Movie Review: "Centurion"

   I am an ardent fan of the cinematic arts. Although I have certain genre preferences, I don’t let that stifle my curiosity and close myself to different flavors of entertainment. That said...I am a huge fan of science fiction, super hero and action movies! Please visit my other blog The Boxed Office for reviews, exclusively, on these types of movies.

The Cast: 

Michael Fassbender, Dominic West and Olga Kurylenko

   Michael Fassbender is certainly a rising star and is becoming more recognizable ever since his success on “X-Men: First Class.” His talent continues to shine through in this movie, more so since he is the main focus in the movie with everyone else playing a supporting role. He proved that he can carry my interest with his ability to draw me into his character and make me care about his situation. Dominic West plays a supporting role but is the only other recognizable name in the film (at least to me). He is a good actor, very talented and adept at playing bad guys (see “300” and “John Carter”), although his role here is defined by what side of the fence you happen to be on. Olga Kurylenko’s role doesn’t call for much range, just that she show up and exhibit rage expressed in lethal ability....and she delivers.

The Plot: 

   Quintas Dias (Fassbender) is the Roman sole survivor of a Pict attack on his outpost. After escaping his captors, he is rescued from certain death by the Ninth Legion under the command of General Titus Flavius Virilus (West). The Ninth Legion has been dispatched to march north and end the Pict threat conclusively.

   Etain (Kurylenko) has been assigned to accompany the Ninth Legion as their guide and scout through the harsh northern lands of the Picts...but her past is never very far away from her, nor are the consequences of those experiences.

   After the Ninth Legion is ambushed and General Virilus captured, Quintas Dias and a small band of six survivors set out to rescue him and return to Roman territory. What follows is a harrowing adventure in survival, betrayal...and surprisingly, love.

The Verdict: 

   I watched this movie on a road trip and didn’t know anything about it as it began, and wasn’t very excited about watching it until I saw Fassbender’s name pop up. I was just about ready to go to sleep instead, but decided to give it my attention...and it was a decision that I’m very glad I made.

   The cinematography was well done and the directing kept me enthralled from one scene to the next as the movie flows seamlessly. I was pleasantly surprised at how exciting the combat scenes were and a little shocked at how gory some of the shots were, but it added to the intensity and the realism of the film.

   I’ve read that the movie is more based on myth than actual historical events, and I didn’t scrutinize it for historical flaws or hinge the value of it by it’s historical accuracy. I watched out of interest with a slight hope of being entertained...and what I got in return was more entertainment than I knew what to do with. Despite the extremely small budget, it weighs in as one of the better films I’ve seen, easily ambushing three cinnamon sticks, out of five, in my cup of tea.

We’re Facebook Friends...?

   Facebook...the revolutionary vision of a man that has changed the way we interact with each other. Well, that’s a little too much spin...more like the revolutionary application of a social site from a modest vision of a man that has changed the way we interact. Yeah...that’s better, and more accurate.

   I honestly don’t think I can write anything about Facebook that hasn’t already been written...but I’m going to try anyway. The only real experience that anyone can write about with certainty that it will be unique, is their own experiences. Most people seem to be having a good experience with it, if we believe the reports on the number of users. Some have had horrible experiences...and those reports make for interesting reading, to say the least. My philosophy is Facebook is what you make of it. How you use it will determine what your interactions will be...within the confines of human behavior, of course. However, as this social network expands, it’s all for naught if we are not expanding our personal relationships.

   How many Facebook friends do you have? How many of them are people you really know...or what is more important, people that really know you? I’ve met people on Facebook and have had very positive interactions...on Facebook. This type of social interaction is very different though from spending time with someone (in the real world) and getting to know who they really are. Let’s face it...on Facebook, you can be anybody and the presentation may not always be an accurate representation. If we are not using Facebook to build real relationships, then what are we using it for?

   I get many uses out of it...chief among them is keeping in touch, almost instantly, with many people, friends, and family that otherwise would probably be lost to me as I shuffle through the kaleidoscope of my life. I know I’m horrible at picking up the phone, so it’s a great tool for me to facilitate communication. Anyone owning or doing business can certainly find a use for the marketing capability Facebook presents. I have also gotten this type of use out of it. It has also been fabulous at connecting with people that I would otherwise never get the opportunity to interact with as they hustle through their busy schedules bringing you and I the entertainment we enjoy.

