Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted Review

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted is the latest installment of the franchise from DreamWorks. I’ve always felt like the series was colorful, fun, and easygoing, but nothing out of this world or extremely revolutionary. That’s how I feel about this film as well. It’s amusing, lively, goes down easy, but it doesn’t break any ground or have any real drive behind it. It’s junk food in the animated world.

In the third chapter, the gang is still trying to get back to New York, but instead they find themselves in Europe joining the circus. The circus gang is convinced that they are part of another circus, which is why they agree to let them join their show. As they say, the circus stays together. Before long, they discover that Alex the Lion (Ben Stiller), Marty the Zebra (Chris Rock), Melman the giraffe (David Schwimmer), and Gloria the hippo (Jada Pinkett-Smith) can help them regain their desire and love for the circus and infuse some passion into it.

The new characters that are introduced in this film include Stefano the sea lion (Martin Short), Gia the jaguar (Jessica Chastain), and Vitaly the tiger (Bryan Cranston). There is also a subplot involving a romance between Julien (Sacha Baron Cohen) and Sonya the bear (Frank Welker), even though there is a clear difference in their size. There is also an incredibly skilled and gifted villain in the film named Captain Chantel DuBois (Frances McDormand). She can fly through buildings with relative ease, yet seems to have extreme difficultly capturing these zoo animals on the loose.

Madagascar 3 is an example of a sequel that tries to throw everything and anything at the audience. It’s fast paced, in your face, very vibrant, and doesn’t slow down until about thirty minutes until the film ends. Kids, I’m sure, will love it with the cute animals, over the top voices, and high flying, in-your-face action. Personally, I felt like the film lacked consistent heart, which didn’t come into focus until too late in the film, a moving scene involving a tiger that has issues thanks to a stunt gone wrong. A more balanced approach of heart and humor would have made a more effective film.

In the end, Madagascar 3 is a good time waster for parents that are unsure what to do with their children on a warm day. For everyone else, it’s purely a rental. I have not seen Brave yet, but it might be a better choice of an animated film for a general audience. Sadly, I didn’t feel like they were too motivated with this project, as it was way over the top and a more subtle approach would have produced a better quality film. The voice work is rather forgettable and it all feels a little too ordinary, run of the mill, and just simply OK. DreamWorks has done better films in the past, such as the Kung Fu Panda series, and I hope their next project returns them to their previous glory.

Grade: C

How should you see it? Rent it

Prometheus Review

I have to admit that I’m not the best person for a review like Prometheus, as for the most part, I had no idea what was happening. Science fiction has always been a struggle for me as a film reviewer, as the different worlds, different language, and lingo always confuses me and leaves me baffled. Nevertheless, I did decide to check out Prometheus as I like director Ridley Scott and always enjoy the cast, consisting of Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron, Idris Elba, and Guy Pearce. I figured the cast, the director, and the stylish look of the film was enough to warrant a view.

A group of explorers think they might have a clue as to the roots of mankind on Earth, so they go on a mission to the murkiest corners of earth. The very serious and very intense Meredith Vickers (Charlize Theron) is the leader of this group and advises them to be very careful and be smart about their decisions. David, an android, played by Michael Fassbender is there to keep an eye on the humans. It’s a sick and twisted performance done with great seriousness and intensity. Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace) and Charlie Holloway (Logan Marshall-Green) are also on this mission as a couple, which makes things quite complicated.

This is a confusing, complicated, and meandering film that never really did it for me. The acting was just OK, as they are sort of just reading bland dialogue. There is little comedy in this film, even to break up the deadly serious nature of the film. Besides Noomi and Fassbender, the rest of the cast is sort of lost in the script and the scenery. There is one scene involving Noomi that is out of this world and incredibly over the top in the best possible way. It was the best scene of the film by far, and I wish the rest of the film had that maniac energy to it.

Everything with Prometheus feels standard, mediocre, and simply OK. It was never boring, but I did find myself clock watching a couple of times. It’s nice to look at with two good performances, but nothing much else. I couldn’t sink my teeth into anything here, as the film feels like a part of another film or an upcoming film. As a stand-alone film, it should have been a lot better considering the director and the talent involved.

