Syriana - ACE Train Movie Review

Reform-minded Gulf country prince Nasir is in favor of making his nation more self-sufficient rather than U.S.-reliant, and his money-minded Western connections couldn't be less pleased. Before settling into a cushy desk job for the remainder of his career, CIA agent Bob Barnes is sent on one last assignment - to assassinate Prince Nasir and reinstate U.S. ties in the oil-rich region. Though his loyalty dictates that Barnes carry out his current mission despite lingering doubts of a previous blunder, his mission goes horribly awry when his field contact goes turncoat and Barnes becomes a CIA scapegoat. Meanwhile, up-and-coming Washington attorney Bennett Holiday attempts to walk a fine line in overseeing a tenuous merger between two oil giants that's plagued with shady business dealings. Hotshot energy analyst Bryan Woodman is in talks to form a lucrative partnership with Prince Nasir, though the death of his son during a party at the prince's estate makes him question his loyalty to business over family. Back in Washington, D.C., Bennet's boss Dean Whiting attempts to undermine Prince Nasir's attempts to make his country less reliant on the U.S. dollar by planting the seeds of dissonance between the progressive prince and his money-minded younger brother Prince Meshal.

Get ready to pay attention. What a complicated film; there are a lot of characters to keep track of and several different storylines happening simultaneously. A general knowledge of world politics, Middle East relations and the oil industry is a must. I'll admit that my knowledge of these things aren't the best which is why I'm going to do a little research and watch it again in a couple of days. I'm sure I'll "get it" a little better after watching it again, but I did appreciate the amount of work that went into telling these stories and the power of the message they were trying to get across - keeping in mind that it's based on true events. Of course, I reserve the right to change my rating after watching it a second time.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: Yes
Starring: George Clooney, Matt Damon, Jeffrey Wright, Amanda Peet

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.

Counting Crows & Goo Goo Dolls in Concert - June 27, 2006

On June 27th, Shawnna, Dan and myself attended the Counting Crows & Goo Goo Dolls concert at Shoreline Amphitheater. We met for dinner at Fiesta Del Mar before the show, but after placing our order and munching on chips and salsa, we were informed that they ran out of gas, so we ended up eating at The Sports Page - not the same quality, but good none the less. After dinner, we headed to the show (our seats were in Section 101, Row K).

We were early enough to see the opening band, Augustana, which was a mellow rock band that reminded me a little of The Black Crows. They were surprisingly good during their 30 minute set and were very musically talented. They were obviously thrilled to have the opportunity to open for two great bands and really held their own.

Next up were the Goo Goo Dolls. They played a 75 minute set of some of their greatest hits including Give a Little Bit, Slide, Black Balloon, Name, Iris, Broadway and Better Days. They pretty much played each song straight up like it sounds on the album without much deviation for "live effect." It sounded pretty good, but when Robby Takac (bassist) sang a few songs, it was extremely difficult to hear him. The set design was pretty minimal with just a few risers on the stage for the keyboardist, guitarist and drummer. They seemed to be having a good time and played well with the audience.

The Counting Crows finished off the evening with a 75 minute set on their own. In contrast to the Goo Goo Dolls, the Counting Crows didn't just play their songs as if they pushed play on their CD player. Instead, each song was a journey through their musical works with Adam Duritz as the conductor. He was deeply in tune with the music and it was obvious that he lived each song and felt each note. It reminded me more of a jazz concert than rock show - if you wanted to sing along, forget about it. They played most of their hits including Mr. Jones, Round Here, Rain King, A Long December and Mrs. Potter's Lullaby which satisfied my craving for Counting Crows in concert.

Overall, I had a good time at the show, but was really surprised at how sparse the audience was. Due to fact there were so few people, it wasn't as loud as it could have been and the excitement wasn't there. The "encores" for each band were really just part of the set and not a result of the crowd cheering so loudly that the bands came back on. Anyway, I'm glad I went, but probably won't go to see either band again (I've seen the Goo Goo Dolls twice before in 1996).

