The Blair Blog Project
July 27th, 2010
July 27th, 2010
Moviebeat movie review from radio broadcast 7/26
Even though the summer movie season is not over yet, it’s safe to say that the best movie for the season has already been released. Sorry Julia, but it’s not Eat, Pray, Love.
Led by the talented direction of The Dark Knight’s Christopher Nolan, Inception is a film that grabs hold of you from the start and doesn’t let go even after the ending.
The film is packed with a superb cast, scenic film locations and a storyline with enough power on its own to prompt audience intrigue – Can you put ideas into people’s dreams?
Inception has all the ingredients to top the season’s hyped remakes and sequels to show what a true action-adventure, suspense film should be.
The storyline circles around the notion of whether our dreams can be controlled. Can a loved one live on inside a person’s dreams? Can you put an idea into a person’s head and make it seem like an original thought to them?
Inception plays about with those exact questions as a team of dream thieves try to infiltrate the sleeping mind of a billionaire’s neglected son (Batman Begins’Cillian Murphy) to “incept” the idea of separating his dying father’s company.
As the team get more entangled in the dreams of the son, they start to realize that not everyone on the team is working with a clear mind and those thoughts could sabotage the entire mission.
I’ve not been much of a DiCaprio fan but this is definitely a new favorite of mine that he has helmed. Playing a man whose thoughts betray him, DiCaprio carries the mental and physical burdens of his character and demonstrates why he is at the peak of the acting pyramid.
DiCaprio is joined by a supporting cast of indie favorites such as Ellen Page (Juno), Ken Watanabe (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) and Murphy. One supporting cast member, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, almost outshines DiCaprio in the film, showing his acting capabilities
far surpass romantic comedies.
A unique film that carries as many twists and turns as a game of cat’s cradle, Inception will have your heart pounding and your mind wondering about what will happen when you sleep tonight.
Best advice: Go to the bathroom before the film starts so you don’t miss anything!
Five Heartbeats
Soon to be DVD Rental: Letters to Juliet – starring Mammia Mia’s Amanda Seyfried and Vanessa Redgrave, the film creates a predictable love story around the real life letter writing spot in Verona, Italy where women leave letters to be answered by Shakespeare’s Juliet. Highlights of the film are Redgrave’s endearing performance and picturesque glimpses at the Italian countryside.
Three Heartbeats
July 27th, 2010
MovieBeat review from 7/19 radio broadcast
We’ve been seeing commercials since last summer – trailers depicting an unusual man freeze framing harmless customers at a coffee café as he gets his morning coffee.
The film, “Despicable Me,” was shown in trailers as a hilarious animated comedy filled with jokes and gags parents and children would love. It had several recognizable names in comedy created the lovable characters and state-of-the art computer graphics.
Yet what trailers failed to show was that “Despicable Me” overflows with heart and meaningful lessons in love and life.
“Despicable” tells the story of Gru (Steve Carell), the most cunning, meticulous, egotistical villain/thief in the world – yet no one knows about him. His biggest steal was the Times Square JumboTron from New York City.
News soon travels that someone has stolen the Pyramids of Gaza and Gru is on a mission to find who is trying to one up him in the thief department.
His plans to stop his new arch-nemesis, and steal the moon, are soon hampered by the innocent efforts of three little girls.
“Despicable” fell into the same trap as several comedies (both animated and live-action) where the best jokes are those shown on television. The film doesn’t even really get the laughs until the girls enter the picture.
What trailers don’t show is the heartfelt storyline of how love can enter into anyone’s life, no matter how cold-hearted or selfish they may be.
Parents can teach a lot to their children about Gru’s relationship to the three girls as they both laugh at the sweet humor that is propelled by the characters.
Three and a half Heartbeats
Classic DVD Rental: “The Long, Hot Summer” – Real life couple, the late Paul Newman, and Joanne Woodward ignite the romance in this William Faulkner tale about love in the South. A timeless summer love story that is intertwined with family turmoil, life expectations and crimes of passion, enough to keep you steamy in the summer heat.