Grade: C-

How should you see it: Redbox

Podcast Review: Movie Geeks United

 

One thing I love to do is listen to a good podcast. Sometimes when I’m lying awake in bed, unable to sleep, I close my eyes, relax, and listen to a podcast and unwind. When I go on a long walk either to school or around town for exercise, I have my IPod on and I listen to a podcast. My favorite podcasts, of course, involve sports and movies. One of the best podcasts out there is Movie Geeks United hosted by Jamey DuVall, Jerry Dennis, and Dean Treadway. They have done over 600 interviews with people involved in the movie industry, everyone from writers, directors, actors, cinematographers, producers, composers, critics, authors, and movie related experts. Some of their top interviews involve Francis Ford Coppola, Brian De Palma, Robert Duvall, and James Cameron.

I first discovered the show back in 2007 via Jerry Dennis. This was back in the days of MySpace, where we had a big movie group involving all of us who loved to write film reviews. The group has since moved onto Facebook. The show started with Jerry Dennis, Jamey, and Chris. If I’m going to be frank, I was initially not a fan of the show and struggled to get into it. I listened to it because I knew Jerry very well and did it to support him. I was unfamiliar with Jamey for the most part. My initial thoughts on the show were that it seemed too serious about film and too stuffy. I love film just as much as the next guy and take it seriously, but felt as though it didn’t have a fun factor to it yet. It didn’t really develop its serious tone while adding some fun to the mix.

I made an appearance on the show to give a film review for Hostel Part 2 back in June 2007 and talk about my interview with Eli Roth. You can listen to the show via this link: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/moviegeeksunited/2007/06/10/the-sopranos-and-can-movies-inspire-real-life-violence

I enjoyed the appearance and got along well with all of them. As they usually say, real life gets in the way, and I sort of went through my own personal and professional issues and sort of fell off the face of the earth in terms of writing and reviews. Ever since then, I’ve been sort of off and on with my reviews, more on lately. For me, it’s sometimes hard to balance writing, real life, career, family, and everything else. I feel like I have learned to balance it more, which is why I’m writing more and producing more content.

Through my return, I have been listening to more shows from Movie Geeks United, and let me tell you, this is a show that has found its groove and is really running like a well-oiled machine with Dean, Jamey, and Jerry.

 

Let’s first of all talk about the host: Jamey DuVall. He has a great balance of comedy, intelligence, and charisma to host the show. He knows how to handle all of the moods of the show, striking just the right notes when the time calls for it. It allows viewers to know the man behind the host as a humorous, thoughtful, sometimes tired and overworked, but always game personality. One of his best traits however is the fact that he can talk to any type of entertainment personality with relative ease. You can tell they feel comfortable, relaxed and eager to share their thoughts with him. From the random shows I’ve listened to here and there, via the archives, I haven’t seen him give a bad interview or come unprepared. Even when rarely dealing with a subject who can be difficult, he handles it with class and dignity. He builds a real connection and rapport with the personalities.

Jerry Dennis has been his loyal co-host since the inception of the show. Jerry brings self-deprecating humor, encyclopedia knowledge of film, and an incredible sharp and quick sense of humor. When it comes to letting you in, Jerry is unafraid to say what’s on his mind at any time. He also lets the random F-bomb fly, which adds to the unpredictability of the show. His chemistry with Jamey is impeccable and they bounce off each other just perfectly. For a successful show to work, you need to have opposite hosts who are able to blend together to create a magical mix. The one thing they have in common is a knowledge and passion for film, but other than that, they are vastly different, and it produces a tremendous formula for the show.

Rounding out the cast is Dean Treadway, who runs a film blog, and has been involved in journalism in many aspects throughout his career. One of the more interesting things about Dean is his telephone, which often cuts in and out or as Jamey said one time, “Are you calling us from a urinal?” Dean is a gamer and always brings his A-game to every single show. He knows about all types of films, from all walks of life. Film is his life, and you can tell that by talking to him. He goes to film festivals and informs of the Movie Geeks about upcoming movies, foreign films, and everything in between.

Movie Geeks United is easy listening while also taking film seriously as an art form that influences the world and our changing times. As I’ve mentioned, they also know how to have fun at each other’s expense without ever becoming mean spirited or cruel. Movie Geeks United has a voice, and it’s by far the best movie themed podcast on the Internet. I admire them for what they are able to do. I’ve always wanted to do a podcast and I’ve done random ones here and there, but I’ve never been fully comfortable with it. If you get me writing, talking off the record with someone, I can riff, be comfortable, talk all day, and feel like it’s good content and informative. The minute you tell me it’s recorded or going to be on the air, I freeze up.

