My Summer Movie Season

Watching movies over the summer?  Still hard to do.  With work and play, I found not much time to watch movies, but I did what I could.  The unfortunate thing to me is though that I didn't really watch any films that wowed me (in a good way).  No film scored higher than an 8/10 with me.  And I know I said I would watch 32 movies, but I only got to 22.  Yikes.  I'm sorry.  And there will be no awards, seeing as there weren't too many quality films nor films in general.  But here are my reviews nonetheless.


Labyrinth - 7/10
Pretty much what I expected.  I thought it would have a few more musical numbers, but the one prominent one it did have, "Dance Magic Dance", was catchy and enjoyable.  Hard to believe Jennifer Connolly was only 15 during the making of this film.  Felt a bit too childish for an adult, but too scary for kids.  But it had some good morals and interesting and wise life lessons.

X-Men First Class - 8/10
Never before had I seen an X-Men movie, but this one I really enjoyed.  I think I liked the casting most of all, with Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy perfectly cast.  Not sure if I'll ever watch the original X-Men films because I keep hearing how characters are different, relationships change, etc.  But this one had great CGI and the early flashbacks added some good depth to the characters.

22 Jump Street - 5/10
I shouldn't have watched this movie while I was so tired, because I kept dozing off.  Couldn't tell if I was that tired or if the movie wasn't that interesting.  I just expect more from an action comedy, I guess.  I also realized that I had already seen the final few minutes of the film already when it was on TV.  Just overall not that enjoyable of an experience for me, and I don't recall laughing, either.  Maybe a tiny bit during the "My name is Jeff" line. 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows - 6/10
Didn't see the first in this new TMNT series, but they did a fairly decent job making me not feel too lost.  I thought the Turtles were cool and the CGI was a bit better than I expected, but there were too many things with the film that made me shake my head, such as Casey Jones getting kicked into a car, causing a HUGE dent, and getting up with no visible damage.  Also Shredder for me was a disappointment.  But the movie kept me entertained throughout, and the credits sequence with the classic TMNT theme song was awesome, so at least there's that.

Now You See Me 2 - 6/10
Not sure I liked this one quite as much as the first.  But it was decent enough, with most of the tricks impressing me, although I did see the final one coming, sort of.  Lizzy Caplan was a welcome replacement for Isla Fisher.  Daniel Radcliffe, however, was sorely underutilized.  He played one of the most famous magicians in fictional history in Harry Potter yet he technically isn't seen performing any magic in this.  Was a bit disappointed.

Lolita - 6/10
A remake of the 1960s version based on novel... wasn't that entertained by it.  Jeremy Irons is good, and his voice just has a velvety smoothness that makes him very easy to listen to, and smart of any director to include narration when he has a lead role.  The fact that this almost 20 year old movie was set in the 50s really made it feel older than it is... today it looks/feels like it was made in the 80's.  

Finding Dory - 8/10
I thought this was a very good follow up/sequel to Finding Nemo.  Didn't seem to quite have the magic the first one did, but it still was very enjoyable and heartwarming.  I didn't like how much the fish and Hank the "Septopus" were out of the water, and Hank driving a big truck and NOT hitting anything?  Really?  Other than that it was very well made and I definitely want to watch it again. 

Thor: The Dark World - 6/10
Wasn't too impressed with this Thor sequel.  So Loki's not dead (called it), what a surprise.  I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first, but it did have some nice moments.  For me, Kat Dennings stole the show.  She either was the black sheep or the star, either way the performances of Hemsworth, Portman, and others really lacked.  We'll see how "Ragnarok" is.

R.I.P.D. - 7/10
A lot of people say this is bad, and I can kind of see why, but I found it to be pretty enjoyable.  I laughed several times.  And whenever a movie introduces a new universe/concept you have to give it some credit.  Reynolds and Bridges worked well together and I'd love to see them team up again, even if it's not in the R.I.P.D. universe. 

Independence Day: Resurgence - 6/10
Kind of a letdown, I gotta say.  It never really wowed me, but kept me entertained at least.  Not having Will Smith hurt a bit, and Liam Hemsworth is not a suitable replacement, in my opinion.  No A list stars in this one, so it felt kinda like a "B" movie.  Too many predictable moments.  But I like the idea of an intergalactic war, something we'll see in ID3.  That premise seems to be intriguing and makes for a more interesting plot than, "They're back". 

10 Cloverfield Lane - 8/10
I definitely found this movie intriguing.  It had me going back and forth between whether or not Howard (John Goodman) was telling the truth.  Turns out he was sort of right, but he knew he was lying.  I'm usually not a fan of movies that change genres, and this one definitely seemed to, going from thriller to possibly horror to sci-fi.  I definitely would like to see a sequel, see what happens to Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead).

The Butterfly Effect - 8/10
Ok, I gotta admit I have seen this before, but two things: One, it had been about 10 years, so I had forgotten most of it.  Two, I hadn't seen the Director's Cut, so having a different ending almost makes it a different movie.  I gotta say though, with the Director's Cut ending, it's very sad.  Evan (Ashton Kutcher) can go back to past moments in his life, and he does to right before his birth, and he is somehow able to choke himself with the umbilical cord, ending his life.  Not a huge fan of this ending, which kept me from giving it a 9, but otherwise this movie was fantastic, some of Ashton's best work.

Maggie - 4/10
Never have I seen a more boring Zombie movie.  I cared very little for the characters, and Arnold Schwarzenegger wasn't in it as much as he would appear to be based on his billing.  There were only a few moments I was completely focused on the film, one of them being when Maggie (Abigail Breslin) cuts off her decaying finger.  Yikes.  Other than that, I found little value in this film.

Requiem for a Dream - 3/10
Hate on me all you want, but I couldn't stand this movie.  I believed Jared Leto and Jennifer Connolly as a couple, and I liked the score by Clint Mansell, but that's it.  I just could not enjoy this film other than that.  It's really a film that you have to find the deeper meaning behind, and needless to say I failed to do so.

The Help - 8/10
While I felt my attention ebbing away at times, I thought the acting was good and the costumes/sets were all very well done.  I thought it was a bit too long and the pacing was a bit drawn out, but that's what you get with period films, often ones based on books. 

Suicide Squad - 7/10
Joker was sorely underutilized and the plot was a bit simplistic, but I did really enjoy it.  Will Smith was terrific as Deadshot and Margot Robbie was PERFECT as Harley Quinn.  They did a decent enough job making us root for the bad guys, basically, which is not an easy task. 

The Incredibles - 8/10
Techincally I had already seen this, but I don't think I had in its entirety and it had been awhile.  Sue me.  Anyway, this was a very well done family-friendly film by Brad Bird and I'm glad to hear they're making a sequel. 

The BFG - 7/10
I thought Spielberg did a really good job, bringing to life Roal Dahl's children's book.  The part I didn't like was the Queen and her staff going along with everything, including drinking the BFG's green liquid (she didn't even know what it was!).  But if you can get past the believability factor, it's enjoyable and fun for the whole family.

The War Zone - 7/10
What a disturbed family.  Anyway, I thought the pacing was decent and my emotions kind of went in stride with Tom's, but it was a bit too messed up, even for me.  Colin Farrell had like, one scene?  But the acting was VERY good, from Lara Belmont to Tilda Swinton to Ray Winstone.

