Amazing

Orphaned in Africa

Kids are the future and the kids of South Africa can bring a great change to the community despite their shattered upbringing. You don’t know the story behind most of the kids, but you do know it is mostly tragic. A lot of these kids were left orphaned as a result of AIDS. Some were pulled from alcoholic and abusive parents. Whatever the case, they are without parents in one of the weakest economic areas in all of South Africa.

Our goal here is to end that trend. AIDS leaves more and more victims every day. As a result, the number of orphaned children only increases. We believe we have the tools to bring that devastation to an end. Education is the future.

These kids are so beautiful and each has his or her own story. Nane loves books and wristwatches. Sya loves frisbee and rocks. Colin loves handshakes, music and basketball. Syando loves cards and sugar cane. Mandla loves dribbling the soccer ball. Mfundo loves to teach me words in Zulu. Raah loves geometry textbooks.

All of these kids are innocent products of a broken or dysfunctional upbringing. They have more love than I have ever seen. I thought I would come out here to Africa and love on some kids. I have, but nothing can compare with the love they bestow on me. Their love is unconditional and innocent and pure and beautiful.

Nothing brightens up my day more than a kid who comes up and smiles and gives me a big hug. This program can help these kids rise above their affliction and pain. With a few people to get things running and spread some love, this community can become one that is not affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

These kids have given me more love than I can give to them. I feel so blessed by these kids. They have done more for me in these first few weeks than I can explain or even comprehend.

Love someone and you will change their life as well as your own.

Movie Madness

My second attempt at movie madness went off without a hitch and I broke my previous record of five movies at AMC in one day. Friday, I managed six. However, I think the original movie madness was better because the movies were simply better. That first one included “The Kite Runner,” my favorite movie of the year.

I took my mom to see “The Incredible Hulk” at 11:50 for AMC’s early bird special (still five bucks). We both really enjoyed it. The action and story were much quicker than the previous Hulk. They told the back story in about 2 minutes, while the previous took an hour.

Didn’t care much for Liv Tyler or Tim Roth, but William Hurt and Edward Norton were good. They really chose the perfect director to revive the series. Louis Leterrier (The Transporter) brought a fast-paced, explosive action style to this one and the special effects are the best of the summer.

My mom left me her bag of popcorn, so I grabbed a refill and plexed into “Son of Rambow,” which was a cute, funny story of these British kids with big imaginations. It was imaginative and artsy. It was pretty good, but failed to live up to Kite Runner caliber of which I was hoping.

On my way out of the theater, I found a large drink, so I grabbed a refill of Barq’s root beer and hopped into “The Happening” at 4:05. It was pretty crowded. I was completely ashamed to have seen this movie because the acting is so terrible.

This is easily M. Night Shyamalan’s worst movie. I just don’t think he will ever live up to “The Sixth Sense.” His story this time around is weak and flat-out boring. He put together some kind of lame story warning us that we are killing ourselves by how we treat the earth. Bunch of bull crap. Didn’t buy it for a second.

Night turned to more disturbing content than previous films as he searched for many different ways to portray suicides. Quite violent, though even with the R-rating, it is not even near as creepy as the PG-13 “Sixth Sense.” I don’t know what happened, but the suspense was not there for Night in this one. I laughed out loud at the role he gave himself (might even be more arrogant than “Lady in the Water”). He “plays” a character with no screen time or voice. He is only mentioned in the movie, yet there Night is in the credits as Writer, Director, Producer and Actor.

I angrily walked into “Kung Fu Panda,” which greatly lifted my spirits. It was a delightful, action-packed adventure. Jack Black basically played himself, which was hilarious. Great cast in this one.

Next, I checked out “Before the Rains.” It was about an Englishman building a road in India in the 1930’s who commits adultery and must answer to the tribe in the neighboring village. The drama unfolds nicely and the scenery is beautiful. I felt that it climaxed a little too soon, though.

For the sixth and final film of the day, I found “The Strangers” at 9:45. It was the second Liv Tyler movie of the day (though I didn’t realize it was her until I got home). This used some creepy long shots as opposed to jump cuts and loud music to evoke scariness, which I greatly appreciated. Other than that, definitely nothing special.

All in all, it was a great movie day that lasted about 12 hours. I know it is possible to do 7 and I think 8 might be possible. Next time, I’ll shoot for 7 flicks, hopefully better than this set.

Hulk (2003)

With the return of "The Incredible Hulk" this week, I decided to sit down and watch the most recent "Hulk" directed by oscar winner Ang Lee of "Brokeback Mountain." I thought this movie was pretty good when I saw it the first time in theaters.

Rewatching it, I have decided it has the best comic book feel of all these Marvel movies. The reason: the editing. It was very interesting how the filmmakers used clips to give it that comic feel. There were tons of crazy cuts, zooms and edits. It must have been a laborious task.

