"Walking is a series of falling down and getting back up again."

A man develops a strict phobia/neurosis in which he cannot interact with people except through a beaver puppet which he has created a personality for. 

This is the plot for a new film called The Beaver set for release next year. Starring Mel Gibson as the man and directed by his Maverick costar, Jodie Foster. 

The role went from Steve Carrell to Jim Carrey to Gibson. How or why, we'll never know, but I am so very happy that it did. Gibson needs a comeback in the biggest way possible and hopping on to a film whose screenplay topped the "blacklist" last year was definitely the way to go.

I honestly cannot complain about unoriginality in Hollywood at this exact moment because I know of this films existence. Oh happy day!!

"In my arms I'll hold another day."

Everyone is blogging now and I love it. I like reading things that allow me to feel as though I was hanging out with them just hours earlier. It's great. 

It is now the third week of school and I am, I guess, doing better than I was last year. I made a valiant attempt last night to get more organized and accomplished half of what I planned in order to do so. I now have a schedule in the front of my notes which informs me of all the major assignments and whatnot that I need to get done. I now need a second copy of said list in order to put up somewhere on my wall so I can check it out at home as well as in class. Maybe I'll do that right after this. 

Besides school starting off on a high note (at least compared to last year...which wasn't hard to do, so really this year isn't that much better) I have had that creative surge that I often get when I am bored for a certain amount of time. I have decided to write a short film for the FR!NGE festival this year which I am fairly excited about. I am a little nervous to have to choose a cast though from people who come to audition for the directors. I think I would much rather just seek people that I know who would be able to help me with it. Better than randoms I think.

This past weekend I also got to take part in an event that I've never experienced before. It wasn't at school, no. I attended my cousin's Stag & Doe at the farm in Chatham and it was kinda cool to see how something like that would play out. There are a definite lack of Stag & Does in the city, I would guess this is because the lack of outlets to put on such a party. They did the whole thing in the barn, where they set up tables and chairs and a bunch of picnic tables and had games and a bar and the whole thing was themed around "ducks" and hunting (going so far as to bringing out the big screen TV and putting Nintendo's "Duck Hunt" on for all to compete). It was a wonder to behold.

Depsite a lack of knowing people, I was able to take pleasure in a few of the things there. A magnificent dinner of roast beef was a definite plus. And then of course there was the "Pie Auction" where all the country folk (including my great aunt) donated pies they had baked and everyone bid on them. My dad was adamant about getting either his aunt's or Tammy's mom's pie, and eventually, after some strong debate, he got the latter. I, on the other hand, won the first pie of the night at a definite bargain of $15. Chocolate Cream Pie. I'll let James Franco explain how it tasted:

I can also tell you that there will be some interesting days to come over the course of the next two weeks, so we'll just have to see how everything plays out. I'm prepared for the best and the worst, but I'm not sure how well for either. No guts. No Glory. "It's all too short and so why not" is what I keep telling myself. I'm getting better at reminding myself of this and it's making me feel a lot better about things. Once I can finally get it implanted in my head I'll be all set.

Here's a graphic I did for the school newspaper too. It was for an article I did on the "extinction of cool". If you wanna read it, just ask for the details. (Sorry for the giganticness of it...I was too lazy to crop it all down.)

#7 to The Mall

Tap. Tap. Tappa.

Tap. Tappa. Tap. 

Tap. Tap. Tappa.

Tap. Tappa. Tap. 

Why was this guy doing that?? It was hypnotic. Tap. Tap. Tap. There was no head phone in his ear. He could not hear any music. There was not any radio on in the bus, and even if there had been, it was far too crowded with people and the engines were loud enough that nothing would be able to be heard anyway. All this guy had was his newspaper in left hand and almost as if independent from his body, his right hand continually kept to this non-existent rhythm. 

His thumb would ever so gently touch his pointer finger. Then, in the next instant, he would touch his thumb and middle finger, just grazing the tip. Then, in a third motion he moved his thumb down to swiftly tap the joint directly below where he last touched. 

A very peculiar, and oddly mesmerizing tap, tap, tappa. 

Alone, this would have been interesting, but this blonde, balding man, whom had to be in his late 30's early 40's, was taking the whole process a step further.

Never putting any sort of focus on what his fingers were doing, the man began the routine all over again. This time however he swapped the second and third taps, moving from joint to tip, reversing what he had done previously. It went from being a tap, tap, tappa to a tap, tappa tap. 

This small, insignificant moment, something the man himself didn't give  second thought to, I couldn't help but be entranced with it. It felt like he had OCD and could not stop the touching until he was completely satisfied that he had sufficed his nervous tick. 

Tap. Tap. Tappa.

Tap. Tappa. Tap.

I could do nothing but sit there in amazement at how something so stupid could make me so utterly interested. 

