Saturday evening my wife and I planned to go see the movie Love and Other Drugs. This was our first child free weekend in quite some time so I had promised my wife dinner and a movie like a real couple.
So upon looking at the movie listings we had missed the first showing and saw that the second one would not be showing until 10:00.
Ther are limits to our night out however so on a second look found that Due Date was showing at 9:15. So in the end we went to a movie that was more my speed than with all my good intent the other choice.
The movie was funny. It was crude and vulgar in places. A lot of Fbombs, many drug references and some sexual content though perhaps not what one would expect.
But I laughed. Out loud. Zach Galfinakas ( SIC ) is one of those actors such as Will Ferrell that is funny no matter what he is doing and he made this movie much the same.
Robert Downey Jr. who I cannot recall seeing in many movies was quite good playing a Type A person befuddled by Zack.
You will laugh. You will lose brain cells. You will not get smarter. You will however laugh. I did. Out loud
Monday, November 29, 2010
Glory Daze
This show promoted for weeks during the TBS broadcast of the baseball playoffs began a few weeks ago.
Advertised as telling the story of 4 Indiana teens going to college in 1986 the time capsule element certainly had an attraction for me.
Fraternity life, pot smoking, drinking, dumb professors, pretty girls, all the plotlines we have seen in countless Animal House ripoffs have not changed.
I have laughed at a few moments of this show but there is not one original thing in the first two episodes. Truly I cannot speak to one surprising thing in this show.
Which is not to say I should. Some shows are just clones and are funny based on those merits. This show is funny, to a small point. I am not sure how many episodes I will watch, but at least I will not have to stretch my mind to view one.
Advertised as telling the story of 4 Indiana teens going to college in 1986 the time capsule element certainly had an attraction for me.
Fraternity life, pot smoking, drinking, dumb professors, pretty girls, all the plotlines we have seen in countless Animal House ripoffs have not changed.
I have laughed at a few moments of this show but there is not one original thing in the first two episodes. Truly I cannot speak to one surprising thing in this show.
Which is not to say I should. Some shows are just clones and are funny based on those merits. This show is funny, to a small point. I am not sure how many episodes I will watch, but at least I will not have to stretch my mind to view one.
CBS Sunday Morning
Keeping in line with the previous post this Sunday morning magazine show is the best of its kind as well. Years ago Charles Kuralt was the perfect host but now Charles Osgod with his bow tie has become the one we look to.
The stories are short, sometimes the episodes are themed as in the Pre Thanksgiving food week, but they are always well done. Bill Giest offers a weekly humorous segment. This much like 60 Minutes is a show I check each week.
My children even enjoy some of the stories, my daughter a budding chef and food critic enjoyed the food issue with me.
The stories are short, sometimes the episodes are themed as in the Pre Thanksgiving food week, but they are always well done. Bill Giest offers a weekly humorous segment. This much like 60 Minutes is a show I check each week.
My children even enjoy some of the stories, my daughter a budding chef and food critic enjoyed the food issue with me.
60 Minutes
A certain person watches 60 Minutes. I find that the longer the show is on the more I watch it which I guess makes sense. It's demographic has always skewed older. My friends and I used to always talk about various stories that we saw on Monday morning.
The fact is the interviewers are wonderful. Not every story appeals. Last nights for example only the story about Justice John Paul Stevens interested me greatly. But it was well done. I find that Scott Pelley often is the interviewer whose stories I enjoy most. Now is that the result of the interviewer or that he often gets the subjects I appreciate I do not know.
Morley Safer still interviews. He was reporting from Vietnam in the sixties, what a career he has had. Andy Rooney still has a minute or two to act like the grumpy old man I picture myself being someday.
The show works. I check what the articles are to be each week. How many shows do we check on each week. This is one of them.
The fact is the interviewers are wonderful. Not every story appeals. Last nights for example only the story about Justice John Paul Stevens interested me greatly. But it was well done. I find that Scott Pelley often is the interviewer whose stories I enjoy most. Now is that the result of the interviewer or that he often gets the subjects I appreciate I do not know.
Morley Safer still interviews. He was reporting from Vietnam in the sixties, what a career he has had. Andy Rooney still has a minute or two to act like the grumpy old man I picture myself being someday.
The show works. I check what the articles are to be each week. How many shows do we check on each week. This is one of them.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Governor Reagan by Lou Cannon
As I continue to read biographies of the Presidents I chose Lou Cannon's work on Reagan. This book was quite good. Cannon clearly admires Reagan but is not above acknowledging mistakes and errors when and where he feels they are present.
