Welcome to the my Web site, v. XII. The blog is typically published Monday - Saturday. My primary topics tend to be the Nats, Penn State (esp. football), BeltwayLand, transportation, media, photos and more. The rest of the site gets updated as warranted and is noted on the blog.
This is actually common knowledge. And it wouldn't have been Lynch's first attempt at sci-fi, either, because around the same time that Return of the Jedi came out, Lynch released his big-screen adaptation of Dune (which admittedly hasn't aged as well as Jedi).
# posted by Fritz :
Friday, December 11, 2009 8:34:00 AM
Calder Way Mike's Movies & Music going out of business - William World News
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Calder Way Mike's Movies & Music going out of business
Mike's Movies to liquidate stock - The Collegian It has been a rough week for State College, first QWK Rock going off the air and now Mike's Movies & Music going out of business. They are selling their inventory and closing up the Calder Way location for good. Frankly, I am surprised it lasted so long.
Drafthouse bankrupt, remains open - William World News
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Drafthouse bankrupt, remains open
Arlington Cinema ‘N’ Drafthouse files for Ch. 11 - Washington Business Journal Fritz texted me on Friday evening (while I was in Pennsylvania) the news that the Arlington Cinema n' Drafthouse is in chapter 11 bankruptcy. Their second location, the now shuttered Montgomery County Cinema n' Drafthouse is the cause. I have to wonder if adding a restaurant and bringing in live acts like comedians contributed. When it was just movies, I recall it selling a lot of tickets. How is the turnout for non-movie events?
Hopefully, the Drafthouse will still be around when the process is completed and does not get sold for condos or something similar. I know Arlington is keen on having the Drafthouse around as it redevelops Columbia Pike. I would enjoy taking a street car there someday. Actually, I'd just enjoy seeing a movie there again someday period, I'm a little busy these days.
Although I am not much of a fan of any of the Star Trek television series, I have seen and enjoyed most of the movie franchise, including all of "the original series" (TOS) cast. Of those movies, Star Trek II – The Wrath of Khan was easily the best and is one of my favorite movies. Other movies in the series were mostly good. When I saw the initial preview and trailer, I was pretty excited, but a little concern it would be overdone.
J.J. Abrams, the creator of the hit TV show Lost took on the challenge to get the franchise going again and choose to go with the TOS characters. Like so many other series reboots, this new Star Trek is an origins story. The lives of the two most prominent characters, James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) and its 1st officer Spock (Zachary Quinto), are the focus as each are seen in pivotal moments of their pre-Starfleet development. The former, it is revealed is the wise-ass, devil-may-care son of a heroic Starfleet officer who died at the time of his birth. Spock on the other hand, is brilliant but conflicted as half-Vulcan and half-human trying to reconcile his mixed heritage.
After three years of hi-jinx and accusations of cheating, Kirk and his Starfleet Academy classmates are rushed to action in defense of the planet Vulcan. Kirk, is not to be part of the mission, but Dr. Leonard McCoy (Karl Urban)is able to get Kirk aboard. As it would happen Kirk understands what is going on and a reluctant Uhura (Zoë Saldana) who rebuffed Kirk's many advances, confirms it. Enterprise captain Christopher Pike (Bruce Greenwood), who challenged Kirk to join Starfleet, assigns him, Sulu (John Cho) and the chief engineer Olson, who perishes, to destroy a gigantic Romulan space drill that is puncturing Vulcan. Ultimately, Kirk and Sulu are not successful in stopping the Romulans in time, causing a surprising event that clearly shows this is an alternative universe than TOS. The villainous Romulans are actually from the future and have a vendetta against Spock.
After returning to the bridge, Kirk is exiled to a frozen planet by Spock, who at this point is commanding the ship with Capt. Pike captured by the Romulans. Continuing a series of coincidences that would make a Spider-Man screenwriter blush, Kirk is discovered by an elder Spock (credited as Spock Prime and played by Leonard Nimoy). Spock explains why the Romulans from the future are here, taking blame for failing to save their planet. Kirk and Spock then discover Montgomery Scott (Simon Pegg), stuck at a remote facility nearby and find their way back to the Enterprise, without Spock Prime. Kirk, armed with the knowledge that he has to take over the Enterprise, succeeds and leads the ship into a final confrontation with the Romulans.
The movie was okay, but the aforementioned coincidences make it hard to take seriously, almost as much as yet another time travel story in the Star Trek universe. By my count, this is at least the third time there has been time travel in the series. While it avoids the predestination paradox problems that plague the Terminator series, it makes everything possible and thus nothing impossible. To me, that takes away suspense and gives the filmmakers a convenient out. That holds it back from being in the same league as Star Trek II. The space battles, like most since Return of the Jedi, are so overdone that they remove most suspense.
The performances are solid if unspectacular for the most part. Uhura has a larger part than in the series and has a surprising romance. Pegg plays Scotty mostly for laughs while Chekov (Anton Yelchin) and Sulu are just fine. Pine avoids playing William Shatner playing Capt. Kirk, but generally does nothing distinctive. Eric Bana is fine as the Romulan villain. Greenwood is strong in the role of Capt. Pike, as is Chris Hemsworth as Kirk's father in the film's first scene. In a way, the Jim Kirk is the least impressive captain in the movie. Of course, he is just 22 at the time, so we can expect that he will grow into it in subsequent movies.
The highlight of the film is Spock; Quinto plays him perfectly – getting the look, tone and overall feel down perfectly. Quinto makes Spock his own character without impersonating Nimoy. In many ways, the logical and hardly emotional Spock is the most important character of Star Trek and Quinto just nails it.
Other notes -- The Enterprise was built in Iowa? And when did Iowa get cliffs? Also, product placement is still alive and well in the 23rd century apparently. Good to see Kirk getting it on with a green chick too.
Overall, the movie was good popcorn cinema, but at best finishes only as high as third in the whole series, in addition to Star Trek II, I think Star Trek VI was better.
I just assumed that the new Star Trek would be playing at the best theater in the area -- D.C.'s Uptown always gets the blockbusters, especially the space operas. Instead of showing Star TrekUptown has State of Play. I was really looking forward to going to Cleveland Park for this movie. I so rarely go to the movies that I like making it an event and going up there. What is AMC Loews thinking?
Post a CommentMovie featuring Nats bullpen suprisingly not horror flick - William World News
Movie featuring Nats bullpen suprisingly not horror flick
The Nats' Bullpen Gets Some Glamour - Nationals Journal, The Post Now pitching for the Nats: Owen Wilson? - Chatter, The Wash. Times The Nationals were visited by producer James Hell L. Brooks last night. He is making a movie in which the protagonist, played by Owen Wilson*, is a relief pitcher for the Washington Nationals. What, we can't get Matthew McConaughey for this one? Shockingly, this is not a horror film. Here is what firstshowing.net had to say about the film:
After a handful of rumors regarding James L. Brooks' latest film, we finally have some confirmed details. Brooks is directing a project tentatively titled How Do You Know? for Columbia Pictures. Owen Wilson and Paul Rudd are in talks to star opposite Reese Witherspoon in what is being called a romantic comedy with a love triangle. Rudd would play a white-collar executive vying for Witherspoon's affections, while Wilson would play a professional baseball pitcher who is also a love interest. Brooks last directed Spanglish in 2004 as well as As Good as It Gets, Broadcast News, and Terms of Endearment before that.
