Movie Review: Zootopia

I have seen more movies this year, and its odd, but am glad I am making an effort to watch more movies. There are a number of really good movies that have come out recently. Still, I can be very selective of what I watch. I will admit that I am a bit behind on my Disney movies, still haven't watched Tarzan or Princess and the Frog.

Anyway, Dear Readers, I went to see Zootopia this past weekend.

First thing, don't go see a seven o'clock showing if you don't like a theatre filled with kids. 'Twas a bit noisy, but I digress.Yet I think the adult laughed harder at the humour in the movie.

Second, Disney can actually tell a story, one with purpose and relevance. This is something that I think gets lost in some of the movies (Disney and non-Disney alike) now-a-days.

Okay, with that aside, Zootopia wasn't what I was expecting. I really wasn't sure what to expect actually. The movie opens on a school pageant showcasing the history of Zootopia with Judy Hops, future Bunny Cop. Not something that creatures of this world expect (insert prejudices about bunnies and foxes here). Bunnies are carrot farmers, usually, but Judy plans to defy all the conventions and becomes a police officer. After becoming valedictorian of her class at Zootopia's police academy, she is placed in city center as a meter maid. Not one to give up she make her ticket quota and weasels her way onto a missing mammal case (looking for Emmett Otterton, the irony of this was NOT lost on me). She enlists the aid of a fox, Nick Wilde and adventure abounds in the search for the missing mammals.

What I was expecting was nothing like the richly developed world that Disney created. Its a real world, with subtleties of real problems that animals face and with its various cultures and personalities, and even prejudices portrayed. Yes, Zootopia has prejudices!

It was everything I could hope for in a KIDS MOVIE; a story for the children and a story for the adult, that even includes lessons that can be taught and learned in our own world. Learning to look past what we see in other people, bunnies, foxes, and sheep. Learning to come together to make the world a better place. Seeing a world with issues and meaty concepts that rise up, and rise up they did, with characters that could actually make that world a better place. It gave me something to consider when I think of my own world, my own views of the people that live on planet earth.

Not to get too deep, but really it was surprising and delightful to see that people really do care about the world. Enough so that they will make a statement to educate children that it is okay to be different. Kudos!

Also, SLOTHS + DMV = Awesome!! Enough said....

I also like to point out the eclectic casting from Idris Elba, Jason Bateman, Alan Tudyk, Octavia Spencer, and Shakira to name a few. If you get a chance to watch this movie then you should.

Thoughts on Fuller House

2016 is the year that brought back the Full House cast in a new show Fuller House.

Who'd have thunk it?!?! (Yeah, pulling out the 90's cliches)

Since acquiring Netflix I have noticed that they have been creating a whole slew of their own TV shows. Up to now I haven't jumped on that bandwagon, well until last weekend anyway.

See, I hear a lot, A LOT, about House of Cards and Black in the New Orange, but I haven't jumped into these shows. Maybe because I have too many shows in my queue,or  it's not what I am into, maybe it never occurred to me to try it out. These are all excuses I have used, but then Netflix had to bring most of thecast of Full House, expect the Olsen Twins, into a new show focusing on DJ, Kimmy, and Stephanie (now young women) raising three boys and a teenage girl (see the parallels coming now).

I really didn't know much about the show prior to watching it. I also didn't know if i could sit through it, after all I loved the original. How could the sequel show be any good? Sometimes when to go to revisit something from your youth it doesn't taste quite the same as what you remembered. I watched the first episode with some trepidation, only to be pleasantly surprised. There was a number of throwbacks from all of the classic one liners, from "How Rude" to "Have Mercy", and the obvious "Cut it Out". Believe it or not they are used infrequently and not to the detriment of the show. It would have been an easy thing to do to over use them. The characters of DJ, Kimmy, and Stephanie are well portrayed and it seems that the actress didn't lose stride with returning to their character, and yet adding more depth to their grown up characters.

