Due to some unforeseeable circumstances, Mark and I find ourselves looking for a new car. Before heading out to any dealership, we research top recommended cars, as well as leasing options versus buying. We've visited both Kelley Bluebook online and NADA.com to see what our car would be worth as a trade-in and felt well armed to tackle the hassle that is buying a new car.
Because Mark was curious about the Honda Fit, we went to East Coast Honda first. A very nice man by the name of Jim took a profuse amount of time to answer our questions. There was only one Honda Fit on the lot, which we quickly looked at. Jim, like any salesman, was eager to show us some other options. While this can often be annoying, he was very good about it. We never felt pressured, and we actually liked what he showed us. He had a very comprehensive knowledge about the vehicles. We didn't realize how impressive that was at the time.
He took us inside the showroom to look at the Civic and the CR-V, both of which were very nice. The showroom itself was beautiful, and the lot was well cared for. Once again, we didn't realize some places were not so clean and knowledgeable.
Eventually, we decided to test drive the Honda Civic. The tech present in the car was impressive, with a digital interface that I was surprised to see. Mark did most of the test driving, as I was too nervous to take the wheel. They did have me drive a bit on a back road, and it felt fine. I'm not in love with the Civic, but it is my favorite car that we've looked at so far, except for maybe the CR-V. We'll be going back Monday or Tuesday to test drive it as well.
Our next stop was the Kia Dealership, located pretty close to Sam's Club. Aside from being in love with dancing hamsters, Mark saw where you could lease a Kia Soul for only $109 a month. While we realized this wouldn't actually work out, it still showed potential for a relatively low lease rate.
If they really could lease the car for that little, it's because they're cutting corners else where. The lot was unkempt. I felt like I was on some seedy used car lot. When we pulled up, there were three salespeople just standing outside of the doors, waiting to pounce on unsuspecting shoppers. Mark felt each of them should have been chewing on a toothpick and tossing a nickel in the air. To say we felt in danger of being stabbed would be an understatement.
Because Mark really wanted to see the Soul, we stepped outside of the car and were promptly greeted by the three gentleman. The seediest looking one ended up escorting us to the Kia. At this point, he proved that he didn't know much about the car. Well, maybe his knowledge of the car was fine, but he didn't know much about leasing one. Mark asked him what the incentives were, and he pretty much said he didn't know. Mark actually corrected him on one of his facts. I know that sounds pompous, but Mark had been reading on their website about the leases and had a general knowledge regarding some aspects.
As soon as was possible, we escaped the Kia* dealer and ventured to the Ford lot. Luckily, this dealership was much in tune with what we expected from a car dealer. The lot was nice, and the showroom was clean. The sales associates were all well kempt.** They were also knowledgeable.
Mark wanted to see the Ford Fiesta and the Ford Focus. The gentleman*** was kind enough to show us both of those vehicles, but he also took us over to the Mazda side to see the Mazda 3. When he realized we were leaning towards leasing, he thought that might work better for us. He really listened to what we were saying to try and find a good fit for us.
So far, we have been to three dealers. If you're going solely on lot presentation and upkeep, salesman knowledge and friendliness, and showroom impressiveness, Honda is the best choice. Their presentation in excellent. Ford comes in as a close second, but there was no where for me to park. I would encourage you to stay as far away from the Kia dealer as humanly possible. There is nothing good there. I don't care if they offer you free dancing hamsters with your car; it's not worth it.
*Killer
**Fun fact: the blog is telling me that kempt is now a real word. How weird is that!?!
***I have looked through all the papers I picked up and Mark's wallet, but I can't find the guy's business card to use his name. Sorry! I didn't care about the second guy's name cause he was creepy, but the Ford guy was nice.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Friday, June 29, 2012
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
I don't always think that I have the best taste in food or movies or pets, but there is nothing wrong with liking the occasional "bad" thing. As such, I'm proud to admit that I really enjoy the movie Mr. & Mrs. Smith. It has quite a few good qualities, and I think there were outside factors that may have impacted others' views on the film.
It seemed that there was some backlash against Mr. & Mrs. Smith due to the hullabaloo that was the of Pitt and Aniston splitting. Maybe I wasn't bothered by it, as it frankly doesn't concern me. Mel Gibson may or may not be crazy, but that doesn't make me like his work any less. I've never been a big Aniston fan, so there's that too. Regardless, for some reason, a lot of people really like Aniston and seemed to demonize Jolie for her "part" in ending their marriage. Seeing as how none of us were actually present, that's pretty presumptuous.
Now that we have that mess out of the way, let's actually talk about the movie.
What does Mr. & Mrs. Smith do right?
If you haven't seen Mr. & Mrs. Smith, you should check it out. Don't go in expecting a masterpiece. The movie is a whole lot of fun to watch, but if you take it too seriously, you're not gonna like it.
It seemed that there was some backlash against Mr. & Mrs. Smith due to the hullabaloo that was the of Pitt and Aniston splitting. Maybe I wasn't bothered by it, as it frankly doesn't concern me. Mel Gibson may or may not be crazy, but that doesn't make me like his work any less. I've never been a big Aniston fan, so there's that too. Regardless, for some reason, a lot of people really like Aniston and seemed to demonize Jolie for her "part" in ending their marriage. Seeing as how none of us were actually present, that's pretty presumptuous.
Now that we have that mess out of the way, let's actually talk about the movie.
What does Mr. & Mrs. Smith do right?
- Brad Pitt is more charismatic than any man has a right to be. His character comes across as likeable and silly, even while dispatching random thugs.
- The relationship, both the strained parts and the happy ones, seems genuine. It's easy to buy into the story when the characters and their interactions seem realistic, even when the plot is not.
- There are plenty of fun action pieces. You get to see explosions, car chases, and fights. They hit all the big action requirements, and they do it oh so well. There was one scene where Jolie is backed by fire that looked a little odd, but otherwise, the effects are convincing.
- There are numerous little touches that make me laugh. We're not talking about huge laughs accompanied by tears of joy. I'm talking about the little stuff, like Pitt struggling with how to shut a van door. The scene where Jolie interacts with a baby hit way too close to home, and that's why it worked. In a movie that is so far out there, the characters still do the same little things we do, and that's pretty impressive.
If you haven't seen Mr. & Mrs. Smith, you should check it out. Don't go in expecting a masterpiece. The movie is a whole lot of fun to watch, but if you take it too seriously, you're not gonna like it.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Justified
Do you know what drew me to Justified? It was a combination of Seth Bullock and Shane. Now, if that doesn't make any sense to you, that's understandable. Actors are constantly being recognized for specific roles. Daniel Radcliffe will be Harry Potter to most people unless he comes up with something more memorable. An iconic role can be a blessing and a curse.
In the case of my good friends Seth Bullock and Shane, it's definitely a good thing. Seth Bullock was the sheriff on Deadwood, an old west type show from HBO. The actor's name is actually Timothy Olyphant, and I've seen him in quite a few shows I've liked. For example, I didn't think Hitman was a great movie, but I liked watching Olyphant run amok. The Crazies was actually a pretty good film, and he was a large part of the reason.
Now that we've established who Bullock was, let's discuss Shane. If you watched the Shield, you will recognize him. Let's just say that I love his crazy hair. It's nothing special, but it's one of his defining characteristics. Shane was one of Vic's shadier guys, and he was played by Walton Goggins. If you saw Predators, he was in that too.
I have a weakness for certain actors, and it turns out these guys can get me interested in a show that may otherwise fall under my radar. Justified is about a US Marshal and his misadventures. Running on FX, the synopsis isn't really that interesting; it's the actors and the characters they portray that have earned my viewership.
At this point, we're a little more than halfway through the second season, and the show is constantly getting better. The acting is solid. Some of the less used characters are a little flat, but Olyphant and Goggins both do such a great job with their roles that it doesn't matter. Goggins isn't on as much as Olyphant, especially in the first season, but the scenes he is in are generally the most interesting for me.
As with any show, there are plot lines I dislike, but luckily, they are usually confined to a single episode. Even then, they're not bad. I just don't care for them. The first season was good, but the second season has a better track record so far. Justified chose well when choosing their first episode, as it is one of the strongest from the first season. There have been episodes that I have fallen asleep watching. It's a combination of watching them too late at night and not being as gripping as they could be. Because of Justified's overall showing, I'm planning to watch it all.
If you're looking for a show to watch that doesn't require too much of the viewer but still manages to keep your attention, check out Justified. I wouldn't watch it when you're super tired until you get to season two. Don't get discouraged at the lack of Goggins in the first season; he's utilized more in season two.
In the case of my good friends Seth Bullock and Shane, it's definitely a good thing. Seth Bullock was the sheriff on Deadwood, an old west type show from HBO. The actor's name is actually Timothy Olyphant, and I've seen him in quite a few shows I've liked. For example, I didn't think Hitman was a great movie, but I liked watching Olyphant run amok. The Crazies was actually a pretty good film, and he was a large part of the reason.
Now that we've established who Bullock was, let's discuss Shane. If you watched the Shield, you will recognize him. Let's just say that I love his crazy hair. It's nothing special, but it's one of his defining characteristics. Shane was one of Vic's shadier guys, and he was played by Walton Goggins. If you saw Predators, he was in that too.
I have a weakness for certain actors, and it turns out these guys can get me interested in a show that may otherwise fall under my radar. Justified is about a US Marshal and his misadventures. Running on FX, the synopsis isn't really that interesting; it's the actors and the characters they portray that have earned my viewership.
At this point, we're a little more than halfway through the second season, and the show is constantly getting better. The acting is solid. Some of the less used characters are a little flat, but Olyphant and Goggins both do such a great job with their roles that it doesn't matter. Goggins isn't on as much as Olyphant, especially in the first season, but the scenes he is in are generally the most interesting for me.
As with any show, there are plot lines I dislike, but luckily, they are usually confined to a single episode. Even then, they're not bad. I just don't care for them. The first season was good, but the second season has a better track record so far. Justified chose well when choosing their first episode, as it is one of the strongest from the first season. There have been episodes that I have fallen asleep watching. It's a combination of watching them too late at night and not being as gripping as they could be. Because of Justified's overall showing, I'm planning to watch it all.
If you're looking for a show to watch that doesn't require too much of the viewer but still manages to keep your attention, check out Justified. I wouldn't watch it when you're super tired until you get to season two. Don't get discouraged at the lack of Goggins in the first season; he's utilized more in season two.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
The Star Wars That I Used To Know
From my posts, you might begin to think that I have an unhealthy obsession with Star Wars and what George Lucas has done. That's not the case, but tonight, Reddit led me to yet another Star Wars focused video that I found quite funny, and I think you should watch it, if you know and like Star Wars.
Harkening back to Weird Al, I've always been a fan of parodies. Before Episode I, when Weird Al did the Saga Begins, I couldn't get enough of it. I'll occasionally put on Weird Al just because I find his music fun. Even when I'm not familiar with the original song, I still enjoy what he does. It's the same with this video. I am not that familiar with the original song, Somebody That I Used to Know. I have a passing familiarity with the tune, but I don't think I had ever heard the whole song. I forced myself to sit through the video to have a better grasp of the parody I was about to see.
The parody video has good production quality and nice vocals too. I'm not actually sure what makes a successful parody; I think only Weird Al has that information. That being said, the gentlemen behind this video may have gotten a peek at Al's notes.
Tonight's entry is short and sweet because I just don't have much to say. The video is entertaining but not laugh out loud funny. The production values are very good, and I knew what they were singing about, so I felt included. There isn't much more that I need for a parody video, I guess.
Harkening back to Weird Al, I've always been a fan of parodies. Before Episode I, when Weird Al did the Saga Begins, I couldn't get enough of it. I'll occasionally put on Weird Al just because I find his music fun. Even when I'm not familiar with the original song, I still enjoy what he does. It's the same with this video. I am not that familiar with the original song, Somebody That I Used to Know. I have a passing familiarity with the tune, but I don't think I had ever heard the whole song. I forced myself to sit through the video to have a better grasp of the parody I was about to see.
The parody video has good production quality and nice vocals too. I'm not actually sure what makes a successful parody; I think only Weird Al has that information. That being said, the gentlemen behind this video may have gotten a peek at Al's notes.
Tonight's entry is short and sweet because I just don't have much to say. The video is entertaining but not laugh out loud funny. The production values are very good, and I knew what they were singing about, so I felt included. There isn't much more that I need for a parody video, I guess.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Steaks
Our condo here in Myrtle Beach has been our first dwelling with easy access to a grill. That being the case, we started grilling out upon our arrival. As we are both huge fans of rib-eye steaks, we set out to find some three years ago. We discovered that Sam's Club sold them. They usually came three to a package for about $25. They are a bit thick, and they are very nice cuts of meat.
This past weekend, I was looking for steaks. The ones at Sam's have gone up in price, and I couldn't justify over $30 for steaks for Mark and I. After finishing my shopping at Sam's club, I visited Bi-Lo to peruse their rib-eye steaks. I found two smaller, thinner steaks for a decent price, so I picked them up.
Tonight, we decided to have our steaks with some mashed potatoes, grilled carrots and peppers, baked beans, and corn on the cob. We plated up the food, and it looked delicious. All of the sides proved to be tasty. The steaks, on the other hand, were bad. They just didn't taste good.
After we finished dinner, which concluded with me throwing out my steak, we discussed what the problem may have been. It turns out that Sam's Club uses certified prime Angus beef. I honestly didn't really pay much attention to the meat grading system in the past, but after the terrible steaks we had tonight, I decided to research it. The Sam's Club steaks are just better meat, and you can taste it.
If you're going to make your own steaks, it's worth it to pay a bit extra and get the steaks from Sam's Club. I won't be making the Bi-Lo mistake again in the future. Bi-Lo may be preferable to Wal-Mart when it comes to getting groceries since our Seaboard Wal-Mart is always a mad house, but I'll be getting my meat* at Sam's Club.
*You are allowed to giggle at the phrase "my meat".
