United.

As an avid film buff, documentaries depicting real life tragedies on any scale are the hardest to sit through. It’s been eight years since the tragedy of 9/11. Each year upon its anniversary, you see channels dedicate the entire day to show, depict, or relive the events of that day and the effects it continues to have on the rest of the world. Films such as these are not meant to be critiqued, but rather to educate and often to commemorate those who lost their lives or sacrificed their own lives to save others.

Two films stand out for me. United 93 is a movie depicting the events that took place upon the hijacked United Airlines flight that crashed in a field outside of Pennsylvania.

Nine Innings From Ground Zero takes a different course. It shows how after the events of 9/11, a simple sport like baseball served as a much needed way for people to cope and for a moment, become a symbol of “United We Stand.”

Both of these films are not exploitative by any means. They are unscripted expositions of great courage, humanity and selflessness.

My own personal experience with 9/11 is miniscule in perspective, but one that I will never forget. I was working as a Reservationist for United Airlines, and vividly remember that day when I arrived at the call center. I walked in and the phone lines were lit up, agents working frantically, and the jumbo screen was broadcasting live news coverage. I immediately plugged in and started talking to passengers, instructing them on what the status of their flights were, that all air traffic was grounded till further notice. I could hear other agents trying to calm down those who were frantic trying to get home and scrambling for alternatives. I also remember getting calls from people who just wanted to pass along their condolences to our fellow pilots and flight attendants who died that day.

The most vivid call I remember was with a gentleman who was stuck in a certain city trying to get back home. I calmly tried to explain that there were no flights going out at this time and that everyone is being rebooked on the next available flight which could take a couple of days. Understandably, he was frustrated. We were also instructed to inform passengers of the list of banned carry-on items when boarding flights. He started yelling and cursing saying, “What, do you think I’m a terrorist? I’m not a f*#!in terrorist!” I admit losing my cool a bit and shouted back, “Look sir, no one thinks you’re a terrorist and do you think you’re the only one who is being told to abide by this list? Every single passenger in the entire world is in the same situation as you!” The tension was extremely high throughout the conversation. We both eventually calmed down and even parted with a mutual understanding and camaraderie, if you will.

The toughest part of the job was always helping people flying on bereavement fares, those traveling to attend funerals. I often found myself being more than an agent, but also a counselor to those grieving. It was hard not to get a little emotional hearing them breakdown in tears. 9/11 brought that side out exponentially.

One of the things I took away from 9/11 was being an unexpected source of comfort in a very small way during a very dark time.

Love bites…and kicks and screams and pulls.

“WHAT DO YOU REALLY WANT?”

PLAYERS: Marianna Palka, Jason Ritter, Eric Edelstein, Martin Starr, Mark Webber, Tom Arnold

COACH: Marianna Palka (Directorial debut)

STYLE: Indie romance / Tower Video (or any video store) humor

MEMORABLE QUOTE: “Dude, you can’t talk to the porn customers…”

This is not a porn. This is not a porn review. Sorry if there were any preconceived notions. This is an independent film directed by and starring Marianna Palka, whom I’ve never ever heard of before. But she sure caught my attention here. Good Dick is an indie romance that tells the tale of a video store worker who falls for an introvert of a girl that frequents his aisles in search of soft porn and female erotica. She is a regular and has drawn the intrigue of the entire staff but captures the heart of the one particular clerk. The story progresses along, humorously at that, as he goes to EXTREME lengths to win her over. I don’t want to give away anymore, so I’ll just say that he’s in it to win it. There’s also character layers to peel as you become to understand why she is the way she is.

The male lead is played by Jason Ritter, son of the late, great John Ritter. He is the spitting image of his father and exudes the same boy-ish Three’s Company expressions that make you sympathize with his character. I thought Palka did a great job in her directorial debut. A lot of movies slap the “indie” label to give itself an edge, but this really had the low budget indie feel. A little twisted, charming, funny, and melancholy, it was fascinating to watch. As a rental, this was worth every pretty penny.

(I added the Tower reference as a shout-out to my Tower peeps because I couldn’t help but relate to being on that side of the counter and the similar comments we used to make about the people in the naughty-naughty aisle.)

$ VALUE: $$$$

$$$$$ – “You’re so money, you don’t even know it.”

$$$$ – “Worth every penny.”

$$$ – “Fair price.”

$$ – “I’m not made of money.”

$ – “A fool and his money are soon parted.”

80′s fair.

“IT WAS THE WORST JOB THEY EVER IMAGINED…AND THE BEST TIME OF THEIR LIVES.”

PLAYERS: Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Ryan Reynolds

COACH: Greg Mottola (Superbad)

STYLE: Comedy / Another 80′s retrospect

MEMORABLE QUOTE: “Yeah, Frigo was my best friend. Then, I turned four.”

