Interview with The Vampire

Drink: Bloody Mary
Entree: Shrimp Po Boy
Dessert: Praline Brownies

Movie:
Clocking in at just over two hours this film takes you through a 200 year time frame of one vampire's everlasting & grueling existence.  It provides an artistic look at the vampire genre which is rare but leads Tom Cruise & Brad Pitt helped with the prestige factor.  In addition Christian Slater does some of his best work as the reporter versus his traditional role as corny heart throb.  Plus you get to see Kirsten Dunst at a very young age in her first big role give an impressive performance. Take note of the costumes which are intricate if not accurate to the period.  Also as with most Anne Rice story lines it is based in Louisiana so the scenery is beautiful & even includes a shot at the famous Oak Alley Plantation.

As you can imagine it's is easy to distracted by all the big name actors, costumes & settings but pay attention to the story because it is very interesting in its own right.  In fact in the end it questions if mortality is a gift or a curse we all must face.  If given the choice which path would you take?

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

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

The Other Boleyn Girl

Entree: French Dip Sanwhiches with Au Jus

Side: French Fries

Dessert: French Macarons

Timing: Game of Thrones Premiere Viewing

Movie:

Poor easily manipulated Henry VIII & his six wives is a long saga rehashed over & over but never seems to get old.  The Other Boleyn Girl specifically shows us how the French educated Anne played by a stunning Natalie Portman was the first to maneuver her way onto the throne by any means possible but still ended up at the Tower of London. The film also focuses on the seriously disfunctional relationship between the two Boleyn sisters which we see is only tragically reconciled once Mary grows a spine & takes the future Queen Elizabeth I from the Tower after Anne is executed.  As for the film's details the costumes & setting are beautiful but something just did not click with parts of the cast.  For instance Kristin Scott Thomas' performance falls flat but we can't pin point why exactly.  On the other hand there are a number of talents yet to be discovered such as Eddie Redmayne, Benedict Cumberbatch & Juno Temple that if given the chance could have added a couple of interesting layers of their own.

In conclusion as insinuated above this story of women stepping all over each other for power via men unfortunately rings true today but maybe that's why we still find it so compelling.

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

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

Frozen Planet: Spring

Appetizer: Edamame
Entree: Shrimp "Spring" Roll Stir Fry with Peanut Sauce
Timing: Annual Spring Picnic

Movie:
We usually like high def nature documentaries but this one borrowed too much footage from the other BBC installments many times resulting in, "I've seen this before," moments.  It's BBC milking the footage they already have but who can blame them as I'm sure it was extremely expensive to create. With that said hopefully some of the proceeds from this franchise were donated to a wildlife fund.

Mel's Rating: 67%
On a scale of 100.

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

Adaptation

Drink: Mojito

Entree: Cubans

Dessert: Pineapple Butter Cake

Timing: Making our first trip to the nursery in 2016.

Movie:

Adaptation is a witty dark comedy that takes you from the creative abyss that is L.A. to the no man's land in the Everglades.  Meryl Streep & Chris Cooper both do a brilliant job of portraying lost souls in search to find a passion in life again.  Surprisingly the always annoying Nicolas Cage is actually a good fit in his part as a writer riddled with social anxiety.  Parts that are particularly funny are the Being John Malkovich references & scenes with Robert McKee.  You really should watch Being John Malkovich before hand in order to enjoy & understand the humor behind its inclusion.  Overall this film shows us in a comical way how Hollywood sucks the creativity right out of projects & to gain real inspiration perhaps they should go outside of the political studio machine to get back in touch with life.

Mel's Rating: 92%

On a scale of 100.

Brett's Rating: ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️

On a scale of 10.

Dark Side of The Rainbow

Appetizer: Yellow Brick Road (Diced Cheddar Cheese)
Drink: Wine (Dorothy has had a long week.)
Entree: Emerald City Turkey Wraps with Witches Hats (Bugels)
Dessert: Mini Rainbow Fruit Pizzas
Timing: New Moon
Props: Pink Floyd's Dark Side of The Moon vinyl.

