Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

This may be my shortest review ever because I can't really think of anything more to say than what is already posted on PluggedInOnline about this animated film.

Still, here is my personal take:

They should have named it "Awesome with a Chance of Awesome!"
I though it was phenomenal and I think you will too.

In Him,
David

The Soloist

Los Angeles stands out as the principle character in Joe Wright's "The Soloist". Dynamic and alarming, the city of angels even upstages solid performances by mega-stars Robert Downey, Jr., Jamie Foxx, and Catherine Keener. Maybe it was the low-quality, gritty copy I had available to watch and maybe it was my current state of mind (over 200 days since seeing Rachel and the kids), either way, this movie really effected me.

As it is, I am already a sucker for movies involving music. Some of my favorites include "Ray", "August Rush", "Moulin Rouge", and "Singin' in the Rain". In all of those movies the setting made the music. In "The Soloist", however, it was the other way around. The gentle hum of the cello or two-string violin made L.A. L.A. is often decisive - without warning - and yet it can subtly blend from that into an ironically-warm morning hue. This was evident throughout most scenes of the film as Jamie Foxx's portrayal of the schizophrenic homeless Julliard dropout painted the brushtrokes which eventually revealed the portait of a landscape destitute with homelessness and little hope for the lost and wary.

Ultimately, there is some redemption through friendships and Steve Lopez's (Downey) L.A. Times Column, which takes on an interesting role as the film's narrarator. It is not a quick film and not a "date film". Deliberately set time aside to watch this film and don't worry about popcorn or a bunch of friends. The only requirement I will impose is that you definitely watch it with a great sound system and full bass.

Guten Tag

Yes, I am in Germany right now. I'm waiting to board for our next leg on this yearlong journey in the making. So far the flights have been OK. I've eaten four times in 10 hours and my indigestion is getting the better of me - thank goodness I have an aisle seat! We've had several movies and several more to come.

I still think wifi is just about the coolest thing in the world - just an hour ago I video-chatted with Rachel and all the kids (even Hannah put in her $.02). They are well, but I miss them tons already - and it's only been 3 days!

We stopped over in Iceland and I watched a pretty amazing video that presented many of Iceland's amazing landscape and regions. What was more impressive than the movie was the projector. I have no doubt it was a very high-end DLP as the image was easily a 30-40 foot diagonal image and the clarity was unbelievable! It made me eager to save and prepare to drop some change on an upgraded model for our home after I get back.

Well, that's enough for now. I hope everyone is doing well and I look forward to posting again!
God Bless!

Ocean's Eleven - the original

A timeless classic! The original "Ocean's Eleven" will remain a classic over the recent installments for several reasons, some of which I'll only generally mention to avoid spoiling the film for those who haven't seen it. Now, please don't get me wrong - Clooney and friends have put together some fine work in the update saga, yet it will still pale in comparison to what Sinatra and the rat pack accomplished decades ago.

Why?
1. There was only 1. This is key. I recently tried to remember the plots of each of the last three "Ocean's" and found it a muddy mess to sort out. The original stood alone. The plot stood alone. The cast stood alone. And it still stands alone.

2. The ending. I really don't want to elaborate, but I guarantee you will agree that the original movie had an ending that will always be regarded as one of the best in film history.

3. The cast. Sinatra - Martin - Davis and a slew of talent in marquee-worthy and bit roles all had a very close and personal relationship with the unbilled, yet main character - Las Vegas, NV. The movie was made during the heydays of this town - before it exploded into the unbelievable modern spectacle that it is today - and these actors/actresses all had an intimate familiarity with the town. Clooney and his crew are all terrific entertainers, but they didn't necessarily take their real life to the screen like the original cast did.

That's my take on why the original "Ocean's Eleven" will forever be an American Classic, while the newer "Ocean's 11, 12, 13, etc" will be just another bunch of gee-wiz movies.

Logitech Harmony 550 Universal Remote Control

This review is way overdue, mainly because I waited so long before acquiring the coveted Harmony remote, the industry standard for unversal remotes. I didn't want to buy it myself due to the somewhat lofty pricetag, but I really wanted one nonetheless, so it wasn't until several years of pleading and my 31st birthday that "Harmony" finally made its way into our home.

To say it is great would be a grand understatement. A more precise description would be, "the single catalyst that caused me to reorganize a lot of our life at home and work." That may seem like too lofty a claim for any single device, yet I can point to empirical data as proof.

