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.

Oldboy - Movie Review

A husband and father who is known for womanizing finds himself locked up in a prison cell with no idea what his crime is or who his captors might be. With a small TV his only link to the outside world, he struggles to keep his mind intact especially after learning his wife was murdered. He begins a long process of trying to dig an escape tunnel with a pair of chopsticks, but before he can finish (15 years later), he is released with no explanation. He is given a cell phone and a wad of money and starts his mission of trying to figure out who (and why) is responsible for locking him up so he can exact his revenge.

This is a Korean film that is overdubbed in English, so their mouths aren't moving at the same time that the words are being said. I thought that might bug me, but this movie is so good that I was concentrating on figuring out the plot instead. The first 30 minutes are pretty confusing, but if you stick with it, your questions will slowly be answered. There are some pretty graphic scenes, but they don't last very long and are necessary for the plot. The ending is completely unexpected and brings all the strange happenings into focus and answers all your questions. I love movies that make you think and surprise you in the end, so this was a good one.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: Yes
Starring: Choi Min-Sik, Gang Hye-jeong

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. Calgary Flames - 10/29/05

I went to the game with Shawnna and Dan. The tickets were from work, so we sat in the first deck, 15 rows back at center ice - very nice!

The Sharks started off looking very tired after having beat the Kings on the previous night. The only players that looked fresh and seemed to play hard in the first two periods were Jonathan Cheechoo, Kyle McLaren and Nolan Schaefer. If it wasn't for Nolan Schaefer playing an unbelievable game in net, the Sharks would have been down 4-0 in the first period. He made some great saves and has been a surprisingly solid performer in place of the injured Nabokov and Toskala.

The Flames scored 5 minutes into the game and the crowd seemed to be just as lethargic as the players. It was quiet relative to the first two home games where the Tank was rockin' - maybe it was just my perspective sitting in the lower bowl instead of the upper bowl with the "real" fans. Anyway, the Sharks had a couple of good chances in the first period, but Kiprusoff was up to the challenge and shut them down.

The second period was even worse for the Sharks. Part of the problem was that they spent about half of the period on the penalty kill and ended up with only 3 shots on goal. Fortunately, Schaefer stood on his head and shut down the Flames in the period.

The third period started with much of the same. The Sharks had a couple of penalties and the Flames had several scoring chances culminating with Jerome Iginla's strike 12 minutes into the period. Down 2-0, the Sharks seemed to finally come alive. With 5 minutes to go in the game, Calgary was called for a penalty and Jonathan Cheechoo scored on the ensuing power play to cut the deficit to 2-1. Smelling blood, the Sharks continued to circle and the crowd started to come alive sensing that something was going to happen. With a minute to play, the Sharks pulled their goalie for an extra attacker and it paid off when Brad Stuart poked in a rebound with 22 seconds left to tie the game 2-2. As Stuart sat on the bench smiling from ear to ear, the crowd stood on their feet and cheered with pent up enthusiasm.

The overtime was all Sharks as they had 3 shots to 0 for the Flames. However, Kiprusoff turned them aside to force a shootout. Jerome Iginla scored for the Flames in the shootout and was matched by Marco Sturm in the third segment which meant it was time for a sudden death shootout. Chuck Kobasew was up first for Calgary and failed to score. Nils Ekman was next for the Sharks and skated straight toward Kiprusoff, hesitated and fired a shot past his right shoulder and into the net to win the game for the Sharks. The crowd went nuts and it was an amazing ending to a mediocre (at best) game for the Sharks.

Score: W 3-2 shootout
1st Period
Cal - Steve Montador (Marcus Nilson)
2nd Period
None
3rd Period
Cal - Jarome Iginla(PP) (Dion Phaneuf, Daymond Langkow)
SJ - Jonathan Cheechoo(PP) (Patrick Marleau, Milan Michalek)
SJ - Brad Stuart (Jonathan Cheechoo, Patrick Marleau)
OT
None

SJ SOG: 21
Cal SOG: 25
Winning Goalie: Nolan Schaefer
Losing Goalie: Miikka Kiprusoff

Tickets: Section 115 Row 15

Saw II - Movie Review

A police detective is called to the scene of a gruesome crime scene and finds that his name is written on the ceiling as a taunt. He has a hunch who the killer might be and finds a clue to his possible location. After storming the location, he quickly finds that his hunch was correct as Jigsaw (the heinous criminal from the first film) is waiting for him. The capture of Jigsaw proves to be too easy as the police detective finds himself at the center of one of his diabolical games; with his son as the pawn.

This is an example of a great sequel. The premise is the same; people who aren't fully appreciative of their lives (according to Jigsaw) are thrust into "games" that will test the limits of what they will do to keep on living. However, the people and the various games are very different as is the fact that Jigsaw is in custody the entire time everything is happening. Like the original, the ending is completely unexpected and makes you want to watch it again to see if you can find clues along the way. The people who created this film are very creative and have great minds to develop all the crazy games and plot twists that made this film exciting to watch. I wouldn't mind if Saw III was in the works.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: Yes
Starring: Donnie Wahlberg, Shawnee Smith, Tobin Bell

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.

Napoleon Dynamite - Movie Review

An alienated dorky teen with a bizarre family life attempts to help his friend defeat a popular girl in the race for high school class president. That's about all I could come up with to describe this movie. The rest of it is just some very strange, unrelated scenes about the life of a nerdy high school student.

This is the type of movie you either love or hate. If you're a teenager and/or bored and/or stoned you will probably love it. I, on the other hand, thought it was one of the most pointless movies I have ever seen. It is so dumb that it's funny. As dumb as I thought it was, I can see how it became a cult classic with high school kids because it's that type of humor they can relate to; big dork becomes popular despite his dorkiness. But, if you're past high school, it's not worth watching.

Rating: 1 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Jon Heder, Jon Gries, Efren Ramirez

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 Interpreter - ACE Train Movie Review

An interpreter for the United Nations overhears something that could be interpreted as a threat while the General Assembly auditorium is being evacuated for a routine security sweep. The treat was made in Ku, a dialect spoken in her home country of Matobo and was directed toward the controversial ruler of Matobo. A Secret Service agent is brought in to investigate the interpreters claim and finds that she knows more than she is letting on. While digging deeper, a shocking tale of violence and corruption is uncovered and tied to the ruler of Matobo's regime.