Four and a half Heartbeats
July 19th, 2010
Movie review from MOVIEBEAT WITH BLAIR radio broadcast – 7/12 (on HeartBeat Radio for Women)
It’s one of the biggest film franchise to hit the box office, closely following Star Wars, Harry Potter and Star Trek.
“Twilight” brought audiences its latest bite into the ongoing love saga of Bella Swan, Edward Cullen and Jacob Black with the release of “Eclipse,” the third book-turned-film in the series.
Where I would like to say with a new director for the third film came a more coherent production of the series, I am sadden to say that not much has improved.
One shining light throughout the whole film was Taylor Lautner as Jacob, who seems to have moved past just being the buff body in the film (though he still has it) to show he has the talent to boot.
He put shame to his lead castmates by demonstrating that you can actually make Twilight dialogue believable and not something you read out of a Harlequin romance novel.
“Eclipse” picks up where the second film, “New Moon,” left off, as Bella (Kristen Stewart) and Edward (Robert Pattinson) continue their sugary sweet romance.
Lurking in the shadows is still Bella’s vampire enemy, revenge-seeking Victoria (now played by Bryce Dallas Howard), along with a still lovesick Jacob (Lautner) who continues to walk around shirtless as he pines for Bella.
The film still keeps a firm grasp on the swoon-worthy moments between Edward and Bella, with Pattinson improving slightly on his portrayal of Edward with Stewart faltering even more on her portrayal of Bella (the girl doesn’t know what to do with her hands during emotional scenes).
Action scenes were more intense and believable in the film and overshadowed several scenes of important dialogue from the book that didn’t pan out too much on the screen.
Some actors stepped up to the plate as their characters were explored more in the film – Jackson Rathbone as Jasper, Nikki Reed as Rosalie – but no one is able to top the enterprising talent of Lautner. Is it too soon to say he could be the next Matthew McConaguhey?
The final verdict: Different elements of this film have improved from its predecessors but Twilight’s “Eclipse” still caters to tweens and their moms.
Three Heartbeats
DVD Rental: The Wolfman – Universal’s latest remake of the classic story ‘Wolfman’ starring Benicio Del Toro, Anthony Hopkins and Emily Blunt. Though there are one too many blood- filled attacks in the film, the suspenseful plot and impressive performances from the three leads help make the film not a total gore-fest.
Three and a Half Heartbeats
July 12th, 2010
Baseball is in full “swing” this summer with Leesburg’s own Collegiate Summer League baseball team, the Leesburg Lightning, already halfway through their season with some wins and some losses.
We recently had on our LAKE Magazine Hour the former MLB pitcher and current Lightning coach Frank Viola. He told us on air how the team was doing so far this season and how much he enjoyed helping the young men on his team reach their full potential on the field.
Hearing his passion and admiration for what he does with the Lightning, along with talk of the amazing support from the cowbell-ringing fans, led me to spend a Friday evening watching a home game.
Although it was quite balmy outside, the excitement encouraged me to stay and watching how the team fared against strong competition from the Winter Park Diamond Dawgs. Fans cheered, hollered, chanted and rang every kind of noisy instrument they could in support of their boys.
Many of the fans knew the players by name (which showed their interest in the team since players didn’t have their names on the back of their uniforms) so it brought more of the homegrown encouragement to the game.
As for the team itself, the players had their slip-ups here and there but overall worked as a team to make for some great double plays and impressive catches. Of course whenever the team made a great play or hit a decent ground ball, the 100-120 fan capacity were almost in hysterics with praise.
Sadly the team lost in extra innings to the Diamond Dawgs, ending the game at a score of 11-10 Dawgs. However, the loss will only prompt the team (and Mr. Viola) to reassess what needs to be done to improve for their next game. They are two-time champions for a reason!
I’d be interested in going again to another game as it definitely felt like I journeyed back into another time when evenings were spent with your family in the summer air and not in front of a television, computer or phone separated from one another.
To learn of future home games for the Leesburg Lightning, visit their Web site at www.leesburglightning.com .
July 6th, 2010
You couldn’t help but be interesting when you first heard the talented line-up for the film “Grown Ups” – Adam Sandler, David Spade, Kevin James, Chris Rock and Rob Schneider, not to mention Salma Hayek, Maria Bello and Maya Rudolph as some of the men’s wives.
