wasted weekend!

Here is why it was semi-wasted. (as in didn't get anything done, vs I drank too much!)

Well Friday, right after work, I quickly drove 30 miles home to my dentist. Then quickly went to my house, let the dogs out, and once again, quickly drove back into town. There was a happy hour/party, for D-Lo, who took the retirement package here at work. She will be missed, and I wanted to make sure I made an appearance, because she is a great gal.

Saturday, my throat was even sorer than Friday, and my head felt like someone stuffed cotton in through my ears. Sniffles, congested, nothing serious, but enough that I didn't feel like doing anything.

That night, I got to watch my Tarheels beat Louisville, to make it to Final Four. Even though Sunday's game resulted in us playing KU. I'm not looking forward to a week worth of smack talk from the jayhawk fans. And if the terrible happens, and they win, I might take a week off from work to avoid them.

So, since I wasn't feeling great, I watched the two netflix movies I had on hand, plus caught up on some TV shows I had DVR'd.

The Kite Runner
(dvd)
trailer

Starring:
Khalid Abdalla ... Amir
Atossa Leoni ... Soraya
Shaun Toub ... Rahim Kahn
Zekeria Ebrahimi ... Young Amir
Ahmad Khan Mahmidzada ... Young Hassan
Homayoun Ershadi ... Baba
Saïd Taghmaoui ... Farid
Sayed Jafar Masihullah Gharibzada... Omar

4 out of 5
First off Atossa Leoni is hawt. There are varying degrees of hawt, and she is on my list.
Now this was a great movie. A story of two young boys one a house-servant, the other his employer's son. The title comes from a competition where you try to cut the strings of another person's kite, with yours. The loser's kite floats to the ground, to be claimed by the victor.

The two are best friends, but after a betrayal involving a bully, they grow apart. Soon Russia invades Afghanistan, and Amir (Khalid Abdalla) and his father 'Baba' (Homayoun Ershadi) flee to Pakistan, then settle in America.

Years later, Amir is called back to Pakistan to see his family friend Omar (Sayed Jafar Masihullah Gharibzada) who is very ill. He learns he was summoned back for a different reason. Amir and his childhood friend are actually brothers by blood, and his brother has been murdered. Also killed was his brother's wife, but their son survived. Amir must return to war ravaged Afghanistan to claim his nephew, and rescue him.

I highly recommend this one, be warned though, lots of subtitles. Look for an appearance at the end by Saïd Taghmaoui, who played in a movie a few years ago titled 'Three Kings'.

Day Zero

(dvd)
trailer
Starring:
Elijah Wood ... Aaron Feller
Jon Bernthal ... James Dixon
Chris Klein ... George Rifkin
Ginnifer Goodwin ... Molly Rifkin


3 out of 5
Well, I was on the fence whether to rate this a 2, or a 3. The movie centers around 3 friends. One is a writer, one a lawyer, and the last a taxi cab driver. Years after 9/11, the government has brought back the draft. To sum up the plot, the rest of the movie deals with each characters decision to try dodge it, or report for duty. That about sums it up. While the movie deals with the cost of freedom, it was slow, and it was nice to see Jon Bernthal (Dixon) in a feature film, from the I believe cancelled TV show "The Class". The acting was fine, but as I said, the script moved pretty slow, they have 30 days before they have to report, and at times the movie felt like it took 30 days.

2 Days in Paris

well, from the title alone, I was skeptical, but the trailer looked funny.

2 Days in Paris
(dvd)
trailer

Starring:
Julie Delpy ... Marion
Adam Goldberg ... Jack

2 out of 5

Marion and Jack have been together for two years now, and after a disastrous trip to Venice, they stop in Paris for two days before heading back to NY, to visit her family. The trip gets even worse as everywhere they go, they run into one of her ex-boyfriends. Honestly, that about sums up the whole movie. Besides the language barrier, Jack starts the question if he should stay with someone with as much 'experience' as Marion apparently has.

I was a bit disappointed in the movie to be honest. I found myself getting up for a drink, and not even pausing the movie.

sorry for the short post, busy here at work today.
don't miss the Counting Crows music video I posted below too, and I know I still need to review the album, it will happen, quit yelling at me!

ciao!

