Summer Movies, Part 3: Terminator: Salvation

I saw this movie last week, but it took me awhile to process and objectively review this film. Coming out of the theater, I immediately dismissed its lack of plot and further development of the Terminator universe. My main beef with the movie was its choppy and out of sync editing, with little concrete transition from scene to scene. At some points it did make it difficult to even follow the story. But I guess that's what you get with a music video director...oh wait, I forgot, he did direct the Charlie's Angels movies, my mistake (you can tell how much I liked them).

I really don't want to spend a lot of time on this review, but I thought the acting of both Sam Worthington and Christian Bale was spot on, and I don't remember Ron Howard's daughter being that attractive. The action scenes were good, but again there was little underlying plot to tie them together.

I read online about some potential alternate endings, and they were actually where I thought Terminator was going. The cliche statements were ill placed and not delivered well, and the digitally enhanced Governator was not necessary.

And don't even get me started on a battlefield heart transplant with possibly not the best donor (from a blood type/tissue matching perspective...did no else think of that?!?).....

Today, but yesterday

I should have posted this yesterday, but like many of you I am busy.

The Today Show's ( the home for puff pieces) Matt Lauer hosted a nice old lady on the program. She seemed sweet until it dawned on me that this little grandma had just been released from prison for trying assassinate President Gerald Ford (not Chevy Chase) over 30 years ago.

Poor old lady, she had to "harden her heart" in prison as the eloquent yet not fully haired Mr. Lauer said. GIVE ME A BREAK. SHE TRIED TO KILL THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. Why is she even on the show?!?!?!

Now I know the nice people at the Today Show are not smart enough to figure this out (especially Matt Lauer), but let's not give the floor to convicted terrorists and those guilty of treason.

Who's next? Ex Nazis and war criminals...poor Gitmo detainees...sheesh!

Stick to lost puppies and the weather Today Show. Don't take yourself too seriously, no one else does....

Reunited

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FV1tmnw__VE&feature=related

New place

Me and the little lady found us a new place:

http://www.thecaruth.com/

Another day over

Anyone else still watching 24?

I am, but it seems like the days are getting longer and longer...and the story gets more unbelievable. How many bad days can Jack Bauer have? My bad day:

THE FOLLOWING EVENTS TAKE PLACE BETWEEN 6:00 AM and 7:00 AM

Sock has a hole in it, have to switch feet so big toe does not push all the way through.

THE FOLLOWING EVENTS TAKE PLACE BETWEEN 11:00 AM and 12:00 PM

Even though I brought my lunch to work, I still go out because it's the third day in a row I will have to eat a ham sandwich.

THE FOLLOWING EVENTS TAKE PLACE BETWEEN 5:00 PM and 6:00PM

Traffic on I-35.

You see my point.

Note to Fox executives:

• An action show does not require a cliffhanger 45 minutes before the end.....after that I'm bored
• Don't tell us the procedure required to save Jack is "experimental" when you've already been marketing the next season
• Just because you "can" insert the liberal viewpoint on torture and national defense in the form of femi-nazi Janean Garolofo doesn't mean you "should"
• I could go on, but I prefer to leave you guessing until next season

Done

School's out for the summer.

Recent Review

In preparation for the upcoming movie, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (on the list of films I have to see this summer), IDW has relaunched the Joe mythos in a number of series. My favorite so far (I get them all), and sadly I think it's only a mini-series and not a full ongoing, is G.I. Joe: Cobra. Its' a classic take on the "world is gray" kind of guy, who can straddle both worlds, good and evil. Chuckles is a soldier deep undercover in what will become the terrorist operation COBRA. Excellent storytelling and in depth character study highlight this tale of a guy who has finally found his niche - amongst thugs and killers. The most recent issue, #4 shows truly the dedication of Chuckles as he does whatever is necessary (ala Jack Bauer) to get the job done.
The cover only begins to scratch the surface of what Chuckles is capable of in service of God and country. His final act of violence in this issue only serves as motivation for him to fulfill his goal of bringing COBRA down.

