I didn’t think I could be any more excited for this Christmas, but after the launch of the new Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailer during Monday Night Football, I am pumped. I mean I sat through half of a Giants versus Eagles game for this trailer! It was worth it to see it air live. Now to pre-order myself and Mrs. Shmee some tickets, and this may be one of the merriest Christmases ever!
Crimson Peak Is A Wonderful Movie … If You Know What To Expect.
Crimson Peak, the new movie from Guillermo del Toro, is a great film provided that you are not looking for a horror movie. I understand your confusion given that it is being marketed as one. Like the main character Edith Cushing (Mia Wasikowska) says about the book she is writing during the film, “it isn’t a ghost story, but a story with ghosts in it.” This is very much the case with Crimson Peak.
The movie follows plucky young author Edith as she is swept off of her feet by a British Baronet (Tom Hiddleston) and taken to a dilapidated mansion known as ‘Crimson Peak’. Also living in this mansion is the Baronet’s sister played by Jessica Chastain. There are secrets being kept by these two aristocrats, and Edith’s life may depend on her being able to figure them out. Oh yeah Edith can see ghosts, so there are a couple of ghouls in this movie.
When asked about the genre of this movie del Toro called it a ‘Gothic Romance’, and I think that is an apt description. Though maybe ‘Gothic Mystery’ may help the average movie goer know what to expect. That is not to say there aren’t a few good scares, or that Crimson Peak isn’t creepy. There are, and it is. They are just not the main focal point of this film. So if puffy sleeves and sleuthing sound good to you, than you will probably like what this film has to offer.
Another reason you may like this movie is its incredible set design and special effects. Crimson Peak is no doubt del Toro’s favorite character. Every square inch of the manor is covered in detail, and he is never in a hurry to cut away from showing off the bits and pieces of the house. The ghosts are horrifying looking, and they never look cheap or too CG’y. Guillermo del Toro is a visual wizard.
The actors all play their roles well. Considering the dialog is probably the weakest part of this movie, the actors are all able to pick up the slack and seem believable in the archetypal roles they are given. Jessica Chastain in particular is as hunting as any of the ghosts.
If you have seen any of Guillermo del Toro’s other ‘horror’ movies it won’t surprise you that Crimson Peak has more in common with Cinderella than The Exorcist. Guillermo treats his horror movies like dark fairy tales, and if that is what you want, I think you will love this film like I did. If you want jump scares, you will have to look somewhere else. It is a shame they couldn’t have marketed it that way.
Hangin’ Out In Napa!
You may have noticed that I didn’t post anything on my blog on Wednesday (I am sure you didn’t because no one pays the much attention to my blog), well the reason for that is that I was on my way back from Napa Valley, California. Mrs. Shmee and I were taking a belated fifth anniversary trip. I being one to never let an opportunity to be critical pass me by, thought I give you my impressions of a few of the spots we visited.
The Sunburst Calistoga:
First up, our lodgings. We stayed at The Sunburst Calistoga. It is a recently renovated motel, and I have to say I forgot how convenient motels are. You park right next to your room and head in. No elevators or lobbies, just easy room access. Of course the downside is if you are looking for that resort experience this is not it. The Sunburst has nice rooms at good rates, and their only amenities are their mineral pools. Well the pools and the free snacks (big bonus points for free snacks!). If you are just looking for a good place to sleep while in the Napa Valley, give The Sunburst a look.
The Food:
Almost as important to the area as the wine, are the many places to eat, and while all the food I had was pretty good, I have a massive sweet tooth, so my favorite places were the bakeries. You will need to visit Bouchon Bakery in Yountville, though I guess they have locations in Las Vagas and New York as well, but the Village Bakery in Calistoga was great too. If you want more standard fare, The Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch in St. Helena was my favorite full on restaurant.
Mud Baths:
I guess Calistoga is known for its hot springs and mud baths, so the Wife and I had to give it a shot. We did the mud baths at the Roman Spa. While I don’t regret getting a mud bath, I don’t think I will do it again. It was relaxing, but very, very hot and it got a little uncomfortable towards the end. If you are going to give it a try drink LOTS of water. Your skin will feel soft though, so that is a bonus!
The Wine:
Now what you have all been waiting for, my thoughts on the wine. Sadly I am not a huge wine person, but I did my best. My three favorite wineries were all in Calistoga: Lava Vine, Huge Bear, and Tank Garage. Of those Tank Garage had in my humble opinion the best, or at least the most unique wine. We might end up even joining their wine club. We tried wine up and down Highway 29 (Napa’s main drag), and in the end it seemed like the tasting rooms and wineries in Calistoga were just simply the best. Now it is worth it to stop and see the big wineries. I mean there are castles and art galleries galore, but the wine all tasted generic. Good, but nothing special. You were being sold on the “experience” not on the wine, but there is nothing wrong with a good experience, just don’t join the wine club. So see the cool buildings and vineyards all over Napa, but drink the wine in Calistoga.
All in all I had great trip, and I got some sleep away from Lil’ Shmee. Bring your checkbook when you go to Napa because nothing is free (unless you are there for the parks, though they probably cost money too), but I am sure you will enjoy your time there.
Shmee Hangs Out With The Martian!
The Martian, the latest Sci-Fi film from Ridley Scott based on the titular novel, once again proves that movies with the lowest stakes pack the biggest punch. The Martian is a gripping movie from beginning to end, and it will either make you want to be an astronaut again, or vow never to leave Earth.
Mark Watney is lost and thought dead after a major storm on Mars, but to his and everyone else’s surprise he has survived. Now he must live alone on the surface of a foreign planet until he and NASA can find a way to bring him back home. This of course will not be easy since Mars will do everything it can to try and kill him.
Like I said in the intro movies like this have incredibly low stakes. We are talking about the life of one man, and in the grand scheme of things that is not much, but those low stakes allow us to get emotionally involved. To let us identify with what is happening on screen. When movies are busy killing off hundreds of people it is hard to care. They all just get lost in the shuffle, but when you see the struggle of one human, you are right there with him willing him to beat the odds.
Though without a likable Watney this movie would fall apart. Matt Damon nails Watney. His has a jerky, but likable charm. He is a fun character to watch as he tries to escape his new Martian home. There are a lot of other good actors in this movie, but this film belongs to Matt Damon. His is in almost every scene, and he makes the most of it.
The special effects are wonderful. Ridley Scott is a Sci-Fi genius. The Martian landscape looks real and like a place we can visit. It makes me hope that we will get there someday to see how close he got. Mars is a fully realized character second in importance only to Damon.
This movie is a lot like Gravity, but that is a good thing not a bad one. Even though these movies show the perils of space travel they still excite the imagination and make us want to venture beyond our little planet. The Martian is a wonderful movie, and thrilling all the way through. I cannot recommend it enough.
The Walking Dead Season 6 Starts Off With A … Well It Started Anyway …
The Walking Dead season six got underway this last Sunday, and it was fine. It was mostly Rick asserting himself as the leader while they covered what the group had been up to since we had last seen them. Which was all good, but due to the episode being an hour and a half long it seemed to drag a little, and it was mostly a setup for next week, so there wasn’t a good conclusion to the episode. They did do a fun alternating black and white to color effect to make it easier for the audience keep track of what was in the past and what was present. It worked really well. I wonder if it is something they are going to keep doing?
I am excited to see what happens next week, so that is something. The writing continues be solid. Which means keeping Scott Gimple as the executive producer seems to be working out. I just hope they can keep this show on the rails, and that it doesn’t outlast its welcome. I don’t want to see any zombies jumping any sharks any time soon. Zombie sharks on the other hand…