Feeling Good Friday - The Road To Wellness

I have ignored this blog for far too long. The reason I created it was to maybe combine all three blogs I started into just this one, Confuzzled Living.  The problem is I just did not know what to post here.  I know whenever I post that I am going to do this on this day, every week I end up not doing it.  I want this blog to focus on me being thankful and positive.  Then I maybe combine the blogs… maybe.   Anyway today is Friday.  #GoodNewsFriday

Little update on me before I tell you what I have done this week:

In January I had bariatrics surgery.   It’s not an easy surgery nor was it difficult the whole time.  My hormones were out of wack so I sometimes got upset a lot of the time.  Things seem to be balancing out. ‘As of now I have lost 115 pounds. Which is good, but.. I have more to go.

This week:

I added an extra day to my physical therapy.  I have already been working 2 days a week in aquatic therapy and now I added one day on land. I feel the aquatic therapy is helping my knees and I am able to move more than I have been in a while. In fact I have been cleaning *shocked look*  Cleaning has been the most difficult to do with my knees and back hurting.  There are still things I can’t do to clean but I am a work in progress.

How was your week?  Do anything you're proud of?

Movie Review - Collateral Beauty

Title: Collateral Beauty

Series: N/A

Director: David Frankel

Rating :

What is it about?

A successful businessman suffers the loss of a child.  As he wallows in grief, personal life and business suffers, he writes to three universal subjects, love, death and time.  The three subjects of life come to him in human form to show him there is beauty in life and loss.

Shannon’s Thoughts:

Will Smith’s character, a businessman who searches for answers to the loss of his child, does a great job showing the difference of a happy man (although brief) and then a sad and beaten man trying to keep existing.

Such a lighthearted movie intertwined with sadness and hope. Also a well casted movie.  I feel like I could watch the movie many times and get something different from it every time.  Each entity brought such passion to the roles.   As the main character is so angry at Death, Love and Time, the same entities show the same passion, and anger back at times.

As we see Death, Love and Time interact with the different characters I am reminded of Dickens A Christmas Carol.  It does not end quite the same as this movie has a different and some what confusing twist.  Which brings me to my only fault...did Will Smith character forget his wife completely? Did I miss something explaining how he did forget her?  

A wonderful movie with great complex thoughts that bring such powerful feelings and hopefulness.  May end up a cult classic one day...maybe.

Website:

http://collateralbeauty-movie.com/

Trailer:

 

Movie Review - Rogue One : A Star Wars Story

Title: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Series: Star Wars

Director: Gareth Edwards

Rating :

What is it about?

This Star Wars story takes place between Star Wars 3 and Star Wars 4.  The Rebel Alliance is in search of plans on how to destroy the Death Star.

Shannon’s Thoughts:

We learn how the Rebel Alliance gained the plans on how to destroy the Death Star.

I have heard many people call this one better than the original Star Wars and I would not go that far but I think I understand it. It seemed very true to the canon of the Star Wars world.  It is not fan fiction like and it got dark when it needed to making it feel very real.

You would think that a movie where you know what is going to happen after it might be boring. It could have been but it was not. The story was compelling, and action packed. I have never been big fan of general war movies but this was made enjoyable to watch.

I hope to see more movies like this in the Star Wars world. I never read the books that tell of other Star Wars stories, some not in canon.  Just hope the movie  are as good this.

Website:

http://www.starwars.com/rogue-one/

Trailer:

Movie Review - Doctor Strange

Title: Doctor Strange

Series: Doctor Strange #1

Director: Scott Derrickson

Rating :

What is it about?

An expert surgeon injures his hands.  While looking for a way to heal he finds an unexpected place in a world of magic fighting evil.

Shannon’s Thoughts:

A doctor, by the name of Stephen Strange, believes in the scientific and thinks himself a hotshot because of the intricate surgery he done, not to mention lives he’s saved.  After a car crash Stephen has to learn how live without some use of his hands, and his job.  As he searches for a way to heal his hands he finds a place where magic and science meet.