Admit it. No matter how gawdy or ridiculous the 1980′s looks in retrospect, it is an era that houses so many endearing memories and moments that set the standard for some of the hip cultures of today.

A movie like Adventureland, written and directed by Greg Mottola of Superbad fame, one would come to expect something lewd and raunchy. But actually it is a nice ode to the 80′s, viewed through his eyes as a kid growing up. Set in 1987, it’s a story of a boy eager to earn money over his summer vacation. He gets a job working at the local amusement park where he befriends the park’s cast of characters. Sounds fascinating right? Actually it doesn’t. But the enjoyment for me was being able to relate to certain moments and reminisce of my own teenage experiences. Mottola did a great job paying attention to detail when recreating the 80′s look and feel. From the cars, the references, the hair styles, the music, and the dancing.

I loved going to carnivals as a kid, so seeing that as the backdrop gave me an emotional attachment. From the cheap thrill rides to the food to the dinky games, it’s very nostalgic. Despite the simple plot, Adventureland is a sweet story with lots of funny moments and a strong cast. The film is not trying to recreate an 80′s flick, nor is it trying to be a retro American Pie. That’s a good thing. It’s one of those movies that doesn’t need a whole lot of explaining, but is an amusing one to watch.

$ VALUE: $$$$

$$$$$ – “You’re so money, you don’t even know it.”

$$$$ – “Worth every penny.”

$$$ – “Fair price.”

$$ – “I’m not made of money.”

$ – “A fool and his money are soon parted.”

What I’m DVR-ing this Fall (2009)…

Here we go:

MONDAYS:

“THE BIG BANG THEORY” (CBS)

- Never have algorithms, mathematical equations, and techie talk been so hilarious. Reminds me of the 80′s movie, Real Genius. (9/21)

“CASTLE” (ABC)

- It’s hard to pass up anything Nathan Fillion is in. Stana Katic, as Detective Kate Beckett, is the cat’s meow. Entering its 2nd season about a murder/mystery writer employed by the NYPD. (9/21)

“HOUSE” (FOX)

- Note to self: Why the (bleep) did you wait so long to watch this show?! A diabolical genius of a doctor, a pompous ass of a man. Still, he can save my life any day. The counter balance between Dr. Gregory House and his hand-picked medical team is a joy to watch. (9/21)

“HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER” (CBS)

- The new Friends of prime time. This was a let down last season and I’m hoping they start revealing the story that is the premise of this show’s title. Too invested to stop watching now. Neil Patrick Harris is the catalyst. (9/21)

TUESDAYS:

“THE HILLS” (MTV)

- “The bitch is back.” That’s the headline showcasing Season 6 of The Hills, one of my all-time guilty pleasures. Show original, Lauren Conrad, now off to greener pastures, left a vacancy in the lead role. Cue Kristin Cavallari (hottt!), her chief rival during their days on Laguna Beach. Divulging more info will further engrave the “L” on my forehead so I’ll simply say, “I’m like totally there” when it drops on September 29th. (9/29)

WEDNESDAYS:

“COUGAR TOWN” (ABC)

- Courtney Cox Arquette plays a single 40-year-old mom with a 17-year-old son who goes on a dating prowl. Reason to watch: from the creator of Scrubs, Bill Lawrence. (9/23)

“GLEE” (FOX)

- A sneak preview of this aired after the season finale of American Idol and what a breath of fresh air it was. Simple beginning showed the reassembling of a high school glee club. Sweet, cheesy, juvenile, witty. All the makings of a good sit-com. (9/9)

“MODERN FAMILY” (ABC)

- A new comedy series filmed as a mockumentary about the lives of three different American famiies. The return of Married With Children‘s Ed O’Neill. (9/23)

THURSDAYS:

“FLASH FORWARD” (ABC)

- For two minutes and seventeen seconds, every human being experiences a blackout, during which they receive a glimpse of their lives six months into the future. Now the race is on to figure out if their premonitions will come true. Written by David S. Goyer of Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. This might be my new Lost. (9/24)

“GREY’S ANATOMY” (ABC)

- Last season’s finale was a bombshell of an episode. This has to be the sluttiest hospital on television, but they started to refocus on medical stories. My other guilty pleasure. (9/24)

“THE OFFICE” (NBC)

- The funniest show on NBC (and most networks). Nuff said. (9/17)

“SUPERNATURAL” (CW)

- The Hardy Boys of the supernatural realm. Honestly, I never thought this show would last this long. Entering its 5th season, the show has managed to incorporate a very good story while infusing a nice mix of horror and humor. A real sleeper. (9/10)

“THE VAMPIRE DIARIES” (CW)

- My interest in vampires is the only appeal here. I am treading carefully with garlic, silver, and remote control in hand, ready to strike. (9/10)

SUNDAYS:

“DEXTER” (SHO)

- A serial killer who kills serial killers. Genius. This season, Dex goes knife-to-knife against John Lithgow. This should be good. (9/27)

This rounds out what intrigues me this Fall. The Spring season is its own beast which I’ll tackle later. Good stuff to look forward to, especially the final season of Lost. I heart my DVR.

