Days of Future Continuity Errors

Let's not waste any time getting into this. Like most comic fans, I was both excited and trepidatious when I heard that Fox's next X-Men movie was Days of Future Past. I loved this story arc in both the comics and the cartoon. Anyone who's read those issues will tell you that the cartoon took some liberties with the story line. Keeping that in mind, it should be no surprise that the movie took some liberties as well. I'm not going to go into the actual plot - go see the damn movie! After watching the entire movie (post-credit scene included) my head hurt, and there was so much that I wanted to express that I feel the need to get it all out there into the ether that is the internet. First off....Who needs continuity? Easy....we all do! Mostly us elitist, nit-picky, comic fans need it. Nothing pleases us more than to spot even the tiniest of errors in plot and storytelling. The problem with Hollywood is that after so many movies, with different writers and directors, a franchise starts to forget the groundwork that started with the first movie. For this blog, I'll assume we are all familiar with the events of X-Men, X2, X-Men 3: The Last Stand, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, The Wolverine, and X-men: First Class. Look at that list - 6 movies! That's a lot of history to keep track of when building movie 7, especially when movie 7 is acting as a bridge between two separate time lines(keep that part in mind, it will come into play later). So, let's look at the movies in chronological order (not release date) X-Men: First Class takes place in the 60s with the climax being the Bay of Pigs. Here we see how Professor X and Magneto meet, become friends and eventually enemies. Not a bad telling as far as prequel/reboots go. Yes, I said reboot. This movie felt like it was meant to reboot the franchise after the devastating end of X-Men 3. This gives us some of our principle characters of the X-Men franchise, as well as some other characters that we may or may not see again. X-Men Origins: Wolverine takes place primarily in the late 70s. This is where Wolverine volunteers for the Weapon X project, gets his adamantium, and loses his memory. The key takeaway here is that he chose the join the program. He and Victor Creed joined together (after a shooting squad incident)and were recruited by William Stryker. This movie basically ends with Logan having no memory and sets us up for where the franchise really began... X-Men. Late 90s, early 2000. This is the basic story most of us know - The X-men against The Brotherhood of (Evil) Mutants. Not a lot here to take note of, as it does not come up in the new movie. X2 is the movie the first showed us William Stryker and the Weapon X Project. Stryker plans on using his mutant son (whom he's experimented on) and Charles Xaiver's telepathic abilities to kill all the mutants in the world. Of course, Magneto tries to turn that around into killing all humans. I mainly want to focus on Stryker right now. Here is where (in the big reveal near the end) he informs Wolverine that they worked together and that joining the program was a choice Logan made willingly. X-Men 3: The Last Stand has been decried as a horrible movie, but for the most part I enjoyed it. This is mainly a new spin on the Dark Phoenix Saga (without the spaceships) The big shocker, and the part that I think pissed everyone off was the supposed demise of the Professor at the hands of one of his students. Jean basically disintegrates Xaiver right in front of Magneto. Of course, we assume Scott met a similar fate since we've not seen him since he left earlier to find Jean, but that's neither here not there (I had a great theory for this, but I doubt that's the way they'll go now). One thing that comes into play in the next movie is that to defeat the Dark Phoenix and save everyone Wolverine has to kill Jean. It should also be noted that the central plot point here revolves around a cure for mutation that is being forced on the mutants of the world. Of course, that's how they defeat Magneto - injecting him with the cure and leaving him without his powers....until right before the credits where he starts to shake a metal chess piece just by pointing at it. I did want to comment on that end scene. That, I feel, was the saddest part of the movie. Despite their opposing view points, Xaiver and Magneto were friends. It is a classic image, the two of them playing chess against one another. In the comics, and movies, that is a perfect metaphor for their relationship. So, seeing Eric sitting alone at a chess board without his oldest friend kind of tugs at the heart strings. IF you stayed for the post credit scene there, you know Xaiver transferred his consciousness into a body on Muir Island that is in the care of Moira MacTaggart. The Wolverine, a better attempt at a solo movie for what is the most popular X-Men character. This is some time after X3. Wolverine is still haunted by the ghost of Jean and the fact that he killed her. He ends up in Japan to pay back a debt from something he did back in WW II. He saved the life of a young Japanese man that is now a huge captain of industry. Fans familiar with the Frank Miller/Chris Claremont mini-series are already familiar with the broad strokes of this story. I enjoyed this one. There was more action, more of Wolverine actually doing what he does best (killing people) and more development of Wolverine as a lost warrior just searching for honor, redemption, and purpose. Here he gets his claws (adamantium and all) cut off by some giant heated sword, but the bone part grows back. So, he is left with an adamantium skeleton, but bone claws. It makes sense that the claws would grow back and heal because bone is organic matter, and Wolverine has a healing factor. It also makes sense that the metal would not because while it is bonded to the bone it is not organic and is not part of his actual body. We also have to consider laws of physics and matter. There was only so much adamantium attached to his skeleton to begin with, part of that was cut off. No new amount of metal was added, so the existing adamantium would not be able to just miraculously increase to cover the new bone once the claws were fully healed. The end of this shows Wolverine walking through an airport. Everyone freezes. Xaiver (not dead and looking like himself, what the body a doppelganger?) and Magneto appear asking for Wolverine's help. Keep in mind this is a modern, non-futuristic airport. Now on to the movie (and point of this blog) that this ties into... Days of Future Past. Set in the near future (2023) and 1973. First error...the date. It is 2023 but they stopped Wolverine in the airport sometime around 2013 maybe? I guess they could have needed his help with something else that took ten years. It was great to see the whole gang again, and some new faces. Colossus is back, so is Iceman and Shadowcat. Oddly...no Rogue. Oh...Storm is back, but really, who cares? I was more excited to see Bishop and Blink in this movie. Both looked badass, and the fight scenes with Blink opening portals were pretty cool. I was bummed to see that Iceman and Kitty were together, and not Kitty and Colossus, that would have been a nice nod to the comics. And since I'm talking about Kitty Pryde, they kept her phasing power that she displayed in X-Men 3, but added some other thing where she can send people's minds back in time to their younger bodies. WTF? Where did this come from? If they would have explained it as an extension of her phasing ability I might have bought it, but as it stands it is a forced plot device. They are in a room with the most powerful telepath on the planet, why not have him send Wolverine's mind back in time. (Did you think that there would be and X-Men movie where Wolverine didn't steal the show?) They send Wolverine back to 1973, where he wakes up in bed with some woman he was supposed to be protecting. From what I remember of Origins, he and Creed were in Vietnam sometime around this period. There is a lot going on in this movie with intertwining, but like I said - go watch it. We see William Stryker again, this time assisting Trask with the Sentinel project. This at least explains how Stryker got into experimenting on mutants, but not how he was so much younger in 1973 than he appears to be just a few short years later in Origins. I'm going to go ahead and jump to where Stryker pulls Wolverine's body out of the Potomac and from there takes him into Weapon X (or so it is intimated). What happened the part about being a volunteer? In a nice one off comment, Trask asks how Stryker's son is doing, so at least they remembered that part. They explained what happened to the other cast members of First Class (all but Emma really) Remember that cure? Apparently Beast created something similar to help hide his mutation, that somehow also helps Xavier walk. Not sure how changing his DNA cured paralysis, but who needs a reasonable explanation? Without spoiling too much, the movie closes on a future that looks normal and not so dark. The school is there, filled with kids. It was pretty awesome seeing Kelsey Grammer come back and do a Beast cameo. Also the big reveal that Jean and Scott are there and alive. Wolverine still remembers the other time line where Jean was dead and so was the Professor, but that is not the time line we are in now. So, they changed the future for what seems like the better. The post credit scene is the best part, and I feel like only a handful of people in the theater got it because was subtle. The image of a young mutant in ancient Egypt that is levitating the blocks to build the pyramids. Everyone around him is chanting: En Sabah Nur. Comic geeks know that is the real name of Apocalypse. They've already announced the next X-Men movie for 2016 will be X-Men: Apocalypse - an adaptation of the Age of Apocalypse storyline. I hope we get to see Cable in there, as well as Gambit the King of Thieves. If First Class was a reboot, Days of Future Past rebooted the reboot. Events were changed from 1973 forward, and it would seem that mutants were allowed to live among us a bit more openly (of course, I'm just guessing since a mutant saved Nixon on live TV) With the future changed, how much of the other movies in the franchise happened? None of them! This movie starts up a whole new timeline in which X-Men, X2, X3, and both Wolverine movies did not happen, or they did not happen in the exact same way. This gives Fox some more freedom to create new stories without having to worry about tie ins from the other movies (did that stop them before, though?) It obviously negated everything from The Last Stand and The Wolverine. My feeling is that Apocalypse will close out the franchise. After that, Fox should just let Marvel have it back and we can be just that much closer to a unified Marvel Cinematic Universe. Have you seen Days of Future Past? What continuity errors did you spot? --- Last Quote: Take Me Home Tonight Todays's Quote: "Are you gonna pick that shit up?"

