Usual Suspects

Drink: Dunkel
Entrée: Beef on Weck Kaiser Sandwich
Dessert: Marble Cake

Movie:
This film was wildly popular when it was released because it was smart.  It did not consists of the usual Hollywood brainless ploys to pull in audiences & I'm happy to say that it stands the test of time.  While expert editing holds the film together, Kevin Spacey brings it to a whole other level.  Pay attention to the details & listen to every word because it will be worth it in the end.  If you watched this back when it was released in 1995 it's worth watching again & even better with someone that has never seen it. 

Mel's Rating: 97%
On a scale of 100.

Brett's Rating: ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️
On a scale of 10.

Frozen Planet: Winter

Entrée: Fish Tacos
Dessert: Gummy Worms
Timing: Friends of The Kaw is hosting its first ever Eagle Days 1/30 in Kaw Point Park (KCK).

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/sports/outdoors/article8561117.html#storylink=cpy

Eagles roost at the confluence of the Kansas and Missouri rivers December-March. The churning waters provide oxygen, and openings in the ice bring Asian carp to the surface.

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/sports/outdoors/article8561117.html#storylink=cpy

Documentary:
This is a high quality wildlife BBC documentary which focuses specifically on the poles.  There is one episode for each season so being that it's January we watched the winter episode.  It was very interesting & informative but very graphic so not by any means would this be kid friendly.  In fact there were a couple of scenes I had to wait for my designated violent movie scene watcher (my husband) to tell me when it was over while I cover my eyes & look away from the TV.

Mel's Rating: 83%
On a scale of 100.

Brett's Rating: ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️
On a scale of 10. 

Best in Show

Timing: Eve of going to the local cat show.
Pictures: Yes these are actual pictures from the cat show we attended & yes someone actually had a birthday cake for their cat.

Movie:
Eccentric pet owners is the theme of this flick which is scripted, full of ad lib & filmed in a documentary style.  This unique comedy follows various participants, played by Parker Posey, Eugene Levy & Jennifer Coolidge, to a dog competition.  Soak up all of the awkward moments & listen for the under the breath comments which serve as the film's finishing touches. 

And finally just as a reminder don't shop, adopt.

Mel's Rating: 96%
On a scale of 100.

Brett's Rating: ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️
On a scale of 10.

James Bond: Diamonds Are Forever

Drink: Martini
Entrée: Danish Street Dogs
Dessert: Apple Braid
Atmosphere: Tulips

Movie:
The bad styling in this film takes away from the sophisticated & sleekness that forges the Bond brand.  In fact we continually referenced Jill St. John's above look as the jester & the only character outside of Bond that had real style was the cat with it's diamond collar.  Then we have to endure scenes with Mr. Kidd & Mr. Wint which simply cannot be taken seriously as assassins.  And finally we have Bambi & Thumper...was that their pathetic 70's way of showing that not all of their female characters are weak?  Regardless you have to admire their athleticism.  Looking back maybe the idea behind all of this was to let Sean Connery just to have fun in his last Bond film because there are additional elements that are uncharacteristically comical such as the moon landing filming scene &
James operating the crane for Blofeld's submarine.  All in all though this is not one of James' best efforts. 

Mel's Rating: 52%
On a scale of 100.

Brett's Rating: ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️
On a scale of 10.

Elizabeth

How does a woman go from this...

...to this?

Drink: Wine

Entree: Smoked turkey leg with braided bread & mixed grill veggies.

Dessert: Apple Tart

Timing: Lavender garden is growing.

Movie:

There are many answers to the above.  For starters...

• Her legitimacy to the most powerful throne on Earth at the time is constantly being questioned which results in imprisonment & assassination attempts.
• The notion that a queen must marry presents many power hungry suitors with anything but her best interest in mind.

