Jimmy's Sweet Blog

Jimmy's Favorite Christmas-Themed TV Episodes

2011-12-26T21:30:00.000-06:00

Yes, I know I'm late. But when your sitting around this week with nothing to do (or staring into space at work because everyone else is on vacation), you really could be watching some of these entertaining, Christmas-themed TV episodes (in no particular order):

"A Very Topanga Christmas" - Boy Meets World

Topanga spends Christmas with the Matthews family and forces her family's traditions on them. It drives everybody (especially Cory) crazy. He dozes off after fleeing the scene to Shawn's and is awakened by Mr. Feeny as the Ghost of Christmas Future.

"Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas" - Community

Abed sees everything in stop motion animation and they travel around a Christmas planet in search of the true meaning of Christmas.

"Gus's Dad May Have Killed an Old Guy" - Psych

Shawn stays by Gus's parents' house at Christmas, trying to get with Gus's sister in secret. Meanwhile, Gus's dad is the lead suspect in the murder of a neighbor and Shawn has to prove him innocent.

"The Polarizing Express" - Psych

Shawn travels around seeing what life would be like if he wasn't there. At first he's being delusional and sees everyone as being really messed up without him (Sitcom Gus, his dad a fat mess, etc.) but then he sees the light.

"Christmas Party" - The Office

This first of many Christmas-themed episodes of The Office has Michael upset that he was getting a knitted oven mitt from Phyllis (he bought an iPod for Ryan) and he turns it into "Yankee Swap". Meanwhile Jim had a special gift for Pam that Dwight eventually gets. It is a classic mess.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Update: I'm still alive!

2011-12-13T20:24:00.001-06:00

No, I didn't die. I'm just employed. But I did get a chance to re-theme this blog for Christmas. What do you think?

Hogsmeade (in the end of June)

I thought that this year, instead of telling you my favorite Christmas films, I would tell you my favorite Christmas TV episodes. Before I divulge my list of favorite Christmas TV episodes, I would be interested to know some of your favorites (leave a comment).

One more bit of news is that I am now the proud owner of an Amazon Kindle Touch. It is a wonderful device that is highly portable and encourages me to read more. I still love and read real books, but the Kindle is an nice way to read as well. I would definitely recommend it if you are interested.

Finally, I just wanted to express my sheer joy in the fact that there is snow on the ground in Wisconsin. It feels more like the season and I am very happy. (Also, if you type "let it snow" into Google, you get an awesome surprise.)

Jimmy's Halloween Picks

2011-10-29T16:42:00.003-05:00

Halloween is almost here and I've certainly got into the mood. I've changed the look of this blog and have been watching some Halloweeny flicks. Here are some of my favorites (in order from most family friendly to least):

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)

This is the classic TV special from Charles Schulz. Completely family friendly and enjoyable for all ages.

Ghostbusters (1984) & Ghostbusters 2 (1989)

The first two Ghostbuster movies are goofy, cheesy funny ghost movies starring Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, and Sigourney Weaver. These films are fun and the ghosts make it relevant around Halloween. (Ghostbusters 2 is available on Hulu.com through Halloween.)

Van Helsing (2004)

This fun monster film is based loosely on Bram Stoker's Dracula with other monsters from the classics (Frankenstein, Mr. Hyde...). The story is relatively intriguing but this movie primarily is fun. Hugh Jackman and Kate Beckinsale dealing with werewolves and Count Dracula in Transylvania is hugely entertaining.

Signs (2002)

This M. Night Shyamalan flick is about a family who are first hand witnesses to an alien invasion. It stars Mel Gibson, Joaquin Phoenix, Macaulay Culkin's younger brother Rory, and Abigail Breslin. It has its creepy moments but mainly is a family film focusing on Gibson's character's loss of faith following his wife's death. It is pretty cool how it ends and I've always enjoyed this one.

Disturbia (2007)

This Shia LaBeouf film is creepy and somewhat stupid at times, but your heart will pump hard if you get into it. I liked it even though the characters did some really stupid things at times.

Halloween (1978)

This is a classic scary slasher movie starring Jamie Lee Curtis and seemingly based on Hitchcock's Psycho. It is creepy and very well done. Aside from walking into a dark house and not turning on the lights, I could connect well with the characters. The music is AMAZING and this film would be nothing without it. The piano melody really sets yours nerves on edge. Have a listen: Your browser does not support the audio element.
It is also available on Hulu through Halloween.

What movies do you like to watch on Halloween? Also, here is a clip from Community that gives great observation about scary movies:

Sherlock 2 Trailer

2011-10-19T11:16:00.001-05:00

Coming in December is the sequel to a highly entertaining 2009 film. Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows has a new long trailer out and it looks good. Also, I noticed was that Rachel McAdams will appear in this film as Irene Adler, though it doesn't look as she'll have as major of a role is as in the first film.

My Tent: Cabela's Westwind Deluxe 8

2011-10-09T19:12:00.000-05:00

Researching my tent, I found very little outside of the reviews on Cabela's website. The pictures were poor quality, and there were no videos. Even google-ing this tent found few results. Brief mentions, but no pictures or videos. I decided to take a bunch of pictures and even shoot a video overview of the features of this tent. My wife and I love this tent.

Jimmy's Fall TV Picks

2011-10-07T12:23:00.011-05:00

It is fall. Here in Wisconsin the leaves are changing colors and the weather isn't as hot. The new season of TV has also begun or will begin soon. Here are the shows I'm watching this fall:

Monday: Terra Nova, House (Both FOX)

Terra Nova is a new FOX show produced by Steven Spielberg about a family from the 2100s traveling back to prehistoric dinosaur time. Their future world is polluted and dying and they want to be part of a new civilization in the past. Don't worry, they do a good job with the time travel explanation (it is a different branch of time). My only problem with the show is that it is set "85 million years back" and I don't believe the world is that old. I can get past that one thing and it is a highly interesting show. There are mystery elements similar to LOST, there are dinosaurs, and there is Stephen Lang, who does an awesome job in this show.

I also caught the first episode of House this season and I'm impressed. I used to watch but it was getting monotonous. Same plot, different disease, but now with House in jail and the new characters, I see a lot of potential for a great season.

Tuesday: Parenthood (NBC)

My parents actually got me into this show, which is really family oriented and down to earth. The problems are realistic and the endings aren't always perfect. Great cast, great story, great show.

Wednesday: Psych (premieres 10-12-11 on USA, also available on Hulu.com)

Psych is a smart comedy detective show about a fake psychic and his buddy. Because of the thousands of pop-culture references, humor, and impressive cases, I'm hooked. The older seasons are also available on Netflix and Hulu Plus.

Thursday: Community, The Office (Both NBC)

This is Community's third season and I'll admit, it is starting with some weak episodes. I loved the first two seasons, so I still have hope. Definitely worth the watch.
[UPDATE] Episode #4 (Remedial Chaos Theory) Is AMAZING. Multiple timelines. Really funny. Well done. I think they are back on the right track.

The Office started its 8th season, the first without Michael Scott (Steve Carell). James Spader's "Robert California" is awesome and I think Andy (Ed Helms) is starting to fit as the new boss. It's not the same show, but the ensemble cast is taking it up a notch and it is still quite funny.

Friday: Fringe (FOX)

Arguably the best show on TV right now, Fringe is a sci-fi drama with the appropriate balance of weirdness, mystery, and relationships. Extremely well-written and acted, definitely worth a watch. John Noble's "Walter Bishop" is amazing (and so is Walternate).

What are you watching?

Got a little captain in you?

2011-10-06T09:47:00.006-05:00

Captain America: The First Avenger is all about the little guy. Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) was a little guy before he was genetically altered into a super soldier. America was the little guy when it sent its Declaration of Independence to Britain in 1776. America wasn't founded by the biggest and strongest, it was founded on ideals, intelligence, and the bravery to stand up to the bully. This is the same reason why Steve Rogers was chosen for the super soldier program.

Captain America is mainly set in the 1940s during World War II. Steve Rogers has tried five times to get into the army, but he is rejected due to his tiny size and other health concerns. You really feel for the guy. Especially when he gets the crap beat out of him for standing up for his country and what he believes in. These qualities are why Rogers was picked for this procedure. The doctor said it "amplifies the qualities of the subject". They needed a guy who wasn't going to be out of control, someone who would appreciate the gift given him. That guy was Steve Rogers.

I won't spoil the rest of the film for you, but I will say that the CG effects used are pretty cool. Pre-procedure Rogers is a really skinny tiny man. They had to use CG to shrink Chris Evans' body for those scenes, because Evans was bulked up to play the Captain America role and because he is a bigger guy in the first place. I think it looks great. The other special effects all look great as well. I didn't see it in 3D, but I saw no way that 3D would make the movie better.

The acting in this film is very convincing. Hugo Weaving's Red Scull is very hate-able and well done, similar to his Agent Smith role in the Matrix series. Chris Evans is really genuine and his supporting cast was solid. The music was very patriotic and 40s-ish which was a nice treat. Another treat was the inclusion of Howard Stark, the father of Tony Stark (Iron Man). It added a nice connectedness to the Marvel universe.

Audiences outside of the US probably won't get too into this film because of its nature and title, but it is one of the better comic book films I've seen lately.

Captain America: The First Avenger runs 124 minutes and is rated PG-13. I give it 8 ramheads out of 10.

Just a Quick Recommendation: See Rudy

2011-09-16T23:14:00.001-05:00

Rudy (1993) is a good film about a kid with heart. It is rather inspiring, real, and a very well told story. The acting is solid. The soundtrack is good. You will like it if you haven't seen it yet. It is hard not to like it.

I give it a solid 8 ramheads out of 10.

Awake to a Complementary Continental Breakfast at Super 8!

2011-09-08T15:55:00.000-05:00

It turns out that one of my most anticipated movies of the summer, next to Harry Potter 7.2, has to wait until the end of summer to be seen. I had to wait almost 3 months, but I finally saw it. Super 8 did not disappoint.

The story is set in 1979 small town Ohio and stars 14ish year old kids. And these kids are kids. They talk like kids, mess around like kids, and really do a great job. They don't look like they are acting. This is important when the whole movie is based on kid character driven story.

The kid actors are all pretty much newcomers, Elle Fanning (Dakota's younger sister) has been in some stuff, but not too much. The adult actors are mostly no-namers, aside from Kyle Chandler (TV's Friday Night Lights and Early Edition). The absence of the "Star" quality actor really helps make this film work. (Unlike the similar situation in 10,000 BC.) No performance overshadows the other, yet all really work for the film.

These particular kids are into movie making. They are making a Zombie film for an amateur film festival when they witness the derailment of an Air Force train. I won't spoil the plot for you, but it was very well written. J.J. Abrams wrote and directed this film with Steven Spielberg as a producer. It was the best original screenplay I've seen since Inception. It was emotional, entertaining, funny, and sci-fi-y.

The cinematography in this film was also very good. Similar to the film's marketing scheme, the way J.J. Abrams doesn't let you see what is going on all the time really adds to the intrigue and awesomeness of this film. He and the actors really put their hearts into this film and it shows. It isn't the throwaway, CGI-packed 3D hunk of crap a lot of movies are lately. Sure, they use CGI to create the awesome explosions and the stuff I won't spoil for you, but the actors and the story really drive this film. Plus Simon from 7th Heaven plays a stoner, who is quite entertaining.

Super 8 runs 112 minutes and is rated PG-13. For the most part this film is pretty family oriented, though there is a little language (and drug references) at times. Kids under 9 probably don't need to see it. I was thoroughly entertained and was not let down. I give it 10 ramheads out of 10.

Taking the First Amendment too far?

2011-08-17T14:20:00.014-05:00

After reading the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's article about the recent recall elections in Wisconsin, I scrolled down to the comments. What I saw was extremely disappointing. Both sides of the issue posted comments and most of these comments were slanderous, rude, and garbage. They did not have facts to back their claims and they were not even polite. There are about 350 of these comments. Let's read a couple:

YouAgain300 - Aug 13, 2011 8:10 PM
The rottenness that is the demorat party can no longer be denied, you have to be morally bankrupt to vote for this party of marxists. Lies and deception are there only outputs, why even have a debate with such rottenness. Its nice that the urinal/sentanal can join in the rottenness.

