What I love! | Peaches Prattlings

{January 15, 2011} Day 115/13 – The Green Hornet

Well, all I can say is if Seth Rogen wasn’t in it, it might have been better, but he wrote it…

There were definitely pluses and minuses to the movie, but unfortunately for me, the big minus was Seth Rogen, but since he wrote it, I guess it was logical that he was in it, right? There were some bright shining moments though.

Kato, I want one! Jay Chou, who is one very musically talented man, can play piano, guitar, cello, Chinese flute, Chinese zither and jazz drum, and is one of the most popular pop singers in Taiwan and also in Chinese-speaking region. Not only is he yummy to look at, his character was funny, sarcastic and incredibly talented. He could make an amazing cup of cappuccino, build a bullet proof car, upgrade said car with amazing weaponry, fight like the dickens, and drive like a demon; a well rounded individual I would say.

Black Beauty, the car, GET ME ONE! It was a star in its own right, so it gets its own paragraph! And I really enjoyed the soundtrack, with one of the last songs by Jay Chou himself.

I’m still out to lunch on some of the additional casting; I wasn’t impressed with Cameron Diaz’s character, not sure what the point was. Edward J Olmos didn’t seem like a good fit for such a small role, Edward Furlong was in the movie, didn’t even realize it was him until I saw the credits, James Franco was good for his brief moment on the big screen. Tom Wilkinson was good as the tyrannical dad and Christopher Waltz was good as the lead bad dude, Chudnofsky, definitely ruthless, but on the goofy side. He was bothered by the fact that he didn’t look scary or intimidating, he wanted his name to instill fear in those who heard it, but he went about it the wrong way. For those of you not familiar with Christopher Waltz’s name, he was Col. Hans Landa, the lead bad-dude Nazi in Inglorious Bastards.

I am all for turning a comic book or radio serial into a modern day super hero movie, LOVED Iron Man, something went wrong here… I think Seth Rogen was trying too hard to emulate Iron Man, but it didn’t work. I like a good comic book movie, but no matter how out there it is, I still like a little reality stuck in my fantasy, this went beyond. There were a few scenes that bugged me and I am going to share one with you, this will not be giving the movie away.

They drive the car, Black Beauty, into a building, of course, then into an elevator… “Get into the front seat”. Up they went. “Will it still drive?” “Front wheel drive” and then they drove out of the elevator, do i have to continue?

All in all, even though it was a hit at the box office, I believe this movie will be on DVD very shortly and at that point, it will be worth the $1 RedBox rental fee.

{January 14, 2011} Day 114/12 – How I watch movies.

I love movies. I think you may have figured that out by now, but if you haven’t, let me put it out there, I don’t just like, I love movies.

Everyone looks at movies differently and each persons reactions are solely their own. We may enjoy the same movie, or not, we might have some of the same responses for why we think its great or not, but no matter what, movies affect us each individually. I know that for me, when I watch a movie, I really get into a movie, get a feel for the movie. If the movie is top notch, I won’t notice any flaws or at least very few flaws in the movie, if it’s not so great, my eagle eye comes out and I won’t be able to get past certain things.

I think when you watch a movie for the second, third or even fiftieth time, it’s amazing how that movie makes you feel and why you would watch it two, three, fifty times. I know, for myself, if I love a movie and I am going to watch it multiple times, it must have had a profound effect on me. I am one of those people who, if I’ve seen a movie a few times, can put it on in the background and not even watch it, it’s just on and I know, just by some of the dialog or music what point of the movie it is, what scene. I can even play the scene in my head without even thinking, I might be able to recite the dialog for you [I have really, really tried to stop doing that, I know some people find it amazingly annoying! but if you encourage me, it’s your own fault!]

I was watching the Star Wars Trilogy the other day and it was on in the background while I was getting some work done and there are certain moments when I have to stop what I am doing and watch the movie. It doesn’t matter how many times I have seen it, when I hear that sound of the lever going down because the Death Star is about to fire its primary weapon on the Rebel base and Luke turns his computer off and is going to use the force to fire his final shot and destroy the Death Star, I still sit on the edge of my seat and keep my fingers crossed. When Lea kisses Luke for the first time because Han has pushed her buttons, when Darth Vader asks Luke to take off his helmet so he can see his son with his own eyes, I still look at these scenes with wonder.

