What a sobering experience visiting the memorial to the Arizona in Pearl Harbor. The Arizona was one of the many battleships of the U.S. fleet sunk in the surprise attack on Dec. 7, 1941, that day which still does live in infamy, by the Japanese.
The memorial, a white building seemingly floating atop the waters of the harbor is actually above the still sunk battleship. The battleship that contains the bodies of hundreds of the men that died in the attack...the attack from a nation we were not at war with.
You can see the sheen of oil on the water, as it still seeps from the hull of the ship. The gun turrets barely rise above the water, and you can see shadows of the shape of the great pride of the fleet. More men died on this ship than any other in this attack on a quiet Sunday morning.
I had read many accounts of this attack before. I had read the whys and the hows and the blames and the speculations. But nothing can show more the callousness of war, the sheer stupidity of it, than something like this. We had seen in a trip to Japan, Ground Zero at Hiroshima. So this bookended WWII for us. The last truly justifiable war, and still the death makes so little sense. Young men die so old men can fulfill ambition? People suffer so rich can get richer, and powerful gain more power? So one priest can prove to one iman that his god is better? That one sliver of land can be gained for a flag? And for this men are entombed in a hulk of metal under the tropical waters of an island paradise. For this, an island nations saw thousands die with flesh falling off their bones as atomic energy was unleashed.
Pearl Harbor was not exactly the "happy" Hawaii part of our visit, but I am so glad we went. It has stayed with me, as it should everyone.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Movie-The Wrestler
The Wrestler was nominated for a couple of major Oscars with Mickey Rourke nominated for best actor and Marisa Tomei nominated for best supporting actress.
Wow. I had heard really good things about this movie. But I'll admit, part of the reason I wanted to see it was to see Marisa Tomei as a stripper all in the buff. I'll admit it already. (She is on my top 5 BTW).
But wow. The Wrestler (2008) was an movie that surpassed my expectations. Melancholy, and sometimes heart stoppingly sad, this emotions are juxtaposed against the backdrop of the violence of pro wrestling. Rourke play Randy, the Ram, Robinson, who despite being older than most, still plies his trade in the pro wrestling circuit. But, after a brutal match, he is hit by a heart attack. That may have something to do with all the stimulants and steroids he pumps into himself, but hey, I'm not a medical doctor.
As he recovers, and tries to lead a different kind of life, he sees if he can build a relationship with Cassidy (Tomei) an aging stripper, who may be nearing the end of her entertainment career also. He also tries to reconnect with his adult daughter, played very well by Evan Rachel Wood. Some of Rourkes scenes with Wood are among the most heartbreaking and touching scenes I have seen.
Tomei is magnificent. She plays the somewhat cynical, calculating Cassidy pitch perfect. I will tell you, I have known some strippers as casual friends, and some more as entertainment providers, and she captures the vibe as well...no...better than anyone I have seen before. She is a nice person, but her profession has made her wary, and life has made her even more cautious.
The Wrestler is a movie to see. It could easily have been a nominee for best picture, it is that good.
And I am not just saying that because Marisa Tomei knows how to give a lap dance.
Wow. I had heard really good things about this movie. But I'll admit, part of the reason I wanted to see it was to see Marisa Tomei as a stripper all in the buff. I'll admit it already. (She is on my top 5 BTW).
But wow. The Wrestler (2008) was an movie that surpassed my expectations. Melancholy, and sometimes heart stoppingly sad, this emotions are juxtaposed against the backdrop of the violence of pro wrestling. Rourke play Randy, the Ram, Robinson, who despite being older than most, still plies his trade in the pro wrestling circuit. But, after a brutal match, he is hit by a heart attack. That may have something to do with all the stimulants and steroids he pumps into himself, but hey, I'm not a medical doctor.
As he recovers, and tries to lead a different kind of life, he sees if he can build a relationship with Cassidy (Tomei) an aging stripper, who may be nearing the end of her entertainment career also. He also tries to reconnect with his adult daughter, played very well by Evan Rachel Wood. Some of Rourkes scenes with Wood are among the most heartbreaking and touching scenes I have seen.
Tomei is magnificent. She plays the somewhat cynical, calculating Cassidy pitch perfect. I will tell you, I have known some strippers as casual friends, and some more as entertainment providers, and she captures the vibe as well...no...better than anyone I have seen before. She is a nice person, but her profession has made her wary, and life has made her even more cautious.
The Wrestler is a movie to see. It could easily have been a nominee for best picture, it is that good.
And I am not just saying that because Marisa Tomei knows how to give a lap dance.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Vacation 5- Waikiki-Get Me Out of Here
OK, one evening, I thought, "Let's go to the heart of Waikiki. Hang out at one of the bars, people watch, grab a bite." So we took a cab and headed in, looking forward to some fun times.
The cab let us out at the International market, really close to one hotel we almost stayed at. We got out of the cab and stepped into a sea of people. Think the Vegas Strip on a Friday night...but worse. And there were not lots of bars. There were a few that were over-crowded with tourists and looking not so much fun as silly.
"This can't be all, I thought." So we walked around some more, with the ocean of crowds all around us. OK...I will admit defeat. This was not much fun, I was craving a cool drink, and this was hot, humid and with way too much shopping and way too little fun. So, a cab was quickly hailed. Where to go.
Remember the shopping mall right by the hotel? The outdoor mai tai, tiki bar? Pssion fruit mojitos and live music? That's right! Place was packed...about 85% local...mellow and fun vibe...beautiful women, which meant Sharlynn fit right in. Sat and drank, ate a bit, talked with some locals, listened to some music.
I am so glad we stayed at a hotel out of Waikiki proper...way too crowded and way to touristy. This place we hung out at was way better than any of the bars that I saw.
That was a fun evening.
The cab let us out at the International market, really close to one hotel we almost stayed at. We got out of the cab and stepped into a sea of people. Think the Vegas Strip on a Friday night...but worse. And there were not lots of bars. There were a few that were over-crowded with tourists and looking not so much fun as silly.
