I caught this movie yesterday at the theater attached to a local outlet mall, and was quite surprised at the number of people who turned out for what was very clearly going to be a liberal movie. Remember, I'm in Houston, Texas, the heart of Dubya country. While waiting in line for this one, I was approached by 3 teenagers to act as their uncle or cousin. Having remembered those days when you needed a parent or guardian to get into an R-rated flick, I took on the task. Turned out to be kind of funny, as I got carded and they didn't (keep in mind that I turn 27 in about 2 months).
As far as the movies go, I've always been a fan of Michael Moore's work, but tend to take all of it with a grain of salt. Some people blindly come out of that movie accepting everything he said as fact, while others go in prejudging everything he will say as fiction. I tend to think somewhere in the middle, and use his movies and his old TV show "The Awful Truth" as a place to find questions. Once I see something that piques my interest, I'd rather go do a little investigating on my own and form my own conclusions. Now obviously, this movie won't affect the 80% of Americans who always vote with one party, and will never change their vote if their party were running Hitler. But works like this could be used to swing some of those 20% away from the re-election campaign of Bush. And that's just what Moore is looking to do.
In the movie, Moore doesn't endorse any single candidate, but does repeatedly tell people why he thinks they shouldn't vote for Bush. Now, with the right editing of headlines and soundclips, anyone can be made to look like Satan. After all, isn't that what Citizen Kane was all about? But I think this is a movie that will pique the interest of many folks in this very divided country that I call home. One thing this movie did for me is help me really appreciate the freedom that I enjoy in America. There are many countries throughout history, and still in existance today, that would not tolerate a citizen making a movie that so blatently opposed the country's leader.
As far as the technical aspects of the movie, I think Moore has progressed a lot as a filmmaker. One thing you may notice over his previous films is that he's on-camera a lot less. In addition, his use of popular music to accentuate his points really turns what could be a dull documentary into an entertaining movie. The way he portrayed the attacks of 9/11 were a subtle attack on the senses (you'll see what I mean).
Now many will argue that Moore is this generation's Leni Riefenstahl. I guess it's up to you to decide for yourself. What do you think?
Well folks, I've come back from the dark hole in the ground that RalphieBoy lent me, so let's pick up with something I should have done a few months ago: the annual Summer Movie Preview. Let's kick off things with a few movies that are currently in theaters, and go from there:
Shrek 2 - Well, if you liked the first one, odds are you've already gone to see the sequel. If you didn't like the first one but have kids that did, expect to be dragged to see this sequel. It's more of the same from the animated crew from Dreamworks, and this feature has already blown past Finding Nemo as the highest grossing animated feature.
The Day After Tomorrow - Sadly, no George Kennedy in this one. Good for a few laughs, mostly at inappropriate places. What does Roland Emmerich have against NYC that makes him destroy it in so many of his movies?
Saved! - Contrasting opinions on this one. Jerry Falwell equates the movie to racial profiling. Personally, I found it entertaining, and actually saw a message in it that I've tried to follow most of my life.
Harry Potter & The Prisoner of Azkaban - If you like the series, you'll go see it regardless. One thing I have to say about it is that I enjoyed the change of directors. Alfonzo Cueron brought new life into what could be the turning point in the series. Some parents complained that the movie was darker than the other two. However, being a fan of the books, I must say that if the movies are to hold true to the books, they will get progressively darker. Hang on and enjoy the ride, the story shows the characters mature over time. And we all know puberty isn't all sunshine and daisies.
The Stepford Wives - Good in the sense that I didn't spontaneously combust during the film. Avoid at all costs. Just go watch the original and thank me later.
The Terminal - Wasn't utterly atrocious, but wasn't exactly a challenging movie either. I'm impressed that Spielburg didn't go the prescribed route with the interaction between Tom Hanks' character and Catherine Zeta-Jones' character. It's a good distraction on a rainy day (which we have had in spades lately).
