Walk Hard: (and fast away from this movie)

Let's be clear, I did not see this movie. I preferred to see Alvin and the Chipmunks a second time vs. subjecting myself and it was the best decision I've ever made, according to my husband and his best friend, Term.

They wanted me to tell you TO NEVER SEE THIS MOVIE. Evidently it's the worst movie EVER made. This is especially surprising coming from Term, who can find a redeeming quality in pretty much every movie made. My husband Nathan says this is worse than From Dusk to Dawn, which has emphatically been his worst movie ever for at least 10 years now.

DO NOT SEE THIS MOVIE.

I Am Legend

If you like suspenseful, gut wrenching sci-fi movies, you'll like this one. I thought the storyline was interesting and the way they presented it was good, but the suspense about killed me. Scared the crap out of me! So only go if you like that kind of thing. Will Smith is great as always.

Alvin and the Chipmunks

This is a fun kid movie, not offensive or violent or scary. My 3 year old even sat through it and he has an attention span of a knat.

Atonement

This is another movie that is just amazing and I'll have a hard time putting it into words. First off the actors are great. James McAvoy, who I first loved in Becoming Jane, is wonderful. He's not gorgeous in a Brad Pitt sort of way but he has the most entrancing eyes. And the way he brings the characters to life just pulls you in.

The story is wonderful in it's originality. I think it's the filming and the score though that makes it so enjoyable. They use really interesting camera work that is beautiful and suspenseful in a gentle way.

I loved it, I think you will, run to see it.

Into the Wild

I loved this movie but I don't know how to explain why. I guess it starts with a well-written story. Kudos to Sean Penn for screenwriting this one. I haven't read the book but I have to imagine this would be a hard story to convert to a screenplay. He uses some unique techniques to bring to life this young man's story and struggle.

He also didn't chintz on the scenery. The story follows Christopher McCandless' journey across the US. They could've cheaply let California substitute for many of the locations (like South Dakota) but they didn't and the effect is magical. You feel like you are experiencing everything he did and it made me want to chuck it all and hit the road too (for a few minutes anyway). Again, kudos to Sean Penn.

This is really a movie you NEED to see on the big screen. Watching it in a theatre I was truly lost for two hours in the experience. That doesn't happen very often and it was great.

The latest in kids flicks

I took Kennedy to both the Bee Movie and Enchanted.

The Bee Movie is a great kids flicks. No parents are killed violently, no one is an orphan, it's just good clean adventursome fun (ala Toy Story or A Bugs Life). Seriously, if someone could please explain the benefits to me of showing a mother getting killed in a cartoon movie (ala Finding Nemo), I would love to hear it!! It's so hard to find movies that do not have that.

So this one is good and it's got some cute lines in it for the parents too!

We also saw Enchanted. This is the princess movie with Patrick Dempsey in it. Ok, whoever created this one KNEW WHAT THEY WERE DOING. Make a princess movie for the little girls and put a gorgeous 40-something guy in it so that all the moms will be glad to take their daughters to see it 5 times. BRILLIANT!! And it was just plain fun, well done and original, if you can believe that!

American Gangster

Nathan and I actually found time to go to this one together (amazing, happens once a year!). But I knew he would love it. And we both did.

It's great for many reasons...it has two fabulous actors in the gritty roles they do best. It's a true story that is amazing. It's well written and produced. It's not gory and bloody like The Departed. The story is about the thin and often blurry line between good and bad. It's like the Sopranos, how you start to like Tony and forget that he's a killer.

The only thing I was disappointed by was that Denzel and Russell didn't have more onscreen scenes together (not that I would change the movie, I just love seeing them act together). The entire movie is about their lives working toward each other. It's only in the end that they are onscreen together and it is amazing. The dialogue and interaction just sizzles. They just look like they're having fun and you want to be there!

Great flick! Make sure you see it!

Dan In Real Life

This is a really wonderful movie. The title says it all...it's about real life and how messy it can be but yet how great it can be. I laughed and I cried, but it was a good cry.

The characters are so human, they could be (and probably are) your friends, relatives, neighbors.

