11/7/4

Wow! I knew I wouldn't end up doing this everyday, but I'd thought I'd pop in more often than I have so far. Anyhow, Halloween went over quite well, although the investment of time and effort seemed far less worth it when it's eventual audience was a dozen rather than one-hundred. But I have too much fun doing it, anyhow, so whatever.

The new Star Wars teaser trailer debuted this week. Looks pretty sweet, but the truth is simple: this movie is either gonna rock hard or suck even harder. I've been saying for two years, after seeing Clones, that Episode III will be terrible, but I'll be first in line. No denying I'm a geek. Lucas needs Lawrence Kasdan really bad, the man who co-wrote Empire and Jedi. Most fans will tell you Empire is the best, and it's the one Lucas had the least control over, as "story by" and producer. He didn't write the actual screenplay and didn't direct it (all hail Irvin Kershner). But now he's so utterly blinded by the power he has to make these movie exactly how he wishes no matter what anyone says, that he, quite ironically, is truly playing out in real life the moral message at the center of his first three films (and the prequals to a far lesser degree). He was once part of the rebel young filmmakers who were shaking up Hollywood in the 1970's, but is now Emperor over this dark, singular-minded, soulless, gigantic money-making monster.

Tonight was the latest Halloween episode of The Simpsons, which have of recent years been more gothic and sci-fi than outright horror. That's not to say they've gone soft, because the early ones alternated Shinings and Draculas with Twilight Zone surrealness. I just love my annual dose of Kodos and Kang, no matter what form it takes.

Then came Arrested Development. I started catching it off-and-on half-way into the first season, having read way too many glowing reviews from critics who all can't figure out why nobody is watching. The answer is simple: it's too damn smart for most Americans to follow. People are always bemoaning the sorry state of television, saying that they always underestimate the intelligence of the audience. Bullshit! If that were true, crap like The Swan wouldn't get big ratings. Fear Factor is approaching it's 100th episode! The election proved just how stupid middle America really is. The cover of London's Daily Mirror last week said "How can 59 million people be so stupid?"

Okay, that's a rant I just don't have the energy for today....

We'll leave that tangent alone. Like I was saying, Arrested Development is fucking hysterical! My wife snickered at a couple episodes, calling it a poor rip-off of Soap. It's actually a fair comparison: zany ensemble cast in various intersecting absurd plot-lines. But the writing and acting is so top-notch and non-stop. I taped it for her again, and I promise that if she doesn't laugh her ass off at this one, I'll never bug her with it again. Not that my wife is stupid. The humor is also a bit off-beat and not for everyone. In other words, the ratings just aren't going to get a lot better. This show is destined (or doomed, depending on your perspective) to be a major cult-classic.

After a long dry spell, I actually got to the movies twice this week. First, my wife and I went to see Team America: World Police which was very wrong in all the right ways. They did a better job at slamming the right than the left, but everyone got the treatment they deserved. And the soundtrack absolutely had us in stitches: "I miss you like Michael Bey missed the point in Pearl Harbor!" The next day I took the kids to The Incredibles and Pixar once again came through in spades. Movies that I can comfortably take my children to with no hesitation, that they will thoroughly enjoy, while at the same time being so intelligent and emotionally real enough for any adult to be able to watch without needing a kid as an excuse. Pixar is now what Disney was in the 50's, with their hearts and talents just dead-on and can do no wrong. Seriously, just go see this movie!

I definately need to write more often, because there's just so much else that has breezed by. I'm sure in the near future I'll have plenty to vent about the election. Ummm.... I better stop now before I start again.

BACK - - - BLOG INDEX - - - NEXT