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story - This is the movie you go to when you've had a hard day and you really don't want to think anymore. It's a nice mindless distraction with a few funny jokes. Vince Vaughan just doesn't strike me as a comedic lead, though. And Ben Stiller should be ashamed of a lot of the crap he's put out in the last few years. However, with that being said, the supporting cast is actually pretty strong with Rip Torn, Stephen Root, Gary Cole and Jason Bateman coming through with the comedy muscle. On a side note, what is it with the revival of Jason Bateman? His recent comedic performances in this movie as well as Fox's overhyped and underrated sitcom Arrested Development make the memory of Teen Wolf Too start to fade.
And now, my upcoming film picks:
Fahrenheit 9/11 - And this is the point at which Ulysses Zweibel's head explodes. I'm still willing to take you up on your offer to go see "Michael Moore Hates America" once you go see this film. All you have to do is find a theater around here that's playing it. But as far as this movie goes, reports out of Cannes are that Moore has made himself less the central character in the movie in that he is on-camera far less than in previous engagements. Viewing this weekend, with what I'm sure to be an argument on this board following.
Spider-Man 2 - If you liked the first one, this looks to be more of the same. The good news is that the villian in this one, Doctor Octopus, doesn't look as horrible as the Green Goblin did in the first film. CGI shots galore, and as a bonus during the filming of this movie, nobody died! Sure to bank over the 4th of July weekend.
De-Lovely - I've heard many bad reviews about this film. I'm not particularly well-informed about Cole Porter's life, but I might be tempted to catch this film, if only because I have a 3-day weekend and movie gift cards to burn. Using modern-day musicians to do the singing is a twist to the modern musical revival. We shall see how it goes.
Anchorman - Will Ferrell is my comedy hero. Well on his way to becoming the comedic presence in Hollywood that Jim Carrey was in the mid to late 90s. He managed to get this script produced after Elf was such a smash hit last year. If it's half as funny as the trailer makes it out to be, this could do some big business for people looking to avoid action thrillers.
I, Robot - I'm wary of this thing. My gut tells me to not doubt Alex Proyas after his films The Crow and Dark City. But something about that trailer just gives me the heebie jeebies. Does anyone else think that Issac Asimov is spinning in his grave like a Ronco Rotissere Chicken from the trailer alone? Is there really a need for Will Smith to say "Oh Hell No" in all his movies? Arnie had his catchphrase, but it eventually got old and stupid. Let's put actor catchphrases to bed, and end this one once and for all.
The Bourne Supremacy - One film that came out of nowhere was The Bourne Identity. It didn't do blockbuster numbers at the theater, but sold and rented like crazy on DVD. Thus, the sequel has been made. After all, there's a whole series of books about Jason Bourne out there to draw from. This one has the looks of a simple mystery movie with a boatload of action scenes. In other words: more of the same.
Catwoman - Please, oh please shoot me now. Halle Berry is hot. Sharon Stone is old. Halle Berry wearing a stupid cat hat: retarded.
The Manchurian Candidate - Was this really necessary? Did they have to go and remake one of my favorite films? Was there a great need for it? Denzel Washington in Frank Sinatra's role? I don't know about that one. But Liev Schreiber hasn't steered me wrong yet. If I see this one, it will be because I have nothing better to do.
The Village - M. Night Shamalamadingdong comes out with another film. Let me guess: it has a twist at the ending. Stop trying to be the new Hitchcock and just be yourself. Your films are good, but just because your first movie succeeded as a twisting thriller doesn't mean you should stick with it forever. I say you should go direct a slapstick next time. Just to try something different.
Thunderbirds - From the trailer, I think Bill Paxton's acting might be as wooden as the original source material. And who had pictures of Ben Kingsley being intimate in a goat? That's the only think I could imagine would cause him to be in this film.
Garden State - One of my guilty TV pleasures the last few seasons has been the comedy Scrubs. Well, the lead on that show (Zach Braff) has written and directed a movie that took Sundance by storm. There's no keeping me from this one, as it could be the little indie movie that could for the year. And no, I don't count The Passion or Fahrenheit 9/11 as indie movies anymore. Once you get an initial release in over 1,000 theaters, you cease to be a 'little indy movie'.
Collateral - Tom Cruise is a bad guy. With white hair. Sorry Tom, but I just don't care about you as an actor anymore.
