Wanting What You've Got

I little update on the universe in general today. First of all, could my nephew be cuter? Seriously, he is amazing. As it turns out, my brother has moved one step closer to the full adult package with the acquisition of his first home. I didn't even know. Nobody told me. I should have guessed cause my mom was doing the "call-your-brother" thing and that usually means news.

As for me? I have secured a new apartment for my next year of life in Halifax. It's a basement place but is bright and clean. My only concession is that I won't have a bathtub - I hope I survive. Work continues to go very well. I really like my job. I found out this week that I got the highest score on the interview accounting exam in the last 3 years. Guess I know some stuff afterall. My lily plant is flourishing. My thumb apparantly having a bit of green in it afterall.

My only struggle continues to be a social one. I feel disconnected from my life. I have removed myself from a friendship that meant alot to me and I miss it. As Cathy and I discussed, it can be hard to see some of things you want in life when they appear so FAR away from what you have now. But I have to keep smiling. There are so many good things going on these days and I just need to remember to be true to me. Besides, I always have pics of the little guy to make me smile!

X3: The Last Stand - movie review

I was SO excited for this release that I bought my ticket at lunch so I could go right after work. As an avid fan of the first two films - I was not going to miss this last installment. And the trailer was spectacular enough to increase my anticipation further. My only concern was that Bryan Singer was not back to direct. I was right to be worried.

The biggest thing that most reviews will say about X3 is that new director, Brett Ratner, hasn't ruined the franchise. Well, he may not have destroyed it in that Joel Shumacker-Batman kind of way, but he hasn't upheld the greatness of it either. X3 is louder, busier, and sexier than the first two films but it is also less smart, less engaging, and less complete. Whereas Singer built his action around themes of acceptance and identity and character, Ratner's X3 is a superficial exploitation of the universe.

The film opens with optimistically enough by going back to the beginning of the Jean Grey story. But quickly, the tone changes as we are thrust into a fantastical fight scene that sees the newest X-team members in training. The problem is that this scene doesn't fit with anything seen in the films before and rings false from the start - which it turns out to be. From this point the film skips along introducing new characters and plugging in action scenes without ever building thematic cohesion. Sure, you could say such context is unnecessary in an action film but its development has always been a source of strength in the X-universe so to lose that is unfortunate. The nature of humanity is still the underlying concept but Ratner does not link the many storylines effectively to this thread and by the end of the film everything feels frayed. And in the end, forgettable.

On the good side, Hugh Jackman continues to be in excellent form. He is such an amazing presence as Wolverine. And following the resurrection of Jean we are treated to a bit of sexy action - I would wager that Jackman and Jansen are one of the few onscreen pairs that can give Brad & Angelina a run for the money. And Halle Berry is finally given more to do. However, most of the characters are pushed aside to make room for showy CGI scenes. And the addition of new characters - Beast and Angel, in particular - is more for the eyes than the story as well. Much feels forced (Bobby & Kitty's relationship) or is wasted in order to move on to more action (Magneto's rejection of Mystique). In all, the film does not achieve balance between its character and action goals and some beloved heroes are lost in the shuffle.

Overall, X3 is a fine film in the popcorn action sense. But this is one time when that description is not satisfying. More was expected. More was deserved. This particular evolution was not for the better.

Bio-Blog #11 ... Tanya

This week I present another recent friend from my new life in Halifax.Tanya and I met on the third day of orientation and were thick as theives for the first semester. In fact, I can honestly say that I don't think I would have had half the fun, or met half as many people if I hadn't had her in my life. She was my saving grace. It is hard to not love Tanya. She has enormous energy and one of the most forgiving souls I have ever met. Her Cape Breton pride is infectious and no one makes you feel more at home in the maritimes than she does. She is one of the few gal friends I have that acutally makes me feel girly - her love of soccer, cars, hockey and videogames makes her a man's dream come true. These days we don't see each other much because I can't handle the party pace anymore and work for both of us is, well, hectic to say the least. But she is always there with an entertaining invite or a logical insight and I appreciate both so much!

