Why We Fight - ACE Train Movie Review

In 1961, as Dwight D. Eisenhower gave his final address to the nation before leaving the office of President of the United States, he warned that America "must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence...by the military-industrial complex." Nearly 45 years later, as the United States finds itself waging a war in Iraq for reasons that seem increasingly unclear with the passage of time, Eisenhower's statement becomes all the more pertinent, and the question becomes more apt: has the machinery the United States established to wage war helped prevent conflict, or has it done more to inspire it? Why We Fight features interviews with foot soldiers, Army recruits, Pentagon personnel, decorated veterans, members of Congress, national security advisors, top military strategists, and many more as they talks about the core philosophies of American military strategy and how they have changed since the end of the Second World War.

This is a very relevant documentary for the times we are currently in. It is interesting to hear the different viewpoints of various folks within our government as well as regular citizens. The question of why we fight (as well as what are we fighting for in Iraq, in particular) has no easy answer and it seems that the communication between our government and the people have broken down. This documentary reminds me of something Michael Moore would make in that it really only shows one side of the story, so you should take it for what it's worth. Overall, I found it very interesting and would recommend it for war buffs and people who aren't already tired of all the talk about war.

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Wilton Sekzer, Chalmers Johnson, William Solomon

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 Sound of Thunder - ACE Train Movie Review

Charles Hatton owns and operates a successful firm known as Time Safari. Thanks to time travel technology developed by Hatton's employee Sonia Rand, Time Safari allows big game hunters to journey back to prehistoric days and shoot living, breathing dinosaurs. Rand picks out the dinosaur in question, who is soon to die, and creates a floating walkway for the hunters, so the impact of their presence will not be felt by the land around them. But on one expedition, things go horribly wrong when a nervous hunter steps off the walkway and crushes a butterfly, a tiny act that proves to have massive consequences over the course of several million years. As the earth's climate and animal life begin to mutate due to this shift in natural history, Time Safari's leading hunting guide, Travis Ryer, works beside Rand in a desperate attempt to halt the "ripples of time" before modern civilization completely collapses.

This is basically a poor man's version of "Jurassic Park" without all the brilliant special effects, beautiful scenery and great musical soundtrack. It's a little different in that the dinosaurs evolve into new species (like the man eating baboons), but not significantly different to be totally original. Although, this film was based on a short story by Ray Bradbury (author of Fahrenheit 451) which intrigued me, but didn't boost my rating. It wasn't a horrible movie, just not up to par with it's closest competitor in the "don't mess with dinosaur DNA" space. I thinks it's safe to say that there won't be a sequel to this film or any Academy Awards.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Edward Burns, Catherine McCormack, Ben Kingsley

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 Ant Bully - Movie Review

Lucas Nickle is a ten-year-old boy whose family has just moved to a new town, and Lucas isn't enjoying it much - he hasn't made any friends yet, his big sister ignores him, his parents are occupied with their upcoming vacation in Mexico, and his loving but slightly crazy grandmother is convinced space aliens are casing out the neighborhood. To make matters worse, the local bully has found Lucas and is making his life miserable, so the boy looks for someone he can push around - and he soon finds a large colony of ants in his yard. Lucas takes out his frustrations by stomping, drowning, and burying the bugs, little realizing the ants see him as a threat to their safety and aren't about take his attacks lying down. Zoc is a "wizard ant" who creates a formula that shrinks Lucas to the size of an insect, and the tiny boy is brought before the leader of the Ant Council and the Queen of the Colony to answer for his crimes against the ants. Showing compassion, the queen sentences Lucas not to death, but to live among them and see how difficult their circumstances can be.

This was a computer-animated dud that couldn't be saved by the Hollywood stars they got to do the voices. The plot was simple and boring - a kid who blindly kills ants by spraying them with a garden hose, becomes one so he can be taught that he shouldn't do that since ants have feelings too. There were a few cute parts and funny scenes, but I was bored most of the time and was glad that it ended in less than 90 minutes. Since the plot is so straightforward, maybe kids would like it since it's easy to follow, but there's really nothing for adults to enjoy. What's worse is that this type of movie has been made before (and better), so it's not even very original. If you want to watch a movie about what it's like to be an insect, try "A Bug's Life" or "Antz" which are both better than this one.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Voices of Nicolas Cage, Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep, Paul Giamatti

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. Colorado Avalanche - 11/7/06

I took Dan to this game for his birthday since he's an Avalanche fan and this was the first time the Sharks played the Avs at the Tank this year. He wore all his Avalanche garb and I warned him that if the Sharks went up big, I wasn't responsible for what the Sharks fans would do (or say) to him :-) Unfortunately, that wasn't meant to be, but at least Dan was able to see a good game by the Avalanche.

The first half of the game was very even. The Avalanche struck first when Brett Clark scored 11:10 into the first period. The Sharks answered back 2 minutes later when Jonathan Cheechoo scored on a power-play to tie it up. The second period started with Joe Sakic scoring from the goal crease 4 minutes in to put the Avs up by one. Four minutes later, Joe Thornton scored on a long shot to even it up at 2-2. From that point on, it was all Avs.

Brett McLean scored at 14:02 of the second to put the Avs up 3-2. Five minutes later, Brett Clark scored his second goal of the game (third of the season) to increase the Avs lead 4-2 and that's how the second period ended. In the third period, the Sharks had several chances to get back into the game (including a 5 on 3 power-play), but failed to score as Jose Theodore stood strong to get the victory. Joe Sakic provided one last goal as he scored for the second time in the game on the power-play at 7:34 to give the Avs a 5-2 victory.

After that last goal, the crowd was very silent for the rest of the game and a lot of fans started to leave with 10 minutes left. Since the Sharks have been playing great and winning this season, it was a strange sight to see the arena empty at the end instead of celebrating another win. Oh well, you can't win them all and the Sharks were definitely outplayed by the Avs in this one. Happy Birthday Bro!

Score: L 5-2
1st Period
Avs - Brett Clark (Joe Sakic, Wojtek Wolski)
SJ - Jonathan Cheechoo(PP) (Joe Thornton, Milan Michalek)
2nd Period
Avs - Joe Sakic (John-Michael Liles)
SJ - Joe Thornton (Rob Davison, Marc-Edouard Vlasic)
Avs - Brett McLean (Tyler Arnason, Brett Clark)
Avs - Brett Clark (Wojtek Wolski, Andrew Brunette)
3rd Period
Avs - Joe Sakic(PP) (Patrice Brisebois)

SJ SOG: 30
Avalanche SOG: 25
Winning Goalie: Jose Theodore
Losing Goalie: Vesa Toskala

Tickets: Section 211 Row 5

Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest - ACE Train Movie Review

As Will and Elizabeth prepare to exchange vows at the alter, their wedding plans hit rough waters with the arrival of sea-bound scallywag Jack Sparrow. It seems that Sparrow owes a substantial blood debt to half-octapus sea captain Davy Jones, and that the only way for the flamboyant sea rover to elude the wrath of his otherworldy pursuer is to seek the aid of mysterious and powerful Voodoo priestess Tia Dalma, whose ability to resurrect the dead and gaze into the future may provide just the advantage needed to avoid a waterlogged fate in the locker of his legendary nemesis.

This is an all-around great film. The special effects are superb, the props and costumes are outstanding, the dialog is well thought out and the acting is second to none. All of the great characters (and actors) from the first film are back for this one which is a huge plus. The story is very involved, complex and requires you to pay attention if you hope to follow what is going on. This complexity means you can watch it a second time and easily catch something you missed the first time around. The ending is frustrating - not because it's a bad ending, but because it's such a great cliffhanger that I can't wait until the third part of the trilogy to see how it all turns out.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: Yes
Starring: Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley

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

Grandma's Boy - ACE Train Movie Review

Alex is a 35-year-old video-game tester who is happy with his work and is making ends meet - until he discovers that his roommate hasn't paid the rent for the last six months, using the money to finance repeated visits to a local massage parlor. After running out of friends who will let him sleep on their couch, Alex swallows his pride and moves in with his grandma Lily, who loves Alex and is happy to give him a place to stay in exchange for doing chores around the house. Lily shares her home with two friends, perpetually confused Bea and sexually adventurous Grace, and between the three of them, there's always work to be done, keeping Alex busy nearly every night. While Alex tells his co-workers he's living with three attractive women who are running him ragged, they don't know the real story; in the meantime, Alex is trying to charm the beautiful new executive, Samantha, while butting heads with the firm's space-case CEO Cheezle and J.P., a teenage game designer who is no longer in touch with reality.

If you like Adam Sandler's comedies, then you will most likely get a kick from this one. It is produced by Sandler's Happy Madison production company and features many of the actors that made appearances in his past films. However, this movie isn't as funny as Sandler's classics (to be clear, Sandler isn't in this film). Most of the comedy in this film comes from jokes about being stoned and drunk which gets old and not so funny toward the end. There are some very funny parts and some original characters that add a lot to the film. I just think it could have been a lot funnier if the pot references were just one part of the film instead of the main recurring theme.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Linda Cardellini, Allen Covert, Peter Dante, Shirley Jones, Doris Roberts, Kevin Nealon

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.