Steve Carrell is so funny and sweet. Juliette Binoche is naturally beautiful and smart.

I won't give you a synopsis, you can find that on Moviefone.com. I'll just say that this is not the usual Steve Carrell dorky comedy. It's a beautifully written family drama/comedy that is perfect for the holiday season!

Best Cable shows

One of my favorite new shows of the season actually started this summer on the Cable network AMC. It is called Mad Men. It's about complex, interesting people (so few shows are). They all happen to work in an advertising agency in Manhattan in the 60s. This isn't why I like it but it does provide an awesome view of life back then. (As a woman it really makes you appreciate how "easy" we now have it!)

The show is a fascinating history lesson done in the sexiest way possible! It's a great way to learn about life in the 60s without reading about it in a dreary text book.

The show wrapped season 1 today so if you missed it, either wait for the DVD series or watch for them to rerun it from the beginning!

Please watch this show!

The best show you aren't watching is 30 Rock. Please please tune in and help this little show that could. It is so smart and so funny. The season premiere hilariously used Jerry Seinfeld. I thought I was going to die of laughter. If you haven't given this a first or second shot, please do. You'll be pleasantly surprised, I promise! It's on Thursday nights!!

New Fall TV shows

I'd like to start this entry by saying that it's my job to watch TV. I have to know what the smart new shows are on TV so I can advise my clients on them. So stop thinking I'm a loser for watching so much TV!

Actually thank goodness for Tivo (oops, don't tell anyone that I don't watch the commercials) or I'd never have the time.

So I've tried to watch at least a few episodes of as many of the new shows as I can fit in. Here are some of my thoughts...

BIONIC WOMAN
I told you earlier that this would be a good one. And after two episodes, I do still like it. As I forewarned, it's very similar to Alias. Maybe so much that I'm a little let down because it just isn't as good. They're trying to keep it a little more "dumbed down" than Alias so the mass audiences will watch it. But it suffers because of that. The plots have been pretty see-through but I do like the characters so far. So I'm going to give it a few more weeks.

BIG SHOTS
Speaking of Alias, I have two words: Michael Vartan. I really wanted to like this show because I really loved him from Alias. But this show is painful to watch. Parts of it are funny and parts of it are serious and parts are just plain stupid. They have an identity crisis...which are you? I can't handle all the personality switches so I'm done. But I'm begging them to please find a decent vehicle for Michael Vartan on his own!!

K-VILLE
It's a cop show set in New Orleans. They film it there and are therefore pumping money into the economy. That alone sold me. But the two lead characters are fabulous and they have smart writing. And with the situation in New Orleans now, they can come up with some interesting new plot twists in the oldest genre. Tune in, it's a great show! And it gets the male vote, my husband likes it.

JOURNEYMAN
A married man randomly travels back in time to help people. He has no control over his own comings and goings. He finds out his old girlfriend, who supposedly died, is also a time-traveler. This is great new territory. The lead actor is great. The writing is really smart. And it has a great reveal quality to it where each week you learn a little more. They assume you have a brain and can remember what happened. Thumbs up!

PUSHING DAISIES
This is so original and so fun! The setting is a "cartooney" world (think Dick Tracy or Batman) where the main character has a magical power to bring people back to life by touching them. But when he touches them again they die. So he uses the ability to help solve crimes. And to bring his childhood sweetheard back to life after she is killed. The lead characters are adorable. They're madly in love but cannot touch each other. It's different and its smartly written. Even my husband liked it, which says alot. I thought he'd think it was too fluffy but he liked it because it was so different.

PRIVATE PRACTICE
I am a huge Grey's Anatomy fan. I really want to like this show but so far it's just whiny and annoying. These are wickedly smart people (supposedly) but they do not know how to deal with the most basic real life issues in their own personal lives. And the great chemistry they had shown in the pilot between Tim Daly and Kate Walsh has not been revived. In fact there isn't really any chemistry between any of the characters. Help!! I can only sit through a few more episodes before I will be forced to make a decision they clearly could not, which is to erase it from my DVR cue!!

