G.I. JOE: RETALIATION, PG-13 ( 1 hr & 39 min )

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1st time
where: CENTURY 14 VALLEJO in Vallejo, CA

when: Wednesday, March 27th, 2013

show: 7:30 p.m.

costs: $10.50 Ticket + $1.00 3.0 oz Dan-D-Pak Onion and Garlic-flavored Cashews ( bought at the 99-Cents Only Store and smuggled-in ) + $4.50 1-litre Dasani Water = $16.00

auditorium: 8

seat: 5th row ( counting from the front ), 9th column ( counting from the left )


2nd time

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where: CENTURY 14 VALLEJO in Vallejo, CA

when: Thursday, March 28th, 2013

show: 8:55 p.m. 

costs: $13.50 3-D Ticket + $5.75 small Popcorn w/ Butter + $4.50 28.0 oz Powerade Mountain Berry Blast = $23.75

auditorium: 14

seat: 5th row ( counting from the front ), 7th column ( counting from the left )


synopsis/overview: The Joes are betrayed by The Impostor in The White House, attacked with extreme prejudice, and are left for dead! But a few of them managed to survive the attack and vow to exact revenge on whoever is responsible for it all. And they will need all the help that they can get.


noteworthy scenes: 1.) Flag; 2.) Video game; 3.) "History rewards the bold"; 4.) Missile assembly plant; 5.) "Like your panties"; 6.) "G. I. Joes are about to be out of the picture"; 7.) "Security's early"; 8.) Well; 9.) News; 10.) "Whoever did this is gonna come back"; 11.) The two "neighbors"; 12.) "There's only one man who can authorize a strike like that. And I voted for him"; 13.) "I see you've arranged for transportation"; 14.) "You still have ten fingers"; 15.) "She will fight with honor"; 16.) "Miley Cyrus and Ryan Seacrest"; 17.) "Conversational fillers"; 18.) "He's the reason we call ourselves "'Joes'"; 19.) Dog tags; 20.) The gambler; 21.) Snake Eyes ( Ray Park ) vs. Storm Shadow; 22.) Zip line chase; 23.) Avalanche; 24.) The lady in red; 25.) Hair sample; 26.) Facial recognition; 27.) "My sword"; 28.) The real assassin; 29.) "He didn't want to put his life in the hands of a woman"; 30.) "That's for the Tax Hike"; 31.) Retinal scan; 32.) "Damn ninjas"; 33.) "He's with us"; 34,) "Merry Christmas"; 35.) "They didn't say anything about re-enlisting"; 36.) Battle plan; 37.) "This country is at war"; 38.) "Fifteen, in the case of North Korea. Just to be sure"; 39.) Three minutes; 40.) Video game; 41.) Nuclear launches; 42.) "My cholesterol is a little high"; 43.) "No Global Warming Summit next month"; 44.) "'Gotta love the little guy"; 45.) Zeus satellites; 46.) "The Cobra Revolution has begun"; 47.) "You betrayed the Master and made me what I am"; 48.) Override; 49.) Firefly;  50.) "I served with your father"; and 51.) "For when you find Cobra Commander."


favorite scenes: I liked the Mountain Hideout Sword Fight scene.

I liked the Nuclear Disarmament scene.

And I liked the Roadblock ( Dwayne Johnson ) vs. Firefly ( Ray Stevenson ) Gun Fight scene.

audience reaction: The audiences liked it but didn't give it a "Hands Clapper" ending.


recommendation: I liked this movie enough. But part one was better. People will be disappointed by one of this movie's two plot twists--let this serve as a warning! Go see this sequel/reboot if you're a G.I. Joe fan.


spoiler alert! Why were there no guard dogs patrolling the DMZ? Oh, that's right! Those North Koreans eat dogs.Why were there no guards posted around the missile assembly plant? If whoever did it was gonna come back, then what the Joes did for their fallen comrades would be conspicuously obvious to the returning bad guys! Since the U.S. President branded the G. I. Joes as bad guys,  that US military outpost in the desert would have detained them instead of given them a free ride home! The subjects in suspended animation were conscious all of that time since their eyes were still wide open instead of in REM state! If they didn't shoot at the suspended animation tube, Storm Shadow ( Lee Byung-hun ) would have just probably drowned. You know, if you put somebody in suspended animation, you will have to make sure first that the subject's bladder and bowels are empty--'only makes sense! And the subject would have to be fitted beforehand with a urinary catheter, too. ( Hey! Storm Shadow, is that a urinary catheter bag in your pants or are you just happy to see me? Ha, ha, ha. ) The blast of an explosion travels way faster than that shown in the underground base. The red ninjas knew that Storm Shadow was taken by none other than Snake Eyes. Therefore, Storm Shadow would not have been able to rejoin the Cobra Team without lots of explaining and convincing to do! Okay, picture this: You have the leaders of the most powerful countries in the world meeting with each other in one place. Now, do you really think that a simple checkpoint is all the security that you'd need to watch over those leaders? You'd more than likely need snipers scattered everywhere and need fighter jets and fighter helicopters patrolling the area. Then the snipers and such aircraft will notice THAT SOME G.I. JOES ARE SNEAKING THEIR WAY UP TO WHERE THE LEADERS ARE GATHERED. I mean, let's face it, for one thing, Roadblock's armored vehicle was too damn big to not be noticed by snipers and sky patrols. Okay, General Joe Colton's ( Bruce Willis ) muscle car was a loud car that should have been easily heard coming "from a mile away" by those bad guys! Why didn't Firefly throw that little thing away when he still had the chance since he knew what it could possibly do to him? 


G.I. JOE: THE RISE OF COBRA ( 2009 ) was a Big Budget film. This movie is a Big Budget Cuts film, it seems--the first victim of the Budget Sequestration. Ha, ha, ha.

fyi: Last month, I talked to a retired Navy Seal. I asked him if it's true that if someone has big, bulky muscles and can't touch his right ( left ) shoulder with the tip of his right ( left ) thumb then that someone won't be accepted as a Navy Seal recruit. This was his answer: "You've been listening to a lot of fairy tales."


word of advice: Fight for Honor.


tidbits: I wanted to go to the 10:30 p.m. show with a couple of my co-workers, Jacob and Tom. But I had to be at work early the next day. So, I called Jacob to let him know that I would be seeing the earlier show so that I'd have time for some "shut-eye" when I got home from the movies.


Near the end of the Ending Credits, some guy behind me said, "I'll be so mad if there's nothing here!" Unfortunately for him, there was no Bonus Scene after--or even during--the Ending Credits.

