It's the most wonderful time of the year. Fall is in it's infancy. The leaves are falling. Damn! Damn! Damn!
Another Descent Into...
Steelers Recap-Week One
So let's say you lose your two-time Super Bowl winning QB for a period of time due to his stupidity. What do you do? For the Steelers, the answer was easy, go back to basics. Grit, the run game, and badass D was the key to Sunday's 15-9 overtime win over the Falcons.
For almost the entire game it was a classic slugfest against a team many consider to be on par with the Saints in football superiority. If you ask me, the Steelers could have won this game in regulation if Bruce Arians would have done some proper offensive coordination and Jeff Reed hadn't missed a fg with less than a minute to play.
Nevertheless, I will praise Arians for Rashard Mendenhall's 50-yd td run to seal the deal for the black and gold. I think the Steelers will be ok for the next three weeks.
Week 2 vs. Titans-
Which leads us into this week's game against the Tennessee Titans. Led by current running back gawd, Chris Johnson, the Titans are coming off a victory against the Raiders and really want to run it down the Steelers gullet. Guess what? Ain't happening! The Steelers D is going to be very tough, so tough in fact, they will keep Johnson under 100 yards for the first time in twelve game. On the offensive front, I look for Dennis Dixon to finally get into a rhythm and actually throw for a td. Steelers 17 Titans 7
It Can't Happen Here-
I love books about possible scenarios involving America and a change of the political and social guard. Sinclair Lewis's 1935 novel It Can't Happen Here is a fine and timely example of such a story. Berzelius "Buzz" Windrip, a charismatic and power-hungry politician, is elected President of the United States on a populist platform, promising to restore the country to prosperity and greatness, and, more importantly, promising each citizen $5,000 a year Once in power, however, he becomes a dictator; he outlaws dissent, puts his political enemies in concentration camps, and creates a paramilitary force called the Minute Men who terrorize the citizens. One of his first actions as President is to make changes to the Constitution which give him sole power over the country, rendering Congress obsolete. This is met by protest from the congress as well as outraged citizens, but Windrip declares a state of martial law and, with the help of his Minute Men, throws the protesters in jail. As Windrip dismantles democracy, most Americans either support him and his Corpo Regime wholeheartedly or reassure themselves that fascism "can't happen" in America.
The few who openly oppose Windrip's regime form a secret protest organization called The New Underground; establishing a secret propaganda periodical under the alias the Vermont Vigilance. Doremus Jessup becomes a major contributor to these publications, writing editorials decrying the state's abuses of power. Shad Ledue, head of the state police and Jessup's former employee, terrorizes him, eventually putting him in a camp. He also goes after Jessup's family, attempting to seduce Jessup's daughter, Sissy. Eventually, however, Ledue falls out of favor with Windrip, and he is put in the same camp as Jessup, where he is murdered by the angry inmates he sent to the Camp. After his friend bribes a guard, Jessup escapes from the camp, rejoins his family, and goes to Canada to join a resistance movement.
In time, Windrip's hold on power begins to weaken; the economic prosperity he promised has not materialized, and more and more people are fleeing to Canada to escape his government's brutality. Windrip's lieutenants stage a coup; Secretary of State and Windrip's number two man, Lee Sarason, becomes president and has Windrip exiled to France. In the ensuing power vacuum, they fight among themselves for control, setting the stage for the regime's self-destruction. After another coup, ousting Sarason in favor of General Haik, the Corpo Regime's power slowly starts seeping away and the government desperately tries to find a way to keep the people happy with the Regime. They decide to stir up patriotic fervor by slandering Mexico in the state-run newspapers, deciding an all-out invasion of the country will rally the American people around the government. But the resulting draft of 5 million men for the invasion splits the country into factions: those pro-war and loyal to the Corpo government, and those anti-war who now see that they have been manipulated for years.
With this novel, you have to take it in very slowly. The prose and dialogue is ripe with mid-30s vocabulary and expressions. The main thing I was disappointed with is this is not a multi-character tale. I feel it would have worked better. I mean, a major upheaval such as this is bound to be rich with other people's actions. If it hadn't been for this novel, there would have been no original V and no cornerstone for my imagination. That much I'm thankful for. Pick this up. 8/10
The Cinema Snob-
Mr. Snob will be away for a few weeks filming a movie so no new episodes for awhile. However, it doesn't mean there will be no fun at the end of my post. Oh no. This week I dig into the archives and pull out a peculiar porn featuring-guess who-ROCKY!!!
And with the Saints 14-9 win over the Vikings last night, we have kicked off another season of NFL football and the start of my weekly Steelers preview. This week is the start of a month-long journey of uncertainty for the black and gold. Big Ben begins his suspension, and backup Byron Leftwich is out with a sprained knee leaving the QB duties to little-used Dennis Dixon coming off an above-average preseason.
Up first is the Atlanta Falcons, a team with a third-year QB in Matt Ryan with considerably more experience. Yet after completing 61.1 percent of his passes and being named the Offensive Rookie of the Year while leading the Falcons to the playoffs in 2008, Matt Ryan was less accurate (58.3) and took a small step backward in Atlanta's 9-7 season. After missing two games with a toe injury, though, Ryan came back to throw six touchdowns in leading the Falcons to their final three victories.
They are up against a rejuvenated Steelers D with a healed Troy Polamalu and Aaron Smith at the helm. Which I feel will decide the outcome of this game. I think the Steelers will go back to offensive basics, i.e, run, run, run. The O-line has improved along with starting RB Rashard Mendenhall which will give the Falcons D all it can handle. Look for a low-scoring game in the Steelers favor...Pittsburgh 17, Atlanta 10
Rush-Beyond The Lighted Stage-
I have waited an eternity for a proper story about one of Rock-N-Roll's greatest groups. Rush has never received a Behind the Music episode nor an A&E Biography. It took almost 40 years and director Sam Dunn to bring the story of Rush to life.
Featuring an A-Z bio along with interviews by the band and their fans and peers(Gene Simmons, Sebastian Bach, Jack Black, Les Claypool to name a few). We learn Rush's path to success was often impeded not by drugs or alcohol(though Geddy Lee admits they used drugs during the recording of their awful Caress of Steel album), but rather mainstream critics and so-called musically inclined folk who felt the band was nothing but hot air.
The most heartfelt piece is towards the end of the movie where Neil Peart opens up(a crack) about the loss of his daughter and first wife within a span of the year. If you're a fan of the band, you will love this. If you are not a fan of the band, you will love this. This is a perfect documentary, no doubt about it. DYK: The original drummer for the band was the late John Rutsey. Neil Peart would join following the release of their debut album.10/10
Rush(self-titled album)
Every story has an origin. In the story of Rush, it begins with this 1974 self-titled debut. Featuring original drummer John Rutsey, this album can be best described as Zeppelin on 5-Hour Energy. All these songs are not in the lyrical depth of their later work(albeit "Working Man" comes close), but you can hear the passion and energy so prevalent in alot of first albums.