However, “Grown Ups” never seemed to mature past being a film with just a bunch of guys sitting around talking about the good old days. Side stories to help connect the movie together only make the story more confusing and awkward, just like a few of the leads.
At the start of “Grown Ups,” we are first introduced to the five male leads as 12-year-old boys who win a basketball championship by working together as a team and as friends.
Thirty years later, the now grown men are brought together again for the funeral of their beloved basketball coach and decide to make it a weekend together with their families.
Let the debauchery and bathroom humor begin. No territory is sacred or off-limits, so be prepared.
Although there are a few laughs to be had here and there, the overall film is nothing more than a joke competition between the five actors (who are all friends in real life).
The supporting cast of Hayek and Bello as some of the leads’ “hot” wives only further the disappointment audience may feel for the film as the actresses try hard to save “Grown Ups” with no help in sight.
If you are a Sandler fan or a fan of the other leads, you might be the most disappointed of all as this was the worst film to come from any of the five’s movie resumes. Even “Billy Madison” and “Deuce Biglow” had more story flow than this film did.
Go only to see “Grown Ups” if you want to spend an afternoon laughing at mindless, stand-up humor but the comical magic is not to be found in this film.
Two Heartbeats
DVD Rental: GI Joe – The Rise of Cobra– starring Channing Tatum, Marlon Wayans and Sienna Miller. Based on the popular action figure and television series, GI Joe is chocked full of cliché dialogue, over-the-top action and truly “character” actors with no sense of believability. One bright spot is the humorous Wayans who makes the most of his one-dimensional Ripcord character.
Two Heartbeats
June 29th, 2010
I recently was able to get the chance to go on vacation this past week, spending a week on a cruise ship that visited the island ports of San Juan, St. Thomas, Antigua (pronounced ANTIGA), Tortola and Nassau, Bahamas.
Probably some of the things most people will say they like about a cruise is getting to enjoy the buffets, be waiting on by staff or just having the opportunity to do nothing the whole trip. Others might point out the amazing talent of the ship’s shows or the creative activities orchestrated by the energetic entertainment staff (one activity on our ship was learning Michael Jackson’s Thriller dance).
Yet what I found most enjoyable about my vacation was the simple joys of not having an agenda for a week, especially one monitored by a cellphone or computer.
The agendas I speak of are those that are non-work related, those that revolve around the so-called idea of keeping up with others through instant technology.
I had forgotten a little of what it was like to not have a cellphone on hand or the opportunity to look at a computer screen to check e-mail. It’s amazing how lost you feel with something that is supposed to be more helpful in life but can sometime take away more of your precious time than you originally wanted it to.
What I found was that I came back to the simple pleasure of non-electronic activities, like reading, sleeping and, especially, getting to know people face-to-face instead of through texting, phone calls or facebook.
Spending time with people and taking the chance of saying I’ll be at this place at this time and then hoping we would cross paths along the way helped replenished me from what agendas take away, the ability to communicate face-to-face and the time to get to know someone.
Although I enjoyed the trip and going to the different ports in the Caribbean, I liked most just getting the chance to reconnect with my natural communication skills – ability to talk and carry on a conversation, the chance to be more spur of the moment with my time and the chance to appreciate more of the innocence of life.
You don’t have to take a cruise to get to this technology-free state of mind – go camping, stay with a friend or make a trip down to your old stomping grounds. Turn off the computer and cellphone, and reconnect with yourself again!
June 29th, 2010
Following the grand tradition of bringing beloved, slightly cheesy television shows onto the big screen, the movie powers that be have decided to make a go with the 80’s classic “A-Team.”
Yes, the show with Mr. T as an Army Ranger. Before you go into fits of hysteria, give me a second to sell you on the film,
The new film version of “A-Team,” starring Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper and Jessica Biel, is a thrill ride from start to finish and demonstrates what a real action film should look like.
The explosions are high-quality, the storyline engaging and intense, and the camaraderie between the four “team” members exciting and fun – all elements that make “A-Team” a worthwhile movie.