I am ... having fun
I can ... forgive
I love ... life, the good and the bad
I will ... own a Porsche 911

What do you do? Work, MBA, Party

What is your sign? Cancer
Where were you born? Sydney, NS
Where do you live now? Halifax, NS

What has been the best place you've visited in between and why?
I have two:
1) San Francisco - my first trip on my own
2) New York – Saw Manchester United vs. Juventus @ Giant Stadium

What is your favourite:
Movie: Star Wars
Book: Sextrology: The Astrology of Sex and the Sexes - Cancer fits me to a tee
TV Show: TV!? what is that…do you know how busy I am
Drink: WAY TOO much…”I would like to thank the Russians for inventing vodka and God for creating limes”…quoted from my speech at the MBA Fun Awards
Hockey Team: the Habs
Soccer Team: Manchester United
Football Team: the Pats
Bar/Pub: The Lower Deck and Cheers
Thing to do at the bar: pickup…hahaha No! DANCE

Who is your celebrity hottie of choice?
Matthew Mcconaughey…mmmmm…yummy

If you could have lunch with anyone in the world ... who would it be and why?
That’s tough….hhhhmmmmm…Warren Buffet or Alan Greenspan – I know! I am such a geek

How do you know Raye? Sobey MBA Program

What 3 words would you use to describe Raye?
Fun, Bold, Curious

Do you have your own website? No just an MSN Space

The DaVinci Code - movie review

I think it's only fair that I preface this review with the following...
1 - I have not read the Dan Brown book
2 - I am not religious in any way, shape or form
3 - I was not waiting for this flick with bated breath
So, when the credits did finally roll, all I can say is that I was underwhelmed and had to ask the question - "what's the big deal?"

The DaVinci Code suffered on two fronts for me: one - as a story concept it is not all that original or controversial and two - as a film it is not all that exciting. And really, if you're going to fail on these two counts then there is not much to recommend in the movie. And that was my problem. There is not much good in this Code.

I am sure that the book is intriguing. The story does weave together a fascinating theory of the Holy Grail, the Church, and Christianity in general. In a book, these elements can be explored by the reader's mind and trigger thoughts, connections, and philosophies that are key to a solid reading experience. But on the screen, these details become overlong expositions that drag at the action. Add in lacklustre direction and the entire experience is a bit of a bore.

It always seemed odd to me that Ron Howard would be chosen to direct an action drama. They are not really his forte. And in Code this is clearly evident. The action scenes consist mainly of chase sequences but as we know the main characters are never really in danger they have no threat. This leaves scene execution to create excitement but instead it falls flat and lacks emotion due to a pallette of everyday life. Scenes that are meant to trigger a response (the self-flaggelation of Silas, the curator's body) are over-drawn and feel out of place. The violence itself is jarring in both its placement and tone as if two films were smashed together. This feeling is augmented by the use of flashbacks of the characters and illustrations of the Grail legend that all use different film techniques. The intent is obviously to make a "stylish" film but instead it causes Code to be an uneven tale.

Tom Hanks is wasted here in a role that offers little room to do anything. The dialogue is pointless and offers no character insight. The character of Silas offers Paul Bettany the chance to show how icky he can be but his villain is so psycho that it is hard to feel anything for his disillusioned and manipulated soul. Audrey Tatou - with the lovely eyes and pretty smile - is forgettable. The one bright spot is Ian Mckellan who offers a convincing portrayal of a Grail fanatic and injects his long speeches with enough enthusiasm to keep the audience interested. He is, however, also telling us the most interesting theories. But as all these characters wander through the treasure hunt they never really connect. The story moves them along from plot point to plot point but they themselves are never fully realized as elements in the legend.

In the end, Code goes on too long about something not that amazing in a way that is hardly fulfilling. From my point of view, you would do better to see the last Indiana Jones film again and watch Kevin Smith's Dogma. The former offers a truly great Grail-hunters adventure. The latter actually creates some debate over the last Scion and a testing of faith. Or better yet, just read the book and let your own mind have the adventure.

