Flashback Friday ~ 3/31/23

In looking for a Flashback Friday, I went to 3/31/17. This was about nine months into my first year as a blogger. Then I looked at 3/31/18 & realized I was much more prolific back then. I wrote three different posts on 3/31/17 with 89 posts total for March of 2018.

What the what?!?!?

Now I’ve calmed down to write one or two posts everyday with this being #1691 in a row. Yeah buddy! Here’s a little secret, I think my writing skillz have become flat. Not sure exactly what I mean by that but I was much more cheeky then & I hurled profanity, keeping it real. I was Hemingway bleeding on a page y’all. My angst, had its own angst.

These days I write as if I’m scared. Okay, I was scared. FB banned my blog (they let me back in but I’m not biting). A few DMs came my way that put me on pause. Life kept happening but I posted my views in a more subtle way. Don’t laugh, I have been reigning it in these days. Feels less genuine somehow. I’d like to get an edge back.

Okay, now for the main event. Five years ago was a Saturday. This was my #SoCS post. Hope you enjoy the recycle. The video may not work but the movie is out there. Pulp Fiction finest.

#SoCS for 3/31/18 ~ Bun

As always, more to come.

On this day ~ From FB 6/19/15 to 6/19/20

I fancy myself the movie critic … I know, I know, don’t quit my day job. Despite me likely being in the minority for my opinion, I’ll still give an assessment of “Jurassic World” … WITHOUT any spoilers

In my opinion, the movie was just very good but not great, certainly not record breaking over $500M in the opening weekend kind of great. The ending obviously left the door open for another sequel for more moola eventually.

My verdict is out on Opie’s daughter as the lead. I’m not sure she was strong enough to carry it. Perfect hair and heels in the jungles of Costa Rica… puhleese. D’Onofrio, BD Wong, and Chris Pratt played their parts well. I guess I’m just spoiled by Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park and the first big screen adaptation. Laura Dern, Sam Neill, Richard Attenborough, and Jeff Goldblum, I mean come on!! How can you top that talent ?!?!??

I read Mr. Crichton’s book first like I usually do and while the movie deviated a bit from the novel, the 1993 Jurassic Park is classic. I think I’ll dust off my copy and re-read it and after that I’ll re-read the Andromeda Strain. Summer is almost here after all. I’m going to pretend I’m a kid trying to meet my quota for the summer reading program at the McCreless branch library. I want my T-shirt and book bag 

J-Dub’s Review of “Book Smart”

Pretty sure no one has heard of this movie.  Definitely won’t make the Oscars.  This movie is a coming of age film about high schoolers … Class of 2019.  Centers around the parties on the night before graduation.  The relationships.  Overdone theme for sure.  No spoilers just speaking in generalities.

Directorial debut by Olivia Wilde.  Not half bad .. it was all bad.  Haha. Just joshing by citing the Muppets.   Truly this movie was not half bad.  With graduations this month and into the next, the timing was right.  Nice cameo by husband Jason Sudeikis.  I can think of worse ways to spend my Sunday.

J-Dub’s rating 3 of 5 stars.  Suggest waiting until this gem comes out on DVD.

As always, more to come.

 

 

Reality TV, Made For TV Movie, and Book Turned Into Netflix Movie

I was thinking of the zombie apocalypse.  Really I was.  I mean c’mon.  Isn’t New Years Day a time to reflect?  What crazy might 2019 bring?  Zombies?

But I jest.  I was mixing my memories.  Googling  “Where have all the people gone?”  I expected to see the following:

This is “Where Have All The Children Gone?”  Not People.  I used to watch this dribble.  Don’t ask me why because I’ve no idea. If you still like shows like Dance Moms, more power to you.

Instead what popped up is this:

I remember this 1970 something made for TV movie.  And I thought hey I just read a book like this … but nope instead, I just watched another made for TV movie of a similar ilk … Bird Box.  Have you seen it?  Well I did and well I expected better from the hype.

There was supposed to be tons of symbolism but that went right over this simpleton’s head.  What the what Captain Obvious?  I still don’t understand.  Plus the ending sucked.  All IMO.  What’s yours … if you’ve seen any of the above that is?

As always more to come.

J-Dub’s Review of “Aquaman”

The tradition continues. And this year was a banner year in the Dub household. We picked better than we have in a long time.

Whatcha talking about Jilly ?!? The Christmas Day movie 🎥 of course.

