“Meets Expectations.” Is there anything more frustratingly disappointing than that? I mean, at least if something fails to meet the expectations you can feel good about feeling bad, right? But if something does exactly what it is supposed to do, why does that feel like such a let down? Have we been conditioned to want […]
Category Archives: Movies
If It Weren’t For Opera…
Opera is amazing, right? It is the convergence of all types of art, from music, acting, and dancing, to painting, fashion designing, and even sculpting from time to time. It is passionate, funny, and intense, and there are plenty of reasons to appreciate it on its own, just for what it is. But even if […]
And the Nominees Are…
Ha ha! The plan is working! For Christmas this year my wife gave me movie passes so that we could prepare for Oscar season, and it has totally paid off! Whereas in the distant past (B.C. – Before Children), we made it a goal to see every Oscar nominee (in every category), these days (A.D. […]
My Daughter Acts Out the Only Scene From “Frozen” Without a Princess In It
There have been several videos out there lately that feature cute kids singing princess songs from the hit animated movie “Frozen,” and it doesn’t seem like the internet really needs another one. Luckily my kids are not interested in the princessy parts (not true: they are interested in all the parts). Ruby’s favorite song from […]
Sometimes I Miss Video Stores
I got a Playstation 4 for Christmas from my daughter’s teddy bear. It is amazing and I love it. Of course you can play games on it, since it is technically a gaming console, but there are so many other things you can do with it, like stream movies and television! Wirelessly connected to our […]
Why I Accidentally Bought a Blu-Ray Player
I should not be allowed to go shopping for electronics. There are certain things that my wife should not be allowed to go out shopping for too, and course things you don’t want to send your kids out shopping for (like toys), but when it comes to places you don’t want to let me loose […]
The Worst Thing About Being a Parent
When you decide to become a parent (or have it sprung upon you), you know in advance that there are going to be ups and downs. Pluses and minuses, if you will. No, there can be no preparation for it, but at least you have some idea of what to expect, right? I imagine that […]
What Kids Remember
Kids have weird memories. I always wonder what kinds of stuff they will actually recall from their childhood, and what will be lost to them. For instance, both of my children were born in the same house in Baltimore, and Ruby can still describe it pretty well. Edward only lived there for 6 months, so […]
Thumbs Sideways
The death of Roger Ebert last week, while sad to be sure, gave me an opportunity to reflect on one of the great pleasures in my life: the movies. Reading through articles, tributes, twitter shout-outs, and obituaries, one thing was very clear; Ebert loved movies, and he helped others find the joy in them as […]
The Tenth Annual Oscar Party
Wow. Ten years. My Oscar party is older than my children and older than my marriage. But one thing that will never get old is eating nachos, hanging out with friends, and talking about movies. And then eating more nachos. We had all the standard foods this year. Coke Zero Dark Thirty, Nachos Unchained, Life […]