TED, R ( 1 hr & 46 min )

Quickie Review:  John's ( Mark Wahlberg ) lifelong friendship/companionship with his living/talking teddy bear, Ted ( voiced by Seth MacFarlane ), is creating a tension between him and his fiancee, Lori ( Mila Kunis ).

With guest appearances by Sam J. Jones, Ryan Reynolds and Nora Jones.

Century 14 Vallejo in Vallejo, CA.  Friday, June 29th, 2012. 4:40 p.m. show. Auditorium 8, 5th row, 10th column.

The audience liked this movie a lot.  And a few of them gave it a "Hands Clapper" ending.

I went to see this movie with the preconceived notion that I wasn't gonna like it, based on what I know of it's creator's animated TV show, FAMILY GUY, a show that I really hated to watch. But I found myself enjoying this movie. Go see this movie if you're into Comedy movies.

I liked the fight scene between John and Ted. Speaking of which, if Ted could fight that well, why didn't he square-off with bad guy, Donny ( Giovanni Ribisi )?

P.S. I'm doing quickie reviews for now because I'm saving my creative juice in eager anticipation of the much-awaited movie of the summer--yes! that's right: KATY PERRY: PART OF ME in 3-D. ( What ... were you thinking that I was gonna say, SPIDERMAN or BATMAN ...? Puh--leeze, I outgrew my comic book addiction many, many, many years ago. )

*

PEOPLE LIKE US, PG-13 ( 1 hr & 55 min )

Quickie Review:  On the day that Sam ( Chris Pine ) bungles his latest deal, he receives the sad news that his father has just passed away. When he goes home to help take care of his father's estate, he finds out that he has a sister, Frankie ( Elizabeth Banks ), who was kept a secret from him all of his life. As Sam and Frankie slowly get to know each other, Sam begins to re-examine his family life and to re-prioritize his needs and wants.

Century 14 Vallejo in Vallejo, CA. Friday, June 29th, 2012. 2:20 p.m. show. Auditorium 3, 3rd row, 8ht column.

The audience liked it. I overheard a man in the audience say, "That was good."

I liked this movie, too. Go see this Family Dramedy.

I liked the Brother and Sister Fight scene

I liked the Sour Cream and Onions scene

and I liked the Home Movie scene at the end.

My only gripe about this movie is that it sure took Sam a long time to get the word out!

*

SEEKING A FRIEND FOR THE END OF THE WORLD, R ( 1 hr & 41 min )

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where:  UA EMERY BAY STADIUM 10 in Emeryville, CA
when:  Saturday, June 23rd, 2012
show:  2:40 p.m.
costs:  $9.50 Ticket + $4.75 30.0 oz Diet Sprite + $15.38 dinner @ Empire Chinese Buffet in Richmond, CA, after the movie ( + $2.00 Tip ) + $5.00 Carquinez Bridge Toll = $36.63
auditorium:  5
seat:  8ht row, 10th column


synopsis/overview:  It's 2012, and it's the end of the world. And Dodge ( Steve Carell ) just wants to be with his high school sweetheart for when the time comes. So, he decides to go on a final road trip; but with his downstairs neighbor, Penny ( Keira Knightley ), as his passenger. Things don't go according to plan.


noteworthy scenes:  1.) "I think we missed the exit"; 2.) Ad flyers; 3.) "I believe the Armageddon Package is extra"; 4.) Casual Friday; 5.) Final issue; 6.) "Is it because I don't watch TV with you"; 7.) "We're f-cked, Bob"; 8.) Spider; 9.) Windshield; 10.) "I don't know why she didn't do it sooner"; 11.) "Quit ruining my life"; 12.) "He's gonna die with everybody else"; 13.) Dinner talk; 14.) "Drink, drink, drink"; 15.) "Or, if you're related"; 16.) Heroin; 17.) Bathroom; 18.) "I won't steal anything if you don't rape me"; 19.) "Linda and her boyfriend"; 20.) Letter; 21.) Window cleaner; 22.) Dog; 23.) Riot; 24.) "I want to take care of you"; 25.) Dodge's story; 26.) "When a man---"; 27.) Car keys; 28.) "Recovering serial monogamist"; 29.) Friendsy's; 30.) "I want you to be my last; 31.) Jail time; 32.) Bomb shelter; 33.) Wallpaper; 34.) Letter; 35.) Year book; 36.) "I wrote her a letter"; 37.) Beach; 38.) "What's the dog's name"; 39.) Father and son talk; 40.) Airplane; 41.) "See you next week, Mr. Dodge"; 42.) Daylight Savings Time; 43.) "Don't let me fall asleep"; and 44.) "I'm really glad I got to know you."

audience reaction:  The audience enjoyed the funny lines in this movie. But it didn't get a "Hands Clapper" ending.

recommendation:  This movie was okay. This Comedy/Road Trip/Romance/Disaster movie is kind of a "downer" at the end. But, if you want to get "Lucky" with a girl that you're dating, take her to see this movie with you! Yup ....

spoiler alert!  There was a scene wherein the bullet hole in the pick-up truck's windshield became momentarily non-existent. Survivalists with Smart cars?!?!?! They'd be better-off with mountain bikes and Jeeps! I thought that his apartment building caught on fire and that his unit was looted.

fyi: Based on information that I found on the Internet, the distance between San Francisco, CA, and American Canyon, CA, ( a city next to Vallejo ) is approximately 32.00 miles or 51.49 kilometers, "as the crow flies". The asteroid 253 Mathilde ( probably the "Matilda" referred to in this movie ) is a C-type Asteroid ( an ancient type made mostly out of clay ) which is 31.10 miles or 50.00 kilometers in diameter.

( By comparison, the asteroid that impacted Chicxulub in way-Ancient Mexico, which supposedly killed-off the Dinosaurs 65 million years ago, was just about 6.2 miles or 10.0 kilometers in diameter. )

The picture below is of a 12-inch or 30.48-centimeter Earth Globe.

I have a similar one, but smaller in size. Mine is an 8-inch globe (  20.32 centimeters ).

If you have a similar-sized Earth Globe, good luck finding American Canyon, CA, on it! Just to illustrate my point, the distance between San Francisco and American Canyon, from a global perspective, is so negligible!

But this distance is also the approximate diameter of the "Killer Asteroid" chosen for this movie! In other words, "Matilda" or 253 Mathilde, as it is scientifically-known, would only spell "Instant Doom" for every living thing within an approximate 600-mile ( 966-kilometer ) radius of its point of impact! ( And since Vallejo is right next door to American Canyon, there will be no more movie blogs posted after the impact. So, you'd need to find your movie blogs elsewhere after such a cataclysmic event. Ha, ha, ha. )

NASA image of 253 Mathilde from Wikipedia.

The deepest part of the ocean is 7.0 miles deep ( 11.2 kilometers ) which is, again,  "nothing" from a global perspective. The Earth is essentially a solid rock with "water condensation" on it! So, despite what the scientific community says, I really don't think that such an asteroid ( an itty-bitty tiny "speck" on a global scale ) impacting the Earth will cause a massive world-wide extinction, even with a "nuclear winter", wildfires, earthquakes and tsunamis factored-in. It would be like trying to kill a cow with a pellet rifle--'ain't happenin'!

I can just see the scientists huffing and puffing, and exclaiming, "I am a scientist with a Master's Degree and a PhD from a reputable, world-famous university! So, what I say is scientific fact." And I'll say, I took a bunch of science courses in college and then I went to the also world-famous school, University Of Hard Knocks, and earned myself a PhD in Common Sense! L.O.L.

word of advice:  Be with the ones you love in times of sorrow and trouble.

tidbits:  After I had my lunch at Burger King, it was still slow-going on the freeway; and I really was not in the mood for some warm weather stop-and-go bumper-to-bumper commute traffic. I decided to swing by the UA Emery Bay Stadium 10, about half a mile down the street, to see this movie and while the time away.

I wasn't gonna blog about this movie. But I know that some of you out there have fallen for the media-hyped doom-and-gloom Hollywood prognostications for 2012. So, I decided to sit down and write you this blog. I hope that you will find some comfort in it.

Some asshole took a "comfort pet" dog into the auditorium with him. When will all this madness end?!?!?!

After I exited the theatre, I took a photo of a demolition site.

I took this photo on the same spot where I took a photo of the theatre's marquee which is directly behind me from this angle. 

Two white ladies approached me after I took this photo. One lady asked me, "What was there before?"

I don't remember, I answered. Maybe they're turning it into a parking lot.

On my way to Empire Chinese Buffet in Richmond, CA, a motorcyclist passed me by on the middle lane just before the Carlson Boulevard exit. What struck me as odd about this motorcyclist was the fact that he had two--not one--motorcycle helmets strapped to the back of his seat. I hope that he is not from somewhere in Asia where a whole family would commute on one under-powered motorcycle like in this photograph from the book, Bikes Of Burden:

This adds new meaning to the term, "Five-passenger seat."

