flix update
Without A Paddle – 3 out of 5 stars – funny, but not hilarious.
Taking Lives – 3 out of 5 stars – I kinda saw the twist coming. CL really liked it.
Wolf Creek – 2 out of 5 stars – Horror film based on actual events. I didn’t really watch (I hate horror films, much less those that actually happened). The tortured screams were nauseating enough.
Waiting… – 4 out of 5 stars – Hilarious film on waiting tables. Prepare to be disgusted while watching this one!
Good Night, and Good Luck – 4 out of 5 stars – Fascinating story driven by David Strathairn and a fine supporting cast.
X2: X-Men United – 4 out of 5 stars – Better than the original; why I waited 3 years to watch this, I’ll never know.
most inspiring movies
The American Film Institute celebrates 100 years of film by counting down the top 100 most inspiring movies.
My personal top 10:
friday five – 80’s
I’m late with this, but what the heck …
1) Favourite movie of the 1980s? Ferris Bueller’s Day Off – As much as I hate to admit it, I was, still am, and always will be Cameron.
2) Favourite musician/group of the 1980s? Van Halen, and I like both Dave and Sammy.
3) Favourite TV show of the 1980s? At the time, “Who’s The Boss?” (I had a thing for Alyssa Milano). These days, I would say “Cheers”.
4) Favourite invention of the 1980s? At the time, the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). These days, I’d have to say the compact disc.
5) World Event from the 1980s that stands out in your mind? The Challenger explosion.
friday five – 80's
I’m late with this, but what the heck …
1) Favourite movie of the 1980s? Ferris Bueller’s Day Off – As much as I hate to admit it, I was, still am, and always will be Cameron.
2) Favourite musician/group of the 1980s? Van Halen, and I like both Dave and Sammy.
3) Favourite TV show of the 1980s? At the time, “Who’s The Boss?” (I had a thing for Alyssa Milano). These days, I would say “Cheers”.
4) Favourite invention of the 1980s? At the time, the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). These days, I’d have to say the compact disc.
5) World Event from the 1980s that stands out in your mind? The Challenger explosion.
les triplettes de belleville
The Triplets of Belleville – ****
I was very entertained by this French animated film. It is truly a work of art considering the story is told with practically no dialogue. The film works with its imagery and the quirky details in each scene. It tells the story of a boy, his grandmother, his dog, and his heart’s desire: riding bicycles. I especially liked Bruno the dog; I got a kick out of his scenes (and his thing for trains).
update 052606
It’s hot in the land of Lincoln …
- I’m getting a crash course in IP management for work. IP addresses, subnet masks, VLANs, DNS, DHCP. I got a lot of studying to do this weekend.
- Taylor Hicks is this season’s American Idol. He has heart and soul when he sings, and I’m glad he won. Kat McPhee was not consistent and way over the top.
- Our cable went out during the season finale of Lost. Thank goodness ABC offers full episode streaming (with ads).
- Did I mention it’s hot?
- King Arthur – ** – not quite like Braveheart. Quite boring, actually.
- 11:14 – **** – more of a black comedy than a drama-thriller; be sure to look both ways before crossing the street!
- I plan to play more with the Lightbox javascript.
Summer’s unofficially here. Enjoy the holiday weekend 
update 051506
Comma comma down dooby doo down down …
- It’s May, but it feels like March. Temps in the 50′s and 60′s (lows in the 40′s), windy, rainy, and cool.
- American Idol – Chris Daughtry is gone, and the fans of Idol are still in shock. I still believe this “talent” show is really a popularity contest. One writer noted that maybe not enough rock fans watch the show. He’s right. Chris will move on. Thanks to him, I’ve been exposed to rock bands like Fuel and Shinedown.
- Internet Explorer 7 Beta – I’m a Firefox user at heart, but I decided to try IE’s “new and improved” version. I’ll tell you what I think after a week of use.
- National Treasure – *** – interesting, but not believable; I do like scavenger hunts.
- Twisted – ** – unusual and confusing, hence the title.
- Cold Mountain – ***** – great piece set in the Civil War, with a moving story and outstanding performances across the board.
- Did you know last week was National Pet Week? I found out the last day. Salem got a new toy for it (not like he’s spoiled or anything).
An audioblog may be on the way soon. No, really.
cruise
I don’t really care for Tom Cruise. Or his wife. Or his appearance on Oprah. Or anything that has to do with his personal life. I don’t know him personally, so it doesn’t matter to me what he says or does outside of his work. If I were his neighbor, his coworker, or even his best friend, then that’s another story. But since I don’t know him any more than the guy who picks up my trash, his personal life is of no importance to me.