Like I said before, pickings were slim. No Oscar nominees in the bunch that I’m aware of. Even “Welcome to Marwen” only got 26% on rotten tomatoes. I was so holding out hope for that one.

“Mary Poppins Returns” was a no for B. “Bumblebee” was a hard pass for me. “Holmes and Watson” was going to be our 2013 “Anchorman 2” esque reprisal but after we watched the trailers a few times, we realized “no shit Sherlock” and “I’m a doctor, would you like some heroin” were likely the two most funny lines of the show. The latter being not that funny considering there’s a opioid crisis.

Doh!

Then B says why not “Aquaman”? Women ❤️ him and men want to be him. Lol. He really did NOT say that last part. Lulu reluctantly agreed. Why? Because DC is not Marvel. She has sworn allegiance to Marvel and DC is usually not as strong. Still we decided to give hubba hubba I mean Aquaman a try.

The outcome: OMG delightful. Great storyline of love between opposites … his parents. Of common stereotypes of what makes a king. Of sibling rivalry. Of loyalty. Tons of CGI action. Left open a nice path to another movie 🍿… “when you’re ready to talk come find me”.

I may have even cried. I can cry at the stop of a hat as it is but darn it those reunions with their mommy. Nic Kidman aka “she who never ages”. And that’s not a spoiler. Those parts were predictable even to me who is ALWAYS clueless.

Case in point …

Me on the car ride home … hey did y’all get the reference? His name was Arthur and he was the 👑 and he pulled the trident 🔱 from the original king of Atlantis who was petrified/stone.

B … duh 🙄 captain obvious.

Lol! And here I thought I’d uncovered a great mystery. Any who, landing the plane, solid offering. I give the movie 4.321 out of 5 stars ✨

I Picked Poorly

Written 12/1/18 at 12:40 pm CST in the year of our lord 2018:

I picked poorly … but not the movie.  “Boy Erased” is going to stellar I can already tell from the reviews and friend feedback. I went with the earlier time slot as my way to choose.  Next time I will post my #QQ4U the day before.

Bistro has assigned seating now. FYI seat B1 stinks. Figuratively.  Once the previews start if there’s an opening, I think I may be brave and move. This is old school digs. My back row seat is not really elevated. They don’t even have stairs once you enter, the theater itself has just a very slight incline.

The renovations which have been going on forever have kicked up a notch to where there is a new temporary entrance.  I will be shocked if they ever finish this upgrade.  In the interim, popcorn, candy and drinks only.  No more “real” as opposed to fake food until the kitchen is back up and running.

Written 12/1/18 at 4:30ish pm CST in the year of our lord 2018:

Since this is based on a true story, I have no criticism.  My heart was broken for the main character.  I cannot even imagine what he went through because with the exception of one or two scenes (okay maybe three or more), I think this adaption held back.  I am going to find the Times piece written by Garrard Conley to get a better idea of what went on.

Brilliant work by the cast (J-Dub’s words).

Cast roll call from IMBD: Lucas Hedges as Jared Eamons (based on Garrard Conley) Nicole Kidman as Nancy Eamons. Russell Crowe as Marshall Eamons. Joel Edgerton as Victor Sykes. Joe Alwyn as Henry. Xavier Dolan as Jon. Troye Sivan as Gary. Cherry Jones as Dr. Muldoon.

I am adding Britton Sear as Cameron.  Not to spoil things but in one pivotal scene I think I actually yelled YES!!  Push them!  as he did the right thing.

Even score one for Flea.  He did pretty good for a musician/occasional actor.  I did not want to hate the characters played by Joel Edgerton and Russell Crowe because I do not want hate in my heart but so help me I did.  Though perhaps the real-life versions of these characters have achieved some semblance of redemption.  Humans are flawed but we do not have to stay that way.

Two thumbs up instead of my usual stars.  I am feeling feisty.  I will close with some snaps.  Some of these make me sad 😦

the signage is retro and not aging well

The once beautiful fountain is empty

Closer view. Looks desolate.

Entrance if I ever figure out Thursday doorss

The stairs that always bring back memories

B

1

lunch of champions!!

No recliner in old school digs

Trying to relax if that’s ever possible

 

J-Dub’s Review Of “Bohemian Rhapsody”

… not the song but the movie. Or maybe a little of both.