"This can't be all, I thought." So we walked around some more, with the ocean of crowds all around us. OK...I will admit defeat. This was not much fun, I was craving a cool drink, and this was hot, humid and with way too much shopping and way too little fun. So, a cab was quickly hailed. Where to go.
Remember the shopping mall right by the hotel? The outdoor mai tai, tiki bar? Pssion fruit mojitos and live music? That's right! Place was packed...about 85% local...mellow and fun vibe...beautiful women, which meant Sharlynn fit right in. Sat and drank, ate a bit, talked with some locals, listened to some music.
I am so glad we stayed at a hotel out of Waikiki proper...way too crowded and way to touristy. This place we hung out at was way better than any of the bars that I saw.
That was a fun evening.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
The Andrew Awards-Best Actress
With The Reader, I have viewed all the nominees the the Academy choose for best actress. They were: Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married; Angelina Jolie, Changeling; Melissa Leo, Frozen River; Kate Winslet, The Reader and Meryl Streep, Doubt.
Now I will take out Jolie right away. Though I thought she was fine in Changeling, I could see many other actresses doing as good, if not a better job in that role. In fact, as I said in my initial review, I thought the scenes without her were the strongest scenes in the movie. Also, while Hathaway had a breakout role in Rachel Getting Married, it was in a movie that was not rich enough, did not have depth enough, to really give breadth and depth to a character. She did a great/fantastic job, but it was in a limited role in a limited movie. And she made the movie much better.
That leaves Streep, Leo and Winslet. Streep was great, but it was not as complex a role as the other two. She is fantastic actress, a chameleon, but this was not the role for best actress. And that leaves two, that I am having a difficult time judging. But I will have to go with the Academy's choice. Kate Winslet, the winner of the Andrew Award for Best Actress. And Melissa Leo was just a hair's breath behind.
Winslet and Leo both dealt with very complex and sometimes contradictory characters. But Winslet had a couple of things that added to her performance. A VERY strong supporting cast, that made her performance even better. And so many complexities, the surprises of Hanna Schmitz, that I had to give it to her. I hope to see more of Melissa Leo in films. She is a real talent.
Now I will take out Jolie right away. Though I thought she was fine in Changeling, I could see many other actresses doing as good, if not a better job in that role. In fact, as I said in my initial review, I thought the scenes without her were the strongest scenes in the movie. Also, while Hathaway had a breakout role in Rachel Getting Married, it was in a movie that was not rich enough, did not have depth enough, to really give breadth and depth to a character. She did a great/fantastic job, but it was in a limited role in a limited movie. And she made the movie much better.
That leaves Streep, Leo and Winslet. Streep was great, but it was not as complex a role as the other two. She is fantastic actress, a chameleon, but this was not the role for best actress. And that leaves two, that I am having a difficult time judging. But I will have to go with the Academy's choice. Kate Winslet, the winner of the Andrew Award for Best Actress. And Melissa Leo was just a hair's breath behind.
Winslet and Leo both dealt with very complex and sometimes contradictory characters. But Winslet had a couple of things that added to her performance. A VERY strong supporting cast, that made her performance even better. And so many complexities, the surprises of Hanna Schmitz, that I had to give it to her. I hope to see more of Melissa Leo in films. She is a real talent.
Movie-The Reader
The Reader was nominated for three major Oscars; Best Picture, Kate Winslet as Best Actress, and Stephen Daldrey for Best Director. Kate Winslet won for best actress.
The film is told in a series of flashbacks, with the Ralph Fiennes as Michael Berg remembering his past life, as a teenager in Berlin. He is now a somewhat wealthy lawyer, but obviously has trouble emotionally connecting with women, as we see in the opening scene.
As a teenage he has an encounter with an older woman, Hanna Schmitz (Winslet), before he comes down with scarlet fever. She aids him as he is becoming ill, and when he recovers, months later, he comes to find her and thank her. And this sets off a love affair between the two of them that lasts a summer, but will have long time repercussions on Berg's life in several ways.
First, as a teenager, he honestly loves this woman, who has taken his virginity and taught him how to make love. And she leaves him, just leaves one day without an explanation. This accounts for much of his inability to open up to any women. But as a college student, he has another encounter with Schmitz that even makes more a mark. You see, she is brought to trial in Germany for war crimes during WWII where she was a prison guard at a concentration camp. I won't give away all the plot points involving this trial, but there are terribly disturbing scenes in the courtroom. And both Berg and Schmitz have much to be guilty about as their lives go on.
Berg and Schmitz meet yet again later in life. And the scenes are awkward and real. Both actors here really flesh out the contradictions of their characters. Neither is one dimensional at all, neither is either good or bad, but very complex, as are their feeling for one another.
The Reader (2008) is an excellent film. At first I did not think it was addressing the harm that Hanna was doing to Michael, but that did emerge later, very clearly. The character of Hanna Schmitz herself is very complex and tough to handle, and Kate Winslet took the role on with deftness. Many other actresses may not have been able to handle the multiple ambiguities of this character. But she is a character to remember, and Winslet bears much of the responsibility for that. Also a special mention of the actor who plays Berg as a young man, David Kross. He did an fantastic job.
I really recommend this movie. Not exactly light-hearted fair, but it is really intriguing, and it stays with you for a long time.
The film is told in a series of flashbacks, with the Ralph Fiennes as Michael Berg remembering his past life, as a teenager in Berlin. He is now a somewhat wealthy lawyer, but obviously has trouble emotionally connecting with women, as we see in the opening scene.
As a teenage he has an encounter with an older woman, Hanna Schmitz (Winslet), before he comes down with scarlet fever. She aids him as he is becoming ill, and when he recovers, months later, he comes to find her and thank her. And this sets off a love affair between the two of them that lasts a summer, but will have long time repercussions on Berg's life in several ways.
First, as a teenager, he honestly loves this woman, who has taken his virginity and taught him how to make love. And she leaves him, just leaves one day without an explanation. This accounts for much of his inability to open up to any women. But as a college student, he has another encounter with Schmitz that even makes more a mark. You see, she is brought to trial in Germany for war crimes during WWII where she was a prison guard at a concentration camp. I won't give away all the plot points involving this trial, but there are terribly disturbing scenes in the courtroom. And both Berg and Schmitz have much to be guilty about as their lives go on.
