Massive Movie Review

After a drought in my movie going life, I've made up for lost time since Christmas, seeing five movies that I'm going to attempt to review in some coherent fashion. So, hang on!

National Treasure : Book of Secrets: Having not seen the first movie yet, I had some anticipation going into this one that I was going to be a bit lost. Definitely not the case! Quite an enjoyable movie with lots of adventure. The pacing was great, and the tension between the characters held my attention. I loved the bit with the President! If you're in the mood for a good action flick with a bit of mystery & romance thrown in, this is the movie for you!

Sweeney Todd: Musicals are a guilty pleasure of mine that the husband seldom agrees to particpate in, but the murderous aspect of Sweeney Todd plus the Depp/Burton combo was enough to persuade him to join me. It's the first musical I've ever heard him say he liked, and I was also not disappointed. Depp was awesome as always, but Helena Bonham Carter & Alan Rickman were also outstanding. Yes, it was bloody, but it was fun!

Juno: I decided not to join the husband for One Missed Call and saw this instead. Awesome movie! Hysterical and heartwarming. A different perspective on teen pregnancy and the impact it has on everyone involved. I love the relationship between Juno and her dad. I highly recommend this one to anyone.

I Am Legend: I don't know if I can honestly give an objective review of this movie. I've read the book & I like it. I went into the movie fully expecting to like it. While different than the book, it was enjoyable up until one scene that put me over the edge emotionally. To be honest, it was an effective scene if it got me as upset as it did, but I was unable to enjoy the rest of the movie because of it. I was too angry at everyone involved! I don't want to say what the scene was, as I refuse to spoil movies for anyone. If you're tenderhearted, bring some tissue.

Cloverfield: My one complaint is the camerawork. While it is effective in the purpose it serves, it is also intensely nauseating. Several people left the theater due to this, and I fought valiantly not to vomit during several scenes. That said, it is a great monster movie!

So, not the most in depth reviews ever but a tidbit about each movie. Feel free to share thoughts about anything I've said here. Now, get out there & go to the movies!

Musical Addendum to Holiday Post

In my holiday post, I neglected to mention the muscial highlight of the season. Christmas music and heavy metal guitars! Christmas Eve Eve, the husband, several friends, and I went to see Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO). The show has become a holiday favorite for me, and sharing it with friends was awesome. If I'm not in a Christmas mood when I go, I definitely have the spirit when I leave! For the first time, we had floor seats, and the snowfall was amazing!

"The Old City Bar" and "Prince of Peace" are always my two favorite moments of the night, and this year did not disappoint. Jay Pierce is amazing on "Prince of Peace." TSO has got to put that version on an album!

TSO makes me happy!!

Off the Shelf -- On Her Majesty's Occult Service

Thought I'd take a stab at sharing some of the books I read. So here goes...

On Her Majesty's Occult Service by Charles Stross was loaned to me by a friend, who described it as "James Bond meets Cthulhu". It contains two previously published novels, The Atrocity Archives and The Jennifer Morgue. The basic premise is that mathematical theory and quantum physics used in just the right way connect with alternative dimensions or the icky things in our current dimension that we probably don't want to see. It's an eclectic mix of spy thriller and horror.

Bob, the protagonist, works for The Laundry, the branch of the British Secret (and I mean very secret) Service that protects us from the horrors of the universe. When Bob isn't saving the world, he works in the IT department. Balancing the horrors of alternate dimensions, gorgons, Deep Ones, MMORPGs, and interns with the rules, regulations, and form requirements of government service creates chaos for Bob, entertainment for the rest of us. The culmination of Bob's Bondesque adventure is a thrill ride that just keeps coming!

Stross creates a likable hero you want to succeed, seamlessly blending disparate genres into a great read. The beginning of the Atrocity Archives moves a bit slowly, but much of it is setup to establish the working of technomancy. All in all, a very enjoyable read. I'm glad my friend loaned it to me, and I hope to one day find more adventures of Bob!

