The Snow Queen, Review

This version of Hans Christian Anderson's The Snow Queen is a British production for TV. Gerda, a young girl, befriends a freezing orphan and they become inseparatable. The Snow Queen had almost had him before she rescues him, and he tells Gerda that he has seen her and if he opens the window, she will see the Snow Queen, too. He opens the window and the Snow Queen sees him. Gerda makes him shut the window because she is cold but not before he gets something in his eye. After that he changes and become mean, and one day he disappears. Gerda goes to rescue him from the Snow Queen, braving odd and dangerous beings.

The film has some odd effects which at first I thought was bad PAL to NTSC transfer. They were somewhat like the dream sequences in Gladiator. Once I realized it was intentional, it didn't bother me at all. There is a lot of sweet music in the background which made me think this was a musical, but none of the characters break out in song. The Snow Queen herself is portrayed in a very beautiful and haunting way.

All in all I enjoyed this rendering and give it 4/5 acorns.

Family Stone, Review

I did not know anything about this movie before going to see it. It is not the kind of movie I would pick as it had a sad theme. I loved all the actors and actresses in this movie. Sally Jessica Parker was great as the uptight girlfriend brought home to meet her boyfriend's quirky family. The are preloaded to dislike her and there is a yet unknown sorrow. I haven't seen Claire Danes in anything for a while, and she is sparkly as the sister invited in for moral support. Luke Wilson plays one of the boyfriends brother and I find him just as appealing as ever. The story itself has some very funny moments, but is a bit too contrived. The background snowy secluded neighborhood is beautiful.

I will rate this 3/5 acorns.

Hitting the Note

What is it about the blues? I was giving up the blues because by definition it is about angst and loss and well, the Blues. I was going to take my life away from dark places with World Music where even if the words were really bummers, I didn't know since the music was in a language I didn't underdstand.

And then, I listened to this CD, Hitting the Note. I am an Allman Brother's Band fan going pretty far back. I didn't discover them until after Gregg Allman's untimely death, but I did experience one of the most memorable concerts of my college years hearing Dicky Betts and Duane rock in Kansas City.

The band has reconstituted with Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks on guitar, and of course Duane Allman. And yes the lyrics are about life's bumps and love's lost, but I discovered that it's not about the lyrics for me so much as it is about the beat and the wailing guitars. This music makes me stomp my feet and want to get up and dance.

And that's why I love the blues so.

Bah Humbug

I'm a grump this week. I gotta get out of this job. The clerical stuff added to my already overwhelming day is getting to me. Not only that, it is started to affect what I consider my real work...the Medicine. And, it is my weekend. I worked half day yesterday and I work 8 hours today. Bah, humbug.

On December 15 a "soft stop" was put in place to remind me to "associate" my orders and "esig" or electronically sign my notes. What that looks like is while I am trying to say, order a test for a patient to diagnose something, a pop up window shows up asking me if I want to associate or not and in order to go on I have to close the pop up. Sounds pretty easy until it gets mulitplied by a factor of 50 times or more/day. Not only that, but if there is only one diagnosis the popup window inquires, "there is ony one diagnosis do I want to assoicate the order with that one"...well, duh! Needless to say after 2.5 days of that I want to get a sledgehammer and beat the shit out that slow computer. Also the shortcut keys on two of my workstations do not work. I have called IT several times, the last time being very unsatisfying, but it really is just driving me crazy.

Not only that it is affected by crafting time and projects. My sock has had mistakes I've had to redo so many times, and I can't seem to get started or finish anything. Crafting is generally what keeps me sane. I'm hoping this rant will help.

On a high note, my son's Christmas present to me is humming along...a new video card and rebuilt computer with new case complete with carrying straps in case I want to take the thing to a lan party. Are there any games for the seriously motion sensitive?

And where is that Sony repair guy? My TV is broke and I'm missing the end of Yoshistune and Boston Legal. He better come before 24 starts or I'm buying a Panasonic.

The Devil's Rejects Review

The movie opens with one of my favorite Allman Brother's songs, Midnight Rider, and closes with Freebird, by the Legendary band, Lynryd Skynyrd. The movie itself is Dukes of Hazard meets Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

The director, Rob Zombie, was born Robert Cummings in Massachusetts. He was part of the group White Zombie and from a brief look at his biography he has led a very colorful life so far.

I didn't see his other big movie, House of 1000 Corpses.

Devil's Rejects is a very gory movie and the gore was very serious. Not much comic relief or cheese factor. Ebert and Roper gave it two thumbs up. I'll give it 3/5 acorns.

Grace

The generous earth
bestows abundant color
coveting nothing.

Hoppity Goes to Town, Review

This movie was already ten years old when I was born. I can't exactly remember how old I was when I first saw it, but while watching it now, I remember so vividly the bee boy scout saying,"A bee scout must be brave, a bee scout must behave." Another memorable scene for me was the hot rivit being caught in bucket that also had the slime ball in it.

The animation is very nice and the story, too. It's a classic and will stick in my mind forever.

I will give it 4.5/5 acorns.