An interesting observation.

I realized something the other day and I thought I’d share it. First, some background.

Because of the field my husband works in it’s a good idea for him to have flu vaccine, despite my personal feelings about the whole thing. Because he’s (part time) military and has no allergies to the ingredients, he’s required to have them. So, for the last 10+ years, he has had a flu shot every fall. The children and I do not get them, for several reasons I won’t go into here.

With the widespread outbreak in the news recently, I realized that despite having the flu shot way back in October, my husband has the flu. No one else in the house has contracted it, but since he’s only spent 2 days at home since he got it (2 weeks ago) that’s not all that surprising.

With more thought I remembered that the last time he had the flu (2009) he was home, not only every evening but he also took several days off because he was coughing so hard he couldn’t breathe. Then, as with this time, no one else in the house (me and three children) became ill.

The whole thing has made me wonder, are vaccines really as wonderful as they’re being made out to be?

Movie Review ~ Immortals

Action / Fantasy, Released in 2011, Starring Henry Cavill, Mickey Rourke, John Hurt

Theseus was a common mortal who had drawn Zeus notice. Zeus, posing as an old mortal trained Theseus to fight, in hopes that he would lead the fight against the invading King Hyperion as he rampaged across Greece in search of a weapon reputed to have the power to destroy humanity.

 

What did I think?

Blah. There was more gore and fighting than story, and I’m someone who likes action movies. It was obvious that Immortals was designed as a 3D movie, despite my not watching it in 3D, and that they were counting on the visual effects to carry the weak story. Don’t waste your time.

Movie Review ~ Abduction

Action / Mystery, Released in 2011, Starring Taylor Lautner, Lily Collins, Alfred Molina

When a a teenage boy, while doing a school assignment, discovers a missing children’s website with his own picture, he starts asking questions. Questions that make him the target of some very dangerous people.

 

What did I think? Not bad, decent story line, and enough to keep  you interested through the movie.

Movie Review ~ Just Go With It

Comedy / Romance, Released in 2011, Starring Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston, Brooklyn Decker

A plastic surgeon convinces his assistant to pose as his soon-to-be-ex wife while he covers up a lie he told his much younger girlfriend. Along the way they encounter people they know and have to cover more lies.

 

What did I think? It was moderately funny, but not enough to make up for the stupid.

Movie Review ~ Real Steel

Action / Drama, Released in 2011, Starring Hugh Jackman, Evangeline Lilly, Dakota Goyo

Robot boxing is the top sport. Charlie Kenton is an ex-human boxer struggling to make it in the sport as it’s become. Along the way he learns that the son he’s never known not only wants to know his father, but has a passion for the sport himself. Can Max convince Charlie to champion the outdated robot that he’s found and believes can go to the top?

 

What did I think? The story caught me, not the robots or the boxing but the story of Charlie and Max. I enjoyed it. It was a bit predictable at times, but Huge Jackman was great eye candy too.

Movie Review ~ Underworld: Awakening 3D

Action / Horror, Released in 2012, Starring Kate Beckinsale, Michael Ealy, India Eisley

When humans discover the existence of the Lycans and Vampires it starts a war to eradicate the non-human species. Selene is captured and held in a chrio chamber for 12  years before she awakens, but can she learn to live in the new world she’s awaken in? Can she find the one who awakened her and figure out who they are?

 

My opinion? I enjoyed it, the 3D was good without being over the top. The story was decent, kept me engrossed. Though it was a bit reaching. There was set up for yet another Underworld movie, and I admit, I’ll probably see that one too.

Movie Review ~ War Horse

Drama / War, Released in 2011, Starring Jeremy Irvine, Emily Watson, David Thewlis

A young Albert raises and trains a horse only to have his father sell him to the Cavalry during WWI. Once he was old enough, Albert enlists himself, hopeful to find his beloved Joey again. But can Joey even survive such a time? With the war wearing across Europe?

 

My opinion? I enjoyed it. The story was great, if a bit predictable. There was a bit of graphic war scenes, but it’s really to be expected in a war film.

Movie Review ~ One for the Money

Action / Comedy, Released in 2012, Starring Katherine Heigl, Jason O’Mara, Daniel Sunjata

Unemployed Stephanie Plum blackmails her cousin Vincent into giving her a job as a skip tracer for his bail-bond business. Her first major assignment is to find and take in a local cop, who just happens to be a past romantic entanglement of Stephanie’s.

 

My opinion? It was funny, maybe a little more so because I know the whole story (the movie is based on the book by the same name by Janet Evanovich.) I thought there wasn’t enough screen time for Grandma Mazer, but then I didn’t think that Debbie Reynolds pulled off Mazer all that well. As I read the books I pictured Estelle Getty in the role, but Betty White could have pulled it off, probably even better.

Movie Review ~ Morning Glory

Romance / Comedy, Released in 2010, Starring Rachel McAdams, Harrison Ford, Diane Keaton

A young morning show producer is let go from a job and struggles to find another,  She manages to land a position on a failing network morning show, only to learn why it’s failing. She struggles with a new anchor and trying to make it work until she’s told the show has six weeks left, it’s being cancelled. Desperate, she makes a deal to bring ratings up and keep the show running, but can she manage it?

 

I enjoyed this, it was fun and funny. The breathy voice that Harrison did throughout was a bit much but over all it was good.

Movie Review ~ Cowboys & Aliens

Action / Thriller, Released in 2011, Starring Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde

A spaceship full of aliens arrives in nineteenth century Arizona to take over the Earth. They start with capturing people to discover their weaknesses, but have the misfortune to capture the wrong man, Jake Lonergan. When he wakes up with a strange metallic thing on his wrist and no memory of how it got there, or his life before, he starts investigating. Once he realizes what’s going on he knows what he has to do… but who will win? Jake or the Aliens?

 

We enjoyed it. there were a few recognizable faces and, to me, lots of recognizable landmarks and historical mentions. A little strange but still good.