Alien vs Predator - And here we go with more "versus" movies. With the success of Freddy vs Jason last year (2 weeks of winning the box office draw is a success for a horror movie), more versus movies are on the horizon. However, without Jesse Ventura, Carl Weathers, Arnie or Sigourney, how good will this be? Survey says: not very good at all.
The Princess Diaries 2 - Stop laughing. I read the books and liked the first movie. Sure, it's trite. But dammit, I enjoyed the film and it brings back good memories. Stop taking things away from me!
Seed Of Chucky - 5 Chucky movies? Get ready for Freddy vs Jason vs Michael vs Chucky vs Pinhead vs that floating orb from Phantasm vs Candyman vs the robots from Chopping Mall.
Alexander - Colin Farrell as Alexander the Great. Oliver Stone directing an epic historical drama? Get outta town! I've seen worse ideas for a movie. Let's see how badly Ollie screws this up.
The Incredibles - I don't care what you say, Pixar is gold and if Disney lets them walk then Eisner is out on his ass. The only non-Pixar Disney released animated movie to come out in the last few years that had an impact was Lilo & Stitch, and I'm convinced those animators were on brown acid. But this latest outing from Pixar could just help seal the deal between the little animation studio that could and it's new business partner, whomever that may be.
Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events - Let's just call this one the Jim Carrey show and be done with it. Carrey plays a number of roles in this one, and will undoubtedly ham it up in every role. A sure bet for the Christmas season.
but a word seems appropriate regarding an uptic of rough stuff in several Iraq cities. Car bombs, rockets and more seem to be thickening the mideast air just prior to the changeover of Allied occupation power to the new local Iraqi authority. It would seem that all are not pleased with the idea of self-rule; likely contestants in the "Our-Gang's-The-Gang-For-YOU" contest might be
Baathists - largely made up of those formerly in power
al-Qaida - loose group of those still getting bin-Laden-organized financing
Zarquawi - urban-based warlord
Shia Muslim militant groups - might want to even the score with Sunnis who had benefitted under Saddam
Kurdish seperatists - would rather hold out for unaligned national identity
Although it's probably obvious that in the long run it would be better not to be involved in this mass armed argument, there might be a short-run gain or two to be made as more attacks are staged: more movements can be observed, more satellite and airbore photos can be taken, more vehicles and individuals can be tracked and more cells can be taken out.
(Above to be understood in following contexts: never go in under UN auspices, never operate under "rules of engagement" and never get involved in a land war in Asia.)
I mentioned one Derek Frigo earlier as a former guitar player for the band Enuff Z'nuff. Well, now it seems he's dead.
Sucks.
Play along and remember the good ol days: New Thing
EZN's site also has some video links from the first album with Derek on it.
You wanted the best, you got the ... well ... you got the imitators to the throne.
Ladies, and gentlemen ... The Brightness!
California Dropout Scores Perfect GED
I'm really at a loss for words here. 569,000 take the GED in California in a year, only one nails it, and only six do the same nationwide. I mean ... I just have no clue which of those numbers really should shock me the most. Half-a-freakin million GED tests, lottery-style odds of getting a perfect score, or the fact that only 6 a year get it right from start to finish?
Anyone seen this one? othehumanity.com offers up this review:
---Herb (from WKRP in Cincinnati) battles the devil (who is a park ranger)---
"Cult hit my ass -- this just might be our candidate for worst movie ever made. Go look it up in any movie review guide, and it consistently gets maybe 2 1/2 to 3 stars out of 4. They'll claim that the special effects are "ahead of its time". Well, we'll tell you, we can't believe any of these reviewers have ever actually watched this movie -- not only are its effects uncannily bad, the plot is the most convoluted mess ever brought to the small screen. Somehow these kids wind up with some sort of book that calls up the devil, whose favorite method of killing seems to be drooling on people (again, we're not kidding). You think the movie couldn't get worse, then they get transported into an alternate dimension. Let's just say, if we hadn't been laughing so hard, we would have cried. To its credit, it was originally a student project, but we've seen better things come from 8th grade t.v. productions classes. Shame on you, Jack Woods! "
Perhaps we should search for it. Or not.