Sounds amazing, I'm sure it will sweep the Oscars. Clearly, Hollywood is capitalizing on a fanbase that simply cannot get enough Nats. You have to figure the low-end box office for this picture is going to be $200 million.
I just told my wife about this project and she said "dear God."
The big question about this is can Wilson pitch the seventh inning.
*Resisting urge to link near tragedy involving actor and decision to play a Washington pitcher
The 1987 film, No Way Out, is a good Washington/Cold War thriller that holds up pretty well, despite some glaring location errors (mostly about Metro), cheesy synthesizer music that belongs in bad sci-fi and Sean Young. Additionally, No Way Out opens with a tracking shot directly over my old apartments in The Potomac at Riverhouse* in Pentagon City. That shot ends on a house on Arlington Ridge Road where the protagonist, played by Kevin Costner, is being interrogated. A while back Fritz and I went looking for the house, but it is long gone. Fritz, who still lives in Pentagon City (his building was barely visible in the movie) found the location of the former house and wrote about it, so go there and read about it. Good detective work Fritz.
Oh and here is the opening of the movie with the tracking shot over the old, barely developed Pentagon City:
*Technically, my father's appartment too, as he lived there when it was called Riverhouse II.
Amen to your feelings on Sean Young! She was horrific in that film.
I forgot to mention this in my post, but at the end of the movie while the end-credits roll, the opening tracking shot gets reversed--i.e., it starts at the house on Arlington Ridge Road, pans right back over Riverhouse, then holds steady over the Pentagon and DC.
# posted by Fritz :
Tuesday, December 23, 2008 12:30:00 PM
Testing
# posted by WFY :
Wednesday, December 24, 2008 9:51:00 AM
Post a CommentIs it really a Wonderful Life? - William World News
"It's a Wonderful Life" is a terrifying, asphyxiating story about growing up and relinquishing your dreams, of seeing your father driven to the grave before his time, of living among bitter, small-minded people. It is a story of being trapped, of compromising, of watching others move ahead and away, of becoming so filled with rage that you verbally abuse your children, their teacher and your oppressively perfect wife. It is also a nightmare account of an endless home renovation.
Music Tuesday: Eastbound and Down - William World News
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Music Tuesday: Eastbound and Down
Smokey and the Bandit, now that was cinema! Car chases/crashes. Jackie Gleason. CB radios. The sequel was fun too as were the Cannonball Run movies which finally realized the dream of bringing the rat pack and southern car culture together.
Many members of the voice cast from the first special, including original "Star Wars" actors Carrie Fisher and Billy Dee Williams -- reprising their roles as Princess Leia and Lando Calrissian, respectively -- are back. Also returning are Seth MacFarlane as Emperor Palpatine, Conan O'Brien as Zuckuss, Breckin Meyer as Admiral Ackbar and Boba Fett, and Ahmed Best as Jar Jar Binks. Green will voice several characters, including Ponda Baba. Joining the voice cast this time around is Andy Richter.
As for the creative direction in the sequel, "we decided to focus on the bounty hunters a bit and explore their stories," "Robot Chicken" co-creator Matt Senreich said. "It's a geek-fest for us all."
The first one was hysterical and WAAAAAAAAAAY better than the overrated and rarely funny Family Guy Star Wars episode.
Review: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull - William World News
Friday, May 30, 2008
Review: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
On our way to the theater to see Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Erica mentioned that she had recently seen Harrison Ford on a talk show. When asked about the plot, Ford just laughed. It was an appropriate response, but don't be worried that this movie tarnished the original trilogy, something that George Lucas was accused of doing to another trilogy he created. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is delightful romp that has fun with itself and does not try to go too deep. Granted, the Indy series never did aspire to be much more than a fun trip to the movies and neither does this one.
In the first reel of the film, Indy finds himself and a long-time British colleague named Mac (Ray Winstone), kidnapped by Soviets in 1957 Nevada; Area 51 is implied. Led by Col. Irina Spalko (Cate Blanchett), one of Stalin's favorite scientists and someone obsessed with mind control, the Soviets force Indy to find what they are looking for -- a box with Roswell, N.M. marked on it. Indy finds it and then manages to escape not just the Soviets but Mac , who has defected. An even more implausible, but creepy and funny at the time same time, escape follows.
Indy finds himself in hot water with the government following his actions in Nevada and loses his job as professor of Archeology at a college that looks suspiciously like Yale (except for the women in the classroom). On his way out of town, a young motorcyclist, Mutt Williams (Shia LaBeouf), catches up with Indy with news that a former colleague, Ox, is in trouble in Peru. The KGB catches up to both of them, sending them on a motorcycle chase through New Haven and campus. Indy changes his plans to head to England and joins Mutt on a trip to South America.
Indy and Mutt find their way to Peru where Indy is reunited with Ox (John Hurt) who went gone crazy after acquiring the crystal skull and an old flame, Marion Ravenwood, again played by Karen Allen and Mac, who reveals himself to be a double agent a joins the group on the quest to return the crystal skull. Indy and Marion spar with each other upon sight -- just like old times.
The middle portion of the movie is generally a series chases through the jungle that include the typical humor, choreography, stuntwork and grossouts of the Indy series. It is great fun and if if the best log flume ride of all time is not developed out of one of the scenes I will be surely disappointed.
After surviving the chase, Indy, Marion, Mutt, Ox, and Mac find their way into the cave only to be followed by the Soviets. There is a convoluted climax that seems logical by the standards of the previous films with similar results. The end ties everything in a little bow and seemingly ends the series for good.
Overall, the movie is a lot of fun, though the beginning is a little uneven as it seems we are being beaten over the head by the fact Indy is old and that the movie takes place in 1957. I also got the feeling that Lucas and director Steven Spielberg enjoyed making LaBeouf look stupid though they might have just been playing "old guys still have it" card; it worked. Ford acts the way he always acts, Allen is delightful and LaBeouf gets the job done. Blanchett was silly in her awful Katie Holmes haircut and Natasha from Rocky & Bullwinkle accent. Hurt's Ox was not much of a part Winstone is fine as the duplicitous Mac. I also enjoyed one particular line that was uttered not long before the climax and the use of the Wilhlem scream.
The movie should satisfy (and probably already has) all but the most uptight, miserable fanboys. I don't think I will see it again in the theater, but on DVD it would be a lot of fun.
IT IS I...UPTIGHT, MISERABLE FAN BOY! The movie sucked, plain and simple. Loves all those booby traps...oh wait! They were none! Loved all the fighting Indy did...oh wait! He barely did any! And don't get me started on the fridge!
# posted by Brad Stratton :
Saturday, May 31, 2008 4:38:00 PM
Overall, I enjoyed the film. There were some things I would have changed--spaceships really aren't in the theme of the IJ movies IMO. And yes, the fridge part was weird. But overall, I thought it was pretty realistic. They couldn't have Indy fighting in the same way he had done before, and I thought that Shia LeBouf played a decent role. I would give it a solid 7 out of 10.
