Prayer, Movie Reviews

It is funny how we pray for something then when we get too much of it we pray for it to stop.  LIke rain fall is a good example.  When we are in drouth everyone and their dogs are praying for rain, and more rain.  Then when the prayers are answered and it continues to rain everyone gets irritable about all the rain and grows tired to it very fast.  While snow does not make its’ presence known but 2 or 3 times per year in the West Texas country, when it does put its’ white mark on the prairie everyone is ready for it to go asap.  No one takes the time to realize that snow provides a lot of great nutrients for the crops to grow after being planted in the spring.  Since we are a large agriculture center any thing we can get from the heavens that will make our crops prosper should be well received by all.  Besides when you pray for moisture I don’t think most people take the time to spell out what kind of moisture, just so it is moisture.   What has motivated me to write on this subject matter is the fact that we have received so much rain fall in the past week it is now being called a “flood.”  Very seldom is the word flood used in describing our rain fall.  Many times we are coming out of a drought and since our annual rain fall is only 17 inches it makes a 4 inch rain look like a big deal(which it is)!  The preferred breakdown of the precious 17 inches is to have a third in early spring for planting, another third in the early summer and then the balance in late summer.  For cotton that usually works fine, but of course it does not alway come that way.  So, the word flood surfaces again in everyones vocabulary.  Also, I don’t want to forget the snow I mentioned above that will come in middle of the winter and is really a blessing to our future crops.  Also, remember along the way as we get this valuable moisture it is not only for the farmers but for all of us who have yards and like to see thick, green grass on our lawns.  While we can water it ourselves it is evident that the real green comes from the heavens above or better called, “the rains from heaven.”  The bottom line to these comments is simple, “ watch what you pray for and don’t put a limit on it or complain about it when you get it!”

Movie Reviews:  

“Hot Pursuit”, *, A just above terrible movie, not worthy of a full price ticket.  Reese Witherspoon(a very good actress) plays the lead as an up tight police officer and Sofia Vergara supplies the hot body with limited acting ability as the mafia girl friend.  A stupid story, stupid plot, and even more stupid ending.  Rated PG-13 for sexual content, violence, language and some drug material.

“The Water Diviner”, *,  This is another bad movie with good actors.  An Australian man(Russell Crowe) travels to Turkey after the Battle of Gallipoli to try and locate his three missing sons, and it all goes down hill from there.  Rated R for war violence including 

some disturbing images. 

“The D Train”, ***, While I question if this merits a three star I will go ahead with it since I think Jack Black is a very good actor.  So, even though the story line may be weak I could imagine that a lot of ex-high schoolers who plan class reunions could be found on this planning committee.  Black plays the role of the committee chair and takes the job very seriously, especially since he was the guy in high school that people do not remember.  In an effort to put some spice into the 20th reunion Black decides that the real popular guy of their class that went on to become a part time everything in life, was the ticket to bringing people back.  So, the plan is put into action to get him back.  From there you can decide if you want to watch the road map happen and what the results are.  Rated R+ for strong sexual material, nudity, language and drug use.  

EA, SH,........:(!

greerman

Where Is It? Movie Reviews

Funny how aging never stops and as it progresses there is always the question, am I doing something different because of aging.  For example, I come out of the rec center at Texas Tech as I have done for the past 25 years and I can’t find my Explorer.  I know I parked it in this parking lot because that is where I always park  and if you don’t park it in the right lot it will be gone or the wheels will be locked up.  So, I go through the mind motions again thinking about what I was doing when I parked.  Well, lo and behold I was talking on the cell phone and when that happens I never remember where I parked, so I must go back through my mind and figure out how full the lot was and how fast cars were moving out and in.  Then that logic tells me where the ole Explorer will be.  Or if there is a concert going on in the United Spirit arena that means the most likely spaces would be to the far West of the lot.  Just so happens there is a big C & W concert on Friday so all the big busses and 18 wheeler have taken up most of the lot, so that means I must be in a space to the far West of the rec center.  Ooops, now that I have that down I wonder if I am on the North end or South end but my fuzzy memory is now coming back.  There were security people directing me when I pulled in and they made sure I did not interfere with anything that was going on relative to the big weekend music fest.  Well I have it narrowed down and it must be in the furtherest row to the West and probably on the South end.  Congrats the charcoal gray Explorer is sitting very proudly in that area since I can recognize the top rack since it is the only one like it in the parking lot.  Now, I go through the mind evaluation of whether or not this exercise I have just gone through is a sign of aging or just how I have done things as long as I can remember.  Well, the fact of the matter is I remember doing stuff like this when I was 46 so it must just be a thing I do, like lose my keys, cap, wetsuit, daytimer, etc.  Since I am a multi-tasker by habit and mind-set it is not unusual for me to have the music on, the cell phone and possibly some paper work laying out for me to see, as I am driving.  Yes, I know that is not a good thing since driving is a full time thing and I must pay attention.  But, back to the Explorer, I have thought it might be cool to have a little flag that raises up automatically or a rotating light on top of the vehicle that going around in circles when you push a button, or maybe even a voice that is activated by a push of the button on the ignition system key ring.  It would say, “your Explorer is over here dummy, or something like that.”  Maybe that would be something I could get a patent on and make lots of money at the same time I am swimming or exercising at the rec center.  Food for thought!! 

