading up to the actual passings: the long nights, the close calls, the teary goodbyes, the emotions, and so much more.  Through it all, Jess remained as strong as ever.  She could have shut down, she could have let the wave of emotions take over, but she didn't and through these difficult times, she showed me how strong she could truly be.

This is my memory of Jess during these times: keeping a vigil.

Pregnancy:  I wish I could say that the deaths were the only major traumatic events in our first decade of marriage.  Those of you who know us know that not to be true.  In fact we had to deal with this almost the entire duration of our marriage.  Our struggles with infertility have been something weighing on us for years.  It has brought us many days and nights of tears, heartache, worries, and stress.  It brought us to the highest of highs when we finally got pregnant, got an ultrasound, and saw our baby's heartbeat, only to bring us to the lowest of all lows when there wasn't a heartbeat on the next ultrasound.  After years of trying, early miscarriages, and scientific involvement, we thought we had achieved our goal, but it just wasn't meant to be.  I am not sure I have ever cried harder.  We just didn't understand how something we wanted so bad, how something that so many other people get to have, just wasn't happening for us, and this has weighed on us for so long now.  But you know what, we're surviving.  We're kind of getting adjusted to the fact that it probably isn't going to happen for us and at this point, we are starting to be ok with it.  We are blessed in so many other ways and even though there will always be some small part of our heart that will feel empty, we will move on and be happy with everything else we have been blessed with in our lives.

The Nephew: You know, even though we have a small hole in our hearts from not being able to have a child of our own, I have to say that most of that hole has been filled with the birth of our nephew in June of 2011.  It was hard at the very beginning knowing that my sister would be having a baby before we did, but we quickly got over it, almost as quickly got excited for it, and eagerly anticipated his birth.  And he's done more for us than we could have ever possibly imagined.  We love that boy.  Not only is he our nephew, but we are blessed to be his godparents and I'll tell ya, we couldn't have hand picked a better child to call our godchild.  When we are with him, we really don't think about what we don't have any more.  We don't feel any jealousy.  We just feel complete and total love for him and if we are never blessed with a child, he is definitely the next best thing for us.  Heck, when he is acting up, we sometimes feel blessed that we DON'T have any kids.  :-)  But in all seriousness, we love him so much and he is exactly what we need.

Love and Laughter: If there is one thing that really defines our first decade of marriage, I would have to say it is the love and laughter we still share.  Nothing has changed since the day we were married.  There was no 7 year itch.  In fact, things just get better and better.  We still leave each other love notes.  We still say I love you at night, kiss goodbye whenever we go somewhere, and hold hands whenever we can.  Someone once asked Jess, "Wow, you guys still hold hands?"  Of course!  Why shouldn't we?  I mean, we don't try to put on a show and be overly lovely to make others jealous or anything, but that is just how we are with each other.  Alone in our own home, we are still the same way.  We still cuddle almost every night before bed, cuddle on the sofa or lay down so we can get our feet or head rubbed, and give each other loving looks from across the living room.  And we try to make the other one laugh as much as possible.  We're married, but we are best friends in every definition of the word.  We actually enjoy each other's company.  We take pride in the compliments we get sometimes about how we are a great couple.  But we don't do anything special to try to get people to think this; it's just who we are and what you see; the affection, the laughter, the closeness, the friendship - it's really how we are whether people are watching or not.  It has been a wonderful decade and I can't imagine being happier with any other person.

I love you, Jess.  Here is to many more decades to come.

A Disturbance in the Force?

Today's purchase of Lucasfilm by Disney seemingly came out of nowhere, at least to me and apparently everyone I know.  Like with anything, opinions seem to be all over the place.  As so many thoughts were going through my head when this came out and more and more thoughts seem to pop up by the second, I thought I would get them all down in a blog post.  If anything, I can look back on this in 2015, the year the next film is set to release, and see how much of this comes true. 

