Showing posts with label Las Vegas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Las Vegas. Show all posts

Monday, May 26, 2014

The newest Godzilla movie smashes the box office


Movie Title:  Godzilla [HD]

PG-13, 2 hour 3 minutes

Grade:    A-
 
In a Nutshell:   I love it when a movie trailer doesn’t reveal major plot points in an upcoming movie so that you’re pleasantly surprised.  Godzilla [HD] has all of the intensity, stunning visual effects, impressive sound design and suspense you’ve been wanting from this franchise for years.  Suspend your disbelief and enjoy the monstrous fun.

Uplifting theme: 

  • There are good monsters and bad monsters.  Humans too.  Awww.
  • There are nice examples in the flick of heroism, loyalty, sacrifice, and honor.
Things I liked:

  • Disaster movie lovers will get a kick out of watching Las Vegas and San Francisco get destroyed.  Great special effects.  I loved the TV ticker line “Breaking News: Live Terror in Vegas!”
  • The movie makes it current by including present-day concerns about compromised Japanese nuclear power plants being a danger to nearby communities and beyond.
  • I liked how it tried to wrap the story around the 1954 Godzilla movie’s fear of the atomic age.
  • Bryan Cranston makes everything better.
  • Monsters Director Gareth Edwards is great at creating chaos and pandemonium.
  • I watched it in IMAX 3D, which offers some moments when I really felt inside the movie.  At one point, I thought an audience member was standing in front of me and I almost asked him to move, but then realized it was the 3D effect.
  • Go Army!
  • (SPOILER ALERT)  I loved it when a “certain” monster glowed with fire inside.  Godzilla spews cool blue fire.
  • I loved the scene where the skydivers dropped from the clouds, trailing red flares.
  • Aaron Taylor-Johnson conveniently arrives in the right place at the right time to offer the ongoing thread that keeps the human story running alongside the monsters.  He’s likeable enough to get the job done as hero and provides another shout-out to the real everyday heroes in today’s U.S.Army.  My oldest son is an officer in the Army, so can I get a “Hooah!”?
  • It was clever to show old movie clips in the beginning to bring newbies to the Godzilla franchise up to speed.
  • One of the few funny moments of the flick featured some Japanese parents in an airport getting annoyed at their Emo kid.
  • I loved seeing the city and aerial views of Tokyo.
  • One of the best lines in the movie was when a Japanese doctor gets to say “We call him… Godzirra.”
  • There are a few scene transitions that made the audience laugh out loud because they were expecting to see a real monster, but instead, saw a pet chameleon and a toy dinosaur.
Things I didn’t like:

  • Audiences can’t help but compare this film to last summer’s blockbuster Pacific Rim .  They’re both fun, but Pacific Rim had some fresh elements that Godzilla [HD] can’t compete with (uber cool, digital kaiju, gigantic robot soldier fight scenes).  Click here for my review of Pacific Rim.
  • While the 1998 Mathew Broderick version felt more like a cartoon, this one is full of drama.  In fact, it needs a touch of humor to offset the fact that it takes itself so seriously.
  • The back story provided some meat, but was a bit contorted at times.
  • Not nearly enough monster fight scenes.  Not nearly enough Godzilla.  He almost plays a supporting role.
  • Dr. Ishiro Seriwaza does two things well in the movie: utter profound statements about Godzirra, and stare in disbelief with his mouth open.
  • Thanks for the uncomfortable reminder that I live near Yucca Mountain...
Interesting lines:

  • “The arrogance of man is thinking nature is under our control and not the other way around.” – Dr. Ishiro Seriwaza
  • “The king of monsters is the savior of our city.”
  • “Nature has a power to restore its bounds.  I believe he is that nature.”  - Dr. Ishiro Seriwaza
Tips for parents: 

  • Loving married relationships instead of sexual content is refreshing.
  • Very mild profanity that’s hardly noticeable because so many other things are going on.
  • Lots of destruction and monster violence.  That's what you came to see though, right?

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Join me FREE in Vegas!



If you're in Las Vegas.....join me this Friday!

One of my favorite money experts, Loral Langemeier, has given me a hand full of tickets for her Millionaire Makeover Tour and I'm so excited to share a few of these with you!


If you already know Loral Langemeier, you know how great these complimentary tickets are.


Click the link below to register - Did I mention  I have 2 free tickets set aside for you???


https://liveoutloud.infusionsoft.com/go/tboice



Millionaire Makeover Tour

November 2, 2012

9:00 am - 1:00 pm

Bally's Las Vegas

3645 South Las Vegas Boulevard

Las Vegas, NV 89109


Loral is known as the "Millionaire Maker" and you may have seen her in "The Secret," on CNN or on the Dr. Phil Show. She's helped thousands, just like you, build their businesses like they never thought possible!


Loral is THE EXPERT on creating NEW Cash for your business, whether you're just getting started or are on course for a 7-figure status!


