The One With The Odyssey

 

 

 

Last night, we went to AMC for opening night of The Odyssey. Kiff had been ardently waiting for this to arrive movie for nearly a year...so much so that he refused to watch any clips or hear to much about the original story.

Overall, it was quite an experience. Because it was filmed in IMAX, Kiff wanted to make sure we saw it in IMAX (although the seat numbers in that particular theater are confusing). However, we made sure to arrive a few minutes before preview time to find our way to the seat.

The movie did not disappoint. It has a cast of brilliant actors who performed well (Kiff and Bri were more mesmerized by them than Emmie and me). The story had to be edited slightly because IMAX movies cannot run longer than three hours...so instead of having many cyclopes...there is only one. But, those edits did little to ruin the spectacle on the screen.

While I found the acting enticing, I have to admit that the use of sound was amazing. For example, when they are sailing past the Sirens, the crew puts wax in their ears...and we get to experience what they did with muffled sound. During times of high tension, different loud noises are heard...often as if the Olympian gods, who manipulated the affair in Homer's tale, were involved. There were also several jump moments which were effectively woven in.

All and all, a great movie experience. 

 

The One With Disclosure Day

 

 

Tonight, the four of us went off to see Disclosure Day, the latest movie by Steven Spielberg. It was an ambitious project and one that represents the fifth look at "aliens" through the lens of the great director.

Clearly, Spielberg has a fascination with the paranormal, as evidenced by the Indiana Jones movies and the fact he wrote Poltergeist. And, this is yet another quixotic look at the unknown.

Overall, it is a good movie. It is a bit stocky in spots - moving a little bit slow - but its methodical pace helps underlie the big mystery at the end of the movie...which really isn't that much of a mystery. The acting is solid, though enigmatic at times. But, in the end, it was an entertaining movie.  

The One With Mother's Day

 

 

 

This year, we had an amazing Mother's Day extravaganza. 

1. We started the day with gifts for Emmie and with cinnamon rolls.

2. We then went to Sylvan Street which brought back its Mother's Day brunch.

3. After, we went for a walk at Endicott.

4. We played cards after that.

5. The day capped off by watching Sheep Detectives. At first, I was skeptical...but it ended up being a good movie. 

The One With Michael

 

 

Tonight, we watched the movie Michael that depicted the life and times of Michael Jackson. As a person growing up in the 80s, I was looking forward to this movie....but I also wasn't sure how I would feel. After all, how much more was there to know about Michael Jackson.

But, boy, was I wrong. To begin with, the casting of his nephew, Jaafar Jackson, proved to be ingenious. Not only can he sing - which is huge - his resemblance to his uncle is uncanny. And, because he knows close, personal details of his uncle's mannerisms, it was clear he was the ultimate choice. He captured the essence and nuance of Michael Jackson, or at least the way he seemed to the public in the 1980s.

 The movie itself included the typical information that people had heard about Jackson growing up. Yet, it also highlighted some of the lesser known facts and backstories that only the producers - his brothers and his sister Latoya - would know. And, to appeal to the fans, there were definitely specific recreations of hallmark moments on the stage, including the infamous filming of the Pepsi commercial, the "Victory Tour," and, of course, the legendary performance of "Billie Jean" and the unveiling of the moonwalk at Motown's 25th Anniversary Special. The sound design was exquisite, with two concert scenes resembling the sound effects you would hear at a concert. Wow!

For nostalgia buffs - and the new generation that wanted to get to know more about him - this movie wasn't just good. It was special.  My only disappointment - though it could not be helped - was that "Janet" didn't appear as a character. That was a decision she made because she was not supportive of the move. But, knowing that she had a close relationship with her brother, it would have been interesting to see how that was developed, too.

 

The One With When Harry Met Sally

 

 

 

 

On Wednesday, Kiff, Emmie, and I went to the Somerville Theater to see the latest in their "feel good series" - movies from the past that they rerelease. For this show, we went to see When Harry Met Sally one of Emmie's favorite movies.

Now, an interesting note. Before the movie began, someone introduced the movie. He asked if there were people in the audience who had not seen the movie...and there were many!!!