Movie:
While still till this day the band claims that the synchronization of Wizard of Oz with Dark Side of The Moon is a fluke we find this hard to believe.  There is also debate on when the movie & album should be started for the best sync.  Some insist that it's the third roar of the MGM lion while others are convinced that the second roar is correct.  Regardless keep in mind there is no plot with this film so it's more of an opportunity to listen to Pink Floyd at high volumes.  Additionally it is important to note that all in all there are about six additional Pink Floyd movie syncs but I would suggest just sticking to this one since it was the first to be "discovered" & the others feel like a stretch.

Mel's Rating: 74% - Not my favorite Pink Floyd album due the excessive radio play it receives.
On a scale of 100.

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

2001: A Space Odyssey

Drink: Space Dust IPA
Entrée: Rocket Dogs
Dessert: Galaxy Bark

Movie:
Don't adjust your TV this movie is just that weird.  Packed full of meaning that can be twisted in any which way 2,001 times we board a journey that explores origins, time travel & artificial intelligence.  Look for Kubrick's trademark panning one shot close ups & consider the following while on this wild ride that is 2001:

• These special effects were created in 1968.
• The score is famous & has been covered by many jam bands such as Phish.
• We did not walk on the moon until the following year & Kubrick is already envisioning living in space.
• The actual year of 2001 did not turn out like this at all...it would have to be more like 3001.

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

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

James Bond: Live & Let Die

Drink: Martini
Entree: Jerk Chicken with Cilantro Lime Rice

Movie:
The most hallmark element of this film is the theme song. Paul's voice echoing Live & Let Die will
definitely get stuck in your head afterwards.  However this particular installment brings a period
known as "blaxploitation" to the forefront which also explains that while the theme song is famous you don't hear much discussed about the actual film.  Bond films always try to stay true to the times since the franchise's image is that of a globe trotting womanizer with endless amounts of cash & luxury resources to blow through.  As awkward as it is to watch now it will always remain a product of pop culture history & one way to see how wrong we were is to observe it head on.

Mel's Rating: 68%
On a scale of 100.

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

Midnight in The Garden of Good & Evil

Drink: Pineapple Ginger Mint Julep
Entrée: Fried Chicken, Coleslaw & Biscuits
Dessert: Banana Pudding

Movie:
Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil sweeps us away into the true story based in the delicate, genteel social society of Savannah in the 80's.  We ultimately see how Savannah is a smaller, cleaner version of New Orleans with a long history, voodoo & strong social divisions.  Thankfully with the direction of Clint Eastwood the film manages to gracefully encompass all of these themes while unveiling to us a man with dual lives that ultimately destroyed him.  I have to mention that the beginning of the film is intrinsically better than the latter half most of which is spent in a courtroom.  However make sure you stick to it until the end for a haunting reappearance of Danny. 

Mel's Rating: 85%
On a scale of 100.

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

Ben-Hur

Entrée: Curry Chicken, Rice & Lentil Beans
Dessert: Baklava
Timing: Easter

Movie:
To say this is a long movie is an understatement & as many times with movies of this length they inevitably become segmented.  Maybe it's an early example of bad time management or big studio ego?  Regardless the first half is expertly executed & shows us a rags to riches story as a result of Roman occupation.  The chariot race does live up to all the hype with sweeping well thought out views of the action from every angle.  Also it is worth noting how Esther played by Hara Harareet is able to gracefully hold her ground along side the majestic the Charlton Heston.  Despite all of this the quality of the last portion of the film is choppy.  The story of Jesus' life serves as a side note throughout the film however towards the end it's jutted to the forefront & feels forced. 

Mel's Rating: 80%
On a scale of 100.

Brett's Rating:Part 1 gets an 8.  Part 2 gets a 2.
On a scale of 10.