Back in the Saddle?

Yeah, I doubt I'll update this as regular as I'd like, thus the question mark. My new schedule is a little chaotic, some days I work close to 16 hours. It's not that I've not watched some cool movies, it's just that I haven't had time to review them as well as I'd like. Let me give you a quick summary of movies I've seen lately, and a little blurb.

Captain America - Decent movie, but I liked Thor better. Probably because I dislike the character of Cap, not necessarily the acting, writing, or anything like that. It is a good set up for the Avengers, but that is all it really is. The ending and defeat of Red Skull is anti-climactic at best (read that as let down). The best part is the Avenger's teaser in the post credit slot. If you've watched the others (Iron Man, Thor, Hulk) watch this one, you don't want any plot holes.

Scream 4 - I loved the first three movies, even if they killed Jamie Kennedy. Wes Craven is a genius. The fourth installment was a faithful followup with enough tongue-in-cheek horror movie humor (multiple sequels, reboots, and all the staples of Hollywood today). There are some plot twists, and obvious red herrings. Unfortunately I figured out the killer (killers?) early on. Entertaining though.

Priest - Post-apocalyptic Vampire movie starring Paul Bettany. I'm sold. It was dark, gritty, and awesome visually. The plot is more than predictable, and that is the only bad thing I can say about it. If you are expecting Citizen Kane, you'll be disappointed it. If you want an action flick in a grisly Mad Max like world - then you should watch this.

Your Highness - I expected this to be stupid, and it was. But I liked it anyway. Being a table top RPG nerd, this reminded me of every D&D game my friends and I ever played.

Take me Home Tonight: Loved it! This is a great throwback to the 80s movies of John Hughes. Typical story of unrequited love, a party, lies to impress a girl, and the consequences. As where some movies would make fun of being an 80s movie, this one pays tribute to the 80s flicks I grew up loving (and still love today). The fashion is there, and the music is awesome! OH and a goth Michelle Trachtenberg

Stay tuned for more.

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Last Quote: Paper Man

Today's Quote: "We're all trying to be something that were not. But tonight all of that changes. Tonight, I'm not afraid. Tonight, I got one thing to say to all that bullshit. Fuck it. "

Weekend Update

Some of you may have noticed my absence lately. Life has been throwing me curve ball after curve ball and my head has been spinning as a result. It is now to a point where I can gather my thoughts and write something down again. I’m not saying it has been all bad, but it feels like the negative outweighs the positive lately. I don’t want to get into too much personal crap (I know, you are thinking that is what the Internet is all about). I’ll just say that my life has taken a turn I did not predict, and never would have. Don’t worry thought – I will pick myself up and keep moving forward because that is all I can do.

Speaking of moving forward I’ll mention a few of the better changes (I hope they are for the better). Next Saturday marks the end of my time at Target. That’s right! After almost six years I am changing jobs. Mostly due to the personal crap I do not want to get into, I had to reevaluate a few things and decided that I needed to find a better paying job so I could pay bills and eat. With that new job comes another step – moving into an apartment in the Evansville area. I am excited and nervous about this, but that will pass.

Anyone who knows me will attest to how well I handle change – I don’t. I like my routine and the comfort of that. Setting out into a new job, a new apartment, a new life – all within the span of about a week – sets my anxiety level up a little too high. I’m going to miss all of the friends I made at Target these past six years, but at least I will be living closer and will be more able to go hang out more often. Maybe we can organize a “crazy movie/tv show night.”

Moving forward is one thing. I can do that with my head down as I just barrel through the day. Moving on is a bit harder. I think that is a process that will vary with each individual. I’m just not sure what my process will be, or how long it will take. I am very grateful for all of my friends that have been there to let me vent, kept me distracted, and above all – kept me laughing.

Enough of that! The other positive thing – the one I am the most excited about – is that my book Valley Falls is completed and published. It has been selling fairly well, although it could stand to sell better. Reviews have been positive and those I have talked to really enjoyed it. That warms my heart. So, if you have read it – tell all of your friends to buy it and read it too, and then spread the word. If you haven’t read it – then you need to. It is available on Amazon.com and in eBook formats for the Kindle and the Nook.

Buy it here!

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Last Quote: Thor

Today’s Quote: “No, literally... Tell me what you want me to say! Because, frankly, at this point I got nothing.”

Son of Odin

If you are new to reading anything by me, I’ll be perfectly honest: I’m a comic book fan. That being said, I tend to have a love/hate relationship with comic book inspired movies (as most fans do). Over the past few years I’ve noticed that Marvel has become a movie powerhouse while DC can only manage to keep one franchise alive (Batman). Marvel is creating franchises that crossover and meld together in one unified universe. I love that. I just wish they could get the X-Men and Spiderman back so they could do a major crossover event. Now, while Marvel Films is a powerhouse, the journey has not been easy (how many Hulk reboots do we need?) What solidified their place in the summer blockbuster slot (in my opinion) was the first Iron Man. Favreau created a realistic, tech-based world that was true to the comics, and he followed it up with a solid sequel (that’s almost unheard of!)

