Shmee.Me

March 14, 2013March 14, 2013

Do you Remeber Adventures in Babysitting?

Every now and then I get a hankering to watch old 80’s movies, so I decided to watch Adventures in Babysitting from 1987, and it also happens to be the directorial debut of Chris Columbus who has gone on to be one of the more successful directors of our time directing, Home Alone, a few Harry Potters, The Help, and many more. Was his first film a success as well?

The story begins as Chris (Elizabeth Shue) is stood up on her one year anniversary by her long time boyfriend Mike (Bradley Whitford). This frees her up to babysit the Andersons’ kids. While there her friend calls from the city bus depot, where she has run away too, and begs to be picked up because of all the strange people there. So she and the kids run off to Chicago and promptly get a flat tire, and then series of unfortunate events befall them.

Everything about this movie screams the 80’s: the hair, the clothes, the actors, and story line. This movie seemed like Chris Columbus was trying to smash John Hughes and Steven Spielberg together to make a children’s adventure that also had witty interpersonal dialog. It never quit worked as well those directors’ movies but it is still fun, and Columbus’ talent shines through.

I think I remember this movie being better then it was, but it was still fun, and it makes me kind of sad that they don’t make these kinds of adventure movies for kids as much anymore. The last one I can remember is Super 8. Maybe with the success of that film it will inspire more film makers to take a shot at the genre, but until that happens at least we can pop in movies like Adventures in Babysitting and remember the glory days.

March 13, 2013March 13, 2013

My Favorite Five Movies!

I decided to share my favorite five movies, and for me this is a hard list to put together, but I buckled down and picked five movies that if you came over to my house I would watch even though I have seen them several times. The critics may not agree with me, but who cares it is my list, and as soon as you write something on the internet you are wrong anyway. So here it goes.

5: Spriggan

When I first moved out of the house and in with my group of friends, we watched this movie all the time. It follows the most convoluted plot about Noah’s ark that you will ever hear, but what makes it great are the crazy over the top characters. There is a guy with a chain gun arm that can throw a helicopter at you! It makes me smile just to think about it.

4: The Muppets Christmas Carol

This is by far the best version of the Christmas Carol that has ever been made, and it features The Muppets. Double points! It is one of two movies that I need to watch every Christmas, but it is the one I look forward to the most (Maybe if you ask nice I will tell you the other movie). Everything from the sets to the cast are spot on in this movie. It is just fantastic.

3: Gross Pointe Blank

It doesn’t get much better for a dark comedy then Gross Pointe Blank. John Cusack is an assassin that goes back to his high school reunion to find himself. There he meets up with his old flame, and all sorts of crap hits the fan. It is funny and has a good amount of action. This movie made John Cusack my favorite actor for awhile, then he started making bad movies and that ended, but Gross Pointe Blank is still great.

2: Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

It is not often that a middle movie of a trilogy is so awesome, but The Empire Strikes Back is. It has Yoda, Hoth, and a flying cloud city, and I think it has the best writing of all the Star Wars movies. This is Gorge Lucas’ best film. It is so good that despite all the crud that has happened to Star Wars over the years, I am still a Star Wars geek.

1: Dark City

There are very few noir Sci-Fi movies out there that are any good, but Dark City is not only good it is amazing, and so far my favorite movie of all time. This movie sets the tone so well and as we figure out who John is we also unravel the secrets of the bizarre world that he lives in. I think every film buff needs to watch this movie.

So there you have it. I am sure you disagree with me on my picks, but that is your right. I would love to hear what your favorite movies are, so leave me a comment and let me know.

March 12, 2013

Is the Third Time the Charm for Max Payne?

Max Payne 3 is obviously the third game in the Max Payne series, but it comes nine years after Max Payne 2. Does the old boy still have some punch, or have new game play improvements passed him by? Lets just say that it is good to have him back, and I hope we don’t have to wait another nine years for Max Payne 4.

If you have never played a Max Payne game before, then what you need to know is that Max Payne brought bullet time to video games. It is a technique that slows down time and lets you aim in real time, making you feel like you are playing an action movie. Also there is no regenerating health in this game, you have to find pill bottles to ease your pain if you are injured. They did add cover to this game to try and keep the action fresh, and because every third person action game needs it now, but with destructible environments you shouldn’t stay in one place too long. Max can’t take a ton of damage so walking out in to the middle of a firefight will get you killed pretty quick, and you will die a lot if you are like me, but it is still a ton of fun.

The last nine years have not been good to Max, loosing loved ones, drinking, and pill popping have left him a mess. The story recounts how Max ended up in Brazil as a personal body guard to some rich folks, and what he does when they come under attack: he pretty much kills everything that gets in his way, and talks about it. Like all Max Payne games it has that noir moody retelling, and James McCaffrey’s voice is once again spot on.

I got this game during the Xbox Live supper sale, but it is worthy of your purchase at any price, and there is multiplayer that I have not tried, but I hear is okay, and it adds to the value of the game, but it doesn’t need it. The single player is what you buy this game for, and I can’t wait to see what trouble the old man gets in to next.

March 11, 2013March 11, 2013

Is Teatro ZinZanni worth the Money?

Teatro ZinZanni is dinner and show theater in downtown Seattle on Mercer St. My wife won tickets to the show, so we decided to give it a try.

The show is a five course meal spread out over three and half hours. The acts consist of a comedian, singers, and acrobats, all based around the story that we are witnessing the big party before Ragnarök, or the end of the word. It is like a rock opera/Cirque Du Soleil/dinner deal.

The food and the music were good, but the acrobats stole the show. They did an amazing job. I did tend to get a little hungry waiting for the next course to be served since they serve the food as part of the show, and the servings aren’t that big.

All in all, it was a lot of fun, but it is pricey. I got in for free and still ended up paying a bit of coin, and I am not sure I would have paid the full hundred or so dollars a person, if we hadn’t got the tickets free, but if you do get to go, or are looking for something different, then you will have a good time at Teatro ZinZanni.

March 10, 2013

Is Oz Great and Powerful?

Oz: The Great and Powerful is the prequel to The Wizard Oz, and is directed by Sam Raimi. It never lives up to the original film, but he still made a pretty decent movie, and if you have seen Raimi’s earlier work then you might notice that this seems a lot like Army of Darkness for kids.

Army of Darkness features a jerk that comes from the future and he saves a kingdom with his knowledge of basic science. Oz: The Great and Powerful features a conman/magician, Oz (James Franco), that goes over the rainbow in a balloon and saves a kingdom with his knowledge of science and theatricality. He even has some scenes at the end of the film to confirm that he knows they similar too, but unlike his previous movie, Oz learns his lessons and becomes a better man.

You can tell Raimi is having fun with the visuals in this movie. Since it is a fantasy land he goes over the top with color and the detail, and it looks fantastic. He also gets to use his horror chops because the flying baboons are quit scary, and he has a few startling scares too. He also peppers things from the original Oz all over the place so you know it is the same land.

The actors, especially the witches, Mila Kunis (Theodora), Rachel Wiesz (Evanora), and Michelle Williams (Glinda), do a great job, and they are really the stars of this movie, but if you are not a fan of James Franco, then this movie will not change your mind because he is pretty much James Franco. Oz’s computer animated compatriots, played by Joey King (China Girl) and Zach Braff (Flying Monkey), do a great job of playing the characters sweet and keeping Oz on the straight and narrow.

Raimi did what he could to make a worthy prequel to the classic film, but he falls a little short. It is still an entertaining film, and since he kept it PG, you can take your whole family, which is a rarity these days. It does make me want to watch Army of Darkness again though.