Picture the movie screen as a three dimensional cube. On almost every movie, we only see the one side of the cube and therefore never know it is actually a cube. "Hulk" defies the standard technique. Many times the cube rotates to a different side and we see a new clip. Very interesting. Just used to give it that comic feel.

This film was panned by critics as being too serious and dramatic for a super hero movie. I guess that is kind of true, but I enjoyed the change of pace compared to X-Men and Spiderman.

I love Eric Bana in the Bruce Banner role. He really was a terrific cast and he plays the part beautifully (I don't know if I can say the same of Edward Norton). You also have to love Jennifer Connelly (she is just downright gorgeous) and Nick Nolte was a good cast.

The acting wasn't the best and at times I thought I was watching a day time soap. The action was amazing despite the Hulk looking "too fake" according to die hards. The dog fight and the escape in the desert were visually terrific.

My big question: What was with the final battle? It seemed a bit too extreme and over the top? I guess that is what all super hero movies are.

The Hulk is one of my favorite characters because I wish I could turn into something huge and terrifying (and green) when I get angry. I get angry far too often so I'm sure I would be a permanent Hulk.

This movie's ending leaves it open for a sequel, but the lackluster box office performance led to scrapping the project. They, however, decided to resurrect the project just five years later. Quite a bold move because people still remember this one. They claim it to be a sequel/remake.

No Connelly, no Bana and no Nolte. O, and no Ang Lee (who, yes, is a great director). I don't know. We'll see. The action better be too die for.

"You're making me angry. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry."

3.5 of 5

Lady in the Water

Love him or loathe him, M Night Shyamalan quickly rose to fame with the enormous success of the Sixth Sense and has since established himself as a household name. Night a great storyteller. Each movie is so imaginative he nearly deserves enough acclaim to attach his name to the front of all his movies.

"Lady in the Water" was directed, written, produced and acted by Night. Many called Night arrogant after casting himself in the role of a visionary writer who will change the world, if they didn't think that already.

I think Night is a little high on his horse because of the Sixth Sense's great success and inclusion on AFI's top 100 movie list. Night felt he could do anything and people would subscribe to it because his name was at the top.

"Lady in the Water" is a derivation from Night's usual style. There are no big twists in the end. It is a fairy tale. A bed time story for adults. The puzzle does fit together nicely in the end as we were all guessing (or looking for a twist) of how it would culminate.

Night is a bit arrogant and full of himself, but hopefully the massive rejection of this movie will bring him back down to earth. Though not many like this, I found enjoyment and symbolism throughout the strange tale.

Paul Giamatti is the perfect cast in this role and I love him to death. He makes this story world more believable. I do wish that Night would have delved a bit more into the suspicion of the roles of each of the characters. It seemed to go a little too quickly. It tried to get to the end too quickly instead of naturally flowing.

Night takes a shot at critics in this one for their pan of "The Village" by killing off the arrogant and cynical film critic. Maybe this is why so many dislike this movie.

The tree monkeys are some of the coolest things I've seen. They are awesome with their roots and limbs growing on their backs. They were frightening as well.

A thing I have noticed about Night's films is his ridiculously long shots. He will hold a shot until the cows come home. This puts more pressure on the actors, but they perform well. Long shots are not the staple of horror/suspense films in which Night specializes in.

It was pretty cool to see everyone in the apartment come together for the sake of Story and her protection. She came so that man would listen. She inspired change and intellect. She was to pass the "seeds of change."

If we stop and listen, we can find the inspiration for change. We have forgotten how to listen.

Lady is a well-told strikingly original fairy tale, but never establishes itself as something more, something deeper and more meaningful. The suspense is not as well developed as previous Night films. It seems that Night can't live down "The Sixth Sense"

3.5 of 5

The Blessings of Priorities | Metro Family Magazine

The Blessings of Priorities | Metro Family Magazine

Sydney Pollack, You Will Be Missed

Sydney Pollack passed away last week from a short-lived cancer battle. I was not even aware that he had cancer. I thought he was still on top of his game after seeing him in "Michael Clayton" and that he was in the new "Made of Honor."

Pollack was the genius behind "Tootsie" and "Out of Africa" (for which he won Best Picture and Best Director oscars). Pollack was the master of dialogue. He scenes between Meryl Streep and Robert Redford in "Africa" are legendary.

Pollack really knew how to capture the drama in his movies by using intense dialogue and terrific actors. Pollack is also won of the few who championed acting and directing.

He established his name as a director and separately as an actor. He believed his acting ability helped his directing tremendously. In recent years, Pollack turned to producing and was a very effective producer.