   Yes...Facebook has many uses, but if a difference is going to be made on a level that truly matters, then it occurred to me that I should be using it to build real connections...and move away from “Facebook” friends...and into just friends. The fact that I can walk by someone and not have a clue that we were in a fascinating conversation a week earlier just boggles me. Worse than that is the eerie feeling that I know a complete stranger...their visage familiar to me because my subconscious mind has stored it within the catacombs of my brain after seeing their picture on Facebook. Ever notice the increasing number of people walking around with that “I know you from somewhere” look?

   I was recently approached with the quickly becoming classic opener...”we’re Facebook friends” and was disappointed in myself for not knowing the truth of that phrase. I have many Facebook friends, but not much time to get to know them...an operational fact I’m now seeking to change. As my network expands, I’m realizing it’s a very small world...and shrinking all the time. However, it will become larger, in a sense, when the “cyber” is taken out of the space we occupy...and the “human” is put back into the relations we have.

   “Hello, I’m just dropping in (your Facebook page) to see how you're doing and hoping that all is going well.” It’s a start....

Just Show Up

   All success begins with being in a position to grasp it. It doesn’t matter the magnitude or the perceived importance of the event or situation. It won’t happen for anyone if they are not present to bring it about. It sounds so very simple, but it is surprising to me the amount of people and the frequency with which people have a hard time of just showing up.

   Half the battle of keeping and getting a job is simply to show up on time. Half the battle to achieving in school is to just show up to class on time...both physically and mentally. Looking for that perfect seat in the movie theater...? Show up. Maybe this person could be “the one”...show up. Think you or your team can win that event or contest...? Show up. When you really think about it, many of the circumstances that shape our goals and dreams start with simply showing up to initiate the proper sequence of events.

   The world is a demanding place and expectations are sometimes way too high in contrast to reality, in my opinion. However, the demand that someone be somewhere they obligated themselves to be or the expectation they will arrive as promised is not unreasonable in the least. It’s simply a good habit to get into and will always put you closer to that which you are striving for.

   Why have I dedicated a post to this? What do I know about the subject? Theses are good questions you may have as you read this and all I can say is...take it from someone who’s chronically late (me), it pays to show up...it pays even better to be on time. If you’re like me and like to have you’re cake and eat it too ( as seen here), and prefer some sweet frosting on that cake...show up early!

   Despite my shortcomings (now wouldn’t that be an interesting post?) I didn’t write this solely from self reflective examination, but from some recent experiences wherein I wasn’t the cause, but shared a large part of the effect. Yes...not showing up doesn’t just bare negative consequences for the missing person, but the ramifications can cascade and envelope the innocent that simply made the mistake of believing you would do as you said you would.

   Sometimes the consequences are minor...perhaps your team loses a game because a key player was missing. At other times the consequences can be dire...and somebody could get seriously hurt because participation was critical. Now...I’m not saying there aren’t times when plans don’t come together. Heck, if there’s one thing I’m keenly aware of is that sometimes, plans don’t come together. All I’m saying is that it’s extremely important to develop the habit and good practice of being where you should be...when you should be there.

   Take the most recent lottery winner for example. They say that you can’t win if you don’t play...and not everyone that plays will eventually win. In fact, most won’t ever win. However, everybody that has won shares one thing in common. Either in person or by proxy...they showed up! If you go and play the lottery after reading this, you probably won’t win...but if you don’t play...you definitely won’t. Success operates in the same way...to get it, you have to show up.

The Good Side of Dating

   Dating: Two actors coming together for one night to put on a show...for each other.

   Ah...the dating game. We’ve all played it and some of us are still playing it. I’ve always wondered why it was called a game since it can be such a serious endeavor. Looking for a mate is a mixed bag at best. Although dating isn’t always about looking for a mate. Often it’s simply about having a good time with great company. The real question is...is the person you’re dating really the person they present themselves to be?

   The answer, of course, is...complicated. We all are who we say we are, until we show we aren’t. Everyone, well...almost everyone, endeavors to show the best of themselves when it comes to dating. Meeting new people can be fun and nerve wracking at the same time so nervousness and the desire to leave a good impression work to suppress the parts of ourselves we show to others we are most comfortable with. How often have you dated the most articulate and well spoken person...only to find out that they really cuss like a sailor behind closed doors?

