Dave's Hooey

Why haven't I been posting any movie reviews?

2008-02-10T21:00:00.000-08:00

At the end of December, I received an email from Blockbuster saying that they were going to increase the rate I pay for their service - that was the straw that broke the camel's back. The rates keep increasing while the service keeps decreasing. When I first subscribed to Blockbuster.com 3 years ago, I was paying $14.99 per month for 3 movies out at a time and unlimited in-store exchanges. For that same service today, it costs $34.99. I understand inflation, but that's a bit much, so I decided to cancel my subscription and read more books.

In addition, I have been focusing on posting to my other blog about the adventures we're having with our new baby girl, Kaitlyn. As a result, I've made a decision to combine the two blogs into one called the Cutforth Family Blog. Here's the URL: http://blog.cutforthfamily.com. The focus of the Cutforth Family Blog will remain our adventures with Kaitlyn, but will now include other fun things Shawnna and I do as well. I'll keep Dave's Hooey (with all the movie reviews) online since I put a lot of time into it, but my days of reviewing 3 movies a week are gone.

So, head on over to the Cutforth Family Blog and update your bookmarks and RSS feeds to point to the new blog.

The Simpsons Movie - Movie Review

2008-01-01T18:00:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Lisa Simpson, Lake Springfield is cleaned up from the pollution that once fouled it. But when Homer, who's adopted a pig (Spider-pig) and dumps a silo full of the pig's waste in the lake, the EPA places a large dome over Springfield, and the Simpsons family manage to escape through a sinkhole. The family flees to a better life in Alaska, but when the head of the EPA, Russ Cargill, orders the towns destruction, it's up to Homer to save Springfield.

If you are a fan of the Simpsons television show, I'm sure you'll enjoy this film as well. I haven't watched "The Simpsons" for at least 10 years, so there were some characters I wasn't familiar with and I'm sure I missed some inside jokes that true Simpsons fans would catch. The film itself wasn't terribly original, the jokes have been done before and the blatant product placements and ads were lame. The plot was OK, but nothing special. Overall, it's not a must see unless you're a Simpsons fan.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Voices of Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Yeardley Smith, Nancy Cartwright

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Next - ACE Train Movie Review

2007-12-17T21:00:00.000-08:00

Cris Johnson is a Las Vegas magician who possesses the unique ability to witness the events of the immediate future moments before they happen. As a child Cris was subjected to a series of cruel experiments by government scientists and doctors, but a change of name and a new identity allowed the tortured psychic to elude detection and start a new life away from the prying eyes of his former captors. Though his clairvoyant vision only extends a few minutes into the future, it has still allowed Cris to eke out a living as a low-rent Las Vegas magician while earning a little extra cash at the blackjack tables. Up to this point in his life Cris has never used his power for anything substantial, but when he experiences a vision of Los Angeles being incinerated in a nuclear holocaust, the small-time magician realizes that he could hold the key to saving millions of lives. But as low as he has tried to lie in recent years, Cris has never completely escaped detection by the government. Now, as terrorists prepare to unleash the ultimate horror on an unsuspecting city, FBI counter terror agent Callie Ferris sets out to capture Cris and convince him to use his exceptional gift to prevent the nuclear nightmare from becoming a terrifying reality.

The idea was interesting, but the plot was not. Nicolas Cage has made some great films and some duds. This one goes into the later group. There were just too many inconsistencies and things that didn't make sense. To me, the main plot was one of those things that didn't make sense - the government wants Cris to use his ability to save millions of lives, but Cris does everything in his power to not help. Just freakin' help already! The other big thing that I didn't understand was the fact that Cris could see 2 minutes into the future, so the people trying to capture Cris needed to wait 2 minutes before they acted on their plan. However, since Cris can perpetually see 2 minutes into the future, wouldn't he still be able to see the plan in action before it happens and react accordingly? Maybe I missed something, but I don't feel the need to watch it again.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Julianne Moore, Jessica Biel

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Complete List of All My Movie Reviews

2007-12-14T16:30:00.000-08:00

I have collected all of my movie reviews (407 to date) in a single list using Google Docs: http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=p7HOdSNxDv6-JExLmLY2fIQ. The default sort order is by my rating, but there's a tab on top which will allow you to view them alphabetically. As I post a movie review on this blog, I will update the spreadsheet as well, so it will always be up to date. I'll keep a link to the spreadsheet at the top of my blog for easy access - just look up and there it is ;-)

Shrek the Third - ACE Train Movie Review

2007-12-11T21:00:00.000-08:00

Shrek and Fiona's fairy-tale wedding has gone off without a hitch, yet just as the beaming newlyweds prepare to enjoy their blissful "happily ever after," the sudden death of King Harold finds everyone's favorite ornery ogre being reluctantly fitted for the royal crown. Troubled to learn that not only will he be compelled to rule Far Far Away, but that he and Fiona are also expecting a little ogre, Shrek determines to track down his new bride's rebellious cousin Artie - the one true heir to the throne - in order to focus on fatherhood without the added distraction of having to preside over the kingdom. As Shrek sets out with faithful companions Donkey and Puss in Boots to locate the medieval high-school slacker and bring him back to become the reigning sovereign of Far Far Away, handsome snake Prince Charming slithers back to the castle in the company of the dreaded Captain Hook to stage a diabolically timed coup and assume control of the throne.

The first two Shrek films were brilliant and hilarious - this one was not. Apparently, all the good ideas were used in the first two films, but how could they pass up a big payday by releasing a third? The story was mundane and there weren't many funny scenes. My biggest laugh came from the scene where the Gingerbread Man got scared and pooped out a gum drop. Of course, that could mean that I have issues, but more likely it's an indication that the movie just wasn't very funny. The worst part was that the end left the storyline open for another sequel. If they make another film, I sure hope they take the time to make a quality, imaginative product ala the first two films.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Superbad - ACE Train Movie Review

2007-12-10T21:00:00.000-08:00

Operating under the assumption that by procuring alcohol for an upcoming party they will finally be able to break their longstanding losing streak with the fairer sex, socially inept high school seniors Evan and Seth set out to secure the adult beverages that could get them off of the geek list before they even attend college orientation. Evan is a bright young student whose outward sweetness belies his suffocating fear of heading off to college without his lifelong best friend Seth - a hormone-driven mischief-maker who wasn't accepted to the same school as Evan. But Evan and Seth both know that college is a place of personal reinvention, and that if they are able to make that first leap together they will have forged a bond powerful enough to last a lifetime. Meanwhile, Evan and Seth's friend Fogell acquires a hastily rendered fake I.D. that instantly endears him to a pair of truly irresponsible cops.

The name of the film is fitting as it truly is super bad. To be clear, that's not bad as in good. Most teenage boys will love this movie and think it's the best thing ever. The rest of us, however, might not have the same fondness for the silliness and vulgarity that is on full display during the film. Sure, there are some funny parts and the main characters are likable nerds, but it's mostly a waste of time. I'd put this in the same category as Napoleon Dynamite - if you liked that film, you'll probably enjoy this one as well. Otherwise, you can safely skip it.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Christopher Mintz-Plasse

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Live Free or Die Hard - ACE Train Movie Review

2007-12-04T21:00:00.000-08:00

It's the beginning of the Fourth of July weekend, but New York City Detective John McClane isn't celebrating. He's had yet another argument with his college-age daughter and received a crushingly routine assignment to bring in a young hacker, Matt Farrell, for questioning by the FBI. But for McClane, the ordinary has a habit of exploding into the extraordinary - abruptly hurtling him into the wrong place at the wrong time. With Farrell's help, McClane slowly begins to understand the increasing chaos surrounding him. An attack is underway on the vulnerable United States infrastructure, shutting down the entire nation. The mysterious figure behind the scheme, Thomas Gabriel, stays several moves ahead of McClane as he implements his incredible plans, known to uber-geeks like Farrell as a "fire sale" (as in, everything must go!)

If you're a fan of the Die Hard films, this one won't disappoint. Like the other films, there is plenty of action, suspense and Bruce Willis a$$ kicking. A lot of things get blown up, people get shot at and blood is never far away. The plot is different than the other films (which is good) and is very modern in its technological focus. At the end of the day, it's good to see Bruce Willis back playing the character of John McClane. He was made for this part and I wouldn't mind seeing Die Hard numbers 5, 6, and 7 in the future. If the quality can remain this high, why not?

Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: Yes
Starring: Bruce Willis, Justin Long, Timothy Olyphant

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

License to Wed - ACE Train Movie Review

2007-12-03T21:00:00.000-08:00

Sadie Jones has always longed to marry the man of her dreams in her family church. Though she found her lifetime companion in Ben Murphy, Sadie is distressed to learn that St. Augustine's has only one wedding slot available over the next two years. While Sadie and Ben do qualify for the slot, charismatic St. Augustine's minister Reverend Frank won't wed the couple until they agree to attend his two-week prenuptial course. Now, as their wedding date draws near, Sadie and Ben must attend every one of Reverend Frank's exhausting classes and complete a series of rigorous homework assignments designed specifically to test their dedication to one another and ensure that their union will have a sound foundation.

This is a hilarious film. For me, it's a grab bag with Robin Williams as sometimes he's funny and other times he's just silly. He's definitely funny in this film as is the whole cast of characters. Fans of The Office (TV show) will notice a lot of familiar faces - maybe they filmed it near where they shoot the TV show, but several supporting characters are borrowed from the cast. John Krasinski (from The Office) and Mandy Moore have great chemistry, both comically and romantically. They create a lot of the funny moments with their expressions, timing and reactions. The robot babies were the icing on the cake and secured this film as a one to watch at least once.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Robin Williams, Mandy Moore, John Krasinski

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Riding Giants - Movie Review

2007-12-02T21:00:00.000-08:00

Riding Giants traces the origins of surfing and specifically focuses on the art of big wave riding. The film begins with a historical overview, starting at its Hawaiian beginnings, then moves on to focus on the dangerous lure of big wave surfing (surfing waves that can reach up to 70 feet). The documentary chronicles the evolution of riding at Hawaii's Waimea Bay in the 1950s, the revolution of lighter boards, and tow-in surfing to allow for "riding giants". Three surfers who are part of this multi-generational evolution are spotlighted: Greg Noll is shown as a fearless big wave rider during the 1950s and 60s; Jeff Clark who discovered Mavericks in Northern California and surfed there alone for years; and Laird Hamilton, the contemporary surfer who brings tow-in riding to the limelight.

Even if you're not a surfer (I'm not), you will be able to appreciate this film. The history of surfing is interesting and the way it's told in this film is extremely engaging. This isn't you're typical history lesson. The people who are profiled are very colorful and the waves that they ride are even more of a sight to see. The pictures and videos of the waves and the men riding them are worth the price of admission. The camera angles are incredible and waves themselves are awe inspiring. These guys must be crazy to surf at some of these places, but it certainly makes for a good show. A must see!

Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: Yes
Starring: Laird Hamilton, Greg Noll, Jeff Clark

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

SJ Sharks vs. Colorado Avalanche - 11/30/07

2007-11-30T23:00:00.000-08:00

This was the annual "take my brother to see the Avalanche for his birthday" game. It was the first game I had attended at the arena this year and I was very impressed with the new technology they had on display. They completely replaced the giant, 4-sided scoreboard hanging above center ice with a new, high definition one. They also replace the banner ads between the first and second levels with a screen that wrapped all the way around the arena. This opened up a lot of possibilities for getting the crowd going with cool graphics and huge moving images. Finally, they replaced the old sound system with a much better, and easier to understand, one. Below is a picture of the new technology during construction.

Oh, and the game was good, too ;-) The Sharks got off to a fast start with a power play goal from Joe Thornton two minutes in. Five minutes into the second period, Thornton scored on the power play again to increase the lead 2-0. The Avalanche got their first goal shorthanded when Milan Hejduk beat Nabokov with 3:30 left in the period to cut the lead in half. The Sharks struck back quickly when Mike Grier scored 1:30 later to increase the lead back to 2 goals. The Avalanche wasted no time in making it a 1 goal game again when Andrew Brunette scored 1:30 later. After that flurry of goals to close out the second period, neither team scored in the third and the Sharks held on for a 3-2 victory.

Overall, it was a very physical game and both teams looked pretty good and had many scoring chances. The Sharks just played a little better and were fortunate to get a great game from Joe Thornton. One other note, during one of the breaks in the action, a guy in our section won a dance-off with a person in the competing section which meant our whole section received a $10 Dave & Buster's gift card. Not bad for some other guy's work (he was wearing a USA flag shirt, so I think he might have had an unfair advantage). Go Sharks!

Score: W 3-2
1st Period
SJ - Joe Thornton(PP) (Milan Michalek)
2nd Period
SJ - Joe Thornton(PP) (Milan Michalek, Sandis Ozolinsh)
Avs - Milan Hejduk(SH) (Paul Stastny, Scott Hannan)
SJ - Mike Grier (Joe Thornton, Kyle McLaren)
Avs - Andrew Brunette(PP) (Paul Stastny, Joe Sakic)
3rd Period
None

SJ SOG: 29
Avalanche SOG: 20
Winning Goalie: Evgeni Nabokov
Losing Goalie: Peter Budaj

Tickets: Section 221 Row 4

Meet the Robinsons - ACE Train Movie Reivew

2007-11-26T21:00:00.000-08:00

When Lewis meets a mysterious boy from the future named Wilbur Robinson, the two travel forward in time where Lewis discovers the amazing secret of the Robinson family. Lewis is a brilliant twelve-year-old with a surprising number of clever inventions to his credit. His latest and most ambitious project is the Memory Scanner, which he hopes will retrieve early memories of his mother and maybe even reveal why she put him up for adoption. But before he can get his answer, his invention is stolen by the dastardly Bowler Hat Guy and his diabolical hat - and constant companion - Doris. Lewis has all but given up hope in his future when a mysterious boy named Wilbur Robinson whisks our bewildered hero away in a time machine and the two travel forward in time to spend a day with Wilbur's eccentric family. In a world filled with flying cars and floating cities, they hunt down Bowler Hat Guy, save the future and uncover the amazing secret of Lewis' future family.

This film was cute, but very, very corny. It's yet another example of a kid's film that offers very little for the poor parents that have to sit through it. As usual, there was a good lesson to be learned for kids and I'm sure they would think some of the corniness was funny, but there were several times I rolled my eyes and thought, "You've GOT to be kidding me." It was certainly not a Disney classic by any stretch of the imagination, which is exactly what it was missing - imagination. Everything in the film had been done before and done better. I'll give it points for great animation, likable characters and the ending with Rob Thomas' song, but it's definitely not a must see.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Voices of Daniel Hansen, Jordan Fry, Wesley Singerman

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Sicko - ACE Train Movie Review

2007-11-19T21:00:00.000-08:00

Activist filmmaker Michael Moore turns his attentions toward the topic of health care in the United States in this documentary that weighs the plight of the uninsured (and the insured who must deal with abuse from insurance companies) against the record-breaking profits of the pharmaceutical industry. Moore interviews a number of people who have been left broke by medical bills even though they were fully insured, and explains how the corporate drive for profits has left numerous people in financial and medical disarray. After hearing that detainees in Guantanamo have access to free health care, Moore assembles a group of World Trade Center rescue workers to travel to Cuba in order to get the medical help they need for ailments they incurred in 2001.

Michael Moore is a very good storyteller and his documentaries are definitely interesting to watch. Sicko is no exception, but it wasn't quite as good as Bowling for Columbine and Fahrenheit 9/11. I suppose the topic just wasn't as controversial as the others and didn't capture my full attention. Moore does his best to make it interesting and keep the shocking statistics flowing and for the most part, he did a good job. Of course, as with any documentary, it's a portrait of one side of the argument. He presented a few arguments against his point of view, but they were a weak attempt at creating the illusion of a fair and balanced portrayal of the health care debate. This documentary should be watched for entertainment purposes only, not as a basis to form opinions.

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Michael Moore

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Nineteen Eighty-Four - Book Review

2007-11-13T21:00:00.000-08:00

The year is 1984; the scene is London, largest population center of Airstrip One. Airstrip One is part of the vast political entity Oceania, which is eternally at war with one of two other vast entities, Eurasia and Eastasia. At any moment, depending upon current alignments, all existing records show either that Oceania has always been at war with Eurasia and allied with Eastasia, or that it has always been at war with Eastasia and allied with Eurasia. Winston Smith knows this, because his work at the Ministry of Truth involves the constant "correction" of such records. "'Who controls the past,' ran the Party slogan, 'controls the future: who controls the present controls the past.'"

In a grim city and a terrifying country, where Big Brother is always Watching You and the Thought Police can practically read your mind, Winston is a man in grave danger for the simple reason that his memory still functions. He knows the Party's official image of the world is a fluid fiction. He knows the Party controls the people by feeding them lies and narrowing their imaginations through a process of bewilderment and brutalization that alienates each individual from his fellows and deprives him of every liberating human pursuit from reasoned inquiry to sexual passion. Drawn into a forbidden love affair, Winston finds the courage to join a secret revolutionary organization called The Brotherhood, dedicated to the destruction of the Party. Together with his beloved Julia, he hazards his life in a deadly match against the powers that be.

I know that this book is thought of as a classic and has introduced words like Big Brother and Orwellian to the English language, but I just didn't find it to be a page turner. Sure, the idea of a government completely controlling all aspects of every citizen sounds intriguing, but there's only so much conspiracy talk I can handle before it becomes stale, depressing and boring. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a complete snoozefest. I was able to appreciate the imagination of Orwell and the time it must have taken to create the frightening world of Oceania, complete with its own language. I suppose my main gripe was with the length of the book. It tended to drag at times and would have been much better with a little more editing.

