Cartoon Fix

TED - mike breaks a rule

Okay,  Sometimes I get drawn in. Tempted is the correct word. I like comedies.  I like Mark Walberg movies. I like off the wall comedy.  "Ted" seemed like it had all of that.  The "R" bothered me. How bad WOULD IT BE?  Take out the filthy talking bear and it would be okay. But hears the deal: The boy's teddy bear becomes magically real and when the bear becomes 35, he is now a blue collar Boston teddy guy who is hard drinking, drugging and wise cracking.

Think of it this way: Take the movie "Big" with Tom Hanks and make it "R" rated. Take the movie, "Gremlins" and make the little varmints a bunch of cussing drinking animals.  Take "E,T. " and make him want to get laid.  now you have the plot.   

The story is milder than the current crop of R-rated comedies, and I would be lying if I said that it wasn't funny.  The director is the creator of Family Guy and the voice of Ted.  He takes shots at all society.  He makes fun of the races, of popular entertainers, and of the demographic the movie is made for: Under 40.  Anyone who grew up in the 1980's and the music, movies and TV are the targets.

I believe my son and daughter would like this.  I felt old setting in this movie, but when I walked out a saw an old client of mine and the first thing he said was, "Hi Ted."  I said to him, "WE are too old to think this is funny!  He said, "I know! Wasn't it fun?"

So I promised myself that I would go to fewer movies and make wiser decisions. I feel off the wagon, tonight.

This movie is like hearing Ron White. You know you shouldn't like it, but you can't help your self .

The cameos in this movie are crazy from the singer, Nora Jones, to the guy who played "Flash Gordon" in the silly 80's movie.  He plays himself!

I can't use any of this at church though.  AND I can not recommend for the same reason as the "Hangover". this is milder though.

I give it **3/4 stars.  2012 movie 22.

He needs to be taller.

He Needs to be Taller

We need a much taller man; One like all the others have

Standing head and shoulders above the rest

Samuel was ok but not like us.

Someone larger would pass our test.

But GOD said, "I want someone who loves me."

A Shepherd

We wanted a bigger, taller man to lead us against Rome.

A fighter, a hero would be the best

This guy's ok but not enough like us;

Someone tougher we would pass our test.

GOD Said, "I sent someone who pleases me."

A Son

We may want a taller preacher this time; The other two were small.

Someone who thinks like us just may be best.

They were ok, but not enough like me.

Find someone like me and I'll say, "Yes."

GOD says, "I want someone that listens to me."

A Follower.

Mike Martin

mike turns pro

Here's the thing. I have been a college sports fan since the 1960's when I started at Oklahoma State University.  AND I always will be a college fan.  BUT my mind is shifting quite a bit in basketball.

OSU started the year with a great class of athletes. Before the season started two got arrested, three transferred and when the season started two got hurt.  This is the  rule now. Because every kid in high school now thinks he is ready for the pros, he comes to college expecting to be there one year. There is NO loyalty to school or team. 

Watching the OKC Thunder this year, I saw a committed team, working together and enjoying the fans. I know that in the pros nothing stays the same either. BUT THEY DON'T QUIT DURING THE SEASON!

I CAN SEE BIG PROBLEMS COMING FOR OUR LOCAL COLLEGE TEAMS.

In football I have been a casual Dallas Cowboys fan because it has a couple of ex-OSU players. Next year I will be a bigger pro fan because MORE OSU players are in places like Cleveland, Jacksonville, San Francisco and Dallas.  Yes, I will still be a bigger college football fan than pro, but the gap is closing.

ALSO

The thunder pays a longer season this year spanning football, basketball, and baseball. SO, there is that!

Welcome to the Fishbowl

I don't know if I have told you, but I didn't use to like  Kenny Chesney.  I could not get by songs like, "She thinks my tractor's sexy!" BUT I have mellowed and so has he.  His brand of Caribbean Country fits great with Jimmy Buffett & Zac Brown.

His new CD, "Welcome to the Fishbowl" is GREAT!

It seems like every country singer has formula songs: A small town song, a rock song, a party song, a tug the heart strings song, etc. Kenny does that too but he does it right.

Small town song: "I'm a Small Town" tells a story from a  town's point of view. It is a more accurate story of growing up in small town America than others.  It doesn't talk of getting drunk and painting water towers, it talks of all the emotions and events in its history: Deaths, first kiss, learning the ride a bike, and even wanting to leave.  It is very well written.

Heart String song: "While he knows who I am" tells the story of a guy who has a dad that is going deeper into alzheimer's. His mother tells him that he is loosing his memory and the son is going home to see him "while he still knows who I am". All I will tell you is I write this with a huge lump in my throat for even thinking about it.  The other day when I listened for the first time while on a trip, I cried.

Rock Song:  "Whatever Makes You Feel like a Rock Star" is a fun song kenny and Tim McGraw singing together.

"Sing'em Good My Friend" is about a man selling his guitar to Kenny because his wife is dying and he is selling everything for her.  It is also a story of regret because the guitar was more important to him than family.  He tells of all the events he missed while on the road.  Great Stuff.