Janet Jackson says that she and her breast were used.
The singer who brought us Nipplegate feels that she's the victim of "a plot by conservative forces" in the U.S. according to the Sunday Express of London. "'I was used just to take the attention off what was really going on in the world," Jackson told the paper.
Yeah. That's what happened. *sigh*
Curious ... wouldn't all of these types of problems go away if we broadcasted television the same way we do WiFi? I mean, I'm not going to get into particulars about the technical specs, feasibility, & whatnot ... but couldn't you get the ratings based on, essentially, the number of downloads in such a setup?
I will see Farenheit 9/11 if you see this. Deal?
Prepare to laugh until you hurt ...
Hell is going to Starbucks on an empty stomach because a) its attached to a Barnes & Noble and I need a new book and b) the Double Chocolate Chip Blended Creme concoction is essentially heaven from a blender (and filling enough to get me through to a real dinner).
Problem ensues when the barrista hands me my frozen bounty and after one sip, I discover that she's mistakenly made it with coffee flavor instead of just straight chocolate (like its supposed to be done). So why don't I just return to the counter and explain this predicament to her?
Because I'm a guy, that's why. Seems our lovely barrista had the loveliest smile and I could not do a damn thing to wipe it away from her in the slightest. She was hot (yet not in that intimidating "out of my league" way), she was upbeat and pleasant to be around from the second I passed the B&N/Starbucks gateway to the time I left.
I hate coffee. Despise it even. I managed to suck down a fraction of my Venti-sized drink before calling it a day, taking my literary finds to the counter and exiting ($36 poorer, no less). I still love that barrista (and the Double Chocolate Chip Blended Creme), so I'm letting this one slide. Next time, though ... I'm going to walk right back up to that counter, apologize for the inconvenience, preface my remarks way beyond coherence, and make up some lie about having to buy another drink for my imaginary friend ... but without the coffee flavoring. That'll teach her!
Well, I'm seriously rethinking this whole vegetarian diet now ...
Batter - Coated Fries OK'd As Vegetable By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Published: June 15, 2004WASHINGTON (AP) -- Batter-coated french fries are a fresh vegetable, according to the Agriculture Department, which has a federal judge's ruling to back it up.
But the department said Tuesday that the classification applies only to rules of commerce, not nutrition, and it doesn't consider an order of fries the same as an apple in school lunches.
The ruling last week by federal District Judge Richard Schell in Beaumont, Texas, allowed batter-coated french fries to be considered fresh vegetables under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act. Most other frozen fries had been on the list since 1996.Regulations under the law help to assure buyers of commodities such as french fries that they are getting what they ordered, said George Chartier, a spokesman for the department's Agricultural Marketing Service. Frozen fries are fresh simply because they don't meet the standard necessary for them to be listed as processed, and adding batter to the fries does not change the classification, he said.
The commodities act does not apply to nutrition, where batter-coated french fries are still considered processed food.
The department does not plan to repeat its experience in trying to classify ketchup as a vegetable in school lunches, Chartier said. The ketchup-as-vegetable proposal was put forward in the Reagan administration, and the department dropped the idea after it found itself not only opposed but laughed at.
The department's proposal to list batter-coated fries as fresh under the commodities act provisions was challenged by a Dallas-area food distributor, Fleming Companies. The company is in Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization, and the law requires creditors who sold fresh fruits and vegetables to be paid in full, while other creditors might get partial payment, said Fleming Companies' lawyer, Tim Elliott of Chicago.
Fleming Companies plans to appeal, Elliott said. The law was intended to protect growers of fruits and vegetables, especially small farmers, and the ruling misconstrues the act's intent, he said.
"It's unfathomable to me that, when Congress passed this law in 1930 and used the term `fresh vegetable,' they ever could have conceived that large food-processing companies could have convinced USDA that a frozen battered french fry fell into that definition,'' Elliott said.
Although Fleming Companies sold the fries to supermarkets, most are eaten in fast food restaurants, Elliott said. The coating makes the fry crunchy and adds flavor, he said.