2nd tidbits: Before seeing this 3-D movie, I went to the Best Buy across the street from the movie theatre to look at the new Acer C7 Chromebook. I need a new computer because my old one is painfully slow now, even with weekly optimizations and defraggings. And the Chromebook looks appealing to me. Oh, I know, I know. I could use a Hard Drive Scrubber and put in new Memory Chips again! But my old computer is bulky, heavy and only has a two-hour maximum charge on its old battery.


When I walked up to the movie theatre's box office, I saw Tom and his girlfriend's young brother buying tickets for the 8:00 p.m. G. I. Joe 2-D movie. He said that I should watch the movie with them. I said, No, I already saw it in 2-D last night and I want to see it in 3-D tonight.

*

INAPPROPRIATE COMEDY, R ( 1 hr & 24 min )

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I went to see this today, Sunday, March 24th, 2013, in Emeryville, CA, at the UA EMERY BAY STADIUM 10, for the 4:40 p.m. show in auditorium 3, 6th row ( counting from the front ), 12th column ( counting from the left ). The price of admission was $9.50. And I got a free 30.0 oz Pink Lemonade at the concessions counter as a movie-watcher reward. The Carquinez Bridge Toll Fee set me back an additional $5.00 on my way home to Vallejo, CA.

Quickie Review:  This is a Sketch Comedy-type of movie meant to be as politically incorrect as possible, with the heavy use of racial stereotypes aimed primarily at Blacks, Asians, Jews and Mexicans.

Some people in the audience of a dozen or so people enjoyed this movie.

I didn't like it that much--and I drove about 50 miles round trip to find out the hard way! This is strictly a rental that would complement MOVIE 43 ( 2013 ) well if you find yourself alone at night with nothing else better to do to pass the precious time away with.

And for you horndogs out there, even though this movie is rated R for--among other things--graphic nudity, I didn't see any nudity in this movie at all. Lindsay Lohan's computer-generated crotch-shot is about as good as it gets!

And what, exactly, is the time period for this movie? "Flirty Harry" is meant to be from the '70s. The "Porn Review" is meant to be from the '80s before porno theatres went the way of Betamax and VHS tapes. "Blackass" is meant to be from the last decade. "The Amazing Racist" is meant to be from the last decade, too, with anti-Semitism that hints of BORAT: CULTURAL LEARNINGS OF AMERICA FOR MAKE BENEFIT GLORIOUS NATION OF KAZAKHSTAN ( 2006 ). And the lead-to for each sketch is a modern-day i-Pad. I'm confused ....

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First thing today, I went to the CENTURY 14 VALLEJO here in Vallejo, CA, to catch the first-show matinee of ADMISSION. It is a Chick Flick movie that I found rather boring. Of course, the women in the audience liked it.

After the movie, I went to Selecta Pilipino Buffet on Springs Road to have lunch and to buy some lottery tickets.

Then, I went next door to the 99-Cent Only Store to buy some stuff. But they only had two checkers. And the lines were so long that I decided not to buy anything at all!

And since it was still early in the day, I decided to check this movie out.

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I took the above photo soon after I got out of my car in the theatre's parking lot. The last time that I took a photo of this site was last summer when I came here to see SEEKING A FRIEND FOR THE END OF THE WORLD ( 2012 ). What you see is the basement area ( parking garage? ) of a proposed condominium high-rise. Oh, how I would love to live here, just a stone's throw--literally--away from a movie theatre; and less than a mile away from another multiplex theatre, the AMC BAY STREET 16. Sweet! Plus, it's just about 1 1/2 miles away from PIXAR ANIMATION STUDIOS! A veritable movie-watcher's "dream-come-true" neighborhood with shops and restaurants scattered profusely all about the area ( special mention goes to E-22 CAFE, 1336 Powell Street, co-owned by my nephew, Eric )!

Ninety degrees to my right where I stood to take the above photo, and across the lot from it, is the front of the movie theatre ( see the photo just below this movie's poster ).


*

THE CROODS in 3-D, PG ( 1 hr & 31 min )

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I went to see this yesterday, Friday, March 22nd, 2013, here in Vallejo, CA, at the CENTURY 14 VALLEJO, for the 9:05 p.m. show in auditorium 14, 4th row ( counting from the front ), 6th column ( counting from the left ). The price of admission for the 3-D show was $14.00. And I bought a bag of bulk Chocolate-covered Peanuts for $1.42 and a 20.0 oz bottle of Dasani Water for $3.75 at the concessions counter.

Quickie Review: A family of troglodyte Neanderthals is safeguarded from danger, real or otherwise, by a paranoid father, much to the resentment of his adventurous daughter. But, one day, a handsome Cro-Magnon lad wanders into their lives just as Continental Drift and Plate Tectonics rearrange their familiar world into a challenging new realm. And the Neanderthal father must learn to accept the way things are in this brave, new world if his family is to survive as a cohesive unit.

The audience liked it.

I liked it, too. Go see this with your little brats in tow.

I liked the Boots And Sandals scene.

I liked the Swimming In The Water scene.

I liked the Tar Pit scene.

I liked the Roll-Over Dog scene.

I liked the Thrown Across The Chasm scene.

I liked the Neanderthal Father And Tiger In The Cave scene.

And I liked the Family Picture scene.

Stay for a Bonus Scene which is shown after the Ending Credits.

*

OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN, R ( 2 hr & 0 min )

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I went to see this today, Friday, March 22nd, 2013, here in Vallejo, CA, at the CENTURY 14 VALLEJO, for the 1:50 p.m. show in auditorium 8, 5th row ( counting from the front ), 9th column ( counting from the left ). The price of admission was $7.50. And I bought a 1-litre bottle of Dasani Water at the concessions counter for $4.50.

Quickie Review: A group of highly-trained terrorists has taken over the White House in one well-coordinated daytime surprise attack. With President Asher ( Aaron Ekhart ) and Vice President Rodriguez ( Phil Austin ) taken hostage, it is up to former presidential bodyguard, Mike Banning ( Gerard Butler ), to rescue the President and prevent an all-out war from happening.

The audience really liked this. But nobody gave it a "Hands Clapper" ending.

I liked it, too. But my objectivity as a reviewer kept me from cheering-on the good guy. Go see this Action/Suspense movie.

I liked the President Lincoln Bust scene. ( Unfortunately, the joke was lost on the rest of the audience. Hints: ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER [ 2012 ], ABRAHAM LINCOLN VS. ZOMBIES [ 2012 ], and ... Abraham Lincoln: Terrorist Killer (?). )

I liked the Get Me Some Coffee scene.

