Fishing lore, quarries, art, money and grit - Cape Ann has it all. The villages of Rock Port and Gloucester reflect a part of American spirit that’s equally demur and feisty. There’s a quiet elite resting in the historical neighborhoods where summer homes and mansions sit facing the sea. For others the city of Gloucester reflects hard-work and satisfying dreams.
We all knew another Hangover movie was coming, and I think I speak for many of us who say that I sincerely hope the final chapter in the trilogy is better than the second installment. I thought The Hangover was hilarious and one of the best comedies in years. The Hangover Part II left me cold, for the most part. It was the same movie, just in a different setting, and to me it just didn't seem as funny. Such is the way of Hollywood, though: The second films are almost never as good as the first, with few exceptions.
That original movie poster for Raiders of the Lost Ark kept one thing close to the chest: The film contained something so gross as to defy belief. To wit (spoiler alert): The big bad Nazis get the Ark of the Covenant back from Indiana Jones after he steals it from them. The head baddie decides to open it up to see if the sacred pieces of the Covenant are inside.
I just threw out my 2013 Oscars ballot. I'd resigned myself to having nothing to really look forward to, awards-wise, for several months. I did that too soon, it seems, because guess what? There's another awards show coming and guess what else? It doesn't look too bad, based on some of the nominations.
Fee-fi-fo-fum, Jack the Giant Slayer is already done. OK, maybe not done entirely, but the newest fairy tale-related fantasy movie didn't fare very well at the weekend box office. I actually saw this Brian Singer-directed 3D adventure film, and I didn't hate it. I'm picky about my fantasy movies, too, so I had some misgivings going in.
Is Jay Leno leaving the late night television game? One recent report suggests that yes, his reign as the host of the Tonight Show will come to a close next year. NBC is in major trouble with ratings, especially the late-night spots, and quite honestly, Leno's show is terribly dull. I think it's high time he moved on.
Ten years ago the historical novels of Patrick O’Brian at last arrived on the big screen. The film starring Russell Crowe as Royal Navy Captain Jack Aubrey (no relation to Captain Jack Sparrow!) and Paul Bettany as doctor (and spy) friend Stephen Maturin entitled Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, hit movie theaters late in 2003 and appeared on DVD early in 2004.
Yes, the 85th Annual Academy Awards went on for what seemed like forever, but along the way, the show featured some of the best musical Oscar performances in recent memory. From the sultry tones of Adele to the stunning high notes from Jennifer Hudson, this year's Academy Awards definitely entertained, at least musically speaking.
For those of you fortunate enough to have President's Day off, congratulations. You've got tons of time to catch up on some fantastic presidential movies! It's really tough to limit myself to just three, but after a great deal of thought, I've done it. One of these choices is still in many theaters right now, so in the spirit of the holiday, why not pile everyone up and head to the movies this evening?
Lincoln
Remember Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code, the second volume of a trilogy that features Harvard professor Robert Langdon as the hero? Remember all the fuss the novel kicked up from religious protests to accusations of historical inaccuracy to getting dissed by the likes of Salmon Rushdie and Stephen Fry to Dan Brown being slapped with plagiarism lawsuits? Remember how it was once one of the hottest books of the first decade of the 21st Century?
