Movies

Hacksaw was VERY good and I agree about Gibson, although I also did like the Lethal Weapon films (first two more than the second two). I read that the first one was actually supposed to be MUCH darker than the one that was eventually released.

Despite his racist flaws, Mel has done quite a few really good flicks, both in front and behind the camera. He has a goofy kind of charm that makes him likable to most men and of course most women love his “look”.

He reminds me of an old friend of mine that has tried and / or succeeded in screwing me over more than a few times. Every time I forgave him until this last one where he took me for close to $8 large.

Played in a lot of bands with him and he’s a helluva guitarist (probably one of the best in Cincy) and the other times were band related over gigs, equipment, etc. Nothing that ever really cost me any money.

He’s a mechanical / general contractor & I hired him first to replace my 20 + year old HVAC system to the tune of around $4 large. Then I hired him to finish my basement and was throwing a grand a week his way for which I received @ one grand of work and four more in his pocket. He ended up walking away from the job half done and I had to finish a good deal of it myself and with another paid carpenter.

I decided to have the HVAC cleaned after we finally got the basement done - lots of dust, drywall, spackle, etc. Couldn’t call the jerk-off so I had another local company come. They wouldn’t touch it and advised the whole install was not to code & illegal. Had to have ANOTHER brand new furnace installed @ nearly $5 large.

Haven’t seen the dude since and not sure what I’d do if I did. Don’t think I’d be so quick to give him a hug like I have when he’s previously disappeared from my life for years at a time. I’d love to punch him in the face, but that would probably only lead to him kicking my ass.

GO DODGERS!!!

INSANITY!!! Like I said - what’s next?

Black cherries or blackberries? They’re not REALLY black. But are we going to have to start calling them dark maroon cherries / dark purple berries?

How about getting “blackmailed” or “blackballed”? Two more words destined to disappear from Webster’s?

Will “Blacula” and other “blaxploitation” films be dropped by networks? How about the Oompah Loompahs in Willy Wonka? Certainly they’re going to be found offensive to some group.

The Wizard of Oz used and exploited hundreds of little people for Munchkinland. And isn’t that name alone offensive to them? Or how about the stereotyping of the mean old neighbor as a wicked witch?

Madness - I say - MADNESS!!!

A TRUE classic. Kevin Spacey has been one of my other fav actors dating all the way back to his role as Mel Profitt in the series “Wiseguy” (and who could forger his sister played by Joan Severance?).

He was superbly ruthless in the House of Cards series and I’d have trouble naming anything I ever saw him in that I didn’t like. Too bad he ended up another Hollywood “freak show” like more than a few these days.

GO DODGERS!!!

Flags of Our Fathers, directed by old Dirty Harry himself finally made its way to HBO last night. It’s about the battle on Iwo Jima and the men that raised the flag there ending up in one of the, if not THE most famous photos of the war.

Some horrific scenes of battle and the injuries to men and bodies that were never going to make it home alive. And an interesting tidbit that it was actually a “second flag” that was erected that the photo was based on.

The platoon that was sent specifically to the highest point of the island to plant an American flag had already done so earlier in the day when Truman and some other politicos showed up there, one of which demanded the flag be given to him.

Following a call to one of the commanders and after being ordered to retrieve it for this blowhard, the commander defied the order saying that flag belonged to HIS men and the ones who had fought long and hard suffering thousands of casualties to place it there.

So he instead sent another platoon up to the summit to replace the original and that’s when the photo was taken.

There was also a backstory of who was actually IN the photo as most of the faces were unrecognizable and it came out that one soldier credited with being in the photo was not, while another who was KIA and denied as being one of the six that raised the flag actually WAS in the photo, just as his mother knew all along after recognizing his “posterior”.

A good deal of the movie dealt with how these soldiers were thrust into the spotlight and used / exploited in major cities all over the country in efforts to get people to buy war bonds and support the effort to win and end WWII.

The US was nearly broke and the dollar wasn’t worth the paper it was printed on. Obviously their efforts worked but not without a good deal of guilt and prejudice, as NONE of the three remaining “spokesmen” wanted this limelight and / or felt like heroes simply because they erected a flag.

One of the three was a Native American who most called “Chief” and he had to endure bigotry at nearly every function they were forced to attend. One example was some uppity up asking if he used a tomahawk to kill the enemy - lots of things like that. In the end, most believe he took his own life.

Overall a pretty decent two and a half hours and a strong three and a half to four out of five stars. Bonus for Clint’s composing (and I believe playing of guitar) of the music and closing theme song as the credits rolled.

GO DODGERS!!!

I started watching that myself but sadly passed out. John Larroquette was always great on Night Court and Kirstie Alley was looking pretty hot as his girlfriend / fiancé. Wonder what ever happened to Markie Post?

Guess I’ll have to see if it’s available On Demand. Imagine it is.

GO DODGERS!!!

Can’t remember if I posted on this one before (might have done so on the old board) and too lazy to go through five pages, so . . .

Across The Universe was on FXM tonight. A really good flick around the Vietnam War era and featuring all Beatles music throughout.

Another cast of nobodies (Evan Rachel Wood the only name actress that I knew; there’s also a very brief appearance by a very hot Salma Hayek as a nurse in black).

Most of the characters are named after persons in Beatles songs (Jude, Lucy, Sadie - you get the idea) and they all sing a good deal of the Beatles catalog throughout the movie.

Many different arrangements, but tons of talent by everyone in the film, including the aforementioned Ms. Wood (who knew she could sing?).

Like the previously reviewed “Yesterday”, it’s hard to go bad with anything featuring the Beatles and their music IMHO. This one did not disappoint in the least.

GO DODGERS!!!