DIRTY SEXY MONEY
This had been lauded as a great show. I only saw one episode but I couldn't watch anymore. Like Private Practice, it was just a bunch of whiny, miserable people. No thank you. I usually like to give things two episodes, because the pilots must pack a lot in. But I just couldn't do it here. And I haven't read to see how the show is being received. This will probably be the one that becomes a wild hit and I missed out! Oh well I'll just rent the DVDs later!

The Things They Carried - Tim O'Brien

I have been wanting to read this book about the Vietnam War for some time, and have actually checked out and returned to the library at least two times. This week, I finally had the opportunity to sit down and read The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien.

O'Brien originally from Worthington, MN has written multiple books on his experiences in Vietnam, this book however is his most celebrated, being nominated for both the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award in 1990.

The Things They Carried tells of O'Brien's experiences while in Vietnam, it really is a cathartic journey though key moments of his journey. The title reflects on the items soldiers bring to war and the significance those items have to the men and their survival. The first chapter of the book details the things they carried, after you get a feel for who these men, rather boys, are O'Brien begins his story.

The book gives such an accurate, graphic at times, depiction and lets you feel that you are really there in a foxhole waiting and waiting. Honestly, my only other exposure to the Vietnam War has been through movies (Born on the 4th of July, Platoon), however with this book I was able to visualize what it was like to be there. O'Brien explains his feelings in the simplest of terms and you truly see what a struggle it was for him and his fellow soldiers.

I have done a bit of research since finishing the book on who O'Brien is (a Creative Writing professor) and the impact this book has had since published 17 years ago. I found that the book is often taught in high school/college classes either in its entirety or chapters. At first I felt this was a bit too graphic/gritty, but after giving it thought I feel it is perfect for people this age, because O'Brien was in fact closer to their age when he went to war. I remember reading All Quiet On the Western Front and The Red Badge of Courage, so it really is no different.

I know the Vietnam War may not be the most uplifting topic, but it is part of our history. I appreciated this book for what it is - a comprehensive glimpse into a complex moment of this man's life.

4.5 out of 5

Driving Lessons

Watched a little independent film last night called Driving Lessons. It has Laura Linney, Julie Walters, and Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) from Harry Potter.

I really love Julie Walters, she is especially good in this role. However, I found it a little unsettling that she and Rupert Grint were cast together again, she plays his mother Molly Weasley in the Harry Potter films.

This film has some very funny moments, Ben (Grint) is a suppressed 17 year old living with his minister father and zealot mother (Linney). His mother suggests Ben should find a job, so he begins working for washed up soap star Evie Walton (Walters). Evie is the best part of the movie, she drinks like a fish and swears like a sailor, but is rather broken and alone. The duo (Ben and Evie) go on an adventure and ultimately become friends.

Overall, I wouldn't really recommend this unless you too are a Julie Walters fan. By the way she is going to be in the screen adaptation of Mamma Mia! with Colin Firth, Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan - rather odd cast if you ask me, but I will go see it because Colin is in it.



2 out of 5

Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen

Earlier this year I put myself on the wait list for Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen based upon a review I saw somewhere or another. So, one day I went to pick up my library holds and there it was, I read the first few pages and couldn't imagine how I would be able to read a book about a circus. Circuses really aren't my thing, so I put it down and returned it when it was due. Never really gave it a second thought.

Until recently.

My aunt selected the book for our book club this month, so I picked it up at Target and planned to read it on our vacation. I started reading it on the way up to Bay Lake, couldn't put it down and finished it by Friday. Let me just say, I loved it, completely loved it.

It is a very strange little tale of a vet to be Jacob Jankowski and how his life takes an unexpected turn on the eve of graduating from Cornell. He begins a wild journey after he literally goes off to join the circus. The characters are all broken, tragic, freakish really, but that is what makes this book so good.

I won't spill anymore of the story, but just trust me - read it.