The Chinese buffet took down most of their Christmas decorations, finally! I say, Most, because they forgot to take down the red Christmas stocking nailed to their center post. Maybe, I should eat at this buffet once again if only to point out to them what they had missed taking down.

But, they'll just probably leave it alone since it will be Christmas once again in six months!

And their frozen dessert maker was making a funny sound as it churned the mixture. It sounded like a dying dog was being slowly tortured--bad image for a Chinese buffet!

Because this movie was such a "downer", I wanted to see a comedy movie just to cap my day. I had in mind to come back to this theatre to see TERI MERI KAHAANI. But I missed the start time by about 15 minutes because I was preoccupied with my pigging-out at the buffet.

On a last note, I once had this beautiful brunette co-worker who said that, if the world ends this year, she'll likely join a free-for-all sex orgy. I've got to find out where she'll be at on December 21st! If 12/21 will be the world's last day, I might as well go out with a bang--or a gang-bang, for that matter. Ha, ha, ha.

P.S. If you haven't read it yet, go read my blog on the movie, 2012 ( 2009 ).

*

BRAVE in 3-D, PG ( 1 hr & 40 min )

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where:  AMC BAY STREET 16 in Emeryville, CA
when:  Saturday, June 23rd, 2012
show:  10:00 p.m.
costs:  $10.00 Ticket + $5.00 Curly Fries + $4.75 20.0 oz Powerade Fruit Punch + $7.17 Texas BBQ Whopper Combo Meal @ Burger King in Emeryville sometime after the movie = $26.92
auditorium:  4
seat:  4th row, 8th column


synopsis/overview:  An impetuous princess defies her people's age-old tradition because she wants to make something of herself, angering the Highland Lords in the process and setting chaos in the Kingdom. In desperation, she turns to a witch for help, one that comes at a heavy price. Now, she must muster-up real courage to undo the curse.


noteworthy scenes:  1.) Will-o'-the-Wisps; 2.) Bear attack; 3.) Princess's duties and expectations; 4.) Letters; 5.) "Pretend I'm Merida"; 6.) "It's too tight"; 7.) "Presentation of the suitors"; 8.) "First born"; 9.) Runaway; 10.) Witch's lair; 11.) Peace offering; 12.) Bear; 13.) Reward; 14.) Butts; 15.) "Faith be changed ..."; 16.) Breakfast; 17.) "You changed"; 18.) Old castle ruins; 19.) Quarrel; 20.) "Legends are true"; 21.) Break tradition; 22.) Tapestry; 23.) Locked-in; 24.) "Get back! That's my mother"; 25.) Mor'du; 26.) "Second sunrise"; and 27.) Bonus Scene after the Ending Credits.

audience reaction:  The audience liked it. But it didn't get a "Hands Clapper" ending. Although ... it did get a "Hands Clapper" when a "Steve Jobs Dedication" rolled-up during the Ending Credits.

recommendation:  I liked it. But, if you decide to go see this movie, here's a "heads-up" for you: This movie shows lots of nude male butts--I'm not kidding! I'm talkin' butts of every size, shape and age. "Feast your eyes on this!" yeah, really ....

Pixar owes me, and the rest of the horndog world out there, some nude female butts and they'd better deliver soon or they're gonna have a lawsuit in their hands!!! Ha, ha, ha.

spoiler alert!  That second arrow would never have enough velocity in real life for it to penetrate through the first arrow and knock-off the first arrow's arrowhead. Besides, both archers were not of the same exact height; therefore, their arrows would have hit the target at different angles so the second arrow--still--should not have totally split the first arrow in half! That guard should have noticed that something was wrong when he turned to look at the bear since it was standing closer to him than it did earlier. And the guard would have readily seen that there were two bears after all. Why didn't the three bear cubs gather around Merida when she was grieving for her mom? Why didn't Merida notice the change in size right away?

fyi:  "Will-o'-the-Wisp" is nothing more than just swamp gas that ignites once it comes into contact with the air.

As I've said it before on at least two separate occasions, AMC BAY STREET 16 in Emeryville, CA, here in the good ol' USA, is The Only Place in the Whole Wide World to go see a Pixar movie at because Pixar Animation Studios is just about a mile away from this theatre!

I took this photo from inside my car while I stopped at the stop sign of the intersection directly in front of Pixar's entrance gate.

If I could, I would love to work for Pixar as a computer animator. Now, if only I have the money needed for tuition fees .... 'Gotta win that lottery soon, I'm tellin' ya!

word of advice:  Be careful what you wish for.

Don't eat somebody else's leftovers!

tidbits:  I went to CVS Drugstore at the Rockridge Shopping Center in Oakland, CA, after the movie to say, "Hi!" to some former co-workers of mine.

To the right of this photo is a water-filled former rock quarry. Rumor has it that some bodies of crime victims were dumped into this quarry.

This CVS Drugstore is HUGE, the biggest one in the chain! Unfortunately, though, it lost its lease and is gradually decreasing its inventory for its eventual shut-down in December. The owner of this shopping center, Safeway, didn't renew CVS's lease two years ago but has been giving the drugstore a periodic extension. Safeway wants this spot to build their own huge supermarket on, probably with a gas station, too, since there would be plenty of room for one!

The above CVS Drugstore started out as a Payless Drugstore, of the California-based Payless Drugs, back in the '60s. In the '80s, the whole chain was bought-out by K-Mart Stores. Shortly after that, the chain was acquired by Oregon-based Payless Northwest. Then, Rite-Aid took over. And the chain was sold to Longs Drugs when Rite-Aid decided to cut-back on its westward expansion. Now, CVS Drugs owns the chain but is scaling down its westward operation, too, because of the economy; and CVS is also down-sizing the size of its stores as a side-effect of the bad economy. And the above CVS Drugstore is way too big for the CVS chain--three or four regular size stores could easily fit inside of this one. I guess, in a way, CVS Drugs will be glad to get rid of this store.

And this store's demise will bring to an end the Giant Drugstore Era. I have fond, and not so fond, memories of this store through most of its conversions.

Then, I swung by Rockridge Two Wheels to check-out their current Italian and Taiwanese motor scooter and motorcycle inventories. But, I couldn't find a convenient parking space even after I drove around the block twice. So, I just left. I'll just go back someday while I still have the urge to splurge.

Rockridge Two Wheels

*

ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER in 3-D, R ( 1 hr & 45 min )

I found this on hollywood.com.

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where:  CENTURY 14 VALLEJO in Vallejo, CA
when:  Friday, June 22nd, 2012
show:  3:00 p.m.
costs:  $11.00 Ticket + $1.06 bulk Chocolate Candy + $4.50 20.0 oz VitaminWater Focus = $16.56
auditorium:  1
seat:  4th row, 7th column


synopsis/overview:  Honest Abe Fibs A Little To Get What He Wants: Revenge!


In this re-imagining of one of this country's beloved Presidents, Abe Lincoln ( Benjamin Walker ) becomes an apprentice vampire slayer to avenge the death of his mother at the hands of an evil undead.


noteworthy scenes:  1.) "Until every man is free, we are all slaves"; 2.) Intruder; 3.) Fortifying his nerve; 4.) Revenge; 5.) "I told him what he wanted to hear"; 6.) "Real power comes not from Hate but from Truth"; 7.) Training; 8.) Adam ( Rufus Sewell ); 9.) Mary Todd ( Mary Elizabeth Winstead ); 10.) Drug store; 11.) Ball; 12.) Bank; 13.) Picnic; 14.) Stovepipe hat; 15.) "They say he's a madman"; 16.) Old friend; 17.) "Plant your feet and stand firm"; 18.) Contingency plan; 19.) "It's time"; 20.) Stampede; 21.) "We won't stop until this whole country is ours"; 22.) Henry's ( Dominic Cooper ) story; 23.) Wedding; 24.) Invitation; 25.) "Dinner is served"; 26.) Ultimatum; 27.) "There's a war coming"; 28.) Going their separate ways; 29.) Newspaper headline; 30.) "I've never seen anything like it"; 31.) "It is a fate much worse than death"; 32.) "I warned you"; 33.) "Why did they drop their rifles"; 34.) Fork; 35.) Traitor; 36.) "I waited a long time to hear you say that"; 37.) Eighty miles; 38.) "Emancipate yourself"; 39.) Decoy; 40.) "Right here"; 41.) Silver necklace; 42.) "Time waits for no man"; and 43.) At the bar.

favorite scene:  I liked the Horse Stampede scene.

audience reaction:  There were just about half a dozen people in the audience with me. And I couldn't gauge their reaction.

recommendation:  I liked it enough as an Action/Vampire movie--and with a kick-ass presidential twist, at that! If you're still in school, go see this movie and do a report on it for your next school year's History Class along the lines of "What I did on my Summer Vacation." You're sure to get an "A" on your report. L.O.L!

spoiler alert!  His face was shoved through some wooden planks yet his nose didn't get smashed-in. Nobody can fell a tree like that in real life--the Physics is all wrong! That drug store vampire sure had a watery blood. Abe had a 1,000-pound horse thrown at him and he got up okay. How did they get to the front of the train after they fell down to the tracks? Why didn't the female vampire, Vadoma ( Erin Wasson ), use her ability to become invisible?

fyi:  These vampires prefered Dark Meat and Soul Food!

