Jude!

This kid turns 3 in 5 days!!

Playing In Boxes

Oh, why do we even buy toys for our kids?  They really just want to play in cardboard boxes, wrapping paper, grocery sacks, bubble wrap...

What We Watch 2

Last night I watched "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" while Justin watched the basketball game.

And what did I think of it?  I thought it was great.  Yes, it was violent and gory.  Yes, it was very fantastical. Yes, it makes me cringe a bit that they took a beloved American President and the amazing things he did, and put a supernatural spin on it all.  But, it's all kind of awesome.  Abraham Lincoln kicks vampire ass and I loved every minute of it.  It was FUN TO WATCH.

As a vampire-movie-watcher, I appreciated that the vampires in this movie were blood-thirsty monsters that need to be wiped off the face of the earth.  I've been pretty tired of the "tortured soul" vampire lately, as well as the "handsome/brooding/romantic" vampire.  It was nice to see the "horrific/killer/evil" vampire again.

I know some people are going to roll their eyes at me (Justin) but this movie wasn't "silly" as expected.  (Except maybe the scene with the horses...)  It even managed to incorporate slavery and the Civil War in semi-clever ways.  I give this movie 3 stars.

Foolish Child

Oh what a foolish child I was, thinking that snow days were behind me.  Justin warned me and everything.  But I'm just a sun-loving St. Georgian with a heart full of dreams.

What We Watch 1

I thought it would be fun to post on what movies Justin and I watch, and what we thought of them, starting now!  So, last night we watched a little number called "Killing Them Softly" starring Brad Pitt.

It is about these three idiots who decide to steal from a bunch of scary high-up mob guys at their illegal card game.  Brad Pitt is the professional whom the mob guys hire to eradicate this situation.

I think this movie is definitely a fresh point of view of the "mob movie," as it focuses a lot on the financial side of things.  It is all about the money.  What bothered me about this was that it felt like I was being hit over the head with this theme.  The story takes place during the Obama/McCain election and in nearly every scene there was audio or video of the candidates speaking about the economy, etc.  Pushing way too hard.

However, at the same time, I couldn't really find a logical connection between the Brad Pitt/mob story, and this financial information given through the candidates.  Yes, there is money involved and it is very crucial to the story, but that wasn't enough.  

I asked Justin what he thought of the movie, and this is what he said:

"...Eh.  I would give it 3 stars.  I thought it was okay.  I look at it like Brad Pitt is an allegorical representation of Corporate America.  Like when he says that he doesn't like to kill them up close and see their emotions.  He likes to do it from a distance.  Like Corporate America killing you from a cozy little office.  But it was a little preachy and not incredibly well done."

I think that I would give this movie 2 stars out of 5.  Purely as a mob movie, it was entertaining and I enjoyed many of the characters.  The action scenes and the tension scenes were very well done.  However, this movie was clearly trying to do more than that, and I feel as if it failed in that aspect.

Photo Album

Jude!

Jude claimed my hat for his own the minute he saw it.

 I like this one because it looks like he has a mustache.  He looks like a gangster!

 He's getting great at blowing bubbles on his own.  (Thank goodness!)

Ciaran!

I gave him a strawberry and he went to town sucking and gnawing on it.  Poor kid doesn't have teeth yet.

 It's getting warm(er) on and off now.  We get outside every chance we can.  Only in Utah would you wear shorts and a beanie at the same time.

 He's so freaking cute!  His personality is just beginning to show; I am loving every minute.

Brothers!

The kids in our neighborhood are constantly dragging this toy car from yard to yard.  Jude absolutely loves it, so we claim it when we can.  :)  

Rockin' out to Guster music is one of Jude's weekly (if not daily) activities.  Ciaran really wanted to join in!

Sleeping Habits...

We put Jude to sleep in our bed one night and what did I find when I went to join him??

 Yes, that is Ciaran completely encased in his blankie.  He has grown very attached to it.

Remake:

"to make again or anew" (dictionary.reference.com)
I wish American filmmakers would focus on the "anew" part when remaking foreign films/TV.  (Well, ideally, I wish American filmmakers would just stop it all together, but that's definitely a distant dream.)  I just started watching the British TV show "Being Human" and was only a few episodes into it when I saw that there was an American version on Netflix instant as well.  I was initially excited; I thought, Awesome!  When I'm done watching the British one, I'll have another entire show to watch!  Out of curiosity, I started Episode 1 of the American one.  Well...it isn't "another entire show"...it is the SAME show, with AMERICANS playing the characters, and taking place in AMERICA.  The story line is identical, although granted, the dialogue is different.  The dialogue is decidedly AMERICAN.  By that, I mean more obvious in exploring themes and plot points...more in-your-face, this-is-what-we're-doing-here-you-idiots, just-in-case-you-don't-get-it, we-will-spell-it-out.  So disappointing!

It makes me very sad when people start talking about American movies like "Let Me In" and "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" and they have no idea they are remakes of foreign movies.  And they did it right the first time.  Why is it that anytime some foreign film gains success, America can't wait to remake it here?  The character of Sherlock Holmes has been around forever, with many film/TV versions out there.  But for some reason, right after BBC makes "Sherlock," we have to jump on the bandwagon with "Elementary"?

I can't wait for the American version of "Downton Abbey" most likely to be called "L.A. Mansion."