Shopgirl - ACE Train Movie Review

Mirabelle Buttersfield is an aspiring artist in her mid-twenties who moved to Los Angeles, where she works at the glove counter of an upscale department store. Mirabelle's job is simple and not demanding, but it doesn't pay especially well, and she finds herself struggling to get out from under a growing mountain of debt from student loans and credit cards. One night, while doing her laundry, Mirabelle meets Jeremy, a scruffy but likable would-be musician who makes ends meet selling guitar amps. While Jeremy is obviously infatuated with Mirabelle, she isn't sure how she feels about him, especially after she meets Ray Porter, a man in his fifties whom she meets at the store. Ray is independently wealthy, intelligent, and charming, and after asking her out on a date he sweeps her off her feet. However, while Mirabelle quickly falls for Ray and he's generous to a fault with her, he refuses to commit exclusively to her and suggests they should both see other people, a prospect that no longer holds much appeal for her.

For a movie with big name actors, this one certainly had an "independent film" feel to it. The dialog wasn't crisp or always meaningful. The pace of the film was slow and tedious at times. Some scenes seemed pointless (like when Jason Schwartzman's character slept with Bridgette Wilson's character and nothing ever came of it). It wasn't a bad film, it was just a bit boring and awkward - especially watching Steve Martin and Claire Danes getting friendly. So, this is probably more of a chick flick as I'm sure they love the idea of two nice guys competing for their attention, although I'm not sure anyone would really enjoy the slow pace.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Steve Martin, Claire Danes, Jason Schwartzman, Bridgette Wilson-Sampras

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.

John Tucker Must Die - Movie Review

John Tucker is the big man on campus at his high school - he's the captain and star player of the basketball team, he's got money, he's good-looking and charming, and he can have any girl he wants. However, the latter attribute is about to get him in serious trouble when three different girls at his school - Heather, Beth and Carrie - discover they've all been dating John at the same time. Determined to bring down the campus ladykiller, the girls devise a plan - they pick a cute but socially clumsy girl who is new at school, Kate, and give her a crash course in stealing John's heart. Once Kate has John wrapped around her little finger, she's supposed to drop him like a bad habit and give him a taste of what heartbreak is really like. However, it seems that the early stages of the plan work a little too well, and John and Kate end up falling for each other for real.

I'm sure high school girls love this film. It features a lot of the petty drama that teenagers live with at school. For me, the movie was a bit too estrogen filled for my taste. It was basically a bunch of girls ganging up to teach a lesson to the school playboy by embarrassing him - not exactly an enthralling plot. Of course, I knew what I was getting into when I watched it, so I shouldn't be surprised. Overall, it's a good film for girls under 17, but a waste for anyone who has graduated high school.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Jesse Metcalfe, Brittany Snow, Ashanti, Jenny McCarthy

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.

You, Me and Dupree - ACE Train Movie Review

Carl and Molly are a thirtysomething couple who have just gotten married and are settling down into a cozy new home in a quiet neighborhood. While Carl and Molly are happy with their new digs, Carl's best friend, Randy Dupree, is not content with his living arrangements. Dupree has all but made a career out of avoiding work, responsibility, and commitment, and while his charm usually manages to keep him afloat, he eventually loses his job, his apartment, and his car. Carl can't bear to see Dupree in such dire circumstances, and tells Dupree he can stay on their couch until he can get things straightened out. But while Carl was expecting Dupree to stay for a few days, it soon becomes obvious to both him and Molly that their guest has no intention of moving out anytime soon, and while the likable freeloader starts working his charm on Molly, their neighbors, and their friends, Carl soon finds himself at the end of his rope with his best man and childhood buddy.

I thought this film would be funnier. With Owen Wilson and Matt Dillon playing off each other, I was expecting a "laugh out loud" comedy. Instead, it was more of a drama and even kind of a downer at times. Wilson's character becomes a little annoying toward the end when his "lovable loser" routine gets old. Dillon's character isn't very likable from the beginning and I didn't find myself feeling sorry for him when his boss/father-in-law was giving him a bad time. Kate Hudson is hot, but that's about all she is in this film as her character didn't provide much substance. Overall, it wasn't a horrible movie, but not one I'd ever see again or quote lines from.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Owen Wilson, Kate Hudson, Matt Dillon, Michael Douglas

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.

United 93 - ACE Train Movie Review

Told in real time and acted out by a cast of unknowns who were provided with detailed studies of their real-life counterparts, United 93 attempts to reconstruct the airborne tragedy from the view of the ground and flight controllers, the passengers, and their nervous families awaiting word on the fate of their loved ones. As the terrified travelers and crew gradually become aware of the historical events taking place on the ground so far beneath them, the 90 minutes in which a random collection of strangers realized their fate and came together to confront an unthinkable threat are re-created.

This was a tough movie to watch. Since it was obviously based on a true story that we all remember well, it brought back the emotions I felt that day and made it even more personal since I was now flying in the airplane with a group of people who died that day. Given the sensitive subject, it was done as well as it possibly could have been done since the actors met with the families of the passengers they were portraying to get a sense of what the real people were like. Even though I knew the end of the story, I still found myself rooting for the passengers to overpower the terrorists and safely land the plane. It gave me a new insight into what really happened that day and re-emphasized the courage the passengers on that plane displayed during a time of unbelievable terror. I can't imagine what I would do in that situation, but I hope I could be as brave as they were.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Richard Bekins, Christian Clemenson, Ben Sliney

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 Da Vinci Code - ACE Train Movie Review

The stately silence of Paris' Louvre museum is broken when one of the gallery's leading curators is found dead on the grounds, with strange symbols carved into his body and left around the spot where he died. Hoping to learn the significance of the symbols, police bring in Sophie Neveu, a gifted cryptographer who is also the victim's granddaughter. Needing help, Sophie calls on Robert Langdon, a leading symbologist from the United States. As Sophie and Robert dig deeper into the case, they discover the victim's involvement in the Priory of Sion, a secret society whose members have been privy to forbidden knowledge dating back to the birth of Christianity. In their search, Sophie and Robert happen upon evidence that could lead to the final resting place of the Holy Grail, while members of the priory and an underground Catholic society known as Opus Dei give chase, determined to prevent them from sharing their greatest secrets with the world.

I always hear people say that movies based on books are rarely ever as good as the books they are based on. This film holds true to that line of thinking as the book was amazing, while the movie was "just" very good. I don't know how my opinion of the film would have changed if I hadn't read the book first, but the book was so descriptive that I was able to visualize everything that was happening and compared it to what I saw on the screen. It was pretty close to what I had imagined while reading the book, but they had to leave some things out or it would have been a 6 hour movie. On its own, the film was full of action, suspense and controversial theories - plenty to keep my interest for the full 2.5 hours. I'm not sure if Tom Hanks was the perfect Robert Langdon, but he got the job done. With all of the hype surrounding this movie, I don't think it could have met the high expectations, but it certainly came pretty close.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: Yes
Starring: Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou, Ian McKellen, Jean Reno

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

SJ Sharks vs. New Jersey Devils - 11/25/06

Shawnna and I attended this match-up between two teams who haven't faced each other in 3 years. Being a fan of Devil's goalie Martin Brodeur, I still wanted the Sharks to win, but I would have been happy with a 1-0 victory instead of running up the score on Brodeur. The Devils are a very defensive-minded team and that set the tone for the game.

The first two periods were very similar in style and outcome. There were a lot of sloppy passes, a good amount of play in the neutral zone, a few good scoring chances for each team, brilliant saves from the goaltenders, very few penalties and no scoring. Through the first 2 periods, each team were called for 2 penalties and the Sharks had the shot advantage 16-14, but the score was 0-0.

The third period was more of the same with one notable exception. At 8:49, Joe Thornton jumped on the ice when it wasn't his shift, intercepted a New Jersey pass and fired a bullet from the left faceoff circle past Brodeur to put the Sharks up 1-0. After that, the Devils really tried to keep the pressure on the Sharks and got a boost when the Sharks were called for a penalty with 1:30 remaining. The Devils pulled Brodeur for an extra attacker, so they essentially had a 2 man advantage. However, Nabokov stood on his head to keep the Devils off the scoreboard and Mike Grier scored a shorthanded, empty net goal from the Sharks zone with 8 seconds remaining to put the game on ice 2-0.

This game was Nabokov's 3rd shutout this season and 30th of his career. Brodeur also had a great game and only gave up 1 goal on 26 shots, but the Devils couldn't solve Nabokov. It was a great defensive game and proved the Sharks can match up well against any of the top teams in the league.

