Niagara Falls

Tim and I recently visited Niagara Falls. We had a great time and were able to meet my parents for lunch at the Skylon Tower.

Tim looks like he's ready to fall in!

Alanna in front of the Canadian Horseshoe Falls.

The American Falls lit up at night. It looks like someone jumped in, eh?! I think it's a bird.

Fireworks on Friday night.

Isn't the Maid of the Mist so cute!

A view of the American Falls aboard the Maid of the Mist.

A view of the Horseshoe Falls aboard the Maid of the Mist.

Another view of the American Falls aboard the Maid of the Mist.

A great view of both falls from the observation area on the American side.

My parents , Tim and I at the Skylon Tower on the Canadian side.

A side view of the American Falls as we were coming off of the Maid of the Mist excursion.

The Canadian Falls at night.

Triple Play

Hi Everybody! It's been a long week or so, so I have a triple play of movie reviews for you. Enjoy!

Review #1:

Movie: Troy
Starring: Brad Pitt, Orlando Bloom, Eric Bana
Run Time: 165 minutes
Rating on All Movie dot com: 3 out of 5 stars
My review: 3 or 4 out of 5 stars

Last Sunday, Alanna and I went to see this with Mandy and T.
Troy was a long movie. It was a pretty good one though. I like the epic-type movies like this. And what better epic than Homer's Iliad? This movie was, of course, about the Trojan war between Troy and Greece over Helen of Sparta, who becomes Helen of Troy. Paris of Troy has an affair with King Menalaus' wife, and brings her back to Troy. The king gets his brother King Agamemnon to go to war to get her back, along with his revenge. Brad Pitt is Achilles, who really follows his own orders, and can't be controlled by Agamemnon. But he fights for Aggie's side in the war.
The movie has some cool action scenes and a good story. It was an enjoyable experience, but near 3 hours in a theater seat was a little long. I'd definitely recommend it as a rental. Knowing the outcome of the war takes a little away from the flick, because you're always waiting for the Greeks to build the horse, and you know what happens next. But it was still cool to see it on the screen. Hey, do you think the Trojan condomns were named after this?

This next review is dedicated to Mike.

Movie: Van Helsing
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Kate Beckinsale, Richard Roxburgh
Run Time: 132 minutes
Rating on All Movie dot com: 2 1/2 out of 5 stars
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Wednesday, T and I went to see this flick at the mall. Nice of the theaters to raise ticket prices yet again, now $8.25. If I'd have gotten a drink and popcorn, I'd have taken out a loan at the bank. Ridiculous!
Anyway, T and I both liked the movie. It had a pretty good story, and some pretty cool special effects. The story is about Van Helsing, a guy with a fuzzy past who hunts the monsters such as Wolfman, Jekkyl's Hyde, and of course, Dracula. Well, Dracula is trying to become alive, or not undead, or whatever. Nobody has been able to kill Dracula. Kate Beckinsale is Anna Valerious, whose family will be cursed until Drac is dead once and for all. She and her brother are the last chance in the family to kill Dracula, and Van Helsing comes to help. Together, they tangle with Drac's three Vamp brides, and try to find his castle and a way to conquer him. We find out that Dracula and Van Helsing have something of a history together, and Van Helsing is trying to piece it together. Meanwhile, Dr. Frankenstein has created his monster, and this monster is the key to Drac's eternal life, and the chance for his millions of offspring to live. The Frankenstein monster is surprisingly intelligent in this movie, and is actually kind of a good guy, trying to not be used for Dracula's plan.
As I stated before, this was a good movie. Having said that, there were a few things that were either too over-the-top, or not enough so, while others were just confusing. The final battle between Van Helsing and Dracula should have been better, with more action and more of, well, a battle. There were a lot of unreal moments (even for a fictional movie such as this), For example, the swinging from rope to rope or wire to wire with a fully extended arm, just is not possible. It's like they're all superhero acrobats. C'mon! Oh, and when Frankenstein's monster crashes through a window and simultaneously saves Anna's hide is a little cheesy. And please, anybody who watches this, tell me how Van Helsing's carriage catches fire in the forest when the werewolf lands on top of it. Seriously, how does that happen?
Oh well, the movie was enjoyable enough to overlook those cheeseball moments. I enjoyed the theater experience too for this flick. I think you'll enjoy this movie. And why not? I gave it a good review.