We start with the hard-charging "Finding My Way". A great intro, fantastic in-your-face, Geddy Lee-vocal piercing tune. "Need Some Love" is not quite as good, but not bad. Somewhere in the middle. "Take A Friend" despite the get-to-the-point beginning is kinda of a dinosaur slog. "Here Again" is a slow, bluesy jam which is rather depressing, not in a bad way though. "What You're Doing" is more or less them in Zeppelin tribute band mode. "In The Mood" is a rather naughty kind of song, Geddy putting out there for the girl he's singing for.
"Before and After" is a slow starter but kicks in two minutes in with a variation of the "Over the Hills and Far Away" riff. The album closes with the legendary "Working Man". It's about all of us who work a joe job then want to get back and chill. Ironically, it was Cleveland that first broke Rush, so I guess I'm grateful....7.5/10
Troll 2-
I'm going to be to the point...PIECE OF FUCKIN SHIT!!! Steer clear of this movie. Yes, I'm aware of its cult following as Best Worst Movie ever, but no matter how I tried to see this film, I couldn't get past anything that was bad and I love bad movies! But what I don't like is the dialogue, Jackie Collins could have written better verbiage!. The acting on the level below kindergarten plays. Worse yet, this isn't a sequel to the original Troll! Yet in the pile of shit, I can at least pull from it one peanut...
1/10. This movie has displaced Titanic as my 2nd least favorite movie of all time. Maybe I don't get it. No wait, I do. It sucks! If you like this movie in whatever context you see it in, good for you!
The Cinema Snob-
Here are the two latest episodes from the SnobMeister himself-
Caligula, Part II-
“Conflict is the gadfly of thought. It stirs us to observation and memory. It instigates to invention. It shocks us out of sheeplike passivity, and sets us at noting and contriving."-John Dewey
Another Descent Into...
The Runaways(2010)-I am a huge fan of The Runaways. Lita Ford(junior high school crush#1), Joan Jett, Cherie Currie, Sandy West, and a revolving number of bass players made for a dirty three-chord rock-n-roll band whos music is as timeless as it was thirty years ago. Like most popular groups, sooner or later, a movie had to be done. An inaccurate, by-the-numbers movie.
The film opens with Cherie (Dakota Fanning) and her sister, Marie Currie (Riley Keough), as Cherie has just got her first period. Marie's boyfriend, Derek (Brendan Sexton III), picks up the sisters from Marie's job at "Pup n' Fries" and Marie announces to him that Cherie has gotten her period. Angry at her sister for telling, she informs Derek that Marie is not wearing any underwear. Later, Cherie is seen cutting her hair in a shag and putting on face makeup in an attempt to create a look resembling Bowie on the cover of Aladdin Sane (the cover is shown on her wall as a poster). The scene is accompanied by scenes of Joan huffing marijuana with her girlfriend. Cherie is later seen lip-syncing David Bowie's Lady Grinning Soul at the school talent show and is the target of paper balls, to which Cherie reacts by flipping off the crowd, but wins the talent show.
Joan Jett (Kristen Stewart) is making out with a guy outside a club when she sees record producer, Kim Fowley (Michael Shannon). Joan approaches him and talks about starting an all-girl rock band. Kim is interested and introduces Joan to Sandy West (Stella Maeve), a drummer. Joan and Sandy become friends and start jamming when Kim suggests that they recruit a hot blonde in the vein of Brigitte Bardot.
Do I know you? Oh yeah, you were suppose to take care of me once or twice a week not when it is convenient!
Another Descent Into...
Happy Anniversary Jo, I love you!
My Pittsburgh Steelers Season Preview-When last I left the greatest team of the Super Bowl-era, they had just defeated the Miami Dolphins 30-24 and thanks to piss-poor defense in the 4th quarter all season long, they sat home, missing out on the playoffs for the second time in five years. However, hope springs eternal. This off-season the Steelers played Back to the Future and brought back both Larry Foote and Antwaan Randall-El. I think with Big Ben on the shelf for four, possibly six games,bringing back these comfortable shoes was a good idea on the Rooneys part.
I see a vastly improved offensive line giving go-to guy Rhasard Mendenhall huge holes and keep either Bryon Leftwich or Dennis Dixon upright, something they failed to do with #7 the past two years. The wide receiving core will be underrated now that Santonio Holmes has been sent packing to the Jets. Mike Wallace and Randall-El will surprise many a secondary this year and I think Hines Ward, my boy, can eek out another 1,000 yrd season.
The biggest problem will be, surprisingly, the defense. Last year, they seemed to forget football is played in 4 quarters and blew many a comfy lead. The line is aging and the corners are a step slower than they have been in past years. Will Troy be the glue that holds these guys together?
I think the Steelers have it in them to finish 10-6 and clinch a wild-card berth. Sadly, I don't see them winning number 7 this year as the defense has way too many ?'s marks for them to be effective. However, I hope I'm wrong!
The Expendables(2010)-Wow! I was expected a subtle, intelligence, thought-provoking film and I get this? DAMN STRAIGHT! So many action stars, so little movie. It's a good thing though. Stallone in his Rambo-esqe glory leads a ragtag bunch into a Latin American country to overthrow a dictator. That's about it for storyline. With this film, just sit back, laugh at the cheesy taglines,cry with the all-too-brief interaction between Rocky and The Terminator(original), and enjoy the explosions. It is a trip down 80s memory lane that will have you going, Dolph! Dolph! Dolph!
8/10
The Cinema Snob-
In my most recent absence, The Snob has posted two brand new vids, the latter being his 100th episode.
The Expendables...No not that The Expendables. This one features a lower budget, bad actors, and about the same amount of explosions as the 2010 version.
Caligula, Part I...This is Brad Jones'(a.k.a The Cinema Snob) favorite movie. So how does he make fun of his darling? Quite well. This is so good, it required him to break this into two parts. Look for cameos from all involved in his web shows.
Hey, don't I know you from somewhere? Oh yeah, you were my vacation. I'll see you again next week....
Another Descent Into...
My Vacation, Part I-
Oh by the time I went back to work Wednesday, I felt more relaxed then Hugh Hefner in the girls shower. It was so nice to go back home to Pittsburgh to explore things I had never discovered in the ol' hometown. Jo and I went the Carnegie Science Center, the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum, ate at a Primanti Bros., visited the zoo where I saw my dad(lol, j/k) but the centerpiece of the 'Burgh was KISS!
Other than a few bad steps in the beginning and a rather bad one at the end where the confetti went off a bit premature, the show was awesome! Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer fill in quite nicely for the departed Ace and Peter, Paul had some vocal problems, and Gene screwed up some words, but nothing to get in a twist over.
Dinner For Schmucks- Normally, I don't have alot of respect for newer comedies. I find them playing from an old playbook developed by Revenge of the Nerds, Animal House and Porky's. Steve Carell vehicles are really no different, but in his case, he convinces me he could stand along side those classic films of old.
Tim (Rudd) is a mid-level financial executive, who acquires a negotiation over special novelty lamps with wealthy Swiss businessman Mueller (Walliams). Impressed by Tim's ingenuity, his boss Fender (Greenwood) invites him to a "dinner for winners" in which he must find an eccentric person with a special talent to invite; the winner earns a trophy and the executive that brought him or her gets glory. He soon learns it is more of a "dinner for idiots", and the guests will be mocked mercilessly. Meanwhile, Tim's girlfriend Julie (Szostak) lands a curator deal for eccentric artist Keiran Vollard (Clement), and Tim unsuccessfully proposes to her, as he has done several times before. After learning of the cruel nature of the dinner, Julie forces him not to attend.