Michael Collins

Drink: Boulevard Irish Ale
Entrée: Guinness Beef Pot Pie
Dessert: Grasshoppers
Timing: St. Patrick's Day

Movie:
We really struggled with this movie.  In fact we opted half way through to turn it off & watch the
NCAA basketball tournament.  However the next day I did some research online about Michael Collins & proceeded to watch the remainder of the film.  Since I was not familiar with this piece of history it turned out to be pretty interesting after I read up on it.  Liam Neeson does a pretty good job but he does over act in several scenes.  Julia Roberts does not leave an impression.  I don't feel like I knew her character much better afterwards which is strange because this part provided her an opportunity to do one of her classic "can't you see I'm having a breakdown" moments.  The rest of the cast is undeniably American or English with bad accents which makes you realize how much more sophisticated audiences are today.  Overall the most intriguing element of the plot is that you see how Northern Ireland was formed which leaves you with a snap shot of a very divided situation that still exists today.  Plus you are left wondering if Michael Collins is a hero, a sell out or was he simply set up for failure by his own people.

Mel's Rating: 65%
On a scale of 100.

Brett's Rating: N/A - He did not finish the film.
On a scale of 10.

The Da Vinci Code

Drink: Limoncello Martini
Entrée: Italian Beef Sandwiches
Timing: Business trip to Italy & visiting Da Vinci exhibit.

Movie:
Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code was a bestseller which translated into dollar signs for anyone who took on the chore of making it into a film.  Add on top of that the fact it stars Tom Hanks & is directed by Ron Howard which makes sound like a guaranteed formula for success right?  Well in an effort to include every detail for the avid readers the movie viewers suffered because it was entirely too long.  Cutting details are a necessary evil for movies & a delicate balance at that which is why you seldom here a good review of a book turned into film.  Regardless one of the last scenes where Langdon retraces the Rose Line back to the Louvre in Paris really wraps up the story in a great way however again it just took too long for viewers to get there.  If you have not read the book or if it has been a while I would suggest watching to the below video about the Da Vinci Code on YouTube first because without this background information you could get lost.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAtoP5nFhh4&list=PLrLdAi-IY3Ca5zizzE_Y8Lx-rHy29oVBd

Mel's Rating: 68%
On a scale of 100.

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

The Hunger Games

 

Appetizer: Herbed Goat Cheese Bites
Entrée: Lamb Stew

Movie:
This film delivers on every visual item you imagined while reading the book.  From the costumes & the cornicopia to President Snow no detail is left unreferenced.  By the end of the movie you are surprisingly not sick of Jennifer Lawrence but having ample talent such as Lenny Kravitz, Woody Harrelson & Elizabeth Banks & Donald Sutherland does not hurt either.  Liam Hemsworth feels a little Hollywood but even though it is pretty violent it is geared toward a younger crowd so I guess some eye candy is necessary.  All in all it was well put together & I'm looking forward to watching the remaining installments.

Mel's Rating: 89%
On a scale of 100.

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

To Kill A Mockingbird

Appetizer: Alabama Firecrackers
Entrée: White BBQ Chicken
Side: Black Eyed Pea Succotash
Timing: Harper Lee passed away.

Movie:
Watching Jem & Scout's discovery of how society in the deep South really functioned was all encompassing.  It is especially interesting considering Harper Lee grew up in a small Alabama town herself & her father, a lawyer, once defended two black men on charges of murdering a white store clerk.  With that said it comes to no surprise that To Kill a Mockingbird rings true because it is based on real experiences.  The parallels & honesty of the film still shine & eerily foreshadow events to come post 1962.  In the film we see that rabid dogs are treated the same as innocent black citizens.  Then a few years later during Civil Rights protest in the heart of Alabama dogs are used as "crowd control" on black citizens.  Additionally in the film we see the children, the new generation, questioning a society that simply does not make sense.  Then in real world events the Baby Boomers become the ultimate questioners of authority as they transform into young adults in the 60's.  The film did a great job of tackling all of this material until Boo Radley.  His character & how it ties in with the story was not developed so when he briefly appeared at the end as an old man it simply did not fit.

Mel's Rating: 76%
On a scale of 100.

