Thanksgiving point Gardens

I'm a little late adding this post, but thought I'd do it anyway, just so you have an idea what is out there.

On Monday, 14 April, my sister, Tari and I went to the Thanksgiving Point gardens, expecting to see them ablaze in colorful tulips and other spring flowers. Apparently they were a bit late this season or we were a bit early, but we had a nice day together.

Pic. 1 - inside the secret garden








Pic. 2 Door in the secret garden wall. I believe that on a better day or later in the season this vine at the side of the door is probably green and living.

















Pic. 3 Tari in Garden, (sorry there are almost no flowers open in there during our visit.)













Loni at the carousel. Again few flowers. I imagine it is very pretty when the flowers are in bloom, but not to dispair. It was a beautiful day. There were even quite a few people wandering around. I'd like to visit when the plants and flowers are growing. They probably are now, two weeks after our premature visit.





Pic. 5 One of the falls located in the country's largest manmade mountain garden. That was very impressive.

The water is recirculated from a large pond, or maybe I should call it a lake because of the size of it.

I think the gardens are worth attending. Doors open at ten in case you are wondering. Oh Yeah, there is a charge.

August Rush

I rented this on Saturday using a free Red Box promotion. :) Anyway, I'd heard good things about it, but couldn't remember what it was about. I was very pleased with it, and managed to not let any tears grace my cheeks (though Matt did ask once or twice if I was crying).

The story is about an 11 year old boy that is at a boy's home in New York. The other boys make fun of him for saying that he hears music (that no one else hears) and that he can hear his parents. The main premise of the show is about him trying to find his parents.

The actor that played the main character is Freddie Highmore (very cute kid that played Charlie in the Johnny Depp Charlie and the Chocolate Factory). He did a GREAT job. I recognized many of the other actors (which I find to be fun in a movie--makes me think hard about where I've seen them before, or I Google them to find out later). Robin Williams was in here too.

Overall, I really enjoyed the show, and I'd watch it again. I wouldn't have minded if the ending had gone a bit further though. Sometimes I don't like using my imagination.

Martian Child

When Dan had this from Blockbuster I thought it was going to be a really low-rate cheesy sci-fi flim. I was really surprised...pleasantly surprised. This was a really cute, feel good, clean movie. John Cusack plays a widower who adopts this little boy who thinks he's from Mars. The whole movie is about their relationship and trying to figure things out and fitting in, but being okay with who you are, and knowing that the dad won't leave the little boy. Anyway, if you're looking for a feel good family film, I'd recommend it.

The Great Debaters

Why are all the really good, uplifting movies the ones you never hear about? This was a great movie. It sounds like a movie theme we've seen a million times--a teacher/coach takes the underdog kids and makes them into champions.... And you're right--that was the basic premise. But there was so much more. A teacher (Denzel Washington) at a small college in Marshal, Texas builds up an award-winning debate team that goes on to compete against Harvard's aces. The movie also explores the social climate of Texas during the depression, including day-to-day insults, slights, and persecution African Americans and the working poor had to endure in the 1930s. The acting was incredible by some unknowns but Denzel Washington makes almost any movie worth seeing. This is not a movie for kids. There is some racial violence and it makes you face some unpleasant moments in American history. Have kleenex available.
(This is Gayle's review, but Jessica concurs.)

Dan in Real Life

I'm probably going to be the only person to say that I really did not like this movie. Dan in Real Life is about a newspaper columnist who writes about family. His wife has been dead for four years and he's raising 3 girls on his own. While on a family vacation with his whole extended family he meets someone and falls in love with her, only to find out that it's his brothers girlfriend. So, the whole movie is his struggle with that during this reunion. It's just awkward and I hate awkard movies. I enjoyed the relationship that he had with his three girls and I loved his big family, but there were too many awkward situations for me to enjoy the movie.

Enchanted

Zoie got this for Easter. She had seen it in the theater with her aunts, but I hadn't seen it. We watched it Monday (and Tuesday). It was cute and cheesy. There were a couple of things in the show that would have been better for my four year old not to see (Giselle getting out of the shower, and then falling onto the guy while she's wearing only a towel). That stuff doesn't go any further, but I thought it would have been better to leave that out of a kid's show. They could have come up with something else to make the guy's girlfriend upset with him.

Anyway, overall it was cute, and Zoie really liked it. She was kind of scared of the witch though.

The Jane Austen Book Club

Has anyone seen this movie? I just saw a trailer for it and I thought it looked really cute. If no one else has seen it, I say we all get together and watch it! Well it looks like you'd have to find a bunch of girls to watch it with, anyway. Hehe.

27 Dresses

I went and saw this movie the other night with a couple of friends. I'd heard some good reviews (from friends/family) on the show, but was skeptical since the one preview that I saw seemed a bit racy. It is a story about a girl who is always a bridesmaid, never a bride. And then her boss (who she's in love with) and her sister get together and it's just killing her.

