What a ride

After hopping off one of my favorite theme park rides last night during a quick evening visit with my husband, I thought of a half-way viable blog post. 

What one ride from each of the four local Disney parks would I love to ride non-stop if given the chance.* At least once (though a vague memory says maybe two or three times) cast members let me stay on a ride as many times through as I wanted during a slow evening. It was magical. There, I said it. Alas, last night's visit didn't have an extended-ride-experience but the ride I was on is one I'd love to stay on. 

*I'm restricting this to the mouse's house for a simple reason: Every single ride at Universal Studios' parks (with the exception of the Dr. Seuss and ET rides) I've been on is gone or been overhauled. Which should give a fairly good idea of how long I've spent away from theme parks until recently. Speaking of which, why isn't 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea or Mr. Toad's Wild Ride on the mouse's maps anymore? WeIrD!

With the newest addition to the animal-themed park, my choice is now either of the two rides in Pandora - the slow moving river ride or the immersive flight simulator. 

Hands down, simulated hang-gliding around the world. For someone with a fear of flying and heights, this is one of my favorite rides ever.

For the studio-based park, I'd love a full day on the Toy Story ride. What makes carnival games even better? Being slung around from game to game on a ride that keeps score between you and your companion. 

Oh bother. I have so many favorites at this park AND this is the park I've had the most opportunity to ride something until I scream "Uncle!".* Excluding the ride I've spent the most non-stop time on, my pick's the Haunted Mansion. That being said, it would be easier to list the rides I wouldn't want to ride continuously here than ones I would. 

*Point of fact, it was my companions who begged off that ended my ride as much as I wanted to streak. I came disturbingly close to having a toddler-style tantrum at the park.  How often do you get that kind of opportunity?! *deep, calming breaths*

What rides would you love to stay on as long as you wanted? 

Watchlist

About twice a month I score a free digital movie rental courtesy a rewards program from my wireless carrier.

My husband and I are movie people. Not in the sense that we have good taste, a critic's eye or have seen the best of the best. Nope, strictly in the sense that we just like to watch movies. Good ones, horrible ones, slapstick, drama, action, kids', sci-fi- anything that sparks our interest. And while we don't always agree on the same movies or even genres (I love a good scary movie or a compelling documentary while he will watch anything with "American Pie presents" in the title or military history tear jerkers.) there are usually a few titles we agree to cough up the cash each year to go see in the theater. Damn you, Marvel Cinematic Universe. Or thank you, if I'm being honest. 

All the rest that don't quite make the theater investment but still interest us we either wait to get from the library or until they show up on television. Occasionally we'll luck out and a few are available to stream on Netflix, but you get the idea. By the time they are available to watch, we've forgotten what we were waiting for and new releases have gained our attention. 

So this whole free movie rental reward is right up our alley. We're catching up on the movies we missed and as is to be expected, not all are winners. And then we've caught up and we still have rentals to redeem. 

The watchlist conundrum. 

I have movies on my watchlist I wanted to see, but they vary greatly. I start getting choosy. Picky. Do I want to watch the adaptation of a childhood favorite book or would I be more inclined to sit through two hours of watching Tarzan's abs? Cute independent movie staring the beloved Sally Field or a JJ Abram's thriller? Meryl Streep or a documentary of an author who wrote under an assumed name and used a relative to assume that identity? 

The struggle is...ridiculous. But there it is. This is, I should note, less stressful than deciding between books on my infinitely long TBR list. 

What would you watch if you made it through your top choices available and had a freebie to spare? 

Ghostbusters 2016

There may be very little in the way of actual spoilers here. I'm no critic. I don't know how to write a review. I do thoroughly enjoy picking apart every detail about a movie I've watched. What I thought worked. Where the gaping plot holes were. Various instances of 'what were they thinking'. What should have been different. *cough* Okay, so I can be critical.

This movie opens with a cute setup for our intro to ghosts in this new Ghostbusters universe. Scientific women, slapstick and slime follows. Excessive slime for some. (Unless you're well versed with the slime river from Ghostbusters 2.) And yes, Thor in glasses. This time around the Janine-esque character gets a slightly bigger part to play. All in good time. It's worth the wait. Especially during the credits.

I'll admit, I had a hard time with expectations and comparisons to the earlier movies I love so much. About halfway through I couldn't take the bipolar excitement/enjoyment to cranky that's-not-the-way-it-should-be's and back again anymore. I had a quick, internal snap out of it moment. This is a separate movie, doing it's own thing with plenty of hat tippage to the previous incarnations. It's a fun ride if you allow it. And our theater with movie goers ranging from kid to senior citizen applauded when it was over. So if comedy and paranormal are up your alley, give it a fair chance.

When I saw the most recent Star Wars movie, I had a moment where tears came to my eyes. It wasn't a death scene. It wasn't a scene where characters are reunited. It was when a girl used the force. I had no idea seeing that image for the first time would fill my chest with emotion. I wasn't sure what to expect with another return to a franchise from my childhood. Oddly enough, these two franchises were my first two theater experiences, so it's kind of appropriate for me that these updates and returns happened in the order and proximity they did.

I didn't have a single tear well up this time. I did have some moments of silent 'girl power' pride (also some snorty-nerd girl giggles that are less than flattering to reveal). An all female ghostbusting team? Why the fuck not? I'm not shocked people in 2016 have a problem with a female cast for this movie. I'm a woman who grew up with a dawning awareness that there are both men and women who have a real problem with women. And to those hiding behind the banner of what would the original team think, I offer the following:

• With the exception of Rick Moranis (who essentially dropped out of Hollywood to raise his children) the gang is all there. Cameo, upon cameo, upon well placed cameo. The late, beloved Harold Ramis was even represented if you pay close attention. His son has a small part as well.
• Check the production credits. If no names ring any bells, zip your lips.
• Passing the Ghostbuster's Torch (Ramis's daughter tackles the subject)

Any experienced Marvel moviegoer knows to stay until the credits are done for extra scenes. Plan on staying at the end for some visual goodies. Our final cameo comes just before the credits roll, one I was hoping for the whole time. Instead of the boring traditional plain end credits, you get a little unexpected entertainment as you wait for the scene to set up a potential next movie.

All in all? I'd go see it in the theater again. It does exactly what I think a movie like this sets out to do. There is humor. There are moments of decent suspense (as this is not a straight up horror flick, that's fair). Cast chemistry is solid. The cameos made me happy. All the little nods did. It kept me engaged. It's fun, slime-filled escapism.

You know, if you like that kind of thing.