This was a well planned and executed film. The country and language were completely made up and a whole history of the country was developed for this movie. There were a few different story lines to follow which made it interesting as well. As impressive as that was, I found it a little difficult to side with Sean Penn's character (Secret Service agent) in trying to save a ruthless killer (the corrupt ruler of Matobo) from being assassinated. The crimes he committed seemed worthy of an assassination. Overall though, it was a pretty good film with an interesting plot and I felt Nicole Kidman and Sean Penn were well suited for their roles.

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Sean Penn

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.

Lords of Dogtown - Movie Review

Based on a true story about the kids who popularized modern skateboard culture. In the early 70s, skateboards were seen as a dying fad, but a group kids from Venice, CA who hung out at the Zephyr Surf Shop started to change that. They took the surfing moves they learned in the ocean and translated them into skateboard tricks. They also started to skate in empty pools taking advantage of their smooth surfaces and employing vertical tricks and edge flips. The kids quickly generated lots of buzz and became local celebrities and later, nationwide skating stars.

Being a recreational skateboarder when I was a kid, I found this movie very interesting especially since I don't know much about the history of skateboarding. This was a nice lesson on how skateboarding took off. It was also a lesson on how, when things take off, egos often follow suit and "funness" begins to diminish once the business aspect becomes the focus. While I really liked the film, I would have liked to seen more footage of the actual skateboarders as a bonus feature - they all had bit parts in the film and were used as consultants. Oh well, it's still worth a look.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Heath Ledger, Emile Hirsch, Victor Rasuk, John Robinson

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.

Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason - Movie Review

This film starts 1 month after the first film ends. Bridget Jones is happy and in love with Mark Darcy (the neighbors son from the first film). This is short lived however, as she becomes threatened by his new intern; a skinny, pretty woman. She flips out and finds herself in the company of her ex-boyfriend, Daniel Cleaver (her boss from the first film). Embarrassing circumstances ensue...

This was a typical sequel which isn't as good as the original. Don't get me wrong; it still had some very funny parts, but the originality wasn't there and some of the hijinks were overplayed. Rene Zellweger was a little more annoying this time around and I thought Colin Firth's character was a little too hard to read, but Hugh Grant was as brash as ever. If you liked the first film, this one is worth a look, but it doesn't stand on its own.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Renee Zellweger, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant

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.

Disneyland Trip - Oct. 20-24, 2005

Two long working days after our Carmel trip, Shawnna and I headed down to our next destination - Disneyland! We wanted to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of Disneyland. We left home at about 10:00am on Thursday and were at the hotel by 2:30pm; yes, it only took 4.5 hours in one stretch without stopping. We stayed at the Park Inn Anaheim which is directly across the street from Disneyland. After checking in, we walked around Downtown Disney before driving to Medieval Times for dinner and some entertainment.


We were sitting in the Blue Knight section. That meant we cheered for the blue knight throughout the evening of horseback jousting and various games/battles. By the end of the night, our knight stood victorious, so we went back to the hotel with our heads held high.


Friday morning, we got up and were at Disneyland when it opened. The first ride we rode was Space Mountain, followed by Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters and Indiana Jones Adventure. I must say that I was disappointed by the "new" Space Mountain which had recently been opened after having been renovated for the past 2 years. The only changes I could recognize were that the track was a bit smoother and the corridor leading to the ride was cleaner and newer. The rest of the ride seemed to be the same which makes me wonder what they worked on for 2 years. Anyway, I did enjoy the Astro Blasters which is a new ride where you shoot at targets while riding in Haunted Mansion type cars. Indiana Jones, as usual, is still a great ride.

Next, we headed over to California Adventure when it opened to experience The Twighlight Zone Tower of Terror. All I have to say is WOW! This is another Disney classic. The attention to detail is second to none, the special effects are cool and the different drop sequences keeps the ride exciting because you never know how far you'll drop. Even more surprising was that Shawnna loved it as well.

The rest of the day was spent walking back and forth between the two parks to go on more fun rides: California Screemin', Soarin' Over California, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Splash Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion, which was a big surprise. The Haunted Mansion was like a whole new ride because it was completely redecorated in the theme of "A Nightmare Before Christmas." Even the elevator with the "stretching" walls was redecorated with Nightmare paintings and the hanging man at the top was replaced with a giant Jack Skellington head wearing a Santa hat. It was fun to see this during the Halloween time.

Saturday was our early entry day which meant we got in the park 1 hour before the general public. In that first hour, we were able to ride the Matterhorn twice, Astro Blasters twice, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, Snow White's Scary Adventures, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan's Flight and Pinocchio's Daring Journey. After another day of riding more rides, we got a good spot to watch the "Remember... Dreams Come True" fireworks spectacular. This was one of the longest fireworks shows I have ever seen and it was set to classic Disney soundbytes from rides throughout the park. In a couple instances, fireworks were not only being shot in front of you, but all around you and Tinker Bell flew all around instead of just a straight line like normal. Worth checking out.

Sunday was our last day in the park, so we went on all of our favorite rides one more time (Tower of Terror - rode it 6 times, Astro Blasters - 6 times, Indiana Jones - 5 times, California Screemin' - 3 times, Haunted Mansion - 3 times), watched the Aladdin musical in California Adventure (the Genie was still funny and he had new material since the last time we saw it) and saw Billy Hill and the Hillbillies (hilarious as always). We had a nice dinner at the Blue Bayou and rode our last ride (Star Tours) before leaving the park just before it closed.

On Monday (Shawnna's birthday), we did some shopping at the Disney Store in Downtown Disney as well as the Grand Californian gift shop before checking out of the hotel and heading home. We stopped for lunch at Harris Ranch and made it home in 5.5 hours (including lunch). After unpacking and getting some things done, we had dinner with Leanna and Jeff at the Olive Garden.

Overall, it was a very nice trip. The weather cooperated - low 70s with no rain. The crowds weren't bad - Fast Passes made the lines even shorter. The rides were all operational - the new Tower of Terror made up for the "new" Space Mountain. And, our Disney brick was still in good condition...

Monterey & Carmel Trip - Oct. 16-17, 2005

On Sunday morning, Shawnna and I drove to Monterey / Carmel for a couple days of relaxation and rejuvenation. The weather was perfect (high 60s) and our first stop was the Monterey Bay Aquarium. It had been a few years since we were there, so we wanted to check it out. They were housing 19 penguins that were moved from New Orleans, so the exhibit had over 30 penguins; a little crowded, but they all seemed to be having a good time.




