soultrance

Movie Night!

I think the wife and I have found our ways back into a movie watching mood again. Last weekend we rented V for Vendetta and The Wild.

The Wild is a cute kids flicks about animals from the zoo. The star attraction of the zoo is, of course, the king of the pride, a lion, who’s cub has some depression and anger management issues and is sick of living in his dads shadow. He decided to run away and ends up stuck in an animal transport container, shipped to a small tropical island where the containers are being filled with the local wild life in an effort to save them from the impending doom that is the islands Volcano. The big lion brags all the time in the zoo about being wild and it turns out, once he and the other animals land on the island, he’s just as scared as they are and has never been in the wild before. Then the movie continues to following the big lion and zoo animals as they try to rescue the lion cub.

Overall, The Wild was a cute movie. Madagascar was better and the best character by far was Nigel the Koala who’s voice was done by the hilarious british comedian Eddie Izzard.

2.5/5

V for Vendetta was an absolutely fantastic movie. The entire movie has a very Orwellian feeling to it and has similarities with Gattaca, Pi and A Clockwork Orange, only with more explosions. The movies main character, V, makes it his lifes goal to bring awareness and freedom back to the british people who have been without ever since a totalitarian regime took over. The government runs and controls everything, including the media, and they fabricate whatever they think is needed to keep the people scared enough to fear the government. The secret police take away anyone that isn’t religious or doesn’t fit in to the governments beliefs and they are never seen again. This movie is full of fantastic quotes from start to finish, has a great story line and a number of twists and turns along the way.

V for Vendetta is by far one of the best movies I have seen in the last few years. My only complaint is when a relatively un-needed, as far as I[m concerned, love interest comes up and seems to be drawn out for a little bit. All be it a very short segment, I don’t think it was needed. Overall thoug, fantastic. A must see movie if you haven’t seen it yet.

4.5/5

Tonight we went out and picked up a mixed bag of old and new movies to take for a run. The cinema for the next few nights will be featuring:

An American Haunting – This is chrys’ pick and I don’t really know a whole heck of a lot about the movie.
Napola (Before The Fall) – Napola is a German made indy movie about an athletic young boy with boxing talents and his life in a private school for the elite where future leaders of the Nazi Party are trained.
The Closet – A French made indy film where a factory worker on the verge of losing his job “pretends” to be gay in order to make the factory foreman back off for fear of a discrimination lawsuit.
Death To Smoochy – Robin Williams, Edward Norton and a big purple dinosaur costume. Need I say more?
Dazed and Confused – The classic 70’s stoner flick. I don’t know what it is, but I have ALWAYS loved this movie, it’s just so goofy and fun. It’s one of those don’t need to think at all movies that are just really enjoyable. Not to mention it has an all star cast of actors about 10 years before any of them became super popular.

So, that’s that. The wife and I have a busy weekend of movie watching ahead of us. Better get started.

Have Gnome, Will Travel

Allen Snyder of Morgantown, West Virginia got a bit of a surprise last spring when he notice one day that his 14inch tall red and white gnome had gone missing from his garden. More surprising still was the fact that he began receiving letters from the Gnome several months later.

In total, Snyder has received three letters from his hijacked gnome from various locations in the US. The most recent letter came with pictures and featured the gnome taking in a Pittsburgh Steelers game with his new owners.

One thing is for sure, the gnome isn’t upset about being kidnapped in the least, in fact he had this to say in his most recent letter:

“You never took me to any games,” and “Have to go now. Boarding a plane. Now, finally, broadening my travels.”

One of the earlier letters even included a request for bail money and pictures of the gnome and another kidnapped gnome sitting in the back of a cop car. This gnome sure gets around.

It seem that online travel company Travelocity, which features a traveling gnome as their mascot, has even contact the owner of the gnome with a few words on encouragement:

“While we know that your dear friend, Gnomey, can never be replaced, we’re sending the enclosed Roaming Gnome to keep you company in his absence,” wrote Michelle Peluso, CEO of Travelocity. “Hopefully your friend will find his way out of trouble and back to your front yard soon, although we can’t help but admire his sense of adventure and love of travel.”

That’s one lucky gnome.

Good luck Gnomey, and safe travels!

Source

Survivor Cook Islands Recap: Billy Eliminated

Tonight’s episode of Survivor Cook Islands started off with the usual recap of the last episode.

Manihiki camp:

Everyone’s trying to get the first going and they’re having one hell of a rough time getting it going, or at least Nathan was. Rebecca steps up to the plate, gives it a few goes and BAM! Fire. Looks like the girls of Manihiki made the right decision booting Sekou and aren’t going to need the boys around for much other than challenges.

