In one week we have found two new restaurants than now rank as favorites for us! How often does that happen?
We were looking for a place for a casual lunch on Saturday, and nothing was too appealing to us when I remembered hearing about a place at Liberty Station in Point Loma with pretty healthy food called Tender Greens (http://www.tendergreensfood.com/). So we headed down there. And we were very pleased.
It is not a full service place. You order at a counter. And it does not have a large menu. But what they do have, to do well. They are organic and/or locally sustainably grown products as much as possible. They have a nice variety of simple salads, large salads with meat (despite the name) grilled meat, soup and a few desserts.
Sharlynn and I both were craving beef and had their perfectly grilled angus flank steak on rustic bread with roasted red peppers and aioli. It came with a simple salad that was very good---Sharlynn had the baby arugula and I had the baby spinach, both good helpings. The sandwiches were excellent, with nice portions of beef, that was tender, slightly rare, and juicy. Each plate was about $10 and I had a Sam Adams to go with my lunch.
The place had a nice, casual and, dare I say it, healthy atmosphere. You could sense the food was good, and not at all processed.
This is another place we want to go back and try more. The albacore looks great, and so does the chicken. If you are Point Loma, stop by and try it, you will like it.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Movie-12
12 was nominated for an Oscar as best foreign film for 2007 and has just been released on DVD. It did not win.
One of my all time favorite films is 12 Angry Men with Henry Fonda. Though it is set in one room, the drama that stems from this jury, making a decision on the guilt or innocence of man has always captivated me. So I was more than intrigued to see this Russian film 12 (2007) based on 12 Angry Men, but with a Slavic twist.
12 has the same premise...a young man accused of killing his step-father. It seems to most of the jury an open and shut case. A no brainer. They all have other plans, and so are happy to get this over with, and be on their way. So they adjourn to the jury room, elect a chairman, and take a vote. But one person maintains the young man's innocence. A lone juror wants them to look more closely at the case, and take a bit more time in considering their vote.
12 shows more outside the jury room than the original did. It also lets each juror tell more about his own life and experiences. And while this can be interesting, it is also sometimes too much, and is my only knock on the film. Sometimes their stories really do not have much to do with the case and go on too long. Some of the stories are used to great effect, but we really did not need to hear from all 12 of them, I don't think.
The ending really veers from 12 Angry Men, and actually becomes a strength of this film. It takes you to a place you don't expect at all, a place that like the film, is foreign to an American mindset.
Overall 12 is a very good film. A mite too long, sometimes losing focus on the main story line, but an excellent homage to 12 Angry Men, and and very good film in and of itself.
One of my all time favorite films is 12 Angry Men with Henry Fonda. Though it is set in one room, the drama that stems from this jury, making a decision on the guilt or innocence of man has always captivated me. So I was more than intrigued to see this Russian film 12 (2007) based on 12 Angry Men, but with a Slavic twist.
12 has the same premise...a young man accused of killing his step-father. It seems to most of the jury an open and shut case. A no brainer. They all have other plans, and so are happy to get this over with, and be on their way. So they adjourn to the jury room, elect a chairman, and take a vote. But one person maintains the young man's innocence. A lone juror wants them to look more closely at the case, and take a bit more time in considering their vote.
12 shows more outside the jury room than the original did. It also lets each juror tell more about his own life and experiences. And while this can be interesting, it is also sometimes too much, and is my only knock on the film. Sometimes their stories really do not have much to do with the case and go on too long. Some of the stories are used to great effect, but we really did not need to hear from all 12 of them, I don't think.
The ending really veers from 12 Angry Men, and actually becomes a strength of this film. It takes you to a place you don't expect at all, a place that like the film, is foreign to an American mindset.
Overall 12 is a very good film. A mite too long, sometimes losing focus on the main story line, but an excellent homage to 12 Angry Men, and and very good film in and of itself.
Restaurant- Cucina Urbana
We have a new favorite restaurant in San Diego!
For our anniversary (23rd) dinner we tried Cucina Urbana (http://www.sdurbankitchen.com/cucina-urbana.html), and all I can say is WOW! Actually, I have a lot more to say, but that is my short reaction to this new place, that opened recently, taking the place of the upscale Laurel restaurant.
First a little back story. In this economy, the owners of Laurel (though it was a highly rated and reviewed place) knew they could not sustain the place. So, while they still could, they decided to change it out to make it more economically viable. They have no entree over $20 bucks. They have a wine shop, with wines at retail, and a $7 corkage fee if you drink it there. It is more casual, with a neighborhood feel and a bar that has really new a refreshing drinks. The menu is California-Italian bistro, and we want to go back and try more! Because EVERYTHING we had was fantastic!
So, we started with Sharlynn selecting the wine. She went with a more expensive bottle, but one that was really nice, Primo I think it was, at $27. Remember that when it gets to our total bill. I also had a cocktail, the rosebud at the suggestion of our very nice waiter. It is vodka, muddled watermelon and a rosemary sprig, and de'lish!
I had heard about an appetizer here and we ordered it to start our meal. It is fried squash blossoms stuffed with herbed ricotta, served on a purple basil pesto with a light lemon dressing, and it is to die for! We were craving it the next day. Elegant, lightly fried and perfectly prepared, this type of dish is why you go out and eat. The stalks were like perfect asparagus, and the stuffed blossoms were mouth wateringly good. Not too much pesto, just a taste for each bite! It was as good as anything I have eaten. Seriously!
Our entrees? Sharlynn had the ‘duroc’ pork chop ‘milanese’, a pounded lightly breaded chop, served with marinated artichoke and a grilled, thick slice of heirloom tomato. Really tasty! Mine was a taste feast. The flavors burst in my mouth with every bite! The goat cheese + lemon ravioli with a corn puree, spring onions and pistachio oil had every taste sensation you could think of! Oh my god it was good! The sweetness of the corn puree, the tartness of the goat cheese, the brightness of the lemon...Ahhhhhhh! LOL!
