A drama centered on three people each on a path in search of the truth find their lives forever changed by what they believe might-or must-exist in the Hereafter. Each are touched by death in different ways
First a blue-collar American George Lonegan (Matt Damon) who has the ability to speak to the dead but wishes for a life of normalcy not shrouded by the death runs from his family and his gift.
Second a French journalist Marie Lelay(Cécile De France)in Thailand on assignment is on the top of her game before surviving a tsunami. It leaves her tormented by her near death experience and her life is consumed with unanswered questions about what comes next and what she may have seen. With no outlet other then to write she writes a book called Hereafter.
And Third a London school boy named Marcus(Bryce Dallas Howard) who searches for answers after his brother was killed by a car after running from the neighborhood bullies. With his brothers death he finds himself totally alone and having to learn to survive. No longer being able to help his heroin addicted mother without his brothers guidance he is put in foster care and is consumed with finding out what has happened to his twin.
All three end up at the London book fair and so the story of how they saved each other begins. Each find what they are looking for in each other.
(37) Watch 26 Movies (10/26) Movie: Next Three Days Rating:4-Stars
The movie starts with John Brennan (Russell Crowe) driving aggressively with the sounds of an injured passenger moaning from the back seat. Suddenly we flash back to John and his wife Lara (Elizabeth Banks) sharing dinner with his brother and wife. Lara is on edge after an argument with her boss and takes it out on the less the friendly sister-in-law. The following morning a diabetic Lara injects herself with insulin and discovers blood on her jacket as she gets ready for work. Before leaving she is caught washing the blood away as police raid their house with an arrest warrant for murdering her boss.
It seems she was seen leaving the scene of the crime and her fingerprints were on the murder weapon. She suggests a mysterious woman she claimed to have bumped into while enter the parking garage is the real murderer and she lost a button in the scuffle. With no evidence of this woman and the mountain of physical evidence against her she is sent to prison.
Failing to win an appeal and having no more chances her husband, John begins crafting a plan to break her out. He meets with a known convict who escaped from prison to learn as much as he can. He carefully studies the prison nearly getting arrested for making a bump key and falsifies her blood work to show she has dangerously high glucose levels. A suddenly and unexpected prison reassignment threatens to derail his plan and he is left with only the Next Three Days to get her out.
Unlike most Hollywood blockbusters, Atlas Shrugged - Part I was filmed on a shoe string budget of ~$10 Million. The producer, John Aglialoro, gambled his own money and time to bring this adaptation of Ayn Rand’s famous book to the silver screen. Unlike most adaptations Atlas Shrugged stayed true to the author’s words and ideas.
By now the plot is so well known that it is no spoiler to share that Atlas Shrugged isa murder mystery. It isn’t a traditional murder mystery about the killing of a human body, but of the assassination of the human spirit. The mysterious killer is John Galt.
The movie is well acted and perfectly cast. It contains a mix of new faces and those you will recognize as supporting actors from other movies and it will drive you nuts trying to place them. The audience is allowed to follow the narrative of the story and soak in the ideas of the author without being distracted by a big name actress such as Angelina Jolie or Charlize Theron who were purportedly vying for the role of heroine Dagny Taggert.
Character development suffers from the movies fast pace and leaves you wondering how all these people are bound together other then the obvious business relationships. The audience is given just enough to allow it to make sense without really explaining the background. This is an obvious restriction of a 90 minute movie and leaves you feeling a bit rushed.
The special effects were spectacular. The dramatic 250-mph run of Dagny's train on the new John Galt Line made of the blueish-green Rearden Metal was very exciting and believable. The score was fitting an epic story. The choice to set the film in 2016 instead of the 1950s allowed the writers to tie in current events related to the recession and bailouts.
The movie has an obvious cult following and is being well received by audiences around the country while receiving critical reviews from professional reviewers. I take my hat off to the producers for taking on a movie said to be un-makeable and creating the beginning of something the audience will certainly want to see parts 2 & 3.
Location: 58 Shrewsbury Street
Worcester, MA 01604-4625
Rating: 1-Star
I had never been to Allgos but heard about it from a bunch of people. The reviews were mixed but with a Groupon I decided to give it a try for dessert after a great meal and drinks at Baba Sushi.
