As I sat and watched Bedtime Stories I wondered to myself how an idea with such potential could go so miserably wrong. Maybe kids will enjoy this movie. I don't know. As an adult (albiet one who loves whimsical fantasy stories) I just couldn't understand what appeal, if any, there could be. The story was far from thought out. It just seemed slapped together. I found the only really likable character was that of Russell Brand. Unfortunately he was in the background most of the time. Adam Sandler was about as expected, his usual character. Not to mention all his buddies were in the move too, like usual. I wonder if that's a contractual obligation when Sandler signs on to a movie. Hey you got to cast my friends too. Also, note to Courtney Cox... Lay off the cologen. You're starting to look creepy. In the end it's a movie that tries to be charming and quirky with a fantasy backdrop, but it just fails to envoke any kind of magic.
Amy and I found a new restaurant in Griffin the other day, Angelo's. This was our first time eating here and we both enjoyed it. I had a gyro and it was the best I've ever had. Amy had a meatball sub and she enjoyed it as well. The atmosphere and the food was great, however the service left something to be desired. I think we picked the wrong side of the restaurant to sit on. The waitress we didn't have seemed to be much better than the one we did have. We even heard our waitress complain about a tip she'd received at another table. The overall experience was good. We will be back. This time hopefully we will have a different waitress.
We decided to take Cade for his 1st driving lesson on Saturday. He did really good considering this was the first time he had been behind the wheel of a car. It looks like Brian's black truck will be the vehicle of instruction (thank goodness). We took him on several dirt roads in Pike county. It was funny because he didn't even know where the blinker was in the truck! We plan on taking him out every weekend to get experience. After all, he will be 15 in May. Afterwards, we took him to Buster's for a victory (hooray we didn't die) ice cream.
We found a wonderful place to picnic in Helen, well actually it is in Unicoi State Park. It is picnic shelter 4. It was secluded, and by a stream. It was at least 15degrees cooler there. Here are some pics. We made a new friend. The duck loved us feeding him.
When in Helen you know we had to hike to see Anna Ruby Falls. If you don't already know, Brian is a HUGE fan of water falls and we always have to stop and admire them. The falls is located in Unicoi State Park. It costs $2 per person to get into the falls but it is well worth it. The hike to the falls is a .4 mile hike (one way) but it is all uphill. We had to stop a few times to rest. Last time we were here (a few years ago) we saw a black bear coming down to the river. It was neat to see a wild bear in it's own enviroment. No such luck this time. I can say that the temp was about 20 degrees cooler than Griffin and very low humidity.
I didn't feel too comfortable knowing there were rattlesnakes in the woods.
It's a dangerous falls.
The sign clearly states to stay on the trail but you know my boys....they have to live dangerously. >
We went to Helen, GA yesterday to tube down the Chattahoochee, What great fun!!! We always go to Cool River Tubing which is located in downtown Helen. The fee is $5 per person and the river float is about 2 hours long. You can also buy an all day float pass for $9 a person and tube all day. The water was cold and the river was full. We have been in years past and the river be really low and you kept getting stuck on rocks. I HIGHLY recommend getting a push stick (also $5, but you own them) for the tubing experience. At least once you will get stuck on a rock of float into the bank and the stick works well to push yourself afloat once again. You will see all kinds of interesting people on the river. I don't have any pictures right now of the tubing because I used a water camera and have to get the pics developed. Once I have them, I will update the post. I recommend tubing in Helen. It's good summer fun!
We have our first red tomatoes of the season! These are from our topsey turvey. We have alot of green tomatoes still on the topsey turvey so hopefully we will have more red ones soon.
I'm a little annoyed with Up right now, because it made me cry in the first 10 minutes. Crying at the end of a movie is easier to hide -- you can mutter about allergies or how too much computer time makes your eyes red. But crying at the beginning of the movie makes you feel like an awfully sappy wuss. Thank goodness I had big ol' 3-D glasses on, which at least managed to hide any telltale traces of weakness ... until I cried again at the end, damn it.
Up is the latest film from Pixar, and this time the main character is not a robot or rat or monster, but rather a little old man who looks like Spencer Tracy and occasionally growls like Clint Eastwood. After his wife dies, Carl Fredericksen faces a lonely life ahead, possibly in a retirement community. He decides to have the adventure that he and his wife always dreamed of, and sets out for the legendary Paradise Falls in South America. His method of travel? The family home, lifted by an amazing canopy of balloons. However, he isn't alone ... he's inadvertently picked up an enthusiastic 8-year-old Wilderness Explorer, Russell, who only wants to help.
