Wednesday, May 31, 2006
I'm planning on writing a long entry tomorrow or this weekend, but I had to post about something right now. I'm watching Last Comic Standing right now on Bravo and one of the contestants is Skippy from Family Ties. No Joke. And he is funny.
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
I saw The Da Vinci Code last weekend. I had listen to most, but not all, of the audio book so I knew most of the story. It seemed most of the media just assumed that anyone who was going to see the movie had read the book so most articles and critics gave away secrets with little or no spoiler warning.
The movie was good, but not great. The book was very descriptive and did a better job in words than the movie did with images. The movie also failed at putting any depth into any of the main characters. Overall, though, it's still a good tale. I paid my matinee price for the movie (which is now only $2 less than regular price, when did that happen) and it was worth it. It would be worth full price on my pricing scale, but I wouldn't pay to see it again in theatre. I will watch it again when it comes on cable.
Bydaway, they said that at the Cannes Film festival, at one particular serious moment, the audience laughed and the media made a big deal how the scene was unintentionally funny. I didn't see it. I found the scene to be the right tone. I felt no urge to laugh.
One of the guys I play poker with gave me the movie Waiting... to watch. Funny movie. Alot of gross-out humor. I recommend it to anyone except those who eat at TGIFridays-type restaurants and have weak stomachs. The best way to describe it is to say that I asked some bartenders/waitresses at the sports bar I go to if they have seen the movie and they laughed and said definitely. That's when I realize that Waiting... is to waiters/waitresses what Office Space is to us cubicle dwellers.
I also got The Ringer from Netflix. It was essentially your basic person-pretending-he/she's-someone-that-they're-not-and-falling-in-love-with-a-person-who-doesn't-know-the-secret comedy, (think never been kissed, one of the boys, etc...) complete with a too-public confession. This movie definitely gets a wait til netflix or cable rating, even though it has Katherine Heigl as its female lead.
As for season finales, I'll start with Veronica Mars. I won't go into too much detail because of people who are still trying to play catch up with the show, but the finale was good not great. The main killer was on my short list of possible people (and they painted alot of people as suspects with motives) and they played a couple tricks on the viewers. They left a couple of loose ends untied with no indication that they will tie it up later. Also, I'm not sure if I like the cliff hanger. But they did establish, like with Joss Whedon shows and 24, that any character (save possibly the title character) is expendable.
As for Grey's Anatomy, I never cared much for the Denny story line, so I'm happy to see it won't be around next year. I never bought the strong connection between him and Izzie. And although I find her actions unlikely, it was nice to see Katherine Heigl get such a big part of such a big episode. And remember, being out of the program doesn't mean leaving the show. She could specialize in something other than surgery and she still shares a house with two other main characters.
On 24, the timeline has gotten less and less realistic, especially when it comes to the time it takes for characters to get from one place to another, and they seem to care less about finding time for characters to sleep (heck, the first season, even Jack got to take a nap at a point or two), but it's still a great show and few shows care as much about consequences to actions and less about happy endings than 24.
That's it for tonights entries. I'll try to get back to the other things I mention in the last entry before I leave for Pittsburgh tomorrow.
The movie was good, but not great. The book was very descriptive and did a better job in words than the movie did with images. The movie also failed at putting any depth into any of the main characters. Overall, though, it's still a good tale. I paid my matinee price for the movie (which is now only $2 less than regular price, when did that happen) and it was worth it. It would be worth full price on my pricing scale, but I wouldn't pay to see it again in theatre. I will watch it again when it comes on cable.
Bydaway, they said that at the Cannes Film festival, at one particular serious moment, the audience laughed and the media made a big deal how the scene was unintentionally funny. I didn't see it. I found the scene to be the right tone. I felt no urge to laugh.
One of the guys I play poker with gave me the movie Waiting... to watch. Funny movie. Alot of gross-out humor. I recommend it to anyone except those who eat at TGIFridays-type restaurants and have weak stomachs. The best way to describe it is to say that I asked some bartenders/waitresses at the sports bar I go to if they have seen the movie and they laughed and said definitely. That's when I realize that Waiting... is to waiters/waitresses what Office Space is to us cubicle dwellers.
