CJM: Reclaimed paintings of Jacques Goudstikker, rating: 6/10

When the Jewish art dealer from Amsterdam (Heerengracht 458) attempted to flee the country, he died in a tragic accident, though his wife survived. His collection of 1400 works left behind in Amsterdam was looted by the Nazis. "In February 2006, Goudstikker’s family successfully reclaimed 200 artworks from the Dutch government in one of the largest restitutions of Nazi-looted art." It doesn't seem like there are 200 items in the Contemporary Jewish Museum exhibition, but what's there gives an idea of the high quality of the original collection.

Legion of Honor: Japanesque: the Japanese print... Impressionism, rating: 6/10

Hiroshige and Hokusai created well known and loved wood block prints mostly of landscapes in Japan, including many of Mt Fuji. Many Western artists took this art as inspiration. The exhibition shows a number of striking examples of this.

I never noticed this before, but the Legion of Honor has a number of good Dutch paintings, though the early Rembrandt has his stylistic touch, it lacks the aesthetic beauty of the Rembrandt paintings in the Rijksmuseum. Perhaps it's just the model.

De Young Museum: Post-Impressionist Masterpieces from the Orsay, rating: 7/10

Viewing this exhibition and Birth of Impressionism which preceded it, you could almost skip a trip to Paris and the Orsay. Still the Orsay has some wonderful Van Goghs which are not here. In addition, you can take photographs in the Orsay, but as is the custom for temporary exhibitions, you may not take photographs in the De Young. Nevertheless, there are in fact some lesser paintings you might not have seen or noticed at the Orsay which are here. Rating considers that even advance admission is relatively expensive at $20.

Rome (HBO series) rating: 8/10

Politics at its most Machiavellian and shrewd, violence -- gladiatorial and otherwise -- in gory detail, nudity (Mark Antony played by James Purefoy is hung like a horse), sex, slavery and a dramatic storyline from Julius Caesar's time.

It's so good that I watched the first season -- leading up to about the time of Julius Caesar's assassination -- plus bonus DVD (10+ hours) in about two days. Unfortunately the second season has less action and punch than the first. And there are only two seasons.

Beautiful Boxer (2003) rating: 8/10

A gay effeminate kid tries kickboxing to make money for his family. He finds a measure of success, and he decides to keep on doing it to try to make enough money for a sex change operation. Sound crazy? This movie is based on a true story.

Black Book (2006) rating: 8/10

On my visit to Amsterdam, I did see the Dutch Resistance Museum, which discusses the measures the Dutch took against the German occupation, including hiding or attempting to hide Jews. I remembered watching this film earlier but not really realizing it was depicting the Dutch. I just watched the film again and well it's actually kind of an action film with some surprising twists and quite watchable.

MacGruber (2010) rating: 6/10

I happened to ffwd to the point where VanCunth says: "you're like a broken record..." The line MacGruber says after that was worth the 25 minutes I spent watching this movie. Well, that and seeing usually straight-laced Ryan Phillippe walk around with a celery stick up his ass.

La Mission (2009) rating: 8/10

Benjamin Bratt plays a macho ex-con bus driver, Che Rivera, in San Francisco. He lives in the Mission District with his son who is gay, but not out to his father.

You might predict what comes next, but it's surprisingly well played.

Also, the music is quite good.