Movie Review "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol"

The guys in this movie work for what is called the Impossible Mission Force, or IMF. Presumably that means they work on impossible missions. If your job is to do the impossible day in and day out I would think that eventually it might take on some level of normalcy for you. I mean what with all the training, and meetings, and missions, its gotta become somewhat routine, right? Take these guys. Over the years they have infiltrated the CIA, robbed high security businesses, and kidnapped or rescued numerous high profile people. Pretty impossible stuff. Still even after all that, every mission these guys get is met with complete shock and incredulity, as if there is no way on earth it could ever be accomplished. Seriously, its like that track record inspires no confidence whatsoever. I mean is robbing the Kremlin really that much more impossible than breaking into the CIA? And yet, these guys treat it like it is ridiculous to even suggest it. Maybe it is, I don't know. Good flick, I just think their never ending surprise is amusing. Also, Tom Cruise looks funny when he runs.

Movie Review "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows"

This Sherlock guy is smart. Really smart. So smart he can basically predict the future. Of course he is not immune to the inherit randomness of life or other people's decisions, but he still seems to be capable of determining what is most likely to happen in any given situation. Of course this comes at a cost as Sherlock is also maybe crazy. Apparently Sherlock can't help but take in all the information around him at all times and process it. Fortunately he is still so smart that he seems capable of filtering out the useless information so he can stay focused on the task at hand. One part of the curse of the belligerently intelligent that Sherlock still has not overcome is the inherit loneliness that comes with his type of genius. Yeah, he has one good friend and thats pretty good, but once he solves the Lisa Simpson phenomenon he'll really be set.

Movie Review "The Big Year"

If you take Steve Martin, Owen Wilson, and Jack Black and throw them together into the world of competitive bird watching, or birding, you've got the recipe for a pretty good sounding comedy. I mean you certainly wouldn't go to the trouble to get that sort of cast if you didn't plan on having some fun with it right? Well, while it is pretty remarkable that someone made a movie about birding, it would seem that it is harder than I thought to make a great comedy out of it. Not sure how else you get these guys together and still have so few laughs. Thats not to say it is a bad movie. It's fine, just maybe not quite the comedy you might expect. Steve Martin does sort of do a little "wild and crazy guys" dance though, which is nice.

Successful Holidays

This year I was only home for a little over a week for the holidays, but I made the most of it and had a great time. Not only did I eat at just about all my favorite places, but I also...

Played plenty with me nephews and nieces. I think that some of them might even be able to pick me out of a lineup now.

Met up with lots of friends. Ate a bunch of wings with Jarv and Josh. Also reunited with some Seattle friends. Thanks Maggie and Bowen!

Somehow managed to not get sick while everyone else dropped one by one.

Visited Temple Square and saw the lights.

Inherited lots of things from my grandparents place like dishes, silverware and some of my grandpa's sweet jumpsuits. Fit me like a glove! These are my new lounging clothes. Stop by on a Sunday afternoon if you wanna check 'em out.

Visited Wheeler Farm. Kids chased ducks, saw and smelled animals, hit up the playground and Gabe handled it like a boss!

And for the first time ever, assembled a fully bearded Nicholas crew! Shame Mike just started growing his. He probably has one of the best beards of us all when fully grown...at least between us brothers. The old man takes the grand prize I think.

It was great to be home and I was happy that my whole family could get together for a few days. Christmas was lovely. We are awfully spoiled. It was hard to come back to San Diego, but I did and its warmer here.