Berg and Schmitz meet yet again later in life. And the scenes are awkward and real. Both actors here really flesh out the contradictions of their characters. Neither is one dimensional at all, neither is either good or bad, but very complex, as are their feeling for one another.
The Reader (2008) is an excellent film. At first I did not think it was addressing the harm that Hanna was doing to Michael, but that did emerge later, very clearly. The character of Hanna Schmitz herself is very complex and tough to handle, and Kate Winslet took the role on with deftness. Many other actresses may not have been able to handle the multiple ambiguities of this character. But she is a character to remember, and Winslet bears much of the responsibility for that. Also a special mention of the actor who plays Berg as a young man, David Kross. He did an fantastic job.
I really recommend this movie. Not exactly light-hearted fair, but it is really intriguing, and it stays with you for a long time.
Vacation 4- Oahu-North Shore
We drove up to the North Shore area one day. On the way stopped at a town know for its artist community and peered into shops and galleries. then on to the North Shore, known for its beautiful beaches.
And yes it had beautiful beaches, so along the way we stopped and took pictures, and and tried to figure out where to stop and get some sun for awhile. We had heard there were fresh shrimp farms out here, that had some good stand where they would cook it up for you, so we decided to head there, and get a bite before decided on which beach to hit.
Of several similar stands, we stopped at one, and ordered upvery fresh and messy (peel and eat) shrimp. I got the classic butter and garlic, and Sharlynn got (well, they messed up her order) a spicy ginger shrimp. Both were really good, and came with rice.
We cleaned up and headed back down the road a little to find the beach we wanted.
Ahhhhhhh....a quickly found parking spot, and onto the warm red sand. The Hawaiian sun is pretty strong, but felt so good as the warm pacific breeze blew nicely over us. This beach was not very touristy at all, and after hitting the water several times in about an hours times, we dried and were on our way.
We drove around almost the whole island that day, missing just the very eastern side, which we planned to explore another day. As we drove north the island became more tropical and rain foresty and very beautiful. Of the three islands we have been to, Oahu was definately the most built up, but the northern part seemed the most "native" Hawaiian area.
And yes it had beautiful beaches, so along the way we stopped and took pictures, and and tried to figure out where to stop and get some sun for awhile. We had heard there were fresh shrimp farms out here, that had some good stand where they would cook it up for you, so we decided to head there, and get a bite before decided on which beach to hit.
Of several similar stands, we stopped at one, and ordered upvery fresh and messy (peel and eat) shrimp. I got the classic butter and garlic, and Sharlynn got (well, they messed up her order) a spicy ginger shrimp. Both were really good, and came with rice.
We cleaned up and headed back down the road a little to find the beach we wanted.
Ahhhhhhh....a quickly found parking spot, and onto the warm red sand. The Hawaiian sun is pretty strong, but felt so good as the warm pacific breeze blew nicely over us. This beach was not very touristy at all, and after hitting the water several times in about an hours times, we dried and were on our way.
We drove around almost the whole island that day, missing just the very eastern side, which we planned to explore another day. As we drove north the island became more tropical and rain foresty and very beautiful. Of the three islands we have been to, Oahu was definately the most built up, but the northern part seemed the most "native" Hawaiian area.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Movie-Into the Woods
Into the Woods (1990) is a filming of the live stage production of this Tony winning Broadway play, starring Bernadette Peters.
It is a slightly twisted take on a few stick fairy tales, merging 3-4 of them into one story, Red-Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella (as well as elements of others) and adding an original storyline in too.
Wry and amusing, the musical never soars, but never flounders either. Bernadette Peters is very good, but to me, the real star is Joanna Gleason (who we know best from The West Wing) who really does outshine everyone as the smart and gutsy baker's wife.
The plays take on the Prince Charmings is really funny, and it was fun entertainment, with good music and a first rate cast.
It is a slightly twisted take on a few stick fairy tales, merging 3-4 of them into one story, Red-Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella (as well as elements of others) and adding an original storyline in too.
Wry and amusing, the musical never soars, but never flounders either. Bernadette Peters is very good, but to me, the real star is Joanna Gleason (who we know best from The West Wing) who really does outshine everyone as the smart and gutsy baker's wife.
The plays take on the Prince Charmings is really funny, and it was fun entertainment, with good music and a first rate cast.
Vacation 3-Oahu-Diamondhead
OK...they warn you ahead of time that this is a pretty good hike, up to the top of Diamondhead monument and state park. And it is, pretty much a trail that is all steep elevations, and at the end, throw in some long staircases, some tunnels dug through lava flows, and with the hot humid weather, you have yourself a pretty good little workout. In fact, we saw a couple of people who use this as a workout, one guy running and one girl walking very fast.
But we held up very well. The killer is right at the end...when you really think you are there, you come out of a tunnel and turn the corner to be faced with a VERY long staircase that looks like it goes straight up. It is a soul killer. In fact, one woman was just sitting at the lookout point right there, watching everyone expression as they turned that corner. My strategy was to take a moment at the lookout point, put my head down, put it in first and just keep moving, slow and steady. But that is a killer stairway!
The view from the top is spectacular. As we were going up, one woman coming down suggested that we should not bother and just buy a postcard, but I have to disagree. It was worth it. You can see so much of the southern coastline of Oahu from there, and it just looks beautiful. You know, as you wipe the sweat away from your eyes.
Coming back down used a different set of muscles, but was much faster than going up. We had packed a lunch, making our own cooler out of plastic ABC store bags, putting ice in one, our O-Bento (Japanese boxed lunches) on top of that, and putting another bag of ice on top of the lunches. So we had a picnic at the bottom and then bought some Hawaiian shaved ice from the truck that was in the lot there. And it tasted GOOD. So refreshing!
But we held up very well. The killer is right at the end...when you really think you are there, you come out of a tunnel and turn the corner to be faced with a VERY long staircase that looks like it goes straight up. It is a soul killer. In fact, one woman was just sitting at the lookout point right there, watching everyone expression as they turned that corner. My strategy was to take a moment at the lookout point, put my head down, put it in first and just keep moving, slow and steady. But that is a killer stairway!
