National Treasure: Book of Secrets - Movie Review

I actually ended up watching National Treasure: Book of Secrets almost two weeks ago but hey I’ve been busy. So I’ll try to write this review with as few spoilers as possible, but depending on your definition of spoiler I can’t make any promises…. So Beware!

I really liked National Treasure: Book of Secrets. As you know I’m not a big fan of Nicholas Cage but I think he is spectacular in both National Treasures. I really enjoyed all the American history found in the first National Treasure while they darted around the East Coast, but I also enjoyed Ben and Riley darting around Europe just as much in this one. I also like they brought the movie back for the finale in American but not somewhere they had been in another movie.

As with every movie there are good things and there are bad, so of course I did have a couple of things that stuck out to me. As always the movie and facts presented are quite fabricated; which I find sad. Such as the Olmecs weren’t in the United States and you can’t easily pick up a brick of solid gold and shove it in a backpack. Didn’t the movie Zorro teach movie makers anything?

And with all the extra locations it didn’t seem as if there were as many clues in this movie. It just took longer to find and solve each clue since they were darting between continents.

Yet, as a movie fan I can look past all those things there was only one piece of the script that bothered me and still is. After finding the City of Gold no one even makes an estimate of how much the find will be worth or how much they decided to take from it. If you recall in the first National Treasure Ben does agree to let Riley make the decision on the percentage they get to keep on their next find. Plus with his looming tax debt I’ll go out on a limb and say it would be significantly more than 1%.

But as always the treasure protectors break laws, steal precious artifacts, and sneak into secure locations. Of course all of these high crimes are forgiven once they can produce the cash.

In the end if you haven’t yet you should make sure to see National Treasure: Book of Secrets.

“What is it about treasure that makes history so fascinating?”

Journeyman - Is it the end?

So I’ve been down with a cold for the last few days which is why I’d like to say I haven’t updated but basically it’s just because I’m lazy. That and we got a Wii for Christmas.

But I do have an update tonight; sadly it’s a bad one. I recently found out that one of my favorite shows Journeyman has been canceled. Well not technically canceled yet but hasn’t been picked up for a second season. The rumor on the street is if the writers strike continues it stands a chance of being brought back. This leaves me torn, I don’t want the writers to be without work, but I really want my show back.

It saddens me that once again the networks have taken off a great show in order to continue to play reality tv crap. How many more of these shows can we take before viewers lose all sense of reason? Journeyman was a show with depth, great plot line,
actors that connected on screen, and a fresh idea. And let's not forget thankfully it wasn't another reality show. Yet, with all these qualities NBC has decided that once again another show they placed in the Monday night 10 pm time slot wasn't worthy of a second season. How many times will networks make decisions that kill wonderfully thought provoking programs while shoving another prime time reality disaster down our throats?

In fact after canceling Journeyman it seems all NBC has left is more reality shows that I think most Americans can agree we've seen enough of. I find it sad that a large network like NBC would continue to air shows like; Jay Leno's Garage, Clash of the Choirs, Americas Got Talent, and Last Comic Standing over quality programming.

You might say I’m going too far but I blame decisions like this for the moral decay of society. What happened to quality programming? It saddens me to see our youth learning their principles from shows like Family Guy, the Apprentice, and My Name is Earl. Journeyman was my ray of hope that good television was making a come back, but a lass it seems once again I gave too much credit. This is the last show I will get hooked on only to see it tossed in the trash after one season. I rarely watch new shows because I’m scared of this exact thing happening. I get hooked on a show and then some over paid executive cancels it so they have more air time for American Idol or Survivor.

Through my angry searches for more information about this incident I did run a cross another blogger who shares my same outlook about NBC and Journeyman. You can read his comments on the matter at Paul Levinson’s Blog

What really bothers me about all of this is the fact I didn’t even know I was watching the last episode until after it was done. NBC did so little advertising for the show and never once mentioned it was done. That’s just low in my opinion.

I’m sorry to say NBC has lost a loyal viewer, I can no longer continue to watch sub par programming. The only hope I have besides the writers strike is that another network will use some common sense and pick up Journeyman next season.

I wrote a letter containing many of these thoughts and emailed them to a few people over at NBC. I’m hoping to get some snail mail out this week regarding the issue. If you would like to send NBC your thoughts and support on Journeyman feel free to use and spread these contacts to friends. Maybe if enough of us make our feelings known we can bring Journeyman back for another season.

