Les Miserables

I was fortunate enough to attend a pre-screening of the movie adaptation of Les Miserables. I thought it was wonderful and I'd see it again! Knowing live vocals were filmed and used made this seem like a hybrid between live theater and film making - brilliant! Some of my fellow movie-goers did not like the increased amount of face time/close ups used, but I did. I found it to be an intimate way of connecting the audience to the characters. Anne Hathaway's rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream" was heart-breaking and imperfect - a fantastic interpretation and invitation for the audience to experience her pain and disappointment in the hand life had dealt Fantine. The cast was great and I was surprised by Russell Crowe's singing ability. I do think he was overpowered by other cast members (Hugh Jackman, for example) but for the shoes he had to fill, he did a fine portrayal of Javert. My favorite cast member was Eponine. It could be because I have a flair for the dramatic and can sympathize with unrequited love from my youth or it could be that Samantha Barks was brilliant. In short, if you're not a theater snob, have enjoyed Les Mis or are giving it a go for the first time, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Pitch Perfect Hits a High Note

It's been a hellish few weeks at work so I decided to take today off. In between dropping off my daughter at school, running to the dry cleaners, working out, grocery shopping, etc I met up with my cousin and saw Pitch Perfect. We were both in need of some pure, indulgent entertainment. We found it with Pitch Perfect.

While the story is totally predictable, the entertainment value is right up there with movies such as Clueless and Bring It On. The female ensemble is brilliant and Anna Kendrick surprises with her vocals. The mash-ups are fun, the characters memorable. Two thumbs up for this guilty pleasure.

Argo - A Must See!

After being kidnapped (I tried to bail) by a couple of my gal pals and enjoying a delicious dinner, we decided to see Argo. Boy am I glad I didn't miss out on this one. Even though I knew how the story would end, I was still gripped by everything unfolding on the screen. I'm pretty sure I was going to have a heart attack based on the anxiety I was experiencing and the fast beating of my heart. This was was a tense, exciting and suspense-filled flick. Surprisingly, the addition of dark humor provided the comic relief needed to break up the intensity.

Argo is based on a true story and centers around the efforts of a CIA agent (Ben Affleck) to help 6 Americans escape Iran during the Iranian hostage crisis. The 6 escaped during a civilian siege of the American Embassy. The story sounds so basic now that I've typed it, how can it be such a great movie? True, I have no idea what the real declassified story is and I'm certain director and actor, Ben Affleck, along with his Hollywood writers took liberties with the story. Whatever it is they did, it was great! I'm pretty sure I chewed off all of my nails, especially in the last half hour. It's one of the first movies I've seen in a long time where the audience actually clapped.

So, the short review is...This is a must-see movie. It will keep you involved and on the edge of your seat. It makes me want to read the "real" story and it makes me proud to be an American.

Chicago Bites

This particular post is nearly two months overdue. I headed to Chicago with a close friend of mine in July for a girls' weekend. We solely focused on eating, shopping and going to the spa. It was, in a word, heavenly!

One of my favorite places to eat breakfast in Chicago was Yolk. It is located at 355 E Ohio Street downtown Chicago. From basic breakfast items such as french toast to their delicious made-to-order breakfast scramblers, this is a must-eat for breakfast lovers! Here's a photo of the menu cover and my first breakfast there - one of the skillets/scramblers with a side of pancakes! Mmm. The restaurant was really cute and the service was great. We didn't have much of a wait, but keep in mind we were there on a weekday before 9am. Did I mention we were early risers?

Another great breakfast place was the Tempo Cafe at 6 East Chestnut Street. The toast there is delicious. I'm not sure what kind of toast it is, but it's think and scrumptious. Once again, I indulged in a skillet breakfast (do you notice an emerging pattern?) which was delicious. There was a wait here, but it was pretty quick. The service is that way as well - they really want you in and then out. But, the food is worth the wait and the lack of catering to your every need. 

By far, however, my favorite discovery was a market called Fox and Obel at 401 East Illinois. It was a short walk from the hotel (we stayed at the W Lakeshore - it's a nice hotel, but more suitable for singles looking to have fun instead of for two 30-somethings looking to get some R&R while away from our husbands and kids) and was one of the best parts of the trip. From decadent desserts to unique candies to a large assortment of wines, pastas, cheeses, etc this was one of the best markets I have ever stepped foot into. I wish we had a market like this near home!