When I watch other adventure movies, I have the same reaction, a comedy, I know the parts I want to watch and they still make me laugh until I snort, the love stories that I still cry at the same spot when I think they might miss each other and it might not happen for them or when they finally do find each other, I am balling and need more than one tissue… When I watch Pride and Prejudice, the Kiera Nightly version, when Mr. Darcy proposes for the second time, when they meet at dawn, I always hold my breath and wonder when that will happen for me, when someone will say something that profound to me and I will just know, when I watch the movie Invincible and it’s towards the end of the movie, the Eagles season opener against the New York Giants, I am rooting for the Eagles in this one, you have to, they are the underdog and I still sit on the edge of my seat as he makes his famous move that started it all, retrieves the ball and heads towards the end zone and I am on the edge of my seat “He’s at the 40, he’s at the 30” that still gives me chills and I just watched it the day before.

We all have our own way of watching movies and I know how much I love them by my reaction, body language and just the way I feel while I am viewing a favorite. I may have just finished a movie and I might start it all over again after its finished.

{January 10, 2011} Day 111/9 – Salvador Dali- The man behind the mustache

I had the pleasure of seeing the Salvadore Dali exhibit at the museum today and it was fantastic. I saw techniques and styles I did not know that Dali created in and with. Did you know that he designed jewelry? I didn’t, but it was exotic and inventive and sparkly, the best part. come on, I’m a girl, we like the spark-lies!

Of course, one of his most famous, or I should say, his most famous because it is the one piece that everyone knows, Persistence of Memory. The story behind the creation of the painting… Dali was painting a landscape and looked over to see some Camembert cheese he had on a plate starting to melt and voila… he then asked his wife, Gala, what she thought of the painting when it was completed, she said no one would ever forget it after seeing it, and that’s how it came to be named. the interesting thing about this painting, like the Mona Lisa, every time we see it represented in a movie, it’s enormous and, like the Mona Lisa, it’s tiny, relatively speaking, and difficult to get close to to view, always has a crowd around it.

But, I must admit, what I am most fascinated by and I know I am not alone in this… his mustache! It takes some serious skill to grow a mustache like that and I admire him for it! I think that it was a toss up as to what he is more famous, most remembered for, his artwork or his mustache. The opening of the exhibit had quotes from a conversation between Dali and photographer, Philip Halsman and throughout their lives and friendship, Halsman photographed Dali in many settings and situations, some humorous and many on the bizarre side. One of the photos that kind of got to me was Dali being suspended from a helicopter by his mustache, ugh!

This may be one of my shortest entries…

{January 8, 2011} Day 110/8 – James Hance – Relentlessly Cheerful Art

Last night, I had the pleasure of attending a show opening at the Cornbred Gallery in Atlanta. James Hance, self proclaimed Relentlessly Cheerful Art and I must say, it’s all true!

I have been a fan of James Hance for quite some time, once my friend CM introduced me to his work and I was hooked. He has such a vivid and charming imagination with things that I love, Winnie the Pooh, Star Wars, The Muppets and The Beatles, just to name a few and for anyone who knows me really well, knows that I am huge into ALL those things! Combining Winnie the Pooh with Star Wars… Wookie the Chew, how incredibly clever.

His work takes so many subjects and changes them ever so slightly and combines them with something equally as wonderful to create something clever and unexpected. Fraggle Rock characters or the boys from The Lost Boys as The Beatles: Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. Taking Michelangelo’s “Creation of Adam” and modifying it slightly, with Jim Henson as g-d and all the Muppets surrounding him with Kermit as Adam, Boba Fet as the Fonze “Boba Fonzerelli”, the list goes on and on, just incredibly smart, innovative, clever and fun.