# posted by The Marland Bureau Chief :
Sunday, June 01, 2008 9:49:00 AM
Brad: There is the whole film school thing too, we can't forget that either.
I think the fridge was just an excuse to have a decontamination scene.
First look: The next 'Star Wars' is animated 'War' - USA Today Star Wars: Clone Wars (official site), an animated prequel to Revenge of the Sith is coming out in theaters on August 15. It will precede a Cartoon Network series that arrives this fall. I guess there is a movie I'll want to see in a theater after all -- hopefully Uptown will get it.
...has lots of models and costumes from the entire saga. The "science" of Star Wars galaxy is explained and compared with contemporary science from this galaxy. In some ways, we are not far off from things in the Star Wars universe, but sadly lightsaber technology remains elusive. Also, the Millennium Falcon is worth doing too. Sadly, we were not allowed to take any photos inside the Falcon.
The Inkypreview is critical of the "science" part of the exhibit which is a reasonable assessment, but not many people are there for the science anyway.
Both Erica and I really enjoyed the exhibit, more so than the one the Smithsonian had in the late 1990s. Since Philly is less than three hours up I-95 from D.C. so you can make a day-trip out of the visit. If you want to make a weekend out of it gophila.com has a package.
I recommend buying tickets in advance though to avoid the lines, particularly for the Falcon simulator which is a separate admission.
Random YouTube magic: ABC Sunday Night Movie - William World News
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Random YouTube magic: ABC Sunday Night Movie
Remember when movies on network TV were a big deal? This opening below conveys that better than any other ever did:
YES! It must be time for Star Trek II, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, a Bond or Superman movie. ABC always got the blockbusters; they needed to with an opening this good. I love the strings at the start of the music, they create an incredible amount of tension and anticipation for a mere movie bumper. This clip also answers the question of what an America flag going Warp 5 looks like.
According a YouTube commenter, the music was composed by Ferdinand J. Smith. The announcer from Dynasty promo at the end was the late Ernie Anderson, who ranks up there with John Facenda for best voices ever. He was also father of Paul Thomas Anderson.
Don't forget The Great Muppet Caper! I remember when that got its network TV premiere, and it was as big an event as any of the other movies you mentioned.
# posted by Fritz :
Wednesday, January 30, 2008 8:54:00 AM
I understand it isn't as good a narrative for aliens destroy Indiana because a burning Wal-Mart isn't a vivid as skyscraper, but still destroying New York is a cliche that actually happened.
Why does Hollywood hate N.Y.? - William World News
Friday, January 04, 2008
Why does Hollywood hate N.Y.?
When I saw a commercial for the movie Cloverfield the other day, I lamented to myself that it was yet another movie that destroys all or part of New York City. I have never really seen the appeal of these movies especially since IT ACTUALLY HAPPENED. At this point, in addition to being unsettling, it is lazy storytelling since it has been done so many times.
I thought about cataloging these movies and writing up a post about the phenomenon, but a Brooklyn born Post-Gazette columnist beat me to it.
Will someone lend me Slapshot? - William World News
Friday, November 30, 2007
Will someone lend me Slapshot?
Finding out that Capitals head coach Bruce Boudreau was in Slapshot reminded me that I need to see that movie again. Anybody want to lend me their copy? I hate going to Blockbuster.
Sorry, but Fritz's Video Mecca doesn't stock Slapshot. Good movie, though! Good for drinking games, too.
# posted by Fritz :
Friday, November 30, 2007 10:24:00 AM
As a Johnstown native, I own it. Maybe we can meet up and exchange it here in the near future. I do have to get it out of storage in order for you to have it, though.
# posted by Muha :
Saturday, December 01, 2007 10:20:00 AM
Post a Comment<i>Collegian</i> documentary on PBS - William World News
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Collegian documentary on PBS
The Paper, a documentary about The Collegian will are on PBS on December 11:
STATE COLLEGE - From gay rights to racial bias, from plummeting circulation to "infotainment," from burnt-out reporters to hard-bitten editors, THE PAPER goes inside the newsroom to reveal the drama of deadline journalism. But this is not some big-city major daily.
It's The Daily Collegian, published by students at Pennsylvania State University who, in the course of one crisis-filled year face crashing deadlines, ethical dilemmas, doubts and disagreements, all the while shouldering courses, homework and exams.
It appears The Paper was filmed around 2004-2005. I'll post broadcast times when they become available. I'll be very interested to learn what Collegian alumni think of this documentary.
It's on the Daily Communi...er, "Collegian". Most sane alums will think the staff there is on something (which probably isn't far from the truth).
# posted by Muha :
Tuesday, November 27, 2007 8:42:00 PM
Very interesting. As a Collegian alum, I will definitely have to check this out.
# posted by Brad Stratton :
Wednesday, November 28, 2007 8:12:00 PM
Post a CommentDante Hicks calls out of our friend Tom (NSFW!) - William World News
Friday, November 09, 2007
Dante Hicks calls out of our friend Tom (NSFW!)
THIS VIDEO IS NOT SAFE FOR WORK!
Long story short -- every year, my friends Tom and Wiley head to Jersey for Kevin Smith's Vulgarthon. After day two of the 2006 Vulgarthon, Tom went back to the room to sleep instead of going to the after party. When Wiley met Brian O'Halloran, best known as Dante from Clerks, he mentioned what Tom was doing. O'Halloran was not amused and Wiley got it on video. After over 1½ years, they finally got the video up. I'm looking forward to watching this when I get home.
This morning I heard filmmaker John Heyn on 98 Rock talking about Heavy Metal Parking Lot. It seems a lot of the fans in the doc came from greater Baltimore which is shocking.
NSO Pops: The Music of John Williams - William World News
Friday, October 26, 2007
NSO Pops: The Music of John Williams
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A co-worker tipped me off that the National Symphony Orchestra Pops were doing a Williams show, so we snatched up a few of the last tickets for the first of three performances. Last evening, Erica and I got fancied up and headed to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for NSO Pops: The Music of John Williams.
Like many people, Williams' work, especially Star Wars was the "gateway drug" to classical music. I have seen a few performances over the years that included Williams' pieces, but never a performance that was exclusively Williams.
Conductor Erich Kunzel began the performance with a brief introduction followed by one of Williams' Olympic fanfares. After that, Kunzel shared with the audience the beginnings of the Williams-Steven Spielberg collaboration and playfully taunted a pair of late arrivals in the front row. I thought brass overpowered the strings a bit during the main Jaws theme, though.
Moving on, Kunzel introduced the "Bicycle Chase" from E.T., The Extra-Terrestrial and the marvelous "Main Theme" from Close Encounters of the Third Kind. The sound of the Tyrannosaurus Rex preceded the performance of the "Main Themes" from Jurassic Park which was followed by "Harry's Wondrous World" from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, a pleasant enough piece, but not one of my favorites. Then, without introduction, the unmistakable first notes of "Main Theme" from Superman were played at I got chills. The Pops were really rolling now with all of the bombast of the brass that makes Superman one of the best Williams themes. I will confess I was slightly disappointed that the prelude was excluded though as it builds up wonderfully to the main march. I was pleased that the piece was performed without introduction, as it needs none.
