Reviews: Two Movies and a Wine Bar

This was a particularly enjoyable weekend. It began well; Friday was payday. Work went tolerably, and then Lindz and I settled into an evening of Chinese take-out and beer.

Saturday morning saw a massive, much-needed trip to the grocery store. I find that I enjoy grocery shopping. It appeals to several of my key motivators:
1)Buying things
2)Food
3)Filling up the pantry to stave off the lurking fear of running out of food (I think that may be a Midwest thing)
4)Searching for and finding the best prices in order to stick it to The Man (I realize that's a fiction; The Man always comes out ahead)

Later, Lindz and I went to see movies. I was in the mood for dark science fiction, and she was in the mood for comedy. We don't usually see separate movies, but she saw Wedding Crashers, and I chose War of the Worlds. I had a wee bit of buyer's remorse after parting with fourteen damned dollars for sodas and popcorn, but I got over it. I munched the dearly bought popcorn, sipped the platinum pop and watched the previews. It always happens - there are so many previews (mostly for unspeakably inane movies) and so many commercials, that I actually catch myself wondering which movie is starting. "Oh, yeah," I said to myself, "I came here to see War of the Worlds." Anyway, the movie began. It is ultimately a human story. Tom Cruise, although he's a cocky, self-important Scientologist freak, comes off pretty decently here. Morgan Freeman does the opening and closing narration, the same one done by Orson Welles back in the day. The special effects are awesome, of course, and the film's pacing and cinematography are standard Spielberg. The alien machines are as terrifying as they should be, and the film really drags you into a pit of fear along with the masses of refugees trudging through the countryside trying to escape. Decent flick, worth seeing on the big screen at least once.

That evening, we went to Enoteca Vin in downtown Raleigh. It's a neat little place in an old brick building that used to be a creamery. We had a flight of three splendid pinot noirs. Our favorite was the Selby Russian River. Marvelous balance, silky smooth. Hints of herbal and medicinal notes (perhaps a bit of black licorice and eucalyptus) in a polished black cherry package. Very nice experience. We didn't eat there; we just drank. The food looks very interesting. We made quesadillas at home after a fruitless attempt at finding decent Mexican food on the way home (I'm still spoiled from San Diego, where one can get a delicious burrito the size of one's arm anywhere, anytime).

Sunday, I spent some time doing laundry, loafing and writing in my journal in a bar called the Armadillo Grill. I found some Doc Marten shoes on sale for fifty bucks at a little shoe store on Glenwood. After all this excitement, we decided to see another movie: March of the Penguins.

The movie is certainly worthy of discussion, but first, I must describe where we saw it: The Rialto in Raleigh's Five Points neighborhood. It's an old, single screen theater that shows good (translation: not Hollywood tripe) movies and serves beer and wine in the lobby. That's a good start regardless of what film is playing. Anyway, March of the Penguins is a gorgeous film. It's well-crafted documentary, but the cinematography is beautiful. Morgan Freeman's narration is perfect. The story of the film is impressive, informative and moving. It seems that everyone wants to take their tiny children to see it because penguins are such jolly little tuxedo birds, but they will be shocked to find that there is a certain amount of death and sadness in the film (as in life). Lindz and I were relieved when the family behind us left; it was much easier to hear the film. This movie is truly excellent, an impressive work of avian documentary.

Returning to work is so banal in comparison to towering alien tripods and county-sized icebergs.