Lea and I try to have a date every couple of months, but unfortunately there is often significant deviation between desired and actual scheduling. Tonight was our first one since December 30–ouch. I hope it’s not so long to the next one.
First up was dinner at Carrabba’s, where I had the lobster ravioli and Lea had the chicken and spinach cannelloni. Both were outstanding–and they still had some Olde Towne Bock draft, too! We shared a pineapple/banana/strawberry cake situation for dessert, which was also quite good.
Then, we went to Rave to get our escapism on. Die Hard is one of my favorite films of all time, and I was pleased with the quality of both Die Hard 2 and Die Hard: With a Vengeance. I can report that Live Free or Die Hard is also worthy. (There aren’t often films anymore that both Lea and I have a strong desire to see, so it was a slam-dunk selection.)
It’s not flawless. The dialogue is a bit strained in a couple of places, and Timothy Olyphant was in way over his head trying to play this villain. But overall, it works as an excellent throwback action thriller updated with technology, both in the plot and the special effects. There are definitely some scenes that make it worth seeing on the big screen, and the digital projection and sound were marvelous. (And Mary Elizabeth Winstead isn’t at all difficult to look at.)
All in all, we made excellent use of five or so hours this evening.
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We didn’t miss you by much. We left the theater about 10:45 Tuesday night, and the crowds were already pretty thick.
There’s no new cinematic ground broken, except for a couple of stunts you haven’t seen before. I thought Die Hard did break new ground, most prominently in presenting the most vile, disgusting, perfect criminal in film history. Give it up for Alan Rickman, ladies and gentlemen…
But Live Free or Die Hard is a thoroughly defensible use of two hours and $8. I will own the DVD.
I can. Not. WAIT! to see this movie. We took the girls to see Harry Potter yesterday, though, so it may be a bit before we recover from ticket-shock and are willing to head to the theatre again. I really DO want to see it before it cycles out of the theatres (which seems to be REALLY fast lately); movies like this are SO much better on big screens.
Alan Rickman is one of my favorite actors EVER. I’m also loving his work as Snape, but that’s another comment.
By the way, I’m Chili. Seester may have told you about me. I’m looking forward to getting to know you. Also? You live in the same town as my brother in law. You don’t work for Lockheed, do you?
Nope, I don’t work for Lockheed. I manage the Waffle House in front of the Chevrolet dealership. 🙂 Nevertheless, I’m looking forward to getting to know you too.
To be clear, Alan Rickman does not reprise his role of Hans Gruber in Live Free or Die Hard, so please don’t be disappointed when you don’t see him. The bad guy in the current movie is played by Timothy Olyphant, his character having the suitably apocalyptic-sounding last name of “Gabriel,” and in my view he is the weakest part of the whole production.
No worries, though. It’s still worth it.