I'm not going to write about every song. You should explore for yourself.

I will say that the documentary about the making of this CD is available on I Tunes and will help you enjoy it even more.

If I was rating CDs this would be *****star.

FYI  The CD title is a song about a world where no one is safe from the intrusion of photos, videos, and messages that invade our privacy.

Things I learned in Nashville

We went on Vacation last week in Nashville during the CMA Music Festival. It was 4 days of concerts, eating, walking and downtime. I OD'd on Music. I haven't listened to any this week!

To give you an idea of the concerts. Each music set at the festival averages 5 to 6 songs each.

On Thursday we went to the Riverfront stage and watched 4 of the eight acts on that stage (four different stages).  Then that evening we went to the concerts at LP Field with 50,000 others and watched: Glen Campbell, Miranda Lambert, Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Zac Brown Band and Brad Paisley.  It was over about 12:30!

Next three nights we repeated with other stars from Blake Shelton and Carrie Underwood to Faith Hill and Alan Jackson.  There were many we liked and many we put up with!

Things I learned: 

1.  You CAN rhyme "Tail gate and George Strait".  I heard that in two different songs by too different artists.

2. We saw the singer, Josh Thompson, sing on Thursday. He sung about being genuine country and being third generation farmer, driving tractors and eating corn bread, and being a real southern red neck. One of his songs says You haven't seen country because real country is John Wayne, Johnny Cash and John Deere.

Well, Mr Thompson was born and raised in Milwaukee! His dad was a concrete contractor and Josh worked for him and split for Nashville.  No proof that he has ever set on a John Deere!  Aren't song writers crafty.

3. There are a whole crop of Georgia red neck country rockers (Jason Aldean, Brantley Gilbert, Kip Moore, Luke Bryan and on and on.  They all sing the same type of songs about dirt roads, getting drunk at bonfires, driving tractors, tail gates, coming from small towns, dipping snuff, and having sex with every red neck girl. It is real deep stuff. I guess they will be singing this when they are 70!   they all mention either George Strait, Hank Williams or George Jones at least once in a song. BUT they sound NOTHING like them.  On the Radio, the songs have fiddles, and banjos but live the have three electric guitars and a drummer with spiked hair (Like George Strait!),  It  is over-amped rock music that is loud so that the singer can not be understood! Weird 

4.  Glen Campbell opened the Thursday Night show and tried to sing his giant hits.  It is so sad that it should not be allowed.  He has advanced Alzheimers and gets disoriented. The first song went ok but when it finished he tried to leave the stage and his daughter had to stop him and tell him he had more songs. His mic was on and you could hear the conversation enough.  It happened after every song and as the set progressed he forgot lyrics and his voice got weaker.  It was one of the most uncomfortable and sad things that I have witnessed of a super star.  I have good memories of the past and that is enough.

5. We went to a screening of a documentary of the making of Kenny Chesney's new CD.  It will be great!

6. We went to a celebrity softball game Saturday morning and got to see Vince Gill, Carrie Underwood and other country stars and Titan pro football players.  The highlight though was the Major League caliber fielding of the singer David Nail.  He is a great athlete!

7.  We ate well also.  There is a family style breakfast-dinner place called Monell's.  You set at tables seating 12.  Bowls and platters are passed: grits, corn chowder, bacon, ham and sausage, pan cakes, potatoes, eggs, home made preserves, biscuits, gravy, fruit, cinnamon rolls, and I might have left out something.  You don't order it just comes and keeps coming!

The other place was Demo's downtown. It is a Steak, Pasta, and Seafood place with famous homemade rolls.  The prices are as unbelievably cheap as the food is unbelievably good.  It was a one hour wait but well worth it.

8. We saw Great entertainment as well!  

9. Our surprises: Little Big Town, Dierks Bentley and the Mavericks are GOOD.  

10. Faith Hill and Alan Jackson are as strong as ever.  

11. Oklahoma singers are on top. Carry Underwood, Blake Shelton, etc.

12. My Favorites are still my favorites: Brad Paisley, Zac Brown Band and Jarrod Niemann.

Darling Companion

I am loose in OKC so I checked for a good independent movie and found one a mile from the hotel. Though you probably haven't seen any previews, it is worth the time. It is directed by Lawerence Kasdan. If the name does not ring a bell think: "The Big Chill", "Grand Canyon" and "Silverado".

Sine all of those are favorites of mine, I thought it worth the risk even though Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 21% rating.  I guess the reviewers are all young.

Like Marigold Hotel was about Retired People, This movie is about a couple in their 60's and facing empty nest.  He (Kevin Kline) is a surgeon with a busy practice. She (Diane Keaton) is feeling alone and takes in a stray dog.

The main part of the movie takes place in the Rockies at their vacation lodge which is the site of their last daughter's wedding.  The Doc takes the dog for a walk and the dog runs away.  The remainder of the story involves hunting for the dog.  The real story is the lives of the participants including the actors: Dianne Wiest, Richard Jenkins,Sam Shepard, Mark Duplas and Ayelet Zurer.

