So I was browsing Hulu the other day...

First post on this blog since September.. and first post from me since August. With winter coming though I should have more time to try to keep up with all my blogs. So let's get on with it...

I should explain that my monitor I use for work has Picture-In-Picture capability, so I plug my Xbox into that monitor as well as my work PC and use the PlayOn plugin allowing Xbox Media Center to stream Hulu through my PC to the Xbox using the secondary input on my monitor so I can literally watch shows while I am hard at work fixing stubborn server issues at hospitals. :)

I usually use Hulu to stream the latest TV shows I may have missed, but on this particular day there were no shows aired that I hadn't already seen, so I started browsing their Feature Films section. As I am browsing I was pleasantly surprised to find "So I Married An Axe Murderer.." in all of the selections. I immediately started watching it and man did it take me back.

Mike Meyers is a comedic genius. For those that haven't seen the movie, here is a plot summary. Charlie Mackenzie (played by Meyers) is a poet who has had a string of failed relationships due to what his friend Tony (played by Anthony LaPaglia) calls mild delusional paranoia. Ever time Charlie starts falling for a woman he comes up with some bogus reason to leave her, leaving his latest girlfriend after accusing her of stealing his cat.

Looking for some Haggis to surprise his parents (played by Brenda Fricker and Mike Meyers himself plays Stuart Mackenzie his father). Charlie goes into a butcher shop where he meets Harriet (played by Nancy) the owner of the shop. He is immediately intrigued by Harriet and uses Haggis as an excuse to keep going back and seeing her until he musters up the courage to ask her out.

After a few successful dates Charlie starts noticing some odd things about Harriet that coincide with an article his mother had read to him from her "news paper" (which is actually just a local tabloid) about the notorious Mrs. X who kills all her husbands on their wedding night. Tony tries to convince him he is just being paranoid, and this time he actually listens and decides to ask Harriet to marry him, and that is where I'll leave off as the rest you have to see for yourself!

If you haven't heard at least one or two lines from this movie at some point in your life I am pretty sure you have been living in a cave. It is truly one of the funniest movies I have ever seen. I am so glad that I found it and was able to watch it again for the first time in years. Do yourself a favor and check it out either from your local video store or on Hulu by clicking here.

Pirate Island

My friend told me about this place a couple of weeks ago. Because she mentioned tokens, I assumed it was basically a variation of Chuck-E-Cheese. I found out today that my assumption could not have been more wrong.
One of our favorite DJs (Cort Johnson, from 101.9 THE END) was broadcasting live from Pirate Island in Orem today, AND he was giving away Miley Cyrus tickets. Also, my good friend Brooke lives in Provo so we decided that would be a great place to meet up with her and her family too.
I was impressed right from the moment that we pulled up because there was a giant pirate ship out front and big wooden doors to go inside. To give you an idea how big this place is, they have converted and older movie theater into a restaurant.
THE ATMOSPHERE: When we walked in, my first thought was that it seemed a little bit like the Mayan. The atmosphere was awesome. It basically felt like you were at Disneyland and the Pirates of the Caribbean ride stopped so you stepped off into this place. Our table was over in an area that had a bayou feeling. There were huge fake trees and fireflies that kept lighting up and you could hear crickets and frogs. It reminded me a lot of the Blue Bayou restaurant at Disneyland, except the prices were reasonable and the food was good. Part of the place was painted like a giant pirate ship and every once in a while canons would fire from it. Then, as you continued past the pirate ship you ended up in Tortuga, which had a much more rowdy and kid-like atmosphere. The arcade was over that way and there was a small play area for younger kids. Out of the two, I was really glad that we sat over in the bayou area, because my kids are old enough that they could go over to the arcade by themselves but I didn't have to see it or hear it. Did I mention that all of the waiters were dressed like pirates? The kids really liked that.
THE FOOD: When we first got there I asked to look at a menu, because after I saw the place inside I figured it was going to cost a fortune. The menu had a lot of variety, especially since I was just expecting cardboard pizza. I noticed that the prices were decent too. Kids meals were in the $3 to $4 range, and were your basic kid-friendly choices. The kids menu even turned into a pirate hat. The regular menu had reasonable prices and lots of different choices. Soup and a salad bar started at $5.99 and then there were different wraps and sandwiches, etc in the $8.99 range. We ended up ordering a pizza for Guy and Hannah and myself to share. We chose the medium-sized chicken/bacon/ranch pizza for $16.99. It was DELICIOUS and there was even one piece left-over. One of the coolest menu items was the Kraken pizza. It was 24" wide (yes, that's 2 feet). It would probably feed 8 to 10 people, assuming you could all decide on the same kind of pizza. They did say they could even do 1/2 and 1/2, and could cut it into normal slices or even into smaller squares so they weren't SO big. We saw one come out to a nearby table and I have to say it was pretty impressive.
THE BILL: I had decided to treat since it was my idea and I know things are tight for Brooke and Chad right now with school starting up. I figured that if the 10 of us (4 adults and 6 kids) could get out of there for $70 we would be doing pretty good. Imagine how pleasantly surprised I was when the bill came and it was just under $50. That included one medium pizza, 4 kids meals with sodas, 2 soups and salads, and 3 regular sodas. I left a $10 tip and still got out of there for ten bucks less than I was planning on spending.
I HIGHLY recommend this place. It is in Orem, just past the University Mall, in the old movie theaters, behind the brand-new movie theaters. There is also a Costco right there in the same area. It is definitely a great place for kids, but it is even a place that I would consider going to with only adults. I was very impressed!

