The Dark Knight

THEIRS: HIS and HERS had a date night, HIS being the comic book fan that he is was dying to see The Dark Knight. HERS liked the last Batman, so off they went.

Note: HIS and HERS do not read each other's blogs before posting.

HERS: What can I say? The movie was preceded by so much hype, record breaking and buzz, my expectations were high. Often, when my expectations are high, I am disappointed. This time...SPEC-BAT-TACULAR! Christian Bale is so the Batman of my dreams. No offense to George Clooney, but he bit bat dust. Michael Keaton... too scrawny to be believable. Christian Bale is brooding and mysterious. He plays the privileged playboy to the tee and then, when the bat suit comes on, TA-DAH. Batman baby! My one note is that his "Bat voice" didn't need to be sooooo brooding. Maggie Gyllenhall was the perfect Rachel Dawes. She may not have the traditional movie star looks of Katie Holmes, but she is stunning in the role. She is believable as the tough girl with a heart. Her performance was stellar. The late Heath Ledger brought down the house of cards as the Joker. He was funny in the creepiest possible way. He was outstandingly ghoulish and so evil that I loved to hate him. OK, so I loved him-no hate included- I guess those teenage years of going for the bad boy are still deep inside me. Anyway, back to the movie. I must say that sadness came over me a few times as I thought of Heath Ledger's daughter growing up without a father. Father being the most important role he will not be able to reprise.

Having never read a comic book, I just go by what I like. The movie "bat"ter than I had imagined. I often dread long movies, but the time flew by-bat style. When his batmobile was totalled and he came out on that bat motorcycle thingy (I am sure it has some graphic novel techie name) I was like, "That's what's up!" I guess there is some teenage boy in me too. (yes, I think I met my bat reference quotient.) :)

HER RATING: 8.5 The acting was superb, it was just dark enough and had fabulous special effects. Christian Bale-the best Batman, Maggie Gyllenhall-the best Rachel Dawes, the late Heath Ledger-WAS the Joker. See it. Rest in Peace Heath.

HIS: This movie has definitely come with a lot of hype and press for quite a few reasons. I was very happy to see and judge the film for myself last night.

And it did not disappoint.

The Dark Knight takes everything that was great about Batman Begins, and ramps it up a notch. Because you care about what happens to the characters, every event seems more serious. You really feel for these characters and the decisions they have to make. I haven't seen this much dread in a PG-13 movie. Everyone talks about Heath Ledger's performance. It is that good - he becomes something that is indescribable. Christian Bale continues to embody the balance between Batman and Bruce Wayne perfectly - and you believe both sides of his personality equally. Gary Oldman continues to put forth great work in the unsung role of Jim Gordon. Maggie Gyllenhall is a serious upgrade to the Rachel Dawes character - you believe she's an adult, and that she could also be an assistant D.A. Aaron Eckhart is great as Harvey Dent, brash, fearless, and then towards the end of the film his fall from grace is as epic as you can get. Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman are old pros, and their work is stellar here as always.

In short, this was not a "comic book" story - it was an epic crime drama. As great as Iron Man was earlier this year, The Dark Knight is definitely the best movie I've seen of this genre. This is one of the ten best movies I've seen since I started watching movies.

HIS RATING: 10 of 10. Amazing performance, airtight, riveting story, and I can honestly say I have NO IDEA what's going to happen next. Last time I said that? The Empire Strikes Back in 1980. I'm very curious to see how this story ends......

Blue Man Group-Tubes

THEIRS: It was THEIR 11 year wedding anniversary and they thought they would try something new. They went to see The Blue Man Group-Tubes, in Boston.

NOTE: THEY DON'T READ EACH OTHER'S BLOGS BEFORE POSTING.

HERS: What was that? Three blue men, toilet paper, improv, hand held camera, Twinkies Light, Captain Crunch, crowd participation, TV screens, silliness, percussion, head bobbing, head bands, a band, male adolescent gross out humor. Did I mention toilet paper? There you go. I am sure you have a complete picture now, right? Exactly! Interesting. A new experience.

HER RATING: 7.5 It was enjoyable, I think... and I loved the toilet paper rave-like experience at the end. I would recommend it if you were open to new experiences and are a crowd participation type of person... I am, I loved that part! Did I mention toilet paper?

HIS: There was toilet paper hanging from nearly every corner of the theater. I thought to myself, "this is interesting." I had no idea how that toilet paper would play a crucial role in the climax of the show. First off, the playhouse was tucked away in a corner of the city. Even though I thought the seats were far away, we had quite a good vantage point.

