Photography

Well, just like almost everybody else (especially bored soccer moms and teenager girls) I have delved into the world of photography. I have no illusions that I might become some great photographer and make my living this way. I love being able to envision a picture in my mind and then actually make it so everyone else can see what I envisioned. So far, I suck! I have started reading a bunch of different guides and suggestions and watching youtube videos. I want to take a class, but I don't have time right now.

I'm sure Helen rolled her eyes when I announced that I wanted a good camera and embark on this newest "hobby". I have many "hobbies" and I have a passion for all of them. I picked up guitar years ago and have accumulated a lot of equipment over the years. I love to play guitar and write music. I haven't recorded much, but it's gonna happen.

But ANYWAY, I like photography and want to learn and do so much more. And there you have it.

Despicable Me

GREAT FAMILY FLICK!

Gru, the super villain, is very lovable. Even from the beginning. This movie is full of laughs. The kids are cute enough. The littlest one, Agnes, is the best. "It's so fluffy, I'm gonna die." Hilarious.

How do the kids come into play in the first place? Gru has been usurped by Vector. Vector has made the heist of the century and Gru wants to top it. In order to do it he must get a shrink ray. Unfortunately, when he stole, it was stolen by Vector immediately after. Gru tried to steal it back, but was defeated at every turn. Then along come the kids. Orphans selling cookies is a good way to break into the highest security places. Gru adopts the kids and sends them in with robot cookies. Success! He steals the shrink ray and his plan is good to go.

Along the way, he learns to love the girls and how to be a parent. The kids love him and then his job gets in the way. Everything falls apart, but he still steals the moon.

Vector steals the girls to get the moon. Gru hands over the moon, but Vector doesn't let go of the girls. Gru comes after him. (Agnes: "He's gonna kick your butt.") Gru is a man on a mission. Through his actions, he actually puts the moon back where it belongs and now he is a hero. Not only to everyone, but especially those girls.

The real stars of the movie are the minions. They cracked me up the whole time. The vignettes at the end during the credits were funny. If you saw it already and left at the beginning of the credits...shame shame.

Go see this and take your kids, niece, nephew, neighbor kid, whoever. Great flick.

Inception

What can I say? WOW!

First, I DO NOT like Leonardo DiCaprio. I never have. His most defining role to me was in What's Eating Gilbert Grape. I liked Catch Me If You Can. He was pretty good, but then again, I felt like he was playing himself.

Second, it was directed and written by Christopher Nolan. He was the one who wrote the screenplay and directed Memento. One of my all time favorite movies. This guy knows what he is doing.

So, when I saw Inception, I went in with low expectations. Everybody on Facebook said that it was great. And really, if you can't trust Facebook, who can you trust?

The opening scene had me asking a lot of questions. BUT, that was the point. As the movie progresses, I start wondering about the way it works. (Once you see it, you will do the same.) Accuracy and flow were called into question. The whole dream within a dream within a dream within a dream and so on. My brain was working overtime.

The whole time their trying to do a job but Leo's character's subconscious is working against him the whole time. Crazy.

Side note: Joseph Gordon-Levitt gives a great performance. He was great in the floating fight scene. (I'm still trying to wrap my head around how they shot that.) Best line in the movie is his. "Quick give me a kiss." Him and Ellen Page kiss. "They're still looking at us." "It was worth a shot."

Throughout the movie, Cobb (Leo's character) is just trying to get home to see his kids. His wife is dead and keeps messing with him. He can't see his kid's faces. Very sad. Finally, he "beats" his subconscious and returns home. He sees his kids at the end and happy ending...OR IS IT?

Argggh. That spinning top! Just fall over already. Best movie I've seen all year even though I was completely frustrated by the ending.

Another side note: If none of this made any sense to you...good. See the movie. I want to see it again just to try and figure out more of the nuances. Just like what I did with Memento. I ended up buying the movie and watching it 15 times. I will probably do the same with this one.

