The Wonder Years was a popular show in the late 80's and early 90's. I enjoyed the show at the time but now have been watching the reruns from the beginning since they debuted on the new Network Hub.
As we watch the show right now we are on the first season, Kevin is 12 in junior high and fighting the junior high battles.
I love this show. I am DVRing it each day and watching them all. I think the show is a great reflection on the 68-74 era. I look forward to watching them all again.
Dan Lauria as the father was great, he was the perfect father that most of us from that era remember.
Great show
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
Invictus
We watched this movie Saturday night. Starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon, directed by Clint Eastwood it was well received last winter.
I thought the movie was good, not great. The movie was a little slow and for those not understanding of the history a little more backstory might have been beneficial. Why he was separated from Winnie etc.
Matt Damon was wonderful in his role, understated as it was, as the Captain of the Spring Bucks. The movie was Freeman's who with his voice, age and dignity can play any role bordering on God and Nelson Mandela was close to be a deity in those early days of black rule in South Africa.
The story centered around Rugby was interesting, the footage well shot and all in all a good movie.
I enjoyed it
I thought the movie was good, not great. The movie was a little slow and for those not understanding of the history a little more backstory might have been beneficial. Why he was separated from Winnie etc.
Matt Damon was wonderful in his role, understated as it was, as the Captain of the Spring Bucks. The movie was Freeman's who with his voice, age and dignity can play any role bordering on God and Nelson Mandela was close to be a deity in those early days of black rule in South Africa.
The story centered around Rugby was interesting, the footage well shot and all in all a good movie.
I enjoyed it
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway
This may be the best book by my favorite author. I am incredibly partial to Hemingway's short stories but this full length novel is amazing.
Robert Jordan an American College teacher is in Spain and has joined the movement against the Fascists. The movement being a communist movement. These are not the big bad communists of the late 40's and 50's, though one wonders how this book would have been received if released ten years later in that time frame, but the idealistic peasantry fighting against the fascism which begat Franco.
Joining a guerilla group behind the Fascist lines, tasked with a mission to blow a bridge we are with the characters for four days.
All the characters are well drawn. Pablo the guerilla band's leader who does not bless the mission as it he feels is too dangerous and will expose them, Maria, a young woman ravaged when her family was killed and still recovering, and Pablo's woman who is really the leader of the group, a big ugly faced Spanish woman who believes in the Republic with all her heart.
My favorite character is surely Anselmo however, an old man who in the Communist way acknowledges that there is no God anymore but wonders repeatedly if after the war when the Republic is in power if there shall not be some kind of public penance so that all the sins of the war can be washed away. He cries when he must kill a sentry though he performs his duty admirably. Like Hemingway's best male characters Anselmo is stout and decided in his actions, despite any internal dialogue he might feel.
Hemingway uses much internal dialogue with the main character Robert Jordan but it is the character of Anselmo who we see very little of his internal dialogue but by what we do see we feel his internal decision making much more vividly because of the simpleness of it. Robert Jordan thinks for pages on end, Anselmo just worries about his soul in short sentences. In the end is not that what we all do.
The ending is one of great dignity and forgive me manliness. A wonderful book.
Robert Jordan an American College teacher is in Spain and has joined the movement against the Fascists. The movement being a communist movement. These are not the big bad communists of the late 40's and 50's, though one wonders how this book would have been received if released ten years later in that time frame, but the idealistic peasantry fighting against the fascism which begat Franco.
Joining a guerilla group behind the Fascist lines, tasked with a mission to blow a bridge we are with the characters for four days.
All the characters are well drawn. Pablo the guerilla band's leader who does not bless the mission as it he feels is too dangerous and will expose them, Maria, a young woman ravaged when her family was killed and still recovering, and Pablo's woman who is really the leader of the group, a big ugly faced Spanish woman who believes in the Republic with all her heart.
