Manda's Movies

Long Time

2006-04-03T07:06:00.000-07:00

It has been forever since I've posted, and I know my father is ready for me to write something else. I'm going to try to catch up on as much as possible tonight, so maybe I'll have something to report later.
I did watch Failure To Launch a couple of weeks ago, and I already knew I would love it because... two words... Matthew McConaughey. It really was probably the funniest of the romantic comedies. It was a lot funnier than I expected. I also saw Inside Man last week. It was really good, and had one of those Usual Suspect kind of twists. I thought it was a good date movie because men and women will both like it. Just enough action for the men, and enough intrigue for the women. So, if you aren't in the mood for a chick flick, then go see Inside Man.

Black. White.

2006-03-09T08:21:00.000-08:00

Last night... home alone... nothing to do (couldn't play Sims because I left my notebook in Hamburg...one of my neurotic things... better left unexplained!).... I think "I'll get caught up on my shows from last week"... realize that something is wrong with my receiver and the usual shows that I record on Wednesdays (Criminal Minds and CSI: NY) aren't going to record... call directv (what fun)... eventually get it fixed, and while I'm checking to make sure all will be recording nicely, I see the commercial for Black. White. on FX... now... I also discover another show that I really like, but haven't been recording for some strange reason (Bones on Fox)...so... after all the discovering I have FIVE different shows recording just last night. I did record and watch American Idol (I know... I've completely sold out!), but I refuse to watch tonight (Ginger will update me with who got eliminated, but it makes me feel slightly less like a reality TV junky!)... that said... I watched Black. White. (another reality show) This show takes two families (one white, one black) and put enough make-up on them to completely change their race, and then they live together(in their natural color), take outings together, and generally discuss the differences in the ways they are treated because of their skin color. I had hoped that this one would be different from the rest, and for a while it was. I thought that maybe the families would approach this thing the same way I would... you know, using it as an opportunity to find out as much as you can about another culture without having to get past a racial barrier to have your questions answered. Well.. I think that only the 17 year old girl, Rose, had any kind of good intentions. The white family has Rose, the 17 year old, and the black family has Nick, a 16 year old boy. Rose's parents, Bruno and something (I can't remember her name), are probably the dumbest two people I have ever seen on television. He (Bruno) thinks that when he is "black" that people (white people) will just walk up to him and be blatently racist (ie. calling him the "n" word, and other racial slurs)... he can't seem the grasp the fact that there are a lot more subtle ways that racism occurs in our time. While I do still know that those confrontational people exist, I also know that there aren't very many of them around anymore. Bruno thinks (and I think he truly believes this) that if a person (white or black) comes up to another person (black or white) and treats them with "kindness and respect" (his words) and doesn't come in "with a chip on their shoulder" then they will be treated equally. So the underlying tone of his speech is that black people are discriminated against because of their attitude towards other people, and not because of their skin color. Completely bizarre! Now... Nick's parents (can't remember their names either) are almost as bad. I'm not sure what his mother is wanting to get out of this experience... I can't decide if the others talked her into doing this, or if she is trying to prove that she will be treated differently as a white person, but you can definitely sense some hostility from her when she is "white"... she seems VERY uncomfortable. Nick's father, on the other hand, is actively trying to find racial situations to put himself in while he is "white", and doing a pretty good job of it too. He got a job while he was "white" in a bar in a predominantly white neighborhood because he said that when people get drunk, they will relax and talk more. On the first night he found a man who was willing to share with him all the reasons why living in the community was wonderful... one of those being that the neighborhood was all white and "untouched" (he didn't have to add who those people were who weren't touching that neighborhood).. he went on to explain that the people in the community liked it that way because they felt safe and their school were really good. He said "they have seen the other communities drop because of immigration" (and he wasn't talking about illegal aliens). Overall, the show could have been, and probably still could be a wonderful look into the lives of other cultures as an insider from the outside. I'm just worried about the attitudes and motives of the people doing the actual experiment. I think that the producers thought that maybe if they did the show the way it should have been done, with people wanting to have the experience, then maybe they thought people wouldn't watch it as much, so they picked people who they thought would create sparks with each other and cause good arguments that they could show for ratings. I would LOVE to be on the show... pick me next time!!!

Okay.. here's the plug... I think it will be on Wednesday nights from now on, and I know it will be on FX... so watch it... I wanna talk about it with someone who watched the show!!

*Side note: I think Chris should win American Idol... yeah for bald men!!

I'm back!!