Anyway, Chicago was fantastic and we hit up many other delicious places to eat, but these were the restaurants and discovery I thought were worth taking the time to mention quickly since I'm so behind in this update. Bon Appetit!

Magic Mike...Lacks Magic

I was one of the many women who was totally stoked about going to see Magic Mike. What hot-blooded female wouldn't be excited about watching good-looking men shake their booties and take off their clothes on the big screen? In fact, if I had it my way, this movie would've been in 3D! Could you imagine pants flying out at you...among other things?! For this nearly 2-hour movie, unfortunately, I'd estimate only a mere 20 minutes containing everything I was hoping for. The rest of the time was eaten up by a weak storyline, mediocre acting and a script that could've been churned out by anyone with a high school education. Seriously - who cares about a stripper, wanna-be entrepreneur, who may or may not like a fellow stripper's sister? Yes, that was the basic storyline. That's all I got out of it. So...Since there was no underlying story, why bother? Why not give women what they want - more dancing and stripping! Don't blame me for having high expectations, because I didn't. I wasn't going to this movie in hopes of seeing Oscar-worthy performances. I went to this movie in hopes of being thoroughly entertained and get two-hour's worth of eye candy. Was that the wrong expectation to have? Obviously, yes. Sadly, there were portions of the movie in which I found myself yawning. The bottom line is this - see a matinee or better yet, wait for the DVD. Then you can fast forward through the failed attempt at a movie and just focus on Channing Tatum's awesome moves. Ladies - he looks good and moves even better. *sigh* Plus, if you wait for the DVD, maybe there will be extra footage to delight in!

Butcher & the Boar

My husband and I enjoyed a wonderful anniversary dinner (compliments of my sweet little sister as an anniversary surprise!) at Butcher and the Boar. It was fantastic and totally satisfied the carnivore in me. I can't wait to return and try more delicious meals centered around pork.

The atmosphere is energetic and bustling. It's not a place to go if you're looking for quiet and romantic. I'm not sure how to describe the place, but it's cool and rustic and chic, but not in a froo-froo way. The coolest part of the decor is the floor made of pennies. I don't know how many pennies there are, but there were a lot of them...What a unique idea!

As we looked at the menu, one item caught my eye as an appetizer - the Lobster Grilled Cheese with an option to top it with a fried egg. I knew that was how we were going to start our meal.

The sandwich was absolutely yummy. My husband preferred it without the egg, but I think the egg made it even more scrumptious. It was a combination of lobster and buttery-creamy deliciousness.

For our entree we decided on the pork chop with a side of the blackened cauliflower and dirty wild rice. The pork chop was a generation portion - chock full of protein...It was cooked to perfection and was very savory. I've never had blackened cauliflower nor dirty wild rice...The blackened cauliflower is a definite favorite.

A very generous pork chop

Dirty wild rice

Blackened cauliflower

And, even though I thought I was stuffed to the max, I found room for one of my favorite desserts, grasshopper pie. It was really good, but I wish there was more of the cookie crumb to balance out the ratio of mint to chocolate a bit more.

Grasshopper pie

Delicious Egg Bake

I recently made this egg bake for my daughter's 5th birthday brunch with our family. With 12 people, it was an easy-to-make, easy-self-serve dish. The original recipe can be found via this link Brunch Egg Bake which I got from allrecipes.com. The recipe below contains my alterations using the original recipe as a foundation. Personally, I think 6 cups of cheese is way too much cheese for any dish! Everyone enjoyed this dish and I hope you will too!

Hint: Complete steps 2-4 the night before, make and add the egg mixture in the morning to cut down on prep time.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1 1/2 cups shredded pepper jack cheese

1 Tbsp butter

1 cup chopped red peppers

1/3 cup chopped white onions

1/3 cup sliced green onions

2 cups diced fully cooked ham

8 eggs

1 3/4 cup milk

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

2 Tbsp minced fresh parsley

1/2 tsp dried basil

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

Directions:

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Combine cheeses. Layer 1 1/2 cups in an ungreased 13" x 9" x 2" baking dish and set aside.

3. In a skillet, saute red peppers and white onions in butter until tender. Add green onions and saute for additional minute. Layer over cheese. Top with ham.

