How to Train Your Dragon - Patrick's Review

How to Train Your Dragon, 2010

How to Train Your Dragon - Amanda's Review

How to Train Your Dragon, 2010




"Long ago up North on the Island of Berk, the young Viking, Hiccup, wants to join his town's fight against the dragons that continually raid their town. However, his macho father and village leader, Stoik the Vast, will not allow his small, clumsy, but inventive son to do so. Regardless, Hiccup ventures out into battle and downs a mysterious Night Fury dragon with his invention, but can't bring himself to kill it. Instead, Hiccup and the dragon, whom he dubs Toothless, begin a friendship that would open up both their worlds as the observant boy learns that his people have misjudged the species. But even as the two each take flight in their own way, they find that they must fight the destructive ignorance plaguing their world." -IMDb

Best Part:
I really liked the story. It was original and well thought through. I liked the fact that when Hiccup was fixing the tail it didn't work on the first try and it wasn't as simple as taping paper to the tail. I will also like any movie that makes big animals - like dragons - seem cute, adorable, and cat-like.

Worst Part:
The music wasn't great. Nothing stood out to me during the movie. The music should emphasize whatever emotion the director wants you to feel and I didn't get that feeling. I was not horrible though either.

Any Given Sunday - Patrick's Review

Any Given Sunday, 1999

Any Given Sunday - Amanda's Review

Any Given Sunday, 1999




"A star quarterback gets knocked out of the game and an unknown third stringer is called in to replace him. The unknown gives a stunning performance and forces the aging coach to reevaluate his game plans and life. A new co-owner/president adds to the pressure of winning. The new owner must prove her self in a male dominated world." -IMDb

Best Part:
Al Pacino's performance in this movie is stunning. He really pulls you into his character and makes you empathize with him. It is frequently difficult to tell if he is the good guy or the bad guy. Even at the end you're left hanging.

Worst Part:
The uniforms in this movie we horrendous! I don't even think kids would wear these in football. The worst team were the Dallas Knights. It just looked awful and unbelievable that any professional would ever wear something like this.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - Patrick's Review

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, 1998

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - Amanda's Review

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, 1998




"An adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson's novel of the same name. The film details a whacky search for the "American Dream", by Thompson and his crazed, Samoan lawyer. Fueled by the massive amount of drugs they purchased with an advance from a magazine to cover a sporting event in Vegas; they set out in the Red Shark. Encountering police, reporters, gamblers, racers, and hitchhikers; they search for some undefinable thing know only as the "American Dream" and find fear, loathing and hilarious adventures into the dementia of the modern American West." -IMDb

Best Part:
The acting and the cast really stood out to me. It had an all star cast in roles like you have never seen before. Johnny Depp plays Raoul Duke amazingly well. He is believable throughout the entire movie. It is probably his performance which has kept me away from drugs.

Worst Part:
If you couldn't tell by now, I am very picky about my music in movies. This movie had very little music and it never seemed quite right. I understand that nothing about this movie seemed quite right, but I thought there could be more. Background noise often seemed misplaced too. Maybe that was Tarry Gilliam's intent, but I didn't care for it.

Super Bowl

Well it worked out quite well that my second favorite team in the NFL is the Indianapolis Colts. I really like Peyton Manning. He is a great quarterback, a good guy and absolutely hilarious! I look forward to every commercial I get to see with him in it.

Currently I don't have a lot of extra money. So instead of buying another jersey I took a blue t-shirt and some white medical tape I had laying around. Here is the final product and my outfit for the Super Bowl.

Journey of a Hockey Player

Okay, so were not hockey players yet, but we're gonna be.

Tuesday night we went to Centennial Lakes in Edina. It was a little chilly but nothing we couldn't handle (2 degrees). The ice there kinda sucks. They don't actually go over the ice with a zamboni they just spray water on top to smooth it. Being a lake there are a lot of cracks because of shifting and they don't allow hockey sticks. We took this photo there. I love it how you can see our breath! Notice the heart it makes? That's all natural, no photoshop here!

I should also mention that I kinda suck at skating on hockey skates. I spent my whole life on Figure Skates which have toe picks and more blade. So I am constantly trying to push off the front of my skate and lean on the back. It truly is a miracle that I have not fallen yet. *knock* on wood.

Wednesday night we went to Gene C. Kelly playfield at 104th & Nicollet in Bloomington. This was fantastic! The weather was perfect! It was cool enough (12 degrees) to keep us from getting too warm but not so cold that we were freezing! They had both a hockey rink and a general skating area. The ice was nice a smooth and we only had to share it with one other family, who were really nice.

This was my first time skating with a hockey stick. I was amazed by how much it helped with my balance. We also played with a few pucks. I am surprised by how hard it is to shoot. Balance is key in this and I just never saw that coming. I have definitely learned most of my hockey skills from The Might Ducks and Miracle. So I of course had to attempt the Knuckle Puck - which is SO much harder to do in reality! Ever tried to flip a puck on its side like that? It doesn't work so well.

I'm learning a lot about my body through this adventure. Mostly in conjunction with balance. I'm trying not to think about the skating and balancing so much and just let it happen. Patrick and I are having a lot of fun! Today we're trying out the rink at Oak Grove Middle/Elementary School.