Swims With Elephants

A Kiss Is Just a Kiss... Unless It's a Same-Sex Kiss... Or Something

2011-10-24T12:32:00.000-07:00

Yes, I admit it. I am a Gleeker. I watch Glee. I broke down and rented the first season because I wanted to see what "all the fuss" was about. In truth, Netflix has helped me discover several shows. (I would like to say, for the record, that I have been watching Leverage since it aired.)

Now, I have read many a critique of the second season of Glee. The common theme is that the show got too "preachy" about some of the storylines. Whatever that means. And of course, there was the "controversial" decision to bring in a new character, Blaine, who would eventually become Glee favorite Kurt's boyfriend.

And sealed with a kiss, too.

And the outcry was deafening! How dare a television show aimed at teenagers show an obvious display of genuine affection between members of the same sex! Victoria Jackson, formerly of SNL and sane celebrities, wrote a fire and brimstone-laden blog about the kiss seen round the world. She was horrified that her daughter was exposed to such evil decadence! Never mind that all television sets come with an on/off switch of some kind.

No, my issue isn't about Blaine and Kurt's kiss. It's about this:

Brittany and Santana enjoy an afternoon canoodling romp. And nothing. I don't remember hearing any outrage about this lovely little scene. If there was, it certainly wasn't enough to attract as much attention as Jackson's outraged blog.

What about this one?

This kiss should have received the most attention. This kiss, between a shocked Kurt and the boy who has spent the previous episodes tormenting him in true bully fashion, should have received attention. It was a shocking moment. Why? Because it revealed a hidden truth behind teenage tormentors. Bullies tend to be bullied themselves. Or, bullies tend to harass those individuals with whom they secretly identify. Dave Karofsky is confused about his own sexuality so he lashes out at openly gay Kurt.

Is there a double-standard going on here? It is okay for two girls to kiss. If there is some sort of hidden torment, it is okay for a boy to plant an unwanted kiss on another boy. But if two boys kiss... the world is going to end? Well, it's well past October 21st and we are all still here.

It amazes me at what people will pick and choose to be outraged about. I think this puts things in perspective:

Why Everything Is Better with Elsa Lanchester

2011-10-06T11:32:00.000-07:00

Elsa Lanchester is one of those actors whose name you might not know but whose face sparks that “a-ha” moment in your memory. She was a British actor who travelled to Hollywood with her husband, Charles Laughton. The two appeared in films together regularly. Laughton is probably most famous for playing Captain Bligh to Clark Gable’s Fletcher Christian in “Mutiny on the Bounty.” Lanchester is probably most famous for playing the titular character in “The Bride of Frankenstein.”

However, she was much more than the re-animated corpse being wooed by the monster. Lanchester has a certain devilish gleam in her eye that comes through many of her portrayals. You may remember her from such films as “The Bishop’s Wife,” “Come to the Stables,” “Mary Poppins,” ”That Darn Cat,” the original “Willard,” and “Easy Come, Easy Go,” in which she sang a duet with Elvis Presley. She also appeared on an episode of “I Love Lucy,” as the woman who offers Lucy and Ethel a ride to Florida. (The dynamic duo comes to the erroneous conclusion that Lanchester is a serial killer.) However, two of my favorite performances are featured in “Witness for the Prosecution,” (which co-starred Laughton) and “Murder by Death.”

In “Witness for the Prosecution,” Lanchester plays nurse to Laughton’s cantankerous barrister, Wilfred Robarts. Robarts has recently had a heart attack and has been ordered by his physician to lighten his work load. However, after a brief interview with Tyrone Power, Robarts takes on the case of his career. It’s a hoot watching Laughton tangle with his off-screen wife onscreen, especially when Nurse Plimpoll catches Robarts doing things he shouldn’t, like smoking his cigars and sneaking a sip of gin. Often mistaken for a Hitchcock film, this Billy Wilder classic has one of the best plot twists in motion picture history. And it is one of those rare films in which every performer is astonishing.

Another film I discovered recently, recommended by my sister who happened to catch it on Turner Classic Movies, is a film called “Bell, Book, and Candle.” Starring James Stewart and Kim Novak, the film was made just after they completed filming Hitchcock’s “Vertigo,” but finished prior to that film’s release. The story centers on a young witch, portrayed by Novak, who casts a spell to make a bachelor (James Stewart) fall in love with her. What she doesn’t anticipate is that she falls in love with him as well. But in order to be with him, she must stop being a witch. (This is the 1950s Hollywood interpretation, meaning that a witch—male or female—was a sort of sub-species of human, something not unlike a vampire, i.e., human in appearance but only in appearance.) Lanchester plays Kim Novak’s aunt, a venerable old witch who can’t understand why her niece would choose to give up her powers. I’m not really a fan of James Stewart but when my sister told me that Lanchester was in it, I decided to rent it and enjoyed it. (Jack Lemmon also appears as one of Novak’s witch cousins, another one who is all too thrilled with his supernatural powers.)

And of course, she appears in that classic spoof “Murder by Death.” Written by Neil Simon and directed by Robert Moore, the film (and the play from which it was adapted) spoofs some of the greatest criminal minds of the early 20^th century: Sam Spade, Nick and Nora Charles, Charlie Chan, Hercule Poirot, and Jane Marple. It’s a classic spoof and stars not only Elsa Lanchester but such late greats as David Niven, James Coco, Alec Guinness, Peter Sellers, Peter Falk, and Nancy Walker. In fact, I believe the only surviving cast members are Dame Maggie Smith and James Cromwell. (Well, maybe the actor who plays Wayne Wang’s son, too.) But as the unflappable “Jessica Marbles,” Lanchester steals the show. At once demure and formidable, she delivers some unforgettable lines with true grace and style.

Elsa Lanchester is much like Ruth Gordon to me. Never considered a beauty, she relied on talent and commitment to her craft to achieve fame. One never goes looking for an Elsa Lanchester film, but the film gains status if she is in it. She is one of those actors that are such a joy to watch because she enjoys the art of acting, of fleshing out the role and creating little idiosyncrasies for the characters she portrays. Even in her serious roles, she finds humor because life, no matter how serious, is humorous.

Leia’s Red Lightsaber

2011-10-05T11:52:00.000-07:00

That is not a euphemism for anything.

I am obsessed with all things Princess Leia. I am. She’s my hero. Really. I grew up watching her adventures on the silver screen and believing she could do anything. Hey, come on, she got that scoundrel Han Solo to fall for her, didn’t she?

Anyway, as I stated in a previous blog, I have a love/hate relationship with some of the EU fiction released. But one thing I do love is the fact that, after the twenty or thirty years through which ll these expanded universe novels take place, Leia is finally a Jedi Knight. She may become a Jedi Master, soon. And it’s about freaking time.

One thing that I’ve always found intriguing is that someone, some author in the large pantheon of Star Wars EU authors, just decided that Leia’s lightsaber blade was red. Ruby red, to honor her father, Anakin Skywalker. (Though, he only carried a red lightsaber blade as her nemesis, Darth Vader)

(The artwork above, commissioned by trading card maker Topps, shows Leia and her youngest boy, Anakin Solo. Leia holds her ruby-red bladed lightsaber.)

Now, according to George Lucas who created this character and the universe in which this character lives, there are three standard lightsaber colors. They are blue, green, and red. The good guys use mostly blue and green. The bad guys use red. (Yes, Mace Windu carried a purple-bladed lightsaber; interestingly enough, Jaina Solo’ and Anakin Solo both used purple-bladed lightsabers. But these are the only three.)

I don’t know when Uncle George established this color scheme. I am fairly certain it was after Leia had been using her red-bladed lightsaber for a few years. According to the EU timeline, Leia constructed a lightsaber in the months before she gave birth to her twins. During the “Dark Empire” storyline, a wizened old Jedi named Vima da Boda bestowed her own lightsaber to the young princess. Then, at the beginning of the Centerpoint story, Luke presented Leia with a lightsaber he had constructed for her. However, she seemed to favor her ruby-red blade.

I think the ruby-red blade is cool. The action figure made for the Dark Empire series came with a red lightsaber. And, having read several of the New Jedi Order series, it is clear that Leia’s lightsaber has a red blade. It is only after she completes her training with Master Saba Sebatyne that Leia constructs a new lightsaber. I am not sure what the color of this one is.

I just really like the idea of Leia using that ruby-red blade. I do. I know it goes against Lucas code but it sets Leia a part from the others. Leia’s Jedi training has been unorthodox and I think her lightsaber should reflect that. And it sort of tempers Leia's darker side. It's there, especially if anyone threatens her children. And I really like that.

2011-09-27T12:19:00.000-07:00

Revisiting the New Jedi Order
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/New_Jedi_Order_series
As a life-long die-hard Star Wars fan, I was beyond excited when after such a long dry spell, new Star Wars fiction began appearing in book stores. This was not fan fiction. This was published works approved by Lucasfilm written by some well-known science fiction writers. (Though, why use science fiction writers to work in what is clearly a space fantasy?) Shortly after the release of the iconic original film, a few books were published. Alan Dean Foster’s Splinter of the Mind’s Eye was quickly followed by the late, great Brian Daley’s Han Solo Trilogy, a series of adventures of the intrepid space smuggler and his faithful Wookiee copilot set prior to the events of the original film.

But, after the release of Return of the Jedi, there was nothing. In this absence, fan fiction rose. I read some of it, the good, the bad, the awful, and the truly disgusting. Then came Timothy Zahn’s Thrawn Trilogy. Set five years after the events of Return of the Jedi, the story opened with Luke saying a final goodbye to the spirit of Obi-Wan Kenobi and wondering how he was to build the Jedi Order back to what it had been in the Old Republic. Equally as important, to me anyway, found Han Solo and Princess Leia married and expecting twins. Twins!

Due to the overwhelming success of these novels, which were well-written and did carry on the grand adventure in tradition of the films, more fiction appeared. This ranged from pre-trilogy stories featuring Han Solo or Lando Calrissian, to further adventures beyond Zahn’s trilogy, including a series of young adult and junior reader stories featuring Han and Leia’s children.Then, publishing house Del Rey decided to take the Star Wars universe into new heights (depths?) and announced what would be a twenty-one book series entitled The New Jedi Order.

The premise of this series was intriguing enough: a race of beings from beyond the galaxy, religious fanatics called the Yuuzhan Vong, had begun an invasion. Bent on destroying world after world due to the technology they see as an abomination, the Yuuzhan Vong became a dark threat to what had become a time of peace and prosperity in the New Republic. Of course, being a devoted fan, I eagerly awaited this and rushed to grab the launch novel, Vector Prime.

In order to show the fan base that this series was going to be different than anything Star Wars fans had experienced before, the publishers, on approval from Lucasfilm, killed off one of the most beloved characters in the Star Wars franchise. Though it took a moon crashing on him to do it, Chewbacca the Wookiee—Han Solo’s friend and partner for however many years—died in the climax of the novel. What cut Han to the heart was that his youngest son, Anakin Solo, had seemingly abandoned Chewbacca in order to save refugees before the planet’s destruction. This turn of events did indeed change everything. There was great outrage at the beloved character’s death. But the sales of the series continued to be high.

I stuck with the series, despite what I perceived to be favoritism for Luke Skywalker and his wife Mara Jade over Han Solo and Leia Organa. After Chewbacca’s death, Han went into a tailspin, abandoning his wife and children in a galactic crisis to drown his sorrows. Personally, it was hard to read. One of the things I liked about Han Solo was his devotion to his friends. Yes, Chewbacca was his dearest friend. But isolating himself away from those who could have helped him grieve was painful. As the stories progressed, my impatience and dismay grew. Leia Organa stagnated in her Jedi abilities. (NOTE: this was not entirely the fault of this series. Growth in the Force hinted at in the Thrawn trilogy culminated in little or no expansion in subsequent novels. One reason, I feel, for this is because of the popularity of the Mara Jade character.)

While reading the book Balance Point, which was to feature the long-awaited reunion of Han and Leia, my frustrations grew when the reunion was treated with no great importance, especially in light of the fact that after being poisoned by the Vong, Mara Jade (now married to Luke Skywalker) had finally conceived. While this is a happy event, so should have been Han and Leia’s reunion. My interest waned, however, with the publication of Star by Star.

In this book, Anakin Solo, the youngest of the gifted Solo children, leads a daring raid into Vong held territory to destroy the voxyn, creatures that were quite lethal Jedi hunters. During that raid, Anakin died. And with it, my interest in the series as a whole.

I did not think it fair that Han and Leia, one of the three characters the original trilogy revolves around, were given a back-seat to “EU” characters.

I did not think it fair that Luke and Mara experienced bliss while Han and Leia had to suffer through the death of Chewbacca, the death of their son, the close walk their daughter made to the dark side after Anakin’s death, and the kidnapping and torture of their remaining son at the hands of the enemy.

My abstaining from Star Wars fiction lasted for years. But, after the prequel trilogy waxed and waned, I began to miss my old friends. Luckily, books continued. After the ending of the New Jedi Order series, another tale began. Called the Swarm War Trilogy, this series was a welcome change from the New Jedi Order. Leia, having resigned from politics, had begun studying and training as a Jedi. She and Han had been reconciled and were stronger than ever. She had even become an apprentice to Jedi Master Saba Sebatyne.

This series was followed by the dark Legacy of the Force series, which saw Jacen Solo, Han and Leia’s only surviving son, turn to the dark side to become Darth Caedus. To make matters worse, Caedus was ultimately defeated and killed by none other than his twin sister, Jaina Solo. (NOTE: this series spared no one—this time, it was Mara Jade who died.) Strangely enough, this series ended on a very bright note; Han and Leia are now grandparents to Allana Solo, the product of a brief affair between Jacen and his childhood sweetheart Tenel Ka. Through a series of events, the Solos have custody of the child and are raising her.

After this came the series Fate of the Jedi, which is ongoing.

But, all this prompted in me a curiosity. I had retained a couple of books from the New Jedi Order series so I decided to re-read them. I realized that there were some events that I had missed out on so I bought some more books from the series. While I am still not altogether thrilled with some of the characterizations written in the early books (I will never understand why Jaina Solo—who was a devoted pre-teen in the young adult books—became an angry teenager in these early books.), I have found some glimmer of hope for my favorite characters.

After their reconciliation (which should have taken place in Star by Star but was corrected in the e-novel Recovery), Han and Leia became devoted to each other in such a way that not even the death of their youngest son and the transformation of Jacen into Caedus could tear them apart.And I have had the chance to become re-acquainted with Jaina Solo. When Luke Skywalker decided to make her and the other young Jedi of her generation actual knights, the Force speaking through him proclaimed Jaina the Sword of the Jedi.I also got to read the introduction of a character I have grown quite fond of, Saba Sebatyne.

And I am also now more curious about the turmoil that has taken place in the life of young Tahiri Veila, Anakin Solo’s childhood friend. I guess as I’ve put some distance between the story arch of this series and subsequent series, I have found a new, if not restrained, appreciation for a series I once reviled. It will never become my favorite series of Star Wars fiction but I can understand its popularity at least.

Happy Birthday, Lucille Ball

2011-08-06T11:00:00.000-07:00

My sister's I Love Lucy Doll Collection.

Just wanted to mark the day.
Lucille Ball's 100th birthday today.

Only 8 days after my own Grandmother, Lucile, turned 100.
Two Great Lucy's...

Sillof's Noir Wars

2011-06-20T11:46:00.000-07:00

Sillof is an action figure customizer who often recreates Star Wars characters in various genres. He's done Samurai Wars, Western Wars, Medieval Wars and they have all been great.

His most recent line has been Noir Wars.

I love customizing--don't do it as often as I would like--and this guy is one of the reasons why I enjoy it. This line inspired me to write.

A story treatment for this Noir Wars line:
(Please note, it isn't completed--just wanted to get a head-start.)
Here’s what I came up with:

Dante Victor is a crooked cop paid handsomely by the mob to look the other way in terms of bootlegging, gambling, murder, and other nefarious crimes. He also serves as a special hit man for the crime boss (ala Palpatine). Using his special unit of “enforcers,” Victor makes sure rival gang members go down and the books are purged of his friends’ crimes.

The crime boss has a speak-easy establishment, which boasts the famous and gorgeous singer Lola O’Gannon. She overhears something she shouldn’t have or comes across information she shouldn’t know and seeks out disgruntled cop Benton Karnaby.

However, Victor learns from his mob boss that O’Gannon may know something and he goes after her. Unable to make contact with Karnaby, she passes along the information to two reporters from the SF Sentinel, Chip Pepperdino & Art Deter, and urges them to contact the detective.

While being pursued by the enforcers, Chip and Art run across rookie cop Lash Skylark, a young man who left the farming fields of Modesto, CA to make a difference in the big city like San Francisco. They tell him of the information O’Gannon has and fear that she may have already paid the ultimate price for trying to expose the mob boss’ plans (to rig the next mayoral election in his own personal favor, giving him the run of San Francisco). Lash Skylark has heard of Karnaby but says the word around the department is Karnaby is close to retirement and doesn’t want to be found. Skylark has also heard that one of Karnaby’s favorite watering holes is the Easley Bar, by the pier.

Skylark, Chip, and Art head to the bar and run into private eye Hank Solomon. Hank is investigating the same case; his old girlfriend Lola left a hurried message for him with his answering service to meet. She never arrived and when he and his muscle Chuck Brocco, arrived, there were signs of a struggle. O’Gannon also left behind a pearl earring, a pre-engagement Solomon had given her years before. He tells Skylark, Chip and Art that Lola’s message said she had given information to the two reporters in the hopes that they could pass it along to Karnaby.

When Skylark asks whether they can trust Hank, Hank shows him a photograph of him and Lola together. (Hank was a cop long ago. He and Lola had planned to marry but she suddenly broke their engagement for reasons she would not disclose. He began to drink and got booted off the police force. He got into a bar brawl with some guys and stopped one of them from shooting the quiet Brocco. Brocco and Hank became friends. Brocco even taught Hank Czech, his native tongue.) Hank tells Lash that he has an idea of where Karnaby is. He also thinks Karnaby may know where Victor is holding Lola. He doesn’t care about exposing crooked cops, mob bosses, or evil politicians—he just wants Lola.

The five head just south of town to Karnaby’s house. The detective listens to their tale and says that if Victor hasn’t already killed O’Gannon then he’s holding her in the underground nightclub exclusive for the mob. It’s a fortress, Karnaby warns. “You’re going to need all the guns you can get.”

Hank and Brocco pull out tommy guns. Lash isn’t really comfortable with his sidearm and prefers to rely on his baton. Karnaby warns Chip and Art to stay back. They can use his house to analyze the information Lola passed them. Chip goes over the documents (bribes, money-laundering schemes, plans to take over the city government) and Art looks over the photographs, which include images of government officials in compromising positions, etc.

Karnaby, Lash, Hank & Brocco go to the night club, bluff their way in, and manage to find Lola—who is performing on stage under heavy enforcer guard. They escape amidst a gun battle and make it out. Shots ring out and Karnaby takes it in the back. He tells Lash (who has become attached to the detective) to carry on and protect Lola at all costs. Karnaby dies.

Hank and Lola are tense with each other, mainly because of the stress of the situation and their long and checkered history. They argue over the best place to hide—they have to get Chip and Art away from Karnaby’s place before the enforcers get there. Lash makes a suggestion—his family farm in Modesto.

Hank tells him “it’s a long way from here, kid.” Lola agrees, though. “Perfect.” Lash is impressed that Lola thinks so.

They make the trek out to Lash’s family farm. It’s small, quaint. He introduces them to his aunt and uncle. Chip asks if they have a phone, he needs to contact his editor. Art tells Lola that what she found could not only bring down the mob boss but expose Victor and his enforcers as the crooked cops they are. Hank warns her, though, that she would be forced to testify and that makes her a target. Lola isn’t afraid. She blames Victor for the death of her parents. Hank asks if that’s why she left him. She tells him it isn’t.

Meanwhile, the mob boss tells Victor that he better deal with the lounge singer and the reporters quickly. He’s spent years on these plans and he doesn’t want them ruined. Victor decides to call in a favor with a Chicago contact, a hit man named Bruno Feretta. Bruno has special incentive. Hank Solomon put his father, Jimmy, behind bars years ago. Feretta wants revenge.

At the farm, Lola is getting restless. News arrives from San Francisco, painting Karnaby as a crooked cop who was behind Lola’s disappearance. Dante Victor is credited with exposing Karnaby for what he was and stopping a dangerous “loose cannon” on the police force.
Chip and Art work hard to sort through the materials Lola supplied them. They need to get back into the city, corroborate some of the evidence and contact the district attorney. Lola doesn’t know who to trust. She wants to talk to Hank but Hank returned to the city to do some digging—though he promised to send messages. He hasn’t sent any.

Unable to stand it any longer, Lola sneaks away and hitches a ride back to San Francisco. Desperate to find her, Lash, Chip and Art take Lash’s uncle’s car and make the trek back.

In the city, Lola runs into Feretta, who makes a play for her. To impress her, he tells her he is looking for an old army buddy of his, Hank Solomon. Asks if she knows him. Lola says she does; she tells him that Hank Solomon works for a cop named Dante Victor. She leaves; Feretta follows.

Lola goes to Chuck Brocco’s auto shop. Feretta follows but is stopped by Brocco, who beats him soundly. Lola asks Chuck to take her to Hank. He takes her to his basement apartment; Hank is hiding there. Hank tells Lola that Victor’s enforcers have staked out his place and it’s not safe to go there. She and Chuck tell Hank about Feretta. Hank has her describe him.

“Blond hair, thick glasses, Chicago accent,” she says.

“Green overcoat?” She tells him yes. He says that he knew Feretta’s father. When Lola asks him to explain, he gives her a pointed look and reminds her that everyone has secrets. He then asks about Lash and the reporters. Lola tells him that she had to return to the city—country life is definitely not for her. Where is Lash? Hank asks.

Still at the farm, Lola replies.
“You sure?” Hank asks. “Because my contact at The Sentinel says Art and Chip snuck into the newspaper offices and stole a typewriter and more photography equipment.”
“When?”
“This morning.”
“What about Lash?” Lola asks, suddenly concerned.
“Probably still with the reporters,” Hank says.

Lola asks Hank to find Lash and the reporters, though Hank notices that she mentions the reporters as an afterthought. He asks what is up between her and the rookie. She ignores him and reminds him that the information Chip and Art have puts them all in danger. Hank lets it go and speaks quickly to Chuck. He hands Chuck a slip of paper with an address on it and Chuck disappears.

Lola and Hank are alone for the first time. He offers her a drink but she is nervous, worried about Lash. He fills his glass with water, drinks it like gin. He stares, she notices and avoids. He asks her what’s going on between her and Lash. “Nothing.” “You’re worried about him.” “Shouldn’t I be?”

Hank shakes his head. She sees him glance at the bottle of bourbon he offered her. To distract him, she asks for a cigarette. He rolls one for her. She tells him a story: she is Lash’s older sister, but he doesn’t know it. When she was seven, her father left her mother, not knowing she was pregnant. The birth was hard on the mother, ultimately resulting in her death. Her father returned a changed man. Her mother’s sister hid the baby from him, fearing the man he had become. Learning his wife (and child presumably) died in childbirth, Lola’s father took her back to San Francisco and enrolled her in private school. When she came of age, she went to Europe, discovered her talent for singing and became Lola O’Gannon, which was her mother’s maiden name.

“What of your brother?” Hank asks.
Lola looks at him, her cigarette nothing but ash. “He is now working as a cop on the SFPD.”
“Lash?” Hank asks.
Lola nods. Hank is shocked but also relieved that the feelings Lola has for Lash aren’t romantic. Lola begins to cry. Hank asks if that was the secret that tore them apart. She confesses that it is part of it. The reason she left him is because she wanted to protect him from her father.
“Who’s your father?”
“Dante Victor.”

Unfazed, Hank pulls her into his arms. They kiss.

Meanwhile, Feretta goes to Victor, tells him of what happened. Victor asks him about the girl and he says that given the chance, he will pay her back for lying to him. This doesn’t sit too well with Victor. He tells Feretta he wants the girl alive. The reporters can die but leave the girl alone. Feretta leaves; the mob boss has heard Victor’s order to leave the girl unharmed.

“She knows too much.”
“She won’t speak against me.”
“She will be a threat to you.”
“I can convince her to keep her mouth shut.”

Brocco returns with the two reporters. Hank exits Brocco’s bedroom and asks him where Lash is. Brocco tells him that he told Art and Chip that he needed check in at the police department. Chip intercedes and says that Lash is sure no one knows he is tied up in all of this and that he will be safe.

Lola exits the bedroom, wearing Hank’s dress shirt and asks about Lash. Hank breaks the news to her. “We have to get him.” Hank agrees.

But Lash has other ideas. He has gone to his apartment only to find Victor’s enforcers waiting for him. Some of them recognized him from the shoot-out with Karnaby. They take him to Victor.

Victor questions Lash. He tells him that Lash has all the makings of being a great cop; but if he holds to the twisted idealisms of an old-timer like Karnaby, he’s doomed to fail. Sometimes, Victor tells him, small things have to be overlooked to go after the big score. Lash disagrees.

“The world don’t work that way, kid. There is no black and white, not anymore.” Victor says. “I was like you once. But then I got an education.” Victor gestures to the scar on his face. “This was a mark from my teacher. He took his pistol to my face when I caught him taking a bribe. This was my warning not to snitch.”

Victor has Lash taken and lets a couple of his enforcers beat the rookie.

to be continued

Five Actors I Dislike (Classic Hollywood)

2011-05-13T11:44:00.000-07:00

1. Norma Shearer – Don’t like her. To me, she is the worst example of a silent actor transitioning to sound. Not that she has a horrible voice, but her gestures are too grand. She just rubs me the wrong way. I am also highly suspicious of anyone’s film career when that person is married to one of the heads of the studio.

2. John Wayne – I’m so not impressed with him. He’s the iconic cowboy? So what? Historically, “cowboy” was the term used for Black cattle hands. (The “boy” part of the term should be a clue.) Second, as Americans, we tend to idolize the “cowboy,” which was a creation by early filmmakers and not a true reflection of the mythological “Old West” we have come to believe it is. And John Wayne was just not a great actor. Overrated.

3. Gary Cooper – Frankly, I don’t see the big deal with him, either. While I can see that he would be considered attractive, he never struck me as talented. His presence isn’t much, either.

4. Joan Fontaine – Now, my sister would argue that this is just because I am so fond of Fontaine’s sister, Olivia de Havilland, and there is probably some truth in that. However, I’ve seen several films with the lesser de Havilland (as I affectionately call her) and she has no presence and one facial expression, which is to look constantly perplexed whether she is afraid, confused, in love, happy, sad, or whatever the situation may be. She has had the advantage of starring opposite Cary Grant, Laurence Olivier, and Orson Welles and she cannot stand up to them. It’s sad, really.

5. Grace Kelly – This may be considered a blasphemy but I don’t think she was that great an actress. I’m sure she was a lovely person and I was very sad when I heard about her death. But, she was more celebrity than actor. And Rita Hayworth married a prince before she did! Kelly’s performance in the films I’ve seen have not really impressed me.

Ten Random Things About Me

2011-05-07T12:41:00.000-07:00

Ten Random Things about Me... because I am so certain that you care.
1. I covet Robert Osborne’s job.
2. I like eating plain ordinary crackers with dip.
3. I have a pen fetish. I am always on the look-out for a new pen. What I want to write with depends entirely on my mood.
4. I find the idea of going “Into the Wild” extremely, and increasingly, appealing.
5. Conversely, I’m essentially a home-body. Sometimes, staying at home with a good movie or a good book sounds so right.
6. My cell phone is made from bio-plastic, i.e., corn.
7. I’m a pantheist. I believe that if one god exists, all gods exist.
8. I have one baby tooth.
9. I sort my M & M’s by color—and I only eat peanut butter M & M's.
10. I have been secretly obsessed with the late Ruth Gordon since reading that she and her husband wrote “Adam’s Rib” and “Pat & Mike,” the Tracy & Hepburn films. That and she is just hilarious in “Rosemary’s Baby.”

National Poetry Month -- Favorite Poets

2011-04-16T22:40:00.000-07:00

In honor of April being National Poetry Month (a good thing because I am not fond of the month of April, for four very specific reasons), I decided to list some of my favorite poets… though, I don’t have very many American favorites.

In no particular order:
Edgar Allan Poe – I just love his macabre obsessions. He was a twisted brilliant genius.

Alfred, Lord Tennyson – of all the English poets, Tennyson is my favorite. I am working on committing the entirety of “The Lady of Shalott” to memory.

Emily Dickinson – Her poetry is beautiful in its despair.

Langston Hughes – There is an anger behind his words but there is also hope for a brighter future.

Lord Byron – He’s romantic without being flowery; harsh without being cruel.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning – I recently reread some of her works and there is beauty and intelligence within.

Maya Angelou – She teaches with words, something I cannot do and she just elevates the mind with her work.

William Blake – He was a master wordsmith and I love spending a day with Blake.

William Shakespeare – Imagine if we only knew him by his sonnets. He would still be a master.

John Milton – Okay, I know, I know… the guy is a pill. But I really love “Paradise Lost.”

Dante Alighieri – “The Divine Comedy” is simply divine. Of course, the best part is the first part, “Inferno.” But isn’t sin much more fun than sainthood anyway?

Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor

2011-03-24T11:10:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Elizabeth Taylor died. She was 79. And with her, most likely, died the last great movie star.

Now, don’t get me wrong, there are still some actors from the golden days of Hollywood among the living, most notably my beloved Madame Olivia de Havilland. But I think that Elizabeth Taylor epitomized the phrase “movie star.” She was everything pop culture assigns to that term. She was phenomenally beautiful. She was glamorous. She starred in some of the most memorable films of all time. She won two Academy Awards. Her love affairs remain the stuff of legend. Her fans are legion.

When I heard the news of her death, I have to admit that I was shocked. It seems strange that a force as viable as Elizabeth Taylor was could have died. It wasn’t that much of a surprise. Let’s face it; the woman had been through physical hell as well as emotional hell throughout her lifetime. But she always survived.

What I remember most about Elizabeth Taylor is her unwavering devotion to two men who both were shunned by Hollywood. She remained a lifelong friend of Rock Hudson and refused to distance herself from him when he revealed he had AIDS. She also loved and cared for Montgomery Clift. She literally saved his life. It takes a lot of grace to withstand all the negativity surrounding these two men and she did. That seems to be her legacy; her resolute loyalty to friends. She remained close to Michael Jackson before his untimely demise.

But, I honestly don’t own any films with her in it, something that I find strange because of my catalog of classic films. But I don’t. I don’t even own “A Place in the Sun,” even though it co-stars my beloved Monty Clift. Maybe I should get that one. I’ve only ever seen “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” once. I’ve never sat down and watched “Cleopatra” all the way through. I watched “Butterfield 8” because I was curious about Eddie Fisher’s presence in that film. I’m not a fan of “National Velvet.”

However, I do love her Oscar-winning performance in “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” Why? Because she’s not glamorous in the role. She’s actually a rather sad and pathetic character. But Elizabeth seems to be having the time of her life in the role. That’s what makes it fun to watch.

So, adieu Dame Elizabeth, last of the great movie stars.

Revisiting Princess Diana of Themyscira

2011-03-20T10:45:00.000-07:00

So, here's what happened:

For some reason or another, on a particularly boring weekend home alone, I decided to watch Wonder Woman Season 1 on DVD. I’ve had this for awhile and, being the geek that I am, I like to return to the old standards I grew up watching as a child. I guess hearing that the new series had been accepted by one of the networks may have prompted my interest. I’m a fan of the character of Wonder Woman and I did love the series in the 1970s. It was a staple, along with the Six Million Dollar Man and the Bionic Woman. My childhood heroes before my attentions were drawn to a galaxy far, far away.

Now, given the stream of consciousness method of my brain, this marathon prompted a reviewing of the outstanding animated series, Justice League and Justice League Unlimited and the truly exceptional Wonder Woman animated film but I found myself wanting more live action fare. And since I had so much enjoyed watching the first season of The Bionic Woman (finally released on DVD), I decided to throw caution to the wind and buy the second and third season of Wonder Woman.