My favorite character is surely Anselmo however, an old man who in the Communist way acknowledges that there is no God anymore but wonders repeatedly if after the war when the Republic is in power if there shall not be some kind of public penance so that all the sins of the war can be washed away. He cries when he must kill a sentry though he performs his duty admirably. Like Hemingway's best male characters Anselmo is stout and decided in his actions, despite any internal dialogue he might feel.
Hemingway uses much internal dialogue with the main character Robert Jordan but it is the character of Anselmo who we see very little of his internal dialogue but by what we do see we feel his internal decision making much more vividly because of the simpleness of it. Robert Jordan thinks for pages on end, Anselmo just worries about his soul in short sentences. In the end is not that what we all do.
The ending is one of great dignity and forgive me manliness. A wonderful book.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Evil Urges by My Morning Jacket
This summer we went to see Tom Petty in Mansfield Mass and this band was the opening act. So today Amazon which has a wonderful MP3 program featured the most recent My Morning Jacket album for 2.99.
So I bought this. I enjoyed them live, although I did not know any of the music beforehand. I was aware that they had a devoted fan base and from the crowd that became very evident. But I while liking the melodies, the solos and Jim Jones amazing range on his voice-----I did not know the music.
After today I now do and I am impressed. A couple of the songs are a little out there such as Highly Suspicious but also some of the songs are just intensely wonderful.
Highlights include I'm Amazed, Thank You Too, Smokin from Shootin and Touch Me I'm Going to Scream.
Perhaps an example of how much good music is out there. I have more than I will ever listen to, but it is true. I am glad each day to take joy out of new music. This album fits the bill.
So I bought this. I enjoyed them live, although I did not know any of the music beforehand. I was aware that they had a devoted fan base and from the crowd that became very evident. But I while liking the melodies, the solos and Jim Jones amazing range on his voice-----I did not know the music.
After today I now do and I am impressed. A couple of the songs are a little out there such as Highly Suspicious but also some of the songs are just intensely wonderful.
Highlights include I'm Amazed, Thank You Too, Smokin from Shootin and Touch Me I'm Going to Scream.
Perhaps an example of how much good music is out there. I have more than I will ever listen to, but it is true. I am glad each day to take joy out of new music. This album fits the bill.
Truman
This was an HBO movie about 15 years ago. It was one long before HBO started making the wonderful shows such as John Adams etc but it was still well done.
After having read the book the movie was for me a bit of a letdown as many details had to be left out and of course alot of background was missing.
Gary Sinise was very good in the movie but I found the makeup a little offputting. My understanding of history was that Truman was not as old looking as they made him out to be.
Still it was a good movie. Truman was a great President and left office very unpopular. The issue is that Truman made decisions that were right but not always popular. Presidents today always have their finger in the wind. Truman did not do that.
Truman is still my favorite President.
After having read the book the movie was for me a bit of a letdown as many details had to be left out and of course alot of background was missing.
Gary Sinise was very good in the movie but I found the makeup a little offputting. My understanding of history was that Truman was not as old looking as they made him out to be.
Still it was a good movie. Truman was a great President and left office very unpopular. The issue is that Truman made decisions that were right but not always popular. Presidents today always have their finger in the wind. Truman did not do that.
Truman is still my favorite President.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Step Brothers
Finding myself home alone on a Friday night for a bit I watched this movie last night. I like Will Ferrell, I found his performance in Elf to be perfect and his Anchorman as one of the great quote movies I have seen.
This movie had moments of funny, and I did enjoy it. It was not a classic or anything like it. Most days I would be embarrassed to watch it with anyone I knew. My wife saw the last half hour with me and thought it was stupid. It was.
Crude, indecent with too much groin humor it was not something I would watch again or even something I would watch with my sons when they get older and chuckle over the submersive but talented vulgarity--think of Animal House or even Wedding Crashers. This movie was not that good. It just was not.
I still love Will Ferrell though
This movie had moments of funny, and I did enjoy it. It was not a classic or anything like it. Most days I would be embarrassed to watch it with anyone I knew. My wife saw the last half hour with me and thought it was stupid. It was.