And then he stopped. Something clicked inside him. He lifted his head and looked out the window. He swapped the newspaper from left hand to right, and reached up above his head to pull the hanging yellow cord signaling he wanted to get off. 

It was at this time I turned away. Without something to garner my attention, he was just another guy to me. 

My music echoed through my head as I turned my attention elsewhere, but alas, nothing was as interest as tap, tappa, tap. Well, maybe that father and son wearing matching leather fedoras. Yeah. Actually that was as interesting. 

"It's a long trip alone..."

I accidentally fell asleep on the couch 3 hours ago. Napped for a good 2 minutes before I decided it would be a good idea to pack it in for the night. So, I put down my film theory book, slipped off my glasses, turned all the lights off in the apartment, sauntered into my room, quickly dressed myself in proper sleeping attire and went to hit the hay. Right before I hit the pillow though, I realize I don't have my phone in my room, so I have to wander back out to my desk, grab my phone, come back to the bedroom, put it on the bedside table and lights out, I'm done.

Rather I wish I had been done.

That stupid bloody nap screwed me over, because as soon as I hit that pillow, I couldn't get back into the sleep groove. You know that groove. The one where if you don't wait that long you can move from one place to another and just feed off of the tiredness that you were just experiencing, fueling a nice transition from one place where you fell asleep to another. I was banking on that to happen. Obviously it didn't take. 

Stupid nap. I blame the one glass of cherry brandy and peach drink that I had. It made me all hot and flush, which was odd because it normally takes a lot more alcohol for me to feel those effects. I imagine the combination of being trapped in a deathly hot sauna classroom right before then and the consistent glow of the computer screen is what did me in. The point is, as soon as I hit that couch to do some required reading, I was down for the count. 

Since then though, I've just been lying in bed, mind racing as per the usual. It wasn't so much the usual though, it's that stupid short film that's been keeping me awake.

I've had this idea since at least last year...well actually, it's two ideas...and only recently I had two separate revelations on how to make each one just that much better and more convenient to shoot. Throw in the fact that the FR!NGE Festival this year is being run by one of my friends who wants to include a film portion this year as well, and my goodness I haven't been able to stop story boarding the thing in my head since yesterday afternoon. 

I came up with the idea during a screening of Rear Window actually. No discussion needed really here. I just thought I would write that down so I remembered. 

Sigh. I really want to sleep. Scratch that. I really need to sleep. I have class at 11:30. Yes, that's a pretty late time for a class, but I need to do some more reading for it. Oh man...if I sleep through another alarm I will never be able to forgive myself. I am off to an absolutely horrible start and need some sort of carrot at the end of the tunnel to get me through it all. I know exactly what would do it, but alas, that's still aways off. 

At least its getting me through Brit Lit. Its a definite plus when you have people in that class who you don't want to think your an idiot (any more than they already do). Some I've known too long for that to matter now, but one of 'em...well, I will show her I ain't not a dummy!!

Things That I Love Today: Kristen Wiig at the Emmys

Did I watch the Emmys?? Uh, no. Do I wish that I did so I could have seen Kristen Wiig's dress prior to today?? You bet your ass. 

A DARTH FUCKING VADER GOWN. 

If you didn't love her before, you better now. 

"Nobody Knows What To Say"

If anybody ever wondered where I get the titles of most of my posts, then that is why I choose them the way I do. Some (but very few) I choose because of their significance, and the others are a matter of chance. I don't want to explain it, but I will say that this post's title is the former. 

Before I go on here, I want you to see something.

This is one of the greatest ads I have ever seen. A bold statement, yes. But it really does bring to mind the essence of everything I want to believe in. 

I believe that we will never have figures in the world of entertainment who make as bold an impact as the performers of the early 50's through the 70's.

I believe that anything can be accomplished so as we realize we should not sabotage ourselves.

I believe that sometimes life isn't fair but it's too short to dwell on the belittled insignificance of those unfair matters. Some time can be attributed to it, sure, but eventually we should move on.

I believe that whomever made this commercial really understood the importance of it all and it wasn't just for some insurance company. 

And I am forever glad that I have this to watch again and again for inspiration. 

50th Post/Poorly Written "Friends" Moments [Part 1]

Holy balls, this is my 50th blog post. I figured since I've made it this far, this post should be a big deal. Something of purpose and substance. And something that I should take at least a little bit of time with. 

So, I thought about it, and this is what I came up with:

THE WORST WRITTEN "FRIENDS" PLOT LINES, EPISODES & DIALOGUE

That's right, that's what I came up with. Why you ask?? Well, I have been considering this for a long time. My most beloved television show of all-time, although never failing to entertain, really does have a few moments that make me shake my head in disapproval. They aren't so bad as say, something on Will & Grace (not by a long shot) but still, they could have been better. 