Kunzel slowed things down with the "Main Theme" from Schindler's List, a theme featuring a violin solo. The first half of the program ended with the upbeat "Raiders March" from Raiders of the Lost Ark.
The second portion of the evening was dedicated strictly to Williams work with the Star Wars saga. Kunzel joked that George Lucas had gotten us all confused by starting off with the fourth episode, so he would start from the beginning. "Flag Parade" from Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace began the second half, followed by Anakin's Theme and all of its dark foreshadowing. The highlight of the Episode I score followed with Duel of the Fates, accompanied by a choir of about a dozen people and two performers with light sabers in front of the stage. While the light saber duel was a little amusing and well done, I couldn't help but be a little disappointed with its inclusion. The duel was distracting and suggested that the music doesn't stand on its own; a notion that I disagree with strongly.
"Across the Stars" from Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones was next in the program, followed by the intense "Battle of the Heroes" from Star Wars Episode III: The Revenge of the Sith. Again, performers with light sabers entered the front of the stage for a climatic duel. The piece was performed quite well, as were all the Star Wars pieces. On the whole, the Pops alignment was best suited to the Star Wars music.
The Pops moved into the original trilogy with the "Princess Leia's Theme" from Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. Some unnecessary sound effects preceded "The Imperial March" from Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back which was appropriately menacing. Performers costumed in storm trooper, tie-fighter and imperial officer uniforms marched to a review by Darth Vader, who naturally force-choked an officer near the end. By the way, I recommend that any Vader characterizations include a performer who is taller than six feet.
The mood lightened with the Yoda's Theme and then "Parade of the Ewoks" from Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. Thankfully, no performers came out for either of these themes. The performance closed with the Star Wars theme, played awfully fast, almost Academy Awards telecast fast. For an encore Kunzel returned and offered that you couldn't do a Star Wars performance without a visit to the saloon, prompting the Cantina music. Though it was enjoyable, the Pops really didn't have the right instruments to really nail that jazzy tune. The costumed performers also came out and attempted to dance to the music. It looked exactly like you would expect it to.
While I did have reservations about the costumed performers, I still thoroughly enjoyed the evening, as did Erica. The Pops sounded great and Kunzel picked strong selections for them to play. There may still be tickets to performances NSO Pops: The Music of John Williams tonight and tomorrow night which I cannot help but recommend.
Heavy Metal Parking Lot story on WTOP - William World News
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Heavy Metal Parking Lot story on WTOP
Driving home and flipping through stations, I heard the unmistakable vocie of the one and only...
ZEBRAMAN!
Sadly, I didn't hear the whole WTOP report. There isn't anything on wtop.com yet either. Anybody know why Heavy Metal Parking Lot was being referenced?
Anyway, while we wait for clarification, take time to read the interview I conducted with the creators of the movie and parking lot cinema, Jeff Krulik and John Heyn.
While I'm at it, I'll also plug Krulik's latest project:
Jimi Hendrix! Canned Heat! Moby Grape! John Lee Hooker in Adams Morgan! Crystal Mesh, Mosaic Virus and Natty Bumppo! The Ambassador Theater Lives! Washington, DC's Psychedelic Concert Hall 40th Anniversary Celebration Saturday, November 3, 2007 3PM DC Historical Studies Conference FREE. No Admission Charge Info and registration at www.historydc.org
Star Wars soundtrack box set coming - William World News
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Star Wars soundtrack box set coming
A co-worker mentioned to me that a new Star Wars box set is coming; TrackSounds Now! has more details.
Unfortunately, this set isn't the complete series. The original trilogy is in there, but not the prequels, aside from a bonus disc with the most popular tracks. I was really hoping we'd finally get the set with EVERYTHING John Williams ever composed for Star Wars, but it looks like we will have to wait.
Richard Kiel, Jaws from The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker is celebrating his birthday today. Here is a vintage commerical of his:
I had meant to post this during lunch, but the five Penn State videos took precedence. it was a mistake to hold off as Fritz beat me to it with a tribute, albeit a different video.
By the way, Kiel has written a book about Cassius Clay, the "six-foot, three-inch, two-hundred and thirty pound, white man that Muhammed Ali and his father were named after, because he freed Muhammed Ali's Great-Great Grandfather...and because he did so much to put an end to slavery." It sounds quite interesting.
Good news geekz, Mike Nelson, the second host of Mystery Science Theater 3000, is chatting on washingtonpost.com at 3 p.m. today. He'll also be talking about RiffTrax.com, which is described as a place that you can
download Mike's feature-length commentaries and listen to these "RiffTrax" in sync with your favorite, and not so favorite DVDs. It's like watching a movie with your funniest friend. And it's super easy to do! Just play the DVD and RiffTrax MP3 together and Voila! The Matrix, Star Wars and others just got way funnier!
Wonder if Joel will sue Mike for intellectual property purposes?
# posted by Muha :
Friday, August 24, 2007 10:44:00 PM
Doubtful.
# posted by WFY :
Saturday, August 25, 2007 7:30:00 AM
Post a CommentMovie review: <i>The Simpsons Movie</i> - William World News
Monday, August 20, 2007
Movie review: The Simpsons Movie
Yesterday, Erica and I finally got around to seeing The Simpsons Movie. Having given up on the show in first run long ago, I was still interested to see how they did on the big screen. Overall, I was pleased, but not overjoyed. The movie was funny, coherent and sweet, but still a far cry from the glorious seasons in the mid 90s.
The plot is pretty simple, Homer adopts a pig, throws its waste in Lake Springfield which creates an environmental disaster. The U.S. Government overreacts and encloses Springfield in a giant translucent dome. The Simpsons manage to escape to Alaska and begin a new life. When the family learns of the governments plans to correct the Springfield problem, Marge decides that the family has to undo what Homer has done, but Homer wants no part of it. Eventually, Homer has an epiphany and decides to do his part to save the town and of course succeeds. The family is reunited and the town begins to rebuild.
I was worried that the movie would go the South Park route and just have loads of profanity thrown in just because, but restraint was shown on language. They went for a cheap visual laugh (and missed in the theater I was sitting in) early on, but otherwise they didn't overdo it. I was also surprised by a lack of guest stars, but not troubled by it. Nothing made me fall out of my seat laughing either, but there were clever lines that made me smile throughout. The animation was also an enjoyable upgrade over the TV show.
Making a Simpsons movie now is really ten years too late. In a more perfect world, an episode like "You Only Move Twice" would have been turned into a 90 minute epic. If I were to script the sequel, I'd probably have a Scorpio and Sideshow Bob team up as villains.
This morning a co-worker and somehow got on the topic of the movie Titanic. After we made fun of it for a while, I noted that George Lucas put an ad, in The Times or perhaps an industry paper, congratulating James Cameron for knocking off Star Wars as the top grossing film of all time. I think it featured Star Wars characters waving from either the sinking Titanic or life boats. I don't specifically remember it, though either Jabba the Hut or the Emperor were getting away on a motorboat, I think.
I went looking for this image of that a few minutes ago and turned up nothing. I think Brad may have had it at one time though, perhaps he still does. Do you Brad?