When the book was released in 1949, I'm sure the "Big Brother controls all information" message in the book would have hit harder than it does today. Now, there are a lot more information sources than there was back then, so the thought of Big Brother controlling all content and changing historical references to suit their needs seems a lot more far fetched now than it would have back then. Of course, you never know, Big Brother could have created all the new media sources to spread their messages quicker and broader. If that's the case, I just committed thoughtcrime and the Thought Police will be knocking on my door any second to snuff me out - crap!

Seriously, I think this book is worth a read if you haven't ever read it. If nothing else, it should make you realize that our government is not that bad and you should also learn some new vocabulary words. However, if you're depressed or believe in government conspiracy theories, steer clear of this book - it will only make your outlook of the world worse.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I read it again: No

Nineteen Eighty-Four
by George Orwell
Hardcover: 330 pages
Released: 1949

Ratatouille - ACE Train Movie Review

2007-11-12T21:00:00.000-08:00

It's hard being a rat with culinary aspirations, but Remy is convinced he has what it takes to break the stereotypes and follow in the footsteps of star chef Auguste Gusteau. As fate would have it, Remy is currently situated in the sewers directly beneath Gusteau's elegant restaurant. Soon Remy teams up with a young chef with little talent named Linguini. Together they are able to create some fabulous dishes, but they live in fear that someone will discover their secret and object strenuously to a rat being in a kitchen. When Remy's passion for cooking turns the haughty world of French cuisine upside down, the rat who would be king of the kitchen learns important lessons about life, friends, and family while questioning whether he should pursue his culinary calling or simply go back underground and return to his life as a sewer rat.

For what it was (a very "safe" kids movie), it was excellent. The animation was clean and colorful. The plot was straightforward and easily followed. The characters were funny and memorable. There was a good lesson to be learned and I think kids would love this film. For adults, there's not a whole lot in this movie that's targeted toward the older set, but I found it light and entertaining. It's not a must see for adults, but I think it's one that adults can enjoy if they watch with the right frame of mind.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Voices of Patton Oswalt, Brad Garrett, Janeane Garofalo

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry - ACE Train Movie Review

2007-11-07T21:00:00.000-08:00

Chuck Levine and Larry Valentine are two New York City firefighters whose longtime friendship has endured many a five-alarm fire. All that widower Larry wants is to ensure that his two children will be taken care of if anything should happen to him on the job, and all that single blaze-battler Chuck wants is to carry on with his carefree life of non-commitment. Having once rescued Larry from certain death in a particularly fearsome inferno, beholden Chuck feels forever indebted to his brave friend and has vowed to repay the favor when the time is right. When Larry discovers that the only means of circumventing the civic red tape that could throw his children's futures into jeopardy is to take Chuck as his lawfully wedded husband, his obligated pal reluctantly agrees to step up to the alter with the understanding that the arrangement will be a well-kept secret between themselves and the justice of the peace. A potentially fatal flaw in their presumably foolproof plan is soon revealed, however, when an overzealous bureaucrat decides to question Chuck and Larry's partnership. Subsequently forced to embark on a mandatory honeymoon and pose as starry-eyed newlyweds, Chuck and Larry quickly discover just how important it can be to stick by a friend in his or her time of need.

Lame, lame, lame, lame, lame. I was really looking forward to watching this movie since the previews looked so funny. However, if you've seen the previews, you've already seen all the funny parts. I would have thought that Adam Sandler and Kevin James would have had better chemistry, but it seemed forced. Instead of creating a comedy, they seemed to just be making a political statement. Granted, I agree with gay rights and everything this film ended up standing for, but this wasn't supposed to be a "message" movie - it was supposed to be a freakin' comedy and it wasn't funny. Maybe Sandler has finally run out of funny material because he missed on a lot of his jokes. This movie is probably not as bad as I've rated it, but I was just very disappointed. Now I have to watch Billy Madison and Happy Gilmore to get the bad taste out of my mouth.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Jessica Biel

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer - ACE Train Movie Review

2007-11-05T21:00:00.000-08:00

As the story opens, Sue Storm (The Invisible Girl), and Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) prepare for their upcoming, superhero-studded wedding celebration. But Reed cannot stay focused on the nuptials - he's distracted by wire reports of a bizarre, comet-like object hurtling toward the Earth with tremendous force, triggering brownouts, blackouts, tropical storms and various other climatological disasters. When the said object hits the island of Manhattan, destroying much of the city in its wake, its identity becomes resoundingly clear: "it" is actually a "he" - a psychotic villain known as The Silver Surfer who intends, for some unascertainable reason, to destroy much of the Earth - just as he obliterated dozens of planets before it. Feeling compelled to rally their old gang and save the day, Sue and Reed summon Ben Grimm (The Thing), and Johnny Storm (The Human Torch) to take on the Surfer - and end up battling not only him, but an obnoxious Army general and the cantankerous Victor Von Doom, who has broken out of his icy prison that held him captive at the end of the first movie.

This film wasn't as good as the first one (which wasn't that great to begin with). The plot was weak and underdeveloped. It was too short to truly do a story of this scope justice. The actors did a pretty good job with a marginal script, but there were plenty of lame scenes and bad jokes. The special effects were OK, but the Silver Surfer seemed overly rigid - maybe by design. Overall, I just wasn't very impressed and can think of many other movies based on comic books that are way better than this one. Nothing really stood out about this film, so add it to the pile to forget.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Transformers - Movie Review

2007-11-03T21:00:00.000-07:00

Long ago, on the planet of Cybertron, a massive, powerful alien race divided into two factions, the noble Autobots, and the devious Decepticons. They fought for the sole access to a talisman known as the Allspark, a cube with the capacity to grant infinite power, and eventually the Autobots smuggled it off the planet's surface, hiding it in an unknown location on Earth. Now, hundreds of years later, the Deceptacons have come looking for it, and if the Autobots don't find it first, the Earth will be enslaved or destroyed by the evil aliens' use of its massive power. The Autobots don't know where the cube was hidden, but the information may be stored in the most unlikely of sources, as a gangly young Earthling named Sam Witwicky who's just picked up his first car, has a strange connection to the Allspark's history, making him the unlikely ally of these enormous creatures, as they fight for humankind's survival and the chance to return home.

I grew up with Transformers - watched the cartoon and played with the toys. This movie brought back a lot of good memories. However, this film was a little different than the cheesy Saturday morning cartoon I remember watching. The plot was gripping, entertaining and even funny. The special effects, though, were really the star of the show. The way that the Autobots and Decepticons moved and transformed was simply amazing and the fight scenes were out of this world (ok, bad pun intended). Anyway, this film is a sight for your eyes as well as your mind. The interaction between the transformers and humans looked so real, I was taken back to childhood daydreams where our car could transform into a cool robot - a friendly robot. This is a must see movie, even if you wouldn't be able to tell the difference between Optimus Prime and Megatron - by the end, you'll be able to.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: Yes
Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Surf's Up - ACE Train Movie Review

2007-10-22T21:00:00.000-07:00

Cody Maverick may be a relative amateur when it comes to hanging ten, but he's sure he has what it takes to surf his way to superstardom. With a little help from his cantankerous King Penguin mentor, ex-surfing legend Big Z, and a little encouragement from star Pen Gu Island lifeguard Lani, there may be hope for this tuxedo-clad wave twister after all.

This is a kids movie through and through. There's very little here for adults, so if you're not watching it with kids, don't bother. I was a little bored at times, but could see that kids would enjoy the nutty characters and might feel empowered by the message that anything is possible if you keep trying and work hard to persevere. Overall, the penguins were cute and the underlying message was good, but the story was dull (at least it's less than 90 minutes long).

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Jeff Bridges, James Woods, Jon Heder

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Blades of Glory - Movie Review

2007-10-20T21:00:00.000-07:00

Their medals stripped after getting into a highly publicized fight at the World Championships, star figure skaters Chazz Michael Michaels and Jimmy MacElroy are barred from ever competing in the sport again. Upon discovering a loophole that will allow them to perform together in the pairs figure skating category, the two athletes determine to put their differences aside in order to pursue their gold medal aspirations.

This is exactly the type of movie you have to expect from Will Ferrell and Jon Heder. If you expect anything other than awkward and random humor, you'll be disappointed. It had some very funny moments and some cringingly embarrassing moments. Of course, it was over the top and completely ridiculous, but they made it work and it was pretty entertaining. If you're in a silly mood, enter the world of Chazz Michael Michaels.

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Will Ferrell, Jon Heder, Amy Poehler

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Evan Almighty - Movie Review

2007-10-19T21:00:00.000-07:00

Shortly after television anchorman-turned-U.S. congressman Evan Baxter relocates his family from Buffalo to Northern Virginia, God reveals to him that a devastating flood is coming and the planet is about to be cleansed once again. Later, when Baxter accepts the responsibility of building a great ark and his rapidly changing physical appearance begins to draw media attention, his skeptical family attempts to discern if his actions are driven by delusion or divine intervention.

For being the most expensive comedy film ever produced, this one did not live up expectations. It wasn't very funny. I don't think it was Steve Carell's fault that it wasn't funny, but the writers. The plot was so-so and the characters weren't engaging. Overall, it was just a strange piece of work and not one you should waste your time on.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Steve Carell, Morgan Freeman, Lauren Graham

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Knocked Up - ACE Train Movie Review

2007-10-16T09:00:00.000-07:00

Twenty-four-year-old entertainment journalist Allison Scott is on the fast track to the big time, but an alcohol-fueled hookup with responsibility-shirking slacker Ben Stone finds her professional priorities taking a back seat to having a baby. Now, as overgrown kid Ben attempts to assume the responsibilities of fatherhood, he makes the brave decision to stand by Alison. In order to make things work between the pair, however, there's going to have to be some compromise, and when Allison and Ben decide to take a shot at love, they quickly find that building a relationship from scratch isn't nearly as easy as making a baby.

These types of movies are typically really silly and dumb without much of a plot beyond the usual adventures of stoned and drunk losers. However, this film breaks that mold. Yes, there is plenty of idiotic behavior, but it centers around an actual plot. Not just any plot, but a really deep and complicated one. There's a delicate balance between silliness and real content that this movie navigates perfectly. I certainly laughed a lot and could really relate to all the drama surrounding the pregnancy and birth of the child. Maybe that's why I liked it so much, but it's definitely one to see (even though it is over 2 hours long).

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Seth Rogen, Katherine Heigl, Paul Rudd

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Fracture - Movie Review

2007-10-13T21:00:00.000-07:00

Ted Crawford is an engineer who lives with his wife Jennifer in the couple's lavish Southern California home. One day, after carefully planning out the details to ensure that there is no way he can be convicted of murder, Ted shoots his wife in a blatant attempt to murder the woman. When head hostage negotiator Rob Nunnaly arrives on the scene to speak with Ted, he is shocked to find that the victim of the shooting is in fact his longtime lover. Though Jennifer survives the trauma of being shot in the head at close range, she hovers comatose between life and death as star prosecutor Willy Beachum reluctantly accepts the case while preparing to leave the Los Angeles criminal court system behind for a more promising career at a posh private law firm. Though the D.A. vehemently resents Beachum's lofty plan for departure, the hotshot young lawyer remains convinced that he can expedite the apparently open-and-shut case and be on his way to greener pastures in one week's time at the very most.

This was a pretty good mystery that keeps you guessing until the end. It's unique in that you know who committed the crime from the very beginning. However, that's not the mystery. The biggest question is what happened to the murder weapon since it appears the prosecutor can't make a case without it. The answer turned out to be very surprising and ingenious. While I was surprised and impressed at the ending, I thought the film focused too much on the missing weapon and didn't have enough other twists and turns to be great. Anthony Hopkins did a good job, but I kept seeing similarities between his character and Hannibal Lecter - murdering sociopath. Overall, though, it's certainly worth a look and provides a good payoff in the end.

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Ryan Gosling, Billy Burke

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Harry Potter Series - Book Review

2007-10-10T21:00:00.000-07:00

The story opens with the conspicuous celebration of a normally secretive wizarding world. For many years, it had been terrorised by the evil wizard, Lord Voldemort. The previous night, Voldemort discovered the Potter family's hidden refuge, killing Lily and James Potter. However, when he attempted to murder their infant son, Harry, the killing curse he cast rebounded upon him. Voldemort's body was destroyed, but his spirit survived: he was neither dead nor alive. Harry, meanwhile, was left with a distinctive lightning bolt-shaped scar on his forehead, the only physical sign of Voldemort's curse. Harry is the only known survivor of the killing curse, and Voldemort's mysterious defeat causes the wizarding community to dub Harry, "The Boy Who Lived."

Harry is brought to his only living relatives, the cruel and non-magical Dursleys, consisting of Uncle Vernon, a bad-tempered uncle with hardly any neck; Aunt Petunia, a long-necked woman who appears to absolutely loathe Harry; and Dudley, their spoiled, overweight son. They attempt in vain to rid him of his magical powers, hide his magical heritage, and severely punish him after any strange occurrences.

However, as his eleventh birthday approaches, Harry has his first contact with the magical world when he receives letters from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, which are delivered by owls. However, his uncle intercepts the letters. On his birthday, Hagrid, Hogwarts' gamekeeper, appears and informs Harry that he is a wizard and has been invited to attend the school. Each book chronicles one year in Harry's life, which is mostly spent at Hogwarts. There he learns to use magic and brew potions. Harry also learns to overcome many magical, social, and emotional obstacles as he struggles through his adolescence, Voldemort's second rise to power, and the Ministry of Magic's corruption and incompetence. After facing many obstacles, making countless friends, and losing loved ones, Harry Potter confronts the Dark Lord for the last time.

This is an amazing set of books and are completely worthy of all the attention they have received over the years. J.K. Rowling has an unbelievable imagination and attention to detail. She created a whole new world complete with it's own language, customs, animals, games, etc. It was so convincing that it seemed real and was easy to get lost in the books and lose track of time. I waited until the final book was released before I read any of them and I read all of them to/from work on the train over the span of a couple months. I actually looked forward to the train ride knowing that I would find out a bit more about the world of Harry Potter.

These books are responsible for getting kids excited about reading, but they certainly are worthy of adult eyes as well. They cover many different topics and issues with underlying messages that are mature in nature. I'm sure kids and adults will get something different out of the books and that's the beauty of the way they are written - everyone will read them with a unique perspective and interpret them differently. These books are a must read for anyone looking for some entertainment and adventure. Don't just watch the movies - read the books so your mind can create the complex world that Harry Potter inhabits. You might be surprised at how addictive the written word can be.

Rating: 5 of 5 stars
Would I read them again: Yes

Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone (June 1997, 309 pgs)
Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets (July 1998, 341 pgs)
Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban (July 1999, 435 pgs)
Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire (July 2000, 734 pgs)
Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix (June 2003, 870 pgs)
Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince (July 2005, 652 pgs)
Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows (July 2007, 784 pgs)

Confessions of a Dangerous Mind - Movie Review

2007-09-29T21:00:00.000-07:00

Chuck Barris grows up dreaming of success in show biz and winning the hearts of beautiful women, but early on, he meets with plenty of resistance from both women and the television industry, despite writing the hit tune "Palisades Park" and scoring a job with Dick Clark on American Bandstand. The 1960s proves more fortunate for Barris; he meets the love of his life, Penny, and sells ABC on the idea of The Dating Game. However, after the show has made him wealthy and successful, Barris is approached by the mysterious Jim Byrd, a CIA agent who wants to recruit Barris as a covert operative. Barris finds the notion of playing spy games intriguing and agrees, but soon discovers what Byrd and his partners really want is for Barris to assassinate uncooperative figures around the world. Soon, Barris finds that his life has been all but taken over by Byrd and another CIA agent, the mysterious and sexy Patricia. As he hops the globe killing people in the name of American security (using his status as a Dating Game chaperone as a cover), Barris learns that the KGB has discovered his not-so-little secret and that his own life is in great danger.

This film was a little too "out there" for my taste. It was based on Barris' autobiography which he claims is completely true. However, I think Barris' imagination got the best of him while he was writing his life story and he embellished some (or most) things. Some of the scenes are so over the top that they're laughable and it was difficult for me to watch since I had a hard time believing any of it happened. Even as a work of fiction (which I'm convinced it is), it was too scattered and lacked a central, driving plot that pulled everything together. It was just a hodgepodge of outrageous claims and goofy acting.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Sam Rockwell, Drew Barrymore, George Clooney

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Perfect Stranger - Movie Review

2007-09-23T21:00:00.000-07:00

Rowena is a prominent New York journalist who writes using a pseudonym to entrap some of the tri-state area's most corrupt individuals, using a network of informants, acquaintances, and digital gadgets. When her latest expose is buried at the behest of her paper's corporate backers, she walks off the job and into a personal quagmire. Her childhood friend Grace is murdered when she threatens to reveal she's been sleeping with married advertising mogul Harrison Hill. With the help of her loyal techie friend Miles, she goes undercover - and online - to find the smoking gun that will indict Hill. But Rowena soon finds herself caught in a web of manipulation, deceit, and false truths.

With Bruce Willis and Halle Berry starring in this film, I would have thought it would get more buzz, but I had never heard of it when I saw it on the video store shelf. It was a pretty good suspenseful thriller that keeps you guessing until the very end when all the secrets are revealed. It was one of those films where things happen early on that don't seem to make sense at the time, but make perfect sense once you're given a little more information. There were certain times when I was sure I knew who the killer was, but I was taken by surprise which I was happy about - it wasn't obvious. The actors did a great job providing drama, suspense and intrigue, while not showing their hands too early. Overall, it wasn't great, but it was good enough to see once.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Halle Berry, Bruce Willis, Giovanni Ribisi

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

We've Been Simpsonized!

