Category: Opinions & Reviews

Recently the movie “Grease” came on the movie channel on the satellite. I remember when it came out, just loving the music and of course falling for the romance in the movie.

However, the time has changed me, and as I started to watch the movie, I realized something I had missed all along.

On the first day of school at Rydell High School, the “bad-boys” are seen knocking the books out of the smart boy’s hands, lifting the skirt of the smart cheer-leader and basically doing things that I would consider bullying to other kids. Also, Sandy wasn’t considered good enough because she was a nice girl. What’s up with that?

I think today they would be called on their bad behavior, but who knows. I think so much of what happens in schools in the USA happens and no one is accountable.

I know of many young mothers and fathers who are doing it right. (You know who you are!) You are teaching your kids to be respectful of their peers. You are teaching them that we are not all made alike, and that is okay. Rejoice in the differences! Vive La Différence!

I watch my granddaughter and her friends and I see the kindness which they show to one another. Kindness is a strength people, not a weakness.

Anyway, after a while, I turned off “Grease” and watched something else. I think from now on, I will listen to the CD of the music from “Grease” and just not watch the story.

The best part of our weekend was going to see “SULLY” at the movies. Hubby and I almost never go to the movies, but I really wanted to see this one. I made him promise not to say anything during the movie, should there be aviation inaccuracies, during the film. I said we could do a complete debrief  once we got home.

Tom Hanks was superb as the quiet, gentle, yet capable, miracle pilot. As many people have stated, if not for Captain Sully, all of those people would have died.

The casting for the movie was really good. And I will tell you that one of the ferry Captains is the actual real life Captain from that day.

The writing of the screen play was true to form for what happens in a cockpit, and I will tell you  that Sully’s PTSD feelings and dreams, were presented in a very real and fair way.

Clint Eastwood did a fabulous job. He directed and produced this film. Hollywood hates him, because he speaks his mind, and goes his own way, but Eastwood is always true to his films.

Hubby was impressed with how well a cockpit experience was portrayed. He also liked the film. I do recommend this film for anyone interested in Sully, and the Miracle on The Hudson River!

I was thinking yesterday, that my daughter knows me better than I sometimes think she does! For example, a few years back she mentioned that I should be watching, “HOMELAND” on Showtime. I sort of pooh-poohed the idea, and forgot about it.

Then in June we received a letter from Amazon Prime, that our streaming would be affected on our 2011 Vizio TV starting September 1st and we would need a “Fire Stick” to continue watching programs.

Well, we  hemmed and hawed, but got the stick, and after it arrived, when I was learning to to use it, I discovered that since we had the “Fire Stick”, we could pair it up with our “Showtime Account” and watch some of their programming when we want to.

The first thing Hubby and I did was start watching “HOMELAND”! I figured that if I liked it , great! If not, then I wasn’t committed.

I soon learned I was totally committed to the program!

Not only is the show written well, but the acting is unparalleled! Claire Danes, Damien Lewis, Rupert Friend and Mandy Patinkin, are all incredible actors giving us characters that we can relate to in a variety of ways.

Claire Danes, as Carrie, is perfect as the incredibly smart, intuitive, hard working CIA Agent. Ms. Danes’ acting is top notch and I understand she has won many awards, Including Emmy’s and Golden Globes.

So, since the end of June Hubby and I have been watching an episode a night. That was until the ends of Season 3 and into Season 4! Suddenly we were watching 2 or 3 episodes a night, as we simply couldn’t turn it off, the stories were becoming more compelling and moving so fast!

Last night we realized that in 9 more episodes, we will have caught up with the Series and will have to wait until January for more episodes. Ugh!

I guess my point here is that, my daughter knew all along I would love this show, and she was correct!

I would also recommend this show to anyone and everyone. (Unless you are under the age of 18, as there is graphic language, violence and sex). Let me know if you give “HOMELAND” a try and if you like it.

 

It’s been a long week. I started in on Monday with a case of the flu. Yes, I did have the vaccine, but apparently the big-wigs at the CDC made a mistake with the recipe, so people are dropping like flies with this darn flu.

The good news is I am finally better, as is Hubby, and I imagine in a few more days I will be up and running.

Meanwhile, I’ve been watching a lot of TV.

I’ve discovered “Blue Bloods”. It’s a police show set in New York City, with Tom Selleck Donny Wahlberg, Bridget Moynahan, and Len Cario. They are the Reagan family. They work as police, and district attorneys and Police Commissioners. The stories are well written and the acting is great! I didn’t expect to like it, even though Hubby has been watching it for the last few years.

Since they have well over 100 episodes in the can, they are now being rerun on the cable channels. Thus the marathons I have been watching the last few days.

Check it out. If you like crime stories, with great acting, and not much gore, this is the show for you. They also focus on the closeness of the Reagan family and that really is a beautiful thing.

Hubby and I went out to the movies on Friday. We both were interested in seeing American Sniper. I think Clint Eastwood is a great and rare type of director, and Bradley Cooper has been one of my favorite actors since I saw him in Silver Linings Playbook.

This movie was hard to watch. As it was a true story and was set during the first 10 years after 9/11, it deals with war. There is nothing pretty or gallant about war, and yet, here was a man who believed in God, Country and Family.

The acting, the direction and the cinematography were amazing! It isn’t an easy film to watch, but one that everyone should see.

I’m going to reccomend a movie to you all. Currently it’s playing on Cinimax, but you can also watch it on red box and other videos.

It was a sleeper when it hit the theaters, but quite honestly, it is a warm, feel good movie! I loved the characters. The acting was great and at the end…the message was a good, clear one.

Here is the movie trailer.

Yes, this was the busiest weekend yet. So much canning for the winter, and also taking care of Hubby, Lili and all meals.

My one big break was going to see “A Most Wanted Man”. This is Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s last movie. It was very good, confusing and yet spellbinding, as John LeCarre’s books often are. The acting was amazing.

Here is the Trailer:

Hubby and I watched a movie the other day. It was called “The Impossible”.

It was the true story about a regular family – Maria (Naomi Watts), Henry (Ewan McGregor) and their three kids – who travel to Thailand to spend Christmas. They get an upgrade to a villa on the coastline. After settling in and exchanging gifts, they go to the pool, like so many other tourists. A perfect paradise vacation until a distant noise becomes a roar. There is no time to escape from the tsunami; Maria and her eldest are swept one way, Henry and the youngest children another. Who will survive, and what will become of them?

I’m not a big Naomi Watts fan, but her acting was really good. The special effects were also great. As I sat here watching, I felt like I was right there with these poor people.

So many died. So many children became orphans that day. And yet, in this movie, as in the real life of this family, all went well.

If you are looking for something to do one night, rent this movie. Currently Showtime is showing this movie. Truly, it’s worth the watch.

Friday night saw Hubby and I watching “My Brilliant Career” on Turner Classic Movies. The story was about the heroine, Sybylla (Judy Davis), a headstrong girl growing up in early 20th century Australia, has the opportunity of marriage to a wealthy young man (Harry played by Sam Niel) whom she loves, but rejects it in order to maintain her independence, preferring to take a job as governess/housekeeper to the family of an illiterate neighbor to whom her father owes money.

The acting was amazing, although we both felt that the end of the movie left us with more questions than answers. Still I find it so interesting to watch movies based in other countries, and written about life in them.