I’ve found a plugin for WordPress that I’ve wanted for quite a while. It keeps track of the movies I’ve seen and lists the four most recent in the sidebar, along with the ratings I gave. So, come back from time to time to see what I’ve been watching. 
The kids and Rachel and I took a nice trip to California. Check out the photos. We stopped in Reno to visit Lillian, Emily, and William. Lillian went with us to see Monster House, which is pretty good. Sarah went with Lillian and Rachel to dinner while the boys and I checked into Circus Circus. We saw a fireworks display from our window that night.
The next day we went to Marine World. We had a pretty good time, but couldn’t enjoy it fully because it was SO hot. About 108° F when we left. As we drove about 40 minutes to Berkeley, it cooled down to 73° F. Lisa says that’s what they pay the big bucks for. We had a nice visit with Lisa, Scott, Stella, Chris, and Dean. Chris went with us Monday morning to San Francisco where we spent time at Pier 39, Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum, and Ghirardelli Square.
Tuesday we left one bay to go to another. We had a lot of fun at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk, then drove around Monterey Bay to our hotel which was right on the beach. The next day we went to the aquarium, of course, and played in the ocean. Thursday we drove across the state and through Yosemite. Friday we spent a little time in Virginia City. We woke up early Saturday morning to drive home.
Rachel and I went to see Church Ball at the dollar theater tonight. It wasn’t a great movie but we laughed a few times. One of the more interesting parts, to me at least, was when they showed a few interior shots of a house. On the wall there was a picture of butterflies on some flowers, made using some sort of cross-stitch technique. I immediately recognized it, because I have the same picture that I was told my Grandma Trottier made. My first thought was, “How interesting. Whoever made that must have been in the same homemaking meeting my grandmother was in.” But then I had another thought. “Hmm. I know I haven’t hung that yet since I moved. I wonder if somehow it made it into one of the Deseret Industries piles and they ended up buying my grandmother’s creation at the DI!”
Needless to say, when we got home I did a quick search. I was glad when I found it because that means I’m not a bad grandson after all. I immediately hung it in Sarah’s room. She’ll probably not be thrilled, but maybe the story and knowing her great-grandmother made it will soften it a little.
Rachel and I went to Salt Lake today and saw the IMAX movie, Deep Sea. It was a 3D movie. Usually I think that 3D is gimicky, but in this case it really added to the movie and was well done. Beautiful shots of sea life. I really enjoyed it.
After the movie we went to Tracy Aviary, which is always a treat. Spent some time watching a Great-horned Owl, a Sandhill Crane, Burrowing Owls, and others. There were some peacocks with amazing displays, and an Andean Condor who was also showing off his wingspan. Many beautiful ducks and waterfowl.
After that we went to Trolley Square and had a nice dinner at Rodizio Grill.
Last night Jonathan, David, Rachel, and I went to see Over The Hedge. It’s a pretty cute family film. We all had a good time although it cost the four of us over $45 after you factor in soda and popcorn. Still, every evening I can spend with my kids is a nice evening.
Sarah seems to be having a great time in Guatemala. She is answering email there whenever she can make it to an internet cafe, so drop her a line.
In my last post I mentioned I’m considering a digital SLR camera and a zoom or telephoto lens. After reviewing what money can buy and how useful it is for nature photography, I’ve revised my wishlist to a regular point-and-shoot digital camera (probably something in the Nikon Coolpix line) and a good spotting scope. People who have both are now routinely coupling them using mounting sleaves or brackets to take pretty stunning pictures for much less money than a similar DSLR setup. It’s called digiscoping. Although it will still be expensive, I’m planning on buying the necessary components over time. It’s something I know I’d enjoy for the rest of my life.
Tuesday I identified two of the wading birds we’ve seen this spring over in the farmer’s pond. One is a Snowy Egret, and the other is a Black-necked Stilt. Birds have cool names.
Novell is an awesome employer. Over the years, they’ve given me opening day movie tickets for several movies, including the last three Star Wars movies. Two or three departments bought out two showings yesterday afternoon of Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. Rachel and I went and thoroughly enjoyed it. There were times when I rolled my eyes because the dialog was so cheesy and canned, but the overall story was very good. Other than a silly fight on a giant river of lava, the action was engaging and entertaining. The characters and creatures were interesting this time–not annoying. Overall, it was a nice ending to the six-part story that started when I was ten years old. Back then, it was cool to compare with your friends how many times you’d been to the theater to see the original Star Wars movie (three for me that year, then once again when it was digitally remade and re-released in theaters). This movie brought back some of the same excitement and energy that was somewhat missing in episodes I and II.
The kids and Rachel and I went to see Napoleon Dynamite tonight at the local discount theater. This is a quirky movie with quirky characters (including a llama named Tina) that completely win you over. I loved that it takes place in Preston, Idaho–a place I have spent some time because I had cousins living there.
The interesting thing is that I really know people like most of the characters in the movie so it seems pretty real. Kind of scary, in fact, when I consider the parallels to my own high school experience. I might not have been quite as dorky as Napoleon Dynamite, but it’s not too far off the mark.
Jonathan was laughing through the whole movie, so it might appeal to the 10-year-old crowd too. Then again, Jonathan always takes his laughing cues from other people, so you never know.
I hear that Fox Searchlight is re-releasing this movie nationwide, so if you get a chance you should see it. It’s definitely not boring.
Shaun of the Dead is the best of the monster genre I have ever seen. I guess that’s because it mixes zombies with British comedy, which I have always loved. This is an absolutely hilarious movie and manages to stay smart and keep your attention. Four stars.
Also saw Open Water, in which absolutely nothing of interest happens. If you know the premise of the movie (a young couple goes scuba diving while on vacation and when they surface they find the boat has left them) and you have any imagination at all then you already know everything that happens in this movie. Two stars.
Rachel and I went to see Bourne Supremacy a few weeks ago at the local dollar (actually $1.50) theater. I enjoyed seeing Bourne Identity a few years ago. I thought the story was well laid out, and the action sequences generated the appropriate level of suspense. Bourne Supremacy on the other hand suffers from a less-than-strong plot and, maybe worse, a most annoying cinematographic effect–the shaking camera. I suppose the idea of shaking the camera is supposed to make the audience feel more involved in the action. But when the opening scene shows Matt Damon sitting peacefully at a desk in a house, using the shaking camera effect seems silly and made me genuinely nauseous. I almost gave up on the movie in the first ten minutes. Maybe I should have although it would be hard to argue the movie wasn’t worth $1.50. Two stars (out of five).
See? Get your own blog and you get to play critic. 
The kids and Rachel and I all went to see The Incredibles last night. Whether or not you consider yourself the sort of person who likes animated and/or kids movies, I would definitely recommend this one. It is a creative masterpiece. There is something for everyone, including comedy and a lot of action. This is the second time the kids have seen the movie in two days, but the first for me and Rachel. I don’t usually like to see a movie more than once, but I’ll probably make an exception for this one in a couple of years and see it again or get the DVD when it comes out.
The kids and I were talking about our favorite parts of the movie. I picked the two or three scenes that have the woman who designs costumes for the super heroes. She steals each scene she’s in. Sort of an eccentric, hilarious, Q-like character to put it in Bond terms.
The other cool thing about this movie is that at the beginning there is a trailer for Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. I’m looking forward to that final Star Wars installment, coming out in May.