   This speaks directly to what I’m talking about. It’s not necessarily a bad thing...just a thing we all need to acknowledge as a part of human nature, or perhaps a product of the society we live in. How much would dating change if we all showed our true selves instead of the self seeking to impress? As interesting as dating is...it would probably be a lot more shocking, but truth often has that effect when it’s delivered raw and unedited. 

   The thought can be entertaining if you take it to an extreme. Imagine your date having no inhibition to passing gas while driving you to the intended destination. I’m chuckling as I write this...but really, who would even continue the date such a person after such a heinous attack on their olfactory senses? Now travel twenty years into the future to a married couple where passing gas in the car is still nasty, but after twenty years of marriage, children and the tribulations of life in general...it isn’t quite the deal-breaker it was on the first date.

   As funny as that may be (or not), there is a more serious side to everything I’m talking about. The “good side” shown in dating can sometimes mask some really serious personality disorders. Depending on how long this act is played out, it can have some serious ramifications when a few dates turns into years and a family, by which time the gradual revealing of the truth has gone unnoticed as you wake up one day next to a total stranger when compared to those first few dates. 

   There is something to be said...in any case, for always being and showing who you really are, and letting the cards fall as they will. Dating might not be as much fun this way, but it would certainly be more productive than the show we often put on for each other. It might even leave the stage and instead of the previous definition, go a little something like this:

   Dating: two people presenting themselves honestly to each other for one night...and either having a good time, or learning a valuable lesson.

   All this...and I haven’t even touched on the internet dating game...smh. Stay tuned....

Movie Review: "Fast Five"

   I am an ardent fan of the cinematic arts. Although I have certain genre preferences, I don’t let that stifle my curiosity and close myself to different flavors of entertainment. That said...I am a huge fan of science fiction, super hero and action movies! Please visit my other blog The Boxed Office for reviews, exclusively, on these types of movies.

The Cast: 

Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and Dwayne Johnson.

   Vin Diesel has become a brand that always delivers exactly what you expect...and this movie is no exception. He reprises his role with all the “Dieselness” of the appearances before, and then some. Paul Walker continues to be the perfect counter and compliment to Diesel, fully submerging himself in the complete 180 degree turn of his character from the direction of the very first movie. Dwayne Johnson is the metaphoric “icing on the cake” and just like Diesel, is now a brand that comes with high expectations...and also like Diesel, delivers on the goods.

The Plot: 

   Dominic Toretto (Diesel) is on the run from the law and is looking to make one last score...the biggest yet, to finally be free of his past. Hiding in Brazil and looking to rip off the biggest and most powerful criminal in the country, Toretto can’t do it without the help of ex-cop turned bad guy, Brian O’Conner (Walker). 

   Assembling a team of their old crew, along with some new faces, they have called upon the best in every area of expertise in pulling off an impossible heist. To make the situation more difficult, federal agent Luke Hobbs (Johnson) has been assigned to bring Toretto to justice...and Hobbs always gets his man.

   Caught in a race against time to make the biggest score yet and stay one step ahead of the law, the pace is blistering as Toretto and O’Conner navigate their way through Brazil for one last job. 

The Verdict: 

   “Fast Five” speeds it’s way with an adrenaline rush of high speed, high risk action. Anyone that is a fan of the first four movies is going to love this one even more.

   The movie never intends to win any Oscars, indeed, you must suspend your belief in reality to take even a fraction of what’s presented as vaguely in the realm of possibility. The opening action sequence is ample proof of this.

   The showdown between Diesel and Johnson is reason enough to pay the price of admission (or in this case, rental fee) as this sequence alone is more than worth it’s weight in gold. When I tell you to hang onto your seat when these two meet unrestrained and undeterred...I’m not kidding. This scene is absolutely epic...and easily, along with the rest of the film, marinates three and half cinnamon sticks...out of five, in my cup of tea.

My Tax Dollars...Your Burden

   “My tax dollars pay for your salary!”

   Ok...since I’m also a tax payer, it’s safe to say that my tax dollars also pay for my salary, so essentially, I‘m paying myself. I’m my own boss...but I already knew this. I get a kick out of people that brandish the fiery fist of power fueled by their tax dollars. In fact, I get a kick out of the very idea that they think they have any ownership at all over the money that is confiscated from them by our government. Yes...confiscated, because it is taken from you wether you want to give it or not.