Red Rooster Waffle Company

I noticed this place was opening up as I was leaving India Fusion at Jordan Landing (review to come later). The menu was posted on the window and my buddy Jesse and I decided we had to try it out when they opened.

One Monday Jesse and I were trying to decide where to head for lunch when we realized that the Red Rooster Waffle Company was now open, so we headed out to Jordan Landing and walked into a neatly decorated deli-style restaurant. Their menu was quite large with so many selections to choose from, with breakfast, lunch, and dinner type entrees. I decided to go with "The Original" Chicken and Waffles and a huckleberry soda. Jesse went with an omelette (I can't remember which one).

My chicken and waffles were absolutely delicious. The chicken had a coating that is like nothing I have ever had before it was completely original and awesome! The belgian waffle was light and fluffy yet slightly crispy on the outside. It was served with a citrus maple syrup that was very light and refreshing. Jesse got a dessert waffle that was extremely rich and choclatey.

I am linking an UrbanSpoon article that has photos of the menu so you can see all they have to offer. http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/54/1455576/restaurant/Salt-Lake-City/Red-Rooster-Waffle-Company-West-Jordan

I highly recommend checking this place out! The prices are reasonable anywhere from $5 to $11 per person.

Funnel Cake Sticks

First off, let me say that I am honored to be a guest writer on a blog of this magnitude. Until now I have just been an amateur mom-blogger, bragging about my kids every chance I get. I feel like I have finally made it in the blogging world now that I am associated with the Jones Movie Corner and Restaurant Review. That said, let me begin my first review:

Today, while strolling though the mall with my stir-crazy kindergartner, I remembered that Jones had mentioned the new Funnel Cake Sticks at Hot Dog on a Stick. So this is not a review of a new restaurant, but of a new product at an existing "restaurant", if you can call it that. Now, let me say that while funnel cakes are definitely delicious, the thought crossed my mind that maybe a big part of their appeal comes from the fact that a person is usually at Disneyland or another fun place when they eat them. This would most definitely put funnel cakes to the test, since I was just at the mall.

When I got my order of Funnel Cake Sticks, my first thought was that they were kind of small. There were probably 8 of them in the little tray like their hot dogs come in. They were golden brown and covered in powdered sugar. I shared an order with my mother-in-law, but I definitely could have eaten every last one of those little morsels. They were delicious - and there wasn't even a hint of hot dog flavor to them like I was expecting :)

I can't remember the exact price but I think they were between $2 and $3. A great little snack! If you close your eyes while you eat them you can pretend you are at Disneyland, so in reality you will be saving yourself $1,500 to $2,000 by purchasing Funnel Cake Sticks from Hot Dog on a Stick.

Fast & Furious

Starring:
Vin Diesel
Paul Walker
Jordana Brewster
Michelle Rodriguez

Directed by:
Justin Lin

Written by:
Chris Morgan

I have to start off my review by stating that it may be slightly bias just because I am a huge fan of this series of movies regardless of how good the story is or how good the acting is. I LOVE CARS!

Bringing back the cast members from the original film to me was the best thing that they could have done. Vin Diesel offers up a powerful performance as a man with nothing to lose. Paul Walker and Jordana Brewster still have that awesome on screen chemistry.

The time frame in which this movie takes place is before Tokyo Drift because we see Han Lue assisting Dom with one of his jobs. Due to an event towards the beginning of the movie that was a huge surprise to me I won't go too far into the story so I don't spoil any part of the movie.
Brian O'Conner is now an FBI agent who is on a task force to take down a drug lord who is using street racers to bring drugs across the Mexico border.

Kudos to the writer, definately the best written story of the series. The story really got me into the movie which made the cars a nice added bonus. The race sequences were intense and I really enjoyed how they brought more muscle cars into the picture. It was a nice blend. I really enjoyed the emotion that the movie portrayed, it wasn't just one action sequence after another.

