Too Much Pain and Not Enough Gain

When the trailer for Pain and Gain came out, I was pretty excited about the release as were many of my friends who enjoy comedies and also love working out at the gym. From what I could tell from the commercials the film was about three bodybuilders trying to take some criminal down and take his money. The movie starred three proven actors Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, and Anthony Mackie as the three bodybuilders. It was directed by Transformers' franchise director Michael Bay. It seemed like it had all the necessary ingredients to make a great comedy, but I was wrong. It was actually quite a tragedy.

The "R" rating probably should have sent warning signs, but sense many comedies now do have that "R" rating I didn't think twice about it even though there is no need for the material that causes movies to have that rating to make a comedy better. It simply does not need to be there, but that is for another post... Anyway, what made Pain and Gain a terrible comedy and a weak tragedy is that I could not relate to the characters, which is (in my opinion) one of the most important keys to any good story or film. The three body builders did not fit any of the "clicks" in the gym. The movie took the stereotypical "meat-head" bodybuilders and brought it to the extreme where the characters were no longer believable.

The three guys on a mission failed to relate to me because all they cared about was getting big and living the wealthy life even if they destroyed someone else's life in the process. There was a lack of internal struggle or even a moral struggle for the characters committing the crimes... with the exception of Dwayne Johnson's character who often did express his concerns about the crimes they were committing. The lack of internal struggle made it so I could care less for the outcome at the end of the movie, which made watching the second half of the movie more and more painful to watch as it went on.

The only positive I could take from Pain and Gain was that it was based on a true story, which did provide some moral lessons at the end. One lesson is that if you are going to spend so much time and effort into carrying out a plan to commit multiple crimes, why not apply those skills and determination into something to improve your life in an honorable way. But perhaps the most important lesson that can be taken from this movie is to be content. It's appalling and sad how someone could be so dissatisfied with their life that it leads them to a destructive path. Now I'm not saying it's a bad thing to try to improve your situation or advance in life and in your career. Striving to be the best you can be is healthy, however, not ever being satisfied with where you are in life is not.

Watching this movie about three guys who destroyed their lives and the lives of others because they did not know how to be happy and content with themselves was excruciating to watch. Although the movie did offer some kind of epiphany (important realization) at the end, the characters did not experience that for themselves, which is absolutely necessary in a tragedy. The conflict resolution for this comedy was that the movie ended and the three stupid criminals got what was coming to them. I only wish the resolution came an hour sooner because two hours and twenty-nine minutes was a little long for a tragic comedy. An hour and a half would have been sufficient for this not too comical comedy that got less and less funny and more and more painful to watch as it dragged on.

Top 10 Occupations The Hulk Should Never Do

10. Unemployment officer – With unemployment so high and people being taken off unemployment for being on there so long… there’s a legitimate reason to be upset. Just don’t take it out on the man whose turning green…

9. Professional Golfer – You’ve seen golfers throw their clubs in a lake or even there whole golf bag? Well how about a golf cart? The Hulk might if he got a triple bogey.

8. Yoga Instructor – Odd? Yes. But drop some weights near a yoga room and see what happens… Not so peaceful now. Huh.

7. Retail Store Manager – How mad do you think you would be if you had a customer try to refund something they had just stole from you? Ha ha. Uh, what? Yeah, you might wanna run...

6. Parole officer – How many times did I tell you not to be near that stuff… How many times?!... then again, the Hulk might be a good kind of parole officer.

5. Seamstress – More strange than a yoga instructor? Possibly, but just think about how much of a pain it is just to thread a string into a tiny needle eye and that’s with your fingers. Now try to imagine that with Hulk like fingers and then once you finally get it through, the needle tip pokes you as to say: “nener nener.”

4. Journalist – Constant deadlines, persistent scrutiny, long odd hours, and not nearly enough credit and pay for the job… “Hulk SMASH deadline and mean critic!”

3. Call Center – With people cursing at you and acting even more absurdly rude then how they would behave if face-to-face, I can imagine the Hulk smashing a few phones and computers. Not a good fit.

2. Childcare – Little blonde kid tells his mom overjoyed, “Hey mom, Johnny kept kicking me today and wouldn’t stop even for the teacher. Then the teacher kicked Johnny to the moon.”

1. Taxi driver (high populated city) – Do you like it when people cut you off in traffic? I’m sure he wouldn’t like that either. Just imagine a temper tantrum with thousands of cars being thrown around like Hot Wheels. 