Learning about Reagan's youth is interesting. As a lifeguard he saved many lives, clearly he was good at it. He had a winning personality even when young but also then a personality which made him seem superficial, never fully exposed and trusting.
As he moved to Hollywood and began his career in acting he had success instantly. His movie contract at one time and one negotiation made him the highest paid contract in the business. Later as his movie career was winding down an as President of the SAG he made some deals on movie rights that seemed to be a bit of a conflict of interest later.
As Governor and later in his campaigns for President in 1976 and 1980 Reagan did a much better job than he is given credit for. However he also was not the raging conservative Republicans love to make him out to be. He might have had those ideas, but he was above all things a pragmatist that was a firm believer in getting some of what you wanted rather than stand on ideals and accomplish nothing.
Interestingly he is described as making good decisions but his decisions could be hampered if the right information for his choices was given to him. That is he did not always seek out more information than what was given. This would lead to an ability to be manipulated by his subordinates which depending on whose stories you believe did happen from time to time.
This is an interesting read and I look forward to the next book in the series.
Learning about Reagan's youth is interesting. As a lifeguard he saved many lives, clearly he was good at it. He had a winning personality even when young but also then a personality which made him seem superficial, never fully exposed and trusting.
As he moved to Hollywood and began his career in acting he had success instantly. His movie contract at one time and one negotiation made him the highest paid contract in the business. Later as his movie career was winding down an as President of the SAG he made some deals on movie rights that seemed to be a bit of a conflict of interest later.
As Governor and later in his campaigns for President in 1976 and 1980 Reagan did a much better job than he is given credit for. However he also was not the raging conservative Republicans love to make him out to be. He might have had those ideas, but he was above all things a pragmatist that was a firm believer in getting some of what you wanted rather than stand on ideals and accomplish nothing.
Interestingly he is described as making good decisions but his decisions could be hampered if the right information for his choices was given to him. That is he did not always seek out more information than what was given. This would lead to an ability to be manipulated by his subordinates which depending on whose stories you believe did happen from time to time.
This is an interesting read and I look forward to the next book in the series.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
What the Gospels Mean by Gary Wills
Gary Wills rights historical books but also writes often on the subject of religion. He is very literate and offers good ideas on the Gospels.
I am a reader, a seeker of knowledge in all things. I believe in God and consider myself saved by Jesus. I pray everyday.
But I do not understand it all and accept that I will not in this lifetime. I read that the Catholic church now accepts the concept of Evolution. Reading Jerry Coyne's " Why Evolution is True" one cannot help to have a thought on the truth of the science timetable of the age of the Earth etc.
Many take the Bible as the written word of God but evidence lies to the followers writing the New Testament. This does not dissipate their truthfulness.
Scientists of many colors believe in God. Their is a balance. I do not pretend to know the balance but I follow that.
I believe in God. I have read books that theorize that a reading of the Hebrew Genesis realizes that the verb forms indicate that we could be in the seventh day currently and this might explain the difference in time between those who state the age of the world as 10000 years approximately and the billions of years Scientists state.
And of course to literal people like me the fact that The Big Bang says all material came my question is who created the material in the Big Bang. In the end something just was. And if something just was you have to have a creator.
So I believe. Gary Wills is an excellent choice for those who seek to know more and learn more about their own beliefs.
In the book we learn about the creation of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John and after reading it one has an understanding of the perception of each and the " specialness" of each story.
I am a reader, a seeker of knowledge in all things. I believe in God and consider myself saved by Jesus. I pray everyday.
But I do not understand it all and accept that I will not in this lifetime. I read that the Catholic church now accepts the concept of Evolution. Reading Jerry Coyne's " Why Evolution is True" one cannot help to have a thought on the truth of the science timetable of the age of the Earth etc.
Many take the Bible as the written word of God but evidence lies to the followers writing the New Testament. This does not dissipate their truthfulness.
Scientists of many colors believe in God. Their is a balance. I do not pretend to know the balance but I follow that.
I believe in God. I have read books that theorize that a reading of the Hebrew Genesis realizes that the verb forms indicate that we could be in the seventh day currently and this might explain the difference in time between those who state the age of the world as 10000 years approximately and the billions of years Scientists state.
And of course to literal people like me the fact that The Big Bang says all material came my question is who created the material in the Big Bang. In the end something just was. And if something just was you have to have a creator.
So I believe. Gary Wills is an excellent choice for those who seek to know more and learn more about their own beliefs.
