“Ono Hawaiian Foods” Oh No!!!!! (Restaurant Review)

Post by The Grumpy One

Just a warning, my location reviews will most likely not be like my usual posts.  Instead of drawing stuff, I will take pictures so you really see what I am talking about.

So “The Tattooed One” invited me and “The Pretty One” to join him for lunch. He told us he knows of a good “hole in the wall” place that serves “Local” food (for you that don’t know, we all currently live in Hawaii.)

“Ono Hawaiian Foods, 726 Kapahulu Ave. Honolulu, HI”

When we walked up I was kinda scared.

But after we looked at all the pictures on the wall of celebrities that have eaten there before…

…we immediately knew it was good when we realized it was…

CHUCK NORRIS APPROVED!!!

Anyway… our lovely waitress Cindy (who even though she wasn’t that old, reminded me of a caring grandma) was a doll.  She was so helpful.  I told her to order for me since the point of this blog is try interesting food so she ordered me the Laulau plate (pronounced like the word LOUD, without the D, and say it twice.) It is pork (your choice of pork or chicken) wrapped inside of a tarot leaf (a cross between like a spinach leaf and a tea leaf.)

That would have been enough, except…they REALLY like to eat here, so it came with Laulau, Pipkaula (a kind of local flank jerky) Lomi Salmon (a tomato and salmon salad) Haupia (a local coconut jelly desert) and your choice of rice or Poi.

The food was really good (I think my favorite part was the jerky,) really cozy atmosphere, awesome staff (we love you Cindy) and they have no problem speaking about the celebrities that have visited (they were laughing at us when we started freaking out and taking pictures of the Chuck Norris photo.) If you are ever in Oahu and want a true local place, make sure you stop in.

THE BAD SIDE:  I have no idea if it was the food, or something else, but right as I got back to work, I spent some time in the bathroom…repeatedly.  But the other two did not, so that might just be me.

The Dark Knight Rises... SPOILERS INCLUDED!!

Post by The Pretty One

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES

So I think I was 3rd to witness this masterpiece of cinema (because The Girl is "busy" *shutters at the thought*). I made sure to see it in IMAX because... well... why not? Now this wasn't my typical IMAX experience where the screen almost surrounds you. It was just a larger screen, and not that much larger I must say. But, the floor did shake when explosions hit (and sometimes when the Batman would talk but I will complain about that later).

Starting off: PREVIEWS!

So the new Man of Steel was vague yet exciting! Looks like an origin story to me! And I def like the new face of Kal-El: Henry Cavill!

The new Expendables 2 trailer was man-tastic! And I will def be downloading it to watch at home for free and not paying $10-$20 per ticket! But, and I am referring to 'ol Grumperooski's post about the Chuck Norris excitement... my audience didn't have the same reaction. Maybe they heard that someone called Chuck gay, and he called them an ambulance! (He supports the Boy Scouts' anti-gay policies).

And other trailers that I don't recall so probably will just download them eventually...

THE MAIN EVENT!!!

So I was uber excited for this movie (as I am for all comic movies) but I am going to criticize a few things right off the bat... HA HA! Get it? I said bat and this is a batman movi... oh forget it!

So I don't remember Batman being a cripple from the last movie... maybe I need to watch it again or something but wouldn't a billionaire fix his leg? I guess that plays into the whole brooding hero thing. But to fix it, he just like straps a device of some sort on it and BOOM! It's fixed! Just like that.

And speaking of breaking crap... how in the hell could get do pull-ups and sit-ups and whatever else, just 3-5 months after breaking his back?? I repeat... HE. BROKE. HIS. BACK.

His vertebrae was sticking out of it, and some dude with no medical knowledge, pushed it back in. That takes a least a year or rehibilitation. I mean, I'm no doctor and the extent of my medical knowledge comes directly from Google and Yahoo! Answers. Even in the comics Batman had super natural energies to magically heal him. FINE! I'm suspending disbelief, because, heck, because if anyone can cut their rehab time in half and defy the laws of medical science... it's Batman!

Also, it felt like Bale did a little extra growling in this movie... Being in the IMAX theater with the super bass and such, almost every line of the Batman made my toes tickle because of the floor shaking!

And another big problem was how the heck did Blake (Joseph Gordon-Levitt's character) know who the Batman was? He said he knew because he was hiding anger through a smile or something stupid... I call bullshit on that!