The Brother's Grimm - ACE Train Movie Review

Will Grimm and his brother Jake Grimm earn their living by traveling from village to village and vanquishing strange supernatural beasts that have been menacing the populace. Or at least that's what their clients think has been happening; as it happens, Will and Jake are con men who cleverly stage the ghostly attacks and then take payment for making the creatures they fabricated go away. One day, the brothers arrive in a town and offer to help its people drive away evil spirits, unaware that the community is bordered by a genuine enchanted forest, and that young girls in the village have been disappearing at a frightful rate. The Grimm Brothers must now learn how to deal with real magic, with the help of the lovely but fearless Angelika.

This film was cleverly put together, but requires that you know all of the major fairy tales in order to catch the subtle (and not so subtle) nuances. I'm not well versed in the fairy tale realm, so I'm sure I missed some things. Despite that, there was some action, romance, trickery and even mildly funny comedy. However, it was pretty dark, drab and I wasn't engrossed in the film at all, so I was happy to see it end. Overall, I would skip this one unless you're a fairy tale fiend.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Matt Damon, Heath Ledger, Monica Bellucci

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.

Half Dome Hike - June 24, 2006

View the photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/52995831@N00/sets/72157594178530235/

On Friday, June 23rd, myself, Shawnna, Dan, Kelley and Dad set off for Yosemite with the intention of hiking Half Dome (Shawnna decided to stay in Yosemite Valley and do some smaller hikes - Lower Yosemite Falls and Mirror Lake - while practicing her photography skills). We stayed in tent cabins at Curry Village which is about a half mile from the trailhead. After checking in at about 5pm, we got situated, ate dinner, showered and played Uno before getting some sleep prior to our big hike.

We woke up early on Saturday, ate a little breakfast, got our packs in order and drove to the closest parking lot to the trailhead (every bit helps :) By 6:30am we were on the trail making some progress. The temperature was in the upper 60s with the projected high in the mid 90s, so we wanted to get as far as we could before the afternoon sun started to beat down on us. We made good time hiking over the Vernal Falls bridge and up to the junction where we had to decide if we wanted to hike the next couple of miles up the Mist Trail or John Muir Trail. The Mist Trail (which runs right next to Vernal Falls so the trail is perpetually wet from the mist) is a little shorter, but much steeper due to the fact it consists mostly of stairs. The John Muir Trail is a bit longer, easier and not as scenic. Dan, Kelley and I chose the Mist Trail while Dad decided to go up the John Muir Trail. We agreed to meet at the top of Nevada falls where the trails intersect, so we went our separate ways.

The Mist Trail was especially wet since there was a ton of water in the falls, so we were soaked most of the way up. I was savoring the coolness since I knew how hot it was going to get later in the day. By 8:30am we were at the intersection of the two trails waiting for Dad to meet us. As time passed, we wondered how slow he was going, if he was waiting at the Nevada Falls bridge (.2 miles down from where we were) or if he beat us to this point and kept hiking. After 40 minutes of waiting, Dan hiked down to the bridge to see if he was there, but there was no sign of him. We decided that since we had been waiting for 1 hour at that point (and we had no way of contacting him; he didn't have a cell phone and service was spotty at best anyway), we would carry on without him and hopefully meet him at the top. So, at 9:30am we continued our hike.

Being an hour behind, we could feel the heat intensifying as we hiked through Little Yosemite Valley (a relatively flat stretch where there is a campground). Next, it was back up the mountain for a few miles of relatively steep switchbacks. There was some relief as we passed a few small streams and were able to cool off a bit. We made it to the lookout point where we were able to see our final destination as well as the large amount of granite stairs and steel cables that were still to come.

A short time later, we were at the bottom of the stairs preparing ourselves for the most grueling part of the hike - climbing literally hundreds of very large stairs carved into the granite. After hydrating and re-applying sun block, we started up the granite steps. After several short breaks to catch our breath and drink more water, we made our way up the stairs and stood at the bottom of the cables looking up at a long stream of people holding on to the cables that stretched from the top of the dome all the way down to where we were standing and there was actually a line of about 15 people waiting for their turn to climb to the top. The cables are a pair of 900 ft long steel cables spaced 4 feet apart and held 4 feet off the granite by metal posts which are spaced about 8 feet apart. Typically, people climb in between the two cables so they can hold on with both hands, but after seeing the line of people and estimating it would take about 45 minutes to reach the top, I went to the outside of the right cable and climbed up using only one cable and reaching over the other hands that were already holding on. By doing it that way, it only took me 10-15 minutes and I was on top of the dome by 1pm - Dan & Kelley made it 20 minutes later after following me part of the way, then getting back in between the two cables for the last portion.

