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We Bought a Zoo - A Review

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You know you've just watched a feel good movie when the credits have rolled and well, you actually do feel good. Cameron Crowe directed We Bought a Zoo starring Matt Damon and Scarlet Johansson, tells the tail of Benjamin, a solo Dad, 6 months after the untimely death of his wife, desperate enough to break away from the familiar surroundings that haunt him with the memory of her - by buying a zoo. Benjamin is a writer with a history of chasing adventure but the purchase of the zoo anchors him to the adventure of real life as he, his son and daughter and die-hard zoo staff race against time (and depleting finances) to bring the dilapidated menagerie up to standard. The rebuilding of the Zoo works as a great juxtaposition against his own personal struggle to rebuild his relationship with his son and to finally let go of his lost but not forgotten wife. For years my experience of Matt Damon has been marred by Trey Parker and Matt Stones portrayal of him as an enthusiastically...

Butterfly Creek - A Review

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I like to make a point of reviewing the places I visit... Provided the venture didn't wear me out to the point where I'm almost writing in my sleep. This day had a certain soporific effect on me. Not because it was stressful or physically unforgiving, but mostly because it was fun and pleasingly satisfying... I mean, what can be more fulfilling than willingly putting yourself in a situation where a butterfly tries to rip off your face by the lips? Ok, I can think of a few things but thankfully that's not exactly what happened but if you're even a tad lepidopterophobic I wouldn't suggest a visit to Auckland's Butterfly Creek! I took my family to this abnormal attraction to celebrate my oldest child's metamorphoses into three-year-oldom where we began our butterfly-safari by paying the not so unreasonable fee of $49 (NZ) for 2 adults and 2 children (I should probably mention under 2's are free so we brought a friend along to make the most of the offe...