It is a smile all the time movie.  The actor that I liked best was the dog. He reminded me of my boyhood dog REX.

I give it *** stars

2012 Movie #21

Most Exotic Movie

I have been looking forward to this film since I saw the preview months ago. It was even better than I expected. While it is an assembly of many of the best British actors, and a most exotic setting in India, the story was extremely real.  This is a PG50 movie and any under that age will not get it.  It is about people facing the next chapter their lives after retirement, being forced out, widowed, etc. who find themselves at a dilapidated retirement hotel in India that is managed by slum dog millionaire.  It is funny, sad and close to home.  It challenged me to stay in the story and not drift into mine.  It had some great quotes like "Everything will be all right at the end, and this is not the end." and "They believe that life is a privilege and not a right." But more than that the story challenges us to live the intentional life worth living.

Everything about this movie is great. I give this ****stars.

2012 Movie #20.

Prometheus, revisiting the scene of the.....

While at the CMA festival, we needed a quite, cool place to recoup after the 5 hour concert the night before.  It is quite in "space" so we went to see "Prometheus" at Opry Mills.  Years ago when "Alien" came out, we were vacationing in Dallas and saw it in the afternoon, for which I was ever thankful. That movie was the single scariest movie that I ever saw and the first of its kind.

Ridley Scott revisits the site in space where "Alien" took place.  YES, no matter what the critics say, this is a prequel to the first. BUT, since we know about the first story, it is not as scary, but it is tense.  I just hate it when aliens crawl inside of me (speaking of the Mexican Food I ate at Chuys just before the movie).  It is a good movie that continues to ask the timeless question: Where did we come from?  Amazingly only one person in the movie believes in GOD, and she is continually chided for it and for wearing a cross.  But the outcome is on her side.

Fun summer movie.  I give it ***stars.

2012 Movie #19

Nashville Cats

We've been in Nashville for two days and are ready for the big events starting tomorrow.  Here's the deal about going to the CMA Music Fest.  If you like say Carrie Underwood you buy a ticket to her concert this fall in Tulsa, you will pay around $100.00.  Maybe you also want to go see Brad Paisley in August. You will again pay upwards to $100.00. 

Thursday Night we will go to the LP Field and see the following people in one setting: Glen Campbell, Miranda Lambert, Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Zac Brown Band and Brad Paisley. Each doing a 45 minutes set!  You can't match that.  Especially when you consider our tickets cost  $140.00 (but it gets us 4 nights of this!

Friday night is Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton and others.  Saturday Night:  Kenny Rogers, Faith Hill and others. Sunday Night: Rascal Flats, Alan Jackson, Martina McBride and others.

I didn't mention the free Riverfront concerts everyday featuring Oak Ridge Boys, Sawyer Brown,  Jerrod Niemann, Phil Vassar, and on and on.

We will be very tired, but our country concert list will be complete!

Men in Black 3 a rule breaker

One of my movie rules was broken today. Usually the 3rd movie in a series is lousy, because it usually is sloppy and lazy with nothing new happening.  "Men in Black 3" is NOT one of those. Thanks to Time Travel, we go back to 1969 and see how the guys meet. Josh Brolin stars as Tommy Lee Jones as a young guy.  It is a fun movie. If you liked the first two, you will like this one. They also have a truly evil villain in this one. Cool Summer Fun.

By the way in the REAL 1969, Tommy Lee Jones played offensive tackle on Harvard's Football Team that played the famous: "Harvard beats Yale 29-29"  Look it up.

Fun movie. I give it 2-3/4 stars.  Special effects ***

2012 Movie Number 18

"Bernie"

Today we saw the best movie of the year (so far).

I had been reading about "Bernie" the new movie starring Jack Black that is based on a true East Texas story. Bernie lives in Carthage, Texas and is the assistant funeral home director, soloist in the church choir, and the leading volunteer in the community for local theater, arts fairs, Christmas lights, and fund raisers.  He is loved by the "Blue Hairs" and honored by the town.  After the richest oil man in town dies, he befriends his widow Marge Nugent (Played by Shirley McLaine).  She is the town bitch! She likes no one and no one likes her.  To make a long story short the most despised person in town is killed by the most loved person.  Note: This is not a movie killer, it is why the movie was made.  

Matthew McConaughey is the D.A.

The true stars are the towns people who are interviewed through out the movie who knew the real people.

They tell the story as no one else can.  It is real and crazy good fun.

There is a scene at the Methodist church women's class where they are debating whether Jesus turned water into fermented wine or just juice. It is priceless AND an argument that I have heard many times.

I don't know if people on the left or right coast would understand it, but if you have lived in small town Texas or Oklahoma, you know that it is priceless.

Again this is a TRUE STORY!  I have included  photo of the real Bernie or Marge.

I already want to see it again.

I give it ***** stars. It is PG13 for cussing (which is only by the real people!)

2012 movie number 17