So let me tell you, I give them all the credit in the world for what they do, and it is not easy. You have to prepare a ton, research, and be ready for anything that could happen on the show, in an interview, or otherwise. They are the best at what they do. Not only that, and this might sound biased, but so be it, you will be hard pressed to find three nicer individuals than Jamey, Jerry, and Dean. It’s all the more reason to support them and what they do.

For more information on Movie Geeks United, you can use the follow links:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/moviegeeksunited

http://www.moviegeeksunited.net/

twitter.com/moviegeeksunite

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/movie-geeks-united-blog-talk/id260169200

https://www.facebook.com/moviegeeksunited

-Tony Farinella

Goodbye Blockbuster (Better Late than Never)

February 21, 2012, was my last day at Blockbuster Video. It’s hard to believe it’s been that long since I have stepped foot in a Blockbuster store to work my usual shift.  I spent three years at Blockbuster Video, which is nothing compared to what some people have spent there, some over a decade.  No, I was not fired.  My store closed on Roberts Road in Hickory Hills. Usually when a store closes, you get transferred to another one, but as everyone knows, there are no stores nearby anymore. There was nowhere for me to go upon the closing of the store. I was a CSR without a store. Sadly, it is now a Chase Bank to be, and a part of me gets incredibly depressed whenever I see them building the Chase.

In order to tell this story, it’s best to go to the start of the story. It was December of 2008, and I was, as I still am, a struggling writer trying to find a writing gig that pays at a magazine, website, or any publication. Writing is what I love to do, live to do, and want to do more than anything in the whole world. I just wish someone would pay me to do it. I’m not looking for a rich contract, just some cash to pay my bills, live comfortably.  I’ve always held firm that is what I wanted to do.

Well, a dream is great to have and everyone should have one, but dreams don’t always pay the bills, at least right away. I had like 25 dollars in my checking account, and I was tired of living on little to nothing. Plus, my dad needed help with the bills, as the burden was becoming too strong on him. So I had to find a real job, you know, the kind where you get a paycheck at the end of two weeks. I’ve worked fast food before, and let me tell you, that job is not for me. No disrespect to anyone who works in fast food, as everyone has to do it, but I couldn’t stand it.

I worked at McDonalds and Fasano’s Pizza before.  McDonald’s was by far the worst, as I was stuck in a kitchen with people who did not speak English, and they were put in charge of training me. I burned my hand, got yelled at, and generally felt like crap most of the time at this job.  As far as the pizza gig, again, not for me, the fast paced world of fast food, trying to figure out to make all the pizzas, the sauces, ingredients. I give all the credit in the world to the people who work these jobs, and everyone has to make a living somehow, but I couldn’t do it. I need human interaction. I’m a people person, and I love helping people, talking to people, and having a connection with customers.

When you stick me in the back of a kitchen, with no one to talk to, that speaks English, I feel like a robot, lose interest and become very bored. I become disconnected. When I feel that way, I shut down and don’t feel inspired, motivated, or excited to do my work. So, the job hunt started, and I wanted to be a cashier, where I could talk to people, ring them out, and tell some jokes, have some fun.  I applied at Target, Best Buy, Kohl’s, Walmart, and the Blockbuster Video on 104^th and Cicero. Well, within a week of applying online, Blockbuster Video called me in for an interview.

This I could do. I love movies, and I get to be around them all day, talk about them, and help customers decide what to rent. It’s not a writing job that pays, but it’s the next best thing in terms of retail. I applied numerous times at Hollywood Video, had friends who worked there, but never, ever got a sniff of an interview or call back, which was always disappointing to me. My girlfriend at the time came in with me for moral support, and I have to say, I knocked the interview out of the park in my mind.

I knew movies and I felt confident, in control, and like I impressed her. When you know something and it fits, it just feels right.  That was the case with Blockbuster Video. A week later, they called me, and I got the job. Woo hoo! I started my first shift and initially worked with Tony and Sandy and also met Daren. Daren has become of my close friends, as we have worked together at Oak Lawn, Bridgeview, Orland and Hickory.  He’s loud, funny, carefree, and very charismatic.  He’s also incredibly loyal and would do anything to help someone who is having a bad day or needs help, whether it’s buying you dinner, making you laugh, or just listening. If he’s your friend, he would do just about anything for you. Tony was a great deadpan comedian at work, who loved wrestling and the Office. We clicked instantly and lived close to each other. 