The first opinion I have read a lot is that this will be a disaster as Disney will ruin the franchise, make it too much for kids, etc.  People who have those thoughts have apparently not seen episodes I, II, and III.  Was there ever a film series that took such a drastic change in tone as this series did going from the original trilogy to the new trilogy?  The new series is totally for kids.  Lucas has even come out and said as much.  It's childish with childish jokes.  Yes, C3PO and R2D2 were comic relief in the original trilogy, but not anywhere to the childish extent that the new trilogy has with terribly silly CGI characters.  Not even the Ewoks were that bad.  And why do people automatically think that because Disney is in charge, it will be childish.  I don't know about you, but the general consensus is that the Avengers film was pretty damn good under the Disney brand.  And was it childish?  No.  Someone actually posted that because it is Disney owned, we will probably see people like Justin Bieber and other kid friendly people star in the movie.  C'mon, let's not be asinine here!  Remember that little film called Pulp Fiction released by Miramax?  Not very kid friendly, right?  Who owned Miramax when the movie came out?  Right, it was Disney.

Ok, so if Lucas is gone and can't make any more movies like the newest trilogy, then we can expect nothing but good things from Disney, right?  Well, again, not so fast.  Lucas is gone, but Kathleen Kennedy will be in charge of Lucasfilm now for Disney.  Who is she?  On the outside, she has been a very successful producer for some of the best (or funnest) films in recent times - E.T., the Indiana Jones films, Goonies, the Jurassic  Park trilogy, Back to the Future trilogy, Schindler's List, Sixth Sense, and countless other hits.  Not a bad track record, right?  She's pretty successful and knows about being involved in great films.  But just this Summer, she left her own production company to join Lucasfilm and become his second in command.  Fast forward a few months and Lucas sells his company with the stipulation that Kennedy be the new head of Lucasfilm.  It's just too convenient.  I just have to believe that this has been in negotiations for a while and that she was brought on with the big picture in mind.  So with her in charge, I just wonder how much influence Lucas will have in the decisions she will be making.  Are we really free of the questionable decisions he has been making in recent years?  I am not so sure.  Sure, she could be completely independent of him, but I am skeptical just because of the timing of all of this. 

Ok, so regardless of how we feel, a new trilogy IS coming.  They have already announced that Episode VII will come out in 2015 (which Lucas has already said he has mapped out so being totally free of him appears to be out of the question).  So the question has to be asked - what SHOULD the new trilogy be about?  Should this be set way in the future after Return of the Jedi or should it be close enough to the ending of Jedi so that we can bring back Luke, Leia, and Han?  Obviously, most people want to see these iconic characters back, and really, how awesome would that be to see these people we never though we see again?  Yeah, BUT, the counterpoint is, what if they do come back and they absolutely ruin the characters?  It could be a boost the series needs or it could leave a bad taste in our collective mouths.  I would love to have the lasting memory of the characters be positive rather than bring them back for something embarrassing.  Just know, Ford's wish was always for Han Solo to be killed off so if his character does return, prepare to watch one of the best characters off all time to lose his life.  Not something I am sure I want to see.  Or hey, maybe they will surprise us all and do it right?  But just to be safe, perhaps way in the future is the way to go.  Who knows?  I'd be willing to bet money that we will see two certain droids in the film, for sure. 

In the end, this is all happening and the next couple of years as more news comes out will be quite exciting.  The recent trilogy, despite my thoughts on it in this post weren't the worst movies in the world.  But then again, they weren't the best either.  I enjoyed parts of them, but if they had never been made, if the only part of Star Wars lore that I had in my memory was the original trilogy, I wouldn't be at a loss.  These new movies have a chance to further ruin the original trilogy's legacy or it has a chance to redeem the franchise.  George Lucas created something that is very important to me and then proceeded to tarnish it because of questionable decisions.  With him "somewhat" gone, what will happen next? 

Defining Our Marriage, Part 1

On November 2nd, Jess and I will celebrate ten wonderful years of marriage.  On some days, it seems like it was just yesterday while on other days, it seems like we have been married forever.  I know it is cliche to say this, but these past ten years have been the best years of my life, and our marriage seems to get better and better every single day.  Yes, our marriage has had its ups and downs, but they aren't the normal ups and downs that many couples often make reference to.  Our downs weren't spats, disagreements, etc, but rather they were things we experienced together and got through the only way we know how - together.  But whether they were good things or bad things, there was so much in the past ten years that helped define our marriage and make it as strong as it is now.  In honor of our ten years, I came up with a list of the ten things that really define us as a couple and brought us to the point we are at now.