I had the opportunity to meet the artist, it was great fun that evening. JL, CM, TS, JB were with me that evening, all excited to view the exhibit and meet the artist and we did. He was very laid back and an enjoyable chap, seemingly like his art, relentlessly cheerful. There was Beatles music playing all evening, a great start, wouldn’t you say? Ok, stop, they all said I was gushing, maybe I was, it was cool! He had Beatles lyrics tattooed on his arms and had a great way about him, easily approachable and very personable, didn’t hurt that he’s cute, can’t help it, no matter what, I’m still a girl! We talked about movies, music and his work, very charming.

The first thing I saw when I walked into the gallery I was in love with and it was sold… It was a canvas, painted yellow, with Kermit the Frog looking down at his banjo, something I would love to have commissioned, who knows… then I turned around and wham! Wookie the Chew walking hand in hand with R2D2 down a snow laden path, I wanted it and while I was debating buy art/pay mortgage/buy art/pay mortgage… someone purchased it, who knows what the future holds! I did get to purchase a piece that I am excited to pick up, on a piece of tree, from Wookie the Chew, Elevensies [check out the link for the image] it’s terrific!

I purchased a few prints and his book, Wookie the Chew, he’s working on two more books based on the other movies. Looking forward to them coming out! We had a great time, will be going back later in the month, to pick up my purchase and possibly see some new pieces on the walls.

If you have the opportunity and live in Atlanta, I would recommend going to the Cornbred Gallery and seeing the work of James Hance, a delight.

http://www.jameshance.com

{January 3, 2011} Day 105/3 – Red

RED… stands for Retired, Extremely Dangerous. LOVED this movie!

The movie stars some amazing actors: Bruce Willis, still YUMMY, Morgan Freeman, I will always think of him from the Electric Company no matter what, John Malkovich, crazy as ever and Helen Mirren, one tough cookie! They play retired CIA agents who are targeted for elimination. [full synopsis & cast: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1245526/%5D

Bruce Willis is the first to be targeted and while his character is definitely a bad ass, as he has been known to play, once or twice, he was a nice guy who was retired, interested in a girl, Mary-Louise Parker, and is hoping for a normal life, while at the same time, kicking a little you know what. Morgan Freeman is amiable, living in a retirement home, but still has connections, John Malkovich is just bizarre, the usual “afraid of what the government is putting in his head” kind of nutter, but handy with a handgun. Helen Mirren rounds out the group as an expert marks-woman, I have amazing respect for her and her abilities! Of course, it’s hard not to remember her in Calendar Girls ‘I think we’re going to need considerably bigger buns”.

They have each been retired and Frank Moses, Bruce Willis, brings them out of retirement to find out who wants to kill them. The cast is rounded out with Brian Cox, who you might remember as Col Stryker from X-Men, Richard Dryfus and Ernest Borgnine! I have to admit, when I saw his name in the opening credits, I didn’t know he was still alive! He was charming.

This movie is terrific! There is action, adventure, romance, first love, gunfire, explosives, explosions, fist fights, double crossing, espionage, breaking into the CIA, the usual. The dialog was great, very clever, the movie was fast paced, kept moving, and was engaging until the very end and the end was just plain funny, well, a lot of the movie was just plain funny.

It was almost as if they pulled all the action stars from an old age home, without them being old! It was so worth the wait and the money, go see this movie, it’s one that’s worth buying and watching over and over again!

5 RED stars I give it!

{January 2, 2011} Day 104/2 – A Song is Born

I’ll just put it out there, I love Danny Kaye. Anyone who knows me knows I love Danny Kaye. I hope to have all his movies on DVD some day, right now I have about 4 and one of my favorites is A Song is Born.

The cast is incredible, Danny Kaye, Virginia Mayo, Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, just to name a few amazing talents [go to: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040820/ to see the full cast]. The story is about Professor Hobart Frisbee and 6 other professors of music who work for the Totten Institute of Music. They are working on the complete history of music and they have not left the “house” in nine years, so the world of music has passed them by. One day two window washers “Buck & Bubbles” happen to come in to ask some questions and that leads the group on a new exploration, with Frisbee heading out, “don’t wait up gentlemen, I may be late, I may be home after nine pm”. Professor Frisbee is played by Danny Kaye, so quite young, the other six professors are what Honey Swanson, played by Virginia Mayo, call the long hairs, if you get my meaning.

