The Hound of the Baskervilles

The Hound of the Baskervilles directed by Terence Fisher
1959
★★★★✰
So I finally got around to watching this Sir Arthur Conan Doyle great.  It has only be sitting on our DVR queue since last December.  But it turns out I finished watching the movie on Christoper Lee's (Sir Henry Baskerville) 88th birthday.  Yesterday would have been Peter Cushing's (Sherlock Holmes) 97th birthday so it was pretty good timing.  The story is fantastic.  Cushing (yes, that's Grand Moff Tarking from Star Wars) and (a very young and handsome) Lee put in great performances.  I do enjoy these old films, especially when the build outdoor sets indoors.  There is a certain cheesy awesomeness to them.
Great movie all around but if you don't like Sherlock Holmes stories you probably will be bored with this film.

Avatar

Avatar directed by James Cameron
2009
★★★✰✰
So I finally saw Avatar and its not that great.  It was entertaining at times but had some very ridiculous things that I had a hard time getting past.  Really?  They are digging for the precious metal "unobtainium?"  Why not call it, "hard-to-find-ium?"  Also, if they have the technology to build amazing robots for people to control, why make the robot carry a gun?  Especially with two hands (like a person would)?  Why not simply attach the guns directly to the robot itself.  I also couldn't get past that they would equip the robots with a knife.  That is hard to believe.  Aside from the little big things, the movie was a little long and a little too reminiscent of Pocahontas and Dances with Wolves.  My wife brought up a good point; why can't Hollywood make a movie that shows an advanced civilization living in harmony with the planet rather than an aboriginal people.  Just because we are "green" doesn't mean we are uncivilized...

Four Christmases

Four Christmases directed by Seth Gordon
2008
★★✰✰✰
So I figured this movie wouldn't be that great and I was right.  But it did have a number of funny bits that made me laugh out loud.  Certainly the baby spit up scenes were funny but Vince Vaughn's reaction is what makes you laugh.  Pretty weak story overall.  It is basically your typical Hollywood holiday movie.  Not much else.

Palos Verdes 5K Photo

"Eye of the tiger..."

At the Finish Line

So I got some pictures of me in the Palos Verdes 5K race.  Since my last race produced zero photos, I was pleasantly surprised to have six in this one.  My official time was 27:09 putting me 144th out of 717 and 5th out of 20 in my division (Men 30-34).  Please don't laugh but I think I look pretty good (in these two photos.  You won't be seeing the other four...)

Palos Verdes 5K Results

So I got my results for the Palos Verdes 5K.  I did really good.  27:09.  I placed 144th overall out of 717.  But more incredibly, I placed 5th in my division (men 30-34).  I can't believe it!  I was 30 seconds away from winning a prize as the top 4 finishers in each division get a medal.  The guy that ended up winning the whole thing came from my division as well.  Anyways, I am pleased with my time and I hope I can keep it up.  I took 3 minutes off my race from last month and nearly 8 minutes from my first race in February.

Palos Verdes 5K

So I ran in my third race this morning and I think it went well.  I felt good during the race and I think I ended up with a great time.  The Palos Verdes 5K was a nice run especially since it is so close (although, it is a little deceiving since it is really in San Pedro for the 5K, the marathon and half-marathon make it to Palos Verdes...)  Anyways, it was a little weird running along the Point Fermin bluffs as I used to walk here quite often when I lived in San Pedro and my wife, K, worked late at the library.  I would walk from the house down the HILL and head along the bluffs to the lighthouse (pretty cool) and then head home.  My parents made it out to the race but I had already finished and was walking back to the car.  We met up anyways and I got my picture taken so I will have at least one.  Back to the race - I forgot to stop my Nike+ timer as I crossed the finish line so I am really unsure of where I will be.  Certainly I will be under thirty minutes (my goal for this race).  But, I really don't know especially since there were no timing chips so I think the gun time is the official time.  Well, we will just have to wait for the website updates.

One Hundred Push Ups

So I started a new fitness program called "One Hundred Push Ups"  It is a seven week program in which the ultimate goal is to do 100 push ups.  Since I have been so into fitness with my running and dieting, I thought I might give it a try.  It doesn't seem to take a lot of time (only 3x a week).  So far I have done the first two days of week one and I think I can continue.  I can certainly feel the tightness in my shoulders and arm pits from the first day.  It is nice that they have a logger that keeps track of your progress and even links with facebook.  There is even an iPhone app (that I probably won't get since it costs $1.99 and I am too stingy to splurge).  I hope I can keep it up.

