Superbad
A friend of mine and I took advantage of our day off to go catch a movie. He wanted to watch “Superbad”. We went to the first matinee showing at the big theater complex ($7 for a matinee???). Now Daniel was in school, and he has been talking about wanting to see this film since seeing the trailer a while back. It’s rated R, and for good reason. Daniel’s at the age where he’s pretty much seen it all, but this is just one of those movies where I can’t sit in the same room with him to watch and enjoy. With that said …
Superbad – 4 out of 5 – this film was flat-out hilarious. It’s about friends in their senior year of high school who are trying to obtain alcohol for a big party to impress girls they’d like to score with. Yeah, that pretty much sums it up. Some memorable moments include home ec class; “McLovin”; the period; and the drawings – oh my God, the drawings!!
300
300 – 3 out of 5 – Another visually stunning film based on Frank Miller’s graphic novel. The Battle of Thermopylae is depicted with gore and blood as King Leonidas and his 300 Spartans fight to the end against King Xerxes and his massive Persian army. The battles were violent and outrageously loud; when scenes cut to dialogue, it got ridiculously quiet so it was difficult to understand because I had lowered the volume (not that I didn’t know what was going to happen). All in all, I enjoyed the film, but I’m learning that I don’t enjoy violence as much anymore.
Sin City
Sin City – 4 out of 5 – I didn’t know if I would like this film. I had the DVD from Netflix for over a week now. After starting it this afternoon, it took some time for me to get into it. The violence is brutal (probably why I failed to give it one more star). But the stories that make up “Sin City” kept my interest, especially Marv’s tale. And I enjoyed the film’s style, dark and noirish with the flair of a bold comic book. Each scene is eye candy, sharp contrasts of black and white with a vivid dash of color here and there. Bruce Willis and crew hold their own and bring their characters to life, but it’s Mickey Rourke who steals the show as Marv.
movies update
I updated my watching page for the first time since (gasp!) February. I added 19 movies, including 2 that I watched this weekend:
Ghost Rider – 2 out of 5 – I like Nicolas Cage, but I had a hard time getting into this movie. I fell asleep just as the Rider was to make his first appearance. Maybe this would’ve made a better TV show on the USA network.
The Prestige – 3 out of 5 – This was a good movie. I could’ve given it 1 more star, but it was difficult to follow at times. Christian Bale and Michael Caine are great in this film. David Bowie does a nice turn as Nicola Tesla; however, I couldn’t help but notice that the voice was familiar. It wasn’t until later when Christine pointed out Bowie sounds just like Pierce Brosnan.
summer movies
A ton of movies this summer. D’s seen just about every one of them. I’ve only seen two:
Ratatouille – 5 out of 5 – Pixar at its best. May be too grown-up for kids (the boys in front of us at the theater were bored), but me? I thoroughly enjoyed this one from start to finish.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix – 4 out of 5 – I never finished this book (but I’m working on that now). There’s no doubt that the books are better than the movies. But the film series stands on its own, and I think this is probably the best Potter film of the bunch.
Teny Jr, Simpsonized
I’m not a big fan of “The Simpsons”. I watched the first season, but I don’t really remember much from it. I do remember them when they were just animated shorts on Fox’s “The Tracey Ullman Show”. But since then, I haven’t watched any of the series because I just don’t have any interest in it (or in the upcoming movie). I will say SimpsonizeMe.com is pretty fun. I uploaded a picture of me, and the site transformed me into a Simpsons character. Afterwards, I tweaked it a bit to get it to look more like me. If you want to make yourself a member of the Simpsons universe, I recommend reading these tips to get the best results. I actually like this one better than my previous “Simpsons” avatar, which I manually created.
Netflix
For a limited time, you can get one month of Netflix for FREE (twice the length of the regular free trial).
Offer expires 5/16/2007, and quantities are limited, so go check it out!