Aitutaki camp:

Everyone’s out in the rocks spear fishing and they’re all doing a really good job. Ozzy comes up with a few fish and the girls manage to nail a few crabs and even some clams. Tonight’s dinner is going to be a seafood beach bash.

Once back to homebase Christina tells her story about being a cop, getting shot in the arm and almost having to lose the arm. That is one tough chick, better watch out for her.

Apparently there are chickens running around on the islands and, by the looks of it, a fair amount of them. Ozzy rigs a trap in the hopes of catching some and ends up catching 1 chicken first shot. Mmm Chicken!

Puka camp:

Yul has the same idea for the chickens, puts together his own chicken trap, road runner box balanced on a stick style. Yul sets the trap, waits, pulls the rope and nails two chickens first try. Take that Ozzy!

After scoring some chicken for everyone Yul has a chat with Becky and they form a Korean alliance, sorta? Could be interesting to see how that plays out. I don’t trust her myself.

Rarotonga camp:

Jonathan gets back from Exile Island (cue monty python style “Yay”) and right away he steps up, takes charge and puts the tribe into action… sorta. The tribe has been sleeping on the ground since they got there and Jon wants to get a floor together so the tribe can sleep, you know, NOT on the ground. Amazingly enough, Adam seems to be the only person stupid enough to argue about NOT spending time making a floor cause he doesn’t see what good it will do. Wow, apparently he’s never watched Survivor before, idiot.

Continue reading “Survivor Cook Islands Recap: Billy Eliminated”

Vancouver: Georgia Straight Best of Vancouver Edition

Yay! It’s that time of year again. The Georgia Straight has just released the much coveted and sought after Best of Vancouver… edition!

The Georgia Straight has always been my favorite local rag and the Best of Vancouver edition has always been my favorite edition. The Straight is a really good source for information about Vancouver, from restaurants to the local music scene, they pretty much cover it all. Though, I have to admit, it’s not that often that I find an awe inspiring article in the rag, I mostly read it to get info about bands coming to town and shows and events that are happening soon. But every now and then I find an article that’s pretty damn good.

The Best of Vancouver edition of the Georgia Straight is by far the most popular edition of the paper and is a great way to find new restaurants to try. However, when it comes to things like “best local band”, whoever voted obviously didn’t vote very well.

The Best of Vancouver edition of the Straight should be available across Vancouver now, so find a big black box next to an ugly orange and tacky green box, and grab a paper out of it. The best of edition is always worth a read, even if you only read the best of section. And don’t forget, unlike those other crappy papers you have to pay for and the even worse ad laden freebies, the Georgia Straight is 100% FREE and actually worth picking up!

Georgia Straight
Georgia Straight Best Of Vancouver
All Things Vancouver

Vancouver: 21st Annual Walk For Life

The BC Persons With Aids Society is putting on the 21st Annual Walk For Life on September 24th, 2006 in Vancouver.

“On June 15th, 1986, the British Columbia Persons With AIDS Society (BCPWA) launched the first AIDS WALK in Canada. By 1997, walks were held in more than 120 cities across Canada and are now coordinated on the same day in September under the name WALK for LIFE. The WALK continues to increase community awareness and to raise funds for direct services for persons living with HIV and AIDS.”

This years event will be held on September 24th, 2006 and will begin in beautiful Stanley Park. All those interested in attending will get to choose between a 10k walk around the Stanley Park Seawall or a 2k walk around Lost Lagoon.

Registration opens at 8:30am where coffee, snacks and pre-walk entertaiment will be provided. 10:00am will see the start of the opening ceremonies and at 11:00am the 21st Annual Walk for Life will officially begin and see thousands of people treking around Stanley Park.

To learn more about the 21st Annual Walk for Life and to get further details on the even, go to: http://bcpwa.org/get_involved/wflsummary/

If you would like to donate money to support the BC Persons With Aids Society, you can do so at their website: http://bcpwa.org/

Video: How Do You Sell A Jedi A Car?

I came across this video while doing my daily rounds and had to post it on here.

I’m not a star wars fan by any means, but I got a kick out of this video where a guy dressed up in full Jedi attire walks into a car lot looking to buy a car. The best part of the video is that the salesman is so desperate to make the sale he’s hardly even phased when Darth Vader makes an apperance and the two do battle, baguette style.