- Our Furry Kids: As you all know, Jess and I are apparently unable to have children (of course this will be covered later), and so we have filled that hole in our home with furry children.  I was lucky enough to marry someone who loved dogs as much as I did and we have been blessed with wonderful dogs throughout our marriage.  We got Leia a month after we got married and she has been our wonderful, intelligent, spoiled girl ever since.  A few years later we added Orko to our little family and he was such a joy to have.  When we had to put Orko down, it was an absolutely devastating moment in our lives, but the addition of little Winston has filled that gap that we experienced after Orko left us.  We're dog people.  The dogs are part of our family.  Anyone who knows us knows how important they have been in our lives.

Miss you, buddy.

The House: What a source of both happiness and stress our house has given us over our 10 years together!  We bought our house around 2 years into our marriage and it was such a big step for us in feeling like actual adults!  We really have turned this house into our home.  We have, year by year, made it into what makes us happy and comfortable: paved backyard, hardwood floors, spa, paint, etc.  The house is totally us.  But as I mentioned above, it was also been a source of stress for many years.  A few years back, with our initial 5 year loan about to end, we attempted to refinance.  Not having ever been late on one single payment, we got very little help from our mortgage company which led us to seek a 3rd party for help which ended up going out of business and taking our $4,000 with them.  For the last couple of years we have lived under one year fixed mortgages, afraid that at any time, the rate would get so high we would be unable to keep the house we worked so hard to make into our own.  Then finally this year, under a new government program, we were given the 30 year mortgage we had been trying to get for so long.  At last, we can rest. 

Our house in the reflection

Vacations: Jess and I have been BLESSED to have been able to take so many vacations during our ten years of marriage.  Off the top of my head, since we have been married we have been to New York, Oregon, Las Vegas, San Diego, Mexico, Washington DC, Reno, and multiple trips to Tahoe, the Central Coast, and of course, Disneyland.  We have such an amazing time on trips and we really attribute it to the fact that we enjoy each other's company so damn much.  We have so much fun together and are amazed how we never get sick of each other on our trips where we spend so much time together.  And we have plenty of upcoming trips planned or in the works!  We are very lucky.

Job Issues: Jess and I both went to college, we both got degrees, we both started careers, but it hasn't always been as smooth as we would have hoped.  I was only a couple of months into my teaching career when we got married.  I wanted so bad to be a teacher growing up, and I did accomplish that dream.  But the teaching profession wasn't what I had envisioned for so many reasons.  After a a couple of years, I was already feeling it, but by the third year, I could tell I was done.  And it was hard to come to this decision.  I had gone to college for this, spent so much time preparing myself to get to this point in my life and I was going to bail?  It wasn't an easy decision, but Jess got me through it, helped me to come to the conclusion I needed, and basically supported me in whatever I ended up deciding to do.  I wouldn't have been able to get through that decision without her.  Then I tried my hand at real estate which was a very rough year in my life.  Never have I gone through so much sadness, but again, Jess got me through it.  After a year of trying my hand at that, I entered the field where I am now and have been for over 6 years, but if it wasn't for Jess supporting me and letting me know that she was behind whatever I decided, I might have gone crazy.  Jess also had her ups and downs.  From the hospital, to the clinic, to another clinic, and back to the hospital, she has had to deal with many work issues that often times brought her to tears, anger, and everything in between.  But much like she supported me, I tried to have her back in the best way possible and we seem to have both come out for the best.

 The Knee: I really can't talk about work without following up with Jessica's knee issues; something that has definitely impacted our lives during our marriage.  The early years of our marriage were fairly free of knee problems, but in the second half of our marriage, it definitely became a source of constant turmoil.  Mainly due to unlucky genetics, Jess has a degenerative knee disorder that become more and more painful for her.  Many times, and in fact, most days before surgery, she would come home from work crying from the extreme pain she was having.  It affected work, it affected vacations (wheelchair time!), and it affected simple daily life.  One surgery to relieve the pain was cancelled and put off for a few months.  Then she finally had the surgery in June of 2011 and she nearly died in the hospital because of a medication problem.  The surgery led to her being home with me for over 6 months of recovery time.  She's been back at work nearly a year now and while she is still nowhere near pain free, she does have some relief.  It is still bothersome and the pain still can get in the way from time to time, but we are better off than where we started.  But the knee has definitely been the source of many scary and sorrowful times in the last few years.