I remember a commercial he did for AT&T or something like that for a movie theater. I think it was one of those "turn off your cell phones" things. That was a few years ago.

Pollack was a genius in the film industry and he will greatly be missed. He did so many things for film and clearly left a lasting mark. Pollack's death was a true tragedy and devastating for film. His efforts in directing, acting and producing will never be matched again.

Director
The Interpreter
Sabrina
The Firm
Out of Africa
Tootsie

Producer
Leatherheads
Michael Clayton
Breaking and Entering
Cold Mountain
The Talented Mr. Ripley

Actor
Changing Lanes
Random Hearts
Eyes Wide Shut
Husbands and Wives
The Player

Paparazzi

Paparazzi stars Cole Hauser as Bo Larami who is affected by a gang of slimy paparazzi's. Realistically, it is a revenge film from Mel Gibson against the paparazzi who have annoyed many celebrities and politicians.

Larami is a small town guy from Montana who is thrust into stardom with his first action movie, "Adrenaline Force" (what a lame title). At first, he digs the attention, but then the flashing bulbs blind him and he becomes distraught.

He eventually punches a PAP for taking pictures of his son at a soccer game and is forced to attend anger management. He thinks it's over, but when the paparazzi surround his family and cause an horrific accident that leaves his son in a coma, Larami loses it.

Through a series of events, Laramie begins picking off the four PAP's who caused the wreck. One by one they all go down.

The movie rises a severe moral question as Laramie kills these guys for injuring his family. "You don't mess with a man's family." He refuses to turn in his small town values for the values of the new Hollywood culture. He is fed up with these guys trying to ruin his life, so he takes matters into his own hands.

At best, this is one of those bad 80's revenge B-movies that Mel Gibson made a living with. He should have played the part. Though he does have a cameo as an anger management patient outside the doctor's office. Probably the truth.

This movie does a really lame job at projecting family love and unity as well as the small town homeyness of the grocery store. This director is a hack and I will not bother posting his name. This is his only motion picture. The rest of his work is dedicated solely to TV shows.

This movie surely ruined any career he may have had (though I doubt he would have had one anyway). His direction of the acting is so poor. Cole Hauser is a joke. This was supposed to be his break out role to establish him among the elite. So much for that. This probably ruined his future as well.

Gibson got a bad rapt for this and he was hated for months for it, but he always comes back.

Tom Sizemore plays Rex Harper, the lowest, foulest paparazzi of the whole bunch. Sizemore is as slimy and greasy as ever. Daniel Baldwin is his buddy who is just as dirty. The movie projects the paparazzi as the lowest of the low. The dirt on the bottom of the shoe. The scum of society. They cause a wreck and then they take pictures of the mangled bodies in the car. All the while, the other driver died.

One could consider this movie a good look at the invasion of privacy and how it affects people's lives. Do they deserve the right to take pictures of your life? Question, question. Of course, this movie is biased against them, but are they right?

One thing I could not figure out was the random cameos. Gibson was understandable, but Vince Vaughn? Chris Rock? Matthew McConaughey? What is this? Just for kicks?

A short running time (1:21) is about the best part of this movie aside from the ridiculous revenge murders (that he gets away with). If you like those kind of movies, you may get a kick out of this, but the poor direction will make you run for higher ground.

4 of 10

Hand-held Beauty

I've been thinking about making a movie for the past couple weeks and last night I finally got the chance thanks to some big help from some friends and my brother. They had to think I was crazy, but they helped out a lot.

Lately, I have become obsessed with hand-held camera movement. I just love the chaos from using a hand-held. It is amazing how camera movement can make the situation that much more intense.

The hand-held camera does not have to increase intensity as it can be used to showcase the lifestyle of a another culture of a different culture. I write this about my new found love: Mexican filmmaking. Directors like Alfonso Cuaron, Alejandro Inarritu and Guillermo del Toro.

These guys can create amazing worlds through the use of the hand-held camera. It really is beautiful how they can create these lifestyles. I cite Cuaron's "Children of Men" (such a great movie) and "Y Tu Mama Tambien" (despite the subject material, Cuaron's Mexico is delicious), del Toro's "Pan's Labyrinth" and Inarritu's "Amores Perros."

These guys really know how to make movies. I had been wanting to test out my own use of the hand-held camera, so I came up with a quick, lame plot just to test out different methods. I also love nighttime in an empty downtown, so I decided to shoot the movie in an empty downtown at night.

The car shots in the movie are great, but I got into some trouble when I sent my characters down an alley. I knew I would have some trouble with the lighting, but my goodness, I didn't expect the lighting to be that bad.

I was shooting with a crap, Wal-mart camera that refuses to pick up night time shots. So my run down the alley is really dark. I was kinda disappointed in this, but we'll see how it turns out when we edit it.

