Acme Mortar Company

Killing terrorists with every other shot.

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Weekend Movies!!

SPOILERS BELOW!

The wife and I went to see The Bourne Ultimatum last Thursday and I really liked it, with a few exceptions. I really should have rented the second one before we went to see it. I meant to but forgot. The first installment has been on cable for months now and I wondered why the second hadn't, but then it hit me... marketing. They want you to go rent the second one, at least that is my opinion. But I should have none the less jsut to catch up with the story.

Anyway, to the movie. A lot of action just like the first two. Maybe not quite as much action, but the Director Paul Greengrass (United 93, The Bourne Supremacy) made up for it with the never-ending use of "Shaky Cam". I have a love-hate relationship with Shaky Cam. I don't remember if Supremacy had as much of it, but I do know that it in Ultimatum, it marches right up, grabs you by the short hairs and doesn't let go until the credits roll.

Shaky Cam, if used properly, can be an incredibly useful tool for the Director. It conveys a frantic pace to the viewer, keeps you on the edge of your seat. It also can lend itself to some great editing. During the whole movie, I was on the edge of my seat. So for me, even though I tired of it quickly and fought it for the entire show, it did succeed at that. But I think as a vehicle, it should be used sparingly, not for 2 solid hours. I think you need to give the audience a break now and then.

The one thing I don't tend to like in action films is the incredibly rapid editing between close ups in a fight scene. This is usually used to help cover the intricacies of the scene. For example, as everyone probably knows, they don't film a fight scene beginning to end and then that's it, cut, print. It is done piece by piece. Think of every big hit, throw or kick you see, and usually that was done as a separate take. They also need to cover the fact that the actors (and sometime stunt men) aren't usually landing any of those punches or kicks. How do you do that? You don't let the audience see too much of it.

That all being said, I tired of all of the shaky cam/quick edit/blur/fast paced style of the movie. In a word, I felt exhausted after it was over. I liked the story line, I have in all of the Bourne movies, and thought Matt Damon was right on the mark as he was in the others as well. Some of the other acting I really didn't care for, e.g. David Strathairn. I have been a big fan of Strathairn's work for a long time (Eight Men Out, A League of Their Own, The Firm). Often playing the good guy having to do a nasty job or a good guy wronged. In Ultimatum, he was just a plain bad guy, although doing someone else's bidding. I just don't think he came off that well as very good antagonist.

Overall, I liked it and would recommend it. My wife didn't, she hated all of the shaky cam, and ended up nodding off. But, she isn't as big of a fan of action movies either. I think it will be a good rental when you can go back and see things you may have missed.

I also rented Beowulf and Grendel (2005)This weekend. Starring Gerard Butler (300, Phantom of the Opera) as Beowulf and Ingvar Eggert Sigurðsson as the Troll Grendel. <sigh> I had not heard of this movie until I saw the trailer on the 360. I thought that it looked very interesting and after seeing 300 and Phantom, I have become a fan of Butler's. Although I remembered the name Beowulf, I couldn't remember the story. But basically, Stellan Skarsgård's character (King?)Hrothgar kills Grendel's Father. So when Grendel grows up he seeks revenge on those who wronged him and proceeds to kill off Hrothgars clan/village/kingdom... whatever it is. Beowulf, who has acheived a Hero status, comes from Geatland to lend a hand and slay the Troll. I thought Stellan's performance was bland. The makeup on the Troll was pretty bad in my opinion, not to mention the accents of the actors.... OMG! Beowulf is supposed to be Norse, and Hrothgar is supposed to be Dane. Their accents sounded pretty much the same to me. The only person I could really understand was the Wtich Selma. Played (not very well) by Sarah Polley, interestingly enough, without an accent. The movie seemed to me as one having a limited budget, so things seemed cheap. Perhaps it was even straight to video or one of limited release. Stands to reason that we see it now after the popularity of Gerard Butler and 300. I don't think I can really recommend this movie to anyone.

Stay tuned for my next entry on the weekend's movies.... Pirates of the Caribbean, Dead Man's chest.

Oh, nevermind. I don't think I can come up with anything that hasn't already been said. I will just give it a "thumbs down" and leave it at that. Except to say I don't think I will be seeing the third installment of that franchise.

toodles!

The Wall

So, maybe a little TMI about me for you, but.... I am a sentimental/sensitive kind of fella.

Do you believe in love at first sight?

