19 Oct 2007
2 Oct 2007
Keith Olbermann - Truth Teller
It's about time someone in the mainstream media had the balls to say what they mean.
12 Jul 2007
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - Review
Well last night, after a couple of years of waiting, I finally got to see the new Harry Potter. Let me first say that Order of the Phoenix is, after Chamber of Secrets, my least favorite book. It's too long, too dark and contains stretches of unimaginable tedium. Despite this, I was still very much looking forward to the new movie. There's just something magical about having a book you've read transferred into moving images.
The reviews I had read about this latest installment prior to seeing it had been overwhelmingly positive. This got me even more excited about opening day. As I sat down last night to watch the film, it is fair to say that my expectations were high. By the time the movie was over, I experienced that rare feeling of having my expectations not only met, but exceeded.
This was, by far, the best of the HP film adaptations. The achievement by director David Yates of transferring 870 pages of text into 133 minutes (the shortest running time of the series, by the way) was nothing short of monumental. Every major plot point throughout the book was expertly crafted onscreen. The casting (always excellent in the films) was pitch-perfect. The art direction of the film matched the book's tone fabulously. And, finally, the acting of Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson was actually, for once, very good - something that had always been a little off-putting for much of the previous films.
How they managed to adapt such a large and cumbersome story into a lean running time is beyond me, but they did. Gone were the largely extraneous scenes of HP in the Order HQ. Gone were the needless extra scenes of Grawp. Retained were the fantastically awful scenes with Umbridge (an unbelievably good Imelda Staunton). As for the final battle at the ministry, a tip o' the chapeau to you, Mr. Yates, for visualizing EXACTLY what I had in mind when I first read the book.
Of the new characters, the aforementioned Ms. Staunton steals the movie, frankly, as she conveys the menace, evil and diabolical characteristics of Umbridge through something as small as a smirk and a squeak. Newcomer Evanna Lynch invests Loony Lovegood with just the right amount of cluelessness and whimsy without resorting to quirkiness. And Helena Bonham-Carter, while only onscreen for a few scenes, is truly horrifying as the deranged Bellatrix Lestrange.
Radcliffe and Gary Oldman as Sirius Black bring heart and truly great performances to the film. The scenes they share are among the best and most heartfelt of the entire series.
In short, then, the best Potter yet and, easily, the best movie of the summer. (Most) highly recommended.
The reviews I had read about this latest installment prior to seeing it had been overwhelmingly positive. This got me even more excited about opening day. As I sat down last night to watch the film, it is fair to say that my expectations were high. By the time the movie was over, I experienced that rare feeling of having my expectations not only met, but exceeded.
This was, by far, the best of the HP film adaptations. The achievement by director David Yates of transferring 870 pages of text into 133 minutes (the shortest running time of the series, by the way) was nothing short of monumental. Every major plot point throughout the book was expertly crafted onscreen. The casting (always excellent in the films) was pitch-perfect. The art direction of the film matched the book's tone fabulously. And, finally, the acting of Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson was actually, for once, very good - something that had always been a little off-putting for much of the previous films.
How they managed to adapt such a large and cumbersome story into a lean running time is beyond me, but they did. Gone were the largely extraneous scenes of HP in the Order HQ. Gone were the needless extra scenes of Grawp. Retained were the fantastically awful scenes with Umbridge (an unbelievably good Imelda Staunton). As for the final battle at the ministry, a tip o' the chapeau to you, Mr. Yates, for visualizing EXACTLY what I had in mind when I first read the book.
Of the new characters, the aforementioned Ms. Staunton steals the movie, frankly, as she conveys the menace, evil and diabolical characteristics of Umbridge through something as small as a smirk and a squeak. Newcomer Evanna Lynch invests Loony Lovegood with just the right amount of cluelessness and whimsy without resorting to quirkiness. And Helena Bonham-Carter, while only onscreen for a few scenes, is truly horrifying as the deranged Bellatrix Lestrange.
Radcliffe and Gary Oldman as Sirius Black bring heart and truly great performances to the film. The scenes they share are among the best and most heartfelt of the entire series.
In short, then, the best Potter yet and, easily, the best movie of the summer. (Most) highly recommended.
Labels:
Harry potter
4 Apr 2007
17 Mar 2007
Ricky Gervais Comic Relief 2007
Okay, so every two years in the UK the BBC organizes "Red Nose Day" for comic relief. It's a charity telethon that raises money for Africa (as well as homegrown issues such as homelessness). Like a lot of telethons, many celebrities take part and, like the US comic relief, there are many funny sketches interspersed with serious reports about the plight of some Africans. Here's Ricky Gervais' Video Diary from Africa.
