What A Day...Yesterday...

Yesterday was a great day. We met the coolest, most humble, most genuine person that I think that I have ever met…ever. This kat is the real deal, and his story tugs at the old heart strings. We captured a piece of his story on camera, and unfortunately video could never show the passion, the emotion, and the inspiration that this man has. He has touched so many lives. He touched mine.

I am inspired.

The person that I am talking about is no other than Caleb Brouk, owner of Illuminati Tattoo Parlour.

Now it’s time to ruin the moment…

I like to slack, but I am hoping to get everything updated and ready to go in the next few days for your reading and viewing pleasure.

So what else happened yesterday?

Well…

Pokey and I were out filming and trying to raise funds from businesses. We stopped at this one place, and the dude thought that I was homeless and told me that there is a church down the street that gives handouts. I explained that we were also a business, and that we were looking for sponsorship for our programs.

I don’t look homeless…or so I don’t think I do.

So I ask Pokey if I look homeless, and he said, “Yes”.

“What part of me looks homeless?”

He replied, “All of you. Your cane, your clothes, your haircut, and your beard.”

“My beard is trimmed.”

“Yeah, but the hair goes in 10 different directions.”

Much Love Sales People

Selling is hard!!!!

I don’t mean having a customer come up to you and putting their purchases on the counter.

I don’t mean customers coming up to you inquiring about a product.

I am talking about straight up hitting the streets to drum up new business. I know, and have worked with, a lot of sales reps over the years and I honestly have to apologize for being an ass to them. I’m not talking about the reps that I saw all of the time and was cool with; I’m talking about the cold callers that I literally kicked out the front doors.

Going door to door is not my forte, but that was exactly what I was doing today.

Out looking for financial funding hitting business after business. LOOKING FOR MONEY!!!!

I have two great excuses (yes I am playing the excuse card) for doing badly today:

1. I suck at cold calling and asking for money.

2. Multiple Sclerosis (I’m playing that card too), because I looked like a dumb-ass trying to spit my spiel out. People probably thought that I was nervous talking to them. In fact, I think this one girl’s self-confidence went up because I was stumbling over my words while speaking to her.

However…

I have some good leads and follow-ups. Plus…I’ll get better.

Moral of the story…be nice to sales reps because they are just trying to make a living.

So…

Since I am nice, and cold calling is hard (a tear rolls down my cheek as I give you those puppy dog eyes)…

If you know people in the Portland/Vancouver area that are dying to give my company some of their money so that we can continue helping people in the areas of…

·    Food/Cooking

·    Writing/Idea Generation

·    Social Anxiety

·    And continuing down the path in sharing people’s stories…

…please reach out so I can chop up my spiel in front of them too.

Highlights of the day…

1. Working alongside my son.

2. Robin at the Wiener Wagon (downtown Vancouver) for helping support other small businesses, understanding what we are trying to do, and hooking us up with some delicious food. Robin is a beautiful woman who understands struggle, family, hard work, and all the red-tape of owning a business. Please visit her…eat a hot dog (they have other things as well)…and share stories. You’ll be glad that you did…I am. 

The Longest Ride Movie Review

“The Longest Ride” is the newest adaptation of a Nicholas Sparks book to hit the big screen, and I have to say that I loved it. It is a fantastic movie because it’s more than just a “chick flick”.

The movie is about love, possibilities, and putting yourself second (which is a good thing when you put the love of your life first). The longest ride is indeed life.

The film is three stories in one. First you have the couple of today, then you have the couple of years past, and then you have how those two worlds come together. It is an inspiring movie, because not everything is perfect, and that’s the point because life isn’t perfect.

What is really worth fighting for? Can you still be who you are and let another person in?

I love movies that inspire me and make me reflect on my own life. I know that I took something away with me from this film, and it is honestly one of the best movies that I have seen for a long time. I have to give this movie two thumbs up, and I highly recommend seeing this in theaters, then going out and buying it once it is released on DVD.

