Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Guardians of the Galaxy 2

Guardians of the Galaxy 2 is a 2017 superhero movie starring Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Sylvester Stallone, and Kurt Russell. I loved the first one, and I'm always happy when the second in a series doesn't disappoint. This one is great fun. We get major character revelations, which is always good. The soundtrack is definitely a positive aspect of the movie. I look forward to the 3rd in the series, currently projected for a 2020 release.

"I am Groot."

trailer:



The New York Times says it "has all the digital bells and whistles as well as much of the likable, self-aware waggery of the first." Variety calls it "witty and extravagant". Rolling Stone calls it "a blast".

Roger Ebert's site says, "This is a series more about whimsy, excitement and family than it is “things that go boom,” and that’s what really separates in the Marvel Cinematic Universe right now." Rotten Tomatoes has an audience score of 88%.

Tuesday, March 13, 2018

Maciel's on Highland

I'd been to the Maciel's restaurant downtown, but this one is new, located closer to us in the University District.

I had the chicken fajita:


It was a pleasant day, and The Husband and I sat on the enclosed patio:


I enjoyed it. That said, it won't take the place of our favorite Mexican restaurant Las Delicias on Park Avenue.

Please share a drink with us at the T Stands for Tuesday blogger gathering hosted by Bleubeard and Elizabeth.

Monday, March 12, 2018

The Treasure of Abbot Thomas

The Treasure of Abbot Thomas is a 1904 ghost story by M.R. James. Wikipedia has this synopsis: "The tale tells the story of Rev. Justin Somerton, a scholar of Medieval history, who tells a rector the frightening tale of how, while searching an abbey library, he found clues leading him to the hidden treasure of a disgraced abbot."

It begins,
I.

'Verum usque in prsæsentem diem multa garriunt inter se Canonici
de abscondito quodam istius Abbatis Thomæ thesauro, quem sæpe,
quanquam adhuc incassum quæsiverunt Steinfeldenses. Ipsum enim
Thomam adhuc florida in ætate existentem ingentem auri massam
cira monasterium defodisse perhibent; de quo multoties
interrogatus ubi esset, cum risu respondere solitus erat: "Job,
Johannes, et Zacharias vel vobis vel posteris indicabunt"; idemque
aliquando adiicere se inventuris minime invisurum. Inter alia huius
Abbatis opera, hoc memoria præcipue dignum iudico quod fenestram
magnam in orientali parte alæ australis in ecclesia sua imaginibus
optime in vitro depictis impleverit: id quod et ipsius effigies et
insignia ibidem posita demonstrant. Domum quoque Abbatialem fere
totam restauravit; puteo in atrio ipsius effosso et lapidibus
marmoreis pulchre cælatis exornato. Decessit autem, morte
aliquantulum subitanea perculsus, ætatis suæ anno Ixxiido,
incarnationis vera Dominiæ mdxxixo.'

'I suppose I shall have to translate this,' said the antiquary to himself, as he finished copying the above lines from that rather rare and exceedingly diffuse book, the 'Sertum Steinfeldense Norbertinum. 'Well, it as well be done first as last,' and accordingly the following rendering was very quickly produced:

'Up to the present day there is much among the Canons about a
certain hidden treasure of this Abbot Thomas, for which those of Steinfeld
have often made search, though hitherto in vain. The story is that Thomas,
while yet in the vigour of life, concealed a very large quantity of gold
somewhere in the monastery. He was often asked where it was, and always
answered, with a laugh: "Job, John, and Zechariah will tell either you or
your successors." He sometimes added that he should feel no grudge
against those who might find it. Among other works carried out by this
Abbot I may specially mention his filling the great window at the east end
of the south aisle of the church with figures admirably painted on glass, as
his effigy and arms in the window attest. He also restored almost the
whole of the Abbot's lodging, and dug a well in the court of it, which he
adorned with beautiful carvings in marble. He died rather suddenly in the
seventy-second year of his age, a.d. 1529.'

The object which the antiquary had before him at the moment was that of tracing the whereabouts of the painted windows of the Abbey Church of Steinfeld. Shortly after the Revolution, a very large quantity of painted glass had made its way from the dissolved abbeys of Germany and Belgium to this country, and may now be seen adorning various of our parish churches, cathedrals, and private chapels. Steinfeld Abbey was among the most considerable of these involuntary contributors to our artistic possessions (I am quoting the somewhat ponderous preamble of the book which the antiquary wrote), and the greater part of the glass from that institution can be identified without much difficulty by the help, either of the numerous inscriptions in which the place is mentioned, or of the subjects of the windows, in which several well-defined cycles or narratives were represented.

