July 23, 2008

A mixed bag of films

I want to start with the best film first. I finally saw Into the Wild despite a couple friends telling me "you'd like this one, the guy reminds me of you a bit." After watching it, I am not sure if it was a compliment or not.

I absolutely love the idea that Chris McCandless was first and foremost an adventurer. His belief that you shouldn't hesitate to do anything that strikes your fancy certainly appeals to me. His outright insanity in leaving behind civilization entirely is pretty scary.

As the film started, I told myself that I wouldn't like it. I was sure that it would glorify thinking "out of the box" and gloss over the stupidity of some of his actions. It turns out that it was actually a pretty excellent movie.

RATING 8 out of 10

I also took in Loggerheads the other day expecting some quirky little indie film. It certainly was quirky... but I seriously couldn't finish viewing.

The acting was good - but the film just turned me off. I really can't explain why, other than it seemed to drag on and made way too many obvious turns.

RATING 3 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 09:50 PM | Comments (0)

July 18, 2008

Generation Kill

I caught the first installment of the new HBO miniseries, Generation Kill the other night and have to say, it is a good watch. Based on the first episode, I will be watching the entire seven-part series.

While the show suffers from the fact that all the soldiers tend to look identical, it is definitely realistic in that respect - isn't that the point of the uniforms and short haircuts in the first place?

The fact that it is based on real events makes me a little more forgiving of plot and even dialogue. At the end of the day whether you view it as a sensationalized documentary or just a drama, the situations are enjoyable to watch.

I still prefer Over There, despite some people feeling it came out way too soon in the conflict, but hey - its still early in the series.

Posted by CDogg at 08:53 AM | Comments (0)

July 04, 2008

Whatever your point of view...

I just watched Vantage Point and while I have to applaud the filmmakers for their efforts, they just miss the mark on this one. Dennis Quaid leads an all-star cast that each turn in excellent performances - the problem with the film cannot be put on any of the actors.

The acting suffered when the script was either weak or too stereotypical of the characters - vacationer, news manager, secret serviceman, military adviser etc. The biggest shortcoming however was the Forest Whitaker character. His ability to follow Secret Service agents at a full sprint was unbelievable. There is no way he could have kept up physically with their speed, plus he stopped to shoot video and 'read the scene' time and again.

In the end, I loved the idea, but feel the project was too ambitious to pull off well. When watching the special features on the DVD, it was clear that the filmmakers' felt they had created a much more compelling and complex tale than came across on the screen. Good try, but from my angle it looked like a phantom punch to me.

RATING 6 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 01:52 AM | Comments (0)

June 20, 2008

Turn out the M. Night - the party's over.

I knew when I first saw the ad for The Happening that it wasn't going to be great. The tagline wasn't about how many award winning actors were involved, it wasn't about breakthrough visuals, heck... it wasn't even about riding on the coattails of his previous film hits. It was simply, "M. Night Shyamalan's first R-rated movie!"

Even though all "M" felt confident in promoting was that he included about 6 ounces of blood this time around, I assumed that his ability to tell a good story would win out. Surely, it would be "average" at least. Hell, I had time to kill in Dallas - I had a free movie pass... what could I possibly lose?

Boy was I wrong. This movie will fight it out with Street Kings for not only the worst movie of 2008, but quite possibly the decade.

The idea of the film seems pretty cool. The problem is that it all ends there. The writing is about third grade level - seriously, I have a play I wrote at age 6 in crayon on two sheets of paper - it rambles, it mixes a genie with three wishes, something about a pony, and valuable life lessons... and it sucked horribly. That childhood scribbling reads like War and Peace compared to this.

I am a fan of Mark Wahlberg, but he has been riding sort of a stink streak lately - MAN did he stink in this one.

Do yourself a favor - if you are thinking of watching this movie, just poke yourself in the eyes with a crochet needle - it will hurt less.

RATING 2 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 07:37 AM | Comments (0)

May 25, 2008

Ferrell solid as ever - a refresher on Nader

I finally saw Semi-Pro, the latest sports related Will Ferrell flick, and it was laugh-out-loud funny. Based on the previews, I thought I would like it less than Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby and more than Blades of Glory, and you know it? I was right.

If you like this kind of humor - and I do - you will love Semi-Pro. If you can't stand this kind of idiocy... lighten up. :)

RATING 8 out of 10

Talk about polar opposites. Just before lightening the mood with Semi-Pro, I watched An Unreasonable Man. This documentary chronicles the career of Ralph Nader and the dramatic, if polarizing, effect he has has on the history of the United States.

All of the presidential hijinx has made most of us completely forget (if we ever knew) about his early career and the immense contribution he made to consumer protection.

Whether you blame him for costing Gore or Kerry elections or blame them for costing Nader the elections, you cannot argue with the positive impact he has had on defending your rights as consumers to purchase safe products. This movie reminds us of that as well as examines all the controversy surrounding presidential politics.

RATING 9 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 03:49 PM | Comments (0)

May 20, 2008

This is why I love PBS

If you don't support, and more importantly watch PBS, you are missing out. A couple of shows that I never miss on PBS are NOVA and Frontline. NOVA had a particularly interesting program tonight "Lord of the Ants."

This is the story of naturalist E.O. Wilson's lifelong study of ants. Sound boring? Only if you don't see the big picture. More than just a kooky old man looking at ants, this is a study of sociobiology involving every species on the planet.

Wilson first came to my attention after his appearance at the TED conference. Since seeing his presentation and his call for creating the Encyclopedia of Life, I have been a big fan.

I think PBS used to use the slogan "TV that changes you." That certainly appears to be true, and I would add that the change is for the better.

Posted by CDogg at 09:44 PM | Comments (0)

May 04, 2008

Where is Hugh Downs when you need him?

The "news magazine" Dateline NBC has never been one of the higher brow shows, but it appears to have sunk to a new low Sunday night. The show renowned for lowest-common-denominator journalism isn't catching predators, busting myths, or even telling a harrowing story of survival. This time around they are counting down the top ten messiest celebrity meltdowns.

This whole show looks like it was purchased lock, stock, and voyeuristic barrel from VH1. You know them - they are the fine folks that bring you "The 40 Most Awesomely Bad Songs," "100 Most Shocking Moments in...." etc.

The format is simple... find something to count down - find about a dozen D-list celebs to reel off one-liners like "Are you kidding girl? she was like melting down in front of everyone" - intercut fast clips and photos of the shocking event - move on the #?.

Dateline NBC is now officially dead to me. As least when they were creating news by entrapment, there was at least some issue to discuss and debate. This is brain cell destruction on steroids... you WILL be less intelligent after watching - guaranteed.

Posted by CDogg at 07:38 PM | Comments (2)

May 02, 2008

Iron Man - another hit for Marvel's movie line

Long time readers will know that my two favorite comic book heroes are The Incredible Hulk and Iron Man. While I was a bit disappointed in parts of the Hulk movie, I still gave it a 9 rating based on how much I really dig the big greenie.

I will also say that when I heard Robert Downey Jr. was pegged to play Tony Stark, I was more than skeptical - I was mad. I assumed that once the film unveiled the Iron Man suit I wouldn't care that Downey is once again waaaay too small to play the tall, powerful billionaire. (Don't even get me started on how wrong the casting was for Cyclops in the X-Men movies.)

I have to admit that Downey did a very good job portraying Tony Stark so that is forgiven. Frankly, I am pleased that this romp wasn't people by teeny boppers as with recent superhero fare - it's nice to have an actor that fits the character age. However, the movie once again took an excellent story and rewrote it for no apparent reason. I am okay with updating the timeline. It didn't HAVE to be done, but it doesn't bother me as the comic books had already done a retelling. (Pull me aside sometime for the list of departures from the mythology.)

All of the nitpicks aside... once the red and gold armored superhero hit the screen, I was in. I could watch Iron Man fly, fight, and blast through baddies for hours. In fact, that was the biggest shortcoming... not enough suit time. Did we really need the faceplate flipped up for so many scenes - NOBODY was here to see Robert Downey Jr. - we were here to see 'Ol Shellhead.

As some country singer says though, "I like it, I love it... I want some more of it!"

RATING 9 out of 10

Note that the Iron Man review may seem to disagree with the rating scale. This has been something I have been questioned on quite a bit with my film reviews. The short answer is that the rating is how much I liked the film, while the review is an opportunity to expose the details of it from the standpoint of story telling and film craft.

Think of it this way... You may have the most adorable mutt dog. If you took it to the Westminster Dog Show, they might be able to point out hundreds of flaws (the review) but at the end of the day, you love the dog (the rating.)

Posted by CDogg at 07:54 AM | Comments (0)

April 26, 2008

A Cornucopia of Movie Reviews

NOTE: I found this saved in my drafts. I had meant to publish is just over a month ago... better late than never. :)

Its been some time since I did a movie review and its high time I remedied that. I have seen a lot of movies since my last review back in January, so I will pull a few out of my memory bank for this entry.

I am going to start things off with the silliest of the bunch - Hot Rod. This was a completely stupid movie, but its okay - it was supposed to be stupid. I enjoyed the heck out of Hot Rod. Andy Samberg did a fine job as the addled stunt man, but the standout performance was by Ian McShane. His portrayal of the d*ckhead stepfather was hilarious.
RATING 7 out of 10

Michael Clayton was this much-ballyhooed "thriller" about a corporate fixer. If you had a problem, George Clooney's Michael Clayton character could make it go away. While it was interesting at times, I think it failed to live up to all the pre-viewing hype.
RATING 6 out of 10

Beowulf is an interesting film. This adaptation of the pre-10th century Old English manuscript is by far the closest I have seen in film version. The visuals are unique in that the entire film is a combination of CGI and motion capture. As fantasy pics go, this one is right up there. I mean who can argue with a nude Angelina Jolie, even if she is computer generated and mostly concealed. :)
RATING 8 out of 10

I also saw the documentary For the Bible Tells Me So. The film is an interesting look at how Christianity deals with the issue of homosexuality and the varied stances affect the subjects of the documentary. The film focuses on perceived misinterpretation of scripture and denial of current public opinion of homosexuality. It is an interesting topic but the filmwork is a bit elementary and uninspiring.
RATING 7 out of 10

I have four or five others to review, but that is all the time I have right now. Let me know what you think? Did you catch any of these films?

Posted by CDogg at 10:32 AM | Comments (0)

April 20, 2008

Proof positive that there is something wrong with America

Okay, I see nothing wrong with a very special Star Wars version of Deal or No Deal... hotties AND Star Wars - that is what is good with America.

What I cannot abide however, it our President showing up on the gameshow - ANY gameshow. Sure, he is not really the statesman type in the first place, but a freakin' gameshow? Are you kidding me?

Oh yeah, and First Lady, Laura Bush will be hosting The Today Show - Thomas Jefferson is rolling in his grave.

Posted by CDogg at 06:20 PM | Comments (0)

April 11, 2008

She looks like Wayne freakin Newton

Now, I know I am going to hear it from the fanboys on this one, but Mary McDonnell (President Laura Roslin on Battlestar Galactica) looks like she had 'some work done' during the hiatus.

I can't find a current photo to do a before and after comparison, but her face has changed. There is no doubt in my mind that some procedure was done and I have to say that, as is the case with most of these 'improvements,' she went from looking gorgeous to unnatural.

She is still my favorite fictional President, but with the no-close eyelids and button nose, she is looking like Wayne Newton with a wig.

Posted by CDogg at 10:48 PM | Comments (2)

March 26, 2008

Lame Baby Lame

Just one quick one this time around. I just finished watching Gone Baby Gone - Ben Affleck's directorial debut. While Ben may have done a serviceable job in telling the story, his brother Casey was one of the worst miscasts ever.

First off, he cannot act his way out of a wet paper bag. Second, he he doesn't even come close to fitting the bill when it comes to looking or acting like a detective. He looks like he should be playing in a high school coming-of-age comedy - that is if he could act.

This film is proof that nepotism can be a BAD BAD thing. It is a shame that several fine performances by supporting actors went to waste with this bowl floater.

RATING 4 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 09:54 PM | Comments (0)

March 12, 2008

Comedy Central 0 for 2

Geez, what a horrible night of television on Comedy Central. First, a brand new South Park. What's not to love about one of the funniest shows in history? This episode.

Forgive the spoiler, but in the show Cartman and Kyle become HIV positive and search for a cure. While normally even the most taboo subject is made hilarious by Parker and Stone, somehow the HIV story failed to even make me crack a smile. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE poking fun in a politically incorrect manner... they just forgot the 'fun' part.

Next up was Lewis Black's Root of All Evil. I was looking forward to this show because I am big fan of his comedy. Talk about a snooze-fest. The format is that each week a comparison is made between two things and the items are defended/accused by different comedians. Black, as judge, will issue his final verdict at the end after each comedian has a couple chances to make his/her case.

The problem is that the comedy is lame, the comedians are the same tired cabal of out-of-work, in-bred, second-rate yucksters tossed out over and over in hopes of convincing us they are funny, and Lewis Black has proven to be a funny-man best served in two-minute segments on The Daily Show.

Oh yeah and add in the fact that the show appears to be a "text in your vote" cash grab... this one cannot be buried fast enough.

Posted by CDogg at 10:01 PM | Comments (0)

February 28, 2008

Lindsay Lohan's "steamy" photos

I totally missed the whole internet buzz surrounding Lohan's New York magazine photo shoot. (A good friend told me about it, but I won't mention his name in case that might get him in trouble with his wife.)

My review? meh

I wonder how many women throughout time have been convinced to pose nude with the line "hey, just look what it did for Marilyn Monroe's career!"?

Posted by CDogg at 08:24 AM | Comments (0)

February 05, 2008

Not so much

I am going to piss off a lot of people with this post because I know a bunch of people are rabid 30 Rock fans. I saw the pilot episode (streamed on NetFlix) and all I can say is "meh." The ONLY good character is Alec Baldwin's Jack Donaghy and he is so over-the-top at times that it gets old.

I realize that I have only seen the pilot so far and that traditionally pilots suffer from the need to inform the audience about everyone's life in one episode. Because of this fact, I vow to watch a total of five episodes before giving it a final rating, but it needs to improve fast.

Posted by CDogg at 12:31 AM | Comments (0)

January 26, 2008

Groundbreaking isn't always good

I took in two VERY groundbreaking movies tonight. I have to congratulate them for being original - both in VERY different ways. That said, as in the title of the post - this isn't always a good thing. The bottom line is that the art of film making got a few bumps forward this week.

First off is Cloverfield. Five minutes into the film, I leaned over to Tony D. and said, "It's Blair Witch with a big budget." And you know what? It works. The effects in Cloverfield are great. The acting is good, the story is serviceable. It is groundbreaking in how it melds the reality genre with a big budget effects film.

Sure, the setup is tedious and the plausibility of some of the character actions is waaaaay beyond 'a stretch'. The bottom line is that it is an engrossing film that keeps your interest right up to the final second. While I did see the end coming, it was not a letdown.
RATING 8 out of 10

Next up was Rambo. The tagline reads "Heroes never die... They just reload," and while Stallone reloaded a tired franchise, there was indeed something groundbreaking in this schlock as well - the ultra-realistic images of weapon damage. Never before have I seen a film that portrays the weapons of war so utterly deadly as depicted here. I can't even begin to describe the scenes, as to do so would likely give my blog an R rating. If ever there were a film that simultaneously glorified violence while also making a case against using guns to settle differences, this is it. The damage inflicted to the human body is so realistic and intense that it feels like you are watching a snuff film.

Don't get me wrong - this is NOT a top notch film. The story is the same formula as every other tough guy movie. The acting is decent in places, laughable in others, but even during good moments, can't salvage the dialog. This is First Blood on steroids (or human growth hormone) and raw human flesh - bad, but devastatingly groundbreaking.
RATING 6 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 10:35 PM | Comments (1)

January 24, 2008

Movie catch-up time

I will try to keep these short and sweet as I have a boatload of movies to get through. That means no photos, no long, drawn-out complaints about poor direction or lame acting - just a quick and dirty rating on a scale of 1 to 10.

Let's start off with the one I just finished, 3:10 to Yuma. I've seen better westerns and I've seen worse. It's just always cool to see one.
RATING 7 out of 10

Resident Evil: Extinction - what can I say, I know this whole series blows, but I find it fun for some reason.
RATING 7 out of 10

Frivolous Lola - I am embarrassed to say that I watched this. It seems the titillation factor was the appeal and frankly, not worth it. The one thing that stuck with me was the song "Mona Monella." I can't find it anywhere but love it despite the fact it is Italian and I can't understand any of it.
RATING 5 out of 10

Rescue Dawn is the second Christian Bale film in this list and neither was his best work. Think - Empire of the Sun.
RATING 6 out of 10

TED: The Future We Will Create - I really liked this documentary and like I twittered after watching it, I really want to attend a TED conference now. Cool stuff.
RATING 8 out of 10

Two Days in April - This documentary chronicles college football players leading up to the NFL draft. As a documentary, it is not very well done, as information about the inside dealings of the NFL and the draft, it is kinda cool
RATING 7 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 01:41 PM | Comments (2)

January 23, 2008

Medium is getting more raw

Hey, it was the only pun I could think of. :)

Although I initially lauded Medium as one of the few good shows to come around in awhile, it seems to have slipped. I am not sure if it is due to the writer's strike or these are just episodes they had in the can that aren't very good. What I am sure of is that the show has been getting progressively more stupid and transparent.

I am hoping it is just evidence that scab writers suck and that the show will bounce back, but geez - it is getting hard to watch.

I mean how many shows does Joe have to wake up after Allison gasps and say "Huh... what's is it?" These dreams are still a surprise to him?

There used to be a little mystery in Allison's visions - you used to have to pay attention a bit. Now, whether it is bad writing or incredibly stupid directing, they hit the audience over the head with "the clues." They don't just focus on what you need to see, but they play dramatic music, pause on the point being made, and show you replays of it over and over for the really stupid viewers.

The last three episodes have been "poop on a stick." Someone please tell me that they know for a fact things are going to get better or this one is going on the trash heap with the rest of the television "entertainment."

Posted by CDogg at 01:01 PM | Comments (0)

January 06, 2008

In praise of the brunettes of my youth

I just got disc one of The Greatest American Hero from NetFlix and was jolted back to the early 80's not by the site of William Katt in that familiar red suit, but by my long-forgotten crush, Connie Sellecca. Oh, how I did love Ms. Selleca. She played the love interest and attorney of our (greatest America) hero. Seeing her not only reminded me of five years of GAH love, but her stint on Hotel as well.

Connie went on to marry John Tesh and even make a good bit of money with her own line of skin products - Selleca Solution or something similar. In a couple of the episodes she looks a lot like a younger, hotter version of that chick from Sex in the City - Sarah whatshername.

Those were the days of gorgeous brunette attorneys on television. During that same era, my unrequited love was not limited to Connie Selleca... I also spent many a late night in the company of attorney, Joyce Davenport of Hill Street Blues. Yes, Veronica Hamel was not only extremely easy on the eyes, but a damn fine actress.

Oh, who am I kidding? I have no idea if she could act. I turned to jelly when she came on the screen. What teenage boy wouldn't turn lose his mind at the sight of such a hottie.

For the record... Veronica gets the edge.

Posted by CDogg at 12:38 AM | Comments (5)

December 24, 2007

Legendary Promises

I Am Legend starring Will Smith is not nearly as bad as the reviewers would have you believe. Yes, the CGI bad guys were a little silly. Yes, the CGI hounds were ridiculous. Yes, there was nothing extremely new and fresh about the film. But darn it... I liked the movie.

Based on the 1954 Richard Matheson scifi novel, the story is still a good one even when the filmmaking comes up a bit short. If the film has one major downfall, it is in that it doesn't do service to the original story. The film strays in such a manner that it is barely recognizable as the Matheson story at times.

I have always been a sucker for a post-apocalyptic story, and for that reason, I've probably rated it higher than I should.
RATING 7 out of 10

I heard a lot of good things about Eastern Promises and was expecting a really good film... oops. That's what I get for letting other people's opinions influence my own. While there was nothing in particular that made it a bad film, it just wasn't anything special.

The story was fine. The acting ranged from good to great. The cinematography added to the feel of the piece. So what was wrong? I think the biggest mistake was the pacing. It was painfully slow in places while making crazy jumps in others.

The subject of the bath house scene is the most mentioned part of the film and boy was it a let down. Just because Viggo Mortenson dangles his tally-whacker freely during the fight scene doesn't make it a great fight scene. Sure, it took courage to show his junk on the big screen. Sure, it was original in that we are not accustomed to viewing a swinging unit while watching fights. Sure, sure, sure. The bottom line is that a bare naked man fighting doesn't improve a fight scene.

In the end, (pun intended) it was a good film, just not as ground-breaking and original as sold.
RATING 7 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 01:00 PM | Comments (0)

December 11, 2007

Is it just me?

Is it wrong that I watch The Biggest Loser while eating? Is it wrong that my favorite part about the show is Alison Sweeney? There is something about her that is mesmerizing. (That word choice is for you Ron ;) Maybe its because she reminds me of a girl I knew back in high school. (An UBER-HOTTIE)

I find it interesting that the show does nothing to motivate me to workout. It is less about fitness than it is about the "reality" drama formula. I watch the contestants cry over their dramatic transformations and although I root for them and applaud their work - I mainly watch just to see Alison make an appearance.

Sure, the drama occasionally sucks me in... sure, I sometimes feel guilty about not working out while I watch... but hey - it is a TV show right? The purpose is to distract me from my daily life and entertain - mission accomplished.

Posted by CDogg at 11:07 PM | Comments (0)

December 06, 2007

Barbara's Most Fascinating - again a snorefest

Please don't ask me why I devote blog space to this subject for the second year in a row. I guess it is because despite nobody giving a damn who Barbara Walters thinks are the "10 Most Fascinating People," these 'specials' just keep coming. If you surveyed the nation as to who they thought was most fascinating, I guarantee you wouldn't find 10 people who agree with this list, and it only qualifies as a 'special' if we are talking about the padded-helmet-wearing kind of special.

Sure, some of these people are interesting - but the MOST fascinating? Jennifer Hudson? Great voice, great story... not the MOST. Katherine Heigl? Hot actress, great personality, super talent... not the MOST. The guy from MySpace? Rich, lots of fake friends... not the MOST. Posh Spice and that soccer dude? A former singer and a former great athlete... not the MOST. The list goes on and on - seriously, are any of these people on YOUR list of most fascinating?

Here is the real skinny behind the list - it is a stroke of marketing genius. Career flailing? Need a ratings boost? Need to get back in the spotlight? Just do the Barbara special. Oh wait - some of them are doing fine in their careers - maybe you just need some PR? Do the Barbara special. Barbara makes a mint - you get your PR - what's not to love? It's all good if the public behaves as they think - which means believing these people are at all relevant - believing that Barbara Walters opinion of anything is at all relevant - ie. buying this load of bull.

Oh yeah and Justin Timberlake? Sexy back? Really?

Posted by CDogg at 04:03 PM | Comments (0)

December 03, 2007

Brain drain

I am now certain that watching The Jerry Springer Show actually destroys brain cells. I have to thank Ron and Machel for introducing me to the show - yes, I am the one that had never seen an episode. The past few weeks had been eye-opening.

It started innocently enough... they introduced me to one of their guilty pleasures as a way to unwind after a great meal. Here we are weeks later and the parade of rednecks, tramps, ho's, trannies, cheaters, and intellectual oddities that shocked me so much at first, now seem to be a normal part of society. Could it be that 'they' are the real people and that 'we' are the unique ones? It sure seems that way.

Last night when a midget, sadist, sex-therapist came out and proceeded to bully the crowd and cover a fat man with cold cuts, mustard and mayo, I knew I had to blog. I had to take a picture and analyze the situation.

The whole thing is akin to the Romans watching the Christians fight the lions. The middle class watches these nutjobs fight each other, butcher the language, and laughs hysterically - all the while feeling quite superior. The show guests get a slightly better deal than the Christians as rather than being put to death, they just get humiliated in front of millions of people.

Some of the setups appear to be staged as you will catch guests holding back smirks while they tell their "story," but for the most part there does seem to be a nearly limitless supply of weirdness for Springer to cherry pick.

Will I continue to watch Jerry? With friends, yes - its really fun to laugh at the outrageousness with others. Do I think that it is destroying brain cells? Quite possibly - but at the very least, I am not gaining any in the process. Bottom line? I have enough that I can afford an occasion dip in my IQ. :)

JERRY! JERRY! JERRY!

Posted by CDogg at 10:29 AM | Comments (1)

November 21, 2007

Oh, to be young and dumb again

The documentary Overnight chronicles the rise and fall of Troy Duffy - the blue-collar-bartender-turned-Hollywood-smartass. Beside being a nice behind-the-scenes stroll through the life of a filmmaker, it is more a tale of youthful naivety. Duffy's script took Hollywood by storm and revealed him to be a total jerk.

Watching this documentary is like watching one of the most horrific car wrecks in super slow-motion. If its true that power corrupts than this is the perfect test case. This pitiful little megalomaniac took a golden opportunity and pissed it all away, turned on the ones who made it happen, and alienated the people he was supposed to hold the most dear. Duffy takes my award for the biggest shitheel I have ever seen in the film industry and possibly any industry.

This should be mandatory viewing for anyone at film school or anyone even remotely interested in making films. Even if you just want a lesson in how to take a golden opportunity and ruin it, this is a great film.
RATING 9 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 10:13 PM | Comments (0)

November 20, 2007

Finally taking a little hit...

I finally got around to watching Weeds by renting disc one of season one through Netflix. I originally ignored the show because I didn't have Showtime when it first came out. Even after getting Showtime, it didn't really appeal to me because a) I don't like watching shows unless I can see them from the beginning and b) it didn't sound all that interesting.

After a year or so of people telling me how great the show was - I thought I would at least give it a try. I am still rather torn.

On the one hand - all the suburban sexual hijinx are a bit sophomoric and boring. On the other hand - deep below the silly situations and dumbed-down storylines are characters that you are forced to care about.

Once you get past how over-the-top the characters and story are, you get down to a pretty decent series. The jury is still out as to my long-term interest in Weeds, but I will give it the first season.

Posted by CDogg at 09:40 AM | Comments (0)

November 19, 2007

YAQR (Yet Another Quickie Review)

Once again, it is time to catch up with my film viewing. If my schedule ever slows down, I will go back to doing more detailed reviews. For now, we are in high speed mode.

The 1972 Man of La Mancha starring Peter O'Toole and Sophia Loren was a version I had never seen and recently watched. It is a bit silly in spots, but my love for the story kept me interested. I have seen better versions.
RATING 7 out of 10







Steel Toes is the story of a Jewish attorney defending a neo-nazi skinhead arrested for a violent murder. Had this been the first incarnation of this type of film, I probably would have rated it better. Because it was an old story, a predictable script that consisted of cardboard stereotype characters, and just not that interesting - it sucked.
RATING 4 out of 10







Stardust is a "magical" film about "magical" people and "magical" places. Oh wait... that's marketing. Actually, it was an over-budgeted cute little film. It is guaranteed not to go down as a classic fantasy film... entertaining, just no staying power.
RATING 7 out of 10







Knocked Up, the Judd Apatow comedy starring Seth Rogan was cute. It had a lot of fun moments and is a definite party film. This is the kind of film that gets funnier when more people are around... lowest common denominator films do that.
RATING 7 out of 10







Yellow is an interesting film that chronicles the tale of a Puerto Rican girl that moves to New York to pursue her father's dream of her becoming a dancer. Along the way she.... well, it really doesn't matter. I rented the thing because Roselyn Sanchez plays a stripper. Shallow yes - but MAN, SHE IS HOT! Along the way, I discovered an interesting little film - it's like my own little version of peanut butter and chocolate together. Good stuff.
RATING 7 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 07:01 PM | Comments (0)

November 12, 2007

I'm holding out for a hero

Am I the only one that thinks Heroes is suffering from a serious sophomore slump? The story has gotten remarkably less interesting, the twists are slower and almost painful in their predictability, and the filmwork has turned amateurish. The scenes of Sylar and the X-Files black goo-goo eyes chick and her bro driving across Mexico are straight out of old 30's Hollywood driving shots - a computerized version of rear projection. The exterior shots of Claire's dad and Eraser Dude walking around in Russia are some of the worst chroma key stuff I have seen in ages - a sin recreated when Peter and Blarney Sue find themselves in New York circa 2008.

I guess if the story were more interesting, I wouldn't be picking it apart from a craft standpoint, but man this is a big drop off from the first season. I mean come on - environmental agendas, rebuilding New Orleans, oh - and don't forget the crazy amounts of product placement. It is getting very distasteful. I'll stick with it despite the shortcomings, but I just wanted to go on record as being disappointed.

Posted by CDogg at 10:04 PM | Comments (1)

November 11, 2007

YAQR (Yet Another Quickie Review)

Once again, it is time to catchup with my film reviews. I have been falling way behind, so I am going to run through these super fast.

Kickin' it Old School - is typical Jaime Kennedy drivel. Funny in places - painful in others. The nods to the 80's pop culture are fun.
RATING 6 out of 10







28 Weeks Later is a shadow of the original 28 Days Later. Its what happens when you take a groundbreaking original and hand it over to a mainstream movie studio. Uggh.
RATING 5 out of 10







Last of the Mississippi Jukes is an excellent documentary. If you're a blues fan, you will want to catch this. If you're not a blues fan - you will be after watching. I'm downloading some of this great music while typing this.
RATING 9 out of 10







95 Miles to Go is a documentary that chronicles a roadtrip by comedian Ray Romano and his long-time friend (and opening act) as they drive between standup gigs. It is one of the most boring documentaries I have ever seen. It is more like a sad promo for his standup routine than anything real. Several of the gags are clearly staged. A real snorer.
RATING 5 out of 10







Martian Child is the new touch-feely film starring John Cusack. In it, he plays a widowed writer that adobts an offbeat 6 year old. It has the makings of a really good movie, but continually falls short. The setups are too schlocky, the acting is too over-the-top drippy, and the story is too predictable. All of the acting by young Bobby Coleman is excellent, the others are just lame.
RATING 6 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 12:43 PM | Comments (0)

November 05, 2007

YAQR (Yet Another Quickie Review)

Once again, it is time to catchup with my film reviews.

Human Trafficking, the made-for-TV movie starring Mira Sorvino and Donald Sutherland is flawed. The subject matter is something that is better handled in a documentary. In taking this deadly serious matter and "hollywoodizing" it, the filmmakers have exploited the very people they purport to be helping. Simply making the traffickers into stereotypical "bad guys" and putting a traditional story arc and Hollywood ending dilutes the seriousness of human trafficking.

I probably would have overlooked the exploitation had it not been for Mira Sorvino's absolutely horrible acting performance. Even Donald Sutherland appears to have mailed this one in. Skip this one and watch one of the many documentaries on the subject.

Normally I like Sutherland and Sorvino, but wow - these performances were hard to watch. I know the script was horrible, but the director (Christian Duguay) must have been the reason these guys did such a bad job. I see he directed the Pilot of the new CBS series Cane, which looks equally unwatchable.
RATING 5 out of 10







Brooklyn Rules is a film that sort of grows on you as you watch it. Let me say that any film starring Freddie Prinze Jr. and Mena Suvari starts out with a few strikes against it. Alec Baldwin and Jerry Ferrara (Turtle from Entourage) held my attention long enough for me to sit through the entire movie.

I really wanted to hate BR, but little things like a script set against the real-life rise of mobster John Gotti, and the compelling appeal of a story of a group of guys that have known each other since they were kids, just keeps you interested. Was there anything groundbreaking or original about the film? No. It was just a decent little movie - worth your time if you've got nothing to do.
RATING 7 out of 10







American Gangster is a film very much like the previous entry. There is nothing real special about it. There are no outstanding or award-worthy performances. The only thing it has going for it, is frankly that it is interesting.

There are a couple of other similarities with Brooklyn Rules. Both take place in New York. Both chronicle stories involving organized crime. Both either are based on a true story or include real life events as a framework.

How does AG differ? Russell Crowe turns in the best acting performance of the two films combined. The story with American Gangster is much richer and more intelligent.
RATING 8 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 08:41 PM | Comments (0)

October 29, 2007

YAQR (Yet Another Quickie Review)

Once again, it is time to catchup with my film reviews.

Severence is a a fun horror flick with a lot of black comedy mixed in. The idea of a sales team out on a company retreat having to fight a group of commandos (ala Blackwater) is a blast. The fact that their company is in the business of supplying the weapons of warfare around the world is brilliant.
RATING 7 out of 10

Wolf Creek is another in the horror genre. Based on true events, it certainly takes a lot of liberty with the storyline, but is well paced, well acted, and darn it - the Aussie accents make it fun stuff.
RATING 7 out of 10

Ultimate Avengers II is the follow-up to an animated flick that I really enjoyed. This one however, doesn't quite live up. I took the hint when I fell asleep four times watching it. I never did finish the thing.
RATING 6 out of 10

The Condemned starring "Stone Cold" Steve Austin is a throwback to the 80's tough guy film. The premise was a little like Battle Royale meets Mark Cuban. It was a schlocky good time.
RATING 8 out of 10

Dynamite Warrior was visually fun to watch. The story got confusing and times and downright boring at others, but there was always some great mixed martial arts action to bring you back. Fun stuff.
RATING 7 out of 10

La Lucha: The Struggle was less like a documentary and more like a series of clips thrown together. It was interesting at times, but suffered from a distinct lack of skill in the editing. This could have been a much more engaging look at the masked Mexican-style wrestling in America.
RATING 5 out of 10

Speedo: POV is an extremely well-put-together documentary. It tells the tale of a demolition derby driver with dreams to reach the top and the skills to match. His struggle is inspirational, funny, and heartwarming.
RATING 9 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 03:48 PM | Comments (0)

October 09, 2007

Nice to see lil' sis has a trash mouth too

Did any of you catch Britney's little sister Jamie Lynn showing off her vocabulary? When someone from the neighborhood where Britney just moved shouted that "Nobody wants you here...you're making the neighborhood unsafe," little JL spouted off, "Get the ____ out of the neighborhood!" Nice.

Looks like you can take the girls out of the trailer park, but you can't... well - you know.

Posted by CDogg at 12:06 AM | Comments (0)

October 05, 2007

YAQR (Yet Another Quickie Review)

Once again, it is time to catchup with my film reviews.

The Host, or Gwoemul as it is called in South Korea, is reminiscent of the 70's schlock monster flicks. After a laboratory dumps expired formaldehyde into the river, a creature mutates into a giant killing machine. It could have stopped at being just another monster movie, but it actually did a good job of including an interesting and somewhat touching backstory. Visually, the film ranges from cornball to awesome... make sure to bring your popcorn for this one because we're not talking about high brow cinema.
RATING 7 out of 10

Flushed Away is the tale of a cultured rat dispatched to the sewers and his attempts to return. Along the way, he experiences the typical hijinx indicative of any good animated film - uncovers a plot by an evil-doing frog, fights the good fight, and even gets the girl. Nothing new here, but the animation ala Wallace & Grommit was interesting to watch and the storyline was entertaining enough.
RATING 7 out of 10

Thank You For Smoking surprised me. Having only heard about it in passing, I actually thought it was a documentary - until the opening credits. Instead, TYFS told the tale of a cigarette industry lobbyist's life. We are shown his masterful ability to win the "are cigarettes dangerous" debate in typical Big Tobacco fashion - obfuscation and misleading statements. We are treated to an inside view of what we all know about the industry. Below the surface though, this story is really about a man's relationship with his son as well as his relationship with the truth. It would be easy to find something inspirational or deep in the film, but the filmmakers do a good job of misdirection themselves. You have to search below the absurdities of this satire to find it.
RATING 8 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 11:06 PM | Comments (0)

October 02, 2007

Carrell in a real role.

Dan in Real Life was quite the surprise. I went to an advance screening of the film and wasn't expecting a whole lot. Steve Carell jumps outside of his normal goofy roles in this romantic comedy and shines. When I saw that Dane Cook was also in the movie I was immediately disheartened... but you know what? He didn't totally suck in it because he played a small role and wasn't allowed to inject his brand of boring humor. Juliette Binoche as the other romantic lead did a fine job as well.

It is smartly written, expertly delivered by a great ensemble cast, and most importantly kept me smiling almost the entire time. I have to admit there was a moment when it left me a little misty-eyed. :)

The film was entirely predictable (save for one scene) and had nothing new or earthshaking, but it delivered on its promise of being a fun, romantic comedy.

RATING 9 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 09:34 PM | Comments (0)

Another score

I am going to have to start paying more attention to my friends on Netflix. Usually, these social networking sites that attempt to predict what you like based on what you have in common with other people don't do a very good job. The past couple of films I have tried based on other's recommendations in Netflix have been surprisingly spot-on. I reviewed Battle Royale a couple weeks back after seeing it on Kymberlie McGuire's list. After having great luck with that film, I chose another off her list, District B13. This 2004 film redefines action flicks. I really can't find anything bad to say about it. I guess the worst thing would be that the overall story is a ripoff of Escape from New York sortof, but I loved that film so how bad could it be? Actually, the only thing it takes from Escape is that it takes place in a city walled off and filled with the dregs of society.

The year is 2010, the city is Paris, the action is amazing. The stars of the show are David Belle (co-founder of the sport of Parkour) and stuntman Cyril Raffaelli (his signature move is jumping through an open window of a car into the driver's seat.)

As explained in the Wikipedia article linked above, this style of movement has really caught on in filmmaking.

The most notable appearances in films:

* District 13 (2004)
* The Great Challenge (2004)
* The Bourne Supremacy (2004)
* Casino Royale (2006)
* Breaking and Entering (2006)
* Live Free or Die Hard (Die Hard 4.0) (2007)
* The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)

Add the ultimate in reality-based stuntwork, some of the better French to English dubbing, a compelling storyline, and excellent visuals and you have a very fun movie. It's not Shakespeare, but hey - even he liked to screw off once in awhile.

RATING 9 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 05:33 PM | Comments (2)

October 01, 2007

Serial boredom

Now I know this one is going to rub a lot of people the wrong way, but I have to say it. I find Showtime's serial killer series Dexter outrageously lame. Contrary to advertisements, this is not "bold, different and exciting, with a central character and performance that take your breath away" as the New York Daily News was obviously paid to say. It is not "Enjoyably challenging TV" as proclaimed by the Pittsburg Post-Gazette. It is the same old tired formula with a new twist. The problem is that the twist wears off after the first episode. Yeah, we get it Dex kills bad guys. What is so damn challenging about that.

I gave this show every opportunity. I rented the first series and sat through four episodes with my nephew who had also never seen it. By the third one, even he was easily calling out what would happen next about 10 minutes before.

I saw nothing wrong with the parts that some people found offensive, I mean seriously, there are a lot of films that show more grotesque stuff that I absolutely love. What I find distasteful is simply how stupid the show is. It is like the sitcom of dramas. If the random acts of stupidly staged gore are what you are into, you should love it. If you don't like checking your brain at the door before you watch television it is painful.

Posted by CDogg at 04:29 PM | Comments (0)

September 27, 2007

Quickie ratings catchup

I have gotten waaaay behind in rating some of the things I have seen and when that happens, I have to play catchup. That means doing away with the explanation of my ratings, and simply churning through them quickly. For that reason, you will only see a quick tagline - rest assured though, if I rate it highly, it's worth taking a longer look. Here we go:

Fog City Mavericks - a great documentary that takes a look at the San Francisco film industry and how it has shaped cinema in America.
RATING 9 out of 10

Bus 174 - Another documentary - this is an amazingly enthralling look at a bus hijacking as Rio de Janeiro on June 12th 2000.
RATING 8 out of 10

In a Dark Place - I watched it because of my crush on Leelee Sobieski... she really needs to start picking better material.
RATING 2 out of 10

High Tension - a decent idea for a horror film. The dubbing is horrendous, but story holds up.
RATING 7 out of 10

Cashback - This little film was a big surprise for me. It is an original look at relationship that is written and shot extremely well.
RATING 9 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 11:31 PM | Comments (0)

September 26, 2007

Bionic Flub

Despite Katee Sackhoff in the lineup, Bionic Woman just comes up a little weak. The story is cheesier than the old Lindsay Wagner episode. Take the lame story, rotten special effects and add to it a serious lack of Oscar Goldman, and you have one of the worst premieres of this season.

This one doesn't even look like its going to grow on me. There are no characters that are at all interesting and nothing compelling enough to even stick around to episode two. I think funding should be cut on this bionic miscue. Don't get me wrong - Michelle Ryan is entirely watchable, she just needs a show with a little more strength. Oh yeah, and last week I saw her in a much better film - Cashback. (Look for a review soon.)

Posted by CDogg at 10:05 PM | Comments (0)

September 25, 2007

NBCs new lineup

First off, the return of Heroes. In the first few minutes, I was sort of underwhelmed with the campy dialog, hollow storyline, and rehashing of the theme of the show for newcomers to the series. The surprise was that just as I was going through finding issues with the new season, the episode was suddenly over. An hour had flown by in what seemed like about 20 minutes. I guess that means it kept me interested. The last third of the show really got interesting as several new possibilities were laid out and it definitely left me wanting more.

Journeyman is the 2007 version of Quantum Leap. Instead of jumping through time and staying until he figures out and solves something, he jumps randomly, and comes back randomly. The bottom line is that like Sam Beckett, Dan Vasser doesn't know why he has "jumped" or "journeyed" but figures it out as he goes along. He appears to have traded in Al and Ziggy for a gorgeous but dead ex-girlfriend named Livia. Does this mean I am upset at this show for obviously stealing from one of my favorite series? Nah... it's all good - I think I am going to like this one too.

Chuck is a great premise and despite the fact that it is very corny and dangerously close to becoming lame, I will give it a couple of episodes before I make my final decision. I mean, come on, first off based on his background with tech, he would have to be my age - but then, NBC is not going to have a 40 year old Chuck. The over-the-top parody is a bit much too... a bald Chinese guy named Harry, a warehouse store called Large Mart, Nerd Herd, Buy More - cute, but it could become too cheesy. By the end of the first episode, I was smiling so that is a good sign. If it stays cute and occasionally funny, it will last.

The basic theme running through the Monday night lineup seems to be hot women in lingerie... and this is not necessarily a bad thing. I am guessing that there is a marketing deal between NBC and Victoria's Secret. Product placement in general seems to be more blatant than any I have seen in network television. The iPhone in Journeyman, the Nissan all over Heroes, and several other "just too long pauses" over logos etc.

Posted by CDogg at 09:33 PM | Comments (0)

September 21, 2007

Champs, Shepherds, Japanese schoolkids, and even Christ

Resurrecting the Champ is a film about Champ (Samuel L. Jackson,) a former boxing legend and Erik Kernen (Josh Hartnett,) a struggling reporter. The film is a feather in the cap of both actors who have stretched far beyond their typical roles.

Director Rod Lurie - whose work on Commander in Chief was some of the best stuff on television, does a good job with the script. While there is nothing that jumps out at you to make you go "Wow, that was an amazing shot" or "great choice on that setup," Lurie does an excellent job of not getting in the way of the story. Trust me, that means a lot.

Large liberties are taken in this fictionalized version of boxer Bob Satterfield's story, but it is all for the good. The cast is impressive, the story is completely engaging, the acting is top notch, and the time spent with the film is 100% enjoyable.

RATING 9 out of 10

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The Good Shepherd is a flick I tried to catch a couple times over the past few months, but something always conspired to interrupt. It is a hard film to get into as you can't watch this one "on the side." There is so much detail and nuance that requires your full attention. Matt Damon proves once again that he is an excellent actor despite such missteps as the crappy Ocean's 11 through 27 roles.

Despite a carousel of directors, TGS eventually ended up with Robert De Niro at the helm. De Niro did a good job as the replacement director, but the script certainly did make it easy. What is especially good about the story is that it is one of those rare films that doesn't lead you by the nose. It gives you credit for having a brain and forces you to pay attention.

The final 1/4 of the movie is the only letdown as after the first 120 minutes it changes from a thought-provoking well-written story to a typical Hollywood wrapup. This could have been a great one.

RATING 8 out of 10

=================================

After hearing numerous people rave about Battle Royale, I broke down and rented it on NetFlix - fun stuff. The entire movie is in Japanese with English subtitles, but it doesn't take you out of the story at all. BR is the tale of the Japanese government's attempt to reign in out-of-control schoolchildren by capturing one class of ninth graders and forcing them to fight each other to the death over the course of a few days.

Sure, this is pure fantasy. Sure, this is 100% escapism. Sure, it is a crazy premise... but DAMN its a lot of fun! Imprison 42 delinquent students on an island, distribute one random weapon to each student, and let the fun begin.

In news that will either end up great or horrible - I have heard rumors of an American remake of Battle Royale. I sure hope that someone with an appreciation for the original is in charge and that it doesn't turn into typical teen schlock.

RATING 9 out of 10

=================================

Another in a line of films I meant to see long ago but never did - The Last Temptation of Christ was quite a disappointment. When it first came out in 1998 there was quite a bit of turmoil surrounding the Martin Scorsese film because the storyline portrayed Jesus Christ as more human and less holy.

I wasn't bothered at all by the approach of the film. I was however, shocked at the stilted and subpar performance by Willem Dafoe. Harvey Keitel's Judas was a good performance as was Barbara Hershey's Mary Magdelene.

Surrounded by Scorsese's other great works, Temptation pales in comparision. I think that had this film not challenged long-held beliefs and taken on the institution of religion, it would have slipped from the consciousness of moviegoers long ago. The lasting legacy is not that it was any great piece of storytelling, fictional or otherwise, but that it caused a stir. That, my friends, doesn't earn any extra stars in my book.

RATING 4 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 07:17 PM | Comments (3)

September 17, 2007

K.O. in the first

K-Ville seemed to have promise from the previews I had seen the past few weeks, but boy was I wrong. Not only is this just a run of the mill cop show, it's not even an above average one. The storyline is typical schlock, and really that's what kills it. It takes typical cop drama and tries to cover it liberally with a "but look, we're in New Orleans" paint job. Yeah, we get it - the show is set in New Orleans. Yeah, we get it - New Orleans suffered because of Katrina. Yeah, we get it - there are some bad people taking advantage of the suffering. Yeah, we get it - there are still a lot of good people there. Yeah, we get it - this is a not a very good TV show.

Hey Fox - take a couple of days off from your obviously strenuous idea sessions and just watch NBC. Their transformation is what you should be copying - not the typical tired old rehashed shows in new cities. Oh, and if you are going to put anything back in N'awlins - at least hire one actor that can master the accent.

Posted by CDogg at 08:35 PM | Comments (3)

September 11, 2007

A big hit of adrenalin fun

What is the most over-the-top genre of films? It has to be the "shoot 'em up." What happens when you take that genre and push it even further? You get a "shoot 'em up" titled Shoot 'Em Up! I had such a good time last night watching this film. You already know that Clive Owen is one of my favorite actors, but he outdid himself on this one.

Owen, as Mr Smith, is one part James Bond, one part Rambo, one part Schwarzenegger, and four parts explosive fun. Add in a side order of the gorgeous and talented Monica Bellucci and you have a formula for a good film. All you need is a good story, right? NOPE, you don't need a good story, any old schlock will do - you just need to crank up the action beyond anyone's ability to suspend disbelief and you are treated to the best action film since 300.

Sure, its all gratiutious. Sure, not a frame of it makes much sense. The bottom line is that some excellent films don't need believability - was Sin City a true story? Did everything in Finding Nemo make sense? Of course not. This film is 100% escapism... go into it thinking comic book and you will not only "believe," but enjoy the fact that each situation gets more and more incredible.

PS. This is NOT a kids movie - it is pure adult playtime.

RATING 9 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 01:17 PM | Comments (0)

September 09, 2007

Some Super and Some Not So Much

Superbad was surprisingly good. I always view this type of film with skepticism because they are rarely average - the norm is for them to be either super bad or super good. If ever a film had the wrong title, it was Superbad.

The story of high school goofs trying to score with hot girls is certainly not new and this was true to the formula. Where Superbad parts way with many "coming of age" flicks is that it is uproariously funny. Sure, there's some bad language. Sure, there's some low brow humor. But isn't that was high school is all about? Seth Rogan's story however, resonates with a realism that makes the most insane situation seem plausible.

The character of McLovin/Fogell played by Christopher Mintz-Plasse is one of the best I have seen in awhile. This one ranks up with there with any film in this genre.

RATING 9 out of 10

The Simpson's Movie has to be the worst episode of the show ever. It was like pulling teeth watching this thing. In a typical television episode there are three or four interesting stories all intertwined, amazing sight gags, excellent and witty one-liners both up-front and in the subtext. In short, the television show is bullets.

The transition to the big screen was not kind. There was less intelligent writing across an hour and a half than in a typical thirty minute show. The supporting cast was entirely wasted - you think with three times the show length, they could fit in a joke or two involving someone other than Homer. Even the color seemed to be more pastel and less lively than normal.

RATING 5 out of 10

Blood Diamond was another film that surprised me. Leonardo DiCaprio is an actor I have really tried to dislike. The problem is that he keeps putting in excellent performances. I'll admit it - I think Leo is a damn fine actor.

