My Oyster

I am loving these Beijing Games...

Love Beijing 2008 Poster, originally uploaded by mikeportfolio.

I have always loved the Olympics.

Probably not so much for the sport of it - though I do enjoy the athletics.

Probably not so much for the patriotism either. The USA chant actually grates on my nerves now. I think it is rude and plays into the stereotype that Americans are loud and obnoxious.

I think I have always loved the Olympics for two reasons - the stories and travels.

I can't get enough of the emotional personal stories of triumph. Of suppotive families. Of dedication and redemption. NBC does a great job of finding them and telling them.

And the travels. I think watching the Olympics is almost as good as really traveling around the world. In some ways maybe even better. I have always eaten up the stories about the host country and its people and culture. I have always loved the pictures of people and places in the host country

I still love it all - and Beijing has not disappointed.

The competitions are amazing. I am staying up past midnight every night to watch.

The stories are great - I can't get enough of (kinda) local (DC/Baltimore) boy Michael Phelps.

The travels. Anyone who knows me, knows I love Beijing and am eager to explore much more of China. Theses Olympics have really made me want it more.

A 6 Ws Movie Review: Mamma Mia!

Mamma Mia! Here I go again..., originally uploaded by Rafa from Brazil.

Who: With Jean.
What: A "musical"? And that is using the term very, very loosely. Isn't the ability to sing at even a mediocre level kind of a prerequisite for a musical? Apparently not in this one.
Where: Gallery Place Regal.  DC.
When: 1:30pm Show.
Why: I love Abba. I love Meryl Streep.  Other than that - hard to say.
How: Last row. Center. With Cookie Dough Bits and a Diet Coke.  Unfortunately without ear plugs. 

And The Bottom-line:
Go out and see it?
Wait til it hits Showtime?
Only worth seeing on an airplane? NOT EVEN! Ugh. Oy.

One World One Dream...

002, originally uploaded by dcjay64.

Yippee!

Finally, it is here! The Beijing Olympics!

I am so excited for these games because I know my friends in Beijing are really excited about them - as is the whole country probably.

One of my friends was texting me this morning while he and friends were watching the opening ceremony real-time. On TV, but still live. He was very proud and very happy and wanted me and everyone to enjoy the games.

Tonight Suz and Daryl and Atul and Jean came over to watch the ceremony. We ordered chinese food - of course. So did most of Washington - it took 2 hours to arrive.

It's ok though, because we were loving the show. It was an amazing opening.

A 6 Ws Movie Review: Wanted

JAMES MCAVOY as Wesley, originally uploaded by draven99.

Who: With Sarah - my niece/god-daughter
What: Hmm. Still not sure. But I liked it. A little bit thriller. A little bit coming of age - or at least coming into one's own. A little too violent for me and Sarah though.
Where: Augusta (Maine) Regal 10
When: 7:35 pm Show - though as Sarah pointed out to me, it actually started at 7:53pm.
Why: Umm. See pic above. I am a big James McAvoy fan. I thought he was great in Becoming Jane - which I loved.
How: 15 rows back. Center. Three foreign camp counselors in front of us. Sharing Sour Patch Kids with Sarah.

And The Bottom-line:
Go out and see it? Qualified Yes. If you love James or Anglena Jolie and have a high tolerance for violence.
Wait til it hits Showtime?
Only worth seeing on an airplane?

A 6 Ws Musical Review: The Producers

The Producers, originally uploaded by dannycohen62.

Who: With Mammie & Tut and an older woman whose husband refused to go.
What: One of my favorite movies and now a favorite musical.
Where: Maine State Music Theater - at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine.
When: 2:00pm Matinee.
Why: The campiness. And Mel Brooks makes me laugh nonstop.
How: Loaded up on caffeine, smiling the whole time, and the only person there under 80.

And The Bottom-line:

Come up to Maine and see it? Yes!
See the national tour?
Just rent the movie again?

And here - an homage to one of my favorite scenes from the show - done all with Ken dolls.  Gotta love Youtube...

A 6 Ws Movie Review: The Incredible Hulk

hulk angry, originally uploaded by owenbooth.

Who: With Jean
What: Marvel comics. I never read them. Too scary for me. I read Little Lotto and Richie Rich.
Where: Georgetown 14
When: 7:25 pm Show
Why: It's the beginning of the 4th of July weekend! No better time to see a big adventure/fantasy blockbuster.  I like adventure movies. The super hero genre is growing on me.  Sean turned me on to the X-Men.
How: With a pizza, chicken fingers, two cokes - one diet, and about 7 other people. Just right.

And The Bottom-line:

1. Go out and see it? Yes!
2. Wait til it hits Showtime?
3. Only worth seeing on an airplane?

**  I am trying out a new, simpler movie review format.  :-)

 

OK, I loved it...

Tonight I went to a sneak preview of the Sex and the City movie.

I was expecting to not like it. I loved the series. I still watch it every week on TBS or somewhere on cable. But I had heard not so good reviews and I just couldn't believe they could do a good job with it - but they did.

The theater was packed - mostly with women. And gay men.

The movie starts with the signature theme music and as soon as the first few notes played, there was, literally, a group scream of happiness and expectation. It was very fun. I think a lot of people miss those 4 women.

If you liked the series, go see it.

The History Boys at the Studio...

Good show. Long show. 3 hours.

I did enjoy it though. Coming from a family of educators, I liked the focus on teaching and learning and what is important to learn and how it serves you in the present and throughout life.

The show takes place in the 80s in a high school in England. Lots of 80s brit pop to set the mood and mark the era - that's my jam.

I guess it was made into a movie a couple years ago. I will have to rent it.

Before The Rains...

I caught this one tonight with Atul and Dr. David.

As the movie poster says, it is a "hothouse of sensuality, empire, class and guilt". And that's a lot.

It is a Merchant Ivory film - and definitely looks and feels like one. Atul informed me that Merchant and Ivory were actually a gay couple and that one of them, sadly, is no longer with us.

I really enjoyed it - ok, I fell asleep at the very beginning and Dr. David had to tap my shoulder.  But once I woke up, it was a very engaging film.  I have not seen much of Linus Roache - since The Priest.  He did a great job. 

The story takes place in southern India in the 1930s and deals with cultural and economic and political issues of the day.  Very interesting.

Two thumbs up.   

Go Fly a Kite...

This is the handmade kite I got in Seoul.

I have finally been reunited with it here in Washington, DC. This kite was made by Roe Yoo-Sang. He is 104 years old and is a Seoul Intangible Cultural Heritage.

These traditional kites are made by pasting paper onto thin branches. Korean kites are different than those around the world in how they are engineered and built. In fact, there are 70 different kinds of kites categorized according to shape and design. Mine is a shield kite. During December of the Lunar calendar, kites are created and flown in Korea. On the following January 15th - the night when the moon is the most full - the kites are flown with writing meant to send away misfortune and welcome good fortune.

I really treasure this one. I got it shopping with some colleagues and new friends in Seoul last month.