3:10 to nowhere...

Sorry about the gap in reporting. I was struck with a case of temporary amnesia and forgot who I was. Luckily I got an accidental overdose of gamma radiation that cured me. So I have no idea what I did in those 6 weeks. Perhaps the memory will return, or not. No way of telling. Since I came back to my senses, I did see this movie:



"3:10 To Yuma" is a remake of the classic western, this time starring Russell Crowe. I must say I was greatly impressed by this film. The cinematography hearkens back to the classic spaghetti westerns of the 60's. While not quite up to the par of the Leone films, "3:10 To Yuma" holds its own. It tells the story of a captured bank robber and the rancher who helps the railroad bull get him to the train to take him to prison. So if you are a fan of Westerns, this comes highly recommended.

On a side note, I recenty saw this photo of Carrot Top, the comedian:


What the hell has he done to himself? He looks like a steroid-induced atomic robot zombie man. Poor, poor man. I have never forgiven him for the horror that is Chairman of the Board. May he die a horrible death.

As per everything else, it remains unchanged. There might be a development at work that could change things for the better. But more on that when it pans out.

Rowed 9.99 hors due to the man in the moon crying.
The monkey is writing a pilot for NBC.

m.g-sm

Movies to pass the time...

Since I work the night shift, I often rent movies to pass the time. Here are the 2 most recent ones I observed.


Blood Diamond is about the conflict diamonds that are a big controversy in Africa. Leonardo DiCaprio stars as a former mercenary turned diamond smuggler who helps a native African who has found a rare, large carat pink diamond. The country is in civil war and Solomon Vandy (played by Djimon Hounsou) is kidnapped to work in the diamond fields. His family flees the rebels, and his son Dia is pressganged into the rebel death squads.

Over all, the movie was very well done. Good directing, and writing. Cinematography was excellent and was filmed in South Africa. If you're a fan of action movies, with a strong moral centre, this movie comes highly recommended.


Holy crap. I forgot how much I hate most horror films. Dead Silence was directed by James Wan, the same hack who did Saw (which is one of the worst movies I ever, well, saw). What can I say about this crapfest? An utterly preposterous script, in which a ventriloquist is murdered, and comes back from the dead to take revenge on the men who killed her, and on their children, and so on ad infinatum. For some reason, she steals their tongues when they scream. I only rented this because what I originally was going to get wasn't available in the Redbox, and this was the only palatable choice of what was there. Big mistake. This director must be stopped. Never again
will I see another of his works. They're just too painful. =(

On the personal front, not much else has happened. Same old everything. I did hook up the HD box in my sleep chamber, so I can grab that stuff, for the archives. Sleep has been much better the past days.

Rowed 10 hors for absolutely no reason at all.

The monkey hates James Wan, and is going to steal his tongue.

m.g-sm

Of birthdays, bubbles, and other B things..

So it's been 32 years since I came to this planet. So what are the notable things that have happened to me in those years? Here's a short list:

- survived Mr. Moss' 5th grade class
- survived the 7th grade and Mrs. Sampson
- survived high school (and during that time, fell deeply in love with Cindy Johnstun ...)
- got my heart broken into a million pieces by Cindy Johnstun ... (still working on that, even 15 years later)
- went on a 2-year mission for the LDS church to Madrid, Spain
- was a tech support drone for AOL

Of course, many other things have come and gone, but those are the things worth mentioning. How do I feel being 32 years old? No different than I did when I was 16. Still have the same doubts, fears, and self-consciousness as then. I guess you really never do grow up. I can remember in high school I wondered what I would be like when I was 30. Am I happy with the way things have gone so far? For the most part. Could I have done things differently? Yes. Would I change them if I could? Who knows. So there it is.

And so, the words to one of my favorite songs:

You get blue like everyone
But me and Grandpa Joe
Can make your troubles go away
Blow away, there they go...

Cheer up, Charlie
Give me a smile
What happened to the smile I used to know
Don't you know your grin has always
Been my sunshine;
Let that sunshine show...

Come on, Charlie
No need to frown
Deep down you know tomorrow is your toy...

When the days get heavy
Never pitter patter
Up and at'em boy

Some day, sweet as a song
Charlie's lucky day will come along
Till that day
You've got to stay strong Charlie
Up on top is right where you belong

Look up, Charlie
You'll see a star
Just follow it and keep your dreams in view
Pretty soon the sky is going to clear up
Charlie,
Cheer up Charlie,do
Cheer up Charlie
Just be glad you're you.


Rowed 10 hors, due to nostalgia not being the same anymore.

