One of the first things I was told when I got out of college and into my first job was, "whatever you do, don't burn any bridges... you may need them one day." Well, I'd like to think that so far I've managed to avoid pissing off TOO many people, even though really it's unavoidable. And what I'm about to say here could light the fire under another bridge, one I will hopefully never have to use, but you never know. I'm talking about KIAH, our local channel 39, changing its format to something entirely new and different.
Now normally words like "new" and "different" make you think of something better. However, in this instance that is probably not going to be the case. For those of you who opened that article and were like "whoa way too much reading," the short story is that 39 is dropping the whole traditional "newscast," and instead going with a collection of stories where soundbites and nats (the sounds going on naturally in the background) tell the story.
So why am I all negative on this? First off, the execution. I've created my fair share of nat-sound promos, and while I do agree they can sometimes be more effective, they also take a lot longer to pull off, and if they're not done right they can be VERY confusing. So it comes down to a question of whether or not the good folks at 39 have the skills to put something like that together. And I have to say that sadly, judging by their normal newscasts, I'm a little concerned that they may not.
Which brings me to my second point... I'm not sure I agree with the way 39 is going about this whole thing. Check out their job listing for the person who is supposed to head up this new venture. Not only does it seem a bit mean to the people who are currently employed there (does no one there posess the ability to do this? Then why do it at all?)... it also insults the people who have worked hard to make tv what it is today. Okay I get it, you want someone different, but there's no sense in bad-mouthing the people who have been doing it right for years. Also, look at the requirements: "Gets it?" "Thinks in stereo and lives in color?" Not exactly something I would ever include on a resume, and if someone did, I don't know if I would really consider him serious about his job. What's really funny about this to me, is that it's all about kicking the corporate culture of news and striving for more individuality, yet this was most likely written by some corporate lawyer or exec who has done most of the things made fun of on this list. Irony!
The bottom line is that KIAH is trying something that I think 5 to 10 years from now would be excellent. Actually, and you may have heard me talk about this before, I believe all television news is going in this direction. As on-air television merges more and more with the web, newscasts will take on a much less linear feel. The user will be in control of the newscast, including which stories he wants to see, and when. It's going to be pretty badass: no more sitting through half an hour of crap you don't care about just to see 30 seconds about something you do. No more (traditional) commercial breaks. No more having to listen to an anchor or reporter put extra emphasis on words like their name, or dramatic pauses before the name of the station. It's happening now, but it's still waaaaayyyyy too early to go fully in this direction. TV is still too linear, and what I think you're going to see happen with KIAH is 30 minutes of "what in the world is going on here?" At this point, you still need someone like an anchor or reporter to explain what you're seeing, to tie everything together, to continue the "flow" of the newscast... without that, I think the viewer will most likely be lost in the first 10 minutes, and gone to another station soon after that.
So have I just ruined my chances of getting this job? Probably, but I'm not looking for it anyway. It'll be interesting to see what KIAH can pull off here, but if you want my honest opinion, it's the last, desperate move of a station that should probably just have cut its losses and stopped making news months ago. Still, best of luck 39, if you prove me wrong that would be awesome, because it'll get us all one step closer to where news will eventually be going anyway.
The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard
Don Ready is a travelling sales consultant. He and his team of misfits have an extraordinary gift: selling crappy cars to good people, and making the dealer a ton of money in the process. However, Don has a thorn in his past that he just can't seem to shake. Couple that with a hot chick who's dating a douchebag but kinda likes messing around on the side, and Don's going to need all the help he can get to save this dealership.
It took a lot of work to put that description together, because honestly this movie is not very good. Yeah it has a few good gags, the concept is there, and there are some very funny people on board... but for being something called "The Goods," goods are definitely something this movie is lacking.
There is one absolutely hilarious scene, which requires no context, and which I have provided for you here. It is absolutely NSFW, profane and disgusting... and hilarious.
Maybe if Will Ferrell had been the leading man, or had even played a bigger role in this movie, it would have been better. As is, Jeremy Piven or whatever his name is just doesn't cut it. The guy is funny, but in a huge douchebag kinda way, not in a "I feel sorry for you and want you to succeed even though you're an idiot" way. It was almost like HE shoulda been the douchebag boyfriend of the hot chick, but oh well.
I'm not sure why Will Ferrell didn't want to act in this one... he produced it, but maybe he was too busy. Anyway, he would have definitely saved this movie, but as it is, the clip that I posted for you up there is really all you need. And if you do watch it, despite my warnings, be ready for that scene to be one of the very few where you actually laugh out loud. LOLZ!!!!!!!11
Alright homies, short one this week I know but I'm a busy man with things to do. Speaking of do... DO me a favor and check out the Channel 11 Facebook page. It's good for your health.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Friday, July 23, 2010
Coming Clean
Ladies and gentlemen, I have a confession to make. I am absolutely, completely, 100% terrified of bees. Bees, wasps, hornets, any type of bug that looks like one of those things and has a stinger (and even some who don't have a stinger). It's a fear that's gripped me since childhood, and one that I have to revisit every summer. Every time I mow the lawn, every time I go out into the garage, hell every time I walk Frank, I am living in constant fear.
The first time I was ever stung by a bee was when I was 7. I was just getting out of the car in the parking lot at wal-mart, when the little fucker flew up and stung me on my hand. My dad said it was a Yellowjacket, but I don't know he could have possibly known... that thing came out of nowhere like a bat out of hell, stung me for absolutely no reason, and was gone before I could even figure out why my hand suddenly wanted to fall off. Up to that point, I'd never known pain like that... and I'd had stitches. Twice. I can't tell you how many more times I was stung after that, but it was a lot. Once I stepped on a bumble bee. Once a wasp got stuck in my shirt and stung me four times on my back. Once I was just walking through the yard and one popped me right in the chest. Once I was in my dad's truck, and when I reached into the back seat to get something there was one sitting on the seat that stung me on the arm. It was like a horrible nightmare that lasted for years.
You know what it is that really chaps my ass about bees? It's not even the pain so much as it is the vengeful nature of those little fuckers. It'd be one thing if I were messing with them, but that's just it. After that first sting, I NEVER wanted ANYTHING to do with bees of any kind... and yet they somehow always managed to find me. It's like they have little sensors in them that tell them when I'm close by. Without fail, if a bee flies by me, he WILL backtrack and come at me with stinger poised for battle. I don't understand it, it's like I'm marked for death.
Actually bees aren't the real problem. Bees more often than not die after stinging you... so they have a tough choice to make. I'd like to think the only time they sting is in a life or death situation. No, the real problem is wasps. Wasps, hornets, yellowjackets, anything that can sting a million times and keep on ticking. Wasps, as this image so beautifully illustrates, are built for war, and they will not hesitate to bring the pain.
