CinnamonOpus Says

Double Feature

We are big into the AirMiles and points here, as you well know. Bigger even than the coupons. Not so big as the obsession with bargain shopping and clearance items, but still.

Okay, so it’s ME. I’ll be honest. Anytime I can get something cheapcheapcheap and get AirMiles or credit card points on it, I am as happy as Larry (however happy he is.) Because not only am I getting something cheap NOW — in the future I will get something for FREE. It’s like, double the cheapness, man!

But we have not been collecting as many AirMiles recently as we usually do because, frankly, the grocery store that offers them has gone downhill somewhat. AND it’s more expensive than the one down the street, so it’s not really worth it. But we still collect enough for the one thing we use the AirMiles for, and that is…

FREE MOVIE PASSES.

Good grief, we love movies. We have hundreds upon hundreds of DVDs, of course, since we don’t have cable. But we also both love to go out to a movie. We love movie popcorn, and sitting in the seats right above the walkway entrance to the theatre — you know the ones, they have that half-wall in front of them which works as a great shelf for snacks and drinks! — and we love the big theatre experience.

So, last night we went to the movies.

BDH has been feeling bad recently because he is playing a LOT of soccer, and isn’t home much. Now, I am okay with that — I am in favour of any physical exercise he wants to do, which helps with his diabetes — and also, I am quite okay with the alone time. I can exercise myself, or relax, or get things done… it’s all good. But he’s been feeling like I might be feeling a bit neglected, so last night, as a surprise, he took me to a movie.

His first idea was to take me to see Mamma Mia. I’d mentioned that I had heard good things, and that it might be fun to see, so he wanted to take me. But on the way there, we got to talking. And recently, as you probably know, The Dark Knight has also come out. And everybody has been positively raving about it. So we talked, and I suggested that maybe The Dark Knight was more of a”big theater experience”-type movie than Mamma Mia. I said I didn’t think Mamma Mia would lose anything if we just waited and saw it on DVD, so we decided on seeing The Dark Knight.

We got our popcorn and pop, all part of our free movie pass, got into the lineup early so we’d get Our Favourite Seats, and went in. The Dark Knight began.

And… It was dark. I should have taken the clue from the frigging title. And he was a knight, of sorts. But otherwise? It left me cold.

I have to be the only person on the planet who didn’t enjoy this movie. But I really didn’t. It was okay. That’s it.

Now, I am not a person who enjoys a lot of violence. And while there wasn’t a lot of gory violence — mostly fistfighting and the usual action stuff — it was still a bit too much for me. When it comes to action-type movies, I get uncomfortable with movies where the violence is actually something that could happen. And maybe that speaks to how good the movie actually is, that it made me uncomfortable, but if I am going to watch violence I prefer more of the “cartoon”-variety violence. You know, stuff that is a bit implausible, like your James Bonds or your Bournes.

And it was LONG. The damn thing Just. Wouldn’t. End. Just when there was a good spot for an ending, somebody would start monologuing and a whole ‘nother thing would start up. By about the 5th non-ending, I was just shaking my head. End, already! Make another movie with this stuff!

Also, it was unrelentingly dark. Really, REALLY dark. I mean, a more appropriate title would have been “Darky McDarkerson, the Dark Knight of Darktown”. I like some levity in my action movies, like with IronMan, for example. But this was dark. And not just in tone, but in lighting. So dark, I kept hoping somebody would come along (in the context of the movie) holding a flashlight so I could see what the hell was going on some of the time.

Anyway, I didn’t enjoy it as much as I had hoped. And I felt really bad, because BDH loves his comic book hero movies.

And the problem is, if I am not enjoying it, BDH spends all his time worrying about how I am not enjoying it, and so then HE doesn’t enjoy it.

So we both left the movie feeling really… blah. Kind of bummed, actually. Not just because we didn’t have a good time, but because it was so frigging depressing. I don’t know if I mentioned it, but jeez… all that DARK.

So BDH turned to me and said, “Are you tired?”

And he suggested we needed something to lift our moods, so why not a double feature? Why not see Mamma Mia?

He really wanted to have a fun night out with me. And so did I, come to that. So I agreed.

And off we went to Mamma Mia. Which turned out to be silly, and fluffy, and completely goofy. It was lighthearted and funny and hammy. It was PERFECT. Exactly what we needed. Yeah, it wasn’t necessarily something we needed to see on the big screen — it would have been just as good if we had seen it on DVD. (Moreso, actually, because we could pause and talk and rewind, which we love to do. And also? I am betting the special features will be AWESOME like a hot dog.)

But lighthearted entertainment was just the antidote to “Captain Dark Darkington of Darkland”. We had a GREAT time.

The theatre was mostly empty (not a lot of ABBA fans take in a 10 pm show, it seems), so we could still gab when we wanted to and belly laugh about stuff and not disturb anyone. And it was fluff — just pure entertainment, no bad things happening to anyone. Deep, provocative, Oscar-winning stuff? No. But fun. And full of sunshine and light and blue skies. Literally AND figuratively.

It was nice.