Tivo alert! <i>Star Wars</i> on <i>Robot Chicken</i> - William World News
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Tivo alert! Star Wars on Robot Chicken
'Robot Chicken' digs its satirical talons into 'Star Wars' - The Post Don't forget that the (authorized) Star Wars Robot Chicken episode premieres this Sunday at 10 p.m. on Cartoon Network. Heated Sprinklesposted two clips the other week (which I linked to in my Google Reader Recommended Reading widget) and they were hysterical.
I might have to figure out how to install my VCR and set a tape for it.
It really tied the room together - William World News
Friday, June 08, 2007
It really tied the room together
I finally saw The Big Lebowski last weekend. I figured I had been depriving myself for a long time and the viewing confirmed that suspicion. I really like how the Cohen brothers tied the plot together. Oddly enough, it was the first movie to make me really want to visit L.A. The ending was kind of abrupt though.
Enjoy one of the few scenes of the film that doesn't have the f-bomb:
My apologies for that song getting stuck in your head.
Well, you know, this was a very complicated movie--a lot of in's and out's and what-have-you's, lots of little strands on old Duder's head and, uh . . . you got any Kahlua?
Glad you liked it! I gave it 10 when I reviewed it way back when.
Now I'm just gonna go find a cash machine . . .
# posted by MC Hamme :
Friday, June 08, 2007 1:18:00 PM
Tivo alert! <i>Star Wars</i> doc on The History Channel at 9 p.m. - William World News
Monday, May 28, 2007
Tivo alert! Star Wars doc on The History Channel at 9 p.m.
Tonight, The History Channel is breaking from airing Nazi programming to show a new documentary, STAR WARS™:THE LEGACY REVEALED. It may be a rehash of every other documentary about the franchise, but it is Star Wars and that is good enough for me.
There is also an hour long show called Star Wars Tech that airs before and after the documentary.
Thanks for the heads-up. I was out of town when it aired (and had family visit this weekend), but I had my TiVo grab this the other day, and I'll watch it this week. I'll bet projects like this, if there are other similar ventures in the works, will bring a bunch of new people to the History Channel.
# posted by dl004d :
Monday, June 11, 2007 10:44:00 AM
Today marks the 30th anniversary of Star Wars' debut. The series is easily one of the top ten things ever, maybe even top five. A "bad" Star Wars movie is better than all but one of the Star Trek movies (admit it Fritz or disagree on your blog) and just about every other movie series.
I didn't have a chance to grab my Highacres Collegian column "Star Wars Generation" from ten years ago off one of my old hard drives in time for this anniversary. When I get around to extracting it, I'll see if it is any good and if it is, I'll post it.
My favorite Star Wars memories:
Seeing Return of the Jedi in 1983. We stood in line for a long time and wound up sitting in the front row. Thanks, Mom.
The preview for the special editions. I wasn't that excited about them until I saw the preview for them in late 1996 at a Star Trek movie (at a theater in Hazleton, Penna. that someone says was "authentic, because it smelled like Klingon"). I don't even remember which Trek it was because once I saw the X-wing fly through the TV screen, I was lost in the hype.
Seeing Star Wars special edition at Magic Cinemas near Easton, Penna. I was at the Old School at the time and we drove 77 miles each way to the newest and biggest theater in that part of the commonwealth. It snowed that day and we were driving in convoy (because everybody always insisted on following the person who knew where they were going rather than take directions; is this just a Pennsylvania thing?) and I was in the lead car. The driver yelled "MAN DOWN!" and I turned around to see the second car go into a ditch on the shoulder of I-80. Long story short, nobody was hurt, the car got towed out and I took over driving it to the theater. After all that hearing the drum roll for 20th Century Fox and seeing STAR WARS on the big screen for the first time in 14 years just gave me an incredible rush. We saw all the other special editions at that theater during the rest of the semester. Those were easily the best times of the Old School era.
Seeing Star Wars Episode I - The Phantom Menace with my Yurasko cousins in Florida. While we were all there for our grandmother's funeral, it was great to share the experience with each other. The original plans -- going to see it on with Brad on his 21st birthday in New York would have been pretty sweet though.
My first trip to Uptown to see Star Wars Episode I - The Phantom Menace in summer 1999. I think I took my dad. I've seen all of them there first ever since then.
Watching Star Wars Episode I - The Phantom Menace in a hot tub with a glass of bubbly and Erica.
Seeing Star Wars Episode III - Revenge of the Sith five times in the theater, an all-time record for in theater viewings. The first time I saw it my heart rate must have been about 150 for the duration.
I'll admit I'm jealous of people old enough to have seen the movies originally. Ron Howard said that when he and his wife saw it they left the theater and without saying a word got back in line. I've talked to people who remember the gasps in the theater during The Empire Strikes Back when Darth Vader told Luke Skywalker the truth. That must have been incredible.
Before I list my favorites, here are some links about Star Wars:
I saw Star Wars in '77, but I waited until SEPTEMBER to see it. Went to the State Theater in Falls Church, watched the movie, then stayed and sat through it a second time. Saw it again at the Uptown, saw it again in Palm Springs, CA.
Saw "Empire" the 3rd day after it debuted at the old Cineplex Odeon Wisconsin Ave. Cinema. Actually bought advance tickets via Ticketron, think I paid $5.50/ticket. A fortune for a movie ticket back in 1980. Saw it again at the old 70mm theater at Tyson's Corner on Rt. 7 (It's now a Gold's Gym)
'Jedi" was at the old Macarthur Theater. Several times. Played "Battleship" with my buddy while in line.
So many memories..
# posted by Joe Riley :
Monday, May 28, 2007 12:21:00 AM
Tom, they stole another one of your ideas again! (sort of) - William World News
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Tom, they stole another one of your ideas again! (sort of)
Our friend Tom ('96 Film/Video) always had brilliant ideas to share, like Eating Las Vegas ("You can't ask me to stop eating"). He was heartbroken when we told him that we learned someone actually did it. As far as I know, nobody put his Reservoir Muppets together, but I learned of something that is close enough (might want to wear headphones if viewing at work):
<i>Superman Returns</i> revisited - William World News
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Superman Returns revisited
I recently saw Superman Returns again. Seeing it again confirmed my initial review -- the overall tone of the movie is right and is as consistent with Richard Donner's vision for Superman movies. The plot has some weaknesses, but Bryan Singer's skilled direction, strong special effects and a rousing score overcome it quite well. There is a bit of a hole for Singer to dig out of though in the sequels, I hope he pulls it off.
Though Brandon Routh came across as if he was playing Christopher Reeve playing Superman/Clark Kent to some degree, he proved he was a worthy "custodian" (as Reeve would say) of the legacy. I don't see how anybody could have done a better job succeeding Reeve than Routh did. Kevin Spacey was also perfectly cast as Lex Luthor.
TV Sports Pioneer Andy Sidaris Dies - AP/The Post For 25 years, Andy Sidaris had a legitimate career as the lead director of ABC's Wide World of Sports. He gave that up to create his own genre of film -- Sidaris direct-to-video exploitation cinema.