I liked the Extracting Information scene.

And I liked the How's My Hair scene.

I bet North Korea's Kim Jong Un is busy taking notes right now while watching this movie! And he's probably saying to himself, "And, to think, I could have saved all of that money spent on nuclear tests!" Ha, ha, ha.

Here are some things that I found wrong in this movie: On the bridge, they could have used one of the SUVs to pin the rear half of the limousine against the bridge's rail to keep it from falling into the river. In post 9-11, only three fighter jets were scrambled when the cargo plane flew in restricted air space, headed for the White House. Gatling guns can do more serious damage to its victims than what were shown in the Strafing scene. In the hospital scene, a victim of the attack that Nurse Banning ( Radha Mitchell ) treated was missing his left hand, presumably, as a result of the attack; but it looked like it was amputated sometime in the past because its end looked so smooth. When the bad guy was being choked, why didn't he fire-off some rounds to alert his fellow bad guys or shoot Banning in the legs? Why didn't the soldiers take the hoods off the hostages before allowing them to board the helicopter? The High Spinning Back Kick used by the bad guy can be easily countered in two quick moves that can kill the kicker almost instantly ( something I learned in Combat Martial Arts ). After Banning secured the premises, why didn't the soldiers and the paramedics rush in to aid the injured president?

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I went to Chevron on the corner of Redwood and Couch Streets here in Vallejo to get some gas and to buy a newspaper, the San Francisco Chronicle ( $7.00 total ).

Then, I went to Selecta Pilipino Buffet on Springs Road to have lunch and to buy some lottery tickets ( $12.58 total ).

And I went to my Periodontist's clinic behind the Safeway Supermarket on Admiral Callaghan Lane because I expected to get a refund cheque from them in the mail some time ago. Anyway, I was issued a refund cheque on the spot. And I couldn't have gotten it at a better time because I have some big credit card expenses from last year that I need to pay-off a.s.a.p.

After the movie, I went to the Chase Bank in the Target Shopping Center on Admiral Callaghan Lane to deposit the cheque into my checking account.

And I went to the Dollar Tree Store in the same shopping center to buy four things ( $4.35 total ).

Finally, I went to the MacDonald's Restaurant, also in the same shopping center, to have a medium Cherry-Berry Chiller and a Strawberry & Creme Pie ( $3.45 total ) while I blogged about this movie.

*

THE INCREDIBLE BURT WONDERSTONE, PG-13 ( 1 hr & 40 min )

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I went to see this today, Monday, March 18th, 2013, here in Vallejo, CA, at the CENTURY 14 VALLEJO, for the 11:20 a.m. Extra Dollar-Off First Show Matinee in auditorium 13, 5th row ( counting from the front ), 7th column ( counting from the left ). The price of admission was $6.50.

Quickie Review: A jaded vainglorious Las Vegas magician, Burt Wonderstone ( Steve Carrell ), is about to lose everything, after he has a falling-out with his longtime friend and partner, Anton Marvelton ( Steve Buscemi ), and is forced to go back to his humble beginnings to rediscover the magical spark that started it all, to a new and cocky street magician, Steve Gray ( Jim Carrey ), "The Mind Rapist," who comes to town to perform his own personal, radical and extreme version of oftentimes "one-off" magic.

The audience liked it. It didn't get a "Hands Clapper" ending, though.

I liked it enough. But, I must say, Steve Carrell's character portrayal only worked too well and made his stage performances look all the more bland at best and quite boring at worst ( a testament to his acting ability, perhaps )! Jim Carrey's magic acts were more entertaining, but only for their novelty and sheer absurdity/stupidity!

I liked the Foreplay scene, with the bra removal and the condom switch. It would have made for a short-but-funny skit had they decided to incorporate it into their magic act. You have to see it to know what I'm talking about.

I also liked Rance Holloway's ( Alan Arkin ) come-back performance.

Stay around for a Bonus Scene during the Ending Credits.

Here are some things that I found wrong in this movie: If he had only $248.00 in the bank, how was he able to afford staying at a motel and traveling around in a taxi cab? "Partially deboned"--yeah, right! How did Steve know what kind of puppy to get for the Upstaged performance? The audience would notice that an inordinate amount of time was missing as soon as they checked the time on their watches and/or cellphone clocks. Not everybody reacts the same way to any legal or illegal drug, increasing the potential risk of anaphylactic shock. And confining that many people into such a small, poorly-ventilated area will only increase their risk of suffering the effects of Hyperthermia.

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I started the day with a spinal adjustment at my Chiropractor's clinic. My lower back is still very tight.

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

And I went to the Taco Bell Restaurant in the Target Shopping Center on Admiral Callaghan Lane here in Vallejo to try their new menu item: Doritos Tacos. It was okay, I guess. But I'm not really a fan of tacos because it is what I consider Messy Food--and I don't like making a mess whenever I'm eating!

After the movie, I went to the local Post Office to drop-off my two property tax payments.

And I drove to Springs Road to eat lunch and to buy lottery tickets at Selecta Pilipino Buffet before I went next door to buy some stuff at the 99-Cent Only Store.


*

THE CALL, R ( 1 hr & 36 min )

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where: CENTURY 14 VALLEJO in Vallejo, CA
when: Thursday, March 14th, 2013
show: 10:05 p.m. Advanced Screening
costs: $10.50 Ticket + $6.98 # 14 Angus Burger, Mushroom and Swiss Cheese combo meal @ MacDonald's Restaurant before the show = $17.48
auditorium: 11
seat: 4th row ( counting from the front ), 8ht column ( counting from the left )

synopsis/overview: A 911 emergency dispatcher ( Halle Berry ) is still haunted by her past mistake when the serial killer ( Michael Eklund ) strikes again. Now, she must gather about her wits to help save the victim ( Abigail Breslin ) from a gruesome fate.

noteworthy scenes: 1.) Emergency calls; 2.) Prowler; 3.) Redial; 4.) "It's already done"; 5.) Bat; 6.) News; 7.) "Is that even legal"; 8.) Training; 9.) "Stay emotionally detached"; 10.) The Hive; 11.) Abduction in progress; 12.) "It's a disposable, no tracer"; 13.) "I'm waiving"; 14.) Switched plates; 15.) White paint; 16.) Stop sign; 17.) Nosy stranger; 18.) Blood; 19.) Panic; 20.) Crime scene investigation; 21.) "We're gonna fight"; 22.) Identification; 23.) Gas station; 24.) Match found; 25.) House; 26.) Bedroom shrine; 27.) "We got your prints at the scene of a murder"; 28.) Familiar voice; 29.) "I have the right to arrest you for obstruction"; 30.) Old cabin; 31.) "I want you to go home"; 32.) "Oh, you're not gonna want to see that"; 33.) Tape recording; 34.) Photo album; 35.) Familiar sound; 36.) Hair; and 37.) Pay-back time!