I did order another cocktail during dinner, because there are so many unique ones there. It was the cucina 'rita. A mixture of tequila, amaretto, ginger syrup and white peach puree, it was great. Definitely a drink if you want to get a girl a little loopy! Because she could sock these down no problem, but it packs a punch! Nice third date drink! (Or as our waiter joked, in the '80's, a first date drink! HA!)
We went all out and split a dessert. It was a grilled peach with a blueberry panna cotta, and again, it was perfect!
The staff here were all very nice, we liked our waiter very much. We got there early, about 5:30 with no reservations and were lucky to be seated on a Tuesday night. If we were planning again, we would make reservations, because by the time we left, every table was taken. You can sit at the bar and order anything from the menu though, a nice option.
This was one of the best dinners we had had out! With the bottle of wine, 2 cocktails, an appetizer, entrees, dessert, it all came in for under $120. Not too bad for a celebratory night out! And a wonderful meal! And we could easily cut a lot off that tab!
We will go back. It is highly and enthusiastically recommended!
For our anniversary (23rd) dinner we tried Cucina Urbana (http://www.sdurbankitchen.com/cucina-urbana.html), and all I can say is WOW! Actually, I have a lot more to say, but that is my short reaction to this new place, that opened recently, taking the place of the upscale Laurel restaurant.
First a little back story. In this economy, the owners of Laurel (though it was a highly rated and reviewed place) knew they could not sustain the place. So, while they still could, they decided to change it out to make it more economically viable. They have no entree over $20 bucks. They have a wine shop, with wines at retail, and a $7 corkage fee if you drink it there. It is more casual, with a neighborhood feel and a bar that has really new a refreshing drinks. The menu is California-Italian bistro, and we want to go back and try more! Because EVERYTHING we had was fantastic!
So, we started with Sharlynn selecting the wine. She went with a more expensive bottle, but one that was really nice, Primo I think it was, at $27. Remember that when it gets to our total bill. I also had a cocktail, the rosebud at the suggestion of our very nice waiter. It is vodka, muddled watermelon and a rosemary sprig, and de'lish!
I had heard about an appetizer here and we ordered it to start our meal. It is fried squash blossoms stuffed with herbed ricotta, served on a purple basil pesto with a light lemon dressing, and it is to die for! We were craving it the next day. Elegant, lightly fried and perfectly prepared, this type of dish is why you go out and eat. The stalks were like perfect asparagus, and the stuffed blossoms were mouth wateringly good. Not too much pesto, just a taste for each bite! It was as good as anything I have eaten. Seriously!
Our entrees? Sharlynn had the ‘duroc’ pork chop ‘milanese’, a pounded lightly breaded chop, served with marinated artichoke and a grilled, thick slice of heirloom tomato. Really tasty! Mine was a taste feast. The flavors burst in my mouth with every bite! The goat cheese + lemon ravioli with a corn puree, spring onions and pistachio oil had every taste sensation you could think of! Oh my god it was good! The sweetness of the corn puree, the tartness of the goat cheese, the brightness of the lemon...Ahhhhhhh! LOL!
I did order another cocktail during dinner, because there are so many unique ones there. It was the cucina 'rita. A mixture of tequila, amaretto, ginger syrup and white peach puree, it was great. Definitely a drink if you want to get a girl a little loopy! Because she could sock these down no problem, but it packs a punch! Nice third date drink! (Or as our waiter joked, in the '80's, a first date drink! HA!)
We went all out and split a dessert. It was a grilled peach with a blueberry panna cotta, and again, it was perfect!
The staff here were all very nice, we liked our waiter very much. We got there early, about 5:30 with no reservations and were lucky to be seated on a Tuesday night. If we were planning again, we would make reservations, because by the time we left, every table was taken. You can sit at the bar and order anything from the menu though, a nice option.
This was one of the best dinners we had had out! With the bottle of wine, 2 cocktails, an appetizer, entrees, dessert, it all came in for under $120. Not too bad for a celebratory night out! And a wonderful meal! And we could easily cut a lot off that tab!
We will go back. It is highly and enthusiastically recommended!
Movie-The Trip to Bountiful
I had always heard good things about The Trip to Bountiful (1985) and knew that Geraldine Page won an Oscar for lead actress for her role in the film. But I had never seen it until now.
The description of the movie does not do it justice, and is just plain wrong in fact. "Forced to live with her rotten son Ludie (John Heard) and his wife (Carlin Glynn), Carrie Watts (Geraldine Page) decides she's had enough." Her son is not rotten at all, just trying to find some peace between his mother and his wife. His wife isn't an angel, but Miss Carrie isn't either...she is stubborn and intrusive. And Ludie has these two women living in a small apartment in Houston.
But Carrie has one goal. She feels a deep abiding need to return to Bountiful, the town she was born and raised in, before she dies. And she feels that her time to do that is running out. So she takes off.
Now this could be a cliched story. If the son was indeed rotten, if the daughter-in-law was indeed really a bad person, if Miss Carrie was too angelic...all these things may have made the story too trite. But each character was complete. Ludie just wants some peace, and is willing to find compromise between his wife and mother to find it. He loves them both, and understands them both, even if they don't understand each other.
His wife is shallow, it is true. But she is pretty and wants to ENJOY life. She wants to laugh and live---and Ludie needs that in his life...a lot.
And Miss Carrie. I have to delve into how Geraldine Page portrays her here. Miss Carrie is an old woman, who seems not to quite realize she is old, except for the feeling she is dying. She is by turns coy, and flirtatious. She remembers love and romance, and seems to long for it still. She is obstinate in her ways, and if she does not get what she wants, she throws what can be called a temper tantrum. But she has an inner light that comes from all of that, and comes from that portrayal by Page. It is a performance that seems so un-self absorbed, but you know it has to come from real artistry, from a master of the craft of acting.