4. Layer with remaining cheese.

5. In a bowl, beat eggs. Add milk, flour, parsley, basil, salt, and pepper. Mix well.

6. Slowly pour egg mixture over everything in dish.

7. Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.

8. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting.

The Five-Year Engagement

I am a big fan of both Jason Segel and Emily Blunt. I'm also a big fan of romantic comedies. I had high expectations for The Five-Year Engagement and was unfortunately a little let down. While it was cute and certainly had its funny moments I found it to be a bit long and drawn out. Fortunately, the chemistry between the two leads helped me root for them to end up together. And, the parts that were funny, were really funny.

The premise of the movie focuses on a couple who get engaged and end up staying engaged for, well, five years rather than actually getting married for many reasons and challenges that arise over the course of time. It also focuses on the ups and downs, compromises and sacrifices it takes to make a relationship work. 

In short, see the matinee to avoid a full ticket price or wait for the DVD. 

Tina Fey: Bossypants

This is one of those books that every woman can relate to. It's a short, easy-to-read, and funny book. Tina Fey's sarcastic humor shines through in her random thoughts and anecdotes. Some of my favorite parts of the book include her analysis of the difference between male and female comedians (apparently male comedians pee in cups and other beverage containers regularly), her views on breastfeeding and her subtle self-deprecating remarks.

There are no shocking revelations and it's not a tell-all book, so don't read it if that's what you're looking for. However, if you enjoy sarcastic wit and a humorous view on everyday life, then you should pick it up. There were many parts that had me laughing out loud while on an airplane full of people. And, deciphering between the lines, Fey shares some great stories and tips on being a great leader/boss and how to juggle the many pulls of life. I was able to identify with the challenges life brings - growing up, career, family, kids...All topics we can relate to. But, the best thing about what Fey does in the book is she reminded me to laugh and find the humor in all of those challenges. Great, fun and easy-to-read!

The Lotus Eaters

I can't believe The Lotus Eaters is Tatjana Soli's first book! And, what a book it is. As a daughter of Vietnamese immigrants whose parents fled their home when Saigon fell to communism, this book was especially poignant and eye-opening. It's also motivated me to start reading more about the war and understanding (as much as I can from a distance of geography and decades of life in the U.S.) what my parents faced during the war.

This book takes its readers on a journey with an aspiring, novice photo journalist, Helen, as she immerses herself into the war-torn country of Vietnam in pursuit of clues as to her brother's death. Along the way she falls in love with two men and a country she deemed as "backward" when she first arrived. Her life is transformed as she photographs the horrors, tragedies and glimpses of humanity through the lens of her camera. As a unique breed of female photojournalists, her courage and strength are beautifully juxtaposed with her unequivocal feminine vulnerability and compassion. 

You will become intimately connected with the three main characters and learn to love and hate the supporting cast throughout this story. Darrow, a seasoned and obsessed photographer causes you to admire and hate him at the same time for he can't separate his work and his love. Linh, a Vietnamese man who has survived horror one cannot begin to imagine, grows on you as you learn about him - Soli reveals his story and character layer by layer. And, of course, Helen. She is the naive photographer who grows and evolves during the decade she spends covering the war.

While I can't attest to what is true and what is fiction in The Lotus Eaters, I can commend Soli for the work, research, dedication and time she put forth in creating a story of fiction that weaves in facts and real-life events such that it was difficult to separate story from reality. There aren't many authors who can strike such an effective balance. Those who enjoy non-fiction will respect the research into making the setting, events, etc so real and those who enjoy fiction will not be disappointed by the beautiful plots woven intricately from chapter to chapter.

This is a definite must-read.

La Cumbre

For my "second dinner" my cousin, his girlfriend and I headed to La Cumbre for Mexican food. Maybe I was too full from In-N-Out earlier in the day, but I was less than enthused about the chicken enchiladas I ordered. It could also be that they put refried beans in their enchiladas and I do not like refried beans. I sampled the others' dishes as well and they were all right. After eating here and based on my dish and sampling two other ones, I'd recommend looking elsewhere for Mexican food. (The rice was pretty good though.)