We also saw lots of fish, sharks, jellyfish (including a jellyfish art exhibit), sea otters and plenty of other sea creatures. For lunch, we are at the Portola Restaurant in the aquarium where we had a ocean view, window seat. I ate the fish & chips made with halibut and Shawnna had the coriander dusted sea bass.

Next, we drove to Carmel and checked into the Hyatt Highlands Inn. Before we were able to look at our room, we sat through a 90 minute presentation since they were trying to sell the rooms as a timeshare. After that was finished, we went to our room and were completely blown away. The first thing we noticed was the view. We had a balcony with an unobstructed view of the ocean and Point Lobos (Bird Rock in particular).



The room itself had 4 different sections; A full kitchen complete with dishes and a dishwasher, a living room with a wood-burning fireplace, a bedroom with a king bed, and a big bathroom complete with a Jacuzzi tub.




After checking out the room and view, it was time for dinner. We made reservations at Pacific's Edge Restaurant which is the award winning, fine dining restaurant on the property. This place was absolutely amazing. Every detail was thought of; from the host greeting us with our name, to the impeccably dressed and knowledgeable wait staff, to the awesome view (we had an ocean view table next to the glass) which was made even better since we got there just before sunset.

Then it was time for the food; we opted for the 3 course meal. Not your typical 3 course meal since each course was an entree dish in an appetizer size. I ordered the seared beef tenderloin, honey glazed duck, and lobster. Shawnna ordered the beef carpaccio, quail with vanilla port wine glaze and lamb with gorgonzola bread pudding. Of course, the names on the menu were fancier than that and they each came with gourmet garnish. The presentation of each plate was something out of a magazine and I didn't want to mess it up, but the visual appeal was only trumped by the taste. After eating at fancy restaurants, I'm usually still hungry and feel uncomfortable being there, but Pacific's Edge was great, comfortable and left me feeling very full. Of course, we also had dessert. I ordered the Chocolate Strawberry Bombe which was like chocolate mousse with a shell of more dense chocolate and Shawnna ordered Chocolate Heaven which was 4 different chocolate desserts (bite sized). After all of that, we rolled out of there and back to the room.

The next morning, we got up and watched the full moon go down into the ocean. We ate breakfast at the other restaurant on site; California Market. I had the Sticky Bun French Toast and Shawnna had scrambled eggs, ham, fingerlings (potatoes) and toast. It was very good, but nothing could compare to the dinner the previous night.

We checked out of the room and drove to Carmel where we walked around some of the shops before walking along Carmel Beach to Pebble Beach and back. The weather was very warm and dogs were out in full force playing in the surf. It was a great end to the perfect weekend. We headed back home reinvigorated and ready to work 2 days until our next vacation :-) Up next, Disneyland...

SJ Sharks vs. Chicago Blackhawks - 10/15/05

For this game, Shawnna and I went with Dan and his friend, Ryan. We ate dinner at the Spaghetti Factory in San Pedro Square prior to the game, then walked to The Tank for some fun with 17,492 other people.

The Sharks came out ready to go and it looked like a continuation of the home opener. Less than 3 minutes into the game, the Sharks scored and 8 minutes after that, they scored again. However, the shutout wouldn't last long as the Blackhawks scored 17 minutes into the 1st period.

The second period was more of the same with the Sharks and Blackhawks each scoring twice. The third period went scoreless. So, just like the home opener, the Sharks scored twice in each of the first two periods and didn't score in the third. However, unlike the home opener, the Sharks actually looked good in the third and fired off 15 of their 44 shots in that period.

Overall, the Sharks looked good pretty much from start to finish and played even better than they did during the home opener. The reason that this score was closer is that the Blackhawks are a better team than the Blue Jackets and Craig Anderson had a great game in net (stopping 40 of 44 shots). If it wasn't for Anderson, the score would have been a lot more lopsided. If they keep it up, this could be a very good year for the Sharks.

Score: W 4-3
1st Period
SJ - Marco Sturm (Milan Michalek, Patrick Marleau)
SJ - Jonathan Cheechoo (Wayne Primeau, Mark Smith)
Chi - Jason Morgan (Mark Bell, Mikael Holmqvist)
2nd Period
Chi - Matthew Barnaby (Jim Dowd, Matt Ellison)
SJ - Patrick Marleau(PP) (Marco Sturm, Brad Stuart)
SJ - Patrick Marleau(PP) (Niko Dimitrakos, Brad Stuart)
Chi - Matt Ellison (Jim Dowd, Jassen Cullimore)
3rd Period
None

SJ SOG: 44
Chi SOG: 27
Winning Goalie: Evgeni Nabokov
Losing Goalie: Craig Anderson

Tickets: Section 222 Row 6

SJ Sharks vs. Columbus Blue Jackets - 10/12/05

Hockey is back in San Jose!

It's been a long year without hockey, so I was very excited to be attending the Sharks home opener and bear witness to the greatest sport on Earth. Prior to the game, the Sharks held a street rally with live music, games, face painting, etc. We walked around for a while before heading into the Tank. On the way in, we were given a mini banner commemorating the fact that the Sharks were the Pacific Division champs in 2003-04. After that, we headed to our seats and watched the Sharks practice before they dropped the puck.

A few minutes before game time, the lights went down, the music went up and they started projecting images of the players on the ice surface - the entire ice surface. That was new for this year and it was a very impressive way to introduce all of the players - it's not everyday that you get to see a 200 ft tall Patrick Marleau. When the Sharks took to the ice, the crowd went crazy - as loud as a playoff game. I think the players got the message that we didn't hold a grudge; we were just glad hockey was back.

When the puck was dropped, the Sharks came out very aggressively and looked energized. A little more than 6 minutes into the game, the Sharks scored their first goal followed by another just over a minute later. The Sharks speed is a perfect match for the new rules and it was on full display. The second period was more of the same with the Sharks scoring about 11 minutes into the period and again 1 minute later. After that, the Sharks went into coasting mode and didn't do a whole lot for the rest of the game. The Blue Jackets scored in the third period to ruin the shutout attempt, but they never threatened to keep the game close.

