Is Up In The Air A Good Movie?

“Is Up In The Air a good movie?” The answers is both yes and no. My wife and I ventured out this New Years Day to see a new movie called “Up In The Air” starring George Clooney. As we made our way through the massive crowds who were showing up to see “Avatar” and Sherlock Holmes” - we eventually found ourselves in a small theater in the back of a giant movie house that housed 16 movie screens. The decision to watch “Up In The Air” today was all my idea, because I had read recently that this movie had been nominated for numerous “Golden Globe Awards” and there has been buzz that this movie could get a “Best Picture” nomination for an Oscar.

First let me say that this movie was not at all what I was expecting from the various movie trailers that I had seen both at a theater and also via the Internet online. Sure, the main premise for the movie was about a young, good looking man played by George Clooney, who traveled around the country firing people – but the level of depression that this movie left us with was totally unexpected. Put simply, if you are thinking about paying around $10 per ticket to watch “Up In The Air” and expecting a happy ending – please save your money. Both my wife and I said as we departed the theater today, that “Up In The Air” was a very depressing flick from start to finish.

On a positive note, I thought that George Clooney did a fantastic job in playing the lead character of Ryan Bingham and Vera Farmiga was drop dead gorgeous playing the part of George Clooney's love interest Alex Goran. In my opinion, “Up In The Air” would have been a much better movie if the director Jason Reitman would have taken the ending of this movie in a different direction. In hindsight, I am glad that we saw “Up In The Air” today, but knowing what I know now – I would have preferred to watch it on DVD at some future date - rather than spending almost $20 for both of us to watch it in a first run theater. There is a message for people who travel for a living to learn from this movie and that is not to do it – if you ever want to have any real meaning to your life.

Happy New Year, Dick Clark Inspires Us All

“Happy New Year, Dick Clark inspires us all”. It would not be New Years Eve without the big ball drop in New York's “Times Square” or without Dick Clark welcoming in another New Year for people around the world. As most people already know, Dick Clark suffered a massive stroke many years ago, which paralyzed some parts of his body and rendered his once amazing speaking voice to a whisper. As I wrote earlier, during this years “Dick Clark Rockin New Years Eve Show” – his speaking voice was much stronger than in years past since his stroke and that should give all stoke victims and their families hope that they too can come back from such a terrible event in their own lives.

As has been the case for several years now, Ryan Seacrest has co-hosted this annual event with Dick Clark from “Times Square” in New York City. During the first few years after Dick Clark suffered his massive stroke, I felt sorry for him as he stood before the nation and did his best to continue a tradition that he started decades before. However, during the 2010 NYC ball drop – Dick Clark's voice was stronger than it has been in years and that event made me smile more than anything else that was presented on this years ABC telecast. It is always touching for my wife and I when at the stroke of midnight on New Years Eve, Dick Clark always kisses his wife on national television. That is the one thing we both look forward to seeing each and every year.

Soon, the NYC ball will drop for millions of Americans on the West Coast. I hope that my friends and neighbors out there are inspired by the improvement in Dick Clark's voice and condition as we were several hours ago when we watched that same New Years Eve ball drop from our home in Texas. Dick Clark should inspire both young and old alike with his stubborn, will not quit, attitude. Everyone of us has had a close friend or family member be stricken by a stroke and we all can take comfort in knowing that rather than that event being the end of a good and solid life, it could be nothing more than a maturing event that leads us all to a better, but different life in the future.

Was Dick Clark's Voice Stronger This Year?

“Was Dick Clark's voice stronger this year?” The answer is yes. My wife and I both thought that when Dick Clark counted down the seconds until the start of 2010 on this years “Rockin New Years Eve Show” that it was much easier to understand him than has been the case in years past since he suffered a stroke. As I wrote earlier, Dick Clark gives hope to thousands of people around the world who have also lost their speaking voice because of a massive stroke. It's hard to believe that Dick Clark will turn 80 years old in 2010, because he looks much younger than that. When I was a kid we use to joke that Dick Clark never ages and even now 30 years later – that statement is still true.

There are still several more times zones to go before Dick Clark's Rockin New Years Eve is seen all across America, so if you have not had a chance to watch Dick Clark countdown till midnight in Time Square NYC yet this year, please turn on the TV, because I think you might be surprised at the amazing new strength in Dick Clark's voice. In my family, and maybe in yours too, there is a history of stroke. Fortunately, most of the stokes that have been seen on my side of the family have been of a mild nature where touch, walking and speech have not been that badly effected. However, it is clear that Dick Clark's stroke was massive in the damage it caused to one side of his body and to his once amazing and recognizable speaking voice - millions of people remember on “American Bandstand”.

So if you live out west, say in the mountain or pacific time zones, you still have time to watch the big ball drop in Times Square New York for 2010 and you also can witness a truly remarkable turnaround in the speaking voice of Dick Clark. In my generation, Dick Clark has always been larger than life and it's great to see him still at work on New Years Eve – bring smiles to the faces of both new, and long time fans like myself as we all hope for better times in the year to come. Happy New Year!