The story of blood diamonds is nothing new as I have seen numerous documentaries and yeah, the character of Maddy Bowen played by Jennifer Connelly is standard tough-girl reporter stereotype, but DiCaprio and an amazing performance by Djimon Hounsou (Soloman Vandy) sealed the deal. The editing was sharp. The directing was flawless. It is a well told story that keeps you interested right up until the cliche ending. Had it not been forced to fit the Hollywood script mold, this could have been one of the great ones.

RATING 8 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 09:22 PM | Comments (0)

September 03, 2007

Jimmy Stewart would have been proud

Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore? is a fun documentary. It is the tale of a young political science instructor at Washington University who runs for the seat vacated by retiring congressman Dick Gephardt of Missouri. His battle against the entrenched Carnahan family name in the person of Russ Carnaham was the kind of stuff they make movies about - I guess they did.

The little-man versus the machine battle of sheer will and hard work against his opponent's mountain of cash is inspiring and draws a perfect parallel to the 1939 Stewart film where another Jeff Smith fights similar odds.

The film is well-constructed and, as documentaries go, does a great job of keeping you interested while staying true to the story. I tell you, halfway through the thing I was thinking of running for office myself. This film gives you hope that a grass roots movement can actually make a difference in this time of political family and corporate dynasties.

RATING 8 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 09:58 PM | Comments (0)

August 13, 2007

Sarah Silverman Sucks

It is sure to be an unpopular stance with some, but although her boyfriend's show (Jimmy Kimmel Live) is one of my favorites, her humor is some of lamest on the planet. She takes the low road on every joke and her style is both rude and crude.

The shtick is to start with funny situation and then take the most crude angle possible in an attempt to make the audience laugh. "Watch Season Two of my program or I'll kill my dog," she says in her new ad. How is that funny? Sure, I know she wasn't going to really kill the dog, but how is this funny?

Sarah totally reinvented herself a few years ago when she was a pretty funny standup comedienne. Apparently her act was 'tweaked' to see how far she could push the envelope. She went from establishing a premise and delivering a funny punchline, to establishing a premise and delivering a humorless jab at children, small furry animals, the elderly or the handicapped - often with vulgar sex and fecal references. Now I'm no prude, but when I want to laugh at granny, I just don't want it to be about well-endowed horses (are there any other kind.)

In my humble opinion, Sarah Silverman... you are a humorless hack.

Posted by CDogg at 10:09 PM | Comments (15)

August 07, 2007

Good times at the theater

I went to see the Bourne Ultimatum with Tony last night (I had a free pass) and while waiting around for the movie to start, I met some cool new friends.

I just love how peer pressure works on people who still view themselves as invincible. Their friends convinced them it would be cool to see how many stantions they could jump.

They did a fine job on this jump. The next one didn't turn out as well.

Posted by CDogg at 01:32 AM | Comments (0)

August 03, 2007

MAD MEN - subliminal series

I was going to hold off on writing my thoughts about the new AMC series MAD MEN, but it has really started to grow on me. Hearing the premise before its debut, I was intrigued in the story which chronicles the lives of ad men in the 1950s. It was a time when advertising was changing from simple statements and outright snake oil pitches to a more insidious and psychological approach to move products.

Just weeks before I heard about MAD MEN, I had seen a 2002 BBC documentary called The Century of the Self which talked about the use of psychology in business and politics to control the behavior of the masses. In four one-hour segments, one of the topics it covered at length was how ad men used Sigmund Freud's theories to influence purchases and eventually decide elections. The chief architect that took the theories from the couch to Madison Avenue, Washington D.C., and beyond was Edward Burnays - nephew of Freud. Because the previews of MAD MEN hinted at looking into this topic, I set the TiVo.

At first I was a bit disappointed in that it seemed to have more relationship stuff than serious PR or opinion shaping. While the content has changed a lot in the first few episodes, what I have discovered is an interesting story about how attitudes have changed over time. The first thing you are struck with is how many people smoke and how much, but it is the treatment of women and children that seems almost shocking. Sure, some of it is a bit exaggerated for television but it is a great reminder of how much change we have seen in the last generation. When is the last time you heard the word "divorcee" used in a derogatory way?

It might not be what I was looking for, but I am finding it interesting enough to keep it on the TiVo.

Oh yeah - if you want a good education (in four hours) you can stream all four episodes of "The Century of the Self" online at Google video.

Posted by CDogg at 02:20 PM | Comments (0)

August 01, 2007

Congratulations Edge or is it Eli?

I have to tip my hat to former employee, former business partner, former neighbor, occasional pain in the ass, and longtime friend - Elias Green. Ours has long been a friendship filled with tons of side-splitting laughter and intense competition. Whether he was whupping my butt in a game of XBox 360 football or failing to beat me in cycling, the competition was always there right alongside the frustration and fun.

One of my goals that is yet incomplete is getting my name listed in the Internet Movie Data Base (IMDB.) Despite being an extra in quite a few big-budget productions and numerous indie flicks, I have not yet reached the criteria for my listing. I have to congratulate EJ for traveling out to LA, taking the bull by the horns and making it happen. He now has a listing in IMDB!

Congrats!!

Dave, EJ, & myself working on the scene of one of my short films, "The Audition"

Posted by CDogg at 09:53 PM | Comments (0)

July 26, 2007

Call 1-800-CDOGG-KNOWS to hear your future!

I guess Reuters is reading my blog. Just after I wrote an article about how fake Man vs. Wild with Bear Grylls is on the 22nd, Reuters published a piece on the 24th. Turns out he may be sleeping in hotels during those "wilderness" shoots.

Dave pointed out the timelines of this and other stories like the doping in the tour, the Michael Vick is a bad guy, and Chris Benoit might just be a murderer, and said if I was going to keep predicting the future, I should start writing about how rich and famous I am.

So for the record...

"It seems to me that within a very short time, I will become rich and famous. Furthermore, all signs point to Playboy opening up a new South Mansion in my backyard." (crossing my fingers - think I may have went overboard with the Playboy thing?)

Posted by CDogg at 09:48 AM | Comments (0)

July 22, 2007

Man vs. Boredom

Sorry Dave, after hearing you talk about Man vs. Wild on the last podcast, I thought I would give it a shot. Being a big fan of Survivorman, I was sold on the idea of a show about a dude out in the middle of nowhere trying to survive, but MvW was dead on arrival.

Bear Grylls (or Edward Michael Grylls) may have the skills to survive in the wild, but the show isn't anywhere close to realistic. The obvious difference is that he isn't alone. As he was climbing down a waterfall on a vine, I counted at least five different angles. He's traveling with a full scale production crew. There is none of the survival stuff you see Les Stroud (Survivorman) go through, instead he just nibbles on one or two of the grossest things he can find.

The overt attempts to make things look dangerous and dramatic just take you out of any inkling of belief. If you want a good show - watch Survivorman, he had the idea first, he does it better, and he has the Chris Doelle Seal of Approval.

Posted by CDogg at 10:09 PM | Comments (0)

July 19, 2007

These rats die hard!

Live Free or Die Hard just barely missed being the worst in the Die Hard series (the third one was worse.) The amazing part is how close the call was. My nephew, Scooter, said it best when he said, "It makes a lot more sense if you pretend that John McClain is some sort of superhero."

The stunts are not only insanely impossibly, but so unrealistic. They are clearly staged for the express purpose of doing an original stunt. Did anyone buy the helicopter thing? Please tell me you didn't. Don't even get me started on the jet UNDER the freeway overpass.

Another thing that probably won't bother the mainstream viewing public, but annoyed the hell out of me, were the outrageous technology loopholes. Do they even bother to consult someone with knowledge of technology before they sign off on these insane scripts?

The acting jobs were pretty good... Bruce Willis was his usual entertaining self. Justin Long did a great job (although I expect him to break into his "I'm an Apple" routine. The best surprise however, was Kevin Smith (The Warlock) with an actual speaking role - he did a pretty darn good job.

RATING 6 out of 10

Ratatouille was a fun film. Once again, the folks at Pixar have turned out more than just an animated film. It's more than just a good story. It's more than just great characters. It is a film that everyone can enjoy.

I have a friend that refuses to see animated films or watch anything animated on film because he says "that craps for kids." Are you kidding me? Some of the best films made are animated - Ratatouille has joined the pantheon of excellent animated film.

The characters are compelling. The voice talent is perfect. The storyline is entertaining. What's not to love?

RATING 8 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 11:02 PM | Comments (3)

July 17, 2007

I am so pissed at ESPN

Twice now I have set my DVR to record the first episode of The Bronx is Burning and twice now it has screwed up. Each time, the show that was on prior to the scheduled start ran long. Each time, The Bronx is Burning started about a half hour into the recording and thus missed the final 30 minutes of the show.

After the first one, I simply deleted the recording, rather than watch half an episode, and selected the next showing to record. I just sat down to watch the second recording and once again it only caught the first half. I could have made a sailor blush with the string of profanities spewed once I realized ESPN had again screwed up my plans.

Luckily, there are enough ESPN channels that it is showing over and over again for the next few days, so I set it to record every single showing. ESPN has to stay on schedule at some point, right?

Posted by CDogg at 10:21 PM | Comments (0)

July 15, 2007

Two more in production? He'll be 40 soon!

The Mescan and I went to see Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix last Wednesday night and I have to say that while it started out a bit slow and frankly, retarded - it picked up quite a bit as it went on.

I can deal with the fact that young Mr. Potter looks like he's 25 already, I can deal with the fact that there was hardly any Hagrid in this installment, I can even deal with the fact that Hermione has me feeling a little creepy as she has gone from 9 or 10 when shooting the first one to a pretty good looking 17 year old, what I can't deal with is the typical problem large book conversions to film face. You just can't bring in all these characters in such a short time without them coming up a bit short in their development.

For the readers of the book series, it is not a big problem - when they see a new character like Nymphadora Tonks (that's subtle) or Bellatrix Lestrange, they have pages and pages of information from the books to flesh out the character. To someone like me who has yet to open any of books, their flatness jumps out. This story could have been better told as three films - of course then it would be clear how much J.K. Rowling has stolen from other writers.

I know I am probably turning a large percent of my audience into haters because I am dissing a cult figure like Harry Potter, but I gotta call it like I see it. Bottom line? I found the film entirely enjoyable once it got past the first twenty minutes or so. I felt it didn't deliver on the promise setup in that first act, but I didn't leave the theater feeling robbed. (Well, unless you count the blandest popcorn I have ever tasted.) If you are a rabid Potter fan, you will likely love OotP. If you are a casual Potterista, you will find it a fun outing. Either way, it's worth watching and it was a step up from the previous film.

RATING 7 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 05:51 PM | Comments (0)

July 09, 2007

Very cool... a mini-series about the Bronx Bombers!

While watching coverage of the Tour de France, I saw an add for an 8-week mini-series that begins tonight on ESPN. The Bronx is Burning chronicles one of the most entertaining/crazy periods of New York Yankee history - the 1977 season. All the guys you either loved or hated are involved - we're talking George Steinbrenner (Oliver Platt,) Billy Martin (John Turturro,) and Mr. October, Reggie Jackson (Daniel Sunjata.)

How can I not love this series? It involves my favorite baseball team and some of my favorite actors. You may not recognize the name Daniel Sunjata, but he plays Franco Rivera on FX's Rescue Me.

I trust ESPN will give the story a good treatment as they have a history of pretty darn good original content. I just can't wait to see my childhood heroes, Catfish Hunter, Yogi Berra, Graig Nettles, Bucky Dent, Lou Piniella, Ron Guidry, etc. back on the diamond.

Posted by CDogg at 02:33 PM | Comments (0)

July 08, 2007

You can always count on Jimmy to do what's right

They are few and far between now, but occasionally I see a Jimmy Stewart film I haven't seen before. Firecreek (1968) is the latest in that list. Long-time readers know that Stewart is my favorite actor of all time, and his westerns are some of his best work.

Firecreek is a morality play typical of the 60's and has a great story even though they hit you over the head with it. You can't help but root for Stewart's Johnny Cobb character as he realizes that there comes a time when every man has to stand up no matter how large the opposition. It is also points out how easy it is for people to "go along" and not rock the boat to protect their own interests. Try to find a more applicable lesson in any of the movies made today.

"I can't gamble with bein' nobody. I been that! It don't work for me!"

--Bob Larkin (Henry Fonda)

"What I didn't see was the day a man decides not to face the world is the day he better step out of it"

--Johnny Cobb

They don't make actors like Jimmy Stewart anymore and they don't make films like this any more.

RATING 9 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 09:49 PM | Comments (0)

July 07, 2007

Nice find

Civic Duty is one of those films that sorta grows on you. It started out looking like a typical left-wing apologist film about judging Middle Easterners. It turned into a pretty darn good thriller.

Peter Krause does an amazing job in his role as an accountant turned vigilante. He is 100% believable whether stalking around nervously or losing it completely. Do not let the first fifteen or twenty minutes of the film turn you away, the payoff is well worth the wait.

The "big ending" was a bit cornball, but once again, Krause proves why he is one of the most underrated actors. Good stuff.

RATING 8 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 02:03 PM | Comments (0)

July 05, 2007

So You'd Think I Would Hate This Show

I know I ripped this show when it first appeared last year, but for some reason I am really into it this year. What show? So You Think You Can Dance.

I have to admit that I never gave the show a chance last year... the idea of dance as primetime entertainment didn't really appeal to me. So why the 180? I actually watched it with a live theatre mindset and it really plays that way. I don't know if the talent last season was as good, but these folks can cut a freakin' rug!

I love SYTYCD and I'm not afraid to admit it. :) And no Dave, liking dance and live theatre does NOT mean I'm gay. haha

Posted by CDogg at 10:31 PM | Comments (0)

June 30, 2007

I hate to say "I told you so..."

It turns out that I was correct in my assertion that a tribute to show Chris Benoit was waaaay too premature.

According to Wikipedia:

WWE canceled the scheduled three hour long live RAW show on June 25, and replaced the broadcast version with a tribute to his life and career, featuring his past matches, segments from the Hard Knocks: The Chris Benoit Story DVD, and comments from wrestlers and announcers.[9] The next night, before their ECW broadcast, WWE aired a recorded statement by Vince McMahon hinting towards regret for the previous night's special and stating that Benoit's name would not be mentioned other than during McMahon's comments. The WWE also removed all tributes and comments concerning Chris Benoit from their official website and later removed news articles about the deaths and their preceding events. Benoit's profile has also been removed from the roster of superstars on the WWE website.

I know the pressure to address the issue was probably very high, but sometimes even in the exploitation business, it's best to hold off and think a bit.

Posted by CDogg at 09:00 AM | Comments (0)

June 25, 2007

Sonny's boy got it right.

The Dog Problem is a quirky little film about a man (Giovanni Ribisi) at a crossroads psychologically. His psychiatrist (Don Cheadle) suggests he get a dog. Without going into great detail about the plot, the ensuing story is cute, fun, and uplifting in a weird way.

Some of the characters were a little weak - the most disjointed being Casper (Scott Caan.) As an anti-hero to Ribisi's character, Casper worked - the problem was that Caan (who also directed the film) just went a little too "out there."

Another very cool part about the film was the dog Spot (Jimmy the Dog), who looked a lot like Lou with a really short, really bad haircut. No, he didn't do any real tricks, but he was just such a scraggly mess that you found yourself constantly concerned for his welfare. If you get a chance, pick this one up.

RATING 8 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 12:36 PM | Comments (0)

June 24, 2007

Great series... no information

I finally watched the last episode of the 2005 BBC series "Girls & Boys." It chronicles rock from the 60s through to the year 2000 (with a decidedly British point of view) as it applied to sexuality. Each of the four episodes cover a decade and does an amazing job of showing the lifespan of musical movements such as punk, disco, glam rock, and the new romantic, just to name a few.

The angle taken with the series is how sexuality affected the music scene and vice-versa. From the Beatles and Kinks to the Spice Girls and Robbie Williams, this series is completely engrossing. Half of the fun of the show is relating what was happening in terms of various sexual revolutions to what was happening in my life at the time and realizing just how oblivious I was to all of it. At thirteen, I was clueless to David Bowie's sexuality, Annie Lennox's androgyny, or even the meaning of the name of 70s superband Queen.

One thing I found disappointing was that I couldn't find a decent website about the series anywhere. If anyone can find a good site... let me know... if you can find a copy of the series and you like music, grab it. Good stuff from "the beeb."

Posted by CDogg at 12:35 AM | Comments (0)

June 17, 2007

Jury still out on John

John from Cincinnati is the new HBO series that was pimped heavily during the final weeks of The Sopranos. The previews were intriguing enough to make me take notice and as Bruce Greenwood is a star I enjoy watching, I figured I would give it a few episodes.

The first episode was full of mystical and metaphysical references and touched on spirituality throughout... pretty heady stuff for your average Nielson family. I am still not sold on Rebecca DeMornay in her role, but all of the other parts seem to be cast very well. Ed O'Neill was a welcome surprise as he is actually a very underrated actor and I enjoy seeing him in roles other than Al Bundy.

Where do I think the series is going? Is John from Cincinnati an angel? Is Mitch Yost a Christ-like figure? Is Shaun Yost the "chosen child?" No matter where the characters go, it seems obvious the producers intend to make Luke Perry's Linc Stark a Satan character.

Do I think it has potential - gobs and gobs. Do I think it will develop into a strong series that lasts? Thats the problem... if J from C continues to evolve into a thought-provoking, talent-laden, well-written series... it will likely lose the public. No slam against the American public intended, but the Average Joe and Jane usually prefer their TV with less intelligence and a laugh track.

Posted by CDogg at 08:42 PM | Comments (0)

June 11, 2007

In like a lion, out like a lamb

Well, its finally over and I have to say, "fughettaboutit!" The Sopranos, which has been called the best television series EVER, has finally broken my heart for the last time. When I think back to when we first met, I cannot help but smile though.

It was January of 1999, Prince had warned us that the entire year was going to be one heck of a party. As I wandered through the doldrums of television looking for my "little red corvette," I found something cooler. It was love at first site as mobsters gathered around for a pool party at the boss' house. I was smitten by the brutality in the deaths of "rats" and people who just rubbed Tony the wrong way. Silvio made me skip a beat the first time I saw his turned down smile. When I met Livia, I knew it was love.

By the year 2000, it was the Sopranos crew that kept me from heading to the hills with my Y2K survival kit to rocking back and forth violently. The relationship between Janice and Ritchie made for uncomfortable bedroom scenes, but I couldn't turn away. When Big Pussy was sent to sleep with the fishes, I knew the love would last.

In March of 2001, she began testing my patience. Not only did I have to wait an unbearable extra 2 months for new episodes, but something in the tone was just not the same. Sure, we were still the same people, but we seemed to have grown apart. The characters seemed weaker, the drama seemed overacted, and the script seemed hurried. Maybe I was just getting too comfortable - surely, this would pass.

By September of 2002, the wait between seasons was a year and four months. If she really loved me, would she make me wait like this? They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, and I guess it's true - I missed her despite last years falling out. Who does she show up with when she finally arrives? Furio. Like the series, I liked him at first, but when the story devolved into some sort of Carmella/Fabio romance cover, I think I threw up just a little inside. Between that and the ridiculous horse hijinx, I started to wonder what I had ever loved in her.

March 2004, another long absence - but by then I really didn't care. I was really starting to find her appearance sickening. Sure, when she rolled into town, I would try to rekindle some of the fire. I could spend one Sunday night with her, right? Surely, we could "have a little fun" and go our separate ways. I spent most of the next three months hating her more after each rendezvous. I cannot think of one memorable moment from this period in our relationship.

We held off seeing each other for almost two years by March of 2006. Maybe she sensed she was letting me down? Maybe she would try to make amends? She walks in with existential dreaming and Johnny Cakes and I knew that it was going to be an agonizing visit. I tried to make the best of it as Paulie got bent out of shape over the accident at the fundraiser amusement ride. I tried to be there when Little Anthony went from fun little brat, to wimpy man overnight, but I spent most of our Sundays mocking her. Midway through our visit she walked out the door.

Ten months later, in April of 2007 the Sopranos waltzed back in the door as if there wasn't a break. She went back to pandering to liberal causes. She went back to sickening soap opera storylines. She went back to to weakest show about tough guys ever. Surely, this is her revenge - now, it was her mocking me. "I'll show you, I'll show them all... even if I am old, tired, and senile... you'll love me... I'll make you love me," she seemed to be saying. But, the damage was done. My heart was too hardened to see she was trying. The hurt from years of letting me down was too much to overcome... now I just wanted her out of my life forever. Someone just kill her - or better yet, maybe she would kill herself.

In a final "screw you," she didn't walk out with dignity, she didn't do the honorable thing and take her own life, she simply slid out the same way she always did. As usual, she left the door open just a crack. Why did I expect any different? She has always done things her own way - regardless of whether I loved or hated her.

I however, have closed the door behind her this time.

Posted by CDogg at 07:30 AM | Comments (2)

June 03, 2007

Of Pirates and Kings

Well, the third in the Pirates of the Carribean series (At World's End,) is in theaters and I figured it was high time I watched it. I absolutely loved PotC 1 (rating it a 9 out of 10 stars), was a little less impressed with PotC 2 (8 out of 10), and the trend continued with this third installment.

The thing that jumped out most was how Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow character morphed from a great character in the first film to a horrible caricature of said role by this version. Geoffrey Rush was the sole bright spot in this dimming franchise. His Barbossa was the only real pirate-like character in the bunch.

Yeah, it was still fun to watch, although the number of laugh-out-loud moments was much fewer than the other films. Yeah, the special effects were a blast, although the mini-Sparrows on Jack's shoulders looked very CGI. Yeah, the action was spot-on. The real problem was the overacting by everyone except Rush, the weakest storyline of the franchise, and clear effort to overwhelm the audience with special effects. It left me a bit sad to see how far the subsequent apples had fallen from the original tree.

Oh yeah, Chow Yun-Fat did a fine job as well.

RATING 7 out of 10

I also saw The Last King of Scotland this weekend with no real idea what to expect. The whole story of Idi Amin Dada has been one of those periods of history that I always found interesting. The Raid on Entebee is one of my earliest world event memories. At just 13 years old, I was amazed that this made-for-TV movie depicted real events and I consider it one of the seminal events leading to an interest in things outside of my immediate surroundings.

With all that pressure on the film, it came through with flying colors. Forest Whitaker's take on Amin was brilliant. His Oscar was well-deserved. The angle taken by the film was interesting, and held my attention throughout. From the beginning, history takes a back seat to the personal story of Amin's fictional Scottish physician, and the interplay of real events with his own journey kept either from getting boring.

Another shocker was Gillian Anderson (Scully from X-Files.) I had not heard she was in the film and was blown away to see her in long, dirty blonde hair. I never understood the fanboys that drooled over her as Scully, but yowza... she has aged very well and looks great with the new 'do.

RATING 9 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 11:44 PM | Comments (3)

June 01, 2007

Just like comic books, but they MOVE!!

I recently watched a couple of animated movies, one that I have been wanting to see for awhile, and one that I was just alerted to by Random of Sturgeon's Law fame.

The first is Ultimate Avengers: The Movie. In addition to all the live-action superhero films created by Marvel, they began a series of direct-to-dvd animated films that has really caught traction with the fans. Ultimate Avengers came out in February of last year, just as I was getting fed up with Netflix. After cancelling my account, I just never got around to seeing it. When Random mentioned a new Invincible Iron Man title, I knew it was time to play catch up.

First off, let me say that I loved the film... about the only way to make me not like an animated superhero film is to screw with traditional animation. (i.e. the unrealistic look in Batman: The Animated Series.) The animation in UA was excellent (with the exception of Hulk's face... just a little too gaunt for me.) I was even okay with them "reimagining" the story line a bit to bring it up to date. I just couldn't get into Nick Fury being a black dude. I am down with the brothers in comics...Luke Cage (aka Power Man) and Jim Rhodes (War Machine) are a couple of my favorites... but come on - Nick Fury was one of my heroes - a grizzled veteran chomping a cigar, one-time leader of the Howling Commandos, and current head of S.H.I.E.L.D. Heck, he was the first comic book character I ever penciled as a kid. You can't just change him so completely.

As an action-packed romp into my past, this film was a blast. As an accurate depiction of the history and mythology of these character's origins... it was disappointing.

RATING 7 out of 10

Next up is one of my all-time favorite superheroes and the reason for renting the two in the first place - The Invincible Iron Man. (I haven't rented a video from a video store in over a decade.) It was good to see "ol shellhead" in action once again, but as with UA there are some big changes to the history.

In the original incarnation, Tony Stark was injured by shrapnel in the Vietnam War. A Vietnamese warlord nursed him to health and forced him to create weapons for the cause, while Tony and a fellow prisoner created a suit that not only maintained his heart function, but gave him tremendous strength. This story was later updated making the setting the original Gulf War. This time around, the story was not just updated, but changed entirely.

I have always liked Tony Stark because, instead of the typical insecure teen, he was a billionaire playboy, cutthroat capitalist, and sometime philanthropist. I have been biding my time until the Iron Man live action film, so this animated piece came along at a good time.

The film has a lot of action and once we get past the history and into the suit of armor, it really gets fun. Three cheers to Marvel for continuing the comics I know and love in fresh ways, even though I believe the original storylines would have played just as well to today's youth.

RATING 7 out of 10

Want proof that I am a huge Iron Man fan? This is an unfinished section of my garage wall. It is my wall of comics that I started when I first moved in... it has Iron Man, War Machine, the X-Men, and even the Hulk. Most of it is penciled in already, but as you can see the inking (black paint) is far from finished.

Here is a closer shot...

Now, if I could just get my garage cleaned out, maybe I could get back to my painting one day. I will probably need to cut the whole wall out when I sell the place because I doubt it will increase the value and the thought of someone painting over it is just sad.

Posted by CDogg at 08:45 PM | Comments (2)

May 28, 2007

A little OFF

Fox's On the Lot premiered last week and I thought, "cool, its gonna be a cross between Project Greenlight and the typical reality show." The problem is it's light on filmmaking and very heavy on the typical reality show shtick.

It seems to be a show in search of a format. There was really not much "filmmaking" in the thing, as they spent much more time on interactions, bitching, etc... the standard reality show fare. With tonight's episode however, it morphed into American Idol as viewers were invited to call in votes for their favorite films. Again, no coverage of the craft, but this time they did actually screen the short films.

Another upsetting thing about OTL - I think the show has forever ruined my impression of Carrie Fisher. I no longer see Princess Leia when I think of her, now some crazy version of Sally Jessy Raphael jumps to mind... very creepy.

As a filmmaker and television critic, I will of course continue to watch, but I just wish it were more about "on the lot" and less about "voting off the island."

Posted by CDogg at 07:43 PM | Comments (0)

May 21, 2007

Blah blah blah - blah blah

I am sooo looking forward to the final closing credits on the Sopranos series. It is downright painful watching it grind to an end... not from any sense of loss at its passing, but from the hopelessly lame writing as they attempt to tie up the myriad of poorly structured, dangling, loose ends.

The Sopranos really went downhill after season two... from that point on , it became a soap opera mixed with political correctness gone awry. Each season since that time has been progressivly worse and even when they try to throw something "old school" (i.e. actual entertainment) into the story, it is so poorly conceived and written that it leaves you scratching your head at the stupidity. It's as if they have handed over writing duties to the interns as the staff has already scrambled to their new jobs.

I will stick it out to the end just because I have so much time invested, but I really wish the final war would start, Tony would get killed off or locked up, and they can have their end-of-series parties before going their separate ways.

Posted by CDogg at 12:54 PM | Comments (1)

May 08, 2007

A quarter of a billion dollars????

How do you spend a quarter of a billion dollars on a film and create a total crapfest? You put all the money in the effects, ignore the story, and possibly encourage the actors to give their worst performances of a popular franchise. That is what happened with Spider-Man 3. Did George Lucas secretly write this thing?

I loved the visual effects - well except for the super-fast sequences when the Green Goblin was battling Spidey. Not only did their faces looked superimposed on the CGI bodies, but the outrageous speeds had no affect on the actors at all. There was no tell-tale rippling of facial skin, there was no squinting from the wind velocity, and the most telling... not one hair on their heads so much as wiggled. The Sandman stuff was pretty cool, but a quarter of a billion dollars cool - not really.

The pacing of the film was painful. There was 20 minutes of sappy story, followed by 5 minutes of Aunt May being profoundly prophetic, and then a 3 minute action sequence. (Repeat that sequence over and over for what seemed like 6 hours and you have Spider-Man 3.) The action was cool enough to keep you watching the film, but the story breaks in the middle were like needles to the eyeball.

As superhero movies go, this one is only slightly better than Daredevil, Elektra, or Punisher. As Spider-Man movies go... this was is clearly the bottom of the barrel.

The absolute worst part of the film had to be the "bad boy" Peter Parker. I am surprised the NAACP isn't up in arms about this one. When Peter put on the "black" suit, he transformed how he looked at behaved. His hair became messy, he walked with a coolness that looked like a parody of Shaft, he suddenly was very good at jazz piano, he treated his woman bad and in fact bitch-slapped MJ, oh and the whole being selfish and mean thing. Once you go black...

RATING 5 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 10:31 PM | Comments (3)

May 02, 2007

Dangerously close to LAMEtourage

Entourage has long been one of the 'good' shows. The first season, it was a tightly-written, smart comedy. As a result, it became wildly successful. In season two, it had its ups and downs... the increased focus on Ari (Jeremy Piven) really made the show pop, while the increasingly cardboard stereotypes like that of Johnny Drama (Kevin Dillon) became a bit disappointing.

Season three is the chance for redemption and you know what? It just isn't happening. I see a whole lot of "let's spend the Entourage budget" going on as they are bringing in more and more guest appearances and really not worrying too much about the script.

Will I still keep watching? Yeah. Will I be critical when each episode goes by with no real movement in the plot? You bet. Do I begrudge them their opportunity to cash in on the success and just sorta float along until the end of season twist that is sure to come? Nah... more power to them. All they really have to do is keep feeding me enough crumbs to keep me from finding something else to take care of my entertainment appetite... as of right now though, they are cutting it pretty close.

Posted by CDogg at 08:05 AM | Comments (0)

April 29, 2007

A long lost friend

How cool is this? I just discovered the star of one of my all-time favorite films, Breaking Away in the SciFi mini-series The Lost Room. I started watching the Lost Room because it has another of my favorite actors from Sports Night, Peter Krause. Okay before this gets too convoluted, the actor I discovered is Dennis Christopher and the film came along at a time (1979) when cycling was my life. It was an inspiration that carried me through thousands of miles. The tale of the Cutters' fighting impossible odds in the "Little 500" bike race is one of the top sports films of all time.

(Dennis Christopher 1979 & 2006)

I thought he had pretty much stopped acting. Looking at his IMDB profile, it is like a who's who of shows and films I have never seen despite there being some pretty popular ones. He has been working steadily ever since, but somehow in all that time I have missed each of his appearances... we are talking shows like Profiler, SeaQuest, Murder She Wrote, Roswell, Crossing Jordan, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and Deadwood... all shows I have never seen. Okay, I take that back - I did catch him in the Stephen King mini-series IT.

Two excellent actors... one crazy and inventive story... what's not to like?

Posted by CDogg at 08:03 PM | Comments (0)

April 12, 2007

Will the real genuis filmmaker please stand up?

Can you give one movie two different ratings? I think for Grindhouse, I am going to review each of the features separately. The first feature was Planet Terror by Robert Rodriguez. I was blown away by this one.

The look and feel of a shlock 70's horror flick was spot-on. The film was a laugh riot from start to finish as scene after scene of tongue-in-cheekiness rolled. I was especially surprised to see Jeff Fahey, as he has been one of my favorite actors since his TV show The Marshall.

What's not to love about zombies created by biological weapons running lose in a small Texas town? The coolest part however was probably the trailer for Machete. (starring Danny Trejo, Cheech Marin, and Fahey.) Freddy Rodriguez also did a great job.

Robert Rodriguez has proven once again that of this dynamic duo of filmmaking... he's Batman to Tarantino's Robin.

RATING 9 out of 10

Take everything that is great about Planet Terror, put it in the hands of Quentin Tarantino and watch it all fall to pieces. Now I know I am going to get some flack from the Tarantino faithful because it's very uncool to talk bad about Q... but he jumped the shark with Death Proof.

What is Tarantino famous for - verbose banter akin to something a bunch of guys would do after mixing weed and coffee. He has a knack for writing long drawn-out dialogue about mundane things. It worked great in Reservoir Dogs and equally well in Pulp Fiction, but it is getting old. This one-trick pony needs a new act.

Every piece of dialogue he writes sounds like its coming directly from his own mouth. He has no concept of character development and no way of differentiating one voice from another. What's worse is that his early works were so different, and so succesful, that now you see tons of young directors copying a technique that is way overdone.

After 40 minutes of typical Tarantino babble, (cursing, laced with the ponderings of the most pedestrian things, followed by more cursing,) there are a few minutes of action - then another 20 minutes of T-babble followed by another few seconds of action. This is NOT a tribute to the exploitation films played in the grindhouses of 60's and 70's. It is expose of Quentin Tarantino's inability to do any genre other than a "Tarantino film."

RATING 4 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 07:29 PM | Comments (0)

Like Shooting Turtles in a Barrel

Time to knock a few more films off the "to be reviewed" list. While I have one computer rendering, one uploading, one downloading, and one transmitting tax information, I figured I could squeeze a tiny bit of my bandwidth to review some movies.

TMNT (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) was a weird sort of hybrid. The art style harkened back to the cartoon, but the 3D animation made it visually stunning. Sure, the premise was silly. Sure, the storyline was weak. Sure, it was sorta childish.... but come on. If you came to TMNT looking for Schindler's List I have to question your sanity. This was an irreverent film about irreverent turtles. See - that's the schtick... they're turtles... they're ninjas... they're teenagers... what's not to love?

Although some TMNT purists may have wanted to see a darky and more moody film, I like the Saturday cartoon fun turtles... and I like this film. The only thing I am tired of is the HUGE jaws used recently in 3D animation (ie the Patrick Stewart character Max Winters and Craig T. Nelson's Mr. Incredible in The Incredibles.)

RATING 7 out of 10

The film Shooter was fatally flawed from the outset. It featured a tired storyline that has been played to death. It was overreaching in its complexity goal. It was a Mark Wahlberg movie that came on the heels of a couple of good performances. As seems to be the case with most actors but is almost 100% bankable with Wahlberg, he tends to do a "cash-in" film about every third time out. Its one of those films where he appears to be there just to collect a paycheck while waiting for a good movie. Mission accomplished.

Not only did the film fail to make me care about any of the characters (save Michael Pena's Nick Memphis) but it failed to make me care how it would resolve. I mean come on, a film with character names like Bob Lee Swagger, Nick Memphis, and Jack Payne is obviously pure pulp.

I won't spoil this rotten tomato for you by revealing what happened, but I will say that I was more than a little shocked at how the finale was handled.

RATING 5 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 02:02 PM | Comments (0)

April 09, 2007

Snakes and Dogs on film - oh my!

I have a whole slew of movies to review because I have seen several in the past few weeks, but I as I don't have the time to get to them all right now, I will just do a couple.

Black Snake Moan was a lot of fun. When I gave it a preview review I expected it to be fun but was cautious that it might be a letdown. As it turns out, BSM lived up to the billing. The premise itself was so strange that it was instantly intriguing. The acting by Samuel L. Jackson, Christina Ricci, and yes, even Justin Timberlake was top notch.

How can you not like a movie about an old black blues man that chains up a sex-crazed white girl to break her wickedness?

RATING 8 out of 10

Firehouse Dog is a fun little family film shot in the Disney style. The premise is silly, the situations are over-the-top, but the warm fuzzies come in abundance. If you are a dog lover then you will enjoy the heck out of this film. If you have kids, they will love this film. If you are a diehard cinephile looking for Citizen Kane... keep walking. Being a fan of warm fuzzies - both the four-legged and the heartfelt kind - I really like it.

I thought there was a bit too much toilet humor and although I am a huge fan of a well-placed fart, I don't think Firehouse Dog needed so many. One very nice touch was alongside the credits they ran pictures of the dogs owned by the cast and crew.

RATING 6 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 11:18 AM | Comments (0)

April 02, 2007

Dead people and bad movies come in threes

I just finished watching The Good German. It is a film I wanted to see for some time for a couple reasons. 1 - its a period piece... anyone who reads me regularly knows that I love being transformed to another time. 2 - it was shot in black and white and appeared to be very film noir... another style I dig very much.

It turned out to be a visually amazing film. Not only was the style of the 40's film noir faithfully mimicked, but everything from the angles and grain of the film right down to the audio seemed to come straight out of Casablanca. (Including the parting scene, which is clearly an homage to that movie.) Using a combination of restored archival footage, greenscreened modern footage, and some serious DI (digital intermediary) work, this is the most faithful recreation of the old black and white work from that era I have ever seen.

The problem is the story. While the traveling perspective, amazing cinematography, and excellent acting (George Clooney, Cate Blanchett, and Tobey Maguire) made it very watchable, the story was a sleeper. It was often confusing when it tried to be "deep." It had large segments during which I was thinking, "okay, okay, we all know what is going to happen here.. just get on with it." It's clever twists weren't all that clever and were pretty straightforward.

If you are a student of filmmaking, this is a "must see." If you just want to see a good movie, there are better ones out there.

RATING 6 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 09:24 PM | Comments (0)

March 31, 2007

Movie catch-up time

The Great Global Warming Swindle is officially a documentary, but according to the definition...

doc-u-men-ta-ry [dok-yuh-men-tuh-ree, -tree]
noun
1. a film or TV program presenting the facts about a person or event that purports to be factually accurate and contains no fictional elements or interpretation.

... I have to take issue with that classification. This is most definitely an interpretation.

While I am by no means saying that all of the science is bad... all I am saying is that, like the global warming alarmists, the "its a naturally occuring thing" lobby also bends the truth. Unlike the greenies though, the motivation cannot be explained away by wanting a better living environment.

The film makes some good points about the earth's natural heating and cooling cycles, but then makes wild leaps when suggesting that because of these cycles its okay to continue to pollute our planet. Channel 4 has been called a "fair and balanced" response to the UK's BBC, but one has only to follow the money to see who funds these hack science pieces in order to understand their goals.

RATING 5 out of 10

I just returned from Peaceful Warrior... wow... I am speechless. Okay, well maybe not speechless - stunned into temporary silence. The film is nothing more than a self-help book set to film. Film is even a stretch as it looks like it was shot on Super 8, projected against a wall, and then filmed with a camcorder. I have watched bootlegs that look better.

The story is literally every self-help guru's quippy one-liners set to a story. Okay, story may be a reach - an Afterschool Special maybe. The writer, Kevin Barnhardt, of such illustrious writing credits as General Hospital clearly hasn't seen a movie since the early 80's. The funny thing is that he is currently writing John Rambo, the latest in the Stallone series where Rambo is "recruited by a group of Christian human rights missionaries to protect them against pirates." HAHA I am not making this up.

It is a real shame that this film is so bad because being a fan of all of the self-help gurus, I know this could have been done well. A lot of the ideas and philosophies put forth in the film are good, they just end up silly in this presentation.

I do like the new look for Nick Nolte... sure beats the mugshot. His character which was one part Mr. Miyagi, one part Yoda, one part Santa Claus, and one part creepy old dude was a bit too over-the-top.

All in all, this is a pretty bad film.

RATING 3 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 08:09 PM | Comments (0)

March 24, 2007

McDonald's versus the little man

Fresh on the heels of Bum Rushing the Charts and making a statement that the individual is a force to be reckoned with, I watched the documentary McLibel. It is the story of the longest trial in British history pitting two individuals against the mega-conglomerate McDonald's.

McDonald's sued the two calling their pamphlets libelous. Without the help of attorneys, funds, or the benefit of a jury, the duo stood up to Ronald's bosses.

The film is well made. The facts are presented fairly. The story is compelling. The seriousness is palpable. McLibel is (like many documentaries) a film that should be seen. It resonates with issues of the most importance - freedom of speech - human rights - and the abuse of power. The only negative of the film is near the end when it goes a little Pollyanna and preachy.

RATING 9 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 08:30 AM | Comments (0)

March 19, 2007

Movie catch-up time

I want to start things off with a film that had its moments, but in the end - fell way short. Smokin' Aces had the promise of being one of those action-packed, tightly-woven, fun films. It was not even close. The film was really just a very bad ripoff of Pulp Fiction. It was written in the same style without the good story and good acting. It is films like this that make you appreciate Tarantino that much more.

Oh yeah, the one saving grace is that it features Ben Affleck's best acting ever... not the whole thing... just the part when he was laying dead on the ground and his killer was speaking for him while moving Affleck's lips.

If you liked this one... congratulations - it must be nice to not require your films to make sense or be well made.

RATING 5 out of 10

The Ringer is quite possibly the worst movie I have seen in years. Don't get me wrong... I love a good 'tard joke, but this one goes waaaay overboard. Johnny Knoxville not only does a bad job in the role, but the whole story is just a ripoff of a South Park episode.

Even with the bad casting, worse acting, and horrible jokes, it could have been watchable if the story was better. It played something like a mix between an afterschool special and an episode of Jackass.

RATING 2 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 08:54 PM | Comments (0)

March 17, 2007

WOOT!!!

The makers of the ONLY commercial I have liked in years have been rewarded for their coolness. The Geico cavemen are getting their own TV show. Yep, ABC has ordered a pilot of the show which features the cavemen dealing with prejudice in a modern world. If it is written as well as the commercials and the humor remains subtle, it should rock... or suck... but come on, its the cavemen!!

Posted by CDogg at 08:41 AM | Comments (0)

March 11, 2007

The worst television show in history

I heard about the show, but never seen it until tonight. The "1/2 Hour News Hour" is the worst show I have ever seen. It is the Fox News attempt at a response to the liberal fake-news programs like The Daily Show. Before you decide that my view is based on a differing political point-of-view, let me explain.

The actors (and I use the term very loosely) are horrible. I have heard third graders better able to read off cue cards. The content is not a humorous look at the opposition, it is a mean-spirited slam on anything remotely left of Hitler. The very worst offense however is the laugh track.... yes, this is a show so unfunny that they use a 70's sitcom laugh track.

This is the saddest attempt at spin, and frankly, television in general I have ever seen.

Posted by CDogg at 11:40 PM | Comments (0)

March 09, 2007

THREE HUNDRED THUMBS UP!

WOW!!! The last time I was left with just WOW! after a movie was Sin City... WOW! Once again, a Frank Miller story has been translated into an amazing movie. Once again, the visuals are stunning. Once again, filmmaking takes a leap from business-as-usual to art form. 300 is all those things and more.

It is a dramatic retelling of a dramatic battle. Just as in the original history of the Battle of Thermopylae by Herodotus, there are of course, liberties taken - but DAMN!!! If Sparta is taking enlistments, tell me where to sign up.

I cannot remember leaving a theater with such a visceral feeling after a film. I literally wanted to do battle and feel the blood of my enemies running off me in pools at my feet. Yeah, I know... I was stunned at my reaction too. This film was a testosterone-fest unlike any other.

Even if I don't find any enemies of Sparta to unleash my new-found wrath, I might at least get my ass back to the gym... or maybe I'll just eat some raw meat.

I say again... WOW!

RATING 10 out of 10

(don't you just love Photoshop?)

Posted by CDogg at 09:12 PM | Comments (1)

March 07, 2007

I see copy cats

NBC's new series Raines looks surprisingly like NBC's hit dead-people show Medium. I know, I know... its not the exact same premise... but its pretty frickin close.

From what I can gather, this Raines fella (Jeff Goldblum) sees visions of crime victims (its his imagination - not ghosts) and working with them, they solve the case.

The cast appears to be pretty awesome as I am a big Goldblum fan and I especially like Matt Craven, but isn't this ghost whispering, I-see-dead-people, imagination theme running a bit thin? Heck, I guess if you can 13 CSIs and 27 Law & Orders, you can have 3 crime shows featuring people who aren't really there.

Posted by CDogg at 07:34 PM | Comments (0)

March 04, 2007

Planet coolness!

The landmark BBC series Planet Earth is set to premiere in the US on Discovery Channel later this month. I am three episodes into the series and am blown away.

My first impression is that it was shot by Hollywood cinematographers as the visuals are amazing. This suspicion was well-founded as I discovered that for the first time in wildlife documentary filmmaking they did indeed use high-end Hollywood equipment and techniques. The wonder of our planet's animal inhabitants are breathtaking when played against the grandeur of the scale and diversity of this incredible spinning blue globe we call Earth.

Five years of filmmaking, groundbreaking techniques, unparalleled coverage of the rarest of creatures on the globe, and a great job of tying it into compelling drama make this a must-see and for my money, a must-own. Imagine the most amazing coffee-table photo book and then put it in high-definition (HD) motion with the always wonderful David Attenborough.

The series debuts in the United States March 25th with the backing of eco-greenwashing champ General Electric, and while I don't buy the premise that they do anything but create pollution, I am thankful for their efforts in bringing it to the American audience.

Posted by CDogg at 09:14 AM | Comments (0)

February 26, 2007

Future Flicks

Its that time again... time to give you the real skinny on what to expect from some of the upcoming films. This, my friends, is the film gospel according to Chris... mark my words!

1 - Black Snake Moan - this one looks like too much fun... but then so did Snakes on a Plane. I am very hopeful though.

2 - Spider-Man 3 - This actually looks like the best of the three... and this is coming from a guy that hated the whole Venom storyline in the Spidey books. I saw a preview though.. and was sold on the fact that Marvel's most successful comic-to-film franchise is going to live up to its predecessors.

3 - Resident Evil: Extinction - I know, I know... this is a total shocker. What can I say? I enjoy this franchise... its pure scifi schlock and doesn't pretend to be anything else.

4 - Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer - I was really upset with the first Fantastic Four movie. They screwed with the storyline, they screwed with the characters, they screwed with the rules of making an interesting film. Add to that the fact that I have never liked the Silver Surfer character and what possible reason could I have for liking it? I don't know... I think I was sold by the preview. The Silver Surfer looked amazing. I think the special effects will go a long way toward making this one watchable.

5 - 300 - This you can write down... 300 ROCKS!! The previews alone are so completely amazing that Dave mentions he even backs up the commercials on his DVR to watch them over and over. I saw the full theatrical trailer at the AMC last Saturday and was shocked at how great it looked.

6 & 7 - Grindhouse - Two full-length horror films combined into one great event! One directed by Quentin Tarantino (Death Proof) and the other by Robert Rodriguez (Planet Terror,) I can hardly wait!

8 - Wild Hogs - This one looks so bad that it isn't worth the words I have used here.

9 - Zodiac - I absolutely love the whole story of the Zodiac Killer (ask me about my affinity toward serial killers some day) but I have heard that they totally screwed up the story. It sounds like their efforts to "hollywoodize" (did I just make up a term?) the real story, they ignored those little things called facts. I still have hope though.

10 - Shooter - It seems like after Mark Wahlberg makes a couple of great films, he finds one of those "cash in" scripts and turns out a piece of garbage. Welcome to garbage time. I remember this story when it was called Commando... or a hundred other "you were a great soldier... we need you back for one mission... or we'll kill your family" films.

Posted by CDogg at 09:56 PM | Comments (0)

February 24, 2007

Another of Stewart's early films

The 1936 film Born to Dance is something rare for Jimmy Stewart - a musical. Like the previous one of his I reviewed, it was nominated for two Oscars (Best Dance Direction - Dave Gould for "Swingin' the Jinx" and Best Music, Original Song - Cole Porter for the song "I've Got You Under My Skin".) While the song went on to become a classic, this film never did.

The dance numbers were great (recognize that fellow in the sailor suit? It's Jed Clampett - Buddy Ebsen in just the second year of his acting career.) and the acting was even pretty good. Unfortunately, the singing left a lot to be desired. Jimmy Stewart doesn't appear to be the best of singers, nor does Buddy... neither had any range. That said, the humor was great, and while Eleanor Powell couldn't act her way out of a paper bag... her dance numbers were amazing.

If that less-than-glowing recommendation isn't enough to make you see it... do it for Buddy - he is a blast to watch throughout - whether playing the fumbling bumpkin or gettin' jiggy with a tap number.

RATING 7 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 12:44 AM | Comments (0)

February 21, 2007

They're called "classics" for a reason

It is no secret that my all-time favorite actor is Jimmy Stewart. Every Oscar season, I get an opportunity to catch up on some of his films I haven't seen. Today, Turner Classic Movies played Vivacious Lady. This two-time academy award nominee was a very fun film.

Ginger Rogers' upbeat and fun-loving leading lady is perfect opposite Stewart's shy, but stouthearted leading man. The two work amazing together. It is the epitome of the screwball comedic-romance popular in the 30' and 40's. I have never been a big fan of Ginger Rogers, but I love her in this.

If you can tear yourself away from whiz-bang special effects and poorly-written blockbusters featuring today's megastars... movies like these are worth a look. Not only are the actors much more interesting, but the writing is superior to the majority of films released today.

RATING 9 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 06:57 PM | Comments (0)

February 19, 2007

King Wrong

I have seen the worst blockbuster ever... and it is called King Kong. Yes, I knew it was going to suck from the very first preview. Yes, I decided right then and there to never watch it. What can I say? I was at Mike's house waiting for his wife to return so we could take off and he was watching it. I only saw about 40 minutes of it, but was floored at just how bad it actually was.

