A Few Words About a Lot of Movies

It's that time again! Academy screeners were arriving before Christmas. Since I saw so many, I wanted to keep my reviews brief. Listed in the order of best to worst... but, the top four are all EXCELLENT!


True Grit: This is simply a Tour de Force. Great acting especially when you consider the lead character is played to perfection by unknown Hailee Steinfeld. The girl holds her own with the men in the movie.  She alone is reason enough to see it. But Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon and Josh Brolin are all in fine form in a great story. My A+#1 favorite!

127 Hours: James Franco carries this film. He has to…there’re no other characters for the sequence where he’s pinned by a boulder in a mountain crevice, suspended by his arm. I was afraid of the blood and gore in this fact-based drama. It was bloody but I was more concerned that blood is slippery and what if he dropped his tool? It’s a nail biter and just fantastic!

The King’s Speech: A fascinating look at the royals during a time that history changed. We’ve heard the Wallis and Edward story many times. But this is the scandal from inside the family, revealing how it affected a shy, stuttering Prince, his wife and daughters. It’s also a wonderful and charming tale of friendship that lasted a lifetime. Funny, smart and sweet. Colin Firth is always spot on.

The Fighter: I don’t get the excitement of watching two men pummel each other to death but the real story here is a love story. Love of two brothers, love of family and the boy girl kind. They all love Wahlberg’s character but not necessarily each other. Reason to see it: Christain Bale gets so lost in the role of the brother, he’s completely unrecognizable.

Inception: I have no idea what this movie is about. When the package says, “You’ll want to watch it over and over again,” they mean “HAVE to watch it over and over.” If you enjoy movies that skip from one character’s dream sequence to another without giving you a road map, where you are never sure what is real or a dream but it all seems to work out in the end, spend your $10 bucks. Me? I wish I had two hours of my life back!

Black Swan: I’m stunned at the awards heaped on this piece of crap! I have to wonder if anyone in the Hollywood Foreign Press saw the same movie I did. I knew it would be about bitchy women vying for a lead ballerina position which brings with it bulimia and catfights. But was surprised that this was bloodier than 127 Hours and was about insane people slowly going…insaner? And would somebody buy Natalie Portman a new face? Even in the long shots where she’s supposed to be all pretty, all you focus on is her insecure pout. HATED IT! Save your dough and see something higher up this list!

It Needs to Be Addressed

In the aftermath of the shooting in Arizona, I've heard all sorts of things and groups blamed:

• The Democraps blame Republicists
• And vice versa
• The Idontgiveacrats blame the "political rhertoric"
• Everyone blames the media
• Some blame the shooters parents
• Many blame our gun laws
• A few blame the idiot loser shooter (ILS - I refuse to print such a loser's name!)

And all are absolutely wrong. Yes, I do blame the ILS. It is ultimately his fault but I wish somebody - ANYBODY would address the greater issue which is the way this country treats the mentally ill. 

This ILS was clearly a mental case for many years. And the inclination would be to blame his parents. But the fact of the matter is, even if these parents realized something was wrong with him years ago, they would not have gotten any real HELP!

They may have turned to his school and chances are the school was just as exasperated with him as the parents were. They may have turned to our social services or mental health agencies, but I promise you, they wouldn't have seen much of an improvement. 

This issue makes me so angry. There is great mistreatment of the mentally challenged in this country. I've seen it in the homeless people I know. I've seen it in my own family. 

Would you believe, it's standard practice to NOT label a minor with mental deficiencies??? Think about that... a child with sociopathic tendencies CANNOT be labeled a sociopath! I assume this is the fear of mislabeling a healthy child and giving him challenges to overcome. But I find it odd that we fail to examine and label problem kids when this, to me, seems the best time to prevent a tragedy such as Tucson. In addition, the kid would potentially be covered by parental insurance as opposed to a problem adult with no money for treatment. 

It's exasperating. And exhausting. I know a young man with 13 of the 14 most common traits of serial killers (list below). And his foster parents have tried EVERYTHING available to them. And I have to wonder if the parents of the ILS from Tucson felt the same. 

But unless and until we find a humane way to deal with our mentally ill, this kind of thing will keep happening. You can't do a damn thing about slap dab crazy. At least, not yet. 

14 Most Common Traits of Serial Killers

1. Over 90 percent of serial killers are male.

2. They tend to be intelligent, with IQ's in the "bright normal" range.

3. They do poorly in school, have trouble holding down jobs, and often work as unskilled laborers.

4. They tend to come from markedly unstable families.

5. As children, they are abandoned by their fathers and raised by domineering mothers.

6. Their families often have criminal, psychiatric and alcoholic histories.

7. They hate their fathers and mothers.

8. They are commonly abused as children — psychologically, physically and sexually. Often the abuse is by a family member. 

9. Many serial killers spend time in institutions as children and have records of early psychiatric problems.

10. They have high rates of suicide attempts.

11. From an early age, many are intensely interested in voyeurism, fetishism, and sado-masochistic pornography.

12. More than 60 percent of serial killers wet their beds beyond the age of 12.

13. Many serial killers are fascinated with fire starting.

14. They are involved with sadistic activity or tormenting small creatures.

The State of California vs. Mabel Lou

Bailiff: Hear ye, hear ye, the court will come to order. The Honorable Judge Kaye Nein presiding. 

Judge Nein: Be seated. I see we have Ms. Creek Hiker for the prosecution and ... am I correct that Ms. Mabel Lou will be representing herself? 

Mabel Lou: Yes, your Honor. 

Judge Nein: You realize these accusations could have a severe penalty? 

Mabel Lou: Yes, your Honor but I'm certain a jury of my peers will find me completely innocent of these outrageous, hyped up charges. 