Labels:
humor,
ricky gervais
6 Mar 2007
Updated Top Ten Movies of 2006!
Well, it's been quite a while since my last Top Ten movies of 2006 list. I have managed to see a LOT (though not all) of the movies I hadn't seen at the time and now present you my new! and improved! Top Ten movies of 2006 list:
1. Babel
I honestly didn't think I'd see a better movie than The Departed from 2006, but now I've seen two of them!! My choice for best movie of the year is Babel. I had read a lot of reviews/articles about this film and, while I still wanted to see it, I thought it would be well-made but boring. How wrong I was. With the three cross-continental storylines, it was anything but boring. A meditation on politics, family, having children, love and culture, this was both thought-provoking AND entertaining, a rare commodity in recent film. Performances across the board were excellent, especially Adriana Barazza and Brad Pitt. The only movie I haven't seen that could POSSIBLY beat this is Pan's Labyrinth.
2. Shut Up & Sing
Let's get this straight right now. I intensely dislike Country music. However, a few years ago I heard the Dixie Chicks do a cover version of the Stevie Nicks (formerly of Fleetwood Mac) classic Landslide. I was blown away at the quality of their voices and their musicianship. My point, is that my liking of their music (in particular their recent album) has nothing to do with their political views (otherwise I'd like Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, other Country blue staters, too). I just feel that I should set that straight. Now, on with the review (still don't like Country music).
Sometime in 2003, at a concert in London, with the US about to go to war with Iraq and protests through major US cities and London, Natalie Maines, lead singer of the Chicks, made an off-the-cuff remark between numbers that she was "ashamed that the Pres of the US was from Texas (where the Dixie Chicks all hail from)." The remark was picked up by the AP and, in true Fox News sensationalist style, was exagerrated and misquoted and, by the time certain sections of the media had finished, the Dixie Chicks had apparently turned into communist, troop-hating, satanic Saddam groupies. Country radio stopped playing their music (even though at the time they were the biggest selling female band of all time - in ANY genre) and some of the more exciteable and uneducated American people stooped so low as to burn their CDs, create burning effigies and send death threats. Yes, you read that right. Death threats.
This film is a documentary following their lives from that fateful day in 2003 to the present. It really must be seen to be appreciated. People who know me know that I agree with their stance on the war and this administration (I can certainly see why some would completely disagree with their comments, especially if they are Bush supporters. The point here, though, is not WHAT they said, but they're right to say it). However, don't let my (or their) political views sway you against seeing this film. If anything, if you are from the right, it would behoove you to see their side of the story, even if you watch it and STILL disagree with their stance/comments. Of course, reasoned discourse and truly educated thinking comes from seeing both sides of a story/issue. I can tell you that this movie, their refusal to apologize, their strength in the face of extreme prejudice, adversity and danger, the heartfelt lyrics to their music, their talent and everything else about these brave women inspired me in a way that no movie has ever done. Honestly recommended for both those that agree and those that disagree with their message.
3. The Departed
See my original comments here.
4. Volver
See my original comments here.
5. United 93
See my original comments here.
6. When the Levees Broke
See my original comments here.
7. Little Miss Sunshine
See my original comments here.
8. The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada
See my original comments here.
9. Brick
See my original comments here.
10. Casino Royale
What can I say? I am a professional Bond film watcher. I'm not a Bond snob (Roger Moore's my favorite, so you see, I can't be). This movie is unbelievable. From the opening scene (best on-foot chase since Point Break) to the final, iconic mention of "Bond, James Bond," I was wetting myself. Daniel Craig kicked (and killed) so much ass that my own ass started to hurt halfway through the film. THIS, my friends, is the true Bond. This is how Ian Fleming wrote the character to be-a misogynistic, womanizing, cold-blooded killing, fucking asshole of the first order. The decision to reboot the franchise in the very-fashionable-right-now-origin-story format was nothing short of inspired. This was, by far, the BEST Bond movie since The Spy Who Loved Me (in truth, it's technically the best Bond movie ever, but I love the early Moore Bond movies in a nostalgic, I-was-still-just-a-kid, dig-that-Carly-Simon-theme-tune, magical kind of way). I expected it to be good, but not THAT freaking good!