Just the other day, there was a wasp's nest outside of my apartment. I asked the complex to get rid of it, which they did, but they didn't kill the wasp. So I'm walking out the door with Frank, and what do I see? A huge, angry wasp targeting me for destruction. I promptly went back inside and waited for a few minutes while the wasp went on his way... but when I reopened the door that fucker was RIGHT THERE WAITING FOR ME. I narrowly escaped. What was he doing there? Why was he waiting for me? Because he knew, that's why.
There was a time when I never left the house without a tennis racket. Tennis rackets might just be the best weapon against wasps. Sure you can use spray, but what if you miss? A tennis racket is the only way to guarantee your protection... and even then it only works against one or two. if you run into a hive, forget it. But there was a time when bees, wasps, hornets... they all feared me. They knew when I was coming and they retreated to their nests and hives until I was gone. Seriously, it happened. I killed more than a hundred bees that summer (yes I kept track), and I was never happier. But that must have been something that stuck with them forever. Something that their elders passed on from generation to generation... the story of the asshole with the tennis racket... along with a legend that one day he would put the racket down, and that was when they would strike.
Well, that time must be now, because they are coming after me like crazy. I have seriously considered going to Academy Sports and picking up a tennis racket, expressly for the purpose of beating the shit out of some wasps. I'm going to get stung soon, I can just feel it. And when I do, may mother nature protect bees and wasps everywhere, because I swear with everything in my body... I'm comin for ya.
Enough Already
If there's one thing I've definitely heard more than I want to hear about lately, it's that bitch Lindsay Lohan and all of her trials and tribulations. She's going to jail. WHO CARES. This is actually making network news people... a young woman who does drugs and makes really bad decisions, going to jail. How many times a day does that happen, seriously? And how many of those stories make the news? None. And yet, because this chick is (moderately) famous, she's getting coverage out the wazzoo for being a fuckup.
Who is Lindsay Lohan, anyway? She did some kids movies and one that looked maybe okay ("Prairie Home Companion" I think it was called). Anything else? Oh yeah, she used to be hot. Now she's so drugged up she looks more like a tranny hooker you'd see at a cheap strip club in Vegas, but hey... drugs'll do that. My point is, why does she get all of this attention from the media? Why does she deserve it?
You know my feelings on famous people, athletes, etc. In the end, they're all just people like you and me. Sure they've done some cool stuff... I can't say I wouldn't be in awe at the opportunity to shake Bruce Willis' hand, or to smoke a cigar with Mr. Shwarzenegger... but holy crap people, you all need to calm down. How boring are your lives that you can be entertained by sitting there and watching a young woman ruin her life? Do you actually feel sorry for her? Do you feel sorry for a girl who has a ton of money and everything she could possibly want, and yet somehow STILL manages to screw it up? Let me ask you this... do you feel just as sorry for the kid who grows up in the projects with nothing and doesn't stand a chance in this world, and falls to drugs just like mommy and daddy do? Probably not, and there's something seriously wrong with that.
The icing on the cake is that Lohan is probably going to be even MORE famous when she gets out of that wimpy jail (and by the way, don't count on her being there more than a week or two... her sentence was only 20 days). Oh, and while I'm on her sentence... how many people do you know who get 20 days for repeated, major drug offenses? Why is it that an actress, who really does nothing for this world's well-being, can get off the hook in weak-sauce jail after just a few days... while a garbage man, without whom society could not function, will be locked up in federal-pound-me-in-the-ass prison for years for the same offense? There's also something seriously wrong there.
You want to fix Lohan? Ignore her. Once she realizes she's not going to get attention (no matter how stupid she acts), she'll grow up and get on with here life. Then the media can get back to reporting actual news, and I can sleep at night.
Butt Weight, There's More...
Who am I kidding? Some media outlets are NEVER going to report real news. Shows like "Good Morning America" and "The Today Show" will never be hard, straight-up newscasts... and really, that's okay. Sometimes you need to see the softer side of things, and when you wake up in the morning it's probably not a good idea to blast yourself with a bunch of death and depression. Just a thought. But there is one show which, despite being on the easier, morning side of things... which, despite having to worry less about timely news and more about interesting, even fun stuff to report on... STILL manages to screw it up. And that show, of course, is the CBS Early Show.
This week's (greatest) offense? Butt Pads. Yes, they're real. They're little pads that slide into the back of a chick's pants and make her but look bigger, or ghetto, or whatever. Give me a FREAKING break. First push-up bras, now butt pads? You've got to be kidding me. Right? Please?
Shame on you, butt pad makers, fo rmaking women think they can be something that they aren't. By creating these butt pads, you are not only perpetuating the views of women as objects, but you are also increasing the amount of disappointment men will feel towards their women. It's like makeup: women look pretty before they put makeup on. Then they look pretty with their makeup on. But then, if they take their makeup off, they don't look as pretty anymore. A chick can have a nice butt, without it being a perfect butt... but when you score one of these chicks and she takes her pants off to reveal that she in fact HAS no butt, and that she's been putting on a charade... DIVORCE.
And shame on you, CBS Early Show, for bringing this kind of stuff to the public's attention. I realize that no one on earth watches your show in the morning, but still for the few people who do, you owe it to them to try to make their lives better (or at least NOT ruin it). Someone up there needs to do some serious rethinking about their show. Big time.
As for the ladies... if you have a nice ass, show it off. If you don't, that's okay too... but don't PRETEND like you have something you don't. That can only lead to sadness.
Gran Torino
Clint Eastwood is a Korean War Veteran who's seen things that would make you poop your pants, living in a neighborhood that once was nice but now has become a ghetto, full of gangsters and thugs of every race and age... namely asian. Can this cold, unkind old man come to grips with his new life in this world full of people who he has an ingrown hatred for, or will he fall apart?
If Clint Eastwood proves anything in this movie, it's that old people can still kick a lot of ass. Eastwood is without a doubt, the hardest old man I've ever seen on film. That guy can kill you with a look, and it's incredible. What's really incredible is that the guy who did a million spaghetti westerns has been able to keep his career going, and he actually gets better in every movie he makes/stars in. "Gran Torino" may not be the easiest movie to watch at times, but it does have a very powerful message and it delivers it well enough.