Creek Hiker: Uh, Your HONOR! She is attempting the prejudice the jury!

Judge Nein: Settle down, both of you. Ms. Hiker, state the charges against Ms. Lou.

Creek Hiker: Ms. Mabel Lou is charged with destruction of private property and  running from the scene of the crime. Ms. Lou has a criminal record and has served time...

Mabel Lou: OBJECTION, prejudicial. 

Judge Nein: Sustained. The jury is not allowed to consider any prior bad acts or potential criminal record of the defendant. Tread lightly Ms. Hiker!

Creek Hiker: Furthermore, I have photographs catching Ms. Lou in the act of both destroying the property and running away...

Mabel Lou: Move to disallow the photographs your Honor.

Judge Nein: On what grounds?

Mabel Lou: They're unflattering. 

Judge Nein: Order! Order! The court will come to order! Ms. Lou, this is not a three ring circus and you will take these proceedings seriously! Ms. Hiker, present your case to the jury.

Creek Hiker: Well, it's very simple. Ms. Mabel Lou was caught red pawed, digging a hole in my yard and upon discovery, she ran away! Allow me to present photographic evidence: 

Here she is digging the hole: 

Here's the GIGANTIC  hole she dug:

Mabel Lou: OBJECTION, your Honor. Gigantic is a prejudical term and has no relevance to what the hole may be used for. 

Judge Nein: Counselor, refrain from vague and prejudicial terms. You may however describe the exact measurements of said hole. 

Creek Hiker: The hole was 2.5 feet long by 1 foot wide and about eight inches deep. It could cause grievous injury to anyone that might trip or fall in it. 

Mabel Lou, Your Honor...please! 

Judge Nien, Overruled. Continue.

Creek Hiker: 

Here is a photograph of Ms. Lou with dirt on her NOSE. 

Mabel Lou: See what I mean about unflattering? 

Judge Nein: Order! ORDER! Ms. Lou, if you cause ONE more outburst in my courtroom you will spend the night in jail . 

Mabel Lou: So sorry your Honor. 

Creek Hiker: 

 Here is the defendant running away from the scene of the crime. 

And even when told to stop, return and repair the damage, she leered at me and walked away

I urge you to find the defendant guilty and the state is seeking jail time and damages.

Judge Nein: Ms. Lou, your defense? 

Mabel Lou: First of all, isn't it true that this supposed hole is right next to a fence? 

Creek Hiker: It is about a foot away from a fence. 

Mabel Lou: Hmmm more like eight inches. And if your ruler is off on that, could it be that the supposed hole is a mere four inches deep?

Creek Hiker: Wha?

Mabel Lou: Which could mean it's hardly a foot long by a few inches wide... why that's hardly big enough to even be called a hole.

Creek Hiker: My measure..

Mabel Lou: And isn't it true that several large trees were removed from this area in recent years? 

Creek Hiker: Yes.

Mabel Lou: And with the heavy winter rains we've had the past two years, aren't the roots rotting? 

Creek Hiker: Yes but...

Mabel Lou: How do you know I wasn't removing a root that you could trip and break your neck on?

Creek Hiker: Because you didn't.

Mabel Lou: Did you see me begin to dig? 

Creek Hiker: No but...

Mabel Lou: Then you have NO IDEA what I was or was not doing before being ambushed by you and your camera? 

Creek Hiker: No but...

Mabel Lou: Your Honor, I move to throw out these bogus charges. Digging a hole and, I'm not saying I DID dig a hole, is hardly grounds for jail time! 

Judge Nein: Counselors, approach. { Ms. Lou, while the jury is not to know about your prior bad acts, this is not the first time you've been charged with destruction of property. I wonder why Ms. Hiker didn't file charges before when she had video of you eating her deck! But she didn't and we're here today and the jury is seated. I'm going to let this play out and hopefully, either way, you will learn a lesson.  Back to your seats.}

Jury, you've heard the charges and seen the evidence. Please return verdict in the comments below. 

Creekhiker Awardified!

This little blogger hasn't received an award since way back in 2008! So I was a bit taken aback  at being given the Stylish Blogger Award from my real life pals RottRover! (They've seen me in my creekhiking costume and they still think I'm stylish? I must remind their mom to get theirs eyeballs checked!) But, it made me get busy and build an Awardifications page to hang all of them!

Uh...'scuse me Mom but I think the award was for ME. After all, I'm the one wearing a stylish new collar while I secretly spy on critters at the creek! 

And it is I who look oh so beautiful when out dining at fine restaurants. They only let you in the door because you are with me. 

Excuse ME Mabel Lou, but I'm the one with the green papers who PAYS for the fancy collar, the gas to get you to the creek and for all that food you get at the restaurants!

O.K. O.K. Let's not fight Mom! We're supposed to tell them something about me us.

It's hard to think of something they don't KNOW... hmm... Mabel Lou has a REALLY....high.... prey drive:

I'm going to be nice and tell you my mom makes really pretty beads from glass and it makes her almost as happy as I do! She recently got chosen to be in a Woman in Glass in some magazine... seems kinda stupid to me since she is a woman and makes glass and all... Whatever... 

We are going to pass this along to the bloggers that got Mom started blogging: Velvet and Janet. Velvet has three dogs Kadi (she's a hoot and tattle tale!), Butch (Mom has a soft spot for him... he's blind and a comic!)  and a new puppy, Levi, that we're just getting to know.  Janet has Spot. He's 11 and is a snow fanatic! 

Just Another Day at Sunland's Starbucks

I LOVE how he winks at the BFF!



I also love the handsome man with them replied when asked, "Where does your sloth sleep?"

"In the bed with HER."

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