This one is obviously from a conservative who insults the newspaper for reporting the news. Here's one from the other side:

BruceSpringsteen - Aug 13, 2011 10:12 PM
MEpublicanism is a social disease sure to ruin America. Death to the tea party!

I would wager that the amount of comments added to this article would be much less if jsonline.com used real names for commenting, like the Facebook comment system.

After seeing an "infographic" on Mashable.com and having a discussion about it in one of my college communications classes , the battle between online anonymity and transparency rages inside of me. In this case anonymity is provoking behavior from "adults" reading and reacting to the news that many would expect from troubled children. I would argue that if those commenting were accountable for their actions--at least by putting their names on their expression--JSOnline and other websites may get a decent dialogue going in the comments. Sure you would still have a couple nut-jobs who don't care what others think, but it sure wouldn't be the majority like it is now.

There are many good comments on many JSOnline articles, butwhenever a political article is written, this happens. This one time isnot an isolated occurrence. I'm all for the First Amendment right of freespeech, but I don't think our founding fathers had this in mind. I thinktransparency is the obvious answer to this problem.

What do you think about this issue?

The Amazing Spiderman HD Trailer Officially Released

2011-07-20T13:03:00.004-05:00

It looks a lot better in HD...

The Harry Potter APOCALYPSE

2011-07-19T15:09:00.005-05:00

Read my paper, The Harry Potter Apocalypse on how Harry Potter is apocalyptic from a Christian perspective.

The AMAZING SPIDERMAN Teaser Trailer!

2011-07-19T10:22:00.000-05:00

This is it: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2 Review

2011-07-18T10:54:00.005-05:00

July 14 was an anxious day. I was watching earlier Harry Potter films all day and doing what I could to look for a job. I was excited because that night I would get to see the final Harry Potter film at midnight with my wife. It all started in 6th grade (2000) when I read the first four Potter books in under two weeks. I never really got into reading until then. Then the films started that next year. I was there the day the first one came out. I was first in line with my friend. I was there for the first (or second) day or midnight showing for all 8 Harry Potter films. This is a big deal for me.

Enough about me, what about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2 (say that 5 times fast)? Being the most talked about film this year, HP7.2 lived up and exceeded the hype. The acting was free from hiccups that has riddled the young actors for years. The older actors (Maggie Smith, Alan Rickman, Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter, and more) were great. All the actors delivered the action and emotion that was necessary to make this film near-perfect.

One element of the film-making that really impressed me for the second time in a row was the pacing. Part 1 was meant to be a slower, anxious feeling film. Part 2 was almost the opposite: a fast-paced action film loaded with emotion, well-placed humor, and answers to questions building since the first installment.

This film stays true to the book and will please both fans of the just the films or both films and books. The film wasn't perfect, but I'm not going to complain. How can you complain when [spoiler] Molly Weasley calls Bellatrix Lestrange a bitch and then kills her? It's just awesome. Ron and Hermione's kiss also did not disappoint. The years of built up emotion released in the amazing on screen kiss. I got shivers. The feeling I got when this film was finished is still lingering: joy.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is rated PG-13 and runs 130 minutes. This film is a lot of action, death, and scary scenes and a little language. Just know this before you show your kids or kid siblings this flick. I gave Part 1 ten ramheads out of 10. This one was better even than that. I give Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 10 ramheads out of 10.

A new pile of reviews!

2011-07-12T11:40:00.008-05:00

Over a month ago I promised some reviews... I don't like to break promises, so here it goes:

Year One (2009) stars Jack Black and Michael Cera playing their usual roles. The story is pretty dumb and messy and doesn't really go anywhere. There are a few funny moments, a few insulting moments, and many dumb moments. If you don't ever see this one, you aren't missing much. It runs a long-feeling 97 minutes and is rated PG-13. I give it 3 ramheads out of 10.

The Princess and the Frog (2009) feels to me like a genuine Disney movie. It was great to see the comeback of cartoons. This film, though, felt to me like a 2nd tier Disney flick. It doesn't meet the standards of The Lion King, Up, or Aladdin in my opinion. I enjoyed it, but it didn't wow me like these other ones did. It runs 97 minutes and is rated G. I give it 7 ramheads out of 10.Kick-Ass (2010) is a somewhat humorous, overly violent, realistic comic-book film. If the stuff that happens in comics happen in real-life, this would probably be it. People would get killed, maimed, and it would be gory. It was an interesting film to watch, but not really my cup of tea. It was strange seeing such a young girl (Chloe Moretz) being so violent. It runs 117 minutes and is rated R. I give it a slightly above average 6 out of 10. NOT a family film.
The Sorcerer's Apprentice (2010) is an entertaining, funny, ride based on the Mickey classic in Fantasia. It stars Jay Baruchel and Nicolas Cage. It is pure entertainment. To me it felt like Taken and National Treasure, you kind of just go with it. This is one of my new favorite Disney flicks and I hope you can have fun with it too. It runs 109 minutes and is rated PG. I give it 8 ramheads out of 10.
Enjoy Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2 tonight at midnight (or this weekend if you aren't a die hard fan). More reviews coming soon! Cheers!

I'm still alive!

2011-06-03T02:10:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to let you know that I'm still here. I know it has been a while since my last review, but I have been busy graduating, getting ready for my wedding, and other random stuff. I have, though, watched quite a few movies (Year One, The Princess and the Frog, Kick-Ass, The Sorcerer's Apprentice, The Lake House, Speed, The Other Guys, and a few more) and I'm ready to review them. Soon. Until then, give me some of your opinions on the list in the comments. Reviews soon!

See you at lunch tomorrow Michael Scott

2011-04-29T00:23:00.003-05:00

Tonight officially marked the end of a wonderful saga. Tonight was Michael Scott's last day at Dunder Mifflin and also Steve Carell's last day on The Office. I will certainly miss him. I will miss his genuine nature and his ignorance. I will miss Ping, Prison Mike, and his other characters. I will miss his sense of humor. The Office will still be good, but it will never be the same.

If you haven't watched the "Goodbye, Michael" episode of The Office, check it out on Hulu (or right here:)

Also, you should check out TV|Line's top Michael Scott Moments:
http://www.tvline.com/2011/04/office-memorable-michael-scott-moments-day-1/
http://www.tvline.com/2011/04/office-memorable-michael-scott-moments-day-2/
http://www.tvline.com/2011/04/office-memorable-michael-moments-day-3/
http://www.tvline.com/2011/04/the-office-memorable-michael-moments-day-4/

Cowboys & Aliens Review! (yes and no)

2011-03-29T19:46:00.004-05:00

No, this blog isn't a review of the July 29 future movie Cowboys & Aliens, though it is about both of those types of films individually.

True Grit (2010) is a Coen Brothers film starring Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon. It about a 14 year old girl (Hailee Steinfeld) using the resources she has (her money and her mouth) to convince Bridges' character Rooster Cogburn to help her hunt down her father's killer. It is really entertaining (shooting/humor/western-ness), heartwarming, and the characters are all extremely interesting and very well played. The music was great, the story was great, and it deserved all of its 11 Oscar nominations and should have won. To me it was a better film than The Social Network.True Grit runs 110 minutes and is rated PG-13. I give True Grit 9 ramheads out of 10.District 9 is was very low key film when it came out. I heard of it from a friend who loved it and it sparked my interest. All I knew was that it was about aliens. Set in Johannesburg, South Africa, a bunch of aliens showed up and then started leaching the land and the people dry. They were "worker bee" aliens who are clueless without a leader. They were rounded into shacks in "District 9", the militarized ghetto camp with a big fence/wall around it. Wikus van der Merwe (Sharlto Copley) is appointed to lead the eviction from District 9 to newly constructed (far away from Johannesburg) District 10. He gets some stuff sprayed on him and interesting things happen.

District 9 is a highly entertaining film and filled with very interesting concepts. It holds an disturbing view of the military corporate world and really gets you thinking (if you have a critically thinking brain).District 9 runs 112 minutes and is rated R for violence. Definitely don't show this to kids, there is plenty of language and violence. I give it 9 ramheads out of 10.

Did they have cameras back then?

2011-03-03T23:24:00.006-06:00

I haven't reviewed any movies in a long time, but that doesn't mean I haven't watched any. About a month and a half ago I got to listen to--I mean watch--10,000 BC (2008). I watched it, having heard of it though knowing nothing about it. Almost two months later, I have very little recollection of the plot.

Essentially, the movie is about a prophesy that exists in every major religion and it comes true to the eventual death of the leper Egyptian Pharaoh. Also, more memorably, the soundtrack was AMAZING. (Composer Harold Kloser is pictured left.) Sadly (or not), the music actually overshadowed the rest of the film. There were no "star" actors, the performances were fine, but not good enough to liven the bland story and average-at-best effects.

The only memorable things besides the Pharaoh getting speared to his death and the music were the rapter-ostriches that pecked people to death and showed the writer's support for evolution. So essentially this movie is three things: Pluralism (all religions essentially lead to the same thing), evolution, and amazing music.

10,000 BC runs 109 minutes and is rated PG-13 for the action violence. I give the film 4 ramheads out of 10. I would give the musical score 9 out of 10, but I have to judge the film as a whole. If nothing else, listen to the soundtrack.

New type of movie: Interactive!

2011-01-30T14:32:00.004-06:00

I heard about this stuff from Mashable.com and I love it. It is creative, well thought out, and beautifully made. Interactive movies are going to be one of the next best really cool things online. Chad, Matt & Rob are entertaining and do a great job. Watch and play The Treasure Hunt here:

This Patriot isn't a favorite for the Superbowl...

2011-01-13T00:33:00.005-06:00

Back in the year 2000, when Mel Gibson was considered a respectable actor, he made a film called The Patriot. This film was very well done, even with it's similarities to Braveheart (which I will not be reviewing today). It actually gave me patriotic feelings after watching (and negative feelings for the British from the 1700s). It is loosely based upon Francis Marion (the "Swamp Fox"), though it only touched on Marion's impact on the Revolution in South Carolina.

Mel Gibson plays Benjamin Martin, a widower father in South Carolina with a bunch of kids. Because of past actions in the French and Indian War and fear for his family he refuses to fight in the Revolutionary War. But when the jerk colonel (the guy who plays Lucius Malfoy from Harry Potter) in the British army burns down his house, takes his oldest son (Heath Ledger) to be hanged, and kills his 15 year old son (Ephram from Everwood) for almost no reason, Martin has the motivation to fight and save his son. Soon he is considered by the British to be "The Ghost" and he ends up leading a militia.

With amazing visuals and non-cliche storyline, this film is not Hollywoodized or cheesy. It shows watchers the cruelty and reality of the Revolutionary War. It is quite historically accurate, though not perfect and is an excellent historical film (not documentary). This film is really well made, with really great acting.

Thoroughly enjoyable, I definitely recommend this film. The Patriot runs 165 minutes and is rated R for violence. Definitely not a film to show your children. I give it solid 9 ramheads out of 10.

How can infinite come to an end?

2011-01-10T14:24:00.006-06:00

I liked him in Juno, but he plays almost the same person in Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (2008). You know, Michael Cera, the fat kid from Arrested Development, who stars in alot of almost indie/mainstream films (he's not fat anymore).

Nick and Norah is kind of a stumbling film with minimal plot and likable characters. Nick is a nice guy, who recently broke up with a girl and is trying to get her back by burning CDs for her. She immediately throws them away, because she's a bitch. [Excuse my French.] Norah (Kat Dennings) is the one who picks up the mixed CDs and loves them. She also happens to need him to pretend to be her boyfriend. That is where it starts.

Through a long night of trying to locate Norah's drunken friend and searching for the legendary band "Where's Fluffly" in New York, the 17 year olds end up together and, though they had only met a few hours before, end up having sex. Yup. Up until this point I was enjoying the film. Nick and Norah are both nice people, but I don't like how our society requires sex for a relationship to be legitimate. Doesn't anyone wait until marriage anymore? Movies and TV seem to tell us otherwise. I still have hope that people don't all act like they see others in the media.

Another question I have is where are their parents? How can seven 17-year-olds wander NYC all night without even a call from parents? I'm sure it happens, but seriously? Oh well...

This film is entertaining, the characters are likeable, but the plot doesn't go very far. The characters don't develop too much either. Also, the sex, though not shown on screen, is annoying.

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist runs 90 minutes and is rated PG-13. I give it a slightly above average 6 ramheads out of 10.