Monday, June 25, 2012
Five Guys Burgers & Fries
Today, due to our busy schedules, Mark only had about twenty minutes to leaves Sam's Club, pick me up at work, eat, and return to work. As such, we realized coming home for dinner wasn't going to work. Instead, Mark suggested I drop him off at the club and go pick up Five Guys Burgers & Fries for dinner. He figured I could bring it back to the club, and we could eat dinner in the cafe.
I won't whine at you about the terrible experience I had driving to the restaurant. Needless to say, sitting through the red light a total of four times was ridiculous. I found a convenient parking spot and walked briskly into Five Guys.
Now, if you've never been to one before, they're very simply decorated. There are articles on the wall talking about how great their food is. The walls are primarily white tile, with a red tile pattern about shoulder height around the store. There are simple tables and chairs throughout. As you approach the counter to place your order, you can see into the kitchen, where they prepare the food. There is usually a chalkboard that tells you where today's potatoes are from.
I placed my order, getting two little bacon cheeseburgers, with a multitude of toppings. I opted for a simple addition of ketchup. Mark, on the other hand, gave me a long list of toppings for his burger which included: A1 sauce, onions, green peppers, jalapenos, and more that I no longer recall. I did panic when the girl asked if I wanted the onions raw or cooked. If you like toppings, Five Guys is the place for you. In addition to our burgers, I also ordered a large fry and two beverages. They have the Freestyle machines here, so it went without saying that we needed fancy drinks.
Because Five Guys makes your burgers to order, there is usually a wait between five and ten minutes; it can be longer if they're very busy. There was only one group ahead of me waiting for food, so my wait was pretty short. It felt even shorter because I was eating peanuts while I waited. You have to love an establishment that gives you free peanuts while you wait.
Now, you remember how I was all along and picking up food for both Mark and I? Well, I was a bit worried about juggling two large beverages and a big bag of food out to the car. When the nice young man called out my number, he noticed that I had two drinks and offered me a carrier. Many places don't offer a carrier when it is only two drinks. He ran to the bank to get it for me. After getting my drinks situated, he walked me to the door, so he could open it for me. It was incredibly kind, especially since the assistance was freely offered.
After returning to Sam's Club, Mark and I dug into our food. There are a few things I really love about Five Guys. I enjoy the fresh made burgers. They are incredibly good. I probably won't order one with bacon again, as I felt the bacon was just okay. One of their other nice characteristics is how they portion their fries. A single large fry is served in a paper cup, about the size of a medium at a normal chain restaurant. After they put the fries and burgers in the brown paper sack, they proceed to dump a bunch more fries in the bag. The entire bottom of the bag was full of fries; it was at least three inches deep. Needless to say, we couldn't finish them all.
I have never been disappointed in a meal from Five Guys Burgers & Fries. It isn't very good for you, but it is tasty. The people that work there are generally nice too. If you ever go there but aren't in the mood for a burger, try one of their hot dogs. They split them down the middle, and they are delicious with cheese. Also, make sure to order your burger as a little one. It really isn't little; it just means there is only one patty. That single patty is plenty; trust me.
I won't whine at you about the terrible experience I had driving to the restaurant. Needless to say, sitting through the red light a total of four times was ridiculous. I found a convenient parking spot and walked briskly into Five Guys.
Now, if you've never been to one before, they're very simply decorated. There are articles on the wall talking about how great their food is. The walls are primarily white tile, with a red tile pattern about shoulder height around the store. There are simple tables and chairs throughout. As you approach the counter to place your order, you can see into the kitchen, where they prepare the food. There is usually a chalkboard that tells you where today's potatoes are from.
I placed my order, getting two little bacon cheeseburgers, with a multitude of toppings. I opted for a simple addition of ketchup. Mark, on the other hand, gave me a long list of toppings for his burger which included: A1 sauce, onions, green peppers, jalapenos, and more that I no longer recall. I did panic when the girl asked if I wanted the onions raw or cooked. If you like toppings, Five Guys is the place for you. In addition to our burgers, I also ordered a large fry and two beverages. They have the Freestyle machines here, so it went without saying that we needed fancy drinks.
Because Five Guys makes your burgers to order, there is usually a wait between five and ten minutes; it can be longer if they're very busy. There was only one group ahead of me waiting for food, so my wait was pretty short. It felt even shorter because I was eating peanuts while I waited. You have to love an establishment that gives you free peanuts while you wait.
Now, you remember how I was all along and picking up food for both Mark and I? Well, I was a bit worried about juggling two large beverages and a big bag of food out to the car. When the nice young man called out my number, he noticed that I had two drinks and offered me a carrier. Many places don't offer a carrier when it is only two drinks. He ran to the bank to get it for me. After getting my drinks situated, he walked me to the door, so he could open it for me. It was incredibly kind, especially since the assistance was freely offered.
After returning to Sam's Club, Mark and I dug into our food. There are a few things I really love about Five Guys. I enjoy the fresh made burgers. They are incredibly good. I probably won't order one with bacon again, as I felt the bacon was just okay. One of their other nice characteristics is how they portion their fries. A single large fry is served in a paper cup, about the size of a medium at a normal chain restaurant. After they put the fries and burgers in the brown paper sack, they proceed to dump a bunch more fries in the bag. The entire bottom of the bag was full of fries; it was at least three inches deep. Needless to say, we couldn't finish them all.
I have never been disappointed in a meal from Five Guys Burgers & Fries. It isn't very good for you, but it is tasty. The people that work there are generally nice too. If you ever go there but aren't in the mood for a burger, try one of their hot dogs. They split them down the middle, and they are delicious with cheese. Also, make sure to order your burger as a little one. It really isn't little; it just means there is only one patty. That single patty is plenty; trust me.
The Walt Disney World Vacation Planning Video (For Sunday, June 24th - I fell asleep..so sue me!)
Disney is expensive. People save and save and save to visit. Some do it because society tells them it's cool. Others visit because of nostalgia or brain washing.* Still others are just looking for some place to vacation. Disney goes out of their way to make it easy to plan a trip. From the toll free number to their website, you can set up a reservation in multiple ways. To help ease you into the Disney resorts, Disney offers a free vacation planning DVD. You can order it on the website, and they'll ship it right to you, all at no cost. Frankly, the cost of a DVD is pretty negligible when you look at the cost of a Disney vacation.
Now, I'm not knocking Disney.** Disney is my chosen home away from home. I'm happiest when I have a trip to look forward to, regardless of how short it may be. One of the ways I get a temporary fix is to pop in my vacation planning DVD.
If you're new to Disney, the free DVD will give you a broad overview of the parks, as well as the hotels. They spend time talking about a nice cross-section of rides, attempting to appeal to as broad an audience as possible. The production values are quite good, and the DVDs menus are easy to navigate. The assorted hosts can become annoying at times, but that may not be the case for someone who is actually new to Disney. I find the hosts to be superfluous because I already know more about Disney than they're telling me.
For years, my family has had the vacation planning DVDs. Before that, we ordered the vacation planning VHS tapes. We actually had multiple ones, as they put out a new one each year. It may not be altered much, but there are little differences. When we had trips coming up, we would rotate between watching the free trip planning media from Disney and our own vacation videos.
While I don't have much use for the Disney Vacation planning DVD, I can see the value for someone that hasn't been before or hasn't been in a long time. The're pretty good about showing you what's new around the parks. If you go all the time, you don't really need the DVD, but it's still fun to have.
*I'm pretty sure I was brain washed. My love for the Disney resort is borderline unhealthy. Ryan suffers from the same problem, so I'm gonna blame my parents. :P
**If I try to say or think negative things about Disney, I experience an electrical shock. I still haven't figured out where it's coming from.
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
When Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter began, I wasn't sure exactly what I would be getting. I expected an awesomely bad movie. For me, an awesomely bad movie isn't a bad thing. They're films that are so bad but oh, so good, a movie like Piranha 3D or Jason in Space.* As we got a bit of the way into Abe's film, I started to really dislike it. By the middle, I was starting to be okay with it, feeling it a bit more. By the end, I thought it was fun but 30% terrible. The more I talk with Mark about it, the more I fall in love with it. I'm going to do this review list style, as I think it's going to work better that way
Plot
*For those of you out there using official names, that would be Jason X.
**Obviously, we are going to assume there were no vampires, so I won't be covering that particular affront to accuracy. For the purposes of this movie and review, that little fact falls under our suspension of disbelief.
***He's the guy who directed Wanted.
****As most of you know, I hate jump out scares. The fact that they were incredibly out of place in this film just made it worse. Every time they did it, save maybe once, the audience was aware he was fighting a vampire. It wasn't a surprise, so there was no reason to over-use this particular shot and sound duo. Frankly, all other problems could be forgiven if it weren't for this.
*****He's amazing. If you don't know who he is, I feel sorry for you. Educate yourself!
******Needless to say, this is what made me love the movie. It's exactly the type of thing that would have happened.
Plot
- The Good - The story encompasses all of Lincoln's time. Instead of picking out a small sliver of time and just altering that, the majority of Lincoln's life becomes impacted by vampires.
- The Bad - The plot is very, very predictable.
- The Ugly - The film flashes back to earlier scenes twice; it was necessary neither time. Generally, when a film flashes back to itself, there's a problem with the story, or the filmmakers assume we've all hit our heads since the scene in question.
Make-Up/Special Effects
- The Good - The aging effects for Abraham Lincoln are quite impressive. The make-up is well done; I bought Benjamin Walker as Abe. Good job, old chap!
- The Bad - Save one character, all other age make-up was lackluster.
- The Ugly - The CG for the vampires didn't bother me, but there were some absolutely terrible horses running around.
Accuracy**
- The Good - A lot of historical figures show up.
- The Bad - I imagine this would drive an actual historian up the wall.
- The Awesome - I am uneducated enough to not be bothered by it. I recognized names but couldn't remember much about some of them.
Style
- The Good - Timur Bekmambetov*** chooses to filter the colors in a way that makes the film look older while still maintaining crisp and pleasant to look at shots. He was also kind enough to resort to cheap 3D tricks, which I love!
- The Bad - He sometimes over-uses certain crutches, like smoke.
- The Ugly - For some reason, he thought it would be a great idea to constantly zoom in on the vampires faces and jack the music up, all while adding a pleasant hiss. This was not a good idea; it was resorting to hack tricks. You don't need to make the audience jump. We know there are vampires, and constantly throwing this insulting combo at the audience served only to make me want to walk out of the theater.****
Actors
- The Good - Benjamin Walker does a good job with what he's got here. He successfully conveys pop culture Lincoln.
- The Bad - There is a chick vampire, sister to the primary baddie, that is just terrible. Whether it's what she was given or just who she is, it's painful.
- The Awesome - Alan Tudyk shows up in a bit part.*****
If you're going to see Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, see it with a friend. It is much better when you can discuss the various, over the top moments with someone else. Go in expecting dumb fun, and you might enjoy it. If you go in expecting a masterpiece, you're gonna have a bad time. That being said, I'm glad I saw it.
<<Here there be minor spoilers.>>
There is a scene in the film that Mark described as essentially the fight scene between Peter Griffin and the giant chicken. If you see the film, you will know it when you see it. During said scene, there is a moment that Mark and I agree would have happened in one of our old Deadland Games.
It goes something like this:
-Ryan- Mark, what do I have to roll to throw a horse at Abraham Lincoln?
-Mark- I'm not sure. Go ahead and roll a D20. Toss in a fate chip too.
-Ryan- I botched, rolled a one.
-Mark- Well, you successfully threw the horse at Abraham Lincoln, but he caught it and is now riding it toward you. He looks pissed.
<<End minor spoilers>>******
*For those of you out there using official names, that would be Jason X.
**Obviously, we are going to assume there were no vampires, so I won't be covering that particular affront to accuracy. For the purposes of this movie and review, that little fact falls under our suspension of disbelief.
***He's the guy who directed Wanted.
****As most of you know, I hate jump out scares. The fact that they were incredibly out of place in this film just made it worse. Every time they did it, save maybe once, the audience was aware he was fighting a vampire. It wasn't a surprise, so there was no reason to over-use this particular shot and sound duo. Frankly, all other problems could be forgiven if it weren't for this.
*****He's amazing. If you don't know who he is, I feel sorry for you. Educate yourself!
******Needless to say, this is what made me love the movie. It's exactly the type of thing that would have happened.
Friday, June 22, 2012
Brave
I generally life Pixar films; I often don't find them as incredible as others. The first time I watched Up, I thought it was pretty good, but I haven't watched it since. The only part I really remember was the intro; it was so moving that it stuck with you. I love the Incredibles, but I thought Finding Nemo was over-rated. I felt the same way about Wall-E. I loved Wall-E while I was watching it, but I felt preached at afterwards. Pixar is an incredible studio capable of providing amazing stories. Even the ones that don't excite me are still very good. I'm happy to say that Brave is one of my more favored entries.
Brave is the story of a headstrong girl who doesn't want to live her life as she's being told. It's a classic premise, but Brave is told so well that it doesn't matter. I was never really surprised by where the story went, but I enjoyed the journey.
Merida, the main character, strikes the right balance. You can understand why she rebels, and you can understand why her mother directs her the way she does. The relationship between mother and daughter is the centerpiece of the film and provides the bulk of the emotion. As Finding Nemo was more focused on a father and son, so Brave focuses on a mother and daughter. The fact that both characters are sympathetic is wonderful, but I would expect no less from Pixar.
While the story is nothing remarkable, the animation is beautiful and exquisitely done. The setting is breath-taking, while the characters are perfectly created. Small movements convey emotion. There is a scene where the Queen is playing an instrument and watching her fingers on the strings was impressive. There is a scene around the middle of the film where you see a bear, and I was just struck by how realistic it looked. From the way it walked to the way the fur looked, it was one of the best animated bears I had ever seen.
I know I've been primarily saying how beautiful Brave was, but it just didn't have that something special. I know that sounds weird, but I wasn't in awe. I was entertained, and I really liked the film. At the same time, the film never elevated to that level. Of course, it still made me feel emotions.* As the film ended, I missed my mom. I called her on the way home, so Brave definitely had an impact.
Go see Brave. Pixar is more to form with this production, and you won't regret it. Afterwards, be prepared to call your mom and tell her you love her.
