Roll Tide(Guns Up), Flip-Flop, Movie Reviews

As the fans of the University of Alabama sit back and enjoy another collegiate football National Championship, I hear around town(Lubbock) complaints about the Texas Tech Red Raiders never winning a National Championship.  Well have I got news for those un-informed West Texas red necks.  In 1993 the Lady Red Raiders basketball won the collegiate National Championship, and then within a few years ago they won the National Collegiate Chess Championship.  They have actually won that twice, so not only are the Raiders athletic they are also very smart.  Then it was announced during January that the Texas Tech meat-judging team won first place at the American Meat Science Association National Western Collegiate Meat-Judging Contest in Greeley, Colorado.  Then they went on and won the 12th National Championship at the International Meat-Judging Contest in Nebraska.  So as the Tide Rolls, Guns Up for the Red Raiders!!

While I admit I have probably been watching the presidential debates and news about the elections more than I ever have.  Like the rest of the USA I am amazed as to what influence the Donald has had on the debates and news articles.  While it is easy to sit back and say, “this guy is nuts”, it is also very true that his style of running for president is different than any before him.  While I know he says things that are not politically correct I would argue that his art of saying what is on he audiences minds is the not-to-secret method of gathering interest and votes.  I would think that his personality and methods, leaves an opening for just about anyone to like, hate, dislike, love, respect, appreciate, or ignore.  My feeling is that I like to hear it like it is, but I do not like for anyone to make fun of anyone else, whether it is in humor or not.  I have noticed that the Donald can flip-flop very fast.  In the case of his short debacle with the Pope, one day he was saying he was disgraceful and the next he was saying he was just mis-informed about the subject of building the wall, etc.  So, bottom line is he can be just as political as the next politician and just because he speaks his mind does not mean he is not a politician.  As any politician does, he is trying to get elected so he is using the tactics that are most likely to do that.  For the most part everyone sits back and complains about the politicians in office as crumb bums but then does not go to the polls and get them out of office.  Since we only have a two party system we really have very little choice.  On the democratic side we have an old man with conflicting views and a woman who seems to be confused on what is true or not!  In the election of the second term for President Obama we had a great choice for a new president; however, he did not know how to get the votes, or if he did he sure didn’t show it.   In conclusion, we really have very little choice’s now, so it will be interesting to see how this all shapes up.  

Movie Reviews:  

“The Walk” *****, A true story about the guy that walked on wire between the Two Towers in New York City, prior to 9/11.  Will have to watch on Pay TV since it is not in the theaters now.  Rated PG-nothing offensive and very realistic.

“San Andreas” ***, A good disaster story about the San Andreas fault causing giant earth quakes in California.  Dwayne Johnson stars and it has lots of action and disaster.  Rated PG-13, for disaster scenes.  

“Hail Caesar!”, **, This was a very disappointing movie and complete waste of acting and star power.  The story is about the daily life of a movie producer during the 1950’s and all of the challenges he goes through on a daily basis.  His biggest challenge is to rescue his top star(George Clooney) who has been kidnapped with a ransom of $100,000.00.  Very stupid and pointless plots through out.  A Coen brothers flop! Rated PG-13 for some suggestive content and smoking.  

“Misconduct”, **, Another very stupid pointless movie concerning corrupt executives from the pharmaceutical industries.  Very poorly done and a waste of money.  Rated R for language, violence and some sexuality/nudity.

“13 Hours:  The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi”, ***,  On the evening of the 11th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, a group of Islamic militants attacked the American diplomatic compound and a nearby CIA Annex in Benghazi, Libya.  A true story, of sorts, and resulted in the American ambassador being killed.  Rated R for strong combat violence throughout, bloody images, and language.

“Jan Got a Gun”, **,  The story of Jane Hammond who has built a new life for herself with her husband in the tough Eastern New Mexico badlands.  With enemies dedicated to getting even with her and her husband they take a stand to defend themselves.  Jane is handy with a gun but does need some help from her ex-boyfriend.  A fairly strong story but the dialogue was very hard to hear and understand.  Rated R for violence and some language.  

“Spotlight”, *****,  Spotlight refers to the investigative news department at the Boston Globe which, in 2002, exposed pedophile priests and the complicity of powerful Roman Catholic Church officials.  A well done, true story, staring Mark Ruffalo(nominated for an Academy Award), Rachel McAdams and Brian d’Arcy are the crack investigative team.  Michael Keaton stars as the Spotlight team leader.  A must see movie.  Rated R for some language including sexual references.  

“Race”, *****,  A true story about Olympic track star Jesse Owens at the 1936 Olympics.  He was the first Olympian track star to bring home 4 gold medals as Adolf Hitler watched the Aryan supremacy fail.  Stephan James plays Owens perfectly, and should provide a bona fide black American nomination for best actor.  Rated PG-13 for thematic elements and language.  

“Daddy’s Home”, ***,  This is not an awards movie but since I like Will Ferrell I give it more stars than it really deserves.  Will plays the step father who is absolutely perfect for the step kids, then their biological father shows up and disrupts everything Ferrell has established with the kids.  Real dad, played by Mark Wahlberg is the super man in all things but being a good dad.  So, the battle goes on through out the movie, but there is a they lived happily ever after ending, and we all smiled.  This is a movie to go see if you have nothing else to do, like Will Ferrell or Mark Wahlberg, etc.  Rated PG-13 thematic elements, crude and suggestive material and for language. 

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

greerman