If you're in the St. Peter area...

I had high hopes for the Muppet Movie based on my childhood recollections and the trailers. Was disappointed. Not enough Muppets or craziness on stage. Too much moping and real people.

I had low expectations for Tintin. I really dislike the motion-capture style of animation and wished they had just shot the movie with real actors and stunts. I assume it was done this way to save money. No travel, no real stunts, etc. Despite all that, I enjoyed the movie. Clever plot and great action. Still not sure how old Tintin is supposed to be. He looks about 12, but has his own job, apartment, and can drive a car. ??

Great special effects and pretty good action. But it all seemed so pointless/soulless. About the only character I liked was Anakin as a boy, and you know where that is headed.

That, in fact, was the primary reason I didn’t enjoy these movies. There is a reason people usually don’t go backward in time when creating sequels. You know Anakin is going to go bad, that the Empire will win, that the “good” clones will become bad Storm Troopers, that the Emperor is in no danger and wins, etc. There is no drama. Nothing to root for – especially when the good guys are going to lose.

The cartoon movies and TV series have only made this worse. They pick up on the useless struggle with a predetermined outcome and then add 1000 dead robots/clones each episode. It is mind numbing.

Indy #2 was too gross & wierd for me.

Indy #3 was OK with some good lines but too sappy and self-parodying.

Indy #4 is dead to me.

There is always a good band playing somewhere, and they sell 100oz drinks that you can carry around outside. Last time I was there, I walked right past Brittney Griner and a few other Baylor players after their NCAA tourney game. I had to make sure I wasn’t drunk enough to see things; lordy she’s tall.

Also, I once performed at BB King’s. It’s not as cool as it sounds: it was my high school choir, and I sang Goodnight Sweetheart as part of a quartet – believe me, I know how bad of an idea it was, but my teacher made us do it. It’s a good thing very few people were there to witness such sacrilege.

….visit the Smoky Mountain National Park as well as a few good Civil War sites, Shiloh tops among them. (We used to live in Oak Ridge.)

That, and the other music places in the vicinity, make for a fun night out. I haven’t been to the new Grand Ole Opry, but I don’t think it would measure up. The honky tonks downtown just have great music in really small venues.

Went visited it on the way to Florida and it was a high point of the trip.

Don’t forget Sun Studios either. That’s where Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, and many others recorded and/or got their start. During the tour they tell a story about Bob Dylan coming in unannounced, walking to the taped X marking the spot in the studio where Elvis recorded, at which point he kisses it before walking out the door without saying a word.