We also have a major sound problem that I can't seem to figure out at the moment. Luckily, there isn't much sound to be used in the movie other than screams and hits.

My hand-held work is decent, but I think at times I was too aggressive. My problem was I shook the camera and ran with it, so I had double the shake. If I had just let it flow naturally and tried to maintain a steady balance while I ran, it would have been better and not as drastic.

There is definitely an art to this form of cinematography and I commend anyone who has mastered it. Each movement is planned to a T and they really know what they are doing. Their presentation is so beautiful, whereas mine is sub par.

I need a lot of practice.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

DuhDuhDuhDuh DuhTaDuh duhduhduhduh DuhTaDuh

Indy's back! He is back to save the world again. As I walked throughout the theater waiting for the movie to start, I heard the glory of the theme song playing throughout the theater. At first, I thought it was coming from one of the screens, but I quickly learned it was set up on the PA system. Doesn't get much more awesome than that. I was also glad they used the same poster design as the original series.

Indy returns in 1957 in search for a skull to unlock El Dorado, the city of gold. New and old characters abound for the latest adventure. Indy is reunited with old flame Miriam (Karen Allen) from Raiders of the Lost Ark. He quickly finds out that the kid who took him to save his mom is his son. His son is played by Shia LaBeouf.

Skull is loaded with action and adventure as one might expect. Ford is old, but he can still pull off some of the stunts. They even make several jokes about how old Ford is throughout the movie.

The movie remains true to the originals in the fact that they use great stunt work as opposed to CGI for people. The stunt work is perfect and manages to capture Ford as an able, athletic fighting machine.

My first problem with this movie is all the car chases. There were like 3 huge car chases that took up a bulk of the action. Don't get me wrong, they were good, but they gave Indy a more stationary role in this one (cause he is so old). I know car chases and fights are an Indiana Jones stigma, but this one is a bit overboard. It seems the only fighting takes place on vehicles.

To praise the sound effects, I was so glad they used the same awesome, ridiculously loud punches. They are so awesome and just like the originals.

More criticism. I don't like the 50's world as much as I like the 30's world of the old movies. The 30's just seemed like the perfect time to be an adventurer and treasure hunter. The 50's is just a gross hair world. I much prefer the 30's.

Why o why Cate Blanchett? She tries so hard to make me hate her. I don't know why she is in this role, but I can't stand it. I think she is a good actor, but the roles she takes are starting to make me angry. She is showboating her skills.

In this movie, she is ugly with a disgusting outfit and haircut. There is no reason they could not have gotten some random Russian to play the part. It wasn't that essential to have star power in this role. She is really getting on my nerves.

Final criticism. What is this ending? The whole movie is adventurous and great up to the point when they walk into the room with alien skulls and skeletons. I knew it was going to turn weird. Course we can't have a George Lucas movie without some kind of ridiculous alien plot.

This really disappointed me. Sure the first three movies had supernatural happenings with religious artifacts, but never aliens with spaceships. I just found this hard to swallow. It just turned ridiculous and strayed so far from the Indy we all know and love. What was Spielberg thinking?

Despite the aliens and the sub par special effects, I still enjoyed the movie and I still love my hero, Indy. He will always remain one of the greatest characters of all time and definitely the best action hero. Indy is the bomb. I don't need any more Indy's because the originals never get stale.

4 of 5 stars

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

Now, to the one I didn't remember all too well, the Last Crusade. This one was actually made when I was alive! Made four years after Doom, the Last Crusade takes place in 1936 and reincorporates the Nazis as bad guys.

I don't know why I didn't remember this one very well. I guess it is because I did not watch it as much as the other two.

Looking back at this movie, I was in for many surprises and it was just as entertaining as the first time I watched it. This one is loaded with action and adventure.

The introduction of Sean Connery as Indy's father was perfect. I really enjoyed him in this. This movie seems to have a ton of explosions and significantly less hand to hand battles. Maybe it is because of the massive tank battle that lasted half the movie.

This could be Indy's biggest adventure yet. He travels all over the world in search for the legendary Holy Grail, the mecca of all treasures.

This movie is littered with more humor than the previous movies. I just love Indy's countenance throughout the whole movie.

Spielberg claims this to be his favorite of the three and I can see why. The movie is great for the adventurer's spirit.

Crusade starts in 1912 with Indy as a Boy Scout who tries to steal a cross from jewel thieves. He thinks it belongs in a museum. The scenes as a kid explain a lot about Indy in the future, his hatred of snakes, his use of the bull whip and his hat.

Crusade is not only about a search for the Holy Grail but also about a search for reconciliation between a father and son. Dr. Jones Sr. neglected his son and his son left. Indy saves his life multiple times and they are united in the end. We will see how the last twenty years played out in the Kingdom of the Crystall Skull.

