Reel Opinions - A Blog by Melissa: Brothers

Brothers (2009)

Tobey Maguire, Jake Gyllenhaal and Natalie Portman

Two brothers, one off fighting for our country, the other back home attempting to find redemption after serving time in prison. Sam (Maguire) the eldest is living a perfect life. He is married to high school sweetheart, has two beautiful daughters and serves heroically as a Captain in the Marines. Tommy (Gyllenhaal), having just been released from prison after robbing a bank, finds the only one to welcome him home is his older brother. Not long after Sam is deployed, his helicopter is shot down and his family back home is notified that he is presumed dead. It is Tommy who steps up and takes responsibility for Sam's family. Grace (Portman) first resists Tommy's support, but then begins to find comfort in his presence. Sam, not dead, is trapped and imprisoned with a fellow Marine. Sam is witness and participant to horrific events and returns a broken man, now reversing roles with Tommy.

The movie has a very strong cast. As the movie progresses, we begin to understand Tommy better, finding his behavior the result of his tumultuous relationship with his father Hank (Sam Shepard) and his father's constant reminder that he is not his brother Sam. Gyllenhaal for me really stands out in this movie. This movies has little violence and is not centered around war but instead the individual character's relationships. This is a very good movie about redemption and finding your way home to the ones who truly love and support you.

Favorite Scene:

The scene when Sam professes that he isn't a hero and seems to have hit rock bottom. Tommy is the only one able to get through to him at this point and declares this a family matter to the police who now stand between him and his brother.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSuWpaSdAJM

Printed by permission. Visit Melissa's blog @ http://reelopinions-melissa.blogspot.com/

Reel Opinions - A Blog by Melissa: Twilight

Twilight (2008)

Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson

Teenage girl meets and falls in love with most beautiful boy in school. But, turns out he's a vampire. But not just your average blood sucking, burns in daylight, only awake at night vampire. Edward Cullen (Pattinson) is a vegetarian vampire, only feeds off animals, never sleeps and sparkles in the sunshine. Bella (Stewart) moves to Forks, WA to give her mother and new husband some time alone, and spend more time with her father, Chief Swan (Billy Burke) the sheriff of this small, nearly sun-less town. To the surprise of this humane vampire, Bella turns out to be the most appetizing of all other humans. He struggles with his desire to get the know this seemingly insignificant girl and killing her. The Cullen family supports Edwards in whatever he feels is the best way in dealing with the "Bella" situation, but the more he gets to know her, the more his feelings for her change. Bella is also quite intrigued by Edward and eventually finds out his secret. To is complete dismay, she actually pursues a relationship with him. Though it is Edward's struggle with this new relationship that is greater. He finds he is always saving her from peril, dangers he takes full responsibility for.

First I have to say, if you have read the book, you may be highly disappointed. Personally, I watched the movie and went out and bought the first book of the series the same night. Immediately I was hooked. But upon re-watching the movie, I found that so much of the storyline had been cut from the movie and that we didn't get to see the deeper levels of the relationship between Bella and Edward. Nor did we really get to know Alice Cullen, Edward's adoptive sister (Ashley Greene). The supportive cast is good, but not great. The location where the film was shot was excellent. If you are a Twilight fan, you are going to "like" this movie, not love it. This movie is definitely geared more to the young adults.

Favorite Scene:

The scene between Bella and Edward in Biology class. In this moment, Edward lets his guard down and tries to get to know Bella.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etXBoFKkxNw&feature=related

Printed by permission. Visit Melissa's blog @ http://reelopinions-melissa.blogspot.com/

Reel Opinions - A Blog by Melissa: Inception

Inception (2010)

Leonardo DiCaprio, Ellen Page and Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Inception, a first part or stage of subsequent events. There is your definition.

In this movie, Cobb (DiCaprio) leads a group of thieves into the deep, unconscious crevices of an unsuspecting victim's mind. They are experts in infiltrating your dreams by extracting information and/or persuasion. This particularly deceptive team consists of their expert/leader, Cobb (DiCaprio), an architect, Ariadne (Page), a researcher (Gordon-Levitt), a forger/impersonator, Eames (Tom Hardy), a chemist, Yusuf (Dileep Rao) and accompanied by Saito, (Ken Watanabe) the man who hired Cobb. This seems to be the last job for Cobb, but in order to go back to the life he desperately misses, he must first finish this assignment, confront his own hidden past and make sure his team does not become trapped in limbo, similar to a permanent coma. The team decides on a three level dream set up. In order to return from each separate dream sequence, they must all receive a "kick", or a shift in gravity. All kicks must be timed just right in order for you to be kicked back into each dream before finally returning to reality.

Everyone has seen the previews for this movie. They are absolutely incredible. The use of slow motion to enhance your perception of what is going on around you, the spatial and dimension changes using CGI are amazing. The story definitely keeps up as well. Pay close attention to the children and to Mal (Marion Cotillard), because an extractor isn't the only thing dangerous in your subconscious mind. It can also be memories and regrets. You may need to watch this movie more than once to get the full gist of what is being thrown at you, but it will be interesting every time you watch it as you are sure to find things you missed before. In my opinion, most movies that Leonardo DiCaprio or Ellen Page are in are worth watching at least once.