On the outside, Professor Hobart goes to the bars and music joints to invite amazing musicians like Mel Powell, Louis Armstrong and Charlie Barnett, just to name a few, back to the institute to work on the history of music. Honey Swanson joins the group, pretending to be interested in helping, while hiding out from the law, her boyfriend, Tony Crow, the gangster is a wanted man… She is entrenched in their lives and they all grow very fond of her, and she of them, all the while, waiting for her chance to get out and as she tells her “daddy” one of the kiddies has broken out in a rash, a case of “spring fever” if you get my drift. Remember, this movie is based on the 1940’s music and lingo.

There is music, hi jinx, laughter, adventure and love as we learn about jump, jive, swing and yum-yum. Well, I think yum-yum is my favorite, seeing as I’ve always had a wee bit of a crush on Danny Kaye. Not to worry folks, there is a happy ending and boy finds girl, boy falls for girl, girl is engaged to another [gangster], boy knocks out gangster and happily ever after ensues.

This is classic Dannye Kaye, showing his acting ability, mastery of physical comedy, and talent as a leading man. Am I biased? you bet your bippy crab-apple annie! Enjoy!

{November 17, 2010} The Transformers

I was cleaning out my office and I found a copy of The Transformers, unopened; happy birthday/Chanukah to me! When it was time to take a break from cleaning, and I am doing a bang up job at that [4 bags of garbage and a whole “mess” of shredding and a lot of stuff for the next yard sale] I decided to have some chow and watch the Transformers. I am so glad that I did!

Everything about this movie is just perfect. When I was a kid, I watched The Transformers cartoon, it was great, always having fond memories of it and definitely something I could talk to other “kids” about when I got older, ok, other geeks… When I heard that they were making a live action movie I was stoked, I had a really good feeling about it, it was going to be good. I am pretty accurate when it comes to predictions about movies and I will admit that i have been wrong a few times, but not this time.

I LOVE THIS MOVIE! As evident by the fact that I saw it in the theater three times and then it was one of the movies I got to see in the Bahamas for free, I can’t remember if it was once or twice. There was an opportunity this summer at Screen on the Green, a great event in our wonderful Piedmont Park. The Screen on the Green Series might be something you have in your own city, they have a giant movie screen in the park and people come with picnics and friends and families and there is usually some form of entertainment from a radio station and at sundown, they start the movie, and one of the movies this summer, The Transformers. So, I digress as I always do…

Back to our regularly scheduled programming…

I sat in the theater excited for the movie to begin and I was not disappointed in the least. I have to say that Shai LeBouf, despite his bonehead antics off the screen, has become a good action star. I enjoyed his character, the reluctant hero who steps up to the plate and saves the day, hell, saves the planet! Megan Fox was great [pre HUGE pouting lips that totally distracted me during the next movie] as the sexy, smart chick who can fix a car, every guys dream, right? Cedric the Entertainer was a strange addition to the mix, but he was only in it for a few minutes, if it was longer, i don’t think it would have been good.

Then… came Bumblebee, driving onto the lot, the beat up yellow Camaro with black racing stripes, auto-bot emblem in the steering wheel, and so it begins. The car chooses the driver, not the other way around. As much as I love beetles and we both know how much I do, I would have taken that Camaro in less than a heartbeat, strictly because it was Bumblebee! And then when they were in the tunnel and Megan Fox makes a comment about him transforming back into a p.o.s. Camaro, hurt his feelings and he comes back as a brand new 2007 Camaro, ooooooh, I would take one of those in a skinny minute!

What did it for me? Optimus Prime! OMG! He came down to earth and transformed and that was it for me! The coolest part, the Autobots [Peter Cullen is Optimus Prime] were voiced by the original actors, the Decepticons were mixed, original and new, Hugo Weaving was Megatron, was I in heaven? Absolutely! All the characters were perfect!