There's a movie on movie2k.to that has been around for about a month-and-a-half now. It is called: ABRAHAM LINCOLN VS. ZOMBIES ( 2012 ), R ( 1 hr & 37 min ).

I'm not done watching it yet.

And here's something that someone sent to my FaceBook page:

I never noticed this before.

But, of course, we now have the Jefferson Nickel that has the face turned to us ( 2011 ) as well as the Jefferson Nickel whose face is oriented the same way as Lincoln's Penny face ( 2005 )--I don't know what these mean .... If there is a hidden symbolism behind these, a numismatist might know of it.

What would have happened had Lincoln just passed the bar ( pun intended )? Ha, ha, ha.

Finally, Rufus Sewell can really see well ( pun intended, again ) because he had his droopy eyelid surgically fixed!

Some Civil War soldiers actually glowed in the dark not because they were vampires but because their wounds got contaminated by friendly microbes, Photorhabdus Luminescens, which ate away at the decaying flesh while imparting it with a "glow-in-the-dark" anti-microbial coating to keep pathogens at bay. These "glow-in-the-dark" soldiers didn't die of infection as a result because their "angels" watched over them. Hence, the name, "Angel's Glow."

I found this photo of Photorhabdus Luminescens on www.thenakedscientists.com. Nice lookin' angels, huh?

Now, I want the Civil War Reenactors to include vampires in their reenactments from this point on!

word of advice:  Fiction is stranger than Truth.

tidbits:  The security guard took my ticket at the door. And as I was making my way to the auditorium, she said to me, "You should have come last night "( for the midnight show ). I told her that I really wanted to, but I wanted to watch the ABRAHAM LINCOLN VS. ZOMBIES, first, on my computer.

Unfortunately for me, I got distracted when I decided to ogle at Internet pictures of motor scooters that I could afford to buy right now with all the money that I got saved-up. Because I want to have a second/back-up vehicle for just-in-case now that I don't have my Geo Metro anymore since it was badly vandalized back in January of this year. And I spent hours ogling at all the nice Korean, Taiwanese and Italian scooters ( better quality than the Chinese-made ones ) that I found on the Internet. AND I WANNA SPLURGE SINCE MY BIRTHDAY'S COMING UP!!!

Or, better yet, maybe I can talk someone into gifting me with a motor scooter for my birthday. Yup, I like this idea better ....


*

3RD ANNIVERSARY

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!!!THREE YEAR ANNIVERSARY!!!

Oh, sure, many people out there are celebrating today as Father's Day. And, "Happy Father's Day" to you, if you're one of them.

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I found this on fandango.com.

But today, Sunday, June 17th, 2012, marks a different milestone for me: I've now been movie blogging for three long years! It's an expensive and very time-consuming ( up to 16 hours of research and fact-checking alone, at times ) hobby, to say the least--and I'm not even gonna get into the writing, re-writing and proof-reading part of it at all. Although, wouldn't you know it,  my movie blogs have earned themselves the distinction of being read ( and enjoyed ...? ) in approximately 130 countries/territories. To be sure, I appreciate the fact that my blogs are being read by a world-wide audience; and I'm especially thankful to those of you out there who took the time to write comments on my movie blogs. Unfortunately, this hobby of mine doesn't pay my bills and/or put food on my table--heck, I go to buffets for that anyway! ha, ha, ha--but, seriously, I truly need to cut-down on my blogging as I have other more important things to do. For example, in the time that it has taken me to write three years' worth of movie blogs, I could have written two or three novels ( I have rough drafts just patiently waiting for me to go back to ). And I'm looking for another line of work with a fixed schedule so that I can spend more time with my brother, sisters and relatives; and so that I can resume my 1st Stage Yogi Initiation Training and Exercises with the hope of completing all three stages and becoming a full-pledged Yogi someday, a spiritual goal of mine. So, if you notice that my blogging has become infrequent, abbreviated and/or highly selective, please try to understand my situation. Thank you.

On another note ...

Today, I went to the AMC METREON 16 in San Francisco, CA, for the first time in my whole life! I was gonna go catch the 2:45 p.m. show of the movie, DOUBLE TROUBLE, but I got there too late. I rode a BART train to get there, by the way. So, for a second time, I just settled for seeing the 4:00 p.m. show of the movie, MADAGASCAR 3: EUROPE'S MOST WANTED in 3-D. The particulars of which I will post on my Madagascar blog.

P.S. How many of you have figured-out by now that my movie blog for HUNGRY, HUNGRY HIPPOS! is just a parody review? I'm glad that you guys are so smart, after all. Ha, ha, ha.

*

THAT'S MY BOY, R ( 1 hr & 56 min )

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where:  CENTURY 14 VALLEJO in Vallejo, CA
when:  Friday, June 15th, 2012
show:  11:05 a.m. ( Extra Dollar Off First Show Matinee )
costs:  $6.50 Ticket + $4.75 junior Kettle Korn Popcorn + $4.50 20.0 oz VitaminWater XXX = $15.75
auditorium:  12
seat:  5th row, 4th seat


synopsis/overview:  A man, Donny Berger ( Adam Sandler ), who fathered a son when he was yet a teen himself, desperately wants to reconnect with his long-estranged son, Todd/Han Solo ( Adam Samberg ). So, Donny reappears in his son's life just days before Todd's wedding. Todd's life tailspins from that point on!


noteworthy scenes:  1.) "I'm not into girls anymore"; 2.) "I don't know, but I think I want one"; 3.) "Eating me out"; 4.) Torah reading; 5.) Test paper; 6.) School assembly; 7.) Courtroom; 8.) Celebrity status; 9.) Han Solo Berger; 10.) Strip club; 11.) The future in-laws; 12.) "Vanilla Bean Latte"; 13.) TV show deal; 14.) "Are you sure you're not a China-man"; 15.) How To Screw In The Dark; 16.) "Best friend"; 17.) Diabetic; 18.) "Wassup"; 19.) Personal story; 20.) Four hundred fifty-one; 21.) Baseball; 22.) Jacuzzi; 23.) "You wear a bathing suit in the shower"; 24.) Wrestling; 25.) Book dedication; 26.) Grandma's picture; 27.) "There's so many tissues"; 28.) Priest; 29.) "Why does the sound of bottle sound so familiar"; 30.) "I wish I could have met him"; 31.) Spa; 32.) "I'm gonna put a dent in that"; 33.) Strippers; 34.) Wedding present; 35.) Uncle Vinnie ( Vanilla Ice ); 36.) "These seem like fun guys"; 37.) Diner; 38.) Bicycle; 39.) Fat couple; 40.) "Look at me, I'm a fountain"; 41.) "I'm gonna drive you like a Model T"; 42.) Wedding dress; 43.) Massachusetts Women's Penitentiary; 44.) "Reality TV ambush"; 45.) Secret 'phone call; 46.) The big secret; 47.) Hotel front desk; 48.) Secret lovers; 49.) "You still got the 5.0"; 50.) Wedding ceremony; 51.) "I'm not looking so bad now, am I, dad"; and 52.) The marathon.

favorite scene:  I liked the non-sex stupidly funny Marathon scene! I cracked-up watching it.

audience reaction:  The audience thought that it was funny, as it did have some funny moments. Although, mostly, of a prurient nature.
 
recommendation:  I liked it, somewhat, but not as much as I would have liked it because of its nature. Adam Sandler really "lowered the bar" with this Sleaze-Fest Comedy.  This movie grates intentionally on people's moral sensibilities. But, then again, how many people out there actually have had such sexual fantasies, both fulfilled and unfulfilled? If you want to see this movie, don't say that you haven't been warned. You really have to be a hardcore Adam Sandler fan to want to see this.

spoiler alert!  Don't tell me that they didn't know that there was a school assembly going on. With the money that he was making, you'd think that Todd would have enough of it to get rid of his tattoo! The beer can that Donny pulled out of the nightstand drawer was cold when it should have been warm--it produced a cold vapor when he popped it open. Semen doesn't stay thick and white for long; it turns into a clear liquid after a short time ( Don't ask me how I know because, if you're a guy, then, you already know--lol! ). How could Donny hear what his incarcerated lover was saying when he didn't even get to use the phone first? Why couldn't Todd just call a taxi for a ride home? The ice cream should have melted by then! I was really hoping that Vanilla Ice would do a Song and Dance number!

fyi:  Wearing a bathing suit in the shower is common--and considered normal--in the Philippines. Ha, ha, ha.

Alright, how many of you out there know that Herve Villechaize, a.k.a. Tattoo, was half Pilipino and half French?

I found this on the Internet. By the way, I can do a pretty good voice impression of Herve while singing to the Double Dutch Bus song! Ha, ha, ha.

Tell me of any normal hot-blooded teenage boy who never had sexual fantasies involving a beautiful, hot and sexy teacher, and I'll tell you that you're either lying or the teenage boy you speak of is of a different sexual orientation.

