Double Feature Tuesday, September 15th, 2015

-

Since it was a $5.00 All-Day Tuesday at the EDWARDS FAIRFIELD STADIUM 16 & I-MAX in Fairfield, CA, I decided to take my time going to the movies and have lunch first at Great Moon Chinese Buffet located at the opposite end of the Westfield Shopping Mall, in Fairfield, from the theatre. I haven't been there in about a year. It was my first meal of the day. I arrived there at 3:45 p.m., meaning I only had 55 minutes before the start of the 1st movie that I wanted to see that day.

It was a pleasant surprise to see that they really serve Mongolian Beef. Other Chinese buffet restaurants have taken to serving Mongolian Pork, instead--boo! And they had a couple of chicken dishes which I liked ( I forget their names, though ). But, I didn't have enough time for dessert because the 1st movie was about to start. I spent $8.49 for lunch plus $1.00 for tip.

-
I went to see the 3:40 p.m. showing of 90 MINUTES IN HEAVEN ( PG-13, 2 hr & 1 min ) in auditorium 15, 4th row ( counting from the front ), 5th seat ( counting from the left ). The price of admission was $5.00---Cheap!

There were a number of people who turned out for this show which is based on a true story of a pastor who was killed in a head-on collision one rainy day but miraculously came back to life. The audience liked this inspirational movie. You might want to check this movie out if you like faith-based inspirational movies.

But I couldn't help but wonder why God would have the pastor go through all that pain and misery just to affirm his Divinity. Did the pastor do something terrible, or take God's name in vain, for God to allow him to suffer in such a way?

I had a one-hour break in between movies so that I was able to do more Zhunti Mantras in the privacy of my car. Then, it was back to the movies for me.

Speaking of Mongolian ....

-
I went to see the 7:00 p.m. I-Max 3-D showing of WOLF TOTEM ( PG-13, 2 hr & 1 min ) in auditorium 12, 5th row ( counting from the front ), 6th seat ( counting from the left ). The price of admission was $11.50 since it was in I-Max 3-D. I used my movie watcher reward to get a free small Fruit Punch and a $2.00 small Popcorn at the concessions counter.

There was only one other person in the auditorium with me which was too bad because this is a really good movie, a potential Oscar contender for Best Foreign Film, in my opinion. Go see this French/Chinese movie collaboration. It's in Chinese with English subtitles.

This movie is set in 1967 China/Mongolia. An idealistic college student and his friend are sent to Mongolia to teach the mostly illiterate nomads about the Cultural Revolution under Mao Zedong. He and his friend immerse themselves in the nomadic way of life among the Mongolians. And they soon learn the delicate balance of life between the nomads and their main threat, the wolves. When some greedy enterprising people decide to upset this balance, unforeseen consequences take a toll on the nomads' very existence, with innocent lives needlessly lost. In the end, the two friends return to China forever changed and humbled by their personal experience, and learned the importance of responsible coexistence.

*

THE VISIT, PG-13 ( 1 hr & 34 min )

-

I went to see this on Thursday, September 10th, 2015, here in Vallejo, CA, at the CENTURY 14 VALLEJO, for the advance screening at 9:30 p.m. in auditorium 6, 3rd row ( counting from the front ), 7th column ( counting from the left ). The price of admission was $11.25. And I bought a medium Buttered Popcorn and a medium Powerade Mountain Berry Blast for $9.90 ( $2.00 Off Special with a movie watcher e-mail reward coupon ).

Quickie Review:  Two kids finally get to visit with their life-long estranged grandparents. But things are not as they seem.

The audience liked this quirky Comedy Horror Movie. But none gave it a "Hands Clapper" ending.

I liked this movie, too. M. Night Shyamalan did a good job on this one, if you don't mind the few obvious gaps in logic. Go see this movie if you like Comedy Horror Movies because it will more than likely not disappoint you.

*************************************************

I've been busy for over a month now "Facebooking" on politics because election year is right around the corner. I'm normally apolitical, never even having bothered to register to vote. But in my 50+ odd years, I've observed a downward spiral in American politics and culture. And I am quite alarmed! Teens who are eligible to vote but are less than a third of my age have identified themselves with the radical and liberal party front-runners solely based on Facebook memes! Don't they know history at all? Well, of course, they don't! They haven't lived long enough to do so.

Yes, the whole country is tired of career politicians who will resort to anything to garner for themselves illegal votes! Yes, the whole country is tired of an emasculated Congress that lets anyone run roughshod on the US Constitution! Yes, the whole country is tired of politicians who renege on their campaign promises! Yes, the new generation of young voters want to carve for themselves a different political identity! But the career politicians that they want to represent their generation are all old enough to be their grandparents. And how is that supposed to represent their generation?

