By Paddy Notar
Turnagain Times Correspondent

I was lucky enough to be invited to the Alaska premiere of “Big Miracle” along with Turnagain Times publisher, Ken Smith, who had a role in the movie as NBC cameraman, Stu, alongside actor Michael Gaston who played the NBC reporter in the movie.

The movie is a fictionalized retelling of the true story of the rescue attempt of three gray whales trapped off the coast of Barrow in 1988. The movie is based on the book “Freeing the Whales” by Thomas Rose.

Ken has several scenes of dialogue, including one with co-star John Krasinski, providing some funny scenes that received plenty of chuckles from the audience.

The invitation-only red carpet event was held in three theatres at the Regal Tikahtnu Stadium 16 Theatre in Anchorage on Sunday, Jan. 29 at 2 p.m.

Every theater was sold out with an audience made of many people who were involved in the making of the movie, filmed entirely in Alaska – mostly in Anchorage. The event was also a fundraiser for Special Olympics in Anchorage coordinated with GCI.

I liked the movie, starring Drew Barrymore, who plays a Greenpeace advocate. The popular actress did a good job, but I thought she played the role a little too sentimental at times. You almost expected her to commandeer a Coast Guard Cutter and free the whales herself.

Ted Danson, who plays an oil mogul, was great as was the Inupiat actor, John Pingayak, who plays the elder Malik. I thought he stole the movie. He was just incredible and a first-time actor. Ahmaogak Sweeney was the young Anchorage actor who plays Nathan, the local Barrow boy and son of Malik. He did a fine job as well. Many of his scenes are shot alongside John Krasinski, who plays an Anchorage TV reporter, Adam Carlson, who is in Barrow reporting on local flavor stories, until he breaks the story of the trapped whales, which then goes national.

The film is a feel-good, family movie (PG rating) that should please everyone, and was the first major motion picture filmed entirely in Alaska, thanks in large part to the state incentive program that provides up to 40 percent in subsidies. The legislature is deliberating whether to continue the incentive program beyond 2013.

Director Ken Kwapis must also be complimented for taking what must have been some very difficult shooting in adverse conditions in Alaska, and a multi-layered storyline, and meshing it all together in a cohesive, fast moving film.

Working with robotic whales is no easy task as well, but the whales come across as very real, along with some exceptional computer graphic work that captures the underwater drama of the whales struggling to survive as Russians, President Reagan, oil executives, environmentalists, and a world-wide congregation of reporters descend on Barrow, working to rescue the whales. All in all, well done. The movie hits theaters Feb. 3.

I had the pleasure of discovering a Chinese restaurant that his been in Anchorage for decades, the Peking Wok on 4000 W. Dimond Blvd., next to Carr’s at the corner of Jewel Lake Road. I had lunch there last week. For $9.50, I had a bowl of egg drop soup, sweet and sour chicken, an egg roll and pork fried rice. The soup was perfect with cooked, yet crunchy greens, the chicken wasn’t heavily battered and the pieces were large and cooked perfectly. They gave me a side of hot chile sauce and the chicken was coated with a great sweet and sour mix. I’m not usually a pork fried rice fan but this side was exceptional. It was just a huge portion that was placed next to the egg roll which was deep fried but wasn’t greasy. You could actually taste the ingredients of the egg roll instead of just the greasy outside.

It’s tough to find a good Chinese restaurant in Anchorage, especially at these prices. Give Peking Wok a try. When’s the last time you had a four course meal for under $10 dollars that was actually good? My fortune cookie said, “Your future shines upon you.” Wow. Really? Thanks. I’ve never gotten that in a fortune cookie before. I can hardly wait for what lies around the corner. It must be good. Do give it a try. The food is as good as I’ve had, and I will definitely be returning, especially at these prices.

Who were the last two teams to face each other in a Super Bowl twice, with the same two quarterbacks besides the Giants and Patriots? Answer at the end of the column.

To catch the Super Bowl this Sunday, head to Chair 5 where Spike will be putting on a big bash as he usually does. They’re having a Red Bull sponsored party featuring Red Bull drink specials and other drink specials like $3 Budweisers, and they’ll be giving away $200 worth of Chair 5 gift certificates, and raffling off a brand new snowboard.

At the Aurora Lounge at The Hotel Alyeska, the game can be viewed on three flat-screen TVs, and at the Sitzmark Bar and Grill specials will be served during the game.

Happy birthday to me, 42, (Tuesday, Jan. 31). Time sure does fly. What happened to my 20s, and my 30s? Some other famous Aquarians were Gertrude Stein, James Joyce, Carl Bernstein and Abraham Lincoln, just to name a few. I’m in good company. Take care and drive safe.

Trivia Answer: The last two teams to face each other in a Super Bowl twice, with the same two quarterbacks, were the Buffalo Bills and the Dallas Cowboys in 1993 and 1994. Jim Kelly for the Bills and Troy Aikman for the Cowboys. As a Bills fan those were some of the worst years of my life. Oh, well. Maybe next year.