Mr. & Mrs. Smith - ACE Train Movie Review

Mr. & Mrs. Smith are a suburban couple who's marriage starts to head South after several years of marriage. While their married life is stale and boring, they are both living double lives and are finding excitement elsewhere. Both are world-class assassins who risk their lives for tons of money, but neither is aware of the other's secret life until they are both assigned to take out the same target. After they meet on the battlefield, their marriage and lives will never be the same.

The action in this film is way over the top and not based in any way on reality, but if you know that up front, it is quite entertaining and enjoyable. Specifically, the fight scenes involve an exuberant amount of bullets flying, but they never seem to mortally wound the "good guys" who actually seem to be enjoying themselves and are sometimes distracted by relatively trivial issues during the melees. Beyond that, it is quite humorous to watch the competitive, love/hate relationship between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. I must admit I was watching the chemistry between the two to see if I could find signs to signal their budding off-screen romance and they did seem to get along very well. Overall, it was a good film and I liked it better than I thought I would (I'm not a fan of Angelina Jolie ever since her love affair with Billy Bob Thornton and her brother :-)

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Vince Vaughn

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.

Melinda and Melinda - ACE Train Movie Review

A group of friends are having dinner when two of them begin to argue about whether a story about a woman with some serious problems in her life can be viewed as a comedy or a tragic drama depending on the way certain elements are handled. The rest of the film switches between the two versions. Both versions are about a woman who's down on her luck, lost her husband, lost custody of her kids and her friends try to set her up with a man. While the tragic version continues to go down hill, the comedy has humorous twists and turns finishing with a big surprise.

I'm not a big Woody Allen fan and usually think his movies are a little on the strange side, but I must say that the concept for this film was very original and intriguing. It was imaginative to tell the same story, but from two different perspectives since it's true that people can view the same situation many different ways. With that being said, I felt that the comedic version wasn't as funny as it could have been so the two versions weren't as different as they should have been. Oh well, I give him points for trying something original. It definitely had the Woody Allen oddness to it, but I enjoyed the film and would recommend it to anyone looking for something different.

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Will Ferrell, Amanda Peet, Chloe Sevigny, Chiwetel Ejiofor

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.

Christmas with the Kranks - Movie Review

After learning that their daughter will be in Peru with the Peace Corps for the holidays, a man and wife decide to skip Christmas and instead take a cruise to a tropical location - no presents, no tree, no decorations. Although it sounded like a good plan, everyone around them gave them a very bad time and didn't understand how anyone can just skip Christmas. Just as it seemed they had successfully pulled it off, their daughter called to say she changed her plans and decided to come home for the holidays, so the scramble begins to create Christmas in short order.

This is a typical corny Christmas movie. I didn't realize that it was based on a John Grisham novel until after I watched it, which disappointed me even more - maybe the novel is good, but it didn't come through in the movie. There were a few funny parts, but it's mostly cornball, feel-good Christmas cliches that culminate in a predictable ending and a sick feeling that you just wasted 90 minutes watching an un-original pile of crap. This will definitely not sit next to "A Christmas Story" and "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" on the annual viewing shelf.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Tim Allen, Jamie Lee Curtis, Dan Aykroyd, Cheech Marin

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.

Kinsey - Movie Review

This is a film biography about Alfred Kinsey, an entomologist from Indiana University who decided to study human sexual behavior after discovering there was very little scholarly research on the subject. Given that this happened in the 1940s, sex was rarely discussed and general assumptions about what was "normal" or acceptable behavior turned out to be very different than what was actually taking place. Kinsey conducted numerous candid interviews with a wide variety of people from all walks of life to find the truth about sex practices in America. The two resulting books, "Sexual Behavior in the Human Male" and "Sexual Behavior in the Human Female," created an uproar in the then-conservative society.

In today's society, which no topic seems to be off limits and the evening news contains content that might not be appropriate for children, it's hard to imagine a time when there were inhibitions and boundaries for what was acceptable. That is part of what makes this film so interesting. People were very naive about their own biology and general consensus was that pre-marital sex, same-sex contacts, and masturbation were dangerous and perverted. Kinsey's research conflicted with conventional thinking and created a more enlightened country by at least sparking conversation about a taboo subject. This film also pushes the boundaries by showing images and touching on topics that are controversial even today. While this wasn't the best movie I have seen, it certainly sparked my interest in reading more about the life of Alfred Kinsey.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Liam Neeson, Laura Linney, Chris O'Donnell, John Lithgow, Peter Sarsgaard

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.

