The Incredible Hulk

Marvel has a large stable of characters, and choosing which ones deserve movies has to be tough.  Considering the Hulk is one of the harder characters to sell, the Incredible Hulk is actually a solid movie.  Frankly, it was a brave choice.  When you consider that Hulk had come out a scant five years earlier, it was jarring to see another Hulk film with completely different actors involved.  Luckily, it was a good move.  I can't compare the two films, as it has been quite some time since I saw Ang Lee's Hulk, but I can tell you all about the Incredible Hulk.

I have to give Marvel credit; they do a wonderful job with casting.  As Robert Downey Jr. makes an excellent Iron Man, so too does Edward Norton properly embody Bruce Banner.  He's a scrawny little guy who brings gravity to the role.  He's an amazing actor, and I was frankly surprised to find him in the Incredible Hulk.*  

If I see any shakiness to the casting by Marvel, it tends to be in the female characters.  I'm often unsure of the actresses they choose, but ultimately, they do an excellent job.  Ever since I watched some special about the Lord of the Rings, I've through Liv Tyler was a bit....derpy.  I think she is a fine actress, but the impression I got was that she wasn't very good at learning Elvish.  I realize that's not important, as it's not a real language, but thinking about that makes me laugh.  I like her, but she seems a bit silly to me.  She is able to carry her role in the Incredible Hulk just find though.  While she isn't on Edward Norton's level, she had what she needs to for this job.

No matter how hard they try, I just can't buy a CG hulk.  I like to think it's just because my brain refuses to accept a green giant running about and smashing up perfectly good cars and military men.  While the Hulk doesn't look real, I appreciate how Leterrier, the director, handles the presentation.  He starts out with keeping him to the shadows, but he isn't afraid to bring him out into the light.  He even goes so far as to have him running about in the rain.  He has interactions with real people, and it looks alright.  The CG is as good as can be expected.**

The Incredible Hulk tells a decent story, even though there are some plot points that are marginally silly.  Banner's interactions with Mr. Blue kept pulling me out of the film, primarily because of the encryption bar that was shown before each encounter.  Add in the lack of explanation as to how they found each other, and it becomes a weaker part of the plot.

Perhaps the weakest factor of the Incredible Hulk is the ending villain.  I'm gonna stop you right here.  If you haven't seen the film, skip the rest of this paragraph.  Like my Iron Man review, I think enough time has passed that it is safe to have spoilers in the review, but I prefer to alert you to their existence before carrying on.  Now, begone if you have not seen the film. The rest of you may read on.  Much like Iron Man's battle with a bigger Iron Man***, Hulk fights a bigger Hulk****.  While Tim Roth is successfully creepy as an aging commando, Abomination is just a big CG something.  The best part of the ending battle?  Omar.  Who doesn't love them some Omar??

All in all, the Incredible Hulk was so much better than I remembered.  I think when I originally saw it, I was expecting it to be as good as Iron Man was.  It doesn't speak to me quite as much as Iron Man, but it is a well done movie with great actors.  If you haven't seen it, you should.  It's worth your time.

*I'm still sad he isn't reprising his role for the Avengers, but I'm sure Mark Ruffalo will do a great job.

**Some people would argue that the CG could be better, possibly citing Avatar as an example.  I beg to differ.  The CG in Avatar works because those CG characters are largely interacting with CG environments.  Are the blue cat people pretty to look at?  Sure.  Did I ever believe I was really looking at blue cat people?  Nope.

***I know it wasn't a bigger Iron Man, but you get the idea.

****See above.

Iron Man

There are certain comic book movie that stand out above the others.  Obviously, I'm a huge fan of the Dark Knight, so much so that I don't know that I really consider it a comic book movie.  I thought Spider-Man 2 was great in so many ways, and when I saw Iron Man, I started to believe that Hollywood could keep producing great comic book movies.*  Iron Man did so many things right, and it became a standard I judged other comic book movies by.

The movie has a serious tone but isn't afraid to be funny.  Charismatic may be the best term to describe Iron Man.  There are a number of good one liners and quirky characters.  A lot of that is owed to the comic books themselves, but it took writers and a director who understood the characters to create the tone of the film.

Were the casting any different, Iron Man may not have worked.  With Robert Downey Jr., Iron Man had a leading actor that could pull off being a smarmy jerk who was likable.
     Good looking?  Check.
     Devil may care attitude?  Check.
     Charisma?  Check.
Robert Downey Jr. pairs well with the rest of the cast, as well.  While I feel like Gyneth Paltrow is an odd casting choice for Pepper Potts, she works.  I like her in the role, and she and RDJ play well off of each other. When you throw Jeff Bridges and Terrence Howard into the mix, you have a winning cast.  They're all capable actors.

Visually, Iron Man continues to be well done.  Jon Favreau crafts great scenes, with the opening in particular being well done.  He knows where to put his people and how to shoot them.  In the hands of a less capable and caring director, Iron Man may not have worked.  It's a story about a guy in power armor; this should raise eyebrows.  With this configuration, it doesn't.  It's just accepted as pure awesome.

If Iron Man has a weakness, it is in the ending.  As the movie has been out since 2008, I am going to speak candidly, with no care for spoilers.  If you haven't seen it yet, just skip the rest of this paragraph.  Still reading?  Good, that means you have already seen the film and know how awesome it is.  With regards to the ending, watching Iron Man fight a bigger Iron Man is not the most inspired turn.  It's understandable and follows the set-up well, but it's a boring ending for such a spectacular film.  Don't get me wrong.  It's well done, and I don't know what I would have done differently.  Frankly, the movie is great, and I was hard pressed to find a flaw.  The ending isn't a flaw; it just isn't as unique as the rest of the film.

If you haven't seen Iron Man yet, you need to.  At this point, I'm pretty sure most people have seen it.  It's a great film.  I hadn't watched it in a few years, and it sucked me right in when we put it in.  Iron Man is worth about two hours of your time.  Besides, don't you want to re-watch all the Marvel movies before the Avengers comes out?


*They tried to kill that belief with Spider-Man 3.  Jerks.

Steak 'N Shake

Aside from proximity to my friends and family, the biggest perk I miss from when I lived in State College is definitely the accessibility to food.  I see you shaking your head, marveling at the number of restaurants in Myrtle Beach.  You're right.  There are a lot of restaurants here in Myrtle Beach.  Do you know how many of them are open twenty-four hours a day?  It's not many, and some of the ones that are open all night are just terrible.  In State College, I could have cookies baked fresh and delivered to my home at two in the morning!  Amazing!  If I want late night food here in Myrtle Beach, Steak 'N Shake is one of the better options.

Located less than ten minutes from my home, Steak 'N Shake is relatively close by and offers a meal at a decent price.  Is the food fancy and high quality?  Probably not, but when it's midnight and you're hungry, you don't care.  I had a grilled cheese sandwich and fries, and they were awesome.  They cost me all of $3.99.  Mark had spaghetti noodles with chili and junk on them.  He only ate about half of them, but he said they tasted pretty good.  The menu has a myriad of burgers to choose from, as well.

When it's time to get a drink, they have your normal soda choices and some quality milk shakes too.  I had myself a Coke with cherry syrup added.  Note, this is not the same thing as a Cherry Coke.  If you don't believe me, try it yourself.  Go to the store and buy cherry syrup, Cherry Coke, and Coke.  Drink the Cherry Coke then drink the Coke with cherry syrup added to it.  If you can't taste the difference, you're not doing it right.  Steak 'N Shake does it right.

I didn't stop with my amazing Cherry Coke.  I also got a special strawberry milkshake.  Like my soda choice, it was great, and there was a lot of it!  I split it with Mark; he agreed it was quite good.

If Steak 'N Shake suffers anywhere, it is in the service department.  The girls that have waited on us there have been nice enough, but you can tell they don't really care.  It may just be that it is late and they expect a certain clientele, but our service was lackluster.

I wouldn't go out of my way to eat at a Steak 'N Shake, but it's not a bad choice if you want some okay food at weird hours.  Their milk shakes are pretty good too!

McDonalds

Sometimes, when you are pressed for time on your lunch hour, you will grab McDonalds for lunch. This is never a good idea. The only tasty item at McDonalds is the soda fountain Coca Cola, and trust me... It's just not worth it.

Donut Man

Everyone has a favorite brand of donut or a favorite place to pick up donuts.  Yeah, in a pinch, other places will do, but you tend to think of one particular place or donut experience when you think of donuts.  For me, I think of Donut Man.

The best way for me to convey why I like Donut Man better than other donut places is to draw comparisons.

Behold:

1.  Donut Man has a better selection of donuts than Krispy Kreme or Dunkin Donuts.

2.  While Donut Man's donuts are not behind glass, I haven't seen insects buzzing around them.  When browsing donuts at Wal-Mart or various other grocery stores, I have seen flies trapped INSIDE the donut case.  I'm pretty sure that is the opposite of what should happen.

3.  Donut Man is ready to serve me donuts, subs, or ice cream twenty-four hours a day.  Most of the other donut joints in Myrtle Beach don't boast such robust hours.

4.  The donuts at Donut Man don't make my teeth hurt like the all glazed donuts at Krispy Kreme.

5.  Employees at Donut Man are amazing.  I have yet to run into one that isn't nice.  When I asked if they sold hugs, the girl told me they were free.  I'm pretty sure I could have gotten a hug if she weren't behind the counter.

Don't believe me?  If you're in the Myrtle Beach area, check out Donut Man.  They have a great selection and hours that work for anyone.

