What I Liked?

The story and action in the movie is strong.  It is hard to not get swept up in this film and see yourself rooting for this ill fated plot.  However, this is also part of its demise as you know that they will not succeed from the start and so makes it a little more of a guessing game where you are wondering when the wheels will come off.

What I Did Not Like?

If I were to put this movie into baseball terms, I would say it was a double or possibly a triple, but not a homerun.  It certainly had potential with this type of story and intrigue, but it seemed to be missing some key pieces.  One piece is I think they failed to really show why we should be rooting for this plot.  I know everyone is just supposed to hate Nazis from the start, but for younger audiences this animosity is more abstract.  Instead, it would have been better to build up the case here to show that there really was a divided house in Germany about some of the nefarious practices of the Third Reich.  Instead, it was just assumed and I think this was a mistake.  Another obstacle was that Tom Cruise was not really a sympathetic character in this movie.  The story should have been reworked so that people could really feel for his character.  Again, it was just assumed we would and the result was less than spectacular.

Beyond these misgivings, the movie was still worth a viewing.  I would recommend it for a movie rental and could see how history buffs would really enjoy it by comparing it to what really happened.  Perhaps that is best legacy of this movie as it made me want to learn more about what actually happened there and how the movie compared to it.  However, unlike say Braveheart, this movie did not tug on the heartstrings.  I give it a B-.

If you would like to buy this movie, click on Valkyrie DVD.

What I Liked?

I pretty much like all sports movies so my demands on them are quite low.  However, I found Out Of The Blue to be particularly interesting because I root for another non BCS Team (TCU) and certainly remember this historic season for the Broncos.  What I liked about this movie was hearing the development of the Boise State program and how they were true underdogs throughout the season and how they overcame adversity.  You can throw in all the sports analogies you want; however, this is a film that encourages you to really pull for this team.  It is full of interviews with players, coaches, and fans.  In addition, there is plenty of game highlights for all to see and remember this season.

What I Did Not Like?

For a documentary on a football season, I thought it was very good.  My only misgivings are not based on the movie but remembering how my own team did not deliver that season.  Other than this, I don’t really have too much to knock it on except for maybe the ending was kind of weak considering the story and really could have finished on a higher note.

Overall, this is a great feel good movie/documentary that all sports fans will enjoy short of Oklahoma Sooner fans.  However, I bet even many of them can appreciate the role of the underdog even if the final game was at their expense.  A great movie that I give an A-.  However, remember I do love sports movies so am definitely grading on a curve.

If you would like to buy this movie, click on Out Of The Blue DVD.

Gran Torino is a very compelling move starring the now very famous Clint Eastwood.

For fans of his work, this will fit right in as another great Eastwood movie.  This one stars him as a retired auto worker and veteran who lives in a neighborhood that has changed with the times eventhough he has not.  This juxtaposition of his set in his ways thinking along with a new Asian immigrant family creates the backdrop for the film.

What I Liked?

Clint Eastwood does not make bad films.  Even his bad ones, are still good movies and so is this one.  Here, his character is a lovable character as people understand why he is the way he is: here, he is essentially a stubborn, crotchety old man who is at odds with his kids.  With this said, one of the biggest surprises and best parts of this movie is the next door neighbor’s daughter who plays a fantastic role of an Asian American balancing the Americanization of her growing up in America with her ties to her Asian culture as a new immigrant.  She provides just the right blend here and adds extra value to the movie.

Obviously, people will like Eastwood’s no bs attitude in this film and many will sympathize if not agree with some of his viewpoints.  Either way, he overall comes across as a stand up person with strong character which has been his calling card in all his films.

What I Did Not Like?

The ending was clever and realistic, but no the Eastwood way.  For audiences used to him coming out as the great shooter or clever winner who figured a way out, the ending may seem disappointing as there is a bit of a misdirection.  For those who have yet to see the movie, I will not discuss it any further to avoid running the ending.  It is enough for me to say that this movie sets you on one course and then goes another.

Overall, this movie is a good movie that many Eastwood fans would say is great.  I personally think he has done better work and this one gets a better score in people’s mind because of his overall past body of work.  Regardless, it is still a good film and I would grade it an A-.  Clint Eastwood certainly has moved to the upper echelon of actors as a Hollywood legend.

If you would like to buy this movie, click on Gran Torino DVD.

What I Liked?

To say that Glenn Beck does not elicit a strong reaction would be a misstatement.  He has become a topic of widespread discussion in both acclaim, mockery, applause, and dissent depending on who you are talking to.  His book Common Sense is his attempt to bridge the gap and try to offer common sense as he sees it.  In this regard his book and writing style are very entertaining and I think most people can quickly size up his positions and perspective.  No whether you agree with him or not, well obviously opinions vary.  I don’t choose to take a stance on the issues here just recognize that some people like what he has to say and some people don’t.  Either way, even if you do not agree with some of his positions, you can certainly understand why he feels the way he does.

What I Did Not Like?

