My predications have so far been correct. Okay. I am one for one so far, but still I got this week’s eliminated team correct. My choice of winner came dangerously close to losing today. Why did I choose these fools? Damn Will Farrells! Damn! And the preview looks as if they’re out. Why did I choose these fools? And the Rob and Amber team looks to be a juggernaut.
Zero. Technically, I am still reading a book so I would say 1/4. My quest to read 3 books a month is failing spectacularly. I did not finish the 1/2 a book needed for January, and missed out on 2 and 3/4 for February. At this rate, March will be just the opening sentence of a book. Pathetic. Although, I am somewhat keeping up with my reading my textbooks.
I am a quarter of the way through The Best American Travel Writing 2004. ed. Pico Iyer.
Good to know where one of my favorite (actually my favorite) morning anchor landed.
I actually watched the simple life to get a final glimpse of her. Mornings are not the same since Jennifer DesMarais moved on. Her sexy voice was great to wake up to.
As promised, my review of Constantine. I don’t want to dwell to long on why I did not like it. Go watch Little Nicky. Same plot. Less laughter. I wanted it to be good. The previews made it look good. It ends up that watching it was bad. I was bored. Really bored. Go watch Little Nicky. It is much more entertaining than Constantine.
2 of 5 stars.
Okay. The three weeks are up and the Amazing Race has started its world wide tour in a new season with 12 new contestant teams. This is the seventh season. I have seen three through six loving each one, but after the bicker-fest of last season the show has gotten a bit trying to watch. In fact a lot of the same stuff happened in this first episode that happened in the first episode of last season. The teams did a zip wire. They camped outside. Perhaps having the seasons back-to-back immediately is detrimental to enjoying the race, because you can remember all the ins and outs so readily. Absence does make the heart grow fonder. Hopefully, things will go smoothly as there seems to be a lack of a Victoria and Jonathons going around. Perhaps the editors are trying to make it more nice.
Anyway, back to this leg. I immediately am rooting for Rob and Amber to make it far, but not win it all. They act as if they don’t need the money, which they don’t as they have already won Survivor. They dawdled at the start, but meandered into a 3rd place finish this leg. I like that they don’t seem to be in a hurry. I also am rooting for the mom and son team more for the mom to give it her all. I was rooting for the rednecks from South Carolina, but (sorry to spoil it for you) they were eliminated this leg, in a footrace. The others I don’t have a feeling for just yet.
Here’s my prediction for the outcome of the race. Don’t hold me to it.
11 – Ryan and Chuck
10 – Megan and Heidi
9 — Lynn and Alex
8 — Meredeth and Gretchen
7 — Ron and Kelly
6 — Susan and Patrick
5 — Uchenna and Joyce
4 — Ray and Deanna
3 — Rob and Amber
2 — Debbie and Bianca
1 — Brian and Greg (The Will Ferrells!)
I don’t write too much about work, because I have a suspicion that if the employer ever found out I posted stuff about the job on the web then they will let me go. Better leave things unsaid. But if you read my profile, you’ll know that I am a software engineer. Coding. I would love to get around and start writing code for the Mac. Look what programming for apple can do. Lots of cool apps. Anyway, when I have some free time, I think I might want to implement some stuff for the. We’ll see how it goes.
Pete’s (of APCB) day job is to review movies. I read his take before watching the movie. It is one that I agree upon. The movie is good for the time frame that it is released, solid for a romantic comedy, and well crafted by everyone involved. Naturally, seeing it the day before Valentine’s day meant lots of couples. Seeing it as a Sunday matinee meant lots of Jewish couples. Seeing it the first weekend meant a crowded theatre. I imagine that it business will be good for Will Smith this weekend.
Romatic comedies always make me squirm. You may know this about me if you read the previous post, but I like movies to end with the boy not getting the girl. Yet all romantic comedies end with the boy and girl living happily ever after. Hitch is no different, but after watching In Good Company yesterday, Hitch is like a breath of fresh air. It made me happy and I am a sucker for movies that make me feel good. (Man I must like a lot of different films!)
As a movie, Hitch follows the normal conventions as other romantic comedies. Boy and girl meet cute. Boy established a rapport with the girl. That rapport is messed up usually by a Three’s Company like misunderstanding. Boy tries to re-establish the rapport, but is rebuffed. Then the third reel unrolls and the boy wins the girl back in the end. And they lived. Happily. Ever. After. Will Smith is charming in this film. Eva Mendes could’ve been hotter. I was especially attracted to the Allegra Cole girl. Anyone know who she is? Short haired blondes do it for me every time. The movie was enjoyable. It would be a wonderful date movie. Now if only I had a date doctor myself to fix me up…
3 of 5 stars.
I must admit that I love movies without a trite Hollywood ending where the hero dies or, especially, does not get the girl. Sorry if I spoiled this movie if you hadn’t seen it already, but that was what I had thought about coming out of the theatre. It must be the loner/cynic in me that gets off in seeing others lose. It is not that I find joy in the character losing the girl, but that I sympathise with the character’s loss. In a sense, I know that I too am that guy.
In Good Company isn’t really about anything I had just explained. Yes, Topher Grace does not get what’s-her-name? in the end. The star was really Dennis Quaid. He’s on a roll of sorts in the last few years after his public cuckolding by Meg Ryan. He has acted in a few notable films and garnered some respectables reviews. Good for him. Topher Grace acted very well. He epitomizes youth not truly knowing what they are doing, but just saying a lot of hip jargon to conceal their inexperience.
I am giving this movie a middle of the road rating, less for how it played and more for the contrived story. The lesson learned is one that has been told often. Your elders have wisdom beyond your years. I could’ve gotten that from reading a blog. So, the movie was well acted, liked the somewhat somber ending, but hated the preaching.
3 of 5 stars.
The end of Amazing Race 6 was incredible. I know I said that I wasn’t excited, but damn if it didn’t turn out that way. I was jumping up and down as the end drew near hoping that Kris and John could pull it off. Sadly, no. They trusted the American Airlines guy who gave them bad advice arriving in Chicago, the final city, 15 minutes later than Freddy and Kendra. I love that this show makes me agitated when watching it. My prediction came true and Freddy and Kendra won the million dollars. Congrats to them. I am especially enamoured of Kris who was a total trooper and proved that she can keep up with the big boys. Kris and John was a total team and there was no weak link in it. Kris never seemed to not be up in doing a roadblock. She was fearless. I would say that if I had a girlfriend I would like her to be just like Kris. Amazing.
See you in three weeks when Amazing Race 7 starts up.