I also got The Ringer from Netflix. It was essentially your basic person-pretending-he/she's-someone-that-they're-not-and-falling-in-love-with-a-person-who-doesn't-know-the-secret comedy, (think never been kissed, one of the boys, etc...) complete with a too-public confession. This movie definitely gets a wait til netflix or cable rating, even though it has Katherine Heigl as its female lead.
As for season finales, I'll start with Veronica Mars. I won't go into too much detail because of people who are still trying to play catch up with the show, but the finale was good not great. The main killer was on my short list of possible people (and they painted alot of people as suspects with motives) and they played a couple tricks on the viewers. They left a couple of loose ends untied with no indication that they will tie it up later. Also, I'm not sure if I like the cliff hanger. But they did establish, like with Joss Whedon shows and 24, that any character (save possibly the title character) is expendable.
As for Grey's Anatomy, I never cared much for the Denny story line, so I'm happy to see it won't be around next year. I never bought the strong connection between him and Izzie. And although I find her actions unlikely, it was nice to see Katherine Heigl get such a big part of such a big episode. And remember, being out of the program doesn't mean leaving the show. She could specialize in something other than surgery and she still shares a house with two other main characters.
On 24, the timeline has gotten less and less realistic, especially when it comes to the time it takes for characters to get from one place to another, and they seem to care less about finding time for characters to sleep (heck, the first season, even Jack got to take a nap at a point or two), but it's still a great show and few shows care as much about consequences to actions and less about happy endings than 24.
That's it for tonights entries. I'll try to get back to the other things I mention in the last entry before I leave for Pittsburgh tomorrow.
Sunday, May 21, 2006
Just a short post because I've been kinda busy recently and haven't gotten a chance to post. I actually worked everyday this weekend and Friday was supposed to be an off-day. I'll definitely try to log on and make a post before leaving for Pittsburgh. There's a bunch of stuff I plan on posting about, which is why I haven't posted in a while. My next entry or entries are probably going to take some time to write. I have comments planned on subjects including The Da Vinci Code, season finales of Veronica Mars and Grey's Anatomy (as well as the 24 finale tomorrow), eating mako shark, a new plan for learning to eat salad, plans to see Stephen King, and my thoughts on products I've gotten for use around the home.
Anyway, I'll try to get atleast some blogging done before the 24 finale tomorrow.
Anyway, I'll try to get atleast some blogging done before the 24 finale tomorrow.
Sunday, May 07, 2006
This has been a busy time. I got my first assignment in my new project at work. Also, over a stretch of four evenings, I spent an evening at Dave & Buster's, watching a bikini contest, and celebrating Cinco de Mayo on South Street.
The boxing simulation arcade game that D&B has must be one of the best exercises around. It really wears you out.
Me, Adam and a guy I work with hit a couple places friday night. We ended up at a classy place that not only did not have the usual Cinco de Mayo advertisements out front, it really had no signs of a nightclub out front when we got there. It had a sign for the restaurant of the same name, but it had no sign I could see of the club. We got there right as it opened and the doorguy wasn't even out yet. When we did leave, the doorguy was the only sign that there was a club there. It was a classy place. It couches around the booths and a top shelf liquor selection. We were talking with the bartender and the subject of Primanti Bros. came up and she realized that she knew the owner or one of the owners of a Ft. Lauderdale location of Primanti's. Or atleast she had a friend who got in on a sandwich shop in Ft. Lauderdale and the name Primanti Bros. definitely rang a bell. We'll probably head back there next saturday.
The boxing simulation arcade game that D&B has must be one of the best exercises around. It really wears you out.
Me, Adam and a guy I work with hit a couple places friday night. We ended up at a classy place that not only did not have the usual Cinco de Mayo advertisements out front, it really had no signs of a nightclub out front when we got there. It had a sign for the restaurant of the same name, but it had no sign I could see of the club. We got there right as it opened and the doorguy wasn't even out yet. When we did leave, the doorguy was the only sign that there was a club there. It was a classy place. It couches around the booths and a top shelf liquor selection. We were talking with the bartender and the subject of Primanti Bros. came up and she realized that she knew the owner or one of the owners of a Ft. Lauderdale location of Primanti's. Or atleast she had a friend who got in on a sandwich shop in Ft. Lauderdale and the name Primanti Bros. definitely rang a bell. We'll probably head back there next saturday.
