The Empty Cabinets of my Mind

Why Do Critics Dump on the Movies I Like?

I'm learning not to pay too much attention to what the movie critics say, but the good thing about searching online for information about films is that after all the so-called professionals get done trashing my favorite movies, ordinary people post comments with their own opinions.  Usually the comments posted by the movie-goers ends up being a lot closer to what I think. 

The latest instance where this happened was No Strings Attached.  A friend and I pulled up outside a cinema on impulse when we found ourselves traveling with a couple hours before dinner time.  I fired up my smart phone and asked Mr. Google to find me reviews for No Strings Attached.  The ones that came up at first were pretty negative.  I didn't have time to watch a trailer or pull up consumer opinions.  The films showing at the right time were limited to dark and violent film or No Strings.  We decided to chance it.

No Strings Attached was a darling movie in my opinion, but maybe that is I because I eat like a baby dinosaur.  My friend liked the movie too, but that could be because he has seen me eat and agrees that I eat like a baby dinosaur.  That is after one of the cutest lines in the movie, but I cannot explain it here at risk of spoiling the plot for you.   If you like dark twisted intellectual movies go see Black Swan.  But if you like romantic comedies with cute actors who can make the audience laugh, see No Strings Attached.   Just don't bring the kids.  It is rated R for a reason. 

Black Swan

I don't usually do movie reviews, but in a few days I am planning to see Black Swan at our local theater, and I will report back as to what I think of it. 

Maybe it is only because I visited mid-town Manhattan last summer that a show set in New York now seems appealling. I am not ordinarily a big fan of Nutcracker, or psychosexual thrillers, either.  But there is still time.  I might just settle for Tangled instead, or even Chronicles of Narnia.  Regarding the C. S. Lewis classic, I didn't even finish reading the book, and the movie got weak reviews, but I love the scenery in the trailer and think I could go happily there even if the plot sickened.  I predict that Black Swan would be just the opposite.  I could wrap my head around the intellectual daring of the film, but the scenery in the trailer was not alluring.  Not for me. 

 

Going Rogue on the Internet?

I'm not much of a media person, but most of my friends are.  So I have to try to keep up with it in order not to be a complete stick in the mud.  Accordingly, I just went over to IAMROGUE to view a video on one of my favorite movie-making guys, Tim Burton.

Burton has reinvented Alice in Wonderland, and I think, could not have chosen a better actress than Mia Wasikowska to play the lead.  But in this video he is talking about art instead.

IAMROGUE, by the way, is sort of a bridge between us and entertainment, offering movie trailers, music, TV, sports, pop culture, and more, all wrapped up with social networking, so why not check it out:

concert tickets

Also, if you want to be the next Susan Boyle, did I say they have contests? Just peruse their talent search link.  

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This post is sponsored by IAMROGUE.com/contests

I Went Bowling Today

Yes, me!   I got a Brunswick T-Zone pink pearl ball for my birthday, go figure, and decided to start learning how to use it. 

I had a pretty nice contraption on wheels that I had bought at a sewing shop to store and transport machine embroidery thread.  It was just taking up space, so I retrofit it to hold my shoes and ball and other gear.   So I don't have to buy a bag.  I thought maybe the season bowlers would make fun of that, but they said "Good idea!" 

A couple of the resort casinos that I visit when traveling have bowling lanes on the property. 

I think bowling is good exercise when I am taking a motor trip.  After sitting in the car it is good to do something different, and after trying out a few lanes here and there I have concluded that bowlers are, for the most part, pretty nice people.   I had a good time and plan to do it again soon.