directed by Pete Travis (2012)

Well, what do you know!? Those shockingly good reviews for the blood splatter B-movie Dredd were right. It’s pretty darn good, in a gritty early 80’s way. There’s a fine line that the ultra violent film toes nicely: it takes itself seriously enough to be straightforward – not winking to the audience but has enough fun with the genre so as to not be mired down in pompous seriousness that plagues superhero movies these days. It’s not easy to manage the balance, if it were more popcorn movies would satisfy more often.

I’ve heard this one is very loyal to the original comics, and maybe that’s where the genius lies – someone adapted something the liked and was smart enough not to change it completely once they got their hands on it.

Dredd is played by hunky Karl Urban (not that you would know with his gruff one liners and never removing his helmet) and his lady sidekick, Olivia Thirlby is surprisingly good, empathetic even, as she blasts her way through the movie.. but it’s Lena Headley who has the most fun as a psychopath king pin named Mama.

Get the kids out of the room, settle in for some blood soaked action and enjoy.

See more: Movies 2010s Action Comics Sci-Fi

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Posted on February 27, 2013

Orbiting the Earth

Twitter, once a thing I could barely understand the point of, has since become a source for instant (but not incessant) news, laughs… and now phenomenal views of earth from space!

For amazing, magical images follow astronaut Chris Hadfield as he chronicles his orbit around our planet. (He is also chatting and answering questions on reddit.)

Honestly, the photos will make you feel a childlike sense of wonder and amazement.

See more: Spend a Couple Minutes Apps Astronauts Science

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Posted on February 25, 2013

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Posted on February 19, 2013

New York City has been our home for over a decade. From the early days of having no money and drinking for free at Sweet and Vicious to countless fancy cocktails after work; from yearly Renaissance Faire trips and travels upstate to the local jaunt to Smorgasburg and McCarren Park; from Korea town karaoke to hosting the funnest Halloween parties; from our wedding in a West Village flower shop to buying our first run down apartment and making it a home; from the birth of Van, the most amazing son on the planet, to the birth of Mimi, the most amazing daughter.. This place has given us the best times, and to be honest, very few bad ones.

We will miss it. We will miss you, friends we leave behind, but we are excited for the new memories and adventures that await our family in Colorado and Seattle. I hope to share it all with you here.

Kisses

Brittany, Jim, Van, Marigold – looking to live at a slower pace and a back yard to call our own

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Posted on February 13, 2013

by Lauren Greenfield (2012)

The Queen of Versailles, dispute it’s reality tv appearance, is a thoughtful documentary that doesn’t get in its own way. It’s a perfect portrait in many ways of what is wrong in America.

Don Siegel, who could be a poster boy for the greed of the top 1% (he recently made headlines threatening his employees to vote for Romney and suing the film maker of this documentary for defamation) begins the film building the biggest single family home in America with his trophy wife Jackie.

She elicits much more sympathy than her husband but if he symbolizes corporate greed, she is a symbol the insatiable consumerism that effects most Americans rich or poor.

Part of the films success was luck. Had filmmaker Greenfield not been there when the economy collapsed and the Siegels lost nearly everything the story would not have been as fascited and fascinating but that doesn’t diminish the fact that it’s also a very well made film.

Many people like me are discovering this gem on netflix where topical docs abound but very few will be as interesting or thought provoking.

See more: Movies 2010s Documentary

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Posted on February 4, 2013