Not knowing where on Shrewsbury Street is was my eyes were peeled as I looked. I almost drove right by it since from the outside it looked closed. It was dark and not particularly inviting.
When Dan and I walked in I immediately felt out of place. It is clearly more Guido bar then it is Dessert Lounge. The bar was clearly popular but the rest of the dining area looked like a mess of tables not laid out well. There were tables right on top of each other with no room to move a chair and in the corner a big spot where there where no tables.
Dan ordered a Latte and I ordered a cappuccino while we decided over the list of options for dessert.. Dan choose the Peanut Butter Cheesecake and I decided to try the sampler which had slivers of the Hazelnut Cake, Limonchello Rasberry Cake, NY Style Cheesecake and the Coconut Cake.
Sadly both Dan and I couldn't find much worth having here for desserts and coffee. Both coffee's tasted burnt and the desserts were clearly not fresh. All of it had that open box not touched in a while refrigerator taste.
The bar scene looked popular and the drinks looked good so I think they realized that they would be successful as a bar and not really a dessert shop and really let that portion of their business suffer. I rated it based on dessert's and coffee not drinks. They might have rated higher if I had a cocktail.
Working in Medway leaves you with limited options for lunch especially if you want something that isn't from a chain restaurant. Today the boys' and I decided we would try someplace new and The Marathon Restaurant at North Pond in Hopkinton was suggested to us.
We were seated in the upstairs dining room quickly and had plenty of space. It was bright and airy. The dining room featured a large screen TV with the game on. I would describe the decor as very casual and comfortable. The presentation of the meals stepped it up a notch presenting a more polished approach. The food was served on a more chic plate then expected. The mix worked and the price point very fair.
Our waiter could have been more attentive but was polite and courteous. Had to wait too long for drink refills and more bread.
The food was a delightful surprise. I had the Steak Frites with roasted garlic butter. The steak was very tender and cooked perfectly to the temperature requested. The fies were fantastic and had the perfect crunch without being over cooked.
Each of my lunch buddies seemed equally pleased with their meals. The cook was also very acoomidating and created a salad with Buffalo chicken for one of us even though it wasnt on the menu. The portion sizes didnt dissappoint and we all left satisfied. One thing to note, if time is a concern then you will be annoyed this isn't a quick lunch kind of place and you were encouraged to relax and take your time.
Recently Boston.com had an article about "10 great places to kayak in New England" written by Tom Haines. I thought I would share it here. - http://www.boston.com/
A sea kayak can carry you over ocean swells or beneath the brush overhanging a tightly twisting stretch of flat-water river. The point, no matter the setting, is to paddle the craft toward adventure, whether harrowing or hardly enough to raise a sweat. As spring flows into summer, the following is a broad palette of New England paddling destinations. Some are better for beginners, others intermediate and advanced. Each is followed by a local outfitter to help get you underway.
Boston Harbor Islands: A world away, and not so far at all. Paddle across the Nantasket Roads, as the channel is called, toward the outer islands of Boston Harbor. Little Brewster Island is home to Boston Light, the oldest in the nation. Or stop at Calf Island, a good spot for a walk, and continue across Hypocrite Channel to The Graves, and another light. ‘‘You can’t believe you’re 6 miles from downtown Boston,’’ said Mark Jacobson, of Charles River Canoe & Kayak. Charles River Canoe & Kayak, 2401 Commonwealth Ave., Newton, 617-965-5110, www.paddleboston.com.
Plum Island Sound: Surf the shifting tides near the mouth of the Ipswich River, paddle the clam-rich shores near Middle Ground, or continue toward the Parker River and head deep into the Great Salt Marsh from the narrow end of Plum Island Sound. Depending on tides and time of day, the water can keep the fittest paddler working, or offer peaceful refuge from the breaking waves and weekend crowds on the ocean side of Plum Island. Plum Island Kayak, 92 Merrimac Street - Unit 101 B, Newburyport, 978-462-5510, www.plumislandkayak.com.
Isles of Shoals, N.H. : The crossing from the mainland can be rough, but on a good day, a gentle rhythm keeps pace among the islands out at sea. ‘‘Jump to an island, and stop. Jump to an island, and stop,’’ said Ken Taylor, of Plum Island Kayak, which charters a yacht to carry customers and kayaks out to the islands for a day. Conditions permitting, more adventurous paddlers can leave the relative calm of Smuttynose and Appledore islands to join the seals near Duck Island. ‘‘We paddle around and say, ‘Wow!’’’ Taylor said. Plum Island Kayak, 92 Merrimac Street - Unit 101 B, Newburyport, 978-462-5510, www.plumislandkayak.com.
