Cover To Cover

Well this is a first!This book came out LAST WEEK.This cover just speaks to my 10 year old self.Usually I only pick books that have been around for a few years,but dammit,this will remain a favorite of mine.I know it's a photo,and usually I find photo covers awful,but it's Snake vs Storm!Dig it.

30 Second Movie Review:Fast Five

Another turn in the Fast series,and quite possibly the most enjoyable.The first was Point Break with cars,and the next few were sans Vin Diesel,and seemed to focus more on racing.This one takes characters from all of the previous four films and drops them into a heist film,with some spectacular chase/action sequences.Dwayne Johnson is introduced to the series as the Long Arm,after Diesel and Paul Walker's fugitives.There is a great heist scene that takes place on a train and culminates in a incredible stunt scene involving a car going off a bridge,and the final scene featuring two Dodge Chargers strapped to a bank vault being chased thru Rio is totally cool and entertaining.This film runs a little over 2 hrs,and at points you can see where maybe trimming 20 minutes could have tightened the whole thing up,but another fun ride in the series that won't let up.4 stars.

30 Second Movie Review:Zookeeper

I try to review all the films I see.I occasionally miss.I could have easily missed this one,but I saw it,so fair is fair.

Kevin James plays a Zookeeper who can understand and talk to animals.The animals are all voiced by stars such as Adam Sandler,Jon Favreau and Sylvester Stallone.I like James,being a big fan of "The King Of Queens",so I have a soft spot I guess.This is no worse than any other formulaic comedy,and I laughed in parts.

3 stars.

Next!

Trailer of a Sequel to a Remake

I was totally surprised at how much I liked the remake.This looks like tons of fun.I'm in.

Bruce

Ok,I can wait,but it won't be easy.

My 10 Year Old Self Would Faint...

If I saw this poster in 1985 or 6,I would have passed out.In 2011 it's still badassed.

Blaze

So they seem to have gotten the tone a bit closer this time.I enjoyed the first,but it wasn't dark enough.

Norris!Van Damme!God Damn!

Loved the first one,psyched for this one.They lose Mickey Rourke but get Chuck Norris?Nice!

Pete

The trailer was lame,but this poster is pretty cool.

Broken Bat?

Cannot Wait for July

Alright,Let's See

Interesting trailer for G.I.Joe 2.I liked the first just enough to give this a shot,and the added star power helps a bit.I couldn't tell but I really hope Snake Eyes doesn't have lips on his mask again.

Stream of Random Stuff

Random Thoughts

-I'm tired of being a Dallas Cowboys fan.I don't expect Super Bowls every year,but I am getting sick of disapointment.It would be easier to be a fan of a constantly mediocre to bad team like the Browns,expectations are never high,if they do anything good it's a nice surprise.Dallas is consistently loaded talent wise and are usually expected to perform well,and then they play just good enough not to suck,but never good enough to move ahead.Tiring.

-Was it easy for Dave Matthews to suggest to his band that they go by the name The Dave Matthews Band  without sounding like a complete dickhead?At least Tom Petty let his band have a name while still tossing his name in front.

-Everyone I ever met with a tongue or other exotic piercing claims it didn't hurt.Bullshit,I bite my tongue and it hurts.I think when you go to these piercing places they make you sign a release that says if you ever admit it hurt Satan gets to dryhump your soul for eternity.

-I listen to Pandora radio on my phone while showering,I think it's where Sugar Ray and Third Eye Blind died and went to.Oh and if you were looking for Toad The Wet Sprocket,I can help.

-So what your saying is that Greenland is arctic and harsh,and Iceland is actually lush and habitable?Fuck you.

That covers it for now...

December 8th 1980

This video was my first exposure to John Lennon.I wasn't truly aware of the Beatles,and had no clue who this guy was let alone the fact that he had been murdered several years before this was on heavy rotation on MTV in the early 80's.I liked the song,and still do.I didn't truly become a fan of the Beatles until a little after high school,and in all my life I have heard the word genius bandied about for alot of musicians,John was truly that.He helped invent and refine a style of music and his influence will never die.He died 31 years ago today.

Interesting

This is a strange little film called "Lock-Out".It looks like a standard roguish antihero on the run from badguys film,oh except it's set in outer space?OK,Guy Pearce and Peter Stormare?I'm in.

Anthrax and Alex Ross

My wife got me the new Anthrax album,"Worship Music"for my birthday a few months ago,and after loading it onto computer and IPOD I never really looked at the packaging.I was cleaning up last night and took a look at the cover and felt it was quite familiar to me.I opened up the case to see album art credited to Alex Ross.Ross for those that don't know is a top level comic artist specializing in painted work and has a very discernable style.After looking into this he also did their last album back in 03.I know Scott Ian is a huge comic fan,so he must have gotten Ross to do these covers.It's not the first time a famous comic artist worked in music,but it was cool and unexpected to see.

What A Shame

I got home from work today and zoned out in front of the TV for a while before dinner.I caught the last 10 minutes of "Last Crusade",and marveled at how such a perfect ending(heroic ride into the sunset!)could be deep sixed by such a shitty next installment.Then suddenly SyFy channel informed me that the aforementioned "Crystal Skull"was next.Decisions...

I watched the first 35 to 40 minutes.I haven't seen the film since the theatre,and rightfully so,it doesn't deserve my damn time.Something I did notice this time out though,and it is a direct comparison to Lucas'own terrible Star Wars prequels.All of those films started bad and just went nowhere fast.There was no steep drop in caliber of story or action at any point,just consistent crappiness.Not here though.I said it when it came out and I'll stand by it,Crystal Skull starts off pretty good.It quickly reintroduces Indy and the basis of the adventure he is in for(mysterious artifact sought by Soviets).We follow Indy as he has a fistfight on a rocket sled and gets nuked while hiding in a (lead lined)refrigerator.I never had a problem with that by the way.We catch up with what his life became in the ensuing two decades since "Last Crusade",and see him at his dayjob as a Proffesor of Archaeology.He meets the character we eventually learn to be his son,and they go on the quest to find .....

And that's where this thing shits the bed...HARD.This is the point in the classic Indy film where we see his plane travelling by map(greatly parodied in the new Muppet film,by the way),and he starts to punch and think his way through the journey.It just falls apart here,totally.Instead we get-

-John Hurt giving a terrible or great performance as Indy's old colleague gone bonkers
-Karen Allen 30 years past her prime
-CGI jungle,followed by CGI ants that would have sucked in one of the Brendan Fraser Mummy films
-Shia Lebeouf,King of CGI monkeys
-Indy's old partner turning on him and rejoining 19 times
-Oh and the whole thing is about aliens(I don't truly mind that either,it was just done poorly)

Steven Spielberg recently said that they have a concept for the next Indy movie ready.Please stop,my childhood can't take no more!

It's A Festivus Miracle!

I do like Xmas,and I love when the house is decorated and has that feel to it.I'm not ready to abandon Xmas ,but I feel that another holiday deserves my attention this time of year.Frank Costanza invented Festivus,for the people sick of the Xmas experience.As much as I have grown to enjoy the day,I understand the pressures of the holiday.So this year I went out and bought the necessary items to have the 1st annual Amenta Festivus aluminum pole,unadorned as it should be.I am even going to eventually paint the base black so it doesn't pop so much.Remember if Xmas has got you down,on December 23rd,we can air our grievences and have feats of strength to help get through the end of the year.

Musical Interlude:Phish

Love this song.Enjoy.