So on to the good stuff! The movie rocked... it was just a great movie and I am very saddened that Christopher Nolan won't be making anymore. I love the way he finds a way to make everything real without special powers or magic or anything... don't get me wrong, I like that stuff too, but it was a fun twist the way he made everything... real.

I don't think there was a weak actor in the film. I heard a lot of people giving grief to Anne Hathaway for Catwoman... All I have to say to that is SHAME ON YOU! She was amazing. I loved the way Tom Hardy portrayed Bane... and it was great that they kept it true to the comics and didn't change the sex of Ra's al Ghul's child! Talia al Ghul has always been a love of mine in the comics!

She's hot, idealistic, one of the few Batman love interests and the MOTHER OF HIS CHILD,  Damian Wayne, the fifth Robin!

So of course she's something special!

But the icing on the cake for me was recognizing all the places I have been in the movie. Oh, you didn't know? The Dark Knight Rises was filmed in Pittsburgh!

All-in-all, this movie capped off the series well... with Batman taking a long needed vacation with his new sexy love, Catwoman... and handing the reigns over to Robin. I loved the movie and will preorder the 3D blu-ray/DVD/digital copy.

I am still very sad that Nolan won't be making anymore Batman films. There is so much to do with the character and I loved his take on the character. I know they won't let this be the last superhero film he does... I saw he is a producer on Man of Steel.

The fire rose, the legend ended... I was pleased and you will be too.

So tell me what you think of the movie, my review, or whatever! Do you agree that Talia al Ghul is one of the hottest DC characters? Did you medical prowness impress you? How do you feel about Nolan leaving the series?

COMMENT PEOPLE!!

“Dark Knight Rises” Review-ISH…NO SPOILERS

Post by The Grumpy One

Since I was the first of the group to see the new Batman movie (I beat the “Tattooed One” by 30 minutes) I figured I would probably be the first to write a review.  But don’t worry; I will not divulge any plot details.  In fact the “Review” part will be real short (that’s why I am calling this Review-ISH) the rest of this post will be stuff I either noticed about the movie, or the movie going experience itself. I will now walk you through my experience.

Just like olden days of Vaudevillian (SP?) Theater where they threw tomatoes or “hooked” the untalented (just think how awesome “Reality TV” would be if we still did that.) The crowd usually makes a difference on how you enjoy the movie. How the crowd will react to the movie is foreshadowed by how they act during the “Previews.” During the previews, this crowd (from the look of the haircuts and the fact of the theater being close to multiple Military Bases, I would say mostly consisted of Soldiers and Military Members) taught me one big thing. All though there was little to no reaction at the Superman preview, I knew this was my kind of crowd when…

So the movie starts, there are talking parts… Bad Guy (Bane) is scary, not as scary as Heath Ledgers Joker, but still realistic and good.  My only problem with him, when he first talks it almost sounded like he was doing a bad Sean Connery impression (like the SNL Celebrity Jeopardy Sketch, “I will take “The Rapist” for 500…Mr. Connery, that is THERAPIST.”)

More talking parts, I loved Ann Hathaway as Catwoman. Really did not think she was a good choice when first announced, but one of my only complaints of the movie is they didn’t use her enough.

Finally “THE BATMAN” shows up on screen, and a thought crosses my mind.  Do you think that maybe some of the hatred towards him is because he yells at everybody?

More talky parts, action parts, then an inspirational, well-written ending (I originally hated the ending until more than one person told me a plot point that I missed that then made me LOVE the ending.)

 As you are watching it for the first time in a theater (the best way to watch a movie like this) knowing that this is  the last movie, it was EPIC!!! A close contender to the “Dark Knight.”  However…. I do not think I will watch it nearly as many times as I have watched and enjoyed the “Dark Knight.”  For repeat viewing, I will say the 2^nd best Batman movie.  Still good, but REALLY good the first time.  So my final word.

Hurry up and watch it in the theater while you still can.

Introductions (continued...) The Pretty One

Post by The Pretty One

So who am I, you ask? Well whether you did or not, I'm gonna tell you (well, not everything but enough to wet your whistle). I'm a late 20's guy who loves to travel and try tons of new things, but that doesn't mean I haven't spent entire weekends on my couch p... oh wait, I'm copying and pasting too much!

Seriously tho, I am a bit of a movie/TV show junkie who loves, loves, LOVES to eat. For as much as I can shove down my gullet, I am not a fatty (big props for ma and pops for the great genetics!). I will try anything and can find something I like anywhere I go.