I had this teacher, Miss O., back in the Philippines when I was around thirteen years of age, who was so beautiful, hot and sexy! She was such a beauty that, had she been a few inches taller, she would have easily qualified as a Miss Philippines contestant. And she was quite a flirt! A few times during lunch break in my home room, she would ask for a bite of my lunch as she would stroke my upper thigh in the presence of my female classmates. Needless to say, I was a "little stiffy" around her--ha, ha, ha. ( She went on to marry an old man--lucky old fart! )

word of advice:  Act like a responsible adult before you procreate.

tidbits:  After the movie, I swung by the Postal Annex a few doors down to pick-up my final mail because today, at 2:30 p.m., it will officially go out of business since its owner, Mike, is retiring--his wife is making him do it.

His employee was there by herself. I asked if Mike was around because I wanted to say, Goodbye, and to wish him luck in his retirement. But the employee said that he left early because he was getting too emotional to stick around to meet-and-greet well-wishers such as myself. I wish him only the best. He was a good business owner. And his business was one of the original businesses, if not the first business, in this shopping center, well before the theatre was even built! I will miss him.

Then, I went to the local AAA office to pay the monthly on my car insurance.

And I went to the Springstowne location Post Office to drop-off my Driver's License renewal.

And I had lunch at Selecta Pilipino Buffet on Springs Road.

Then, I walked next door to the 99-Cent Only Store to buy some stuff.

Before I went home, I went to the Goin' Postal shop to check on my mail as I was expecting the delivery of an important package. It hadn't arrived yet.

And I stepped into the Lucky's Supermarket next door to buy a Mango/Peach Frozen Yogurt because it was a hot day today and I had a craving for something really cold and creamy.

*

PROMETHEUS in 3-D, R ( 2 hr & 3 min

I found this 50s-style version on the Internet and decided to use it because it is different and looks better than the actual movie poster.

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where:  CENTURY 14 VALLEJO in Vallejo, CA
when:  Sunday, June 10th, 2012
show:  10:30 p.m.
costs:  $13.50 Ticket + $0.00 1.25 oz Ritz Crackerfuls Big Stuff Extreme Peanut Butter ( free item won on a Chevron BATTLESHIP game card @ the Chevron gas station in Benicia, CA, and smuggled-in ) + $0.99 bulk Chocolate Candy + $4.50 20.0 oz VitaminWater Essential = $18.99
auditorium:  2
seat:  5th row, 3rd seat


synopsis/overview:  Prehistoric clues scattered throughout time and space all point to a cluster of stars that may hold the answer to the origin of Mankind. Two scientists lead an interstellar scientific exploration to boldly go where no skeptics and/or believers have gone before. But they are unprepared for the terrors that lay in wait for them and for the rest of Humanity!


noteworthy scenes:  1.) Waterfall; 2.) "The same configuration"; 3.) "The trick is not minding that it hurts"; 4.) Christmas tree; 5.) Invitation; 6.) Agenda; 7.) "God does not build in straight lines"; 8.) "It's Christmas, Captain. And I want to open my presents"; 9.) "It's hollow"; 10.) "Pups"; 11.) Helmets off; 12.) Slime; 13.) Images of doomed beings; 14.) Severed head; 15.) Storm; 16.) Alien helmet; 17.) "They're mortal after all"; 18.) "Try harder"; 19.) DNA match; 20.) "Big things have small beginnings"; 21.) Disappointment; 22.) Drink; 23.) Glitch; 24.) "I can't create life. What does that say about me"; 25.) Cobra-like creatures; 26.) Eyeball; 27.) "You son-of-a-bitch, you cut me off"; 28.) Astronomy room; 29.) "Holloway's ( Logan Marshall-Green ) sick"; 30.) Flame thrower; 31.) "Quarantine fail-safe"; 32.) "You're pregnant"; 33.) Surgical pod; 34.) Monster rampage; 35.) Old man; 36.) "One of them is still alive"; 37.) Military installation; 38.) "I don't care"; 39.) "A king has his reign, and then he dies"; 40.) "I didn't know you had it in you"; 41.) "That is a ship"; 42.) "Sometimes, to create, one must first destroy"; 43.) Awakened; 44.) "Time to go home"; 45.) "It's carrying Death"; 46.) Collision; 47.) "Two minutes of Oxygen left"; 48.) "He's coming for you"; 49.) "It's not the only ship"; 50.) "I want to go where they came from"; and 51.) The Alien.

favorite scene:  I liked the Do-It-Yourself Cesarean scene.

audience reaction:  The audience gave it an "average" reaction.

recommendation:  It was "so-so" for me. You might want to wait for this to come out as a rental.

spoiler alert!  The closest planet that is similar to ours is still many light-years away! A planet that cannot be reached by an earth spacecraft traveling for just a few years. The planet, LV233, is practically a barren one. Therefore, its atmospheric Carbon Dioxide concentration should be substantially higher! If you venture into some unknown territory, it is always a good idea to carry some protection with you--and I'm not talking about condoms! ( Although, that might come in handy, too. ) How did those creatures survive entombed for two thousand years without any food supply? Those rock particles flying through the air during the storm should have shredded their suits and cracked their helmets! After two thousand years, that severed head should have been in a very desiccated state! Therefore, the severed head's reanimation would have been pure nonsense! The lid on the jar came loose before David ( Michael Fassbender ) was able to unseal it. If  the "Creator Race" has the same DNA that we Humans do, then 98% of their DNA matches the DNA of Gorillas--therefore, the Gorillas created them--ha, ha, ha. But, wait! based on their super-white skin ( not implying Racism, mind you ), they cannot be related to the Gorillas at all but to the white-furred, secretive and elusive Yeti, the Abominable Snowman, instead! There! I, Cine-Man, just solved the genetic puzzle .... Gosh, I'm so "Nobel Prize-worthy" smart. "I can't create life"--shouldn't that be, "I can't procreate." ( And she calls herself a scientist---Hah! ) Those helmets seem made out of glass, based on how they shattered. And the only acid that I know of that can melt glass is Hydrofluoric Acid. But Hydrofluoric Acid is highly corrosive and highly toxic to skin tissue. So, how did those "snake-like" creatures produce and store such an acid? If something resembles a Cobra, why would you stick your hand out to it? Why didn't this scientific research team exhibit caution and practice common-sense reasoning? Why didn't Meredith ( Charlize Theron ) program David to be some kind of a sex machine if she was that horny and into casual sex at the slightest suggestion? More than 80 years into the future and they still use the same kind of wheelchairs that are in use now? Recently, some scientists in Turkey invented a wheeled mobility device that allows a person to travel around in a standing, not sitting, position. Why didn't they use a similar kind of wheeled mobility device instead of an out-dated wheelchair? That creator being ran his hand through David's lush head of hair and probably said to himself, "Why did they put hair on this android when I don't even have any hair left on me at all since I suffer from Alopecia Universalis. Ooh, I'm so envious of this android that I'm just gonna have to rip its head off!" Why were there no topless female creator beings in this movie? Yup, I'd get down on my knees and worship such a topless female creator being--I'd probably have her put on a wig first, though! "Sometimes, to create, one must first destroy"--but didn't they already do that when they created us? Does it make any sense to run along the path of a giant craft that is rolling towards you? The two minutes' worth of Oxygen left in her tank would have been used-up fast because she was breathing hard! If a big and long phallic thingy were to get shoved down my throat, I'd probably gag and puke--at least gag, anyway! But, no ..., not the "DEEP THROAT"  victims in this movie who were probably either sword swallowers by profession or are of a certain "sexual inclination" ( "If you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with. Love the one you're with." L.O.L. ).

Let's see if I got this right, during Prehistoric Times, the giant creator beings came to Earth to create us and to show us where in the sky they came from. Then, they extended us this invitation: "Hey, guys, if you ever achieve interstellar flight someday, why don't you swing by just to say, 'Hi!' so we can totally annihilate you." It doesn't make sense, doesn't make any sense at all ....

fyi:  Once upon a time, during the early years of Commercial Aviation, somebody decided to make a passenger airplane with square windows. The plane crashed shortly after take-off because the square windows couldn't handle the stresses of flight and simply blew away. Airplanes have had windows with rounded corners ever since.

Now, pay close attention to the nose design of the Prometheus, an interstellar spacecraft, with all of its windows having sharp angles! Who was the Physics "F" Student idiot who designed this spacecraft?!?!?!

Well, the Bible does say that whoever sees the Holy Face of God will be struck dead! And a bunch of them did get struck down dead. Ha, ha, ha.

This movie is set on the planet LV233 while the ALIEN movie is set on the planet LV426, according to some ALIEN fans on the Internet. And there are supposed to be 2 more prequels before the story line ties into that of ALIEN's.

word of advice:  Expect the unexpected.

tidbits:  Why do stupid, inconsiderate, disrespectful and irresponsible idiots take their dogs into a grocery store, claiming that they are "comfort pets" even though their dogs don't have a vest on that says so? And even with the "Pooper Scooper" Law in place, if their damn dogs would urinate and/or defecate inside the store where food is sold, they wouldn't even bother to clean-up after their f-cking spoiled, untrained dogs!!! Whoever was the lowlife lawyer who came up with this "comfort pet" loophole needs to have his/her neck put through a noose's loophole and have said person hanged high!