While I have seen parts of this movie over the years and , when put together, I've seen the movie about twenty times, I am not sure if I fully watched the whole thing from beginning to end. And, I am glad I did. I was a great movie.

And the buttered popcorn was not half bad, either. 

The One With Crime 101

 

 

Last night, we saw the Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Halle Berry movie Crime 101. Overall, it was an interesting, methodical movie.

It tells the story of Chris Hemsworth's character, an unusual criminal who embarks on high price crimes along the 101 highway in California. His calling card is to rob from people who will be insured and make sure not to hurt anyone in the process.

Mark Ruffalo plays the detective trying to solve this puzzling case that his police force is trying to deny exists. Ruffalo is convinced that the crimes that have been committed all follow a pattern. He becomes so obsessed that it ruins his partnership, the faith the police force has in him, and his marriage.

 What unfolds is a slightly convoluted, but in the end, entertaining plot with these two characters intersect with Halle Berry in a series of events that actually helps all of them out while also hindering the people who are against them. 

Overall, I'd give it a B. Great acting and the return of Nick Nolte to a movie help propel a complicated plot.

The One With Wicked for Good

 

 

Today, we went to see the movie Wicked for Good...a sequel to Wicked.

While I am a Wizard of Oz fan, I was not a huge fan of this movie. I would give it a B. However - because it has a connection to the original 1939 movie - there were definitely a whole host of plot flaws here. First, some of the events that happened in the OG Wizard were absent from this one, from the ruby slippers going to Dorothy to the events unfolding over a long period of time, and the notion that the Scarecrow seems intent on stopping the Witch.  

Absent the plot flows, it did not seem to have the pizazz of the first movie from last year as well. It was not quite of a showstopper and the ending, though creative, was also predictable.  

I will say the acting was a little on the sloppy side as well. While I typically am a Ariana Grande fan, this performance was - YIKES. Way over the top to the point that her acting distracted me.  

So, while I like the premise and am always a fan of the original book, this just did not do it for me.

 

The One With No Other Choice

 

 

Earlier tonight, Kiff and I made a voyage into the Coolidge Theater to see No Other Choice, a foreign movie with subtitles (my favorite) that Kiff wanted to see. I found the premise - a guy loses his job and will do everything he can to provide for his family - intriguing. So, I went along.

Overall, the movie was okay. I'd give it a B. The acting was solid and the lead's wife was amazing, trying to hold the family together. Part of the premise was a bit ludicrous - the lead was trying to eliminate any of his potential competition for a future job at a South Korean paper mill. And indeed, he does eliminate three. In the process, he sees a bit of himself in all of the victims.

Their is subtle humor that helps the viewer overcome the darkness of the movie, which helps during some of the disturbing parts. And, some of the visuals were stunning, including the opening sequence where the family is seated outside their house with red cherry blossoms falling down from trees. Exquisite!!!

The One With the Secret Agent

 

 

Emmie got Kiff and I tickets to see the movie The Secret Agent at the Coolidge Theater. Ironically, it was a movie Kiff wanted to see - and had asked us to get tickets - but Emmie had already done that.

The movie was an interesting look at the era of a corrupt Brazilian government from the past. There is a dispute between a college professor and a business leader that leads the business leader to send assassins after the professor.

Although the movie was a bit slow to start as they built the characters, momentum grew and the movie was good...though long. And, it did have a bit of a sad ending.

However, after the movie, we had a chance to hear from the director, who had come to the Coolidge Theater to speak about the movie. He was an interesting fellow and shared a lot about his process as well as his own views on the actors.

Overall a great show! To add to the fun, it was snowing when we left.

 Gotta love December.

 

The One With Sentimental Value

 

 

Kiff and I went to see the movie Sentimental Value tonight. Truth be told, I wasn't too sure what to expect....but when Kiff told me there would be subtitles right before we left, well I was not quite as excited to be there.

But, as he reminded me, the last two times I saw movies with subtitles with him, I enjoyed them. And, lo and behold, he was right. Despite the fact half of the movie was in Norwegian, the story was compelling and moving - showing how a fractured relationship between a director and his daughters is slowly repaired.

