PRODUCT REVIEW - The DVD Player at My Friend's Boss's House

My friend Mary Mack was housesitting for her boss for the weekend.  I went over to her place to watch movies.  We tried to watch "He's the Man" but the disc wouldn't play.  We tried rebooting the DVD player and washing the disc.  We tried everything we could think of but the damn DVD would not work.  It was horrible.  I think the DVD player was a Zenith.  My friend watched the DVD several times before so I don't think it was the disc.  I was annoyed.  Stupid DVD player.

RESTAURANT REVIEW – Original Pancake House

Original Pancake House

Cuisine:  Breakfast, Pancakes

Rating:  5/5 Stars

33703 Woodward Ave

Birmingham, MI 48009

(248) 642-5775

Dining at the Original Pancake House is almost a herculean task.  It's almost impossible to find a time when this place doesn't have a line out the door.  One time I ate here on a Thursday morning about 10am.  We were seated in the last seat available, the place was packed.  By the time we left, around 11am, there was a line out the door.  However, I found the best time to go is after dinner from 7ish to close.  That's when Jeffrey B., Betty Chex, Mary Mack and I ate this evening and it was perfect.

The menu is all breakfast-type items and all are very delicious.  Of course the specialties are pancakes but this includes international type pancakes such as crepes and dutch pancakes and potato pancakes.  The typical pancakes come in several varieties including blueberry, peach, chocolate chip, pecan and bacon.  Most of these flavors can also be ordered as waffles, which are now the thick belgian waffle variety.  In addition, OHP serves amazing omelettes that are baked in the oven so they are big and fluffy.  The omelettes come with interesting ingredients and are very tasty.

I ordered scrambled eggs with bacon and a side of bacon pancakes.  Almost everything comes with a side of pancakes and you can upgrade to a fancier pancake for only $0.95.  The scrambled eggs were creamy and delicious.  The bacon was crispy and tasty.  The bacon pancakes were phenomenal.  The mixture of the sweet and savory was delicious.  I tried the potato pancakes which were just ok.  My dining companions all raved about their meals including a dutch baby, two omelettes, the sherry sauce on the side, and blueberry pancakes with blueberries inside AND served with a fresh, whole blueberry compote.  

Our server, Blair, was excellent.  She got a few things wrong with the order but gave us extra food for free and made sure that it was corrected right away.  She was really nice and when we asked what she recommended on the menu she gave great descriptions of food and a lot of honest opinions.

Overall, I had an excellent experience.  Now, I don't know if I would wait in line for breakfast for an hour, but I think the food here is excellent.  I suggest coming for breakfast for dinner.  Also, get a group and try a lot of different items.  They are all so good that I don't know what I'd order the next time I return.  Oh, and there will be a next time.

MOVIE REVIEW – Iron Man 2 (PG-13)

Ryan's Rating:  6/10

Director:  Jon Favreau

Writer:  Justin Theroux

Starring:  Robert Downey Jr., Don Cheadle, Gwyneth Paltrow, Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell, Mickey Rourke, Samuel L. Jackson

Genre:  Action, Adventure, SciFi, Comics

Iron Man 2 is the aptly named sequel to Iron Man.  In this continuation, Tony Stark with his Iron Man suit is a world-wide celebrity, but the US Congress wants the suit turned over for the military.  Tony protects his company with the help of Pepper Potts even though the Iron Man suit is slowly killing him and to top it all off a new enemy has emerged creating his own super-suit.

Iron Man 2 was surprisingly boring after the fun and exciting original.  The movie falls short because the film does not have a well-developed antagonist.  Essentially, the villan is a guy who has a suit just like Iron Man but without a real cohesive motivation to take down Tony Stark and Iron Man.  There are too many things going on in this movie but none of them are very interesting.  Sam Rockwell does an excellent job channelling  Dana Carvey for the character of Justin Hammer.  The acting in well done and the action is ok, but the story is completely lacking.  Just like so many comic book movies, the story goes in too many directions with too many characters and falls short of being a cohesive, interesting film.

Stay after the credits to catch every moment of the film, but if you didn't stay, you're not missing much.

MOVIE REVIEW – City Island (PG-13)

Ryan's Rating:  9/10

Director:  Raymond De Felitta

Writer:  Raymond De Felitta

Starring:  Andy Garcia, Juliana Marguiles

Genre:  Drama, Comedy, Dramedy

The Rizzo family lives on City Island, a small fishing island that's part of the Bronx, where everyone has secrets, from smoking to passions.  This film explores the idea of secrets and the consequences of keeping secrets from your family and your spouse.  In addition, this movie examines passion and opening yourself up to your family to be comfortable with who you are.

This is essentially the film equivalent of a situation comedy.  The audience watches the gaffes and misunderstandings between all the characters that becomes more complicated and more involved as the movie goes on.  The acting is excellent with Andy Garcia playing with an excellent City Island accent.  The film moves quickly and has as many touching moments as it does comedic moments.  The film provides a lot of humorous moments that are laugh-out-loud funny, while at the same time having some serious moments.  It's a nice balance between an outright comedy and a very serious drama.

