After seeing my sister's family off after church, Sasha and I went to see this movie. It was great! Very dark, meaning that there was not a lot of light in the setting. Gotham was dark, the Bat cave was dark, stately Wayne Manor was dark, etc. Christain Bale was an excellent choice for the part of Batman; I didn't care much for Katie Holmes as Rachel, his childhood pal. Loved Michael Caine as Alfred! His character brought much-needed comic relief, and kept Bruce Wayne grounded.
There's talk of another picture in the franchise, following this beginning. Certainly the end of the movie suggested the possibility of a showdown between Batman and the Joker. If the director and cast remains the same, it would be worth seeing.
Sunday, June 19, 2005
Friday, June 17, 2005
Madagascar
I took niece Marjorie to see this movie last night. It was okay -- certainly not a laugh riot. I liked last summer's Sponge Bob Squarepants movie much better.
We came out of the theater into a cloudburst. I ran to get the car, and picked Miss M. up at the door. I drove a block before I pulled over into a parking lot to wait out the main thrust of the storm. I was soaking wet, just from my 30-yard run from the door of the theater to the car.
We came out of the theater into a cloudburst. I ran to get the car, and picked Miss M. up at the door. I drove a block before I pulled over into a parking lot to wait out the main thrust of the storm. I was soaking wet, just from my 30-yard run from the door of the theater to the car.
Thursday, June 16, 2005
Cinderella Man
I saw Cinderella Man last weekend. Despite the fears of my movie pal, the boxing scenes were not that intense, at least to me. She covered her eyes many times -- I watched with fascination.
I grew up with my dad watching the Friday Night Fights on television, and learned about boxing from him. I learned to appreciate a fine boxer.
As everyone knows, Cinderella Man is the story of Depression-Era boxer James J. Braddock, dubbed "the Cinderella Man" by Damon Runyon. I knew how the great match against Max Baer would turn out, and despite that knowledge, felt the tension build and easy as the ending was revealed. Skillful filmmaking never goes out of style.
I read somewhere that the studio released this movie too early in the summer season to really garner the big box office they were hoping for. This movie should be an Oscar contender in many categories -- it's a shame that many will miss it, turning instead to fluff like Mr. and Mrs. Smith or The Longest Yard.
I grew up with my dad watching the Friday Night Fights on television, and learned about boxing from him. I learned to appreciate a fine boxer.
As everyone knows, Cinderella Man is the story of Depression-Era boxer James J. Braddock, dubbed "the Cinderella Man" by Damon Runyon. I knew how the great match against Max Baer would turn out, and despite that knowledge, felt the tension build and easy as the ending was revealed. Skillful filmmaking never goes out of style.
I read somewhere that the studio released this movie too early in the summer season to really garner the big box office they were hoping for. This movie should be an Oscar contender in many categories -- it's a shame that many will miss it, turning instead to fluff like Mr. and Mrs. Smith or The Longest Yard.
Monday, June 13, 2005
"Into the Woods"
After drying out on Sunday morning, we attended the Billings Studio Theater production of "Into the Woods." This Steven Sondheim musical follows the lives of a number of familiar fairy tale characters, exploring what happened to them after "happily ever after." It is an amusing and sophisticated show, well-performed by some BST regulars, and several new faces.
Favorites for me were the baker (Vint Lavender), the baker's wife (Bobbi Hawk), the witch (Christie Arnold) and Little Red Ridinghood (Maddy Brown). Red was particularly funny brandishing the carving knife she used to skin the wolf! I think Ms. Brown is a high school student. She has a great singing voice, and great stage presence.
Favorites for me were the baker (Vint Lavender), the baker's wife (Bobbi Hawk), the witch (Christie Arnold) and Little Red Ridinghood (Maddy Brown). Red was particularly funny brandishing the carving knife she used to skin the wolf! I think Ms. Brown is a high school student. She has a great singing voice, and great stage presence.
Festival of Cultures
On Sunday morning, I sat at the Festival of Cultures for an hour and a half in the pouring rain. We were under a sun shade, which kept most of the rain off until the wind came up and blew the rain sideways.
Not a pleasant way to spend the morning. No one else thought so, either, and attendance was very low. My niece, Marjorie, enjoyed herself though, running from booth to booth with an umbrella. Some days, she's every bit the 12-year old; others, she's six or twenty-six.
Not a pleasant way to spend the morning. No one else thought so, either, and attendance was very low. My niece, Marjorie, enjoyed herself though, running from booth to booth with an umbrella. Some days, she's every bit the 12-year old; others, she's six or twenty-six.
