MOVIE MARATHON: Noontime to Midnight

Husband and I changed our Sunday routine for a while and went out to watch movies for the whole day yesterday; went to the 10.45 AM Mass. Afterwards, we drove to the mall where husband went to Cingular in Modesto to return the WIFI card that was not compatible with his laptop while I was at Michael's Craft Store. I bought a knitting set for 8-year old kids, hoping I'd understand the visual lessons, elementary level, but boy, I was crossed eyed by midnight (trying out to make a loop or two)! It was hard! Finally, I gave up and fell asleep. I might stick to crocheting. I'll see. I bought eye lash yarn at Michaels and was fascinated by the other yarns on sale then the knitting needles seduced me.

Anyhow, back to the movies. Husband and I seldom go to the movie theater but when we do, it is always a marathon from noontime to midnight. So far, brace yourself, yes, these were the movies we watched at Brenden theatre in Modesto yesterday! My rating scale is as follows: *****=excellent, ****=very good, ***=good, **=fair, *= don't watch this movie!

1. 16 Blocks-**** about an aging NYC police detective who is sickly and alcoholic and was driving his car with the convicted criminal inside it; he stopped by the bar to buy a drink (and advil for head ache) whenall of a sudden, his ward was almost killed by an assasin who turned out to be one of his colleagues in the NYPD! With Bruce Willis' usual dexterity and velocity with his weapon, of course, he saved the life of the black man deespite the fact that Willis was drunk (and had difficulties walking due to a bad leg)!

The movie ended with Willis making an expose about the stinking mess at the NYPD.

2. Eight Below-*** starring Paul Waler, this is about a man (who had trained sled dogs) whose work was to bring in scientists from across the globe to cross the Antartica. One major storm one day forced him to get back home quickly. With him was the scientist from CA. Both guide (Walker) and scientist suffered horrible injuries (fracture and third degree frostbite) and had to be airlifted to California for medical treatment. They survived but handsome dude who owned the 6 trained Alaskan dogs felt guilty for having left them out in the cold for 6 months. Eventually, his scientific teammates and the American scientist raised funds and brought him back to Antartica with his dogs, safe and sound . They all traveled back to California. Lived happily ever after.

3. Failure To Launch-*** love story between an interventionist woman (played by Sarah Jessica Parker) and an over staying bachelor (Matthew McConaughy). The rule she made was never to fall in love with her client but she did! Hired by McConaughy's parents to make him get out of their house as he is taken as an over staying son at age 30 something. The rule of thumb is to make him falls for Jessica's charm that eventually, this ploy would motivate him to live elsewhere but this did not happen, ergo, he failed to launch his independence. There were conflicts involved but friends and folks of the bachelor bridged the gap. The ending find the two sailing together in the yacht; cozy and very much in love.

4. Find Me Guilty -*** starring Vin Diesel, courtroom drama and comedy about Jack's (Diesel) racketeering act with his fellow mob family in New Jersey. He defended himself and outwitted the defense lawyers, eventually losing his case but helped his fellow gangsters to come home to their families. They were given a lease in life and were pronounced as "Not Guilty." Vin Dielsel is a great actor with depth in his characterization of his role as the faithful Jack who can't sleep in the bed in his prison cell; he looks like Travolta and has a deep contralto voice that would make Pavorotti smile! Intriguing and sexy, Vin Diesel is comical and funny as his role demanded him to be. His character is a re-mix of Godfather mafiosi-like Robinhood type conjoined. The whole movie revolved around the courtroom. Another remarkable acting was rendered by the character of Oscar, the defense lawyer, who is a small person in real life (midget). He delivered his lines well, was very articulate and commanding. Shut your eyes when he speaks, and he sounds like a tall guy! Impressive was his performance in this film. Most actors who played up the roles of Italian mob guys were commendable, too.

5. The Shaggy Dog -** stars Tim Allen (and Kristine Davis of "Sex In The City") as the promising lawyer, in-line to be the next DA in his town; married with 2 kids; was beaten by a 3oo-year old shaggy dog stolen in Tibet. In effect, made him to metamorphose as a dog when beaten by a fellow dog, cat or when he is under a very extreme and stressful situation. He solved the crime dealing with mutation of animals for a study of an extended lease on human life. This is a comedy and a wholesome family movie but some scenes I find to be gross and boring; it only started to pace up a beat during the middle part of the movie. Husband thought this was an okay movie. He liked Failure To Launch, best of all.

Well, the movies brought me to different heights of emotion. One time, moi was teary eyed, the next, my heart was drumming like a timpani then finally, I was laughing and kicking while husband and I finished 2 buckets (the largest ones) of pop corn. We also had soda plus the other food stuff we ate at the movie house. By the time we were watching "16 Blocks" (last full show) I was dozing off, not realizing blue-eyed husband was also falling asleep. We had a good time but felt tired after doing our Olympic share of movie watching. I woke up at past seven this morning feeling so tired (could hardly open my eyes).

Now I start the day again but am lazy this Monday to even stretch my legs. Too much movie watching made me lazy, yikes! Until next blog, ciao!