Come back in a couple of days for part 2...

"B" Gone

Let's finish off the Bs!

Movie Review #38 - Breakdown

You better pray she's still alive. 

I love Breakdown because it's 90 minutes of nonstop action.  Well, it isn't an action movie per say, but a great thriller that never has any lulls from start to finish.  I think part of what makes the movie so good is that it is so believable.  What happens in the movie really could happen to anyone so we can all relate to what happens in the film.  We can all question what we would do in Kurt Russell's situation.

And speaking of Kurt Russell, man, he is just so good in everything he does, isn't he?  Seriously, he's awesome, and I wish he was doing a lot more movies nowadays.  I can still see him as a leading man and certainly, with the revival of 80s action stars, could still be a great action star.  He is so believable as the man desperate to find his kidnapped wife.  Breakdown is cool because it is one of the movies that you find on TV and even though you have seen it a million times, you sit down and watch it.  High entertainment with little need for concentration is a perfect formula for a movie.

7.5 out of 10 cheeseburgers

 Movie Review #39 - Breakin'

OZONE!  STREET DANCER! 

Ah, Breakin' maybe the worst movie that I can officially call one of my favorites.  Well, that title may actually go to the sequel.  The story isn't TOO bad, in fact, I think it is a pretty inspirational story once you get down to the meat and bones of it, but it is full of so much cheese and so much bad acting that it would be hard to classify it as anything other than a B movie.

But you know what, I still love it.  I grew up with and and saw it so many times.  I love the soundtrack even though it isn't something I normally listen to.  I love the amazing dancing they do in the film.  I think it is fairly humorous and the characters, while mostly one dimensional, are pretty likable.  And going back to the story, when everything works out for them in the end, I get a giant smile on my face.  I get teased for liking the film, but I have no problem saying how much I like this film (even if it isn't very good).

5 out of 10 cheeseburgers

Movie Review #40 - Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo

We made it, we made it!  Thank you!  Thank you!

Ok, maybe this is the worst of my favorite films.  I at least have to hand it to the writers of the film.  A lot of terrible sequels fall in to the trap of simply rehashing the plot from the first film in a different manner.  This film, while generic, is at least different from the first film.  But it does get cheesier.  The hospital dance scene may be the worst scene in the history of the film if it wasn't for the dancing scene at McDonald's in Mac n Me.
 And the acting seems to have gotten worse.  You would think that acting would improve, but that is not the case.  The director also falls into the trap of, "Well, the story is pretty weak, why don't we just keep putting in song and dance numbers?"  But again, it entertains the hell out of me!  I love these three main characters with Kelly (Lucinda Dickey) at the top because she has the best acting skills of the group and, she's way hot.  I know I didn't pay attention to that as a kid, but now when I see the film, I have a total crush on her.

How is this the only pic of her that came up from the movie on Google?

 While not a good movie, it still holds a special place in my heart.  It is perfect 80s cheese.  Everyone has certain movies that defy reason as to why they like them.  Breakin' and its sequel are mine.  They are memorable and not just for the scene below from Electric Boogaloo.

I'm sorry.  

5 out of 10 cheeseburgers

Movie Review #41 - Brokeback Mountain

I wish I knew how to quit you.

Probably the greatest love story I have seen on film and it is between two guys.  It shouldn't matter, but there are many people who won't see this movie or take it seriously just because of that fact.  I say that their closed mind is making them miss out.  This is an absolutely beautiful movie that was totally robbed of the Best Picture win when it came out.  The fact that it led to so many jokes is understandable considering the world we live in, but for those with an open mind, it is a perfect movie.

While the story is very well written and visually beautiful, the main kudos have to go the acting performances on screen.  This is probably the first time I have seen the movie since Ledger's death and between this and his Joker role, it is devastating to know that we lost such an amazing talent.  He would have been one of the best actors over the next 40+ years with talent like that.  Gyllenhaal and the rest of the cast are also amazing, but it is Ledger who carries this story.  And a what a perfect story it is.

9.5 out of 10 cheeseburgers

Movie Review #42 - Bruce Almighty

God, why do you hate me? 

I have NEVER laughed harder in a theater than I did with this scene. 