The next day, Tim accidentally hits IRS employee Barry (Carell) with his car when Barry tries to retrieve a dead mouse in the road. Witnessing Barry's bizarre behavior (he stuffs mice and arranges them into elaborate dioramas), Tim realizes he is perfect for the dinner. That night, Barry shows up at Tim's apartment unannounced, and accidentally invites over Darla (Punch), a woman of Tim's who is stalking him. Barry attempts to send away Darla, but mistakes Julie for Tim's stalker, giving Julie the mistaken impression that Tim is cheating on her. Tim and Barry chase her down to Vollard's ranch, where he accidentally offends Barry (which further hurts his and Julie's relationship), but he makes amends and they go to the dinner with Mueller, despite a disastrous lunch that afternoon.
Barry is a hit with the group and is a shoo-in for the trophy, but unexpectedly his boss and rival Thurman (Galifianakis) arrives and displays his "mind control" power over Barry. After that, Tim tells Barry everything, and after some encouragement, gets Barry to win, before causing his boss and fellow executives to reveal the truth and cause havoc. Tim is fired, as is Julie after Barry makes Vollard realize it would be a problem to have her. In the end, Tim marries Julie, Barry gets in a relationship with Darla, does some artwork with Vollard, and hosts a monthly "breakfast for champions" for all of the "losers". Thurman gets a new book in the mental hospital, as well as Tim getting a new museum started in Switzerland for Mueller. After the credits, it is revealed Fender's company has gone under and Forbes Magazine has named him the "World's Biggest Loser."
If not for Carell's goofball acting, this film would be middling at best, but he saves the film from itself.
8/10
The Cinema Snob-
The Snob was a busy bee while I was away. 3 posts await your viewing
Hell's Bloody Devil's-
This late-60's bikersplotation film features Colonel Sanders in a cameo role. Seriously!
Redneck Zombies-
The director could've easily have cast customers from a southern Wal-Mart.
Super Hornio Brothers
Yep! A parody of the piece of garbage featuring Ron Jeremy. God help me!
Hope to post during Vacation, Part II next week in which I get to reviewing Mars Attacks!
I can feel it. The obsidian clouds are lifting away. The drudgery of life is soon to be replaced by 9 days of fun and frolic....ahhh vacation
Another Descent Into...
Dead On Earth Update-
Just recently finished Day 5 of this little tale of an alien apocalypse as told from the point of view of many spread across Earth. David Naughton-Shires has begun developing artwork for the project and recently gave me an illustration of my main character, Kyle Stanton. If the rest of his effort is as good as what he's done for me, then we will have ourselves a winner. Got a long way to go, but the effort will be worth it.
Saiqa Akhter-
This is the woman who murdered, yes murdered her autistic child and badly injured her other one who is also autistic. Her excuse, she wanted 'normal' kids. You know what I think? This woman is an icon to problems I see in people these days. Selfish, self-indulgent people who still think they are in their perpetual youth and refuse to grow up! It's all about me! It's always been around, don't get me wrong. With our omnipresent media, it's just been more exposed.
It's people like you how look towards the government for a handout, the schools to teach what you refuse to teach, and the t.v. and the internet to raise and babysit them as you worry about your Gen 4 cell phone and who is going to be ousted on Dancing With The Stars. You cry and whine about how the kids drive you crazy. Well I hope you're proud of yourself. You took a life and you robbed the innocence of another. Luckily, this crime took place in Texas, so you will move to the front of the electric line. Thank goodness they put in an express lane.
The Cinema Snob-
Mama Snob is visiting her baby boy, so no new episode this week. Instead, I will go to his coveted vaults to show an episode which will require mass amounts of alcohol to understand. It's Monkey With 72 Magic. Be very, very afraid!
Next week, I will be down in Jim Rome's basement taking my vacation. I'm looking for someone to guest blog for me. If you're interested, email me at epolk75@suddenlink.net.
Real quick post today. My blog has been given The Versatile Blogger award courtesy of dollarbinhorror.blogspot.com. Thanks Rhonda!
One of the caveats are I post 7 more things about myself and award 5 blogs this honor. So here it be.
1. I am a huge KISS fan(though I love most genres of music)
2. My favorite dramatic movie is The Godfather
3. My favorite movie of all time is Star Wars:Episode IV
4. I proudly wear a Pittsburgh Steelers jersey on top of my Star Trek:The Next Generation t-shirt on my days off
5. Stephen King is my favorite author though I also enjoy Ray Bradbury, Ed McBain, Peter Straub, Richard Matheson, and J.D. Robb to name a few.
6. I am the author of the short stories Rhapsody in Black and From A Serpent's Kiss. I'm also a contributing author to the upcoming Dead on Earth novel.
7. I had and continue to have a crush on Stevie Nicks
My five favorite blogs I bestow The Versatile Award to are
To the person who hacked my yahoo account, I wonder what's it's like to be dateless, friendless, and living in your parents basement while masturbating to German schiza porn.
Another Descent Into...
New Writing Projects-
It has been a week of new writing-related projects. First up,
Dead On Earth-This is a brand new idea from writers Cal Miller and Ryan Phillip Harris. Myself and 29 other writers(DBH Mastermind Rhonda Kacur and fellow writer friend Angie Hill two of them) have been given task to follow serial killer Wayne Holiday through journal entries as written by our created characters. It's late 2012 and the whole world is literally about to change. I've completed two entries so far and I must say, I'm enjoying this.
Big Daddy Horror Reviews-In the future, I will be logging book reviews for Brandon Sites fantastic bigdaddyhorrorreviews.com website. Check it out!
This past Monday, girlfriend in tow, I cast a weary, sleepy eye toward the latest in the Predator franchise. I hoped for one thing and one thing only in this film. I didn't get it. Ever since Jesse Ventura's response to his bleeding in the original movie, it has been badly uttered tagline after another. Oh sure, the action is top notch as expected. The Predators in this movie have been given an upgrade and not a very good one.
The film begins with former US Army Special Forces soldier and now mercenary, Royce (Adrien Brody), awakening in freefall over a jungle. Upon landing, he is confronted by heavily-armed individuals including Cuchillo, a Mexican drug cartel enforcer (Danny Trejo), Nikolai, a Russian Spetsnaz soldier (Oleg Taktarov), and Isabelle, an IDF black ops sniper (Alice Braga). They encounter more people dropped from the sky, including Mombasa, an RUF officer (Mahershalalhashbaz Ali), who is fighting with Stans, a US Death Row inmate (Walton Goggins), Hanzo, a silent Yakuza enforcer (Louis Ozawa Changchien), and Edwin, an American doctor (Topher Grace). The group finds out that all of them have no idea of how they got to the jungle. Deciding that they should all stick together, they all venture in one direction to find possible aid.