The basic plots of his movies involved some former "models" wearing (and not wearing) skimpy outfits and shooting guns. Erik Estrada was usually in these movies too. If I recall correctly, you could always count on the following scenes: two female leads changing in front of each other, a pool/hot tub scene, and the appearance of a long haired guy named Shane to solve a problem and move the plot along. Film theorists often debate significance of magic Shane character in contemporary cinema.
When it came down to it, the Sidaris movies were just really, really bad, even for what they were. In high school, my friend David and I thought it was so clever to heckle this videos. Yes, we were that cool.
One would hve thought that MC Hamme would have noted the passing of illustrious filmmaker but he apparently was mourning someone else.
For the next few hours, you can download the Spider-Man 3exculsive preview in HD from NBC. If you don't want to bother with that you can find it on YouTube as well. Of course, it has a pretty important, if predictable, spoiler, so perhaps it is worth waiting another two months for the big screen.
It'll be interesting to see how Spider-Man 3 stacks up to the first two in the series. How many times has the third movie in a series been on par with the first two? Goldfinger and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade are the only ones that readily comes to mind. Return of the Jedi, Superman III, Star Trek III, Batman Whatever (I forgot the order because it doesn't matter) and The Godfather Part III (I'm told) were all weaker than their immediate predecessors. I guess Rocky III was pretty good though.
100% pure aderenaline --- Live on stage! - William World News
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
100% pure aderenaline --- Live on stage!
Can You Keanu? Point Break LIVE!, Unique Stage Take on Film, Comes to NYC - Playbill A former co-worker of mine, since relocated to Arizona, might be the world's biggest Point Break fan. Every Thanksgiving, he has a marathon of the 1991 Keanu Reeves-Patrick Swayze epic. It was with great delight he pointed out to me that there is now a stage adaptation.
What is unique about the stage take is that the role of Utah (played by Reeves in the film) is played by an audience member (selected at random each night) who is thrust upon the stage (guided by a PA — who also serves as stunt double) and given his/her lines on cue-cards. "Keanu Reeves roles demand a special kind of acting," explains director Hook, on the show's conceit. "Essentially, in every scene, you have to look like you've just been dropped into a room and you have no idea what's going on."
Review: <span style="font-style:italic;">Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut</span> - William World News
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Review: Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut
As Hollywood blockbusters go, Superman II was was quite successful but has suffered from "oh what could have been" since its 1981 release.
Originally shot concurrently with Superman: The Movie, Superman II was delayed as the producers, Alexander and Ilya Salkind, fueded with director Richard Donner and ultimately fired him. In addition to replacing Donner with Richard Lester, who had films such as A Hard Days Night on his resume, the Salkinds axed scenes including Marlon Brando from the sequel to save money. As a result, a different Superman II was made than originally planned. The movie did well, but as the years went by fans wondered if Donner could have done it better.
Donner's lost Superman II was not exactly London After Midnight, but enough interest lasted over the years that Warner Bros. and Donner were convinced to investigate whether it was feasible to release a new director's cut. Donner's original footage was located in European vaults and editor Michael Thau began piecing together the old footage into the original script.
Staring with a pre-credit montage, Superman II recalls important events of the original movie, including the incarceration General Zod (Terrance Stamp), Ursa (Sarah Douglas) and Non (Jack O'Halloran) in The Phantom Zone (a two-dimensional space prison). the destruction of the planet Krypton, Superman's origins and the escape from The Phantom Zone which is cooler in some ways the Lester's.
Unlike the Lester version that opens in Paris, Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut opens in the newsroom of The Daily Planet. Donner's Lois Lane (Margot Kidder) has got more spunk and is much more fun. Her attempt to prove Clark Kent (Christopher Reeve) was Superman comes right away and is superior to the Lester version. The whole Paris scene, which was was the deus ex machina for freeing the villians is removed from the film entirely and is not missed; Donner's opening is much better.
The movie then continues much like the Lester version with the villains destroying a moon expedition and Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman) escaping prison, bound for the North Pole and Superman's fortress of solitude. In that scene we see restored Brando footage as Luthor and Miss Teschmacher (Valerie Perrine) learn more about Krypton, and by coincidence, the three villains.
While Luthor is up north, Clark and Lois are at Niagara Falls posing as newlyweds for a Planet expose. Superman makes an appearance and Lois gets suspicious again. Instead of throwing herself into rapids like she did in Lester's, Lois takes and entirely different approach to proving Clark is Superman -- she risks his life instead of her own. Despite being pieced together with screen tests, it is a fantastic scene, much better than Lester's version that had Clark tripping and falling into a fireplace. There is a drawback though, the scene ends without any hint of romance, which takes a little bit away from Superman's sacrifice in their next scene at the Fortress of Solitude. The chronology is a little changed as well which neither adds nor detracts from the storyline. The scene climaxes with Superman pleading with Brando's Jor-El to be allowed earthly love. Given the choice of his own happiness and his obligation to humanity, Superman relinquishes his powers to become mortal, defying his father. This works better than the Lester version which used Superman's mother.
As mortal Clark is returning from the Fortress with Lois, the villains are invading Earth. They start by destroying a small Idaho town. The Donner version is shortened; it was Lester footage that Donner did not like because it did not make the villains menacing enough.
Zod, Ursa, and Non quickly take over The White House and thus the world. Clark meanwhile discovers that being mortal has its downside when he is beaten up by a trucker (Pepper Martin) in a roadside diner. Lying on the ground bleeding, he discovers that the world has ceded all power and authority to Zod. Clark realizes that he must return to the Fortress with the long shot hope of restoring his Kryptonian self. This scene is one of the big payoffs of the Donner cut, filling in the gap that was left in the original. Unlike the Lester cut, Donner's version shows how Superman got his powers back and at what cost.
Back at the White House, Zod is already bored with being the supreme ruler of Earth when he is visited by Luthor, who offers him an enticing proposition -- the son of Jor-El. Luthor makes a "deal" with Zod, leading them to Metropolis and The Daily Planet, knowing that Superman will arrive when he realizes Lois is in danger. Sure enough, Superman appears to confront Zod, leading to combat over the skies of Metropolis. Donner's Planet scenes are better than the original release, but his battle is not as good as Lester's. The battle ends the same as the theatrical version with Superman retreating to the Fortress. Back inside the Planet Zod bargains with Luthor for "Superman's address" leading the three villains, Luthor and Lois to fly to the Fortress of Solitude.
Arriving at the Fortress, the battle from Lester's version is removed. Donner's version is wordier and free of the gigantic cellophane S being thrown. The end result is the same with the villains vanquished, but more amusing dialogue between Superman and Luthor is added. More importantly, there is a new scene between Superman and Lois and an extended good-bye from her penthouse apartment. Both scenes are welcome and meaningful additions to the story. Unfortunately, it doesn't end there with Donner inserting the original conception of the ending, which proves to be quite disappointing.
DVD Commentary
Like Superman: The Movie, Donner and Tom Mankiewicz, the script doctor, provide commentary for the DVD. They are quite funny and enlightening together. Donner makes no effort to hide his contempt for the Salkinds' decision to fire him and comes off as a bit of an egomaniac. Still, he makes many good points and is throughly entertaining, as is Maniewicz. Their anecdotes are insightful and enjoyable, so make sure you watch the movie with their commentary.