For some people, that is. I've heard some people say that this movie was so racist that they could hardly watch it, that it was just disgusting, and that they really didn't enjoy it. Well, I really did, and let me tell you why. There are two ways to look at this movie: from a race perspective (and there is plenty of racism to be had), and from a societal perspective. Yeah, Eastwood is racist in this movie, but (spoiler alert) he learns to deal with it and even overcome it. Race is not the real issue at hand in this movie. The real issue here is tha downfall of American society.
One of the first scenes of this movie explains it perfectly: we see Clint Eastwood's house; old, but well-kept and tidy, with a nice yard and fresh coat of paint. But he is surrounded by a neighborhood that is absolutely falling apart. No one takes care of anything anymore, no one has any pride in his home anymore. He also sees children who don't respect their elders, who don't work for a living, and who have no concept of what keeps the world turning. He sees kids who should be working, trolling around looking for trouble, and it disgusts him. Rightfully so, if you ask me.
Another perfect scene in this movie: Eastwood's neighbor, a Korean, is walking down the street with her thug cracker boyfriend, when the two of them run into some black gangsters hanging out on the street corner. The black thugs push the white boy aside and start messing with the Korean girl. Here comes Eastwood. He gets an earfull of racism from the kids, and he returns in kind with his own. Then he pulls a gun on the thugs until they back away. When the white boy speaks up, Eastwood goes after him with plenty of racist remarks as well. My point is, whatever you do, don't play the race card on this movie. Race is a small part of this movie, yes, but it's just a small part. Eastwood's racism comes more out of guilt for what he did in the war than anything else, and once he is accepted by the Koreans living next door, he quickly lightens up. His hatred is toward the youth of the nation, and toward the lack of respect they show for everything. That hatred doesn't see race, or rather it sees all races as inferior.
So should you see it? Well, I guess not if you get too hung up on racist stuff. There is definitely some offesnsive stuff going on in this movie, but it all serves a purpose. It's really a good story about a hardened, unfriendly old man learning that there's more to life than hate and that even in this shitty world we live in, there are still some good people left. So in other words, my opinion is yes, you should watch this movie.
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
Doctor Parnassus is the head of a traveling circuis show, which invites people to step through a mirror for five quid. But what seems like a scam is actually a trip into your imagination that you will never forget. However, times are tough and people are skeptical... so the traveling troupe is having a rough time surviving... that is, until a strange man appears to them. Through the course of the movie you learn a lot more about him and just who Doctor Parnassus really is, on this trippy journey through a fantasy world.
I will say this about Terry Gillium. That dude is one weird motherfucker. One of the brainchildren behind Monty Python, Gillium has also created some other very interesting, if not as successful movies (Time Bandits, 12 Monkeys, the list goes on). He's definitely an acquired taste, and not for everyone, but if you can give his world a chance, you'll really see some very interesting stuff go on.
I was first interested in this movie because it was being made when Heath Ledger (who plays the mysterious man) passed away... so the film was finished with other actors. Great actors too (Johnny Depp, Jude Law, Colin Ferrell... well, ALMOST all great actors). I was interested to see how they did it, and if they were able to respect Ledger's last film in the process. I'm glad to say that they indeed did, and in fact they were able to cobble together the rest of the movie in a way that made complete sense and was really entertaining to watch.
There are truly some inspired visuals in this movie. It almost has a Monty Python touch in some parts, but it never gets quite that weird. From an artistic standpoint, this movie is really cool (I recommend the blu-ray version if possible)... but from a mainstream entertainment standpoint, I'm not so sure. Gillium's never seemed to care too much about that, which I can respect, but I just don't know if this one's for everyone. So before you rent it, take that to heart. Then rent it, because it's great.
Alright folks, I know I've been kinda out of the loop here the last couple of weeks, but I'm moved into my new place now and things are slowly returning to normal. Speaking of which, party at the new place... let me know if you wanna get down.
The first time I was ever stung by a bee was when I was 7. I was just getting out of the car in the parking lot at wal-mart, when the little fucker flew up and stung me on my hand. My dad said it was a Yellowjacket, but I don't know he could have possibly known... that thing came out of nowhere like a bat out of hell, stung me for absolutely no reason, and was gone before I could even figure out why my hand suddenly wanted to fall off. Up to that point, I'd never known pain like that... and I'd had stitches. Twice. I can't tell you how many more times I was stung after that, but it was a lot. Once I stepped on a bumble bee. Once a wasp got stuck in my shirt and stung me four times on my back. Once I was just walking through the yard and one popped me right in the chest. Once I was in my dad's truck, and when I reached into the back seat to get something there was one sitting on the seat that stung me on the arm. It was like a horrible nightmare that lasted for years.
You know what it is that really chaps my ass about bees? It's not even the pain so much as it is the vengeful nature of those little fuckers. It'd be one thing if I were messing with them, but that's just it. After that first sting, I NEVER wanted ANYTHING to do with bees of any kind... and yet they somehow always managed to find me. It's like they have little sensors in them that tell them when I'm close by. Without fail, if a bee flies by me, he WILL backtrack and come at me with stinger poised for battle. I don't understand it, it's like I'm marked for death.
Actually bees aren't the real problem. Bees more often than not die after stinging you... so they have a tough choice to make. I'd like to think the only time they sting is in a life or death situation. No, the real problem is wasps. Wasps, hornets, yellowjackets, anything that can sting a million times and keep on ticking. Wasps, as this image so beautifully illustrates, are built for war, and they will not hesitate to bring the pain.
Just the other day, there was a wasp's nest outside of my apartment. I asked the complex to get rid of it, which they did, but they didn't kill the wasp. So I'm walking out the door with Frank, and what do I see? A huge, angry wasp targeting me for destruction. I promptly went back inside and waited for a few minutes while the wasp went on his way... but when I reopened the door that fucker was RIGHT THERE WAITING FOR ME. I narrowly escaped. What was he doing there? Why was he waiting for me? Because he knew, that's why.
There was a time when I never left the house without a tennis racket. Tennis rackets might just be the best weapon against wasps. Sure you can use spray, but what if you miss? A tennis racket is the only way to guarantee your protection... and even then it only works against one or two. if you run into a hive, forget it. But there was a time when bees, wasps, hornets... they all feared me. They knew when I was coming and they retreated to their nests and hives until I was gone. Seriously, it happened. I killed more than a hundred bees that summer (yes I kept track), and I was never happier. But that must have been something that stuck with them forever. Something that their elders passed on from generation to generation... the story of the asshole with the tennis racket... along with a legend that one day he would put the racket down, and that was when they would strike.
Well, that time must be now, because they are coming after me like crazy. I have seriously considered going to Academy Sports and picking up a tennis racket, expressly for the purpose of beating the shit out of some wasps. I'm going to get stung soon, I can just feel it. And when I do, may mother nature protect bees and wasps everywhere, because I swear with everything in my body... I'm comin for ya.