House Freakin' Fantastic

So my other favourite medical drama did the season finale thing right. At first I was annoyed that both House and Grey's appeared to have the same thing going on - a key doctor gets shot and grapples with the potential loss of the gift that makes him great. Oh no! It could not be that both shows created the same story. But it was not the case. In the latest "House" episode everything goes full tilt. It is complex, creative and graphic. And it pushes you until the very end to question its very reality. And then, in that last moment it revealed only enough to make you demand more. An excellent finale. I should never have doubted it - House always comes through in the end!

Road Trip ... Day 3

Sunday arrives with an overcast morning. We slept all right considering the scary knocking that occurred at 1am. It turned out to not be due to the ghosts but rather the drunk bridal party that arrived late. Still - it was a good thing we had planned to sleep in that day! We skipped breakfast to hit the road and travel through the historic Acadian area of Clare. Does it sound bad to say that the geography of the area is definately less-inspiring than the south shore. It falls in grassy plains towards the ocean rather than rocky cuts. But it was fun to count the churches. But our task was to get to Digby so Cathy could have scallops. Our plan to travel the Digby neck was pushed aside when we realized we didn't have the time. So plan B was a tour of the historic Annapolis valley instead.

In Annapolis Royal (the oldest town in Canada and the origial capital of the area) I enjoyed a walking tour courtesy of Cathy herself. I tell you, we make a good travelling pair! So with my chai latte in hand, I set off on a sunny walk of the heritage properties in the town with Cathy reading the details from an informative pamphlet. SOOOO much fun. And the architecture is amazing. The entire town is filled with inns and antique dealers. It is perfectly established as a great romantic retreat (.... someday ...) or afternoon strolling place. And Fort Anne is a mini-citadel. I love the old military places. Which made our next stop - Port Royal - a cool tour. The fort was re-built in the 1930s to replicate the original built under Samuel de Champlain's suggestion. The entire place has been constructed using whole and peg fasteners and the details of the rooms is excellent. I would have liked a bit more interpretive information though.

The day continued with another hike. Thank goodness I packed my boots cause the trail was wet and muddy. We did the 4km trek in Delap's Cove that took along the shore of the Bay of Fundy to a lovely waterfall. It was SO interesting to see how different the shore was on the opposite side of the province. I can't imagine doing a better tour with a friend who had never been to the province. After we had exercised again we took the road through the valley - but the blossoms were just on the verge of exploding. Cathy read the details of the towns we passed and we munched on low-fat Pringles and high-sugar 2-bite brownies. By 9pm we were back in Halifax with a good chunk of the province behind us. One of my best May 2-4s ever!

Road Trip ... Day 2

We arrived in Lunenburg on a rainy evening. I had booked us a room at the Bluenose Lodge (first pic below) and it was a good call. The proprietor had left us a handwritten note to welcome us to our third-floor room. There is something about B&Bs in old properties that always makes me smile. I was actually SO giddy when I saw our quaint room that I jumped up and down. And things only got better from there.

Lucky for us we awoke to total sunshine. The morning was spend touring the town of Lunenburg that has been designated a UNESCO heritage site. It is really such a cute town that is filled with pretty homes, art galleries, and interesting shops. I loved having the time to just wander in the sun and poke into the various businesses. Then it was down to the water front to see the Bluenose. Lucky for us the famous ship was in port being fixed-up for the season.

The day continued with a journey down the south shore. We stopped at various spots to watch the waves crash against the rocks. I find this atlantic coast of NS to be very rugged and wild. The ocean comes rushing into the rocks with force. The wind whips up the coast. It is not a welcoming edge to travel but its beauty is undeniable.