Conclusion
For the most part, Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut is the superior version of Superman II, even with some continuity problems, uneven editing, and the use of screen tests. The musical score, mostly composed by John Williams is not as strong as it almost certainly would have been since many cues were reused from the original and not specifically recorded for II. There are also a few changes that only fanboys like me will notice. One line, Superman's confronting Zod at the Planet should not have been replaced.
Ultimately, the decision to fire Donner was unfortunate because it kept the movie from being all it could have been. The "best" version of Superman II would include more of Lester's version in the final 20 minutes of the movie. Maniewicz makes a good argument against Lester's resolution, but it was superior to the choice Donner made for the 2006 version.
Did you get to read his latest book, "Make Love the Bruce Campbell Way?" Awesome book. Groovy!
# posted by Brad Stratton :
Monday, January 08, 2007 8:58:00 PM
I haven't read it yet, but I look forward to it.
# posted by WFY :
Tuesday, January 09, 2007 8:30:00 AM
Post a CommentReview: <i>Casino Royale</i> - William World News
Review: Casino Royale
The latest gimmick in movie franchises is to start over and give a new take on the character/story. Batman did it, Superman did it (for the most part) and now James Bond has done it with Casino Royale.
When word came out the Daniel Craig was cast to be the fifth James Bond there was an uproar in certain segments of the fanbase. He was too short and too blond his critics said, before seeing the film of course. Being quite the Bond fan myself, I did not rush to judgment until I saw this publicity still:
I saw that and said, "this is going to work." Craig may not be the typical tall and dark Bond, but he's big enough and definitely ballsy enough. Remember that expression "women want him and men want to be him?" Ya, that's this dude. He's just the shot in the arm the franchise needed as it begins anew.
Luckily for the Bond producers, they had finally acquired the rights to the original Ian Fleming Bond novel Casino Royale, so they get to start off new with the original. It only took 44 years for this to happen and they didn't waste it. We get to see a modern day origin of 007, and it is pretty intense.Casino Royale is no worse than the third best Bond movie ever with only Goldfinger and From Russia With Love in the same league.
In this edition of Bond, we get to see how James Bond became Bond...James Bond. The film's teaser, shot in black and white, shows his first kill and his promotion to double-0 status. Following the opening credits, a chase that seemingly yields nothing more than a run-of-the-mill terrorist bomber and a major diplomatic incident, M, played by the always excellent Dame Judi Dench, is furious with Bond and is regretting her decision to promote him. Rather than just telling M what he has learned, Bond shows her in the most infuriating way possible. Gathering what information he needs, Bond is soon off to a sunny location where he puts the puzzle pieces together; getting in some swimming, playing cards, upgrading his vehicle, and of course bedding a hottie connected to the opposition (Caterina Murino) -- pretty much standard operating procedure for a Bond flick but with better execution. Before long he is in Miami, tailing a suspect and foiling the initial plot of the antagonist Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen), banker to the world's biggest arms dealers. As expected, Bond returns to find the girl dead, earning a reprimand from M. She must again put aside her reservations about Bond and sends him off to Montenegro where Le Chiffre has set up a high stakes Texas Hold'em tournament to recover the money lost due to Bond's deeds. Joining him for the trip is Vesper Lynd (Eva Green), an agent who will be dispersing funds for Le Chiffre's $10 million buy in. The pair's banter on the train to Montenegro is one of the best dialogues in a Bond film in a long time.
Arriving at Casino Royale, the two meet up with the local section chief Matthis (Giancarlo Giannini), and prepare for the game. During an intermission, things get a little hairy and Bond has to battle terrorists that Le Chiffre had betrayed. Returning, Le Chiffre notes that Bond had "changed his shirt." The dirty tricks continue, nearly killing Bond and traumatizing Vesper. Her ice-cold attitude towards him melts away as he consoles her. Its a far cry from the typical Bond flick where the survivors just brush off what they have seen and done. The two draw closer to each other, but not so close that Vesper is willing to advance Bond another $5 million to keep the game going after Bond goes all in on a Le Chiffre bluff. Without the means to continue, Bond realizes he must simply kill Le Chiffre, but before he can make an attempt a fellow player intervenes, revealing himself to be Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright in a magic negro role), CIA agent. Leiter makes a quick deal to get Bond back in the game, provided CIA gets to apprehend Le Chiffre. Bond returns and wins the money. Before the celebration can last too long, Vesper is captured, setting a trap that Bond falls into. Tortured by Le Chiffre, Bond narrowly escapes death when a mysterious man breaks in and kills everyone but Bond and Vesper.
Convalescing at Naboo Lake Como, Bond and Vesper receive the money and pledge their love for each other. Bond resigns from MI6 as the two arrive in Venice. As he is preparing for his new life, the tables turn on Bond and challenge his new found peace, and ultimately hardening him into the tough, love'em-leave'em-maybe-kill'em secret agent we all know.
Casino Royale works because of Craig’s portrayal of Bond in what is ultimately a simple story. Rather than get bogged down with fantastical plots of world domination, death rays from space, etc. Casino Royale has a simple plot that allows for much more nuance and twists than 85% of the Bond series. Less is more! Additionally, Craig's Bond, simply put is a total badass. He's cold, tough, and intimidating. Even in torture, he's the alpha male in the room, getting off one of his best one-liners. Craig is ultimate cool, in a way that only Sean Connery could approach. If the series retains this kind of tone and Craig continues playing the part this way, he could be one of cinema's all time badasses, perhaps a mere level below Clint Eastwood's Dirty Harry, Richard Roundtree's Shaft and of course, Connery's Bond. Craig is that good.
Other notes:
The dialogue is witty without being cheeky, a major departure from the series. If Bond had one throwaway line (i.e. Shocking, positively shocking, just being disarming) , I missed it. Also absent were Miss Moneypenny and Q, but I would expect the former to return in the next edition. I do not believe either were prominently featured in the book if at all. What the movie did retain were the overdone stunt sequences, exotic locations, great cars and constant product placement.
I don't think the first Bond girl would have ever been cast in an Albert R. Broccoli production.
Aston Martins are impressive enough without Q branch modifications.
There is a very quick, funny cameo (tied to product placement of course) in the airport scene.
Green looks a bit like one of my former babysitters. Weird.
I might have to see The Dreamers now.
The Bond girls were wearing waaaaay too much eye makeup. Then again, a lot of women wear waaaaay too much eye make-up these days.
The title song and sequence was lacking. Who thought having Chris Cornell sing the title song was a good idea? I mean this was the guy who sang Spoonman. If there was ever a time to bring Shirley Bassey back, this was it.
I was initially skeptical of Texas Hold'Em being used instead of Baccarat, but Ian Fleming probably would have done the same if he wrote the story today.
Review: <i>Back to School</i> - William World News
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Review: Back to School
Friday night, MC Hamme had Erica and I over for a viewing of Rodney Dangerfield'sBack to School. It had been several years since I saw this mid-80s classic and every time I see it I like it more. Few movies capture the feeling of college as well as this one. This movie reminds me of college more than either National Lampoon's Animal House and the overrated PCU any day.