This is an exceptional movie, featuring an exceptional performance by Page.
The description of the movie does not do it justice, and is just plain wrong in fact. "Forced to live with her rotten son Ludie (John Heard) and his wife (Carlin Glynn), Carrie Watts (Geraldine Page) decides she's had enough." Her son is not rotten at all, just trying to find some peace between his mother and his wife. His wife isn't an angel, but Miss Carrie isn't either...she is stubborn and intrusive. And Ludie has these two women living in a small apartment in Houston.
But Carrie has one goal. She feels a deep abiding need to return to Bountiful, the town she was born and raised in, before she dies. And she feels that her time to do that is running out. So she takes off.
Now this could be a cliched story. If the son was indeed rotten, if the daughter-in-law was indeed really a bad person, if Miss Carrie was too angelic...all these things may have made the story too trite. But each character was complete. Ludie just wants some peace, and is willing to find compromise between his wife and mother to find it. He loves them both, and understands them both, even if they don't understand each other.
His wife is shallow, it is true. But she is pretty and wants to ENJOY life. She wants to laugh and live---and Ludie needs that in his life...a lot.
And Miss Carrie. I have to delve into how Geraldine Page portrays her here. Miss Carrie is an old woman, who seems not to quite realize she is old, except for the feeling she is dying. She is by turns coy, and flirtatious. She remembers love and romance, and seems to long for it still. She is obstinate in her ways, and if she does not get what she wants, she throws what can be called a temper tantrum. But she has an inner light that comes from all of that, and comes from that portrayal by Page. It is a performance that seems so un-self absorbed, but you know it has to come from real artistry, from a master of the craft of acting.
This is an exceptional movie, featuring an exceptional performance by Page.
TV on Netflix- John Adams
And they said the mini-series was dead! Not so!
John Adams (2008), the spectacular mini-series from HBO states pure and clear that the mini-series is alive and not only well, but thriving. The 7-part historical drama, based on David McCullough's biography of our second president, brings history to life, and names and dates become secondary, as the people, the personalities, that shaped the founding of our country take the forefront.
And John Adams was in the lead for the founding of these United States, have no doubt. I have read another (fictional) book about Adams, Irving Stone's "Those Who Love." And the man was not particularly lovable, except to his wife Abigail, and even then not ALL the time. He was vain, jealous and curmudgeonly, and ill-tempered and impatient. He was also driven to make our country great, brilliant and put this country above himself.
This show, with brilliant production values shows Mr. Adams from his first ideas about breaking with Great Britain, to his dying days. It is a political tale, a tale of courage and dedication, and a tale of personal faults and amazing redeeming qualities. We hear of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Ben Franklin all the time, but John Adams ranks with them, or above them in the annals of the founding of our country.
Paul Giamatti is expertly cast as John Adams, and plays the role better than you can imagine anyone playing it. It is like it is created for him to play. Laura Linney, who I love, matches him step for step as his long-suffering wife Abigail, who he relies on so heavily, and yet, ill-uses so much it seems.
The supporting cast all are amazing, without exception. The relationships they show of our forefathers, show they were not gods, but men doing heroic things. These men, if they lost this endevour would have been hung as traitors to a legitmate government. The were truly revolutionaries, throwing off the yoke of a king, and they did not agree on how to do that. It was all new to them.
Amazing amazing amazing! This is how history should be portrayed.
John Adams (2008), the spectacular mini-series from HBO states pure and clear that the mini-series is alive and not only well, but thriving. The 7-part historical drama, based on David McCullough's biography of our second president, brings history to life, and names and dates become secondary, as the people, the personalities, that shaped the founding of our country take the forefront.
And John Adams was in the lead for the founding of these United States, have no doubt. I have read another (fictional) book about Adams, Irving Stone's "Those Who Love." And the man was not particularly lovable, except to his wife Abigail, and even then not ALL the time. He was vain, jealous and curmudgeonly, and ill-tempered and impatient. He was also driven to make our country great, brilliant and put this country above himself.
This show, with brilliant production values shows Mr. Adams from his first ideas about breaking with Great Britain, to his dying days. It is a political tale, a tale of courage and dedication, and a tale of personal faults and amazing redeeming qualities. We hear of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Ben Franklin all the time, but John Adams ranks with them, or above them in the annals of the founding of our country.
Paul Giamatti is expertly cast as John Adams, and plays the role better than you can imagine anyone playing it. It is like it is created for him to play. Laura Linney, who I love, matches him step for step as his long-suffering wife Abigail, who he relies on so heavily, and yet, ill-uses so much it seems.
The supporting cast all are amazing, without exception. The relationships they show of our forefathers, show they were not gods, but men doing heroic things. These men, if they lost this endevour would have been hung as traitors to a legitmate government. The were truly revolutionaries, throwing off the yoke of a king, and they did not agree on how to do that. It was all new to them.
Amazing amazing amazing! This is how history should be portrayed.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Play- Fiddler on the Roof
OK will admit a bit of prejudice here. From my childhood I have listened to the soundtrack of Fiddler on the Roof, of have been entranced. So I knew I would love the live performance at the Civic Theater, with Topol in the role of Tevya, his farewell tour. But I did not know I would love it as much as I did, and as did everyone else in the audience.
Fiddler on the Roof is the story of a poor milkman in a small village of Antevka, Russia in the early 1900's. Tevya has a personal relationship with God, and talks to him frequently, often complaining a little.
"You made many many poor people, I realize of course its no shame to be poor, but its no great honor either. Now what would be so terrible if I had a small fortune?" This is the intro to the spirited song "If I Were a Rich Man," a song I love for many MANY reasons. And Topol, at 73, makes it look so easy.