audience reaction: The female audience liked it and gave it a "Hands Clapper" ending.

recommendation: I liked it, for the most part. But, then, the ending's logic fell apart as it showed more holes in it than can be found in any slice of Swiss Cheese--even the Swiss Cheese in the burger that I ate before I went to see this movie! And that makes this movie a "rental".

spoiler alert! What was that girl doing alone in her family's home in the middle of the night? Why wasn't she able to use the knife that she had in her hand before the serial killer could flip her unto her back? How was the serial killer able to get himself into his car at the shopping mall's garage before his victim could reach her own car? After an emergency responder botches a job, isn't he/she required to take a "Stress Leave"? Why didn't the serial killer feel the car shaking when his victim was trying to get attention while he was filling-up the gas tank? Why didn't the gas station attendant run away and out of reach of the pouring gasoline after he was doused with it? On the highway, two cop cars were approaching from the opposite direction with lights flashing and sirens blaring but she didn't slow down and pull over to the shoulder even though there was no divider between the lanes. Her cellphone dropped to the ground from a distance of about 16 feet but it didn't get broken ( whereas, the victim's cellphone dropped to the floor of the parking garage from just a distance of about 4 feet but ended-up broken ). The specimens that the serial killer collected from his victims were obviously from different crime dates and would have had exhibited different rates of putrefaction; and putting such specimens in a refrigerator would not stop the putrefaction process. In which case, the dead girl's hair WOULD REALLY NOT BE THAT PLEASANT TO SMELL! Why didn't she finish-off the serial killer when she had the chance? His previous victims were naked and/or scantily-clad, but the latest one wasn't--a lapse in his Modus Operandi! and a bummer for horndogs out there. LOL. What they did to the serial killer made them guilty of at least three crimes--probably more!

fyi: Dang! my cellphone is a TracFone. Therefore, it is not tracer-capable. Maybe that's a good thing, though. Heh, heh, heh.

word of advice: Always finish-off your opponent in a "kill-or-be-killed" fight!

tidbits: After so many years, I finally met with Mr. Lewis Nowosad today! The local newspaper did an article on him years ago about his childhood psychic ability to predict plane crashes ( I'll keep him in mind should I decide to take advantage of any "frequent flyer" program ) and his current hobby as a "ghost buster". He is also the lead singer and guitarist for his band: Junkyard Academy ( www.JunkyardAcademy.com ). And he posted a comment on one of my blogs, the one on INSIDIOUS ( February 2012 ).

Maybe, someday I can go "ghost busting" with him and his team!

After work and before seeing this movie, I went to the MacDonald's Restaurant in Benicia, CA, at 1602 East 2nd Street to have dinner and to go on-line.

*

EMPEROR, PG-13 ( 1 hr & 46 min )

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The time-stamp is one hour late because I hadn't adjusted my camera's clock for Daylight Savings Time, yet.

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where: CINE-ARTS 5 @ PLEASANT HILL in Pleasant Hill, CA
when: Sunday, March 10th, 2013
show: 3:40 p.m.
costs: $10.50 Ticket + $3.75 20.0 oz Dasani Water + $17.10 Natural Sources Raw Glandular Concentrate ( 60 capsules ) + $13.04 dinner @ Buffet City Chinese buffet restaurant ( + $2.01 Tip ) + $5.00 Benicia Toll Bridge = $51.40
auditorium: 2
seat: 4th row ( counting from the front ), Right Section, 2nd column ( counting from the left )

synopsis/overview: Under Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in the Pacific Theatre General Douglas MacArthur ( Tommy Lee Jones ), one-star General Bonner Fellers ( Matthew Fox ) is tasked with the duty to decide the fate of Emperor Hirohito ( Takataro Kataoka ), whether or not the Emperor should be found guilty of War Crimes and be hanged to death. And Gen. Bonners only has 10 days to gather pertinent evidence and arrive at a conclusion. Based on a book about the true story.

noteworthy scenes: 1.) Atomic bomb; 2.) "I do not doubt their allegiance to him"; 3.) "No weapons"; 4.) "We must be seen as Liberators, not as Conquerors"; 5.) Ultimate respect; 6.) Headquarters; 7.) Pictures of War Criminals; 8.) "Private matter"; 9.) "Different idea of Honor"; 10.) Ten days; 11.) Bar; 12.) "I am too outspoken for a Japanese girl"; 13.) Apartment; 14.) "Our mission has changed"; 15.) "I need three names"; 16.) Interview with ex-Prime Minister; 17.) "We were simply following your fine example"; 18.) Interview with the Emperor's closest adviser; 19.) Abrupt departure; 20.) "Do not come back to this office unless you're dragging him by the balls"; 21.) "Nation of contradictions"; 22.) "Intricate web of power"; 23.) "My father made me promise not to marry an American"; 24.) "We won't be dining on steaks tonight"; 25.) "Revenge is not the same as Justice"; 26.) "The army is teaching kids to hate foreigners"; 27.) "I can get you a list of the dead, Sir"; 28.) "Your culture is much older"; 29.) The meeting at the Imperial Palace"; 30.) "Did the Emperor order the attack on Pearl Harbor"; 31.) Bar fight; 32.) "If you will understand Devotion, you will understand Japan"; 33.) Ancient Code of Loyalty and Obedience; 34.) "Jap lover"; 35.) Sensitive information; 36.) Ceremonial role; 37.) "I didn't, I thought I would die, too"; 38.) "What you want is impossible"; 39.) "We did our duty but we lost our humanity"; 40.) Letters; 41.) In-house shrine for the dear departed; 42.) Personal recommendation; 43.) "Get me the Emperor"; 44.) Social visit; 45.) Trash can; 46.) Handshake; 47.) "We have arranged for a picture"; 48.) "I need your help"; and 49.) "We never had that drink."

audience reaction: The audience, mostly senior and middle-aged citizens ( and there was such a big turn-out for this movie ), was engrossed in the movie-watching experience.

recommendation: Since I'm always a sucker for movies based on Historical Figures, it goes without saying that I liked this movie. Vicariously speaking, I had an "I-was-there" feeling as I watched Hollywood's version of an important part of 20th century history unfold before my very eyes. Go see this movie if you're into History Movies as I am.

