Thursday, April 30, 2009

I Hate Cupcakes

They're always dry, yet sticky. You can't ever take the right sized bite or avoid getting crumbs all over the place, and its impossible not to get frosting on your face.

I hate cupcakes.

Monday, April 20, 2009

Fabulous Movie Review©

Open Range
Released: 8/15/2003
Rating: R (Restricted)
Length: 2 hrs 19 mins
Genre: Western
Starring: Patricia Benedict, Annette Bening, Abraham Benrubi, Kim Coates, Diego Diablo Del Mar
First of all, I applaud any effort at making new westerns. Open Range is good, not great. They threw in a love story, which isn’t unheard of obviously, but Kevin Costner's monologuing, something he does in every film it seems, was a little forced and nonsensical, and he’s a little oversensitive about his “past” where in an Eastwood movie Clint would have more of a 'love or leave it attitude', or just not deal with it at all. Or drink more and kill more people.

Great revenge in this one though. They did that well. Robert Duvall is in it too and his character is pretty cool. I liked it better than 3:10 to Yuma. Just a little bit.

There were a few holes in the story, the one that I immediately noticed was how did the bad guys know Costner and Duvall were waiting for them at the wagon. A couple of others but they are no big deal.

I laughed when Annette Bening's character said to Costner, "I'm not a little girl anymore". You got that right, I thought to myself, but its better to have the love interest be someone Costner's own age than some unbelievable teeny bopper fresh off the wagon or Joan Allen.

7.5 out of 10

Friday, April 17, 2009

Drop and Give Me 20

I was doing push ups this morning (don't ask me why, I know my sporadic attempts at exercise are useless if not consistent) and my 4 year old walks into the room and says, "why are you doing girl push ups?"

"I'm not doing girl push ups."

"Yes, you are"

"No, I'm not"

"Yes, you are"

"These are not girl push ups Aaron"

"Yes they are"

"Nuh uh"

At this point I realized how silly I must have looked arguing with a 4 year old, like a 4 year old, so I gave him by best mature adult response.

"Whatever man"

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Wedding Singer Revisited

I know I've posted this before, but I'd like to do it again. Sometimes I load it up in Winamp and repeat it for an hour. It probably drives Thing 1 crazy. Care not I.



For the embeddingly challenged:

Kill Me

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Before and After

If you weren't convinced before that a black seat looks better than a red seat then feast your eyes on this.

Still not convinced? You have no soul. Of that, I am convinced.

Fabulous Movie Review©

Into the Wild
Released: 2007
Rating: R (Restricted)
Length: 2 hrs 28 mins
Genre: Adventure, Drama
Starring: Emile Hirsch, Vince Vaughn, Catherine Keener, Marcia Gay Harden, William Hurt
Directed by: Sean Penn
Producer: Sean Penn
Writer: Sean Penn
Producer: Art Linson, David Blocker, Frank Hildebrand, John J. Kelly
Writer: Jon Krakauer
Let me get this straight...This kid threw his entire life away because his parents used to fight a lot?

Stupid.

I can appreciate a good cross country backpacking adventure, but for better reasons than that. Yes. I am oversimplifying. Actually, am I really? Maybe I should abandon everything to contemplate that.

I hate narrators too.

I do appreciate a good cross country backpacking adventure, what man doesn't dream of doing that, so I do think this movie is pretty good in that respect. But I thoroughly reject the notion that this kid was some enlightened shining beacon of hope and goodwill.
7.0 out of 10

Monday, April 13, 2009

Fabulous Movie Review©

Quantum of Solace
Released: 2008
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Length: 1 hr 46 mins
Genre: Action, Adventure
Starring: Daniel Craig, Jesper Christensen, Judi Dench, Lucrezia Lante Della Rovere, Tim Pigott-Smith
Directed by: Marc Forster
Cinematographer: Roberto Schaefer
Composer: David Arnold
Vacuous. Empty. Vapid.

Like the gorgeous bimbo who looks good but whom you wish would never speak, ever, because there is nothing happening on the inside, Quauntum of Solace is big on special effects and eye candy, but falls very short of an interesting or even a decent plot.

Probably my least favorite Bond movie since Moonraker.

Also, poor choice for a Bond girl, no offense Olga, and the fake tan they slapped on her to make her look Bolivian was awful. A much better choice for the prominent role of chief Bond girl would have been Gemma Arterton who unfortunately was only on screen for 7 1/2 seconds.
6.0 out of 10

Thursday, April 09, 2009

I Forgot a Book

On the Road ~ Jack Kerouac
Probably because I found it forgettable and overrated. Maybe you have a different opinion. Convince me.

Wednesday, April 08, 2009

Books

Blood Meridian ~ Cormac McCarthy
One of the best books I have ever read. I'd love to see this made into a movie by someone who is good at making movies of this type (the type where lots of people get killed), like Clint Eastwood.





As I Lay Dying ~ William Faulkner
I am fascinated by his writing style and the stories he weaves. I want to read everything he's ever written. The family in this story is a train wreck. Kinda remind me of my neighbors.





Light in August ~ William Faulkner
This one is chocked full of flawed characters. I don't think there is one normal person in the entire story. Great book.

Forgot

I forgot to add something to my wishlist that I've wanted for years. A black seat. And I bought one today. Yeah, yeah. I know its only a seat and most people couldn't care less and wouldn't care to understand why I wanted one so bad. Dudn't matter. I can't even blame it on the ubiquitous "it's a guy thing". Its just a me thing I guess.

Tuesday, April 07, 2009

Wish List









Parking brake block off












Grips





Handle bars










Clutch perch and lever















Kenda Klaw 23x7x10

This one was a tough choice. I thought about going with the Razrs like my back tires, but they are getting worn out too and I'd like to try something different as I was never fully satisfied with them. Maybe the Knarly.

Dare to Dream



http://richmond.craigslist.org/cto/1107549268.html

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

More Kids on ATVs

I can't help it, I'm proud of him.


This one will make some people cringe, but he was fine. You can even hear him say, "Aw cool. That was fast!"

Fabulous Movie Review©

Rescue Dawn
Released: 7/27/2007
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Length: 2 hrs 5 mins
Genre: Action, Adventure, War
Starring: Christian Bale, Steve Zahn, Jeremy Davies
Directed by: Werner Herzog
Based on the true story of an American pilot shot down in Laos and imprisoned in a POW camp, I thought the movie had flashes of brilliance but mostly it had a "B" movie quality to it. Its not bad, just not as polished and realistic as I expect a Christian Bale movie to be.

Update:One thing that bugged me about Rescue Dawn that I forget to mention, is that they are always whispering. It made it very hard to hear the dialog without turning the stereo up, but then guns would be shot or Laotians would start yelling and it would blow my ear drums out. Yes, I get it. They are prisoners and needed to discuss their plans quietly, but still, secrecy can be portrayed better than just whispering throughout the movie.

7.0 out of 10