At the top of Half Dome, we ate our lunch, nursed Kelley's cramping muscles and Dan popped the question (Kelley said, "Yes!"). We walked around for a while up on top taking pictures and video of the awesome view and Dan & I had a snowball fight - yes, there was snow on the top of Half Dome. At 2pm, we decided it was time to head back, so we made our way back to the cables which were still crowded with people and grabbed the outside of the right cable to slide down to the bottom. At the bottom of the cables, we started to hear thunder and see lightning off in the distance, so it was good timing to be off of the cables which would be great conductors of electricity if they were struck with lightning. Next, we navigated down the granite stairs from hell and continued all the way down to Nevada falls without much excitement except for the fact Dan didn't bring enough water, so I gave him some of mine. At Nevada Falls, we took off our shoes and socks so we could put our feet in the water - the water was SO COLD, but felt SO GOOD on our aching feet.

At this point, we decided to go down the John Muir Trail (as opposed to the Mist Trail we took to come up) because we didn't know if our knees could take all of the stairs and we thought we might see Dad on the side of the trail on the way down :) The trail down was hot, dry and dusty, but the end was in sight, so we just plugged along. When we made it down to the Vernal Falls Bridge (about a mile from the end where the only water station on the entire hike is located), Dan & Kelley filled up their Camelbacks and indulged in some cold water. Then, we hiked the last mile back to the trailhead where Shawnna and Dad were waiting to greet us at 6:30pm. So, we hiked 17 miles with 4,800' elevation gain in 12 hours (including the time we spent hanging out on top and the hour we waited for Dad to show up).

Apparently Dad thought we were going to meet at the Nevada Falls bridge .2 miles from where we thought, so he waited for 40 minutes before hiking down a different trail at the time Dan went to where Dad had been waiting (they missed each other by a couple of minutes). Dad decided to hike down the Mist Trail in case something happened to one of us, so he didn't get to the top of Half Dome this time (he's done it 8 times previously). Oh well, you live and learn.

Lessons Learned:
- If you split up, be very specific about where to meet
- Bring walkie talkies
- Carry more water than you think you need (4+ liters if it's hot)
- Bring band-aids, moleskin or athletic tape for blisters
- Bring an extra pair of socks
- Bring work gloves with full fingers for the cables
- Make sure you have plenty of sunscreen

After the hike, we ate dinner, showered and crashed for the night before driving home the next day. Will I hike it again? I'm sure I will. It's a great workout, fun to do with family/friends, provides awesome views of the park and I need to catch up with the number of times Dad has hiked to the top :-) Here's the stats:

Dad - 8
Dave - 4
Dan - 2
Kelley - 1
Shawnna - 1 (on a previous trip)

View the photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/52995831@N00/sets/72157594178530235/

The Ladykillers - Movie Review

Marva Munson is a spry, elderly woman who attends church regularly, doesn't care for loud noises or harsh language, and is looking for a tenant for the spare room in her house. Enter Goldthwait Higginson Dorr, a silver-tongued college professor who moves in and gains Munson's permission to use the basement for rehearsals with his "medieval music ensemble." What Munson doesn't know is that Dorr's latest project is not academic, but criminal. Dorr is masterminding the robbery of a riverboat casino, and the fellow musicians in his ensemble are actually the crew he's assembled to pull off the job: foul-mouthed "inside man" Gawain, clumsy demolitions expert Pancake, quiet strong-arm man Lump, and logistical expert The General. Despite the best efforts of Dorr and his cohorts (which aren't very impressive), Munson finds out about their scheme, and when she refuses to accept a share of the take in exchange for her silence, Dorr decides the best solution is to silence her permanently.

