They completely ruined the 1975 classic.
In the 1980s and 1990s, film director John McTiernan was a hot commodity. In just over a decade, the Juilliard grad went on a streak that included Predator (1987), Die Hard (1988), The Hunt for Red October (1990), Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995), and The Thomas Crown Affair (1999). Despite the occasional flounder, he was a valuable asset in Hollywood.
After his remake of the Norman Jewison led The Thomas Crown Affair (1968), McTiernan started work on another remake of a Jewison picture, 1975’s Rollerball.
The original Rollerball is an underrated classic starring a top-of-his-game James Caan in one…
We’re never buying pre-made jam or jelly again.
On our recent socially distant vacation (and our first time staying at a Bed and Breakfast), we nibbled on our morning meal with delight. Pancakes, eggs, bacon — all delicious. We were particularly delighted by our toast covered in an excellent homemade strawberry jam.
We asked our hosts if they made the jam themselves. No, it was produced by a local small batch jam maker. If we wanted some to take home, we could grab some in the gift shop — to the tune of about $10.
What the hell?
I had never heard of such a thing.
It sounds…
Movies for all modes of transportation.
Here are some picks for movies that feature notable planes, trains, and cars. I’ve tried to curate an eclectic mix of selections that include big budget blockbusters, anime, Hollywood classics, and more — hopefully something for everyone.
Air Force One (1997)
Russian terrorists conspire to hijack the aircraft with the president and his family on board. The commander in chief finds himself facing an impossible predicament: give in to the terrorists and sacrifice his family, or risk everything to uphold his principles — and the integrity of the nation.
An all day movie marathon of epic proportions.
When I was in college, I used to sneak into the movies. Yes, a dishonest thing to do. I would go see one movie (that I had paid for) and once I was beyond the ticket-taker, find my way into another screening. Theaters often try to stagger showtimes in such a way that this is not possible, but I became pretty good at it. I did it upwards of 25 times, I think.
Yeah — a pretty rotten thing to do.
Double features could be hard enough. And in the middle of the afternoon, they can really tank your day…
Not exactly a polar bear plunge, but still a refreshing trip to the beach in the offseason.
When we set out on this mission to try one new thing every week, we never expected a majority of these experiments to be grandiose. Try a new recipe, play a new game, visit a new city. Our story titles might not be the most eye-catching, and I’m sure eating new foods and rolling dice isn’t a particular thrill for the reader — but we are having fun with this so far. It livens up our week every week. This is really our diary, after all.
This past week, we already had something fun planned — a socially distanced vacation…
The cult classic slasher celebrates four decades on the silver screen.
This year, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, Valentine’s Day came and went without fanfare. The usual complainers complained and the usual celebrators celebrated, but it was all so quiet. The CDC warned against travel during Thanksgiving and Christmas, but no one seemed to care about V-Day.
I have an elderly neighbor who likes to point out ridiculous holidays whenever we cross paths. I’ve heard exclamations like “Don’t forget it’s Magna Carta Day!” on more than one occasion. …
Super Bowl a bust? Watch these six movies to hold you over in the offseason.
Super Bowl LV, the 2021 contest between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs, was supposed to be a nail-biter, tight until the end and a great match of old vs. new — with now 7x Champion Tom Brady facing last year’s Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes. Of course it would be close — The Chiefs won a Week 12 game in Tampa, 27–24.
Unfortunately, the COVID afflicted 2020 NFL season did not end in such a culminating fashion — it left in a whimper as Tampa Bay pummeled an often penalized and turnover prone Kansas City, 31–9.
…
A week of famous final meals.
For Christmas this year, I received a good number of cookbooks. My quarantine hobby has been cooking and my mother has been a wonderful cheerleader of that habit. When I got back to my apartment after Christmas, the recipe books were placed on top of the fridge and I’ve been working my way through them.
On the top of the stack lays the smallest and skinniest book: Last Suppers: A Collection of Final Meals Through the Years by Caroline West and Mark Latter. The book, a surprisingly casual read, is a selection of final meals gobbled up by famous politicians…
Rock, paper, scissors, eat!
I am a bit ashamed of how much time I spend on TikTok. I’m probably only on it 20 minutes a day, but that’s 20 minutes I could spend doing something productive.
I have noticed that most of my TikTok likes and follows are centered around food, like admiring the love and care put into Izola’s, a cafeteria style buffet in Hinesville, GA that runs through their offerings every day. I find recipes for Trader Joe’s items and I learn new drinks courtesy of Pour Perry.
Just like anyone else on FoodTok, I’ve encountered the Four Course Challenge. Not hip…
It’s a lot harder than it looks.
Taylor and I were standing in the board game aisle of Target, looking for a present for our roommate. After picking up a few duds and a handful of potential winners that went back on the shelf thanks to their outrageous price tag, she found it: The Essentials Kit for Dungeons and Dragons.
“The Dungeons & Dragons Essentials Kit is the perfect introduction to the legendary role-playing game.” — Forbes
Taylor had been looking for a reason to jump into D&D for awhile, I always had a moderate interest, and we were taking a gamble on our roommate.
He was…