Final Destination 2 - ACE Train Movie Review

As the only surviving person from the first film waits in a mental institution certain that death will get her, a new woman starts to have premonitions of death. She is driving along a highway and witnesses a terrible accident where several fatalities occur. Moments later, the vision is gone and the scene starts to unfold before her for real, but she intervenes and saves several of the people she saw perish in her vision. However, death starts to reclaim each survivor one by one. The woman decides to contact the only survivor from the first film to see if they can come up with a way to stop this deadly cycle.

Being a sequel, some of the originality was gone as I knew what to expect. It seemed just like a remake of the first film with a different beginning, the same middle and a similar end. There was one twist that I liked which was when you found out that all of the characters in this film had an eerie similarity. Other than that, the death sequence in this film were even more over the top than the first and were more comedic than tragic. There is a third film in the sequence that is in theaters now, but I can't image what more needs to be told to necessitate a third film. I'll probably watch it to find out, but it's definitely a rental.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Ali Larter, A.J. Cook, Michael Landes

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.

SJ Sharks vs. Phoenix Coyotes - 11/19/05

I went to the game with Shawnna, Dan and one of Dan's friends. We bought the "family 4 pack" which meant each ticket came with a hot dog, soft pretzel and soda. All that after eating dinner at Chevy's - buuurrrrp!

The Sharks started off in what seems to be their usual fashion this season: inept, unskilled, bumbling, awkward, ungraceful, amateurish, klutzy, stiff, tired, weak... you get the idea. Phoenix scored 3 minutes into the game and struck again less than 1 minute later. With the Sharks down 2-0, I figured this would be like their typical recent games where they get down early and come back to make it interesting late in the game - it doesn't take a genius to pick out the pattern.

After being severely outplayed in the first period, the Sharks came out ready to work in the second. Patrick Marleau scored on the power play 3 minutes into the period and the Sharks looked energized. The energy was dampened a bit when Phoenix struck back 3 minutes later with their own power play goal. Despite being down 3-1, the Sharks actually were starting to look good and outshot Phoenix 13-7 in the period.

The third period was all Sharks. In typical fashion, they turned up the intensity and completely dominated the third period. Wayne Primeau scored less than 5 minutes in and Tom Preissing tapped in a rebound 4 minutes later to tie the game 3-3. The Sharks had many chances to get the go-ahead goal, but Cujo stood on his head to bring the game to overtime as the Sharks outshot Phoenix 16-3 in the period.

The overtime session was more of the same with the Sharks outshooting Phoenix 4-0, while Cujo was perfect in net. The shootout was evenly matched as both Nabokov and Joseph gave up 1 goal each bringing the game to a sudden death shootout. Geoff Sanderson was up first for Phoenix and faked Nabby before finding the back of the net. Nils Ekman was next for the Sharks, but his wrister fell short and the Coyotes were victorious.

Witnessing how dominating the Sharks were in the third period and overtime, it's frustrating to know they are much better than their record and they would have many more points if they played with that kind of intensity from the start of the game instead of bring it on after giving up a couple of goals.

Of note: This was Mike Ricci's first time playing back in San Jose after having signed with Phoenix prior to the lockout. A video tribute was played on the scoreboard and he receive a long and loud standing ovation.

Score: L 4-3 shootout
1st Period
Pho - Mike Comrie (Derek Morris, Oleg Saprykin)
Pho - Ladislav Nagy (Denis Gauthier, Jamie Lundmark)
2nd Period
SJ - Patrick Marleau(PP) (Niko Dimitrakos, Milan Michalek)
Pho - Dave Scatchard(PP) (Shane Doan, Keith Ballard)
3rd Period
SJ - Wayne Primeau(PP) (unassisted)
SJ - Tom Preissing (Niko Dimitrakos)
OT
None

SJ SOG: 47
Cal SOG: 25
Winning Goalie: Curtis Joseph
Losing Goalie: Evgeni Nabokov

Tickets: Section 208 Row 11

Blink - Book Review

Why are some people brilliant decision makers, while other are consistently inept? Why do some people follow their instincts and win, while other end up stumbling into error? How do our brains really work - in the office, in the classroom, in the kitchen, and in the bedroom? And why are the best decisions often those that are impossible to explain to others?