After escaping a series of man-made booby-traps (left by U.S. Special Forces member, who had been killed weeks before), the group are attacked by several dog-like alien creatures. While the group manages to kill some of the creatures, a few of them manage to corner Cuchillo. Soon the creatures are called back by a high-pitched whistle. The group hears Cuchillo's voice in the distance and find him being used as bait for a trap. In an act of mercy killing, Isabelle shoots Cuchillo, not knowing that he was already dead and his voice was being mimicked by one of the Predators. After they reach higher ground, Royce realizes that they are on an alien game preserve planet, and are being hunted as game by some unknown hunters. The previous creatures were being used as hunting dogs to flush them out. Royce leads the group to a Predator hunting camp, where they find a captive 'classic' Predator tied to a totem pole. Royce bides his time until the Predators attack, killing Mombasa with spears while the rest of the group escapes to a river.
After being attacked by a bipedal insectoid creature flushed out by Edwin, they meet a U.S. Air Cavalry Soldier named Noland (Laurence Fishburne), who has survived on the planet for years by scavenging and hiding in an abandoned drilling structure. Deranged from his long isolation, Noland reveals that the Predators have been harvesting warriors from Earth and other planets for centuries, using them to improve their hunting skills. He also reveals that there is a blood feud between two clans of Predators: the classic Predators and the larger, more aggressive 'super' Predators — three of whom are hunting the humans. Noland also reveals the existence of the ship that the Predators use to reach the planet. Noland sarcastically remarks that he never thought to commandeer the ship, but that Royce must know how to fly it. Royce points out that the classic Predator strung up in the hunting camp might.
Later that night, Noland attempts to murder the group. To escape, Royce alerts the hunting Predators, who break into the ship, killing Noland. Edwin falls behind as the group escapes, and Nikolai sacrifices his life saving Edwin, using an explosive to destroy himself and a Predator. Outside, the Super Predators show themselves to be less honorable hunters than the Classic Predators when one fires on an unarmed Stans. Stans is brutally killed while saving Royce, and Hanzo stays behind to face the Predators. Wielding a centuries old authentic samurai katana which he found amongst Noland's possessions, he engages a Predator in single combat. Hanzo defeats the Predator at the cost of his own life. As the final three humans escape, Edwin is crippled by a trap. Isabelle refuses to abandon him, and Royce returns to the hunting camp to free the classic Predator in exchange for boarding the ship. Isabelle and Edwin are captured by the final super Predator, who throws them into a pit. Edwin temporarily paralyzes Isabelle by cutting her with his scalpel covered in neurotoxin and reveals that he is a psychopathic serial killer who wishes to stay on the planet to become like the Predators.
The classic Predator activates the ship, and engages the super Predator in combat, giving Royce the time he needs to get to the ship. After a brief but fierce battle, the classic Predator is overpowered and decapitated, and the Super Predator remotely destroys the ship, ensuring that nobody leaves the planet. Royce, having never actually boarded the ship, returns to rescue Isabelle. After Edwin attempts to paralyze Royce as well, Royce disarms him and booby-traps Edwin's body with grenades and uses him as bait in a trap for the super Predator, killing Edwin in the process. Royce disorients the Predator and after a violent fight, Royce defeats and decapitates it as Isabelle shakes off the paralysis. They bond and tell each other their names.
The film closes by showing Isabelle and Royce sitting together by the remains of a fire, watching the sky as more humans and other aliens are being dropped into the jungle. Royce says to Isabelle that it's time to find a way off the planet, and they walk away into the jungle.
The characters are cardboard, the dialogue is bad, the Predators bled day-glo and Topher Grace plays a doctor. UGH! What works best? Is when the humans don't talk! That is what will make a great Predator film(first one exempt cuz Ah-Nuld just is too damn awesome). 5/10(I think I'm being generous with that, btw)
Lebron James-
Last week, we were subjected with THE QUESTION. Where will NBA All-Everything Lebron James play this upcoming season? I swear ESPN was drooling harder than a dog in the back of a meat wagon. I really think the sports channel has officially jumped the shark. I mean an hour special on THE DECISION? Is this what we have come to? Wasting more of our time with such trivial b.s. It's not where he ended up that bothered me, he's a grown man and has to do what he feels best. No, to me it's the over hype, the over saturation, the dog-and-pony show.
I am so sick of the media trying to control what little minds we have left. Sick of them putting a guy (a titleless guy at that) on a pedestal that he does not deserve. What has he done other than entertain people? Nothing noteworthy for me. They won't give Joe Schmoe an hour long special on where he/she is going to work?
The Cinema Snob-
I'm late in posting this but in the latest episode from El Snob-io, it's a WTF, banned in the UK movie, Island of Death...no it does not take place in Aruba.
Today, we will not descend. Rather, we will ascend into the glorious miracle that was the late Sandra Kaye Richards. Singer, Businesswoman, Friend.
I begin with a song from her favorite pop group, The Carpenters.
Sandra Kay "Sandy" Richards, 63, of Parkersburg passed away at Camden-Clark Memorial Hospital on Wednesday, June 30, 2010, surrounded by many friends and loved ones.
She was born in Parkersburg, W.Va, a daughter of the late Selby "Doc" Richards and Delberta (Lowe) Richards of Parkersburg.
In addition,Sandy was a member of Faith Baptist Church and attended Mineral Wells Baptist Church. She was the First Lady in Gospel Music. Early on she was a member of The Harmonettes, then the Songsters, and then the Gospelaires. She was the Founder and Director of the Gospel Music Reunion Choir and the GMR Youth Choir. She was also owner and operator of Styles in Music, where she taught piano and voice.
In addition to her mother, she is survived by a brother, Steven R. Richards of Parkersburg; three nephews, Robert, Ryan and Ragan Richards, and several aunts, uncles and cousins.
My story with Sandy begins in 1997 through her brother Steve. We(Steve and myself) became good friends at work and eventually our friendship lead to a business and student/teacher relationship. Through Siblings Richards, I learn so much about music, so much about respecting talent regardless of their chosen genre. Sandy would encourage my passions, correct me for a flat note, or just in her own unique way make me laugh.
In Stephen King's novel, The Dead Zone, one of the characters in the story describes people as ninety-five percent simply inert,one percent saints,another one percent idiots with the remaining three percent are people who do what they say.
Sandy fell into this three percent catergory, she never lied, cheated, stole, all this while running one of the most popular music stores in town. To me, she is the only true Christian I've ever known. Thank you so much for coming into my life and filling with joy. I will miss you. You are gone but you are NEVER forgotten.
Another Descent Into...
The Last Thirty-Five Years-Tomorrow I celebrate 35 years since my spaceship landed in a field outside of Pittsburgh(lol). It has certainly been a rather interesting journey. I have seen six presidents come and go. I've seen one of African-American heritage ascend to the highest office in the land. Seven Star Wars movies have entertained and stimulated my imagination.
I got married, got divorced. Discovered who I am(a writer who lives for himself because there is no one else wrong worth living for). Found the magical gifts writers like Stephen King, Ed McBain,Ray Bradbury,and Peter Straub have left for me. I learned space is not the final frontier,it's the human soul.
I unlearned what I learned from a red-headed demon who destroyed my family. I forgave the shadows lurking in past. I've loved, I've laughed, I've cried, I even watched Titanic. Through it all, I learned one thing. It's ok to keep one foot in the air as long as the other is on the ground :-)
A Friend's List-
I'm taking this time to speak directly to the people who mean the most to me. The ones who are in the inner circle. The one's I would take the bullet for if need be.