Looming on the horizon is The Avengers, but first we have to introduce Captain America and Thor. Here is where I get a little critical. In the comics, Thor is the god of thunder. The reality of the Marvel Universe acknowledges the existence of the Asgardian pantheon of gods, as well as the Greek gods. How are we going to have a crossover into the realistic, science-based world of Tony Stark? So, to say I was skeptical would be an understatement. Let’s be honest, Thor has the potential to completely wreck everything Marvel has been doing with films thus far.

It’s a good thing that Kenneth Branagh had a hell of a vision for this film, and pulled it off beautifully. Thor has all the elements of an epic fantasy as well as the comic book moments (being hit by the same car more than once? Getting tasered? Funny stuff.) The scenes on Asgard and in Jotunheim are visually stunning and stylistic. I think they add to the movie and create a real sense of fantasy contrasted with the “reality” of Earth. Even the explanation of the Asgardians fits in with a tech-based world (although now we have to accept that aliens exist). There is, of course, the requisite setting up for the movie of the century (The Avengers) with some S.H.E.I.L.D. involvement, Nick Fury cameo, and a great cameo from Hawkeye, there is even a mention of Tony Stark. I have no complaints as far as performance goes, Hemsworth was a great Thor. What is Natalie Portman not great in? Anthony Hopkins? Absolutley no complaints there.

My only complaint is that if felt like it should have been two separate movies. The opening, which sets up the back-story and explains why Thor is on Earth, should have been a movie by itself. After his banishment, things felt a little rushed. Thor was sent to our planet to learn humility. This should not be as easily learned as it is in the movie. Ideally, everything after his banishment should have been a separate movie. Then the pacing could have been better and we might have a better feel for a few of the other characters. Why does Jane fall in love with Thor, aside from his obvious physique? Of course there is a romantic interest for Thor here, and we know it’s going to be Natalie Portman, but that shouldn’t mean the relationship should not have some development to it. Do we, the audience, have to do all the work filling in the blanks here?

Don’t let my lofty expectations throw you. The movie is fun, looks brilliant, and has enough cringe worthy moments in battle, and laughable moments to ease the tension to make a perfect Summer movie. I saw it in 3D, which took some adjusting, but I thought it looked really good. It added depth to a lot of the scenes. If that is not your thing, go see it on a regular screen, but whatever you do STAY FOR THE CREDITS. This is now part of the formula for most movies. The easter egg at the end of the credit sequence is partly what we pay for now (and it had better be way cooler than that damn dog from Pirates of the Caribbean). What are you waiting for? Go. Now.


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Last Quote: Red State

Today’s Quote: “You better call it Coulson, cause I'm starting to root for this guy.”

Seeing Red

I don’t often review movie’s I’ve seen in a theater – mainly because I hardly go to a theater anymore. There aren’t many movies I care to see on a big screen while sitting crowded in a tiny chair with a lot of inconsiderate douche-nozzles (that’s right Mr/Mrs I-have-to-text/tweet/talk-on-cell-phone-at-all-times, I’m talking about you). I prefer to wait until DVD where I can watch them at home where the only annoying jackass talking through it will be me.

Cut to yesterday at Clowe’s Memorial Hall at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana at around 8:00. There I was crammed into a tiny damn seat in a room with no air circulation (this is a larger problem when there is a lot of body mass in a room, and I mean a lot of people.) preparing to watch Red State, the newest movie from my favorite writer/director, Kevin Smith.

Familiar with his work? Throw all of those notions the hell out the window because Red State in vastly different from anything he has ever done. First off, it is a horror movie. I agree with this classification while others online bicker about it. True, there is no real hero, or slasher, or definitive victory but it is still unsettling, uncomfortable, and down right terrifying.

Horror purists my decry this film and demand it be put into some lame category like “psychological thriller” or some such B.S. They look for the typical and the cliché when it comes to “real horror movies.” What they fail to realize is that in Red State the conventional aspects of horror movies have been turned on their head, and in some cases shot in the face. Let’s run down the list of what a horror movie should include: Sex crazed teens (check), creepy family of psychopaths (check) – everything else is just variation on that. Without spoiling the movie, because I do NOT want to do that, here is what is different about the flick.

First, there is no clear cut hero. Usually when you watch a horror movie (especially lately) you can pick out who will live and who will die within the first 10 minutes, maybe less. Forget all that nonsense. Second, there is no music telling you what is going to happen. No score in the background at all. That makes for one unsettling 90 minutes. Music cues tell us when to relax and when to tense up for a scare. None of that either.
Lastly, the movie allows the audience to form multiple opinions on characters. One second a character is deplorable, the next somewhat likeable, and so on. People are like that. We constantly have to assess our impressions of people we meet. Someone that we might click with at first may eventually become the bane of our existence. So, the characters are realistic in that way.

The ending I loved. It might not set well with others, but remember this is Kevin Smith. What the ending does is changes the focus from one character to another, thereby showing how insignificant that other character really was / is.

I’m going to stop now before me inadvertently spoil something. If you want spoilers, you can find them all over the internet, but not here. Instead go see the movie when it hits theaters in October.

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Last Quote: Easy A

Today's Quote: "I fear God. You better believe I fear God."

Not a typical teen movie

I have a list of movie’s I’d like to review; I just never get around to them. I fully intended on writing about Machete, but another movie came along that I enjoyed so much, that I just had to share it.

What movie is this that could make me scratch the plans to talk about a movie that is right up my alley? You’ll be shocked when I say that this movie is not full of gratuitous nudity, gore, absurd death scenes, and gallons of CGI blood.

Easy A is that movie.

Wait! Don’t run away yet! I promise this is worth it.

When I first saw trailers for this flick I was intrigued because it is obviously a modern twist of Nathanial Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter. They put it right there in the open – look at the title. Most of us remember having to read that in high school (some of us had to read it AGAIN in college) and who can forget the awful adaptation starring Demi Moore? So, my love of classic literature commanded that I watch this one.

On the surface it is just another teen movie focusing on high school drama and gossip. Where it differs from other teen movies of late is that this movie is smart. Emma Stone is a convincing wallflower of a girl (Olive) who wants nothing more than to skate through four years of torture unnoticed. Like all of us, she does fantasize about being the focus of attention, but she never really wants it. Then, the spotlight of the entire school is on her due to one lie leading to another lie that then spreads around school. Soon, she’s the school slut and the target of a laughable group of religious students.

Here is where the character wins me over. She embraces the gossip and decides to give them something to talk about. She embroiders large red “A”s on a new wardrobe consisting of provocative, lowcut tops. In typical teen movie fashion, things spiral out of her control and she longs to be the unknown she once was.