Those are the questions asked on the book jacket and the content in the book attempts to answer those questions and more. The main concept that the author presents is called "thin slicing." Basically, with the proper knowledge, you can take very small snippets of a situation and make snap judgments that are more reliable than if you spend gobs of time analyzing the situation. He tells the story of the real hospital that ER was based on and how they dramatically reduced the wait time for cardiac patients by creating a system for making intelligent snap decisions to categorize the seriousness of their chest pains.

On the other hand, the author cautions about the dangers of "thin slicing" without the proper background knowledge. He relates the story of Amadou Diallo who was murdered in the Bronx by a car full of police officers who thought he looked suspicious. As they approached, Diallo quickly turned to go back into his apartment. As they got closer, they saw Diallo reach and pull something black out of his pocket, so they started shooting and didn't stop until 41 shots rang out. When it was all over, the officers approached the body to retrieve what they thought would be a gun, but instead found that Diallo had been reaching for his wallet as he thought he was getting mugged.

Other stories include the New Coke debacle, the "Warren Harding Effect," the fake statue that fooled the J. Paul Getty Museum and the most expensive war game ever conducted by the Pentagon (this one is VERY interesting and has a huge impact on the war we're currently in). Overall, the writing style of Malcolm Gladwell makes for a fascinating and quick read, but there is virtually no mention of any technique to increase your ability to "blink." Aside from the fact I was expecting something a little different, this book provided original insights into some high profile newsworthy items over the past couple of decades and it was worth reading once.

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

Blink : The Power of Thinking Without Thinking
by Malcolm Gladwell
Hardcover: 288 pages
January, 2005

Pirates of Silicon Valley - ACE Train Movie Review

This is a made for TNT movie that tells the story of Microsoft founder Bill Gates and Apple co-founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak from college life through corporate supremacy. The Apple plot recounts how Jobs and Wozniak "borrowed" key concepts from a Xerox computer lab and created a successful company before struggling with the pressures of success. The Microsoft plot focuses on the way Gates learned from, then surpassed, Apple and turned his company into the global powerhouse that it is today.

The mediocre acting and the amateur-like way this film was shot makes me think it was a college project. However, it was very interesting and a bit of a history lesson for someone who wasn't around for the "birth" of the personal computer as we know it today. Since it was based on true events, I'm really interested in what parts were fact and which were embellished. Specifically, did Steve Jobs really steal the UI from Xerox and then get poached by Bill Gates? Did Bill Gates really meet with IBM and sell them DOS before he even created it; and then bought the basis of DOS from a schoolmate for $50,000? Was Steve Jobs that much of a power-hungry, slave-driving jackass? Nonetheless, it was entertaining.

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Noah Wyle, Anthony Michael Hall

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.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - ACE Train Movie Review

Tim Burton's remake of the book made famous by the 1971 classic movie, "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory." A secretive owner of a wildly successful candy company decides to give 5 children a chance to tour his factory which is closed to visitors. By placing 5 golden tickets in randomly selected candy bars, the recluse captures the imagination of all kids including Charlie, a kid from a poor family who lives in the shadows of the factory and is lucky enough to find one of the tickets. While touring the fantasy-filled factory, some of the 5 kids learn tough lessons and one will become the apprentice.

I generally enjoy Tim Burton's films and I think Johnny Depp is a great actor. However, I don't think this was the right film for either to be involved in. Burton's version of this classic is a little too dark and Depp was too creepy and Michael Jackson-esque. Of course, while I was watching it, I was comparing it to the original film, so this isn't a totally objective review since I loved the original and it would have taken a lot to live up to that standard. The music was much better in the original and the inside of the factory was more awe-inspiring in the original as well. I also didn't like the fact that one guy played the part of every Oompa Loompa inside the factory...lame. With the technology available today, I just think they could have created a truly jaw-dropping film about a candy factory that kids would dream about. Instead, I'll have to watch the original film again to satisfy my sweet tooth.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Johnny Depp, Freddie Highmore, David Kelly, Deep Roy

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.

