Getting Out Of The Cold

The weather has been all over the place lately - there could be something to this whole "Global Warming" thing. Anyway, now that we’re in the midst of our first true cold snap of the year (-20), the griping has begun and suddenly everyone is a comedian: “Cold enough for ya?”

For the record: no…I’m only bundled up like this to avoid being asked the question: “aren’t ya cold?”

…And once again we’re reminded that we live in Atlantic Canada. My solution: book a trip to go south; cold times like this remind me why Fidel built all those resorts in the first place.

Over the weekend, The Wife and I booked our first-ever winter-escape. I’ve been to Florida once – it rained most of the time – but that was with my parents while I was still in High School. So, this will be the first time, as an adult, I get to escape the snow, wind and frost-bite of New Brunswick, and embrace the sun, sand and unlimited free booze that all-inclusive resorts have to offer. I’m pretty excited.

There was a decision to make when we booked this trip, though: where should we go? The answer varied depending on who we asked. Some are staunch Dominican Republic ambassadors, while others say they prefer Cuba. (We had narrowed our choice down to the two…perhaps Jamaica or other places in the Caribbean will come in the future.) The one argument that seemed to pop up the most was over food.

Nearly everyone I’ve talked to (who has been to both destinations) has told me that the food is better in the DR. My response: “I’m not going for the food.” And neither is any one else. Fact is: the food is merely a secondary pleasure in a vacation such as this. I mean, if the food is great, that’s a bonus, but when you’re on the beach drinking a Mojito (I don’t even really know what that is) at 10am, the food is gonna taste pretty damn good…especially come Supper-time - pace yourself with those Mojitos. I mean, it’s the middle of winter and at this resort you’re surrounded by sun, sand, warmth and relaxation…I’m sold.

Besides, it’s my understanding you can tip with chewing gum…only Kevin McAllister could get away with that here.

-Crash-



We chose Cuba, by the way. We booked at Sears Travel, but there are various spots you could check out in the city if you’re thinking of taking a trip of your own. Check out a list here.

Film Review: Little Fockers

In 2000, we had the chance to see one of the greatest screen actors of our time- one known for intense, serious roles – issue the line: “I have nipples, Greg; could you milk me?” It’s one of several hilarious exchanges in Meet The Parents – a film about a nervous male-nurse meeting his girlfriend’s family for the first time – that made the film such a success. It was a riot watching Robert De Niro as Jack - the ex-CIA, over protective father - and Ben Stiller as Greg - the nervous boyfriend who tries too hard to impress - try to one-up each other. It was easy to relate because at some point, we’ve all been there.

And that’s the problem with the third film in the franchise; we’ve all been there.

In Meet The Fockers, Greg & Pam (Terry Polo) are engaged and their parents are meeting for the first time. Dustin Hoffman & Barbara Streisand are hilarious as the free-living Fockers, and the film offered up many new laughs as the parents’ personalities clash. It also relived some old favourites – especially Jack reverting back to his untrusting CIA tactics.

In Little Fockers, it just seems like we’ve already been there; done that. Pam & Greg are now married with 5-year old twins, Henry & Samantha, and they’re organizing a birthday party that will reunite the whole family in Chicago. Things come up, of course, which causes a rift in the happy little family life that Pam & Greg have achieved; The same characters are here - with Jessica Alba showing up as a perky, young drug rep who is meant to tempt and test Greg - and the same jokes are delivered. At this point, I’m over the whole “I’m watching you, watching me” routine and the whole film just feels stale.

Sure there are some funny moments (Dustin Hoffman steals the few scenes he has) and it’s an OK, if not entirely necessary, edition to the series, but overall it just lacks the overall squirm-inducing hilarity that the first, and to a degree, the 2^nd film offered. For that reason, I’d say it’s something you can check out if you’re a fan of the series, but it lacks anything that would deem it a must-see.

2.5 Dented Bumpers*





*Crash’s Film Rating Legend:

5 DB’s -- Freaking Fantastic! (a rating that’s not easily attained.)
4–4.5 DB’s -- Great: It’s worth seeing again/owning.
3–3.5 DB’s -- Decent – Good (I’d watch it again on cable)
2–2.5 DB’s -- Meh; (possibly had potential, but I won’t watch it again)
1DB -- Awful; I want my money back.