I experienced what I can only call a total geek-gasm watching these two seasons. It amazed me how much I remembered and how much I forgot. I found it compelling to see the transition between the first season, which was set during World War 2, and the second season, which had a contemporary setting (1976-1977). The transition was explained rather well, too: after the end of the war, Diana decided to simply return home to Paradise Island but when a plane was about to crash near the island, Queen Hippolyta allowed it to land so her people could gather information about the changing world. Diana goes on board and sees Steve Trevor, well, the son of Steve Trevor, also named Steve (both played by Lyle Waggoner). Diana decides she wants to return to the modern world and she manages to get herself an assignment with the IADC (Inter-Agency Defense Command) so she could work closely with Trevor.

What is great about the update is the change of Diana’s character. This Wonder Woman has a little more of a bite; there’s an edge to her that is delightfully missing from WW2 era Wonder Woman. I think the transition was also easier on Lynda Carter, but it could also be because she had twenty-two episodes of playing the “perfect woman” under her belt. There are episodes where she does not hide her growing impatience with the world around her. There’s even a great line in one episode where she warns the villain that he is about to make her lose her temper, something she hasn’t done in 500 years or so.

What I also love about the contemporary side of the series is it’s more action based, meaning we get to not only see more of Wonder Woman, we also get to see Diana Prince taking more of a lead role. Yes, I have heard rumors that there was tension on the set between Carter and Waggoner but frankly, the show was not called “The New Adventures of Steve Trevor.” Another aspect of this action is that we get to see Wonder Woman in motion and I’m not talking about the spin (to this day, I still cannot decide if I like the slow spin of Diana’s transformation as featured in the pilot episode—and first couple of episodes of Season 1—over the spin and “explosion” of later episodes). Diana runs, jumps, fights hand to hand, and climbs frequently in the contemporary episodes. Now, I am a pop culture geek so I have to admit that I love, love, love the few shots of Wonder Woman running in slow motion.

This has nothing to do with what my sibling affectionately calls “wonder boobies.” Believe me, when I watch these slow motion runs, her breasts are not on my mind and I really don’t even notice them. Don’t get me wrong; Lynda Carter was beautiful in the role and she’s beautiful now. No, what’s on my mind is the form and the iconic image of Wonder Woman in motion. Wonder Woman has existed on the pages of comic books for so long and with all the fancy brush strokes and ink, it is still a static image. (I mean no disrespect to the artists of these works. These artists have created iconic images of many superheroes; our ideals of these superheroes are from the pages of these books.) I think seeing Wonder Woman running, either in slow-motion or at speed, is seeing the image on the page come to life. I think that is what thrills me so much. She bends bars. She jumps buildings. She runs! And it is beautiful to watch.

I get the same thrill whenever I see a drawing, amateur or professional, of Princess Leia Organa holding a lightsaber.

We shall see how this upcoming series fares. An image of the actress taking over the role of Diana was released last week wearing the new costume. I like it but I still have a preference for the red boots over the blue featured in this update. Otherwise, as I stated in a Facebook status, I will wait until the series actually premieres before pronouncing final judgment.

Washington Square

2011-03-09T11:45:00.000-08:00

So, because I am somewhat of a snob and a narcissistic person, I came up with the idea of writing a "sequel" to the film, The Heiress, which stars that glorious Dame of Cinema, Olivia De Havilland. Of course, the film is based upon Henry James novella, Washington Square. And since I have never read it, I thought I should.

The story goes: a proud, and somewhat arrogant, widowed doctor objects to the impending marriage of his "dull, plain" daughter Catharine to a man named Morris Townsend. The doctor believes Morris to be merely interested in Catharine's wealth.

Check out the film, which does vary the tale a wee bit but also happens to be one of the finest performances by Dame De Havilland (my personal nickname for her, don't use it!).

After finishing the tale, I realized that no sequel is possible. In the course of the story, it is revealed why Catharine, after learning the truth not only about Morris' intentions but also about her father's genuine dislike for her, abstains from finding any personal joy in her life.

And it struck me because it only takes one event, one rejection from that one particular person, to ruin any chances ever after. After Morris leaves Catharine, she has other suitors but she rejects them all. She simply says "I will not marry." Because the one man she really loved rejected her, no one else will "replace" him.

Now I may joke about why I've abstained from that sort of thing but the truth is that after that one rejection, I was never interested again. One person or none at all. It may sound harsh and yes, I do deal with loneliness on occasion, but that's the truth of it. As the disco song goes: if I can't have you, I don't want nobody, baby.

And wow! This just got really personal. But there it is. I have often wondered why no one ever really interested me. I mean, the couple of "suitors" who tried found the work of trying to get me involved either too tiring or too much of a mountain to climb. These were not horrible men. I was just not interested. I simply have no interest in it. As Sherlock Holmes says, "I am married to my work." (Not my job... which I endure... but my work, my writing.)

Strange that it took reading Washington Square for me to own up to this simple truth.

Black Swan

2011-03-02T11:23:00.000-08:00

(I figured, my last post was entitled "White Lightnin'" so I thought I would talk a bit about "Black Swan.")

Well, February 27, 2011, Natalie Portman joined the ranks of cinematic history by winning the Academy Award for Best Actress for her work in the film "Black Swan." Her win came as no surprise since she has been racking up awards since the film opened last December. Did Natalie deserve it? I think so. Actually, to be honest, I was skeptical when I first heard about the film. I downloaded a copy of the script. I read it. I honestly did not think Natalie could pull it off. Why?

Because, Natalie has always seemed so constrained on film; as if she was afraid to let go and enjoy herself. (That's a running theme with me that I will expand on in a later post.) I have seen a lot of Natalie Portman films. I'm a Star Wars fan and since she graced the prequels with her presence--thank you--then I thought it only fair to do my part and check out future endeavors. I do this with every actor who has been in a Star Wars film. It's my way of saying "thanks."

I'm not going to go into a long diatribe of the good ("V for Vendetta"/"The Professional"/"Mars Attacks"), the bad ("The Other Boleyn Girl"/"Free Zone"/"Goya's Ghost"), and the ugly ("Where the Heart Is"/"Brothers") of Natalie's film career. There are some films that I had to scratch my head in wonder as to why she even bothered showing up. And yes, I have to admit that in the first and third of the Star Wars prequels, she looks downright bored. But there was potential there, long ago, in "The Professional." And I guess we were all waiting for Natalie to sweep us off our collective feet. And she did that with "Black Swan." Watching "Black Swan" astonished me. Why?

Because, for the first time, I felt like Natalie was truly enjoying herself. She was enjoying the suffering, physical pain, and drama of the story. As her character, Nina, slips further and further into chaos and the inability to separate fantasy from reality, Portman lets go of whatever inhibitions she previously had. There's a moment after the "dark queen" emerges when, on screen, you can actually see Natalie surrender to the part. She's enjoying herself, enjoying the "letting go" moment, so to speak.

So impressive was it, that even my sister--who's never been impressed with Portman's acting chops--was pleasantly surprised. Yes, "Black Swan" can be a bit over the top in terms of visual metaphors. There are a couple of shots that had me cringing. But it is the subtle moments, the whispers, and the brief flashes between light and dark that stand out.

Every one has said that this is the role and performance they have been waiting for from Natalie Portman. And she delivered. Only time will tell if it was indeed the role of a lifetime.

White Lightnin

2011-02-23T11:13:00.000-08:00

Okay, a couple of years ago (2009) I may have mentioned a new film that Carrie Fisher was in called "White Lightnin'." I'm an uber-Carrie fan so I do try to keep up with her film career. I mean, what kind of poser would I be if I didn't at least attempt to see every film she has made? Right? And, I've sat through some... films... just for a thirty second cameo by Carrie. Anyone else remember "Scream 3?" I don't, except for the fact that Carrie is in it and her cameo got the biggest reaction when I saw it in the theater.

Well, after hearing about this film, I looked for it everywhere with no luck. I had given up it would ever be out on DVD (to rent from Netflix) so I just kept my eyes open for any opportunity. About two weeks ago, the Sundance Film Channel aired this film, a "based on a true story" tale about a mountain tap dancer named Jesco White (played by British actor Edward Hogg). I couldn't believe it but I sat down to watch.

This film is not an easy film to watch. It is extremely violent and graphic. Jesco White--as portrayed in the film--is a huffing, violent maniac who seems to find peace only when he dances. Carrie plays "Cilla," an older, married woman who leaves her family to be with Jesco. (When he first meets her, he says she looks like a movie star and decides that since he thinks of himself as Elvis, she will be his Priscilla, hence the nickname "Cilla.")

What shocked me about this film is that there are two--TWO!!--sex scenes involving Jesco and Cilla. Three, if you count the fully-clothed "I just ate a hot chili pepper, let me blow you" scene. Why? Well, I guess I am just not used to seeing Carrie in sex scenes. She's never done one prior to this. Not even close, really. She's stripped down to her undies a few times but there has never been anything simulating mid-coitus.

Am I a prude? Not really. I was just surprised. My sister came home right before the first scene and when she saw what was going on, I told her that I have now been "traumatized." An over-exaggeration, of course, but it was surprising. I would love to ask Carrie what drew her to this film and what made her go ahead with these scenes? Not that I have any issues with Carrie as a sexual being because we all are sexual beings. I just thought that Carrie preferred to keep that part of her being private.

(and no, you don't really see anything... sorry, boys.)

What's really interesting to me is that if one reads the reviews for this film, they are either enthusiastic and positive or disgusted and negative. Carrie got some great reviews for her participation, too.

My overall thoughts on the film are that it is a dark story. It's also shot in a campy, cheap documentary style, in black & white, and very choppy. But I was impressed with Edward Hogg and his uninhibited performance. Carrie always impresses me. The film is not for the squeamish nor is it a happy story with a happy ending. There are scenes of extreme violence, suggested rape, drug abuse, self-mutilation, and frightening scenes inside a mental hospital.

I probably won't be getting this film on DVD. I still hold out hopes for "Sunday Drive."

Almost a Year?!?!?

2011-02-21T10:34:00.000-08:00

It has been almost a year since I blogged! I can't believe it. What happened?

Well, my job search intensified and was finally rewarded (?!) with a permanent position at a small storage/shipping company that works almost exclusively for one of the largest providers of dairy products in the Northwest. I'm not in love with my job but I am at a point where I can do it effectively (for the most part) and I like the steady paycheck.

Why, oh why, are our lives so bound by money?

That's for another time, though.

No, I woke up this morning a little later than I had wanted to. I have not been going to the gym as often as I should and I wanted to make an effort to get back into the habit. Baby steps, baby steps. Anyway, I thought that since I couldn't make it to the gym, work out for the required time, make it back home, eat something, s/s/s for work, and make it to work on time, I would instead open up the old blog page and check things out. And wouldn't you know it? My last post was February 28, 2010. Wow!

So, here's my new goal: if I can't make it to the gym, I will make it here. Writing is mental aerobics for me and I am at least a tad more diligent about that than I am about getting my carcass on to the elliptical. (I prefer the elliptical over the treadmill because I get a higher caloric burn. When I was working from home and going to the gym four or five times a week, I was burning about 700-800 calories a day! That's how I lost 47 lbs. last year!) And since I find myself musing about things anyway, I figure I could muse here.

So, I am going to muse, mostly about movies. I don't get enough information to offer views on politics anymore.

Movies... next Sunday: the Academy Awards. Will Natalie Portman win? If she wins, will she deliver a better speech than that embarrassingly immature rant she did at the Golden Globes? Will Colin Firth win? I hope so. "The King's Speech" is a marvelous film. I also think Geoffrey Rush should win but to be fair, I haven't seen "The Fighter." I do know Christian Bale is a tremendously talented actor.

We shall see.

Great Actors & Actresses of any given decade

2010-02-28T12:33:00.000-08:00

So, I received a letter from a friend of mine and in it, she challenged me to think of great actors for each decade starting with the 1930s to the 2000s.

This is proving quite a challenge since I find myself thinking not only of my favorite actors whose careers stretched through the decades (e.g., Joan Crawford whose career spanned from silent to talkies to color to television) but also of actors whose careers defined the particular decade.

The 1950s proved a most difficult decade for me. I don't watch many films from this decade. I tend to stick to 1930s and 1940s in my "classic movie" viewing.

James Dean made only three films but one could argue that he defined the 1950s, when films began to move away from lush and lavish musicals into more realistic fare. (I know that many great musicals came out during the 50s; what I mean by this statement is that during the 1940s--especially during WWII--the studios churned out absurdly lavish musicals with little or no plot. Most musicals of the 1950s were adaptations of Broadway successes, though in truth, the musical became a more rare event during the decade.) Another genre emerged during this time, thanks to Doris Day. I had scribbled out a list and handed it to my sister to peruse and she was quite shocked that I listed Doris Day under the 1950s. I am no big fan of Doris Day but she did make several films that could be considered the "grand daddy" of the romantic comedy. "Pillow Talk" with Rock Hudson stands out particularly.

I didn't even think about Marilyn Monroe and the impact she had on films. Clearly she impacted films of the 1950s.

This is going to take quite a lot of thought. But I do love a challenge. I also love films. More research is required!

Musings...

2010-02-26T11:01:00.000-08:00

I know... it's been over a month since I've blogged. Sorry... daily job searches leading nowhere tend to take the creative spirit right out of me. And it's not just that but the thought that this time last year, I was rolling in dough. Okay, not literally but I had a nice amount saved and had plans to use it to pay off some serious bills hanging over my head.

And I did.

And now... the cupboards are empty and it's frustrating. I don't need a million dollars. I just need a job. Something! Anything! I mean, when I start applying for receptionist positions (which is something I hated), I'm getting a bit desperate.

I know times are hard out there for everyone but can I at least get a rejection letter so I know I am on the right track?

On the "home" front, I am changing a major character. She's undergoing a cataclysmic change and I think it will help the overall story.

And that's all I'm going to say about it!

Jean Simmons

2010-01-23T13:28:00.000-08:00

I don't have much to say, except I really liked this lady and was sad to learn of her passing yesterday.

While she is best known for "Spartacus," "Hamlet," and "Guys and Dolls," I enjoyed her in "North & South" (which starred the late, great Patrick Swayze) and "The Thorn Birds." She even invaded the anime world, voicing "Grandma Sophie" in the superb "Howl's Moving Castle" from Miyazaki.

What a lady. Au revoir.

List of Fives Part Twenty-Five

2010-01-15T11:40:00.000-08:00

Five Reasons Why the film "Avatar" is NOT Racist.

I saw this film late last year. Paid $11.50 (matinee price plus the 3D glasses). Sat down and emptied my mind. Let the film take me where it would. And I was amazed at it. Not only is it visually stunning, but the story is quite engaging. And yes, it is one we have heard before.

When I got home, I was looking up some things online and I came across not one, not two, but a plethora of articles questioning the film. Some critics stated it plainly: "Avatar" is another "white savior fantasy" in which the lead character becomes the leader of the native tribe to save them from the might of human military conquest. Listing other films such as "Dances With Wolves," "Pocahontas," and "The Last Samurai" as examples, the general consensus is that the Na'vi (the native inhabitants of the planet Pandora) are the "noble savages" and the lead character, Jake Sully, becomes seduced by their "primitive ways" to the point where, in the final conflict, the lead bad guy asks him how he could turn against his own race.

Okay, aren't we taking things a little too seriously here? I've been thinking about this since I saw the film and here's what I've come up with. I will use examples from the four films mentioned to argue my point.

1. Learning about/immersing oneself in another culture is the opposite of racism. Jake Sully learns about the Na'vi way of life. What he learns is that the Na'vi are so primordially connected to the environment of Pandora that cutting down a tree or killing a creature is painful to them. He recognizes that what the military want to do would wound not only the native inhabitants of the planet, but the planet itself. In "The Last Samurai," Nathan Algren does not understand the Bushido code. He thinks of the samurai as savages who "kill their enemies who have surrendered." As he learns more about the way of life; he learns that it is his ways, his culture that is savage.

2. Calling any of the lead characters "white savior" is racist in and of itself. Why does Lt. John Dunbar go west in "Dances with Wolves?" To save the Sioux? No. He wants to see the frontier before the encroaching civilization erases it forever. When he meets his Lakota neighbors, he is inquisitive, friendly. He does not try to save them. He wants to learn about them. How is that racist? How is he a "white savior?" Don't the Lakota warriors save him when he is captured by the U.S. army, thinking he is an Indian spy? Or, is the outrage in the fact that he prefers the quiet way of life of the Lakota over that of the European settlers? John Smith in "Pocahontas" does the same thing. (The Disney film is so far afield of the facts, it is barely worth mentioning but since it was mentioned, I will use it.) After meeting Pocahontas and learning from her, he realizes that her people and the settlers can live together. When Governor Ratcliffe refuses, convinced that the Native People are hiding gold--something they have no use for, John goes and warns Pocahontas and her people. He does not save them, they save themselves.

3. Living in harmony is not a racist message. The main message I got from "Avatar" is that the Na'vi live in harmony with their Mother, Pandora. Jake Sully mentions that the Earth is burned out; they cannot grow crops as they used to so the military is looking for new worlds to "inhabit." Why is this message racist? Doesn't Agent Smith say the same thing in "The Matrix?" He compares humans to a virus; we consume every natural resource until the region dies and then we move on to the next. That Jake Sully is seduced by the Na'vi way of life says more about the bankrupt culture he comes from than the culture he immerses himself into. And, he does not "save" the Na'vi. Pandora itself saves them. They save themselves. He's just along for the ride.

4. James Cameron is white; that does not make him a racist. I know people get all up in arms about this but just because Cameron chose a white male actor (cutie Sam Worthington) to play Jake Sully does not mean he is a racist. Conversely, just because he used Zoe Saldana, CCH Pounder, and Wes Studi to play Na'vi characters, does not mean they are to represent "noble savages." It's a story. Maybe he chose these actors because of their ability to convey strong emotions via voice, which would be the most significant part of their performance to remain after the CGI work was done. James Cameron is controversial (he has a reputation for being controlling) but look at his films: strong female characters are usually the leads. He did not have to put a multiracial Marine squad in "Aliens," but he did. Would people be complaining as much if Zoe Saldana played the human and Sam Worthington played the Na'vi? Probably not. But who cares?

5. Sometimes, a movie is just a movie. We all see things differently. I like "Pocahontas" a bit. (Haven't watched it in a long time.) I have story issues with "Dances with Wolves" that have nothing to do with the "noble savage" argument. But, I think it is an impressive film. I love "The Last Samurai." I think "Avatar" is an amazing film. We take from it what we take from it. If all you see is racist messages than that's what you see. I see a world filled with people who are, quite literally, connected to their environment and, because of that connection, they are respectful of it. They consider themselves guardians of it and will defend it to the last.

That's what I think the message of "Avatar" is. I think that is what the message of Genesis 1:26 is saying. We are not meant to "rule" over the planet, killing and destroying at will. We are meant to preserve it, protect it, and defend it. If we were as connected to Earth as the Na'vi are to Pandora, we would not be facing the environmental troubles we are.

List of Fives Part Twenty-Four

2010-01-10T22:24:00.000-08:00

Okay, so it's my birthday tomorrow. I'm 41. Joy! But all I can think of is this:

Five Things I've Learned from watching "Lost"

1. Pack Light/Pack Essential. I mean, if I'm lucky enough to survive a plane crash and make it to a lush, creepy, polar bear/smoke monster infested island that seems to defy the laws of physics, I want my Vintage Leia action figure. I want my iPod. I want my toothbrush, a bottle of aspirin, a pocket knife, my glasses, and a good pair of socks.

2. Winning the lottery isn't all it's cracked up to be. But, Goddess knows, I keep trying. Poor Hurley.

3. Comic book knowledge is essential. Especially if you are also watching "Heroes."

4. The alpha male is the one with the plan, not the good-looking guy. From the moment I first met John Locke, I knew he was the one to follow. Jack has no clue. Locke is the man. Tribal leader. Alpha male. Jack is such a whiner.

5. Just because you love someone doesn't mean you get to be with them. Juliet learned it. I could've saved her the trouble. Oh well. At least she is now saving us from evil aliens, right? (I'm a big fan of Elizabeth Mitchell. Just love her.)

So, there it is.

And, my blog finally got a comment from someone I don't know. I almost did a Julie Powell dance. Okay, an Amy Adams interpretation of a Julie Powell dance. Because Julie Powell is kinda creepy. Amy Adams is a Disney Princess.

List of Fives Part Twenty-Three

2010-01-08T12:25:00.001-08:00

I guess I should've done this a week ago:

Five Resolutions I May Actually Stick to:

1. Read 52 books in 52 weeks. Last year, I read about 45 books but I'd say twenty of those were re-reads. This year, I plan to read a book a week. Expand my mind. And NO RE-READS! Every book will be something I've never read before. So: no revisiting Narnia or Middle Earth or the Kingdom of the West or Avalon. I've already finished one book and am close to finishing a second. And, since Monday is my (gasp!) 41st birthday, my sis is taking me out to eat at my favorite Greek restaurant and then we are going to Barnes & Noble so I can find more books. Yay for me!

2. Go to the gym at least four times a week. I know, everyone makes "lose weight" resolutions. This is not one of those. I honestly don't care any more. I'm gonna die when my number is drawn. Can't change it. Can't fear it. I'm alive today and that's good enough. So, I'm looking at my workouts as stress relief and quiet time in my head (especially if I swim). I've been to the gym past four days so I decided to take a day off today. Will go tomorrow and sweat. I've lost a little weight and I've gained some muscle. I'm not counting calories or pounds.

3. Get a steady job. I know, right! In this economy? Well, I have some marketable skills. The remote gig I was doing is so erratic I simply cannot rely on it as I used to. I know that there will be work coming but I've got Star Wars action figures to buy!

4. Blog more. I'm off to a great start, right? It's the 8th day of the year and this is my first blog. I think I did about 50 blogs last year. If I do one a week? Who knows? I should just blog about anything. Isn't that the purpose of a blog?

5. Enjoy the downhill slide. I'm turning 41 (as I mentioned) and I guess it's all down hill from here, right? Well, the first 40 years were not what I imagined so I'm not even going to make any plans. I'm just gonna go with the flow. And I won't even let all the negative right-wing punditry get to me anymore. Screw 'em. They don't even know what they want anymore. Constant war? Do they really find Vince Vaughn's "guns at the ready" character from Mr. and Mrs. Smith attractive? Do they really want to live with their assholes puckered like that? I don't. Statistically speaking, I have a better chance of being killed by a terrorist than getting married at this point. Bring it on, dimwit. I've got some choice words for all of you.

And in parting: who gives a shit?

My Proust Questionnaire

2009-12-30T12:26:00.000-08:00

You ever read the magazine Vanity Fair? Each magazine ends with a person of note answering the Proust Questionnaire. Well, I decided to take it myself.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
a quiet dinner and stimulating conversation

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
my deep-seated laziness or deplorable arrogance

What is your greatest extravagance?
Vintage Star Wars toys in a vain attempt to recapture my childhood

What is the quality you most like in a man?
self-deprecating sense of humor

What is the quality you most like in a woman?
wicked wit and big brown eyes

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
I mean... you know?

When and where were you happiest?
May 25, 2007 - Celebration IV

Which talent would you most like to have?
the gift of song

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
turn that laziness into steely-eyed drive

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
my Scottish brogue

Where would you like to live?
Some place warm, tropical, with crystal blue water and white sand

What is your most treasured possession?
Tie: my carded Vintage Princess Leia figure and my autographed photo of Carrie Fisher

Who are your heroes in real life?
the creators of LEGO, Star Wars, and Post-It Notes

What are your favorite names?
Griffin, Sabine

What is it that you most dislike?
right-wing punditry or evangelical religious fervor

If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?
an elephant matriarch or a Muppet

What is your greatest regret?
not taking a chance

How would you like to die?
an old, old woman in bed with my much-younger lover

Gee... aren't you fascinated with me? (I'm joking!)

Take the questionnaire yourself at www.vanityfair.com

List of Fives Part Twenty-Two

2009-12-30T12:01:00.001-08:00

Five Great Books of 2009
(again, in no particular order)

1. The Hunger Games. I believe I mentioned this in a previous post. This story is not only amazing "young adult" fiction but it is just amazing fiction. It draws you in to the dismal future, where war and famine and plight have rendered much of the United States unlivable and the remaining portions divided into thirteen districts. Those living in District One live in luxury; the further down the number, the worse the conditions of the district. District 13 no longer exists. Rebellion caused the government to wipe 13 out completely. As a result of this rebellion, the remaining districts must compete annually in the Hunger Games. It is brutal, sadistic, and ultimately life-affirming as the heroine rises to defy the odds and the power structure of her world. It's a great read and I cannot wait for more.

2. Wishful Drinking. Hee-Hee. It's by Carrie Fisher. Enough said. Okay, the book is good; but her show is better because you get to hear Carrie and see her as she talks about herself. Read the book on New Year's. Quick read and laugh-out-loud hilarious, like much of her work. This one is as close to an autobiography as we are going to get from Carrie, who has a strict policy of not blabbing about any one in her life, save herself. It's no wonder that her one-woman show of the same name is getting great reviews, even on Broadway! Carrie's had a good year.

3. Official Book Club Selection. I have to give a shout-out to Kathy Griffin for writing a hilarious and frank memoir. I love this book because it really reminded me of another author's writing style. That writer would be Carrie Fisher. Like Carrie, Kathy is not shy of dissing on herself. Unlike Carrie, however, Kathy is also not shy about dissing on others. The truth is, though, that many of the people Kathy Griffin disses on need it... BIG TIME. It's hilarious and frank and offensive and honest. I appreciate that!

4. The Book of Love. This is the second novel in a series. The first, The Expected One, blew me away when I read it. I was very hesitant about reading this. What I love about this book is that it is not only an adventure in search of ancient documents, it is a history of Matilda of Tuscany, a remarkable woman who has a place in medieval history as a military commander. The common theme of these novels is that many remarkable women of history were, in fact, "expected ones," women chosen to guide men of faith to a better understanding of God's love. It's a remarkable piece and I'm glad I was pleasantly surprised by just how good it is. And the knowledge being passed is done so in such a way that you don't mind sifting through it. (If I have one complaint about Dan Brown, it is that he has so much trivia running around in his brain, he will have his characters make random trivial statements that have nothing to do with the story. It gets old after awhile.)

5. Racing Toward Armageddon. This work, written by one of the authors of the legendary Holy Blood, Holy Grail, examines the obsession the three Middle Eastern religions have with "end of times" beliefs. Borrowing from each other in ways that I think would surprise even scholarly followers of each faith, these three religions seem more intent on reshaping the world in their favor rather than saving souls. Extremists in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam exist in a "convert or die" mentality that influences politics and world affairs in frightening ways. Each of these seek a reclaiming of Jerusalem from which will come a great Seat of Divine Power, all others be damned. With such blatant blood lust, it is no wonder then that followers of these faiths seek such extreme measures to further their cause. This book should be a must read for any person who takes a serious interest in matters of faith.

List of Fives Part Twenty-One

2009-12-28T10:43:00.000-08:00

Five Really Cool Films of 2009
(all films available on Blu-Ray and DVD)

1. Watchmen. Based on the greatest graphic novel ever, this film was a long time coming. For two decades, the wide-held belief was that it could never be translated into cinematic form. (And some purists say that still holds true.) Seeing the graphic novel transformed into moving images did not detract at all. And, hearing the characters really changed my perception of them. Before the film, I would have said that Dr. Manhattan was my least favorite character but now, I understand his point of view so much more. And who doesn't love Rorschach? Okay, maybe "love" is the wrong word. The opening credits, in which we see the snapshot history of the Minutemen, predecessors to the Watchmen, was genius and full of happy little Easter eggs for comic fans. While I understand Alan Moore's disdain for all films made of his works, I think that this one remains the most loyal to the source material of all. (There is an "ultimate" edition coming, which will incorporate the animated "Tales of the Black Freighter" sub-plot into the actual film, pushing the film's length closer to three and a half hours. Yummy!)

2. Star Trek. What a wonderful surprise this film turned out to be. I like the re-tool. The Star Trek film series had waxed and waned, the last three films going from bad to worse. This is a welcome edition to the franchise and a well-thought revamp of the original Enterprise crew. The actors chosen play the parts perfectly. Karl Urban channels DeForest Kelley's curmudgeon take on Dr. McCoy. Simon Pegg is hilarious as Montgomery Scott. Chris Pine possesses the right amount of swagger for the brash James T. Kirk. And Zachary Quinto... was he born to take over as Spock? Maybe not, but he has and brilliantly so. It was after seeing his performance in this film that I decided to check out the Heroes television series. J.J. Abrams delivered a fun film to watch; I am surprised that he is not really a Star Trek fan. But he renewed life into this franchise and I think Trekkers everywhere are grateful to him for that. What I love about this film is that it does not try to explain why things look different from the classic television series. It is more interested in telling its story. The film respects the audience's ability to follow along. I appreciate that. And yes, that is Artoo-Detoo you see soaring past the view screen during the fly through of field debris above Vulcan.

3. District 9. This film may be a "sleeper" hit but it deserves all the recognition it gets. In an alternate reality, a derelict spacecraft came to a stop over the city of Johannesburg, South Africa. Inside, officials found a million starving aliens. Cut to current time. A low-level process worker named Wikus van de Merwe starts out in the film as helping his company serve eviction papers to the aliens, disparagingly called "prawns." While going through one hovel, he is sprayed by a mysterious substance. As the film progresses, Wikus begans a steady metamorphosis into a "prawn." The story was adapted from a short film called "Alive in Joburg," directed by Neill Blomkamp and produced by District 9 star Sharlto Copley. What's great about this film is the realistic look of it. Shot in mock documentary style interwoven with story-telling shots, the film weaves a convincing tale without getting too preachy or flamboyant. The climax, with Wikus coming to the aid of hero "prawn" Christopher Johnson and his son, is bloody and not for the weak, but it is well worth it.

4. Julie & Julia. I know! This film is so far afield of the other films on this list. Here's why I like it: Meryl Streep! Her performance as Julia Child is the highlight of this film. I mean no disrespect to Amy Adams, who I genuinely like, but this film belongs to Meryl alone. Her Julia is playful, bold, daring, and "fearless." She is having fun with this part, it is so apparent on screen. Another reason is that the chemistry between Meryl and Stanley Tucci is just wonderful. They had great chemistry in "The Devil Wears Prada" but here they play a married couple very much in love and it is just wonderful. Love, love, love this one!

5. Up. Not very many animated films get recognized. This year was a good one for animation: Coraline, Up, Ponyo, The Princess and the Frog. They are all fine films but there is something special about Up. Up is storytelling at its finest. It tells the story of a life in the opening credits. Then, it takes you on an adventure of a lifetime. 80 year old Carl Fredricksen lives in the house he and his wife shared for so many years. All around him is new construction. Offered money to sell his home he refuses. Instead, he uses hundreds of balloons to lift his house from its foundation in a fool-hearty attempt to reach South America. It's a story of dreams, of fulfilling a wish and a promise, and of realizing that age is not a number but a state of mind. It's also just a lot of fun. Who can resist Dug? As Russell would say, "But it's a talking dog!" Great film.

Addendum: I had not seen Avatar until after posting this particular article. I think James Cameron has created a spectacular film. But, I also think it will be reflected more in 2010 than in 2009.

List of Fives Part Twenty

2009-12-17T10:12:00.001-08:00

Five Great Books (Kid Lit) I've Read This Year

(in no particular order)

1. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. Yes, believe it or not, I did not actually read the book until this year! I've known about it forever, knew the general idea of the story but I never sat down for ten minutes and actually read the book. It's wonderful; I think it should be required reading for anyone who has children. (I don't, but that's a whole other Oprah.) It's about childhood anger and how children need a safe and constructive way to express that anger. Great stuff.

2. Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones. I am a huge fan of Hiyao Miyazaki's version of the story but when I came across the book in a used book store, I decided to give it a read. While it is vastly different from the tale in the film, it was still an enjoyable read. I am fascinated by children's stories that are not afraid to show the darker side of things. This tale doesn't get too dark but there is some darkness. One of the main characters is a fire demon named Calcipher. Can't get much darker than having a demon hanging around. It's a fantastical tale.

3. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. This is a very dark story and rather violent so those of faint heart be warned. A friend recommended the book to me and I picked it up on a whim. Once I got into the tale, I had a very hard time putting it down. The premise is a post-apocalyptic America, where the citizens are divided into thirteen districts. As punishment for a great rebellion that resulted in the complete destruction of the 13th district, the remaining twelve must send two children (one boy, one girl) to participate in the sadistic Hunger Games. The Games are simple: the last to survive wins. It's a story of survival, of strength, and the human spirit. The lead character, Katniss Everdeen, is one of the strongest heroines I've ever had the pleasure of reading. Her strength becomes inspiring. (There is a follow-up book called Catching Fire. I hope there are more stories to come.) Again, not for the faint of heart.