Deet N Bax Save Th’ World Movie Review

“Deet N Bax Save Th’ World” is a movie that works. A type of movie that I haven’t seen in a very long time, and that is the late night B-rated Cinemax type movie that most of us have enjoyed at some point in our life. With your mind set on the right genre, “Deet N Bax” delivers 110%.

Language? Check.

Rude humor? Check.

Non-rude humor? Check.

Violence? Check.

Nudity for no apparent reason other than to have nudity? Check.

Stupidity? Check.

Cheesy? Check.

A movie that you can’t watch with your grandma? Check.

“Deet N Bax Save Th’ World” will unboutably have a cult following because it is that movie. The movie is what it claims to be…a stoner comedy, and it needs to be watched and reviewed in that mindset.

With that said, let’s look at some of the particulars. Jason Mewes can’t act…he’s Jason Mewes on and off the screen. But…and that is a big but…that is exactly what his fans want and expect from him. Maybe he’s typecast, maybe he’s not, but he’s keeping his Jay character alive and high, and he’s not disappointing his fans in this film either. You want Jay…you got Jay.

Weston Cage actually did a great job, and I’m not surprised that he can act because he can. He played his role well, I was just waiting for him to yell out, “Say hello to my little friend”…Tony Montana style. The accent was perfect, but I couldn’t take Mr. Cage seriously (I know…it’s a stoner comedy…you can’t take anything seriously). I’m looking forward to seeing what else he can do in future projects.

Craig Michaelson killed it and brought depth to his depthless character. But let’s face it, Craig’s character, Bax, is gross…I mean gross. Bax should be the poster child (man…person…whatever) for anti-drug ads.

The Oscar has to go to Todd Robinson. Not only is his character a badass, but the absolute best parts of the film are when Todd’s character Ronin is talking to his boss; not so much what they are saying, but the second right after they are done speaking. Ronin looks away, and his face says it all; and that is, that his boss is an absolute dumbass.

Like I said, the movie is what it is, and that is that late night B-rated Cinemax type movie, and it would be unfair to review it as anything else. I have to give “Deet N Bax Save Th’ World” one thumb up, and I recommend you wait to see it when it is released on DVD. Better yet, wait until it hits Cinemax and watch it there…you know want to.

Top 5 reasons that I enjoyed going to the premier of the Deet N Bax movie:

#5: Months ago I got to meet the cast and crew on set as they joined my Lemon Cake Initiative. Then to be able to see the finish project with them was fantastic.

#4: Got to listen to the Q&A and hear what went into the making of the movie. Any time that I get a chance to learn something and leave with a takeaway, it’s a good day. 

Learning…you should try it.

#3: Seeing some of the homies!

#2: Being on “the list”. I’ve never been on “the list” before. I felt so very important. “Yeah…I’m on the list!”

And the #1 reason is…

I learned that Craig “freaking” Michaelson reads my posts!!!!!!

Murder is a Crime, but Killing a Burger is Devine

Killer Burger is not for the faint of heart, and in all actuality it’s a vegan nightmare. All they do is burgers, and all of their burgers come with bacon and cheese (like I said a vegan nightmare); and for a burger carnivore like me, KB is exactly what I want.

Check out the rest my Restaurant Review of Killer Burger at:

chrisallreddesign.com/reviews/restaurant-reviews/388-murder-is-a-crime-but-killing-a-burger-is-devine

These Sandwiches Are “Bunk”…Straight Up “Bunk”

Bunk Sandwiches does not have a guy on TV getting paid millions of pesos to “claim” that he lost a bunch of weight eating their sandwiches a couple times a day, nor do they have hundreds of locations around the globe. What they do have is attitude (that is a good thing), and great food.