As you can see from the above this film takes us through the transformation of Elizabeth daughter of Henry VIII & Anne Boleyn to the Virgin Queen.  The set, costumes, casting and acting are all superb & to top it all off it shows us a very interesting time in the British monarchy which was left insecure after Henry VIII's carelessness. In the end in order to sustain her power she announced, "I am the Virgin Queen.  I am married to England."  And that was that!

Mel's Rating: 100%

On a scale of 100.

Brett's Rating: ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️

On a scale of 10.

James Bond: Dr. No

Drink: Martini
Entrée: Jerk Chicken, Rice & Roasted Red Bell Peppers
Dessert: Grilled Pineapple

Movie: 
Cars, women, exotic locations & a villain with baller facilities...this is the formula for every James Bond movie which was successfully established in Dr. No.  Stuffing all of this information into one
film while making it viewable is a big achievement & obviously it worked since the series that is still going after 50+ years.  Honey Rider is iconic as the first bond girl & of course Sean Connery delivers like no other Bond ever will.  Fix a martini, sit back & see where it all began!

Mel's Rating: 90%
On a scale of 100.

Brett's Rating: ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️
On a scale of 10.

Winter's Bone

Entrée: Country Fried Steak & Gravy
Side: Green Beans
Dessert: Black Walnut Ice Cream
Timing: J. Law just won a Golden Globe & it's cold outside.

Movie:
Winter's Bone provides us with a realistic & graphic snapshot of the meth epidemic in America's rural communities.  These are the people that live along those lonely state highways that you speed past while on the way to another destination & wonder, "Does someone really live there?"  The truth is yes & decades of limited economic options have created the perfect storm for the manufacturing & selling of meth.  The beauty of the Ozarks country side is captured eloquently by the film's cinematography & is a drastic contrast to the underground socioeconomic system that has infiltrated it.  In the movie we see the main character's fight against the law, bail bondsmen, neighbors with alternative motives, giving in to escape & her own family which is intimately involved in the local meth supply chain themselves, all in order to simply stay afloat & continue supporting her young siblings.  Towards the end as winter begins to thaw we see new hope but options are finite & the struggle continues to be very real.

Mel's Rating: 95%
On a scale of 100.

Brett's Rating: ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️
On a scale of 10.

The Untouchables

Drink: Limoncello Martini
Dinner: Deep Dish Chicago Style Pizza
Dessert: Gelato

Movie:
There are two stand out elements from this film:

• The baby carriage scene at Union Station.
• Robert De Niro as Al Capone. 

Both of these change the path of the film & instead of cheering for Kevin Costner's character you really find yourself wanting more Al Capone.  Oddly from the lack of information available it seems like the windy city would prefer this part of history be forgotten.  Back to the movie though...De Niro absolutely steals the show & rises above in what sometimes seems like a campy Dick Tracyesque depiction of Chicago's 1930's mob scene.  All in all there are better mob movies out there but you need to see De Niro in action in this role.

Mel's Rating: 79%
On a scale of 100.

Brett's Rating: ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️
On a scale of 10.

The Duchess

Timing: Kate Middleton the Duchess of Cambridge has a birthday 1/9.

Dinner: High Tea (pictured above)

Mini Pimento Cheese Sandwiches

Ham, Brie & Green Apple Bites
Strawberries & Cream Sugar Wafers
Cranberry Scones
Earl Grey Tea

Movie:
This film is based on a true story & an incredibly interesting one for that matter.  Additonally the costumes are exceptional & rightfully so won an Oscar.  However even with a good story & the best costumes you can't make a quality film with bad directing & lack luster casting. 

The plot has a great set up especially being that the lead role Georgiana is Princess Di's great, great, great, great aunt who's life is full of hopelessness & despair despite being the envy of everyone in the public eye.  (Don't worry when they were promoting this film they did market the irony of how similar their lives were & people were not pleased at this obvious ploy for attention.)

And then there's Keira Knightley who is just too commercial for this role.  A very stoic actor is needed for this part...think Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth. 

Mel's Rating: 51%
On a scale of 100.

Brett's Rating: ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️
On a scale of 10.