RvD2
Remember Ryan vs. Dorkman? Check out the sequel from Ryan Wieber and Michael Scott. If you can’t view it here, here’s the link to the vid on YouTube. I recommend viewing the HD version at Stage6 (requires a Divx web player install).
best picture showcase
D and I went to St Louis to watch AMC’s Best Picture Showcase along with a buddy of mine from work, and we had a great time. It was a full house; I’m glad we arrived early for decent seats. I purchased our tickets online, and my receipt clearly stated seats were first come, first serve, and to arrive 30-45 minutes early. A handful of people who showed up late had the nerve to bitch about the lack of good seats; some decided not to stick around (stupid move, considering they spent $30 for a large popcorn, large soda, and no movie). (more…)
i’m in repair
Saw the dentist this morning for the 1st phase of fillings (the number cavities add up to double-digits; serves me right). He asked me which side I preferred to have done first; I chose the left side, since there were fewer cavities to deal with. Funny thing – it wasn’t until I felt the numbness that I figured out he injected the anesthetic into the right side (CL tells me that he was actually working on his left side). He didn’t realize his mistake until after having dealt with fillings on the bottom right side. He apologized repeatedly; I assured him It was really no big deal to me. Now I’ve gotten the worst of the 2 sides done, and the dentist will work on the left side in about a week. Shortly thereafter, I’ll have oral surgery.
Saturday, D and I head to AMC Theatre’s Best Picture Showcase. It starts at 11 AM, and they will be showing each of the 5 nominees for Best Picture in this year’s Academy Awards. We will get a 15 minute intermission between movies (and a slightly longer dinner break between the 3rd and 4th movies). What is really cool is that tickets cost $30 each. This includes 5 movies, free large popcorn and free large soda (both refillable). You really can’t beat that. We need to be at the theater an hour early to assure good seats, and we probably won’t get home until after midnight. It will be a very long day, but it should be fun.
Tom Hanks is James Bond
Watch the trailer.
i can digg it
What I’ve recently been digging …
- The return of You Don’t Know Jack – digg story – Last seen in 2003 with the release of the sixth game in the series, You Don’t Know Jack has returned to the web with a new homepage sporting a new daily “DisOrDat” round for play.
- Why it sucks to play Pachelbel’s Canon in D – digg story – A guitar playing comedian goes off on Pachelbel’s Canon in D.
Casino Royale
Casino Royale – 4 out of 5 stars
This film sort of takes us to the beginning. Think of it as “Bond Begins”. Bond is newly promoted to his double-0 status, and we get to see him make mistakes (and we all know that 007 usually doesn’t make mistakes). Daniel Craig holds his own as Bond, and he brings an arrogance not seen since Connery. This one is darker than most Bond films. There is no Q yet, and it does not contain any gadgets (toned down due to the backlash from the heavy-effects-laden Die Another Day). The story drives this one; it shows how Bond becomes the agent as we know him today. I look forward to Craig’s next adventure as 007.
Bond. James Bond.
I’ve been a fan of James Bond since my parents took me to see Moonraker in 1978. At the time, due to my mom’s Filipina accent, I thought I was watching a film about a boy named James and his band (“James’ Band”). Instead, I was introduced to 007, M, Moneypenny, Q, a giant named Jaws, and the fantastic world created by Ian Fleming.
Having seen almost all of the 21 films, here’s my take on each of the actors who have portrayed Bond.
Sean Connery
He is the man who set the standard for everyone who would follow. Connery was smooth as Bond, and he exuded confidence (and arrogance) that made men want to be like him and women want to be with him. Connery is 007, and he’s at his best in Goldfinger.
George Lazenby
Some believe he would’ve been better than Connery if he continued to make Bond films. There are those who also believe his only film, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, is the best of the crop. Personally, I thought it was OK.
Roger Moore
Moore was probably the most comical, always saying something silly. Still, he “officially” starred in more Bond films (7) than the rest. I thought Moonraker was cool when I first saw it, but looking back, it’s quite campy. I recommend The Spy Who Loved Me and Octopussy.
Timothy Dalton
He had potential, but some felt his character was way too serious (especially following Moore). He made a better villain in The Rocketeer. Of his two films, I recommend The Living Daylights.
Pierce Brosnan
My personal favorite. He combined the coolness of Connery, the humor of Moore, and his own emotion to the mix. The modern age of filmmaking allowed for his movies to have some very cool special effects. Some say his portrayal of Bond got better with age, while the films themselves got worse. I actually like each of Brosnan’s films and am sad to see it end after 4 outings. Check out GoldenEye.
week in review
Another busy week ends …
- I learned quite a bit with coding and report writing during my training, but it never really sunk in until this week. It’s a good thing my predecessor is available as a resource whenever I run into a jam, and my counterpart is very willing to help anytime I need it.
- The helpdesk chains that bind me may break in time for Thanksgiving, and for that I am grateful. One half started Tuesday, and he’s gotten to be comfortable fairly quickly. He still has a bit to learn, but it’s very early in the game. His other half starts this week, and I will be assisting with training since he will be my replacement.