Chicken Enchiladas with Rice

In-N-Out

Today was my official last day of indulging in San Francisco food. After attending a marketing summit all day I was famished and ready to treat myself. After dozens of trips to California, I decided this was finally the time to try the famed In-N-Out burger. I walked about 3/4 miles to the In-N-Out off of Millbrae (at least I got some exercise before and after!) and got markedly excited as I saw the recognized logo come into view.

The first thing that surprised me was the very limited menu. The second thing that surprised me was the "secret menu". I wouldn't have known about it had I not struck up a conversation with a local who was also waiting for his food. You can basically order your food in combinations not shown on the menu. The third thing that surprised me was seeing the calories listed next to the food items. I soon learned that it's a law in Cali for food establishments with more than 10 locations (or something like that). So, instead of the Double Double I intended to get, I opted for the regular burger and fries.

Burger and Fries

Better angle on the burger

So my verdict...In-N-Out lives up to the hype. The burger has a "just off the BBQ" taste. I love that they toast the bun. The fries are definitely unique and actually taste like real potatoes. Here's the deal though, it's not the best burger I've ever had. HOWEVER, in the context of fast food, yes, it's among the best! That being said though I wasn't impressed with the length of time it took to get my food. It took nearly 15 minutes from the time I ordered to the time I got my food. I'd expect this of a casual sit-down place, but I do think In-N-Out is considered fast food and I just don't think it was very fast. Good thing I had downtime and nowhere else to be or I would've quickly become frustrated and exasperated.  The staff, however, did compensate for the wait. The staff at the Millbrae location was fun and very attentive. It's definitely a burger worth trying!

Pass the Poo!

You'll have to read on to understand the title of this post!

As if I didn't already have enough to eat, we ended yesterday with dinner at Marnee Thai Restaurant. From the authentically styled interior - it reminded me of eating at some of the local eateries when I worked in Korat, Thailand - to the clothing of the staff, it was a fun dining experience. Having tried many, many Thai restaurants and eating at restaurants in Bangkok and Korat, Thailand I am a good judge of authentic Thai dishes. Marnee has some of the best Thai food I've ever had. If you like Thai food you should definitely eat here if you're in the Bay Area. The best part of Marnee Thai Restaurant is the older lady who asks as hostess, as well as server. Unfortunately the restaurant was busy enough that we weren't able to have a conversation with her, but she is quite the character. With a signature limp and boisterous voice, we enjoyed listening to her give instructions to the staff back in the kitchen loudly, as well as make judgments about and tell the future of her customers based on how her customers were speaking and interacting with her. It was all very amusing and accentuated the unique experience of dining at Marnee Thai. 

A new dish for me was the Chan Pad Poo (yes, the tongue-in-cheek title of this post). According to the menu it's "spicy fried rice stick noodles sauteed with crab meat, egg and green onions". It was delicious! Here are the dishes that made up our meal and led me to loosening my belt (gasp!).

Deep fried tofu

Pan-seared Sea Bass with Fresh Garlic and Black Pepper Sauce

Kang Ka Ree Curry (they ran out of Mussaman which is my favorite Thai curry)

A new favorite - Chan Pad Poo (Pass the Poo!)

Tony's Pizza Napoletana & Naia

I was able to enjoy Tony's Pizza Napoletana yesterday. My cousin suggested it because he knows how much I love Pizzeria Lola back home in Minnesota and said that Tony's would blow my mind. Well, he was right. Similar to Lola, I enjoyed Tony's because of the unique types of pizzas available and because of their fresh spin on classic pizzas. I am not sure how Tony's does it, but I did especially enjoy the slightly crisp crunch to the crust. That was a stand-out characteristic for a thin pizza in my opinion. It was great texture, but also helped in holding up the toppings which were all fairly weighty.

The one thing that did surprise me was the price. The pizza at Lola back home range from $10-16. The pizzas from Tony's range from $15-$25 for a pizza with similar diameters. It must be the mark up of being in California and maybe because the ingredients are imported. Still, it was definitely worth it.

The following pizza is the Quail egg, White Rose Potato, and Guanciale. It was a very rich and satisfying pizza - definitely a flavor I've never had. The Guanciale was particularly crunchy and delicious.

The other pizza we had was the Calabrese and Quince. The Calabrese sausage is homemade, the cheese is monterey pepper jack, and there were spicy peppers on there too - can't remember what they were called. This was what I'd call a fresh take on "sausage pizza".  We were told to squeeze the orange wedge to enhance the flavors. I don't know if that's what did it, but I loved it!