What the hell was the point of this film? It was very strange and uninteresting. At 1hr 40min, it was about 1hr too long. I'm really at a loss for words to describe how bad it was. I'm not sure what the writers were trying to get across, but the plot was definitely not worthy of Tom Hanks' talent. It was listed as a "Dark Humor" movie, but it wasn't funny, just dark. After I realized this was a remake of a British film, everything became more clear. Don't waste your time.

Rating: 1.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Tom Hanks, Marlon Wayans

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.

Cold Mountain - ACE Train Movie Review

Ada Monroe is a proper lady who accompanies her preacher father to Cold Mountain, North Carolina during the dawn of the Civil War. She waits for her love, W.P. Inman - a sensitive man with little use for many words - to return from war. In the process she learns basic survival skills and finds strength from no-nonsense Ruby, a spitfire who can work the land as well as any man. Meanwhile, wounded Inman has had enough of war and killing, and is slowly working his way back to Ada despite the perils of being a Confederate deserter.

Wow, for an epic (2.5 hrs) this is a very good film that kept my attention most of the time. It had its share of action, drama, romance, violence and suspense. I thought all of the actors did an excellent job "becoming" characters from the Civil War era. Jude Law was grittier than I have ever seen him, Nicole Kidman was a believable southern belle and Renee Zellweger didn't make me want to barf with her scrunchy face; she actually played a very tough, yet likeable character. There were majestic settings, gruesome punishments, cold-blooded killings, feel-good moments, nail-biting escapes and even some light-hearted fun. In other words, this movie has something for everyone. If you have a few hours and want to go through a roller coaster of emotions, take a look.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Jude Law, Nicole Kidman, Renee Zellweger, Eileen Atkins, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Natalie Portman, Donald Sutherland

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.

Mrs. Henderson Presents - Movie Review

The year is 1937 and, despite having recently lost her husband, 69-year-old Laura Henderson remains as ambitious and vital as ever. Aghast at her friend Lady Conway's suggestion that she take up a mundane hobby such as diamond collecting to pass the time, Mrs. Henderson instead shocks her well-to-do social circle by purchasing the ramshackle Windmill Theater in the heart of downtown Soho. Unafraid to take a risk in the venture, yet lacking the experience needed to run the theater, Mrs. Henderson brings in showbiz veteran Vivian Van Damm to line up an opening act that will set the stage ablaze. Though Van Damm's innovative idea to stage an unending stream of entertainment dubbed "Revudeville" proves a wild and profitable success, the Windmill begins to suffer when other local theaters quickly follow suit. Now faced with the prospect of seeing her once-lucrative endeavor fall by the wayside due to the unoriginality of the copycats who surround her, Mrs. Henderson decides to show audiences something they've never seen before by making the Windmill the first theater to feature nude female entertainers live on-stage.

This is a very different type of film than I typically watch, but I was pleasantly surprised that I wasn't bored out of my mind. On the contrary, it was pretty funny and entertaining. Of course, I'm sure the partially clothed females had a little something to do with keeping my interest. Judy Dench was excellent (no, she didn't get naked) and had great chemistry with Bob Hoskins. The fact that it was inspired by true events made it even more intriguing, but keep in mind that it is a period piece from the early 1900s, so it's not for the action hungry moviegoer.

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Judi Dench, Bob Hoskins, Christopher Guest

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.

16 Blocks - ACE Train Movie Review

Hung-over, has-been cop Jack Mosley has seen better days, and all that the force expects out of him these days is to stay out of trouble while he's on the clock. Eddie Bunker is set to testify before a grand jury at 10:00 a.m., and it's up to Mosely to make sure that Bunker makes it to the courthouse in one piece - a job that Mosely estimates will take a maximum of 15 minutes. A black van has been trailing the pair unnoticed, though, and after stopping off at a nearby liquor store to pick up some breakfast, Mosely emerges from the store just in time to save Eddie from the lethal bullet of a determined assassin. When backup arrives in the form of Detective Frank Nugent, Mosely quickly realizes that the detective on Nugent's team is the same cop that Bunker is set to testify against. Now faced with the tough task of dodging bullets and eluding a massive onslaught of corrupt cops, Mosely must keep Bunker alive long enough to get him before the judge and ensure that justice is served.