Whenever I worked weekend shifts with Tony and Daren, I knew work would go by quickly and be a freaking blast. They never disappointed. Sandy was a riot and really the person who trained me, helped me, and walked me through those first few months when I was incredibly nervous, uncomfortable. Jeree was also incredibly helpful to me, and I wish I would have gotten to work with him more.

The manager and assistant manager were very intimidating, as most main managers are I would imagine. When you are new to a place, it’s especially scary, as you want them to like you, you want to fit in, and you want to impress them.  I tried too hard at times to do this and failed miserably.    The hardest part of the job, without question, was the sales.  I would have many sleepless nights, panic attacks, and great stress over my sales numbers. Basically, we had to sell different programs, packages, and presales, and we had goals each week of what we had to sell. I never felt comfortable with this, as we had to be pushy at times. I’m not really a pushy person.

If you didn’t sell, it was not fun going to work, let’s just say that. I sucked at sales, to be quite honest. I would stutter, stumble, and didn’t sell crap.  I understand it’s part of the retail process, but I hate it. I don’t like when it’s done to me, and I don’t like doing it to others. To be fair, the store manager told me about it in the interview, but I never imagined it was this vital to the job. So, basically, I would hide, try to avoid the register, and keep busy, so I did other stuff that didn’t involve selling. I would try to clean, straighten, and do other odd tasks to avoid having to be at the register and sell. It scared me, and I would dread going into work and having to do it. The night before my shift, I would toss and turn and worry about it. It was not fun. I needed a job, though, so I had to suck it up and deal with it.

I would see others do it so effortlessly and so easily. They could do it like it was nothing at all. I can’t say I particularly enjoyed my time at the Oak Lawn Blockbuster. I was too nervous, trying too hard, worrying too much, and inside my own head. I was a wreck and not a very good employee, I’ll be honest. When I heard the store was closing down and an Auto Zone was going to take over, I was freaking out, as I didn’t know if I was going to get another job and what I was going to do. Luckily, I was transferred to the store in Bridgeview on 87^th and Harlem, which wasn’t too far away from my house.

I got off on the wrong foot at this store, which was my fault, for saying the wrong things. I rubbed people the wrong way, and no one liked me and I knew it.  Sales were a little easier at this store for me, as I think a change of scenery did me good. I was getting the hang of it, selling pretty well, and in the groove of it. Hey, maybe I could do this, after all. I never enjoyed it, selling, but it was part of the job.  It’s pretty simple.  Sell or go home.  If you don’t like it, get another job. I didn’t like it, but I liked the job, so I put up with it, made the most of it.

My store manager Marlene was also helping out at another store in Palos, and she needed some extra help, so I went over there for their closing run from September until October. Through that store, I met Joe Guzy, who I clicked with instantly and got along with. We still keep in touch through Facebook and chat about movies, sports. He would always give me the score of Packer games, as I would work Sunday’s and my phone wasn’t as high tech as it is now.

Palos was a freaking blast. It was a closing store, which means no pressure to sell. All you do is ring people out, talk to customers, help them. I loved that and always enjoyed going there. At one point, I was working 35 hours between Palos and Bridgeview. I loved it. I was working a ton, making a ton of money, and keeping busy. I also met James Lohman, who has an incredible brain when it comes to movie knowledge. He was a fun manager to work with and we always had great movie discussions.  That was a great 8 week run, and I always looked forward to working at the Palos store and was sad when it closed. The only downside to that store was there was nowhere to eat in that general area, and as everyone knows, I need food when I’m hungry.

Then we found out that Bridgeview was also closing, so in a matter of a year, three stores I worked at were closed or closing, Oak Lawn, Bridgeview, and Palos. It was a harsh reality. You get close to people, form a connection, enjoy working with them, and look forward to working with them. Then, you might never, ever see them again, except for the random Facebook interaction. That’s why I always have a problem when school ends and the semester is over. I like familiarity and seeing the usual faces. I’m an open book, as you can probably tell from reading this blog or any of my writing, and I let people in. When I let them in, I like to them to stay around, stay in my life, and be around for a while. When they are taken away or gone so quickly, a part of me gets sad, misses that.