Final Destination - ACE Train Movie Review

On the way to Paris with his high school class, a guy has a premonition of the plane crashing and demands to be let off the flight. In the ensuing chaos, he and 5 classmates leave the plane only to watch as the premonition comes true and the plane explodes during takeoff. While the FBI investigates possible foul play, the 6 classmates who cheated death find that death isn't so quick to let go as they start to die one by one.

I thought the plot was very original and imaginative. The various ways that death comes back to reclaim the survivors are pretty creative and gruesome, but a little over the top; some of the sequences relied on too many coincidences. There was plenty of action which made the film go by very quickly and the ending left it open for a sequel, which I'll be watching shortly. Who's next?

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Devon Sawa, Ali Larter, Seann William Scott

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.

Shall We Dance? - ACE Train Movie Review

A Chicago lawyer who is married with kids feels that something in his life is missing despite having a loving family. On his commute home one night, he decides to stop off at a dance studio with the hope of meeting the woman he often sees in the window. While the woman quickly lays to rest any romantic notions, he finds that he actually enjoys dancing and begins to train for an upcoming dance competition. He doesn't tell his wife about his new passion and she becomes suspicious enough to hire a private investigator to see if he's cheating. His new and old lives crash together and some tough choices have to been made.

Warning: This is a chick flick. I thought the whole premise was a bit cheezy. A serious lawyer decides that his real passion in life is ballroom dancing and his sports reporter friend is already living a secret life as a ballroom dancer. In the real world, those two would have become gay lovers and danced off into the sunset. However, in the movie, ballroom dancing makes them chick magnets and the lawyer must decide whether he wants to Rumba with his wife or the dance instructor. I will admit, Richard Gere and Jennifer Lopez are very good dancers, but I need to watch an action movie next.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Richard Gere, Jennifer Lopez, Susan Sarandon

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.

Without a Paddle - ACE Train Movie Review

Three friends from Philadelphia decide to take a trip they had been planning since they were kids after the death of the fourth member of their childhood group. The trip is a canoeing adventure down the rivers in Oregon in search of $200,000 never recovered when airliner highjacker D.B. Cooper parachuted, possibly to his death, in 1971. Since none of them have any canoeing experience, things quickly go very wrong and they find themselves trying to survive in the wilderness.

I hesitated to put this film on my list because I thought it looked dumb, but I was pleasantly surprised and really enjoyed it. The three main characters had good chemistry and the situations they got into were hilarious; the maternal bear, the pot growing rednecks, the tree hugging hotties, the crazy old mountain man - Ha! The action was non-stop and they packed quite a bit into 90 minutes. This isn't a classic or anything, but it's worth watching once and the overall message of the film was a really good one - basically to live life to the fullest.

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Seth Green, Matthew Lillard, Dax Shepard, Burt 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.

Black Cloud - ACE Train Movie Review

Black Cloud is a Native American with a troubled family life who finds his release in the boxing ring. Coached by his longtime mentor, the young man shows great promise in a local boxing competition. A scout for the US Olympics eyes him in the ring and wants to recruit him for the team, but Black Cloud isn't sure he want to fight for anyone other than his people. He is also involved with a Native American woman who has a child with a white man from a previous relationship with whom he has had some run-ins. After a violent tussle, Black Cloud finds himself on the wrong side of the law and must look inward to get back on the right path.

Rick Schroder wrote, directed and produced this movie - not bad for the kid from Silver Spoons. I thought the premise was a good one; a Navajo Indian struggles to find the balance between "making it" and holding on to his Native American culture and values. However, the stereotypes were a little too pronounced as it was literally a game of cowboys vs indians. The comments about the white man stealing from the indians got a little old as I was hoping for a little more substance. The acting wasn't bad, just a little amateur-ish, although I thought the main character did a great job. If you're looking for a deep movie about Native American culture and the struggle to fit into modern society, look elsewhere. But, if you want to watch the Native American version of Rocky, this could be for you.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Eddie Spears, Julia Jones, Tim McGraw, Rick Schroder

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.