Blah blah blah, right? Wrong. I said this was a smart movie didn’t I? Here is where it shows it. The movie has no pretense of being anything more than it is. The writers were not above even mentioning this fact. Olive does this via her narration with witty segment titles that summarize what is going to happen. How many classic books have chapter titles the do that very thing? I’ve lost count. She lists movies that depict high school life falsely, and pines about how she wises they were true. They are all John Hughes films!

Here is a movie that is obviously following in the footsteps of Hughes and they make sure to point it out, complete with clips. Of course, the major punch line is at the end when all of those scenes are combined. I won’t go into too much detail but it involves a boom box (sort of), a lawnmower, and throwing a fist in the air (Judd Nelson did it before those Jersey Shore douches and their fist pumping shit).

All the while, the movie whips a little message at you. Just beneath the sarcasm, cynicism, angst, innuendo, and humor is some truth. Kids gossip. About anything. All the time. That aspect of the movie reminded me more of “Much Ado About Nothing”. Shakespeare and Hawthorne in one movie? Awesome in my book. This was the most enjoyable teen movie I’ve seen in a long time (going back to Can’t Hardly Wait and American Pie.) Hit it up on Netflix, Redbox, Blockbuster, or wherever you get movies and watch this one!

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Last Quote: A Team

Today’s Quote: “We've had nine classes together since Kindergarten... ten if you count Religion of Other Cultures, which you didn't because you called it science fiction and refused to go.”

A-Team

What child of the 80s is unfamiliar with the A-Team? Not a one, I hope. Mr. T was an ever-present character throughout my childhood what with cartoons, toys, movie appearances, tv shows, etc… When I first heard of an A-Team movie I was skeptical. Would they try to make it a serious movie (that didn’t work for Miami Vice) or go over-the-top with campiness (like, say, Starsky and Hutch). The entire fate of this film rested with that small decision. Thankfully the writers found some middle ground that made the movie entertaining and enjoyable. The nostalgia factor didn’t hurt either.

First thing people will notice is the cast. Liam Neeson and Bradley Cooper are two big names in movies. Neeson is always a draw and (I believe) can nail any performance. Cooper is more of a draw now they he was probably five years ago (thank you Hangover). These two carry the movie.

Supporting them is Sharlto Copley (District 9) as Howling Mad Murdoch, and Quinton Jackson as B.A. Murdoch is utterly insane and adds enough levity to the movie to keep people in stitches. Jackson (in my not-so-humble opinion) was dead on as B.A., Mohawk and all.

Like any remake the writers updated the story to today’s world and political climate. Instead of Vietnam, the war is in Iraq. The story is pretty much the back story of how this team of war heroes were disgraced, discharged, framed, and arrested. While those of us who watched the show remember them being a “guns for hire” team that helped people, there is none of that in the movie. Instead it focuses on Hannibal’s plans to clear their names and get reinstated in the army.

I don’t want to spoil it for anyone, so I’ll stop now. One cool thing they did was end the movie with the opening sequence and voice over from the original show. Do they plan a sequel? I hope so!

Don’t expect a great movie that will leave your brain hurting, this isn’t Inception. A-Team is just a good bit of mindless fun full of explosions and plot twists. Give it a chance, you might be surprised.



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Last Quote: Scott Pilgrim vs the World

Today's Quote: "I believe that no matter how random things may appear, there's still a plan. "

Scott Pilgrim

Pardon me if I'm a little behind in my movie watching. I can only watch what Netflix sends me. For the most part, nothing really interesting has come across my queue lately. What does stand out was Scott Pilgrim vs the World. Usually I have a nice bit of background on the movie, but not this time. I know it is based on a series of graphic novels, but I haven't read them. Some might think that is a travesty, but it allows me to watch the movie as a movie (unlike Jonah Hex, which was nothing like the comics and therefore awful in my eyes).

So our hero, Scott, is a bit of a loser. Ok, he is a total loser. He is in a funk after a horrible, heartbreaking breakup and in his rebound phase starts dating a 17 year old, Asian school girl. Keep your minds out of the gutter! He is content to play video games, go to the library, and hang out at the music store with his uniform wearing piece of jail bait (although, this takes place in Canada. What is the age of consent in the Great White North?) until he sees a purple-haired delivery girl that starts skating her way into his dreams and heart. Typical story, really. The setup is completely traditional in that Scott continues to date the school girl while perusing Ramona (girl of the funky hair color). Anyone else predict this blowing up in his face?

So the story is typical of teenage romantic comedies, but what I enjoyed was that he had to face all of her evil exes (not ex-boyfriends as she points out numerous times. There is a girl in the mix too. Hot? I think so). In this world of indie music and melodrama exist mystical powers and an actual round table of villains set on ruining Ramona's love life. The movie is peppered with video game references, graphics, and HUDs. That alone made me like the movie. Even the Universal opening graphic was done in 8-bit beauty. Some movies are made for a certain audience, and this one does not hide that. So, if you are not a video game nerd,or music snob this movie will probably not appeal to you.

Performance wise, it was average. Michael Cera was basically playing the same character he has in every movie thus far. The evil exes are over the top (as they should be)and cheesy. The two best performances, in my mind, go to Kieran Culkin (the only one still working, right?)as Scott's man-whore Gay roommate. Next, goes to Ramona Flowers played by Mary Elizabeth Ward (she was in Live Free or Die Hard, and Deathproof). She is a cute hipster trying to escape her past, and while she plays aloof we can see the damage in her eyes.

Final Analysis: Fun movie. Watch it!



Last Quote: Rocky Horror Picture Show

Today's Quote: "When I'm around you, I kind of feel like I'm on drugs. Not that I do drugs. Unless you do drugs, in which case I do them all the time. "

Happy Halloween

I don't have anything to review at the moment, anything to blather on and on about. Instead I wish all of the goblins and ghouls out there a Happy Halloween. To celebrate, here are some of my favorite Halloween related songs (in no particular order).













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Last Quote: Shoot the Hero

Today's Quote: "Well, you got a flat? How 'bout that!"

Shoot the Hero

I recently received a movie via Netflix that I had zero expectations from. With that in mind, forgive if I oversell this movie for more than it is, afterall it’s really easy to exceed low expectations.

Shoot The Hero is a quirky action-comedy starring Jason Mewes. Right there, you know why I watched it. Also appearing are Danny Trejo, Fred Williamson, and Katie Morgan. Not a cast one usually sees headlining a movie, but they were enjoyable none-the-less.

The plot is a little convoluted at first, especially when the point of view shifts from Mewes to The Smith Brothers. One has to wonder if the Smith Brothers are any relation to Kevin. They debate comic books, quote movies, and one of them is a little on the heavy side. Probably just a coincidence. I’ll try to sum up the movie without spoiling the one entertaining aspect of the movie.

