Yikes almost did not blog today :( ... um nothing really to write about. I promise a better blog tomorrow. In the meantime, you can read about the Oscar curse. Examples - Halle Berry, Faye Dunaway, Cuba Gooding Jr. Gwyneth Paltrow, Richard Dreyfuss and Liza Minnelli.

Here are some Oscar movies I saw:

(M) Dreamgirls. (Bill Condon, 2006) Grade: B-

Thoughts: Based on the 1981 Broadway musical about three young women Deena Jones (Beyonce Knowles), Effie White (Jennifer Hudson) and Lorrell Robinson (Anika Noni Rose) and their rise to fame filled with heartbreak and hardship. Eddie Murphy was great as James “Thunder” Early and I think Keith Robinson and Danny Glover were good. However, the film belonged to Effie White played by the awesome Jennifer Hudson. She can really sing and the many awards she has been receiving shows she can act as well. I’m just glad Beyonce is getting pushing into the background. Be warned if you like musicals this movie is for you, otherwise I would avoid it because there is a lot of singing. Trivia – Jennifer Hudson had to beat out 782 actresses for her role as Effie, including Fantasia Barrino from America Idol fame.

(M) Children of Men. (Alfonso Cuaron, 2006) Grade: A

Thoughts: The tagline for the movie is “No children. No future. No hope.” And it is quite fitting. In 2027, Theo Faron (Clive Owen) is living in London where the world’s youngest kid is 18 years old and women are not capable of having children. I loved the bleak, depressing, darkness of the film’s topic; a world where there are no more children hence no future for mankind. In addition, I enjoyed the violent and fast pace of the movie, along with strong acting by Clive Own, Julianne Moore, Chiwetel Ejiofor and the awesome Michael Caine. As much as I am not the biggest fan of children, it would be naïve to think human’s one way of continuing survival was not the most important gift we ever got.

(M) Notes on a Scandal. (Richard Eyre, 2006) Grade: C+

Thoughts: Sheba Hart (Cate Blanchett) is a new high school teacher whom begins an affair with a student. Her one confidant is fellow teacher Barbara Covett (Judi Dench). Judi Dench was excellent in this movie as a crazy old cat lady but I think they could have casted pretty much anyone to play Cate’s role. It was neat to see Bill Nighy in the film. The only downside was I wish they went into a bit more background about Barbara’s character to understand what drove her to become what she was.

Movie count: 3

Last night, I watched The Last Kiss. I liked it and my favorite line in the movie is "What you feel only matters to you, it's what you do to the people you said you love, that's what matters." This movie was definitely written from a guy's perspective. After watching this movie, I've learned a few things...
1. Guys want younger girls.
2. Guys don't want to grow up or want responsibilities.
3. If you are okay with sleeping on the porch for 4 days, then cheat.

Happy Birthday New Wave!

(B) God Bless You, Dr. Kevorkian (Kurt Vonnegut Jr., 2001) Grade: A
I decided to read a more contemporary author today, so I found this book at the library. I haven’t read Vonnegut since college, but it’s easy to remember why he’s considered one of the great American novelists. This *very* short book actually started as 90-second segments for a New York radio station, but it translates well as text. It’d be funnier to hear it though. And there’s a featured appearance of Vonnegut’s Kilgore Trout character.

I’m not one to dislike a band for its popularity or be a naysayer to the so-called newbie fans, but when it impedes my ability to see a band, I do get a little bitter. Case in point: I leave work today at 4:50p and rush to Amoeba to see The Shins. Even though they aren’t playing a proper gig, with the exception of KCRW’s, I figure I can at least see them for free at the in-store. I literally rush to Amoeba and with traffic and parking, I arrive at 5:20p. My friend tells me to hurry up because he’s already in the back and it’s packed. But by the time I arrive, there’s a line. And after 20 minutes waiting, an Amoeba clerk says that it’s at capacity and there’s no chance we’re getting in. I’m pretty upset. It’s then that I use my true fan card, ranting to New Wave, who insists they’re not that good anyway, that I listened to Oh Inverted World back in 2001, three years before Zach Braff used it in his so-called indie film, which wasn’t that good anyway. I deserve to be inside. So unfair. (sad face)

(M) To Live - Grade: B

If you have ever been curious of the development of China from about 10 years before Mao until the later years of his rule, this is the movie to watch. It's a movie about a family who starts off as property owners and luckily they lose everything before the communist take-over where property owners are killed. The family suffers through the communist ideology of Mao and keeps hope despite the constant heartache. As interesting as this movie is in how it handles communist China, China was actually worse than this movie portrays it to be. A very good film. Labeled as the "Gone With The Wind" of China.

