Parks and Recreation

I want to take some time and talk about the TV show Parks and Recreation or Parks and Rec as it's more commonly known. In the past month, I've kinda discovered the show. When it first aired from 2009-2015 I didn't watch it because A) my wife wasn't interested and B) it was supposed to be like The Office and I didn't like The Office. Maybe it was all part of God's timing to not watch the show then as currently I've most certainly needed it now. In fact, I think I can truly say that Parks and Rec saved my life. 

The return to school after Winter Break has certainly been grueling. I'm starting to think it's criminal to expect students to pick up after 2 weeks of being off from school and expect them to finish off the 2nd quarter and first semester. Both Q2 and S1 should end before taking time off for Christmas! Adding to the stress of trying to get students to 'finish hard', it's Cold-Flu-COVID-and-RSV season. Some days, I only see half of my class-load as they are either out sick or can't come to school because we don't have enough bus drivers. 

We also don't have enough teachers. Every day since after Thanksgiving we've had 10-15 teachers out sick. Our district can't get enough subs. So the teachers are expected to fill in. I'm trying to run a department and doing my very best to hold boundaries to saying no. Because if I don't, I'll never get my lesson planning and other class needs meet. But it makes me feel guilty. Budget concerns, threats of violence daily and everyone being angry has taken its toll. Yesterday, I started having chest pains.

I really think if I hadn't been watching Parks and Rec, I would have had a stress related heart attack or a stroke. The NBC series starring Amy Poehler (SNL), Nick Offerman (the voice of Axe Cop) and Chris Pratt (Guardians of the Galaxy) has helped me laugh for one thing. It's also kept me out of a funk. There's been days I've gotten home, just wishing to crawl into bed and sleep. Instead, I flip on my Chromecast and I watch a mini marathon of episodes. Having my wonderful and warm gatos crawl up in my lap has been the icing on the cake. 

Parks and Rec is about the government in a bizarre, small town called Pawnee, Indiana. Everything and everyone in Pawnee is completely insane. Bureaucracy is literally a mishmash of bad ideas, outdated laws and the uneducated, superstitious and OBESE townsfolk allow this craziness to continue. There's a major employer, a candy company called Sweetums, that is polluting and poisoning the town with its delicious but poorly made confections. Add in the oddball town traditions, unusual businesses and attacking throngs of raccoons and possums. Everything makes Pawnee feel like a live action version of the town of Springfield from The Simpsons. 

I hear that the current ABC TV show Abbott Elementary is rather good. But being a teacher, I think if I watched that show it would feel too much like work and make me angry. Parks and Rec touches the public educational system just enough that the stupefying and unfair aspects of local government don't upset me. I can escape and laugh while watching this show. I can also relate, as my hands are tied with some rather silly sounding guidelines that basically prevent me from conducting a role as an instructor and instead place me in a position of an overpaid babysitter. In those regards, I feel like main character Leslie Knope, who for 6 years (so far!) still can't turn an abandoned lot into a community park.

I wish I was more like Ron Swanson. Played by Nick Offerman, Swanson is the Libertarian head of the Parks and Rec department. His laisse-faire and don't care attitude about things is something I need to do with my work. I'm putting too much into it and getting no return. (Okay- that might not be 100% true. But I sure feel this way a lot!) Plus, Ron Swanson steals the show!

I typically don't talk much about my work life on this blog as we've been warned that doing so can be a fireable offence. But I've not disclosed the name of the school system in which I work, I haven't lied or bad-mouthed it either. So I think this small thank you to a TV show that has helped me through a very tough time recently is okay therapy. Plus, I'm saving all the juicy stuff for my book that I write when I retire!

Oh. The chest pains! Saw a doctor today. EKG and other tests were rather promising. It's all stress related. Hopefully, a new, small dose of medication will help me out on that.

Episodes of Parks and Rec air regularly on IFC and can be accessed through YoutubeTV.

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

This review was co-written with my wife, Jan.

Warning: Spoilers For Jurassic Park: Fallen Kingdom

Starring: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, BD Wong, & James Cromwell
Directed by J.A. Bayona
Written by Derek Connolly, Colin Trevorrow

The Jurassic Park franchise went very dark and extremely sad in the latest entry, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. Case in point is that tragic scene where the island home of the dinosaurs is destroyed by a raging volcano. With all this dinosaur cruelty, where is PETA when you need it?

