Monday, October 4, 2010
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
What's on my mind...(July 21, 2010 edition)
Is there a cooler job than working on Mythbusters? They get paid to break stuff and use explosives all in the name of science. Also, Kari Byron's on the set.
My sister came across some videos of Don Kirschner's Rock Concert and put some videos up on her Facebook page of the Ramones blasting through four songs.... I came across this treat by T-Rex.
On a more serious note, NJ Gov. Chris Christie is proposing that the state take over the Atlantic City casino district in an effort to save it. He's also planning to sink more money into the ill-fated mondo-mall by the Meadowlands -- Xanadu. What happened to the magic of the marketplace? Meanwhile he's letting horse racing at the Meadowlands, a big money loser, fall by the wayside. I could see the rationale for ending subsidies for horse racing. The market doesn't support it anymore. But the other two steps defy "conservative," small government. It is essentially broadening government oversight of Atlantic City, the casino business and now is putting the government in the mall business. Xanadu, which shares the name of a lousy Olivia Newton John movie, has cursed any company attempting to complete the $2 billion shopping center. The state is now sinking good money after misspent money. New Jersey has enough difficulty filling the stores in its malls and downtown shopping districts. Xanadu might be best served running as a flea market, since the current economy is not going to support all of these luxury retailers that were originally planned for it.
SNY showed an hour-long documentary celebrating the 1986 New York Mets. I love this team, but it's a grim reminder about how long it has been since the Mets have won a World Series.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Why Hollywood has sh*t the bed ...
Avatar and Alice in Wonderland did big box office late last year and early this year, but the cupboard's running dry for Hollywood. Time.com is noting that May's box office take was 11 percent below a year ago and that is despite higher ticket prices.
It boils down to one thing: There's nothing good on the big screen today. There are only so many sequels that one man can take. I'm not too nostalgic for comic books and old-television shows. That's what TV-Land is for.
Time's critic, Richard Corliss, details some of the reasons why the box office take is lower and nails a lot of the right reasons. However, his reasons could be boiled down to one big one: A lack of good ideas.
But if you are a writer, would you want to write for a film studio?
There's plenty of crap on television. But with the number of channels available, there are outlets for good writing. Shakespeare would be writing for television if he were alive today.
"Breaking Bad", The Wire, Battlestar Galactica and The Sopranos allow long form story telling that is literary. The themes are complex; the characters are engaging and the plots grab you. How often do you see that on the big screen? Even "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" and "Glee" offer more laughs in an episode than a typical film.
Okay, I realize that some nuggets of gold are bound to emerge from the landfill that is on cable and our broadcast networks, but I don't think the batting average is that much better for films. If you are running a movie studio and are committed to spending $50 million to $100 million to produce and promote a movie, wouldn't you demand something resembling quality?
Only three of the top ten grossing films last week had favorable critical appeal, according to Rotten Tomatoes.com, a compiler of movie reviews. Even among those three ("Get Him to the Greek," "Iron Man 2" and "Splice"), they were not resoundingly praised. As you can see from the films that got praise, movie critics are not as elitist as they used to be. They just want to be entertained to like the rest of us.
Is that too much to ask from movie studios? Anyway, what's playing at the cinema?
Nothing worth seeing ...
ADDENDUM 6-20-10
Toy Story 3 -- yep a sequel -- actually was very well done. It lives up to the standard of the other Pixar movies (Finding Nemo and the other Toy Story movies). Oddly enough, a computer-animated movie is more heart felt than 90 percent of what comes from real actors.
It boils down to one thing: There's nothing good on the big screen today. There are only so many sequels that one man can take. I'm not too nostalgic for comic books and old-television shows. That's what TV-Land is for.
Time's critic, Richard Corliss, details some of the reasons why the box office take is lower and nails a lot of the right reasons. However, his reasons could be boiled down to one big one: A lack of good ideas.
But if you are a writer, would you want to write for a film studio?
There's plenty of crap on television. But with the number of channels available, there are outlets for good writing. Shakespeare would be writing for television if he were alive today.
"Breaking Bad", The Wire, Battlestar Galactica and The Sopranos allow long form story telling that is literary. The themes are complex; the characters are engaging and the plots grab you. How often do you see that on the big screen? Even "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" and "Glee" offer more laughs in an episode than a typical film.
Okay, I realize that some nuggets of gold are bound to emerge from the landfill that is on cable and our broadcast networks, but I don't think the batting average is that much better for films. If you are running a movie studio and are committed to spending $50 million to $100 million to produce and promote a movie, wouldn't you demand something resembling quality?
Only three of the top ten grossing films last week had favorable critical appeal, according to Rotten Tomatoes.com, a compiler of movie reviews. Even among those three ("Get Him to the Greek," "Iron Man 2" and "Splice"), they were not resoundingly praised. As you can see from the films that got praise, movie critics are not as elitist as they used to be. They just want to be entertained to like the rest of us.
Is that too much to ask from movie studios? Anyway, what's playing at the cinema?
Nothing worth seeing ...
ADDENDUM 6-20-10
Toy Story 3 -- yep a sequel -- actually was very well done. It lives up to the standard of the other Pixar movies (Finding Nemo and the other Toy Story movies). Oddly enough, a computer-animated movie is more heart felt than 90 percent of what comes from real actors.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Passage from the book of John...
7:53 And every man went unto his own house. 8:1 Jesus went unto the Mount of Olives. 2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. 3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, 4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? 6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. 7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. 8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. 9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
Unfortunately, some of the conservatives in our midst think they have the right to throw the stone and forget about the "he that is without sin among you" part.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Team America: Everyone's Got Aids
The creators of South Park did a great job skewering the broadway show "Rent." I'm a fan of the Tony Award-winning show, but this is a great take on it. If you haven't checked out the movie "Team America: World Police," please do. This movie made me look at marrionettes in a new light. I'm also looking forward to a Broadway musical that's in the works from South Park's creators. All kidding aside, please support Broadway Cares...
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
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