Mike gets Kung Fu'ed at the movies

I took Avery and Addison to an afternoon matinee to see Kung Fu Panda 2. Tickets for 2 kids and a "senior" was $24.o0 with the 3-d glasses. At the beginning of the year we bought one of those popcorn buckets that we can bring back to each movie and get a refill for $2.50. It helps when you remember to bring it!

I got a large popcorn, one large Diet Coke, two 6 oz Sprites ($4.20 each) and three candies. The Tab was $29.00. Total price for animated fun was $53.00. The theater was also animated: a guy setting a few rows back got to snoring so loud, I could hear him over the movie track.

The movie? The boys liked it. Although Avery said once that their was a lot of action and that he may have nightmares!

I thought it was just OK. I am not a Jack Black fan! And it is embarrassing to hear Dustin Hoffman voice a Kung Fu mouse.

It was interesting that the story dealt with adoption though. Well- that - and defending China from being overthrown by an evil Peacock!

I give it ** stars. 2011 movie #27

PS The final scene hinted at the story for Kung Fu Panda 3, but sad to say I'm busy that day.

Editorial: The whole idea of 3D glasses for $4.00 is the biggest deception in entertainment.

They ask you to be "green" and recycle after the movie. They WILL NOT let you use them at the next movie. Why not set a 3D movie price and then let you bring your own glasses or buy theirs. I don't mind them making money, but this is not about being environmentally correct. So I say: I like 2D just fine!

It's that silly

Heh, heh, heh, He showed his wiener!

No He is a Wiener!

Next Big Thing

I went to a meeting the other night where we talked about the future of things. I had just returned from a very challenging meeting that gave me much to think about, as I move forward.

On the agenda was a new idea that seemed to run in the opposite direction from what I had heard at the retreat. I thought, "Wow, some people just care about "the next big thing."

A poem from my past

For Those Who Fail

by Bret Harte

All honor to him who shall win the prize,

The world has said for a thousand years;

But him who tries, and who fails and dies,

I give great honor and glory and tears;

Give glory and honor and pitiful tears

To all who fail in their deeds sublime;

Their ghosts are many in the van of years,

They were born with Time, in advance of their Time.

Oh, great is the hero who wins a name,

But greater many and many a time

Some pale-faced fellow who dies in shame,

And lets God finish the thought sublime.

And great is the man with a sword undrawn,

And good is the man who refrains from wine;

But the man who fails and yet still fights on,

Lo, he is the twin-born brother of mine.

Soundtrack's of life

Today is my birthday! It is an age that I've thought about since college since it was at that time when the Beatles produced "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" (One of the best albums ever!). On that disk was the song "When I'm Sixty Four". Of course, in 1967 I was just 20! 64 seemed for ever away. It must have been for them as well because one verse says,

"If I'm out to a quarter to three, would you lock the door?

Will you still need me? Will you still feed me?

When I'm Sixty-four."

Who at 64 stays out until 2:45am, on purpose?

Well I welcome this song because the Beatles have always been the soundtrack of my youth and when I want to think young!

They also recorded the best birthday song ever on the "White Album":

"They say its your birthday. Happy Birthday to you!"

Super Heroes meet James Bond!

Today we went to Avery's Little League Tournament and set in the breezy 98 degree weather. After the game we decided to cool off and go to the weekend movie. Not knowing how "ripe" we may be, we set off to ourselves and watched "X Men, First Class". This is a prequel to the first movie and a very good one at that. The setting for most of the story was 1962 when times were easy and all we feared was nuclear bombs raining down on us from Russia. Meaning at least we could find our enemies. The villains in the movie were very "James Bond" and the pace of the movie also reminded me of 007 because of the training scenes, the silly government people scenes, band the save the Planet finale. Kevin Bacon makes a grand bad guy.

Half way through the movie a light came on and I realized why nerds like comics. The females always wear the most suggestive (But Functional) clothes (Just like in James Bond!).

The movie is PG-13 but only because midway through the movie their is a 20 second scene in a bar where Hugh Jackman (Wolverine) tells the stars to "F off!". If is not only the only F Bomb, but maybe the only swear word in the movie, but it achieved the beloved "PG13".

I give the movie *** to ***1/2 stars. Fun Summer flick.

2011 movie #26

43 years, the sequel

43 years ago I got married. We were to spend our Honeymoon in Dallas. We had car trouble on the way and spent two long, long hours at an all-night truck stop while our car battery was being re-charged.

Tonight was the sequel. We went to Tulsa and had dinner and then to a movie. We spent two long, long hours at a bad, bad movie.

I am not saying we saw Hangover 2, the sequel. Maybe we did and maybe we didn't! What we saw was a lazy, repeat of a classic story that was more disgusting than funny. A few grins but no laughs. Not for adults over 40 or kids under 18. If I knew now what I didn't know then, I wouldn't even rent it.

Spoiler Alert: It is the same story, different place, less funny.

I give it *star. I'm too old for F-bomb humor!

2011 Movie # 25

No posters. Not worth it.

Day ended well though.