Yes, I replaced the five remotes it usually took to operate our entertainment center with this single, completely programmable, easy-to-setup and use device making the juggling act just to watch TV a thing of the past. With one press of a programmed button, my projector turns on and switches to the right setting, the A/V receiver does the same, and the DVD player turns on and begins playing the disc in the position last used. What followed was a surprise to me and Rachel. Now that we didn't have remotes scattered around and Harmony had secured a prominent home laying directly in front of my center surround speaker on the mantle, it seemed only appropriate to tidy up the rest of the family room. Bookshelves were straightened up and CD cases will soon be gone, considering each and every one now has a permanent home in another recent gift, a 400-disc Sony CD Jukebox. I ordered a third DVD album that will hold another 100 two-disc DVDs which will easily clear the rest of the stand-alone DVD cases into the attic where they belong.

The whirlwind of tidiness didn't stop with the family room. Rachel went on a normal trip to the commisary and returned to find that I had completely re-arranged our bedroom, cleaning it in the process. The re-arranged bedroom finally gave me the space to buy and put in place a cheap bookshelf for my grad work materials. Now that my books aren't lying all over the place, I have room on my ad hoc desk (a Lifetime plastic folding table) for the printer, laptop, speakers, electronic components, and a mouse! Even my office was effected. In the last week, I have successfully cleaned off, thrown away, and filed most of the mess that was on my desk - a feat that my co-workers would verify is way beyond my typical M.O.

What's next you may ask? Well, I can't be for sure, but I've had my eyes on several boxes in our garage for quite some time. It seems they may be happier in the attic and I'm sure the kids bedroom could use a quick glance by an efficiency expert.

Truly, this device has changed my life. Here's to Logitech, and their Harmony line of remotes. What is really bugging me though, is this: If this is the outcome from getting the entry-level model, what would happen were I to someday gain the top-of-the-line, all-color touchscreen, RF Harmony remote. I might discover a cheaper and safer way to travel to space and back. Perhaps I'll be given the secret to maintaining sock pair integrity (it's a technical term) through the laundry cycle. Or maybe I'll just be able to control all of my devices from anywhere in the house. Regardless, I recommend the Logitech Harmony 550 to anyone who is interested (at the very least) in finding the motivation to clean their bedroom.

God Bless!

As promised. . .

The Dark Knight review is posted. There is a spoiler alert appropriately placed - you've been warned!

God bless!

The Dark Knight

I waited too long to see this film - and not just a few weeks. This is the presentation the public deserved in 1989. Yes, Tim Burton's Batman was an instant hit with terrific one-liners ("You ever dance with the devil in the pale moon light?" or "I'm Batman") and amazing visualization, however it did not deliver in the same way The Dark Knight delivered.

First off, I recommend anyone willing to review or critique this film start by disregarding the political undertones (thank you, Morgan Freeman) and realize the sheer gravity of the overall plot. There was a weightyness that pervaded every moment, constantly burdening me with a wierd sense of guilt - like there was something I did that brought about this devilry in Gotham! As citizens and principle characters got "off-ed" throughout the film I felt somewhat responsible. This is the true irony of the film in my mind and the thing that makes it unique to the very end.



(spoiler alert - do not continue if you have not seen the film and wish to do so)




In the end, the villain is no villain and the hero is no hero. Batman suffers from the guilt that his existence brought about the madness and I felt like I had to flee with him. As the plot unveiled its evil face, I knew, as did Batman, that it needed to get messy before it got better. I knew that some honest citizens would have to be killed. I knew that some who should have never seen the light of day would really need to survive. It's a twisted ploy by the writers and I almost feel sick that I had a part in it.

Perhaps, though, that is an indication of a truly amazing work of cinemetography. Suppose you left a movie and felt absolutely nothing from it - no joy, no sadness, no humor, no guilt - why did you go, then, in the first place? Certainly it wasn't to spend $20 on a baby-sitter, $15 on tickets, and $11 on some refreshments! No, you went because deep down inside you wanted to be moved - either because you wanted to be first, or because you wanted to be moved how everyone else was moved. If you spend all that money and have no desire for the inevitable emotional response, then I would recommend you spend your money a little more wisely! This movie will move you, whether you like it or not. The color will leave your face at times and breathless, you'll sit there wondering, "why do I really want to see this life ended?" If you don't want to be moved - don't see The Dark Knight or any other movie for that matter.

I guess that's it - that's all I'm feeling right now. I could go on about the special effects or the cast selection or Batman's new deep voice, but in the end, those things are superficial issues that we use to avoid discussing the real matters at hand. I strongly recommend this movie for anyone wishing to dissolve the previous Batman establishment from your memory (that is, those movies prior to Batman Begins yet following the Adam West Batman) and anyone else that wants to know where Christian Bale's line of the Caped Crusader leads.

