The Call Movie Review

I failed to make a connection.  Yes that is a phone pun and sums up my issue with the movie.  I wan't invested in any of the characters.  The premise of the movie is a 911 operator becomes traumatized when a caller gets murdered.  She somehow gets promoted and when she is training new employees she gets a call from a girl who has been abducted by the killer.

Now I couldn't care less whether the second girl lived or died or whether the operator resolved her issues.  I literally forgot about this movie as soon as I left the theater.   Save your cheddar for something else because this movies is pitching the high cheese.

My Return to Fuddruckers, St. Louis

I haven't been to Fuddruckers is about twenty years and I had never been to the one in St. Louis (Sunset Hills).  Overall this is going to be a good review but I have to say when I walked in I was almost tempted to turn around and walk back out.  The atmosphere and setup of this place could use a lot of work to say the least. That being said I was impressed with the food.  The wife and I both got the Kobe burger combo.

The burger was very good but not Kobe quality.  I got mine with blue cheese, which overwhelmed the flavor of the burger meat but that is my fault.  I had the presence of mine to cut out a bit of the cheese to get a better taste of the beef and it was pretty good.  The bun was perfect.  It was light and you didn't get filled up by bread.  The fries were not stead style but pretty similar and they had a great seasoning.  The thing that was most impressive was the condiment bar.  Everything was perfectly fresh, I am not sure how it was kept that way with all of the kids running around but even the tomatoes were perfect and that is a rarity at condiment bars.

Overall, it was an enjoyable experience.  If Fuddruckers wants to take that experience to the next level they'll need to give that interior an overhaul.  I wouldn't recommend you to take a first date here but for an established relationship this place kind of hits the spot in a weird way.

Red Dawn The Original vs The New

After watching the original Red Dawn I realize the new release was just a watered down version.  There were some additions to the new release such as the EMP weapon and a change in the enemy but it wasn't enough to make up for all the symbolism and additional drama in the first Red Dawn.

The names on the rock was a theme in the first version that completely lacked in the second version.  Then the choices the Wolverines had to make in the first version were much more dramatic.  Most notably shooting the trader and leaving a member to die.  I will skip describing the difference in ending but if you have seen both, come on the second version by comparison is a total fluff job.  The enemy is also a lot meaner in the original.

The enemies were also more developed in the original in terms of strategy and the emotional connection the developed with the viewer.  There was some good in them and honor as well.  As a viewer I still wanted them to die but I felt a little badly when they did.  The character development was also more thought out in the original and it was done very subtly.  Such as a moment in the movie were the character Robert is etching notches for his kills into his gun.

To me the original is clearly better.  Let me know what you think.

The Incredible Burt Wonderstone Movie Review

I thought this movie would be funny.  The movie had Jim Carrey and Steve Carrell but no laughs.  The overall plot was simply too standard.  It seemed like the movie was written by somebody who had just read "Comedy Screen Writing for Dummies".  I'd recommend doing something else this weekend.

The Dark Night Rises Politics or Marketing

Let me start by putting all my cards on the tables.  My political beliefs are most similar to Libertarians but I vote Republican.  I also, absolutely hate Democrats, that being said I hat republicans slightly less..  I describe myself as an Objectivist (Randian).

The issues I aim to address is Nolan's use of Bane and the similarities Bane's group has with the Occupy movement.  Now Nolan has been very slippery regarding these issues and because he has provided great answers he has earned a pass.  I draw to questions, does he deserve a pass and did he take sides politically?  The answer to both of these questions is, no.  Nolan definitely planned his movie in away that the political comparisons would be made and he intentionally muddled the opposing sides so he could deny they were there.  Both sides of the real world politics were implemented in the movie in order that they felt equally evil and that way Nolan wasn't actually making a political statement one way or the other.  


Then why did he incorporate comparisons to current politics?  Obviously, the answer to this is ingenious marketing.  Unfortunately, a jackass in Colorado took an action that overshadowed Nolan's plan.  To summarize my thoughts are that the political correlations were definitely intended but not in a way that was meant to make a political statement.  Instead it was done for cheap marketing.


With all that said, I still didn't like the movie, but I do admire some of Nolan's trickery.

Chronicle Movie Review

This movie is about a few kids that make a discovery and find themselves with the power of telepathy. The film is made in the style of Blair Witch but with much cooler shots. After all they can move that camera anywhere they want with thier power. As their power grows they find themselves on seperate paths, leading to conflict.

When I went to the theatre I was expecting a different movie. The realistic approach taken with the movie didn't upset me. I really enjoyed the show. The plot realy managed the drama in order that the film wasn't overwhelming to guys. The plot line is depressing but true to the course of life and is warranted. I would recommend this movie for adults and teens alike.

Mediterranean Grill Review, Chesterfield, MO

Alright, I have a very mixed review. The food is good. Atmosphere is horrible. Beer selection needs a lot of help.

Our appetizers were Moroccan Cigars and the Dips n' Spread Sampler Plate. There was not impressed by the Moroccan Cigars. they tasted like fried Mexican food from Casa Gallardo. They weren't as bad, but I have to admit I was talking to a friend and he thought they were great. The Dips n' Spread Sampler Plate is a must. I didn't care for the carrots but every other spread was awesome. The pita bread was soft and a little sweet. The dips and spreads had very clean simple flavors.

For our entrees we ordered the Moroccan Peas & Meatballs and the Lamb with Apricot and Prunes. The Moroccan Meatballs left a little to be desired. If I hadn't been told these were Moroccan Meatballs I would not have known. Just about anybody will like them. I would consider this a safe dish for the picky eater. I had potatos as my side and they came with a wonderful surprise. Onions softened in chicken broth. I loved them, they were mildly sweet and salty. The softness of the onions hits the taste buds just right. A warning is that visually I couldn't tell them apart from the potato, my first bit was confusing but I knew I liked them right away.

The Lamb was splendid. I was really worried that the sweetness of the fruit would over power the dish. Again, I was delighted by the mildly sweet touch. The fruits are mushy, which can be a turn off to some eaters. Also, there are tendons in the dish. Most people will discard this part of the dish. Don't, it is the best part. Get used to odd textures, you'll often find that is where the best flavors reside.

I have it on the same friend that the Gyros are not to be desired, that is partially due to the fact we lunch at the Gyro House on Delmar. Additionally, if Taziki comes with what you ordered have something around to mop it up, maybe with some of the pita bread from your appetizer.

For dessert, we shared the Creme Bavaria. It was really good even if it was pre-made and strayed from the traditional dessert. It is served in a martini glass. It is a layer of chocolate followed by creme and bottomed out with caramel. I would change the desert by offering more layers, adding brandy and firing the top.

Now on to the atmosphere. The place is a cross between fine dining and a picnic. There is very limited space in the restaurant. They don't have a foyer or hostess stand. A table sits right next to the front door, and I got that table. Lucky me, this would have been annoying if they were busy. They also have the soda bar right near the entrance, some of this stuff needs to be moved to the back to make way for a space to greet customers. The tables appear to be setup very nicely. Black table clothes, candle lighting diverts to silverware wrapped in napkins and plastic chairs.

Finally, the beers are all very similar, Hoegaarden Blanc, Stella Artois, Bud Light, Bud Select and Budweiser. Really, get some New Castle that would really complement the food. The International Tap House is right down the street, go get some suggestions.

The price for entrees range from 14 - 20 bucks. There are cheaper sandwiches and the like. from about 7 - 10 bucks. I'd say that the overall value is very pricey. The portions are a bit small and the atmosphere literally almost kept me away before I even went in the joint. All in all I would go back. I think it is interesting place and there is a lot to be said for being interesting.