I needed to see this movie just to unwind after a particularly stressful day at work. But I went home first for a quick dinner and to finish my blog on MADAGASCAR 3: EUROPE'S MOST WANTED before I headed for the theatre.


*

MADAGASCAR 3: EUROPE'S MOST WANTED in 3-D, PG ( 1 hr & 25 min )

-
where:  CENTURY 14 VALLEJO in Vallejo, CA
when: Friday, June 8ht, 2012
show:  12:01 a.m. Midnight Show
costs:  $14.00 Ticket + $4.50 20.0 oz VitaminWater Revive
auditorium:  14
seat:  5th row, 7th column

2nd time

where:  AMC METREON 16 in San Francisco, CA
when:  Sunday, June 17th, 2012
show:  4:00 p.m.
costs:  $16.00 Ticket + $5.00 Curly Fries w/ Ranch Dressing Dip + $4.75 20.0 oz Powerade Mountain Berry Blast + $2.00 Cako Creamery Ube Ice Cream Sandwich & $3.25 single-scoop Vanilla Ice Cream w/ Chai Tea after the movie + $8.10 round-trip BART Train fare + $5.00 Carquinez Bridge Toll + $6.00 Regular Gas @ a Union 76 gas station in Vallejo, CA, before heading off to the El Cerrito Del Norte BART Train Station in El Cerrito, CA + $3.57 regular size Strawberry Milkshake @ A&W/Kentucky Fried Chicken Restaurant at the Lucky's Supermarket Shopping Center on the corner of Tuolumne and Redwood Streets here in Vallejo on my way home = $53.67
auditorium:  6, on the 3rd Floor
seat:  4th row, 5th column


synopsis/overview:  Stuck in Europe because of the penguins, Alex, the lion, and his zoo friends join a circus in the hope that they'll get famous enough to end-up back in New York.


noteworthy scenes:  1.) Elderly; 2.) Birthday present; 3.) Chimichanga; 4.) Port of Monte Carlo; 5.) Four phases; 6.) Disguise; 7.) Luxury assault recreational vehicle; 8.) Chase; 9.) Banana machine gun; 10.) Labor law; 11.) Circus train; 12.) "Let me finish"; 13.) Deed; 14.) College fund; 15.) Bear; 16.) Polka dot, Afro; 17.) Ducati motorcycle; 18.) "You call this laying low"; 19.) Fountain; 20.) Bad circus performance; 21.) Rings; 22.) New circus; 23.) Intensive care unit; 24.) Cliff; 25.) Tight rope; 26.) Trapeze; 27.) "Que grande problema"; 28.) "It was always impossible, Vitaly. That's why the people loved it"; 29.) Opening act; 30.) Contract; 31.) Incoming/outgoing; 32.) "My tears are real, you're not"; 33.) Home; 34.) Darts; 35.) "What really matters is that we smell together"; 36.) "That's Bolshevik"; 37.) "It was never about the money"; 38.) Afro Circus rescue; 39.) "We are doing Trapeze Americano"; 40.) "It is real"; 41.) Song and dance; and 42.) Bonus scenes during the Ending Credits.

favorite scenes:  I liked the Banana Machine Gun scene.

I liked the Olive Oil scene.

I liked the London Circus Show scene.

I liked the Hair Conditioner scene.

I liked the Afro Circus Rescue scene.

And I liked the stupid Small Ring scene;

and the stupider Keyhole scene.

audience reaction:  The audience liked it. But it didn't get a "Hands Clapper" ending.

2nd audience reaction:  The audience gave it a "Hands Clapper" ending.

recommendation:  I liked this movie a lot, especially when the circus performances got going. Go take your little brats to see this movie; they'll love the circus acts--and no brat will be scared of the clowns ( too bad! ). Splurge a little and see this in 3-D, it will be worth it!

spoiler alert!  When they surfaced from underwater, how come their furs weren't soaking wet? I really hoped that Alex's personal "pain-in-the-balls", the little old lady, would be in this installment, but she wasn't. For some unknown and stupid reason, they substituted with something else the funny line: "You fool ... why did ... you let ... them get ... a-way?" How was the woman able to run through walls that easily? Didn't their radar pick-up an unknown aircraft flying through their sovereign air space? There were no police and news helicopters around. Vitaly, the tiger, was obviously good at throwing knives; so, why didn't he showcase his knife-throwing talent? So, they ran away to join the circus, a circus that travels by train; their zookeepers won't have a hard time tracking them down.

fyi:  Katy Perry's song, Firework, is perfect--absolutely perfect!--for the London Circus Show scene.

I would love to see this movie a second time in 3-D--or in I-Max 3-D, if possible!

word of advice:  Home is where the heart is.

tidbits:  I'm like a little squirrel hoarding nuts when it comes to saving money: I've got coins and dollar bills "squirreled" away inside of my condo. At one time, I had about $1,000.oo in coins and more than $2,000.oo in dollar bills hidden all over my place. That's why I don't have visitors come over to my place, or their visit might turn into an unwelcome impromptu Treasure Hunt behind my back!

But, I figured that it was now a good time to put at least 2/3rds of my "Rainy Day Money" in one of my bank accounts. So, I rolled-up--professionally, I might add ( I figured-out the trick to doing it professionally: You fold the edge around 3 to 4 times, pinch/crimp it all around, and push the new edge down hard on a flat surface, twisting it as you do )--$210.oo worth of quarters for deposit in my USBank savings account here in Vallejo today, Thursday, June 7th, 2012.

This box contains 21 rolls of quarters. And it was one heavy box! Each roll holds $10.oo.

-

This is the same box as above, but opened-up to show the 21 rolls of quarters. I put my white address labels on all of them. So, if there is a discrepancy in the count, the bank can contact me. I took these two pictures on the hood of my blue Hyundai Accent, by the way.

At USBank, the teller remarked that I don't have to put my address label on any of my coin rolls. She also said that I have a lot of coins. I told her that I have about 4X more than that at home waiting for me to roll up.

I got into the habit of not spending new and shiny coins, especially the Commemorative State Quarters; and I also forced myself not to spend new and crispy dollar bills. That was how I ended-up saving so much money to "squirrel" around in my condo! But, lately, I decided to put most of it away in a savings account so that it will be safer since I live in a "less desirable" neighborhood.

Later, I went to Benicia, CA, to pick-up my paycheck, to make a deposit in my savings account at BofA ( Bank of America ), and to put some money in my checking account at Chase Bank.

Then, I went to Springs Road here in Vallejo to buy some Lecithin capsules and some Garlic capsules at the 99-Cent Only Store. I then went to the Selecta Pilipino Buffet next door to have lunch and to pop a Lecithin capsule and a Garlic capsule in my mouth after the meal. And I went back to the 99-Cent Only Store to buy some more stuff--but I didn't buy bananas this time ( I have to make the Banana Police happy once in a while )!

And I went to Goin' Postal to try my Postal Annex rental box key in my Goin' Postal rental box lock. It also works at this place; both keys are, indeed, interchangeable! I had two small packages in my box--quite a quick turn-around since I ordered the stuff on-line only just four days ago, on Sunday, June 3rd.

At 30 minutes before the midnight show, I swung by the Admiral Callaghan Lane Safeway to buy a booklet of stamps.

After the movie, I got $4.20 worth of gas ( a gallon's worth ) at the Chevron gas station on the corner of Mini Drive and Sonoma Boulevard.

Then, I drove to the Super Wal-Mart in American Canyon to buy a birthday present for someone. There was a police roadblock in front of the store on Sonoma Boulevard/Highway 29. It was around 2:00 a.m. when I got there.

I saw one of my co-workers there at the checkstand. He and a friend of his went to see the midnight show for the movie, PROMETHEUS, at the same theatre where I went to see this movie.

2nd tidbits:  I've wanted to see this movie again. And I got to see it at the AMC METREON 16 in San Francisco, CA, a theatre that I've always wanted to visit for many years now and finally got around to doing so today!


While I was still on Fairgrounds Drive here in Vallejo, CA, on my way to the Union 76 gas station across the street from the Denny's Restaurant, two black idiots ( male and female ) in a couple of '80s American cars didn't like the way that I was driving at the posted speed limit of 30 mph, so they cut me off! What f-cking lowlifes!!!

I left my car at the El Cerrito Del Norte BART Station's parking garage, space # 412.

When the BART train stopped at the West Oakland BART Station, I noticed a beautiful Asian girl squatting down on the opposite platform waiting for her train. She wore a dress; and I caught a glimpse of her crotch with my quick "whiplash-neck" reflex! Sweet .... But I was not in a position to take a picture of it--had I sat 3 seats further back, I would have been in a perfect spot for a "sneak-click" with my camera. The Oriental girl who sat across from me and her white boyfriend knew this, as she smiled at us knowingly since we were both in no position to take advantage of the photo-op. ( Oh, Selective Photographic Memory of mine, please don't fail me now! L.O.L. )

I took this picture while I waited for the light to turn green. They're obviously doing some renovation work on the building's facade.