2007-09-14T21:00:00.000-07:00

There's a fun website where you can upload a picture of yourself and it creates an image of what you would look like as a character on The Simpsons. I created characters for myself, Shawnna & Kaitlyn and put them together into one image below. Let me know how close you think the image below looks like us and Simpsonize yourself here. Email the results to yourself and post the URL in the comments section of this blog.

Vacancy - Movie Review

2007-09-14T20:00:00.000-07:00

A vacationing couple makes a terrifying discovery about the motel room they have just checked into. Their car broken down and their prospects for finding a tow-truck driver at such a late hour slim to none, David and Amy Fox decide to make the best of their situation by resting out the night at a nearby motel. Left with few choices of entertainment for the evening, the pair soon settles down to enjoy one of the low-budget slasher films sitting atop their motel room VCR. Upon realizing that all of the films seem to have been shot in the very same room they currently occupy, David and Amy suddenly become the stars of a particularly sadistic fright flick. As hidden cameras track their every move, the hapless couple attempt to turn the tables on their would-be killer before they meet the same grim fate as the poor souls being butchered on television.

With a little more work, this could have been a great horror film. As is, the movie contained some really good, original ideas. However, with an 80 minute film, it's difficult to really explore those ideas and complete the thought. That's where this film failed - it was too short and didn't seem complete. The actors were perfect for their parts, although it was a little odd to see Luke Wilson in a scary movie. I really liked the look of the bad guys - subtle, but effective. The ending was indicative of the shortness of the film and seemed incomplete. Overall, it's worth a look if you're in the mood for a scare, but don't expect a masterpiece.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Luke Wilson, Kate Beckinsale, Frank Whaley

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

The Ex - Movie Review

2007-09-13T21:00:00.000-07:00

Tom is an aspiring chef whose wife Sofia has just quit her high-paying job to stay home with their new baby. When it becomes abundantly clear that they can no longer maintain their New York City lifestyle, the family picks up and moves to Sofia's hometown in Ohio, where Tom is hired to work at her father's ad agency. It is there that Tom meets Chip, the agency's wheelchair-bound golden boy, who also happened to have a one-night stand with Sofia while the two were cheerleaders in high school. Suddenly, Tom finds himself sabotaged by Chip at every step as the nefarious paraplegic schemes to steal Sofia from him and destroy any chance he might have of success at the agency.

This was an OK comedy. There were some really funny parts, but there were also some fairly boring sections. I like all the main actors from their previous projects and they had pretty good chemistry in this film, but there wasn't a magic spark that would make this movie a must see. It was really just a so-so comedy and wasn't much different than the majority of comedies out there. It was also very short, so the characters didn't have time to be fully developed and the plot was pretty weak. Overall, I'd say that if you like the actors, you might rent it and watch it once, but don't bother adding it to your permanent DVD collection.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Zach Braff, Amanda Peet, Jason Bateman

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

I'm a Published Photographer!

2007-09-09T22:11:00.000-07:00

I was contacted a couple of weeks ago by the Editor of Schmap Guides (online travel guides) who had seen one of my photos online and wanted to include it in their new guide to Monterey and Carmel. The photo, shown below, is a picture of the Monterey Bay Aquarium I took from my kayak as Shawnna and I kayaked in the Monterey Bay a couple of years ago. Apparently, the editor stumbled upon my photos on Flickr and thought the aquarium photo was good enough to include in their guide. I gave them permission to use my photo and now you can see it in the Schmap Monterey and Carmel Guide. Here's the link straight to the page with my photo. National Geographic, here I come ;-)

Bridge to Terabithia - Movie Review

2007-09-08T21:00:00.000-07:00

A perpetual outsider both at home and at school, Jess Aarons just never seems to fit in no matter how hard he tries. When his goal to become the fastest runner in middle school is unexpectedly thwarted by newly arrived classmate Leslie Burke, who enters in an "all boys" race and leaves her competitors in the dust, Jess soon strikes up a friendship with the imaginative outsider. Their bond is soon cemented thanks to Leslie's love for storytelling and Jess' skill as an artist, and the two lonely kids create a secret kingdom called Terabithia that is only accessible by swinging over a stream on a nearby rope. Though Jess and Leslie may be considered outcasts by their classmates, their adventures in Terabithia find the pair doing battle against the dreaded Dark Master and his malevolent creatures while plotting revenge against the schoolyard bullies. Now, thanks to his adventures in Terabithia and his friendship with Leslie, Jess finally finds the confidence needed to stand tall and be himself.

For a kids movie, this was an excellent film with a good message. It was very imaginative and whimsical. The kids who played the main characters were absolutely perfect for their parts and did a great job making their characters memorable. The plot was fantastic and provided a great lesson for kids that it's OK to be different and not follow the crowd. The fantasy world, Terabithia, was very creative and could have easily given Harry Potter a run for its money if it was built out a little more (the original book was published in 1977 and didn't have any sequels). There was a "heavy" twist to the plot which might not be appropriate for very young children, but it was certainly a unique film that's worth viewing.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: Yes
Starring: Josh Hutcherson, AnnaSophia Robb

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Open Water 2 - Movie Review

2007-09-05T21:00:00.000-07:00

It was a perfect setting for a relaxing weekend at sea, but sometimes even the best-planned trips can take an unexpected turn for the worst. After diving into the ocean and realizing to their horror that they have forgotten to lower the safety ladder, the friends who had set out for a simple weekend getaway realize that they have become helplessly stranded in the middle of the ocean. The sheer sides of the yacht are impossible to climb, and now the group is growing increasingly desperate. As the grim reality of their helpless situation slowly begins to dawn on the doomed friends, hydrophobic Amy struggles to maintain her composure after realizing that her baby daughter Sarah is helpless and alone aboard the boat. Now treading water as panic begins to set in, the once inseparable friends fast begin to turn on one another as exhaustion begins to set in and the vast ocean threatens to swallow the entire group without a trace.

This sequel was pretty much just as bad as the original. Again, it was "based on true events," but who knows what's fact or fiction. What I do know is that it was boring and lacked a good ending. Not to ruin it for anyone, but it ended with two possible outcomes that didn't wrap anything up. It was a completely bogus way to end a poor, uninteresting film. So little happened in the 90 minute movie that I was glad to see it end and certainly hope they don't make another.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Eric Dane, Susan May Pratt, Richard Speight, Jr.

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Half Dome Hike - Sept. 3, 2007

2007-09-04T21:00:00.000-07:00

On September 3, 2007, Dad, Dan, Kelley and I hiked half dome. The actual hike was almost identical to the Half Dome hike from last year, so I won't bother going into the details. Here is the high level synopsis:

We started the hike at 6:15am
Made it to the top at 11:45am
Spent 1 hour on the top
Finished the hike at 6:15pm

Here's the updated list of Half Dome summits:

Dad - 9
Dave - 5
Dan - 3
Kelley - 2

The real drama occurred the next morning as we were sleeping after the long hike. At about 5:15 in the morning, I woke up to a woman yelling, "Go away! Seriously, leave me alone!" She was banging on a garbage can and making a lot of noise. My first thought was that it was a domestic dispute, but when I got up and looked out the tent cabin window, I saw a large, female grizzly bear directly behind our tent cabin, about 10 yards away. She was just standing by a tree, looking around. About 5 second later, I found out why, when 2 grizzly bear cubs made their way down the tree. They meandered over to the mother and proceeded to walk away from our tent cabin

(the picture to the right shows the view from our tent cabin window. The center tree is where the cubs descended and the other tree has a light attached which is how we saw the action). A few minutes later, I saw "the woman" walking back past our tent cabin with a couple other people talking about how she was walking to the bathroom alone and how she just wanted to get back to her tent cabin. That must have been extremely scary for her. I'm glad we followed the rules and put all of our food in the bear locker. I had never seen a grizzly bear at Yosemite before and I wouldn't mind seeing one again - just not so close. Over the next 15 minutes, I heard a few noises that sounded like shotgun blasts. If that was what I was hearing, I'm pretty sure they weren't intending to strike the grizzlies, but to just scare them away from where the people are. That sure was a memorable way to end our trip.

If you want to see what it looks like on the top of Half Dome, check out this video. Of course, a video shot from my phone can't really do it justice, but it's better than nothing.

For another perspective of this trip, Dan's version of events can be found here

The Lives of Others - Movie Review

2007-09-01T21:00:00.000-07:00

It's 1984, and Capt. Gerd Wiesler is an agent of the Stasi, the East German Secret Police. Weisler carefully and dispassionately investigates people who might be deemed some sort of threat to the state. Shortly after Weisler's former classmate, Lt. Col. Grubitz, invites him to a theatrical piece by celebrated East German playwright Georg Dreyman, Minister Bruno Hempf informs Weisler that he suspects Dreyman of political dissidence, and wonders if this renowned patriot is all that he seems to be. As it turns out, Hempf has something of an ulterior motive for trying to pin something on Dreyman: a deep-seated infatuation with Christa-Maria Sieland, Dreyman's girlfriend. Nevertheless, Grubitz, who is anxious to further his career, appoints Weisler to spy on the gentleman with his help. Weisler becomes deeply emotionally drawn into the lives of Dreyman and Sieland, and becomes something of an anti-establishment figure himself, embracing freedom of thought and expression.

This is a German film that is completely in German with English subtitles. There is a lot of dialog, so if you want to know what's happening, you have to pay attention and be prepared to read a lot. If that doesn't bother you, you'll be rewarded with a very good foreign film. The story is deep and intense, while the characters are well developed which results in a movie that is interesting and captivating. The subject matter is obviously not very happy, but it's definitely a good learning experience (i.e. learn from past mistakes, so you don't repeat them). It's amazing to think the Berlin Wall came down just 18 years ago in 1989. While this wasn't a documentary, it did provide an insight to the kind of power that the Stasi (East German Secret Police) held back then - scary. If you'd like to experience something new and are prepared to spend 2 hours reading (or learning German), this one is worth a look.

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Martina Gedeck, Ulrich Mühe, Sebastian Koch

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Zodiac - Movie Review

2007-08-31T21:00:00.000-07:00

The true story behind the murders that many crime scholars believe to be the most perplexing series of unsolved crimes in modern history comes to the screen in chilling detail. A relentless serial killer is stalking the streets of the San Francisco Bay Area, leaving citizens locked into a constant state of panic, and baffled authorities scrambling for clues. Though the killer sadistically mocks the detectives by leaving a series of perplexing ciphers and menacing letters at the crime scenes, the investigation quickly flatlines when none of the evidence yields any solid leads. As two detectives remain steadfast in their devotion to bringing the elusive killer to justice, they soon find that the madman has control not only over their careers, but their very lives as well.

I read the Zodiac book several years ago, so I already had an interest in this subject. I find it fascinating that a serial killer can leave so many clues and go out of their way to taunt police, but never get caught. The film starts off with a bang, gets a little dull in the middle, but finishes strong. If you have any interest in true crime, you'll love the attention to detail the filmmakers display as they present the facts of the Zodiac killer case as close to reality as possible. The acting was OK - Robert Downey Jr. was hard to understand and Jake Gyllenhaal overacted a bit. However, it was morbidly fascinating to get into the mind of a psychopath who murdered people seemingly at random and struck fear into the community with taunting letters that were published in local newspapers. While the film presented the facts of the case, it did end with a theory as to who committed the unsolved crimes. Nobody was ever charged with the murders in real life, so you can draw your own conclusions.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr.

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

I Think I Love My Wife - Movie Review

2007-08-26T21:00:00.000-07:00

Richard Cooper is a high-powered investment banker with a beautiful wife and two wonderful children. Though on the surface it would appear that Richard could want nothing more out of life, his thoughts always seem to drift toward sex. Richard's daily life has gradually devolved into a blur of mind-numbing banality, and these days sexual fantasy has become his sole means of escaping the constant pressures of work and fatherhood. Though Richard never had any real intention of cheating on his faithful but preoccupied wife Brenda, a chance run-in with his old friend Nikki finds his steely resolve fast turning flimsy. It's not long before the smitten Richard and the smoldering Nikki are meeting for clandestine lunches, and temptation begins to turn Richard's once-predictable life upside down. As his uncontrollable fantasies begin to lead him down the dangerous path of infidelity, the man who once kept his libido safely in check finds it increasingly difficult to refrain from acting on his impulses.

Chris Rock is a funny guy and I love his stand-up comedy routines (Bigger and Blacker is classic). That being said, he should stick to stand-up. Either that or he should get better roles in better films. Yes, Rock is funny in this film and yes, I laughed out loud at certain parts, but overall, it was a dud. The plot was boring, predictable and not very imaginative. The acting was not bad, but the characters weren't interesting. I could recognize some of Rock's stand-up material being used as part of the dialog, but it wasn't as good in movie form - better on stage. Overall, there's nothing about this movie that would make me want to see it again and I would really only recommend it to Chris Rock fans who would see it anyway.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Chris Rock, Kerry Washington, Gina Torres

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

300 - Movie Review

2007-08-19T18:34:00.000-07:00

The massive army of the Persian Empire is sweeping across the globe, crushing every force that dares stand in its path. When a Persian envoy arrives in Sparta offering King Leonidas power over all of Greece if he will only bow to the will of the all powerful Xerxes, the strong-willed leader assembles a small army comprised of his empire's best fighters and marches off to battle. Though they have virtually no hope of defeating Xerxes' intimidating battalion, Leonidas' men soldier on, intent on letting it be known they will bow to no man but their king. Meanwhile, back in Sparta, the loyal Queen Gorgo attempts to convince both the skeptical council and the devious Theron to send more troops despite the fact that many view Leonidas' unsanctioned war march as a serious transgression. As Xerxes' fearsome "immortals" draw near, a few noble Greeks vow to assist the Spartans on the battlefield. When King Leonidas and his 300 Spartan warriors fell to the overwhelming Persian army at the Battle of Thermopylae, the fearless actions of the noble fighters inspired all of Greece to stand up against their Persian enemy and wage the battle that would ultimately give birth to the modern concept of democracy.

Wow, talk about an action packed film. There are some serious battle scenes that are HUGE. Once the Persians and Spartans start to fight, it's a fight to the death and there are plenty of arms, legs and heads being lopped off left and right. The cinematography of this film is original and very cool. It definitely has the look of the comic book on which it was based. The scene with the severed head spinning in the air was wicked and the scenes with the sky full of arrows descending on the Spartans were incredible. I'm not always a big fan of these "historical" films, but it was kept short enough and interesting enough to keep my attention throughout. I think it's now pretty obvious that Frank Miller's comic books are natural movie scripts (see Sin City). Another job well done and a definite must see.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: Yes
Starring: Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, Dominic West

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Disturbia - Movie Review

2007-08-18T21:00:00.000-07:00

Kale is a high-school senior who has yet to come to terms with the fact that his father is gone, the tragic victim of a fatal accident. As Kale's mother struggles to pay the bills by picking up extra shifts at work, her son's behavior grows increasingly erratic. When an altercation at school finds Kale placed under court-ordered house arrest, the homebound student teams with newly arrived girl-next-door Ashley to investigate the suspicious neighbor whom Kale believes to be an elusive and wanted serial killer. Their attentions focused intensely on the man they believe to be a murderous maniac hiding in broad daylight, Kale and Ashley trespass down a dangerous path while attempting to discern whether his suspicions are grounded in fact or just a combination of deep depression and suffocating cabin fever.

For a suspense thriller, there wasn't a whole lot of suspense or thrills until the last 15 minutes of the film. By then, there wasn't enough time to answer all of the burning questions (even the basic "why" and "how" questions went unanswered). This film should have been billed as a teenage drama as that's really what it was - attractive neighbors strike up a relationship and do some detective work while horsing around. If they shortened the first 1 hr 15 min and extended the last 15 minutes, it could have been a really good, creepy movie. Instead, it was just an average drama.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Shia LaBeouf, David Morse, Sarah Roemer

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Little Children - Movie Review

2007-08-12T21:00:00.000-07:00

Sarah is a suburban outsider who, unlike the other playground moms, isn't afraid to approach the dreamy but long-absent father whom smitten housewives have taken to calling the "Prom King." Long days at the local community pool with their respective children soon find Sarah becoming acquainted with local husband and father Brad - who seems to share in her seething discontentment with life in their quaint commuter town. An English literature major who never envisioned a fate as a soccer mom, Sarah has a growing dissatisfaction with her successful husband that parallels Brad's increasing frustration with his inability to pass the bar and connect with his wife, Kathy, a successful documentary filmmaker. It's not long before the dejected pair is meeting for a series of illicit afternoon trysts as their unsuspecting spouses work and their children lie quietly napping. Meanwhile, after the community is riled by the return of a convicted sex offender who leaves the concerned parents scrambling to protect their young ones, an attempt made by Sarah and Brad to legitimize their clandestine relationship by dining together with their respective spouses begins to awaken Kathy's suspicions about the fidelity of her husband.