- I start my normal schedule Monday, working 10-hour days. That may seem long, but it’s necessary to get the job done. I am currently trying to accomplish a 10-hour day in 5 hours, and it’s not easy. The payoff of the new schedule will be the day off each week. The next 3 weekends will be nice (3 days, 4 days, 4 days). Can’t beat that!
- My headaches returned with a vengeance on Thursday. I’d like to attribute it to stress, but I’m not so sure. Thursday was a busy day, and I felt pressured to get things done. But the stress was not as bad as when my headaches initially started in late September. I’m sure stress doesn’t help, but I’m not so sure it’s the cause. The headache is accompanied by pain in my left ear, and something new: an occasional shooting pain down the left side of my upper back. I didn’t sleep well Thurs and Fri night due to the pain (I slept better last night because I lacked sleep). I plan to see the doctor this week because this is getting out of hand; I finished a bottle of ibuprofen all on my own in 5 weeks.
- I’m still not sure what to do with tenyjr.com.
- I changed my theme since D took mine.
- Rams lose another close one to Seattle. We need to work on 2 things: penalties and time management.
- When We Were Kings – **** – a fine film that transcends boxing. Ali proves to the world why he is the “Greatest” (and not just in the ring).
- X-Men – **** – Jackman steals the show as Wolverine, although I think the hair-do isn’t necessary to make the part work. Enjoyed this more the 2nd go-round (in preparation for “X3: The Last Stand”).
And another one begins.
TV roundup
Thanks to my friend Scott, I’ve been watching too much TV lately (and in his eyes, not enough).
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walk the line
Walk The Line – 5 out of 5 stars
Johnny Cash is a legend. If you are not a fan of his, this film will make you one. I did not know much about the trials and tribulations of his life prior to watching this movie; the lack of knowledge on my part only added to the film’s power. Joaquin Phoenix literally becomes the man in black and is worthy of his Oscar nomination. Best Actress winner Reese Witherspoon is superb as Johnny’s angel June Carter. All the actors sing in the movie. Their performances are very convincing and very good.
The Matador
The Matador – 5 out of 5 stars
Funny movie about a lonely hit man, an unlucky salesman, and their chance encounter in Mexico City . Pierce Brosnan is absolutely fantastic in this film and proves there is life after 007. Highly recommended.
mixed emotions
Closer – 2 out of 5 stars
A movie about affairs and it’s effect on the main characters. Sad to watch these people destroy their lives and their relationships for cheap thrills and what they believe to be “love”. Humorous at times but not enough to keep it interesting. The sequence of events just complicated things even more for the viewer.
best superhero movies
As Superman Returns dominates the box office, MSN presents their top 10 superhero movies (and their worst 5).
My top 5 (and I’m breaking MSN’s ground rules with No. 5):
Worst superhero movie? Without a doubt – Batman & Robin.
the man of steel is back
Superman Returns – 4 out of 5 stars
After a 19-year absence from the big screen, the Last Son of Krypton has finally returned. I felt like a kid again when the opening credits soared through space and John Williams’ triumphant theme blared through the theater. Favorite scene? When Superman saves the day for the first time in 5 years, I got goosebumps watching him in action.
I never thought anyone else could wear the cape besides Christopher Reeve, but Brandon Routh is convincing as Superman. And Kevin Spacey’s portrayal of Lex Luthor is as good as Gene Hackman’s (if not better). The film has its flaws, and is not as good as, say, Spider-Man 2 or even the original Superman. But Bryan Singer’s film puts the Man of Steel back on the map just like Batman Begins did for the Caped Crusader. And it’s about time.
audio blog 070106
a walk in the park …
- killer chihuahua
- K2 and site design
- mexican train
- FL trip
- helpdesk – new duties
- countdown
- Busch Stadium in August
- Cardinals stink
- original Star Wars on DVD will be lame
- Superman Returns
(sorry for the thumping, jingling, and other ambient sounds)
<br /> <a rel=”enclosure” xhref=”http://www.hipcast.com/export/P873bbb31381c5dd430f2a078b35870eaZlt6QVREYmF8.mp3″ mce_href=”http://www.hipcast.com/export/P873bbb31381c5dd430f2a078b35870eaZlt6QVREYmF8.mp3″ >MP3 File</a></p>
man in black
Just as Superman Returns to movie theaters Wednesday, the teaser trailer for Spider-Man 3 is released today.
can’t wait – this looks really good!
read more | digg story