The view from the top is spectacular. As we were going up, one woman coming down suggested that we should not bother and just buy a postcard, but I have to disagree. It was worth it. You can see so much of the southern coastline of Oahu from there, and it just looks beautiful. You know, as you wipe the sweat away from your eyes.
Coming back down used a different set of muscles, but was much faster than going up. We had packed a lunch, making our own cooler out of plastic ABC store bags, putting ice in one, our O-Bento (Japanese boxed lunches) on top of that, and putting another bag of ice on top of the lunches. So we had a picnic at the bottom and then bought some Hawaiian shaved ice from the truck that was in the lot there. And it tasted GOOD. So refreshing!
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Vacation 2-Oahu
OK...we are zoo people...it is kinda in our blood. So we usually visit the local zoo when we go out of town, so we did make a stop at the Honolulu Zoo.
I an extra reason for wanting to visit the zoo. That was to see Violet. She is an orangutan that was formerly with our troop but went to keep Rusti company in Hawaii. And she was just hanging out with him and looking like she just loved the habitat...a fairly new one.
The zoo itself has some really nice aspects. It has some large open ares that are nice, but also makes me think, "Wow, could be used for some nice exhibit upgrades, especially for the elephants." You can tell they are working at trying to upgrade areas as funds become available.
Some of the areas are quite have been enhanced or remodeled more recently and look really good, and they have a great bird collection. I even got to see the nene, the endangered Hawaiian goose that has been a project that a colleague has worked on for a long time.
We did not spend as long as we could have here, having seen many of these species at our own facilities. And, we were also ready to tackle Diamondhead.
I an extra reason for wanting to visit the zoo. That was to see Violet. She is an orangutan that was formerly with our troop but went to keep Rusti company in Hawaii. And she was just hanging out with him and looking like she just loved the habitat...a fairly new one.
The zoo itself has some really nice aspects. It has some large open ares that are nice, but also makes me think, "Wow, could be used for some nice exhibit upgrades, especially for the elephants." You can tell they are working at trying to upgrade areas as funds become available.
Some of the areas are quite have been enhanced or remodeled more recently and look really good, and they have a great bird collection. I even got to see the nene, the endangered Hawaiian goose that has been a project that a colleague has worked on for a long time.
We did not spend as long as we could have here, having seen many of these species at our own facilities. And, we were also ready to tackle Diamondhead.
Movie-Marley and Me
One of the good things about the long flight to Oahu was that they played a movie that I actually wanted to see, Marley and Me (2008). The flight attendant introduced the movie as starring Owen Wilson and Courtney Cox, but of course it stars Jennifer Aniston, who occupies a perennial spot on my top 5 list.
I'll admit it, I really liked Marley and Me. Cute dog, cute wife. Insanity ensues. Family grows, Marley loves everyone despite their faults, with his whole heart.
The thing is I have gone through it once already. Having a dog, maybe not as a puppy, but as a young dog. And it grows up with you as part of your household. You bring in other pets, and they become ingrained in your heart. And they start becoming older, and they love you all the more. And they start becoming slower, but their tails never loses its wag when you come home from work at the end of the day.
And it is the hardest thing in the world, when they start suffering, because you want to be selfish. You want to keep them here with you. They have loved you for so long and so unconditionally, it is hard to let go of that.
When I think of holding Shasta in my arms as she took her last breath, tears still come to my eyes. She had her "faults" like Marley in the movie. But she loved us, and we loved her.
That is what Marley and Me is about. These little companions in our lives, that are with us for much too short a time.
I'll admit it, I really liked Marley and Me. Cute dog, cute wife. Insanity ensues. Family grows, Marley loves everyone despite their faults, with his whole heart.
The thing is I have gone through it once already. Having a dog, maybe not as a puppy, but as a young dog. And it grows up with you as part of your household. You bring in other pets, and they become ingrained in your heart. And they start becoming older, and they love you all the more. And they start becoming slower, but their tails never loses its wag when you come home from work at the end of the day.
And it is the hardest thing in the world, when they start suffering, because you want to be selfish. You want to keep them here with you. They have loved you for so long and so unconditionally, it is hard to let go of that.
When I think of holding Shasta in my arms as she took her last breath, tears still come to my eyes. She had her "faults" like Marley in the movie. But she loved us, and we loved her.
That is what Marley and Me is about. These little companions in our lives, that are with us for much too short a time.
Vacation 1-Oahu
Well, the flight is pretty long to Oahu, about 6.5 hours. We took Hawaiian Airlines, and it was pretty good service as airlines go these days. A totally full flight.
We arrived mid-afternoon, with the time change, and grabbed our rental car and headed to our hotel, grabbing a Subway sandwich on the way in. Somehow, the breakfast burrito on the flight just did not cut it. We stayed at the Ala Moana just outside of Waikiki, and I am so happy we stayed there, as I will explain in another post.
But we were bushed and so spent the afternoon just getting to know our immediate environment. First of all...we needed some supplies. Honolulu has some good restaurants I am sure, but it is not known as an eating mecca, like New Orleans, so we were going to cut corners, since we had a fridge, and have some food in the room.
Luckily the hotel adjoined a mall that is famous for its international food court. So we headed there, and wow, sushi, dim sum, Japanese noodle soups...pretty much anything you could want. There was also a Japanese department store, and like in Tokyo, it had a great fresh food area on its top floor, so we loaded up on stuff there too. So we stored up for a couple of lunches and breakfasts, and also stopped at an ABC store to get some wine and other alcoholic delights for in-room festivities.
Going back to the room, I knew I needed some real drinks, and again to the mall. Yes, the mall! An outdoor tiki bar, featuring live music every night, and some great drinks. A lot of locals hung out here. And I could see why. A great happy hour, not mobbed with tourists acting like jackasses, and passion fruit mojitos that are to DIE for, at $4 a pop only, thank you very much! So we chilled there, talked about how to spend our days, got a little food later in the evening, listened to some music. Warm breezes filtered through the place and we felt relaxation coming on. This was going to be a very good trip.