This was definitely a film that's hard to categorize. There were so many different plots and undertones such as drama, comedy, suspense, romance and even some horror thrown in. In the beginning, it was difficult to determine exactly what was going on and what the connection between everyone was. As the film progressed, most of those relationships were revealed and a beautiful spiderweb had been created. The journey to reach the end was filled with feel-good romance, puzzling mysteries and sickening actions. It was a very strange movie, but in a good way. All the actors seemed to be perfect for their parts and the chemistry between them worked well. The film was original and entertaining enough that I'd recommend watching it, but be prepared for some pretty random scenes. Once you start to watch it, expect to be drawn in and make sure you have enough time (2 hrs. 15 min.) to finish it since you won't want to walk away in the middle.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Kate Winslet, Jennifer Connelly, Patrick Wilson

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

The Number 23 - ACE Train Movie Review

2007-08-10T21:00:00.000-07:00

Walter Sparrow is a middle-aged dogcatcher whose wife Agatha has bestowed him with an obscure mystery novel detailing the investigation launched by a tough-talking gumshoe named Fingerling whose every move seems to be overshadowed by the enigmatic eponymous number. After noting a series of alarming parallels shared between the fictional detective and himself, Walter is quickly drawn in to the story as the hard-boiled private investigator murders raven-wigged moll Fabrizia and pins the crime on her unsuspecting lover. Back in the real world, fiction seems to merge with reality as Walter and Agatha's close friend Isaac begins to ingratiate himself ever deeper into the couple's relationship and Walter begins experiencing a gruesome series of visions in which he violently murders an unfaithful Agatha. His mind fast descending into a dark and violent whirlwind of madness, Walter enlists the aid of Agatha and the pair's adolescent son Robin in seeking out the author of the mysterious tome and uncovering the sinister truth behind the so-called "23 enigma."

I was a bit leery about a film with Jim Carrey playing something other than a total goofball. However, I thought his performance was one of the best things about this movie. Not once did I ever think he was trying hard not to make a joke or do something stupid - he actually looked like a natural for a dramatic role. The plot was pretty interesting since it was based on a phenomenon some people believe in to the point of obsession. Check out some of the 23 facts here. However, the ending was a little disappointing and far-fetched. I thought it was a bit of a cop-out to explain all of the events that happened in the movie the way that they did. Overall, though, it's definitely worth a look if you like psychological thrillers and want to see Jim Carrey do something other than make silly faces.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Jim Carrey, Virginia Madsen

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

The Last King of Scotland - Movie Review

2007-08-05T19:00:00.000-07:00

In the early 1970s, Nicholas Garrigan, a young semi-idealistic Scottish doctor, comes to Uganda to assist in a rural hospital. Once there, he soon meets up with the new President, Idi Amin, who promises a golden age for the African nation. Garrigan hits it off immediately with the rabid Scotland fan, who soon offers him a senior position in the national health department and becomes one of Amin's closest advisers. However as the years pass, Garrigan cannot help but notice Amin's increasingly erratic behavior that grows beyond a legitimate fear of assassination into a murderous insanity that is driving Uganda into bloody ruin. Realizing his dire situation with the lunatic leader unwilling to let him go home, Garrigan must make some crucial decisions that could mean his death if the despot finds out.

This was a very interesting, puzzling and brutal film. The fact that it was based on a real person (Idi Amin) made it that much better. It was a bit puzzling because, at the beginning, I wasn't sure if Idi Amin was supposed to be a good guy or ready to snap at a moments notice. Now I realize it was done on purpose and looking back, it was brilliant. The brutality didn't come until later in the film when the real Idi Amin reared his ugly head. Forest Whitaker did an amazing job and clearly deserved the Academy Award for best actor. The special features includes footage of the real Idi Amin and shows that Whitaker was spot-on in his performance. It was a fascinating and horrifying film that should be viewed as a warning of what can happen when someone with a hidden agenda is given virtually unlimited power.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Forest Whitaker, James McAvoy, Gillian Anderson

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

The Hills Have Eyes 2 - Movie Review

2007-07-30T21:00:00.000-07:00

An isolated desert research camp has been mysteriously abandoned, and now it's up to an elite unit of soldiers to uncover the truth about the scientists who vanished without a trace. Their attention soon diverted by a distress signal emitting from a distant mountain range, the squadron quickly regroups and sets out to investigate. Unbeknownst to the soldiers, however, is the fact that these are the very same hills where the Carter family recently fell prey to a flesh-eating pack of hideously deformed mutants. As the ranks of the cavalry unit steadily begin to dwindle, it soon becomes obvious that their guns provide little defense from an evil driven by hunger to commit the ultimate crime against humanity.

This film is very similar to the first The Hills Have Eyes. There's a bunch of people who get killed in a number of ways and it's not just the hill people doing the killing. The death scenes are particularly gruesome with eyes being gouged out, arms being cut off and heads being beaten to a pulp. There's nothing terribly original in this movie especially since the first film was very similar. The ending left it open for another film in the series, but I'm not that excited about watching another one. There was some suspense and a few surprises, but it was mostly just a straightforward plot with vicious slayings thrown in. If you liked the first one, you'll like this one as well.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Michael McMillian, Jessica Stroup

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Robots - Movie Review

2007-07-28T21:00:00.000-07:00

Rodney Copperbottom is an idealistic robot who wants to convince his electronic brethren to come together and work toward making the world a better place. As the story unfolds, Rodney faces opposition from an evil corporation headed by Big Weld and finds some unlikely allies in the form of a ragtag group of misfit robots called the Rusties.

This was a fun and clever animated film. The entire world that was created was very imaginative and pretty impressive, especially the beginning sequence when Rodney traveled to Robot City. Throughout the film, they made use of many childhood toys and made reference to lots of pop culture which was fun to see and provided many, "Oh, look at that" moments. Not only was it an entertaining film that would be good for kids, it had an underlying message of perseverance through tough times and helping others that are good life lessons.

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Voices of Ewan McGregor, Halle Berry, Robin Williams, Mel Brooks, Drew Carey, Amanda Bynes

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Premonition - Movie Review

2007-07-25T21:00:00.000-07:00

Linda Hanson was an average housewife with a loving family, but when a policeman comes knocking on her door with news that her husband, Jim, was involved in a fatal car accident, Linda's world slowly begins to unravel. While her grief is at first overwhelming, Linda assumes that the whole thing was nothing more than a vivid dream when she wakes to find her family still very much intact. With each passing day, however, Linda's reality shifts and her circumstances grow increasingly surreal; one day Jim is dead and the next he is right there by her side. As her investigation leaves her convinced that her husband's death wasn't a dream and that her picture-perfect life may not have been quite as flawless as she thought, Linda embarks on a mind-bending journey to prevent her grim premonition from becoming a reality. Now, in order to save the man she loves, Linda will have to piece together a perplexing mystery that seems to span two separate planes of reality.

This was a pretty good psychological thriller. In the beginning, you'll have a lot of questions and as the film progresses, you'll have even more questions. It's not until the final 15 minutes where the answers start to flow, but it stops short of spelling everything out for you. I'll admit that the overall concept is a bit of a stretch and relies on the viewer to accept what they see, but it's entertaining enough to not have to be completely realistic. It's not a great film, but certainly one of the better ones I had never heard of (either I was MIA when this came out in the theater or there wasn't much buzz).

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Julian McMahon

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

A Prairie Home Companion - Movie Review

2007-07-21T21:00:00.000-07:00

As if the result of some strange mass-media fluke, the popular radio program "A Prairie Home Companion" somehow managed to survive the television age to entertain its audience every Saturday night from the stage of the historic Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul, MN. Week after week, hangdog host Garrison Keillor serves as unflappable emcee to an amiable hodgepodge of radio-friendly acts that include the likes of popular country duo Yolanda and Rhonda Johnson and singing cowboys the Old Trailhands. This is one show where the under-the-line antics are nearly as entertaining as the program itself, though, and in between the efforts of down-on-his-luck private dick and backstage doorkeeper Guy Noir to discover the true identity of a mysterious blond and aspiring teen singer Lola to find her true voice before a live audience, there's still plenty of fun and mystery to be had at the old Fitzgerald before the final curtain falls on "A Prairie Home Companion."

Wow, talk about a boring film... Everything was so subdued, it seemed like there was no action whatsoever. I did like the look of the film as a throwback to a time long past, but that's about the only thing I liked. The plot was uninteresting and didn't appear to have a point. There were a ton of famous actors that starred in the film and proved once again that it's tough to make a good film when there's so many big names in the room for some reason. There's not much else to say other than there's nothing blatantly bad about the movie except for the fact it was boring, so I guess the acting was fine, but the writing was the problem.

Rating: 1.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Garrison Keillor, Meryl Streep, Lily Tomlin, Kevin Kline, Lindsay Lohan, Woody Harrelson, John C. Reilly, Tommy Lee Jones

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

The Messengers - Movie Review

2007-07-20T21:00:00.000-07:00

Roy and Denise Solomon have decided to give up life in Chicago and relocate their family to a secluded North Dakota sunflower farm. While the tranquil sway of the lush yellow fields at first offers a welcomed reprieve from the hustle and bustle of the big city, the family soon begins to suspect that they are not alone on the farm when teenage daughter Jess and her three-year-old brother, Ben, begin to see a series of menacing apparitions that are apparently invisible to adult eyes. As Jess and Ben's encounters with the malevolent spirits grow increasingly violent, the parents of the tormented teen soon begin to question their daughter's sanity. Soon, the dark history of the family that once lived in the remote farm and the troubled past of the frightened Jess begin to merge as she struggles to warn her parents about the terrifying confrontation with the supernatural that is about to unfold.

This is a pretty straightforward horror film. The first half of the movie sets everything up and the second half provides all the action and thrills. The twist at the end was good and surprising, but overall, the movie was just too simplistic. By contrast, "The Ring" was very complex, intense and scary. This film seemed to copy the creepy movements of the creatures from "The Ring," but that's where the similarities end. I think the fact that it's less than 90 minutes long speaks volumes about just how shallow this film is - there's no time to really develop the characters and tell a good story. It seemed rushed and I didn't care enough about the characters to be concerned about their well-being, which takes away from the scare factor. Overall, this movie missed the mark of a good horror film.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Dylan McDermott, Penelope Ann Miller

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Apocalypto - Movie Review

2007-07-19T21:00:00.000-07:00

The Mayan kingdom is at the absolute height of opulence and power, but leaders are convinced that unless more temples are constructed and more human sacrifices made, the crops, and ultimately the people, will suffer. Jaguar Paw is a peaceful hunter from a remote forest tribe whose life is about to be changed forever. When Jaguar Paw's village is raided and he is prepared as a sacrifice that the Mayan deities have demanded, the brave young hunter is forced to navigate a horrific new world of fear and oppression. Fearlessly determined to escape his captors and save his family from a harrowing demise, Jaguar Paw prepares to risk it all in one final, desperate attempt to preserve his dying way of life. However, few who have seen the sacrificial alter of the Mayans have managed to live to see another day. Now, in order to rescue his pregnant wife and young son, Jaguar Paw will have to elude the most powerful warriors of the Mayan kingdom while using his vast knowledge of the forest to turn the tables on those who would rather see him dead than set free.

I've heard mixed review on this film, so I wasn't sure what to expect especially after viewing Mel Gibson's other film "The Passion of the Christ." While that film was just a bloody mess, this one was actually very interesting and engaging. There was a bit of gore (beheadings and spears through the chest), but it was essential for the story. Apparently, Gibson collaborated with a Mayan culture expert to ensure the film was historically accurate - not that it needed to be (or that most people would know). That was just an extra bonus for a movie that was intense and packed with action. The fact that it was entirely in the Mayan language with English sub-titles was a non-issue since there wasn't a whole lot of talk anyway. The actors were great and the sets and costumes were awesome. Everything came together to make the 2+ hour movie go by very quickly. I'd recommend this film to action & adventure fans and don't let the fact that Mel Gibson wrote and directed it dissuade you from checking it out.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Rudy Youngblood, Dalia Hernandez

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

The Last Time - Movie Review

2007-07-16T21:00:00.000-07:00

The Bindview Company is a firm comfortably nestled in a corporate park that specializes in a highly profitable product. Ted is a former Northwestern University literature professor who has since found his calling in sales. When fresh-faced Ohio native Jamie arrives at Bindview eager to acclimate to life in the big city, cynical Ted greets the cub salesman with a palpable sense of scorn. Though Jamie is currently engaged to be married to the pretty Belisa, the bride-to-be is beginning to view her prospective spouse as something of a loser, and soon sets her sights on his reluctant mentor Ted.

Not good, but not horrible. From the beginning, it's pretty obvious that everything isn't what it seems. At least, I was hoping there was something more to the story since the chemistry between the characters seemed forced and a bit strange. Even though the film was only about 90 minutes, that was stretching the limits of what they could get away with before it became boring. The twist at the end was pretty good, but it wasn't good enough to necessitate sitting through the rest of the film. It seemed that just when it was starting to get really interesting, it ended.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Michael Keaton, Brendan Fraser, Amber Valletta

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

School for Scoundrels - Movie Review

2007-07-14T21:00:00.000-07:00

Roger, a beleaguered New York City meter maid, is plagued by anxiety and low self-esteem. In order to overcome his feelings of inadequacy, Roger enrolls in a top-secret confidence-building class taught by the suavely underhanded Dr. P. Aided by his assistant, Lesher, Dr. P uses unorthodox, often dangerous methods, but he guarantees results: Employ his techniques and you will unleash your inner lion. Surrounded by a band of misfit classmates, Roger's confidence grows and he makes his way to the head of the class, even finding the courage to ask out his longtime crush, Amanda. But Roger quickly discovers that star students have a way of catapulting Dr. P's competitive side into high gear. Soon enough, the teacher sets out to infiltrate and destroy Roger's personal and professional life. Nothing is off limits for Dr. P, not even the object of Roger's affection. In order to show Amanda Dr. P's true colors, Roger must rally his new friends and find a way to beat the master at his own game.

Yes, I thought this movie was going to be completely ridiculous and dumb. Yes, I still watched it. However, it really wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. Sure, it was silly (what else would you expect from a movie starring Napoleon Dynamite), but was also pretty entertaining. It was a remake of a movie from 1960, so it wasn't exactly original, but that didn't make much difference to me. I thought it was well done for its intended objective - to amuse. I'm not a big fan of the main characters, but Billy Bob Thornton and Jon Heder weren't as annoying as I find them in their other work. The whole cast seemed to work well together and play off each other. I'm sure they had a blast filming this movie and it showed. Don't expect a classic, but I wouldn't skip over this one based on your initial perceptions - you might be pleasantly surprised.

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Jon Heder, Jacinda Barrett, Michael Clarke Duncan, Luis Guzman, Ben Stiller

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Letters from Iwo Jima - Movie Review

2007-07-10T21:00:00.000-07:00

In 1945, World War II was in its last stages, and U.S. forces were planning to take on the Japanese on a small island known as Iwo Jima. While the island was mostly rock and volcanoes, it was of key strategic value and Japan's leaders saw the island as the final opportunity to prevent an Allied invasion. Lt. General Tadamichi Kuribayashi was put in charge of the forces on Iwo Jima; Kuribayashi had spent time in the United States and was not eager to take on the American army, but he also understood his opponents in a way his superiors did not, and devised an unusual strategy of digging tunnels and deep foxholes that allowed his troops a tactical advantage over the invading soldiers. While Kuribayashi's strategy alienated some older officers, it impressed Baron Nishi, the son of a wealthy family who had also studied America firsthand as an athlete at the 1932 Olympics. As Kuribayashi and his men dig in for a battle they are not certain they can win - and most have been told they will not survive - their story is told both by watching their actions and through the letters they write home to their loved ones, letters that in many cases would not be delivered until long after they were dead.

After seeing Flags of our Fathers, I was really looking forward to seeing this film. Both were directed by Clint Eastwood and produced by Steven Spielberg with each film focusing on one side of the American/Japanese conflict during the end of World War II. Therefore, having loved Flags of our Fathers I thought it would be interesting to see the Japanese side of the war. However, I was disappointed that it wasn't as good of a film and was actually pretty boring. I think the idea of the film was better than the execution. A lot of the film seemed to focus on the planning of the attack rather than the actual fighting which meant there was a lot of talk, not action - which is significant for a film in Japanese with English subtitles (lots of reading). There's only so much talk about digging holes in the ground a person can handle and I found my limit. Also, I thought there would be some great special features since it was a 2 disc set, but there was just the status quo. Maybe I built it up too much in my mind, but I was just left with a disappointing feeling after the movie was over.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Ken Watanabe, Kazunari Ninomiya, Tsuyoshi Ihara

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Catch and Release - Movie Review

2007-07-08T21:00:00.000-07:00

Gray was a beautiful woman who found the man of her dreams in Grady Douglas, and was looking forward to spending the rest of her life with him until he suddenly died only a few days before they were to be married. With her wedding turned into an impromptu funeral, Grey is emotionally devastated but has to deal with the practicalities of her new life alone, including moving out of the house she shared with Grady. Short on cash and in need of emotional support, Grey moves in with two longtime friends, sloppy but philosophical Sam and well-meaning but tightly wound Dennis. Grey also finds herself often chatting with Fritz, Grady's best friend, through she's always regarded him as a sleazeball. As time passes, Grey discovers that Grady had a secret life he never shared with her - including a young son from a previous relationship - and as she tries to come to terms with the past of her former fiance, she struggles to put her new life on track, and finds herself reevaluating her long-held feelings about Fritz.

I don't know how this film can be categorized as a romantic comedy. Any movie that starts off with the death of someone about to get married doesn't strike me as romantic or funny. To say this film was odd would be an understatement. Of course, any movie where Kevin Smith makes an appearance is destined to be a little offbeat and this was no exception. Like I said, a woman's fiance dies to start the movie, then a couple of his friends make a pass at the mourning female and the story progresses from there. If it was funny, it was certainly a dark comedy, but I didn't find myself laughing much. Mostly, it was dark and a little depressing to watch a distraught widow go on the rebound. The acting was fine and I think it was really the plot I didn't like - slow and boring.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Jennifer Garner, Timothy Olyphant, Sam Jaeger, Kevin Smith

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

American Dreamz - Movie Review

2007-07-07T21:00:00.000-07:00

To President Staton, the world is a fairly black-and-white place, but a glance at the daily headlines on the eve of his reelection leaves the most powerful man in the free world shaken to the very core. Now determined to read as much as possible in order to best assess the opinions of the general public, President Staton locks himself away and obsessively begins taking in as much information as humanly possible. With concern about the President's mental health soon taking precedence over all other issues in the White House, his nervous Chief of Staff attempts to get the Commander in Chief back in the public eye by booking him as a guest judge on television's top-rated talent show, "American Dreamz." A weekly ratings juggernaut hosted by self-loathing celebrity Martin Tweed, "American Dreamz" cashes in on the dominant culture of celebrity by affording everyday Americans the opportunity to be catapulted into stardom. As "American Dreamz" hopefuls Sally and Omer progress to the final round and the President takes his seat on the panel, an unexpected revelation about one of the finalists promises to make this season finale the biggest ratings grabber in television history.

