40 Years of Sunny Days

Thanks, Brian and Karene, for this collection. Man, Sesame Street used to be awesome. My kids haven't been very into the show lately, but they've been watching this DVD (mind you, they always select disc 1---selections from the first 20 years) over and over again. It really takes me back. I'd completely forgotten David, but when I saw him, it was like seeing an old pal. I didn't know there had ever been other Gordons, so that tripped me out a bit. It's good to see Mr. Hooper and remember the good old days when Snuffy was imaginary. Drawback: I'm only really interested in the first disc (1969-1989), as that disc is the one that includes the years I was watching as a kid. Sesame Street's still a pretty swell show, but it used to be so much better. My kids agree.

My Little Pony

I loved My Little Ponies back in the day, and Laraine loves them now. Good toys. But they keep changing their look, and they just keep making them look less like ponies and more like pigs.

Sherlock Holmes (2009 movie)

This movie was much better than the previews led me to believe. It was good fun escapism. The main thing that carried the film was the very good chemistry and witty banter between Holmes and Watson. The writing was strong and the acting was really good. The fight scenes were silly, but I could live with it. The villain was good enough, but not great. Inspector Lestrade was a gem. The biggest problem with the film was Rachel McAdams as Holmes' love interest. She really wasn't very interesting or believable and, as is so often the case in Hollywood, the obvious age difference was distracting and offensive. There are plenty of very attractive and capable actresses around Downey's age who could have filled the role. I suppose we can take some solace in that we've come a long way since the days of Harrison Ford and Anne Heche.

Avatar

Is anyone else staring to get a "machines are evil" vibe from James Cameron? This film is just okay for me. I never get terribly excited about special effects, but I admit that this movie is a visual feast---the foliage, the sweeping flight scenes---very nice. Nevertheless, the creatures didn't do it for me. Well done---I mean really good CG, but still screaming CG. Still not coming out of that uncanny valley. The female lead is better than the others, even quite amazing, and yet . . . still too smooth and plastic-y looking. I so much prefer make-up, costumes, and puppets, but I understand their limitations. The main complaint I have, and what kept me somewhat disengaged throughout the film, is lack of characters I could care about. The lead, Jake, is really very blah. He sort of mosies along though major choices with seemingly little internal struggle, and what's he thinking mating for life to a woman when he has no idea that he'll be able to stay in a body that can even breath in her world? Had the romance drawn me in more, I could have accepted it, but as the romance is also a bit blah, it just seems inconsiderate. While the native girl is more interesting than the leading man, she still didn't pull me in. Also, the villains are too inhuman. I appreciate the point Cameron is making about the evils we commit against our world and against unfamiliar cultures; however, if these guys were more human----not Terminators sans metal, those points about the evils of humanity would have had more resonance. Sigourney Weaver's character is actually quite good, but she's not enough to get me emotionally involved. Spoilers follow: I have other complaints about predictability; a pat, tacked on solution to the problem of the man living in the wrong body (I groaned when I saw that one coming); the feeling that too much is packed in, even though the film is three hours long; the idea that a cavalry charge on horse-like creatures against a wall of machine gun fire makes any sense---still, all these things are forgivable if the characters can carry it, and I don't think these characters do, so that's the major sore thumb of the film in my estimation. All in all though, certainly worth seeing, but the first Terminator remains James Cameron's masterpiece as far as I'm concerned.

Free Dance Lessons at the Church on 500 East (2nd and 4th Saturdays, 8:30-10:00 pm)

Dan and I can now Cha Cha. Poorly. But even that's an accomplishment. Actually, we've pretty much forgotten all the steps. Anyway, we give free dance lessons a thumbs up.

Jasper's Mullet

I braided it during sacrament meeting yesterday. I'm torn. It's either the coolest hairdo ever, or it's time to chop off the mullet.

Julie and Julia

Meryl Streep is incredibly endearing in this role. I think what really makes this movie charming is the love story between Julia and her husband, Paul: two not terribly attractive (or young) people with wonderful personalities and a grand appreciation for one another. Their half of the movie is far and away superior. I really liked Amy Adams in Enchanted, but she's just sort of okay in this. I found her husband somewhat more appealing than I found Julie, but they are certianly not what makes this movie so enjoyable.

(500) Days of Summer

Funny. Sweet. Quirky. Dan and I both really enjoyed this film. I like what it says about love and what's real. The ending is satisfying. The characters are wonderful, even the bit parts. The boss, the sister, and the friends are probably the best things about this movie, actually. The lead girl, I think, is a phony, but that's exactly what she should be. I never knew that kid from "Third Rock from the Sun" would be in something good (I really thought that show was lame), but he's fabulous in this movie. And the cards with the cat made me laugh.

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (film)

Well, the movies are always a let down, as they should be, really. You can't expect them to pull off the books. But I think, of the movies, this one was the least of a let down for me. I actually really like Michael Gambon as Dumbledore, and I found him swell in this one. My biggest complaint is Harry's lack of training with Snape, since (in a Darth Vader-esque fashion) Snape is the central character of the series. But you can't shove the whole book into a movie, I know. My other complaint is the complete lack of chemistry in the romances. I'd say Harry and Ginny have negative chemistry, and Ron and Hermione have almost non-existent chemistry. This is also the case in the books though. I will say that I thought there was excellent chemistry between Harry and Hermione in the scene in which he comforted her when she was depressed and jealous over Ron. I guess few people agree, but I'd have liked to have seen Harry hook up with Luna. Slughorn was amusing, though not at all what I pictured. Not fat enough, for one thing. Also, his dubbed memory wasn't as funny as the one in the book---(You'll go wrong, boy, mark my words). All in all, I enjoyed this fim and thought it the best of the Potter films so far.

