Comment Archives: stories: Movies & TV
Re: “Confessions of a Shopaholic”
Valentines Day I took my Girlfriend to see this movie..... Let me start off by describing my girlfriend, first off she is a certified Typical Italian Princess with a unhealthy knowledge of fashion from Prada to Coach to Kathy Van Zealand(sp?) to Louis Vuitton.
So as customary for Valentines Day I sacrificed nominal time and money to take her to a movie about fashion and Premium designer clothes and accessories, Mind you I have a high tolerance for pain and agony more than the average Joe Schmoe, So Enduring a movie like this is about as discomforting as having a pebble in my shoe.
As we proceed to the 11:25pm showing at AMC off Waters and Anderson in Tampa I noticed that there was 6 Couples total and the obligatory 4 girl group ala SITC in the auditorium, And as we watch the beginning scenes of the movie I’ve already established that I strongly dislike the Main Character Rebecca Bloomwood as she spends frivolously over things that are unnecessary, I correlate her to a Pack-Rat someone that can’t get rid of objects no matter how gaudy although the same could be said about my porn collection.
As the story goes on I realize that Rebecca is just like my girlfriend spending money on clothing and accessories and the rational behind it is very familiar I’ll give an example: ( You walk into a store and browse around and you see a pair of shoes your size and color that are a great deal and price by a premium designer that are so your personality well you purchase the shoes what’s next you ask well the dress of course so you go from store to store to find the perfect dress and you come across it and well it’s a retail but you say I got such a good deal on shoes if I buy the dress then it will equal it’s self out in the end.
So you purchase the expensive dress and the shoes to match but your missing something ahhh yes! The Purse so you decide maybe to go to another premium designer store or an outlet store in Orlando to make this ensample work for you because you actually took time to get this right, so why stop now your so close to collecting the perfect outfit, so after browsing the stores for that perfect bag you see it and it’s in Prada and it’s retail and the retail is expensive but you think maybe “I can get an idea on what it is I can match with the shoes and dress or at least find a less expensive bag from a not so premium designer i.e. Coach or Dooney and Bourke.”
So in Prada you look at the purse then, feel the purse, and then Smell the Purse yes I said smell it once that leathery aroma hits your palate your hooked your like a crack addict with a 20lb crack rock in your hand and you have to have it NOW!
So you spend the expensive retail price on it but it’s ok you get paid next week and you really don’t need to eat you have granola and ramen noodles to last you over for a week Besides a diet is order to look fabulous right? Or you could go out in your new attire and get taken to dinner although you joke in your head your really taking that idea to heart! So now you have the Shoes, the Dress, the bag is there something missing? Yes the jewelry… so to make a long story short this is what I assume goes on in the head of women with a shopping disorder back to the movie)
anyway the movie is very disturbing from talking mannequins to Debt Collectors showing up at your place of work (Which is illegal tell me it isn’t and I’ll put it in writing from the FTC) it doesn’t really work well it was like trying to sugar coat shit.
I understand it was in the vain of Devil Wears Prada but this movie to me felt as if it made light of peoples financial hardships and that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and maybe I’m overanalyzing this which I know it’s a movie there is no way I can be serious about a Friday the 13th review but this movie hits home to me probably because my mother at one point in my life had large amounts of bills that went to Debt Collectors and I am familiar with the phone calls saying your mother is a bad person for not paying her bills and she is a deadbeat etc…
So to me I take it with a block of salt because for every shopaholic there 8 debtaholics you know the ones with bill collectors calling wanting car payments, medical bills, credit card bills and other bills paid in full or legal action will be sought after. I don’t find it funny but rather tragic.
Re: “Gran Torino”
Your an ass!
That is one of Clint Eastwood's best performance...ever! It ranks in the top two, in my book. Do you expect him to continue making action movies at 78 years old? Give the guy a break already!
And Ahney Her (the teen chick who lived next door) is poised to become the Asian version of Rene Zellweger. Trust me on this. I have her signed (tentatively) to do a TV pilot as we speak.
S Beasley
Bonerfide Studios
www.bonerfide.co.nz
Re: “The Wrestler”
I've heard reviews of the movie from people in the business (I haven't seen it personally but will possibly tonight) and the split for most of them are 50/50 and it surprised me for a moment then looking in hindsight I understood "why".
It was due to a generational gap between 70's and 80's wrestlers vs. 90's to current wrestlers.
A Friend of mine (that will remain nameless to keep from getting heat on him) said that it was a locker room in the 70's and 80's you had money you either saved and sent to your family or blew it on booze and dope,
This generation however got smartened up from the previous generation's mistakes I.E you’re (Jake Roberts) and that is not a Diss to Jake I always saw him as a Tragic Hero figure of the wrestling business his mistakes are Mile markers to avoid and He probably would freely admit that.