This film is only 1 year old, but I had never heard of it. After watching it, I now know why. From start to finish, it's completely ridiculous and a waste of space. Obviously, the filmmakers were trying to capitalize on the success of American Idol, but judging by the lack of buzz surrounding this film, I think people were smart enough to stay away from the theater (assuming it even was released in the theater). The acting was over the top and the writing was cheezy and dumb. Definitely one to skip.

Rating: 1.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Hugh Grant, Mandy Moore, Willem Dafoe, Chris Klein

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Dead Silence - Movie Review

2007-07-03T21:00:00.000-07:00

In the quiet town of Ravens Fair, children taunt one another with spooky stories about a ventriloquist whose mind was ravaged by insanity. Mary Shaw was a popular entertainer until she was accused of murdering a young boy. Subsequently hunted and captured by the vengeful townspeople, Mary's tongue was cut out before she was mercilessly killed and committed to the earth in the company of her handmade collection of vaudeville dolls. In the years that followed, the town seemed to be haunted by those ghastly puppets. After mysteriously disappearing from Mary's grave, the menacing figurines would sometimes be glimpsed by the damned in the dead of night - their appearance consistently foreshadowing the death of whoever laid eyes upon them. Entire families were found slaughtered, their tongues brutally torn from their mouths in a sickening scene that eerily recalled the execution of the elderly ventriloquist. Newlyweds Jamie and Lisa Ashen both grew up in Ravens Fair. Now, following Lisa's inexplicable death, Paul has returned to the pair's hometown in order to say his final goodbyes and find out the truth about his wife's enigmatic demise. After being reunited with his ailing father and the aging man's pretty young bride, the grieving widower will finally uncover the shocking truth behind the curse that has plagued Ravens Fair for as far back as he can remember.

The creators of Saw tried to recreate their success with this film, but they missed this time. Fans of Saw will be able to clearly see the signature style of James Wan and Leigh Whannell, but that's not enough to make a hit. The story was weak and lacked depth, which made it seem like they stretched what little plot they had into a 90 minute movie where it could have been a 30 minute short. The acting was average and the ventriloquist dummy was a total ripoff of the Saw Jigsaw Puppet. I can't blame them from trying to cash in on their prior achievement, but this was a poor effort. It's one thing to make sequels of a hit film, but to steal ideas from a film and try to pass it off as something new and original is not cool.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Ryan Kwanten, Amber Valletta, Donnie Wahlberg

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Kaitlyn Belle Cutforth was born July 1, 2007

2007-07-01T22:00:00.000-07:00

Kaitlyn Belle Cutforth
Born: July 1, 2007
Time: 3:42pm
Weight: 7lbs 7oz
Length: 20.25in

Check Baby Hooey for the latest details on our new baby girl.

Shooter - Movie Review

2007-06-29T21:00:00.000-07:00

There was a time when Bob Lee Swagger was the best trigger-man in the military, but after growing disillusioned with the system, he disappeared without a trace. After being located at his remote mountain retreat by high-profile government officials following an extensive search, Swagger is coerced back into service in order to stop a determined assassin from taking out the President of the United States. In the process of carrying out his mission, however, Swagger suddenly realizes that he has been betrayed when he becomes the subject of a nationwide manhunt. Now wounded and desperate to reveal the culprits behind the conspiracy before it's too late, Swagger sets into motion a revenge plan that will send shockwaves rippling to some of the most powerful and corrupt leaders in the free world.

The entire plot of this film was very far-fetched. It had to rely on a bunch of coincidences to work and there were several "MacGyver" moments that were pretty unbelievable. That said, I was thoroughly entertained once I was able to turn off my reality meter. The action was virtually non-stop and there were plenty of big guns and explosions. Mark Wahlberg has come a long way since Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch and was very good in this film. He's proven himself as an action star and certainly has the look. The ending wasn't a surprise and neither were most of the "plot twists," but there were some pretty intense scenes and who knows, with some of the crazy things our government has been doing, maybe the plot isn't so far-fetched after all...

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Michael Pena, Danny Glover

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Nanny McPhee - Movie Review

2007-06-28T21:00:00.000-07:00

Near the dawn of the twentieth century, Mr. Brown is a widower who must tend to his business as an undertaker while looking after his brood of seven children. Brown's offspring are a singularly ill-mannered lot who have managed to drive away 17 different nannies when their father arranges for one Nanny McPhee to help out with the children. McPhee is an strange looking woman with a large nose, protruding teeth, and pock-marked skin, but it isn't long before the kids realize she has magical powers and isn't afraid to use them to help keep them in line. While the children aren't taken with McPhee's insistence on such things as saying "please" and listening to their elders, it becomes clear everyone has bigger things to worry about. Aunt Adelaide has insisted that if Mr. Brown cannot find a new wife within a month, she'll take custody of one of the children and cut off Brown's inheritance, and while Brown and the widow Mrs. Quickly seem fond of one another, his ineptitude in courtship seems to insure he'll never get her to the altar.

This was definitely a kids movie that I'm not sure I'd want to let my kids see for fear they would try some of the antics they saw on film. The kids in the film are mischievous and just plain rude in the beginning. As the film wears on and Nanny McPhee works her magic, they become more descent. That's the scary part of the movie - it took actual magic to change the kids behavior. Without a magic cane, I don't think I'd want to put those ideas in my kids heads. Emma Thompson did a great job playing the lead role and the kids were perfect for their parts. Colin Firth did an OK job, but nothing special. Overall, I wasn't very impressed and was a little bored. Not that it was a bad film, just not my cup of tea.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Emma Thompson, Colin Firth, Angela Lansbury, Kelly MacDonald

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Breach - Movie Review

2007-06-25T21:00:00.000-07:00

A key member of the FBI's elite Soviet Analytical Unit, Robert Hanssen would, for 15 years beginning in 1985, sell thousands of pages of classified documents to the Soviets. After making roughly 600,000 dollars on his clandestine endeavor and compromising everything from the identities of KGB spies working for the American government to nuclear war contingency plans, Hanssen was eventually transferred to a newly created position at the FBI's Washington headquarters and assigned the task of guarding his country's most sensitive secrets. It was while working in this capacity that a young agent named Eric O'Neill was assigned the task of keeping tabs on Hanssen by suspicious higher-ups. Later, after being arrested while delivering a cache of secret documents to a "dead drop" spot in a Virginia park, the notorious traitor was arrested and sentenced to life in prison with no chance for parole.

The true story of Robert Hanssen is as fascinating as it is disturbing. The challenge for the makers of this film was to figure out what to focus on and what to leave out. They ended up doing a great balancing act by showing just enough of Hanssen's history to give a sense of why he might have committed these crimes as well as a good deal of focus on his current situation (family, religion, work) to show how he covered his tracks and was able to avoid detection for 15 years. Chris Cooper did a great job portraying Hanssen and Ryan Phillippe did a pretty good job in the role of Eric O'Neill. If this story was fiction, it would have been a gripping film, but the fact it's based on real life makes it a must see movie. The special features even include the original Dateline NBC report shortly after Hanssen was busted - bonus.

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Chris Cooper, Ryan Phillippe

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

The Girl in the Cafe - Movie Review

2007-06-24T15:00:00.000-07:00

Lawrence is a mild and unprepossessing British civil servant assigned to his country's delegation at the G8 Summit in Reykjavik, Iceland. Although he'd resigned himself to a life of lonely bachelorhood, Lawrence finds himself drawn to Gina, an odd, outspoken young woman whom he has met in a cafe. On a whim, the shy Lawrence invites the decidedly un-shy Gina to accompany him to Reykjavik. The burgeoning relationship between these two seemingly mismatched souls is counterpointed by the political jockeying at the conference, where the avowed purpose of G8 - to adopt the all-important Millennium Development Goals as a means of reducing world poverty - is obscured by egomania, xenophobia, and foot-dragging. Ultimately, the time comes when both Lawrence and Gina must make crucial decisions, with not only their own future but also the future of humankind in the balance.

Seeing that this film was produced for HBO and I had never heard of it, I wasn't sure what to expect. After watching it, I'm glad I stumbled upon it while flipping channels. It is full of dry, British humor that I loved - the best line was, "The pea soup was awful. I'm pretty sure there were two types of pee in it." In addition to the humor, there was a very serious side to it as well. I actually learned a thing or two about the G8 Summit and some of the issues affecting the world - not sure if the stats they used were accurate, but they were certainly shocking. The romance between the two main characters was unexpected in that I'd never pick those two people to strike up a relationship, but they made it work. The bottom line is that this offbeat film is worth a look as I'm sure you'll be as pleasantly surprised as I was if you give it a chance.

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Bill Nighy, Kelly MacDonald

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Music and Lyrics - Movie Review

2007-06-23T19:00:00.001-07:00

Alex Fletcher may have been all the rage in the 1980s, but these days he's lucky to get a gig playing at the local county fair. Just when it seems as if things couldn't get any more bleak for the dejected has-been rocker, reigning pop diva Cora Corman offers Alex the opportunity of a lifetime - write and record a duet to be sung with her and watch his career receive a much-needed boost as the nostalgia-crazed public laps it up. Little does Cora realize that not only has it been years since Alex has written a song, but he's never actually written a single lyric. Now, if he hopes to make the comeback needed to save him from a life of complete and utter obscurity, Alex will have to craft a radio-friendly hit in a matter of mere days. Luckily for Alex, his quirky plant-keeper Sophie Fisher has quite a way with words and may possess just the kind of songwriting talent needed to make such a hit happen. Unfortunately the beguiling Sophie is still reeling from a recent break-up with newly famous novelist Sloan Cates, and she isn't quite sure if she's ready for any kind of collaboration right now - romantic or otherwise.

This is your general, run of the mill, romantic comedy. From beginning to end, everything you expect to happen, happens. In other words, it follows the romantic comedy template to a tee. That said, I really enjoyed this movie. It was fun, upbeat and very entertaining. The pace of the movie was quick, so it never stalled and I didn't look at the clock once, wondering when it will end. Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore had great chemistry, which is obviously key if this type of film is going to work. Of course, Barrymore is so likable, she has good chemistry with anyone (see 50 First Dates , Fever Pitch , Never Been Kissed, etc.). The fact that Hugh Grant sang (pretty well) and danced (not so good) was a bonus and added to the comedy and freshness. This is certainly one to watch when you just want to veg and be entertained without a whole lot of thinking necessary.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Hugh Grant, Drew Barrymore, Brad Garrett

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Alpha Dog - Movie Review

2007-06-20T21:00:00.000-07:00

Though barely out of his teens, Johnny Truelove has already built a lucrative career for himself selling drugs - he has his own home, a luxury car, and posse of friends who do double duty as his crew, including Elvis, Frankie, and Tiko. While life at Johnny's house is usually a constant party interrupted by occasional dope deals, Johnny has lost all of his patience with Jake Mazursky, a regular customer who has run up a large tab that he can't pay. Determined to clear Jake's account, Johnny and his boys plan to kidnap Jake and hold him for ransom, but when they happen upon his 15-year-old stepbrother, Zack, they impulsively decide to take the youngster instead. Jake's father, Butch, and his stepmother, Olivia, are already furious with their junkie son when they learn about Zack's disappearance, and aren't sure what they should do. Meanwhile at Johnny's place, Frankie takes a liking to young Zack, who already admires his brother's high-flying lifestyle, and introduces the kid to the joys of grown-up partying, which he takes to with dangerous zeal.

I have seen an investigative report (I think it was Dateline NBC) about the true events that this film was based on and I must say I enjoyed the Dateline story much more than the movie. The true story is fascinating, shocking and sad, but the film was just a bunch of guys sitting around and smoking pot with the kid they kidnapped. While the film closely followed the facts of the case, they certainly could have made it more interesting and included more of what happened to "Johnny Truelove" after he fled Southern California. The acting was OK (how hard is it to act stoned), but Justin Timberlake stood out and really did a surprisingly good job. The rest of the cast didn't make a big impression on me and there was one scene in the middle of the film where one of the characters started doing kung-fu moves on a bunch of people at a party - very out of place and awkward. If you're going to spend the time to watch this film, try to track down the Dateline NBC episode to see the real people behind the story - I was disappointed they didn't include it in the special features on the DVD.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Emile Hirsch, Justin Timberlake, Bruce Willis, Sharon Stone

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Deja Vu - Movie Review

2007-06-19T21:00:00.000-07:00

A New Orleans based maverick ATF agent named Doug Carlin is brought in on a top secret government program to catch the terrorist responsible for a ferry bombing that kills hundreds. Able to do what most law enforcement officers only dream of, Carlin is now able to look back in time at the perpetrator's movements, and at the life of the innocent woman whose death would set the events into motion. Carlin's instincts tell him that something is amiss, however, and while the government agent who tapped him for the job and the team of ultra-cool scientists who run the project tell him one story about the quantum physics behind this marvel of technology, the hotshot agent suspects that there is a greater power at their fingertips - one that might not just solve the crime at hand, but prevent it.

Talk about over the top and completely unbelievable, this film is the very definition of far-fetched. I know it's a science fiction movie, but it should at least have some semblance of reality mixed in. Instead, scene after scene kept piling up the "give me a break" moments until it was just a laughable, shake your head story. I will give a thumbs up to the special effects. The ferry blowing up in the beginning was pretty spectacular, but where there wasn't fire, there was smoke being blown up your @$$. The ending wasn't satisfying either - no big surprise there. Definitely not a must see unless you really want to bend reality and take huge leaps of faith.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Denzel Washington, Paula Patton, Val Kilmer

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Ghost Rider - Movie Review

2007-06-15T21:00:00.000-07:00

In order to save his dying father, young stunt cyclist Johnny Blaze sells his soul to Mephistopheles and sadly parts from the pure-hearted Roxanne Simpson, the love of his life. Years later, Johnny's path crosses again with Roxanne, now a reporter, and also with Mephistopheles, who offers to release Johnny's soul if Johnny becomes the fabled, fiery Ghost Rider, a supernatural agent of vengeance and justice. Mephistopheles charges Johnny with defeating the despicable Blackheart, Mephistopheles's nemesis and son, who plans to displace his father and create a new hell even more terrible than the old one.

As far as comic book based movies go, this wasn't one of the better ones. I expected more from Nicolas Cage who grew up reading the comic book and even has a Ghost Rider tattoo (for real). However, the acting in this film was more goofy and sloppy than I had hoped. Cage and Eva Mendes didn't have that magic spark, so their relationship didn't seem real. The plot was very rushed and shallow. It's as if the filmmakers tried to pack 3 hours worth of storyline into a 100 minute movie. Some of the major, climactic scenes were over in a flash which made me wonder if the climax was yet to come (I'm still waiting). The best thing about the film was the special effects. The transition from Johnny Blaze to Ghost Rider (and back) was pretty impressive as were the "cold" death scenes. Overall, it's not a must see unless you're a Nicolas Cage fan or comic book junkie.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Eva Mendes, Wes Bentley, Sam Elliot, Peter Fonda

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Groceries Delivered to Your Door - Free Shipping, No Tax

2007-06-14T09:42:00.000-07:00

Here's something I just found out and thought I'd pass along. Amazon.com sells groceries! That might not seem like a big deal, but if you take into account the fact that they don't charge tax and shipping is free for orders over $25, it could really save you time and money. Anyway, take a look at all the products they offer by clicking the banner below.

Stomp the Yard - Movie Review

2007-06-13T21:00:00.000-07:00

DJ Williams is a 19-year-old growing up in Los Angeles; while DJ is at heart a good kid and a gifted street dancer, he runs with a dangerous crowd, and one night an underground dance competition turns into a brawl and DJ ends up in jail. DJ's younger brother has already died a violent death, and his mother, hoping to put him back on the straight and narrow, sends DJ off to Truth University, a historically African-American college in Atlanta. At first, DJ feels like a misfit at Truth, but when he gets a chance to show off his dancing skills, he attracts the attention of two campus fraternities. Greek life is a major presence at Truth, and each year the fraternities take part in a "stepping" competition, in which the members show off their synchronized dance moves. DJ joins the ONO house, and is eager to help them take the championship away from their campus rivals, but in time he also comes to understand the brotherhood and community service that's a key part of his fraternity's background.

This film started off on the wrong foot and never really got on track. The one positive thing that this film has going for it is the dancing. There are some amazing dancers that are showcased who definitely have original and "off the hook" moves. That being said, there's not really anything else positive to say about this movie. The plot was very weak and the acting wasn't much better. When there was dialog (which wasn't much), it seemed forced and almost like the writers created some lame banter to fill space between the dancing. So, while the dancing was great, it got a bit repetitive midway through and thinking back, it was kinda cheesy how these hardcore, buffed men solved their heated disagreements with a dance-off - now that's old school.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Columbus Short, Meagan Good, Ne-Yo

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Ocean's Thirteen - Movie Review (Theater)

2007-06-09T21:00:00.000-07:00

The only hotelier in Los Vegas who can claim that each and every one of his establishments have earned the Royal Review Board's Five Diamond Award, Willy Bank has made more than his share of enemies during his impressive ascent. While most of Bank's adversaries amount to little more than the occasional nuisance, however, this powerful player is about to find out that picking your enemies in Las Vegas can be a true gamble. In betraying Rueben Tishkoff, Bank has finally crossed the one man who could bring his entire empire crumbling to the ground - Danny Ocean. Now Rueben is in critical condition, and Ocean is determined to strike back at the man who nearly murdered his mentor. Bank may have taken down one of the original Ocean's Eleven, but his efforts only managed to unite the remaining ten closer than ever before. As the opening of Bank's newest casino draws near, Danny and the crew set into motion a bold plan to humiliate the cocksure casino owner and forever tarnish his spotless reputation.