Yes, it is goofy and childish, but man, this scene had me laughing obnoxiously to the point that people turned around and looked at me like I had a second head.  If that was the only funny scene in the film, it could be considered a disappointment, but I crack up from start to finish.  Jim Carrey is again at the top of his game and besides the comedy in the film, it also has a lot of heart with a good lesson.  Heck, I would even go so far as to almost call this movie religious preaching because of the lessons learned in the film.  Too bad some church goers would never see it because Carrey is in it.  Very funny without ever getting too far into the silly department, this is one my favorite Carrey movies and overall comedies.

7.5 out of 10 cheeseburgers

Movie Review #43 - A Bug's Life  

 It's the same year after year, they come, they eat, they leave; that's our lot in life. It's not a lot, but it's our life.

For the most part, Pixar makes outstanding movies.  There have been a couple of missteps, but overall, they can do no wrong.  This movie kind of falls in between their great movies and their average movies.  While nothing special (it doesn't have that touching/life lesson aspect that the best Pixar films have), it is cute.  The characters are all fun and it has some great voice over work.  But in the end, that is all it is - cute.  It doesn't stick with me after or make me want to watch it again in the immediate future.  I actually think the best part of the film is the credits where they made some fake bloopers.  When the credits are the most memorable part of the film, the part you don't want to end, I think that says a little something about the film.  Don't get me wrong, this is NOT a bad film, but it is not quite up to Pixar's high quality standards.

6 out of 10 cheeseburgers

Movie Review #44 - Butterfly Effect

You can't play God, son. 

I can't believe that a movie starring Ashton Kutcher stuck with me the way this one did.  I can't believe that Ashton Kutcher did a convincing job as an actor.  But both of those things did happen in this movie and it led to a pretty memorable movie that left me thinking, "What if?" to a lot of decisions in my life.  

This movie does a really good job of making you see how little decisions in life can lead to completely different outcomes in your life.  Of course, they do it to the extreme in a pretty creepy manner, but it gets the point across.  And going back to Kutcher, I actually thought he was outstanding in this film.  This isn't something he should be winning an acting award or anything, but for his standards, he did a really great job.  You really feel for him as he tries to go back and right all his wrongs. 

That leads to me to the final scene in the film.  We saw this film in the theaters and I love how the ending, while not a happy ending, does give some positive closure to the story.  On the DVD we own, it does have the Director's Cut ending which is one of the most asinine endings I have ever seen in a film.  How the director though this was a better ending is beyond me because of how absurd it is, but I am sure happy that with the theatrical release, they chose to not go in that direction. 

7 out of 10 cheeseburgers

Catch Up Mode

I've gotten so far behind in writing, I'm going to make these reviews short.  I mean, really, who of you 4 or 5 readers wants to sit and read 9 long movie reviews right now?  I'll even skip the burger pics so as not to make it look too long.  I promise to maybe never get this far behind again 

Movie Review #29: The Avengers 

The Avengers. It's what we call ourselves, sort of like a team. "Earth's Mightiest Heroes" type thing.

Per the rules, if I buy a movie that falls in a part of the alphabet that I have already reviewed, I have to watch that movie right away.  It wasn't that hard of a task.  Honestly, this is now my favorite movie ever, A title  "From Dusk Til Dawn" has held for a very long time.  What can I say?  This movie was everything I wanted and expected when Marvel started making great movies beginning with Iron Man.  It was a perfect superhero team film and I have absolutely nothing negative to say about it.  And you know what, a TON of people agree with me based on how much it made.  10 out of 10 burgers


Movie Review #30: The Black Cauldron

Oh, I'm sorry. I've ignored you. You did come for the Black Cauldron, didn't you? Good. Then climb in! It will only cost you your life. 

This is the movie that changed it all for Disney.  As far as the movie is concerned, this really isn't a good thing.  This ended up being one the Disney's biggest financial failures for an animated movie of all time.  At the time, it was the most expensive animated movie to make ever and it didn't make back that money.  A major revamp followed and it led a few movies later to the revitalization of  the company with Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast.  I remember liking it as a kid, but seeing it now, I see why it was a failure.  Generic heroes, generic villains, and a sub-par plot make this a pretty sub-par movie.  It's not terrible, but it just doesn't seem to have that Disney magic.  4 out of 10 burgers


Movie Review #31: Black Swan

I felt it. Perfect. I was perfect. 