The premise of Fallen Kingdom is that thanks to the no longer dormant volcano, Owen Grady and Claire Dearing (played Pratt and Howard) must return to the destroyed park to rescue as many creatures as possible. In the dramatic last breath of Isla Nublar, many thunder lizards meet a grizzly end. But it’s the final dinosaur seen on the island that will bring you to tears.

As Owen and Claire look back at Jurassic Park, a long neck dinosaur runs to the water’s edge alone and in need of rescue. Unable to help, the poor brachiosaurus is killed off by the volcano. It’s a tear-jerking scene.

Making things even more heartbreaking is that it was later revealed by director J.A. Bayona that the poor dino is the very same one Alan Grant saw in that epic reveal scene from the first Jurassic Park movie. And the director planned all of this on purpose!

In my opinion, J.A. Bayona is a mean director who left the poor girl to die on the island in the lava- just to make people cry! “I think it’s a beautiful moment — it’s sad but it’s beautiful, and it’s so relevant,” the director has been quoted as saying. Had I known that little segment would have made me upset- I wouldn’t have gone to see Fallen Kingdom!

After the destruction of the island, the protagonists learn that they’ve been duped. Those financing the mission aren’t interested in rescuing the animals from destruction. Instead, they want to manipulate the prehistoric refuges as weapons of war.

As result in this movie, the characters are either looked at as either heroes or villains that you hope become dino-chow. It’s rare that you find a movie where you want the cast to either live happily ever after and the other half to die violently. There’s no middle ground throw away characters that you have very little care for in this film.

Plus, that long anticipated scene with Jeff Goldblum’s return as Dr. Malcolm was superfluous. He’s used as a link to the past Jurassic Park franchise. However, his role serve served no other apparent purpose in the plot.

Bryce Dallas Howard’s performance was something else that bothered me. She was a strong female lead and based on her character, you would not expect her to scream at every danger. Yet, she shrieked more than that 10-year old character Maisie Lockwood (Isabella Sermon) did.

One thing that has been a consistent issue for me throughout all the movies is how contained to the island the dinosaurs have been for 5 movies. For example, there are pterodactyls on Isla Nublar. These are dinosaurs that can fly. Being only 150 miles away from Costa Rica, what’s kept them from causing destruction in other countries? It’s a plot point that has never been truly addressed.

Another issue with this movie involves large majority of the action scenes. Many of them, including a large jump off a cliff into a very deep part of the ocean, would not have been survivable. There are quite a bit of scares in this film as well. If you are a jumpy viewer, Fallen Kingdom was effective in this part.

If watching lovable ancient reptiles needlessly die makes you sad- Fallen Kingdom will to that to you! If you enjoy watching baddies become their just desserts at the hands of dinosaurs- you will enjoy this movie. One way or the only, don’t expect to leave this film feeling 100% satisfied.

The events of this movie has set things up for a third and final installment in the Fallen Kingdom potion of the Jurassic Park Franchise. But I refuse to watch it if J.A. Bayona cannot guarantee that there will no be another tragic scene as that long neck’s death throes.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Guardians of the Galaxy, Volume 2

  The Guardians of the Galaxy; those madcap misfits that cruise the stars for fun and glory returned to the big screen today. All of the major players return as Peter Quill/ Star Lord (Chris Pratt) finally learns who his father is. Turns out, it's not the fanatical J'Son of the Spartax Empire but instead Ego, the Living Planet, played by veteran actor Kurt Russell. 
     Meanwhile, Rocket Raccoon, (baby) Groot, and the space pirate Yondu (Michael Rooker) find themselves in the middle of a mutiny sparked by the deadly Nebula (Karen Gillan). Will the daughter of Thanos get her revenge on her sister Gamora, portrayed by Star Trek's Zoe Saldana? While Rocket and friends get out of the mess they are in? And what is Ego's true motive behind his long overdue reunion with his son?

