My advice on the Movies

I used to do this all the time, then things got complicated. I went to back to school for a year, and all the things with my Dad got in the way. So, as part of my new founded blogging, I will give you my 2 cents on whats currently in the theatres. I've seen everything important, as I go to the movies for work. It also give my Mom a couple of hours when she doesn have to remember whats goen on in her life.

There are three categories: See It Now, Rent It Later, and Avoid at all Costs.

See It Now:
Over the Hedge (***.5) One of the single funniest movies I have seen in a long, long time. Great voice acting by Bruce Willis and Gary Shandling, and some amazing animation. Almost Pixar level. Definately not just for kids.

Prairie Home Companion (****) Just one of the warmest, nicest movies i have ever seen. Great music, lots of laughs, and a good movie with wonderful characters. A wonderful ensamble cast that lets everyone shine.

Cars (***.5) I love love love Pixar movies, and i am soooooo glad that Disney bought them. This is another great movie from them. It is beautiful, making you almost think that it was computers, but actual cars. Wonderful story, that doesn't exactly end like you thought it would. The best thing about Pixar movies is that they are for all ages, not just kids. Those of us older than 10 definately get something out of it. And, make sure you stay all the way throught the credits, as well as read the credits. Some very kewl stuff here.

XMen: The Last Stand (***) A good ending to this trilogy of films. I liked the second one the best, but this focuses more on the characters than the others. The best part is that it does not follow any of the comics, but builds a new story for these characters. Now, I need the Wolverine movie, soon.

Mission: Impossible III (***.5) Much, much better than the second one, but then again I ain't much of a fan of John Woo. Way to dramatic for my tastes. Instead JJ Abrams, of Lost and Alias fame, gives a good story with some great action sequences. Don't get me wrong, Tom Cruise is a certifiable crazy man, but I could put that aside to enjoy this movie. And it certainly does not hurt to have a great bad guy in Phillip Seymour Hoffman. Way creepy dude.

United 93 (****) A powerful movie that everyone should see. I did not want to at first, but i am very glad that I did. A moving portrayel of the passengers of that flight that rose up and stopped those madmen from using their flight as a weapon. What was suprising about the movie was the portrayels of those on the ground, the unsung heros in the flight control booths that tried to bring order to the madness that was happening around them. The actual Flight Control agents on duty that day portray themselves, which brings a resonance to the movie. This is the ONLY 9/11 movie that has had 100 % support of the families involved, as the producers of the movie went to these people and got their permision to make this film. See it.


Rent it Later:

The Da Vinci Code (***) Well, it was better than the book. I think Tom Hanks and Ron Howard tried to do what they could with this less that steller material, but in the end its kinda blah. And, in my humble opinion, the only reason it made a gagillion dollers so far is because idiots, who haven't seen the movie, are protesting it. The moment you do that, you pretty sure can bet whatever is being protested will be huge.

Poseidon (**) Well...it has some really great special effects. And some awesome action sequences. But the problem is I don't care if these people die or not. You never get to know them well enough to actually like or dislike them. But, it is worth watching for the wave sequence alone.


Avoid at all Costs:

The Break up (*) I go to the movies to get away from reality, not to watch it. This is the single most uncomfortable movie I have tried to watch in some time. Its not funny enough to endure, nor sad enough to emote with. UGH.


But This...This is what we are waiting for:

Its not my fault

Blogspot was down last night, so I couldn't blog like I said I would, so sue me.

So, whats up with the world? Hell if I know. People are rude, people are inconsiderate. They allow their child to scream, run rampant, and just destroy everything. They step in front of you, and then look at you like "What? I'm walking here!!"

Okay, so I spend far to much time in Wal-Mart. Not what you would call the best place for classy people, but why do people have to live up to stereotypes?

Anyway, its Friday, and I am glad I get to spend 2 days away from there. Tomorrow I'm going out of town to go to dinner and see "Prairie Home Companion". I'll let ya know what I think.

I'm trying to get into the swing of blogging everyday

John Franklin Germany 1944-2006

But life keeps intervening. Most who have read this blog know that I lost my father on April 8. He was in the hospital while I was on vacation, which is why I never got around to finishing it. The fun of it was just sucked out as I was worrying about what was going on at home. He lasted a week after I got back, but slipped away from us at 3:30 on Saturday morning.

Since then its just been trying to maintain some kind of normality. Making the arraignments, dealing with all the family and friends, and then the service itself. We had him cremated, as was his wish, so we had a small memorial service instead. I gave the eulogy at it, again as he wished. He always hated those eulogies where the minister got up there and went on and on about how wonderful the deceased was, but had never met them. That's one reason I have always hated funerals, feeling they were a waste of time and money cause of the uselessness of them. So I did what my father wanted, and gave a final goodbye to him in a way that truly summed up his life. Or so I tried. I have gotten rave reviews on it, and I am happy everyone liked it. I just tried to do my father proud.

Since then, I have just tried to get by. To go through each day without killing someone. There are days when I just do not want to get out of bed. Days when it seems that life is just not fun anymore. The worse is when my Mom breaks down because something reminds her he's not here. The other day it was a lady in the store commenting on how wonderful this Father's day card was, and it reminded her we won't be celebrating that this year. So I do everything in my power to make sure those episodes are far and few between. I hate that I can't do more, that she is suffering so much.

The reality is that we have been preparing for this for over 5 years. My dad's health has never been that robust since he had full heart valve replacement surgery in 1990, but he really fell apart the last few years. One thing after another just stopped working. He got a pacemaker about 3 years ago, which seemed to solve many of his problems, but another valve on his heart gave out and had to be replaced. His cardiology, a very kind man, told my mom about how sorry he was that he couldn't save pop this last time. We reminded him that he had given us another year and a half with him by doing that last surgery. Without it, we wouldn't have had another Birthday, or Father's day, or Thanksgiving, or Christmas.

Anyways.... The real reason I started this blog was to get back in the habit of writing. Like anything, you have to keep doing it or you get flabby, and I am kinda flabby intellectually right now. So, every night before I go to bed, I am going to take a few minutes to write my thoughts for the day. If anyone reads it, sweet. If not, then this is what it is, a way for me to express myself. I will review movies again, and I will do it in a timely manner. Or as timely as a lazy bastard as me can be. LOL