(M) The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner (Tony Richardson, 1962) Grade: B+
After I read Alan Sillitoe’s short story, I wanted to watch the film adaptation, but it hasn’t been available on DVD until recently. Anyway, the film is nearly two hours, which impressed me since it’s based on a short story. But it hammered home all the themes that Sillitoe discussed. The film made me wonder even more about whether it was worth it to take a stand against the powers that be in order to maintain your principals, because the protagonist could have had a much easier life if he did as he was told. I guess it just takes strength of character.

So I'm starting to review stuff I have watched for 2007. At the bottom are the last three movie reviews for 2006.

(TV) Weeds. (Season one, 2005) Grade: B

Thoughts: Nancy Botwin (Mary-Louise Parker) has just lost her husband and has to raise her two sons, Silas Botwin (Hunter Parrish) and Shane Botwin (Alexander Gould) on her own. The show is pretty funny and silly and over the top. I really like when they focus on the black family, whom Nancy gets her weed from, because they are honest and tell it like it is to this sheltered white woman who is basically trying to be a drug dealer. Oh and Kevin Nealon is pretty funny as a pot smoking city councilman. One thing the show has made me realized is Orange County type suburbia is SCARY.

(TV) The Robinsons. (Complete Series, 2005) Grade: B-

Thoughts: Recently divorced 30 year old, Ed Robinson (Martin Freeman) is trying to pull his life back together but it is difficult with his crazy family made up of parents Pam and Hector and brother George (Huge Bonneville) and sister Vicky (Abigail Cruttenden). I mainly watched the show because Martin Freeman from the UK Office was in it. The show had some good moments and some moments that dragged. British people are very dry in humor and totally, utterly miserable souls but I guess if you never saw that sun that often you would be the same way.

TV count: 2

(M) Zhifu (Uniform). (Yinan Diao, 2003) Grade: D+

Thoughts: Slow moving and slightly confusing, the main character makes and cleans clothes in a poor city of China. He comes across a police uniform and end up keeping it and using it to extort money from people to pay for his dad’s medical bills. Along the way he meets a girl, who seems like just another shop girl but is actually a call girl at night. The film is suppose to explore what “uniforms” say about people but I found it more about how corrupt and crooked parts of China were and how they have some time before they become a super power.

(M) Shiqi Sui De Dan Che (Beijing Bicycle). (Xiaoshuai Wang, 2001) Grade: C+

Thoughts: Guo Liangui (Lin Cui) is a country boy who just got a dream job – to be a courier for a popular delivery company in China and a bike. Jian (Bin Li) is a poor student who wants a bike to impress a girl he likes. Jian ends up with Guo’s bicycle and the story follows how the boys fight over the bike. Yet another film regarding modern China; however this was more entertaining than Uniform but not by much.

(M) Zhou Yu De Huo Che (Zhou Yu’s Train). (Zhou Sun, 2002) Grade: B-

Thoughts: Zhou Yu played by the gorgeous Gong Li is madly in love with a poet Chen Qing (Tony Leung Ka Fai). Unfortunately, Chen lives far away and so every week she takes a train to see him. On the train she meets a veterinarian doctor Zhang Qiang (Honglei Sun) who is attracted to her. Eventually the poet has to move away and she spends her time with the doctor. The movie was beautifully shot and certain scenes were so simple and lovely.

2006 count: 149 movies

The Wong Kar-Wai Collection - Grade: B

After first being exposed to Wong Kar-Wai's later works (In The Mood For Love & 2046 [my favorite]), I went back and watched these 5 films. I started with 'Days Of Being Wild' and I am going to have to re-watch this one because I think I was too hard on it. The stand-out films for me were As Tears Go By and Fallen Angels. Those were my favorites. Happy Together was ok, and Chungking Express was probably actually my least favorite though it seems to be raved about by everyone. It may have suffered the fate of Days Of Being Wild where my expectations were too high. I almost gave up on the box-set after the first two films but was very happy I watched the rest.

for the sake of a post each day...
The Good, The Bad & The Queen's "Hurculean" is the iTunes Free Single of the Week. go check it out.