Nate (played by Jay) takes his overbearing girlfriend, Kate, to a jewelry store to pick out engagement rings. While they drive there, she bitches about being blindfolded and that he’d best not be taking her to another comic book movie. This relationship sounds great, right? The jewelry store is closed when they arrive, cue more snide remarks from the girlfriend. Nate begs his way into the store and they look at rings. Enter robbers. A group of masked thieves enter with guns and rob the place. The lovebirds hide behind a counter and the girl does not stop bitching. There are two disputes going on in the room and they are cut together in alternating shots. As the argument between the couple heats up and nears its end, the other dispute peaks into a violent shoot off that leaves all but two of the thieves alive. The robbery was planned by Franklin in an attempt to take down Crazy Joe (a mob boss who is apparently crazy, and named Joe) but the group he assembled were in Joe’s pocket. They turn on him. When the shoot out is over Nate and his girl try to leave. Nate encourages the guy to shoot his bitchy would-be fiancée. This ends with Nate beating the lone robber to a pulp and stealing the bag of diamonds and cash. They ride off into the sunset.

Enter The Smith Bros. Two slackers who do nothing but bicker more than Nate and his girlfriend. They end up in a mercenary training camp (led by Shaft himself). This scene seems way out of place. In fact I found myself asking what the hell these two losers have to do with anything so far. Just hold tight, it all makes some sense later on. When they escape the mercs they hitch a ride with none other than Nate and Kate, his now fiancée (on their way to Vegas to get married)

Here is where the plots intertwine in a very Tarantino-esque twist (guns, blood and death are a must here). The end of the movie is decided by a game of paper, rock, scissors. That is all I’ll say so I don’t spoil anything for those who might watch it.

While this is not a movie I would buy and rewatch, it was a very entertaining schlocky film that required little thought. If you want a popcorn movie to sit back and enjoy – rent this one. It’s worth at least one viewing.


Last Quote: The Mighty Boosh – “The Priest and the Beast”

Today’s Quote: “Let’s do our laundry.”

Guitar Heaven

Is everything that Santana touches guaranteed to turn to gold? It seems since the release of Supernatural (the album with the song “Smooth” featuring Rob Thomas) that Santana has found a new niche in the music industry, one that keeps him relevant to radio listeners young and old. People who enjoyed Santana’s music in the 70s are now listening to the new music featuring artists from the current generation. This is not a bad thing. In fact, it provides a bridge for parents and children (or grandparents and grandchildren) to reach common ground. Maybe that was the plan when the Angels told Carlos to release Supernatural.

Enough of that album, let’s look at the recent release – Guitar Heaven. This is a different CD from his past few releases in that it contains nothing but covers. I know what you are thinking: Santana covering other artists songs? Why would he need to do that? Well, he doesn’t need to do that. Let’s make that clear right off the start. Carlos Santana NEEDS to do nothing. He chose to release an album of covers, and for that we should be thankful. Face it, that man can make a guitar sing.

What intrigued me was the track listing. There are covers of Cream, AC/DC, Deep Purple, The Beatles, and The Doors (to name a few). These bands are vastly different than the sound one usually associates with Santana. So it stands to reason that these are not going to be merely covers of great songs, but more of a re-imagining of great songs.

Not only is there a wide cross-section of music, but the vocalists are varied as well. Chris Cornell, India Arie, Joe Cocker, Johnny Lang, Gavin Rossdale, and Rob Thomas (naturally), Hell even Yo-yo Ma is on this album. The most interesting song (and I say interesting in a neutral way because I’m not sure if it is good or bad) is Back in Black with vocals from Nas. That’s right, a rap cover of AC/DC with Santana on guitar. The only thing missing would be a hidden track with The Bongo Brothers Rudi van Disarzio and Spider Dijon.

If you didn’t get the previous Mighty Boosh reference, don’t feel too bad. Not many will.



Last Quote: Airplane

Today’s Quote: “This is all like Woodstock all over again. The idea is you play, and then you scram; but oh, no, you wouldn't listen, would you? You wanted to hang around, didn't you? And then we got loped into tidying up! You, me and Carlos Santana; hoovering for six weeks!”

Avalon

When you hear the name Sully Erna do you think of the angry music of Godsmack? If you’re a fan, you do. If not, then you probably stopped reading this before the first sentence was completed. I guess, this entry is meant for people who like Godsmack, or can at least tolerate them.

Did anyone else notice Sully Erna’s solo album Avalon that came out on September 14th? I did, and was immediately intrigued. I wondered what it was going to sound like. Would he stay the course with the Godsmack sound, or would he show us something different? If you pick this album up expecting to hear a lot of heavy drums and guitars you will be very disappointed. For some fans, this will be an immediate turn off. It seems like there is always a percentage of music listeners out there who detest seeing any growth of diversity to their favorite musicians. These same people probably hated Godsmack’ album The Other Side. God forbid an musician branch out and exhibit some diversity and talent.

I mention the acoustic album to give you a vague idea of what Avalon is like. Even then, it is still a far cry from the acoustic version of Godsmack. Avalon combines tribal drums with bluesy vocals and harmonies. Lisa Guyer, who did background vocals on “Hollow” (the Other Side) lends her talent to this album as well. Also included are cellist Irina Chirkova and the drummer from Dead Can Dance, Niall Gregory.

I highly recommend checking this out, especially if you like to see a different side of a vocalist known for telling us all to Go Away. Even if you dislike Godsmack (and continued to read despite that fact) you might give it a listen. It could surprise you. I can’t stress enough how different this album is from anything we’ve heard from Sully and Godsmack to date. Even Sully thinks so. He describes the album as a huge departure from anything he’s done. Take his advice and dim the lights, light some incense and “vibe out” while listening to this album.

What are you still doing here reading this? Go on, I said!




Last Quote: Repo Men

Today’s Quote: “Jive ass dude don't got no brains anyhow! Hmmph!”

Repo! vs Repo

I’ll be the first to admit that when I saw the previews for Repo Men that was more than a little put off by its similarities to Repo! The Genetic Opera. Considering that I loved Repo! I just did not care if I ever saw Repo or not. I saw the loud outcry online of Repo! Defenders (including the director and one of the actors) accusing the Jude Law film of copyright infringement. A solid case could be made for that considering Repo! was originally pitched to Universal before Lionsgate picked it up. Universal liked the premise, but not the musical aspect, so they passed on it.

They claim that it is based on the novel Repossession Mambo. Unfortunately this does not really save them from the allegations. Repo! was a stageplay in the late 90s. Mambo was not published until sometime in 2009.

Now, I am not here to make a decision on this matter. Having seen both films, I thought it would be a good idea to review one side-by-side with the other.

The plots are very similar. They both take place in a future where people have had to resort to expensive organ transplants to live. In Repo Men the organs are mechanical in nature, in Repo! they are designer organs. In both futures these organs are expensive and require a payment plan. Miss a payment and the item in question will be repossessed.