   Let me lay this out for you. You’re money is in your pocket, under your mattress or in your bank account. That money that was in your check before Uncle Sam confiscated it...WAS yours. By the time you get your check it’s gone, and isn’t yours anymore. Many reading this won’t get that, but I’ll just direct those people back to the beginning of this paragraph wherein I explain where your money is.

   Once the idea of where your money is and what makes it yours...namely being in your possession to do with as you please, it’s easy to understand why I don’t get upset like so many others do when they complain about how their tax dollars are being wasted. The government wastes money...no matter where it comes from, so why is the money they take from you so special? Perhaps you think because it used to be yours that you have some claim or say about what is done with it? Right...tell you what, the next time you willingly give your money out, please try to enforce what is done with it after it is no longer in your possession. How about if your employer demand and enforce what you do with your money after you cash the check? Will that work for you? No...? Won’t work the other way around either.

   How about when your money is taken from you by force? If you’re held at knife point and your money is taken, it is returned to you if the authorities can capture and recover the thief in time. In essence, it’s still your money...so long as it can be recovered, and if not...there is always legal recourse to get it back or punishment issued for the taking. Funny how that system doesn’t work for you when Uncle Sam is the one robbing you. I don’t want my money taken from me, it’s being done against my wishes. I think I’ll call the police next Friday and report the money stolen from my check. I’m optimistic that justice will prevail...who’s with me?

   Let’s get real. No matter how much you cry about how the government is spending “your” money, they aren’t going to stop taking it from you nor are they going to give any back beyond what they decree is all right to take from you to begin with. They can fire every delinquent government worker, cut all the programs you don’t like, close every loophole you can find...and you still won’t find a check in your mailbox for the difference in savings. Am I saying it’s ok for all that stuff to be going on? Heck no. I’m simply saying the energy spent in that area of protest could be better spent elsewhere...like stopping the crime that’s committed every payday!

   I can hear it now “...but we need taxes to pay for roads and schools and defense...” I’m talking about the income tax, not all the other taxes that pay for all that stuff. I’m talking about the income tax that’s written as being “voluntary”...but see what happens when you don’t volunteer the money. It gets volunteered for you and you become an example of what not to do.

   “No taxation without representation”...but I’m not being represented, I’m being robbed! Somebody call Batman.

The Girl Code

   Just when you think you know it all...or at least a great deal of it, there comes that moment that clearly cements the fact that you don’t know nearly as much as you think you do. I don’t go around thinking I know it all, although I know a few people that would dispute that. I don’t even purport to know a great deal as I try to always live the philosophy of keeping my cup empty. Even with that, it seems there is never a shortage of moments, that very much cement for me the fact that I don’t know nearly as much as I would like to know...or as much as other people think, I think, I do.

   A great example of this is my recent education in “The Girl Code.” Now, I knew there was some sort of unspoken set of rules or perhaps even telepathic communication between all females...but I never thought they organized themselves to such a degree as to have an actual code by which they all try to follow. As if that wasn’t shocking enough, I was being educated in the code by my thirteen year old daughter that seems to know far more than I’m probably comfortable with. I blame the usual suspects...video games and rock music, although I’m sure Facebook is really the culprit, working in tandem with adolescence. 

   So there I was, getting the four-one-one on why a cute guy has  to be denied being liked since it will go to his head and further enhance his self knowledge of being cute. Especially if he exhibits confidence...grounds for being ignored! 

   I always thought jealousy was an emotional response to the perception or reality of being replaced by another. I never imagined it was a loaded weapon, one of many, in the female arsenal under the code. If you want him to come to you...push him away. Yup, this certainly makes more sense than simply being inviting. Sarcasm aside, the code may not be logical, but it exists as the bane of male interaction.

   Dating your friends ex-boyfriend is a serious code violation...punishable by hurt feelings and possible loss of friendship. This makes perfect sense also...I mean, he is an “ex”...not wanted and no longer a viable contender, so of course, maintain a distance of at least 300 feet! My humor was lost on my daughter...and probably won’t make me popular here either, and after it was revealed that feelings almost always linger, I started to see the light (uh-oh).