So the Oscar nominations came out today. I have seen all but one of the Best Motion Picture movies. I'll prob. watch Letters From Iwo Jima this weekend.

Any guess on what will take Best Motion Picture of the Year? I'm going with Babel but Darth thinks The Queen but I'm not sure The Queen reaches a big enough market like Babel does. The dark horse is Little Miss Sunshine. A good movie but great ... eh.

As for foreign language film, I've seen two of the five but I'm going to get Water through Netflix so three soon. Oh and side note I'm only 7 movies way from rating 1000 on Netflix. Yup I'm sick :)

I'm sort of losing my mind right now because of this .....

I just can't wrap my head around the fact that I will get to see JESUS AND MOTHERFRAKING MARY CHAIN!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm in for Friday and MAYBE big huge maybe Sat. but I doubt it.

(M) My Fair Lady. (George Cukor, 1964) Grade: B-

Thoughts: Same story as Pygmalion but a musical version. The singing and acting was great but Audrey Hepburn as Eliza Doolittle was odd because she is incredibly beautiful. Eliza should be pretty and pleasant but Audrey is breathtaking. I was quick to assume Professor Henry Higgins (Rex Harrison) as a misogynist but after reading some reviews online he is actually a misanthrope or “HATER”. He dislikes everyone and everything and nothing can make him happy BUT Eliza. It is interesting to watch this version because they do a softer and lighter version of Pygmalion.

(M) GiGi. (Vincente Minnelli, 1958) Grade: B+

Thoughts: Gigi (Leslie Caron) is being groomed by her grandmother and aunt to become a courtesan in Parisian society. Gaston Lachaille (Louis Jourdan) is one of the most sought after bachelors/playboys in Parisian society. It is only fitting the two should become friends and when then friendship leads to something more, the movie becomes very charming. Movies back then were classy and well done compared to the stuff out now; women were ladies and men were gentlemen.

(M) Who Killed the Electric Car?. (Chris Paine, 2006) Grade: B-

Thoughts: A good documentary film that only people who are already aware of the current global and political situation will watch. I would like to think it reached new markets but I doubt it. Back in the early 90’s, GM released the EV1, an electric car, only to recall it and destroy all that ever existed. The director Chris Paine did this documentary mainly because he was an EV1 owner and was upset by what had happened. Funny side note, I actually knew someone that had an EV1 back in high school and to think there are none around except in museums is odd.

(M) Agnes Und Seine Bruder (Agnes and His Brothers). (Oskar Roehler, 2004) Grade: D+

Thoughts: The acting was strong but overall premise/storyline was too over the top and reminded me too much of a poor man’s version of a Pedro Almodovar film. Agnes Tschirner (Martin Weib) has just finished her/his sex operation and is working out issue within her/himself along with her/his two brothers.

Count for 2006: 146 movies

This is ALMOST reason enough for me to go to Coachella this year. ALMOST!

(M) Stomp the Yard (White, 2007) Grade: B+

Now you all know I'm a sucker for a dance movie, so it should be no surprise that I watched this one. Yes, it's predictable with your basic formula for a dance movie, but it was entertaining nonetheless.

Dance movie formula:

1. Kid that loves to dance and, well, likes to stir up trouble.

2. A tragedy occurs that forces circumstances to change.

3. Kid has to adjust to new world, new people and luckily finds a way to do so with DANCE!

4. New relationships are formed and kid brings his style of dance to mix in with (insert dance style here, which in this case is stepping/stomp)

5. Enemies sabotage kids newfound happiness.

6. Everything is resolved with, you guessed it, DANCE!

Despite all this, I think this was probably one of the better dance movies out there. There are a few really great shots including the pictures above. The dancing/stepping is really good, although I could never really get myself to figure out what good crunking/clowning is. I respect those that can crunk/clown but sometimes it just looks weird. I also like the fact that it gives positive role models/messages for the black youth out there. An added bonus are the beautiful men (Columbus Short(DJ) and Brian J. White.); not just beautiful men but men running around shirtless haha. Yum.