With baited breathe

By this time tomorrow we will have seen The Dark Knight. It's been a few years since Christian Bale returned as Batman and I'm really looking forward to catching up with the caped crusader. Of course, there have been nothing but glowing reviews from just about everyone I know who's already seen it and just about every news source. I wonder how much of that is respect for the late Heath Ledger and how much is unbiased, critical analysis of yet another Hollywood attempt at re-molding the powerhouse cinema. I guess I will have to make up my own mind later tonight. I find it hard to believe Jack Nicholson's performance as Joker in Batman will be upstaged by any performance, yet everything I know so far seems to support that thought. We'll see and I'll be sure to share my thoughts in the "Reviews" portion of the website.

In other news, we've been thoroughly enjoying the produce from the garden. Last night I had some diced tomato and tonight I had the red bell peppers. Everything is wonderfully fresh and really a nice reward for the labor. Conversely, I'm a little saddened by the ease that my "lawn care specialist" had in eliminating 90% of my troubling dalisgrass (what I thought was crabgrass). After literally over a year of toiling on my own and buying every possible weed killer (including a too-effective stint with "Round-up") I get nowhere. After one treatment, my lawn is almost void of weeds and the grass is thicker than ever. Oh well. Some men were born great. Some do great things. And some give up and call Alabama Lawns to take care of it. I'm thinking about asking them to fix the CVs on my Jeep also.

God bless ya'll!

Ho hum . . .

Well, I have to confess - I've given in. Last Monday I entertained a guest I was hoping to avoid. We had a nice chat and shook hands and even brought up some Alaska talk. Still, I had hoped to never meet the man. But I did, and I'm a little ashamed.

So, starting sometime in the next two weeks, my lawn will be treated by "Alabama Lawns".

I guess you could say I threw in the towel, but in the end all I really care about is a lawn without weeds. We'll see how it goes, but I feel like I've hired the help of an organization to fight something that I created to start with (due to my negligence/ignorance/whatever). It's kind of like Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones. (Maybe some of you will understand that).

That is neither here nor there right now as I am waiting in the Fairbanks Military Lounge for my friend to pick me up. I've made it back to Interior Alaska searching for the infamous red salmon. Then it's on to Valdez for a date with some halibut. yeah yeah, I know - I'm doing it just for the 'halibut'. If I've heard it once I've heard a trillion times. Oh well, It's still kind of funny, I guess. Regardless, the fish is terrific and I'll be happy to post some pics after the trip.

Take care everyone!
In Him,
David

The Bucket List

"Witness something majestic"
"Skydiving"
"Kiss the most beautiful girl in the world"

It should have been a no-brainer that pairing up Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson would result in a tremendous film. Though, I could see where there would be some reluctancy to do so considering their personalities. They both are masters of the art, and have been for a long time. They are both very strong-willed in their roles, filling spots that usually connote characters willing to accept the status quo or even an improvement. Each man is an oscar winner and they both have distinctive voices that could never be mistaken. Naturally, the question of who would receive top-billing may have mattered at one point in their career, yet I'm guessing these gentlemen probably put that aside when figuring out how to convey the message.

I would argue that the greatest films are definitely akin to the parables of Christ. Entertaining, certainly, yet inspiring - even moreso. In this regard, I examine The Bucket List as a modern day parable, where the message outweighs the entertainment and the star-factor. Simply put, the film teaches us how to love ourselves. Huh? Why doesn't that make sense? Why should I "love myself?" Well, Christ tells us to love others as we love ourselves, so logically we must love ourselves first to follow His direction. There is however, a good and nourishing way to love ourselves as well as a destructive and sad way. Jack Nicholson's character (Edward) had spent his life loving himself in the way so many of us think is the best - fine girls, exotic adventures, billions of dollars, etc. Carter, played by Morgan Freeman, had loved himself through finding joy in sustaining his family, hard work, and mental and spiritual enlightenment.

The notion of a "Bucket List" with no limit on funding, presented both men the opportunity to really love themselves (do the things they wanted to do). So, naturally, the human response is to satisfy the dreams that were more a part of Edward's life than Carter's. In this regard, Carter spends weeks with Edward crossing off things on their shared bucket list - everything from skydiving to seeing the Wall of China. The message becomes clear in the end when Edward learns how to truly love himself after realizing there was no added joy in how he had been loving himself over the years.

