Much overdue movie review...

I recently have seen a few movies that are worth mentioning to those of you who still read my blog. I know I haven't posted in a while, so what better reason to post than to tell YOU what movies I insist you see. I do give away some plot points, but not too many, so read at your own risk.

1) A Night At The Museum - Ben Stiller is in rare "quirky" form in this one. It's one of those cute "kid-intended" movies about a seemingly dead-beat dad (Stiller) who wants to impress his son by getting a conventional job rather than be a struggling inventor. His desperation leads him to this somewhat generic Natural History Museum and he lands a job as a night guard. Quel surprise that all the displays come to life but none the less, this was a fun, entertaining flick. I was weary about this one only because I can't always stand Owen Wilson as he is typecast generally as the unrefined slacker who gets the girl in the end. Here he plays a miniature cowboy in a Wild West display who develops a rivalry with a Roman soldier from the adjacent Roman Empire display. It's just damn cute. Especially scenes where Stiller encounters a huge Easter Island statue (Moai to be exact) that calls him names. Robin Williams plays a Teddy Roosevelt replica that falls for the Sacajawea replica. The movie is essentially carried by Stiller's incompetence in dealing with these real-life museum "people" and then his gradual ability to befriend them. He even is able to tame the huge Tyrannosaurus Rex who just wants to play catch with a giant bone. Stiller's character is finally able to gain the respect of his son once he shows him how the museum is brought to life vis a vis a secret tablet that is housed in the museum's Egyptian "wing". It's a feel good movie, good dialogue and just entertaining.

2) The Queen - It's no surprise that Helen Mirren won the Oscar after I saw this movie. She truly humanizes Queen Elizabeth in the wake of Diana's death. No need to recount the entire plot here, but after interviews with Tony Blair, the director of this film was able to capture how the Royals responded after this tragedy with precision and accuracy, so I have read. It was extremely captivating. Mirren shows how independent and tough the queen apparently is despite her being withdrawn from public view. In one scene it shows her getting stranded in her Range Rover after refusing to be driven out into the country. She's sitting waiting for rescue and encounters a 12-point stag directly in front of her. It suggested her passion for nature and also her care for animals as she "shoos" him off so he can avoid his fate with a hunter. I found myself at several moments wiping my eyes. On the flip side, while the movie painted a pretty good picture of Queen Elizabeth, it made Prince Phillip look like a consummate bore and frankly an asshole. He constantly thought the public was making a huge spectacle out of Diana's death and couldn't understand what all the fuss was about. None the less, this one is a must see.

3) The Holiday - Although I really can't stand Cameron Diaz's laugh, luckily in this one, she wasn't laughing that much. Really good dialogue, good story line. Jack Black was even sensitive and lovable to Kate Winlet's lonely, heart broken character, Iris. Jude Law is even lovable playing a seemingly womanizing commitment-phobic widower. But what got me the most was that it was believable. I mean, sure it is a bit far fetched that two lonely ladies that swap houses during Christmas half-way across the world for 2 weeks would find their lives turned up side down for the better after bitter relationships trials. However, even with the usual Hollywood improbability, I found myself teary eyed at certain parts and even wanting to watch it again. I laughed when the lady at Blockbuster exclaimed, "oh, SOOO good, I've watched it 5 times." Ok, you need a life, I thought. But I found my judgment of her premature as I wiped my eyes with tissue and wondered how it would all end. I guess it was hard for me to believe Diaz in a movie with substance and she did have her gratuitous, "let's see how sexy and long my legs can look" outfits and a few dumb blond expressions, but I could take it since Kate Winslet commanded ultimate sympathy and upheld the genuine feel of the movie. Good movie for a Saturday, rent it.

4) Apocalypto - While I did buy into the hype about disliking Mel Gibson for a period of time, Chas insisted we watch this and I was hesitant at first but caved. I didn't want to support him for obvious reasons. However, Apocalypto is now one of my favorite movies that I have seen in a while. I found myself engulfed in this tale of Mayan culture before it's colonization by the Spanish. While sources say that this movie has some historical "flaws", it's storyline, passion and cinematography cannot be unrecognized. It's amazing. Although most of Gibson's movies are profoundly "gross" and graphic, it didn't bother me as much as Braveheart with respect to the gratuitous "gore". I liked that most of the actors were virtually unknown and that made it much more believable than say casting some big name actor to play a Mayan hunter. The story of a man trying to escape his fate was utterly riveting by virtue of intense, edge of my seat anticipation and also the unique camera work. There is much of the movie where the protagonist, Jaguar Paw, is being chased through the forest by raiders where he is trying to get back to his pregnant wife and young son he had lowered into the pit of a cave when their village was plundered at the beginning of the film. I was actually sweating during the chase scene forgetting I was watching a movie but wandering the forest during an actual foot race. Unlike most of Gibson's films, the protagonist actually survives and is reunited with his family. I felt a sense of relief at the end of this movie and the only thing I could say was, "wow, that was amazing". Beautifully done. Put your feelings about Gibson aside and just watch this movie.

Summa' Summa Tiiiime...Bring it on!

It's been a while since I've posted. Why? General work malaise, wedding preparations, the common cold and I generally don't want to bore people with my mundane rantings so, I've decided to post when it counts. Now it counts, I guess.

With summer approaching, a season which I hate, I've decided to take a different approach. Self-tanning cream.

I decided that it was a good idea since I am terrified of skin cancer and while most people know that I abhor the sun, what better way to embrace summer's glow without the risk? Jergens baby!

I lathered myself with it's creamy goodness this weekend (eeewwww). Get your mind in the right place. It's just lotion.

Anyway, I've missed some crucial parts and so now I resemble a spotted leopard rather than a sun-glistened beach babe.

I will have to fine tune my technique, but none the less, self-tanner is awesome. And with several weddings this summer and my own, this fall, I am trying to acquire a "natural" skin tone that is not so death-like as I am accustomed.

I've even broken out the 30spf Coppertone for a casual nap out on the lawn chair.

I guess when you hate a season as much as I hate summer for the various horrors of swim suit wear, legs-a-dangling and skin-a-showing, but with the ever present "need" that one should shed their clothes in order to avoid heat rash and fainting, I am trying to make it work for me.

Shocking most, I am sure, I still haven't owned a swim suit in about 5 years. I think mine is in storage. I kid you not. I just "make it work" and avoid any activities prone to shedding clothes (outdoors that is, I'm not a prude for god's sake..geez). I'm a night crawler, I guess you could say. I embrace my night time activities without the nuisance of the sun. I'm far more productive at night. One co-worker of mine many years ago said, "You'd fit in well in Seattle since you dress like you're in a perpetual fall". At least I have a signature, I say. Black long sleeve shirts, khakis or the direct variation, black SHORT sleeve and khakis or jeans. I like to keep it simple. Wear what I love and not be placed in the category of, "that was so yesterday or last season". I mean, when does black go out of style? The classic Gap, black tee is my staple and will forever be in style unless "cotton" becomes extinct or something.

I think if they made a black, favorite tee, Gap bathing suit, I'd be in luck. But, I guess I'll just have to be "different" as is my "thing" and be comfortable in what I wear.

I might actually buy a pair of shorts this year. I still have the 10-year-old Gap pairs in a tupperware storage bin under my bed for those "just in case" moments. A spontaneous BBQ on the face of the sun perhaps? Maybe, but until then, it's self-tanner and "making it work" my way.

Bring it on, Sun, I've got you covered (well, with self-tanner anyway...)