Then, the blue guys came out. Very interesting gents.

We were treated to a performance that involved cool drum beats, splotches of paint, and audience interaction. Oh, and lots and lots of Twinkie goo. LOTS of Twinkie goo. The audience participants were good sports, and everyone seemed to have a good time. Oh, but the previously mentioned toilet paper - I almost forgot! At one of the last points of the show we got to unroll all the paper and throw it around the entire theater. If you can't see the fun in what I just described, you must try it. Absolute, kid-like euphoria.

All in all, I think the show was just another example of how art can take many forms. That, and the reality that three guys painted blue can draw a crowd.

HIS RATING: Blue Man Group - 7 of 10. Toilet paper fun - 10 of 10. Definitely an anniversary for the books......

Plaza III

THEIRS: HIS and HERS went to a steakhouse for dinner, recommended by the concierge in Boston's North end.

HIS and HERS do not read each other's blog before posting.

HERS: The food was FABULOUS. First, we were served raw veggies with ranch in an ice bucket, second came the best bread I have ever had along with some butter. I was looking forward to a nice dinner, so I ordered a dinner salad that came with cheese, croutons and bacon...I know, right? YUM. Then the Filet Mignon and white cheddar potatoes were next. The steak was cooked perfectly and melted in my mouth. The potatoes were good, but I didn't eat many because I had to save room for dessert. I had a few bites of HIS hash browns and a bite of HIS steak...it was VERY flavorful. Nothing was bad...until the chocolate souffle'. It wasn't chocolaty enough and was an oatmeal like consistency (and I don't like oatmeal)...but with many more calories I am sure (except our tour guide earlier in the day said there were no calories on vacation...uh, she's the expert).

The service was beyond brilliant. Michael was our server. Gave us good recommendations and was very funny and did some great Boston accents for us. He had HIM laughing out loud and I was in stitches. He forgot to bring the accompaniments that were to come with the souffle! The whip cream and chocolate sauce came...tasted much better then! Souffle' still not so great. Michael however, was forgiven. He is 20 years old, studying criminal justice/pre-law after doing a year in Navy ROTC. He had tons of personality and humor. He was a great server, his life reminded me of HIS past and I felt a great connection with his jokes, sarcasm and accents! OK, so Michael was the cherry on top. I think I would have adopted him if I could have. Brilliant young man. I am sure he will figure out his life's path. His personality will fit whatever he decides. OH, and his grandparents are MSU grad and his father from Grand Rapids, MI and his Mom from Chicago.

HER RATING: 8.5 Would have easily been a 9 or even 10 if the dessert had delivered. The food was YUMMO. The location was in Faneuil Hall we sat at the open window, right outside with loads of people watching. Michael's personality and service delivered! I would go back for a special occasion. Pricey-with a $124 tag. Similar to other ala cart steak houses in the area.

HIS: This restaurant was awesome. Every part of the meal was a high point. Salad had that good, creamy ranch. Bread was superb - and everyone knows that good meals have good bread. The sides were both good for different reasons - hash brown were buttery, crunchy, and very tasty; the white cheddar potatoes were a lot better than I thought they would be. Upon the waiter's suggestion, I had the Kansas City Strip Steak.

Wow.

That was unexpected. Great flippin steak. The least spectacular part of the meal was the dessert - and it was decent, but only after the waiter brought some chocolate sauce and cream. The cookie I had the day before was a heck of a lot better. And the waiter was absolutely hilarious, and his great service made the experience that much better.

Best part of the meal was spending it with my wife, celebrating our amazing life together. No matter how much time passes, I still get the same exhilarating feelings when we're doing things together. We capped off our meal with a seat at the harbor, watching the boats and the water. Great way to finish off our meal. This is a cool town - we'll definitely be back again.

HIS RATING: Plaza III - 9 of 10 (great desert would have made it a perfect score). Oh, and my wife looked really hot, which is always a plus :).

Joe's

THEIRS: HIS and HERS are in Boston for their 11 year Anniversary. They got off the plane, to their hotel and were starved. They saw, out Their window "JOE'S".

NOTE: HIS AND HERS DO NOT SEE EACH OTHER'S BLOGS BEFORE POSTING.