2006-03-06T11:15:00.000-08:00

Okay... I still have like EVERYTHING from last week to watch, but I did get to watch a little last night. I had to play tennis four nights last week, so I had to TiVo everything, and I haven't had a chance to watch it. I will get EVERYTHING watched this week. I did watch most of the first episode of the new Amazing Race. That is a reality show that I really like. I have even planned to apply for the show for the past three seasons... I just keep chickening out. I can't imagine how sad I would be away from Price, and I can't imagine how horrible I would look running around on camera!! Yuck!! Anyway... I'll post after tonight. I do have to just keep wondering why they teased us with a possible love affair between Horatio and Delco's sister only to completely ignore that story line for weeks now. It's not fair... every night I get prepared to be grossed out, and then nothing! I have borrowed Rent from Ginger, and I have to watch it tonight or she might kill me. I have been looking forward to seeing it, so that will have to come first.

NCIS

2006-03-01T06:45:00.000-08:00

Was anyone else upset by tonight's episode of NCIS? I mean... we have come to know and love that Gibbs will break the rules every once in a while if it means saving someone's life, but we have NEVER seen him switch evidence. Even with the comedic self-Gibbs-slap... the mood was one of shock at our house. I could not believe that he had done that, and then when he talked to his boss, and she told him to let the case go... he would normally have argued and told her no, but instead he said okay and walked off. She KNOWS something isn't right... AND he let Abbie think that she had done some kind of really cool thing with her discovery, and now she said "I'm going to be published again"... she will be published using false information. That is deceitful, and it didn't seem at all like Gibbs. On a lighter note... I thought it was wonderful that the girl who Tony was trying to go out with asked McGehee out for drinks. It was so funny! And I have to admit that I like Agent David a LOT better now than I did when she first came on the show. Anyway... last night's show was good for the most part, but Gibb's actions made me seriously doubt if the writers even knew the character that they were writing for.

Courting Alex was again cute and funny last night.

Kelly's Bellies!!!

2006-02-27T08:32:00.000-08:00

Well.. last night was the finale of "Celebrity Fit Club", and NO I do NOT watch Flavor of Love after CFC... Kelly's Bellies won the final weigh-off... :) Constance, once again, gained two pounds. She actually left the show weighing 4 pounds more than when she started. Young MC (Bust A Move) lost the most weight with 38 pounds, and won some kind of weird necklace, but a really cool vacation to Las Vegas. Maybe Dr. Ian's diet does actually work, but I'm sure it involves ordering meals and expensive stuff like that.
YEAH!! Just about everything that I watch is new this week. I didn't know what to do the last two weeks because everything was repeating because of the Olympics. I can't get ABC, so I couldn't even watch the Olympics... it really sucked! I can't wait for the new Amazing Race, and the new show "The Unit" coming on Tuesday's after NCIS... it looks really good!

NETFLIX

2006-02-16T07:07:00.000-08:00

Okay... this isn't actually about anything on TV or in the movies... I recently found out that Netflix is trying to penalize people like me. I have a Netflix account where we get two movies at a time. (I wanted three, but we voted on it, and Ron won). Anyway, Ron and I both have accounts, so they send one movie from my queue, and one movie from his. I watch the movie either the night I get it, or the very next night, and then I send it back and wait for over a week before I get my next one. This is slightly annoying to me, but I have learned to deal with the wait. Until this week.... Ron said that he read that Netflix has some kind of policy where renters who are unreliable have first choice about a movie/dvd... like someone who will probably keep the thing for months without sending it back gets priority over someone like me who sends back immediately. Now I know that Netflix probably wouldn't make any money if everyone returned their movies the way I do, but it just sucks that I have to wait to get a movie that I want because someone who apparently likes handing out money every month for nothing, is keeping my movie!! Okay... rant over... I'm just really curious about what happens next in the series that I'm watching, and it has been almost two weeks since I mailed it back to them. It says that it will ship today, but that I won't get it until the 21st! That's Tuesday... and that sucks!!!

Courting Alex

2006-02-15T08:11:00.000-08:00

I REALLY needed a laugh last night. I didn't watch Courting Alex on Monday night, but I did watch is last night, and it was funny. You won't have a really big dramatic insight while watching this show, but it is really funny. If you want a break from the world, and a cute little laugh then you should definitely watch. Without counting any of that though... her boyfriend on the show is hot, and we got to see him in only a big pink towel the other night. He has awesom abs! Just one added bonus to the humor of the show. Not hardly ANYTHING new on this week or next week, but I have been seeing previews for the new Amazing Race!! I can't wait. That is just about the only reality show that I watch.