Favorite Scene:

There are so many stunning visual effects that it is hard to chose just one. But I would have to say probably where Cobb gives Ariadne a lesson on dream architecture and shared dreaming. It also gives us, the viewer insight into how the process of shared dreaming works. Enjoy ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eAuBSTinYw

Printed by permission. Visit Melissa's blog @ http://reelopinions-melissa.blogspot.com/

Reel Opinions - A Blog by Melissa: Dedication

Dedication (2007)

With Mandy Moore and Billy Crudrup

If you like romance films then its a safe bet that this film will touch your heart. The two characters aren't your average happy-go-lucky duo, but that's the beautiful part of their story. Lucy (Moore) steps into Henry's (Crudrup) life at a very unwelcoming moment. His best friend and closest father figure has recently passed away. The two were partners in the children's book world. Lucy is hired as his new illustrator and Henry obviously resents having to work with her. Its a very slow start and Henry, due to his own childhood demons, is quick to push her away and attack her with insults. Lucy and Henry eventually find safe ground and learn to tolerate each other and in effect you see a less guarded Henry.

This movie is one of my favorites because the two are not obvious romance heroines. I appreciate their story and can't help but feel protective over Henry. Lucy is a sweet character who is probably more likely to be hurt by Henry but ultimately will be the one to save him. In her, he is able to find his redeeming quality and find someone he can give love to and have it returned.

Favorite scene:

Definitely the bathroom scene. "You're like princess shit! The fairytales."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gX_EDhMbINg

Printed by permission. Visit Melissa's blog @ http://reelopinions-melissa.blogspot.com/

The Dish - A critic's review of Old New York Deli & Bakery Co

Not the fanciest of deli's in Ventura County, this is casual dining - or as we say, less expensive than the other delis in town - and just as tasty for most of us. Been dining at their locations since the mid 90's and always enjoy a great bagel, shmear, sandwich or bakery good.

This is more than just a bagel factory, they offer a full breakfast - made to order - with just about anything you desire. Samples a plenty, you just can't seem to walk away without noshing on a bakery sample or a seasonal favorite. This is a deli where they know your name - maybe I just eat there too often.

They serve sandwiches and pizza (Newbury Park location only), but it's their bagels that customers continue to talk about. They are authentic boiled and hearth baked. We are talking New York style, unless you consider the chocolate chip bagels grandpa eats every week.

As a deli fanatic and trust me I've eaten my share, there are more glamorous deli's in Ventura County and Los Angeles. There are tastier morsels at almost twice the fare at some places, but Old New York is a neighborhood staple that is sure to please even the pickiest bubala and the best of the goyem that Ventura County has to offer.

With two locations - Camarillo and Newbury Park, we suggest you visit their third location in Mammoth the next time you hit the slopes.

Old New York Deli and Bakery Co is located in Camarillo at 4972 Verdugo Way and in Newbury Park at 2700 Teller Rd. #A.

The Dish - A critic's review of Cafe Bariloche

After a drive back from Santa Barbara to Thousand Oaks, we opted to have lunch in Ventura. My chops were hungry and my brain wanted a delicious meal full of flavor. No cheeseburger or pizza for me. The wife and I stopped into Cafe Bariloche, a South American gem in Ventura on the corner of Main St and California.

I had read many mixed reviews of the restaurant and knew they were very popular for South American cuisine foodies in Ventura County. But would a regular guy like me, who likes food from just about anywhere, like the tastes from down under... Mexico.

The food looked great and they had some terrific lunch specials on the menu. We were greeted quickly and sat at a table next to the front door. Any closer to the door and my ass would have been on the sidewalk. Not that my bottom is that big, but you know what I mean.

There were other empty seats, so I suggested we move from this lovely inside patio section to a window seat. I was hoping for some live music but it was only 1:30pm. Guess ya have to wait until dinner. After some prompting, the waitress suggested the empanadas. There were so many to choose from - in assorted flavors and meats - not just the usual suspects - we're talking:

- Argentinean Beef
Ground beef, sautéed onions, tomatoes, green onions, green olives, and spices.

- Chilean Beef
Chopped beef, sautéed onions, raisins, greek olive and spices.

- Chicken
Chopped chicken, sautéed onions, tomatoes, Greek olives and spices.

- Corn
Corn, squash, onions and spices.

- Rajas
Roasted chili poblanos, diced potatoes, roasted onions, Jack cheese and spices.

- Seafood
Scallops, shrimp, fish, sautéed onions, and spices.

Plus whole wheat empanadas:

- Mushroom
Diced mushrooms, sautéed onions, raisins, Greek olives and spices.

- Ratatouille
Eggplant, zucchini, red bell peppers, tomatoes, sautéed onions, Greek olive and spices. -

Spinach and Feta
Sautéed spinach, feta cheese, Greek olive and spices.

- Potato and Cheese
Diced potatoes, jack cheese, roasted onions and spices.

So we asked her suggestion and the most popular were the Argentinean Beef, Chilean Beef and the Rajas. There was a lunch special that included 2 empanadas and a small salad of your choice for only $10. That was an incredible deal.