Blair Witch - 5/10
Never having seen the original "Blair Witch Project" I went into this with few expectations and I was still disappointed.  The fate of most characters is left up in the air, and this mysterious "witch" is still mysterious.  It did have some heart-pounded moments that kept me on the edge of my seat, but that's about it.

The Aviator - 8/10
I think Leo deserved his first Oscar win here, but other than that there wasn't a ton I was impressed by.  Cate Blanchett's acting was really good as well.  It was fun to see the lives of the real actresses, which I presume were fairly accurate.  But I just couldn't bring myself to care for Howard Hughes that much.  But whenever Scorsese and Leo get together they always make a quality film.  This just happens to be my least favorite of theirs.

Knock Knock - 5/10
Boy those b*****s were CRAZY.  Killing a man's friend and ruining all of his belongings, probably ruining his marriage, only because he gave into their HUMONGOUS advances.  Sure.  Anyway, aside from the believability, it was a bit funny at times, but the kind of funny where it's so bad it's funny, like Keanu's acting at times.  It kept me engaged throughout so at least it was entertaining, but the ending left a bit to be desired, like the wife confronting him.  But the son's line at the end... not much tops, "Dad had a party!" 

Well, thanks for reading!  As you can tell I love doing short reviews of films, and if my heart is in it more (And if I have enough time) I may do another movie spree, maybe Movie May 3 next year?  Still have plenty of films I own I still haven't watched!

What's wrong with the Seahawks Offense? A lot of things

The Seahawks have started the season not quite as well as we would have hoped, starting 1-1 and scoring just a combined 15 points through two games.  The defense has only allowed 21 total points in two games, but that was only good enough for one win.  So clearly, the problems with this team lie on the offensive side of the ball.  Here's what's causing it:

- The offensive line
This might be the biggest reason.  I'd say the Seahawks have perhaps two average quality starters on their line (Britt at center, Gilliam at right tackle).  The rest are way below average, maybe the worst in their league at their positions.  Bradley Sowell may be the worst of the bunch, drawing penalties in both games so far, allowing sacks, and not dominating ANY defensive end on a play.  He was a free agent for a reason: he sucks.  Glowinski, while filling in for Germain Ifedi, hasn't done that well, especially in run-blocking.  Webb has gotten beat by both Dolphins and Rams nose tackles multiple times.  Getting Ifedi back from injury will help, but only slightly.  The Seahawks have believed the last few seasons that they can rely on offensive line coach Tom Cable to "coach them up", but if you have high school level offensive linemen in the NFL, there is only so much a single coach can do.  For too long they have neglected the offensive line, leaving it devoid of talent, and it's costing them.

- The play-calling
Not a huge reason, but some of the runs and designs of the plays so far look insanely amateurish.  The plays they've run look like they were designed by a first year high school coach.  Bevell, the offensive coordinator, for too long has been like an anchor on the cruise ship of the offense, holding them back instead of letting them go.  He was decent when the offense was focused on running the ball and had a decent offensive line that included Okung, Unger, Giacomini, and Carpenter.  But with a bad offensive line, we have to adjust the offense to have more quick passes and outside runs, but Bevell has absolutely FAILED to do that.  He is still running the offense and calling plays as if we still had a decent O-line and Marshawn Lynch.  You give Wilson a coordinator that can utilize him effectively (I personally think Chip Kelly would be perfect), and he would put up MVP numbers.

- The lack of discipline
As my father often points out to me, the offense will almost on a routine basis put themselves in a hole to start or kill a drive by committing penalties.  The biggest bugaboos have been holding and false starts.  Whatever Cable is teaching our line isn't working 100% because they are still committing multiple penalties a game.  In the Rams game, however, it was offensive pass interference that got them.  Regardless, this team in the Pete Carroll era has consistently been undisciplined and always been towards the top of the league in penalties per game.  Quite a difference from the Mike Holmgren years.

- The defense 
Sometimes an offense's best source of offense is its defense.  It was definitely a huge part of their scoring in 2013, the year the Hawks won the Super Bowl.  So far this year the defense hasn't done their offense any favors.  Sure, they're holding opponents to no more than 12 points, but they are not giving their offense good field position, whether it be with 3-and-outs or turnovers.  The offense is routinely forced to drive over 80 yards to score, which would be tough to do for any offense in the NFL.  The most common scenario is the defense will allow the opposition to get a few first downs, usually not enough for a touchdown, but enough to get the Hawks offense backed up in their own end of the field.

- Wilson's ankle injury
Russ's ankle injury definitely hampered him in Week 2, because the Rams obviously knew he wasn't a huge threat to run anymore.  That's basically like losing a starting running back to injury.  However, if you go back to before he got injured in Week 1, the offense was still having trouble, so this issue is not that big of a reason for the offense's struggles.

So the question is, how do we fix these issues?  Like I said, Ifedi returning should help, but this team needs some outside help on the offensive line somehow, at least at left tackle.  Bevell needs to open up the passing game and focus on screens, slants, and heck, even deep passes to get the offense going.  The lack of discipline I feel will always be a problem, but the Hawks usually tone down their penalties a bit towards the second half of the season.  Knowing this defense the turnovers will start coming which will immensely help the Hawks put up more points.  And Russ is bound to be healthy by mid-October at the latest, meaning he should be 100% healthy for games against New England, Green Bay, and Carolina.

One last good thing: There's only one way for this offense to go and that's up.  They can't possibly get any worse so long as Wilson is under center.  I have confidence this offense will turn things around, and it will certainly help to not have to face a front seven as talented as Miami's or St. Louis's.  But keep in mind San Francisco shut out St. Louis and the Jets front seven is definitely top 10.  The offense will come around, but maybe not as fast as we'd like.

2016 NFL and Seahawks Predictions!

Well, the 2016 season is almost upon us, which means my annual NFL and Seahawk predictions.  I will start with the Seahawks this time, going game by game, picking leaders for categories that aren't a given. 

Week 1, vs. Miami Dolphins: Win 27-16 (1-0)
The offense gets off to a slow start but comes alive late.  Hopefully the Hawks won't need a last minute pick 6 like the last time the Dolphins visited Seattle, all the way back in 2004.  I was at that game.  Michael Boulware (remember him?) had the INT.

Week 2, at Los Angeles Rams: Win 24-21 (2-0)
Feels weird saying "Los Angeles Rams".  But with the Rams moving I don't think their road struggles against the Rams continue.  Might be close, but I see the Hawks coming out on top.

Week 3, vs. San Francisco 49ers: Win 34-10 (3-0)
The 49ers are a complete shell of the team they used to be.  All of their stars are gone or have faded (Kaepernick).  This is a must win. 

Week 4, at New York Jets: Win 19-16 (4-0)
Never been impressed with any Jets team in recent memory.  I see too much turmoil and lack of team chemistry with them.  That being said, they'll put up a fight but lose.

Week 6, vs. Atlanta Falcons: Win 30-14 (5-0)
Dan Quinn's return to Seattle will not go as planned.  I have the Falcons having a down season (see more below) so this should be a fairly easy victory.

Week 7, at Arizona Cardinals: Win 35-31 (6-0)
The Hawks have had success in Arizona recently and I think that continues.  Should be a bit of a shootout at worst.  Will be an entertaining game either way.