HERS: Joe's. Simple name. Simple food. FABULOUS location. My first impression was great. It was clean, close to the hotel and beautifully placed on the Boston Wharf. I was starving and saw a lot of things that sounded good on the menu. I was so hungry that the bread that came before the meal was gone in moments. Served warm with butter. It was mouth wateringly fabulous-a little crunch on the outside and warm and soft on the inside. I ordered a chicken club sandwich accompanied with some fries and two onion rings for garnish. It was light, and yummy. I knew we would be doing some walking, so I didn't want to eat much. I was jealous of Wayne's food when it came. He gave me a bite of each thing on his plate and it was scrumptious. I would go back! My fries were a little to heavy with grease, but the onion rings and chicken club on wheat was light and tasty-not eating but a few fries saved me some calories for later! Right?

HER RATING: 7.5 Good food, decent prices for the touristy location and the service was friendly, but could have been more attentive. The location was perfect with the breeze off the water blowing through my hair. $40 for the two of us.

HIS: Stepping out of the taxi, I felt a rush of zen-like relaxation. I had one thought, "Man, this town is very cool." Our hotel is in a RIDICULOUS location - everything I could ask for, and some things I didn't think to ask for, are within walking distance. The harbor is great - boats of all varieties (all expensive of course). I had some great cod at JOE's, with a slammin' rice pilaf and fresh vegetables. Aside from the server that had just come from the beach and acted as if she was still there, the meal was a great start to the trip. The thing is, I didn't even care that the service wasn't great, because this place is super-relaxing. I just took my Dramamine and am ready for the Sunset Cruise.

This place is going to be fun.

HIS RATING: 8, Joe's restaurant: Food - solid 9 - service was a solid 4. Boston First Impression: what a great town. Rating of my traveling companion: Off The Charts.

Hancock

THEIRS: Wayne and Jaimie went to the movie with their out of state guests, Nick from Colorado and John and Michelle from California. All Will Smith fans.

NOTE: HIS and HERS do not read each other's blogs before posting.

HERS: Will Smith played Hancock, a flawed super hero. Sounds good to me! Will Smith was engaging and charming as always. He is a good actor, he played a drunk superhero. I believed him. That says something! Charlize Theron, she is just a gorgeous thing isn't she? She did not gain weight or take off the makeup for this one. She reminded me how fabulous she looks. Aside from looks, it wasn't a meaty part and she was outshined. Contrastingly, she was captivating to watch at the same time. Jason Bateman is really making a comeback (I loved him in Silver Spoons)! In Juno, he played a soul searching wanna be father/rock star and in Hancock he plays a public relations representative with a sense of purpose to do something good in the world. He is back! He was perfect for the role and was the glue that held the movie together.

The best scenes in the movie were the flawed attempts to "do good" that turned Hancock into a despised superhero. The scenes were really funny and visually well done. It looked believable. I know, believable? A super hero movie. . . well, the big twist lost me a bit. When there was another superhero in the movie, I just found it to be unbelievable. I was all for the flawed superhero Hancock. But then in there was ANOTHER "one" of a kind superhero. Not to mention she was Hancock's long lost love who he didn't remember due to amnesia...come on. How can a SUPERHERO have amnesia? He could fly! He could lift heavy objects and repel bullets! BUT, he couldn't remember-BOO.

HER RATING: 6.5 Overall, Will entertained me, I was endeared to Jason and Charlize looked better than ever. I was entertained, but the second half of the movie left me wanting more humor and less "if you love them, let them go "cliche' resolve. Recommendation: Rent it-there are some laughs-and WILL SMITH of course!

HIS: Will Smith owns the 4th of July. Everyone knows this. He was in a movie some time ago called Wild Wild West (a remake with Kevin Kline). This was a ridiculous movie, with very few high notes, and it made over 100 million dollars (a big deal back then). Truthfully, Will Smith is one of my favorite actors to watch on the screen. Very likable - definitely someone you could hang at a barbecue with. I've also been increasingly impressed with the roles he's taken outside his comfort zone (the Pursuit of Happyness was great on the strength of his performance, period). He's shown more layers as a performer than I ever expected.

Unfortunately, that also means that I judge him by a higher standard now than I used to, because I know what he can do. When good actors are in bad movies, they stand out. Big Willie stands out in this movie. Now, don't get me wrong, Hancock is not a bad movie, it's just a good idea that did not become a good movie. It tried to be several things throughout it's running time (man versus himself conflict, unrequited love story, comedy with a small bit of drama, etc.), and it never did any of them well. The best idea was that of a superhero that felt completely alone, and to cope, he shut himself off from the world, drinking more than an MSU student after a football game, not caring about what anyone thought of him. However, this idea goes away well before it's fully resolved, leaving Hancock to: 1. decide whether or not he's in love with someone in the film, and 2. deal with a criminal who is mortal, missing a hand, and can't carry his jockstrap if they ever had to scrap toe to toe. All of these situations are not handled well.