   Now...two girls like the same guy. In the mind of the guy (this is a complicated subject and will be discusses in a later post), this is most certainly viewed as a win/win situation. However, we are not dealing with the mind of a guy, we’re dealing with the Girl Code...and there can only be one outcome for the guy in this scenario: LOSE! Why...? The code states that you cannot go out with a guy that your friend likes...so if both girl friends happen to like the same guy, and both follow the code...he will remain as he was found...by himself. Maybe now is a good time to note that the code also calls for extreme sneakiness in certain cases...especially in breaking it...or, perhaps I’ve said too much.

   The Girl Code is vast and there is so much more that I’m not revealing (under threat of harm) since it would make this post into a fourteen volume encyclopedia instead of a quick glance into a world we (guys) have no business being in. To summarize the spirit of the code in terms a male can understand...”don’t hurt my feelings as I complicate simple situations by indirectly approaching the idea of a solution, before I reject the notion that such a solution actually exists.”

   The code is extensive and complicated...and although I’m still learning it, I haven’t fully ruled out my theory of female telepathic communication and empathy. After all...there doesn’t seem to be any limit to the female psyche.

The Burning Bridge

   Have you ever witnessed the destruction of a bridge being engulfed by fire? The crackle of the flames as the thick, acrid smoke climbs into the air. The radiant heat as the fire consumes the wood and compromises the metal. The way I describe it...many probably have not witnessed this firsthand. Suppose though, that this bridge isn’t really a bridge, but a relationship that’s been cultivated...and opportunity that’s been offered. Look at it through these metaphoric lenses, and I bet there are plenty who have witnessed the devastation of a burning bridge.

   It’s tough to tell the future. It’s mostly guesswork based on probabilities with a hint of possibility mixed in for good measure. With complex situations such as personal relationships and expanded networks, there really is no telling what direction life will flow at any given moment. Every decision is thought to be the right one...except when we’re making the wrong one, and it isn’t until we look back with the intent or anticipation of revisiting familiar ground, that we notice the hazy cloud of smoke from the scorched bridge we have burned. We’ll call this phenomenon the “surprise inferno”...and chalk it up to careless actions taken without the benefit of heartfelt contemplation.

   The surprise inferno can happen to anyone, but mostly it occurs when emotions collide within, causing extreme friction until a spark is ignited...causing a flame with which the embers fly freely toward an unsuspecting bridge. Sometimes these bridges can be rebuilt or repaired, depending on the extent of the damage and the insurance policy we have invested in the situation or relationship. A large investment usually can pay large dividends...but nothing is for certain.

   It goes without saying (although I’m saying it), that the accidental flame is preferable to the intentional scorching...depending on which side of the bridge you’re on. There are times when we set fire to the bridge deliberately...a premeditated act of arson, wherein we are looking to make a bridge nothing but ashes scattered in the wind. We’ll call this occurrence the “fire bug”...and credit it as the act of deep seeded emotions thoroughly filtered through profound thought. We’ll call it that, but the truth is it can be one or the other...and still have the same result. The occurrence is not accidental...and the burnt husk that used to be a bridge is not so easily rebuilt.

   We all laugh (or perhaps some don’t), at the clip of the lottery prank where somebody is led to believe they have won the lottery...and goes on to burn bridge after bridge (deliberate or accidental?) in a flurry of celebratory delight...only to find out moments afterwards that they didn’t win anything...and have instead, lost quite a bit.

   It would behoove us all to reflect and recognize the bridges we’ve burnt...and possibly notice the ones still burning. I’ve “fire-bugged” a few, but I know I have no intention of crossing that chasm again...and I’m not inclined to fight the fires of any still burning since I didn’t set the blaze. However, I am very mindful of some of the wonderful structures I come across that connect me to places I’ve never been before...and have learned that sometimes a few minor repairs can preserve the bridge, and it need not be turned to cinder.

   Sometimes the bridges we build enhance the superhighway of life and expand our travel options...and other times they take us into areas we wish didn’t exist. The fortunate among us build more bridges than we burn...and burn the right ones when the blaze needs to be set.

Movie Review: "The Dilema"

  I am an ardent fan of the cinematic arts. Although I have certain genre preferences, I don’t let that stifle my curiosity and close myself to different flavors of entertainment. That said...I am a huge fan of science fiction, super hero and action movies! Please visit my other blog The Boxed Office for reviews, exclusively, on these types of movies.