Lake Umbagog, N.H.: Rest the paddle on the deck and watch the wildlife at work and play in Lake Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge: winter wrens and purple finches, great blue herons and black ducks, northern leopard frogs and salamanders, loons and eagles. Best to be off the lake by midafternoon. ‘‘Because Lake Umbagog is relatively shallow and you get these summer winds,’’ said Bob Tagliaferri, of Northern Waters, a local outfitter. ‘‘The lake gets a wicked chop to it.’’ - Northern Waters, Route 16, Errol, N.H., 603-447-2177 (winter), 603-482-3817 (summer), www.beoutside.com
Acadia, Maine: Put in at Seal Cove, on the southwestern edge of Mount Desert Island, in sun or fog and enjoy the relative solitude of Blue Hill Bay. ‘‘You don’t have the motels and restaurants and cruise ships that you get on the other side of the island, over near Bar Harbor,’’ said Robert Shaw, of Maine State Sea Kayak. In the bay you’ll see sea lions, osprey, harbor seals, and with a bit of luck, porpoises will pass not too far from your paddle. - Maine State Sea Kayak, 254 Maine St., Southwest Harbor, 877-481-9500, www.mainestateseakayak.com.
Machias Bay, Maine: Just about as far Down East as can be, you can paddle past a ship sunk for two centuries, and cliffs carved for far longer. Mysterious petroglyphs crafted long ago near the modern-day home of the Passamaquoddy may not last for long, as water levels rise and winter ice takes a toll on the ancient etchings. ‘‘They’re going to be lost, probably in the next 10 years, from erosion,’’ said Jen Scribner, of Sunrise Canoe and Kayak. ‘‘They’re definitely taking a beating in winter.’’ Sunrise Canoe and Kayak, 68 Hoyttown Road, Machias, 877-980-2300, www.sunrisecanoeandkayak.com.
Lake Champlain, Vt.: Paddle across Lake Champlain from the farmland of Vermont to a secluded beach near Split Rock Point, in New York’s Adirondack Park. ‘‘The rocks are round and egg-shaped and you feel a million miles from anywhere,’’ said Dovid Yagoda, of True North Kayak Tours. Cross in good conditions, as winds can stir waves with a threatening north fetch. But the destination is enough to make an expert think twice before talking. ‘‘I’m giving away a nice spot,’’ Yagoda said. - True North Kayak Tours, 802-238-7695,www.vermontkayak.com.
Mystic, Conn.: The attractions are more urban than untouched in this historic harbor that opens onto Fishers Island Sound. ‘‘You can paddle right up and knock on the hull of the last wooden whaling ship in the world,’’ said Jerry Wylie, of Connecticut Coastal Kayaking. You can paddle out and around Enders, Andrews, and Dodges islands, where pleasant spots can be found for picnicking. Heading back upriver, there is a drawbridge and a railroad swing bridge to watch turning overhead. ‘‘Those are fun to be under,’’ Wylie said. - Connecticut Coastal Kayaking, 18 Oak Tree Lane, Lyme, Conn., 860-391-3837, www.ctcoastalkayaking.com.
Barn Island, Conn., to Napa Tree Point, R.I.: Put in and paddle from the Barn Island boat ramp, at the eastern edge of Connecticut. A detour through the Barn Island Wildlife Management Area can bring encounters with salt marsh wildlife. Or paddle straight out and around Napa Tree Point to the arc of beach jutting out from Watch Hill, Rhode Island. ‘‘You can surf the swells, and you may need a surf landing on the beach, depending on conditions,’’ Wylie said. ‘‘It’s never crowded.’’ - Connecticut Coastal Kayaking, 18 Oak Tree Lane, Lyme, Conn., 860-391-3837, www.ctcoastalkayaking.com.