Unfortunately, it was taking a little too much time to come up with a greater amount, so I had to shorten it from the length I had intended it to be. I mean, there are certainly more elements than these that irritate me, but I have other things to say people, and I can't do that without posting my 50th post!! Then it would all be out of order, and chaos would ensue, and cats would fight dogs and hamburgers would eat the people, a massacre!! So, the brilliant idea of splitting it into more than one part is how I solved the predicament. 

So you want an example of one of them?? Well, let's just start at the start then. 

SEASON 8, EPISODE 24: "THE ONE WHERE RACHEL HAS A BABY"

CLIFF asks PHOEBE to scratch the itch that he has on his casted foot. PHOEBE grabs a spoon and cleans it off. That's what she's going to use as her scratching device. 

CLIFF

Wow. I usually get to know a girl better before I let her spoon me.

PHOEBE

Relax. It's not like we're forking.

This is probably a bold and incorrect statement to make, but what the hell, it's my blog, I'll do what I bleeding want: Every contemporary sitcom has made the "forking" joke. All of them. I can definitely recall "Spin City" doing it. I'm pretty sure "Scrubs" ended up doing it (in one of the off-seasons). 

What I hate about said line, is that it's just such an unbelievably easy joke for a character that rarely ever goes for the obvious ones. I mean, Phoebe has been set up as the "weird humored" character of the bunch. Giving such an easy throwaway punchline to her character really doesn't bode well with the overall essence of the Phoebe we have come to know and cherish. Had this line been said by Ross, it would have worked. It just would have sounded like something that came out of his "awkward at life" way of doing things. 

And before anyone states the obvious that, "hey!! it wasn't said during a plot line that involved Ross!!" Well, of course I am aware of this. I'm just saying, that this line could have been either a) salvaged at a later point in time (i.e. another episode entirely) or b) tossed out completely, because really, it's too easy. Phoebe would never say this under normal circumstances and it just never really works in favor of her overly sexualized manner. A real shame that they couldn't have made those few lines of dialogue a little more fitting to the atmosphere.

SEASON 9, EPISODE 4: THE ONE WITH THE SHARKS

It is extremely hard to enjoy an episode of a show that you have watched for years and years when the writers turn a character that you have come to love into an unprecedented moron of epic proportions. In this case, I am referring to Monica. How did they turn her into said moron?? Well, they allowed her (a supposed intelligent woman) to believe that her husband (whom she supposedly knows) gets his jollys from watching shark attacks. In her own words:

MONICA

Chandler watches Shark porn!!

That is a piss poor excuse for a plot if you ask me.  What human being, in their right mind, would have the audacity to confuse what turns their own significant other on?? Maybe, if it was something more realistic, like an "African topless tribe" or something of that nature. But no. When Monica walks in on Chandler, and he changes the television ever so quickly from lesbian porn to a show about sharks, the only explanation conceivable is that he was getting off to carnivore fish. 

Get real people. We have not come to know Monica as anyone remotely that stupid. Attempting to endure that plot line is really very annoying.

SEASON 6, EPISODE 15: THE ONE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN (PART 1)

PHOEBE

What if I had taken that job at Meryl Lynch?

EVERYONE else murmurs, and questions the shocking revelation with "Huhs" and "Whats".

PHEOBE

(cont'd)

Yeah I had a massage client who worked there and he said I had a knack for stocks.

RACHEL

Well why didn't you take the job?

PHOEBE

Because at that time, you see, I thought that everything that rhymed was true. So, I thought, y'know, if I worked with stocks, I'd have to live in a box, and only eat locks, and have a pet fox...

This entry is pretty much the opposite of number one. It's a case of them giving Phoebe something weird to say, as per usual, but it doesn't really work. In fact, it's kind of a cop out because it's like they were struggling to give Phoebe a storyline for this episode, and thus, made this bit up with the explanation simply being "Oh, she's weird. They'll accept it." 

Further explanation is required, so I will oblige. In this episode, the writers are attempting to do something rather unique in having every one of the "Friends" redo something in their lives and allowing the audience to see how it would have worked. Monica wants to know what life would have been like had she still be fat. Joey wants to know what would have happened had he never been fired from "Days of Our Lives". Ross wonders about still being married to Carol, and similarly Rachel questions where she would be had she stayed with Barry. Chandler ponders what it would be like had he the guts to quite his job. 

And then there's Phoebe, the most mysterious of the cast. See, the rest all have a real "thing" that they question what life would have been like, as in, they had all questioned this at different points prior to this episode. In the case of Ms. Bouffet, her "what could have been" moment is taking a job that she was supposedly offered at Meryl Lynch. 