I'm interested to learn what Indy has been doing for the past 20 years. Ya, 20 years from Crusade to the newest sequel. What is the deal with resurrecting franchises from the 80's?


4.5 of 5 stars

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

Moving on to my brother's favorite and possibly the darkest of the series, the Temple of Doom. Everything Spielberg couldn't get into Raiders he stuffed into this one. Escape the bad guys behind a rolling gong, use an inflatable raft as a parachute and safety blanket as he flies from a burning plane and a mine cart chase.

This movie has it all. Indie is back in the prequel to Raiders that is set in 1931 a few years earlier than Raiders. Doom was released in 1984 and was so violent, it helped garner a new system than introduced a PG-13 rating. The violence includes Molorom ripping a dude's heart out.

Doom centers on rural Indian villages that have been robbed of sacred stones. Indie must save the day. Doom has a lot of cult mysticism, child slavery and bizarre customs. Loaded with critters as opposed to snakes this time, Doom is sure to make even the strong squirm.

What my brother and I enjoyed so much about this movie was the character of little Shortie as Indie's sidekick. How we wished we could have been him as kids. To be our hero's sidekick would have been glorious. We always pretended we were Shortie and that we could save Dr. Jones whenever he needed help.

For the second time, this series won best visual effects at the Academy Awards. John Williams adds the typical awesome score. This movie is loaded with great action and is equally as entertaining as the first, but the darkness and weird spirituality are kind of a turn off in the series. I tend to think this is the weakest of the trilogy.

The thing I love about rewatching these movies is the old school sound effects. The punches sound so ridiculous and way over the top violent, which makes the movie even more exciting. I wonder if the new Indie will use the same? Probably not...

Thank you for #2 in the series which was equally as entertaining and thrilling. The adventures of Indie will stand the test of time and any kid will always think of Indie as the greatest hero of all time. Much better than today's "super"-heroes.

These movies are so well-developed and clearly thought out. It really is one of the best ideas for a hero ever. Thank you Lucas for that but not for Star Wars. I prefer the possible (haha, yeah Indie is very believable).

Harrison Ford gets more and more injured with each movie. In this one, he hurt his back. The previous, his ribs. He is probably in a wheelchair after Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.


4 of 5 stars

Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark

As the newest installment of Indy approaches, I felt the need to watch the original trilogy, which began in 1981. Can you believe that 27 years have passed and yet here comes another with Harrison Ford on his death bed?

The story of Indiana Jones is legendary and was one of my favorite movies as a kid. The adventure and daring escapades of Indy are incredible to a kid. Indy was easily the greatest character ever.

Harrison Ford was the perfect choice in this epic Spielberg film. His guise as a professor/archaeologist hides the truth that he is a treasure hunter. He is a handsome, rough teacher that his students greatly love.

Set in the 1930's, Indy is hired on by the government to beat the Nazi's to finding the Ark of the Covenant that is supposedly in Egypt. The thing with Indy is that he does all the grunt work - finding legendary treasures by passing all the traps - and some bad guy jerks it out of his hand and leaves him for dead.

The bad guy in this one is some Hitler cronie with an ugly face and a disgusting laugh. I really hate that guy.

The Ark is ripped from Indy and he and Marion (his girl) must get it back to discover the secrets within and to ensure it does not make the Nazi army invincible. The movie turns sci-fi (true to Spielberg and buddy and story writer George Lucas form) when the Nazis open the ark.

The Ark is legendary from Biblical times when the Hebrews carried it around at God's instruction as they wandered the wilderness. Anyone who touched it instantly died. It has spiritual power of some kind and has never been found.

The great thing about this epic movie is all the adventure as I previously stated. It still has some of the best fight scenes and action sequences of all time. This movie really stands the test of time. The movie is loaded with good humor as well.

Indiana Jones is one of the greatest characters/heroes ever made and I love him to death. I am so glad they made more than one movie and I can't wait for the next one. Ark is the best of the trilogy and likely the best of the series.

I didn't realize how well this movie was received back in the day. It was nominated for 8 Academy Awards including Best Picture, which I find kinda hard to believe. O well, awesome. It won 4 - Best Art Direction, Best Effects, Best Editing, Best Sound.

Congrats Spielberg on one of your best movies and series ever. I could watch this every day forever.

4.5 of 5 stars

Shotgun!

I saw this picture and almost busted a gut laughing. Not to take away from all that Rosa Parks accomplished, but this is just a funny picture. No doubt it was tough what she went through, but if you can't laugh in life then you're screwed.

Rosa Parks did much with her life as an activist who essentially began the Civil Rights Movement. Her refusal to give up her seat for a white person on December 1, 1955, led to the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which is one of the largest movements against racial segregation in U.S. history. This single event propelled Parks into a leadership role within the Civil Rights movement and forever garnered her notoriety.