But Tevya is in a time of change, a time where the traditions of his village are at odds with a changing world, and this play is about how he copes with that.
It is amazingly relevant, after so many years still so bright, funny, touching, and this production was well wrought. The dancing took my breath away, and I am not a dancing aficionado per se. I can not think of a better production of this classic but still fresh play.
We went with friends Emily and Seth. And I suspect that they were not sure that they would really enjoy it...and I heard them laughing out loud, and know they were amazed by the dancing.
Classics such as "Matchmaker," and "Sunrise, Sunset," never sounded so good. And above it all Topol. Who made Tevya so human, so much an everyman, that we could all relate to his struggles, not just the struggles to keep bread on the table and roof over his head, but the struggle to keep some beauty and poetry in his life.
It is like a fiddler on the roof...trying to survive, while still making some kind of beautiful music. This play helped all who watched it do that. It was one of those play-going experiences that I will never forget.
Fiddler on the Roof is the story of a poor milkman in a small village of Antevka, Russia in the early 1900's. Tevya has a personal relationship with God, and talks to him frequently, often complaining a little.
"You made many many poor people, I realize of course its no shame to be poor, but its no great honor either. Now what would be so terrible if I had a small fortune?" This is the intro to the spirited song "If I Were a Rich Man," a song I love for many MANY reasons. And Topol, at 73, makes it look so easy.
But Tevya is in a time of change, a time where the traditions of his village are at odds with a changing world, and this play is about how he copes with that.
It is amazingly relevant, after so many years still so bright, funny, touching, and this production was well wrought. The dancing took my breath away, and I am not a dancing aficionado per se. I can not think of a better production of this classic but still fresh play.
We went with friends Emily and Seth. And I suspect that they were not sure that they would really enjoy it...and I heard them laughing out loud, and know they were amazed by the dancing.
Classics such as "Matchmaker," and "Sunrise, Sunset," never sounded so good. And above it all Topol. Who made Tevya so human, so much an everyman, that we could all relate to his struggles, not just the struggles to keep bread on the table and roof over his head, but the struggle to keep some beauty and poetry in his life.
It is like a fiddler on the roof...trying to survive, while still making some kind of beautiful music. This play helped all who watched it do that. It was one of those play-going experiences that I will never forget.
Movie-Saving Face
The generation gap never seems so apparent as it does between generations of immigrant parents and American born children. Not only does the typical age divide come into play, but a large cultural divide as well.
That is the focus of this light-hearted drama, Saving Face (2005). Joan Chen is a widowed mother of a young female surgeon. As a widow she still lives with her parents, in Chinatown, New York, speaking almost exclusively Chinese, interacting with only Chinese and seemingly content with that.
Her daughter, Wil, on the other hand, has an apartment of her own, outside of Chinatown, and is gay. When another woman, Vivian, from the same background comes into her life, it coincides with another familial shakeup...Wil's mother is pregnant, and her father is so outraged with his own lose of face, that he throws her out, and she has to live with Wil.
So Wil has two problems, how to balance this secret relationship she has (because she has not come out) and deal with the intrusion and pregnancy of her mother.
This is a fairly light-hearted, and sometimes really funny piece, but it is a drama, and we feel the angst of Wil mostly trying to cope between the traditions of her family, and who she is. And she sees how strong those traditions are with her grandfather's reaction to her mother's pregnancy.
I really liked this movie...the two younger female leads, who played Wil and Vivian are terrific and really engaging, and Joan Chen seems never to age. The story could have been merely about Wil and Vivian, but throwing the mother's situation in there gave it an extra dimension that added a lot to the movies vitality and message. The relationship between Wil and her mother is as interesting as between Wil and Vivian. And showing the cultural and generational divide, the difficulty is overcoming both of them, is very well done.
That is the focus of this light-hearted drama, Saving Face (2005). Joan Chen is a widowed mother of a young female surgeon. As a widow she still lives with her parents, in Chinatown, New York, speaking almost exclusively Chinese, interacting with only Chinese and seemingly content with that.
Her daughter, Wil, on the other hand, has an apartment of her own, outside of Chinatown, and is gay. When another woman, Vivian, from the same background comes into her life, it coincides with another familial shakeup...Wil's mother is pregnant, and her father is so outraged with his own lose of face, that he throws her out, and she has to live with Wil.
So Wil has two problems, how to balance this secret relationship she has (because she has not come out) and deal with the intrusion and pregnancy of her mother.
This is a fairly light-hearted, and sometimes really funny piece, but it is a drama, and we feel the angst of Wil mostly trying to cope between the traditions of her family, and who she is. And she sees how strong those traditions are with her grandfather's reaction to her mother's pregnancy.
I really liked this movie...the two younger female leads, who played Wil and Vivian are terrific and really engaging, and Joan Chen seems never to age. The story could have been merely about Wil and Vivian, but throwing the mother's situation in there gave it an extra dimension that added a lot to the movies vitality and message. The relationship between Wil and her mother is as interesting as between Wil and Vivian. And showing the cultural and generational divide, the difficulty is overcoming both of them, is very well done.
Movie-The Sting
In 1973 a movie event happened...a repairing of the co-stars from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Paul Newman and Robert Redford, came to screens in The Sting.
And I don't know how movie goers received in 1973, but watching it now, it was a great pairing of two sparkling leading men. I think it was better than Butch Cassidy.
Redford plays Johnny Hooker, a small-time grifter, who wants to make it big, but has to go on the lam, because of con that marked the wrong person, one with mob connections, and the mob is after him. He ends up in Chicago, told to look up Henry Gondorf (Newman) a big-time con man, who is in forced retirement. They combine forces to get at the head of the mob chasing Hooker down, and who killed his former partner.