Even though I was quite full, I didn't refuse when my cousin suggested we stop by a gelato hot spot, Naia. I prefer traditional flavors when it comes to ice cream and gelato so I go the TCHO chocolate. TCHO, by the way, is New American Chocolate - created and made in San Francisco, CA. It was absolutely delicious. This particular flavor served by Naia is collaboration at its finest by two local companies. Naia's gelato is made from scratch and uses ingredients from the Bay Area.

The Butler and the Chef

My final day of fun in San Francisco continued with a new restaurant. This morning's brunch took us to The Butler and the Chef - a mere few blocks from my cousin's place. We got there right before it opened at 10am. Surprisingly there were already people waiting outside so we promptly put our name on the list. Soon after opening we were seated. It's a smaller restaurant, styled after a French cafe/bistro. I can't really say if that's true as I haven't been to France (yet), but there were smaller cafe-style tables, an espresso bar and much of the menu was in French, so it's a fair guess. You can't miss this place as it has a cute and sunny facade.

The Butler and the Chef - people waiting already before it even opened

There were plenty of options ranging from Belgian waffles to crepes to eggs benedict. We opted to share the chicken crepes, the french toast and eggs benedict with ham. Here's my take on each dish.

Eggs Benedict with Ham

I've never actually tried Eggs Benedict b/c the poached egg always looked funny to me and for some unknown and unfair reason I've always thought I wouldn't like Hollandaise sauce - unfair because I've actually never tried it prior to today. Anyway, I gave it a whirl and I didn't particularly care for this dish. My cousin, however, enjoyed it immensely. I'm guessing I must enjoy poached eggs and hollandaise sauce to really enjoy this dish. So, my opinion really doesn't carry weight on this one because I have no fair comparison and since it wasn't particularly palatable for me, I can't really judge it. I did, however, enjoy the salad that came on the side. It was tossed in a nice and light vinaigrette. 

Note: This photo was taken after my cousin was nearly finished with the first half of this dish.

Chicken Crepes

Another dish we shared was the Chicken Crepes. The crepe itself was yummy and I enjoyed that, but once again, I can't really provide a fair opinion on this dish either. First, I've never had a crepe that didn't have fruit inside of it. I didn't know crepes were eaten as anything other than dessert. Clearly, I've been very ignorant regarding this particular French food. Anyway, I don't particularly like the flavor of dijon mustard, but thought it'd be okay. Turns out the flavor of dijon was too overpowering for me. I had a few bites and was done with that. Luckily my cousin's girlfriend thoroughly enjoyed this dish. It was her favorite of the three.

Chicken crepes with a side of spinach salad

French Toast

Finally, the third dish was good ol' French Toast. As it would turn out, this was MY favorite dish. The bread was thick, soft and eggy, but it wasn't mushy - the consistency was perfect. Just a sprinkle of powdered sugar on top, a nice vanilla flavor within and syrup on the side made this a delectable Sunday brunch treat.

Delicious and generous sized portion of yummy French Toast

King of Dumpling

Yesterday my exploration of food in San Francisco continued to King of Dumpling. These were some of the best Chinese dumplings I've ever had. The soup dumplings were among my favorite, especially the Shanghai pan-fried dumplings. The restaurant is small and seats about only 25 people max. They don't take reservations and based on what my cousins have told me, dining there during off-peak times is the way to go if you don't want to wait. King of Dumpling isn't big enough to accommodate a waiting area, so you'd be waiting outside or in the midst of people's tables. 

The price can't be beat. I've eaten at several dim sum restaurants that serve similar morsels of deliciousness, but at much higher prices. The prices are very reasonable at King of Dumpling. Four of us dined there and had the following for a total of $50 including a generous 20% tip (generous because besides taking orders and dropping off food, the wait staff didn't top off our waters or really do anything else - hopefully the tips will be shared with the cooking staff who truly make this hole-in-the-wall stand out). Click this link to see the King of Dumpling Menu.

