Movies We've Watched - Night at the Museum Secrets of the Tomb and Battle at the Smithsonian

 

Last Saturday, the kids and I went to a drive-in movie down the street to watch Night at the Museum.  They actually liked it.  We had snacks and relaxed in the car.  The next morning was Sunday Family Movie which we haven't done in awhile, but we watched the sequel.  It's so hard to tell if the kids enjoy something sometimes.  However, this time, Little Miss told her friends all about it.  Captain spent 15 minutes talking about the movies to his grandparents during our weekly Zoom call.  I'm glad it was a hit.

The drive-in movies have been fun.  I'm not sure if I included them all.  Little Miss and I saw Mrs. Doubtfire and The Sandlot.  This is the first Fall-ish movie and it started an hour earlier as the sun sets earlier now.  It was easier to bring Captain because we were home by 10-ish instead of after 11PM.  The sugar definitely helped him stay awake, too.  I definitely want to keep my eye out if they continue doing them.  It is a lot of fun.  We obviously enjoyed doing the indoor movie series, but the drive in is a nice substitute.  They are also doing Thursday night outdoor movies, but the school night and the chillier weather makes that series challenging (also, those ae $40 and the drive-in movies are no cost).  

Books We're Reading - Shadows in Death

 

I read a non-book club book!  I cracked into Shadows in Death on release date a couple of weeks ago.  The on-page death count was low.  I prefer a good race against time, serial killer, but this one did most of his killing before the book starts.  The book, as all do, starts with a murder.  Then, murder cop, Eve Dallas, gets to work to find the killer.  In this case, it was fairly easy because Roarke, husband and civiliant consultant, sees a familiar face.  So, in this case, it was more of gathering enough evidence and catching the killer to put him away.  In the meantime, Cobbe, big bad, was after torturing and killing everything dear to Roarke.  

To catch the big bad, all of Eve and Roarke's chosen family comes together - Mr. and Mrs. Mira, the entire precinct, Nadine, Summerset.  In the subplot, there was also mention of Nadine's boyfriend and Mavis and Leonardo and Trina.  

All in all, it was a great book.  I don't always like the personal books.  I tend to just like the straight-forward serial killer books, but it's nice to see Eve and Roake grow as characters and grow closer together and to see a couple work to maintain a relationship because usually with romance books, it all ends with the happily ever after.  Eve and Roarke are obviously happily ever after, but it's not as easy as a fade to black which I appreciate - also, even though it's like 50+ books with us, it's only been a couple of years for them.  

Movies We've Watched - Stranger Things

 

I started Stranger Things season 3 last year when it premiered and then stalled about halfway through.  Then, Little Miss's friends were getting into it.  I saw there was a trailer for season 4.  So, I was motivated to finish Season 3.  I definitely think that this was the weakest season for me, but Little Miss liked it a lot.  She very much likes to binge watch shows whereas I take my time.  It'll be interesting how we watch together when Season 4 premieres.  

I, of course, liked the nods to the 80's in clothes, entertainment, and guest stars.  They do quite a bit without showing us the monster until the end.  For me, it's really the relationships between everybody.  I admit to straying a bit from the show, but I'll hang around for another season if only to give me something to discuss with Little Miss.

Movies We've Watched - Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead

 

Last week, I watched Hot Fuzz on Starz, and I really liked it.  I don't remember why I decided to watch it.  I think I got caught in an IMDB spiral and realized I never saw it.  So, I decided to remedy that.  I thought it was really funny which helped because it was also very violent, and I'm a baby.  I posted on Facebook that I was finally watching for the first time, and the boy's cousin suggested Shaun of the Dead.  So, the next night, I watched that!

Shaun of the Dead is a zombie movie which isn't my favorite genre.  Again, I'm a baby.  I loved the little nods to zombies before you see the first one in the movie.  That made me laugh.  I believe I watched this on Cinemax which was a challenge because it doesn't have an app so I had to figure out how to watch online.  I did so it all worked out.  I liked Hot Fuzz a little more, but I think it's because it's got a slightly firmer foot in reality.  This isn't always necessary in my entertainment (obviously), but it sometimes helps when I'm comparing two different movies.  

I haven't seen the third in the unofficial trilogy, but I haven't found it online either.  Maybe some day.  

Movies We've Watched - Magic Camp

 

As already established, my entertainment taste skews young.  I recently found out that Little Miss's friends and I share favorite tv shows.  So, that's great.  Anyway, continuing on that trend, I watched Magic Camp on Disney+.  I think the adult storyline is the weakest which is fine because it mostly focuses on a young adult.  Theo loses his dad with whom he shared a love of magic.  It was their thing.  So, his mom shows that he was accepted into Magic Camp.  He assumes it was the last act his dad did for him.  

The kids are funny but not too adorable or precocious.  It was a typical feel-good movie.  It was funny and feel good, the perfect quarantine movie if you don't want to think too hard. 

Movies We've Watched - Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Candace Against the Universe

 

Phineas and Ferb is one of the reasons why I didn't hesitate to get Disney+.  Maybe I don't watch it as often as I could be, but Little Miss watches the Marvel and Star Wars movies almost every week.  Plus, the cost for Disney+ for three years cost the same as one ticket to Hamilton so we've definitely covered the costs using my Hamilton refund.

If you are a Phineas and Ferb fan, this is really great.  There are many callbacks and signature humor, fantastic guest stars, and heart at the center of it all.  I've been slowly rewatching the show, and it's just so clever and fun.  (Also, the TikTok videos on Phineas and Ferb by fans and by the creators are worth following.)

Movies We've Watched - Skin Wars (season 3)

 

I've never watched Skin Wars before, but I stumbled upon it on Netflix and breezed through the season.  First, I'm not usually a reality competition show fan except maybe The Great British Bake Off.  However, if they are good-natured enough, I don't mind them.  I was hoping this was more like Glow Up, but it's a little more overly-dramatic and over-edited.  Still, I watched it so I could root against the contestants that bothered me.  

I don't doubt all of these people are talented, and it's amazing what people can do on a human canvas.  Maybe this type of show isn't always for me, but I do appreciate the talent most of these people have.  I care a little less about the competition part actually.  So, it was a fine show, but I wasn't engaged enough to watch previous seasons.  The fact that it was originally on GSN and shown on Netflix explains the odd breaks for commercials.  I watch so many streaming shows, I'm not used to that.