(And a side note: After the lights went down, we noticed a few pairs and small groups of men coming in. Now, men, whether you are gay or whether you are just an ABBA fan or both — admittedly, that’s a bit redundant, but whatever — embrace it! You don’t have to wait until the lights are down and sneak in! Embrace your inner ABBA fan! These are your PEOPLE!)

So, we got home late, and we’re both dog tired today. But the night finished on a high note, and we had fun.

Now, we normally do double features on long weekends when everybody is out of town and the theatres are relatively quiet. And a long weekend is coming up…

July 29th, 2008 Posted by CinnamonOpus | Everyday Life Stuff, Movies | 5 comments

Miscellaneous Life Stuff

Here’s what’s going on at the House of Peevish on a Wednesday.

• It was one of those mornings when waking up is hard to do. It was one of those mornings when you just settle into a really good, comfortable spot, and the temperature is just right, and you’re so happy sleeping… and then the alarm goes off. And it’s Wednesday, so it’s garbage day, so it’s not like you can just shut off the alarm and sleep in because you never know when the stupid garbage men will come by. But oh, for just another hour or so of that magical sleep.

• I’m turning into every crabby old adult I ever knew. And the reason? Is cats. And gardens. I love cats — obviously. Always have. But I remember as a kid how the horrible nasty neighbours would complain about cats using their gardens as a litter box. I remember my father complaining about it (only tangentially, because we had an outdoor cat, so it was kind of expected). I remember thinking how these crotchety old people were so mean for chasing cats out of their yard, yelling and clapping and acting like freaks. And what am I doing, at least a couple of times a week around here? Yelling and clapping and making weird noises to chase cats out of my garden or my yard. Even this morning, as I sit out on the porch with you typing, one of the worst offenders (the orange cat belonging to the Queen Bitch President of the Special Mommies Club who lives a few doors down, who always digs up my vegetable garden to crap in — that’s the CAT, mind, not the woman) was starting to walk over to our yard. He saw me and stopped dead in his tracks. “Don’t even think about it,” I told him. He froze. Then he turned, and walked in the other direction. I’m turning into that horrible Mrs. S, who lived next door when I was a child.

• It’s cool today, and the forecast is calling for rain this afternoon. Maybe a thunderstorm. I love thunderstorms, especially in the heat of summer. But right now it is cool, so if the rain comes it will get cooler, and the chill and the damp will get into your bones. I think a big pot of chicken curry is in order. There’s something good for a cold, damp day.

• I have this thing about wildlife. I love animals. I have an affinity for animals, mostly because they have always been great companions, trustworthy and unconditionally loving, where people have not. And so, I live in a house with 4 cats. And I can watch the deer out back for endless hours. And I feed the birds and the squirrels and the chipmunks and the rabbits. And I don’t get upset when the voles tear up our lawn, or various animals mow down our plants and shrubs, because they need food and shelter in the winter. So when the neighbour shows me that a robin has started making a nest in a decorative wreath that’s hanging on the brick wall of her house — a wreath, that she tells me, is only lightly hung up on the wall and not capable of supporting much weight — well, I begin to worry. You just know that I’ll be worrying about that bird and the inhabitants of that nest, wide awake and in a state, on the first rainy, windy night.

• I am looking at the front yard of the Queen Bitch President of the Special Mommies Club, and I notice, she’s got some sort of decorative tree thing in her front lawn. This tree (I use the term loosely) is held up by three big honking stakes and some ropes covered in rubber tubing, all considerably thicker and sturdier than this twig-like tree thing. And it’s been there for years; it’s not as if this is a brand new plant that just needs a little help in its first season but then will be big and strong in no time. Oh no. It’s been like this for a couple years now. And so I ask myself, what is the frigging point? Why would you buy a tree that needs an elaborate system of pulleys and cables and trapezes and whatnot to hold the damn thing up? Why not buy a tree that was, you know, more TREE than TWIG? Is it like some sort of bizarre art installation that I am just not understanding?

• We don’t have cable, so everything we watch is on DVD or the computer. And we’ve taken to watching a few oddball movies and series over the last little bit, along with some old favourites. And so, if you’re looking for something a little more intriguing and off the beaten track than your average fare, I would recommend:
  • Jekyll, because it’s both thrilling and darkly hilarious, and James Nesbitt is brilliant and — dare I say it — just a little bit sexy in it.
  • Slings and Arrows, because Paul Gross is hilarious in season 1 and 2, and just plain great in season 3. The first two seasons are funny and touching and fun, while season 3 is a bit less funny and a bit more tear-your-heart-out sad.
  • Waitress, because it’s a sweet little movie, both funny and sad. It’s a gem.
  • The MatchMaker, because it’s one of those movies that never gets old. It’s charming and fun, and it’s got some great characters along with the obviously played-for-broad-laughs stereotypical ones. It’s nice rom-com entertainment.
  • Greenfingers, because it’s just a lovely film. And because Clive Owen is lovely to look at.