The passage with which I began my story had set the antiquary on the track of another identification. In a private chapel —no matter where— he had seen three large figures, each occupying a whole light in a window, and evidently the work of one artist. Their style made it plain that that artist had been a German of the sixteenth century; but hitherto the more exact localizing of them had been a puzzle. They represented —will you be surprised to hear it?— Job Patriarcha, Johannes Evangelista, Zacharias Propheta, and each of them held a book or scroll, inscribed with a sentence from his writings. These, as a matter of course, the antiquary had noted, and had been struck by the curious way in which they differed from any text of the Vulgate that he had been able to examine.
You can read it online here. It was adapted for television in 1974:

Sunday, March 11, 2018

Thor 3: Ragnorak

Thor 3: Ragnorak is a 2017 superhero movie starring Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett, Idris Elba, Jeff Goldblum, Tessa Thompson, Karl Urban, Mark Ruffalo, and Anthony Hopkins. We like the superhero movies, and this is a keeper.

trailer:



The Atlantic calls it, "perfectly acceptable as an action movie but moderately inspired as a comedy". GQ says, "With a stellar cast and a renewed sense of humor thanks to director Taika Waititi, Thor’s third go-around isn’t just his best—it might be Marvel’s best, too." Vanity Fair calls it "bright and antic"

Roger Ebert's site gives it 3 out of 4 stars and says, "there’s plenty to like here". Rotten Tomatoes has a 92% critics rating.

Saturday, March 10, 2018

Audubon Park


On a recent trip to Audubon Park we noticed some interesting new additions:


I'm not at all sure what these pieces are supposed to accomplish by being elevated like this, but they are fun to explore.

Friday, March 09, 2018

The Sentimental Bloke

The Sentimental Bloke is a 1919 Australian silent film. It's the story of how the life of a young married man unfolds.

via Youtube:


Thursday, March 08, 2018

Calvary Waffle Shop and High Water

photo from Wikipedia

Calvary Episcopal Church here in Memphis has an annual preaching series and lunch during Lent. I haven't been to the worship services very many times, but the Waffle Shop is a treat I've indulged in several times over the years. I met a cousin there a couple of days ago and we enjoyed visiting while we ate. I forgot to get a photo, but I had the chicken salad. It was delicious, as always.

While I was downtown I walked down to the Mississippi River to see how high the water was. It has risen enough to crack the top 10 list of high water marks, though it's still 9 feet lower than the flooding we got in 2011.



Wednesday, March 07, 2018

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri is an award-winning 2017 film directed by Martin McDonagh and starring Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, and Peter Dinklage. We had been wanting to see this but just hadn't, which happens more often that not. When we found a DVD copy cheaper than movie admission would've been we picked it up. This is impressive. The acting is powerful so that you feel the pain of all the characters.

trailer:


The New York Times says,
“Three Billboards” is more ambitious than Mr. McDonagh’s earlier features. Like the older ones, it has loads of gab, plenty of guns and the spectacle of men (mainly) behaving terribly. ... This time, though, he has also given his movie characters instead of disposable contrivances, a plot instead of self-reflexive ideas about storytelling and a rather diffuse overarching metaphor. Mostly, he has freighted it with a tragedy that allows the performers — primarily Ms. McDormand but also the equally excellent Mr. Harrelson and Sam Rockwell — to play to their range.
The New Yorker review made me wonder if they'd watched the same film I had. The Atlantic opens with this: "Featuring standout performances from Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson, and Sam Rockwell, the writer-director Martin McDonagh’s latest is one of the best films of the year."

The Telegraph gives it 5 out of 5 stars and says, "Martin McDonagh's gut-twisting comedy will make you stand up and hoot." The Hollywood Reporter says, "The performances could scarcely be better". Variety says, "Mostly, the movie takes the new war dance of feminine righteousness and masculine power and holds it up to the light in a nearly mythological way..."

Rotten Tomatoes has a critics rating of 92%.

Tuesday, March 06, 2018

Peach and Glass

Peach and Glass (1927):


by Georgia O'Keeffe, who died on this date in 1986 at the age of 98. You can see more of her work here and at numerous other online sites. The Georgia O'Keeffe Museum has this short overview, featuring video of the artist:



There have been two movies about this artist's life. A Marriage: Georgia O'Keeffe and Alfred Stieglitz, the earlier one, was released in 1991 and starred Jane Alexander and Christopher Plummer in the title roles:



Please share a beverage (see the glass in the painting at the top of this post?) with the T Stands for Tuesday blogger gathering.