Crude, indecent with too much groin humor it was not something I would watch again or even something I would watch with my sons when they get older and chuckle over the submersive but talented vulgarity--think of Animal House or even Wedding Crashers. This movie was not that good. It just was not.
I still love Will Ferrell though
The Avett Brothers/ Live Volume 3
I had heard references to this band and new it was on the edge of popularity and a band with a huge cult following. It is always enjoyable to find a band not many other people know about. Last weekend on the Paladia Network the DVD of this concert was featured. So I had an opportunity to see them for myself. The concert was nothing short of spectacular.
So this Tuesday when the album of the same DVD was released it was an easy to decision to purchase. So many styles and influences are apparent in this band. I hear Simon and Garfunkel in the harmonies, early Counting Crows in the bounce and energy, and bluegrass and rockabilly influences as well.
Realizing that this band has made numerous albums as they widen their network of followers this live album is only I assume a short portion of the songs their long time fans know but with what I have heard this week they are a treasure.
Full scale commercial appeal is probably not in the cards for this group but that is not sad distinction. Top 40 has always been a wasteland and today it is worse than ever.
A few songs of particular importance are the frenetic Talk on Indolence and I Killed Sally's Lover, two songs which live you get to see a bouncing cello player which tells you all you need to know about the energy.
When I Drink, Shame and Kick Dream Heart are slightly less frenetic but bring different levels of bounce and enjoyment.
Clearly the masterpieces to me on this album are the most popular single song they have had I and You and Me ( a unique take on the I Love You constant in music), Murder in the City and the masterful Ballad of Love and Hate.
There are no bad songs and the concert end with Salvation Song is a sing along.
I went to see Tom Petty this summer and seeing the devotion of the fans of the opening act My Morning Jacket one sees the concert goers at this show as well. There is no one so devoted to a band as one who thinks they have something not many others know about.
With music like this these folks might not have that pleasure too much longer.
So this Tuesday when the album of the same DVD was released it was an easy to decision to purchase. So many styles and influences are apparent in this band. I hear Simon and Garfunkel in the harmonies, early Counting Crows in the bounce and energy, and bluegrass and rockabilly influences as well.
Realizing that this band has made numerous albums as they widen their network of followers this live album is only I assume a short portion of the songs their long time fans know but with what I have heard this week they are a treasure.
Full scale commercial appeal is probably not in the cards for this group but that is not sad distinction. Top 40 has always been a wasteland and today it is worse than ever.
A few songs of particular importance are the frenetic Talk on Indolence and I Killed Sally's Lover, two songs which live you get to see a bouncing cello player which tells you all you need to know about the energy.
When I Drink, Shame and Kick Dream Heart are slightly less frenetic but bring different levels of bounce and enjoyment.
Clearly the masterpieces to me on this album are the most popular single song they have had I and You and Me ( a unique take on the I Love You constant in music), Murder in the City and the masterful Ballad of Love and Hate.
There are no bad songs and the concert end with Salvation Song is a sing along.
I went to see Tom Petty this summer and seeing the devotion of the fans of the opening act My Morning Jacket one sees the concert goers at this show as well. There is no one so devoted to a band as one who thinks they have something not many others know about.
With music like this these folks might not have that pleasure too much longer.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Jaws The Movie
While trying to find something on Netflix that my wife and middle son could watch the other day we came across this movie. It actually has aged quite well. The story of the shark eating people on the beach that stays open as the town fathers need to have the beach open to make money from the tourist season.
Roy Schneider as the police chief is very good, Richard Dreyfuss ( reminding me dramatically of my friend Andy) and best of all the character of Quint played by Robert Shaw bring much to the movie.
The second movie moves from the terrorizing of the beachgoers to the hunting of the shark. The classic line " We are going to need a bigger boat." The shark eventually is hunting the boat. Quint like Ahab wants the shark like Ahab wanted the whale. When the police chief seeks to radio for help he smashes the radio. He does not want help, he wants the shark. In the movie a story from Quint's past will tell us why. Well eventually he gets him or the shark gets him in a scene more grisly than I remember.