By this point, I think the opinion on me had changed in Bridgeview. I kept my mouth shut, worked hard, and tried to be a good employee. They could tell I had changed; they gave me a second chance and embraced me. I would work every Monday with the store manager Marlene, getting the signs and the store ready for the new sales, as the prices changed throughout the outlet. I enjoyed working those Monday mornings with Marlene, as I liked the routine, familiar faces, and seeing the customers. I felt like everyone at the store liked me, and I fit in. I was considered a good employee, treated very well, and received a ton of hours during the outlet. We also had Kim Thackwell at the store as our manager for a brief period, and she was amazing. She had a great sarcasm to her personality and was always a blast. She was the type of person you wanted to work for. You wanted to work hard for her, make her happy, because she was such a sweet and giving person.

Once that store closed, I was on my way to 179^th and Wolf Road all the way out in Orland Park. It’s not the Orland you would imagine, next to the mall and all of the hot restaurants. It’s in the middle of nowhere with nothing in sight except for a random Blockbuster, a Subway, and a rundown pizza place. This store was incredibly slow and often produced hour gaps of no customers. Here, Marlene was the manager, which was great, and I also worked with Tim, Joe Guzy again, and Daren.  It was a fantastic crew and my favorite store, just because it was a perfect crew assembled.  We all worked hard, but it never felt like work.  I remember working during the Super Bowl and the Oscars, when no one was within a 10 mile radius of the store.  I also worked during blizzards, which also produced no customers.  It was a great store, small, and a relaxing environment. Of course, it closed down in April, and then I was moved to Hickory Hills, where I lasted for two years before they were closed down.

I feel like when I was transferred to Hickory Hills, that’s when I came into my own as an employee. Not only could I sell, but I was one of the top sellers, if not, the top seller at the store. When I think back to my early days at the Oak Lawn Blockbuster, I couldn’t sell water to a dying man in Africa. Now, I was churning out sales, each and every week.  It helped that Hickory was by far the busiest store in the district. When you have a register to yourself, with customers coming in, one after another, it’s only natural that you are going to sell SOMETHING. If you try and keep at it, the law of averages will work out in your favor.

I was here with Keriann Bryant, who I also worked with at Bridgeview. This is a manager who makes her employees feel special, whether it’s buying them a lunch, giving them a ride home, or going the extra mile, she did it. She was like the momma of Blockbuster, looking out for all of us, with difficult customers or anything that was needed.  I also worked with Michelle, who was shy and quiet but when she got to know you, she had a very fun side to her. Margaret was also a manager at this store, and she was no nonsense when it came to the customer, that’s for sure.

The store manager was Dina and she was very, very fair when it came to how the store was run. She had a very specific vision and idea.  She had been with the company for many years and since the Hickory store opened. She was hardworking, dedicated, and put everything into the store. When you work with somebody like that, it makes you want to work harder and go the extra mile. After working there for a while, I saw a new side of her, as she opened up more, had a wicked sense of humor, and was very caring about her employees.

The CSR’s, of course, how could you forget about Stella? She was a hoot and a holler, always laughing and in good spirits. I could just smile or laugh and she would crack up laughing. I also met one of my best friends there, Mohammad. Sadly, we have lost touch, as so often happens with life, but he was an incredible friend to have. We had tons of fun playing Madden, going to the movies and hanging out. That happened because of Blockbuster.

Daren, of course, was there, and we had many fun Saturday night shifts, one that involves a Buddhist trying to convert Daren, as Keriann and I stood by, in shock, doing nothing. We also had a blast when the power went out and we ordered a pizza. I always loved those Saturday shifts, with D$. He made it worthwhile to be there on a Saturday night, when I would rather be out, let’s be honest.

Joe Guzy was there for a while there, which was awesome. Becky and Amber also worked there, and they were always fun to be around and work with.

We had a revolving door of managers at one point, with Chris Lee and Judy.  Chris was sort of a like a hippie movie buff, with his long hair and easy going attitude. It was rare to see him upset or worked up and he had a great connection with the customers. They loved him. Judy sort of took over the role of Keriann, as the mom of Blockbuster, often bringing me food and helping me with everything.  She always had me cracking up, as she would just give me a stare and it would say everything I needed to know about what she wanted or what she was thinking. I miss working with her.

Other honorable mentions go to Roxanne from Tinley Park, Lalo from Crestwood, Jessica from Lockport, and I’m sure I’m forgetting many others. I’m sorry if that’s the case.