Week 8, at New Orleans Saints: Loss 34-26 (6-1)
I thought about the Hawks starting 8-0 or so, but I have a feeling they might look past this game a bit.  They will be really focused on the Cardinals and then the next week they'll be looking forward to getting home. 

Week 9, vs. Buffalo Bills: Win 28-17 (7-1)
The Hawks defense practices against Wilson constantly, and playing against Taylor should be fairly easy.  Rex Ryan will complain several times and complain about the noise after the game.

Week 10, at New England Patriots: Loss 24-23 (7-2)
I can see this game actually being a defensive struggle.  But playing in New England in November is no easy task for ANY team.  Also, would continue the tradition of losing to an AFC team every year.

Week 11, vs. Philadelphia Eagles: Win 27-9 (8-2)
The Eagles could be very bad this year.  With this game sandwiched between to east coast trips, a win is mandatory. 

Week 12, at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Win 12-10 (9-2)
I'll guess that this game will have very few offensive fireworks.  I think our D can shut Winston down but I worry about the long trip affecting our offense.  But it will be just enough.

Week 13, vs. Carolina Panthers: Win 19-14 (10-2)
The Seahawks want revenge for losing to the Panthers TWICE last year.  The Hawks offense will be in a stretch where people start to wonder what is going on, but the defense steps up.

Week 14, at Green Bay Packers: Win 13-10 (11-2)
The Hawks want revenge here as well, and in a December game at Lambeau points may be at a premium.  The Hawks are also due for a win at Lambeau. 

Week 15, vs. Los Angeles Rams: Win 20-10 (12-2)
Again, revenge for last year.  It will be another dirty, hard-fought game, but this time the ball bounces the Hawks way (literally).

Week 16, vs. Arizona Cardinals: Win 30-20 (13-2)
Did I mention revenge yet as a motivating factor?  Hawks have a stretch of four games in a row where they lost to that opponent last year at the same sight the game is being played at.  I'd be happy with 3 wins in this stretch, but I'll be optimistic and say they get all four. 

Week 17, at San Francisco 49ers: Win 20-7 (14-2)
Meaningless game, possibly?  Either way I think our 2nd stringers beat their best.

More on the Hawks in the playoffs later.  Now, the predictions for team leaders!
Rushing Yards: Thomas Rawls
Rushing TD's: Christine Michael
Receiving Yards: Doug Baldwin
Receiving TD's: Jimmy Graham
Sacks: Michael Bennett
Interceptions: Earl Thomas
Tackles: KJ Wright
Hawks Rookie of the Year: Jarran Reed
Hawks MVP: Russell Wilson
Hawks comeback player: Paul Richardson
Hawks unsung hero: Justin Britt

Now, onto my predictions for EACH TEAM!

AFC East
1. Patriots (12-4)
Losing Brady for the first four games hurts (Oh well, you cheaters), but I think Garoppolo will hold down the fort, go 2-2 or 3-1.  
2. Bills (9-7, WC)
I think their playoff drought (longest in the NFL, only one longer in big 3 sports longer than the Mariners) will end, and they'll get a wild card.  Rex will work his magic.  And the Mariners will have the longest playoff drought in all of sports.  HA HA.
3. Jets (8-8)
So they recently resigned Fitzpatrick to a one year contract, which he'll need to prove to them he's worthy of a long-term deal, so expect him to do well.  But I just don't see the ground attack being enough to complement him.
4. Dolphins (6-10)
They won't be horrible, but they're not going to overpower anyone.  Ryan Tannehill is the most run of the mill QB I think I've ever seen.  He's good enough to hold down the starting job, never good enough to get playoffs or a Pro Bowl nod.

AFC North
1. Cincinnati Bengals (11-5)
Spurred on by the heartbreaking loss in the playoffs the Bengals roar back and have a good season, start to finish.  One of the best all around rosters in the AFC still.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8)
Big Ben, the douchebag he is, will get hurt or struggle, I predict.  Their defense is still a work in progress. 
3. Baltimore Ravens (6-10)
Ever since Ray Ray left they've been terrible.  That will continue, for the most part.  Who's their running back?  And their defense is awfully pedestrian now.
4. Cleveland Browns (4-12)
Cleveland will be Cleveland.  Every time I pick the Browns to have a surprisingly good year, they suck.  So, I'm picking them to suck.

AFC South
1. Jacksonville Jaguars (9-7)
You heard it here first, folks.  This team is on the rise, and it's not exactly one of the best divisions.  Bortles will take a big step forward, and Robinson/Hurns will emerge as perhaps the best 1-2 WR combo.
2. Indianapolis Colts (8-8)
I don't get all the Andrew Luck Hype.  Well, if he was in Seattle he might have similar success to Russell Wilson, but in Indy I don't see him having much more success.  Too bad for him he signed that contract extension.
3. Tennessee Titans (8-8)
Mariota will make strides as will the rest of his team, but Mariota, IMO, is only the 3rd best QB in his division.  No one is picking the Titans higher than 4th, except maybe Titans fans.
4. Houston Texans (5-11)
Not every year, but every once in a while we see a fairly large contract given to a QB who had BRIEF moments of excellence, and they completely bomb and end up ruining their team's chances.  I'm predicting that for Houston and Brock Osweiler.  Brock had the talent around him in Denver and won't have as much in Houston.

AFC West
1. Denver Broncos (9-7)
Colin Cowherd picked the Broncos to finish 3rd with a 6-10 record.  REALLY?  The only things they really lost were QB's.  Granted, I'm not too assured with Sanchez/Lynch, but this defense was one of the best ever last year.  They're still there.  They will carry the team if they have to.  And Denver should have a running game.
2. Oakland Raiders (9-7, WC)
Possibly a wild card spot, we'll see.  I like their chances and they've been built better than they have for many years. 
3. Kansas City Chiefs (8-8)
Alex Smith is so pedestrian.  He is the very definition of a game manager.  He won't beat you with his arm.  Granted, he won't let too many mistakes happen, but in a fairly tough division you need a gunslinger at QB, and Smith is not it.
4. San Diego Chargers (6-10)
Any chance Rivers will want out?  The Chargers, unless there's some sort of minor miracle, aren't going anywhere.  They're not horrible, but escaping from last may be tough.

NFC East
1. New York Giants (10-6)
What the heck.  This division is the hardest to pick IMO, mostly because injuries to QB's in this division have a bigger effect than in other divisions.  Here's to Eli having a good season,  being the only Manning in the league now.
2. Dallas Cowboys (9-7, WC)
I can't see THAT much of a bounce back season for the 'Boys.  They won't be God awful like they were last year, but Ezekiel Elliot will only be so-so. 
3. Washington Redskins (7-9)
You know what, Kirk Cousins?  I do like that.  I like that you're staying in Washington for a while, never leading them past the first round in the playoffs.  You're the Andy Dalton of the NFC.  And you have nowhere near the talent around him he does.
4. Philadelphia Eagles (5-11)
Doug Pederson sure has his plate full.  The odds of two straight drafts were the Top 2 QB's taken all have good careers is very unlikely.  Mariota/Winston seem to be decent.  Goff I think will be good.  That leaves Wentz as the odd man out.  But we'll see.