This was a very good third film in the series. There was a nice balance of a new plot with links to previous plotlines from the first two films. That said, it would be a good idea to see the first two films before you see this one. Since it had the same formula as the previous films (a bunch of guys pull off an impossible heist), I'll give it a ding on originality. However, it was sufficiently funny and entertaining to make up for that shortcoming. The fact that all of the major characters from the last film (including a surprising ally) came back together for another go-around, adds to the credibility of this franchise and makes me wonder if they'll just keep cranking out the films until we stop watching. I certainly wouldn't mind seeing another one and I'm still amazed that a film with this many big name actors works as well as it does (with no noticeable power struggles). Bottom line - if you liked the first two, you won't be disappointed.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia, Don Cheadle, Bernie Mac, Al Pacino

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Freedom Writers - Movie Review

2007-06-07T21:00:00.000-07:00

Her students had been written off, and her chances of succeeding scoffed at, but Erin Gruwell wasn't about to go down without a fight. Long Beach is a place where a new war is waged with each passing day, and when the hardened students who walk those dangerous hallways sense an outsider attempting to understand their plight, their cynical resentment threatens to keep a deadly cycle in motion. Despite the initially hostile reaction she receives in the classroom, Gruwell uses the writings of Anne Frank to teach her students not only the basis of the English language, but compassion and tolerance as well. Later, when the time comes to tell their own tales in a project specially designed to explore the daily violence that the majority of students have grown numb to, the barriers that had once stood so strong gradually begin to crumble.

Wow, this was a gripping and amazing film. It reminded me of Dangerous Minds which I thoroughly enjoyed as well. Of course, I'm a sucker for true stories and this one is not only inspirational, but also just plain engaging. The time seemed to go by so fast and it's one of those stories that I now want to read more about as well as read Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl. The cast of actors all did a great job and were completely believable in their roles. Hilary Swank has been in some great films and this one just adds to her already impressive repertoire. It's definitely worth a look.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: Yes
Starring: Hilary Swank, Patrick Dempsey, Scott Glenn

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Hannibal Rising - Movie Review

2007-06-04T21:00:00.000-07:00

Hannibal Rising travels back in time to World War II-era Lithuania, where an impressionable, well-to-do young boy named Hannibal was forced to watch helplessly as his family was massacred and his young sister suffered a terrifying fate at the hands of desperate, famished soldiers. After seeking temporary shelter at the Soviet orphanage that was once his family's home, Hannibal later flees to Paris in search of his long-lost uncle. Though his uncle has passed away, his uncle's beautiful Japanese widow, Lady Murasaki, warmly accepts the frightened orphan into her home. But even the love and kindness of this generous stranger isn't enough to calm the raging storm that is brewing inside this troubled young boy. Plagued by nightmares and determined to seek vengeance on the murderous war criminals who brutalized his family, the profoundly disturbed but academically gifted Hannibal enrolls in medical school in order to hone the skills that will allow him to exact horrific justice.

Much like I said in my review of the book, this is the weakest film in the series. However, this is one of those rare instances where I think the movie was better than the book, but not by much - maybe because it only takes 2 hours to watch the movie where I had to invest a bit more time to read the so-so book. The guy they chose to play the young Hannibal did a good job, but it just wasn't the same as seeing Anthony Hopkins play the serial killer. It was interesting to see the events which transpired early in Hannibal's life that turned him into a violent psychopath. However, there wasn't much meat behind the story and the ending was a forgone conclusion which the filmmakers didn't even seem to try to conceal. That means the suspense was virtually non-existent, which takes some of the fun out of a thriller. Overall, if you're a fan of the Hannibal films, you have to see this one just to "complete the picture," but don't expect a masterpiece.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Gaspard Ulliel, Gong Li, Rhys Ifans

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End - Movie Review (Theater)

2007-06-02T21:00:00.000-07:00

Captain Jack Sparrow is hopelessly trapped in Davy Jones' locker after a harrowing encounter with the dreaded Kracken, and now Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann must align themselves with the nefarious Captain Barbossa if they hold out any hope of saving their old friend from a fate worse than death. The East India Trading Company and it's fearsome leader Lord Cutler Beckett have taken control of the ghostly Flying Dutchman and it's Captain Davy Jones, and now the baleful Admiral Norrington has taken the helm in a relentless bid to destroy every pirate ship in his path and bring the Age of Piracy to a violent close. Meanwhile, Will, Elizabeth, and Captain Barbossa navigate treacherous waters and face bitter betrayal as they set sail to gather the only army that can stand up to Beckett - The Nine Lords of the Brethren Court. But Captain Jack Sparrow is one of the Lords, and as long as he's stuck in Davy Jones' locker, Beckett and his nefarious armada are sure to emerge victorious. There's still hope, however, if the heroic team that includes Tia Dalma, Pintel, and Ragetti can reach exotic Singapore and convince vulpine pirate Sao Feng to provide them with charts and a ship. But even the powerful Brethren Court may need a bit of help from volatile sea goddess Calypso in order to weather the coming storm. With the entire future of the pirate way at stake, everyone will be forced to choose sides while drifting precariously to the edge of the Earth for one final, spectacular battle.

This was my least favorite of the Pirates trilogy. However, since the first two were brilliant, it would have been hard to top those, so even though this was my least favorite, it was still a pretty good film. Like the two films before it, there was plenty of action, lots of swashbuckling pirates and first rate special effects. Although, it was a bit tough to follow, hard to understand the dialog at times and started very slowly - they could have easily cut out about 30 minutes of fluff. The comedy was a little too silly instead of clever sometimes (the scenes with the monkey were only funny to 10 year olds). Johnny Depp's portrail of Jack Sparrow is getting a little overdone for my taste, but at least Keith Richards (whom Depp used as inspiration for the character) made a cameo which was fun to see. While I was really looking forward to seeing the third and final Pirates film, I don't think it was quite worth going to the theater instead of just waiting to see it on DVD.

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: Yes
Starring: Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Oakland Athletics vs. Minnesota Twins - June 1, 2007

2007-06-01T23:00:00.000-07:00

Shawnna got 4 tickets to the A's game from the CEO of the company we work for and we invited Dan and Kelley to come with us. The game was at 7:05pm and while it was 82° in Tracy when we left, we dressed warm knowing it was in the low 60s in Oakland. The seats were three rows up, right behind the visitor's dugout - nice! To our right were the seats reserved for the visiting team's owner and to our left was the family of Kevin Slowey who was a rookie making his very first major league appearance (he was the starting pitcher for the Twins).

The game was less interesting than making up stories about the relationships between Kevin Slowey and the people we assumed was his family to our left. They actually didn't have tickets to sit that close, but the security guard let them sit there after telling him who they were. Even though they were related to the opposing pitcher, letting them sit close was the right thing to do. For their sake, I'm glad Slowey pitched a great game (he gave up 1 run, 5 hits in 6 innings).

The game started slow and was pretty uneventful until the end. In the 3rd inning, Jeff Cirillo hit a sacrifice fly to score Nick Punto and put the Twins up 1-0. Eric Chavez answered for the A's in the 6th by hitting a homer to tie the score. It remained 1-1 until the 10th inning when Jeff Cirillo hit a single to score Luis Castillo. Then, Mike Redmond singled to score Jason Tyner putting the Twins up 3-1. The A's rallied in the bottom of the 10th but only managed to score 1 run when Dan Johnson hit a sacrifice fly, bringing home Travis Buck and making the final score 3-2. Tough loss for the A's, but an exciting end to a pretty boring game.

Painting & Landscaping - May 29 - June 1, 2007

2007-06-01T16:00:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, I took a day off work to paint the baby's room. Shawnna and I had settled on a lavender color (Cheerful Whisper by Behr) which goes very well with the decor we picked for the room. After taping off the room and getting the brushes, roller and paint ready, I began to transform the room into a space fit for a princess. Three and a half hours later, I was tired, hungry and finished painting. I took a step back, looked at my work and thought, "It needs another coat... CRAP!" Some people enjoy painting and think it's relaxing and therapeutic - I don't. The thought of painting the room with a second coat wasn't pleasing.

Enter The Paint Pros. Luckily, we had been talking about hiring a painter to paint some other rooms in our house for a while, so I saw an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. We hired The Paint Pros to paint most of the interior of our house. The living room, staircase and upper hallway are green (Prickly Pear with highlights of Hawaiian Luau from Kelly-Moore). The family room, dining room, and kitchen are a neutral beige/brown (Soft Buckskin with highlights of Bourbon Street from Kelly-Moore). The master bedroom is a lighter neutral color (Baked Biscuit with highlights of Soft Buckskin by Kelly-Moore) and master bathroom is Soft Buckskin. While they were at it, I had them do the second coat in the baby's room as well. It took them 4 days with 4-6 people working to complete the job and it really looks nice.

At the same time, we had the landscapers who did our backyard (Tracy Landscaping) re-landscape our front yard as well. Over the years, we have replaced some of the plants that were originally planted when the house was built, but it needed an overhaul to look complete and match our backyard. So, we had them rip everything out and start fresh. We added a mow strip, a few boulders, black lava rock, 3 birch trees, spotlights, a bunch of smaller plants and flowers with a new drip system. The whole project only took them 2 days to complete and now our front yard is presentable again.

With the landscaping and paining now done, we were able to cross a couple of big items off the list of things to do before the baby comes and takes all our attention. Everything looks so nice that it's almost like living in a new house again.

Idlewild - Movie Review

2007-05-30T21:00:00.000-07:00

In the 1930s, Idlewild was the hottest speakeasy in the South thanks to the impressive showmanship of flamboyant manager/lead performer Rooster and the notable talents of introverted pianist Percival. Everything changes, however, when a powerful gangster and his ruthless henchmen move in on the scene with every intention of landing a healthy portion of the club's considerable profits.

This film was a hip-hop musical drama which was a bit too long and way too "busy." There were so many supporting characters and extras that it was hard to focus on the main story with all the other distractions. The story itself was a bit weak and uninteresting as well, but I don't think that was the main purpose for the film. The film was more of a showcase for OutKast (Andre "Andre 3000" Benjamin and Antwan Andre "Big Boi" Patton) to display their acting and musical skills. That said, their acting was OK - not bad, but not great. The music was the real star of this show. Not surprisingly, with OutKast's cutting edge, fresh style and Patti LaBelle and Macy Gray solidifying the lineup, it was a musical conquest. If fact, I probably would have liked it better if I just listened to the music and turned off the visual noise.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Andre Benjamin, Antwan Andre Patton, Ving Rhames, Terrence Howard, Patti LaBelle, Macy Gray

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Night at the Museum - Movie Review

2007-05-27T21:00:00.000-07:00

Larry Daley is a kind-hearted dreamer who always knew that he was destined for greatness, he just never quite knew how. None of his ideas or inventions has panned out, so with a heavy heart, he takes a regular job as a lowly graveyard-shift security guard at the Museum of Natural History in order to provide a more stable life for himself and his ten-year-old son. His first night on the job, however, he finds that guardianship of the museum is far from stable - at nightfall, an Egyptian spell brings the artifacts and wax figures to life! With Attila the Hun charging to war through the hallways, the diorama miniatures embroiled in a deadly feud, and a two-ton Tyrannosaurus Rex nagging to play fetch, Larry has half a mind to turn tail and run. On top of cleaning up after two million years of historical chaos every night, he also has to make sure that not a single museum piece leaves the building - from the bratty Capuchin monkey in the African exhibit, to the life-sized Neanderthal in the prehistoric display - because if morning light falls on an escaped artifact, it will turn to dust.

With Ben Stiller, Robin Williams and Owen Wilson all in the cast, I was expecting it to be funnier. There were some comedic moments, but it was more of an action/adventure film than a comedy. That doesn't mean it was necessarily a bad movie - it was just different than what I had imagined. The story was original and was a childhood fantasy come to life. Any kid who has been to a museum had to have imagined what it would have been like if the displays came to life. Well, this film answers that question and it's not as pleasant as I would have thought. Some of the characters and interactions were cheesy and seemingly pointless ("Give me gum gum you Dum Dum"), but I did enjoy the T-Rex and monkey who provided some comic relief. If you liked Jumanji and want to just sit down, relax and be entertained, this is a film for you - just don't expect a classic you'll want to watch more than once.

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Ben Stiller, Dick Van Dyke, Mickey Rooney, Robin Williams, Owen Wilson

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

The Thirteenth Tale - Book Review

2007-05-15T21:00:00.000-07:00

Margaret Lea, a London bookseller's daughter, has written an obscure biography that suggests deep understanding of siblings. She is contacted by renowned aging author Vida Winter, who finally wishes to tell her own, long-hidden, life story. Margaret travels to Yorkshire, where she interviews the dying writer, walks the remains of her estate at Angelfield and tries to verify the old woman's tale of a governess, a ghost and more than one abandoned baby. With the aid of colorful Aurelius Love, Margaret puzzles out generations of Angelfield: destructive Uncle Charlie; his elusive sister, Isabelle; their unhappy parents; Isabelle's twin daughters, Adeline and Emmeline; and the children's caretakers. Margaret, who has family secrets of her own, must unravel the mysteries of the past in order to reconcile not only Ms. Winter with her ghosts, but also Margaret with hers.

As far as mysteries go, this isn't one of the best page turners, but it is full of deep secrets that must be revealed over the course of the book. It is slow at times since most of the action isn't happening real-time. The mysteries are revealed through the story Vida Winter is telling to Margaret Lea in her home. As the book progresses, Margaret leaves the house to do some investigation on her own and uncovers some pieces to the puzzle, but it's mostly a story about a story being told.

That having been said, there are some pretty heavy and shocking twists that are revealed. It just takes a bit of patience to get to those parts. Overall, the author did a great job of thinking the whole story through and then dropping bread crumbs along the trail to lead you to the final answers. She begins by keeping you in a cloud of darkness where you have way more questions than answers, but over time, reveals nuggets of information that will eventually complete the puzzle and leaves you saying "a-ha, now it all makes sense." I'll add that even though there's mention of a ghost in the overview, the story doesn't center around the supernatural and the final revealing of the mystery doesn't rely on magic to connect the dots. The ending justifies the journey, but it could have been a bit more condensed.

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I read it again: No

The Thirteenth Tale
by Diane Setterfield
Hardcover: 406 pages
Released: 2006

Dreamgirls - ACE Train Movie Review

2007-05-14T21:00:00.000-07:00

The time is the 1960s, and singers Effie, Lorrell, and Deena are about to find out just what it's like to have their wildest dreams come true. Discovered at a local talent show by ambitious manager Curtis Taylor Jr., the trio known as "the Dreamettes" is soon offered the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of opening for popular singer James "Thunder" Early. Subsequently molded into an unstoppable hit machine by Taylor and propelled into the spotlight as "the Dreams," the girls quickly find their bid for the big time taking priority over personal friendship as Taylor edges out the ultra-talented Effie so that the more beautiful Deena can become the face of the group. Now, as the crossover act continues to dominate the airwaves, the small-town girls with big-city dreams slowly begin to realize that the true cost of fame may be higher than any of them ever anticipated.

If nothing else, this film has great music. Of course, since it's based on a Tony award-winning Broadway musical, that shouldn't be a surprise. Jennifer Hudson has an amazing voice which was on full display and deserved all of the buzz she received for her performance. Beyonce and Jamie Foxx added their flair to the film which helped solidify the cast. The biggest surprise to me was Eddie Murphy's performance. He did a great job playing a dramatic role after making his career in action and comedy flicks. On top of that, he can actually sing and held his own next to established musical talent - well done. The plot wasn't anything special, but the music made up for it. After all, this was a musical...

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Beyonce Knowles, Eddie Murphy, Jennifer Hudson, Danny Glover

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Spiderman 3 - Movie Review (Theater)

2007-05-12T21:00:00.000-07:00

Peter Parker has finally learned to walk the middle ground between being the superhero that his city needs, and the man that Mary Jane loves. All is well in New York City until one night, as Peter and M.J. set gazing at the stars, a falling comet streams across the sky and crashes into the ground close by. But this isn't any ordinary shooting star, and upon impact the mysterious space rock is split open to reveal a shape-shifting symbiote with the power to overtake anything that it comes into contact with. Later, as Harry Osborn acquires his late father's flying board, engineers a powerful new Goblin outfit, and takes to the sky to avenge dad's death, the mysterious space sludge infects both Peter's Spider Man suit and ambitious street photographer Eddie Brock. His strange new suit giving him a newfound sense of power as it gradually overpowers his personality, Peter discovers that escaped convict Flint Marko was in fact the man responsible for the death of Uncle Ben. Unfortunately for Peter, Marko has recently acquired the power to morph at will and quickly completes his transformation into the dreaded Sandman. As the Sandman gives in to his darkest criminal instincts and the slithering space symbiote transforms Eddie Brock into the nightmarish fanged villain known as Venom, the citizens of New York City must once again call on Spider Man to fend off destructive forces that are far too powerful for the likes of mortal man.