4. The Bone Magician by F. E. Higgins. This is a companion book to a wonderful little tale I picked up last year called The Black Book of Secrets. This story follows a young orphan named Pin Carpue who goes to work for the local undertaker. While there, he witnesses the strange magic of the Bone Magician, a person who can seemingly raise the dead. What follows is magical twists and turns as Pin confronts the dangerous Beast caged in the basement of the inn, the Silver Apple Murderer, a Dwarf, and the mysterious apprentice to the Bone Magician, the potion master Juno. Again, these are darker stories and that's what I like about them. Read "The Black Book" first, but this one will not disappoint.

5. Emily the Strange: The Lost Days by Rob Reger. I picked this book up because I liked the artwork on the jacket. Little did I know that there is a whole subculture about this character. She is a dark, brooding genius of a teenager who can talk to cats and who, in this particular book, has lost her memory. The character has existed in graphic novels (which I will now have to find) but this is the first novel. Written in diary format, it chronicles not only how but why Emily has amnesia and the incredible journey she has taken to preserve something that is rightfully hers. It's a great read; I personally heard Winona Ryder's voice while I read. I guess I'm just missing Ryder's "Veronica" character.

So, there are the books for young readers. I like to read such things as a break from heavy stuff.

List of Fives Part Nineteen

2009-12-11T13:54:00.001-08:00

Five Really Good Christmas albums:

1. A Christmas Celebration by Celtic Woman. "Let It Snow" was such a surprise that one may forget all the other goodies on this album. Orla's rendition of "Away in a Manger" is just lovely. Meav's "Wexford Carol" is nice. But it is when these ladies sing together that they really shine. "Christmas Pipes," "Carol of the Bells," "O Holy Night," and of course, "Let It Snow." You should also pick up the EP A Celtic Family Christmas, as it features "The First Noel," and "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" as well as a couple of songs from the High Kings (Celtic Woman's all male counter-act). If you are in to that sort of thing.

2. Christmas Portrait by The Carpenters. Call me a nerd or a geek but I love the Carpenters. This album goes from the fun stuff to more traditional spiritual music. Who can resist Karen's vocals on "Little Altar Boy?" Seriously. And it does include "Merry Christmas Darling," which is always played on the radio at this time of year.

3. Midwinter Graces by Tori Amos. Just released, I not only consider this album one of the best Christmas albums in a long time but one of Amos' best albums ever! Placing her own unique spin on classic favorites as only she can, Tori delivers an album that is beautiful to listen to, even if you are an old Scrooge like me. "Star of Wonder," "Holly, Ivy, and Rose," "Jeannette, Isabella," and "A Silent Night With You" stand out, but the entire album is worth a listen.

4. A Midwinter Night's Dream by Loreena McKennitt. It has taken over a decade but I am really falling in love with this woman's music. This album is just lovely. McKennitt also uses traditional songs and puts her own spin on them, delivering a more classic, ageless collection rather than a traditional re-hash of Yuletide songs. Her classic song, "Snow" is featured and is one of my personal favorites.

5. Christmas in the Stars, a Star Wars Christmas album. No, this has nothing to do with the Holiday Special, which should best be remembered as a drunken night in which details are lost in a fog of cloud and dust. No, this is a cute little album put together by who knows to cash in on the Star Wars phenomenon. It features vocals of R2-D2 and Anthony Daniels as See-Threepio. Classics include "What Can You Get a Wookiee for Christmas (When He Already Owns a Comb?)," "Meaning of Christmas" and the titular "Christmas in the Stars." It's fluff, really, but I look the other way when the fluff is Star Wars-related.

List of Fives Part Eighteen

2009-12-11T13:35:00.000-08:00

Five Favorite Holiday Movie Favorites:

1. "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," Rankin & Bass. Come on! Even though Mickey Rooney is doing the voice of Kris Kringle, who doesn't love this one? It's a classic! This little tale tells the "story" of how Santa Claus came to be! And, it is far better than that horrendous "Santa Claus The Movie," which had only one good thing going for it: Sheena Easton's song.

2. "Muppet Christmas Carol," the Muppets. I am not fond of Charles Dickens' oft filmed Christmas parable. I like this one, though. Probably because it is populated by the Muppets, with the delightful Michael Caine as Ebenezer Scrooge. But, it is light-hearted enough to be fun and just dark enough to drive the point of the story home. And Kermit's song with little Robin (as Tiny Tim) is just adorable.

3. "The Santa Clause," Disney. I was skeptical about this film at first but what a brilliant re-imagining of the Santa Claus mythos. It's not one Santa, it's a series of Santas, replaced as needed. It's brilliant and manages to be heart-warming without being overly sentimental. Tim Allen is perfect as the cynical toy salesman who ends up being the new Santa. And, it doesn't lose any magic upon repeated viewing.

4. "Little Women," 1994. Yes, this is technically not a Christmas film, but this one does feature several events surrounding the Christmas holiday and it is, in my opinion, the best adaptation of the novel. And Winona Ryder, who has made a career of playing characters addicted to keeping diaries, is perfect as Jo. Christian Bale as Laurie doesn't hurt, either.

5. "The Man Who Came to Dinner," 1942. I've written about this film before. That it takes place around Christmas does not, again, make it a "holiday" film, but it is just so deliciously well-acted and deals with a very unwanted guest at Christmastime is just a cherry atop the sundae. And, Monty Woolley, as the titular character, is wicked. Wonderfully wicked. It's a nice alternative for those (like me) who don't really like "It's a Wonderful Life." (No, I don't. At all! Hate it, actually.)

List of Fives Part Seventeen

2009-12-11T13:15:00.000-08:00

Five Favorite Poems--In no particular order

1. Fire and Ice, Robert Frost. My sister will laugh at this because I am not a big Robert Frost fan. But I've always loved this poem. I have a soft spot for "Nothing Gold Can Stay," but that's more because of "The Outsiders" novel than anything else. What do I love about "Fire and Ice?" I love its simplicity. The poem is about the end of the world and what does it matter how it ends? Frost says that when it comes to hate, which could very well lead to world destruction, hot or cold is irrelevant. Great stuff.

2. Resume by Dorothy Parker. Miss Parker was a whip, a pistol, and a genius. This poem, all eight lines, are precise. Life is pain... deal with it. But she says it with a glimmer and a wink. And a healthy dose of reality.

3. The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe. This was a close call. It was either this or Poe's "The Bells." But "The Raven" won because it is a horror story in a poem. Thus is Poe's genius. He was never afraid to shy away from the darker side of things and "The Raven" exemplifies that perfectly. Madness is never that far away, is it?

4. Because I Could Not Stop for Death by Emily Dickinson. How odd. I just realized that I've picked American poets. Strange. Anyway, Dickinson is somber and morose but here she manages to find solace in Death as, in the guise of a suitor, they make their way through her ending life toward eternity. It's probably Dickinson's best work.

5. Sonnet 116 by William Shakespeare. Yes, it is probably the most popular of his Sonnets. But there's a reason. It's beautiful. Oh, to know for sure what the poet speaks of, a love that "bears it out even to the edge of doom." Does loving this poem make me a romantic? We could argue that until forever. I just adore this. I believe that such a love is possible. At least, I hope it is.

List of Fives Part Sixteen

2009-11-26T13:00:00.000-08:00

Five Reasons to be Thankful

1. I've made it this far. I've got forty years under my ever-expanding belt. Some folks don't get that long. I'm always amazed when I hear about men and women in the Armed Forces dying in Iraq or Afghanistan at 19 or 22. I never thought I would live to see 40. Why? Just never thought about it. Now that I am nearing 41... I don't know what I was so afraid of. (And I made it to the UK before my 40th birthday!)

2. My Roommate. Okay, it's my sister and sometimes she does drive me quite bananas but she's always there. Sometimes she disapproves; sometimes she gets downright angry... but more often than not, she just shakes her head and chalks it up to my eccentricities. She paid for my trip to the UK and to Hawai'i. She spoils me and I don't think she realizes how much I realize it. And how much I truly appreciate her. She's one of my best friends.

3. Me mates. I love my friends... I don't have many friends but the ones I have, I've had for a long time. When I make friends, I make friends for a lifetime. They laugh with me. They accept me as I am. They encourage me (thank you, Ron) and let me blow off steam (Ranae & Liz--especially Liz). They trust me. I'm loyal to them. There is nothing I would not do for them. I would walk through fire, I would travel through heaven and hell for each and every one of them. Why? Because they deserve it for liking someone as moody and cantankerous as me.

4. The Fourteen Years. The Fifteen Years Times 2. That's how long I had Griffin, Indy, and Pokie. My most cherished moments with my animal babies are my own. And I'm grateful for them. I wish I had more time with each of them. But I'm grateful for the long, happy, and healthy lives they all had.

5. My Mom. This woman! I love my mom. A single mother, she sent both my sister and me to private school. She helped put me through college. She is responsible for my lifelong collection of Star Wars action figures (yes, it's her fault!). Even at the age of forty, when my baby boy Griffin died, she understood and comforted me--though she was three thousand miles away. I LOVE my Mom and am thankful every day that I can still call her up and say "hello." She's also my most loyal correspondent.

List of Fives Part Fifteen

2009-11-18T11:34:00.000-08:00

Five Truly Great Angelina Jolie performances:

Say what you will about her, she is a damn fine actor.
Here's Five to prove it.

1. Gia. I think this performance brought Jolie to the attention of the world. Her large expressive eyes convey the loneliness and emptiness this young woman must have felt throughout her troubled life. Angelina bares her soul in this performance. She portrays Gia Carangi from her beginnings in Philadelphia to her shocking end. (Carangi became one of the first women to die of AIDS related complications.) Gia was considered by some to be the first supermodel and led a fast, hard life filled with fame, fashion and drug abuse.

2. A Mighty Heart. This film centers less on the kidnapping and brutal death of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl and more on the valiant effort made by his wife, Mariane, to secure his release and, eventually, to carry on in his name. There is one scene in particular that just shocked me. For much of the film, Mariane is the center of strength. The couple's mutual friends rally around her and at times lose faith. Only when Mariane is alone, after learning of Daniel's murder, does she break down. It is as powerful as it is terrifying. In that moment, we worry not just for Mariane's health, but the health of the child she carries with her.

3. Mr. and Mrs. Smith. I know there is some controversy about this film because of what happened between the two stars off the set. But, when it comes right down to it, this film is just fun to watch. Angelina Jolie, like her co-star, is not above spoofing herself. She seems to recognize that people like her in the "sexy, sensual chick-with-gun" persona and she plays it to the hilt here. She also has some comedic moments that prove she can, pretty much, do it all. It's just a cute film. If you watch the "unedited" version, be warned. The "love scene" is a bit racier than the theatrical release.

4. Girl, Interrupted. The film for which Jolie won her Academy Award. And she deserved it. Believe me. She is riveting in this film. When her character, sociopath Lisa Rowe, first appears on screen, every one else fades into the background. It stops being a film centered on Winona Ryder's character and ends up being the main focus. Jolie's character is hypnotic and frightening and manipulative. Ryder knows she should avoid her but she can't. And neither can we. Outstanding performance.

5. Beyond Borders. This film changed my opinion of Angelina Jolie forever, both as an actor and as an individual. (It was during the making of this film that Angelina adopted her son, Maddox.) The story is simple, a New York socialite becomes involved with the medical service group Doctors Without Borders and that involvement transforms her. The film takes us to the Somalian border, to Cambodia and the horrors of the Khmer Rouge, and to war-torn Bosnia. It's a powerful lesson on the wake of the suffering in war and how we, as human beings, can make a difference, even when we think we can't. It's a very moving, heart-breaking film and Angelina is perfect in it.

If you want action only: skip the first Lara Croft and go with "Cradle of Life." The action sequences are better and it also stars Gerard Butler. Yum. "Wanted" is okay; Jolie is in "chick with gun" mode. It seems to be a popular motif for her. I think there is another one called "Salt" coming next Summer.

Suffereth Not From Triskaidekaphobia

2009-11-13T14:53:00.000-08:00

It's been a week. Seven days. Has life turned to normal? No.

Normal would mean a cat sitting on my lap or climbing over computer attachments looking for attention.

It's Friday the 13th. I like this day. I look forward to it.

Wow... the next year to have three Friday the 13th's will be 2012. Is that an omen? Or just a coincidence?

Probably.

Came across this while reading Kathleen McGowan's "The Book of Love."

Il est longtemps que je t'aime
Jamais je ne t'oublierai

It expresses what I feel at this particular time in my life.

I have loved thee a long time.
Forever. I will not forget thee.

Yes, I will go back to my List of Fives.
Not just yet.
Soon...

Tuesday November 10

2009-11-10T12:51:00.000-08:00

Four full days have passed and I still feel an emptiness.

Griffin's presence permeates this house. I still look for him everywhere.

Under the table in the dining room.
Atop a chair in the kitchen.
By the fireplace.
Curled up under my sister's blanket.

I am obsessed with finding pictures of him from the good old days... when he was happy and healthy and full of life.

Griffin was always so full of life. When he started slowing down these last few months, I thought it was just a sign of age catching up with him.

I never thought I would be saying goodbye so soon. Having him as long as I did was just not long enough.

However long I have Sabine will not be long enough.

Griffin: July 17, 1995--November 6, 2009

2009-11-06T10:35:00.000-08:00

My cat Griffin died this morning. He was fourteen years old. This photo was taken by me on Halloween. Griffin had, of late, settled himself on my shoulder just as he did here. I had my camera with me because I was expecting my best friend, Liz, and her family and I wanted photos of the kids in their costumes.

Despite all the guilt I feel (should I have taken him to the vet yet again?) and the remorse that he did not live to see fifteen, I know that what remains with me is the memory of this creature who drove me crazy, who woke me up in the middle of the night for food or for no reason at all, who jumped on top of the fridge when my sister and I moved into our house, who clawed his way through couches and pillows and even a pair or two of blue jeans. He had a purr like you wouldn't believe and never shied away from anyone who would give him a good back rub. I used to call him a "man whore."

I would get a little jealous if he sat on Carolyn's lap or when he rolled onto his back for Ranae or Liz or even his "daddy," Brent. He was mine! I know everything about him. I know his entire medical history. I know his likes and dislikes. He loved peppermint; used to go nuts over the stuff. He liked to be the center of attention, even if that attention meant getting his nails cut.

Over the summer, he started having issues. He had stopped eating. In a panic, I took him to the vet ER and he was, after tests and tests, diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease. He was on medication and a special diet. My sister theorizes that this made him "old" all of a sudden. In the past couple of weeks, he had slowed down so much.

I went downstairs this morning and found Griffin lying on the floor in a daze. He was barely breathing. I tried to rouse him and took him upstairs to my sister's room. He died on her bed shortly thereafter. Carolyn, Sabine, and I all said goodbye. He was my special little guy. My Stud Muffin. My Griffiemeister. I'm gonna miss hearing his mews.

List of Fives Part Fourteen

2009-11-05T08:46:00.000-08:00

Five Reasons the G.I. Joe film sucked!

(I have to... I am a huge fan of the animated series from the early 1980s.)

1. The Baroness--In the animated series, the Baroness was one of my favorite characters. She had a muddled Eastern European accent, was relentless in her pursuit of Cobra's aims, secretly (or not so much) crushed on Destro, and was a master of disguise. The character in this debacle of a film is revealed to be Duke's former fiancee who went missing after the death of her brother. Yawn! Come on! She even turns good at the "climax" of the film to save Duke! *cringe*

2. Channing Tatum as "Duke"--I'm not a big fan of Duke. Flint was always my guy. But I cannot even imagine the film's Duke, as portrayed by Tatum, being one of the major leaders of G.I. Joe. Why don't young people in film act anymore? Granted, this is G.I. Joe, not Shakespeare, but still. Would a little emoting hurt? Tatum seems intent on holding his face as still as possible. Ugh! The animated series characters had more expressions!

3. The action sequences--In a word, downright boring! Most of it has been done before. Big explosions? Who cares? Weird weapons eating up the Eiffel Tower? Maybe you shouldn't have shown it in the trailer! The animated series was fairly formulaic but when you have lots of campy goodness going on, who cares? Maybe this film just took itself a bit too seriously? The accelerator suits looked like rip-offs from the "Halo" video game. And, they were sort of foolish since Snake Eyes was able to do everything Duke and Ripcord did without the suits!

4. Cobra Commander is Who?--The filmmakers tried to create a real-life scenario for where Cobra came from (the "Baroness" is an actual baroness, married to a man named de Cobray--get it?--who also happens to be a microbiologist or some such thing) and why Cobra Commander hides his face. Did we really need to know? What was so cool about the animated series Cobra Commander is that a) he was grossly incompetent and b) he was so obsessive in his quest for power that he surrounded himself mostly with sycophantic fools who usually ended up thwarting his plans for world domination. The film version was laughable and not in a good way. I admire Joseph Gordon-Levitt (yeah, I know) for his effort but this was a waste. I think in terms of Cobra Commander, it would have been okay for them to go a bit campy. The guy is obsessed with snakes and dreams of global conquesssssssst. He is supposed to be laughed at.

5. Serious lack of Joes!--Where was Lady Jaye? Flint? Mutt? Gung-Ho? Heck, even Shipwreck? The "team" (consisting mostly of Duke, Ripcord, Scarlett--yawn!, Heavy Duty, Snake Eyes and Breaker) went to various locations like the animated series. But, with the animated series, if the Joes had to go to the jungle, Recondo was there to guide them. Snow? Snow Job! Under water? Torpedo or Deep Six. There just weren't enough Joes. It's the same argument I made against the "Mission Impossible" films. That series and this are about units, teams. The Joes are about a large group of specially trained forces that can take on Cobra anywhere in the world. Six people aren't going to cut it. What made the animated series so much fun is how seamlessly the Joes moved. Yeah, the story arch would follow Duke & Scarlett or Flint & Lady Jaye but they would have a nice supporting team with them. Why would the Joes go to the polar ice cap without a snow specialist like Snow Job, Avalanche, or Alpine?

Now, I realize I'm ragging on a film that was not a big hit but I was super-excited when I heard that someone was going to attempt a live action version of the G.I. Joe story. And imagine my bliss when I heard that Ray "Darth Maul" Park was going to be playing Snake Eyes! This film was downright painful in its inanity.

Two (maybe three) highlights:
Ray Park, as Snake Eyes, had the best performance of the film. (For those of you who don't know, Snake Eyes does not speak and his face is covered by a mask.) I did not like the film mask, though. But, give Ray Park a physical role and just watch him move. He got into some nice sword fights with Storm-Shadow (another disappointing character), which were the highlights of the action sequences.

Brendan Fraser. Yep, he shows up briefly. I don't know exactly who he was supposed to be but he was wearing a beret like my boy, Flint, does so I am thinking he was supposed to be Flint.

Musical score was okay. Not great but still some good cues here and there.

Samhain

2009-10-31T11:27:00.001-07:00

Don't have much to say, just wanted to mark the day...

Samhain is a high Sabbat, a time to honor those who came before us. At this time of year, ending the harvest, we say goodbye to the old and wait for the new. The Goddess sleeps under the blanket of Winter and the Lord of the Hunt sustains us with his fires.

We celebrate the end of the harvest,
We honor those animals that have died,
We pay homage to our Ancestors,
We lay out soul cakes for them.
We honor the cycle of Life and Death--
And praise and honor the God and Goddess.

The veil between the worlds is thin...
Blessed Samhain...

List of Fives Part Thirteen

2009-10-20T22:03:00.000-07:00

October 21st is Carrie Fisher’s 53^rd birthday. (Happy Birthday to you!) So, in her honor:

Five Favorite Carrie Fisher Films:

1. Sunday Drive – Way back in the late 1980s, Disney started making a series of “movies for television” for their Sunday night programming line-up. I guess they had just purchased ABC or something. Anyway, one of these movies is this little gem that stars Carrie Fisher, Tony Randall, and Ted Wass. It’s about what happens to three travelers who are all going for a Sunday Drive (natch!) for different reasons. It’s just a cute little film and I am on the constant and ever vigilant lookout for it to make its DVD debut. It’s nothing serious but it was made when Carrie was about 30 and she looks gorgeous. I mean, that shot of her when they are in the woods fixing the flat tire! Hubba-Hubba! She also sings a little bit (always a bonus) and whenever Carrie gets to play fiery, self-confident women it’s always a good thing.

2. Leave Yesterday Behind – I think this television movie cemented my Carrie Fisher fan hood and separated it from Princess Leia fan hood. Does that even make sense? This rare little gem stars John Ritter as a college polo player who ends up a paraplegic after falling from his horse during a polo match. Retiring to his grandfather’s farm, he meets the spunky daughter (guess who!) of a neighbor and realizes that just because he has lost the use of his legs doesn’t mean his life is over. Love it! Carrie made this after returning from England filming that “little space movie” and anyone who questions her looks need just take a peek at this film. She’s absolutely beautiful. And she wears denim throughout. What? What?!?

3. Sweet Revenge – This aired on TNT way back when. Carrie plays a lawyer practicing in Paris. Her divorce is final but the judge rules that since her husband supported her while she got her law degree, she owes him alimony. Being the lawyer, she finds a clause. If her ex gets married again, she is out of the alimony game. She hires an actress to fall in love with her ex. Of course, what she doesn’t anticipate is that the actress and her ex end up actually falling in love. Unable to lie to him, the actress spills the beans and her ex comes up with a bit of revenge. It’s not the greatest film but Carrie’s performance is fantastic. She looks good, too. Especially in that little number she wears at the party during the climax of the film. Wow! And she gets to make out with that hunky French actor at the end, too. Yay!

4. The Empire Strikes Back – I had to include one Star Wars film so why not the one that offers great romantic banter between Leia and Han but also some kisses and about one hundred thousand close ups of Carrie! I’ve heard the reason for these close-ups is because Irwin Kershner fell in love with Carrie’s eyes and aren’t we all a little better for it? Arguably the best film of the trilogy (if not the saga) in terms of story arch and performance. Everyone is on the top of his or her game here, including Carrie. Has there been an onscreen couple with as much fire as Han & Leia? I don’t think so. It’s fun watching these two spar, maybe because we all know how it is going to end.

5. Postcards from the Edge – Okay, technically, Carrie doesn’t appear in this film but she wrote the screenplay as well as the novel it is based upon and because she is a loving, warm, and generous person, she also provides the commentary on the DVD. Kick ass! (You all do realize that she is the only cast member from the original Star Wars trilogy to participate in the commentary on the DVDs, right?) Anyway, one of the reasons I love, love, love this film is because the dialogue is snappy and quick, and Meryl Streep is essentially playing Carrie. So, you have one of the greatest actors ever playing Carrie Fisher. I don’t know if Meryl did some things subconsciously or not but there they are. Also, this film explores something not covered in the book: Suzanne’s relationship with her mother. Of course, it mirrors Carrie’s relationship with Debbie Reynolds (though Debbie is not a drinker like Doris).

Honorable mention: Romancing the Bride – God-awful “straight to DVD” film but Carrie’s in it and she’s the best thing in it. A young woman, while making final preparations for her dream wedding in Mexico, ends up at a cantina getting plastered on some Mexican secret tequila mega-brew and marries a young man who is definitely not her fiancé. She has to spend the next twenty-four hours before her wedding getting out of this legal marriage. Enter her mom, played with delicious sarcasm by Carrie! The reason I like this film (though, I only watch the Carrie scenes) is simple: in the late 1990s, Roseanne Barr bought the rights to re-tool the BBC comedy classic “Absolutely Fabulous” for American audiences. (It didn’t really need it but that’s another “Five Favorite” list.) When asked who could possibly play the American version of Jennifer Saunders’ “Edina Monsoon,” Roseanne admitted she only had one person in mind. Guess! No, go on! Yep, Carrie Fisher! Now, censors in the States would never let the American “Patsy & Edina” get away with all the illegal drug use so the show never came to fruition. Now, this is why I love Carrie’s portrayal in “Romancing the Bride.” This mother is as close as we are going to get to what Carrie’s take on Edina might have been. And I will be eternally grateful for the chance to get a glimpse.

If the Bible is Infallible, Why Does It Need Editing?

2009-10-18T10:32:00.001-07:00

So... I got up this morning, settled down to a nice warm bowl of oatmeal, and opened up my newspaper's editorial page for a good morning read. I often read Leonard Pitts, Jr.,'s editorials because he often speaks on subjects I care about.

If you don't get his column, follow the link http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/leonard-pitts/story/1287092.html.

I had heard that there was a project to change the bible to make it reflect "more accurately" the views of ultra-conservative right-wing America but after reading Pitts' column, I have to ask:

If these folks consider this book the infallible word of god, why are they--in what can only be called arrogance--changing it to suit their personal views? Wouldn't this be considered the height of blasphemy? I thought we were supposed to mold ourselves to god, not god to us.

I'm utterly confused by this, but not necessarily surprised. For centuries, people have taken the purported word of god and used it to justify their own hatreds, prejudices, and petty evil. They used it to support the institution of slavery. That slavery still exists today seems lost on these folks. They use it to deny others of their equal rights. As Bill Maher pointed out in one of his "New Rules" the other week, equal means "everyone gets them." Period.

So this Andrew Schlafly fellow thinks he knows better than the god who wrote with his own hand this book that Schlafly puts so much faith in?

I've read the bible. (Most of it... okay, I skipped over those "begats," but can you blame me?) It's allegorical at best, self-contradictory at worst and can be used to justify everything from downright murder to hacking off foreskins with reckless abandon to opening one's own home to total strangers to not paying income taxes. You take from it what you need.

I just wish these so-called "Christians" would take the message of their "Christ" guy more to heart.

List of Fives Part Twelve

2009-10-15T10:08:00.000-07:00

Five Film Treats for Hallowe'en!

1. Arsenic and Old Lace -- This Frank Capra film stars Cary Grant as Mortimer Brewster, confirmed bachelor and theater critic trying to steal away with his new bride before the press finds out. He heads on over to his dear aunties to inform them of the news, only to learn that these two old spinsters have a secret of their own. They have been poisoning "lonely old gentlemen" and burying them in the basement. It's a hilarious romp and perfect fodder for Halloween. Check out Raymond Massey in serious "Boris Karloff" make-up, a running gag in the film.

2. Mad Monster Party -- This Claymation classic features all the great monsters: Dr. Frankenstein, his Monster and Bride, the Werewolf, Dracula, the Invisible Man, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the Mummy, and the Hunchback from Notre Dame. Used to watch this film as a kid and finally found it on DVD. Now it is a must for Halloween.

3. Nosferatu -- If you want to see a truly scary vampire film, check out this German silent classic. Beautifully shot in a sepia tone, it stars Max Schreck as Graf Orlok. And he is one creepy dude! Loosely based on Bram Stoker's classic Dracula (okay, it's a total rip-off), this film uses those old tricks of stop-motion camera work, ghoulish makeup (or is it?), and music to frighten. Watch it and try not to keep checking over your shoulder. (Honorable mention: if you like this one, check out the film "Shadow of the Vampire," which is about the making of this classic. That may be even more frightening than this.)

4. The Rocky Horror Picture Show -- Let's be honest. There's no real horror. Okay, there is implied cannibalism and all sorts of debauchery but that's about it. This musical is a cult classic and there's a reason for it. It's so unbelievably disjointed and weird, it was bound for infamy. Starring a young Tim Curry (in drag!), this film spawned the classic hit "Time Warp" song; a song that gets about as much play this time of year as Michael Jackson's "Thriller." It's not the best film ever made (nor is it the worst, frankly) but it is eccentric and a bit strange. But who cares when you are having this much fun? Don't dream it, be it!

5. Sleepy Hollow -- Yep, Tim Burton's film. Why do I love this film? Well, Johnny Depp's "Ichabod Crane" is not brave or daring. He faints, repeatedly. And often to hilarious effect. The film uses images of the Headless Horseman we are all familiar with (the flaming pumpkin head on the bridge, thank you Lisa!) and goes deeper into the tale. It's chilling and terrifying but not overly so. The Horseman (when bearing a face) is played by Christopher Walken. Brilliant casting, if you ask me.

I know, I know... you are wondering "where are the horror films?"

Well... I don't go for gross horror films. I like Clive Barker's "Hellraiser" films but that's as far as I'm willing to go with gore. And after the first two... I stop. Don't need to see that, thanks.

I don't watch bloodfests like "Saw" or all those creepy films that Ellen Paige mentioned in "Juno." Don't like 'em. See no need for 'em.

I'm no fan of Freddy, Michael, or Jason. Ridiculous exploitation.

And I don't find "The Exorcist," "The Omen," or "Rosemary's Baby" scary. "The Ninth Gate" is a favorite film of mine but I don't necessarily deem it a "Halloween" film.

So, there's my list! Happy Halloween!

List of Fives Part Eleven

2009-10-07T09:36:00.000-07:00

Five Questions I Want Answered by Whomever Is in Charge

1. If God had wanted men to have foreskins, why aren't they born with them?

--Okay, this is me being snarky. Let's just say that I am anti-circumcision. Very much so. It's a useless and often dangerous procedure. What I really don't get is the parents who don't want their kids to get immunized or have their hearing tested or whatever but Yes! Go and slice off that wonderful piece of skin that protects the glans! Please! No, he's a boy! He can take the pain! Never mind the screaming. He doesn't understand what's going on!

And don't get me started on female circumcision! What the f#%*&!?!?!?

2. If Star Wars "sucks so much" now, why do people keep referencing it?

--Come on! Even if they are poking fun at the prequels, they are still making the reference. The prequels were never going to be the original trilogy (no Mark, no Harrison, no Carrie--how could they be?) but they are not terrible. Admittedly, I do skip over the podrace when I watch TPM but other than that, seriously. Oh don't worry, the list of reasons why each prequel film is cool is coming. Trust me.

3. If the "Founding Fathers" truly wanted the United States of America to be a Christian nation, don't you think they would have mentioned it? Put it in the U. S. Constitution? Something?

--These guys wrote our laws. They wrote the documents that frame our national character. If they truly wanted the United States to be a haven of Christianity, they would've written it into the law. Is the reason they didn't because they believed in individual freedom to worship (or not) however a person chose? Just asking.

4. If Jesus returns and he looks more like Osama bin Laden than Jim Caveziel, will the extremists on the Right still be so "pro-Jesus?"

--No one can answer this. I'm just curious. I have my ideas... but I'm biased.

5. Why can I spend a day working and watch it drag but when I want to just play, the day disappears like quicksilver?

--I have a feeling this question has been posed many times before.

Whose God Is It Anyway?

2009-10-06T15:55:00.000-07:00

Okay,
I am a donating member of Americans United which is an organization made up of folks from all over the country who believe in the founding principle that religion should play absolutely no role in government/politics and vice versa.

So, I got my quarterly newsletter and I peruse it to read what crazy things the religious (not so) right are doing to blur that line that the Founders (whom they seem to put so much, pardon the word, faith in) thought was necessary to the preservation of this foundling nation.

And then I came across this:
http://www.au.org/media/church-and-state/archives/2009/10/mich-school-board-member.html

Now, my question for this man is this:
Why do you assume that the "God" that is mentioned in the phrase "In God We Trust," is your god alone? Could it not be a generic statement for anyone who believes in a god? Why do you assume that this god is not the god of Abraham or of (gasp!) Muhammad? (History teaches us that Yahweh, Jehovah, and Allah are all the same god, but history, especially religious history, remains one of those "inconvenient truths" we hear about.)

What if a person's god has no form, warrants no sacrifice, denounces all praise as human (i.e., imperfect) flattery, and just exists to make sure the cosmic balance remains? What if a person's god rides about on golden wings made of the fires of the sun and causes earthquakes and tsunamis because people like this wingnut blaspheme in his "name?"

And, by the way, "god" is not a name. "God" is a job description.
Athena is a god.
Zeus is a god.
Buddha is not a god.
Jesus is the offspring of a god and a mortal woman. Just like Perseus and Heracles.
But not Achilles. He was the offspring of a goddess and a mortal man.

Just so you know it goes both ways.

Allah is just the Arabic word for "god."

Angels are not gods.
Demons are not gods.
Whatever Satan/Lucifer was, is not a god.

Alanis Morrisette and Morgan Freeman have both played "god." Though, I enjoyed Alanis' a bit more, mainly because it blasted the stereotype to pieces. Yeah, I know, Freeman is black but he's still a dude.

I like god in the feminine.
Like Artemis and Demeter.
Kali.
Her Supreme Regent Isis, Mother of All.
And my beloved Bast Et.