Anyway, you get the picture. I won't spoil the rest of the film as I think it is really great and was very well done. I hope you'll watch the movie sometime soon, as it is sure to open your heart and your mind to a little more of life that you could be experiencing - without spending a penny - and with that, a few of the items on your "Bucket List" that you can cross off, even today.

In Him,
David

Prince Caspian

Everything definitely changed. I won't waste much time discussing the story line or plot, needless to say the plot alone makes this a story worth reading/viewing. Rather, I'd like to focus on it's movie merits. First, the orchestration was terrific. It was subtle yet supportive, conjuring up the idea of "Narnia" even before the kids were whisked away. I would defintely rank the effects as being on the same level as LOTR, though on a smaller scale. Something that surprised me was the humor the screenplay writer's included to help reinforce the relationships. From the first Narnian the kids meet upon returning to their departure, subtle comedy was comfortably interwoven throughout dying, battles, love, sorrow, and suspense. Best of all, it was not overdone, like most sequels. Disney has proven once again that it takes a company that has only one way of doing business to do justice to a work of cinema - with high quality.

Prince Caspian Pre-Post

I haven't seen Prince Caspian yet, though I definitely plan to and will gladly post a review, but I did read a recent review on IMDb.com written by someone who was very disappointed in the Christian/religious themes throughout the film. Even though most of us probably know that Lewis was maybe the most noted apologist of the 20th century, this poster didn't seem to. One of the responses made me laugh out loud.

By FabHckyBbe, "Complaining about Christian themes in CS Lewis is as stupid as reading Agatha Christie and complaining about all those darn mysteries."

Not very nice, but funny.

Seven Years

Seven's the number man. Seven years of marriage as of today. First off, thanks to Alyse for the awesome Happy Bananaversary card. She is my unofficial third sister from H.S. and she never forgets a birthday, holiday, special event, childbirth, whatever. Thanks also to my sister, Katy, who sent Rachel a Mother's Day card - almost a full week early! That rocks! It's certainly a much better record than I have at remembering important dates.

As for marriage, it rocks also. It's not always easy though. Even tonight was a challenge. Our evening was cut short because Hannah had to be in bed by a certain time or else she reaches "critical mass". Critical mass for a child is very similar to critical mass in the physical world. Basically, once they get past the point that they would have easily gone down, they start crying. Now they can't go to sleep because it's loud, because they're crying. Since they can't go to sleep they just get more and more tired, so they cry louder and longer. Etcetera etcetera etcetera and so on and so forth - you know how the rest of the evening goes.

I've found none of our children to be an exception to this and it certainly was a wise maneuver to come home from our date and prevent this from happening tonight. So, we spent the rest of the evening watching Jeremy Camp Unplugged on the wall.

Oh yeah, marriage. Let's put it this way - I don't always understand the emotions and exchanges we go through as a couple; I do know this though, we are always stronger on the other side. God somehow takes crazy nights like tonight and turns them around - completely obliterating the notion that we were all just accidents, spawned from primordial soup millions of years ago. No, His plan is perfect - so perfect that we (in our imperfection) can in no way grasp it or even come close to predicting the next move. So, in light of that, this evening was perfect. My plans were not, and He still has great things in store - even though the evening is nearly over!

God bless ya'll!
David

I've finally caught a glimpse of my calling!

Last night I realized after watching August Rush what I want to be when I grow up: A child prodigy. I mean, how cool would that be? I could do all the fun stuff that kids do like leave messes everywhere and not eat my cabbage while earning oodles of cash putting on sold-out shows as the next famous freak of nature!

Though the movie was fictitious, it really was a terrific film. I recommend it to those who are looking for a slightly fairy-talish heartwarming vendetta filled with great music and charm. What can I say, I'm a sucker for feel-good flicks and cool riffs.