5 out of 5

The Bourne Ultimatum

Susan had told me it was good. She was right! Afterward I realized that as much as I love Matt Damon, this movie is about the clever, clever writing and the filming. They have a solid script that is actually believable (doesn't happen often with action flicks) and the filming/editing is so edge-of-your-seat tight that it's wonderful to watch. And actually I think Matt Damon has about 100 words of script. His character is not a big talker, which is as it should be!

I read an interview in EW with Matt where he talked about this fact. They had filmed scenes with a lot of dialogue and in the end it just seemed wrong. So they edited it down to looks and action and it just works!

Movie reviews for the family

If you're like me, you're often wondering whether or not it's ok to take your children to a movie. It's hard to find out what's in a movie before you go see it. (Susan, remember when you, Nancy and I took 5 year old Allie to see Kate and Leopold?? Oops)

I found this Christian website that gives solid movie reviews and tells you just how much sex and violence is in a movie so you know if it's ok to take the kiddies!!

http://www.pluggedinonline.com/movies/index.cfm

So, I've been doing a little bit of reading, watching and listening lately...

Shelly was giving me grief that I haven't posted anything so here it goes...

I don't know about the rest of you but I read in phases. Over the past few months I have gone through the:

• "Non-fiction I need to learn something while I read phase",
• then I revisited "Historical Scottish romance phase with all male protagonists donned kilts and said "aye" way too much",
• this was followed by the "autobiographies of dysfunctional pop icons who are lucky to still be alive" phase and
• lately I am in the "I'll take Potpourri for $800 Alex" (nod to the Jeopardy geek I am) phase.

So I guess what I am trying to tell you is that a crap shoot of books, movies, music and just general stuff is coming your way once I get off my butt and begin writing...

TV for Alias fans

A little insider advice on some new TV shows coming out in the fall...we get to see all the pilots here at work (yes I get paid to watch TV!!) before they come out in the fall.

Last week I saw The Bionic Woman, which I have to say I was very cynical about. But luckily there are very few similarities to the original 70s program. It's actually more in the vein of Alias. The two main characters even resemble Jennifer Garner and Michael Vartan. The title character, Jamie Sommers, gets in a car accident with her doctor boyfriend and wakes up in an underground lab to find she's got bionic limbs. The boyfriend (Will) is part of it, he works for some mysterious government agency, he has a mysterious criminal father that he doesn't like. There are creepy people lurking around every corner and a multitude of openings for future plot twists. SOUND FAMILIAR???

This was only the pilot, which is hard to judge from because they are trying to get across so much set up in that one hour, but I think it could be good. I'll reserve total judgement until I've seen a couple of episodes to see how the momentum is going forward. Also, I just read that Isaiah Washington of Grey's Anatomy fame is making a few guest appearances in the first season so that could be interesting!

Another pilot I didn't see but that several coworkers have told me is really, really bad is Cavemen. Yes, as in the Geico pitchmen. Now I did just read that they're revising the pilot quite a bit, probably because of such feedback, but sounds like they'd need to start completely over.

Diggers

I'm gonna throw this one out there... passing along un-tested advice is risky I know...but I just read a review for a small indie film called Diggers, starring Paul Rudd. The call out was "If you're sick of the sequels and bad action films this summer, see this one". I fall into that category. Sign me up Netflix.

They said: it's a coming of age story set in 1976 abour four working-class friends growing up in Long Island as clam diggers. It encapsulates the magic of good movies. It is the kind of film where you don't just root for the characters, but the whole film.

I like Paul Rudd and he's done way too much Adam Sandler goofy comedy lately. This sounds like a refreshing change. Let me know what you think!

Hairspray

I took my 6 year old daughter to this one and she absolutely LOVED IT. From the very start she was hooked by the energy and fun . Who wouldn't be energized by Tracy Turnblad's enthusiasm and passion for life? Kennedy was giggling and clapping and jumping out of her seat.

The movie is PG and they do a great job of making it safe for 6 year olds.

All the music was wonderful, very few "slow" moments like in many musicals so it kept Kennedy interested. The dancing was so fun.

The most fun parts were of course John Travolta as Edna Turnblad and Christopher Walken as Wilbur Turnblad. Michelle Pfeiffer was great as the mean Velma Von Tussle. It was fun to see John Travolta and Michelle Pfeiffer dancing and singing again...brought back great memories of old Grease viewings!!