As the movie progresses, Carl's house stops being a means for escape and adventure, and turns into a burden that the two explorers have to drag around with them. And the movie shifts from a sweet and slightly fantastic story about how an older man copes with loneliness and regret, into a comic action-adventure tale. During their adventure, Carl and Russell find the explorer who inspired Carl when he was Russell's age, Charles Muntz.
Up moves smoothly from romance to drama to fantasy to comedy to action-adventure and then back to sentimental drama again, without jolting your emotions around too much. The sentimental parts are sweet but not cloying or overdone.
Co-director Pete Docter also directed Monsters, Inc., another Pixar comedy with some sweet moments and even a few that have you complaining about the allergies and the way that screen glare can make your eyes water. Bob Peterson, who contributed to scripts for Finding Nemo and other Pixar movies, co-directed and wrote the screenplay and voices one of the dogs. Pixar fans will appreciate the little touches typical of the studio's films -- of course John Ratzenberger has a role, this time as a construction worker, and there are a number of quick visual jokes that are impossible to catch in a single viewing.
It goes without saying, as it has for even the weaker Pixar entries, that the movie looks gorgeous. I saw Up in 3-D, found the 3-D effects to be very subtle ... so subtle that at times I wondered if parts of the film had been rendered into 3-D at all. The 3-D occasionally adds some depth of field that enhances the overall look of the movie, but for the most part you could do without it and not miss anything.
Bottom Line: Pixar again raises the bar to wondrous new heights.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
There are times in the past that I have found Jim Carrey's humor to be way over the top. So much so that I actually found it hard to watch. He does physical humor incredibly well and anyone who has been watching him since his "In Living Color" days knows that the man is just about open to anything. Given that, note that he has matured some over the years and stretched his legs so that his comedic offerings have morphed as well. "Yes Man" is a return to some of his old, comedy roots, but not as overly pronounced. I have seen critics pan this film for being too toned back or tame. Perhaps his performance was a little understated, but I actually found it refreshing. Initially I thought I was going to be watching a reimagining of "Liar, Liar," but this was not the case. This was a concept that brought home the philosophy of being open to life and its opportunities wrapped in a humorous package. The concept is not new, but it is well done here with quite a few good laughs, but not the "crazed" Jim Carrey we are used to in such roles. I did not find this to be a problem. Zooey Deschanel was fabulous as she always is (I could melt in those eyes of hers). She was a perfect love interest to play off the character development of Carrey's character "Carl." This movie made me laugh and feel good as well. It brought home some harsh realities, but didn't make them too heavy. Perhaps it hit me on the right night, but I must say, this movie was enjoyable from beginning to end and I recommend it any night you want a decent laugh, a nice rom-com story, and a warm fuzzy. I give Jim Carey and yes man a 4 out of 5. Rent it!
I went into the movie with an open mind and hoping for the best. After nearly 3 hours, I was very disappointed in the movie. The characters lacked depth, Brad Pitt didn't breath any life in Benjamin Buttons but walked around cold and detached from everyone and everything as if he was bored with the role (similar to his performance in Meet Joe Black), some scenes went on way longer than necessary to get to the point and the constant introduction of various characters but then no follow up as to what became of them or how they were even relevant to his life. I think if they had cut out about 30 minutes out of this nearly 3 hour movie, it might have been better. I understand he was trying to show how people are connected and at the same time subject to random acts, but his presentation of it was so random, it got lost in the translation. In addition, one must have an understanding of when important historial events happened because he does not provide any kind of indication as to what year you are in or how old he is. I sat there trying to calculate how old he is and how many years he had left, but by the time I figured out what year they were in, it was already another 10 years (more or less) into his life. I know they shouldn't have to put little subtitles about what year it is or how old he is, but since his age is a primary factor, you tend to think about it and constantly wonder how old he and how much more time he has left and how much more time I had left watching the movie. I wanted to give this movie at least 3 stars, but after thinking about it, I could only muster 2 due to how annoyed and disappointed I was by the end.
