Star Wars Binary Sunset

Star Wars Binary Sunset

This is one of my favorite musical cues from John Williams in the Star Wars franchise. I remember hearing the sweeping music as Luke stares off into the double sunset. It is always an important moment. It shows the frustration Luke has in mind. He's conflicted because he hears the calling on going out on adventures in space.

The French Horns really sell it in this track.  This is the "force theme" first time in all its glory.  

Now, this wasn't the original track for that scene. Williams wrote and conducted completely different version of this cue. It is so different that it would have changed the way people would have perceived the scene.

Sounds darker doesn't it? By the way, skip ahead to the 5:00 mark to listen to alt versions of the main theme.

 

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21 Jump Street

21 Jump Street

You know what?  This movie is actually very funny.  The movie not only works on as remake but a sequel to the original TV series.  After watching a bunch of Adam Sandler movies, it is a breath of fresh air to finally a see a good comedic movie.  It handles the rauchy jokes in the correct manner, while not linger on them; I am looking at you That’s My Boy.

This movie is set in the same universe as the TV series from FOX.  You will actually see characters from the old show appear in the movie while being played by the same actors.  It is a nice little treat and shows the makers of the movie are actually fans, while also parodying the franchise.  Even Channing is in on the fun by making him seem like a total idiot. 

Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum have great chemistry together.  They actually seem like brothers, one being the nerdy-fat kid and the other being the jock.  They play on these high school tropes a lot in the movie, as both characters get a second chance at school.  I really liked their views of the new type of clicks that were born after they grew up. 

Speaking of tropes and clichés, the entire movie is about spoofing and turning cop tropes and clichés on their heads. There is one gag that deals with things that should explode, but don’t.  And, another has a paragraph that pretty much sums up all these remakes and re-imagining of old shows and films. 

((Deputy Chief Hardy: We're reviving a canceled undercover police program from the '80s and revamping it for modern times. You see the guys in charge of this stuff lack creativity and are completely out of ideas, so all they do now is recycle shit from the past and expect us all not to notice.))

That was when I knew this movie was going to be good.  You see this works within the context of the movie universe and the actual “breaking of the fourth wall”.  The movie shits on its own premise, this is something Sandler and those Spoof-Movie guys could learn from.

A lot of the kudos should fall squarely into the hands of Jonah Hill, because you can see all the fanboy-isms front and center within each scene.  Things are goofy and silly, like the 21 Jump Street program, but the character comment on the goofiness.  Even the main plot seems like a lost episode from the show…with a little bit more murder and mayhem. 

21 Jump Street is a nice send up to that older show, while also paying respect to it by placing it in the same universe.  The movie does live up to its R-rating with its violence and dark humor, but it doesn’t go over the top like some movies.  I really enjoyed this movie.  Well done, Jonah Hill. 

Grade: B+

Ice Cube:  "Today was a good day mainly because I didn't have to use my AK." 

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Random Things

Random Things

~Leah Remini files a missing person report: She reported Shelly Miscavige as missing to the police. Of course, they will pull her out when the time comes. But, you have to love the trolling by Leah. They kept messing with her and sending her little messages via twitter, and now she is even going to write a book about the Scientology. By the way, if you Google Scientology into Google News, you get a lot of hits from Leah Remini vs. the church. You f' with people long enough, they will bite back. That's what the Church doesn't understand. 

 I want to file a missing Money Report for renting Battlefield Earth.   Damn you, Xenu!

~Restaurant bans kids after during dinner: I have to say that I agree with this completely, because I have no kids and kids annoy me. Your loud kids are only adorable to you and your family, not us single people. Stop having them run around and being loud. Kids be damned!

 ~This Oprah Thing: I guess you heard that someone in Switzerland turned Oprah away from some expensive handbag that she was interested in. She asked three times to see the bag and the store person refused, believing that Oprah was someone without cash. Did they not know that this woman has 3 billion in change and could easily bought the entire store. It probably was a misunderstanding, but this is Oprah we're talking about. I think she could afford everything in the store. 