Note, please bear with me, I have seen many movies with no review in over a month.  Most of these movies are still playing; however, if not they can be seen on pay for view TV:

“Foxcatcher”, ****, This was nominated for an Academy award and was a good movie.  It is a true story about the son of the wealthy Du Pont family who built a training facility for Olympic wrestlers while thinking he was a great coach.  He was totally wacko and became even more so as he aged.  I remember when this all happened, since he also supported some professional triathletes.  Rated PG-13 on appeal for brief strong language, and some violence.

“The Physician”, ****, This movie is about the practice of medicine in the 11th century.  Ben Kingsley plays the part of the master “barber”(as doctors were called at that time) in the world.  It is presented in a documentary form and is very good.  Rated PG-13 for strong and disturbing medical violence.

“American Sniper”, *****, This was nominated for an Academy award for best picture but did not win it.  Bradley Cooper plays the part of Navy Seal Chris Kyle who serves as a sniper in the Middle East for four tours.  He is excellent for what he does but is also haunted by it when he returns to normal life.  Very good movie, but does have its’ disturbing aspects.  Rated R for strong and disturbing war violence, and language throughout including some sexual references. 

“Focus”, ***, A movie worth the ticket but no more than a three.  Will Smith plays a professional con man who teams up with a female want to be con person.  He teaches her the ropes and of course they fall in love, then that comes back to haunt him.  Rated R for language, some sexual content and brief violence.

“The Imitation Game”, ****, This is a very good movie about a team of scholars in World War II that cracked the so-called unbreakable codes of Germany’s WW II Enigma machine, and saving countless allied lives and turning the tide of the war.  Rated PG-13 for some sexual references, mature thematic material and historical smoking.

“McFarland USA”, *****, A great true story about a high school football coach who becomes a track coach for a down on their luck California high school and goes on to win many state titles.  The story centers around real coach Jim White played by Kevin Costner who gets fired and moves on to who ever will hire him and when is hired he sees the potential of having a track team made up of Mexican-American students.  His hunch is right and he guides them to many state titles and in the closing credits it shows the runners all grown up and tells about their current status.  Rated PG for thematic material, some violence and language.

“Old Fashion”, ***, A former frat boy and a free-spirited woman together attempt the impossible:  an “old-fashioned” courtship in contemporary America.  Different and refreshing.  Rated PG-13 for some thematic material.

“Unfinished Business”, **, A hard-working small business owner and his two associates travel to Europe to close the most important deal of their lives.  Some big surprises greet them, some humorous, some not.  Not worth a premium ticket.  Rated R for some strong risque sexual content/graphic nudity, and for language.

“Run All Night”, **, Mobster and hit man played by Llam Neeson has one night to figure out where his loyalties lie, with his estranged son, whose life is in danger, or his longtime best friend, a local mob boss.  Story too weak and presentation is equally so to recommend this movie without warning.  Watch it on free tv.  Rated R for strong violence, language including sexual references, and some drug use.

“The Longest Ride”, ****,  The lives of a young couple intertwine with a much older man as he reflects back on a lost love while he’s trapped in an automobile crash.  There are two stories going on in this movie and without that happening it would have not been worth the ticket.  But with Scott Eastwood playing the lead as a rodeo bull rider it was interesting to see him in his first lead.  Well done and intriguing how the stories corresponded with each other.  Rated PG-13 for some sexuality, partial nudity, and some war and sports action(yes I guess bull riding is a sport action!!).

“Get Hard”, *, When a millionaire played by Will Ferrell is nailed for fraud and bound for San Quentin, he turns to Darnell Lewis to prep him to go behind bars(even though Darnell has never been to prison).  Not a good movie and only has a few humorous moments).  Rated R for pervasive crude and sexual content and language, some graphic nudity, and drug material.

“Age of Adaline”, *****, Speaking of aging this is one good movie.  A great story line about a young woman at the turn of the 20th century that is rendered ageless after an automobile accident.  After years of a solitary life and no aging, she meets a man who might be worth losing her immortality and solitary life for.  The only actor you may recognize would be Harrison Ford but everyone does a great job of acting, especially the ageless wonder.  Rated PG-13 for a suggestive comment.

“Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2”, **, Well I can’t believe there is a sequel, but Kevin James does it again and is even fatter than the first one.  Not a movie to pay for but to watch on free TV when you have nothing else to do.  Oh what I do for my readers!!  He does some more silly Mall Cop stunts while on a vacation with his daughter to the annual mall security cops convention.  Total harmless but also stupid at times.  Rated PG for some violence.  

EA, SH.......:)!

greerman