Late that afternoon we took the gravel road to the seaside adjunct location of Kejumkujik National Park. WOW! What a good decision that turned out to be. In truth, it was all thanks to Cathy who had actually done some research on things in the area and came across the hikes available in the park. So we decided on doing the 4km and ended up walking the entire 8.5 route around the headland. We ate lunch watching seals play in the waves. We enjoyed a maritime oat cake (LeHavre Bakery makes THE best!) on a rocky beach. We wandered through the low brush that has bowed to the salty air for centuries. I got a wind-burned face and I couldn't have been happier!

The last leg of the day's journey brought us to Yarmouth. Admittedly, there is not much there! But after an ODD adventure trying to check in to our B&B for the night we sped off to catch the sunset at the lighthouse on Cape Forchu. It was a winding tour and at times if felt as if we were heading off to nowhere. The lighthouse itself wasn't all that impressive - but the sunset was purty! Again, Cathy and I were the two people having the MOST fun out of the small group of tourists that happened to be around. And we had lots of photo fun trying to take our hotness shots with the falling sun. What a great way to end the day.

We stayed at the Churchill Mansion overlooking Darling Lake that night. It is a wonderfully weird place. And its haunted. Really - what's better than staying in a haunted mansion while on a road trip? Seriously!

Road Trip ... Day 1

The best thing about having a friend come to visit is that I have an excuse to plan a road trip to the places in NS that I haven't been yet. So with Cathy around for the week we decided to tour the southwest corner for the May long weekend.

I booked off early from work on the Friday so we could get to Peggy's Cove for the afternoon. It was my third trip there but every time it is different. This time it was full-on fog and windy rain that greeted us on the rocky shore. I was almost disappointed until Cathy's unwavering enthusiasm made the dreary afternoon a funtastic - if totally chilly - event. One of the challenges for the trip was to find a cheesy gift for her man back home. She settled on the lobster salt&pepper set that she is lovingly displaying in the pic above.

In the end, the fog, wind, and grey skies made for a dramatic tour of the famous town. It also helped to keep other visitors to a minimum allowing for some prime photo opportunities. They may not be postcard perfect but they are a true reflection of a Nova Scotian spring!

The Path to a Bear Soul

At the beginning of May that I decided to take a break from sugar. A break from the white stimulus. It is a toxin afterall. I decided to try and go an entire month with no junk food. No chocolate. No candies. But later this week - a full 18 days - I cracked. Also, in a conversation at work we discussed the "high" that shopping brings. And I reflected on my retail therapy process and the cycle it runs in my life. And then today I read my Rob Brezsny horoscope and it had this to say...

Excessive consumption of junk food has contributed to rising obesity levels in humans. Now wildlife experts report that bears are suffering a similar fate. The animals are so fond of the greasy, sugary scraps they scrounge that many are getting fat. The weight gain has had a surprising side effect: Many female bears are giving birth to three cubs at at time instead of one or two. You can draw metaphorical guidance from this vignette as your meditate on your own life, Pisces. Is there an instinctual part of you that has become overly fond of artificial sustenance and clever but worthless confections? It's high time to give the wild woman ... within you some gourmet soul food.

OH! and the totally appropriate graphic I found online is courtesy of Elizabeth Williams.

Bio-Blog #10 ... Justin

So this is Justin. One of my trusted commerce buddies who teaches me about cars and inflates my ego cause he asks my advice on things. Justin always amazes me because he has been so diligent in making his dreams come true. He has always wanted to write about cars - so he went to the newspaper and got a job doing that very thing. He also contributes to an online auto site. I think it's so cool. He wears really bad running shoes and still dresses like he's in highschool. One day I'm gonna take him clothes-shopping and he's gonna help me buy a car ... that's what friendship is about!

I am ... a hopeless gearhead and independent type
I can ... do all sorts of cool stuff...like cook and swim
I love ... the thrill of the open road and cute fluffy animals (especially my puppy Tundra)
I will ... some day get paid lots of money to drive really cool cars.

What is your sign? Gemeni
Where were you born? Between my mothers legs
Where do you live now? Sudbury

What has been the best place you've visited in between and why?
Quebec class trip at the end of highschool. It was the first taste of independence and freedom which I still wish for!