I really enjoyed the movie, and have wanted to see it again. Part of this feeling could be due to being with friends, and we had the theater to ourselves. It was fun to laugh and talk during the show, without worrying about other patrons. It'd be better if you could get it edited (for some language and "adult situations").

North and South

When my mom told me the title for this movie, I assumed it was based on the Civil War, but it is not. North and South is based on the book by Elizabeth Gaskell that is set in 19th Century England. Produced as a TV production by BBC (I love BBC productions, so I was won over almost immediately), the movie has 4 segments. It is the story of a middle class southerner who is forced to move to the industrial north. It shows the harshness of the industrial revolution, juxtiposed with the goodness of people. If you loved the BBC production of Pride and Prejudice, you will love this. My mom bought it, but I think it is available from Netflix.

Let me know what you think of it if you find time to watch it. I LOVED it.

(On a side note, BBC also produced Wives and Daughters, also by Elizabeth Gaskell, so if you have lots of time, it is worth watching as well. However, North and South was my absolute favorite!) I want to read both books now, but with a one-year-old, that hasn't quite happened yet.

Ratatouille

So I know Ratatouille has been out for a while, but we just watched it again, and I remembered why we loved it so much. The animation is so fun, and the story is incredibly original. (Although when I actually think about having rats in the kitchen, it does sort of gross me out.) My niece and nephew LOVE the movie (although the part where he gets washed down the sewer sort of scares them). We bought this one for Connor, anticipating that he will love it in a few years.

Any other opinions?

License to Wed

Matt picked this up the other night too. I'd been a little curious about it when I saw the previews a long time ago, but you have to be so careful with Robin Williams (he can be quite dirty). I will say it was better than I expected it to be, but that doesn't mean it's free from some language and ideas. Matt seemed to like how lots of characters from the TV show The Office are in it. That doesn't do anything for me, but there you go.

Sydney White

A lady at the grocery store was returning this at Red Box and told me it was really good. So, Matt picked it up, and, well, it wasn't great. It's not a high school movie (you know the type), but not far off since it's about college and sororities. Beautiful blondes are the mean ones. It's supposed to be like a modern day Snow White. There were funny parts, but it was kind of stupid funny. Sort of like a Legally Blonde type show. Anyway, I mentioned it to Tarah, and Tarah--take it off Netflix if it's not too late. It wasn't a total waste of time, but there are so many better options.

The Kingdom

I got this from the library because my husband wanted to see it. I didn't realize it was rated R until Mike told me but I have to admit that it seemed less offensive than Juno which was rated PG-13. I think that violence gets a harsher rater for some reason over raciness. Anyway, there is a lot of violence but it was a really interesting story. It's not action all the time, just a real interesting look into the Middle East.

Bourne Ultimatum

We've had this from Netflix for about a month (we don't watch movies very often anymore!) and finally got around to watching it last night.
I've enjoyed each of the movies in this trilogy, and this one was no exception. Although I have to admit I fell asleep through part of it. But that didn't have anything to do with the movie, and everything to do with having a newborn.
I won't spoil the ending, but it was a good one. Finally answered some questions. I like what the blond-haired lady did for Jason.
So, I'm a pretty lame review-writer, but it really was a good movie. :)

Transformers

I may get bashed for my thoughts on this one, but gotta say I did NOT love this show. Maybe it was all the hype, but it was a let down. Honestly though, I don't handle main characters being ugly very well. This sounds very shallow, and maybe it is, but when I'm looking at someone for two hours (or whatever), if they're not pleasant to look at, it really takes away from the show. Shia LeBeouf fit his non-cool high school kid role well, but . . . . ugh. The main girl character was quite pretty, but very skankily dressed! The acting was ok, but the story just wasn't that great. The special effects were very good. All in all, I would rate the cartoon transformers of my youth five stars (out of five) and this movie 2.5.

Bring on the opposition!

Becoming Jane

Dan brought this home the other night, which really surprised me. It's a story about Jane Austin. I'm not sure how accurate it is, but I was entertained. It's definitely a chick flick and if you didn't like Pride and Prejudice you most likely won't like this one (since really, it's basically the same movie). I loved it. There are two parts that need skipping. Some behind is shown when two guys swim in the lake (Dan wouldn't let me look for some time, so I'm assuming a lot of bum was shown) and when Tom tells Jane to read a book, she does, but the book is on sex, and not something I really wanted to hear.

Anyway, it's rated PG, and I liked it so much I watched it twice. I cried too (which really doesn't say much). It's fun to see where Jane Austin got a lot of her inspiration (if the movie portrays her correctly). It's cute and besides those two parts I'd recommend it.

Stardust

Maybe everyone else saw this in the theaters, but I just got this from Netflix and loved it! I thought it would be kinda lame and cliche with some big acting names thrown in it, but it really wasn't at all! The story was marvelous. I thought it had great action scenes, but written well too. I wanted to write down several quotes. I loved this: "Eternity sounds awfully lonely. Unless perhaps I had someone to share it with. Someone I loved." (something to that affect) There's some pretty good laughs in it too. It just makes you feel good.