The repo men in both futures are nothing more than hired killers (legal assassins?) What would any story be like without having one of these killers have a change of heart, or otherwise end up on the outside of his world? That’s where the bulk of similarities lie. Repo! is about a father trying to protect his daughter from the world, and himself. Repo Men is more of a twisted bromance/romance. Both contain enough social commentary to be thought provoking. Look at the world now and compare it to the world 20 years ago. The advances we have made make these futures all too likely.

The casts of both films are great. Jude Law and Forrest Whitaker are great as a duo of ne’er do wells turned professionals. Liev Schreiber is great as the two-faced boss. The music is also an added bonus to this: bloody killing sequences paired with mambos and swing music.

In Repo! the cast and music are the key. Varying styles of music come together to create a rock opera unlike anything released. Sarah Brightman, Anthony Stewart Head, Nivek Ogre, Bill Moseley, Paul Sorvino, Alexa Vega, Paris Hilton, and Terrance Zdunich are all part of the chemical equation that made this movie enjoyable.

I recommend Repo! The Genetic Opera because it is a unique fun-filled horror rock opera. Repo Men is saved only by the twist ending that I will not spoil here.






Last Quote: The Runaways

Today’s Quote: “The Repossession Mambo? Sounds kinda fruity!”

The Runaways movie

Of this past week’s new releases I was the most excited for The Runaways. I know what you are thinking, “that Twilight girl is in it so it must suck.” Get over yourself. While I don’t understand the craze behind Stephanie Meyer’s empire, I’m not going to fault the actors for it. In any case, the cast of The Runaways is filled with brilliant actors. Dakota Fanning is no hack actor. After seeing Kristen Stewart’s dead on performance as Joan Jett, I’m convinced she’s no hack either. I can’t wait for “Welcome to the Riley’s.” Enough of this justification, on to my review.

The Runaways were the first all girl rock group. They broke down the gender walls in the rock n roll scene and proved that girls could rock as hard (if not harder) than the boys. Based off of the book “Neon Angel” by Cherie Currie, the movie focuses on Cherie’s rise to fame and eventual downfall. The movie does nothing to glorify to Sunset Strip music scene with its shady characters, drugs and sex. The truly shocking thing is that Cherie was only 15 when she started in The Runaways, and was exposed to the seedy side of the music business. The producer who put the group together, Kim Fowley, is certifiably insane. Michael Shannon (Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead) nailed this performance. Just look for Kim Fowley interviews on youtube and see for yourself. He may have known what he was talking about, and he knew what he had when Joan Jett said she wanted to start an all girl rock group, but that does not make him any less insane. The line between genius and insanity is a very thin one.

The movie focuses more on Cherie and Joan, but the other members of the band are just as important. While most did not stay in the spotlight after the group broke up in April of 1979, there is one that fans of 80s music will remember – Lita Ford. Lita, played by Scout Taylor Compton (Zombie’s Halloween) is there in the background screaming for some spotlight.

What I loved about this movie was the director’s vision. Floria Sigismondi, best known for her work on music videos for Bowie, Manson, and Crystal Method, adds some interesting style to the movie. The scenes in the clubs and all the scenes involving drugs felt like music videos to me. The drug scenes were fast cut and leave the viewer feeling edgy and confused.

I could go on and on about this movie. The 70s style, the 70s music, the great soundtrack… but I won’t. This is definitely worth a watch and for any fan of music I’d say buy it. You want to know more about The Runaways go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Runaways




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Last Quote: Sixteen Candles

Today’s Quote: “Pig stink! They'll eat you alive out there! Rock 'n' roll is tough music played in tough venues! Men don't like to seem women anywhere but in their kitchens or on their knees - let alone on stage with guitars. Now, buckle up and get ready for bootcamp, babies - you're gonna be trained like the Viet fucking Cong.”

Blasphemy

Let the subject line serve as a small disclaimer. What I am about to write about will be considered blasphemy by most people, even me. Why write it then? Easy, because it needs to be presented. We live in a time where nothing is sacred and there is no end to atrocities committed. I’m speaking of Hollywood and the plague of remakes. I do believe that movies should not be remade because I know there are creative people out there with original ideas. We should not have to dust off an older title, recast it with new actors, and sell it to the viewing public. If the younger generation wants to see that movie let them watch the DVD.

That said, it occurred to me the other day that it is only a matter of time until Hollywood gets around to remaking movies that I love and still watch to this day. “Escape from New York” is in the works, but we already knew that John Carpenter's work was not safe from this sickness. Who is? No one. Not even John Hughes. This all came from a brief conversation at work that put my brain to work. If they were to remake the timeless John Hughes films that I love. Whom would they cast? It started out as a joke with me picking a “nightmare cast” but then I became intrigued with the idea and tried to seriously pick a cast I felt would make the movie interesting. Before I get to the list, keep in mind that these are young actors, with major successes under their belt. Just because you dislike, say “Twilight”, does not mean the actors have no talent. Film Snobs piss all over movies based on who is in them (I am guilty of this too). Now, are the following casts perfect? No, but they can’t be because they aren’t the original cast. So, here it goes. Get the Kleenex ready, keep the death threats to a minimum, and prepare to have your world shattered.

Let’s start with my favorite –

“The Breakfast Club”
John Bender (Judd Nelson) – Rob Pattinson. Say what you will but he can act, and with the draw this guy has Hollywood would not hesitate to put him in the role of the bad boy.
Andrew Clark (Emilio Estevez) – Zac Efron.
Brian Johnson (Anthony Michael Hall) – Chris Colfer. Just watch Glee (I haven’t) This kid could pull it off.
Allison (All Sheedy) – Miley Cyrus. Ok, I just want to see her play a messed up emo chick.
Claire (Molly Ringwald) – Felicia Day. I struggled to find a fair skinned, red haired actress for this role. I looked through my twitter feed and saw a post from Felicia and it dawned on me. She would be perfect. So, from now on, any Molly Ringwald character for these remakes, I will choose Felicia Day.


Principal Vernon – J.K. Simmons. I just enjoy every performance of his.
Carl the janitor – Justin Long. After seeing his strange characters in Zack and Miri, Old Dogs, and that Sasquatch Dumpling gang movie, I think he could bring a little twisted to this character and make him creepy.

Another great (or not-so-great) thing about this cast is - look at all of them - they can sing! That means the soundtrack could have a cast version of “(Don’t You) Forget About Me.”

“Weird Science”
Gary – Chris Colfer.
Wyatt – Christpher Mintz – Plassse
Chet – Neil Patrick Harris
Hilly – Ashley Green
Deb – Taylor Swift
Max – Adam Brody
Ian – Thomas Decker
Lisa – Megan Fox. I saved her for last so maybe I could build up to the groans and gags. Think about it though, aside from porn stars, who would two geeks choose as the model for their perfect woman? And for the mutant gang of bikers that come in later, Hollywood should use some horror actors (like Michael Berryman in the original) such as Derek Mears and Tyler Mane. Maybe Henry Rollins could be the leader.