What is your favourite:
Movie: Bad Boys 2
Book: Anything with the Hardy Boys
TV Show: Family guy, of course
Drink: Sleemans honey brown

Who is your celebrity hottie of choice?
That hot chick from Hannibal...what's her name.....she's old but i dont care (that would be Julianne Moore)

If you could have lunch with anyone in the world ... who would it be and why?
Bill Gates because he proves that even ugly skinny nerds can make it big.

How do you know Raye? From School

What 3 words would you use to describe Raye?
Loves Shoes Alot

Do you have your own website? yes www.pacenews.ca

Sex on Prom Night

My fave show ended its second season last night with the 2-hour "Grey's Anatomy" finale. After a strong run of fantastic episodes the show breaks for the summer on a decidedly weak note. A cliffhanger of "Who will Meredith choose" is just stupid at this point in the show. We all know she can't leave with Derek - his wife is waiting for him at the moment. And she hasn't been with Finn nearly long enough for us to root for him - especially when we know he's gonna get hurt eventually. So why set it up this way.

The final shot of Sunday's lead-up episode would have been an incredible ending. Burke bleeding in the parking lot. Izzie cutting Denny's IVAD cord. Meredith and Derek left gazing at each other in an elevator with no resolution in sight. THAT is a season ender!!!! And one that would have ignited a fan frenzy that might have ensured that "Grey's Anatomy" will be able to survive its new Thursday night challenge against "CSI". Yep, the nut cases at ABC have decided to move my beloved show to the most competitive night in TV and position it opposite the MOST-watched show on the air! WTF?! But I digress.

In truth I am disappointed with the finale. It was limp and long-winded and lacked much of the POP! (pun intended) that makes Greys SO good. As well, I have never been a fan of the Izzie/Dennie storyline and found her whole descent into "lovesick"ness to be a train wreck beyond belief. And then I had to suffer through a prom - ok, I get the highschool overtones of the show - but a prom in a hospital? Not so cool.

Good points?
Cristina - who made me SO angry with her fear and made me cry with her eventual support. Sandra Oh rocks this character.

Alex lifting Izzie out of Dennie's bed and offering her the words she needed.

The death of Doc (the dog). I've always found the dog to be the metaphor for Derek & Meredith's love especially in the last episodes. Thus, the act of "putting it down" really worked for me.

And the sex. Yes, I am one of the few watchers that found the sex hot and good. Yes, it was irresponsible and kinda dirty - but it was SO needed in the story of these two characters. People keep wanting them to be good - but the're just so messed up. What else would you expect from a women with guy issues and a man with trust issues. I think the writers were very honest in having them hook up - that heat-of-the-moment stuff happens when emotions are f**ked up. The challenge will be what happens next.

Ah yes, next ... gotta wait till next fall.

Poseidon - movie review

I will admit to being a fan of the summer blockbuster. I will admit to being a fan of Hollywood spectacles. I will admit to being a sucker for Josh Lucas' smile.For all of these reasons I went to see Poseidon.

Now, I have never seen the original but I was hoping that this re-make of a 1970s disaster film would follow The Thomas Crowne Affair example of actually being better than the first one. Aferall, director Wolfgang Peterson brought us The Perfect Storm - so he knows water action; Troy - so he understands big budget eye-candy; Air Force One - so he gets American heroism; and In The Line of Fire - so he grasps dramatic pacing. He's also the guy that made the famous Das Boot - so I figured I was well within my rights to have high expectations for Poseidon. Ahhhhh ... if only they had been achieved.