Swedish Fish

I'm not much of a candy person.  I don't dislike chocolate or other sweets, but I don't regularly crave them either.  The other day, when we went to the movies, some Swedish Fish snuck in.  To punish them, I consumed them; no candy should sneak into the theater.  My vengeance was swift...and tasty.  Swedish Fish are amazing.

The problem with Swedish Fish nowadays is that they can be hard to find.  While most stores have them in small packages, I am searching for the big box of the small red fish.  Over ten years ago, we would find them on occasion.  Sometimes, Wal-Mart had them; other times, Sam's Club was kind enough to carry them.  Now, I can only find individual servings in movie theater style boxes or bags of the larger size fish.

The ideal Swedish Fish are red.  They are also the smaller size.  The large size is acceptable, but it can be too gummy.  The small ones have a better texture, with less of a stick-to-your-teeth gummy feel.  For now, I have purchased an eight ounce bag of the bigger fish, but I am pining for the tiny ones.

I will continue my quest for the best fish, the tiny red fish.  I will continue to punish them for sneaking into the movies, as well.  When I am successful in my quest, I will let you know where you can find them too.

Nightmares in Red, White, and Blue: The Evolution of the American Horror Film

I enjoy a good examination of film.  I will watch most any show that looks at cinema, regardless of its genre focus.  Netflix suggested that I watch Nightmare in Red, White, and Blue: The Evolution of the American Horror Film; it was in their top ten suggestions for me.  I am beginning to fear that Netflix knows me too well.

Running a little over an hour and a half, the film chronicles the evolution of horror in America.  There are well known horror directors interviewed and a multitude of clips from the discussed films.  Showing film clips is a sure way to my heart, but the movie didn't appear to have much depth.  While I found the subject interesting, I don't feel that I learned anything from it.

The filmmakers created a cohesive piece that chronologically tackled horror films and why they worked for the generation they were made for.  The documentary never delves too deeply.  Whether this because there isn't enough time or there just isn't reason to is unknown.  Explanations are kept simple.  While this is good because it keeps the piece open to a wide audience, it left me wanting more.  Frankly, I wanted to pick up a good book on the subject.

There was one point during the show when I questioned the purpose of the filmmakers.  I realize they were using clips to illustrate their points, but there was a very long sequence that was nudity and sex scenes from 80s horror films, followed by the death scenes immediately following.  While I don't criticize their use of nudity in itself, it seemed a bit excessive.

If you're interested in movie history, this film is great background noise.  If you want to learn a lot about movie history, you would be better off picking up a book on the subject.

Battle Royale

Before we begin, let's clear up some misconceptions about this film.  It was released in Japan at the end of 2000.  It was not banned in the United States, which I have heard mentioned many times.  Even I believed it had been banned, based on what I had heard.  It appears the film just didn't find a distributor here in the US due to the fees associated.  Additionally, there is speculation that distributors were afraid to touch it in the wake of the Columbine shootings.  (Thanks, IMDB trivia!*)

Battle Royale has been in the public eye again recently due to finally having an official release stateside, as well as being compared to the Hunger Games.  While they have the same basic premise, each author presents the conflict in their own way.  To say the Hunger Games is a direct rip off of Battle Royale isn't completely fair.  There are obvious similarities, but each movie is unique in its own way.

To make this review a bit easier, I'm going to list off my observations with brief clarification:

1.  Battle Royale may have been a blue-print for the Hunger Games, but the Hunger Games is its own creature.

          To say Battle Royale is a complete rip-off, you would have to say that a Kia Soul is a rip off of a Ford F-150.  They are both automobiles, but the Soul could not be mistaken for an F-150.  Having four wheels does not make all motor vehicles the same, just as having school aged kids fighting to the death doesn't make both movies the same.

2.  Battle Royale is not as effective for an American audience as the Hunger Games.

          I expected to love or hate Battle Royale.  It turns out, I just thought it was okay.  I had no real strong emotional reaction to the film.  I had more horrified moments watching Game of Thrones yesterday.  Does this mean Battle Royale isn't worth your time?  I wouldn't say that.  Some films come across well to an American audience, but Battle Royale loses something in the translation.  I don't mean the literal translation either.  The Japanese culture is very different from our own, starting with schooling.  Classes are conducted in a completely different manner in Japan than here.  When I watched Battle Royale, I was watching it with my cultural background.  Were I watching it with a Japanese background, it may have meant something altogether different for me.
          The Hunger Games was written by an American author who would bring different experiences and expectations to the story than a Japanese writer.  It isn't better or worse, but writing with an American background can very well make your material speak to a fellow countryman.  I'm not saying the Hunger Games is better because it's American.**  I'm just pointing out that it may be easier for people with the same background as the author to understand and identify with.  Suzanne Collins even set the Hunger Game series  far in the future, a move that allows those who are in love with the idea of what America is to not disapprove of the book.  Setting it in current day may have hurt it.

3.  Battle Royale is a live action anime.

          A lot of you haven't watched anime, and some of you have watched a lot of anime.  Mark and I fall in the second category.  We used to watch anime like it was going out of style.  Nowadays, we rarely watch anime unless it has a particular hook, like zombies.  While watching Battle Royale, all I could think is that it would have done better as an anime, especially a serialized one.

4.  There is little to no character development.
   
          Running this as a serialized anime would have provided the opportunity to solve the problem of having largely flat characters.  As there are over forty students in Battle Royale, it's hard to flesh them all out.  Instead, they play as one note characters with minimal personality.  What interaction happens does attempt to highlight what the involved characters are like, but with no real development, it is hard to grow attached to the characters.

5.  Dying is hard.

          Do you remember being a kid?  When you would play and pretend to die, it was an exaggerated  moment.  You would dramatically hang your head to one side, close your eyes, and stick out your tongue.***  I'm pretty sure none of the actors in Battle Royale had any idea what a genuine death looked like, as they all appeared to be done in the style of a four year old.

6.  Battle Royale is not a terribly shocking movie.

          I don't know if I should hold anime to blame, but Battle Royale didn't really shock me at all.  I'm not desensitized to violence, and seeing the Hunger Games didn't ruin other similar films for me.  I think with all the hype leading up to my viewing Battle Royale for the first time, I just expected something monstrous.  The movie had trouble finding distribution in the US for over ten years!  I expected something that I had never seen before.  It turns out that watching anime prepared me for anything Battle Royale could throw my way.

7.  The violence is cartoon-like in nature.

          Granted, the cartoon it is like is an anime, but the violence could have been a whole lot worse.  Blood sprays are exaggerated, just like in anime.  The blood is kind of watery, and with such ham filled death scenes, Battle Royale never seemed overly serious.  I know Quentin Tarantino is a huge fan of the film.  It really shows in Kill Bill: Vol. 1, in the scene where the bride massacres a ton of henchman.  Battle Royale has that same lack of realism.  Once again, this isn't a bad thing.  It's just an observation.

8.  The plot is never really explained in a satisfactory manner.

          There is some narration at the beginign of the film to set up why the activities presented are happening, but it never felt like enough of an explanation.  Less time was spend explaining why the characters were in this position, while more time was spent watching them murder each other.  There are intermittent flashbacks to shed light on the characters' motivations, but it is not enough to give you a real sense of who these kids were.

I didn't love the movie, but if you have the opportunity to catch Battle Royale, do so.  It's always good to experience new movies.  Granted, I wouldn't let my six year old watch it, but I wouldn't let my six year old watch Jersey Shore either.  While Battle Royale did not shock and scar me, it was still a violent movie with a disturbing premise.



* I know it's not always a reliable source, but I believe they are correct in this.  Other websites reported the same general information, albeit with their own interpretations.

** Merica!  Yeah!

*** Maybe that last part was only something I did.

Conan O'Brien Can't Stop

I've never really had an opinion about Conan O'Brien.  I always thought he was entertaining, but I never made it a priority to watch him.  Part of that stems from my not caring for late night television.  It's fine, but it's not for me.  When I started hearing about what happened between Conan and NBC, I took notice.  I spend a lot of time on websites that were covering the controversy, and I felt for Conan.  Having watched Conan O'Brien Can't Stop, I respect him and want to start watching his show on TBS.

Conan O'Brien Can't Stop follows Conan in the aftermath of leaving NBC.  He was unable to appear on TV or the internet for six months.  Because he loves what he does, he decided to go on the road and do shows for the people who rallied for him in the face of the controversy with NBC.

Many celebrities would demand a show following them be edited to make them look as perfect as possible.  With Conan, you get what appears to be a genuine look at the pain he went through, as well as the pain he put himself through to appear at all those live shows.  He pushed himself, and it was amazing that he allowed people to see that.

In the face of what was done to him by NBC, Conan came across as honest.  He didn't play the uncomplaining saint, but he didn't spend the entire time vilifying NBC.  There is definitely some vitriol, but it is contained and understandable.  I know I would have been a lot more broken after something like that.  One can only imagine someone like Kevin Smith going through this would result in a very public display.  Conan lets it out in this video, but it was never a call to arms.

The show also provides some glimpses of Conan with his family, further humanizing him.  You get to see him interacting with fans and other celebrities alike.  In some instances, you get to hear exactly how that makes him feel.  It's a look into the life of a public figure.  While going on tour is much different than making a movie or doing a daily television show, it is another facet of celebrity.

Even if you don't really know much about Conan O'Brien, it is worth taking an hour and a half to check out Conan O'Brien Can't Stop.  It's a very real look at the life of a celebrity.  I'm sure there is some editing done to make him look better, but overall, it's appears to be an honest portrayal.