Enough Already
If there's one thing I've definitely heard more than I want to hear about lately, it's that bitch Lindsay Lohan and all of her trials and tribulations. She's going to jail. WHO CARES. This is actually making network news people... a young woman who does drugs and makes really bad decisions, going to jail. How many times a day does that happen, seriously? And how many of those stories make the news? None. And yet, because this chick is (moderately) famous, she's getting coverage out the wazzoo for being a fuckup.
Who is Lindsay Lohan, anyway? She did some kids movies and one that looked maybe okay ("Prairie Home Companion" I think it was called). Anything else? Oh yeah, she used to be hot. Now she's so drugged up she looks more like a tranny hooker you'd see at a cheap strip club in Vegas, but hey... drugs'll do that. My point is, why does she get all of this attention from the media? Why does she deserve it?
You know my feelings on famous people, athletes, etc. In the end, they're all just people like you and me. Sure they've done some cool stuff... I can't say I wouldn't be in awe at the opportunity to shake Bruce Willis' hand, or to smoke a cigar with Mr. Shwarzenegger... but holy crap people, you all need to calm down. How boring are your lives that you can be entertained by sitting there and watching a young woman ruin her life? Do you actually feel sorry for her? Do you feel sorry for a girl who has a ton of money and everything she could possibly want, and yet somehow STILL manages to screw it up? Let me ask you this... do you feel just as sorry for the kid who grows up in the projects with nothing and doesn't stand a chance in this world, and falls to drugs just like mommy and daddy do? Probably not, and there's something seriously wrong with that.
The icing on the cake is that Lohan is probably going to be even MORE famous when she gets out of that wimpy jail (and by the way, don't count on her being there more than a week or two... her sentence was only 20 days). Oh, and while I'm on her sentence... how many people do you know who get 20 days for repeated, major drug offenses? Why is it that an actress, who really does nothing for this world's well-being, can get off the hook in weak-sauce jail after just a few days... while a garbage man, without whom society could not function, will be locked up in federal-pound-me-in-the-ass prison for years for the same offense? There's also something seriously wrong there.
You want to fix Lohan? Ignore her. Once she realizes she's not going to get attention (no matter how stupid she acts), she'll grow up and get on with here life. Then the media can get back to reporting actual news, and I can sleep at night.
Butt Weight, There's More...
Who am I kidding? Some media outlets are NEVER going to report real news. Shows like "Good Morning America" and "The Today Show" will never be hard, straight-up newscasts... and really, that's okay. Sometimes you need to see the softer side of things, and when you wake up in the morning it's probably not a good idea to blast yourself with a bunch of death and depression. Just a thought. But there is one show which, despite being on the easier, morning side of things... which, despite having to worry less about timely news and more about interesting, even fun stuff to report on... STILL manages to screw it up. And that show, of course, is the CBS Early Show.
This week's (greatest) offense? Butt Pads. Yes, they're real. They're little pads that slide into the back of a chick's pants and make her but look bigger, or ghetto, or whatever. Give me a FREAKING break. First push-up bras, now butt pads? You've got to be kidding me. Right? Please?
Shame on you, butt pad makers, fo rmaking women think they can be something that they aren't. By creating these butt pads, you are not only perpetuating the views of women as objects, but you are also increasing the amount of disappointment men will feel towards their women. It's like makeup: women look pretty before they put makeup on. Then they look pretty with their makeup on. But then, if they take their makeup off, they don't look as pretty anymore. A chick can have a nice butt, without it being a perfect butt... but when you score one of these chicks and she takes her pants off to reveal that she in fact HAS no butt, and that she's been putting on a charade... DIVORCE.
And shame on you, CBS Early Show, for bringing this kind of stuff to the public's attention. I realize that no one on earth watches your show in the morning, but still for the few people who do, you owe it to them to try to make their lives better (or at least NOT ruin it). Someone up there needs to do some serious rethinking about their show. Big time.
As for the ladies... if you have a nice ass, show it off. If you don't, that's okay too... but don't PRETEND like you have something you don't. That can only lead to sadness.
Gran Torino
Clint Eastwood is a Korean War Veteran who's seen things that would make you poop your pants, living in a neighborhood that once was nice but now has become a ghetto, full of gangsters and thugs of every race and age... namely asian. Can this cold, unkind old man come to grips with his new life in this world full of people who he has an ingrown hatred for, or will he fall apart?
If Clint Eastwood proves anything in this movie, it's that old people can still kick a lot of ass. Eastwood is without a doubt, the hardest old man I've ever seen on film. That guy can kill you with a look, and it's incredible. What's really incredible is that the guy who did a million spaghetti westerns has been able to keep his career going, and he actually gets better in every movie he makes/stars in. "Gran Torino" may not be the easiest movie to watch at times, but it does have a very powerful message and it delivers it well enough.
For some people, that is. I've heard some people say that this movie was so racist that they could hardly watch it, that it was just disgusting, and that they really didn't enjoy it. Well, I really did, and let me tell you why. There are two ways to look at this movie: from a race perspective (and there is plenty of racism to be had), and from a societal perspective. Yeah, Eastwood is racist in this movie, but (spoiler alert) he learns to deal with it and even overcome it. Race is not the real issue at hand in this movie. The real issue here is tha downfall of American society.
One of the first scenes of this movie explains it perfectly: we see Clint Eastwood's house; old, but well-kept and tidy, with a nice yard and fresh coat of paint. But he is surrounded by a neighborhood that is absolutely falling apart. No one takes care of anything anymore, no one has any pride in his home anymore. He also sees children who don't respect their elders, who don't work for a living, and who have no concept of what keeps the world turning. He sees kids who should be working, trolling around looking for trouble, and it disgusts him. Rightfully so, if you ask me.
Another perfect scene in this movie: Eastwood's neighbor, a Korean, is walking down the street with her thug cracker boyfriend, when the two of them run into some black gangsters hanging out on the street corner. The black thugs push the white boy aside and start messing with the Korean girl. Here comes Eastwood. He gets an earfull of racism from the kids, and he returns in kind with his own. Then he pulls a gun on the thugs until they back away. When the white boy speaks up, Eastwood goes after him with plenty of racist remarks as well. My point is, whatever you do, don't play the race card on this movie. Race is a small part of this movie, yes, but it's just a small part. Eastwood's racism comes more out of guilt for what he did in the war than anything else, and once he is accepted by the Koreans living next door, he quickly lightens up. His hatred is toward the youth of the nation, and toward the lack of respect they show for everything. That hatred doesn't see race, or rather it sees all races as inferior.
