Movie Review: Disturbia

Of all the luck! I was randomly handed a double pass to see the preview of this, so I dragged one of my good friends to see it. Very similar theme to the movie Rear Window. The crash scene at the beginning was so realistic, you felt you were there. It kept you on the edge of your seats the whole time. A must see when it's released 12th April.

Plot: After his father's accidental death, Kale Brecht (LaBeouf) remains withdrawn and troubled. When he lashes out at a well-intentioned but insensitive teacher, he find himself under a court-ordered house arrest. His mother, Julie (Moss), continues to cope, working extra shifts to support herself and her son, as she tries in vain to understand the changes in his personality. The walls of his house begin to close in on Kale as he takes chances to extend the boundaries – both physical and emotional – of his confinement. His interests turn outside the windows of his suburban home toward those of his neighbours, including a mutual attraction to the new girl next door (Roemer).

Together, they begin to suspect that another neighbour is a serial killer. Are their suspicions merely the product of Kale’s cabin fever and vivid imagination? Or have they unwittingly stumbled across a crime that could cost them their lives?

Movie Review: Music & Lyrics

My step-father had relatives out for lunch today to celebrate his birthday, so to avoid all the 'oldies' I thought I would finally catch this movie - I've been dying to see it for ages.

I was pleasantly surprised - Hugh Grant is growing on me. I didn't really like any of his earlier stuff, but the last few years he's actually done quite a few good films. Drew Barrymore can seem to do no wrong, I've yet to see a movie of hers and not like her in it.

One of the previews was the next Shrek movie which looks absolutely hilarious! *huge cheesy grin*

Plot: Alex Fletcher (Hugh Grant), is a washed up 80's pop star who’s been reduced to working the nostalgia circuit at county fairs and amusement parks. The charismatic and talented musician gets a chance at a comeback when reigning pop diva, Cora Corman (Haley Bennett) invites him to write and record a duet with her, but there’s a problem – Alex hasn’t written a song in years, he’s never written lyrics, and he has to come up with a hit in a matter of days.

Enter Sophie Fisher (Drew Barrymore), Alex’s beguilingly quirky plant lady, whose flair for words strikes a chord with the struggling songwriter. On the rebound from a bad relationship, Sophie is reluctant to collaborate with anyone, especially commitment-phobe Alex. As their chemistry heats up at the piano and under it, Alex and Sophie will have to face their fears – and the music – if they want to find the love and success they both deserve.

A Tale From The Whale & Ale

I went out to dinner last night to the Whale & Ale - a new pub which has only recently opened up in Clarkson.

The service was excellent and they had an extensive menu. Our meals arrived within 10 minutes of ordering them and was very yummy and reasonably priced. But the flies, they were bad - and we were sitting inside!

I liked the fact that the meals area was completely separate to the bar (unlike the Old Bailey) and they also had an area that you could use as a function room but they had it set up for large groups dining out.

There was a large double fireplace where you can imagine people will congregate around come winter, and a pleasant decor with neutral, soothing colours.

Definitely somewhere I would go back to again to eat.

Movie Review: Reign Over Me

Lucky me! I won a pass to the preview of this movie. Surprisingly, Adam Sandler is very good in this role. There are a few 'lighter' moments in the film (cue the dental secretary and the crazy patient) which goes nicely with the overall theme. Definitely a must see!

Plot: Charlie Fineman (Sandler) is in shutdown. His wife and three daughters, and even the family dog, were victims of 9/11, and since then Charlie has alienated himself from anyone or anything that might remind him of them – including his in-laws, Jonathan and Ginger (Robert Klein and Melinda Dillon), who are unsuccessfully attempting to make contact with him. He has become an eccentric, solitary figure who glides through the streets of Manhattan on his scooter or endlessly plays the same video game in his large apartment where his kitchen is in a constant state of renovation for reasons known only to him. A protective landlady, Adell (Rae Allen), fends off any potential trespassers into Charlie’s life.

