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FuturePrimitive666
Reviews
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
Worth a second look...
lol I was listening to the "Queen" song "Bicycle Race" the other day and the line Freddie Mercury sings about "...'Jaws' ain't my scene and I don't like 'Star Wars'!" reminded me that I had been meaning to throw the 6 DVDs in one more time for the 30th anniversary of the first (4th) film. When I saw this in the theatres in 1999 and later for my initial viewing at home on DVD I can't say that I gave this one much as far as points. But, alas, time heals all wounds and upon a further viewing some of the things that bothered me the first couple of times don't faze me as much these days. When YOU view this as the actual first film, as intended, and not the actual fourth being made and forget the history, etc. this actually becomes more appealing. Jar Jar Binks still doesn't work properly, though the CGI character is lovable. My qualms lie mostly with the half-ass, pardon my French, presentation of Patois / Japanese that Jar Jar and his fellow Goongans (lol) seem to be gibbering on about! In this viewing, I tried to view him like a child would with adoration and not with the reprimanding teacher mentality of my profession. I overlooked his faults and saw the "Dumbo"-wannabe as simply a new character in a fictional world of characters. When looking at him in this light I noticed it worked more so than before. Nevertheless, there is some mastery here to be certain. The panoramic views are stunning and who cares if a computer came up with them? Utopian landscapes will always be a dream for any man who dares to dream. Annakin Skywalker a la Tom Sawyer and his pod-racing and saving the planet from destruction may be a bit far-fetched for some, but this is a story from the Fantasy realm, so why not? Natalie Portman in a double role does get tedious, but only supports the story. However, Samuel L. Jackson, and God (YHWH) knows that I am a fan of his acting, just seems out of place here. I keep waiting for an outburst or something like his other character roles, say "Die Hard With A Vengeance", "Snakes On A Plane" or "Black Snake Moan" of "Damn it!" or something to that effect, but am left unfulfilled like some needy wench in a trench. lol And speaking of loose ladies, Ewan McGregor coming off roles like in "Velvet Goldmine" really seems like a fish-out-of-water or some dork with his haircut, etc. here. lol Mark Hamill and his Tommy Shaw of "Styx" mane will be forever missed, certainly! I was also a bit miffed about how little time Ray Park aka "Darth Maul" has on screen, but the moments he is seen are memorable, if not divided. lol Still, yes, I did like it this time around, because I got some of the subtle or maybe not so subtle messages that perhaps we all should be getting. Yoda mentions to Obi, "Fear leads to Anger, Anger leads to Hate, and Hate leads to Suffering". This was in 1999 and truer words could not be more relevant for our time and people. The other message I really liked was when Natalie, the Jedis and all of her Nabooian court bow in reverence to the leader of the Gungans and therefore wins an ally and possible eternal friend. What a perfect message for any politician in this world to hear and see! That maybe surrender, peace and simple reverence are the best ways to get what YOU want done instead of war, etc. Yes, I do think that sometimes films, like Life, deserve a second look or chance and Mr. Lucas, I thank YOU eight years later and for 30 years ago starting it all and bringing it to us. Cheers!
Day X (2005)
"Day X" d.x.'d!
This is another one of those films that offers a view at what could possibly happen soon in the U.S. thanks either to foreign or internal terrorists. In any case, a lethal toxin is released in the air supply that causes brains to turn to jelly (And mine too wading through all of this!) and men into mindless animals bent on the desire for only one thing - to satisfy their insatiable hunger with any food source possible, including humans! Nevertheless, however similar these inhumans may be they are not zombies. The leading actor, Ken Edwards is about the only one who seems to know what acting is all about and is convincing as "Frank Chambers", a sort of C.I.A. meets F.E.M.A. type of guy. This film is not awful it's just sub-par for this genre, in my opinion. The story is not original and has been done so often recently and far better that I would recommend this only to those who feel they must see all of these types of films to actually prepare for a coming attack. Finally, on one odd note, I don't know for sure if she was Melissa Holmes, Paula Kavanaugh, Lyn Pierce or another actress, but she has an uncanny resemblance to Barbara Olson, the conservative commentator, author and lawyer who used to be often seen blinking and adding her $00.2 to many a "Larry King Live" show. As YOU may know, Mrs. Olson sadly died on the American Airline flight 77 that slammed into the Pentagon, so it couldn't be her, but with all of the conspiracy talks, etc. I certainly did a double take upon viewing this feisty actress in this film. So, as far as that goes, check this out to see what I mean and, if anything, let's "big up" Ken Edwards, so we can see him in a better, future role. FuturePrimitive666.