spoiler alert! I would have to "somewhat" concur with a famous movie critic, Mr. Roger Moore, who said that Gen. Fellers exhibited a conflict of interest as he went about his task. I say, somewhat, because, even though Fellers' conflict of interest detracted from his mission, for the better part of it, he exhibited impartiality. Of course, there was a moment when he arrived at a hasty prejudgemental decision but he eventually composed himself emotionally and mentally well enough afterward as he weighed the consequences of such a harsh conclusion. To be fair, Gen. Fellers' conflict only added a more human and personal dimension to the dynamics of the unfolding War Crimes investigation. As to whether or not Fellers' conflict of interest was of a bogus nature, I do not know for sure. I can only say that I couldn't find any information on it on the Internet.

fyi: What follows is an abbreviated article ( the full story is about 5 - 6 times longer ) which is found on the Internet:

>>>How Gals Helped Nuke Japan Without Knowing It

Young women played a big role at WWII atomic plant By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 9, 2013 5:15 PM CST

        (Newser) – Many young women helped build the A-bomb at a secret atomic research facility in Oak Ridge, Tenn.—but didn't know what they were making, the Daily Beast reports. Denise Kiernan's new book, The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II, describes the weirdness of daily life at so-called "Site X." One 18-year-old, for example, was told only to monitor and adjust gauge needles: "The idea was to get as much R as possible," writes Kiernan, "so that when the men came to empty the 'E' boxes of the 'D' units there would be a nice amount in there." What did it all stand for? "Smart girls didn't bother asking."

But "Site X" had a darker side. Women had letters boldly censored, romantic outings monitored, were fired for discussing work, and labored under Orwellian billboards—like one of a huge eye with a "swastika-embedded pupil" that read, "THE ENEMY IS LOOKING FOR INFORMATION GUARD YOUR TALK." Meanwhile, black workers were treated poorly, banned from the swimming pool and any family cohabitation (white couples were allowed to live together). In the end, the plant's workers were shocked to see the fruit of their labor dropped on Japan. Their curiosity, writes Kiernan, was replaced by "pride and guilt and joy and relief and shame." <<<

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I've been wanting to write about this for many years and share it with as many people as possible. That moment is now! What follows is an article from a booklet, entitled Miracles, Signs and Wonders, by GLOBE DIGESTS ( minimags@globefl.com ), which was published in 2002. It is on page 78:

>>>Surviving The Bomb At Hiroshima

Shortly after 8:00 a.m. on August 6, 1945, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. A community of Jesuit Brothers lived in a house that was only eight blocks from the center of the bomb's blast. All eight members of the Jesuit household survived the destruction of the bomb when nearly every other soul who lived within a one-mile radius was annihilated.

Father Hubert Schiffer, a German-born missionary who lived in Hiroshima, described the blast as a blinding white light unlike anything he had ever seen before--and afterwards, there was only silence. No other explosions, no sirens, no cries for help--none of the sounds you would expect following such an attack. There was nothing but silence.

Father Schiffer had been injured in the blast, and when the other monks decided to take him to the doctor, they were shocked to discover that nothing remained of the town. Only the rectory where the men lived stood in the midst of all the destruction from the nuclear bomb.

Even today, scientists and doctors are unable to come up with an explanation as to how these men were able to survive the devastation with none of the side effects that plagued so many others. But Father Schiffer said the explanation was simple. He said that prayers were said every day in that house.<<<

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According to a READER'S DIGEST's "Humor in Uniform" article which I read as a boy of eleven back in the Philippines, the Americans and the Japanese were positioned on opposite sides of a hill on some island sometime during World War II. And either side was waiting for the other to commence an attack. But nobody did anything. So, an impatient G.I. ran to the top of the hill and shouted to the Japanese below, "To Hell with Hirohito!" Then he ran back down to where his men were at, waiting for the Japanese to charge. Presently, a Japanese soldier also ran to the top of the hill and yelled, "To Hell with Roosevelt!"

word of advice: Respect the differences between cultures to avoid Culture Clash.

tidbits: After the movie, I went to Harvest House Health Food Store on Monument Boulevard in Concord, CA, to buy some food supplements.

The time stamp here is also one hour late because I hadn't adjusted the camera's clock for Daylight Savings Time.

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I wanted to buy some bone meal tablets or powder and some freeze-dried raw glandular protein concentrate. I could only buy the glandular concentrate, though, because they were out of stock on the bone meal tablets and powder--I think some people out there have the same general idea as I do regarding the bone meal.

I don't know why bone meal tablets and powders are so hard to come by these days. I remember back in the late 70s and all through the 80s when I could walk into any--I repeat, ANY--health food store and buy bone meal or glandular protein any time I wanted to. These days, all that's in vogue at health food stores are "synthetic this" and "synthetic that"--crap that the human body doesn't even recognize at all, I told the store clerk.

( Anyway, when I got home, I looked-up the bone meal and glandular concentrate on the Internet. What a mark-up! I could have bought the glandular concentrate on the Internet for close to 50% less than what I paid for it at the health food store! I know where to buy my nutritional supplements from now on. )

After shopping at the health food store, I thought of going to Tomi Seafood and Sushi Buffet at the Sun Valley Mall in Pleasant Hill to have some Sushi. But I remembered that Sunday Sushi Dinner is more expensive than weeknight Sushi Dinner. So, I just went to Buffet City on Willow Pass Road in Concord to have Sushi. But, I changed my mind at the last minute and just ate some regular Chinese Buffet fare. And I only ate two plates' worth of food, instead of my usual three or four! I definitely didn't get my money's worth.

On my way home, as I slowed my car down to a stop at the Benicia Bridge Toll Booth, my HYUNDAI ACCENT's Check Engine Light flickered about a dozen times---And I have to have this car smog-checked in two weeks' time! What a piece of crap!!! I truly miss my GEO METRO, my trustworthy little car!

I will have to take my Accent to WHEEL WORKS in Vallejo, CA, tomorrow, first thing in the morning, to have this problem taken care of. Gad ... those guys at WHEEL WORKS probably love me by now because my Hyundai is forcing me to be a predictable repeat customer! Oh, please pray for me so that I will win the California Super Lotto and the Mega Lotto BIG TIME--a.s.a.p.!!!


