The One Time I Saw Many Movies Theatrically

Yes, that was the theme for the preceding week. This past Monday, I went out and ended up at an AMC Theatres to see a pair of foreign films. The first was the South Korean The Spy Gone North, a drama about a spy in the 90's undercover in North Korea; it is rather loosely based on a true story, which is for the norm anywhere in the film world, I suppose. I'll say it was pretty good. I then saw my first ever Indian theatrical movie... it only happened because the schedule worked out that way and I have the AMC Stubs A-List app, but I then saw Satyameva Jayate, about a good cop going after a vigilante who is killing corrupt police officers... by setting them on fire. The movie is pretty wild: I mean, over the top in every way and full of contrivances. Yet I was entertained by the spectacle. The vigilante might as well been from a comic book movie or one of the Fast & Furious films; he was superhuman in strength and did such things as punch through windows with no damage and rip off an SUV door from its hinges so he could use it as a shield. It was also different seeing a film where I am pretty sure I was the only non South Asian in a big crowd... that audience was boisterous although thankfully usually not distractingly so. The drive there demonstrated something I talk about all the time: poor driving resulted in me seeing the aftermath of two multi-car wrecks in the span of like 500 feet.

Tuesday, I went to the local Olive Garden with someone; that went as expected. Wednesday I did nothing but Thursday was more interesting for sure. I went to an AMC Theatres in order to watch 2001: A Space Odyssey on an IMAX screen. Besides it being the 50^th anniversary of that classic, in October the movie will come out in 4K UHD and this print is that remastered version of the movie; until Wednesday the movie will play at various IMAX locations a few times a day. I've seen 2001 a few times in my life, including once on the big screen in September of 2016. On a giant screen, the experience was incredible, as the movie is still incredible. I wish everyone in the crowd would have thought the same way but alas... it seemed as if a number of people had not viewed the movie before. If they had legit criticisms that would be fine. What I heard during the 20 minute or so intermission was not that; instead it was either general “Ahh, this movie is awful!” or this dopey complaint of “The breathing when they wear their space helmets, it's too loud!” Yeah, the screening had the soundtrack pretty loud but I was insulted when I heard those gripes. Still, that did not ruin things and at least I can give the compliment that no one talked when 2001 was playing.

Friday and Saturday I did nothing of note, which was fine by me. Saturday afternoon I had lunch at a local quick-service place, but Sunday was far more interesting. I returned to the Silver Moon Drive-In in Lakeland to see a double-feature. Both movies I had some interest in despite rotten reviews for both. Well, both The Happytime Murders and Mile 22 were pretty lousy. The former I hoped to enjoy; I mean, there's the late 80's New Zealand movie Meet the Feebles, which is about a Muppet-like group that has a variety show but they are all dysfunctional and it is hilariously vulgar; it's from Peter Jackson... yes, that Peter Jackson. That was far better than Happytime, which only got a few chuckles from me; instead I was annoyed by all the arguing and how liberally foul language was being used for really no reason. Speaking of foul language, Mile 22... sure it has graphic violence but it was filmed in an incoherent way and aside from the needless cursing, Marky Mark as the lead played a real jerk... a character I couldn't stand. What a missed opportunity as with the story and the people involved, it should have been at least fun but it wasn't even that.

When I return on Labor Day, I have a few ideas as to what I'll be talking about.

BlacKkKlansman, Grave of the Fireflies & Oreo Rocky Road Trip

Not the most exciting of weeks, and yet that is OK. I know the upcoming seven days will have more for me to discuss. This past Monday, I ended up at Universal Studios CityWalk; I did stroll around there briefly (nothing new is there) before going in their AMC to see a special screening of a famous anime movie from the 80's, Grave of the Fireflies. It is decidedly NOT one of those whimsical Japanese cartoon films like My Neighbor Totoro; instead the plot follows a pair of kid siblings as they try to survive the end of World War II in Japan... things do not go well, yet the movie is excellent as the relationship is so great and touching among all the heartbreak.

Even before I made it to Universal, I stopped at a Florida's Turnpike rest stop to have a meal, which went fine. I went to the car to leave when a reporter from the local Fox station stopped to ask me a few questions. No, I was not interviewed on camera, thankfully. I was asked about soon E-ZPass (the toll collecting system) will be coming to Florida; no, it won't replace Florida's SunPass but instead it can be used by those who already are E-ZPass members in another state and are in Florida on vacation, for example. As I did not know this was coming here, I did not offer any illuminating comments about it to the reporter. Speaking of SunPass, it was just recently that the service finally started working properly again. You see, back in June the site and system was upgraded, only the company they used was inept and it turned into a fiasco. The entire site was down for an entire week and once it came up, things did not work right for weeks so it was just recently that everyone's balance was calculated... until then no one knew how much they were spending on tolls. Yep, that company will be getting sued pretty soon.

Tuesday I did nothing but Wednesday I first went to Sam's Club (w/ someone that has a membership) to pick up a few items. Then, on the way back we were going to eat at a local restaurant, only to get there and read a sign saying they were “temporarily closed”; it could very well be “permanently closed” in the near future. Thus, instead we ate at Denny's. That went fine, although it was a little awkward hearing the cook give the one server there a lot of lip and otherwise ripping him a new one. Thursday, I went to a new movie theatre that is not too far from me. It is not an AMC (so I'll only be there once in awhile); instead it is a Cinepolis and this particular one is “luxury”, meaning you get food ordered from and delivered to your seat in the auditorium. A lot of the food wasn't for me but I did have the chicken tenders & fries, which were good. The place itself looks great and I can't complain about the staff either.