Review #3

Movie: Shrek 2
Starring: The voices of Eddie Murphy, Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, and Antonio Banderas
Run Time: 93 minutes
All Movie dot com rating: 4 out of 5 stars
My Rating: Oh, I guess about the same

Alanna and I went to Niagara fall this weekend, and stayed in Buffalo for free at the Motel 6, because I received two guest certificates as a wedding gift. We ended up seeing a movie where there was a cross dressing guy, another guy wearing a woman's thong, talk about BM's (the M stands for movement), and someone saying someone else still looks like an ass. Was this the new Quentin Tarantino movie? No it was a kid's movie by the name of Shrek 2! Unbelievable! Nice parenting, movie makers!
Well, this was a pretty good movie, I have to admit. I saw Shrek 1 for the first time a few months ago. I liked them both. In part 2, Shrek's and Fiona's wedded bliss is interuppted by an invitation for them to go back to her parent's castle for a celebratory ball. Shrek of course will be meeting the in-laws for the first time. When he does, they are stunned to find he's an ogre, and Fiona still is too. Well, the King wants Shrek out of the picture, and Prince Charming in. He calls on Price's mom, the Fairy Godmother, for some help. He also enlists the fearsome Puss-in-Boots to get rid of Shrek. The idea is for Prince Chraming to get Fiona, and for the curse to be lifted of the princess Fiona for good, so she's human again. In addition, The King owes the Fairy Godmother in return for a favor she did for him years ago.
OK, the movie was good. It had some pretty good humor (not the ice cream), albeit mostly adult-oriented. The best part of the movie was of course Eddie Murphy's Donkey character. And there's a good scene with Pinnochio and the aforementioned thong. Puss-in-boots is pretty funny too. All in all, this was a good movie experience the whole family will enjoy. Even if the little kiddies won't understand all the humor.

Whew! That was a long post. Hope y'all enjoyed it. Go see some movies this week. Tell 'em Tim sent ya! And somebody tell me about the carriage fire in Van Helsing!

Tim

Kill Bill Volume 1

OK, as promised, here's a review.

Movie: Kill Bill Volume 1
Starring: Uma Thurman, Lucy Liu, Darryl Hannah, David Carridine, Vivica Fox
Run Time: 107 Minutes
Rating on All Movie dot com: 4 stars out of 5
My Rating: 2 out of 5

Part black and white film, part Japanese Anime, and mostly regular color non-cartoon. This movie has lots of blood and death. The black and white part shows alot of that blood, which is good. Blood sprays everywhere, and unrealistically I might add. I remember why I'm not a Quentin Tarantino fan. I didn't care for "Pulp Fiction" or "Jackie Brown" or one of the worst movies ever, "From Dusk Till Dawn." I didn't care too much for Kill Bill either.
A former assassin decides to get married and quit the past life, but her old boss doesn't like it. So he has his team of killers massacre her and nine others at the small ceremony. "The Bride", Uma Thurman, survives in a coma for 4 years, then goes to get revenge on the five people involved on the "death list five." We see her journey from coma to Okinawa to meet a Japanese sword maker, then to Tokyo to find Lucy Liu. Later she goes to find Vivica Fox, but that actually comes earlier in the movie. It's a flashback to Lucy Liu and her gang. Obviously, the movie has two volumes, so she hasn't gotten to Bill yet. I'm sure I'll watch part 2, even though I'm sure I won't be to thrilled about it. Maybe this is one of those movies I'll have to grow into after repeated viewings, if I can bring myself to that. We'll see. I'll give Tarantino credit for having some imagination, even if I think he really needs psychiatric help.

Alanna informed me that my previous review had some typos and stuff. I've been sick since last night (not Tarantino sick), so I have an excuse. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. Now if you'll excuse me, time to take some Dayquill and Halls.

Tim

Review...Actually

Hey there movie fans!

I have a new movie review for ya today. No, it's not "Matrix Revolutions." I know I keep saying I'll review it, but you really don't care do you? What am I saying? Of course you do! Anyway, last night was a Blockbuster night, so read on for today's installment.