* Is your job listed on here? If not, should it be? Share what you think and tell me what the Hulk would do if he was in your position.

Arrow Makes its Mark

A dark shadowy figure stands on the edge of a lit skyscraper looking below and searching for his next target which when eliminated will cleanse his city just a little bit more. He leaps and flies down a zip-line to a nearby rooftop. He takes out the henchmen surrounding his man with speed and tenacity. The shadowy figure steps forward into the light, "You have failed this city." Not something you would want to hear from a hooded man pointing an arrow at you... but definitely what you would want to hear if you can't get enough action and suspense like me.

The CW's newest hit action drama series Arrow is nearing the end of its first of possibly many successful seasons to come. Arrow is based on Detective Comics character Oliver Queen who shipwrecks on an island and returns five years later to become Green Arrow -- the green hooded vigilante and guardian of Starling City. Adapting to his new role as a vigilante isn't the only area Oliver must adjust to. Oliver also needs to find where he fits in socially since a lot has changed since he was on the island. 

Oliver's girlfriend he left behind, Laurel Lance, is now dating his best friend Tommy Merlin. Laurel is now a successful defense attorney who seems to have a thing for the vigilante. On the other hand, Tommy is Oliver's business partner and despises Arrow feeling that the vigilante is a cold killer and needs to be stopped. Laurel's father, Detective Quentin Lance, feels the same way as Tommy and vows to do everything necessary to take the vigilante down because he believes he is too dangerous to be able to take the law into his own hands. Oliver's mother is hiding secrets about her involvement in the shipwreck, murder of her husband and attempted murder of her son. Oliver's sister, Thea, believes that her mother isn't a saint like her brother believes she is and is dating a petty thief, who after being saved by Arrow feels that he owes his life to the vigilante.

Oliver can't do everything on his own and seeks the help of his personal secretary Felicity Smoak and bodyguard John Diggle to assist him with locating his targets and coming through for him when he gets in over his head. With the help from Felicity, Diggle, and sometimes unbeknownst to his friends and family, Arrow hunts down Starling City's most corrupt criminals and rids the city of corruption one arrow at a time..

 Watch Arrow Wednesday nights at 8:00 on The CW, and see how Oliver Queen handles the difficult balancing act of having a social life and fighting crime without causing his loved ones to feel betrayed, or worse placing them in harm's way. With only three episodes left in the first season, check out Arrow and be sure to watch the dramatic ending of the first season before you're left waiting all summer for the next season's premiere.

Honey, I Think We Bought a Transformer

Remember those toys that could transform from an animal to a robot? The ones similar to the transforming cars that have had three movies made recently about them? Well... one month after marrying my best friend, Holly, my wife and I decided to go to a pet store that we knew always carried small, cute puppies. We were only planning on looking. Looking. Ha-ha. Yeah, right.

We found this quiet and calm yorkshire terrier puppy born only ten days prior to our wedding. I went in and out of that pet store three times. The fourth time I left the pet store my wife was holding a yorkie in right her hand. We named her Sophie. Holly had always wanted a little girl puppy named Sophie, so that puppy had no chance. Her name was Sophie.

When we came home I was really surprised as to how playful that little puppy was, but it wasn't just her playfulness that was different about that 2 lb puppy. She began to reveal characteristics of other animals. My wife and I found this kind of cute and funny, but we didn't realize how serious of a situation we had on our hands. Every week she revealed something new about herself to us. The first time we left her at the house by herself she began to make this Velociraptor-like distress call. I looked over at my wife and back at Sophie. "Dog's don't do that..." I thought to myself. Little did we know. We had bought a transformer dog.

The Velociraptor war cry was a sign of things to come. She had the spirit of a wild animal and reacted to being confined like a shark would if in a dry tank. And if you can imagine cuddling up to a shark, Sophie isn't a real good snuggler either. She bites. She would be the one in a horror movie about a serial killing puppy, but don't worry she hasn't killed anyone yet, but it does seem like she's hiding something and covering it up with her cuteness.

It might look like Sophie is a stuffed animal, but beyond that fluffy 4 lb frame is a 1,000 lb bucking bronco and she strongly believes she weights a thousand pounds, too. She shows her horse-like nature every time she is held, and unfortunately for her that turns out to be quite a lot. There must be something about a puppy that makes us humans unable to resist holding them. No matter what the circumstance is, Sophie hates to be manhandled or in her case puppyhandled. I think it's because it makes her feel weak and she refuses to have any of that. The only times that she will allow anyone to have their way with her is when she is so worn out that she's too tired to fight back anymore... and believe me it sure is a sight to see when that happens. When she crashes she will let you cradle her like a little baby.