Overall, there were lots of shots, penalties, long passes, speed and energy on display. The Sharks really dug deep, crashed the net and had several great opportunities to score on big rebounds (Marc Denis wasn't on his game). It's good to be back!

Score: W 4-1
1st Period
SJ - Marco Sturm (Patrick Marleau, Milan Michalek)
SJ - Wayne Primeau (Jonathan Cheechoo, Mark Smith)
2nd Period
SJ - Scott Thornton (Nils Ekman, Alyn McCauley)
SJ - Wayne Primeau (Jonathan Cheechoo, Rob Davison)
3rd Period
CBJ - Radoslav Suchy (Manny Malhotra, Adam Foote)

SJ SOG: 36
CBJ SOG: 27
Winning Goalie: Evgeni Nabokov
Losing Goalie: Marc Denis

Tickets: Section 227 Row 5

Bridget Jones Diary - ACE Train Movie Review

A mid-thirty, single, British woman who drinks and smokes visits her parents house for a Christmas party and finds that they have invited the son of one of their neighbors to try to set her up with. When he snubs her, she decides to go after her boss with whom she has a crush and they begin to date although she keeps bumping into the neighbors son. The boss is a handsome playboy who has a hard time being faithful and this relationship is no exception. The woman also discovers that her boss and the neighbors son know each other due to a previous rivalry and are now both competing for her attention.

Before watching this movie, I had a preconceived notion that this was going to be a boring chick flick. I'm also not a fan of Renee Zellweger, so that was another strike. However, having watched it, I was pleasantly surprised that I liked it and Renee Zellweger didn't annoy me as much as she usually does. I thought the cast did a great job (they were funny and believable) and the story was entertaining and well told. It wasn't a classic, but I was impressed and interested enough to be excited to watch the sequel which is the next movie in queue. Hopefully, it will be a continuation of a good thing and not a rehashed dud. Stay tuned...

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Renee Zellweger, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant

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.

Big Purchase

After years of wanting one, I finally made my wish of a big screen TV come true. I've been talking about it long enough, so I decided this was the weekend. I did some research on the internet and went to a couple of stores in town to compare prices and features. I narrowed it down to the 50" Sony WEGA and the 50" Samsung.

Why not bigger? I had to make sure it fit in the spot I have to put it in, so 50" was as big as I could go. After learning the the Sony didn't have a picture-in-picture option, I opted for the Samsung. I bought it at Best Buy because they had some sales going on and I had gift cards to spend (thanks to all who gave me gift cards for my birthday; I know they were supposed to go toward an iPod, but since I have the iPod Shuffle, a big screen was higher on my list =)

So, here I am in my family room watching the 49ers lose on my big screen. Not exactly what I would like to see, but if you're going to lose, might as well lose big. Anyway, I can't wait to watch hockey. Go Sharks! Digital cable should be hooked up shortly. Up next...high definition? We'll see, but so far, so good.

SWEET...

The Horse Whisperer - ACE Train Movie Review

A Girl and her best friend go horseback riding on a winter morning in New York, but their horses lose their footing on ice and slide onto a road where they are hit by an oncoming truck. The best friend and her horse are killed while the girl and her horse are seriously injured (the girl has her leg amputated) but survive. There is lasting trauma to the girl and her horse, so the girl's mother does research and finds a horse trainer who might be able to help them both. Since the trainer lives in Montana, the mother, girl and horse have to leave the big city life for a simpler place. The horse trainer ends up having a big impact on all three, but finds himself conflicted as he begins a romance with the mother who is still married.

This is a 2.5 hour movie and I felt it didn't need to be quite as long. The scenes are set up so slowly and meticulously that it drags at some points. However, the story is a good one and there are a bunch of different sub-plots to make things interesting. For whatever reason, I didn't enjoy the performance from Kristin Scott Thomas (the mother) and didn't believe her as a love interest for Robert Redford's character. Maybe she just seemed a little too cold and distant. Anyway, the other actors were good and believable. The only other change I would make would be to shorten some of the long, monotonous, yet visually appealing scenes and instead, use that time to answer some questions at the end of the movie. There's a fine line between letting the audience be imaginative to make up their own ending and just being lazy or hasty to end it quickly.

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Robert Redford, Kristin Scott Thomas, Sam Neill, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Cooper

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.

Joke - Ponderisms

• How is it one careless match can start a forest fire, but it takes a whole box to start a campfire?

• Who was the first person to look at a cow and say, "I think I'll squeeze these dangly things here, and drink whatever comes out?"

• Who was the first person to say, "See that chicken there? I'm gonna eat the next thing that comes outta its butt."

• Why is there a light in the fridge and not in the freezer?

• If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a song about him?

• Why do people point to their wrist when asking for the time, but don't point to their crotch when they ask where the bathroom is?

• Why does your OB-GYN leave the room when you get undressed if they are going to look up there anyway?

• If quizzes are quizzical, what are tests?

• If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons?

• Do illiterate people get the full effect of Alphabet Soup?

• Did you ever notice that when you blow in a dog's face, he gets mad at you, but when you take him on a car ride, he sticks his head out the window?

• Does pushing the elevator button more than once make it arrive faster?

• Why doesn't glue stick to the inside of the bottle?

• I used to eat a lot of natural foods until I learned that most people die of natural causes.

• Gardening Rule: When weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing a weed and not a valuable plant is to pull on it. If it comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable plant.

• The easiest way to find something lost around the house is to buy a replacement.

• Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.

• There are two kinds of pedestrians: the quick and the dead.

• Life is sexually transmitted.

• Health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die.

• The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth.

• Some people are like Slinkies. Not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs.

• Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing.

• Have you noticed since everyone has a camcorder these days no one talks about seeing UFOs like they used to?

• Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.

• All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no attention to criticism.

• In the 60's, people took acid to make the world weird. Now the world is weird and people take Prozac to make it normal.

The Motorcycle Diaries - ACE Train Movie Review

A true story of a 23-year-old medical student from Argentina, Ernesto "Che" Guevara, who traveled across South America on a motorcycle with his friend Alberto Granado in the early 1950s. The duo has a series of adventures that vary from the suspenseful (stowing away on a cargo ship, exploring Incan ruins) to the comedic (falling off their bikes, wooing women, drunken revelry) to the serious (volunteering at a leper colony). This was a personal odyssey which would ultimately inspire Che Guevara to become a revolutionary who had a profound impact on the history of several nations.

