Wall-E

Great movie. Aidan = thumb's up. Norma = thumb's up. Me = big thumbs up.



Run, don't walk. Go see it. Very good.

My Kung Fu Kid

Kung Fo Watching

Do I even need to say that Aidan loved this movie? The critical question though is what did Norma and I think of it.... (in my best Jack Black impersonation) "Awweeeesome!"

Made some awesome bucks at the box office this weekend, too!

Let's Just say, "I Want to Believe."

Looking forward to this...

Speed Racer

I sent my Mom this picture of Aidan and I at the movies today. We had just seen Speed Racer and we posed for a picture outside the theater.

My Mom wrote back: "Every time I see anything for that movie, I think of you. How you loved that show!"

It is true. As many kids were, I was a Speed Racer Kid. Loved the show is probably not strong enough. So when I read the reviews about how the movie wasn't any good - too long, too much CGI graphics, no storyline, did I mention too long? I was a little depressed about it. But, I knew Aidan would love it regardless.

We bought the old series DVD for Aidan to see Speed Racer and I was so excited that he actually liked it. Speed Racer is a Japanese cartoon. It was "Americanized" in a strange sense - the Japanese created it with American themes. Then America "Americanized" the Japanese version (which was supposed to be 'American'). Confusing I know, but it makes the mythology of the show even neater, when you think about it.

So we get to the movie this morning at 10:00 and I was happy to be spending time with him. The past 3 nights I had been working (AVID meeting Wed, Taught a class Thu night, and Job Fair on Friday). So I was looking forward to spending time with him.

The movie was really good. I loved it. Great racing effects, very true to the idealized version of Speed Racer - but futuristic. The futuristic version has been done in a more modern late 90s cartoon before. So it is based off of that more than the original 60s version. But, there were some really great moments. [spoiler alert] I loved the these parts: Trixie (Speed's girlfriend) actually drives. That was so neat and a nod to Danica Patrick and a big boost to the young girl viewers. It is brief, but fun and well done. Matthew Fox (we love him in Lost) as Racer X worked very well. He had the voice and straight forward and intense approach down pat. Pops was played brilliantly by John Goodman. Is there a man alive that could have played that role? He really looked like the real life version. And I loved the wrestling part with Pops where they zoomed in on his wrestling championship ring. I was like, "Cool!"

The music was good because it was up tempo, but rang true to the original theme song. Speed was played pretty well by Emile Hirsch. I didn't like him in the previews, but he grew on me throughout the movie.

I loved it. But, I am a 'fan.' Plus, how can I not enjoy something that my son was so fired up about? :) it was a good time.

Trailer:


Original Beginning of the Show:

Ratatouille

Went to see Ratatouille today with Aidan. He loved it. It is great to be able to take him to a movie and relax for a couple of hours. Thank goodness he loves popcorn!

The movie was first class. Exactly what you would expect from Disney-Pixar. Can they make a bad movie?

One negative note, most of the main character voices sounded like "Jerry Seinfeld goes to Paris." But, it was still funny.

30 Years Ago!

Star Wars.

I am 37. So when the movie came out I was only 7. But, boy did it influence me. Even today when teaching about WWII and Hitler... of course, I mention the "Storm Troopers" and "Darth Vader" (Adolf himself!). I can't wait to watch the History Channel's The Legacy Revealed on Memorial Day.

A time Far, Far Away... but, the memories will always live on. I can't wait for my son to experience the greatest movie villain of all time - Vader. And maybe the greatest underdog hero of all time - Young Skywalker - Luke. I wonder what age it will be when he discovers all the dvds that we have and starts to want to watch them instead of "The Wonder Pets?"

Has any movie ever captured it's spirit better in it's soundtrack? In those awesome sound effects when those Empire ships cruise through space (there is no sound in space, right? still didn't matter - it was cool!).

You gotta love it. I am feeling old though!

My birthday was this week. Monday. I didn't write about it because I had a MONSTER headache that night and went to bed early. It was a nice birthday though. I got cookies and cupcakes from my kids (I have no idea how they found out it was my birthday) and some really cool cards. One girl brought in a BYU pennnant as a present for me. I put college pennants up above my assignment board and she wanted to add her favorite school to the display. I put them there so that when they look up on that board to see what we are doing for the day or to see the assignment, they will remember why they are doing all this hard work. Really nice present because I will put it up each year.

I also got the coolest hand made card EVER from one of my favorite students. It was simply meticulous and totally well done. It's hard to even explain it was that nice.

Today I finished packing up my room. I go in tomorrow morning and will get the last signatures on my sign out form and turn in my grades. I'll put the last boxes in my car and it's cruise home for the summer! Kinda stinks going in on a Saturday morning, but it will be great to be all finished.

Hard to believe our first year is all over!
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Blades of Glory

Will Ferrell. Enough said.
This looks so stupid that it must be funny:
Movie Trailer: Blades of Glory

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