Watching these two in action, putting together a team for this big con, I couldn't help but think, this is the decedent of Clooney and Pitt's Ocean's 11. the timing between Redford and Newman, the subtle nods and inflections, the FUN they seem to be having in pulling this con...the two are the 70's Clooney and Pitt. In fact there are a few scenes where Redford looks so much like Pitt it is scary.
The Sting is great fun, great movie watching and a chance to see to iconic actors working together. The con was entertaining, and set up brilliantly, and the film never lets you quite see around the corner to the end game. But with the knowing nods of Redford and Newman, you are willing to follow them where they want to take you in this movie, because you know it will be a great ride.
And I don't know how movie goers received in 1973, but watching it now, it was a great pairing of two sparkling leading men. I think it was better than Butch Cassidy.
Redford plays Johnny Hooker, a small-time grifter, who wants to make it big, but has to go on the lam, because of con that marked the wrong person, one with mob connections, and the mob is after him. He ends up in Chicago, told to look up Henry Gondorf (Newman) a big-time con man, who is in forced retirement. They combine forces to get at the head of the mob chasing Hooker down, and who killed his former partner.
Watching these two in action, putting together a team for this big con, I couldn't help but think, this is the decedent of Clooney and Pitt's Ocean's 11. the timing between Redford and Newman, the subtle nods and inflections, the FUN they seem to be having in pulling this con...the two are the 70's Clooney and Pitt. In fact there are a few scenes where Redford looks so much like Pitt it is scary.
The Sting is great fun, great movie watching and a chance to see to iconic actors working together. The con was entertaining, and set up brilliantly, and the film never lets you quite see around the corner to the end game. But with the knowing nods of Redford and Newman, you are willing to follow them where they want to take you in this movie, because you know it will be a great ride.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Robots (2005) is a fun, computer animated movie, while not great, offers some nice entertainment.
Set on a world of all robots, the hero is Rodney Copperbottom, who leaves his small town to find fame and fortune in the big city. Of course he finds that all is not as he expected it to be, in fact, the great corporation he hoped to work for has now been taken over by a ruthless robot named Rachet. It is a story that we have all seen before, but put into a pretty nice animation format.
Rodney, as voiced by Ewan McGregor, finds friends in the city, and with them, decides to restore things to right, by taking down Rachet. There is good voice work expecially by Greg Kinnear as Rachet, and Robin Williams as one of Rodney's new friends. And the animation is good.
Robots is not of the quality of Wall-E, but like I said, it is fun and entertaining.
Set on a world of all robots, the hero is Rodney Copperbottom, who leaves his small town to find fame and fortune in the big city. Of course he finds that all is not as he expected it to be, in fact, the great corporation he hoped to work for has now been taken over by a ruthless robot named Rachet. It is a story that we have all seen before, but put into a pretty nice animation format.
Rodney, as voiced by Ewan McGregor, finds friends in the city, and with them, decides to restore things to right, by taking down Rachet. There is good voice work expecially by Greg Kinnear as Rachet, and Robin Williams as one of Rodney's new friends. And the animation is good.
Robots is not of the quality of Wall-E, but like I said, it is fun and entertaining.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Movie-Me and You and Everyone We Know
Me and You and Everyone We Know (2005) is a quirky film, and not always comfortable to watch in its quirkiness. While I can't say it is bad, I also can't say that it is really good either.
Miranda July wrote, directed and costars in this indie piece, a love story between two lonely people who find each other as kindred spirits. But, the question is, whether they can accept that they care about each other. July plays Christine, a performance artist, and John Hawkes plays Richard who is recently separated and has two kids.
The story lines involving the two kids, and two teenage girls in the area, are perhaps the oddest parts of the film, and the most uncomfortable, with sexual situations between adults and kids. Not that anything comes to fruition, in fact the film is pretty clear that it is a bad thing. But it is just...un-com-for-table.
The main characters of Richard and Christine are a bit squirmy too...not your usual romantic comedy fare. And while I value originality, they just felt odd to me.
Me and You and Everyone We Know is altogether a bit too odd for me to really enjoy it. Though original, I just could not really connect to the story or the characters.
Miranda July wrote, directed and costars in this indie piece, a love story between two lonely people who find each other as kindred spirits. But, the question is, whether they can accept that they care about each other. July plays Christine, a performance artist, and John Hawkes plays Richard who is recently separated and has two kids.
The story lines involving the two kids, and two teenage girls in the area, are perhaps the oddest parts of the film, and the most uncomfortable, with sexual situations between adults and kids. Not that anything comes to fruition, in fact the film is pretty clear that it is a bad thing. But it is just...un-com-for-table.
The main characters of Richard and Christine are a bit squirmy too...not your usual romantic comedy fare. And while I value originality, they just felt odd to me.
Me and You and Everyone We Know is altogether a bit too odd for me to really enjoy it. Though original, I just could not really connect to the story or the characters.
Monday, July 13, 2009
2 Magazines
As always, read my two monthly magazines, National Geographic and Playboy.
July Nat Geo was excellent! The story about Angkor and why that civilization disappeared was entrancing, with great graphics of the water systems they had there. And great photography also! It was one of those stories that I subscribe to the magazine for. Also, the Garrison Keillor piece about state fairs was great prose and again great photographs. The photo essay on devilfish---holy crap those are big animals! It really gave a sense of wonder of the creatures, diverse and splendid, we share this earth with.
July/August Playboy, because they are going bi-monthly I have heard, was quite a good one too. Ironically had a article about Billy Mays that came out right before he died. But the Alec Baldwin interview was really interesting. He is conflicted in a lot of ways, and admits it to a point. And seems very open to discussing his faults. A few months ago, Playboy finished a series of articles looking closely at the male sexual system. This month they look very closely at the female system. And it is an enlightening article. I mean, do you know why it is called the "G Spot?" But it really looks at various theories of female sexuality from a physiological view. Is there a g spot? Or is there only clitoral orgasms? What and why is there a clitoris? And, what is the clitoral system...really, what we see is only the...ahem...tip of the iceberg. There is so much we still do not understand about female sexuality, even anatomically.