There is no excuse for such retarded special effects when someone spends that much money to make a movie. Okay, even if you overlook the 10 minute dinosaur chase scene in which the greenscreen actors weren't at all synched with the cgi dinos, and even if you overlook the crazy bug attack scene in which one idiot shoots bugs off another idiots body with a machine gun without so much as a scratch on the guy being eaten and shot at, and even if you overlook the horrible attempt to imbue Kong with human emotion through over exaggerated motions... there was NOTHING good about this film.

The script was worse than Eragon (trust me that is BAD.) The acting was not just bad, it was nonexistant. If you liked this film, you should be arrested by the Taste Police, it is people like you that allow them to keep making garbage like this. Booooo Hiss!

RATING 3 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 05:00 PM | Comments (1)

February 12, 2007

Great Googly Geekness

I have to thank Random from the Sturgeon's Law podcast for pointing me toward this. This is screenshot from my current geek-love "Heroes". Check out the license plate of the car carrying Hiro's father (played by George Takei.)

If you have to ask the significance... you are not a true geek.

In another "Heroes" related tangent, I saw Noah Gray-Cabey (Michah Sanders) on an old episode of Ripley's Believe It or Not. Apparently, he really is a mutation with amazing powers. By the age of four, he was playing Beethoven by sight and able to instantly pick up any piece of piano music just seconds after hearing it - all of this without being able to read music. See, the storyline for "Heroes" is not so far fetched.

Posted by CDogg at 09:32 AM | Comments (2)

February 08, 2007

If you could just get them to watch it

Bastards of the Party is a new documentary running on HBO that examines the rise of gangs in the Los Angeles area. It starts out a little slow and seems to be making excuses for the members - the same tired ones you have heard over and over - but it quickly turns into a fascinating historical piece.

From the early days when Compton was an all-white area, through the civil rights movement and rise of the US Party and Black Panther Party - it is compelling stuff. The real eye-opening stuff involves the actual demise of the BPP and USP orchestrated by Hoover's FBI. The information about the FBI's CoIntelPro and their efforts to undermine these groups is now public record, what surprised me was the details about how the program started these groups fighting each other.

The legacy of the FBI's destruction of the black cohesiveness still survives with the black-on-black crime that is still rampant between these gangs nearly 40 years later. The only downside of the film other than the apologetic start is the left-wing politico-speak that summarizes the film. It is a good history that does an excellent job of giving the facts, when it slips into this type of preaching, it loses a lot of credibility.

The final point about gang names versus given names is especially poignant. Good stuff.

RATING 8 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 08:56 PM | Comments (0)

February 05, 2007

Uhhh.... not so good.

The movie Babel is getting a lot of pub and a good deal of it centers around the Oscars. I think it is misplaced. While the film was mildly entertaining, even in this uber-weak movie year, it certainly wasn't in the top five.

Brad Pitt did fine and Cate Blanchett did a great job with her limited role. The acting wasn't the problem at all. The problem was that the story was retarded. I know, I know... it was disjointed on purpose... but that isn't an excuse to make a bad film. As with other Inarritu films, you do care about each of the characters... the problem is you don't really give a flip about the film.

RATING 7 out of 10

Wow... check your brain at the door. After the first two minutes when the premise is explained, Idiocracy is even more stupid than the idiotic characters portrayed. Its a shame because I love the premise.

This is another classic example of something that would have been absolutely hilarious as a recurring skit on SNL. As a movie... it was one of the worst in a long time.

RATING 5 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 08:10 PM | Comments (1)

February 04, 2007

Super Good / Super Flop

It is time for me to rate anything and everything about the Super Bowl. I will rate them as either Super Good or Super Flop. Let's get started.

PREGAME
Super Flop
Cirque de Soleil's opening extravaganza. What the heck does this have to do with football? These openings and halftime shows are just getting silly.

Super Good
Billy Joel's national anthem. A timeless classic performed by a classic that is showing his age a bit, but the timing was perfect with the flyover adding the exclamation point.

Super Flop
Ford's launch of their F450 Super-duty. Sure, the commercial looked cool, but isn't changing your whole fleet to these monster gas-guzzlers what got Ford into trouble in the first place?

READ ON

1ST QUARTER
Super Good
Devin Hester's opening kickoff 92yd TD return. What a way to start a Super Bowl... hey Indy, did you not bother to scout the Bears?

Super Good
The rain for providing a series of mishaps (four turnovers) that made an otherwise average quarter VERY exciting.

Super Flop
CBS' inability to keep the rain off the camera lenses... come on, this is sports coverage 101.

Super Flop
The bobbled placement on the extra point after Indy's first score. The Bear fumble of the ensuing kickoff that pretty much negated all the luck that had been going their way. Addai's fumble of the following carry to hand the edge right back to Chicago.

Super Good
Bud Light's rock-paper-scissors ad - that's it.. just ONE good ad.

Super Flop
Doritos crunchy-bold-smooth ad, Blockbuster mouse ad, Sierra Mist beard combover ad, Salesgenie.com ad, Sierra Mist karate ad, Toyota Tundra ad, FedEx moon office ad, Bud Light auctioneer wedding ad, Snickers kissing ad, Schick quattro ad, Chevy song ad, Bud Light no speak english ad, Late Show ad, for my money - this was the weakest quarter of SuperBowl ads in history!

Super Flop
Cedric Benson's Super Bowl started off with a fumble and an injury. The former University of Texas standout and high school legend got off to a less than stellar start.

2ND QUARTER
Super Good
Coca-cola's 3D animated give a little love ad, Budweiser dirty dog ad, Doritos checker ad, GM robot dream ad, Doritos 'getting here' ad, Coca-cola's never had one ad - a much better quarter of commercials.

Super Flop
GoDaddy.com's marketing ad, Garmin map monster ad, careerbuilder.com ad, Chevy naked guy car wash ad, Bud Light fist bump is out ad, King Pharmaceuticals beatyourrisk.com ad, Coca-cola Black History ad (as if Coke had something to do with anything listed), Wild Hogs movie ad (this film looks horrible), Sprint Mobile connectile dysfunction - still a negative balance of good and bad ads.

Super Good
Peyton Manning's ability to continue to run and pass despite the rain getting worse. Addai and Rhodes skill in holding onto the wet ball and churning out tough yards. With under two minutes to go, the Bears dancing with who brung 'em and forcing another turnover.

Super Flop
The Bears inability to get anything done. It seems that unless there is a turnover, Chicago has no fire. The Bears again handing it back on the very next play after forcing a fumble. The unshakable Vinatieri getting iced on the final FG attempt of the half.

HALFTIME
Super Good
The halftime report with Dan, Shannon, Phil, and Jim did a good job of breaking down the first half X's and O's.

Super Good
The halftime show by Prince was pretty darn good and one of the best I have seen in years. In fact, I can't remember a better one. This is despite the fact that the king of "I won't sell out" has so thoroughly sold out.

Super Good
The NFL Man of the Year recipients ad

Super Flop
The horrendous number of CBS ads for also-ran, boring shows, Foot locker Kevin Garnett ad, Honda Civic Tron ad

3RD QUARTER
Super Good
The Colts opening the second half with a great drive that ate up a half of the 3rd quarter and built their lead to 5. Rhodes carrying the team on his legs in the next drive to setup another FG.

Super Flop
Indianapolis throwing the challenge flag for 12 men on the field, giving the Bears time to rest their defense and losing themselves a timout in the process.

Super Good
E-trade getting robbed by your bank ad, Coca-cola 3D vending machine ad, Bud Light ape robbery ad, Taco Bell's carne lion ad, FedEx ground, Nationwide Federline fries ad,

Super Flop
Sheryl Crow's Revlon 'not fade away" ad, careerbuilder.com promotion pit, Toyota Tundra ramp ad, Emerald Nuts ad, Bud Light he's got an axe ad,

Super Flop
The NFLs warning that in addition to video and pictures from the telecast, any "descriptions or accounts of the game is prohibited." I guess I'm breaking the law... so sue me.

Super Flop
The Bears' first set of downs in over an hour and they look horrible with fumbles and sacks. The Bears' already-tired defense proceeding to fold like a wet paper bag. Chicago starting with excellent field position for the first time, and only managing a field goal.

Super Good
Tony Dungy pulling the trigger on another penalty challenge when Marvin Harrison was ruled out of bounds.

4TH QUARTER
Super Good
Jack-in-the-Box vegetarian ad, Etrade things you can do with one finger ad, NFL hard to say goodbye ad. Only the 1st quarter had weaker commercials.

Super Flop
Budweiser crab ad, Prudential rock ad, CR-V elvis ad, HP Orange County Chopper ad, IZOD perfect life ad, Budweiser hi-tech computer football game ad, GoDaddy with the only repeat ad... it flopped in the first quarter, it flopped in the 4th.

Super Flop
Rex Grossman tossing up a lame duck that was intercepted by Hayden for an Indianapolis touchdown. Grossman then turning around on the next drive and tossing another one ending all but a miracle comeback.

Super Good
The Bear defense nutting up and stopping the methodical Colts' after Grossman's interception and giving their own offense another shot to keep the game alive.

Super Flop
Brian Urlacher being a non-factor in the game.

Super Good
Dominic Rhodes - nuff said.

Super Good
Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith for proving you can achieve success without being a loudmouthed ass.

Whew... that was a lot of work.

Posted by CDogg at 05:18 PM | Comments (3)

One last thing before I go to bed

Okay, I have a question... is it just me, or does Claire's mom (Meredith Gordon) on Heroes appear to have a fake nose? When I watched the last episode, it just looked really odd to me. Was it an attempt to make them look related? Will it be horribly disfigured later? Am I just seeing things?

PS. Check out the links... they are from the Heroeswiki - its like freakin' Nerdvana!!

Posted by CDogg at 02:38 AM | Comments (0)

January 28, 2007

I am downloading the album as we speak

Are you freakin' kidding me? When I saw the previews for Dreamgirls, I thought this was going to be a pretty lame film. Then when I heard it had several Oscar nominations, I thought somebody was paying someone off... boy was I wrong! Dreamgirls ROCKS!!!

First off, the musical format is still one of the very best ways to tell a story. They may have become passé in today's culture, but you cannot argue with the fact that music has power... and through it you can create a much more powerful message than alone.

Not only was I blown away by the music. The acting was amazing. The story was ripped from real life. The drama was visceral. I loved this movie! It is only the 8th time in five years I have given out a perfect 10.

RATING 10 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 11:58 AM | Comments (1)

January 27, 2007

Neither was very aMAZEing

Inside Man was in the "almost, but not quite there" department. It was a very clever movie about a very clever bank robbery. It had very clever dialogue, very clever shots, and even very clever direction... well, right up until they had to resolve the story. It was there that the cleverness fled only to be replaced by seriously amounts of, "I can't believe they are falling into that garbage."

You have heard many times before that any film with Clive Owen starts off with a thumbs up in my book. I was even willing to overlook the horrible abundance of product placement. Sure, Denzel Washington turned in what can only be described as a standard Denzel performance, sure it was good to see Jodie Foster in anything, and once again, Clive was impeccable, but the oh-so-clever little film fell flat once the moral was revealed.

At first I was impressed to see Spike Lee doing such a good job with a film that didn't stand on some overdone moral high ground... it was all a hoax. In the end this was just another preachy film preaching a tired story. The real bad news is that the sequel is scheduled for release in 2008. Groan.

RATING 7 out of 10

Pan's Labyrinth was a total shocker. From the previews, I was expecting a fairy tale. I literally thought I was in for fairies, goblins, and all manner of fantastical creatures. Sure, there was some of that in PL... but this is no kids film.

I was blown away by the sheer violence and gore. Don't get me wrong, I love a good bloodbath film, but this just seemed a bit too gratuitous. The story itself was okay, but in reality it was just a retelling of an old theme with added gore.

One of the reasons I watch films is to be surprised... to not know what to expect... to have a film lead me somewhere as I follow engrossed in it all. The only thing that wasn't standard "I know what comes next" fare were the occasional bouts of violence. I have seen both storytelling and violence handled much better.

RATING 6 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 10:15 PM | Comments (0)

January 24, 2007

I, Movie Reviewer

I had a great time with the film I, Curmudgeon. This is simply an average documentary in terms of style, skill, and technique, but in terms of content - it rocks! It takes a look at what it means to be a curmudgeon and gets that view directly from a host of crotchety people, Andy Rooney, Fran Lebowitz, Scott Thompson, Harvey Pekar etc.

In the wide range of opinions, the idea of a curmudgeon is somewhat dilluted and I question the inclusion of someone like Pekar. To me, he is more of a pessimist and depressed than a true curmudgeon. Writer/director Alan Zweig did a good job of tieing the disparate themes together through his own story, but it too often sounded more suicidal than "grumpy old man."

The perfect representative in my opinion was Andy Rooney... now that is someone a curmudgeon can look up to.

RATING 8 out of 10

Children of Men was a film that I really looked forward to because it showed such promise. I watched it about a week ago (yeah, that was before it came out... but hey, I got connections,) and it definitely isn't worth the Oscar buzz I have been hearing.

It was a good film featuring one of my favorite actors, Clive Owen. For his part, Clive was impeccable and 100% believable. Where I parted company with the film was in 1) a weak story, 2) the overt anti-Iraq war sentiment placed throughout and 3) the character played by Michael Caine (another of my favorite actors.)

Visually the movie was amazing... throughout there was great cinematography and even some pretty awesome camera moves. Everytime I started to fall in love with the film either the story made a stupid turn or the camera panned past a newspaper that said "get the US out of Iraq." How is that for subtle? Not very. The worst had to be when the bus was driving past a bunch of prisoners and in one cage dressed identical to the picture from Abu Ghraib (see below). Regardless of whether or not I agree with your political point of view... don't beat the audience over the head with your politics. Trust them to be smart enough to figure it out.

The person in the film wore the exact outfit shown here and was standing in the exact position... real subtle guys.

This would have been a 8 or 9 had they left this garbage out.

RATING 7 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 12:34 PM | Comments (0)

January 13, 2007

Lamegon and more

I actually couldn't make it through Eragon... it was that bad. This putrid pile of dragon dung was an insult to adventure movies. Not only did it come across as if it was written by a ten year old, it stole every cliche from every famous action/adventure story ever.

Gosh, Luke (I mean Eragon) its too bad your parents aren't around... good thing your Uncle Owen (or whatever) can raise you in these times of oppression by The Empire (or evil king.) Its all good though because everyone knows that a fair-haired, bright-eyed young boy just needs his droids (or dragon) to fight the ultimate evil in the universe. Oh yeah and don't forget, there are a ton of Rebels (Verden) just waiting to follow some youngster into battle. With the help of Obi-wan (or Brom) this unlikely hero just might do it!

On second thought, dragon poop couldn't smell as bad as this film.

RATING 3 out of 10

Apocalypto on the other hand was a pretty basic movie that stuck to typical formulas, but somehow looks like Oscar material compared to Eragon. Aside from the waaaaay-too-many slow-mo shots of the Chili-Pepper dude running toward the camera, it was a fun film.

Separated at birth?

("Give it away, Give it away, Give it away now" kept running through my mind everytime they showed him running.)

Visually, it was amazing. This story of one of the lesser glorified periods of history was full of detail and historical accuracy. Some people have complained about the violence, but this was a violent period of Aztec culture. I thought the early humor was a bit slapstick and silly, but even with subtitles, found myself completely engrossed in the story throughout.

RATING 8 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 10:16 AM | Comments (1)

January 12, 2007

Two touchdowns

The first of the two football movies I saw recently was Invincible. This is a film about Vince Papale's unlikely journey from 30 year old bartender to a player on his beloved Philadelphia Eagles in the National Football League. Keep in mind that as a lifelong Dallas Cowboy fan, there is no love lost on the Eagles.

Mark Wahlberg, as usual, delivered a great performance that was 100% believable and the fact that it was a true story made it even better. The surprise of the film was Greg Kinnear's portrayal of a first-year Dick Vermeil. Not only is Vermeil one of the true class acts of the NFL, Kinnear did a great job of getting that across.

If you are a football fan that grew up in the late 70's, you will love this film. If you are a film fan, you will love this film.

RATING 9 out of 10

Next up is We Are Marshall. Boy was I surprised by this film. I expected an inspirational story about a small football program I expected courage and heart to overcome size and talent. I expected the feel-good formula from start to finish. I got all of that and more.

In addition, I got great acting by Matthew McConaughey (yes he can do that when given a good script.) I got an excellent character portrayed by Ian McShane (Deadwood.) I got amazing performances by relative unknowns like Anthony Mackie and Kate Mara. But it was more than the acting... it was the story.

I was not aware of the tragedy that is at the center of this film. I was surprised that I had never heard of it, but there it was. The writers took what must be an unimaginable situation and were able to make the audience understand it - if only a little.

As with Invincible, I recommend this to football fans and film fans. Heck, you even get to see Matthew Fox doing his standby "Jack's sad" routine. (Sorry, even with red hair, I couldn't get past seeing the Jack character from "Lost" every time he was onscreen.)

RATING 9 out of 10

Who would have thought? Two teams I never followed... both wear green... both true stories... I didn't know the story behind either one. Oh yeah... and I loved them both.

Posted by CDogg at 08:26 AM | Comments (0)

January 07, 2007

Itsa... howyousay.... vera bad!

Before you think I just don't like the kind of humor presented by Sasha Baron Cohen in Borat, let me assure you that I absolutely loved his HBO series Da Ali G Show. I loved all of the characters including the Borat one. What I didn't care for was this horrible movie.

It wasn't until the second half of the film that I even laughed out loud for the first time. The only scenes I found remotely funny were the ones in which he was at the religious revival and at the formal dinner in Georgia. Other than that, it was one big stinker. It is once again a classic example of the difficulty of translating a skit into a full-length film. The writing was horrible, the over-the-top attempts to be gross, and the poorly acted scenes littered between the staged skits made the film barely watchable.

RATING 5 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 10:00 PM | Comments (2)

January 06, 2007

Smarten up - you may live longer!

I just finished watching the PBS special The Art of Aging, The Limitless Potential of the Brain. Studies of centenarians that are living longer and more robust lifestyles has revealed that the common denominator among the active elderly is their use of their brains.

One of the subjects began learning Korean after 60 years of age and was 95 when he started learning to read and write Chinese. He begins each morning with a rubdown with a cold, wet towel and simple exercises for 5 minutes. Other than that, he makes sure that he is not sedentary during his day and jumps at any chance to learn.

He stays sharp at the daycare center for mentally challenged children he has run for the past 50 years by creating fun ways for children to learn.

And lest you think that these are a chosen few blessed with great genes and lifelong healthy habits... one subject, now 102, had failing health, dementia, and could barely walk at 85 years old. His family made a concerted effort to bring him out for daily walks. After gradually showing increased interest in life, he started running competively at age 99.

It turns out that very light exercise and brain usage work together to reverse the normal aging effects on the brain. This revitalization of brain tissue seems to have a direct correlation to longer life and of course, quality of life.

The bottom line is nothing new... get off your ass... shut off the TV... and when you do turn it on - make it something educational. Actually, scratch that - one of the tests showed that almost no oxygen travels to the brain during television watching while reading does send moderate amounts of cell-building oxygen. Writing seemed to be the best way to create the flow. Oooh... I just built some brain cells!

RATING 9 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 09:03 PM | Comments (1)

December 28, 2006

Still time to catch the best show on television

The pic is of Zach Gilford who plays the awkward backup quarterback thrust into the starting position after the blue chip star QB goes down with a spinal injury. He is just one of the compelling characters that makes up this amazing ensemble cast... he just happens to be my favorite.

If you are not watching Friday Night Lights - you are missing out. You are missing out on the best drama in television... and I don't say that lightly. I went into this absolutely hating network television and assuming that FNL would be just the O.C. set in Texas... boy was I wrong.

The characters are compelling. The acting is great. The script is light years ahead of the network competition... plus, it has some football. I think the football angle may hurt its appeal to the mainstream because people think of it as a football show... it is far from - in fact, the series sometimes goes an episode or two without any football games. When they do use game segments, it is only to further the story and done in such a way as to make even a non fan enjoy.

Oh, and if you are like me and hate to start in the middle of a show... or maybe you missed a couple episodes... have no fear. NBC has done something amazing that I am sure other networks will be following very soon - the have made the entire season available for viewing online for FREE!! Check out the entire FNL season here!

Posted by CDogg at 11:05 PM | Comments (0)

December 18, 2006

Yo Adrian... he DID it... again.

I went to a free sneak preview of the new movie, Rocky Balboa and BOY was it fun!! Put most of the sequels in the franchise out of your mind. If you like the original Rocky, you are going to LOVE this one.

This was a return to the underdog story that American fell in love with back in 1976. It was a gritty tale of the little guy digging deep and facing a tough challenge. It was definitely a feel-good movie.

I was especially impressed with Sylvester Stallone's ability to resurrect the feel of the original dialog, the humor, the background of a working class Philadelphia, and even the pre-cosmetic surgery face. Yo, Rock - you DID IT!!

RATING 8 out of 10

BUY THE RARE MINI-POSTER!

Posted by CDogg at 10:14 PM | Comments (0)

Movie catch-up time

I recently watched Casino Royale and let me say that I was already prepared to like the film based on the fact that I am a big fan of Daniel Craig. I have to say that this is NOT your mother's Bond.

Royale was much darker than any of the other Bond flicks. Some people have complained that he didn't have enough gadgets, but thats because this Bond is real. He is not the cardboard caricature popularized by Roger Moore, he is not the stiff strikeout of a Bond by George Lazenby, he is not the witty bachelor ala Sean Connery, he is not the boring Timothy Dalton Bond, he is not even the compilation Bond portrayed by Pierce Brosnan. With all due respect to those Bonds, Daniel Craig seemed to be the most realistic 007.

I liked the darkness of the film, I liked the free-running segments, I loved Daniel Craig's performance, I even liked the intrigue. What I didn't like was that the tone of the film changed dramatically throughout and at times it seemed as though you had just stepped into a totally different movie. As an experiment in realism with the Bond character, this movie is a total hit. As a solution for the long-term success of the franchise, I am not sure audiences will go for him being so real.

RATING 7 out of 10

Talk about a serious case of juxtaposition. The other film I am reviewing here is UltraViolet. This little comic-book-turned-campy-film was a lot of fun to watch. Will I watch it again? I can't see myself getting that bored. Would I watch a sequel? You bet... I love the comic book genre.

I was happy with this movie. Milla Jovovich did a serviceable job in the lead role and she is never too hard to look at. :) Only Sin City has done a better job of bringing you into a comic book setting, but because UV didn't quite go all the way, it ended up looking a bit strange in places.

If the film had a larger budget and maybe some bigger names attached to direct etc., it probably would have been a huge commercial success. Lacking that and having only a simplistic script, it has only its amazing visuals and sound with which to earn my rating. Oh yeah... that AND Milla. :)

RATING 7 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 03:43 PM | Comments (0)

December 17, 2006

Can you believe it took me this long?

Yeah, I finally saw Miracle on 34th Street. The 1994 version was on just on My20 (I still have no frickin' clue where this My20 * thing came from.) Now, I have always thought Elizabeth Perkins was a hottie... but DA-ZAMN I don't remember her looking that good. Babe factor aside, I enjoyed the film. Sure, I knew the storyline from the old versions, and maybe I am turning into an old softie, but I like a good sappy movie every once in awhile. And for the record...

I believe! :)

* I can only guess that its some sort of bastardized attempt by Rupert Murdoch to parlay the popularity of MySpace with his various television affiliates. Perfect example of old school media trying to be hip... a serious case of "a swing and a miss."

Posted by CDogg at 08:52 PM | Comments (0)

December 11, 2006

Movie catch-up time

As I was cleaning I came across a few movies that I have watched and never blogged.

One: The Movie is a documentary about...well, oneness. It comes across as something deep and meaningful and frankly left me feeling less like "one" with my planet and more like most of my planet is made up of nutjobs. Now, before you start ripping on me for not "getting it," for not being open to the message, let me assure you I do get it.

It seems the entire thing is just so much mental masturbation and while entertaining and thought-provoking, it doesn't really warrant the attention it has received via the film festival circuit. Its a fun little introspection and I am sure that for people not prone to that type of thought already, it could be a little eye-opening. For me though, it caused eyelid drooping - there is nothing really new here. The stuff with Uma Thurman's father was pretty cool though.

RATING 7 out of 10

The Illusionist starring Edward Norton was an decent little film. I probably rate it higher than I should because it is a period piece and we all know of my weakness for those.

It is a very nice love story with some magic, suspense, and intrigue thrown in for good measure. While there was nothing about the film that will make you want to talk about it tomorrow at the water cooler, you won't feel that you wasted your time in the viewing. If you're bored and have nothing else to watch, it will produce an enjoyable evening.

RATING 7 out of 10

Yes, I admit it, I watched High School Musical., and you know what? I'd do it again! First, I like musicals. It is a film genre that has all but died so when a new one comes along, I have to get my fix. As modern musicals go, HSM won't be signaling a comeback for the genre, but you could do a lot worse.

Sure, the storyline was just above retarded. Sure, the acting was just above.... well, a high school musical. Sure, the songs were contrived and not the kind you would ever find yourself jamming to on your iPod. It doesn't matter. The movie was a fun little romp, not unlike the stupidity of the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids series crossed with an Aftershool Special.

RATING 7 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 03:13 PM | Comments (0)

December 09, 2006

Who the heck cares??

In my "Who the heck cares?" category, we have two major non-stories.

1 - Who the heck cares who the father of Anna Nicole Smith's baby is?

Is that really going to help pay your mortgage, improve your health, help you sleep at night, or in any way enrich your life? Lemme sum it up for you - one gold-digging jezebel slept with another gold-digging loser, and is being take advantage of by another gold-digging slimeball. Assign the titles to any of the three as it doesn't matter.

2 - Barbara Walter's 10 Most Fascinating People. Since when do we care about who this hack thinks is fascinating?

Since 1993 she has been trying to convince the world that her opinion of who is fascinating is any better than her interviewing skills. The list is not made of the most fascinating people, but of people that agreed to do an interview with her... either prompted by their publicists or by Walters and her staff. I have nothing but respect for Andre Agassi but if you asked a thousand people about the people the find most fascinating, do you really think he would be in the top 10? And have you looked at the rest of that list? I am sure Anna Wintour is on your list... right? PUH-LEASE!!!

Posted by CDogg at 04:30 PM | Comments (0)

December 07, 2006

Movie catch-up time

Jesus Camp is a documentary about an Evangelical Christian youth camp. It is a disturbing look at how these children are being endoctrinated to march in lockstep with the fundamentalist beliefs.

Hey, I am all for freedom of religion and wholeheartedly agree with a parent's right to teach their children right from wrong. This to me appears to be more akin to brainwashing than education. I also understand that when telling a story in a documentary, it is VERY easy to make things appear to be totally unlike reality - hence the success of reality TV. The filmmakers did a good job of making their point and scaring the beejeebers out of the non-Evangelical audience. I do think however that the great questions of our time should not even be broached with a child until they are old enough to apply reason. These kids should be worried about things like playing ball, chasing butterflies and skipping rocks... putting this kind of fear and emotion into their heads at such an early age is the real crime.

RATING 7 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 06:51 PM | Comments (0)

November 16, 2006

Funniest line ever...

Joy from My Name is Earl upon seeing Earl riding a bike.

"Hey Lance Dumbstrong, don't you know riding a bicycle gives you nut cancer!"

Its not that cancer is funny and anyone who knows me knows that Lance Armstrong is one of my idols, what IS funny is the character of Joy on that show. Jaime Pressly has some of the best lines on television.

Posted by CDogg at 07:19 PM | Comments (0)

November 15, 2006

Save NBC, Save Network Television

SAVE THE CHEERLEADER, SAVE THE WORLD!!

If you are not up-to-speed with Heroes, I recommend you do so quickly!! Nuff said.

Posted by CDogg at 09:09 PM | Comments (0)

November 02, 2006

Jericho: Brought to you by Department of Homeland Security

I saw the previews of Jericho and thought, "hmm... this could be a cool show." I missed the premiere, heck, I missed the first six episodes. Well, I recently downloaded all of them and decided to give it a shot. Is it just me or is CBS* really still caught in the old style of television production? It seems that the writing is right out of the 80's drama style (you know the stuff - just about everything Gerald McRaney has ever done.) The characters are carboard thin, the storylines are so simply as to be insulting, and the acting is average at best. And what is the deal with Skeet Ulrich? When did he change from a handsome young man to looking like a recovering meth-addict?

I have only seen the first episode so far and was completely under-impressed. Since I have the first six however, I will watch them to see if it improves at all.

* - It is unfair to paint all of CBS with the same brush as I absolutely love The Unit.

Posted by CDogg at 09:15 AM | Comments (1)

October 23, 2006

Catching up on the Unit

The Unit was one of those television shows that I intended to watch when it first started, but never got around to. I watched one episode of season two at my brother's house a few weeks back and decided that I needed to catch up. Well, let's just say the Internet is a wonderful thing. This David Mamet creation rocks!

I am a big fan of Denis Haysbert from 24 - heck, even back to Major League (Pedro Cerrano), and he is ROCK SOLID in this one! What a fun role this must be for him - its the kind of a part that us "real men" would kill for - playing soldier and getting paid... nice.

I have just finished watching the pilot and have all of season one queued up. I should be caught up in no time thanks to my flight to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico coming up next week.

Posted by CDogg at 09:40 PM | Comments (1)

Movie catch-up time

Wow... talk about a mind-bend. I just finished watching Death of a President. It is a film shot documentary-style that covers the events leading up to and following the assination of President George W. Bush on October 19, 2007. Yeah, you read that right. Not only does it portray a future that has not happened as if it was real, it does it with actual footage of President Bush, Dick Cheney - you name it. It is downright spooky.

It is spooky on a couple fronts. Probably the scariest thing is how realistic the film portrays total fiction using real footage... including the actual assasination. The fact that real footage can be manipulated this much is cause for alarm. It is also a bit freaky in how well it fits into the real-life facts.

My rating is not based on any desire for something so horrible to actually take place, but instead on how well the filmmakers accomplished their goal. They have created a very believable "reality" piece based entirely on fiction. Their use of image editing to include actors in key scenes involving the President, Cheney and others is impressive. (It seems that fear that clutched my throat the second I saw it done if Forrest Gump, is not far from reality.)

RATING 9 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 08:48 PM | Comments (0)

October 20, 2006

Trippy Dick

A Scanner Darkly is kinda cool. Its kinda trippy, but its kinda cool too. I have never been a fan of Philip K. Dick's novels or short stories. Not because I read his stuff and didn't like it, I just never felt inclined to read any. That said, I love the movies made from his material. What's not to love about Blade Runner, Total Recall, Minority Report, Paycheck, etc.

A Scanner Darkly attracted me first because it was rotoscoped - a technique I have been in love with since Bakshi's film, Fire and Ice. The acting was actually pretty subpar, but the visuals and the storyline kept me interested. The surprise twist at the end wasn't really all that surprising, but it was still an enjoyable film.

RATING 8 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 12:18 AM | Comments (0)

October 16, 2006

Hard to believe

Two things surprised me about The Gridiron Gang. 1 - that someone could make a movie about football that I didn't like and 2 - that I would feel ripped off watching a free bootleg. This film was pretty much the pits.

I felt a little leary about it when I saw the previews despite the fact that I am a huge fan of The Rock (Dwayne Johnson) and football movies in general. So why the doubt? I am not sure, I even like "hood" movies.

Turns out my reservations were well founded as about 20 minutes into the film I fell asleep. I tried again a day later and found myself wanting to be doing anything but watching this movie. The writing was horrible and frankly, The Rock needs to be beating the crap out of someone or his shortcomings as an actor shine like a beacon.

I wouldn't even waste money on a rental with this one.

RATING 5 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 03:57 PM | Comments (0)

October 15, 2006

No TV

I have done it. I just couldn't take it anymore... way too much wasted time watching television. I cancelled my satellite service - DirecTV.

Yeah, I know it sounds drastic, but it really was time.

Not only was I wasting too much time watching television, it really wasn't even stuff I wanted to watch. Sure, I dig Battlestar Galactica, but really thats about it. It really wasn't worth 50 bucks a month just for one show when I can buy the season for $30 on iTunes.

Its not like I don't have tons of other entertainment options... I have an Xbox 360, I have tons of DVDs, heck, I even have access to shows via places like iTunes and (ahem) friends... and that doesn't even count the video podcasts and tons of internet sites offering video options.

I planned to kill satellite back in May, but they kept making me better and better offers until I agreed to stay.

One of the reasons I finally turned it off? I listened to the song that I referenced below and decided that if I was in fact, dying right now - the last thing I would do is watch TV.

Posted by CDogg at 10:30 PM | Comments (0)

October 12, 2006

Yeah, that's right - I watched it

It was written and acted like some afterschool special from the 80's, but it sure was fun. That's right, I am talking about Roll Bounce. It was so utterly stupid that it was fun. The music was great, the skating was entertaining, and once you get past the corniness of the jokes, its a real fun time.

Bow Wow did a decent job as the leader of the southside skaters, but again, this film is not about great acting... its about fun. Even the cameos by Mike Epps and Charlie Murphy as the garbage men were fun.

It didn't do well at the box office and it didn't get good reviews, but darn it... I enjoyed getting my roll bounce on.

"You got some size seventeens back there, Bee-nard?"

RATING 7 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 05:27 PM | Comments (0)

October 10, 2006

Movie catch-up time

This will be very much a mixed-bag of reviews as it ranges from the current to the underground and even includes an old classic.

Tony and Julie took me to see The Departed the other night and I really liked it. It seems like it has been years since I have seen a movie without an agenda, a big commercial tie-in, or just utterly stupid (ala Employee of the Month.) The Departed is an old-fashioned movie in that it has a story, it has good writing, it has good acting, and it was fun to watch.

The cast alone was amazing. Usually when I see this many stars in a film, I prepare for an hour and half of garbage (Ocean's 11+.) We are talking Jack Nicholson, Matt Damon, Martin Sheen, Mark Wahlberg, Alec Baldwin, Leonardo DiCaprio - far too many to bother putting all the IMDB links. The great thing about this film is that despite all the larger-than-life actors, they didn't get in the way of the story.

I found out later that this is a remake of a Hong Kong cinema film and am told that the other one is just as good. I don't know, but like I said, I did like this one.

RATING 8 out of 10

Speaking of films with agendas, I also saw One Nation Under Siege. WOW! Talk about scary stuff. You won't see this one listed at IMDB or advertised on television because it is not the sort of thing that mainstream media will allow.

The documentary points out some of the things that I personally have been ranting about for years - things like the unconstitionality and danger of the Patriot Act, things like misinformation campaigns, you know - the whole gamut of conspiracy stuff. While there are very few things in the film that I take issue with, the sheer volume of the facts are overwhelming. I cannot see a film like this making any headway in educating people or changing behavior... it is just too much.

By themselves, each of the points in the film would make great conversation starters and would go a long way to educating the population, but in total, it is so big that your only choice is to paint the whole thing with a "conspiracy nut" brush and go back to watching your favorite sitcom.

RATING 7 out of 10

I also caught the 1973 Jeff Bridges film, The Last American Hero. Its one of those movies that you look at and think, "surely, I must have seen this one," but then you can't really remember how it goes. So, whether I never saw it in the first place, saw bits and pieces on a Saturday matinee, or just forgot the whole darn thing, I enjoyed watching it.

It was good to take that trip back in time... not just the trip with the characters where Bridges' Junior Jackson is based on early NASCAR hero Junior Johnson, but the trip back in time in terms of filmmaking. It was interesting to look at how shots have changed, how drama was portrayed then versus the films of today, the techy-film-nerd stuff. Even the craft of acting has changed over the years and jumping 33 years back in time was a lot of fun. Plus, it was loaded with clever country quips, fast cars, and fast women... what more could you want?

RATING 7 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 02:49 PM | Comments (0)

October 08, 2006

Has BG "jumped the shark?"

I know, I know - that question alone is enough to get me hate mail for the rest of my life, but I think it warrants some investigation. First off, if you don't know what "jump the shark" mean, click the link. Okay, now that they are back, lets look at the beginning of season 3.

One of the things I absolutely love about Battlestar Galactica is that it has a history of turning all convention on its ear. The bad guys are slaves, the slaves are trying to kill their former masters, both are doing things in the name of religion, heck, even the fixing of an election is rationalized as a good thing. It is all very confusing, but probably one of the reasons that BG won a Peabody Award. We are talking the award presented for outstanding achievement in broadcasting... this is not a People's Choice or some teen goofballs award. It is not a feel-good industry pat on the back... it is one of the most prestigious awards given and usually reserved for documentaries - not entertainment.

That said, there are some things about the two-hour season premiere that call the future of BG into question. While the story of resistance fighters struggling against an oppressive force has a long history in television and movies, I think this one too closely parallels current events. The dialogue is purposely bringing to mind the Palestinian/Isreali conflict as well as the Iraqi "freedom fighters," dead set on disrupting their evil American (Cylon) overlords. In addition, they draw comparisons to a corrupt puppet government being manipulated by the Cylons. It is all a bit too "current events" for me.

It seems as though the writers are trying to turn the show into a political statement. Just as David Chase found a social conscious, and thus ruined, the Sopranos, it seems the creators of BG are in danger of doing the same. So what's the verdict? Has the shark tank been wheeled in and have we just witnessed a Cylon flying over on a motorcycle? The jury is still out.

As long as the storylines remain compelling, the characters remain complex, and the social agendas remain convuluded and confusing, I will be a loyal viewer. Who am I kidding? As long as Sharon "Boomer" Valerii (above pic)is around.... I'm there dude. But this warning to producers David Eick and Ronald D. Moore, "Be careful... now is not the time to send moral messages. Now is the time to continue to create the best scifi series in history."

Posted by CDogg at 06:21 PM | Comments (0)

October 05, 2006

The Happiest Night in Dave's Life

Sorry Dave, but I couldn't help but laugh out loud at the pure joy you must have felt at the new South Park. This had to have been better than having your cake and eating it too. It ranks up there with what Mr. Reese must have thought the first time his chocolate and peanut butter got mixed together. South Park and World of Warcraft - two great tastes that taste great together.

Now if you can only get ahold of the Sword of A Thousand Truths, then you'll really be able to play some more. :)

It was pretty cool and I actually was more interested in watching the WoW storyline than South Park. It made me long for my characters. Must.... resist.... urge...

Posted by CDogg at 01:48 AM | Comments (2)

October 03, 2006

That, my friend, is good stuff

The pilot episode of Friday Night Lights is over and all I can say is "Wow!" This is really good television.

I have to admit that I went into it assuming it wasn't going to live up to the book or the film. From the previews and the promotional photos, it looked like it was going to be a takeoff on the OC or 90210 or something like that set in Texas. I assumed it would have a little bit of football to keep the guys happy, and a whole lot of teenage relationship stuff... boy was I wrong!

The pilot has setup the series to be even better than the movie. The acting was great, the action intense, and the writing superb. Peter Berg has actually outdone himself in bringing to the screen what Texas high school football is all about. Watch the pilot and you will see why I am so passionate about doing the Lone Star Gridiron podcast. This one will stay on the TiVo season pass.

Posted by CDogg at 08:21 PM | Comments (0)

October 02, 2006

Tin Foil Hat Theatre

I finally got to see Who Killed the Electric Car and it was just what I expected. I expected an expose on the history of the electric car and how it was systematically removed from the landscape of automobile options. I expected a plea for a return to sanity in this Hummer/Escalade/Excursion-filled world. I expected common sense. What I didn't expect was so much proof.

Proof that GM wanted the electric car to fail. Proof that conservative government officials wanted California's clean air laws to be wiped out. Proof that GM bought technologies allowing for long-distance, speedy electric cars and shelved them away. Proof that Chevron bought up inventions that would threaten our oil-addicted culture. Proof that the head of the California Air Resources Board sold his vote to a consortium of auto manufacturers in exchange for a consulting gig for a non-viable hydrogen thinktank. I am talking PROOF here! Not wild speculation. Not conspiracy theories. Proof that indeed Toyota, Ford, GM, Chrysler, and the oil companies have conspired to keep you addicted to oil at the expense of your health and your money.

This type of information may be scary to those of you who would prefer to not know, but as investigative journalism has long ago died , films like these provide the only sanity. Right or wrong, documentaries like these are the last hope of a free press. I am not saying that you should disbelieve everything you hear on FOX or CNN... I am saying you should take in as much information as possible and make up your own mind.

RATING 9 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 05:34 PM | Comments (0)

October 01, 2006

I never thought I would say this...

.... but I am getting sick of the NFL. Sure, you all know that I have sworn off the Dallas Cowboys until they get rid of Terrell Owens, but I think the division has gone much further.

For one, all the high school football I see in doing the Lone Star Gridiron podcast certainly fills any jones I have to watch the sport. But more importantly, it is MUCH BETTER football. These kids play their hearts out - not for a multi-million dollar payday - not for endorsements - not for crack - not for whores - for a love of the game. And you know what? They play a heck of a lot harder.

The final straw has been the last two weeks. All I wanted to do was watch The Amazing Race. To me, it is the most interesting of all the reality shows. So what do I do? I set my TiVo. Well, thanks to the NFL, I have missed half of the show for two weeks straight. When a football game runs long, they don't preempt it, they push back everything else. When 60 Minutes has to start late, they don't cut out commercials to catch up... the just start The Amazing Race late. I assume they catch up in the middle of the night during the infomercials. The problem is that TiVo records based on time so however long the NFL runs is how much of the race I miss. The worst part is that it is the end of each show.

This is the first season since I can remember that I haven't watched professional football and not only do I not miss it, but I really am starting to hate the NFL.

Posted by CDogg at 08:16 PM | Comments (0)

September 25, 2006

Films of our fathers...

Oooh... finally a good movie is coming up. I read the book Flags of Our Fathers a couple years back in record time. I seriously could not put it down. I just saw an ad for the movie based on the book coming out soon. It was directed by Clint Eastwood, who has become one of my favorite directors. Very cool!

It is not a typical war story, although I am sure there will be a ton of great action. It is instead a tale about that famous photograph of the troops raising the flag on Iwo Jima. Its the story of the faceless figures that came together at that exact moment in time. Its the story of surviving one of the deadliest assaults in military history. Its the story of a photograph and how it changed people's lives at home and abroad. It is one of James Bradley's best books... and he should know as his father was in that photograph.

(Check out "The Ballad of Ira Hayes" by Johnny Cash. It tells the sad tale of one of those flag raisers post-photograph.)

Posted by CDogg at 10:58 PM | Comments (0)

September 17, 2006

Movie catch-up time

Wow... I have a whole slew of stinkers for you. These are films that I saw this weekend while putting together three different podcasts, cleaning the house, and various other household tasks.

Lets start things off with the movie playing right now on my satellite - Boogeyman with Barry Watson and Emily Deschanel. Luckily, I didn't spend any money to watch this fresh-plucked specimen. As the name implies, this is a film best flicked off the end of your finger and forgotten. The only reasons I haven't changed the channel are because the remote is on the other side of the room, and I am a fan of the uber-hot Deschanel.

It was playing as a result of the Starz Free-View Weekend!! You know - there are sometimes when free is too much to pay.

RATING 2 out of 10

Next up is another film courtesy of the Starz giveaway... Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo. I actually liked the first one, so I thought maybe - just maybe, this one would hold some entertainment value. Okay, I guess it did hold "some" value. It just was a shadow of the original (who'dathunk you could make the original look good?)

Its funny because I had the opportunity to see it free back when it first hit theatres and I passed... looks like my instincts were right.

RATING 5 out of 10

The third and final film in this entry is Hitch - another certified stinker that I avoided when in first run. The good news is that with these three movies I saved at least $24 on tickets and another $30+ on drinks/popcorn etc. by waiting. I guess there was something good in them after all. Oh wait, I almost forgot to tell you what I didn't like about Hitch... I mean Will Smith, I like - Kevin James, I like - Eva Mendes, uh yeah, me likes - so what's the deal?

The deal is that it was written by a three-year old child of a burned-out Hollywood producer. Okay, I can't verify that - but it seems like it was written by the kid the retards made fun of in school. Again, my apologies for any perceived slight toward the mentally handicapped.

The cast however, did make it watchable.

RATING 6 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 03:53 PM | Comments (0)

September 10, 2006

Make your final plans now...

That's right... the final sign of the apocalypse is soon to be upon us. The uber-lame duo of Jessica Simpson and Dane Cook are teaming up for what is sure to be an uber-lame movie - Employee of the Month.

You remember Simpson and Cook, they are the latest in an increasing long line of people SOLD to the public as talented. Their lack of pedigree and skill is matched only by the immense marketing machines behind each. Simpson's only skills appear to be on display just below her neck and Dane Cook is one of the least funny comedians ever.

Oh wait.. there's more - this film sports such superstar non-talent as Andy Dick too! How many times can one person use the joke, "I'm not gay?" Stay tuned, because Andy will still be using it years from now.

The saddest thing about the film is that there will be a boatload of television-influenced drones that will pay to watch it, convinced that these hacks have some sort of talent.

Posted by CDogg at 06:15 PM | Comments (0)

September 05, 2006

The fastest 13.2 seconds on television comes to the web!

Mmmmmmm.... I feel so warm and safe inside. Its that feeling of getting a warm towel out of the dryer on a cold day... that feeling of a snuggle on a lazy morning... that feeling of friends and family together for the holidays... yes, its that good. It is the return of Battlestar Galactica. Okay, well maybe not the return to telivision, but SciFi is giving us something to tide us over. TEN ORIGINAL EPISODES on the web leading up to the season premiere on October 6th. YEAH, BABY!!

Sure, they're short. Sure, they should have been available as video podcasts. Sure, its not perfect. But come on - its freakin' Battlestar!!! Kudos to the SciFi Channel for again being original and again pushing the envelope in blurring the lines between broadcast and their web presence... and kudos for helping us ease the pain just a bit while we wait for our next fix of Galactica!

Posted by CDogg at 09:53 PM | Comments (1)

FRACK!!

I recently watched the documentary F*CK. This 2005 film was pretty darn interesting for a flick that spends an hour and half discussing one word. The underlying tale is one of the outrageousness of censorship and the double-standard applied to cursing. It is seemingly okay for people on both ends of the political spectrum to curse like sailors when the mood fits, but the second it is put out on the commercial airwaves, it becomes evil.

I am one of those people who believes that words themselves cannot be bad. The thoughts behind words can be quite hurtful and is another issue altogether... but words are just words.

The film also reenforces a point I have made many times about HBO's Deadwood - a show that seems to be written with the expressed purpose of seeing how many times they can fit the F-Word into a script. In the first season they used the word 69.3 times PER EPISODE!!! Free speech, I am all for... bad writing, I will never abide. :)

So, do I think the word should be celebrated and shouted from the rooftops? Probably not. Do I think that it is telling that the day a new broadcast standards bill was passed in Washington, that VP Dick Cheney was telling Patrick Leahy to "Go F*CK yourself!" publicly. This is the same administration that has proposed regulating indecent language on cable and satellite despite the fact that they do not use public airwaves. Also, they are pushing a bill that would raise the fine for indecent language from $27,000 to $500,000. In addition, there would be jail time for public use of these words. WORDS!!! THAT is obscene!

RATING 7 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 09:49 AM | Comments (0)

August 27, 2006

Movie catch-up time

Once again, it is time to play catchup on some of the movies I have seen recently...

Clerks II was not worthy of being called poop on a stick. It would be an insult to poop and sticks everywhere. Not only was it a shadow of the original (a very good film,) but if the original never existed, it would have never made it onto a screen anywhere.

The guy that played Dante, Brian O'Halloran, has actually become a worse actor than in the first one. Jeff Anderson (Randal) did a good job and was the ONLY watchable part of the whole flick. This film was nothing more than a series of setups for very weak sight gags and even weaker "dialogue." The Jay & Silent Bob segments were tired and hackneyed. Ugggh... I am getting disgusted just writing about this horrible, horrible, excuse for a movie.

If I didn't have respect for Kevin Smith as a filmmaker, this might have been the first 0 rating ever... but come on Kev, you are seriously slipping.

RATING 2 out of 10

My Super Ex-Girlfriend was one of those films that had its moments. There were moments when it was a fun movie and moments when it was a pain to watch. On the whole, Uma Thurman and Luke Wilson turned in the performances you expect from them. I really can't put my finger on what was missing... but as the credits rolled, I was still waiting for it to "wow" me.

If you want to see some visually fun stuff (nothing original) and want to laugh at a couple funny situations watch the film. If you want a film that you will even remotely remember next year, skip it.

RATING 5 out of 10

An Inconvenient Truth is the stylized documentary starring Al Gore that covers his one-man campaign to educated people about global warming. First let me say that this is a very important topic to me personally. That said, I do not review the film with total rose-colored glasses. Even though I feel the message is supremely important and the film did an amazing job of laying out the facts, there were some major problems.

Okay, there was "one" problem with the film... Al Gore. It wasn't that he was the old cardboard caricature we have come to know from Saturdy Night Live... it was that he spent too much time tooting his own horn. If he would have stuck to the information, this would have been a much better film. Instead, the film repeatedly cut away to these staged segments designed to show us his deep, caring side. If you can get past the "Al for Greatest Human on the Planet" campaign segments, this is an excellent film.