Anything less is not even worth downloading illegally

-Crash-

The Escalating Buzz

As previously mentioned in Freddy Mac’s blog, Fredericton was ranked the 4^th best place to live in Canada. Not too shabs! We can now officially boast to being better than Moncton (re: Wullerton - Corner Gas).

I think the new Convention Centre escalator helped us climb the list...

At any rate, we’re in the top 4, and that can bring on a great feeling of excitement...much like said escalator did this week. I’ve never seen so much online-chatter over a device designed to assist our own inherent laziness. It was kind of funny that the opening of a several Million Dollar construction project - which will boost tourism and revenue for the city - was overshadowed by the unveiling of Fredericton’s only escalator. I mean, it feels so new and advanced – even though Zellers had one years ago.

Anyway, while some will complain that the Convention Centre itself is a waste of money and valuable parking space - not to mention the fact it is responsible for the remodelling of the Lunar Rogue patio – I’m convinced it will be a good thing. It’s outfitted with lots of ballroom space, meeting space, a 700 soft-seat theatre, etc. Sure, it’ll mainly be used for conventions and business oriented gatherings, but there’s potential to host concerts - they’ve already mentioned they’re in discussions with Harvest to see if there’s a partnership available – and that is exciting.

Plus, y’know, there’s the escalator.

Congratulations to the City of Fredericton for: being ranked the 4^th best place to live; and for the new Convention Centre...I can’t wait to not use my legs to climb stairs.

-Crash-

Here’s what Rick Mercer has to say about escalators...and elevators; take heed:

Death of The Record Store

I was reading Uncle Rob’s recent blog post about Casa-Dia Vinyl Records, where he described how much he enjoys collecting vinyl: the smell; the sound; the art; everything, and how meaningful it still is to him. To him, buying a record offers a full experience and he still has a special place in his heart for the first record he ever bought. I’m the same way, except I didn’t grow up with vinyl (though I do have a few). Reading The Uncle’s post - that’s how I like to refer to him: “The Uncle” - brought to mind a conversation I had the other day about the death of the record store.

CD Plus in Regent Mall closed its doors for good on Dec. 24^th, and it will likely soon be that way for a lot more stores, judging by the decline in overall sales. As the music industry becomes more and more digitized, the need for record stores selling physical copies of a musician’s work is lessening; which bothers me. It feels like some of the magic of buying music is being taken away.

And it’s not that I’m against going digital...not really. I love the ease of access an MP3 (or the better quality wav.) has to offer; load it onto your iPod (or Mp3 player) and take your entire musical library wherever you go. It certainly makes attaining an album that much easier; you don’t even have to leave home. But that’s part of what I’m getting at; part of the magic of buying an album, as Uncle Rob mentioned, is actually getting the album.

I bought my first CD in 1997 – I’m 25, and this is a post about physical compared to digital, so spare me the “Vinyl is so much better” rant – it was Our Lady Peace’s Clumsy; I bought it on my own, using my money. The excitement I got from buying and owning my first record (yes, I call CD’s “records”), at the age of 11, was fantastic. It was the beginning of my collection and it sparked the evolution of my musical tastes. No longer did I have to listen to my parents’ music – which wasn’t bad, by any means; I grew up on classic rock – but this was mine.

I grew up in Cumberland bay; a 40-minute drive to the nearest record store. So, I remember picking up my copy of Clumsy and waiting with anticipation to get it home and listen to it (no CD player in my parents’ Astro). The minute I got home, I popped it into my player, took out the liner notes and began flipping through them; absorbing the lyrics as the music played. The artwork included within was a perfect companion to the post-grunge, alternative sound coming from the speakers. It was a full experience. Clumsy was on repeat for weeks in my room – my mom hated it. I still have a special place in my heart for that album; I’m so glad my first one wasn’t something totally embarrassing.

I still get a thrill out of going to the store , picking up a record and taking it home – only now I have a player in the car, so I get to hear it much sooner. The point is: I like having the music in my hands. I enjoy reading the liner notes; looking at the artwork. The whole thing is a piece of art. Call me nostalgic, or even pretentious, but there’s a magic to that experience that today’s digital download just doesn’t offer me. Even when I was in middle School and discovered Napster, I always used it as a preview before I could get the money (this was before I had my first job) to actually buy the disc and add to my collection.