In the book we learn about the creation of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John and after reading it one has an understanding of the perception of each and the " specialness" of each story.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
The Promise by Bruce Springsteen
I have spent a good portion of this week listening to the new collection of songs from Bruce Springsteen. These songs are among those that were recorded in that period of time between the release of Born to Run and Darkness on the Edge of Town. This along with The River, to me make up the triple play of Springsteen's best work. For the record Nebraska might be his best stand alone album.
Being that this was an incredibly fruitful period of time for him it should be no surprise that there is ample music that can be released from that period of time and make one wonder why it was not released then.
This album includes Breakaway, One Way Street, Spanish Eyes and City of Night but they all are Springsteen songs and Bruce rarely has a clunker.
Most Springsteen fans have The Promise from one bootleg or another but here is an an authorized release of the single as well as Springsteen studio versions of Fire and Because the Night ( songs Springsteen gave to others) which only appeared previously on live collections.
A great set, a very good album
Being that this was an incredibly fruitful period of time for him it should be no surprise that there is ample music that can be released from that period of time and make one wonder why it was not released then.
This album includes Breakaway, One Way Street, Spanish Eyes and City of Night but they all are Springsteen songs and Bruce rarely has a clunker.
Most Springsteen fans have The Promise from one bootleg or another but here is an an authorized release of the single as well as Springsteen studio versions of Fire and Because the Night ( songs Springsteen gave to others) which only appeared previously on live collections.
A great set, a very good album
Thursday, November 18, 2010
A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
I first read this book in the 10th grade. It was assigned reading by our English teacher. It might have been the first classic assigned to me that I actually read cover to cover and had some interest in. Later that year we read To Kill a Mockingbird and The Catcher in the Rye. Miss Kelly was not one to fool around with less than great books.
There are great books written today, every year in fact and I read them. Not many three combined books of any time frame would rival what these three books offer.
As an adult I have fallen in love with Hemingway's work. For Whom the Bell Tolls is a fantastic read and his collection of short stories may be my favorite book of all. This book however, A Farewell to Arms, ages very gracefully and may, perhaps only because I have read it most recently, surpass For Whom the Bell Tolls.
Set in WWI centering on an American Captain Henry who joins the Italian army in the ambulance service. He is wounded, convalesces, and then is involved in the huge Italian retreat. The actions seen and taken in that retreat disillusion him of the glory of war.
He also romances an English nurse Catherine Barkley and the book tells of their romance. This book might have been seen as controversial in the early 1920's but it stands today as a great piece of literature telling of a specific war and action as only Hemingway could.
This book is close to a 10.
There are great books written today, every year in fact and I read them. Not many three combined books of any time frame would rival what these three books offer.
As an adult I have fallen in love with Hemingway's work. For Whom the Bell Tolls is a fantastic read and his collection of short stories may be my favorite book of all. This book however, A Farewell to Arms, ages very gracefully and may, perhaps only because I have read it most recently, surpass For Whom the Bell Tolls.
Set in WWI centering on an American Captain Henry who joins the Italian army in the ambulance service. He is wounded, convalesces, and then is involved in the huge Italian retreat. The actions seen and taken in that retreat disillusion him of the glory of war.
He also romances an English nurse Catherine Barkley and the book tells of their romance. This book might have been seen as controversial in the early 1920's but it stands today as a great piece of literature telling of a specific war and action as only Hemingway could.
This book is close to a 10.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
To Hell and Back
This movie from 1955 tells the story of Audie Murphy, the most decorated soldier in WWII. In the movie Murphy plays himself, a bit of a stretch as he was 28 at the time and portraying himself from the age of 16 to age 19.
Murphy promoted over and over for his acts of valor and destined to perhaps attend West Point with the military's brass good wishes was injured at the end of his service and when discharged had every medal that could be awarded as well as several from France and Belgium.
The movie is standard B movie fare, certainly not a big budget film. Still it is told effectively and a few scenes stand out such as when Murphy stays behind his retreating comrades to call in air hits and also when he climbs aboard a disabled tank and uses the machine gun to take out advancing German troops.
Murphy was a hero. A well told movie for a lazy Sunday afternoon.
Murphy promoted over and over for his acts of valor and destined to perhaps attend West Point with the military's brass good wishes was injured at the end of his service and when discharged had every medal that could be awarded as well as several from France and Belgium.
The movie is standard B movie fare, certainly not a big budget film. Still it is told effectively and a few scenes stand out such as when Murphy stays behind his retreating comrades to call in air hits and also when he climbs aboard a disabled tank and uses the machine gun to take out advancing German troops.