We arrived mid-afternoon, with the time change, and grabbed our rental car and headed to our hotel, grabbing a Subway sandwich on the way in. Somehow, the breakfast burrito on the flight just did not cut it. We stayed at the Ala Moana just outside of Waikiki, and I am so happy we stayed there, as I will explain in another post.
But we were bushed and so spent the afternoon just getting to know our immediate environment. First of all...we needed some supplies. Honolulu has some good restaurants I am sure, but it is not known as an eating mecca, like New Orleans, so we were going to cut corners, since we had a fridge, and have some food in the room.
Luckily the hotel adjoined a mall that is famous for its international food court. So we headed there, and wow, sushi, dim sum, Japanese noodle soups...pretty much anything you could want. There was also a Japanese department store, and like in Tokyo, it had a great fresh food area on its top floor, so we loaded up on stuff there too. So we stored up for a couple of lunches and breakfasts, and also stopped at an ABC store to get some wine and other alcoholic delights for in-room festivities.
Going back to the room, I knew I needed some real drinks, and again to the mall. Yes, the mall! An outdoor tiki bar, featuring live music every night, and some great drinks. A lot of locals hung out here. And I could see why. A great happy hour, not mobbed with tourists acting like jackasses, and passion fruit mojitos that are to DIE for, at $4 a pop only, thank you very much! So we chilled there, talked about how to spend our days, got a little food later in the evening, listened to some music. Warm breezes filtered through the place and we felt relaxation coming on. This was going to be a very good trip.
Movie-What Happens in Vegas
What Happens in Vegas (2008) is a movie that could have been better, and maybe should have been considering it had Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz in it, two of the beautiful people in Hollywood.
But the movie was neither fully silly party movie farce, nor romantic comedy, and did not quite hold together fully. It was a slightly amusing diversion, but nothing more.
But the movie was neither fully silly party movie farce, nor romantic comedy, and did not quite hold together fully. It was a slightly amusing diversion, but nothing more.
Restaurant-O.B. Noodle House
We like Asian noodle soups and other dishes, so it was natural that we should try O.B. Noodle House (http://obnoodlehouse.com/) on Cable Street. It mostly has Vietnamese pho, but also has other Asian noodle soups.
My dining companion had a pho soup that was really good, with chicken and lots of herbs and sprouts on the side to add in to the steaming light broth. the Asian basil was an especially good addition.
I opted for another menu item, Bun Vermicelli Noodle, cold noodles with perfectly grilled pork and egg roll and Asian salad, with a nice sauce to go over everything. It was really excellent, and my companion was a little envious. I also had a decent Thai iced tea to go with my lunch.
Both our lunches were very good, and with a bill less the $20 it was a great deal. It looks like it could be a busy place for O.B.
My dining companion had a pho soup that was really good, with chicken and lots of herbs and sprouts on the side to add in to the steaming light broth. the Asian basil was an especially good addition.
I opted for another menu item, Bun Vermicelli Noodle, cold noodles with perfectly grilled pork and egg roll and Asian salad, with a nice sauce to go over everything. It was really excellent, and my companion was a little envious. I also had a decent Thai iced tea to go with my lunch.
Both our lunches were very good, and with a bill less the $20 it was a great deal. It looks like it could be a busy place for O.B.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Moive-Breakfast at Tiffany's
I have always wanted to see this classic film, without really knowing what it was about. Just the theme of Moon River, and the star, Audrey Hepburn, made me want to see it.
But Breakfast as Tiffany's (1961) held a lot of surprises for me. First of all, and most of all, it was amazingly adult. The topics and themes of the movie were so adult that I was surprised that it made it to the screen in 1961. Audrey Hepburn is a high class escort, Holly Golightly. And she befriends a male escort...actually gigolo...who moves into her same building. He is an aspiring writer, played by an amazingly handsome George Peppard, who is payed for sex by his interior decorator, Patricia Neal.
Holly got married to get out of an abusive home, where it is hinted there was sexual abuse, at 14 years old. She left her husband and came to New York and became an escort. She hangs out with wealthy men, and throws amazing, and orgiastic parties in her small apartment. She is always hoping that one of them will fall for her and marry her. Such is Breakfast at Tiffany's.
The second surprise is the cast. Look, I know Audrey Hepburn from more innocent roles. She is not the innocent here. And beyond her, George Peppard is excellent, Patricia Neal also, and Buddy Ebsen and Martin Balsam both in great roles. The only bad thing about his movie is Mickey Rooney, who plays a Japanese man in the worst type of stereotypical and racist casting. But, I think in 1961 it probably was not considered so, despite the buck teeth and glasses.
Breakfast at Tiffany's is a classic for a good reason. It is not a movie goes quietly, nor is set in a certain time. It is timeless in many ways. Hepburn shines as Holly and all around her reflect that light. I am so glad I added this to my queue.
And Moon River is a great song!! I'm just saying...
But Breakfast as Tiffany's (1961) held a lot of surprises for me. First of all, and most of all, it was amazingly adult. The topics and themes of the movie were so adult that I was surprised that it made it to the screen in 1961. Audrey Hepburn is a high class escort, Holly Golightly. And she befriends a male escort...actually gigolo...who moves into her same building. He is an aspiring writer, played by an amazingly handsome George Peppard, who is payed for sex by his interior decorator, Patricia Neal.
Holly got married to get out of an abusive home, where it is hinted there was sexual abuse, at 14 years old. She left her husband and came to New York and became an escort. She hangs out with wealthy men, and throws amazing, and orgiastic parties in her small apartment. She is always hoping that one of them will fall for her and marry her. Such is Breakfast at Tiffany's.
The second surprise is the cast. Look, I know Audrey Hepburn from more innocent roles. She is not the innocent here. And beyond her, George Peppard is excellent, Patricia Neal also, and Buddy Ebsen and Martin Balsam both in great roles. The only bad thing about his movie is Mickey Rooney, who plays a Japanese man in the worst type of stereotypical and racist casting. But, I think in 1961 it probably was not considered so, despite the buck teeth and glasses.