Aliens

Most of you will find this review to be unnecessary.  Since you are already familiar with how great the movie Aliens is, you don't need me to tell you.  Having re-watched the movie today, I still feel compelled to write about it.  I know there are some people out there that never saw the film and maybe this will encourage them to finally do so.

I don't remember the first time I watched Aliens, but I remember watching it with my mom one night.  It was when she was pregnant with my youngest brother, and we still had the wood-stove upstairs.  We sat close by the stove to keep warm, eating pickles, and watching Aliens.  I believe it to be one of my earliest movie related memories.  I look back upon it fondly, as well as the movie I watched that night.  While re-watching Aliens today, I realized it is still one of my favorite films.

Science fiction films are at a disadvantage when aging; they have two major hurdles to overcome.  If you watch a drama from twenty years ago, it is often quite similar when compared to a drama from last year.  The same can be said of comedies.  All movies face certain problems, like a change in dialogue or fashion that shows their age, but science fiction has two practical problems that date them far worse than clothes and lingo.

The first problem a science fiction film faces when getting older is advancement in special effects.  As more effective techniques are discovered, the effects become more realistic.  The game changed with the advent of CGI, and I have frequently argued that practical effects are a better choice when possible.  Aliens is a prime example of the successful use of practical effects.  While there are some blue screen effects that are noticeable, the film's special effects are largely unnoticed.  If you notice the effect, it's not working, which is often the downfall of CGI.  

The second problem that often brings down an older science fiction film is the subject matter/setting.  A good example of this would be the Terminator series or the second Back to the Future film.  In the Terminator setting, Skynet becomes self aware on August 29, 1997.  I don't know if you noticed, but we are not currently being exterminated by the machines.  In three years, we'll be caught up with the part of Back to the Future II where Marty goes to the future to save his kids.  I doubt we'll have hoverboards on the shelves by then.  The point is that, while these films are still enjoyable, they seem a tad dated because we have caught up to the future they promised and it is nothing like they showed us.  I'm not saying that's a bad thing, just that is dates the movie.  Because Aliens is set so far in the future, 2179, we have plenty of time to create far reaching space ships before catching up to that projected future.  Setting aside Ripley's 80's hair style, Aliens has stood the test of time incredibly well.  

Further bolstering Aliens is an incredible cast.  Sigourney Weaver reprises her role from Alien and continues to effectively portray Ellen Ripley.  The casting for all the new characters is wonderful as well.  I couldn't imagine anyone else portraying those characters.  Paul Reiser will forever be the sleazy company man, while Lance Henriksen will always be Bishop to me.  Toss Michael Biehn and Bill Paxton into the mix and you've got a recipe for awesome.  

It helps that the movie is well written, with enough signature lines to keep my family going for months.  As they're big into movie quotes, Aliens is a treasure trove for them.  Well, it would be if it was my dad's kind of movie.*  

A film can be completely ruined by the wrong score.  Aliens, once again, does this right too.  The sound effects and music are perfectly suited to the film.  If I hear the music out of context, the film immediately comes to mind.  It is just as vital to Aliens as the creature design.

Speaking of the xenomorphs, they are wonderfully fleshed out in Aliens.  While the first movie focuses on a single creature wreaking havoc and destroying the crew, the second movie goes bigger and features masses of the creatures.  As they've ratcheted up the number of creatures, they've upped the abilities and resources of the characters.  Instead of a few miners trying to fend off one creature, you have freaking space marines holding off hundreds of aliens.  While the first film is more of a thriller, the second plays more like an action movie.  Sequels don't always work, but Cameron puts it all together in a way that makes sense.  He expands our knowledge of the aliens without really telling us anything.  We see a bit more of how the creatures act and operate in an organic manner.  

It's pretty apparent now that Cameron has never really shied away from anything.  While he keeps the majority of the regular aliens lowly lit or only revealed in flashes, he doesn't shy away from showing the most important alien in full.  The best part is that he pulls it off!  It looked good then, and it still looks convincing today.  

Before watching Aliens, Alien Resurrection was on TV.  While watching Aliens, I kept noticing how much better it looked than Alien Resurrection.  It's a weird thing to fixate on, but the aliens' hands looked more realistic in the film that was made eleven years earlier.  Cameron making sure little things like that were done properly and realistically gives Aliens the ability to stand the test of time.

If you've never seen Aliens, shame on you.  Go watch it.  It's a well cast movie with great lines and effective special effects.  If you have seen Aliens, good on you.  We can be friends.  You should probably go watch it again.  It's definitely worth your time.

*Early in my parents relationship, they went to see the original Alien in theaters.  They took one or two of my dad's younger brothers along to see it.  One of the brothers left the theater crying.  This is not pertinent to the review, but I think it is hilarious. 

Lockout

When I was in high school, I liked a lot of movies that I'm sure aren't as good as I remember them to be.  Yester-Holly thought they were great, but I'm not sure if that's true.  While watching Lockout, I was reminded of those movies.  Actually, the previews alone warned me of what type of movie I was in for, so I let Yester-Holly out of her cage to see the movie last night.  This resulted in Lockout being a whole lot of fun.

When the movie ended, Mark immediately started complaining about this movie being Escape from Space, and when the movie first started, that was exactly how I felt.  Guy Pearce is a great actor, but he was channeling Kurt Russell as Snake Plissken.  When you factor in the movie's plot, you can't help but see the similarities.  Fortunately, I was able to move past that.  Mark, however, was not.  It bothered him throughout the entire film.  I set it aside after the first fifteen or twenty minutes.

While there were similarities to the Plissken series, some of the overall characterizations were vastly different.  I enjoyed Pearce in this role, and he did a good job.  The villains of the piece also performed well.  The story was pretty generic, with the expected plot twists and lies sprinkled throughout.  It was like watching those awesome Bruckheimer films from the mid-nineties.  For me, that nostalgia was enough to let me enjoy the movie.

This does not mean I wasn't aware of the multitude of problems the film was sporting.  Engaging actors and spunky dialogue aren't enough to blind me to some of the poor choices made when creating the film.  The problems just weren't enough to make me hate the movie.

Some of the shots are edited together in such a way that the action becomes nigh impossible to follow.  There is a sequence early on in the film that utilizes some CGI and quick cuts, which knocked me right out of the film.  The CGI looked terrible, but I'm not sure if it was intentional to imply great speeds.  The quick cuts caused me to lose track of what was going on.  While I'm smart enough to piece it together, it was jarring.

For the viewers who demand realism from their films, there is a sequence at the end that is just ridiculously unbelievable.  I'm pretty sure "science" and "facts" may have been dirty words when putting together this movie.  Suspension of disbelief is necessary to enjoy a film, but some films ask for too much.  Lockout crosses that line at the end.

If it weren't for the feeling that I was watching some awesome movie from my teen years, I probably would have been much harder on Lockout.  It's not a great film, but I had fun watching it.  It is, however, forgettable.  While I still remember lines from the Rock and feel compelled to put Armageddon on as background noise, I don't' expect to be re-watching Lockout.

21 Jump Street

When I first heard about this particular production, I was skeptical.  Once again, Hollywood was re-using an old property to milk it for all it was worth.  Since I had no attachment to the 21 Jump Street TV series, I wasn't worried about them ruining something I cared for.  At the same time, I also didn't care about it at all.  It was a bit before my time.  I knew the basic premise and that Johnny Depp had been in it way back when.  Imagine my surprise when I started hearing great things about the movie.  I'm glad to report that the positive reviews and word of mouth are warranted.

Let's start with the involved actors.  The more I see of Channing Tatum, the more I like him.  I love an actor that seems to realize what works best for him and isn't afraid to mock it.  Jonah Hill turns in a solid performance, and the two have good chemistry.  When you add in small appearances by actors from Parks & Recreation, The Office, and New Girl, I get even more excited.  I did spend part of the movie thinking the one guy looked like a younger James Franco only to find out he was indeed James Franco's younger brother.

The movie spends a great deal of time mocking traditional stock pieces from movies and TV, another characteristic that I am a big fan of.  Frankly, there were times that they were directly talking to us.  The only thing that kept you from realizing it sooner was that they didn't look straight into the camera when they did it.  They made it a part of the movie, which kept it from being cheesy.

There are some items I can not discuss without giving away plot details, but there are scenes in the movie that are worth the price of admission.  Mark and I laughed throughout, which isn't always easy.  When someone's mom tells me a movie is good, I question whether I will enjoy the humor presented.  In this case, someone's mom was right, but so was that kid that stopped into the bank today to open an account.  It seems that this film appeals to a wide range of people.  There was only one joke throughout the entire film that would have made me squirm had my mom been sitting next to me.  Otherwise, it's just good comedy.

After a friend of mine criticized people for quoting a movie they had just seen, I tried to stop doing it.  My family was big into movie quotes, and I have gotten away from it in recent years.  Tonight, that all went out the window.  Mark and I kept quoting all the parts that we found funny.  It says something about a movie where just repeating a few words can bring on laughter, especially when it is between Mark and I.  We can be pretty cynical, which can make certain things less funny.  21 Jump Street was above all of that.  I am so tempted to just describe all the things we found hilarious with one work descriptions, but it's too likely to spoil something for you.

It doesn't look like anything good is opening this week, so go see The Cabin in the Woods.  If you've already seen that, go see 21 Jump Street.  For being a movie inspired by an 80's TV show, it's awesome.

Olive Garden Alfredo Pasta

At first glance, you probably assume I dined at Olive Garden tonight.  You would be wrong!  A few years ago, Mark picked me up a cookbook called Top Secret Recipes: Classics.  It's a book of recipes that are recreations of popular dishes at chain restaurants.  Tonight, I made the Olive Garden alfredo sauce at home!