One more thing, we saw it in 3D because the only showing that worked for us was 3D. I had heard bad things about the conversion, but it was just fine for us. It wasn't too dark. I'm still not a huge fan of 3D, but if that's the only way you can see it, it doesn't hurt the film.
*That's how Mark explains it.
Brave is the story of a headstrong girl who doesn't want to live her life as she's being told. It's a classic premise, but Brave is told so well that it doesn't matter. I was never really surprised by where the story went, but I enjoyed the journey.
Merida, the main character, strikes the right balance. You can understand why she rebels, and you can understand why her mother directs her the way she does. The relationship between mother and daughter is the centerpiece of the film and provides the bulk of the emotion. As Finding Nemo was more focused on a father and son, so Brave focuses on a mother and daughter. The fact that both characters are sympathetic is wonderful, but I would expect no less from Pixar.
While the story is nothing remarkable, the animation is beautiful and exquisitely done. The setting is breath-taking, while the characters are perfectly created. Small movements convey emotion. There is a scene where the Queen is playing an instrument and watching her fingers on the strings was impressive. There is a scene around the middle of the film where you see a bear, and I was just struck by how realistic it looked. From the way it walked to the way the fur looked, it was one of the best animated bears I had ever seen.
I know I've been primarily saying how beautiful Brave was, but it just didn't have that something special. I know that sounds weird, but I wasn't in awe. I was entertained, and I really liked the film. At the same time, the film never elevated to that level. Of course, it still made me feel emotions.* As the film ended, I missed my mom. I called her on the way home, so Brave definitely had an impact.
Go see Brave. Pixar is more to form with this production, and you won't regret it. Afterwards, be prepared to call your mom and tell her you love her.
One more thing, we saw it in 3D because the only showing that worked for us was 3D. I had heard bad things about the conversion, but it was just fine for us. It wasn't too dark. I'm still not a huge fan of 3D, but if that's the only way you can see it, it doesn't hurt the film.
*That's how Mark explains it.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Parking Lots
Today's review is going to be short and sweet. Parking lots are awesome. Whether the spaces are a normal grid pattern or the fancy angled ones, parking lots are useful and wonderful. The provide us with convenient places to leave our cars when we want to shop or eat. They keep us from having to parallel park on the street, and I can assure you that is a good thing! You should appreciate parking lots because without them, parking would suck.
Now, that I have handled the review portion, the rest of today's post will consist of me complaining about the abuses that go on in parking lots:
Now, that I have handled the review portion, the rest of today's post will consist of me complaining about the abuses that go on in parking lots:
- A space with a bunch of white lines in it is not space at all. It's a way to designate where you are NOT supposed to park. The parking area at the mall closest to the theater has some areas like this, which some people insist on parking in. Knock it off.
- Pedestrians need to quickly move out of the traffic areas. Don't meander along when there are cars attempting to drive through the lanes to find spots. Walk to one side or the other.
- Idling your car by the entrance/exit to a store is not parking. Don't got to the Sam's Club liquor store and leave your car idling by the entrance. You need to park your vehicle in an actual spot. If the driver is getting out of the car, the car needs to be in a space. I understand if you're idling there while you wait to pick up someone; that is okay. If you are going in to shop, use a space.
- Parking directly over the white line, hence taking up two spaces, should be a hanging offense. Parking...you're doing it wrong! It's one spot per car. If you need two spots, take a cab.
- Handicap parking is for people that actually need it. I don't presume to know when someone has a medical condition, but you know who you are. Today, a lady informed me that she was using the handicap sticker of her husband's to park in handicap spots to protect her car. Her husband has been dead for two years.
- Parking lots are for parking, not panhandling. If it were for panhandling, it would be called a panhandling lot.
Now, go forth and use parking lots for good. Perpetrate evil no longer.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Tomo
In the 38th avenue plaza, there is a small restaurant that constantly changes names and owners. When I moved here, it was Jimmy's. Shortly thereafter, it became Ichiro's. The newest iteration is Tomo. Mark and I, as usual, were struggling with what to have for dinner yesterday, and we decided to try Tomo. A few of my co-workers had tried it, and they had nothing but good things to say. Unfortunately, it wasn't as great as I had heard.
The restaurant has been cleaned up quite a bit. The decor is nice, as is the new paint scheme. It feels much fancier than it has in the past. I wasn't worried that the food wasn't safe or that mice were going to attack us while we decided what to order. Additionally, the young men manning the store were very friendly.
After perusing the menu, we decided to get two entrees, the steak and chicken. One of us was going to get rice while the other was to order noodles. We were very excited when we found out each meal came with both! The meals also came with some veggies. On a whim, we decided to get some wings too.
It only took fifteen minutes or so before our meals were ready. We had decided to head home to eat, as we are quite obsessed with Fringe at the moment. We grabbed some chopsticks and got out of there.
Upon arriving at home, we pulled out our meals and set to work devouring them. I am happy to report that the chicken was marvelous. It was perfectly cooked and had good flavor. Moving on to the steak, it was a bit over-cooked, but since they didn't ask how we wanted it, I can only assume they chose to make it well done.
Much like the chicken, the noodles were perfectly cooked. They weren't clumping together and were just divine. Unlike the chicken, the noodles weren't as tasty. They seemed to be missing something. The rice was pretty good, but it too was a little under seasoned. I liked it though because all sides can be fixed with that mayo sauce stuff. I also used the mayo sauce to counteract my burnt veggies. I love zucchini, but Mark does not. Mine was burnt; his was not. It was some weird cosmic joke. I didn't realize his were in good condition until they were cold and I was full.
Mark had copious praise for the wings. They were teriyaki, and he said they were good. They came with ranch and a few carrot sticks and celery pieces. They were of average size and cost.
All in all, Tomo's was just okay. Based on the people and the positive aspects of our meal, I would try them again. The few things that were over-done can be blamed on them being a relatively new establishment. Now, if I try them again in a couple weeks and have a similar experience, I'll write them off. Until then, I shall allow them to continue to exist.
The restaurant has been cleaned up quite a bit. The decor is nice, as is the new paint scheme. It feels much fancier than it has in the past. I wasn't worried that the food wasn't safe or that mice were going to attack us while we decided what to order. Additionally, the young men manning the store were very friendly.
After perusing the menu, we decided to get two entrees, the steak and chicken. One of us was going to get rice while the other was to order noodles. We were very excited when we found out each meal came with both! The meals also came with some veggies. On a whim, we decided to get some wings too.
It only took fifteen minutes or so before our meals were ready. We had decided to head home to eat, as we are quite obsessed with Fringe at the moment. We grabbed some chopsticks and got out of there.
Upon arriving at home, we pulled out our meals and set to work devouring them. I am happy to report that the chicken was marvelous. It was perfectly cooked and had good flavor. Moving on to the steak, it was a bit over-cooked, but since they didn't ask how we wanted it, I can only assume they chose to make it well done.
Much like the chicken, the noodles were perfectly cooked. They weren't clumping together and were just divine. Unlike the chicken, the noodles weren't as tasty. They seemed to be missing something. The rice was pretty good, but it too was a little under seasoned. I liked it though because all sides can be fixed with that mayo sauce stuff. I also used the mayo sauce to counteract my burnt veggies. I love zucchini, but Mark does not. Mine was burnt; his was not. It was some weird cosmic joke. I didn't realize his were in good condition until they were cold and I was full.
Mark had copious praise for the wings. They were teriyaki, and he said they were good. They came with ranch and a few carrot sticks and celery pieces. They were of average size and cost.
All in all, Tomo's was just okay. Based on the people and the positive aspects of our meal, I would try them again. The few things that were over-done can be blamed on them being a relatively new establishment. Now, if I try them again in a couple weeks and have a similar experience, I'll write them off. Until then, I shall allow them to continue to exist.
Amazon Shows(For Tuesday, June 19)
So, I kind of fell asleep on Tuesday and completely forgot that I hadn't submitted my review for the day. As such, I panicked the next morning and tossed up a place holder. See, we bought some shows on Amazon which we watched until I fell asleep. It seems that when we need to buy a show, we often turn to Amazon.
Amazon allows you to purchase shows in HD or Retro, which ever you prefer for your pocketbook. We usually go snobby and get HD. What's nice is that when we randomly catch up on a show and want to see the most recent season, Amazon can often help us with that. A show whose most recent season has just ended is often available for download via Amazon. Granted, you're going to pay around $30 or $40 for said season, but if you don't want to wait for it to come out on DVD, it's not a bad alternative. Additionally, you'd pay the same amount to purchase the show on DVD anyway.
Once you set up your Amazon account, you can access shows you have purchased from any computer. If I'm going on vacation and don't want to carry my DVDs with me, I can still watch my show on the laptop in the hotel since Disney doesn't have Cartoon Network.* Granted, most people don't go on vacation to watch tv, but its' nice to have access to your shows if you're stuck somewhere and bored.
If you're going to pay for shows digitally, Amazon is a good bet. They're regular shopping service isn't too bad either...plenty of Dr. Who stuff!
* That's probably my biggest beef with them.
Amazon allows you to purchase shows in HD or Retro, which ever you prefer for your pocketbook. We usually go snobby and get HD. What's nice is that when we randomly catch up on a show and want to see the most recent season, Amazon can often help us with that. A show whose most recent season has just ended is often available for download via Amazon. Granted, you're going to pay around $30 or $40 for said season, but if you don't want to wait for it to come out on DVD, it's not a bad alternative. Additionally, you'd pay the same amount to purchase the show on DVD anyway.
Once you set up your Amazon account, you can access shows you have purchased from any computer. If I'm going on vacation and don't want to carry my DVDs with me, I can still watch my show on the laptop in the hotel since Disney doesn't have Cartoon Network.* Granted, most people don't go on vacation to watch tv, but its' nice to have access to your shows if you're stuck somewhere and bored.
If you're going to pay for shows digitally, Amazon is a good bet. They're regular shopping service isn't too bad either...plenty of Dr. Who stuff!
* That's probably my biggest beef with them.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Sprite
There are certain soft drinks that are often over-looked, and Sprite seems to be one of those drinks, at least in my group. I don't recall drinking Sprite at all through my high school or college years. I just started drinking Sprite in the last two or three years, since moving to Myrtle Beach.
Occasionally, I will go on a kick to cut all soda out of my life. I usually go cold turkey, with the random pop at the theater being my main hook-up. Almost a year after moving here, Mark and I had cut out soda unless we were at the movies. It was then that I discovered Sprite.
We had decided staying away from caffeine would be good, as it was a painful parting previously. Mark started ordering us Sprite. Granted, it's not healthy, but at least I wasn't imbibing caffeine. Sprite is actually kind of refreshing, at least when you compare it to Coke.
Since then, Coke is still my usual choice, but I find myself replacing it with Sprite more and more often. In particular, if I am going to have something with garlic in it, I love to have Sprite as my beverage. It just tastes good.
We're back to trying to cut out all pop. We haven't bought any soda for in the house in about three weeks. I'm still having it when we go out, but we're supposed to stop going out this week. We need to save up for a wedding we have to go to in September, so we need to stop eating out so we can afford to go. I'm sure I'll have the occasional soda, and it may very well be a Sprite when I do. I really enjoy Sprite with fresh lemon juice squeezed into it. Of course, when you order that at a restaurant, they bring you water as a refill half the time.
Either way, go have a Sprite.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
The Disboards
Those of you that know me well know of my ridiculous love of Disney. I wouldn't say I'm obsessed with all things Disney, but if you ask me where I want to go for vacation, I'm going to answer with Disney World. I blame my parents, as they brainwashed us into loving it as children. Actually, they just gave us the family vacations they never really had, and both Ryan and I associate Disney with some of our happiest family memories.
To feed my addiction, I resort to a couple of different "drugs". I've been known to hit up youtube for Disney park music. Ryan texted me not too long ago, calling it "crack". As that's all I've been listening to for the past two days, I really can't disagree with him there. I will also watch specials about Disney. I actually have a set I bought at Sam's Club that has multiple discs, all with shows about the parks, cruise line, etc. There are always pictures, as well. Goodness knows I have taken enough of them. Finally, when I'm really jonesing for Disney, I spend a lot of time on the Disboards.
If you have any interest in a trip to Disney, or if you just love Disney, you really need to visit the Disboards. The disboards consist of a multitude of discussion forums that cover pretty much any Disney related topic. Planning a trip and don't know what hotel to stay at? They have an entire forum dedicated to resorts. Unsure where you want to eat while you're there? There's a board for that. Curious about Universal Studios? They'll even answer your questions about that. Frankly, if you're taking a trip to Disney, you should tap the resources that can be found on the Disboards. Think you know everything about Disney? Share that knowledge with people who do not.
I tend to lurk about on the boards, rarely posting unless I can't find information that I need. Luckily, there is an effective search function to help you out. Posts that may be needed my a multitude of people are stuck at the top of each forum to be assist you.
I guess the best way to illustrate how great the boards are is to explain why I keep going back.
1. Food porn - There are entire threads dedicated to pictures of the food at Disney. You think that sounds silly, until you're trying to figure out where to eat for your upcoming trip.
2. Resort pictures - If I'm planning to stay at a resort I'm already familiar with, I like to see pictures in case something has changed. If I'm trying to pick a new resort, I want to see pictures to see if I'll like it.
3. Random questions - Sometimes I need to know if Mark can bring a four foot long toy sword into the park.
4. Expansion updates & pictures - Did you know they're expanding Fantasyland? Well, they are. If you had been on the Disboards, you would know that. You would even have seen pictures showing the construction before it was cool, you hipster you!
5. Validation - Sometimes, I just like to complain, but I don't want to go on and post it. Luckily, someone else is usually complaining about whatever bothered me. I can see people's opinion on the matter and feel less crazy.*
6. Trip reports - I can read reports about other people's trips. One guy, when introducing his family in the trip report, gave them stats. I get the feeling we could be friends with him. There was another girl who I'm pretty sure was a redditor, based on some of her random comments.
If you like Disney and want an occasional fix, pop onto the disboards. There is something for everyone there.
