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This video describes in words and images what I feel like this far along in my stoke.
That is all for now. 
Simply Stupendous Star Trek
There are few movie franchises that inspire a following, much less a iconic reign within film making lore. To have found the power to create year after year something so powerful, so incredibly drawing to those that watch it, it is indeed a rare quality. James Bond recently went through a rebirth that was a punch to the cranium with Casino Royale and was then followed by a Bourne-esque Quantum of Solace that while thrilling, failed to inspire the very Bond it was trying to channel. James Bond it was, but to me it was still missing the key ingredients that when mixed with a dash of fire can bring about some great moments.
Star Wars failed completely in this when they returned to the story that brought us the impeccable trilogy that has inspired generations to watch over and over. The new prequel films were a joke punctured by terrible direction, horrifying script writing and then slapped about the face in the final chapter with an ending that made just about everyone roll their eyes and throw up a little in their mouths. Or in some cases, lose it all on the floor.
Which brings us to the perennial whipping boy that has shown us what happens when people in corporate positions forget the lore of the past and the greatness that came with Roddenberry’s creation. Star Trek has been in a tailspin of flames and debris careening around the hallways of Paramount. First it was the awkwardly uninspiring show Enterprise that made us all wonder why they had gone back when going forward had been a working formula. Then it was the waning viewership. The “Old Yeller” moment of truth came with the series finale wherein the good old trusty Bob Newhart mechanism is used. The bad math of the entire episode brought about a long silence in Star Trek media.
There are of course independent projects that have garnered the attention of The Original Series crew (Star Trek New Voyages for one) and there’s been rumblings of a “Bring Kirk Back” for years. Nothing solid had caught our pointy ears.
Until now.
AMC Best Picture Showcase in Review
This morning came far too early for my particularly late sleeping tastes. In fact, I almost hit the snooze button and rolled over. Almost. You see, this morning began an odyssey of movie watching geekdom unparalleled to anything see before. At least for this blogger. AMC Theatres has been doing this for the past few years, but I apparently didn’t get the memo until a few weeks ago when the buzz began to build.
The Oscar Showcase is a genius of a plan. Every year before the bling infested glitzy overload event known as the Academy Awards plays across our televisions, AMC Theatres wrangles together a day of Oscar Nominated movies for viewing by the general public. For the cheap price of thirty dollars, we all get a full day of fantastic film footage.
The social media experiment has taken off with AMC and they’ve actually hired a full time guy to handle that aspect of the machine. With his help, AMC has taken the unique step of asking bloggers, twitterers and others to attend events and blog, vlog and twitter about the entire day. I was among the many chosen. Today was the culmination of that and I have to say it’s started out very well. Five movies will equal about 13.5 hours of moving pictures playing across the screens nationwide.
I’ll be doing my best to review these movies and talk about the experience as this article unfolds. There’ll be video, pictures and of course words to paint the picture. So get ready. Here…we..GO!
AMC Oscar Showcase in Review- Vlog
Well, it’s over! I managed to get through 5 movies on Saturday with the help of Toby and Sarah. I’m still working on the written blog post, but I’ll post the six videos below so you can check ‘em out if you wish.
Read the full article »
Coraline, a review
I’ll be the first to admit I haven’t seen a Hollywood movie in the theatres since Quantum of Solace. I’ll also be the first to admit I felt like I was seeing another “Bourne” movie that held as much flavor of Bond as watered down Kool-Aid. I’ve become disappointed with the ‘Wood crowd as they seem unable to put anything of value on to the screens that really interests me. I’ve been a bit put off from the political thrillers that wished to thrust turgid torrents through my throat. I’ve been sitting to the sidelines waiting for something original, something interesting. Anything that has a bright spot within the scripted scenes.
I first saw the trailer for “Coraline” and was immediately interested. I’ve long been a fan of the Tim Burton-esque film making. Hellboy II was a visual and action packed buffet that I couldn’t stop feasting from. That idea of a cracked mirror that bends and spins new worlds out from within the frame captures my interested from the get go.
I feared that “Coraline” would be this dark tale of despair that sent you careening on a rollercoaster ride of rancid rapture. I was pleasantly surprised when it turned into a fantastical journey into the mind of a girl caught between her mundane existence that threatens to bore her to near death and a new shiny world of supposed perfection that calls to her in the midst of moving from Michigan to the Somewhere beyond the Nowhere.