Score: W 2-0
1st Period
None
2nd Period
None
3rd Period
SJ - Joe Thornton (unassisted)
SJ - Mike Grier(SH, EN) (Marc-Edouard Vlasic)

SJ SOG: 27
Devils SOG: 24
Winning Goalie: Evgeni Nabokov
Losing Goalie: Martin Brodeur

Tickets: Section 220 Row 4

SJ Sharks vs. Los Angeles Kings - 11/22/06

Shawnna and I went to this game with Angie and Sulak (friends we met on our trip to Hawaii). They had never been to a hockey game before, so we thought it would be fun to introduce them to the greatest sport on the planet. This was a great Sharks game to attend since it was against the interstate rival Kings and it was a "family four pack" game which means the tickets included a hot dog, soda and bag of chips - what a deal! It ended up being a great game for other reasons as well.

The first period got off to a shaky start as the Kings struck first with a soft goal from Scott Thornton (former Shark) that "unintentionally" went in off his skate. However, the Sharks struck back 2 minutes later when Marc-Edouard Vlasic scored his first NHL goal on the power-play by directing a Joe Thornton pass past Dan Cloutier to tie it up at 1. The rest of the period was uneventful with the Sharks registering only 4 shots in the first 20 minutes.

The second period was completely dominated by the Sharks. Just 39 seconds into the period, Steve Bernier scored on the power-play to put the Sharks up 2-1. Joe Thornton kept the momentum going by scoring 1:20 later to increase the Sharks lead to 3-1. Just 58 seconds later, Patrick Marleau added another goal to push the dagger in deeper. More importantly, that was Marleau's 200th goal of his NHL career. The Sharks weren't finished yet - Marcel Goc scored 6 minutes later to put the Sharks up 5-1. To this point, the Sharks had scored 5 goals on 12 shots midway through the second period and that was good enough (or bad enough, depending on your perspective) for the Kings to replace Dan Cloutier in net with Mathieu Garon. That seemed to stop the hemorrhage as there was no more scoring for the rest of the period.

The third period was very similar to the first in that the Kings started it off with a soft goal from Dustin Brown 6 minutes in to cut the lead 5-2. The Sharks struck back a few minutes later when Joe Pavelski scored his first NHL goal in his first NHL game to increase the lead 6-2. After that, the Sharks just coasted through to the end and only registered 5 shots in the period. The Kings got their only quality goal of the game when Lubomir Visnovsky converted a Derek Armstrong pass across the crease to cut the lead 6-3, which is how it ended.

Overall, it was a great game and had so many exciting moments that is was perfect for Angie and Sulak's first time. It was fun to experience it with them as it reminded me of when I first saw a hockey game and became hooked on the action, power and speed. I'm not sure if they'll become as fanatical as I am, but at least they've now been introduced to the greatest game on ice - the rest is up to them... There will be a test on the rules we covered in two weeks :-)

Score: W 6-3
1st Period
Kings - Scott Thornton (Kevin Dallman, Derek Armstrong)
SJ - Marc-Edouard Vlasic(PP) (Joe Thornton)
2nd Period
SJ - Steve Bernier(PP) (Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau)
SJ - Joe Thornton (Mark Smith, Mike Grier)
SJ - Patrick Marleau (Steve Bernier, Marc-Edouard Vlasic)
SJ - Marcel Goc (Scott Hannan, Mark Bell)
3rd Period
Kings - Dustin Brown (Peter Harrold, Michael Cammalleri)
SJ - Joe Pavelski (Scott Hannan, Patrick Marleau)
Kings - Lubomir Visnovsky (Derek Armstrong, Michael Cammalleri)

SJ SOG: 20
Kings SOG: 27
Winning Goalie: Vesa Toskala
Losing Goalie: Dan Cloutier

Tickets: Section 219 Row 7

The Pink Panther - Movie Review

France's come-from-behind victory in the World Cup soccer championships turns tragic when the team's coach, Yves Gulant, is murdered during a post-game celebration. Gulant's girlfriend, pop star Xania, was standing by his side as he was felled by a poisoned dart, and in the chaos that followed a diamond ring he gave her was stolen, which held one of the world's largest and most valuable jewels, known as "the Pink Panther." The media and the public demand that the killer be found out and brought to justice, and Chief Inspector Dreyfus of the Paris Police pledges to put his best man on the case. However, somehow the astoundingly clumsy but consistently lucky Inspector Jacques Clouseau gets the assignment instead, and with his assistant, Gendarme Gilbert Ponton, in tow, Clouseau follows a dizzying trail of clues from Paris to New York City as he attempts to recover the rare diamond and find the villains who killed Gulant.

This film features Steve Martin acting completely inept and goofy - pretty much like he does in most of his movies. If you like Steve Martin and like slapstick comedy, you'll love this film. There were some very funny parts, but there were a lot of really dumb scenes as well. If something could go wrong, it did and usually made a big mess. It was amusing in the beginning, but got a little old as the film wore on - good thing it's only 90 minutes. I expected just what I saw, so I wasn't disappointed with hopes for a high quality, clever comedy. As long as you go in with the right expectations, you might actually chuckle a few times.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Steve Martin, Kevin Kline, Beyonce Knowles, Jean Reno

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

Wordplay - Movie Review

For 12 years, the name Will Shortz has been indelibly linked to the wildly popular New York Times crossword puzzle. As filmmakers speak with Shortz and the puzzle constructors with whom he collaborates, viewers are treated to a rare look into the minds of the people whose intellect entertains a nation of puzzle-solvers on a weekly basis. Interviews with a variety of celebrity crossword-puzzle enthusiasts including Bill Clinton, Indigo Girls, and Jon Stewart are also included, and a trip to the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament - an annual event founded by Shortz himself - offers an entertaining look at a world where the brain power and colorful personalities of contestants combine to create a lively atmosphere of friendly competition.

I'll start off by saying that this documentary is not for everyone. If you've never done a crossword puzzle, don't care about crossword puzzles and think only dorks do crossword puzzles, don't bother watching this film as you will most likely be bored. However, there is a big element of competition and suspense that kept my interest the entire time and it was interesting to see who creates crossword puzzles and how they do it. The crossword contestants had quirky and intriguing personalities and, by the end, I found myself pulling for a couple of them to win the tournament and now I have a hankerin' to do a puzzle myself - although, I'd be happy to just finish, let alone do it under 3 minutes.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Will Shortz, Jon Stewart, Bill Clinton, Indigo Girls

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.

Hard Luck - ACE Train Movie Review

Lucky is an infamous ex-con whose road to redemption is about to take some very unlucky turns. Against his own better judgment he agrees to celebrate a gangster's birthday, which turns out to be a setup that catapults Lucky back into a frenzied game of cat and mouse between him and a band of dirty cops. In no time, Lucky steals millions of dollars, kidnaps a hot-tempered pole dancer, and finds himself on an explosive and bizarre collision course with the police, the hitmen and a pair of sadistic serial killers.

This is a run of the mill action flick. Nothing special or very different that hasn't been done before. Therefore, if you like action movies, you'll probably enjoy this one - especially if you're a guy since there's a hot woman who is naked in quite a few scenes. However, if you're looking for something unique, steer clear of this film as you'll be disappointed. The ending was quite poor as well. The whole movie culminated in a conclusion that happened way too fast and left me thinking that more was going to occur since it couldn't have finished like that. Unfortunately, that was it.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Wesley Snipes, Cybill Shepherd, Mario Van Peebles

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. Philadelphia Flyers - 11/18/06

Dan and I attend this game to check out the Flyers who have plenty of big name players, but for some reason, haven't had much luck winning many games. Of course, the fact that the Flyers are one of the worst teams this year meant that the Sharks had a good chance of winning big - which they proceeded to do.

Right off the bat, the Sharks wasted no time in setting the pace of the game as Patrick Rissmiller scored 2:30 in and 2 minutes later, Milan Michalek tapped in a nice pass from Joe Thornton to put the Sharks up 2-0. The Flyers took their timeout to try to slow things down and it seemed to work as Geoff Sanderson scored on the power-play 5 minutes later to cut the lead to 2-1. The Sharks got back on track 2 minutes later when Mike Grier scored a short-handed goal to close out the period with the Sharks leading 3-1.

The second period was filled with lots of penalties and a few Sharks goals. Kyle McLaren kicked things off with a power-play goal 4 minutes in to increase the lead to 4-1. Five minutes later, Ryane Clowe got into the action when he scored on a pass from Patrick Marleau. Just 3 minutes after that, Curtis Brown put the exclamation mark on a game that was being dominated by the Sharks 6-1. After that goal, the Flyers figured Robert Esche had seen enough (he gave up 6 goals on 18 shots) and pulled him in favor of Antero Niittymaki. That move worked (or the Sharks stopped trying) as the Sharks didn't score for the rest of the game.

The third period was very boring. There wasn't any scoring and there were no penalties called. The Sharks had only 6 shots in the entire period as they were clearly just trying to run out the clock and finish a game that was completely out of reach for the Flyers. The crowd even started to leave mid-way through the period and by the end, the arena was only half full. I guess that's what happens when there's no suspense. Overall, the Sharks played a great game, scored early and often, took advantage of the Flyers weaknesses, won a couple of fights and put on a great show for the fans. It was the perfect game if you were a Sharks fan.

