Rudy -- A Tale of Inspiration

Rudy is a movie based on the true story of a young man whose dream was to play football for storied Notre Dame University in South Bend, Indiana. But it's a lot more than a football movie. It's a movie about dreams and hard work.

Rudy grows up idolizing the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Although he is somewhat on the small side, he plays high school football with all his heart as a defensive back. As the film opens, he has just had his final day of high school football. Most of his friends will start work in the local iron foundry after graduation, but Rudy has bigger plans.

Rudy decides that he will play football for one of the top programs in the country. Now the fact that he doesn't have the money, the grades, or even the requisite size or talent to play football at this level does not dissuade him. He says good-bye to his friends and takes a bus to Notre Dame. On his own, he shows up at the stadium and informs the coach of his intention to play. The coach promptly sends him away. He is neither a Notre Dame student nor a football player, and the coach has no use for him.

When Rudy find out that he needs to be a student before he can even try out for the team, he attends a local college with the hopes of getting his grades up. After two long years, he finally makes the grades for acceptance to Notre Dame. He secures a scholarship and transfers in for his junior year.

The only problem now is that Notre Dame recruits players from all over the country. They have no use for a small, unheralded played from backwoods Indiana. Yet, he shows up at the practices and works so hard that the coaches decide to let him have a try-out for the "practice" team. At the try-out, the kid just can't be stopped. He has no talent, but just won't quit. He is hit left and right, has blood streaming down his face, but still refuses to quit.

Finally, the coaches agree to let him practice with the team. Of course every week he holds out hope that he will be put in for just one game. Throughout the season, he impresses everyone with just how hard he is willing to work for his dream. finally, on the last game of the year, in the final minute of a meaningless game, he is put in. As the crowd chants his name, he surprises everyone by breaking through the line and making the final tackle.

This movie is not about playing football. It is about wanting a dream so much, that you are willing to do almost anything to achieve it. It is an inspiring story about life and recommended for all ages.

Casino Royale -- When You Are Stuck On A Plane

If you love James Bond movies, as I do, be warned. The latest Bond flick is probably the lamest ever made. I watched it recently on an airplane. I have to admit, I only watched the whole thing because my only other options were to watch Beauty and the Beast (which I have only seen about 300 times with my three year old) or jump out the window. Since neither one of these options seemed particularity appealing, I hunkered down and watch the film in its entirety. Here is what you can expect if you go to the theater and pay real money:

Casino Royale is actually the first chronological story in the Bond series. British agent James Bond has just received his wonderful "license to kill." He blows his first assignment after a ten minute chase through an African city. The chase led me to think that this would be yet another great action packed Bond flick. However, after he ends the chase (and blows the assignment), the action really takes a nose dive. British Intelligence decides that the only way to stop the evil terrorists is to play poker with them and win. This would leave them without any more money for terrorism. I'm not making this up! You would think someone with good sense would have read the screenplay and realized that the concept was totally lacking.

Don't get me wrong. Ian Fleming's book is great and suspenseful. The heart of the book in an intense game of Baccarat with huge stakes. Fleming's skilful writing puts you right inside the key game. In the movie, the producers figures that American just weren't familiar with the game of Baccarat enough, so they had Bond playing Texas Hold 'em poker instead. Now, anyone can figure out Baccarat through Fleming's writing. But in making the switch, they blew the whole movie out of the water. Texas Hold 'em is fun and popular, but you really can't see this British secret agent and French terrorist staring at each other over the "Round-Up." But that's exactly what happens! Maybe they could have used a few more test screenings.

Well, the rest of the money slowly meanders along a predictable path until Bond finally gets even. After watching though, you just have to wonder how this movie can be considered in the same class as some of the classic Bond flicks. I mean you just can't compare Casino Royale to Goldfinger, Moonraker, or Live and Let Die. Let all who dare to continue making Bond films know that the standard is very high.