In August of 2003, one of the employees at that I supervised (Brenda) put in her notice and was going back to school. So on her last day, a few of us got together at one of our local drinking establishments for a refreshing beverage or two for the first of two going away parties. Being single, I of course asked her to invite some of her non work friends. Man's got to make his own opportunities....right? (don't worry, I am alllllll talk and very little action! ) About halfway into the evening one of her friends (Bernadette) shows up. Long curly brown hair.... check. Beautiful deep brown eyes.... check. Sense of humor..... double check. Booooo-TAAAAAAYYYY to die for......OMFG!!!! CHECK! CHECK! CHECK! CHECK! CHECK! Incredible laugh/smile.... hmmmm it's gonna take some work to find that out.

Now, I have mentioned before to some of the people I have met on this site that I am more introverted in person. I have always been shy. As a small boy often hiding behind Mom or Dad peeking out. As I grew older, the shyness waned a little bit. But I also have always had a problem with weight my whole life, and of course with that, low self esteem. So to deal with it, I built a wall. No one gets in, I don't get hurt, yes? My wall consisted of being funny/or a smart ass. I was always the class clown in the early days of school, so I was well practiced. Few got past the wall, but not usually very far. It was built well. I never "fit in" in high school. I did have a few friends from all ends of the spectrum clique-wise - the Freaks, Jocks and nerds/geeks. Admiring/crushing on girls from afar was my usual M.O. Consequently, I didn't have a girlfriend until after HS, and although we dated for 2 years, even she didn't make it very far past the wall.

Fast forward 16 or 17 years and I am sitting in a bar, being shy, but digging on the girl who just walked in and sat at our table. Nervous conversation ensues, she is pretty quiet since she only knows one of the people there. Firmly ensconced behind my wall, I try not to make it look like I am into her by talking to other people. Great idea right? Guys are soooo smart. My smart-assedness card comes out to play here, and I manage to get some laughs from everyone and man, what a smile! Things are going ok, but then all of a sudden there are only 3 of us at the table. Oh shit! Now I am forced to interact directly. Klaxons are screaming in my head.. where is everybody?! SHIT SHIT!!! These are dangerous, scary waters for me. Moments like this are usually filled with awkward silence. But, conversation ensues and then it happens. BAM! Full eye contact.

Whoa! I still carry with me the look in her eyes at that very moment as it is firmly embedded in my memory. It was if she was looking straight through my wall into my soul. This was a very well constructed wall. 30 some odd years in the making! It only lasted for a second, but I realized instanly that there was something special here. I knew that I was now somehow tied to this person forever. Funny, but I don't remember ever feeling shy or in need of my wall for the rest of that evening. Now the hard part. Gotta get her number. WAAAAAYYYYYY to shy to just come out and ask for it. I will have to get it from Brenda.

Now back at work, we start bantering back and forth about having a regular going away party, maybe a BBQ or someting. As it happens, Bern calls my work and talks to one of my other co-workers to see if we are planning anything else for a party. She gets transferred to me, and I find myself offering my backyard and cooking skills. Well, she is at work and can't talk long, but we agree to talk that night and make plans. SCORE! NOW I can really shine. With the annonymity of the phone or internet, I don't need a wall. The call is short, but it goes well. Plans are made, BBQ day comes and it is 102 outside. What the hell was I thinking? Sweating like a pig, cooking over a hot BBQ, worrying/taking care of my party guests... I don't get much of a chance to talk to the one person there I really want to. Well, the party dies down, just a few of us sitting around in the now nice cool evening. Bernadette is one of the last to leave. I have to take my chance now. Everyone else be damned, I need to focus... lol, if someone came up to me as I was on the way to get to here to see her out the door I'll never know!

Whew, finally alone.... wait a minute, where the hell are my nuts? Betrayal!!! Ohhh damn you testicals!!!!! Now I find them... they're up around my throat! Well, we get to the front door and just as I start to stutter something about would she like to go out, she beats me to it!

"We'll have to get together sometime", she says.

 "My thoughts exactly" I say outloud. In my head I am dancing a jig and yelling WOOO HOOOOOOO!

Well, about a week or so after that we went on our first date. She wore red capris pants and a white blouse. Damn if I know what I wore. We went to see "Open Range" at the theater and I got to hold her hand. The date was August 23rd, 2003.

I still have a wall for most people I know, but I work everyday trying to tear it down. There is no wall with her though. Never have I been so exposed spiritually or mentally with any person... ever. And it feels good.

We were married almost two years later on July 2nd, 2005. But today still has a special meaning for us. Tonight we are going to a nice dinner and then to the movies to see "Bourne Ultimatum". And I am going to hold her hand.

funny stuff

I sooooooo resemble this (when I was little)