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

Glory

Drinks: Sam Adams Sampler Pack Taste Test
Entrée: Cheeseburgers & Boston Baked Beans
Dessert: Boston Cream Poke Cake
Timing: President's Day

Movie:
This film is the first look at the African American soldiers that bravely fought for the Union during the Civil War.  Denzel Washington delivers a brilliant performance that gives us a glimpse into the brutal world of slavery.  However Matthew Broderick falls flat as Colonel Shaw.  I think they should
have casted an unknown for Shaw since the soldiers themselves are the real focus of the film.  Additionally the movie suffers due to bad directing which makes it feel a bit forced at times however the ending shot is memorable.  I would encourage viewers to read more into the Shaws, the individual soldiers & Frederick Douglass for some interesting details that were not included. 

Mel's Rating: 70%
On a scale of 100.

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

Zero Dark Thirty

Movie:
911.  It's one of those incredibly sad & tragic days & you will always remember where you were when the towers fell.  Even though it's been 15 years many of the issues surrounding 911 are yet to be resolved or discussed openly which is what makes Zero Dark Thirty unique.  It provides us with a glimpse into the war on terrorism which ongoing but specifically it focuses on the chapter which includes the hunt & capture of Osama bin Laden. 

The movie itself reminds you of binge watching Homeland but the characters & events are very very real.  If Jessica Chastain were any more beautiful she would not be able to play the lead role.  However her rough edges & vulnerability create an equilibrium that make her beauty take a back seat to the plot which is an absolute necessity for such a serious subject. 

Mel's Rating: 91%
On a scale of 100.

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

Fatal Attraction

  

  

Drink: Love At First Sip
Entrée: Chicken Friand
Dessert: Heart shaped box of chocolates.
Timing: Valentine's Day

Movie:
This is what happens when you mess around!  Glenn Close absolutely steals the show in this thriller about an affair gone awry.  Who else can keep their character's integrity intact when you are literally competing for screen space with a pair massive, 80's NFL shoulder pads?  However I have to say that Beth Gallagher has the best line of the movie, "This is Beth Gallagher. If you ever come near my family again, I'll kill you. Do you understand?"  End of line!  Ironically this quote could have been cut since they had an alternate ending in mind.  In my opinion the ending they chose to use is much better than the alternate but read up on it & see what you think after you watch the movie.

Mel's Rating: 91%
On a scale of 100.

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

Endless Summer

Timing: Summer
Drink: Pina colada's in coconut shells & topped with paper umbrellas.
Entrée: Hawaiian Pizza

Movie:
This was the first surf documentary to hit main stream & while they probably had the best intentions it falls flat.  The waves are cool to watch but the narration is dry & with no character development overall honestly it's a little boring.  In fact you feel like you are watching an educational film someone checked out of the school library.  However perhaps the catch is that it was released in 1966 which is prior to when everything changed culturally in America.  Could Endless Summer represent the last summer of the American dream?  Careless, free, uncomplicated & endless. 

Mel's Rating: 74%
On a scale of 100.

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

A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)

  

Drink: Purple Haze

Entrée: Shrimp & Grits

Dessert: King Cake

Timing: Mardi Gras Weekend

Movie:

Streetcar as it is most commonly referred to presents us with the double standard between men & women post WWII.  The main focus is on the downward spiral of Blanche DuBois & how her dependence on men is the cause of her destitute state.  Men define her self worth, men are her a sole provider, yet they destroy her & ultimately it is a man that escorts her to her final destination. 

I would recommend reading up on the play before watching the film because there are some holes in the film that probably were too risky to include in 1951 but are needed to complete the story.  Otherwise Vivien Leigh is brilliant in the role of Blanche & had said it almost drove herself into a mental breakdown.  Brando is uncontrollable, unpredictable & raw which makes him just the right fit 

for Stanley. 

Every woman in this play is the definition of pathetic so brace yourself.  It's tolerable though since the next president will be a woman!

Mel's Rating: 73%

On a scale of 100.

Brett's Rating: ⚡️

On a scale of 10.