"You Can't Count On Me" music video

enjoy, I sure did!!



interested in buying the shirt Adam is wearing in the video?
click me

1,2,3 Crows AND a couple Movies

Let's start with the two movies I watched last night. It was bowling night, but my knee was still a little tender, and I didn't want to do any more damage and not be ready to golf it up when Rodrigo gets in town next week, so I skipped and watched 2 of the three Netflix rentals I had in the mailbox when I got home. The third movie I hope to watch tonight '2 Days in Paris'.

King of California (2007)
(dvd)
Trailer
Starring:
Michael Douglas ... Charlie
Evan Rachel Wood ... Miranda

4 out of 5

What a great movie, I definitely recommend this one. Miranda (Evan Rachel Wood) plays a 17 year old (soon to be 17) who dropped out of high school so she could pay the bills around the house after her father was sent away to a Mental Hospital. Her Mom had split the scene years prior. The movie starts with Charlie (Michael Douglas) being released after spending two years in treatment. He apparently wasn't ready to get out, and is soon back to his old habits. Miranda loves her father, but is frustrated with his erratic behavior. When he first gets out, he wants to go 'exploring' with his GPS unit and a shovel. Miranda soon learns the real reason. While in the hospital, Charlie read a journal from the 1600's detailing buried Spanish doubloons in the California hillside. He claims he has cracked the code and with his daughter's help they can find it. Miranda eventually buys into the story, probably just to satisfy Charlie, but when they find a rock described in the journal, with three faded crosses carved into it (on a private golf course) she starts to believe. When the two finally think they have discovered the burial spot, they are disappointed to find it is the middle of a Costco warehouse store!! Miranda thinks the adventure is over, but we soon learn Charlie isn't ready to give up. "It's only 6 feet of concrete!"

Miranda: You don't take anything seriously do you? You think the world is just here for your amusement!
Charlie: But look at the world...
Miranda: I do. But unlike you I have to live in it!

Revolver (2005)
(dvd)
Trailer
Starring:
Jason Statham ... Jake
Ray Liotta ... Macha
Vincent Pastore ... Zach
André Benjamin ... Avi
Terence Maynard ... French Paul

4 out of 5

How lucky am I that the first two 'indy' movies I watched were both great! Directed by Guy Ritchie (over the hill Madonna's hubbie) I had a hunch this one would deliver. I have enjoyed his previous movies, and I actually stood face to face with Ray Liotta once, at a movie premiere so I try to give his work a chance whenever I can. Here are a few good quotes from the movie.

Jake Green: One thing I've learned in the last seven years: in every game and con there's always an opponent, and there's always a victim. The trick is to know when you're the latter, so you can become the former.

Jake Green: There is something about yourself that you don't know. Something that you will deny even exists, until it's too late to do anything about it. It's the only reason you get up in the morning. The only reason you suffer the shitty puss, the blood, the sweat and the tears. This is because you want people to know how good, attractive, generous, funny, wild and clever you really are. Fear or revere me, but please, think I'm special. We share an addiction. We're approval junkies. We're all in it for the slap on the back and the gold watch. The hip-hip-hoo-fuckin' rah. Look at the clever boy with the badge, polishing his trophy. Shine on you crazy diamond, because we're just monkeys wrapped in suits, begging for the approval of others.

Well, to put it simply, I could say this was a movie about a con, but I don't think that would do it justice. It is much more than that, and the famous quotes that are flashed through the movie make you think a little bit. The story sort of discusses how our ego is our worst enemy, how theorists actually claim the devil was invented by our ego, so we wouldn't have to ever blame ourselves for anything. Not to confuse anyone, this was a great movie, you won't need to take a quiz at the end, but there is allot of meat to the plot. Jake (Jason Statham) is just being released from serving 7 years of jail time. He could have served 14, but chose to do 7 of solitary. His cell was positioned between a master chess player, and a master con-man. As the saying goes, prison is like vocational school for some repeat offenders, and Jake learns the perfect con game from these two, which he never saw in person.

After finding out he has 3 days to live after being released, due to a rare blood disease, he immediately feels he is being conned, but is he? His first goal after getting out, was getting even with Macha (Ray Liotta ) a casino owner, bad guy type. When the tables turn, and Macha starts gunning for him, he is approached by Avi and Zach (Andre Benjamin and Vincent Pastore) two untouchable loan sharks with a very bad rep. Even the criminal Kingpin (Mr Gold) won't go near them. They offer Jake a chance to stay alive, but under two conditions. 1.Give them every cent he has, and 2.Answer every question, and do whatever they ask, (isn't that 3 things?)