That line, the last line of the film, sums up how I feel about this film.  When I first saw this film, I was so moved by how powerful this film was, I couldn't stop thinking about it.  Although multiple viewings make it lose the tiniest of  luster simply because the shock of what happens no longer surprises, it is still a spectacular film.  Natalie Portman is at her absolute best and totally earned every award she received.  The story is equally amazing and by the time the last act hits, I found myself breathless.  Such a great film.  9.5 out of 10 burgers. 


Movie Review #32: Blade

 You give Frost a message from me. You tell him it's open season on all suckheads. 

This was a really good entry into a really good trilogy of movies.  Although not the best of the bunch, it was a really fun movie that I can still rewatch without being bored.  Wesley Snipes is as badass as ever and if not for New Jack City, it might be his best role.  Stephen Dorff is also great as the villain and the film does a good job of making an action film out of a horror genre.  The best was yet to follow.   6.5 out of 10 burgers


Movie Review #33: Blade II

You obviously do not know who you are fucking with! 

The high point of the Blade trilogy is simply a great film.  It increases the action of the first film but behind that is really impressive story that is a lot deeper than the standard action movie.  It also has a great bunch of supporting characters that really complete the film.  I'm a big Ron Perlman fan and he is as awesome as always in this film.  But again, it is the story and the emotion behind it that really makes this film so great and makes it easily my favorite of the series.  7.0 out of 10 burgers


Movie Review #34: Blade Trinity
  
So, can we just go right ahead and sign you up for one of our secret Nightstalker decoder rings? 

The third film in the trilogy, while good, is the weakest of the series.  In fact, it is a pretty basic action film with little emotion and a lot of stuff blowing up.  Even Snipes seems to be over these movies.  So why isn't it a total bomb?  Ryan Reynolds and Jessica Biel.  Biel is amazingly hot in the film and totally believable as an action star.  Reynolds is at the top of his game in the humor department and it as if he took his role from Waiting and decided to just start hunting vampires.  It is these two that make the film more than just a generic action film.  They make it watchable and even fun despite the weak script.  6 out of 10 burgers


Movie Review #35: Blair Witch 2, Book of Shadows

We brought something back with us... 

I'm not really sure why we don't own the first Blair Witch as I really like the film.  It creeped the hell out of me.  The sequel was an obvious cash grab due to the success of the first film, but I liked the first one enough to run and see the second.  Despite being generally hated by most people, I actually don't think it is that bad.  Although centered in the Blair Witch universe of the first film, I really don't think it has enough in common to be considered a sequel, but I think it is adequately creepy on its own.  Just don't call it a Blair Witch film.  5 out of 10 burgers



Movie Review #36: The Bone Collector


I gave you so many clues and you failed

I absolutely LOVE serial killer movies like this.  It's fun to see all the clues come in to place and see the detectives figure them out one by one in order to try to figure out who the killer is. This is another great one.  Now, I wouldn't put it quite on the same level as my personal favorites, Seven and Copycat, it does a really good job of being creepy and thought provoking at the same time.  Denzel is his usual cool self but his role as a handicapped person seems to lighten his demeanor a little more than usual.  Jolie is great in her role too, before she achieved worldwide celeb status.  A fun movie if you are in to that sort of thing.  7 out of 10.


Movie Review #37: Boondock Saints 


Never shall innocent blood be shed, yet the blood of the wicked shall flow like a river.

While I don't carry the same enthusiasm as any other people on this film, I think it is a good movie.  While others consider it their favorite movie or one of the coolest films of all time, I see it as a pretty entertaining film that came out in a time where Pulp Fiction was still in the back of everyone's mind and the cool, foul mouthed, anti-heroes were still all the rage.  Don't get me wrong, I do like it, but I don't put it in the same class as many others.  It's fun though.  It has a pretty good story.  The characters, while WAY over the top, are definitely unique.  It all adds up to a pretty good film.  Maybe not a great film, but a serviceable one.   6.5 out of 10 burgers

Hits and Misses

Some new reviews!  I can't believe I am already 25 movies in and am not even halfway through the Bs!  This may take forever!  Luckily, I am enjoying it.  Have another non-movie review post coming up as well so come back really soon!

Movie Review #25: Big Daddy

Having a kid is great... as long as his eyes are closed and he's not moving or speaking. 