Friday, June 03, 2005
Sunday, May 29, 2005
On Sarpy Creek
I read this book to participate in "One Book Town." My discussion group is set for June 11th at the library.
On Sarpy Creek was written by Ira Stephens Nelson in 1938; it was the only book he wrote. It was re-printed in 2003.
The book details the ordinary lives of a community of ranchers on Sarpy Creek from the mid-1920's to the mid-1930's, when the drought pushed out all but the most hardy settlers. The story opens with a birth in a wagon, and continues through a brutal murder; adultery and redemption; anger and joy. At the center of the story are Case and Sareeny Gyler, a young couple who come back to Sarpy Creek to make a life near Sareeny's family, the Gores. Their lives and the lives of their neighbors are intertwined in a way familiar to anyone from a small community.
I can't but help compare the book to Ivan Doig's "This House of Sky" series about the valley south of White Sulphur Springs. The writing styles are different; Doig is far more sophisticated. But the storytelling is accomplished, and Nelson's simpler approach does not make his book any less readable. The characters are well-developed and real, and the situations played are believable.
On Sarpy Creek was written by Ira Stephens Nelson in 1938; it was the only book he wrote. It was re-printed in 2003.
The book details the ordinary lives of a community of ranchers on Sarpy Creek from the mid-1920's to the mid-1930's, when the drought pushed out all but the most hardy settlers. The story opens with a birth in a wagon, and continues through a brutal murder; adultery and redemption; anger and joy. At the center of the story are Case and Sareeny Gyler, a young couple who come back to Sarpy Creek to make a life near Sareeny's family, the Gores. Their lives and the lives of their neighbors are intertwined in a way familiar to anyone from a small community.
I can't but help compare the book to Ivan Doig's "This House of Sky" series about the valley south of White Sulphur Springs. The writing styles are different; Doig is far more sophisticated. But the storytelling is accomplished, and Nelson's simpler approach does not make his book any less readable. The characters are well-developed and real, and the situations played are believable.
Friday, May 27, 2005
Rx: Lemon Drops
The right side of my face started swelling after lunch on Wednesday. It diminished a bit, then swelled again after lunch on Thursday. That freaked me out, so I went to Immediate Care for an expert opinion.
Parotitis.
Yeah, that's what I thought, too, but it has nothing to do with parrots. It's a blocked salivary gland, the parotid to be exact. The same gland swells when you have the mumps. Such an attractive look for me! She felt there was a calcification, or stone, blocking the duct.
The nurse practitioner who saw me brought in a colleague to feel my neck; they'd been discussing this VERY THING earlier in the week. Glad to be of service to humankind . . .
Anyway, aside from the HUGE horse-pill antibiotic I was prescribed, I was advised to apply hot compresses, gently massage my face, and suck on lemon drops. The sour stimulates the gland, apparently, and will produce saliva which -- I gather -- will eventually expell the "stone" blocking the gland's duct.
And I worried I wouldn't have anything to say!
Parotitis.
Yeah, that's what I thought, too, but it has nothing to do with parrots. It's a blocked salivary gland, the parotid to be exact. The same gland swells when you have the mumps. Such an attractive look for me! She felt there was a calcification, or stone, blocking the duct.
The nurse practitioner who saw me brought in a colleague to feel my neck; they'd been discussing this VERY THING earlier in the week. Glad to be of service to humankind . . .
Anyway, aside from the HUGE horse-pill antibiotic I was prescribed, I was advised to apply hot compresses, gently massage my face, and suck on lemon drops. The sour stimulates the gland, apparently, and will produce saliva which -- I gather -- will eventually expell the "stone" blocking the gland's duct.
And I worried I wouldn't have anything to say!
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Here we go!
I just got home from a presentation about blogging delivered by Karen, Randy and Craig. Their presentation has inspired me to create a blog, even though I don't think my life is particularly interesting. Worse, my opinions on various things are not worth repeating.
Notwithstanding these limitations, I have decided to try this out. I used to enjoy writing, and I still write letters to a number of friends. It's not that I'm without material -- but the quality of the material will be significantly less compelling than some of my favorite blogs!
We'll see how long I can keep this up.
Notwithstanding these limitations, I have decided to try this out. I used to enjoy writing, and I still write letters to a number of friends. It's not that I'm without material -- but the quality of the material will be significantly less compelling than some of my favorite blogs!
We'll see how long I can keep this up.
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