Where the hell did this come from?? This little bit of revealing information was created just because they were stuck on what to do for Phoebe in this cool experiment. I mean, the whole storyline works out to be really funny, so it's not what comes of it that I have a problem with. It just seems like the reasoning on why she turned down the job and how it all comes about is a little bit of laziness on the part of the writers. Sorry. 

SEASON 7, EPISODE 19: THE ONE WITH ROSS AND MONICA'S COUSIN

ROSS

Yeah, I'll never forget that summer either. That's the summer I, uh, figured out that we're related. 

CASSIE

It took you that long to figure it out, huh?

ROSS

Yeah, I'm a little slow. (to himself) Just as our children would be. 

How dumb is Ross?? Well according to the show, consistently dumber with every season. It kind of peaks with this episode though where he goes to the darkest corner of his inner most self and attempts to sleep with his first cousin. Gross, I know. Why they had to go down that road I have no idea. And why Denise Richards had to demonstrate that she really can't act in this episode, I also have no idea.  

It does induce some funny moments, but honestly, it's a little too disturbing for my taste. 

SEASONS 8 - 10, EPISODES: NOT SPECIFIED

This isn't a specific moment or episode really, it's just an overall observation that I can't help but feel a tad annoyed about. Where the hell did Carol get off to?? For a long time, they wrote her into a random episode here and there, but eventually, she just became extinct. Like she never even existed. Of course, I am well aware that she wasn't a vital part of the show, but really, she was a vital part of Ross' life. All I really think they needed was to add her in ONE episode in the last 3 seasons. How hard could that have been?? There were plenty of throwaway plotlines that had nothing to do with the shows big season story, why couldn't one of them included the lovable lesbian ex-wife?? Alas, Carol Willick was retired in Season 7 and we were to never hear from her again. 

"The word that you wanted was aluminum."

I had just finished watching The Shawshank Redemption on CBC when I began flipping channels. On Channel 70, APTN, what do I find being played?? Why, The Green Mile of course. Both prison movies. Both directed by Frank Darabont. Both which make me cry almost every time. 

During both movies, I have been making attempts to write an article for the newspaper for this week. I, for some reason, have become so anxious about doing it that I haven't been able to get anything done. It is a very weird situation that I'm putting myself in, because normally when this happens, it is over a school assignment or something that I need to hand in to get a mark on. In other words, something that, in the end, is going to matter later in my life. 

Here's the thing though. For the most part, the anxiety only comes in when I have left it until the last possible minute and am at a loss for words at what I need to write. In this case, I have already written two full articles, and just can't bring myself to send them in for editing because I think they are a piece of shit. 

My anxiety in this case is coming from a lack of original thought/competent form in my writing. The words are all there, just...the way that I've arranged them makes me ever so pissed. 

I really just want to close my eyes, and when I open them again, everything will fix itself, and I will have one good piece to hand in for this week. 

Haha. Sorry, sidenote, James Cromwell just came into the scene and yelled "what in the blue FUCK was that!?"

Anyway, I now need to just bask in light of Darabont's films. I really actually want to watch The Majestic after this. I haven't seen that one in so long. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free. Oh too often I forget these words. I really do believe that. It's just, I tend to forget it when it might really make a difference.

Okay. Let's see what I can make of these ramblings now. It won't be Shakespeare, but I know I can do better than the grade 7 essay that I've got going right now. 

"Well, fuck me gently with a chainsaw."

The title of this post is derived from a line in Heathers. I watched it for the first time today, not really knowing what I was going to get. I predicted something along the lines of Bring It On but with murder. What I got was my expectation...taken to a whole level I never even imagined.

I am so pissed at myself for not watching this movie until now. I mean, I wish I had experienced this sadistic, maniacal, wonderful piece of dark comedy in high school, when it probably would have mattered a little more. It just does such a lovely job of putting it all in perspective for everyone. It demonstrates so casually the pressures of high school and how they are so easily blown out of proportion. 

The whole hierarchy of the student body is something that was conceived by the people who give into what Heathers is all about. I can honestly say that with a viewing of this movie, every stupid piece of drama that happened back in those days seems completely belittled. As it should. 

What I am getting at is that this movie is camp genius. A true surreal uptake of "Beverly Hills 90210" crossing over with a John Waters film. It shares my views on teen angst being obnoxiously stupid, but also goes farther by saying that it never really seems to stop. It is reassuring to know that I am not alone in the world in believing that everyone should really stop trying to "change the world" (I use that term loosely...obviously some people should try to change SOME things). 

And the whole rebel vs. psychopath thing is some pure samaritan genius right there. 

So just be aware that without a movie like Heathers, there would be no Bring It On, Mean Girls or Juno. I now believe that this was the first trend setting teen drama, and appreciated it shall be. 

Fuck me gently with a chainsaw. What a superbly expressed bit of dialogue. 

"Earl had to die."