Source: SalesAllStars.com

Reality TV: Biggest Loser Recap

Tonight was the premiere of NBC’s third season of the Biggest Loser and it was a good one. I already have a few clear favorites and a few strong dislikes. I think this is going to be a really good season and we should be see a whole lotta weight loss. Now, onto the Biggest Loser Recap:

We start off with 50 contestants, one from each state in the US. However, only 14 lucky contestants will get to stay at the Biggest Loser Ranch. The remaining 36 contestants will return to their homes and continue on with exercising and dieting. At the end of the season the two Biggest Loser’s of the 36 will return and compete for the big prize.

Of course, Caroline Rhea returns as the loveable host, with trainer Bob Harper at her side, but the hardcore trainer, Jillian Michaels is no where to be seen. Instead, the newest trainer for the biggest loser is and petty blonde Kim Lions. I hope she’s got as much spunk as Jillian did, she was great!

The show starts off with all 50 contestants lined up along the top of a hill just outside the biggest loser ranch, which makes for quite a site and one heck of a cool intro piece.

It’s announced that all 50 contestants combined consume over 1-million callories a day. That’s over 2 1/2 times the average/needed amount… Wow.

All 50 contestants step onto a massive weight scale and the numbers start flying by, not slowing down until hitting the 13,000 lbs mark. The total weight of all 50 contestants, a staggering 14,384 lbs. Thats a crazy average weight of 287.68 lbs PER PERSON.

All 50 contestants are lined up and set to doing drills right away. Jumping jacks, jogging in place and taebo style stuff while both Bob Harper and Kim Lions run up and down the rows, talking to people and watching for who they want on their teams. After sizing up the contestants, the trainers select their teams and everyone was off to their first individual weigh in’s:

Bob Harper’s Blue Team:

255lbs – Tiffany, Texas
321lbs – Bobby, Tennesse
308lbs – Brian, California
236lbs – Melinda, Alabama
365lbs – Marty, Missouri
260lbs – Amy, Maryland
407lbs – Erik, New York

Kim Lion’s Red Team:

358lbs – Ken, Washington
262lbs – Kai, Alaska
404lbs – Nelson, Massachusetts
247lbs – Pam, Indiana
307lbs – Wylie, Flordia
223lbs – Heather, Utah
245lbs – Jennifer, Minnesota

Continue reading “Reality TV: Biggest Loser Recap”

Reality TV: America’s Next Top Model and Biggest Loser Premieres Tonight

The summer season of reality TV has all but come to an end now, as the finales of Big Brother and Rock Star Supernova have been and gone, it’s time to kick off another season of reality TV.

The fall season of reality TV is upon us! With Survivor Cook Islands and Amazing Race 10 kicking everything off, there are another two shows set to join the rotation tonight! Tonight we get to see the premiers of not only two brand new season of reality TV, but of a brand new TV network as well!

America’s Next Top Model, which used to be featured on UPN, is now proudly being aired on the brand spankin’ new CW Television Network. America’s Next Top Model kicks off a brand new season in mere minutes (8:00pm PST) with a 2-hour season premiere. This season pits a new cast of 13 not so lovely ladies against eachother for the big prize and supermodel stardom. I do have to admit though, from looking at the pictures of all this seasons contestants, I only find 3 of the 13 to be attractive, and the twins (they have to be twins?), just creep me right out.

Show Info
America’s Next Top Model (2-hour premiere)
September 20th, 2006
8:00pm PST
CW Network
(BC Shaw Channel 13 & 14)

Don’t miss it!

Biggest Loser also premieres tonight on NBC. The Biggest Loser has been one of my favorite reality TV series since I got addicted to the first season. I lost a bit of interest when they switched over to doing family editions where no eliminations occured and each series ran only one or two shows, but now we’re back to the real thing again! This season also has a funky new twist. Instead of two teams fighting to lose the most weight, there will be 50 contestants, one representing each state of the U.S. If I recall from what I read a while ago, the 50 contestants will be worked down to 36 almost right away and than all but 12 – 14 of the contestants will be sent home to do their best on their own at home, leaving the remaining contestants to battle it out at the ranch (at least I assume it’ll be at the ranch, maybe?). This is one reality TV series I have been looking forward to for a long time now. Thanks NBC for bringing it back again!

Show Info
The Biggest Loser (2-hour premiere)
September 20th, 2006
8:00pm EST
NBC
(BC Shaw Channel 6 & 16)

Now, if you read the show times for both of these shows, you know I have a bit of a problem. They’re premiering two shows I really want to watch, both 2-hours long, at the same time on two different channels! How dare they! I can’t stand flipping back and forth with reality TV, I have to watch it straight through so I don’t miss anything. I STILL haven’t decided which show I am going to watch tonight and I’ll have to find a way to get the other show tomorrow (I have no VCR :(). Man I wish I could get a TiVo.

America’s Next Top Model
The Biggest Loser
Reality TV Recaps