I think of them when I see "In God We Trust."
Because I do.

List of Fives Part Ten

2009-09-30T06:40:00.000-07:00

My Sister's Five Favorite Musicals

In Two Parts:

Musicals Created Before 1970:
-West Side Story
-Funny Girl
-The Sound of Music
-My Fair Lady
-The Unsinkable Molly Brown

These are probably my favorites, too. I always claim to NOT be a musical-type of gal but these I enjoy for various reasons.

Musicals Created After 1970:
-Les Miserables
-Sweeney Todd
-Dreamgirls
-The Lion King (she adds the caveat that she likes it more for the visual concept rather than the music)
-Wicked

Again, I would agree. Though I think my love for Wicked far exceeds hers... if that is even possible.

List of Fives Part Nine

2009-09-18T15:10:00.001-07:00

Five Good Documentary Films:

1. Bowling for Columbine – Yes, Michael Moore is left of center. Yes, he has grievances with the haves. But, he is also a damn good documentary filmmaker in that his documentaries are interesting, humorous and educating. This one is about our collective gun enthusiasm in the United States and how that subculture permeates daily life. (Even though this film was released in 2002, given the current trend of bringing guns to town hall meetings makes it as timely as ever.)

2. The U.S. Versus John Lennon – I recommend this documentary because prior to its viewing, I only knew John Lennon as the former Beatle who was gunned down at the age of 40. I really did not know him apart from his music. This documentary presents John Lennon as a man, a real individual who wanted to spread a message of peace and love and hope. After watching it, I had new respect for this easy-going man who was taken from us way too soon.

3. March of the Penguins – One of the reasons I love this documentary is that it does not shy away from life’s harsh realities (neither does Planet Earth for that matter, but that is about twelve hours of footage). Yet, these resilient creatures survive and thrive in the harshest of all environments. It’s just a beautiful film to watch. If you have the DVD, watch the “Making of” documentary, which is about an hour long itself and fascinating.

4. Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price – This one was directed by Robert Greenwald (BraveNewWorld.net). I only begrudgingly went into Wal-Mart on occasion but after watching this film, I simply refuse. From its environmental crimes to harassing of employees to keep from forming unions, this company exemplifies what is seriously wrong with corporate America. Did you know that most employees are forced to work part-time to keep them off the company’s health insurance program and HR execs actively encourage employees to seek out Medicaid.

5. Life After People – I rented this one because I was curious. Boy, it was mind-blowing. The main consensus of this documentary is that, if every last human being vanished from the planet, Nature would heal herself. Tar roads would disappear under new growth. Buildings and bridges would collapse from neglect and the animals would thrive. Breaking down events in five, ten, fifteen, fifty, one hundred, and then one thousand years, the documentary offers an unblinking glimpse into just how fragile all those things we think are so precious really are. Finally got that dream car you always wanted? Sorry, it’s sitting there, rusting and decaying serving as a home from transient rodents.

List of Fives Part Eight

2009-09-15T11:00:00.001-07:00

Five Favorite Patrick Swayze films:

For you, partner...

1. Roadhouse -- cheesy as all hell but Patrick shows off his martial arts skills, it features the late Jeff Healey's band, and Sam Elliot shows up. It's a Sunday afternoon/guilty pleasure film. Not much of a plot: Swayze plays Dalton, a cooler at a rough and tumble bar and he ends up cleaning out the entire town.

2. Red Dawn -- this one goes way back to the days of Reagan and the Red Scare. Swayze leads a team of teenagers as they fight Russians and Cubans who have invaded the United States. It's as fascist as they come (makes Starship Troopers look progressively socialist in comparison) but it is a John Milius film, so what can you expect? Swayze does a good turn as (again) a big brother looking out for his unit.

3. Tall Tale -- this film will make you wonder why Patrick Swayze didn't play cowboys more often on film. Here, he plays Pecos Bill to comedic perfection, helping out a young boy deal with the land baron intent on stealing his family farm. Swayze looks good as Pecos Bill and seems to be having a ball playing the part.

4. Point Break -- another Sunday afternoon/guilty pleasure film, this one is about surfing bank robbers. But who can resist Swayze's Bodhi, who spouts proverbs while hanging ten and pushing the adrenaline envelope in search of the perfect wave. I don't remember the exact quote but an idea that has stayed with me is spoken by Bodhi, who reminds us that every now and then, Nature likes to show us just how small and insignificant we truly are.

5. To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar -- mouthful of a title, I know. This film was made after the huge success of Australian film "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" wowed audiences. Three drag queens travel across country only to end up stranded in a small town with small town ideals and issues. Not the best film ever made but Swayze, Wesley Snipes, and John Leguizamo play the drag queens. I don't think I will ever truly be able to forgive Patrick for making a better looking woman than I will ever be.

Honorable mention:
I know everyone will, in speaking of Swayze, mention "Ghost" and "Dirty Dancing" as his big films. Yes, they both were huge successes.

But if you want to see a truly great Patrick Swayze performance, check out the film City of Joy.

Swayze plays Max Lowe, a disillusioned surgeon traveling the world to find his sense of purpose, comes across Hazari Pal and his family who have come to Calcutta to find a new life. These two men could not be any more different and yet they forge a surprising friendship in one of the poorest and most populous cities in the world. It's a great film and one not to be missed.

Or, you could just rent North and South. Swayze is good in that, too.

September 11

2009-09-11T10:07:00.000-07:00

I remember watching the events unfold.

My sister was at work and called to wake me up. I asked her "who had died," and she said, "just turn on the television." I did. I believe she saw the second plane hit the tower; I only saw the replay footage.

It was the most horrifying thing to witness and I did it from the safety of my living room. I cannot imagine how New Yorkers did it. They are tough in New York, I'm told. We are a resilient people after all.

Since then, watching certain films gives me pause. Men in Black has a shot of the towers. Godspell has a musical number that ends on top of the north tower. There are other films, so many others. And what is odd is that films made after that day, eight years ago today, that show the familiar shot always seem to be missing something.

A couple of days after, I wrote the names of the flight crew and passengers who died in the four planes used in the attacks.

Two thousand nine hundred and ninety-eight people died as a result of the attacks on September 11th. I'm not counting the perpetrators. They wanted this. 2,998 people did not. Thirteen of this number died not on the day but of wounds sustained on the day.

Check out these stats (according to WikiAnswers):
There were 266 people on the four planes:
American Airlines Flight 11 (crashed into the WTC): 92 (including five terrorists)
United Airlines Flight 175 (crashed into the WTC): 65 (including five terrorists)
American Airlines Flight 77 (crashed into the Pentagon): 64 (including five terrorists)
United Flight 93 (downed in Shanksville, PA): 45 (including four terrorists)

There were 2,595 people in the World Trade Center and near it, including:
343 NYFD firefighters and paramedics
23 NYPD police officers
37 Port Authority police officers
1,402 people in Tower 1
614 people in Tower 2
658 people at one company, Cantor Fitzgerald
1,762 New York residents
674 New Jersey residents
1 NYFD firefighter killed by a man jumping off the top floors of the Twin Towers

There were 125 civilians and military personnel at the Pentagon.
1,609 people lost a spouse or partner on 9/11. More than 3,051 children lost parents.

Reflecting on this makes my problems seem petty... maybe that is the point?

List of Fives Part Seven

2009-09-09T10:59:00.000-07:00

Five Great Animated Films:

1. Persepolis – Based on a graphic novel of the same name by writer Marjane Satrapi, "Persepolis" tells the story of young Marji growing up during the regime change in Iran. It’s a unique coming-of-age story because it is from Marji’s perspective. Adapted from the writer’s own life story, it’s an alternative viewpoint to Iran than what a Western audience might perceive. Visually, the animation is simply but potent, told in black and white and shades of grey. (Available in French & English.)

2. Triplets of Belleville – Another French film, this one tells the story of Madame Souza, her grandson Champion, and the delightfully off-center Triplets, once famous jazz singers. After Champion is kidnapped during the Tour de France, Souza sets out to rescue her grandson, crossing the Atlantic and ending up in the mysterious seaport of Belleville, home of the French mafia. There, she encounters the Triplets, joins their band and finds her grandson being held in the clutches of the Godfather of the French mob himself. Chaos ensues. Love this film. It’s quirky and strange and wild. And the music is great, too. (French with English Subtitles)

3. Fire and Ice – This film, from Ralph Bakshi, is controversial for many reasons. First is that the filmmaker used rotoscoping, a technique where the animator draws on previously filmed actions and movements. Secondly, there is the discussion about whether the “sub-humans” in the film are meant to represent black people. I’m black and I honestly don’t see it. I think they are supposed to be Neanderthal-like men. But, I have loved this film since I saw it ages ago and it is still one of my favorite pieces of animation. It’s an action-adventure tale and is there a better character than Darkwolf? Come on!

4. Sleeping Beauty – I think this masterpiece is the finest animated film ever produced by Walt Disney. It’s gorgeously drawn, with its tapestry-like backgrounds and beautifully scored, using Tchaikovsky’s compositions from his ballet, “Sleeping Beauty.” Princess Aurora is given some screen time, as is the hero, Prince Phillip. The three fairies, Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather, are hilarious but still potent enough to take on the absolutely fabulous villain, Maleficent. It is this villain that sets this film apart from the other “princess” fairy tales from Disney. Maleficent is unrepentantly evil and that’s what makes her so dangerous. It doesn’t get any better than this.

5. Howl’s Moving Castle – Okay, anything from Hayao Miyazaki is a classic but I think that “Howl’s Moving Castle” is something extra special. Based on Diana Wynne Jones’ novel, this adaptation takes the story to a whole new dimension. Young Sophie is transformed into an old woman who ends up working for the mysterious sorcerer Howl and living in his moving castle. Helped along by Howl’s apprentice Markl and the comically disturbing fire demon, Calcifer, Sophie hopes to break the spell cast upon her and ends up freeing Howl from his own particular curse and restoring peace to the world. Miyazaki never shies away from the whimsical to add heart to a story. His adherence to old-school animation serves the story well and enhances the more fantastical story elements. This is a great addition to any animated collection.

List of Fives Part Six

2009-09-02T11:58:00.000-07:00

Five Film Scores That Were Better Than the Film:

1. Passion of the Christ – Music by John Debney. Debney manages to capture emotion seriously lacking from Mel Gibson’s Christian snuff film. The music is underscored with Aramaic chants and evokes an almost otherworldly presence. There is beauty here, a stark contrast to the brutality of the film. My favorite track is “Resurrection.”

2. Robin Hood Prince of Thieves – Music by Michael Kamen. Kamen is a personal favorite of mine. I think that his Robin Hood theme, which has been used for one production company’s theme music, is a worthy follow-up to Erich Wolfgang Korngold. Hated the film (especially because of its mostly American cast) but loved the score. Can’t stand the song, but who can? Favorite track: “Opening Titles.”

3. Waterworld – Music by James Newton Howard. The movie, a remake/rip-off of “The Road Warrior,” is not good. Good premise, bad execution. The music is better than the film. The music sounds nautical and otherworldly. James Newton Howard knows how to match music to mood. Mark Isham contributed a score for this film that was rejected for various reasons. Luckily, Howard was available and provided a score that was sweeping and haunting. Favorite track: “Swimming.”

4. Hancock – Music by John Powell. The movie is not the greatest. I don’t know why they are bothering with a sequel. It’s about an amnesiac that has astonishing superhuman powers. To say anymore would give away the plot. But the music is great. Especially the last two tracks on the CD. “Death and Transfiguration,” fits the scene it accompanies and bleeds seamlessly into “The Moon and the Superhero.” And, if you’ve seen the film, hearing this when the shot of the moon comes is truly inspiring. Favorite Track: “The Moon and the Superhero.”

5. Krull – Music by James Horner. The music from this mediocre science fiction fantasy is probably James Horner’s first masterpiece. I was able to find a double-CD set of the score for this film a while ago and I go back to it often. With the right amount of heroism and romance, its epic in scale and just a hint of the great music to come from Academy Award winner Horner. Favorite track: “Ride of the Fire Mares.”

List of Fives Part Five

2009-08-30T16:55:00.000-07:00

Five Scary Moments in the Star Wars Saga:

1. Order 66 – In Revenge of the Sith, after Anakin’s fall and the death of Mace Windu, Palpatine reveals himself to be Darth Sidious. With his newly named apprentice at his side, Palpatine makes the final move in his game of galactic chess. Contacting the clone commanders across the galaxy, Palpatine murmurs these simple words, “Execute Order 66.” And, with that command, the clones turn on their Jedi comrades. The following sequence is frightening. The Jedi had, prior to this, enjoyed a super-human status in pop culture. But now, we see that even the strongest of these Knights can still fall prey to being shot in the back by friends.

2. Vader’s Skull – There is a brief moment in The Empire Strikes Back where Captain Needa walks in to Vader’s private chamber aboard the Star Destroyer Executor. Unannounced, he catches a glimpse of Vader sans his helmet. And what Needa sees—what we see—is that Vader is not some evil robotic machine but a scarred human. And that makes him even more frightening. The first time I saw this shot, it made Vader into even more of a villain. And, as everyone knows, this is only the beginning of the nightmare.

3. Vader’s Skull Part Two – Continuing the theme of revealing to our hero, Luke Skywalker, who Darth Vader really is, The Empire Strikes Back contains a scene in which Luke, during his Jedi training, wanders into a cave and is confronted by the specter of Vader himself. Luke fights bravely and seemingly vanquishes his foe, decapitating him swiftly and cleanly. But, to Luke’s (and ours) horror, when the helmet lands and the face plate blasts away, we do not see the horrific wounds of a man scarred by hate and lava. No, we see Luke’s face. And Luke is not the only one scared by this image.

4. Anakin’s Immolation – Of all the terrifying images in Revenge of the Sith, this is the one that has been postulated upon the most. What happened to Anakin that put him in that iconic armor? Now we know. At the climax of a furious lightsaber duel with friend and mentor Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin makes one last attempt to thwart his foe. Leaping over Obi-Wan’s head, he hopes to strike his former master down. But Obi-Wan is ready for him and slices the remainder of Anakin’s limbs away from his body. Anakin falls to the ground in agony. Unable to climb away from the encroaching lava, Anakin’s thighs burst into flame. Screaming his hatred at Obi-Wan, his eyes stained yellow, we watch Anakin burn, the fire a metaphor for the power he craved, a power that has consumed him utterly.

5. The Younglings – This scene from Revenge of the Sith shows just how far Anakin has fallen in his quest for power. After leading the 501st Legion of Clone Troopers into the Jedi Temple to begin the massacre, Anakin enters the Jedi Council chamber. There, several young children, younglings being trained as Jedi, come out of hiding to face someone they believe to be a friend. A young boy asks Anakin what they are to do; there are so many troopers around. Anakin says nothing but lowers his eyes. The next shot shows the children react to the igniting of Anakin’s lightsaber. We do not see what happens next. We do not need to. The scene is meant to frighten us. It does.

List of Fives Part Four

2009-08-29T11:50:00.000-07:00

Five Film Props I Really Want:

1. The Nine Gates to the Kingdom of Shadows – from the film The Ninth Gate. This book, written by a satanic disciple named Aristide Torchia, was almost lost during the Inquisition. However, Torchia secreted away exactly three copies, each containing nine woodcuts that, when placed in correct sequence, will help the reader raise the devil. Now, of course, I don’t buy all this nonsense but I just love this prop. It was masterfully created to resemble a 16th century text and the woodcuts used are diabolically fascinating. Since there are supposed to be three “complete” copies of the prop, I’m sure there is one or two out there available. Right?

2. Advanced Potions – from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Harry, who had not been planning on taking Potions, finds that the new Potions professor, Slughorn, will allow him to continue his education. Since he had not purchased the textbook, Slughorn tells Harry to find a copy in a school cupboard. Harry (and his friend Ron) fight over a brand new copy of the text. Ron wins, takes the new text and Harry is left with the battered old copy. I want the film prop, the one with all of Severus’ scribbles over the printed text. The book looks old, well used, and beautiful. I would love to get this book.

3. The Book of Shadows – from the television series Charmed. Now, I know that you can get a replica of this book with the complete series DVD set but that one is rather small. (And, my sister already has the entire series so buying this set would be redundant, not to mention expensive.) No, I want the prop used on the show. It’s massive, with hand-written art, spells and potions. Plus, it has the Triquetre on the cover. Can you tell I love old books?

4. Henry Jones’ Grail Diary – from the film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. This small, leather-bound diary contains all the clues that Henry Jones, Sr., collected over his lifetime about the Holy Grail. The diary, as shown in the film, even sports Hitler’s autograph… though that has nothing to do with why I want it. I would love to have this prop because it suggests a researcher’s life’s work and passion and the prop contains hand-drawn reproductions of Grail clues found all over Europe and the Middle East.

5. Count Dooku’s lightsaber – from Star Wars Attack of the Clones. I do love a good lightsaber but the lightsaber of this fallen Jedi is by far, the most original and unique of all the models out there. It’s curved hilt caught my eye the moment he ignited it. According to Wookieepedia, the Star Wars wiki, the curved hilt allows for precise movements and was specifically designed for a Makashi duelist. Makashi is one of the seven forms of lightsaber combat as defined by the lightsaber Jedi fight master, Cin Drallig.

List of Fives Part Three

2009-08-28T11:51:00.000-07:00

Five Great Foreign Films:

1. Pan’s Labyrinth – The Spanish fairy tale from Guillermo Del Toro, this masterpiece is one of the most beautiful films I’ve seen in ages. It’s a true fairy tale: dark, scary, full of magical imagery and human violence. Set against the background of the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War, it follows the tale of quiet Ofelia, a young girl moving with her mother to her new stepfather’s headquarters. Her stepfather, an officer in Franco’s fascist army, is hunting rebels and seems only concerned with the baby Ofelia’s mother is expecting. Ofelia wanders in the woods near her new home and finds herself in a labyrinth, meeting an ancient faun at its center. The faun sends Ofelia on a magical quest to prove her worth. It’s just a gorgeous film and a beautifully told story. (Spanish with English Subtitles)

2. Paradise Now – Palestinians Said and Khalid are recruited for a suicide attack on Tel-Aviv. Things go awry and the two are separated before they can complete their mission. The film follows both and tells how they came to this path of destruction, making each man question why he must (or mustn’t) complete the mission. It is a hard film to watch, especially since some of the arguments made sound so reasonable. But I think that is the point of the film, to make the viewer consider that there is more than one side to each argument. (Arabic and English)

3. Sophie Scholl-The Final Days – Sophie Scholl was a student and Germany’s most famous anti-Nazi heroine during World War II. An activist and member of the resistance group, The White Rose, Sophie risked her life to expose the truth behind Hitler’s propaganda machine. Taken from historical records, the film is poignant and inspiring. Sophie remained loyal to her cause and her comrades until the end. The scenes of her interrogation are hard to watch but rewarding, celebrating the final days of this most ordinary hero. (German with English subtitles)

4. Take My Eyes – This is a film about domestic abuse. It is not an easy film to watch but it is worth it to see the transformation of Pilar, the wife. She must change; she must grow strength in order to escape not only the physical abuse but also the emotional manipulation her husband puts her through time and again. What is unique about this film (among similarly themed films) is that this one also takes into account the husband’s point of view. He does not understand why he does what he does nor does he understand why his wife wants to leave him. (Spanish with English subtitles)

5. Twilight Samurai – This film stars Hiroyuki Sanada, one of my favorite actors. This film tells the story of the samurai Seibei, a lowest-ranking samurai who works in the clan’s grain warehouse. A widower who must care for his elderly mother and two young children, Seibei has all but turned his back on samurai tradition, preferring to put his mother and his daughters before himself. Reuniting with a childhood friend, Seibei finds himself becoming her protector when her abusive husband returns. But, like his wife, this woman is from a higher class. The film is nothing fancy. There are only two sword fights and one of them is brilliant in its simplicity. (There’s a plot point there but I won’t spoil it.) Sanada plays his part with a quiet regret and acceptance befitting Seibei’s lowly social position. (Japanese with English Subtitles)

Goodbye Ted

2009-08-26T09:06:00.000-07:00

The histories talked of
lost potential...
Joe Jr., Jack, and Bobby--
they received the glory

But you were the Lucky One
You got to live,
You got to grow old,
You got to see how they
Changed the world

When we speak of you,
And we will,
We will remember you as
The Lion that Lived...

Goodbye Ted...

List of Fives Part Two

2009-08-25T11:48:00.000-07:00

Five Classic Films Everyone Should See:

1. Rain – This is a Joan Crawford film from 1932. Crawford was breaking away from her “flapper girl” roles to more serious work and this one is the start of them all. Crawford plays Sadie Thompson, a loose and free gal who comes into conflict with an evangelical preacher named Davidson, played by Walter Huston. What I love about this film, besides the obvious “saint vs. sinner” story, is that human nature wins in the end, for good or ill. It is set in the South Pacific and the flavors of the region play an integral part of the plot and mood. It’s just a beautifully told and photographed film and showcases Crawford’s talent splendidly.

2. The Man Who Came to Dinner – My sister spotted this on TCM one afternoon while at work and asked me if I had ever seen it. I had not so I rented it because she said that what she saw of it looked funny. What a marvelous treat! Bette Davis rarely did comedic roles and her portrayal of Maggie is a delight. She serves as the personal assistant to insufferable critic Sheridan Whiteside, the titular character, played by Monty Woolley. Convalescing at the home of some patrons after a nasty spill, Sheridan bellows and bullies his way through the Christmas holidays, interfering in everyone’s lives. This film is smart, witty, and laugh-out-loud hilarious.

3. Arsenic and Old Lace – During a recent Cary Grant kick, I decided to rent this film. I had no idea what it was about, though I had heard it was a comedy. This is a hilarious film and a new “Halloween” feature for me. Cary Grant plays confirmed bachelor Mortimer Brewster, trying to get away with his new bride as quietly as possible. (Having been so outspoken against marriage, he reasons that the fewer people who know about his nuptials, the better.) As he tells his doting aunties of his plans, he learns a secret of theirs. These two old maids have been quietly poisoning lonely old men and burying them in the cellar for years. Chaos ensues.

4. The Petrified Forest – Another Bette Davis film, this one also starring Leslie Howard and Humphrey Bogart. Disillusioned World War I vet Alan Squier (Howard) has been wandering the country for years. He stumbles into a small town in New Mexico and meets dreaming café waitress Gabrielle, who finds his worldliness attractive. The two have various existential conversations and form a bond that is tested when notorious gang leader Duke Mantee (Bogart) takes the patrons of the café hostage. Bogart is brilliant in his performance, as is Davis. I just love this film.

5. Witness for the Prosecution – I rented this film for one reason or another (maybe because I had heard of it but never actually sat down and watched it) so I took a chance. WOW! I don’t know which I enjoyed more, the playful banter between Charles Laughton and Elsa Lanchester or the remarkable performances by Marlene Dietrich and Tyrone Power. The story, penned by Agatha Christie, is peppered with plot twists and misdirection. Keep guessing until the very end!

Honorable mention: They Died With Their Boots On – I had to add one Olivia de Havilland film. I recently watched this one and, though it is not one of my favorite Errol Flynn films, it is one of his better performances. Playing George Custer, Errol is confident and exuberant. Though it is a very sympathetic character portrait, the film is of special interest because it is the last film Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland made together. Watch the scene when George and Libby say goodbye just before his “last stand.” Watch it and try not to cry.

List of Fives: Part One

2009-08-25T10:21:00.000-07:00

I like doing lists... it probably appeals to my OCD. So, I've decided to do a series of blogs on lists… just thing I like.

My first one:
Five Hogwarts Subjects I Wish I Could Study:

1. Potions – I’m not looking for something to “put a stopper in death,” but I think it would be cool to have a potion that could clear up acne or give one a sense of “good luck.” I also like the meticulous nature of recipes and my secret crush on the Potion Master has nothing to do with it.

2. Herbology – Since most medicines originate in herb lore, why not go straight to the source? Besides, some of the plants (as described in J.K.’s works) sound downright interesting.

3. History of Magic – I’m a history buff anyway and I would take this class just to get my hands on the textbook. It would be interesting to see how magical history coincided with Muggle history and such. It would also be useful to see the timeline of when non-human magical creatures began to be oppressed.

4. Care of Magical Creatures – Who would not want to learn how to take care of a unicorn or hippogriff? I was disappointed that Harry did not continue his classes because I am sure there are countless other interesting creatures he would’ve learned about. And I want my own Kneazle!

5. Defense Against the Dark Arts – Well, this class would confirm for the Muggle that there are dark forces out there. As someone who is non-magical, I don’t know if it would prove useful without defensive spells but it would still be interesting. Yes, Hermione, even in theory.

There Is No Excuse for Meryl Streep Not to Win for "Julie & Julia"

2009-08-15T16:26:00.000-07:00

Just got back from seeing the film "Julie & Julia." Utterly delightful. It's a celebration of food and life and finding one's calling. For Julie, it was to write. For Julia, it was to cook.

Meryl Streep is divine in this film. She's having such a ball (she seems to truly enjoy her craft, doesn't she?) playing Julia Child. She made Julia Child approachable, giving breath and life to a culinary icon. That is the power of Meryl Streep's talent. This is not the first portrayal of a historic character for her. There is a reason why she is so good at it.

Academy voters... Give Meryl her due! She must be nominated and she must win!

This, I command!

Sorry... I have no authority. It's just getting ridiculous.

Why Meryl Streep Needs to Win Another Oscar NOW!

2009-08-06T12:01:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow, August 7, Meryl Streep’s latest film “Julie & Julia” hits theaters. The film tells the tale of Julie Powell, a woman working at a dead end job, and her personal quest to cook every recipe in Julia Child’s book “Mastering the Art of French Cooking.” Meryl Streep plays master chef Julia Child in the film, which parallels Powell’s culinary attempts with Child’s ambitions fifty years earlier.

I have not seen this film but I’ve seen the trailer. Once again, Meryl Streep has disappeared into a role so masterfully; I had to watch it twice to be sure it was Meryl and not archival footage of Julia Child herself. And, once again, I am sure that Meryl will receive an Academy Award nomination for the role. It seems inevitable. Streep is almost always nominated.

And, as such, it got me to thinking about a few things. Meryl Streep is often acclaimed as our greatest living actor. (No arguments here.) Yet, she has not won an Academy Award since 1981 (for Sophie’s Choice). 1981! That’s twenty-eight years. She has been nominated fifteen times; thirteen of those have been after Sophie’s Choice. And, she’s only won the Best Actress category once. (Her first Oscar was for Best Supporting Actress for “Kramer v. Kramer.” She was nominated last year for her role in "Doubt." I believe that Meryl Streep should win another Academy Award for her portrayal of Julia Child.

Why should she win again? Several reasons.

First, Meryl Streep is consistently good in her performance. No matter what the genre (action, comedy, musical, drama), she is always interesting to watch. She is reliable in her ability to dissolve into the character. Once I got over the harsh New Jersey accent of her Sister Aloysius character from “Doubt,” I completely forgot I was watching Meryl Streep. (I think the only reason I got hung up on the accent is because I’m not familiar with it, having not heard it in real life.) And, did anyone even remember that it was Meryl playing the ice queen editor Miranda Priestly? Even in that scene where Miranda is stripped down, crying over the demise of her latest marriage? I think not!

Second, Meryl only has two Oscars to her credit. She’s won a multitude of other awards but still, only two Oscars. The Oscar remains the most prestigious film award given. As I said, Meryl is arguably our greatest living actor. She should have more than just two. Why? Because Tom Hanks has two. Jodie Foster has two. Hilary Swank and Sean Penn both now have two. I’m not knocking these actors. Tom Hanks is great. Jodie Foster is phenomenal, both on screen and off (as a director). Hilary Swank, I believe, deserved the Oscar she got for “Boys Don’t Cry.” Did she deserve it for “Million Dollar Baby?” I guess so. I’m not sure if it was for her performance or for the overall story told in that film. That film won 4 Oscars that year (Film, Actress, Supporting Actor, and Director). Do I think her performance was better than Imelda Staunton in “Vera Drake?” Not really, no. Sean Penn, I believe, deserved the Oscar he won this year for “Harvey Milk.” It was a sublime performance and a great film. “Mystic River” not so much. Personally, I thought he was better in “Dead Man Walking.” I think that Tom, Jodie, Hilary, and Sean are great actors who aren’t afraid to take chances in their roles. But Meryl outshines them all with her fearlessness. The actresses who have won two Academy Awards are Luise Rainer, Bette Davis, Olivia de Havilland, Vivien Leigh, Ingrid Bergman, Elizabeth Taylor, Glenda Jackson, Jane Fonda, Sally Field, Jodie Foster, and Hillary Swank. It seems inconceivable that Meryl is not included in this list. She should be.

I also think that the Academy Award should be awarded for performance, not personality. That is why I believe Sean Penn beat Mickey Rourke for the Acting Oscar this year. (No, I haven’t seen “The Wrestler.”) In the last fifteen years or so, there have been some recipients who, in my humble view, did not deserve the award. Yes, much of it might have to do with a personal prejudice against these persons, but in my view, they are not actors, merely movie stars who got lucky with a single performance.

Finally, the only actor to have won more than two Academy Awards for acting remains Katherine Hepburn. I would argue that Meryl Streep’s acting talent and craft are greater than Katherine Hepburn’s. This may sound like a controversial statement but hear me out. Kate Hepburn was a great actor. She was. And she stars in some of the greatest films ever made. But, and I know I am going to get a lot of flack for this, she plays essentially the same role in them. She always plays Kate Hepburn. It’s as if Kate Hepburn is going down the river in "The African Queen" or sparing with Cary Grant in "The Philadelphia Story." It is definitely Kate Hepburn sparring with Henry in "The Lion in Winter." And I don’t think Kate Hepburn would ever have the nerve to do an outright musical or play someone mean ("The Devil Wears Prada") or conniving ("Doubt," "Rendition") or frightening ("The Manchurian Candidate"). And, I’m always aware it is Kate Hepburn. With Meryl, the character shines, not the great talent behind it.

Meryl Streep needs to win another Oscar because she has gone above and beyond what other actors have done. She has been consistent in her performances. How many times have we all joked about her ability to master accents? She has stretched herself in almost every genre conceivable ("The French Lieutenant's Woman," "Out of Africa," "Cry in the Dark," "She-Devil," "Postcards from the Edge," "River Wild," "Dancing at Lughnasa," "Music of the Heart," "Adaptation," "Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events," "Evening," "Rendition," "Lions for Lambs," "Mamma Mia!"). Her career is longer than most actors working today (her first role was a bit part in Julia, 1976). And she’s just too damn good to not have a third Oscar (and a second for Best Actress).

In My Grandmother's Lifetime

2009-07-28T11:13:00.000-07:00

On July 29, my Grandmother will celebrate her 98th birthday. At this age, she doesn’t have any gift requests and no great demands for celebration. But, whenever anyone reaches 98, it is a fairly momentous occasion.

My Grandmother is the oldest of five children. She is the wife of the late Jacob A. Hawk and mother to two wonderful women (my mom and my aunt). She has seven grandchildren (at 40, I am the youngest), eleven great grandchildren, and three great, great grandchildren (well, almost four—one is on the way!).

In her lifetime, our world has changed, dramatically, both in the United States and around the globe. Here’s a sampling:

Since 1911, we’ve added four states to the Union: Arizona, New Mexico, Alaska and Hawai’i.

We’ve had 18 presidents: Taft, Wilson, Harding, Coolidge, Hoover, Franklin Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, H.W. Bush, Clinton, W. Bush, and Obama.

Twelve amendments have been added to the U.S. Constitution; one of those was repealed.

Women gained the right to vote in all 50 states. The first woman, Jeannette Rankin, was elected to Congress as representative of the great state of Montana. And while the first African American, John Mercer Langston, was elected to Congress in 1888, it would take another forty years to repeat that, with Oscar De Priest in 1928. The first African American woman, Shirley Chisholm, would not get there until 1968.

The first African American Supreme Court Justice, Thurgood Marshall, would arrive in 1967. The first woman Supreme Court Justice, Sandra Day O’Connor, would be appointed in 1981. We will probably have our first Latina Supreme Court Justice soon, making for a grand total of three women to sit on the highest court.

And, on November 4, 2008, the first African American became President of the United States. (He is also the first president born in the great state of Hawai’i.)