Wait a second, I used to like this movie?  What the hell was I thinking?  Ok, it really isn't that bad, but having not seen it for years, this movie is not as cute as I used to remember.  Nor is it as funny as I used to remember.  It really is just an average movie.  I already reviewed one Sandler movie that ended up being not as good as I remember and now we have a second.  Is this going to be a trend?  Man, I hope not.  Maybe it is a backlash against the crap that he has been putting out lately, who knows.

Like I said though, it isn't a bad movie.  It's kind of cute, but I never did once laugh out loud.  And man, Sandler is pretty terrible as an actor in this film.  When he attempts to look sad and tear up, it's actually pretty painful. It looks like he is holding back a sneeze.  And the kid is pretty damn annoying.  I think the most memorable aspect of this movie is the fact that whenever I see a scuba diver, I still ask if his name is Scuba Steve.  Besides that, it is a pretty forgettable film.  2 out of 5 cheeseburgers

Movie Review #26: Big Trouble in Little China

Everybody relax, I'm here. 

Thankfully, this is one movie that has not lost any of its luster and still holds up as a classic.  Despite all the amazing things this movie has, there is one big reason why this movie succeeds: Kurt Russell.  Russell as Jack Burton is clearly at the top of his game.  He's as cool as an Indiana Jones or Han Solo character to the point that it surprises me that this film never got any kind of sequel on his character alone.  He really is one of the coolest characters in film because of his great lines and awesome charisma.

But as I mentioned, although he is the biggest reason why the movie succeeds, he is not the only one.  Great villains, a fun story, and great cast of supporting characters also contribute to making this movie such a fun ride.  It's almost like a really good comic book, afterall, the large majority of the characters are comical all on their own.  Throw in magic powers, one liners, and a setting that seems other worldly, and you have a fun, but totally unique film.  How they never capitalized on this great film and created a sequel, I will never know. However, it's probably a good thing that they never attempted to recreate this film's greatness by following it up with some rushed, subpar sequel.  A good, stand alone film is a concept that should be followed more often. 4.5 out of 5 cheeseburgers

Movie Review # 27: Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure

Be excellent to each other

Not having seen this in years, I admit, I expected this movie to not be very good any more.  Thankfully, I was wrong.  This movie still is, well, excellent.  Now, let's not jump the gun and call this a cinematic masterpiece, but for what it is, it's perfect.

As much as we make fun of Keanu Reeves for his acting, especially early in his career, he is more believable in this role than Adam Sandler was in the film I reviewed up above.  He's perfect here as is Alex Winter.  And the amount of one liners that came out of this film were popular for many years after the release.  Hell, you could probably still yell, "Excellent!" in a group of people and most of them would know what you were talking about.  As for the film, well, we often complain that films lack imagination nowadays and that all films are too alike, but you have to give it up to this film for having a very unique plot.  And the people they got to play all of the historical characters are all so much fun and totally dive head first into their roles.  The film does still have some 80s cheese to it that doesn't quite transfer over to the modern era, but in the end, this is a fun 80s film that still holds up very well today.  3 out of 5 cheeseburgers

Movie Review #28: Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey

How's it hangin', Death? 

And this is why it is ok to just stop after one movie.  A description of the movie can be summed up simply by the movie titles.  While the first film was "excellent," the second film is definitely "bogus."  While not the worst film, or even the worst sequel I have ever seen, it isn't a very good film.  With the first film, they were able to capture a little bit of magic and put it on the screen.  You do have to hand it to the writers, they didn't just try to do the same movie by going back in time and picking up more characters.  They did try to be unique and go a new direction.  But based on the fact the the new direction ended up not being that good, perhaps they should have tried to just recreate the first film.

The new storyline is just silly.  The main villain is just comically bad.  Bill and Ted have lost some of their dumb charm of the first film and become almost annoying.  It has weird sequences with silly monsters.  It just reeks of an unimaginative, rushed film put out quickly to capitalize on the success of the first film.  The only redeeming quality of the film is William Sadler totally stealing the film as Death.  The guy simply owns every scene he is in and I would have watched a film just following his exploits.  But overall, man, this film just misses the mark.  Of course, if they ever make that rumored third film, I know I'll go see it.  1.5 out of 5 cheeseburgers