Monday, March 05, 2018

Rawhide (1938)

Rawhide is a 1938 short western film starring Lou Gehrig. It was Gehrig's only film, and he plays a baseball player named Lou Gehrig who gives up his career to move to a cattle ranch out west.

via Youtube:



Sunday, March 04, 2018

The Portrait of a Lady


The Portrait of a Lady is an 1881 novel by Henry James. It was first published as a serial in a magazine. Wikipedia describes the plot:
The Portrait of a Lady is the story of a spirited young American woman, Isabel Archer, who, in "confronting her destiny", finds it overwhelming. She inherits a large amount of money and subsequently becomes the victim of Machiavellian scheming by two American expatriates. Like many of James's novels, it is set in Europe, mostly England and Italy. Generally regarded as the masterpiece of James's early period, this novel reflects James's continuing interest in the differences between the New World and the Old, often to the detriment of the former. It also treats in a profound way the themes of personal freedom, responsibility, and betrayal.
I know this is a classic, but I found it tedious and even repetitious in its descriptions. I found myself skimming without intending to and still haven't finished it.

It has been adapted for film several times, including as a 1968 BBC TV miniseries watchable in segments at this link to Youtube starring Suzanne Neve and Richard Chamberlain and a 1996 film starring Nicole Kidman, John Malkovich, and Barbara Hershey.

Friday, March 02, 2018

Babylon's Ashes


Babylon's Ashes (2016) is the sixth novel in the Expanse series by James S. A. Corey (pen name for a writing duo). I'm a huge fan of both this series and the TV series based on it, and this book doesn't disappoint. If you like space opera, you cannot do better than this. The series is a modern masterpiece and will survive re-reading alongside the classics of the genre. Like I said: I'm a huge fan. They should be read in order.

from the back of the book:
FIRES IN THE DARK
The Free Navy has crippled the Earth and begun a campaign of violence among the outer planets. The colony ships heading for the thousand new worlds on the far side of the alien ring gates are easy prey.

James Holden and his crew know the strengths and weaknesses of this new force better than anyone. Outnumbered and outgunned, the embattled remnants of the old politicl powers call on the Rocinante for a desperate mission at the heart of the gate network.

But the new alliances are as flawed as the old, and the struggle for power has only just begun. As the chaos grows, an alien mystery deepens. Pirate fleets, mutiny, and betrayal may be the least of the Rocinante's problems. And in the uncanny spaces past the ring gate, the choices for a few damaged and desperate people may determine the fate of more than just humanity.
SFF World highly recommends it and says,
Six books into the series and each novel feels fresh without repetitive retreads that can potentially plague long genre series. Equally as impressive at the least, and possibly more impressive as a tangent to that quality is the ability of the series to still surprise. As events unfold over the course of the novel and series, a sense of comfort sets in, the setting become familiar and the characters feel like old, beloved friends. Upsetting that sense of comfort is a skill that must be balanced with care and precision which is exactly how Corey manages to offset that level of comfort that comes across as a natural flow of the story rather than a bomb dropped in just for shock value.
Fantasy Literature concludes:
Despite the multiple POVs, transitions are fluid throughout; the prose is clear, precise, and effortless; dialogue remains a true joy; the action is vividly taut; and the book evokes a full range of emotions, from sorrow (yes, characters will die) to laugh out loud humor. All the reasons this is my favorite science fiction series and why I picked it up and didn’t put it down again until I was finished later that night. My only complaint is it ended.

Thursday, March 01, 2018

I Can't Stand the Rain

I Can't Stand the Rain:



by Ann Peebles.

This year Memphis broke the record for the most rain during the month of February a record set in  1948. As I write this at 11:30 on Wednesday night, they're saying it may top 12 inches by midnight. [update: we ended up with 13.43" for the month.] I don't mind rain really and even enjoy rain occasionally, but enough is enough!

Wednesday, February 28, 2018

The War of the Gargantuas


Today is the anniversary of the death of Ishirō Honda, a Japanese film director who died in 1993 at 81 years of age. He made many documentaries and war movies, but I love him for Godzilla. What can I say?

I have blog posts for these:
He directed The War of the Gargantuas, which was released in Japan in 1966 and in the U.S. in 1970 dubbed in English. It stars Russ Tamblyn (better known for Peyton Place, West Side Story, Seven Brides For Seven Brothers, and The Haunting).


Slate Magazine mentions that Brad Pitt is a fan. Toho Kingdom opens their review with this: "This mid 1960's offering is easily one of the better films of Ishiro Honda's career, and certainly one of the more likeable kaiju films out there."

