Stream of the Week- Yours, Mine & Ours

Imagine having 17 brothers and sisters.




After high school, sweethearts Helen and Frank moved into different circles and had families of their own. Big families. After some personal tragedy in the death of their spouses, the two rekindle their love and spontaneously get married. Unfortunately, this means that their already large families will have to be blended. Helen has 10 kids of her own, and Frank has 8. Together they have a full house. Initially, the kids fight constantly because they are upset with their new move. However, once a common enemy is found, that enemy being mom and dad, the two families unit with one purpose-get it all back to the way it was before they got married. With their antics in place, the kids cause a ton of trouble and successfully split the family over their difference in parenting views. Frank is a sailor and an admiral. His technique is very terse and effective. His kids have schedules and plans and orders. Helen, on the other hand, is a free spirit who lets her children be as creative as they can be within her home. When they two come to blows over how to raise the kids, it's enough to split them up, and it all happens just as the kids are beginning to bond.




With a track record which includes the Smurfs movies and Home Alone 3, this film didn't appear to have a good start, but with a cute script and a Cheaper by the Dozen feel, this film easily will win anyone over. Nominated for a Young Artist award, the entire cast of children brilliantly blended together to form characters with clear and distinct personalities and worked well with each other. The film does prove an important point- that opposites work well together. Though the parents have different views on everything, they are able to balance out each other and do parenting to the best of their abilities. This 2005 film is a remake of the 1968 movie in which Lucille Ball and Henry Fonda played the characters of Frank and Helen.

Capture of Culture- Back in Time

"Your future hasn't been written yet. No one's has."




Thirty years ago, a cultural phenomenon began with the release of a little time travel film called "Back to the Future". With Spielberg's name attached and Zemeckis's writing and directing credentials, the film was destined to be well liked by audiences, however, no one could have predicted how far it possibly could go. Today, sites and books are dedicated to finding meaning in every minuet detail of the film. Lego sets of deloreans are released and reenactments are played alongside films. People build their own cars and meet up independently to share in a culture that has been created by the quirkiness of characters like Marty McFly and Doc Brown. Back in Time is a collection of all those fans and creators coming together to discuss the impact that the filming process had on them as well as it's impact now on culture. Hover boards, for example, have become a huge challenge for scientists and machinist hacks. Watching the movie inspired so many to try and invent the technology that would make that a possibility today. The interaction between creators and fans is definitely and interesting one to watch unfold. Some fans get so involved that they become part of the creative crew by becoming experts on topics that didn't even cross the minds of the original makers when they started the filming process.




Films take on and preserve very important parts of our history. Movies like Star Wars, Jaws, and Back to the Future embody a summer blockbuster feeling that was very important to the late 70s, 80s part of our history. They are the films that will stand the test of time and tell our grandchildren what life was like for those who grew up in those eras. Back to the Future is the kind of film that can transcend generations which is why it will go down in history as one of the greats.

Stream of the Week- Zathura: A Space Adventure

Not all games are safe to play.




Danny and Walter were always fighting. As brothers, they were in constant competition with each other for both affection and for physical wins. While they are fighting, Danny stumbles across a board game in his father's basement called Zathura. Danny wants to play and drags Walter into it. As they begin to play, strange things begin to happen. A meteor shower rains in their living room, and a robot tries to kill them. All of these events occur on each turn. Slowly the boys find themselves in more and more trouble with each spin. On one turn they have to save a stranded astronaut who helps the boys take on the alien life forms that have been chasing the boys through the galaxy with each turn. Along the way, Danny and Walter continue to feud, but it only hinders their ability to take on new tasks. With the astronaut by their side, the only way to finish the game is to keep playing and hope that it will take them out of the galaxy in which they are trapped.




Like the 1995 Robin Williams' classic Jumanji, Zathura follows the arc of being trapped within a game and learning through it how to appreciate what you have and who you know in the life you are given. Directed by Jon Favreau (Iron Man, Chef, Elf), this story hits several important themes. First of all, the film addresses what it's like to be in a separated family as the dad talks about his lack of ability to give all of his children his full and complete attention all of the time. Zathura also explores the idea of taking things for granted and giving back as shown by Walter's decision to use one of his wishes on the astronaut. Because Jumanji and Zathura come from the same writers, the game serves as a tool in both to teach a valuable lesson to it's players. Not only do they have to learn how to work together, but they must also learn what is truly important in order to become successful in their tasks.

Capture of Culture- Super Size Me

Nothing says healthy and safe like a clown.