Congratulations to blog spammers ... you've now made me install MT-Blacklist for this, the most funloving of blogs in the world. If ever there was a place where penis enlargement, illegal prescription drugs, and sexual devices were more heartily appreciated, I cannot think of a one. Yet you found a way to get my ire (or ... if you will ... my goat).
As you were ...
Son of a bitch! I don't normally like to broach politics on this forum, but will someone please take a sledgehammer to Peggy Noonan's hands and keep that insufferably sanctimonious bitch from writing such flaccid twaddle as this ever again?!!!! Geezus, but that fuckin' broad can be the most self-righteous bluenose ever to have cracked that completely fractured disingenuous smile that blowhard dingbats like her specialize in. I mean, I nearly hurled at the maudlin, heavy-handed tripe that emanates from this bloviating screwhead's "contribution" to our collective memory of Reagan. That self-absorbed pap fills me with the instense desire to punch her in the vagina for ever having taken pen to paper. What an utterly wretched and disgraceful load of horse manure! Dammit!
(whew! I feel better.)
After catching the NBA Finals, it would seem the Detroit Pistons are set to close the sale on Tuesday, being up 3-1 at present. This poses a unique opportunity ... a sports championship in a town you know damn well the spawns of Satan will be taking over following a championship. I still remember the year the Tigers won the World Series and the town went to hell. Come Tuesday night, it looks like we're back on.
So here's the last best chance to predict the damage that will be done ...
1. Number of deaths
2. Cars overturned
3. Fires (must be started separately)
4. Amount of property damage done (as filed by insurance claims)
5. Frightened white people
6. Arrests
Go to town with it (as long as its not Detroit)
Just a little "Worst Of The Web" collection:
American Nazi Party - the usual gang...
Eckankar - six or seven California religions in one
Rosicrucianism - this one's been around for decades; get a load of the "creepy temple organ music" (the site's term for the sound cut, really!)
NAMBLA - the National... oh, forget it
ARC - gay white racialists
Nazi.org - Libertarian Nazis? Does anyone know if this is a hoax?
QSB - Queer Skinhead Brotherhood
I understand that "dog bites man" is not news, but this probably qualifies.
This Friday & Saturday it's on. The Houston Area Arcade Group is holding the H.A.A.G. Expo. This expo is a fixed-cost one, where you pay for admission and then play all sorts of classic video games and pinball machines set to free play. Info is below:
Location: Holiday Inn Northwest (713-939-9955)
Time: Friday, June 4th (6:00 pm - until)
Saturday, June 5th (10:00 am - until)
Cost: $12 per day or $20 for entire weekend
(reduced cost for buying one in advance at above link)
List of Games That Will Be There
Now this was a pretty entertaining quiz. Definately worth a look, but turn down your volume if you're at work.
This CNN story covers the San Antonio theft of two propane trucks over the weekend. As to the possibilities...
Negatives: the Qaida has struck in twos before, they have been big on the concept of using locally found materials with which to attack and SA is a military area with particular bases that have sent troops to the mideast. And TX may be considered a soft target next to NY or Washington right now, with less risk.
Positives: CNN notes the tendency of propane to be smuggled and pilfered in south Texas for use in northern Mexico. That's about the only positive that occurs to me.
Terrorism in the Southwest? There are few precedents other than the JFK shooting - and I lean toward the lone nut theory there. But I see every reason to believe that at least a few incidents are possible, particularly by suicide/homicide types who have nothing to lose. What to do? As the one who got stuck with the safety rep job for my building at work, I've actually been asked terrorism questions a few times, and I say that one should prepare in the same way as for a hurricane, flood or tornado: true, if you're at ground zero, then you may be toast. But since statistically you probably WON'T be, chances are that you'll be dealing with side effects or after effects if anything, and with some reaction time. So just use the same storm kit for everything.
Links --- www.ready.gov, www.fema.gov, www.cdc.gov.
UPDATE - Reuters reports the trucks were found on the US side of the border near Laredo. False alarm. Or GREAT cover. Wonder if the load's still in the tanks... still, at ease and back to ebay... UPDATE #2 - Just heard both tanks were dry. So, no Khobar Towers problem this week.