Murphy was a hero. A well told movie for a lazy Sunday afternoon.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Giant
This movie made in 1956 and nominated for 9 Oscars was on Turner Classic Movies a week or so ago. I DVR'd and watched in a couple installments.
The movie holds up well. Rock Hudson and Elizabeth Taylor play the opposites attract couple and James Dean in his last role plays a typical Dean role as a misfit ranch hand.
The movie is long at 3 hours but moves well. Telling the tale of the Benedict family over a 30 year window we see the characters develop and change.
A recurring theme in the movie is the established and accepted prejuidice against Mexicans in that era.
james Dean is wonderful in his role.
The first half of the movie moves at a stately pace, the second half seems at times to jump time frames fairly quickly with less storyline and more just short views of the characters at specific times.
Not really a Western, no great panorama's here but more a big movie with big stars told on the big screen.
A good movie
The movie holds up well. Rock Hudson and Elizabeth Taylor play the opposites attract couple and James Dean in his last role plays a typical Dean role as a misfit ranch hand.
The movie is long at 3 hours but moves well. Telling the tale of the Benedict family over a 30 year window we see the characters develop and change.
A recurring theme in the movie is the established and accepted prejuidice against Mexicans in that era.
james Dean is wonderful in his role.
The first half of the movie moves at a stately pace, the second half seems at times to jump time frames fairly quickly with less storyline and more just short views of the characters at specific times.
Not really a Western, no great panorama's here but more a big movie with big stars told on the big screen.
A good movie
The Very Best of Otis Redding
Otis Redding died at the age of 26. I must confess until a short time ago the only Otis Redding I had in my collection was Sittin on the Dock of the Bay. A great song.
Now that I have listened to more Otis Redding and listened to this collection I realize that as great a song as that is it is not the best in his collection or even very representational of his musical style.
I have a playlist on my IPOD for what I call Motown though I am not sure it is all Motown specifically but it is all that kind of music. Marvin Gaye, Aretha, Jackie Wilson and others lead the way. Otis now joins that list.
The voice was purely perfect. " These Arms of Mine, Try a Little Tenderness, and I've Been Loving You Too Long may be three of the sweetest slow songs to dance to you will ever here.
What a gift to sing like that.
As they say in Animal House " Otis is my man" After listening to this music I can only be sad I took this long to find it and make sure that I pass it on to my music loving oldest son.
Now that I have listened to more Otis Redding and listened to this collection I realize that as great a song as that is it is not the best in his collection or even very representational of his musical style.
I have a playlist on my IPOD for what I call Motown though I am not sure it is all Motown specifically but it is all that kind of music. Marvin Gaye, Aretha, Jackie Wilson and others lead the way. Otis now joins that list.
The voice was purely perfect. " These Arms of Mine, Try a Little Tenderness, and I've Been Loving You Too Long may be three of the sweetest slow songs to dance to you will ever here.
What a gift to sing like that.
As they say in Animal House " Otis is my man" After listening to this music I can only be sad I took this long to find it and make sure that I pass it on to my music loving oldest son.
Anchorman
I laugh at Will Ferrell. I do not always feel intelligent doing so but I often laugh out loud.
Anchorman is a polarizing movie. It is in our house even. My former co-workers and I all having seen it found it to be one of the movies most used for quotes at the proper time.
These would include " Stay Classy", " I Love Lamp", " It's Science", " Loud Noises". and of course " Don't Pretend your not impressed".
By now most anyone who wants to has seen this movie. My wife says that she cannot even sit thru it, it is so dumb.
Dumb it is but with a humor that is just silly. As it was on TBS the other night we stopped and watched it. My boys who probably would do just as well not to hear so many penis jokes liked it.
The scene when Ron gets " excited" when talking to Christina Applegate's Veronica made my youngest son cry.
For me the memories of various times when my friends and I used the quotes were an added bonus.
So what is this movie. Smart? No but it is witty in places. Intelligent? No. Redeeming in anyway? No.
Funny? Yes and in places laugh out loud funny which for me is a true test.
Anchorman is a polarizing movie. It is in our house even. My former co-workers and I all having seen it found it to be one of the movies most used for quotes at the proper time.
These would include " Stay Classy", " I Love Lamp", " It's Science", " Loud Noises". and of course " Don't Pretend your not impressed".
By now most anyone who wants to has seen this movie. My wife says that she cannot even sit thru it, it is so dumb.
Dumb it is but with a humor that is just silly. As it was on TBS the other night we stopped and watched it. My boys who probably would do just as well not to hear so many penis jokes liked it.
The scene when Ron gets " excited" when talking to Christina Applegate's Veronica made my youngest son cry.