The Departed

The Departed directed by Martin Scorsese
2006
★★★✰✰
So I can't believe it took me so long to see this movie.  I have never been a big "gangster" movie guy.  I have seen some but never really enjoyed them like other movies.  I really enjoyed The Departed.  I actually liked watching Leonardo DiCaprio.  I used to say that I had never seen a movie with DiCaprio in it.  I have never seen Titanic or What's Eating Gilbert Grape or any other of his films due to his whiny kid persona.  Then I finally got sucked into Catch Me If You Can and I actually found myself liking a movie he was in (of course, he was playing a whiny kid in that movie).  Since my streak is broken, I guess I can see other movies with him.  All of the actors (aside from Mark Wahlberg) put up great performances in this film.  Even if you don't like gangster movies (but you do need to like violent movies) this film shouldn't be missed.

Where The Wild Things Are

Where The Wild Things Are directed by Spike Jonze
2009
★★✰✰✰ 
So I really like Spike Jonze's movies.  I loved Being John Malkovich and enjoyed Adaptation (despite Nicholas Cage).  But I just didn't get this movie.  It was definitely not a children's movie. It was quite dark and I'm still unsure of what it was all about. I used to read the book by Maurice Sendak all the time but I feel the movie is missing the light-heartedness that makes the book so likable.  On the plus side, the visual effects were incredible and the "wild things" were amazingly real. 

The Tolkien Reader

The Tolkien Reader by J.R.R. Tolkien
1966
★★★★✰
So I absolutely love The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.  That is why I finally got around to reading this book.  I think it was my dad's as it is quite old.  The Tolkien Reader is filled with great poems and stories, some giving more insight into The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.  I especially enjoyed "Leaf: By Niggle" and the "The Adventures of Tom Bombadil" who makes an appearance in The Fellowship of the Ring (but was unfortunately cut out of the movie). This was my fallback book for over two years.  When I finished a book and had nothing new to read, I would pickup reading this book.  Probably not the best way to read a book but I finished it nonetheless.
You can also view my reviews at books.livingsocial.com

Defiance

Defiance directed by Edward Zwick
2008
★★★★✰
So I still can't believe this movie is based on actual events.  It is a truly incredible story.  Everyone has heard of Schindler and how he saved hundreds of Jews during World War II but what the Bielskis did was equally amazing.  Not once did I think of Daniel Craig as James Bond.  Liev Schrieber also puts in a fantastic acting performance.

I Love You, I Hate You, I'm Hungry

I Love You, I Hate You, I'm Hungry: A Collection of Cartoons by Bruce Eric Kaplan
2010
★✰✰✰✰
So I used to love reading comic books. Not really "comic books" but "books of comics."  Calvin and Hobbes, The Far Side, even Peanuts and Garfield books filled up my bedside nightstand.  However, this book was very "meh."  There were very few jokes that made me laugh. I did like, "If we are made up of energy, why am I so tired?" I guess these comics are too intellectual for me.  I think I just like cruder forms of humor. If you are like me, check out Hyperbole and a Half and The Oatmeal for some good laughs.
You can also view my reviews at books.livingsocial.com

Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes directed by Guy Ritchie
2009
★★★✰✰
So I love Sherlock Holmes.  The Hound of the Baskervilles is an all time best.  I really like the Basil Rathbone films so I should love this movie.  Well, not quite.  I did enjoy it.  Robert Downey, Jr. was great.  Even Jude Law did a good job.  Overall it wasn't bad. It wasn't great either. I also don't understand why Hollywood feels the need to have a female action counterpart.  Rachel McAdams was incredibly annoying and her "pants wearing, no-nonsense Victorian babe" was too far-fetched. The story was a little weak.  I am unsure why they chose a comic book to adapt into the screenplay instead of one of sixty that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote.  I would watch the sequel which I assume is being made (otherwise they are quite rude to tease us with Professor Moriarty)...

Operation Red Jericho

Operation Red Jericho: The Guild of Specialists, Book 1 by Joshua Mowll
2005
★★★★✰
So I really enjoyed this book.  I especially liked the use of "artifacts" from the main character's personal collection. The fold out maps and diagrams are fantastic and make you feel like you are reading a special journal or diary. The physical book is very reminiscent of Indiana Jones' Grail Diary from "The Last Crusade." I was just waiting for some small scrap of paper or note to slip out revealing a hidden clue!  Very fun read for teens and older.
You can also view my reviews at books.livingsocial.com

LEGO Star Wars story

So I thought this was great. Especially on Star Wars Day. "May the Fourth be with you!"