We each choose the lunch special (there were many other selections available) ordering 4 different empanadas to share. We took her 3 suggestions and added a chicken version too. We felt this was smart and we would sample our way through South America or at least as many different flavors under $20 at Cafe Bariloche.

We chose 2 salads:

- Brazilan Kale
Brazilian style kale sautéed in olive oil and garlic topped with Pine nuts and feta (served hot).

- Bariloche Salad
Romaine, baby mix lettuce, carrots, roma tomatoes, red onions, apples, grapes, toasted pine nuts topped with feta cheese and red pepper vinaigrette.

The waitress placed 2 magnificent sauces on the table to dip with the empanadas. One was fiery in flavor and green in color, the other full of oils and herbs. The lunch plates were delivered and the meals looked scrumptious. Now, it has been along time since I had an empanada - NEVER from South America. Yes, I have eaten them at Mexican restaurants.

The outer dough on these bad boys were VERY HARD. Are they supposed to be hard like a hockey puck? These are not Grandma's chicken pot pie crusts. Once we sawed them open, the meat and flavors were wonderful... Until we added the sauces. Now please understand, the sauces were wonderful - but, I could no longer taste the flavors of what was inside the empanadas. I am sure they were delicious. But all I ever tasted was an overpowering element of sauces and empanada dough.

The surprise winner? The Brazilan Kale salad was the bomb! Great flavors and served hot. Reminded me of a hot spinach salad. You must order this. Wow!!! The other salad was just okay. Could have done without it.

We talked about our empanadas, questioning which was the beef, which was the chicken, etc. Once done with our lunch, we were craving more flavors to try and explore. We're we disappointed? No, not really. We would certainly re-visit them again perhaps picking another entree. Next time, we'll go for dinner and music.

Meanwhile, we look forward to their new location in Camarillo opening in August. Cafe Bariloche is located in Ventura at 500 E. Main Street.

The Dish - A critic's review of Brophy Bros

What a life my cousin has... he's married to a wonderful woman, is a ski & snowboard instructor during the winter in Snow Valley and operates the Arrowhead Queen tour boat on Lake Arrowhead in the summer. Yes, I'm jealous.

So he has a couple of days off and he drives down the mountain with his woman to surf in Ventura. Sets up camp at the Crowne Plaza and puts on the dusty wet suit for some surfing.

Figures he'll ask a local where/when to surf - and you do you think he bumps into? Of all people in Ventura, he sees some surfin' looking dude to ask some questions and it's Chipper Bro - surfing extraordinaire - and founder of the Aloha Beach Festival in Ventura to whom Ventura Night Out is a proud sponsor.

After an afternoon of surfing and fun, he catches up with me and the Mrs at one of our favorite watering holes for happy hour (shhh, don't tell anyone - it's our little secret) - Brophy Bros in Ventura at the Harbor. We had so much fun catching up with each other and swapping stories and jokes. We sat at the bar and fed our faces with food and drinks. Even our 8 year old came along hanging out like a big boy, watching the ball games on TV and chugging a few Shirley Temples (I mean James Bonds, sorry dude).

If you haven't been to Brophy Bros for happy hour, you've been missing out on a bunch. They rock and let me tell you why!

This is what we ate:

- Beer Boiled Shrimp
- Garlic Baked Shrimp - 3 orders
- Oysters Rockefeller
- Ceviche
- Fried Calamari
- Fish N Chips
- Cheeseburger/Fries for the Big Guy

This is what we drank: (won't tell you how many)
- Bloody Mary's
- Margaritas
- Shirley Temples (I mean James Bonds)

The food and drink are superb. Now hear me out for a moment... I can be super critical and obnoxious when it comes to a review. Like I said... the drinks are outstanding. Did I mention the drinks were very good? Oh, I just did. When you order a Bloody Mary at most other establishments, they lack a few needed ingredients to make it just right or they'll add sea salt to the rim of the glass similar to a margarita. That just makes it ordinary.

But at Brophy Bros they rim the glass with celery salt. Wow! You just want to lick the rim of your high-ball. Not a bad concept. They should change the name of the drink to "Rim Lickin' Bloody Mary". If only they would add an extra dash of Worcestershire sauce to give it that extra pop.

As for the food - the food is actually very, very good and the portions are extremely fair too. The Mrs, who does not care for fried food very much, enjoyed the calamari and the fish n chips. Not too greasy and tasted very yummy. Happy hour prices are extremely happy - less than $6 per dish for everything we ate. Drinks were less than $4 each. Danny the bartender was fantastic. We missed Admiral James but will catch him another time.

Did we eat too much? We could have eaten more - but the folks next to us would have taken pics and posted them on Facebook and entered us in the VC Fair "You're as Big as an Ox Eating Contest". So we left the place and headed to Pirates in Oxnard for a some after-dinner drinks (dessert for the Big Guy) and conversation with owner Jeff. Oh what a night.

Brophy Bros is located at 1559 Spinnaker Drive in the Ventura Harbor. Pirates Restaurant is located at 450 S. Victoria Av in Oxnard.