EMAILS:

Vince Manze, President of Scheduling at NBC
vince.manze@nbcuni.com

Jeff Zucker president and chief executive officer:
jeff.zucker@nbcuni.com

Joanne Park – in charge of journeyman
joanne.park@nbcuni.com

Marc Hirshfeld – Executive VP, Casting:
marc.hirshfeld@nbcuni.com

Mitch Metcalf - Program Planning & Scheduling:
Mitch.Metcalf@nbcuni.com

Lisa VebberSenior - Scheduling & Strategic Analysis:
Lisa.Vebber@nbcuni.com


SNAIL MAIL:

Ben Silverman,
Co-Chairman of NBC Entertainment
NBC/Universal
100 Universal City Plaza
Universal City, CA

Jeff Zucker c/o NBC
Re: Journeyman
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10112

NBC Universal, Inc.
Attn: Keep Journeyman
30 Rockefeller Plaza 5224
New York, NY 10112-0002


ONLINE LINKS

Petition online

Save-Journeyman

My thoughts on the Piñata

You know what I got to thinking about today?

Piñatas.
Why your probably asking – well let me tell you why my dear friends.

In our society we hear all the time how our children are being warped by all the violence in video games and television. And I tend to agree at least with the statement that things have gotten more violent, whether or not “Call of Duty” or “Grand Theft Auto” are to blame, I don’t know.

But I do know our entertainment has always been a little violent. I mean look at Tom & Jerry or even Popeye. Hell even the Care Bears had that wicked stare. Most of the shows youths watch revolve around the good guys beating up on some villain they’ve decided is deserving for their wrath.

But the Piñata is my favorite. It’s been around for centuries and is a whimsical game played at celebrations, but what is the Piñata really? Take away the cultural aspects and a Piñata becomes a paper Mache figure decorated in bright happy colors in which you take a bat or stick and beat the crap out of it for fun. Children mutilate these toys until they’re beyond recognition and what is their reward? Candy of course. Rather than guts the sweet filled animal contains suckers, chocolates, gummies, and usually small toys. What exactly does this practice teach our children; sub conscience or not? Violence has always been all around us just the graphic, realistic and reasoning behind it has changed. We used to bash open Piñatas for the candy inside now we blow away the competition with AK47’s so we can see their body parts spewed all over. And do you remember when Mom’s were upset over the original Mortal Combat because a red line that somehow represented blood would on occasion fly out if you hit your opponent hard enough. Maybe the problem isn’t that things are more violent in nature its that they’re more realistic. What once was a red line shooting out an arm is now a pile of intestines, limbs, and blood thrown on the ground as an aftermath.

Maybe we should just go back to the Piñata, an apparently harmless form of violence in the eyes of America.

Just my random illogical rant on Piñatas.

Transformers

So Matt and I finally watched Transformers the other day. Actually it weeks ago but this is the internet so it was the other day in my time.

Honestly, I know Transformers received some high reviews, but I just wasn’t impressed. And here’s why…. I can handle a movie passing off fighting robots or whatever but not that our government would allow two college students access to their computer systems and national defense systems. And if those agents aren’t on enough drugs we’ve got another unit allowing a teenage boy and his recent girlfriend to boss them around just because he found the car and his great grandfather might have had a connection. Come on, our military would just ride in there, steal the car and never accept blame or admit they couldn’t do something. they certainly wouldn’t accept help from non government officials of this age.

The only reason these young actors/actresses are in the movie is to draw in a younger viewer demographic. If you’re like Matt your rebuttal is that “it’s just a fictional movie and I should calm down, because there are robots talking on the screen”. I’m just sick and tired of Hollywood treating all movie viewers like we’re freaking zombies and don’t pick up on these things. I’m even sadder that so many of the viewers prove them right.

The people who enjoyed Transformers are probably the same people who feel Gattaca isn’t Sci-Fi enough because they still use elevators. Bad Zombies Bad. Gattaca is one of the most realistic Sci-Fi movies out there for reasons that they are still using things like elevators. What do you expect them to teleport everywhere? They use elevators and cars because they still work, just like we do today. Henry Ford first mass produced the Model T in 1908 and although the technology and look has changed we’re still driving them. Why wouldn’t we continue to do so? Its only a few years in the future, this isn’t the Jetson’s.