This photo is of the marquee above the concession counter on the 3rd floor. And the dome-shaped "thingies" on the ceiling are security cameras. They have Curly French Fries, a welcome change from the usual Popcorn; and quite a generous portion, to boot!

I took this photo of the outdoor dining area after the movie ended. A girl on the 4th floor was busy taking pictures, too. And she wore a short skirt. I was tempted to take an upskirt photo of her but there were guys standing next to her who probably noticed me on the 3rd floor using my camera and knew what I wanted to do with it! Great minds think alike. Darn .... 

On my way out of the theatre, I decided to try some frozen desserts at the Cako Creamery Shop. What a rip-off! The portions are so tiny and so expensive. Never again ....

It was cold in San Francisco today. It felt like wintertime. And I was glad that I went back to my car in the parking garage to get my sweater jacket before boarding a train. Or, maybe, it was because of the frozen desserts which I just ate!

Anyway ....

Outside of the theatre, I made a quick call to my friend, Hector, to wish him a "Happy Father's Day!" And I told him that I'm still waiting for the custom-embroidered gift that I'm having made for him. I was told by the shop's proprietor that it will be ready in a few days. The embroidery work is just the six letters of Hector's last name stitched onto the back of an official U.S. Border Patrol baseball cap--and it has been over a month and the embroidery shop is still not done with it yet! I had planned on gifting Hector with it two weeks ago on his birthday!!! Had I known it would take this long for some simple embroidery work to get done, I would have hand-stitched it myself.

Then, I called my sister in Michigan to wish her husband a "Happy Father's Day!" But nobody answered the 'phone. I guess that they were still at my sister's in-laws' place celebrating the occasion.

On the way home, I got on the BART train at the Powell Street BART Station. The train was packed. And I was forced to stand near someone who smelled like he or she just crawled out of a sewer. Really! the smell was that bad. I'm just glad that whoever it was got off at the next station, the Montgomery Street BART Station.

And speaking of off-putting smells today, a lot of people in San Francisco of the "itinerant crowd" seem to prefer using Sandalwood scent on their persons! Yuck, I can't stand the funky smell of it at all.

At the parking garage of the El Cerrito Del Norte BART Station, I deliberated on whether or not I should go to the AMC BAY STREET 16 in Emeryville, CA, to buy an advance ticket for the Pixar movie, BRAVE, coming out this Friday. But, in the end, to save on gas, I decided to just wait on it as I am sure that I will be going to Hector's place in Oakland, CA, in a few days and I will just swing by the theatre then to buy the ticket before heading on home.

Once I got back to Vallejo, I decided to go to the 99-Cent Only Store on Springs Road to buy some stuff. I spent $13.88 on my total purchase. ( So, all in all, I spent $67.55 today--I'm just glad that I didn't take anyone with me to the movies! )

And, driving back to my place, I got a sudden craving for some milkshake. So, I swung by the A&W/Kentucky Fried Chicken Restaurant on the corner of Tuolumne and Redwood streets for a Strawberry Milkshake, which was my dinner for the evening.


*

THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL, PG-13 ( 2 hr & 4 min )

-

Quickie Review:  A group of British retirees decide to spend their sunset years in exotic India after some fancy ads lure them in. Much to their surprise, though, the Marigold Hotel has seen better years. But they make do with what they have and discover that life and love can be had again if they just try and let go of their pasts.

There were three other people with me, a man and a couple, in auditorium 10 of the Edwards Fairfield Stadium 16 & I-Max for the 9:45 p.m. show today, June 6th, 2012. The man had the most enjoyment out of this Comedy Drama movie.

I liked this movie, too. And it has afforded me a glimpse of India that I would most likely see if and when I do decide to go on a holy pilgrimage to that country someday. Go see this "Slice of Life" movie.

Here are the things that I found wrong in this movie:  The hotel was in violation of Health and Sanitation, and Safety and Fire Codes. There were birds and pests all over that place. The plumbing was in need of repair. Their sleeping areas didn't have mosquito nets--that's Malaria country, mind you! Yet, despite all of these, they still decided to stay at the "hotel"?

*

ROWDY RATHORE, NR ( 2 hr & 10 min )

-

where:  UA EMERY BAY STADIUM 10 in Emeryville, CA
when:  Sunday, June 3rd, 2012
show:  8:00 p.m.
costs:  $8.50 Ticket + $1.00 Charity Donation + $6.00 small Popcorn w/ Butter + $0.00 small 30.0 oz Barq's Root Beer ( free on Regal Movie Watcher Rewards Card ) + $5.00 Carquinez Bridge Toll = $20.50
auditorium:  4
seat:  6th row, 12th column


synopsis/overview:  Shiva ( Akshay Kumar ), a small-time conman, falls in love with Priya ( Sonakshi Sinha ) and promises to change his ways. But a little girl comes into his life believing that he is her father, ruining the budding relationship with his new girlfriend. But he soon learns of the little girl's story and promises to make things right for her through some uncharacteristic derring-do; and, in doing so, he gets his girlfriend back.


noteworthy scenes:  1.) Grave; 2.) First victim; 3.) Dividing-up the loot; 4.) Female cop; 5.) "The whole world goes reverse while I go forward"; 6.) Cricket-playing boys; 7.) Purse snatcher; 8.) "I think I'm in love"; 9.) "Children crossed my path"; 10.) Wedding party crashers; 11.) Culture; 12.) Baby diapers; 13.) Brother; 14.) The truth; 15.) Bad guy; 16.) Rich woman; 17.) Child; 18.) Birthday cake; 19.) The picture; 20.) Playground; 21.) "He's with you"; 22.) Hospital; 23.) "I'll find you"; 24.) Broken tape player; 25.) "You deceived me"; 26.) Chase; 27.) Eye to eye; 28.) Rain; 29.) Deathbed promise; 30.) Missing wife; 31.) Train station thugs; 32.) "What happened to your wife"; 33.) The file; 34.) "Don't underestimate fear"; 35.) Acquittal; 36.) Accidental hanging; 37.) Celebration; 38.) Charade; 39.) "Uncle will fall asleep hearing mother's voice"; 40.) Appointment; 41.) Rowdy; 42.) "Don't angry ( sic ) me"; 43.) "You lost a good man"; 44.) "Where was I"; 45.) Well; 46.) "Your waistline stole my heart"; 47.) Storehouse; 48.) Police brutality; 49.) Story; 50.) Bridge; 51.) "In the mood"; and 52.) Outtakes during the Ending Credits.

audience reaction:  The audience, mostly from India, really enjoyed this movie.

recommendation:  I thought that this movie was all in silly juvenile fun, that it was made to be a parody of ( Bollywood style? ) Action/Comedy movies. Don't go see this movie expecting much from it in the Logic Department.

spoiler alert!  Did he really have to strip those boys naked before kicking them out of his house? If you hold your cellphone against your cheek and shoulder, you'll notice it right away if someone takes it from you. I don't know how they do things in India, but this movie screams of "Assaulting a Police Officer" and also of "Police Brutality". If cool water relieves the pressure, he should have carried a bottle of water with him! Why did he take the cop's belt with him instead of returning it to its rightful owner? At the celebration, that bad guy had about half a dozen missed opportunities to use his sword! He could just have jumped in the Jeep ( ? ) and stepped on the brakes. Most of the cops in this movie are cowardly and/or easily abused. "Don't angry me"--seriously ...? He was too close to the exploding vehicle! How did Shiva ( and the other guy before him ) turn into a super crime fighter?

fyi:  This movie is also playing at the CENTURY 25 UNION LANDING AND X-D in Union City, CA, just a few blocks away from where my Yogi, Sri Rudra Shivananda lives. I wonder if he went and saw this movie. And I wonder what he thinks about my going to the movies a whole lot and about my movie-blogging hobby, times that would be better spent on my yogi training.  Opps! I think I just answered that question. I'm gonna have to seriously cut-down on my blogging!


word of advice: Don't abuse people.

tidbits:  Since this movie theatre is just a few miles away from Hector's place in Oakland, CA, I decided to swing by his place first for a visit and to cook something for them.

So, I went to the Admiral Callaghan Lane Safeway to buy the groceries that I'd need for the dish that I had in mind to cook. And I bought a 1.75 qt container of Safeway brand Mexican-style Vanilla Ice Cream for desert--and for Root Beer Floats!

Then, I went to The Dollar Tree Store just a couple of blocks away to buy some other stuff.