Picking up from the original series, “A-Team” is about four renegade Army Rangers who complete more missions breaking all the rules than following them. Upon completion of one mission, retrieving stolen money plates from Saddam Hussein during the Iraqis War, the team witnesses the death of their Army commander in a car bombing.
The team is then wrongfully accused of taking part in a mission without authorization, even though the authorization was from the deceased commander, and are held in army prisons. Yet you know how the story goes – prison won’t hold this team down for long.
What really pops in the film is the chemistry between the four members of the A-Team; Neeson as Hannibal, Cooper as Face, newcomer Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson as B.A. (Mr. T) and Sharlto Copley as Murdock. Neeson is the perfect patriarch character, corralling the playful antics between the other three.
Biel is underwhelming as an Army lieutenant who has unfinished romantic business with Face and doesn’t convey the power and authority to boss around the team. Plus, lieutenants don’t usually have a wardrobe like hers.
Run, don’t walk, to go see the new “A-Team” and make it your Plan A instead of Plan B.
Four and a half Heartbeats
DVD Rental:Up in the Air – A top Oscar contender at this year’s Academy Award, Up in the Air is actually an enjoyable Oscar film starring George Clooney. Up is about a man hired out to companies to fire their employees and how the women in his life make him re-think his career choice and frequent flier lifestyle. Special feature highlight – an interesting featurette about the film’s opening sequence called shadowplay.
Four Heartbeats
June 14th, 2010
MOVIEBEAT WITH BLAIR – radio broadcast 6/14 at 4:30 pm on HeartBeat Radio for Women
We all know the lines by heart – “Wax on, wax off.” We know the characters – May you rest in peace Pat Morita aka Mr. Miyagi? However, if you were to forget what you remember most of the classic film “Karate Kid,” you might find that the story is timeless and one you never tire of.
That can definitely be said about the remake of the beloved film and no, this version doesn’t have Hilary Swank in it.
Down to even some of the same lines from the original uttered in this version, “Karate Kid” gives off the feeling of “seen it before.” Yet what makes this film a must-see this summer is how the characters bring out more of the story than the original film did.
Jackie Chan (as the Mr. Miyagi-like maintenance man/kung-fu teacher) and Jaden Smith (as the Ralph Macchio character) bring heart with humor to the remake of “Karate Kid” and show you sides of their characters that weren’t as explored in the original.
In “Karate Kid,” Jaden is Dre Parker, a Detroit kid who now must make a home in Bejing, China when his mom gets a new job. Before you can say “kung fu,” he has found himself on the wrong side of a fist from the school bully.
As in the original, Dre feels the only way to protect himself from constant beatings is to learn kung fu and looks to any source of teaching to learn the ancient marital art, including in his own apartment complex.
Smith gives the role of Dre (Daniel in the original) a whole new, BETTER personality than Ralph Macchio did with humor, wit and emotion. When he starts to tear up while telling his mom how much he wants to go home, the inner child in all of us can feel his pain.
Chan breaks away from his “Rush Hour” persona to make his character a man few in words but most expressive in body movement and facial expressions. You’ll be impressed by his performance.
Don’t let this film be one you chalk up as a “seen it before.” You haven’t seen “Karate Kid” like this before and it is worth a matinee ticket to see Smith and Chan in a pretty decent film.
Three and a half heartbeats
DVD Rental: The Lovely Bones – Based from the book, The Lovely Bones is the slightly dragging film version about how the spirit of a murdered girl leads her family to find her killer and each other while in grief. Hard to picture Mark Wahlberg in anything serious and he seems to be too young to be the father of a 14-year-old.
Two and a half heartbeats
June 8th, 2010
MOVIEBEATWITH BLAIR - Radio broadcast 6/7 on HeartBeat Radio for Women at 4:30 pm
“PERSIA” NOT A ROYAL CLASSIC
Over the top explosions, cliche dialogue and a story line that far surpasses when it should have ending? Must be a Jerry Bruckheimer film.
Yet “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” is still an enjoyable adventure flick that showcases a very fit and capable Jake Gyllenhaal in the leading man role along with elaborate sets, state-of-the-art technology and a hilarious sidekick (Alfred Molina).