Besides her psychological transformation into an untamable beast, it's not unusual to see Sophie take on the nature of a monkey. This little puppy climbs with no fear as if she was born in a tree. When sitting down she will scale up between your legs to get in your lap. She will even break out of your arms, climb up to your head, and jump six feet down. If you have ever seen the movie Cats & Dogs (where the dogs are secret agents on a mission to stop evil cats from conquering the world) Sophie would totally be the spunky girl puppy with a mow-hawk wearing a dress... Yes, I know it is quite a picture to take in, but this dog is so eccentric she demands attention just from her personality. But the craziest thing is she doesn't even ask for it. She just attracts attention to herself like the tractor beam on the Death Star.

No matter if its a man-eating shark, a bucking horse, a hyperactive monkey, or a wresting alligator, there's one thing Sophie will always be: a part of the family. And with our new family she fits right in. As newly weds, Holly and I are always doing something, which means that our puppy will have to entertain herself during many of those times... and Sophie has no problems with that. As much as she loves being around us, she also loves playing with her toys and running around the house like a nut. There's never a dull moment in our lives and even if there was, our little yorkie would change that in a hurry with her transforming self by getting into something she isn't supposed to or just sitting around looking cute... and if that's the case, watch out, there's more to Sophie than meets the eye.

Adam's Top Ten Christmas Movies

     1.       Elf

No matter who you are or how old you are. No other movie will get you in the Christmas spirit like watching Elf… unless you’re singing loud for all to hear.

2.       How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Animated and live action)

There would be something missing if the Grinch was left out of Christmas because… maybe, just maybe Christmas means a little bit more… and in a grinchly way he reminds us of that.

3.       The Santa Clause

When it comes to a movie involving Santa Clause, there’s no other movie that captures the brightness and wonder like The Santa Clause.

4.       Die Hard 2

Yes, shocking I know. But you can’t expect an action movie loving guy like me not to have one action movie on the list… and no one saves Christmas from terrorists quite like John McClane.

5.       Home Alone 2

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York rounds up the top 5 and beats out its prequel Home Alone because the booby traps are more intense and the atmosphere of NYC sure beats Kevin’s house.

6.       Miracle on 34^th Street

The second Santa Clause movie Miracle on 34^th Street is a Christmas movie that everyone needs to see. This movie is a modern classic and also happens to have the best acting on this entire list.

7.       Jingle All the Way

What could possibly be better than a movie about a father forgetting to buy a Christmas gift for his son and getting trampled on by crazed mothers?? if Arnold Schwarzenegger was in the movie… OH wait. He is!

8.       The Christmas List

This small budget Christmas film has a great storyline and solid acting. It’s no wonder why this movie made in 1997 is still a highlight on the Hallmark channel. If this was a big budget film it would star Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks. If you haven’t seen it, it’s definitely a great one worth watching.

9.       Jack Frost

Michael Keaton plays this modern day Frosty in Jack Frost, but Keaton gives this snowman a more human quality and stresses the importance of family and being a father to your children.

   

10.   I’ll Be Home for Christmas

No list would be complete without a wildcard making the list, and that wildcard is I’ll Be Home for Christmas starring Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Jessica Biel. This movie marked the diminishing career for Thomas and the uprising for Biel and turned out to be a very funny and intriguing Christmas movie that further stressed the moral that family and your loved ones are far more important than material things.

There were a lot of worthy Christmas movies that did not make the cut, but this wraps up My Top Ten Christmas Movies. Is there a movie you think should be on this list? Did I leave anything off? Please share your thoughts and comments on what ten Christmas movies would make it on your list.

The Triumphal End of the Batman Trilogy

“The Legend Ends,” but does it? Is it possible for Batman to end? Does this mean that we will be without the Dark Knight forever!? Calm down. Take a deep breath. It will be alright. But seriously, Batman is alive and well in the comic book world, which means there’s always hope for the caped crusader to resurface again. Bruce Wayne might not always be the one behind the mask that criminals fear, but Batman continues to live on through the ones who follow after him.