I will admit that the cameos sometimes felt forced, having Uncle Jesse forget his lucky guitar, Priscilla, or having Becky stick around to see to who got the flowers in the secret admirer episode. I hope they get a chance to ring Danny, Jesse, Joey, and Becky back for more episodes and not just one at a time, although the season finale was a nice touch having Jesse, Joey, and Becky. Overall, though it was fun to see the cast reunite and have some fun with the new stories.

It is a major cheese fest, but I enjoyed the original series which was just as cheesy with Danny's incessant cleaning that has been passed down to DJ and her son, Max.

If you want a fun watch, you should check it out, everything from Stephanie/Kimmy kiss to She Wolf  Pack to Jesse ans Stephanie exchanging lines. And there is ABSOLUTELY nothing wrong with hugging it out.

It is interesting to know that after this season, both of the Tanner girls will have appeared on Dancing with the Stars. Jodie Sweetin is set to dance for the 22nd season of the show. And Candace was on Season 18.

What is your favourite part of Full House, Dear Readers? Have you watched Fuller House yet? Will you? What are your thoughts on the show?

Movie Review: Deadpool

I want it on the record, I knew next to nothing about Deadpool prior to seeing this movie. Nothing.Except that I had seen X-Men Origins: Wolverine, which features a very different. That was an INTERESTING movie, to say the least. Portrayed much differently with a sewn shut mouth and mutant powers from each of the X-Men making me quite the adversary.

I rather like the mouthy, sword and gun toting version better.

Also, I need to say that I am REALLY behind on my superhero movies. So this is a really an impromptu review.

First, I am not normally a Ryan Reynolds fan, but he was the best smart ass as Wade Wilson, AKA Deadpool. Okay, there will probably be spoilers her, Dear Readers. Point is this movie was really effin' good.

I love a good linear story, but something about a story that jumps from past to present reminds me of the way I write sometimes. You see, I have written a few stories where the main protagonist is set in one time line, and then jumps to a either a different protagonist or a different time with the same protagonist . So, it made sense when Deadpool would jump back to an earlier time to explain an earlier point my brain could actually follow the story. The movie is more of an origins story and less and adventure based story, yet the movie doesn't suffer for it. I found that I could connect with Wade, Vanessa, and even Francis. It was well thought out and even well presented.

Something that I enjoyed and usually don't enjoy if not done well is the breaking of the fourth wall. It is so easy to have a character just start talking to the audience, Dear Readers, but it is hard to make it believable and NOT annoying. I remember a children's theatre that featured a character that broke the fourth wall and it annoyed me the whole time I was watching. Never mind that the rest of the show was good and the kids acted their little hearts out, but to have a character (a stage manager character too) just burst out about how their job is not going well and the actors are ruining the show put a bit of a damper on the story that was already in progress. Now, I must point out that the young lady playing the stage manager was trying her hardest, but it is hard to convey fourth wall breakage well. Deadpool breaks the fourth wall quite a bit and used a lot of humour, but not in every scene, or in every moment. It felt almost natural, and you were expecting it. I thought this helped the movie's case, as I would have just responded to Deadpool's queries or comment as if I was there with him on the bridge or in the car on the highway. While in that children's show it was awkward, random, and unnecessary.

Note: fourth wall breaking is usually used in improv games and dinner theatre. Although not exclusively, I have experienced fourth wall breaking in these circumstances.

I could tell that Ryan Reynolds has a passion for Deadpool, with his impish delight and passion, that is what really made me enjoy Deadpool. I also liked the humour. There is something amusing about a character who is so vulgar. Not a movie for anyone under 13, hell, maybe under 16, but entertaining and much different than the standard fare now-a-days.