RATING 8 out of 10

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby was a fun time. I went into this movie expecting silliness. I went into this movie expecting slapstick. I went into this movie expecting Will Ferrell to be Will Ferrell. Talladega Nights scored on all counts. Sometimes it isn't so much about making the next Gone with the Wind or Pride of the Yankees, but instead, just being the best Talladega Nights you can be. It was, and I laughed myself hoarse in some of the better parts.

RATING 8 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 09:51 PM | Comments (0)

August 15, 2006

Double-take

Does anyone else get these two confused?

I never know which one I am watching... Balthazar Getty or Liev Schreiber. And they both have screwed up names... whats up with that?

Posted by CDogg at 10:18 AM | Comments (1)

August 13, 2006

Dateline NBC, who exactly is your audience?

I was watching Dateline NBC and caught an interesting story about contractors supposedly defrauding homeowners. I say supposedly because the investigation was not all that thorough and was clearly slanted in favor the their message, "BEWARE THE BIG, BAD, CONTRACTORS."

I am okay with them using hyperbole in telling their stories... heck, that is what all these "news" magazine shows do. What struck me more than the horrible investigatory piece, was the subjects they chose to portray as the victims. People with multi-million dollar home improvement projects. Uh... sure, I can relate - NOT!

Maybe the contractors were evil, wicked, mean, and nasty - although I believe the truth is somewhere a little more toward guilty of mismanagement - but come on... how am I to feel sorry for a woman who had to spend an extra $100,000 on a $2 million home improvement? How does putting her on the screen sobbing about how this has total shaken her family's foundation, supposed to resonate with me? The kitchen she was crying in was worth more than the salary of most Americans.

Is her loss any more devastating to her bottom line than paying the deductible on your auto insurance the next time you have a fender-bender? Wake up and notice your audience NBC.

NBC - Nothing But Clueless?

Posted by CDogg at 07:25 PM | Comments (4)

August 04, 2006

Miami Yikes!

First off, let me say that the only reason I watched this movie is because it was free and there was nothing else to do. Miami Vice was a real stinker. Perhaps that isn't the right word... maybe crapfest is more to the point.

Seriously, a free movie should not make you feel cheated... but this bit of celluloid trash not only wasn't worth the price of admission, but made me feel dirty for consenting to sit through it. Colin Farrell's accent went in and out throughout the film, Jaime Foxx, who has proven he can act, just phoned this one in, and the rest of the cast was... well, forgettable. And don't even get me started on the new Lt. Castillo. The biggest blame of all falls squarely on the shoulders of Michael Mann.

Not only did he overdirect, over-audio-enhance, and under-light the whole thing... his writing is horrible. Hey, I know Mann is not known for his writing skills, but this made some of his earlier debacles seem watchable. An average episode of the old Miami Vice TV show seems like Shakespeare compared to this mindless crud. Boo hiss, Mr. Mann!

Yeah it is crap with a capital CRAP! Gone is the coolness of Crockett and Tubbs. Gone are the hotties and the whole Miami scene. Even the fast cars and boats were only cameos at best - of less importance that pimping Bacardi and all the other product placement. (I mean how many times do they have to mention the Mojito?)

Once again, let me say...boo hiss, Mr. Mann!

RATING 4 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 10:32 PM | Comments (2)

Greatest Fictional TV Presidents

I was having an online discussion with someone recently about Battlestar Galactica (sparked by the buttons I am selling on eBay,) and the subject moved to the question of who were the coolest TV Presidents. The only rule is that it not be someone portraying a real President. Here are the top five in no particular order...

President David Palmer Democrat [24]
President Mackenzie Allen Independent [Commander in Chief]
President Laura Roslin unclear [Battlestar Galactica])
President Thomas J. Whitmore unclear [Independence Day]
President James Dale unclear [Mars Attacks!]

and no, Martin Sheen doesn't even crack the top 5.

Posted by CDogg at 07:49 AM | Comments (0)

July 28, 2006

Ultimate Fanboy Reality Show

Stan Lee's Who Wants to be a Superhero debuted recently and you know what? I actually like it. Yes, its campy. Yes, its silly. Yes, it uses a weak formula. But come on... who wouldn't want to be immortalized in their very own comic book by Stan Lee? Okay, well... what fanboy wouldn't want to be immortalized in their very own comic book by Stan Lee? This is fun stuff.

I do have to say that I was disappointed greatly with the selection of the first person to leave the show. The superhero Levity was kicked off because he had a conversation with an undercover agent of Lee's about how he hoped to make a ton of money in his business from his appearance on the show. His business is making customer action figures.

Stan Lee claimed that a superhero needs to be selfless and not interested in personal gain... uh, I have to call bullshit on that one. What about Tony Stark (aka IronMan)? He was a insanely rich billionaire playboy that was still a great superhero... and speaking of billionaire playboys... the Caped Crusader himself - Batman was also among the money-making spandex elite. It was total crap to kick off Levity for the comment... the real reason was that Stan Lee and the SciFi channel are the greedy ones who took the opportunity to get rid of some merchandising competition.

If they wanted to kick someone out for an ethics violation, it should have been the Iron Enforcer, who kept talking about his skills as a killer, how he liked killing, and how he was using it for training to kill when he ships out to the Middle East.

I really didn't care for the constant Blackberry product placement but if you can overlook that and forgive the lack of ethics in kicking off Levity, it looks to be an entertaining series. The first challenge was a perfect example.

Our heroes were given the task of changing from their secret identity into their costumes in public without getting caught and racing back to a predetermined location the quickest. What they didn't know is that in their path on the way back was a crying girl that had lost her her mom. Most of the "heroes" ran right past her trying to get the best time. A few put the needs of the girl ahead of the show and helped her. The ones that bolted past her were floored to find out that she was indeed the real test. I love this campy, superhero, goody-two-shoes stuff!

Oh yeah... best line from the first show...

"It's okay, Fat Mama's here!"

Posted by CDogg at 04:18 PM | Comments (0)

July 26, 2006

Hell in a handbasket...

I saw The Omen... no, not the original, the remake. WOW... was this a horrible remake! First off, Julia Stiles is no Lee Remick. And that other loser is no Gregory Peck. I really hate the way that all the movies made in the last few years have younger and younger casts. Come on... Remick was 41 when she made the original, Stiles was 25. Neither she nor Schrieber is believable in the roles.

I have never been one to long for the "good old days," but the original film was groundbreaking and uh, scary... this one is coma-inducing and uh, not. Boo hiss.

RATING 5 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 04:15 PM | Comments (0)

July 24, 2006

A couple bits of SciFi coolness

I have to thank Dave for taking the time to call me up and remind me that EUReKA had already started and that the pilot was re-airing tonight. When I saw the previews, I knew I wanted to tune in and check it out. I watched it tonight and sure enough... its good SciFi. Its just quirky enough to remain unpredictable. Its just intelligent enough to not insult your brain power. Its just well enough acted to not take you out of the story. Its just well-written enough to remain enjoyable throughout.

HECK!! What am I saying... it has Matt Frewer! Any SciFi show with Matt Frewer is a winner in my book. I think I am going to like my stay here in EUReKA.

The other very cool SciFi show that I am digging debuted tonight as well... Life on Mars. It doesn't fit the SciFi mold as much as cop show, but it has a decidedly surreal feel to it. It is not real clear yet if the hero has travelled back in time to the 1970's or if it is just in his head, but either way I am digging it.

Oh, I didn't mention that it is a BBC show and thus gets an instant ratings boost for me because I like their show-making sensibilities. If I am not mistaken, it is by the same production company that made Hustle... another Brit show that I like.

Add these two to the recent return of Doctor Who in a new series and you can see that I am a happy little SciFi geek lately. Can you imagine my smile when Battlestar Galactica returns?

Posted by CDogg at 11:32 PM | Comments (0)

Movie catch-up time: the abbreviated version

Okay, normally I go into some detail about why I did or didn't like a film. I will mention one or two of the stars and comment on their performances... maybe even go into some depth about the script, directing,etc... often I even put up a picture.

Well, this is going to be a lightning-round run through some movies I have seen recently... not much info... just ratings

Madagascar - hey, I was bored.
RATING 5 out of 10

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest - Felt ripped off that nothing resolved, but a hoot to watch
RATING 8 out of 10

Melinda and Malinda - didn't even make it through forty minutes of this self-important dribble
RATING 3 out of 10

The Break-Up - fun film... nothing too earthshaking
RATING 7 out of 10

The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift - stupid flick - but fun to watch the cars, crashed, chicks etc.
RATING 6 out of 10

Thats it for now... I will do full reviews later, I was just falling behind.

Posted by CDogg at 06:49 PM | Comments (0)

July 19, 2006

Contender - Round Two

Well, when the first season of The Contender finished, I stated that it was the best reality show of them all. It was the only one that had something real people were fighting for and more importantly they were really fighting. They were unknown wannabes off the street fighting for a chance of a lifetime.

The show has returned to television with a few changes. First, it moves to ESPN. Next, Sylvester Stallone is gone. But the biggest change has to be the fact that instead of unknowns, the producers decided to go with "little known" boxers instead. These guys are known to fans of the sweet science and will definitely raise the skill level of the show.

I have decided to TiVo the show and see what happens. It appears that it is going to be just as good as the first time around... and who knows... maybe even better. If you like reality shows and you like boxing... this is gold.

Posted by CDogg at 10:29 PM | Comments (0)

July 16, 2006

You, Me & Not Enough Dupree

You, Me and Dupree showed a lot of promise. It promised to be a film about that fun-loving, nutty, single guy everyone knows. It promised to be a film that poked fun at how much men change when they get married. It delivered on that promise... well, until about 30 minutes into the movie.

The first half hour was a laugh riot. The jokes were laugh-out-loud funny. The slapstick was good. The off-color stuff was right on target. So what happened? Well, at some point, the film changed into a love story. We are not talking about a normal love story here... we are talking about a sappy, formulaic love story. Its as if the cast, director, even the writers had enough in them for a very funny skit, but just sorta phoned it in when it was time to finish the story.

The parts that were good made it good enough to see... but just don't expect it to hold up for the whole film.

RATING 6 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 09:47 PM | Comments (0)

Stupid Commercials continued...

Beer commercials have long been the bastion of juxtaposition. Hot bodies playing volleyball or mountain biking and then popping open a cold one... this despite the fact that beer is not conducive to a hot body. Well Michelob Ultra has taken it a step further... a big enough step to earn a "Stupid Commercial" Award.

The voiceover contends, "Your life doesn't have one dimension... neither should your beer." Amidst the stylized music and visuals are images of a super-hottie dancing, cycling, rollerblading, doing yoga, surfing, camping, talking a romantic walk on the beach with GQ Joe, and of course, intercut with shots of her drinking with friends (all super-hot), laughing and having the time of her life.

Okay, as I stated earlier, we are all used to the dichotomy between visuals and actual life in beer commercials, but come on. Now they are actually saying that their beer is not one-dimensional. What is so darned multi-facted about beer? Its not even good beer.

Posted by CDogg at 09:27 AM | Comments (0)

July 02, 2006

Movie catch-up time

Editing for extended periods gives you a lot a free time while things are rendering and/or outputting. What do you do with all that free time? Watch movies of course. Now, I didn't see all of these while editing, but I do have time to play a little catch-up on the reviews

I was expecting Click to suck pretty hard, but again, having a free ticket makes one willing to watch a stinker. I was actually wrong about this one. It was a much better film that I expected.... in fact, I enjoyed it quite a bit. Sure, the jokes were full of schlock. Sure, you had to forgive a lot of logical issues. Sure, it was Adam Sandler playing the same character he always plays. But, it was entertaining. It was funny throughout and the story was very well written. Kate Beckinsale wasn't given a very challenging role, but she sure is easy to look at. Bottom line... its a fun film.

RATING 7 out of 10

The Hills Have Eyes was the weakest bunch of garbage I have seen in a long time. There was no logic in anything... the effects were lame and done for no reason... the story was stupid as a box of rocks... the acting was as expected with such a weak script... To summarize, it leaves a taste of crud in your mouth.

RATING 3 out of 10

I also caught Two For the Money recently - hey, there was nothing else available to watch. Wow... what a waste of acting budgets. The film was packed with star power, but it was all lost on a very bad script. The fundamental flaw in the film is how the sports betting industry works. I just couldn't get past the fact that the entire film was based on this ficticious system.

The writing was lame... the acting was over-the-top... and did I mention the writing was lame... uh, I did? Well, it was that lame.

RATING 4 out of 10

I thought North Country was going to be another excellent film. That is what I have come to expect from Charlize Theron. Well, that and the hottest woman on the planet. And you know what? Unlike Monster, where they deliberately uglied her up to look like Aileen Wournos... she was still gorgeous despite the attempt to make her look like a miner in North Country.

Was this the groundbreaking film everyone said it was? Nope. Was Theron's performance worthy of all the Best Actress nominations? Maybe. Was it a good film. Sure. It kept you interested from start to finish despite its simplistic storylines and blindingly obviously surprise ending.

France McDormand's performance was definitely worthy of praise. She has come a long way since Blood Simple... and each step has been a great performance.

RATING 8 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 09:35 PM | Comments (0)

June 29, 2006

Super Nostalgic

That's right... I saw Superman Returns last night... courtesy of a free ticket, which made it even better. Immediately I was struck with the fact that it was not another retelling of his origin, which is what I expected after seeing the previews. I was pleased to see that it was indeed a sequel and actually made sense in how they fit it into the Christopher Reeve films.

Brandon Routh seemed to channel Reeves down to the smile. His manner of speech, movement, everything; seemed to pay tribute to Reeves. I think the throwback to the earlier portrayals of the Man of Steel endeared both Routh and the new movie to audiences. Was it just me, or did his face appear to be computer generated in almost every scene? Can someone's complexion be that perfect? It was sort of creepy. I couldn't tell if they were doing some CGI to make him look more like Christopher Reeve or just trying to make him look more like the perfect man.

The special effects were impressive in that for the most part, they stayed in the background and appeared realistic. While the storyline was a bit simplistic and very easy to predict, again... the nostalgia won me over. The only things that took me out of the "little boy watching a superhero fantasy zone," were minor but still annoying. Lois Lane gets the tar thumped out of her over and over while in a commercial airliner doomed to crash... when Superman saves the day, not only is her body completely uninjured (despite being thrown into walls over and over a hundreds of miles per hour,) but her hair is perfect! They took the time to muss the hair of a couple fellow passengers, but she looks great. And things like an earthquake rocking Metropolis, blowing out nearly every office window, yet in scenes shot just days later, the city is perfect.

Maybe I am being a bit too nitpicky... but, come on. A little attention to reality sure would have bumped this film up a few stars. I was also a bit creeped out by all the blatant references to Superman as Christ... do we really need to go there to enjoy a film about a comic book hero?

I do want to say that I love Kevin Spacey's Lex Luthor and Parker Posey is as disturbingly entertaining as always. In the end, I was super-happy to have Kal-El return to the big screen, super-grateful for the respect paid to previous incarnations, super-wowed by the visuals, and super-pleased with the film. Oh yeah... and SUPER-SUPER-SUPER-relieved that Tim Burton didn't get to make this film.

From the dog-lover point of view... let me say that the film had two strikes against it very early on. Can you figure out what they were?

RATING 8 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 09:20 AM | Comments (1)

June 27, 2006

A couple of rough and tumble Brits

Green Street Hooligans was a decent little movie. It had its flaws, but on balance it was decent. The largest flaw was Elijah Wood as a tough-as-nails American turned British hooligan... I will never believe him in those fight scenes. As an actor, he is fine... as a bare-knuckles brawler? Come on. I did like Charlie Hunnam and expect him to be seeing more roles.

The story was simplistic and smacked of a Brit version of Romper Stomper - well, without the neo-nazi stuff. I think the film Made in Britain was better... as a matter of fact, I never reviewed it... so I will do it next.

RATING 7 out of 10

As stated above, Made in Britain was better... but as you can see from the rating... not much.

I caught this flick about a year ago and discovered it was Tim Roth's first film... well, at least the first one listed on IMDB. Now this film had more of a skinhead angle and wasn't related to hooligans, but the portrayal of angst, brotherhood, revenge, and violence was pretty similar. I do think that Roth's Trevor the Skinhead was much more believable despite the fact that neither him nor Wood is particularly large. The main difference was that Roth didn't have any of the baby fat of Wood and his wild-eyed acting was much more convincing.

Okay, I am probably not being fair - afterall, the two characters were supposed to be very different... but I still can't buy EW as a hooligan... even a wanna-be.

RATING 7 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 09:37 PM | Comments (0)

June 26, 2006

Awwwww

How did I miss the news that Commander in Chief was cancelled? I loved that show. Its too bad because it was a tightly-written and well acted show. I am glad to hear however, that ABC will be making a 2hr TV-movie to wrap up some of the storylines.

This is one of those shows that needs to find a new home because I want more Geena Davis. :)

Posted by CDogg at 02:58 PM | Comments (1)

June 24, 2006

16 Remakes

Okay, let me start by saying that I dig Bruce Willis and really haven't found one of his films I didn't like. 16 Blocks was a fun movie to watch but there was really nothing new here.

I know I am showing my age, but didn't Clint Eastwood already do this movie in 1977 when it was called The Gauntlet? Bruce Willis was pretty much the same character he played in the Die Hard series, (#4 is coming soon,) with a drinking problem. And while Mos Def was very fun, it sure seemed like he was just doing an impersonation of Flava Flav.

Bottom line though... despite everything being ripped from somewhere else, right down to David Morse playing a baby-faced, you're-supposed-to-think-I'm-a-good-guy-but-I'm-really-a-bad-guy character, it was a fun flick.

RATING 6 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 10:56 AM | Comments (0)

June 23, 2006

A History of Suckiness

Uh... I am really not sure where to begin. I saw A History of Violence tonight and boy was I underimpressed. I will probably judge it more harshly than I should because I had heard a lot of good internet buzz about the film. While I enjoyed the heck out of watching Viggo Mortenson act (hey, I even liked Hidalgo), the writing killed this one.

I mean, I could overlook the fact that the main storyline had plot holes you could walk through. I could even overlook that the writers felt the need to lead you by the nose through what was happening. What I cannot forgive is the horrible backstory of the kid getting bullied in school. Come on... his dialogue is that of a 9 year old, he looks like he'd 40 and seems like he is cut from the pages of a dime novel.

The only thing other thing I liked about the film was the manner in which the protagonist dealt with his nemesis at the end. (I won't spoil it for you... its the only reward after an hour and a half of time invested.)

RATING 5 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 11:43 PM | Comments (0)

June 22, 2006

PUCKer up

"Wolfgang Puck is in town. Wolfgang Puck in in town!" I heard it over and over from my friend Tony. "We should go see him. I'm a big fanboy *," he added.

"I don't even know who the heck this PUCKer is," I responded... more trying to be funny than anything else... but really - I could care less about my new best buddy, Wolfgang.

After much cajoling, Tony convinced me to swing by the Wolfgang Puck restaurant and say hello. Turns out it was a good thing, the Puckster only had one other person there to talk with him and it appeared that Wolfie was tired of the guy running on at the mouth.

We snapped some quick pictures and I have to say that he does indeed seem to be a really nice guy... and quite a few people showed up to meet him right after we got there. I found it funny that he was going on about how most of the women on "Vegas" are really kind of ugly. I don't know, I've never seen it, but Tony seemed to confirm.

I am sure he is a great guy and I am sure that his show sucks a lot less than some others... heck, I am even sure that his restaurant sucks less than a lot. Am I a big fan of Wolfman Puck now? Not really, but it is a cool thing to write about.

Ok, fine... he is my new favorite chef... I admit it.

* paraphrasing

Posted by CDogg at 10:55 PM | Comments (0)

June 21, 2006

Kiss, kiss, average, average

Today's lunchtime movie matinee was Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang starring Robert Downey Jr. and Val Kilmer. I liked the way their characters, Harry and Perry, worked together... they played off each other well. Often times, their acting skills salvaged a poor scene or made an average one enjoyable.

The storyline at times attempted to be more clever than it should have, leaving it looking silly. The breaking out of character to talk directly to the viewers seemed to be a thinly veiled excuse to make up for the adage that using a narrator in a film is just an example of poor writing. Overall, the film was entertaining, just not great.

RATING 6 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 12:08 PM | Comments (0)

June 11, 2006

My new favorite Pixar movie!!

CARS ROCKS!! That's right. I have a new favorite animated/computer generated movie. Pixar's Cars is a great movie. Not only does it deliver a very fun film that people of all ages will enjoy... it does it with class and is visually stunning to boot. Just look at this animation!

The CGI in the film is simply amazing. Over and over I was struck with how realistically things were rendered. The landscape was stunning, the physics of things like dirt particles/water etc. was breathtaking, and the cars were just too cool.

Sure the story was simplistic and formulaic, but they used a good story and a good formula. I have never cheered a cartoon before... but I was completely caught up in the storyline and wanted desperately for the hero to prevail. There are not many films shot with real actors even that inspire that kind of emotion.

My hat is off to Pixar once again for taking the bar previously set by themselves and raising it even further. That's right... my first 10 star rating of the year. In fact, it has been over a year since my last 10 star rating. (Sin City - April 2005)

RATING 10 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 10:41 PM | Comments (1)

Lame Louie

Holy crap... this is well, crap. Lucky Louie is a perfect example of appealing to the lowest common demoninator. The tagline is "some men have a dream, Louie has a family." What the heck is that supposed to me? Families suck? Real nice HBO.

Just as they did with Deadwood, this new series feels compelled to use every opportunity to curse. Not because it helps the story. Not because it explains the character. Every character does it... and it sounds cheap each time.

The toilet humor, added to the extremely poor acting, horrible shooting style, and unfuriating laugh track, leaves Louie very unlucky. To call it lame is an insult to lameness.

Posted by CDogg at 10:07 PM | Comments (0)

June 02, 2006

Stupid Commercials

Another in the list of stupid commercials... Hidden Valley Ranch. Picture this: a woman sits alone in a dark room and starts to put ranch dressing on her salad. She is morose, the scene is dismal, it looks like an unhappy scene.

As she pours the salad dressing, her background changes, a boy runs by with a dog, her cold desk changes to a picnic table on a bright sunny day, an older couple brings a plate of burgers, and they all sit happily at the table. Oh... I get it - if you use Hidden Valley Ranch dressing, it will make your miserable life turn into a picnic.

Wow! What happened to truth in advertising? Can they honestly say that salad dressing will improve anything about your life? Oh wait.. they just say it "seems" better. Nice.

Posted by CDogg at 09:00 AM | Comments (0)

June 01, 2006

Movie time

Okay, I guess I will start out with a movie I saw last year as a bootleg and forgot to review. (I do not endorse bootlegs, I just happen to be watching it at a friend's house.) The Matador starring Pierce Brosnan and Greg Kinnear was a quirky little movie. When you have a quirky movie, it is hard to pull off well.

The Matador pulled it off. Pierce Brosnan was great in the film and his character made the quirkiness work. This is one of those films that gets better over time and that is rare.

RATING 7 out of 10

Tonight I watched Derailed... a film that I fully intended to never see. There wasn't anything in particular that made it uninteresting to me... but then there wasn't anything that made it interesting either. I do have to say that it was better than I expected.

As expected, the plotline was thin enough to see through. The "complex twists" inherent in all psychological thrillers were neither very complex nor very twisted. What was good however was the acting of Clive Owen. He was the only thing in the film that was completely believable.

No surprises, nothing too deep, nothing even too entertaining... but I have wasted two hours on a lot worse movies.

RATING 6 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 10:43 PM | Comments (0)

So You Think You Can Create TV Shows?

Fox unveiled their latest reality/talent show So You Think You Can Dance? Actually, it looks like this is season two already? How did that happen? Ugggh Please, please, please tell me that nobody likes this dribble. This makes American Idol look like Emmy material - and trust me, Idol is poop on a stick too.

Posted by CDogg at 07:42 PM | Comments (1)

May 25, 2006

Ooohh, I can hardly wait

Am I the only one that is super excited about the upcoming Cars? I bet not.

This is the first animated (computer generated?) film I have been looking forward to since the first Toy Story. Don't get me wrong, I was pleasantly surprised by Finding Nemo and the first Ice Age... but none of the other ones have really piqued my interest. I already love Cars, and I really can't figure out why.

Maybe its because of the subject matter - what boy (of any age) doesn't dig cars? Regardless, it is one of the few movies I have wanted to see in the theater in quite some time.

Posted by CDogg at 08:31 PM | Comments (0)

American Hypocrisy

Forget Prince's stand against the record labels... it is obvious that stand is over. You remember it, Prince changed his name to a symbol in protest of the "slavery" of the recording industry. He was a revolutionary.

The revolution is over and Prince is the Benedict Arnold. He was front and center at American Idol... the epitome of a recording industry monopoly. This after he has publicly stated he hates the show. Apparently, he will lay down with anyone to keep his album on the charts.

Sure, some relative unknowns are being made famous, but from what former co-host Brian Dinkelman says, winners sign contracts to only record with companies owned by the show's producers and to allow related agencies to manage their careers. Their deals are reported to be worse than most traditional contracts as they maintain total control over the careers of contractees.

But, what else is new? These self-important stars from all areas of entertainment are always preaching about what is wrong with one side of their mouth and sucking on the corporate teet with the other.

Posted by CDogg at 07:11 AM | Comments (0)

May 23, 2006

Want to watch your ABC TV shows for free without iTunes?

In a very interesting move, ABC is starting to put a ton of their hottest shows online for FREE. Everyone knows that you can grab LOST! on iTune as well as a few others... but a season costs you about $35 with Apple.

ABC has upped the ante in the battle for online video delivery. The day after they air (same as iTunes) you can watch FULL episodes of these shows. The full season of Alias and Commander in Chief are online as well as the past few shows of LOST! and Desperate Housewives.

Check it out to see the dozens and dozens of shows.

Now, you cannot download them into your portable player... you are stuck watching them online... but it is one hell of a volley in the battle for online video supremacy.

These are just a few available right now:

It says it ends June 30... could this just be a test to see if they want to compete with Apple?

Posted by CDogg at 09:34 AM | Comments (1)

May 21, 2006

Tired of paying too much for DirecTV

If you're like me, you may have noticed the satellite bill has crept up a little bit over the past year. Well, you can change that. In lieu of canceling altogether and saving a bunch of money, you can call them and ask them to lower your bill.

That's exactly what I just did. I called up and told them I was going to cancel my DirecTV service. They asked the standard questions in hopes of getting the response I gave... "It just costs too much for what little I watch." Any mention of cost is the magic phrase for the to start makin' deals.

The first offer was to cut $5 off my monthly bill. I told them that taking $5 off a $50 bill was not going to make much difference. Well, you have to understand that is just an opening salvo. I am sure their retention percentage is pretty high by offering a free Lincoln a month. The key is to resist their offers until they have completely exhausted their options and are ready to disconnect your service.

Sure, it takes about twenty minutes of your time and a little bit of acting, but hey - it pays off. I just hung up the phone with not only a free five spot off my service, but another fiver just for grins. But, a $10 discount is not all. They agreed to take $10 off my seven channels of HBO (regularly $12/month) as well. So we are talking $20 a month now off my same level of programming. Oh yeah... and then for kicks... I hemmed and hawed until they agreed to credit my bill an additional $35. Nice!

Its the little things in life... :)

Posted by CDogg at 10:53 PM | Comments (1)

Dead Series

I saw this ad on Houston MetBlogs (where I am one of the authors.) It links to a webpage that is bent on saving this dribble. I saw the first couple of episodes and was completely nonplussed as to what the hype was all about. It was a curse-filled western without much else. It had a lot of dirty characters with dirtier mouths. I am so sure that everyone in the old west cursed this much.

"Mom, can I go outside and &^%#^ing play?"
"Sure, you little &$@##*! Have fun."
"I will you &^&%%#&ing *&#*#@@ buh-bye."

I am glad that HBO failed to exercise their option on a fourth season. I am just surprised it took three seasons of this monkey spit to figure it out.

Posted by CDogg at 12:59 AM | Comments (1)

May 15, 2006

Would you believe... more movies?

I am digging my new arrangement. EJ has the all-you-can-rent package at Blockbuster but doesn't like to go up there. Since he comes over to my house to watch anyway... he leaves the DVDs with me and I do the swapping. I can swap as often as I wish so I basically get free DVD rentals.

Last weekend I caught Aeon Flux. Now, I wasn't a fan of the cartoon when it was on MTV... in fact, I never even saw it once. But, I have ALWAYS been a fan of Charlize Theron (mmmm.) Ever since I saw her kick total butt in a white skinsuit way back in 2 Days in the Valley, I have been hooked. Not only is she one of the most beautiful women in the HISTORY of the world... she is a damn good actress.

So what of Aeon Flux? Well, it was okay. The story was interesting enough. The special effects were special enough to be watchable. The acting was even worth watching in places. Where it failed miserably was in the action sequences. I blame the editor. In an attempt to create more energy and excitement, it was cut together so fast that it was entirely confusing as to what was actually happening. Sure, you knew she was kicking butt... but it was very hard to tell who's leg was hitting who's face etc.

But hey, it had Charlize and I will never get tired of watching that.

RATING 6 out of 10

Next up was The Family Stone... or should I say "The Family Groan." Actually, I didn't pick this one out... EJ got it on Mother's Day thinking that his mom would like it... a very nice gesture on his part. I figured I would watch it before I swapped... but alas I stopped it about 1/2 hour in.

It wasn't that the film was particularly bad... it just wasn't my kind of movie. I am sure that in the proper mood, I might have enjoyed parts, but hey - I can swap anytime I want for FREE. Why waste my time? So, I didn't. It is now sitting happily on the shelf waiting for the next estrogen-filled viewer.

RATING 4 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 07:38 PM | Comments (0)

May 14, 2006

Hmmm.... they are going to make me root for it.

When I saw The DaVinci Code was being made into a movie, I thought there is no way to pull this off well. The story is too twisted, the ideas too complex, and the facts too many to fit comfortably. I just couldn't see how they could fit enough into a 2-3 hour film. I also thought that if it was going to do well, it really needed to be cast with relative unknowns. When I heard that it had Tom Hanks and was being directed by Ron Howard, I felt even more hesitance about it turning out well. Not because either is bad at what they do, but because I thought it needed a less mainstream team. For those reasons, I still have my doubts about how good it will be.

Because of something I saw on television this morning, however, I actually want it to do well. I saw numerous Christian shows in a concerted effort to debunk the book. No biggie... that is to be expected. What is a biggie is the arguments they are using. Silly things like "You cannot trust any of the facts because Dan Brown refers to Leonardo DaVinci as DaVinci. Everyone knows that no scholar would call him that... they all refer to him as Leonardo."

That's it? That's it? Thats your friggin' proof that all of the facts in the book are bunk? What sort of sheep do you think are following you? Oh wait, you actually refer to your flock as sheep over and over in the Bible. Of course you expect them to believe you.

It doesn't end there... Sunday morning was full of what appear to be church-sponsored infomercials. These are highly produced pieces shot in an educational style, featuring well-spoken critics of The DaVinci Code. The critics are shot in fancy libraries and university settings, but for some reason... few of them have their name or credentials listed as is common practice in real edutainment shows. When a name is given... it is something like "John Smith, So-and-so Church." Duh... of course they are going to be anti-Dan Brown.

Do I believe everything I read in the book? Uh no... I don't believe everything I read in ANY book. Do I believe that Dan Brown took liberties with the facts and that it is a completely fictionalized story? Sure. It is an action adventure. BUT. Do I think that the claim of a married Jesus and a more important position in history for Mary Magdalene and women in general COULD be true? Sure... there is as much compelling evidence of this truth as of other TRUTHs.

I didn't want to root for this film because I felt it was taking a book that I enjoyed and likely ruining it... now, I just want it to do well regardless.

Oh and if you missed them... you can PURCHASE a copy of one of these religitainment shows from Dr. James Kennedy. At $25 a copy.... he should do quite well from all the controversy.

I don't know... the figure on Jesus' right (our left) sure looks like a female to me.

Posted by CDogg at 07:14 AM | Comments (2)

May 13, 2006

Movie catch-up

Once again, it is time to catch up on my movie viewing... this time around the films are pretty varied.

Lets start with Jarhead. This is a film that intrigued me when it first came out, but as I long since quit enjoying seeing films in a theater... decided to wait until DVD. EJ brought it over the other night and although it seemed incredibly long... I did like the film. I like Jake Gyllenhaal more in each film I see and Peter Sarsgaard is turning into a pretty accomplished actor himself.

I heard people saying bad things about the film because it lacked the action of a typical war film... but that was the point. Desert Storm lacked the action of a typical war. Overall, it was a good film even though at times it was way too proud of itself.

RATING 7 out of 10

Next up was Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children. My nephew brought this one over.

From the opening ripoff (or homage?) to Akira... I was sorta disappointed in this one. I really liked the first Final Fantasy film and generally really dig CGI film. There is no doubt it was visually stunning. This one just played more like a typical long anime film than the sci-fi feel of the first one.

Had I not seen the first one, I would probably have liked VII more, and had I not had a splitting headache at the time, I'm sure I would have liked it more. Overall, though I put it in the "middle of the road" category.

RATING 5 out of 10

The Chronicles of Narnia could better be described as the Chronicles of Yawnia. When seeing the previews, I was impressed with the grand scale and on that count it delivered in spades. Where it came up short however was in acting. It is really too bad since CoN seemed to have everything else.

Beside the poor acting... the score was waaaaay over the top. Each scene came across as something much more grand because of the overdramatized music. Properly scored, this film would have been much, much better.

Did I like the movie? Sure. Was it as good as advertised? Not even close.

RATING 6 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 09:41 PM | Comments (0)

May 12, 2006

Stupid Commercials - V

I nearly spit out the tea I was drinking when I saw this commercial. Not because it featured a bunch of unknown pretty-boys. Not because it is not my favorite style of music. Heck, not even because it started with "Simon Cowell presents..."

What really threw me for a loop were the statements made in the commercial "The #1 album in America," and "the most popular band in the world!." (insert double-take here) Wha Wha WHAT?? Did I miss Il Divo becoming the most popular band in the world?.... the #1 Album in America? It is not even the #1 album in the latin charts... much less the whole shebang.

Please, please, please tell me that nobody is falling for this garbage. I can hear it now... dumb people everywhere at work or school saying, "hey have you heard Il Diva... I heard they are the top band in the world." "Oh yeah, well I heard their album is the #1 album in America." At least that is what Simon Cowell is hoping for... that and of course, the cha-ching of album sales to follow.

Too bad when they actually listen to it... they'll hear it is crapola.

Posted by CDogg at 07:30 PM | Comments (1)

May 09, 2006

Stupid Commercials IV

The irony of this commercial is what qualified it for inclusion. GE is running a series of commercials showing that they are environmentally aware. The tagline is their newly-minted word: ecomagination.

The latest one features this cute little elephant dancing in a rainforest to the tune of "Singing in the Rain." The claim is that somehow all their industrious efforts create cleaner water and (get this) cleaner running jet engines. This qualifies them as being in-tune with nature.

So, let me see... if I was throwing a 10 gallon bucket of crap over your head and switched to a 9.87 gallon bucket of crap... then that qualifies me as being in tune with you? Nice. GE is one of the largest polluters on the planet and no amount of whitewashing over that fact is going to make them one of the good guys.

"Okay boys, here's the plan... we throw out some commercials with a green message and use the earth in a logo and people will think we're not really evil bastards."

Do NOT be fooled by these guys - GE totally polluted the Hudson River and an entire generation of kids has been raised in the Hudson River Valley with extensive PCB pollution. Don't believe it? Check the cancer rates in the area. These guys are NOT green.

Posted by CDogg at 12:32 PM | Comments (0)

May 07, 2006

Like peanut butter and chocolate

How could I not love it? It was two of my favorite "tastes" in television mixed together. Heck, it was better than chocolate and peanut butter... it was the Dog Whisperer and South Park.

I am a huge fan of Cesar Millan... finally, there is a dog show on TV that understands dogs. No other dog trainer comes close to the things that Cesar is able to show people. Sure, the show is ultra repetative - training a dog is really the same regardless of the behavior you are working toward.

Putting Cesar on South Park was brilliant. They pegged his character perfectly and the shot of Cartman rolling onto his back in a "calm, submissive, state" nearly killed me - I was laughing my @ss off! More often than not, SP pushes the envelope in controversy and grossness, but this episode showed that they can still be side-splitting funny without doing unspeakable things with dead grandma's brain.

Posted by CDogg at 09:05 AM | Comments (0)

April 29, 2006

Sopranos Solve the World's Problems

I dumped The Sopranos at the start of season five. After a horrible season four, I decided to give them a chance. Five started out super lame and I was done. And as the line goes..."just when you think you're out.... they pull you back in."

All my friends who still believed that there was a good show in there somewhere said, "It's much darker," "Its got a lot more action," "This season is so much better." (Coincidentally, the same things that the media was saying) Still, I resisted. That was until I got season six for free. You know by now that "free" is my favorite word.

With one friend picking up the tab for the season and another supplying the episodes I missed, I figured I had nothing to lose. Boy was I wrong. In the seven hours of viewing so far, I would say that I lost about five and a half hours of my life. I lost them while the writers tried to solve all the world's problems and go out with a "statement."

I mean, come on. They have tackled every issue under the sun this season - the criminal justice system, the health care system, women's empowerment, homosexuality, religious oppression, environmental issues, homeland security, terrorism, even the frickin' wastefulness of award shows! Oh yeah, every issue except mobsters being mobsters. Sure, they throw in the gratuitious pipe to the knee or clipping someone in a diner... but they have soooo strayed from their roots.

When I want to be enlightened and examine injustices or delve into these issues, I will watch a documentary. I am not saying the characters should be cardboard stereotypes... in fact, the contrary. They can be fully fleshed out roles with all of that built in... but just stop treating the audience like retards. Quit having Meadow be a mouthpiece for the writer's social agenda. Talk about a cardboard character. Oh yeah, and we can't forget Anthony Jr. blowing up about the environment from left field after have no meaningful dialogue for the whole series.

It comes across as a deathbed confession... as if David Chase is apologizing to the Hollywood left for creating a rough, edgy drama. This they took a year and half to write? Weak.

Posted by CDogg at 10:15 AM | Comments (2)

April 23, 2006

Big Loser

Well, I saw an episode of HBO's Big Love tonight and I was nonplussed. Okay, maybe nonplussed is too strong... maybe I just haven't used that word in a long time and was looking for an excuse. I wasn't really surprised that the show has had success - I mean it did benefit from quite a promotional campaign. What has me really stumped is why it is still on the air.

The writing is unoriginal, the subject matter is vaguely interesting but very poorly handled. There appears to be a complete lack of knowledge about many of the key themes - bigamy, the LDS church, heck - even home improvement stores. If it is comedy they are shooting for, they missed. If it is drama they are after, it escaped them. If it is social commentary... not even close. Regardless of the goals - Big Love is a Big Stinker.

Posted by CDogg at 08:02 PM | Comments (0)

April 21, 2006

New Doctor Who

Doctor Who. Sure, it is campy... sure, it is silly... sure, it is even ridiculous at times - its supposed to be. Its Doctor frickin' Who and I dig it.

Being a fan of the old Doctor Who series, but by no means an expert, I can only compare it to the few incarnations I have seen. As a fan of the Tom Baker doctor... I really like the Christopher Eccleston version. He has the same wit and charm just as the writing and special effects have the same wit and charm.

I am pleased that the special effects, although updated, do not take over the show. Part of the charm of the original series was the subpar effects. Monsters in rubber suits and cheesy laser beam weapons were all part of the appeal back then, and while the new version is obviously not your father's Doctor Who, it still seems related.

Posted by CDogg at 10:44 PM | Comments (0)

April 20, 2006

Movie catch-up

Okay, I saw V for Vendetta. I was really looking forward to the film and frankly I am a bit too biased to give it a fair review. I am biased because I absolutely love Natalie Portman - I could watch her sort coins for three hours and be entertained. I am also biased because the movie points out a pet issue of mine - the abuse of power.

That said... it is not a very good film. The storyline is caught in that icky place between trying to be a campy comic book film and a deeply nuanced social commentary. Because it cannot decide on a goal, it fails at both. The logic jumps made by the characters are simply a way to move the story forward despite being completely illogical at times.

Was it fun to watch despite this? Uh yeah - remember Natalie Portman is in it (although if ever there was a non-role, this is it for her.) Is it visually interesting? Sure. It is a great film - not even close.

RATING 5 out of 10

Conventional wisdom tells you to run from sequels... well, unless it is a sequel to an animated film like Toy Story. Conventional wisdom wins out with Ice Age 2. Now, before you think I am just not a fan of the franchise, let me say that I found the original Ice Age a very enjoyable film. This new one - not so much.

Dave said it best when he pointed out to me that the first one had two levels of humor - the 3rd grade stuff and the adult stuff. The silliness and hijinx of the characters was visually funny as well. In IA2 The Meltdown, all of the adult stuff is gone or comes much later in the movie. (I have to admit that I quit watching after about 20 minutes... I just couldn't bear it anymore.)

The kiddy humor is intact, but it is not slapstick comedy or even good jokes, it is silly faces on creatures and quite possibly the worst writing I have seen in years. The writing team of Peter Gaulke and Gerry Swallow are the masterminds behind that classic of comedy - Black Knight (and thats the good stuff.) These guys suck too much to be called bad.

It doesn't matter how many high-profile, talented actors voice the words. When the words suck - the film sucks... and this one does.

RATING 3 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 10:56 AM | Comments (0)

April 16, 2006

Black. White. - the wrapup

I don't know, but I think the television show Black. White. may have done more to hurt race relations than help. If these are "typical" Americans both black & white, then we are in pretty bad shape. I was most shocked by the black family and their close-mindedness when it came to race relations. They had no interest in learning from the other family and their opinions were already set in stone. The white family seemed to be more open to learning, but came across as pretty darn stupid in how they dealt with issues. All the show seemed to accomplish was the reenforcement of standard racial stereotypes.

The only real impressive thing about this show is the makeup... they did an excellent job of making the participants appear the opposite race. As a sociological experiment, Black. White. failed miserably. The events of the show are clearly manipulated by the producers and their search for controversy has done the entire project a huge disservice. Black. White. was garbage television pretending to be a serious look at race relations.

The only positive outcome of the show is a pretty darn good song (Race Card) by Ice Cube. If it comes back for another season, I sure hope they will seek to cast more open-minded people and take responsibility for producing a serious show. It is a shame that this opportunity to create a real bridge was squandered.

Posted by CDogg at 10:23 PM | Comments (0)

April 14, 2006

Tonight on Fox - Jesus

I understand it is the Easter season and that Christianity is in the forefront of a lot of people's thoughts these days, but Fox 26 News has been really pimping religion (Christianity in particular) recently. In the past two days there have been at least three pastors/preachers/archbishops etc. interviewed on the morning news show. Many church-related events have been pimped and even Christian bands have been on the newscasts singing religious songs.

Now, before you start painting me as a blasphemer - I am NOT anti-Christianity... I am however, someone who would prefer the news to cover the news, not pimp someone's religious point of view.

It seems so out of place to watch these guys talk about one murder after another, intertwined with rapes, abductions, and oh yeah... the joys of Christianity.

(I am sure that even questioning something that simply struck me as a strange juxtaposition, has upset some of the die-hard thumpers... if my questioning upset you... then it is you who do not understand the post.)

Posted by CDogg at 08:10 AM | Comments (2)

April 10, 2006

Bring Back Chuckie

The cynics will say that with their new miniseries, The Ten Commandments, ABC is trying to cash in on the right-wing political environment and spending frenzy started by The Passion of the Christ. Or maybe they will say ABC is trying to cash in on the popularity of Naveen Andrews from their hit series LOST. Both may be right.

The miniseries is a bit revisionist... not enough to cause a huge outrage, but enough to put a modern slant on relationships etc. But wait, before I totally pile on ABC for this pile of...well, you know... I do have to point out that they are auctioning off original costumes to benefit Habitat for Humanity. Uh... you have to go through all the merchandise for LOST, Monday Night Football, Grey's Anatomy etc.. to get there... but hey - its for a good cause.

Posted by CDogg at 10:58 PM | Comments (0)

April 06, 2006

Great American Movie?

The American Film Institute (AFI) came out with their list of the 100 Great American Movies back in 1998 and I am afraid they missed the boat. About the only thing I agree with in their list is the fact that no actor appeared in more of the top 100 than Jimmy Stewart (my pick for the Great American Actor,) but that is an argument for another time. I am going to make the case for Footloose as THE Great American Movie.

We have to start with the acting... and the acting in Footloose has to begin with Kevin Bacon. Ren McCormack was the seminal role that really launched the career of one of our most prolific actors - doubt me? Can you say Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon? You don't see any games about Orson frickin' Welles.

Bacon is supported by the duo of John Lithgow and Dianne Wiest, both amazing talents with extensive credits. Footloose also created stars other than Kevin Bacon... Chris Penn and Sarah Jessica-Parker are the classic pictures of success - what is more American than that? Come on, it even has a "sure thing" that went bust in Lori Singer. This film has it all.

Okay, so now you are saying... "but how can a musical be considered the Great American Movie?" Well, Footloose was more than just a musical... not only was the music used in a totally original way, but the soundtrack itself is the story of America.

Earlier musicals took themselves out of the storyline to do a "song and dance number." Not Footloose. The songs were woven into the background at times and fit perfectly as part of the action when needed. This technique, which is a normal part of most films nowadays, was completely groundbreaking at the time.

The emergence of MTV was still happening when Footloose hit the big screen and the fact that it was chock-full of contemporary artists made it a perfect fit for the new medium called music video. We are not talking Rogers & Hammerstein here... we are talking Kenny Loggins, Sammy Hagar, and John Cougar Mellencamp. The release of music videos on MTV prior to the film was also groundbreaking. The explosion of the soundtrack, which had a half dozen songs in the top of the charts the day the film premiered, was revolutionary. It can be argued that Footloose launched MTV, and with it an entirely new way of marketing films.

Okay, so the film broke ground on many fronts... so what about the story? Hello!? What is more American than the little guy fighting impossible odds, sticking to his guns when times are tough, and winning? Or how about the battle between freedom of speech and censorship... religious tolerance and religious persecution... generation versus generation... the right versus the left... progress or tradition? This film REALLY has it all.

Posted by CDogg at 04:01 AM | Comments (1)

April 03, 2006

FOUND - one weak spot

Well, you can remove LOST: Season 2 from my wishlist at iTunes... I am now starting to watch it.... for free, I might add. So how did I get yet another season of LOST free on iTunes? I used the drug pusher method... I got him hooked.

I invited my friend EJ over to watch season one with me back when I first got it. After sitting through every single episode over the course of the last couple weeks, he was distraught when it ran out. I told him the solution was simple... all he has to do it buy season two and we are back in business. And since, my system was all setup to view from my laptop to my TV, he might as well do it on mine.

We are now two episodes into season two and enjoying the heck out of yet another frustating season.

Hey, if anyone else wants to come over and watch TV... I have an iTunes account all ready for your purchases. (Although I have had to move shows off to my server already because they take up so much space.) Good times!

Posted by CDogg at 10:50 AM | Comments (4)

March 27, 2006

Which Lost Character am I?

Since I just recently started watching LOST via iTunes, I thought I would start off with one of those cool quizzes we all love to do.

I am about halfway through the season and will be posting my thoughts soon on the show.

Posted by CDogg at 08:28 AM | Comments (0)

March 25, 2006

Holy Canoli !!

WOW! I am not sure where to begin. First, I was shocked that Battlestar Galactica jumped ahead an entire year... that literally blew me away. Everyone knew that the cylons would be back... but this turn of events was HUGE!

Talk about building up anticipation for next season. I am already imagining all the storylines. The even more rag-tag fleet doing hit and run missions on cylon occupied New Caprica. The rag-tag resistance movement within NC using subterfuge and guile against the occupying force.

There are those on the web saying that the producers just fracked up the whole series... I say no way. Sure, it takes us out of the space setting (and likely saves a bunch in production costs,) but in the first two seasons, we spent an awful lot of time on planets anyway.

What will become of the relationship between Starbuck and Apollo? Will Roslin return to power? Will there be a position of power available or will elections be outlawed? Will Baltar and Number 6 rekindle their relationship? Do the "hero" cylons still feel enough humanity to participate in underground movements? Do the writers have a clue what they are doing or did they paint themselves into a corner?

I, for one, cannot wait. (Big thanks to Laura for linking me to the election button image - too cool. I have a buttom maker if someone has a color printer... I know I want to wear one.)

Posted by CDogg at 01:30 AM | Comments (1)

March 12, 2006

NETFLIX IS RUN BY GREEDY @SSHOLES!

If Penn & Teller's television show Bullshit taught me one thing, it is that you can't be sued for calling someone names... you can be sued for saying false things against them... but since name-calling is simply an opinion, its fair game.

It is my opinion that Netflix sucks balls. I know, I know... this is probably the strongest language you have read in my blog, but dammnit - I'm mad. I am officially among the "throttled" at NetFlix.

After testing the theory with Dave, we have confirmed that because I am such a high volume customer, new releases are delayed on purpose in my queue, while more moderate users get the exact same movies much quicker.

