Movie Review: Julie & Julia

Julie & Julia is the story of two women, living in two different eras, living parallel lives in search of something to fulfill their soul. One of the women is acclaimed French Chef, Julia Child, played by Meryl Streep. The other is writer/blogger, Julie Powell, played by Amy Adams. The movie is based on Julie Powell's blog "The Julie/Julia Project" which chronicles Julie Powell's, post 9/11 civil servant or as she states, “government drone,” personal challenge of cooking 564 recipes from the cookbook "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" by Julia Child, Simone Beck, and Louisette Berthole in 365 days (or one year). But the more interesting part of the movie is that we get to experience how Julia Child, transformed from a civil servant/housewife living in Paris to be one of the most loved and respected French Chefs in the world.

I found myself inspired by this movie, not because of the story line, but because it also reflected my own life and the search of fulfillment. Like these two women, my family life is wonderful, my life in general is great, but there's just a bit of “je ne sais quois" missing. In addition, there were so many other parallels in the movie to my own personal story that I wanted to yell, "Yes...If Julie and Julia can...so can I!" Here are the parallels" Blogger (I'm a blogger...of three blogs), Food (I love food), Paris (my most favorite city in the world), Houghton Mifflin (I use to work for HMCo as one of their event managers), Julia Child (She lived at Casa Dorinda, a retirement center, in Santa Barbara and I've been to her old suite), cooking (I love to cook...especially out of a recipe book), and the thought of being discovered (who doesn't want to be known for what they do well). So, you see, the movie spoke to me in more ways than one.

But I digress, back to the movie...Meryl Streep stole the show and I would be surprised if this did not earn her another Oscar nomination...or the statuette itself. She was Julia Child and I was amazed at how well she embodied that character. All I could see was Julia Child cooking a meal for me on her show The French Chef.

The voice, the characteristics, the joy on her face was truly Julia Child. Amy Adams did a wonderful job as Julie Powell as well, but all I wanted to see was more of Meryl's Julia! Stanley Tucci (Paul Child) and Chris Messina (Eric Powell) played the loving and supporting husbands to Julie and Julia wonderfully. What I especially loved about this movie was the contrast of overly optimistic Julia Child to the snarky Julie Powell.

Julie & Julia has to be the best feel good movie of the year. I would even be as bold to say that it is now one of my favorite movies of all time. I highly recommend this movie and encourage all of you to experience the magic of Julie & Julia. Even the guys will enjoy it. Foodies...this is your movie.

So, for its wonderful story line and the joy of seeing Meryl Streep as Julia Child, I give this movie my No Pee Rating!

MPAA: Rating PG-13 for brief strong language and some sensuality.

Run time: 123 minutes

Bon Appetite et Regarder heureux de Film! (all said in Julia Child's voice)

-Percy
The P-List
For rating legends/scales please visit here.

Movie photo from Julie & Julia

Video Game Review: Wii Sports Resort

I've been anticipating the release of this new Wii Sports Resort and I have to tell you, I have not been addicted to my Wii more, since we first got it. I actually enjoy this update to the regular Wii Sports...it is so much better than the original. Wii Sports Resort comes with 12 new games and a new accessory for your remote, Wii MotionPlus sleeve, that makes your Wii remote more intuitive than ever.

The 12 games included are:

• Swordplay
• Wake boarding
• Frisbee (Frisbee Dog and Frisbee Golfing)
  
• Archery
• Basketball
• Table Tennis (Ping Pong)
• Golf
• Bowling
• Power Cruising (Jet Skiing)
• Canoeing
• Cycling
• Air Sports (Skydiving, Island Flyover, Dogfight)

Both the golfing and bowling games have been updated and more fun to play than the original. In golf, you now have a choice of 3, 9, or 18 hole game play. Plus, you can either choose the Resort Course or Classic Wii Golf Course for the 3 and 9 hole games. For the 18 hole game you play both courses. In bowling, the new Wii MotionPlus really challenges you more than the original and it's very sensitive to the way you throw your ball. You really have to adjust your game play on this new bowling. Additionally you also have two new games with bowling...100 Pin Bowling and Spin Control, a bowling barricade challenge. I thoroughly enjoy the upgrade to both the games.

I have played most of the games and I have to tell you that I have my early favorites. Here's the two I can't get enough of.

Table Tennis - This is much better than the Wii Play version. It's almost like Wii Sports Tennis but much more fun and more challenging. I can't believe the type of ball spins I can get with just the flick of my wrist. It's a great game and I am afraid that I might throw out my shoulder or wrists from playing it so hard. It's a really fun game, but my 4-year old seems to think it's much harder than Wii Sports Tennis. He still enjoys it but finds himself having to reach for the balls faster. You definitely move more in this game. The tennis choice also has a return challenge which is a better version of the Wii Play Table Tennis Challenge (kinda like the Wii Sports Soccer but with ping pong balls).

Frisbee - Both Frisbee Dog and Frisbee Golf is frustrating, challenging, and fun. Learning how to control and throw the Frisbee is the best part of the game. With the Wii MotionPlus, your releases and speeds are so accurate that you have to adjust how you play each time you throw your Frisbee. The Wii MotionPlus makes it really interactive and it challenges you to think of your moves prior to throwing the darn thing.

In Frisbee Dog, you throw your Frisbee on the beach as your dog tries to catch it...but you have to keep it within the designated target areas otherwise your dog lets it drop to the sand...which is a big no-no (scores a big X). But get it right on target and your dog jumps for your Frisbee scoring you 100 points. Loads of fun. Frisbee Golf plays on either the Resort or Classic Wii Golf Courses...instead of swinging your irons though you are tossing one of 3 different Frisbees!

At any rate, I have enjoyed most of the games on Wii Sports Resort and I think you will too. Like most Wii games, the more you play the more surprises and games you will unlock. There's something for everyone and something your family will enjoy playing together.

With that, I give Wii Sports Resort the ultimate 5-P rating for the sheer enjoyment and for reminding us why we fell in love with Wii in the first place.

Wii Sports Resort - Release date: July 26, 2009
Retails: $49.99 and includes one Wii MotionPlus remote sleeve
Additional Wii MotionPlus remote sleeve: $19.99

-Percy
The P-List
For rating legends/scales please visit here.

Pictures from Nintendo and Nintendo Wii Sports Resort