True Twilight.

Every cinematic generation has a nice representation of Vampire films. Nosferatu, made in 1922, is considered the landmark that paved the way for classics like Dracula, with Bela Lugosi. Christopher Lee had his run with Dracula and its many sequels. Thereafter, the list is numerous. Some of the more memorable ones include Salem’s Lot, The Lost Boys, Fright Night, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Interview With a Vampire, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, the Blade trilogy, and my personal favorites, From Dusk Till Dawn and Let the Right One In.

The latest craze involves two that are based on novels that swirl the supernatural in a soapy operatic tub of love, lust, and survival. Twilight is the first of many adaptations of the teen vampire romance novels authored by Stephanie Meyer. The hype surrounding Twilight is close to Harry Potter like status. But personally, I don’t see it. Now although I watched it with a dude (save your snickering), I am an objective movie-goer but I categorized it as Dracula meets Dawson’s Creek. Keep in mind, I’m an 80′s kid, so I grew up objectifying teen angst but this was just ok, bordering on silly. Moving on, as I brace myself for high-pitched obscene phone calls and glitter red hate mail, I am happy to report that my faith in the retelling of vampire folklore adapting to the world today has been restored by the HBO presentation, True Blood.

True Blood, a drama series about to wrap up its second season, is based on The Southern Vampire Mysteries novels by Charlaine Harris. Without giving away any spoilers, it is about vampires and humans trying to co-exist as a truce has been called to try to end the violence. The story is set in Louisiana and while it is played out in sometimes overdramatic fashion, the storyline is filled with such intrigue and plot-twists that it maintains a high level of interest. It is also very quirky. There is much humor watching the vampires and humans adapt to each other while still falling victim to the typical prejudices and stereotypes.

Anna Paquin is the most recognizable face as the central character, Sookie, while the rest of the cast are relative unknowns but are sure to make a name for themselves when it’s all said and done. Other than the story, eye candy is what’s sure to keep viewers coming back for more. There are beautiful people gracing this set, mostly of the male variety, snarling their fangs, puffing their chests and engaging in sex. Lots and lots and lots of sex. So put the kids to bed and check their eyelids before popping this bad boy in. (Horrible pun not intended.) The one actor that stands out for me is Alexander Skarsgard who plays Vampire Sheriff, Eric Northman. He looks like Jim Carrey on steroids, but he plays his vampire with menacing force while able to spurt such subtle humor.

When I rented the first season, I admit I almost lost interest. It wasn’t until midway that I got hooked. In hindsight, I think it was just different. I needed to get used to the characters and their background. Entering this season, it certainly has kicked it up a notch. I normally don’t subscribe to HBO and I was originally going to wait till it came out on DVD. But I read so much hype that I caved and ordered it. I am so glad I did. Sundays. HBO. This is my Must-See TV for the summertime.

$ VALUE: $$$$$

$$$$$ – “You’re so money, you don’t even know it.”

$$$$ – “Worth every penny.”

$$$ – “Fair price.”

$$ – “I’m not made of money.”

$ – “A fool and his money are soon parted.”

Let’s hug it out, bitch.

“ARE YOU MAN ENOUGH TO SAY IT?”

PLAYERS: Paul Rudd, Rashida Jones, Jason Segel, Jaime Pressly, Jon Favreau

COACH: John Hamburg (Along Came Polly, episodes of Undeclared)

STYLE: Comedy / Man-Love

MEMORABLE QUOTE: “Hi Peter, I saw your billboards, they’re spectacular. I’m sorry for calling you a whore. Best of luck with Sydney, if you’re not still together… you can Facebook me.”

Male bonding has become a hot trend in Hollywood. The “Bros before Hoes” mentality, despite being extremely offensive on principals alone, is a storyline that has garnered so much laughs that it has translated into box office and ratings gold. When it comes to comedy, it seems the word “sexist” has been thrown out the window and universally deemed fair game. There are couples I know who make date nights for the latest episode of Entourage, or women who comment to me that The Hangover was a riot, despite it being about a bunch of guys trying to recount the events of a Vegas bachelor party gone wrong. The fist-pound-to-the-chest notion has become the formula, for now.

I Love You, Man is about a guy (Paul Rudd) set to marry a girl (Rashida Jones), but said guy is perceived as pathetic by said girl and friends because he has a hard time finding guy friends, much less a Best Man for his wedding. The mission is for him to go on a bunch of man-dates to find the right guy. While most films portray the male to be a loser if he can’t get a girl, this one effectively shows how it can be equally or even more sad if you can’t even find at least one single buddy.