Four stars!!

More about Colin...

Let's continue talking about Colin Firth for a minute...he's just so sexy in a serious but adorable way. If you haven't seen the 1996 TV mini-series he did of Pride and Prejudice, you haven't lived. It's six hours long so it doesn't cut anything out like last year's Keira Knightley version. It's one of Susan and my faves.

Also, he's incredible in Bridgett Jones, which is a modern take on P and P.

He's also great in The Importance of Being Earnest and The Girl with the Pearl Earring. What can I say, I love period films and I love him in them.

And some other great modern day films: What a Girl Wants, where he's actually Amanda Bynes father. You know you're old when you go to a teeny-bopper film to drool over the dad!! And one of my favorite films of all time: Love Actually.

I think his best performances are all in the same sort of character: quiet, seemingly moody but really just serious and passionate. The exception would perhaps be my previous mention in Valmont. He plays a playboy bad boy here, but he does a great job!! Maybe because the bad boy is passionate about what he wants and Colin plays passionate well.

Valmont

Valmont is from 1989 and it stars Colin Firth and Annette Benning. I had never heard of it before last week, which I blame Susan for as we are both huge Colin fans. She should have told me of this film. :-) Anyway, it's yet another version of Dangerous Liasons but it has Colin in it (in tight-fitting period clothes - did I mention how much I like him??) so I consider it more visually appealing.

I don't know anyone who thinks John Malkovich is sexy so this would be an improvement even if it Adam Sandler were in it.

It's also directed by Milos Forman, a great director who has done fabulous films like One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and Amadeus.

I give it four stars.

Mother of all rolls

You may notice there is the mother of all blog rolls on the left. This is for Shelly (oh, and me) and of course all of you: our readers.

Shelly is going through the initial growing pains of being a new blogger and not quite knowing where everything is etc. Over the past few days I have received emails from Shelly entitled:
@(*)#*Blogger and Blog Help amongst other things. Those of you who know Shelly, know how well she deals with things that just don't work the way she wants them to. Therefore that is why she has me as Blogger Technical Support.

So, if there are any links I missed let me know, I will keep on adding them in as I find them...

Little Miss Potter

Received Miss Potter starring Renee Zellweger and Ewan McGregor the other day in the mail from Blockbuster Online. I have been wanting to see this for awhile, however just didn't think I would be able to convince the home office of viewing since there is NO ONE on the face of this earth who makes him cringe more than Renee Zellweger. I don't know what it is about the woman, but he just can't deal.

So, anyhoo I stayed up a little later the other night for my own private screening of the Beatrix Potter story and I must say I was very pleasantly surprised as to how much I enjoyed the movie. It is an option for the entire family (except DLS). There is no swearing, shootings and there are cute little bunny pictures. It took me a bit to get used to once again hearing Renee's British accent. I couldn't help but think, "It's Bridget Jones in dowdy clothes and a bad hat."

Overall it is a sweet little movie.

3.5 out of 5

Recommendations for Carey

Here are a few of my recent favorites for trip to grandma's:

• The Glass Castle - Jeannette Walls - very, very good memoir. Bit heavy, but so worth it. One of my favorites. 5/5
• The Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger - Read this long ago, but recently re-read. Loved this book, not as much as the Outlander series, but good. They are making a movie of this with Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana. Shel - WE HAVE TO GO SEE THAT WHEN IT COMES OUT. 4/5
• The Book of Joe - Jonathan Tropper - Good story, light at moments. You liked Beautiful Girls so you will like this. 4/5
• Love, Rosie - Ceceila Ahern - Really liked this, quick as the book is 99% emails and letters between Rosie and her best guy friend Alex. 3.5/5
• The Undomestic Goddess - Sophie Kinsella - Very cute light read. I like Sophie Kinsella, she is better when not in her Shopoholic series. 4/5
• Can You Keep a Secret - also by Sophie Kinsella - Good light fun. Easy read. 3.5/5
• Also just read new Ann Brashears book, I know you loved The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants, so maybe give it a go. It is a quick read which I usually like however am in the throes of summer and want a little something more to hold onto amidst the chaos.

