Eau Claire Ride

Rode up to Eau Claire, WI with my dad to spend a couple days riding. Beautiful rolling farm land, mostly great weather, a smattering of historical markers, had dinner with some of our cousins who live in the area, all in all a great adventure.

'Kate' A Review

Kate is an action/thriller about the eponymous assassin Kate(Mary Elizabeth Winstead) who after a series of jobs targeting high ranking officers in a Yakuza family is slipped a deadly poison, after discovering she only has one day left to live she sets out on revenge.

Winstead shoulders the movie with little effort, she's got presence and physical alacrity, but the script lets her down. There is simply not enough information to really know or care about the character, there are a couple of montages of her training and past jobs but not enough to get any clarity on the character. Woody Harrelson is Varrick Kate's handler/mentor, but he's got very limited screentime and the dynamic is really only hinted at never actually flushed out. There are also some big name Japanese actors who are equally underutilized primarily Tadanobu Asano and Jun Kunimura(although he gets two exceptionally great scenes, the first is mostly expositional, the second where he faces off against Asano's character which despite the movie's overwhelming mediocrity is one of the best of the year).

Visually slick, clearly shot actually in Japan which is a plus, overall decent production design but there is a sameness to it, a rushed quality, presumably the budget was limited and the shooting schedule was even more so, which is why its such a disappointment, because there's clearly a lot of potential, a lot of talent involved.

The latest in the recent series of female killer flicks(Gunpowder Milkshake, Jolt) although none have yet to quite hit the mark.

Currently streaming on Netflix.

Stream It.

'Jungle Cruise' A Review

Jungle Cruise is a fantasy adventure based on Disney's ride of the same name. In 1916 Dr. Lily Houghton(Emily Blunt) is attempting to raise money for an expedition into the Amazon to research the Tears Of The Moon a mythic cure-all, but is ignored because of her gender. She makes her own way and hires river boat captain Frank(Dwayne Johnson) to take her into the jungle and uncover the mystery of the legendary flower. But they are pursued by German Prince Joachim(Jesse Plemons) as well as various ghostly cursed conquistadors.

Blunt brings her considerable charisma to bear and pairs it with a great physical performance to give Dr. Lily a modern Dr. Jones vibe. She has great chemistry with Johnson who gives a bit more straightforward and sincere performance than the kind of wry humor of which he's been accustomed to recently. The two together give enough heart to make us care, the plot has enough twists and reveals to stay engaged, and the pacing of the action continues to push and progress fluidly to an entertaining crescendo. Plemons clearly relishes the opportunity to go ham, to go big, and it works, he's a great funny, almost foppish villain that is still incredibly sinister. 

Visually lush and bright if somewhat overly CGI'd, wonderful playful costuming, an effective classical score, and a plot if somewhat predictable still work together to create a great family adventure. Some of the exposition is a little unnecessarily complicated and at times it seems the movie is constrained by its attempt to appeal to both kids and adults(although it has a PG-13 rating) still its pure and successful entertainment. 

Guaranteed family fun.

Currently available on Disney+ and most VOD platforms.

See It. 

The Rewatch

A good movie
is like an old friend
you come back to it
and its like you never left
it comforts
but still inspires

nostalgic

but with untold depth

never stops
having things to teach

'Bob Ross: Happy Accidents, Betrayal and Greed' A Review

Bob Ross: Happy Accidents Betrayal & Greed is a documentary about landscape painter and TV personality Bob Ross. Through archival footage, episodes of his show, and talking-head interviews his life and legacy are explored.

Interesting if somewhat pedestrian the doc explores Ross's life and art but ultimately doesn't offer much beyond what you would get watching reruns of The Joy Of Painting until the business of Bob Ross is explored particularly his connection to Annette and Walt Kowalski, which is pretty damning. His son Steve is featured heavily in the doc and his legal struggles with the Kowalskis given as Ross was dying of cancer the Kowalskis attempted to co-op his name to further monopolize on his fame and recognition(following his death they succeeded). Which, given capitalism and fundamental human greed, isn't particularly surprising in any way. 

This somewhat sorted, still intriguing, "dark side" of Ross and his legacy are the only thing that separate this from other Ross docs and it isn't investigated that deeply and Steve, an incredibly sympathetic character within the whole tangled web, is also clearly not being totally forthcoming about his past and journey(which, totally fair). So this "mystery" aspect of the doc is only scratched and ultimately there is no satisfying reveal or outcome.

Mildly compelling at-home popcorn viewing.

Currently streaming on Netflix.

Stream It.

'Shang-Chi and the Legned of the Ten Rings' A Review

Shang-Chi is a superhero movie, the MCU's latest, that serves as an origin story for Shang-Chi(Simu Liu). In the distant past Xu Wenwu(Tony Leung) acquires the ten rings, mystical objects that grant immortality and power, he then creates an army and over the centuries conquers various kingdoms and undermines governments to extend his power and influence. In his search for even more power he finds a hidden gateway to a magical city, meets and falls in love with Ying Li(Fala Chen), they have two children, their family life doesn't last long. Flashfoward to Shang-Chi parking cars in San Francisco with his best friend Katy(Awkwafina) when the two are attached and drawn into a sinister plot by Wenwu's men. Shang-Chi must grapple with his identity and decide who he wants to become.

Liu gives a great, fastball, no frills performance, physically he's impressive and clearly does most if not all of his(substantial) stunts adding a needed layer of authenticity in a franchise that is frequently overwrought with CGI. But he also takes the time to give the character dimension, at the heart of it is not the action or the superpowers but the search for self and purpose and grappling with guilt that drives the character. And although there is a lot of(excellent) action the emotional arc of the character is never sacrificed. There's also a stream of solid and fluid humor from Liu and Awkwafina, who have great chemistry, and she also as a 'non-powered' person is a great foil not only for Liu but for the whole situation. Awkwafina carves out a space for herself in this movie and in the MCU without a tragic backstory, without lasers or super strength, because the character is funny but also has incredible empathy. And it's clear the filmmakers know this as she is prominent in the story, not relegated to the sidelines. Leung is one of the MCU's best villains, he has depth and complexity, and carries this kind of unshakable melancholy despite his reprehensible actions. It's an impressive feat to make the character not only sympathetic but charming. The theme of family is big in the story and the proper time is taken to really let that aspect of it breathe and blossom. The supporting cast is too stacked to go into suffice it to say there isn't a weak link in the chain.

The action is varied and extremely compelling with inspirations from wushu wire work to Jackie Chan, as with most MCU movies the third act does have a CGI extravaganza but at least here it is a bit more creative and the emotional stakes are clear. The production is solid, with some great inspirations particularly in the set design and costuming, although there is some of the MCU glitz that perhaps smooths things out some. What's most impressive is the script and direction, director/co-writer Destin Daniel Cretton gives us the spectacle we are accustomed to with superhero movies but builds the action, a street fight on a bus, a brawl on scaffolding, escalating upward to the fantastic, creating an actual sense of reality and stakes. Paired with this is equal attention to the various main characters emotions and motivations which, particularly in the last several MCU movies hasn't been much of a concern. This of course makes all the inevitable magic and mayhem actually mean something.

A refreshing, impactful, fun superhero movie.

Currently in theaters coming soon to VOD.

See It.

American Lotus

Through the brush

surprising
we came upon
the slough

the crane

she was arising

and the lotus

he did bow