Underworld: Rise of the Lycans

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans

Explores the origins of the centuries-old blood feud between the aristocratic vampires known as Death Dealers and their onetime slaves, the Lycans.

Starring: Michael Sheen, Bill Nighy, Rhona Mitra

Just as you know that the Titanic sinks, going into this film, you know ahead of time, that the love interests' are doomed. One will go on to lead the Werewolf species named Lycans to war with the Vampires, both from the "Blood-line of Corvinus". The other is condemned to death because of their love as she carries their "miracle" offspring.

This is known before you even watch the movie, because this story is told in the first Underworld. After Lucian bites Michael Corvin, Michael sees bits and pieces of this story, then Lucian tells the full story to fill in the gaps.

As with the Titanic, the film makers do a great job in transporting you back to a dark time and place. The pace is a bit slow in the middle, but soon speeds up as the lovers are drawn together then ripped apart for the death scene.

I was a little skeptical about Kate Beckinsale not being in it, but they do a good job of tying her to this story as a narrator and why she was chosen by Viktor to be a vampire.

Hotel for Dogs!

Posted from Yahoo Movies:

When their new guardians forbid 16-year old Andi and her younger brother, Bruce to have a pet, Andi has to use her quick wit to help find a new home for their dog, Friday. The resourceful kids stumble upon an abandoned hotel and using Bruce's talents as a mechanical genius, transform it into a magical dog-paradise for Friday--and eventually for all Friday's friends. When barking dogs make the neighbors suspicious, Andi and Bruce use every invention they have to avoid anyone discovering "who let the dogs in."

Critics gave it a "C", Yahoo! Users gave it a "B+".

I give it a "B+", the story flows, the dogs are cute, and the film is funny, cute and very smart. It is very family friendly, and keeps you entertained. The kids are great and work well together. The dogs are funny and cute, they make you want to go out and save a pound dog.

Lisa Kudrow completely sheds her animal friendly Phoebe, making you want to hate her and her greasy non musical husband Kevin Dillon. When they fall into the poop dumpster, you cheer.

Don Cheadle portrays a heart-warming social worker trying to help the kids find a family, and you want him to take these kids in as his own.

The kids, Emma Roberts and Jake T. Austin, are quick witted and slick. They are trying to beat the system to stay together after losing their parents, all the while trying to hold on to their family dog.

Friday the family dog is a cute broken coat, long-legged Jack Russell Terrier that of course steals the movie. Even with the other dogs involved, Friday is the star. He is ruled by his nose and stomach which gets him and the kids in trouble.

I laughed through out most of the movie, I almost cried during the breakup scene, and I had a warm and gooey, happy good feeling at the end.

I was definitely entertained for the length of the movie.

Jon & Kate Plus Eight

The following excerpt I do not agree with, and I feel this is a vicious and cruel attack on this family.




'Jon & Kate Plus 8,' TV's 10-Passenger Family Train Wreck, Returns for a Fifth Voyeuristic Season

By Hank Stuever

Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, May 25, 2009

EXCERPT:

"Jon & Kate Plus 8" rarely takes time to show any activity that would suggest an intellectual or unselfish pursuit. The focus is on structured play, adhering to the schedule, wearing matching outfits, eating matching food. It's like a holiday update letter that never ends, in which the Gosselins are mainly seen consuming resources. (Hip to this, a recent "Jon & Kate" special focused on "going green.")

One look at Jon, and you know he's ready for it to end. TLC did not provide the usual preview episode to critics, as it surely scrambled to recut the season opener to address what everyone at the checkout line now knows: The Gosselins have moved again, this time to another planet.

I realize children are involved -- and I await eight separate and contradictory memoirs, years from now -- but the producers err seriously in trying to stick to the original, cutesy story line. This thing has evolved into something Greek, something Shakespearean, something corrosive that we in the chorus (example: see the Web site called Gosselins Without Pity) love to agonize and scream over. "Jon & Kate Plus 8" should be avoided at all costs, which means the DVR should be set to capture every moment.

I had no idea who Jon & Kate were the Friday before Memorial Day. I was over at my brother's house and saw his People Magazine on the couch end table. I asked who was Kate and Jon and why were they maybe splitting up? Andy said, "You know that couple with twins and sextuplets on TLC". I was like they have twins and sextuplets on purpose? Which at that moment my interest was peaked, so I found an article on the recent situation and was intrigued as to their life.

