…and yet this river of doubt, this spout that I can’t turn off…
Daily Archives: June 11, 2006
Cable: War of the Worlds.
Unlike another Tom Cruise movie I saw recently, this movie just was NOT good enough for me to forget it was him. In fact, this movie was a pretty bad piece of schlock, frankly. It was as if they made a remake of Independence Day…but left out all the good parts.
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD:
I mean – come on… Alien invasion. Fine. The aliens come, and kill a bunch of people and wreck a bunch of cities. Fine, we were expecting that.
And then what happens? They. Just. Die. Say what? No, America doesn’t come up with a master plan to destroy them or figure out a weakness or IN ANY WAY do anything redeeming at all. Nobody tricks the aliens, or thwarts their master genocide plan. The fuckers just die. Because, you know, they weren’t “accustomed to our planet” the way we are. How fucking stupid is that.
Hellloooo in alien invasion movies, the whole point is the humans overcoming the aliens. Talk about a No Hope ending! Because clearly the next set of aliens just has to be accustomed to our planet and they’ll have no problem annihilating all of us.
Stupid.
Big Screen: Mission Impossible III.
Great line in this movie: Please don’t interrupt me when I’m asking a rhetorical question.
Also Amanda greatly enjoyed the use of “embolden.”
Now on to the show: Yes, Tom Cruise is a freakshow. But if you can just forget about that for the two hours you’re in the theater, this is just as fun as your average summer action flick and not much of a letdown unless you were dumb enough to go into the theater expecting “high art”.
The scenes in China really reminded me of Tomb Raider 2 (which is a good thing in my book, but probably not in yours).
Not a great flick. No WOWza moments. But for a summer action movie with some ass kicking fights, and some chase scenes, and some things blowing up, and some twists & turns = it was just fine.
The girl playing Cruise’s fiancee, Michelle Monaghan I think?, looks eerily like Katie Holmes in a couple scenes. Spooky, man. Billy Crudup and Jonathan Rhys-Meyers are showing up all kinds of places you wouldn’t expect them these days, aren’t they.
Big Screen: The DaVinci Code.
This may be the movie with the worst reviews since Ishtar. Sure, it’s clunky. But I’m pretty sure most of its faults are the faults of the book it’s from (from what I hear, it’s a pretty faithful reproduction, other than they simplified the mystery somewhat). I really didn’t think this was as bad as I was led to expect — I was entertained. I was shocked enough to yelp at one point. I wasn’t bored. I found some of Ron Howard’s “here’s where I REALLY make it REALLY obvious what he’s thinking right now” techniques were way more blatant than they needed to be – felt somewhat INSULTED by them. Apparently he was expecting a less intelligent audience. But he was, wasn’t he, because he was expecting the audience that loved the book…. Mua ha ha ha, really walked into that one, didn’t you, DaVinci fans?!? 🙂
Wasn’t a great movie. But was not the most horrific movie ever made, as perhaps the reviews have convinced you. I’ve seen worse.
Cable: Monster in Law.
What a terrible movie. Jane Fonda is pretty hilarious, but this is baaadly written. Jennifer Lopez and Michael Vartan have very little chemistry. I was totally into her little sundress over jeans look though (loath I am to admit it). But all in all, not a good movie in any way (not that I expected it to be).
Wait, Wait… May 21st edition.
Some really funny stuff to start off with about Bush’s perch (then changed to some other fish) claims. I’ve decided I don’t like the Kiri (Carrie?) whatever woman from Texas. She can be funny (she had a lot of good quips in this show) but I think she’s a Closet Conservative. Maybe the Republicans planted her on this show!! Also funny were Ray Blount’s “this is where a joke would go” comments. Elayne Boosler was the guest. Very entertaining and lots of little “back in the day” tidbits about Andy Kaufman, etc. This is really a fun “show,” thanks SuperEggplant for getting me hooked. 🙂
KEXP: Belle & Sebastian (4/14).
Very goofy band with many, many members, none of whom are named either Belle or Sebastian. I think for some unknown reason I was picturing them as the guy and girl who make up Everything But The Girl. Not sure why as I know I own one of their earlier albums (The Boy with the Arab Strap). Enjoyed the stuff they played here. Also enjoyed their cover of Badfinger’s “No Matter What.”
Paste Culture Club (1/11/2006): Brandi Carlile
She’s had a couple songs on Grey’s Anatomy: I’ve meant to check her out. Has an odd voice; reminiscent simultaneously of K.D. Lang and Jeff Buckley. Sings to the very edges of her range, just short of breaking into falsetto. Interesting.
Also really loved a song they played earlier on: “Slow New York” by Richard Julian.
Interesting tidbits during the “Arthouse” directors segment (taken from that issue of the magazine): Gus Van Sant is going to be the director on the adaptation of Time Traveler’s Wife. (Not that I’ll be seeing it. Loved the book waaaay too much.)
Enjoyed the Pendarvis interviews Beethoven segment also.
And Nada Surf bookends the show — reminds me, I think I have an album of theirs I’ve never listened to. Probably never even taken the plastic off. Got to get to it!
Leonard Lopate Interviews Ian McDiarmid (6/1)
How weird that I just recently watched Star Wars III where McDiarmid is Senator (and then Emperor) Palatine. This was a really fun interview to listen to. Not only because McDiarmid has a great Scottish accent, but also because he seems very fun loving. Still completely excited by acting, and his co-actors. Not jaded by the industry.
KCRW’s Bookworm: Kurt Vonnegut (4/6).
Great interview. So sad to think Vonnegut doesn’t have that much time left; his mind is still just as sharp and vibrant as ever. Talks a lot about the American public school system. Definitely makes you remember how proudly subversive he’s been for so many years and the amazing life he’s lived — a former soldier. Highly recommend giving this a listen.