The recipe was actually very easy to create.  It consisted of simmering butter, heavy cream, garlic powder, and garlic in a sauce pan for ten to twelve minutes.  I actually had to simmer closer to fifteen minutes to get a decent consistency.  You then remove it from the heat and add paremesan cheese.  That's it.  As far as simplicity goes, it doesn't get much easier than this.  I was sure to stay close by and stirring pretty constantly.  I was afraid of it scorching.

I was really worried about it being a good dish, as I had to cook it longer than suggested.  When I poured it over the noodles, it still looked pretty runny.  Once I had the plates in front of the both of us, I hesitantly took a bite, and it was actually very good!  It tasted a lot like the Olive Garden sauce, especially at first.  It also tasted a great deal like the alfredo sauce at Angelo's.

Once it got cold, it really wasn't very good.  Mark assured me that is a sign of good alfredo.  The recipe I used made a lot of food, and because the sauce was so rich, we couldn't even eat half of what I made.  I'll halve the recipe in the future.  According to Mark, I will be making it again.

If you want a recipe for alfredo sauce, let me know.  This one was excellent and very easy.  In total, the entire meal was made in less than twenty minutes.  Complete win.

Simply Delicious Pork

We've been struggling to get to a point where we eat out rarely and cook regularly.  We've been making progress, I'm happy to say!  With a little meal planning, it is actually quite easy to stay away from restaurants and drive-thru windows.  Today, when we were home for lunch, I threw together Simply Delicious Pork, which was a recipe in our slow cooker cook book that is actually shaped like a crock-pot, in case you forget what to cook in.

The recipe consists of about a pound and a half of pork covered with slices of golden delicious apples sprinkled with cinnamon, brown sugar, and salt.  It was incredibly easy to throw together.  It would have been easier if I knew where my apple corer was, but that is a small inconvenience.  After putting it all in the crock-pot, I just had to set it to low and leave it for six to eight hours.  Awesome.

I have a tendency to overcook meat I have not prepared a lot, especially when cooking it in a manner I am unfamiliar with.  Since the recipe said six to eight hours, I erred on the side of caution and let the pork cook eight hours.  Because of this, the pork was dry.  This was at odds with the flavor, which was nice.  Additionally, the apple slices were great.  Because they had cooked so long, there were less like a slice and more like warm applesauce, but that's a good thing.

I'll probably try this recipe again in the future, but I'll only let it cook for about six hours.  Peeling the apples would also make for happier eating.  The picture in the book was a bit misleading, as the apple slices in the photo appear firm.  Actually, upon closer inspection, they look like skinny orange slices.  I'm beginning to think the editor that approved the pictures didn't actually look at them.  Anyway, if you want a quick and easy meal, this is exactly that.

Sonic Screwdriver

Choosing your Doctor is a very personal thing.  If you've watched Doctor Who, you should have picked a Doctor.  This doesn't mean you don't like the other Doctors, but everyone should have their own personal favorite.  My favorite Doctor was David Tennant, the tenth Doctor.  For Christmas, my loving husband, who said David Tennant could be on my list*, got me a sonic screwdriver, and it's not just any sonic screwdriver.  It is the tenth Doctors sonic screwdriver.

I know you're wondering why it is I am reviewing an item I received months ago.  I am one of those terrible people who will leave new items/toys in the packaging.  I don't like my gifts to get dusty.  As such, my sonic screwdriver has sat in the box on my computer stand since December 25th.  I have opened it today just so I can tell you how awesome it is.

First of all, it's a sonic screwdriver!  Frankly, I could end the review there and feel just fine about it.  There is a button on the side that makes the end light up and also produces a buzzing noise.  The button works whether the sonic screwdriver is extended or compacted.  Let's review.  Not only does the sonic screwdriver extend and light up, but it also makes a buzzing noise!

While those features are amazing, the sonic screwdriver also has practical uses.**  It comes with two different ends.  One end is a pen, while the other is a marker with UV ink.  The part of the sonic screwdriver that lights up is actually a UV light, so you can leave secret messages if you have friends awesome enough to have their own sonic screwdrivers.

The only real downside to my new device was putting the batteries in.  After my experience getting the batteries in my Desk Patrol Dalek, I was worried about getting my sonic screwdriver to work.  The people making these things love tiny screws.  I had to undo a teeny tiny screw to open up the screwdriver to put the batteries in to make all the cool stuff happen.  I'm happy to report that I threw no tools and completed my task with zero fatalities.

If you're a fan of Doctor Who, having a sonic screwdriver is just plain awesome.  The fact that is can be used as a regular pen is just icing on the cake.  Mark insists that I should take it into the bank, but sonic screwdrivers are valuable.  If it goes to the bank, I should probably put it in a safe deposit box....  You can never be too careful.

*Because my husband understands, and I'm pretty sure David Tennant is on his list too.

**Aside from being able to do everything.

Waterpik Water Flosser

I've never been that great at taking care of my teeth.  I've always brushed but not always often enough.  I've flossed but rarely.  I use mouth wash a bit more than I've flossed but still not enough.  For the past month and a half, I've solved the brushing problem, cleaning up my pearly whites three times a day.  I bought mouthwash today, so that shouldn't be a problem from now on.  The only problem left is flossing, and I think I solved that problem today when I purchased a Waterpik Water Flosser.

For around $36 at Wal-Mart, I purchased a good alternative to floss.  Flossing is difficult and messy.  It's incredibly difficult to floss between the back teeth.  While the front teeth are much easier to floss between, flossing can be very painful.  I imagine if one does it regularly, it isn't so bad, but I won't be finding out anytime soon.

My water flosser allows me to easily floss between all of my teeth easily through a small stream of pressurized water.  All you do is pick the correct tip and place it at the spaces between teeth.  It's that easy, and it appears to work just as well as flossing.  I actually used a few pieces of regular floss to see if there were any particles the water flosser missed; there were none visible.

While the water flosser is extremely easy to use, it is very messy.  Because the water is pushed out under pressure, it ricochets off your teeth.  The instructions warn you to keep your mouth closed enough to prevent the spray from escaping while leaving enough space for the water to still exit.  I still haven't figured out the perfect way to do it, but I'm not giving up.  The water flosser is too convenient.

Hate flossing?  Pick up a Waterpik Water Flosser.  It makes flossing quick, easy, and painless.  Just be prepared to clean water off of the mirror and counter until you get the mouth open/closed thing right.

The Cabin in the Woods

The first time I heard mention of this movie, I shook my head and pretty much vowed I wouldn't be seeing it.  I try to be open to movies, but I really dislike horror films.  It seems that the majority of horror films today rely on jump out scares to elicit a reaction from the audience.  While jump out scares may have a place in horror movies, they shouldn't be used extensively.  There are other ways to build tension.

I had written off The Cabin in the Woods as a film not for me, until I saw a preview a couple of weeks ago.  I had seen posters and what-not, but that preview grabbed my attention.  It promised me more than a stock horror film.  With Joss Whedon in the mix and great reviews by critics, I decided I was ready to give the movie a shot.

One of the big things I kept hearing about was a twist.  I don't know if that's the right word, but I know there was a pretty big focus on not having the ending spoiled.  Generally, this is common sense.  You should never ruin a film's ending, but for some reason, that was a big deal with The Cabin in the Woods.  I just googled it, as I got to thinking about it.  It turns out a reviewer ruined the ending in the first line of his review.  Let me assure you I will not be doing that.  I'll wait until line 42.  It's funnier that way.  Just kidding; I won't ruin it.

My goal is to not reveal any additional information regarding the film's plot.  Actually, I'm not even going to tell you what the movie is about.  If you want to know that, you can watch the trailers.  What I am going to tell you is what the movie does right and my reactions.

• 1.  Jump out scares are for hacks.
• As I said before, the occasional jump out scare when used appropriately is acceptable.  Drew Goddard, the director, understands this idea.  I counted three jump out scares in the film, and I'm okay with that.  
• 2.  It's all laid out for you.
• If you're watching the film and paying attention, it's all right there for you.  This doesn't mean the film can't be ruined.  This doesn't mean the film is a stock horror piece.  You can be a couple moves ahead of the rest of the audience if you're attentive.
• 3.  They'll explain it; don't worry.
• If you don't want to think during the film, no problem.  While clues are littered throughout to help you see the big picture, you don't have to put them together.  The movie will take care of that for you.  The best part?  No one will feel talked down to; the movie isn't dumbing it down for anyone.
• 4.  Torture porn is for people with severe mental problems.
• Good news, the people behind this movie are not those people.

Back in January, I reviewed Tucker & Dale vs. Evil, and I loved it.  I love when filmmakers acknowledge typical cliches in film and find their own way to handle them.  Both Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon are well versed in horror movies, and it shows.  

I suppose I should cover some stock review topics, such as the writing and the performances.  The actors and the script are good enough that I wasn't rooting for anyone to bite it, which is unusual.  In most instances, there are characters so poorly written that you can't wait for them to get what's coming to them.  I never felt that way while watching The Cabin in the Woods; I actually wanted everyone to live.  That's saying a lot for a horror film.

Movies from this particular genre often have special effects ranging from amazing to amazingly bad.  The Cabin in the Woods has some questionable effects, but for all I know, it was an intentional choice.  Overall, the make-up and effects are quite good.  

Of course, the only way to know any of this for sure is to go see the movie, which I strongly suggest you do.  It is rated R, so you should be sufficiently prepared.  Don't take your 8 year old.  I don't think I can stress how much I dislike most horror movies, but I loved The Cabin in the Woods.  Mark is calling it one of the best movies he's seen...ever.  There is so much awesome packed into an hour and a half that you must experience it.  