I've reminded them more than once on Facebook that Socialism doesn't work. It failed miserably as an experiment on Plymouth Rock, not once but twice! And it's now failing Venezuela and Greece. The United States will be headed down the same way if the Socialists/Communists have their final say on the matter.

Why would someone of sane mind romanticize the idea of a socialized welfare state wherein the few productive workers must work extra hard to support the lazy, irresponsible lowlifes who feel entitled to the hard-earned wealth of the few? Socialism will only drive businesses away and impose price hikes and limits on commodities as time goes on! And these teens, with their short attention spans, who take things for granted will just end-up being forced to impatiently stand in a mile-long line to buy one measly roll of toilet paper, to use Venezuela's recent predicament as an example, if their socialist movement comes to fruition!

Of all the present presidential campaigners, Donald Trump sticks out prominently with his politically uncouth manners and the fact that he's not a career politician. But are these two things good enough to qualify him to run the country as its president? A good president is someone who has a good cabinet to delegate tasks to. That is what it all simply boils down to. Donald Trump will use his business acumen to do just that. And, of all the campaigners, only Donald Trump was generous enough to give money to the needy everyday folks years before he even decided to run for president! The other campaigners never displayed such generosity. Therefore, Trump is someone who truly cares for the people and the country. And he is the one I would like to see in office who will work to make the US great once again and not renege on his campaign promises.

I had the opportunity to warn the public prior to the 2008 presidential election but I decided not to because I naively thought that people would vote using their minds; but people used their hearts, instead. The same thing happened in 2012! But, in 2012, I tried to warn people, only to have some lowlife shut down my internet connection with a virus!

I may just register to vote in the upcoming Primaries and in the Presidential Election. And I hope that my message will have gotten across this time around.

God Bless America!

*

FANTASTIC FOUR ( 2015 ), PG-13 ( 1 hr & 40 min )

-

I went to see this today, Friday, August 7th, 2015, here in Vallejo, CA, at the CENTURY 14 VALLEJO, for the 11:30 a.m. 1st Show Matinee ( dollar-off special ) in auditorium 8ht, 5th row ( counting from the front ), 9th column ( counting from the left ). The price of admission was $7.25. And I bought a Lite Bite Snack Pack ( $6.60 ) of Popcorn, Beef Jerky and Powerade Mountain Berry Blast at the concessions counter.

Quickie Review:  Four science research co-workers and friends decide to be the first ones to teleport to another Earth-like planet. But they return to Earth all changed.

The audience liked this movie. A number of them gave this movie a "Hands Clapper" ending.

I wasn't too impressed by it. It's an "origins" movie after all and, quite understandably, somewhat slow on the "action pace".  I much prefer the original one ( 2005 ) to this reboot.  ( Besides, Jessica Alba is hotter than Kate Mara! Heh, heh, heh .... )

Don't bother looking for a cameo appearance in this one--I didn't see any. And there are no bonus scenes during or after the Ending Credits!

In my opinion, the ANT MAN movie is better than this one.

***************************************

When I was scheduled for work this week, ( the new ) management forgot to schedule me for 40 hours even though I'm a full-time employee. They gave me 32 hours, instead. Yesterday, my schedule was only from 5:00 a.m. 'til 9:00 a.m.; but since we were understaffed, they allowed me to work a full shift. Today was different, though: Even though I was once again scheduled from 5:00 a.m. 'til 9:00 a.m., the manager couldn't give me a full shift "unless it would impose a financial hardship" on my part.

What financial hardship? I just wanted to get out of there a.s.a.p. so that I could catch this movie's 1st Show Matinee! Ha, ha, ha. 'Too bad this movie doesn't quite live-up to its advertising hype.

At the end of the movie, when the auditorium's lights came on, I saw a co-worker of mine seated just a few seats away to my right. He was there with his girlfriend. We talked as we waited for the Ending Credits to end to see if there would be a bonus scene shown since Marvel Comics movies usually do. Imagine our disappointment--along with a number of other movie goers who waited 'til the end to catch a glimpse of a bonus scene--when none was shown! 'Bummer ....

After the movie, I drove across the street to the Best Buy Store to see if they sell "selfie" sticks for cameras. They don't. They only have "selfie" sticks for smartphones. I do have a smartphone but I don't want to attach it to a "selfie stick" and hold it as far away from me to take a photo of my self only to have some asshole grab my smartphone and run away with it because I cannot possibly give chase to anyone with the bad knee that I have!