The movie carries a PG-13 rating for drug references, some violent fight scenes, and language.

Again I will mention my bias about this movie as I give is a 8 out of 10 just because it is one of those movies that I could watch over and over and never get sick of it.

Bohemian Brewery and Grill

Bohemian Brewery and Grill located at 94 E 7200 So. in Midvale Utah is a place you have probably driven by numerous times and not even noticed it. I know I had.

When you first walk into the restaurant you are greeted by the warmth of a large fireplace and a cabin feel. The decor is similar to that of a hunting lodge.

The menu is surprisingly large with a wide variety of dishes from salads to schnitzel. They offer four beers brewed at their facility, the Czech Pilsener is a pale ale, the Viennese Lager is an amber brew, the Bavarian Weiss is their own Heffeweissen, and finally the Cherny Bock is their dark beer. They also offer an extensive wine list.

My dish was the Philly Brat Sandwich served with battered garlic fries. The sandwich was absolutely delicious a grilled bratwurst topped with carmelized onions, apples and swiss cheese.

My wife had the Halibut Filet which is a horseradish and parmesan crusted filet served with mashed potatoes and veggies. The horseradish was almost non existent in the taste, but the fish was flaky and the crust added a nice texture. The potatoes were prepared slightly lumpy with good flavor and the veggies were not over cooked.

My mom had the Pear Salad, mixed greens topped with poached pears, roasted hazelnuts, brie cheese wedges, and blue cheese dressing. This salad was amazing, the brie was some of the best brie I have ever tasted and its pairing with the pears was absolutley perfect.

I had the Cherny Bock, and was surprised at how mild it was for being a dark beer. So don't be afraid to try it even if you are not a fan of dark beers.

They brought out a coloring book and kids menu for my daughter which was unexpected, but a nice gesture.

A couple dining at the Bohemian Brewery and Grill can expect to pay anywhere from $25 - $50 for the meal and $4.50 - $6.00 more if beer or wine is ordered.

They also have a website http://www.bohemianbrewery.com/Home.html

New additions to the blog..

I have decided to add another genre for review to the blog. When most people head out for a movie, they usually hit a restaurant before or after so why not review them on my site along with movies people may want to see.

I recently posted on FaceBook about a delicious dinner I had at the Bohemian Brewery and Grill and a few people replied about it and my cousin Natalie mentioned that I should create a blog to review Restaurants and that she would contribute.. so I am going to hold her to her offer and have added her as a contributor to this blog.

So please check back often for not only reviews on movies we have seen, but now restaurants we have visited!

Gran Torino

Starring:
Clint Eastwood
Christopher Carley

Directed by:
Clint Eastwood

Written by:
Nick Schenk
Dave Johannson


This movie restored my faith in the movie industry. It has been so long since I have been able to say "that was one of the best movies I have ever seen." Actor / Director Clint Eastwood (Walt Kowalski) gives one of his best performances not only as an actor, but as a director as well. Movie new comers Bee Vang (Thao Vang Lor) and Ahney Her (Sue Lor) provide an excellent contrast to the rough and ragged Eastwood. I had never seen Christopher Carley(Father Janovich) star in anything else, but I really enjoyed his character and how well his character fit in the movie.

Walt Kowalski is a retired Korean War Veteran who has just lost his wife and it doesn't take long before you find out that he is an EXTREMELY onry individual would prefer everyone, even his own two boys and their families, leave him alone. He lives in the middle of a very ethnic neighborhood, surrounded by Mong(H'Mong) people, which are a specific group of Vietnamese individuals. You can tell right away there is going to be conflict when you hear Walt discuss his time in the Korean war and uses every slang term there is for Koreans from "slant-eye" to "gooks". When a fight breaks out next door and it crosses onto his lawn he breaks it up and unknown to him saves a boy (Thao) from a gang looking to recruit him. This starts a chain reaction of kindness from his neighbors toward him even though he doesn't want it. Sue Lor, Thaos brother, finally gets him to come over for a family BBQ and from there on out he has a new respect for the H'Mong people, even though he doesn't openly show it, still referring to them as gooks and other slang terms. He openly admits that he has more in common with them than with his own kids, and a new family circle is born between him and his neighbors.

Everything about this movie just worked for me. The story kept me guessing and entertained throughout. I've read some reviews that say the movie had to many "cringe" moments because of the racist dialogue, but to me it was authentic and real. I have heard numerous war veteran refer to their foes in slang / racist terms to this day, that is just how it was. So I didn't feel the cringe at all.

This movie carries an R rating for language and violence. There was no nudity to speak of.

I am giving this movie a 9.5 out of 10 as it will remain in my top 10 movies of all time list for long while I am sure.