What follows is a movie that will get you thinking who is conning who, and h0w will this end. I recommend this one, even if it takes you watching it twice to see some of the storyline. Last thing I want to say is how impressed I am with Andre Benjamin's aka Andre 3000(from the musical group 'Outkast' fame) acting skills. I thought he was great in Idlewild, and he delivers again in this movie. I think he will have a great career if he continues to pick roles, and avoid the dud movies.

Let's save the Counting Crows album review for tomorrow, I need more coffee and it's almost time for a smoke break. (Here's a hint, it's good, go buy it!)

Layout Updates

I am planning on writing a review of the new Counting Crows cd (a good one) but it might have to wait until tomorrow. I wanted to digest the album a couple more times, hard to imagine since it has been playing nonstop in my car, on my iPod, and here at work since I purchased it.

No idea if anyone is reading this, but I also might start adding video game reviews. I recently joined the Playstation 3 crowd, and in typical me fashion have gone overboard buying blu-ray movies, and games for it. Figured I would share the good and bad purchases with anyone who wants to read it.

On to the layout updates (title of entry). I rearranged the right column, and added a few RSS feeds. Blu-Ray release dates, PS3 game release dates, favorite (at the moment) bands I'm listening to, and maybe one or two more things I am forgetting. Ever since Netflix changed their website, it's impossible to see (at least easily) the latest releases. Maybe my friend at work Sheri will find it easier to see what's about to come out on Tuesday every week.

So far this week has been ok. Yesterday, two peers I work with were in town from Reston, VA. Having never met them in person, it was nice to shake their hands and talk face to face. My good buddy Rodrigo will be flying in next Tues. for a week long stint here in KC. Always a good time when he comes to town. Funny how most of what I consider my best friends don't live anywhere near me. Atlanta, Chicago, NY, Reston, maybe it's because since they don't here, I mean I have always leaned towards a solitary, non-social lifestyle, with them 1,000's of miles away, I get plenty of time to myself. Of course I have close friends here too, but not very many I see outside of work or on a regular basis. For some of them, that's fine with me, others I wish we did do more things in our free time, but I got tired of trying to play party planner a long time ago.

Anyway, let me get off the psychiatrist couch. Last night, bum knee and all, I went over to my parents to work a couple hours. Typically I avoid this during the week, but with the weather, and the chance to make some change for Sicily, I decided to go ahead. My pops understood I would be limited with my knee still a bit swollen. All he wanted was help dragging the trees/brush across the creek. You see they have this creek running through the middle of their backyard, and the way the property line spells out, you have to go through the corner of his neighbors yard to get to one section of dirt on the other side of the creek. Soooo being a good neighbor my Dad didn't want to drive the big tractor over and tear up any grass. He would toss a chain across the creek to me, I'd hook up a large cut down tree, and he'd drag it over, to eventually add to the burn pile. After only an hour, we had moved everything we could, he needs to buy a longer chain to get the last of the stuff across, so I might be back Saturday, depending on what UNC does Thursday.

Well, that's enuf for now, before you fall asleep reading the exciting story of tree dragging, and blog layouts.

¡Ciao!

Counting Crows

Sorry for the double post, but since this happens tonight........

Some of you know my favorite band is Counting Crows, their latest CD hits the shelves tomorrow "Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings" expect a review as I'll be picking up a copy as soon as Best Buy opens.

Tonight though.....they are scheduled to perform on The Late Show with David Letterman, I already set my DVR at home to record. If you are up at 10:30 tune in.

Go Heels!!

What a productive weekend (kind of I guess)

Saturday I went over to work in my parents yard. I'm saving for a return trip to Sicily, and my Dad is paying me to come over and work in their 8 acre yard, did I mention I hate yardwork? I agreed to mow for him, which is a 4-6 hr affair, but I am doing anything I can to save up for the trip.

