Sunday, October 17, 2010

Lather, Rinse, Repeat

One week later - no movie yet. Our blog is in limbo and at the mercy of the United States Postal Service, and all that this implies.



I am also on the countdown to the "move". I am moving out in 6 days. What have I been doing lately, you ask? Well, I'll tell you. Pack pack pack pack pack sort pack sort sort toss toss sort pack pack pack load load load pack.



I find myself taking showers in the evening, as well as my usual morning time. Why? Because my muscles are sore, that's why, and I don't have a nice bathtub in which to soak. I'm definitely getting too old for this heavy lifting crap.



We do have a bright spot on the horizon. According to Maestro Netflix, DVD #1 for the final season of The Tudors is supposed to arrive in my post office box tomorrow. I've been waiting months for the next installment of decapitations, and am therefore quite excited.



A final note - my 11-year old just informed me that he has a major part of his Magellan report due on Tuesday; and, if he were not required to take a shower tonight, it would give him more time to work on it and meet the deadline. The implication here is, if he doesn't get it turned in on time, it's because I have burned valuable daylight and FORCED him to practice some form of hygiene. Just IMAGINE what he can get accomplished if he doesn't have to brush his teeth as well?

Sunday, October 10, 2010

A VHS Experience

Well, dear friends - I have exciting news.

The price on the one remaining released RDJR film that we need to review has PLUMMETED. Can I get a woot woot? So, speeding its way through the United States Postal System as we speak is one copy of "First Born". I'm so happy I didn't cave a day earlier and buy it. I have the willpower of a Vulcan, do I not.

Also - my "stats" inform me that last week, this blog had 14 hits in Malta. I'm huge in Malta. Welcome, my Maltese friend. Please introduce yourself so that I can say that I know somebody in Malta.

Contest time, dear readers - post the most interesting trivia or anecdote about Malta and you will win my VHS copy of "America". Serious as a heart attack, it is yours - and be forewarned, slap jack no take back. I will even autograph it for you.

The floor is now open.

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Stuffing Your Stuff

So, I'm moving.

A compassionate friend is going to let me live in her basement for the next few months. So Tav and I will be outta here soon.

I've been packing for over a month now and I cannot believe how much crapola I've gotten rid of. Boxes and boxes donated to a yard sale. Bags and bags thrown away. Then I look at what's left over and can't help but think - how pathetic to be 41 and starting my life over again with just this stuff. A toaster and blender that match. Two sewing machines. A twin bed and a recliner with duct tape on the arm where the cat scratched a hole in it. A cedar chest that weighs a good 800 pounds.

Stuff, stuff, stuff. Aren't we all just obsessed with our stuff. We either have too much stuff, not enough stuff, lots of stuff but no good stuff, or stuff that used to be good but now needs to be replaced with new stuff.

Well, since I'm about to take a good-sized pay cut for the next 4 months (gee, did I forget to mention that?), the stuff I have is the stuff I have for a while.

One thing that I do not have amongst my stuff is a copy of "First Born". In order for this Project to see fruition, I will have to add this to my stuff very soon. Then on November 5th, Our Hero's last film of 2010 debuts in theaters...and thus endeth our adventure.

Cry not, dear reader. I shall not leave you. In fact, if you send me your e-mail address (I think you can do it on the profile screen, or even post it here if you aren't afraid a homicidal maniac will steal it) I will let you know the address of 2011's blog when I have it.

Friday, October 1, 2010

Review #64 - Iron Man 2 (2010)

The time has come.

From the back of the box: "Robert Downey Jr. returns as billionaire Tony Stark in this thrilling sequel to the worldwide blockbuster. Now that his Super Hero secret has been revealed, Tony's life is more intense than ever. Everyone wants in on the Iron Man Technology, whether for power or profit...but for Ivan Vanko ("Whiplash"), it's revenge! Tony must once again suit up and face his most dangerous enemy yet, but not without a few allies of his own. Co-starring Mickey Rourke, Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle and Scarlett Johansson, Iron Man 2 is "spectacular!"

Iron Man 2 came out on DVD on Tuesday. We waited until WEDNESDAY to buy it at Wal-Mart. This is because I am a scientist, not some pathetic loser who has been on some sort of countdown for the past 65 days awaiting the release. I then waited until today, FRIDAY, to actually watch it. Again, scientist - not long-suffering fan who's been casting sidelong glances at a DVD case for the past two days, and giving it a loving stroke whenever I walk by it, like Oprah on a maple bar.

Ahem.

All that being said, I sat down with an 11-year old, a Dr. Pepper, a box of old-fashioned donuts, a bag of jalapeno chips and a carton of Whoppers earlier tonight to officially review Iron Man 2. You may recall, dearest reader, that Tav and I were in line at the Omak Theater back in May when the film was released, but I postponed my review until now, the dry spell before the wind down.

Side note- we only have 2 movies left. Can you flippin' believe it???

I'm going to assume that you haven't been on a lunar expedition for the past few years, and you've actually seen Iron Man. Did you like it? Well, you will like this one too. Did you hate it? Well, go back to the moon. Who asked you, anyway. Iron Man 2 is a little dark, a little opaque - who, exactly, is Scarlett Johansson supposed to be again? - but it's so entertaining, you don't really care. I mean, come on. It's a superhero movie. If you want accuracy and plausibility, watch "An Inconvenient Truth" or something like that.

(I'm inserting a Starkian raised brow and smirk here. Do as you see fit, depending on your own environmental and/or political leanings.)

The only action scene that was difficult to follow was Scarlett's butt-kicking montage, which was visually confusing due to her long red hair flopping everywhere. Other than that, it wasn't a visually overwhelming film, as some (many) tend to be, to the point where your brain gets so tired of tracking flying bodies, rolling cars and laser beams that you can't see straight enough to drive home. Some films make me nostalgic for Claymation. At least you could see what was going on.

Did I like it? Well, of course I did. After all I've endured this year film-wise, I deserved Iron Man 2. This is my flick, which I benevolently share with the population at large. You may miss it, if you're not watching closely - but there's a dedication at the end: "To Tina, with all my love and gratitude for enduring "Friends and Lovers" and "The Gingerbread Man", RD." Thanks, Bob.

We gotta go with a 10.