Martin Luther King, Jr. rose up from the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Therefore, Parks is seen as the Mother of the Modern-Day Civil Rights Movement. She helped ensure equality and the end of segregation. She did help change the world.

So, you have to laugh at the picture because Parks definitely deserves shotgun. Regretfully, she died like three years ago.

Call the picture offensive, call it in bad taste. But I call it hilarious. It does not change my view of her at all but rather emphasizes it. I probably respect her more. She was a great person.

Hopefully she followed all of the rules of shotgun.
1. Everyone has to be outside
2. You have to be able to see the car
3. Everyone has to hear you, especially the driver (so they can defend you if it turns nasty).
4. It's rude to take shotgun twice in a row (but for Rosa Parks, it wouldn't be).

Can I Graduate?

My broseph walked across the stage for graduation from high school this past weekend. Wow, time really flies. As this school year came to an end, I realized, "Crap, I'm a junior." The first two years of college really flew by.

So, my kid brother is not a kid anymore. He is an 18-year-old college boy. Never thought the day would actually happen. I still picture him as the little boy playing with his "mans" all over the house and riding his bike all over the neighborhood.

If he is getting old, then surely I am turning into a codger. I've been looking back at my life and searching for what I have done to make a difference, what I have accomplished as a 20-year-old.

I only wish I had done more in high school, then I would be so much farther along than I am today. Now, I have to go back and do those things I didn't do in high school, like find my passions and all those things I enjoy.

I feel I have done a lot and have a ton more to do. I believe I have done more than the average 20-year-old. I only hope to do more as the year progresses. I need to do so much in the next two years before I graduate.

Dub will be going to college soon with his new laptop, which is so much better than mine (and at half the price, my how technology changes in two years!). He is going to UCO, which is a good choice for him. UCO is a great school and it has tons of possibilities. Plus, he can live at home for free.

My biggest advice from where I screwed up is to try to find something you really like before you get there. That way you can explore all the avenues of the major with a maximum amount of time instead of wasting the first two years doing almost nothing.

College is a great place to not only gain a degree but to establish contacts, create change and enjoy yourself before the real world comes crashing down.

Good luck, Pube.

Happy Gilmore

Happy Gilmore is one of the best iconic examples of the comedy genre from the 1990's. I would venture to place it on my Top 10 Comedy list of my favorite comedies of all time, maybe Top 5.

Why Gilmore sticks out so much is the strikingly original storyline that Adam Sandler created. Sandler was really one of the top guys of comedy during the decade. He was a young genius. His movies were second only to Jim Carrey during that time period.

Happy Gilmore follows the extremely successful "Billy Madison" in 1996. This movie is 12 years old and yet it still makes me laugh out loud despite the immense number of times I've seen it.

The story is genius and Sandler cronie Dennis Dugan catches the best of the story in his direction of Gilmore. They collaborated well in showing the change in crowd at golf events once bad boy Gilmore comes to town. They took a raging character that is everything golf isn't and made him bring in a new crowd.

The thing I like most about this movie is there isn't a big lull like most movies today. Most modern comedies try to mean too much or make some kind of point and usually spend about 30 painful minutes establishing that point.

Gilmore doesn't have this. It does have it's moments of meaning, but there is never a period of more than five minutes that doesn't generate a laugh.

Possibly my favorite character of the movie is Ben Stiller as the orderly at the nursing home. He is hilarious. He forces the old people to make quilts as part of "arts and crafts" and then turns and sells the quilts. There is also the mention of landscaping duty. Haha. So amazing. "You could trouble me for a glass of shut the hell up."

Bob Barker was pretty good and their fight was fantastic. The comedic violence is amazing.

This movie meant so much to my generation. How many kids tried to swing like Gilmore after this movie? I know I did. This developed a youth interest in golf though a fleeting interest.

There are countless lines from this movie that we have repeated over the years. Lines that we always said and never realized where they came from. Lines that are still used in daily conversation that our brains remember based on certain circumstances.

"Gold jacket, green jacket, who gives a -?"
"My fingers hurt."

I absolutely love this movie. The comedy is so perfect and Sandler delivers the punch throughout (literally and comically). This will always be one of my favorite movies. I could watch this movie every day for the rest of my life and laugh just the same. Gilmore is one of those movies that, although you have it memorized, is still hilarious with every viewing.

So much better than today's comedy. I was disappointed to find that Sandler and Apatow are good buddies. I think Sandler is a whole lot funnier. His 90's movies lack the Apatow-life-lesson-lull of today. They also lack the vulgarity of an Apatow movie. Whoever decided extreme vulgarity was funny is beyond me.