If you decide to give a whirl, I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Christmas & New Year's -- Better Late Than Never

This holiday season was one of the most relaxing I've had in years. Purchasing gifts was achieved in one day with only one loud "discussion" with the husband in the aisles. Unlike years past, we did not have to travel this year, which was wonderful. My brother & sister-in-law came down, and I was able to spend several hours with both my father and brother reminiscing. Now that a was a Christmas gift! Friends, family, and the husband showered me with gifts that will bring me happiness in the coming year, and the joy of spending time with friends always brings a smile to my heart during the holidays. One gift that did not come in a box, but I still treasure, was seeing a friend (who has historically not enjoyed the holidays) infused with the holiday spirit. Christmas Eve was spent quiety at home with the husband and the critters, and yes, Rock Band was involved! (There was new downloadable content!)

As for New Year's Eve, we broke with tradition, deciding not to plan anything special -- kind of a "let's sit back and see what happens" attitude, as we are the event planners in our circle of friends. As we predicted, nothing was planned, and we happily spent the evening at home, where we played Rock Band, watched movies, and just enjoyed each other's company. At midnight, we uncorked a lovely bottle of champagne (you do indeed get what you pay for in champagne!) and stood on our front porch watching the fireworks show the neighbors put on. Quiet but enjoyable. We watched movies together until 4 am, snuggling on the couch, an indulgence we engage in all too litle in recent months (but I'll correct that *wink*).

Something I sometimes forget is that I really do enjoy the simple things in life, like spending a holiday at home. It is so easy to enmesh myself in the bustle of the holidays and overplan. This holiday season reminded me again of the simple. Yes, a New Year's Eve celebration with friends would have been enjoyable, but reconnecting with the simple joy of celebrating a quiet New Year's with the husband and the critters revived my inner being. That is something for which I am truly grateful.

Hey, Hey I Wanna Be a Rockstar!

I'm gonna trade this life for fortune and fame

I'd even cut my hair and change my name

'Cause we all just wanna be big rockstars and

Live in hilltop houses driving fifteen cars

-"Rockstar" by Nickelback

The latest sensation in my household is Rock Band. Since it's release in early November, the hearth in front of my fireplace has been occupied by the glory that is Rock Band. If you're not familiar with it, it's a video game that allows you & your friends to pretend to be a real band performing songs you know. It comes with guitar, drumkit, and microphone. It's like Guitar Hero on acid.

I eagerly anticipated Rock Band's release for weeks, and it did not disappoint. The set list is awesome (though it could use some Nickelback & some 80s power ballads). There was a bit of a hassle getting the game, as GameStop screwed up my preorder, but I was still able to get the game the day of release. After supervising the husband in setting everything up, we were ready to play. I quickly called dibs on singing for two reasons 1)I love singing, even though I do it badly 2)I lack the coordination to do guitar or drums well (imagine things breaking & drum sticks flying around the room -- it wasn't pretty). And thus, DeathTüff was born!

Many happy hours with the husband and several friends have been spent rocking out (one friend liked it so much, he went out and bought a PS3 just to play the game). I've agonized my way through Gimme Shelter and Train Kept A'Rollin' (thanks for all those saves, guys), and I can't recall how many times I've sung In Bloom (I'd be happy to never sing it again!). Rocking out to Metallica & Bon Jovi was awesome, and I've found a new enjoyment of songs I didn't think I liked (Celebrity Skin, I Think I'm Paranoid) and learned the hard way that I was not meant to sing Iron Maiden or R.E.M songs!

The customizable aspects of the game are pretty cool. While not a shopper in real life, I find a certain joy in creating just the right look for my rocker. The options are endless. If I have one complaint about the game, it is the "rock band" aspect of the game where you go from gig to gig & sing the same songs over & over again in band mode (guess I wouldn't cut it in real band very long --"But I don't want to sing that again. ") The game also makes band members gradually increase the level of difficulty, making it harder to progress (especially difficult if you're coordination/vocally challenged). For group fun, though, quickplay works great for everyone to just rock out! Despite all of that, I love the game & jump at every chance to play.

I'm waiting for the husband's obsession with the game to end so I can solo the vocals on the game, and one of these days I actually want to finish solo with the guitarist I made. Hmmm...maybe I can just get his boss to make him work overtime. *evil grin*