This is a great movie... if you're looking to take a snooze. For an action film, there's wasn't a whole lot of action - mostly drama and a disjointed plot. The storyline was pretty boring and totally not what I expected for a film that's breaking all the box office records. The scenes where Tobey Maguire played the "bad" Peter Parker were laughable - literally. It was comedic seeing Tobey try to act edgy and cool - it didn't work at all. Also, they chose the guy from "That 70s Show" to play the evil villian - give me a break. Overall, there was a poor script, poor casting and questionable acting. The only upside to the move were the special effects which were top notch (the Sandman character was impressive). This film is proof that massive hype can overcome poor quality at the box office.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Topher Grace

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Superman Returns - ACE Train Movie Review

2007-05-07T21:00:00.000-07:00

Some time has passed since the events of Superman II and the world has gotten used to life without Superman ever since his puzzling disappearance years earlier. Upon his return, he finds a Metropolis that doesn't need him anymore, while Lois Lane has moved on with another young suitor, Richard White, in the meantime. As the hero begins to tackle the fact that life on Earth has continued without him, he is forced to face his old arch-nemesis Lex Luthor and restore the life that was once his.

This film didn't capture my imagination like the first two Superman movies did. I'm not sure if I'm just getting older or if this film wasn't as good as the Christopher Reeve versions, but it certainly wasn't as exciting. The first half was very slow and picked up toward the end, but not enough to be called "action packed." Brandon Routh did a good job portraying the man of steel and Kate Bosworth was a passable Lois Lane, but I didn't particularly buy Kevin Spacey as Lex Luthor - he wasn't sinister enough. Of course, the ending left open the possibility of another Superman film, but if they do make another one, I sure hope they do a little more with the special effects and add a bit more action. Overall, I had higher hopes for this one, but ended up being disappointed.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Brandon Routh, Kate Bosworth, Kevin Spacey

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Smokin' Aces - ACE Train Movie Review

2007-05-01T21:00:00.000-07:00

Buddy "Aces" Israel is a small time scammer who has somehow managed to get the goods on big time mobster Primo Sparazza. Upon discovering that Buddy is about to deliver the evidence needed to get him thrown in jail for life, Primo takes out a sizable contract on Buddy that entices every two-bit thug, grizzled bounty hunter, deadly vixen, skilled assassin, and ladder-climbing Mafioso within a hundred mile radius into taking a shot at the prize. Now holed up in his luxurious Lake Tahoe hideout with only two FBI Agents standing between him from a virtual army of money-hungry rogues, Buddy is about to find out just how far this motley crew of killers is willing to go in order to take him out and hit the jackpot.

There is a lot of action in this film. It's pretty much non-stop from beginning to end and requires that you pay attention since there are a bunch of supporting actors you need to keep track of if you want to understand the story. All the actors did a great job and the plot was thick enough to be interesting - maybe a bit too thick. There's not much I can say without giving anything away, but I'll say that the ending fit the storyline as it was surprising, packed with new information and satisfying. Overall, this film is worth watching at least once (maybe twice if you weren't paying attention the first time).

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Ben Affleck, Andy Garcia, Alicia Keys, Ray Liotta, Jeremy Piven, Ryan Reynolds

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Bobby - ACE Train Movie Review

2007-04-25T21:00:00.000-07:00

It's early June in 1968, and the California presidential primary elections are occupying the minds of many in the Golden State, with Robert F. Kennedy in a close race against Eugene McCarthy and Hubert Humphrey. The Kennedy campaign staff has set up camp at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, while the staff and guests become observers as the brother of fallen president John F. Kennedy sets out to pick up where his sibling left off. Paul is the manager of the Ambassador, and his wife Miriam is a hairdresser who runs's the hotel's beauty salon. Angela is a receptionist working the hotel's switchboard who has been sleeping with Paul behind Miriam's back. Timmons is in charge of the hotel's restaurant and catering department, and makes no secret of his dislike of the African-Americans and Latinos under his employ. Miguel and Jose are two young Chicanos on the kitchen staff who have it in for Timmons, while Robinson is an older black man who counsels them on dealing with their rage. Virginia Fallon sings in the hotel's cocktail lounge and has a serious problem with alcohol; her husband Tim is a Kennedy supporter and also her manager, and he's nearing the end of his rope in dealing with her problem. All of these people are in attendance to be a part of history - little do they know the tragedy that is about to occur.

I really liked this film because it was told from a completely different perspective than would have been typical. When I saw the title and DVD case, I was expecting the film to be about Bobby Kennedy and his assassination. While the underlying drive for the film is Bobby Kennedy's appearance at the Ambassador Hotel, the plot really centers around the lives of those people "lucky" enough to be at the hotel on that historic night. Although most of the characters were made up, it was still very interesting to think about the back stories of the witnesses to Bobby Kennedy's assassination and how all of their personal drama was instantly put into perspective when Kennedy was shot. I also liked the fact that the actual footage was interspersed throughout the film which made it more "real" even though most of the movie was a work of fiction. Finally, the cast was incredible and was a virtual who's who in Hollywood which doesn't always work, but it certainly did in this film.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Harry Belafonte, William H. Macy, Sharon Stone, Christian Slater, Laurence Fishburne, Demi Moore, Emilio Estevez, Martin Sheen, Helen Hunt, Lindsay Lohan, Elijah Wood, Heather Graham, Ashton Kutcher

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

The Wicker Man - ACE Train Movie Review

2007-04-23T21:00:00.000-07:00

Upon receiving a letter from his one-time fiance Willow, imploring him to search for her missing daughter on the secluded island of Summersisle, California highway patrolman Edward Malus quickly makes his way to the island to locate the girl and seek an answer as to why Willow suddenly and inexplicably disappeared shortly before their wedding date. Once there, Malus is troubled to discover that although there are traces of the child to be found in such locations as the local schoolhouse, the residents of Summersisle seem reluctant to offer any specific details as to the girl's apparent death. His investigation effectively stalled by the highly secretive Wiccan community, Sheriff Malus soon discovers that there are still some cultures that have their own unique beliefs about humankind's relationship with Mother Earth, and refuse to adapt to the rules of modern society.

I think Nicolas Cage is a good actor and he has had some great movies, but this isn't one of them. It started off good and had a lot of mystery. There was a strange island, odd residents, crazy rituals and lots of bees. The questions kept piling up and I was waiting for the answers to slowly be revealed - then it ended. It was as if they set the scene with intriguing drama, but didn't finish the film. I like creative and unique circumstances in films, but only if there's something that ties it together - not just to be weird for weird sake. If the filmmakers ever decide to finish this movie, I'd be interested to see it, but as it stands now, it's an half-baked waste of time.

Rating: 1.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Ellen Burstyn, Kate Beahan

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

An Inconvenient Truth - ACE Train Movie Review

2007-04-20T21:00:00.000-07:00

A long-time environmental activist, Al Gore first became aware of evidence on global warming in the 1970s, and since leaving public office he has become a passionate advocate for large- and small-scale changes in our laws and lifestyles that could help alleviate this crisis. An Inconvenient Truth records a multi-media presentation hosted by Gore in which he discusses the scientific facts behind global warming, explains how it has already begun to affect our environment, talks about the disastrous consequences if the world's governments and citizens do not act, and shares what each individual can do to help protect the Earth for this and future generations.

I was very impressed with Al Gore and this documentary in particular. That's not a political statement as it doesn't matter if your a Republican or Democrat - global warming affects us all. Now, I'm not saying "the sky is falling" or "the end is near." However, it is an issue that's worth paying attention to and this documentary makes it easy for the layman to become educated. Of course, with any documentary, it's presents only what the researcher wants you to see, but it's a pretty compelling argument. I'm not suggesting you rush out and buy a car that runs on vegetable oil, but it wouldn't hurt to see this film and become more educated. If nothing else, it sure contains some fascinating pictures and graphs.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: Yes
Starring: Al Gore

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

The Good Shepherd - ACE Train Movie Review

2007-04-18T21:00:00.000-07:00

In 1939, Edward Wilson is a young man with a bright future ahead of him - he's a top student at Yale and the protege of one of the school's leading English professors, Dr. Fredericks. But Wilson's life changes dramatically when he's invited to join Yale's powerful secret society, Skull and Bones. Through his Skull and Bones connections, Wilson meets Sam Murach, an mysterious FBI agent who asks Wilson to investigate charges that Fredericks is a Nazi sympathizer working with the German government. Later, Wilson is invited to join the Office of Strategic Services, a military intelligence organization. Through World War II, Wilson serves with the OSS, and learns he can trust no one in the game of international espionage, which helps make him little more than a stranger to his wife, his son, and his few friends. As the OSS evolves into the Central Intelligence Agency after the war, Wilson becomes party to America's darkest and most dangerous secrets, and in the wake of the futile Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961, Wilson is forced to make a terrible choice between the security of his nation and the safety of his family.

This was a very long and complex movie. The fact that there were many characters to follow and the current year switched back and forth several times over the course of the film, you really need to pay attention or you'll get lost and won't understand who is who and why certain events that transpired were important. On top of that, Matt Damon's character is so soft spoken (when he speaks at all) that it requires that much more concentration to hear what he's saying and catch all his non-verbal cues. In other words, it's a tiring film to watch, but it's also very captivating and interesting. It's exactly the type of film I can watch again since I'm sure I missed a lot of the subtle nuances the first time around. Heck, I probably need to watch it 2 more times to really catch everything. The fact that it's based on true events and real people makes it even more fascinating and worth a second look. Recommended if you have a solid 3 hour block that you can concentrate on the film - otherwise you'll be lost.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: Yes
Starring: Matt Damon, Angelina Jolie, Alec Baldwin

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Fast Food Nation - ACE Train Movie Review

2007-04-17T21:00:00.000-07:00

Mickey's is the most popular fast-food chain in America, and The Big One is the top-selling burger that put them on the map. When the higher-ups at Mickey's corporate offices learn that the frozen meat patties used to make the wildly popular burger have somehow been tainted with contaminated meat, they send marketing executive Don Henderson on an urgent mission to ensure quality control and find out precisely how their product became compromised. It's a long way from the Southern California boardroom to the immigrant slaughterhouses, though, and the further Henderson works his way through the bustling feedlots and toward the ubiquitous restaurant sites that have become a staple of modern culture, the more he begins to realize just how dangerous convenience can become when it leads to blissfully ignorant complacency.

This movie will make you think twice about ordering that hamburger you want for dinner since it's pretty graphic and shocking to see how a burger is actually made and all of the implications it has on society at large. It paints a pretty disturbing picture that should obviously be viewed as one side of the story instead of a complete picture. As far as scary food movies go, I still think Super Size Me is the best by far as it's a documentary instead of a fictionalized film based on a non-fiction book written by an investigative journalist. Although, this film tells more of the "end-to-end" story of the fast food industry instead of one guy's experience. I'm amazed at the number of familiar faces they got to be in this film - are they all vegetarians, political activists or just needed to make a buck? In any case, it's interesting enough to watch once, just not before dinner.

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Greg Kinnear, Ethan Hawke, Kris Kristofferson, Patricia Arquette, Luis Guzman, Wilmer Valderrama, Avril Lavigne, Bruce Willis

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Turistas - ACE Train Movie Review

2007-04-16T21:00:00.000-07:00

Vacationers end up stranded in a little Brazilian village after a bus accident wipes out their transportation. Although many in the group are experienced when it comes to unusual travel destinations, none of them are able to get a handle on this strange village. They soon come to realize that they are stranded somewhere with something much more dangerous than they could have imagined.

To be a good thriller/horror film, there must be some surprises and shocking events that take you off guard. However, this movie was very straightforward and while there was a lot of suspense as I was waiting for something to happen, very little actually did happen in terms of thrills. There was some action, hot girls and crazy guys, but the plot wasn't good enough to make this a great film. It wasn't horrible either, but the Saw series set the bar pretty high and this just doesn't compare.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Josh Duhamel, Melissa George, Olivia Wilde

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Dan and Kelley Got Married!

2007-04-14T21:00:00.001-07:00

April 14, 2007 - Dan and Kelley got hitched at Roaring Camp in Felton, CA. Yes, that's the place with the trains that take you for rides into the forest - an unusual location, but a fun wedding. Here's a link to their wedding blog (not sure how long they'll keep it up): http://kedcwedding.blogspot.com/. It rained most of the day which meant that instead of having the ceremony in the forest as planned, they actually had it on the train that stopped on a bridge over the San Lorenzo River - pretty cool. Being the Wedding Officiant (I got deputized for the day so I could legally perform the ceremony), I was in the center of the action and can say a good time was had by all. However, since this certainly wasn't a "traditional" wedding, nobody toasted Dan & Kelley at the reception. So, I'll take this opportunity to write what I would have said.

I love my brother

I don’t say that because I’m particularly emotional or sentimental. I say that because the things I’m about to tell you might be considered embarrassing or disparaging, but I feel if I preface it with something nice, maybe you’ll realize it’s all in good fun. Let’s have some fun…

Elementary school in the early 1980’s – most kids packed their belongings in a Trapper Keeper or a backpack and went about the school day. Dan wasn’t like most kids as he decided to pack his belongings in a hard, rectangular, black briefcase that our dad gave to him after buying a new one. Dan really must have taken some heat from the other kids walking around the playground with a briefcase, but he stuck with it and didn’t mind being…unique. That was really my first memory of my brother marching to the beat of his own drummer, but it ended up being a pattern that continues to this day.

Whether it be collecting everything related to Bon Jovi or following them around the country while they’re on tour 20 years past their prime, declaring that all his favorite sports teams are from Colorado where we’ve never lived and he’s only visited a couple of times on vacation, brushing inhibition aside to put on a full air guitar show in his living room complete with a fog machine and light bar – yes he owns a fog machine. These are just a few examples of his unique personality shining through against all sense of normalcy, conformity or regard for the pressure to fit in with the outside world.

That brings us to today. A day that Dan and Kelley planned together. Their wedding day complete with a train ride out to the middle of a redwood forest, the reception in a barn located next to a snack shack, where guest were encouraged to wear denim and comfortable shoes as the bride and groom were going to wear jeans and hockey jerseys, the DJ was an iPod and the food was burgers and hot dogs – not your typical wedding. Let me re-iterate – Dan and Kelley planned this together. So, while some might call my brother crazy, wacky, screwy, loony, goofy, kooky or just a big nut bar, I think he finally found his perfect match. And, of course, I mean that in the nicest way.

Here’s to a long, happy and unorthodox life together.

Mean Girls - Movie Review

2007-04-14T21:00:00.000-07:00

Cady Heron is a 15-year-old girl who has spent most of her life in Africa, where she was home-schooled by her zoologist parents. When her family relocates to the United States, Cady finds herself attending a high school in suburban Illinois, where she gets a crash course in the various sub-strata of the student body: the jocks, the cheerleaders, the stoners, the "cool" kids, and so on. Much to her surprise, Cady finds herself embraced by a clique of rich and popular girls known to outsiders as "the Plastics," led by Regina George, Gretchen Weiners, and Karen Smith. While Cady is grateful for her new friends, it doesn't take long for her to realize how manipulative they can be, and she soon discovers she's violated an unwritten law when she goes out on a date with Aaron, who is charming, good looking...and Regina's former boyfriend. It isn't long before Regina and her pals are on the warpath, and Cady must face a level of vengeful behavior for which years in the jungle never prepared her.

Being a guy, it was great to get an insight into what it's like to be a girl in high school. I had no idea girls could be so gossipy and catty - just kidding, it's a well known fact. Seriously, the film did a good job of taking the high school cliques to a whole new level and pointing out how ridiculous it all is in the process. Thinking back to high school, I could pick out the various characters portrayed in the film which made it that much funnier. The scenes that were shot of the students mimicking wild jungle animals were very clever and the "burn book" was a nice touch that brought everything together. Overall, it was a light and entertaining film that's worth a look if you're in the mood for a chick flick that even guys could tolerate.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Tina Fey, Lacey Chabert

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Invincible - ACE Train Movie Review

2007-04-11T21:00:00.000-07:00

Vince Papale was a 30-year-old substitute teacher and part-time bartender who had never even played college football. When Coach Vermeil made the unprecedented announcement that he would be holding open tryouts for the Philadelphia Eagles, Papale would go against incredible odds to live the dream and experience every fan's biggest fantasy. With a position on the Eagles secured and a new life path forged out of little more than determination and persistence, Papale takes to the field to experience the life-altering rush of running yards as a stadium full of cheering fans burst from their seats to support the hometown hero who proved it's never too late to take control of your own destiny.

This was a solid film and had several things going for it that I consider positive. It was based on a true story, had a hot supporting actress, revolved around football, was fast-paced, well-acted and told an inspirational and relevant story. Mark Wahlberg did a great job playing Vince Papale and really took a beating during filming since he did most of his own stunts. He really carried the film and seemed to show as much heart as the guy he was playing. The special features contained a lot of game footage and interviews with the real man this story was based on, which always interests me as I like to know how much of the movie is true and accurate - very close. Even though I now know how it ends, I wouldn't mind watching it again as it really was entertaining and inspirational.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: Yes
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Greg Kinnear, Elizabeth Banks

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Accepted - ACE Train Movie Reveiw

2007-04-10T21:00:00.000-07:00

Bartleby "B" Gaines is a high school senior whose street smarts just never seemed to translate into the classroom, and whose bad luck in love has left him pining for the unattainable Monica. When Bartleby and his rebellious crew of outcasts find the frequent college rejection letters they have all been receiving bringing endless grief from their disappointed parents, they soon band together to create the fictional South Harmon Institute of Technology. After creating a believable fake in an abandoned psychiatric hospital, employing the talents of a close friend's brilliantly subversive uncle to pose as the dean, and creating a phony website in order to sell the school to their parents, Bartleby and friends soon realize that all of their hard work has paid off in ways than they never imagined.