*I am a stickler for rules. The Disney fastpass has always had a return window on it that is a one hour window. The ticket asks that you return between those times. Because cast members have allowed people to return whenever they like, people have used it as a touring strategy. They will gather as many passes as they can and just use them when they feel like it. My family has never done that, and it always bothered me that others abused them that way. I never did anything to encourage Disney to stop honoring them at any time, but I never participated in that way. It turns out that now Disney is enforcing the return times. I feel like this deserves a success kid meme.
To feed my addiction, I resort to a couple of different "drugs". I've been known to hit up youtube for Disney park music. Ryan texted me not too long ago, calling it "crack". As that's all I've been listening to for the past two days, I really can't disagree with him there. I will also watch specials about Disney. I actually have a set I bought at Sam's Club that has multiple discs, all with shows about the parks, cruise line, etc. There are always pictures, as well. Goodness knows I have taken enough of them. Finally, when I'm really jonesing for Disney, I spend a lot of time on the Disboards.
If you have any interest in a trip to Disney, or if you just love Disney, you really need to visit the Disboards. The disboards consist of a multitude of discussion forums that cover pretty much any Disney related topic. Planning a trip and don't know what hotel to stay at? They have an entire forum dedicated to resorts. Unsure where you want to eat while you're there? There's a board for that. Curious about Universal Studios? They'll even answer your questions about that. Frankly, if you're taking a trip to Disney, you should tap the resources that can be found on the Disboards. Think you know everything about Disney? Share that knowledge with people who do not.
I tend to lurk about on the boards, rarely posting unless I can't find information that I need. Luckily, there is an effective search function to help you out. Posts that may be needed my a multitude of people are stuck at the top of each forum to be assist you.
I guess the best way to illustrate how great the boards are is to explain why I keep going back.
1. Food porn - There are entire threads dedicated to pictures of the food at Disney. You think that sounds silly, until you're trying to figure out where to eat for your upcoming trip.
2. Resort pictures - If I'm planning to stay at a resort I'm already familiar with, I like to see pictures in case something has changed. If I'm trying to pick a new resort, I want to see pictures to see if I'll like it.
3. Random questions - Sometimes I need to know if Mark can bring a four foot long toy sword into the park.
4. Expansion updates & pictures - Did you know they're expanding Fantasyland? Well, they are. If you had been on the Disboards, you would know that. You would even have seen pictures showing the construction before it was cool, you hipster you!
5. Validation - Sometimes, I just like to complain, but I don't want to go on and post it. Luckily, someone else is usually complaining about whatever bothered me. I can see people's opinion on the matter and feel less crazy.*
6. Trip reports - I can read reports about other people's trips. One guy, when introducing his family in the trip report, gave them stats. I get the feeling we could be friends with him. There was another girl who I'm pretty sure was a redditor, based on some of her random comments.
If you like Disney and want an occasional fix, pop onto the disboards. There is something for everyone there.
*I am a stickler for rules. The Disney fastpass has always had a return window on it that is a one hour window. The ticket asks that you return between those times. Because cast members have allowed people to return whenever they like, people have used it as a touring strategy. They will gather as many passes as they can and just use them when they feel like it. My family has never done that, and it always bothered me that others abused them that way. I never did anything to encourage Disney to stop honoring them at any time, but I never participated in that way. It turns out that now Disney is enforcing the return times. I feel like this deserves a success kid meme.
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Fringe
Before the third season of Fringe aired, Mark and I had the Blockbuster Movie Pass. This allowed us to have out two movies or games at a time, and we could swap them out as often as we liked. The best part for Mark was trying out new games without buying them, while I was partial to checking out different television series that we hadn't seen. With our movie pass, we first watched Glee, consumed Rome, and discovered Fringe. We watched the first two seasons as quickly as possible to prepare for the third season, which was about to start at the point in time.
After getting all caught up, we started watching the third season of Fringe. Everything started out okay, but as most shows do, they got caught up in an arc I did not care for. This led to us dropping Fringe. I don't usually do well watching shows week to week. When you add in an arc I didn't care for, as well as limited viewing online, we stopped watching.
Recently, we decided to give it another go. The third season of Fringe, of which we had seen the first six episodes, was only $19.99 on Blu-ray at Best Buy. I snapped it up. It took a week or so before we decided to dive in again, but I'm glad we did. Fringe continues to be an excellent show; I just can't watch it week to week.
It doesn't feel as if there is a great deal of good science fiction television, especially on the networks. Now, at this point, I'm sure someone will point out multiple shows that I'm not thinking of. Goody fa fa for you. Regardless, if you appreciate science fiction, you should give Fringe a go. The show plays with different scientific ideas and handles it well.
Part of Fringe's success is due to the cast and the wonderful characters they get to play. It seems that most of the actors from the Wire go on to find other great shows, and Lance Reddick, who played Daniels on the Wire, finds a good home in Fringe. If any of you were Mighty Duck fans*, you can get to know Joshua Jackson again. As for me, a big part of why I'm tuning in is John Nobles as Walter Bishop. He's essentially a mad scientist. What's not to love?
Some shows will land a good cast and not use them properly. Fringe, on the other hand, gives the actors something to work with. Characters grow and change. Story arcs have long ranging effects, and the characters appropriately change to reflect them.
As intricate as the series has grown, they still focus on small details. Since I'm trying not to give anything away, I can't talk about some of the little things the show-makers do to really make the world of Fringe seem real. What I can tell you is that I really want to go back and re-watch the entire series so I can catch all the little things I've missed.
Watching the first two seasons and then taking an almost two year break before getting back into Fringe was a bad idea. There are certain bits of information I don't remember, but Mark and I are muddling through it together. We're up to episode seventeen of season three, and we're loving it. The show is excellent and deserves at least to be checked out. We will still need to catch up on season four before season five premiers next fall. Season five is scheduled to be the final season, and it will only be a half season at that. I do appreciate that they will be able to close out, as opposed to just ending. If you're looking for a show to watch this summer, check out Fringe. It's a lot of fun.
*Or Dawson's Creek
After getting all caught up, we started watching the third season of Fringe. Everything started out okay, but as most shows do, they got caught up in an arc I did not care for. This led to us dropping Fringe. I don't usually do well watching shows week to week. When you add in an arc I didn't care for, as well as limited viewing online, we stopped watching.
Recently, we decided to give it another go. The third season of Fringe, of which we had seen the first six episodes, was only $19.99 on Blu-ray at Best Buy. I snapped it up. It took a week or so before we decided to dive in again, but I'm glad we did. Fringe continues to be an excellent show; I just can't watch it week to week.
It doesn't feel as if there is a great deal of good science fiction television, especially on the networks. Now, at this point, I'm sure someone will point out multiple shows that I'm not thinking of. Goody fa fa for you. Regardless, if you appreciate science fiction, you should give Fringe a go. The show plays with different scientific ideas and handles it well.
Part of Fringe's success is due to the cast and the wonderful characters they get to play. It seems that most of the actors from the Wire go on to find other great shows, and Lance Reddick, who played Daniels on the Wire, finds a good home in Fringe. If any of you were Mighty Duck fans*, you can get to know Joshua Jackson again. As for me, a big part of why I'm tuning in is John Nobles as Walter Bishop. He's essentially a mad scientist. What's not to love?
Some shows will land a good cast and not use them properly. Fringe, on the other hand, gives the actors something to work with. Characters grow and change. Story arcs have long ranging effects, and the characters appropriately change to reflect them.
As intricate as the series has grown, they still focus on small details. Since I'm trying not to give anything away, I can't talk about some of the little things the show-makers do to really make the world of Fringe seem real. What I can tell you is that I really want to go back and re-watch the entire series so I can catch all the little things I've missed.
Watching the first two seasons and then taking an almost two year break before getting back into Fringe was a bad idea. There are certain bits of information I don't remember, but Mark and I are muddling through it together. We're up to episode seventeen of season three, and we're loving it. The show is excellent and deserves at least to be checked out. We will still need to catch up on season four before season five premiers next fall. Season five is scheduled to be the final season, and it will only be a half season at that. I do appreciate that they will be able to close out, as opposed to just ending. If you're looking for a show to watch this summer, check out Fringe. It's a lot of fun.
*Or Dawson's Creek
Friday, June 15, 2012
Red Letter Media
Generally, one would not expect that a review nearly as long as the film itself would be worth the time. In this instance, you would be mistaken. Red Letter Media has what are perhaps the most entertaining reviews to be found on the internet.* Often hitting about half the running time of the discussed films, these video reviews are well worth your time and often better than the discussed films.
The first time I heard of Plinkett, the main character of the reviews, and his pieces, I was skeptical. Ain't nobody got time for that! One day, my curiosity got the better of me, and I sat down to watch his review of Star Wars: Episode 1. It was a glorious day. If you haven't seen it, you should.
Plinkett combines my love of movies and discussing them with my love of the ridiculous. There are weird little bits inserted in the reviews that give you a better idea of who Plinkett is, what sort of man he may be. I found it to be weird the first time I watched a review, but it grows on you. Because of him, I have some misplaced love of pizza rolls, and I can no longer pronounce analysis correctly.**
To date, I have watched all of the Plinkett reviews. I take that back. I haven't watched Cop Dog yet, but I did watch Baby's Day Out. To be clear, I had no interest in Baby's Day Out, but the thought of another Plinkett review pulled me in. I couldn't help myself. Even more interesting is the fact that I enjoyed it.
The reviews showcase a lot of footage from the films. There are a lot of Star Trek reviews, mainly the next generation movies, and he has covered all of the Star Wars prequels. He's done a few other movies, such as Avatar and the most recent Indiana Jones movie. Instead of just re-hashing the same tired, old rabid-fan-boy-done-wrong complaints, he actually vocalizes structured criticisms. Instead of just hating on the prequels, he gives actual reasons for it. He fills over an hour with valid criticisms peppered with unorthodox humor. It's right up my alley.
With the success of the Plinkett reviews, Red Letter Media has created the Half in the Bag series, where they discuss more recent films. The Plinkett reviews often take quite a while to create, as they are posted infrequently. Half in the Bag is done in a much more laid back style, with shorter critiques. There is nothing wrong with that, but they do not appeal to me. In their defense, I have only watched one or two, and it was quite a while ago. I should probably give them another shot.
If you have some time to kill, watch some Plinkett reviews. They're good critiques and weird to boot. It's a win-win situation! If you check them out, I'll send you a pizza roll!
*The internet is a large place. I have no experienced all reviews, so please, take that into consideration.
**In my head, I always hear anal-sis. It's hilarious.
The first time I heard of Plinkett, the main character of the reviews, and his pieces, I was skeptical. Ain't nobody got time for that! One day, my curiosity got the better of me, and I sat down to watch his review of Star Wars: Episode 1. It was a glorious day. If you haven't seen it, you should.
Plinkett combines my love of movies and discussing them with my love of the ridiculous. There are weird little bits inserted in the reviews that give you a better idea of who Plinkett is, what sort of man he may be. I found it to be weird the first time I watched a review, but it grows on you. Because of him, I have some misplaced love of pizza rolls, and I can no longer pronounce analysis correctly.**
To date, I have watched all of the Plinkett reviews. I take that back. I haven't watched Cop Dog yet, but I did watch Baby's Day Out. To be clear, I had no interest in Baby's Day Out, but the thought of another Plinkett review pulled me in. I couldn't help myself. Even more interesting is the fact that I enjoyed it.
The reviews showcase a lot of footage from the films. There are a lot of Star Trek reviews, mainly the next generation movies, and he has covered all of the Star Wars prequels. He's done a few other movies, such as Avatar and the most recent Indiana Jones movie. Instead of just re-hashing the same tired, old rabid-fan-boy-done-wrong complaints, he actually vocalizes structured criticisms. Instead of just hating on the prequels, he gives actual reasons for it. He fills over an hour with valid criticisms peppered with unorthodox humor. It's right up my alley.
With the success of the Plinkett reviews, Red Letter Media has created the Half in the Bag series, where they discuss more recent films. The Plinkett reviews often take quite a while to create, as they are posted infrequently. Half in the Bag is done in a much more laid back style, with shorter critiques. There is nothing wrong with that, but they do not appeal to me. In their defense, I have only watched one or two, and it was quite a while ago. I should probably give them another shot.
If you have some time to kill, watch some Plinkett reviews. They're good critiques and weird to boot. It's a win-win situation! If you check them out, I'll send you a pizza roll!
*The internet is a large place. I have no experienced all reviews, so please, take that into consideration.
**In my head, I always hear anal-sis. It's hilarious.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Burkholder Automotive in Surfside
Not too long ago, I had a somewhat whiny review regarding our car, a 2006 Saturn Ion. Let me tell you exactly what steps led up to that post, as well as what steps have been taken since:
1. The car started shifting very hard last Saturday. The vehicle in an automatic, but as you increase speed, the car will suddenly kick/shudder. Sometimes, it is violent enough to make me wonder if the car was safe to drive.
2. After calling him in a state that could only be described as angry panic, my father advised us to check the transmission fluid, but neither Mark nor I were capable of doing so. He told us of some other possible culprits, but they were beyond our ability to repair ourselves.
3. After seeking counsel with my father, we consulted the almighty Google to seek further solutions. There, we were advised to unplug the battery for twenty minutes to reset the system.* We went the simpler route and pulled a particular fuse that would yield the same results. The car ran okay for about ten minutes worth of driving before returning to its broken state.
4. Mark had joined some forums specifically for Saturn owners and was told to replace the battery, as that could cause this type of problem. He was told if that did not work, it would be best to take it to a dealer. We took the car to Sam's Club to have the battery checked. They told us it needed replaced. It was still the original battery, so they were surprised it lasted as long as it did. $87 later, the car was running fine!
5. Travel into the future 24 hours, and the car is behaving worse than ever. At this point, the check engine light decides to come on.
6. Today, the light went back off again, and the car wasn't shuddering anymore.
Realizing that this was a problem that had to be fixed, not one of those awesome ones that goes away if you ignore it, I had decided it was time to seek help. Would you believe that I happened to run into the gentleman from Burkholder Automotive? As I had spoken with him previously, I decided to ask him what he thought it might be. I'm not used to having to trust other people with my car,** so it was a big step for me on a personal level.