Some of my favorite moments? One was for my computer geek buds, when the little deceptibot was on Air Force One and they pulled the plug, he banged his head on the computer screen when it crashed. Then, when Josh Dummel’s character was making a call to the Pentagon and the operator was Indian call center operator. Sam Whitwickey’s parents were a riot, perfect in their roles and John Turturo, in a role that he was made for! What a goob!

A lot of action movies, especially ones that use computer generated [CG] effects, can seem hoaky and they seem to take forever, this one had none of that. Even when Josh Dummel’s character jumped on a crotch rocket and then slid on his back under one of the Decepticons to destroy it. Everything had a realist feel, never losing a moment of action, kept me riveted and, I will admit freely, choked up on occasion. When they had Bumblebee tied down, it was so sad, he was hurt and struggling, I wanted to jump through the screen, untie him and make everything better!

Could the soundtrack have been more perfect? Nope, don’t think so. It really is true that sound makes a movie, try to watch a movie without a soundtrack in the background,you feel oddly out of place. Am I gushing on this film, you’re darn tootin’ and it’s my blog, so there!

As I sit here watching this movie, i am riveted to my seat and I am loving it all over again, and I am sure I will watch it over and over and over again and never lose that sense of wonder and excitement, much as I get when I watch the Bad News Bears winning, I still get tense watching Luke Skywalker take off his computer to use the force to get that shot into the Death Star, Dorothy and friends are being chased into the tower of the Wicked Witch of the West’s castle, before she throws water on her and melts her [PLEASE tell me I’m not giving something away here!].

All in all, I was ‘transformed’ by this movie. Not sure what I was transformed to but it sounded good. I give this movie five headlights [get the auto reference?].

{November 3, 2010} My Movie Collection

I told you I was a movie lover! Here is a list of MOST of my movies, I have a 400 disc carousel that will play movies or cd’s. I will do reviews on some movies I see in the theater or rent and the rest will be from my collection. I can’t get enough! enjoy!