So what did I do? I voiced my displeasure with my dollars and cancelled my account. Hell, I paid for a service that rents me "unlimited" movies... when I am stuck watching 80's teeny bopper films and documentaries, I am not really getting what I paid for. I am also voicing my displeasure in every forum available to me... that means this blog and my podcasts.

(Intended as a parody and for entertainment purposes)

And yeah... parody is also a protected for of freedom of speech, so please take this image I created and spread it everywhere. If possible, link it back to this post http://www.chrisdoelle.com/archives/2006/03/netflix_is_run.html . In closing, let me again reiterrate that NetFlix is run by greedy bastards and that if you intend to use their rental system as advertised and as designed... you will be disappointed.

Posted by CDogg at 08:36 PM | Comments (2)

February 27, 2006

My kingdom for some Visine!

Okay, I admit it... I wanted to see Red Eye because I think Rachel McAdams is hot... I am doubting whether it was worth it. I haven't decided yet if this film failed horribly because Wes Craven needs to stick to straight horror, or because the script was just that lame... likely, it is a little of both.

When you get past all the plot holes, hokey dialogue, pedestrian acting, and generally uninspired filmmaking... all you have left is Rachel McAdams. I think she does better work in still pictures. :)

RATING 4 out of 10

In yet another bleary-eyed attempt at moviemaking, the recent remake The Fog was blindingly bad. I could be wrong... maybe it has a tremendous middle and end... I'll never know because I didn't last more than about twenty minutes before shutting it off. I had the choice of watching the rest of the film or sorting belly button lint... my now-shiny belly button was the clear winner.

RATING 3 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 12:22 PM | Comments (0)

February 15, 2006

Its.... glorious!

Glory Road was everything I expected it to be. It was an exciting sports drama. It was an inspirational story of people overcoming tough odds to win. It was the classic battle of the right vs. wrong. It was a feel-good film. And you know what? I like that stuff.... and I liked this film.

The fact that it is based on a ground-breaking moment in collegiate sports is frosting on an otherwise pretty darn tasty cake. If you liked Hoosiers (the greatest basketball movie EVER made,) you will thoroughly love this film. If you liked Rocky, you will thoroughly love this film. If you like Rudy, you will thoroughly love this film. If you don't love this film - you are just not a nice person. haha Seriously, Glory Road is good stuff. I may even have to rethink my top sports films of all time.

RATING 9 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 05:16 PM | Comments (0)

February 06, 2006

The game was fun, the rest pretty much sucked @zz!

SuperBowl XL had some exciting moments. The 75yd breakaway run for the longest run in SuperBowl history; the Steelers' trick play for the first TD pass by a wide receiver; some controversial play calling and officiating... all in all it was a decent game from a football standpoint. What sucked was the rest.

The commercials were not even good enough to qualify as subpar. Hell, half of them weren't even debut commercials. If you are going to spend that kind of money on a spot during the SuperBowl, you could at least put out a new commercial. The only funny moment was when the hot chick got tackled playing touch football in some beer commercial - and then they PC'ed the whole thing by making her tackle the guy in the end. Poop on a stick would have been more interesting to watch.

Speaking of poop on a stick... well, petrified poop maybe. The halftime show was a big yawnfest too. If I wanted to hear classic rock and roll songs butchered, I would have my neighbor sing them. The sound was horrible and the show was one big waste of time. Don't get me wrong - in comparison to other shows, like Janet Jackson's deflated and floppy moment, it was mildly entertaining. I am just against these halftime extravaganzas in general. They add nothing to the event other than maybe help to justify the ticket price.

Its time for the NFL to have a little dignity and put the focus back on the game itself.

Posted by CDogg at 08:09 AM | Comments (2)

February 03, 2006

Get your hate mail pen ready..

Okay, I already know I am going to catch some flak for this post. I mean, you don't just take on something universally loved by the public without catching a little heat. I have to ask though - whats the big deal about March of the Penguins? The film tried to cross the genres of entertainment and documentary and in doing so, really came up short on the documentary end. As entertainment, it was decent... despite the overuse of things like sped-up filmstock and overly dramatic prose. As a documentary it was pure McDocumentary... it was education dumbed down for the masses. It was not informational at all. Any half-hour program aired by Animal Planet or National Geographic on Emperor Penguins contains more factual information than this hybrid.

I know the public loved it - and frankly, most of them loved it because of all the buzz about how everyone loved it. While I thought it was weak in some areas... I did like the film. I just don't see what all the hubbub is about. There is nothing revolutionary about this film. There is nothing life changing or even remotely deep about this film. It is a well publicized infotainment piece (not the little film that could - it is by Warner Brothers) sold to the public as this triumph of movie making. It was a ruse used to sell movie tickets.

RATING 7 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 09:34 AM | Comments (2)

February 01, 2006

Two out of three ain't good

Four Brothers = Four Yawns. Take a tired formula - revenge - add in some bad writing and not even a decent cast can save it. Ugh... why am I still typing about this?

RATING 5 out of 10

Even worse than Four Brothers was Transporter 2. Okay, first off let me say that I thought the original was lame... well this version is a whole new level of lame. Its a shame because I really like Jason Statham... he just needs someone better to pick out scripts. This one wasn't just a bad script though - it had equal parts suckage in many other areas including acting, camerawork, special effects, direction, continuity... I bet that even the catering was bad on the set.

RATING 5 out of 10

But hey... things aren't all bad - I saw some good things recetly too - including Sky High. Sure, it is a dorky little movie with a dorky little theme and dorky little outfits. But come on, it was Kurt Russell, who I really like, it was a feel-good movie which is always a plus, and it delivered exactly what I was looking for.

RATING 8 out of 10

Before you decide that this means I only like happy little fluff pieces, read through some of my other reviews. I love a good kill-fest, violence-packed, action film as much as the next guy... I mean can someone make a better film than Reservoir Dogs? If fact, you will see my top rated films range from tear-jerkers like Whale Rider to the greatest comedy of all time, The Blues Brothers and everything in-between. What I won't abide is a poor film no matter what the genre... it just happens that I saw to bad action flicks this time around.

Posted by CDogg at 12:51 PM | Comments (0)

January 30, 2006

FREE MOVIES!!!

Want some free movies? Use these codes at Houston area redbox vending machines (found in McDonald's) during the times listed and you get one free night!

1/29 - 2/2 GROUNDHOG
2/5 - 2/9 FEBRUARY
2/12 - 2/16 ABRAHAM
2/19 - 2/23 PREZ

Enjoy!!

Posted by CDogg at 11:55 AM | Comments (1)

January 28, 2006

Stupid Commercials - I

I thought it was high time that I started pointing out some of the majorly stupid commercials on television. I am not talking about the kind that are silly - I am talking about the kind that make huge erroneous assumptions and totally miss the mark. These assumptions range from things like believing that we are all idiots and will buy into their feel-good messages while promoting something quite contrary or outright misinformation designed to rework their image, etc. Not all of them will contain such grave inconsistencies - some will just be simple cases of "what they heck were they thinking."

The first example is an ad being run by SAAB right now. It starts with an image of a jet fighter that transforms into the new SAAB. The message is simple:

SAAB - BORN FROM JETS

Huh? Is that supposed to make me want to buy a SAAB? Who is their target? ...12 year old boys?

Posted by CDogg at 03:40 PM | Comments (0)

January 22, 2006

Must love this movie

Okay, I know this pokes a serious hole in my he-man, tough guy image, but I loved the film Must Love Dogs. And before you jump to the conclusion that it was the dogs alone that won me over, let me assure you that it was much more. It was the sure fire combination of a John Cusack sappy love story, one of my all-time favorite hotties - Diane Laine, a very witty and touching story, AND some great dogs.

It is a shame that quality films like this rarely make much money (only $50m gross on a $30m budget) these days because it really had it all. This is one of the best films to come from mainstream motion picture industry in quite some time.

RATING 9 out of 10

Switching the subject to movies that made a TON of freakin' money - I also finally saw Wedding Crashers and you know what? I actually liked it too. When I saw the initial previews I thought, "Wow this is going to really blow." But I can admit when I am wrong. While the storyline was ridiculous, the writing itself was second rate, and the acting was only so-so... it worked. It worked because it included a few of my favorite things - slapstick comedy, a happy ending, and Vince Vaughn acting like... well, Vince Vaughn. If ever there was an actor with no range whatsoever, it is him - but that is okay because no matter what film... I like watching him. Fun stuff.

RATING 8 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 03:17 PM | Comments (0)

January 17, 2006

At least they got one right...

Well, the Golden Globes were awarded last night and I have to say the finest moment was my girlfriend's acceptance speech. Geena Davis suckered everyone in with her touching story of the little girl who now aspired to be the President, and then cracked everyone up by revealing that it never happened. For the most part, the Hollywood Foreign Press takes itself way too seriously and Davis' acceptance speech was a welcome break.

Posted by CDogg at 08:48 AM | Comments (2)

January 10, 2006

One off the list that should have stayed

Well, I have one less television show on my list of shows I have never seen. I caught Boston Legal a few minutes ago at the hotel in Montgomery, AL for a couple reason... 1-the TV was on ABC for Commander in Chief, 2-the remote at the hotel didn't work, and 3-I was too lazy to get up and switch channels.

I have to say that my original estimation was correct... it is entirely a stupid show. I especially hated the frequent quick zooms both in and out for an attempt at some sort of edgy dramatic feel. Overall, BL is just more BS.

Posted by CDogg at 09:35 PM | Comments (1)

January 01, 2006

Monk - just Murder She Wrote with a neat freak

Now I know I am going to catch some flak for this one because I have several friends that like the show Monk. Well, I gave it a shot because USA network had a New Years Day Monk Marathon. Halfway though the first episode, it was obvious that it was no different than any other old school cop/mystery show - Baretta, Murder She Wrote, ChiPs, Starsky & Hutch, you name it... they are all the same boring episodic dribble.

The last show with this formula that I actually liked was Remington Steele and that was because I always thought Pierce Bronson's character was very cool... oh yeah, and I was in high school! Monk is really just Jessica Fletcher without the writing, but with a serious OCD. My TiVo will never see another episode of Monk.

Posted by CDogg at 12:15 PM | Comments (0)

December 30, 2005

Add it to the list of old school deaths

It is official. The death of the Hollywood movie system is upon us. It has been creeping up for the past several years as indie films have moved to the foreground and networks like HBO, FX etc... have started surpassing the quality of the traditional movie biz. With the upcoming remake of "When a Stranger Calls" it is now official - the old way is dead. Sure, remakes have long been a part of the movie biz, but not only has the percentage of remakes skyrocketed in the last few years, the quality of selection has become increasingly lame.

This movie wasn't even very good when it first hit the big screen back in 1979. The old version had the element of surprise and a very good performance by a very young Carol Kane - but even so, it wasn't that great.

The progressive decline in movie ticket sales has as much to do with content as it does with DVDs. Put a fork in Hollywood - its done! Look for more content created by smaller and smaller filmmakers and marketed more and more to niche markets via the Internet/video podcasting/cell phones etc... you can bet on it.

Posted by CDogg at 12:38 PM | Comments (1)

December 28, 2005

I owe my soul to the company store.

In compiling the list below, I noticed the first of what I am sure are many omissions... movies that I have seen, but never reviewed on the blog. The Corporation is a documentary that looks at the evolution of the corporate entity throughout history, from the idea through to current legislation aimed at strengthening its stranglehold on the business world.

There is a lot of great information in this documentary. For instance, did you know that corporations were originally created for a specific task (ie. build a bridge) and the by law were required to disband? From the film - "150 years ago, the business corporation was a relatively insignificant institution. Today, it is all-pervasive. Like the Church, the Monarchy and the Communist Party in other times and places, the corporation is today's dominant institution."

For an eye-opening education on just what it means when you say corporation or big-business, check out this film.

RATING 9 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 10:49 AM | Comments (0)

Top Movies of the Year (so far)

Okay, we have a few more days left in the year so this list is subject to change, but here are the movies I rated an 9 or above this year in order of best to worst. I have separated te documentaries from regular films because they are generally so much better than Hollywood fare.

1 - Finding Neverland
2 - Sin City
3 - Millions
4 - Garden State
5 - Batman Begins
6 - Saint Ralph
7 - Munich

Documentaries

1 - Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
2 - Walmart - The High Cost of Low Prices
3 - Murderball
4 - The Corporation (added)
5 - Born into Brothels
6 - What the #$*! Do We (K)now!?

Again, I have a ton of great flicks queued up in Netflix so maybe one or two may be added to the list. (For instance, I have yet to see Cinderella Man, The Constant Gardener, March of the Penguins etc.) Look for the final list after the first of the year.

Posted by CDogg at 09:34 AM | Comments (0)

December 26, 2005

Dogtown real and imagined

I was looking through some of the DVDs that I have watched during the year (I am compiling a list of my highest rated of the year so I can tell the Academy what is wrong with their nominees etc.) and realized that I watched both of these films a while back and never mentioned them here. Let me correct that.

Dogtown and Z-Boys is the documentary of the Zephyr skating team from the 1970's that evolved into the skateboarding phenomenon and eventually the X-Games themselves. Stacy Peralta - one of the original Z-Boys - wrote and directed the film and it is obvious he lived this stuff. It is a great history of the skateboarding movement and even manages to involve you with the human interest angle. It rocks.

RATING 8 out of 10

Four years after the documentary, Peralta was back at it - but this time with the dramatized version of the same story. He wrote Lords of Dogtown, but this time handed over the director role to Catherine Hardwicke. If the documentary excited you, the dramatization is really just more of the "good stuff." Sure, it's not a groundbreaking film, but when put side by side with the documentary, it is amazing how well they portrayed reality in the film. If like me, you have never found a reason to like Heath Ledger, this one will show you that he really can act.

RATING 8 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 10:58 PM | Comments (0)

December 25, 2005

A little murder among miracles

Saint Ralph is not only a great family-friendly film, it has to be one of the top films I have seen this year. (Trust me - that is a LOT of films.) People of all ages will like this film although some of the sexual humor may not be appropriate for young children.

The story of Ralph Walker's attempt to pull off a miracle win in the 1953 Boston Marathon at age 14 is the driving force of the film, but it is the humor of the film that makes it lovable. Even the strong will be tempted to tears as Ralph attempts to create the miracle needed to bring his mother out of a coma. But lest you think it is a tear-jerking, downer of film, know that even the most stoned-faced viewers will catch themselves chuckling as Ralph defies rationality and creates one humorous situation after another. In this time of increasingly horrible movies, Saint Ralph will leave you glad you invested the time to watch.

RATING 9 out of 10

From an inspirational piece of fiction, to an inspirational piece of true life. The documentary Murderball takes a look at the Paralympic sport of Quad Rugby. The sports creators orginally dubbed it murderball and despite the international sports community's attempt to tone down the name, it is still known by that for very good reason.

The teams are made up of quadriplegics in modified wheelchairs playing rugby on a basketball court. As in traditional rugby - the game is intense, the collisions are jarring, the action is frenzied, and the players are... well, at least a little bit nuts. Call these guys what you will, just don't call them handicapped.

The film is more than just a documentary about how they overcame individual difficulties and found even greater opportunities post-injury. It is a compelling story as well. The filmmakers weave the drama of former US Quad Rugby star Joe Soares' attempt to coach the Canadian team to victory over his former teammates with stories like lead-man Mark Zupan's reconcilliation with former best friend Christopher Igoe - despite the fact that Igoe's drunk driving accident was the cause of Zupan's transformation from star soccer player to quadraplegic.

You will never look at someone in a wheelchair the same after viewing this film.

RATING 9 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 08:34 PM | Comments (0)

December 24, 2005

Don't F**K with the Jews!

That's right - or they will hunt you down and kill you or make you sit through a looooooong film about hunting down and killing people. Seriously, that was one of the more memorable lines in Spielberg's new film Munich. And don't take this to mean that I didn't like the film or don't like Jews - its comedy people! I saw an opening and took it.

I was actually surprised that it wasn't the story I expected. It wasn't about how hard life has been on the chosen people - it was actually about how hard the chosen people can be on their enemies. It took an honest look at how governments can make good people do bad things in the name of patriotism. (I am sure the timing is unintentional - right?)

Spielberg delivered a strong tale about a pivotal moment in world history. He did with the honesty and he did it with fairness. The film also featured two of my favorite actors Eric Bana and Daniel Craig. Good stuff.

RATING 8 out of 10

And while we are on the subject of political intrigue, I also caught Syriana last week. George Clooney turns in a pretty decent performance despite a sometime confusing and disconnected script. The intrigue, while wound a bit too much in on itself, does serve to point out the lack of black and white or right and wrong when dealing with political issues. In the end, there is so much gray that the audience is left with no real message.

Kudos to Stephen Gagan for tackling a very important subject, but I can't help but feel this story would have been more powerful, more resonant, and more understandable as a documentary.

RATING 7 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 10:16 AM | Comments (0)

December 08, 2005

The Brits Fail Better & Colbert is not even close.

Well, I have now seen both versions of the television program, The Office. I already reviewed the American version, which I saw first. Now, I have finally seen the original British version. I can say without a doubt that the Brits do it MUCH better. Ricky Gervais is much better in the role he created than Steve Carrell.

And speaking of the cast of regulars that have left The Daily Show - Stephen Colbert's new spinoff, The Colbert Report plays like The Daily Show sans the wit, intelligence, and oh yeah - talent. Colbert pales in comparison to Jon Stewart and despite trying to make up for it with more computer graphics, The Colbert Report is the ugly-step sister.

Posted by CDogg at 11:30 AM | Comments (0)

November 20, 2005

Taking our communities back from WalMart

I just finished watching the documentary Walmart: The High Cost of Low Price. It is one of those films that you can almost write before you ever see it - well, if you are at all informed about business in America you can. I liked the film in that it backed up one of my largest rants with real facts and figures. It is a serious documentary that seeks to expose serious issues. While it would have been easy for the film to slip into hyperbole and exaggeration, Robert Greenwald instead chooses to stick to the facts. With facts like these, there is no need to overstate.

This is an important film that you should watch. I for one have decided to no longer shop at WalMart (which was not a tough decision since I haven't bought anything there in months.) This came about not as a personal campaign against WalMart, but as part of a personal campaign against spending for the sake of spending. In attempting to simplify my life, I have discovered that the less "things" I purchase, the easier my life becomes. I mean come on - do I really need a $3 toaster anyway? CLICK THE IMAGE TO ORDER A COPY OF THE DVD!!

Check this film out - I will be happy to loan it to anyone, but it can also be purchased relatively cheap from the producer's website.

RATING 9 out of 10

One interesting side note to this WalMart video was that while looking at links on the film's site, I found AdBusters.org. They are declaring November 25th as Buy Nothing Day. This is traditionally the biggest shopping day of the year... so I am relatively sure that the drop off won't even make a dent in commerce, but you have to give them credit for not shying away from a huge task.

Posted by CDogg at 10:38 PM | Comments (1)

November 07, 2005

Not so little chicken and a lost hitchhiker

Chicken Little was a lot of fun. I saw it this past weekend and had a really good time. I know, I know - everyone is ripping the film pretty good, but it all looks like playa-hatin' to me. Disney's first solo computer-generated film is NOT the greatest of all time. It is NOT the end-all and be-all of family films. It is NOT even the best film of the year. It IS however, a fun film that will make you smile.

Come on, how can you NOT like a cute little chicken dancing in his undies?

That makes three home runs in a row (Scrubs, Garden State, Chicken Little) for Zach Braff - expect to be seeing a lot more of him.

RATING 8 out of 10

I also saw the movie Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Is it just me, or was this a bad movie? I read all the Douglas Adams books back in high school and absolutely loved Hitchhikers. I didn't really care for Dirk, or So Long... etc., but I did truly love Hitchhikers. So I should love this film right? Uh - not really.

I don't know if it is because the characters are much different than they were in my imagination or that the film was actually bad. I just don't know... what I do know is that if this film were a hitchhiker and I were a truck driver... I wouldn't even slow down.

RATING 6 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 11:06 AM | Comments (2)

October 28, 2005

It Rizes Above

Rize rocks! This documentary tells the story of the clowning and krumping movement. This dance alternative to the street gang life has grown into a huge movement (pun intended.) There is no way to describe krumping - you MUST see it to understand it. And even then, you must understand it to truly SEE it.

At first glance, it looks like violent popping and jerking, it looks primative, it looks tribal... and there is a lot of truth in that first impression. It is however, much more - it is an expression of emotion. It is a positive outlet for energy. It is a family. It is a way of life.

David LaChapelle takes us into the world of this dance movement that rises out of South Central L.A.. He did two other films, Clowns in the Hood and Krumped - that apparently cover the same subject - I will definitely check them out.

RATING 8 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 04:31 PM | Comments (0)

October 27, 2005

Shows I have never seen (ABC Edition)

I miss a lot of "must see" TV - most of it doesn't appeal to me. I thought I would run down a few on my list of 'never seens' and even a few 'seen but can't stands.' This entry will just list shows on ABC.

Never seen:
Hope & Faith (couple of hotties, but how good can it really be?)
Hot Properties (can you say Desperate Real Estate Agents)
Alias (I heard it was decent, but missed the start so never got into it)
Invasion (again, I thought it might be decent, but missed the start)
LOST (thought the whole premise looked boring - sounds like I could have pegged this one wrong)
Desperate Housewives (looked like trash)
SuperNanny (uggh)
Grey's Anatomy (couldn't get into another medical show)
Boston Legal (looked stupid)
Wife Swap (uh - boring)
Life with Jim (has anyone seen this show?)
George Lopez (I like him, but can't get into sitcoms)
Rodney (another formula sitcom)
Freddie (see above)

Seen but can't stand:
Night Stalker (what a horrible remake)

So what do I watch from the ABC lineup?
Commander in Chief (love it!)
Nightline (depending on subject)
20/20 (sometimes good, sometimes boring)
Jimmy Kimmel Live (I skip the guests and the bands - the stuff with Cousin Sal, Aunt Chippy, Uncle Frank etc. are good)

Look for more networks and cable channels to be reviewed in the future.

Posted by CDogg at 08:49 PM | Comments (1)

October 26, 2005

Amazingly late, but still amazing

It took several seasons (they are like up to 8 now?) but I finally checked out The Amazing Race. My mom was the first one to tell me how much she liked the show, but I resisted. After hearing Aaron and Jenny going on about the show on their podcast The Big Show, I decided it was time to give it a go.

First, let me warn you that I am a sucker for reality shows - they are just so much more interesting than sitcoms - even the poorly executed ones. The Amazing Race however, is a cut above the rest. I have watched the first DVD of Season One containing three episodes and I am hooked.

There is only one group of contestants that I detest - Bill and Joe, AKA Team Guido. They are deceitful, dishonest, and downright losers. They are still in the competition and doing very well despite their constant backstabbing... I hope they don't make it to the end. I pretty much like all the rest of the teams.

(I have no clue as to who won the whole thing and for that reason will NOT be reading and comments posted on this entry just in case someone wants to spoil the surprise for me. I'll read them all AFTER I finish the season.)

Posted by CDogg at 10:31 PM | Comments (2)

October 25, 2005

It has my vote

Commander in Chief, the new ABC drama starring Geena Davis is one of my new favorite shows. Sure, it isn't the best written show ever - but man, take a look at the cast. First off, Geena Davis could star in anything and I would check it out... she has been one of my crushes since I first saw her as a guest on Fantasy Island. I also dug Kyle Secor as Detective Bayliss on Homicide: Life on the Streets. Then there is another of my favs - Natasha Henstridge. Do I even have to mention the great Donald Sutherland, Peter Coyote... I could go on and on... this cast rocks!

The premise too is revolutionary. Sure, there is the female President thing going... but even more exciting is the fact that she is an INDEPENDANT!!

If you haven't watched this show because you think it slams the right wing or if you haven't watched this show because you think it slams the left wing - YOU'RE RIGHT! It is exactly that reason that the show is so good.

Posted by CDogg at 08:00 PM | Comments (0)

October 14, 2005

Another good Bond selection

I really enjoyed Pierce Brosnan as Bond - I was a bit dismayed that they waited so long to give him the role. (They could have skipped Timothy Dalton and went straight to Brosnan.)

Casino Royale will mark the debut of Daniel Craig as the new Bond. If you saw Layer Cake, you will agree it was a great selection. This also marks a Bond remake. Originally, David Niven played 007 in the 1967 spoof version of the Ian Flemming novel, which came AFTER his first stint in the Pink Panther series.

Sure, I would have chosen Clive Owen as the next Bond, but I can get behind this decision.

Posted by CDogg at 08:04 AM | Comments (0)

October 13, 2005

Video iPod - not for me...

Okay, so everyone has heard about Apple's video iPod by now. It is supposed to revolutionize how we get movies, films, etc.

Apple released it starting at $299 and suggest that you can watch movies, television shows, home movies, video podcasts, music videos and more. The 1st season of television show "Lost" is available for download at $34.99 with music videos coming in around $1.99 each. OUCH - do they really think we will pay the DVD price for a low quality version on a tiny screen?

While I do see the potential of the delivery model - it is too early - too small - to hard to see - too costly - and just waaay too trendy.

It is a huge divergence from the whole movement to HD... we are going the opposite direction here for the sake of portability. For me, there is nothing out there worth paying for on the small screen that I can't wait to see at home.

Posted by CDogg at 11:42 PM | Comments (2)

October 12, 2005

Boondock Rocks

The Boondock Saints is one of those films that has been on my "to watch" list for quite some time. I guess maybe the wait made it all that much better, but I really dug this film. Sure, it started out a bit lame, overly dramatic, and I thought that Willem DaFoe was a bit over-the-top, but you know - after I got into it, it actually fit.

Not only did I not mind the film's excesses, but I started to revel in them. This is a very good film. More than that - it is a fun film.

RATING 8 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 11:52 PM | Comments (0)

October 06, 2005

I think they broked'ed football films

I went into the new remake of The Longest Yard with a very open mind. Sure, I didn't think it could live up to the original. Sure, I didn't buy Adam Sandler as a jock of ANY kind. Sure, I figured it was overhyped garbage. But dammit, its a football film and I always like football movies. Yeah, I even like The Replacements despite the horrible casting of Keanu Reeves.

This movie was BAAAAAAD. We are talking a total pile of wasted attention. Even the football was intercut with so much crap that it was hard to forgive. The script was boring, the actors phoned in their performances, I have seen better directing in student films, and it was all because of crappy dialogue. It was as if they put every cliche on strips of paper, shook them all up in a hat and pulled out the first 50. It is a shame because I like most of the acting talent in the film... the nice thing is that they can all list one movie as their worst performance ever - that must be some sort of record.

RATING 4 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 04:46 PM | Comments (0)

September 28, 2005

Only in America is a ton of fun!

Have you guys seen the show on Discovery Times Channel, Only in America? This show is great. Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times reporter, Charlie LeDuff travels around the country to discovery little-known cultures. The first episode I saw was TiVo'ed quite accidentally because he spent a week with an Arena Football team - the Amarillo Dusters. I have TiVo set up to record anytime it sees Arena Football. This was a great stroke of coincidence.

In the show, he worked out with the team, interviewed the players, and basically lived as one of the team - he even got to play in a game. Next up was the gay rodeo - another very interesting episode that looked behind the scenes at a huge underground culture of homosexuals to get together to bust broncs and bulls.

This current episode features the real-life fight clubs. Yes, they exist and have since long before the movie. I have to say it for Charlie LeDuff - he is not afraid to really get into it and experience what he covers. He steps in the ring against the toughest of the East Bay Rats - a 300lb slab of muscle and punching power. OUCH - rough way to earn a living.

If you get a chance, check out the show. You won't be disappointed.

Posted by CDogg at 11:16 AM | Comments (0)

September 25, 2005

Galactica is OVER!!

WOW!
Battlestar Galactica continues to surprise and shock me. First, I was surprised by the new "imagining" of the old series. This television show rocks. Then, I was shocked by how fast the episodes seem. I sit down to watch the newest hour-long show and it ALWAYS seems like 13.2 seconds later, it is over!

Everyone knows that after shock comes awe... and Galactica is no different. The season finale was awesome! I mean talk about a frackin' cliffhanger... I haven't looked forward to the next season of a show this much since the end of the Sopranos first season.

The whole thing caught me totally by surprise as I thought we had at least a dozen shows left in this season. I mean, come on - I was sure we were only on the third or fourth show... its not fair - even the seasons are travelling at light speed.

From the look of the picture, even Grace Park (Lt. Sharon "Boomer" Valerii) appears stunned that the season is over so quickly.

Posted by CDogg at 09:47 AM | Comments (0)

September 20, 2005

Crash and burn

Crash tries incredibly hard to be important. It tries incredibly hard to be edgy. It tries incredibly hard to be relevant. It tries incredibly hard to be entertaining. It fails on all counts. The film was universally applauded for facing the issue of racism... but that is not what it does. It not only promotes racism, but it completely misunderstands the issue.

Crash is overly appreciative of itself and it's "here is how the world really is" approach is insulting to anyone with a brain. It is mildly entertaining as it does a fair job of winding a rather intricate plot line together. Had it stuck to storytelling and tried to leave the social commentary out, this would be a very likable movie. As such, it is hard to enjoy the story while being beaten over the head with such a big, dumb stick.

In retrospect, once you get past the obligatory racial lesson plan, I think I really just dislike it because it has a rather negative take on humanity. I think the lesson it leaves is just "hey bub, that's the way it is... deal with it."

RATING 7 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 08:52 PM | Comments (0)

September 19, 2005

McDonald's Redbox

Wow, when McDonald's launched their Redbox, I thought it was kinda silly, but turns out it is pretty cool. I rented a movie from one because I had a promo code for a FREE rental. I figured it was a great way to try out their system without spending any money. Turns out, it was pretty painless and at a buck a night, pretty darn reasonable.

The selection sucks, but it blows the hell out of other rental options in terms of price. NetFlix still rules for things like old movies, hard-to-find titles, and television series... but for new releases, this just might be the way to go.

Redbox is now offering a two-for-one promo code in an effort to increase usage. Here’s how it works: Choose your first movie. Then add your second movie. Then punch “CHECK OUT.” Then “REDEEM A PROMO CODE” and enter the appropriate code below. And, voilá, your second choice is on redbox, my friends. You can take advantage of this deal once a week for two weeks through October 2. Here are the codes:

CLOCK (Monday, September 19 through Sunday, September 25)
FALL (Monday, September 26 through Sunday, October 2)

Posted by CDogg at 09:57 AM | Comments (0)

September 17, 2005

Lou and Nardo, a sad tale, and TONS of movie PREview reviews!

#41 - Podcast supply running low, Lou and Nardo getting along fine, a sad tale, tons of movie preview reviews!

(Time: 32:03)

Lou and Nardo taking a break...

Lone Star Gridiron
The Zone Read
World of Warcraft

Podcasts I am digging
PodCheck Review
Earthcore
The Big Show

Movie Review
Lord of War

PREview Reviews
Waiting
Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit
Flightplan
Pride & Prejudice
Elizabethtown
V for Vendetta
Chronicles of Narnia
Rize
Domino
21 Grams
The Weather Man
Fun with Dick and Jane
Oliver Twist
Corpse Bride
Legend of Zorro
Desperado
2046
Murderball
Two for the Money
Shopgirl
Aeon Flux
Saw II
The Fog
The Constant Gardener
DOOM
Cars
Chicken Little
In Her Shoes
Ice Age 2
Walk the Line
Jarhead
Cry Wolf
Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang
Serenity
Firefly

Intro and outtro music is I'm on Board by The Ride Theory.

I want to thank all the listeners for tuning in - the growth has been amazing and I really appreciate the feedback. If you have a comment on anything you have read on the blog or heard on the podcast, take a second to call 206-202-3644 and leave your audio feedback. The line is setup to record your audio and email the .WAV file to me... anytime day or night - drop me a line or leave a voicemail.

Posted by CDogg at 09:37 PM | Comments (1)

September 16, 2005

Survivor back in the queue

Well, I TiVo'ed Survivor: Guatemala last night. It will be the first of the Survivor series I have watched since I caught the reruns of the very first season. I realize that it is brain-numbing, overly staged, and probably a huge waste of time - but this time around it holds a little more interest for me.

Gary Hogeboom (former Dallas Cowboys QB) is one of the survivors. Being a huge Cowboy fan - even of perennial backup QBs - I have to check it out. He will probably be voted out early as he cuts a pretty imposing figure alongside the rest of the 20-somethings. I can see how they would feel a bit threatened by his physical size and abilities. (Hell, for all I know he is already voted out, as I haven't watched the first episode yet.) In any event, it will be fun to watch... well, at least until it isn't. hehe

Posted by CDogg at 01:51 PM | Comments (0)

September 12, 2005

I certainly wasn't quick to see it and it sure wasn't dead

Everyone has those films - you know the ones... films that everybody in the world has seen but you. Well, The Quick and the Dead was on that list for me until recently. I finally decided to check it out after hearing both good and bad things. I watched it with the understanding that when it came out (1995) filmmaking was quite a bit different. In the past decade certain styles of cutting, angles of shots, and of course stunts have changed dramatically. I take all of that into account when I review this film.

The direction (Sam Raimi) was excellent. It was Raimi's first real Hollywood film and he brought his own style to the subpar story. The cast is downright amazing and if I wans't so lazy, I would real off all names. If you haven't seen it, give it a look.

The ending was a bit silly and typical Hollywood, but if you can get past that, it is a lot of fun.

RATING 8 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 04:42 PM | Comments (1)

September 07, 2005

Should have stayed hidden...

Hide and Seek came and went pretty fast at the theaters, but hey - so has everything in the last two years. It is just further proof that 90% of the films made are crap. H&S is no different. Sure, it had a really good cast - Robert DeNiro turned in a good performance, Famke Jansen turned in a decent effort, Elisabeth Shue was good in her tiny role (and HOT as ever), heck - even the queen of tiny overactors, Dakota Fanning did well. So what was wrong with the film?

It seemed to take itself too seriously. That is usually a sign that a film is poorly written. The drama was over developed, the dialogue was strained, and the plot was weak. The scary stuff wasn't even that scary.

RATING 5 out of 10

I also started watching Prison Break. The show storyline was intriguing enough that I figured I would give it a few episodes. I have the first two episodes TiVo'ed and have gotten halfway through the pilot. (That may be a sign of how edge-of-the-seat is ISN'T) I am going to give it until the end of the second episode because it shows signs of being well constructed (albeit with some pretty large logic and plot holes) and just might turn into a keeper. I'll let you know.

In other TV news, I put the show Reunion in my TiVo - this is another one that has an interesting premise. Friends come together for a 20th year reunion. Each episode will be a different year and there appears to be some sort of murder mystery involved. Who knows - it may suck, but because they are so creative with the idea, I figure I will give it a look.

Another show that I know NOTHING about but will watch anyway is My Name is Earl. I saw a banner ad with Jason Lee all unkempt and the title... that was enough for me. I am a huge Jason Lee fan and think that alone will make it a good show.

Posted by CDogg at 11:32 AM | Comments (0)

September 04, 2005

"The Job" is rescued by "Rescue Me."

I started watching Denis Leary's old show, "The Job." I figured that I would check it out since I am really liking "Rescue Me." This is EXACTLY the same show. Okay, it is about cops instead of firemen, but other than that it looks like they just re-pitched it after the first one got cancelled. Don't get me wrong, it is a good show - I just found it amusing how similar they are.

Leary's character is a married, alcoholic, drug-abusing, city employee hero who has a neurotic girlfriend on the side, a stressful job and a gang of quirky coworkers. Oh yeah, and some of the actors are even the same.

Lenny Clark plays fellow detective Frank Harrigan on TJ and Uncle Teddy on RM.
Diane Farr plays fellow detective Jan Fendrich on TJ and fellow firefighter Laura Miles on RM.
James McCaffrey plays Jeff Larsen on TJ and Jimmy Keefe on RM.

Several of the stories are pretty darn similar too. In fact, some of the same jokes are used - word for word. Does it matter? Not really. Does it prove that good shows get cancelled all the time? Yeah, kinda.

Posted by CDogg at 11:21 AM | Comments (0)

August 30, 2005

Over There - Good in a Creepy Sorta Way

I am really digging on the new FX show - Over There. There is something unsettling however, about sitting in my recliner and watching a television show about events that are happening on the other side of the globe.

The good thing is that it took a few episodes for me to figure out how the producers would slant the show. I really couldn't tell if it was going to be pro-Iraq war or anti. They have gradually eased into their point of view and it is becoming more and more pro war with each installment.

It is good drama, it is good acting, it is good direction, heck - its just good television. Will I take my cues from the show on how I view our involvement in the Middle East? Nope. Will I still watch the show and enjoy it as the entertainment that is is? You bet.

Posted by CDogg at 12:37 AM | Comments (0)

August 14, 2005

Movie Catch-Up Time

I have seen quite a few things since the last time I did reviews, so prepare for a boatload.

Let's start with Kung Fu Hustle. Wow, what a fun film. There is a time for wire work - and this is it! (One of my personal pet peeves is the fact that all action movies now feel the need to include wire work.) The story is strong, there are surprises around every corner, laughs aplenty, and thrills galore.... fun, fun, stuff.

RATING 8 out of 10

Read on for:
Kinsey
Scrubs
Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou

Next up is Kinsey - the story of Dr. Kinsey's attempt to bring the science of sex into the public eye. It was an interesting film and certainly kept your attention throughout. Of course, the focus on homosexuality was probably larger than it needed to be, but it did come out of Hollywood. Liam Neeson and Laura Linney did fine jobs in their roles as the Kinseys.

It is well worth a look.

RATING 7 out of 10

It isn't a movie, but I did finally give in to several friends recommendations to watch Scrubs. I got the first season DVDs from NetFlix and expected to send it back after the first episode or two. I am in love with this show. It is the first comedy I have liked on TV for years... you know why? Because it isn't a "sit-com" - it is writen like a dramatic series and its flights into comedy are unique (if somewhat whacky.) Scrubs breaks a ton of conventions about comedy. I am sorry it took me four years to check it out - and I have Zach Braff's Garden State for giving me the final push. Click it to read my review of that excellent movie.

I don't rate TV show

I also watched the documentary Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession, and was very surprised. I knew nothing of the the Z Channel. It was the forerunner to movie channels - it predated HBO, Cinemax, and all of them, and according to fans of the station did it better than any has since. It is a story about the magic of film. It is a story about giving the fans what they want. It is a story about an unstable Jerry Harvey and his fight with mental illness. It is the story of the little guy being crushed by corporate America. It is damn interesting.

RATING 8 out of 10

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, was not a good film. I like quirky films - so that wasn't it. It was just a bad film. Bill Murray was good as usual, but am I the only get tired of Owen Wilson playing the same character over and over and over. This film brings tedium to a new level and bad writing well beyond that. It is poop on a stick.

RATING 5 out of 10

I have seen a few more... but that is enough on this 'catch-up.'

Posted by CDogg at 10:12 PM | Comments (0)

August 12, 2005

And you guys thought I was crazy...

The National Wildlife Federation has teamed up with Animal Planet to create BACKYARD HABITAT, a new television series that makes the planet a better place for animals, one backyard at a time. Hosted by David Mizejewski of the National Wildlife Federation and TV personality Molly Pesce, each episode presents fun and simple ways to attract wildlife to your property, whether it's a balcony in the city or a large backyard.

From butterfly gardens to turtle ponds to bird feeders, learn how to build, landscape and create a certified habitat at home where you can enjoy the simple pleasures nature has to offer every day.

Premieres August 15 and airs weekdays at 11:00 AM E/P.

You can see my backyard habitatat:

Going green and going "off the grid"
They are even bigger now!

PS - Big ups to Dave Jackson from podcastclicks.com for letting me know my 'free' hosting site crashed and burned. I am now a member of the libsyn community and so far the service is great. If you want to host podcast files, check out libsyn.

Posted by CDogg at 09:43 AM | Comments (1)

August 06, 2005

Hazzardous Duty

Okay, first off let me say that I wouldn't have went to the Dukes of Hazzard if I had to pay for the ticket - but I didn't, so I did. I still felt cheated. Dukes is pure crap. Sure, there were some fun car chases, but even those were tiring after awhile, (the movie was probably 75% chase scenes) and the rest of the film was too lame to be called lame.

Okay, the sight of Jessica Simpson in barely anything was enough to bring tears to your eyes, but all of those scenes were already shown on the previews and TV ads. The only real interesting thing about the film was trying to decide who turned in the worst performance, Johnny Knoxville or Seann William Scott. Turns out it was Burt Reynolds as Boss Hogg.

RATING 5 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 08:53 PM | Comments (0)

August 04, 2005

Movie Catch-Up Time

About twenty minutes into the documentary Born into Brothels, I caught myself thinking, "This isn't all that revolutionary. It isn't the dramatic human interest story it was made out to be." Well, it was about that time that I "got" the film. I was expecting an edgy piece on the children of prostitutes. I was NOT expecting it to be a film about bringing the art of photography to those children and using it as a tool to attempt to improve their station in life. It is not hard-hitting journalism, it is not high drama, but it IS an excellent film.

I am not really sure what makes it excellent, but there is something about their photos - something about the optimism of a child - something about hope that makes this an excellent film.

RATING 9 out of 10

Read on for Ocean's Twelve review

Ocean's Twelve is pablum for the masses. This moronic tale is long on star power, but short on anything else worth a damn. The story makes ...... uggghhhh, forget it - its just not worth even talking about. Poop on a stick!

Soderbergh proves once again he should NEVER be allowed to direct another movie. (And it looks like he is going to screw up Che Gueverra's story in Che soon)

RATING 5 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 10:08 PM | Comments (0)

Bad Martha - The Aristocrats - and More!

Martha Stewart will be spending three more weeks under house arrest after "repeated violations" of her confinement. Her jaunts around in her four-wheeler and attendance in yoga classes seem to be the most obvious violations.

I don't know what is worse... the fact that she felt she is above the rules or that this whole thing was probably orchestrated by her PR handlers to make sure she is still in the news when the house arrest expires. But what do I know - I am just a skeptic.
---------------------------

It was bound to happen... the dirtiest "inside joke" in comedy is coming to the big screen. The Aristocrats will burst into the American consciousness on August 12 with no sex, no violence, no political slant - but TONS of crudeness, swearing, vulgarity, and some of the most disgusting humor you have ever heard. If you like South Park - you will LOVE The Aristocrats. If that kind of stuff turns you off - stay away.... and don't let your children tell you "come on Ma, its just a comedy." It is much, much more.

AMC Theaters has already announced that they will NOT carry the film because of the content.
---------------------------

Those little electric scooters that have popped up everywhere under the butts of kids are going to be banned. Houston City Council has voted to ban children under 17 from operating them on city streets. I seldom agree with more laws, but this one I am all for. The first time I saw one was about a year or so ago when a neighborhood girl (about 8yrs old) went flying down the road, not paying much attention to anything. I was instantly struck with fear as it was obvious she could not hold her own amidst the traffic.

She did fine, and her scooter riding waned over the year, but I figure she was lucky. Besides, I don't need the tension of knowing that I am sharing the road with 6 year olds... there is too much to watch out for already out there.

Posted by CDogg at 06:59 AM | Comments (0)

July 29, 2005

March of the New Breed

With a horrible year for movie ticket sales - consistently 10% below last years poor performance - Hollywood is starting to figure it out... they are beginning to comprehend that the movie-consuming public is sick of traditional, formulaic movies. The tiny documentary, March of the Penguins is a perfect example.

March of the Penguins is getting a lot of attention in the media because of its surprising numbers, but is a $10m US total really that good? It is when you aren't spending blockbuster money to create the thing. Warner Brothers is also doing a good job of placing the story of the "surprising little film" throughout the media, hoping to further build its buzz value.

More and more, people are turning away from the over-hyped, over-produced, over-acted, under-written, blockbusters. Adults are just sick of the crap being offered up in theaters, in favor of the on-demand programming of DVRs and 900 channels. Sure, teenagers will still flock to the movie houses to hang out and catch the latest Hillary Duff movie, but even that crowd has many more options available. Their entertainment dollar is being courted by hundreds of other bidders, such as a chat at Starbucks with friends. This offers more interaction - with music, internet and the chance to talk without getting "shushed." (And even with their outrageous coffee prices - still cheaper that popcorn and a Coke.)

Does March of the Penguins signal a fundamental change in Hollywood? Yes and no. After all the well-placed media "surprise stories," the public will go to see the film and after watching it, will realize that there are a thousand shows just like it on satellite and cable. Long term, the film industry cannot compete without changing the cost structure fundamentally - we will no longer pay $8.00 for a ticket and $20 for popcorn and drink, just to see the same old stuff on a bigger screen. What we will continue to do however, is to see the epic films on the big screen.

Will the theater revenue model continue to work with ever-declining attendance numbers? Probably not. Corporate America does not know how to deal with decreasing revenue and because of that, there will be major shakeouts. Expect a leaner, smarter, cheaper, breed of theater to emerge - a theater that will play a leaner, smarter, cheaper, breed of film. Unless of course, that leaner, smarter, cheaper, system is already in place and we control it from our recliner.

Posted by CDogg at 04:46 AM | Comments (0)

July 26, 2005

Treasureless Island

The Island is 2/3 great... unfortunately, that last 1/3 stinks up the joint. Sure, I can forgive the blatant ripoffs of Logan's Run, Coma, The Matrix and more. I just can't forgive the fact that a good movie was ruined by the "hollywood" formula and Michael Bay's insistance on gratuitous helicopter flybys, explosions for no reason, and his other typical "Bay Hijinx."

Scarlett Johansson has definitely stepped up her marquee value and Ewan McGregor has earned forgiveness for those silly Star Wars things he did. Watch this film to see some good acting, watch this film to see a good premise, watch this film to see Scarlett, but just don't expect to be affected, moved, or anything more than mildly entertained.

RATING 6 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 11:54 AM | Comments (0)

July 20, 2005

020 - Deep thinking 20th episode

I wax philosophical in my (wow) 20th episode (Time: 16:17)

HEY HELP OUT!!
Please take a moment to vote for this podcast at Podcast Alley.

Posted by CDogg at 03:58 PM | Comments (0)

Assault on my sensibilities

Assault on Precinct 13 is an assault alright... but not like they intended. The film is a shadow of the 1976 John Carpenter film and is woefully overacted. Does Laurence Fishburne have to act like Morpheus again? The casting is probably the worst aspect of this film - Fishburne is the only one that fits his role (if he would drop the "which one will you chose" speel,) and it is not the best fit.

The action is fun and if you get past the idiotic setup, poor direction, lame story, and extreme acting - it has its enjoyable moments. Those moments are not many though and not worth wading through the crap.

RATING 5 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 03:01 AM | Comments (0)

July 19, 2005

It's BACKTICA!!!

The best sci-fi show on television has returned! Season two of Battlestar Galactica began Friday and as usual, the hour long show seemed to last about 22 seconds. There are very few shows that I really look forward to seeing - most are just something to watch. Galactica is that rare show with good acting, good direction, and most of all excellent writing.

The SciFi channel is definitely in-tune with their fans. Executive Producer, David Eick provides a video blog featuring a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the episodes. In addition, writer/developer, Ron Moore maintains both a blog and a podcast. Be warned: THESE CONTAIN SEASON TWO SPOILERS!

All this and MULTIPLE COPIES of Grace Park!! Life is just too cool.

Fun stuff!

Posted by CDogg at 09:50 AM | Comments (0)

July 14, 2005

Million Dollar Cry Baby

Well, I finally saw Million Dollar Baby. I was actually rather disappointed. I prefer happy movies and once you get past the "dramatic" ending, it was really pretty formulaic. The character development was weak (i.e. carboard stereotypes) and the story was weak. Nothing warranted all the hubbub - it was good, but it wasn't the best. I still say Finding Neverland was the best movie of 2004.

RATING 7 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 11:48 PM | Comments (0)

July 12, 2005

Guns, Germs and Steel

The PBS series Guns, Germs and Steel began today and after the first of three episodes, I am impressed. GG&S takes a look at the vast difference between the "haves" and "have nots" of the world and seeks to answer the question of "why do some have so much more than others."

Before you decide that this is a typical left-wing rant about the evil of rich Western civilizations, take the time to watch the show. UCLA professor, Jared Diamond takes us back in history to determine how one civilization drew the ace of spades, while another drew the joker.

I am looking forward to the next to installments of the show and recommend you try to catch them.

Posted by CDogg at 09:38 PM | Comments (1)

July 10, 2005

Fantastic Quartet - War of the Worst

I have never been a big Fantastic Four fan... I preferred The Hulk, Iron Man etc... yet, when I heard FF was being made into a movie, I was excited. As the release day got closer and closer, I started to think maybe they would screw this one up ala Punisher, Elecktra etc. I went to see it anyway.

The Fantastic Four was actually pretty excellent. I loved Michael Chiklis as Ben Grimm and although I think Reed and Sue were totally miscast (they should have been about 15 years older,) the film totally worked. FF will go down as one of the top ten superhero movies... and possibly top five.

RATING 8 out of 10

Read on for a review of Tom Cruise in War of the Worlds...

While waiting to go into Fantastic Four, I caught the last hour of War of the Worlds (ain't mystery shopping great?) The saving grace of this film should have been the special effects, but you know what? Even those weren't that special. I just couldn't get into Tom Cruise as a father - he is barely convincing as a heterosexual. Is it my imagination or wasn't Tom Cruise a decent actor at one time? He really stinks up the place in this one. And Dakota Fanning... I have really liked her in everything I have seen, but either she was directed to overact and its not her fault, or she took her cues from Cruise's appearance on Oprah and just overdid it.

