I am so glad that I turned down that interview in Maryland a few years ago, in order to stay in the relatively enlightened state of Mississippi.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
What's going on in Maryland?
Botched SWAT raids (including dead dogs), teenagers and performance artists threatened, antiquated gun laws, politicians creating enemies lists, and now a guy with Down's syndrome strangled for not leaving his theater seat. Why does this stuff happen on a regular and continuing basis in Maryland?
Review: Django Unchained
Look, this is straightforward. Go watch the trailer. It's an honest trailer, it shows what the movie is generally about and shows the kind of action you can expect. If it appeals to you, then you'll probably like the movie. If it appalls to you, save your time and money.
It's pretty weird, light entertainment. Because it's about such touchy subjects (slavery primarily, though there are other raw nerves a-plenty here) it has generated some controversy. Well, people will always try to read baggage into where there is none. If you can get past that, it's a fun watch. Doubly so if you can manage to smuggle a flask of whiskey into the theater on a loopy Friday evening after a rough week at work.
Bottom line: 3/4 stars if the trailer appeals, 0/4 stars if the trailer appalls. Pick your poison.
It's pretty weird, light entertainment. Because it's about such touchy subjects (slavery primarily, though there are other raw nerves a-plenty here) it has generated some controversy. Well, people will always try to read baggage into where there is none. If you can get past that, it's a fun watch. Doubly so if you can manage to smuggle a flask of whiskey into the theater on a loopy Friday evening after a rough week at work.
Bottom line: 3/4 stars if the trailer appeals, 0/4 stars if the trailer appalls. Pick your poison.
Review: Iron Sky
This was the little direct-to-video that almost roared. Almost that is, until people got their hands on it and watched. Then the nascent roar turned into a resounding "meh."
The plot is so outlandish that the resulting movie had to be either insanely great, or just insane: a small cadre of Nazis escape to the moon in flying saucers in 1945. Hidden on the dark side (a fitting place, given their ideology and helmet shape), they build a base, a new society, and eventually an Earth invasion fleet. Their dastardly plans (can movie Nazis have any other kind?) are interrupted by an American moon mission circa 2017. Interrupted yes, but also boosted decades ahead by some seemingly innocuous technology salvaged from a captured astronaut.
With such a whacky idea, it could either be played deadpan straight or for Mel Brooks style humor. The producers chose the latter, which is probably the better choice, but they couldn't quite pull it off. At times it's pretty darned funny, but the bulk of the jokes fall flat. It is jaw-dropping upon occasion, either for the spectacular bizarreness of things like a well-rendered Nazi moon base, or for yet another lame race joke. It starts with more of the former and shifts to more of the latter as the movie progresses, and finally runs out of steam entirely by the end.
Bottom line is that it gets 1.5/4 stars. Drinking heavily while watching with a raucous bunch of friends may boost this by as much as 1 star, but only if they're well attuned to Mel Brooks' brand of humor and aren't too offended by amateurish efforts to replicate it.
The plot is so outlandish that the resulting movie had to be either insanely great, or just insane: a small cadre of Nazis escape to the moon in flying saucers in 1945. Hidden on the dark side (a fitting place, given their ideology and helmet shape), they build a base, a new society, and eventually an Earth invasion fleet. Their dastardly plans (can movie Nazis have any other kind?) are interrupted by an American moon mission circa 2017. Interrupted yes, but also boosted decades ahead by some seemingly innocuous technology salvaged from a captured astronaut.
With such a whacky idea, it could either be played deadpan straight or for Mel Brooks style humor. The producers chose the latter, which is probably the better choice, but they couldn't quite pull it off. At times it's pretty darned funny, but the bulk of the jokes fall flat. It is jaw-dropping upon occasion, either for the spectacular bizarreness of things like a well-rendered Nazi moon base, or for yet another lame race joke. It starts with more of the former and shifts to more of the latter as the movie progresses, and finally runs out of steam entirely by the end.
Bottom line is that it gets 1.5/4 stars. Drinking heavily while watching with a raucous bunch of friends may boost this by as much as 1 star, but only if they're well attuned to Mel Brooks' brand of humor and aren't too offended by amateurish efforts to replicate it.
Review: The Hunger Games
Yeah, you probably have heard all you want to hear about last spring's teenage dystopian sci-fi drama. However I've got to say, this movie has achieved the seemingly impossible: making the book seem well-written in comparison. It's over-compressed, rushed, and really just presents the bones of the story. About the only things that save it are that it stuck to the original plot and that it had decent acting.
On the other hand, I'm really not the target demographic here. If this is a kid's first exposure to the dystopian genre, said kid could do a lot worse. For them, it maybe rates as high as 3.5/4 stars – not shabby at all. For jaded old sci-fi readers, no more than 2/4.
On the other hand, I'm really not the target demographic here. If this is a kid's first exposure to the dystopian genre, said kid could do a lot worse. For them, it maybe rates as high as 3.5/4 stars – not shabby at all. For jaded old sci-fi readers, no more than 2/4.
Now all you darned kids, go read If This Goes On–. And get offa my lawn.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
UFOs Spotted over Apalachicola: Wasn't Me.
Before you read the article, here's a little mood music. Got it playing? Good, now here's the article.
Mid-Month Reminder: Feb Fourth Ward Cleaver's Up
And here's the link. Lots of Mardi Gras stuff this time.
It was a good Mardi Gras. Didn't do a lot this year, but a Sunday afternoon in New Orleans was fun. On the whole though I'm looking forward to spring.
It was a good Mardi Gras. Didn't do a lot this year, but a Sunday afternoon in New Orleans was fun. On the whole though I'm looking forward to spring.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Tomorrow is Blogaversary 3!
Yeah, started it in 2010.
So, does anybody actually read this thing? Then post a note in the comments. It'll be good to see who's reading, other than some web bots from unspecified countries.
So, does anybody actually read this thing? Then post a note in the comments. It'll be good to see who's reading, other than some web bots from unspecified countries.
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