Score: W 6-1
1st Period
SJ - Patrick Rissmiller (Ville Nieminen, Marcel Goc)
SJ - Milan Michalek (Joe Thornton, Kyle McLaren)
Flyers - Geoff Sanderson(PP) (Mike Richards, Randy Robitaille)
SJ - Mike Grier(SH) (Curtis Brown)
2nd Period
SJ - Kyle McLaren(PP) (Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Patrick Rissmiller)
SJ - Ryane Clowe (Patrick Marleau, Steve Bernier)
SJ - Curtis Brown (Ryane Clowe)
3rd Period
None

SJ SOG: 25
Flyers SOG: 18
Winning Goalie: Vesa Toskala
Losing Goalie: Robert Esche

Tickets: Section 221 Row 3

Mini's First Time - ACE Train Movie Review

Mini is a manipulative, highly sexualized teenager with parents who fail to offer much structure or guidance and she's on a mission to stir up as much trouble as she can before her high school graduation. Her stepfather is rich and dim, and her mother leads a hard-partying lifestyle. As the relationship between Mini and her stepfather grows more twisted, a series of disturbing events at their posh modern house finally prompts the arrival of John as a nosey detective on the case.

This movie is really just about a manipulative slut who uses her body to get what she wants. However, in the end, I still can't figure out what she really wants besides drama and chaos. The plot wasn't deep, very suspenseful or complete as the movie ended with several loose ends. The acting was marginal at best and some of the scenes in this movie were disturbing on several levels. I'm very surprised at the "names" they got to do this film, but I guess everyone has some stinkers in their portfolio. Overall, this is one to skip unless you really want to see Alec Baldwin getting overly friendly with a high school girl.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Nikki Reed, Alec Baldwin, Luke Wilson, Jeff Goldblum

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.

American History X - ACE Train Movie Review

Teen Danny Vinyard races to tell his older brother, neo-Nazi Derek, about the young blacks breaking into his car in front of the house, whereupon Derek gets his gun and with no forethought shoots the youths in their tracks. Tried and convicted, Derek is sent away for three years in prison, where he acquires a different outlook as he contrasts white-power prisoners with black Lamont, his prison laundry co-worker and eventual pal. Meanwhile, Danny, with a shaved head and a rebellious attitude, seems destined to follow in his big brother's footsteps. After Danny writes a favorable review of Hitler's Mein Kampf, black high-school principal Sweeney puts Danny in his private "American History X" course and assigns him to do a paper about his older brother, who was a former student of Sweeney's. This serves to introduce flashbacks, with the film backtracking to illustrate Danny's account of Derek's life prior to the night of the shooting.

This is a very intense, disturbing and powerful film. Some parts are hard to watch, not because it is bad, but because it is so real and doesn't try to sugar coat a topic that many people don't want to address. From beginning to end, this is an unflinching look at racism and its potential causes, ramifications and effects on impressionable youth. Edward Norton is amazing in this role and leads a cast of talented actors in creating the realistic feel for the movie. It should be required viewing for all neo-Nazis in the penal system and "hardcore" teenagers as it could easily be a deterrent and warning for what their future might hold. Overall, it's a powerful film with a powerful message that's a must see.

Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: Yes
Starring: Edward Norton, Edward Furlong, Fairuza Balk, Beverly D'Angelo

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.

Cars - ACE Train Movie Review

Lightning McQueen may be just a rookie, but he's convinced that he can realize his dream of zooming by the checkered flag if he can only make it to California in time to compete in the upcoming Piston Cup Championship. When Lightning takes a detour into the slow-moving, Route 66 town of Radiator Springs, however, it begins to appear as if his shot at the big time has effectively stalled out. Of course, Lightning's exciting cross-country trek wasn't all for naught, and after befriending such quirky Radiator Springs residents as Sally the Porsche, Doc Hudson, and Mater the Tow Truck, the eager young racer learns that sometimes life is more about the voyage than the outcome of the race.

What a great film! Disney Pixar created another classic animated feature with this one. The animation is amazing - technology keeps getting better and better. The plot is entertaining and educational at the same time. The dialog is very funny and contains many references that only adults would understand, but kids wouldn't think they missed anything since there's so much to look at. Car lovers and Nascar fans would love this film on a whole different level and would be able to identify with Mater the Tow Truck, who's absolutely hilarious. In other words, this movie has something for everyone - it's the whole ball of wax and a definite must see.

Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: Yes
Starring: Voices of Owen Wilson, Paul Newman, Bonnie Hunt, Larry the Cable Guy, Cheech Marin, George Carlin, Michael Keaton, Richard Petty

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.

Master of Disguise - ACE Train Movie Review

Pistachio Disguisey is an ordinary waiter with a hidden, mostly untapped talent for transforming himself into any persona he wishes. When his kindly parents, Mama and Frabbrizio, are kidnapped by the evil thief Devlin, the usually meek Pistachio is forced to rescue them. Enlisting the help of his grandfather, Pistachio learns that he is one of a long line of family members to have the power of "Energico," a mystical means of changing one's identity to suit any given situation, and Pistachio learns to use these powers to their fullest to defeat Devlin and win back his folks.

I loved Dana Carvey during his SNL days and Wayne's World was a classic film. However, this movie is a big pile of garbage and a waste of time to watch. It's more silly than funny and had a ridiculous plot that wasn't interesting. I wasn't expecting this to be a great film, but it was worse than I had imagined. I was very close to just turning it off a couple of times, but I knew it was only about 1 hour 15 minutes, so the end was near. I would image that kids might like it because it was really silly, but it's not for adults. Bottom line - don't waste your time unless your 7.

Rating: 1.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Dana Carvey, James Brolin, Jennifer Esposito, Harold Gould

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 Butterfly Effect 2 - ACE Train Movie Review

Nick and Julie were deeply in love, but when death robs the young couple of their lifetime of happiness, Nick isn't willing to say goodbye to his soulmate without a fight. Soon discovering that he has the ability to travel into the past to a point before the time of Julie's untimely death, Nick struggles to find a means of saving his one true love despite the increasingly troubling results that his well-intended heroics seem to have on the future.

The first Butterfly Effect was a great film. This sequel wasn't quite as good (because it had been done before), but it was still a very good movie. Despite not having any big stars, the plot held its own and kept me interested the entire time. The ending wasn't much of a surprise, but it could have gone a couple of different ways and turned out to be a fitting conclusion. After enjoying this film, I sure hope they don't make another sequel. Although it's a cool idea for a story, it has reached the point where another movie would be overkill and clearly an attempt to capitalize on past success (ala Final Destination 3).

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Eric Lively, Erica Durance, J.R. Bourne

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.

Edmond - Movie Review

Edmond Burke is on his way home from work one evening when he impulsively stops to have his fortune read by a woman who informs him, "You are not where you belong." When he does arrive home, Edmond soon falls into an argument with his wife, and he storms out into the city, where he stops at a bar for a few drinks. There, Edmond finds himself talking with a man who freely shares his racist views about the role of African-Americans in society, and suddenly Edmond begins letting go of the sense of self-control that has always governed his actions. After a crawl through the city's underbelly of watering holes, strip clubs, gambling dens, and brothels, Edmond comes face to face with the violence of this world, and unexpectedly finds himself responding in kind.

This was a very odd, yet intriguing movie. After finishing it, I'm not sure I really get the point of the film. It definitely had an independent film feel with the amateurish dialog and confusing, seemingly pointless scenes. William H. Macy was great as always and this was certainly a new type of role for him - he sure looks a lot different as a bald prisoner. In the end, though, it was just a little too strange and unpolished for my taste.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: William H. Macy, Joe Mantegna, Mena Suvari, Julia Stiles, Denise Richards

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. Pittsburgh Penguins - 11/4/06

Dan and I went to the game and were ready to see what the hype surrounding Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin was all about. The arena was packed and there was a huge line outside waiting to see if any extra tickets went on sale. The buzz was electric as the game began.

The first period began on a sour note as Jonathan Cheechoo was ejected 1 minute in when he ran Mark Eaton into the boards and was called for boarding and a game misconduct. That set the tone for the entire period as the teams rarely played 5 on 5 while 10 penalties were called. Even with all of the power plays, nobody scored and the period ended with each team totaling 8 shots on goal.

The second period started much better when Kyle McLaren scored on a Joe Thornton rebound to put the Sharks up 1-0. Six minutes later, Pittsburgh tied it up on Michel Oullet's breakaway goal and the game was on. Just two minutes later, Matt Carle scored on the power play and the period ended with the Sharks up 2-1.

The Sharks started the third period with a bang as Mike Grier scored 33 second in, but Dominic Moore answered for the Penguins 1 minute later to keep it a 1 goal game. The rest of the game was a nail biter as the Penguins kept Crosby and Malkin on the ice as much as possible to try to tie it up. With 1 minute left, they pulled their goalie for an extra attacker to put the pressure on the Sharks. Toskala held strong in net and didn't allow anything get by during the final push and the Sharks won 3-2.