1	Indiana Jones	31	Holy Grail	61	The Wedding Date	91	Young Frankenstein	121	The Muppet Movie	151	Pirates of the Carribean-bonus	181	Don’t Mess with the Zohan	211	labrynth
2	Indiana Jones Bonus	32	Holy Grail- bonus	62	Roman Holiday	92	Oscar	122	Muppet Christmas Carol	152	Hot Fuzz	182	View from the Top
3	Indiana Jones Temple of Doom	33	The Pacifier	63	Breakfast at Tiffany’s	93	The Freshmann	123	CD	153	Running Scared	183	Invincible
4	Indiana Jones Last Crusade	34	Trading Places	64	Sabrina	94	Big Business	124	The Incredibles	154	Harlem Nights	184	Strictly Ballroom
5	Pride & Prejudice- Kightly	35	Doc Hollywood	65	Bells are Ringing	95	Brewsters Millions	125	The Incredibles – bonus	155	Ready to Rumble	185	Billy Blanks
6	Pride & Prejudice-Garson/Oliver	36	The Ref	66	French Kiss	96	The Dukes of Hazzard	126	The Frog Prince	156	The Replacements	186	Wolverine
7	Pride & Prejudice- A&E I	37	Trapped in Paradise	67	On a Clear Day	97	Down Periscope	127	The Muppets of Bremen	157	Men in Black II	187	snow white tale of terror
8	Pride & Prejudice- A&E II	38	Radioland murders	68	Royal Wedding	98	My Blue Heaven	128	Quest for Camalot	158	Men in Black II- bonus	188	it’s a very muppet christmas
9	The Nanny Season I disk 1	39	The Scarlet Pimpernel	69	Moonstruck	99	Some Like it Hot	129	Robin Hood – Disney	159	The Little Princess -Shirley Temple	189	blow dry
10	The Nanny Season I disk 2	40	The Inspector General	70	The Birdcage	100	Who’s Harry Crumb	130	Cinderella	160	March of the Wooden Soldiers	190	footloose
11	The Nanny Season I disk 3	41	The Court Jester	71	What a Way to Go	101	The Rutles	131	Cinderella – bonus	161	Dr Detroit	191	man on fire
12	Legally Blond	42	Up In Arms	72	Thoroughly Modern Millie	102	The Little Vampire	132	Chicken Little	162	Charlie’s Angels	192	constantine
13	Legally Blond 2	43	A Song is Born	73	Say Anything	103	Charlie & The Chocolate Factory	133	Family Guy Star Wars	163	Charlie’s Angels – bonus	193	hp order of the phoenix
14	Star Wars VI – Return of the Jedi	44	White Christmas	74	While You Were Sleeping	104	Adventures of Pluto Nash	134	Cars	164	Charlie’s Angels – Full Throttle	194	hp order of the phoenix-bonus
15	Star Wars V – Empire Strikes Back	45	Wizard of Oz	75	Dlue	105	Labrynth	135	Robots	165	Scrooged	195	snow white tale of terror
16	Star Wars VI – Return of the Jedi	46	Wizard of Oz – bonus	76	Necessary Roughness	106	The Dark Crystal	136	Ice Age	166	Lake Placid	196	sabrina
17	Shrek	47	Hairspray [new]	77	Galaxy Quest	107	Snow White	137	Ella Enchanted	167	The Man with Two Brains	197	people will talk
18	Shrek	48	Sound of Music	78	the In Laws	108	Snow White bonus	138	Stardust	168	True Lies	198	first wives club
19	Shrek 2	49	Sound of Music – bonus	79	Legend	109	Hoodwinked	139	Three Muskateers	169	Harry Potter-Sorcerer’s Stone	199	mona lisa smile
20	Independence Day Bonus	50	Mary Poppins	80	Stripes	110	Monsters Inc	140	Beerfest	170	HP -Sorcerer’s Stone -bonus	200	gigi
21	Independence Day	51	Mary Poppins – bonus	81	Clueless	111	Monsters Inc – bonus	141	bad news bears	171	HP -Sorcerer’s Stone -bonus 2	201	the muppet movie
22	Austin Powers	52	Grease	82	Best of the Best	112	Beauty & The Beast	142	remo williams	172	HP -Chamber of Secrets – 2	202	a little princess
23	Austin Powers 2- The Spy Who Shagged Me	53	Adven Sher Holmes Smarter Brother	83	Spaceballs	113	Beauty & The Beast bonus	143	Robin Hood	173	HP -Chamber of Secrets	203	cloudy w/a chance of meatballs
24	Austin Powers 3- Goldmember	54	The Wedding Singer	84	PCU	114	Finding Nemo	144	Robin Hood Bonus	174	HP- Prisoner of Azkaban	204	miss congeniality 2
25	This Is Spinal Tap	55	Ever After	85	Better Off Dead	115	Finding Nemo – bonus	145	willow	175		205	fantastic 4
26	Waiting for Guffman	56	All of Me	86	Deuce Bigelo	116	Kermit’s Swamp Years	146	Princess Bride	176	HP -Goblet of Fire	206	the matchmaker
27	Best In Show	57	Miracle on 34th street	87	The Hot Chick	117	Timon & Pumba	147	Twister	177	HP -Goblet of Fire – bonus	207	my fair lady
28	A Mighty Wind	58	Dave	88	Too Wong Foo	118	Lion King 1 1/2	148	Fifth Element	178	Bruce Springsteen	208	desk set
29	E.T.	59	Just Like Heaven	89	Casual Sex	119	Muppets from Space	149	The January Man	179	Bruce Springsteen	209	ghostbusters
30	E.T. Bonus	60	The Cutting Edge	90	Charade	120	Muppets Take Manhattan	150	Pirates of the Carribean	180	Death Sentence	210	ghostbusters ii

{October 3, 2010} She’s Come Undone

I FINALLY finished She’s Come Undone by Wally Lamb. I’ve come unglued… I don’t know what else to say about this book. It took me months to read, and dear friends, that is not like me, I am one who devours books, if it’s good, a few days, providing I have time, if I LOVE it, could be hours, this books I neither loved nor devoured.

I have been hearing from people that they want to read it, I found out recently it was an Oprah pick, I don’t watch Oprah so I am not up to date with her picks, but, conversely, when I meet someone who has read it, they,well, let’s just say, disliked it immensely! Who said this was a great book? I was DEPRESSED the entire time I was reading it! Made me think of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, I would never be able to eat enough chocolate to make me feel happy again, and I don’t eat chocolate, but for this, I might make an exception!