I loved this movie from the beginning to the end and I thought it was one of the best movies of the year.  The characters were interesting and complicated but completely believable.  The acting was excellent and I felt so connected to the characters I forgot there was acting involved.  I liked that the plot was well developed and therefore the elements of the plot easily and logically flowed together into a very cohesive story about secrets and honesty.  I thought the characters were all likable even though they were all flawed in different ways.  The characters felt real and honest, despite the secrets they're keeping.  It feels so honest because universally everyone has secrets and so it's easy to relate to the story and the characters.  I think this is filmmaking at it's best and I recommend it to everyone.

BOOK REVIEW - Book of Souls

Book of Souls by Glenn Cooper
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

A continuation from the novel “Secrets of the Seventh Son”, a mysterious book with a list of names and dates appears at a British auction house and former FBI Agent Will is hired to find out it's equally mysterious origins. I wasn't aware that this was a sequel. Then I thought it was just another novel with the same main character however there are many references to the first novel that are confusing at time. This novel is akin to the DaVinci Code in it's implications and ideas. The author jumps between present day and several different time periods to explain the origin of the Book of Souls. The plot is somewhat interesting enough to keep me reading the whole novel.I finished the novel because I wanted to know what happened I tried to get through it as quickly as possible. There isn't much suspense as the characters easily solve clues and connect important historical figures together as if it's the most logical idea in the world. Not much is left to the imagination and the rest is stretched out too long to be enjoyable. In addition, the characters are not very well developed. The characters are two-dimensional and only serve as puppets to progress the extremely far-fetched and strange storyline. The main character is not appealing at all. I did not like him from the beginning. It's not that he's different or tough but he's downright unlikeable. One of the first rules of a novel is to make the main guy likeable. This was a quick, light read, but not one I'd like to revisit. If I'm going to read a book of this nature I want a story that is somewhat suspenseful and I want a character that I can cheer for. View all my reviews >>

MOVIE REVIEW – Adam (PG-13)

Ryan's Rating:  6/10

Director:  Max Mayer

Writer:  Max Mayer

Starring:  Hugh Dancy, Rose Byrne, Peter Gallagher 

Genre:  Drama, Romance

After the death of his father, Adam begins a romance with his neighbor while struggling to live on his own with Asperger's syndrome.  I wanted to see this independent film after seeing previews.  I like that this movie portrays an adult male on the Autism spectrum in a realistic fashion.  To this end, the movie was not disappointing.   Hugh Dancy brilliantly played a young man who is living with Asperger's syndrome.  He portrayed a man with many challenges and issues that would not be considered by the average person.  The other actors do a good job as well, including Peter Gallagher and his amazing eyebrows.  

Despite the acting, the movie seems to fall a little flat.  The film does not pull the audience in with strong emotion like other dramas.  Instead, the audience sits back and watches a logical story-line that leaves little to the imagination.  The film is easy to follow and is light-hearted.  The DVD contains an alternate ending.  I'm not sure which ending I prefer.  I would recommend this movie to anyone who is looking for a movie that's easy to watch and is life-affirming.  Pass on this movie if you're looking for a complicated, highly emotional film.

MOVIE REVIEW - Moon (R)

MOVIE REVIEW – Moon (R)

Ryan's Rating:  6/10

Director:  Duncan Jones

Writer:  Duncan Jones, Nathan Parker

Starring:  Sam Rockwell, Kevin Spacey

Genre:  SciFi, Drama

In the future, most of Earth's energy is produced by cold fusion made possible by a substance that can only be mined on the dark side of the moon.  Sam is excited to return home to his wife and child at the end of his three year contract after running the mining station alone except for a robot named Gertie.  This is a typical SciFi movie that has obvious roots in the science fiction of the 70s and 80s including “2001: A Space Odyssey”.  The film explores themes of isolation, the real idea of a long distance relationship, and man versus himself.

I thought the movie was excellent but slow at times.  This isn't a movie that's full of action like other movies in the SciFi family.  This is a drama where the plot unfolds slowly but that lends to the feeling of isolation and separation from Earth.  There is an interesting plot and it purposefully confusing midway through, but if you stick it out you will get a brilliant performance by Sam Rockwell.  This movie is not for everyone but it is a good film that is well made and is visually interesting. 

MOVIE REVIEW - Inception (PG-13)

Ryan's Rating:  7/10

Director:  Christopher Nolan

Writer:  Christopher Nolan

Starring:  Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Leavitt, Ellen Page, Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, Ken Watanabe, Michael Caine

Genre:  Action, SciFi, Suspense

The ability to enter another persons dreams is now a reality and can be used to extract information and possibly place a new idea in the subconscious of the dreamer.  The basic premise of the film Inception is that Cobb (DiCaprio) and assembled team of various talents must put an idea in the head of a CEO and as payment Cobb is allowed to return to the United States and his children.