Another good action movie from Bruce Willis. There weren't as many explosions as there were in the Die Hard series, but it was packed with plenty of guns, shots fired, car chases and verbal sparing. Mos Def was excellent and provided a voice of reason and optimism to offset the depressed and alcoholic character played by Bruce Willis. They worked well together and really made the movie interesting to watch. The plot was sadly believable enough to probably have some semblance of truth mixed in with dramatic embellishment. I would recommend this film for action fans, mystery & suspense fans and crime thriller fans - very good.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Bruce Willis, Mos Def, David Morse

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.

London - Movie Review

Syd awakes from the latest in a long series of drug and booze fueled benders when he receives a phone call from a friend informing him that London, who recently broke up with Syd, will be moving away from New York for California with her new boyfriend in a few days, and that a going-away party is being thrown for her that evening. Syd hasn't been invited to the bash, but he decides to attend anyway, and brings along Bateman, a bartender who moonlights as a cocaine dealer. Bateman is carrying a large supply of nose candy, and after arriving at the party he and Syd install themselves in the bathroom, where they snort line after line while guzzling tequila and discussing philosophical matters regarding love, sex, and emotional pain. The private party-within-a-party is soon joined by Maya and Mallory, who share cocaine and sympathy with the guys until Syd learns that London has arrived, and he decides it's time to confront her.

What a strange movie. The majority of the film took place in the bathroom. I suppose this could be a cautionary tale of drug abuse or a story about how love transcends all or maybe even a psychological drama about how your actions in the past might come back to haunt you. I thought the acting was pretty good (although I kept picturing Jason Statham as the Transporter), but the story was a bit confusing and seemed to take too long to get to the point. I will say that I gave it a little ratings boost just because I liked the ending; not exactly predictable, but a little abrupt. Overall, I would skip this one unless you like Jessica Biel (although she doesn't have much screen time) or like watching an enormous amount of cocaine being consumed.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Chris Evans, Jessica Biel, Jason Statham

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.

Skydiving - June 18, 2006

View the skydiving photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/52995831@N00/sets/72157594173173476/

Today is my 30th birthday and I decided to go skydiving to mark the occasion. Joining me was Dan and Kelley (Dan's girlfriend). Shawnna decided to watch from the ground since she thought she might have a heart attack on the way down :-)

We arrived at Bay Area Skydiving (located in Byron, CA) at about 8:30am to start the experience. After signing our life away (at least our right to sue if our life was taken away), we watched a 15 minute video about the dangers and thrills of skydiving. Next, we met with our instructors who gave us more instruction while we were suiting up - Dan got paired up with a very small, female instructor (Connie); she was the most experienced with over 6,000 jumps! Kelley was paired with a slightly taller man (Vic) and I was paired with the big guy (Keith). Then, it was time to board the plane.

Besides the 3 of us (and our instructors), there were 7 others who were diving solo. We all crammed into the small plane for the 15 minute ride up to 14,000 feet. Despite being a little cramped, it was a fairly uneventful ascent. After reaching altitude, the solo jumpers dove first, then Dan, Kelley and finally me.

When I reached the plane door, I waved to the camera and dove into the big, blue abyss - or maybe I was pushed by the instructor. Per my request, the first thing we did was a backflip exiting the plane. After about 5 seconds, we had reached terminal velocity (120 mph) and continued to freefall for about 9,000 feet (1.7 miles) which took about 50 seconds. While freefalling, I really didn't have the sensation that I was falling like when riding a roller coaster at an amusement park. I suppose it was because I was so high up that nothing was racing past me so my perspective was changed. The only way I could tell I was falling was the sound of air rushing past my ears. We did some turns to the right and left while looking down at all of the farmland, freeway, windmills on the Altamont Pass, etc. - then the parachute opened.