 ~Foxy Brown: Now, on the other end of the class world, we got Foxy Brown trying to steal a $900 weave. Talk about ghetto. First, why would you pay so much for some fake-ass hair? Second, why would you try to dash out after the service was completed? They know who you are, Foxy. You're that has-been rapper that fell off stage recently.  Remember when Kimberly from Different Strokes robbed that store? 

Make no mistake, you're hotter than Lil-Kim, especially now, but damn, pay for your fake hair. And, yes there is video of the caper.

Sure, she has some work done but at least she doesn't look like a puffed up cat person.  

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Chris Brown retiring, make it so, Number One.

Chris Brown claims that he might just leave music behind, due to the “haters”.

From EW.com, ((“Don’t worry mainstream America,” he wrote, “After this X album, it’ll probably be my last album.” He followed that up with the statement, “Being famous is amazing when it’s for ur music and talent. I’m tired of being famous for a mistake I made when i was 18. I’m cool & over it!”))

So long and thanks for all the hits, to coin and distort a Douglas Adams phrase. 

It is probably because it seemed like you were really sorry for your mistake, when you destroyed an office of morning news room. While I don't but that he's going to leave music behind, it would be good for him to sit aside for a while. This was something he should have done when the incident first happened.

The man has a lot anger and hostility toward women and it's only a matter of time before we hear about another attack.

I hope he does “fall off the face of the Earth” for a while, but something tells me his retirement will not stick.

Side Note: Rihanna doesn't help matters by messing with him on Twitter or getting back with him a few times. Stop sending this boiling pot mix messages.  

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Bucky Larson: Born to be a Star

Bucky Larson: Born to be a Star

This might be the worst movie I’ve seen in a long time.  It is disjointed and poorly directed that it makes the spoof movies look like high art.  I am not lying.  The movie takes everything that is bad about the recent Happy Madison movies and turned it up to a worst grade of shit.  What it boils down to is that the jokes aren’t funny.   The main character is a drip and the script is nothing but jizz and penis jokes.  I am all for that, but there has to be a good story behind the crude jokes, but there is nothing there. 

Nothing here is redeemable.  The movie is a complete steaming turd, and it seems to be proud of its stinky nature.  

The basic plot is Bucky finds out that his parents were huge pornstars from the 70s.  Bucky decides to become a pornstar too, but he’s penis is too small.  But, he has the ability to shot a lot of sperm without even touching the woman.  He becomes a big hit with fans.  That’s the whole story and joke.  Enjoy.  

I’d take a new Eddie Murphy movie over this shit! 

The movie is a collection of “jokes” rammed to together to make this loose feature.  There isn’t really a cohesive narrative in the same manner as Strange Wilderness.  Throw in sex and porn jokes with jokes about the main character’s appearance, and they keep doing over and over again with.

I dare you all to attempt to watch this movie fully through.  You won’t be able to make it. 

There is nothing that stands out as being funny or an appearance of a movie.  Forget this movie and everyone else in it. 

-Nick Swardson is terrible as Bucky Larson.  This is sad because we have to be around this annoying and dumb character the entire movie.  Nick seems to only get work with his friend Adam Sandler, and this one is no different.  This is a Sandler joint and Swardson shows again he’s not that good at acting, but leeches onto Sandler's stuff.  Why do people find this guy funny?  

-Christina Ricci, this is below you.  Why are you end up in the movie?  I felt bad for her.  Spoiler Alert: Ricci doesn’t get naked. 

-Don Johnson:  He’s in this movie and he cusses a lot.  There is not much else to say about him. 

-Kevin Nealon:  He yells a lot at Bucky and then leaves the scene.  Nothing else happens. 

Grade: F-

Note: If I could give this movie a Z, I would.  

 What's wrong with your Faaaacccceeee!

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 The same damn Buck Teeth joke over and over again.  We get it, movie. 

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 The Adams Family Reunion was a huge hit.  

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 Christina. you should know not to look into bushes after hearing strange sounds.  