Thanksgiving
Each November we as Americans’ gather together to give thanks. To remember and to celebrate.
This Thanksgiving I’m spending time with my folks up in Montana. It’s been a great time and I could tell you all about it…but I’m not really up for it. Instead, I’d like to post some clips of the men and women of Armed Forces the world over having fun, smiling and just having a great time.
It is because of these men and women that we have what we have to be thankful for today…and tomorrow. As you sit down to feast and laugh and take time away from the ruckus of the world…take some time to be thankful for the amazing people who have decided to serve our country elsewhere in the world.
We are forever in their debt.
Happy Thanksgiving to one and all…here, there and wherever you may be.
Hamlet 2: Review
Let me first start off with this statement. My Christian Sensibilities (if they’re still even there after this) screamed bloody murder when they found my brain contemplating seeing this movie. Somehow I put them down (pushing them down some stairs…more or less) and got to the movie about twenty movies late with my brother.
There, got the exposition out of the way. Onto the real good stuff.
Hamlet 2 is a hilarious movie. It is also a drama filled story of a guy trying to find his meaning. And there’s the whole Latino vs. White Girl thing going on. Yea and there’s some Rent-esque satire. Oh and Jesus Christ Superstar gets lampooned. Of course this movie is as course as a rough black bear on the charge. It’s pretty bleepin’ touchy at times.
First, there’s some seriously hilarity in this film. “Rock me Sexy Jesus” was hands down the best part of this entire film. As a Christian (conservative even!) I followed and enjoyed the entire number. It was a great satire and/or send-up of “Jesus Christ Superstar” and had some hilarious moments lampooning us Christians. It was a cheeky left jib, which had no real menace. That’s good poking of fun at a group.
The Dark Knight: Review
The Dark Knight returns us to Batman and the City of Gotham along with the regular cast o’ characters we know and love. It begins ala “Heat” with a terrifyingly intelligent twist and proceeds to run wild through the streets of the Gothic town never stopping, never slowing and forever reminding us that yes indeed, Hollywood can do good.
The headliner that you cannot ignore (the interwebs are literally on fire and in full blaze) is the late Heath Ledger as the classic (and original Batman Rouge) Joker. A maniacal creation drawn from several sources it is this villain that has long tortured the Caped Crusader throughout the movies, television shows and comics. And it is here that one actor manages to perfect each and every moment on screen so deliberately and intensely you know Ledger went to his grave with some dark memories.
The Joker is an iconic villain. He’s killed Robin in the comics. He’s been the foil of Batman and others throughout the DC Comics universe. He is The One. Bigger than anyone on the block. And his mannerisms, his speech, his cracked mind and the wild eyed lunacy is spot on. More than anything I squirmed for the first time in a long time as The Joker played out as a spinning spinster of spastic insanity. I actually feared him. I loathed him. And I wanted him to get his from Batman.
That is perfect casting, directing and acting at the peak. Each look, glance, word or even shrug from Ledger conveys something deeper. His mind is a sprawling madhouse on a carnival ride intent on killing, destroying and pushing anyone and everyone to near ends of sanity.
Uku what I’m Watching?
First of all, I stumble on things people have known about for years, so forgive me if this is the case. This young lady is awesome. Check out the first video (a fav song of mine) set to the stringed Ukulele. The second video is her own creation which had me make this comment,
“There’s a few points in this video where you start to slyly smile and your spirit beings to revel in the creation of the music you’re spinning from the guitar…it’s those moments that are the most affecting. Great song and great video. Keep up the great work! Full of awesome and more!”
Watch ‘em both and hopefully you’ll get a kick out of it like I did.
Second
From the Mountains: What I’m Watching
There’s something awesome about the songs “God Bless America” and “The Star Spangled Banner” when it’s sung by the right people. Check out some of the stuff I picked up on. Got some great examples? Share ‘em in the comments.
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- @malou_nievera well, and hopefully with your site/recipes I can recreate some of my memories. Thanks!
- @malou_nievera In my apartment building just one street over from ABS/CBN they opened a small homemade restaurant. Such good cheap food.
- @malou_nievera Gerados was one of our favs, I recognize Gerry's...so many good places with good food.
Follow me @aarondelay -
Live from the 303 by Aaron DeLay is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. -