Our country has fought in two World Wars; suffered through the attacks of Pearl Harbor and September 11th, assassinations of civil rights leaders at home and abroad, a president, a presidential candidate, and foreign leaders aiming for peace. My Grandmother lived through the Stock Market Crash and subsequent Great Depression, the baby boom, and the atomic age. She saw a president resign his office and another impeached (though he was eventually found not guilty).

The Titanic sank, the Lusitania was destroyed, the Great Spanish Flu pandemic swept the globe, the Hindenburg erupted in flames on landing, Chernobyl had a meltdown, the Space Shuttles Challenger and Columbia exploded (one on take-off, the other on re-entry), and Nazi Germany perpetrated one of the greatest genocides in history, the Shoah.

In Grandmother’s lifetime, we were introduced to the writings of Hemingway, Steinbeck, Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Maya Angelou, Alex Haley, and so much more. We met Holden Caulfield, Jay Gatsby, Atticus Finch, Holly Golightly, Scarlett O’Hara, Winnie the Pooh, Harry Potter, The Cat in the Hat, Sam Spade, Charlotte the Spider, Tarzan, Celie, James Bond, Lucy Pevensie and Aslan.

We went to the moon six times; the age of visual technology was born. Airplanes went from short trips at 150 feet to commercial transatlantic flights at 36,000 feet. Cars went from the few to hundreds of models affordable to most. Computers were invented and went from occupying whole rooms to a hand-held phone. Telephones went from crank boxes to rotary dial to push button to remote and finally to cellular. Gramophone records went from 33 1/3 to 45 and were replaced by 8-track tapes, cassette tapes, then CDs and finally to mere computer files that can be downloaded onto a device no bigger than a mint box. Radios got smaller, too!

Russia went from Tsar to Communism to whatever it is now. The Berlin Wall went up and was torn down; apartheid started and ended, Israel (as well as who knows how many other countries) came into being.

Films went from silent to talkies to color—we now have digital and 3D options. Tickets to see a film went from five cents for a double feature with newsreels and a few shorts to $8.00 for a matinee. Television was invented and followed the same course: black and white to color. Now we have cable and 500 channels and along with television came the VCR and the DVD player to the Blu-Ray and DVR. The Internet was developed and has literally connected the world.

Aerosol spray, antibiotics, frozen foods, hearing aids, quartz timekeeping, ballpoint pens, the helicopter, Polaroid, sticky tape, nylon, Spam, the aqualung, kidney dialysis, napalm, Velcro, the credit card, robots, the first satellite, Sputnik, was launched, fiber optics, the pacemaker, Kevlar, lasers, the portable calculator, the Bar Code, in vitro fertilization, and Cabbage Patch dolls.

All this has happened in my Grandmother’s lifetime.

Carrie Fisher's Two New Movies

2009-07-10T13:38:00.001-07:00

As anyone who knows me knows, I am a HUGE Carrie Fisher fan. I do like to differentiate this between my Star Wars love, which is still as strong as ever but I consider my Carrie Fisher woman-crush to be totally separate from my Star Wars/Princess Leia crush. Why? Because Leia is Leia and Carrie is Carrie and I've met Carrie and I will never, ever meet Leia. Besides, Leia was created by George Lucas. And Leia is a princess/soldier/Jedi Knight and Carrie is a writer/mother/actor.

But that is not the point of this post. The point of this post is that Carrie, who confines her "acting" these days to cameos, mostly, has a couple of movies on the horizon. (I am not knocking Carrie's acting ability. I put acting in quotations because more often than not, Carrie is either spoofing herself or an aspect of her public persona.)

One is the slasher flick (is it a remake?) called Sorority Row. Here is the trailer:

I guess Carrie is playing the sorority's den mother or something. But, there she is, at the end of the trailer, being sassy and wielding a huge shotgun before the icky happens. (Carrie has died twice on screen in her career so far. The first death was as poet Emma Lazarus in the teleflick "Liberty." The second was more traumatizing for me and occurs in the film "The Time Guardian." It's icky and I don't like to talk about it.)

But, as proof of the wonderfully considerate person she is, Carrie hinted that she dies a gooey death in this slasher flick so I was forewarned.

The second film, a "seriously independent" film is called White Lightnin'.

Here is the trailer for this film:

White Lightnin' trailer
Uploaded by blankytwo. - Watch feature films and entire TV shows.

Yep... that's Carrie... in the shower with the weird, dancing guy and it looks like there's some drinking and craziness going on. I will probably have to wait for DVD to see this film... I'm intrigued because, judging from the trailer, this isn't Carrie doing the normal sort of cameo (examples: Fanboys, Austin Powers 1, Scream 3, The Women remake). This is Carrie in a dark-themed movie about someone with some serious "inner demons." I doubt this film will get any attention but what if she delivers a knock-out performance? What if the performance was so good that she gets some attention, some praise, some accolades and--dare I say it?--awards? Hey, it happened with Mickey Rourke!

I doubt it. The film looks too independent/b-film to gain anything other than serious cult following but I can dream, can't I?

Harve Presnell

2009-07-05T15:10:00.000-07:00

Just read in the paper this morning that Harve Presnell lost his battle with pancreatic cancer this week. My gosh... we keep losing people. I am reminded of that line in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull in which Jim Broadbent's character laments that they are living in a time when life seems to be taking away rather than giving.

Harve Presnell is not a household name. But I knew who he was. He starred in The Unsinkable Molly Brown, both on Broadway and in the film. He also starred in the Coen Brothers' film Fargo and played the mysterious Mr. Parker on the television show, The Pretender.

He had a beautiful baritone voice and my sister was lucky enough to find a recording of Orff's Carmina Burana featuring Harve Presnell's vocals.

Here is a clip of him singing with Julie Andrews:

But, he will always be remembered as Johnnie Brown...

Goodbye, Harve... You will be missed.

Goodbye David...

2009-07-04T11:01:00.000-07:00

I just learned that David Eddings, creator of the best fantasy series of all time The Belgariad, passed away at the age of 77 in June. I am shocked and saddened by this news. I adored his works. He created Belgarath and Polgara, mighty immortal sorcerers who were flawed, funny, and fabulous.

And now he has gone. His wife and collaborator, Leigh Eddings, passed away early 2007. And even though he finished the Belgariad series with the publication of The Rivan Codex, in 1998, he went on to publish The Dreamers series. He published 27 novels ranging from adventure to fantasy.

I would urge anyone who hasn't read his works to rush out and pick up The Pawn of Prophecy right now. It will only take that first book... trust me. He was an inspiration to me and a writer whose career I admired and envied. And it is always his voice I hear when I read Belgarath telling one of his fabulous stories.

To David, I would say this..
The campfire has dimmed under the darkening sky,
the storyteller's place stands empty
We will keep a plate warm
and trade a meal for a rousing tale of glory...

Olivia de Havilland's 93rd Birthday!

2009-07-03T10:26:00.000-07:00

A reposting... because I'm a fan! Wednesday, Miss de Havilland celebrated her 93rd birthday. As my own personal way of wishing her a happy birthday, I thought I would repost a blog I wrote two years ago.

Today, July 1, Olivia de Havilland turns 91. While most people know her as either Melanie Hamilton Wilkes from Gone with the Wind or Maid Marian from The Adventures of Robin Hood, this two-time Academy Award winner (back when that truly meant something) made almost sixty films spanning from the early 1930s to the late 1980s. She is in retirment now, living near her grandchildren and great grandchildren and teaching Sunday School in Paris, France.

Olivia de Havilland also happens to be my all-time favorite actress. I've been planning on doing a series of blogs about my favorite films so I thought I would start with my TOP TEN FAVORITE OLIVIA DE HAVILLAND films. These are the films I recommend to people who ask me why I love and adore this woman.

10. Hush, Hush... Sweet Charlotte. Okay, yes, it could be argued that this is nothing more than a second-rate attempt to cash in on the wild success of What Ever Happened to Baby Jane. And it probably is. But, this is one of only a handful of films where Olivia plays a not-so-nice character and one of two films she did with her lifelong friend, the phenomenal Bette Davis. (Side note: the other being, of course, The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex, in which Olivia plays another not-so-nice character, Lady Penelope Gray.)

Check out this scene from the film and tell me that Olivia doesn't kick ass! Come on! She's bitch-slapping Bette Davis!

9. Airport 77. Yes, a cheesy sequel to the cheesy "airplane disaster" films that were so wonderfully spoofed by the team of Abraham & Zucker. But, Olivia is in this one as Emily Livingston, she reteams with Hush, Hush costar Joseph Cotton, she gets to play poker, and, legend has it that during the filming of the flooding sequence, a certain other actress in the film complained about the harsh conditions of the filming and later blamed the film for her contracting pneumonia. Whereas Miss de Havilland "complained" that all she lost in that scene was an eyelash.

8. Lady in a Cage. This is an intense pyschological drama with Olivia in the title role. She is an upper middle class dame who has an elevator installed in her house due to an illness. One day, she is followed home by some thugs (the leader played by James Caan in his first film role) and they spend the next two hours in a battle of wits and will. I won't tell you the outcome but I wouldn't be recommending it if it wasn't in her favor. Be warned: it's a bit icky!

7. The Strawberry Blonde. This film stars James Cagney and Rita Hayworth; Olivia has a "supporting" role in the film but she's hilarious in it. James Cagney fancies himself in love with the titular character, Rita Hayworth, but is also drawn to the modern, plucky Olivia. She flirts with him, outrageously, and is everything that Rita Hayworth is not: down-to-earth, dependable, fun. Just a cute film.

6. Princess O'Rourke. I actually saw this for the first time a couple of months ago. Audrey Hepburn's Roman Holiday is actually a remake of this film. Olivia plays a princess whose family fled Europe during WWII. While her advisors are trying to find a suitable marriage for her, she ends up falling in love with an American pilot, causing quite the comedic scandal. Another cute film, something to watch on a lazy afternoon.

5. To Each His Own. This film brought Olivia her first Academy Award for Best Actress. Yes, I am bragging. She plays Jody Norris, a young woman who falls in love with a test pilot during WWI. They have an affair, he dies, and she is left carrying his child. To avert any more of a scandal, she allows a family friend to adopt her son and goes through the agony of watching another woman raise her child. This film is great not only because of its daring subject matter but also because Olivia has to play not only the wide-eyed innocent youth that Jody begins the film as but also the mature businesswoman she becomes. It's a great performance and a great film.

4. The Snake Pit. This film was first recommended to me by my 8th Grade English teacher, Mrs. Rathbun. I had mentioned that I was a fan of Olivia's and Mrs. Rathbun asked me if I had seen this particular film. This film is phenomenal not only because of Olivia's Academy Award nominated performance, but also because it gives an open, honest look at the mental healthcare community of the 1940s. Olivia plays Virginia Cunningham, a woman who seems to have everything going for her: good job, loving husband, and a blossoming career as a writer. But, events from her past resurface and she has a nervous breakdown. Sit down and watch this film; watch this phenomenal actress at work as she journeys through Virginia's mental collapse and recovery. Wow!

3. Captain Blood. One of the nine films Olivia de Havilland made with Errol Flynn. This is what a pirate film should be. Bold, brash, adventurous and having the delicious Basil Rathbone in it doesn't hurt! She plays Arabella Bishop, a young colonist in Jamaica who "buys" the criminal Peter Blood to save him from the silver mines. So, of course, they fall in love. Ha-Ha. No, this film is a great pirate film and the chemistry between Olivia and Errol is palpable. She also elevates Arabella from the standard "damsel in distress" archetype. And it was filmed in glorious black and white!

2. The Adventures of Robin Hood. I could go on and on about this film. It is on my all-time favorite film list. It is this film by which I compare all other Robin Hood films and, in that comparison, all others come in sorely lacking. Yeah, that Costner disaster had Alan Rickman and Sean Connery but this film had Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Alan Hale, Sr., the lovely Basil Rathbone, Melville Cooper, Una O'Connor, and Claude Rains as Prince John. Gloriously cast, costumed in rich colors for Technicolor, and gloriously scored by Erich Wolfgang Korngold... I think I can safely say that this film is without flaw. Olivia's Maid Marian Fitzwalter is all the things Olivia is: beautiful, noble, plucky, defiant, determined, and courageous. Gosh, I love this film!

and my Number One favorite Olivia de Havilland film of all time is

1. The Heiress. If watching any of these other films has not convinced you, see this film. Dulling herself down to play the plain Catherine Sloper, Olivia allows Cathy to blossom in character rather than looks. Scorned by a father embittered by his wife's death who constantly points out to his daughter all the qualities she lacks in comparison to that idealized mother and preyed upon by the opportunistic, fortune-seeking Morris Townsend (played with sweet conviction by the beautiful Montgomery Clift), Catherine evolves from a creature thinking herself unworthy of love to a dreamer willing to defy all for love before evolving into a woman with clear understanding of how much one can hurt another with love. This film brought Olivia her second Academy Award and it remains one of the best performances of all time. Bette Davis said, and I agree, that this was Olivia's finest hour on film.

So, Happy Birthday Miss de Havilland. And thank you.

Ten Things I've Realized in Light of Michael Jackson's Death

2009-06-26T10:27:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, June 25, was a shocker of a day. I awoke to the news that Farrah Fawcett had lost her battle with cancer. I knew she had gone back in to the hospital, but with cases like cancer hospital visits can be good news or bad. I truly was not expecting her to die. It was sad to hear because I know she wanted to live. She had said she wanted to beat the cancer. I was not a fan though I did watch "Charlie's Angels" semi-religiously (even when it got rather ridiculous).

Not finding anything to watch on television, I popped in an old Barbara Stanwyck film called "Sorry, Wrong Number." It was not as good as I had hoped but I stuck it out, just to say, "Yeah, I've seen that."

After the movie, I headed on over to MSNBC just to see what was going on only to find out that Michael Jackson had been rushed to the hospital after a collapse. As history shows, it got progressively worse until the final news was announced: Michael Jackson, pop music's greatest performer, had died from cardiac arrest June 25, 2009 at 2:26 p.m., Pacific Time. He would have been 51 in August.

Of course, this is absolutely shocking news. It is a shocking, sudden end to someone who I've known of all my life. I've always known Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5. My sister listened to them. We watched their cartoon show. I have memories in my mind that pre-date many things. I have memories that pre-date Star Wars... but I cannot recall a time when I did not know who Michael Jackson was.

So, I am trolling the web to read reactions, thoughts, postings from his legion of fans all over the world and I came across some posts entitled "Ten Things I've Realized in Light of Michael Jackson's Passing."

Here's what I've realized:
10. I did not cry when I heard that Michael died. I guess because Michael had devolved into such a tragic figure, his actual death came as no surprise. I realized that I had mourned Michael's death long ago.

9. No one lives forever but by touching so many people with his music, Michael's legacy remains. Just like Elvis & John Lennon. Heck, three hundred years after Mozart died, we were making films about him! Immortality is only achieved through accomplishment and such accomplishment that touches (for good or ill) the entire world.

8. I really liked Captain Eo. I enjoyed sitting in the theater at Disneyland and unwinding for the ten or fifteen minutes while watching that short. And Anjelica Huston is in it so no complaints, right?

7. What was so cool about Thriller, the song, is Vincent Price's monologue. The song itself is a classic Halloween dance tune.

6. Life is short, fragile, and even when you are famous beyond all dreams, you can end up tragically afraid and alone.

5. No fight, no feud, no disagreement should last beyond the final breath.

4. Michael was best when he still looked black. Sorry, but it is true.

3. I probably won't be able to listen to "She's Out of My Life" without crying anymore.

2. Despite all his faults, real or not, he still got the world to dance and I think we--as a species--do better when we dance with each other. Preferably naked.

1. Cherish the ones we love because as long as we hold them in our hearts, they never truly leave us. Ever.

Griffin

2009-06-23T10:24:00.000-07:00

I have not had a pleasant week. My youngest cat Griffin (he's 14 this summer) had a so-so week that got progressively worse. By Tuesday, he was eating small bites twice a day (he can usually polish a can of food in a day) and sleeping, waking only to have a dry heave attack or two, drink some water, and go back to sleep. By Thursday night, he stopped eating altogether.

Friday, June 19th, all he did was vomit. Food did not interest him and what little water he drank unfortunately came back up. I spent much of Friday night and Saturday morning awake, in tears, trying to get him to eat, watching him stare at me with his sad eyes hoping that I would figure out what was wrong with him. I slept downstairs, just to be near him because he had lost all desire to be social. By 8 a.m., Saturday morning, I resolved to take him to the vet. I tried to get an appointment with his regular vet but they were booked solid. So, I called an emergency hospital, showered and dressed, picked up Griffin (who seemed to weigh so much less than he did a week ago), put him in his carrier, and drove into Issaquah.

Spent the next three hours waiting while they ran all sorts of tests (CBC's, urinalysis, X-ray, etc.), whereupon the attending vet told me that there was a "soft tissue mass" around his stomach/intestines. "This could be anything from inflammatory bowel disease to pancreatitis to cancer." Of course, all I heard was "Griffin has inoperable cancer!" She wanted to keep him overnight, perform a procedure called an endoscopy, and perhaps do some exploratory surgery. I was adamant; I wanted to take him home. If my boy was nearing the end of his life, he was going to spend as much time of it where he always has = at home with me, my sister, and Sabine.

So, they pumped saline under his skin (giving him a floppy appearance), injected some anti-nausea meds into him to keep him from vomiting, gave me a couple of cans of prescription cat food and sent me and my kitty on our merry way. Of course, I get home, let Griffin out of his carrier and he rushes over to his food bowl, downs everything within, and then begs for more. (I complied.)

And, in my selfishness, all I could think is that I am not ready to lose him. Griffin and Sabine have been fixtures in my life since 1994 (Sabine is a year older than Griffin). Sabine has been moved from San Gabriel to Aliso Viejo to Issaquah to Maple Valley! She's like my rock. She's solid... Solid as Barack! Whenever Sabine is feeling under the weather, she will stop eating, drink some water, sleep all day and everything clears up by morning.

Griffin has been my like my baby. He sleeps on my feet in winter, sits on my ample bosom whenever I try to read on the sofa (because he wants to be a part of things, too), and watches me bathe sitting on the edge of the tub. Sometimes he even samples the warm bath water. And yes, he does have a fascination with bubbles. He also runs when I call him, his big blue eyes conveying a trust and devotion that I am not worthy of. I have often said that I strive to be the kind of person my cats think I am.

And I'm not ready to say goodbye to either of them. The question is will I be strong enough to say goodbye when they need me to? Because it is coming... maybe not tomorrow or this month or this year but it's down the road. I honestly don't know if I am strong enough. I have been in the past (fifteen years ago). Maybe I will be again.

But for now, I am going to continue pushing the steroids and monitor Griffin's intake and output, hoping that it is only inflammatory bowel disease and not something more serious. (The endoscopy will give us a better clue, of course.) One vet told me Griffin could live to be 20. I would love six more years with both of them. But no amount of time would ever be enough. No matter how much time, it's never enough. So, take advantage of it. I'm off to rub Griffin's belly as he basks in the sunshine of my bathroom.

I've Loved You For So Long...

2009-06-13T10:37:00.001-07:00

I am not a fan of Kristin Scott Thomas. I liked her in the first "Mission Impossible" film, before she, along with everyone else sharing screen time with Tom Cruise, was killed. She did a serviceable job in "Gosford Park." But, "The English Patient" really belonged to Juliette Binoche.

Having said that, I decided to devote a short piece to her performance in the French film Il y longtemps que je t'aime. She plays Juliette Fontaine, recent parolee from a fifteen year stretch in prison for murder.

I have never been so captivated by Scott Thomas before. I've never seen her so compelling on screen before. The film is not flashy nor does it have any other "big" names (unless you watch a lot of French films; I don't). But, I would have to highly recommend this one, especially to anyone who, like myself, could not understand the appeal of KST in her other work.

Scott Thomas has done other French films. (I believe the actress lives in France so that makes sense.) But this is the first French film I've seen with her in it. Again, there's not much to say other than the fact that I actually applauded at the conclusion of this film, which I watched at home, alone, on a Friday afternoon. I don't applaud films at home... so...there you are.

Betty Bowers v. Traditional Marriage

2009-06-12T11:46:00.001-07:00

It started out innocently enough. I posted a video link. It's up on my Facebook page. (If the video doesn't show up, go to YouTube and type "Betty Bowers." It's the "Betty Bowers Explains Traditional Marriage" vid.)

And then the flood gates opened.

While most of the responses were positive, I got one that was rather negative from someone who used to babysit me when I was a wee bairn, okay, I wasn't a "bairn" but I was young enough to run around without clothes, which was my modus operandi when I was growing up. I had planned to post a bit of what was said but it has been deleted by this person because of the flack she received from others who supported not only the video but my right in posting it.

Anyway, I was going to go into this long diatribe about why people get offended when confronted with the truth of the infamous little black book (every marriage mentioned in the video is biblically accurate) but then I began to wonder. Is this a generational thing?

Are those people of my generation (and younger) more willing to accept that the bible may not be the dictated holy word of God? Consider the first two chapters of Genesis, which offer two vastly different creation stories. Or the fact that the account of Noah's Ark cannot make clear the guidelines for the preservation of the animals. First it is two of each, then two of unclean animals and seven of clean, then seven of each but only males... you get my point.

So, it should not surprise anyone who claims to have read the darned text when someone points out that marriage as described in the bible is not all that of a traditional and (more importantly) moral "gift" sent by God to "preserve and propagate" the human species. Why would same-sex marriage be more of an affront than marrying one's sibling or two or three persons or forcing one's daughter into marrying someone she does not want to? And why can't folks over fifty get a handle on that? (Yes, I'm generalizing, I realize that.)

Why do Christians react so vehemently when something that is accurate is pointed out about that book in which they put so much faith? Isn't their faith strong enough? Wouldn't admitting that the book is fallible because humanity is fallible strengthen one's argument? The bible condones slavery. For eons, especially before the Supreme Court ruling Loving v. Virginia, people used the bible to oppose interracial marriage.

Now, of course, both seem unbelievable, downright absurd. How long will it take before people start seeing this whole uproar over same-sex marriage as ridiculous as slavery and interracial marriage?

And why are matters of faith deemed outside the lines of common decency? Why am I allowed to express my views on things such as politics, films, pop culture, and such without so much as a whisper but when I post something that, in a very funny jest, points out the absurdity of using a book that has some of its greatest characters behaving immorally (in terms of marriage), people cry foul and start questioning my character?

Am I no longer that "sweet" girl she remembered because I take the viewpoint that using the bible to denounce homosexuality in general and same-sex marriage in particular is ludicrous? Blasphemous? Is the fact that I am no longer a Christian mean that I am some sort of subversive deviant, bent on some lewd and destructive act that will contribute to the downfall of young persons everywhere? (If that is the case, explain Twilight and the fact that the author is Mormon. Please! Anyone? No, I have not read it!) Does my support of gay rights put me at odds with a law-abiding, do-unto-others existence? How? How can "loving one's neighbor" be at odds with Christianity since the namesake of the faith said that this is the second most important commandment?

My best friend once confided in me about something that was on her mind. After our conversation, I asked why she had not shared this with others. She said that she knew she could share it with me because I would not judge her. I'm not trying to toot my own horn but that really meant something to me. It's my philosophy of life, garnered after forty years of living experience. Frankly, it's none of my business. As long as no one is getting hurt and every one has given consent, etc., it's none of my business. If it doesn't involve me personally, I take a live and let live view.

So, live and let live. Marry for love. Have sex for fun (but use a condom because you just never know). Pray as often as you think you need to. Talk to whichever god you desire. Or just talk to yourself or your life partner. Be kind to animals and for pete's sake, recycle. The planet isn't feeling good right now.

A Strange and Wondrous Dream

2009-06-02T10:50:00.000-07:00

I don't usually share my dreams as I consider them very private but I wanted to share this one.

I was in Narnia, which looked different than I had ever imagined it. I had put on a cursed bracelet and felt myself transform into a dragon. This frightened me so I ripped the bracelet off with my teeth, pulling scales and skin as I did so. Then, I realized that I had to become a dragon so I would realize that the dragon the villagers were fighting was also cursed. I rushed in to pull the cursed ring that had transformed it, revealing a frightened boy shivering with cold and fear. With the dragon gone, the villagers rejoiced and I joined in the celebration until Aslan appeared and told me it was time to go home.

I remember saying only one thing in my dream and it was this: "The thought of never seeing you (Aslan) again saddens me to the point of unbearable grief."

"What makes you think we will never see each other again?" Aslan replied, with a slight growl.

I had no reply so I wrapped my arms around him and buried my face in his mane. I cried. Then, I asked him to bless me and knelt before him. The Great Lion roared, his breath cascading over me, and I felt Narnia slip away. And as realization that I was back in my own world hit me, I turned and saw a young girl staring at me curiously. It was then, I knew, that she too had been to Narnia. She too had danced with Aslan. We smiled at each other.

Narnia is not a physical place; but an idea, a state of mind. I long for it.

25 Random Facts about Me

2009-06-01T11:26:00.000-07:00

I lifted this from one of my social network accounts... just because... I need to post more stuff here!

1. I've only read one Stephen King novel and that was "Dolores Claiborne."

2. I miss not being able to play hooky with Jeanne and seeing a movie on a "work" day!

3. I do not travel anywhere without Rasputin, my lucky Elephant. You can spot him in photos from Scotland, England, and Hawaii.

4. I honestly prefer Han Solo to Indiana Jones.

5. I am hopelessly addicted to "Lost." Thanks a lot, Ranae!

6. I don't suck on candy canes. I bite them!

7. I hate Norma Shearer!

8. When I get angry, I write. I write about those who have made me angry. They end up in my stories. And that's why I don't publish.

9. The longer my hair gets, the straighter it gets.

10. I've never, ever changed a diaper on a human baby. Never. Ever.

11. I have one of every Princess Leia action figure ever made.

12. I'm secretly stalking John Brookes!

13. I really did eat haggis and I really did like it.

14. I've always wanted a pet tarantula.

15. I bought a violin and had every intention of learning to play it... but then I realized I would never be as good as Mairead so I quit.

16. Aside from my sister, I've known Jeanne more than 35 years. Yep, that's about right! Wow!

17. Most of my nonfiction books deal with religious issues or biblical history.

18. I kissed a girl once.

19. I consider flying a necessary abomination.

20. I know the lyrics to the "Nanny & the Professor" theme.

21. After seeing several productions of "The Mikado," I still think my sister made the best Katisha ever.

22. I wanted to perform "The Phantom of the Opera" with Liz at one of the lip-synch things we used to do.

23. I abhor, hate, and loathe macaroni & cheese. Even the smell... bleccch!

24. I want a Pugle.

25. I'm a lifelong LEGO fan!

2009-05-27T11:53:00.000-07:00

I'm feeling lazy but I'm also feeling the need to type and spew witticisms... so... why not a silly survey?

CLOSEST MAJOR CITY?
Seattle... a city I am still fascinated with but one that constantly reminds me that I am a California gal through and through.

OCCUPATION?
I would like one, yes!

NUMBER OF BLANKETS ON BED (INC. SHEETS)?
one blanket and a quilt that is folded down at the moment

PIECE OF FURNITURE YOU CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT?
bed... gotta sleep!

DO YOU SHOWER AT NIGHT OR IN THE MORNING?
usually in the morning

ORIGINALLY, WHAT COLOR WERE THE WALLS OF YOUR BEDROOM?
WHAT COLOR ARE THEY NOW?
originally white but I painted them gold and then covered them with 3 3/4" Princess Leia icons for my personal enjoyment!

DO YOU PREFER TO HANG OR FOLD YOUR CLOTHES?
I have to hang most of them as I don't have dresser

VACUUMS: PAIN IN THE ASS OR HELPFUL TOOL?
Pain in the ass to do but fun cleaning out.

HAVE YOU EATEN FRIES WITH MAYONNAISE?
Yes.

DO YOU SEND YOUR FOOD BACK OR FEAR VISINE?
I have rarely sent food back and I have no fear of any eye drops.

DO YOU KNOW HOW TO USE CHOPSTICKS?
kind of

DESIRED MODE OF TRANSPORTATION?
dreamscape

FINISH THIS SENTENCE: "CELL PHONES MUST..."
die!

WORST MOVIE?
anything with Adam Sandler... I don't get the appeal

DAVID ARQUETTE OR PAULY SHORE?
neither... and no Stephen Baldwin either!

BEST EIGHTIES FEEL-GOOD FILM?
Return of the Jedi

BEST ADVICE EVER GIVEN TO YOU?
when life gives you lemons, make lemonade and when Carrie Fisher offers you some of her M&M's, maybe you should take one and then preserve it for all time so you can tell the world that the blue M&M you wear around your neck was given to you by Carrie Fisher.

Summer Movies 2009

2009-05-23T10:35:00.000-07:00

Somehow, I actually managed to see the first big four films of the Summer 09 movie season. I was only anticipating two of them but since I've seen all four... allow me to rant and rave about them.

First up, "Wolverine," or, more correctly: "X-Men Origins: Wolverine." I have been of the opinion that, aside from Wolverine, Hugh Jackman has yet to deliver on the "movie star" appeal. "Van Helsing" was a joke, the few romantic comedies of his did not do well, and don't even get me started on "Australia." Did anyone see this film? But, as the snarling, savage mutant Canadian, he shines. The main problem with this film is that Wolverine's origins, more or less, have already been covered by the first three X-Men films. This film glosses over the early years (decades) of Wolverine's life, telling much his pre-adamantium existence in the opening titles sequence of the film. The whole Weapon X mythos is intertwined with a convoluted love/revenge story and one gets the feeling that the entire purpose of the film is to justify spending so much time on Wolverine, something that didn't happen in the X-Men films. Yes, I'm being sarcastic. Hugh Jackman makes a good Wolverine. I'm not saying he doesn't. But I think it would've been interesting to watch a young James Howlett discovering not only his claws but also his incredible healing powers. But, if we did this, we wouldn't be seeing Hugh Jackman so, there goes that idea.

Honestly, the only reason I wanted to see this film is because Remy LeBeau was finally going to show up. The sexy Cajun mutant shows up as a piece to the puzzle of the "mystery" and saves the day. It was nice to see Gambit, however briefly it was. And, although I personally would've enjoyed Josh Holloway (Sawyer, "Lost") in the role, Taylor Kitsch did just fine.

Second, the return of "Star Trek." As I explained to a friend, my first love was Star Trek but I lost my heart to Star Wars. So, although I am a huge Star Wars fan, I will always have a soft spot for the crew of the USS Enterprise. It had been rather disappointing to watch the film franchise go down the tubes. The last two films were horrendous. (And people bash the Star Wars prequels? Please! Did anyone even see "Nemesis?" I did. It stank!) So, when J.J. Abrams announced he was retooling the original crew, I was excited. My only hope was that this film would not totally suck. I started to get excited when I saw the trailer, which I had to watch a couple of times because--that could not have been Winona Ryder! (It is... and yes, I did get a little misty-eyed... strange.)

"Star Trek" is a fantastic film. It's smart, funny, and down right fun! It's a fun film to watch, whether you are a Trekker or not. Chris Pine makes a decidedly sexy James Kirk. Karl Urban is brilliant as McCoy. But the truly sublime performance goes to Zachary Quinto. He is Spock. John Cho's Sulu is a delightful balance of first-time nerves and cocky self-confidence. Anton Yelchin plays Chekov with all the optimism of a seventeen-year-old. And Zoe Saldana makes for a smart, sexy Uhura. And yes, Nyota has always been Uhura's first name; it was never revealed on the original series but Nichelle Nichols often spoke of it at Star Trek cons. And whoever decided to go with Simon Pegg as Montgomery Scott is a genius. I love Pegg and I've always loved Scotty (Scotty and Spock being my Trek boys) and he's perfect. I've seen the film three times; it's just one of those fun films to watch, a definite Sunday afternoon flick.

Third, of course, is "Angels & Demons," based on Dan Brown's "prequel" to "The Da Vinci Code." (The book was written way before his megahit and I think it is actually superior to that one in terms of story and execution.) Retooled as a "sequel," Angels & Demons follows Professor Robert Langdon to Vatican City in search of the Path of Illumination. Dangerous Illuminati have kidnapped four cardinals on the eve of Conclave and have vowed to seek revenge on the Catholic Church in a final crushing blow. Can Langdon and the beautiful bio-physicist Vittoria Vetra find the clues and stop the murders in time?