This is one of those independent films that won a bunch of awards, so I wasn't sure I would like it. Also, it is in Spanish with English subtitles, so I was even more leery. However, I was pleasantly surprised and found it to be pretty interesting, entertaining, educational and inspiring. Also, the fact it was based on a true story helped hold my interest. My only regret is that I didn't know much about the background of the main characters in the film before watching it; I pulled it off the shelf at Blockbuster. If I had the time, I would have read a little about Che Guevara to know the impact he had prior to watching this film about his early years and the journey that shaped his political views.

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: Yes
Starring: Gael García Bernal, Rodrigo de la Serna

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 Birthday, Bro - Oct. 1, 2005

Today was Dan's 32nd birthday, so we naturally had to do something fun. Dan, Andrew, mom and I started the day by going to breakfast at Hobees. After fueling up with some good food (and the best coffee cake in the world), we headed off to Santa Cruz. The weather was pretty good for an October day at the beach; foggy, yet a relatively warm 65° with no wind. First, we played on the beach; threw around theFrisbeee (Dan needs more practice =) and football, knocked around the beach ball, dug in the sand and buried sticks and Andrew's feet. Next, we walked down the Boardwalk, played a few games and Andrew won a plastic spider (Héctor) and lizard (Lupé). Andrew was starting to get tired, so we drove back to Dan's house and put Andrew down for a nap.

During Andrew's nap, we ate lunch (Wienerschnitzel), played video game hockey and Dan opened his presents (Sharks tickets and Gulper Eel from me - money and a spiral notebook from mom). When Andrew woke from his nap, Liz and Shawnna arrived at the house after shopping. We all hung out a little bit longer, played with Andrew and then went to dinner at California Pizza Kitchen before heading home. It was a long, tiring but fun day.

Crash - Movie Review

This movie is very complicated and involves so many different side stories, I decided to copy the synopsis from the blockbuster.com website (in italics) to simplify the description and save myself some time.

Graham (Don Cheadle) is a police detective whose brother is a street criminal, and it hurts him to know his mother cares more about his ne'er-do-well brother than him. Graham's partner is Ria (Jennifer Esposito), who is also his girlfriend, though she has begun to bristle at his emotional distance, as well as his occasional insensitivity over the fact he's African-American and she's Hispanic. Rick (Brendan Fraser) is an L.A. district attorney whose wife, Jean (Sandra Bullock), makes little secret of her fear and hatred of people unlike herself. Jean's worst imaginings about people of color are confirmed when her SUV is carjacked by two African-American men -- Anthony (Chris Bridges, aka Ludacris), who dislikes white people as much as Jean hates blacks, and Peter (Larenz Tate), who is more open minded. Cameron (Terrence Howard) is a well-to-do African-American television producer with a beautiful wife, Christine (Thandie Newton). While coming home from a party, Cameron and Christine are pulled over by Officer Ryan (Matt Dillon), who subjects them to a humiliating interrogation (and her to an inappropriate search) while his new partner, Officer Hansen (Ryan Phillippe), looks on. Daniel (Michael Pena) is a hard-working locksmith and dedicated father who discovers that his looks don't lead many of his customers to trust him. And Farhad (Shaun Toub) is a Middle Eastern shopkeeper who is so constantly threatened in the wake of the 9/11 attacks that he decided he needs a gun to defend his family.

The first hour of the film is a little confusing as it is spent setting up all of these stories and basically showing the very worst in people. The general themes revolve around racism, fear, abuse of power, sexual misconduct and general ignorance. The second hour is spent tying all of these stories together and making powerful statements. The general themes of the second hour are karma, change, forgiveness, redemption and closure. The brilliance of this movie is that there are so many different possible themes and lessons to be learned, each person who watches it will probably bring something different away. I will definitely watch this movie again and I'm sure I will catch things I didn't see the first time. This one is worth a look.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: Yes
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Brendan Fraser, Ludacris, Ryan Phillippe, Matt Dillon

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.

Win a Date With Tad Hamilton - ACE Train Movie Review

A famous actor with a need to clean up his bad-boy image stages a dating contest with the money raised going to charity. The contest is won by an attractive grocery store clerk from West Virginia. The actor falls for her and decides to give up big-city life and become a better person by spending more time with her. Meanwhile, the clerk's friend and boss from work finally reveals his secret crush on her, so she finds herself in the middle of a love triangle.

This movie is so sweet, it could give you a toothache... or a stomach ache. It is cheesier than a bowl of Velveeta, but leaves a bad taste in your mouth. The ending leaves as much to the imagination as Paris Hilton's home movies. OK, I'm done. The point is that this movie is a complete waste of time unless you want to watch a brainless film with a predictable plot. The one upside is that you get to watch Kate Bosworth for 90 minutes.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Kate Bosworth, Topher Grace, Josh Duhamel, Nathan Lane, Sean Hayes

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.

Team America: World Police - ACE Train Movie Review

Team America, an elite group of commandos, have a mission to travel the world, root out its terrorists, and keep evil at bay. While completing their missions, the heroes have a tendency to wreak havoc on the environment around them and find themselves the target of anti-war activists. World leaders are brought together for a peace rally through a joint effort by Kim Jong Il (North Korea's dictator) and the Film Actors Guild (F.A.G) headed by Alec Baldwin. However, Kim Jong Il has an ulterior motive and it's up to Team America to stop him.

Fans of South Park will probably enjoy this movie as it was written, directed, produced and voiced mostly by Trey Parker and Matt Stone. The humor is similar in that it's intelligent but the delivery is crass. The underlying message is clear (try to offend as many people as possible in the shortest amount of time and be funny doing it) and I believe they achieved their goal. The portrayals of heroes, villains, protestors, actors, action films, etc. were over the top and tongue-in-cheek. I laughed out loud at some points and cringed at others. The amount of crap they dish out, especially toward actors, makes me wonder how Parker and Stone can show their faces at award shows without getting beat up. Their description of the relationship between a$$holes, pu$$ys and d!cks was classic. Pull out your cheesy poofs and enjoy some smart, dumb comedy.

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Voices of Trey Parker and Matt Stone

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.

Joke - Oops!