Thursday Night

2006-02-10T07:18:00.000-08:00

CSI was definitely done by a different director last night. It had way more blood and showed way more stuff than they usually do. The story was really good, and I surprisingly liked Lady Freak a lot better last night... well... except for her manner of DNA extraction. Now we have to wonder if she will be back, and I also hate how they leave everything unsaid about what happened to them before. She did say that he had forfeited his right to give her advice a long time ago, but they never said anything even remotely personal beyond that. I just think that she is so far beyond anything that he has ever been with before... I mean... he seems kind of naive in a weird sort of way, but who knows... maybe he was too freaky for her... no one will ever know why they broke up I guess. Well.. no new show next week, and I don't think that Numbers is new tonight... so I guess I wait for Celebrity Fit Club on Sunday... I can't wait!! I wonder if Tempest will actually move on the show or if she will be worn out from just breathing!!

CSI

2006-02-09T12:34:00.000-08:00

Okay... I love all of the CSI's... maybe with the exception of Horatio on CSI: Miami... but tonight is going to be a great CSI. Lady Heather (freak) is going to be back on the show because the murder victim tonight is her daughter. I remember last time when Lady Heather was on the show, and she and Grissom had this kind of weird thing. I have always wondered what kind of a woman he would go for because he is really a pretty weird guy himself. When the two of them had flames practically leaping off of them in the last show I didn't know what to think. I mean... Lady Heather runs some kind of S&M thing, and she was a suspect or at least somehow involved in a murder. I know she ended up being innocent... or... as innocent as an S&M madame can be... but she didn't kill anyone. I also kind of thought that the writers were pushing for Sara and Grissom to end up together, and then that went absolutely no where. So... I can't wait to see what happens tonight with Grissom and Lady Freak.
On another CSI note... what is up with Warrick (sigh) getting married after he had been doing all that flirting with Catherine. I mean... they had it all set up like the two of them were going to try going out, and then all of a sudden he is married... very bizzare... I know he gave some lame explanation about wanting to live his life and not be still while everything passed him by, but that seems a little extreme to me.... just go ski diving or something... Can't wait to see the show tonight.

CSI: Miami

2006-02-01T05:46:00.000-08:00

CSI: Miami was pretty good Monday night. There were plenty of twists and turns, and one of those endings where the killer gets away because there is no way that they can prove that he did it. I am ready for next week because Delco (sp?) and his lady have apparently been doing things they shouldn' t be doing. She says "I'm late" and we all know that she isn't talking about the time. Horatio (my hero) wasn't as bad this week, but there was also no interaction between he and his girlfriend. We'll see what happens next week.

Oh.. BTW.. Go check out my Feeser family site with pictures of the prettiest baby in the world.

Celebrity Fit Club

2006-01-30T12:50:00.000-08:00

Last night... not very much happened on the show, I mean, compared to Jeff leaving the show to go to rehab, they would have to go pretty far to be more dramatic than that. Biz lost 6 lbs, and the girl who always gains weight, gained weight again! What is up with Tempest Bledsoe... If I had known what a lazy ... um... person she was, I wouldn't have liked her so much on the Cosby Show. Oh well... at least the show is funny... it's one of the only reality shows that I watch.
I get to watch CSI: Miami tonight... I can't wait to see side-ways-head-turning-whispering-squinty-eyed Horatio Cain tonight!

NUMB3RS

2006-01-28T14:16:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to say that I watched Numbers Friday night, and it was great... as usual. I don't think there has ever been one episode of Numbers that I didn't like. The casting director did an awesome job, and I was just thinking last night that their dad, Judd Hirsch, played on "Dear John". Remember that show?? I absolutely loved the opening song, and sometimes catch myself singing it sometimes. Anyway... the moral of the show Friday night was that everyone should become an organ donor. I like it that a lot of their shows have some kind of overall theme or general message. You can't say that about a lot of shows that are on now.. I mean.. what kind of over message is American Idol saying?? Act like an idiot and we will let the whole world laugh their a$%es off at you! (Not that there is anything wrong with that!)
Oh yeah... they guy that plays Don used to be on "Northern Exposure".. wasn't that show awesome!?!?

One Tree Hill

2006-01-28T14:09:00.000-08:00

First of all, high school boys did not look like this when I was there ten years ago, and now that I'm teaching them myself, they still don't look like this... I watched the pilot and the first three episodes of One Tree Hill last night, and I think it is a wonderful substitute for Dawson's Creek. I know that it took Dawson's time slot, and I think they couldn't have picked a better high school show. I like the twist that the two main male characters have the same dad, but he will only acknowledge one of them. Chad Michael Murphy's character is the illegitimate one, and his character is really sweet, andnot at all like any high school guys I know. If you don't like basketball at all, then you probably won't like this show, but if you want just a little escape, and some teen drama, then this is perfect. *Is this show even on anymore??*

