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Thursday, April 4, 2024
Rusty Jones
Wednesday, April 3, 2024
Target
Tuesday, April 2, 2024
Monday, April 1, 2024
Sunday, March 31, 2024
An Easter Treat
Saturday, March 30, 2024
just the facts
Friday, March 29, 2024
Louis Gossett Jr
Wednesday, March 27, 2024
Joe Lieberman
Monday, March 25, 2024
Sunday, March 24, 2024
40 Years On
Saturday, March 23, 2024
On The Line
My own take? I largely agree with YaYa, as did Lisa. There are a few cheesy moments of dialogue early on, and the hyper-crisp, high def visuals were distracting.. But the story itself was solid, Gibson made a point of displaying his acting chops, and the twist - I didn't see it coming.
It's worth a watch!
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Monday, March 18, 2024
ISO
Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Tuesday, March 12, 2024
Sunday, March 10, 2024
Friday, March 8, 2024
Steve Lawrence
One of - perhaps the - last crooner of the mid-20th century, Steve Lawrence, died yesterday at the age of 88.
To me his name is synonymous with the partnership he had with his wife. He wasn't "Steve Lawrence;" he was "Steve Lawrence and Edie Gorme."
RIP
Thursday, March 7, 2024
Tuesday, March 5, 2024
Dune Part Two
On Sunday night I ventured out on my own to see Dune Part Two by my lonesome at the Avalon.
Those who know me know that I am a big fan of Dune, having first read the novel in fifth grade (the largest book I had read up to that point - I finished it on the sly during a Cub Scout Pack meeting!) I enjoyed the 1984 film and the little of the miniseries that I saw, and I thought part one of this film was excellent.
So my verdict on part two?
Visually stunning, well-acted, and just plain well-done.
My beefs echo those of many Dune fans. I do not understand the need to truncate the narrative into a single calendar year, a decision that minimizes the difficulty of Paul's ascension, and forces the script to keep his sister a (as yet) unborn child, despite her role in the original novel. It's a pointless decision.
Nor am I a fan of Chani's pouty opposition to Paul; it completely contradicts the novel. Again, why? To stress the "false Messiah" message for the audience? Do it through your storytelling. Or was it to give a shallow nod to women by "upgrading" a loving and supportive partner into a sometime opponent? If so, it was terribly unneeded, as strong and powerful women abound in Dune.
Those complaints aside, it was wonderful. I rate it an A-
Monday, March 4, 2024
Brian Mulroney
Brian Mulroney, the Prime Minister of Canada during my formative years - 1984 to 1993 - and a man who looked suspiciously like Martin on Frazier, died on Leap Day at the age of 84.
Mulroney was a once popular PM who left office with a very low approval rate. It's hard to see why. He stood against Apartheid in South Africa, led Canada in its involvement in the Gulf War, reduced the deficit, and largely advocated for existing social programs, although I'm sure necessity got in the way and he tinkered with them.
By all accounts tho, even his opponents liked him as a person.
RIP