Dick Cook resigns/is fired from Disney!? The Leafs give up two first round draft picks and a second rounder for Phil Kessel, a guy who scored just under 60 points last year and might not even play until November!? (Oh, and he is now the most expensive forward on the team). And a robotic flying missile aircraft had to be shot down over Afghanistan this past week because it chose to go rogue without human control!! 

I am actually a little bit scared of the world right now. Tomorrow better bring news of Global Warming being solved, a sufficient replacement being hired to Disney and the Leafs have coaxed Jaromir Jagr out of the European League to play as their captain. 

But after seeing the trailer for Valentine's Day, it's not looking likely. 

"One pill makes you larger and one pill makes you small."

First week of class = done. No classes on Friday. 

All in all, it was a fairly mediocre week. There was a definite lack of excitement within a lot of my classes to either a) see people whom I haven't seen all summer or b) begin talking to some new people. The result of actually having people I know in a lot of my classes though is probably the reason for b. But still, the short time that summer actually existed I guess made it feel like I hadn't gone a whole summer without seeing these people. High school used to make the first week back seem to be a much bigger deal I feel.

Even last year, I recall a lot more excitement towards everything. Once again though, 3rd year does require more focused classes and I now am familiar with a lot of the people are in my program. I am still glad to see/hang with them, I just miss that nice reunion feeling.

There's a good chance that I am going to have the most work that I've ever been put through this year. I didn't attend my Theory class today because I had a massive stomach ache (Cheese P'Zone from Pizza Hut at 11:30 at night?? Not a good idea.) but I've been told that it was some really messed up crap. The prof "through out" any person who hadn't read the readings and told them to go to the library and catch up that way. How intense is that!? Second class and she expects us to have read the 60 pages that she already assigned for the first week!! So even if I had gone today, I would have been dismissed as I haven't even stepped into the bookstore, let alone picked up the six books we are to have for that class.

Classical Film Theory... definitely not going to be my friend. 

Despite the horrendous class that I will have to attend every week (which also includes Contemporary American Lit now...3 hour class that is going to a very slow death) it seems I lost another pair of sunglasses last night. I went to go to class today and they are no where to be found. I concluded I must have left them at the table at Pizza Hut last night (fucking good for nothing restaurant). Alas, when I ventured there after I realized they were lost, the manager had had no trace of them. Balls.

This has to be, no joke, the 5th pair of sunglasses I have lost in 3 years. I am simply not destined to own a pair of sunglasses. I mean, I know they were only 12 dollars (I know better than to buy anything expensive that I lose so easily) but it always frustrates me to no end when I know that they are gone forever. 

I have a problem with getting over lost items. Yes, they were just a useless pair of drugstore shades, but for some reason, I attribute memories to sunglasses more than any other article of clothing I own. Don't ask me why, but those stupid accessories are the things that I can most commonly remember what pair I had and for what instance. I know what pair I had on when I forgot to take them off and I jumped in the ocean to get my hat that flew off. I know what pair I had from the time I was in Whistler to when I was in L.A. on the walk of fame. It is a dumb little thing that I do, but it always gets me when I know they are gone and even worse when I know where I left them. Quite frustrating. It does take a lot out of me.

Sigh. I'll just have to get another pair tomorrow at the mall. Start some new memories with these ones. Pain in the ass. 

Oh well. This year is going to be a testament for me. It is do or die year, so I have to be ready and willing to perform. No more wasted nights simply sitting around watching reruns of shows I have seen a thousand times. This year is going to be the difference maker in my life, and demonstrate that I can be a good student when I need to be.

And brother, this year I needs to be. 

Things That I Love Today: Baby Plucky Duck

For obvious reasons, this was the funniest cartoon I ever watched as a child. It still ranks up there, even today. I love how awful his parents are. I miss "Tiny Toons" so much. (Sorry for the condensed quality). 

Things That I Love Today: From Paris With Love Trailer

After the week thus far, I can't express how badly I want to see this movie. Travolta kicking ass?? Yes please. 

"When he came a trippin' down, he was clothed all in white."

Kind of a better day today, but not that much. Began the day with a class that I can tell you right now is going eat me alive. Seriously, it is going to beat me to a bloody pulp. Rarely can I tell that that's the way it's going to go, but my God, I am doomed. 

After that though, it was pretty smooth sailing. I'm going to LOVE my Hitchcock class. It's great and it's been a day. We got to watch Psycho which is always a treat.

My main thoughts about it though, are that I absolutely hate the final scene in the film. The one where the psychiatrist sums everything up for us. Totally useless. It's almost as if Hitch is saying that we're all too stupid to understand what we just witnessed, and wanted to just make sure we all did. I wish this scene was omitted from the final cut. It is totally unnecessary and really doesn't belong with the rest of the movie.

