March 10th, 2004... More Sunday Night TVKristie and I watch three shows on Sunday night, but we can never depend on the kids going to bed or staying in bed, so we tape them and watch them throughout the week. Last night I wrote about Alias, the other two shows are The Practice and whatever series is on HBO, currently The Sopranos.
We've been watching it all season and, up until recently, enjoying it. Monday night we watched the tape, and I wasn't excited to see it. I tried to figure out why, then it occurred to me. It's become the same show again. The lawyers are different, but there is always a case in which we don't know who to trust. They drag out the good cases for three episodes, at least. Also, the cocky new lawyer is getting old. Literally not a single episode has been about any other character. Eugene was always my favorite character, and he's been reduced to a supporting character who is usually just there to bust James Spader when he breaks the bar code of ethics or the law. The old Practice from about three seasons ago had five or six lawyers with different specialties and different strengths and weaknesses. Each case lasted one episode, or sometimes two cases over two episodes, but never one murder for six weeks. No one liked all six lawyers, but you didn't have to, because you had other favorite characters. The show didn't feel liked a formula show. One other thing the old Practice had... ratings. March 9th, 2004... Sunday Night TV
Marshall is one of my favorite characters, he is a super genius who just had a baby and is sleep deprived and Super-caffeinated. I can relate.
Ok, you are special agent Bristow. The bad guys about to destroy the world are escaping, and you choose perhaps the biggest vehicle on the top floor of a parking garage for the chase. I've been in parking garages that a F-150 couldn't even get in. I hate when product placement directly influences the script. Next, yes it gets better, the episode was done in two parts. The first half from Agent Bristow's point of view and the second half from the bad guys perspective. They showed a couple common seems from each perspective twice, including the chase scene which was identical, giving us even more looks at the new Fords.
March 8th, 2004...Levis Crisis
The private investigator naturally looked for suspects close to home. During my interrogation I asked the investigators if the jeans were stolen directly off my wife's body. They said "no" and immediately realized I lacked motive. I'm cleared for now. If you have any information a reward of $3.65 has been raised for information leading to the arrest and lynching of the culprit. If you have kidnapped them, please return them unharmed and we will pay the ransom! Please send ransom notes or information to her here! March 3rd, 2004... Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya SisterhoodSo Kristen says to me "Let's rent a movie tonight, I'll pick it up on the way home." "Sounds terrific, Honey, pick out something good, but please no... {click, dial tone}... chic flick!" Damnit. And that's how the Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood got into my home.
The story jumps back and forth in time, where we find a much younger Vivi played by Ashley Judd. Vivi's perpetual need for a perfect New Orleans debutante life ends up destroying her emotionally when she realizes her idea of perfection is impossible.
The acting was nothing spectacular. Sandra Bullock's character was dry and boring. She's one of my favorite performers because she plays these girl-next-door characters who go on to do something amazing or interesting or funny. Her character wasn't amazing, interesting, or funny so she was just there.
New Orleans played a small role in the movie, but I feel certain a larger role in the novel. Just the names of the young socialites turned old gave it a New Orleans feel; Viviane Joan 'Vivi' Abbott Walker, Caro Eliza Bennett, Necie Rose Kelleher, and Teensy Melissa Whitman.
Ya-Ya, March 2nd, 2004...Oscar Night
I'm not sure who pitched Monster to the studio, but my guess is the pitch included a Charlize Theron - Cristina Ricci lesbian affair, and neglected to mention that they were going to make Charlize FUG-LY in make-up. When she didn't have her looks to fall back on, she rose to the occasion. I haven't seen the movie, but even the trailer gives me justification for her award.
Funny thing, I'm not sure if this is a record of some kind, but the trilogy was nominated for Best Picture all three years, yet only once (Ian McKellan, 2001) was anyone nominated for acting. And this year out of 11 total nominations, no actor was nominated. Thankful just to be nominated, March 1st, 2004... 20% More Free
Actually, this allows me more flexibility with photo sizes and layout. So really, it's all about my convenience and well-being, but it's free so shut up. Another new feature you may, or may not, have noticed is the Photo Galleries link on the main menu. It doesn't work yet, but give me time. I have a fairly large collection of photos from a variety of sources. I'm going to add them to galleries gradually. Usually when I include an image in my daily blog, I had to shrink it from a full size image. I'll use these photo galleries to archive larger images. I'll be able to make most of the images in the blog clickable. Feeling Generous, |
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SunFyre is an Amazon.com affiliate. Every time you shop at Amazon, click here first and up to 5% of your purchase goes to support SunFyre. Shop at Amazon... Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells (Paperback) Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (DVD) The Shawshank Redemption (DVD) Lord of the Rings (Collector's Edition Trilogy) Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier (Paperback) Cold Mountain (DVD) March Links
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The Practice did something bold at the end of last season. They
fired the two main characters and several supporting characters.
Of the original practice, only three lawyers remain. Then they
hired
One
of my favorites shows is
Anyhow,
why am I extra annoyed at Alias this week? Good question!
You know the subtle product placements that advertisers use. They
pay our favorite shows to have the characters drink a certain beer or
bring home a bucket of chicken. This week it went to far.
During one early scene the agents chase the bad guys into a parking
garage where one bad guy has a
Agent
Bristow shouts, "Quick, the
There
is a thief in our midst! My wife can't find her favorite jeans,
those slightly faded ones that make her a$$ look great. She tried
to wear them last weekend, but they weren't where she left them.
She's looked everywhere, behind things, under things, and on top of
things. She called our nanny to ask her if she's seen them.
"Last I saw them, they were on the foot of your
bed." She replied, exactly where Kristen thought she
left them.
Here's
the basic plot without spoilers.
Ellen
Burstyn)
That's
when the Ya-Ya Sisterhood gets involved. The mother, Viviane Joan
'Vivi' Abbott Walker, started a secret sorority of four young girls who
have remained best friends for life. The other three Ya-Ya's (as
they call themselves) swoop in to save the mother/daughter relationship
in time for the wedding. They kidnap Siddalee 'Sidda' Walker (Bullock)
back to New Orleans and begin to try to explain her mother's behavior by
showing her a massive scrapbook.
Ashley
Judd, as young Vivi, was a little more interesting because she had a
very sexy New Orleans accent that was convincing. Besides this she
didn't thrill me. The biggest problem I had was that Young Vivi
and mature Vivi (Burstyn) didn't seem like the same character. I
realize she's supposed to have matured and lost a little of her naivete,
but the two characters were so different that a line of progression
wasn't clear.
One
shining acting moment was 
I
was almost hesitant to give this movie my "Give Me Two Hours of My Life
Back" 
I
did pretty well picking the 
Sean
Penn
Renée
Zellweger
Speaking
of Golden Globes, 
Lord
of the Rings
ded.
"Sure it's a fun movie, but not quite Oscar worthy." After three
years, the voters finally conceded that it's an all-around great movie.
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