Welcome to the 110th Edition of my blog series. Merry Christmas,
Happy Hannukah (spelling?), and Happy Kwanzaa to everyone and if you do
not celebrate these holidays, I hope all is well. No matter which blog I
write, it's hard to believe that I have lasted this long. I have never
stuck something out for this long but this has been enjoyable and I
intend to keep doing it until I can't anymore even if I just have to do
it once a month. I want to congratulate Anthony T for defeating my in
the Myspace Football league in fantasy. He defeated me in the
semi-finals to advance in the finals and I was the 1 seed but in fantasy
that doesn't mean a damn thing since you can't really get homefield
advantage. It was a close game but I had Willis McGahee and he just
killed me and he happened to have Ben Roethlisberger, Ladanian
Tomlinson, and a couple others to take him to the finals. Good luck to
you Anthony, you have defeated The Greatest Mind. Okay, many of you are
probably wanting me to shut up and get to the movies so here we go...
The Jackie Robinson Story (1950): Here is my baseball pick of the
week where Jackie Robinson stars as the title character, oh wait a
minute, he is the title character. This movie charts part of his
childhood into his days in UCLA where he excelled in many sports, to his
rise in the Negro Leagues to the day he broke the color barrier in
Major League Baseball. For those of you that might not know, he is the
first black player in Major League Baseball when Brooklyn Dodgers owner
Branch Rickey, played here by Minor Watson, brought in Jackie in what
could have been a publicity stunt, maybe an experiment but no matter
what his motives, it happened and he had the guts to do it which was a
plus in black history. This was a pretty moving film and maybe I'm just a
sucker for baseball movies even though I hardly watch baseball.
A Perfect Candidate (1996): We go from a war of segregation to the
world of politics in this interesting documentary charting Oliver
North's bid for a Virginia Senate seat. This movie focused mostly on the
campaigning of North from the people who worked his campaign and
focused a lot on the politics of politics for a lack of a better phrase.
It was amazing the way these filmmakers, R.J. Cutler and David Van
Taylor, were able to get so close to this campaigning. In some ways I
understand the way people need to go about a campaign because what do we
thrive on? Dirt, that is what, we care about some extramarital affair
of some past drug usage more than we do the issues sometimes. This will
make many cringe and laugh.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966): No this is not that Jim Carrey
movie, this was the original tv special of the Dr. Seuss classic. This
character is actually featured briefly in SEUSSICAL: THE MUSICAL as well
which I saw in both Anderson where my myspace friend Eric, really went
all out on his make-up and where in Muncie, my myspace friend Joe played
the role. Here, we have the narrator, Boris Karloff who also did the
voice for the Grinch and this mean person who wanted to ruin Christmas
in Whoville until he sees that there is more to Christmas than presents,
trees, and decorations. This is a great classic that all parents need
to show their children, and any minors who read my blog, Tony D is the
only one I know for sure so listen to this, you all need to show it to
your kids if you have some in the future and it must go on to each
generation.
Peter Pan (1953): This is the Disney version of the J.M. Barrie
classic which is a bit different than versions I have seen but still
works okay. Lee's Theatrical productions did this show and I was upset
that I couldn't try out for the role of Dr. Hook's henchman Smee because
it was a No Child Turned Away production but I still went to see it and
it was before I made my debut there and I am aware that my myspace
friend and MASH co-star Kayla, the girl typecast as male characters even
though she does not look like one played Dr. Hook, my myspace friend
and MASH co-star Sammy played Tiger Lily, and I'm sure my myspace friend
and MASH co-star Jordan was in it as well I just don't know who he
played. In this usual story Wendy, John, and Michael are visited by the
boy who refused to give up, Peter Pan and they join him to visit
Neverland, and no this is not that ranch ran by Michael Jackson, this
was a land of indians, pirates and lost boys. This could be considered
racist towards indians but I think they meant well and I suppose it
stereotypes pirates as well but who hasn't done that one. This was one
of the great Disney animated classics before they had to go into
computer animation many years later.
