Yard Sale

It was an awesome day today my adorable husband and I went out into the community yard saleing.  Did we get any great finds you ask? You bet! A kitchen light fixture, a push toy, a  juicer recipe book, some LP's, crochet hooks, sewing patterns and a funky bowl. We spent all of 10 bucks. Plus time with each other. 

We already put the light fixture up. The picture doesn't do the glass justice. It's beautiful. 

World War Z

After waiting in the cheap theatre for what seemed an extra 10 minutes to fix whatever it is to get the dvd to play...the horror movie finally began. Yes, a horror movie.

Once upon a time their was a pig or a bird or something to infect someone somewhere. The possible first one to be infected and named as the grand zero victim is a small boy in Taiwan a virus spreads and spreads quickly.

What begins as any ordinary day for the Gerry Lane family quickly changes.

In the first scene when we see Brad Pitt as Gerry Lane with his wife I thought "Oh, he has greasy hair.  When is he going to wash and cut that. Yuk!" The hair only gets worse, as does the movie.

Back to the horror show, After seeing zombies bite and maim and re-infect other beings, the terror sets in.  Lane is reactivated into the "army of armies". How would the world have survived with out him? He is able to win battle after battle with the beasts.  At the climax of this movie, our hero Lane is chased by a zombie into a room with only one way out. The zombie stares at Lane while he clenches his teeth, up, then down in quick succession. Sooo scary! Or it should have been. Sadly, laughter filled the theatre. I couldn't help but join in.

The movie ends well for some, not for others. I must say that I didn't bother with the movie reviewers on this one. I tried to get my son to see this one with me an he refused. He said he wouldn't waste $1.50 + popcorn on this.

My recommendation is wait for it to be on Netflix. Hulu, or other cable channels.

Austenland

 I was supposed to be shopping for clothes to wear for a family picture. Surprise, I don't like shopping. With my odd shaped body I don't get it. Trying to coordinate colors and have fun props. When I realized I was near the theatre. So, I jumped at the chance to go see Austenland. I went to a matinee, so as usual didn't pay full price. I think I would have anyway.

I went all alone. I didn't have the theatre all to myself, which I love. There were about a dozen other women there. All as excited to see this movie as I was.

The movie premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival and one of the favorites.

I'll try not to give any spoilers. If you have read the Austen books and seen other movies from her books, then this movie will be one you will enjoy. As I was watching I kept thinking this is just so fun. I love Keri Russell. Her portrayal of Jane Hayes is grand. She is over the top addicted to Mr. Darcy. Truly living and breathing her Jane Austen when she learns of a trip to get the experience of a lifetime and live out her fantasy.

Jane Seymore is beautiful as Mrs. Wattlesbrook, the proprietor of the great estate. She is the person that orchestrates the feel of the era and promises that every guest will have a true Jane Austen experience with a concluding ball and love interest.

Jennifer Coolidge is delightful as Elizabeth Charming. She is charming. I adored her.

JJ Feild plays a reluctant Mr. Darcy and there are obviously some issues with him and his mother. I felt uncomfortable for him and he was hard to warm up to. I won't go into the story line. (Don't want to ruin it).

Georgia King made me enjoy this movie. She plays Lady Amelia Heartwright. I didn't think there was anyone that could sing worse than me, but she managed to do so. She has fun with her British accent and so did I.

At one point poor Jane is asked to play the piano. What a fun moment. Better than I could do, that's for sure.

Coolidge and King play their roles with the finesse of beautiful swans. Their depiction of their roles made me chuckle.  Their love interests are so over the top.

Make sure to stay for the credits. I was so glad I did. They were worth it. Who wouldn't swoon for Martin, Bret McKenzie? I was drawn in by his smile and his awkward singing.

Okay, this movie may have its flaws, but if you enjoy period pieces and just mocking them. Go and have fun with this one. I don't buy many movies; I think I'll get this one.

 

The Lone Ranger

I had trepidation at seeing this movie because any of the reviews by movie critics didn't favor this movie. I went to the $1.50 movie. So, not spending much and going with lowered expectations. Here's what I think (As usual, spoilers).

I thought the movie was very good. The movie begins with Will, played by Mason Cook who is wearing the Lone Ranger hat and mask. He is looking into a western scene where there is a shriveled looking Native American with the crow on his head.

Will is darling as a modern little cowboy and he believes the Native American is mistaking him for the actual Lone Rancher.

As I was watching, I didn't realize I was looking at Johnny Depp as an older Tonto. I suspected, but wasn't sure. I couldn't confirm until the next flash forward.  I thought the scenes in the museum were humorous and endearing. I just loved that Tonto narrates the story. Sharing both characters back-story was very helpful, especially that of Tonto. We discover why he wears the crow atop his head, and how he is tortured by his own guilt from greed. This is a traditional Lone Ranger & Tonto story where they are trying to right the wrong.  We learn how a lawyer, John Reid played by Armie Hammer becomes the Lone Ranger & unites with Tonto.

Johnny Depp is eccentric, and I laughed out loud at his antics. His character isn't much different from some of the other characters he has been playing.  In some ways he is much tamer. I've heard he is truly Native American, and I also heard that he is not, but he was given honorary status as a Native American. Either way the group approved of his characterization.

This movie has a lot of violence, implied cannibalism, and discussions of cannibalism. There are also issues of rape.

Dan Reid played by James Badge Dale as the Lone Ranger's brother is a Texas Ranger in apprehension of Butch Cavendish played by William Fichtner. I am quickly becoming a fan of James Badge Dale. I recently saw him as the bad guy in Iron Man 3. I wish there were more of him in this movie. It wasn't until the credits ran that I saw Dale was Dan Reid. James Badge Dale's charm had more appeal to me than Armie Hammer.

William Fichtner was an amazing bad guy. His stunts in this movie were "off the charts".

Armie Hammer is very cute, and he is funny. The collaboration with Depp in this duo works for me. Even though there were times I felt he was a little flat in his delivery.

Butch Cavendish is the bad guy. Very bad, he is a cannibalistic, ruthless, and crazed outlaw who escapes from the Texas Rangers and then sets out to become rich with his brother Tom Wilkinson, as Latham the railroad tycoon. They have a plan to take the silver previously owned by Native Americans.

Helena Bonham Carter owns the saloon and helps our heroes.

Ruth Wilson as Dan Reid's wife, Rebecca and is the love interest for John. We never find out why she married the older brother. I think Ruth is just a charming woman with strong convictions.  I first saw her as the crazed villain in Luther, a BBC series, adults only. I would recommend this as you are able to see a different side of her abilities.

My biggest disappointment was that the William Tell Overture didn't play until the near ending of the movie with the famous last line, high-ho Silver.

On the whole this was a great movie. I recommend 13 and up.