RATING 6 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 09:26 PM | Comments (0)

July 05, 2005

Of Motorcycles and Droids...

The film The Motorcyle Diaries has been on my "to-watch" list since I first heard of it. It tells the tale of the life-changing journey undertaken by Ernest "Che" Guevara and Alberto Granada when they were young adults. The trip has been chronicled as the formation of Che's outlook on life - it is part of the legend of "El Che." In documentaries and propaganda it is used to promote him as a larger than life icon of the little guy. That may or may not be true.

What IS true, is the fact that this film tells a great story while careful to avoid the political preaching so common in similar tales. Gael Garcia Bernal creates a compelling Che and is a complete actor. I look forward to seeing him in future projects.

RATING 8 out of 10

I decided to check out Star Wars: Clone Wars for one reason only. Several defenders of SW Episode III mentioned that I would have liked Lucas' final film had I seen Clone Wars first. They were wrong.

SW:Clone Wars is a TV cartoon series that takes place between Ep II and Ep III. It is told with very subpar artistry. The story is (gasp) just as juvenile as the last three films. In short, this cartoon is a yawner - a less expensive yawner - but still a yawner.

RATING 4 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 02:57 PM | Comments (0)

June 27, 2005

What a beginning...

Wow! Batman Begins was a huge surprise. Finally, there was a good movie about Batman. Sure, one or two of the others were entertaining, but it was the Batman legend that made them watchable. This movie could have stood on its own even if that legend had never been created.

Christopher Nolan hasn't directed much, but they have been good (Memento, Insomnia.) Christian Bale portrays both the 'dark knight' and his playboy alter ego very well. I still find his overnight transformation from The Machinist to the Batman amazing.

Not only is this the best Batman movie ever - it is the best DC superhero movie ever - and one of the best superhero movies period.

RATING 9 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 09:17 AM | Comments (0)

June 20, 2005

FX May Have Rescued Television

First it was The Shield (which, for my money is the best show on television - a title it took over when The Sopranos started to suck,) now it is Rescue Me. FX stepped out on a programming limb a few years back producing original series and scored big. While Nip/Tuck missed the mark (in my view,) there have been some pretty big successes. The Shield, Rescue Me and 30 Days anchor a lineup of strong shows. Oil Storm was an interesting one-shot and Steven Bochco's upcoming Over There shows promise.

I missed the first season of Rescue Me, but with some prompting from Dave and Manny, I managed to catch up just in time for the start of season two. It took me a couple of episodes to get into the characters, but by the end of the season I was right there. The season finale was one of the best finales I have seen in a long time. I am really looking forward to tomorrow nights premiere.

Posted by CDogg at 03:06 PM | Comments (0)

June 19, 2005

Mr. & Mrs. Beautiful

Manny treated me to the movie Mr. & Mrs. Smith tonight. (Thanks) I had mixed feelings about whether or not I would like the film, but I figured "what the hell- its free." I have to say that I was very pleasantly surprised!

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie actually had REAL on-screen chemistry. Not that fake Bennifer stuff - but REAL chemistry. It was more than a simple sexy pairing of two of the prettiest people on the planet - it was a chemistry brought on by the fact that two are also excellent actors. Vince Vaughn was a laugh riot as usual - he proves that you can create a character, use it in every movie you do, and it can keep working over and over.

Despite all the over-the-top spy-tech stuff, and despite the fact that I was expecting to dislike the film - I dug it. Sure, it won't win any critical acclaim, sure it falls in the hard-to-believe category... but it works.

PS - were you aware that the inspiration for the film was a short-lived television series of the same name starring Scott Bakula and Maria Bello? (She is about to be in A History of Violence with Viggo Mortensen and Ed Harris - looks decent.)

RATING 8 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 10:19 PM | Comments (0)

June 18, 2005

30 Misleading Situations?

Morgan Spurlock's new television show, 30 Days shows a lot of promise. The inaugural episode however, was fraught with problems. The premise of the show is that Spurlock (or someone else)will attempt each week to spend 30 days in someone else's shoes. In this first installment, he spent 30 days living on minimum wage.

While I agree that it is tough to live on minimum wage, he takes the Michael Moore approach to making his point - hyperbole. Spurlock seems to go out of his way to great 'crises.' Him and his wife both had medical emergencies (I use the term very lightly) during the 30 days which totally destroyed his budget. He found a source for free furnishings, yet ignored that source later. He mostly overlooked the thousands of free sources of entertainment in favor of ones which cost money and thus contributed to his blown budget.

I still think the show has a ton of potential. I just wish he would take a more non-biased approach to the situations.

Posted by CDogg at 02:49 PM | Comments (1)

June 17, 2005

What the #$*!

I had the chance to catch What the #$*! Do We (K)now!? yesterday - it is one that I have wanted to see for quite some time. It takes a look at an area that has fascinated me for years - quantum physics and probability theory. The short version of the point made from the film is that our future is determined by our mind. It is more than just positive thinking however. It is the scientific theory that says everything outside of your immediate experiences is just a series of potential outcomes and that what you believe determines which potential becomes real.

I have always been a proponent of the power of positive thinking and self-fulfilling prophesies - this just backs up that belief with science.

The film uses a cutting-edgy-flashy-wow kind of approach to explaining the ideas in layman's terms and for my money, it is often a bit over the top. The science behind the film and the explanations are great - they just tend to spend too much time on the animation sequences, loud music and other sensory devices to help drive home the point. As an hour long, talking-heads documentary, this would have been exceptional - as commercial film entertainment it was a bit much. Regardless of my personal tastes in how information is delivered, this is a VERY important subject that people should attempt to absorb. The Washington D.C. crime case study and the water experiments alone are worth giving this your attention.

RATING 8 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 12:11 PM | Comments (0)

June 08, 2005

How to ruin an important film

Here is the sure-fire formula for taking a very important film (Hotel Rwanda) and ruining it. First let Terry George direct it - his directing credentials include an episode of television's "The District." - his writing credentials although more numerous are even more dubious, including the unimpressive Hart's War and that episode of "The District." Before I even did any research to see what numbskull put this film together, I was struck by how horrible the sound was - not that it sounded bad, it was that the sound seemed like something out of a 70's cop show. When some machettes fell out of a crate the music trumpted bomp-bomp-BA! and I expected Jim Rockford or Starsky and Hutch to come around the corner.

He took an important and tragic event and boiled it down to a simple anti-white, anti-Western fable. As a piece of film art, this sucks to high heaven. As a technically sound contruction, this sucks to high heaven. As a choice of subject matter, it is great... the problem is that it is turned into a poorly constructed piece of feel-guilty-bleeding-hard-liberal propaganda and misses the real story of what happened in Rwanda.

A great cast flocked to participate and likely did so because of the extreme left-wing message - Don Cheadle, Nick Nolte, Joaqin Phoenix, Jean Reno. Either none of them can read, didn't read it, or just figured the "message" was more important than a good film. In the end though, making a bad film is NOT the way to advance a political message.

It is a shame because I have really been looking forward to seeing it. I was expecting a gritty, truthful portrayal of the 1994 Rwandan Genocide - what I got was a left-wing indictment of the US's response. It is one of the worst films of the year and further evidence that the Academy Awards are total crap. (I unlike the Academy and some people I know, do not give a bias in my ratings just because its political view agrees or disagrees with mine - a crap movie is a crap movie despite its politics.)

RATING 4 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 03:31 PM | Comments (0)

June 07, 2005

The things people do for art..

The extra creepy devotion to your craft award goes to Christian Bale in the film The Machinist. He dropped an amazing 63 pounds and played the role of the insane insomniac Trevor Reznik at an unhealthy 110 pounds. The film is certainly gripping in that it definitely keeps you wondering just what the heck is going on. I have been a fan of Bale since Empire of the Sun. The only downside to this movie was the director's need to reinforce visuals to make sure that the audience "got it."

Some of the acting is pretty lame, but Bale, Michael Ironside, and Jennifer Jason Leigh all do a really good job.

Bale must have went from starvation to some sort of crazy bodybuilding routine immediately following this film as his next big project was the upcoming Batman Begins - but I guess the suit can compensate quite a bit.

RATING 7 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 07:49 PM | Comments (0)

June 05, 2005

Trading Lifestyles

I don't know what came over me, but I watched Trading Spaces: Town & Country. The original Trading Spaces show never appealed to me, but there was something about the prospect of seeing how city and country folks react to the drastic changes in environment. The social experiment aspect of the show is far more appealing than the silliness about what color walls and fabric to use.

In this first show I noticed something interesting... the city woman was not at all happy about being in the country while the guy loved it. The country woman was delighted at the city, and the guy seemed to think it sucked. I wonder if this is a trend? Could it be that the country life is a "guy thing" and that city life is a "girl thing?"

I think I am going to TiVo the show to see if the trend continues - I can always fast foward through the decorating crap.

Posted by CDogg at 08:45 AM | Comments (2)

June 03, 2005

Drunks, whiners, cheaters, liars...

Sideways is a nice little film. It is a bit of a downer for my style even though the open-ended finish leaves the final resolution to the viewer's imagination. There was really nothing good that happened to any of the characters. Paul Giamatti did exceptional as always and Thomas Hayden Church's character is pretty much like the smoother brother to the idiot he played on Wings. Again, like the Aviator, I am glad it didn't win Best Picture because I certainly saw better films made in '04, but it was a really good one and easily fits in the top ten.

RATING 8 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 05:52 PM | Comments (1)

June 02, 2005

Up, Up & Away

The Aviator is certainly an impressive film. I am glad that it didn't win Best Picture though, because it just isn't that great. Sure, the visuals were amazing. Sure, the acting was incredible. Sure, the cast was spectacular. Sure the direction was flawless. Sure, the story was far greater than anyone could have created out of fiction. But you know what? It just sorta drug at times.

Maybe it was the hype that hurt it? Maybe my expectations were too high? Maybe I am just nuts? How else could you explain a movie that I rated 8 stars to get such a non-impressive post?

I'm kidding - this movie rocked and I think I have new hero - Howard Hughes. (Well, aside from the nutcase part.)

RATING 8 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 06:59 PM | Comments (0)

May 31, 2005

Have your cake and eat it too!

Layer Cake is one of those small films you will probably not hear much about. But, like most of the films of this genre (English gangster,) I totally dug it. If you have trouble following thick English accents, you will have trouble following the story. If you can follow along, you will find a great story and superb acting.

Daniel Craig did a great job as the lead and can definitely hold the screen. I am not sure how intentional it was, but I felt he was channeling Steve McQueen throughout this whole film. He not only bears an uncanny resemblence to McQueen, but seemed to carry himself the same way.

RATING 8 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 09:48 PM | Comments (3)

May 24, 2005

Star Wars: Revelations

Big ups to the Dark Diver for turning me on to this film...

First off let me admit that I reviewed Star Wars: Revelations less critical that I do a big-budget Hollywood film. Because this is a short, independent film, it is allowed some leeway. The first thing you notice in this film is the surprising visual effects - these guys did an amazing job.

The film was 100% completed by

volunteers - nobody was paid for any of the work. Over 200 people around the world played some role in the completed project from actors to special effects. The film is designed as a non-profit film and will always be available on their website as a free download.

The script is amazing when placed beside other Star Wars scripts. The acting is about as expected... one or two decent jobs and a bunch of mediocre to lame performances. If Revenge of the Sith has left you with an icky taste in your mouth - check out this fan film and you will feel much better about the Star Wars universe.

RATING 6 out of 10

Looks like I have to update my rankings...

Official Chris Doelle Ranking of Star Wars Films
1-The Empire Strikes Back
2-Star Wars
3-TROOPS (COPS parody of Star Wars)
4-The Return of the Jedi
5-Spaceballs
6-Revenge of the Sith
7-Attack of the Clones
8-Revelations (short fan film)
9-The Phantom Menace

Posted by CDogg at 08:42 AM | Comments (0)

May 20, 2005

Hercules - God of Lame Made-for-TV-Movies

I admit it, I was sucked in by the ads for NBCs Hercules movie. Surely, I knew better than to trust network television to make a good movie. Surely, I knew better than to believe they could handle such an epic story. Surely, I could have seen this offensive piece of poo coming.

The script was absolutely horrible - how can you take such classic legends and reduce them to this dribble. The acting was waaay over the top - did they think they were doing Shakespeare? Who is the network exec that signed off on this project? Were they sold on it's "Lord of the Rings" appeal? And what of those horrible special effects and creatures? There was absolutely nothing redeeming about this movie.

Initially, I wasn't really interested until I saw Leelee Sobieski in the cast. Even my desire to watch her couldn't make me sit through the entire three hours. I have to admit though, after 45 minutes in, I did fast forward the TiVo to just check out her scenes.

Posted by CDogg at 08:47 PM | Comments (2)

May 19, 2005

Revenge of the Lucas

Hmm... how to sum up Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith? First off, I tried... I really tried to like this film. I heard it was the best of the "new three" Star Wars films - I heard it was a darker film - I heard that it was a deeper story - I heard that it was GOOD! It was the best of the three newest episodes, but that is like saying that cutting off your fingers is better torture than chopping off your arm - its still torture!!

A 12 year old could have penned a better story. Is Lucas really that self-absorbed that he believes it was good? Surely he had someone around him that could have spoken up and said, "Uh George, this story idea really blows." I cannot believe he is that dumb and I cannot believe that those around him are that kowtowed. I instead have to believe that he made the film he wanted to make and more importantly - made the money he wanted to make.

To rate this film anything higher than poop on a stick would be an insult to poop on a stick.

Don't even get me started on the blatant Bush-bashing... if the first dozen comments about a democracry handing over their rights to a warmongering government weren't plain enough to shove the parallel into your mind, Vader's "If you are not with me, then you're my enemy" line sealed it. (That was for the morons that missed the obvious political hints earlier.) Learn the word subtle, Lucas!

RATING 5 out of 10

Official Chris Doelle Ranking of Star Wars Films
1-The Empire Strikes Back
2-Star Wars
3-TROOPS (COPS parody of Star Wars)
4-The Return of the Jedi
5-Spaceballs
6-Revenge of the Sith
7-Attack of the Clones
8-The Phantom Menace

Posted by CDogg at 10:04 PM | Comments (1)

May 17, 2005

Out of the ordinary, but on the mark

Off the Map is a movie I have been wanting to see for quite some time. Since seeing the first trailer, I envisioned a quirky little movie extoling the virtues of a life of simplicity. It was and it wasn't.

I thought I would see Sam Elliot and Joan Allen as a self-assured couple content to live without the sparkle, shine, and new plastic wrappings of the commercial world - I did, but this film was much more. At first I wasn't sure if I liked it because, while it did pay homage to the simplicity lifestyle, the story was actually something entirely different.

Upon reflection however, it is actually a pretty darn good film. Valentina de Angelis was great in her first role as the young daughter filled with dreams of the world outside of her tiny existence. Jim True-Frost was a surprise as the IRS agent who came to audit the couple, and ended up falling for their lifestyle.

The film is quirky - has extremely memorable characters - is a great resume piece for Joan Allen - is a multi-layered, deep film - AND, is a silly romp... quite a lot for 105 minutes.

RATING 8 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 12:26 AM | Comments (0)

May 16, 2005

Watch this series!

A&E's new series Intervention is groundbreaking. It turns the reality genre into something useful finally. The premise is that each episode we are introduced to an addict of some sort. He/she thinks that they have agreed to take part in a documentary about addiction - what they don't know is that they are being setup for an intervention.

If you have ever been around someone with an addiction and tried to help them/cajole them/threaten them to stop - this show will hit home. If you haven't been around an addict - you are either fooling yourself or extremely lucky. As you watch the show, you are never sure if you will end up laughing or crying.

This is a good show for young people. The subject matter may seem a bit risque at times, but when the opportunity to take that first hit of crystal meth, cocaine or xanax arises - nobody is going to censor that. Watch this show with your kids and discuss the outcomes with them - maybe, just maybe, when they see the former prom queen in a circle of her friends & family, with mascara streaming down her tears - it just might sink in that this stuff can hook anyone. It just might sink in that it doesn't matter who you are or where you come from - nobody can "handle it" - nobody can "stop anytime they want." And probably the most important message, they are not the only person out there facing these things.

Posted by CDogg at 05:05 PM | Comments (0)

April 30, 2005

Don't "ask why?" - go see this one!

Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room is playing at the Landmark River Oaks as is not to be missed. You have heard me ranting about corporate greed for a couple years now in this blog... if you really want to understand it - go see this film. This is NOT a left-wing propaganda piece. This is NOT a political slam at the relationship between the Bush family and Enron. This is something that has disappeared from media - journalism. There is no hyperbole, there are no exagerrations for effect. There ARE facts. Facts, facts, and more facts. This is real journalism.

I had a pretty good understanding of the Enron scandal through the bits and pieces glossed over by the news and other sources, but the picture is much more complete now. I mean, I knew that Enron was causing rolling blackouts in California to jack up energy costs and cover the fact that they were bleeding money everywhere else... what I didn't know was the depth to which the "little guys" at Enron had bought into the greed culture and their willingness to be on record laughing about how "grandma is without power."

It is not the tale of an evil empire set on doing bad... it is a tale of a greed culture that enveloped all of us at the time. It is not the story of the right-wing conservative greed... this culture engulfed Republicans and Democrats alike. They didn't have a master plan much different than any of us that were building companies or gambling in the bull market - they just had more opportunity to act. Would the average Joe have done the same in their situation? Probably.

I cannot say enough how important it is to see this film.

RATING 9 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 08:44 AM | Comments (0)

April 28, 2005

Oh, its a con alright...

Comedy Central has a new TV show called Con. The premise is a guy named Skyler Stone (sounds like a con name to me)who has this "amazing" ability to con people. The cameras follow him around and he scams people and companies. They sell the show as a how-to guide to getting things free etc.

This show IS the scam... the setups are preposterous, the scams are not even possible without a tv show budget, and the things that the average guy could pull off are downright illegal.

Take the scam of getting a free meal in a restaurant. Skylar (isn't that name the worst) happens to have a friend that looks like Brad Pitt (yeah right, we all do.) He calls a fancy restaurant and tells them they are shooting a Punk'd style show and want to fool Brad Pitt in their restaurant. The manager agrees - who wouldn't? They have like five of their "friends" act as the show crew to help setup the prank and then all get together and giggle when Skylar (chuckle) gets his free meal. Yeah - you too can get a free meal if you have a friend that looks like a celeb and have a half dozen friends willing to work for free to get you a meal.

Another one is the time they wanted to break into the porn industry. The goal was to throw a party and have all the big names in porn attend the premiere of the film thinking Skylar (haha) is a big time director. You too can pull of this caper if you A) have a studio to film your fake porn B) are willing to pay porn talent to be in your film C) rent a fancy venue for the premiere party D) promise & deliver free food & free drinks at your party. Not a very profitable scam.

The show intercuts segments with mini-scams... but most of those are not scams but petty theft and/or vandalism. Skylar (that name is really killing me) paints over a no-parking sign, takes a polaroid, and uses it in court to fight his parking ticket... hmm, can of paint, hassle of court, possibly arrest for vandalism, all to get out of a parking ticket? It's easier to park a block away.

In another "quick scam" he shows how to get out of paying for parking in a garage. Using the thinking that you have a 15 minute grace period in which you don't have to pay, he waited by the entrance for another car to arrive and then ZOIKS! steals their parking ticket as it comes out of the printer. He runs up to his car, drives out and says he decided not to park here. Uh, what about the guy who just had his ticket stolen, or maybe the guy in the little booth that probably saw it all? How stupid is this?

The only real con going on is seeing how long Comedy Central keeps paying the tab for this show.

Posted by CDogg at 09:37 AM | Comments (13)

April 22, 2005

Another for the 'Brilliant but Cancelled" file...

First off, I have to thank Dave for bringing up the series Firefly just enough to make me curious. After he cleverly chummed with tidbits of information, he held off loaning me the DVDs just long enough for my scifi appetite to start raging. It was like shooting fish in a barrel when he handed them over - I was hooked. (I think I may have mixed my metaphors there a bit... but you get the idea.)

This space western is unlike the typical "Stagecoach on Rocket Fuel" - it really is a Western! Yeah, they have revolvers (albeit with laser doo-dads attached,) ride horses and even say "ain't" in pert near every sentence. And unlike its predecessors, it does a good job of blending the two... the settings and stories actually come out plausible.

This is very much a character driven series as the band of uh, bandits contains strong and distinct character-types but manages to show enough complexity to keep each from becoming cardboard. How can you not love the walking Id of Jayne Cobb (Adam Baldwin) or the often frustrated, but always justified, Captain Malcolm 'Mal' Reynolds (Nathan Fillion)? I could go on and on about the cast... Gina Torres, Ron Glass, Alan Tudyk, Morena Baccarin, Jewel Staite, Sean Maher and Summer Glau... this is excellent stuff!

The bad news is that the show was cancelled. It was most likely lost in the haze of 500 channels - I know I barely heard about it before it was over. It still begs the question of what is wrong with television? Why do shows like Firefly get cancelled while shows like American Idol and Extreme Home Makeover do great? Perhaps its because you have to pay attention, you have to read the subtleties in the actors' faces, you have to follow a plot line that lasts longer than 15 seconds.

The good news is that Dave tells me it is being made into a movie. Sure enough, Serenity (the name of the ship) is listed as being in post-production and is the first of a three-picture deal with Universal. Screw TV - we'll take our show in the big screen!

Posted by CDogg at 08:10 AM | Comments (1)

April 17, 2005

I am among the pod people again.

I did it... I broke down and finally replaced my stolen iPod. (Article on the theft) I started doing some research and discovered that my cycling miles dropped dramatically after losing my iPod. Despite several half-hearted attempts to get back into cycling, it never really stuck. I was thinking about it last week when I was riding and realized it was boredom that was causing me to stop after a couple miles. I used to not even notice the miles clicking by when I was listening to an audiobook on the iPod.

Sure enough, I loaded up with songs and audiobooks, went out for a ride and knocked out 10 miles before I noticed. I wanted to keep listening but knew that I better not overdo it or I would not feel like riding tomorrow. Call it justifying the expense, but all I know is that I will be out riding a lot more and that is a good thing.

Posted by CDogg at 09:35 PM | Comments (0)

April 13, 2005

Brilliant!

I attended a meeting of Houston area photographers down on West Gray tonight and saw that a much anticipated movie (at least by me)was playing at the Landmark River Oaks - Millions. I figure it will likely not make it to many of the mainstream theaters and since I was right next door, I watched it.

What a neat story. What excellent acting. What a good job of direction. What a good use of 98 minutes.

If you want to see good acting (Alexander Nathan Etel & Lewis Owen McGibbon,) go see this film. If you want to hear a positive message with being preached at, go see this movie. If you want to feel good without a lot of mush, go see this film. If you want to believe in miracles go see this movie.

RATING 9 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 11:43 PM | Comments (0)

April 12, 2005

Sahara - so lame uh!

Sahara was a silly movie, yet somehow it was still entertaining. The total disregard for reality, total disregard for physics, total disregard for storyline, total disregard for acting and total disregard for direction should have killed it. Explosions, chase scenes on water, chase scenes on land, gunfights, and the comedy of Steve Zahn made it entirely watchable however. Do not expect any deep meaning or heartfelt emotions - expect a lame script, lame acting and a fun romp.


RATING 5 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 05:20 PM | Comments (0)

April 08, 2005

WOW!

WOW! It took me two days to digest the film Sin City before I could begin to blog it. (Okay, well Blogger was down too - but it was still a jaw-dropping film.) Let me start by saying that I understand this film may not appeal to everyone. Those of us raised on comic books however, love it.

Take one of my favorite film styles (film noir) add one of my favorite literary forms (graphic novel) and combine that into one of my favorite mediums (film) and you don't have to sell me. Then, if you really want to blow my socks off - add in some of my favorite actors (Bruce Willis, Clive Owen, Benicio Del Toro, Powers Boothe) and some amazing women (Jessica Alba, Rosario Dawson, Brittany Murphy) and my jaw will be on the floor two days later.

WOW! I just can't say it enough. This is not just a new take on comic books - this is a step forward. Like Picasso changed the medium of paint on canvas, Frank Miller, Robert Rodriguez & Quentin Tarantino have changed the medium of film. It is not special effects, it is not computer animation, it is not lighting or a color palette, it is a fundamental change in the medium of film. The limitations of the medium have been slowly evolving over time but have been blown away by this film. Mark my words, this will open the eyes of future directors to the possibilities... you will see more films shot using what was learned here.

And WOW! (There's that word again) I have never been a huge Mickey Rourke fan... I mean, I like him, he just was never in my top dozen... but his job as the character Marv was AMAZING! WOW! That character is awesome and he made it real - I believed him completely.

I cannot think of the last movie that made me want to see if over and over - this one does.

RATING 10 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 04:11 PM | Comments (3)

March 30, 2005

Close to home...

Closer was an interesting film. On the one hand, it was a powerful story of love, misaligned expectations, betrayal, and fear of rejection. If you view this film as a condensed version of the constant struggle to find love and not be the one loving too much - it is a powerful film. It is a great commentary on how we want what we cannot have and often toss aside the best things in our lives simply because it is attainable.

On the other hand, it was a potty-mouthed romp through the gutter for the sake of shock value. The high-gloss look and feel of the film (including the cast) make it come across as more smug and classy than the trashy plebian story it tells. The honest look at romance and the breaking of hearts is excellent, but the problem lies in this film's voice. There is not much differentiation between the characters - they all use the same witty quips, they all wear their hearts on their sleeves, they all are consumed with torrents of the same emotional highs and lows. It comes across as four parts of Patrick Marber's split personality. Had they each been a little less perfect on the quick-witted remarks and a little less vulgar, I think it could have been a much better film. It is 104 minutes of soap opera... nothing earth-shattering but entirely entertaining.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that the song "The Blower's Daughter" by Damien Rice was the theme song for the film. I have really dug the song since I first heard it.

RATING 7 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 03:20 PM | Comments (0)

March 27, 2005

Upcoming Films... A Psychic Review

Instead of constantly saying... "yeah, that's what I thought from the previews" and "I could have told you it sucked after I saw the first ad," I am going to post my pre-view reviews when I see ads for upcoming films.

1 - Sin City... the trailer to this one is visually amazing. I have never read the comics so I won't be disappointed if they stray from the story. It is chock full of actors that I like. Bottom line - This shizzle looks good!!

2 - A Lot Like Love - This one could go either way. On the one hand, I am getting tired of Ashton Kutcher being in every third movie - but on the other hand, I never get tired of Amanda Peet. It looks like a good, little, sappy love story with some lame attempts at comedy thrown in. This would probably be a really good movie if the studio was just brave enough to just let it be a love story.

3 - Fever Pitch - Uh, can you say crap. Oh - excuse me Crap Chowduh! Drew Barrymore really needs to give up comedy... she is teaming up with these so-called whacky guys and turning out lame movies lately. Jimmy Fallon is great in skits - but has yet to prove interesting enough to carry a film. And oh yea - I liked this film better when it was a skit on Saturday Night Live - but then Rachel Dratch made that work.

4 - The Longest Yard - At first I thought this was going to take a classic movie and insult it... I think I may have been wrong. I finally saw the preview for it and it actually looks like a very good update. This one should have a lot of fun and a lot of football - what more could you want.

5 - Cinderella Man - Whoever is screening scripts for Russell Crowe is simply not making enough money. Crowe looks to have another winner on his hands. I am always a sucker for a "little guy against the world" story and period pieces... put the two together with Crowe's skills, Ron Howard's directing and a great supporting cast and we are talking a seriously entertaining film.

6 - Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants - Okay, it is a chick-flick so it has that to overcome right off the bat... but lest you think I am not giving it a chance... one of my favorite movies is Calender Girls and it is certainly not blockbuster action. I think what helps it is that it takes a good story and tells it with a bunch of unknown actresses. This strategy allows the audience to believe the characters all that much more. It could be entertaining.

7- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - I know, I know - it's Johnny Depp. But, it's also Tim Burton and I cannot stand his style. Everything he does looks creepy and evil and I just don't like it. I may be naive but I think that a story about such a magical and fun place should be inviting and not creepy. Shame on you Tim Burton.

9 - Monster-in-Law - Has Jennifer Lopez ever made a good movie? Uh, NO! Jane Fonda appears to have done a very good job and it appears that her talent will be wasted on another lame J-Lo flick.

10 - Crash - I couldn't leave on such a streak of lameness. Wow, don't even get me started on this cast - we are talking a ton of amazing performers. Most surprising however appears to be Sandra Bullock finally leaving behind that giggly-cute-goofball character and picking a role with some real meat. It looks like a winner to me.

There you go... my pre-view reviews. Oh yeah, and if any studios feel I unfairly ripped their film, go ahead and fly me out to LA for a screening and I am sure we can discuss a more favorable posting when I return. :)

Posted by CDogg at 03:25 PM | Comments (0)

March 26, 2005

Riveting... it was the only Robot pun I could think of...

I caught the film Robots yesterday. I was doing some mystery shopping - my assignment was Miss Congeniality 2 - but they usually allow me to watch whatever I want once I have completed the assignment. Robots was as formulaic as you can get. It had a young hero (boy, robot, dog, mermaid) with big dreams, an evil bad person (witch, Count, King, boss man) and even a whacky sidekick (crab, genie, bird) which is as often as not voiced by Robin Williams. So why did I choose it? Not for an original story - but for the concept and the artwork.

The artwork was very sharp on the robots themselves. It has a 50's feel to the design and although retro, was done very up-to-date. While the detail on the bots was very cool... the work on the backgrounds was obviously relegated to the "no one will notice" pile. Everything other than the main characters seemed a bit out of focus and somewhat dull.

If you don't mind the same old, same old - then you will absolutely love Robots... if you need some new fangled twist an old formula - you will be disappointed. Because I was not looking for Schindler's List - I was pleased. The art on the robots was fun - the concept of the robot world was entertaining - the mass transit system is a must-see - the not so subtle "normal is okay" message is even refreshing - in short, it was a good film. Kids and kids at heart will like...

As to why I didn't watch Miss Congeniality 2 - come on, do I really need to explain that?

RATING 7 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 03:26 PM | Comments (0)

March 25, 2005

If you don't get it - you must already be too grown up.

I finally saw Finding Neverland and now think that it should have won the Oscar for best film. This film strikes a personal chord with me probably because I refuse to grow up.

The film is loosely based on author J. M. Barrie's inspiration for the story Peter Pan. Director, Marc Forster does an amazing job of showing the difference between the dreamers of the world and the "regular folks." His transistions between fantasy and reality are seemless and serve to illustrate how quickly and completely the world of the imaginary can become real to those who dare to explore. The world is a wonderfully amazing place if you open your eyes to it.

Perhaps fantasy is the last refuge of an insane mind - but perhaps instead, it is the highest form of sanity? Sane or insane - it really doesn't matter to me. What matters is that when the imagination dies - the rest might as well whither too. The message I get from FN is to "stay positive, stay open and most of all - stay young."

RATING 10 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 10:22 AM | Comments (0)

Retread blows out... and stank doesn't stink.

It is a pretty darn good album - nothing pretentious - nothing gimmicky - just good, hard-driving, soulful music.

Posted by CDogg at 08:23 AM | Comments (0)

March 16, 2005

An average night at the movies...

Shark Tale was a pretty decent little film. When I saw the previews it didn't interest me enough to plunk down the price of a theater ticket. Instead, I waited for DVD. Good thing. It was a decent little film - Martin Scorsese was excellent, but Will Smith was pretty average. It was a cute story, but nothing special.

RATING 6 out of 10

AVP or Alien vs. Predator was not even good enough to be called schlock. It was horrible. Sure, visually, it was sweet and those two characters are immensely interesting - so why screw it up with such a lame script? What a waste. This studio is guilty of creating a 'payday' film. They knew they had tons of fanboys out there that would pay to find out if the film was good and probably watch it again. It is up there with Catwoman for lame flick of the year.

RATING 4 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 04:39 PM | Comments (0)

March 13, 2005

Taking no hostages... plus a grab bag of flicks

Hostage starring Bruce Willis was a return to the Bruce that his fans know and love. His past few films have been pretty lame, but I think this one combined with the upcoming Sin City looks like a strong comeback after the horrible, Tears of the Sun. Hostage combined some pretty darn good acting by Willis with a very well-told story. Florent Emilio Siri did a good job of building suspense in appropriate places and never lost sight of the fact that his job is to simply tell the story.

Another very cool thing about this film was the opening credits. I have to say that it is now officially the best opening credit sequence I have ever seen. (Looks strangely like Sin City - coincidence?)
RATING 8 out of 10

Barbershop 2: Back in Business was actually a pretty good movie. It was pretty much the same as the first Barbershop with one notable exception. There was a lot more back story and it had a clearer message to the viewers. Sure, there was all the usual smack-talking and comedy - but it just felt like this one had a lot more to say than the first one.
RATING 7 out of 10

Maria Full of Grace had been on my list even before the Academy Awards, but that just cemented it. It was a really captivating story albeit a little overly dramatic in places. It lives up to the hype. Catalina Sandino Moreno as Maria did an exceptional job in her first motion picture role. She will be heard from again.
RATING 7 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 06:24 PM | Comments (0)

March 12, 2005

NUMB3RS - not so prime.

As I predicted after the premiere... NUMB3RS is coming up empty. Tonight's episode was by far the worst of the lot. Skippy the Wonder Math Boy went waaaay overboard this time. He not only explained in doofus terms how to counterfeit, but he went on to pretend that checking where someone spends the fake bills takes a complex formula.

The writing in the show has fallen into the realm of juvenile as they dumbed-down every premise by explaining it in detail to someone who "just walked in."

I still love the relationship between Judd Hirsch, Rob Morrow, and David Krumholtz. The show producers should admit their mistake and do the following:

Focus on the family storyline - make it about the lives of the three Eppes men.
Remove the math angle - it cannot carry a sho, period.
Ditch all the beautiful people and put in some realistic looking ones - Secret Service agents, bank tellers, students, EVERYONE is a walking billboard for beauty. The only time you see anyone on the show remotely 'normal' or ugly is the bad guy.
Write it for a smarter audience - the show spends 1/2 of each episode explaining even the most basic things.
In fact, fire the writers and start over - they obviously cannot turn out good shows on a regular basis - the pilot started off really good, but the show has slipped each week.
Change the name of the show to reflect the changes - it can't really be called NUMB3RS with the changes.
Send me my check for fixing things...

Posted by CDogg at 06:25 PM | Comments (0)

March 05, 2005

Third boxcar, midnight train - destination Bangor, Maine

Catching Out is a cool documentary about train hopping. It tells the story of modern day Kings of the Road. The film shows these vagabonds as somewhat overly romantic - but delivers a gritty story of this essentially, counter-culture movement. We are introduced to Baby Girl, Switch, Luther the Jet and many more folks in various stages of their hopping lives. Some are in the midst of ending their life on the rails, while some are just starting out.

They rail (pun intended) against society and needing to have a salary, a car, a job etc... and then turn around and talk about how nice it is to be in a real bed. Most of the riders seem to be lost in their hopelessly romantic dreams and visions, while being very short on motivation, follow-up and drive. They speak of a non-societal utopia and get lost in mid-explanation... it appears that the wild weed, demon alcohol, and possibly more has damaged a few brain cells.

It speaks to the part of me that loves to just jump in the car and drive to a new location for no apparent reason. I am not convinced that it is the life for me though. I like having a roof and a bed between my adventures.

RATING 8 out of 10

PLEA TIME ----------------------------------
Time for my plea - I need just two more people to complete the FREE iPod offer to get my free iPod. As an incentive, I am giving out the following to the next two people who complete the process...

• Ad space on my blog to help advertise your FREE iPod offer (so you can get yours too)
• $10 - yeah CASH!! It will offset the cost of the offer you sign up for.
• 1 "Get out of Hell Free" card for your wallet.
• 1 Gmail invite (if you want one)
• I will blogroll your blog (if you want me to)

All you have to do is click this link and sign up for one of the offers at the end...

1. Click on this link
2. Fill out the information
3. Go through a bunch of offers (you can turn them all down)
4. When you get to the final screen, you have to do one of the final offers.

(I signed up for the FREE trial of Blockbuster Online - you can cancel before you are charged and it works just like NetFlix)

That's it! We are talking a ton of stuff all AND your own free iPod!!

Posted by CDogg at 12:03 AM | Comments (0)

March 01, 2005

And the Oscar goes to.... part duex

The Oscar for "Hardest to Concentrate on What Award They Are Announcing" goes to...

Penelope Cruz & Salma Hayek

The Oscar for "I Guess I am the Luckiest Lowe Afterall" goes to...

Chad Lowe

The Oscar for "My How the Mighty Have Fallen" goes to...

Halle Berry

The Oscar for "Worst Job Hosting Since Whoopi" goes to...

Chris Rock

And the big winner on the night - the Oscar for "Hey Idiot... It Was a Joke - Lighten Up" AND the Oscar for "I think Jude Law Can Fight His Own Battles" both go to...

Sean Penn

(Jude Law will accept this award on behalf of Sean Penn - it's the least he can do...)

Big "ups" to Dave for a conversation that led to this post - and big "ups" to Bob Gentry for not getting bent when I posted a message on his blog defending Rock's right to make an ass of himself. I think that Chris Rock did a poor job as host, but his jokes weren't that bad. And, for goofball Sean Penn to take offense at stupid humor is the funniest punchline of the night. Some days he acts brilliantly and some days he acts more like Spicoli. Click Here

Posted by CDogg at 12:10 AM | Comments (0)

February 27, 2005

And the Oscar goes to....

Here you go - the BigDog's Oscar picks...

VISUAL EFFECTS
I, ROBOT (This film had the most innovative visual effects of the nominees)

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
SUPER SIZE ME (I haven't seen any of the others, but I cannot imagine a film more important than this one)

DIRECTING
THE AVIATOR (It cannot win Best Film because it wasn't the best, so they will give it the nod for directing)

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
THE INCREDIBLES (The name says it all - yet another leap forward for Pixar)

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Kate Winslet - ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND (Hilary Swank will probably get it, but Kate deserves it)

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Jamie Foxx - RAY (If acting is making the audience believe you are the character - Jamie Foxx has just raised the bar permanently)

BEST PICTURE
MILLION DOLLAR BABY (The only one I saw was Ray, but there has been a ton of great things written about MDB... I have a feeling that after I watch all of them, Finding Neverland will be my favorite.)

There you have it - now, these are probably not the ones that are going to win - just the ones that should win.

Posted by CDogg at 12:13 AM | Comments (0)

February 23, 2005

I guess that means I have 'arrived'

I'm thinking that when someone steals a photograph you shot, it means you have 'arrived.' When I was on the set of the film On The Rocks some of you may remember that not only was I an extra, but my truck was used in a key scene.

This is one of the many shots I took during the filming - and it just turned up on IMBD in a discussion about the film.

The picture originally appeared on my blog back in November in the entry entitled Merideth Baxter Spent the Night in My Bed.

I have mixed feelings about my photo showing up on IMDB... on the one hand, it is kinda cool having my shot there, but on the other hand I feel sorta violated - since I wasn't given any credit. So what do you think? Is this piracy? Should I have the image removed?

Posted by CDogg at 06:25 PM | Comments (0)

February 17, 2005

New Character in South Park

I made them with a whole range of facial expressions and intend to use them on the blog. The expression will give some clue as to how I feel about the subject mentioned.

Posted by CDogg at 10:10 PM | Comments (0)

February 16, 2005

Cellular Rings True... Open Water is a Bit Shallow

Cellular appeared at first glance to be an average film at best and despite some exciting moments in the previews, I really thought the film would suck. I had it for over a week from Netflix before I decided to watch it. Wow! This film is really good. Part of the surprise was the performance by Chris Evans as Ryan. Expect to see more of him soon as he will be playing Johnny Storm/Human Torch in the Fantastic Four. William H. Macy was brilliant as ever and I always enjoy seeing Jason Statham play this type character.

David R. Ellis the stuntman-turned-director did a great job of pacing and delivered on the suspense. If you get the chance...watch this one... you'll like it.

RATING 8 out of 10

It seems that with every good review comes a poor one. I also watched Open Water a few days earlier and thought I would digest it a bit before writing it up. The acting was poor during the setup, average during the middle and decent toward the end. The thing was shot digitally which held my attention because of my work in that area. I quickly lost interest in the movie itself and turned to the director's commentary track.

The extra tracks made the DVD entertaining. The story of how the filmmakers took three years to make the movie, spending their own money and doing guerilla filming every chance they got, was interesting. They talked a lot about where each of the shots came from and as a lesson in filmmaking on the cheap, it kept me listening. It won awards at Sundance (I don't remember which ones) but I really don't see why. Again, as a movie it sucked... the commentary track is worth watching though.

RATING 4 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 10:13 PM | Comments (0)

February 11, 2005

Who Gets the Gay?

Okay, call me a homophobe if it will make you happy, but Animal Planet's new series Who Gets the Dog? is just a bit much. I love the concept. It is a reality show that takes one shelter dog each episode and introduces it to three families. Each of the families gets to spend 24 hours with the dog while being videotaped. During that time they are given specific tasks such as 1) teach the dog to sit 2) wash the dog etc. At the end of the three trials, the video is turned over to a panel of 'experts' for review.

A dog psychologist, a veterinarian and a comedian (?) make up the expert panel that decides which home is the best fit for Fido. I am okay with the fact that the tasks are ridiculous and have no bearing on whether or not a home would be a good fit. I am okay with the fact that aside from the vet, I wouldn't trust either of the other two to decide what is best for my dog. I absolutely love vicariously meeting the new dog each episode... what irks me is the preponderance of homosexuals on the show.

Okay, here comes the standard line - I am not a homophobe, I have a gay friend, etc. etc. Frankly, I could care less if you believe it... but believe this. In every episode but one, the show has featured a gay couple as one of the three families. I know this is California, but come on - not even the 'left coast' has a 33% gay population. Is this Animal Planet's idea of affirmitive action? ...if they put all the gays in one show, they don't have to put them on any others? I think it is fine to include people from all walks of life but their demographics appear to be a bit queer. (pun intended)

Before gays decide that this show is a bastion of great television - not one of the gay couples has "got the dog" yet.

Posted by CDogg at 07:55 PM | Comments (0)

February 10, 2005

Pacino is Powerful - Stiller Stifles

The Merchant of Venice is the latest of the Bard's tales set to film. It features Joseph Fiennes as Bassanio, Jeremy Irons as Antonio, and Al Pacino as Shylock. Directed by Michael Radford, it is a really good adaptation. I have really grown weary of the 'modernized' takes on Shakespeare's works. Like any of the films that uses his original dialogue, it takes a couple minutes to get in the flow - but suddenly it clicks and it is as if you have spoken Shakespearean English all your life. Pacino's Shylock was amazing and for that reason alone - it is a must see.

There were two problems with the film however. First was the fact that Radford felt obliged to explain anti-semetism so as to make Shylock's character more sympathetic. I think that the opening explanation written out on the screen is an insult to Shakespeare and to Pacino. Shakespeare has been called anti-semetic, but seriously, can someone put the words, "If you prick me, do I not bleed?" in the mouth of Shylock without being sympathetic to the Jewish plight? Pacino should be insulted in that the written explanation is tantamount to saying that Pacino is incapable of creating a sympathetic Shylock.

The second problem with the film is Hollywood's constant need to force homosexuality on the audience. The Bassanio and Antonio relationship came across, albeit thinly veiled, as homosexual. Sure, the language of the day was much more amorous between men, but there was no need for the actors to give the "knowing glances" and "gentle touches" suggestive of Queer Eye for the Venetian Guy.

If you enjoy Shakespeare... if you enjoy good acting... if you enjoy great sets... see this film.

RATING 8 out of 10

At the other extreme, being a huge Ben Stiller fan, and having totally missed the short-lived Ben Stiller Show on HBO, I decided to check it out. It was pretty lame. The writing focused too much on satire and not enough on FUNNY! I can see why it got cancelled so quickly. I won't hold this against Stiller though who has proven he can produce a stinker (Duplex) and then come right back with something funny (Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story ).

RATING 4 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 07:56 PM | Comments (0)

February 08, 2005

The Sludge & A Shell Game

The Grudge is a remake of a Japanese movie by the same name (albeit in Japanese) and you know what? They should have left well enough alone. This one of those films that I refer to as a "payday" project. The payday here is for Sam Raimi . He basically throws his name on it because he has a loyal following, knowing full well that it is a subpar film - oh and it was a chance to get his brother, Ted Raimi an acting gig - very weak. I think that Sarah Michelle Gellar probably really thought it would be a good showcase for her talents - but she should have passed. This film does more to hurt her rep than build it.

It is typical horror schlock - nothing new - nothing original - nothing remotely interesting. It was predictible from the outset... we are talking down to the actions of every last character. There was never a moment that turned in a surprise... okay, maybe there was a surprise in the end - I'll never know because I turned it off long before then.

RATING 4 out of 10

While we are on the subject of bad remakes - okay, this one isn't a remake, but a sequel... and yes, a bad one. Ghost in the Shell was a masterpiece of anime... Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence is a "shell" of its predecessor. Visually, it is cool as hell. It stretches the limits of anime and blends them with CGI... but as far as an interesting story - feel free to check your brain at the door. Watch it for the visuals... in fact, turn the sound off cause that is a retread of the first one... ignore the story and look at all the pretty pictures.

RATING 6 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 07:58 PM | Comments (0)

February 06, 2005

Commercials are a Super Bust!

It is midway through the halftime show of the SuperBowl and so far the commercials have been terrible. I have been keeping a mental tally rating them from 1-10 and I have yet to see one that rates higher than a 6. (The Bud Light one where the pilot jumped out of the plane was the 6.) But come on - SuperBowl commercials are supposed to be in the 8-10 range.

The halftime show is craptastic too. No, I don't need a wardrobe malfunction for a halftime show to qualify as good... even Miss Jackson's halftime "show" was rotten. I can't remember the last decent halftime show. Actually, the last good one was probably when "Up With People" performed back in the 80's. I think they should just cut halftime back to 15 minutes, forget all the hype surrounding halftime and play some football.

Posted by CDogg at 08:00 PM | Comments (0)

February 03, 2005

Coolest sport/hobby? ever...

I just watched a documentary called Okie Noodling and it was fascinating. Noodling is fishing for catfish with just your hand. Nope, they aren't wrestling the cats, they reach their hands into catfish holes and wiggle until the catfish bites down on their hand. The noodler will then 'wrassle' it until they get the thing landed. The do all this underwater while holding their breath. We are talking some monster catfish.

Posted by CDogg at 08:02 PM | Comments (0)

January 30, 2005

See Jurgen Suck!

A&E was once a quality network... but what happened to the "Arts" or even the "Entertainment?" Their film See Arnold Run is a perfect example of someone trying to cash in on the old "movie of the week" formula - pump out (pun intended) a quick, cheap story about something that is hot in the news and throw it on the airwaves. That worked back when we only had three networks to choose from.... heck, anything was better than Lawrence Welk.

The story is told in two distinct eras - the modern Arnold (Jürgen Prochnow) , and the young bodybuilder Arnold (Roland Kickinger.) The Kickinger Arnold is a good story of a motivated immigrant, the Prochnow Arnold is a hack job. There is probably no impersonation easier to do than that of Schwarzenegger's thick Austrian voice, and amazingly, nobody in history has ever done a worse take than Prochnow. If A&E expects us to overlook the fact that he is a peanut compared to the Austrian Oak, at least make it a peanut that can do the voice.

Politically, it is nothing but a smear campaign against Arnold. It paints him as a savant-like, greedy, megalomaniac. He is also portrayed as a loud-mouthed, dullard that is "whipped" by the domineering Maria Shriver (don't get me started on how horrible her casting was) and buys the election.

Posted by CDogg at 08:42 AM | Comments (0)

January 27, 2005

A movie buff's view of the Oscars

Sure, just what you were looking for - another blogger's opinion of the Oscars. Well, if that doesn't spin your wheels, then by all means stroll on down the information superhighway and ignore this post. But, if it does interest you - let me give you a little background in why my opinion is worth the html it is printed in... 1) I am a huge movie buff (yippie, who isn't?) 2) I am a filmmaker (okay, so that give you a little credence) 3) I have worked in all aspects of filmmaking - acting, directing, producing, editing, sound design, casting, camerawork, extra work, etc. etc. (okay, another feather in your cap) and finally, 4) because its my blog and I can do what I want to do (fine, just get on with the Oscar stuff).

I am not going down the entire list because frankly there are some Oscars that don't interest me. I will also not be covering all of them in this post. What I will be doing here is listing the ones that I will cover in more detail as we get closer to the Oscar Night. There are several that I need to see still before I can choose my winners. Well, enough banter - here is the list of awards that I will be covering in upcoming blogs.