Documentary director Morgan Spurlock wanted to know what would happen if a person consumed only McDonald's for every meal for an entire month. With a self designed experiment, he was able to find out. Before beginning his burger binge, Spurlock consulted four different doctors and nutritionists to see what they thought the results would be and to enlist their help if his health began to go south. Each of the doctors were optimistic, believing there wouldn't be too drastic of a change in the already healthy Morgan Spurlock. A week in, however, he had already gained back 5% of his body fat and was shooting his sugar levels to their max. While on his McDonald's cleanse, Spurlock interviewed doctors across the country and food lovers to find out how far the impact of fast food had reached. When in a school, Spurlock was able to examine the lunches provided to students on a daily basis. There, where children are to be kept safe, was the biggest discrepancy between what the teachers believed the children would decide on and what the kids actually decided to eat. Their habits leaned towards the high calorie, sugar dense, and processed foods while teachers and administrators turned a blind eye to their choices. By the end of the month, Spurlock had done some serious damage to his health which could have caused permanent damage if he had continued with the experiment.  His conclusion? People need to be educated about what they are eating. If Ronald McDonald is slowly killing you- you might as well be aware of it.




Nominated for a Best Documentary Oscar, Super Size Me is an entertaining look at the fast food industry that can also give people something real to take in as they watch Spurlock's health decline so rapidly. No one learns the same way as their peers, so providing various stats and facts as well as visual representations of the negative effects of fast food consumption really makes the documentary able to have a wider audience and following. Before the film was even released, McDonald's took the super size option away. How's that for impact, America?

Stream of the Week- Up in the Air

Every flight needs a copilot.




Ryan Bingham has been living in and out of airport terminals for so long that they have become his sense of home. He doesn't take anymore than a carry on anywhere including where he goes emotionally. On a layover, he meets the beautiful Alex who is just like him- constantly traveling with no desire for roots and a love for the road. For the first time, he really has something to hang on to. But his life is dedicated to work. His company has decided to change their delivery methods. No longer will they be up for hire to fire your employees in person, but they can do it now over a computer call thanks to newbie Natalie. Before they green light the program, Ryan convinces his company to let him go out on the road one more time for a tour. The only problem is that he has to take Natalie along to show her the ropes. With Natalie by his side, Ryan is finding a whole new human side to him that wants the baggage and the roots and the feeling of being tied down. With Alex around he feels like he can finally belong to someone. But the road is home, and that could be enough to keep him from becoming the person he needs to become.




As the winner of a Golden Globe for best screenplay, this George Clooney film hits quite a few emotions all at once. From the director of Juno, Up in the Air is a new way to show what happens when you lose your way and get stuck in your work. By being married to his work, Ryan never really lived. He had no passion and his only goal was to get more miles added to his record. By meeting two incredibly different women, Ryan's life is changed. Natalie has a totally different view of life. She wants to get married and have a life that matches what she always dreamed of. Alex is the women on the run. She finds the air an escape from life that gets confusing on land. With these two points of view, Ryan is able to find his way.

Capture of Culture- Art and Copy

In the world of advertising there are those who "have it" and those who don't.




Before Beats were sold by music videos, advertising was a small market full of crazy creatives with wacky ideas on how to change the world. Armed with wicked senses of humor, artists and misfits flocked to the world of advertising in an attempt to find their voice. Advertising is a form of mental manipulation; it takes a very special kind of person to do it right. Some of the most powerful political ads like "count down" and "it's morning in America" came from the same people who designed the ads for colorful airlines and VW Bugs. With a certain style to each person they were able to find new ways to market and sell products to a willing audience of consumers. Now days, ads rely heavily on product recognition and celebrity endorsement, but advertising has grown into such a large industry now. Like internet companies, advertising companies have become creative environments for their employees to work. With oversized birds' nests, rock band performances, and basketball courts some of the best advertising firms look more like google and facebook headquarters. All this just to sell you something.




I was impressed by how controversial these advertisers strive to be. They're so cutting edge and right on the line of  "acceptable". They weren't afraid to push the limits in their day which I think is admirable considering in their business if the customer is offended you've lost them. They truly believed they would change the world with their work, and I think they did. Powerful ads can do a lot more than we think. A political ad can change your opinion of a candidate. A cool looking car ad can make you look at a brand of vehicle you might not have considered before. It's all a science in the art of balance.

Stream of the Week- While You Were Sleeping

Because sometimes all love needs is a coma.