*

OZ, THE GREAT AND POWERFUL in 3-D & I-MAX 3-D, PG ( 2 hr & 10 min )

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1st time:

where: CENTURY 14 VALLEJO in Vallejo, CA
when: Thursday, March 7th, 2013
show: 10:15 p.m. Advanced Screening
costs: $14.00 Ticket + $1.30 bulk Chocolate Candies + $4.50 1-litre Dasani Water = $19.80
auditorium: 5, with a 3-D screen
seat: 3rd row ( counting from the front ), 9th column ( counting from the left )

2nd time:

where: EDWARDS FAIRFIELD STADIUM 16 & I-MAX in Fairfield, CA
when: Friday, March 8ht, 2013
show: 9:55 p.m.
costs: $17.50 Ticket + $0.72 bulk Mixed Nuts ( bought at Benicia, CA, Safeway Supermarket earlier in the evening and smuggled-in ) + $5.25 1-litre Dasani Water = $23.47
auditorium: 12, with an I-Max 3-D screen
seat: 6th row ( counting from the front ), 9th column ( counting from the left )

synopsis/overview: Oscar Diggs ( James Franco ), a philandering small-time circus magician who aspires to greater things, finally gets his wish when a tornado transports him against his will to the Magical Land of Oz where he can start a new life and where he meets three witches: Theodora ( Mila Kunis ), Evanora ( Rachel Weisz ) and Glinda ( Michelle Williams ). The denizens of Oz welcome him well into their lives, thinking that he is the eagerly-anticipated mighty wizard prophesied about who has come to rule the Land of Oz. That is, if he can first defeat the Evil Witch of the West! The reluctant Oscar has a sudden change of heart when China Girl instills in him a good measure of moral resolve and courage!

favorite scenes: I liked some scenes with China Girl, a pivotal character in this movie.

favorite females: Evanora ( Rachel Weisz); May, the magician's assistant ( Abigail Spencer ); and China Girl.

noteworthy scenes: 1.) Knock; 2.) Wire; 3.) "Make me walk"; 4.) "I want to be a great one"; 5.) Trap door; 6.) "I promise, I can change"; 7.) Flowers; 8.) "I can't swim"; 9.) River fairies; 10.) The prophecy; 11.) The Evil Witch's minions; 12.) "What would I do with a broom"; 13.) "What kind of teeth you got"; 14.) "Zim, zim, zala bim"; 15.) "Well, he is cute"; 16.) Three Ups; 17.) "All hail the Wizard"; 18.) "Deep down, you are wicked"; 19.) Treasure room; 20.) "I could cut-up an onion"; 21.) China Doll; 22.) "Let's go kill ourselves a witch"; 23.) Crows; 24.) Scary carnivorous plants; 25.) Cow; 26.) Witch of the South; 27.) "He said we would rule Oz together"; 28.) Tears; 29.) "So, that's the prophecy"; 30.) Cemetery chase; 31.) "Do what I do"; 32.) Townspeople; 33.) "Yes, I know"; 34.) The Green Apple; 35.) Munchkins; 36.) "May I have this dance"; 37.) "Someone needs to tuck me in"; 38.) "Can you grant wishes"; 39.) Battle plan; 40.) "I know someone"; 41.) "The only person you got fooled is yourself"; 42.) "It's a trick"; 43.) Captured; 44.) "Stick to the plan"; 45.) Opening act; 46.) "I'm invincible"; 47.) Fireworks; 48.) "What have you done"; 49.) Gifts; and 50.) Goodness.

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

recommendation: I liked this movie, an interesting prequel to the original THE WIZARD OF OZ ( 1939 ). It's a good enough Family Movie to take your brats to go see.

spoiler alert! Even though only a handful of coins was collected prior to the magic show, practically all of the seats were filled with spectators once the show started. The tornado lifted his hot-air balloon high enough that objects started to float about freely all around him--this would suggest that he was lifted high enough where there was very little ( or none at all ) air for him to breathe. Therefore, it begs the question: Why didn't he gasp for lack of air to breathe? Before the show, he only had one Dove to hide on his person, the same bird which flew away when he was running away from the circus strongman; but when he and Theodora were hiding in the small cave, he managed to somehow come-up with another Dove! Where did China Girl hide the knife all the time that she was with Oz and the Monkey? The monkey could barely lift the bag yet, in later scenes, it was able to fly around with it! When the monkey sneezed, how come the witch didn't hear it? Does a powerful witch, with a magic wand, really need a key to open a gate's lock? Three beautiful, available single witches with no known prior suitors---O...k...a...y ....  About the initial "acid" tears, why didn't they roll-out from the Tear Ducts? Dang, I thought that she was gonna rip-off her corset! Oh, right! it's PG-rated--darn it! When the Evil Witch slammed Oz's body against the wall, he should have been killed as a result of it! The Evil Witch's Baboon Minions should not have been able to fly away with a human being the way they did because their inner wings would have flapped against each other; a better way for the minions to snatch away a human would have been if one minion grabbed the human by the wrists while another minion grabbed the same human by the ankles! ( Hollywood, hire my services as Cine-Man, the technical script consultant, already, will you? ) When the Evil Witch flew away, why didn't it notice the source of the fireworks? In that darkened throne room, Glinda failed to notice that a green glow was emanating from Evanora's back. If I recall correctly, there were no colored people in the original THE WIZARD OF OZ! So, between 1905 and 1939, a span of just 34 years, the Wizard of Oz managed to rid the land of every colored person--what a great and terrible wizard!!! Ha, ha, ha.

fyi: Thomas Edison's invention of the Phonograph in 1877 earned him the title, "The Wizard of Menlo Park," New Jersey.

The 1939 original was produced by MGM. This 2012 prequel is by Disney. Hence, the difference in "feel" between the two movies. Too bad ....

A tree-ripened Granny Smith Apple ( the green apple in this movie ) is actually not tart at all but pleasingly-sweet to the taste!

Supposedly, according to Conspiracy Theorists, an Oz-like Hologram, projected against the sky, will be used by the New World Order ( NWO ) to fool people into thinking that Jesus Christ has returned!

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Here's something that I found on the Internet:


Oz the OK and Sorta Effective

Critics not over the raindow for Sam Raimi and James Franco's prequel By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 8, 2013 10:11 AM CST

(Newser) – Sam Raimi's prequel to the Wizard of Oz hits theaters this weekend, but critics weren't exactly swept up and blown away by it. While few really hated Oz the Great and Powerful, few loved it either, and most concluding James Franco was a poor choice for the lead. Here's what people are saying:

•The movie makes "an honest effort to capture the family-movie spirit of old Hollywood," writes Alex O'Hehir at Salon. But it winds up feeling like "a lumbering, bloated spectacle," with no real point and a badly miscast lead in Franco. "I can tell he made all sorts of acting-school decisions about this character, but I don’t think we needed his introspective, discount-Brando act when it came to playing the Wizard of freakin’ Oz."

