Movie List

July 23, 2011
One thing I can say about international travel – you have a lot of time on your hands. On a trip to Malaysia, I had enough time to finish two books and watch two movies. This is the two movies:

Despicable Me

A cute little movie. It focuses on redemption of a person whose goal was to be the most despicable villain around. A pretty predictable plot, but with nice characterization along the way. And you just have to love the Minions. I liked the movie, but only enough to say it is average – I give it a 2.5 on the scale

Battle: Los Angeles

Aging marine seargent – reputation for losing his men in battle. A strong fight on his hands with an enemy and his new squad. That about sums up the humanity of the story, and it is pretty trite. Still, I liked this movie. It is a good action war movie, and when all of the traditional foes are not in vogue, you have to have a new foe, so why not go for aliens. Of course the hero is really the hero and he and his squad find out how to "take the suckers down", and you can figure all along that it will happen (a la "Independence Day") I liked the portrayal of the marines and especially because I have been at Camp Pendleton and recognized some of the scenery (there was ever a very short scene at the San Onefre gate onto the base). I thought the fighting scenes were well done. It truly gave a sense of battle and the mayhem that goes with it. So I can ignore a lot of the trite story line, and the rough language, and say that it wasn't too bad – not for little kids, however. I can even say I had a favorite line from this movie – "We've already had our breakfast, sir." I give this movie about a 2.5, again just average.

Books on CD

More Rumpole books by John Mortimer

Rumpole Misbehaves (July 16, 2011)

– this is the direct sequel to Rumpole and the Reign of Terror. Again, a fun little story, but without much substance. I am getting better at understanding the narrator's accent.

Rumpole and the Penge Bungalow Murders (July 20 2011)
– I think this one is before Rumpole and the Reign of Terror. It is his memoires and he decides he has to recount his most memorable case. I enjoyed it.

 Unfortunatly, I think this is the end of the Rumpole books on CD at the library. They are good mindless fun, exactly what I want in Books on CD.

House Projects

Painting
June 30 – July 1, 2011
Ah-hah – I arrived home after a strenuous day of work and, behold, work had been done on the house painting project. The "primers" had paid a visit.  Here is evidence of their work.

 And then, early the next morning, as I left for work, the "painters" arrived and began putting up ladders.

I had occasion to return past the house at about 9:45 AM, and progress is being made. We will see what progress by the time I get home in the evening.

Books on CD

July 1, 2011

Rumpole and the Reign of Terror by John Mortimer

My first Rumpole experience. The narrator made it difficult to understand Rumpole, the wily cantankerous English barrister. Perhaps that was by design, to match his personality. At first I was rather put out by this. However, as the story progressed I became more and more caught up. In the end, this turns out to be a well written and humorous little piece – and a commentary on the English political way of lie. Most enjoyable really – enough for e to check out another Rumpole to entertain me as I drive.