Gilmore is hands down Sandler's best movie to date. It is loaded with unrivaled comedy and definitely has a timeless appeal. This is slapstick at it's best.

4.5 of 5 stars

Generation Rx

Today's youth addiction is prescription medication. This has affected suburbia greatly for the past several years. I have not personally known anyone to be addicted to prescription pills, but there are many in my town.

I never understood the obsession with pills. I remember back in high school a kid would rave about having extra pain pills after surgery recovery. Everyone would be like, "Oh, that's awesome."

I would just sit there and be like, "OK."

This particular kid would mention it all the time, I guess looking for some kind of reaction. No matter how many times he said it, people would be jealous and wish they had some pain pills to get through the day. They would swap (more than likely fictional stories) about different meds they had taken while in the hospital or for some kind of sickness.

I'm pretty sure he never actually took them, he just liked to say that he had them. Again, I never saw what the big deal was. I guess the kids I knew liked to pretend they knew all about meds because it was the big thing to be in the know and the addiction to prescription medication.

I can't tell you how many movies I've seen that involve characters who ingest pills on a regular basis "to heal the pain." I think many look to medication as a type of crutch because they feel they can't do it on their own.

Those that lean on medication to get them through the day are more than likely delusional. I think a lot of people make excuses for their behavior so they take pills to help them "calm down." I think people become crazy because of their dependence on prescription meds.

I believe this is a total farce and used as a lame excuse. But whatever, I don't know everything.

So, whenever someone tells me about what kind of meds they have stashed at home or I see some movie with some addict, I just try to ignore the insanity. Today's society has become too dependent on medication to solve our problems, which instead tends to cause more.

Watch "The Chumscrubber" for a good commentary on suburbia and the kids that take pills for the "high."

Whoever Finds God, Finds Life

I've grown weary of the incessant insults directed at the methods of teaching at Life Church. Too many complain about how Life Church does business. "I couldn't watch the teacher on the screen." "Life Church is too mainstream."

Please. There is a certain point when you need to step back and look at just exactly what the church does before ripping it.

A lot of naysayers from the traditional church background would even go as far as calling Life Church immoral for it's use of rock music, televisions and videos. "That kind of thing does not belong in a church."

We've heard these whiners enough over the past 10 years. Contemporary church goers say Life Church is too commercial and tries to hard to gain membership and does not actually focus on the message.

These people are just searching for something to dis because they do not want to admit that Life Church's methods are successful. Some deep Christians claim Life Church has no room for growth, which I will agree with to a certain extent.

You must understand the mission of Life Church before you decide to insult it. Life Church's main goal is to bring in people, which I greatly applaud. We need all kinds of churches in this world to accomplish everything we can for God.

We need churches that can plug deep and drag in the unlikely. We need churches that can train future church leaders. We need churches that work solely with missions and helping others.

Life Church is a church that focuses on bringing in as many people as possible and sharing God's love with them. Life Church can do this on such an extreme level. They can market and spread the word about the church with it's 4,000 weekly attenders.

Life Church has also spread throughout the country in an effort to reach more people. Their goal is huge but attainable because of great leading from the top. Life Church does work like a corporation, but a corporation the world has never seen. A corporation that builds believers not revenue. A corporation set to change the world.

I wholeheartedly agree with Life Church's approach and greatly commend them for it. To me it's all about spreading His Word and Life Church does that very effectively. Life Church is able to reach thousands of new believers or non-Christians in a single week through multiple campuses and the Internet ("o no, a church cannot have a Web site, it's evil. We should never use the Internet to promote God's Word, I do not think God would approve.").

For those looking to grow more intimate with Him, Life Church is probably not the place for you. But don't knock Life Church for being too commercial or mainstream. That is their mission and goal. They have succeeded and will continue to succeed as long as there are unbelievers in the world. Life Church is doing it's part to change the world.

Blood Diamond

At the turn of the century, Sierra Leone, a small, coastal country in northwestern Africa, was stripped apart by civil war. The conflict was started by rebel forces who wanted to overthrow the government. Though there were many reasons for their attempt to overthrow, a big reason was the profitable diamond mines. Caught in the middle of the strife were the local people of Sierra Leone. Also, the country has the lowest life expectancy in the world at 30 years old.

The rebels and the government purged villages and towns of innocent people in their attempts to get at one another and to possess diamond mines. Most of the diamonds were never seen by the people of Sierra Leone. The government wanted them to have enough money to move into exile and the rebels wanted the diamonds to fuel their overthrow.

Solomon Vandy (Djimon Hounsou) is a fishermen caught by the rebel R.U.F. group. Throughout the movie, Solomon has a sense of innocence. He wants to be with his family and he wants his son to get a good education. He finds it difficult to lie even to save his own life. He also doesn't like the ease with which some kill people. He perfectly represents the locals.