•Ty Burr at the Boston Globe was not transported. "The landscapes have the craggy, familiar 'awesomeness' of every other computer-generated fantasy film these days," he gripes. The film does have a great ending, but that just makes you realize that the men behind the curtain/camera "are more interested in building a new machine than in taking us over the rainbow and bringing us back home."

•In Franco and Raimi "you have two determined ironists tackling a fable of utter sincerity," muses Peter Howell at the Toronto Star. Raimi plays it straight, which is both a good and bad thing. "You could easily see this playing as part of a double bill with The Wizard of Oz, even if the effects in Raimi's film often look cheesier."

•Mick LaSalle at the San Francisco Chronicle gives the film high marks—his only criticism is that it's too long, and "the individual scenes are so good that … it's hard to say what exactly should be cut." Fans of the original especially will appreciate it. "Appreciate," he stresses. "Enjoy. Admire. Be glad to see. Have fun with ... But as for love—well, love will be harder to come by."

Showing 2 of 6 comments

DougMasters Mar 8, 2013 11:08 AM CST .I wouldn't mind seeing a movie version, non-musical of Wicked.

fred.lapides Mar 8, 2013 10:31 AM CST .few people it seems know that Baum, author of the Oz books, was a genocidal racist.

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word of advice: You have a Moral and Ethical responsibility to those you love and care about.

CGI doesn't always make for a great movie! A movie's characters still count for a lot.

1st tidbits: I went to bed at around 1:00 a.m. today, Thursday. I had to be awake by 8:00 a.m. because the plumbers were scheduled to work on a unit in my building at 9:00 a.m. and I wanted to take a shower before then. I was awakened from my sleep by a cold touch on my right cheek. My brainwave frequency was in the Alpha State when it happened. Because of the state that I was in, I experienced Sleep Paralysis. So, I used my Mind's Eye to see what it was that woke me. There, on my right side kneeled ( or stood? ) a handsome little white boy with short wavy brown hair and who wore a brown long-sleeved sweater and a pair of navy blue pants. Yep ... it was a ghost. It kneeled or stood there smiling at me. Maybe it found the mouthguard ( i.e. bite guard ) in my mouth very amusing to look at! But, no matter, I was awakened from my much-needed sleep. I needed to teach it a lesson in manners. I pretended to still be fast-asleep, waiting to get movement going in my extremities, especially my left hand which I planned on using to slap the boy-brat ghost away! My limbs were still in paralysis except for my left leg. With a quick movement, I brought my left knee up to hit the boy-brat ghost in the ribs; but it vanished before I could hit it---Don't think of me as being an old meanie, though; after all, ghosts pass through solid objects and vice versa. That boy-brat ghost will have to seriously think twice first the next time that it wants to ruin my sleep. I looked at my alarm clock; the time was 3:40 a.m. Great, just great, I was fully awake and would have a hard time falling back to sleep again, the light sleeper that I am.

What is it about myself that white ghosts find so attractive? Am I sending out some kind of "beacon" because of my Meditations and because of my Spirituality? I've lived in my condo for practically twelve years now and in that time, I've been visited by a number of white ghosts ( not counting my mom, my dad, my cats, and some spirit entities ). Here's a break-down of all my white ghost encounters through the years that I have lived in my condo, and in the order that they occurred:

Middle-aged Chubby Woman

Mother, Father and Son

Father and Daughter

A co-worker's Grandmother, Aunt and Uncle

Sexy Blonde Girl

Boy-Brat

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I wasn't afraid of the boy-brat ghost because it was small, innocent-looking and benign--'just a pesky little brat, though! It wasn't a Poltergeist ( too young for that stage ) like the one in which I encountered the Mother, Father and Son trio of white ghosts for "pay-back time." A Poltergeist would prove hard to handle for ghost hunters, even for myself ( I just got lucky that time ).

But most other ghosts don't worry me at all. To me, encountering them is almost the same as encountering strangers on the street.

The sexy blonde girl ghost awakened me from my sleep last year, on May 26th, 2012. Strangely, it was warm to the touch and had "substance"! I didn't blog about it then because the encounter didn't happen on a day that I went to see a movie. It happened the day after I saw MEN IN BLACK III and exactly a week before I saw SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN on the day when I saw The Blue Star of Shiva for the first time. There is one other reason why I don't want to talk about my encounter with the sexy blonde girl ghost: I'm still trying to figure-out what this particular ghost is to me since I still don't know whether or not it is a "Yin Yang" Spiritual Consort or a Disembodied Lover of some kind.

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After the movie ended, a female security guard asked me what I thought of the movie. I said that it doesn't have the same sweet innocence and charm of the 1939 original. And that it has a darker theme to it.

2nd tidbits: I wanted to watch the I-Max 3-D version in Fairfield, CA, first. But because of my work schedule, I wasn't able to catch any of the advanced screenings shown in Fairfield. So, I just settled for watching this movie's 3-D version's advanced screening here in Vallejo, CA. Unfortunately, the 3-D version that I watched in Vallejo was kind of blurry--all the more reason for me to watch this movie again, and in I-Max 3-D this time.


*

THE LAST EXORCISM PART II, PG-13 ( 1 hr & 29 min )

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I went to see this today, Monday, March 4th, 2013, here in Vallejo, CA, at the CENTURY 14 VALLEJO, for the 2:45 p.m. show, in auditorium 14, 5th row ( counting from the front ), 7th column ( counting from the left ). The price of admission was $7.50. And I bought a bag of bulk Chocolate Candies for $1.06 and a 1-litre bottle of Dasani Water at the concessions counter.

Quickie Review:  Nell ( Ashley Bell ) is the last remaining member of her family after a botched attempt at exorcising a demon in possession of her body. She is sent to a home for girls where she can hope to begin her life anew. But the demon has another plan for her.

I was the only one in the auditorium for this movie. And I wasn't really impressed by it.

I get the feeling that they made this movie just to "milk" it for what it's worth, which isn't much to begin with. This movie is cliched and predictable. The Floating Off The Bed scene was very amateurish. The guy who slit his throat ( read: voice box ) was still able to talk normally. If a demon is gonna go to all that trouble of falling in love with a female human, it should at least find one that's w-a-y b-e-t-t-e-r looking--'nuff said!

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I started the day early with an 8:30 a.m. chiropractic appointment here in Vallejo, CA. And, still, the doctor cannot pop my lower back; it's still very tight.

As you can see from the time stamp, I was already 10 minutes late for my chiropractic appointment when I took this photo. There was a light sprinkle this morning which explains the spots on my Hyundai Accent's windshield.  