I can see myself doing a lot of reviews of shows, movies and restaurants on here. WARNING!! I tend to like almost everything on TV and am VERY critical of restaurants. I feel like if I could easily cook something myself in my own kitchen, then I'm pissed off that I paid $11.95 for it.

I am the best "test" audience for the budding cook (aka: The Girl), because I will eat anything, even when I don't like something, I will eat thirds and/or finish someone else's plate.

I'm not reserved and am crude speaking.

I dress well and look good (probably why I was dubbed the Pretty One... at least I am known for something :)  ) I don't mind accessories and will wear the mantle of "metro" proudly.

I'm also a gamer. Not quite up to the level as Tattoo but probably more so than Grumper-pants or Gurly. I am an achievement hunter and like building my X-Box gamer score.

Sidenote: I don't like Playstation... I don't even respect those that do. (not true but whatevs)

I am currently watching Falling Skies, True Blood, Alphas, The Daily Show, Love in the Wild, Tosh.O, Futurama, Political Animals, The Newsroom, Weeds, Glee, The Office, How I Met Your Mother, South Park, Simpsons, Fringe, Dexter, 30 Rock, Walking Dead, Community, Game of Thrones, and many others...

I have recently watched The Dark Knight Rises, The Amazing Spiderman, The Lorax, The Avengers, The Rum Diaries, Bronson, Drive, and more that I can't remember.

I don't have cable so I download everything! I keep an 8 TB hard drive hooked up to my giant TV with surround sound so I can watch everything all the time!

I think I am rambling so I will drop off here, but hope to add pictures and crap later!

Who's "The Girl"

Post by The Girl

Well now that the Grumpy one has given us a riveting introduction I will give you more about myself. I am a girl in my 20's who loves to travel and try tons of new things, but that doesn't mean I haven't spent entire weekends on my couch playing RPG's and first person shooters.

Now my contribution to this blog will vary because I love to eat so there will be food, I love to game so there will be games, and some travel ideas and fun adventures that I would recommend that you try and squeeze into your life. The only thing I most likely won't contribute much on are movies. I love to watch them but I am not one to remember lines or specific scenes unless they completely blow me out of the water. "the Pretty One" will most likely be the one to read for movie matters.

As far as the being the only one on this blog who can't cook... it's mostly correct. Although I would like to mention that I have been trying a lot more lately and have been cooking for "the pretty one," his wife, and some friends the last couple months and I haven't killed them yet, I must be doing something right. So maybe I'll share some recipes in the blog as well, you never know.

Unlike "the grumpy one's" drawings I have long hair and green eyes... and no pink skirts or shirts that say Girl on them.

Ok that's it for me for tonight.

Random Question: What is better... quilts or comforters?

Origin Story

Post by The Grumpy One

So like all great ideas in American History.  The idea of this group-blog came from four people waiting for their food at a diner we were trying because we thought it was a rip-off of Denny’s.  In fact, the idea we had at Kenny’s was the only good thing at the restaurant (except for the multiple trips made to the bathroom immediately when we got back to work that helped me lose a few pounds.)

So what is the point of the blog? To give you an inside view on some of the “Geekier” stuff that we mutually appreciate.  We are hoping since there are four different writers, you will identify with at least one of us.  SO WHO ARE THESE FABLED FOUR FABULOUS FRIENDS? (Well since I don’t know how everyone wants to be identified, I will give you the code names I just made up.)

That would be me.  I am a 30 year old father of twin boys. I am an ex-drill sergeant that works in Public Affairs. Pretty much it is like that poor lion in the zoo that used to be King…and now just sits around and gets fatter every day (hey…that’s two fat jokes about me in the first three paragraphs…grrrr.)

Probably the most serious “gamer” in the group. He has a fun quirky obsession with earning every single trophy ever invented for X-Box. But don’t let the “tats” fool you, he is also a serious foodie.

Pretty much the kid sister of the group, don’t underestimate her because of her lady parts, she can “out-geek” most guys any day of the week.

Just like the tattooed one's obsession for every X-box trophy, The Pretty One is on a quest to have the perfect Movie Collection. He is also a bit of a foodie, (I think everyone in the blog likes to cook except The Girl, hmmmm.) I cannot confirm this yet, but he probably has multiple video game controllers so he can match the controller to whatever he is wearing.

So that is the group.  Let the fun begin.