Breakfast at Tiffany's is a classic for a good reason. It is not a movie goes quietly, nor is set in a certain time. It is timeless in many ways. Hepburn shines as Holly and all around her reflect that light. I am so glad I added this to my queue.
And Moon River is a great song!! I'm just saying...
Back to the Blog-Back from Oahu, Hawaii
We are back from a very nice vacation in Oahu Hawaii, and I will be back to blogging in earnest very soon here...about the trip and also my usual movies, books, TV restaurants etc.
Oahu was great, and it was great to get away from it all. I did develop an unnatural fondness for passion fruit mojitos...I don't care if they are pink and come with a pink orchid on the side of the glass! They are perfection, thank you very much! In fact, passion fruit juice itself has become a big favorite of mine. It mixes well with many alcohols, and is pretty good on its own too.
So, many blogs will follow over the next 3-4 days, as I get my creative hat back on, and try to express myself with words other than "ahhhhhh" and "yum," and "I'm gonna put more sunscreen on now."
Oahu was great, and it was great to get away from it all. I did develop an unnatural fondness for passion fruit mojitos...I don't care if they are pink and come with a pink orchid on the side of the glass! They are perfection, thank you very much! In fact, passion fruit juice itself has become a big favorite of mine. It mixes well with many alcohols, and is pretty good on its own too.
So, many blogs will follow over the next 3-4 days, as I get my creative hat back on, and try to express myself with words other than "ahhhhhh" and "yum," and "I'm gonna put more sunscreen on now."
Monday, April 13, 2009
TV Season-Parks and Recreation
It's April and new shows are still coming out...WTF? Ah well, I guess it keeps things interesting.
Parks and Recreation, the very hyped NBC Office-esque comedy debuted Thursday, and it was OK. Look, I know they really need viewers, so they hype it to death, but there is the problem with making it out to be the best-- comedy-- EVER! And it isn't. So inevitably, many people will be really disappointed. Me? Despite the hype, or maybe because of it, I wasn't expecting it to be perfect or the best show ever made. So I was OK with the first episode.
Truly, it can go either way really fast. It could very easily become so bad so quickly...you can see that...almost feel that in the show. But, it could build on its nice elements, and it has several of them, and become moderately good. I don't predict it will ever become a great TV comedy.
So I'll keep watching. They only have made about 10 episode I think, so it will be over quickly either way, for the season.
Parks and Recreation, the very hyped NBC Office-esque comedy debuted Thursday, and it was OK. Look, I know they really need viewers, so they hype it to death, but there is the problem with making it out to be the best-- comedy-- EVER! And it isn't. So inevitably, many people will be really disappointed. Me? Despite the hype, or maybe because of it, I wasn't expecting it to be perfect or the best show ever made. So I was OK with the first episode.
Truly, it can go either way really fast. It could very easily become so bad so quickly...you can see that...almost feel that in the show. But, it could build on its nice elements, and it has several of them, and become moderately good. I don't predict it will ever become a great TV comedy.
So I'll keep watching. They only have made about 10 episode I think, so it will be over quickly either way, for the season.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Movie-Doubt
Doubt was nominated for several Oscars, including Meryl Streep for best actress, Philip Seymour Hoffman for best supporting actor, and both Viola Davis and Amy Adams for best supporting actress. None of those nominees won.
This was an actor's movie. It highlighted the actor and put their work in the spotlight. No wonder that the four major roles all received Oscar nods, and all the Oscar nods were for acting. This is not to say the actors ran rampant with the material...they were contained and focused, but really showed their craft.
Doubt (2008) is set in the early sixties, a working class Bronx Catholic neighborhood, in a school run by Sister Aloysius (Streep), in a parish overseen by priest Father Flynn (Seymour Hoffman). The two are very different, and she regards him with the suspicion of an old school Catholic versus one that came out of the relative openness of Vatican II. He wants to include people, she wants to dominate. He wants to be part of the community, she wants to oversee it.
But her doubt about Flynn becomes something more when young idealistic nun Sister James (Adams) thinks she may have stumbled upon a unhealthy liaison between Flynn and the only black student in the school.
All three actors are simply amazing, plumbing their characters depths, for levels of justification and self-deception. Not one comes out looking very good. And Viola Davis, perhaps the most honest of them all as the mother of the boy, gives a performance that while brief, is as intense and rending as you will see. And the honesty of it...of what it says about the compromises of life, you will remember.
Doubt is not about doubting whether Father Flynn actually molested the child, that much is fairly well established. Doubt is about what the right course of action is, and Davis' role is pivotal in this.
This movie is so well acted and the characters so well defined, as was a bit star struck. Streep in particular, amazed me, for I had seen her not long ago in Mamma Mia, where she was a fairly hot MILF, and here she was dried up so NOT nearly hot nun.
Doubt is an excellent movie with great performances.
This was an actor's movie. It highlighted the actor and put their work in the spotlight. No wonder that the four major roles all received Oscar nods, and all the Oscar nods were for acting. This is not to say the actors ran rampant with the material...they were contained and focused, but really showed their craft.
Doubt (2008) is set in the early sixties, a working class Bronx Catholic neighborhood, in a school run by Sister Aloysius (Streep), in a parish overseen by priest Father Flynn (Seymour Hoffman). The two are very different, and she regards him with the suspicion of an old school Catholic versus one that came out of the relative openness of Vatican II. He wants to include people, she wants to dominate. He wants to be part of the community, she wants to oversee it.
But her doubt about Flynn becomes something more when young idealistic nun Sister James (Adams) thinks she may have stumbled upon a unhealthy liaison between Flynn and the only black student in the school.
All three actors are simply amazing, plumbing their characters depths, for levels of justification and self-deception. Not one comes out looking very good. And Viola Davis, perhaps the most honest of them all as the mother of the boy, gives a performance that while brief, is as intense and rending as you will see. And the honesty of it...of what it says about the compromises of life, you will remember.
Doubt is not about doubting whether Father Flynn actually molested the child, that much is fairly well established. Doubt is about what the right course of action is, and Davis' role is pivotal in this.