When I got off the freeway in Oakland, as I waited for cross traffic to clear on Fruitvale Avenue, some black asshole idiot punk behind me on the off-ramp honked his car horn impatiently at me. And as I drove at around 34 mph in a 30 mph zone on Fruitvale Avenue, said asshole floored his gas pedal, crossed the double solid yellow lines and cut me off. What a f-cking jerk! For the record, he drives a white Chevy Malibu with license plate number: 6SYF 47. The first four are correct, but I forgot to include another number, # 2 ( ? ), which goes in-between the F and the 4, I think. So, just in case the f-cking lowlife gets into an accident and/or gets involved in a crime, I got an Incident Report right here on what happened at 1:39 p.m. on June 3rd, 2012 waiting for the cops to do an Internet search on! This f-cking idiot must be related to the f-cking idiot in my previous post.

Yeah, that's right, folks.  Don't piss-off the Cine-Man when he is out on the road because he has pen and paper handy to jot down your license plate number if you do!

At Hector's place, his son, Tito, was busy doing some gardening work in the side yard. He'll plant fruits and vegetables. He wants to stock-up for 12-21-2012. ( I've got some canned foods ready and waiting. )

One of Tito's friends gave him a whole box full of really ripe Ataulfo Mangos. He was gonna slice, cube and freeze them to make Smoothies and Shakes with. And he had me help myself to some. I just couldn't refuse or resist.

I gave Hector a belated birthday present, a Tradewinds Coin-Counting Bank. I'm still waiting for his other present, a U.S. BORDER PATROL cap, to get embroidered with his name.

Then, Hector, his wife and I sat down for some coffee and some french bread. And we engaged in idle chit-chat.

Finally, it was time for me to cook my ...

Cine-Man's World-Famous Bowl ( my own take on the KFC Famous Bowl dish )

Ingredients:

Cooking Oil or butter--I used Canola Cooking Oil ( fry each of the next 5 ingredients individually in a big frying pan and mix them all together at the end )
1.) 28.0 oz Safeway brand Potatoes O'Brien ( thaw it out first, spread it thin in the frying pan and don't stir it too much; cook until it's brown )
2.) 24.0 oz T. J. Farm Hash Browns ( thaw it out first, spread it thin in the frying pan and don't stir it too much; cook until it's brown )
3.) 9.6 oz Banquet Brown 'n' Serve Original Sausage Crumbles, 2 bags
4.) 9.0 oz John Morrell Smoked Sausages, cubed
5.) 6 eggs, scrambled

Black Pepper and Garlic Salt, to taste

+ Add-ons:

Medium Cheddar Cheese, grated
Ketchup
Hot Tabasco Sauce
Safeway brand bakery-fresh French Bread, sliced; to eat on the side

-Burrito Style optional ingredients, as suggested by Hector and his son, Tito:

Sour Cream
Mayonnaise
Pace Picante Sauce
Flour Tortilla, heated on the gas range
Corn Tortilla, heated on the gas range

It ended-up being quite a big batch. So, we ate a whole lot of it.

After dinner, I was the first one to the bathroom! 'Must have been the Burrito style .... Ha, ha, ha.

Back in Vallejo, I swung by the Walgreens 24-Hour Drugstore to buy two more Tradewinds Coin-Counting Banks for myself and for my brother.

'Sorry for this blurry image. The batteries are getting too weak for my camera to capture a good shot. Or, maybe, I should have used the flash, too. 

And I also bought a 4.0 oz Mexico Premium Fruit Bars Watermelon Popsicle to eat when I got home.

*

SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN, PG-13 ( 2 hr & 7 min )

where:  CENTURY 14 VALLEJO in Vallejo, CA
when:  Friday, June 1st, 2012
show:  11:45 a.m. ( Extra Dollar Off First Show Matinee )
costs:  $6.50 Ticket + $4.00 4.0 oz Dreyer's Fruit Bars Strawberry + $4.50 20.0 oz VitaminWater Orange + $9.86 lunch @ Selecta Pilipino Buffet here in Vallejo after the movie = $23.86
auditorium:  8
seat:  5th row, 10th column


synopsis/overview:  Beauty Is Only Scheme Deep

An evil queen, Ravenna ( Charlize Theron ), has stolen the kingdom from its rightful heir, Snow White ( Kristen Stewart ), who is kept in prison in the castle's north tower until such a time as her person is duly required by the queen for the furtherance of an evil need. But Snow White manages a propitious escape. The Huntsman ( Chris Hemsworth ) sent to track her down has a sudden change of heart and decides to help Snow White regain her rightful place and title.


noteworthy scenes:  1.) "Once upon a time"; 2.) "What devil spawned this army"; 3.) Prisoner's carriage; 4.) New queen; 5.) "You'll be the ruin of me"; 6.) "Welcome, brother"; 7.) "We've lost her"; 8.) The mirror; 9.) Prison; 10.) "Do you remember when we were children begging for scraps like those wretches"; 11.) "You would kill your Queen"; 12.) "Magic comes at a lofty price"; 13.) "I have something for what ails you"; 14.) "Come of age"; 15.) Nail; 16.) Sewer; 17.) Horse; 18.) Dark Forest; 19.) "Is there no one I can trust"; 20.) "I have no powers in the Dark Forest"; 21.) "The Queen demands your presence'; 22.) "A life for a life"; 23.) "She can't bring your wife back from the dead"; 24.) "But you have a deal"; 25.) "The Princess is alive"; 26.) "The forest gains its strength from your weakness"; 27.) "Don't flatter yourself'; 28.) "Do you need a bowman"; 29.) "You might not have a choice"; 30.) Troll; 31.) Women; 32.) "You don't know who she is"; 33.) "She's safe with you"; 34.) Attack; 35.) "Be warned: By fairest blood this spell can be undone"; 36.) The eight dwarfs; 37.) Enchanted Forest; 38.) Campfire; 39.) "Is it really just the gold"; 40.) Fairies; 41.) "No one's ever seen this before"; 42.) "Where she leads, I follow"; 43.) "Your wife was the same"; 44.) "I used to hate her but now I only feel sorrow"; 45.) The Apple; 46.) Sad procession; 47.) "You remind me of her"; 48.) "Your grief clouds your judgment, my son"; 49.) Motivational speech; 50.) Dead women; 51.) "There is another way"; 52.) "We move as one"; 53.) Drawbridge rope; 54.) Evil guards; 55.) "Watch them die"; 56.) "By fairest blood is it undone"; and 57.) The coronation.

audience reaction:  The audience liked it enough for some to give it a "Hands Clapper" ending.

recommendation:  I liked it enough. It's an interesting re-interpretation of the classic fairy tale. It's worth a "look-see". And the Chicks dug it! Yup ... it's a Chick Flick.

spoiler alert!  The narrator was, at times, very hard to understand. Snow White was probably in that prison for nine years until she came of age at fourteen, according to Medieval Custom. Now, here's the problem: She would have stank like hell and would have super-greasy hair ( which would have been, at least, 54 inches long ) because prisoners were not allowed to have baths, and no one back in those days practiced good hygiene. And, on top of it all, she would have had all of those years' worth of Bad Breath and Plaque and Tartar build-up---Yup, Snow White didn't have/shouldn't have Pearly Whites! You would have been stupid and/or crazy to kiss her or to even talk to her up-close and personal! Yuck!!! The Huntsman got himself kicked in the chest by a horse and he lived through it without getting his ribs broken ...? They gathered around the funeral pyre but not one of them got a hankering for some yummylicious barbecue! Ah, guys ... she was in prison all of these years and her only fight training and fight experience was in how to stab someone--And You Want Her To Lead Us Into Battle!!! Are you f-cking nuts???

fyi:  Mirror, mirror, on the wall, which one among today's raven-haired Hollywood starlets is the fairest of them all? Certainly, not Kristen Stewart! I just want to slap in the face--and upside the head--both the Casting Agent and the Casting Director for this obvious gaffe! They should give to me the casting duties so that I can make full use of the "Casting Couch"--and I'd be willing to do lots of overtime work without pay! Ha, ha, ha.

Shouldn't there just have been seven dwarfs instead of eight, I asked myself. Oh, never mind, I answered myself later.

When Snow White walked-up to Prince William ( Sam Claflin ) after she was revived, I really thought that she was going to slap him! That would have been so funny ....

This movie uses the symbolism of the Number Three in three separate scenes. As I have said before, two means "No" and three means "Yes" in the Occult and Supernatural Circles. I guess the screenwriters know some  occult/supernatural symbolisms after all.

word of advice:  There's more to falling in love than just "Good Looks".

tidbits:  Today, Friday, at just a little past 12:00 a.m., I rested my self in bed for a while before I did my Delta Brainwave Frequency Sound Meditation. With my eyes closed, I unexpectedly saw a very beautiful, warm, soothing, gently pulsing and slowly rotating ( I forget if it was Clockwise or Counter-Clockwise ) three-dimensional blue light in my Third Eye area. I have never seen this particular color in my whole life before tonight! Never!!! There are many shades of Blue, but this shade is unique unto itself. As my Soul watched in Reverential Awe of it, my Analytic Mind was trying to make sense of the phenomenal vision. Then, it dawned on me: This Is The Blue Star Of Shiva that my Yogi talked about a couple of years ago! The whole vision lasted but for just a scant few seconds.