However, I do enjoy his work as an actor. His movies entertain me. Top Gun, Rain Man, Minority Report, Collateral. My favorite – The Last Samurai. Even though each character is usually the stereotypical “Cruise Everyman”, he plays the part very well.
- Cocktail – Top Gun with drinks
- Days of Thunder – Top Gun meets NASCAR
- A Few Good Men – Top Gun in the courtroom
Which leads me to his latest …
Mission: Impossible III – ****
Took D and his friends to see this last night at the Lincoln. Got sick during the trailers and missed the intro. What I did get to see was a great fast-paced action film. Philip Seymour Hoffman is terrific as the villain; plays “evil” to a T. You also see another side to Ethan Hunt now that he’s in a serious relationship. Typical Cruise fare, but fun nonetheless. The best of the series; certainly not necessary to view the previous entries to enjoy this one (a la, who else? 007). Knowing I have a free ticket, I may see it again.
the original Star Wars Trilogy – finally on DVD!
“I sense something. A presence I’ve not felt since … “
The original theatrical versions of Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi will finally be released on DVD September 12th. I do enjoy the “special editions” that have come out since 1997, but I want to own the original films I remember seeing as a kid. I have the last VHS release, and I’ve waited a long time for this to come out on DVD.
update 050206
- Laptop is better. I’m trying new things, like not having any icons on the desktop.
- Storms continue to rage through the area. I slept through Sunday’s set, but last night’s rumbles kept me up. Today was beautiful – sunny and 80. Tomorrow: more storms.
- Unbreakable – **** – great storytelling from M. Night Shyamalan; Bruce Willis shines.
- Sahara – **** – nice mix of humor and action (a la Indiana Jones); very entertaining.
- American Idol – the girls don’t stand a chance as we approach the final four. My personal favorite is rocker Chris Daughtry. The man won me over with his rendition of Bryan Adams’ “Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman?” I never liked the original, but Chris put some heart and soul into his performance. I would purchase this song if it was released by him.
- I haven’t had a chance to edit the audio from D’s fine arts festival. I plan to be out in the yard this weekend (weather permitting), so it may not be until the following weekend.
fast weekend
Time flies.
- Cut the grass for the first time this year. I’ll need to treat the yard for weeds and prune some tree branches.
- Washed CL’s car; after last week’s trip, dead bugs everywhere. Looks good now.
- Being outside this weekend is beating me up. My allergies are getting the best of me. Need to stock up on drugs.
- cooling pad before
and after 
- Jarhead – *** – great performance by Jake Gyllenhaal.
- Mission: Impossible – **** – a birthday gift from the kids. It’s amazing how much more you enjoy a movie when you actually “get it”. Looking forward to M:I-III.
- Chicago Cubs 7, St Louis 3 – Greg Maddux still got it. What else is there to say?
Final week of April; one-third of the year is about done. Time flies.
recently viewed
Secondhand Lions – ****
A great “feel-good” movie. Made me yearn for my childhood again.
Derailed – ***
Somewhat predictable; I was disappointed in Clive Owen’s character.
king kong
King Kong (2005) – *****
I originally saw this with D just before the new year. We watched the DVD as a family on my in-laws’ new 50 inch HDTV; looks fantastic! This movie keeps you hooked from beginning to end. The special effects are outstanding, from New York in the 30′s to Skull Island to Kong himself. What really separates this from the original is the relationship between Kong and Ann Darrow. While Kong cares for his captive, Fay Wray didn’t really care much for the ape – she was truly terrified. In Ann’s case, she reciprocated and understood that he would protect her, at all costs.
batman begins
Batman Begins – *****
The best movie I’ve seen in a long time (well, since King Kong). This is what the 1989 version tried to be – true to the origins of Batman. The story of how Bruce Wayne deals with his fears, gains his skills, and becomes the Caped Crusader is done very well. I will certainly watch this movie again real soon.
crash
Crash – ****
Oscar winner that jumps around from plot to plot. The characters are linked through racial tensions between each other (and the struggle within themselves). Outstanding ensemble cast.
a history of violence
A History of Violence – ****
Great flick; Viggo Mortensen shines. The characters are intense in this film. Warning: the acts of violence are graphic.
million dollar baby
Million Dollar Baby – ****
Not just about boxing. A great story about a female boxer, her reluctant trainer, and the strong bond that is developed between them. More than halfway through, the story hits you with a sharp right hook (pun intended), and it gives the characters more depth as they take on the challenge. Definitely Oscar material.
inside man
Inside Man – ****
A great caper that keeps you guessing. Fine performances from Denzel Washington, Clive Owen, and Jodie Foster.
ryan vs dorkman
If you’re like me and you like Star Wars (particularly lightsaber duels), you’ll enjoy this video. It’s 5 minutes long, so allow it to load. If you are unable to view it here, check it out at Google Video.