BEST PICTURE
THE AVIATOR
FINDING NEVERLAND
MILLION DOLLAR BABY
RAY
SIDEWAYS

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Don Cheadle - HOTEL RWANDA
Johnny Depp - FINDING NEVERLAND
Leonardo DiCaprio - THE AVIATOR
Clint Eastwood - MILLION DOLLAR BABY
Jamie Foxx - RAY

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Alan Alda - THE AVIATOR
Thomas Haden Church - SIDEWAYS
Jamie Foxx - COLLATERAL
Morgan Freeman - MILLION DOLLAR BABY
Clive Owen - CLOSER

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Annette Bening - BEING JULIA
Catalina Sandino Moreno - MARIA FULL OF GRACE
Imelda Staunton - VERA DRAKE
Hilary Swank - MILLION DOLLAR BABY
Kate Winslet - ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Cate Blanchett - THE AVIATOR
Laura Linney - KINSEY
Virginia Madsen - SIDEWAYS
Sophie Okonedo - HOTEL RWANDA
Natalie Portman - CLOSER

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
THE INCREDIBLES
SHARK TALE
SHREK 2

DIRECTING
THE AVIATOR
MILLION DOLLAR BABY
RAY
SIDEWAYS
VERA DRAKE

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
BORN INTO BROTHELS
THE STORY OF THE WEEPING CAMEL
SUPER SIZE ME
TUPAC: RESURRECTION
TWIST OF FAITH

FILM EDITING
THE AVIATOR
COLLATERAL
FINDING NEVERLAND
MILLION DOLLAR BABY
RAY

VISUAL EFFECTS
HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN
I, ROBOT
SPIDER-MAN 2

Posted by CDogg at 10:50 PM | Comments (0)

Where have all the good films gone?

Time to catch up on the movie reviews...

Let's start with Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow.

I thought this one might be cool when I saw the previews... I guess I was caught up in the "look" of the film... a throwback to the serialized "B" movies of the 50's. Having missed that whole era - I imagined it would be a refreshing change from the typical Hollywood films. It was... for about three minutes. Once you get past the cool film noir shadows and soft lenses, it needs a story. You know there is a reason that they don't make campy little flicks like this anymore... they aren't that good. I turned the thing off after about 20 minutes. Hoorah for whoever figured out the cool look to the film - boo to whoever thought it would fly again.

RATING 5 out of 10

Next up is Catwoman. Alright, alright. I admit that it was Halle Berry's outfit that initially drew me to this film. And you know what? That is the only saving grace. Whoever is in charge of DC Comics film division needs to learn a lesson from what they are doing at Marvel. Give us a good story... give us deep characters... give us realism... oh yeah, that is why DC lags in comic book sales too - their cardboard characters and lame stories. If it came down to a free DVD of Catwoman or poop on a stick... I would have to seriously consider the stick. Oh wait... there is no difference.

RATING 3 out of 10

I was going to go on and list a couple more that I have seen recently, but they all sucked so bad... PLEASE, PLEASE, someone point me toward ONE decent movie!!

Posted by CDogg at 10:43 PM | Comments (0)

January 25, 2005

NUMB3RS doesn't add up

The new CBS cop-drama NUMB3RS is chock full of great actors (way too many to mention) and because of that it will be sad to see the show go... but go it must. I cannot conceive of any possible scenario in which it lasts on the airwaves. The premise is that the FBI guy (Rob Morrow) enlists the help of his math whiz brother (David Krumholtz)to solve serial crimes.

This show does have a lot going for it. As mentioned above, the cast is stellar. The premise is good. The special effects enhance the story without getting in the way. The script is smart. Heck, even the direction is pretty darn good. So why won't it survive?

Well, how many times can you use the "there is a serial offender loose - lets run some numbers to locate him - we can't find him - aha, we missed a variable - lets run some more numbers - bingo, we caught him" sequence before it wears thin? Uh, once. Okay, now lets suppose that that can come up with unique ways to rework that standard storyline sequence and keep it fresh for a season... what about the math?

It is great that they have created a show that doesn't insult your intelligence with every premise. It is great that you can explain how complex mathematical formulas can seemingly remove the randomness of random events. It is great that the small percent of the viewing population with a brain will find it entertaining. But what about the majority of viewers? You are going to lose them either way. If you have to dumb it down and explain what you are doing each week, they will get bored. If you assume that after a few episodes they understand boolean logic and probabilty theory, they will get lost. Either way the show fails.

They show's saving grace appears to be what differentiates if from all the other cop shows - the family angle. The return of Rob Morrow and Judd Hirsch (their father) to the screen will lend weight and real substance to that family story - but unless the show can crunch the Nielson numbers, it may end up in the "Brilliant But Cancelled" file.

Posted by CDogg at 02:36 PM | Comments (0)

January 21, 2005

Baby Boomers score another hit...

It's true... the Baby Boomer generation is defining what gets created, sold and consumed by the public. No place is this more evident than in what we watch on television and the movies. One of the latest incarnations of this is in the "re-imagining" of Battlestar Galactica.

You will remember the space series from the late 70's with Dirk Benedict as the playboy pilot, Starbuck and Richard Hatch as Apollo.... the Ceylons little red light strip of pulsing lights for eyes while chiming in with a monotone, "by your command." Well fast forward to the new Battlestar and you will find Starbuck is not only a woman, but a damn convincing one, Katee Sackhoff. (Is it just me or does this Starbuck look like she could be a real fighter pilot?) Lt. Boomer is no longer a black man, but a gorgeous and talented woman, Grace Park.

More important than the re-hashing of a childhood favorite for the sake of the boomers, is the way they did this one. Check out the space scenes... the thing you will notice first is... nothing. You don't hear the George Jetson doppler effect ship speeding by - you don't hear the laser blasts - you don't hear the explosions... what you do hear is the pounding soundtrack with an occasional underlying wisp of sound. I love the fact that while not 100% true to the silence of space, it is by far the closest I have ever seen. (Dave tells me that Firefly is completely silent in their space shots.)

If you have an ounce of scifi fan in your veins, you will love this... if you don't - I think you will probably still like it as the writing is intelligent, the drama interesting and the stories captivating.

Posted by CDogg at 10:55 PM | Comments (0)

January 20, 2005

I admit it - I am back on the crack...

You may remember a while back when I sat down to the DVD set of the first season of 24. I was in awe of the show... it grabbed me by the throat and pulled me to the edge of my seat. Just as I would start to relax, it would force me to immediately start the next episode. This show was worse than crack.

I watched one show in season two, but just didn't get that same feeling because Keifer Sutherland's character Jack Bauer was no longer a field agent. I skipped season 2 and season 3. And then, just like the scent of whiskey can tumble a former alcoholic right back into his pit of demons, I saw an ad for season 4. Something about it seemed to be telling me... "It's okay, you can just try one little episode. Nobody will know. You can quit anytime you want."

And then I did... I watched the season premiere! It was not just a season premiere, it was a two hour season premiere! Those BASTARDS!! I watched both hours and now I am twitching all over and smacking the skin on my arm to get a vein showing... I need another hit baaaaad.

Not to let me off with just a case of the DTs or a nervous twitch, FOX is pushing more on me tonight. Yes, another two hours back to back... I just may OD... it would probably be best. I am sooo weak.

Posted by CDogg at 11:21 AM | Comments (0)

January 18, 2005

Catchup time

I have seen a ton of films that I haven't blogged.... okay, maybe not a ton... but a few anyway. Now seems like a good time to catch up.

Let's start with The Bourne Supremacy... had this one warranted an entry by itself, I probably would have titled it The Bourne Stupidity. Okay, I admit I have something against Matt Damon as an action hero... I mean, I think he is great in just about every other role, but I just can't buy him as this super-elite spy-guy. This film is not worth spending much more time discussing.
RATING 4 out of 10

Let's switch gears and check out Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. On second thought... let's just move on - this one sucks.
RATING 3 out of 10

Surely, I must have seen something decent lately? You bet! (And, don't cally me Shirley) Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle is one of those films that keeps you laughing from start to finish. It sets out to be a stupidly funny film and delivers full force. John Cho and Kal Penn deliver perfectly on these roles that admittedly do not take Shakespearian skills, but do require likable funny guys. RATING 8 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 02:39 PM | Comments (0)

January 14, 2005

Garden Great

Garden State is an excellent film. I read a review about it where the reviewer said he liked it better when it was called "Beautiful Girls," implying that BG had told the same story only better. I have to disagree. While I really liked BG, Garden State is a much deeper and more interesting film.

Zach Braff and Natalie Portman were completely believable and entirely interesting. Braff needs to take a bow for writing and directing this film. And whoever decided to cast Natalie Portman as his wonky love-interest needs a raise. She shows in this role that she is much more than just a stunningly pretty face... this girl can flat out act.

Had I seen this one in '04, it would have been one of the top films of the year... as it stands - it is probably the best film I have seen in '05.

RATING 9 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 02:40 PM | Comments (0)

January 08, 2005

Brad and Jennifer SPLIT!!!

Forget the tabloids... I know why they did it! Obviously, Jennifer Aniston (like myself) finally sat down and watched Troy. How could she stay with Brad Pitt after that horrible waste of money and film? Is it just me or do you remember a time when Brad Pitt actually could act? And what is with that horrible accent? Brad, feel free to visit a dialect coach or do us a favor and stop trying. Also, one career note - stick to the brash, cocky, arrogant roles and don't try to include any real depth into your characters and you will do fine.... oh - yeah, you could always take some acting lessons too - that might help.

This was without a doubt the most boring telling of Homer's epic - the worst acted, and the biggest pile of typical Hollywood overdone drama - well, since the last overdone Hollywood drama.

Eric Bana's Hector was great, but is lost amongst all the bad noise.

RATING 4 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 03:48 PM | Comments (0)

January 06, 2005

House of Flying Lameness

House of Flying Daggers appears at first to be another visually stunning, action-packed hit of Chinese cinema. Suffice it to say that the previews were very misleading. HOFD is nowhere near as visually dramatic as Hero. It is nowhere near as packed with action as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and it suffers from a series of unforgiveable maladies.

First, the focus is very poor. I am not sure if it is a technique they are using to make it look more like a 70's film or if possibly the process of transfering from original stock to final cut lost a lot of the sharpness. In addition, the colors are waaay bled out. It goes beyond a simple bleach technique or some of the things done to give a film a particular "feel." The color palette jumps around haphazardly - often within the same scene. I think they attempted to try to duplicate the visual magic of Hero and really didn't know how. Also, the story is terrible. It is misleading, there are large holes in the logic, and it is mostly uninteresting. The movie quickly turns into a convoluded love story which steals every Hollywood romantic cliche - the problem is that all of them have been done better.

The film boasts three excellent lead actors and had they been in someone else's hands - I feel sure they could turn out a brilliant film. Takeshi Kaneshiro as Jin was a fun character that was never fully developed. Ziyi Zhang as Mei is stunning and deserves a better script and director. Andy Lau's skills were wasted on the cardboard character, Leo.

Don't waste your time on this one.

RATING 4 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 03:50 PM | Comments (0)

January 03, 2005

Medium is.... uh, well done!

Did you catch the premiere of NBC's new drama, Medium? I have a new regular spot set aside on TiVo for this one. Patricia Arquette stars as Allison Dubois, a suburban housewife who is coming to grips with the fact that she has regular conversations with dead people. This is no Haley Joel Osment corniness... it is a new twist on crime solving. Despite the fact that they tried a bit too hard to add comedy, (ala making the Texas Rangers out to be slack-jawed boors and morons,) the show appears to have great potential in the mystery genre.

Jake Weber stars as her confused but very understanding husband and I was surprised to notice that Kelsey Grammer is the Executive Producer. (ie. he put up the money)

Posted by CDogg at 10:23 AM | Comments (0)

December 31, 2004

Luther - More than just another Catholic Slamfest

Luther starts out much like a lot of films with an agenda against the Catholic Church. It paints Rome as the seat of an overbearing, hypocritical, evil, den of money-hungry control freaks. (Oh wait, that's what they are!) Despite being funded by a German, Lutheran company; NFP Teleart and a US, Lutheran company; Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, the film is not too heavily slanted. Sure, it contains some inaccuracies - but most historical films do.

Joseph Fiennes does a fine job as Martin Luther and Peter Ustinov does Frederick the Wise proud. It is a white-washed version of the controversial figure to be sure, but not in an attempt to rewrite history, only in failing to include some of the more questionable and provocative portions of Luther's life and teachings. As a Protestantism 101 course it is fine viewing - for more advanced studies, it cannot be relied upon.

As cinema however, it is compelling viewing... add to that the painless inclusion of history and you have a fine film.

RATING 8 out of 10

...and one more nag that is not just related to this film. Why are the makers of DVDs unable to put sound down on a disc that doesn't require you to turn it up to hear the dialogue and turn it down during action scenes because it suddenly becomes deafening? I get to where I just mute all action scenes in movies so that I can leave the volume loud enough to hear quiet conversations.

Posted by CDogg at 06:12 PM | Comments (0)

December 21, 2004

While we wait for Iron Man...

I have been giving a fair bit of pub to my desire for an Iron Man movie, but while we wait... here is the next big thing from Marvel Comics - The Fantastic Four. That's Michael Chiklis as Ben Grimm!

And all we have to do is wait until July 1, 2005 - check out Comicbookmovie.com for more information on all the comics being made into films! Fun stuff!

Posted by CDogg at 11:09 PM | Comments (0)

Napoleon Fizzle

I have been looking forward to Napoleon Dynamite since it came out in limited release and I was unable to catch it at the theater. I was actually a bit disappointed in it. I think this whole "indie" thing may just have become an excuse to do a lame film. If it is "indie" then a good film is regarded as brilliant and an average film qualifies as good. Had this been a Hollywood release, it would have been a bad film... because it was an "indie," it was a decent little flick.

Napoleon is really a one-trick pony... the one trick is quirkiness. Jon Heder as ND, is a funny skit and even a funny short... but it ends up a bit tiring after an hour and a half. The movie salvages its ramble to nowhere with a good ending... (in Hollywood terms, that would be an "average" ending.)

It was fun, but I only chuckled out loud once or twice and there was absolutely nothing worth howling about. A far cry from "You'll laugh till it hurts" - Peter Travers (Rollingstone Magazine)

At first blush, it appears to be a film about the triumph of the little man, but in the end it is a film that makes fun of non-conforming, non-cookie-cutter people in the saddest "let's laugh at the nerds and dweebs" way possible. All of the humor is at the expense of those characters which do not fit the "made for TV" mold.

RATING 5 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 02:29 PM | Comments (0)

December 17, 2004

Cruisin' for dead guys.

Collateral was a film that I avoided when it hit the theaters. One, because I try not to see too many films first-run... it is often just a huge waste of money. Two, because there was nothing in the previews that did much to spark any interest. Third, no reason... I just wanted to carry out the numbering theme. :)

Overall, I would have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by the film. I thought Tom Cruise did a pretty good job and Jamie Foxx was decent as well. There is nothing really earth-shattering about the film.... but it is completely watchable. The story is typical Hollywood fare, but something about Michael Mann's direction makes it play better than expected.

I however, am still waiting for Tom Cruise in Iron Man... it has potential to be one of the best Marvel Comics adaptaptions ever.

RATING 7 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 11:11 PM | Comments (0)

December 16, 2004

Meredith Baxter Spent the Night in My Bed!

Okay, okay, so it was just my truck bed... but hey, about three in the morning, we got some very tiny flakes of snow and I figured, with Meredith Baxter in my bed - hell must be about to freeze over.

You may remember her as Meredith Baxter Birney, mother of Alex P. Keaton (Michael J. Fox) in the 80's sitcom Family Ties. Well, as some of you know, I have been doing some work as an extra on the film "On the Rocks." Part of my being an extra includes the use of my truck for a key scene in the movie. At the end of the movie, the lead Timothy Bottoms climbs into the bed of my truck where Meredith Baxter is sitting and they do the big hollywood screen kiss.

Oh yeah, and I did some rather stunning work portraying a movie-goer walking to the concession stand. You know what that means? Between this production and my work as a crowd member in Friday Night Lights... I can official be included in a game of Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon. In fact, the first person who posts the links between Kevin Bacon and I will win a special prize!

Posted by CDogg at 02:27 PM | Comments (0)

December 14, 2004

Why, Robot?

Okay, I didn't think I, Robot was that bad... it was just the only play on words I could come up with. First off, if you are a fan of Isaac Asimov and robot fiction in general, you will be put off right at the start by the total non-adherance to the book. Secondly, if you are a fan of futuristic films that seem futuristic, you will be insulted by the various inclusions (albeit with lame excuses) such as Converse Chuck Taylor All-Stars shoes, a gas powered motorcycle that appears to be just off the showroom in 2004, and the ghetto cap and leather jacket outfit worn by Will Smith.

Smith's lines are very stereotypical Will Smith lines - quippy and smart-alecky. His acting is nothing special, the script is an abberation of the source, the sci-fi is low in sci and not very good fi. Despite all this, the movie tends to catch you up in the thing and in the end, you want to see how it turns out.

RATING 7 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 03:52 PM | Comments (0)

December 10, 2004

The aptly titled Terminal.

Never was a movie more appropriately titled. The Terminal is just that - terminal... as in DOA... as in dead to me... as in "Boy, does this movie suck!"

The premise is ridiculous. The acting is subpar. The writing is pedestrian. The direction is average. The camerawork is lame. The comedy is juvenile. Each of these on their own would not be bad... but all of them in one movie is... well, terminal!

Okay, Tom Hanks did an okay job... well, except for that bad accent. Stanley Tucci did a good job as usual... he just had nothing to work with...

...there, that is all I can find good about the film.

Okay, I can say one last good thing about the film - it is a warm, cute story at times... maybe it isn't completely dead - but it is at least on life support.
RATING 5 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 10:10 PM | Comments (0)

December 08, 2004

Fish and Fast Times - Nic Flicks

I finally saw Rumble Fish. I had never seen it, but always figured I would someday. Being a huge fan of Francis Ford Coppola, I felt it was time to get this one off the list. First off, let me say that visually it is amazing. Nearly every freakin' scene in the film looks like a photograph. It is by far his most artsy film. I thought the clock motif was a bit overdone, but for the most part, I got into the offbeat hipness of it. The dialogue is a bit weird at times, but I am told that it is nearly word for word from the novel by S. E. Hinton.

There is a wealth of (then) young talent as Chris Penn, Nicolas Cage, Laurence Fishburne, Dennis Hopper and Diane Lane played secondary roles to Matt Dillon and Mickey Rourke. The performances were pretty darn good all around although Diane Lane in particular stands out as always.

As a story, it is a bit of a downer for my tastes, but as a study in visual filmmaking, it is worth repeated viewings.
RATING 6 out of 10



My effort to take in a lot of the early works of Nicolas Cage brought me back to Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Sure, I had seen it before - who hasn't? The film is an American institution. What surprised me was the amazing number of the cast that became stars. Of course, everyone remembers Sean Penn, Phoebe Cates(I know for a fact that the guys remember her), and Jennifer Jason Leigh. Most remember Judge Reinhold. But what about Eric Stoltz, Forest Whitaker, and Anthony Edwards - all unknowns when they did Fast Times!

The real amazing thing about this film is the story itself - what seemed at the time to be just a fun story was amazingly complex and hard-hitting drama. I mean look at the issues it deals with - teenage promiscuity, loyalty, drugs, abortion, and on and on... Cameron Crowe put together one heck of a story.

RATING 8 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 05:25 PM | Comments (0)

December 07, 2004

A Wonderful body of work...

Jimmy Stewart is the greatest actor of all time... don't bother to debate me... it will fall on deaf ears. Whether slaying the audience alongside his lovable invisible rabbit as Elwood P. Dowd, standing up for the little man as Jefferson Smith, shooting outlaws and varmints in the wild west, spinning a tale of mystery and suspense with Alfred Hitchcock, or discovering the true meaning of Christmas reruns (and why bells ring for that matter,) Jimmy Stewart never failed to deliver a great performance and his career spanning over 150 film and television appearances contains some of the greatest films of all time.

Turner Classic Movies has named Jimmy Stewart as their Star of the Month and in honor of him are showing 34 of Jimmy's movies on Mondays throughout the month - what a great time to have TiVo! I recorded four of his films last night as it is set to record anytime it finds one of his movies.

The films slated to be shown this month: (* ones I have seen)

You Can't Take It With You
Destry Rides Again *
After the Thin Man *
Small Town Girl (1936)
It's a Wonderful World
The Murder Man
Of Human Hearts
The Gorgeous Hussy *
Ice Follies of 1939
The Shop Around The Corner
Bell, Book and Candle *
The Philadelphia Story *
No Time For Comedy
Wife Vs. Secretary *
Come Live With Me
Ziegfeld Girl *
Born to Dance
Rose Marie (1936)
The Shootist *
The Rare Breed *
The Naked Spur *
How the West Was Won *
The Stratton Story *
Navy Blue And Gold
Speed (1936)
Vertigo *
Rope *
The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956) *
Rear Window *
The Mortal Storm
The Shopworn Angel *
The Last Gangster
Carbine Williams
Malaya

Posted by CDogg at 09:30 AM | Comments (1)

November 28, 2004

Gayus Alexanderus - the gayest Alexander ever.

Want to know how to make three hours seem like five? Watch Oliver Stone's Alexander. Do not watch it if you are looking for a gladiator type epic. Do not watch it if you are looking for a swashbuckling testosterone film. Do not watch it if you are looking for a documentary style retelling of the life of Alexander the Great. Do not watch it if you are offended by homosexual content. Watch it if you want a love story with some swordplay thrown in.

Sure, we are all aware of the historical Alexander and his reported lifelong 'love' of Hephaiston. We are aware of the Greek tradition of pederasty. We are aware that it was considered normal to explore all areas of sexuality... but come on. There is historical reference (writings) to both refute and confirm this claim of pansexuality.

This is typical Oliver Stone stirring the pot. In fact, it is the gay community that should be most offended by the movie - not because he chose to show a reported homosexual relationship as deep and meaningful, but instead because he chose to use it as yet another way to cause controversy. All the homoerotic elements of the film involved beautifully handsome people only and did nothing to show the reality of homosexuality. And talk about makeup... these men had more eyeliner than Tammy Faye Baker.

Colin Farrell did a fine job in the lead role... and geez, just look at Jared Leto (right) as Hephaiston... its enough to make you consider leaving Johnny Depp for... haha.

The film's only purpose is to stir controversy and put more attention on Stone. There is nothing at all specatular about the film other than the spectacular remake of Alexander into a 350 B.C . metrosexual. It should have been the story of an epic king that happened to be bisexual, instead it was the Queer Eye for the Macedonian Guy.

RATING 5 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 01:20 PM | Comments (0)

November 19, 2004

WANTED for stealing advertising control...

You know this little guy?
He is the logo for TiVo... the first in a line of systems designed to record television digitally. They promote your ability to pause, rewind,fast-forward etc. live TV... what they really do more than anything is allow you to skip commercials.

Great huh? Yeah, if that was their only intent... if you haven't made the logical leap yet - fear not, they have.

TiVo and the other DVR services will soon be inserting their own commercials into your feed thus bypassing billions in advertising revenue generated at the network level and replacing it with their own. They have effectively just stolen control of the most powerful advertising medium on the planet!

THIS IS HUGE!! Expect to see some fights over this one. Expect some controls to be put in place on these systems - or at least some major deals to be cut. Expect to have ads that you cannot skip. This advertising real estate is way too valuable to let disappear.

Posted by CDogg at 12:46 AM | Comments (0)

November 17, 2004

Are you ready for some porno?

Is it just me or was the intro segment to Monday Night Football this week just wrong? For those of you that missed it, Nicollette Sheridan of Desperate Housewives encountered Terrell Owens in the lockerroom just before the game. Dressed only in a towel, she enticed Owens into a sexual encounter ala her character on the sleazy TV show.

It wasn't the role reversal of a white woman forcing herself on a black man that upset me. It wasn't the R-rated theme on what is supposed to be a G-rated sporting event. It wasn't even the shameless plug for a shameless TV show... it was the fact that they thought us football fans wanted to see this or gave a shit about Desperate Housewives.

It is just further evidence of the decline of professional sports. In a discussion with Mike Wright the other day, we both agreed that high school and college sports are FAR superior to every professional sport and crap like this just continues to prove it.

Posted by CDogg at 09:36 PM | Comments (0)

Movie catch-up time

The House of Sand and Fog looked promising from the promos, but disappeared quickly amid a torrent of other films once released. As is often not the case, the public was right on this one. Ben Kingsley, one of my all-time favorite actors did a decent job in this role, but his performance seemed waaaay over the top for such a pedestrian character and downright retarded story. I mean talk about "what if they made a movie and nobody cared." This drivel is about a man that scrimps and saves to buy his dreamhouse - an auctioned foreclosure. Jennifer Connelly's was the only character that seemed to fit as the unfortunate victim of the county whose house was auctioned off to Kingsley. What remains of the story is a series of "lets see how stupid I can make this character" unbelievable actions and retarded justifications. Don't even bother to rent this one if your cable goes out... white noise is much more intelligent.

RATING 3 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 12:37 AM | Comments (0)

November 12, 2004

People are slime...

Don't believe me? Watch a few episodes of Animal Cops or Animal Precinct on Animal Planet. It still amazes me each time I see the cruelty and disregard for life that these pet owners display. I know it is a small portion of the population, but it turns my stomach.

People are great too..

The two shows are basically the same. Animal Precinct was the first one and features animal cruelty officers in New York city, where they have the same powers as regular police officers. My favorite from the show is Officer Annemarie Lucas...

... she seemed to really let the cases get to her early on in the show, but has since turned that frustration into putting together airtight cases and delights in both locking up the bad guys and saving animals.

Animal Cops has a slightly different take in that the show is split into Detroit and Houston... It is cool watching the Animal Cops: Houston and seeing our local heroes (employees of the Houston SPCA - where I got my new buddy Lou!) fighting that same good fight. My favorite of the Houstonians is Agent Jim Boller...

... he is a typical good o' boy with a heart. He is called most of the time for farm animals (horses, cattle, goats etc.) and you can see why he does his job in the way he carries himself.

and from the Detroit office is Investigator Debby MacDonald...

... she seems to really care and lets crappy pet owners know when they are being crappy.

What a reward job - I mean, sure you see a lot of pain and suffering, but talk about your warm fuzzies from doing good. If you want a hero - here you go... these guys and gals are real heroes.

Posted by CDogg at 05:55 PM | Comments (0)

November 11, 2004

Jimmy Kimmel on Life Support

Is it just me or has Jimmy Kimmel Live lost some of its edginess? Remember when it started and he had a guest host each week? Remember a week of Snoop Dog on the couch? Remember Mike Tyson? Remember the constantly bleeped out comments and their early attempts to see what they could get away with?

Sure, he is funnier than the mutant-chinned Jay Leno and Letterman's shtick has gotten tired, but JKL is turning into just another run-of-the-mill late night show.

Uncle Frank is fun and Cousin Sal should get his own show... right now, I watch to see if Sal is going to get beat up by someone and hope that Jimmy will find a way to sign a decent guest every now and then.

Posted by CDogg at 06:46 PM | Comments (0)

November 09, 2004

WE'RE the reason there is nothing good on network TV.

I got the first season of the short-lived ABC series, Sports Night via NetFlix and have added it to my list of great shows that didn't make it. It is further proof that if a show involves your brain and a good story it is doomed on our airwaves. Shows like Homicide: Life on the Streets and The Marshall spring to mind. I heard that Sports Night was cancelled because the writers were hired away to do The West Wing... I could see that because it has the same frenetic pacing and witty repertoire.

I was blown away this weekend when I watched Hairspray for the first time and saw a very young Josh Charles (Dan Rydell on SN) in his first role. Peter Krause's (Six Feet Under) portrayal of co-anchor Casey McCall is also good.

And you know what the bad thing is about the cancellation of good shows like this one? It is because WE are not watching them. We are watching The Swan, Wife-Swap, Elimidate, and a thousand other piles of mindless crap. I lump myself in here - I never watched Sports Night when it was on the air... I assumed it was going to be more crap. (This is usually a very safe assumption.) Just like everyone assumes that a Japanese car is better than an American, we assume that in order to get quality television, we have to turn to cable or satellite. So what happens? A decent show finally makes it past the network execs and nobody watches.

What's the solution? Heck if I know... I am not going to martyr myself on the television cross and screen every new show just so I can help the good ones succeed. Maybe though - just maybe - when we find a quality show, we can do our part by telling that story at the water cooler instead of the story of the redneck woman who swapped families with the uptown model. If not - then enjoy the next heaping helping of crap piled on in the new season.

Posted by CDogg at 08:37 AM | Comments (0)

November 08, 2004

Weekend Update

I was reading through the latest Wayback Machine post and realized that back then I wrote a lot more about what was actually happening in my life and less about stuff like movie reviews and opinions. I thought it would be a good time to bring back the Weekend Update... one, to give some info about what actually happened this weekend and two, cause I want to use the goofy graphic again.

This weekend started off with heading up to The Woodlands to see Ray with Pennie (see earlier post for a review.) We were both kinda beat so the length of the movie made for a late, tired evening. Saturday was a working/film watching day. I have been editing on a real estate seminar and like all editing projects, there are large breaks when the computer is rendering or writing that I have nothing to do. It is then that I updated the blog with movie reviews, updated the sports pages, and took care of basic housework.

Sunday was more of the same with a break to play Magic with Martin, Brett, Zach and Jeff. Geez, maybe that's why I have been doing reviews - not a lot of big adventure this weekend. haha

Right now, I am still editing and watching The Far Country (1954) with James Stewart. it is the tale of a solitary cowboy staking his claim during the Yukon gold rush. The weather is great again and the back door is open. Lou is sitting in the sunlight just outside the back door and Littlefoot is under the desk at my feet. It's very cool to be able to take a quick doggie wrasslin' break between renders... did I mention, this is a pretty good gig?

Next up is another Jimmy Stewart movie, Destry Rides Again (1939), a comedy western costarring Marlene Dietrich that was his followup to his best movie, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939).

Tivo has allowed me to setup what they call a wishlist. I told it to record all the Jimmy Stewart movies it finds... I saw Flight of the Phoenix (1965) last week (they are doing a remake of it set to come out soon,) as well as Wife vs. Secretary (1936) but turned it off as his part was too small to be interesting.

Posted by CDogg at 10:10 AM | Comments (0)

November 05, 2004

Say Ray, whaddya say...

Ray will earn Jamie Foxx an academy award. Don't misunderstand, there have been better performances this year - but there has never been a 'channelling' of a person like Jamie's Ray Charles. It is almost eerie how much Foxx looks and acts like Ray Charles. The movie was a really good film and the performances by his female costars, Regina King and Sharon Warren were excellent. It is certainly one of the finest biopics ever.

RATING 8 out of 10

The Virgin Suicides in one of those films that I missed when it first came out and planned on watching eventually... well, eventually happened. First let me state that the soundtrack is awesome. It has tons of great music from the 70's...

Okay, so that had nothing to do with the movie, but I just wanted to note that. The film itself is somewhat disturbing. Sofia Coppola wrote and directed this film prior to doing Lost in Translation. Like Translation, she delivers a vague story. Also, like Translation, the vagueness lends itself to deep introspection. It could be a story of religious represssion, a story of overly strict parenting, a story of deep family secrets, a story of the downturn of the auto industry, the American economy - you name it... the only thing I am sure of is that it is entirely watchable and entirely depressing.

RATING 6 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 10:15 AM | Comments (0)

November 03, 2004

Kasdan Kaper

Zero Effect was the first film directed by Jake Kasdan, yes... the name is familar - he is the son of Lawrence Kasdan, of Star Wars, Raiders, Big Chill, Wyatt Earp etc. etc. fame. Jake had more going for him that just a VERY well connected father... he also had the acting talents of Ben Stiller, Ryan O'Neal and Bill Pullman.

ZE is an ambitious film from the outset, the pacing is snappy, the dialogue is witty, and the outlook is grand. While Kasdan falls a little short in delivering his modernized retelling of Sherlock Holmes, he does provide an interesting film.

Watch it for the interesting setup. Watch it for what is nearly becomes. But most of all, watch it for the always brilliant acting of Bill Pullman

RATING 7 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 08:06 AM | Comments (0)

November 01, 2004

DaVinci, Mary Magdalene and the little guys...

Cracking the DaVinci Code is a film about the fact behind the fictional book by Dan Brown, The DaVinci Code. While the subject matter is enthralling as all get out, the production quality of the film kills is viewability. The film covers all the issues raised by the book, but points out the changes Brown made for the sake of the story and the real truth.

RATING 4 out of 10

Mary Magdalene - The Hidden Apostle was produced by the Biography Channel obviously in response to The DaVinci Code. The Biography Channel however, unlike the previous film, did their homework and produced a high-quality documentary. The film also looks at issues raised in the book, but focuses only on Mary Magdalene and her role in the development of the early church as well as the subsequent whitewashing of her importance by the Catholic Church. A very good film...

RATING 8 out of 10

From anti-religion, to counter-culture...

The Yes Men is a very fun film. The filmmakers take on big business in the form of the WTO (World Trade Organization.) After putting up a website to parody the WTO, they are mistakenly hired to speak to various organizations thinking they are the real deal. The group uses the opportunity to propose outlandish ideas as the WTO and the scary thing is how very little reaction they get to their ideas. You really have to see the film to get a feel for how disconnected big business is from the real world.

RATING 7 out of 10

Steal This Movie! chronicles the tale of counter-culture icon and FBI target, Abbie Hoffman. Vincent D'Onofrio does a passable job as Hoffman, but the film doesn't really add anything to your understanding of the man or the situation - it is a typical counter-culture movie given a subpar treatment. It is sad that such an important part of our history as the Chicago 7 and the anti-war movement is treated so poorly.

RATING 5 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 09:14 PM | Comments (1)

October 28, 2004

Comedy with Strings

Team America: World Police was a laugh riot. I was expecting more of a liberal, right-wing bashing anti-America theme... but as Dave says, "It pretty much bashes everyone." The lyrics to the theme song can't be printed here, but they rock.

You will hate this movie if you are a left-wing radical. You will hate this movie if you are a right-wing nutcase. You will hate this movie if you are easily offended by just about anything.

If you are level headed and enjoy parody at anyone's expense... you will love this movie.

RATING 8 out of 10

When I first started watching Mean Girls, I have to admit, it was because off the high babe ratio. Early on in the film, it appeared very poorly written, as it relied heavily on voiceover and explanatory exposition, but after the lame setup, it turned out pretty decent. Lindsey Lohan is becoming a hot commodity (pun intended) in the film world. Lacey Chabert, the little squeaky one from Party of Five, is all grown up and after disappearing for the past few years, has tons of projects in the works as well.

The Lorne Michaels production is chock full of current and former SNL stars. Tina Fey does a good job as the 'normal' teacher, while Tim Meadows and Ana Gasteyer just collect paychecks, but Amy Poehler does agreat job as the wanna-be, young, hip mom. Those moms have always cracked me up.

RATING 7 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 06:40 PM | Comments (0)

October 26, 2004

I found the limit on the Netflix queue

That's right - I have hit the limit for movies in my queue on Netflix. It appears that 500 items in your waiting list is, in their estimation, enough. I guess I am just going to have to speed up my viewing if I am going to get through them. :)

Posted by CDogg at 08:31 AM | Comments (0)

October 23, 2004

Commanding Heights

The documentary Commanding Heights: The Battle for World Economy is a tour de force. This six hour, three DVD series was originally aired on PBS this year and is based on the book of the same name by Daniel Yergin.

If you have an interest in economics, world affairs or simply why countries do what they do and their relationship to your life in the United States, this is an excellent source of information. Learn about the IMF (International Monetary Fund), the World Bank, the WTO (World Trade Organization) and their efforts to regulate economic conditions throughout the world. No weird conspiracy angle, no pro-capitalism slant - just straight facts. Good stuff.

RATING 9 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 10:46 PM | Comments (0)

Nip/Suck

Okay, before you fans of the TV series Nip/Tuck decide to jump all over me for my dislike of the show, let me remind you - there is a reason they make chocolate and vanilla... different tastes.

The reason for the preface is that I checked out this series because I received so many glowing recommendations. My first impression was that it looked lame, but after hearing so many people rave about it (not just generally public, but people whose opinions I actually value,) I got the first disc of season one from Netflix.

Well, in a nutshell, I hate it. It got off on the wrong foot (or should I say cheek) by hitting me early on with shots of a butt implant. You might be one of those people who likes to watch operations on TV, but I hate them. I realize N/T uses prosthetic body parts in their shots, but it does look pretty realistic and pretty graphic.

The characters were boring too... the ladie's man playa... his robot-like business partner that leads the caricature of a normal (boring) life. Even robot man's kids are cardboard. There is eye candy galore and even the ugly folks are pretty people with "ugly" makeup. I just can't get into it. I shut off the first episode long before its midway point and will be taking N/T off my queue on Netflix. For my money, there are just waaaay too many quality things to watch with my time.
RATING 5 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 03:23 PM | Comments (0)

October 18, 2004

Movie catch-up time...

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind was actually a pretty darn good film. It was predictable as all get out... knowing the premise of the film from the previews, it was pretty obvious how it would turn out from the moment Jim Carrey's character first opens his journal exposing that pages were missing. If you missed this in the opening minutes, perhaps it is because you don't watch a movie as critically as I do, but for my money - the storyline was pretty darn transparent.

What was good about the film however, were the character development and acting skills. You really empathized with the lead characters and were genuinely concerned about resolution. Kate Winslet did her best job to date as Clementine. Tom Wilkinson also did a fine job. I have always thought of Kirsten Dunst as a pretty good actress, but her performance in this film was flat. It always seemed like Kirsten playing a character poorly and never convinced me that she was Mary - the character from the film.

If you want to see a slightly offbeat romance - check this film out. You should probably pay attention if you don't want to get confused, but if you do focus, it is quite easy to follow... and as stated above... to predict. In the end, it doesn't matter because most films are predictable and as long as it goes where you want it to... all is forgiven.

RATING 8 out of 10

Next up is Walking Tall. WT is inspired by the Bufford Pusser saga of the same name. For those of you who do not remember the story of Sheriff Bufford Pusser - don't worry... this film has nothing to do with the original. (Although, you should check out the original Walking Tall for the story of the real Bufford Pusser as portrayed by Joe Don Baker.)

This time it is the story of Chris Vaughn (The Rock) returning home to find his small town overrun with cookie cutter bad guys. As per usual, action-hero, The Rock (Dwayne Johnson) kicks in some teeth, blows some things up and generally causes mayhem with his own brand of justice. The other thing that survives from the original Walking Tall is the trademark ass-kicking stick.

This is a fun movie. If you want typical action-hero schlock - you have found it. Once again, I think that Dwayne Johnson has been sold short in the script department. His WWF/WWE character portrayals as The People's Champion and The Rock have proven that he can act. Not only is he a huge ripped behemoth, he can actually act. You get to see glimpses of it in other action flicks (Scorpion King, The Rundown) but he is never allowed to really show it. Do not look for any deep dialogue, great direction, or even decent acting in this film either... look for things to get smashed and bones to get broken. You will find plenty of both.

PS Johnny Knoxville has turned into a pretty darn decent actor himself. Check him out as Vaughn's quirky sidekick.

RATING 7 out of 10

Rounding out this triple play of films is Hidalgo. Viggo Mortensen (Aragorn in the Lord of the Rings trilogy) portrays a worn-out wild west star who heads to the middle east to win the greatest long distance race in the world. He confronts enemies, fights his inner demons, and attempts to triumph over both. Sounds impressive, huh? Its not. It is campy, juvenile, overly dramatic, poorly directed, uninspired, boring and tired. To further muddle an already lame script, it ventured off into the same old "the poor Indians were slaughtered by White Man" left-wing rhetoric. Sure, we know it happened and it was sad - but do we have to relive it every single time there is an American Indian portrayed in a Hollywood film? Can't someone either assume we all know it or maybe find an original way to run that same flag up the pole?

Mortensen however, did a fine job of acting.

Great family adventure if your kids are under 12.

RATING 5 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 10:55 PM | Comments (0)

October 12, 2004

The Most Important Documentary in Years!

Super Size Me is a documentary that looks at the role that fast food plays in the rampant obesity in our country. Morgan Spurlock takes on a fast food exclusive diet for 30 days and fills us in on the painful steps and sickening conclusion. Spurlock does an excellent job of showing us the immense danger of eating fast food even as much as once every two or three weeks.

One of the scariest aspects of this film is the look at the foods served in school cafeterias. Our nation's children are being served the same garbage available at these grease pits. One cafeteria employee admitted that she does not cook anything anymore, and the her only cooking utensil is the box cutter used for opening the heat-n-eat boxes of junk food. Spurlock does a superb job in providing facts, figures and interviews that add weight (pun intended) the gravity of the issue (another bad pun.) And most of all, he makes his points without the total disregard for truth that someone like Michael Moore puts in his so-called documentaries.

This film should not only be required viewing for EVERY school age child, it should be shown once a year throughout their school life. Also, any adult who watches this and continues to eat at these toxic dumps is putting their head in the sand... and their life on the line.

An interesting side note, in 2004 after one failed attempt to sue McDonald's, Congress passed the "cheeseburger bill," which makes lawsuits against fast food companies illegal. This is clear evidence that the fast food lobby sees the writing on the wall, understands that they are doing something wrong, and doing something about it. The fast food lobby has spent over A BILLION dollars a year to make sure that 1 - they are not the target of lawsuits and 2 - agendas that help their product infiltration are promoted.

RATING 10 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 11:07 PM | Comments (0)

October 10, 2004

Sacrilege

The Alamo is typical Hollywood left-wing, revisionist history. It takes the story of a valiant stand at San Antonio by the fledgling Texians against the overwhelming odds of Santa Anna's army, and turns it into a cheap "war is bad," "these guys you think were heroes, were not that special" left-coast retelling.

It is clear why the movie tanked in Texas and for that fact, the entire country. Nobody likes their heroes defamed, and to take one of the most enduring stories in our "NATION'S" history and give it such a hack treatment is deplorable.

We are not idiots, we know that Davey Crockett was really just a man, but this is supposed to be a movie... not a documentary. AND, if documentary realism is what they were going for - then their obvious political slant is out of place. Billy Bob Thornton gave a decent enough performance, but the rest were really pedestrian at best. John Lee Hancock's writing and direction show his lack of skill at both.

RATING 4 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 11:17 PM | Comments (0)

October 07, 2004

FORGET the Titans!

Friday Night Lights is possibly the perfect football movie. And NO, I did rate rate this film highly because I was an extra in the scenes against Dallas Carter. It appears that even using freeze-frame on the DVD, it will be highly unlikely that I will be seen at all.

Peter Berg scores another directorial hit with his portrayal of Texas high school football in the 80's. Berg's choice of shots exists not for the sake of diversity itself, but to move to story forward with the appropriate emotion. Some of the shots evoke as much feeling as the acting itself.

FNL is not the bubble-gum portrayed in Varsity Blues and it is not the sugar-coated message-driven world of Remember the Titans. It is a dusty, reality-driven look at the characters in the biggest life drama of a depressed oil bust town. It doesn't go overboard and portray the events as life-and-death. It does however, show the incredible life lessons taught in football and the gravity of decisions when amplified by this stage and those lights.

Billy Bob Thornton was brilliant as coach Gaines, primarily because he just played the role. The film did not require Thornton to carry the film. He is just another character in what is a true ensemble piece. You can lose track of him as a star and simply understand him as coach Gaines - and that is good acting. He was reunited with Lucas Black from Sling Blade who is apparently all grown up. His acting skills although great as the young boy in Sling Blade, have also grown up. As quarterback for the Permian Panthers, Black scores. Tim McGraw, who I tend to think of as a poster boy for the "new country music," gives a surprisingly good performance as the heavy-drinking, hard-assed, former state champion, father of Garrett Hedlund's Don Billingsley character. (Incidentally, another great performance.) Derek Luke delivered powerfully (albeit too strong at times) as star running back, Boobie Miles.

It appeared that the character of Brian Chavez (played by Jay Hernandez) was either never fully developed in the script of was left on the cutting room floor as he was nowhere to be seen early in the film and he just sorta popped in more and more toward the middle until the end where the scenes seemed to imply that he had been a bigger part of the team and the other boy's lives that we were shown.

This one is "buy the DVD" worthy.

RATING 10 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 11:15 PM | Comments (0)

October 05, 2004

Moore Crap - Part I

Well, I did it... I watched Fahrenheit 9/11 - the slam-job by Michael Moore... and all I can say is - WOW! Where to begin? Those that remember Bowling for Columbine will remember that it is fraught with inconsistencies and outright lies... Moore is up to his old tricks again with Fahrenheit 9/11.

Well, this is going to take several posts to cover... let me start at the beginning. First off, you will notice that this 'movie' review does NOT have my standard movie ticket icon, nor does it have a rating system. That is because it is not a film. To call it a documentary is even incorrect - it is a propaganda piece.

F911 starts out with a celebration of Al Gore's victory in Florida. Gore is shown celebrating with Ben Affleck, Robert DeNiro, and Stevie Wonder with a large sign behind them that reads "Florida Victory." The deceit comes in the voiceover by Moore. He uses past-tense in stating that Gore had won the election and goes on to point out how the election was overturned. The problem is that this scene is from long before the polls even opened in Florida. It sounds minor, but after 2 hours of minor lies... you see the pattern of deceit created by Moore.

It goes on to state that the networks had called Florida in favor of Gore and announced Gore as the winner of the election and "Then something called the FOX News Channel called the election in favor of the other guy….All of a sudden the other networks said, 'Hey, if FOX said it, it must be true.'" What they fail to say is that FOX was one of those networks that called it wrong and that the networks called the results before the polls were closed in Florida before recanting... a move that could have changed a lot of potential votes as listeners in Florida might have felt their was no point in voting. The area of Florida that still had open polls was the panhandle area - a stronghold of Republicans. And at 10, which networks recanted first? CNN and CBS - not FOX. This is an obvious slam on the FOX network because of their right wing leanings. In fact, FOX did not retract their call of Florida until four hours later!

Moore’s editing technique of the election night segment is typical of his style: all the video clips are real clips, and nothing he says is, narrowly speaking, false. This is the essence of the Moore technique: cleverly blending half-truths to deceive the viewer. Moore as usual takes some valid points and twists them so as to be deplorable. Shame on you Michael Moore. (Get used to that phrase, you will see it over and over in this series of segments.)

Posted by CDogg at 06:22 PM | Comments (0)

September 29, 2004

A bloody riot!!

Time to escape - time to keep busy. I need some happy time.

The British-zombie-comedy-thriller, Shaun of the Dead was indeed a bloody riot. (Multiple puns intended. If you like the dry-witty pacing of an off-the-wall British comedy, you will love this movie. if you like blood-dripping zombie thrillers, you will love this movie. If you love hyphen-ridden-repetitious blogging, you will love this entry. :)

SOTD was great though. Simon Pegg is a perfect anti-hero. You may remember him as 1st Sgt. William Evans in HBO's Band of Brothers. Nick Frost is the perfect sidekick - you may remember him from... well, nothing... but he is a wonky nutter in this.

Hidden within the amazing dry humor and side-splitting zombie parody is a comment on the brain-dead existence of going to work each day at the same cookie-cutter jobs. (Wow, three more hyphens in that sentence.)

If you want to have a good time, go see this movie. If you don't wet your pants with laughter - maybe "you're" the zombie.

RATING 9 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 07:55 AM | Comments (0)

September 27, 2004

Fuggetaboutit!

The Forgotten was, well... forgettable. The film had some serious star power, but Gary Sinise, Alfre Woodard, Anthony Edwards and Julianne Moore were not enough to save to poor writing. The premise seems like it could have been interesting, but it would have taken a complete rewrite. This film is long on setup and short on delivery.

RATING 4 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 07:57 AM | Comments (0)

September 18, 2004

Movie on Fire

I blew off Man on Fire when it came to the theater mainly because the trailers never gave me a reason to want to watch. It appeared to be a typical bodyguard shoot-em-up flick, so I wrote it off as Denzel Washington making what I call a "cashing in" film - just filler to score a quick $20 mil until the next good film came along. I can admit when I am wrong.

Boy was I wrong... This film has great acting, a very good storyline and good direction - all of which add up to you caring about the people in the film. Dakota Fanning seemed to be the smartsy cute girl-du-jour when she made it big in the film Uptown Girls, but she can actually act really well.

Tony Scott goes a little overboard on the jump cuts and MTV-style effects ala Darren Aronofsky. Take away some of the camera and editing silliness and this is an exceptional film... granted, some of it was powerful (ala the drinking scenes), but some of it was just Scott jerking off on film.

RATING 8 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 08:52 PM | Comments (0)

September 08, 2004

Plane Terrible

Soul Plane was rotten. No, that is too kind. Soul Plane was horrible, terrible, apalling, rancid even. There that about covers it. There was one funny joke every 87 minutes - oh wait... it's only 86 minutes long... the only joke was the fact that the creators expected you to sit through the whole thing. I am proud to say that I did not make it. Jerry Terrero directed this, his first major motion picture. His background is in extras casting, which he has done for several forgettable films... so I guess his background is just in being lame. I cannot place all the blame on him however, the writing is not even good enough to call juvenile. Bo Zenga and Chuck Wilson share writing credits (blame?) and neither is a writer. They both have executive producer credits on other films - which is a throwaway title they give to the people who put up the money. They apparently have no talent for anything other than investing in films. Do us all a favor and step away from the cameras and word processors - you are all out of your league.