A couple weekends ago, I ran a chainsaw for 3 hours, and this time around, he brought in a pro to get some of the larger stuff. About two hours in, while trying to roll a tree trunk onto the big tractor's front bucket, I popped my kneecap out. Yes, it hurts, that about finished the day for me. As my knee started to swell, my Dad let me switch to burning the brush pile. I called it quits after to go home and ice my knee, hopefully to keep the swelling down.

I spent the rest of Saturday working on the Italy movie from the trip. For those of you who don't know. I went to Italy / Sicily last October for two weeks. Our group was about 19 strong, and just like the first trip, I told everyone if they sent me their pictures, I'd create a slideshow/movie for everyone. They would get the DvD with the movie, and a second disc with everyone else's pictures so we could all share. I finally finished the movie, it came out to 45 minutes long. I know, that's kinda long, but I had about 3,000 pictures sent to me. I plan on making a short version for friends. I'm pretty burned out on the whole thing after spending the last few months creating the movie, deciding on the music, etc, etc.

So, Saturday, I started making everyone's copies. 15 Dvd's, then flipped them over (lightscribe) to burn the cd labels. While these copied, I created the DvD jacket sleeve images, and printed them. All this spilled into Sunday night, as I didn't sit and stare at the screen while these copied. (15 min to copy, and about 30 to burn the lightscribe label). Plus I was limping around because of my knee, and had basketball games to watch! Next I have to burn the discs with everyone's pictures. On the 5th of July, my parents will have a party with everyone who went on the trip. I will show the movie, and hand out a copy to everyone. Did I also mention I am supposed to cook some Italian dishes for the party?

Sunday, once again, since I'm stuck in Kansas, had to watch the UNC game online. (They showed Oklahoma lose since it's a 'regional' thing). I'm proud to say my boys easily advanced to the sweet 16 next weekend! w00t!

After the game, I made (from scratch) a new recipe. 'Blue Cheese Potato Soup' topped with some olive tapenade. I brought in a bowl for my buddy Alex today, maybe he will comment on how it turned out. Quick note....peel the potatoes before you start! I had to turn the heat down to low for the rest of the mixture, while I quickly peeled 4 pounds of red potatoes! Needless to say, I have a ton of this soup in the fridge leftover. (second quick note, reduce the recipe next time!)

That's it for today, better get back to work.

(real quick! I just noticed you can add this as an RSS feed.)

Welcome back!

Well, maybe I'll give this another shot.

Seems like a lot of my friends ask me about movies, if I've seen this one, or that one, so I will attempt to resurrect this blog to write short reviews on what I have recently seen. I might also throw a rant or some other write-up about whatever is on my mind.

So lets get to it....

The three movies I have at home from Netflix at this time are.
1.Southland Tales
2.Sleuth
3.The Hunting Party

Last night I watched Sleuth and The Hunting Party.

Sleuth

2 out of 5

Starring:
Michael Caine
Jude Law
-on DvD now

This is a remake of a 1974 film, in which Michael Caine actually played the role Jude Law did this time. I have enjoyed both actors movies in the past, so I had decent hopes for this one. THe story intrigued me, Jude Law plays an actor, who Michael Caine's wife is actually cheating on him with. From the trailers I had no idea about this. It appeared the movie would revolve around a fake robbery, what I thought was so that Caine would not have to give up some priceless jewels in a divorce. Instead it was full of twists and turns. The reason for the low score, was I think they tried too hard to fill the whole movie with these plot twists.

The Hunting Party

4 out of 5

Starring:
Terrence Howard
Richard Gere

Jesse Eisenberg
-on DvD now

This is a movie about a war journalist (Gere) and his cameraman (Howard) who were at one time the best in the business. After breaking down on camera during a live report from the war in Bosnia, Gere is fired, and begins a downhill slide. Five years later, the war has ended, Howard has a cush management job at the NY studio, and Gere has disappeared. The network travels back to Bosnia to do a '5 years later' story and guess who pops up. Gere convinces Howard and young Eisenberg that he knows the location of 'The Fox' who was the most notorious war criminal still in hiding afterwards. There is a comic twist and a serious side to this movie as the three reporters are mistaken for a CIA hit squad, there to kill 'The Fox'. I recommend watching this one, especially to see the comments right before the end credits.

Ok, that's all you get today. I'll try to post more often, and see if anyone reads this nonsense. Remember leave comments!!