He listened to me describe the problem and provided a possible solution. As we continued talking about his hours, he offered to just diagnose my car on the spot. He had the diagnostic tool with him! We strolled over to my car, got the error code off of his little tool, and he told me exactly what the problem was that my vehicle was suffering from. He told me he would look into the cost for the part and the labor and call me later that afternoon.
True to his word, he called shortly thereafter. He gave me good news about the cost, telling me my cheapest option, as well as the quickest one. After further consultation, I decided to go with the cheaper part, even though it would mean I had to wait until next week to have the car fixed.
About an hour later, he called again. He had found someone to price-match the part, so he got it today! Continuing his awesomeness, he told me he would come to where I work tomorrow to put the part in!
Let's review how awesome Burkholder Automotive is:
1. Mr. Burkholder diagnosed my car in the parking lot at no charge. This alone has earned him my business.
2. He took the time to explain what the code meant, what wasn't working, and how it would be fixed. He even told me where the cam shaft actuator/sensor is located. He treated me like an intelligent human being.
3. He went out of his way to find me the cheapest option and the quickest option so I had choices.
4. He continued to pursue a quick option at the cheap price when he didn't need to.
5. He set up a time to fix my car at my place of employment so I don't have to worry about it.
Seriously, that is too much awesome for one man! If you find yourself in need of automotive help in the Myrtle Beach area, don't hesitate to visit Burkholder Automotive. They'll take good care of you. For example, he also gave me the code that came up on the diagnostic tool, so I could look it up if I wanted to. It turns out that the amount he charges for labor is far below the average. I really can't say enough good things about his service. Now, I just have to hope that this actually fixes the problem. I hope my car decides to co-operate.
*Yes, their advice was to turn it off and on again.
**That's what my dad and brother are for.
1. The car started shifting very hard last Saturday. The vehicle in an automatic, but as you increase speed, the car will suddenly kick/shudder. Sometimes, it is violent enough to make me wonder if the car was safe to drive.
2. After calling him in a state that could only be described as angry panic, my father advised us to check the transmission fluid, but neither Mark nor I were capable of doing so. He told us of some other possible culprits, but they were beyond our ability to repair ourselves.
3. After seeking counsel with my father, we consulted the almighty Google to seek further solutions. There, we were advised to unplug the battery for twenty minutes to reset the system.* We went the simpler route and pulled a particular fuse that would yield the same results. The car ran okay for about ten minutes worth of driving before returning to its broken state.
4. Mark had joined some forums specifically for Saturn owners and was told to replace the battery, as that could cause this type of problem. He was told if that did not work, it would be best to take it to a dealer. We took the car to Sam's Club to have the battery checked. They told us it needed replaced. It was still the original battery, so they were surprised it lasted as long as it did. $87 later, the car was running fine!
5. Travel into the future 24 hours, and the car is behaving worse than ever. At this point, the check engine light decides to come on.
6. Today, the light went back off again, and the car wasn't shuddering anymore.
Realizing that this was a problem that had to be fixed, not one of those awesome ones that goes away if you ignore it, I had decided it was time to seek help. Would you believe that I happened to run into the gentleman from Burkholder Automotive? As I had spoken with him previously, I decided to ask him what he thought it might be. I'm not used to having to trust other people with my car,** so it was a big step for me on a personal level.
He listened to me describe the problem and provided a possible solution. As we continued talking about his hours, he offered to just diagnose my car on the spot. He had the diagnostic tool with him! We strolled over to my car, got the error code off of his little tool, and he told me exactly what the problem was that my vehicle was suffering from. He told me he would look into the cost for the part and the labor and call me later that afternoon.
True to his word, he called shortly thereafter. He gave me good news about the cost, telling me my cheapest option, as well as the quickest one. After further consultation, I decided to go with the cheaper part, even though it would mean I had to wait until next week to have the car fixed.
About an hour later, he called again. He had found someone to price-match the part, so he got it today! Continuing his awesomeness, he told me he would come to where I work tomorrow to put the part in!
Let's review how awesome Burkholder Automotive is:
1. Mr. Burkholder diagnosed my car in the parking lot at no charge. This alone has earned him my business.
2. He took the time to explain what the code meant, what wasn't working, and how it would be fixed. He even told me where the cam shaft actuator/sensor is located. He treated me like an intelligent human being.
3. He went out of his way to find me the cheapest option and the quickest option so I had choices.
4. He continued to pursue a quick option at the cheap price when he didn't need to.
5. He set up a time to fix my car at my place of employment so I don't have to worry about it.
Seriously, that is too much awesome for one man! If you find yourself in need of automotive help in the Myrtle Beach area, don't hesitate to visit Burkholder Automotive. They'll take good care of you. For example, he also gave me the code that came up on the diagnostic tool, so I could look it up if I wanted to. It turns out that the amount he charges for labor is far below the average. I really can't say enough good things about his service. Now, I just have to hope that this actually fixes the problem. I hope my car decides to co-operate.
*Yes, their advice was to turn it off and on again.
**That's what my dad and brother are for.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Cinemark at Myrtle Beach
Located in the Coastal Grand Mall right here in sunny Myrtle Beach, the Cinemark theater is great. I've talked about the Frank theater in the past; it is neat because it offers some unusual perks. When it comes to my standard theater choice though, I head to the theater in the mall. Why? Because it's the best one in Myrtle Beach. I thought that was rather apparent.
Let me tell you why it's so great...
1. Refillable Items
There are a lot of theaters that offer a free refill on their large Coke and popcorn. Cinemark takes it a step further. They offer a popcorn bucket and drink cup that are refillable for the entire year! You pay $6 to purchase each one, and they come filled that first time. Each time after that, you can get a refill for only $3. Now, if you go to the theater as much as I do, that's quite a savings. It halves our snack bill each time.
2. Employees
They always go on about how much customer service matters. I guess it's important for a business to fix problems for their consumers in a quick and courteous manner. With my theater going habits, I want more. I want a theater that has friendly employees that don't mind chatting with me if I'm early to the film. At this point, Mark and I have made friends with quite a few employees at the mall's theater. There is a wonderful lady who will let us in for free. There is another wonderful lady that has given us discounted tickets before. Even the employees that aren't saving us money are saving our sanity. When we went to see the Avengers, we got there at least fifteen minutes before they started seating, so we were standing out near the podium where they tear your tickets. They young man in charge of the podium that night spent the whole time discussing comic book movies with us. It was really fun. There are people at the snack bar that recognize us. There is a guy that works there that looks like a young version of my friend Rick! I've told him that multiple times.*
3. Projection
The shows are usually projected with little to no incident. When there have been problems, they've either refunded our tickets or fixed it immediately. It's actually been quite a while since I've had a screening not be on point.
4. Special Shows
This particular theater had a decent number of special shows. In the past, they've shown classic movies like Casablanca. I went to a live Rifftrax event, which was awesome. I would love to go to another one. If you're into that kind of thing, they regularly show different operas. Last year, when the final Harry Potter movie was coming out, they had a special showing. They screened the first part of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, followed by the final installment at midnight. It was one of the best experiences I've had in a theater. Between shows, Mark left to visit Burger King. He smuggled in a bunch of burgers which we gave out to those around us. Now, I get to look forward to seeing all three Batman films on the big screen next month. On Thursday, July 19th, the Cinemark theater in the mall is having a marathon! I picked up my tickets today, and I love that they do these things. I know other theaters will do marathon showings, but these guys do it best.
If you're in Myrtle Beach and want to see a movie, give the theater in the mall a try. Some people complain that there are a lot of kids there, but if they're there, they've never made themselves known. I've seen a lot of films there, and it's my favorite theater.
*He may be creeped out by it, but he's never sent the security guard after me.
Let me tell you why it's so great...
1. Refillable Items
There are a lot of theaters that offer a free refill on their large Coke and popcorn. Cinemark takes it a step further. They offer a popcorn bucket and drink cup that are refillable for the entire year! You pay $6 to purchase each one, and they come filled that first time. Each time after that, you can get a refill for only $3. Now, if you go to the theater as much as I do, that's quite a savings. It halves our snack bill each time.
2. Employees
They always go on about how much customer service matters. I guess it's important for a business to fix problems for their consumers in a quick and courteous manner. With my theater going habits, I want more. I want a theater that has friendly employees that don't mind chatting with me if I'm early to the film. At this point, Mark and I have made friends with quite a few employees at the mall's theater. There is a wonderful lady who will let us in for free. There is another wonderful lady that has given us discounted tickets before. Even the employees that aren't saving us money are saving our sanity. When we went to see the Avengers, we got there at least fifteen minutes before they started seating, so we were standing out near the podium where they tear your tickets. They young man in charge of the podium that night spent the whole time discussing comic book movies with us. It was really fun. There are people at the snack bar that recognize us. There is a guy that works there that looks like a young version of my friend Rick! I've told him that multiple times.*
3. Projection
The shows are usually projected with little to no incident. When there have been problems, they've either refunded our tickets or fixed it immediately. It's actually been quite a while since I've had a screening not be on point.
4. Special Shows
This particular theater had a decent number of special shows. In the past, they've shown classic movies like Casablanca. I went to a live Rifftrax event, which was awesome. I would love to go to another one. If you're into that kind of thing, they regularly show different operas. Last year, when the final Harry Potter movie was coming out, they had a special showing. They screened the first part of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, followed by the final installment at midnight. It was one of the best experiences I've had in a theater. Between shows, Mark left to visit Burger King. He smuggled in a bunch of burgers which we gave out to those around us. Now, I get to look forward to seeing all three Batman films on the big screen next month. On Thursday, July 19th, the Cinemark theater in the mall is having a marathon! I picked up my tickets today, and I love that they do these things. I know other theaters will do marathon showings, but these guys do it best.
If you're in Myrtle Beach and want to see a movie, give the theater in the mall a try. Some people complain that there are a lot of kids there, but if they're there, they've never made themselves known. I've seen a lot of films there, and it's my favorite theater.
*He may be creeped out by it, but he's never sent the security guard after me.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
The People Vs. George Lucas
I've skipped over this title multiple times on Netflix recently, but today, I decided to watch it. I fully expected to be bored by the movie. I must say that I was pleasantly surprised. I went in expecting a movie where a bunch of fans whined about their feelings being hurt; Instead, I got a film that rationally discussed George Lucas' life with the cinema, as well as the impact he has had, both on fans and the culture as a whole.
In basic terms, The People Vs. George Lucas chronicles Lucas' life as a filmmaker, beginning with how he grew interested in film. They cover his early experiences making films such as THX 1138 and then American Graffiti. The film follows the timeline, making it easily accessible.
Early on, the film is littered with praises for Lucas and his films. As the time of the special editions looms in the movie, the fans become a bit more open with the distaste. When they reach the point where the prequels are released, the interviewed fans become openly hostile, but they also display a great deal of hurt. The movie does a good job of showing fans that will defend Lucas' rights to change his own films. I didn't feel as if the film had only set out to vilify Lucas. It was refreshing to see fan complaints cohesively put forth; much of the time, the internet provides us with an amazing amount of vitriol regarding Lucas and the more recent effects he has had on the Star Wars property.
Also, it was enjoyable to see how they handled the clips they were discussing from the various movies. For the most part, they didn't use real clips from Star Wars. Instead, they utilize fan made scenes. These scenes serve to give us a firm and visible reminder of how much love some fans have for Star Wars. When the interviewees discuss their drive to make Star Wars fan films, I found myself scoffing, thinking I was into Star Wars but never inspired to make Star Wars homage films. All of a sudden, I realized that wasn't true. In my senior year of high school, my brother and I wrote a skit for the talent show that was largely inspired by Star Wars.* It turns out that what they were saying was true.
Many Star Wars fans are, or were, irrationally dedicated to the saga. It's not hard to see why when you look back at the original trilogy, as they were initially released. Of course, it's nigh impossible to find the original versions of the first trilogy, as George Lucas refuses to release them. The People Vs. George Lucas spends a decent amount of time establishing the lack of the original theatrical versions on DVD, and while doing so, they make some very valid points, my favorite being the Oscar related one. See, Star Wars IV: A New Hope won multiple Oscars for editing and effects. By changing that film into the special edition version, he really undermines what his group achieved the first time around by discarding some of the hard work they put in to create such stunning effects and flawless editing.
In the end, George Lucas, much like Darth Vader, still has some good in him. He doesn't punish fans for creating fan films. He makes sounds from the films easily available. He even holds contests to reward those that create fan films in the Star Wars universe. He's not all bad, and he did create a wonderful trilogy. He should let us have those initial films as they were in theaters. Yeah, he can tinker, but he should allow us to view them as they were.
The People Vs. George Lucas does an amazing job of laying out the arguments both for and against what Lucas has done with the Star Wars property. After watching this movie, I called my mom to see if she knew where our copy of the original trilogy was, as I wanted to borrow it. I would have to find a VCR to watch it, but I think we may have one in the garage.
If you have an opinion on Star Wars and George Lucas, the movie is worth watching. There were a few tidbits of information that I was unaware of, and the people interviewed were sometimes quite entertaining. It was a better display of the Star Wars controversy than the internet usually shows. There were no CAPS, nor were there any interviewees calling into question the intelligence of those with differing viewpoints. If you have Netflix, you can watch The People Vs. George Lucas on there now.
By the way, there is one other thing you should check out. I almost forgot to mention redlettermedia.com. If you want to see a well done critique of the Star Wars prequels, make sure you watch the Plinkett reviews. The review for each movie is well over an hour. They're well done and worth watching.
*It was also flavored with Aliens and Freakazoid. Most people didn't get it.
In basic terms, The People Vs. George Lucas chronicles Lucas' life as a filmmaker, beginning with how he grew interested in film. They cover his early experiences making films such as THX 1138 and then American Graffiti. The film follows the timeline, making it easily accessible.
Early on, the film is littered with praises for Lucas and his films. As the time of the special editions looms in the movie, the fans become a bit more open with the distaste. When they reach the point where the prequels are released, the interviewed fans become openly hostile, but they also display a great deal of hurt. The movie does a good job of showing fans that will defend Lucas' rights to change his own films. I didn't feel as if the film had only set out to vilify Lucas. It was refreshing to see fan complaints cohesively put forth; much of the time, the internet provides us with an amazing amount of vitriol regarding Lucas and the more recent effects he has had on the Star Wars property.