Boy, let me introduce you to....World

2011-01-08T21:45:00.001-06:00

Growing up, I was an avid TGIF watcher on ABC. The crowning jewel of that once fabled Friday night lineup was Boy Meets World. This past fall Lionsgate Media re-released the first 3 seasons of BMW and in December they released the 4th season. I really hope that the 5-7 seasons will be released, but I think that depends on how well they do. Therefore, I urge you to consider, as I have, purchasing the first four seasons of this epic classic.

The DVDs have very limited special features, but they are really cheap as far as TV seasons go. Definitely recommended.

Michael Jackson has met his match

2011-01-08T17:11:00.007-06:00

Recently, I watched two thrillers that both impressed me. Shutter Island (2010) is more of a brainy thriller, while The Silence of the Lambs (1991) is more of a creepy thriller. Both are very well made films.

Shutter Island stars Leonardo DiCaprio as a U.S. Marshal investigating the disappearance of a patient at Shutter Island mental hospital. Through some pretty creepy happenings and a massive storm, the good marshal finds out some things, though not really what he was looking for...

DiCaprio never lets me down. He is a spectacular, hardworking actor who has a knack for picking good films. The film kept the suspense up until the end. The very end. The last line even. Make sure you watch carefully.

Shutter Island runs 138 minutes and is rated R. Not really a family film. I give it a solid 8 ramheads out of 10.
The Silence of the Lambs stars Jodie Foster as an FBI trainee who was given the task of interviewing the notorious Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), a serial killing Psychiatrist cannibal who is locked up in high security prison. Dr. Lecter is exceedingly creepy, very well mannered and really intelligent. Foster's character is interviewing with the intent of catching another serial killer named Buffalo Bill who likes to skin his victims.

Hopkins and Foster are both brilliant in this classic. The thrill and suspense (and creepiness) never lets up until the end. The Silence of the Lambs runs 118 minutes and is rated R. Also not a family film. I give it 9 ramheads out of 10 for being a "classic" that didn't let me down.

The American Dream is a Sham

2011-01-06T20:42:00.005-06:00

The feeling I get after watching Revolutionary Road (2008) is that of sadness, hopelessness, and warning. Let me explain.

The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet (together for the first time since Titanic) as Frank and April Wheeler, a young and "special" couple with two kids living in a suburban neighborhood. They were the couple that the others were always jealous of. Outwardly, they were perfect. Inwardly, they both were quite miserable.

Frank hates his job and is getting little love at home. April fails at acting and isn't getting much love from Frank. Neither of them are happy and they both just expect the love to come. They live in the remembrance of when they were in love. The excitement is gone, but they just expect it to be there. They think that moving to Paris will save their relationship. Through many regrettable acts, many fights, and much stubbornness, this couple almost makes it. I won't give any more away.

While watching this film, I couldn't help but wonder if their relationship with each other would be different if they had faith. Not faith in each other--though that wouldn't hurt--but faith in God. They both are so selfish, there is no room for love. Faith would change that. Just a thought.

I also noticed that if they really put the effort into loving each other, they both would be better off. They place the blame for their problems on each other and "this place of hopeless emptiness", while they should really look at themselves and figure out what they each could do for each other. Love is not easy and it is not just feelings.

The film is really brilliant. It was very difficult to watch at times, but it really has a lot of meaning and though it is set in the 50s, has great application to couples today. The acting was phenomenal. DiCaprio and Winslet are two of the best in the business and they work so well together. Their characters are so real. They are not transparent; they are deep and emotional. The music really helps set the mood and is very well written.

Overall, I was impressed. Revolutionary Road runs 118 minutes and is rated R. NOT a family film. I give it 8 ramheads out of 10.

Paranormal Activity: Scary?...eh.

2011-01-06T00:54:00.005-06:00

I just finished watching Paranormal Activity (2007) and have to be blunt...it really wasn't scary. This low budget ($15,000) horror film is the type of film that amplifies your feelings and expectations for it. I was expecting to see some cheap effects and "weird" stuff happening. I got just that. If you expect to be scared, you probably will be. If you aren't a Christian, you will probably be even worse off because you can't find comfort in God and His promises.

This film is shot "home video" style. There is no music, no computer generated effects (except for the end--which is really not the original ending), no real script. The actors just got an outline of the story and improvised it along. Because of this movie's success they made another (and another). I probably won't see them.

I wasn't too impressed, but I watched it because of the hype. Paranormal Activity runs 86 minutes and is rated R for language(there is quite a bit of it...). Not really a family film. I give it an "I-could-have-made-it-if-I-wanted-to" 3 ramheads out of 10.

Jimmy's Sci-fi Corner: Dinotopia

2011-01-05T19:09:00.004-06:00

Remember the last TV mini-series you saw on regular network television? For me, it was Dinotopia (2002), the 4 hour epic originating in James Gurney's children books. Essentially, two brothers crash a plane, and wash up on shore of an island. The island is filled with dinosaurs coexisting with people in a utopia. But with every utopia comes problems. They eventually travel in a submarine and try to save Dinotopia from the carnivores and the island-wide power outage.

The story is really interesting, the plot is so-so, and the acting is good at times and sub par at times. David Thewlis's Cyrus Crabb is my favorite character followed closely by Katie Carr's Marion. The visuals are really cool even though some of the dinosaurs look fake, but if you accept that this is an under funded TV mini-series, you'll be fine. I mean, some of the visuals in ABC's Lost looked fake, but we still loved that show to the end, or at least I did.

With all its flaws, I thoroughly enjoyed the Dinotopia miniseries (which ABC made into a horribly written and acted TV series that didn't last a whole season.) It runs 250 minutes and is a family friendly flick. I give it 7 ramheads out of 10.

Wonderful Classic

2011-01-02T19:35:00.000-06:00

My parents watch It's a Wonderful Life (1947) every single Christmas and for the first time, I watched it all the way through. I was really impressed with the amount of humor, the warmth, and the message...all without color.

George Bailey is a talented, likable, above average guy living in Bedford Falls. Bedford Falls has the opposite of opportunity for a guy like him. Through many different happenings, he is constantly held back from his opportunities. Even through all that he is wonderfully successful, marries a wonderful woman and has wonderful children. But he is tempted to suicide after a horrible mistake is made at his business.

God sends an angel (second class) to save him. This classic is original, heartwarming and shows that one person can have an huge impact on those around him.

It's a Wonderful Life runs 130 minutes of black and white awesomeness. It is a great family film and shows that the bells and whistles of technology don't make a movie. I give it 10 ramheads out of 10.

Merry Christmas! 5 Great Christmasy Films Just for you!

2010-12-25T15:27:00.005-06:00

Movies are not the "true meaning of Christmas"--of course God sending Jesus to be our Savior is--but many Americans associate certain films with the now commercialized holiday. Christians have no problem with Christmas flicks, as long as we don't get distracted from the importance of Jesus. I have a few timeless classics that are my favorites at this time of the year:

The Family Man (2000)
It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)
A Christmas Story (1983)
Elf (2003)

I hope you get to watch them all this Christmas! God's blessing to you and your family!

P.S. My favorite Christmas TV special is A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965). It is 25 minutes and is awesome!

The Chronic(WHAT?)cles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

2010-12-15T11:25:00.006-06:00

We've all seen "Lazy Sunday", the Chronicles of Narnia SNL digital short. (If you haven't, watch it now!) Andy Samberg raves about the Narnia film he's going to see. I didn't see it on a Sunday, but I still really enjoyed C.S. Lewis's Christian themed fantasy novel turned film.

This film isn't the best film you'll ever see, but I'll tell you that it is one of the most exciting family films I've seen in a while. There is sword fighting and a battle with a sea monster and more...all with a PG rating.

The exciting musical score is composed by newcomer David Arnold. He incorporated the previous Narnia theme written by Harry Gregson-Williams excellently and added brilliant new characterizations to this salty sea flick. (The Dawn Treader is the ship that the characters spend most of their time.)

This film is really quite eye-popping. I didn't see it in 3D, because I'm sick of overpriced 3D films and the dimmer picture. I appreciate the beauty of the film and I don't need gimmicks like 3D to make it entertaining for me. The battle sequences and fight scenes are really well done and visually believable. The story is well told, and the Christian themes definitely come out.

The only complaint I had were the characters/acting. The acting was fine, but I didn't feel like the story was about the characters and what was going on with them. I felt like the story was being told, and the characters were just kind of there. The only character I really got in to was Eustace, played by newcomer Will Poulter. He will be the lead in the next couple Narnia films, if they get made. Even with some lackluster numbers domestically for the opening weekend, I'm praying that the worldwide totals bring in the profits necessary for another film.

Overall, this is an awesome film for everyone (even little kids). Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader runs 115 minutes and is rate PG. I give 8 ramheads out of 10.

5 Scenes that I would have liked to see in Deathly Hallows part 1

2010-11-20T21:53:00.012-06:00

If you haven't seen Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, you may not want to read this, as I talk about what is and isn't in the film. If you haven't read the book, you'll be confused.

5. Phineas Nigellus in the beaded bag

4. Harry stealing and eventually burying Mad-Eye Moody's magical eye

3. Harry, Ron, and Hermione listening to their friends on Potterwatch radio

2. Dudley's heartfelt goodbye with Harry

1. Harry telling off Lupin at Grimmauld place

To make room for some or all of these scenes I could have gone without the Harry-Hermione dance. It was a little weird and didn't really go with the flow of the movie. I didn't hate it, but I could have gone without it.

What do you think? What scenes did you want or did you not like?

The Half that is more whole than what a whole would have been: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 Review

2010-11-19T16:23:00.008-06:00

About 12 hours ago I got home after a great night at the Movie. The Movie that millions have waited for. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1. This movie wasn't a whole movie, but it was a whole half.

Part 1 will please the most fans of the books since Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in its true-ness to the books. It was exceedingly true to the books, it was more naturally adapted than some of the recent Harry Potter films, and it was very well paced. This is mostly to do with the wise decision that Warner Bros. made to split Hallows into two films. WB's decision was good for them (more $$$) and good for fans (fewer fans angry about what they left out).

The pace of this film is what made me really happy. In the past 3 films the plot just seemed rushed and I was disappointed about certain things that were missing (especially the key plot points that are now plot holes.) In the Hallows book, the first half is mostly fearful, figuring-out-what-to-do-next camping. It is a little slow and anxious feeling. I believe that the filmmakers did an excellent job creating this feeling and pace onscreen. They really set the tone for the film right at the beginning with Voldemort and his disregard for life. He is really evil.

The acting was phenomenal. Rupert Grint gave us an outstanding emotional performance of Ron. Radcliffe is excellent and Watson is completely rid of her trying-too-hard facial expressions. The amount of care and effort is definitely visible. Also, while watching the credits I got to realize how many top-notch actors this franchise has, all of which are British (of course).

The cinematography is amazing. This film was very beautiful and the scenes were very visually pleasing. New composer for Harry Potter Alexandre Desplat's score is superb. The only thing I wish would have been included was some more of Hedwig's theme from John Williams' original score. There was a little, but I would have like a little more. Other than that little detail, I loved Desplat's work. (I'm listening to it as I type this.)

There are a few scenes from the book I wish would have been included, but I will wait until my next post to divulge.

As a story, it was incomplete. But since that is what the filmmakers were intending, I'm fine with it. It was much better than the split between Pirates of the Caribbean 2 & 3 as the film was just better. For those people who haven't read the books and are casual fans of the films, this one might be a little tough to follow. That is because it isn't shallow or flaky, it is pure plot meat. Mmm....meat. To the die hard fans, you will be pleased.

Part 1 runs 146 minutes and is rated PG-13. Definitely not a kid's movie. I give it 10 ramheads out of 10.

New Harry Potter 7 Movie Posters!

2010-10-06T19:45:00.006-05:00

Yo. So I was just sitting here listening to some Relient K and I saw online that they have more new posters for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1. I decided to change them a bit and make them [better]. Here are the 2 I decided to play with (mine are on the left):

She took a giant s*** on my face. Literally.

2010-09-26T02:18:00.005-05:00

-Literally?

-Well, no, not literally. That's disgusting.

The Indy flick gone mainstream (500) Days of Summer (2009) features many of these hilarious, random lines. There are a lot of things going for this movie.

First off, the film has a lot of acting talent. Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel are both excellent and perfect for the roles.