Check out the rest my Restaurant Review of Bunk at:

chrisallreddesign.com/reviews/restaurant-reviews/387-these-sandwiches-are-bunk-straight-up-bunk

Furious 7 Movie Review

“Furious 7” is in all honesty one of the most ridiculous over the top movie ever. Seriously, how many of these movies are they going to make? Now this is where I double back over myself; yes the entire movie premise was ridiculous, but it worked; making “Furious 7” the best movie of the entire franchise.

They did a really good job tying in the previous six movies, explaining certain things from the past, introducing new information that was unknown from the past, and making a clean break from Paul Walker’s character going forward.

As you may know, Paul Walker died during the filming of “Furious 7” and so instead of killing off his character (as they were originally planning to do after his real life death), they finished filming the movie with Paul’s brother, Cody Walker; which worked, for the most part, but not every part.

What about the fights scenes? I believe that a good fight scene needs to be realistic, as in what if. In “Furious 7” there is The Rock-vs-Jason Statham, which was a good fight and could work in real life. There was also Vin Diesel-vs-Jason Statham, which was also a good fight and could work in real life. The fight that didn’t work for me was Michelle Rodriguez-vs-Ronda Rousey, because there is no way that Michelle could hold her own against a champion of Ronda Rousey’s abilities…Rousey would straight up kick Rodriguez’s ass.

Anytime you can put in a big machine gun in The Rock’s hands Schwarzenegger style, you know you have a full on action movie. Plus the added benefit of Kurt Russell playing “the Man”, and doing a kickass job doing it.

The movie really did a great job bringing the entire movie history together, and one of the best movies to do so. They also did right by Paul Walker by making this film a tribute to his work, and it was the perfect goodbye for all of us; the ending was very warm and heartfelt.

I seriously cannot say enough about this movie because I absolutely loved it (cheesy ridiculousness and all). I give this movie two gigantic thumbs up, and I recommend seeing this in theaters.

Focus Movie Review

“Focus” is a movie about con artists and relationships. The movie was good, but unmemorable. The thing is that there is nothing bad that I can say about the movie, except that it was lacking something, but I don’t know what that is.

I don’t buy Will Smith as a con man, but maybe that’s the point because I’m not supposed to. His character is handsome, well dressed, well mannered, well off, and a great con artist, but I don’t see Mr. Smith playing that role. The confussing part about what I just said is that Will played the character really well. Will Smith didn’t do anything wrong. He is a great actor, but like everything else in this movie there was just something missing.

The same thing can be said for the rest of the cast. They all portrayed their characters well, but whatever is lacking in the film kept everyone and everything from reaching the full potentional, which bums me out because I was looking forward to seeing “Major Dad” kicking some ass.

Like I said, the movie has all the makings of a great film, but it doesn’t deliver. I am sad to say that I have to give “Focus” two thumbs down, and I recommend you wait to see it when it comes out on DVD.

Insurgent Movie Review

“Insurgent” was surprising…surprising that it was any good. Why? Because the first film in the series was one of the worst movies ever made. The first movie, “Divergent”, had absolutely no point at all; they could have literally shortened the film without loosing any of the main points and created an opening for “Insurgent”.

However, I had to see it because I was tricked. My wife and I were at the theater to watch a different movie a few months back. During the previews they showed a metal box that lit up…that’s it. I leaned over and told my wife that movie was going to be good because any time they show a box, especially one that lights up, the movie is always good. She started to laugh because she knew what the preview was for, and she knew that I hated the first movie. So she has been giving me crap about wanting to see “Insurgent” because it has a box. I maintain that I was tricked.

The movie was surprisingly better than the first movie, but not enough for me to see again. It’s almost like that you have to see all of the movies, or read all of the books, together for them to go anywhere or to even make sense. Perhaps once all of the movies have been released and are on TV, I’ll do just that and watch them back to back and so forth to see if there is any point to them.

So in conclusion, “Insurgent” is better than the first movie, but still the worst movie of the year so far. that I have give this movie two thumbs down, and I recommend you wait to see it when it comes out on TV.

