July 2006 Archives

This movie lived up to the high standards set by the first one, however, it is a bit on the long side. I found myself squirming in my seat the last 20-30 minutes. Perhaps my attitude was different since I knew going into it that the next installment has already been filmed and I wasn't expecting the story to be resolved. But I will say that the ending is not as abrupt as, say, Back to the Future II.

Johnny Depp is once again great as Captain Jack Sparrow, although since his character is well-known now, his quirkiness is perhaps not as endearing as it was in the first film. The story is satisfying, if a bit hard to follow, due to the *outrageous* accents of some of the key characters, and the CG is not too overpowering. If you were a fan of the first, you'll most likely enjoy this one too.

...that I stepped off of the bus in San Diego, California, at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, and stood on the yellow footprints. Minutes later my head was shaved, and I began what had to be at least 36 continuous hours of processing (paperwork, urine tests, etc.) before I was allowed to sleep.

I remember being teased by one of my drill instructors for my initial enlistment of six years. When he saw my military ID, with the discharge date of 14 July 92, he quipped that they wouldn't even have cars anymore when I got out, that I was a "Buck Rogers" Marine. Six years seemed like a long time then, but when I got out, it didn't seem that long.

Here we are twenty years later, and it still doesn't seem like that long ago really, until I stop to think that if I had stayed in, I would have retired yesterday. Retiring at age 38 is certainly appealing enough, but in retrospect I can't imagine my life without my wonderful wife Dixie and my little Noah-man. I definitely chose the right path.