“Sixteen Candles”
Samantha – Felicia Day.
Grandma – Betty White. She’s already felt up Sandra Bullock in The Proposal, why not do it again for this movie? Can you honestly pick a funnier woman to be crazy grandmother?
The Geek – Chris Colfer. The great thing about Brat Pack movies is you cast one, and you basically have the casts for the others.
Jake Ryan – Liam Hemsworth
Long Duk Dong – Justin Chon. This kid was in the Twilight Saga, and while he is funny in it at times, he is not off the wall funny like this character. I say give him a chance to see how absurd he can be.

“Pretty in Pink”
Andie – Felicia Day
Ducky – Jonah Hill. Now, he is no John Cryer but can you picture a better actor to be stuck as the quintessential best friend that will not get the girl he wants? Also, I think hearing Jonah go off on the rich kids would be brilliant.
Iona – Drew Barrymore. I love Drew Barrymore and I am proud to say it. When I thought of this character I wanted to pick someone that would be able to play an edgy older sister/ mother role. Drew is it.
Steff – Jackson Rathbone. Yes, another Twilight actor. Did you know he is supposed to be playing infamous Death Metal performer and murderer Varg Vikernes in the movie “Lords of Chaos.” Some acting talent will be needed there I’m sure. Can he play a sleezeball? I think so.
Blane – Taylor Kitsch.
Jack, the father – Zack Galifiankis. I think he can make the hopeless mess of a father a little more hopeless and a lot more of a mess. Would make for some laughs.

These casting choices are far from complete, but they are the characters that were first in my mind. The other characters could be played by anyone else. Disappointed I didn’t put Michael Cera in there anywhere? Sorry. Do you have alternatives? Let me know. Oh, and Hollywood, if you see this I have tons of ideas for these remakes, ways to stay true to the original and re-envision it. Call me, and pay me lots of money!

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Last Quote - Bickford Scmeckler's Cool Ideas

Today's Quote - "No more yanky my wanky. Donger needs food."

Slash

If you know me then you know how huge of a Guns ‘N Roses fan I am. I’ve already talked about Chinese Democracy when it came out, and I love the album, but it makes me sad to think about what GnR could be today with all the band members together. Slash’s new album has the same pangs of sadness in it for me.
From the cover of the jacket, there is no doubting who’s CD it is. A skull wearing a tophat above a banner that says R nF’n R (Rock and Fucking Roll!) is what greets one when picking this album up. Not to mention Slash’s name in huge print above the skull.

I’ll be honest, I’m usually only a Slash fan when it comes to GnR (and the first Velvet Revolver album) but this album is a reminder to all of us just who Slash is and why he is one of the most kickass guitarists out there. It is almost enough to make me forget about Snake Pit.
When I saw this on the floor at Target I scoffed a little (Snake Pit coming to mind initially) but all of that stopped when I saw the list of singers: Kid Rock, Lemmy, Ozzy, Ian Astbury, Rocco Deluca, and Iggy Pop (to name a few). I decided that I would have to give it a listen and I was very surprised. It was pretty good. The musical style bridges a lot of gaps, and seeing as how Slash is mainly a hard rock guitar player, this was a welcome bit of diversity. Do not get me wrong, when you hear that guitar wail there is no doubt who is playing it, but the songs themselves tend to lend themselves to vocalists style. The best I can do in describing it (and I know some people will hate this comparison) is that is very much like Santana’s last couple of albums (with singers like Rob Thomas, Michelle Branch, Everlast).
After hearing this, and now taking another listen to Chinese Deomcracy I pray and beg to any who are listening that a GnR reunion happen in my lifetime. It is a bit far fetched to ask for a new studio album with the original members, but can you fathom how much ass that album would kick? Say what you want about Axl and even Slash but there is no doubting that when those two come together great things can happen. They are two larger than life personas (and they clash, as most egos will) but the shows they put on are phenomenal. Take a look at the music today. Gone are they great days of the Crue, Poison, and (yes, even them) Metallica. We are now in the days of radio-friendly watered down music. Record Labels are even dusting off music of bands that are no longer together or are dead (Nirvana) just to make some sales. That tells me that they are running short of talent in the present that they need to look to the past to find what people want to hear. So, in my humble opinion (ok, I’m never humble about anything) if GnR would put out a new album with the Appetite lineup it would give Rock the swift kick in the ass that it needs.



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Last Quote: Fast Time at Ridegmont High

Today’s Quote: “Nothing can ever be truly, fully understood. Not even the simplest thing. Not even this.”

School's Out

I mentioned this once before, but I’ll mention it again just to serve as a small disclaimer. I do not follow politics, nor do I follow the news. I find both to be overbearingly dreadful. As I stated, no one really trusts the government, so I just assume that whatever they are saying is a pack of lies. The news is so fraught with peril and chaos that I’d rather not watch it because it paints an unrealistic view of the world. I am not so naïve as to believe that the world is all puppies and rainbows. Far from it. I witness some real brilliance and Christian behavior working retail. Did my sarcasm come across on that last sentence? I know horrible things happen every day in every part of the world. Probably at a higher percentage rate than it should be. For every one atrocity that occurs, there are at least a handful of positive occurrences. In a single one-hour news program, the audience is bombarded by images of death, mayhem, war, violence, drugs, scandal, poisoned toys, defective cars, and pandemic scares. Amidst all of that they might squeeze in ten seconds (probably less) of a happy side. Usually called “The lighter side of the news” or some such BS. This generally features some animal doing something mildy cute. So, I have no use for the news or politics. Can you guess my thoughts on CNN, CSPAN, Fox News, and the like? Give me The Daily Show and Colbert Report any day.

That was a longer disclaimer than I planned. My rant has nothing to do the news we receive as much as it has to do with something I read about in the paper. The ONLY reason I read this little clipping was because my hometown was featured in the headline.
No, it was not a serial killer truck driver, or someone beating their kids with a hammer (not this time at least). My old high school just let go 27 people due to lack of state funding. Our Governor, in his wisdom (it seems the state of Illinois is going through a rough patch with Governors the past…what? century?) decided that the best place to make cuts to make up for a large deficit in funding was education. All politicians say how the schools are so important, but then when cuts need to me made, that’s where they occur. How about we cut politician salaries? Nope, can’t do that. Let’s just give the students a marginal education and send them out into the world where they might get stuck with a marginal career.