NFC North
1. Minnesota Vikings (10-6)
I'm not a huge fan of Teddy Bridgewater, but excluding the QB position, I'll take the Vikings over the Packers any day.  If Teddy can play just well enough he can get them the division title.
2. Green Bay Packers (9-7, WC)
I don't know what will happen.  Maybe their defense will suck.  Maybe their O-Line will.  Something will, and it will hurt them.  Not enough to miss the playoffs, but enough to probably cost them the division.
3. Detroit Lions (8-8)
Sure, they lost Megatron to retirement but that may help them in a way.  Stafford is a very good QB even without him.  We've seen QB's have success without a true #1, they just need protection and a running game.  The running game is the big question. 
4. Chicago Bears (4-12)
What to say about Da Bears?  They seem to be like a car stuck in the mud.  They just need that push to get them unstuck.  That won't happen this year, I don't think.

NFC South
1. Carolina Panthers (13-3)
No one can argue that as long as they stay (relatively) healthy that they're not the best all around team in their division.  They're built to be competitive, but to win a title?  That we'll have to see.
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7)
They'll take a big leap forward.  I used to think Jameis Winston would be a bust but now I'm thinking he'll be like Cam Newton, maybe a hair or two below.  I like his desire to win. 
3. New Orleans Saints (8-8)
Their defense will be improved, and Brandin Cooks will emerge as one of the best weapons in the game. 
4. Atlanta Falcons (5-11)
I don't know what it'll be, but I'm just not liking the way this team is being put together.  Dan Quinn will be on the hot seat.

NFC West
1. Seattle Seahawks (14-2)
Yes, I'm biased, but the last time the Seahawks lost in the divisional round, they won their division and the Super Bowl the following year.  It won't be easy with the Cards still competitive, though.
2. Arizona Cardinals (9-7)
Carson Palmer is aging.  I doubt he'll age as gracefully as guys like Brett Favre and Kurt Warner.  Larry Fitzgerald is aging too. 
3. San Francisco 49ers (8-8)
I know, but it's the Chip Kelley effect.  He'll win more games than expected which will instill false hope in the Niner fanbase.  He did it in Philadelphia.  Heck, if the Cardinals really struggle or deal with injuries, they could reach 2nd place! 
4. Los Angeles Rams (6-10)
I don't know what it'll be, but I don't see much leadership on this team.  They cut a lot of defensive leaders.  We'll see.

And now onto playoff predictions!

AFC Playoffs

1. Patriots
2. Bengals
3. Broncos
4. Jaguars
5. Bills
6. Raiders

NFC Playoffs

1. Seahawks
2. Panthers
3. Giants
4. Vikings
5. Packers
6. Cowboys

AFC WC
Raiders at Broncos: Broncos
Bills at Jaguars: Jaguars

NFC WC
Cowboys at Giants: Giants
Packers at Vikings: Packers

AFC Div
Jaguars at Patriots: Patriots
Broncos at Bengals: Broncos

NFC Div
Packers at Seahawks: Seahawks
Giants at Panthers: Panthers

Championship Games
Broncos at Patriots: Patriots
Panthers at Seahawks: Seahawks

Super Bowl LI: Seahawks over Patriots :D

There you have it.  The Hawks get their revenge on the Patriots.  That would be a perfect way for the 2016 season to go.  But we'll see.  Should be an extremely exciting season, even without Beast Mode.  GO HAWKS!

LeBron James - The Greatest Ever?

LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers just won the 2015-16 NBA Title, the first major sports championship for the city of Cleveland in 52 YEARS.  He of course won the Finals MVP, and after appearing in six straight NBA Finals with two different teams, finally won one for his hometown team.  People are starting to debate if he is the greatest ever.  Of course, the one to compare him to would be His Airness, Michael Jordan.  Is LeBron catching MJ?  You betcha.  Will he surpass him?  That'll be up to basketball fans for years to come.

LeBron's career has taken many turns.  Drafted straight out of high school, he and the Cavs struggled to have much success, but he did bring them to the NBA Finals in 2007, but they were swept by the San Antonio Spurs.  In 2010, LeBron was heavily criticized for leaving the Cavaliers and joining the Heat to play with his good friends Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, but he cannot be criticized for leaving the Cavs.  LeBron was given very little help, with no significant post players or ball handlers around him.  Sure, he basically left the Cavs empty-handed, but is it his fault they couldn't acquire any significant players before or after he left?  They certainly had the cap space after he left, but nope.  LeBron was hated by many, including Cavs owner Dan Gilbert, and many fans were photographed burning his jersey.  But can you really blame him?  The Cavaliers refused to give him much help, so he had to go somewhere where he could get help.  LeBron wanted to win, and the Cavs wouldn't let him.  LeBron knew he would never be seen as great, staying in Cleveland and never having success in the playoffs thanks to ownership and management not providing him with talented players around him.

So LeBron went and won two championships in Miami in 2012 and 2013.  After having experienced success, he felt the only thing better than winning championships was to win them for Cleveland.  So he headed back to the Cavaliers.  Some forgave, some still remembered the hurt they felt.  But this time, LeBron was given help in the form of draft pick Kyrie Irving and trade acquisition Kevin Love.  And just yesterday, those three were instrumental in getting the Cleveland Cavaliers their first championship.

Most people would still agree that MJ is better than LBJ, but LBJ still has plenty of years to go.  I believe LeBron in his prime would win one-on-one against Michael, because of his advantage physically.  He's not any slower, and would more than likely out muscle MJ in the post.  But in terms of best player, we have to wait and see.  And even when LeBron's career is over we'll probably still not know.  That's fine with me.  There are countless debates throughout sports and entertainment about who is better: Ruth or Aaron, Montana or Brady, Woods or Palmer, Batman or Superman, Hepburn or Streep, etc.  Basketball will have it's Jordan and James, and basketball fans should not only be fine with that, but embrace it.  Some might be perturbed that MJ might not be solely known as the greatest ever, but if LeBron keeps winning, he deserves to be in that conversation.

I'll just be happy to have been able to watch them both.  Heck there will be even be the third person who might be saying Kobe was the greatest ever, or an old-timer who will say Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson, or Oscar Robertson.  I don't think LBJ will ever surpass MJ, but as long as people speak of him in the same breath and debate him with Michael Jordan, I think that would Mr. James happy enough.

My Insane Theory for the New Star Wars Trilogy

With Star Wars Episode VII still a year and a half away, it's never too early to theorize or speculate about characters, their motives, or possible twists.  I do believe there will be a twist, perhaps revealed at the end of Episode VII much like how the twist of the original trilogy was revealed in the middle movie of the trilogy.  Ready for it?  Here it is:

Kylo Ren is not evil.  He is a spy sent by Luke to infiltrate the dark side and take down Snoke.

I'll give you a minute to put your mind back together after it's been blown. 

Basically, Kylo was in training with Luke when Luke learns of this dark lord that has been in the shadows (Supreme Leader Snoke), and comes up with the idea to use Kylo/Ben as a weapon and spy to try to learn something about Snoke, take out Snoke, or both. 

If you've ever read Harry Potter, this would directly parallel the events of the popular book series.  In this case, Luke would be Dumbledore using Kylo (Snape) to take down a dark leader: Snoke (Voldemort).  Funny thing is Kylo with his long hair and long face looks like Snape.  In the Harry Potter series, Snape reported to Dumbledore about Voldemort.  Is Kylo somehow in secret communication with Luke?  Also in this analogy, Rey would be Harry Potter and Finn would be a combination of Ron/Hermione.  Or maybe Poe is Hermione, haha. 