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Damn it, Frost is still alive. Blade didn't kill him. Stephen Dorff is in this movie as a weak villain. He's playing a poor man's Peter North. (Note: Looking up Peter North is not safe for work or anything dry.)  

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Michael Ansara RIP

Michael Ansara

Mr. Ansara died a few days ago at the age of 91. I was a huge fan of Ansara's work in the Star Trek franchise. He was one of those powerful actors that stood out from the rest. His low and powerful voice and tall stature was great. Kor was the first Klingon, but Koloth was what Klingons would turn into later in the franchise.

91 is a good run with such a great character actor.

From CNN.com, ((The veteran character actor was probably best known for playing the Klingon leader in the original "Star Trek" series, then again in the legendary sci-fi series "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" and "Star Trek: Voyager." ))

Yes, he played the third Klingon Captain to guest role on TOS.  The character Kang (and actor) went on to show up in an important DS9 episode with Kor and Koloth. Kang was the one Klingon that seemed more somber and honorable than Kor or Koloth. Ansara's performance seems to have inspired Michael Dorn's Worf in some manner. 

 Ansara would later act in some other amazing roles in other franchises as well. 

 All DC fans will remember his power yet mournful take on Mr. Freeze in the Batman Animated Series. His take on the character would actually change the Mr. Freeze character completely for every version after his role...even in the comic books. 

 He also played an important part on B5 as Elric.

Elric had the best line in the series (B5), and it predicted what would happen in the end too with Mollari.

"As I look at you, Ambassador Mollari, I see a great hand reaching out of the stars. The hand is your hand. And I hear sounds of billions of people calling your name. Your victims." 

 

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Bioshock Infinite: New DLC Burial at Sea

Bioshock Infinite: New DLC Burial at Sea

We get to see Rapture in its prime!  This is going to be an interesting DLC and one that fanboys wanted to see since the reveal in the last act of Bioshock Infinite, the return of Rapture. 

-December 31, 1958:  Note the date on Booker’s desk.  Things are already set in motion by 58.  Big Daddies are commissioned. And, the biggest thing to know about Rapture’s history is the start of the Rapture Civil War.  This mean this DLC is set right at the beginning of the big event told by the first two Bioshock games.  The game will be in two parts for each main character.  One for Booker and one for Elizabeth. 

-Booker’s debt:  Note the racing forms on his desk.  This version of Booker has money problems too.  Hmm…

-Woman with the baby stroller:  Is this the same woman we encounter in the first game with the gun inside the stroller? 

-Little Sisters:  They’re already messed up at this point. 

-Elizabeth:  She’s a little different, but the same. 

-This time around, Booker wants to get out of the city.  

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Day Above Ground: Asian Girlz

Day Above Ground: Asian Girlz

Firstly, I am offended that they had to put a “z” behind the damn Girl name. Are we back in the 90s again?  And, look, I love the Asian Ladies, always have, but I’d never say the things this band says in their song.  It will get me slapped and more than likely arrested.

Anyway, let's look at the music video in question, before it gets taken down.

Why does this group look like a rejected early 2000s pop rock band?  Have we jumped into a time warp when this shit considered popular?  Ugly tattoos and sand-blasted hair?  I almost wanted to her them cover, "Come my lady, you're my butterfly" or "I just want to fly".  

-First off, these guys look like the biggest d-bags ever. I've never heard of this group or this song.  But they all seem like bros to me. 

-So “The Asian” girl keeps little white people in a birdcage (human cage or Nic Cage?).  Are all white people tiny like this in this universe? I am confused.  What do they do when she's not there?  Play their music and practice?  

-Did one of these band guys swim up her…?  Yes, he did. 

-Did you really need to add the “turning Japanese” theme in the song? Holy, crap.

-“I love your sticky rice / buttfucking all night.”: Okay, this line totally confuses me. First, you're talking about her “sticky rice” (huh?), and then you jump to anal sex right off the bat. So, she makes rice for you and then it is to the butt loving right after? And, why all night?  Are you Lionel Richie?  What does this line mean?