What concerns me is that audiences are not responding well to the film. Critics love it, but audiences are giving it around a "C" rating.  Now, I don't just accept the word of the critics as gospel, but they're right in this case.  I can't write about some of my favorite parts of the movie without ruining it, so it makes it hard to offer further evidence that this movie is worth your time.  All I can do is encourage you to see it with as little information beforehand as possible.  Don't go read spoilers and absolutely avoid reviews.  If you're reading this one, that's okay...just don't read any other reviews. 

TL;DR Go see The Cabin in the Woods, and watch out for that title card.  It's a doozy.

Nacho Hippo

Well, right off the bat, it's got the name going for it, as I love nachos, and I think hippos are funny.  Putting the two together was a sure way to get my attention.  Mark and I have dined at Nacho Hippo a half dozen times or so with the experiences never adding up to a genuine consensus regarding the quality of the restaurant as a whole.  We're going to primarily base the review on tonight's experience, as it was a pretty good one, and it suits my mood.

While Mark and I have been eating out a lot less as of late, we still struggle to decide where to go when we want a meal out on the town.  Tonight was no exception, with us driving around Myrtle Beach, waiting for some new place to pique our interest.  Unfortunately, by the time we were passing Angelos, we were pretty much out of options, as we didn't feel like driving on to Surfside.  Instead, we stopped at the Market Common to visit Barnes & Nobles to look for a book, which they didn't have, and to have dinner at Nacho Hippo.

The decor at Nacho Hippo is pretty standard zany bar stuff.  It doesn't really impress or annoy.  It's just there.  I do, however, enjoy the Pennsylvania Inspection Station sign that is on the wall.  Let's just say that if I were that type of person, you could expect to find it with me were it to go missing.  Luckily, I'm lawful good, so the sign shall stay put...for now.  Maybe some day I'll have a henchman without my morals.

There was a fifteen minute wait, unless we decided to sit at the bar.  We sat at the bar.  It was the smart thing to do.  We were trying to make it to a showing of The Cabin in the Woods, so there was no time to lose.  My favorite thing about the bar, by the way, is the soft edge it has.  There is plastic over some sort of cushioning on the edge of the bar, which makes it super nice to lean against.  Even the chair I was resting my bum upon was comfortable.  When you add in that both bartenders were very nice, it made for a pleasant set up for our dining experience.

Mark had some fruity girl drink, followed by a water, followed by some girly beer.  I just had some Coke.  We have learned from past mistakes and order about half of the food we think we need.  Tonight, Mark got two tacos: a Tijuana and a KaKaKaKia.  Nacho Hippos has unusual tacos, which is part of the fun for Mark.  Me, I'm not into unusual tacos, so I tend to avoid them at Nacho Hippo.

I am partial to the grilled corn on the cob, of which I ordered two, knowing Mark would share it with me.  They put queso fresco on the corn, which makes for an interesting flavor.  I also convince Mark that we needed nachos, even though he thought they were bad last time.  We chose the Day After nachos, with the chili on the side.  I don't really think that chili belongs on nachos, so I keep them apart.

While we waited for our food, we watched the some UFC fights on the overhead television, of which there were three.  On a side note, UFC fights are very....silly.  I saw nothing there that worked for me.  There was a lot of grappling on the ground, which was unimpressive.

When the food arrived, we dug in, as we were both hungry by then.  Mark's tacos were both very good.  He had the kimchi on the side this time because they put a lot on the taco.  The corn was excellent, and it was funny to watch the food runner debate asking me if I ordered two sides of corn.  As we were unsure of the nacho quality, I was pleasantly surprised to find them delicious!  They, too, had the queso fresco on them.  After they sit too long, they start to get soggy, but that is a risk you take with any nacho dish.

All in all, we had a wonderful time at Nacho Hippo tonight.  The dude bros beside us were very annoying, but they could not put a damper on our good moods.  I suggest that if you haven't tried Nacho Hippo, you give it a shot.  Pick out what you want then only order half of that, especially if you get nachos.  It's a pretty big serving.

Looper (Trailer)

After much teasing, the trailer for Looper has been revealed!  Now, I imagine many of you are wondering about this Looper thing.  First of all, you can see the trailer here.  If you don't feel like watching it, let me paint you a mind picture!  It's a movie with a time travel element.  Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays a younger version of Bruce Willis.  Right now, you should be excited because I just told you that Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Bruce Willis are in a movie together.

Now that you've pulled yourself together again, I'm going to drop another bombshell.  If you have been reading my reviews, you should remember when I talked about Brick.  It was an excellent movie, and Rian Johnson was both the writer and director.  Guess what...  He is the writer and director of Looper, as well!

By this point, I'm sure you can barely contain yourself.  I know I am struggling.  Unfortunately, there is bad news.  The movie doesn't come out until September.  Fortunately, I've linked the trailer above.  Be sure to watch it a few times.

The trailer is put together well, giving an explanation of the movie without feeling like it.  Judging a film by its trailer is always dangerous, but if I were, I would proclaim Looper one of the better movies of the year.  We've got solid actors coupled with an interesting story.  The cinematography looks good, with neat shots peppered throughout the trailer.

The trailer for Looper makes me want to show it to others.  Please, take a minute and watch it.  Prepare for a fun ride.  In the mean time, go watch Brick so you can see what you may be getting yourself into.

Parking Lots

Because I have an unnatural attraction to movie theaters, I feel compelled to park in the section of the lot by the movie theater entrance at the Coastal Grand Mall.  Because this entrance also dumps you by the food court, this is a bad idea.  Actually, it is a terrible idea.

During my adventure tonight, I saw all of the following:

• Camping
• Not just for video game players, camping is frequently seen in busy parking lots.  There is nothing wrong with camping a spot when the individuals in said vehicle are obviously about to leave.  The problem arises when a cute little red car is already waiting for a spot, and you decide to pull your giant SUV into the spot when the initial car vacates.  Not only do you snake the spot, you also pull in and out no less than five times trying to park your massive vehicle in the too small area.  
• Stealing
• I experienced this not once, but twice tonight.
• Stalking
• You are in a parking lot.  You are not a majestic African animal, stalking the pretty gazelle.  You are a creepy and annoying person slowly creeping along behind a family heading towards their car.  If you're going to follow people to their car, keep back.  There is no need to make them nervous.
• Lemming Impression
• It's not fair to vilify motorists alone in this scenario, as pedestrians have equal opportunity to act the fool in the parking lot.  When you are ambling through the asphalt corral, do not walk directly in the center of the lane.  Do not go at such a gradual diagonal that it takes you the entire length of the row to move from one side to the other.
• Dude Bro Impression
• Not to come down on the Dude Bro tonight, but there was a gentleman in the parking lot this evening that saw me waiting for a spot.  I had decided to wait, as two people had approached the car before I got near it.  As I came upon it, the lights turned on.  I took this to mean they would be pulling out.  Our Dude Bro pulled up, facing towards me and stopped his car in a place that effectively blocked the people trying to pull out.  To make matters all the weirder, he then got out of the car and walked around to sit in the passenger seat.  He does all of this while blocking a car that was going to pull out and blocking traffic coming from the other direction.  Now, he may have had a valid reason for doing this.  I cannot think of what it could be.  I decide this spot is not meant to be mine and pull down another aisle.  When I come back up, the original car is gone, and Dude Bro is no longer sitting there.  I'm not sure if he took the spot, but there is no empty spot.
• Imaginary Parking
• The lot I was attempting to park in has little islands of grass and trees at the end of most rows.  There is one row that instead has a large oval with stripes crossing it.  It is obviously not a set of parking places, but people conveniently forget that fact when they are in need of a parking space.

I'm sure I'm guilty of these charges as well, but I try not to be extreme.  I complained about other people camping spots when I was committing the same crime.  I didn't stalk then camp, which is the more annoying form, but I have still camped a spot.  Heck, I did it twice tonight.  This is the problem when complaining about anything driving related.

Of course, for every inconsiderate cretin, you will find a just person.  After having one spot snaked from me, I happened upon another car whose brake lights were lit up.  I took this to mean they were leaving and stopped far enough back, giving them room to maneuver out of the spot.  An SUV started coming down the aisle.  The parked car either decided to wait or just wasn't ready to pull out yet.  I decided to back up and try to get more to my side of the lane since I was waiting for the parked car to move.  I was trying to make room for the SUV to pass myself and the parked car.  Instead, the SUV decides to wait.  I can understand that, as I'm not wholly on my side.  The parked car starts to back up, and I decide to give him a bit more room.  I back up a bit but begin to pull a bit forward once he is clear of me.  Now, around this time, a couple and their child are walking up behind me, heading farther into the lot.  I notice them because I saw them when I backed up a bit.  

In true entitled fashion, the driver of the SUV pulls into the spot I was obviously waiting to pull into myself.  At this point, I'm pretty frustrated.  At the same time, the family has walked past my car and is just now in front of me.  It is at this point that I notice the dad turn around to look at me, and he tells me that wasn't right.  It made me feel a whole lot better that another person realized the injustice, that I am not just a lawful good nut-job.  Of course, nothing comes of this, as I would never incite an altercation for such a matter.  The father then points to himself followed by pointing farther into the lot.  After watching the SUV pull into and out of the spot a good five times, I am finally able to pass it and pull into the spot the nice man indicated he could have since his family was leaving.