I think this might deserve a little more thorough research, because there was a very interesting article over at AV Club that talked about how psychiatrist characters ruin movies. The example that was used was Good Will Hunting. In that case though, I understand the purpose. In Psycho's case, a definite cop out. 

A damp stain on a totally pristine sheet of entertainment. 

"And I will dream of seeing a movie, Jerry Lewis meets Bergman."

What an unintentionally depressing first day of school. Classes were fine. The day went by at a decent pace. I just sit here right now and cannot help but feel it didn't go the way it should have. It could have been that one comment, but hey, I've never been able to read her right anyway. 

Of course, Swayze passing away wasn't all that pleasant news. I was never even a little bit close to being a die hard fan of the guy, but I was never against him at all. I admired his ability to be a man's man, yet still dance and be sensual the way he was. Quite sad that he never achieved the comeback he had coming to him. Definitely some Tarantino potential within him.

Sigh. Hopefully the rest of the week doesn't disappoint. 

Top 100 Movies of All-Time: #98 - #97

98. TOMBSTONE (1993, GEORGE P. COSMATOS) 

Starring: Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer, Sam Elliot, Michael Biehn, Powers Booth, Bill Paxton, Jason Priestly, Charlton Heston, Billy Bob Thornton, Billy Zane, John Corbett, Thomas Hayden Church, Michael Rooker and Dana Delany

97. THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (2004, JOEL SCHUMACHER)

Starring: Gerard Butler, Emmy Rossum, Patrick Wilson, Miranda Richardson, Simon Callow, Ciarán Hands and Minnie Driver

Two for one here people. 

First off, we have probably the best Western of the 90's (with the exception of maybe Unforgiven...naw, I like this one better) and that of course is George P. Cosmatos' Tombstone. 

Given the fact that the world of film has basically abandoned the once dominating Western genre, it is nice to know that there was still a bit of a revival in the early 90's. The few entertaining throwback's to the former most popular style in Hollywood really make me miss some of those older ones.

Anyway, with the story of Wyatt Earp and his famous battle at the O.K. Corral, Cosmatos gave the world the first of two adaptations of the life of the famous gunslinger within a span of a year. The result was definitely the better of two (I have never seen Costner's Wyatt Earp but I'm still making that call). 

Of course, I shant bore you with the whole story of Earp and his brothers retiring to the town of Deadwood to live out the rest of their days to all of sudden be thrown back into the game of law-enforcement, so don't expect a synopsis!! ...Wait a second...

The Earp family is also joined by friend and seemingly immortal Doc Holliday, but I'll get to him in just a second. 

What makes this film so great to watch isn't really the directing or cinematography. Admittedly, there has been sharper Westerns made on those fronts. No, what really makes this movie what it is, is the interpretation of the characters. Wyatt Earp and Doc Holiday were the original action heroes. So that's exactly how Kurt Russell (mustacheo'd to the brim) and Vil Kilmer play them. They don't go so far as to make the action take over the role, but they take it a level that still makes it undeniably fun to watch. 

Kilmer especially deserves praise for his performance. You completely lose any resemblance of Batman or Jim Morrison here and are given a completely original and raw portrayal of one of the greatest anti-heroes of all-time. He single-handedly takes this film from a B-Grade action flick to a potential Oscar contender, a jump that not many people can do (think Nicholson in Burton's Batman). This is, in my mind, the most unappreciated performance of the entire 1990's. 

The film's writing works in favor of the characters as well. There is some really quality dialogue floating down the way of Kilmer, and even towards Michael Biehn's Johnny Ringo, Holliday's villainous counterpart. Any confrontation that the two of them have with one another is just an absolute treat to watch. 

Of course, the movie suffers from a couple of flaws. There is a confusion put forth as to whom the true villain of the story is. Because there are so many men to keep track of, the pure evil of Powers Booth's Curly Bill is lost within the confines of the overall film. If they had noticed this, Johnny Ringo should have had more screen time, but alas, they didn't and the movie suffers a tad because of it. There are also no really strong female characters to work of of here, but, what are you gonna do. 

A fantastic ensemble of actors here, ranging from Thomas Hayden Church to Jason Priestly to Mr. "Game Over Man, Game Over!!" himself, Bill Paxton playing Earp's youngest brother. Oh, and how could a Western not be complete without the man who is a cowboy in everything he plays, Sam Elliot. 

Tombstone is a really entertaining movie, and you should see it for Kilmer if nothing else. 

Jumping from a fairly dude-oriented movie to a much more romantic affair, #97 on my list is Joel Schumacher's  The Phantom of the Opera. 

Based on Andrew Lloyd Webber's prolific stage musical, as well as being co-written by Webber, the film is as true an adaptation of the original piece as it could have been. I can only suspect that having Webber on board with the project helped immensely. 