     Guardians Volume 2 was a fun ride but it doesn't quite match up to the original. The soundtrack filled with tons of 70s and 80s hits was just as good as in the first film. The humor was actually better than in the original (Dave Bautista's Drax was a real hoot!) and it's a visually stunning film. But the plot just wasn't as good as the first film. Thus, it's not another Empire Strikes Back.
      Sadly, with the very adorable and oh so marketable Baby Groot- this film actually comes really close to becoming another Return of the Jedi. But thankfully, it doesn't pander too much in that direct. But man, every young girl in the theatre just oohed and aahed with every scene that feature the lovable tree-being. You would have thought Orlando Bloom was Groot it was that much of a love fest...
      The first half of this film looked like it was going to be a sappy love story or film about father son bonding like the scene when Star Lord finally plays catch with his father. Yes- family is a big theme in this flick. But for a solid hour, I didn't have a clue where this was going and was really afraid this was going to be a dull interlude between the first film and the purported 'Epic' third act due in 2019. 
      Thankfully, the second act really cranks up the plot, action, and adventure. I don't want to give too much away about the plot, but if you are familiar with the character of Ego the Living Planet then you have a pretty good idea what's going to happen. So in other words, while exciting to watch, if you are a Marvel Comics expert, you know how everything is going to end and it's not something that will vest too much interested- meaning I wasn't on the edge of my seat wondering what's going to happen next.
       That being said- I do wonder how events of this film will pan out in next week's episode of Agents of SHIELD. 
       Also, if you've ever wondered if Stan Lee is Uatu the Watcher in all of the Marvel films, you get your definitive answer in two great cameo scenes. But believe me when I say if you blink you will miss at least 1 of them.
      Lastly, as we all know, this being a superhero feature, the kids are going to want to see this. Let me warn you- there's a couple of scenes in which Ego explains the birds and the bees to his son. Not graphic, but it could spark some 'Where do babies come from' conversations. The violence is pretty mild as is the language. But there are several penis jokes as well. So, if you have little ones, this could be an interesting car ride home.

     A very enjoyable movie that doesn't surpass the original. But at least it isn't a complete repeat of the first blockbuster either.

     Worth Consuming!

     Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Jurassic World

    On the same day that the film became the 3rd highest grossing movie of all-time and that it was announced that a sequel was now in the works, I finally saw Jurassic World. I am a huge fan of the movie and an even bigger fan of the original novel by one of my favorite writers, Michael Crichton. Oddly enough, out of all 4 films in the Jurassic series, this was the first one I saw in theaters. 

    Jurassic World takes place some 20 years after the first film. The dream of John Hammond has finally been realized and Isla Nublar has been converted into the technological theme park marvel, Jurassic World. The park is run by super-efficient park manager Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard) who has trouble seeing the human side of things. Her nephews are visiting the park for the week, but she doesn't even have any time for them as she is super busy wooing prospective corporate sponsors for the park's newest coming attraction- the Indominus Rex.

   This hybrid dinosaur is super stealthy and wicked mean. It's proof of what Jeff Goldblum's character, Ian Malcolm, in the first film advises- 'Man should not play GOD!' When the hybrid manages to break loose, it's up to ex-Navy Seal Owen (Chris Pratt) to save the day. He's been working on a super secret project with Jurassic World's genetic research parent  company InGen involving the training of velociraptors as army weapons. 

    During the melee, Claire realizes that her nephews are unaccounted for and seeks Owen's help to rescue them. While on their rescue mission, they see first hand the carnage of the Indominus Rex, who isn't killing for food but sport, setting itself up to become the dominant thunder lizard of the park. However, there are several species of dinosaur ready to challenge the Indominus as alpha dog as the giant creature destroys park attraction after park attraction and unleashes a hell on the visitors of the park some 65-million years in the making. 

    Jurassic World was an excellent film. It's no Jurassic Park and it doesn't really try to be. However, there are several easter eggs that elude to that classic film and it pays a respectable homage to it without being gaudy or flashy. 

    Yes, there are a few plot devices that were borrowed from the original film and some cliches were telegraphed from the beginning. Particularly as you could tell from when certain characters were first introduced in the film that they would become dino-chow by the time the credits roll. However, the film was a fresh take on a film series over 2 decades old and I didn't feel like I've seen this movie before. (Well, there was one scene in which a flock of flying dinos terrorize the park. I remember leaning over to my wife and saying 'Where's Ian Zeiring (of the Sharknado films) when you need him?")

    The acting was quite good and both Howard and Pratt steal just about every scene they are in which is saying something as there are dinosaurs in just about everyone one of those scenes. Without giving away too much of the end of the film, I will say that I am glad both are set to return in the sequel but I really haven't the foggiest clue how they are going to be able to do a 2nd (technically 5th) film after the amount of dino-destruction Jurassic World occurs.

    A fun 2-hour ride that really puts you in the film. I didn't see the movie in 3-D as that technology gives me massive headaches. But I could see how many would think this movie was made only to be seen in that format. It should be noted- if you see the film in regular 2-D, some scenes will look grainy and I think that is because those scenes were particularly shot to be viewed in 3-D.

    Worth Consuming

    Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.