 Overall, a good movie. While we were enjoying, Emmie was out at a paint night, and Bri was at UMass enjoying a play. All of us had a fun night. 

The One With Frankenstein

 

 

Tonight, we ventured into Coolidge Corner to catch the latest edition to the Frankenstein movie franchise - the updated Frankenstein.

It was one of those artsy movies that Kiff enjoys going to, with the guy from Star Wars last three movies in the lead as the doctor.

I did not know what to expect - and coming into a crowded movie theater late didn't help (though Kiff made a deal with the other people in the row to make sure we got to our seats. However, as the movie would prove, I was pleasantly surprised. It followed the canon of the novel more so than typical Frankenstein movies...incorporating elements of Mary Shelly's classic tale including the tale of the blind man and the ending in the Arctic. But, there was plenty of homage to classic Universal Frankenstein as well.

In the end, it was a spectacular movie and one I would give an "A" to. In fact, it was so well done that people applauded in the theater when it was done. What a great movie. 

 

 

The One With Caught Stealing

 

 

Kiff and I decided to end my second week back at school and his first week with a movie. While Emmie was having dinner with fellow college Moms, we went to see Caught Stealing.

From the previews, it looked like it would be a decent take. A person - Austin Butler - gets caught up in the shenanigans of his neighbor and has to find a way out. In reality, it was quite an intense movie. Spoiler alert - a lot of people die. The action is solid, and intense in some spots, but well defined (and a little gratuitous....but there are reasons for that). There are a lot of twists, and although it was predictable, it was entertaining. I did have to turn my head a couple of times - once when Butler's character ralphed all over a door (but you find out that this actually moved the plot) and another when you see a bone sticking out of his knee.

 All and all and entertaining take. There was a surreal moment when Zoe Kravitz was on screen and looked a lot like her mother - who was one of my favorite actresses of the 1980s. I would give in a B.  

The One With Jurassic World Rebirth

 

 

 

We had the chance to see Jurassic World Rebirth today. Now, as a fan of the original Jurassic Park, my feelings about some of the sequels are mixed. The original sequel - Lost World - was not my favorite movie and the third one was okay. Some of the reboots from the Chris Pratt days are decent. So, I had an open mind and low expectations.

Overall. I was pleasantly surprised. I found the movie interesting and captivating...though it borrowed some of the ideas from the Lost World (like getting stranded on the island with the dinosaurs). I thought it might be a retread of that movie, but it turned out a bit better.

The plot was a little bit convoluted - they needed DNA from a marine, avian, and land species of dinosaur. At the same time another family was sailing in the area and had to be rescued. There were too many moving parts to be a really good movie....but it was entertaining. And, best of all, Emmie was willing to see it (she is not a huge fan of the series).

 

  

The One With F1

 

 

Today, we had a chance to see the movie, F1 staring Brad Pitt. Truth be told, racing movies aren't really my cup of tea. Typically, they make me think of Herbie or Days of Thunder - fun movies, but not the most exciting movies.

However, this one did catch me by surprise. It told the tale of Brad Pitt, an aging race car driver who helps a friend out and trains a new driver. Great, great movie!!! 

The One With the Museum of Fine Arts

 

 

 

Today was a fun day. It was Kiff's last day of NYFA camp, where students share the videos that they made. At the same time, it was a chance for Emmie, Bri, and I to spend the day in Boston doing something. So, we decided to try something new - we went to the Museum of Fine Arts...which we have never done together.

What was neat about that is we were able to arrive in mid-morning when it was not too crowded. Right away, we were able to see something new -  Orange Coca-Cola was sponsoring a drink truck outside the museum. So, of course we had to try some. It was phenomenal.

Inside the building, we were able to take in several sights. Some highlights were:

• Seeing the Egyptian room, where they had mummies. I always liked this room.

• Tracking down the cathedral that I went to when I took 8th graders on a tour there back in 2018 on Holy Thursday. It was amazing!