horrific
Requiem for a Dream – 3½ stars
This movie was recommended to me by a friend of mine at work. The reality of what drug abuse can do to a person sinks in fast. The use of visual effects and sound is phenomenal in this film; it was so good it made me sick. Definitely not for the faint at heart!
netflix
Finishing up a 2-week trial with Netflix. We’re gonna stay on, having 2 DVD’s out at a time for $14.99 a month. What we’ve watched so far and our ratings:
- Flightplan – ***
- The Island – ***
- Red Eye – **1/2
- Something’s Gotta Give – ****
It’s nice to get back into watching movies again.
update 012206
A lot has been happening, particularly at work. I’m still trying to keep up …
Major projects are going live in the next few weeks, starting with the biggest one on Monday. I think this one scares us all the most; it affects the entire organization, and management waited til the last minute to realize how important this system is. Now the entire place is freaking out.
We’re experiencing more change. We lost our secretary at the beginning of the month; we’ll have a new “assistant” start on Monday. Terrible timing, but we need the help. We’ve been interviewing for 2 more system administrators to assist our current one. I just found out Friday that one of our techs might be filling a slot, which would open up his position. I like what I’m doing at the helpdesk, but I prefer to be running around putting out fires. Another door might be opening for me.
MIA on tenyjr.com
audioblogs (no time)
new photos (no time)
WordPress 2.0 (no time and too new)
What I’m watching:
NFL Playoffs – I like Pittsburgh to go all the way, beating Carolina in the Super Bowl (sorry to my in-laws). Highly unlikely, but that’s what I’d like to see.
Lost – you either love it or hate it. I love it.
24 – ditto. If you haven’t watched this show, where the hell have you been the last 4 years?
American Idol – I hate this show. I’m only watching because we talk about it at work.
The Godfather Part II – I remember seeing this over 15 years ago and thinking to myself, how can this be better than the first? It was so depressing. But I watched it again yesterday, and now I know. It is still depressing, but the contrasts between Vito Corleone and his son Michael make the story so powerful. If it weren’t 4 hours long, I’d watch it again today.
I visited the Dell kiosk at our local mall Friday night. I got to see with my own eyes and touch what could potentially be mine soon. The salesman was very helpful and very honest on what is new, neat, and necessary. As soon as I got home, I customized several more laptops. I’m now down to 3 candidates:
It will most likely be the 6000, but if they can knock off some unnecessary options and up the warranty, I’ll go for the M140.
The dog is going through some phase. He gets up every other hour in the middle of the night to go out and chase something. He’s been doing this for a week now. Last night, CL tried locking him up in the guest room. He barked for a good hour or so. She let him out of the room, and he went straight to the door to be let out. After he got it out of his system, she locked him back in. This time, he started scratching at the door. We finally let him loose; he slept in our bed.
He didn’t wake us up to go out again.
holiday recap
What I hadn’t blogged about for the past week and a half …
Thursday – 12-22 – “Friday” for us at work. Opened presents when I got home. CL got a new purse, D got a portable DVD player, and I got a new watch (among other things, of course).
Friday – 12-23 – Took Salem for a long walk, then to “camp”. He hated it, as did the rest of us. Flew to CT.
Saturday – 12-24 – Drove to NJ to see Dad’s family. Had dinner at the “white house” in Franklin Lakes. Returned to CT after midnight.
Sunday – 12-25 – Went to Christmas Day mass with Mom and Dad. Had brunch; my sister and her family arrived. After they ate, we opened gifts. Jasmine had a field day with her pile of presents. Everyone was happy; needless to say, I’m well on my way to purchasing my own computer
Monday – 12-26 – Day of rest. Rainy but mild. Took CL to Mohegan Sun; she made $.25! Picked up D and went shopping.
Tuesday – 12-27 – Mom and Dad took us to breakfast, then to the airport. D got sick after the first flight; he slept on our connecting flight from Charlotte. Arrived home around 6:30 pm. Got sick that night.
Skip to Saturday – 12-31 – Got sick again that morning. Went to Applebee’s for dinner (didn’t finish mine, but did ok). We played games and watched War of the Worlds; good movie, yet weird and confusing. Celebrated the New Year, then went to bed (uneventful).
Hope everyone had a nice holiday
feeling better
Been fighting what seems like a stomach virus since Tuesday. Did not go to work the past 2 days. I’m not quite 100%, but I am able to eat without having problems. So not much has happened since our return from CT.
I did promise to take D to see King Kong today, and thankfully, I survived.
What a fantastic movie! Excellent effects, a classic story, and driven well by good acting. Probably not “Best Picture” material, but a great popcorn movie. Certainly a keeper; I highly recommend it.