Jason Henry) I have known you literally all of my adult life. You're the brother I've never had. You have gone through hell and back with me plus some. You stuck with me when the winds of change blew others away. For all you have done for me my friend, thank you!
Joleen Hague) We have only known each other a very short time, but I do know I love you. I know you have a heart as big as Heinz Field. You are a sweetheart who doesn't put with any and all b.s.!You love me for me quirks and all. I think we will have a wonderful life together as one.
Mary Phillips and Karen Keyser) You are the two mothers I never had. When I came back from my ill-fated stay in New Jersey, both of you took me in and helped me through a rough patch. Hell Karen, you taught me to drive. Mary, you've taken wonderful care of me and for all the two of you have done. Thank you!
Cindy Pugh) I don't know where to begin with you. I guess really you went inside my shell to drag me out from myself. You showed me people are good. You provided a template for who I want to have around in my life. You affected me so much, you inspired me to create a character based on you, lol. (Anna Ross in the story From A Serpent's Kiss ring a bell?) For all you've done, for being my guardian angel, Thank You!
The Cinema Snob-
Ok, enough about me. It's time to be swept away back to, well, 1975 of all times, lol. Before there was the blockbuster starring the late Christopher Reeve, Superman was relegated to Saturday Mornings, comics, bedsheets(of which I had a set), and this load of kryptonite reviewed by the good ol' Cinema Snob. A musical version of the recognizible superhero on Earth!
Just when I have all the answers, life changes all the questions!
Promotional Consideration Paid For by the Following-
Somehow, someway, this blog is sponsored,albeit unofficially by the upcoming Wrestlecrap Radio Roast dvd.
That's right, watch as ten years of crappin' comes back to haunt a certain R.D. Reynolds and Blade Braxton. The dvd features all the buffons who have made the longest running episodic podcast on the Internet what it is to its dozen loyal listeners(this blogger being one of them) What's that you say? What is this I'm talking about? Well take a look for yourselves...
In addition, if you pre-order today, you will receive not one but two dvd-r's featuring everything Wrestlecrap, from inductions to all radio episodes(177 as it stands now). It will ship out the week of July 4th but you can click on this very link wrestlecrap.com and go to the bottom of the page and order today!
Another Descent Into...
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly(1966)-
Clint Eastwood...Clint M'F Eastwood...The greatest actor of all time, hands down. Where do I begin? Actor, director, humanitarian? There's so much I can blog about on here about the man(and I just might one day), but for now, I will review what is my father's favorite movie of all time.
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly is the last of the Man With No Name trilogy and takes place In a desolate ghost town during the American Civil War, bandit Tuco Benedicto Pacifico Juan Maria Ramirez ("The Ugly," Eli Wallach) narrowly shoots his way past three bounty hunters to freedom, killing two but only wounding the third. Miles away, Angel Eyes ("The Bad," Lee Van Cleef) interrogates a former soldier called Stevens (Antonio Casas) about a missing man named Jackson who has taken on the name "Bill Carson" (Antonio Casale) and a cache of stolen Confederate gold. He brutally kills Stevens and his eldest son after the interrogation, but not before Stevens pays Angel Eyes to kill Angel Eyes' employer, another former soldier named Baker. Angel Eyes later collects his fee for Stevens' killing from Baker, and then shoots him too.
Meanwhile, during Tuco's flight across the desert he runs into a group of bounty hunters who prepare to capture him when they are approached by Blondie ("The Good," Clint Eastwood), a mysterious lone gunman who challenges the hunters to the draw, which he wins with lightning speed. Initially elated, Tuco is enraged when Blondie delivers him up to the local authorities for the reward money of $2,000. Hours later, as Tuco awaits his execution, Blondie surprises the authorities and frees Tuco by shooting the execution rope, the two later meet to split the reward money, revealing their lucrative money-making scheme. After Tuco's bounty is raised to $3,000, the two repeat the process at another town before Blondie, weary of Tuco's incessant complaints about the dividing of the profits from their scheme, abandons him in the desert, keeping all of the money. A livid Tuco manages to make it to another town and rearm himself. Some time later in another town, Tuco surprises Blondie in his hotel room in the middle of a skirmish between Union and Confederate troops. As Tuco prepares to kill Blondie by fashioning a noose and forcing Blondie to put it around his neck, a cannonball hits the hotel and demolishes the room, allowing Blondie to escape.
Following a relentless search, Tuco captures Blondie using the same scheme with another partner (Tuco doesn't allow Blondie to shoot the rope this time and the unfortunate "Shorty" is hanged) and marches him across the harsh desert. When Blondie finally collapses from dehydration and heatstroke, Tuco prepares to kill him but pauses when a runaway ambulance carriage appears on the horizon heading their way. Inside, while looting the dead soldiers, Tuco discovers a dying Bill Carson, who reveals that $200,000 in stolen Confederate gold is buried in a grave in Sad Hill cemetery but falls unconscious before naming the grave. When Tuco returns with water, he discovers Carson dead and Blondie slumped against the carriage beside Carson's body. Before passing out, Blondie says that he knows the name on the grave. Tuco takes Blondie (both disguised as Confederate soldiers) to a Catholic mission run by Tuco's older brother Father Pablo. Tuco nurses Blondie back to health, and the two leave, still disguised. They inadvertently encounter a force of Union soldiers (who they take for Confederates due to thick coatings of grey dust on their uniforms). They are captured and marched to a Union prison camp.
At the camp, Corporal Wallace (Mario Brega) calls the roll. Tuco answers for Bill Carson, catching the attention of Angel Eyes, now disguised as a Union Sergeant stationed at the camp. Angel Eyes has Wallace torture Tuco into revealing Sad Hill Cemetery as the location of the gold, but Tuco also confesses that only Blondie knows the name on the grave. Angel Eyes offers Blondie an equal partnership in recovering the gold. Blondie agrees and rides out with Angel Eyes and his posse. Meanwhile, Tuco, chained to Corporal Wallace, is transported by train to his execution. During the trip, Tuco tells Wallace he has to urinate and distracts Wallace long enough to jump off the train, dragging the Corporal with him. He then beats Wallace's head on a rock, killing him, and uses another train to cut their chain, freeing him.
We next see Blondie, Angel Eyes and Angel Eyes' gang arriving in a town that's rapidly being evacuated due to heavy artillery fire. Tuco, wandering aimlessly through the wreckage of that same town, is oblivious of the bounty hunter that survived at the start of the movie (Al Mulock), who tracks and ambushes Tuco. Despite the surprise, Tuco kills the bounty hunter. Blondie investigates the gunshot, finding Tuco and informing him of Angel Eyes's involvement. The two resume their old partnership, stalking through the wrecked town and killing Angel Eyes' henchmen before discovering that Angel Eyes has escaped.
