The EPL Effect – Part 1 Yesterday the much-anticipated movie Eat Pray Love the Movie opened. I attended the first showing (around noon) at the 41st Avenue Cinema in Capitola, CA. If the size of that audience is any indication of the potential box office for this movie, it’s going to be a big success. [...]
Wrapping up the 4th of July weekend at my house, we’re watching BAND of BROTHERS a tradition for the last several years. And why aren’t we outside enjoying a summery California day? Because it’s 61 degrees and overcast with drizzle and a foggy marine layer. NOT beach weather without a hoodie—or in may case, a [...]
[Note: This is Part 2 of my Toy Story 3 Review. Part 1 is yesterday's blog.] Before espousing what I think are the themes of Toy Story 3, first a little plot summary. Toy Story 3 is told from the point of view of Woody (For anyone not familiar with these amazing animated movies, Woody [...]
“Holy Mole Guacamole!” says Hamm the Piggy Bank in the movie. And that sums up Pixar’s latest (and perhaps greatest?) creative effort. The reviews have been (almost) unanimously spectacular: 180 positive reviews on Rotten Tomato; 3 negative. (Who were those people? Space aliens? Cruella de Vil, Scrooge, and Lucifer?) I concur with the masses. It [...]
The Father’s Day holiday is 100 years old today. It was inspired by Sonora Smart Dodd, in honor of her father, William Smart of Spokane, WA. When his wife died in childbirth, he raised Sonora and her five younger brothers by himself. He must have done a great job—as Sonora began a drive to recognize [...]
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This is Part 3 of a 3-part series reviewing the documentary film Good Hair written and directed by Chris Rock. Note: I need to clarify a comment I made in Part 2 about a remark that Maya Angelou made in the film. She said that a black woman’s hair is her “crowning glory.” I originally [...]
[Part 2 of Good Hair review. Part 1 is on 5/25/10. Part 3 to be announced.] The most interesting commentary in Chris Rock’s documentary on black women’s hair is the part about THE WEAVE. I had no idea how complicated, extravagant, and psychologically important this hair device is. First, let me discuss my own hair. [...]
When I was a teen I was DYING to see Easy Rider. But I was too young to get in without a parent. “No problem.” said Pam, an older high school friend. She was one grade ahead of me in school, but in terms of life experiences (of the boy-girl kind), light years. She got [...]
WOW—what’s with all the hate for the new Sex and the City movie? The critics’ reviews are scathing. So are many of the internet posts. I don’t know what buttons this movie pushed for people, but it sure has generated some nasty comments. I don’t get it. I LIKED the movie. Yes Liza Minnelli was [...]
My New Year’s Resolution for 2010 was to go cold turkey to end my addiction to American Idol. I kept this resolution—sort of. I did not watch the show on TV. But I did watch some of the performances online and posted comments on the Idol Chatter blog (of USA Today). Luckily this season’s group [...]