The Sopranos: Made in America (2007)
Is that it?
So, here we are, 8 years later and the final episode of "The Sopranos". Was it all worth the wait? That depends whether you are a pessimist or an optimist. Do we take this episode to be the last of the television series or the first of a future film series? Yes, I got the messages from Bobby and Tony's conversation on the boat about how Life will possibly end for them one day. Bobby, distracted by his love for model trains, heard nothing coming, though his mind should have considered such a situation, like he did after he "popped his cherry" the first time shooting a fellow father, which led to some heavy contemplation on his part with his daughter tightly clenched in his burly arms. In any case, how often did Tony dream or wake up from dreams during the series? More often than not. How often have the Sopranos as a family eaten at a restaurant together since Meadow entered College? Not often, if never on film. Yet here they are gathered for the "last supper" and only Meadow can't seem to park that damn expensive car that she is driving or she would be at the table as well. Shady characters? lol People come and go through our lives daily. What they did before we met them and what they will do afterward, we, most of us, will never know. So, should Tony be more alarmed by the entrance of patrons to a restaurant (diner) that he wouldn't be "caught dead in" were this not a dream of his? That's what I think is going on. But, agreed that old guy with the gray hair with the 3 boy-scouts does look mighty suspicious and the trucker with the USA cap certainly appears a bit miffed about something, not to forget the possible Ukrainian guy with the "members only" jacket that everyone thinks will pop the big guy. lol Tony and family certainly have no other reason to be celebratory at such an early stage after what is possibly a truce in the apparent "war" between clans and an agreement to bump off Phil Leotardo (Reotardo? lol). No, Tony is obviously relieved, but not nonchalant. He would never let his guard down so soon and foolishly in such a restaurant. If the family were to gather for a meal, finally, once more then certainly it would be at a more friendlier establishment, if not downright better (classier) place. The ending is certainly a dream and nothing more. The creators (David Chase?) may have decided to end the series for whatever reasons, but they certainly would not kill off a chance to continue in some way, shape or form. So, ending with what is apparently a dream to a cool tune a la "Journey" appropriately titled, "Don't Stop Believin'" is simply a good gesture in leaving things open, in my humble opinion. Yes, I believe the dream was suddenly interrupted by something or someone (possibly the simple ringing of Tony's cell to let him know that Phil had been taken care of, which certainly didn't get passed on to Tony yet) and that is why the song does get cut off and the screen goes black, because that is a tale for another day, eventually new series or the aforementioned film. Lastly, don't forget that Tony does search through the Jukebox song-list before playing the "Journey" song. This was the choice of songs : Sawyer Brown / Somewhere In The Night b/w My Baby Drives A Buick (2x); Mary Hopkin / Those Were The Days b/w Turn, Turn, Turn; Jerry Butler / Only The Strong Survive b/w Just Because I Really Love You; Bryan Adams / Victim Of Love b/w Hearts On Fire (2x); The Gatlin Brothers / Got A Lot Of Woman On Her (His) Hands; T. (Anthony) Graham Brown / Don't Go To Strangers b/w Rock It, Billy!; Tony Bennett / I've Gotta Be Me b/w A Lonely Place; Jay & The Americans / This Magic Moment b/w Since I Don't Have You; Tommy James & The Shondells / Crystal Blue Persuasion b/w I'm Alive!; Jimmy Dorsey / June Night b/w Jay-Dee's Boogie Woogie; Don Williams / I'll Never Be In Love Again; Josh Ritter / The Animal; Highway 101 / Whiskey, If You Were A Woman b/w I'll Take You (Heartache And All); Heart / Who Will You Run To? b/w Magic Man (Live); and Journey / Don't Stop Believing b/w Any Way You Want It. Food for thought. GaijinBushido P.S. - Did anyone catch the name of the diner on the menu, window or sign? "Holsten's"?