While in the possession of the R.U.F., Solomon finds one of the biggest diamonds they've ever seen in the diamond mines. He buries it as the government attacks and arrests the rebels and their captives.

Insert Danny Archer (Leonardo DiCaprio). The ex-South African military/mercenary hired by South African hit men to find and sell conflict diamonds on the black market. He trades arms for conflict diamonds with the rebels and the government alike. He funds the war. Archer convinces Vandy that he can save his family and that the diamond is his ticket out of the country. Archer has his own selfish desires for getting the diamond.

With help from American journalist Maddy Bowen (Jennifer Connelly), the two find a way back to the diamond mine to find that massive diamond Solomon found. They run into Solomon's son who has been trained (aka brainwashed) by the R.U.F. to kill. They are armed with an AK-47 and told to kill the resistance. The R.U.F. uses drugs and alcohol to brainwash the kids. Eventually, they become completely different people. Solomon's son would have killed his father if he had the chance. He refuses to recognize his father.

They find the diamond and escape. Solomon carries Archer to safety, which reinforces the "carry" metaphor. Whether Archer had a change of heart or just couldn't make it, he did not steal the diamond from Solomon. Solomon escaped the country determined to bring down the fictional Van de Kaap jewelers who purchase the conflict diamonds regularly. Solomon is the hope to save his country and let the world know of the atrocities that happen in the small country.

"Blood Diamond" is a compelling story loaded with action and meaning. This is one of the best stories to come from Hollywood in the past five years. Director Edward Zwick (The Last Samurai, Legends of the Fall) presents us with a startling truth about the displeasing state of Sierra Leone.

The treatment of the locals is quite sad and discomforting. Connelley is there to document exactly what is happening. DiCaprio is the negative outsider who hates the continent but remains to steal and sell diamonds. "I used to wonder, 'Will God ever forgive us for what we've done to each other. But then I realized that God left this place a long time ago."

DiCaprio is the cynical mercenary who sees the strife and atrocities in the country but chooses to do his own work instead of helping. He believes there is no way to help the people. In the end, he helps Hounsou and Connelley expose the truth about conflict diamonds.

This movie was nominated for 5 Oscars but won none. Djimon Hounsou was ripped off for supporting actor. He was terrific and well-deserving. Probably the biggest snub of all time.

Anytime anything of value is found in Africa the locals are killed. It happened with ivory, rubber, gold and oil. And now it is happening with diamonds.

-The United States accounts for 2/3 of diamond purchases.
-Conflict diamonds represent 15% of all diamonds.
-Rather than an export for the country, the diamonds are smuggled out and traded for arms to fund the civil war.
-Neighboring country Liberia has $2 billion in diamond exports but no diamonds to speak of in the country.
-The earth is red from the spilt blood.
-As a result from this story, the Kimberley Process began which is a more in depth effort to eliminate conflict diamonds.
-Up to the consumer to ensure the diamond they buy is not a conflict diamond.
-Now, Sierra Leone is at peace.
-There are 200,000 child soldiers in Africa.

To affirm the state of Africa, Archer lives the credo "TIA." Expect everything because Africa's state is poor and anything can and will happen. What happens there is just part of the country.

This Is Africa

4.5 of 5 stars

STOP

Something is happening. There has been a revolution of messages expressed by way of stop signs. I have noticed this in the past couple of years and it has apparently become the thing to do.

The first one I saw confused me because I had no idea what it meant. I pulled up to a stop sign and saw that someone had spray painted "BUSH" on the sign beneath the word "STOP."

It took me a minute to figure out what was meant by this. But of course, it is a message that says, "Stop Bush." Regardless of whether I agreed with the message, I thought it was a pretty good idea (apart from the whole vandalizing public property thing).

Since then, I have been on the lookout for more messages on signs. I hear it has become a recreational activity to go out for a night on the town with a group of friends spray painting different things on stop signs.

This one I found in Stillwater and is one of my favorites. "Stop buying so much." Could it be more true? This is great social commentary from some faceless vandal. We do buy too much. It seems people feel that fulfillment comes with the more possessions they acquire.

Anyway, the stop sign revolution is going to change the world. Be sure to follow only the best advice from signs. I wonder who started this or where the idea came from.

If I ever spray painted a stop sign, it would say "Stop Lying."

Favorites:

"Stop cheating"
"Stop eating"
"Stop running away"
"Stop chasing dreams" - haha don't follow this one
"Stop thinking about yourself"
"Stop stealing oil"
"Stop doing what you're told" - kind of ironic, right
"Stop following the rules"
"Don't Stop"
"Stop vandalizing" - haha I hope to see this one some day

Doesn't have to be a stop sign
"One way to heaven"
"Yield your life"

Hope to see more or think of some better ones.