The film really has no plot. It is kind of like Up in the Air in that way. In a lot of ways. This film is real. Well, no. Not really. But it does have to do with real (in the movie) characters that are not idealistic or extraordinary. This film is not like most films. It isn't what you'd expect. The characters aren't what you'd expect.

I was actually a little confused with some of the happenings. The characters aren't predictable. They are just like us; they are human. This is what makes this film something different and something special. It is brilliantly written.

There was this really funny scene that reminded me of a scene from Spiderman 3. It was really cheesy and awesome. I like cheesy and awesome in ways like this.

(500) Days of Summer runs 95 minutes and is rated PG-13. (I would definitely abide by the 13-year-old-and-up rule). I give it a pleasantly surprising 8 ramheads out of 10.

Not many movies really require use of your brain...this one does.

2010-09-19T00:24:00.008-05:00

The Matrix (1999) is the brain-racking story about how machines took over the world, and are creating a virtual world [The Matrix] that tricks the imprisoned humans' minds. Neo (Keanu Reeves) gets called over to the real world (out of the Matrix) because it is thought he is the chosen one. Only through him can the war between the machines and the humans end. That is, if he is really the chosen one...

This film is a major thinker with an incredibly complex, inventive story. The most recent film I can think of that compares to it is Inception. If you have not yet seen this piece of filmographic history, I suggest you buy it now. (You can get the trilogy at Walmart for like $13).

The acting is spectacular. The music is good. The effects are awesome (even with today's standards).

This film is in my top ten best films ever. It changed the way films were being made. It changed the way films were being watched. It definitely is a work of art.

The Matrix runs 136 minutes and is rated R. This is not a film you should show to your kids. I give it 10 ramheads out of 10.

I'm a Schmuck...are you?

2010-08-12T20:57:00.004-05:00

A couple days ago I was privileged to view Dinner for Schmucks (2010). I was expecting to enjoy it, but not nearly as much as I did. Hilarious slapstick gold.

Paul Rudd plays a guys who's trying to move up in his company. In order to do so, his boss is making him attend a dinner, but he has to invite one interesting idiot. Then he meets Barry. By meets, I mean hit with his car. Barry (Steve Carell) is a clueless, lovable man who likes taxidermy-ed mice. He is amazing. Perfect. He makes a mess, but you still love him. The film also features Zach Galifianakis (from The Hangover), Jemaine Clement (The Flight of the Conchords), and Jeff Dunham (in a small role).

The story is interesting, the acting is phenomenal, and the humor is the funniest I've seen since Anchorman. Props to Steve Carell.

Dinner for Schmucks runs 114 minutes and is rated PG-13. I would abide by the 13 rule. I give it a deserved 9 ramheads out of 10.

Because I'm engaged...

2010-08-09T21:41:00.003-05:00

...I just watched License to Wed (2007). It stars Robin Williams as Reverend Frank who takes Mandy Moore and The Office's John Krasinski through extreme premarital counseling.

Just a precursor: this film is not the best ever, nor does it pretend to be. It is a humorous, light, romantic comedy with a decent message. It does miss a lot of points, especially with a reverend as a main character. God is only mentioned and the premarital sex is not at all frowned upon.

It's not my favorite film, but it is one that I've watched--and laughed at--more than once. License to Wed runs 91 minutes and is rated PG-13. I give a replayable, above average rating of 7 ramheads out of 10.

It's not easy being green...

2010-07-24T15:51:00.004-05:00

Nope, this review has nothing to do with Kermit the Frog. I'll be reviewing Shrek the Third (2007). I'm going to make this one quick.

Shrek doesn't want to be king, so he has to find the only other heir to the throne. This turns out to be whiny Artie (voiced by Justin Timberlake). Prince Charming is the villain (who is also really annoying). Pretty much, there's 40% good old Shrek, 50% annoying Artie and Charming, and 10% obnoxious happy ending. When I say obnoxious, I definitely mean it. Uber obnoxious.

This is the worst of the 4 Shrek movies.

Shrek the Third runs 93 minutes and is rated PG. I give it 4 ramheads out of 10.

"In the world of cons...Eddie's a Pro"

2010-07-24T14:49:00.001-05:00

I found the tag line for Dana Carvey's 1990 film Opportunity Knocks to be too good to pass up as a title to the said film's review. This cheesy film wasn't all bad (but I wouldn't consider it good either.)

Dana Carvey essentially plays himself (named Eddie) as a funny, extremely lucky con man who falls in love with his victim. This causes problems. There are a lot of cheesy moments. Also, the popping music is a little obnoxious. The acting is average.

The theme is very confused. It wants to be a comedy, but turns into a romantic redemption movie. Yup.

All in all, this movie is cheesy. Hands down.

It runs 103 minutes and is rated PG-13. I give it a better-than-expected 5 ramheads out of 10.

Image via Wikipedia

New layout, jimmypautz.com 2.0

2010-07-24T13:37:00.003-05:00

Just an explanation for the layout: The field background is mean to feel like an outdoor movie screen, with my banner as screen. I've also maximized the content, condensing the 2 sidebars into one and moving the lists of reviews into separate pages (accessible through the tabs) from the sidebar. I've changed from green-overload color screen to white and green and red and gold. It feels more elegant (to me at least).

If you have any more comments, please help!

New layout...you like?

2010-07-22T21:59:00.002-05:00

So I decided to change the layout. Do you like it? What do you think?

Jolly Green G--Ogre, #4

2010-07-22T20:40:00.003-05:00

Here's my super-quick review of Skrek Forever After (2010). Shrek has a moment of weakness (and alcohol). He makes a deal which changes everything for the worse unless he can fix it. A classic, "don't-know-what-you've-got-'til-it's-gone" theme. Pretty entertaining humor. Shrek. 4. The end.

Decent entertaining movie with minimal lasting impression. Not as good as the first, but on par or better than 2 or 3. It runs 93 minutes and is rated PG. I give it 6 out of 10 ramheads.

I dreamed a dream

2010-07-19T16:27:00.005-05:00

No, this post has nothing to do with Susan Boyle. It does have to do with dreams. Inception (2010) is a film all about dreams.

This is going to be a spoiler-free post, so if you haven't seen it yet, don't worry. Inception, in general terms is a brainy action-adventure film that deals with going into dreams with more than one person. That's all I'm going to say.

My first impression of this film was "Wow, that was COMPLEX!" In all honesty, this might have been the most complex and biggest 'thinker' movie I've ever seen. (The Matrix series is a close second.) You need to be pretty intelligent to successfully watch this film.

The concepts are amazing. The writing and imagination is quite incredible. The characters are relate-able humans, but still are incredibly impressive. The acting was phenomenal. Leonardo DiCaprio is an extraordinarily talented actor. He gets into the role like none other. The supporting cast was solid (Ellen Page, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tom Hardy, Ken Watanabe). The music was excellent. Hans Zimmer rarely disappoints.

Inception was stunning, brain exercise that really worked. This is what movies are all about. I would give it an Oscar (or a few). Christopher Nolan does it again. It runs 148 minutes and is rated PG-13. I give it what it deserves: 10 ramheads out of 10.
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We meet again...wildcat.

2010-07-16T23:17:00.005-05:00

A couple weeks ago I reviewed High School Musical 3 and didn't give it great marks. Today, for comparison's sake, here's my review of the first High School Musical (2006).

The first time I watched it, it greatly annoyed me. That is because I expected it to and I wanted it to because of what I had heard about it. As my sister watched it more and more times, I saw parts of it and started liking some of the songs. (Yeah, that's right.) Then I was impressed with the dancing. Really impressed. This made-for-TV movie doesn't feature a greatly impressive plot, polished editing, or perfection, but what it has is honesty. This is High School Musical before the "HSM franchise" and popularity. It is a Disney Channel Original Movie. It's real. I don't like this movie because of the popularity, but for what it is. For the fact that it promotes the arts, and doing a little of everything, and its anti-clique attitude.

High School Musical shows that song and dance aren't lame. The dancing and songs are polished and practiced and downright impressive. The actors (especially Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens) have chemistry. [Their on screen chemistry led to a relationship...] That chemistry was missing in HSM3.

Well, that's all I have for you tonight...

High School Musical runs 98 minutes and is rated TV-G (definitely a family film). I give it 8 ramheads out of 10 for being real and for not selling out (yet).
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Arvy and age-travel

2010-07-15T22:28:00.005-05:00

This week I watched a couple of mildly popular films that my siblings got from the library. Here's a quick rundown:

The first one, RV (2006) stars Robin Williams in a slap-stick comedy about family, RVing, and life. It is a cheesy emotional family film wrapped in slap-stick humor. It was pretty funny, pretty ridiculous, and entertaing. It was not, though, amazing. It will entertain you, but won't make you feel like you just watched something awesome. It is rated PG and runs 99 minutes. I give it an average 5 ramheads out of 10.The second one I watched, 17 Again (2009) stars Zac Efron in a cheesy, predictable yet entertaining family-comedy. Efron does a great job. Period. This film is packed with awkward funny moments, the kind in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and I loved them. There are a few cheesy effects, but otherwise this is a funny, nice movie. It runs 102 minutes and is rated PG-13 (barely). I give it a likeable 7 ramheads out of 10.
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Here's a quick plug for some SWEET music

2010-07-13T22:10:00.003-05:00

Listen to Sweet Diss and the Comebacks. They are from Seattle, they love The Office, and they play good music. Check them out on MySpace: http://myspace.com/comebacks or download an album at this link: http://sweetdiss.b3an.com/Sweet_Diss_and_the_Comebacks_-_Coulda_Been_Worse.zip

Also, makes sure to Like them on Facebook: http://facebook.com/sweetdiss

Here's a sample of their music (It's called Jimmy in a Well ;):
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Watch out Pinocchio

2010-07-03T22:27:00.004-05:00

Here's another quicky review:

Bicentennial Man (1999) is a modern day Pinocchio. Robin Williams plays Andrew, an android that has innate personality, emotions, and capability to love. Encouraged by Sir (Sam Neill) he learns how to be human, makes millions of dollars, and eventually requests freedom (which happens to be one of the themes). This film makes one think about the important things in life. Long story short, I love this sci-fi Robin Williams epic.

Bicentennial Man runs 132 minutes and is rated PG. Definitely a family film. I give it 8 ramheads out of 10 (it's not perfect, but very good).

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Harry's Back (soon)

2010-07-03T00:59:00.006-05:00

WB just released the first poster for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. (below) Also, the first official trailer was released earlier this week. (also below)

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Aahraharahrar! (Zombieland Review)

2010-07-02T23:04:00.005-05:00

This review is going to be short. I just finished Zombieland (2009) and I was pleasantly surprised. Aside from the language, this is a wholesome family, zombie-filled film. It was hilarious, had a few emotional moments, and is interesting...but most importantly, it has zombies.

The actors make me happy. Woody Harrelson is funny and amazing at kicking zombie butt. Jesse Eisenburg delivers a breakout performance. Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin are good too. Bottom line=this movie is good.

Zombieland runs a nice 88 minutes and is rated R (definitely not a kid movie). I give it a nice 8 ramheads out of 10.
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Hey Wildcat!

2010-07-01T20:29:00.004-05:00

My brother got High School Musical 3 from the library, so I figured I'd watch it before I judge it. I've seen the first two: I didn't mind the first, but wasn't a fan of the second one. Those were both Disney Channel original movies that were made for TV, but the third was a full theatre release film, complete with a real budget. Did they use it for good?

Simple answer: no.

HSM3 was boring until the last 20 minutes, had pretty horrible dialogue, and disappointing music. The dialogue was detached and poorly acted. The setting/attempted theme was very relevant but they didn't use it well. It was rather disappointing. The music was pretty bad, except for a few songs (which were reminiscent of the first movie).

There are two things this film has going for it: dancing/choreography and the already developed likable characters (from the other two movies). The filmmakers should have used the extra money to hire better writers and directors instead of the gimmicks that they featured (there were a lot of stupid gimmicks) and they would have made a halfway decent film...BUT, they didn't.

High School Musical 3 runs 112 minutes (it felt like longer) and is rated G. I give it a disappointing 3 ramheads out of 10.

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There's a Blog in my boots!

2010-06-29T20:41:00.005-05:00

I'll tell you flat out, Toy Story 3 is a masterpiece. I don't just mean among animated films, it will hold its own among any film out there. I saw it in 3D, which was nice, but if you don't have the extra couple bucks, don't sweat it: the 3D is not necessary.