1. Babel
I honestly didn't think I'd see a better movie than The Departed from 2006, but now I've seen two of them!! My choice for best movie of the year is Babel. I had read a lot of reviews/articles about this film and, while I still wanted to see it, I thought it would be well-made but boring. How wrong I was. With the three cross-continental storylines, it was anything but boring. A meditation on politics, family, having children, love and culture, this was both thought-provoking AND entertaining, a rare commodity in recent film. Performances across the board were excellent, especially Adriana Barazza and Brad Pitt. The only movie I haven't seen that could POSSIBLY beat this is Pan's Labyrinth.
2. Shut Up & Sing
Let's get this straight right now. I intensely dislike Country music. However, a few years ago I heard the Dixie Chicks do a cover version of the Stevie Nicks (formerly of Fleetwood Mac) classic Landslide. I was blown away at the quality of their voices and their musicianship. My point, is that my liking of their music (in particular their recent album) has nothing to do with their political views (otherwise I'd like Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, other Country blue staters, too). I just feel that I should set that straight. Now, on with the review (still don't like Country music).
Sometime in 2003, at a concert in London, with the US about to go to war with Iraq and protests through major US cities and London, Natalie Maines, lead singer of the Chicks, made an off-the-cuff remark between numbers that she was "ashamed that the Pres of the US was from Texas (where the Dixie Chicks all hail from)." The remark was picked up by the AP and, in true Fox News sensationalist style, was exagerrated and misquoted and, by the time certain sections of the media had finished, the Dixie Chicks had apparently turned into communist, troop-hating, satanic Saddam groupies. Country radio stopped playing their music (even though at the time they were the biggest selling female band of all time - in ANY genre) and some of the more exciteable and uneducated American people stooped so low as to burn their CDs, create burning effigies and send death threats. Yes, you read that right. Death threats.
This film is a documentary following their lives from that fateful day in 2003 to the present. It really must be seen to be appreciated. People who know me know that I agree with their stance on the war and this administration (I can certainly see why some would completely disagree with their comments, especially if they are Bush supporters. The point here, though, is not WHAT they said, but they're right to say it). However, don't let my (or their) political views sway you against seeing this film. If anything, if you are from the right, it would behoove you to see their side of the story, even if you watch it and STILL disagree with their stance/comments. Of course, reasoned discourse and truly educated thinking comes from seeing both sides of a story/issue. I can tell you that this movie, their refusal to apologize, their strength in the face of extreme prejudice, adversity and danger, the heartfelt lyrics to their music, their talent and everything else about these brave women inspired me in a way that no movie has ever done. Honestly recommended for both those that agree and those that disagree with their message.
3. The Departed
See my original comments here.
4. Volver
See my original comments here.
5. United 93
See my original comments here.
6. When the Levees Broke
See my original comments here.
7. Little Miss Sunshine
See my original comments here.
8. The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada
See my original comments here.
9. Brick
See my original comments here.
10. Casino Royale
What can I say? I am a professional Bond film watcher. I'm not a Bond snob (Roger Moore's my favorite, so you see, I can't be). This movie is unbelievable. From the opening scene (best on-foot chase since Point Break) to the final, iconic mention of "Bond, James Bond," I was wetting myself. Daniel Craig kicked (and killed) so much ass that my own ass started to hurt halfway through the film. THIS, my friends, is the true Bond. This is how Ian Fleming wrote the character to be-a misogynistic, womanizing, cold-blooded killing, fucking asshole of the first order. The decision to reboot the franchise in the very-fashionable-right-now-origin-story format was nothing short of inspired. This was, by far, the BEST Bond movie since The Spy Who Loved Me (in truth, it's technically the best Bond movie ever, but I love the early Moore Bond movies in a nostalgic, I-was-still-just-a-kid, dig-that-Carly-Simon-theme-tune, magical kind of way). I expected it to be good, but not THAT freaking good!
Labels:
Babel,
Bond,
Bush,
Casino Royale,
Dixie Chicks,
top ten movies
24 Feb 2007
21 Feb 2007
The Worst, best and most creative analogies, similies and metaphors ever written...