Launching off the storyline from the popular video game, “Prince of Persia” brings audiences into the life of Dastan (Gyllenhaal) who was born a street urchin but became a Persian prince when he was adopted by the Persian king.
Dastan still carries much of his streetwise sense and successfully infiltrates the palace of Princess Tamina (Clash of the Titans’Gemma Arterton) while his adopted brothers (and rightful princes) look on in wonder.
During their feast of victory at the captured palace, the king is mysteriously murdered and all fingers point to Dastan. He then goes on a quest to clear his name as well as to find out why a mysterious dagger he found at the palace has the princess scared and everyone intrigued.
“Persia” definitely packs quite a punch with nonstop action sequences and beautiful glimpses of the desert. The story, however, lacks in originality and carries too many “been there, seen that” scenes from other Bruckheimer movies (nothing will ever beat Pirates).
Gyllenhaal looks the part of Dastan and even has fun with his dialogue, especially in scenes with Arterton that require quick wit and instant chemistry.
However, Alfred Molina as a tax-evading gaming promoter (of ostrich races no less) steals the show and brings to mind Indiana Jones’ co-star Sallah (John Rhys-Davies) in “Raiders of the Lost Ark. The two characters even look alike as well.
If nothing else, “Persia” is a great way to avoid the heat outside while watching action that heats up the screen. Not to mention spending a few hours oogling at Gyllenhaal’s physique.
Three and a half heartbeats
DVD Rental: Amelia starring Hilary Swank and Richard Gere – Film takes on a different side of Amelia, chronicling her climb to flying fame and her sometimes complicated love story with her husband George Putnam. Swank looks and acts the part of Amelia but doesn’t seem to become the famous aviatrix while Gere gives an impressive performance as Putnam. Highlight of DVD is Movietone reels of Amelia’s famous flying trips.
Three heartbeats
June 3rd, 2010
When some think of relaxation, what might come to mind may be a spa, cruise or luxury stay at a five-star resort. How I recently relaxed from the daily grind was by having those luxuries of electricity, air-conditioning and being waited on taken away on vacation.
I went camping during the Memorial Day holiday weekend in the Juniper Springs campground of the Ocala National Forest. Voted as one of the Top 100 family-friendly campgrounds in America, Juniper Springs boasts spacious camp sites, convenient bathrooms (very nice as well!) and a large spring pool that is a cool break from the summer heat.
My two friends and I spent four days relax at our camp site; reading, napping and just enjoying the various sights and sounds of nature around us. I most enjoyed my morning walks around the different campsite locations near our camp site as I let the sounds of Elton John, Kelly Clarkson and Teddy Geiger set my walking pace.
We kept our meals simple and only did actual cooking for our dinners each night, from delicious veggie-filled foil dinners to roasting hot dogs by our camp fire. Of course no camping trip is complete with those marshmallow-oozing Smores that were a must-have to end each night of our trip.
Besides the walks around the camp area and swimming, we also got in some physical activity by taking the Springs’ four-hour canoe ride (yes, FOUR hours) that brought us through beautiful savannas and along lush riverbanks. We saw turtles basking in the sun and bass jumping out of the river, though thankfully none jumped into our boat.
One downside of the ride was that the course was not marked properly so there were several times you could go down a one path that might lead you to a dead end. We also had to “limbo” under branches and trees in order to continue on the course as well as fight sudden current bursts when we reach the two new springs that opened up during our trip. The ride was credited as being a “lazy” ride down the river but it was anything but!
Overall, the camping stay was a much-needed break from reality for a little while as well as an adventure that showed us nature is still very much alive in Central Florida. A dip in Juniper Springs was better than any spa treatment and the sun seeping through the forest trees was more picturesque than any view on a cruise ship (well, not every view as you can’t beat a sunset on the water).
For more information about camping at Juniper Springs or Ocala National Forest, visit their web site at www.forestcamping.com . Just make sure to carry insect and deer fly repellents as deer flies are in full force this summer. Our more than 40 combined bites can prove that!
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