Reticent Man

The Killing Gene.  More feminist torture porn.  Swell.  This is a derivative splicing (get it?) of Seven, Saw, and F/M.  To all involved I say fuck you.  Acting 2, Story 0, Style 0.

The Killing Gene 1/10

Harsh Times  Meh. This movie shows the Christian Bale is a great actor, but I already knew that.  The other redeeming quality of this movie is the rarely captured essence of masculinity.  Of course it's portrayed negatively as you would expect, but at least it's portrayed well.  But that's about it.  The story isn't particularly interesting, and when it is it isn't particularly believable.  The nightmare sequences are pretty lame.  Oh and in case you didn't already know, women are smarter and better than men. Still it's no unwatchable, it's mildly entertaining.  Acting 9/10 Story 1/10 Style 6/10 minus a lot for F/M.

Harsh Times 4/10

The Shining.  I don't think I even know yet how much I love this movie.  I need to see it at least 4 more times.  I spent about 6 hours reading analysis about this movie right after seeing it and I could read more.  Kubrick is the man.  I could tell even on first viewing that there were two levels to this thing... that the surface narrative of the haunted hotel is not the real meaning.  But after reading thorough discussion I realized just how amazing the second level is.  This movie is intricately designed essentially frame by frame to carry a very complicated but complete second narrative below the surface.  I need to rewatch other Kubrick movies multiple times just to get to their second levels.  Even the surface narrative is a good movie by itself, very spooky and visually enthralling.  Acting 8/10 Story 10/10 Style 10/10

The Shining 9.5/10

Sunday/Monday.  Watching a lot of TV, hockey, baseball.  By the end of Monday I finally at least got somewhat caught up on chores to where I feel I'm back in the swing of things after a long slump.  Hopefully I'll be able to work out and then make it to work tomorrow.  Heard from Arnold about SESI, seems it's still a ways away if it happens at all.  Still feeling good about my body but now I'd like muscle definition. 

Body of Lies  I'm just copying this other guy's review because I agree with it completely, and it's the fairly unanimous viewpoint on this movie. Ridley Scott infuses his movie with his slick, professional touch, and the proceedings are never quite boring, but certain things begin to grate, even if you largely agree with the film's politics -- the juxtaposition of Russel Crowe's boorish CIA official against Mark Strong's smart Jordanian counterpart is loud and obvious, the love story feels like the device that it becomes, and the third act comes off as more implausible the closer it hews to its spy thriller genre conventions. A certain rawness and despairing urgency is never quite achieved for the message the film wants to deliver, and so it remains a well-intentioned, well-produced, yet generally unmemorable entertainment.  Acting 7, Story 3, Style 9.


Body of Lies 6.5/10.

End of Days  This movie isn't nearly as bad as the general consensus.  Yes it has major plot holes throughout the story, and it is somewhat corny in places (although not nearly as much as I expected.  But it has redeeming qualities.  Some of the plot points and symbolism are actually pretty cool.  The dialogue is not bad in there are some great lines.  The acting is decent quality for an action/thriller, and the action is also decent and not overdone.  It seems for most the plot holes were too much and took people out of the movie... for me it was close, but I was still able to mostly enjoy it.  Bonus for resistance to feminism.  Acting 6, Story 5, Style 6.

End of Days 6/10

Went to Bay for my session, was REALLY uninspired.  I just don't want to be there.  This is a small problem.  I may try Spread limit tomorrow, or just go back to working on my project. I'm at some decision points right now.

Secretary.  A surprisingly un FM movie considering the subject matter.  The character of the submissive is incredibly realistically portrayed.  The dominant lawyer character is pretty good too.  The story is pretty great until 2/3 of the way through and then it's kind of lame.  But still very enjoyable and pretty hot throughout.  Acting 10, Story 7, Style 8.

Secretary 8.5/10

Brazil  A very crazy movie.  This thing is all over the place.   Blah blah blah I dont feel like talking

Brazil 8/10

LA Confidential 9/10

Bo, Jeremy, and Marty came over to watch the Flyers/Rangers last game of the season.  A little drinking, xbox, it was a good time.