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989): Chevy Chase and Beverly
D'Angelo return as the Griswald couple in the third of the vacation
film where this time the Griswalds stay home except when they go get a
Christmas tree which Clark feels should come from something besides a
grocery store. Many family members join them including redneck cousin
Eddie, played by Randy Quaid, and family who decide to join them and
seem to try to move into their household. Clark must deal with a crooked
boss, played by Brian-Doyle Murray, his perfectionist efforts to get
his decorations on his house and the family. Juliette Lewis plays
Griswald daughter Audrey. SEINFELD alum Julia Louis-Dreyfuss plays the
Griswald neighbor who despises them. EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND alum Doris
Roberts plays the Griswald grandmother. This was a great, dysfunctional
Christmas film that still shines in holiday spirit.
The Aviator (2004): This is Martin Scorsese's big production which
will probably garner some mixed opinions by my readers. Leonardo
DiCaprio plays the role of Howard Hughes which covers quite a bit of
ground into his filmmaking, his aviation ambitions, his political
battles and his obsessive-compulsive disorder which ruined many of the
great things Hughes could have done in his career. Cate Blanchett plays
the role of Katherine Hepburn who had quite an affair with Hughes. Kate
Beckinsale, who I never recognize unless I know which character she
plays, is Ava Gardner. Jude Law plays Errol Flynn. Also look for John C.
Reilly, Alec Baldwin, Gwen Steffani (as Jean Harlow), and MASH alum
Alan Alda The first time I ever saw this movie, it was alright to me but
when I saw it again, I really saw something, an interesting portrait of
the Jack of all Trades whose biggest battle was with himself. I also
admire the effort by Scorsese and Dicaprio as well as others to make it
look as real as possible.
Of Mice and Men (1939): A theater in Indianapolis did an adaptation
of this Steinbeck classic which starred my MASH co-star Sam as Lennie
and I wasn't able to see this. BATMAN alum Burgess Meredith plays the
role of George and Lon Chaney Jr. plays Lennie in what I feel is his
best performance as the man with more strength and kindness than brains.
Together, they dream of owning their own farm but must pay some dues
first and they get work which leads to a lot of unforeseen trouble. This
movie didn't get as much recognition at the time due to such classics
as GONE WITH THE WIND, THE WIZARD OF OZ, and Steinbecks other film
adaption THE GRAPES OF WRATH. I actually like this better than Grapes
myself.
Superman: Doomsday (2007): This was a movie based on a big-selling
comic series of THE DEATH OF SUPERMAN where the Man of Steel meets his
biggest challenge in intergalactic serial killer Doomsday, accidentily
freed by Lexcorp. Lex Luthor is actually dismayed when his long-time
enemy dies the way he does and makes for some unforeseen events of the
future. Voices are done by Adam Baldwin, Anne Heche, BUFFY THE VAMPIRE
SLAYER and ANGEL alum James Marsters, who is Lex Luthor. Also, listen
for Kevin Smith. This was actually rated PG-13 and it is by no means
that saturday morning cartoon. It may not be for the whole family but
Iiked that approach. This might be a record for me, three animated films
in one installment.
Out for Justice (1991): I decided to go the Seagal route in this
movie that was in his glory days when he was able to do half-way decent
action films and this is one of them, not great but fun to watch. He
plays a cop named Gino who avenges his partner's death and goes after
his former childhood friend, played by William Forsythe. He went after
just about everyone he could and no bad guy recieved any mercy. He has
an amusing bond with a dog found thrown out of a car and the scene where
he beats up everyone in the bar, with a cue ball.
I Shot Jesse James (1949): Samuel Fuller makes his directorial debut
in this fictional account of Bob Ford, the man who shot Jesse James
which takes place from a little before the shooting and his life after
where he had to deal with what he had done. This was an interesting film
of torment, regret, and dealing with the reputation of the public. What
was accurate was the way he shot Jesse James and his reasoning but I
don't know if love played a part so much as wanting to be able to go
free. Also I do not believe that his death in this movie is very
accurate but nonetheless, still a compelling western and an interesting
portrayal and a great debut by Fuller who said he wanted to do a movie
on Bob Ford because he did not see Jesse James as the hero he is made
out to be. .
Well, that is it for this week. I will be back next week so stay tuned.
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