Tuco and Blondie find their way to Sad Hill Cemetery, but it is blocked by large Union and Confederate forces who are separated only by a narrow bridge. Each side is preparing to fight for it, but apparently both sides have been ordered not to destroy the bridge. Reasoning that if the bridge were destroyed "these idiots would go somewhere else to fight", Blondie and Tuco wire the bridge with dynamite. During the process, the two trade information, Tuco revealing Sad Hill Cemetery as the gold's location and Blondie saying that the name on the grave is Arch Stanton. The two then take cover as the bridge blows up and the two armies resume their battle. The next morning, the Confederate and Union soldiers have gone. Tuco abandons Blondie (who has stopped to tend to a dying young Confederate soldier) to retrieve the gold for himself at the cemetery. Frantically searching the sea of make-shift tombstones and grave markers, Tuco finally locates Arch Stanton's grave. As he digs, Blondie appears (now clad in his trademark poncho) and tosses him a shovel. A second later, the two are surprised by Angel Eyes, who holds them at gunpoint. Blondie kicks open Stanton's grave to reveal just a skeleton. Declaring that only he knows the real name of the grave, Blondie writes it on a rock in the middle of the graveyard and tells Tuco and Angel Eyes that "two hundred thousand dollars is a lot of money. We're going to have to earn it."
The three stare each other down in the circular center of the cemetery, calculating alliances and dangers in a famous five-minute Mexican standoff before suddenly drawing. Blondie shoots Angel Eyes, who rolls into an open grave. Tuco also tries to shoot Angel Eyes, but discovers that Blondie had unloaded his gun the night before. Blondie directs Tuco to the grave marked "Unknown" next to Arch Stanton's. Tuco digs and is overjoyed to find bags of gold inside, but is shocked when he turns to Blondie and finds himself staring at a noose. Seeking a measure of revenge for what Tuco has done to him, Blondie forces Tuco to stand atop a tottery grave marker and fixes the noose around his neck, binding Tuco's hands before riding off with his share of the gold. As Tuco screams for mercy, Blondie's silhouette returns on the horizon, aiming a rifle at him. Blondie fires a single shot and severs the noose rope, just like old times, dropping Tuco face-first onto his share of the gold. Blondie smiles and rides off as Tuco, who has his gold but no horse, curses him in rage.
This film is majestic in its setting, its story, its acting. Ironically, Mr. Eastwood doesn't say a whole helluva lot during this film; it seems the dominant talker is "The Ugly". Lee Van Cleef turns a respectable performance as "The Bad" and overall, there really aren't any flaws in here, other than the fact it is almost exactly three hours long.
Interesting sidenote, The Man With No Name trilogy influenced a certain Stephen King to create Roland Deschain of The Dark Tower and thus an epic fantasy is born....9.5/10
Parents-
The other day I read an article in which a group known as The Center for Science of the Public Interest(which sounds as dummy sounding as the people running it I'm sure)are planning a lawsuit against McDonalds for "unfairly and deceptively" marketing toys to children.
"McDonald's marketing has the effect of conscripting America's children into an unpaid drone army of word-of-mouth marketers, causing them to nag their parents to bring them to McDonald's," CSPI's Stephen Gardner wrote to the heads of the chain in a letter announcing the lawsuit.
When the counterpoint of parental responsibility was discussed Michael Jacobson, executive director of CSPI, says it's the parents responsibility too, but he equates the toy giveaways to a door to door salesman coming to a family's house every day and asking to privately speak with the children.
"At some point parents get worn down," Jacobson says. "They don't always want to be saying no to their children. We feel like an awful lot of parents would be relieved if this one pressure was removed from them."
Ok, right there is the problem:assumptions! This is what ticks me off more than anything about groups such as this. They assume they know how to raise your child better than you do. How does Mr. Jacbson know what a parent is going through? Does he know these kids personally? Did he conceive any of them?
It is the PARENTS responsibility to set limts(one of many things that seem to be lacking these days), to be authorative(in other words, be their parent not their friend), and to monitor their nutrition...If the child wants the unhealthy Happy Meal, it's up to mom and pop know where the young one stands. They complain they want the toy, what do you do?
I can't and won't answer those questions for you so what right does CSPI have in imposing their will and ideals on you, mom and dad?
The Cinema Snob-
The 70s were not a great time for most porn movies. Other than fare such as Deep Throat, Beyond the Green Door, and Party at Kitty and Studs(the one with Stallone), most of the sex films were junk. With Hardgore, The Cinema Snob makes me wanna take a shower after viewing...YIKES!!!
The world amazes me. It won't meet me halfway but sometimes will bless with a surprise or two!
Hello Reader...It's belated but I would like to pay tribute to the man who contributed half of my life, who helped to mold me into the man I am today, my father,my real one.
(I apologize but I don't have an actual picture of my dad)
Lawrence William Polk was born January 20th,1953 in East Liverpool, Ohio to William and Virginia Polk. He has an older sister, Margaret, and that's about it as far as knowledge of their genealogy. The Polk family moved to Aliquippa, Pennsylvania in the mid-60's and when he was around 17 he met Kathleen Depner who figures into the story later.
He attended and graduated from Aliquippa High School(the same school that produced Hall of Fame running back Tony Dorsett) in 1970. He immediately went to work for J and L Steel out of Pittsburgh and in 1974 married Kathleen Depner in a small ceremony. They had one child together, yours truly, on July 2nd,1975. Sadly, with the demise of the steel industry also came the demise of their marriage and in 1981, the old man and me moved out to Southern California to live with my aunt.
In 1987, he met one Sharon Snyder(who in the novel of my life would play antagonist but that is a different story) and a year later the three of us moved to West Virginia. As I got older, my father and I didn't see eye to eye on a certain few issues and in 1992 we severed our relationship.
I'm not going to spend the rest of this post whining and crying about what might have been. Instead, I choose to honor the man's strengths. He had this goofball sense of humor that few, if anyone, got. His work ethic was impeccable. His love of music influenced me in so many ways as did him. No matter what happens, I will always love and respect him. He had a hard road to hoe and it made him stronger thus making me stronger, too.
It's amazing how one phase of life ends, another begins, all unobtrusive....
Another Descent Into...
My Life-
This week has been a good week. I have a brand new job as an associate writer for dollarbinhorror.blogspot.com. My first review for Ms.Rhonny Reaper's site, He Knows You're Alone, is on there right now as well all my future horror movie reviews. Give it a read, if so inclined. In other news, two good friends of mine have begun the next phase of their lives. One recently had a baby boy. The other recently engaged. I'm happy for both of them. I pray for the both of you, your journeys are as beautiful as you imagined them to be :-)
My Bucket List-
I was inspired by fellow blogger and writer, Chris Jacques of http://xtopherjacques.wordpress.com/ to come up with a bucket list. You know? A list of things you wanna do before you die? Some are simple, others I feel are a bit out in the ether, but then again, so am I....
1) I wanna attend a Pittsburgh Steelers home game
2) I want to be able to tell my current job to smooch my hairy white heinie on the day my first novel is published...which given my work rate will be by the time I reach Strom Thrumond's age....
3) I want Jon Bon Jovi to deliver my first published novel to my ex-wife.
4) I want bluegrass artist Ralph Stanley to deliver my first published novel to my ex-fiance
5) I want to travel into outer space
6) I want to meet Stephen King and thank him for providing me a toolbox
7) I want to read the Harry Potter stories to see what all the hype was about
8) I want to make amends with my father
9) I want to punch Eli Roth in the face if The Cinema Snob doesn't do it first
10) I want to be a non-cliched serial killer in a horror film
11) I want to write a Star Trek novel
12) I want to tell whoever the President of the United States at the time I tell them....Elvis says Hi!