Once the parachute opened, we went from 120 mph to 10 mph in about 2 seconds. It wasn't as jarring as you might think - just a rapid deceleration. The next 5,000 feet took 3-4 minutes and was just a very slow, leisurely descent. Without the wind whipping past our faces, the instructor and I were able to talk about the jump and he gave me some landing instructions. At this point, I was able to look down and watch Dan & Kelley's parachutes floating toward the ground. The instructor guided us toward the landing zone and we made a very smooth, safe landing.

Once on the ground, Dan, Kelley and I posed for a victory picture and walked back to the hangar to de-gear, meet back up with Shawnna and collect the video and pictures of the jump. The big question is: Would I do it again? Yes, I would (and will) do it again. It was unlike anything I have ever experienced in my life and definitely provided enough of a rush to want to do it again. Let me know if you're interested and maybe I'll go with you.

View the skydiving photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/52995831@N00/sets/72157594173173476/

Firewall - ACE Train Movie Review

Jack Stanfield is an upper-echelon executive at Landrock Pacific Bank, a leading financial institution based in Seattle. Stanfield oversees security for Landrock, and has seen to it that their online banking services are the best-protected in the world, and that the bank's data is safe from hackers and other intruders. However, Stanfield finds out the hard way that his system does indeed have a flaw when he's visited by Bill Cox, a cold and calculating man who has spent months learning everything there is know about Stanfield and his family. Cox's underlings have taken Stanfield's wife and their two children hostage, and they inform Jack that they will be released only when he uses his knowledge of the bank's security systems to deposit 100 million dollars in Cox's account in an offshore bank. Stanfield is deeply wary but willing to go along to insure the safety of his family, but when he has reason to doubt that Cox and his cohorts will live up to their end of the bargain, he swings into action to exact justice against the criminals.

This was a pretty good thriller that was mostly well thought out. A few surprises popped up now and again, but it was fairly straightforward. Harrison Ford did a great job as usual and the supporting cast was excellent. There were some "only in the movies" moments (like when Ford's character was wirelessly connected to the internet in the middle of nowhere), but I suppose everything can't be completely realistic. I particularly liked the marriage of technology, action and suspense, but thought the ending was a bit cliche.

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Harrison Ford, Paul Bettany, Virginia Madsen

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.

Glory Road - ACE Train Movie Review

Don Haskins was a high school and college basketball star who, after six years of working with high school teams, became the head coach at Texas Western University in 1962. At that time, Texas Western's basketball program was not well respected, but Haskins was determined to change that, and in 1966 Haskins assembled what he was certain was a winning team. However, Haskins' team was comprised entirely of African-American athletes at a time when racially integrated teams were still a novelty in the South and West. Despite generating a firestorm of controversy, Haskins and his players showed they could succeed where it counted - on the court. In post-season play Haskins and the Texas Western team found themselves competing for the NCAA championship against the University of Kentucky's all-white team, lead by legendary coach Adolph Rupp.

I usually like movies that are based on true events and this is no different. It was an important story to tell not just because it showed the beginning of blacks participating (and succeeding) in what was then a "white" sport, but it also explored the overall issue of race back in the '60s which provides a view of how far we have come - although there's still plenty of room for improvement. The movie itself is fast-paced, interesting, well-acted, shocking, uplifting and intense. I also felt the interviews with the actual team members in the special features section was a nice touch which put everything into perspective.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Josh Lucas, Jon Voight

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.

Undiscovered - ACE Train Movie Review

Luke is a struggling rock musician who has decided to leave New York City for the seemingly greener pastures of Los Angeles. A few days before he leaves, he spots a beautiful girl on the subway who gives him a big smile, giving him brief second thoughts. However, Luke heads out to L.A. anyway, and after months of scuffling lands a gig - and sees the beautiful girl, Brier, in the audience. Brier is an aspiring actress who, like Luke, came to L.A. to boost her career; she's taking acting classes and has landed a less-than-glamorous but lucrative deodorant commercial. Luke and Brier strike up a friendship, though it's obvious he's interested in something deeper; as Luke tries to score a record deal, Brier and her best friend Clea try to spruce up his image and create some buzz about his music. But as Luke falls hard for Brier, she develops greater qualms about getting involved with a musician who will spend half his life on the road, and their shared desire for that big break may be the thing that keeps them apart.

