Cody and Elizabeth Ririe

Best Movies of the Year

2012-01-20T16:01:00.028-07:00

I did this last year and I had a good time with it. This year seemed to be a little lighter on good movies (I also saw fewer movies that could be a factor) but there were still some good ones. A lot of the movies I liked this year were surprises, movies that looked horrible then turned out to be pretty good. Anyway on we go... they are in no particular order this time.

War Horse

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of War Violence.

Steven Spielberg's War Horse is easily the best looking movie of the year. Even when filming a charge in the trenches of World War One the visuals are brutal but still very striking. This is a family film with an uplifting ending however it is PG-13 for a reason, the war scenes while not overly graphic are very intense. Perhaps older teenagers and up? I don't know your call. A little long for younger viewers its 2 and 1/2 hours. Well worth watching, really well done.

Super 8

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence, language and some drug use.

A movie about a group of middle school studentsate 1970's that love to get together and make movies with their parent's Super 8 video cameras. What sets this movie apart is the amazing performances by the kids. They are amazingly natural and funny. J.J. Abrams the writer and director came up with the idea along with producer Steven Spielberg. The movie feels like early Spielberg (E.T, Jaws, Close Encounters) but is more than just a tribute. Super 8 is everything a summer movie should be, heartfelt, scary and really funny. The PG-13 is mostly for the language which is fairly prolific throughout.

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: Part 2

PG-13 for some sequences of intense action violence and frightening images

Brings the series to a worthy ending. Does a great job of answering all the questions in an exciting way. It isn't too long and brings about a wonderful nostalgia when you watch it. A great series of movies all together.

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

Rated PG-13 for sequences of intense action and violence.

A really fun movie. Directed by Brad Bird who wrote and directed "The Incredibles." This is his first live action movie and he does a great job. There is a lot of comedy that covertly pokes fun at the spy movie genre. The most amazing part of the film is when Tom Cruise (who did ALL of his own stunts) dangles hundreds of stories up outside of the worlds tallest building in Dubai. I get sweaty palms just thinking about it.

Thor

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence

A movie that on the face should have been really stupid, but avoided pitfalls by knowing when to not take itself too seriously. Great acting by the lead Chris Hemsworth and Anthony Hopkins, a great almost Shakespearean comic book movie.

Contagion

Rated PG-13 for disturbing content and some language.

Contagion is effective because of what it is not. What it is not is science fiction. It is a relatively low key look at what would likely happen if a new, deadly and easily communicable virus went loose in the world. Both the best and worst of humanity is revealed by the crisis. Not a movie to watch if you already have a healthy fear of germs, this movies will send you into a panic attack.

The Tree of Life

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements

I don't necessarily recommend anyone watch this movie. I really liked it but it is very very different from any normal type of movie that a person would usually watch. It is the story of a 1950's Texas family told mostly from the children's point of view. This story is inter cut with the formation of the universe and how the earth has progressed, there are even dinosaurs for a few minutes. Like I said, very different. Full of amazing visuals "The Tree of Life" is almost more of a poem told in the form of a movie. I really was hypnotized by it and had a great experience watching it I just don't think a lot of other people would feel the same way. You were warned.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Rated PG-13 for intense and frightening sequences of action and violence.

Another movie that I rolled my eyes at when I saw it advertised. In reality it is a very involving movie that creates a real sense of empathy in the audience. The human characters are a little bit one sided but the apes are so well acted and realized by the visual effects people that by the end you really are rooting for the simians and against your own kind. This is an example of visual effects as art. The lead ape is played by Andy Serkis who is the man behind Gollum in "Lord of the Rings". He turns in a remarkable performance, if you rent the DVD make sure to watch some of the behind the scenes material it is amazing to see Serkis act like an ape without the visual effects. Give this one a chance I don't think you'll regret it. It is intense and scary in a few parts take the PG-13 seriously.