The monkey is, well, let us not speak of him today.

m.g-sm

Of "Stardust", and pirate captains in drag

"Stardust" is a magnificent movie. The past few fantasy movies have been terrible. Take for example such drivel as "The Brothers Grimm", "Lemony Snickets". But Stardust just works on so many levels. I won't ruin it for you, but let me say Robert DeNiro steals the show. He plays the dread Captain Shakespeare. Whilst no one would surrender to the dread Pirate Westley, they would indeed surrender to the dread Captain Shakespeare. The ghostly Princes also steal the show. While really just a phantasmic Greek Chorus, sadly I thought they weren't used enough. I found myself pleasantly pleased with the whole affair. Go see it.

On the home front, tomorrow is the 32nd anniversary of my arrival on this planet. Not sure quite what to make of it. Maybe I will start to turn purple, just to be different.

Rowed 11.37 hors due to Stardust.

The monkey is a whoopsie, but we knew that all along. ARR!

m.g-sm

"September Dawn" is a terrible film...

I went and saw this movie, so you don't have to. Understand when I say, honestly, this is the worst movie to come out of Hollywood in a great while. While the Mountain Meadows massacre is a tragic episode in history, this film tries to make it something else. The Mormons in the film are portrayed as mindless religions fanatics, with no apologies whatsoever. Sacred Mormon temple rites are portrayed in graphic detail, with no respect or sensitivity. The acting is atrocious, as are the screenplay and directing. It almost seemed the writer/director visited the first anti-Mormon site he found in Google, and copied what he found there literally word for word into his script. This makes up about 1/4 of the movie. What happens in the other 3/4? 1/4 is spent on a character taming a horse that was deemed unbreakable. Another 1/4 is spent on a romance between the daughter of the immigrant's priest and the son of the Mormon bishop (played by John Voigt, who phones in an absolutely ludicrous and completely unbelievably bad performance). The other 1/4 is the actual massacre itself, which is nothing more than shaky hand-held camera work with blood squibs going off everywhere. Terrence Stamp plays Brigham Young, but his performance was equally inane. Think General Zod as an Amish farmer. So, while this film might generate some small amount of controversy, with the September 11 date and all, rest asured the film is a complete waste of time. Don't even bother. Roger Ebert gave the movie zero stars, which is the film completely deserves.

Today I also went out to dinner at Garcia's with some friends, to celebrate the 32nd anniversary of my arrival in this Earth. I feel a little less grey.

Rowed 12 hors, due to levity.

The monkey is on extended loan to the Museum of Antiquities in Iskenderun.

m.g-sm

Robert Altman's "Popeye" - genius, insanity, or ...

I watched this movie recently. I am still trying to get my head around it. Is it a work of genius, or the ramblings of an insane film maker, or just an example of really bad cinema? I submit, for your examination, the words to one of the songs in the film:

Everything is food, food, food
Everything is food to go
Everything is food for thought
Everything you knead is dough

It is food
Everything is food

Everything is meat, meat, meat
Careful what you put on your feet
Once it lived on an animule
Now it walks along with you
It could be food
Everything is food

Everything is chow chow chow
Everything is food to go now
Everything is fast food chains
From your lemon to your sugar cane

It is food
Everything is food

Everything is upside down
Everything is sunny side up
It's ubiquitous
Enigmatic and
They can't trick us
With no hot dogmatic

It is food
Everything is food

What on earth are they singing about? Is this an experiment in metaphysical mysticism, or again, the mad ramblings of an insane writer? Is the film a commentary on the sad fate of man, and his potential to improve himself, or is it a mishmash of loosely connected plot points that make no sense to anyone? Your input is greatly appreciated in this matter. :)

On the personal front, a week from today is the 32nd anniversary of my arrival on this planet. Has it been that long? I can't believe that.

Nothing else for today.

Rowed 8 hors, due to bad sleeps.

The monkey is, well, just that.

m.g-sm

On a plane?

The strange and unusual observation for today:

So, the new Samuel L. Jackson movie Snakes on a Plane comes out in August. But what I wanna know is, where are they going to have the world premiere of the movie? Are they gonna book an actual flight on a plane, and show the movie? Like a flight from L.A. to New York? Which airline would permit such a thing to take place? How would Homeland Security react to dozens of celebrities on a plane, watching Snakes on a Plane? How do I get tickets to this?

I want these mf*n snakes off this mf*n plane!

Rowed 12 hors today as all was silent with no interruptions.

The monkey is being audited by the IRS.

m.g-sm