Quantum of Solace

Is apparently the new title for the new Bond movie, apparently out this November (7th, to be precise).

3 movie posts in a row. At a weird time of year too.

I'm surprised they already have another one, and it'll be interesting to see how this one does, since Casino Royale went over so well.

2 Movie Reviews

I've seen two movies in theatres over the past 5 days or so, and both were entertaining and a good start to 2008.

Juno
Friday night, with my fiancee. Very funny, fast moving...as one friend pointed out "it's kinda like Napoleon Dynamite", which is sort of true, except for the fact that Juno was really good and Napoleon Dynamite was really awful.

But it's kinda like the same sort of stuff that if Napoleon was updated for the year 2008, it would be closerish to Juno. Ellen Page is a million-word-per-minute talking machine, and any time you have not one, but two actors from Arrested Development, you know you're off to a good start.

The Bucket List
This one really didn't need to be seen in theatres, unless you like seeing lots of closeups of Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson on a movie screen, but it was a well-done movie, if it was exactly what you would expect. One thing it is nice to see is older actors playing older people, as opposed to certain actors trying to recreate the magic by pretending that they're capable of pulling off Rambo again. Not that I'm pointing any fingers, Stallone.

Anyways, Bucket List was solid, entertaining and emotional enough to ensure that I left the theatre feeling satisfied, which is really all you can ask for.

Movies of 2007

Well, it takes a sick day to get me back blogging again, but whatever works, I suppose.

Here's the official list of my favourite movies of 2007:

Top 5
Reign Over Me
Transformers
The Bourne Ultimatum
Fracture
The Condemned

These were all good, all for different reasons. The best summer blockbuster of the year (Transformers), the best drama of the year (Reign Over Me), the best action movie of the year (The Bourne Ultimatum), the best WWE movie of the year (The Condemned) and the most underrated movie of the year (Fracture).

Movies I Will Buy
Spider-Man 3
Ocean's Thirteen
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer

Basically, these were all entertaining movies that I would watch more than once again, and enjoy them enough to purchase them. None were exceptional, but they were all entertaining and fully worth the money spent.

Movies I Would Watch Again
Ratatouille
Bee Movie
Evan Almighty
Shooter
Disturbia
3:10 to Yuma
Charlie Wilson's War
National Treasure: Book of Secrets
Blades of Glory

This is the "glad I saw it, would watch it again, but only once". Ratatouille was actually really good, as was Charlie Wilson's War and 3:10 to Yuma, it's just they didn't do it for me like some other ones did. The rest were all entertaining, but nothing special.

Movies I Would Not Recommend
Alpha Dog
TMNT
Pirates of the Carribbean: At World's End
300
I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry
Shrek the Third

These are not recommended for a variety of reasons: really vulgar (Alpha Dog), really boring (Shrek, Pirates), really cliche (TMNT, Chuck and Larry) and all-around disappointing (300).

Movie That Was So Stupid It Deserves It's Own Category Of The Most-Wasted 2 Hours Of My Movie-Watching Life This Year
Next

I seriously can't remember much about this movie, but I remember walking out of the theatre and turning to my sister who I had watched it with and said "That is going to be the worst movie of the year." And sure enough - it was.

Facebook

It's really incredible to see how Facebook has evolved over the past couple of years.

I was one of the earlier people to get on Facebook - back when you needed an email address from an officially recognized university (of which many universities weren't even accepted). They gradually opened it up until it's at the point where it is now, with it easy to create multiple aliases, and loaded up with so many junk applications that the essence of the website has been completely lost.

In addition to the many pointless and excessive applications, the family-friendly content of the site has really tanked. It seems that every other FunWall or SuperWall or AdvancedWall joke you see is either a) rude, or b) risque. And that doesn't even begin to discuss the "Daily Babe" or "Babe of the Hour" or "Hourly Babe" (same for the guys as well).

Not including, of course, the ads (although, admittedly, they seem to have heard the massive complaints and have toned those down as well).

The question now becomes whether Facebook is essentially the new "MySpace" and if it will continue to become just another massively overpopulated networking site.

Tricky

This diet thing is tricky.

For example. Today at lunch - a friend offered me a couple of onion rings, which I put on my plate before remembering. And then the mint that comes with the cheque...yup, not able to eat that either.

I find that the first couple weeks are hard, and then I get used to it, and my body adapts.

Dieting Thoughts

Several thoughts as we begin a new year:

1. It seemed like every single channel was showing a different dieting show last night. "Healthy eating, more exercise...etc, etc, etc." I will confess I watched the premiere of The Biggest Loser: Couples last night, and despite my initial intention to only watch the first hour, I ended up watching the whole thing. I do wonder how much of the incredible weight loss is simply water loss.
2. Speaking of water, one of the things I plan to do as this year begins is make a real focus on drinking more water. For a while I was drinking at least 1 litre in the morning and 1 litre in the afternoon, but I slipped out of that (with a corresponding coffee consumption increase). So that's a new focus.
3. Furthermore, I'm limiting my coffee/tea consumption to one a day of each, with a goal of eventually weaning off of both of them. Right now it looks like a coffee in the morning, and a tea in the afternoon/evening. No sugar in either.
4. And speaking of no sugar, I'm going on a strict diet prior to my wedding. The list of sugar-filled items I will be abstaining from includes: pop, iced tea, chocolate, ice cream, candy, cake, pie, desserts. This is complemented by the list of fat-filled items I am also abstaining from: chips and fries.
5. I'm also making a commitment to eat regularly and increase my consumption of fruits and vegetables.
6. Exercising daily - be it personal workout or walking/cardio.
7. Sleeping regularly and sufficiently. I've realized that if I get 7 hours, I'm good. So that's the new goal.

It's aggressive, but needed. A healthier lifestyle is a little overdue, in fact, and the fact that I'd like to feel like I'm in good shape going into the wedding is a bonus. The fact that my fiancee is joining me in this endeavour makes it easier.