As always I am entertained and learn a lot from both these publications!
July Nat Geo was excellent! The story about Angkor and why that civilization disappeared was entrancing, with great graphics of the water systems they had there. And great photography also! It was one of those stories that I subscribe to the magazine for. Also, the Garrison Keillor piece about state fairs was great prose and again great photographs. The photo essay on devilfish---holy crap those are big animals! It really gave a sense of wonder of the creatures, diverse and splendid, we share this earth with.
July/August Playboy, because they are going bi-monthly I have heard, was quite a good one too. Ironically had a article about Billy Mays that came out right before he died. But the Alec Baldwin interview was really interesting. He is conflicted in a lot of ways, and admits it to a point. And seems very open to discussing his faults. A few months ago, Playboy finished a series of articles looking closely at the male sexual system. This month they look very closely at the female system. And it is an enlightening article. I mean, do you know why it is called the "G Spot?" But it really looks at various theories of female sexuality from a physiological view. Is there a g spot? Or is there only clitoral orgasms? What and why is there a clitoris? And, what is the clitoral system...really, what we see is only the...ahem...tip of the iceberg. There is so much we still do not understand about female sexuality, even anatomically.
As always I am entertained and learn a lot from both these publications!
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Movie-Bigger, Stronger, Faster
This documentary about steroid use in America turned out a little unexpected for me. I was ready from the previews to see a stronger indictment of steroid use, but what the movie turned out to be, was far more interesting.
Bigger, Stronger, Faster (2008) tells the true story of director and narrator, Chris Bell's family, where 3 brothers ALL have taken steroids, and 2 still do. Bell probes into the issues of the danger of steroids, and makes an admirable case that they are not nearly as dangerous as many other things out there; prescription drugs, cigarettes, alcohol. But he also examines the why...why do we, particularly Americans, feel the need to take these drugs. And that is where it is interesting.
He plays a clip near the end of George C. Scott as Patton. The famous speech from the movie, with him in front of the flag. He is saying that American HATE to lose. Losing is the antithesis of all that is American.
Think of that. Earlier, Bell showed his heroes growing up...Hulk Hogan, Rambo, Arnold. All winners...and of course...all steroid users. Is our identity so caught up in being the "best", at winning, that we will take anything to do that? We will undergo medical procedures and surgeries to "look" our best, and do the same to be the "best?"
Bigger, Stronger, Faster is a very personal film. Bell focuses on his family and uses their experiences to cast a wider eye on an American experience. One place he could have gone that he did not was the question of steroids making us dependent on drugs, and what implications that has. But that could be a whole other movie.
This was a very good film, better and deeper than I expected.
Bigger, Stronger, Faster (2008) tells the true story of director and narrator, Chris Bell's family, where 3 brothers ALL have taken steroids, and 2 still do. Bell probes into the issues of the danger of steroids, and makes an admirable case that they are not nearly as dangerous as many other things out there; prescription drugs, cigarettes, alcohol. But he also examines the why...why do we, particularly Americans, feel the need to take these drugs. And that is where it is interesting.
He plays a clip near the end of George C. Scott as Patton. The famous speech from the movie, with him in front of the flag. He is saying that American HATE to lose. Losing is the antithesis of all that is American.
Think of that. Earlier, Bell showed his heroes growing up...Hulk Hogan, Rambo, Arnold. All winners...and of course...all steroid users. Is our identity so caught up in being the "best", at winning, that we will take anything to do that? We will undergo medical procedures and surgeries to "look" our best, and do the same to be the "best?"
Bigger, Stronger, Faster is a very personal film. Bell focuses on his family and uses their experiences to cast a wider eye on an American experience. One place he could have gone that he did not was the question of steroids making us dependent on drugs, and what implications that has. But that could be a whole other movie.
This was a very good film, better and deeper than I expected.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Movie- Last Chance Harvey
Last Chance Harvey (2009) is certainly not a great movie. But it has two really good things going for it: Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson. And boy, they are in a groove here.
the movie is a fairly mundane love story, though with a refreshing twist of two older people falling in love. But even so, its been done before. However, never with these two actors that have such a great response with one another. they are both pros, and you can feel the energy as they play off each other with great dialogue (much of it somewhat improvised).
Hoffman is a man who has given up too much for his moderate success, and Thompson is a woman who gives to others without taking care of herself. Both have almost given up on love. But he comes to London for his daughter wedding, even then an outsider, as she chooses her stepfather to give her away (and you understand her reason). And almost as fate would have it, the two run into each other more than once. And an awkward conversation turns into laughter and warmth. And that turns into affection and love.
These are really good actors, playing characters that have their faults, but are likable. And you know what? Its OK to indulge. When two such good actors do their thing so well, indulge away.
Last Chance Harvey is about never saying never, never saying its over or its too late. Life has a way of throwing you curves, bad and good. Luckily Hoffman and Thompson can hit a curve ball out of the park.
the movie is a fairly mundane love story, though with a refreshing twist of two older people falling in love. But even so, its been done before. However, never with these two actors that have such a great response with one another. they are both pros, and you can feel the energy as they play off each other with great dialogue (much of it somewhat improvised).
Hoffman is a man who has given up too much for his moderate success, and Thompson is a woman who gives to others without taking care of herself. Both have almost given up on love. But he comes to London for his daughter wedding, even then an outsider, as she chooses her stepfather to give her away (and you understand her reason). And almost as fate would have it, the two run into each other more than once. And an awkward conversation turns into laughter and warmth. And that turns into affection and love.
These are really good actors, playing characters that have their faults, but are likable. And you know what? Its OK to indulge. When two such good actors do their thing so well, indulge away.