That evening as I was flipping through the channels at home, I came across TLC and the Jon & Kate plus 8 Memorial Day Marathon. So I set the DVR to record the show, and started to watch. I was hooked, how cute are these little guys? Jon & Kate were fascinating to watch as they worked together to control their children, but also to love, play, teach and have fun with them. I could see how they could bicker with each other during certain situations, but how they laughed at and with each other over their children and the situations they were dealing with.

The show was becoming a guilty pleasure as I got more and more caught up with this family. I appreciated that they went to Church every Sunday, and that they had a strong basis in the Christian Faith. They loved God, and thanked him for the blessings they were receiving and were not ashamed to do that on national TV.

I was falling in love with this family, they are fun to watch, and are open and loving. I recently lost my husband [divorce] (who knew I wanted to have children, but he lied, cheated and stole my child bearing years) so I couldn't have a family. I was living through The Gosselins, vicariously, and I was loving every minute of it.

I am sad for them because of this media circus. I Pray they work it out, whatever is best for them and the family. I feel like I know them, but do any of us really know the people we watch on TV? No! Jon said "this is between Kate and Me", and he is so right, it is none of our business. This family opened up part of their life to us, and that is the only part we should be concerned with, enjoying the journey of the Gosselins' as the kids grow and have adventures.

I know that God will heal them and protect them. He has given them blessings beyond blessings, and they have given back as well.

I posted the above excerpt for one reason, The media is just plain vicious and cynical. "No one can be a good parent if they put their children on TV." But these kids have been given the choice to either be on camera or not. I enjoy watching them, but if this is hurting their family, I say stop and live your lives free of the celebrity craziness.

My 39th Birthday

For my 39th Birthday, I have the rare pleasure to celebrate it with my bff Melanie Clodfelter who has the same date Birthday.

We are 7 years apart, but are very close spiritually, emotionally and soon we will be related, because she is going to marry my brother.

I had asked for money for my birthday so I could purchase an iPod. Why an iPod and not a MP3 player you ask? Well, I have a MP3 and I love it, but the software for the player doesn't organize my music well, and Napster doesn't allow me to have as many songs in a playlist that I want, and I don't like the new interface for Napster, so I am canceling my subscription. I have been playing with iTunes for the past couple of months, organizing my music, and I fell in love with the interface. I also love the organization of iTunes and the way the interface handles music and my playlists.

I had a great birthday, we had dinner over at my parents, my Mom and Dad grilled out Salmon, and we had salad and baked potatoes to go with the fish. It was so good.

Then we opened gifts, I got an iPod from Mom & Dad, so I was excited that it wasn't cash because I got to play with the iPod once I got home. Mel got a bracelet with charms (a dog for Bono and a Lighthouse for her and Andy's first Vacation). I got Mel a camera so she would have a replacement that has better Mega pixels (9.5) than her old 3 mp and works better too.

Andy and Mel's present to me hasn't arrived yet, so I am excited to find out what it is.

Mel and I then blew out the candles on our cake, and then went to Starbucks for our nightly coffee. Yum.

It was a great Birthday, Next year it's Vegas Baby! Look out!

Tuesday's Child is full of grace

Tuesday's Child is full of grace, so says the old nursery rhyme. Being born on a Tuesday, does not guarantee this feature in a child. I should know, I was born on a Tuesday, and I have no grace, I am as clumsy as an OX in a China Shop.
But I have certain features that make up for that.

My family, my friends, and my Loving God who forgives me all my faults, and loves me for who I am, not what I do.

Proverbs 3:5 & 6 -

⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;

⁶ in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs is my Life verse, and therefore my Grace. He is my Grace and I go day by day because He is in control of everything, and my life.

Thanks be to God and His Son, my Savior Jesus Christ.

A Memorial Day Prayer

Eternal God,
Creator of years, of centuries,
Lord of whatever is beyond time,
Maker of all species and master of all history --


How shall we speak to you
from our smallness and in consequence?