This is your typical romantic comedy: boy meets girl, boy likes girl, girl plays hard to get, boy ends up with girl. I'm not giving anything away, because it's obvious what's going to happen right from the beginning. I would have given it a worse rating, but I felt the main characters had very good chemistry and were believable in their roles. I also really enjoyed the music which was performed by a musician who was the actor playing a musician in the film (get it? The actor sang his own songs). Anyway, it's worth a look if you're into music and want to see a skateboarding dog - yeah, he's pretty good.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Pell James, Steven Strait, Kip Pardue, Ashlee Simpson

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.

Sarah Silverman: Jesus is Magic - ACE Train Movie Review

Combining stand-up material with comedy sketches and musical numbers, Sarah Silverman: Jesus is Magic is dominated by Silverman's typically edgy monologues, including bits on racism, September 11th, family dysfunction, drug abuse, rape, the Holocaust and plenty of other unlikely sources of comedy guaranteed to make viewers squirm while they laugh.

I'm all for acting goofy and using shock value to get a laugh, but the material in Sarah's act wasn't very cleverly written and didn't flow as well as it could have. It seemed as though she was just trying to pack in as many offensive references as possible, but didn't take the time to polish the jokes that would make it funny instead of just shocking. The musical numbers weren't very funny either - check out Stephen Lynch if you want to hear some hilarious, politically incorrect songs.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Sarah Silverman

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.

Mr. 3000 - ACE Train Movie Review

Mr. 3000 revolves around over-the-hill baseball star Stan Ross, who retired after making what he thought was his 3,000th base hit for the Milwaukee Brewers. Though he shocked his teammates by quitting in the middle of the game, certain that his Hall of Fame position was in the bag, complications arise when he discovers that three of his hits during his ten-year career had been disqualified. Known as Mr. 3000, the 47-year-old, out-of-shape ball player returns to the game intending to stay only as long as it takes to get the hits he needs, but something unexpected happens along the way - he rediscovers his love for the game, and begins to serve as a mentor to one of the younger players.

This is a complete waste of time. Bernie Mac is pretty funny in his sitcom, but this film is far from that type of entertainment. I don't think I laughed once, and for a comedy, that's not a good thing. It was very predictable and Bernie Mac's character even looked at the camera at one point and said, "Was that cheesy enough for you?" That's exactly what this movie was, very cheesy. The only good thing about it was the fact it had a positive message, but it wasn't enough to make it a good film.

Rating: 1.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Bernie Mac, Angela Bassett, Brian J. White, Michael Rispoli

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 River King - ACE Train Movie Review

The body of a prep school student has been discovered in a nearby river, and though the death was originally listed as a suicide one detective believes that it may have actually been the result of a fraternity hazing gone awry. Detective Abel Grey isn't willing to write off the case as a suicide just yet, and with a little help from sympathetic teacher Betsy Chase he hopes to uncover the truth behind the mysterious and untimely death. As a series of elusive clues lead Detective Grey ever closer to the truth, he is forced to confront not only the increasingly complex facts in the case of the student death, but his own repressed emotions related to the suicide of his older brother years earlier as well.

This film was listed under the Mystery & Suspense and Horror categories, but the mystery turns out to be no mystery at all and the suspense is waiting for the non-mystery to be solved - horror? Not a chance. The setting had the potential to be horrific and mysterious, but the execution proved far from it. It turned out to be a pretty uneventful film that ended with me scratching my head wondering what the point was. Needless to say, I was very disappointed in a film that started with lots of potential, but went downhill from there.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Edward Burns, Jennifer Ehle

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.

Date Movie - Movie Review

Julia Jones is a young woman who wants nothing more than to find the man of her dreams and settle down. However, Julia has a rather serious weight problem that prevents her from making a positive impression on people. Determined to find love at all costs, Julia somehow drops the weight and meets Grant Fonckyerdoder, a handsome and charming Englishman who falls head over heels for her. Julia and Grant waste no time in setting the date, but until they make their way to the altar they have to deal with meddling parents, flaky wedding planners, fights over the right wedding dress, vertically challenged romantic advisors, and Andy, a longtime friend of Grant, who isn't so happy to hear he's getting hitched.