Of course, the customers, and I could write three blogs about them.  I’ll just say that they cared about me and I cared about them. When I see them at Jewel, I give them hugs and they remember me. I had something special with them. It was unlike anything I’ve ever had before any at store or any Blockbuster.  It was magic. I was nicknamed The Mayor, because I knew most customers by name, they asked for me, and I would make them laugh or recommend movies to them. I felt like I mattered around them.  When the store closed, I had so many of them offer me jobs, help, and wisdom.  It was like I was a member of their family.

With that said, I feel like when the store closed, I was ready for it.  Even though I was only there for three years, it felt like many more, due to the store closings, uncertainty of whether I’d have a job or not, Dish buying Blockbuster, new programs to sell, pressure to sell, and everything else that occurred. It was a very unstable environment, as much as I enjoyed it. I did everything I could have done at Blockbuster. I never wanted to be a manager or be promoted. I knew that wasn’t for me.

I’ll always remember Blockbuster and what I’ve learned from the company. I can sell. Even though I hate selling, if I have to, I can do it.  I can handle lines out the door, with relative ease, without freaking out. I can adjust to new stores, new managers, and new environments. I can fit in. I can screw up, have people hate me, but then like me. I can deal with difficult customers.  It was a great learning experience and I’ll always be grateful for that and the memories that I will always cherish.

 

And I’ll end it with this …

Do you want to add a bundle with that? 

-Tony Farinella

Being a Lakers/Packers fan in Chicago

Two questions I get asked often, “How can you live in Chicago and like the Packers and the Lakers?”  I get asked these questions a lot, because I have a Lakers backpack and a Packers lunch bag. I stand out like a sore thumb when people see me with that combination.

First of all, I’ve never, for the life of me, understood why just because you are geographically located somewhere that means YOU HAVE to be a fan of that particular team.  After all, aren’t we FREE to choose who to root for, who to like, and what to do.  Do we have to confirm to something because we were born in that city?  I think it’s pretty simplistic and boring to root for a team only because you live there.  We are smarter than that. If that is the team you like and you live in that city, that’s cool with me and I have no issues with that, whatsoever.  I just have issues with people who want everyone to fall in line with a team because they live in Chicago, New York, or wherever.

Let’s start with the Green Bay Packers.  In the city of Chicago, the Green Bay Packers are seen as the enemy, thanks to their storied rivalary with the Chicago Bears.  The Bear fans hate the Packers, and Packer fans hate the Bears. So, how did I become a Green Bay Packers fan, you ask?

Growing up, my dad is about as a big of a Bear fan as you can imagine. When the game is on, nothing else matters to him. He makes a huge meal and will not take a bite out of his meal until the game starts. He still talks about the 1985 Bears and what a great team they were. So, because of this, growing up with my dad around the Bears, I’ve seen the Packers twice a year, because they are in the same division. 

The Bears, from the time I have been a little boy until now, have always, in my eyes, been a boring, bland, and uninteresting team. I’m not just saying this because I’m a Packers fan. It’s how I’ve always viewed them. Their offense has always been lifeless and dreary. They rely on defense, running the football.  Their games and their team are tough for me to watch. It’s not the style of football I enjoy, get behind.  It’s brutally boring to me. I understand it’s a different style of football and not every team is going to follow the same formula, but as a fan, I can’t support it.

Watching the Packers growing up, even when they had mediocre or bad teams, they were always entertaining, engaging, and enjoyable to view. The crowd was always excited, loud, and so into the game, even if they were 6-10 like in 2008. They put out an exciting brand of football, with an explosive offense and turnover producing defense. From Favre to Rodgers, the quarterback play has always been terrific.  They jump in the stands after a touchdown, play the song Bang on the Drum All Day and have such a rich and storied tradition. I used to be a wrestling fan and loved ECW for its fan interactive nature, and the Green Bay Packers reminded me of that. It’s a team by the fans for the fans.

As far as the Lakers go, as I’m sure everyone who reads this blog knows: I love movies. I love movies, TV, and anything to do with that type of media. Watching Basketball as a young fan, the Lakers captured my interest, attention right away. You look in the stands and you have a cast that rivals the films New Year’s Eve or Valentine’s Day. It’s a who’s who of Hollywood royalty, including, of course, Jack.