Lulu Belle and I enjoyed the show immensely.  Made me yearn for a different era.  I would’ve been a groupie!  I stop short of repeating a play by play of this biopic.  You can read about Queen anywhere.  There are actually quiet a few documentaries I prefer because I get to see actual Freddie footage. He was stunning!  That voice!!! The band in a word … phenomenal.  One of my all time faves.

When the song first came out, it was confusing to me.  But that one word in the title … Bohemian … which I felt like … brought me in and I listened.  Over and over.   The kind of song that grows on you or at least grew on me.  “Will you do the Fandango?” why yes, yes I will!!!

Off to buy some Adidas, white tank top, studded arm band, and tight ass Wranglers … the original skinny jeans.  Lol :).  Rock on with your bad selves and go see the movie.  Two plus hours rolls by in what feels like mere minutes.  And you’ll be chair dancing and lip syncing along with the music the whole time!

So, … Nostalgia At Ye Old Cinema

Today I went to the mall now known as Wonderland of the Americas, formerly Crossroads mall, originally the Malls of Wonderland Shopping City to see a movie.  At one time the Wonder Theatre was above ground.

We saw Chitty Chitty Bang Bang here in 1968.  The theater was razed in the mid to late 70s and a new underground sixplex was built.

Currently dubbed Bijou Cinema or simply the Bijou (not be confused with other famous venues of the same name), this theater is finally getting a much needed renovation.

While wallpaper is peeling, baseboards are missing, and it still has a musty smell vaguely masked by the smells from the snackbar, there are brand new seats. And I’m talking nice seats. Nicer seats than Alamo Draft House or Casa Blanca IMO.

Me in my new seat

Three Identical Strangers was playing in theater six which happened to be the last one at the very end of a long dark hallway. As I made my way to my seat, I passed a set of stairs on the left going up to doors that were locked. I believe those doors lead to the outside street. But I cannot be sure.

Note the covered handrails to the right because they are painting that wall.

I also had an immediate sense of déjà vu. For you see in 1980 something, I saw the movie Ghost Story starring Fred Astaire here with my friends TC now TD and CS. I’m not sure but VS may have been with us too. It was a rainy cold night and these stairs man, they look exactly the same.  All I know for sure is that movie gave me nightmares.

And my feelings of déjà vu created a sense of nostalgia.   Ah the good ole days.

As always, more to come.

J-Dub’s Movie Review of Three Identical Strangers

Question: How does one critique a documentary?

Answer: You don’t.

It’s no spoiler to say what the movie is about because it’s been widely publicized. Triplets (David, Eddy, and Bobby) separated at birth only to accidentally find each other 19 years later.

The bigger story is about the Louise Wise adoption agency, Dr. Peter Neubauer, and the secret study on multiples. The purpose of the study remains unclear but could be nature versus nurture or mental illness. All three were placed in different Socio economic families: affluent middle class, and blue-collar.

Eddy dies by suicide. In the movie they use the dreaded C word and say how he did it which should be avoided say the mental health advocates. There was blame cast upon Eddy’s father. Which I personally believe is extremely unfair. There is no way to know the motives. The only person who knows is unable to tell.

I think what happened is unconscionable and I am particularly disgusted by the two research assistants who were interviewed because of their callous and flippant remarks. Yet I am fascinated by all the theories. Nature versus nurture. One of the relatives interviewed said it’s both and in her opinion and that nurture can overcome nature all the time. I have to politely disagree with that sentiment. Nurture can overcome nature some but not all of the time.

The two remaining triplets David and Bobby talk about how they concentrated on what was the same but that there were always differences. Those differences went beyond how they were nurtured. Though David does credit his father who raised him for saving him by providing such a loving and stable presence.

There’s really not too much else to tell only that I did find it very disturbing as more bombs were dropped. They were together at the agency for six months. The separation likely lead to behavioral issues like head banging. We learned the boys were purposely placed in families who had adopted daughters two years before. From this you know how deeply the entire thing was orchestrated. How this could’ve happened in my lifetime is beyond me. To quote David “that’s some Nazi shit”

Highly recommended. Score 4.8 out of five stars or two thumbs up.

As always more to come.

$3.24

We borrowed Lady Bird and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri from RedBox.

Omg 😮 here. Both movies were good for completely different reasons. They’ll make you think.

No spoilers. Just two thumbs up. Recommended viewing.

As always more to come.