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After my chiropractic spinal adjustment, I went to the smog center behind the clinic to ask about the new Star Smog Certification for cars. A tech told me that it's just the same old thing, but with a new name. I told him that I'll be back within the month to get my car smogged, probably in two weeks' time.

I went home to shower and to do some Sound Meditation.

Then I went to Chase Bank in the Food Maxx Supermarket on the corner of Redwood and Tuolumne Streets to get a xerox copy of a cheque which I sent to a mail order company in Southern California back in November of last year and which the company cashed on the 13th of December. The company never sent me the package that I ordered. I wrote to them last month but I never heard from them. So, now, I plan on reporting the company to the Better Business Bureau and Consumer Affairs! And if this doesn't work, I plan on having the Postmaster investigate the company.

And I went next door to Goin' Postal to pick-up my mail and to pay on my box rental.

As I traveled on Redwood Street, on my way to Springs Road, I noticed something which I never saw before. There, parked at the curb of the Redwood freeway on-ramp was a ditch-digging machine called, Ditch Witch. What a catchy name. It was exactly like the one shown in the photo below.

I copied this off the company's website.

I went to Selecta Pilipino Buffet on Springs Road to have lunch, my first meal of the day. And I bought some lottery tickets. Speaking of which, somebody ( who chose to remain anonymous ) won $28,000 on a Fantasy Five ticket here last week! Lucky .... And I read a Pilipino newspaper that has a front-page article on a Chinese Restaurant in China which posted a sign that said it doesn't serve Pilipinos, Vietnamese, Japanese, and dogs! It is comforting to know that some Chinese in China are not cannibals and don't eat dogs! Ha, ha, ha. But, 'begging the question, what about cats, snakes and monkeys ...? I guess said restaurant still serves them! Where is PETA when you need it?!?!?!

And I went next door to 99-Cent Only Store to buy some stuff before I went to see this movie.

After the movie, I went to the MacDonald's Restaurant at 902 Admiral Callaghan Lane in the Target Shopping Center here in Vallejo to have a large size Shamrock Shake and to do some blogging. I watched a one hour and 12 minutes long Internet documentary video on "Spiritual Armageddon", first. And as I blogged about this movie, a black man sitting to my right gave a business advice to his friend via cellphone. He said not to do business with negroes ( his own word ) because they will just rob you blind ( according to him ). And he further added that he changed his clientele list because of his unsatisfactory experiences with people of his own kind.

'Remember what I said in December of last year about the Starbucks Coffee Shop at the opposite end of this shopping center when I mentioned that two people had their laptops stolen from them inside that place during the Holidays? Well, it turns out that the man who I talked about in the above paragraph was one of the victims. He said that he's not going to Starbucks ever again, understandably so. I feel sorry for him. I told him to get either a cable lock for his laptop or just get a dog leash, like what I use to secure mine while I blog away at a public place. He also asked me where I got my headphones from. I told him that I got mine at Big Lots! Discount Store but that he could get a similar one from any number of drug stores around. And I told him that if I could afford it right now, I'd get me a pair of Bose headphones for my Sound Meditation sessions.

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JACK, THE GIANT SLAYER in I-MAX 3-D, PG-13 ( 1 hr & 53 min )

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I went to see this yesterday, Sunday, March 3rd, 2013, in Fairfield, CA, at the EDWARDS FAIRFIELD STADIUM 16 & I-MAX, for the 10:00 p.m I-Max 3-D show in auditorium 12, 5th row ( counting from the front ), 6th row ( counting from the left ). The price of admission was $17.50. And I got a free small popcorn on my movie watcher rewards card to go with the $4.75 that I spent on a small ( read: small ) 20.0 oz Dasani Water ( which costs only $4.50 for a 1-litre bottle at Century Theatres!!! ).

Quickie Review: As a boy, Jack ( Nicholas Hoult ) loved to listen to the story about the war between humans and giants. As a young man, he learns that the legend is only too true as he volunteers to go on a quest to save the princess ( Eleanor Tomlinson ) who is held prisoner in the land of the giants.

There were just a handful of people in the audience with me for the last show of the evening. They liked it.

I liked it enough even though it deviates from the fairy tale story that we all have grown accustomed to. It's a Family Movie to go take your little brats to.

Here are some things that I found wrong in this movie: When the monk was trying to escape, how come the marching knights didn't hear the sound of the horse's hooves approaching them from behind on that cobblestone street? I'm pretty sure that the locket he kept around his neck was not water-proof or even water-resistant! Those honeybees were normal-size and shouldn't have affected the giant in that way! The giants' land was essentially flat and wouldn't have any aquifers for all of that water to collect and cascade down the waterfalls. And speaking of water, why was there no constant torrent of water falling down to earth from the giants' land? If the giants hated humans so much, they could have at least dumped their sewage all over us! Given the "beanstalk angle" of this story, the presence of countless skeletons in the giants' land didn't make sense at all unless periodic incursions from either race is factored-in. Whatever happened to Jack's uncle and his cat? Jack's father was handsome but his uncle sure was ugly--one of them must have been adopted or had a different father.

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I took this photo just across the hallway from the auditorium after the movie ended ( the time-and-date stamp in the lower left corner is barely readable ):

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The yellow 3-D glasses on the left is what Edwards Fairfield Stadium 16 & I-Max, in Fairfield, CA, issues. The black folding 3-D glasses on the right is what I got at the AMC Bay Street 16 in Emeryville, CA. I switched glasses during the movie just to compare the two with each other. 'Result ... no discernible difference at all between the two! But I like the black pair better because it fits me well--and its folding feature made it easier for me to sneak it out of AMC as a souvenir!!! Heh, heh, heh.


*

21 AND OVER, R ( 1 hr & 33 min )

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I went to see this on Thursday, February 28th, 2013, here in Vallejo, CA, at the CENTURY 14 VALLEJO for an advanced screening at 10:30 p.m. in auditorium 3, 3rd row ( counting from the front ), 6th column ( counting from the left ). The price of admission was $10.50. And I bought a 1-litre bottle of Dasani Water for $4.50 and a bag of bulk Chocolate Candies for $1.42 at the concessions counter.

Quickie Review:  An obnoxious, irresponsible slacker masterminds the coming-of-age birthday celebration for his unsuspecting friend on a one unforgettable night.

The audience of about two or three dozen seemed to like this movie.

I didn't enjoy it at all. The senseless situations were implausible and tenuous, at best, seemingly strung together just to try to elicit laughter from the audience. This is strictly a DVD rental meant for people who are so easily amused.

I won't even waste my time listing all the things wrong in this stupid movie!

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