When this movie was first announced that Benedict Cumberbatch would be stepping into the role of Doctor Strange, I think everyone agreed he looked the part and we knew he could play the part.  So the movie success relied writing and CGI. It blew me away.  The acting was great, the characters were great, and CGI was top notch. It is even better than the comics in my opinion.  Some of the characters are different gender than the comics and it works even better.

I can not think of anything I did not like about this movie.  Except maybe I wanted some of the characters to get more screen time.   But even that is not that big deal because I also feel most characters had enough time on screen too.   If I could find anything else I did not like it would really be nit picking so I am not going there.

I eagerly await to see more Doctor Strange in the Marvel Universe.  His unique take on life can not make it back to theatres soon enough.

Website:

http://marvel.com/doctorstrange

Trailer:

Movie Review - Captain America: Civil War

Title: Captain America: Civil War

Series: Captain America #3

Director: Anthony Russo and Joe Russo

Rating :

What is it about? Captain America: Civil War is the third installment of the Captain America movies.  Based on the Marvel comics by the same name. Steve Rogers/Captain America (Chris Evans) and Tony Stark / Ironman (Robert Downey Jr.) stand on opposite sides about whether the government should have control of the Avengers and superheroes in general.

Shannon’s Thoughts:

I was a little afraid going into Captain America: Civil War because many movies with a lot of strong characters tend to focus less on the story.  I am ecstatic to said that this did not happen. Each opinion of the characters are shown and the story comes together nicely.  

Now let's talk about the fight scenes and CGI.  They were awesome! I think Black Widow had some the most intricate fight moves.  Sure it was not actually Scarlett Johansson and probably her stunt double, I say this because her back is facing the camera most of the fight scene. The CGI was so well done and the biggest CGI image is in the very beginning of the movie that involves Tony Stark.  I don’t want to spoil too much about it but it is very neat.

I had only one issue.  The fight scenes while they were great they did go on for a while.  I do not know if I was just tired that day but one fight scene I started nodding off.  But like I said it may have to do more with me then the movie.

Better than the second Avenger movie, Captain America: Civil War is action packed and enjoyable for all ages.

Website:

http://marvel.com/captainamerica

Trailer:

Movie Review - Oblivion

Title: Oblivion

Series: N/A

Director: Joesph Kosinski

Rating :

What is it about?

A science fiction future where earth is at war with aliens who are bleeding the planet dry. After the big fight has ended two humans,Jack ( Tom Cruise) and Victoria, (Andrea Riseborough)have a  job is to scan the earth with technology tracking the planets resources and killing those that don’t belong.

Shannon’s Thoughts:

I was interested in this one more than the other sci-fi movie that came out the same time, which was After Earth.  My husband and I guessed the twist ending. Not quite guessing everything that happens but enough of the story.  I was just hoping it wasn’t a twist I had seen before such as Matrix and I got what I hoped but, there was some elements of the Matrix and 2001:Space Odyssey.

It was okay.  The ships, motorcycles and other tech was cool.  There were some big explosions, some over the top. I was very reminded of Tom Cruise’s Top Gun character with all the flying was done in Oblivion.  If I am being honest I would have to say I am glad that I did not pay $10 for a movie ticket.  I wasn’t really surprised by anything that happened but did enjoy the characters.

Website:

http://www.oblivionmovie.com/

Trailer:

Anime Review - Ranma 1/2

Title: Ranma 1/2
Series: Episode 1 Season1
Creator: Rumiko Takahashi
Rating :



What is it about?

A young teenage boy falls in a spring that curses him to change into a girl when wet.

My Thoughts:

This was the first anime I ever watched.  I thought it was weird at first and then the more I watched the more I was hooked into the characters and the story.  It is so funny.  It still my favorite to watch.

This first episode can be strange even for those that have seen other animes.  The boy switching into a girl but still really a boy.  The girl , Akana, that has a attraction to boy and girl Ranma.  The fathers who seem more like little boys including Ranma’s father who is cursed to change into a giant panda bear.

I believe this anime to be the one that influenced the ones made after like Princess TuTu.

It has a lot of sexuality and sometimes nakedness so that is probably why they have not featured it on the any network.  I would like to see it on adult swim.   One can hope.


Website:

N/A

Trailer: