By Staff
When you say the word marathon, what do you think of – a long run?
Depending on your age, you might remember the time when dancers hung on to each other as they tried to be the last couple on the floor.
Lately though, a marathon means hours upon hours of the same television series – back-to-back.
This past weekend it was the show "House."
If I had a doctor who had a personality like the doctor portrayed on this program I would probably run the other way.
Still, I am drawn to the personalities of his team and the odd diseases, which usually are cured just before the patient almost died.
The new technique of showing us the inside of our organs is also used by another series which I have been watching with cable's ability to digitally tape episodes by just typing in the name of the show.
I admit I am hooked on CSI.
First it was Las Vegas, then Miami. Now that I have seen all of those reruns, I am watching the one set in New York.
I have been reassured by our county sheriff and prosecutor that what we see on television isn't quite the way it really is in real life.
The instant determination of DNA matches is not only impossible, it would be too expensive.
Before CSI there was Law and Order and Law and Order and Law and Order. I almost ODed.
Recently I had a different sort of marathon, but still it was performed on my oversized chair in the living room.
I rented a bunch of movies I hadn't yet seen.
I have a problem with the hype many movies get, first before they are released and then later before the awards are given for the best movie of the year.
Often I don't agree with the reviewers.
I don't expect people will agree with me, either.
So here's what I watched.
Robin Williams again surprised me with his abilities in "Man of the Year."
The premise is a comedian jokes about running for President of the United States.
The country loves him and he wins, but does he really, is the question? I am a big fan of Williams, so I really liked it.
I hadn't really heard anything about the movie "{proof}" with Gwyneth Paltrow and Anthony Hopkins.
The daughter of a mathematical genius who was losing his mind, she questioned her own sanity.
It was a mystery, which I enjoy, but it also had Jake Gyllenhaal as her love interest. I especially like the interaction between the two daughters in the movie, the elder trying to tell the younger girl what to do.
I didn't expect to like "Flyboys," which was based on a true story from World War I, but it kept my interest.
Another war movie, and true story, which was especially touching, was "Joyeux Noel."
When soldiers from France, Germany and England find themselves within shouting distance on Christmas Eve, they find themselves sharing something more than bullets.
I think it is a must see, or a thumbs-up, as you-know-who would say.
"Little Miss Sunshine" was much lighter and had people we all know. The characters reminded me of family members and friends.
My favorites though, during my weekend marathon, were "The Illusionist" and "The Prestige." Both of these movies were about magic.
Sometimes they were a little farfetched, but they really drew you into the stories.
The only problem with my massive marathon was I didn't spend any of it riding my exercise bike.