I'd rather be flying » Ernie

Movie of the Week: Lars and the Real Girl

Ernie — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 00:07:11 +0000

So this week I finally got to watching a movie that’s been sitting in my Netflix queue for a while; Lars and the real girl. I’m not quite sure when it was made, but it’s certainly not a recent release. I kind of knew the basic premise of the film before it started; weird guy hooks up with even weirder gal, and all everyone in the town can do is watch the comedic tale unfold. I was expecting some laughs and a lot of tongue in cheek moments, and sure enough the plot delivered. One of my favourite scenes is when Lars introduces “Bianca” to his brother and sister in law for the first time; their reaction and the expression on their faces is priceless (especially when you temper it with the excitement they expressed just a few moments earlier when they thought Lars actually had a “real” girlfriend). I find a lot of recent “comedies” resorting to poking fun at certain groups of people, or lame (sometimes downright disgusting) physical humor. I guess this movie was written during a time when Hollywood still remembered what is was to be truly funny, without being boorish, blatant, crude, or slapstick. I appreciated that.

However, somewhere along the line, this movie goes from being a comedic tale to a dramatic lesson in the value of community. The way the whole town embraces Bianca, the way they love Lars, through the ups and downs of his “delusion”, we witness something I think that we miss in today’s society. How far would YOU go to make someone feel accpeted? Lines? Boundaries? Comfort zones? How do your relationships define the word “Real”?

Enjoy

Movie of the Week: Buried

Ernie — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 05:36:02 +0000

You’re probably thinking, 90 mins of a guy buried in box can’t possibly make for entertaining cinema….well, think again.

The first few minutes of this film had me thinking my TV was broken; the screen goes black. Literally. And it stays that way. No sound, No image. Just. Black.

Eventually (after what seems like a while), there’s a glimmer of light, and we soon come to realize we’re buried alive. Now where other movies would seek to explain with flashbacks and multiple scences, this entire story is told in one location, and with one (visible) character.

The concept sounds crazy, but without giving it all away, all I’ll say is, this movie delivers. The story is simple, yet the plot is complex. Ryan Reynolds delivers a superb performance, and I think many of the themes highlighted will resonate with you.

Enjoy

Isobela’s second year

Ernie — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 22:02:47 +0000

So I finally got Isobel’s slideshow done. It actually took less time to do than last time, which is amazing cos I felt we had more footage to sort through. The fact is, nothing really captures the essence of the year. Naturally, I’m more inclined to exhibit the highlights, but there are tons of more quiet, seemingly insignificant moments that make the year what it was, and our daughter who she is, and who she is growing up to be. We can’t believe how much she’s grown, or how much we’ve grown. Yet there’s still so much ahead….

Hope you enjoy the video

Weekend Trip to Eagle Crest

Ernie — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 18:18:27 +0000

Last weekend was my first venture as a delegate to the Oregon Dental Association’s House of Delegates meeting in Redmond, OR. It was held @ Eagle Crest Resort in Redmond. Very nice resort, and if you like golf you’ll be in heaven . The food was a little dissapointing though…..Lots of exciting things on the horizon for dentistry, which we discussed at the meeting, but as always, the journey is the destination, and the best part of it all was getting to fly myself over there
Enjoy the video…

Island Hopping the San Juans

Ernie — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 06:43:35 +0000

So after a planned trip to New Orleans fell through, we were stuck with a week of leisure time. A bunch of our friends were going camping, but we hadn’t anticipated preparing Isobela for the great outdoors, so that was a no go. Temperatures were forecast to top 100, so the obvious choice? Head North
Here’s a glimpse of our trip. Enjoy