Pick this book up, as well as the other ongoing G.I. Joe titles....

Another blow

Mavs lost, don't want to talk about it.

Summer Movies, Part 2: Star Trek

Jeff's bLog, Stardate 200905 (spoilers follow)

Today I put on my t-shirt with the periodic table of elements (geek chic is in) and sat in a movie theater filled with my fellow nerds (we are taking over the world people) to see Star Trek.

First and foremost, I will admit I have always been a Star WARS fan, rather than a Star TREK fan (there is a big difference, which I continue to have to remind Ashley about, but that's ok, she's hot), but I LOVED this film. A great "reboot" for the series which just got plain stupid with Generations, and other fare of late (although IV, in which the plot was to travel back in time and save some whales was quite silly as well), with a phenomenal cast that both honored the past but made their own mark.

Chris Pine was great as Kirk, showing his disrespect for authority and more of his Lothario side than we saw with Mr. Shatner. Zachary Quinto portrayed Spock well, difficult to do with the original in the same film. However, the scenes were quite literally stolen by Karl Urban as Bones and Simon Pegg as Scotty. I've only seen Urban in more action-esque roles so it was good to see him actually get to act...and he really nailed the classic Bones lines. I have always been a big fan of Pegg since his Shaun of the Dead days, and his Scotty was humorous and quite enlivened.

The plot made sense (to me) and allowed the writers and producers to take some liberties with the classical Star Trek mythology. I'm fine with it, but then again I'm no Trekkie, although I am what is politely referred to as a "fanboy" since I had to go the opening weekend and I am somewhat of a nerd.

I was suprisingly moved (and in some cases almost to tears I'll admit) by some of the more emotional heavy scenes: the destruction of Vulcan, the loss of Spock's mother. But by far the real moment that got me choked up was five minutes in with the loss of Kirk's dad right at his moment of birth. Maybe my own history and fast-approaching future makes me more prone to this reaction during scenes of loss, love, and family.....I'll be a husband soon.....and I just thought the dialogue and emotions were masterfully done.

Overall the movie brought me the full range of my emotions, kept me enthralled, and made me ready for the next installment.

Warp speed Mr. Sulu.

Big day today

Mavs are back in Dallas, need to win this one....

Nuggets are a bunch of thugs.....

Summer Movies, Part 1: Wolverine

Nothing is better than the start of the summer movie season and 2009 looks to be one of the best. From May to August there is at least one movie a week that I HAVE to see.

Today, I began with X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

Wolverine is by far my favorite comic character, one of the deepest, most examined personalities in the history of the medium. His origin story and past are some of the most interesting stories in comics today. It was great to see Hugh Jackman bring this mutant to life in the X-Men series of films (albeit he is much taller than the little Canuck) with emotion and vigor.

The latest installment that uses portions of the great Origin miniseries and the vast history of Weapon X is an utter disappointment. It could have been so much more....

From the one-too-many cameos, to the butchering of the character of Deadpool, to the untimely and cheezy entrance of Professor X (although I have always loved Patrick Stewart in the role) this movie tried to take a little bite of the source material and turn it into more than necessary, when if they had only dug a little bit more the story would have presented itself.

I really can't say any more, I don't want to talk about it...

Next week: Star Trek

Recent TV

Being out of town a lot lately, it has taken me awhile to get caught up on all my shows.  (still have some Heroes episodes to watch).

 

Fringe and Lost are by far the best shows on television today.  I love the writing and the twists and turns each story takes.  Fringe especially is the new hit this year.  I think it could easily attain X-Files status with its episodic format while at the same time linking everything into one over arching story (The Observer = The Smoking Man?).

 

I think after some growing pains with the Oceanic 6 leaving the island, Lost has finally come back with an exciting story, as everyone is back on the mysterious island, just not all at the same time....  Some of the revelations about the Others, Widmore, Eli, Farraday, Ben, and the yet to be named new group from 316 (with their secret catchphrases) have made the plot very interesting and engaging as we are slowly putting all the pieces together.

 

 

 

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