For me the memories of various times when my friends and I used the quotes were an added bonus.
So what is this movie. Smart? No but it is witty in places. Intelligent? No. Redeeming in anyway? No.
Funny? Yes and in places laugh out loud funny which for me is a true test.
In the Dark Streets Shineth by David McCullough
This very small gift book which comes with a DVD tells the story of Christmas 1941.
Three small stories set the tone. The story of the Christmas carols " O Little Town of Bethlehem" and " I'll Be Home For Christmas"
When one thinks of the setting of the latter, soldiers away from home, fighting overseas missing their loved ones there may not be another song as moving.
The other story told is that of the visit if Winston Churchill to Washington at Christmas 1941 and the small story of that Christmas Eve ceremony held. The official program for the event does not mention Churchill as his visit was top secret as the head of Great Britian crossing the Atlantic was a significant security risk.
The book is tiny, the stories small but heartfelt, the pictures from the era quite compelling.
$19.95 would be hard to spend, you could read it standing at the bookstore in 5 minutes but from the library surely a worthwhile read for someone interested in what America faced and faced together. That in itself is a telling lesson for us today.
Three small stories set the tone. The story of the Christmas carols " O Little Town of Bethlehem" and " I'll Be Home For Christmas"
When one thinks of the setting of the latter, soldiers away from home, fighting overseas missing their loved ones there may not be another song as moving.
The other story told is that of the visit if Winston Churchill to Washington at Christmas 1941 and the small story of that Christmas Eve ceremony held. The official program for the event does not mention Churchill as his visit was top secret as the head of Great Britian crossing the Atlantic was a significant security risk.
The book is tiny, the stories small but heartfelt, the pictures from the era quite compelling.
$19.95 would be hard to spend, you could read it standing at the bookstore in 5 minutes but from the library surely a worthwhile read for someone interested in what America faced and faced together. That in itself is a telling lesson for us today.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Old Dogs
We watched this movie the other night on Netflix. Funny thing was I watched for 35 minutes and then asked my wife when Tim Allen was in the movie. She said no that is Wild Hogs so I was not thinking the right movie when we ordered this one up.
However the movie was cute in places. There were several spots where I actually laughed out loud which I do not often do at movies.
Robin Williams and his brand of physical comedy can be funny.
The scene where the two are in a resteraunt and Travolta's character starts to hit on the waitress coincides with when the twosome is recognized as members of the grandparents club is quite funny.
In the funniest, yes silliest scene, Williams and Travolta switch medicines leading to Williams character losing his depth perception which leads to the physical humor Williams knows best, and Travolta develops facial paralysis which in the scene is funnier than it sounds.
Williams character reunites with his children in the movie and it is heartfelt. The movie is not great, it is barely good but it was an acceptable family movie in a time where that in itself is hard to find.
However the movie was cute in places. There were several spots where I actually laughed out loud which I do not often do at movies.
Robin Williams and his brand of physical comedy can be funny.
The scene where the two are in a resteraunt and Travolta's character starts to hit on the waitress coincides with when the twosome is recognized as members of the grandparents club is quite funny.
In the funniest, yes silliest scene, Williams and Travolta switch medicines leading to Williams character losing his depth perception which leads to the physical humor Williams knows best, and Travolta develops facial paralysis which in the scene is funnier than it sounds.
Williams character reunites with his children in the movie and it is heartfelt. The movie is not great, it is barely good but it was an acceptable family movie in a time where that in itself is hard to find.
Monday, November 1, 2010
The Stand ( The Miniseries)
Having read this book long ago and actually having watched this miniseries when it was originally on years ago I did notice this being rerun monthly on SyFy Channel I chose to record it to watch the movie with my wife.
It holds up pretty well. Not as well as the book of course but the movie is good. Rob Lowe, Gary Sinise, , Molly Ringwald led a strong cast that includes Stephen King in his bit part is strong.
At eight hours long with commercials the movie takes it time to set up and deliver and it does deliver. The ending, a little supernatural but it had to be is strong.
Jamey Sheridan as Randall Flagg the evil presence in the movie is scary as can be. A great performance by him.
It holds up pretty well. Not as well as the book of course but the movie is good. Rob Lowe, Gary Sinise, , Molly Ringwald led a strong cast that includes Stephen King in his bit part is strong.
At eight hours long with commercials the movie takes it time to set up and deliver and it does deliver. The ending, a little supernatural but it had to be is strong.
Jamey Sheridan as Randall Flagg the evil presence in the movie is scary as can be. A great performance by him.
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