In the end, the Sharks held Crosby shotless and Malkin, while taking 3 shots on goal, was held scoreless for the first time in his 7 game career (he was trying to set a record for the most consecutive games with a goal to start a career). Joe Thornton had three assists and the Sharks looked much better than they did against the Rangers on Thursday. All in all, it was a fun game to attend, the crowd had a ton of energy and it was nice to see the Sharks back on track.

Score: W 3-2
1st Period
None
2nd Period
SJ - Kyle McLaren (Joe Thornton, Patrick Rissmiller)
Penguins - Michel Ouellet (Josef Melichar)
SJ - Matt Carle(PP) (Milan Michalek, Joe Thornton)
3rd Period
SJ - Mike Grier (Joe Thornton, Kyle McLaren)
Penguins - Dominic Moore (John LeClair, Michel Ouellet)

SJ SOG: 34
Penguins SOG: 27
Winning Goalie: Vesa Toskala
Losing Goalie: Marc-Andre Fleury

Tickets: Section 223 Row 3

Nacho Libre - ACE Train Movie Review

Nacho is a young man who works as a cook in the Mexican monastery where he was raised. When the institution faces a financial crisis, Nacho decides that he must come to the aid of the house of God (as well as the beautiful young nun who has recently joined the order) by competing in the local Lucha Libre wrestling tournament. Donning a spandex outfit, mask, and cape, Nacho becomes a hero for the ages - but can he win the heart of a woman of the cloth?

Depending on your state of mind, this could be a super funny film or one of the dumbest movies you have ever seen. The plot is ridiculous and the acting, singing and wrestling is way over the top. It's obvious why kids love Jack Black and he's always a hit on the Nickelodeon TV shows. He has the type of humor that is really silly and immature. If you're looking for a quality comedy, this isn't it. However, if you're in a goofy mood (or you're 12, drunk or stoned) you might just laugh your @ss off... ooxxooXoXXx

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Jack Black, Hictor Jimenez, Ana de la Reguera

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. NY Rangers - 11/2/06

Shawnna and I went to the game after feasting at the Sonoma Chicken Coop - good food, big portions, decent prices - Inexpensive Excellence :) It was a rainy, drab night which was an indicator of things to come.

The Sharks were home after a 5 game road trip and the Rangers were playing for the 2nd consecutive night after beating the Ducks in overtime on Wednesday. Needless to say, both teams looked tired and sluggish during the game. The Sharks seemed to dominate the first period, finishing with a 9-4 shot advantage. However, the Rangers final shot of the period was a breakaway goal by Matt Cullen with .7 seconds left on the clock. Not a good way to end the period.

The second period was more of the same. The Sharks dominated in every way except where it counts. Despite a 12-9 shot advantage, the Rangers got the only goal of the period as Martin Straka knocked in a rebound to put the Rangers up 2-0. By the third period, the crowd seemed to literally be asleep and the players weren't far behind. Nothing happened of note until 2.5 minutes left in the game when Kyle McLaren fired a long shot that made its way past Kevin Weekes for the Sharks only goal of the game. After the goal went in, there was a delay of about 5 seconds before the crowd started to cheer - very strange. After that, the Sharks finally seemed to have a fire in their belly and had a couple of great chances to tie it up, but Weekes was too strong in net. The game ended after Brendan Shanahan threw the puck down the ice to clear the zone and it went in the Sharks empty net with 3.6 seconds left giving the Rangers a 3-1 victory.

Overall, it was a pretty boring game and the Sharks power play (the best in the NHL) looked horrible as they went 0 for 5 with the man advantage. It was good to see Jaromir Jagr who, despite not getting on the scoreboard, is a threat anytime he touches the puck and had 3 good shots that were stopped by Nabokov. Next up are the Penguins where the Sharks will have their hands full with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin who are on their way to being the next superstars. The Sharks better wake up or it's going to be another long season.

Score: L 3-1
1st Period
Rangers - Matt Cullen (Petr Prucha, Brendan Shanahan)
2nd Period
Rangers - Martin Straka (Michael Nylander, Fedor Tyutin)
3rd Period
SJ - Kyle McLaren (Mike Grier)
Rangers - Brendan Shanahan(EN) (unassisted)

SJ SOG: 30
Rangers SOG: 19
Winning Goalie: Kevin Weekes
Losing Goalie: Evgeni Nabokov

Tickets: Section 219 Row 5

Slither - ACE Train Movie Review

Booted out of bed by his young, trophy-wife Starla, and in desperate need of some female companionship, wealthy Grant Grant picks up bar local floozy Brenda and heads into the woods for a hedonistic night of extramarital excitement. When a flaming meteor lights up the sky before crashing to the ground nearby, Grant's curiosity gets the best of him and he sets out to find the space rock. Subsequently infected with a rampaging space virus, which he passes along to Brenda, Grant transforms into a horrific, cow-munching monster and begins terrorizing the town. As thousands of squirmy space slugs burrow into the brains of the unsuspecting Wheelsy denizens creating an ever-amassing horde of mindless space zombies, panic grips the small town and it's up to Starla, Sheriff Bill Pardy, and gung-ho mayor Jack MacReady to put an end to the infection and save the planet.

Bad acting and bad writing resulted in a horribly bad movie. I couldn't tell if this was supposed to be a horror film or a comedy. The zombies that were chasing the good guys were ridiculous - as if the filmmakers rounded up their couch potato buddies and asked them to play zombies in their new film. Heck, maybe the joke is on me and the filmmakers were trying to make a bad horror film on purpose. If that's the case, well done...

Rating: 1.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Nathan Fillion, Elizabeth Banks, Gregg Henry

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 Omen - ACE Train Movie Review

Robert and Katherine Thorn were as loving parents as any young boy could ask for, but as fate would have it, their new son Damien is far from the typical child. Now, as the mysterious boy's growth begins to share frightening parallels with the Biblical passages detailing the rise of the Antichrist, and the lives of all who seek to reveal his true nature are cut gruesomely short, Robert and Katherine are forced to face the horrifying prospect that their child has been sent from Satan to hasten the fall of modern civilization, and that there is little they can do to curb his prophesied path of ultimate destruction.

This was a well made film and kept my interest throughout. While the underlying theme was demonic and supernatural, the majority of the action was surprisingly well grounded and could be explained by secular means. Some of the scenes actually reminded me of the movie Final Destination in that the deaths that occurred could be explained as an unfortunate series of events (or the workings of a higher power). Anyway, it was chilling and provided enough startling moments to be a pretty good horror flick. The part I really didn't like was the ending - it kept the door open for a sequel, which seemed blatant and cheezy.

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Liev Schreiber, Julia Stiles, Mia Farrow

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.

Over the Hedge - ACE Train Movie Review

A group of feisty forest critters awaken following the winter freeze to discover that not only has a new neighborhood cropped up during the cold months, but living in close proximity to humans may have its benefits. Despite Verne the Turtle's initial hesitance to breach the formidable foliage that has appeared on his doorstep since last fall, the arrival of fearless raccoon RJ and revelation that their new human neighbors throw out enough food in one day to feed a whole forest lead the gang to consider taking the plunge and exploring the snack-filled suburbs. As Verne and RJ learn to work together in taking on their strange new surroundings, Stella the Skunk, Hammy the Squirrel, Heather the Opossum, and Heather's father, Ozzie, join in on the fun by scavenging for Girl Scout cookies and attempting to scuttle past the pesky new suburbanites undetected.

This is a very entertaining animated feature that adults and kids can both enjoy. The animation is clean and appealing to look at, the dialog is funny and there's even some good messages that can be taken away. I loved the portrayal of suburbia which was pretty spot on and made me laugh because the absurdity was very true. The characters were well developed, had unique personalities and the voices were perfectly cast. The chemistry between them is what made the film funny and engaging. Definitely a must see.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Voices of Bruce Willis, Garry Shandling, Steve Carell, Wanda Sykes, Avril Lavigne, Eugene Levy, William Shatner

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

An American Haunting - ACE Train Movie Review

The year was 1818 and the Bell family was a quiet clan residing on a remote farm in Red River, Tennessee. A normal, loving family by all accounts, the uneventful lives of the Bell family began to take a dark turn when strange noises around the farm preceded the arrival of a black wolf with piercing yellow eyes said to strike unspeakable fear into the very soul of all who encounter it. As the sadistic spirit singles out the youngest daughter of the Bell family for torment and her frightened parents search frantically for a rational explanation to the chilling events unfolding in their once happy home, an eerie, disembodied voice promises death from beyond the grave. With the struggle rapidly turning violent and the Bell's desperate prayers for mercy going unanswered time and again, the shocking murder that followed would prove the only case in recorded American history where the death of a human being was directly attributed to an attack by an evil entity or spirit.