Obviously, there are certain viewpoints in the book that I do not share.  This should not surprise anyone as whenever you write a book that covers politics, opinions will vary.  I don’t hold these against Mr. Beck and just recognize it as par for the course.  For those who are not interested in having some opinions challenged, this is not the book for you.  Beside this, I do have a bit of squabble with the wide paint brush he uses to claim how his views accurately reflect the exact views of the framers.  To say this as fact when it is largely opinion is a bit out of bounds in my opinion.  However, I will let you guys make the call on this.

Overall, it is an interesting read that one can read in a weekend with no difficulty.  Hopefully, it will spark some interest to look into some issues further and not be overly relied upon as a final source, but rather a great starting point.

If you would like to buy this movie, click on Common Sense Book.

There Will Be Blood is a critically acclaimed story of a prospector turned oil man that chronicles his life while building up his oil empire.

This movie stars Daniel Day Lewis as the movie takes an unvarnished look at life as an oil man in the early 1900s.

What I Liked?

This movie definitely had its moments.  There are certain scenes in it that accurate display the pitfalls of working in the oil field at this time.  Beams fall on workers, fires are a significant risk.  In addition, the work is tough and dirty and will remind some of the life of miners.  These scenes were strong points of the movie.  In addition, the stretching and manipulation of the truth by the main character made this movie seem more authentic and gritty.  Based on my understanding of the times, the oil business was hard, often dirty business that had many characters who would fit this profile.  The references to Standard oil were also interesting as John D Rockefeller (Standard Oil’s boss) seemed to have a similar reputation.

Beyond this, I think a strong theme through the movie is to fight for what you earn.  This viewpoint is easy to follow thanks to the grim life of an oil man the film portrays.

What I Did Not Like?

This movie had elements in it that were just plain weird.  It reminded me of Stanley Kubrick films like Clockwork Orange, where strange seemed to rule the day.  At the heart of this was the antagonistic conflict between the main character and the young preacher of the local church.  The movie has them bang heads on a number of issues where it is clear the main character has nothing but contempt for organized religion.  In fact, the final scene of the movie centers on the main character forcing the preacher to admit he is a fraud and to show him how he was outsmarted.  This part of the story although seems fairly straight forward in the telling of it has a very peculiar effect on the movie.  It seems to serve little purpose except to possibly show the apparent conflict of business and religion.

With all this said, this movie has been well received.  I would definitely say it is an interesting movie to watch, but it does feel like it is incomplete like a puzzle that is missing some pieces.  I would give it a B or B+ although plenty others would give it a higher score.

If you would like to buy this movie, click on There Will Be Blood DVD.

Under The Banner of Heaven is another book written by Jon Krakauer.

This one takes a look an in-depth look into the fundamentalist Mormon church in America.  For the uninitiated, This group is a splinter group that broke off the current Morman church in Utah.  The fundamentalist Mormons have a number of strong views including practicing polygamy.

What I Liked?

Jon Krakauer is great writer that does an excellent job of blending a good story with a historical narrative that pulls in similar stories.  I really like this writing style and am a fan of all his books.  This one does not disappoint in this respect as it covers these topics in great detail.  Another aspect I liked is that he was not overly critical of any specific issue when covering this religious groups.  Often times, he would take a broader viewpoint looking at alternative views and information providing I believe a more credible look at all the information.  Finally, the subject matter is controversial and very interesting.  I think people have a general curiosity of what goes on in groups like this and this book provides a glimpse of what is occurring.  For this reason, I enjoy reading and learning about a lesser discussed aspect that occurs in America.

What I Did Not Like?

There wasn’t too much I did not like.  One concern with this type of book is that it would unfairly slander the more mainstream Mormons by default or really challenge religious beliefs.  However, I feel Krakauer did a good job avoiding both of these pitfalls by taking on more of a role as a reporter rather than making editorial opinions.  In fact, when editorial commentary was given, it was normally to provide other viewpoints on how to consider a certain aspect.  However, others have found this book to very controversial and there has been a dispute of certain facts within the book.  Considering the book looks upon some controversial issues of the Mormon religion, this should be expected and may well be a fair criticism.  Still, some leniency should be given here as this is a paperback book that can cover only so much material without becoming well not a paperback.

All and all, I enjoyed this book a lot and appreciated getting the history lesson.  This book may not have provided the whole story, but it certainly is enough to wet the readers appetite to learn more.  I believe most people will appreciate this reading although some Mormons may feel this book hits a little too close to home to truly enjoy.  Regardless, it is a well written book that is neither as harsh or critical as some critics claim.  I would give this book a B+ or A-.

If you would like to buy this movie, click on Under The Banner of Heaven Book.

The Bucket List is a movie from 2007 that stars Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman as aging seniors who have discovered they are going to die within a year’s time.

This grim factor actually creates an opportunity where the two characters decide to create a kick the bucket list which shows all the things they would like to do before they die.  After creating this list, they go about doing all the things on the list making for an adventure that has them traveling across the globe.

What I Liked?