The Lakers are an event, and I love events, like big movies and big sports games.  When you watch a Laker game, it’s something special. They always have had legends like Kobe, Shaq, Magic Johnson, Kareem, and Jerry West.  They also have tradition which is always huge for me. I love a team that takes tradition seriously and respects that. I’ll never, ever forget their seven game series against the Boston Celtics in 2010. That is the best series and the most excited I’ve been for any team, more than when the Packers won the Super Bowl. It was a seven game series of emotion, pain, excitement, and at the end, joy. I own a box set that includes all seven games in their entirety and I often rewatch the games and smile. To me, that was the sweetest series ever. The Lakers beat their arch nemesis, the Boston Celtics, in seven games, after being down 13 points in the second half. It was a great comeback and as emotional as I’ve ever been during a series or a season. It was the only time a sport has ever made me cry. I cried tears of joy and happiness when it was all said and done.

When I wear a Packer t shirt or a Laker t shirt, it’s a statement. I’m representing the team and what they stand for.  When I wear a Laker shirt, I’m promoting the Hollywood life, which I hope to live someday: a life of glamour, glitz, and the good life.  It’s the Lakers, baby.  It’s fun, exciting, care free, and always a blast. It’s also basketball at its finest, played the right way by some of the best players of all time. When I wear a Packer shirt, I’m representing real football fans who care about their team, live and die with them, and support them all the time.

I’ve never had anything against the Bulls, by the way. I respect them, especially Michael Jordan and Phil Jackson, who also coached the Lakers. They just never tickled my fancy. As they say, not my cup of tea.


Right now, the Lakers and the Packers are both not playing, so it’s a hard time as a fan.  I could never get into hockey or baseball as hard as I tried. Baseball, for me, is too slow moving, too long of a season, and not enough drama. I know it’s America’s past time, and it’s nothing personal against the many baseball fans. Hockey, I can never see the puck, and it moves too quickly to comprehend, take in what’s happening and too low scoring.

Hope this blog helped you understand why I love my teams.

-Tony Farinella

One and a Half Year Anniversary with Amanda :)

Amanda and I recently celebrated our one and a half year anniversary together on May 30, 2012.  It’s hard to believe that time has flown that fast in our relationship. As the old expression goes, time flies when you are having fun, and we have had a lot of fun during the past 18 months of our relationship. With our anniversary, we decided to plan a little vacation to celebrate it, so we got a hotel for two days.  When people think of a vacation, they might think of somewhere exotic, somewhere with nice weather, or somewhere far away. For us, it’s more about having time to ourselves, away from everything, to relax, enjoy each other’s company and take it easy.  We usually stay local.  It’s more about getting away and having alone time together.

We both live at home currently, so it can be difficult to have time to ourselves.  We love our families, appreciate them, but sometimes you just have to get away from everyone and everything, and it’s nothing personal.  It’s just refreshing to have peace and quiet and the freedom to do what we want when we want to do it.  When you live with others, you have to be aware of them and can’t always talk at a normal voice at 1AM or 2AM in the morning.  I respect that completely, but it’s great to just live by your own rules sometimes.

We always stay at the Red Roof Inn and use their Superior King Room, which includes a king-sized bed, a 32 inch flat screen TV, a microwave and fridge. I love having a flat screen TV, a big bed to relax in, and the microwave and fridge, so we can bring our own meals, heat them up, and have them whenever we want. We are saving up for our own place, and this is the next best thing to having our own place. When it comes to a special occasion, we like to celebrate it in style by getting each other gifts, decorating the room, and having alone time away from distractions and chaos.

The night before the vacation is always hard for me, as I have a hard time sleeping, and I am super excited, anxious, and pumped up for the vacation. I toss and turn before finally waking up and getting the day started. We always get as much stuff done beforehand as possible. We shop at Target to get all the food and drinks that we need in order to make it a great vacation. We buy candles for the room, pack well the night before, and order the gifts ahead of time.  Preparation is key for any vacation to be successful.

We left at 12:30 for the 1PM check in time. I was feeling a little tired, sluggish due to getting up early, not being able to sleep. We stopped off at Speedway to get me an energy drink. I don’t usually like to get energy drinks or rely on them, but I didn’t want to be feeling tired, yawning, and sleepy on vacation. I wanted to be fully alert, happy, and focused on everything, enjoying it.

Upon arriving in the hotel, we unpacked and got everything situated. I got our lunch prepared for the day as Amanda relaxed. I had chili and she had chicken soup. We didn’t want to eat too big of a lunch as we were going to Del Rhea’s Chicken Basket for our anniversary dinner that night.