See, as I stated before I am really behind on my superhero movie. But Deadpool is less a superhero movie and more an action movie. Deadpool is not a superhero, but a anti-hero. This doesn't mean he is a villain, but in a world where most action adventure movies have a hero and a villain, it is nice to have a protagonist (protagonist) who is less like a superman and more like a man with special abilities. I applaud Marvel for their choices with this movie. It helped. I hope for more stories that test what we know about stories, heroes, and villains. But at the same time I hope that this isn't the new normal. It was suggested by Red Letter Media (guys who do fun reviews) that maybe this concept/style could become the new trend in movies. Watch their Half in the Bag review of Deadpool. I rather hope that it is used sparingly so as to not wear out the possibilities.

 One Comic Book version of N.T Warhead

Movie version of N. T. Warhead

Overall verdict: If you are old enough, then yes, yes, you should see this movie. From a storytelling perceptive it is unique story, from a unique perspective. Yes, there is a lot of vulgarity, but really that never took away from the story. Something a little different to break up the monotony of superhero movies, comics, books, etc. Also, I love a good and flawed character and Wade Wilson is flawed and funny for all the right reasons. And you get a little (and I mean little bit of X-men with Colossus and Negasonic Teenage Warhead, who is an actual X-Man). And they also changed her powers and persona quite a bit. Read a bit about her at Comic Vine.

Have you seen Deadpool, Dear Readers? What kind of movies do you like? Do you like something a little different for the normal? Favourite superhero or anti-hero? Favourite villain? Leave a comment below and show me shown love. Peace!

Movie Review: Inside Out

I have to say it,Pixar has yet to disappoint!

I just finally got around to seeing Inside Out (borrowed from a friend), and oh man, what a ride!! What a ride!!!!

So without spoiling it for you (as little spoilers as possible. You have been warned though), Dear Readers. I will say this about Inside Out, it is a new story built out of what we already know something about our emotions. Never has it been so clear about what we ourselves have experienced in our own heads. I think we maybe never considered life on the inside of the cranium.

Ha! See what I did there...okay, maybe lame, maybe not...

Okay, so here's what I think. Inside Out is fantastic story. I think Pixar picked a different kind of story to tell and it worked. I was a little hesitant at the beginning. There were a few times early on that I was wondering where it was going. And then-BLAM-I was hit with feel and a realism that I could understand. I was already pretty familiar with how the brain generally worked,but now there context, like when Sadness is too sad to move. I know who suffer with various depression and anxiety issues. This is a real this. Heck, I even experience it sometimes, especially lately.

There is enough that kids will be entertained, and more than enough for adults and teens to chew on.

There is a dedication to detail that Inside Out presents; in a way I think it makes us aware of how our brains works, considers how depression and anxiety works, and allows us to learn to accept all of emotions. You see emotions are just as complicated as people are it seems. You have to be able to see that feeling Joy can and often contains Sadness. That maybe Fear, Anger, and Disgust are just as important (they cannot drive the body solely. It is a team effort).

My favourite parts include, but are not limited to the following, Sadness drive Riley, Fear on Dream detail, and the emotions featured during the credits.

Pixar has put a lot into their movies over the years. I feel that even though it is CGI, the worlds they create are just as real as the real world. That is how good Pixar makes their little microcosms. Riley is a microcosm in the middle of her macrocosm. There is such attention to detail within, especially when you are creating the parts of the brain in HQ, long term memory, imagination land, the train of thought, and so forth.

When I look at it I see a touching and true look at how our emotions makes us into the people we are. The story is really strong. The characters are believable. And I didn't feel like I was waiting for the movie to end.  I recommend everyone check out Inside Out out.

So, Dear Readers, have you watched Inside Out? What are your opinions of it? Likes? Dislikes? Also, what is your favourite Pixar movie(s)?

I love the Toy Story trilogy and Up, but I am also a little partial to The Good Dinosaur now.

What do you know about French Fries?

French Fries!

Yeah, one of my best friends, Sara, suggested I blog about French Fries...

...clearly Friday afternoons are great days to get ideas from friends. And I am never one to give up on a challenge, therefore I will blog about French Fries and make it interesting.

You see, Dear Readers, I usually ask for poetry topics and write a poem with said topic. Today is clearly different. Write a blog about French Fries.