Five stars and thumbs up!? (This system isn't going to work) :D

Remember Me

Before you start in on me, I thought that this was a chick flick, too. Well, it still is, but the ending took it a whole other direction.

It starts slow. And I mean slow. I couldn't figure out what the deal was. I figured that it was a Twilight off-shoot. With "Edward" (Robert Pattinson) being his brooding self, I was in full on eye rolling mode. Finally, the boy meets girl, they fall in love, girl hates boy because their relationship is based on false pretenses, he apologizes, they love each other again...and then the twist. I don't want to give it away. Pay attention to the chalkboard at the little sister's school. That's all I'm going to say.

So, still a chick flick, but I liked the ending. It was pulling at my tear ducts. If you watch it, you'll have to power through the beginning.

[On a side-note: I should come up with a rating system. What do you think?]

Zombieland

AWESOME! Best way to describe. I laughed hard and the action was sweet.

The main character has this list of rules. Rule 1. Cardio. They get better from there. After surviving the zombie takeover, he and a few others survive. Woody Harrelson is great in the movie. His part about his dog becomes a bit of a tear-jerker later. The highlight of the movie is easily Billy Murray. Although short-lived, his scenes are hilarious.

The blood, guts and gore are over the top. The way some people die, it is a wonder I didn't shoot my drink out of my nose. The "Zombie Kill of the Week" never lets you down.

Anyway, before I tell you the entire movie, get it. Watch it and you will thoroughly enjoy it.

The Spy Next Door

First, let me say that I'm a huge Jackie Chan fan. Second, he's getting along in years, now.

The Spy Next Door was, in a phrase, a cheesy kid's flick. BUT, it still had that awesome Jackie Chan fighting. The unreal stunts were great. The story line, a little tired, but still good. The spy who saves the world...yada yada yada. You get the idea.

Jackie did some extensive wire work in this one and that made me a bit sad, but see #2 above.

The story was a good one. It was a story about trust and love. The Russian villain is trying to destroy the earth's oil supply. It was the opposite of the new "green" movies that have been abundant lately. Very good kid flick with really good fight scenes. No blood, very clean. The only point of contention was the disrespectful child. It's explained later, but still I don't play that. Of course, during the credits were a lot of out-takes. I love that part the most.

Check it out, but come with low expectations.

S. Darko: A Donnie Darko Tale and The Fourth Kind

So , I watched the sequel to Donnie Darko, S. Darko: A Donnie Darko Tale. First of all, Donnie Darko was crazy, but it made sense and was very interesting. S. Darko tried to take the whole Darko idea to the next level and misjudged. In fact, it tripped over the edge and landed at the bottom.

It takes place about 7 years after Donnie Darko. Donnie's little sister is traveling and they stop in a little town because their car dies. Then they try to throw all kinds of characters into the story. Why? Keep it simple, stupid. They rely on the slutty friend too much. She holds your attention for about 10 seconds and then you wonder where the story went. Nice try, but this was a shameful attempt at trying to further a story that didn't need it.

Don't waste your time, unless you really like to bored and have a couple spare hours.

On the other hand, The Fourth Kind scared the mess out of me. It is based on a true story out of Nome, Alaska. Had me freaked out. It even had archival footage of the real events. The names were changed because these people are still around in Nome.

At first, I was skeptical, but then they started hypnotizing people. This brought out what really happened in the night while they sleep. As they recount their own personal incidents, they talk about how there is someone outside their door and they can't do anything about it but just lie there. The door opens slowly and then tons of screaming.

While I'm watching the movie, the main character is recounting her story and then the door part starts to happen. As the door opens in the movie, my wife is slowly opening the door to my studio. I came this close to punching her in the face. Hilarity ensued. (I didn't actually hit my wife.)

The rest of the movie had me glued to the screen. Great movie. I recommend watching this one alone in a very dark room with all your insecurities.