What's great about Back to School is that it is so economical in the sense that very few scenes are wasted into the telling of the story or keeping the laughs coming. Quickly, the movie establishes Dangerfield as a lovable self made millionaire, Thorton Mellon, who hasn't let success soften his hard edges. As Thorton's second marriage to a stuffy gold digger fails he concludes that his lack of education is his major shortcoming. He sets of for Grand Lakes University (actually University of Wisconsin, I believe), where his son Jason (Keith Gordon) is struggling with college life.
After bribing the college's dean (Ned Beatty in one of his best roles) Thorton takes the campus by storm. He converts his and Jason's dorm rooms into a super party pad complete with hot tub and becomes the big man on campus. Predictably he spends too much time living the college life and has troubles in the classroom, especially with a stuffy British business professor played by Paxton Whitehead. Equally predictable is the struggles of Jason, who pines for a girl (Lt. DaxTerri Farell) who is out of his league, can't get on the diving team and has a nemesis, played by quintessential teenage/college villain William Zabka and now has to live under his father's shadow. His only friend is his roommate Derrick (Robert Downey Jr.), a contrarian who embraced every tedious hipster cliche of the mid 80s.
The movie unfolds as you would expect it too, Jason ponders dropping out and is convinced by Thorton to stay in. When Thorton is caught delegating his assignments (which includes a hysterical cameo by Kurt Vonnegut) he too ponders quitting only to be talked out of it by Jason.
Both Melon's get through their crises; Thorton passes intense oral examinations from his professors while Jason gets the girl, stays in school, and triumphs over his rival. They both pitch in to win the diving meet and Thorton gets to speak at graduation.
As I said, this movie is predictable and the dialogue was often corny. It works because Dangerfield is such a master of delivery that he can pull off. Take the scene below as an example.
Also, another strongest point of the movie is the conservative use of profanity. The "F-bomb" is used in only one scene of the movie, allowing it have the greatest impact.
The strong points though are the cast. Beatty was probably never funnier, he clearly relished playing a unscrupulous dean. Every university probably has dozens of variation of Kellerman's post-feminist middle aged English prof. Whitehead effectively portrays an uptight academic prof without overdoing it. Amongst the younger part of the cast, Downey is the standout as Derrick Lutz, going back in forth between 80s stereotypes with glee. Burt Young (Paulie from Rocky) plays tough as Melon's driver and M. Emmett Walsh is fun as the diving coach. Sam Kinison's cameo is another highlight. I think the only lowlights are the horrible hairstyles, otherwise the movie is a joy to watch and barely dated.
Using the 10 point scale that MC Hamme does, I give Back to School an eight.
Superman II The Richard Donner Cut out on DVD today - William World News
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Superman II The Richard Donner Cut out on DVD today
The cape crusader - The L.A. Times Here is another story about the new version of Superman II. The DVD debuts today and I hope to rent it over the weekend. I'll let you know what I think of it.
Rent, schment. Pick this DVD up as soon as you can! Sure, the pacing is a bit off (if you didn't have ALL your material, how could you get it exactly right?), but it's a better story overall. It was a crime to lose Brando's scenes, as they are INTEGRAL to the story, and some of the other scenes made a little more sense once you splice in Donner's vision.
The best scene isn't even in the actual footage they shot during the original sequence. It's Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder in their screen test, which they used for the scene where Clark reveals himself as Superman. It's very bittersweet to see that chemistry begin to unfold, and to know that we'll never be able to see it again.
Sorry to scoop the review, but do it and do it soon.
# posted by Muha :
Tuesday, November 28, 2006 10:31:00 PM
One week until the real Superman II - William World News
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
One week until the real Superman II
There is only a week to go until Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut comes out on DVD. Newbie blogger Fritz sent along this review from ign.com which sounds promising.
Preview: Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut - ign.com A hat tip to Deputy Editor Fritz Hamme for pointing out this article. While I enjoyed the "original" Superman II, this "new" one should be really, really good. I just wish there were some big screen showings in the area.
I wonder what they are going to do about the music. John Williams bailed out when Donner got fired, might he return for this version?
It's about time. Can't wait to get my hands on the DVD, although this should make the run through the theaters, first. I mean, it IS the Christmas season, after all.
# posted by Muha :
Monday, November 06, 2006 6:28:00 PM
No movie has been hyped as much this summer as Superman Returns (official site). On Monday night, Erica and I went to Uptown to see it and can happily report that the movie not only lives up to the hype, it exceeds it.
While I found myself quite eager to see if director Bryan Singer could resurrect the series, I had a fair amount of skepticism. The latest preview made me think that it was going to be much like Singer's X-Men movies -- perfect in tone, but lacking in story. Thankfully, this was not the case, the story was better than any of the X-Men movies.
My biggest concern going in was whether Brandon Routh and Kate Bosworth could handle their parts. Some critics had noted that they were too young to have so much history together, but it did not trouble me. Routh had the impossible task of succeeding the late Christopher Reeve, who simply WAS Superman. Reeve's portrayal of Superman was one of the best castings in the history of cinema; -- big boots for Routh to fill. Happily, Routh was up to the task and filled them as well as anyone could. Singer knew Routh's strengths expertly played to them so that not once did I think to myself, "this would be a great movie if Christopher Reeve were in it." To put it another way, Routh was Steve Young to Reeve's Joe Montana. Bosworth was good enough -- she won't make anyone forget Margot Kidder, but she got the job done.
The other big part, Lex Luthor, proved to be perfect casting. Kevin Spacey excelled as the megalomaniac determined to kill Superman. Although the trailers made it appear Luthor would be too campy, Spacey played it straight enough to be a villain you love to hate, even bringing up some devil's advocate arguments about Superman. The rest of the cast was adequate, though Frank Langella's Perry White was not nearly as memorable as Jackie Cooper's turn. Parker Posey, playing the modern-day equivalent of Miss Teschmacher, was all she needed to be as Kitty. The new Jimmy Olsen, played by Sam Huntington, was fine too. James Mardsen, who played Cyclops in the X-Men series, got to act more here as Lois fiancee Richard White (Perry's nephew) than he did in all the X-Men movies combined. I was pleasantly surprised that the film was not weighed down by the presence of Lois' son. I had written earlier that I thought it would lead to some lazy storytelling and generally speaking it did not. Credit goes to Singer and actor Tristan Lake Leabu for not overdoing it.
Superman Returns deliberately has many conspicuous parallels to Superman: The Movie; some of the dialogue was lifted directly from the first film and there are plot similarities. Aside from one plot twist that I am not crazy about, Singer hit this one out of the park. The film has exciting action, strong special effects, sincerity, wit, and the John Williams Superman theme. I cannot see how you could make a better Superman movie than this one. Run, don't walk, to Uptown, Udvar-Hazy IMAX, or any other superior cineplex to see this fantastic movie.
Another Superman Returns trailer is out and it is not very promising. On a brighter note, the soundtrack is streaming this week. I like what I am hearing. At the very least, the music should be good.
David Lynch, George Lucas, Star Wars, Return of the Jedi
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# posted by
Fritz :
Friday, December 11, 2009 8:34:00 AM