I'm not a big believer of ghosts and don't particularly enjoy stories that rely on supernatural explanations instead of concrete / natural causes. The fact that this film was "based on true events" piqued my interest, but after watching it, I realize that the "true events" were really ghost sightings - not my idea of fact-based. The film itself was creepy and semi-interesting, but it was a little confusing and I found myself trying to piece the story together after I finished watching it. The stimulus for the haunting turned out to be very disturbing, but I still have questions that can only be answered by believing in unearlthly beings. A little disappointing, but a good one to watch on Halloween.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Donald Sutherland, Sissy Spacek, Rachel Hurd-Wood

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.

Monster House - ACE Train Movie Review

DJ Harvard lives directly across the street from a most unusual house. A malevolent entity that longs to feed on the energy of the living, the once peaceful house that looms ominously outside of DJ's bedroom window would like nothing more than the chance to feast on the children of the neighborhood. As Halloween begins to draw near and the children of the neighborhood prepare for another long night of trick-or-treating, it appears as if it may be the house that is in for the biggest treat of all. Now, with the adults turning a deaf ear to DJ's strange findings, it's up to the brave young boy and his faithful friends Chowder and Jenny to break through the barrier of the supernatural and defeat the powers of darkness before the house grows too powerful to fight.

The animation is great, but that's really the only positive thing about this film. For adults, there's not much to keep your interest. For kids, it's a bit scary, so it's not suitable for the younger ones. That means there's a narrow age range of kids who might actually enjoy it. After 90 minutes, I was glad it was over and wondered what the real point of the film was. It doesn't have a moral lesson and is not very entertaining. Save your time and money on this one.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Voices of Steve Buscemi, Nick Cannon, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Kevin James, Kathleen Turner

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.

Little Voice - ACE Train Movie Review

Little Voice (LV) is a shy, mousy woman living with her mom Mari. LV doesn't leave her house. Instead she sings along to her record collection of Shirley Bassey, Judy Garland, and Marilyn Monroe. Her mother Mari, however, is an outspoken woman who is convinced her sex appeal (which is little) will land her a man, especially when she's drunk. One night while bar-hopping, Mari meets the suave yet sleazy talent agent Ray Say, whom she takes home for a nightcap. There Ray hears the beautiful LV singing a perfect rendition of Judy Garland's "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" from The Wizard of Oz. He's stunned by its beauty and thinks he can make her a star.

This film is a chick flick, moves slowly and is not really my style. The first 30 minutes were almost unbearable for me as it took that long for the story to take off. However, once LV started singing, everything changed. The woman who plays LV sings all of the songs herself and is absolutely amazing. It's uncanny how much she sounds like the artists she's impersonating. The rest of the film can be skipped, but Jane Horrocks is a talent that shouldn't be missed.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Brenda Blethyn, Jane Horrocks, Michael Caine, Ewan McGregor

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 Great New Wonderful - ACE Train Movie Review

Dr. Trabulous is a gifted psychologist with a special knack for truly understanding his patients. When an ordinary businessman who has witnessed a terrible office tragedy seeks to gain the insight of the seasoned professional, Dr. Trabulous helps to release a hidden rage that has slowly been eating away at the man's troubled soul. Meanwhile, in the culinary world, Great New Wonderful pastry shop proprietor Emme Keeler is about to discover that unseating the woman known as the Queen of Cake doesn't come without some heavy consequences. Elsewhere in the city, troubled couple Allison and David Burbage fight to save their marriage and break through to their curiously overconfident ten-year-old boy. Avi and Satish are immigrants and best friends who work together as security guards and wander the city making observations about contemporary America until their opposing perspectives are challenged by an unexpected development in their lives that neither saw coming. And despite the comfort she takes in her daily routine, Julie Berman discovers that her passion for life has long since died, until a visit with a childhood friend helps her to realize just what she's been missing all these lonely years.

This is a boring and seemingly pointless film. It was listed as a dramatic comedy, but it was far from funny and barely dramatic. The comedy is so subtle that it's almost non-existent - maybe that's what they call "intelligent comedy" which is mentioned on the DVD case. All of the mini stories that are told involve mundane characters in depressing situations - not exactly my idea of an interesting and enjoyable film. If you're in a good mood, don't watch this film as it might spoil your mood and if you're in a bad mood, it might drive you insane. Don't bother wasting your time with this pile of cr@p.

Rating: 1.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Maggie Gyllenhaal, Olympia Dukakis, Jim Gaffigan, 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 Break-Up - ACE Train Movie Review

The future once looked promising for thirtysomething couple Brooke and Gary, but lately it seems like a series of increasingly petty and intolerable squabbles have snuffed any semblance of romance in their relationship. Their confrontation endlessly fueled by mean-spirited suggestions of revenge tactics from friends and family and their stubborn refusal to budge resulting in an excruciating stalemate, Brooke and Gary ultimately decide to spitefully stick it out as hostile roommates until the weaker party eventually admits defeat. As the competition to drive one another out grows increasingly intense and outrageous, however, Brooke eventually comes to the realization that she's not fighting for possession of the condominium as much as she is fighting to salvage her relationship with the man she once viewed as the love of her life.

Based on the previews I saw of this film, I was expecting something funny. Instead, it was more dramatic and sad than light and humorous. Jennifer Aniston did a pretty good job, but Vince Vaughn seemed a bit awkward and the chemistry between the two definitely wasn't magic. This could have been a hilarious movie, but they decided to go the "emotional" route which makes comedy nearly impossible. The ending left me with a bad taste in my mouth, but I suppose it could have been worse (like the alternate ending they had in the special features section). If you still want to watch this film, just know that you're not going to see a comedy and you won't be disappointed like I was.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Vince Vaughn, Jennifer Aniston, Joey Lauren Adams, Jon Favreau

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.

Art School Confidential - ACE Train Movie Review

Jerome is an aspiring artist who arrives at a prestigious East Coast art institute to study. While Jerome enjoys daydreams of becoming the best-respected painter on Earth and winning the hearts of his female classmates, he soon learns the sad truth - his "cool artist" act is old hat in the big city, and as he's surrounded by every art school cliche on Earth, practically nothing about him stands out. Determined to be recognized whatever the consequences, Jerome maps out a bizarre plan to become famous that has some unexpected consequences.

This was a very quirky and fresh movie, although some might say it was boring and cliche. However, it was supposed to be cliche which is why it was a clever satire. The plot as a whole was a little slow and strange, but that's what you get when John Malkovich is involved. It made me laugh when the classmates in the film critiqued each others work - some loved what they saw and others were less than impressed. It's just like reviewing movies in that people's opinions are all over the board and that is the beauty of art - it has the power to bring people's emotions to the surface and can speak to each individual in a different way.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Max Minghella, Sophia Myles, John Malkovich, Steve Buscemi, Anjelica Huston

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.

Beyond the Gates of Splendor - ACE Train Movie Review

In 1956, a group of five American missionaries were sent to Ecuador, where they introduced themselves to the Aucas, a tribe of indigenous people who lived near the Eastern Amazon River. The Auca tribe was among the most violent societies on Earth - six out of ten deaths among the tribe were homicide, and they were even more bloodthirsty with outsiders than they were with their own. The Americans attempted to convince the Aucas of their good intentions, but they were soon speared to death by members of the tribe. However, after word reached the United States that the missionaries had been murdered, the wife of one of the fallen men traveled to Ecuador to continue her husband's work. Within two years, a profound change came over the Aucas - their murder rate fell by 90 percent, and in time, the newly peaceful tribe renamed themselves the Waodani.

This is a documentary about incredible events that were also made into a movie called End of the Spear. After watching the feature film, I was excited about seeing this documentary since I figured it would show a lot of the interaction between the indigenous tribe and the missionaries. In fact, it featured a little bit of the "clashing cultures," but not as much as I would have liked. The first 30 minutes focused mostly on the missionaries and their families which isn't what I was interested in. The best parts were the footage of the "rescue party" discovering the site where the missionaries were killed, the grandson of one of the slain missionaries talking about how close he has come to the Waodani who killed his grandfather and the tribesman visiting the US for the first time and being awestruck at the basic amenities we take for granted. Overall, this documentary wasn't as good as I had hoped, but I'm not disappointed I spent the time to watch it.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Steve Saint

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.

8 Mile - ACE Train Movie Review

Jimmy Smith, known to his friends as Rabbit, is a young man trying to make his way out of the burned-out shell of inner-city Detroit. Rabbit's entire life has been a hard climb, and it certainly hasn't gotten any easier lately; Rabbit has just been dumped by his girlfriend, forcing him to move back in with his emotionally unstable mother, Stephanie, and he's getting along especially poorly with Stephanie's new boyfriend. Rabbit has a factory job that's tough, demeaning, and doesn't pay especially well, and he's convinced his skills as a rapper are his only real hope at a better life. Rabbit makes music with a crew of DJ's and MC's who call themselves Three One Third, among them his close friend Future, but his status as a white kid making music in a predominantly African-American community and culture is extremely intimidating, and after Rabbit freezes up in the midst of an MC battle, he's convinced he's missed his chance and that he's doomed to lead a marginal life as a factory rat for the rest of his days. With the help of his friends, and his new girlfriend Alex, Rabbit struggles to work up the courage and the confidence to take one more shot at making his dream a reality.