The movie jumps right in with the understanding that one can enter another's dreams.  The story moves very quickly and only pauses briefly at times to explain what happens in the dreams.  Interestingly, the film never explains how the dream-entering technology works exactly.  It just assumes it does.  This allows the plot to progress quickly and get right down to the action of the story.  The plot is complex and multi-layered which requires a lot of concentration from the audience.  However, the story is explained fairly well, so it's not too difficult to follow.  When not trying to figure out the plot the audience is shown spectacular fight scenes that are as unique and inventive as those seen in the Matrix or the Transporter movies.  As you might assume, the dream state enables fight scenes to progress much differently than in reality.  This ensures that the audience will be captivated by amazing visual affects and many action sequences.

I went to this movie without knowing anything about it, except that it was the newest DiCaprio film.  I was surprised by the large cast of excellent actors.  DiCaprio is still one of the premier actors in the world.  Joseph Gordon-Leavitt is an excellent actor as well, and here he lands his talents to an almost completely serious role, with only a few hints at his perfect comedic timing.  The rest of their actors hold their own, except for Ellen Page.  While acting with the largely male cast, Page seems to get lost on the screen.  The writing at time is a little clunky, but you don't go to this type of film for meaningful dialogue.  One watches a film like this for all the amazing action on the big screen.  Inception delivers an interesting, unique plot and plenty of action so the almost 3 hour runtime flies by.  But pay attention so when the lights come up you're not like the older man behind me who asked, “what just happened?”

RESTAURANT REVIEW – Xochimilco

Xochimilco

Cuisine: Mexican 

Rating: 5/5 Stars

3409 Bagley Street, Detroit, MI 48216-1633

(313) 843-0179

This place is either love it or hate it.  While I respect that people don't like this place, it's not trying to be something it's not.  It seems that just because Xochimilco is in Mexican town and staffed with Mexicans, people expect it to be exactingly authentic Mexican food. If you want the most authentic mexican food on the planet, then this isn't your place.  However, if you like the traditional American take on Mexican food, then this place is excellent.  Personally, I like the American version of Mexican cuisine and I think that Xochimilco is good at providing that.

First, Xochi's is pretty easy to get to.  It's really just a quick drive down the freeway from almost anywhere and it's just off the freeway like all of Mexicantown.  Second, the staff is always friendly and they remember my friends and I from previous evening.  Third, the food is good, it's served really hot, and it's served very quickly.  Fourth, the chips and salsa are really good.  Fifth, the prices are really good.  You can get a huge meal for $6.  

The restaurant and bar are open late and I believe they serve food until at least 2am on the weekends, if not all week long.  They serve Mexican beers, margaritas and sangria.  You can get margarita by the glass, liter, or half-liter.

If I wan't a cheap filling quick meal, then I never have a problem driving down to Xochimilco.

BOOK REVIEW - At Least In the City Someone Would Hear Me Scream by Wade Rouse

At Least in the City Someone Would Hear Me Scream: Misadventures in Search of the Simple Life by Wade Rouse
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The author chronicles the first months after having moved with his partner from St. Louis to a cottage in rural Michigan just outside the gay-friendly resort town of Saugatuck. The pages are filled with witty prose in short segments that extoll how a gay couple uproot their lives and transition from an urbane life to a more rural, and hopefully, improved existence. I sought this book based on a recommendation from a friend. It appealed to me because of the humor in hearing of a gay couple moving to the middle of nowhere. In addition, being from Michigan myself, I wanted to hear another person's perspective on the Great Lake State.The memoir is both touching and humorous. The author recounts many humorous experiences with local neighbors, wildlife and the wide-ranging weather of Michigan. The reader really cheers for the author who is trying to find his “Walden” and improve himself, his relationship and his world around him. He is a sympathetic character who you really want to morph into a new being and yet he is his own enemy. The author spends endless pages explaining his former life of designer labels, non-fat lattés, tanning and teeth-whitening. He appears to be another stereotypical, vapid homosexual who is so self-absorbed it's surprising that he doesn't walk around with a hand mirror all day à la Vanity Smurf. The author describes this vain lifestyle so much, that one believes he may using this hyperbole simply to contrast with the rural, agrarian Michigan to get more laughs. Despite the excessive descriptions of what shoes he is wearing at every possible moment, the author has filled with book with heart and emotional depth which is the real pearl inside this oyster of a memoir. By the end of the book, the reader is closely connected to what the author has experienced and feels the changes he has gone through.My biggest problem with the book is that I have a hard time believing that the author who grew up in the Ozarks and moved from St. Louis would have such a difficult time in rural Michigan. I would expect such culture shock from one who grew up in New York City and had lived their his or her entire life. However, I don't think of St. Louis as the culture capital of mid-America and I have a hard time believing the transition was so great. For that reason, I feel the descriptions the author gives and the reactions to be exaggerated. Perhaps, none is exaggerated and there is a larger cultural gap between urban and rural living than I expected. I laughed openly several times throughout this book. Many of the scenes and incidents are very funny. In my opinion the book really shined at the more serious parts even making my eyes water. The growth of the author and the interaction with his partner are touching and a welcome contrast to the comedic interaction with the outside world. By the end of the book, I found the memoir inspirational and heartwarming and the desire to seek out my own Walden. View all my reviews >>