• Getting a chance to visit the Scottish manor room, which is thrilling

• Seeing some of the Americana paintings as well. They are really endearing.

Following the museum, we were able to book it over to the NYFA film fest. It was great. Kiff's movie was particularly clever - it was about a person who has writer's block and then makes a story about a terrorizing water bottle. It was awesome.

What a fun start to the summer!!! 

The One With a Great Father's Day

 

 

Today, as the school year winds down, I had the chance to enjoy another amazing Father's Day. Last year, I started a new tradition - order takeout for breakfast - museum - movie - dinner. And, this year, I decided to repeat the feat. It was another great day.

First, we went to Nick and Andy's for breakfast. Always a great take. And, the takeout was great.

Then, we went to the Museum of Science...one of my favorite places. That ended up being good, but not as good as last year because they are doing a TON of work. The lightning exhibit - my favorite - was shut down for the time being (it might be next year as well). However, there were still things to do, including a dolphin movie, the human body exhibit (which has changed a lot), and of course a visit to the gift shop.

We then went to see the new Karate Kid. It was a fantastic blend of original series with the Jackie Chan reboot. LOVED IT!

 We finished the day with supper at Jimmys!!! What a fabulous day! I can't wait to do it again next year!

The One With Black Bag

 

 

Emmie, Kif, and I spent the evening at AMC Danvers watching the movie Black Bag. While I did not have it on my must see list, I did think it sounded interesting,particularly where it was a spy thriller.

 Ironically, it was not the type of spy thriller in the vain of James Bond, Jason Bourne, or No Way out. It was basically Bridge of Spies meets Twelve Angry Men with a solid focus on character development and a character driven plot.

 Essentially, there is not a lot of action - only plot development and dialogue. Intriguing, yes. But, not fully my cup of tea. Emmie liked it and Kiff was a fan.

Overall, I would give it a 7 out of 10.

 

The One With the Academy Award Shorts

 

Kiff and I went to Cinema Salem today to watch the Oscar nominated shorts. While I was not sure what to expect, it turns out it was a great experience.

 First, when we walked in, clearly this was a true Cinema Salem experience - quaint indy movie theater. We were in a very small screening room with about 20 other people who were there for the same reason, which was near.

 Kiff got a drink, I got some popcorn - it was great.

We then watched all four shorts. They were really good, though the "Last Ranger" which did not win (a one about a woman thinking she was a robot did) was my favorite. It was about a park ranger protecting rhinos in Africa. It was amazing!!!

All and all, a fun experience.

The One With Captain America and the Brave New World

 

 

The ultimate way to spend a Valentine's Day is with Captain America - or at least the original one (which Emmie would agree with).

 

Although the reviews coming in about the movie were poor, we were still looking forward to it.  And, the movie did not disappoint. Clearly this movie is about relaunching the next chapter of the MCU (Phase 6 will be coming up soon). The movie made it a point - several times - to explain that President Thaddeus Ross was asking Captain America to form the Avengers again. The other two Hulks, including Ross's Red Hulk, were in the movie. The Winter Soldier made an appearance (his character is running for Congress). And, their is a new Falcon.

 

Overall, it was a great movie.

 

 

The One with Alamo Drafthouse and Agrrodr1ft

 

 

Last night, I took Kiff and Adrian into Boston to see a movie called Agrrodr1ft. Kiff had been talking about this movie for some time. It was from a director - Harmony Korine - trying to innovate movies by shooting in infrared. While it was different - it reminded me of the weird vibe from the original Tron with the grayscale and computer colors - I am not sure how much it will catch on.

 

The movie was about the internal conflict of a well-trained assassin whose job it is to take out another assassin that he trained. He has internal conflict and  struggles with what to do. Although, he is able to grapple with this internal conflict and make choices that better his situation. To be fair, it had a great score (in fact, we found out the plan was to have QA with the composer, but he couldn't make it at the last minutes. The movie itself was weird, with supernatural and god-like imagery. But, at least Korine was trying to do something different.

The Drafthouse is a good place to see a movie. And the parking is right below it...so it is convenient.