Up!

One of the headlines I saw for this movie read "Pixar does it again". If it weren't for the first twenty minutes of this movie, I'd say that headline sums it up pretty well. I like Pixar. I think they make terrific movies and most of this movie was as good as anything Pixar had ever done, but the first twenty minutes are downright spectacular. The opening sequence for this film is so good! We're talking "It's a Wonderful Life" good. I was absolutely enchanted. The rest of the movie was a ton of fun with some bits that choked me up because they referred back to the first twenty minutes. I would absolutely recommend that any and everybody rush out and see this movie right away.

I thought I'd add The Onion's review of Star Trek just to go along with Angie's.


Trekkies Bash New Star Trek Film As 'Fun, Watchable'

Star Trek: Beginnings

WARNING: SPOILERS
So I guess this really was a pretty good flick. I think I probably should have liked it more than I did. I think my biggest problem is just not being able to get over this problem I have with all of the spin-offs paling in comparison to my first love when it comes to Star Trek: the original series. I had a hard time with said original series kinda being obliterated in this movie. Perhaps if I'd known what I was getting into, I would have liked it better too. I thought I was going to get the "beginnings" for the Star Trek I adore. I didn't realize this movie was a springboard for a whole new Star Trek with an altered reality created so that these characters can be reused some more. I'll grant you, they're good characters; it makes sense that someone wants to squeeze everything out of them. It rubbed me wrong though. I will say, I thought the actors did a very good job of creating younger versions of the beloved characters. I really liked the portrayal of my favorite character, Leonard McCoy. I did have difficulty buying the romance between Spock and Uhura. If they could really be in love in another reality, it seems strange that in the reality with which we have thus far been familiar, we didn't ever even see a spark. I can't say it wasn't a pretty decent flick, but I can't say I wasn't disappointed.

Taken: Past Participle

Really a fantastic word. Of course, it allows us to create sentences such as, "My dear Wolfgang, have you taken it into your head to devour the neighbors' kittens again?" (Sorry, when writing sentences for the illustration of points of grammar, I still haven't gotten over writing them for the entertainment of seventh graders, who were generally quite fond of Wolfgang and his many foibles.) Also, "taken" can create a truly visceral feel when used properly. For example, as a movie title on a poster with Liam Neeson and a gun, Taken becomes a powerful word. I give the past participle, taken, two thumbs way up.

Taken

I'm not much of an action movie kind of a girl in a general sense, though I certainly have a soft spot in my heart for Big Trouble in Little China (who doesn't?). Car chases and buildings blowing up are not generally what I'm looking for in a movie. This was a good action movie. I enjoyed it quite a bit. Not too much time spent blowing up stuff and car chasing (just enough). Good story. Good acting. And, hey, isn't that movie poster excellent?

Hellboy II

How can you not love Hellboy? The quirky characters and the dialogue are excellent. This one may not have quite lived up to the level of Hellboy I, but it came close. As always, the good guys are fabulous, and I thought the villain in this one was wonderful too. Here's my favorite line---Hellboy's comment on marriage, "I'd give my life for her, but she wants me to do the dishes." For those of you out there who are thinking Hellboy is beneath you, I point out that Rotten Tomatoes listed the film as Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy in their 10th Annual Golden Tomato Awards. It has also been nominated for an Oscar for Best Makeup.

Hancock---Movie, not Founding Father

I loved the first 45 minutes or so of this movie. The bum superhero getting a PR agent (Smith and Bateman are excellent in their roles)---good stuff. Then the plot takes a dive. (I know they had to bring on a bigger conflict to take the movie to a climax, but man, I wish they'd found another way.) To make a long story short, after what I would call an egregiously bad plot twist, the film pretty much loses most of its appeal. Still, I highly recommend the beginning. I think this movie was almost a classic.

Little Debbie's Cherry Cordials

I don't usually have much use for Little Debbie, other than an occasional Nutty Bar, but I'm addicted to these (so are Bennett and Laraine). Get while the getting is good, as they're only around near Valentine's Day.

Trader Joe's Freeze Dried Mangosteen

All you non-Utah residents with Trader Joe's nearby, get some of this stuff. My excellent sister-in-law sent me some (thanks, Deb). Loved it. I've never had a fresh mangosteen, but I thought this was some great stuff. Sweet flavor, melts in your mouth (well, it's freeze dried), with a weird, but I thought enjoyable, crunchy center. I hit up some California contacts (Brian and Karene) to send me some more, but all you other Utahns better find another source, since I don't think B&K are really wanting to go into the shipping business. I've also tried TJ's freeze dried strawberries (again, thanks, Deb), bananas, and mangoes. All yummy.

Dreyer's Peppermint Ice Cream with Hot Fudge

Okay, yummy. Thanks to Therese for introducing me to this. If you can get the Hershey's dark hot fudge, that's probably best, but any hot fudge will do. Unfortunately, Peppermint is a limited Christmas edition, but it's still around, so get some before it's gone.

Australia (Movie not continent)

Angie and I got to go see this movie free as a work function. The best word for this movie is ambitious. It actually was a lot of fun and we both enjoyed ourselves, but you couldn't help leaving with the feeling that that was a movie that was not nearly as good as it was trying to be. I suppose that a movie shouldn't be knocked for shooting high and only managing to be fun and entertaining, but it's hard not to notice when a film is trying to position itself as a great romantic epic in the tradition of "Gone With the Wind" and really only manages to be "Man from Snowy River." Still, I like "Man from Snowy River", and I liked "Australia." In the end, I give it a B. I also give it some extra points for ambition.