Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Star Trek - 2009


Christopher and I went to see "Star Trek" tonight. He had already seen it, but was up to seeing it again.

Here's my review, "Man, oh man, oh man, OH MAN!!!! It was non stop, but not the kind that never lets up, there was a real plot, with real character development. The writing was smart, not at all like the original...but it was so true to the original...only so much better. Comedy is sprinkled through out, but not so much that it wrecks the show...just a well done ride! This has to be my vote for best summer movie, I can't imagine anything topping this!

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Quantum Of Solace

With a name like "Quantum Of Solace," I was already wondering about this flick. I thought, "maybe a book had that name..but I couldn't find it. Maybe it would make sense after watching the movie. I did hear the word "Quantum" but ehh!

But this new bold Bond is so tough and violent. He's like a "real" spy, not some posing playboy. I did like "Casino Royale" and this movie picks up just after that one. Just as fast paced, it didn't have the graphic violence that the first did, so I found it even more enjoyable. Very intense! Not one Jeanne has any interest in seeing.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Today On Oprah 5/19

Today, Oprah had a show of note, celebrating the good people are doing for one another. Some very creative people are out there, giving those in need a hand up. One man has started a garage that fixes up cars and sells them to people for little or nothing to folks in need. Another lady was at a foreclosure sale and bought a womans house back for her. Very inspirational stories of people...not government...helping out those in need.

Today On Oprah 5/19

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Last Chance Harvey

I'm probably the last to see and review a show. We wait till they come out on video and then don't usually get them that quickly. Jeanne and I really enjoyed this romantic comedy. It was our kind of show, thoughtful, witty and poignant. We were looking forward to the film since we liked "Stranger Than Fiction," which they both starred in.

Extreme Make Over - Session Finale

I never thought I would feel driven to write about this show, but the 2hr season finale of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition was unique. The family was a father who was raising his boys on his own and has become a role model of a huge number of kids in the community. It was a message of hope and perseverance.

Saturday, May 16, 2009

My Name Is Earl Season Finale

Earl is a pretty consistant show. Not as funny as it was in the first season, but it's pretty good. The season finale presented some pretty good open questions that make me want the fall season to get here. It was a fairly uncomfortable episode. Norm MacDonald's character "Little Chubby" is pretty sickening and not very funny.

Lie To Me Finale

Very interesting plot twist in this season finale. Not the big suspenseful ending that most shows go for, but there are several threads that the new season will have to pick up.

Friday, May 15, 2009

Grays Anatomy Season Finalie

The two back to back episodes last night were very dramatic. They really built on the relationships between people that have developed recently and mixed in some real drama. In the past, Jeanne and I have been uncomfortable at times with some of the story lines. Why writers feel the need to push homosexual relationships on us is a whole course of philosophy in itself. But the show has seemed to mature over the last few seasons and last nights episodes was not only dramatic, it showcased some very interesting ideas about war and presented both sides of the issue, while not being preaching or taking sides and it was still entertaining. A very good conclusion to the season, now we have to wait for Fall!

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Maid In Manhattan - 2002

We watched this again tonight. It is a cute romantic comedy. Jennifer Lopez is really believable in the role of a maid at a major hotel. Ralph Fiennes is well cast in the role of the poor duped male in the comedy. It was fun to watch it again, it didn't lose a thing, even though we knew what was going to happen and I may have enjoyed it more now because the music was familiar and it brought out a bit of nostalgic feeling.

"What defines us is how we rise after falling." (Bob Hoskins Character)

Monday, May 11, 2009

Lady In White - 1988

It's not my normal choice of movies, but if you are in the mood for an old fashioned ghost story/murder mystery, "The Lady In White" is a pretty good thriller. Fans of slasher movies and blood and guts horror movies probably won't appreciate the subtle slow build as this movie takes us step by step, building to a very suspenseful ending. I found it to be quite good, although they telegraph some of the ending. It's worth seeing.

Friday, May 8, 2009

Just TV ???

Tonight we just had to sit down and catch up with some TV viewing. I watched an episode of "Bones" while Jeanne was catching up on some writing. Then we watched "Grays Anatomy" that was enjoyable. Then we watched the Michael J Fox special about optimism. It was good, but I have to confess, I wouldn't have finished it if Jeanne hadn't been enjoying it. Now, she's gone off to read so I can catch up on one or two of those stupid shows I like to watch, like "Castle." She might like it, but over the years, she's gotten to where murder mysteries are less and less her favorites. We used to laugh out loud at "Monk," but now she'll only watch an episode after the murder is over and then she doesn't find it that funny. BUT I DO!

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing & Charm School


This quirky movie was made in 2005 and Katherine and Scott watched it tonight, so we saw most of it as well. It is just nuts, it's so strange and so engaging. It moves slowly but it really is interesting. Mary Steenburgen is the teacher at the Dancing and Charm school. The characters are all so different. John Goodman plays a bit part as the man who has an accident. Robert Carlyle (of Hamish Macbeth fame)is the kindly baker who stops to lend assistance at the scene of the accident and is drawn into the lives of people who frequent the charm school.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

The illusionist - 2006


The movie came out about the same time as "The Prestige" and I liked it then, but after watching it again tonight, I really admire this movie! Edward Norton and Jessica Biel were the leads of the show, but I just loved Paul Giamatti. Yes, he was good in "Fred Claus" and "Cinderella Man." But Oh what a great character in this movie!

Fringe - The Fox TV show

In its first season, Fringe is a fairly intriguing show, although the puzzles and episodes are not nearly the caliber that X-files were. Maybe it takes time for the mix to be found. What I really like is the notification that Fringe will return in 60 seconds. I will often say, I can wait 60 seconds and let the commercials run for that long. But what drives me nuts are the stupid graphics of 3D letters hanging in the air whenever we get an establishing shot. Just because you can introduce a new video technique doesn't make it a good idea.

Sunday, May 3, 2009

French Kiss


After watching two episodes of Extreme Makeover, The Home Edition this evening with Jeanne, Katherine insisted that we watch a movie with her and Scott, and we chose "French Kiss." You know it's just a timeless romantic comedy. Very well put together, sweet and sensitive.

Crude at times and crass, but in a funny way. A watching it nowadays, her hair style doesn't seem as strange as it did when the movie was new.

Moonlight-The SciFi Channel Series



I didn't know that the Moonlight series was so new. We recently changed to Direct TV and now we get the scifi channel again. I discovered the Moonlight series and have seen four or five episodes. I highly recommend it.

Mick St. John is a charming private investigator from Los Angeles with a dark secret. Sixty years ago on the night of his wedding, his bride, the seductive Coraline, bit him, turning him into a vampire who will be eternally locked in the immortal world.

Forever 30 years of age, Mick is as handsome and charismatic as the day he was "turned," and he rejects others of his kind who view humans as nothing more than a source of nourishment. With only a handful of like-minded confidantes for company, including the wealthy and mischievous Josef Kostan, Mick fills his infinite days protecting the living.

If you've got scifi..set your DVR..this is really a well done series.

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Utah Premier Brass

Wait a minute, this isn't video! But it is entertainment and boy was it good. The Utah Premier Brass always does a good concert, but their performance last night was very touching. All about war and peace and the photos that were shown during the second half made it a mutimedia event. They have a website if you are interested in following their activities. www.upb.org Very good concert and well worth the time.