Parking lots are one of those things that we can't live without, but they are home to an incredible amount of selfish and inconsiderate people.  I suppose that's everywhere, but be considerate when you're in the parking lot, whether you're a motorist or a pedestrian.

A Review A Day

I've seen people do that picture a day thing for a couple of years now, and I always thought it was neat!  I enjoy seeing what image people pull out of all the things they see in a day to put out there for the world to see.  It's even better when the person doing it takes great pictures.*  This year, I decided to get in on the fun, but my skills behind a camera are amateur at best, childish at worst.  Because I have a love of all things cinema, I decided I would do a review every day of the year.  Let's just say that you should be careful in deciding what you will do on a daily basis.

My adventure is actually a bit more time consuming.  On January 1st, I posted my first review.  I kept it up throughout all of January, but I decided to add a new task every month.  In February, I started walking thirty minutes a day.  In March, I started eating a piece of fruit each day.  This month, I started trying to cook something every day.  As time goes on, I find myself with less and less time in which to achieve my goals, which is why I say to be careful what goals you set for yourself.

At the same time, it's always a good idea to challenge yourself.  You never know what you can achieve until you set a ridiculous goal for yourself.  The first hurdle I faced in doing a daily review was finding something to review.  Initially, I planned to review a movie every day or perhaps a television show.  Frankly, I don't always watch something that inspires me to put my thoughts down.  Other days, I can't carve out two hours to watch a movie and then time to type up the review.

The natural expansion for me was to include restaurant reviews.  First of all, I love food.  I have to eat it, or I die.  Add to that the fact that Mark and I dine out way too often, and you discover a great many opportunities. To top it all off, people can be very passionate about food.  It's easy to be angry enough to write a scathing review, and it is also common enough to have a wonderful experience that illicits happy thoughts that demand to be let out.

Once I accepted that my reviews would have to be about a myriad of subjects, the hardest part became finding a topic or item that moved me enough to have a serious opinion.  Some days, I just don't experience anything interesting or polarizing enough to warrant a review.  You can usually tell which days those are, as they are about incredibly weird or uninteresting topics.

On the flip side, there are days where something is so great or so annoying that I can't help but write about it.  My review of horns was one of those days.  The stronger my reaction, the easier it is to type out my thoughts on the subject.  There have been nights where I've spent half an hour to forty-five minutes writing up a review.  I'm not sure where the time goes, as I'm a pretty decent typist, and I am not usually at a loss for words on those nights.  When I wrote my review for the most recent Twilight movie, it took forever.  I don't proof-read myself, which means that isn't adding to my time.**

For the most part, I don't regret committing myself to this task.  There are only about ten or so of you who read these things, but I feel good that I'm sticking with something.  There are times where I put up the posts as coming soon, but that has only happened five times.  Once, I fell asleep.  Three were because we had gone to Pennsylvania for a funeral, and this post was because I was just so frustrated with the whole thing.  I'm feeling better about it today and am back on track.

If you want to pick something to do every day, I'd stick with the pictures.  I'm sure it takes some people just as long to complete that as it takes me to write a review, but at this point, it just seems like it would be a lot less work for me.  It doesn't help that I'm adding daily tasks each month either.  At this point, I'm looking for things that don't take a whole lot of time, or I will be screwed come December.

Thanks for reading.  It makes me happy.

*I'm talking about you, Tara.

**Yes, I know I should proof-read my work.  Mark, when he reads these things, usually points out my mistakes.

Hormel Italian Style Chicken Breasts

I wasn't sure if I should be reviewing my newly renovated Target or the contents found with-in.  I've settled on the Hormel Italian Style Chicken breasts that I picked up there on Saturday.  For those of you not in the know, the Target right here in Myrtle Beach has been recently remodeled to include a greater grocery selection.  In addition to an expanded selection of dry goods, Target is now offering meats and fresh produce.  It's not a huge selection, but it is a nice one.  Target, to attract new customers, sent out a coupon packet that included a coupon for a free two liter of Coke.  Inside the packet were additional coupons that influenced our purchases that day.

While the Hormel chicken breasts weren't on sale, they were a fantastically convenient meal solution.  For around five dollars, you got two decent size chicken breasts.  They came in their own metal pan, ready to go directly into the oven.  The breasts were coated with an Italian mixture of herbs, providing some flavor.  Once I pulled them out of the fridge, I simply had to remove the paper sleeve and the plastic wrap, which was vacuum sealed tightly to the chicken.  Bake the dish thirty minutes, and it is time to eat!

Now, with anything there are downsides.  In this case, when you pulled off that vacuum sealed plastic, most of the Italian coating went right with it.  I had to use a fork to scrape the seasonings off of the plastic wrap.  It's not a deal-breaker, but it showed a lack of forethought in the individual responsible for the packaging.

My response to the chicken was pretty meh, but Mark really liked it.  In the chicken's defense, I don't really eat all that much meat; I'm more into the sides.  The chicken was very moist and flavorful though.

After the ease and success of the Hormel Italian Style Chicken Breasts, I would definitely try some of their other oven ready products.  I probably wouldn't try this specific one again, since I didn't care for the flavoring, but I have high hopes for their other offerings.

The Tervis Tumbler (Now With More Fish)

Living in Myrtle Beach, I'm never sure when something is a tourist item versus something that is actually useful.  I've seen the Tervis Tumblers around, but I never had any interest in owning one.  They actually have their own store at Broadway at the Beach, which is full of the cups with a myriad of images.  It just so happens that yesterday, we picked up the half iced tea/half lemonade pods for the Keurig.  When making these particular ones, you have to have a plastic cup.  As I don't care for plastic, we don't really have any.  This, of course, led us to the Tervis Tumbler store.

The shelves were lined with cups bearing team insignias, popular characters, and beach themed items.  The store isn't very large, but we walked around twice before Mark made his decision.  He was going to purchase one of the basic sixteen ounce tumblers.  He couldn't decide between the sea turtle and the crab when he noticed one that was a couple dollars more that also came with an orange lid.  The clear cup had images of gold fish, with blue stones at the bottom.  This effect is like a fishbowl, and it's very cute.  While it was more than I would generally spend on a cup, but it was almost Easter and Mark deserved something nice.

Mark has been using it pretty much since bringing it home, and he loves it.  It doesn't sweat.  No more rings on my table top!  Supposedly, it keeps hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold.  I don't know if it really does that any better than any other cup, but I haven't seen it proved wrong yet.

All in all, the Tervis Tumblers are nice.  I'm glad we got Mark one, and I would repeat the action.  I wouldn't buy a ton of them, as they are expensive, but one is a nice treat.

*This is actually my Easter post, but I fell asleep before writing the last two paragraphs last night.  Oops.

Mass Effect 3

Let me preface this by saying that my review is based on the story and observing the game-play.  I did not actually play Mass Effect 3; I watched Mark play.  I experienced Mass Effect 2 in the same manner, as well as a number of other games.  I've taken my games this way, since I watched Ryan play Metroid 2 way back in the day.  Because this is how I absorb most games, I focus quite a bit on the story.  A game with great combat means nothing to me without a great story.  This is precisely why I am not a reviewer of games.  I'm making a special exception for Mass Effect 3.

As a standalone game, Mass Effect 3 is quite good.  However, as a followup to Mass Effect 2, it has been found wanting.  This may not seem fair, but the series is based on the idea that your decisions matter.  This in itself draws comparisons between the games.  The first game, which we never actually finished, had problems with the combat system, according to Mark.  He assured me those problems had been fixed by the second game.

Mass Effect 3's problems begin with what they left out from the second game when transitioning into the third game.  In the second game, it was important to interact with your crew and finish their personal missions in order to earn their loyalty.  This made the game feel epic.  If we weren't nice to Jack in the second game, it could impact the ending we received.  She could die.  Each character was important, as were your interactions with them.

Mass Effect 3 abandons that particular device.  You still have missions that highlight different characters stories and personal plot, but you are no longer earning loyalty.  Your personal conversations with Garrus are less important in this game.  Additionally, the romance subplot is also reduced.  The options are there, but it doesn't feel as if you've earned it.  After experiencing a game where taking the time to talk to your crew meant something, your interactions with them in this game feel a bit hollow.  That game is still good, and there are still great moments with the characters.  Unfortunately, without having played with them in Mass Effect 2, you wouldn't care as much.

There have been positive additions to the game in the form of the multiplayer.  To be able to attempt the final battles in the game, your galactic readiness must reach a certain percentage.  Playing the multiplayer portion of the game will increase that rating, helping you reach the end of the game.  It doesn't have much bearing on the game otherwise, but Mark felt it was a nice enough addition.

The makers swapped out another type of preparation in Mass Effect 3.  In the second game, you scanned planets to obtain resources.  For whatever reason, I really liked doing this.  It was one of the few things I actually contributed by doing.  Mark had to go pee?  No problem!  I would scan planets!  In the third game, you scan the galaxies to discover planets and wreckages from which to collect resources.  Most of the time, it just summoned reapers, which you had to fly away from.  It turns out that a lot of players didn't like scanning planets in the second game, so this is probably an upgrade for most.  I just really liked scanning the planets.  I blame Tricia Helfer.

Casting for Mass Effect 3 carried on the tendency to be awesome that the second game established.  As far as I know, all the major players returned.  It's refreshing to have the characters you know and love continue to speak in the voices you are familiar with.  It doesn't hurt that some of those voices are Martin Sheen, Keith David, and Seth Green.  Mass Effect 3 nails the voice acting.

While the sounds are good, the visuals suffer at times.  The uncanny valley is alive and well in the human characters.  There is an exchange between Shepard and Joker that is almost un-watchable.  This problem isn't present when watching the alien characters; as a matter of fact, the Asari, not my favorite race, look amazing.