I know there's a lot against this theory--such as why does it seem like Kylo Ren in TFA is so desperate to find his uncle?  It could be an act.  But to back up my theory, Luke went in hiding--not out of shame--but because contact with anyone would risk him revealing his plan.  Perhaps Luke found out something about Snoke so bad that he gave up his relationships with Han and Leia so that he could secretly get Kylo Ren to spy for him.  Perhaps Luke learned how to expertly flirt between dark and light so well without going too far either way that he felt confident in letting his nephew pretend to be dark.  Luke being disgraced about his nephew turning dark is a cover for his solitude--it's so he can meditate, and also communicate with his nephew secretly.

You're probably thinking: Why did Kylo Ren kill Han, then?  Well perhaps Han is a bit like Dumbledore in that he might have been dead soon, anyway.  Maybe there was someone so hot on Han's trail that they were about to catch up and kill him.  I doubt Luke would want Han dead, but if Luke knew Han didn't have long in the galaxy anyway, and it would convince Snoke of Kylo's evilness, Luke would probably say it would be worth it for the greater good.  Perhaps Han knew he was going to die.  He did say to Rey that he was looking into taking on a second mate, but perhaps that was code for someone to take over the Millennium Falcon... period.

One other thing to back up my theory: Kylo did not appear to be trying to kill Rey.  On Starkiller Base at the end of TFA when Kylo fights Finn and Rey, he did not seem to be trying to kill Rey.  If anything, he was trying to get her to come with him so he could perhaps fill her in on the secret.  I believe if Kylo wanted to kill her he could've, seeing how inexperienced she was.  The fact that (while injured) Kylo had trouble with two untrained young adults leads me to believe he wasn't trying to kill them, because he isn't evil. 

I know my theory is a bit of a long shot, but I'd love to see it come true.  I do believe in some way by the end of the trilogy Kylo Ren will have come back to the light (if he even left it).  I mean, what's more badass than being bad, but not actually being evil?  You get all the coolness of the dark side but none of the hate.  Severus Snape is revered in the Harry Potter series--I think Disney wants the same for Kylo Ren. 

Bonus: Take a look at Kylo Ren's lightsaber.  Looks like a cross, doesn't it?  Like the cross Jesus died on?  Perhaps that is a subtle hint that Kylo will sacrifice himself for the greater good.  I can definitely see that happening, most likely in Episode IX.

Movie May 2016!

Well, without much notice (except with my close friends) I completed my 2nd ever Movie May!  For the second time I watched a movie every day in the month of May, the last time I did this being exactly two years ago in 2014.  This time I watched films that totaled 57 hours and 41 minutes, so I watched 2 hours and 45 minutes more of films than last time.  That's like two extra films!  And like last time I didn't always finish the film the same day but I started a new one each day.

Also, I gave them an average rating of 7.35, as compared to 6.67 last time.  Either I saw fewer crappy films or I've become more lenient, or both.  I watched 7 films on Netflix (4 less than last time), 12 films that Amanda or I already owned (6 more than last time), 8 that I rented either from DVD.com (AKA Netflix in the mail) or RedBox/DVDXpress (3 fewer than last time), 2 in theaters (1 less than last time) and 2 that I borrowed from a friend (Thanks Lowen!). 

Without further ado,  the list of movies I watched in order and my short reviews of them:

May 1: The Joneses - 6/10
So these four people are paid to pretend to be a family and try to get people to buy the cool stuff they have.  Is that even legal?  All in all though it was decent.  It did drag on at times, but I enjoyed certain parts.  I always like a recognizable cast which included David Duchovny, Demi Moore, and Amber Heard.  But the cast wasn't enough to keep me interested the whole time.

May 2: Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation - 8/10
Tom Cruise has still got it.  There will come a point in time he's too old for the role of Ethan Hunt, but not yet.  The plot did get a bit confusing at times and there were some things that made me shake my head, but all in all it kept me intrigued.  The opening with Tom/Ethan hanging onto the door of the jet is as good as it gets.  And the stunt where he drops into an underwater security vault is incredible.

May 3: Ant-Man - 7/10
While I really enjoyed it and I laughed at least 10 times throughout the film, I didn't find it to be that well-made of a superhero film.  I was skeptical of Paul Rudd as the title character, but I turned out to love the choice.  There were a few head scratchers and plot holes like if Hank Pym has the ability to make anything larger, why does he have trouble doing ANYTHING?  Anyway, this was like a tamer version of Deadpool.  Still funny (maybe not as much so), but the lead character in red and black with a semi-dark past. 

May 4: Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back - 6/10
I don't know what it was... but if a movie that's supposed to be funny doesn't make me laugh, then I don't enjoy it.  It was all right.  I cared for the characters.  It was more amusing than anything.  It's just over the top comedies always fall flat with me.  But I loved all of the cameos and big names in this film, from Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher to Jason Biggs and James Van Der Beek. 

May 5: Kingsman: The Secret Service - 9/10
Wow, this film certainly did to spy films with Kick Ass did for super hero films.  If you like action movies and don't mind a bit of gore/violence, this film is definitely worth a watch.  Taron Egerton is fantastic in the lead role and the cast was filled out with tremendous talent including Samuel L. Jackson, Colin Firth, Mark Strong, and a small role from Mark Hamill (again!).  I'm very glad to see they're making a sequel.  The camera work and the choreography in this film both top notch.

May 6: Ted 2 - 7/10
I'm not sure if it was as good as the first, but it was close.  I laughed a few times, but not as much as I would've hoped.  Just another typical Seth McFarlane comedy--I tell ya, his humor doesn't surprise me or make me laugh that hard anymore.  Time for some new material, Seth.  But at least with the story I was invested in the characters, for the most part.  They don't need to make a Ted 3 unless Seth has a very clever idea.

May 7: Across the Universe - 8/10
I watched this because 1) I had been meaning to for years and 2) a friend recommended it to me and I gotta say I enjoyed it.  The Beatles covers they did were spot on, and I really felt what it was to be like to be young and in the heart of the Vietnam War era.  My favorite covers were "I Get By with a Little Help from my Friends" "Let it Be" and "Come Together".  I had no idea Joe Cocker played the bum that sang the beginning part of "Come Together". 

May 8: A Teacher - 3/10
I only watched this because I was pressed on time and it was only 75 minutes long.  Fortunately it was only 75 minutes long, because it was not that good.  Everything in the technical categories (Cinematography, editing, music) was poor and it just ends with the teacher being upset that the school found out about her relationship with her student.  Very lackluster film.

May 9: Captain America: Civil War - 9/10
Affectionately called "The Avengers 2.5", CA: CW definitely lived up to the hype.  I don't think it quite exceeded anyone's expectations, but the fight scenes were a delight to watch.  The pacing was a bit off and it was a tad too long, though.  Also, it seemed like just a bit too much of fan service, trying to make the fan of every superhero happy.  But it excelled in the technical aspects and the Russo brothers did another great job.

