For those wondering what is left in the movie line-up for the year, there’s a sci-fi film with Mr. Denzel Washington coming up. I hope it’s better than the Virtuosity film he did a while back. Though I did enjoy Sid 6.6. There is also a new Mr. Jet Li film, Fearless, a period piece that looks pretty good. I love the martial arts period movies, brings me back to the days I’d watch the Five Deadly Venoms with my father in the theatre. And if you want to just numb your mind, and I do consider it an equivalent of letting a mule kick you in the head, there is Mr. Johnny Knoxville in Jackass 2. One thing I can say for Mr. Knoxville is that its finally a movie he can’t screw up by being in. Of course I can’t imagine why anyone with more than 3 brain cells functioning would want to watch it.
There is a WW II feature from Mr. Clint Eastwood and another with Mr. George Clooney, a new film that I think is a comedy with Mr. Robin Williams, and Mr. Will Ferrell will take a turn at a dramatic role. Each of these has some point of interest and I’m looking forward to each for those reasons. That is except for the Knoxville film. Why anyone would pay to see fools acting badly is beyond me. I hope this trend in films, and television shows ends faster than the reality craze has. But considering the lows of television today I would hardly be surprised by a whole slew of this garbage proliferating the big and small screens.
But one thing in common with all these movies, and one that will probably fly under the radar – This Film is Not Yet Rated – is the MPAA rating. The MPAA is the group that hands out the PG, R, NC-17 and other ratings movies receive. What is unusual about this group is that their identities are secret. The organization calls the rating body “average Americans”, whatever that means. Funny how a group that determines what kids can see, and affects how movies reach the public, is one of the most guarded secrets in Hollywood for over 30 years. Thus This Film is Not Yet Rated is the documentary of seeking out these people and learning a bit about them. It may be a sleeper film but I think it could be worth the time.
On a sad note, actor Glenn Ford has passed. In 85 films over a 53 year career, Mr. Ford was a constant of quality in various movies. While some of the youth of today may not recall Mr. Ford by name, I’m sure they have seen some of his movies. Superman, Torpedo Run, Blackboard Jungle, and many others are some of the movies that this WW II Marine veteran has been in. Mr. Ford may not have been an Oscar winner, nor the darling of the scandal sheets, but he was a solid entertainer that withstood the passage of time.
In an odd bit of entertainment news from down under gas prices have created a bit of innovation. Like here in America prices for gas are up, and supermarkets are giving discounts with a receipt for filling your tank. Not to be out done brothels are also helping those whose pockets are feeling a pinch. Customers get a discount on their activities with their full gas tank receipt. Now why aren’t there any deals like that here? Not that I’m advocating brothels, but a discount on entertainment would be nice.
This is what I think, what do you think?
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Bad ideas, Emmy Awards and Ramon Estevez
There are some things in this world that I find hard to understand. I understand fine dining. I get that a catchy name captures the attention. But what mind would consider Hitler’s Cross a good name for a restaurant? I realize that it didn’t last long, and that India only has roughly 5,000 Jews. But should the number of Jews in a nation really make a difference on such a bad idea? It’s just offensive. The fact that politicians and celebrities were on hand for the opening, and then turned around denouncing the place just days later is not only duplicitous but shocking.
In other insulting news, it hasn’t taken long for the ill-conceived premise of the latest season of Survivor to evoke ugliness. Mr. Rush Limbaugh has become the first, of I fear to guess how many individuals, to comment with what I interpret as a small-minded response. I must quote him to capture the scope of it, “Right-wing mouthpiece Rush Limbaugh, always keen to harangue on delicate subjects, took to handicapping the new season on his radio show Wednesday.
Hispanics, he said, "have shown a remarkable ability to cross borders" and "will do things other people won't do." Asians, per Limbaugh, are "the best at espionage, keeping secrets." Blacks "lack buoyancy" and are "more likely to drown," while the white man's burden will weigh down the last team with "guilt over the fact that they run things."
Statements like that make me feel like he would have enjoyed the above mentioned restaurant. And it will only get worse if the show is allowed to air on television. Is CBS so desperate as to sink this low to get ratings? I’d love to see a boycott of the station is this program is allowed to continue. Somehow I doubt it though.
On brighter and happier news, the Emmy Awards were announced. It truly is my pleasure to congratulate Mr. Andre Braugher for his win, as I thought his work on Thief was fantastic which I reviewed in my post FX television shows and quality TV. Also Mr. Alan Alda was recognized for his work on The West Wing, a show filled with great performances and deep thought. To few television programs contain such quality, both in writing and acting. Perhaps the execs in charge of greenlighting the reality shows should watch these shows and learn that you get what you pay for.
Lastly I want to cheer Mr. Martin Sheen (real name is Ramon Estevez, yep he’s Hispanic!) While Mr. Sheen has had a great career, though often snubbed by the Emmy’s for his work on The West Wing, he never finished high school. That never stopped him from standing up for causes he felt were worthwhile. That is something I’ve always respected even if I disagreed with the particular cause from time to time. But Mr. Estevez has gone a step further, currently planning to go back to school and finishing his studies. I find it impressive that a man with his stature and wealth can acknowledge that higher learning is worth attaining at any age. That self-improvement doesn’t end when you get a nice paycheck. I wish more athletes that forgo college to seek sports careers would realize this.
This is what I think, what do you think?
In other insulting news, it hasn’t taken long for the ill-conceived premise of the latest season of Survivor to evoke ugliness. Mr. Rush Limbaugh has become the first, of I fear to guess how many individuals, to comment with what I interpret as a small-minded response. I must quote him to capture the scope of it, “Right-wing mouthpiece Rush Limbaugh, always keen to harangue on delicate subjects, took to handicapping the new season on his radio show Wednesday.