Lucy spent her life watching people get on and off trains. There were the usuals that she saw everyday. One of those was Peter, an attractive business person who Lucy fell for over time. One day, Peter is waiting for a train when he gets mugged and pushed on to the tracks. Lucy manages to roll him off the tracks and save him, but he is still unconscious when she moves him. When Peter gets moved to the hospital, they won't let Lucy see him because she isn't family. A nurse tells the doctor that Lucy is Peter's fiancé which allows her into the ICU. Soon the story of Lucy being Peter's fiancé who saved him off the tracks spreads, and Peter's family soon meets her. Lucy is too far in now to tell them it's all a lie, so she plays along. Her week of being Peter's fiancé allows her to have a family for the first time and truly makes her happy. While waiting for Peter to wake up, Lucy spends much of her time with Peter's brother Jack. Lucy and Jack seem to be perfectly made for each other in everyway. When Peter wakes up, however, Lucy knows she'll either have to tell the truth or marry Peter even though now her heart belongs to Jack.




Who doesn't love a 1995 rom com directed by the same man who directed the first two National Treasure films? Nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance, Sandra Bullock once again plays the likeable, relatable, yet completely enchanting heroine who carries the film with her balance of awkward comedy and charm. Between Speed, Miss Congeniality, and this film Sandra Bullock has established herself in the roll of the hardworking average girl destined for greatness. And though it's cheesy, this film really is a little gem. While You Were Sleeping truly captures the dynamic of a crazy family while still keeping to the genre norms when it comes to impossible situations and falling in love with the opposing personality. What more can you ask for in a rom com?

Capture of Culture- Capital C

"You don't have to wait around for companies anymore."


It is incredibly difficult for businesses to get any type of funding from corporations without those companies wanting their image to be changed. Creators don't have the chance to create to their full potential when tied to purse strings. Small town businesses and innovators were forced to go to big box companies and pitch their ideas often with the notion that they would have to give up something significant in order to be funded- maybe it would be ownership, maybe it would be their image. Then crowd funding appeared on the market. Through the interconnected nature of the internet, crowd funding takes creators and puts them in touch with the general public of people who want to fund projects. Through goal setting and the promise of products in return, people can start their own projects that take their idea and what they want and make it possible. Capital C follows the stories of several different crowd funded projects as they go from hitting their goal to product production. These projects consume their entire lives because it becomes their passion. Those are the types of people that consumers want making their products.


Capital C does a great job of putting a positive light on the subject of crowd funding. Too often, these types of documentaries turn into shows about how people's lives are overrun and taken over by their work. With plenty of candid interviews, this documentary does a good job of showing the passion behind this work. It is important to see how the creators react to the feedback and trials they receive through the crowd funding. One group has to deal with a copy cat company; another has to makes sure their product is approved by their funders before they can mass produce it. The connection is greatly explored and well presented. Plus who doesn't love stories about people who make cozy socks for your beverages?

Stream of the Week- I.Q.

Love is unquantifiable.




When Albert Einstein's niece pulls into a garage with fiancé James in tow, Ed, a simple mechanic with a love for science, falls immediately in love. Desperate to see her again, he goes to the billing address left on the repair slip for her car and finds Albert Einstein. Ed convinces Albert that his and Catherine's lives are intertwined and together they would be forever happy. Albert cannot resist the challenge of getting Ed and Catherine together, so with a group of his science buddies, they make Ed into the kind of man Catherine would appreciate- a genius. Together, they hatch a plan to pawn off as Ed's theories on Cold Fusion which would help put a rocket in space. Ed's "theory" completely enthralls Catherine as they begin to spend time together so that Ed can present his work at a science conference. Ed's lies begin to build up as Catherine falls even more in love with him. On the side, her fiancé James begins to pale in comparison as he doesn't truly foster Catherine's own scientific endeavors. Catherine continues to work on Ed's theories and begins to see flaws in the study. She is just about to expose Ed for a fraud and ruin his chances of ever being with her.




Am I a sucker for a rom com? Do I love Meg Ryan? If you can answer both of these as yes then you are in luck. This film is cheesey and light which makes it a perfect afternoon watch. Walter Matthau plays an excellent matchmaker as Albert Einstein, and the film benefits from his crazy antics. Even a man of science can have a theory on love. Though a bit one dimensional, all the characters mesh well together in a cute way which really makes no villain and a trio of heroes. Ed really is a smart guy just not a PhD, and Catherine may be a mathematician, but she also wants to be wooed. From the director of Roxanne, another sweet rom com, this film is an easy watch.