The story and the setting of the story were brilliant. Anyone who was a kid when the first two Toy Story films came out and is in college or around college-aged will really relate to this film. On second thought, anyone who was a kid, played with toys, and grew up will relate to it.

Andy's off to college and is forced to reckon with the decision of what to do with all his old stuff, including Woody, Buzz, and the other toys. They are constantly disappointed when Andy is busy playing with his cell phone, laptop, and other gadgets, but still long for his attention. -Anti-Spoiler-Alert- (Details you can gather from the trailer) They end up getting donated to a day care, to find out that the little kids there are devil-children who don't know how to play. Mishaps happen and they all live happily ever after...or do they? You'll just have to see for yourself. (You really should.)

Toy Story 3 is my favorite of the trio of films, somehow Pixar does not disappoint, even with sequels. 3 is really funny (and not just little kid funny), emotional, and just really cool.

Toy Story 3 runs 103 minutes and is rated G. Yes folks, G. EVERYONE and their mother should see this film. I give it 10 ramheads out of 10. Bloody brilliant.P.S. The Pixar animated short Day & Night is amazingly original. I don't know how they do it. It was best one since Geri's Game (chess game before Bug's Life).

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Clever Clooney Clearly Cleans (CL)House

2010-06-25T19:52:00.005-05:00

The Golden Globe house-cleaning film Up in the Air, starring George Clooney has no plot, no action, and no special effects. I. t also deserved the awards it won.

Up in the Air is a story about a man who fires people for a living. He travels across the country, living out of a suitcase--and loving every minute of it. He even speaks to professionals about letting go of everything. Then stuff happens.

This film makes one think about priorities and life. Pretty good for a film without a plot, eh?

George Clooney is brilliant. Anna Kendrick and Vera Farmiga are great supporting actresses. The music is sufficient, but not memorable.

Up in the Air runs 108 and is rated R. Do not show this to your kids, the language gets bad at times, there is some sexuality (they don't show too much) and any kids really won't get it or appreciate it. I give Up in the Air 10 ramheads out of 10.
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Great Scott!...time really flies...

2010-06-11T17:20:00.007-05:00

It has been a long time since my last review. Time happens to be the main idea of the next series that I'm going to review. Back to the Future parts 1-3 are classics (according to me) and deserve to be watched by everyone, if for no other reason than to allow references to the movie to be made.

Back to the Future (1985)
This 80s classic Stephen Spielberg-produced film franchise is one of my all-time favorites. The concept is brilliant and the concept-to-screen transition was near-perfect. Michael J. Fox is spectacular Christopher Lloyd is perfect. The only thing that could take away from this film is some of the aging makeup, but I think it makes the film even more authentic and fun.

Back to the Future: Part II (1989)

This sequel is not as good as the first, and delves more into time travel as Marty and Dr. Brown travel to 30 years in the future. The acting is good, the story is interesting, and it definitely is a classic. It is a little too cheesy at times (even for me) but all in all it a as good addition to the series. It is definitely worth watching.

Back to the Future: Part III (1990)

The third and final film of the series is the most likable film in the Back to the Future Trilogy. It is based in the 1800s wild west and it really a fun film. It is a good, warm close to the series and my favorite.

This classic trilogy is all rated PG. There is some language that may not be good for younger kids. I give it a heavy 10 ramheads out of 10.
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Rhodey looks different...

2010-05-08T18:08:00.008-05:00

This afternoon I had the pleasure of seeing Iron Man 2. Let me tell you, I was very entertained. Although some other reviewers didn't like it, I definitely did. This film had a lot of action, a lot of humor, and a lot of content. Whereas some critics say it had too many subplots, I think all the necessary pieces were there and in place, the pieces just happened to be bigger ones.

Tony Stark is as cocky as ever, doing what he wants publicly, while still defending the people and being brilliant. He also had to defend the Iron Man suit from the government and a competitor in the weapons making business, Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell). Underneath all the cockiness and arrogance, Stark is vulnerable and has issues. Issues that I won't tell you about. You'll see as soon as you see the film.

Hammer hires Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke), a Russian physicist who is out to get the Stark family because he believes his father got screwed over by Howard Stark (Tony's father), to help replicate the Iron Man suit. Rourke does an amazing job acting. Period. Interesting things happen. Stark and Pepper (Gwyneth Paltrow) develop their relationship a little, Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) is back and a new assistant to Stark shows up (Scarlett Johansson). Rhody (Don Cheadle) is back, but isn't Terrance Howard anymore.

Lots of big names. Lots of action. Lots of humor. Good music. Extremely entertaining. Also, make sure you stay after the credits because there is an extra scene just like the first Iron Man.

The highly entertaining Iron Man 2 runs 124 minutes and is rated PG-13. I really enjoyed this film and give it 7 ramheads out of 10. (The first was better.)

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ALICE! (The classic version)

2010-05-03T14:34:00.004-05:00

I never liked this movie as a child. I liked things that I could understand, identify with, and enjoy. Disney's Alice in Wonderland (1951) was none of those things for me as a child. It still isn't many of them now, but I can definitely appreciate the cartoon classic a lot more nowadays.

Supervised by Walt Disney himself, Alice is considered one of Disney Studios finest works. It looks great, is presented great, and is a great length for a Disney cartoon. I'm not the biggest fan of some of the music (the songs with the choir from Peter Pan).

This movie is confusing and weird, but that's how it is supposed to be. As a nearly 21 year old adult, I like it and can accept that it doesn't always make sense.

After seeing the new Alice in Wonderland (2010), I'm not sure about this cartoon classic's ending. It irks me. Besides that and a couple songs, I really enjoyed this classic.

Alice runs 75 minutes and is rated G. (Show this to your kids and kid siblings and kid cousins and the kids next door.) I give this classic cartoon a solid 8 ramheads out of 10.

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Avatar Update

2010-04-29T10:30:00.001-05:00

So you've probably heard that Avatar was released on DVD and Blu-Ray last week. It only features the film, no extras at all. I'm not going to buy this version. Why? Because in November they are releasing a box set version with tons of special features and a lot of extra footage. I'm going to save my money now and buy the better edition later. I figured I'd give you a heads up about that. Have a great day!
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Another movie that reminded me how BAD Eragon was...

2010-04-27T10:35:00.005-05:00

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a pet dragon? How to Train Your Dragon (2010) delves into the awesomeness and mystery of dragons and their dealings with vikings. It also wonders why Brett Favre ever became a Viking.

In this highly entertaining film, a young viking (only by name) somehow manages to catch the fastest breed of dragon. While he was always told to kill dragons on the spot, he couldn't do it. He ends up befriending "Toothless" and learns to fly with him and do many other cool things. Because the vikings are sworn enemies of the dragons, he has to keep it all a secret. Interesting things happen (I'm not going to give anymore away).

I saw this film in 2D and it was really cool. I think 3D or IMAX would also be cool, but I enjoyed it muchly in 2D. This film had great themes and content; Fatherly expectations and family were some of them. Aside from it's good themes, ti was funny, heart-warming, and full of action...plus it ended great too.

Also, the voice talent was superb, the music was nice and I was severely...
happy with this film.

I wasn't expecting as much from this movie as I got, so I left the theatre quite chipper. This was the best animated film I've seen since Up.

How to Train Your Dragon runs 98 minutes and is a very family-friendly PG. I give it 9 ramheads out of 10. If you're still confused about the Brett Favre thing, it was a joke.

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This ghost is no Casper, but he's friendly

2010-04-24T16:41:00.007-05:00

I've always enjoyed Ewan McGregor films. I haven't seen alot of them, but the one's I've seen have been excellent. He grows an awesome beard in Star Wars II and III, he is spectacular in Big Fish, and I love his first name. The Ghost Writer is no exception.

McGregor plays the character only named "The Ghost" in this brilliantly written suspenseful thriller. The difference between this thriller and alot of others out there is that this one is smart. The characters are very convincing, thanks to the acting. Ewan McGregor, Pierce Brosnan, and Olivia Williams all pull of award-worthy performances. The minor roles all had solid acting as well.

The other thing that sets this film apart is the ending. I'm not going to say how it ends, but I was extremely impressed. It is just good movie-making. It reminded me of how Citizen Kane ended.

The music in this film is very well done. Andre Desplat, the composer, did a great job assisting with the suspense and intrigue. The music in this film is putting me a little at ease about the fact that Desplat is doing the music for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1.

This film was bloody brilliant in my opinion and I would highly recommend it. The Ghost Writer runs 128 minutes minutes and is rated PG-13. This isn't too bad for kids, but younger ones probably wouldn't get it. I give this film 10 ramheads out of 10.

Alice!

2010-04-12T16:38:00.011-05:00

I finally saw the much anticipated Alice in Wonderland [3D] (2010) on Saturday and let me tell you, another film lived up to the hype. First Avatar, now Alice.... I'm a pretty happy moviegoer.

Tim Burton creates a much more adult "Underland" in this adaptation of the Lewis Carroll book. Alice has returned to Wonderland, where everything seems vaguely familiar to her, but she thinks it is a dream. The audience journeys along with Alice as she deals with a darker Wonderland than in her childhood and has more decisions to make. Parts of the movie may seem superfluous or misguided at times, but that is because Alice is feeling misguided; the film immerses the audience very well. You feel how Alice feels. It's pretty sweet. It may be a bit darker and dealing with heavier subject matter, but it was still funny.

Johnny Depp, of course, plays the Mad Hatter, who has a lot more depth than I remember from the animated classic. Depp does a spectacular job. Mia Wasikowska also nailed her role as Alice. I was extremely impressed with the performances...even the CG performances. The characters felt real to me. (That's a good thing.)

Danny Elfman's score was brilliant. It helped create the mystery and was an essential part of this film. The only thing is that it felt like I had heard it in another film; it just felt familiar. I love this score, so I'm not going to knock it. Here's a sample:

Overall, this movie rocked. Alice in Wonderland is rated PG and runs 108 minutes. This one can be shown to all ages, though kids probably wouldn't get the deeper meaning. 9 ramheads out of 10.

A couple movie reviews are coming soon...

2010-04-09T00:30:00.002-05:00

I haven't had a chance to post any new reviews recently, but there will be Chronicles of Narnia (1 &2) and Seven reviews coming soon. Happy Friday!

What does Easter really mean?

2010-04-07T20:38:00.001-05:00

Easter means much more than just extra church services, baskets full of candy, or egg hunts. Easter is God’s fulfillment of His age-old promise. Man (and woman) had directly disobeyed God. They sinned. This sin doomed mankind forever and our daily sin digs us into a deeper hole. But God promised to save us from our sin.

To Satan he said,

“And I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will crush your head,
and you will strike his heel.” (Genesis 3:15)

He promised to Satan someone who would be a Satan-crusher, a Savior of mankind. God fulfilled part of his promise on Christmas.

"Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. ³¹You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. ³²He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High…So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God…While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.” (Luke 1-2, selected verses)

God sent his Son as our Savior. He lived his life perfectly in our place, but he had to do more than that. He had to take upon himself the death—the punishment—that we deserved. Isaiah prophesied it hundreds of years before…

“Surely he took up our infirmities
and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted.

⁵ But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.

⁶ We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:4-6)

Isaiah’s prophesy came to fruition through Jesus’ death on the cross. “Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). ¹⁸Here they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle... Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” (John 19 selected verses)

Jesus’ death was the end of the sacrificial substitution Jesus had to fulfill. That is why he said, “It is finished.” But Jesus was not done there; he rose from the dead, in full glory conquering not only sin and the devil, but death as well.

We celebrate His glory with him on Easter. But Easter doesn’t have to be the end of the celebration, celebrate Easter every day because with faith, your sin is taken care of! We are saved!

HE IS RISEN, HE IS RISEN INDEED! HALLELUIAH!

Listen/download chamber choir!

2010-03-31T12:19:00.004-05:00

Here is the chamber choir set from our recent choir tour in mp3 form for free downloading: (click on the link to download)

chamber choir tour 2010.mp3

Enjoy!

P.S. The WLC choir songs will be coming soon :)

Who thought a movie about journalism could be so exciting?

2010-03-30T22:59:00.006-05:00

...Or that Russell Crowe could be that chubby? State of Play (2009) is an action packed, mind boggling thriller that is smart, well-cast/acted, and about politics.