The film takes all of the requisite elements of the genre and does them ... poorly. OK - so it's hard to be a sinking-ship film in the wake of Titanic but that shouldn't be an excuse to slack off. Although the set pieces are reasonably elaborate there never seems to be any urgency to the action. The sense of danger feels lukewarm and no genuine terror is ever supplied. Even a scene of intense claustrophic possibility is weakened by its early placement in the film as you know noone is going to die there. The film is full of underwater sequences that are likewise ruined by poor acting. Keep your mouths shut actors! You are trying to hold your breath in a freezing flood of water! OK - there is one moment where Kurt Russell does an impeccable job, but since his storyline is a direct rip-off from Armageddon it still feels like a cheat.

Perhaps the greatest flaw in the ship is the characters. Too little time is spent establishing them as anything other than archetypes so that when the action begins it is hard to care about their challenges. If less time had been spent filming Fergie's singing in the opening scenes then maybe some connections could have been made. But alas, the audience is left with nothing but a handful of charater clichés that race the rising tide with too many hysterics and not enough smarts. The women are bland, silly, and incapable. The minorities are doomed. The men are brave in that crazy way that only works in films. In the end, the survivors defy the odds (as well as some thermo-biology, physics, and literary basics) to reach safety. And then, unceremoniously, unemotionally, unsatisfactorally, the film ends. All I can say is it's a good thing I saw it on IMAX - cause that Josh Lucas is a beautiful thing.

Celling Out

I got my first cell phone today. I am officially mobile. It was a scary decision. I'm not good with contracts - especially those that involve technology that I don't fully understand. You would think that a talk-a-lot like me would be all over a cell phone but I have been resisting. But then Cathy got a new one so I was going to adopt her old one. Well, it was revealed while we were shopping for a usage plan for my adopted phone that I could get a new one for free with the same service. So, that's what I did. Now, if I can only figure out how to answer it!

Bio-Blog #9 ... Nicole

I have known Nic for 16 years now - can you believe that. I love the fact that at 30 I have friends that I have known for half my life and they are still around and as amazing as ever! The thing about Nicole is that I don't get to see her very often because whe lives out west. In fact, we recently just got back in touch after two or so years of being in communicato. The best part is that it was like we had never missed a beat. We have lived lives that are opposite in about every conceivable way but she is always there for me with the best and most undertanding wisdom. I love her to pieces.

I am ... happy,a mom, thankful for my blessings
I can ... multitask at a superheros intensity
I love ... the mountains
I will ... retire in the mountains

What is your sign? Leo
Where were you born? Lethbridge, Alberta
Where do you live now? Grande Prairie, Alberta

What has been the best place you've visited in between and why?
Our Holiday to the West Coast. When we went to the Ocean and just watched the tide come in. There is nothing like visiting the Ocean and realizing how insignificant you are in the vastness. And then looking at your children and realizing in the next moment how important you are in the vastness.

What is your favourite:
Movie: Meet Joe Black ( I know, Iknow) or The Sacketts or Spaceballs . Sorry I couldn't decide.
Book: Eragon - Right now. It changes so often . But the one I come back to the most has to be Jane Erye.
TV Show: Rick Mercer report
Drink: Ceaser

Who is your celebrity hottie of choice? Thomas Jane

If you could have lunch with anyone in the world ... who would it be and why?
Gary Larson. From The far side. I want to know if he is crazy or a genius.

How do you know Raye?
Raye moved next door to me in Grade 9. And we have been friends since.

What 3 words would you use to describe Raye?
Strong, impassioned, free-spirit

Do you have your own website? Nope.

Rocking My FanGirl

OK ... can't contain it any longer. I saw INXS in concert tonight. I want to scream - ok did that. I want to dance - ok did that. I want to jump up and down like a crazy fangirl on speed - ok did that as well. I cannot explain the joy of seeing this band in concert. They have been a FAVE band for years and my dream of seeing them perform has been in my mind since 1989. The last time INXS did a big tour it was the fall of 1997 and I missed it. And then, sadly, Hutchence was dead 3 weeks later and INXS was no more. But in the summer of 2005 we got "Rockstar:INXS" on TV and a guilty pleasure became the star-making machine for JD Fortune (a maritime boy no less) and INXS was back.