I'm sure you all know what the plot of the film concerns, but if you don't, it is pretty much a Phantom who terrorizes the new owners of an Opera house in Paris. He falls in love with a young girl whom he takes under his wing and teaches her to sing well enough to become the new star attraction at the theater. He goes on to become an obsessed stalker type of guy who kidnaps the girl after she falls for an old friend and then of course the chase begins. Oh yeah, and he wears a mask over half his face because he is deformed. It's great.

The film feels very much like you are watching a stage version of the musical which I believe is a great thing. This way, you are able to sense the power and grace of the brilliant live performance. The art direction and costumes/makeup are superb. The actual Opera itself is breathtaking to look at. 

Schumacher's direction really makes his audience remember that once upon a time, the man could do something right. I mean, yes, it is the same guy who gave the world Batman Forever and then Batman and Robin, but you would never know that after watching this film. It's very crisp and professional looking. The warm, gold cinematography makes everything very lovely to look at. It's just too bad Schumacher still couldn't get it right after this one and went on to do The Number 23. Sigh.

The casting is for the most part dead on. Emmy Rossum, upon multiple viewings, does eventually get a little annoying as the lead character Christine, but not to the point where you want to stop watching. Pre-famed Gerard Butler and Patrick Wilson play the Phantom and Raoul, Christine's childhood crush whom she re-acquaints with, and each battle every scene to prove who can be better. I must admit, that it's pretty much a draw. 

Butler only has something like six speaking lines, and the rest are sung. That is remarkable. He really gets the acting and singing thing down pat, and outside of the stage, that is a ridiculously hard thing to nail. His rendition of "Music Of The Night", the Phantom's sort of "theme" is one I prefer to any stage recording that I've ever heard. If there is ever any doubts over Butler's acting ability in the future, this is the movie to go to. Or maybe Dracula 2000. Ha!

Simon Callow and Ciarán Hands are great comic relief, chewing up the scenery as the bumbling new owners of the Opera house. Miranda Richardson gives her best school-marm impression, playing the Phantom's only human contact, Mme. Giry. And even though she is the only main character part whose voice was dubbed by a professional, Minnie Driver gives a very capable and rather out-of-left-field performance as the diva of the theater who battles for the leading performance after Christine makes it big. A damn fine group of supporting character actors, who all give it their all in the vocal area. A grand collection of pipes. Well...besides Driver anyway. 

Pretty much, if there were to ever be a filmed version of the stage show, this is as good as anything you will ever see try. It's fun to watch. It's engaging. And the soundtrack is still one of the greatest ever made. One of the best Broadway adaptations of all-time. 

Snow Covered

EXT. OUTSIDE, A FEW STREETS OVER FROM MACK'S HOUSE

MACK is driving KAREN back to her car. It's ridiculously icy outside considering it's the middle of December. There hasn't been a snowfall like this in a really long time. The fading light behind the grey sky isn't helping the driving situation much either. 

They make it to the street where KAREN parked. Unfortunately, it is too icy and MACK can't stop the vehicle. He hits the car in front of him, and scrapes the side of it.

MACK

Dammit!

KAREN really doesn't seem to care about it. She gets out as if nothing even happened. MACK, concerned about not checking out the car he has just it, follows suit. He doesn't want to leave with a bad impression.

KAREN

Well, thanks for having me over.

MACK

Hey, no problem.

He's trying to focus his attention on her, but the wrecked car keeps pestering MACK's conscious. 

KAREN

Sorry, I have to go back home. I kind of just left one of my friends at my house.

Suddenly, the accident is washed away from MACK's mind. He has something else to be concerned about.

MACK

(concerned)

Friend?? Who would that be??

KAREN

Marcus Pryde??

MACK feels like he's just been shot in the head.

MACK

Marcus...Marcus Pryde?? No no no, not him-

Almost immediately, KAREN knows what's coming and she starts to retreat to her own car.

KAREN

Yeah...umm, I really have to go home now...

MACK

Wait a second- Just hold on for a minute...

With this sudden change of pace, neither person has seemed to notice another car of girls pull up behind them. LISA has gotten out and made her way across the snow to meet the two of them, stumbling towards KAREN's car.

LISA

Karen, I know you don't know me very well...

MACK

(extremely concerned)

Oh don't you dare-

LISA

But I just don't think it's fair how you've treated MACK...

MACK

Now I don't think that's fair-

LISA

You haven't given him the benefit of the doubt...

MACK

You don't even know her-

LISA

And for that, I think you're a bad person.

MACK

Now that is not even close to being a fair assessment...Karen, hold on!!

This entire time, KAREN is doing her best to storm off and ignore everything behind her. She is noticeably uncomfortable with what she's being accused of but when MACK asked her to stop, she does. She turns to face him.

MACK wants to say he's sorry to her, but takes a look at his friend LISA, and then another look at KAREN. Something clicks inside him.