A guy was in line at the supermarket when he noticed that a rather hot blonde behind him had raised her hand and smiled hello to him. He was rather taken aback that such a looker would be waving to him, and although familiar he couldn't place how he knew her.

He composed himself and said: "Sorry, do you know me?"

She replied "I may be mistaken, but I thought you might be the father of one of my children."

His mind raced back to the one and only time he had been unfaithful. "Oh, my God", he said, "aren't you the stripper from my bachelor party that I made love to on the pool table in front of all my friends while your girlfriend whipped me with wet celery stalks?"

"No," she replied, "I'm your son's English Teacher."

The Longest Yard - ACE Train Movie Review

A former professional football player who has a drinking problem takes his wife's Bentley and, after a high speed police chase, crashes it into a sea of police cars. He is sentenced to a prison where the warden is a football fan and has organized a football team made up of prison guards. To give the guards more practice, the warden convinces the former pro to organize a team of inmates and to play a scrimmage. The inmates he recruits are some of the fiercest characters who have a bone to pick with the guards and would get great pleasure out of inflicting pain on the football field.

I never saw the original film, so I can't compare the two. However, on its own, I wasn't very impressed and wonder why they remade what was apparently a classic. I like Adam Sandler and am usually a fan of his comedy, but I didn't find this movie particularly funny. There were a few funny parts, but it was mostly silly, dumb humor (yes, dumber than Sandler's other films =). There was some good action and plenty of hits on the football field, but I can't say there were any surprises or suspense. I also thought it was unnecessary to have so many "celebrities" in the film, but maybe the filmmakers thought it would distract people enough to like the film. I might have to watch the original to see why it was considered a classic, because I don't see anything classic about this movie.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Burt Reynolds, Nelly, James Cromwell, Michael Irvin, Bill Romanowski, Bill Goldberg, Brian Bosworth, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, Chris Berman

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.

Criminal - ACE Train Movie Review

An experienced con man runs into a small-time grifter at a casino and convinces him to become his apprentice so they can work small cons more quickly and easily. After showing his apprentice the ropes, the con man gets involved in a large con where he will try to sell a counterfeit antique bank note to a collector who is passing through town. To do this, he has to involve his sister, who works at the hotel where the collector is staying, as well as the apprentice and a couple other people who become aware of the con and demand their cut. While his share of the fortune dwindles, the con man finds that this con is not as easy as he originally thought.

Lame. Not imaginative or even very entertaining. This movie is only about 1hr 20min long, so the characters didn't have time to develop and the plot seemed very rushed. If it were longer, maybe more could have been done with the script, but it's not even worth wasting 80 minutes on this film. Not to mention, the ending could be seen a mile away. Don't get conned into watching this one =)... hey, bad joke for a bad movie.

Rating: 1 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: John C. Reilly, Diego Luna, Maggie Gyllenhaal

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.

Fever Pitch - ACE Train Movie Review

A high-school teacher and a successful businesswoman meet on a field trip and don't seem to have much in common, but they hit it off and are soon involved in a serious romance. He is a huge Boston Red Sox fan and she becomes aware of that fact when spring rolls around and he shifts his focus from her to baseball. Soon, he is forced to choose between the obsession from his youth or the responsibilities and a relationship of an adult.

This was the typical love story - boy meets girl, boy and girl like each other, boy messes up and girl leaves, boy does something to make things right, girl comes back and they live happily ever after. From start to finish, this film was a cliche. The only original element was that it revolved around the Boston Red Sox World Series winning season, which wasn't enough to make it a good film. I didn't think Drew Barrymore and Jimmy Fallon had good chemistry and while I think Fallon is funny, his humor didn't seem to fit in this film.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Drew Barrymore, Jimmy Fallon

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 Tipping Point - Book Review

Why did crime in New York drop so suddenly in the mid-nineties? How does an unknown novelist end up a bestselling author? Why is teenage smoking out of control, when everyone knows smoking kills? What makes TV shows like Sesame Street so good at teaching kids how to read? Why did Paul Revere succeed with his famous warning?

Those are the questions asked on the book jacket and the content in the book attempts to answer those questions and more. The author presents three rules that create the foundation for explaining how simple changes can make a big difference and become the Tipping Point for an epidemic of change.

1. "The Law of the Few" shows how three types of people (Connectors, Mavens and Salesmen) can have enough influence to create a word-of-mouth epidemic.

2. "The Stickiness Factor" illustrates how a few small changes to an idea can create the glue that sticks it in people's minds.

3. "The Power of Context" describes how your surroundings have a huge impact on your thoughts and actions.

These concept are presented in a clear and interesting manner. The stories he uses to illustrate these rules are well thought out and easily identifiable to anyone who reads this book. The fact that his antecdotes deal with well known issues, ideas and products contribute to the book being very engrossing and a quick and easy read. The conclusions he draws and answers he formulates for the questions above are insightful and makes you think about how the three laws can apply elsewhere. Although not overt, this book provides a good marketing education as these ideas can be directly applied to creating a "buzz" about a product or idea. I feel that reading this book is a few hours well spent.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Would I read it again: Yes

The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference
by Malcolm Gladwell
Hardcover: 288 pages
February, 2000

Freakonomics - Book Review

I read this book a few weeks ago, but I'm just now getting around to reviewing it...

This is a very hard book to describe in a sentence or two. The topics discussed in this book are extremely diverse, but if there is a central theme, I would say it is that the obvious explanation for an issue isn't necessarily the correct one.

For example, the drop in violent crime in the mid-nineties has been contributed to everything from increased police presence, to improved policing techniques, to the broken window theory. The author argues that the drop in crime was, in fact, the result of the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973. If you think that came out of left field, that's the point; it's not an obvious reason, but the author makes a compelling argument. He says that the decision to legalize abortion in 1973 preempted the existence of some people who would be born to poverty and hardship (the same people who have a greater chance to turn to violent crime as a means of survival). By the mid-nineties, when these criminals would have been in their prime, the crime dropped because they didn't exist.

That's just one example of the issues he tackles in this book. Some of the others:

• What do sumo wrestlers and school teachers have in common? (hint: it has to do with cheating)
• How is the KKK like a group of real-estate agents? (hint: it involves fear and control of information)
• Why do drug dealers still live with their moms? (hint: it relates to the "corporate" structure)
• What makes a perfect parent? (hint: it might not be the parent that has the biggest effect)

This book is so interesting that it's hard to put down. It's obvious that a lot of time has been spent to gather the information and present it in an insightful manner. While the conclusions that are presented can be very persuasive, I would take everything with a grain of salt. I believe the real genius of this book is the fact that the author presents the not-so-obvious explanations for various issues and pushes the reader to do the same for themselves going forward. It is really a book about drawing your own conclusions and not just taking other people's word as the final truth.

Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Would I read it again: Yes

Freakonomics : A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything
by Steven D. Levitt, Stephen J. Dubner
Hardcover: 256 pages
May 1, 2005

Taking Lives - ACE Train Movie Review

A special agent with the FBI who has a reputation for quirky methods of criminal profiling is called on to assist Canadian police detectives who are on the trail of a serial killer who has been terrorizing Montreal for 20 years. The killer has a history of imitating the mannerisms of the victims he kills, but his latest murder had a witness. An art gallery owner saw the killer during an assault and agrees to become a decoy for the FBI. During this assignment, the FBI agent and the art gallery owner become attracted to one another, which might jeopardize the investigation.

The movie started off a little strange and I wasn't sure if I was going to like it. As time went on and the plot thickened, I started to enjoy it more. There were a couple of startling moments where Shawnna literally jumped out of her seat which always makes for a good movie =). The acting wasn't the greatest, but the plot twists and the ending more than made up for it. I was sure I had figured it out a couple different times, but the ending threw me off and proved I wouldn't make a good criminal profiler.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: Yes
Starring: Angelina Jolie, Ethan Hawke, Kiefer 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.

South Park: The Passion of the Jew - Movie Review

This DVD is a compilation of three South Park "religious" episodes.

1. The Passion of the Jew
Cartman watches The Passion of the Christ and is convinced that the Jews were to blame for Jesus' death. Not believing him, Kyle watches it and is forced to admit that Cartman was right. Meanwhile, Stan and Kenny see it, think it sucks and go on a quest to find Mel Gibson to get their money back.

2. Red Hot Catholic Love
The Catholic priest in South Park must deal with the fact that church-goers are turning away from religion due to the news that young boys have been molested by priests. He meets with local priests and finally the Pope to figure out how to stop priests from molesting young boys. He is surprised to find out that the priests don't think there is anything wrong with molesting boys, but they think the problem lies in the fact that the boys are telling on the priests.

3. Christian Rock Hard
Cartman makes a bet with Kyle to see who can record a platinum album first. Cartman decides to start a Christian rock band to take advantage of the build in audience. Meanwhile, Kyle goes on strike and refuses to play since people are downloading music for free on the internet.

All three of these episodes are classic South Park; gross, indecent, lewd, fowl-mouthed, offensive, crude, insensitive and very, very, very smart humor. The creators know how to make a intelligent point while being childishly entertaining. After watching these episodes, you will find yourself nodding your head in agreement and shaking your head in amazement of the insightfulness these seemingly juvenile creations exhibit.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: Yes
Starring: Cartman, Kyle, Stan, Kenny

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.

A Lot Like Love - ACE Train Movie Review

Two strangers meet on a flight from California to New York. The girl recently went through a break-up and seduces the guy on the airplane; they spend the next few days together before going their separate ways. Over the next several years, circumstances keep putting them in one another's paths and they become close friends and confidantes. Both are convinced that they are wrong for each other on a romantic level, but as the years go on, they begin to wonder if they have allowed a great opportunity to pass then by.

This is a feel-good, fun, romantic comedy. Ashton Kutcher and Amanda Peet have great chemistry and they do a good job playing themselves from 20-something's to 30-something's. The awkwardness of their first meeting through the building of their relationship in subsequent trysts is completely believable. While the ending is predictable, it's meant to be predictable and there are some twists thrown in to make it interesting. I think Ashton Kutcher has made some good choices in his recent movie selection and this is just another example of a quality picture.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: Yes
Starring: Ashton Kutcher, 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.

Sahara - ACE Train Movie Review

An explorer thinks he has found a fortune and the answer to a long-standing mystery when he discovers a rare coin in a river in West Africa. During the Civil War, a battleship with valuable cargo went missing and the explorer theorizes the gold coin places the ship somewhere in the Sahara Desert. Along with his sidekick, the explorers set out to find it, but they meet a scientist and physician who are trying to determine the source of a deadly disease sweeping the nation. The group teams up to try to determine if the mysteries are somehow related.

I couldn't figure out if this was supposed to be an action/adventure movie or a comedy. One thing I know is that it didn't work as both. I think Steve Zahn is a funny guy, but all of his jokes during some of the most intense action took away from the movie. I also got tired of all of the bullets that were flying, but never hitting any of the lead actors. They went the entire movie unscathed; what's an action movie with no blood on the hero. Anyway, I was just disappointed with the predictability and relative ease at which everything seemed to fall into place.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Steve Zahn, Penélope Cruz, William H. Macy

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 Passion of the Christ - ACE Train Movie Review

This film chronicles the last 12 hours in the life of Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus is betrayed by Judas and is condemned to death for blasphemy and sentenced to be crucified in front of a cheering Roman crowd. He is severely beaten and made to carry his cross up a hill outside Jerusalem where he is nailed to it.

This is a very intense movie that has a lot of religious history behind it. Being that I'm not religious and haven't been to church since I was a kid, it would have been nice to have a little more of the background information on the DVD; even if it was just a special feature. If you know the story and all the characters in it, you will probably get more out of it. For me, it was just a really long and bloody film about Jesus getting beat over and over and over (you get the idea) until he is finally crucified. If it was meant to be shocking, it was successful, but I think touching more on the reasons why things were happening instead of just showing a bloodbath would have been time well spent.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: James Caviezel, 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.

Tracy Dry Bean Festival - Sept. 10, 2005

Shawnna and I went to the Tracy Dry Bean Festival on September 10th. There aren't many dry beans at the festival anymore, but there were a good number of arts & crafts vendors and food vendors. It wasn't anything to write home about, but at least the weather was nice (low 70's at 6pm). The real reason we went was because I wanted to see one of the bands that was playing - Hollywood Allstarz.