We filled up on Pork Dumplings with Corn (you get 12 of them - imagine the size of a typical pot sticker), Sesame Pancakes with Marinated Beef (left), Shanghai Pan-Fried Dumplings (middle) - we had two orders, Beef Stew Soup Noodle (one bowl), and regular Soup Dumplings (right). I've got a pretty healthy appetite, but after eating I was full and am still fairly full this morning as I write this. If I had to choose my favorite dumpling from the ones we sampled, hands down, I enjoyed the Shanghai Pan-Fried Soup dumplings. 

 

           

The Other White Meat

My cousin and I walked to the Ferry Building in an area known as "SOMA" to those who live in San Francisco. Amidst the Farmers Market just outside the building, we enjoyed a delicious late-breakfast consisting of a porchetta sandwich from a food truck called RoliRoti. It is what I would call "gourmet rotisserie"- in a truck. 

The porchetta was flavorful and juicy - definitely a great pork product - right up there with bacon and pancetta! Mixed with caramelized onions, topped with bits of crispy pork skin and arugula (I think that was the green stuff in there) and encased between a soft roll - this sandwich exceeded my expectations! The line was long, but it was worth the wait which wasn't too bad because the service was fast and efficient. 

Once again...incredible food from a food truck. I sure hope more unique food trucks start popping around the St. Paul/Minneapolis area because I will be one of the first in line when we get food like this. Right now my favorite food truck in Minneapolis is the Smack Shack. If you know of other ones you'd recommend or rave over, let me know!

Check back as I continue eating my way through San Francisco!

Off the Grid - San Francisco

I am currently in San Francisco - a combination of work and fun. My cousin, who lives out here, took me to an event called Off the Grid - San Francisco. It is basically a gathering of a whole lotta food trucks featuring dishes from around the world (Peruvian, Japanese, Vietnamese, Korean, Mexican, etc) gathered in one location and accentuated by live music and many people attending. It was easy to spot the favorite food trucks because the lines were quite long. However, there wasn't one line that I stood in that disappointed once I my order was served up. The few items I was able to sample were all delicious.

The one food item I'd like to highlight came from Koja Kitchen. I had the Korean Short Rib Koja - at least I think that's what it was called. It was absolutely divine! Take flavorful Korean short ribs, add in just a bit of lettuce, put that between two "rice buns" and you have one of the most inventive "burgers" I've ever tried. The short ribs were flavorful. The sesame seeds added just a hint of its flavor. By far and large, I loved the idea of the buns made out of rice. If you've ever made rice and have eaten the stuff at the bottom that sometimes sticks to the pan, that's what it's like - rice with a bit of crunch to it. In one word, if you get out here (or anywhere else where there's a Koja Kitchen truck) you've gotta try it!

The Hunger Games

Yes, yes, I know. The Hunger Games opened last week. I was actually crazy enough to listen to my cousin and went to the midnight showing. Waking up and working the next day on 4 hours of sleep sucked. However, the movie was worth it and the enjoyment of sitting in a crowded theater watching a new flick was worth every minute of lost sleep.

I won't bother with the premise of The Hunger Games. If you want to know more you can google it or better yet, read the books! I loved, loved the first book, thought the second was okay and felt the third one was pretty good. On to my review of the movie...

While many details were left out and character development was lacking, Gary Ross (director) created a movie that had me intently watching into the wee hours of the morning. It wasn't as brutal as I thought it would be, but I was thankful for that. I don't think anyone would want to see children brutally murdering one another. It's a very disturbing notion. The film does a good job of distracting the audience and diverting our attention way from that premise. That being said, there was just enough action and story to keep me engaged from start to finish. I was really happy with the casting of Jennifer Lawrence as kick-ass Katniss Everdeen. She was every bit the strong, witty and agile heroine I was expecting. As for the two boys who would complete the love triangle, well, I don't know who I would've cast, but Josh Hutcherson (Peeta) and Liam Hemsworth (Gale) sufficed. 

To keep this review short...Yes, definitely go see it. And, yes, it's worth going for the full price ticket at night. Even if you haven't read the books, you'll get the gist of the story and a couple of hours worth of good entertainment. "May the odds be ever in your favor!"

One warning...The first 10 minutes or so of the film is shot in the annoying shaky-camera-documentary-style. I'm not sure why, but it did make me a bit nauseous. That ceases as the movie progresses, but thought I'd warn anyone who's prone to feeling ill from that style of filming.