Surprisingly, this isn't a half-bad film. It's not Oscar worthy and won't go down as a must see, but it's not as ridiculous as I thought it would be. It is certainly entertaining, lighthearted and funny. There isn't a whole lot of substance, but there's some very amusing situations that will make you laugh if you're in a silly mood. The acting is what you'd expect - there's some unusual and interesting characters - and Justin Long does a good job as the lead actor with Lewis Black providing some of his trademark rants. Overall, you can take it or leave it, but it might be worth renting.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Justin Long, Jonah Hill, Blake Lively, Lewis Black

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Happy Feet - ACE Train Movie Reveiw

2007-04-09T21:00:00.000-07:00

In the world of the emperor penguin, a simple song can mean the difference between a lifetime of happiness and an eternity of loneliness. When a penguin named Mumble is born without the ability to sing the romantic song that will attract his soul mate, he'll have to resort to some fancy footwork by tap dancing his way into the heart of the one he loves. As fate would have it, his one friend, Gloria, happens to be the best singer around. Mumble and Gloria have a connection from the moment they hatch, but the other emperor penguins think he is just too different and casts him out of the community. Away from home for the first time, Mumble meets a posse of decidedly un-Emperor-like penguins - the Adelie Amigos. In Adelie Land, Mumble seeks the counsel of Lovelace the Guru, a crazy-feathered Rockhopper penguin who will answer any of life’s questions for the price of a pebble. Together with Lovelace and the Amigos, Mumble sets out across vast landscapes and, after some epic encounters, proves that by being true to yourself, you can make all the difference in the world.

This film wasn't what I had expected. I thought it was going to be a cute, funny penguin movie. It turned out to be much deeper, darker and more serious than that. The little, fuzzy penguin that's featured in the previews and on the cover of the DVD wasn't little and fuzzy for long. In a relatively short amount of time, the baby penguin was grown up, dealing with grown up issues. So much for a kids movie, although I suppose kids can learn that being different might be difficult at first, but gets easier over time. I'm not sure what kids would make of the "aliens" taking the food supply from the penguins although that's a prominent issue featured in the second half of the film. Overall, the animation was stunning, there were some funny and entertaining scenes, but the story was disappointing and more "adult" than anticipated.

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Elijah Wood, Robin Williams, Brittany Murphy, Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Harsh Times - ACE Train Movie Review

2007-04-06T21:00:00.000-07:00

Jim is a Gulf War veteran who believes his sworn duty to protect his fellow Americans extends to the streets of Los Angeles, and he longs to fulfill his destiny by joining the LAPD. Rejected by the force and left to ponder his future with his impoverished Mexican paramour - whom he had intended on bringing to the city after joining the police - the dejected and unemployed veteran is offered a second shot at helping his country when he is subsequently approached by the Department of Homeland Security. As Jim and his unemployed best friend, Mike, carve a swath of chaos through the streets of Los Angeles, the weight of their American dream soon comes crashing down in a devastating blow that threatens to dash their high hopes for a bright future.

This was a very dark and depressing film. The male characters were losers who just went around looking for trouble, drinking and flashing guns. The female characters (including Eva Longoria) seemed out of place since they were the responsible ones who pushed the guys to get their act together. The movie was like a downward spiral with worse and worse things happening until people started dying. It ends after one of the darkest scenes, so it doesn't let up and there's never really a ray of hope. Don't watch this film if you're in a bad mood as it will only serve to make you feel worse.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Christian Bale, Freddy Rodriguez, Eva Longoria

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Unhitched - ACE Train Movie Review

2007-04-04T21:00:00.000-07:00

Soon after causing some ripples in the publishing world with his first novel, emerging writer Olly Pickering wanders wayward and is forced to accept a dead-end position as a lowly assistant. Though it initially appears as if he has entered into a downward spiral from which he isn't likely to emerge anytime soon, Olly finds his luck taking a turn for the better upon meeting the lovely Sarah at the engagement party of a close friend. After discovering that Sarah is in fact the fiance of his philandering friend and the pair have requested that Olly serve as the best man in the upcoming wedding, the dejected writer determines to convince the unsuspecting Sarah that she is about to marry the wrong man. With a little help from his wacky roommate Murray, Olly may be able to put the breaks on the impending nuptials and prove his undying love for Sarah before she makes a mistake she is likely to regret for the rest of her life.

This was a typical, run-of-the-mill romantic comedy. There wasn't anything particularly different or original about the plot or sequence of events. You could see the story unfold from miles away, so there weren't any surprises. I did like the chemistry between the characters and thought Seth Green did a respectable job as an Englishman. There were some amusing scenes that made me laugh (and cringe), but not enough for me to really like the film enough to recommend it. The ending was no different than the rest of the film - predictable and overused.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Amy Smart, Stuart Townsend, Seth Green

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Trust the Man - ACE Train Movie Review

2007-04-03T21:00:00.000-07:00

Rebecca and Tom are a seemingly happy married couple living in New York City - she's a successful actress, while he stays home with the kids. However, beneath the surface, things are not going well. Rebecca is no longer amused with her husband's appetite for porn and constant sexual demands, while he's seriously considering having an affair. Rebecca's brother Tobey is in a more openly dysfunctional relationship; he's been dating Elaine for seven years but has no interest in marriage, while she's desperate to settle down and start a family. Tobey and Elaine decide to call it quits, as Tobey hooks up with an old friend from college who is looking to cheat on her husband, and Elaine starts dating a handsome musician who may be in need of a green card. Meanwhile, Rebecca and Tom go into couples therapy, which creates as many problems as it solves.

This was a light and fun film. Even though it dealt with some pretty heavy issues, the mood of the film was mostly upbeat. All of the actors did a very convincing job and they had great chemistry. The plot wasn't terribly original, but it was pretty funny and full of drama. The one thing that I really didn't like was the ending. It was very corny and cliche, so it ended on a down note. Other than that, it was definitely one that women will love and men should be able to tolerate.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Julianne Moore, David Duchovny, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Billy Crudup

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Children of Men - ACE Train Movie Review

2007-04-02T21:00:00.000-07:00

The year is 2027, and women can no longer give birth. The youngest inhabitant of the planet has just died at the age of 18, and all hope for humanity has been lost. As civilization descends into chaos, a dying world finds one last chance for survival in the form of a woman who has become inexplicably pregnant. Now, as warring nationalistic sects clash and British leaders try to maintain their totalitarian stronghold on the country, a disillusioned bureaucrat is brought back into the fold of activism by his guerrilla ex-wife. Reluctantly, he takes on the daunting task of escorting Kee, the refugee who represents humankind's last hope for survival, out of harm's way and into the care of a mysterious organization known as The Human Project.

Although the plot was original, I was pretty bored with this film. There was a lot of action with guns blazing and bombs exploding, but the story was so straightforward that I lost interest as it was obvious where it was going and there weren't interesting sub-plots to spice it up. I also found it a little too unbelievable that Clive Owen's character kept getting into the middle of gun fights, but didn't get hit with any bullets - I know it's a movie, but come on... Anyway, when it ended, my first reaction was to turn it off and go about my business - no thinking about why certain things happened or wondering what would happen to the characters after the film ended. I certainly hope there's no sequel.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, Michael Caine, Claire-Hope Ashitey

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Idiocracy - ACE Train Movie Review

2007-03-30T21:00:00.000-07:00

In 2005, Pvt. Joe Bowers is a soldier chosen to take part in a secret military scientific experiment in which he will be put into induced hibernation for one year, along with a woman named Rita. Bowers is chosen for the assignment because he is statistically the most average man in the Army, while Rita is a hooker ordered to do some community service; however, Bowers and Rita are forgotten when the military base where the experiment took place is closed down, and when they wake up in the year 2505, Bowers finds himself living in a society where intelligence has taken such a landslide he's now the smartest man in the world. Can Bowers save America from its own remarkable stupidity, and he can he get the dunderheads around him to believe what he says?

The title says it all. This is an idiotic and horribly bad film. It's ironic that one of the main themes of this movie is the completely mindless television shows that people watch in the future - this film would fit right in. The first 2 minutes contained the only slightly entertaining part (a description of how people with low IQs reproduce at a much higher rate than people with high IQs). Once they set that scene, it was all down hill. I actually fast-forwarded though a couple of the slow parts (there were many) because I can't bring myself to actually turn off a movie without finishing it, although I was very close with this one. Don't waste your time.

Rating: 1 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Luke Wilson, Maya Rudolph, Dax Shepard

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Flushed Away - ACE Train Movie Review

2007-03-30T13:00:00.000-07:00

Roddy was living the high life when he first met Sid the sewer rat, but that's all about to change when Sid decides to send the hapless mouse down the pipes and stealthily take his place in the lap of luxury. Though the bustling sewer city of Ratropolis isn't without its fair share of kind citizens, it is certainly no place for a pampered mouse with a taste for life's finer things. Upon making the acquaintance of scavenger rat Rita, Roddy is certain that the pair can navigate their way back to the surface in Rita's trusty boat, the Jammy Dodger, but Rita's help doesn't come cheap, and the nefarious Toad is determined to rid Ratropolis of all things rodent.

This was a very entertaining and funny animated film. There seems to have been a series of disappointing animated features recently, but this bucks the trend. The story was original, the animation was clean and pleasing to the eye, the plot progressed quickly which meant it never got boring and it was actually funny (I loved the little slugs). This is one I enjoyed without kids, but I'm sure kids would love it even more and there's even a nice message of good triumphing over evil to go with the silly antics.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Voices of Hugh Jackman, Kate Winslet, Jean Reno

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

The Pursuit of Happyness - ACE Train Movie Review

2007-03-28T21:00:00.000-07:00

Set in early-'80s San Francisco, the film charts the hard times and eventual comeback of Chris Gardner, a suddenly single salesman who has custody of his son, but finds that providing for the two of them is a challenge in the increasingly unstable economic climate. He struggles to work his way from unpaid intern at Dean Witter to something more substantial, even as life continues to offer him setbacks.

Overall, this was a good film with a great message. However, most of the film was pretty depressing. I mean, the guy couldn't catch a break despite working hard to do all the right things for him and his family. It wasn't until the very end of the film that things started looking up. So, if you can handle 2 hours of depressing circumstances, this really is an amazing true life story of overcoming obstacles and shows that "keeping your eye on the prize" can really pay off. The special features include an interview with the real Chris Gardner where he talks about his story and validates the authenticity of most of the scenes in the movie. Definitely worth a look.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Will Smith, Jaden Christopher Syre Smith, Thandie Newton

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

The Descent - ACE Train Movie Review

2007-03-27T21:00:00.000-07:00

After suffering a devastating car crash one year before, Sarah is lured to the States with her friend Beth to a special spelunking trip by the fearless Juno, who abruptly fled from the U.K. after Sarah's accident. Along with two old friends and a new acquaintance of Juno's, the group embark on a cave expedition that takes a turn for the worse after a rock fall leaves them stranded in an uncharted cave with no map and only a handful of supplies to last them the rest of the trip. As tensions arise in the group, they are faced with another danger - one whose love of the dark is as strong as its lust for blood.

If you've seen The Cave, then whatever you thought about that film will probably be the same as what you'll think of this one. The plots are very similar which isn't necessarily a good thing. Personally, I thought The Cave was horribly bad and this one was a bit better, but still not a good film. The acting, special effects and storyline were just so-so. There were a couple scary/shocking scenes, but it was mostly full of build up without reward. It trades a good plot for gore, which isn't a good exchange - there's only so many times you can see an ice axe stabbing a "crawler" before it gets old.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Shauna MacDonald, Natalie Mendoza, Alex Reid

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Blood Diamond - ACE Train Movie Review

2007-03-26T21:00:00.000-07:00

Ripped from his family farm and forced to toil away in the sweltering South African diamond fields, Solomon Vandy discovered an extraordinary rough stone of immeasurable value. Danny Archer is a hired gun who specializes in the sale of so-called "blood diamonds" that are used to finance rebellions and terrorist organizations, and is currently serving time for smuggling. As a bloody civil war rages in Sierra Leone and Archer learns that Vandy has safely hidden the diamond in a place where no one would ever suspect, the pair enlist the aid of disillusioned American journalist Maddy Bowen in recovering the treasure that has the power to save Vandy's family and provide the desperate Archer with a much-needed chance for redemption.

This was a very good film. It had action, drama, guns, explosions, airplanes, helicopters, missiles, blood, amputations - everything that makes for a must see. Seriously, it kept me on the edge of my seat and held my interest the entire time. While the film wasn't based on a specific true event, the overall topic and general conflict was real (and continues to be, to a lesser extent). The "realness" of the movie makes it more interesting and sickening at the same time. It's a story that needed to be told and was done so in the best possible way. My only disappointment was that there weren't any special features that showed the real Sierra Leone or the people affected by the real conflict. Oh well, I suppose the movie was real enough.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: Yes
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Connelly, Djimon Hounsou

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

All the King's Men - ACE Train Movie Review

2007-03-23T21:00:00.000-07:00

Willie Stark is a man of the people, and for the people; at least that's what he tells the people. Propelled into a race for governor by opposing forces looking to split the "hick vote," Stark is convinced by a handler - as well as by young journalist Jack Burden - to not pander to the powers that be. His rhetoric grows fiery, and he makes his way into office on a not-so-solid foundation of social-service promises. When idealism gives way to the harsh realities of the time, however, the fast-talking politico is quick to discover just how far one can fall when ambition and power lead to a betrayal of one's original motivations.

Booorrring! It's not that this was a particularly bad movie, the topic was just not interesting to me. The actors did a great job, but the story was dull and slow to progress. Sean Penn's character was quite an eccentric individual and stirred up a lot of drama, but not enough to make the movie engaging. Politics isn't something that I think of as exciting, so sitting through a 2 hour movie about a Louisiana political rivalry probably wasn't the best thing I could have done. That being said, it actually started getting a little interesting toward the end, but then it ended.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Sean Penn, Jude Law, Kate Winslet, Mark Ruffalo, James Gandolfini

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Sublime - ACE Train Movie Review

2007-03-21T21:00:00.000-07:00

Family man George Grieves checks into Mt. Abadon Hospital for a routine procedure. When he awakens from his anesthesia, something is terribly wrong, with George, with the hospital and especially with the shuttered East Ward, an eerie lair of secrets, sex and surgical terrors.

This is a pretty gruesome and confusing film. It caught my eye because I used to watch Tom Cavanagh in the television shows "Ed" and "Love Monkey." However, this film is nothing like those shows. It starts off normal enough, but once Tom's character enters the hospital, everything changes and the confusion and torture begins. It's not until the last 15 minutes that you realize what has been going on and it makes more sense. The journey to get to the end is really not worth it and it's a painfully slow moving movie. Definitely not a must see.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Tom Cavanagh, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, Kathleen York

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

The Holiday - ACE Train Movie Review

2007-03-20T21:00:00.000-07:00

After each suffers her fair share of romantic disappointments, Englishwoman Iris and L.A. woman Amanda meet on-line at a website devoted to helping people exchange houses for vacations. Each agrees to spend the Christmas holiday at the other's home. While each suffers from a minor case of culture shock, both women also end up becoming involved with a man. Iris makes the acquaintance of an upbeat everyman, while Amanda spends time with a handsome Brit. Both women must decide what to do with these new relationships as their pre-arranged house switch is scheduled to last less than two weeks.

As far as romantic comedies go, this was a great film. I'm not usually into the sappy chick flicks, which I thought this was going to be. However, I was pleasantly surprised that the plot was more than just about women who were wounded by bad relationships trying to find a good guy. There were several sub-plots that added real meat to the story and kept it interesting (and funny, too). The fact that a bunch of big name actors appeared in this film, which seems to be a recipe for disaster for most films, worked well in this one. The chemistry between all of the characters was smooth and appeared very natural which made it easy to watch and believe. This is definitely a film worth a look.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Jack Black

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Winkie - Book Review

2007-03-18T21:00:00.000-07:00

Winkie is about a teddy bear of the same name that is accused of terrorism. As the book opens, Winkie is all alone, having lost his child, in the lonely cabin of a now-dead professor. But one night, a swat team visits the cabin, takes him into custody, and arrests him on over nine thousand charges including terrorism, treason, “corrupting the youth of Athens,” teaching evolution, and being a witch.

As the novel progresses, the reader goes through the daily indignities that Winkie suffers such as a corrupt prison system and cruel jailers. On the way Winkie meets friends such as Francoise, a lesbian Muslim cleaning woman and his stuttering lawyer, Charles Unwin. The book also delves deeply into Winkie's past; his life living with the many generations of the Chase family (including Clifford, the author of the novel) and finally gaining sentience and moving out on his own into the wild.

Needless to say, a book about a teddy bear who comes to life and is arrested for horrible crimes that he may, or may not, have committed is definitely one of the strangest novels I have ever read. As kids, we have all pretended that inanimate objects were real and had personalities and were able to interact with us. Clifford Chase takes this to another level and creates an entire history for his bear, complete with emotions and thoughts about various events throughout the bear's life. On top of that, he puts the seemingly innocent bear in the position of being arrested and sent to jail while going through a trial for thousands of crimes that he is accused of committing.

After reading the synopsis of the book, it sounded very strange, but also appealing as I figured it would be full of action and imagination. However, it was mostly pretty boring. The majority of the book focused on Winkie's mundane life while sitting on a shelf, hoping to be picked up and played with or hugged - not a real page turner. When the trial started, I figured the action would pick up, but it didn't. It ended just like it started - slow and full of strange events that were never really explained. Overall, I liked the concept and originality of the book, but it was relatively mundane in its execution.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I read it again: No

Winkie
by Clifford Chase
Hardcover: 236 pages
Released: 2006