So should you see it? Well, I guess not if you get too hung up on racist stuff. There is definitely some offesnsive stuff going on in this movie, but it all serves a purpose. It's really a good story about a hardened, unfriendly old man learning that there's more to life than hate and that even in this shitty world we live in, there are still some good people left. So in other words, my opinion is yes, you should watch this movie.
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
Doctor Parnassus is the head of a traveling circuis show, which invites people to step through a mirror for five quid. But what seems like a scam is actually a trip into your imagination that you will never forget. However, times are tough and people are skeptical... so the traveling troupe is having a rough time surviving... that is, until a strange man appears to them. Through the course of the movie you learn a lot more about him and just who Doctor Parnassus really is, on this trippy journey through a fantasy world.
I will say this about Terry Gillium. That dude is one weird motherfucker. One of the brainchildren behind Monty Python, Gillium has also created some other very interesting, if not as successful movies (Time Bandits, 12 Monkeys, the list goes on). He's definitely an acquired taste, and not for everyone, but if you can give his world a chance, you'll really see some very interesting stuff go on.
I was first interested in this movie because it was being made when Heath Ledger (who plays the mysterious man) passed away... so the film was finished with other actors. Great actors too (Johnny Depp, Jude Law, Colin Ferrell... well, ALMOST all great actors). I was interested to see how they did it, and if they were able to respect Ledger's last film in the process. I'm glad to say that they indeed did, and in fact they were able to cobble together the rest of the movie in a way that made complete sense and was really entertaining to watch.
There are truly some inspired visuals in this movie. It almost has a Monty Python touch in some parts, but it never gets quite that weird. From an artistic standpoint, this movie is really cool (I recommend the blu-ray version if possible)... but from a mainstream entertainment standpoint, I'm not so sure. Gillium's never seemed to care too much about that, which I can respect, but I just don't know if this one's for everyone. So before you rent it, take that to heart. Then rent it, because it's great.
Alright folks, I know I've been kinda out of the loop here the last couple of weeks, but I'm moved into my new place now and things are slowly returning to normal. Speaking of which, party at the new place... let me know if you wanna get down.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Back
These have probably been some rough times for you. I get it, trying to survive without reading my entries every week is kind of like eating an Oreo Cookie with no filling. Sure it's still tasty, but there's just something missing. Well, fear not. I've had an extremely busy couple of weeks, but I'm back and ready for action. And being the nice guy that I am, I'm not even going to cheat you out of all the ridiculous crap that's happened in my absence. In other words, some of the stuff I talk about today will be old news. But it's still awesome. So without further ado, let's get right to the good stuff, shall we?
The General
Recently, an article came out from some douchebag reporter trying to paint our Commanding General in Afghanistan (General McChrystal) as a punk who badmouths the president and thinks he's above all the rules and can do whatever he wants. Needless to say, B-Rock was less than pleased when he read it, and now McChrystal has stepped down and Patreus has taken over in Afghanistan. Well isn't that great.
First off, who the hell does this reporter think he is? What qualifications does he have to write about anyone in a war time situation? Doesn't he have better things to do than run around trying to make things even more difficult for the man who is supposed to be in charge of winning a war for our country? If you're trying to be the next Walter Cronkite, give up. You're not even writing for a newsworthy magazine. Yeah you're getting a lot of publicity, but it's not really the right kind of publicity is it? I've heard a lot more about "what business did you have being over there in the first place..." a lot more than I've heard "what a well-written piece, exposing the inner workings of an American General." In fact, I haven't heard a single person whose opinion matters, compliment your article in any way. Or did you do it for the fame? While that might be a much more believable reason, you should be ashamed of yourself.
Now to McChrystal. You, sir, should probably also be a little ashamed of yourself. Yes you're a badass, and yes you're a very capable general (I read the article, and there were actually some nice things said about the general as well)... but you of all people should know better than to badmouth the President, especially during a time of war, ESPECIALLY especially to a friggin' reporter! You are completely entitled to your opinion, and believe me I have my issues with Obama as well... but come on man! You're a general in the United States Military! This is a time of war! Surely you were taught back at Westpoint that you don't do this kind of stuff... right?
And finally, a message to our President. Mr. President, I know it's not really your thing to admit that you don't know everything about a certain topic. I know you prefer to be the guy swooping in to save the day on every single crisis that affects us, even if you have no idea what you're doing (ahem, OIL)... but I really think you made the wrong decision on this one. Firing mcChrystal (which face it, is really what happened here), makes you look weak, especially to our enemies. If you come across as someone who fires or dismisses anyone who speaks against you... well that's just not really very American, is it? I honestly think the better solution to this little article would have been a simple statement, saying that while McChrystal may not agree with you, that is his right. And as long as he does what he is supposed to do (you are after all still his boss), and wins the war in Afghanistan, then he will have our support. You don't have to like the guy, but you don't have to fire him either.
Luckily we have a good general to replace McChrystal. Patreus may not be as much of a hardass, but he definitely knows his stuff. He fixed things in Iraq LONG before the press would have you believe (notice how you still don't hear anything coming out of there? Now that Bush isn't President anymore? Interesting, eh?). He's a very capable man and a good leader, and I think he stands just as good a chance of getting us out of Afghanistan as McChrystal did. I have to say, however, that I don't know of anyone who can get us out of that mess... best to just do like we did back when Russia was over there, and bail.
Drilled
While we're on the subject of our President thinking that he knows everything about everything, let's talk briefly about his attempts to call a moratorium on deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. Aaaaahhhhhh. Bad idea, sir... bad idea.
This BP oil spill is truly a mess, and it's rung home even clearer now that this oil is starting to wash up on Houston shores. I could sit here and complain about all the screw ups Obama has caused all day long, but I would just be rehashing stuff that's already been said a million times. I would like to comment on this SuperTanker though. Why did it just now arrive in the gulf to start sucking up the oil? Why wasn't this plan (which is a plan that has been proven to work in the past) initiated from the get-go? Who knows how much oil they could have kept off our beaches? Ridiculous.
Anyway, as if all the past mistakes weren't enough, now our brilliant President has decided to call for a freeze on deepwater drilling. So for all the other wells that are being drilled out there, all the ones who are safe and who have operated without incident for years, they have to stop because of one companies mistake. This will cause a reduction in oil creation for our country, and increase our reliance on foreign oil... which I seem to recall was a big no-no according to this same President. Not only are the companies being penalized, but the thousands and thousands of employees of those companies are also now facing layoffs. This will increase our unemployment, which I believe was also a big no-no in Obama's campaign. It's a classic case of saying one thing but meaning another, of blowing smoke up our collective asses, but then completely backtracking when the chips are down and you have to actually stand behind your promise.