After all, “As a man I can be ignored and destroyed. But as a symbol. As a symbol I can be elemental. I can be everlasting,” said Bruce Wayne in a conversation with Alfred after he returned from the League of Shadows. This conversation is the single most important conversation in the Dark Knight trilogy. Batman “begins” by first establishing this symbol concept and in The Dark Knight Rises the process of making Batman into a symbol is complete. Here’s what Christopher Nolan had to say about the symbol concept in his trilogy from his biography profile on IMDB.com: 

“For me, "The Dark Knight Rises" is specifically and definitely the end of the Batman story as I wanted to tell it, and the open-ended nature of the film is simply a very important thematic idea that we wanted to get into the movie, which is that Batman is a symbol. He can be anybody, and that was very important to us. Not every Batman fan will necessarily agree with that interpretation of the philosophy of the character, but for me it all comes back to the scene between Bruce Wayne and Alfred in the private jet in "Batman Begins," where the only way that I could find to make a credible characterization of a guy transforming himself into Batman is if it was as a necessary symbol, and he saw himself as a catalyst for change and therefore it was a temporary process, maybe a five-year plan that would be enforced for symbolically encouraging the good of Gotham to take back their city. To me, for that mission to succeed, it has to end, so this is the ending for me, and as I say, the open-ended elements are all to do with the thematic idea that Batman was not important as a man, he's more than that. He's a symbol, and the symbol lives on.”

The Dark Knight Rises ended exactly the way I would want it to end if I had written the script myself. If you have been following the Christian Bale – Batman trilogy, you will love this movie if you haven’t seen it already… which I’m sure most Batman fans already have. The best Batman series has come to an end in this movie, but could there be a continuation of the story down the road by someone other than Bruce Wayne… possibly by introducing Robin, Night Wing, or even one of Bruce Wayne’s offspring, which would be perfectly okay with me. Bottom line about Christopher Nolan’s Batman series is that it is the best. Hands down. There’s no campiness in the films. There’s no outlandish characters where it leaves the audience scratching their heads thinking, “What were the filmmakers thinking when they made this. Did they actually believe we would buy into this.” With the end of The Dark Knight Rises, Christopher Nolan has completed the most true to form series for the Caped Crusader. As a Batman fan from the age of 2, I’m sad to see the series end; however, with Nolan finishing the story in the way that it started, it makes it easier to say goodbye to the Dark Knight… or at least farewell for now my friend..

Stay tuned for a special Christmas post: My Top 10 Christmas Movies

A Movie about Video Games and Much More

Disney Pixar’s most recent film Wreck it Ralph is a movie for kids of all ages from three to sixty-three. Anyone who has ever played an arcade or video game of any kind will appreciate this movie. The story revolves around Ralph the terrible wrecking villain present in the 1980s arcade game Fix it Felix Jr, but Ralph isn’t all that terrible. After all, he’s just doing his job. If Ralph didn’t wreck things, there would be nothing for Felix to fix. Unfortunately, Felix and the other townspeople don’t realize that without Ralph they would cease to exist, and Ralph is treated like an outcast and left to sleep in a dump while the others in the game stay in their cozy penthouse suites.  In hopes to improve his situation, Ralph goes on a quest to win himself a medal and prove that he isn’t as bad as the townspeople make him out to be.

After winning a medal from the game Hero’s Duty, Ralph loses it in the candyland world of Sugar Rush to a little go-kart racing girl Vanellope, who needs the medal just as much as he does. Vanellope talks Ralph into helping her win a race that will gain her respect in her game in return for the medal she took from him, which he believes will finally give him respect in his game back home. Ralph is reluctant at first to help the little girl but when he realizes that her situation is even worse than his own, he decides to put his own mission aside in order to help her. As the two unlikeliest of partners develop a friendship, Ralph becomes the hero he has always longed to be and he understands that a hero is much more than someone who is awarded a golden medal.

Wreck it Ralph is another visually stunning Pixar movie worthy to see on the big screen and has one of the best Pixar storylines since Finding Nemo. Boys and girls alike will equally enjoy the movie with the story of Ralph and Vanellope. Wreck it Ralph is the perfect movie to watch as a family, or if you’re like me… a perfect movie to just sit back and enjoy. Wreck it Ralph debuted in theaters November 2, so if you want to make it to the movie before the Christmas rush of movies possibly takes this out of the theaters, now would be the time to see it before it gets left out like Christmas trees on December 26.

Stay tuned for my next post: "The Triumphal End of the Batman Trilogy"