Rotten Tomatoes has an audience score of 72%.

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Breakfast in the Garden

Breakfast in the Garden (1933):


by Per Krohg. I'm ready for picnic weather. I'm ready for dry ground. Yes, I know the rain will give us pretty spring flowers, but I'm damp to the bone and ready for heat!

The news is oppressive and frustrating, and I've been grateful for the Olympics. I've kept the Olympics on and turned to the news only when I've seen some new development discussed on Facebook. It's odd to say I've been getting my news from FB, but at least that way I could seek out information on news events when there's been something new going on instead of watching the constant stream of people repeating their opinions. And although there are many books to read and movies to watch, I can't do that 24 hours a day. Honestly, I need pleasant weather and some time outside!

This Nowegian artist best known for the painting in the United Nations Security Council chamber. He died on March 3, 1965. I hope the United Nations can live up to his painting.

Please share a drink with us at the weekly blogger gathering hosted by Bleubeard and Elizabeth.

Monday, February 26, 2018

When the Levee Breaks

When the Levee Breaks:



is a 1929 song by Kansas Joe McCoy and Memphis Minnie. It's about the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927, which my mother remembered. We've had so much rain lately, that even though Memphis is up on a bluff and our house isn't near flood-prone areas, I'm thinking we need to build an ark.

lyric excerpt:
If it keeps on rainin', levee's goin' to break
If it keeps on rainin', levee's goin' to break
And the water gonnna come in and we'll have no place to stay

Oh cryin' won't help you, prayin' won't do no good
Oh cryin' won't help you, prayin' won't do no good
Whenever the levee breaks momma, you got to lose

Sunday, February 25, 2018

Rosemary's Baby

Rosemary's Baby . I had never seen it before. It's creepy and unmissable as a horror classic, but it's dated.



Criterion says, "it has never been outdone for sheer psychological terror". AMC's FilmSite.org has an extensive plot description, calls it "darkly atmospheric" and says it's a "creepy, eerie gothic film". Vanity Fair calls it "an iconic film" and details the curse. The New York Times has a positive review, faulting it only as being not scary enough.

Roger Ebert gives it 4 stars and opens a positive review with this:
Roman Polanski's "Rosemary's Baby" is a brooding, macabre film, filled with the sense of unthinkable danger. Strangely enough it also has an eerie sense of humor almost until the end. It is a creepy film and a crawly film, and a film filled with things that go bump in the night. It is very good.
Rotten Tomatoes has a critics score of 99%.

Saturday, February 24, 2018

Monsieur Pamplemousse and the French Solution


Monsieur Pamplemousse and the French Solution is the 19th book in a mystery series by Michael Bond, better known for his Paddington Bear books. These are lots of fun

from the back of the book:
When Monsieur Pamplemousse gets an urgent summons from the Director of Le Guide, he knows that there is trouble at the top. But neither he nor his faithful sniffer dog, Pommes Frites, expects the trouble to involve a nun who is in the habit of joining the Mile High Club or a full-scale smear campaign targeting Le Guide's credibility as France's premier restaurant and hotel guide. Someone has been spreading worrying rumours among the staff and infiltrating the company files -awarding hotel prizes for bedbugs and praising egg and chip signature dishes. Even Pommes Frites has become a victim of the assault. It could all spell the ruin for Le Guide, but Pamplemousse is on the case...
I have also read the following others from this series:

#2 Monsieur Pamplemousse and the Secret Mission
#6 Monsieur Pamplemousse Investigates
#8 Monsieur Pamplemousse Stands Firm
#11 Monsieur Pamplemousse Afloat
#12 Monsieur Pamplemousse on Probation
#13 Monsieur Pamplemousse on Vacation
#14 Monsieur Pamplemousse Hits the Headlines

Friday, February 23, 2018

Rope

Rope is a 1948 Hitchcock movie starring James Stewart, John Dall, Farley Granger, Joan Chandler, and Sir Cedric Hardwicke. Wikipedia says it's "notable for taking place in real time and being edited so as to appear as a single continuous shot through the use of long takes". This is a classic.

trailer:



The Guardian says, "Hitchcock delights in toying with his audience, repelling and luring his viewers into the scene of a crime – and nowhere more audaciously than in Rope". The NYT has two reviews: one from the time of its release and another from 1984.

Slant Magazine gives it 3.5 out of 4 stars. Roger Ebert says, "“Rope” remains one of the most interesting experiments ever attempted by a major director working with big box-office names, and it’s worth seeing". Rotten Tomatoes has a critics score of 97%.