Star Wars

Star Wars (now known as A New Hope)
Classic story structure put into a sci-fi setting. Because of this, it is the best of the bunch.

The Empire Strikes Back
Overall, a good movie. With the best cliff-hanger in the history of episodal movies.

Return of the Jedi
Meh. Incestous relations revealed, Wookies downgraded to Ewoks, and lots of other lackadaisical writing. Worst of the original three. Special effects never trump story. Probably the best thing was Leia in the slave-girl outfit.

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The Phantom Menace
Just when you think the series couldn't get more provocative than incest, lucas goes for pedophilia with a nine-year-old Anakin(Jake Lloyd) and a seventeen-year-old Padme(Natalie Portman). Jar-Jar Binks who made C3PO look cool(not even touching the Jar-Jar french kiss candy). About the best part of this was the pod-races, as it made for a good video game. In fact, all the flying seems to be specifically to sell video games. That's not bad for the bottom line, but only if it doesn't detract from the story.

Attack of the Clones
Terrible Title, good action, but lucas had lost a huge amount of the crowd with his error in judgement for phantom menace. Now the main 'romnce' players are at least the same age(apparently using Star Trek Continuity). Zam Wesell rather than padme was the strong female. Padme's parts were missing the complexity that leia had. If Jango were a mandolorian, and storm-troopers were his clones, then genetic drift must have taken place by the time of episode IV as the troopers then were easy to knock-out and kill. Overall the best of the newer trilogy.

Revenge of the Sith
Lots of good points on this movie. Wookie warfare instead of Ewoks. The big battle scenes are cool, but lack the individual perspective that makes people love movies. Significant over-evilling of Anakin with the padawan scene. The worst of this movie is Padme. I died from heartbreak for anakin, rather than love my children. That's pathetic on a new level, and what makes this one a bad apple.

The Clone Wars
This one came down to small screen video game graphics for a big-screen movie. It should've just been direct to dvd. Again, this is directed more at selling video games and related merchandising rather than telling a great story.

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So what could have been better? Well, I'll focus on the new movies since he was not limited by budgetary concerns.

The Phantom Menace
The kid should have been at least on the verge of teenager-dom. Age twelveor maybe a small thirteen would be a good figure. Remember, kids want to grow-up to be the hero ... Always. I would have probably used a younger Padme and an elder matriarchal advisor.

Attack of the Clones
Instant title change, not sure to what, but something better than this. I would have killed off the previously added elder advisor with the Padme deception. Given Padme a more girl-power role, and kept the focus on character rather than huge battle scenes. Make Anakin start the gradual descent to the dark side here.

Revenge of the Sith
Probably a different approach to Anakin's descent into the dark path. Padme should have died in child-birth, probably from injury rather than a broken heart. And the whole mention of midi-chlorians should have been avoided.

The Clone Wars
Live action or at least they should have invested in at least SHREK type of graphics. It's like sitting next to the X-box while someone else plays.

This is not a digg against Lucas as a whole, but he seems a tad out of focus with the movie-goer now. This is also shown by IJ4, but I'll save that movie for another post.

Happy Thanksgiving 2008!

More or less...

Family wasn't too horrible, the food was good, no major disasters. All in all, a pretty good Thanksgiving.

How to deal with a Telemarketer

Telemarketer Revenge

Have a Nazi Christmas???

WTF?

Let's see:
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas - Playing Now
The Reader - December 10th
Valkyrie - December 25th (A christmas release?)

Three movies about Nazi Germany in 2 months over the holidays?

While I don't mind films set in WWII, there's a time for release, and I'm not sure that these are the right time.

Missing The Good Movies

A Christmas Tale - not playing locally - But is in New Salem, MA. I might just hit this one, even with subtitles (it's in French).

Religulous - Just found out that I can get to this one ... I'll have to check it out.

Slumdog Millionaire - not playing locally - though if I were really motivated, I could see it in NY or Boston.

The Wrestler - Missed it ... apparently played at NY Film Festival. I've got to start hitting festivals. Hope it plays somewhere nearby.

Black Dynamite - Hope this plays nearby.

I guess I'm tired of the same old movies, not to say there aren't any selections from Hollywood, just I think I need something to break up the monotony.

Charity

Since the last episode of life was sponsored by the Michael J. Fox Foundation. It got me thinking about a few charities, I'll add this one to the list.

Some others are Habitat for Humanity, and Hunt Of A Lifetime. I used to also do the Make a Wish Foundation, until they got in a tizzy about a hunting trip. Hell, if the kid's dying, give him his wish if it isn't illegal somewhere. But no ... we have to be politically correct. Cancer sucks, dying before you've had fun sucks, people being all P.C. when your dying need to experience a chemo treatment.

-If you aren't in the scraping for money category, at least donate what you can write off your taxes, preferably more. Hell, I don't even care if it's just for publicity, but if your sincere, it will help fill that void that you try to fill with drinking, drugs, or both.

On final charitable note:
This is a link for orphanages and their needs. You can actually see what needs doing and where. Lists include both regular needs and special projects like fixing the heating system or just having food. See, most people in America tend to take certain things for granted: food, clean water, heat, clothes. But when you don't have family, and you don't live where there are craploads of excess, then your pretty f****d. So before you drop $5 on a magazine that will be outdated in a few weeks, or on a coffee that will be gone in an hour, consider instead on donating that much to kids who really need it. Click on the Orphanages we sponsor and then you can look at their regular needs or special projects (which are often what we consider needs rather than wants).

More on Life

Just watched the last couple episodes ... I can never seem to watch much TV anymore. Other than the Dove commercial that really got annoying. Perhaps that should be a hint for advertisers. If you want us to see your ad over and over again, you might want ... oh, say three variations. Even an interesting commercial wears thin after 5 times in a row.

WGA Negotiations

I know I'm out of date, but this was funny.

Thanks to all

Thanks to all those who respond to the meme. It gives me movies that I haven't seen to my list of movies I want to watch.

Review: Dark City - Pt1

Dark City.
I caught the end of this some time last year, on TV. A friend handed me the DVD. I just watched it last night for Holloween. It was a pretty good selection for the night. Definately Noir, if a Sci-Fi Noir. I'll add more since I'll be going through the extras tomorrow.