Also, it was enjoyable to see how they handled the clips they were discussing from the various movies. For the most part, they didn't use real clips from Star Wars. Instead, they utilize fan made scenes. These scenes serve to give us a firm and visible reminder of how much love some fans have for Star Wars. When the interviewees discuss their drive to make Star Wars fan films, I found myself scoffing, thinking I was into Star Wars but never inspired to make Star Wars homage films. All of a sudden, I realized that wasn't true. In my senior year of high school, my brother and I wrote a skit for the talent show that was largely inspired by Star Wars.* It turns out that what they were saying was true.
Many Star Wars fans are, or were, irrationally dedicated to the saga. It's not hard to see why when you look back at the original trilogy, as they were initially released. Of course, it's nigh impossible to find the original versions of the first trilogy, as George Lucas refuses to release them. The People Vs. George Lucas spends a decent amount of time establishing the lack of the original theatrical versions on DVD, and while doing so, they make some very valid points, my favorite being the Oscar related one. See, Star Wars IV: A New Hope won multiple Oscars for editing and effects. By changing that film into the special edition version, he really undermines what his group achieved the first time around by discarding some of the hard work they put in to create such stunning effects and flawless editing.
In the end, George Lucas, much like Darth Vader, still has some good in him. He doesn't punish fans for creating fan films. He makes sounds from the films easily available. He even holds contests to reward those that create fan films in the Star Wars universe. He's not all bad, and he did create a wonderful trilogy. He should let us have those initial films as they were in theaters. Yeah, he can tinker, but he should allow us to view them as they were.
The People Vs. George Lucas does an amazing job of laying out the arguments both for and against what Lucas has done with the Star Wars property. After watching this movie, I called my mom to see if she knew where our copy of the original trilogy was, as I wanted to borrow it. I would have to find a VCR to watch it, but I think we may have one in the garage.
If you have an opinion on Star Wars and George Lucas, the movie is worth watching. There were a few tidbits of information that I was unaware of, and the people interviewed were sometimes quite entertaining. It was a better display of the Star Wars controversy than the internet usually shows. There were no CAPS, nor were there any interviewees calling into question the intelligence of those with differing viewpoints. If you have Netflix, you can watch The People Vs. George Lucas on there now.
By the way, there is one other thing you should check out. I almost forgot to mention redlettermedia.com. If you want to see a well done critique of the Star Wars prequels, make sure you watch the Plinkett reviews. The review for each movie is well over an hour. They're well done and worth watching.
*It was also flavored with Aliens and Freakazoid. Most people didn't get it.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Netflix Streaming Service
In a perfect world, I would be able to pay one lump sum to have all movies and television shows available for me to stream. The lump sum would not be ridiculous, and I would be able to get rid of certain services. If I want to watch pretty much all shows and movies,* I need to have cable with a DVR. I need to subscribe to HBO, so I can have HBO Go. Additionally, I need Hulu and Netflix. Even with all of that, I still have to buy certain shows through places like amazon. Until I can have my perfect world, I'll stick with cable, HBO, and Netflix.
Netflix provides a streaming service that works quite well. They regularly add in new shows and movies, keeping their options fresh. Additionally, you can find odd movies available on there that may not get released to regular television or even HBO. For example, I watched Trollhunter on Netflix, and it was glorious.
Netflix also has a good library of shows. They have a habit of not adding a show until I've bought the first season or two, but they at least save me from buying all of it. For example, you can see How I Met Your Mother and Supernatural right now, if you have Netflix! That's hours upon hours upon hours of entertainment.
Do you like anime? If so, Netflix continues to be the place for you. Back when Mark and I watched a lot of anime, you bought one disc with maybe four or five episodes for $27.99 at Media Play in Erie. Now, I can watch whole seasons for a monthly payment.
If you're looking for a streaming service, Netflix is pretty good. I know there are less legal ways to obtain shows, but I'm lawful good. Until I have an alignment change, I'll stick with the streaming service that Netflix offers.
*Legally
Sunday, June 10, 2012
The Winning Season
So many sports movies tend to wrap everything up with a big bow. All those problems? They're magically solved. All the misunderstandings? They're completely forgiven and understood. I'm happy to report that The Winning Season strives to be more than just another sports movie. It's more about the characters than the sports.
I'm coming to find out that I really like Sam Rockwell. I've long recognized him as a capable actor, but as I find more and more movies that he's in, I'm realizing just how much I like watching him. As the lead in The Winning Season, he anchors the film with an excellent performance. The cast is full of good performances that feel genuine. Although, I kept expecting Rob Corddry to do something worthy of Children's Hospital; his role in this film is actually pretty serious throughout.
The story is a basic sport movie story, but it is done with a bit more realism. Characters grow and change, but they still make mistakes. They are still true to who they are, both in their actions and their feelings. Since there are quite a few cast members sharing screen time, some only have minimal time spent on their own stories. This doesn't feel like a problem when watching the film though, as the main arc has to do with Rockwell's character and his growing relations with the team of girls he's coaching.
I was entertained for the entirety of The Winning Season, and that doesn't happen with every movie. If you have the opportunity, you should watch it. It's not perfect, but what it does, it does well.
I'm coming to find out that I really like Sam Rockwell. I've long recognized him as a capable actor, but as I find more and more movies that he's in, I'm realizing just how much I like watching him. As the lead in The Winning Season, he anchors the film with an excellent performance. The cast is full of good performances that feel genuine. Although, I kept expecting Rob Corddry to do something worthy of Children's Hospital; his role in this film is actually pretty serious throughout.
The story is a basic sport movie story, but it is done with a bit more realism. Characters grow and change, but they still make mistakes. They are still true to who they are, both in their actions and their feelings. Since there are quite a few cast members sharing screen time, some only have minimal time spent on their own stories. This doesn't feel like a problem when watching the film though, as the main arc has to do with Rockwell's character and his growing relations with the team of girls he's coaching.
I was entertained for the entirety of The Winning Season, and that doesn't happen with every movie. If you have the opportunity, you should watch it. It's not perfect, but what it does, it does well.
Saturday, June 9, 2012
2006 Saturn Ion Quad Coupe
If you're looking to buy a used car, and you find a 2006 Saturn Ion Quad Coupe, I suggest you pass it by. Our Saturn Ion was the first new car that Mark and I bought. It's red, and it has doors that open backwards! While those characteristics make the car sound amazing, it has some problems.
1. Power Steering
1. Power Steering
- The car's power steering went out less than a year ago. Unlike most cars, there is no power steering fluid. The problem was not one we could fix. I am happy to report that it was fixed at no cost to us, as it's a recognized problem with the Ion series. At the same time, it's still a pain.
2. Radio
- We actually had the entire radio panel replace in our car once. Even having that done, it still doesn't work right. We have a place to plug in a cord so we can listen to our iPods in the car; the only problem is that you have to wiggle it around and mess with it for the audio to be acceptable. Before you assume we are just using a bum cord, we got another cord to try. There are times the sound just gets very quiet. The good news is that a quick punch to the dash will usually fix it; the bad news is that you have to punch the dash. We've also had the lighting go out in that panel, as well.
3. Transmission Sensor
- We have a brand new problem with the car, one that causes panic. Our Saturn is an automatic, and it has decided that shifting is hard. When the car shifts, it shifts hard. It is violent enough that you can't fix it. Generally, if your transmission goes, you're better off buying a new car, rather than repairing it. Let's just say that is unacceptable, as it's not even paid off yet. After spending time on the phone with my dad and some time with Google, we have come to believe that it is the transmission sensor. You can essentially "restart" the car's system by pulling out a particular fuse for about twenty minutes. I'm happy to report that this fixed the problem...for about ten minutes. After that, it started again. After sitting overnight, it appears to be fine again. Needless to say, it's frustrating. Our warranty is no longer valid, and Saturn is just the tiniest bit out of business.
In all honesty, I actually like our car quite a bit. That being said, I wouldn't recommend buying a used one, especially if it has over 75,000 miles. If you decide to buy it anyway, good luck! You're taking a gamble, and I hope it works out.
Friday, June 8, 2012
Prometheus
By now, I have no doubt that you've heard much said about Prometheus. It seems that the bulk of the comments I have seen have been largely negative. Apparently, the places on the internet that I frequent thought Prometheus wasn't what it should have been, nor was it as good as it could have been. I do not share their opinions.
Prometheus is a film with a brilliant cast of talented actors led by a director that has done great things. Is this his best work? Nope. Is it bad? Nope. There are parts of the film that you could criticize and point out as plot holes or moments that just don't make sense. At the same time, you could argue to make sense of those same scenes. It really has to do with what your expectations are and how willing you are to suspend disbelief.
In all of Prometheus there was one factor that I hated, and that was the terrible make-up job used to age Guy Pearce. Don't think the question as to why they didn't just hire an older actor for his part didn't cross my mind, but I figure Scott has a plan. If he's got another sequel coming, that may play into it. Without seeing what he's up to, I can't say why he made the decision he did regarding Pearce's character. What I can tell you is that the age make-up is horrible and a minor blemish on a movie that wasn't all that bad.
I actually enjoyed Prometheus, and I think it's because I went in expecting some new space movie. I knew there were going to be references to the original Alien, but I wasn't expecting answers to the questions that movie originally raised. Do you know why? It's because those questions didn't occur to me when I watched Alien years ago. They didn't occur to me when I re-watched Alien before seeing Prometheus. Where the original xenomorph and its eggs came from was of little consequence; it wasn't the point of Alien. Why does it need to be the point of Prometheus? Many people seem to have felt that Prometheus exists to answer questions regarding xenomorph origin, Weyland-Yutani, and the space jockeys. I never felt that way, and I enjoyed Prometheus. Without having discussed this theory with others, I'm not sure if it will hold up, but both Mark and I enjoyed Prometheus. I suggest going in expecting something new, not answers. You'll enjoy the movie more if you do.
Prometheus is a film with a brilliant cast of talented actors led by a director that has done great things. Is this his best work? Nope. Is it bad? Nope. There are parts of the film that you could criticize and point out as plot holes or moments that just don't make sense. At the same time, you could argue to make sense of those same scenes. It really has to do with what your expectations are and how willing you are to suspend disbelief.
In all of Prometheus there was one factor that I hated, and that was the terrible make-up job used to age Guy Pearce. Don't think the question as to why they didn't just hire an older actor for his part didn't cross my mind, but I figure Scott has a plan. If he's got another sequel coming, that may play into it. Without seeing what he's up to, I can't say why he made the decision he did regarding Pearce's character. What I can tell you is that the age make-up is horrible and a minor blemish on a movie that wasn't all that bad.
I actually enjoyed Prometheus, and I think it's because I went in expecting some new space movie. I knew there were going to be references to the original Alien, but I wasn't expecting answers to the questions that movie originally raised. Do you know why? It's because those questions didn't occur to me when I watched Alien years ago. They didn't occur to me when I re-watched Alien before seeing Prometheus. Where the original xenomorph and its eggs came from was of little consequence; it wasn't the point of Alien. Why does it need to be the point of Prometheus? Many people seem to have felt that Prometheus exists to answer questions regarding xenomorph origin, Weyland-Yutani, and the space jockeys. I never felt that way, and I enjoyed Prometheus. Without having discussed this theory with others, I'm not sure if it will hold up, but both Mark and I enjoyed Prometheus. I suggest going in expecting something new, not answers. You'll enjoy the movie more if you do.
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Alien
In preparation for Prometheus, I decided to re-watch Alien. I know Prometheus isn't a direct prequel, but having the film set in the same universe is enough to get me on board with re-watching Alien. I even convinced Mark to join me in this endeavor. Frankly, we both had mixed reactions.
The original Alien came out in 1979. My parents saw it in the theater. I, of course, didn't see it til years later, as I had not come into existence at the time of the film's release. I don't remember having much of an opinion on the movie one way or the other. I always thought Alien was pretty good, a solid film, but I much preferred Aliens.
The biggest impression I had as we re-watched Alien was in regards to the pacing. Movies made that long ago just move at a different pace than the films of today. I'm sure there is some huge message in there about how terrible out attention spans are today. Regardless, the opening of Alien is very slow. Shots linger over parts of the ship, giving us long views of the computer equipment and quarters. Back in 1979, those may have been more interesting to look at. With our tech being so far advanced from that, we just see old junk. Maybe, if those same scenes were recreated with current/future technology, they wouldn't seem so long.
The slow pacing does not ruin the film though. We actually took a break shortly before the actual introduction of the alien via chest burst to get dinner. The movie after the introduction of the alien seem to move much quicker. I'm interested to see if we would have had a different impression on the second half of the movie if we had watched it straight through.
One thing that is constant through the film is the acting. With quality performances from Tom Skerritt, Sigourney Weaver, John Hurt, and Ian Holm, the viewer doesn't have a real problem buying into the story. Actually, all of the actors do a great job. You can feel tension between certain characters, projected solely by their demeanor around them. There is a sense that these people really have been together on the ship for some time; they've done jobs together before.*
I think we all need to take a moment and just appreciate the skill Ridley Scott has as a director. Not only did he make a solid alien flick, he managed to make it scary when it needed to be without resulting to the type of tricks film-makers fall back on today. I'm not saying that Alien is particularly scary when I re-watch it now, but part of that is because I know the film. I know what's going to happen. I know how it ends. What I mean is that Ridley Scott doesn't make you jump because he ratchets up the music and throws a cat at you. He makes you uneasy and nervous through atmosphere and the performances he pulls from the cast.
Alien is a classic film, one that everyone with a love of film should see at some point in time. The acting is good; the special effects are pretty good. Additionally, someone even mentions zombies. The movie gets mad points because I wasn't expecting to hear that word in it.
On a final note, both Mark and I spent a great deal of time trying to figure out who it was that had a passing resemblance to Sigourney Weaver. I am sad to say we think it's Kristen Stewart. Do me a favor and watch the film just to see if you see it.
*Not all of them, obviously. No one likes a robot.