Except that you have called us to worship you
in spirit and in truth;
You have dignified us with loves and loyalties;
You have lifted us up with your loving kindnesses.
Therefore we are bold to come before you without groveling
[though we sometimes feel that low]
and without fear
[though we are often anxious].

We sing with spirit and pray with courage
because you have dignified us;
You have redeemed us from the aimlessness
of things' going meaninglessly well.
God, lift the hearts of those
for whom this holiday is not just diversion,
but painful memory and continued deprivation.

Bless those whose dear ones have died
needlessly, wastefully [as it seems]
in accident or misadventure.
We remember with compassion those who have died
serving their countries in the futility of combat.

There is none of us but must come to bereavement and separation,
when all the answers we are offered
fail the question death asks of each of us.
We believe that you will provide for us
as others have been provided with the fulfillment of
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."

By Rev. Dick Kozelka (ret)
First Congregational Church of Minnesota
Minneapolis, MN.

Nightmares and Headaches

Ever sense I can remember I have never been able to control my dreams or nightmares. Over the years I have learned that if I pray to God to control them for me, I have wonderful peaceful dreams. But tonight I got too busy to ask for that and the devil played havoc on my brain. Not only did I have my dream turn into a nightmare, I awoke to a horrible headache. But wait let me back up for a moment, and give God His due...

After my dream had started to turn into a nightmare, I knew what was going on, because I had forgotten to pray for dreams from God. But since I was aware of what was happening I started to control my "Character", who I was in the dream, and as it turns out I was the woman or sometimes her friend but mostly the woman in AVP Requiem. It was like we were going through the movie, scene for scene, with some "Lost" and "Army Wives" Characters thrown in there to help. It was so exciting being in control of the dream, and putting Satan on his ass, I didn’t want to wake up to get out of the dream. But I did due to my headache it started to affect the dream, and I needed medicine.

Even when our guard is down, and we forget to arm ourselves with God’s provided weapons against the spiritually realm, He is there to protect us in ways we have no idea how or why.

I love my God so much, He is kind, forgiving and SO Awesome.

Ephesians 6:10-18 NIV

The Armor of God

¹⁰Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. ¹²For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. ¹⁸And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Wolverine - X-Men Origins

I have been a fan of "Wolverine" ever since the first X-Men movie hit the silver screen. One because he is a cool character and two because he is played by a cool dude, Hugh Jackman. I don't think they could have gotten another actor to pull off the complex dynamics that is this comic hero so well. Hugh has the facial expression and body language that gives off personal torment and anguish that is Wolverine while being kind, gentle and compassionate towards the human race. With this movie as with the other 3 X-Men I went into with some knowledge of the comic book world. But as with the other 3 when the story started, I was lost in this new world, and the rules from the comic didn't matter anymore. I was engulfed and little changes didn't matter. I am not a hugh comic buff, but what I knew worked to give me background, so I knew the character, but didn't stop me from enjoying the new story told by Hollywood.

A 4 start movie for me, a 5 star appearance for Hugh Jackman.

Andy and Melanie's Engagement Party

I want to tell one story that I feel sums up the relationship we are here to celebrate today.

I could tell you many stories about Andy and Melanie, but I am saving those for the wedding.

I was over at Andy and Melanie’s house one evening last summer, for dinner. Melanie had asked Andy to do something, and he retorted that she was not the boss of him, and she retorted that she was definitely his boss and he retorted back no she wasn’t and so on…. I could tell they were playing with one another so I left the room and went to the bathroom.

Now the small bathroom in the hallway is like a megaphone in that house, I could still hear them bantering back and forth, then it all got quiet, and I heard giggling and laughing. I realized that the giggling was coming from Mel, and the laughing was coming from Andy. Then I started to smile, because I had not heard Mel giggle like that for a while, and I had definitely had not heard my brother laugh like that for some time.

As I came out of the bathroom, they were standing in the kitchen holding each other, swaying and laughing. My heart started to sing with joy, because I had not seen those two look so happy in so long or so in love.

I had been there with Mel and Andy as they went thorough their previous trials and tribulations, and this moment seeing their happiness was a gift from God, just as Andy and Mel were gifts from God for each other.

I know that we are here to celebrate their coming nuptials, but everyday is a celebration for me to see my Best Friend and my Brother so much in love.

Here’s to Andy and Melanie, I love you guys.