Paul Rudd, who plays Peter Klaven, is adorable. He plays the role of, puppy dog trying get a bone, very well. Seeing him stoop to the levels he does to achieve male companionship is hysterical. Jason Segel plays Sydney Fife, who is the perceived “catch.” Both of these guys have a successful history on screen together in The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up, and Forgetting Sarah Marshall. They run in the same clique so to see them star together or do crossovers in each other’s films has become commonplace. Which is why I had a problem with the film’s originality. Some of the scenes they share felt like regurgitated bits and routines from their previous work. It almost felt like a spin-off of those films.

I was a little disappointed but I think my expectations were way too high. It was a very likable flick. Good supporting cast. If you’re not used to seeing the duo on screen, their camaraderie and jokes should hit you with more oomph.

$ VALUE: $$$

$$$$$ – “You’re so money, you don’t even know it.”

$$$$ – “Worth every penny.”

$$$ – “Fair price.”

$$ – “I’m not made of money.”

$ – “A fool and his money are soon parted.”

Trust Me.

Sushi. Despite all of its now-glorified American forms, its root is still simply defined as a Japanese dish consisting of small balls of vinegar rice served with a garnish of raw fish, vegetables, or egg. California Rolls, Philly Rolls, Texas Rolls, Veggie Rolls, or words such as “deep-fried” or “fusion” have broken down the “ick” factor most Americans had of sushi who now find it absolutely delectable. While I too have not resisted this new style, I still prefer my sushi the old fashioned way.

Experience. An event or occurrence that leaves an impression on someone. Whenever we taste something we’ve never tasted before, it leaves an impression. If it’s bad, we remember never to eat there again. If it’s good, we bookmark it on our palate. But if it’s mind-blowing, we feel compelled to blog about it. Or at least I do. Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to Sushi Sasabune.

I could go on forever about this place but I’ll try and keep this short and sweet. I first heard about Sasabune from a newspaper article that Ben Affleck and Gwyneth Paltrow were spotted eating there. It was reported that they loved it so much they had the chef cater for the entire cast and crew of Pearl Harbor while they were filming in Hawaii. They even honored the chef by casting him as an extra Japanese war pilot in the film. Such a rave review compelled me to see what the hub-bub was about.

When I called to make a reservation, the hostess asked if I had ever been there before, which I replied, no. She kindly explained a few ground rules which I found odd.

1. You have the option of eating at the sushi bar or at the regular tables. If you eat at the bar, you only eat what the chef serves you. If you eat at the tables, you can order whatever you like.
2. At the bar, you don’t ask to order dishes such as tempura, only beverages of your choice.
3. No cell phones allowed at the bar.

Believe me, you will get the stink eye should you disobey.

I took my mom and we opted for the bar. I was a little nervous because I was expecting some hard-ass sushi nazi, but instead was pleasantly greeted by the chef and servers. It was a dark yet cozy environment. Small but eclectic. From there the tasting got underway. Keep in mind, the menu served at the bar is in the universal realm of sushi, meaning he doesn’t venture into the weird such as Natto, Uni, or Blowfish. Only varieties of the freshest fish and shellfish are what’s chosen. Ahi, Hamachi, Salmon, Prawn, Lobster, Oyster, Crab. And the rice served is so warm and pillowy, it is a nice contrast to the near ice cold sashimi. Each serving is accompanied with an explanation on what you’re eating as well as a lesson on how to eat it. One bite only, Ponzu sauce, soy sauce, no soy sauce. I recommend a bottle of Asahi or Sapporo beer which goes excellent with the meal. A hot cup of green tea works just as well. Sake is also available.

Rather than explaining each item, I found internet pics of some dishes, giving you samples but certainly not doing justice to the real thing. (Props to the peeps that snapped these.)

What’s honorable is that should you surpass, what I call, the 36 chambers of sushi, which actually runs about 7 dishes in, you will then be allowed to order whatever you want. Go for the Uni, Ikura, or my recommendation, the Toro again, which is included in the tasting menu.

WARNING: THIS PLACE IS EXPENSIVE. Eating at the bar for the full course can run about $100.00 per person. But you have the option of stopping anytime during the serving to lighten the bill. In this economy, it’s hard to swallow such a steep price for sushi, but it is a luxury should you choose to splurge. It’s a once-a-year affair for me, saved for birthdays or anniversaries (or for my employees/friends who deserved it. Yeah you Dane!). Again, this is a dining experience. Those of you who are picky and/or don’t want to engage in food role-playing, this is not the place for you. But for those with an open mind and an affinity for sushi, this is your sanctuary.

By the way, there are two signs that greet you at the front door and at the bar. They both say, “Trust Me.”

They have three locations that I know of across the U.S. Honolulu (on S. King), Los Angeles (on Wilshire Blvd.) and New York (on the Upper East Side).