I enjoyed the film version of "The Da Vinci Code" as much as I enjoyed the book. Anything about religion or history I have a hard time not enjoying. I think this film outshines TdVC just as the novel does. Perhaps the less controversial subject matter gave Brown more confidence and that translated to the filmmakers. Tom Hanks, though not my first or even second choice to play Langdon, does so effectively enough. He at least is approachable enough to be the well-liked professor of symbology and he did look quite good swimming those laps and no, I can't believe I just wrote that either. Ayelet Zurer is downright beautiful and plays Vittoria convincingly. If I didn't know she was actually Israeli, I would've assumed she was Italian. And, thankfully, the filmmakers dropped the romance subplot, which is the only weakness of the novel. The film takes us through Rome, through the inner workings and rituals of the Catholic Church and makes no judgments. It is merely telling a story, a thrilling tale of murder, ambition, and loyalty. And Ewan McGregor as the carmerlengo Patrick McKenna (a deviation from the novel's character, who is Italian) makes one want to re-enact some scenes from "The Thorn Birds," if you know what I mean. Ewan's a doll and he looks good in those priestly robes.

And, finally, there is "Terminator Salvation." I also had not planned on seeing this film until I learned that Linda Hamilton would be doing some voice-over work for the film and that Arnie would, somehow, be making an appearance. I did not see the third film until it showed up on HBO and I found it disappointing. This film is a much better film than that though it does lack the presence of Linda Hamilton's "Sarah Connor" character, the character that drove the first two films. Christian Bale is the adult John Connor, leading the resistance against the machines. However, his role is a supporting one to the main character, Marcus Wright, played by Sam Worthington. Marcus is a criminal who donates his body to science after he is put to death. He awakes after Judgment Day and makes his way to Los Angeles, where he sees the terminator machines up close and personal. Saved by a teenage Kyle Reese (Anton Yelchin of "Star Trek"), Wright ends up in the hands of John Connor after Kyle and others are gathered up by the machines for "orderly disposal."

What saves this film is Christian Bale's authority, even when he struggles with doubt. A new infiltration unit has shocked him; it is something his mother never told him about. How can he fight it? Should he disobey orders from other resistance commanders to fire on the Skynet HQ even though he knows there are human prisoners inside? We follow him because he is John Connor and we know that it is John Connor who decided the fate of all humanity. He is the one who will defeat Skynet so even when he doubts, we do not. I won't give away any secrets but it is a satisfying climax and a surprising cameo from the current governor of California.

A couple of notes on these films: Ryan Reynolds needs to play more action heroes. He's just awesome. Moon Bloodgood is just a fabulous name and she has a fabulous look; she plays a pilot in Terminator. Anton Yelchin is competing with himself this weekend and though Terminator may make more money than Star Trek, I think Star Trek will win overall. Bryce Dallas Howard is competing with her father, Ron, but I think Angels & Demons is a better film, overall, than Terminator.

As far as scores go: loved Angels & Demons (listening to it as I write this) and Star Trek. Terminator was okay; occasionally weaving Brad Fiedel's classic Terminator themes into the new music. Wolverine's music was better than the film.

Five Women Who Give Women a Bad Name

2009-04-27T12:17:00.001-07:00

Okay, so I am on Facebook, wasting time and I decide to do one of those "Top 5" surveys. I made one and called it "Five Women Who Give Women a Bad Name." But I cannot just leave it at that... I have to explain why I gave these particular women such kudos for being included on my list.

#5: Anita Bryant, singer. Famous for her stance against homosexuality, citing that giving homosexuals rights, rights would be "granted to prostitutes, and to people who sleep with St. Bernards and to nail biters." What Bryant did not realize at the time is that prostitutes, people who sleep with St. Bernards, and nail biters have rights. Prostitutes and zoophiles do participate in illegal behavior and, if arrested, tried, and convicted, they lose certain rights but they are still afforded more rights than law-abiding homosexuals (i.e., they can marry and all fifty states will recognize it as a legal marriage). And I don't know what rights Bryant would want to restrict from nail biters, but as a habitual nail biter, I am curious to find out.

But the main reason why Bryant made the list is that in an interview with Ladies Home Journal, December 1980, Bryant stated she felt sorry for her anti-gay comments and actions and had adopted a "live and let live" policy. Yet, her website does nothing but promote her virulent anti-gay activities of the 1970s. So, she's sorry but she's not. A non-apology apology. It seems they weren't invented in the 1990s.

#4: Jane Harman, Democratic Representative. Not wanting to seem totally anti-conservative in my list--but, lately, the neocons have been so much fun, I decided to include this nitwit. First, there is the AIPAC issue. Google it. It would take too long to explain. Second, there is her flagrant "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours" involved in the AIPAC issue. (When politicians start putting their own careers over their constituents or the Constitution, it's time to retire.) Third, there is the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007.

Homegrown terrorism... violent radicalization... scary terms that are just nonsense, knee-jerk reactions. Who is to decide what is "violent radicalization?" The FBI has listed the KKK as a "terrorist" group and yet they are still allowed to flourish in this country. So, what gives? Look, I get it... September 11, 2001 was scary. I cannot even look at footage of the events of that day. But let's not go losing our reason; it's the most effective "weapon" we have against extremism. Duh!

#3: Sarah Palin, Alaskan joke. Okay, she is nowhere near the Oval Office now (thank you!) but she has her eye on that spot. She's craving the White House like her husband craves moose burgers! And that's why she won't go away. She wants to keep in the national eye. She wants to run in 2012. I hope she does. That way President Obama won't have to campaign too hard while also running the nation. But, the overall hilarity that is Sarah Palin is not why she made this list. No, she made the list for one reason.

Speaking at a pro-life group in Indiana recently, Palin recalled about learning she was pregnant. When she and her husband were told that the baby had Downs syndrome, she admits "for a fleeting moment" of "changing the circumstances." So, upon learning that her child would be a special needs baby, Sarah Palin, for a moment, less than a moment even, thought about having an abortion. Now, that is her choice. And she, obviously, chose to have her son. And kudos to her for taking on that responsibility. I can't even imagine having a child, let alone a special needs child, so Palin has that way over me. But, what I don't think Palin (or those pro-lifers) get is that she had THE FREEDOM to CHOOSE whether or not to have that baby. No one made the choice for her. She made that choice herself. That is what PRO-CHOICE means. It is a private, personal choice and it should remain so. Abortion should be rare, safe, and legal.

#2: Ann Coulter, attention whore. Sorry. But it is true. This intellectual numskull is the centerfold of the far right. She eternally sports the Robert Palmer dancing model black cocktail dress (Kathy Griffin's words, not mine) and goes after whoever she feels will get her the most attention, be they September 11 widows, non-Christians, John Edwards. A self-admitted polemicist, Coulter does not see the irony in the fact that she is also a model for ultra-feminism. Never married, no kids, thoroughly devoted to her career--come on!

I just don't like this woman. She makes comments and then complains about being attacked by "the liberal media." For someone who bashes "weak" Democrats, she cries like a victim if anyone confronts her on her views (like Whoopi Goldberg did on Coulter's last appearance on "The View"). But, the one reason why she is on this list is because she blames Republican losses on one thing: the 19th Amendment of the Constitution of the United States. It granted women, like Ann (I'm assuming) the right to vote. But because "women are so stupid," Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton became President. How does she explain George W. Bush and Ronald Reagan, then?

#1: Michele Bachmann, Congressional Carbon Dioxide Proponent. I would really like to know what is in Minnesota's 6th District's drinking water. They sent her back to Capitol Hill, even after she called for an investigation of Congressional members' "anti-American" bias LIVE on television and then later denied ever saying it. In Bill Maher's documentary "Religulous," a representative noted that a person didn't need to pass an I.Q., test to become a member of Congress. Maybe that should be a requirement. I'm not going to say that a person has to be a genius because then who would Barbara Boxer have to talk to in the Senate? But... seriously.

Bachmann seems to think that since carbon dioxide is "natural," it isn't dangerous. After hearing her declare the safety of carbon dioxide, my sister and I wondered what else can now be declared safe, despite an occurrence in nature. We came up with sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, magma, sharks, scorpions, Hanta virus, Ebola, flesh-eating bacteria, black mambas, matriarchal elephants defending their young, hungry lions, and my personal favorite: the spiky candiru! But seriously, Bachmann declared that CO2 is a harmless gas and makes up a whole 3% of our atmosphere, though, in reality, it only makes up 0.04%. Just because something occurs naturally, doesn't make it's increase in our atmosphere a good thing.

So, there's my list... Maybe I will make a Five Women Who Make me Proud of my Vagina blog... but, for now... I will simply quote a lovely piece from Bill Maher:
Operation Streisand
Since Glenn Beck is clearly onto us, liberals must launch our plan for socialist domination immediately. Listen closely, comrades. I've received word from General Soros and our partners in the U.N. "Operation Streisand" is a 'go.'

Marcos Moulitsas, you and your DailyKos-controlled army of gay Mexican day laborers will join forces with Michael Moore's Prius-tank division. North of Branson where you will seize the guns of everyone who doesn't blame America first, forcing them into the FEMA concentration camps! That's where ACORN and I will re-educate them as atheists and declare victory in the war on Christmas!

Goodbye, Princess Natasha

2009-03-18T22:34:00.000-07:00

Natasha Richardson died today, less than two months shy of her 46th birthday.

I first saw her in the film "The Handmaid's Tale," so very long ago. She also starred as Mary Shelley in the film "Gothic" and played Elizabeth James in the fabulous remake of "The Parent Trap." She won a Tony Award for the revival of "Cabaret."

I feel sad for her family. Her mother, Vanessa, and sister, Joely. And the mighty Liam. And I feel sad for her sons.

Life is so very fragile and sometimes we take things for granted.

Natasha Richardson... goodbye.

Aaliyah

2009-01-16T12:49:00.000-08:00

Today would’ve been Aaliyah Dana Haughton’s 30th birthday.

She died August 25th, 2001.

She made three albums and appeared on nine film soundtracks.

She made two films, Romeo Must Die with Jet Li, and Queen of the Damned, in which she played Anne Rice’s supreme vampire, Akasha.

She received five Grammy nominations and two posthumous AMA awards.

And, every now and then, I think about her and how much potential was lost in a plane crash that should not have happened. The pilot did not have an FAA license to fly the plane he was piloting and an autopsy revealed that he had cocaine and alcohol in his system.

I remember the day I learned Aaliyah had died. I remember being dumbfounded. Distraught.

Her star was just beginning to truly shine.

This is the last video she ever made:

Rock the Boat:

But this is my favorite:
The One I Gave My Heart To

Happy Birthday, Aaliyah. You are missed.

The Big Four-Ohhhhhh

2009-01-10T13:45:00.000-08:00

Well, I never thought I would make it but here it is. It’s Saturday… January 10. If I wake up tomorrow and if nothing cataclysmic happens between now and 4:50 p.m., tomorrow afternoon, I will be exactly 40 years old. Forty…

Ugh!

No, I feel really ambivalent right now. Here I am with four decades under my ever expanding belt and I don’t feel it. Okay, sometimes I feel it, like when it gets super cold and my left knee feels like someone has stabbed me with an icicle or when I sleep on my back and get that wonderfully stiff back that requires soaking in a hot tub to cure but most often, I don’t feel like a forty-year-old.

Is this the secret of aging? Not "feeling" one's age. I mean, I remember when my mom hit 45. I was ten. (It’s great being born two days before your mother’s 35th birthday… it keeps her age in your memory.) Anyway, she seemed like a 45-year-old. But I look at her now and, in spite of her lack of hair and a few more wrinkles, she looks the same to me. Older, shorter, and maybe a little slower but still the same woman. As far as I can tell, anyway. Sure, ideologically she may have changed but she's the same.

When my sister turned 40, that was a big deal. But, she doesn’t look “old” to me, either. She just looks like my sister. Okay, those grey hairs are reappearing faster than she can dye them away but otherwise, she looks good.

And, here's a zinger... when I went out with Charlie, I had to ask how old he was. He told me he was 26. I then asked him how old he thought I was. He said, "no more than 24." Yeah... I've got a good twelve years on the guy and he thinks I'm younger. And yes, I still get carded, every now and then, when I buy a drink. That's always nice, though I think it is more of "standard operating procedure" than any question of my personal maturity.

I guess now that I am here at the big Four-Oh, it doesn’t seem so bad. I’m still the same person--for the most part--I was ten years ago, twenty years ago. Okay, with a few grey hairs sneaking their way in. And the pants are a lot bigger than they were. And the bra, too. But, I am definitely wiser. Ten years ago, I didn’t know as much about history or politics as I do now. I am savvier. I guess that is because of the 2000 election. I now pay attention to what is going on in the world. I have to now because after the last eight years, there is so much that needs to be cleaned up.
I’ve read a lot—many books I am sure my mother would not approve of but I have to be true to me, yes?

My quest for truth continues only now I am more fearless in that pursuit. Who cares if someone thinks I am a blasphemous, liberal, anti-religious heathen? I sure don't. I wouldn't mind list that as my profession on my passport! Yes, I now have a passport. Didn't have that ten years ago.

But, I still want my Star Wars action figures and my Lego bricks. I don’t want to give them up. I don’t think I should have to… right? I did donate a bunch of action figures (about 300) last year just because I needed the space but I kept my favorites.

So, here I am, about to turn 40. Oh well. At least I'm younger than Marilyn Manson. And Brent. Heck, everyone's younger than Brent.

Books Read in 2008

2009-01-01T11:38:00.000-08:00

In my haste to finish a post before 2008 drew to a close, I completely forgot to mention a few of the fabulous books I enjoyed this past year. Here’s a partial list:

His Dark Materials
Diary of a Wimpy Kid & Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2: Rodrick Rules
The Black Book of Secrets
Lyra’s Oxford
Not the Girl Next Door (a bio of Joan Crawford)
I reread Prince Caspian & Voyage of the Dawn Treader
Into the Wild
Home (Julie Andrews “early years” autobiography)
Black Sea of Infinity – a collection of H.P. Lovecraft’s short stories
The Princess Bride
The Dark Side of Christian History
World War Z
The Sistine Secrets
Leaving the Saints
The Sion Revelation
Wicked
Son of a Witch
A Lion Among Men

I also read the Star Wars series Legacy of the Force in which Han and Leia watched their only surviving son, Jacen, turn to the Dark Side and become the dreaded Dark Lord Darth Caedus. What is even more tragic is that Caedus was ultimately defeated by his twin sister, Jaina. But, hope springs eternal since Han and Leia are now raising their granddaughter, Allana. Maybe now that Han and Leia have lost both of their sons, the authors will cut these two some slack and let them live happily ever after as George Lucas intended… One can only hope.

And, because I am a devoted fan/amateur stalker, I’ve already finished my first book of 2009. Quite true as I started it at 12:30 a.m., last night and finished around 3:00 a.m.

Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher.

2008: A Brief Retrospect

2008-12-28T12:55:00.000-08:00

Well, 2008 is quickly drawing to a close. And as I gaze out on the slushy driveway—the remnants of a freaky snowstorm mixed with a day of rain—I decided to reflect on the year I’ve had. Gads! It’s been a mad year, hasn’t it? (Why am I channeling Dawn French’s “Catherine Spartacus Zeta-Douglas-Jones?” I don’t know. This sounds hilarious in my head!)

I did something this year that I have never done before. I followed the presidential campaign. I had to. I wanted to be sure that the presidency was taken out of Republican control. I initially supported Hillary Clinton but I warmed to Barack Obama because he was running the kind of campaign that I liked: respectable, high-road, spoke on the issues. When Hillary’s campaign got down and dirty, I made my first campaign contribution of the season to Obama’s campaign. And, the best part is that so did 32 million other people across this nation of ours. And we made history! History!

So, okay, maybe it was a little foolish to think that those wonderfully decorative “thank-you” notes from Obama’s campaign we received in the mail a couple of weeks ago might be inaugural invitations but a gal can dream, can’t she? I don’t know where you were the evening of November 4th… I was sitting in my family room, watching the numbers. When it was announced that Barack Obama had won, I started crying… tears of joy. It’s happened before. When Halle Berry won an Academy Award in a leading role, I cried, too. So did my sister. And my mom. So, I cried. If I had been out and about, I probably would’ve kissed a few (hundred) people. Joy is funny that way.

What’s amazing is the popularity of Barack Obama overseas. And I’m not just speaking about the clips on the news organizations. While waiting for a plane at Heathrow to take us to Manchester, I saw two fellows—Brits—in Obama 08 T-shirts. They can’t vote in our elections but they were offering support anyway.

Of course, the “big” news that crossed the Pond while my sister and I were traveling in England was the “who?” that John McCain picked for his running mate. When the London Times (notoriously conservative) announces that this is the beginning of the end for McCain’s campaign, we knew that something was up. Little did we know how bad it would get. But, it brought Tina Fey to the limelight with her dead-on impersonation so it’s not all bad. My only question is: What was John thinking? Seriously!

Now, I tend to be a bit of a snob when it comes to grammar. I do let most grammatical errors go. (There are a couple of pet peeves that just grate my nerves, though, e.g., saying “I could care less” when the phrase is “I couldn’t care less” because if you could care less, you would and using the word “seen” for “saw.” Arrrgghhh!) But this woman… when she spoke—wasn’t it obvious that she had really no clue what she was talking about? She tried to sound like a great speaker but she is not. One has to read books and, apart from “How to Field Dress a Moose,” I don’t think reading is high on this woman’s priorities. But, hopefully she will slip back into the quiet that is the Alaskan wilderness and we will not have to deal with her EVER AGAIN! (Seriously, GOPers, she is part of the problem, not the solution.)

I found my grammar skills challenged while traveling abroad. In the land that publishes the Oxford English Dictionary, my Californian colloquialisms frightened me into a silence that I am not known for. But it is England and I think I may have fallen in love. Well, I think I fell in love with Scotland. England is beautiful but Scotland is wild. You head out of the cities (we never did see Glasgow but Edinburgh is cool) and you step back in time. No, I didn’t see men with woad-painted faces running wild in kilts brandishing claymores across the glens but it isn’t hard to imagine. Scotland is free from high-rises and buildings put up in three weeks and large bulldozers tearing up the earth for a stretch of condominiums. I would recommend it to anyone and everyone. See Scotland!

London is a hectic place and once you get used to the Tube, quite accessible. And I did see Wicked twice. Defy Gravity!

So, here’s how I’ve changed since this time last year. I have a passport—which I’ve actually used! Palin has a passport but she’s never used it!

I flew from Seattle to London, then from London to Manchester, then from Manchester to Edinburgh and finally from London to Seattle. That’s roughly about twenty-five hours of my life this year spent in an airplane. I hated every single second of it… but it is a means to travel. (By the way, I did it all without any pharmaceutical assistance. Heck, I didn’t even drink!) I want to see Scotland again. I want to get to Paris! I want to see Ireland and sing Irish songs in a pub! I want to see Spain and Greece! And that requires flying.

I will probably be doing some more flying in 2009. The first of which will be my birthday present as my sister is taking me to Hawai’i.

I also learned that when it comes to travel, PACK LIGHT! I’ve learned my lesson.

2008 also afforded me a chance to do something I’ve never been able to do before. My professional interaction with Roseann Freet continued and I was able to make some serious money working for her from home. I had thought (hoped?) (dreaded?) that this contractual agreement would turn into something permanent that would require a relocation to New York City but it hasn’t. Oh well. I got to work from home, which saved me gas money when the prices were ridiculously high, work on personal projects (and no… I’m still not anywhere near publishing… though I had hoped to be), and generally prepare myself for the UK trip, which was a dream come true.

What am I looking forward to in 2009? Hawai’i and reuniting with friends on a cruise in September. The Watchmen film. Star Trek. Angels & Demons. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Turning 40. Yeah, I’m really looking forward to that. Joygasm!

And now, to say goodbye to a few folks who died this past year.

Eartha Kitt died on Christmas Day. She was the only Catwoman who actually purred. “Santa Baby” can never be sung by anyone else again. Ever.

Majel Barrett-Roddenberry, the “first lady of Star Trek.” I can only hope that the upcoming Star Trek film will be dedicated to her memory. It should be. She spanned the entire Star Trek pantheon.

Nina Foch (thus leaving the beautiful Debra Paget as the only surviving major cast member of “The Ten Commandments). Odetta. Bettie Page. Jeff Healey. Richard Widmark—forever immortalized by the grapefruit Lucy Ricardo simply had to have. Sydney Pollack. Mel Ferrer. Cyd Charisse. George Carlin. Bernie Mac. Isaac Hayes. Paul Scofield. Suzanne Pleshette. Brad Renfro. Heath Ledger. Charlton Heston. Paul Newman. Tim Russert.

And, on a personal note, Tom Hofer, who died December 22nd after a long struggle with throat and mouth cancer. Tom, I danced at your wedding to Terri in 1986. You were a great guy who let me smoke a couple of cigarettes when no one else was looking. I’m sorry your journey is over. I know Emily and Jacob will miss you terribly. But I am glad you are no longer suffering. Catch you on the flip side, dude.

A Passionless "Christ"

2008-11-20T15:23:00.000-08:00

Yes, I realize the irony in critiquing a film almost five years after its release but the reason for the delay is that I hemmed and hawed about watching “The Passion of the Christ.” After hearing that Mel Gibson was making the film, I too worried about the “virulent anti-Semitism” and the “graphic depictions of violence and torture” alluded to in the press surrounding this film.

But my curiosity and my continuing interest in religious-themed media overcame my personal hesitation and growing distaste for what appeared (and continues to appear) to be Mel Gibson’s anti-Semitism and ultra-conservative Catholic world view.

I watched “The Passion of the Christ” on a cloudy Saturday afternoon. I will admit that I had many preconceptions about the film and that these may have clouded my first impressions. I had steeled myself for what I thought would be an almost never-ending blood bath. Therefore, I was taken aback to find that the film did not begin with the immediate flagellation I had heard. Instead, the film opens in the Garden of Gethsemane. Actually, the first image of the film is a card with the text of Isaiah 53:5. This was to be the thesis statement of the story; I think it may even be the driving raison d’être of this film, a reminder of the suffering and pain Jesus endured.

The film chronicles the last thirty-six hours of Jesus’ life, starting in the garden where Jesus antagonizes over what is to come and ending with his death on the cross. Gibson touches on all of the familiar bits of the story: Judas and those thirty pieces of silver; the chopping of the servant’s ear; Peter’s denial; Judas’ lament of his betrayal; Pilate’s hesitation; the scheming of the Sanhedrin to attain a death sentence for Jesus. It’s all there. There are some hints of anti-Semitism: grotesque facial caricatures in the angry mob; pompous Sanhedrin members doing their best to emote their scorn. However, this is not a discussion on anti-Semitism in this film.

We follow Jesus as he is brought before the Jewish council. After they pronounce him a blasphemer, men in the crowd begin delivering blows to him. He is then taken before the Roman procurator who tells the angry mob to instead send the Galilean to Herod. After Jesus fails to amuse the king, he is sent back to Pilate who orders him flogged.

The flogging sequence marks the beginning of the “graphic” nature of the film. It is definitely not for the squeamish. Jesus is already sporting a swollen eye and bloody wounds from his encounters with the Jewish council. When he is flogged, the Roman soldiers take a peculiar delight in first caning him and then whipping him with a lash that the murderous monk Silas (from “The Da Vinci Code) would have envied. There is one particular cat-o-nine-tails that sports metal barbs (they looked like discarded razor blades to me); when the Roman soldier slaps Jesus with this particularly nasty whip, the barbs get stuck in Jesus’ side. The soldier laughs and yanks the sparks out, splashing blood everywhere.

A centurion stops the flogging, admonishing the gleeful soldiers that they were only to punish the prisoner, not kill him. Before returning Jesus to Pilate, the same soldiers present Jesus with his crown of thorns and a robe. Jesus is returned to Pilate a bloody stump of a man. Pilate finds no reason to condemn him, of course, and instead offers the people a choice between Jesus and Barabbas. The crowd chooses Barabbas (and it is in this scene that the line “his blood be on us and on our children” is uttered, though no subtitle is given).

Now begins the painful walk to Calvary. As I mentioned, by this time, Jesus is nothing more than bloody pulp. And again, Gibson makes sure he completes the “events” checklist (aka the Stations of the Cross): Simon of Cyrene is conscripted to help the battered Jesus carry his cross; a young woman comforts Jesus and thus the origin of “Veronica’s Veil;” Mary, the Magdalene, and Baby John (as I call him) follow in despair.

Gibson tells the story of the crucifixion faithfully. Jesus tells God to forgive those who persecute him. He asks for drink. He promises paradise to the kindly criminal dying beside him. He calls out to his mother. He asks God why he has been forsaken. He then declares his purpose accomplished and commends his spirit to God. With a final breath, Jesus dies. And tears fall from heaven (literally—and I must say that was a tad melodramatic) and the earth shakes in protest.

The film fades to black and then begins a slow pan to a shroud that deflates as we see the resurrected Jesus standing, naked, with the requisite holes in his palms (historically inaccurate but again, not the point of this essay). The final shot has Jesus walking toward the light of day, resurrected. No angels, no bells, no whistles.

The film does have a certain point of view. There is an effeminate Satan who confronts Jesus in the Garden; who taunts and teases Mother Mary by standing in the crowd of Jews who cry for Jesus’ crucifixion. His final scene depicts a screaming madman in the pit of Hell, protesting his irrevocable loss. There is Judas, immediately aware of his betrayal and tormented by child-like specters that drive him to the tree and the rope off a decaying cow in the desert. There is Mother Mary who mourns but carries on with strength and a secret knowledge that Jesus was never truly hers. There is the Magdalene, again confused with the “woman of easy virtue” (will no one correct this?), looking forlorn as she mops up the blood left by Jesus after his flogging. There is even a dove hovering over the scene, keeping an eye on the events.

So, what is missing from this film? In a word: Passion.

The word “passion” evolved from the Latin pati, which means “endure.” And this is what Gibson shows in his film. Think of it as “The Endurance of the Christ.” Gibson is so relentless in his quest to show the wounds, the scourging, the pain Jesus endured that more time is spent on the flagellation than the flashbacks showing Jesus at the Sermon on the Mount or at the Last Supper. And that is the flaw of the film. There is nothing to the man.

Compare this film to Franco Zeffirelli’s 1977 television mini-series “Jesus of Nazareth.” The mini-series devotes the last three hours to Jesus’ Passion. (Why it is called the Passion I don’t know. Perhaps someone can explain it to me?) But why “Jesus of Nazareth” succeeds is because the Passion is not the sum of the story. Zeffirelli devotes much more time to Jesus’ life, his ministry, his person (as described in the Gospels) that when that awful day comes, we actually feel compassion for him because we have had the chance to get to know him as a friend, a rabbi, a brother.

Now, I will be the first to admit that I am cynical about all this. But I am not made of stone. Robert Powell’s portrayal of Jesus is someone I would not mind sharing a meal with. He’s open, a natural story-teller, a compassionate man who looks beyond the faults of those around him, embracing each person individually and acknowledging them as brother or sister.

Jim Caviezel does not act in Gibson's film; he reacts. That’s all he has to do, really. He suffers well (which is, ironically, a praise the film’s director received back in the early days of his own career) but his Jesus is as wooden and untouchable as Max Von Sydow’s in “The Greatest Story Ever Told.” You see, I prefer the portrayals that show Jesus as a man. Robert Powell in “Jesus of Nazareth” is probably the best. Caviezel’s Jesus, aside from the fact that he is Jesus, is cold. I am not connected with his suffering. I see it but I do not feel it. Why?

Because Gibson has focused this film on the “endurance.” He has shown us that Jesus suffered but he has not shown us why. Instead of flashing Isaiah 53:5, he should have flashed John 3:16 to remind us that it is for us that God sent his son so that we could be saved through him. Right? I’m not misreading that, am I? It says nothing of about Jesus having to suffer and die. It just says that God sent his son that whoever believes shall not perish but have eternal life. This is my greatest criticism of Mel Gibson’s film. He wants us to feel guilt and shame for what Jesus endured. He feels it. Listen to him discuss the film and you can tell that Gibson is wracked with guilt. But I believe that it is not in Jesus death that we should focus. It is in his compassion. His love for those who are outcast, scorned, and reviled. It’s the message of Jesus—to love God and to love each other—that matters and even though it is spoken in Gibson’s film, it is lost in the wailing and torment of a beaten and broken man on his way to death.

I suppose one could argue that a film about Jesus life must include his crucifixion or it is pointless but I disagree. While a film focusing on Jesus ministry would not be as “exciting” or “shocking” as Gibson’s film, I think it would better illustrate the truth of what it means to be a Christian—that God loves us as we are and because of that love, he sent his son to remind us and if we hold to that, we shall see him in paradise. That Jesus suffered is one thing; that God loved us—out of all of creation—to send Jesus in the first place is something much more.

Happy Birthday, Carrie!

2008-10-21T14:36:00.000-07:00

Today is Carrie Fisher’s 52nd birthday.

Fifty-two years ago, Carrie Frances Fisher was born to Mary Frances Reynolds and Edwin Jack Fisher.

But, almost everyone who knows of Carrie Fisher knows that. It’s readily available on IMDB.com.

I could go on and on about Carrie, her books, her films (Star Wars and non-Star Wars). I could retell the moment when, just last year, I finally met Carrie at the Star Wars Celebration, commemorating the 30th Anniversary of the release of Star Wars.

I could… but I’m not going to. Today, I am going to talk about Carrie Fisher the comedienne. Okay, now we all know that Carrie is not a stand-up comic. Yet, just do a quick You Tube search on Carrie and what will appear are clips not only of her speech from the AFI George Lucas show but also of her speech about Meryl Streep (also an AFI event).

The woman is hilarious.

Check out her performance in the straight-to-DVD flick “Romancing the Bride.” The film isn’t great, at all, but there’s Carrie, as the titular bride’s over-bearing mother, ad-libbing like crazy and making a so-so romantic comedy all the more fun to watch.

That’s what Carrie does. She makes films better just by being in them. Don’t believe me?

Exhibit A: “Scream 3.” The first “Scream” was brilliant. The second was okay. The third was as about as enjoyable as a trip to the dentist office. Carrie is the nitrous oxide of that film. She shows up, quite unexpectedly, bashes herself and makes a boring film tolerable for the brief minutes she is on screen.

Of course, I could be biased. I admit that.

Exhibit B: The aforementioned “Romancing the Bride.” I first heard about this film doing a You Tube search on Carrie because I learned that her AFI speeches were up there. Also available is Carrie’s first scene in this film where she downs a couple of Ambien, sprays hairspray into the eyes of her new son-in-law, admits to her daughters that she “got loaded and laid” the day before her own wedding, and ogles same son-in-law’s, shall we say, “lean to the left?”

Sidebar: After the BBC’s “Absolutely Fabulous” hit U.S. airwaves, Roseanne Barr immediately bought the rights to develop an American version. While I had serious reservations (mainly because the show on its own translates well enough) about an American version, I thrilled when I heard that Roseanne had given the role of Edina to Carrie. The show never made it to fruition (Barr, Fisher, et al clashed with censors about what they could and could not do and Carrie just said, “forget it.”). “Romancing the Bride” offers a glimpse of what Carrie’s Edina would have been like. For that reason alone… yeah, I will sit through it.

Exhibit C: “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle.” The first “Charlie’s Angels” was a hoot. Campy, never taking itself quite so seriously. The second was more of an essay on Drew Barrymore’s self-esteem. Work out issues on your own time, sweetie. Granted, Demi Moore looked good. But good looks do not a good film make (as Keira Knightley found out with her “Domino” flick). So, you’re watching “Full Throttle” and wondering where is the same spark from the first one and all of a sudden, there she is! Carrie plays the “Mother Superior” at the orphanage where “Creepy Thin Man” grew up. (Carrie likes playing nuns. She’s played three: Agnes of God in the play by the same name on Broadway. She also played a nun in Kevin Smith’s “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.” And this one. Go figure!) She’s funny, giving the detectives vital information while yielding a yardstick as fiercely as Darth Maul wields his lightsaber. And the flashback scene where the Creepy Thin Man rips out a lock of her hair is also a hoot.

Exhibit D: “Sweet Revenge.” This was a TNT film from way back when. Carrie plays a lawyer (with a practice in Paris, France—too cool!) who is forced to pay alimony to her ex-husband, until he remarries. She hires an actress to help her see that her ex does remarry and hilarity ensues. Again, not the greatest film but it is made enjoyable because Carrie is there. Who cares about the ex? We want to see if Carrie will end up with Francois, her ex’s hunky best friend!

I could go on. Carrie doesn’t have a massive body of work but in the last couple of decades, she has confined herself mostly to cameos, showing up in a variety of films from Mike Myers’ first Austin Powers film to that film with Val Kilmer about John Holmes, “Wonderland.” But, I think I've proved my point.