So tonight there was me and 5 galpals in the nosebleed section of the Metro Centre stands to take in the show. Really, my behaviour was completely front row fan. I almost thought I was going to fall over on the row in front of me. SOOOOOO good. The older songs played much better as they have the history behind them. And although I was never JD's biggest fan on the show - he sells it on stage. The man is in love with being a rockstar. He has gotten to the point where his confidence has become seductive and he works it. He gets almost vulgar (I think his mic stand was adequately molested during the show) and it becomes intoxicating. He is a genuine frontman and although he will never be able to sing "Never Tear Us Apart" like Hutchence, he does the upbeat tracks really well. All told, I couldn't have asked for more. Oh well, maybe they could have sung "Elegantly Wasted" ... but you can't have everything.

Springtime

April Showers bring May Flowers

The darling buds of May are popping all over Halifax. Today was full of warm spring weather and the you could almost see the blossoms exploding and the leaves unfurling. I took a tour downtown and read in the Public Gardens for an hour and I believe the world was definately greener on the walk back! I am a sucker for sprintime flowers because they appear in adundent bouquets on naked tree branches. I am always amazed to see the trees in full-petal before the leaves come in..

But one of the images that will always remind me of HFX springtime is the bright yellow bushes that are EVERYWHERE. They are in yards, on public grounds, in random grassy corners. With no leaves on them they look like living sunshine. So I took the pics above, laying on my back below the boughs of two large bushes in the gardens. The arches of canary blooms make the most wonderful contrast against a cloudless blue sky. That is what spring looks like.

Mission Impossible 3 - movie reivew

MI3 works out about the way I anticipate its box office progressing - a strong start that just falls off from there. After a great opening scene that establishes Philip Seymour Hoffman as the villain (yippee!) - the credits explode in good ole M:I style. I actually got excited during the credits because, like a cat chasing a reflection on the wall, I like shiny, flashy things. Unfortunately, MI3 doesn't keep up the game.

What MI3 does excel at is offering a good team of talent. In fact, the movie may be the best summer example of up-and-comers playing against type with savvy. There is the aforementioned Hoffman who is cannily following his Oscar award with a showy bad guy role. There is Jonathan Rhys-Meyers who is moving away from his fey English characters by bulking up as a seriously hot IMF transportation guy. There is Billy Crudup who is actually playing the straight-man in a mainstream flick. There is Keri Russell who is kicking some serious ass and leaves the film WAY too soon! These are all good things. And they balance Tom Cruise nicely without tipping the scales away from the star. I'll admit to actually liking Cruise's Ethan Hunt character so I'm always game for another mission and don't mind that the supporting cast must take a back seat.

This time around Ethan has taken himself out of the field and is enjoying engaged bliss with the completely bland Michele Monaghan. I must state here that I don't think a less-thrilling leading lady could have been found for this film. And the fact that she is so unremarkable makes it that much harder to care about Ethan's drive to save/protect her. Considering the first film offered the French mystique of Emmanuelle Beart and the second provided the sultry teasing of Thandie Newton, I am completely gobsmacked that the lifeless Monaghan was chosen as the love of Ethan's life and the mission motivation. I disliked her so much that at pivotal points in the plot I actually found myself saying "kill her - just kill her" more than once - and it would have been a better film if they had.

But MI3 is not really about the actors - it's about the action. And the action is good. Although JJ Abrams over-uses the shaky-cam, the majority of the excitement is well-presented. A helicopter fight in a windmill farm is beautifully constructed. A missile attack on a bridge flings cars in the air and offers generous explosions. These are things for which you watch MI and it is gratifying when they are done well. However, the action loses steam in the final act that the last stand is such a cliche that it may induce cringing. The dispatching of the villain is also swift and unsatisfying and completely unfair to Hoffman's presence.

Overall, MI3 kicks off the summer season with a bang but it is hardly good enough to be the best blockbuster of the summer. And although all the MI elements are present here they just don't ignite with the same heat as the previous installments.