Kingsman: The Secret Service Movie Review

“Kingsman: The Secret Service” is a good British spy flick that makes fun of other spy flicks on purpose, even though the movie itself isn’t one of the spoof movies; it is a legitly honest old school spy movie made in the 21^st century.

Samuel L. Jackson plays the billionaire baddie that is sickened by violence. In fact this is my favorite Sam Jackson movie ever, because this is probably the first time that he wasn’t “Sam Jackson”. Normally the man has one character that he shares on and off stage, and that character is himself.

“Do you like spy movies, Mr. DeVille?”

“Nowadays, they're all a little serious for my taste. But the old ones...marvelous. Give me a far-fetched theatrical plot any day.”

“The old Bond movies. Oh, man. Ah, when I was a kid, that was my dream job: gentleman spy.”

“I always felt that the old Bond films were as good as the villain. As a child, I rather fancied a futuristic colorful megalomaniac.”

“What a shame we both had to grow up.”

It really is a good movie that is both serious and non-serious all rolled up into one and put on screen at the same time. Less serious than a Bond movie, but a lot more serious than Austin Powers; and no matter how you look at it, it is totally British. I give this movie two thumbs up, and I recommend seeing this in theaters.

Jupiter Ascending Movie Review

“Jupiter Ascending” is one of the best sci-fi movies to date. It is a mashup of “Stargate” and “Star Wars”, and that is saying a lot because both of those franchises have a strong following.

I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised to see a role perfectly fit for Channing Tatum, because he’s honestly not the best actor out there. His normal lack of depth and range were perfectly suited for his character portrail of Caine.

The story line is solid, and the movie flows into an ending that some may not expect. Is it the best movie of the year? No, but it is a great sci-fi film because it ticked all of the boxes that makes a movie of the genre great. I look forward to see if they take this movie any further in the future.

People may have hated it, but I loved it and so I have to give “Jupiter Ascending” two galactic thumbs up, and I recommend seeing this in theaters.

Mortdecai Movie Review

“Mortdecai” is a fantastic movie that most other movie reviewers hated. I loved everything about the movie from the characters, to the actors, to Mortdecai’s moustache.

I don’t think that Gwyneth Paltrow was even acting in her role of Lady Mortdecai; based off of interviews and her reputation as a person, which happened to be perfect for this role…the uppity rich snob who’s demanding and gets whatever she wants, but can also be nice (not genuine, but nice to also get what she wants). Perfect for this role! I know that I am being mean, but I am being truthful.

I love the British and weird sense of humor that a lot of Americans seem to not understand. This movie was straight up British, and I love that about it.

Johnny Depp was back, and once again proved that he has depth and is able to shake the Captain Jack persona that he has been known for. Every actor in the movie upheld their own character and played their roles well. There is absolutely no complaints in the cast or their acting abilities in this film.
“Mortdecai” is about the dark side of the art world, hidden treasure, and moustaches. In fact, the whole underlying unsubtle moustache theme helps take this movie to another level.

I could not find one thing to complain about because this movie had a lot going for it, and with that I give “Mortdecai” two thumbs up, and I recommend seeing this in theaters.

Blackhat Movie Review

“Blackhat” is an interesting movie, with a mix of believable(ish) conspiracy theory type ideas and straight out never going to happen kind of stuff. The biggest of these far fetched ideas is having a computer programmer/hacker looking like Chris Hemsworth, never going to happen (I’ll probably get hacked for that one…again).

The movie is solid, but easy to predict for the most part. From the start it looked as though it was going to be hard to sell a computer hacking movie as an all-out action flick, and it was because I still don’t believe it. Chris Hemsworth did absolutely nothing for this movie. His character was unbelievable and his “Thor” like body did him no good. This movie would have been a lot better if a less-athletic type was cast in the lead role. I’m not saying that computer programmers can’t be good looking and athletic because they can, anyone can. What I am saying is that’s why Chris Hemsworth was cast instead of someone else, which is the wrong choice. It was a case of look at the pretty boy to distract you from what he’s saying.