The moral of my story is, if you’re looking for a good Sci-Fi put down Transformers and rent Gattaca instead.

But what can I say I have a feeling I’m going to love the new National Treasure even though it has Cage in it and is pretty fantasy filled. Like the government would ever give them five percent, they’d lock them up fast and keep all the goods themselves. So I guess I am a hypocrite after all.


“Why are we fighting to save the humans? They're a primitive, violent race.”

And this one because it’s a line I can relate to: “So I downloaded a couple thousand songs off the internet! Who hasn't? Who hasn't?”

Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold

Just finished Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. The book was very different then what I had expected I guess that’s what I get for just hearing “yeah it’s good” from others but not actually taking the time to simply read the back cover. Although when it was all said and done my friends were right and I did enjoy it. Lovely Bones wasn’t the typical book I usually read. In fact when I picked it up I though we’d be following the forensics of the case; anything to do with bones really. Anything but a quick reference in one of the last chapters that lasted a sentence, maybe two.

The story is about Susie a fourteen year old struggling to let go of her family while in heaver after being horribly murdered a short distance from home. Susie spends many years in her heaven watching her family and keeping track of their developments.

Lovely Bones, is much more about dealing with the loss of a loved one and coping with grief that solving a murder. And although it was written as fiction I think there are many things we can learn from the Salmon’s story about them struggles and our own. I’ll also admit that had I not read most of this book on a business trip I’m sure I would have cried. I was often moved by parts but didn’t want my roommate to think I was some crazy chick.

It isn’t a fit for every reader so just make sure you know what you’re getting into before you decide to dive right in. Overall it is a good book and if you think it might be your thing then give Sebold a shot to win over you book shelf.


“Nothing is ever certain”

Bee Movie - Review

I am weeks behind in my bloggings but work has me working what feels like 50 hours a week and the trips to Wisconsin. Anyway, a few weekends ago we went to see Bee Movie. The movie is about a Bee, Barry, who leaves the hive after finding out he will spend the rest of his days making honey. On his journey through New York City he befriends a florist named Vanessa. In time he learns about the human exploitation of bees in order to make honey and decides to sue humans. The rest of the movie is the subsequent legal battle and after actions. Overall I really enjoyed the movie, yeah it’s a little corny but I think it portrayed the environmental aspect in a subtle way throughout the movie. Unlike Happy Feet which threw it all in there during the last oh, three minutes.
I was also really happy with the fact I didn’t hear/see any sexual innuendos, swearing or other “adult” content that you see in many big movies starting comedians such as Shrek and The Grinch. Don’t get me wrong I love both those movies and own them but my children won’t be watching them any time soon. Especially considering I don’t have children; but when I do these movies won’t be on their shelf. If it is true that what our children watch can influence their behavior maybe this one will get more of our future generations thinking about our planet. And that’s never a bad thing.

It defiantly didn’t hurt the movie that Jerry Seinfeld was in it considering we can’t get enough of him in our house.

“Everyone knows you sting someone, you die. You don't waste it on a squirrel. He was such a hothead.”

Tales from the Boom-Boom Room

Tales from the Boom-Boom Room by Susan Antilla has a good story behind it but the writing has to be the driest I’ve ever read. The story follows the lives of five woman during their time working in the financial district and the subsequent legal battles fought by them and many other woman. The issue wasn’t something about sexual harassment they faced every day on the job but their right to a jury trial for such claims. At the time all traders signed an agreement forcing them to binding arbitration. After 302 pages you learn the woman still have to go through arbitration but there’s a chance of one day getting a jury trial. Well I suppose one company’s employees gained the right but that was a foot note in the book. Of course it wasn’t until 200 pages in that the real legal battle even begins so I guess you take what you can get.

When I started reading the book I expected it to be based in the 70’s but to my amazement most of the events took place in the late 90’s and are still being dealt with by many women, on the job front and legally.

As I said in the end the women did have quite a battle but I’m not sure if the story needed a full 300+ pages to be fully told. If you are looking for a good legal read and aren’t concerned with the subject I’d suggest the “Buffalo Creek Disaster” by Gerald Stern. Much more interesting.

Overall:
C-
Recommended For:
Anyone who REALLY enjoys a true law book regardless of dry writing and weak endings