The Covenant (2006) 

Pretty much an average teen shocker film. Nothing really intriguing or new here.

Transporter 2 (2005)

I haven't seen the first film, but was pleased with this offering. Luc Besson wrote a good story with a mix of action and made it entertaining. Parts bordered on the fantastic, but these type of movies aren't realistic to start with. Jason Statham seemed very well fitted for the role. I will have to catch the first movie. 

Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1996)

A decent movie parody movie. Just a nice poke at pop culture and movies. Some of it is dated (of course), but being old enough to remember the mid 90s helped.

Nacho Libre  (2006)

Jack Black just entertains me. Not one of his better efforts, but still enjoyable. The supporting cast was very good. 

Pittsburgh (2006)

Jeff Goldblum's attempt to make a movie in the Curb Your Enthusiasm vein. It just fell flat for me. It was like he was trying to bridge into the Christopher Guest area of 'mockumentary', but couldn't commit to the concept. Not that the Best of Show or Curb type projects are completely believable, at least they feel organic. This is just so contrived. And Goldblum can't just quit acting. I believe his character is now his identity. Ed Begley Jr and Moby brought absolutely nothing to this. 

Bottoms Up (2006)

We have a strong cadidate for Worst Movie I Have Ever Seen. Wow, this stunk. I'll bet that even Paris Hilton knew this was a stinker while it was being filmed.

Beowulf (2007)

For a movie version of a classic story, it wasn't bad. Parts were actually quite good, but the animation techniques would yank me out of it fairly often. Especially with the female characters, which looked like it came straight from Shrek. The story itself was solid, but the gratuitous use of effects that were put in for the 3-D version were just annoying. Still, it's worth viewing.

Dan in Real LIfe (2007)

This is really just a sweet movie. There is some good humor and situations. Steve Carrell and Dane Cook are convincing as brothers vying for the affection of the same woman. The cast was good, but Dan really needed a couple less siblings, this part felt repetitive. This is definitely a nice family movie.

The DaVinci Code (2006)

For all the uproar this movie created, it was really nothing more than a B grade action movie. The twists and turned felt very contrived and were telegraphed well in advance. I can't believe that anyone wouldn't see what was coming by about half way though it. For all the 'research' that Dan Brown is supposed to have done for the book, it felt more like a middle school book report. At least writers like Michael Chrichton base their writing on things they have experienced and researched (and footnoted). To me, this just came across as someone that has a problem with old religion.

Tom Hanks was competent, but there were a lot of other actors that could have pulled it off as well. He was trying to be a modern day Indiana Jones, but without the sense of humor. Audrey Tautou is just a joy to watch and had more passion for the role.

Downfall "Der Untergang" (Germany, 2004)

A look at the last weeks of Hitler and of those around him. Quite an ambitious project and very well executed. Bruno Ganz was convincing as Hitler as well as the other actors around him. This is one of those cases where unknown (to us) actors are so much more convincing than another Russell Crowe project. It makes it easier to see how someone like Hitler can rise to power and be supported by truly good people, without justifying why they do so. This was a good way of demonstrating this effect, yet also presenting the facts or at least how those that were there saw them. One of the better films about Hitler.

6IXTYNIN9  "Ruang talok 69" (Thailand, 1999)

This was one of those 'recommended' movies from NetFlix and I really enjoyed it. It's a simple story about a secretary that gets laid off, then discovers a bundle of money literally at her front door. The web of characters that become involved are very interesting. This is a dark comedy for sure, but the story translates well. A good example of why I like foreign films. 

American Psycho II: All American Girl (2002)

OK, so other than a very tenuous link to the events from the first film, this is really not a sequel at all. Mila Kunis is always easy to look at and her performance here seem right up her alley. Another dark comedy, but the whole feel is less suspenseful than American Psycho. Better than average for this type of movie, but not as good as it could have been.

Awww well another week of school out of the way and I am nearing closer to being able to afford my computer parts.  I think I will show you what I plan on getting.  It seems sensible I guess. I will do it tomorrow for my saturday post.  Gives me a post in the bank that I can use.

Today in class we watched BeoWulf....not such a great movie.  It was a bit too CG plus Grendel was a bit strange looking.  Nothing like I pictured after reading the book Gendel (Yes there is a book just about Grendel and his side of things.

Other than that today has been pretty normal and slow.  Actually while I am typing this I am on the phone.  So I pose a question.  Are you able to type and talk at the same time?

Later on I went to the apartments to see Aliya & Camilla, who surprised me with a slice of cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory. If our conversations about feng shui, astrology, shrines, and superstitions didn't seal the deal on our friendship, this one act of cheesecake giving certainly did. And then when they walked me back to my room we shared the cigar I brought them.

"Let's light this bad boy up!"

When I started reading Atop the Underwood Kerouac emphasizes "there's nothing like a good cigar" in the morning or something like that. Well it's not the morning, but it's a pleasant night and the cigar was good.

Now I'm going to read up on feng shui and my horoscope, which seems promising.