Last Chance Harvey is about never saying never, never saying its over or its too late. Life has a way of throwing you curves, bad and good. Luckily Hoffman and Thompson can hit a curve ball out of the park.
TV on Netflix- Justice League: The New Frontier
There have been a lot of Justice League cartoons on the Cartoon Network, and I have enjoyed them. But they have mostly been G rated and have involved little else than finding the bad guy or solving the crime.
Not so with Justice League: The New Frontier (2008). This is PG 13 and has some very ambiguous morality in it, including McCarthy era Red baiting, civil rights being ignored, and the consequences of war crimes.
Set in the 1950's, a supposedly more innocent time, this well animated story shows the formation of the Justice League set against the corruption of U.S. government and military officials. All the key players for the JLA are here, with key, and intriguing roles for Batman and Wonder Woman, as well as the Martian Manhunter and Green Lantern.
Really good Justice League adventure. They need to make more like this.
Not so with Justice League: The New Frontier (2008). This is PG 13 and has some very ambiguous morality in it, including McCarthy era Red baiting, civil rights being ignored, and the consequences of war crimes.
Set in the 1950's, a supposedly more innocent time, this well animated story shows the formation of the Justice League set against the corruption of U.S. government and military officials. All the key players for the JLA are here, with key, and intriguing roles for Batman and Wonder Woman, as well as the Martian Manhunter and Green Lantern.
Really good Justice League adventure. They need to make more like this.
Movie-Grave of the Fireflies
Keep your kleenex close by. You will need them watching this heart-rending movie, Grave of the Fireflies (1988). It is an animated feature, but is not the usual science-fiction or fantasy. It is about two kids in Japan in WWII. And it is stark and sad, and beautiful and memorable, and sad again.
An air raid hits a city in Japan, the incendiary carpet bombing that would destroy whole areas. A mother does not survive and leaves her teenage son and toddler daughter to find their own way. And they try. Seita, the boy tries to take care of Setstuko, but they face an indifferent world, where even relatives care more about themselves than two orphans.
Slowly they start fading. Setsuko becomes ill, and sicker still. Seita becomes desperate, but there is nothing more he can do. We know she will die, but it breaks our heart anyway. We know he will also, and it breaks our heart again.
These characters are ones you will remember. This movie is one you will remember.
An air raid hits a city in Japan, the incendiary carpet bombing that would destroy whole areas. A mother does not survive and leaves her teenage son and toddler daughter to find their own way. And they try. Seita, the boy tries to take care of Setstuko, but they face an indifferent world, where even relatives care more about themselves than two orphans.
Slowly they start fading. Setsuko becomes ill, and sicker still. Seita becomes desperate, but there is nothing more he can do. We know she will die, but it breaks our heart anyway. We know he will also, and it breaks our heart again.
These characters are ones you will remember. This movie is one you will remember.
Movie-The International
The International (2009) was billed as a thriller, and it did have some thrilling moments. But it was more "build-up, with vague disappointment" than "thriller" to me.
Now part of this may have been to make a point. The whole concept of the movie is that it is hard to nail an international corporation (in this case a bank) for crimes, in that it is so part of the way business works. There is no specific person to take down, no specific way to stop them. So the vagueness may have been part and parcel of that idea.
But when Clive Owen, playing an Interpol agent, runs after a car with a person who he suspects has just murdered someone, and faces down the car, and it is just empty, it leaves you a little...OK, I'll say it...blue-balled! LOL! And that happened over and over in this film.
The one really amazing scene was the shoot out in the Guggenheim Museum. That was the stuff of a spy thriller. But even at the end of the film, it was a let down. There was no sense of closure or reward. I had to wonder, well then, why did they even make this?
I really like Clive Owen and co-star Naomi Watts. But both seemed out of place, or badly directed in the movie. Owen was too intense by a long shot...glaring at people he was supposed to be following discretely. And Watts just seemed to be going through her lines.
The International had a few good moments, but it was mostly frustrating, as it built up tension, but never gave a pay off for that build up. I had to take a cold shower after watching it.
Now part of this may have been to make a point. The whole concept of the movie is that it is hard to nail an international corporation (in this case a bank) for crimes, in that it is so part of the way business works. There is no specific person to take down, no specific way to stop them. So the vagueness may have been part and parcel of that idea.
But when Clive Owen, playing an Interpol agent, runs after a car with a person who he suspects has just murdered someone, and faces down the car, and it is just empty, it leaves you a little...OK, I'll say it...blue-balled! LOL! And that happened over and over in this film.
The one really amazing scene was the shoot out in the Guggenheim Museum. That was the stuff of a spy thriller. But even at the end of the film, it was a let down. There was no sense of closure or reward. I had to wonder, well then, why did they even make this?
I really like Clive Owen and co-star Naomi Watts. But both seemed out of place, or badly directed in the movie. Owen was too intense by a long shot...glaring at people he was supposed to be following discretely. And Watts just seemed to be going through her lines.
The International had a few good moments, but it was mostly frustrating, as it built up tension, but never gave a pay off for that build up. I had to take a cold shower after watching it.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Movie-Waltz With Bashir
Waltz With Bashir was nominated for an Oscar as best foreign film. It was a favorite because it has won the Golden Globe, but it did not win the Oscar.
Wow. This is an amazing movie. It is animated, but with an animation I have never seen before, and that was so evocative. It also was a documentary, that chronicled the real life experiences of the director, as he tried to find his memories as an Israeli soldier in the Lebanese War...memories that were gone, that would not emerge.
The film is so effective because memories lie somewhere in dreams, and it would have been hard to document dreams without animation. The dreams of other soldiers, now in middle age, connecting to their memories. The dreams/nightmares of war.