French Fries are not French. I know shocking. Or maybe not. Maybe they are?!?!?

Some say the Belgians were the first to fry the potato, others give credit to France, still others say that Spain is the forerunner of the fried potato. Spain was said to find the potato in an abandoned Colombian village and brought it back to Europe. No one is really sure if France or Belgium was the first to receive the potato. At that time Spain controlled much of Belgium. But...Spain started it all it seems, bring the ground apple "Pomme de Terre", as it is called in France to Italy and then onto Belgium and France.

It feels like a urban legend, who created the first french fry...

In Francethe story goes that a French medical soldier fighting in the Seven Years War is credited with discovering the potato, because he was captured and sent to Prussia as a POW where potatoes were given out as the rations. Here he learned about the tuber. After the war he brought it back to France and had to convince his fellow countrymen that it was worth eating. You see-at that time-he French thought potatoes were thought to cause disease in humans (History of French Fries) and only fit to feed to pigs.

Imagine that!

All pictures from MorgueFile

The potato came to Europe and was expanded on by Belgians and French alike, add the Dutch to the list of potato lovers.

The Belgians and Dutch do love their potatoes. They have street vendors everywhere dedicated selling "Frites" or "Patats" (in Holland) in paper cones and served with a creamy mayonnaise (not like the American kind). While they love to eat their potatoes with just a sauce, the French ate their potatoes often with meat (steak was a popular choice).

Only after the potato war begun, about who invented the Fried Potato did the tuber make its way to England and America. The British called them chips and Americans called them french fries. Which I think is not really confusing, but that's because I like a number of British things and have taken up calling fries chips.

I have never had chips done in the style of British, Belgian, or Dutch (a personal account of a Dutch born chip lovers) and am seriously curious to try them. All that I am  used to are the standard American chip-the thinly sliced sticks of potato. If you were to ask me where are the best chips or fries I would have to ponder a bit. You see I am not a fan of most fast food restaurant fries, as many are too greasy, too salty, too over cooked, or not cooked enough. This includes the the biggie chains, McDonald's and Burger King which I don't generally frequent as of late.

I am definitely a french fry, chip person. Usually, when I order at a restaurant one of my side choices is (most) always the golden thin deep fried tuber. I love dipping chips in barbecue sauce, honey mustard, ranch and even ketchup.  But my favourite way to have chips is with malt vinegar, a little pepper, and some ketchup.

Of places to eat chips at (and I have an affinity for all things British). Hell, I would love to have chips with the Doctor (yes, I am a Whovian). The thought of walking down the street with  paper cone of chips and Capaldi or Eccleston makes me giddy. Okay now I am starting to wander. I have had french fries everywhere, okay maybe not EVERYWHERE, but they are really common around here. So, maybe I should tell you, Dear Readers where I love to eat chips. Below is my top 5 list of best chips (fries) in town (or elsewhere):

1. Five Guys Burger and Fries, Big Flats and Ithaca, NY - made with fresh potatoes right then and there.

2. Smokie's Restaurant, Kanona, NY - A truck stop that is a favourite hangout post theatricl shows in the Bath/Hammondsport area. I more standard french fried potato, but a nice crispy consistency and not overly salted.

3. Sorge's Restaurant, Corning, NY - if you want good local Italian cruise and a friendly atmosphere, check them out. Their fries leave a little bit of the skin on them, not too crispy, but  not raw either. Perfect with a bit of pepper and malt vinegar. That is a British thing, dousing chips in malt vinegar.

4. The food stand at the Farm Festival in Fredonia, NY - I don't know if they are still in operation, but this family own an food stall that would go around to all the outdoor events throughout the are. They would take a whole potato and make into into a pile of curly fries. Worth the 2 to 3 dollar price. It was like a meal in and of itself. Cover it in vinegar and some ketchup and you have a party! And in answer to your possible questions, Dewar Reader, the Farm Festival was a weekend arts and crafts, farmer's market, and music in festival form at the end of August in Fredonia, NY. A perfect way to end the summer. It still is running as far as I know.