Check out this car footage of people sliding on ice in seattle.
Click here

racism in advertising...don't know what to say :-S

Just an FYI, we have a new member in the house .. Candy Cane. So please welcome her and no she is not a stripper but what a good stripper name right. Hee hee.

Tonight was magical! New Wave and I decided to watch Notes On A Scandal at the Arclight. After we sat down, three guys walks in . All of them had that "Hey, I'm in a band" look, with their shaggy hair and rocker clothing. After the third guy passes by, New Wave mentioned that he looked like "Orlando Bloom", who is one of the hottest actors EVER. I'm thinking...No way that could be Oralndo, cause why would he be at the Arclight on a Thursday night? Shouldn't he be at a party somewhere in Hollywood? Plus, no one else seemed to notice. So after the movie ended, as we were walking out, we saw "the guy who looks like Orlando" face to face and New Wave's suspicions were confirmed. We shared 1.5 hours with Orlando Bloom! Now I can say, "Yes, I did watch a movie with Orlando." He's really a good looking person. He's not as tall as I had imagined. He's probably like 5'10 ish? But still, very gorgeous. Did I mention that he's one of the hottest actors EVER??? I think I was starstruck and of course New Wave was not. She just laughed at me... but it's okay because Orlando and I watched a movie together. Oh yeah, we ran into him again in the parking structure cause we walked up to level P4 instead of P3 and as we back tracked down to P3, Orlando was walking up to P4. Sigh...he's so dreamy.

According to the Jan. 19th issue of Entertainment Weekly these are the 25 movies to watch before the Oscars:

- The Departed
- Dreamgirls
- Babel
- The Queen
- Letters From Iwo Jima
- Little Miss Sunshine
- United 93
- Little Children
- Notes on a Scandal
- Flags of Our Fathers
- The Last King of Scotland
- The Devil Wears Prada
- Borat
- Blood Diamond
- Volver
- The Pursuit of Happyness
- Venus
- Children of Men
- Pan's Labyrinth
- Half Nelson
- Thank You For Smoking
- The Painted Veil
- Stranger Than Fiction
- Hollywoodland
- For Your Consideration

So the question at hand is how many have you guys seen? I've seen 15 out of the 25.

The Shins are coming! The Shins! For free! Glee! They perform at Amoeba Jan. 26 at 6 p.m.

This line was in a review for a French Film I was reading about and I found it amusing and thought I'd share it:



Be warned, like most French movies having anything to do with adults and sex, everybody smokes, and their philosophy is deeply cynical materialism or even nihilism. They have zero values and zero aspirations and should be medicated on Prozac but aren't.

Yesterday when I was leaving work I checked my phone and saw I had a voice message. It was Pigern informing me our house got broken into. I called my mom to find out the details and yup ... someone broke into our house.

The robbers went over our back fence and destroyed our back door (they really wanted in). Luckily, they didn't take much, just my dad's old laptop that is really Pigern's college one that my dad fixed up and some jewelry from my mom.

I checked my room and everything seemed to be in order. I'm really thankful nothing happened to my family, no one was home when it took place. Now my mom is considering an alarm system but I think I'm going to try to push her into getting a dog. Or you know we can just change a few locks and call it a day. :(

(B) Pan (Knut Hamsun, 1894) Grade: A
Although not much really happens in Pan, which is about a man who lives in solitude in the woods, the poetic prose is very involving. One of the book’s central themes is how man cannot be defined in his isolated state but defined by his interactions with others. When first introduced, the protagonist seems merely appreciative of nature and simple, but as the book progresses, the reader finds he is actually quite cruel and his actions have tragic consequences.

Has anyone been watching American Idol? I haven't watched it from the beginning since season 1. I forgot how funny the beginning is. I used to not watch it because there would be these people who would get on there just cuz they were so bad, but it's hilarious. One thing I have learned, people in Seattle are WEIRD.

Does anyone know their screening process? Does everyone that shows up get to audition? I can't remember.

I took a little field trip on Monday... decided to go see one of my dead hero's (Charles Bukowski).

Here's his grave:


There's a video of me kissing it on my myspace page.

