Edwards Design Solutions

Life sucks. That truth, along with death and taxes, are inevitable and the mainstay of any pessimist. Any real optimist will tell you that bad things happen to everyone and things will get better. I don’t believe things get better for good. I believe that we all go through times of good and bad. Unfortunately, I feel my life has seen more bad than good. I’d like to believe that I will finally be going through some good times here soon.

If any of us were to list all the bad times, or bummers in life, one could easily become depressed to the point of considering suicide. But the good times don’t always happen to us specifically, they tend to happen to those around us. These occurrences can also have residual side effects to those of us who happen to be around those that the good things happen to. It’s kind of like having “good luck” rub off on you! But we can make our own luck, to enjoy some good times.

I am prepared to make my own luck, and good times, by living my dreams through my children. I have worked to try to provide the best for them and give them the things and stability I haven’t always enjoyed. One of the things I have always wanted, was to take Martial Arts. Well this last month, my oldest daughter started taking Mixed Martial Arts (mainly Japanese Karate). The really scary thing is, she’s already pretty good. She may only be a white belt, but all of her instructors are already complimenting her on her form and expertise. I can even see her ability and potential. She’s picking it up so fast.

But now my youngest is to begin gymnastics in September and she is ecstatic. Continue reading »

Rated PG for some mild rude humor and peril, 1hr. 34min.

The family and I just got back from seeing this movie in 3-D. Blue Sky just keeps getting it right with the Ice Age franchise! When other filming houses are pumping out toilet humor and swearing-lite flicks, it is a joy to see a movie that may have a wee bit of subtle innuendo (for the adults) and nothing more. If it weren’t for the subtleties and the copious amounts of peril, this film would easily be granted a G rating.

This movie revisits our friendly herd of misfits, Diego, Manny, Ellie, Sid and the ‘possum brothers. All original actor voices have been retained and it is nice to see (or is that hear). Without giving too much away of the movie, I can tell you that it has a strong theme of relationships. Primarily family, with a focus on parenting. The peril I mentioned before, is that Sid and the gang are “hunted” by a meat eating dinosaur that is larger than (and feared by) a Tyrannosaurus Rex! The herd has a few new members added, even if only temporarily, and Scrat even gains a love interest that becomes a full-scale love triangle with an acorn! Just be prepared to laugh……a lot!

Our first venture into the digital 3-D world, was with Bolt. Now Ice Age has really solidified (in my mind) that this is a new version of an old idea, that is here to stay. What a very beautiful and cool way to watch the movie. The bummer is, that the theater charges $3 more for the 3-D; but it is well worth it.

I love Pixar. They are true masters of animation and comedy. If you are having a bad day, then please watch this little short. If you’ve never seen it before, try not to laugh to loudly (especially if you are at work). This short was the theatrical opening for Wall-E, another great Pixar movie, and it is also part of the DVD.

Presto – Pixar

G – 1hr. 40min.

The kids loved this movie. I really enjoyed it too. There is a warning to parents that the theaters continue to play inappropriate previews for the age group that kids movies are intended for. This is either an oversight or possibly a planned infiltration of the innocence of today’s innocents.

After the barrage of TV commercials and previews, the movie opens with a somewhat traditional “Once Upon a Time…”. It has the feel of a Shrek-ish type of fairy tale, but the story and artwork are perfect for the period. The artwork is very reminiscent of 15th Century Early Renaissance paintings, but it’s still fun and a fresh feel as this look has not been used in digital animation before.

Without spoiling the movie for you, I will simply say that Desperaux is a mouse that doesn’t behave like other mice. He doesn’t scurry or flinch in fear. He doesn’t realize that he’s smaller than other mice. He is brave, true and chivalrous to a fault. His un-mouse-like behavior gets him into trouble. Continue reading »

PG (for some mild action and peril) – 1hr. 36min.

I had no idea that 3-D could look soooo good! At least for me, the effects of the CG-Anime in this new 3-D format out-shined the story. The cast of voices were excellent and the entire premise of a TV star canine believing that his own exploits were real….astounding! It came as no surprise to me that John Lasseter (Pixar) was the executive producer on another good showing from Disney. When it comes to Lasseter, can he do no wrong? I also recently saw the direct-to-DVD Disney production of the much awaited, and nearly never released, Tinker Bell movie which he was also involved in salvaging.

Bolt (John Travolta) is the epitome of “ignorance is bliss” until his human Penny (Miley Cyrus) is “kidnapped”. With the help of an alley-cat named Mittens (Susie Essman) and a hamster named Rhino (Mark Walton), Bolt has to make his way to Hollywood from New York City. Along the way, he learns to be an ordinary dog when his super-powers stop working and he realizes that he’s just like every other animal.

Well I have my picks and I have my reasons. I get so tired of stuffed shirts, that call themselves critics, but have no talent whatsoever of their own. That’s why they’re critics! It usually boils down to either jealousy of someone else’s talent or attempting to make up for one’s own shortcomings.

I feel that anything, if it truly should be judged, ought to be judged fairly by its peers. The judging should have required parameters and specifications to be met, even if only in the slightest. So reading or watching a movie critic, who is not involved in the movie making industry, criticize someone’s work is ridiculous if you ask me.

Now if you want make some form of opinion based on loose criteria, I’m OK with that. Which is really all that I do. I like to think that I enjoy a movie because it kept me interested in following the story to its conclusion. Or maybe it just made me feel something that I was not expecting. What about a movie that just lives up to the hype or preconceived expectations of its genre? This post will cover my slant on the “Best Films of 2008″, including The Dark Knight, Quantum of Solace and WALL-E. Continue reading »