Sickness is not fun for anyone

Last night I talked with Voldoll and she told me she felt sick and was running a fever. This morning I might try to stop by and see her and make her feel as best as I can.

Superman Returns

I saw Superman Returns on opening day. I will never grow too old or get used to seeing a movie on opening day. I love it. This day was even more special for me because I grew up with Christopher Reeve as Superman and I had the toys, underwear, blankets, and appropriately themed Superman parties.

The title, Superman Returns serves as both movie title and story. Superman, played by Brandon Routh, has been away from Earth for over five years searching the remnants of Krypton for any survivors. Upon his return he discovers a world and some close friends that have moved on. Clark Kent returns to the Daily Planet to find Lois Lane, played by Kate Bosworth, has had a child and is engaged to the editor’s nephew. Arch enemy Lex Luthor, played devilishly by Kevin Spacey, has in his unique diabolical fashion wretched away a fortune from a dying woman. What ensues over the course of two plus hours is a movie that transported me back to my childhood and but never completely satisfied my inner comic book geekyness.

The opening credits began flying at me like the originals and I was immediately transported back to my youth. I was psyched to see Superman fly above the stars and wait to be called into action. Unfortunately this does not happen for the first thirty minutes of the movie which at times seemed painstakingly slow. Just like King Kong, this movie could've been shortened by twenty minutes and still worked well, perhaps even better. Superman's return in the movie happens in an effects laden scene involving a shuttle launch that has gone terribly wrong. Indeed, the effects are so good (and they should be with a $250 million price tag) that you will believe a man can fly. The movie was filmed in sequential order to you can watch Routh grow into the part and watch his confidence soar, literally, by the third act. Routh and Bosworth have chemistry which I cannot say for Bosworth and James Marsden who played Richard White, her fiancé. Still by the end of the movie you grow fond of Richard White (I found myself rooting for himl) as he is unflinching in risking his life to save his family. Marsden's makes us believe that any human can be a hero without super powers.

The biggest disappointment I had with the movie dealt with Luthor’s not so ingenious plan. Luthor has discovered the Fortress of Solitude and its secrets. Kevin Spacey delivers in the role as should be expected from a fine actor but Lex's plot seemed far fetched and silly. Create a new land mass that people will want to live on. The only problem with this is the land mass is ugly and unhabitable, no one will be able to by it because its creation will destroy 1/3 of the world's population, and said destruction will cripple the world's economy thus rendering real estate a market nobody can invest in. This is what we call in the Marines, good initiative, bad judgement.

Kate Bosworth is entirely too young to play the role of Lois. I found it hard to believe she could manage a fiancé, a son, and a career as a journalist. How did she manage to win a Pulitzer with all that and she's only in her mid twenties? Seems implausible.

Highlights of the movie were the exceptional piece of acting from Tristan Lake Lebeau who played Jason White, Lois's son, and a scene in which he protects his mother by demonstrating some other worldly strength. A final touching scene in which the father becomes the son and the son becomes the father, where Superman finds what he was looking for, gives the movie a loving touch that Director Bryan Singer should be credited with delivering.

Superman Returns is a fine movie in the end but with some flaws and a lengthy run time.

Honor Them

The Red Pill has a post that discusses his experience of watching an Air Force commissioning ceremony here. What is most telling, and you might miss it, was that he was once a student in the same ROTC class but was unable to graduate with them. He witnessed men and women that he trained with take an oath to defend the Constitution, a simple piece of paper, that has helped reshape the world. It's ironic that an individual should take an oath to protect anything other than the written word. Taking an oath to protect the King and Queen or to serve a vain Imperator would make more sense to me, but to protect all enemies from the Constitution, the document that records our deepest held beliefs is truly revolutionary even in today's world.

Best Wishes to Matt and Erica

Matt and Erica are heading overseas for two months. They plan to travel around Western and Eastern Europe. Make sure to check their blog for the latest pictures and on site bird flu reporting!

Newest Blog

Thirty Caliber Empire is a blog worth checking.

Been a while hasn't it?

It's been a while since I last posted something. I have had a difficult time getting motivated to blog about stuff even though I'm really opinionated about current events. Also I'm struggling to really determine what purpose the blog will serve. I'll try better to get some material published.

Jon decided to use his smoker over the break. Yummy. I need one but I got to use my new George Forman grill instead. Also Justin is changing over to Wordpress 2.0 and had an adventure trying to get unlocked by way of WD-40.