The Cast: 

Vince Vaughn, Kevin James and Winona Ryder.

   Vince Vaughn is always a joy to watch for me as I’m personally in tune with his particular brand of humor. He brings it here, as always, as a man that has learned his best friend’s spouse is having an affair. Kevin James is a great comedian, but his role wasn’t supportive of his talents. Winona Ryder is the cheating spouse and plays the role superbly as a woman that has conviction in her actions.

The Plot: 

   Ronny Valentine (Vaughn) is half of a partnership of struggling inventors trying to land into a big time deal in the automotive industry. His best friend, Nick Brannen (James), is the other half and the true brains of the operation. Nick is unaware that his marriage has deeper problems than the secrets he is keeping while Ronny has stumbled upon a secret that will change everything...Nick’s wife is having an affair.

   Geneva (Ryder) is Nick’s wife. Seemingly faithful and happy, she is having a steamy affair with a younger man...and enjoying every bit of it until Ronny confronts her with the fact that he knows her secret. 

   What happens next is a cluster incidents and moral soul searching as Ronny must decide if he is going to tell Nick...and if so, when he should, as they are on the cusp of the biggest deal of their lives. The whole time, Ronny is compelled to continue uncovering answers even at the cost of raising more question...mostly about himself.

   

The Verdict: 

   “The Dilema” was a great idea with excellent casting, but didn’t deliver to anywhere near what I expected given the subject and talent.

   Ultimately it was the script that dropped the ball to the point that even the usual entertaining delivery of Vaughn couldn’t pull it off. Ryder was excellent in her role of estranged wife and brought a sinister quality to her character that made the movie much darker than expected for a presumed comedy.

   Kevin James played his role well, it just wasn’t a part that was written to really showcase his comedic talent and the dramatic weight of the role, coupled with Ryder’s delivery had me heavily relying on Vaughn to make this the comedy it could’ve been. Instead, it was the comedy that never was...leaving only two cinnamon sticks, out of five, in my cup of tea.

I Don’t Know...

   Education is a major concern in this country on many levels. There is much to be said about the educational system and how it can be improved. Unfortunately, this post isn’t about that. Learning is a process, a life long process in my opinion, that never ends as long as we remain open to the truth that there are things we simply do not know. Instead of the focus being on what we know or what we don’t know...perhaps it should be on what we are learning?

   Regardless of what formal education level is achieved, the process of taking in new information is ongoing. The choice to retain and apply any new information is a personal one and, in my opinion, beneficial to anyone that does so on a continual basis in all aspects of life. Education is not just school books and tests...although I will advocate that anyone reading this pursue that endeavor to highest of their ability. For many of us there comes a time when school is over...but when we realize that learning is not, we continue to grow is great and unique ways.

    My schooling didn’t go beyond high school, but I was fortunate to recognize the building blocks high school gave me for what they really were...keys to unlock unknown information. I have always been inspired by the bar scene in Good Will Hunting:

...and of course the classic line “...you dropped a hundred and fifty grand on an education you could have got for a dollar fifty in late charges at the public library.”  

   Although it’s a simplistic synopsis and not entirely accurate when considering certain subjects, I advocate autodidacticism...or more accurately, learning through teaching oneself. Take Prince for example...a self taught musician and producer, and very successful by the publicly accepted standard, even though it’s been said he simply makes his music for himself. My point is, learning is a process that must be willingly engaged to be most effective and our “education” doesn’t begin or end with formal schooling.

   

   I have found that for me, there is no shame or embarrassment in uttering the phrase “I don’t know.” It is simply an invitation to expand my horizons by learning...something, anything. Education is the best key to unlocking the opportunities of life...so I encourage everyone to educate themselves continually, making today full of possibilities...and tomorrow much like today.

   Please peruse the links below as they have some very interesting information about the subject of self-education.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autodidacticism

http://selfmadescholar.com/b/self-education-resource-list/

http://www.marcandangel.com/2010/11/15/12-dozen-places-to-self-educate-yourself-online/

http://www.motivation-tools.com/youth/self_education.html

http://blogs.citypages.com/gimmenoise/2011/06/prince_facts.php