When Alan Johnson (Cheadle), a successful dentist and Charlie’s one-time college roommate spots him in the street, the two renew their friendship. Because Alan did not know his family, Charlie lets him into his world, hijacking his life to such a degree (like taking him to an all-night Mel Brooks Movie Marathon) that causes tension between Alan and his wife, Janeane (Jada Pinkett Smith). Although very much in love with his wife, Alan finds a certain freedom in Charlie’s friendship, which gives him a chance to disentangle himself from Janeane’s organisation of his lifestyle. But being Charlie’s friend is not easy; his grief and his suspicion that everyone is spying on him to force him to face the memories he is trying to suppress often lead to violent outbursts.

Alan knows that his friend needs professional aid and a breakthrough comes when Charlie agrees to visit Angela (Liv Tyler), a psychiatrist in Alan’s building. Help also comes from a most unexpected source in one of Alan’s ex-patients, Donna (Saffron Burrows), whose earlier offer of a very different kind of oral procedure to the nervous dentist and the almost disastrous outcome when he knocks her back, demonstrate that she may be a little unhinged herself.

Random Facts 12

1. People living at high altitudes have more red blood cells than people living at sea level.
2. The loop on a belt that holds the loose end is called a ‘keeper’.
3. Experts say the common cold will delay a child’s grown for the cold’s duration.
4. A ‘buccula’ is the name given to a person’s double chin.
5. Male monkeys go bald in the same way men do.
6. The pelican breathes through it’s mouth. It has no nostrils.
7. A lobster’s kidney’s are in its forehead and it’s teeth are in its stomach.
8. The highest rating that can be given to a top quality diamond is D-flawless.
9. Buckingham Palace has 600 rooms.
10. Elephants and short-tailed shrews get only two hours of sleep each day.

You've Gotta Love The Irish!

Some of the best Irish jokes I've heard have come from someone who's Irish. Just like us Aussie's, they don't mind taking the piss out of themselves.

For some good Irish laughs, head here.

I Hate Being Sick

I've just got back from the doctor's and he confirmed what I have been dreading... I have tonsilitis! BAD tonsilitis. 3 days off work - YAY!!!

I've tried to go back to sleep, but can't because of all of this:

My tonsils do not look pretty. I have a fever of just over 38degrees. Half my throat is blocked due to the swelling, making it difficult to swallow fluids, let alone food. My head is pounding. My neck is stiff and sore. I'm boiling hot AND sweating like a pig!

How far is it to Antarctica?

Work News Update

You might recall from a previous post that it was not yet offical that my team leader was leaving. I can now happily announce that it is official! *victory dance*

Joke: The Perfect Husband

Several men are in the locker room of a golf club. A cell phone on a bench rings and a man engages the hands free speaker-function and begins to talk. Everyone else in the room stops to listen.

MAN: "Hello"

WOMAN: "Honey, it's me. Are you at the club?"

MAN: "Yes"

WOMAN: "I am at the mall now and found this beautiful leather coat. It's only $1,000. Is it OK if I buy it?"

MAN: "Sure, go ahead if you like it that much."

WOMAN: " I also stopped by the Mercedes dealership and saw the new 2007 models. I saw one I really liked !"

MAN: "How much?"

WOMAN: "$90,000"

MAN: "OK, but for that price I want it with all the options."

WOMAN: "Great! Oh, and one more thing .. The house I wanted last year is back on the market. They're asking $950,000"

MAN: "Well, then go ahead and give them an offer of $900,000. They will probably take it. If not, we can go the extra 50 thousand if it's really a nice house.

WOMAN: "OK. I'll see you later! I love you so much!!"

MAN: "Bye! I love you , too !

The man hangs up. The other men in the locker room are staring at him in astonishment and disbelief, with their mouths open............

He smiles and asks: "Anyone know who this phone belongs to?"

Random Facts 11

1. The largest number of children born to one woman is 69 in Russia.
2. Between the ages of 30 and 70 your nose may lengthen and widen by as much as 1.5m.
3. A fingernail or toenail takes about 6months to grow from base to tip.
4. It takes 17 muscles to smile and 43 muscles to frown.
5. Frogs never drink. They absorb water from their surroundings by osmosis.
6. Over 1500 new species have been found in Australian waters in the past 10 years.
7. Humans produce about 40,000 litres of saliva in a lifetime.
8. When a woman is pregnant, her uterus expands to 500 times it’s normal size.
9. The average person will consume 50 tonnes of food and 45,000 litres of water in a lifetime.
10. Chickens can travel up to 15km per hour.