Through the entire book, the main character never had a happy day in her life, well, I guess there were some happy times in the middle, but it seemed to be based on a lie, does that count? She tortured everyone and then seemed to self deprecate herself about things, blamed herself for others dying because she was so horrible, or felt that she deserved it. I honestly have no idea.

I am a fan of murder mystery, suspense, give me a good killing any day, in a book people and I’m a happy girl. I often wonder if there is something wrong with me, I watch murder mysteries on tv, love the cop dramas, read these bizarre books [people can come up with some horrible and graphic ways to torture and kill each other] and I wonder if there is something wrong with me… Then I read a book like this and hope that there really aren’t people in the world like the main character.

I hate to say that I am not sure if it was written well, I believe it was, it evoked some very strong emotions and reactions from me and if that was the point, terrific, go Wally Lamb! I say I am not sure if it was written well because I couldn’t get past the content, not because I have any ill will towards Wally Lamb, but, conversely, as a story goes, no thank you. I would never tell someone not to read a book, but I will be honest in my opinion on the book and if this is for you, enjoy.

{September 7, 2010} Machete

I give this movie three machetes!

It was terrific! Very 1970’s slash ’em up, bloody, bad dialog, lots of action and wonderfully fantastic! I loved it! I will admit that there were several times that I covered my eyes and ears to the sound, but that didn’t stop me from watching it, twice! [I was at the drive in, no bouncers]

Danny Trejo was terrific. He normally plays a Mexican “bad guy”, from the movies that I have seen, in this he was a Mexican “bad ass”. A wronged Federale who is now an illegal immigrant vigilante, you can’t help but cheer for ‘Machete’. He slashes, he slices, he dices, he shoots on occasion, but the machete is his weapon of choice and wow can he wield one! All you want him to do is take ’em all out! And he gets the girl… four of them to be exact, go Machete!

Robert Dinero was the sinful senator [yes, I am going to have some bad puns and one liners, just keep reading]. You can tell something is wrong with him right from the start and you can’t wait for something bad to happen to him and not to worry, dear readers, he gets his in the end, well worth the wait!

Don Johnson plays an officer of the law, type casting? Well… he’s one bad border cop, easy to despise right from the start and you do.

Jeff Fahey is the wealthy businessman who is the senator’s right hand man and right hand gun I would say. I did like the fact that there were some cases he did his own dirty work, I can’t stand those mob bosses who get everyone else to do their killing for them. He has too much power and impure thoughts about his daughter, ick, you want him to get his on principle.

Lindsay Lohan plays the trampy coke-head daughter. Typecasting? Hmmm… she does have killer hair in this movie, long, blond, feathered, perfect 70’s doo. A waste of human flesh… but she has a great moment at the end of the movie, classic!

Cheech Marin plays a padre, but not your typical Hispanic priest, I can’t rave enough about his character, it was brief, but well worth watching. I didn’t like the way things ended there, I didn’t think they had to, it could have gone differently, but I didn’t write the movie.

Steven Segal, well… all I can say is he did die in the end. What bad dialog and what an awful portrayal of a Mexican drug lord, I hope it was just bad dialog, but I don’t think so. His death scene was just… well, let’s say this, did you see the movie “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”? Imagine Paul Reuben’s death scene, on par with that, ugh, but that was definitely written as a comdey.

Michelle Rodriguez, typical bad ass-bad, with a bad attitude Mexican woman, fighting for her people. She goes down fighting and comes up looking foxy and armed.

Jessica Alba… not sure what to say. She plays an agent for ICE, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, she’s Hispanic and of course, the other Hispanics in the film want to know how she could turn in her own people. Turns out, she’s an alright chick who just wants to do what’s right and she does in the end. I will say she has some REALLY bad dialog to work with, classic!

I would probably see this movie again if someone wanted to go, not one I will add to my collection, but I wouldn’t turn away from.

Three machetes up in my book!

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What was I thinking?