(M) Kinky Boots. (Julian Jarrold, 2005) Grade: B

Thoughts: After his father’s death, Charlie Price (Joel Edgerton) must figure out a way to keep his family’s shoe shop in business. With the help of Lola (Chiwetel Ejiofor), he does by making shoes for drag queens. Kinky Boots is a fun and lighthearted movie and I would have given it a lower rating BUT I really like Chiwetel as an actor and it is based on a true story so go figure.

(M) Greenfingers. (Joel Hershman, 2000) Grade: B

Thoughts: Colin Briggs (Clive Owen) is sent to a special type of prison where they encourage the prisoners to redevelop themselves through their jobs. For Colin, it turns out to be gardening and his garden work catches the attention of Georgina Woodhouse (Helen Mirren), a famous garden expert. Much like Kinky Boots, I would have rated the film lower but Clive Owen is so good looking and it is based on a true story.

Count for 2006: 142 movies

(M) Notes on a Scandal Grade: A
I wasn’t sure whether I would enjoy this film, because it seemed like it might be overly dramatic or overly done. But it was actually quite involving, and Judi Dench was simply amazing. Cate Blanchett also was fantastic. Plus, it was set in England. I especially enjoyed The Streets reference: You’re fit, says the younger bloke. And don’t I know it, replies Cate’s character. Hehe.

(M) Children of Men Grade: B
I think this one was too hyped for me. It didn’t help that my friend told me it was the best picture of the year. I did enjoy it, thought the concepts relevant and admit it was overall well done, but I could have done without all the shoot ’em up gun battles that make me squirmish.



(M) Who Put the M in Manchester? Grade: B+
Well, the answer is Morrissey! Great live concert DVD, which I rewatched to prepare for the February Moz gigs. (Fantastic!) My favourite part of the film was when a bloke leaps up on stage to touch Morrissey but slams against the wall before being pulled away by security. And his Royal Queeness says, You will never get on stage. Neeevvverrr! Hehe.

Meebo.com

Not sure if anyone has heard of this. My friend recently told me about this cool website. You can access any IM service from any computer. Just thought I'd share. I haven't actually used it on other computers. I've just tested it out on my own desktop. This will come in handy when I'm on rotations that have a lot of downtime. Hopefully they don't block the website at the hospital!!

A weak blog but a blog nevertheless ... why is it so fraking cold?? Dang it. Oh and as evil as Wal-Mart is ... it is pretty cheap.

I am re-watching all 5 seasons of curb your enthusiasm, slowly.... very slowly, but I am using this handy dandy new book about the show that gives extra information about each and every episode so I can learn more about the show and enjoy new fun facts. I know... sounds like something only somebody who loves X-Files or Battlestar Galactica would do.

As Hedwig mentioned, we are doing really well with the blog a day thing. Awesome :) But hey ... it is still very early.

I changed my WeeMee so now I'm in outer space with Battlestar Galactica, Firefly and of course X-Files :) If you guys want to send me your new pic by all means do so.

Since the new year has started I have not watched one movie. I feel bad but eh ... I'm a bit scarred from watching so many movies towards the end of the year. I haven't even reviewed anything in a long while. I will though.

Oh and I'm only days away from a new season of 24. OH MY GOSH!!! To say I'm excited would be an understatement. Jack Bauer is my hero. :) I'm actually surprised at how much press they are getting this time around. I guess due to the Emmy win. Such a great series!!!

This is mainly for you New Wave. I just watched 49 UP and it was pretty good. My friend said it was her favorite... I don't think it was my favorite but it's nice to see most people are finally at peace with themselves and their lives and a number of them critiqued the series. It was interesting. I don't know how far you got in the whole series. I hope you have enjoyed what you have seen though.

Moz is returning to Los Angeles! Well, Pasadena. I am debating going only one night since I really shouldn’t spend money I don’t have... But then again, it is Morrissey. Hm... For fun, my friends dug up some old photos of an instore back in 2000. Hehe. I love how everyone is crying and kissing his hand like he’s the Pope. Hilarious. A film crew also is recruiting Latinos in East L.A. for a documentary about their love for Moz, which I think is annoying. How about the other East L.A. Morrissey fans of different ethnicities?

FOR BLEED LIKE ME

iPhone
iPhone combines three products — a revolutionary mobile phone, a widescreen iPod with touch controls, and a breakthrough Internet communications device with desktop-class email, web browsing, maps, and searching — into one small and lightweight handheld device. iPhone also introduces an entirely new user interface based on a large multi-touch display and pioneering new software, letting you control everything with just your fingers. So it ushers in an era of software power and sophistication never before seen in a mobile device, completely redefining what you can do on a mobile phone.

