Nope (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes

Nope (2022): It had me at Jordan Peele. Strong characters and an eerie atmosphere with a crazed chimp and a murderous cloud, but it comes up short when it's time to explain what's going on. Is it a Western? Horror? Sci-fi? Social commentary? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Is it good? Yep. B-

Random Thoughts: Russians Win the Space Race to the Moon

Tweets from July, 2022:

• 2022-07-05: For All Mankind - S01 (TV 2019): Alternative history of NASA where Russians win the Space Race to the Moon. A few references to alternative facts that people familiar with history will appreciate, but also a lot of soap opera storylines and convenient plot developments. B-
• 2022-07-07: Review: Sea of Tranquility: A time travel story in which a glitch in time brings centuries together. And sends characters from earlier novels into alternate timelines. These stories slowly weave together into a mesmerizing whole. B+
• 2022-07-10: In a world of Jenna Ellises, be a Simone Biles.

After the jump, more random thoughts.

Review: Cloud Cuckoo Land

From Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr

“Ah,” says the first sister, “fine choice,” and they sit on either side of him and the one who fetched the book says, “On a day like this, when it’s chilly and damp, and you can’t get warm, sometimes all you need are the Greeks”—she shows him a page, dense with verse—“to fly you all the way around the world to somewhere hot and stony and bright.” "
	Amazon

Cloud Cuckoo Land: A mashup of the fall of Constantinople, a modern-day crime thriller, and a future sci-fi journey to another star, all connected by an ancient Greek story. The characters are memorable, the plots compelling, but the sum is less than the parts. B+

POTD: Go Rams!

From 2019 11 23 Luxor

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Karnak Temple in Luxor, Egypt. It shows just a few of the many (and by "many" I mean hundreds) of 3,000 year-old ram-headed sphinx statues at the site. There's even a road connecting Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple that's lined with Rams. I think it would make a grand place for Berkner High School to hold victory celebrations like Egypt's own celebration of the restoration of the road in 2021.

POTD: Egypt Offers a Wealth of Images

From 2019 11 23 Luxor

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Karnak Temple in Luxor, Egypt. It shows a typical tourist taking a photo of a family member. Clearly, he isn't taking a photo of what I'm taking a photo of. No matter. Egypt offers such a wealth of images that no matter which direction you point your camera, you'll likely have as good a background for a photo as any other direction.

Elvis (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes

Elvis (2022): The movie is rushed only because Elvis reinvented himself many times in his short career. Col. Parker gets as much time as Elvis and Tom Hanks may get a supporting Oscar nod, but it's Elvis's movie. Hanks is a convincing con man and Austin Butler has electricity. B+

POTD: Saying Cheese Around the World

From 2019 11 23 Luxor

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Karnak Temple in Luxor, Egypt. It shows a typical situation in Egypt. Point a camera at a group of kids and they'll swarm you wanting to get their photos taken. Not so in Germany. There, point a camera at a group of kids and the kids will ignore you and the adults chaperoning them will scold you for violating the children's privacy rights. Different strokes for difference folks.

Bonus photo after the jump.

C'mon C'mon (2021)

Rotten Tomatoes

C'mon C'mon (2021): Man with issues with his mother, sister, and own past relationships, finds himself unexpectedly taking care of his nephew, a 9-yr-old boy with his own emotional issues. It's complicatead. Joaquin Phoenix can play Joker. He can play quiet family man, too. B-

Navalny (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes

Navalny (2022): Documentary about a Russian dissident who was poisoned by Putin, recovered and returned to Russia where he was imprisoned and remains so. His investigation into who poisoned him (Putin's agents) is a fascinating detail, as is Putin's refusal to say his name. B+

Cyrano (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes

Cyrano (2022): Musical unexpectedly starring Peter Dinklage. A love triangle. His love is built on a lie. Her love is misplaced. Cyrano's love can't be expressed. Beautiful retelling of the classic love story. A-