After the vision ended, I tried to recreate it by using the back of my right hand and my wrist to gently add to the Ocular Pressure in my eyes. I had hoped that the increased pressure would make the Vitreous Humor in my eyes squeeze the Retinas into releasing some Phosphenes to create colored light effects. But it didn't produce the desired color effect.

Since I believe that only those of us who meditate can see, or are allowed to see, the Blue Star of Shiva, I give this particular color the name, Shiva Blue, if somebody hadn't beaten me to it already. And, no, this particular blue color is not to be found in a mundane, physical palette of blue colors.

The vision puzzled me since I was forced to postpone my First Stage Yogi Training Exercises because, unfortunately, I don't keep to a regular schedule at work. Just about everyday, my schedule is different--a bad thing to have if you're trying to become a Yogi. I'm actively in search of an alternate source of income with a fixed schedule so that I can quit my present job and return to my Yogi training exercises because I was initiated into Kriya Yoga in the holy presence of both Babaji and Lord Shiva; and such an initiation is not to be taken lightly! Because of it, my Yogic inactivity worries me a whole lot in a spiritual sense.

But, although I haven't practiced my Yogi training exercises in so long, I still do my mantra work and my sound meditations. Maybe, the vision is a direct result of these: A Karmic Merit.

( In 1992 [ or right around that time ], in an Out-Of-Body-Experience in my darkened bedroom, a glowing Green "Crystal" floated into my head through my Third Eye area. About ten years later, I was awakened from my sleep because Pure White Light filled my mind and in its center was inscribed in black letters the Bible's Old Testament book title and chapter number, "Ecclesiastes 3." A little over two years ago, my Third Eye opened for the first time. And, very early today, I saw the Blue Star of Shiva. I have a term for all of these: Piece-Meal Enlightenment. Ha, ha, ha. )

A few hours later, at a little before 6:00 a.m., I had to wake up. Because I had a 7:00 a.m. appointment for a dental cleaning at my Periodontist's clinic. But I didn't have enough time to take a shower so I used my Biker's 'Do-Rag to conceal my "Bed-Head". And fortunately for me, I am quite mild in the Body Odor department--or, maybe, I am just so desensitized to my own smell! Ha, ha, ha.

My hygienist, Danelle, a small woman who wouldn't tip the weight scale at a hundred pounds soaking wet, was out of work for at least a year because a couple of big dogs almost mauled her to death! She went out for her usual early morning walk with one of her lady friends one day a year-and-a-half ago. A neighbor's gate was left open and the big dogs went straight for her because she was like a tiny chew-toy to them, I guess. The other lady got bit, too. But the dogs really went after Danelle. She managed to crawl under an SUV but the dogs grabbed her by the legs to pull her out from under and finish her off. Fortunately, though, two other neighbors heard the screams and cries for help and rushed to her aid. One of the neighbors shot the dogs dead.

I told Danelle, I hope you'll sue him. She said, "We're filing Criminal Charges first." She looked okay. But she lost some grip strength in her right hand, according to her.

I took this picture of my periodontist's clinic from inside my car after my dental cleaning.  I was in the dentist chair for about an hour, an hour of pure torture! Damn, I need to work on my Yogi Non-Attachment Exercise and master it! But I took it like a man--'not just any man, but Cine-Man! The whole world is a much better place with Cine-Man having clean teeth and fresh breath. Amen to that .... Now, if I can only get some beautiful girl/girls to kiss my boo boo away--'any volunteers ...?

After my dental cleaning, I went to the post office across from The Grocery Outlet store here in Vallejo. But the place was closed until 9:00 a.m.

So, I went to the 99-Cent Only Store on Springs Road here in Vallejo to buy two bags of trail mix to eat as a snack at work, two long-sleeve T-shirts, and a bunch of bananas--opps! I forget that the Banana Police monitors my blogsite. In my defense, though, I bought the bananas because they were really green and I wanted to see if they will ripen eventually. Yeah, right ....

Then, I went to the nearby Chevron gas station to get $5.00 worth of gas.

Back at the local post office, I dropped-off a bill payment and I bought a money order and some stamps.

Then, I went to the Goin' Postal shop in the Lucky's Supermarket Shopping Center on the corner of Tuolumne and Redwood streets to rent a postal box. But the place was closed until 10:00 a.m. I had about thirty minutes before it opened.

So, I walked to the nearby Royal Donuts to buy a bottle of Chocolate Milk. The lady behind the counter asked if I would like to buy some doughnuts with it. I told her that I couldn't since I just had a dental cleaning. I just sat at a table and drank my chocolate milk. And I did some Zhunti Mantra as I waited for Goin' Postal to open up.

I had to wait in line once I got inside the Goin' Postal shop because it was the first of the month and the place was just busy.

As I filled-out the box rental application and agreement form, a cockatoo in the backroom looked at me and said, "Hello." I just ignored it because I was busy reading the contract. And the bird said, "Aargh." And it said, "Hello," again. And I ignored it again. Then, it said, "Aargh," once more. All the while that I was reading the contract and filling-out the application form, the cockatoo kept saying, "Hello," and, "Argh." It was annoying, but cute. ( I wonder if Cockatoos taste like chicken. Hmm .... )

But not the owner's very annoying son, though. That kid was just a spoiled brat, arguing with his mom and disrespecting his grandmother--'nothing cute about that! ( "Spare the rod, spoil the child." Book of Proverbs, 13:24--where was a 2" X 4" "rod" when she needed one? L.O.L. )

I got my Goin' Postal box, number 69, and my German silver rental box key. I asked the owner, Elizabeth, if I could use the copy machine. She said, "Yes and No." She would have to do it for me.

But I like to make my own copies so I went to the FedEx/Kinko's in the Admiral Callaghan Lane Safeway Shopping Center.

After that, I went to the Gateway Plaza Shopping Center's Postal Annex to check my mail. Since my Postal Annex brass rental box key and my Goin' Postal German silver rental box key both looked the same, I tried my Goin' Postal key on my Postal Annex box's lock. It opened my Postal Annex box, number 353! What are the chances of that ever happening to anyone else?!?!?! I told Mike, the soon-to-retire Postal Annex proprietor, about it. And I had him try it for himself just so he would believe me. And I said that I was meant to rent a box at Goin' Postal after all. Mike told me to keep the Postal Annex key. I will miss him when he closes shop and retires in 14 days.

Since the chances of both my rental box keys being interchangeable are millions-to-one and the odds of winning it BIG in a lottery is also millions-to-one, I must be up for some Major Lottery Win soon! Gad, now I sound like Pirate Captain of the movie, THE PIRATES! BAND OF MISFITS. Ha, ha, ha. If I win the lottery Big-Time, you'll know it soon enough because this blogsite will become inactive as I go on a six-month worldwide cruise! And I won't know anybody anymore because I will suffer from a sudden condition called, Wealth-Induced Amnesia! Ha, ha, ha.

During the movie, some asshole lowlife was texting on his cellphone! I really should stop sitting in the center. I should sit near, or at, the end of a row so that if I see some f-cking asshole lowlife texting on his/her cellphone, I can easily go fetch a member of management to kick the inconsiderate and disrespectful idiot out!!!

After the movie, I had to fight back some tears because I was overcome with emotion at the thought of the vision that I had very early in the day! 'You know the expression, "I'm not worthy"? Well, that was exactly how I felt. As I did my Zhunti Mantra while I walked to my car, I interspersed it with an appeal to Lord Shiva to take away this particular Honor and Privilege, that there had to be someone else more deserving of it than my self.

There are two kinds of enlightened people: The ones who readily accept their enlightenment in humility; and the ones who go deep into denial about it because they feel unworthy of it! I fall into the second category. I should try humility next time and see what happens.

As I drove on my way to Selecta Pilipino Buffet on Springs Road for lunch, I had the realization that my visions of enlightenment happened at their appointed times because of God's Will, that God knows me infinitely better than I do and is leading me along a Rightful and Proper Path! I couldn't hold back some tears this time as I asked God--nay, I begged of Him three times, again as I was doing my Zhunti Mantra, to not allow me to abuse such Honor, Privilege, and Power.

Near the intersection of Oakwood Drive and Springs Road, just a block away from Selecta Pilipino Buffet, I decided to show some common courtesy to some lady who needed to get into traffic from the Subway Shopping Center parking lot. As I yielded my right-of-way to her, the asshole in the white pick-up truck behind my car was honking his horn at me because the light had already turned green and he wanted to be on his way. Did Mr. Asshole forget that one of the things they teach people in Driver's Ed is that it is always a good idea to practice common courtesy while out on the road? If drivers were more courteous toward each other, there would be fewer car accidents and road-rage incidents! But I guess it's a bad and useless idea to be a good and safe driver here in the city of Vallejo. Gad, I hate this lowlife city ....

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A beautiful blonde queen decided to have a milk bath one day because she heard that it was good for the skin.

Concerned for the Queen's safety because of the recent E. Coli outbreak, the handmaiden asked her, "Would you like the milk pasteurized?"

"Of course not, you silly girl," said the Queen. "Just a little pastmynipples would be fine!"  ;-)

( I learned this joke while I studied Microbiology. )

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