May 10: Everest - 7/10
Everest was kind of a letdown for me, to be honest.  Although, to be fair, that was mostly because I was expecting more shocking deaths (from falls, avalanches, etc.) than ones were they slowly die from the cold or lack of "O" (oxygen).  It was nice to see that it was based off a true story.  The rating isn't lower because this was the first movie of the month to make me tear up, when Rob (Jason Clarke) was talking to his wife Jan (Keira Knightley) for the final time.  Very well done, great acting.  Although it was puzzling how two of the climber's wives (Rob's wife Jan and Beck's wife Peach) were played by well-known actresses (Peach being played by Robin Wright).  They had small parts and I think could've easily been played by an unknown to save money.

May 11: The Peanuts Movie - 7/10
This was a cute, family-friendly movie.  Hard not to root for Charlie Brown.  But the adventures with Snoopy and his writing/flying just seemed unnecessary and pointless, but how else were they going to include fan-favorite Snoopy into scenes?  Also, the naivety of the characters, especially Charlie Brown, reminded me of the old kids Nickelodeon shows like Rugrats and Hey Arnold, where we see just how much children have to learn about the world. 

May 12: The Bourne Identity - 8/10
Yes, I have never seen any of the "Bourne" films.  The first one was actually pretty good.  It's a good idea to use for a plot to have your main character have amnesia, that way we learn along with him what his name is, what he did, etc.  Chris Cooper again was typecast as the asshole (See also October Sky, American Beauty)--is he even capable of playing a nice guy?  I also didn't understand Clive Owen's character or his motives... like why did he want Mombosi dead?  But good action that kept me engaged, for the most part.

May 13: Beautiful Creatures - 5/10
I only watched this because of Alden Ehrenreich and how he was cast as Han Solo, just like for the last Movie May I watched "Inside Llewyn Davis" for Oscar Isaac and Adam Driver.  Unlike Inside Llewyn Davis, however, this was not that good.  As for Ehrenreich, I think he looks more like a young Jack Nicholson than a young Harrison Ford.  But we'll see.  His acting was good, though.  But the film itself was only so-so at best, as supernatural love stories don't really interest me that much.  Found myself losing interest on multiple occasions.

May 14: The Jungle Book -  8/10
I was impressed with the CGI and voice acting talents in this film.  Neel Sethi played a really good Mowgli as well.  Not sure if it was quite appropriate for kids, but at least they kept the violence to a minimum.  They sang snippets of some of the original's songs, but what's the point if you're not going to do the whole thing?  Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed this film more than I thought I would and I think they did about as good of a job as they could have with a live action remake.  Some of the voice casts (Bill Murray, Christopher Walken) were PERFECT.

May 15: Lincoln - 7/10
Holy crap was this long.  But I will say Daniel Day-Lewis is well deserving of his Oscar.  To anyone who's seen House of Cards, this was basically like a really, really long House of Cards episode, with Lincoln instead of Underwood.  The pacing was so slow and drawn out, and there wasn't a ton to get excited about.  I guess it gets a 7 for DDL's performance alone.  He was tremendous.

May 16: Peep World - 7/10
As opposed to Lincoln, this film was too short and could have used more depth.  But the cast, fantastic.  Michael C. Hall, Rainn Wilson, Sarah Silverman, Kate Mara, all terrific.  Also, to finish on a sort-of climax was a bit cliché for the 2010's.  Leave it up to our imagination?  Gee, thanks.  Too many loose ends we are left wondering about, but the acting and cast kept me engaged.

May 17: The Bourne Supremacy - 7/10
I didn't like this one quite as much as the first one (Identity), but it was decent nonetheless.  I lost interest a few times and the plot here was more confusing than the first one.  But it had an exciting opening act and the chase scenes, especially the last one in Russia, were very well done. 

May 18: Concussion - 8/10
Will Smith was outstanding as Bennet Omalu, a doctor who emigrated from Nigeria.  There were actually times I forgot it was the former Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.  The only thing that ever gave it away was his appearance.  I wish they had a little more backstory, and the casting of Luke Wilson as Roger Goodell... I mean... seriously?  His brother Owen would've been a (slightly) better choice.  But this is a must watch for any NFL fan. 

May 19: Sex Tape - 6/10
So the premise wasn't too bad, maybe a bit out there, with a couple trying to get back the copies of their sex tape.  But it was a little over the top for me.  And being extorted by a 10 year old?  Give me a break.  But it did have some funny moments and Rob Lowe stole the show, in my opinion.  His bad haircut and narcissism made him quite the character.  But not worth watching again... at least not for a while.

May 20: Raiders of the Lost Ark - 7/10
Like the Bourne movies, I had yet to see an Indiana Jones movie... and I gotta say I wasn't THAT impressed.  The classic Indy theme was easily the best part, and the traps and action scenes may have been ahead of their time, slightly, but I often found myself losing track or losing focus of the film.  I liked the scene where Indy carjacked the truck that had the Ark.  But the plot didn't keep me hooked.  Maybe on future viewings I will like it more.

May 21: Daddy's Home - 5/10
I found myself caring for Brad (Will Ferrell), but once he had his drunken rant and antics at halftime of the basketball game, I was done.  Also, driving a motorcycle through a home (up a set of stairs!?) and out the window, only sustaining a few cuts and bruises?  And the story of how he wasn't able to have children.... even if that was possible for him to lose his fertility that way, wouldn't he be able to sue?  So many head shaking moments, not enough laughs.

May 22: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind - 9/10
Boy is this movie trippy.  Basically, Joel (Jim Carrey) is hurt his ex-girlfriend Clementine (Kate Winslet) erased him from her memories and he does the same so he can move on, but in the process regrets his decision and while he is dreaming tries to find some way to get himself to remember her before it's too late.  The things that happens in this dream state are on par with Inception with how freaky and imaginative it is.  I give this film a 9 for that alone.  It was a little hard to follow at times, trying to keep track at what point in their relationship the scene is from, but multiple well-deserved viewings would help.

May 23: Reservoir Dogs - 9/10
Yes, I hadn't seen this Tarantino flick yet (nor the Kill Bill movies), but this marks the fifth of his movies I've seen.  Basically every one of his movies can be summed up like this: Almost everyone dies.  The end.  Anyway, drama and acting phenomenal, and I of course didn't guess the rat right (I was thinking Mr. Pink).  The torture scene with "Stuck in the Middle with You" was iconic and it's too bad this film was only 99 minutes long.  Hard to believe this was QT's first motion picture as director, seems like it was done by an experienced director.

May 24: Groundhog Day - 9/10
A classic Bill Murray/Harold Ramis film I didn't see as a kid, but I'm glad I waited because I know there would be a few things I wouldn't have understood as a kid.  I love the concept--what would you do if you lived the same day over and over, with no tomorrow?  The story arc goes from confusion to contempt to acceptance.  I wish there was some explanation why it happened to him, but it's not a big deal.  I can't imagine anyone else in the lead role.

May 25: White House Down - 7/10
Out of the two White House is under attack films in 2013 I enjoyed this one more (than "Olympus Has Fallen").  The people attacking this time are mostly Americans, upset at the President or country for various reasons.  The explosions/CGI could've used a bit of work, and was Jamie Fox the best casting?  He doesn't seem... authoritative enough.  Will Smith would've been a bit more believable.  But the 2 hour and 11 min film kept me engaged the whole time.