You see, I'm thinking of going to San Francisco this coming Sunday, August 9th, since there will be a weekend Pilipino Parade and a Festival to be held at the Yerba Buena Gardens behind the AMC Metreon 16. A nephew will have a booth in place for his cooking demonstration which will feature Pilipino/Western Fusion Cuisine.

And, after the festival, I want to go down to Fisherman's Wharf to visit Madame Tussauds Wax Museum to do "selfie" poses with the stars.

*

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE-ROGUE NATION, PG-13 ( 2 hr & 11 min )

-

I went to see this today, Thursday, July 30th, 2015, here in Vallejo, CA, at the CENTURY 14 VALLEJO, for the advance screening at 8:00 p.m. in auditorium   8, 5th row ( counting from the front ), 8ht column ( counting from the left ). The price of admission was $11.25. And I bought a small buttered Popcorn for $0.00 ( free on my movie watcher e-mail reward coupon ) and a medium Powerade Mountain Berry Blast for $4.75 at the concessions counter.

Quickie Review:  Team IMF has finally met its match!

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

I liked it, too.  Go see this Action Movie.

If you do go see it, please leave your talkative small brat at home! There was an inconsiderate Hispanic couple who brought their talkative little brat with them which somehow ruined my viewing pleasure.

People make such a big deal out of Tom Cruise doing his own stunt and hanging for dear life as the plane takes off from the runway, as shown in the movie poster above. But ... the cameran man had to hold the camera steady as he stood on the wing to film Tom Cruise doing his stunt! Who's the badass now, huh?  Ha, ha, ha.

**************************************

Earlier today, at just before 3:00 p.m., I decided to have lunch at the Empire Chinese Buffet Restaurant here in Vallejo. I held the door open for a black woman who was walking out with her infant in her arms and with her two young daughters. She didn't acknowledge or thank me for holding the door open for her! And there was a black couple who walked into the restaurant with their pet Pit Bull! A black man who passed me by said, "I guess they allow dogs in here now." I guess so 'cause I'm wondering about it myself, I said. As I sat down to eat, two black girls sitting across the aisle from me were talking about some "relationship issue" and they were using the "S" word back and forth! I don't know if it's the sign of the times or if it's just endemic here in Vallejo, CA. But people seem to be lacking in manners, in respect and in courtesy, and seem inconsiderate of others these days!

I will have to contact the BBB ( Better Business Bureau ) to complain about the dog that was allowed in the restaurant. It was not a "seeing-eye" dog.

And I don't give a damn about this bullshit "companion dog" law that people abuse; the very same people who refuse to clean up after their dogs if their dogs urinate or defecate inside a place of business!!! Stuff like this happens when you allow a bunch of liberal jackasses to run the country into the ground.

Maybe, they should impose martial law to prevent the self-entitled irresponsible liberal jackasses from encouraging anarchy among the dumbass masses!

*

MINIONS, PG ( 1 hr & 31 min )

-

I went to see this on Saturday, July 11th, 2015, here in Vallejo, CA, at the CENTURY 14 VALLEJO, for the 9:30 p.m. show in auditorium 8, 5th row ( counting from the front ), 8ht column ( counting from the left ). The price of admission was $11.25. And I bought a Lil' Bites snack pack ( buttered popcorn, beef jerky and Powerade Mountain Berry Blast ) for $6.60 at the concessions counter.

Quickie Review: Since the dim distant past of evolution, a special type of subservient species has been in constant, restless search for a super villain to serve under. In the late '60s, they come across the world's first female super villain, a villain that they are eager to the henchmen of. But, first, the bumbling minions must prove themselves worthy of such a highly-coveted priviledge.

The audience liked this origin movie. I liked this movie, too. Go see it if you're a Minions fan.

I liked the Caveman scene, the Yeti scene, the Pharaoh scene, the Napoleon Bonaparte scene, the Count Dracula scene, the Wannabe Henchmen Fight scene, the Peekaboo Blouse scene and the King Bob scene.

Oh, if you do go and see this movie, please stay 'til after the Ending Credits as there is a "Bollywood"-style song-and-dance scene. I was the only one in the audience who was SMART Enough to stay for this bonus scene at the very end!

*************************************************************

I found this guide sheet on the Internet.

-

The Minions, supposedly, speak gibberish. But with words in English, French, Spanish, Italian, Greek, Korean, Japanese and Tagalog thrown in for good measure. I, myself, have picked up words spoken in English, French, Spanish and Tagalog. The Minions also use food references, with the ubiquitous "Banana" word thrown here and there and everywhere! Ha, ha, ha.

*