So, on this day, I say let us pay homage to Carrie Fisher, the comedienne. And remember that first zinger she landed so long ago: “Would somebody get this big walking carpet out of my way?”

Hippo Birdies, Two Ewes!
Oh, and a "more serious" side to Carrie... from Leave Yesterday Behind!

Logical Radical

2008-10-19T13:06:00.000-07:00

I had expected my first blog since my England trip to be about that trip but, while working hard on Grade 8 math items, I put on my mp3 player and Supertramps’ “The Logical Song” started playing.

Now, anyone who knows me knows that I lean very far to the left, politically. I’m a bleeding-heart, leftist, socialist liberal. I like the Clintons though I think both of them are a bit too conservative for me, personally, and I am supporting Barack Obama’s bid for the presidency. I always go for the candidate that I think can whip my butt intellectually. Everyone has to have standards and those are mine. I can’t vote for John McCain because I think I could kick his ass at a basic history exam and I do not approve of the ritual slaughter of any animal unless it is in hand-to-hand combat and the winner eats the loser. Thank you, Les and Bear.

Anyway, in this morning’s Seattle Times, there was a small article about that “washed-up terrorist,” William Ayers, who is now a professor at the University of Illinois. So, that article is in the back of my head when these lyrics from “The Logical Song” play:

I say now, watch what you say
Or they’ll be calling you a radical
A Liberal
Oh fanatical criminal

It seems that in the past twenty or thirty years, the word “liberal” has gone from just a political viewpoint to a slander. (Much like, after September 11th, the words “Arab,” and “Muslim.”) Why? Liberals are just people who have progressive thoughts, aren’t they? Liberals are folks that want a better society for all members of that society, right? I can only speak for myself but here’s what I want: universal healthcare for every citizen of the United States; assistance for college education for all citizens of the United States; equal pay for equal work; equal rights for everyone whether they be gay, straight, transgendered, black, white, green, purple, red, blue, conservative, liberal. Yes, even to Ann Coulter, nut-job extraordinaire.

Now, William Ayers is an unapologetic former radical who participated in some despicable crimes, including bombings. One bombing claimed the lives of three people, one of whom (the GOP spin machine fails to mention) was Ayers own girlfriend at the time. He is still dissatisfied, still disgruntled, still angry at his country. But, maybe he has good reason to be.

I’ve been angry at my country. I’m angry that those lauded Founding Fathers somehow could not see the hypocrisy of writing the words “all men are created equal,” and turning a blind eye to the men they enslaved simply because those men were of darker complexion than they. I’m angry that the generations of Americans in the last two centuries were caught up in such a wind of national pride and fervor that they systematically erased an entire community of native civilians; they wanted equal treatment in Europe but they did not grant the same to the men, women, and children who had lived on this continent for over a thousand years before them. I’m angry that we went into Vietnam. I’m angry that we are still in Iraq, though Bush declared “mission accomplished” over 2,000 days ago (thank you, Keith!). I’m angry that it does sometimes seem like “politics as usual.” I’m angry that, in the 21st century, there are people who still hate me because of my skin color! I’m angry that a woman in Orange County put out a picture of Obama on a food stamp with pictures of fried chicken and watermelon and, when confronted, said that she didn’t mean it as a racial slur.

The point is that, as Americans, we have the right to be angry and disappointed with our government and our country. We are not forced to put on a smiling face and swallow our dissent by a totalitarian regime. But, it seems that finding dissatisfaction in our country means one is “anti-American.” Representative Michele Bachmann wants witch hunts done on members of Congress to see which members are “anti-American.” When did we become Soviet Russia or Fascist Italy? When did dissent, the very reason we are no longer a colony of Great Britain, become a treasonous act?

Non-violent dissent is as much a part of our history as winning wars (until the Korean War but that’s a whole other Oprah), military might, technological innovations, and civil liberties. Dissent forces us to look at ourselves with a critical eye and say, hey, maybe it isn’t a good idea to deny prisoners their rights under our Constitution.

Our country is not perfect, no country is. We have freedoms we have granted ourselves out of common decency, but there is still a divide and that will probably never go away. Long after I’ve shaken off my mortal coil, this country will celebrate its 3rd century of existence. Hopefully by that time—and I hope the United States of America still exists then—we will have shaken off the last of our “terrible two” tantrums and blustering and have matured. And maybe a beautiful dark-skinned Amer-Asian girl with an I.Q. of 200 will be president of the United States.

It could happen. Couldn’t it?

Christian the Lion & Elsa the Lioness and a World Without People

2008-07-30T12:30:00.000-07:00

I know you’ve probably seen it. I first saw it last year, bursting into tears out of jealousy or awe or joy or perhaps a combination of all three. I’m talking about the YouTube video of Christian the Lion. You know the story. Two British men find and buy a lion cub on sale at Harrods. They take the cub home, name him Christian, and raise him until they can no longer keep him (as he went from a 35 lb. cub to a 185 lb. young adult lion). Someone found the footage, added Whitney Houston singing Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You," and a phenomenon was born.

This video continues where the "famous" one ends. It also has the original narration, music, etc.

What I didn't know... what I could not have known had I not Googled Christian the Lion, is that the old man, the one wearing shorts and walking among the lions, is George Baba ya Simba Adamson.

Yes, Born Free's George Adamson. He and his wife, Joy, raised and cared for Elsa the Lioness, the subject of the films Born Free and Living Free. They made it their life's work to protect lions and other wildlife in Kenya and fought for conservation of wildlife and habitat.

So, I am reading about his life and tragic death (murdered by poachers while saving a tourist) and about his wife's death (also murdered) and I begin to wonder what happened to Elsa. Of course, it doesn't take long to learn that Elsa died at the age of five. Bitten by a tick, she contracted babesiosis, a malaria-like disease that affects large cats. Of course, Christian has by now died as well, seeing as how lions in the wild only live to about 12 to 14 years, though some have lived to 20 years in both the wild and captivity, and the last time John and Ace saw him was in 1974.

Why do these stories move me? I cannot watch the video of Christian's reunion with John and Ace without tears running down my cheeks. I went to , a website devoted to Elsa's memory. Reading about her short life--how Adamson shot her mother and in his regret cared for her and her littermates, how they introduced her back to the wild, only to have her return, a young mother, in the hopes that they would care for her cubs as she lay dying--I wondered why I should feel so passionately about a lion who died eight years before I was even born. Why should the tale of Christian move me to tears?

Am I just a sucker for animals? Or, do I feel deeply guilty because I consider myself an "animal rights" person but I still eat meat? I am a hypocrite, I know it. if PETA only knew...

I recently watched a History Channel special entitled Life Without People, which hypothesized what our world would look like 36 hours, one week, one month, one year, ten years, fifty years, one hundred years, and five hundred years after a sudden and total disappearance of human life on Earth. The show pointed out that many of the dog breeds people keep as pets would not be able to survive long without humans to care for them. We have bred them to have short legs, short snouts, and submissive personalities to suit us. These same traits would doom them if they had to survive on their own. Domestic cats fared better; the show suggested that they would revert to their old hunting instincts.

But, my reaction to this show was one of joy. Watch as the color green returns to the land. Black pitch roads crumble as roots push through toward the sun. Skyscrapers become homes to pigeons, eagles, and, humorously, cats. Those animals that can escape their zoo cages mark new territories in the cities and suburbs we have tried to push them away from. The wolf population would grow exponentially. Forests would expand. The oceans would completely heal in a decade. Fish levels would rise, which would allow walrus and seal to thrive, giving polar bears a fighting chance, and all species of whale would make a comeback. The world could breathe once again.

And I think that's a great thing.

The late, great George Carlin once closed one of his HBO specials with the theory that maybe the Earth allowed Man to gain consciousness because the Earth knew that Man would figure out how to make plastic. Now that we have plastic, Carlin suggested that it was only a matter of time before this big blue marble would shake us off like a bad case of fleas and renew itself once again. I honestly don't think that's a bad idea.

I only want a better world for Christian & Elsa, for Pokie & Indy, Thomesina & Timothy, Griffin & Sabine, Caspian, Lady the Dalmatian and the other Lady, for all the abused elephants in circuses and carnival shows, for hunted rhinos, tigers, gorillas, and hippos, for other animals sold as "exotic pets" who were abandoned when they got too big, and for every cat thrown out of a window and every snake killed for the fact that it was a snake.

But, I still want a salmon dinner every now and then.
I'm a hypocrite.
But, I'm also honest about my hypocrisy.
And that's probably why I cry.

Either that or because I just love lions.

The Dark Knight of the Soul…

2008-07-29T12:37:00.000-07:00

My thoughts on “The Dark Knight”

I asked one of my friends what she thought of the latest Batman film and she responded by saying that, “It leaves you in a dark place, but in a good way.”

Since I live in my dark places most of the time, I honestly had no idea what she meant. I contend with my dark side daily; it’s a struggle. Most of the time, I am able to quiet the rabid lions but every now and then, they raise their heads and the bile roars. But, I digress. This isn’t about me; this is about Christopher Nolan’s second “Batman" film.

Picking up where “Batman Begins” left off, “The Dark Knight” continues Bruce Wayne’s journey of righting wrongs, avenging the death of his parents, and leveling the balance between order and chaos. And, it is on that note that the Clown Prince of Chaos enters. Heath Ledger’s Joker. When I heard that Heath was to play the Joker, I thought that this was a step in the right direction for this particular take on the Batman tale. Heath has always been about primal urges; his all-too-short body of work deals with undeniable urge overtaking control. With him, chaos always wins. And the Joker is no exception. Beginning his own crusade as the id to Batman’s Superego, the Joker terrorizes the good people of Gotham in a grand experiment. The question Joker asks is the essential question of the film: What would it take to push each of us over the edge?

Back to that in a moment. I realize that the buzz of this film has been Heath Ledger’s performance and it is a phenomenal performance. I would have expected nothing less from Heath. Watching him rage further and further out of control is almost bittersweet with the underlying knowledge that this was his final, completed performance. His Joker is not as dark as Jack Nicholson’s Joker and yet it is deceptive because Ledger’s Joker is far more dangerous. He is downright jolly in his murder and mayhem and taken in the context of the “real world” feel of these Batman films, that’s a frightening prospect. He destroys for the sake of destruction itself. He worships anarchy and wishes to unleash it on humanity. Ledger’s performance is as close to the truly maniacal Joker of the comics as we will probably ever see.

In all honesty, however, I do not consider his performance the truly break-out performance of this film. That honor belongs to Aaron Eckhart. Aaron has had a rather low-key career but I think this film will change that. It is his performance as Harvey Dent that tackles the film’s essential question. The “origin” story in “The Dark Knight” tops the pantheon of Gotham’s criminal element. In each of the Burton (and later, Schumacher) Batman films, there was always an “origin” story of one of the villains. Those, however, always seemed in media res. Even Selena Kyle in “Batman Returns” had a bit of a dark edge. In this film, we are allowed to see Harvey as he was before he became Two-Face and not just physically. We are amazed at his own crusade, a crusade exploited by Joker. Harvey Dent is Bruce Wayne without the cape and cowl. He is Gotham’s white knight, a crusading district attorney who believes in the power of law and order and uses same to do some good in Gotham. And when his world is shattered, he takes the path that Bruce will not. And it saddens us to watch.

Harvey Dent’s journey leads us down to that dark place. It asks the question: what would it take to push each of us over the edge? And where would that lead us? Down Joker’s path or Batman’s? I think that is the strength of this film. It allows each of us to answer the question for ourselves? Will we rush to judgment like the civilians on the one ferry or will we have the courage to do what the “criminal” did on the other ferry? Harvey Dent represents us, the law-abiding citizen witness to Christian Bale’s Batman and Heath Ledger’s Joker. And when bad things happen, who will be our guide?

The Joker gives Batman opportunity after opportunity to cross that line and Batman does not. Despite the wrestle with his own demons, Batman’s moral code wins. He once vowed, “never again,” and he holds true to it.

When Joker presents the same opportunity to Harvey, the savagely disillusioned and disfigured public servant snaps. It is Harvey that represents the everyman; it is his journey that we follow. It’s in comparison to him that we ask which way we would go.

Harvey Dent/Two-Face has been done in films before. But we never got a chance to see him transition from altruistic crusader for right into cynical agent of fury. It was fascinating to watch. And that is because of Aaron Eckhart's stunning performance.

I will confess that I was not a fan of “Batman Begins.” I thought the Ra’s Al Ghul storyline was botched and relying on the Scarecrow as the second villain was weak. (I won’t even talk about Katie Holmes’ horrible performance though I will say that Maggie Gyllenhaal was only slightly better.) I have always been a fan of the various Batman incarnations but I do have a soft-spot for him in animated form. (For real fun, check out “The Batman” animated series.) I did not see “Batman Begins” in the theater and that may have had an impact on my enjoyment level for it.

“The Dark Knight” renewed my faith in the future of the Batman cinematic franchise. And, since Christian Bale has hinted that he would not say “no” to a Justice League film, I think I can spare a few dollars to see the film again. Yes, Jeanne, I liked “The Dark Knight.”

Geek Moment = I am not a gadget-loving girl. I do not watch the Bond films because of the gadgets. But, how cool is the Batpod? Seriously? I did like the Batmobile from “BB.” Seeing the Batmobile destroyed and then seeing Batman zip out of it on the Batpod almost made me giggle with nerd-glee. That was, in a word, cool.

Post Script:
A word about Christian Bale.
I like his take on Batman. He, better than Val Kilmer and Michael Keaton, portrays the role as if Batman is the real man and Bruce Wayne is the prop. Christian is dark and yet in his eyes, you can see the noble ideal. There, I said it.

Happy Birthday, Dame Diana

2008-07-21T12:44:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, July 20, was Diana Riggs 70th birthday. Although she is a celebrated actress, I think she will always be remembered as Emma Peel from "The Avengers." So, in tribute:

Happy Birthday!

Why Do All the Television Shows I Like Get Cancelled?

2008-07-18T12:53:00.000-07:00

Why Do All the Television Shows I Like Get Cancelled?

Okay, that’s not entirely true. I did enjoy “ER” and it has survived the loss of George Clooney, Anthony Edwards, Eriq La Salle, and Noah Wyle.

But, with the release (finally) of “Birds of Prey” on DVD, I started thinking about all those little gems I thoroughly enjoyed and faithfully watched, only to see them disappear into the television netherworld… forgotten. Here are some notables:

“Roar (1997-2000).” This show is available on DVD. Starring the late Heath Ledger, this show actually introduced Ledger to American audiences. As young prince, Conor, Ledger displayed much of the talent later audiences would come to appreciate. Conor is the surviving son of a clan chief and units his people to fight the invading forces of Rome. The show mixed Irish history, legend, and myth into an entertaining hour of television. One of the two main villains of the show was Longinus; the Roman centurion legend says pierced Christ’s side and was thus cursed with immortality. It did not survive for long, but enjoyed a cult following, which inevitably led to its DVD release.

“The Bionic Woman (2007).” It took me a while to warm up to the idea of redoing the Bionic Woman. But, I watched the first episode and while there were some elements that just creeped me out (the Frankenstein-like doctor/boyfriend), I saw some great potential, especially between the two Bionic Women (if you watched the show, you know what I am talking about). Unfortunately for the show, the writer’s strike erupted and production was shut down. Despite less than stellar but still solid ratings, NBC cancelled the series. Just when the series was hitting its’ stride. Just when the lovely Michelle Ryan was starting to flex her “bionic” muscles and incorporate both a burgeoning self-confidence with a cautious acceptance of her new role as “spy.” And, of course, we will never know Sarah Corvis’ fate. So many unanswered questions. Of course, a quick check of IMDB.com (my secret film trivia source) shows that fourteen episodes were made. There is a DVD but only eight episodes are included. Will the other six ever see the light of day? Time will only tell. And, if anyone doubts Michelle Ryan’s acting abilities, check her out in BBC’s “East Enders” or (better yet) “Jekyll.”

“Medical Investigation (2004-2005).” This show was part “ER” and part “CSI” except more often than not the “bad guys” on this series were microbial. The team, working with the National Institute of Health, would investigate strange medical events across the country and around the world. For example, the premiere episode dealt with mysterious asphyxiations that turned out to be caused by the accidental ingestion of saltpeter at a popular restaurant. Led by “The Tin Man’s” Neal McDonough, the team would tackle life-threatening outbreaks while dealing with their own personal struggles. No DVD yet.

“Mercy Point (1998-1999).” I loved this show. A cross between “ER” and “Star Trek,” this show centered on a space station emergency unit called Mercy Point. Led by sci-fi favorite, Joe Morton, the team of surgeons would cater to the human and alien clientele with equal patience and skill. This show offered glimpses of what emergency medicine could be in the future. It also had an android nurse, ANI, that sometimes ruffled the feathers of her human counterparts with her precise diagnosis and total lack of “bedside manner” skills. Mercy Point was a military facility, which often provided conflicts between the administrators and the patients that burst through the airlock doors. I would love a DVD of this show but none exists

“Tales of the Gold Monkey (1982).” Cashing in on the popularity of “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” this show was the best of the 1930s adventure shows that popped up on television. Starring Stephen Collins as down-on-his-luck pilot Jake Cutter, the series followed a group of misfits on a tropical island in the South Pacific as they searched for a legendary Gold Monkey said to contain mysterious powers. Who can forget the stuffy yet hilarious British agent Sarah Stickney White or Jake’s one-eyed dog, the intelligent Jack? There is a campaign to get this show released on DVD.

“The Chamber of Commerce of Wildside (1985).” Not just your average Western show. This little gem (which is available as a three-tape VHS box set) stars one of the greatest character actors of all time, William Smith, as Brodie Hollister, a gunslinger who, along with four friends, forms the Chamber of Commerce of Wildside. The show lasted all of six episodes but included such regulars and guest stars as Meg Ryan, James Cromwell, Martin Kove, Sid Haig, and Will Sampson. Never taking itself too seriously, just as the five members of the CoC, the show was just an entertaining hour of gunslingers, knife throwers, compassionate vets, and the gold hidden in California.

“Voyagers (1982).” This show introduced me to Jon-Erik Hexum. Hexum played a time traveler named Phineas Bogg who stumbles into grumbling preteen Meeno Peluce’s life. While trying to fix his broken time piece, the two are hurled throughout various times in history, repairing historical errors as they go. It was a light-hearted action adventure show with a bit of history just for good measure. This show did last for almost one season but was inevitably cancelled. Jon-Erik Hexum went on to “Cover Up,” the show he was working on when he tragically lost his life. “Voyagers” is now available on DVD.

And, finally, “Birds of Prey (2002-2003).” I was surprised the WB pulled this as quickly as they did, considering they were advertising it during their big show “Charmed.” Lifting the “Birds of Prey” storyline from the comic book of the same name, the show followed superheroes Huntress and Oracle as they fought crime in New Gotham during Batman’s self-imposed exile. (Long story short = Gotham City was hit by a devastating earthquake. A “new” Gotham was built on the ruins. Hence the name change.) The show combined kick-ass martial arts with ingenious deductive reasoning and even a bit of that “awkward teenager just coming into her powers” angst. I am glad the show is now available on DVD as I enjoyed seeing Oracle struggle with her past as Batgirl and her future as the virtual eyes and ears of crime-fighters in not just Gotham City but the entire DC universe.

Fox News vs. Michelle Obama

2008-07-09T09:50:00.001-07:00

Okay, first check out this video compiled by Robert Greenwald.

There are so many things wrong with this. First, someone should remind all of these dolts that dissent is the highest form of patriotism. Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, John Adams, Patrick Henry, John Hancock, and everyone who put quill to ink and signed that little, unknown document known as the Declaration of Independence were dissenters! If the colonies had lost the Revolutionary War, they would have been branded, tried, and convicted as traitors to the crown.

Dissent is part of our nation's blood. And because the idiots at Fox think any criticism against the United States is unpatriotic it only proves that they are the ones who have unrealistic views about this country of ours.

I am grateful that I was born in this country where I am able to speak my mind without fear of reprisal. Why can't these jerks (and jerkettes--Michelle Malkin in particular--can somebody remind her that she is a person of color, Filipino, and that if she had been alive during the Japanese internments during World War II, she might not be so blase about it) remember that as a citizen of the United States, Michelle Obama has every right to not be happy with her country. She has every right to have withheld her praise for this nation. History backs her up.

I think this round goes to Mrs. Obama.

Of course, with an opponent like Faux News, it's not surprising.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Olivia de Havilland, July 1, 1916

2008-07-01T22:01:00.000-07:00

Today is Olivia de Havilland's 92nd birthday.

Here's a blog I posted a year ago today:
Today, Olivia de Havilland turns 91. While most people know her as either Melanie Hamilton Wilkes from Gone with the Wind or Maid Marian from The Adventures of Robin Hood, this two-time Academy Award winner (back when that truly meant something) made almost sixty films spanning from the early 1930s to the late 1980s. She is in retirment now, living near her grandchildren and great grandchildren and teaching Sunday School in Paris, France.

Olivia de Havilland also happens to be my all-time favorite actress. I've been planning on doing a series of blogs about my favorite films so I thought I would start with my TOP TEN FAVORITE OLIVIA DE HAVILLAND films. These are the films I recommend to people who ask me why I love and adore this woman.

10. Hush, Hush... Sweet Charlotte. Okay, yes, it could be argued that this is nothing more than a second-rate attempt to cash in on the wild success of What Ever Happened to Baby Jane. And it probably is. But, this is one of only a handful of films where Olivia plays a not-so-nice character and one of two films she did with her lifelong friend, the phenomenal Bette Davis. (Side note: the other being, of course, The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex, in which Olivia plays another not-so-nice character, Lady Penelope Gray.)

9. Airport 77. Yes, a cheesy sequel to the cheesy "airplane disaster" films that were so wonderfully spoofed by the team of Abraham & Zucker. But, Olivia is in this one as Emily Livingston, she reteams with Hush, Hush costar Joseph Cotton, she gets to play poker, and, legend has it that during the filming of the flooding sequence, a certain other actress in the film complained about the harsh conditions of the filming and later blamed the film for her contracting pneumonia. Whereas Miss de Havilland "complained" that all she lost in that scene was an eyelash.

8. Lady in a Cage. This is an intense pyschological drama with Olivia in the title role. She is an upper middle class dame who has an elevator installed in her house due to an illness. One day, she is followed home by some thugs (the leader played by James Caan in his first film role) and they spend the next two hours in a battle of wits and will. I won't tell you the outcome but I wouldn't be recommending it if it wasn't in her favor. Be warned: it's a bit icky!

7. The Strawberry Blonde. This film stars James Cagney and Rita Hayworth; Olivia has a "supporting" role in the film but she's hilarious in it. James Cagney fancies himself in love with the titular character, Rita Hayworth, but is also drawn to the modern, plucky Olivia. She flirts with him, outrageously, and is everything that Rita Hayworth is not: down-to-earth, dependable, fun. Just a cute film.

6. Princess O'Rourke. I actually saw this for the first time a couple of months ago. Audrey Hepburn's Roman Holiday is actually a remake of this film. Olivia plays a princess whose family fled Europe during WWII. While her advisors are trying to find a suitable marriage for her, she ends up falling in love with an American pilot, causing quite the comedic scandal. Another cute film, something to watch on a lazy afternoon.

5. To Each His Own. This film brought Olivia her first Academy Award for Best Actress. Yes, I am bragging. She plays Jody Norris, a young woman who falls in love with a test pilot during WWI. They have an affair, he dies, and she is left carrying his child. To avert any more of a scandal, she allows a family friend to adopt her son and goes through the agony of watching another woman raise her child. This film is great not only because of its daring subject matter but also because Olivia has to play not only the wide-eyed innocent youth that Jody begins the film as but also the mature businesswoman she becomes. It's a great performance and a great film.

4. The Snake Pit. This film was first recommended to me by my 8th Grade English teacher, Mrs. Rathbun. I had mentioned that I was a fan of Olivia's and Mrs. Rathbun asked me if I had seen this particular film. This film is phenomenal not only because of Olivia's Academy Award nominated performance, but also because it gives an open, honest look at the mental healthcare community of the 1940s. Olivia plays Virginia Cunningham, a woman who seems to have everything going for her: good job, loving husband, and a blossoming career as a writer. But, events from her past resurface and she has a nervous breakdown. Sit down and watch this film; watch this phenomenal actress at work as she journeys through Virginia's mental collapse and recovery. Wow!

3. Captain Blood. One of the nine films Olivia de Havilland made with Errol Flynn. This is what a pirate film should be. Bold, brash, adventurous and having the delicious Basil Rathbone in it doesn't hurt! She plays Arabella Bishop, a young colonist in Jamaica who "buys" the criminal Peter Blood to save him from the silver mines. So, of course, they fall in love. Ha-Ha. No, this film is a great pirate film and the chemistry between Olivia and Errol is palpable. She also elevates Arabella from the standard "damsel in distress" archetype. And it was filmed in glorious black and white!

2. The Adventures of Robin Hood. I could go on and on about this film. It is on my all-time favorite film list. It is this film by which I compare all other Robin Hood films and, in that comparison, all others come in sorely lacking. Yeah, that Costner disaster had Alan Rickman and Sean Connery but this film had Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Alan Hale, Sr., the lovely Basil Rathbone, Melville Cooper, Una O'Connor, and Claude Rains as Prince John. Gloriously cast, costumed in rich colors for Technicolor, and gloriously scored by Erich Wolfgang Korngold... I think I can safely say that this film is without flaw. Olivia's Maid Marian Fitzwalter is all the things Olivia is: beautiful, noble, plucky, defiant, determined, and courageous. Gosh, I love this film!

and my Number One favorite Olivia de Havilland film of all time is =

1. The Heiress. If watching any of these other films has not convinced you, see this film. Dulling herself down to play the plain Catherine Sloper, Olivia allows Cathy to blossom in character rather than looks. Scorned by a father embittered by his wife's death who constantly points out to his daughter all the qualities she lacks in comparison to that idealized mother and preyed upon by the opportunistic, fortune-seeking Morris Townsend (played with sweet conviction by the beautiful Montgomery Clift), Catherine evolves from a creature thinking herself unworthy of love to a dreamer willing to defy all for love before evolving into a woman with clear understanding of how much one can hurt another with love. This film brought Olivia her second Academy Award and it remains one of the best performances of all time. Bette Davis said, and I agree, that this was Olivia's finest hour on film.

So, Happy Birthday Miss de Havilland. And thank you.

And, as a reminder:

Curious George

2008-06-23T11:04:00.000-07:00

I was enjoying my usual assortment of odd and strange dreams when my sister woke me this morning with the sad news that comedian George Carlin had died. He had a history of heart-related illnesses, including a previous heart attack. He was 71 years old.

Lately, it seems that we are losing a lot of the "old timers." Actors of the golden era who shaped the motion picture industry. And it is sad. Will there ever be another Cyd Charisse? No. Will anyone rise to be the new Charlton Heston? Hopefully not! (Come on, Stephen Boyd acts circles around him in "Ben-Hur.") Even Heath Ledger (though not an "old timer") had something unique about him. Something that made him stand out.

That's what George was like. Unique. He was a thinking man's comedian. A social commentator. He loved words, language. He kept us honest, calling us on our collective bullshit. I mean, what does "preboard" really mean? You either board the plane or you don't. George saw through the bullshit of political correctness. He walked right up to the line of what was "acceptable" and happily jumped over it with that cheeky grin of his. He was a goof-ball. He was hard-hitting but always with a distinct panache. He once said that he had no pet peeves; he had major psychotic hatreds.

So, I'm not going to post video of him. Check them out for yourself. I am not going to tell you the story of his life. Here's a brief highlight: He did twenty HBO specials, he was the first person to host the first episode of "Saturday Night Live." His "Seven Words You Can't Say on Television" broke ground and got him in a bit of trouble. He had a drug and alcohol problem but he spoke openly about them both.

No, I'm going to let Curious George speak for himself. Ladies and Gentlemen, the mind of the late, great George Carlin (1937-2008):

The Seven Words:
Shit - The bird shit on the statue.
Piss - I have to piss like a race horse.
Fuck - Fuck you.
Cunt - She has a rancid cunt.
Cocksucker - Go to hell, you cocksucker.
Motherfucker - You are a motherfucker.
Tits - Hey, nice tits.

Later ammended to include:
Fart - I farted.
Turd - Who dropped a turd in the urinal?
Twat - Shave that hairy twat.

"I'm completely in favor of the separation of church and state. My idea is that these two institutions screw us up enough on their own, so both of them together is certain death."

"I would never want to be a member of a group whose symbol was a guy nailed to two pieces of wood."

"The very existence of flamethrowers proves that sometime, somewhere, someone said to themselves, "You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I'm just not close enough to get the job done"."

(On airport security)"Take a fucking chance! Put a little fun in your life! ... most Americans are soft and frightened and unimaginative and they don't realize there's such a thing as dangerous fun, and they certainly don't recognize a good show when they see one."

"Thou shalt keep thy religion to thyself."

And finally...
"Frisbeetarianism is the belief that when you die, your soul goes up on the roof and gets stuck."

Goodbye, George. You grumpy, old cocksucking fart. I love ya.

Post Script: According to the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, George was to be the 2008 honoree for the Mark Twain Prize for American humor.

Remembering Cyd Charisse

2008-06-18T10:08:00.000-07:00

Just found out that Cyd Charisse passed away at age 86.

She was one of the most beautiful dancers to ever grace the silver screen. And she was a classy lady.

So, in remembrance:

Harvey Korman 1927-2008

2008-05-30T09:47:00.000-07:00

Harvey Korman, one of the four principals on "The Carol Burnett Show" has died. I am sad because we grew up watching Carol's show and the highlight of each episode was seeing whether or not Harvey Korman would laugh at Tim Conway's antics. Below is a classic example.

Harvey's credits are long and plentiful. A favorite of director Mel Brooks, Korman appears in "High Anxiety," "Blazing Saddles," and "History of the World, Part I." He was a Golden Globe winner, a wonderful comedian, and worked with some of the greatest comics of the 20th century.

Check him out as Count de Monet.

Goodbye, Harvey! We will surely miss you!

Why Keith Olbermann is Superman

2008-05-15T14:39:00.000-07:00

The following was a special comment that aired Wednesday, May 14 on Keith's Countdown show.

If you haven't seen it, please watch and listen. It's fairly long but very important.

Moon River

2008-05-04T14:27:00.000-07:00

Today would have been Audrey Hepburn's 79th birthday.
So... enjoy...

Ten Foreign Films to See

2008-04-25T13:09:00.000-07:00

After watching the rather disappointing “No Country for Old Men,” I got to thinking about other films starring the wonderful Javier Bardem. (Okay, that sentence sounds contradictory but Bardem, even in this film, is always interesting to watch. If you don’t believe me, check out “Goya’s Ghosts.” His character is despicable but you still lust… sort of.) Anyway, my mind started thinking about his films and went on to a tangent of other foreign films I’ve seen. So… guess what?!?!?

Ten Foreign Films You Should See.
In no particular order…

Sophie Scholl – Die Ietzten Tage (Sophie Scholl – The Final Days). Scholl was a member of the anti-Nazi resistance movement called The White Rose. Arrested by the Gestapo for distributing anti-Nazi flyers at university, Scholl displays courage against the oppressive regime. This was my first German film and my unfamiliarity with the language had me going back to reread subtitles (trying to gauge the emotional responses of actors with the dialogue), but this film shows that there were those who did not cower in face of the evil that had taken over the country.

Te doy mis ojos (Take My Eyes). This film does what so few films about domestic violence ever do. This film displays all the emotions, not just the violence and rage, but the fear, the sadness, and the (misguided) passion of an abusive relationship. Watching the film, one wonders why the wife stays, why she returns after his promises and why it takes that one final act of complete humiliation for her to leave at last. It’s not an easy film to watch but it is honest.

Paradise Now. This film is a gritty, realistic portrayal of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from the eyes of two young Palestinian men who decide to give themselves over to jihad. As they make their way to Tel Aviv and “paradise,” they discuss the events that have brought them to this destiny. One is eager to fulfill his promise, the other merely frustrated with life. In these times, we as Americans tend toward an “us vs. them” worldview; this film provides a look into the lives of the “them.”

Trois couleurs: Bleu, Bialy, Rouge. (Three Colors: Blue, White, Red) I was lucky enough to see these three films in a “triple feature.” Each film deals with human relationships in these modern times, be that grief, marriage, or chance encounters between people who connect on a level beyond physicality. See all three in order and be prepared to be blown away. Sadly, the mastermind behind this trilogy, Krzysztof Kieslowski, passed away two years after Red was released.