God bless and have a great night!
David

Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed

Shrek the Third

Shrek the Third, 2007 - PG

Mike Myers and his crew are settling in to what may prove to be a "Land Before Time-esque" franchise.  It has proven to be a successful formula to date, that is big fat ogres belching, farting, screaming, laughing, being sarcastic and in the end, learning something about themselves while building someone else up.  Same story - just more characters this time.  John Cleese somehow was able to get his Monty Python buddy, Eric Idle, into the picture as Merlin, the outcast magic professor, and Justin Timberlake even made an entrance as a High School loser.  I'm not sure what I thought completely yet, but I did enjoy it - of course.  The long dream sequence with Shrek was a bit overdone and almost scary, and some of the jokes have become a little tired by this third installment, but overall it accomplished its mission of making me laugh and occassionally feel a little gushy inside.  Especially after the last semester I had, the AF classes I took, classes I taught, music I've learned, business trip I had and lack of sleep, this movie was a great way to give my mind a rest!  My favorite line came at the end when a character was trying to make everyone feel good about themselves and then said, "And the only thing standing in the way of becoming that creature . . . .is . . . .you" This character then pointed to some random dude and everyone just about ganged up on him as though that were the guy standing in the way of their success.  OK, you had to be there.  I'm still laughing though.  My recommendation: wait until it's in the "2 for 11" bin at Wal-Mart to pick up a copy.  I know we'll have to if I plan on buying it on our budget!

Bee Movie

Bee Movie, 2007 - PG 

Hmm.  On a whim, I went by myself to the local cineplex for an offering of dynamic digital artwork.  I remember when the first previews came out for this movie, with Jerry Seinfeld dressed up in a massive bee costume, being flung around a soundstage with gigantic flowers and a massive mock window.  I remember thinking, the same thing: hmm. 

In short, I give it a 4.  It really wasn't funny enough to be enjoyed by adults and yet the plot seemed a little too complex for younger children to "get".  The graphics was terrific (of course) and the soundtrack was pretty good and the theme was a fairly new concept, it just lacked spunk!  There were very few folks in the theater with me and I think that three folks walked out about after the first 20 minutes (presumably to see a different movie).  I sat through, though, and it did get a little better.  Have you seen it?  What do you think?  If you haven't seen it - wait for it to come out as a rental.  $8.25 was too much!

Best character: Mooseblood, played by Chris Rock

Stranger Than Fiction

Stranger Than Fiction, 2006 - PG-13

Will Ferrell is joined by a very strong cast in this very well-thought film about a guy who realizes that he is a character in a work of fiction once he starts hearing the voice of the author iterate his every move.  It's a fascinating love story as well and definitely deserves a viewing.  Ferrell is not in the typical type-casting we are used to and he pulls it off well.  I may even buy this one for the collection.  Some of my favorite aspects would be the overlaid graphics flawlessly incorporated, esp. in the first twenty minutes as well as the role played by Emma Thompson.  She is a marvelous actress and really does well as a chain-smoking recluse with writer's block.

The rating is appropriate - definitely some content that is not really appropriate for younger children.  But, I would say that anyone over 14 could see it - though they may not really "get it".  18 is a good age to view and understand.

Happy Feet

Happy Feet, 2006 - PG

Great animation; cute penguins.  I have to say the coolest part (and saddest) is the voiceover provided by the late, great Steve Irwin.  He performed the voice for an elephant seal and the DVD gives you a look at a clip that was originally excluded from the film with his voice talents again.  I really liked the storyline, although a little slow at first, it picked up quickly and drew me into the lives of these furry flightless birds.  I don't want to give any of the plot away as I believe this is a good viewing for just about anybody over the age of 12.  I think that some of the activity by the animated characters is actually a bit too "suggestive" to expose a younger crowd to, only to emulate on the playground.  I will not let my kids watch this anytime soon as they are both a little young to understand the theme and may actually lose some interest during the longer sequences.

The cinematography and animation were unbelievable and definitely made me want to visit Antarctica some day.  Enjoy!

The Good Shepherd

Too many days since last post. That's OK, though, because only about 3 people have looked at the site since. Although a tad down-trodden, I am not totally depressed by our low site count. But, if you want to make a brother feel better, tell your friends to check out our site in their spare time. I just saw "The Good Shepherd" which I will dub "The Fairly Slow-Developing Movie of Overpaid Actors Projected on a Too-Small Screen at My Local Theater with Crummy Sound". I can just hear the nominations now, "And the winner, for longest movie title of the year is. . . . At any rate, I think Matt Damon actually said about 70 words or less the entire movie and he was way to promiscuous for my liking. I lost a lot of respect for his character, though I'm sure the director had some reason for all of that - I just wanted able to think deep enough for Coppola or DeNiro tonight. Maybe I should have stayed home and watched "Finding Nemo" again. After three weeks of working on my masters, I've decided that it is doable - just very time consuming and sometimes confusing. I love using the online classroom tools though. How great is it that I can watch the lecture anytime I want and take a test anytime during a two-week window??? I certainly wish my profs in college had record, pause, rewind, stop, and most importantly - fast-forward. I haven't used the latter yet with my current professors, as they seem to truly be worth their salt. Until my next spare instant - continue to love your neighbor! You'll love the results!