Archive for October, 2004
Christopher Reeve (1952-2004)
They say that death comes in three. But it seems to usually skip the entertainment history, depending on your opinion of a star.
I didn’t really know Christopher Reeve, at least not beyond his accident in 1995 when he fell off a horse and was permanently paralyzed. I have seen parts of the Superman movies he did, and I think that if I had seen them at the time I would have more of an appreciation for
them.
But like Michael Keaton’s Batman, Reeve seemed too small to play Superman, but at least Keaton brought the correct intensity and understanding into Batman’s psyche, where Reeve just seemed to play the stupid Clark Kent very well.
Gracious with his unlucky hand, he never seemed to complain whenever I saw him on TV, and I give him credit. He was probably tired and he finally gets a much deserved rest.
The Batman (WB)
I finally was up early enough on Saturday to see the fourth incarnation of Batman since the initial cartoon run that started in 1992, another great addition to the Batman mythology.
First “Batman the animated series” then “Batman and Robin” and the futuristic version, “Batman Beyond” now “The Batman”.
With a young Bruce Wayne and re-envisioned villains that are more stylized to a generation of viewers who probably already know the main villains, the intro struck me as one of the coolest parts. With a sweet guitar riff, it seemed much more fitting then the original series almost saying, “If Batman wanted an intro, he would want an ear bleeding guitar riff with no words.”
Rodney Dangerfield (1921-2004)
Rodney Dangerfield (Jacob Cohen) passed away this week after complications in yet another heart surgery, he was 82.
I don’t really remember too much of Rodney except for his role as the wealthy eccentric in a certifiable classic, Caddyshack with Bill Murray and Chevy Chase. With those bug eyes, and the twitch of his collar, he was hardly a comic that you could forget.
Reign of Fire (2002)
I had wanted to see this movie when it came out, but it is hardly a chick flick and we always seemed to pass it over for a fear
of being really stupid. Dragons. Gruff tough guys. Killing and Slaying. But right away, I was pleasantly surprised.
The dialogue didn’t seem cheesy and forced, and even though some of the shouting and tense scenes were a little overacted and hard to empathize with some guys stressed out about dragons, Matthew McConaughey and Christian Bale are two actors that don’t bring big actor egos with them. Christian Bale was a good choice, and McConaughey discarded his down home lawyer type image for a very convincing mercenary.
If you want good special effects, you see exploding beasts and fire galore. If you like Dragons this is probably the best movie with Dragons ever released with recent technology since Jurassic Park. So much fire, it’s intense, turn off you brain and enjoy. The end will blow you away.
Walking Christine Mulligan’s dog Lady
I met Christine Mulligan when I signed up to the Public Relations board at St. John Lutheran Indy, but I didn’t meet her dog Lady until about five months ago when Christine started hosting our meetings at her house with warm brownies and beer.
I fell in love with this dog immediately. She never barks, is adorable, playful, friendly, just a strong beautiful little dog. A sharpie (sp?), Christine got her at a pet store on one of the “dog” days, when they bring in dogs from the pound and have them on display at one of the pet stores. I wish I would have been in that store that day.
We finally got to walk her today, and I think that it will be a regular once a month thing, for at least as long as it stays warm.
House Hunting
This was the first house out of the handful of the ones we had seen that I was interested in. The basement was mostly remodeled with enormous built in shelves. There were huge hallways to move things through which also seemed to have a great airflow, there was this cool brick patio out front I could sit on, it had a two door garage, there was a nice wooden privacy fence in back perfect for keeping a dog safe and it was located about three miles from work. But just four days after looking at this house, it had a bid on it and I didn’t feel the need to rush anything. The young couple who lived in it now only bought it a year ago and were moving to Arizona so they were motivated, but it just wasn’t meant to be.
The weird thing is though that although this was the first house I may have thought about bidding on, another house that was kind of intriguing to us on our first house hunting trip had a bid three days later and sold less than a week after we looked at it. From all that I can tell housing is at a premium right now and when we do decide, we will have to snatch up something really quick, which is troublesome if you are trying to make the best possible decision.
Saturday Night Live Season Preview
Everyone has been saying that SNL has been dying a long death for about 10 years now ever since Molly Shannon started smelling her armpits and that was considered funny. But I continue to watch it every season. You know why? I regret not ever watching it in the really good days with Dana Carvey, Mike Myers, Adam Sandler, David Spade, and the list goes on and on.
I hope and pray that I am going to be around for that really original actor that makes it big and I can say I saw them when.
Admittedly, I love the political sketches that have become to saving grace and trademark of SNL all at once, thank you Darryl Hammond.
The season opener was riddled with them, from a spoof on the recent laughable “debate” between the presidential candidates, to Darryl Hammonds hilarious appearance as Bill Clinton in a sketch with Seth Myers Senator Kerry.
But there is so much crap to wade through from “Debbie Downer” to the new weekend update.
Which that is a whole other topic. When the last episode aired last year with Jimmy Fallon signing out on weekend update, I thought he wasn’t going to do it anymore, but still be on SNL. The show started, and two sketches in, I realized he isn’t on at all anymore. That explains his logical movie premiere with a woman that is equally annoying in Queen Latifah and “Taxi” this summer.
Weekend update had this cool dynamic between Jimmy Fallon and Tina Fey with this broken relationship, but now Amy Poehler is the other
weekend update correspondent and it seems like some sort of visit into a conversation between some prep girls in a high school bathroom. I really like Tina Fey so I hope this gets better.
The first show had it’s highlights, with Ben Affleck taking more shots at himself from the “Bennifer” era, to Alec Baldwin’s appearance and shot at Affleck for stealing his moves and being on the show more frequently then Ken Griffey Jr. is on the DL.
With the same recycled humor and only one new cast member, I don’t think this will be that special year. maybe after this year if Chris Parnell and Horatio Sanz leave the new crop of members will have an original spark. But don’t count on it.