Upper Wood River, R.I.: This shrouded river is the kayaking equivalent of a good book and cup of coffee: a gentle and relaxing way to spend a morning. ‘‘It’s totally undeveloped. The river is maybe 10 to 30 feet wide, going through deep woods,’’ said Marie Fonseca, of Kayak Today. Stop for a picnic and portage around a waterfall for a full four hours spent paddling past the forest of the Arcadia Management Area. - Queen's River Kayaks,West Kingston, R.I., 401-284-3945, www.queensriverkayaks.com.
Tornado Alley is currently playing at the Museum of Science's Mugar Omni IMAX Dome Theater. Dan and I decided to check it out and enjoy a beautiful sunny afternoon in the city. It was also an opportunity to use our Groupon tickets for the Mugar. This giant-screen adventure-film features a group of scientists and daredevil storm chasers. They chase a cast of swirling black tornadoes that leave swaths of destruction in their wakes in hopes of being able to better understand them.
It opens to the sound of driving rain and the solemn voice of Bill Paxton saying "There is a place with more storms than anywhere on Earth." Then the title, "Tornado Alley," flashes across the screen above a scene of homes and businesses crumbled like doll houses. Tornado alley is a swath of North America between the Rocky and Appalachian mountains where three-quarters of the world's tornadoes occur.
It was filmed over eight years, most of the movie occurs in the tornado-prone states of South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.
This movie is more a scientific exploration documentary then major motion picture action movie like the Hollywood blockbuster Twister in which Bill Paxton stared. The film has the same general ideas as Twister. Both followed a team of scientists trying to learn more about storms by capturing as much data as they can. It also features two teams one more disciplined and one more Wildman.
The disciplined storm chaser is Karen Kosiba who along with her team of researchers and scientists is part of a crew called VORTEX 2. They number over 100 with weather researchers from around the world. The VORTEX 2 team was looking more for elusive data than thrills like Wildman Casey and his crew who race after and into tornados in a seven-ton Tornado Intercept Vehicle (TIV-2) that looks like an armored car customized by Mad Max. The TIV-2 is equipped with a 92-pound IMAX camera inherited from his father and fitted into the TIV-2 like a cannon in a tank's turret.
The movie follows each team as they move a fleet of Doppler on Wheels radar trucks and pod teams in position to capture as much information about the storms as they can.
Tornado Alley doesn’t have a plot beyond the science and focused more on the downtime and the vehicles then on the action and what makes tornados an example of Mother Nature’s ultimate power. There was also an opportunity to dramatize a stylistic clash between scientists and thrill seekers but "Tornado Alley" doesn't capitalize on that drama and instead focuses on the science of chasing storms.
Dan and I both commented that we would have liked to learn more about the storms then on the people chasing them and as a result we were left with a feeling of having missed something and that the actual real dangers of "Tornado Alley" are less photogenic than portrayed in Hollywood movies.
After completing day 3 of the P90X workout routine (Shoulders and Arms) I decided to treat myself to dinner with my close friend Marybeth. I know I should be eating chicken breast and vegetables but I worked hard and thought I could have something more and I rarely get to see her. We decided wherever we ate needed to be inexpensive since we are both on a tight budget. We settled on the Corner Grill in Worcester’s West Side. We had both heard great things and have never eaten there and thought it would be a great place to try. When we got there the crowd was thin and the chalk boards above our heads listed many interesting custom ingredient combinations for pizzas. The small crowd gave us an opportunity to talk to the cashier/order taker about what she thinks is good.
With her recommendation, and that of friends, we settled on the best selling Chicken Caesar Salad Pie. It is made with Caesar dressing, chicken, tomatoes, parmesan-mozzarella cheese, chicken, and topped with a cool chopped ceasar salad. We were both starved so we opted for the larger of the two sizes 14” or 18” @ 11.99 and 15.99 respectively. While they seemed to have a large collection of homemade beverages designed for two people to share we opted for classic Stewart’s Root beer in the bottle and took a seat in one of the restaurant’s little tables.
The pizza was better than either of us anticipated and we quickly devoured nearly all of it. The large is more than enough for two people with healthy appetites.The crust was thin and flavorful and the salad made for a refreshing topping. It was just the right amount of cheese and didn’t leave you feeling like you needed a nap after. By the time we finished the thin crowd became a restaurant packed with people and it was a challenge to pay the bill and get a left over box for the last remaining slices. Clearly this place is a very popular spot for the local’s to grab a bite to eat or grab take out.
Marybeth and I have decided we need to try each of their custom pies.