“Blackhat” is an interesting movie, but that doesn’t make it great, or even good. I have a hard time liking a movie that thinks the audience is dumb; I feel as though I was being tricked. The movie has no depth and so with that I have give this movie two thumbs down, and I recommend seeing this on DVD.

Taken 3 Movie Review

“Taken 3” is the best of the “Taken” franchise. Liam Neeson seems to be typecast to play one character for the rest of his life, but that character is exactly what this movie needs.

The story is once again about the unluckiest family in history, and Liam’s character has to do whatever he needs to make things right, unfortunately this time no matter how hard he tries there are some things that he cannot undo. That alone would be enough to make the third instalment better than the first two movies; however, what really sets this movie apart is the addition of Forest Whitaker.

Forest Whitaker drives this movie home for me. He is undeniably one of my favorite actors, and he doesn’t disappoint this time around either. I like the little things in movies that sometimes go unnoticed, like Forest’s rubber band.

Also unlike the first two films, which go together, as in you need to watch part 1 to understand part 2, “Taken 3” can stand on its own as a good action flick, but is not so far out there that it doesn’t flow with the older storylines.

“Taken 3” brought something new to the franchise, and kept it entertaining. With that I give this movie two thumbs up, and I recommend seeing this in theaters.

Project Almanac Movie Review

“Project Almanac” is a typical no surprises kind of movie. The filming wasn’t even great; yet it was purposely done that way for effect, but it still doesn’t give it a pass.

The movie is about time travel, and the idea of changing past events having an impact on the present/future. This sort of movie has been done (in parts or in whole) many times before, but that’s not the problem. The problem is that they brought nothing new to the table; not only did they not come up with anything new, but they did it really badly. By all definitions this looked to be a made for TV movie, and not a theater release movie.

I don’t want to waste my time writing anything further about “Project Almanac” other than to say that I give this movie two thumbs down, and I recommend you wait to see it when it comes out on TV…maybe DVD if you have nothing better to do.

Tres Shannon Joins the Lemon Cake Initiative

Tres Shannon, co-founder and owner of Voodoo Doughnut, is by all definitions his own person. Everything he does is because he wants to do it, which honestly is something that all of us dream about (maybe even talk about), but never have what it takes to make it happen. Tres is a person that others should envy (Note: don’t envy anyone…be happy with who you are and what you have).

I met with Tres a couple of times, and the 2nd time was to get him on camera eating my lemon cake. Was I nervous having the doughnut king eat my lemon cake? Not at all, because I know that they’ll stand up to any scrutiny. 

The truth is he ate all of what I brought, which is and will always be the biggest of all compliments. Thank you sir!!!

Tres really is fantastic, but don’t try to use social media or pretty much anything internet related to reach out to him because he is purposely old school and doesn’t use all of that. Why…because he’s Tres Shannon and he actually does what he wants because he can.

http://chrisallreddesign.com/module-styles/videos/377-tres-shannon-joins-the-lemon-cake-initiative

 

Stephen Vincent Joins the Lemon Cake Initiative - VIDEO

Stephen Vincent of Stephen Vincent Jewelers is the person to know when it comes to pretty much anything…from food, to booze, and of course jewelry.

Stephen is a great story teller, funny, down to earth, and truly enjoys life. On top of all his great personal attributes, he also helps people through his many social outposts, and gives back to the community through charitable means.

Stephen Vincent is a really genuine person and his jewelry store is an extension of him.

Plus…how could you not love a guy who proudly shows off his wide collection of socks one pair at a time down at his store, as Mr. Vincent doesn’t wear shoes at work.

http://chrisallreddesign.com/module-styles/videos/376-stephen-vincent-joins-the-lemon-cake-initiative