May 14th, 2008 Posted by CinnamonOpus | Everyday Life Stuff, Random Thoughts, Movies | 4 comments

If You’re Looking for Me…

…I’m watching White Christmas! It wouldn’t be Christmas without Bing and Danny and “PINE Tree! COMING in to PINE Tree!”

Merry Christmas everyone!

December 24th, 2007 Posted by CinnamonOpus | Music Notes, Holidays, Movies | 2 comments

The Rules: Pre-Christmas Edition

There are rules in this life.

• If there are homemade cookies, they will get eaten.
• Corollary: If you have plans for said cookies — gifting them, eating them yourself — sooner is better than later.

• Telemarketers should not be surprised by rude responses, especially during dinner time, after 8 pm/kids’ bedtimes, and on weekends.
• Corollary: Telemarketers should not be surprised that they get no responses at all if they call using an 800 number, a made-up number like 012-345-6789, or a number that shows up as “unknown”.
• Corollary: Whoever invented call display should be knighted.

• When it comes to pyjamas, chocolate and breakfast, the time on the clock is irrelevant.
• Corollary: Drinking does NOT come under the above rule.
• Corollary: Phone calls do NOT come under the above rule. Especially see “telemarketers”, above.

• Drop-ins are never cool.
• Corollary: See “pyjamas and time”, above.

• Yoga is a very old Indian word, meaning “Contradiction”.*
• Corollary: When your yoga instructor starts talking about “focus” and “being present” and “concentration”, that is when there will be interruptions.
• Corollary: You are implored to relax in poses that require you to be upside down, supporting your entire body weight with your hands, or standing on your head.
• Corollary: It is impossible to breathe deeply in most poses. Especially with a belly in the way.

• “Christmas Classic” and “National Lampoon” should NEVER be in the same sentence.
• Corollary: Almost anything containing Bing Crosby is completely fine for the holidays. Even if it’s a Western, set in Bali, or has a strange Robin Hood plotline. Or all of the above together, even.

• Cats are non-traditional lovers of Christmas.
• Corollary: The more you spend on something for your cat, the higher the disdain your cat will have for an item.
• Corollary: Cats are fuzzy, mobile ornaments you can find in manger scenes, under Christmas tree skirts and in Christmas trees.
• Corollary: Wrapping paper rules.

*Note: I totally just made that up.

December 13th, 2007 Posted by CinnamonOpus | Everyday Life Stuff, Holidays, Cats, Fitness and fatness, Movies | 2 comments

My Eyeballs. They Spin.

So, we finally — FINALLY — got to see our double feature yesterday.

BDH came home early, while I was at the vet with The Bubby. So when I arrived home, it was to a surprise — BDH had taken the afternoon off, and planned a date. We were going for lunch, then to a double feature of Harry Potter and The Bourne Ultimatum, starting mid-afternoon. WHEEEE!

I had a quick shower to de-fuzz myself after taking a very grumbly Bubby to the vet, and then we were off. Lunch was a quick one, just some appetizers to nibble on at a restaurant we frequent, where we have gotten to know the staff fairly well. So we munched on chicken quesadillas and chicken wings and chatted with our favourite wait staff.

From there, it was off to the theatre. We were using our free coupons from our airmiles account, so it was doubly fun to do a double feature. Nothing like spending NO MONEY and having a great time.

First, we watched Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Now, this was my favourite book of the 7, so I was looking forward to it. And BDH has really enjoyed the Harry Potter series, so he was excited as well. As we were about 10 or 15 minutes in, BDH turned to me and whispered, “I love it already!” But… from there, it went downhill. The movie was not true to the book — well, the book is 700-ish pages, so they couldn’t include everything. But they did give short shrift to some of the parts that we really enjoyed from the book (I am not going to tell you, because although I adore spoilers, I know most people don’t), and some facts they changed altogether (which makes BDH nuts). And as the movie went on, it got faster and faster and things that should have been given full development were woefully handled. It all seemed so very rushed, as if they realized they were running out of time and had to cram a bunch of things in.

So, while it was entertaining enough, it was below expectations. It was disappointing. Out of a 10, I’d give it about a 6.5.

After the movie was done, we zipped home for a quick bathroom break and to check on the cats, and then it was back to the theatre for The Bourne Ultimatum.

Now, normally I don’t enjoy the action movies. But the Bourne series has been really well done, lots of tension and intrigue and not terribly bloodthirsty. Sure, they’re oftentimes kind of predictable plot-wise, but who cares? There’s lots of action and they’re always good entertainment value. And this one, I am happy to say, was no exception. Still not terribly deep on plot (although there were some crazy good plot devices), and perhaps you have to suspend disbelief a fair bit in some action sequences, but BAH — for the money, it’s great fun. And the guest stars — we spent the first half of the movie playing “spot the cameo”. (Personally, anytime you have David Strathairn in a movie I am intrigued.) So Bourne did not disappoint at all. Fantastic.

So I’d give this installment of Bourne a 9 out of 10.

All in all, we had a great day out. But oh my doG — after two movies jam-packed full of action, my eyeballs were a-spinning.

August 14th, 2007 Posted by CinnamonOpus | Everyday Life Stuff, Movies | 4 comments