So what's the solution? I can tell you what it's NOT. It's NOT a bunch of hippies standing on the beach holding hands trying to make a statement about how we're destroying the earth. No, that's not going to do much (hey why don't you clowns start cleaning stuff up down there instead?) The solution is to keep the drills turning. Increase regulations, tighten the inspections, and increase the punishment for those who don't follow the rules... but don't hurt our economy by reducing our oil supply and firing thousands of hard-working people. Of course, the REAL solution is to get off of oil completely. We have the technology. We have the ability. But we also have a government who is deeeeeep in the oil companies' pockets. These are people who put extra money (as if they don't get paid enough already) over the well-being of our environment, our wildlife, and our people. Even the president isn't above this. Yes getting off of oil will cost jobs, but so will calling for a moratorium. At some point we're going to have to get off oil, whether it's when we run out, or when we're tired of blowing each other up over it, or now, when everything is still peaceful but while we have a fresh reminder of just how dangerous this crap is, and why it usually stays miles below the surface of the earth.
You're not My Mom
I'm sure by now most of you have seen the video of that little kid over in Asia who smokes like a million packs a day? No? Well, here it is, coupled with an article that makes me want to gag. The CBS Early Show, which I'll admit I haven't made fun of in a while, has done it again folks. They've managed to take a one-day story and blow it up into something absolutely ridiculous. Kind of like they're doing with the Superfan (a douchebag who won a stupid bet with his friends and now somehow gets to be on TV and travel the world. JOURNALISM!)
Let me clarify off the bat that I don't condone this kid smoking a cigarette. At least wait until your 10 years old. Seriously though, I don't care how third-world your country is, surely you realize that smoking isn't good for you... and also you surely realize that a small child is not capable of making the right decision with a highly addictive drug like cigarettes (no matter how cool he looks smoking them).
Okay so it's one thing to report about this. It's another thing completely to milk the hell out of it and make idiots of yourselves in the meantime. But, surprise surprise, that is exactly what the CBS Early Show people have managed to do. Not only did they interview a psychologist about why children shouldn't smoke, but they've also now reported that some politician in that country is going after the kid's parents for letting him smoke. Now hold up just a minute. American "journalism" has caused this kid's parents to get in trouble? There's just something not right about that.
Who the hell are we, as Americans, to try to tell other COUNTRIES how to raise their kids? It's bad enough all the crap that we put our own kids through (not to mention a big reason why this country is weaker than it has ever been)... now we're going to try to start telling the rest of the world what they can and cannot do? That's just unacceptable. You want to know why the rest of the world hates us? It's because we think we're always right, and because we all think we know everything about everything and can just stick our noses into everyone's business.
If this kid wants to smoke, let him. If his parents don't care that they're killing their son, that's their problem. NOT YOURS. And not mine. Yeah it's wrong by our standards, but most of the stuff Americans did in the 50s and 60s is wrong by our standards too. Should we build a time machine and go back and lecture them about their errors? No. There were a lot of mistakes made here, but we survived them, and we're stronger for it. It's just like if little Johnny wants to go out and play but gets his knee scraped. Yeah he might get an infection and yeah he might cry, but he'll get over it, and his body will be much stronger for it. Nowadays, we would just as soon not let Johnny go out and play, or put him in some kind of ridiculous protective gear so that he won't "hurt himself." Well, sure he won't hurt himself, but he's also not building up any tolerance to infection or disease. He's not developing his immune system. And 50 years from now, guess who WE'RE all going to be paying for since he's so sickly and constantly in the hospital. I'm on a tangent, I know, but the point is that we have no right to be mucking about in other people's business. Stop trying to tell everyone else what they're doing wrong, and instead try to concentrate on doing things right for yourself. Stop worrying about some kid on the other side of the world, and start worrying about your own kid who you hardly see and never talk to anymore. In other words, be a parent.
Brothers Solomon
Two brothers who have lived in the Arctic their entire lives, decide to enter the dating scene while nursing their sick father back to health in their own apartment. Their goal: to carry out their father's wish and have a child. At least I think that's what this movie was about... I didn't finish it. It takes a lot for me to turn off a movie halfway through. But I did with this movie, and I did it with great anger.
I figured with Will Arnett and Will Forte (SNL, McGruber), there would at least be a couple of laughs in this movie. I was wrong. There were some potentially funny scenes, but they just never hit a punchline. It's like all the jokes were written by a three year old. Watching this movie was like having a child try to tell you a joke, but halfway through he gets lost and can't remember how it ends.
And so, for this reason and another one involving Will Forte kissing a man on the lips and letting drool stretch between their two mouths, I turned this movie off about 20 minutes in. And I'm also recommending that you don't even bother. And if you find someone who says "oh come on that movie was great!" Punch them for me.
Incendiary
A slightly adulterous woman is miserable in her marriage, but loves her kid to death. However, when both of them die in a terrorist attack, she has to try to pick up the pieces and come to grips with her new life.
I rented this movie because I thought it was supposed to be some kind of love triangle conspiracy thing. It had a hot chick on the cover, so hey I'm down. Also Ewan McGregor is in it and I haven't been disappointed in any of his movies so far. Anyway enough excuses, I rented the movie. Deal with it.
If that description up there sounds like it would be a rough one to watch, then you would be right. There was a lot less love triangle here, and a lot more "shoot me because this is so depressing." It was basically two hours watching a woman lose her mind over the loss of her child. I will say, however, that it was extremely well-acted by everyone involved. I couldn't understand everything (sometimes those British accents get pretty thick), but I could really feel the emotion coming from this woman. I could also see the change in McGregor's character, and there was even a little hint of conspiracy.
All in all, this movie was kinda sad, but it was also very entertaining. A great story, some tough emotional stuff, and a good payoff in the end. I may not have been happy while I was watching it, but when the credits rolled I'm glad I gave it a shot. And I think you should too, especially if you like Ewan McGregor. Or hot chicks. Or being depressed.
Empire of the Sun
A young British boy born and raised in China during 1941, learns that war isn't all fun and games when the Japanese invade and take his family away from him. He's forced to survive on his own, and through his journey he meets some interesting people before winding up in a prison camp himself. The movie follows his life through to the end of the war.