Waltz With Bashir (2008) is about as anti-war as you can get, yet it does not come across preachy, it simply tells the story from a soldier's viewpoint. It also shows the lack of responsibility taken for the horrors that war produces by anyone.
This film is a work of art on so many levels. It is not just great and unique animation, nor a compelling story, nor a moral viewpoint. But the synthesis of all these and more, make something that transcends all these. Waltz With Bashir is a movie that should be seen.
Wow. This is an amazing movie. It is animated, but with an animation I have never seen before, and that was so evocative. It also was a documentary, that chronicled the real life experiences of the director, as he tried to find his memories as an Israeli soldier in the Lebanese War...memories that were gone, that would not emerge.
The film is so effective because memories lie somewhere in dreams, and it would have been hard to document dreams without animation. The dreams of other soldiers, now in middle age, connecting to their memories. The dreams/nightmares of war.
Waltz With Bashir (2008) is about as anti-war as you can get, yet it does not come across preachy, it simply tells the story from a soldier's viewpoint. It also shows the lack of responsibility taken for the horrors that war produces by anyone.
This film is a work of art on so many levels. It is not just great and unique animation, nor a compelling story, nor a moral viewpoint. But the synthesis of all these and more, make something that transcends all these. Waltz With Bashir is a movie that should be seen.
Bar Nightclub- True North Tavern
It was not many years ago that North Park was a quiet, non-vibrant area of San Diego, especially after dark. You passed through it going from here to there sometimes, but you never stopped there.
That has changed in recent years, especially on and around 30th and University, with excellent restaurants (Urban Solace, The Linkery, Sea Rocket Bistro) running down into South Park. And even more recently True North Tavern (http://www.truenorthtavern.com/) has opened, a bar/nightclub just off University on 30th.
We checked out the scene on a recent Friday night, and it was a happening place. Lots of people, lots of dancing, good drinks and just a fun, party atmosphere. It is a little more casual than the Gaslamp, and that is good as far as I am concerned, and it has more reasonable drink prices...and that is REALLY good as far as I am concerned.
They do have food in the evening, but we did not have any. My bartender made excellent gin martinis...very cold, with a nice lemon twist, as I requested. But all the bartenders seemed to be filling orders nicely, and the drinks were not weak.
As the night progresses, tables and bar stools are moved and a dance floor is created. Now the music really cranks. We haven't danced in awhile, and I do not claim to be a great dancer, but we had fun, dancing quite a few times.
When we left about midnight, there was still a long line of people waiting to get in. I would definitely go back to True North. It is a fun place to get your party on outside downtown. Who woulda thought it would be North Park though?
That has changed in recent years, especially on and around 30th and University, with excellent restaurants (Urban Solace, The Linkery, Sea Rocket Bistro) running down into South Park. And even more recently True North Tavern (http://www.truenorthtavern.com/) has opened, a bar/nightclub just off University on 30th.
We checked out the scene on a recent Friday night, and it was a happening place. Lots of people, lots of dancing, good drinks and just a fun, party atmosphere. It is a little more casual than the Gaslamp, and that is good as far as I am concerned, and it has more reasonable drink prices...and that is REALLY good as far as I am concerned.
They do have food in the evening, but we did not have any. My bartender made excellent gin martinis...very cold, with a nice lemon twist, as I requested. But all the bartenders seemed to be filling orders nicely, and the drinks were not weak.
As the night progresses, tables and bar stools are moved and a dance floor is created. Now the music really cranks. We haven't danced in awhile, and I do not claim to be a great dancer, but we had fun, dancing quite a few times.
When we left about midnight, there was still a long line of people waiting to get in. I would definitely go back to True North. It is a fun place to get your party on outside downtown. Who woulda thought it would be North Park though?
Movie-Taken
This is the second movie I have seen recently dealing with the subject of the illegal sex trade industry and the kidnapping of young women for that industry. The first one, Trade, was more introspective, though it had its moments of tension.
Taken (2008) is a whole different animal, an action thriller, and in its genre, works very well. Liam Neeson is an unexpected action hero, ex-CIA, special assignment agent, Bryan. He has retired to be closer to his 17-year-old daughter, who now lives with his ex-wife and a really rich step-father. She talks him into letting her go to Europe, against his better judgement, and in an apartment in France, while he listens on the phone, she is taken.
But Bryan knows how to work this...and he does it effectively, ruthlessly and, for the audience, entertainingly. While Neeson acts an action hero, Bryan also uses his brain quite well, and this works because Neeson seems smart and seasoned, not like he just relies on brawn.
There are many twists and turns, but I was on the edge of my seat many times, not just at the car chases, but at the bluffs Bryan used to get closer to his daughter. At at the lengths he would go to, to rescue her. He would not let red tape, or former friends stop him.
Taken is a really good movie...and Neeson plays this character perfectly. He can't go to the well too much on this action hero brand, but in this movie it works perfectly.
Taken (2008) is a whole different animal, an action thriller, and in its genre, works very well. Liam Neeson is an unexpected action hero, ex-CIA, special assignment agent, Bryan. He has retired to be closer to his 17-year-old daughter, who now lives with his ex-wife and a really rich step-father. She talks him into letting her go to Europe, against his better judgement, and in an apartment in France, while he listens on the phone, she is taken.
But Bryan knows how to work this...and he does it effectively, ruthlessly and, for the audience, entertainingly. While Neeson acts an action hero, Bryan also uses his brain quite well, and this works because Neeson seems smart and seasoned, not like he just relies on brawn.
There are many twists and turns, but I was on the edge of my seat many times, not just at the car chases, but at the bluffs Bryan used to get closer to his daughter. At at the lengths he would go to, to rescue her. He would not let red tape, or former friends stop him.
Taken is a really good movie...and Neeson plays this character perfectly. He can't go to the well too much on this action hero brand, but in this movie it works perfectly.
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