In a previous post, I discussed the downloadable content.  It turns out that we have more downloadable content on the way, some of which is going to be free.  I'm not sure why some of the upcoming dlc is free.  It could be a goodwill act on the part of the game-makers, or it could be in response to the cries of the masses who were unhappy with the ending of the game.

You might be wondering why anyone would be unhappy with the ending of Mass Effect 3.  The ending you received in the second game was influenced by your choices throughout.  Because of this fact, you would expect that if you didn't like your ending, you just didn't do the right behaviors to earn the best finale.  You could play through again to improve your decisions, allowing you to earn the coveted final scene.

Before you read further, be aware that I am going to discuss the ending of Mass Effect 3.  I'm not going to go into too much detail, but the general statements I will be making will clue you in to what you have to look forward to as the game closes.  If you want to go in completely blank, don't read the next paragraph.

If you're sure you want to be here, I'm going to tell you about the biggest problem with Mass Effect 3.  As I said before, Mass Effect 3 is successful as a stand-alone game.  What the game-makers forgot is that it is not meant to stand on its own.  They promised that your decisions would impact how the story ended, what happened to the characters you had spent so much time with.  In the end of Mass Effect 3, it doesn't matter what you did.  Who you saved is unimportant.  What you achieved is unimportant.  You will receive a canned ending that means nothing.  It actually undoes much of what you spent three games creating.  There are giant plot holes.  There are decisions beyond your control that cause characters to act contrary to their established behavior patterns.  Very little in the final moments of Mass Effect 3 is acceptable.  I can not hope to understand the decisions made by the game-makers, but those decisions allow the Mass Effect saga to end with a whimper.  Actually, a whimper would have been better than the messy direction they decided to take.

To those of you that stopped reading to keep away from spoilers, welcome back.  It's time to re-visit the idea of the dlc.  Soon, there will be dlc for Mass Effect 3 that will flesh out the ending a bit.  It will be free, but it will not change the ending.  I like to think this is the game-makers offering an apology to the masses that are displeased with the ending, but I don't imagine that is actually the case.

If you played Mass Effect 3, you will feel compelled to play Mass Effect 3.  Heck, you probably beat it weeks ago.  In that case, I'm sorry.  The game itself, while not as epic feeling or fulfilling as Mass Effect 2, is solid.  It's a fun play with some very touching moments.  It's those moments that let me know that the ending could have been spectacular.  Instead, it is what it is.  Check it out and let me know what you think.

China King

Ever since moving to Myrtle Beach, we have been searching for great Chinese food.  State College had a plethora of amazing Chinese food, and we have been very frustrated without such restaurants here.  Tonight, as we decided to stay in and attempt to beat Mass Effect 3, we decided to pick up dinner from China King, the best that Myrtle Beach has to offer.

While China King is no College Buffet or Authentic China Wok, it's not too shabby.  For me, it's all about the fried rice, and China King delivers.  Their rice isn't full of random detritus from the kitchen.  They give me rice, pork, and onion.  It's nice and simple.

Tonight, we tried the chicken wings for the first time. While I didn't actually eat them, I did see them.  They were like no chicken wings I had seen.  When you visit Buffalo Wild Wings or KFC and order wings, they are generally very small.  Because most places serve that same little wing, people aren't outraged.  That small wing is really the average.  Well, the wings at China King are on steroids and Viagra.  They are less a wing and more the entire full size chicken appendage.  Mark informed me that they are jointed wings, but when taken apart, they were still much larger than the wings I'm used to seeing.  It's worth a trip to China King just to try them.  I didn't even eat them, but I'm glad I saw them.  I got experience points for sitting next to Mark while he ate them.

We also had the sweet and sour chicken and the garlic chicken.  Both dishes were acceptable, but neither dish was outstanding.  The other food I miss from when I lived in State College is the cheese wontons.  Every place I have tried down here includes crab in them, which neither Mark nor I care to eat.  Last time we were in State College, we went to College Buffet twice.  We were only there for a few days.

Visiting China King is always nice though.  We never eat there, as there are only a few tables.  We always get our order to go, and they usually have it ready in about ten minutes.  Additionally, the employees are incredibly nice.  Interacting with them is pleasant.

If you're in Myrtle Beach and want Chinese food, order from China King.  Their prices are pretty good, as is their food.  The employees are nice, and it's the best Chinese food Myrtle Beach has to offer.

The Fandango App

Since I ran on at the mouth* yesterday, I'm going to keep this short this evening.  The Fandango app is incredibly useful.  I can pull up the app, hit the theater button at the bottom, and see the theaters in my area.  I can check what time movies are playing today, as well as future dates.  You can also purchase tickets, but I wouldn't do that.  They cost enough without additional fees.

If you go to the movies with any frequency, download the Fandango app.  I'm sure it has other awesome features, but I just use it to see what is playing when and where.

Planet Fitness (The Idea)

As I'm sure you ascertained from the title, tonight's review is about the idea of Planet Fitness.  Opening in Mid-May, Planet Fitness is a chain of gyms that is coming to Myrtle Beach.  Located in the old Barnes & Nobles building, the facility will be open 24/7 and have state of the art machines.

Before delving too far into the promises Planet Fitness has made, we need to talk about my other gym experience.  I'm not in the best of shape, so you may be wondering why I get to talk about gyms at all.  I've only belonged to one other gym, American Athletic, here in Myrtle Beach.  When Mark and I joined, it was located on Grissom Parkway in a beautiful building.  It offered 24/7 access via key card/swipe card.  Mark had toured multiple gyms trying to find one that worked for us, and American Athletic was the one we chose.  For the two of us, it was approximately $60 each month.  We primarily used the treadmills, half of which had their own individual televisions.  I thought that was pretty sweet.

One day, it all went sour.  We found out our beautiful gym, that felt so safe and secure, was moving.  Where?  Well, it actually moved closer to where we lived, but that was the only positive.  Where the original location we chose was in the second floor of a pretty new building, this new location was in a mostly abandoned strip mall, behind a Hooters.

Being on the second floor in the previous location assured me that no one who wasn't a gym member would be laughing at me.  I was always very self conscious about working out.  Eventually, I came to realize that the people at the gym weren't laughing at me, as they were more concerned with being physically perfect.  When the gym moved to its new location, that feeling of being removed from criticism was abolished.  Suddenly, anyone who drove through the lot could see me struggling to get in better shape.  In my mind, I know they wouldn't laugh at me, as they don't care what I'm doing.  Unfortunately, my girl brain refuses to accept that logic.

The new location for American Fitness was also much smaller.  This resulted in less machines, some of which weren't even working.  The bathrooms/locker rooms were small and dingy, as opposed to the lush ones at the Grissom Parkway location.  All in all, it was just terrible.

American Athletic had other locations, and we considered just choosing a different one to frequent.  Unfortunately, the closest one was still almost fifteen minutes away.  It, like the new location, had a small number of machines.  It just didn't live up to the location we had been using.

Because we had to drop around $50* as an activation fee, we were hesitant to leave American Athletic, but we couldn't justify staying with them due to the terrible changes.  When we decided to cancel, we were told we could not cancel on the spot.  We couldn't even fill out paperwork there.  We had to send a certified letter to the gym.  On top of that, they required four weeks notice.  Now, I'm sure all of that was in the fine print we agreed to, which is why we did as they requested.  The only problem is that is poor business practice.  It does not take four weeks to cancel an automatic draft.  I work in a bank, and that is just ridiculous.  Additionally, even though we were standing in the gym, saying we needed to cancel, they made us go home, write a letter, visit the post office, and send it via certified mail.  There is a limit to the number of hoops it is reasonable to ask a person to jump through, especially when it was their decision to move to a smaller and dirtier location that prompted our decision.

Now, that you have the background, let me tell you what Planet Fitness offered us today.  First of all, we do not have a contract.  We are month to month, with our annual fee of $39 drafter on June 1st.  I'm not a big fan of the annual fee, but it is still less than the activation fee we had to pay at our last gym.  For both of us, the monthly membership cost is $19.99, much less than the $60 we were paying.

Since the gym is not completed at this point in time, I cannot speak as to the machine quality or the actual gym appearance.  The young man told me today that they will have over sixty cardio machines.  Each treadmill will have its own little TV, which is just great.  I have seen pictures on their site of other locations, and those looked pretty nice.  The space they are preparing for this one looked pretty big.  We were told it was going to be one of the ten largest ones.

There were other perks included with our membership.  One of us is primary, while the other is considered the guest.  The guest can only visit the gym with the primary, but since we always went to the gym together before, we don't see that trend changing.  We figured if either of us would go solo, it would be me, so I get to be primary.  I can take anyone as a guest whenever I want, by the way.  It doesn't have to be Mark, which is nice.

Adding to the value are some other features that don't really appeal to Mark or I, but others may find interesting.  I can tan as much as I want.  They also have those weird hydro beds that you see in the mall.  You can use those too!  You can have someone consult with you to discuss your health and goals, as well.  Mark and I have only tanned once, and it was before we were married.  We didn't want to get burnt when we went to Disney to get married, so we took precautions.  If I remember correctly, it was more than twenty dollars for the two of us for the month.  It seems like Planet Fitness is a good choice for a person who tans and wants to visit the gym.

The final plus when we were chatting with the gentleman at the location today was their cancellation policy.  If we decide to cancel, we can stop by the gym's location or send a certified letter.  Also, they only need short notice to cancel your membership.  I want to say it was seven days notice to keep the payment from drafting again.  That, my friends, is reasonable.