RATING 1 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 09:41 AM | Comments (0)

September 03, 2004

Amish in the freakin' city?

As if I needed another reason to hate network television... I was surfing channels in search of a 48 Hours segment about a video client of mine, when I came across Amish in the City. No joke! This is a reality show where they take five Amish kids and put them in a house in LA with six city kids. The show is an exaggeration of "rumspringa" — a rite of passage in which young Amish adults may elect to leave the community and experience life in the outside world. The difference is that in the real rumspringa, they are not purposely tempted by show producers to make the show more interesting.

The good news is that it doesn't appear to be an outright slap in the face to the Amish. The producers do seem to respect the Amish tradition enough to make sure the show doesn't just become a series of gags making fun of the "backwards country folk." Regardless though, this show is dribble and insulting.

Posted by CDogg at 09:39 PM | Comments (0)

August 28, 2004

Heroes are Zeroes and vice-versa

The film Hero just doesn't live up to the hype or the hope. Yimou Zhang created a visually beautiful world but the story is basic at best. While it is told in the great tradition of chinese cinema (complete with the now all-too-common wire work) there is nothing poetic or moving about this attempt at poetic filmmaking. The story is transparent as it attempts to constantly reconstruct the story from different angles. Also, the great plot twist is neither great nor that much of a twist. A fun movie to watch visually...

RATING 6 out of 10

Suspect Zero was the real 'hero' of the weekend. The film starring Aaron Eckhart and Ben Kingsley touches on a little-known, but real aspect of a former US Intelligence "remote viewing" program. I was a little shocked by the storyline as it is very close to one that I had written. (As the story started to developed, I was sure someone had stolen the draft of my script, but as it went on, SZ went in another direction.) Overall, this is the type of movie that will be hated by some and loved by others...

RATING 8 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 08:12 PM | Comments (0)

August 26, 2004

eminem misses the mark

Now I am a huge Eminem fan, but the film Eminem: Hitz & Disses is lame. It states right up front that there is no Eminem music in the film and you know what? That makes it suck even worse. It is a poorly constructed documentary. It just never gets you interested although the filmmakers seem to have access to a lot of his early friends and influences.

RATING 6 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 03:54 PM | Comments (0)

August 17, 2004

Stan Lee - Still One of the Coolest Guys on the Planet

Stan Lee's Mutants, Monsters, and Marvels features filmmaker/comic book author, Kevin Smith interviewing the "King of Comic Books" Stan Lee. The double-feature DVD covers Stan Lee's early history, from the creation of Marvel Comics and some of the most memorable superheroes of all time through to the big-budget blockbuster movies featuring those great characters. Lee talks about the creation of Spider-Man, Iron Man, The Hulk, The Fantastic Four, Thor and others. These characters, his babies, have become the mythos of the modern day and as Stan Lee himself points out... his readers (Baby Boomers) have come of age and once again these heroes and indeed Lee himself are in greater demand than ever.

Those of us who are diehard comic book fans, know most everything discussed in the film, but the setting makes it feel more like an intimate lunch conversation with a childhood hero than documentary. Great stuff.

And while getting the links for this blog, I discovered that my #2 favorite comic book hero of all-time is soon to be a movie too!! (The Hulk is #1) Iron Man, is in pre-production.

The rumour mill says that Tom Cruise will play billionaire, alcoholic Tony Stark. (I actually think that would be a great fit)

I will sign off with the immortal words of Stan Lee...

EXCELSIOR!!

RATING 8 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 06:14 PM | Comments (0)

August 13, 2004

The Nick of Average

Nick of Time is one of the few Johnny Depp joints I hadn't seen. I should have trusted my judgment from 1995 when I decided it didn't look that good. Sure, it had Depp and Christopher Walken playing his quintessential bad guy... but boy was it shlocky. It was a decent premise, but the formula ride through the climax was a bit boring. Charles Dutton did a fine job. I think the film fell apart in the writing - although some of the sequences were awkward enough to blame John Badham for some poor directing. I do like some of his other work - American Flyers (a cycling classic featuring an extremely young Kevin Costner) and The Jack Bull (a great HBO western starring John Cusack.)

RATING 6 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 12:42 AM | Comments (0)

August 11, 2004

Taking the Good with the Bad

Let's start with the bad. National Security a film starring (and I use the term lightly) Martin Lawrence and Steve Zahn (a 'real' actor,) as security guards trying to bust a smuggling ring. How many movies in a row can Lawrence ruin before he realizes he is NOT A LEADING MAN!! He is a funny sidekick. Learn your freakin' role man! He gets more desperate with each film as he will stop at nothing to try for a laugh... including a constant barrage of anti-white-I'm-the-abused-black-man jokes. It is sad to watch.

Steve Zahn on the other hand should fire his agent for pairing him with Lawrence. Zahn is a great actor, both drama and comedic. He has accepted some pretty terrible movies and his career has undoubtedly suffered because of it.

This movie was directed by Dennis Dugan, an actor-turned-director that should have stayed an actor. He did Saving Silverman, which I liked, but the rest of his films are typical shlock.
RATING 4 out of 10

On to better things... An Evening With Kevin Smith is an interactive series of visits to college campuses by Kevin Smith. He tells some great stories of how his career and films progressed and takes questions from the audiences. It was filmed during a 2001/2002 speaking tour of Cornell University, Indiana University, Kent State University, University of Wyoming, and Clark University, and they cut back and forth between campuses for nearly every question. The film is very funny as Smith's comic sense comes through freely as he takes his one-man show around the country.

Whether you are a film buff or just a fan of funny stuff - you must check this out. The story about his attempt to create a Superman script with Jon Peters was great.
RATING 9 out of 10

The Endless Summer is one of those classic films - actually a documentary that everyone has either seen or plans to see. I was one of those who had heard about it for years, but never saw it. That has changed. 'This' is what a documentary should be. Bruce Brown's love of surfing is electric. Even for those of us on the third coast who are lucky to see one foot swells at Galveston cannot help but become fans of surfing. Add his strong affinity to the sport to his ability to weave and interesting story and you have a documentary that is as much travelogue as surfing legend folklore. I first started to admire him as a filmmaker way back in 1971 when my brother and I went to see On Any Sunday. This documentary about the world of motorcycle racing featured Steve McQueen and was amazing to us as avid motocross riders.

If you want a trip back to a more innocent time and a film about pure love of a sport... check out both of these films.
RATING 8 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 12:45 AM | Comments (0)

August 01, 2004

Things that go DUD in the Night!

M. Night Shyamalan is known for his twisty endings and grand reveals. The Village was neither and frankly a waste of a great set and great acting skills. Where this one dies on the vine is writing. It was enough of a story for a 1/2 hour episode of The Twilight Zone, but falls woefully short as a major motion picture with a big-time cast. William Hurt and Adrien Brody were exceptional, Sigourney Weaver seemed a bit out of place (that may just be me though) and Joaquin Phoenix just tiptoed around the edges of overacting as usual.

The big surprise was no surprise at all as I had it figured out within minutes of it starting. I won't spoil (haha) it for you - as you should at least be in suspense until the opening credits finish. Overall though, some of M. Night's worst work.

RATING 5 out of 10

Big Fish was not your average Tim Burton movie, which is what I liked about it. I rarely like his sense of style - the whole creepiness thing doesn't work for me. This is an interesting movie in that throughout, I kept thinking, "So this is all there is, huh?" The payoff came at the end when it left you with a good feeling - and it was the ending that saved the film. Not a huge payoff, just a good "warm-fuzzy."

RATING 6 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 08:15 PM | Comments (0)

July 27, 2004

Hellboy - Hell, Yeah

Hellboy looked interesting from the previews, but one thing led to another and I never ended up seeing it. Well I watched it on DVD tonight and I have to say it was a damn good film adaptation of a comic book. Ron Perlman has the character of Hellboy down pat. His cigar-chomping, jaded, dry-witted, monster fighter personification is spot-on. Hellboy 2 is already in production which should make for another cool comic book film franchise. Way to go Baby Boomers!

RATING 7 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 07:59 PM | Comments (0)

July 21, 2004

EuroCute and The Butterfly Intense

Eurotrip was cute. It was typical high school hi-jinx. It was really no different than any of the other teen "gotta drink, gotta get laid, gotta make sure everyone hooks up before the film is over," story. You find yourself rooting for the main character and the humour while mostly lame, is pretty funny in places.

RATING 6 out of 10

The Butterfly Effect was pretty cool. First off, it was sci-fi so I was able to overlook a couple of the poor acting jobs. I really dig stories that deal with time travel, changing the outcomes of the future etc... and this one had it all. Overall, I liked it a lot. Ashton Kutcher has turned into a really good actor. The character on That 70's Show and Punk'd is typical hollywood packaging. Kutcher is the real deal.

RATING 8 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 08:01 PM | Comments (0)

July 17, 2004

Third Time is the Charm for Harry Potter

Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban was a return to the fun that was the first of the Harry Potter series. (For the record, I thought the second one was pretty lame.) It was really well written, well acted and interesting enough to keep you awake for the entire time. In fact, this was probably the best of the three. Sure, Harry, Ron and Hermione are getting a bit old, but once you get past that, it is a fun romp.

RATING 7 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 08:04 PM | Comments (0)

July 15, 2004

Cold Creek Yawner

Cold Creek Manor was a movie that kept promising a payoff for watching but never delivered. I am not just talking about a big finish - although the ending was a huge letdown. I am talking about mystery, intrigue, using your imagination... all of those things that make a thriller... well... thrilling. Nothing else to say... it looked like maybe it was based on a good story, but it never made it to the screen. Without reading the original I cannot tell if it was a bad adaptation or just a poor job of directing. Either way, this is a rental for a night when you are bored and there is nothing on but MAD TV or COPS. I take that back... COPS is better.

RATING 6 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 08:05 PM | Comments (0)

July 09, 2004

King Arthur Rocks - Guinevere Blows!

Brian and I caught King Arthur tonight and it was an interesting irony of a film. The scene that was set from the beginning was that this film was to be a historically accurate portrayal of the real man that became a legend as the leader of the Knights of the Round Table. The filmmakers took great pains to build the history and play up the impression that this was in large part a documentary. This was all fine and dandy until we meet Guinevere. Not only is she the same tired "I am a strong woman who makes my own decisions and bosses men around," popular lead female character, but her transformation from starving waif to super-queen-of-the-wild-mega-warrior is just ridiculous.

Don't get me wrong - I absolutely love seeing Keira Knightley in anything... but Guinevere in this getup?

Clive Owen was great. I have been a huge fan of his since he starred in the first BMW Films series back in 2001. I can't wait for his upcoming Sin City (an adaptation of the comic book of the same name... go Baby Boomers!)and I have heard he is slated to be the next Bond - excellent!

Ioan Gruffudd did a fine job as Lancelot. This is the first thing I have seen him in since the excellent Horatio Hornblower series on A&E. (If you have not seen them, do yourself a favor and get the DVDs from your local library - very good stuff!

RATING 8 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 08:35 AM | Comments (1)

July 03, 2004

Movie catch-up time

I watched Spartan tonight while doing the sports sims. It was actually a pretty good film. It started out a little cheesy, but the story developed rather well and kept you interested. Val Kilmer did a really good job as a secret service agent. Derek Luke who I liked so much as Antwone Fisher (and the upcoming Friday Night Lights!) did a good job as the young agent. I was a little disappointed in William H. Macy - it is probably not his fault as the role may have been just that weak, but I was left with the feeling he was coasting on this performance.

RATING 7 out of 10

I also watched American Splendor earlier and while it was interesting due to it being a true story, it was a bit too dismal for me. I really like Paul Giamatti, but the person he portrayed, Harvey Pekar is such a dour character that it made it hard to relate to.

RATING 6 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 05:16 PM | Comments (0)

July 01, 2004

Movies, movies, movies

Okay, where to start. I guess the obvious start is Spider-Man 2. Dave and I went to see this sequel opening day and I have to say, I was NOT disappointed. Sure, I am a sucker for a comic book hero film, sure, I am a big fan of spidey anyway - but this is one of the best sequels ever. Tobey Maquire gets better as an actor each time out of the shoot. It was a tough accomplishment, but the graphics are even better than the first one, the drama is spot-on, the comedy is great as ever and the bottom line is that you really care about this character.

RATING 10 out of 10

On another subject, did you know there were American Jews in German concentration camps during WWII? No, not Americans abroad in Germany that got caught up in the mess... American G.I.s held as prisoners of war. The Germans took great pains to separate Jewish Americans from the rest of the P.O.W.s and put them in concentration camps. The film Berga is the story of more than 300 American G.I.s captured at the Battle of the Bulge. Director Charles Guggenheim, who is Jewish, was himself a member of the unit that was captured, but an illness he contracted before the unit left for the front lines caused him to be left behind, and he was not with them when the Nazis captured them.

RATING 8 out of 10

I completed the audiobook "I,Robot" by Isaac Asimov. Asimov has always been one of my favorite sci-fi authors but the more I read of him now (it has been about ten years since I read one of his,) the more I find his writing to be a bit juvenile. I decided to check out this book because of the upcoming movie of the same name. It looks like the movie will not follow the book too closely as the previews seem to have a lot more action and conflict. The story was interesting, but not nearly as good as The Robots of Dawn series. I can only hope they turn that story into a film. Lije Baley and Daneel Olivaw are the main characters in this, the BEST books about robots EVER!!!

Posted by CDogg at 07:42 PM | Comments (0)

June 17, 2004

Charlize Shocks Again

Holy Toledo!! What a movie! Monster starring Charlize Theron is an excellent film. It is raw, gritty and real. It takes the life of a streetwalker turned serial killer and slams it in your face. Charlize deserved the Best Actress award. She is more than a pretty face - in fact, in this she is anything but. This girl has mad skillz!

Check out the transformation as the beautiful Theron becomes the "first woman serial killer" Aileen Wuornos, a prostitute who killed many of her clients, and had an unlikely lesbian relationship with a young girl on the side.

Yes, this is the same woman.

I really cannot say enough about the acting job by Charlize. She can say more in a look and a subtle twist of the head than a dozen pages of script. You WILL know who Aileen is intimately when it is over and you will be moved to feel something about the fact that this is a true story.

RATING 9 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 09:32 PM | Comments (1)

June 14, 2004

Dark Side of the Draft House

Pennie and I joined Dave and Laura at the Alamo Draft House to see The Dark Side of the Rainbow. It is billed as "A magical mystery tour of audio/video synchronicity. Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon meets MGM classic The Wizard of Oz"

Where to begin... I think the strongest argument for the synchronicity is during the black and white portion of the film. Coincidentally, that portion of the Wizard of Oz is the exact length of the album The Dark Side of the Moon. The transistion between scenes work almost perfectly during this segment. It is eerie to hear the female voice wailing as Dorothy is caught up in the twister. And you want a jaw dropper? The instant the film changes to color, coincides perfectly with the opening cha-ching sound from the song "Money."

Throughout, as the mood of the movie changes, the songs transistion rather closely - at times the lyrics even seem to fit. In retrospect though, I think that this is one of those albums with a non-committal sound. That is to say that the songs work as well for scary scenes as they do for happy scenes. After the amazing fit during the B&W segment, your mind sorta helps to make the rest of the film fit together.

For the experience alone and just so you can be the life of the next party, you should see this one.

RATING 7 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 06:38 PM | Comments (0)

March 30, 2004

Friday Night Lights

Brian and I spent all day yesterday at the Astrodome working on the set of the motion picture, Friday Night Lights. The film stars Billy Bob Thornton and Tim McGraw and chronicles the story of the Odessa Permian Panthers of the late 1980's. It is based on the book of the same name. IMDB has it listed in post-production, but clearly it is still shooting.

Are we being told everything?

A couple weeks ago, reports came out that terrorists intended to attack the I95 corrider between Connecticut and New York and then the next week a truck laden with jet fuel crashes and explodes nearly melting the bridge on I95. The route is shut down and the explanation is that the driver fell asleep. Okay, maybe it was a coincidence.

Fast forward to a week ago, terrorists again threaten American targets - this time they mention "an oil refinery in Texas." Have you heard the news tonight? A series of at least four explosions rocked Texas City at the BP Amoco plant. Another terrorist threat fulfilled a week after being made and no tie in on any news channels. Instead, all you hear about it how British troops seized bomb ingredients, thus stopping a terrorist attack. Is it just me or are we possibly not being given all the information. I don't mind that nobody is jumping to conclusions as that would be irresponsible journalism - but at least mention that the threats were made and do a little reporting. Interview someone in charge and ask the tough questions.

Business Update

Things are still a bit slow in the computer business. We shifted focus to collections a bit more as we are wont to do in slow times. The bright side of this cloudy period is that we bring our receivables up-to-date when we have slack like this.

The production business is extremely slow as well. This just a couple weeks after having more work than ever before. When it rains it pours and well - you know what happens in a drought.

The USANA business is my personal saving grace right now as the checks still show up like clockwork. Sure, my USANA business is not to the level where I can cover all my expenses with it alone, but it sure has come in handy as other things have slowed.

I have let some of my side sources of income slide in an effort to streamline and focus on the more important ones - now it turns out that those other sources were coming in rather handy. It is really just a short term affect of business slowing, cutting out some streams of income and waiting for the renewed focus to kick in with the main ventures. I have no doubt that things will come back stronger than ever.

Posted by CDogg at 05:13 PM | Comments (0)

March 24, 2004

Surprisingly good

Goodbye and good riddance to Vin Diesel. Hello to the next big action hero - The Rock! I saw The Rundown tonight and it was a really good action flick. Seann William Scott was entertaining as always. It doesn't matter that he plays the same character over and over - it is a fun character.

Peter Berg (Chicago Hope, Copland as an actor) is turning into a really good director. He directed Very Bad Things and is currently in post-production on Friday Night Lights (starring Billy Bob Thornton and Tim McGraw) shot in Texas about the Odessa/Permian football team. It looks to be pretty good too.

RATING 8 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 12:15 PM | Comments (0)

March 22, 2004

Movie catch-up time

I am taking a lunch break and watching a history of the Knights Templar and thought it would be a good time to post some of the films I have seen in the past week or so...

Miller's Crossing by the Coen brothers was a very good film. Gabriel Byrne(Usual Suspects, Stigmata), Albert Finney(Annie, Big Fish), Marcia Gay Harden(Mystic River, Pollock), John Turturro(Oh Brother Where Art Thou, The Big Lebowski) and others added great acting to a clever plot. It reminded me a lot of a film that I really liked called Last Man Standing with Bruce Willis. Turns out that LMS came out six years after MC and probably borrowed from the Coens instead of the other way around. Oh well, I liked them both. Interestingly, William Sanderson played the weasley little bartender in Last Man and sorta started a franchise playing that character. He played almost the identical character in last night's premiere of Deadwood.

RATING 8 out of 10

I finally got around to seeing About Schmidt with Jack Nicholson. At first, I thought it was going to be a really good film. I can relate the the feeling of "is that all there is," and was interested in seeing what I thought would be a film about a retired widower travelling around the country in his RV having odd experiences along the way. It turned out to be some strange little trip inside the head of a sad person. The whole story arced on him sending money to a child outreach program oversees and writing letters to his sponsored child. It was a cheap and campy attempt at narrative through letter writing and when it ended with a reply letter from Ndugu validating his sad life, I was left wondering why the hell I invested an hour and a half into watching it. It missed the mark and by not delivering some reward to the audience for having to sit through the writer's mindless dribble.

Jack has always had a tendency to take just about any role, but I thought with his maturity he would be a bit more selective as he transistioned from making a buck to making a statement. He did a good job of acting in the role, but it was a film that never should have been made.

RATING 6 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 05:26 PM | Comments (0)

March 21, 2004

HBO Sputters

Well, the Sopranos was again pretty darn lame. I think I may be close to ending that chapter unless they get a good episode soon. I watched the first few minutes of Deadwood, HBO's newest series and it looked pretty darn lame too. Oh well, looks like HBO needs some new blood in the creativity department.

Pennie and I went to Ray and Aida's house today for a barbeque and had a really good time. We spent all day yesterday at Pennie's house doing taxes in the morning and then we had a little barbeque and birthday party for Carlos. Dave and Laura were there for the morning and into early afternoon, but had to leave because of an ill friend. It would have been nice if they could have stayed around for more than taxes. Tatiana, Carlos, Pennie and I played Trivial Pursuit all night long and just sat around having a good time. We always enjoy hanging out with them as they have fun no matter where they are.

Posted by CDogg at 08:24 AM | Comments (0)

February 22, 2004

Shelter Dogs

I finally got to see the documentary Shelter Dogs on HBO. I saw an ad about it a month or so ago and have been wanting to see it. It is a really good look behind the scenes at a dog shelter. It chronicles the activities of a shelter in upstate New York founded by Sue Sternberg. She is an opponent of no-kill shelters but also an opponent of the standard city pound policies of killing after a certain date. Instead, Sue and her staff focus on whether or not a dog has agressive tendencies to determine if a dog should be euthanized. This is a particularly moving subject to me as I faced the tough decision to "put down" a loved companion - Barney as he became increasingly aggressive to visitors and overly protective of me.

The scenes of euthanasia were almost too much to watch as the memory of Barney going limp in my arms as the shot was administered came back in a flood.

There was never a dog more dedicated to his human than Barney. I got him from a no-kill shelter and we had a good many years before his agression towards others became unmanageable.

I could take food from his mouth as our bond was that complete, but other people not only could not come close to his food, they couldn't come near me or toward the end could not even enter the house. It really wasn't his fault because I have no idea what conditions landed him in the shelter in the first place, but perhaps if they would have tested for agressiveness, I would not have to deal with the final solution. In the end though - I wouldn't trade a day of our time together.

The remaining showtimes on HBO this month are:
Mon 2/23 01:45AM HBO SIGNATURE - WEST
Tue 2/24 12:45 PM HBO SIGNATURE - EAST
Tue 2/24 03:45 PM HBO SIGNATURE - WEST

SEE THIS FILM IF YOU ARE A DOG LOVER!

PLEASE NOTE: This film contains strong content and scenes of euthanasia, and therefore may not be suitable for children. This is real world stuff and should be understood before you take a dog into your home. This is a real hard film to watch at times as the staff faces tough decisions about the life and death of cherished "family members." Again, this hits close to home as Sam is getting up in years and... well - let's just say you should have a box of kleenex handy.

Sue said it best, "It is the right of every dog to have a human that thinks the world of it."

RATING 10 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 06:45 PM | Comments (0)

December 24, 2003

The secret of good films

I watched The Secret of Roan Inish on IFC today before heading out to Victoria for Christmas. It is a great film about an Irish family and the mysterious relationship between them, the sea and seals. It is wonderfully acted and as I am sucker for period pieces, (even those that aren't set way back in time - but just in another culture) I thought it was great. It was a skillful mix of legend and family.
RATING 9 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 09:17 PM | Comments (0)

December 01, 2003

Movie catch-up

I need to post some updates on a couple of the movies I have seen recently. Tony and I went to see Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World the other night. It was a good film. I am not sure that it is worthy of all the Oscar talk - but that is probably just marketing. I was very impressed with the historical accuracy of the ships and the tactics involved in sea battle. So many films just show a ship in the distance, cut back to the good guy ship, cut to the other ship closer and then cannonballs start firing. This film paid attention to the details like removing rear wheels from the cannons when firing for the mast at close range and the manuevers required to fire on a ship or catch a faster one.

I did find it rather lame that they changed the story from the original one in which the enemy ship was American. I guess it was a much easier to sell the ideas of our (now) allies the British fighting against our (now) enemies the French. In actuality, the French and Americans were allies during this time period and England was the enemy. Oh well, a little revisionist history is expected in film and in our current culture of "you're either with us or you are a supporter of Bin-Laden."

RATING 7 out of 10

Whale Rider is another film that I saw while I was working and I was impressed. It is an indie film about a young Maori girl (a New Zealand tribe) that fights to fulfill a destiny her grandfather refuses to recognize. It is a male-dominated culture and he refuses to allow her to take part in the tribal rituals. Many obligatory scenes are set up, and we all see the pre-destination, but it is the transformation that the viewer witnesses that is so powerful, and a payoff that is well worth the viewing. You WILL cry along with Keisha Castle-Hughes as Paikea.

Rawiri Parate did a great job as her stubborn grandfather, the tribal chieftain.

RATING 9 out of 10

I also saw the movie Holes the other day. It is classic Disney. The story is the same as many others - a kid has a hard life, has one hardship after another, has harrowing close calls with death and eventually destiny or fate conspires to make all his dreams come true. Jon Voight was funny as all get out as Mr. Sir and Tim Blake Nelson is always a hoot. Shia LaBeouf is a great newcomer as the lead character Stanley Yelnats. It is a fun movie to watch and is suitable for all ages.

RATING 7 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 01:16 PM | Comments (0)

November 20, 2003

Movie catch-up time

I just finished - okay, 'started' the movie, Hollywood Homicide. It was so putrid I couldn't finish it. We are talking a low point for Harrison Ford. His acting was not even enough to save the film as he seriously looked like he was simply clocking in to get a check. Josh Hartnett cannot be blamed as he is not experienced enough to spot a stinker when he sees one. Or maybe he is savvy enough to know that he was the 'man-boy of the moment' and decided to cash in quickly too. Of course, I haven't seen anything decent out of him since Black Hawk Down.

Regardless of who is to blame - the movie is poop on a stick.

Oh wait, I DO know who is to blame - Ron Shelton... writer and director. He brought us such other crappy films as Bad Boys II (see July 22 blog) and Play it to the Bone. He should have stopped with Bull Durham.

RATING 3 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 12:35 AM | Comments (0)

October 17, 2003

Kill Bill

Well, Quentin Tarantino didn't let me down. I had feared that he would sell out like his buddy Robert Rodriguez, but Kill Bill was classic Tarantino. In fact, it was Tarantino at the next level. Kill Bill was a great movie!

Students of Tarantino will appreciate all the subtle things in the film - others will find them silly or overdone. Kaboom Cereal is classic. The soundtrack once again was perfect and the dialogue was spot-on. The Nancy Sinatra cover of the classic Sonny & Cher song "Bang, Bang" couldn't have fit better if it had been written specifically for the film. Kudos for his knowledge of music as well as film. The story is clever and the acting is excellent. Best of all - the direction not only stays out of the way of the film, but actually enhances the story. The sets were awesome. I really loved the juxtaposition of the dance floor enclosing a Japanese tranquility rock garden. The violence will be regarded by some as too much - but watch again and see what it is he actually shows and what is implied. Much like the "Stuck in the Middle With You" scene in Reservoir Dogs - he implies a lot more than he shows. Don't get me wrong - he showed a lot of violence, but it fits perfectly with the mood of the film and advances the story.

This film is the ultimate in giving kudos to other films and the whole martial arts genre...
Beware: Below are some spoilers - if you haven't seen it, you might want to wait to read it.

• How many of you noticed Godzilla in it? Watch it again with all your senses tuned in. Listen up for the giant lizard's trademark roar when Uma does a backflip in the "House Of Blue Leaves" scene! There are also some short Godzilla monster screams inserted just before this.
• The yellow suit that Uma Thurman wears is a tribute to the yellow suit worn by Bruce Lee in Game of Death
• The Deadly Viper Assassin Squad is an homage to the the Venoms - a group of martial arts actors in such films as the Five Deadly Venoms and Return of the Five Deadly Venoms
• Gordon Liu portrays the bodyguard of O-Ren Ishi (Lucy Liu) a double tribute - one to the man himself as he was one of the greatest martial arts actors, and secondly by wearing a mask like Kato from The Green Hornet.
• Sonny Chiba stars in the film as Hattori Hanzo, pissed-off sushi chef by day, retired bad-ass samurai swordsmith by night - another cameo by a famous martial arts actor. Check him out in the Street Fighter films.
• Also featured in the "House Of Blue Leaves" scene is a beautiful sequence where Uma takes on the Crazy 88 in silhouette against a blue background. Anyone who's seen Samurai Fiction will agree this scene looks strikingly familiar to the Samurai Fiction poster art and opening sequence, with a blue background instead of red. Just before this sequence in "Kill Bill" is a very quick bit where Uma slices a guy across the mouth...remind anyone else of Kakihara from Ichi The Killer?
• Perhaps the most striking of all the references in "Kill Bill" are the liberal imitations of the 1973 Japanese film Lady Snowblood. The story centers around a female child whose mother dies in jail, who then goes on to receive martial arts training to avenge her mother's death. Replete with blood sprays a plenty, titled chapters, a wide variety of musical styles, and even some animated sequences, the similarities are far too many to go into. But suffice it to say that Lady Snowblood seems to have been Tarantino's primary influence for "Kill Bill".
• Another Bruce Lee reference: House Of Blue Leaves fight scene where the Bride is on the floor slicing off legs is dead on to nunchaku scene in Fist Of Fury right down to looking back and seeing groaning victims (even though the Bride has a fight with O-Ren Ishii before going back to look at her handiwork).
• While Uma is riding the motorcycle across the bridge in Japan, the night lights are green while the Green Hornet music is playing.
• Another TV theme is the theme to "Ironside". The theme is particularly interesting in that the series featured Raymond Burr ("Perry Mason") as a retired police commissioner who, as the victim of a sniper attack, was paralyzed from the waist down. There is definitely a connection, with "The Bride" initially being similarly affected.
• The music from Five Fingers Of Death (AKA "King Boxer") plays all through this film.
• The Sheriff (Michael Parks) drives up to the wedding massacre with a line of sunglasses on his dashboard--a definite homage to H. B. "Toby" Halicki and "Gone In 60 Seconds".
• Another name that crops up in the film is the name Vernita Green is using in her current life: Jeannie Bell. In real life, Jeannie Bell was a former Playboy Playmate who appeared in several blaxploitation films in the 70s including "Black Gunn", "Three The Hard Way", and had the starring role as a kick-ass karate instructor looking for her brother's killer in TNT Jackson.
• The shots of Daryl Hannah walking down the hospital corridor with a big purse are right out of the beginning of Hitchcock's "Marnie" with Tippi Hedren.
• The movie "They Call Her One Eye" (aka: "Thriller") is a Swedish film about a girl whose life is ruined--her "pimp" even goes so far as to remove one of her eyes (a la Daryl Hannah) before she studies to seek revenge on them all. Tarantino mentions this as one of his favorite films, and it shows in Kill Bill.
• Hannah, in the nurse's uniform, is whistling the score to Brian De Palma's "Dressed to Kill", and the film's score eventually accompanies her, referencing the evil Michael Caine nurse at the end of De Palma's movie. In the same scene, there was a split screen, which De Palma frequently employed in his films, including, of course, "Dressed to Kill".
• Of course, you can't overlook the obvious ones too. The film opened just like a Shaw Brother's production and the Charlie Brown waiter in the House of Blue Leaves.
• Lastly, notice the Red Apple cigarettes ad - Tarantino's tribue to... well, himself. The ad is a recurring one seen in Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction and From Dusk till Dawn. Oh yeah, and they are on the counter in his vignette from Four Rooms.

There are tons more....

My first ten star rating!!

RATING 10 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 08:10 PM | Comments (0)

October 08, 2003

These lions roared

I went to see Secondhand Lions yesterday in Victoria with my brother, Tim and nephew, Blake (you may know him as Scooter.) In a nutshell, it was a great movie! I expected it to be a decent little film that I would catch on DVD and chuckle a litte bit, but it turned into a non-stop, laugh-out-loud gem. The cornerstone of the film was Robert Duvall as (you guessed it) a crotchety old man with a heart of gold. His brother, played by Michael Caine (who did a fine job with a Texas accent) was the perfect sidekick.

When you look at it - a movie set in Texas, starring two grumpy old men, with five dogs, who shoot at travelling salesman can't miss.

I am back up to neutral on my Haley Joel Osmont rating as I really get tired of the tears in every movie, but he did a good job in this one. I did however keep expecting him to say, "I see old people"

Writer/director Tim McCanlies has once again captured Texas in this film as he did in Dancer, Texas Pop. 81 - which was also written and directed by him.

RATING 9 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 06:51 PM | Comments (0)

September 15, 2003

Uggh

Once Upon a Time In Mexico is more like Once Upon a Bad Night on the Toilet After Mexican Food... I am a big fan of Robert Rodriguez films, but he really dropped the ball on this one. I gave him the benefit of the doubt when he made the Spy Kids movies, figuring he needed the cash to set himself up after struggling to make it as a director. Okay, he has his money - he can go back to making decent films any time now.

Johnny Depp was added to an already great lineup of Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek and Cheech Marin in what is supposed to be either a sequel or prequel to Desperado, (It was hard to tell which) but even that didn't help. Rodriguez who made his mark as an indie filmmaker has gone Hollywood as he has abandoned everything that made his films great in favor of copying every Tinseltown formula out there. As you know - cable stunts are all the rage since Crouching Tiger.. and Robby puts in his share of cable stunts which do not even look that great, and do NOTHING to assist in the storytelling. Rodriguez has joined the hacks of the world that show up to collect the big payday... and I don't have a problem with that - he has the right to sell out - but be warned, his sell-out film is crapola! I only hope that Tarantino's new film staring Uma Thurman, Kill Bill isn't Hollywood garbage too - we need one good indie filmmaker out there.

Overall this ones "poop on a stick" at best... doesn't even warrant including a picture.

RATING 4 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 06:09 PM | Comments (0)

September 13, 2003

Movie catch-up time

Pennie and I watched Catch Me If You Can tonight...

Titanic sealed the fact that Leonardo DiCaprio was not a very good actor. Don't get me wrong, I thought Titanic was decent, but I had high hopes for him as an actor after a great performance in The Basketball Diaries, and I thought he was horrible in Titanic, and I don't even want to talk about The Beach. The only reason I wanted to see this movie was that the story intrigued me. What I realized as I was watching this, is that after this and Gangs of New York, Leo seems to have focused, and that he can act again!!! As for the movie itself, it's wonderful. It's funny, it has a fresh approach to filmmaking - well at least it seems fresh in this age of special effects and computer enhancement driven films - it's called STORY TELLING! Frank Abagnale Jr's life of crime is a good story and I think that Steven Spielberg has turned in his best directorial work in quite some time. The pacing is like an action film, as it moves flawlessly through over 100 scene and wardrobe changes, but it is always the story that keeps you glued.This film should land as a case study in good direction at film schools. Watch the scene in the hotel hallway where he picks up Jennifer Garner as a former Seventeen cover model. Not the conversation - before that... the shot when he walks to his room. Good stuff - all you reel students.

It is also in the three leading performances, that the film is such a joy to watch. Leonardo DiCaprio very much suits the role of the conman Frank Abagnale and delivers a better performance than he does in Gangs of New York. Christopher Walken is also superbly witty as Abagnale's father - stealing every scene he comes near, and as FBI agent Hanratty, Tom Hanks is as brilliant as ever. This one is definitely worth the watching.
RATING 7 out of 10

LEONARDO DICAPRIO (left), who stars as Frank W. Abagnale, meets with the real FRANK W. ABAGNALE on the set

Posted by CDogg at 06:04 PM | Comments (0)

August 03, 2003

Movie time

I saw Final Destination 2 last night with Pennie as well as Old School. To follow are the reviews of both:

FD2 - is some funny stuff. I don't think they intended for it to be so funny, but their sad attempt at a scary movie had it coming off more like Scary Movie. The gore factor was up to a downright silly level - the story was exactly the same as FD1 - the acting was pedestrian at best - the direction was juvenile and the writing was elementary. But, you ask - did I enjoy the show - I LOVED IT! It was a total hoot as Pennie and I laughed our asses off at the futile attempts to be scary.
RATING 5 out of 10

Old School - is too some funny stuff. The big difference is that it was SUPPOSED to be funny. Will Ferrell is a non-stop laugh riot. The proposition was believable and well thought out. While it followed the "college hi-jinx" formula - it had a great cast and never failed to deliver a laugh where it intended. RATING 7 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 12:33 AM | Comments (0)

August 02, 2003

Top sports films of all time

Sports Illustrated recently published their list of the fifty greatest sports movies. I would like to set the record straight and put the top ten greatest sports movies of all time in the 'correct' order

#10 Bang the Drum Slowly - Robert DeNiro is exceptional in this example of the brilliant weaving of story and sports.

#9 A League of Their Own - How can you not like Geena Davis in a skirt. This film tells the true story of an under-respected league of women ball players.

#8 Raging Bull - DeNiro has another sports knockout in yet another story-driven tale. The gritty realism is a study in acting and filmmaking.

#7 Field of Dreams - The epitome of a leap of faith - wrapped up in the legend of Shoeless Joe Jackson. Costner's finest work.

#6 Brian's Song - James Caan and Billie Dee Williams will bring a tear to the eye of the toughest guy as Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers.

#5 Eight Men Out - Yet another great true story featuring larger-than-life heroes. The benchmark of a modern baseball movie.

#4 Rocky - Stallone may slur his words, but it is those words and that script that inspired a nation behind this little-movie-that-could.

#3 Breaking Away - Probably the least known of the top ten. This great cycling film features underdogs from the wrong side of town proving that where there is a will there is a way.

#2 The Pride of the Yankees - Take one all-American nice guy, add in America's pastime and a tragic end to a super-human career and you have the story of Lou Gehrig.

#1 Hoosiers - No film tells of the struggle of human condition through adversity and perserverance better than Hoosiers. Gene Hackman is brilliant.

Honorable Mention: The Bad News Bears, Bull Durham, Baseball - A Film by Ken Burns,Caddyshack, The Best of Times

Trivia
Robert DeNiro played the lead in two of the films
Eight of them are true or based on a true story
Five were about baseball
Two were about boxing
One was about football
One was about basketball
One was about cycling
Shoeless Joe Jackson was in two of the films
Three of the films are in black and white
None of them are comedies

Posted by CDogg at 05:23 PM | Comments (0)

July 22, 2003

Bad Film, Bad Film... watchu gonna do...

Bad Boys II was just that - bad. Okay, the chase scenes were cool - the shower of cars and near misses WAS exciting. It was waaaay too long - but it was exciting. The gunfights were cool - they were cut together way too quickly, and impossible to follow, but they were exciting. The gratuitous parade of scantilly clad hotties was cool - it did nothing to advance the story, but it was great eye candy. Sure, Martin Lawrence was a non-stop laugh riot - it was the same joke over and over, but it was funny. And yes, Will Smith certainly did look snazzy - the super-slo-mo-camera-circling poses were unnecessary and unoriginal, but he did look cool.

So what was so bad about it? It was a cookie cutter summer blockbuster. It had carboard characters, juvenile sound bites, gratuitous sex and violence - and NOTHING new.

Hey, I like the formula flics as much as the next guy - but at least give me a new twist, a new special effect, or even a new location. Let me trick myself into believing that I didn't shell out 8 bucks for a 2 1/2 hour rerun.

Jerry Bruckheimer and Michael Bay should both be ashamed. You guys have enough money - spend a little less on the silly exploding Cuban village and a little more on a story and originality.

RATING 4 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 06:05 PM | Comments (0)

July 13, 2003

Aarrrgh - me likes!!!

Well, I just got back from seeing Pirates of the Caribbean... it was EXCEPTIONAL! I was floored that someone would have the nerve to make a movie based on a freakin' amusement park ride... but they did a great job. Johnny Depp was great as always. His portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow was superb. Geoffrey Rush's Barbossa was a great villian. Orlando Bloom continues to find fun roles and has a knack for being believable in each. Also, you'll notice Kiera Knightley - this will not be the last you will see of her. Expect her to get more good roles as she did a fine job and isn't all that hard to look at either. If you get a chance to see this move - take it. And if you do not get a chance - CHANGE YOUR PLANS and go see it!

RATING 9 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 10:55 PM | Comments (0)

June 21, 2003

Movie catch-up time

The Hulk is the shiznit!! Director Ang Lee, did a great job of telling the story of my all-time favorite comic book character.

The computer animation was spot-on and best of all - the storyline stayed true to the comic book when it came to the Hulk's abilities. Those of you who grew up as fans of Lou Ferrigno's TV version, The Incredible Hulk, might be wondering how the green behometh got to be so big and how he can jump so far, but rest assured - THIS IS THE HULK!! This is the way he was created in the comic book. I am still grinning from ear to ear just describing it! If you have not seen it - check it ou! If you have seen it - come with me to see it again... THIS is what superhero genre movies are about! This is the culmination of the current state of the art.

RATING 9 out of 10

The success of The Hulk, X-Men (1 & 2), SpiderMan, Daredevil etc. brings up an important point. You know why they are so successful? At first blush you might say that it is because computer special effects have come of age and it is now possible to do superheros well. You are partly right. It is really more of a fusion of that technology and the coming of age of the Baby Boomers. Yes those folks 38 to 65 that have been setting trends since they were born have moved into their 'disposable income' segment of life. The Baby Boomers were responsible for the growth of the baby food and formula industry, they created the need for the immense growth of elementary schools across the country as they grew. The discount superstores, SUV craze and resurgence of 70's radio stations (and TV for that matter - That 70's Show), and the immense growth of the stock market, are all a result of the desires of that largest segment of our population. This growth in superhero genre movies (not to mention Lord of the Rings etc.) is an example of Baby Boomers wanting to continue to relive their youth. We grew up reading and loving this stuff.

So what does that mean to the thinking person? It means there is a HUGE opportunity for anyone providing something that Baby Boomers want or need. The single biggest need or want? Health and Wealth!!! That is why I am positioning myself to take advantage of this next Trillion dollar market with my addition of USANA to my multiple streams of income. I have grown this from a side trickle of money to a nice stream with hardly any effort because there are so many people who want and need these products! And what will I do with this raging river of money as it grows? Why, I will go see my favorite superheros on the big screen!!

Posted by CDogg at 06:16 PM | Comments (0)

June 20, 2003

Oh yeah

It's TIME !!!

Posted by CDogg at 06:11 PM | Comments (0)

June 02, 2003

Again, I pose the question... where to begin?

Again, I pose the question... where to begin? I could talk about the myriad of movies I have seen recenlty - The Italian Job, 28 Days Later and a couple others. I could go on about the visit from Tony and Allison, I could discuss the additions I am making to the pond in the back yard (henceforth known as 'Turtle World") or I could take a deep breath and calmy relay the story of how some piece-of-shit asshole busted into my truck and boosted my stereo system and iPod. I could talk about what I would do with my Louisville Slugger if I could have ten minutes alone with the pile of human waste that would do this. I could relay the 'counselling' he would be given upside his temple and the 'rehabilition' his spine alignment deserves for such a cowardly and despicable act....

Ah... I guess I will talk about the movies - I wouldn't want it to be on record as premeditated if the chance did come up to affect his recidivism rate.

The Italian Job was a fun jaunt - and periodic shots of Charlize Theron didn't hurt it one bit. First off, I thought this remake of the 1969 movie of the same name was a nice update. Folks will notice the homage to Michael Caine's version playing on Edward Norton's TV. Speaking of Norton... I am a huge fan and cannot remember finding fault with any previous performance - but I think his strength in the 'bad guy' arena is more of a psychotic... his attempt a true 'heavy' did not work for me. He is just not imposing enough... The characters were fun although Jason Statham's Handsome Rob character did not get to show he was the "best wheelman" around as the big chase scene involved three drivers. Seth Green did a great job and that can be attributed to knowing the kind of role that Green excels in. Lyle, 'The Napster' is a role perfectly suited for him.

The banter was typical witty exchange and tough quy quips, but it flowed well and didn't get in the way of the movie. Speaking of not getting in the way - Director, F. Gary Gray (The Negotiator, Friday) did a fine job of staying out of the way and just telling the story. Hats off to him. Overall, it was a fun flick.

RATING 7 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 09:55 PM | Comments (0)

May 27, 2003

Catch-up Time

Wow, where to begin. The problem with taking a break it you are left with a lot of things to do to catch up. Kinda like this long 'vacation' weekend - possibly one of the most hectic and tiring weekends in recent history. It is a tired cliche, but I need to get back to work so that I can relax. :)

I will attempt to cover the following in this post. Saturday, Tony, Allison, Pennie & I went out and did some things, Sunday, hung out more with Tony, Allison & Pennie, Monday - went to the Alamo Draft House to see Bruce Almighty....

Saturday: I got up early and did some housework and awaited the arrival of Tony & Allison. While waiting for them to arrive, I got the bug to do some home improvement. I hung some blinds in the kitchen and then set about to build a shelf for a TV in my bedroom. Brian assisted and we did a fine job I must say.

They arrived and we said our hellos after not seeing each other for a long time - Allison wasted no time in cutting up...

We hung out a bit as Sam and Allison got acquanted...

We then headed to the baseball game at Minute Maid park to watch the Astros take on the Cubs. We stopped off at the downtown aquarium and took the train ride and met this HUGE horse outside the ballpark.

Allison managed to entertain everyone around us. She wanted a picture to prove she was at a big league ballpark..

Well, I am going to leave Sunday and Monday's recap to another day as I have some work to do.

Posted by CDogg at 10:05 AM | Comments (0)

May 19, 2003

Movie catch-up time

Busy day today - just a quick break to blog. Working on web pages right now and probably will be all night. Today, I spent the bulk of the day sitting in front of the computer doing paperwork. Brian had the DVD The Transporter and I put it in while I worked... here is my review. (Geez, it seems like I spend more time reviewing movies than explaining what my day was like - oh well)

It was definitely a genre film - the trouble was it just couldn't decide which genre. Perhaps I am being too hard, after all it was basically an action flick. As an action flick it did its job. While there was really nothing new in the movie anywhere - it was fun to watch. Again, I am probably being too hard on it - but it felt like it was trying to be too "cool." I mean the driving was fun, the fighting was cool (even if you are getting tired of every fight scene looking like a John Wu ripoff,) and there were a couple of decent stunts.

The story was acceptable even if some of the situations/solutions were a strech. I am even okay with being liberal with the laws of physics.

The biggest fault of the movie is in the constant attempt to look cutting edge and not pulling it off. Rule number one in filmmaking is TELL THE STORY!! If a shot or angle or stunt does not advance the story - it is masturbation for the director, nothing more. Let me tell you that Corey Yuen blasted his impotent signature all over the screen. Just because you can direct a Hong Kong martial arts film and just because Hollywood seems to have wood about that style and hires you, doesn't mean you are a good director.

A hint to wannabe directors out there... if you feel the urge to steal the super-fast-zoom-in-speed-up shots developed by Darren Aronofsky in Requiem for a Dream - you are NOT a real director. JUST TELL THE STORY!!!

RATING 4 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 06:17 PM | Comments (0)

May 18, 2003

Average Dragon

Had a great dinner last night at Pennie's. She invited some friends and we discussed everything from USANA to my upcoming book "It's Impossible NOT to Make Money." We also talked about doing some projects together such as a skating video I am going to work on. Pennie's friend, Michelle is a singer and has some good connections in music - we might hook up for some soundtrack stuff.

The basketball league, BigDog Basketball League has finished the regular season and will start the playoffs this week. It is our third season and things are shaping up for a real competitive postseason. We have some great GMs in our league.

I finally saw the movie Red Dragon. It is a remake of Manhunter the original Hannibal Lecter flick that starred current CSI star, William Petersen. It was a really good remake. Ralph Fiennes did an excellent job as badguy psycho, Francis Dolarhyde and of course Edward Norton is great in everything he does. He is like a young man's Gene Hackman or Michael Caine. They all have the quality of being able to play and role and be completely believable.

RATING 6 out of 10

Posted by CDogg at 06:20 PM | Comments (0)

May 15, 2003

Matrix Re-lamed

Matrix Reloaded can be summed up with just two letters - POOP !

A friend of the Dark Diver put it well... "It was more..." It was more of the same - more black leather, more club music, more green on black digital readouts, more squid machines, more bullet-time slo-mo, more 'choose the left or the right,' and MUCH more Agent Smith

The costumes were a stretch - I mean, why did Morpheus and Niobe wear alligator-skin suits? Is that how they fit in with their surroundings? Oh and Morpheus was a much cooler character when he was cerebral - the half-hearted attempt to make him into an action hero (ala the bare sleeve and midsection outfit) might have worked better if he was ten years younger or at least laid off of the ho-ho's and ding-dongs for a bit. And what was up with the monk outfit Neo wore? I guess that he needed something to flap in the breeze and a cape would have been overboard on those ridiculous Superman scenes.

The writing is quite possibly the worst I have seen in a movie with this large of budget. I have NEVER heard so many tired cliches strung together in an attempt to make you think it is deep. It is mindless prattle. Neo says to a greasy, French-accented bad guy "You know why we're here." To which the Frenchman replies "Yes, but do you? You think you do, but you do not." This kind of nonsense goes on for three to four minutes at a stretch, in scene after scene, all through the movie. If you could follow the juvenile, "I know you're not - but what aren't I" logic, you were left struggling to maintain consciousness until the next action sequence.

Okay the freeway chase scene was interesting to watch - but certainly nothing earth-shattering visually as promised by representatives of the film on the Charlie Rose show. If you are looking for the cutting-edge effects that made the first Matrix famous - you will find them duplicated over and over ad naseum. If you are looking for new cutting edge special effects, save your money for the next blockbuster sci-fi flick.

RATING 3 out of 10

I would like to thank Manny Lacsamana for a thoroughly enjoyable evening as we hung around for an hour after the show tearing it to shreds and discussing film in general. Thanks Manny!

Posted by CDogg at 09:03 PM | Comments (0)