This is a parody movie that you will only understand if you have seen the movies that are being parodied (including My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Hitch, My Best Friend's Wedding, Meet the Fockers, When Harry Met Sally and Wedding Crashers). Even if you have seen these movies, this film is more silly than funny. There are some clever and creative scenes, but it's mostly a collection of moments from other movies taken to the next, un-politically correct level. This is one of those films that you need to be in a certain mood to enjoy - brainless entertainment.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Alyson Hannigan, Adam Campbell, Sophie Monk, Eddie Griffin

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.

Freedomland - ACE Train Movie Review

Late one night in a working class New Jersey suburb, a bloodied woman staggers mute and dazed into the emergency room at the Dempsy Medical Center. After treatment for shock and hysteria, Brenda Martin recounts to Dempsy police detective Lorenzo Council a horrific tale of being carjacked on the isolated strip of undeveloped land that divides Dempsy's urban housing projects from the blue collar town of Gannon, where she lives. She claims she was forced out of her car by a black man, but during the interrogation Council senses he's not getting the whole story. Only after hours of questioning does Brenda finally break down and confess that her four-year-old son, Cody, was asleep in the back seat of the stolen car. Led by activist Karen Collucci, members of the communities of Dempsy and Gannon unite in a search for the missing child, but the criminal investigation into the alleged kidnapping by a suspect who is presumed to be a local from the projects soon ignites long-simmering racial tensions between the two towns.

It sounds like this could be an action-packed, controversial film, but it was really just a dud. The story started off well and was set up to be interesting, but I kept waiting for the big bang. Julianne Moore's character alternated between aloof and crazy throughout the whole film and Samuel L. Jackson's character acted like he had everything solved from the beginning - but was inept to get it done. I was bored part of the time and wanted to fast-forward to the end. After it ended, my fist thought was, "That was anti-climactic." Not recommended if you're looking for action.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Julianne Moore, Samuel L. Jackson, Edie Falco

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 Time Traveler's Wife - Book Review

This novel tells the story of Henry de Tamble and his wife, Clare Abshire. Henry has a very rare genetic disorder known as "Chrono-Impairment" that causes him to involuntarily travel through time. He is unable to control when he leaves, where he goes, or how long his trip will last. His destinations are tied to his subconscious, as Henry most often travels to places he has visited (or will eventually visit). Certain things like stress can trigger time travel for Henry.

Clare Abshire is a perfectly normal woman in most respects. She comes from a wealthy family, goes to Catholic school and eventually moves to Chicago to attend college. She studies art, and eventually becomes an artist herself; working with several types of molding paper. Most women do not, however, meet their eventual husbands lurking in the woods behind their childhood homes. Henry time travels into Clare's childhood many, many times, starting when she is six years old and continuing until her eighteenth birthday, when they are separated for two years until they finally meet in real time for both of them. When 20-year-old Clare finds the 28-year-old Henry in the present, he has never seen her before, and she has known him all her life.

If that description sounds confusing, don't let it deter you from reading this book. It is a very original concept and the writing style is definitely creative and turns a confusing plot into a very readable and enjoyable love story. Love stories aren't typically my thing, but this one is excellent - no, it's not a romance novel. The chapters focus on different dates in time (some in the past and some in the future, not in order) and alternate between Henry's point of view and Clare's view.

Surprisingly, even though time doesn't proceed in a linear fashion, the story is easy to follow and makes perfect sense - each change in date is coupled with a readout of Henry and Clare's ages so it's easy to tell if Henry is time traveling or in the present. My only complaint is that the end could have been better, but it doesn't taint the rest of this great book. If you want to read something that is unlike anything you have ever read, I would recommend this novel. I'll bet you will find it as much of a page turner as I did.


Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Would I read it again: No

The Time Traveler's Wife
by Audrey Niffenegger
Hardcover: 518 pages
September 2003