About Time in a Galaxy Far, Far Away

The news came out today that Lucasfilm has finally gotten the message that some of us Star Wars fans actually want the original!! Who would have thought?! So on September 12, the original, unaltered Star Wars trilogy will be released on DVD. Ever since the special editions were released I have been lamenting the useless and distracting "improvements" that Lucas added to the films. I have held off on buying the films on DVD because I have always preferred the theatrical releases. Say goodbye to Greedo shooting first. So long to that useless digital Jabba talking to Han. Saranoya to that inserted Hayden Christensen as the end of Jedi. Hello the REAL Star Wars on DVD. Consider my calendar marked.

Hard Candy - movie review

It's hard to know exactly what to say about Hard Candy. The film blends the controversial topics of chatrooms, pedophilia, torture, and vigilantism - not your typical cocktail for entertainment.

After an introduction of chat dialogue the audience catches up with Hayley and Jeff at their first face-to-face meeting. Immediately the film sets up the uneasy story as the teen Hayley (I swear she doesn't look a day over 12) awkwardly flirts with the 30-something photographer Jeff. The actors are also uneasy in these initial scenes and the action tends to drag with a solid tone never being reached. Then again, perhaps this is the point because a decisive tone would require establishing a hero and a villain and Candy's main thrust appears to be keeping this distinction ambiguous.

Evenutally the characters end up in Jeff's apartment and soon after Hayley takes control of the action. Using a variety of interesting film tactics, director David Slade uses his music video roots to infuse energy into picture that could have been lifeless. Instead, the film explodes with jumpcut action and rotates with stark colour fades. The fact that the digital colourist is listed early in the opening credits is evidence of the visual stylings the film offers. As well, as a two-person show, Candy offers excellent performances. Both Ellen Page and Patrick Wilson give chilling portrayals - not an easy feat considering the subject matter and plot points.

Candy is essentially a "Little Red Riding Hood" tale - an alusion that is direct in Hayley's red hoodie. But Hayley requires no woodsman to come and save her. With a pocketful of drugs, some surgery tools and a fazer she sets out to teach the big, bad wolf a lesson. The challenge in the film is how the viewer's sympathy jumps back and forth between the characters. Hayley's innocent victim is also a steely and disturbed young woman. Jeff's inappropriate slimeball is also a heartsick loner. And as the tension escalates and the stakes are rised the audience is thrown into the dilemma of deciding who is right. Who REALLY is the wolf in this tale?

Sadly, the film fails to secure solid red herrings and relinquishes its power by not taking a truly terrifying stance for either character. In the end, the story falls into pleading preachiness rather than sharp statement and the audience is left to wonder whether there was a point to it all. If the film had the balls to commit to total villainy then its moral questions would have bleed purely from the screen. As it is, Candy is an intriguing, but unsatisfying, diversion.

Lift a Glass

It's been awhile since I posted a blogthing for fun. This past weekend I saw a pub that had its tables outside ready to kick-off the patio season and I thought ... hmmm ... a drink would be nice. So this little trifle is about being true to your drinking self! I hope that many of you will try it and let me know your answers (that's what comments are for people!) I happen to think some of the references about me are downright scary in their accuracy! Cheers!

You Are a Classic Martini

You area sophisticated drinker, who knows that simple quality is over-rated. You're a knowledgeable drunk, but sometimes you're a know-it-all when you're blasted. You should never: Drink and gossip. You tend to forget who's standing right behind you! Your ideal party: Has a real bartender. But no one mixes a better drink than you. Your drinking soulmates: those with a Chocolate Martini personality Your drinking rivals: those with a Margarita Martini personality

What Flavor Martini Are You?

You Are Guinness

You know beer well, and you'll only drink the best beers in the world. Watered down beers disgust you, as do the people who drink them. When you drink, you tend to become a bit of a know it all - especially about subjects you don't know well. But your friends tolerate your drunken ways, because you introduce them to the best beers around.

What's Your Beer Personality?