The story is about a politician, his journalist friend, and the love polygons that eventually lead to a murder. And guess who does the principle investigating? Certainly not the cops...it is the journalists! This story of betrayals and friendships will keep you guessing until the end (unless you've seen it already).

I was thoroughly impressed with the story, the amount of action, and the acting. The music didn't stand out, but I'm sure it added to the suspense. Finally, this story could really happen. That impressed me the most. The only thing this film doesn't have is staying power. Because the story is so suspenseful, one needs to wait a long time after he/she sees it to see it again...otherwise you lose that unexpected feeling in the pit of your stomach.

State of Play runs 128 minutes and is rated PG-13. I would follow the MPAA on this one...only watch with 13-year-olds or older: this movie is too smart for some younger kids and has enough language. I give it 8 ramheads out of 10.

LOST yet?

2010-03-25T21:58:00.002-05:00

If you haven't seen an episode of ABC's Lost, you are definitely missing out. You probably have heard, but the current season, season 6, is the final season. It definitely is living up to expectations. We learn a lot more about the already well-developed characters, and we learn about those question marks that were bugging us for a couple seasons. The producers promised to answer almost all of our questions (with the exception of some smaller ones...) by the end of the season.

If you are even vaguely intrigued, do two things for me: watch every episode of Lost on Hulu.com or ABC.com and PLEASE vote for Lost in the Best in Show competition on Hulu.com.

I give Lost 10 ramheads out of 10.

Just a plug for my college choir...

2010-03-20T14:08:00.007-05:00

Watch some videos of the Wisconsin Lutheran College Choir on tour! I'm a part of it :). Check out http://www.wlc.edu/choir. The first three are from Sharpsburg, GA and the 4th is from Knoxville, TN. The fifth one is a promo for our video from Europe last May.

The Wisconsin Lutheran Choir performed its spring concert at Faith in Sharpsburg, on March 7, 2010.

Sheep and Goats? A short devotion on Matthew 25

2010-03-03T20:24:00.000-06:00

Passage to consider: Matthew 25:34-46

“…the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'

44"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'

45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

When was the last time you helped a stranger? or done something decent to someone you don’t really like? or shown love to those who don’t deserve it?

Jesus told this parable entitled, “Sheep and Goats”. He was showing how God will divide EVERYONE on Judgment Day, the same way a shepherd divides the sheep from the goats. The sheep are the believers, the goats unbelievers.

God has called all of us (as sheep) to lives of service. He sent his son in love to save us. This means we don’t get to do whatever we want. Doing whatever we want got mankind into the mess of sin. We need to show love to everyone, especially those who don’t deserve it, because doing so shows love for God. God says, I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.

When we ignore others, or avoid opportunities to show them love, we ignore God. God says, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.

Those who ignore God will go away to eternal punishment. In other words: Ignoring God’s call leads to hell. We have been given the opportunity of ~~a lifetime~~ an eternity, let’s not blow it.

The African Queen....another classic review

2010-02-27T23:13:00.009-06:00

So apparently I just watched a classic movie...I was unaware until right before I viewed The African Queen (1951). This film won an Oscar (for Humphrey Bogart, best actor).

With today's standards, this film is nothing special. The dialogue has its moments, but also can be a little "eh". (The "eh" happens mostly at the beginning.) For its time the special effects were probably great, but now they can be a little painful. I could see the green screen quite well. I'm not going to knock this film for its effects, because the technology wasn't developed yet.

Humphrey Bogart's Charlie was the highlight of this film. His Oscar winning performance livened this film, gave it some character, and in my opinion, made this film enjoyable. Without him, I would probably have hated it.

With a little research by my fiance, I've figured out why this was a classic. There were 2 factors: (1) It was the first film truly filmed in Africa (the Congo to be exact) and (2) It is widely available throughout the world (the copy I watched had Chinese subtitles).

I wasn't really impressed with the music, all in all it was over-the-top, which made the movie funny when it wasn't supposed to be.

Although this is considered a classic, I hadn't heard of it before I watched it. That may or may not be my fault. I don't think it stands up to other classics that I've seen though...it is not really the most memorable film.

Eh... it is kind of hard to judge...

The African Queen runs 105 minutes and is was too old to be rated in the US (it was only "approved"). I give it 7 ramheads out of 10.

Short devotion: Psalm 57:10-11

2010-02-17T20:41:00.001-06:00

Passage to consider:

Psalm 57:10-11 ¹⁰ For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

¹¹ Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
let your glory be over all the earth.

How many people can you put your FULL confidence in? Not many, I’m sure. For me it is my parents and my fiancé.

But God is different. His faithfulness is so great it reaches “to the skies.” HE will never leave us; HE will always have our back. HE loves us.

David is writing this psalm while fleeing from Saul. David was afraid for his life. He knew his situation was grim, but he cried out to his God for help. He trusted in God’s love and faithfulness, and praised his God. “Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.”

We can have that same confidence in God’s love and faithfulness. We should praise his name.

So I'm part of this awesome thing....

2010-01-31T01:04:00.004-06:00

I'm a member of a team involved in the Kapco Charitable Challenge. We have 20 days and $1000 to do something really cool for the community. The details of what we are doing are not quite here yet, but you can visit our website: www.projectripples.com or our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/projectripples or follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/projectripples. I'll let you know more soon, and for now just watch for updates on the website, facebook page, and twitter account!

One of those movie that you're embarrassed to watch with your mom...

2010-01-25T00:32:00.006-06:00

About five minutes ago, I finished watching The Hangover (2009) for the first time. This movie wasn't the funniest movie I've seen, but it was one of the best written comedies. It is creative, not generic.

If you haven't seen it, here's a brief summary: 4 guys go to Vegas for a bachelor party, get really drunk/drugged, wake up with a lot of weird stuff, realize the groom is missing, and have to figure it out from there... It was really cleverly written. The acting was really good, especially from Zach Galifianakis (Alan). (You'll know him when you seem him.) There is quite a bit of language and one naked Chinese guy (Ken Jeong, Community), but all in all, this movie was hilarious.

This movie runs 100 minutes and is rated R. DO NOT show this to kids, it will screw them up. I give it 8 ramheads out of 10 for a creative screenplay and because it was really funny.

One of my favorite Christmas movies....

2010-01-24T10:00:00.000-06:00

We all make choices, choices that decide our path in life and choices that define us. All of our choices define us. What if we could get a glimpse of what our life would be like if we chose otherwise? The Family Man (2000) explores what Jack Campbell's (Nicolas Cage) life would be like if he changed his mind in college. Jack gets the glimpse of a lifetime.

This film stresses priorities and choosing love over career. It is a wonderful, wholesome message wrapped in a humorous package. This film is brilliantly written and hits me right in the heart. I adore this film and will make a point of watching it every Christmastime.

The Family Man runs 126 minutes and is rate PG-13. Aside from some language (two words) this film is one that the whole family can watch. I give it 10 ramheads out of 10.

Off my bookshelf...

2010-01-20T18:53:00.003-06:00

Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol (2009), the novel-sequel to the DaVinci Code and Angels and Demons, is a fast paced, intelligent, and sometimes pretentious novel following around hero Robert Langdon. Just like its predecessor, this book is FICTION and not to be taken as truth. There are some portions of this fictional novel that undermine my faith, and made me uncomfortable. All in all, this book was a great read, but must be taken as fiction. I give it 8 ramheads out of 10.

I don't get it...

2010-01-20T16:16:00.005-06:00

I have heard a lot of great reviews of Pulp Fiction (1994) and decided to get it from the library. I started watching, ignoring the obscene language because of the great reviews. As I watched, the language was lessening as the film rolled on, so I was pleased. But about an hour into it, I decided to stop watching. This film was not logical, it was really obscene, and was not at all entertaining. A story was almost nonexistent, and I was done. I have limited experience with Quentin Tarantino films, and Pulp Fiction really let me down. I've heard good things about Inglorious Bastards, but after watching Pulp, I have less interest in seeing it. Whatever Tarantino was trying to do or say in his film...I didn't buy it.

Pulp Fiction runs 154 minutes and is rated R. Definitely DON'T show this to kids. I give it 1 ramhead out of 10.

Grab your umbrella!

2010-01-19T20:45:00.000-06:00

Like I said in an earlier post, I watched A LOT of movies over my Christmas break. Rain Man (1988) was one of my favorites. This film deserved all the awards it won.

The film is about a selfish foreign car importer, Charlie Babbitt (Tom Cruise) and his discovery, upon his father's death, that he had a brother--Raymond (Dustin Hoffman)--and that his brother is an autistic savant (he is extraordinarily with numbers and memory, but lacks the ability to do simple tasks and to have normal relationships). Charlie "kidnaps" his brother, intending to get ransom money from the institution he took Raymond from, but things don't go his way. He ends up traveling across the country all the while growing more and more fond of his brother.

It is a story of transformation for Charlie, and a heartwarming one at that. There is a bit of language, but it is definitely part of Charlie's character and is necessary for the film. Tom Cruise does an excellent job, but Dustin Hoffman gave the performance of a lifetime. He was truly spectacular.

Rain Man runs 133 minutes and is rated R. This is not a film for children. I give it 9 ramheads out of 10.

Elementary....or not?

2010-01-18T21:50:00.009-06:00

Just minutes ago I returned from the movie theatre upon seeing Sherlock Holmes (2009). I must say, I was thoroughly entertained! Robert Downy Jr. (Holmes) is spectacular and his Golden Globe was much deserved.

This film did was movies are supposed to do: entertain. The acting was solid. The story was definitely a Sherlock Holmes mystery, very well written. The music (by Hans Zimmer) was spectacular. It was the best music I've heard since Harry Potter 6. Here's a song that's not on the soundtrack, but featured in the end credits:
This film looks really good. London looks great. Great filmography. The only thing missing is the fabled term "Elementary" from Holmes' dialogues with Watson.

If you haven't yet seen it, go ahead!

P.S. They are already planning a sequel, and Brad Pitt is probably going to be the villain.

Sherlock Holmes runs 128 minutes and is rated PG-13. Most kids would be fine watching this one.... 9 ramheads out of 10 for a purely entertaining experience.

It's kinda sad to see a baby die....

2010-01-18T16:18:00.004-06:00

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) was very curious indeed, it probably didn't deserve all the nominations it received, but won what it deserved. Confused yet? It was nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars and Golden Globes, but didn't win any GG's and won Oscars for "Art Direction", "Makeup", and "Visual Effects". These I agree it deserves, but definitely not even a Best Picture nomination.

Sure, the concept is extremely intriguing (originally written as a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald), but the filmmakers didn't do enough with it. The acting was outstanding, Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett both shined. The visual effects were really well done. The music was sufficient; it didn't stand out as bad or good. Technically, the parts were there, but I still would have changed a few things.

First, this film was missing morality. Random sexual encounters occurred numerous times and the marriages in this film weren't good examples. The magnet-affected moral compass was troubling to me... Second, this film was really LONG. It wasn't quite 3 hours, but it felt like it. Finally, this film was missing its X-factor. The filmmakers seemed to rely on the concept of reverse aging to drive the entire film. It didn't and I was disappointed.

Benjamin Button runs 166 minutes and is rated PG-13. Sure you can show it to kids, but they would probably be bored. I give it a disappointing 6 ramheads out of 10.

Golden Globe notables...

2010-01-17T22:45:00.006-06:00

Avatar won 2 - Best Drama, Best Director=James Cameron

Up won 2 - Best Animated Picture, Best Original Score=Michael Giacchino

Blind Slide - Best Actress in Drama=Sandra Bullock

Sherlock Holmes - Best Actor in Comedy=Robert Downey Jr.

I'll Be Back....

2010-01-17T15:15:00.017-06:00

During my Christmas break I watched all four films in the Terminator series. I was actually quite impressed. Here are my reviews:

The Terminator (1984)
This film was noticeably made in the '80s. The music, the special effects, the styles...all '80s. That being said, this movie was not overly cheesy. The film is about a Terminator (Schwarzenegger) sent back in time to kill Sarah Conner (Linda Hamilton) to prevent her son (John Conner) from being born and becoming a threat to Skynet's existence. Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn) is sent to protect her. Arnold was a nearly unstoppable force and the acting overall was sufficient, not great. There was a bit of language, otherwise I generally liked this film.