5. Alton's, Cheektowaga, NY (2250 Walden Avenue)  - My favourite restaurant to frequent when visiting the Buffalo area. They have amazing Greek cuisine and the best sweet potato fries ever. I didn't talk about he possibility of sweet potato fries, but yeah...its a thing. Fries made out of sweet potatoes. Alton's sweet potato fries are lightly crispy and served with either a butter sauce or honey. Excellent either way, or you could take the dill sauce that comes with many of the Greek dishes and dip the sweet potato fries into it. Also very tasty.

Potato Haiku

Little ground thing, grow

Little round thing in the dirt--

Want you in ketchup 

And for a little fun see Sara's commentary brainstorming (because when you read her parts it is funny). I love you Sara!!

Me: What should I blog about?

 

Sara: french fries

--you should blog about french fries...

--where you have had the best and worst of them.

--how you like them.

--how you feel about french fries and how weird it is that British people call them Chips and call Chips Crisps, and how Billie Piper makes them look like the most delicious things on earth

--OH! and how they compare to other methods of potato preparation

--Sorry. I don't have an off switch.

--working on it

-- :-P

It should be noted that she is right about Billie Piper (Rose Tyler from Doctor Who) does make chips seem like the best thing EVAR!!!!

Leave me a comment about where your have had the best fries, chip, patat, frites, etc. What are your favourite dipping sauces? What do you like with your potatoes? Do you prefer other forms of tubers?

Poetry Corner: Remember When...

Do you remember back in Kindergarten, the days of simplicity and safety scissors. Thanks to DAScottjr for the topic. A little poem about the joy of school, before it became a struggle or torture. What do you remember from the early days of school? Leave me a comment below, Dear Readers...

Remember When…

Metal and plastic,

The safety kinds, you know

When craft time begins, but really how can you

Manage to cut anything with

Safety scissors,

Making rings around your fingers as you cut.

Remember?

But, I prefer the glitter and glue

Elmer’s drying on my palm

Like a second skin,

Peeling,

Peeling

Slowly away, when I should be making art.

Remember?

Snack time,

Fruit rolls are like crack,

always wanting more.

Usually the box wouldn’t make it home

From the grocer’s

Or maybe pudding cups,

Metal lid,

Pry it off,

And plastic spoons to scoop out the

Chocolatey gold.

Remember?

Math sheets,

Timed

Not my favourite subject even back then—

Faced down and GO

the timer starts

Never finished the whole sheet.

Remember?

The simple things

That made school less harrowing

Maybe more enjoyable

Years after,

When taxes, 

mortgages,

speeding tickets, 

and arthritis 

fills your world.

Remember?

I know I do.

Essay: Thoughts of Reading

Reading is is a pastime that many of us enjoy,or  that students have to experience (some do, others don't), and that teachers do daily.

From MorgueFile

Reading is not just about reading the next Harry Potter novel or classic Moby Dick. I have not tried reading that book, yet. Reading is something that pretty much everyone does on some level. Think about it. Seriously! You have to read the instructions on the mac and cheese box or read the directions on the box of laundry detergent. It is everywhere! It is something built in to our brains, even if not everyone can do it I feel that reading is necessary to ones own pysche.

As I have yet to see people who can't read (unless they are two) or don't want to (I still see them reading magazines or news articles).

Reading is life. At least to me it seems to be life. Maybe that is the difference, but I have yet to be fully convinced.

See, I remember spending days at my local library, either reading Beatrix Potter books, Black Stallion and Nancy Drew books, oh, and the guilty pleasures of The Baby Sitter's Club books. Yes, I was one of them!!! The librarians introduced me to Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising Sequence. I also played Book-opoly, a summer reading program where I read Marguerite Henry books (think Misty and Stormy), books about dogs, and mysteries. Then when I was in middle school-about fourth, fifth, and sixth grade-we had the Book It!. It was a reading program that got kids to read and rewarded them with pizza from Pizza Hut. There were many trips to Pizza Hut when I was younger. So you see there was always something making me read, even if I didn't always want to read. The first year of Book It! I was not the most determined reader, that would happen later. I read only a little bit, but more than others.