As a part of this slice and dice, all first year teachers were let go, as well as the principal. Pretty much any non-tenured faculty were let go. Stipends for extra-curricular (like sports) were eliminated. This means that anyone who coaches a sport will be doing it for free. Understandably, these coaches are mad and will probably refuse to coach. So, essentially, sports are gone. My problem with this is that the kids are being punished. I am NOT a sports fan. Ask anyone who went to school with me. I do know that some kids enjoy sports. Now, the biggest issue I have with this is that everyone is looking at the loss of money for coaching and not what would be best for the kids. Refusing to volunteer time so the kids can play some basketball sends the wrong message. That tells the kids that money is what is important, not you or what you enjoy. I always thought that extra-curriculars should be ran by teachers that enjoyed it (I know, sponsoring something is a requirement in most schools, so some teachers just pick something to get it over with.) Now that they are not getting paid to coach, it will be evident who did it for enjoyment, and who did it for the stipend. What I want to say to these tenured teachers who still have jobs, but lost their stipend is this: Be thankful you still have a job!! I bet any one of those first year or non-tenured teachers would gladly coach for free if it meant keeping their job. So, quit your bitching, be glad you are still gainfully employed, and do the right thing: let the kids have their sports and other extra-curricular activities. No doubt most of them are pissed and heart broken about losing some their favorite teachers and at the prospect of losing a past time they enjoy. The cuts will be hard on the schools, and on the administrators, and on the teachers, and the tax payers (this is where I come in) but it should not be hard on the students. They deserve to have the best education, and their experience during their formative years should be as fulfilling as possible. Are they going to but school dances next? What about lunch and breakfast? How much can be taken away before someone gets really mad?

To all of you students let me remind you that you have a Constitutional Right to the freedom of assembly. Don’t be afraid to let your voices be heard, just do so in a peaceful, non-vulgar way. Host a sit in or something. Be warned, you will get crap for it, and probably earn the ire of your teachers, but they need to know how you feel about all of this. How many of you went to the school board meeting? Did you say anything? Have you written to your senator, representative, or the Governor? Let me be clear – I am not saying to riot, or vandalize anything. I do not condone that. Find a peaceful, eloquent, calm way in which to express your opinion. The less it hurts anyone, the better.

I am not even living in this district, and I am upset by it based on principle. By all rights, I should be teaching at a high school but I am not (again, politics I have no use for). I guess it is a good thing that I haven’t landed a teaching job yet because I would now be unemployed. I am bothered by it because I know people who are affected by this more than I am. It is for them that I go on this tirade. That, and to vent and get it off my chest.

As usual, that’s just my opinion. I could be wrong.

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Last Quote: Trick ‘r Treat

Today’s Quote: “What are you people? On dope?”

Trick 'r Treat

It’s not often that I decide to review things on this blog. In an attempt to try and post something here on a regular basis, I’ve decided to review a movie, book, or cd from time to time.
I recently watched Trick ‘r Treat and I must say I was pleased with it. I remember when there were previews for this movie a few years ago, then it faded away and I never heard much about it until the DVD release. It sat on my netflix queue for a long time before I finally got around to it.
The concept is far from original, but I think that is part of its appeal. It reminds me of Creepshow, Tales from the Darkside, and Twilight Zone. The stories in this movie intersect and overlap. There are interesting twists to most of the stories, some a little predictable, others not so much. I don’t want to spoil it for anyone, so be warned.
Anna Paquin dressed as Little Red Riding Hood being attacked by a supposed vampire in the woods (ala the Big Bad Wolf). The identity of her attacker and the twist to this story (in my opinion) made the movie.
There were other great performances from the likes of Dylan Baker (Spiderman’s Dr. Connors) and Brian Cox ( X-Men 2, Bourne Identity). The two characters are neighbors and their stories happen at almost the same moment. Brian Cox was great as a bitter old man with a shotgun and a dark past.
What Halloween movie would be complete without a group of mean spirited kids? There is a town legend about a bus driver paid to drive the short bus into a rock quarry while all of the kids are chained inside. This story is told by one little bitch wearing an angel costume (funny? right?) in an attempt to scare another little girl they call “Rhonda the Retard (aren’t kids nice). They befriend her, and take her to the quarry to scare the crap out of her. They succeed, but it backfires horribly for them. I really couldn’t blame her for leaving them there to die.
It is an enjoyable film so long as you go into it expecting a typical Halloween flick. There are critics out there who hate anything that it not an art film, or has some major social commentary to make. They need to get over themselves. Movies are meant to entertain and allow us to escape our lives for a brief moment. Horror films are always great because our lives look so much better in comparison. So, if you are a film snob, take time to allow yourself some mindless fun. If you loved Creepshow, definitely give this one a try!


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Last Quote: Batman (1989)

Today's Quote: "Charlie Brown is an asshole!"

Trust

There has been a noticeable lack of blogs from me of late, mainly due to time constraints. As the walrus spake (no one outside of my hometown will get this, and even then, probably only a few will actually get this joke) “Time is my enemy, it steals my creativity.”

That is certainly true to a point, but the main reason I’ve relented on ranting is that I’ve had a major lack of subject matter. Nothing has really struck a chord with me to the point I felt that I needed to express my views. Obviously something has changed; otherwise I would not even bother putting energy into this.

What changed? A news article I read on Yahoo! News. I tried to find it so I could quote it exactly, but it was yesterday’s news and exact quotes were not important enough to me to dig around on the interweb to find them. Therefore, I will paraphrase where I see fit.

On to the issue: Trust.

I’m not talking about trusting one another (although one could make a point in favor of it, but fat lot of good that will do) I’m taking about trusting the one thing we are supposed to trust – our government.

Was there ever a time when the people of this country had blind faith in their leaders? Probably before the internet and free information 24/7. Even then, I think we’d have to go back to the first few days of this country’s existence to see that faith before it dissipated.

Every day we are told by our government officials to trust in them. It’s an easy enough request, after all they were voted in by the people, so one would think they would keep the people’s best interests at heart. Where did it all go wrong?

The news article I read was addressing the health care reform that has been the bane of our existence since the start of Obama’s first term. I’m not going to get into that issue. Too much ground to cover and I’ll admit that I do not know enough to present a coherent argument. What the news article did say was that Obama was asking the House and Senate to “trust him.”

Do they or will they? Not according to what the article said later. One Representative said that they would be willing to work with the Senate on this bill, but that they cannot trust the Senate to keep their end of the bargain.

So, we are expected to trust our government when our government doesn’t even trust itself. Anyone else see a problem with that?

If they want the trust of the people back they need to start doing good for the people, and cut out the bargaining, favors, earmarks, and all other back-scratching BS and do the job we elected them for.

On a related note: I feel that most of D.C. is out of touch with the real America. Most of them have been up there so long they’ve forgotten what real life is like. So I propose a new reality show that will last (in the very least) a full year. During that year, they will not have access to their bank accounts, money, or houses (or anything else that sets them apart from the majority of Americans) ALL of the politicians (House, Senate, Cabinet, etc…) will no longer be in office, and will be forced to go out and get a real minimum wage job with a shitty apartment where they will have to live paycheck to paycheck just to pay bills and live. This should give them a proper view of what Americans go through every day (especially in this economy). Once that year is up, they can return to Washington and do their damn job the way they are supposed to. To quote Dennis Miller: Of course, that just my opinion. I could be wrong.

Last quote: Batman: Mask of the Phantasm

Today’s quote: “ And now, folks, it's time for "Who do you trust!" Hubba, hubba, hubba! Money, money, money! Who do you trust? Me? I'm giving away free money.”