The Last Summer (of You and Me)

I picked up the first "adult" novel by Ann Brashares this week while at Costco. I was #32 of 206 on the waiting list at the library, but after reading the jacket decided I would go ahead and buy it. I finished the book rather quickly, but now am thinking I could have waited for my place in line at the library.

The book is an easy read, very fast, but there just isn't much to it. It is completely predictable and to be honest I was disappointed. I read the last page feeling like I had just watched a movie made for Lifetime entertainment all wrapped up rather neatly at the end of the two hour allotment.

I have only read one other of Brashares books (I am actually in the middle of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants for book club), so I really didn't know what to expect. She does have moments where she thoroughly captures and conveys real life situations with the simplest of terms and you think, why have I never thought of it that way before? Then in the next line when you expect the clarity to continue and it falls short.

The story tells of the relationship between two sisters, Riley and Alice and how their summer neighbor Paul, comes in and out of their lives. The characters are in their early 20s returning for another summer, but you can't help but feeling they are so much younger.

There are a few adult situations thrown in along with a few swear words, but overall it feels like a teen novel wanting to be more. I wanted to get to know Riley, the eldest sister better, but she never really got a chance to let you know her. Alice is a sweet, naive woman who the author sells short. Paul, the neighbor, is just confused and is definitely someone you would never want your daughter to date. I know it sounds silly, but I felt I got to know the characters homes better than their occupants.

Maybe I am being too harsh, but it just wasn't what I was looking for right now, however put me on the beach and it would be a much better pairing. Rating: 2.5 stars out of 5

What a great Waitress

Warning: I'm new to this blogging thing. I'm not a good writer like Susan or Carey, I crunch numbers all day.

That said I love movies and books so I'm willing to talk a little about my favorites.

Saw the indie movie Waitress awhile back. AWESOME (sorry julie!). I loved it because it's a wonderful story about the inner strength that we women possess and sometimes hide. I loved the main actress, Keri Russell. I was a huge Felicity fan and she's come a long way! And it was bittersweet because the woman who wrote, directed and starred in the movie, Adrienne Shelly, was killed before the movie debuted. She was also amazing in the movie!

Four stars from me! (Susan we need our own rating system!)

RAT-TAT-TAT

Little man and I had a date yesterday since AE was off having fun. We went to Ratatouille, rated G for one and all. Have to say Pixar did it again, both of us really loved the movie. Others must have liked it as well because it has an 8.8/10 rating on IMDB which makes is #40 of the 250 best rated of all time on their site. Can't remember the last time that happened.

Like I said, can't get over Pixar, the things they do with computers is amazing. I spent quite a bit of the movie in awe of the characters' hair and how each little follicle shows up on the screen. Freak I know, but I love the little details. Also spent a lot of time trying to figure out the main characters' (Remy/Linguini's) voices - don't bother because no one has ever heard of either guy before, I shouldn't say that. Remy is voiced by Patton Oswald from The King of Queens, which I have never watched and Linguini is Lou Romano - no relation to Ray.

Kids will love the story, it is easy to follow and they will want a pet rat just like Remy by the end of the show. They really make the rats kind of loveable like a hamster, but parents know better and it is kind of unnerving when thousands of rats run in a group on screen, they didn't seem so warm and fuzzy then. In fact some of the parents let out a little eek.

Good fun for one and all, it is a little long, but most of the kids in the theatre didn't seem to mind, they were busy watching a cooking rat work his magic in gay Paree.

The only part of the whole experience I wasn't too impressed with was the little Pixar short they show before the main feature. Lifted is about a little alien and his on the job training, didn't find myself laughing out loud like with previous Pixar shorts. JG liked it as he is still talking about the aliens, let's hope he will not be talking about aliens at 2 a.m. after a nightmare featuring his alien abduction...

Ratatouille - 9/10
Little Man's Rating - Way, way good

Well here we go... will anyone else read other than us?