There's your answer.

(m) A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Theater
Grade: B+
An entertaining film spoofing "New Roman Comedy". This is a musical from back in 1966 or some time around then. It's a comedy about a slave who wants to buy his freedom and his master's son says he will set the slave free if the slave can arrange a marriage between the son and the prostitute living next door (who is still a virgin). It's quite comical. I love watching old funny movies like these. I wish there was an occasional movie like this made today. Apparently this movie has won a lot of awards, or the original play did, though it also received a ton of criticism for its sexuality. I recommend the film though.

I am really looking forward to the new Arcade Fire album Neon Bible and dare I say tour!!! Their new song "Intervention" is very addictive to me but lately it has been a lot of "No Cars Go"... US KIDS KNOW!!

Here is a strange and scary commerical they created for the new cd:


In other news, the original Blur might be back. I'm not holding my breathe but it would be nice.

Going along with Hedwig's post about reconnecting with high school classmates via MySpace, a classmate (not even a friend) found me on the site and started to email me. I didn't think much of it but apparently he fancied me back then and still does, which I thought a bit strange, just because high school was so long ago. Anyway, long story short, I basically had to be mean and tell him to stop talking to me. But he sent me a weird email today about some dream he had about me. Should I a) not respond and ignore it; b) email him back that he's creepy and to not contact me; or c) be nice but brief in response, which was my first instinct because it's hard for me to be impolite.

So I lost my iPod :( the night before New Years Eve, during a drunken episode. It was my 80 GB video iPod, which I had just gotten in Sept. So now I'm faced with a decision, and I could use some input.
Should I (a) get a new iPod now, or (b) get a smaller iPod (Nano or Shuffle, or even a used one off Craigslist or Ebay) and THEN get a new iPod when a new model comes out?
As of right now, I'm holding off on my decision until Tuesday's MacWorld Expo SF, just in case a new model is announced there.
Let me know what you guys think. Thanks.

I just want to blog because I haven't in awhile because my computer died. I've been basically living without internet for 3 or 4 weeks now and it's not the most enjoyable experience but it has made me want to do more prouctive things.

Moving on...
OH! I also don't get TV so on New Years Eve I was at a bar and the musicians said, "This one's for the late God Father of Soul." I turned to my friend and asked, "Did James Brown die?" Now... not only did I not know James Brown died, I did not know Saddam Hussien was dead either. This is life without TV or the internet. I only randomly found out President Ford was dead.

I really don't have much to review, but I have been watching the extra's on the Chappelle Show season 2 DVD and the extra and extended Charlie Murphy 'True Hollywood Stories' are AWESOME!

Tonight I am going to watch New Wave attempt to slit her wrists while Monsters Are Waiting perform. This will be FUN!

Flaky Friend

This happened a little while ago but this will be my contribution to the house. I made plans with a friend from high school I got reconnected with through MySpace. We had set a date a couple of weeks in advance to meet for lunch. I emailed her through MySpace to confirm the date and also pick a place the day before our meeting. NOTHING. I tried again, thinking maybe she just forgot. The next day I still hadn't heard from her AND she had been on her MySpace page. So I text her and ask if everything is ok, and still nothing. I know I could have very well called her, but I didn't want to be needy, plus she had already dissed me. I decided to leave it alone and figured she'd contact me when things slowed down in case she was in a crisis that weekend or something. NOTHING. To this day I have not heard from her. What gives? Has anything like this every happened to you? Anyone else think this is super lame? Suggestions as of what to do? I mean it bothers me but I don't care about her that much so it's not that big a deal. I just think it's super rude.

(O) Bay Bridge toll increase, grade: F-

So I was driving back to SF from LA on Jan 1, when I was approaching the Bay Bridge from Oakland to SF, I read a sign that beginning on 01/01/07 the toll would be increased from $3 to $4...this BLOWS. I remember when the toll was raised to $3 just a couple years ago, and now its even more expensive at $4. Normally I wouldn't care, as I never go to the East Bay anyway, but I am currently on my Surgery rotation at Highland in Oakland...which means I have to pay the $4 everyday. Damn that stupid bridge!
(I know this is a lame post, but I had to do my contribution to the post-each-day campaign...FOR THE CHEESE!)