May 26: Captain Phillips - 10/10
Ok, it's not a perfect film, but it had everything I wanted: Drama, action, good acting, a few heartbreaking moments, you name it.  Hanks was brilliant as usual.  It's too bad we didn't get to see Hanks reunite with his wife, but we've seen that in movies before and we know how it goes.  I just remember feeling stuffy as if I were in the lifeboat with Hanks and the Somalis.  Very well made film.  I felt like I was along with the crew (and then just Captain Phillips) the whole time.

May 27: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom - 7/10
Definitely hard to watch at times, with the burning sacrifice, the eating of the gross things, and many other instances of bad guys dying horrific deaths.  But I enjoyed it just as much as RotLA, maybe even more so.  Instead of Nazis and Egypt it was Chinese and India.  Don't see what Indy sees in "Willie", as she was very high maintenance and not the least bit helpful.  I really liked Short Round, he was a nice and welcome addition.

May 28: Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure - 7/10
I knew going in not to take it too seriously, and I'm glad I didn't because I definitely enjoyed it.  It's too bad Alex Winter hasn't had nearly the career Keanu Reeves had, but at least one of them did.  Not exactly historically accurate or believable, I still found myself rooting for Bill and Ted despite them being a couple of knuckleheads.  George Carlin was really good as their mentor, Rufus.  Too bad he wasn't able to be his usual vulgar self, haha. 

May 29: 2001: A Space Odyssey - 9/10
Yep, I had never seen this.  At first I was thinking of how boring and sometimes uneventful it was, but after reading about the film afterward and understanding what was going on, I gotta say, WOW.  I didn't understand the monoliths at first because they always seemed so out of place, but I guess that was the point.  This is definitely a film you need to watch more than once, but at 2 hours and 29 minutes in length, that's no easy task.  It did get really trippy at times, making me go, "Woah...".  HAL was definitely creepy.  Having seen Star Wars dozens of times, I can say this film has special effects that rival it (and sometimes even surpass it--despite coming out 9 years earlier!).  It was way ahead of its time and didn't do that bad of a job of portraying future technology. 

May 30: It's Such a Beautiful Day - 8/10
Again, another film I watched because I was pressed on time, at only 62 the shortest film of the month.  It's so odd, but good.  A stick figure named Bill has strangely unusual things happen to him.  The film kind of blurs the difference between stick figure and reality to great effect.  The ending for me was the best, though, because it really made me think.  Love movies that do that. 

May 31: Still Alice - 8/10
First off, Julianne Moore definitely deserves her Oscar for this performance.  She was brilliant.  Baldwin and Stewart were very good, too.  But it's pretty depressing and ends abruptly.  Her speech was probably the highlight of the film.  She wasn't suffering, but she was struggling.  This film probably portrays Alzheimer's disease better than any in recent memory. 

And now like last time, I will give out awards based on the films I saw this month!  First are the awards you would see at the Oscars.


First up is Best Picture.  And here are the nominees:
Captain Phillips
Captain America: Civil War
Lincoln
Reservoir Dogs
Kingsman: The Secret Service
Groundhog Day
2001: A Space Odyssey
Still Alice

Every film I rated a 9 or higher is here, with a few that were less (Lincoln, Still Alice) making it thanks to stellar acting performances.  The award goes to....

Reservoir Dogs!  Turns out, none of QT's films have won best picture, so Reservoir Dogs wins despite it not being the highest rated film (Captain Phillips was). 


Best Actor:
Daniel Day-Lewis: Lincoln
Will Smith: Concussion
Bill Murray: Groundhog Day
Jim Carrey: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Tom Hanks: Captain Phillips

Wow, what a great set of actors.  I don't think there's a weak one in the group.  Each actor carried his film.  But the award goes to...

Daniel Day-Lewis!  He won the real life Oscar so he almost wins by default.  Will Smith is a close runner up.

Best Actress:
Evan Rachel Wood: Across the Universe
Sally Field: Lincoln
Kate Winslet: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Julianne Moore: Still Alice
Andie McDowell: Groundhog Day

Good performances, much better female performances than last time.  The award goes to...

Julianne Moore!  Unlike for best actor, this one wasn't that close. 

Best Supporting Actor:
James Spader: Lincoln
Alec Baldwin: Concussion
Samuel L. Jackson: Kingsman: The Secret Service
Barkhad Abdi: Captain Phillips
Steve Buscemi: Reservoir Dogs

Three of these actors were "upstaged" by the lead role actors (Spader, Baldwin, Abdi).  But who will get the award?  It goes to...

Steve Buscemi!  To me, he stole the show, almost.  He wasn't the main character but I almost felt like he was with his command of the scene. 

Best Supporting Actress:
Maggie Gylenhaal: White House Down
Joey King: White House Down
Keira Knightley: Everest
Kirsten Dunst: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Kristen Stewart: Still Alice

Much better female performances in the supporting category than last year, too.   The award goes to...

Keira Knightley!  She didn't even appear in the same country as her co-stars but she was magnificent. 

Best Song:
I Want To Be Like You: Jungle Book (Christopher Walken)
With a Little Help from My Friends: Across the Universe (Ensemble)
Come Together: Across the Universe (Joe Cocker, Ensemble)
Let it Be: Across the Universe (Ensemble)

Yikes, I didn't see many movies with musical numbers, other than Across the Universe.  Anyway, best song goes to...

"Let it Be"!  When I watched this, I teared up.  Watch it here to see why:

Best Direction/Cinematography:
Steven Spielberg: Lincoln
Steven Spielberg: Raiders of the Lost Ark
Paul Greengrass: Captain Phillips
Stanley Kubrick: 2001: A Space Odyssey
Matthew Vaughn: Kingsman: The Secret Service

Spielberg nominated twice, but does he win?  Best Director goes to...

Stanley Kubrick!  Spielberg, despite having a 40% shot, doesn't win.  2001 was just so ahead of its time and innovative.

Best Special Effects:
Ant Man
Captain America Civil War
The Jungle Book
Kingsman: The Secret Service
2001: A Space Odyssey

This is a tough one.  The award for Best Special Effects goes to...

The Jungle Book!  The first real surprise winner!  After reading about how Baloo's hairs and how each FRAME of the film took FIVE HOURS to render the hairs on Baloo's body... just incredible the time and dedication they put in. 

Now for the non-Academy Awards!

Best Action Scene:
Tom Cruise hanging on to an airplane: Mission Impossible Rogue Nation
Colin Firth killing dozens in a church set to "Free Bird": Kingsman: The Secret Service
All of the superheroes fighting: Captain America Civil War
Indy hijacking a truck with the Ark: Raiders of the Lost Ark

All of these had my heart pumping, but the award goes to...

Colin Firth's ass-kicking in Kingsman!  If you're a fan of violence and fighting you have got to see this scene.  INCREDIBLE. 

Funniest Film:
Ant Man
Ted 2
Peep World
Sex Tape
Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure

What was the funniest film to me? It was...

Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure!  Party on Dudes!

Best Death Scene:
Chris Penn, Lawrence Tierney: Reservoir Dogs
Michael Madsen: Reservoir Dogs
Jason Clarke: Everest
Samuel L. Jackson: Kingsman: The Secret Service
James Woods, White House Down

Only one sad death here, but will it win?  Best Death Scene goes to...

Michael Madsen, Reservoir Dogs.  I gotta be honest, I did not see it coming.  Not at all.  Thanks to Tim Roth's character, Madsen was PUT DOWN.  About to burn a cop alive. 

