Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Into the wild - headed for Dallas, Texas


Bloomington, IL (8:30PM - CST) Dallas, TX is in our sights (well, about 800 miles away to be exact) but anyways. lol We are on the outside of a huge storm, and Oklahoma will more than likely be getting some snow tonight - so we will probably hit some of that tomorrow while passing through. We are hauling 45,000lbs - (can't tell ya what exactly - top secret!) However, we have hauled some interesting stuff - such as wind turbine generators worth appoximately 250,000k, steel buildings, huge rolls of aluminum they use to make thousands of soda cans, countless amounts of steel - machinery - you name it we can secure it, unsecure it, and deliver it...on-time of course. (we are road-pro-fessionals) I'm not gonna tell ya again! lol
Into The Wild 2007 (Review): Ok, it wasn't too bad - predictable yes. but not too bad. The main character is the kid from "The Girl Next Door" - he's a good actor, but in this movie I started to dislike the hell out of him. Let me explain - Without giving away anything - the kid graduates college and gives all his money away - he dislikes his parents - loves his sister - and feels the urge to go and get lost in Alaska (hes 23) - his journey takes him all over - and he's determined to live off the land at all cost. It sucks because I can't seem to slam this movie without giving things away...I'll try harder. (jk) Sean Penn wrote and directed this movie. Sean Penn is one of my favorite actors. He was not in this movie, he wrote and directed it only. (Bummer) First thoughts of the movie brings to mind... "The Beach" with Leo Decaprio - but Leo didn't burn money and deficate on himself! Ok that was harsh. It's a fun movie - but be warned it is extremely long - around 240 minutes - so if ya got the time check it out.
I wish there would have been more Vince Vaughn - but maybe he's charging Sean Penn by the hour instead of a flat-rate. Vine Vaughn takes a swing at a southern accent in this movie - how interesting - he was able to pull it off only because his lines in the movie were limited. Still Vine Vaughn is a great actor - and I look forward to watching more of his stuff. William Hurt is in this movie - but don't be surprised if you see cut-away-scenes of him simply looking at the camera making strange faces though out the movie...it happens. (alot)
At first, the main character was cool - interesting - and believable. However, as the movie progresses, he seems to get more and more self-centered and obnoxious. I know he's on a mission but damn. He can't seem to take the time to eat, write his parents, call his sister, or even get laid! It's just absurd. The cinema landscape was absolutely beautiful in this movie.
The animals the wilderness, all out very nice. (amazing) I give this movie a 7.5 - only because it lacked alot of elements - and kept a somewhat predicatable course for almost the entire movie. This movie just didn't give me enough - it's not rocket science that without food you get thin - and without money...you're probably gonna get thin! lol So in other words, I need something to believe in here. I couldn't stop thinking of Clint Eastwoods Mystic River while watching this movie for some reason - that and obviously "The Beach". If those two movies had a baby - you would get one awesome movie - and probably the film that Seam Penn was looking to make with Into The Wild.
Should you buy or rent Into The Wild? Absolutely. It's great filler for your day - just set aside about 240 minutes like I said it's long. Interesting things: The Camera Angels were interesting - the movie was set in the 90's but the angels used were those 70's type panning angels - that was different and just didnt seem right. I think Sean Penn was going for a modern escape story - but was forced to shoot for the 90's scene because of it being based on a true-story....there were some goofs in the movie and some scenes that included structures that did not exist during the movies intended time period. But I'm not complaining.
We are fueling here in Bloomington, IL - and will put in a few more miles until we call it a night.
I hope you enjoyed my review - and by no means do I claim to be a qualified movie critic.
=corey=

Monday, February 4, 2008

Outside of Chicago



Thornton, IL (10:45 - cst) We are here in Thornton, IL - about 40-50 miles from the city of Chicago. Hopefully tomorrow will bring less fog! There is still snow on the ground here - but it's slowly melting. It's 43 degrees a bit warmer from yesterday in Iowa. We delivered in Iowa earlier - and what a work-out. 18 chains, countless binders, 2 tarps both weighing around 90 lbs (probably more with all the ice and snow on them) what a treat...but we survived. I'm excited about this blog thing - me and Jenn look forward to sharing lots of "road photos" with everyone.


The picture in tonight's blog comes from our stop here in Thornton, IL - (on the tollway to be exact) There is a concrete wall - that seperates neighboring houses from the noises of the tollway. The wall is kind of arsty in itself - but there appears to be some type of plant or flower that has taken root on the wall - it's really cool looking. I snapped a picture of it and of the snow. There's a slight mist outside - and the sound of truck engines humming....we are going to watch "Into The Wild" so the review on "We Own the Night" will have to wait.


I've been looking forward to this movie for a while. Jenn is making us some chili and it smells absolutely wonderful! Ahhhh. the essentials of the road - warm clothes, lots of water, music, and a fridge! What did you think we ate fast food 24/7? LoL - try spending over 400 a week on fast food - and you'll give it up really quick. Food on the road is expensive - so you learn to stock up at the local walmart really quick. It's survival of the fittest people! Do as you must...we are road-pro-fessionals! Tomorrow we may venture into the city and I'll be sure to snap some more photos for the gallery and the blog! =corey=
p.s. more photos of the amazing wall - along with a few other amazing photos of this stop can be found in the "Road Photos Gallery" - theres a link I added on the main blog page!

Sunday, February 3, 2008

Iowa Angst


10:20 PM (CST) - Cedar Rapids, Iowa - The snow is beginning to melt here in Cedar Rapids, or maybe not - maybe it's just the heat from the engine causing the ice daggers to fall off of the truck. It's around 30 degrees - we complete this load in the morning (7ish) hopefully the roads will be clear enough to make the delivery. After that, it's off to who knows where. Watch a couple of movies last nite - the first one (WAR / Jet Li) I was able to stay awake through - the second one, (The Brave One / Jodi Foster) I missed the end of because I was exhausted.

War was a bore - to be honest with you - typical Jet Li (but very below par) - and typical stuff from the guy from "The Transporter" neither of the movies could hold a candle to my sacred "Juno" movie - a slight obession with the two characters in that movie (Juno). The Brave One was a pretty okay
movie, but still not enough substance. I guess we all aspire to be movie directors or writers even, sometimes I think I could plaster the perfect masterpiece right up there on the silver screen. The next movie on my list is "We Own The Night" which shoud be pretty interesting!
I will post my review of the movie here - just incase my opinion counts. Don't be suprised that I didn't blog about the superbowl - I could care less about it really (hints the lower-casing) soo with every "football enthused muscle I have" GO GIANTS! (and the huge crowd wave begins) House is on right now - which I love, but I kind of get tired of sarcastic (character based) actors/actresses - I'm just kinda over the whole medical drama thing lately. Our new "humidity gauge" says the comfort level is PERFECT! So with that I bid you a wonderful evening....

=corey=