Shichinin no samurai (Seven Samurai.) This is a masterpiece. I’ve probably written about this film before but it is one of the best films ever made. It has action, human drama, romance, and is the pen-ultimate samurai film. Akira Kurosawa, who was a master filmmaker and I urge anyone reading this to do a search and pick five of his films and watch them, made many films before and after but this is the one he will be remembered.

Mar adentro (The Sea Inside.) What makes this film a stand-out is not just the outstanding performance from Javier Bardem (you knew he was going to make an appearance somewhere on this list, right?) but also because of the “controversial” subject matter. Based on the story of Ramon Sampedro, the film follows his lifelong campaign to end his own life after a diving accident left him paralyzed. It is not preachy nor is it overly sentimental. The film simply argues that each person’s life is his/her own.

Diarios de motocicleta (The Motorcycle Diaries.) True confession time. I absolutely hated Y tu mama tambien. Really. Hated it. This film, starring Gael Garcia Bernal, follows two young doctors as they travel around South America on a dilapidated motorcycle. One of the young men, Ernesto Guevara, is greatly changed by the poverty—and all the sadness and disease that results from it—he witnesses. Both Bernal and Rodrigo De la Serna deliver honest, thought-provoking performances and it is nice to watch the two young men mature as their eyes are opened to the realities of 1950s South America.

Sjunde inseglet, Det (The Seventh Seal.) This film is another one of those classics that must be seen. It’s not an easy film to sit through, and the late Ingmar Bergman had a very heavy-handed directing style, but if you haven’t seen it, you should. Just to see the iconic images Bergman brought to the screen. Is it merely a tale set during the crusades or an allegory of the death of the human spirit in the modern age? You decide. To quote the brilliant Jennifer Saunders, just “watch it now and pretend to understand it and then, read a book about it later.”

Hadashi no Gen (Barefoot Gen.) This is a Japanese anime film. But this is not your typical anime film. There are no saber-wielding robots or superhero vampires. This is a story about the bombing of Hiroshima and, despite the fact that the film is animated, it pulls no punches. It spares nothing, not the disintegration of children on their way home from school nor dogs grimacing in pain as flesh is burned from the bone. And the film does not stop there but goes on to show the after effects, the disease and slow deaths suffered by tens of thousands. Gen, a young boy who is charged by his father to care for his mother and little brother, watches his world crumble while never succumbing to vengeance. Great film but not for the squeamish.

El Laberinto del fauno (Pan’s Labyrinth). If you haven’t seen this film, stop reading this and go out and rent it or add it to your Netflix queue. It’s a fairy tale but not for kids. It is one of the most brilliant films I’ve ever seen. The story follows young Ofelia as she fulfills three quests charged by Pan who claims she is the long-lost princess of a magical realm. Juxtaposed with this story is the Spanish Civil War and the rebels who fought to free Spain from Franco’s tyranny. Ivana Baquero is amazing as Ofelia, Maribel Verdu is brilliant as the brave Mercedes, who takes Ofelia under her wing. Guillermo del Toro, who I just read will be directing the upcoming film version of The Hobbit, has a unique vision and this film is the result of that exceptional talent.

So, there you have it. Ten foreign films I think everyone should see. And, if you can make any recommendations, I am always up for something new!

He Might Just Be the Dumbest Man Alive!

2008-04-22T14:06:00.001-07:00

I had to link this. It's just too frightening.

http://www.evangelicalright.com/2008/04/pastor_roger_byrd_quite_possib.html

There's not much else to the article. Yet, despite the fact that Barack Obama attends one of the biggest non-denominational Christian churches in the country, this guy still has doubts.

What an idiot.

My 10 Perfect Films

2008-04-10T22:16:00.000-07:00

10 Perfect Films
These are not favorites. These are films that are perfect. Flawless in execution. Timeless in appreciation.

Ten Perfect Films:

The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938). There is only one Robin Hood. And here he is… in tights. Everything on this film clicks. The cast is perfect, from Errol Flynn’s dashing Robin Hood to Ian Hunter’s playfully pompous King Richard. Olivia de Havilland is an educated, compassionate, honorable Maid Marian. Claude Rains is a sniveling Prince John, desperate to seize power from his absent brother, Richard the Lion-Heart. Alan Hale is the definitive Little John, boisterous, brash, and always quick with a joke. And, we cannot forget the gorgeous, smoldering Guy of Gisbourne, Basil Rathbone. He’s evil, jealous, charming, vindictive, and brilliant. The final duel between Robin Hood and Sir Guy is one of cinema’s finest. It’s two hours of lush color, rich costume, splendid music (courtesy of one of the greats, Erich Wolfgang Korngold) and just a movie-watcher’s delight. And, Errol Flynn, can speak with an English accent.

The Wizard of Oz (1939). Isn’t this the film that everyone knows? Come on. What’s not to like? It’s part musical, part action adventure, part fantasy, part allegory, and it’s all Judy Garland! There is not a dull moment in this film. A few years back, this film was released to theaters. My sister and I went to see it. There were only about seven or eight of us in the theater but we all sang along (except for “Over the Rainbow,” which received deserved silence as it is Judy Garland’s standard). This is a perfect film. It’s been seen over and over by millions of people and it never gets old or tired. We all know it by heart. We can recite lyrics on command. If it has been awhile, pop in the DVD and just sit back and watch. Embrace your inner child!

Gone With the Wind (1939). My sister and I will probably disagree on this. In my defense, I can say that she has not watched this film completely from beginning to end. She herself will admit that she has only seen fragments of it. And, I know that there will be some who ask why I think this film is a perfect film. Here’s why: this film did in 1939 in about three hours or so what it took the television miniseries North and South twelve episodes to do. GWTW is one of the best examples of early filmmaking ingenuity there is. It uses visual effects, quick-cut editing techniques, pans, and all the camera tricks we have all grown so used to better than any film prior to its release. The story, while still controversial, focuses on one of the most popular heroines ever created. You’ve heard all the rumors about the great casting call for this film. Bette Davis, Kate Hepburn, Paulette Goddard, Rosalind Russell—these are just some of the names but it took an Indian-born British actress to flesh out Scarlett O’Hara. Vivien Leigh’s performance is what makes this film perfect. She wants Ashley Wilkes and is unstoppable in her machinations to win him, only to realize at long last that she possesses a strength he will never know. She wants to hate Melanie, Ashley’s wife, but Melanie’s simple adoration becomes a source of Scarlett’s power. It’s a film from the Confederate point of view and while some of it is (historically) grossly inaccurate and somewhat offensive, it is a glimpse into the “Southern belle” persona, taking the stereotype and shattering it to a thousand pieces.

The Philadelphia Story (1940). Two words = Cary Grant. One word = delicious. This is the first “romantic comedy.” It’s no wonder other romantic comedies fail in comparison. Kate Hepburn could’ve stopped making films after this and she would still be remembered. Her character, Tracy Lord, is the thoroughly modern woman. She wants independence but she still dreams of romantic love. Her first marriage to C.K. Dexter Haven ended badly. Now, she is determined to marry for security. (Though, in my cynicism, I have to ask “why marry at all?” But that’s just me.) Grant’s Dexter is determined to stop the wedding, because he still loves Tracy. He arranges for struggling writer, Macaulay Connor, to crash the engagement party in hopes of getting something delicious for the gossip columns, something Tracy frowns upon. It’s got all the classic romantic comedy delights: misunderstandings, inappropriate flirtations, and outraged tantrums used to disguise true feelings underneath. The dialogue is crisp, witty, urbane, and just plain fun. This film is just a treat to watch over and over again.

All About Eve (1950). You can watch every film of Bette Davis and know why she was a film star. You can watch Jezebel and Dangerous, the two films for which Miss Davis won her Academy Awards, and see why she won them. But, all you need see is All About Eve to understand why Bette Davis is, and ever shall be, the greatest film star of all time. There is no greater performance than Davis’ Margo Channing. Comical, icy, vulnerable. Anne Baxter’s Eve Harrington is delightfully calculating and deceptively sincere in her admiration for Margo. Even weaker performances by Gary Merrill and Hugh Marlowe cannot overshadow the stunning dialogue of this film. It’s a film fan’s delight.

Sleeping Beauty (1959). As far as I am concerned, this is Walt Disney’s masterpiece. Using the music of Tchaikovsky and pooling variations of the story, this film captures the splendor, romance, and adventure of the fairy tale. The animation style of this film echoes French tapestries. The colors are soft, muted, allowing the story itself to take center stage. The characters are memorable. Briar Rose, our Sleeping Beauty, wants only to find the man of her dreams. She has no idea of her royal duty. The three fairies, Flora, Fauna, and (my personal favorite) Merryweather, are equally humorous and courageous. Prince Phillip gets to be more than just the guy who shows up to save the day with a kiss. And Maleficent. Eleanor Audley voiced two of Disney’s top villains. She voiced the Wicked Stepmother in Cinderella and she brought a touch of elegant evil to Maleficent. In her rage as she pursues the escaping Phillip, her voice reverberates with power even as she calls upon the forces of Hell. (A little Disneyland trivia: Eleanor Audley provided the original voice of Madame “Hurry Back” Leota in the Haunted Mansion ride.)

Psycho (1960). Every horror filmmaker today needs to go back and watch this to see how to make a truly frightening film. This gets what Saw and Hostel don’t. You don’t need to see buckets of blood or people being hacked to pieces to be scary. This is Hitchcock’s masterpiece. The film’s “main” character, Marion Crane, is murdered forty minutes into the film. What begins as a tale of a mild-mannered woman involved with a divorced man who, in a moment of misguided judgment, steals money so she and her lover can run away together. The film ends with one of the greatest psychological profiles ever. It’s gruesome without being exploitative. The killer is outwitted by a woman, Marion’s sister who is concerned over Marion’s sudden disappearance. And, even though she has no screen time whatsoever, it unleashes the frightening character of Norman Bates overbearing, domineering, and controlling mother. And who can forget, “Mother is, what’s the phrase, not quite herself today”?

Young Frankenstein (1974). This is the gold standard of film parodies. Airplane, Hot Shots, Naked Gun, Scary Movie all strive for this kind of perfection. Mel Brooks is no stranger to spoofing other films but somehow, Young Frankenstein goes beyond any of Brooks’ other works. Gene Wilder and Brooks’ screenplay manages to make us laugh while still keeping a bit of that “monster movie” element. Filmed in glorious black and white, it captures the mood of the monster classics and gives the viewer the sense that the film came from another era entirely. The entire cast is spot on, including the late, great Madeline Kahn, who gives one of her best performances in this film. Cloris Leachman as Frau Blucher… and somewhere a horse just whinnied in protest.

Star Wars (Episode IV A New Hope) (1977). You need not see any other Star Wars film to understand this film. You need not see the updated special edition. The original release stands alone as a tale of a young boy flying off to face his destiny. The good guys win. The bad guys get blown up. There are minor hints of romance. There’s spirituality, honor, and decency. It’s the hero’s journey. It introduced one of the most iconic villains of all time. The script, yes, even with all the techno-babble, tells of a longing for adventure and excitement. Lines from this film are oft-quoted with loving reverence to the source material. The music—it is my personal belief that people of my generation started paying attention to film scores because of this film—remains one of the greatest film scores of all time. It is recognizable. It’s ingrained in us. Star Wars changed films forever and left its mark on my generation.

Wo hu cang long aka Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000). Lest anyone think I am a purist who can only find perfection in films made prior to 1980, allow me to offer this cinematic gem. I don’t know why you went to the theater. I know why I did. I had long read about the Wu Xia filmmaking tradition. This is Ang Lee’s take on that style. It’s a love story. It’s a hero’s journey. It’s an adventure tale. It mixes martial arts with philosophy and tackles all those oh-so-human issues of duty, honor, revenge, sacrifice, desire, and retribution. Chow Yun Fat is perfect as Master Li Mu Bai, a warrior who has decided to give up the sword as he has yet to find a worthy pupil. Michelle Yeoh plays Yu Shu Lien, the woman Li Mu Bai loves but will not claim. And Zhang Ziyi portrays the tempestuous Jen Yu (or Jiao Long, if you must watch it dubbed—but why would you?), a spoiled rich kid who decides to steal the legendary Green Destiny Sword, Master Li Mu Bai’s blade. It’s a tale of embracing one’s destiny. The film is gorgeous, fluid, exciting, palpable. The fight scenes are unlike anything you’ve ever seen. The story pulls you in and does not let go until the exquisite end. I dragged my sister to see this film and she ended up enjoying it almost as much as I did. If you haven’t seen it, watch it RIGHT NOW!

A Word about Chuck Heston

2008-04-06T12:23:00.000-07:00

Here's the deal with the late, great Charlton Heston.

The man appeared in some of the biggest films of all time. The image in today's local newspaper article is of him in full Cecil B. DeMille mode (i.e., Moses) with the Ten Commandments looking imperiously on the unworthy masses.

But, anyone who ever saw Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine saw another side of Mr. Heston. It's not the way the NRA clamored over him because he had weapons and spoke out repeatedly on the citizenry's "right" to own them. No, it was Mr. Heston's clearly stated belief that the reason there was so much violence in this country is because this country is "the only country" where the "races" are mixed in with each other.

So, Chuck Heston was...what? Racist? Misinformed? Exhibiting the first signs of the Alzheimer's Disease that would eventually kill him? I don't know.

But here's the thing. There are three films that Charlton Heston starred in that I personally love, but my love for them has nothing to do with his presence.

Cecil B. DeMille's remake of The Ten Commandments is probably the biggest. We grew up watching it every Easter. What makes that film for me has always been and will always be the chemistry between Yul Brynner and Anne Baxter, two actors who passed away decades ago (literally, both died in 1985, Brynner from lung cancer and Miss Baxter from a brain aneurysm). For me, that film is about everyone around Moses, rather than Moses himself.

Ben-Hur, the film which brought Heston his only Oscar. The character he played was only as interesting as the chemistry between him and whoever shared the screen at the time. I mean, aren't his scenes with Stephen Boyd (as Messala) more potent than any of the so-called love scenes between him and Haya Harareet? Is that Gore Vidal's influence? Who knows? And, then there's the spectacular chariot race sequence, which remains one of the greatest stunt/action sequences of all-time. But Chuck? Eh.

And finally, The Planet of the Apes, the 1968 classic (and not the misguided, disappointing Tim Burton remake--although Heston did voice work as the villain Thade's father). Heston is more engaging in this film, the fatalist who accepts the fate of the three astronauts but then struggles for his own identity amongst his Simian captors. And, he had more chemistry with Kim Hunter in full "ape" make-up than he ever did with any of his other female co-stars. It is Heston's Taylor that buckles to his knees when he finally realizes where he is, when he finally realizes that it was man's own desire for destruction that led to Simian dominance.

How ironic it is a lesson that the man himself never learned.

The 4,000 of US

2008-03-25T11:47:00.000-07:00

I had originally planned to list the names of the 4,000 men and women who have died in Iraq. However, 4,000 names is a lot of information for such a tiny space. Here is a link that lists them. http://icasualties.org/oif/US_NAMES.aspx
The Defense Dept., does not list those who died from injuries sustained in the war if that soldier was taken to Kuwait or Germany for treatment and died there. I do not know those numbers. Nor do I know how many men and women have been crippled, physically or emotionally, by this war.
ButVice Resident Cheney thinks that these deaths and sacrifices are okay because it is a "volunteer" military. It is easy for him, as it is for those of us who have never served, to dismiss the blood spilt. Thankfully, I don't know any of these people. The closest I have come is my friend Mayela, whose husband is a Marine and was sent to Afghanistan. He has returned home unscathed.
Dick, none of these men and women volunteered to be lied to so you and Halliburton could make billions of dollars. Not one of these soldiers volunteered to be used as a political tool to scare our citizenry so you could conduct business deals. Governor Bush admitted that he no longer even thinks about Osama bin Laden. Curious for the man who vowed to hunt him down a day after the twin towers in New York fell.
These 4,000... will they be immortalized for their bravery, their sacrifice? Will they be remembered by those of us who never wanted them there in the first place? I hope so.

The Carpenter's Home

2008-02-21T11:28:00.000-08:00

From the album "Now & Then" by The Carpenters

Okay, I know that there's a big brou-ha-ha about John McCain and all that. Who cares? What caught my attention was a little headline about Richard & Karen Carpenter's childhood home. Apparently, the current owners of the home are not too fond of the history of the house or of its most famous residents. They are planning on tearing the old house down and building a whole new home on the property.

Fans of the 70's pop duo are outraged. The house, featured on their first album "Now & Then," is not only where the duo honed their classic sound but it is also the place where Karen Carpenter spent her final days. I know that most people dismiss The Carpenter's as "sugar pop" but Karen had one of the best voices of all time and Richard's arrangements transformed mediocre songs into pop classics.

If I had the money, I would rush to Downey, California and buy the house, just to stop the current owners from destroying a musical landmark. Am I overreacting? I don't think so.

So, It's Me Birthday

2008-01-11T13:11:00.000-08:00

Well, I am 39 today. Not a major birthday. I'm glad I lived to see it. Not feeling particularly older or anything. A little wiser, maybe. Of course, I'm so arrogant, I always feel "wiser."

But, I'm here. I'm alive. I have a nice warm home, lovely friends, two cats I adore, and I'm comfortable.

Have I changed the world? No. I hope I have had a positive impact on the lives of those whom my path has crossed. I try to do good; I try to keep the dark side within me at bay. I'm more successful now than I used to be, that's for sure.

And I am thinking about getting a tattoo. Now, this is not something that just popped into my head. Truth be told, I have thought about getting a tattoo since I was 21. But, as I've gotten older, the idea has gotten smaller. I'm still very tempted, though. What to get, where to place it, who should do it, etc.

It's not a light decision so I am taking my time with it. I'm not that afraid of the pain. I just don't want to regret it two days after it is done.

As I said, I am wiser.

The Year in Review

2007-12-31T11:58:00.000-08:00

The Year in Review

Well, 2007 is quickly drawing to a close. Now, I find myself reflecting on the year I’ve had, the year my friends had, and the world in general. Let’s see.

POLITICAL TELEVISION
I am an avid viewer of Countdown with Keith Olbermann. He is the perfect counter to the rants and raves of the right wing pundits. By breaking down the day’s news stories, he cuts through the chatter and none news and, with his often scathing special comments (more often than not directed at George Bush himself), reminds us that dissent is part of our heritage as citizens of the United States. Remember, had we lost the Revolutionary War, every man who inked his signature on the Declaration of Independence would have been hung, drawn, and quartered as a traitor. Highlight of each show: Keith’s Worst Persons list. Bill O’Reilly, Ann Coultergeist, and George Bush are frequently featured.

Real Time with Bill Maher also takes the news of the week and offers panel discussion on the topic. Maher invites varying views and while I find myself often yelling at the yes men and women who still see no wrong in the current administration, Maher always has the last word with his New Rules.

Website Media Matters cuts through outrageous claims, fact-checking and refuting exaggerations. I know that the website is often targeted by right-wing pundits but all they do is post transcripts so that we can read for ourselves. Bill O’Reilly says he didn’t say that? Well, the transcript from his show, often edited on his web page but posted completely on Media Matters, reveals he did.

ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION
Urged to watch by a friend, I slowly but surely became addicted to Lost, about three years too late. Ah, the benefits of renting from Netflix. I am currently trying to finish up season three, though a quick glance through my latest issue of Wizard Magazine revealed a huge spoiler. Oh well. I like Lost. I am still convinced that the island is Purgatory and all the plane crash survivors are dead.

Other television shows I became addicted to: Top Chef Season 3, all things Kathy Griffin, Survivorman, Man vs. Wild, and Dirty Jobs. Oh, and Family Guy. Gotta love Family Guy. Stewie is Bart Simpson with perfect grammar.

Best from the BBC: Jekyll. You have to rent this series. James Nesbitt plays the titular role both as the anguished doctor trying to understand what is happening to him and the mischievous, violent Hyde. Only six episodes, I was screaming with shock and delight as the final credits rolled. Surprises to the bitter end, my friends. Absolutely the best series all year.

COMICS
Captain America was assassinated on the steps of the Supreme Court. Though his death did not resonate as loudly as the death of Superman, it still had an impact on the comic book world. That Cap could be assassinated for “the greater good” is a harsh reminder of our all-too-real political climate. Cap was an all-American hero. Who will carry Cap’s shield remains to be seen.

Dark Horse introduced the controversial Cade Skywalker, descendant of Luke Skywalker, in the comic series Star Wars Legacy. Cade is Force-sensitive, but has decided to not follow in his ancestors’ footsteps and become a Jedi. Instead, he works as a bounty hunter, bringing in renegade Sith and Jedi alike, both of whom are public enemy number one under the new empire. He’s addicted to death-sticks, he hangs around with some rather unseemly characters, and he is often visited by the ghost of Luke Skywalker.

Comic God Alan Moore finally released his League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Black Dossier. Though I haven’t been able to find a copy, yet, it echoes a return to one of Moore’s greatest works. Latest news is that he is also planning a new book, LXG: Century for 2008. For those of you who haven’t read Alan Moore… what the heck are you waiting for? Recommendations: League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, V for Vendetta, or the Watchmen (being made into a film by Zac Snyder, the guy who brought 300 to life).

MOVIES
300! This film is a living comic book. Frank Miller took the infamous Battle of Thermopylae, stylized it, and created a cinematic graphic novel. Zac Snyder took Miller’s vision and created the quintessential comic book film. Gerard Butler growling and fierce as King Leonidas. It’s rock and roll film-making. Violent, sure. But exquisitely so.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Is it just me or do these films just get better and better? I had so much fun seeing this film. The battle in the Hall of Mysteries, culminating with the wizard smack down between Voldemort and Dumbledore was by far the best action sequence in a Harry Potter film to date. Natalie Tena’s brief appearance as Tonks had me begging for more. Evanna Lynch was the perfect choice for Luna Lovegood. Favorite shot? Hermione’s Patronus swimming around her. Hee-Hee! I’m giggling with fangirl glee!

The Golden Compass. It’s a harsher reality than other children’s literature but still fascinating. I’m working my way through reading the series but it was the film that convinced me that I needed to. My daemon = a Chimpanzee named Erasmus. Find yours at: http://www.goldencompassmovie.com

Biggest Surprise of the Year? How much I thoroughly enjoyed Disney’s Enchanted. It pays homage to all the classic fairy tales. It includes cameos and “easter eggs” for Disney fans. Amy Adams is thoroughly charming as Giselle. The tale could have been a sardonic parody, but in Amy Adams’ talented hands is instead a charming and believable fairy tale. Her Giselle is refreshingly insightful, innocent but not naïve, and courageous—earning her place amongst the pantheon of Disney heroines. As she grows accustomed to our world, she matures as a person but never loses sight of her belief that true love can conquer all. She impacts those around her, reconciling a couple on the brink of divorce and reminding Patrick Dempsey’s Robert that love can be romantic and ever-lasting.

BOOKS
I read a lot of books.

Read a lot of religious-themed books. As I do. Read about the Shroud of Turin (the head is disconnected from the body, the image measures 6’10” tall, and why are the hands conspicuously covering the genitals?), Mary Magdalene, and the history of the book of Revelation.

Notable titles: The Historian, The Thirteenth Tale, The Secret Supper, The Jesus Papers, The History of the End of the World, The God Delusion.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The Final Book. Not a disappointment. What a fantastic end to the series. I told you that Severus was loyal to Dumbledore.

The Expected One. What a surprising find. This book takes a different twist than the bestselling The Da Vinci Code. Pick it up and give it a read.

Star Wars: Legacy of the Force series. These are still ongoing. I broke down and decided to read these tales when I learned of the death of a particular character. I am enjoying it despite the fact that it looks like Han & Leia will lose their only surviving son. At least, Leia has finally met her granddaughter, Allana. Do you need to be a Star Wars fan to read these? It helps.

ME
I flew twice (the second time by myself!) this year. I had not previously flown since 1986. Coincidentally, I flew back east to attend the wedding of my cousin Terri. This time, I flew (for the first time) to attend the wedding of one of my best mates, Jeanne. Yep. Flew. On an airplane. Did I enjoy it? Not really. Every strange sound, every bit of turbulence made me nervous. Burying my thoughts in a book helped a little but I think I would prefer to travel on the ground.

The Sealed Air plant in Kent closed at the end of March this year. I spent the next month helping shred out-of-date documents, prepare current documents for shipping, clean up, and just go through mounds of office supplies and equipment. While I wasn’t fond of some aspects of my job, I did make some good friends (all guys!) and I do miss seeing some of them every day. But, because of a great deal made for the severance package, I was able to take some time off, go to my friend’s wedding, attend Celebration IV without having to worry about getting back home in a hurry, and take my time in finding my next career path.

While I was searching, I received an email from my former boss from NCS Pearson. She’s working for Princeton Review in New York City. She asked if I would be interested in writing and editing some assessment items. I said sure. And it has turned out to be very lucrative. I was given a second assignment, as well. And while my former boss hinted that there is the slight possibility that I may be offered a full-time position, I am not holding my breath but taking each day as it comes.

So, I work from home, make some money, and try to keep out of trouble. I can go and see films during the week and relax at home on the weekends. I can stay up late, sleep in to whenever, and it’s quite addicting!

I reconnected with an old friend, Liesl, who I had not heard from since the mid-1990s. Now that we are in constant contact, I am reminded of how much I missed having her around to talk to, vent with, goof around, and make genuine mischief.

Oh. And… I Met Carrie Fisher! Woo-Hoo. J.K. Rowling says you need to find a happy memory to produce a patronus charm. I have! Expecto Patronum! I stood in line for a couple of hours for a thirty-second one-on-one while she signed a photograph for me but hey… isn’t life made up of little moments? Then, the next evening, I got to sit in on her “Conversation” event at Celebration IV. She reminisced about various Star Wars memories, recited Princess Leia’s hologram speech verbatim, and reminded all of us why Princess Leia is just so cool.

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2008
Prince Caspian. The teaser trailer was released just a couple of weeks ago. As a longtime fan of the Chronicles of Narnia, I am looking forward to seeing this film.

Taking back the White House. If any of the Republican candidates ever stop trying to sound like Shrub light, I might reconsider… but for now, I want a Democratic president in the White House. I want someone with experience. Someone who can hit the ground running and someone with enough foreign policy experience to undo some of the damage done to our allies abroad by Shrub’s cowboy brand of politics.

Who knows where 2008 will take us? I have no fear. Except for http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h110-1955. Follow the link and read. This was sponsored by Jane Harman, a Democrat. What is she smoking?

And, if Hillary Clinton becomes the Democratic nominee for president, we will see history made in 2008 when a woman finally holds the highest political office in our nation. And it’s about time!

SAYING GOODBYE
Leigh Eddings. Yvonne De Carlo. Deborah Kerr. Beverly Sills. Merv Griffin. Kurt Vonnegut. Norman Mailer. Ingmar Bergman. Luciano Pavarotti. Robert Goulet. Michael Kidd. Dan Fogelberg. Evel Knievel. Madeleine L’Engle. Alice Ghostley. Jane Wyman. Don Ho. Jack Valenti. Tom Poston. Charles Nelson Reilly. Dick “Mr. Whipple” Wilson. Joel Siegel. And… Lois Maxwell. Miss Moneypenny.

Mara Jade. & Handsome Charlie.

Happy Birthday, Gerry

2007-11-13T11:31:00.000-08:00

Today is Gerry Butler's 38th Birthday.

Best known for his role as King Leonidas in "300," Gerard James Butler is fast becoming one of today's hottest actors. And he's gorgeous, too!

I first "discovered" Gerry when I was tracking the news of the filming of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Phantom of the Opera." Having been a fan of the show, I was naturally curious about who would be playing the titular role. When I heard that this Scottish actor who had played Dracula and Attila was taking on the role, I was intrigued but not enough to search for any information.

No, Gerry crept in quietly like the good ones always do. My second "discovery" of Gerry came while watching the "Phantom" film. He blew me away with his deeply emotional portrayal of the tortured Phantom, so much so that when the character is "unmasked," my sister and I turned to each other and said, "I could live with that."

But, the "Phantom" came and went and while I now had a face to the name of Gerard Butler, I went on my merry way. My third "discovery" of Gerry came when I joined Netflix. I'm a movie buff, as everyone who knows me knows, and I started by playing catch-up with all the films I had wanted to see but never got around to. Turns out, Gerry was in a few of them. He costars with Angelina Jolie in the sequel to Lara Croft (much better than the first one), he costars in the overlooked "Timeline," (sporting luscious hair and beard), and there he is again in the film "Reign of Fire."

Thus, Mr. Butler started catching my eye. So, I did a search and started renting his films. And since I like to recommend films, allow me to offer a few choice selections of Gerard Butler's body of work.

I would have to recommend: 300 (not for the squeamish, though), The Miracle Match (aka The Game of Their Lives), Dear Frankie (this is just a really sweet film and Gerry is just very sweet in it), One More Kiss, and the four films I mentioned previously. You might also want to check out his Dracula 2000 film (while admittedly not the best film ever made, not only is Gerry dead sexy as Dracula but the Dracula origins story has quite an interesting twist), his portrayal of Attila the Hun (Gerry with long hair and eye liner--yummy, yummy), and Beowulf & Grendel, for the literary value.

What I like about Gerry is pretty simple. I think he is cute. I could watch him and listen to him talk for hours. He has smoky gray eyes and just enough salt in his dark hair to give him that distinguished look. And though he beefed up for 300, he admits to being a slob, not a health-food junky, smoking, and generally carrying on. He's a Scot (and aren't they just yummy?) and he seems to enjoy laughing at himself the loudest.

So, I give a heavy sigh and wish Gerry a Happy Birthday! Cheers!

Five Not-So-Scary Halloween Films

2007-10-27T15:05:00.001-07:00

Just in time for my favorite holiday.

(Okay, actually, it's more of a high holy day but we will not get into that.)

My sis and I were at the movies enjoying George Clooney's latest, Michael Clayton. (Good legal thriller.) I noticed that the fourth installment of the Saw series had just been released and it got me to thinking about all those scary movies that are more gore than fright. I've never been a fan of them. Don't really need to see people cutting off their own feet, etc.

At first I thought about naming some really good scary films but that's just so... typical. So, I decided to list five personal favorite films that I like to watch around All Hallow's Eve.

#5. Practical Magic. Okay, is it the best film ever made? No. But, here's why I like it. Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest as old-soul aunties who guide Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman as they dabble in magic and must deal with the consequences. It's light, it's fun, and it has a great soundtrack. Midnight margaritas, anyone?

#4. Sleep Hollow. I'm not a huge Tim Burton fan. I respect him as a director and I like more of his films than I dislike. This one is probably my favorite of his after Batman. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow has been told and retold but never has it been so delightfully dark. I also like that the dark stems from a basic human sin: greed. And it has Johnny Depp (big surprise there, right?).

#3. The Craft. Yes. It's a cheesy film. It's more teen angst than anything else but since the four major players are practicing witches, I have to include it. Besides, this film again teaches the consequences of our actions. If you project evil, if you do bad things, it will return to you threefold. "An' it harm none, do what you will."

#2. The Omen. Okay, many will argue that this film (and I am talking about the original, not the pathetically un-scary remake) is scary. It doesn't frighten me so I include it here. Gregory Peck and Lee Remick unknowingly adopt the spawn of Satan. The first nanny kills herself at Damien's birthday party, the second nanny is literally "from hell." Unhappy accidents and races against time to stop the evil from spreading. It's semi-biblical, somewhat prophetic (if you believe that sort of thing) and Mrs. Blalock (side bar: the only good thing about the remake is the casting of Mia Farrow as Mrs. Blalock. Inspired!). "It's all for you, Damien!"

#1. Mad Monster Party. I wonder how many folks remember this. From the genius of Rankin & Bass, this claymation treat used to be shown every year on KTLA when I was a kid. Dracula, the Wolfman, the Mummy, the Creature, the Invisible Man, Quasimodo, Frankenstein's Monster and his mate, and Dr. Jekyll all show up to celebrate Dr. Frankenstein's latest triumph, a potion that destroys all matter. It's not only a celebration of the greatest ghouls and goblins ever created, it also sparked all those lovely Christmas claymation specials we all grew up with. It's just a great film that you should revisit if it has been awhile. Dance to "The Mummy." Savor the Octopus Stew. Half a laugh and a blast. It's a Mad Monster Party!