Best Kiss:
David Duchovny and Demi Moore: The Joneses
Matt Damon and Franka Potente: The Bourne Identity
Bill Murray and Andie McDowell: Groundhog Day

Wow, I didn't watch too many films with memorable kisses in them.  Best kiss goes to...

Bill Murray and Andie McDowell in Groundhog Day!  Well, he worked and worked at it but finally was able to get her to fall for him.

Best Couple:
Jude and Lucy in Across the Universe
Joel and Clementine in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Jason and Marie in The Bourne Identity
Phil and Rita in Groundhog Day

Best couple goes to...

Joel and Clementine!  Joel (Jim Carrey) and Clementine (Kate Winslet) realized their mistakes not too late and were fortunately able to salvage something of their almost erased relationship.

Now onto the Razzie style awards.  These dishonor those performances that made me shake my head.

Worst Film:
A Teacher
Beautiful Creatures
Daddy's Home

I didn't see too many bad films this time.  But the one clearly the worst was...

A Teacher.  Next Movie May I'll make this award more of a competition, lol.

Worst Actor:
Will Brittain: A Teacher
Jason Segel: Sex Tape
Mark Wahlberg: Daddy's Home
Mark Wahlberg: Ted 2

Yikes, Marky Mark nominated twice.  Worst actor goes to...

Will Brittain.  At least I cared for Mark's character each time. 

Worst Actress:
Cameron Diaz: Sex Tape
Lindsay Burdge: A Teacher
Amanda Seyfried: Ted 2
Alice Englert: Beautiful Creatures

Can "A Teacher" complete the trifecta?  Worst actress goes to...

Lindsay Burdge!  Yes they can.  I was kind of glad she was miserable at the end.

Worst Special Effects:
White House Down
Beautiful Creatures
Daddy's Home

And now, for worst special effects, and this year they weren't that bad, but the worst of them was...

Daddy's Home.  I know, a comedy. But that one shot of the motorcycle (with Will Ferrell hanging on for dear life) going up the stairs, flying out the house (creating a hole), landing on the car and off... just horrible.  I cringed super hard at that and for that one scene alone that film deserves worst special effects.

Well, that's it for Movie May, 2016!  And a special announcement...

I will be doing Summer Movie Season 2016!  Watching a movie EVERY DAY is tough, sometimes making it hard to make plans with anyone.  So, instead for Summer Movie Season (SMS for short), I will be watching around 2 movies a week.  For 16 weeks starting the week of June 5-11 and ending the week of September 18-24, I will watch 32 movies (perhaps more), averaging two a week.  I realized I still have a lot of DVD's I recently acquired I need to watch (Finishing the Bourne and Indiana Jones series, for one), and since I restarted my Netflix/DVD.com DVD's in mail I'll be getting at least one of those a week.  Also, this summer movie season is packed and I know I'll be hitting the theaters at least 3, 4 times this summer.

There is a week August 21-27 I will be in Southern California for pretty much the whole week on vacation, so I won't watch any that week, but I will make up for it by watching more than 2 films some weeks. 

So, I will check in around September 24, 25, with my reviews of the movies I watched for SMS and of course, my awards!  See you guys then!

Why the Plastic Bag Ban Doesn't Work

Starting March 1 of this year, the city of Kirkland implemented a city-wide plastic bag ban, preventing any retailer from giving plastic bags to customers.  Instead, they can give out paper for a 5 cent per bag charge.  They do this to try to encourage people to bring their bags so that very few bags have to be made and used.  THIS DOESN'T WORK.  And I'm going to explain why.

1) Paper bags cost more to make and are harder on the environment to make
Paper bags cost more to make than plastic (if you look at the cost per bag to retailers).  I'm not sure of the amount for either, but it's something like this.  Each plastic bag costs about 1/100th of a cent, while each paper bag costs 1/2 a cent.  It's a significant difference.  Those aren't exact, so don't quote me on that, but it's similar to what I remember seeing.  Point is, paper costs significantly more PER BAG.  Sure, they can hold more, but 50 times more?  Yeah right.  Also, paper bags come from trees while plastic comes from the ground.

2) People never remember to bring their bags--and are too lazy to go get them!
I find it simply astounding that the residents of Kirkland were given a year's notice about the plastic bag ban, told to remember to start bringing their bags a year in advance, and two and a half months into the ban people are still forgetting them.  We, the city of Kirkland, had a year to prepare, and we totally freaking failed.  That's like given an entire semester's notice of a test in a class and told exactly what to study for, and choosing not to study.

Anyway, the most common thing I hear is "I forgot/left them in the car."  Really?!  Great, they're less than  1,000 feet away!  Oh, you're too freaking lazy to go get them?  Are you s****ing me?!  First off, if you're shopping with someone else make the passenger hold the bags on the way to the store.  If you're shopping alone, leave them on top of the passenger seat... and put your cell phone on top of the bags there.  You won't forget that, will you?  Which means you won't forget that bags.  THERE IS NO EXCUSE.  Secondly, if the bags made it to the car, and you realize it before you've done much shopping, GO GET THEM!  No excuse.

3) People are content with paying for bags in Kirkland
This isn't true of everyone of course, but a majority of Kirkland residents are all right with paying 5 cents for every bag.  I'd say the average order only requires 2 or 3 bags, which comes to 11 or 16 cents (if you count tax--yes, they are taxed... lol... gotta love America).  Most people are ok with paying the bag fee, because Kirkland is already an expensive city to live in, what's 20 or so cents every time you shop?  It's nothing.

People being ok with paying for bags means a lot of paper bags headed out the door, which means retailers have to increase production on paper bags, which can't be good for the environment.

4) Reusable bags cause cross contamination!!!
When we had plastic bags, I would always put meat that wasn't that tightly wrapped in a plastic bag before I put it in a reusable bag, if they brought them.  Now, with no plastic, if someone comes to the front with reusable bags and no produce plastic bag around their meat, I am forced to put their leaking meat in a reusable bag.  Guess what?  There's a decent chance that bag doesn't get washed before it's next use.  People are lazy.  If they're too lazy/forgetful to bring their bags sometimes then they're too lazy to wash their bags, too.  Reusing bags, especially cloth bags, can cause cross-contamination which can result in sickness and in some cases even death.

5) People can just shop in neighboring city for plastic bags and dispose of them here
Currently, neighboring cities Redmond and Bellevue do not have a ban on plastic bags, so I'm sure many shoppers have flocked to those cities for free and convenient plastic bags.  And I bet they're still doing the same things with the plastic bags that they did before.  Myself included, many Kirkland residents have brought plastic bags from other cities into Kirkland and used them as trash cans, pet waste bags, etc.  They're still ending up in Kirkland garbage cans.


So what do we do?  I'd say bring plastic back, and if people really want it they'll pay for it, too.  All the money that plastic bags make could go towards environmental efforts to keep them out of landfills.  Bring plastic back, but make people twice before they stuff them in the garbage.  Also, couldn't they make the plastic bag bio-degradable, like you see with the food compost bags?  Why can't those be made into shopping bags?  Oh well.  In the meantime, I will continue getting plastic in Woodinville, Bellevue, and Redmond and bringing it here, because people in government do not know how to THINK THINGS THROUGH.