The Second Time Around

One of my favorite Sinatra tunes is “The Second Time Around”.  That has nothing to do with this post, other than it’s a catchy title.

 

This post is not about music, but movies.  Last night Michelle and I watched “Wild Hogs”.  It was her first time to see it, but I’d seen it once before at the Malibu Cinema on a guy’s night.  The first time I watched it, I really disliked it.  I thought it was boring, predictable, and overall not worth the time or money. However, last night with Michelle I really liked it.  Certainly not worthy of any awards, but an entertaining way to waste 90 minutes at home.

 

The second movie I watched for the second time is “Quantum of Solace 007”.  I saw it on a guy’s night at the Malibu Cinemas also… at least most of it.  That night the projector broke at the theater about 75-minutes into the movie, and the teenager running the theater didn’t know how to get it started again.  So, she gave us all hand-written rain-checks to come back another night.  However, I don’t think any of us ever went back and watched the end of the movie.  It just didn’t capture our attention. 

This evening while I was hanging out at the hotel, I noticed it was on cable and I tuned in.  It was much better this time.  Very intense.  And it was very consistent with the themes in Daemon and Freedom (TM). .

Neither of these movies are great, but perhaps this goes to show that one’s expectations are shaped by the relative costs of an experience.  Paying $15 at Malibu Cinemas for a show on a guy’s night is pretty high expectations.  But, sitting at home (or a hotel) and killing time is pretty low. 

Maybe I should try Transformers 2 again on video?

A fun summer read...and more on the flu and plague...

I've blogged before about the Flu Epidimic of 1917. Well, I recently finished one of the more enjoyable books I remember. Ken Follet's World Without End. It's long (1100+pages), but is was super fun. I started it before flying to Europe a few weeks ago. I read it on the plane while Michelle slept there and back, and then finished it on the plane to OKC. I highly recommend it (Bort-you'll love it!).

One of the interesting plot devices in the book is the plague. It comes on like a whirlwind killing 1/2 the population of Europe in the 13th Century. Interestingly, they have no theory of germs, or contagion and simply can't understand what it is. Their existing world-view assumes it must be the judgment of God on their sin. It's fascinating to imagine the sense-making that goes on around this time.

I was thinking of this last week when I saw the preview for this new movie. Sounds like the same premise put to modern sensibilities. I can't wait to see it!