Hollywood Allstarz is a band made up of former members of other high profile 80's bands. Here's the lineup:

Chas West - Vocals - Bonham / Lynch Mob
Carlos Cavazo - Guitar - Quiet Riot
Jeff Pilson - Bass - Dokken / Dio
Vinny Appice - Drums - Dio / Black Sabbath
Krigger - Drums - Giuffria / Tina Turner



Notice that there are 2 drummers and they both played on stage at the same time which made it interesting. They are basically a cover band that plays songs from the bands they used to be a part of as well as other classics. Some of the songs they covered were:

War Pigs - Black Sabbath
Bang Your Head - Quiet Riot
Cum on Feel the Noise - Quiet Riot
Holy Diver - Dio
Man on the Silver Mountain - Dio
You've Got Another Thing Coming - Judas Priest
Heartbreaker - Led Zeppelin
Immigrant Song - Led Zeppelin
Still of the Night - Whitesnake

Overall, the band was just a bunch of aging rockers and I was disappointed with the quality of the show, although the singer had a good range and the guitarist showed some nice skills. There were a couple of drunk women who were dancing near the front of the stage and the singer tried to get them to show their goods, but fortunately I think they were too drunk to understand (especially since there were kids present). Having 2 drummers on stage was completely pointless especially since they just had very basic drum kits and didn't even have a drumming battle. I guess you get what you pay for...

Monster-In-Law - ACE Train Movie Review

A love challenged woman meets a man while walking dogs; one of her many part time endeavors. He turns out to be a rich doctor who comes from a wealthy family. They fall madly in love and all seems to be going well until his mother comes into the picture. A famous news broadcaster who just got fired, the mother (a single divorcee four times over) is very protective of her only son and will seemingly stop at nothing to break up their relationship before they get married. The woman has her own bag of tricks and tries to prove she can hold her own.

This is a fun, light comedy that could be extra funny if you are married and have your own monster-in-law. I thought the chemistry between Jennifer Lopez and Jane Fonda worked well and made for some amusing antics. Wanda Sykes provided the icing on the cake with her well timed smart-mouthed comments. Overall, though, I felt the character Jennifer Lopez played was too close to her character from Maid in Manhattan as was the concept of a poor woman being swept off her feet by a rich man. Nothing too original, but if you want to be entertained without having to think very hard, this could be the film for you.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Jennifer Lopez, Jane Fonda, Michael Vartan, Wanda Sykes

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.

Bocce Ball

On September 8th we held our quarterly team meeting and offsite for work. We went to Campo di Bocce in Los Gatos for some bocce ball fun. The group started showing up at about 4:30pm and we got right to the competition. My team included Judy, Mark, Pooja, Danielle and Beth. The opposing team consisted of Ned (the group VP), Samir, Eric, Laura, Paul and Tom. Bocce ball is a fairly simple game. Basically, a small ball (pallino) is thrown down the court, then each team throws their bocce balls as close to the pallino as possible. Teams score points for each ball that is closer to the pallino than their opponents closest ball. The details of the 2 matches we played are inconsequential, but suffice it to say, we got our butt's kicked both times (maybe we subconsciously let them win since the VP was on the opposing team and we value our jobs =). However, we had a great time hanging out, throwing the balls down the court and eating the good food which consisted of assorted appetizers (calamari, bruschetta, smoked salmon cakes and scallops wrapped in bacon). We were finished by 7:45pm and it was time to head back home. Arrivederci...

A Visitor In Our Backyard

This morning at 9am, I was sitting on the couch watching TV when I kept hearing a little bird chirping its head off in the backyard. I finally got up to see what all the ruckus was about and realized there was a barn owl sitting on our fence.


I'm not sure, but I'm guessing the little bird was the mama who had a nest in a tree nearby since we heard baby birds chirping earlier in the morning. When I went upstairs and opened the blinds to take a picture, the owl immediately looked up at me. After I snapped the shot, it spread its wings and flew away. Pretty amazing and not something you see everyday; especially in your backyard.

Hoop Dreams - ACE Train Movie Review

This documentary follows two aspiring basketball players from playground pick-up games, through high school and into college. Since they live in inner city Chicago, they have to deal with many distractions while chasing their dream including drugs, poverty and violence. If they want to make it to the NBA, they also have to keep their grades up and steer clear of injuries, which isn't as easy as it seems.

The amount of work that went into this documentary was amazing just by itself. The filmmakers spent 5+ years following William Gates and Arthur Agee with a video camera so they were sure to catch every important moment on tape. The result was a very interesting story of hopes, dreams, victories, disappointments, second guesses, looking to the future and living in the past. The range of ups and downs that were captured on film made it what it was; an amazing piece of work which should serve as a wake-up call for all of the underprivileged kids who think the NBA will be their ticket to a better life. GET AN EDUCATION!

Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: Yes (This is the second time I've seen it)
Starring: William Gates, Arthur Agee

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.

Order Pampered Chef Products Directly Online!

Starting September 1st, Pampered Chef began allowing folks to order products directly from their kitchen consultants' websites. Of course, this means that you can go to Shawnna's Pampered Chef website and order Pampered Chef products directly online!

It's easy... Just browse through the online catalog and add items to your shopping bag. When you're finished, click "proceed to checkout" to finalize your order through the secure website.

Alternatively, feel free to browse the online catalog and when you are ready to place your order, email Shawnna or call her (209-832-0086) with the product names/numbers and your shipping address. She will promptly call you back to get your payment information and place your order. Your products will be sent directly to you.

If you're interested in hosting a Kitchen Show and receiving products for free, she would be more than happy to help =)

The Ring Two - ACE Train Movie Review

A single mother and her son move to a small town in Oregon after enduring some terrifying experiences in Seattle. The woman, who is a journalist for the local paper, learns of an unexplained murder which occurred after a teenager watched a strange videotape. This hits a little too close to home and she believes her past may be haunting her. When her son becomes gravely ill, she must find a way to save him from the otherworldly girl who has been terrorizing her before it's too late.

Sequels never seem to be as good as the original movies and this is no different. The original was scary, imaginative, dark, complex and engrossing. The sequel was all of those things as well, but to a lesser extent since it had been done before and the element of surprise and adventure were diminished. Like the original, I would watch this movie again since it is so visually intense, I'm sure I missed some things. The extra features help to explain some of the visual elements and bridge the gap between the two films. Overall, I enjoyed the movie, but I'm not ready for The Ring Three even though the Japanese version (Ringu) came out with a third.

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: Yes
Starring: Naomi Watts, David Dorfman

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.