When it's a slow Friday night we turn to Netflix for help. We came across Henry Poole is here. The first 1/2 hour or so of this film I was enchanted and completely captivated. Luke Wilson plays a deeply depressed man living on booze. His performance is perfect...his debauched appearance, his demeanor, his delivery...just great. We meet the other quirky characters: the check out girl at the grocery store (named Patience), the next door neighbor (named Esperanza which is Spanish for hope), the mysterious little girl and her mother (named Dawn). The names of the female characters seem to be hinting us toward something unexpected and unusually creative. And it starts to go that way...a stain on the wall of Henry's house may or may not resemble the "Face of God", Henry's strange connection to the house down the street, the silent watching neighbor child who plays recordings of stray conversations, like an echo in Henry's head. But then, without warning or reason, the film just stops being interesting. The cuteness starts to build, beginning with the too adorable girl next door. (I seriously mean "too adorable," they over reached with her angelic, perfect beauty when the prettiness of an average girl would have suited much better.) It begins to follow the standard Hollywood RomCom formula with Henry and Dawn making doe eyes at each other and spouting inane dialogue. I was SO DISAPPOINTED! This story had so much potential. But in the end it's just another feel good shallow screenplay. Luke Wilson did a very fine job in his performance and Adriana Barraza as Esperanza was also very good. They deserved a better film. If you're a Luke Wilson fan, rent this film, otherwise skip it. I give it a 2.0 out of 5.
Why settling into bed last night I found this movie on PBS Atlanta. I love watching old movies and I thought I would give this one a try. Cary Grant creates an enjoyable performance in this film based on a play.This movie was neither great nor terrible. The portions that were entertaining and interesting were the Shunderson storyline where we find out what had happened in the past and the friendship of Noah and the other professor (can't think of his name, but he was the overweight teacher with curly hair). I thought they did a great job of portraying good friends and the acting was superb. I didn't care for the whole morality lesson because it was extremely one-sided. She was a coward. I didn't like her character at all. I mean, the people being praised in this movie were a girl who becomes pregnant by someone she barely knows, and then tries to kill herself when she finds out. What a coward! Her dad is someone completely living off of his brother and then living off of her husband once she gets married. Ever heard of getting a job? My favorite character was Cary Grant's friend...the other professor. He was funny and open about who he was. It was like they were saying to be open-minded and be who you are...but, at the same time they were hiding the truth about themselves. Anyway, that is just my take on it. I will give it a 3.5 out of 5 because it was done well...I just didn't care for most of the ideas. It tells people that you can do anything you want and it will turn out ok for you in the end. She ends up all happily married after just trying to kill herself. Not reality...but, who watches a movie for reality? There's enough reality in real life
Here is list of the cast:
Actor Credits Cary Grant Dr. Noah Praetorius Hume Cronyn Prof. Rodney Elwell Jeanne Crain Deborah Higgins Walter Slezak Finlay Currie Sidney Blackmer Basil Ruysdael Katherine Locke
Bubbles was the last of our animals to be spayed (we have 2 wild cats that need to be spayed but who can catch them?). She wasn't very happy about her trip to the vet. I think she gave Brian a big guilt trip about leaving her. He felt so guilty, he opted for the vet to offer her every service they had for spaying a cat :0) (it only cost $157, a small price to pay for a clear conscious :0)). She was very happy to be home today and seems to be doing well. We treated her to a can of tuna flavored friskies which she loved. I'm sure for the next few days she'll be the queen of the house. Cuji wasn't to happy to have her home. She is VERY jealous. Cuji goes back to see Dr. Busbin on Friday to have her eye rechecked. (I think secretly he just wants to see me and that is why he keeps making me come back ;0)) Brian said he just wants my $$. Either way, my babies get taken care of.
Since we are talking about free passes I'll list mine. I often refer to this as my "boyfriend list". This is the list that I will use to find my second husband should something happen to Brian lol....Next time I'll marry for money :0) So far there are a few on the list. I know I have strange taste in men...after all I got my Brian didn't I? These are in no order....
Brian McCann Gerard Way Brandon Flowers Jared Letoto
We just got back from the vet with Cuji. She has had an irritated eye for about a week. I have been putting drops in it but today I noticed a spot. She had an old injury last August that we vigorously treated for weeks. That healed bit now there is something else going on with the same eye. Dr. John stained her eye and said there was no hole in the cornea like last time so he opted to give her a steroid cream. We have to bring her back in Monday to let him recheck the eye. She isn't the most cooperative dog when it comes to the vet but Dr.John got away with only a growl and a quick nip.
We also are trying a new flea medication that comes in pill form. Comfortis. We'll let you know how that works out. It sounds too good to be true. Starts working in 30 minutes, kills all fleas with in 4 hours and protects for a full month. I know Frontline only lasts about 2 weeks for Cuji.
Right now we are taking all donations toward the vet bill. :0) Today was $147.