The Artist

Rated PG-13 for a disturbing image and a crude gesture

This movie is silent and in black and white. Yes I say again this movie is silent and in black and white. It is also very funny, charming, moving (insert more hyperbole here).Its about a silent movie star who has trouble adapting to the advent of sound. This may not be your cup of tea but if you have ever enjoyed an old movie than you have the potential to really like this film. Don't discount younger kids either I remember watching "WallE" in the theater and seeing young kids be totally attentive to the "dialogue free" first 45 minutes while their parents were out cold.

AND FINALLY MY FAVORITE MOVIE OF THE YEAR IS...

Moneyball

Rated PG-13 for some strong language

I really don't like baseball all that much. I never watch it, I know how it is played but that is about it. Moneyball was made by people who obviously love baseball but the story could be about business or religion or society in general. A few men who try to breakout of doing something the way it has always been done. In this case the general manager of the Oakland Athletics Billy Beane back in 2002. A very smart movie, that doesn't forget to really bring across genuine emotion while being funny and exciting at the same time. For these reasons it is my favorite movie of 2011.

Recent Happenings

2012-01-20T14:26:00.017-07:00

Us on our Anniversary

Here is a quick update of how we are doing. Both Josh (half-brother who lives here in Northern Virginia with his mom) my Dad and I were sick for a number of weeks around the holidays. Josh and my Dad spent several weeks in the hospital diagnosed with Pneumonia, I was sick with a bad fever but never went to the hospital. We are all better now. Elizabeth never got sick I think because of the virtues of a Flu shot which I did not get because I thought at the time it looked painful. That was dumb.

Elizabeth's Thanksgiving Deviled Eggs and Fruit and Veggie Tray

Speaking of dumb I tried to give myself a haircut recently and it turned out so bad I ended up shaving all of my hair off. I've heard hair grows back however, I will still be in exile as a precaution for a while until it does. Until my recent hair care problems I had a full beard that had come in after 2 months of growing and shaggy long hair. Elizabeth wants me to post before and after pictures but that is not going to happen. I have produced another video for a local Italian Chef and for a Financial planner in the area. When they are approved and posted on the internet I will post links for people to look at. Elizabeth is still leading the Primary music, substitute teaching and teaching private piano lessons. One of her students had a recital recently and she did really well. We hope everyone is doing well and we wish everyone a happy year.

Below are some pictures from Thanksgiving, Which my Brother Adam came out for.

A Fried Turkey

The Ririe Men

The pictures below are from last week when Elizabeth and I attempted a fancy Italian soup that the chef I make video for taught in a class I filmed. It turned out pretty good.

EARTHQUAKE!!!!!

2011-08-24T16:13:00.012-06:00

So the earthquake turned out not to be very devastating and that of course is a good thing. Both Elizabeth and I ran outside with the dog after a brief moment where we didn't know what to do. I went into tornado emergency mode and first told Elizabeth to head to the basement, before I realized what a monumentally stupid thing that would be to do. There wasn't much damage in our house our dresser drawers opened and some stuff fell down in the garage but that was all.

I haven't felt any aftershocks but Elizabeth has. She called me when I was at Cub Scouts to report the strongest aftershock (which turned out to measure a 4.2 on the Richter scale). I didn't feel it but this comes as no surprise since a cub scout pack when together registers as a 4.8 on the Richter scale.

So another adventure has passed our way out here on the east coast. We are now in prep mode for the approaching Hurricane which may or may not hit Virginia. Our location is a fair piece inland which will most likely spare us most of the storm either way.

Well that's all for us, Take Care!

Christmas Recap

2011-01-01T13:36:00.004-07:00

Sorry for the poor quality images we took them from our phone, the picture above is something Elizabeth made for Mom and Alex's dog Cha Cha. We thought a cactus would be appropriate for an Arizona dog. We are now back in Virginia but we had a great time visiting for Christmas. Unfortunately I was sick for a large majority of the time but I did recover long enough for some recreation...

