Paul Blart: Mall Cop

Paul Blart: Mall Cop
Director: Steve Carr
Starring: Kevin James, Keir O'Donnell

Paul Blart is lonely living with his mother and daughter and failing to become a state trooper because of (if I recall correctly) low blood sugar fits that cause him to fall asleep without warning. When the mall is taken over by some skateboarding and mountain bike riding thugs, it is up to Paul, the only remaining mall cop in the building, to save the day. Which he does. Come on, this is a feel good movie.

Kevin and I saw this movie together and enjoyed it thoroughly. It is not high comedy. It is silly. It advertises itself as silly, so we were happily ensconced for the course of the film. We saw this at the regular price theatre and laughed ourselves into happiness on a rather dreary winter day. Definitely worth seeing at a dollar theatre or renting. Thumbs up.

First seen: January 2009

Coraline

Coraline
Director: Henry Selick
Voices of: Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Jennifer Saunders

Based on a young adult book, Coraline tells the story of a girl who crawls through a door in her home to find her second family, who loves her and makes her dinner and creates a special garden just for her. It is a world of wonder that turns creepy when her second mother says the only way she can stay forever is to sew buttons in place of her eyes. Oops!

I saw this movie in the regular price theatre with my mother in 3D, which was kind of cool but not as cool as I expected it to be. It gave the film more depth back from the screen than things coming toward you from the screen.

I did enjoy the film, though it started to drag toward the end. The visuals were terrific and engrossing, but overall I would say this is a movie that could be best enjoyed at a dollar theatre - full screen, but not full price.

Also - this is not for little ones. They'll be terrified.

First seen: February 2009

Slumdog Millionaire

Slumdog Millionaire
Directors: Danny Boyle, Loveleen Tandan
Starring: Dev Patel, Freida Pinto, Irrfan Khan

Jamal is a young man who loves Latika and always has. The movie starts with Jamal being interrogated at a police station because he has been winning on an Indian version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire (or as the host says, which I love and just can't get out of my brain, "Who wants to be a milinair?") and they suspect him of fraud because how could some kid from the slums be able to answer the questions? The movie unfolds as he explains, in flashbacks to his childhood, how he knew each answer. He is on the show to begin with because he knows Latika watches it and he hopes she will see him and they will be reunited (not that they were ever really together).

I saw this movie today (February 22, 2009) with Edith at the full-price theatre, and I have to give it an enthusiastic thumbs up. It is a feel-good movie, though it is gritty and Jamal's past is not a pretty one. I was reminded of Romeo and Juliet in that Jamal is idealistic and romantic and Latika is realistic and pragmatic, but I won't tell you if the ending is the same or not. I loved the soundtrack and the nifty tribute to Bollywood musicals during the end credits. Dev Patel really shines and is so adorable you just want to give him a big hug. This is a movie I would go to see again in the theatre.

First seen: February 22, 2009

Mom's Brilliant Idea

After the Demented Debacle of December 2006, my house was a wreck and full of many bad vibes. I stayed with a friend for a couple of weeks, partly to make sure Moron was actually gone for good and not going to make a repeat performance, and partly to start working through my qualms about living in the house after everything that had happened. I also had no idea how I was going to clean everything by myself, because a lot needed to be done. It was all quite depressing.

That is when my mom had her brilliant idea. She suggested having a cleansing party where friends and family coould come over and help me clean. We would make a day of it and people could come and go as they were able. I would have food and beverages and at the end of the day people could stay the night with me to help keep the heebie jeebies away.

It worked splendidly. My mom, Kevin, Annette, Charlene, Judy, Janet, Chelle, and Edith were able to make it at various times during the day and we cleaned our little hearts out. Marilynn also donated a bag of good-vibe-spreading items. Many things were trashed, washed, sorted, scrubbed, dusted, vacuumed, rewired, and fixed. At the end of the day Chelle and Edith stayed the night and we had a bonfire in the back yard and burned paper remnants and other debris, and waved sparklers of independence.

Sincere thanks to everyone who helped make my home into a happy place again. I love you guys!!!

Fashion 2009

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2007