And the suspense is great, no great special effects beyond the blowing of shark with a propane tank. The movie proves again that less is more.
This movie holds up well.
Roy Schneider as the police chief is very good, Richard Dreyfuss ( reminding me dramatically of my friend Andy) and best of all the character of Quint played by Robert Shaw bring much to the movie.
The second movie moves from the terrorizing of the beachgoers to the hunting of the shark. The classic line " We are going to need a bigger boat." The shark eventually is hunting the boat. Quint like Ahab wants the shark like Ahab wanted the whale. When the police chief seeks to radio for help he smashes the radio. He does not want help, he wants the shark. In the movie a story from Quint's past will tell us why. Well eventually he gets him or the shark gets him in a scene more grisly than I remember.
And the suspense is great, no great special effects beyond the blowing of shark with a propane tank. The movie proves again that less is more.
This movie holds up well.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Moby Dick by Herman Melville
Using my free kindle PC version I have been endeavoring to read some classics that I had not read before. With the goal of reading a chapter a day and the fact that this summer we traveled quite a bit this took quite sometime to get thru.
This was a hard read. Having read that the book was not considered a classic upon being published and was not really discovered until the late 1800's, early 1900's as a classic.
The book is not an easy read. I wanted to understand the story, we hear many cultural references to chasing the white whale etc..
I started the book out feeling good, after all I had just read Homer this should be a breeze. I have to say though, that for me this was tougher.
Parts were very interesting, of particular interest was the main characters first contacts with Quahog. We learned much about whales and when we learn the intense obsession of Ahab we learn that he will stop at nothing to get the whale.
A good story but the diversion and such around the subject made it a bit confusing. I read it, I am glad to have done so. But it was not a favorite
This was a hard read. Having read that the book was not considered a classic upon being published and was not really discovered until the late 1800's, early 1900's as a classic.
The book is not an easy read. I wanted to understand the story, we hear many cultural references to chasing the white whale etc..
I started the book out feeling good, after all I had just read Homer this should be a breeze. I have to say though, that for me this was tougher.
Parts were very interesting, of particular interest was the main characters first contacts with Quahog. We learned much about whales and when we learn the intense obsession of Ahab we learn that he will stop at nothing to get the whale.
A good story but the diversion and such around the subject made it a bit confusing. I read it, I am glad to have done so. But it was not a favorite
Leap Year
My wife got this movie on Netflix. It was, predictably, my wife's turn to pick the movie. Amy Adams stars as a young woman on the corporate track who has a long term relationship with a surgeon. She expecting a marriage proposal gets a big dinner date...earrings. She is disappointed.
Later when he is in Ireland on a conference, remembering that her grandmother told the story of how she proposed to her grandfather on Leap Day, an allowance to women by tradition on that day she resolves to go to Ireland to do this.
What happens is a series of tragedies of airplanes landing in the wrong towns, getting socked in and then finding a local bar owner to taxi her to Dublin. Trouble ensues and she learns much about herself.
A date night movie for sure but one with Adams who has that uniqueness in that she is cute and attractive but not threatening so everyone enjoys her. My wife enjoyed the movie and after a half hour of keeping track over my book I stopped the pretense and enjoyed it with her.
Later when he is in Ireland on a conference, remembering that her grandmother told the story of how she proposed to her grandfather on Leap Day, an allowance to women by tradition on that day she resolves to go to Ireland to do this.
What happens is a series of tragedies of airplanes landing in the wrong towns, getting socked in and then finding a local bar owner to taxi her to Dublin. Trouble ensues and she learns much about herself.
A date night movie for sure but one with Adams who has that uniqueness in that she is cute and attractive but not threatening so everyone enjoys her. My wife enjoyed the movie and after a half hour of keeping track over my book I stopped the pretense and enjoyed it with her.
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