This movie is so well acted and the characters so well defined, as was a bit star struck. Streep in particular, amazed me, for I had seen her not long ago in Mamma Mia, where she was a fairly hot MILF, and here she was dried up so NOT nearly hot nun.
Doubt is an excellent movie with great performances.
Movie-The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
Prince Caspian (2008) is the second of the Chronicles of Narnia, following The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. And while maybe not quite as good as the first one overall, it was better in some aspects.
First of all, Prince Caspian is not quite as much of a fairy tale as the first film. Not as many "delightful" characters, and more characters that have a bit of an edge to them. It is darker, and in that way, maybe a bit richer, than the first. It also really allows the child actors to acknowledge that they are older, and maybe more cynical, than when they first arrived in Narnia.
The special effects are great, probably better, that the first movie, but because it is the second movie, the produce less of a "Wow" effect, at least I thought so.
The story line is more complex, with good vs. evil shaded a bit more, and battle lines and bit more muddied.
Prince Caspian is totally worth seeing, but don't expect the same type of movie as the first Narnia flick, otherwise I think you will be disappointed.
First of all, Prince Caspian is not quite as much of a fairy tale as the first film. Not as many "delightful" characters, and more characters that have a bit of an edge to them. It is darker, and in that way, maybe a bit richer, than the first. It also really allows the child actors to acknowledge that they are older, and maybe more cynical, than when they first arrived in Narnia.
The special effects are great, probably better, that the first movie, but because it is the second movie, the produce less of a "Wow" effect, at least I thought so.
The story line is more complex, with good vs. evil shaded a bit more, and battle lines and bit more muddied.
Prince Caspian is totally worth seeing, but don't expect the same type of movie as the first Narnia flick, otherwise I think you will be disappointed.
Movie-My Left Foot
My Left Foot (1989) tells the true story of Christy Brown, born with cerebral palsy, thought to be an idiot as a child, only able to control one part of his body, his left foot. But he uses that part to communicate, and to show that he does possess a keen intellect.
Born into a poor family in Ireland, Christy Brown is one of more than a dozen kids, and the family did not have the means to treat him as special. So he played soccer and looked at girlie mags and participated in the neighborhood like all the other kids. But, he could not fully participate as he started becoming a man, and became more isolated.
Soon, he was able to enter a new special program for people with cerebral palsy, and this started him writing, and helped him continue with his art work. Through ups and downs, his mother stuck with him, sometimes pushing him, and always loving him.
Daniel Day-Lewis won an Oscar for his portrayal of Christy Brown, and deserved it. He does an amazing job, really capturing the loneliness, the joys and the frustrations of a creative man caught in a body that did not want to yield the creative impulses.
Excellent movie.
Born into a poor family in Ireland, Christy Brown is one of more than a dozen kids, and the family did not have the means to treat him as special. So he played soccer and looked at girlie mags and participated in the neighborhood like all the other kids. But, he could not fully participate as he started becoming a man, and became more isolated.
Soon, he was able to enter a new special program for people with cerebral palsy, and this started him writing, and helped him continue with his art work. Through ups and downs, his mother stuck with him, sometimes pushing him, and always loving him.
Daniel Day-Lewis won an Oscar for his portrayal of Christy Brown, and deserved it. He does an amazing job, really capturing the loneliness, the joys and the frustrations of a creative man caught in a body that did not want to yield the creative impulses.
Excellent movie.
2 Magazines
I'm afraid that the stress of work lately has cut into my creative mind, so I have not been blogging much. I will try to do some catching up here, and see if I can do few posts a day.
As always, National Geographic is great, and the April issue did not disappoint. The cover story was The She-King of Egypt. This was fascinating because it really delved into WHY Hatshepsut acted like she was man when she ruled Egypt. And that they had her mummy, recently identified as her, made the article even more fascinating. The article on Australia's drought was sobering, in that this area could easily be facing similar conditions. We need to start preparing. And the article on amphibian decline was also sobering. I know a bit about this from some work I have done, and these species that have lasted so long may disappear very soon.
Playboy in April was also pretty good. A nice pictorial with international playmates lent some variety to the issue. An interview with Seth Rogan, though narcissistic, provided some humor, and the homage to Bettie Page was nice. A expose about Barry Bonds made me think about the case differently...still despise the guy, but really wonder about the government going after him, and not baseball itself. And excellent fiction by Jay McInerney. Nice issue all around.
As always, National Geographic is great, and the April issue did not disappoint. The cover story was The She-King of Egypt. This was fascinating because it really delved into WHY Hatshepsut acted like she was man when she ruled Egypt. And that they had her mummy, recently identified as her, made the article even more fascinating. The article on Australia's drought was sobering, in that this area could easily be facing similar conditions. We need to start preparing. And the article on amphibian decline was also sobering. I know a bit about this from some work I have done, and these species that have lasted so long may disappear very soon.
Playboy in April was also pretty good. A nice pictorial with international playmates lent some variety to the issue. An interview with Seth Rogan, though narcissistic, provided some humor, and the homage to Bettie Page was nice. A expose about Barry Bonds made me think about the case differently...still despise the guy, but really wonder about the government going after him, and not baseball itself. And excellent fiction by Jay McInerney. Nice issue all around.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Movie- Slumdog Millionaire
Slumdog Millionaire was a multiple Oscar nominee, getting two major nominations for best picture and best director, both of which it won.
The phenomena of Slumdog Millionaire (2008) was something to behold. A picture that was not Hollywood, that was feel-good, that was so out-of-the mainstream---and it took over the country! It is hard to seperate all that from the actual movie itself.
But you know what? The movie was actually really good! The Siskel to my Ebert was expecting another typical Bollywood movie and was really surprised about how good this film was. She had lower expectations about it, and so, experienced it like a lot of people who created the buzz about it.
I had heard more about the film, and still enjoyed it quite a bit. Part of the enjoyment was simply the construction of the film. Though not rocket science, director Danny Boyle choose the right framework for telling this story. Using the "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" questions as the catalyst...explaining how this "slumdog" from Mumbai knew the answers to the questions of the show in flashbacks of his life...was perfectly done. The only small gripe I had was that it each question ran completely in the time line of his life...it might have added even more dramatic appeal to have his life pieced together in different stages, to create the total tapestry.