-”Korean barbecue, Bitch I love you” : Yes, first randomly talking about food and then jumping into proclaiming my love is the right way of doing it. And, calling her a Bitch doesn't help your cause.  That's like saying, "Honey, you're a good driver but a shitty person overall."  

-“I love your creamy yellow thighs, Ooh you’re slanted eyes”: Wow, I can't even form the words to express my shock. To make it worst, they motioned toward their eyes when they said it.  Why stop there, Day Above Ground?  

-“It’s the Year of the Dragon, Ninja pussy I’m stabbin’”: Which lyric is worst?

Now, what about the rather attractive tattoo chick in the music video that is Asian? She has reversed her position, so to speak, and came out on twitter. Levy Tran, the Vietnamese model had some things to say about, considering she could very well become the new Uncle Tom.

From her Twitter page, ((I sincerely apologize to all who feels that I set Asian women back 50 yrs. I know I lost respect from a lot of ppl. It wasn't my intention. It was meant to be light hearted and fun. Satirical. They are sweet boys and not at all racist. That is all I will say. I'm sorry once again))

There is a big difference between being lighthearted and fun and making some strange unfunny stereotypes.  I think Miss Tran might just have some trouble find work after this video, but she’ll bounce back. 

On the other hand, I think the Dave Above Ground guys are eating this attention up.  I don’t think anyone has ever heard of this group before this incident, and the fact they are keeping this video up proves it.  With all the negative blowback, they’re adding another 15 minutes of fame.  They have no talent, but they’re getting the press and YouTube counts.  So, the joke is on us.  

  There are moments that are downright racist and creepy, but I am confused too. 

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Contact’s opening scene

Contact’s opening scene

Now, this is how you open a movie.  It also gives you a preview of the focus of radio signals in the story.  I love hearing the different radio signals, especially the jumbled sounds at the beginning of the pan away from Earth.  I’m guessing we didn’t know that we were pretty much broadcasting ourselves into outer space until the beginning of space travel. 

It is also stunning seeing the scene pull away from Earth to the outer reaches of the cosmos.  It reveals how little we are in the galactic scheme of things. 

Thereis a great post about how far human radio broadcasts have reached in outer space. It even shows the position. Basically, our first broadcasts have reached somewhere around 100 light years now. Our race will probably be gone by the time some other alien race picks up the signals, but it is interesting to think someone or something will hear them. What will they think when they start getting more and more transmissions?

Now, there is hope that something is detecting them because they have pass through other systems. From Zidbits.com, ((This means that at 110 light-years away from earth — the edge of a radio ‘sphere’ which contains many star systems — our very first radio broadcasts are beginning to arrive. At 74 light-years away, television signals are being introduced. Star systems at a distance of 50 light-years are now entering the ‘Twilight Zone’.))

I know that Contact has it the other way around, but this opening scene is just great.  

-Spice Girls “Wanna be my lover”:  Did you hear that one?

-“Obviously, a major malfunction.”:  Listen carefully.  That line is from the Challenger Space Shuttle Disaster.  It happened right after the explosion.  I was in grade school when that happened.  I am showing my age. 

-“These broken wings will never fly again”

-Dallas theme song

-Sometimes you feel like a nut

-There is a nice touch with signal being chopped up when it runs through the asteroid field. 

-Nixon is not a crook…

-MLK

-The other nice touch is the degraded signal as it pulls further and further away until nothing.  Listen for the Morse code signal just as the sound drops out. 

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Whistle While You Twurk

Whistle While You Twurk

Twerking, only if we knew how much this form of dancing would take over popular culture. Damn you, Ying Yang Twins, I want to hate you. But, this song is so stupid that I actually like it. But, it is one of the strangest songs out there for a couple reasons...

1 The song is about strippers dancing and queefing: When I go to the strip club, I don't need the added bonus of the girls farting from the lower regions. That's not something I paid for, but if you want that, have at it.

2 Snow White's “Whistle while you work”: Yes, they sampled that part from Snow White's famous song. Now, every time I hear Whistle While You Work”, I think of strippers queefing. Thanks a lot, YY Twins. BTW, they got into some legal trouble with Disney and they had to change the song for the music video.