MACK

(beat)

...Why...Why would you give him a shot and not me?? Why him??

KAREN can't even listen to the end of that sentence, she flips back around and dashes to her car. LISA, having made her point, goes back to the other girls in the car and takes off from the scene. 

MACK is left standing in a pile of snow. He can do nothing but stare at KAREN's blue Civic turning around and taking off down the road and out of his life. 

He stands there, the bitter cold piercing his face, causing his eyes to water. He exhales a puff of fog, silently attempting to exhaust the bitter taste he now has in his mouth. Any such brightness from the sky has pretty much been diminished. 

The street light next to him pops on. Time for darkness, alone in the snow. 

And only one thought pops back into MACK's head.

MACK

Shit...I just hit that fucking car. 

Things That I Love Today: Old Sesame Street Moments

I've been watching a lot of old "Sesame Street" and "The Muppet Show" moments as of late. This pretty much sums up how I feel about them all.

"I've got a smile on my face and four walls around me..."

Just moved back to the apartment tonight, in preparation for school to once again commence. It's 2:44 am and I'm bored so I figured I would simply express some thoughts on here to pass the time it takes me to get tired. 

For one thing, I am definitely glad to be back here at school. As much as I appreciate my hometown friends, I needed to get away. I know they won't be offended when I say that it was simply time to get away, because I'm certain they feel the same way. We've just known each other so long, that 4 straight months of one another can create the necessity for some time apart. I'm nearly 100 % sure that in a few weeks I'll want to hang out with them and what not, but for right now, the change of pace is going to be welcome with open arms. 

The summer overall was an interesting one. And to put it plainly, I'm sure that it was a summer that will forever be remembered as the one where we "all went our separate ways". It may sound sad, but hell, that's how it worked this summer. Everyone got pissed at one another, and then split into their own little pods. Some was warranted. Some was not. Some is still going on (which I still can't fathom). Whatever dudes. It was probably time to break up the closeness of it all anyway. Frankly, I'm kind of shocked we made it this far. 

Now, I'm probably sure that anyone who just read that considers me a cold-hearted dick. That is really not the image I want to portray with these thoughts. Believe me. I really do wish we had the same rapport we had back in high school. Then again, I also wish that people weren't so picky. I know what I mean by that, and that's all that really matters to me.

None of these thoughts that I've been discussing are really that pressing in my life right now either. I mean, I'm not up right now because "soooo much is bothering me!!". I'm just passing the time. And I figured I should put a record of my recent days on here somewhere. 

I also want to start writing on here more of a daily thing. You can thank Amy Adams for that. 

Have fun at school e'rybody!! Make lots of new friends!! Or don't. 

Things That I Love Today: The Greatest "Last Laugh"

It's difficult for me to express just how much I love this clip. It's old, yes. But it involves one of my favourite players of all-time, Stevie Sullivan, and demonstrates one of the greatest "take THAT, asshole" moments in the history of the world. I watch this and I can't stop smiling. It is just amazingness personified. 

"There might be a little dust on the bottle..."

Is it honestly some sort of rule, that once you hit the point of "over the hill" that you're ability to contain your thoughts in a movie theater are thrown out the window. 

During a screening of Julie & Julia tonight, I was laughing harder at the "youthfully challenged" audience than I was at the movie. I mean, it was like I was sitting in a living room of 50 year olds who were watching their own home movies of when they grew up. Like I want to sit there and listen to any sort of comments that they make regarding something funny that happened to Meryl Streep.

Don't get me wrong, it's not obnoxious teenagers yelling things at the screen, completely oblivious at the fact that other people around them may in fact not care for some idiot's comments which proves they are an idiot. And of course, it's not quite like some young douche who has pulled out their cell and actually taken a call mid-movie, well aware of how much they may be disturbing the people surrounding them who didn't pay to hear "how great their boyfriend is in bed" (although, some 50 year old guy, did answer his phone, which is rude no matter what your age). 

What these people do, is more subtle than any oblivious teen, but it does get more annoying. Had I been in a movie that actually required the room to be silent, in order to build tension, I would have no question, asked them to "shut it". Luckily for them though, this movie made me give a "pass" to their antics of "look at the cat!! aHA!!" and repeating lines to their significant others that have literally just been said by Amy Adams within the movie. 

Utterly ridiculous. So if it is in fact a rule of getting older, I have already warned my parents to disobey the rulebook for that one. What I would suggest is getting all the low-talked-but-still-audible-comments out of the way before hand. Maybe, before you get to the movie, you understand that yes, "he IS in this!!". 

I'll even give you the trailers to get it all out of your system. Because, let's face it, as annoying as it eventually becomes, a couple are too funny to warrant a complete implosion of the system. 

"Too much oboe" anyone?? Haha.