Eminem was very good in this film and was convincing as a struggling rapper trying to make a name for himself in the rap game. Of course, this movie was inspired by Eminem's own life, so it wasn't exactly a stretch. It was pretty engaging and the supporting actors were as important to this film as Eminem and they definitely held their own. There was a lot more to the plot than the struggle to become a rapper, but I thought the most interesting parts were the rap battles. The special features section had footage of unscripted rap battles that were particularly impressive. I think the film ended too soon since there is much more to the story, but I suppose everyone already knows how the post-script plays out. Even if you're not a fan of rap, this movie has enough of a "meaty" story that you could still be entertained without being completely annoyed.

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Eminem, Kim Basinger, Brittany Murphy, Mekhi Phifer

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.

Click - Movie Review

On the surface, Michael Newman seems to have it all, yet with all the demands forced upon him by his ungrateful boss, Michael finds that setting aside time to spend with his loving wife, Donna, and two picture-perfect children, Ben and Samantha, has grown increasingly difficult. When a frustrating bout with the television remote leads the overworked husband and father to a nearby Bed, Bath & Beyond in search of a universal remote with the power to control all of his electronic devices, a curious peek into the back room leads Michael into the company of eccentric employee and talented inventor Morty. It seems that Morty has created a device that will not only allow Michael complete control over his television and stereo, but his entire life as well. As Michael discovers that the remarkable device has the power to muffle the barks of the family dog, zoom himself past an irritating quarrel with his wife, and even allow him to travel back and forth through time to different points in his life, the rush of being able to skip straight to the good parts in life soon leaves him feeling as if he's missing out on the total experience. Only when Michael begins to realize that the he has lost control of his life and the remote is now programming him does he finally learn that life is as much about the moments he'd rather forget as it is the moments he will always remember.

This is an original concept for a film and the underlying message is something a lot of people should pay attention to. As a movie, however, it's nothing special. There are several films Adam Sandler has made that are classics and must sees, but this isn't one of them. Don't get me wrong - it's a good film, but not up to the standards I expect from Adam Sandler (i.e. it's not incredibly funny, puzzling or goofy). It's more dramatic than anything and I just don't enjoy him in that type of role. I would like one of those remotes to use for certain circumstances, but I might use it to fast-forward this film. It's a good rental, but nothing more.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Adam Sandler, Kate Beckinsale, Christopher Walken, Henry Winkler, David Hasselhoff

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.

End of the Spear - Movie Review

Nate Saint is a pilot and Christian missionary who, with his family, lives and works in the jungles of South America near the Amazon. Nate is fascinated by tales he's heard of the Waodani, a violent and aggressive tribe living nearby, and with a group of fellow Christians takes it upon himself to teach them the importance of compassion and forgiveness. However, the leader of the Waodanis, Mincayani, does not trust the white visitors, and believes they may have had something to do with the disappearance of a young girl from his tribe years ago. A meeting between Nate and Mincayani goes terribly wrong thanks to Nate's inability to understand the Waodani language, and Nate and four of his fellow missionaries are savagely murdered by the tribesmen. However, in the final moments of his life, Nate is able to impart a message in Mincayani that bears fruit years later when Steve Saint, Nate's son returns to continue the work his father started.

If this wasn't based on a true story, it would have been an OK plot, but since these events actually happened, it was an incredible story. The thought of finding a tribe of people who haven't had contact with "civilization" is far-fetched, but actually happened. Then add into the mix the fact that these missionaries had contact with them and ended up living with them makes for an amazing story that proves the old saying, "Truth is stranger than fiction." Having said all that, the movie could have been better since it had all of that material to work with. Instead, it focused a bit too much on the missionaries and the tribe separately instead of showing more of their lives together once they met, fought, made up and decided to co-exist. There had to have been some interesting conversations and interactions as the two sides shared their customs and methods of survival. Bottom line, it would have been better if it was a documentary. I'm in luck since there is a documentary about these events called Beyond the Gates of Splendor. I can't wait to see it.

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Chad Allen, Louie Leonardo

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.

Tsotsi - ACE Train Movie Review

Tsotsi is the street name used by a young Johannesburg delinquent who has taken to a life of crime in order to support himself. Tsotsi comes from a blighted upbringing - his mother died slowly from AIDS-related illnesses, and his father was torturously abusive - and he has developed a talent for violence borne of necessity as well as taking strange pleasure in hurting other people. One evening, Tsotsi shoots a woman while stealing her car, and only later discovers that her infant son is in the back seat. Uncertain of what to do with the baby, Tsotsi takes the boy home and tries to care for it - going so far as to force Miriam, a single mother living nearby, to nurse the baby. With time, Tsotsi learns the basics of child care, and the presence of the baby awakens a sense of humanity in him that life on the street had stripped away.

For a foreign film, this was a high quality flick. Of course, you have to get over the fact that they speak Afrikaans with English subtitles, but it really doesn't take anything away from the movie. The acting is excellent and the cinematography is Hollywood quality. The plot is dark and disturbing, but also contains glimmers of promise and hope. I was sucked into the story, but my only complaint is that it's too short and doesn't fully explore all of the topics that are raised. However, you can use your imagination to complete the picture, but it ended so quickly and left me wanting more. I suppose that's the sign of a good movie.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Presley Chweneyagae

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.

Something the Lord Made - ACE Train Movie Review

Alfred Blalock is chief surgeon at Johns Hopkins University, where he is pioneering new techniques in heart surgery. Blalock makes the acquaintance of Vivien Thomas, a carpenter hired to work at the University, and to his surprise discovers a man of keen intelligence who has a great interest in medicine. However, as a poor black man in the Jim Crow South, Thomas lacks the financial resources to obtain a medical degree, though he certainly has the knowledge and the desire. Blalock takes Thomas on as his lab assistant, and together they develop a technique that allows them to correct a common congenital heart defect in children. However, while they work side by side in the lab and in the operating room, Blalock and Thomas do not walk the same paths in society, and Thomas develops a deep resentment that he has been given little credit for his contribution to a medical innovation that makes Blalock famous.

This film is based on a true story which always boosts my rating. The story is straightforward and heartwarming, but complicated and cold at the same time. It is deep and tackles many different issues - race, animal testing, human experimenting, society "norms" and gender roles. Some of the topics are more subtle than others and it is executed very well and follows a logical path. I'm amazed that Mos Def (the rapper) was so good and he worked well with Alan Rickman's character. They carried the movie and laid the framework for a great true story of a pair of very different individuals who triumphed over adversity.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Alan Rickman, Mos Def, Kyra Sedgwick

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.

Thank You for Smoking - ACE Train Movie Review

Nick is a man who has turned spinning news and information into a successful career for the tobacco lobby. He plots strategies with his colleagues on how to make other dangerous products more appealing to the American public. Nick ends up going to Hollywood with his young son in order to get a movie producer to include characters smoking in his newest film. Nick is kidnapped by a vigilante group concerned about the harmful nature of his product.

This is a great piece of satire that is funny, shocking and most importantly, captivating. It had the feel of a behind-the-scenes documentary exposing things that the public wasn't supposed to know. The fact that the topic was controversial added to the intrigue as well. All of the actors did a great job and were totally believable in their roles. This is a very smart film and a must see for anyone who would like some insight into the kinds of conversations that go on behind the scenes which result in the positive spin of dangerous products (i.e. tobacco companies paying for ads that warn against smoking).

Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Aaron Eckhart, William H. Macy, Rob Lowe, Robert Duvall, Katie Holmes

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 Wild - ACE Train Movie Review

Sampson is the king of a make-believe jungle far from the African plains - he's a lion on display at a zoo in New York City's Central Park, and he lords it over the other animals, including Nigel, a testy koala bear; Larry, a dumb but well-meaning snake; Bridget, a bright but cynical giraffe; and Benny, a very New York-ish squirrel who is good friends with Sampson and is trying to romance Bridget without much success. The pride and joy of Sampson's life is his son, Ryan, and he's devastated when one day Ryan is crated up and shipped back to Africa. Sampson is desperate to find his boy, and with the help of his pals he escapes the zoo and sets out on a daring mission to rescue Ryan, battling the unfamiliar terrain and Kazar, a wildebeest with a will to power and a passion for choreography along the way.

This film was cute and had some funny parts, but it wasn't very original. Madagascar was much funnier and had roughly the same plot, so if you want to see a movie with talking animals, see that instead - the music was better as well. However, this movie is definitely kid-friendly, so I suppose that's a plus for all the parents out there. It's only 1 hour 15 minutes long, so you can check it out yourself without wasting much time.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Kiefer Sutherland, Jim Belushi, Eddie Izzard, Janeane Garofalo, William Shatner, Richard Kind

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.