Here's just a peek at what Loral's going to share with you at the event.....




- What you can do RIGHT NOW to put more cash in your  pocket with what you already know!


- How you can develop a Millionaire Mindset.


- Where you can go to find prospects who will buy what you have to sell!



Claim your 2 complimentary tickets now!

https://liveoutloud.infusionsoft.com/go/tboice


Millionaire Makeover Tour

November 2, 2012

9:00 am - 1:00 pm

Bally's Las Vegas

3645 South Las Vegas Boulevard

Las Vegas, NV 89109



Enjoy your tickets!







P.S. As this is a free event, seating is limited and will fill up fast - once they are full, they are FULL.


So make sure you take action TODAY and register!

https://liveoutloud.infusionsoft.com/go/tboice



















Tuesday, October 11, 2011

PoetryTurned Into a Vegas Show

                                     
“Jabbawockeez is the best show I’ve seen in Vegas by far” was what my 16 year old son posted on his Facebook status last night, after seeing their fun show at the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino.  We live in Sin City and my son has seen quite a few shows, so that’s really saying something. 

Even if you don’t have a break-dancing teen in your family, you’re sure to enjoy this world-famous dance crew’s high energy show. (Old folks near the stage will want to wear ear plugs.) Picture comedic mimes doing some of the coolest hip hop dance moves you’ve seen, add some fly costumes designed by Kara Saun, the runner up on Bravo’s “Project Runway” Season 1, and put it all on a hip stage set and you’ve got 90 minutes of good, CLEAN entertainment, perfect for families.

The Jabbawockeez first gained fame in their national television appearance on America's Got Talent in 2006, before winning the MTV hip-hop dance reality series, Randy Jackson Presents America's Best Dance Crew in March 2008. They’re considered to be the ultimate dance crew these days and have inspired countless kids to get out there and bust a move.  Does anyone say “bust a move” anymore or did I just reveal my age?



While the target audience is most definitely the young club set, we were surrounded by an amused older crowd in the audience as well.  The dancing is accompanied by a spliced mixed tape of sorts that features musical fan favorites and movie audio clips that span several decades, causing the audience to cheer and clap in excited spurts.

The crew’s signature look includes white masks and white gloves, but even without faces, the dancers’ bodies gave effective expression, often communicating with hesitant volunteers from the audience for some delightful comedy sketches.  In fact, the performers don’t take themselves too seriously at all and the show is almost a comedy routine mixed with some impressive flares, locking, popping and dime stopping.

Without a word from the dancers, they were able to weave a faint story throughout the show of how anyone can find their muse (the show’s title “MUS.I.C” is read “Muse I See”.  I’ve seen several Vegas shows start with a janitor sweeping the stage (get in your seat at least fifteen minutes early to enjoy his pre-show antics), but this blue collar Wockee maintains his faceless identity during the whole show and attempts to teach us that anyone can dream big by bringing “the colors of sound” to life.

One of my favorite sections of the show was a ninja showdown that featured some glow-in-the-dark antics that were fun with the lights off and hilarious when the lights came back on to reveal their secret tricks.  The Jabbawockeez know how to poke fun at Vegas too, dressing up as Elvis, Blue Man Group, Carrot Top, and a show girl.


The original crew consists of seven members: Kevin Brewer, Joe Larot, Phil Tayag, Chris Gatdula, Ryan Paguio, Jeff “Phi” Nguyen, and Ben Chung “B-Tek.” Before being accepted as official members of Jabbawockeez, Jeff and Ben Chung had to participate in a dance battle with one of the three founders.  I did a head count during the Vegas show and soon learned that MTV’s “America’s Best Dance Crew” Season 2 winners Super Cr3w perform nightly with Jabbawockeez, adding some extra athleticism and acrobatics to the show.  In fact, at times there is so much going on the stage that it’s hard to know which performer to focus on.

The name Jabbawockeez is derived from Lewis Carroll’s poem Jabberwocky, briefly alluded to in the show when the janitor starts to read the book and then falls into a dream state.  By the way, don’t sit in the first three rows if fog machines bother you. Although the show started off a little slowly, the packed audience was eager to award the crew with a standing ovation at the end.

And now a few bummers…I talked to several adoring audience members who had their wallets out, ready to buy merchandise before and after the show, but were quickly discouraged by the ridiculously steep prices, leaving the dope signature masks and t-shirts in the store.  I was surprised that the dance crew didn’t take their masks off at the end of the performance like they so often do, and a bit disappointed that they didn’t come outside the theater to greet the audience and take photos.  (I had my Flipcam ready to film them becoming best friends with my son.)

The crew’s success in Vegas means that the show has been extended through spring 2012.  Performances are Thursday at 9:30 p.m., Friday at 9:30 p.m., Saturday at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. and Sunday and Monday at 7:30 p.m.  Tickets start at $52 (plus tax and fees).    For more information, please visit www.jbwkz.com or www.montecarlo.com.