The Terminator runs 108 minutes and is rated R. Don't show this to kids, there is a lot of language and a sex scene (with unnecessary nudity). I give this first film of the series 6 ramheads out of 10.Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)
Arnold's back (as promised), but this time as a reprogrammed (by future John Conner) older model Terminator sent from the future to protect young John Conner (Edward Furlong) from the newer (unrealistic) shape-shifting Terminator (Robert Patrick). The good Terminator and young Conner end up bonding and this film is much more complex and deep than its predecessor. There is still a lot of language--mostly from Sarah Conner (Linda Hamilton).

This film runs 137 minutes and is rated R. Again, there is a lot of language and some violence, so I wouldn't show this film to children. I give it 9 ramheads out of 10, because it has a heart.Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)Terminator 3 follows John Conner (Nick Stahl), in his 20s and living off the grid. He was sent another older reprogrammed Terminator (Schwarzenegger) from the future for his protection. This time, for whatever reason, the new Terminator--a female Terminatrix (Kristanna Loken)--does not have the shape-shifting abilities of the terminator in the previous installation, but she can control other machines. This third installment of the series is probably the weakest in terms of acting performances. Stahl doesn't capture the character of John Conner as well as Furlong did in T2, his character doesn't have as much fire, he isn't as memorable. Arnold's Terminator is also a lot weaker than in T2.

I liked this movie, despite some acting issues. Terminator 3 runs 109 minutes and is rated R, but I would be ok with showing this to my younger brother, it is mostly for the action/violence. I give this film 7 ramheads out of 10.Terminator Salvation (2009)I was first introduced to Sam Worthington in Avatar, but I didn't realize he was in Terminator Salvation first. His character, Marcus Wright, is a surprisingly deep character: a rebuilt victim of the death penalty, who meets Kyle Reese (Anton Yelchin) and is determined to save him after he is captured by the machines. The film takes place in 2018, featuring the Resistance and John Conner (Christian Bale) fighting Skynet and the machines. They are determined to find Kyle Reese, because if he is killed Conner will cease to exist (Reese in Conner's father). The plot is interesting, the acting is good, and the action is awesome.

Terminator Salvation runs 115 minutes and is rated PG-13. This is more tame that T3, kids would be ok watching this. I give it 8 ramheads out of 10.

P.S. I heard there is a fifth Terminator installment in the works, starring Christian Bale.

Remember Even Stevens?

2010-01-17T00:25:00.003-06:00

I got Disturbia (2007) from the library last week because I've heard good things about it (and I like to watch movies)....also, because it always makes me think of the song Disturbia by Rihanna...

The film focuses on Kale (Shia LaBeouf) and his punching-his-Spanish-teacher-in-the-face invoked house arrest. Upon the realization that his mom canceled his X-Box Live and iTunes and cuts the cord to his TV, he takes to sleeping, making Twinkie towers, and watching his neighbors with binoculars. He ends up learning a lot about his neighbors: some are boring, some are hot (and end up dating you), and some are serial killers.

The story is intriguing, but not complex. There were moments that I was having a hard time watching, because I knew something bad was going to happen. For that, I commend this film. It really made my heart pound. There are some things that I (and most others) would not do that some of the characters in this movie did. For example, I would never sneak into someone's home--who I suspect to be a crazed killer--and poke around trying to figure out if he is one.....especially not at night. And, if I was unable, I would definitely not convince my best friend to do so, putting him in harms way, possibly awaiting his death. For these moments of shear stupidity, I take away ramheads.

The filmography is well done, the music is great, the acting was solid. Disturbia runs 105 minutes and is rated PG-13. This would probably scare kids, so use discretion. I give this film 7 ramheads out of 10.

Quick intro to the next few reviews...

2010-01-16T23:13:00.003-06:00

Ok, so I just watched a quite a few movies, but I haven't reviewed them yet. I'm working on it...

I'm breaking the first rule of Fight Club...

2010-01-09T20:10:00.005-06:00

Everyone I've talked to whose seen Fight Club (1999)raves about it, so I figured I'd watch it...

I was pleasantly surprised with the complexity and the story, but unimpressed with the language: this film has a lot of strong language.

In brief, Fight Club is an excellent film, one that you can watch more than once, but there is a lot of language. The violence, which is also prevalent, doesn't really bother me, but the language does. I know it is necessary for the story, but still. I've discovered that I like the movies that have limited strong language better than those with it a lot of language. I think it is because of the way I was raised.

The acting is flawless: Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, and Helena Bonham Carter are all great. The filmography is excellent and the music is perfect. 'nuff said.

I acknowledge this films awesomeness, and wouldn't mind seeing it again. Fight Club runs 139 minutes and is rated R. DO NOT show this to kids. Not even close. I give it 9 ramheads out of 10 (one ramhead taken for the language).

Citizen Kane....my first REAL classic movie review...

2010-01-05T21:52:00.004-06:00

While browsing the DVDs at my local library, I came across Citizen Kane, the 1941 Academy Award winning classic, starring Orson Welles. I had heard of it, and knew it was considered a classic. I figured I'd culture myself and watch it.

While this film does not have amazing action scenes, dazzling special effects, or even an exciting story, it does capture the essence of man. Man who was given away for money. Man who could get almost anything he wanted. We journeyed with that man. We saw that man at his best, though he never achieved what he could, and we saw him at his worst.

Charles Foster Kane didn't have God, he never really loved, and he strove for the love of others, to win the hearts of the people. His people.

I thought the film was brilliantly written, with the perfect ending. I would recommend anyone who is mature enough to watch it. It earned the title classic.

Citizen Kane was made before ratings, but I wouldn't show it to kids, they wouldn't get it and would probably be bored. I give it 9 ramheads out of 10.

They're blue, but they're not Smurfs...UPDATE

2009-12-21T22:08:00.015-06:00

*I SAW IT AGAIN IN 3D AND DECIDED TO UPDATE THIS REVIEW*

While watching Avatar for the first time, all I could think was, "Wow." Ever since I left, all I could think was, "I want to see it again." I actually did see it again. Yeah, I loved Avatar.

To start, James Cameron's epic was visually amazing. The Na'vi looked real. Pandora looked stunning. The creatures were convincing. The human weapons, ships, robots were also realistic and believable. But enough about the CG and special effects, what about the story?

Many action movies and sci-fi movies don't have much of a plot. Avatar does not fall in this category. Cameron layers this story, intertwining numerous different themes.

The first evident theme is shown by Colonel Quaritch (Stephen Lang). Quaritch is hardcore, hardened military man. He shows no mercy to his enemies and is quick to decide you are his enemy. He had an unwavering prejudice of the Na'vi and those who side with them. He is eager to fight them. The underlining theme here is that some like Quaritch fight first, ask questions later. Military is shown in a negative light in this film, but it really isn't military, they are hired "security". This brings me to the next theme woven into this film.

The next theme is that of corporate greed. Parker Selfridge (Giovanni Ribisi) is trying to please shareholders by destroying the home of the Na'vi to get the conveniently named unobtainium. He needs to make money at all costs. We see this around us every day. Greed. Love of money above the lives of others. It is sad, but true.

Another theme I've noticed is that of love. Jake falls in love with Neytiri. Cameron is good at telling stories like these (Titanic). Just to be clear, though, this is NOT the main theme. Sure it is there, but it does not consume the story.

I've only touched on those themes that are evident to me and more obvious. I'm sure there are many more--I just thought of one: redemption--but I just wanted to convey that this film is much more than pretty visuals and action. There is a heart and soul to this movie.

There was solid acting all around. They aren't the biggest names in the film industry, but the actors in this film do their job. The musical score in this film is good, not great. James Horner's score in some places is spectacular and in others somewhat generic. I've listened to it separate outside the movie (and obviously during the film) and I like it. It doesn't match his work in Titanic, but it does the job well. On a side note, this movie doesn't feature unnecessary sex scenes, swearing, or any other garbage featured in a lot of today's movies; I was pleasantly surprised.

Finally, the 3D is cool, but not needed. I think in someways it really adds, but really, the film doesn't need 3D to be a great film.

P.S. Cameron said if Avatar is successful, he might make up to 2 sequels to it.

I expected to enjoy this movie, but not this much. I'm not going to give any more away. I was truly drawn into the Avatar experience. I think you can be too.

Avatar runs 162 minutes and is rated PG-13. I give it 10 ramheads out of 10.

Another Theological Paper:

2009-12-15T17:50:00.000-06:00

Would Luther Approve of Lutherans Today?

New Christmas Video!

2009-12-15T17:47:00.002-06:00

Jimmy's 2009 Christmas List

2009-10-21T15:20:00.004-05:00

I figured this year I would start early on my Christmas List. So here it goes....

UP - Single Disc Widescreen DVD
The Lost Symbol - A novel by Dan Brown
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - Blu-Ray/DVD combo pack
Money for guitar
Small CD tower

A brief theological break....

2009-10-02T13:49:00.001-05:00

Fellowship Without Tolkiens Rings

NEW Relient K Album

2009-09-29T23:00:00.005-05:00

Well, it is finally here. Kinda. Forget and Not Slow Down is streaming the FULL album on Absolute Punk. Currently, I'm on my 7th time through listening to it. Yeah, I'm a little obsessed. You know what? You should be too. It is an AWESOME album. It is musically awesome, it is written from a thoughtful, Christian point of view, and IT ROCKS. Yeah, it is more rock than pop, which is good.

(Good lyrics + Good music + Jesus)Relient K = Forget and Not Slow Down.

It makes me happy and it will make you happy too. Listen.

I am going to give it 9 ramheads out of 10. The only thing that is missing is their signature fun song.

MATT DAMON!

2009-09-27T17:12:00.007-05:00

I just finished The Bourne Ultimatum last night and I decided that I should review the Bourne Series. The three movies are based on the Robert Ludlum novels from the 1980s (which I intend to read sometime in my lifetime.)

The Bourne Identity (2002) starts this CIA conspiracy story off and really gets the heart pounding. An action packed, well-written story like this is a rare find. The things that Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) does are not unrealistic, they're just awesome. The story gets you rooting for Bourne and against the US government. It is impressive.

The Bourne Supremacy (2004) picks up where Identity left off. Jason and his girlfriend are hiding in India where a hit-man comes and tries to take Bourne out, and ends up killing his girlfriend. This pisses him off and he searches for the people who tried to kill him and gets tangled with the CIA again. He ultimately remembers some stuff from his past and deals with that while once again escaping CIA capture.

The third one, The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) is the most recent Bourne film and the best one yet. I liked the story, how things are resolved, and the action was phenomenal. It continues where Supremacy ended (and actually overlaps some times) and he's trying to find out about how he became a brainwashed CIA agent/assassin. He does find out (but I'm not going to tell you how). There was some resolution in this one, including Bourne learning his real name, David Webb.

As far as the future goes, Matt Damon stated that he is working on a fourth Bourne film, which is good because those movies are really enjoyable and Damon does an excellent job.

All three movies are rated PG-13 and they run 119, 108, and 115 minutes respectively. This film isn't as violent as Gladiator so I think most kids are ok watching it. I give the first 3 movies in the Bourne Series 8 ramheads out of 10 for solid action in a good plot.

He throws phones and kicks butt....

2009-09-27T00:36:00.007-05:00

Most people remember when Russell Crowe threw a phone at a housekeeping worker at a hotel. That was really funny, but kind of a letdown. Russell Crowe is a tremendous actor and I hope he lives a good life off screen. Gladiator, however, was no letdown.

This film also co-stars Jacquin Phoenix, who went AWOL with acting and had an awkward experience on Letterman in February. Phoenix is a great actor and does an awesome job as the villain in this film, and you really hate him.

The story was severely entertaining and superbly written. There was action a-plenty. The acting was near perfect. Hans Zimmer's music is tremendous (but weirdly Pirate-esque). The special effects were seamless, especially when you realize that this film was released almost 10 years ago.

I had only one problem with this film. There are a few lines here and there that are mumbled and quiet that I had to rewind and listen to again (sometimes 3 times). That got to be a little annoying.

This film is an epic. It is rated R (i'm sure for violence) so any desensitized kid is ok watching it. I wouldn't recommend it, but if they are already messed up with video game violence, this film won't hurt any. It runs 155 minutes (unless you get the extended version on DVD). I give this really cool film 9 ramheads out of 10.

It looks better with completed CG...