I rented this movie for two reasons: Christian Bale and Steven Speilberg. Great actor, great director, how could you go wrong? Not to mention that Bale was about 10 when he made this movie, so I was interested to see if he was always as good an actor as he is now. Turns out he was. There were some very big names in this movie, including John Malcovich(!), Ben Stiller(!?!) and that Cypher dude from "The Matrix" (@!#%). Yet even with all these main stream and big title actors, Bale outshined them all. He seriously was the best actor in this movie, to the extent that he was one of the ONLY convincing roles I saw. The ability of this kid to take his character from spoiled Brit to making-the-best-of-things-american-wannabe, to downright psychopath, was truly incredible. And somehow through it all, he still managed to be a little kid.
Areas where there HAVE been improvement since this movie, however, were in the directing and in the music. There were some pieces of modern-day Speilberg in this movie... who knows, maybe this was the first time he came up with these ideas, camera moves and stuff that have stuck around even into his modern style. The music, by John Williams, was for the most part simplistic and not very exciting... but again, there were some gems. Despite the relative green-ness of both of these guys, there wasn't anything offensive or weird... it still flowed together and even managed to create some moments of true beauty and uniqueness.
For those of you who are considering this movie though, be warned: it is kind of old school. It's not super action packed, and there are some very obvious mistakes made throughout. In fact, some parts play out more like a stage play than a movie. But still, it is very entertaining, and if you'd like to see how Christian Bale got started, this is definitely a good one to watch. For all you "Newsies" fans, he even sings a little.
All right folks, we should be back to the grind now. Talk to you again soon...
The General
Recently, an article came out from some douchebag reporter trying to paint our Commanding General in Afghanistan (General McChrystal) as a punk who badmouths the president and thinks he's above all the rules and can do whatever he wants. Needless to say, B-Rock was less than pleased when he read it, and now McChrystal has stepped down and Patreus has taken over in Afghanistan. Well isn't that great.
First off, who the hell does this reporter think he is? What qualifications does he have to write about anyone in a war time situation? Doesn't he have better things to do than run around trying to make things even more difficult for the man who is supposed to be in charge of winning a war for our country? If you're trying to be the next Walter Cronkite, give up. You're not even writing for a newsworthy magazine. Yeah you're getting a lot of publicity, but it's not really the right kind of publicity is it? I've heard a lot more about "what business did you have being over there in the first place..." a lot more than I've heard "what a well-written piece, exposing the inner workings of an American General." In fact, I haven't heard a single person whose opinion matters, compliment your article in any way. Or did you do it for the fame? While that might be a much more believable reason, you should be ashamed of yourself.
Now to McChrystal. You, sir, should probably also be a little ashamed of yourself. Yes you're a badass, and yes you're a very capable general (I read the article, and there were actually some nice things said about the general as well)... but you of all people should know better than to badmouth the President, especially during a time of war, ESPECIALLY especially to a friggin' reporter! You are completely entitled to your opinion, and believe me I have my issues with Obama as well... but come on man! You're a general in the United States Military! This is a time of war! Surely you were taught back at Westpoint that you don't do this kind of stuff... right?
And finally, a message to our President. Mr. President, I know it's not really your thing to admit that you don't know everything about a certain topic. I know you prefer to be the guy swooping in to save the day on every single crisis that affects us, even if you have no idea what you're doing (ahem, OIL)... but I really think you made the wrong decision on this one. Firing mcChrystal (which face it, is really what happened here), makes you look weak, especially to our enemies. If you come across as someone who fires or dismisses anyone who speaks against you... well that's just not really very American, is it? I honestly think the better solution to this little article would have been a simple statement, saying that while McChrystal may not agree with you, that is his right. And as long as he does what he is supposed to do (you are after all still his boss), and wins the war in Afghanistan, then he will have our support. You don't have to like the guy, but you don't have to fire him either.
Luckily we have a good general to replace McChrystal. Patreus may not be as much of a hardass, but he definitely knows his stuff. He fixed things in Iraq LONG before the press would have you believe (notice how you still don't hear anything coming out of there? Now that Bush isn't President anymore? Interesting, eh?). He's a very capable man and a good leader, and I think he stands just as good a chance of getting us out of Afghanistan as McChrystal did. I have to say, however, that I don't know of anyone who can get us out of that mess... best to just do like we did back when Russia was over there, and bail.
Drilled
While we're on the subject of our President thinking that he knows everything about everything, let's talk briefly about his attempts to call a moratorium on deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. Aaaaahhhhhh. Bad idea, sir... bad idea.
This BP oil spill is truly a mess, and it's rung home even clearer now that this oil is starting to wash up on Houston shores. I could sit here and complain about all the screw ups Obama has caused all day long, but I would just be rehashing stuff that's already been said a million times. I would like to comment on this SuperTanker though. Why did it just now arrive in the gulf to start sucking up the oil? Why wasn't this plan (which is a plan that has been proven to work in the past) initiated from the get-go? Who knows how much oil they could have kept off our beaches? Ridiculous.
Anyway, as if all the past mistakes weren't enough, now our brilliant President has decided to call for a freeze on deepwater drilling. So for all the other wells that are being drilled out there, all the ones who are safe and who have operated without incident for years, they have to stop because of one companies mistake. This will cause a reduction in oil creation for our country, and increase our reliance on foreign oil... which I seem to recall was a big no-no according to this same President. Not only are the companies being penalized, but the thousands and thousands of employees of those companies are also now facing layoffs. This will increase our unemployment, which I believe was also a big no-no in Obama's campaign. It's a classic case of saying one thing but meaning another, of blowing smoke up our collective asses, but then completely backtracking when the chips are down and you have to actually stand behind your promise.
So what's the solution? I can tell you what it's NOT. It's NOT a bunch of hippies standing on the beach holding hands trying to make a statement about how we're destroying the earth. No, that's not going to do much (hey why don't you clowns start cleaning stuff up down there instead?) The solution is to keep the drills turning. Increase regulations, tighten the inspections, and increase the punishment for those who don't follow the rules... but don't hurt our economy by reducing our oil supply and firing thousands of hard-working people. Of course, the REAL solution is to get off of oil completely. We have the technology. We have the ability. But we also have a government who is deeeeeep in the oil companies' pockets. These are people who put extra money (as if they don't get paid enough already) over the well-being of our environment, our wildlife, and our people. Even the president isn't above this. Yes getting off of oil will cost jobs, but so will calling for a moratorium. At some point we're going to have to get off oil, whether it's when we run out, or when we're tired of blowing each other up over it, or now, when everything is still peaceful but while we have a fresh reminder of just how dangerous this crap is, and why it usually stays miles below the surface of the earth.