But, as I look at my life I can see that I was destiny to read. I love sharing books with others, reading and telling stories to little children, and writing my own stories down.

When I think about books I get a happy, fuzzy feeling. They smell good. Feel wonderful under my fingers. Books are like friends telling you a wonderful secret. I have many secret lining my books shelves and I am always on the look out for more. There is always a stack of books to be read in my house. I always say I will get through the stack, but like any bibliophile (lover of books), I am buying more. Heaven help me going into a bookstore.

For the last two years I have been taking part in Goodreads Reading challenge. I am not a fast reader, but I am a determined reader. Usually, I can get through a book in 2 to 4 weeks, unless it is a harder read, or a really long book. Some books, like Wrinkle in Time or Bridge to Terabitha can take me merely a day to read. I always strive to be able to remember the story after I finish reading the book, so no rushing through to just finish the book here. This year the goal is 40 books. I read 40 last year, starting at 30 books (tried to get to 50 halfway through the year). I am already at 5 books. Granted I have picked up the shorter novels to novel to get me into the reading spirit for 2016. I also have about three books going at one time, and therefore read what I am most in the mood for. In my queue is currently at Inkspell (Cornelia Funke), Victory on Janus (Andre Norton), Murder Comes to Shore (Julie Anne  Lindsey), and a non-fiction book  on poetry.

I usually read fiction, science fiction, fantasy, mystery, but other times I do read non-fiction. Currently, I am reading Writing the Australian Crawl, which is a book of essays on writing and poetry by William Stafford. He is a poet and writer. My friend Kevin gave me the book for Xmas and I am working my way through it. I have had to resort to my process of reading textbooks, like I did in college, by using a pencil and reading small chunks at a time. Most books for me are reading to slide into, but when I am reading something like a textbook, or a collection of essays I need to take my time.

Any book that has paragraphs that take up a whole page is going to take me longer. I remember my literary theory class in college, well, actually I barely remember it, because the essays and chapters were so long that I would forget what I read after I read it. That and the teacher was a terrible, cruel teacher (aren't they usually). That was when I veered from non-fiction, specifically essay/theory books. I don't mind reading a history book, as long as it is about an interesting (See Sin in the Second City. It is a fun read.). So, as I read the Writing the Australian Crawl I am finding that I have to relearn how to read. This isn't necessarily bad. It is very good. You should learn something everyday. In fact, I am finding that while it is taking me a longer time to finish, I am understanding it more. At least so far!

Remember how I said that reading is built in to us. I still believe that is true. I may not understand everything I read, but I can find that in the learning there is always something you take from the words, always. If you never learn from life, the universe, and everything (42, man!), then you will never grow. I could always read my sci-fi/fantasy and never see outside that, or only read about the news. I could never try to understand how to write a poem, but then chances are my poetry would never get better.  But I would not feel whole.

Playing Witch #1 this Spring

So, I try to inspire others to read, write, act, direct, or just life your life with purpose. Maybe I will convince someone to read something different. Maybe I will be inspired to read or write something different, and that I feel is the better than not. Truth, some people will not read novels, but maybe I will inspire someone to try. That is really the reason for this essay, self discovery.

So I read books that I harder for me, I stretch my literary muscles by performing Shakespeare (means I have to read it to understand it), I read books outside of my comfort zone, and sometimes I will just not finish a book (it is true, but that is for another blog post and another time). I am learning. Hopefully I helped you find something within my words to inspire you.

I am a reader, a scholar, and thespian, and writer, a friend, a mentor, a person.

What are you, Dear Reader?

What do you like to read, Dear Readers? What type of books, styles, authors are your favourite? Your least favourite? Leave me some love in the comments section.