Bleh, Guess I forgot to journal again.  Was a pretty boring week. 'Rest' week for p90x and then next week I need to really hit it hard.  At the tail end of my cold this week.  Tuesday I put in good hours at Bay and lost some.  Wednesday I got a late start and put in 4 hours with a small win.  The Geckos game was domination and I played well except for I'm not a strong finisher.  Thursday again a late start and only 3 hours for a small win.  I've begun my major poker project.

Friday I played goalie in the morning.  It was a great skate and I played ok, I identified one particular problem which is that I dont bend my knees and stay low because it's so much work and when that happens I get owned.  I need to figure out how to force myself to stay low.  Also some more reading associated with the project.

Saturday.  Today I really started the project in earnest.  It's slow painstaking work and I think it will be worth it.  I have put my mind like this to many things in my life, and they have all turned out well as far as I can remember.   I don't believe any of them were ever very useful though, just for my amusement.  This could be it, the first actually productive thing that I ever really put my mind to.  Just putting it that may helps my frame of mind.  Unfortunately my chores are going by the wayside and it's hard to put in Bay hours, but I'll figure it out.

Standard Day.  Got up, p90x rest day.  Bot in at Bay at 11 and played for 8 hours.  It was tough at the end.  Had a rollercoaster session in which I approached tilt, but ended up winning a bit.  Went home and watched the Caps beat Boston.

Easter, yay.  Hung around for a bit, then went to play poker.  I tried something new with my focus and energy and it backfired.... I didn't play well.  I need to just play the way I always play.  Went home to watch TV

Paul Blart Mall Cop:  This movie is really stupid.  I guess it really is meant for kids... being PG instead of R.  I get it that it's much nicer than most similar comedies, but it's just not really funny.  There's literally a couple of funny parts and some truly unbelievable plot holes.  It's just lame.  There's the normal amount of FM but it's drowned out by other things.  Acting 4, Story 0, Style 1

Paul Blart 2/10

Hero:  This movie is incredibly beautiful.  It is intended to be art and it is great art.  The story is essentially a small philosophical curiosity, and the contents of the movie are the rendering of the philosophy through martial arts imagery.  Some of the images in the movie are incredible.  Despite containing two ass-kicking females, it is pointedly lacking in FM.  Acting 8, Style 10, Story, 8

Hero 9/10

Still not doing a whole lot.  Did chores and admin in the morning/afternoon.  Then watched TV.

The Outlaw Josey Wales:  Wow this might be the best older western I've ever seen.  Eastwood is a man, a real man.  It's a classic western plot line.  The design of some of the scenes is a little corny, but overall it's done very well, and the dialogue is fantastic.  A whole bunch of incredible lines.  Acting 9, Story 9, Style 9.

Outlaw Josey Wales 9/10

Still sick.  Didn't do much.  Played lunchtime pickup and it was a good skate and I played fairly well aside from a couple softies.  Then went home and couldn't get motivated to play poker.  Played some online 4/8 8 game.

Igby goes down.  A Depressing updated version of Catcher in the Rye.  I enjoyed it a fair amount despite some major shortcomings.  It's unique in very subtle ways.  It managed to stay one step ahead of my expectations, constantly surprising me without being crazy just to be crazy.   Just when I think it's going to step into cliche it misses it by a millimeter.  The acting from the many well known actors is fantastic.  Downsides there are some character actions that don't flow or make sense, there are really too many characters that are almost good, but don't quite get developed enough.  And in the end it doesn't really say anything so its value is only the ride.... which is interesting but not exceptional.  It's actually hard to say if it's highly feminist or not because although many FM themes are present, the film is so dark it could be taken as a repudiation of them.  Acting 9, Story 6, Style 4

Igby goes down 6.5/10
 

Sick.  Didn't do squat today.  Fixed up my blackberry a little.

Busy day, and I am getting sick.  Lunchtime pickup goalie I was really really focused and did finally play well. But the game was 5v5 with Ian, Chris, Dave, Jordan, Walter, so it was crazy up and down.  Took it easy on the poker, feeling weak from my cold.  Went to Garden city later and played some 20-40 and 10-200.  Late night hockey game, playing with Keith in goal and against Ed McKnight, we knew it would be high scoring.  I ended up with a ton of scoring chances and shots and couldn't convert.  Very disappointing.  But the +- disparity was huge again.