You're not My Mom
I'm sure by now most of you have seen the video of that little kid over in Asia who smokes like a million packs a day? No? Well, here it is, coupled with an article that makes me want to gag. The CBS Early Show, which I'll admit I haven't made fun of in a while, has done it again folks. They've managed to take a one-day story and blow it up into something absolutely ridiculous. Kind of like they're doing with the Superfan (a douchebag who won a stupid bet with his friends and now somehow gets to be on TV and travel the world. JOURNALISM!)
Let me clarify off the bat that I don't condone this kid smoking a cigarette. At least wait until your 10 years old. Seriously though, I don't care how third-world your country is, surely you realize that smoking isn't good for you... and also you surely realize that a small child is not capable of making the right decision with a highly addictive drug like cigarettes (no matter how cool he looks smoking them).
Okay so it's one thing to report about this. It's another thing completely to milk the hell out of it and make idiots of yourselves in the meantime. But, surprise surprise, that is exactly what the CBS Early Show people have managed to do. Not only did they interview a psychologist about why children shouldn't smoke, but they've also now reported that some politician in that country is going after the kid's parents for letting him smoke. Now hold up just a minute. American "journalism" has caused this kid's parents to get in trouble? There's just something not right about that.
Who the hell are we, as Americans, to try to tell other COUNTRIES how to raise their kids? It's bad enough all the crap that we put our own kids through (not to mention a big reason why this country is weaker than it has ever been)... now we're going to try to start telling the rest of the world what they can and cannot do? That's just unacceptable. You want to know why the rest of the world hates us? It's because we think we're always right, and because we all think we know everything about everything and can just stick our noses into everyone's business.
If this kid wants to smoke, let him. If his parents don't care that they're killing their son, that's their problem. NOT YOURS. And not mine. Yeah it's wrong by our standards, but most of the stuff Americans did in the 50s and 60s is wrong by our standards too. Should we build a time machine and go back and lecture them about their errors? No. There were a lot of mistakes made here, but we survived them, and we're stronger for it. It's just like if little Johnny wants to go out and play but gets his knee scraped. Yeah he might get an infection and yeah he might cry, but he'll get over it, and his body will be much stronger for it. Nowadays, we would just as soon not let Johnny go out and play, or put him in some kind of ridiculous protective gear so that he won't "hurt himself." Well, sure he won't hurt himself, but he's also not building up any tolerance to infection or disease. He's not developing his immune system. And 50 years from now, guess who WE'RE all going to be paying for since he's so sickly and constantly in the hospital. I'm on a tangent, I know, but the point is that we have no right to be mucking about in other people's business. Stop trying to tell everyone else what they're doing wrong, and instead try to concentrate on doing things right for yourself. Stop worrying about some kid on the other side of the world, and start worrying about your own kid who you hardly see and never talk to anymore. In other words, be a parent.
Brothers Solomon
Two brothers who have lived in the Arctic their entire lives, decide to enter the dating scene while nursing their sick father back to health in their own apartment. Their goal: to carry out their father's wish and have a child. At least I think that's what this movie was about... I didn't finish it. It takes a lot for me to turn off a movie halfway through. But I did with this movie, and I did it with great anger.
I figured with Will Arnett and Will Forte (SNL, McGruber), there would at least be a couple of laughs in this movie. I was wrong. There were some potentially funny scenes, but they just never hit a punchline. It's like all the jokes were written by a three year old. Watching this movie was like having a child try to tell you a joke, but halfway through he gets lost and can't remember how it ends.
And so, for this reason and another one involving Will Forte kissing a man on the lips and letting drool stretch between their two mouths, I turned this movie off about 20 minutes in. And I'm also recommending that you don't even bother. And if you find someone who says "oh come on that movie was great!" Punch them for me.
Incendiary
A slightly adulterous woman is miserable in her marriage, but loves her kid to death. However, when both of them die in a terrorist attack, she has to try to pick up the pieces and come to grips with her new life.
I rented this movie because I thought it was supposed to be some kind of love triangle conspiracy thing. It had a hot chick on the cover, so hey I'm down. Also Ewan McGregor is in it and I haven't been disappointed in any of his movies so far. Anyway enough excuses, I rented the movie. Deal with it.
If that description up there sounds like it would be a rough one to watch, then you would be right. There was a lot less love triangle here, and a lot more "shoot me because this is so depressing." It was basically two hours watching a woman lose her mind over the loss of her child. I will say, however, that it was extremely well-acted by everyone involved. I couldn't understand everything (sometimes those British accents get pretty thick), but I could really feel the emotion coming from this woman. I could also see the change in McGregor's character, and there was even a little hint of conspiracy.
All in all, this movie was kinda sad, but it was also very entertaining. A great story, some tough emotional stuff, and a good payoff in the end. I may not have been happy while I was watching it, but when the credits rolled I'm glad I gave it a shot. And I think you should too, especially if you like Ewan McGregor. Or hot chicks. Or being depressed.
Empire of the Sun
A young British boy born and raised in China during 1941, learns that war isn't all fun and games when the Japanese invade and take his family away from him. He's forced to survive on his own, and through his journey he meets some interesting people before winding up in a prison camp himself. The movie follows his life through to the end of the war.
I rented this movie for two reasons: Christian Bale and Steven Speilberg. Great actor, great director, how could you go wrong? Not to mention that Bale was about 10 when he made this movie, so I was interested to see if he was always as good an actor as he is now. Turns out he was. There were some very big names in this movie, including John Malcovich(!), Ben Stiller(!?!) and that Cypher dude from "The Matrix" (@!#%). Yet even with all these main stream and big title actors, Bale outshined them all. He seriously was the best actor in this movie, to the extent that he was one of the ONLY convincing roles I saw. The ability of this kid to take his character from spoiled Brit to making-the-best-of-things-american-wannabe, to downright psychopath, was truly incredible. And somehow through it all, he still managed to be a little kid.
Areas where there HAVE been improvement since this movie, however, were in the directing and in the music. There were some pieces of modern-day Speilberg in this movie... who knows, maybe this was the first time he came up with these ideas, camera moves and stuff that have stuck around even into his modern style. The music, by John Williams, was for the most part simplistic and not very exciting... but again, there were some gems. Despite the relative green-ness of both of these guys, there wasn't anything offensive or weird... it still flowed together and even managed to create some moments of true beauty and uniqueness.
For those of you who are considering this movie though, be warned: it is kind of old school. It's not super action packed, and there are some very obvious mistakes made throughout. In fact, some parts play out more like a stage play than a movie. But still, it is very entertaining, and if you'd like to see how Christian Bale got started, this is definitely a good one to watch. For all you "Newsies" fans, he even sings a little.
All right folks, we should be back to the grind now. Talk to you again soon...
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