They give you TONS of chicken. We snacked on string cheese and yogurt in case we got hungry. From there, we watched Rocky, which is one of my favorite films of all time. It speaks to me, as it’s a story about someone that no one believes in or sees anything in him. In many times in my life, I have felt that way, and the film moves me, brings me to tears and resonates with me, even after multiple viewings. I see Amanda as my Adrian, the one who doesn’t see me as a bum or a bad person. Not afraid to admit that once again I cried during this movie. It’s so powerful, so gritty, so real, and so well-written. It’s amazing and holds up incredibly well even after multiple viewings.

Then Amanda got ready while I took a shower. One of my favorite things about vacations is taking a shower. You might say, “What’s so exciting about a shower?” With my place at home, the hot water is very shoddy, and my family isn’t always happy with the water bill if I take long showers. When I’m on vacation, I blast the water up all the way and stay in there, sometimes 20-30 minutes. I do my best thinking in the shower and I love the feeling of the hot water on my back. It’s very soothing and relaxing.

From that point on, Amanda finished getting ready and we went out all dressed up to Del Rhea’s Chicken Basket. This is our favorite place for a major occasion, as we have been there for our one year anniversary and Valentine’s Day. The one waitress that works there is amazingly sweet, always takes lots of pictures of us, and compliments us on how sweet, nice, and cute we are together. We saw her there this time, but sadly she was serving another table. She did say, “Hey, my favorite couple! I love your hair, Amanda.” I got the chicken wings, which have so much chicken on them, they are amazing! Amanda got the Chicken Basket, which was also out of this world. We enjoyed another quality meal there. They never disappoint.

From there, we went back to the hotel to exchange our gifts. Amanda knows me so well and always gets the BEST gifts. We set a 30 dollar limit, so we don’t go overboard, and we always make the most of that 30 bucks. Amanda got me Jimmy Fallon Thank You Notes 2, Roger Ebert’s new book about bad movies, Magic VS. Bird DVD, and a ton of goodies, candy wise. I got her some bows for her to wear in her hair, a new cell phone case, nail polish remover, a Starbucks gift card, earrings, and also a ton of goodies, candy wise. I love our gift giving and how we make the most out of our budget and always have great gifts.

From there, we relaxed in the king sized bed, read some of our books, and enjoyed the peace and quiet of the hotel room. Then I took a bath, enjoyed the nice hot water again and was very soothed. We got in our pajamas and ended the night with Jay Leno, Jimmy Fallon, and the Rock ‘N Roll Hall of Fame on HBO. We passed out around 2AM, happy and completely in love.

The next day, I woke up feeling a little icky. Allergies have been a major problem with me lately, and I had a sore throat. I was disappointed, but I didn’t want to let it ruin our vacation. Yes, I was sick and it sucks to be sick on vacation, but you can’t make it ruin your time. As the old adage goes, life is 10 percent what happens to you and 90 percent how you react to it. I didn’t want to tell Amanda at first because I thought I could ignore it and it would go away, as I didn’t want it to have any thought in my head. I decided it would be best to tell her, and she was super sweet as she went to Target next door, got me hot chocolate, medicine, and cough drops. After that, I felt a lot better! I was still a little sick, but it was tolerable and not unbearable. I thought that was very sweet, incredibly thoughtful, and loving of her.

Day two of vacation was what Bruno Mars thought of when “The Lazy Song” was created. We stayed in our PJ’s all day, watched Seinfeld, channel surfed, relaxed, talked, read, and did nothing, and loved every second of it. It’s rare to get a day like that, where you can do nothing and not feel bad about it or have someone tell you, “Get out of bed. It’s 5PM.” We made the most of this day, as time was going by so slowly. We were enjoying each other’s company, the brilliant quiet, peace, and knowing we had no where to go and no obligations. No work, no school. It’s very freeing, relaxing, and fun for the mind. It allows you to let go, enjoy the moment, and not worry about anything.

We ended the night with Leno, Fallon, reading, and Seinfeld before calling it bedtime at 2AM. We got up at 11AM the next day for the noon check out time. We finished packing, putting everything away, cleaning up, showering, and we said goodbye to this vacation. It was fun, amazing, relaxing, loving, romantic, and everything I needed and more.

When I came back from vacation, I always feel refreshed, rejuvenated, and rested.  I try to go on these at least once every couple of months with Amanda, as it’s much needed for my health, mind, and body. I highly recommend it.

I’m very blessed, happy, grateful, and thankful to have someone like Amanda in my life to share my life with, and these vacations bring us closer together and even more in love.

Until the next vacation, thanks for reading, everyone!

-Tony Farinella