Anyway, this is a very dumb song, but damn it is catchy.    

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Don Lemon: He has a point…

Don Lemon:  He has a point…

Being a black man that’s been called white because I talk properly, I can see his side of things.  And, I hate say this, but Bill O’Reilly is right about this issue.  I think Lemon is taking a lot of heat because he used O’Reilly as a springboard, and it gives people a reason to attack him.  In some ways, it takes away from what Lemon has to say. 

But he is correct…

I’ve noticed that studying isn’t really placed in a positive light in our community and it saddens me.  Talking correctly is mocked.  We’re more worried about swag and how much our “paper” we have on us in the here and now.  Swagger is more important than intelligence. 

5 Pull up your pants:  Every time I see a young teen or older man sagging their pants showing their underwear, I actually make that statement.  I love wearing loose shorts and shirts, but I am not foolish enough to walk around showing my underwear.  I use a belt.  I HATE when I see black people doing this, and I get even angrier when white people sag.  Please can we stop doing this? It makes us look like clowns.  

4 The n-word:  I don’t use it to describe other black folks.  I understand what rappers and comedians are saying about taking it back.  However, other minorities don’t use these harsh words like we do and throw it out there all the time.  It just makes you look stupid when you keep using it over and over again.  Please stop. 

3 Respect where you live:  I ride around Louisville a great deal and see some rundown hoods.  You get more broken bottles and trash in lower income neighborhoods, not just black areas.  People say they respect their hoods, but don’t show it.  Cut the yards and water the plants.  Because it is your street, you have to take more pride in it.  Only you can give a shit about your hood.  Side Note: What’s up with all the drive-thru liquor stores in poor neighborhoods? 

2 finish school:  Yes, this one bothers me the most.  I was a C student in high school, but that was more of me not wanting to be a part of the school community and social class.  But, I did pass and graduate high school.  It was only after leaving high school when I realized studying hard can get you somewhere and better grades.  We need more nerds and less “boyz”. 

Lo and behold, black people are already calling Lemon an Uncle Tom for his remarks. It seems this is the only time when black people work together...by attacking one of their own for stating what is painful but true. It is the same routine that Billy Cosby had to deal with after his remarks. When I point out the problems in our community, I am called a sellout and I act too white to understand.

Yes, there are social and racial problems that hold us back coming from the outside world. However, we can't fight them if we keep destroying ourselves from the inside.  Right now, crime and foolishness is destroying our communities.  These inside problems have to be fixed before we take on other issues. We need an educated group of black people that can fight against the outside forces, but we have more young black people attacking each other than going to school.  Look at Chicago.  We can't even be bothered solving our own problems and blame it squarely on the government and white people.

You can't blame it on racism when a black man shoots another black man to rob him.

Falling off my soapbox now...

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Cop vs. Crazy Lady

 Cop vs. Crazy Lady

I found this great gem on Reddit and it will entertain.

This woman has range. She goes from 10-100 in 5 minutes. She probably ended up in jail, but she will get out because of her “condition”. Clearly, there is something wrong with her.  Once you get that crazy ball rolling, it doesn't stop.  

-Nice 101 Dalmatiansshirt you have there, lady.  (Yes, I noticed) 

-She's ready to explode: Well, she DID warn them that she was ready to explode. And, she breaks people's arms, or so she claims. Why brag about that in front of a cop?

-Cop is having fun: Clearly, this cop is having a bit of fun with the situation. “Don't break arms right now. I got to get this written up. Okay?” If you look closely, the cop has a bit of smirk toward the middle of the video.

-She threatens the guy and then tells the cop it is a threat!: Brilliant. Criminal now admit to crimes before they happen!  "I am going to rob a bank tomorrow, Officer." 

-YouTube and the Internet: I love that she hates the Internet and YouTube. It is the mention of YouTube that sets her completely off. She doesn't like to be on the Internet at all. How would she know if the video was posted then?

-When all else fails, threaten to sue the cop and the guy. Is she taking notes from the Space Church?

-“I don't believe in the Internet!”: Well, it believes in you.

