Bryce Moore's Blog, page 313
October 1, 2010
My Experiences with Raiders of the Lost Ark


So today's movie review isn't much of a review. I mean, I assume it goes without saying that virtually everyone in the world has seen Raiders of the Lost Ark. You have, haven't you? (If not, could you please tell me why not?) So what's the point in reviewing a movie most people have already seen, and the majority of the film world views as a classic?
Instead, I'm going to talk about the impact that movie has made on me. Because we all know reviews are all about the reviewer anyway, so why pretend they're about anything else?*
My earliest Raiders memories are quite vivid in my mind for a number of reasons. Number one, my family rented it from the movie store, and I dropped it down the stairs, breaking the video tape. The movie came out in 1981, so I figure I was probably in first grade or so by the time I dropped it down the stairs, although I suppose I might have been a bit older. I remember pretending to be Indiana Jones on the playground. In my mind, this consisted of rubbing my face a lot in contemplation, and then pretending to whip just about everything in sight. All I was missing was some facial stubble.
And of course, there's one other reason Raiders stood out in my elementary school mind: people's faces melted in it. Literally melted. Like, you could see their bones and everything. How cool was that? To think I lived in an age where I could see people's faces melt . . . beyond awesome. Looking back at that memory, I kind of wonder what the heck my parents were thinking, letting me see it. I mean, I think my son's still a year or two off from being able to watch it, but maybe I'm just more of a stickler than my parents were.
In any case, Indiana Jones was a pinnacle in my mind from a very early age. Since then, I've watched the movie many many times. I own the box set of the trilogy, and I enjoy seeing it each time. For more nitty-gritty details on the movie, check out the excellent imdb page on the movie. I love that site, and have spent many hours happily immersed in movie trivia and behind the scenes tidbits. (For example, did you know Raiders was Alfred Molina's first film? Or that the screenplay was done by the same guy who did the screenplay for another classic: Empire Strikes Back? Stuff like that just fascinates me. Gotta love the movie connections.)
My question to you all is this: what are your first Raiders memories? Please share, if you're willing. I'd love to hear them. And if (gasp!) you've never seen the movie, it's waiting here in Mantor for you to check out. Come on by and pick it up, then tell me what you think.
Happy Friday, all!
*To explain--Reviews vary wildly based on the reviewer. One person may love a film, another may hate it. I'm sure there are people out there who have never seen Raiders, or who wish they'd never seen it to begin with. That's okay. There are people who don't like bratwurst, either. The trick with reviews is to find a reviewer whose taste are close to your own, then listen to that reviewer and ignore everybody else. Who cares if 99% of reviewers hated a movie, so long as you loved it? Today, with Rottentomatoes and the like, people seem to want to defend their tastes. They're upset if other people disagree with them. That's silly. I can love a movie; you can hate it. I can't tell you that you're wrong, and vice versa. There's no right or wrong when it comes to taste.
Except with Raiders of the Lost Ark. :-)

Published on October 01, 2010 11:51
September 30, 2010
Adventures in Amoxicillin



Anyway--all was going fine. TRC was eating breakfast and drinking juice while watching PBS.
Then, Mount St. TRC erupted.
The couch, the rug, Denisa's pajamas--you name it. I was lying down in bed when it happened, but I arrived for the aftermath and the cleanup.
It's not pretty.
Wherever you are today, be glad you're not sick.
*Confession to make. I still remember how that stuff tastes, and I'm always a bit jealous when my kids get to take it. Am I alone in this?

Published on September 30, 2010 09:10
September 29, 2010
In Which I Feel Like a Jerk


They called from school today. I had to go pick him up because he had a fever of 101. He's now resting on the couch.
In other news, I'm getting a headache and am starting to feel flushed myself.
Is that karma knocking? Oh well, I'd better go answer it . . .
In the meantime, why don't you all go over and check out my friend Isaac's website, Inkwing? He did the book design for my Cavern of Babel book, and he also did much of the internal artwork for Brandon Sanderson's books. You can get a cool Mistborn Llama t-shirt, and much more. Go Isaac!
[image error]

Published on September 29, 2010 11:44
September 28, 2010
Skipping School and Growing Up


Me: So, you're sick, huh?
TRC: Yeah.
Me: How sick?
TRC: Well, I coughed four times, and I've already used five tissues.
Me: Do you think you need to go to the doctor's?
TRC: No!
Me: Oh. Do you have a fever?
TRC: No.
Me: Are you throwing up?
TRC: No.
Denisa: If we were going to go to the movies, would you go?
TRC: No. (pause, thinking) Well, yes.
Me: I don't think you're sick enough to stay home.
TRC: But I stayed home from Kindergarten when I was this sick.
Me: Kindergarten doesn't count.
TRC: I wish I were still in Kindergarten.
Me: Why don't you want to go to school?
TRC: Well, I'll get there, and I have to work on my journal and then do more work, and we only have one recess now, and . . .
Me: It's not as much fun, huh.
TRC: Yeah. Why would I need to go to the doctor's?
Me: Because you have to go to school, and if you don't go to school, they like to know why.
TRC: Oh.
After some further discussion, it was decided he was well enough to go to school, and he and I would play a game tonight when we both came home. The discussion got me thinking, mainly about how I still feel like TRC some of the time. Don't we all? Going to work can be difficult. The poor guy is just getting his first taste for what will be a life long issue.
Let's all have a moment of silence for TRC.

Published on September 28, 2010 11:16
September 27, 2010
Dear British Airways,


I don't usually dislike entire corporations. I mean, you typically have to do some pretty stupid things to make me start to think negatively about an entire company. But in your case, I think you've made the cut. You certainly went above and beyond the call of duty to make me dislike you.
What did you do, you ask?
Well, there was that time in Vienna when you made Denisa and me go traipsing around the city to get a "transit visa" for Heathrow Airport, since she comes f...
Published on September 27, 2010 14:10
September 24, 2010
Writing Full Time


So what does it feel like, writing full time in addition to working full time?
Stressful. I'm not much of a t...
Published on September 24, 2010 11:07
September 23, 2010
Why I'm Taking a Class on Beethoven


So it might surprise you all to hear that I'm taking a class f...
Published on September 23, 2010 09:41
September 22, 2010
King of Kong Update


Published on September 22, 2010 11:48
September 21, 2010
Thanks for the Birthday Wishes!


I suppos...
Published on September 21, 2010 10:28
September 20, 2010
Sunday Talk: Tithing


"He that is tithed shall not be burned at his coming." D&C 64:23 That's it. That's my talk. I'll give you three guesses which...
Published on September 20, 2010 09:32