Imitation of a Movie

I am so glad that we haven't started a war over such a mindless "piece of crap" called "The Interview".  Being my curious self I did decide the watch this movie. For the record I was not expected much, but in fact I was still expecting more than I got.  The are two ways to see this. First: Find a theater that shows it. Second:  Rent it. Their is a third and preferred way though: Ignore it!

We decided to rent it and made it through the opening scene( 5 minutes). We shut it off.  Two days later I reconsidered and thought: :We payed for it so we should finish it.  I went back to the movie and hit play and a caption popped up and said that we had 34 minutes left.  I thought it meant 34 minutes to get it going. 34 minutes later the movie stopped and the screen said that we would have to re-rent to continue.  I felt great about stopping.

This movie was probably a contest to see who could use the F Word the most along with who many gross references can we have to oral sex, sex in general and body parts.  

I am in agreement with the North Koreans! Sony should be penalized.

If changed to PG and edited it is at best a bad Three Stooges tale,

Don't come to me and say: "But Mike it had a neat ending, after it settled down."  How Cares?

This is a bad imitation game played out to the gullible public.  I am sure that this is a darling movie for the Young Hip Crowd.  There are benefits in being older.

No stars for this.  2015 Movie #2  (I paid for it I count it.)

The Imitation Game

Benedict Cumberbatch is a crazy name for an actor. It sounds like a cartoon Character. But he is one fine actor. Through the years I have seen several stories concerning the "Enigma Machine" used by the Nazis in WW2 to send info to the troops, but this is the best so far. "The Imitation Game" tells three stories:

1. How a group of "Brains" helped MI6 British Intelligence break the codes of the Enigma Machine

2. The story of a  real working computer created to solve a critical problem that humans alone could not due.

3. The life of the leader, Alan Turing, is told in three different times. His life as a child; This Famous Event; and His life after the war.   No matter how you feel about homosexuals, our inhumanity to our fellow travelers as revealed in this film, will give you much to consider.

This story is excellently told and acted including a great performance by Keira Knightly, who is becoming a favorite.

It felt good to start the year with a good movie.  I give it ****stars out of five.

2015 Movie #1

Reflections on 2014

The year started just ok.  I did not get a good reaction from my boss for my part in the firm. SO-O-O-O-O I resigned and started my own architectural firm. Made the decision in April and pulled the trigger in June. And I have been happy ever since.

In our church fellowship it has been a sad year and a transitional year. Of the five elders that I served with in the leadership at the end of 2013, only I remain.  The biggest loss was the death of Charlie Cook who was a mentor, ultimate shepherd, good friend of 40 years and great example of a christian businessman. The whole left by him is not replaceable by one man but maybe six. We are 'looking for them.  Our church group needs to reach the younger members better and in a more relevant manner. That is the work of this new year.

Our family is in good shape health wise and the grandkids continue to be a delight.  Our kids are excelling in their jobs and preparing for bigger things to come.  At Christmas we announced that the entire family will spend a week in Florida this year since the grand kids are a good age for Disney.

It was a great last six months all things considered, but the best is yet to come.

Favorite Big Concert:  The Eagles in Houston

Favorite Smaller Venue Concert: Alan Jackson at Hard Rock & John Fulbright in Muskogee

Favorite Movies were listed already, but best surprise was "Begin Again" because that's what I am doing.

Favorite Books: Fiction: Stephen King's "Mr. Mercedes" and "a Good Marriage"

Non-Fiction: Robert Fulghum's  "What On Earth Have I Done"

Favorite Sports Event: Taking the Grandsons to an OSU Football Game

Favorite Trip: IKEA trip for office furniture

New Music:  Rediscovering Bill Withers and Jerry Lee Lewis

TV: Completing "Breaking Bad" awesome; The end of "Newsroom"  and "Fargo" Bummer and the end of "Colbert Report" double bummer (Where will I get my news?)

Always Remember

Less Traveled Roads

Mike's Favorite Movies 2014

Again this year I am listing my favorites. This is not Oscar predictions just my personal ratings of the top movies that I viewed. I rated many good movies 3 star which means above average out of 5 stars.

So here is my list:

I had one 5-1/2 star movie (never had one before:  "Boyhood"

I had four 5 star movies:
"Begin Again"
"Birdman"
"Chef"
"Wild"

I had one 4-1/2 star movie:
"Rudderless"

I had five 4 star movies:
"Edge of Tomorrow"
"Get On Up"
"Gone Girl"
"Lone Survivor"
"St. Vincent"

Mike's Top 11 movies (Not counting Unbroken) out of 55 movies attended.

I recommend all.

Unbroken

"Unbroken" will be my last movie of 2014. Movie #55  We will see it at the Warren Theater.

I may write a review tomorrow but I wanted to acknowledge it before year's end.  This was a great book about a great life. I am prematurely disappointed at the news that the segment about the Billy Graham Crusade that changed his life was omitted. If that is true the movie may not be one of my favorites.