Caught Up

2006-01-26T08:24:00.000-08:00

Well.. Last night was a late night because I had to catch up on all of my shows that I tivo-ed and just now had time to watch them. I just have one question about CSI: Miami... what's up with David Caruso always turning his head sideways and whispering everything he says like he has some big secret that he is willing to part with only if you can get right in his face!! I never have really liked any character that he plays, but I REALLY like the CSI series so I decided to give it a try. I like the story line, and I like most of the characters, but I just can't like him. His name is Horatio... what!?!?! Don't take someone who is already old, and can't act very well, and give him that kind of name. And speaking of... what is up with weird names on these shows... Mark Harmon is named Jethro on NCIS (my absolute favorite). That name is just as odd, but Harmon can pull it off because he is a bad*ss in the show. Did anyone see the double Gibbs slaps Tuesday night?? Awesome!! :)
I watched Love Monkey again last night, and I really do like it. It is just one of those shows that require no thought. You can just sit back and simply enjoy. (I love that he relates everything back to "Song Title")
Back to CSI:Miami... Not only did they name him Horatio, BUT they are giving him a love life... can anyone say GROSS!!... The woman is beautiful, young, and all of those other prerequisites to be on television, but to have to go to work and flirt with him... and maybe have to even kiss him!!! YuCK!!!.... I do like the other romances that are going on. I also really like the dynamics with the characters. I just don't get David Caruso!! I mean... his head stays sideways through the WHOLE show... how can you flirt with that?? I feel like I should watch him with my head turned!!

Sorry... enough ranting... CSI comes on tonight, so I get to see Warrick (sigh!). Also, NUMB3RS for Friday looks great!

Next on Netflix!!

2006-01-25T07:34:00.000-08:00

Well.. I'm kind of disappointed (sp?) because I thought I was starting my SATC marathon, but it turns out that I'm getting the first season of "One Tree Hill". It replaced Dawson's Creek, and I'm not sure whether or not I'll like it, but I decided to give it a try. I should be getting the first disk soon. The info line said that it was about step-brothers who compete on the basketball court, and in all other aspects of their lives. It will, I'm sure, not be a very deep show, but maybe it will let me get in other people's lives for a little while.... and that, after all... is my goal!!

New Shows!!

2006-01-24T08:15:00.000-08:00

I absolutely love watching the new shows that come on in the fall. I like it that now they have new shows that come on periodically throughout the whole season. Last night I watched "Courting Alex" on CBS. I should make a side note and say that the only two MAJOR network channels that I get are CBS and FOX. I don't watch anything on FOX (I would watch 24, but I haven't seen it from the beginning, and I just CANNOT start out of order in anything). I watch just about everything CBS has on. I can't get enough! Anyway... Courting Alex is the only sitcom type show that I watch, and it was really cute and funny. It was a stretch from the Darma and Greg personna of Jenna Elfman, but she did a really good job. The tavern owner guy looks familiar, but I can't remember where I've seen him before. He is pretty good looking though! Also last week, I watched "Love Monkey", and I decided it was worth a second viewing, so I'm going to watch again tonight, and see if I can get hooked on One more thing.

I started trying to watch Around the World in Eighty Days last night, but was interrupted by my child, so maybe I can finish it tonight. So far, I think it's really cute!!

2006-01-23T15:30:00.000-08:00

ICE AGE

I know, that this movie has been out since 2002, and my brother told me how funny it was, but other than the squirrel guy, it didn't do much for me. I thought it was cute for what it was, but I watched it at 4:00 one afternoon, and I couldn't stay awake. This was the last movie I got from Netflix, and the next thing is EVERY season of Sex and The City! I can't wait... I know I am behind half of the world, but I didn't get HBO, so I haven't seen any except for a few on whatever channel they are on now! Anyway... to say that I am ready to watch would be a vast understatement!!

My Purpose

2006-01-23T14:57:00.000-08:00

This is my first blog entry... I can't believe I caved!!!
After much pressure from my friends (i.e. Ginger), I decided that I should make a blog. Eventually, I can see a huge benefit to having one, but I am just enough OCD, that I can't already feel myself becoming neurotic about certain things.
I decided to make this blog just about my opinion on movies. It will not be exhaustive by any means, and it will never be the same movies that will be nominated for any of those awards. It will just be my opinion of recent movies that I watch. I have a netflix account, so anything I watch on there will be free game, and anything I see in the theatre will be open for discussion. I can't /won't watch horror, but anything else is pretty much alright with me. See, after reading this, and all day today, I've been thinking about other things I want to put on my blog. I want to talk about my baby! :) I want to put pictures of my family on here, and weird things that we do. This is what I meant by the OCD comment, I'm already planning another blog, since this one is dedicated to movies. I know what you are thinking, just make this blog be about everything, but I can't do that! That is my neurosis (sp?).... :) I know... crazy!!