This is a heartwarming movie that chooses to deal with difficult issues with a smile on their face and the best the human spirit has to offer.  It puts forth the case that it is ok to want to do things and see them thru before you pass away.  Of course, the cast of this movie is phenomenal as you would be hard pressed to find a bad movie by either one of these actors.  Morgan Freeman does some narration throughout the film which has become a standard for this actor in other films like in Shawshank Redemption.  Jack Nicholson is his usual loveable characters as one who is stubborn and cantankerous and proud of being both.

Perhaps the most impressive part of this movie is the idea behind it of having and completing your own bucket list.  I can certainly see how this movie can be compelling to others who are nearing this part of their life, but I think just about anyone can appreciate this movie’s message.  This movie will not win any awards, but it will be a well received movie that will be a popular one to watch when it comes on regular television in the coming years.

What I Did Not Like?

Based on the story of this movie and what the movie is about, you would think the movie would be driving people home to some strong point or major take away.  However, this is where the movie falls kind of flat as it doesn’t really making it final, earth shattering pronouncement of what life should be.  Instead, it seems to suggest simply that you should live your life and do the things you want because life is short.  Depending on your upbringing and perspective, you could see this as being selfish or the very opposite.  Either way, I think the movie recognizes that it will polarize some people and is perfectly ok with it.

Overall, I enjoyed this film and think most people will too.  It will not receive an A score in my book, but does offer a strong B+.  This is truly a movie you could see again and again and enjoy watching it each time.  Something about going out and doing the things you want really seems to hit home with people so I think most audiences will appreciate what this film offers.

If you would like to buy this movie, click on The Bucket List DVD.

The Road is book written in 2006 by Cormac McCarthy.

This one is has become very popular again thanks to a new movie based on the book coming out this fall.  Cormac McCarthy is a popular author who has written popular books like “No Country For Old Men”, and “All The Pretty Horses”.  The Road chronicles the story of a father and his son as they struggle to survive in a post Apocalypse Earth.

What I Liked?

This has a gripping novel that plays into the common theme of interest of what a post apocalyptic world would be like and how people would survive.  Naturally, this creates an offshoot in most readers minds about what they would do in such situations.  The story line seems to flow well and the book reads easy as you can finish it in one sitting if motivated.

What I Didn’t Like?

I personally was not overly impressed with this book.  This is a minority opinion as most people really enjoyed reading it, especially the central theme of father and son bonding and trying to cope with a terrible situation.  For me, I just felt the book was nothing special.  No fantastic writing, no major surprises, nothing that really makes a book great in my opinion.  It was still a good book, but I know that there are plenty of others that are just as good or better.

With this said,  you can bet the movie coming out this year will be a big hit and a lot of people will decide to read the book because of it.  If you are looking for a decent read over the summer of fall, The Road is a good choice.  I would give it a B+ but others would rate it higher.

If you would like to buy this movie, click on The Road Book.

The ease of use of digital cameras has made this possible as well as the ease with which these pictures can be placed on computers, cds, and other mediums.  One offshoot of digital cameras has been online photo printing.  Online photo printing services are companies that provide a place where people can store their pictures where they can allow others to view them.

These services can be very helpful for those who want to find an easier way to share pictures with family without having to deal with email attachments and having to mail prints.  Instead, these pictures can be viewed almost immediately and done so by anyone with access to the internet.  Another benefit is people can limit who sees the photos which depending on the content may be very important.  Other benefits of some services include the ability to add comments and other information to the photos adding to the overall benefit derived by those seeing the digital photo albums.

Many of these online photo printing services will offer free services or a smaller fee for various features.  These various features often include photo correcting equipment that can help improve photos for prints.  All the companies offer services where you can develop prints or photo products like creating a picture book or putting a picture on a t-shirt or some other item.  Some companies will even develop and upload traditional camera film for you.

However, the challenge is finding out what online photo printing services companies does what.  This is where good reviews can come in very handy as they can help cut down your research time and get your questions answered fast.  The website I recommend looks at a number of the top companies and provides key information on what makes each one distinct allowing you to decide the best one for you and your family.  To read these reviews and find a list of the companies reviewed, click on the following link: Online Photo Printing Services Reviews.

Luckily, some companies have found a solution to this issue by providing legal document services at a fraction of the cost of hiring an attorney.  These documents can help in a wide range of matters from real estate, incorporations, wills, etc.

The goal of these forms is to take the high cost of the attorney out of the equation by letting you fill out the forms by yourself.  In simple matters, this can save you a good amount of money allowing you to spend that hard earned cash on others things.

Probably the most well known of these companies is LegalZoom® thanks to commercials it advertises with Robert Shapiro.  Most know Robert Shapiro as one of the O.J. Simpson murder trial attorneys.  One example of a Legal Zoom commercial is shown below.

However, this is not the only company as there are some other legal document services companies.

The good news for you is I found a website that reviews all the top companies allowing you to decide which one will work for you.  This can be very helpful in you deciding which one will be the best fit based on your budget.  To read these reviews and find a list of the companies reviewed, click on the following link: Legal Document Services Reviews.