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W. – A Movie Review

February 23, 2009 B. John 351 Views 0 Comments george bush, Elizabeth Banks, Josh Brolin, George H.W. Bush, Dick Chenney, Oliver Stone, James Cromwell, W.

W. takes viewers through Bush’s eventful life — his struggles and triumphs, how he found both his wife and his faith, and of course the critical days leading up to Bush’s decision to invade Iraq. Lay and I watched this movie at home on DVD last weekend. It was more interesting than I expected. The film hopscotches through Bush’s life in an effort to compile all the seminal moments. Because of the number of “events” the film attempts to chronicle, this just all happens too fast. “W.” is not really a political movie per se; rather, it’s a movie about a man who went into politics but probably shouldn’t have. It’s about how a father can misread a son, how a son can suffer in the shadow of a famous dad and how temperament gets molded by events both internal and external.

Culture Society Crime General

Michael Phelps and Kellogg's

February 13, 2009 B. John 313 Views 0 Comments Marijuana, Pot, Michael Phelps, Olympics, Kellogg's

I can’t quite grasp the whole idea that people seem to have about the evil weed, marijuana. I think it’s pretty much established it’s less destructive than alcohol, and I suspect, truth be told, there are few middle-aged adults today who haven’t partaken. Now I see you all are supporting this over-reaction by withdrawing your sponsorship of Michael Phelps. The guy may be the greatest athlete ever, and not just in terms of physical accomplishments. He comes across as a gentleman and true sportsman. He certainly made a mistake, but he also represented America brilliantly both in and out of the pool at last year’s Olympics.

Culture Movies

Gran Torino – A Movie Review

February 9, 2009 B. John 311 Views 0 Comments Gangs, Clint Eastwood, Bee Vang, Action, Drama, bigotry, Gangsters, Asian

Archie Bunker meets Dirty Harry: Walt Kowalski is a widower, grumpy, tough-minded, borderline-hateful, unhappy old man who can’t get along with either his kids or his neighbors, a Korean War veteran whose prize possession is a 1973 Gran Torino he keeps in cherry condition. When his neighbor Tao, a young Hmong teenager, tries to steal his Gran Torino, Kowalski sets out to reform the youth. Drawn against his will into the life of Tao’s family, Kowalski is soon taking steps to protect them form the gangs that foul their neighborhood. It’s worth seeing, just wait until it is out on video.

Culture Movies Fun Stuff

David Huynh Of The Movie Baby

February 5, 2009 B. John 701 Views 2 Comments Invasion, Stage, tv, Movies, David Huynh, Baby, Actor

A recent movie we watched on DVD was the 2008 movie “Baby.” It was a well made movie that provided a tense and gritty look at gang life in East L.A. I was especially impressed with the actor who played the Character, Baby, David Huynh. After reading up on him, I was especially impressed at how authentic he made the character, but he seems to share none of Baby’s background.

Culture Movies

Rock N Rolla – A Movie Review

January 31, 2009 B. John 377 Views 0 Comments Tom Wilkinson, Gangster, Gerard Butler, Guy Ritchie, Action, Comedy, Crime

A Russian mobster orchestrates a crooked land deal, putting millions of dollars up for grabs and attracting all of London’s criminal underworld. Lay and I watched this movie last night on DVD. I admit I was tired, and didn’t give it my full attention. One of my complaints was that the British accents were so heavy, it was hard to follow, but at least the Director was probably being true to the location.

Culture Movies

Wrestler, The – A Movie Review

January 25, 2009 B. John 201 Views 0 Comments Drama, Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood, Darren Aronofsky

Randy “The Ram” Robinson, a 1980s-era pro wrestler, has become a burnt-out shell of his former self. After he has a heart attack during a small-time match, a doctor tells him he could die if he fights again. In an effort to build a new life, Robinson takes a job at a deli, But the prospect of a rematch with his old nemesis, the Ayatollah, proves too tempting to resist, even if it means risking his life.

Movies Culture

Baby – A Movie Review

January 24, 2009 B. John 389 Views 0 Comments Drama, Asian, Gangs, Feodor Chin, David Huynh, Juwan Chung

A tragic tale of an Asian youth’s gang life in South East Los Angeles, set during the mid 80’s to the early 90s.

Culture Movies

Defiance – A Movie Review

January 20, 2009 B. John 278 Views 0 Comments Non-Fiction, Drama, WWII, Daniel Craig, Edward Zwick, Jews, Holocaust, Liev Schreiber

Four Jewish brothers living in Nazi occupied Poland escape into the forest where they join up with Russian resistance fighters in battling the Nazis. Throughout the war they built a village inside the forest and saved the lives of more than 1200 other Jews. Based on a true story.

Culture Movies

Wackness, The – A Movie Review

January 20, 2009 B. John 345 Views 0 Comments 1994, Jonathan Levine, Comedy, Drama, New York, Ben Kingsley, Pot, Josh Peck

New York, summer 1994, the greatest year in hip-hop, a troubled teenage drug dealer trades pot for therapy sessions with a drug-addled psychiatrist intent on living his life to the fullest. The two form an unlikely friendship, but things get complicated when the kid falls for the doctor’s daughter.

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The Inaguration – My Take

January 20, 2009September 29, 2018 B. John 371 Views 0 Comments john roberts, Barack Obama, Yo Yo Ma, Oath of Office, Inaguration, Bush

I took time out, as did a lot of Americans, and watched today’s ceremonies swearing in Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States. As you might expect, I have some opinions on the ceremony and some of the participants. I’m a sucker for the ceremonies of state, and today’s was “high church.” Barack and Michele Obama, and his children, were just the height of grace and beauty, and it does give me some hope that maybe a new day has begun.

Culture Movies Fun Stuff

Pineapple Express – A Movie Review

January 19, 2009 B. John 284 Views 0 Comments Action, Comedy, James Franco, Seth Rogen, Pineapple Express, David Gordon Green

Process server Dale Denton has a grudging business relationship with the laconic Saul Silver, deigning to visit only to purchase Saul’s primo product–a rare new strain of pot called Pineapple Express. But when Dale becomes the only witness to a murder by a crooked cop and the city’s most dangerous drug lord, he panics and dumps the Pineapple Express at the scene. When it’s traced back to him, Dale and Saul run for their lives–and they quickly discover that they’re not just suffering from weed-fueled paranoia. If they survive, these two just might become real friends. All aboard the Pineapple Express.