Akeelah and the Bee - ACE Train Movie Review

Akeelah Anderson is an 11-year-old being raised by her mother, Tanya, who was left on her own after the death of her husband. While Akeelah is a very bright girl, she's hardly a star student and seems afraid of acting like a bookworm around her friends and classmates. However, Akeelah's teacher sees genuine potential in her student and encourages her to enter the school's spelling bee, convinced Akeelah has the brains and the talent to win. Akeelah applies herself and emerges victorious in the local competition, but discovers the going gets tougher when she goes to a statewide bee, studying for the regionals under the aegis of strict English teacher Dr. Larabee, who consents to act as her coach. Meanwhile, Tanya feels intimidated when she finds the contests are dominated by children from wealthy families and privileged backgrounds, and argues that the competition may not be in Akeelah's best interest, believing instead that homework should be the one and only priority in Akeelah's life. It soon becomes apparent that if Akeelah has any intention of entering the national spelling bee championships in Washington, D.C., she will not do so with Tanya's permission or blessing.

I never thought I would have ever watched a movie about a spelling bee, much less like it. However, I was completely surprised by this film and am glad I took the time to watch it. I'll admit that I was sucked in and was rooting for the little girl to go all the way and win the spelling bee championship. Keke Palmer was excellent in this role and Laurence Fishburne brought a sense of elegance an authority to the film. The lessons learned through this movie are excellent for any kid growing up who feels different and holds their talent back so they "fit in." Even for parents, there's plenty to learn from this film including the need to support your kids and encourage their interests. Don't be turned off by the lame-sounding plot, this is one to watch.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Keke Palmer, Angela Bassett, Laurence Fishburne

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. St. Louis Blues - 10/5/06

Shawnna and I went to this game which was opening night. After some grub at the Old Spaghetti Factory, it was game on at the tank. The give-away was a poster featuring Jonathan Cheechoo (winner of the Maurice Richard Trophy as top goal scorer) and Joe Thornton (winner of the Art Ross Trophy as top point scorer and the Hart Trophy as league MVP). The trophies were on display in the arena as well. The biggest changes from last season seamed to be an increased ability to project images on the ice during the build-up to the opening faceoff and the change in the song that is played when the Sharks score - it's "Holiday" from Green Day.

Opening night got off on the wrong foot as Dan Hinote scored 36 seconds into the game to give the Blues a 1-0 lead. Matt Carle tied it with a goal 2 minutes later, but that was short lived as Jamal Mayers struck back 1 minute later. Things settled down after that initial flurry and the period ended with the Blues up 2-1.

The 2nd period saw the Blues spending a lot of time in the penalty box and the Sharks took advantage with Milan Michalek storing 2 goals 46 seconds apart - both on 5-on-3 power plays. That put the Sharks up 3-2, but the Blues tied it up when Lee Stempniak deflected a Bill Guerin shot past Vesa Toskala.

The 3rd period featured a lot more than goals as a referee had to leave the game after being hit in the eye by a shot from Milan Michalek. Also, the game was delayed for 20 minutes while the maintenance crew repaired a hole in the boards caused when Jonathan Cheechoo crashed into them. Amongst all that, Mark Bell scored his first goal as a Shark to give them a 1 goal lead with 5 minutes to play. Just when it seemed the Sharks had it in the bag, Bill Guerin scored with 6 seconds to play in the game after the Blues pulled their goalie, sending the game to overtime.

The overtime period was owned by the Sharks. They held the Blues without a shot and Curtis Brown scored on a deflection halfway through the period to ensure the Sharks started the season off on the right foot with a 5-4 victory. Hockey's back!

Score: W 5-4 OT
1st Period
Blues - Dan Hinote (Jamal Mayers, Dallas Drake)
SJ - Matt Carle (Mark Smith, Marcel Goc)
Blues - Jamal Mayers (Dan Hinote)
2nd Period
SJ - Milan Michalek(PP) (Joe Thornton, Jonathan Cheechoo)
SJ - Milan Michalek(PP) (Joe Thornton, Steve Bernier)
Blues - Lee Stempniak (Bill Guerin, Eric Brewer)
3rd Period
SJ - Mark Bell (Jonathan Cheechoo, Joe Thornton)
Blues - Bill Guerin (Keith Tkachuk, Martin Rucinsky)
Overtime
SJ - Curtis Brown (Matt Carle, Steve Bernier)

SJ SOG: 35
Blues SOG: 35
Winning Goalie: Vesa Toskala
Losing Goalie: Manny Legace

Tickets: Section 205 Row 12

A Clockwork Orange - Book Review

A Clockwork Orange takes place in a futuristic city governed by a repressive, totalitarian super-State. In this society, ordinary citizens have fallen into a passive stupor of complacency, blind to the insidious growth of a rampant, violent youth culture. The protagonist of the story is Alex, a fifteen-year-old boy who narrates in a made-up teenage slang. Alex leads a small gang of teenage criminals through the streets, robbing and beating men and raping women.

After a particularly violent attack on an old woman, Alex is arrested and learns that the woman has died. He is sentenced to fourteen years in prison. After a few years, Alex is selected as the first candidate for an experimental treatment called Ludovico's Technique, a form of brainwashing that incorporates associative learning. After being injected with a substance that makes him dreadfully sick, the doctors force Alex to watch exceedingly violent movies. In this way, Alex comes to associate violence with the nausea and headaches he experiences from the shot. The process takes two weeks to complete, after which the mere thought of violence has the power to make Alex ill. He is released from prison and finds that not only is he incapable of vicious acts, but he's defenseless as his earlier victims begin to take revenge on him. If Alex is to survive, it will take a drastic action on his part.

This book is very deep and packed full of fundamental struggles between opposing forces: good vs. evil, man vs. government, commitment vs. neutrality, youth vs. maturity, intellect vs. intuition. The problem is that this level of depth could be lost if you aren't able to look past all of the violence and strange vernacular. The use of a made-up language was a bit troubling at first and I wasn't sure I'd be able to really understand the events taking place, but it got easier as the book progressed - you can guess the meaning of the words based on context most of the time. Anyway, without this quirk, I'm not sure the book would have been asintriguingg and captivating. It's definitely an original literary work that should be read at least once - the book has an extra chapter that the movie doesn't address, so don't try to take the easy way out :-)


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

A Clockwork Orange
by Anthony Burgess
Paperback: 192 pages
Released: 1962

Down in the Valley - ACE Train Movie Review

Tobe is a pretty 18-year-old whose father, Wade, is the sheriff of a town in California's San Fernando Valley. Tobe is driving to the beach with some friends when she stops at a filling station and meets gas jockey Harlan, who dresses like a cowpoke and claims to have recently relocated to Los Angeles from South Dakota. Harlan is immediately and obviously taken with Tobe, and when she asks him to tag along for the day, he impulsively quits his job to follow her. Tobe and Harlan soon become a couple, but Wade is convinced Harlan is not all he claims to be, and Tobe begins to wonder if her father might be right when Harlan takes her horseback riding and their date is cut short after police inform them the horses were reported stolen by Harlan's pal Charlie. Tobe's suspicions grow when Harlan offers to teach her little brother, Lonnie, how to shoot using a pair of real .45 revolvers, as his actions become less charming and more worrisome.

Snooze... This film was pretty boring and disturbing on a couple of levels. The relationship between Edward Norton's character and the young woman was bizarre as was his relationship with the woman's younger brother. It was slow moving and I couldn't figure out what the point of the plot really was. It ended without answering the biggest question I had - who is this guy and what's his play? More than once, the movie reminded me of Brokeback Mountain. Maybe it was the horses and cowboy getup, but I fully expected a gay cowboy love scene - not that there's anything wrong with that :-) It definitely had the "independent" vibe, but it didn't hit the mark as a feature film.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Edward Norton, David Morse, Evan Rachel Wood, Rory Culkin

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.

Stay Alive - ACE Train Movie Review

In the days following the mysterious death of an old friend, a young group of gaming enthusiasts comes into possession of a chillingly realistic game based on the exploits of a 17th century noblewoman who earned the name "The Blood Countess" for her murderous exploits. Their curiosity piqued by the fact that they were obviously not supposed to come into possession of the grisly game, the teens soon give in to temptation and begin doing battle for high score. When the chilling events of the game begin to bleed over into the real world and the real-life deaths of the players begin to mirror the deaths of their in-game characters, the race is on to defeat the murderous Blood Countess and ensure that other curious gamers don't fall into the same deadly trap that they did.

The premise of this film was very original - events that transpire in a video game start happening in real life. The fact that is was eerie and creepy made it an even better plot. However, it got old pretty quick and the believability factor wasn't there, so it should have been even more over the top with more blood, gore and better special effects. Instead, it got a little corny and predictable toward the end. There are definitely better horror films out there, but I'll give this one credit for putting a different spin on things.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Frankie Muniz, Jon Foster, Samaire Armstrong

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.