Movie: Love Actually
Starring: Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Colin Firth
Run Time: 135 minutes (yikes!)
Review on All Movie dot com: 3 stars out of 5
My Review: About the same

A two hour plus chick flick?! Luckily it was an alright movie. There were some funny moments here and there. It was too long though. But I guess it had to be to fit in the love lives of many different people.
Our story takes place in England, where the love lives of many different people are followed. Seemingly, they each have nothing to do with each other, until later on. We find Hugh Grant as England's Prime Minister, who falls for a catering staff member. He is the brother of Emma Thompson, who finds her husband Alan Rickman ("Die Hard's" bad guy Hans Gruber) may be having an affair with his secretary. Meanwhile, her friend or another brother or whatever (they don't really say) Liam Neeson is trying to get over his deceased wife, while trying to help his 10 year old step-son with an american girl classmate he loves, before she moves back to the states. Then there's writer Colin Firth, who finds out his wife has been fooling around with his brother. He gets divorced, and soons falls for a housekeeper temp, who speaks only Spanish and no English. Of course he speaks no Spanish. Do you think it will work out? Then there's two soft core porn stars who simulate there scenes, but have lots to talk about, and maybe something can develop from that. Oh, then there's another of Hans Gruber's employees who's in love with another employee, but she's too shy to say anything to him. Plus she has a brother that is in some kind of institution or hospital, and he calls her all the time on her cell. It makes it difficult for her to have any life. Whew! I think that's it!
So this was an OK movie, as I stated before. I found my self wanting to know what happens to all the would-be couples, and how they all link together. Guys, your significant others will love you for renting this movie. You can pretend it was your choice. The main drawback was that it was too long, and started to get a little boring before we find out how all the couples end up, if in fact they do end up. But at least it had Hans Gruber from the greatest movie ever, even though his character is way different than the Die Hard counterpart.

Coming possibly later today: No, not Matrix 3, but Kill Bill Vol. 1. Rush back to this site!

Tim

New Movie Review!

Hello folks! I know you've all been waiting on the edge of your seats for a new movie review. I also know I promised I'd do "Matrix Revolutions", but I've yet to watch it. But I will someday. Tonight however, we went to the $1.50 theater with Angie, to watch "Taking Lives." My review begins...now.

Movie: Taking Lives
Starring: Angelina Jolie, Ethan Hawk, Keifer Sutherland.
Run Time: 103 minutes
Rating on All Movie dot com: 2 1/2 stars out of 5
My Rating: 3 1/2 stars out of 5

This was a good psychological suspense thriller. I hope you enjoyed this review!

Ha,ha,ha. OK seriously, I liked it. It had some good twists and suspense, and some catch-you-off-guard scary moments. I love that in movies! Especially when it's dark in the theater or living room. Anywho, Angelina Jolie is Ileana Scott, FBI agent and serial killer profiler. She is contacted by a friend in Montreal, Canada to help out with a serial killer investigation. This killer has been "taking lives" for almost two decades. Not only does he "take lives", but he "takes lives." Understand? OK, he kills people, then assumes that person's identity, until he's bored and needs a change. Thus the dual meaning of the movie title. Get it now? Good. So finally there's a witness to one murder, and it's a struggling artist played by Ethan Hawk. His name in the movie is John Costa. So Costa is a witness, and he is soon used as bait to catch the killer, presumably played by Keifer Sutherland. But there's a few twists to this film, and I feel I should not divulge them until you see it. All I can say is that at one point, I thought the movie was over, and was slightly dissapointed at the ending. But I was wrong, it went on for another half hour or so. That was kind of disconcerting, as it seemed the movie was already an hour and a half long. So the movie goes on, and we find out all the truths. The flick keeps you guessing though, and that's what I like. When it was over for real, it seemed at least 2 hours, but it was only an hour forty. That was the only drawback to this piece of cinematography. I though it was over once, and that leaves me a little anxious to leave. I guess that's what makes a good twist.
So I would recommend this movie as a rental or $1.50 theater like we attended tonight. I hope you all enjoy it. But more importantly, I hope you enjoyed this review!

Coming soon, I swear: Matrix Revolutions. What else do I have to do since The Red Wings were eliminated from playoffs. Arrghh!!

Tim