Now, I've only had good things to say about the idea of Planet Fitness so far.  That doesn't mean I'm looking at the gym through rose colored glasses.  I am worried about the constant line about not being a gym for really muscled guys.  They talk about being a judgement free zone, but they're judging those people who want to get incredibly muscled.  The lunk alarm further worries me, as I don't like that kind of attitude.  Frankly, I'm more nervous about the attitudes at this gym than my last one.  The people at the gym I used to frequent were never snooty.  I didn't feel like they judging me for doing what I could.  I always thought they were more focused on themselves.  I hope Planet Fitness doesn't attract the wrong kind of member, but I'm sure it will be fine.  People don't go to the gym to belittle others; they go to improve themselves.

The way Planet Fitness has been sold to me has made it very attractive, so much so that I signed up without them being open yet.  In mid-May, you can expect another review that talks about what they gym is actually like.  Let's hope it's nice.  It's going to be open 24/7 and is only about five minutes away from where I live.  That's a pretty sweet deal.

*It might have been more, but we have blocked it from our minds.  If it was more than $50, I don't want to remember.

Grimm (Up to and Including Episode 10)

While taking a break from Supernatural, Mark and I have returned to watching Grimm.  Is this a good idea?  Should you check it out??  Who shot J.R.???  Stay tuned to find out!

Sorry, after watching a network TV show, you tend to slide into cliches.  Grimm is a supernatural police procedural that isn't very concerned with procedure.  The episodes open with quotes that indicate the monster of the week.  All in all, it's a pretty straightforward set up.  The show has a lot of potential but suffers from some weaknesses that may be solved with time, as long as the show is given the chance to flourish.  The show runs on Friday nights, which isn't exactly the best night to be on.  Personally speaking, it is incredibly rare that I watch any shows on Friday night when they run.  On demand is my friend.

Perhaps the biggest problem Grimm has is that it is a network television show.  While this is great because it means the show is being made and aired, it is a detriment for many reasons.  At times, I feel as if the show is trying to be accessible to the slowest among us.  This isn't always a bad trait, but when you are used to watching shows like Game of Thrones, which expects you to use your brain to put two and two together, it is obvious when the show makers are focusing on small details overmuch.  In the tenth episode, there is a scene where someone is dropping an item repeatedly on the ground.  Showing it once got the message across, but it was shown three or four times.  Once again, it is good to be accessible to as many people as possible to help the show survive, but it is important to not come across as too simplistic.

Unfortunately, the dialogue is clunky at times, which also reflects poorly upon the show as a whole.  The dialogue isn't bad, but there are often bad jokes.  The viewer is also treated to the silly line.  For example, in one episode, the detectives are discussing a case.  A body has been found largely drained of blood.  A short time later, a vehicle is found containing organs and the like.  One of the cops, after they have mentioned both incidents, points out that they should look for a connection.  Granted, they're underestimating the audience, but it takes one out of the show when the dialogue makes a showing like that.

The problems I have mentioned thus far are present in many shows I have watched in the past and come to enjoy.  As the show progresses, it may find its voice and find its audience.  Accomplishing those two tasks will allow them to repair the few problems I see with the show.  I am a huge fan of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer television series, but have you tried to re-watch the first season?  It is very, very difficult.  Why?  Because many shows get better with some age.  I hope Grimm is given this chance because the show actually has some potential.

The acting is okay, but it is fun to watch Silas Weir Mitchell, who plays the equivalent of a wise side-kick, interact with the main character.  This relationship is one of the most interesting on the show.  While the actors portraying the girlfriend and cop partner are solid, those relationships are not engaging.  The current episodes are attempting to create a more interesting dynamic between the main character, Nick, and his girlfriend, Juliette.  I appreciate the attempt, and I hope it works out.  The other option is to kill that character off to add another layer to Nick.  Either way, something needs to be done.

Let's get back to the positive, as I did not intend to further discuss the show's weaknesses.  I know I have seemed very negative regarding Grimm, but the show is actually quite interesting.  By taking monsters you may have a passing knowledge of and expanding upon them, stories are created that are unique.  There are just enough familiar monsters mixed in with the ones you have never heard of to keep you interested but not bored.  It helps the audience feel like they may be able to figure out what is going on before they're told.  Opening the story with a quote about breadcrumbs is a pretty good indicator of a Hansel and Gretel based story, but how are they going to make it fit in the modern world?  What changes have to be made to keep it believable?

Frankly, there are so many shows on TV that are clones of each other that it is nice to see something a bit different.  Grimm takes the police show and adds some flair...and some blood...and sometimes body parts.  While the show isn't perfect, it's worth a shot.  If you haven't seen it yet, check it out.

Blockbuster Express Kiosk

Well, tonight's review was supposed to be the American version of the Girl with the Dragon Tatoo.  Because the Blockbuster Express machine refused to cooperate, it has become tonight's focus.  That is not a good thing.

I'm sure that while out and about, you have seen the Blockbuster Express machines.  They're actually quite useful, providing you with movie rentals in convenient locations, often grocery stores.  Additionally, the rent is much cheaper than if you rented from an actual Blockbuster store.*  A new movie rents for around $2, while movies over a month old appear to be only $1.  Need the movie another night?  No problem.  They'll just charge it to your card.

Making them even more attractive, Blockbuster Express machines have certain titles guaranteed to be in stock, such as the Girl with the Dragon Tatoo.  Last week, on Monday, I attempted to rent said movie.  It was out of stock.  Because it was out of stock, Blockbuster sent me a code to use for a free rental, since my guaranteed rental was out.

Tonight, after purchasing my groceries, I strolled up to the machine.  Before I could use it, I had to wait for the gentleman and his two young daughters to finish their rental.  After a few minutes, they finished, and I stepped up to claim my movie.

Tonight, the Girl with the Dragon Tatoo was in stock.  Huzzah.  I added it to my cart, somewhat frustrated that it wasn't available in Blu Ray.  As a matter of fact, I didn't even see any Blu Ray options.  It may be that I just didn't look in the right place, but I know the Redbox offers me Blu Ray.

I told myself it was no big deal and proceeded to the checkout.  I input my code and bypassed the option to enter my email address.  Blockbuster has no need for it.  Now, the moment to swipe my card had arrived, and I almost had my movie in hand!  Even though there was no charge, the machine needed my card on file to charge me for any extra days or if I didn't return the movie.  Swipe!  Enter pin!  Enter zip code!  Wait...it says my zip code doesn't match.  I'll try it again.  I have to go through the entire process again.  Email - swipe - pin - zip code.  No dice.  I try a third time, even getting my license out to make sure I'm putting in the right zip.  Sure enough, I am.

At this point in time, there are a couple kids waiting behind me, and I'm starting to feel a little stupid.  I know my zip code.  I am entering it correctly.  What's the problem?  Did I never update my address upon moving?  I'll try my old zip code.  Still, it does not work.  At this point, I exit out of the payment screen, remove the film from my cart, and walk away from the machine.  I am SUPER upset, as I was looking forward to the movie I tried to rent a week ago, but I walk away empty handed.

Upon arriving home, I logged into my online banking to verify the zip code they had listed for me.  It is the same one I attempted to enter into the machine multiple times.  I've never had this problem before, and I know the Redbox has worked just fine when I've rented from it.  In the future, I'll stick to using the Redbox. My crazy conspiracy loving brain thinks it just wasn't working so I couldn't use my free rental.  I realize that isn't the case, but it does seem pretty odd.

Anyway, if you need to rent a movie, go find a Redbox.

*If you could find one, that is.

Cinemablend

I've been visiting the Cinemablend website for a long time.  I recall when it was referred to as filmhobbit.com.  My internet viewing habits have changed, but Cinemablend is the one website that I still check multiple times in a day.  I look at it more than any other website, and I have been consistently consulting longer than any other site I currently use.  I've used IMDB.com longer, but I don't check it multiple times a day.

Cinemablend serves as a wonderful source for movie news, as well as TV information and some game stories.  The site updates constantly, so you are usually guaranteed new headlines each time you check into the site.  Additionally, the site provides content that is above and beyond news stories.  There are often list like articles, generated based on new movies that have come out, even if the article isn't about that movie.  It is fun to see these articles that spring from a love of movies and discussing them.

The website also provides reviews for current movies.  While I don't agree with some of the reviewers, it is nice to be able to consult their opinions and then formulate your own.  While he doesn't seem to provide as much content on Cinemablend as he once did, I have always been a fan of Head Honcho Josh Tyler.  I believe it is because he is busy with GiantFreakinRobot.com, which is another incredible website.

The site also has weekly columns that discuss various movie related items.  One of their most useful columns examines the effectiveness and quality of the 3D in current movies.  I'm not a big fan of 3D, so I usually only see a film in 3D if it gets a ridiculously high score from Cinemablend.

As I am trying not to go into movies with pre-conceived notions, I have stopped reading the reviews on Cinemablend.  I only read them after I have seen the movies, and they are often similar to my own thoughts.  I appreciate when we have differences though, especially when the authors have supported their opinions.

There is one individual that I do not care to follow.  I usually disagree with this person's reviews and opinions.  I also think said writer doesn't always understand the material.  That's just my opinion though, and I would never let that keep me from visiting Cinemablend.

If you are interested in film, start checking out Cinemablend.  You'll learn about all sorts of upcoming movies.  That was the first place I heard about them making a Hunger Games movie, and they were talking about it before the casting was even complete.  Because of that, I had the opportunity to read those books well before the film's premiere.  I would not have picked up those novels otherwise.