Details of the movie were just right: The host of the show trying to undermine the success of Jamal-- The image of Jamal's mother being killed in ethnic violence (an image that still lingers in my mind)--The "orphanage" where Jamal, Saleem and Latika stayed as young children. All these details and images stand out and linger, they are remembered and remain felt.
Slumdog Millionaire is an excellent movie. Even despite the hype. It is proof that a movie like this can prosper and win the "big one." I will have to wait to see ALL the movies nominated for best picture before deciding whether I agree that it should have won the Academy Award though.
The phenomena of Slumdog Millionaire (2008) was something to behold. A picture that was not Hollywood, that was feel-good, that was so out-of-the mainstream---and it took over the country! It is hard to seperate all that from the actual movie itself.
But you know what? The movie was actually really good! The Siskel to my Ebert was expecting another typical Bollywood movie and was really surprised about how good this film was. She had lower expectations about it, and so, experienced it like a lot of people who created the buzz about it.
I had heard more about the film, and still enjoyed it quite a bit. Part of the enjoyment was simply the construction of the film. Though not rocket science, director Danny Boyle choose the right framework for telling this story. Using the "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" questions as the catalyst...explaining how this "slumdog" from Mumbai knew the answers to the questions of the show in flashbacks of his life...was perfectly done. The only small gripe I had was that it each question ran completely in the time line of his life...it might have added even more dramatic appeal to have his life pieced together in different stages, to create the total tapestry.
Details of the movie were just right: The host of the show trying to undermine the success of Jamal-- The image of Jamal's mother being killed in ethnic violence (an image that still lingers in my mind)--The "orphanage" where Jamal, Saleem and Latika stayed as young children. All these details and images stand out and linger, they are remembered and remain felt.
Slumdog Millionaire is an excellent movie. Even despite the hype. It is proof that a movie like this can prosper and win the "big one." I will have to wait to see ALL the movies nominated for best picture before deciding whether I agree that it should have won the Academy Award though.
Movie-Hancock
For the most part, critics were not too kind to Hancock (2008), surprising, because usually whatever Will Smith does they swoon over.
I thought it was better than most gave it credit for. Smith plays a super hero who is not very good at being a super hero. He is a lush, he gets pissed off, he is reckless and he does not know how to control his power very well causing a lot of damage to infrastructure around him.
Enter Jason Bateman, a PR guy, who wants to help Hancock overcome public antipathy towards him. Bateman as Ray Embrey is convinced he can do a makeover on Hancock's image. But with Embrey comes his wife, played by Charlize Theron, and this is the weakest part of the movie.
You see, instead of letting Hancock stay unknowing of who he is, waking up with amnesia, the writers came up with a bad back story with him and Theron once being Olympian gods, and they are the last survivors...blah blah blah.
The rest of the movie works really well, but this part, the last third of the movie, really does not. Maybe that is why critics did not like it, and I can see that. But the rest of the movie worked so well, I have trouble condemning all of it.
I thought it was better than most gave it credit for. Smith plays a super hero who is not very good at being a super hero. He is a lush, he gets pissed off, he is reckless and he does not know how to control his power very well causing a lot of damage to infrastructure around him.
Enter Jason Bateman, a PR guy, who wants to help Hancock overcome public antipathy towards him. Bateman as Ray Embrey is convinced he can do a makeover on Hancock's image. But with Embrey comes his wife, played by Charlize Theron, and this is the weakest part of the movie.
You see, instead of letting Hancock stay unknowing of who he is, waking up with amnesia, the writers came up with a bad back story with him and Theron once being Olympian gods, and they are the last survivors...blah blah blah.
The rest of the movie works really well, but this part, the last third of the movie, really does not. Maybe that is why critics did not like it, and I can see that. But the rest of the movie worked so well, I have trouble condemning all of it.
Movie-Ladder 49
Ladder 49 (2004) was a pretty good flick, a bit manipulative of emotions, but it did it effectively, and was a tearjerker because of it.
Starring Joaquin Phoenix as a firefighter trapped in a huge industrial building fire, it plays through a series of flashbacks showing his start as a firefighter, his friends in the force, his marriage and kids, his dedication to his profession. Interlocking these flashbacks is the present day, as his fellow firefighters are desperately trying to extricate him from the burning building, led by his friend and mentor, played to good effect by John Travolta.
The movie does get sappy at some points. It does not show the many mundane and routine calls firefighters get. Every call in the movie is fraught with danger. I'm not saying that there are not dangerous calls, but there are also many that are just fairly run of the mill also.
The surprising thing, that sets the movie a bit apart from typical fare of this kind, is that the rescue of this man fails. They do not triumphantly pull him out of the building just before it crumbles. There is no chance to save him, and the crews have to all pull out. He knows he is going to die trapped in there...and all his comrades know it too.
Like I said. The movie is pretty good. A little too emotive, too many soaring strings playing on the soundtrack. But overall, a good movie.
Starring Joaquin Phoenix as a firefighter trapped in a huge industrial building fire, it plays through a series of flashbacks showing his start as a firefighter, his friends in the force, his marriage and kids, his dedication to his profession. Interlocking these flashbacks is the present day, as his fellow firefighters are desperately trying to extricate him from the burning building, led by his friend and mentor, played to good effect by John Travolta.
The movie does get sappy at some points. It does not show the many mundane and routine calls firefighters get. Every call in the movie is fraught with danger. I'm not saying that there are not dangerous calls, but there are also many that are just fairly run of the mill also.
The surprising thing, that sets the movie a bit apart from typical fare of this kind, is that the rescue of this man fails. They do not triumphantly pull him out of the building just before it crumbles. There is no chance to save him, and the crews have to all pull out. He knows he is going to die trapped in there...and all his comrades know it too.
Like I said. The movie is pretty good. A little too emotive, too many soaring strings playing on the soundtrack. But overall, a good movie.
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