13) I want to have a huge bbq with all my adopted family, my sibs, my mothers, my girlfriend, my literary sibs
14) I want to guest star on Rifftrax
15) I want to be on The Jim Rome Show
I'm sure there will be additions to the list but it's a good start....
Lakeview Terrace(2008)-
Ok, Tuesday night I wanted to watch something different from the land of Netflix. Something maybe a bit more mainstream with someone who is just...just....just awesome. Enter:Samuel L. Jackson, Mr. Mace Windu, John Shaft himself. Well his body of work speaks for itself. KICKASS!!!!
With Lakeview Terrace, SLJ is a veteran African American L.A.P.D. officer and a no-nonsense single father of two children: Marcus (Jaishon Fisher) and Celia (Regine Nehy). As his kids go to school the new neighbors are moving in. It turns out that the new homeowners are a married interracial couple, Chris and Lisa Mattson (Patrick Wilson and Kerry Washington), who are recently married and buying their first home.
Chris’s first exchanges with Turner have somewhat hostile undertones, with Abel making comments on Chris’s smoking and listening to hip hop music. The following night, Chris and Lisa have sex in their swimming pool. Unbeknownst to them, Abel's children are watching. Abel arrives home to see this spectacle, and is upset. He installs home security floodlights, and they shine into Chris and Lisa's window, keeping them awake and irritating them. When Chris has the opportunity to discuss this, Abel claims that the lights are to prevent crime and says that he will shut them down, but constantly claims that he is delayed.
Chris and Lisa have dinner with Lisa's father, who tells them they could choose to move away, if they wish, because acrimony with police officer may mean trouble for them. There conversation eventually leads into a heated exchange between Chris and his father-in-law, indicating problems between the two since he got engaged to Lisa.
Abel attends a housewarming party hosted by Chris and Lisa. He is garrulous but has an edge, and criticizes Chris and his friends for their liberal tendencies, on things from the environment to police brutality. As he leaves, Chris tells Abel that he is taking offense to him, but does not plan to move. One evening, they hear noises downstairs, and find the tires of Chris' car slashed. They suspect Abel. They call the police to come, but are able to do little.
As the feud between the neighbors continues it also causes problems between Chris and Lisa. The situation is leaving them stressed and they can’t decide on when they want to have children. Chris now buys his own floodlights, and shines them into Abel's bedroom, as a way of taking matters into his own hands. Lisa soon reveals that she is pregnant. This brings a rift into their marriage. Chris does not want to have children yet. Lisa skipped birth control pills to force the issue. She thinks Chris is being shortsighted, and he leaves for work angry.
Chris and Abel continue their feud with Abel hosting a bachelor party (while the kids are away with their aunt) and Chris installs plants at the fence between their houses, which leads to an almost violent exchange between the two neighbors. Later Chris goes to a local bar, and as he finishes his drink, Abel enters tells Chris that he lost his own wife, when a car hit her on a highway. Abel makes a last cryptic comment about his wife, wondering what she was doing out in that area, at that time with her white boss, when she was supposed to be working (implying she was being unfaithful to him).
Wildfires rage in the hills surrounding the community. The neighbors attend a barbecue in a home down the hill. Abel's informant Clarence Darlington (Keith Loneker) is sent to trash their home. Lisa goes home early surprising him and they struggle, which leads to her falling on her head. Chris races home when he hears his burglar alarm go off with a frustrated Abel following him. Chris rushes to the injured Lisa, and Abel comes upon his hired criminal trying to escape and shoots him three times in the chest, killing him.
The wildfires are not contained and the neighborhood is instructed to pack a few things and leave their homes. Abel watches from his home nearby. He is hosing off his roof and does not want to leave. He enters the Mattsons' home, hoping to retrieve Clarence's cell phone because he is afraid his call to the perpetrator could be traced, implicating him in the break-in. Before he can find it, Lisa and Chris unexpectedly return from the hospital and Abel returns to his home. Chris thanks Abel for helping him, tries to express a sense of community with Abel. When Chris and Lisa are packing to leave, Chris discovers the cell phone under their bed, and picks it up. He dials the last number logged on the phone and hears Abel answer. Chris realizes Abel is responsible for the break-in. Abel comes over with his gun drawn, trying to convince him that the perpetrator was a police enemy and was trying to set Abel up. He and Chris struggle and Chris tells Lisa to take the car and perp's phone and get the police. Abel shoots Lisa's car and she crashes into a parked car. Chris tackles Abel and gets his gun, then runs to help Lisa out of the car. This leads to a standoff, with Chris holding Abel's gun and Abel now holding a second gun from his leg holster.
The police arrive, and Abel hides his gun behind his back and tries to convince them Chris is unbalanced. Chris won't drop his weapon until Abel puts his down and Abel insists that he is unarmed. Chris finally throws Abel off, by asking about his wife's death and how he was not able to recognize that she had become unfaithful to him. Infuriated, Abel shoots Chris, but is then gunned down by the police officers. Chris is in the ambulance and has a gunshot wound to the chest, but he is OK. He and Lisa talk about their pride in their home, neighborhood, and soon to be family.
The movie itself is average, nothing to write home about. It's a bit refreshing when the theme of racism is reversed though and SLJ holds the film together, but other than that, the ending is totally unrealistic cuz no one...I mean no one can kick SLJ's ass...NO ONE especially someone from Berkley!!!! The psychological angle is done quite well, good horror movie quality. Sadly, the cliches are abundant and drag the film down.
7.5/10
The Cinema Snob-
This week's tasty serving of Senor Snob features legendary action star Pierre Kirby...WHO?...Oh yeah right. Well here is your first lesson on the mythological beast himself...
Alright, Pierre Kirby is so bad, the Snob did a whole week of episodes devoted to him last year but for today I will present you with this....American Commando 3: The Savage Temptation....
I believe in Philadelphia freedom...Freedom from a Stanley Cup parade down Broad Street...
Promotional Consideration Paid for by the Following-
Yes kids, I have a sponsor once again...albeit unofficially. The dubious honor given to sponsoring this thing is the upcoming Wrestlecrap Radio Roast dvd.
That's right, watch as ten years of crappin' comes back to haunt a certain R.D. Reynolds and Blade Braxton. The dvd features all the buffons who have made the longest running episodic podcast on the Internet what it is to its dozen loyal listeners(this blogger being one of them) What's that you say? What is this I'm talking about? Well take a look for yourselves...
To pre-order your copy, head over to wrestlecrap.com and click on the bottom of the page.
Another Descent Into...
The Mother of Tears(2007)-
[Disclaimer: I am huge fan of Italian director Dario Argento...Suspiria(1977) is without a doubt one of the greatest horror movies ever made.]
The Mother of Tears is the third movie in Dario Argento's The Three Mothers trilogy(Suspiria, Inferno). I had fairly high expectations going into this film what with Inferno(1980) being something of a disappointment.Featuring Dario's own daughter, the sleep-deprived Asia, The Mother of Tears is without a doubt the bloodiest horror film Mr. Argento has made since his golden age of the late-70's/early-80's.