This past weekend we celebrated the Birthday of a friend at Zocalo in Back Bay.
Reservations: With a large group of 8 we thought it would be best to make reservations when dining in Backbay. After repeated calls with the phone simply disconnecting each time and the website being down we were convinced the restaurant might have closed for good. After one last phone call late into the evening we reached the hostess and attempted to make a reservation but were told that they do not take reservations between 6 and 9 pm on weekends. We made one for 9 and gambled that we could get in early. Upon arrival at 8 we found out that they could in fact take us right away in the downstairs dining room. The downstairs dining room was small and cozy and dimly lit. 0 Star’s.
As a faithful yelp user I will admit I did check out the reviews prior to going and as a result it swayed what I chose to order. We started with the tableside guacamole and the house margaritas. For the entrée we had the steak fajitas. I have rated each course below with +/- a star.
Appetizer: The guacamole was amazing and seemed to have vanished quickly. Ordering a second was necessary for a large group. Each order seemed to have satisfied the appetite of 4 people. I would highly recommend. +1 Star
The Drinks: The house margarita’s were also amazing although the glasses were not filled to the top and there was an over abundance of ice. They too disappeared after 2-3 sips. Our second round of margaritas with different glasses was a bigger success. They were definitely larger and not as overly iced as the previous round. +1 Star
Entrée’s: Dan and I split the steak fajitas since we ate a late lunch and they were very tasty. The steak was very tender and melted in my mouth. There was definitely more than enough for us both to share but like every restaurant they didn’t give us enough tortilla’s and we had to ask for more. +1 Star
Desert: A few people at the table had mistakes with their entrée’s although they were quickly rectified but the waiter brought over two complimentary deserts to make up for it. They did not disappoint and were devoured in short order. +1 Star
All in all I would recommend Zocalo to others with no warnings based on all reviewed items I rank Zocalo 4-Stars.
Battle: Los Angeles is like every other alien invasion movie. It starts something like this: Aliens invade our planet by concealing themselves Trojan horse-style inside meteors which all land nearby major cities across the globe. Their suggested aim is to eliminate the indigenous population of humans and take the planet’s water for their own use. While there are mentions of a war spanning across the globe, the movie focuses on one military unit ultimately lead by a hotshot, Staff Sgt. Nantz (Aaron Eckhart) assigned to search for and rescue any civilians left in an area of Los Angeles. The movie had so much more potential then was delivered and falls short on several important things.
The entire time I was watching this movie I felt it was a failed attempt at being as big a blockbuster as Independence Day. You can’t help but to compare the two movies as the theme and plot is almost identical. The biggest flaw with Battle: LA was the unyielding momentum of it all. A well done story is like a roller coaster. It has peaks and valleys as it moves along. An action sequence or a critical moment may occur and heighten your emotions and spike your adrenaline, and then it slows down and allows time for absorption of what you have seen and allows the audience to build a relationship with the characters. Once the battle started taking place here, there was pretty much only one extended sequence of downtime which came a little late in the movie to build character depth. The constant feeling of paranoia when faced with a roller coaster that’s always on the way down, made for a somewhat uncomfortable viewing experience
Given the limited character depth and nonstop action the acting was excellent. The damsel in distress Michelle (Bridget Moyhiyan) was nothing more than a throwaway character and left little hope for anything more. The other civilian characters added nothing to the story like except to add legitimacy to the mission. The central character who all the others seem to not trust is Staff Sgt. Nantz (Aaron Eckhart). They briefly mention why they don’t trust him but you have to read between the lines to figure out what happens, and then when they explain it, well, the explanation makes no sense other then he feels sorry they died. TSgt. Elena Santos (Michelle Rodriguez) delivers another exceptional role, this time as a non-combatant intel from another unit who meets up with the Marines. All of that said good acting is great individually but there wasn’t any cohesion between the characters nothing to make you root for them as a group.
Bottom Line: Battle: Los Angeles is not the horrible abomination the reviews make it out to be, but it’s certainly nothing new or special either. This is a movie where things blow up and people shoot guns. A movie where you don't have to think and it doesn't expect you to. And if that is your kind of movie, then you'll enjoy this movie. It is intense at moments especially as you are immersed into the front lines defending Los Angeles.
(37) Watch 26 Movies (11/26)