Hispanics, he said, "have shown a remarkable ability to cross borders" and "will do things other people won't do." Asians, per Limbaugh, are "the best at espionage, keeping secrets." Blacks "lack buoyancy" and are "more likely to drown," while the white man's burden will weigh down the last team with "guilt over the fact that they run things."
Statements like that make me feel like he would have enjoyed the above mentioned restaurant. And it will only get worse if the show is allowed to air on television. Is CBS so desperate as to sink this low to get ratings? I’d love to see a boycott of the station is this program is allowed to continue. Somehow I doubt it though.
On brighter and happier news, the Emmy Awards were announced. It truly is my pleasure to congratulate Mr. Andre Braugher for his win, as I thought his work on Thief was fantastic which I reviewed in my post FX television shows and quality TV. Also Mr. Alan Alda was recognized for his work on The West Wing, a show filled with great performances and deep thought. To few television programs contain such quality, both in writing and acting. Perhaps the execs in charge of greenlighting the reality shows should watch these shows and learn that you get what you pay for.
Lastly I want to cheer Mr. Martin Sheen (real name is Ramon Estevez, yep he’s Hispanic!) While Mr. Sheen has had a great career, though often snubbed by the Emmy’s for his work on The West Wing, he never finished high school. That never stopped him from standing up for causes he felt were worthwhile. That is something I’ve always respected even if I disagreed with the particular cause from time to time. But Mr. Estevez has gone a step further, currently planning to go back to school and finishing his studies. I find it impressive that a man with his stature and wealth can acknowledge that higher learning is worth attaining at any age. That self-improvement doesn’t end when you get a nice paycheck. I wish more athletes that forgo college to seek sports careers would realize this.
This is what I think, what do you think?
Boobs at funerals and bikes, tall advantage and Stephen Colbert
I know that there are different traditions followed across the world that may seem odd to Americans. I have lived overseas and learned to appreciate the differences that abound, and to enjoy the traditions I’ve grown up with. But there are some things that get my head spinning. One tradition I understand is in China where it is felt that the more mourners that come to a funeral, the more the dead is honored. What I don’t understand is the tradition in the Donghai county to have strippers performing at the funeral. While hundreds can attend, it does seem odd to me. Of course some officials in China have recently felt the same and now require plans to be submitted after a persons death. Not quite preventing the strippers but quite unusual to me. I do wonder how the strippers feel on such an occasion; and as for those watching I have to ask – do they tip? I just can’t imagine it.
In other odd news, while not a tradition a parade in New Zealand recently also caused a fuss. It seems that 25 porn stars had a parade, riding bikes and tanks. Different but what makes it odd is the fact that the women were bare breasted. Of course there were the usual protesters that one would expect at such an event. There were thousands of onlookers, no arrests and a union protest was interrupted. Somehow I don’t think the union protestors were too dismayed. If you were wondering how this happened, in New Zealand it is lawful to be topless. A bit far for spring break, or the religious right, but there you go.
Following this theme of odd bits, if you happen to be about 4 inches taller than average you should feel pretty good now. At least if you are in the U.S. or United Kingdom. It seems that researchers have found that this increase equates to better work conditions and higher pay by about 10%. It brings back of memories of the infamous song Short People [if you are younger than about 33 you will have no idea. The song is banned from being played on public airwaves. But it is very funny]. Still if you aren’t getting clothes custom made don’t feel bad. Mr. Bill Gates is only 5’10 ½”, hardly a giant.
And score 2 for Mr. Stephen Colbert. As long-time readers know I am a fan of Mr. Colbert’s show, and I’m not the only one. 2 terms used on his show, Truthiness and Wikiality have become top buzzwords for television. If you don’t know their meanings yet, check out the show. I think that we may see them catch on and become more common in the near term. Especially truthiness, a real term that Mr. Colbert has modified to properly fit into the theme of his show.
It kind of reminds me of back in junior high school, when a couple of friends and I started to use the term Dis, because it was the prefix meaning not, to see if it would catch on. Yes I claim that 7 kids in 8th grade in the Bronx started a slang that still is in use today.
This is what I think, what do you think?
In other odd news, while not a tradition a parade in New Zealand recently also caused a fuss. It seems that 25 porn stars had a parade, riding bikes and tanks. Different but what makes it odd is the fact that the women were bare breasted. Of course there were the usual protesters that one would expect at such an event. There were thousands of onlookers, no arrests and a union protest was interrupted. Somehow I don’t think the union protestors were too dismayed. If you were wondering how this happened, in New Zealand it is lawful to be topless. A bit far for spring break, or the religious right, but there you go.
Following this theme of odd bits, if you happen to be about 4 inches taller than average you should feel pretty good now. At least if you are in the U.S. or United Kingdom. It seems that researchers have found that this increase equates to better work conditions and higher pay by about 10%. It brings back of memories of the infamous song Short People [if you are younger than about 33 you will have no idea. The song is banned from being played on public airwaves. But it is very funny]. Still if you aren’t getting clothes custom made don’t feel bad. Mr. Bill Gates is only 5’10 ½”, hardly a giant.
And score 2 for Mr. Stephen Colbert. As long-time readers know I am a fan of Mr. Colbert’s show, and I’m not the only one. 2 terms used on his show, Truthiness and Wikiality have become top buzzwords for television. If you don’t know their meanings yet, check out the show. I think that we may see them catch on and become more common in the near term. Especially truthiness, a real term that Mr. Colbert has modified to properly fit into the theme of his show.
It kind of reminds me of back in junior high school, when a couple of friends and I started to use the term Dis, because it was the prefix meaning not, to see if it would catch on. Yes I claim that 7 kids in 8th grade in the Bronx started a slang that still is in use today.
This is what I think, what do you think?
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