The director says this is a fairy-tale for grown ups, but there wasn't anything too "adult" in it. Lots of killing actually, but they leave out the sound effects and most of the gore. One guy even has bright blue blood instead.

I'm curious to see if other normal people liked this too, or if I'm just turning into a fantasy-lover. (darn those vampire books)

The Wendell Baker Story

Matt picked out a movie last night. He got it at Red Box, and wouldn't tell me what it was, because it was a surprise. If he had told me the name, I would have been clueless. I'd never heard of it.

Owen and Luke Wilson are in the show (along with several other familiar faces), but that's about where my interest ended. Matt has a great ability to pick out movies that I dislike. :) He does get some that I like, but I would say most of the movies he picks out don't do it for me. Let's just say that I was reading and doing other things during most of the movie.

Anyone else out there ever seen it (or heard of it)?

Question

So what movies do your men (or guy friends) like that surprised you? A lot of times I'll just assume he won't like a "chick flick" or other sappy movie, and then it just happens to be one of those magical movies you both end up liking! They don't come along very often, so I'm wondering if you all have any suggestions.

AJ loves the Count of Monte Cristo. Maybe it was the sword fighting though. We both LOVED the World's Fastest Indian. It's not really a romantic chick flick I think, but it's, you know, "heartwarming". Anyway, I can't think of very many right now, but every once in a while it happens!

No Reservations

I rented No Reservations today. It's about a chef who's life gets shaken up by the death of her sister and the responsibility of taking care of her niece. Her job is her life, and her personal situation makes for changes at work too. I cried several times, and saw that Matt was right for not wanting to see it. I liked it, but it wasn't his kind of show. Definitely a "chick flick". It also seemed pretty predictable, but if you're not really looking for a show that makes you think, you shouldn't be disappointed. The trailer and other show info can be found here.

Did I mess this up?

Ok, so with this template, can you easily post new movies? I have to go in from my other blog and do it from that dashboard. If I've messed it up for everyone let me know and I'll choose a different template.

Two of my favorites

Shadowlands is my all-time favorite movie. It's a tear-jerker, but so good. It's the story of C.S. Lewis and his marriage late in life. He marries his wife while she is in the hospital with bone cancer. It's a beautifully told story. Anthony Hopkins is incredible, and the other actors are great too.


Secondhand Lions is a feel-good movie. A boy goes to spend the summer with his two uncles, who are the subjects of many intimidating rumors. It's funny, touching, and a good story. If you want something to make you smile, I recommend checking it out.

Waitress

This movie was recommended to me by a lot of people, so we rented it last week.

I haven't yet decided if I loved it or hated it, to be honest. The cinematography is somewhat bizzare, and it seems cartoonish at times. The characters and their actions often seem like something out of the Loony Toons, but I think it brings the point home well.

There is one scene that we felt we needed to fast forward through, although, I'm not sure how bad it really ended up being. Also, some of the morals, or lack thereof, in the storyline made me a bit uncomfortable, but I see how it was necessary for the main character to figure out what she needed to do in order to make a better life for herself.

I liked the way it ended, but I'm not sure I liked the way we got there. It's a cute movie...your husbands will most likely hate it, though. Definitely a "chick flick"

Danny Deckchair

Danny Deckchair is about a quirky guy that flies away to another place and sort of starts a new life. It is a movie I try to recommend a lot to friends. It's very cute. It will make you laugh more than cry, so your hubbies may like it too! You can watch the trailer here.

Amazing Grace

Everyone should see this movie. It's a true story about the end of the slave trade in England, and about the man who wrote the song "Amazing Grace". It's very inspiring and uplifting.

The Game Plan

So, I admit, I was very skeptical but I was pleasantly surprised. I like movies that make you want to be a better parent. It was cute and the acting wasn't too bad either (as much as you can expect from a professional "wrestler") Anyway, I would recommend it to watch with your kids.

Music and Lyrics

We rented Music and Lyrics Saturday night after hearing that several friends really liked it. I was very surprised to see Hugh Grant in a role like this. It was just sort of . . . goofy. I don't mean that in a "what a waste of time" sort of way. I did like the majority of the movie, it's just that I haven't seen Hugh Grant in a role like this. His character is a pop "has been" from the 80s. He does a lot of singing and dancing (or hip popping). I was laughing through a lot of the movie at the humor. I will say that I didn't care for the clothing styles and dance styles of the current music star. Pretty much skanky! It was very nice that that didn't take up much of the show. And, there's "one scene" about the main characters. Thankfully, it doesn't show the scene--just the before and after.

The last part of the show seemed a bit slow. Of course, it could have been that it was very late and Matt didn't seem interested in the movie. Your viewing partner's feelings about a show definitely affect your own feelings.