He spoke with the wisdom that can only come from experience, like a guy who went blind because he looked at a solar eclipse without one of those boxes with a pinhole in it and now goes around the country speaking at high schools about the dangers of looking at a solar eclipse without one of those boxes with a pinhole in it. Joseph Romm, Washington
She caught your eye like one of those pointy hook latches that used to dangle from screen doors and would fly up whenever you banged the door open again. Rich Murphy, Fairfax Station
The little boat gently drifted across the pond exactly the way a bowling ball wouldn't. Russell Beland, Springfield
McBride fell 12 stories, hitting the pavement like a Hefty Bag filled with vegetable soup. Paul Sabourin, Silver Spring
From the attic came an unearthly howl. The whole scene had an eerie, surreal quality, like when you're on vacation in another city and "Jeopardy" comes on at 7 p.m. instead of 7:30. Roy Ashley, Washington
Her hair glistened in the rain like nose hair after a sneeze. Chuck Smith, Woodbridge
Her eyes were like two brown circles with big black dots in the center. Russell Beland, Springfield
Bob was as perplexed as a hacker who means to access T:flw.quid55328.com\aaakk/ch@ung but gets T:\flw.quidaaakk/ch@ung by mistake. Ken Krattenmaker, Landover Hills
Her vocabulary was as bad as, like, whatever. Unknown
He was as tall as a six-foot-three-inch tree. Jack Bross, Chevy Chase
The hailstones leaped from the pavement, just like maggots when you fry them in hot grease. Gary F. Hevel, Silver Spring
Her date was pleasant enough, but she knew that if her life was a movie this guy would be buried in the credits as something like "Second Tall Man." Russell Beland, Springfield
Long separated by cruel fate, the star-crossed lovers raced across the grassy field toward each other like two freight trains, one having left Cleveland at 6:36 p.m. traveling at 55 mph, the other from Topeka at 4:19 p.m. at a speed of 35 mph. Jennifer Hart, Arlington
The politician was gone but unnoticed, like the period after the Dr. on a Dr Pepper can. Wayne Goode, Madison, Ala.
They lived in a typical suburban neighborhood with picket fences that resembled Nancy Kerrigan's teeth. Paul Kocak, Syracuse, N.Y.
John and Mary had never met. They were like two hummingbirds who had also never met. Russell Beland, Springfield
The thunder was ominous-sounding, much like the sound of a thin sheet of metal being shaken backstage during the storm scene in a play. Barbara Fetherolf, Alexandria
His thoughts tumbled in his head, making and breaking alliances like underpants in a dryer without Cling Free Chuck Smith, Woodbridge
The red brick wall was the color of a brick-red Crayola crayon. Unknown
She caught your eye like one of those pointy hook latches that used to dangle from screen doors and would fly up whenever you banged the door open again. Rich Murphy, Fairfax Station
The little boat gently drifted across the pond exactly the way a bowling ball wouldn't. Russell Beland, Springfield
McBride fell 12 stories, hitting the pavement like a Hefty Bag filled with vegetable soup. Paul Sabourin, Silver Spring
From the attic came an unearthly howl. The whole scene had an eerie, surreal quality, like when you're on vacation in another city and "Jeopardy" comes on at 7 p.m. instead of 7:30. Roy Ashley, Washington
Her hair glistened in the rain like nose hair after a sneeze. Chuck Smith, Woodbridge
Her eyes were like two brown circles with big black dots in the center. Russell Beland, Springfield
Bob was as perplexed as a hacker who means to access T:flw.quid55328.com\aaakk/ch@ung but gets T:\flw.quidaaakk/ch@ung by mistake. Ken Krattenmaker, Landover Hills
Her vocabulary was as bad as, like, whatever. Unknown
He was as tall as a six-foot-three-inch tree. Jack Bross, Chevy Chase
The hailstones leaped from the pavement, just like maggots when you fry them in hot grease. Gary F. Hevel, Silver Spring
Her date was pleasant enough, but she knew that if her life was a movie this guy would be buried in the credits as something like "Second Tall Man." Russell Beland, Springfield
Long separated by cruel fate, the star-crossed lovers raced across the grassy field toward each other like two freight trains, one having left Cleveland at 6:36 p.m. traveling at 55 mph, the other from Topeka at 4:19 p.m. at a speed of 35 mph. Jennifer Hart, Arlington
The politician was gone but unnoticed, like the period after the Dr. on a Dr Pepper can. Wayne Goode, Madison, Ala.
They lived in a typical suburban neighborhood with picket fences that resembled Nancy Kerrigan's teeth. Paul Kocak, Syracuse, N.Y.
John and Mary had never met. They were like two hummingbirds who had also never met. Russell Beland, Springfield
The thunder was ominous-sounding, much like the sound of a thin sheet of metal being shaken backstage during the storm scene in a play. Barbara Fetherolf, Alexandria
His thoughts tumbled in his head, making and breaking alliances like underpants in a dryer without Cling Free Chuck Smith, Woodbridge
The red brick wall was the color of a brick-red Crayola crayon. Unknown
Labels:
humor
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