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Nice Software, Stephanie

Nice Software, Stephanie

Yes, even male robots are horny little devils. Number Five, I have to agree with you. Stephanie is very cute. I remember having a young crush on Ally Sheedy and she was looking very nice in the bath scene. I also love that Number Five takes a peek at her “upgrades” so to speak. 

 “Nice Software.” Actually, it would be hardware because software would be on the inside, unless he's looking at her guts. But, I'll let that one pass. 

 Ally, while cute, isn't very good in the movie and the robot out acts her at every turn. But, she also acting against two of the leads of the Police Academy movies!

And, I also like to note that Ally Sheedy has aged well.  

 Hey, I still use older software too, because it doesn't have the bugs the newer versions have. 

 

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Mean Girls: Lindsay Lohan

 Mean Girls: Lindsay Lohan

Mean Girls is currently on Showtime. I've never seen the movie before, but the movie is pretty good. This is like a remake of Clueless. To my surprise, Lindsay is very cute in this movie. I looked at the wiki page and noted that the movie came out in 2004. This was way before all the threeways, drugs and booze. I can't believe how healthy she looked compared to the burnt out appearance she has now.  

Time has not been your friend.  

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Random Stuff

 Random Stuff

~About that train accident in Spain: Yes, the conductor was going too fast around that corner. The video of the crash is very intense. Going around corners on trains can be very bad, and that was a sharp curve. Keep in mind that the train that jump the tracks and exploded in Canada also hit a curve. Those cars were loose and hit that curve at a high rate of speed.

~Roman Polanski's victim writes a book: I find it interesting that she uses the very picture that started it all. Roman started taking pictures of this 13 year old girl and that's when things started to go crazy. Some people are upset over the photo, but it raises eyebrows and not in a truly offensive way like many of things. It doesn't matter what people think, she was 13 he was 43. That is creepy as hell. Roman is a real bastard especially when he left the country after setting up a plea deal.

~Dog Sitting for two weeks: This has made my day taking care of a dog again. Having him sit nearby as I write this blog. I still can't see myself owning a dog again because I took my dog's death really hard. However, it is nice to have little friend sleeping nearby.

~Bruce Willis being a dick? : Really? Shocking. Willis has been known to be a total dick when he wants to be. From what I've read, these press interviews are really draining, but this goes beyond the d-bag levels. Bruce is pissed off and doesn't want to be there at all. I guess we can chalk this up to old age. And, keep in mind Kevin Smith has told some stories about his interactions with Bruce as well and they're shocking, but funny.   

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Whatever Happened to Dude Dell guy? Can we bring him back

Whatever Happened to Dude Dell guy?

I liked this dude. He did these Dell ads from 2000-2003. He was the face of Dell from those days, and it's been ten years since we've seen this stoner. Steve, the character's name, boosted Dell's sales a great deal during his run.

The actor playing him found himself in jail for having weed and Dell pretty much didn't sign him up for another year. I remember they brought in a different team of people for their new ad campaign.

Note: I love the high prices of these computers in the ad above, because right now you can get an okay desktop for under 300 bucks.

Anyway, Ben Curtis (Dell Guy) popped up last year when discussions about Dell's money woes started to pop up. He claimed he could help Dell by being the pitchman again and he was willing to return as the Dell Guy. From Consumerist.com via Bloomberg,((I think they’re making a huge mistake and simply need to bring back the Dell Dude! That’s it.That’s all they need to do. If they brought me back, their sales, stock and media presence would skyrocket. That is by FAR the smartest move they could make.))

I'd be up for that. Given the positive reaction people have to “out of the box” ads these days, I think the Dell Guy could work as the pitchman again. Besides, Dell really needs a boost.

This is what he looks like today. 

If Flo can be the face of insurance all these years, let's bring back the Dude.  What about William Shatner?  He's been killed and brought back from Priceline.  

By the way, does anyone even have one of these old Dell computers working still?  

 Thanks for telling something I all ready knew.  

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 That scroll is actually weed.  

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Hey, what about an eMachine ? 

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