The original Alien came out in 1979. My parents saw it in the theater. I, of course, didn't see it til years later, as I had not come into existence at the time of the film's release. I don't remember having much of an opinion on the movie one way or the other. I always thought Alien was pretty good, a solid film, but I much preferred Aliens.
The biggest impression I had as we re-watched Alien was in regards to the pacing. Movies made that long ago just move at a different pace than the films of today. I'm sure there is some huge message in there about how terrible out attention spans are today. Regardless, the opening of Alien is very slow. Shots linger over parts of the ship, giving us long views of the computer equipment and quarters. Back in 1979, those may have been more interesting to look at. With our tech being so far advanced from that, we just see old junk. Maybe, if those same scenes were recreated with current/future technology, they wouldn't seem so long.
The slow pacing does not ruin the film though. We actually took a break shortly before the actual introduction of the alien via chest burst to get dinner. The movie after the introduction of the alien seem to move much quicker. I'm interested to see if we would have had a different impression on the second half of the movie if we had watched it straight through.
One thing that is constant through the film is the acting. With quality performances from Tom Skerritt, Sigourney Weaver, John Hurt, and Ian Holm, the viewer doesn't have a real problem buying into the story. Actually, all of the actors do a great job. You can feel tension between certain characters, projected solely by their demeanor around them. There is a sense that these people really have been together on the ship for some time; they've done jobs together before.*
I think we all need to take a moment and just appreciate the skill Ridley Scott has as a director. Not only did he make a solid alien flick, he managed to make it scary when it needed to be without resulting to the type of tricks film-makers fall back on today. I'm not saying that Alien is particularly scary when I re-watch it now, but part of that is because I know the film. I know what's going to happen. I know how it ends. What I mean is that Ridley Scott doesn't make you jump because he ratchets up the music and throws a cat at you. He makes you uneasy and nervous through atmosphere and the performances he pulls from the cast.
Alien is a classic film, one that everyone with a love of film should see at some point in time. The acting is good; the special effects are pretty good. Additionally, someone even mentions zombies. The movie gets mad points because I wasn't expecting to hear that word in it.
On a final note, both Mark and I spent a great deal of time trying to figure out who it was that had a passing resemblance to Sigourney Weaver. I am sad to say we think it's Kristen Stewart. Do me a favor and watch the film just to see if you see it.
*Not all of them, obviously. No one likes a robot.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Wreck-It-Ralph (Trailer)
After yesterday's whiny type review, I've returned to happy town with the trailer for Wreck-It-Ralph! For months, I've seen the folks at my favorite theater wearing t-shirts with the movie's name and the main character's face on them, but I hadn't really heard much about the actual film. Today, I heard the trailer had finally been released, so I decided to check it out!*
The movie is about a video game character that gets fed up with doing the same job every day, especially since he's the bad guy in his game. The trailer quickly delves into deeper territory, showing you some of the other characters you'll be seeing. The film recognizes other video games that actually exist, as well as their characters. It's exciting to see beloved characters, even if it's just a quick glimpse.
Setting a film in the video game world seems like a lot of fun. I'd like to see Disney deliver on this one. They had success with Tangled, and I liked Bolt back when it came out. Disney has a director on board who has worked on Futurama before, as well as the Simpsons.** Add in a solid actor voicing the lead in the form of John C. Reilly. You've also got some solid comedic actors in the form of Jack McBrayer, Jane Lynch, and Sarah Silverman; it's full of win!
We won't be seeing Wreck-It-Ralph until early November, but I look forward to it! Make sure you check out the trailer to see if it's going to be up your alley.
*Reddit was kind enough to have it linked on or near the front page.
**I'm not sure if working on the Simpsons gives him cred or not anymore...
The movie is about a video game character that gets fed up with doing the same job every day, especially since he's the bad guy in his game. The trailer quickly delves into deeper territory, showing you some of the other characters you'll be seeing. The film recognizes other video games that actually exist, as well as their characters. It's exciting to see beloved characters, even if it's just a quick glimpse.
Setting a film in the video game world seems like a lot of fun. I'd like to see Disney deliver on this one. They had success with Tangled, and I liked Bolt back when it came out. Disney has a director on board who has worked on Futurama before, as well as the Simpsons.** Add in a solid actor voicing the lead in the form of John C. Reilly. You've also got some solid comedic actors in the form of Jack McBrayer, Jane Lynch, and Sarah Silverman; it's full of win!
We won't be seeing Wreck-It-Ralph until early November, but I look forward to it! Make sure you check out the trailer to see if it's going to be up your alley.
*Reddit was kind enough to have it linked on or near the front page.
**I'm not sure if working on the Simpsons gives him cred or not anymore...
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
The Story of the Biggest Fan of Snow White's Scary Adventure
I have now been writing my reviews for over five months. Some days, what I want to write about comes easily. Sometimes, I've been to a movie or watched a new tv show, which makes them the perfect review. Other days, I struggle to find something, not feeling inspired by anything I've experienced that day. Some of my most read reviews are the product of some random moment from my day, such as Mark and his bear puppet. Tonight, I was struggling, not knowing what I wanted to write about. I was killing time on the Disboards, when I discovered a story about a young man who rode Snow White's Scary Adventure 3500 times.
Just out of curiosity, I clicked on it. I figured I would skim it and then wander off to some other Disney topic. What I found instead was a story that made me cry. I am still sitting here sobbing, and I am a pretty cynical person. When I read about people crying over stuff they read on the internet, I usually scoff on this inside. Sometimes, however, there are stories that can truly move me. The tale of this young man is one of those stories.
While it is quite long, you should read about his adventure. You can start here, where the father writes up a good back-story. We learn who his son is, his situation, and his experiences with Snow White's Scary Adventures. I know it is long, but it is worth it. There is a good chance it won't affect you as it has me, but it's still a testament to how wonderful people can be. You should then continue by reading about his final evening with Snow White's Scary Adventure.
In its entirety, the story is touching and full of people who have touched this young man's life for no benefit to their own. I constantly question humanity, and I appreciate when someone or something comes along and reminds me that there are good people out there. There are people that care about others because it is the right thing to do, not because they get anything from it.
That concludes my actual review. You should go read about that young man's story because it's good for your soul. That being said, I'm going to try and figure out why it meant so much to me. Sobbing at my computer isn't generally how I spend my evenings. It's might get all "feelingy" in here, so you may want to turn back now.
So, what is it about this story that has evoked such a response? Why did I search for a way to make this my review, even though it's not really a normal thing to reviews? I have a profound love of Disney. When my parents were kids, their respective families didn't really treat them to family vacations. My dad got to go to the fair, after the chores were done. My mom got to go to Conneaut Lake Park sometimes.* When they got married, providing their children with a family vacation was something they decided to make happen, no matter how difficult.
My parents married in mid-January and vacationed in Florida at the end of the month.** The following December I showed up, followed by Ryan a handful of years later.*** At this point, trips to Walt Disney World in Florida became standard, eventually happening annually. There were some missed years, but for the most part, it was an event we could count on. Where a lot of kids grew out of Disney, we never did. Ryan and I have always loved being at Disney with the family and probably always will. We just associate it so much with time with our parents and each other that it is our vacation destination of choice. It's less about the actual location and more about the nostalgia.
A little over ten years into my silly little life, Casey joined us, and the poor boy has had more problems than Carter had liver pills. He had pneumonia before he was a year old, which led to the discovery of his heart murmur. This was later discovered to be a hole between the upper two chambers of his heart that required operation by the time he was one. Thankfully, he came through the surgery okay.
Years later, once Mark had entered the picture, Casey was struggling in school. He did the best he could, but he was not having an easy of a time as Ryan and I had. Mark thought he maybe had a learning disorder, but through a terrible hardship, we learned he was actually autistic. He is very high functioning, but it still makes me sad to think he may never have a normal life. Of course, who is to decide what a normal life is? He seems pretty happy, and he even has a job. He's socially awkward and will fixate on things, but he's doing very well now.
I think reading a story about a young man with autism who found something good at Disney just hit me. Casey has never had the love for Disney that Ryan and I have, but he still enjoys it, and we've had some great trips. For those memories, I will always love Disney, and I hope to one day take my children on trips with my family to Disney. There is no guarantee that they will love it as I do, but that's okay. I just want them to have the experience, to make up their own minds.
Of course, Mark and I don't have children right now. It's a topic of discussion, but babies are expensive. With student loans looming, it's a hard decision to make. I also have an irrational fear. My parents didn't drink or smoke. They're pretty healthy people, yet my brother is autistic. It's not the end of the world, as I've said before, but my irrational girl brain worries that I will have autistic children. I am now older than my mother was when she birthed Casey, and it the possibilities weigh upon me. My crazy girl brain loves to insist that I'll be a terrible mother and my babies with actually be kittens or vampires.**** I think having these fears and seeing a family with a child with more severe autism than my brother find something so simple that made him happy gives me hope. No matter what happens, it will be okay.
If you've read this far, I'm sorry I blathered on so much. I appreciate that you took the time to listen though. I just hope you also took the time to read a bit of that boy's story. While it may have only resonated with me because I saw bits and pieces of my life and fears in it, it's still a nice story.
(On a side note, if anyone from my family happens to be reading this, I love you all very much. I miss you, and I can't wait to see you. Thank you for everything.)
* I believe someone threw up on the Ferris wheel once.
** If I have some of my time-lines or stories off a bit, work with me here! I'm going off of remembered stories. I'm not fact checking.
*** He's my twin, but he decided to incubate a bit longer in the womb before his debut.
**** Dreams are weird, ok??
Just out of curiosity, I clicked on it. I figured I would skim it and then wander off to some other Disney topic. What I found instead was a story that made me cry. I am still sitting here sobbing, and I am a pretty cynical person. When I read about people crying over stuff they read on the internet, I usually scoff on this inside. Sometimes, however, there are stories that can truly move me. The tale of this young man is one of those stories.
While it is quite long, you should read about his adventure. You can start here, where the father writes up a good back-story. We learn who his son is, his situation, and his experiences with Snow White's Scary Adventures. I know it is long, but it is worth it. There is a good chance it won't affect you as it has me, but it's still a testament to how wonderful people can be. You should then continue by reading about his final evening with Snow White's Scary Adventure.
In its entirety, the story is touching and full of people who have touched this young man's life for no benefit to their own. I constantly question humanity, and I appreciate when someone or something comes along and reminds me that there are good people out there. There are people that care about others because it is the right thing to do, not because they get anything from it.
That concludes my actual review. You should go read about that young man's story because it's good for your soul. That being said, I'm going to try and figure out why it meant so much to me. Sobbing at my computer isn't generally how I spend my evenings. It's might get all "feelingy" in here, so you may want to turn back now.
So, what is it about this story that has evoked such a response? Why did I search for a way to make this my review, even though it's not really a normal thing to reviews? I have a profound love of Disney. When my parents were kids, their respective families didn't really treat them to family vacations. My dad got to go to the fair, after the chores were done. My mom got to go to Conneaut Lake Park sometimes.* When they got married, providing their children with a family vacation was something they decided to make happen, no matter how difficult.
My parents married in mid-January and vacationed in Florida at the end of the month.** The following December I showed up, followed by Ryan a handful of years later.*** At this point, trips to Walt Disney World in Florida became standard, eventually happening annually. There were some missed years, but for the most part, it was an event we could count on. Where a lot of kids grew out of Disney, we never did. Ryan and I have always loved being at Disney with the family and probably always will. We just associate it so much with time with our parents and each other that it is our vacation destination of choice. It's less about the actual location and more about the nostalgia.
A little over ten years into my silly little life, Casey joined us, and the poor boy has had more problems than Carter had liver pills. He had pneumonia before he was a year old, which led to the discovery of his heart murmur. This was later discovered to be a hole between the upper two chambers of his heart that required operation by the time he was one. Thankfully, he came through the surgery okay.
Years later, once Mark had entered the picture, Casey was struggling in school. He did the best he could, but he was not having an easy of a time as Ryan and I had. Mark thought he maybe had a learning disorder, but through a terrible hardship, we learned he was actually autistic. He is very high functioning, but it still makes me sad to think he may never have a normal life. Of course, who is to decide what a normal life is? He seems pretty happy, and he even has a job. He's socially awkward and will fixate on things, but he's doing very well now.
I think reading a story about a young man with autism who found something good at Disney just hit me. Casey has never had the love for Disney that Ryan and I have, but he still enjoys it, and we've had some great trips. For those memories, I will always love Disney, and I hope to one day take my children on trips with my family to Disney. There is no guarantee that they will love it as I do, but that's okay. I just want them to have the experience, to make up their own minds.
Of course, Mark and I don't have children right now. It's a topic of discussion, but babies are expensive. With student loans looming, it's a hard decision to make. I also have an irrational fear. My parents didn't drink or smoke. They're pretty healthy people, yet my brother is autistic. It's not the end of the world, as I've said before, but my irrational girl brain worries that I will have autistic children. I am now older than my mother was when she birthed Casey, and it the possibilities weigh upon me. My crazy girl brain loves to insist that I'll be a terrible mother and my babies with actually be kittens or vampires.**** I think having these fears and seeing a family with a child with more severe autism than my brother find something so simple that made him happy gives me hope. No matter what happens, it will be okay.
If you've read this far, I'm sorry I blathered on so much. I appreciate that you took the time to listen though. I just hope you also took the time to read a bit of that boy's story. While it may have only resonated with me because I saw bits and pieces of my life and fears in it, it's still a nice story.
(On a side note, if anyone from my family happens to be reading this, I love you all very much. I miss you, and I can't wait to see you. Thank you for everything.)
* I believe someone threw up on the Ferris wheel once.
** If I have some of my time-lines or stories off a bit, work with me here! I'm going off of remembered stories. I'm not fact checking.
*** He's my twin, but he decided to incubate a bit longer in the womb before his debut.
**** Dreams are weird, ok??
Monday, June 4, 2012
Best. Salad. Ever.
As I wasn't feeling well tonight, Mark was kind enough to pick me up my favorite salad. Sold by Outback Steakhouse for only $3.99, the classic blue cheese wedge salad is superior to any other salad I have found. In the past, I have gone there for dinner and just ordered two of these amazing salads.