2009-09-24T21:10:00.007-05:00

Yeah, you caught me. I watched X-Men Origins: Wolverine online, in an uncompleted format. Sure, the quality was low, but it still was a cool movie. And besides, I'm in college and I don't have any money. That was last spring. This time I watched the completed, DVD quality version. The movie was pretty much the same, but the action was way better.

Origins has a somewhat complex plot for a comic book movie. It really took me two times (the second of which I was NOT tired) to really grasp the full effect and feel of this film. It is a highly interesting story, especially for someone like myself who has not read the comics. Ever since the first X-Men movie came out, I've always wondered what made Wolverine what he is. This story does that and more. It shows how other popular X-Men characters intertwined their origins with Wolverine's.

Technically speaking, this movie is phenomenal. The special effects and action are heart-pounding. The music isn't "go-out-and-buy-this-soundtrack" good, but it does a decent job. The acting is solid, Hugh Jackman is good as ever, and ripped as ever. Although I was really impressed with this movie it is far from perfect. It has a big plot, but doesn't have a ton of substance: not really good verses evil, but good is seeking revenge, gets confused, gets screwed, then gets screwed again, then gets shot in the head and forgets everything. I give it 7 ramheads out of 10, I liked it, but it wasn't standout. It is rated PG-13 and runs 107 minutes. You really can show this to your kids if you want, it isn't that bad. Honestly, they'll like the action (if they are boys) or just get confused with the plot (if they are girls).

MUSIC PREVIEW: Relient K's new album "Forget and Not Slow Down"

2009-09-12T20:03:00.009-05:00

If you've read my blog before, you probably know that my favorite band is Relient K. I like them because never once was I ashamed to listen to them. They play good, clean, heartfelt music from a Christian perspective. Sure they're sinful humans, but they have God and don't care who knows about it. They are real. They aren't putting on a show when they give a concert. They are themselves, not someone they just act out on stage. Finally, they are extremely talented musicians who write their own music. That is why they are my favorite band.

My favorite band is making a new album. Here's what they have to say (from their bio on Myspace):

Sometimes the best way to deal with a break-up is to write a batch of great songs about it, turn up the amplifiers and just rock out.......

Think of enduring classics – from Liz Phair’s Exile In Guyville to Nine Inch Nails’ Pretty Hate Machine to Beck’s Sea Change – and how they achieved musical catharsis from the crumbling walls and crossbeams of a relationship gone bad.
On their latest release, Forget And Not Slow Down, Relient K carry the break-up album into the 21st century, tweaking it with clear-eyed songwriting and a four-to-the-floor optimism that is positively refreshing. Yes, there’s sweet sorrow in “If You Believe Me.” And yes, there’s lingering nostalgia in “Part Of It” and “Savannah.” There’s even the occasional recrimination, as in the bitter sting of “I Don’t Need A Soul” and “Over It.” But when it comes to regret, lead singer and songwriter Matt Thiessen is not one to wallow.
As he sings on the rousing title track, “I'd rather forget and not slow down than gather regret for the things I can't change now.”
Not that it doesn’t take some effort of will. As Thiessen says, “It’s hard to forget and move on emotionally, but sometimes it’s better for you. You have to keep the bigger picture in mind. If you’re feeling sorry for yourself or reflecting on things that aren’t good, you’re not being productive. So to move forward is to concentrate on ‘What can I do better?’ That’s the whole idea of the record.” The band’s guitarist Matt Hoopes agrees. “It’s about learning from mistakes and not just focusing on all the things you wished you would’ve done differently. Everyone has those things. What’s important is the knowledge that when you make a mistake, your life is not over.”
To gather material from these forward-thinking convictions, Thiessen made like Thoreau, retreating to a remote lake house in Winchester, Tennessee. “I was by myself for about two or three months, in total isolation,” he says. “It was awesome. You could think about something, and keep thinking about it, and no one would interrupt you for six or seven hours. You could keep your brain on one train of thought. I’ll never want to write another record any other way.”
For Thiessen, the solitary creative process was a lot like prayer. “Songwriting and praying are kind of synonymous for me,” he says. “You’re using your heart, you’re using your brain, you’re collecting your thoughts, inner emotions, and putting them all together, and you’re saying, ‘Where does this all fit into my life?’”
During his sojourn, Thiessen stayed in constant contact with Hoopes and the rest of the band – drummer Ethan Luck, bassist John Warne and guitarist Jon Schneck - sharing song ideas and mapping out a direction for the album. One guiding principle soon emerged: this record should rock. Reteaming with longtime producer Mark Townsend (“We’ve got an almost telepathic relationship,” Hoopes says. “He’s family”), the band brought the spontaneity and revved-up spirit of their live performances into the studio. On such standout songs as “Therapy,” “Candlelight” and “This Is The End,” their trademark blend of sweet melodicism and caffeinated pop-punk has never sounded as urgent and powerful.
The album was mixed by ace engineer Andy Wallace (Nirvana, Jeff Buckley, Sheryl Crow), who ups the ante even further by imbuing the songs with widescreen grandeur and crunching clarity. “We definitely wanted to make a rock record,’” Thiessen confirms. “We wanted it to be uptempo and energetic. As far as the sonic aspect, we wanted to make it less modern sounding, with classic rock textures - Counting Crows, Foo Fighters, those kind of ‘90s albums. That was a good time for rock ‘n’ roll.”
It was also a time before computers took up permanent residency in recording studios. Thiessen says, “A lot of bands use MIDI and synthesizers – fake instruments. We have too. But on this record, everything you hear is really played. It’s organic. I know a lot of bands do that now. But for us, it was really the first time we made it the real thing.”
That humble claim aside, Relient K has been making the real thing since 1997, when Thiessen and Hoopes formed the band in high school. In the decade since, they’ve released five full-length albums (three are certified Gold), five EPs and a Christmas record, toured the globe, and racked up several hit singles, a Grammy nomination, two Dove Awards and performances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with Conan O’ Brien and Jimmy Kimmel Live. The Los Angeles Times has praised Relient K for “its smart blend of punk pop and power pop, weaving together influences as diverse as the Beach Boys, Blink-182 and Fountains of Wayne” while Spin noted, “Few bands play punk-influenced modern rock as proficiently.”
With anticipation high from fans the world over and upcoming tour dates, the band’s hopes for Forget And Not Slow Down – the first release on their new Mono vs. Stereo label - are simple. “The songs that tend to be the fan favorites in the past are the ones about making mistakes but ultimately moving past them,” Hoopes says. “And this record has a lot of that feeling. No matter what trials and tribulations you encounter in your life, it doesn’t have to be the end of your story. You can move on and be happy and experience joy.”
Thiessen adds, “We always hope our listeners understand the resolution and positivity that the songs are alluding to. All these songs are written out of a good state of mind, and that’s what the songs are encouraging people to do - find that in their own lives. If you’re going through turmoil, you can find your way through it.”
+++

So what do you think?

2009-09-10T00:37:00.002-05:00

If you didn't notice, I changed the banner. What do you think? If there are indeed readers of this blog, speak now or forever hold your peace. If anyone reads and is not subscribed to this blog, go ahead and subscribe. Comments are welcome! I will try to post more often than I did in summer.

With love,

Jimmy

Titanic UPDATE: 3D?

2009-09-09T00:14:00.002-05:00

So guess what I recently heard and never told you? Yeah, that's right, Titanic is going to be back in theatres in 2011 in 3D. This is two things: cool and selling out. I will go and see it (with my fiance) but I know they are doing it to make some more money. Oh well....it's kind of a win-win for those who like the movie and a nuisance for those who don't. I'm ok with that.

Heil von Stauffenberg!

2009-09-07T22:58:00.005-05:00

This is going to be short and sweet. Valkyrie was a quality historical thriller that delves into the meat of WWII Nazi Germany. It taught me a lot of what I didn't know and thoroughly entertained me as well. Tom Cruise is still a solid actor and his performance here proves it. Even though he's a little crazy, he does a great English speaking rebel Nazi. The intensity of this movie kept me awake even though I was pretty tired. The technical aspects of this movie were also well done. Overall, I was entertained by this film.

The film is rated PG-13 for violence and language...I wouldn't show this to anyone under 13. There is a good deal of violence and language. It runs 120 minutes. I give it an above-average-but-not-the-best-film-I've-seen 7 ramheads out of 10.

One quick Relient K note....

2009-09-07T22:44:00.003-05:00

So they FINALLY posted a song from their new album...here it is :

P.S. This is "Forget and Not Slow Down"....A.K.A. The title track for their new album.

New review coming soon....

2009-09-04T00:32:00.003-05:00

I've been busy with my first week of school....homework a little more important than this blog. I'll have a review of Valkyrie up probably Monday night, stay tuned!

P.S. Share this blog with your friends!

I'm still not sure what Prada is....

2009-08-31T00:13:00.005-05:00

So I was watching The Devil Wears Prada with some friends a few days ago....it was decent. Personally, I don't think it was much more than decent. Sure the acting was good all around, no huge standout performances, but good, sound acting. The music was fine, I didn't really notice it. It was pretty funny at times, but I wouldn't consider it a comedy. I just thought this story was average. The film was based on a book, so if I were to go by the film, the book was average. I wouldn't buy this film, I really have no interest in seeing it again. There are some good points made, but they don't make this film stand out. Really, all this film has going for it is the humor.

I didn't hate this film, it just didn't stand out or make me want to see it again. It don't think it deserved the 2 Oscar nominations it received. The Devil Wears Prada runs 109 minutes and is rated PG-13. I don't think kids would really enjoy it, so don't bother showing it to them. I give it 6 ramheads out of 10.

Every woman needs a blowtorch....

2009-08-23T22:38:00.007-05:00

Julia Child was one of the most influential Americans to the "servantless" housewife. She taught America to cook and, more importantly, to eat. Julie and Julia is the story of two similar woman, in two different periods of time. It follows Julia Child learning to cook in France and Julie Powell, cooking through Child's cookbook and blogging about it in Queens.

Meryl Streep does a brilliant job as Child and Amy Adams really gets you to root for her. Stanley Tucci does an awesome job as Paul Child (Julia's husband). I thought the film-makers did a good job recreating the 50s Paris...and the 2002 New York. I was pleasantly surprised when this film featured married couples, and not just people living together. Dang society, making immorality the norm....

It is a cute little movie that will appeal mostly to those who can appreciate Julia Child and her impact on cooking in America. I took my fiance to see it last night, she grew up on Baking with Julia on PBS and she loved the movie. I can appreciate it, but it isn't my favorite movie by any means. It is a cute, funny, heartwarming movie for any American who loves food, with a side of humor. If you have ever watched Julia Child, you will probably enjoy this movie.

The film is still in theatres, runs 123 minutes and is rated PG-13 for some language. Younger kids wouldn't really get it. Older kids probably wouldn't either. I wouldn't bother taking them to see it unless they've seen Julia Child cooking shows.

I'll give it 8 ramheads out of 10 for being a pleasantly nice movie.

I promised this one a long time ago....

2009-08-16T15:48:00.005-05:00

I was there at the midnight showing, second in line with my fiance. We waited 4 1/2 hours in line to see this. It was worth every second.

That's right, I really enjoyed Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009). It showcased the best acting I've seen in a Harry Potter movie, the best production value, and created the mood and setting extremely well.

This movie had a mixed setting: young love and terror of death. I truly believe that even though they left some things out from the book, and changed a few things to make them work on the big screen, this movie was a solid Harry Potter movie. It embodied everything a Harry Potter movie should, and did so--in my opinion--better than any of its predecessors. It created the setting, the magic, the story, and it did so believably. It didn't lose any completely necessary part of the plot, and added only one unnecessary scene: the Burrow getting blown up. It was a good scene, don't get me wrong, but I don't feel it was needed for the story.

The acting in this film was significantly better than in previous Harry Potter films. Emma Watson, the actress who plays Hermione Granger, finally figured out that she doesn't have to move her eyebrows when she speaks. Michael Gambon (Dumbledore) gives a spectacular performance. Jim Broadbent (Slughorn) is new to the Harry Potter films, but he does an awesome job as well.

The music did an excellent job of creating a dark and depressing mood when it needed to and a flirty funny mood during times of teen drama. The soundtrack is a good one.

The film is a well made film and could be enjoyed by those who are not Harry Potter fans.

This film is rated PG-13 and runs 153 minutes.

I give this one 9 out of 10 ramheads.