Sarah Mandy (Asia Argento), an American studying art restoration at the Museum of Ancient Art in Rome, examines an urn found at an ancient, decrepit grave near Viterbo, within which are the relics of a witch known as the Mother of Tears, Mater Lachrymarum (Moran Atias). Breaking the seal heralds the return of the beautiful yet malefic sorceress' powers, and the world is plunged into chaos. A wave of suicides and crime sweeps over Italy's capital as witches congregate to pay homage to their reborn queen. Sarah must eventually discover her latent supernatural powers with the help of her deceased mother (Daria Nicolodi) and confront Lacrymarum at the opulent Palazzo Varelli.
One thing is for sure. The final film in this trilogy is certainly the most psychotic. Half-naked witches(yum), strangulation via large intestine(nice), people going Detroit in Rome, witches getting slammed in the head with train doors. On a pure gore level, The Mother ofTears is awash in a sea of crimson(not clover). On a story level, it ties the movies nicely. On an acting level, well it's as expected, over the top. Which therein is the only problem I found was the acting. It wasn't bad, just melodramatic.
And please Asia, before your next foyer into Daddy's movies, get some sleep!
8/10
The Stanley Cup-
Well, it wasn't the Penguins holding Lord Stanley, but rather the Chicago Blackhawks in 6 thus ending a 49-year Cup drought. Congratulations! I'm soooooooo happy it was against those Damn Fryers...errr Flyers.
The Cinema Snob-
I hate the 90s. I hate the most sily, self-centered decade in my 34 years of exsistance. I hate grunge(well most of it), I hate flannel, I hate Garth Brooks and I hate this latest offering from The Cinema Snob...The movie is Ax'Em...yes squire, ax the 90's...don't bring em back...NEVER!!!
My duy reigns in Sto'Va'Kor....
My corazon dies in Gren'thor
Hello...yeah it's been awhile...not much..how bout you....
Promotional Consideration Paid for by the Following-
Yes kids, I have a sponsor once again...albeit unofficially. The dubious honor given to sponsoring this thing is the upcoming Wrestlecrap Radio Roast dvd.
That's right, watch as ten years of crappin' comes back to haunt a certain R.D. Reynolds and Blade Braxton. The dvd features all the buffons who have made the longest running episodic podcast on the Internet what it is to its dozen loyal listeners(this blogger being one of them) What's that you say? What is this I'm talking about? Well take a look for yourselves...
To pre-order your copy, head over to wrestlecrap.com and click on the bottom of the page.
Another Descent Into...
Daybreakers(2009)-
I'm not the biggest fan of the vampire genre. Oh sure, I appreciate the original Dracula featuring Bela Lugosi and a few Hammer films featuring Christopher Lee as the good count, but overall it's just not my thing. Too much melodrama I suppose. And now with Twilight draining female bank accounts and sucking the life out of all things literary, it's just gotten worse.
Enter Daybreakers, a vampire film set in the year 2019. In the future, planet Earth has become blood-sucking friendly thanks to a diseased bat. The few humans remaining are being farmed for their blood and there's an inevitable shortage.(Ok, good premise so far).
As human numbers dwindle, the need for blood becomes desperate. When deprived of blood for extended periods, vampires degenerate into subsiders, aggressive bat-like creatures. Humans are captured and harvested in laboratory farms while scientists research a synthetic blood substitute to satisfy vampires blood hunger. The main supplier of blood in the United States is the pharmaceutical company Bromley Marks, run by Charles Bromley (Sam Neill). Edward Dalton (Ethan Hawke) and Chris Caruso (Vince Colosimo) are hematologists working on the blood substitute. Under pressure from Charles, they try multiple versions in a series of failing clinical trials. Edward secretly refuses to drink human blood and faces a strained relationship with his brother, Frankie (Michael Dorman), a human-hunting soldier.
A covert group of humans led by Audrey (Claudia Karvan) rescues and hides humans from vampire patrols while they attempt to win allies amongst the vampires. Audrey contacts Edward because of his human sympathies and scientific specialty. He meets Elvis (Willem Dafoe), a man cured of vampirism by brief exposure to sunlight while being thrown in water. After some experimentation, Edward is able to duplicate this effect and is cured himself.
When a convoy of humans headed to Audrey’s group is captured by Bromley soldiers, Charles is reunited with his human daughter, Alison (Isabel Lucas) and has her forcibly turned by Frankie. She refuses to drink human blood, and begins to turn into a subsider. She is killed when a group of the creatures are rounded up and executed. Witnessing Alison’s death upsets Frankie and he seeks out his brother.
Edward, Elvis, and Audrey meet with Chris and ask him to help spread the cure. However, Chris has finally discovered a viable blood-substitute and does not want a cure to become widespread. He calls in a vampire patrol who captures Audrey while Elvis and Edward escape into hiding. They are finally found by Frankie who agrees to help but is gradually becoming a subsider. He attacks Elvis and they discover that feeding on a former vampire is another cure for vampirism.
Edward turns himself in and goads Charles into attacking him. Edward uses the now-cured Charles to cure a group of soldiers experiencing the beginning of subsider aggression. Edward and Audrey, cornered by more soldiers, are rescued when Frankie sacrifices himself to the soldiers. This sparks a feeding frenzy that leaves all of the soldiers dead or cured. They are confronted by Chris, who kills the few cured soldiers to hide the evidence of the cure. Elvis arrives and rescues Edward and Audrey by killing Chris. The three survivors then drive away into the sunrise with a voice-over by Edward stating that they have a cure and can change others back.
So what did I think? Well, I loved it! This movie works as a multi-dimensional sociological piece, a gross-out splatter film, and a future-noir piece. It felt realistic, very plausible(albeit for the cure perhaps couldn't have been as simplistic as it was). You had a dark hue to the film I found enjoyable. And thank gawd, there is no "Oh, I'm so tortured I'm a vampire"-schtick. The acting is above average despite Ethan Hawke's somewhat annoying whining.
The ending was ok, nothing slam-bang spectacular but it doesn't detract from the rest of the film at all. High recommendation.
8.5/10
Where is this novel you been saying you're working on?
Well the answer is simple, it's because I've been working on it, lol. Seriously, I have never written a detective novel before, I've never had to research as much as I've had to research for this story to be as good as I know it can be. I've been studying some chemistry, autopsies, and a bit of astronomy to boot. So far, this novel has a dystopian hue, alot of things in Beta City are run down, including the detectives on the case.
Speaking of which, the characters in my lil' tale are speaking to me. They are giving their own voice to the situation they are in. I'm discovering things about them I never would have expected just like Stephen King said in his book, On Writing. As it stands now, I'm 31 pages into my 2nd draft and I don't have a timetable on when it will be complete. I believe so strongly in my story, I've put off going back to school another year just so I have time to work on this.
So yes, I'm being slow but I hope it's wine I'm making and not vinegar.
The Cinema Snob-
Did you know between Alien(1979) and Aliens(1986) there was a little Italian horror film entitled Alien 2? Huh? WTF? Well, sit back and watch as The Cinema Snob tries to explain it all in his latest episode.
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