My first experience with the classic blue cheese wedge salad was actually quite sad. We were having dinner with our best friends, Rick and Tara. We were getting ready to move away and decided to have dinner at Outback, which I was not a huge fan of. The meal I ordered came with this salad. I had never had blue cheese or blue cheese crumbles. For whatever reason, I decided to accept the salad as it was, and I've never looked back.
The salad consists of a wedge of lettuce, which is then surrounded by blue cheese crumbles, tiny tomatoes, and pieces of red onion. It is then drizzled with blue cheese dressing and a balsamic glaze. The glaze is sweet and cuts the bite of the blue cheese crumbles. The flavors work incredibly well together.
I've tried this type of salad at other establishments, and none of them are as good. The closest one was at Cheeseburger in Paradise, where they used a blueberry glaze of sorts*. Most restaurants offering a blue cheese wedge salad forget this important component.
If you haven't tried the classic blue cheese wedge salad at Outback, you really should. When my co-workers and I went out one night to bid adieu to one of our own, we went to Outback, where I ordered this salad. The Clark Bar eyed my salad, saying it looked good, but he didn't get one. I believe it haunts him to this very day. Don't let that happen to you!!!
*They no longer carry this salad.
My first experience with the classic blue cheese wedge salad was actually quite sad. We were having dinner with our best friends, Rick and Tara. We were getting ready to move away and decided to have dinner at Outback, which I was not a huge fan of. The meal I ordered came with this salad. I had never had blue cheese or blue cheese crumbles. For whatever reason, I decided to accept the salad as it was, and I've never looked back.
The salad consists of a wedge of lettuce, which is then surrounded by blue cheese crumbles, tiny tomatoes, and pieces of red onion. It is then drizzled with blue cheese dressing and a balsamic glaze. The glaze is sweet and cuts the bite of the blue cheese crumbles. The flavors work incredibly well together.
I've tried this type of salad at other establishments, and none of them are as good. The closest one was at Cheeseburger in Paradise, where they used a blueberry glaze of sorts*. Most restaurants offering a blue cheese wedge salad forget this important component.
If you haven't tried the classic blue cheese wedge salad at Outback, you really should. When my co-workers and I went out one night to bid adieu to one of our own, we went to Outback, where I ordered this salad. The Clark Bar eyed my salad, saying it looked good, but he didn't get one. I believe it haunts him to this very day. Don't let that happen to you!!!
*They no longer carry this salad.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Landry's Seafood
Living in Myrtle Beach, there is never a shortage of restaurants to try. We generally stay away from those that have fish, seafood, or captain in the name, as we do not eat fish, seafood, or captains. Due to a great many people raving about the food there, we decided to dismiss our rule for the day and check out Landry's Seafood.
Located at Broadway at the Beach, Landry's is easy to find and has ample parking. In the evening, the place appears busy, with a man out front making balloon animals for the waiting masses. However, we decided to wander in shortly after they opened for lunch. I only noticed one other table when we arrived. We were quickly seated at a very nice booth.
The decor was fitting, a lot of dark wood with various shades of blue, leaning towards aqua. The only disturbing bit of decor was the lobster tank. It creeps me out, and it was just looked sad. The rest of the decor was nautical in nature, with a medium sized wooden lighthouse on the dividing wall of our table. It was sitting there amid the fake greens and dust. In general, though, the place was actually very pleasant and clean.
The lunch menu, as I feared, was primarily seafood. In the past, this was my reason for not visiting Landry's, but everyone assured me they had so much more than seafood. I wouldn't say they had a lot more, but there were two appetizers, a couple of sandwiches, and a few main dishes that were water-dweller free.
Mark and I settled on an appetizer quickly. He had seen the battered onion strings and jalapenos on the menu posted outside, so he ordered it when we ordered our drinks. I was curious about the fried zucchini, but I didn't think Mark would try it. Besides, we did not need two appetizers.
The girl returned swiftly with our drinks and ready to take our order. Mark was dithering between the grilled chicken BLT and the herb-crusted chicken sandwich, but when the server mentioned a lot of spices on the herb-crusted option, he jumped on that. As she was happy to help Mark choose, the server was also nice enough to take my special order. I chose the Landry's Fettuccine with blackened chicken, but I wanted it made with no mushrooms, tomatoes, or green onions. I was assured that was no problem and told I also got a salad. I chose the ranch dressing, as it was a basic house salad.
Before too long, our appetizer came out, and it was mammoth. It was a large stack of thinly sliced onions that had been deep fried with a tempura type batter. Mixed in were jalapenos and red peppers that had received the same treatment. With dishes like this, it is very easy to overcook them or not drain off enough of the oil. It can get heavy, messy, and just plain disgusting. I was happy to see that Landry's had cooked it perfectly. As all appetizers should, it was served with a side of very delicious side of ranch.
In the past, I have had problems with my glass going empty. I drink a lot when I eat, and today was no exception. We had walked around Broadway prior to eating, so I was quite hot. I ordered two drinks, one water and one soda, so I wouldn't run out. I needn't have worried, as the staff was quite adept at filling my drinks before I ran out. Sometimes, she brought another drink before I even realized I was getting low.
Our great experience continued with my salad. It was a basic house salad, but with the ranch, it was amazing. It almost had a slight lemon flavor, which I never thought I would have enjoyed. I don't know if it came from the ranch or the wash they used on the lettuce, but it was divine. Mark kept stealing bites of my salad when he wasn't continuing to dominate our appetizer.
As I was finishing my salad, Mark commented that it was strange our food had not arrived. I believe they were just timing the meal so food didn't stack up. Shortly after I finished my salad, our entrees arrived. Mark's chicken sandwich was quite flavorful. He said it probably would have been better without the feta. I didn't try a bit with cheese; I just took a small bite of the chicken, which was cooked well and tasted good.
My pasta was properly prepared, but it wasn't particularly good, so far as the flavors go. I can't fault Landry's, as I was the one who chose to tinker with their recipe by having them leave out ingredients. The sauce was a good consistency, and the noodles were fine. The flavor was a bit off though, very bland. I tried adding a bit of salt to fix it up, but it wasn't enough. The blackened chicken, however, was nice. The flavor was good, and the chicken was not over-done.
We had hoped to have room for the bananas foster dessert, but we were pleasantly full. We decided not to push ourselves overmuch and skipped it. Our bill was average for a sit down meal, coming in a bit over $30.
I'm sure we'll return to Landry's in the future. I will probably try a sandwich next time or perhaps a steak. The experience was a pleasant one, with good food, great service, and a pleasant atmosphere. If you like seafood, I'm sure you would love Landry's even more.
Located at Broadway at the Beach, Landry's is easy to find and has ample parking. In the evening, the place appears busy, with a man out front making balloon animals for the waiting masses. However, we decided to wander in shortly after they opened for lunch. I only noticed one other table when we arrived. We were quickly seated at a very nice booth.
The decor was fitting, a lot of dark wood with various shades of blue, leaning towards aqua. The only disturbing bit of decor was the lobster tank. It creeps me out, and it was just looked sad. The rest of the decor was nautical in nature, with a medium sized wooden lighthouse on the dividing wall of our table. It was sitting there amid the fake greens and dust. In general, though, the place was actually very pleasant and clean.
The lunch menu, as I feared, was primarily seafood. In the past, this was my reason for not visiting Landry's, but everyone assured me they had so much more than seafood. I wouldn't say they had a lot more, but there were two appetizers, a couple of sandwiches, and a few main dishes that were water-dweller free.
Mark and I settled on an appetizer quickly. He had seen the battered onion strings and jalapenos on the menu posted outside, so he ordered it when we ordered our drinks. I was curious about the fried zucchini, but I didn't think Mark would try it. Besides, we did not need two appetizers.
The girl returned swiftly with our drinks and ready to take our order. Mark was dithering between the grilled chicken BLT and the herb-crusted chicken sandwich, but when the server mentioned a lot of spices on the herb-crusted option, he jumped on that. As she was happy to help Mark choose, the server was also nice enough to take my special order. I chose the Landry's Fettuccine with blackened chicken, but I wanted it made with no mushrooms, tomatoes, or green onions. I was assured that was no problem and told I also got a salad. I chose the ranch dressing, as it was a basic house salad.
Before too long, our appetizer came out, and it was mammoth. It was a large stack of thinly sliced onions that had been deep fried with a tempura type batter. Mixed in were jalapenos and red peppers that had received the same treatment. With dishes like this, it is very easy to overcook them or not drain off enough of the oil. It can get heavy, messy, and just plain disgusting. I was happy to see that Landry's had cooked it perfectly. As all appetizers should, it was served with a side of very delicious side of ranch.
In the past, I have had problems with my glass going empty. I drink a lot when I eat, and today was no exception. We had walked around Broadway prior to eating, so I was quite hot. I ordered two drinks, one water and one soda, so I wouldn't run out. I needn't have worried, as the staff was quite adept at filling my drinks before I ran out. Sometimes, she brought another drink before I even realized I was getting low.
Our great experience continued with my salad. It was a basic house salad, but with the ranch, it was amazing. It almost had a slight lemon flavor, which I never thought I would have enjoyed. I don't know if it came from the ranch or the wash they used on the lettuce, but it was divine. Mark kept stealing bites of my salad when he wasn't continuing to dominate our appetizer.
As I was finishing my salad, Mark commented that it was strange our food had not arrived. I believe they were just timing the meal so food didn't stack up. Shortly after I finished my salad, our entrees arrived. Mark's chicken sandwich was quite flavorful. He said it probably would have been better without the feta. I didn't try a bit with cheese; I just took a small bite of the chicken, which was cooked well and tasted good.
My pasta was properly prepared, but it wasn't particularly good, so far as the flavors go. I can't fault Landry's, as I was the one who chose to tinker with their recipe by having them leave out ingredients. The sauce was a good consistency, and the noodles were fine. The flavor was a bit off though, very bland. I tried adding a bit of salt to fix it up, but it wasn't enough. The blackened chicken, however, was nice. The flavor was good, and the chicken was not over-done.
We had hoped to have room for the bananas foster dessert, but we were pleasantly full. We decided not to push ourselves overmuch and skipped it. Our bill was average for a sit down meal, coming in a bit over $30.
I'm sure we'll return to Landry's in the future. I will probably try a sandwich next time or perhaps a steak. The experience was a pleasant one, with good food, great service, and a pleasant atmosphere. If you like seafood, I'm sure you would love Landry's even more.
Saturday, June 2, 2012
The Disney Store
Now, I have a problem. Actually, it's an addiction, but they say the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem. I love Walt Disney World. As an extension, I also enjoy finding small patches of Disney, which normal people like you call the Disney Store. That being said, I recognize that the Disney Store is not perfect.
In the past few years, more and more Disney Stores have been closed. While this makes me very sad, I am lucky enough to live near one. Tanger Outlets on 17 is home to a Disney Store that is responsible for giving me my occasional fix. This particular store isn't overly fancy. I've seen some Disney Stores that had moving dioramas starring Disney characters. My current store has some Alice in Wonderland statues in the front window, but that's their extent of unique theming.
For the most part, the employees are friendly. They are on par with the Castmembers in the parks. While nice, they are not the most knowledgeable regarding certain park information. After the selling and re-buying of the Disney Stores, it doesn't feel quite the same. Tonight, an incredibly nice young girl was unaware of the price of an annual pass, even though they sold the vouchers for them. Obviously, she couldn't know everything. For all I know, she was new. Regardless, she was polite and made excellent small talk.
The prices at the Disney Store are much less offensive now-a-days. You can usually get an adult t-shirt for under ten bucks. I didn't look at the prices on the children's clothing, as I have no children. In general, the prices are less than Disney park prices.
The best thing about this particular store is that they carry actual park merchandise. It started maybe a year ago. You can find merchandise, usually from Disneyland, at clearance prices. A shirt that is $30 in the park is $12.99 in the Disney Store, on the clearance rack. While some items make it painfully obvious why they've had their prices slashed, others are good finds. I got a really neat Haunted Mansion tote bag last year for ten bucks that was originally ticketed at three times as much.
If the Disney Store has a problem, it is in its general stock. While there are some adult items, most of the merchandise is aimed at children. Obviously, that makes sense. I'm an odd case, but at least I can admit it. I would appreciate more household type items with a Disney flair. Until they choose to accommodate my wishes, I'll just have to stock up when I visit the motherland.*
*The would be Walt Disney World.
In the past few years, more and more Disney Stores have been closed. While this makes me very sad, I am lucky enough to live near one. Tanger Outlets on 17 is home to a Disney Store that is responsible for giving me my occasional fix. This particular store isn't overly fancy. I've seen some Disney Stores that had moving dioramas starring Disney characters. My current store has some Alice in Wonderland statues in the front window, but that's their extent of unique theming.
For the most part, the employees are friendly. They are on par with the Castmembers in the parks. While nice, they are not the most knowledgeable regarding certain park information. After the selling and re-buying of the Disney Stores, it doesn't feel quite the same. Tonight, an incredibly nice young girl was unaware of the price of an annual pass, even though they sold the vouchers for them. Obviously, she couldn't know everything. For all I know, she was new. Regardless, she was polite and made excellent small talk.
The prices at the Disney Store are much less offensive now-a-days. You can usually get an adult t-shirt for under ten bucks. I didn't look at the prices on the children's clothing, as I have no children. In general, the prices are less than Disney park prices.
The best thing about this particular store is that they carry actual park merchandise. It started maybe a year ago. You can find merchandise, usually from Disneyland, at clearance prices. A shirt that is $30 in the park is $12.99 in the Disney Store, on the clearance rack. While some items make it painfully obvious why they've had their prices slashed, others are good finds. I got a really neat Haunted Mansion tote bag last year for ten bucks that was originally ticketed at three times as much.
If the Disney Store has a problem, it is in its general stock. While there are some adult items, most of the merchandise is aimed at children. Obviously, that makes sense. I'm an odd case, but at least I can admit it. I would appreciate more household type items with a Disney flair. Until they choose to accommodate my wishes, I'll just have to stock up when I visit the motherland.*
*The would be Walt Disney World.
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