We really enjoyed spending time with everybody and Beck was especially funny opening his presents hopefully Adam and Kathryn will post some of the videos of Christmas morning. We also took a video of Elizabeth and Kathryn singing O Holy Night while Mom played the piano, that is also on Kathryn and Adam's camera so maybe they will put that up for everyone to see, maybe. So with a great Christmas behind us, we wish everyone a happy new year!

Alabama, Alaska, ARIZONA!

2010-12-20T12:30:00.003-07:00

The picture above is a Mohave Green Rattlesnake and Mom and Alex have already had six run-ins with this type of snake, but luckily only one scorpion.

Here we are in the desert. We are visiting (thanks to the contribution of generous contributors, thanks Judy!) my Mom and Alex in Paulden, Arizona. We are here from the
19th to the 29th. Alex left to get the Christmas tree and I have already managed to hit our old dog Cha Cha in the snout with a horseshoe, (It was still in my hand and she is fine, no worries.)We are planning on lots of food and hiking in the desert, should be lots of fun. We hope everyone else has a Merry Christmas!

Hey Teacher, Leave those Kids Alone!

2010-11-03T19:17:00.005-06:00

So we are headed off for our daily game of Racquetball and there's a ring at the phone. Who was calling? The Stafford County Public School system. What did they want? Elizabeth, of course. That's right, my talented, smart and college graduated wife has officially accepted her first assignment as a substitute teacher. She is filling in for a high school math teacher who is unable to attend to his duties for undisclosed reasons.

Was she nervous? Does switching to Geico really save you 15% or more on car insurance? The short answer is yes. After some pep talking from Andrew(brother),Judy (Mother),and Cody(Me) she is feeling a little bit better. I am driving her to the school tomorrow to send her off in style. So everyone keep her in your thoughts and prayers as she ventures back to those hallowed halls that we all so desperately tried to escape. I know she will be amazing!

Love to all our family and friends,

Cody and Elizabeth

Life Changes

2010-10-22T14:39:00.009-06:00

Updating our blog is a habit with Elizabeth and I, we make sure and do it at least once a year;) A lot has happened since we last posted, we have big news... We are now living in Virginia with my dad. I have changed my major to English and am finishing my classes online. Elizabeth has already graduated with her degree in music and now she has 4 voice and piano students from the ward. She also just finished and turned in her application to be a substitute teacher. I am in the midst of making exercise videos and commercials for several of my dad's current radio clients, so I am getting to work with video which I love. As soon as the projects are done I will post links to them on the blog so everyone can ooohhhh and aaahhhh appropriately.

We are looking forward to Adam, Kathryn, and BECK!!!!! coming for Thanksgiving.

Dad, Adam and I are in charge of deep frying a Turkey for the festivities so Elizabeth recently put the fire department on speed dial.(Just Kidding) We will miss all of our family out west during that time but it will be nice to spend a thanksgiving with dad as a family. Well, that is about it for us, look for our next update in Oct. 2011 ;) Love to all our family and friends.

Cody and Elizabeth :>

Hello - Sorry we're a little busy.

2009-02-17T22:32:00.003-07:00

We hope to do more with this blog eventually, but we are both in school this semester. Plus, I never know what to write about. But, since I am writing, I will give y'all a little bit of an update at least.

First of all, Cody's brother, Adam, and his wife had a brand new little boy about 2 and a half weeks ago. He is adorable! You can probably see pictures on their blog.

As for Cody and I, we are studying away and just trying to stay afloat. Hope y'all are faring well! :>

Quick Update

2008-11-25T14:55:00.002-07:00

Hey everyone,

Just to let you know, we have made some blog changes. This blog will be for family news and pictures etc. All of the film reviews and articles have been moved to a seperate blog you can find at http://filmgreats.blogspot.com We will be uploading our first family news soon. Thanks.