Been away for a while. Checking back in to say RIP Roger Ebert. Thumbs up or thumbs down I could usually count on Roger's opinion to guide me to a movie that I would enjoy. Bring the curtain down one final time.

The Exorcist (Director's Cut) Fathom Event

Saw this (again) at a Fathom Event at my local theater. A once only showing of the Director's Cut bookended by a "making of" video.

I remember seeing the original twice in 1973. If my memory serves me, I laughed a bit the first time and was pretty freaked out the second time..go figure.

When it arrived on the scene in 73, the special effects were startling. The green projectile vomiting, the head turning 360 degrees, 'Help Me' written on Regan's poor emaciated tummy. All of that played well in 1973....not so much today. We've seen it all and let's face it, with CGI, we've seen it done more realistically...did I just write that??:-)

What does hold up is the story and the performances. The hours in make-up and the physical demands placed on Linda Blair....she certainly deserved her Oscar nomination, as did Jason Miller, his Father Karras character holds the film together.

It really is a bit of a love story, more so than a horror film, as Father Karras addresses his demons and makes the ultimate sacrifice for a 12 year old little girl that he has never met.

I'd really like to get a young persons take on this film as they are seeing it for the first time. Would it be as scary for them as it was for those of us who saw it originally in 1973??

And I wonder if the book is still a scary read?? I'll bet it is, especially if you have not yet seen the movie.

The American

The American, based on Martin Booth's A Very Private Gentleman (2005).

Tagline: An assassin hides out in Italy for one last assignment.

I really can't say too much without saying TOO much.

Clooney is in good form as Jack, as he shows everyone the benefits of doing push-ups, sit-ups and pull-ups on a daily basis..oh and his acting is top notch as well.

Violante Placido is lovely as the woman who worms her way into Jack's heart.

Thekla Reuten shines as Mathilde, the woman who procures Jack's services.

The movie leaves you to wonder, just what did happen in Sweden?

If you are expecting Bourne-like action, you will be disappointed. It is beautifully filmed and filled with fine nuanced/subdued performances.

I liked it: Worth a look on DVD

Edge of Darkness

Move over Porter. Step aside Martin Riggs. Dismount that horse William Wallace.....not so fast. Listed above are three of Mel Gibson's tough guy alter egos. Martin Riggs from Lethal Weapon and Lethal Weapon 2 is my favorite character followed closely by Porter from Payback. Both are shoot first, ask questions later guys. Not so different from Thomas Craven, Mel's character from Edge of Darkness. Separated by a decade or two, it sucks getting old. You get the feeling that his actions are thrust upon him in this latest thriller...the other characters seemed to enjoy that action.


Edge of Darkness is a mystery/thriller with enough action to keep the pace and enough mystery to keep you guessing. The first act has Craven dealing with loss. Some of those scenes are heartbreaking. The second and third acts give us a good dose of the Mel we know and love. True he can't dish out a beating like Martin Riggs could, but he gets the job done, while catching his breath.

Corruption, betrayal, loyalty, remorse, revenge..it's all in here.


One thing I did notice while watching the movie. All of the material that is in the trailer seems to have been exaggerated...that is...within the context of the movie it almost gets lost. It's a great trailer for a good movie. I know that I have been waiting for this to hit the screen. Mel has not acted for the most part since Signs, and he was away too long. I can separate his politics and drunken rants from the guy I see on the screen...bad Boston accent and all.

I liked the movie and if you are a Mel fan, you will too. Although, I could not help wishing that they could have worked the story so that Mel was once again playing Martin Riggs..a Lethal Weapon.

Men of a Certain Age

Men of a Certain Age airs in TNT on Monday nights at 10pm. If you are a Man (or Gal) of a certain age (45-55) you will really relate to this show.

The show centers around three guys who have been friends since college. All three are now pushing 50.

Joe Tranelli – played by Ray Romano – Party Store owner, separated, father of 2

Terry Elliott – played by Scott Bakula – under employed Actor - single

Owen Thoreau Jr. – played by Andre Braugher – Car Salesman – married, father of 3

Joe works for himself, Owen works for his famous father and Terry barely works.

Terry works at some super flexible job, as he waits for the next audition that will make his a household name. Terry nails anything that moves, much to the amusement of his two buddies

Joe runs his successful party store with all of the trials and tribulations that come along with having employees and customers. Joe is separated and is just starting to date, which leads to some hilarity.

Owen sells cars at his father’s dealership. His father was a player for the Lakers, a career that he parlayed into a successful car dealership. Owen is about as opposite as he can be from his father and this causes friction between them.

The soundtrack of the show features Joe’s favorite music. Joe likes music from the 70’s, much to the chagrin of his young employees. Great music from that era and earlier intertwines with each episode, beginning with the theme song…When I Grow Up To Be A Man by the Beach Boys (released on the LP The Beach Boys Today! In 1965).

While watching the 5^th episode I decided to play a little game with myself. I call it…Is THAT ON MY I-POD? The 5^th episode featured music from the movie Rocky….yes that soundtrack is on my I-Pod. The 6^th episode featured the song Nice To Be With You by the group Gallery. Look them up on your one hit wonders chartJ Yes that song is also on my I-Pod.

All three of the leads are solid. I have not thought about Ray Barone once. The supporting cast is equally solid.

Check it all out here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1242441/

Avitar

Just like the 1939 debut of Baum/Fleming's ground breaking Technicolor powered The Wizard of Oz, 70 years later Cameron's ground breaking rebirth of the 3D powered Avatar draws many parallels. First, both Dorothy Gale and the Navy brigade are both Kansans. Second, they both pleased their audiences with never before seen big budget effects and third, they're both for your cinematic enjoyment only. Perhaps the first is Cameron's homage to The Wizard of Oz, a kindred if you will, but the second and third will be his [Cameron's] most challenging endeavor (home DVD sales) yet and only time will tell if the endeavor will be conquered.