Sure, they’re just discs on a shelf, or they’re just files on a computer; so long as you’re enjoying the music, what difference does it make, right? Well, yeah, I get that. The music is, and will always be, number one with me, but I guess I just have a special appreciation for the whole experience of owning the music: going out to get it; taking it home; struggling to rip open the shrink wrap…I’m gonna miss that.

-Crash-

**Below is one of my favourites from my first album purchase:

Film Review: True Grit **Originally posted Jan. 10, 2011**

Remakes are big business in Hollywood. A good majority of the “new” movies made these days are either remakes or sequels, and a good majority don’t live up to the greatness of the original. So a remake could also be risky; unless you name is Joel or Ethan Coen.

The Coen Brothers have made a name for themselves by delivering top quality work that is funny, dark, quirky, and filled with colourful characters and rich dialogue. True Grit, a novel written by Charles Portis in 1968, features themes, characters and dialogue which seems tailored to a Coen Bros adaptation. In 1969, the novel was made into a film starring John Wayne so, The Coens’ True Grit is technically a remake, however the films are really only similar in that they share source material.

True Grit is the story of Mattie Ross, a strong-willed 13 year old, hell bent on revenge; Tom Chaney killed her father and took off with his money and horses. Mattie seeks to hire Rueben “Rooster” Cogburn - a one-eyed, whiskey-swilling, quick-triggered US Marshall – to bring Chaney to justice (dead or alive). A Texas Ranger, named Leboeuf, is also on Chaney’s trail for the shooting of a Texas Senator and his dog; LeBoeuf seeks to collect the reward money associated with the outlaw.

The two film adaptations share the same basic story, and there is certainly some shared dialogue. The events are the same, with some slight alterations in the updated version (The Coen’s opted to stick a little closer to the original novel than the ’69 film). What the Coen Bros have done here is bring these characters and their world to life in a way that the original just couldn’t do, which is not only a credit to the filmmakers, but to the actors they’ve cast.

John Wayne won an Oscar playing Rooster Cogburn, but the character was overshadowed by the fact that he was John Wayne. The 2010 Rooster is a gruff drunk who speaks in a gargled mumble; Jeff Bridges totally embodies this character which you both despise and love all at once. Meanwhile, Matt Damon plays a better Laboeuf than Glen Campbell could have ever dreamed of playing. Campbell delivered a stilted, hammy performance of the law-man who talks a big game – and a bit too much – but Damon is much more subtle and plays LaBoeuf as a smarmy, cock-sure chatterbox that just may wel be in over his head.

As good as Bridges and Damon are though, the real standout is Hailee Steinfeld, who delivers an engaging, confident performance as Mattie. This is Mattie’s story, after all, so the film needs to rest on her shoulders and Hailee plays Mattie as mature for her age, but still with the glimmer and wonder of a child. For her first film, she really holds her own opposite the impressive talent this film has to offer; the fact she was only 13 when True Grit was filmed (Kim Darby, who played Mattie in the original was 20) just makes it all the more impressive.

The backdrops and scenery of the film are beautifully shot and add to the film’s late 1800’s setting. True Grit is a true Western as only the Coen Bros could do it: a story of revenge and redemption with colourful characters and dark humour; staying true to the original novel’s ending in the process. While it’s not quite as quirky, or even as bleak as one might expect from one of their films, True Grit is a nice addition to the Coen Bros catalogue of greatness and is one of the best films of the past year.

It's certainly the best remake I've seen.

4.5 Dented Bumpers*





*Crash’s Film Rating Legend:

5 DB’s -- Freaking Fantastic! (a rating that’s not easily attained.)
4–4.5 DB’s -- Great: It’s worth seeing again/owning.
3–3.5 DB’s -- Decent – Good (I’d watch it again on cable)
2–2.5 DB’s -- Meh; (possibly had potential, but I won’t watch it again)
1DB -- Awful; I want my money back.

Anything less is not even worth downloading illegally

-Crash-

Film Review: The Fighter **Originally Posted Jan.5**

Sports movies, in general, have clichéd storylines: the star fights adversity on his way to becoming a champion. The climax is always a very important match which could go one of two ways: the main character wins or he doesn’t. The Fighter is no different, in this regard, but it does offer some interesting substance along the way.