I have an offer for everyone in the house but Cup (since his computer is broken) or Darth (since he never blogs on this page) to keep blogging every day for as long as we can keep it up. I can not blog everyday but if we all pitch in we can most likely put up a blog a day.

I will give you guys something if you keep this going with me; some thing nice ... not like $100 dollars nice but maybe $5 bucks nice :) Come on we can do this Pigern, Bleed Like Me and Hedwig!!!!

There IS justice in the world! The O.C. is finally cancelled! Now if they would just cancel that damned One Tree Hill, I may start accepting the fact that they cancelled Everwood.

For laughs :)

New Year's Resoultions:
1. Eat better, less meat. I don't want a lot of health problems when I'm older
2. Buy some property.
3. Save even more money.
4. Travel more to Hawaii, Washington D.C, Seattle, Florida and maybe not always to HK.
5. Read one book a quarter / 4 books for the year but I'll be honest this might not happen.
6. Watch 100 movies and many tv shows. I am scaling back on movies because after this year I realized there are a lot of tv shows I want to watch. Here is my list so far: Weeds, Roswell, Firefly, Big Love, Sopranos, The Closer, and The 4400. Any other shows guys???

(M) Babel. (Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, 2006) Grade: B-

Thoughts: Richard (Brad Pitt) and Susan (Cate Blanchett) are on vacation in the Moroccan desert when Susan gets shot in her chest by a random bullet, setting off a chain of interlocking stories. I enjoyed the film but I did feel some parts dragged and it did not need to be 2 hours and 22 mins. Of all the storylines, the one that focused on the Amelia (Adriana Barraza), the nanny to Richard and Susan’s kids was the best. It felt the most relatable especially since I live in Southern California and immigration is a continuous issue here.

(M) Pursuit of Happyness. (Gabriele Muccino, 2006) Grade: B

Thoughts: Chris Gardner (Will Smith) is a struggling salesman who is trying to take care of his family while he is considering a job change into the broker world. When his wife Linda (Thandie Newton) leaves him, Chris decides to pursuit his new job while taking care of his young son Christopher (Jaden Smith). The cheese factor is extremely high in the film and guaranteed to make many people cry but I forgave it because 1. It is based on a true story and 2. Will Smith did a good job of just being a guy trying to make a better life for himself and his son. Trivia - The real Chris Gardner is seen walking past Will Smith and his son at the end of the movie and actual homeless people were used in the film, and paid as extras.

Count for 2006: 140 movies

(M) Fame. (Alan Parker, 1980) Grade: C+

Thoughts: The movie was more about going to an art/drama school and not too much about the students. Apparently, in the TV show they focus more about the students so that is neat. The song "Out Here On My Own" was nominated for an Oscar and it is amazing.

(M) Bull Durham. (Ron Shelton, 1988) Grade: B+

Thoughts: A good movie about minor league baseball with nice acting from Kevin Costner and Susan Sarandon. Trivia – Ron Shelton was a former minor league baseball player and used his experience as the basis for the story and Kurt Russell, who helped Ron Shelton develop the script, also played minor league baseball in the early-1970s.

(M) Brassed Off. (Mark Herman, 1996) Grade: B

Thoughts: A cute British movie about coal miner workers who might lose their jobs and who are in a brass band starring a young Ewan McGregor.

(M) Murder By Numbers. (Barbet Schroeder, 2002) Grade: C-

Thoughts: Two gifted high school students – Justin Pendleton (Michael Pitt) and Richard Haywood (Ryan Gosling) - commit a murder. This movie could have been great but due to a bad script it fell apart at the end, which is a shame because Michael Pitt and Ryan Gosling were great. I can't say the same for Sandra Bullock. She needs to stick with romantic comedy stuff. It is her bread and butter.

Count for 2006: 138 movies

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!

I hope everyone had a nice and safe new year's and I wish all of you guys a bright and wonderful 2007. :)

Oh and if you guys were curious ... I was one movie shy of the 150. I only did 149 :( Sorry to disappoint and I will still be blogging about the ones I have seen. My goal for this year will be different but I'll post that later.