The film I saw there was BlacKkKlansman, which was as unsubtle as I expected given the director and subject matter. I will say it was very good as the actual story is fascinating and the cast does a swell job, especially leads John David Washington and Adam Driver. Friday, I went to Walmart to pick up a few random items and that went as expected. One of the items was Oreo Rocky Road Trip, which was as good as I'd expected. Saturday and Sunday I did nothing at all, so I'll end this now and like I said, I'll have more to discuss the next time I am here.

Safeway, Midnight Espresso, She's All That & The Life Aquatic With Jason Statham

I had some interesting moments this past week. Last Monday I did nothing of note... I am not complaining. Tuesday I drove on down to Lakeland; first, I walked around their mall for a bit, and that went as expected. I then drove on over to the nearby Ford's Garage. I have talked about that Florida chain of restaurants/bars before, and it was just recently that this location opened; it's closer to me than anywhere else they have a restaurant... and eventually one will open in Orlando. I had a tasty dinner along with a coffee porter from Florida brewery Motorworks and it was called... Midnight Espresso. I was amused as it was a nice reference to the late 70's film Midnight Express; the beer was not my favorite but it was alright. One of the bartenders was named Laney, and I was amused because not only is it uncommon, but I thought of a certain late 90's teen movie where the lead character was named Laney Boggs. Henceforth, once I returned home I rewatched She's All That; it was the first time I saw it on Blu-ray from beginning to end. It is silly for sure but the movie is inoffensive and as I was in high school when the film was released in 1999, what a blast from the past it was between all those actors, the dialogue, the clothing, the humor, the music, etc.

Wednesday I went with someone to the local Bob Evans restaurant; I had a tasty Belgian waffle dinner. Thursday was quite interesting indeed. The drive to and from Altamonte Springs was full of pretty lousy drivers, some of them reckless. The way there was rainy, so naturally I saw the aftermath of several cars in a giant wreck and I am surprised I did not see more. First, I stopped at the Safeway grocery store, a place I have mentioned before. Publix is fine as a grocery store and all, but they have a real monopoly in Florida so it was nice to have variety. Of course, once I got there I discovered all three Safeway locations in this state were closing real soon... I was disappointed. After I purchased various items there, I went to the nearby AMC to watch The Meg, on their IMAX screen... and also to eat chicken fingers and curly fries for dinner. The movie was exactly what I expected it to be: stupid yet still entertaining. I read The Meg book back in the day... twenty years ago so I might as well have never read it before.

What likely contributed to my opinion of the film was the average blue collar family sitting right in front of me. Dad was acting like this was his The Avengers: Infinity War; he must have loved the novel. I hope everyone of those four (mom, dad, and the two elementary school kids... a son and daughter) loved it, considering what the cost must have been between the IMAX tickets and concessions. The daughter at times was scared but otherwise she was fine; I mean, she did not cry or become hysterical. The son, he must have been a fan. A few times, after a big scene I would hear him softly yell, “Yay!” That was tremendous.

As for me referring to The Meg as The Life Aquatic With Jason Statham, I am stealing a joke I saw online. Personally, I'd see The Meg again rather than The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou once. That is a twee-looking movie from 2004 that I've never seen but it does also involve a shark. Anyhow, Friday and Saturday I did absolutely nothing. Sunday, I went to the local Dollar General to pick up some needed items. I realize it was not the strongest way to close out a week, yet it is OK. I watched movies at home and also television programs like LivePD, so I can't complain. When I return next Monday, I do have a few ideas as to what I'll be discussing.

Fast Food Kiosks, Blueberry Lambics & Mister Softee

The preceding week wasn't too terribly exciting, yet that is alright for me. Ever since the air conditioning was recently fixed after it being out for two days, there hasn't been much news to discuss. Last Monday I went to the AMC Theatres in Altamonte Springs to watch Mission: Impossible-Fallout for a second time, this time on an IMAX screen. The movie is still great, BTW. On the way back I ate at a Back Yard Burgers, which is a place which has only a drive-thru and a window where you order food that you can eat outside or bring back home. I was there a few months ago but now they have one of those fast food kiosks. I guess that's the wave of the future and I'll eventually have to use them at a number of places. If it results in less orders getting screwed up, then that'll be nice... but the dirty little secret that these are being used so these fast food places don't need to hire as many employees... that's not so great. At least the food at Back Yard Burgers is still good.

Tuesday and Wednesday I did nothing of note; Thursday I went to some locations in town, the main one being Target... as some miscellaneous items were picked up, I won't go into detail there. Friday and Sunday were boring days except for two moments, which I'll elaborate upon in a moment. Saturday I went to the Mall at Millenia area for the first time in awhile; traffic around there was even worse than I expected, so in the future I'll choose better times to visit Millenia. I first stopped to get some beverages from Total Wine & More, then I went to the mall to walk around for a bit and I also had dinner there at the food court. The place was largely the same as usual. Regrettably, also the same as usual was “buffoonery on the highways” as I drove there and back. It was mixed in with several vehicles driving WAY too fast, and I am still surprised I did not see any wrecks.

Sunday afternoon was something that has become a popular thing during the weekend in my neighborhood: the Mister Softee truck driving by. I could do without the truck playing the Mister Softee theme at what seems like 200 decibels, but I otherwise have no beef with them. As a kid, the Schwans truck would sometimes drive by and treats were usually purchased there. In the evening I had a blueberry lambic; that is usually not a style I drink as it's meant to be sour... however that was good for what it was. It was Touch of Blue, from Wisconsin's Sprecher brewery; they also make very good gourmet sodas. Between the name and the label design, they are trying to appeal to Grateful Dead fans, so if you are a Deadhead... 

When I return a week from today, I am pretty certain I'll have more to discuss.