The Fighter tells the story of real-life boxer “Irish” Micky Ward (Mark Wahlberg), and his attempt to make a name for himself by climbing out from behind the shadow of his half-brother and trainer, former pro (Dick “Dicky” EklundChrisitan Bale), who became the pride of Lowell, Mass (where the movie takes place) after going the distance with Sugar Ray Leonard. Since that bout, Dicky has fallen into a life of crack addiction and crime; merely a caricature of his former self. His character isn’t meant to be the main focus, but his is possibly the more interesting story of the film. Without him, Micky’s story may not be worth the paper it‘s written on.

A great acting performance is one where you forget about the actor and focus entirely on the character. Christian Bale has delivered such a performance and steals the show. Bale’s mannerisms, speech and appearance render him nearly unrecognizable, and you feel like you’re watching the real Dick Eklund - whether you know of him or not. The performance is equally comedic and heartbreaking as his drug addiction tears his life apart. Dicky is a larger than life character; one who struggles to support his family while attempting to put his life back in order. The best way to do that is to help his brother win the title.

Mark Wahlberg delivers a fine performance, considering what he has to work with. Micky Ward doesn’t say much and is often so overshadowed by the antics of his family (including his mother and 7 vengeful, catty sisters) it doesn’t really feel like there’s much connection with him. In the end, it’s almost as if you’re rooting for him because it’ll mean his brother gets a chance at redemption more than you’re rooting for him to win for his own reasons. Amy Adams does an excellent job playing against type as Micky’s girlfriend, who supports him and pushes him to be his own man - she holds her own against hiss disapproving family, offering some of the snappiest dialogue of the film in those scenes.

The story is based on true events, so the formulaic nature of the film is certainly excusable. The acting is impeccable and the fight scenes are some of the most realistic I’ve seen in a movie; they were actually filmed by HBO using the same equipment of the era, which adds an extra layer of grainy realism. It may not be the best film of the year (and I mean 2010…this year is too young to say things like that), but it’s certainly a good one; Bale’s performance alone is worth the price of admission.

4 Dented Bumpers*





*Crash’s Film Rating Legend:

5 DB’s -- Freaking Fantastic! (a rating that’s not easily attained.)
4–4.5 DB’s -- Great: It’s worth seeing again/owning.
3–3.5 DB’s -- Decent – Good (I’d watch it again on cable)
2–2.5 DB’s -- Meh; (possibly had potential, but I won’t watch it again)
1DB -- Awful; I want my money back.

Anything less is not even worth downloading illegally

-Crash-

Making Sense of The Nonsensical**Originally posted Jan. 7**

Wow. It's Friday already…this year is flying by.

A new year (2011) offers a fresh start and brings about a few changes - of underwear (Thanks, Mom) -and you’re ready to make a difference in your life. However, by now (a week in) you’ve forgotten about your resolution – if you bothered to make one at all – and the idea of turkey probably makes you vomit. Unless you’re still eating leftovers, in which case that is what’s making you vomit…please stop.

Now that this first week of 2011 is over, I feel like I can begin to focus a little more on things – I’m getting glasses soon – and get out of that “holiday” mindset. A man gets used to sitting around in his PJs watching movies and eating only chocolate, candy and chocolate-covered candy. It’s hard to go back to work after all that; hell, it’s hard to do anything after that. Take this blog for example: I have no idea what I’m trying to write about; my mind keeps wandering….

Below are examples of posts I began, but have yet to finish because of the holiday lethargy (they show insight into my thought process with regard to writing):

“I had an interesting conversation this morning…*something, something*… computers make me sound smart, but feel dumb…”

“Remakes are big business in Hollywood…*something, something*…True Grit…”

“There’s a lot to look forward to this year: music; the Super Bowl; NHL Playoffs; summer….beating Russia at The World Junior Championship…”

…that last one turned into this post. I’m gradually gaining focus.

Anyway, here’s to a new year: may you figure out your goals before it’s 2012… that’s when the Mayans will make your goals for you.

Cheers,
-Crash-

Coming up: the completion of at least one of those “other” blog posts (mentioned above). Hey! That could be my resolution: I will finish those blog posts this year. Oh man, 2011 is gonna be productive.

P.S. Here’s 10 seconds of the music I’m most looking forward to in 2011: Foo Fighters - White Limo