I love superhero movies. Will Smith could be a great superhero. Unfortunately, this isn't the movie that did that for me. But, it was not nearly as ridiculous as The Happening.

HIS RATING: solid 6 of 10 - Will Smith doesn't do anything in this film to make us dislike him. Rent it - it will definitely make you laugh in spots. The scene with the whale is hilarious.

The Happening

THEIRS: Wayne's Mother watched our daughter for a week while the daycare was closed. As a "thanks!" we decided to take her to dinner and a movie. It was Jaimie's mom's birthday too, so we brought her as well. We went on a "date" with our moms and let Wayne's Mom pick the movie, Wayne agreed with the choice and Jaimie liked The Village, The Sixth Sense and Signs all by M. Night Shyamalan...so why not.

NOTE: HIS AND HERS DO NOT READ EACH OTHER'S BLOGS BEFORE PUBLISHING.

HERS: Why not? What was I thinking? I hadn't even heard of this movie. Let me sum it up by saying, "it sucked." This was like a horrible B movie from some earlier decade. I hate scary movies that are realistic, so I was worried I would be scared, but went anyway. No problems there! I was so bored that right during a "horror" scene, I turned to my husband and said, "so who was in the funky bunch?" That is right, I was thinking about Mark Wahlberg (AKA Marky Mark, of Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch "fame"), the "star" of this flick and I didn't care if he lived or died. The acting was so bad, I was bummed he wasn't offed. I thought of his undie add in times square, I thought about the fact that I liked him in other movies, I contemplated how much he was paid for this movie. My mind wandered. The movie did not keep my interest, to say the least. If it was meant to be a spoof, it still sucked. If it was meant to be a homage, it still sucked. If it was meant to be horror, suspense, etc., It still sucked. I laughed when I should have been scared. There were a few, a very few, interesting scenes of how people offed themselves. A decent "how to kill yourself in an interesting way" movie at best. When the "big reveal" was made, it was made too early and was not shrouded in any mystery. Some kook said, "I think it was the plants." There you have it. The plants had people kill themselves because "as a people" we are horrible to the environment. I am not making this up. I am all for going green...but make it interesting. I would not recommend wasting your time, scratch that- rent it just so you can see how bad it was.

HER RATING: 3 Mark Wahlberg wasn't bad to look at...that's all I've got.

HIS: Before I say anything about this movie, I have to take accountability for suggesting it to my family. M. Night has made some questionable choices before, but the preview for this film hinted a return to form, and Mark Wahlberg is on a streak of good, watchable movies (very good in the Departed). So, the bamboozledness I feel is almost entirely my doing (my mom also voted for this film, but her movie opinion is jaded by a few other factors that we won't discuss here....).

I thought we might be in trouble when the credits came up, and there was this strange music, with clouds rolling by very quickly, as if the sky was on "fast forward." It reeked of a lack of class or polish, and I felt like I was watching one of those bad introductions to a horror movie on Cinemax or The Movie Channel.

It got worse from there. Every ten minutes, something happened that was less interesting than what preceded it. When people died, I didn't care. When I was supposed to feel impending doom or dread, I found myself wishing I had more Raisinets. This was the worst movie I've seen in a long time, and in my opinion, one of the two worst movies I've ever suggested to my wife in the almost fourteen years we've been together (the other will remain in infamy). I wish the plants in the film would have just sprouted faces and said "don't screw with us." At least that would have been interesting.

I need a good movie to help erase this feeling. Hancock tried to help, but in spite of the power of Will Smith, didn't deliver. I hope everything I've heard about The Dark Knight is true. That's what it will take to erase the feeling of The Happening.

HIS RATING: 1 Because I can't give it a lower rating, 1 of 10. Mark Wahlberg should insert himself into at least a few episodes of Entourage to make up for this crap. Oh, and start shooting the Brazilian Job ASAP.

The Couple That Blogs Together...

Note: HIS and HERS do not read each other's blog before they post.

HERS: I want to do a blog together, yes together. We share so many things in life together, why not blog. We have opinions that differ and some that are the same...so let's put pen to paper and let our public (whoever they are) decide who's right, ahem, I mean who they agree with.

HIS: My wife and I do a lot of things together. Movies, play games, you name it, we've either done it or thought it might be fun to do in the future. As I write this, we've talked about trying a ballroom dance class for at least the past six years. You know what else we've been talking about for six years? Writing a blog about our opinions on movies, music, and other art that enriches and entertains us. Now that it is "live," I hope that it is as fun to read as the experiences that we write about.