Because this film's full potential can not be reached on Real 3D screens it's a film only to be seen in I-max. I sat in both and there's no comparison between the two. While Real 3D gets the job done bringing you to the movie, I-max brings the movie to you. Regardless, 3D should hamper Cameron's home DVD sales because this technology gap will not be overcome like the more achievable Technicolor gap [the] The Wizard of Oz overcame nearly 14 years later when commercialized color television debuted but even then it would take decades more for color television to become mainstream in American homes. Further, times were different back then too.

The Wizard of Oz experience was able to preserve its magic because it was a pioneer of its time and faced meager competition over a considerable amount of time compared to what Avatar will face this year. The 3D Movie Database shows 47 announced 3D films to be released in 2010 (compared to 17 in 2009) and if blockbusters like Spiderman, Batman and Ironman come out in 3D Avatar will be easily forgotten. I should note that Star Trek 2 is appearing on the 3D list for 2012, not as 2011 that IMDB also shows Kahn making a comeback for ST2 so should this all be true, I will be the first person on line to see this movie (also Zoe is now getting top billing on IMDB for ST2 and she's just a communications specialist - go figure Kirk and Spock)

So how did our last generation do? Blu-ray, a treading water technology, who already consumed its competition because the space was too small for two companies, has told us that Americans are not ready to invest in a then $150 Blu-ray player, a then $1,000 surround system, a then $4,000 television and still have to pay $30 Blu-ray DVD. For those Americans who have invested I don't think they're ready for home 3D especially if the true reward of Avatar is not the story but the 3D and I-max at that.

There are also many differences between The Wizard of Oz and Avatar and here's where the two exponentially grow apart. For one, there's no Judy Garland on Pandora, nor is there a vocal sound-track (this was a major mistake on Cameron's part because MUSIC is the harmonic link for religion (which this is what the people of Pandora is about - their link to Deity notwithstanding our ignorance of it for greed). Did Cameron not learn his lesson when he disagreed and subsequently agreed with James Horner to use Celine Dion for vocals for Titanic? Perhaps Cameron should have gone with his first instinct to use Enya for the Avatar soundtrack because I for one like Enya (Lord of the Rings soundtrack) and thought she would have done a better job sound tracking the spirituality of the movie but I guess Cameron wasn't willing to take on any additional risk so he stuck with his Titanic and Hollywood certified extraordinaire composer, James Horner.

The other difference and perhaps most compelling is the script. While Avatar is recycled, The Wizard of Oz was new (like everything back in the early 20th century). I have already argued that Avatar is a film only for I-max, not for settling in Real 3D and certainly not for home 3D; but is the story big enough alone to carry it into homes (DVD sales)? I think not. While the love story sub-plot was nothing to write home about, the main plot was not baked. Hey Cameron, you should have consulted me because I would have told you to show us how this precious ore is being harvested, how was the ore even found on the planet, how did the Na' vi get there and what about their ways and why it's so worth the effort to have an Avatar program and why it matters so. Just saying it's because of the yield is not enough for the imaginative Cameron. How about the weak sex scene between Jake Sulley and Neytiri? They didn't even use their tales to create a "bond"! The bond was the message of the entire movie "I see you". In fact, it almost makes sense to say Cameron skipped over Avatar and really released Avatar 2 on 12.18.09 These are critical elements in the movie that should not have been left out. If I haven't said it enough times I'll say it again, the biggest mistake is leaving too much for the audience to assume, interpret and accept. Avatar was 34 minutes less than Titanic, so why not use that time to finish baking the story? I for one just need to see a baked movie.

So where do I land with this film? It's a must see in I-max and don't settle for anything less. If you wait for the home version you'll be disappointed because the special effects won't be up to par and the story, although enhanced by the onslaught of CGI, simply isn't enough.

I think The Academy will reward Cameron on March 7th for putting half of Hollywood to work on this movie and for the big risk he took in starting the next cameration of 3D movies. I also wonder if Cameron will bankrupt Hollywood? Surely Avatar will get its money back but will Jackass 3D recoup its money? Will the theaters be asked to invest tons of money into I-max theaters because with 47 new 3D films on the horizon it's a way to siphon $2 off every ticket versus the pennies they now get. What if 3D goes back into hibernation? Will the theaters be left holding the bag? This dilemma was not a concern for the Oz era but it's a big gamble Hollywood is taking with 3D. Will they be the next to ask Washington for a corporate handout if the $13-$14 ticket for 3D goes sour? Hopefully it (3D) is not a fad.

Lastly, hopefully Cameron's new formula of success, terrific CGI and a weak story is not the new way of Hollywood otherwise 3D will be short lived.

So, this is a movie to see but see it now in only I-max while you still can and as often as you can because it will be like watching The Wizard of Oz on your grandmothers B&W RCA television!

I for one still have one last I-max left in me!

Submitted by guest contributor: C.R. Bodine

A Perfect Getaway

Having seen this...I now need to see it again. I enjoyed it, I'm just not sure everything adds up. Even if the ending is a bit out of whack, A Perfect Getaway is worth a look. The performances from the four principle actors (Steve Zahn, Timothy Olyphant, Milla Jovovich and Kiele Sanchez are outstanding.

Filmed in Hawaii and Puerto Rico, the scenery is beautiful. I'm certain that the Hawaii Tourism Bureau is not at all pleased with the content of the movie, honeymooners being killed while hiking in Hawaii. Maybe they had to finish up in Puerto Rico once Hawaii found out the movies content:-)

D
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