The Wrestler hit's home to alot from the previous generation and is ignored by the current generation (well not all) but it’s a movie and movies depict fantasy or fact and this movie just happens to depict that latter part but I think once I go see this movie I can at least understand from both aspects.
Re: “Review: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
I'm sure that J.R. Jones is a fine writer and critic and it is with no intended criticism to say that this kind of review is boring, stultified and shallow compared to the kind of review that the genius you let go, lance goldberg, could produce which made reading your publication an exercise in intelligence that it is otherwise not so much and makes it a lot easier now to ignore (just like the behavior of the publishers toward the readers) and leave CL in the stand so as not to have to bother with having to toss it into the recycling bin.
Re: “Watchmen artist Dave Gibbons discusses a film whose time has come”
2 things...
the link from the slide show on the home page is busted (missing 'tampa.' in front of the rest of the url)
and sal said he reads parade... parade magazine... shame...
Re: “Let the Right One In”
According to the investigation from the site *BiLoves dotcom* (a site for LGBT comning out, explore sexuality, etc.), The Netherlands, South Africa, United Kingdom, Canada, Spain are the gayest countries. Not sure if true.I just know that site is very professional and there are about 100 members per day and they are very active. You can imagine.If you come here frequently, you may find what you are looking easily and quickly.
Re: “Kevin Smith goes hardcore with Zack and Miri Make a Porno”
I don't care if you see it Dave, as long as you liked the review!
Re: “Kevin Smith goes hardcore with Zack and Miri Make a Porno”
Okay, okay. I'll see it already.
Re: “Opening this week: Body of Lies, The Duchess and The Express”
Flash of Genius is terrific. It honors garage inventors and reminds viewers how important inventions and inventors are to society. If you liked Flash of Genius--you'll love the book "GADGET NATION: A Journey Through The Eccentric World of Invention" Just like FOG, Gadget Nation looks at the tough road garage inventors have to travel on their way to success. Gadget Nation showcases more than 100 off-beat gadgets and the inventors behind them... From Bird Diapers to Slippers with headlights, Gadget Nation tells the inventors stories and shines a light on this truly American phenomenon. Innovation, creativity and ingenuity--ultimately it's all about reaching for the American Dream. Check it out at www.gadgetnation.net
Re: “Clip, aka the Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Fest, offers straight-friendly movies”
Just a point of clarification: In your article called "Heteroflexible" by David Warner, you state that Joseph Cook was (and I quote) "programming director from 2004-2006. . ." In fact, I was the programming director in 2003 and 2004. Cook, my successor, held the position in 2005 and 2006. A small point, but nonetheless rather important.
Keven Renken
Re: “Clip, aka the Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Fest, offers straight-friendly movies”
I have been attending the film festival since moving to Tampa seven years ago. As a rule, I attend 25-30 of the features each year and most of the shorts. I also participated on the programming committee for several of those years. It is interesting that during the seven years I have lived here there have been FIVE programming directors. I strongly support employing a local person as a programming director. I feel each community has a unique demographic with which someone outside that community is not familiar. I also do not feel a straight man has the same sensibility as a straight person which may inhibit their ability to select films reflecting the sensiblity of the community they purport to serve. I think Stephen Mintz's own quote supports my contention. Responding to one of the questions in his interview with Creative Loafing he says "people who are identifying queer are identifying their sexuality CHOICE" (!!!!). Does Mr. Mintz think sexuality is a choice and does the board who employed him also hold this belief? I think that statement supports my fear that a straight person simply does not have the same sensibility as does someone who is a member of the gay community.
Re: “Pacino, De Niro and more”
Sounds like someone started Oktoberfest a little early???
Re: “Pacino, De Niro and more”
Hello dear ladies and gentlemen!
I would like inform you that Scarlett Johansson (actress) actually is a clone from original person Scarlett Galabekian, who has nothing with acting career. That clone was created illegally by using stolen biological material. Original person is very nice (not d**n sexy),most important - CHRISTIAN young lady! I'll tell you more,those clones (it's not only one) made in GERMANY - world leader manufacturer of humans clones, it is in Ludwigshafen am Rhein, North Bavaria, Mr. Helmut Kohl home town. You can not even imaging the scale of the cloning activity. But warning! Helmut Kohl clone staff 100% controlling all their clones (at least they trying) spreading around the world, they are very accurate with that, some of them are still NAZI type disciplined and mind controlled clones, so be careful get close with clones you will be controlled as well. Original person is not happy with those movies, images, video, rumors and etc. spreading on media in that way it would be really nice if we all will try slow down that ''actress'' career development, original Scarlett will really appreciated that. Please remember that original Scarlett's family did not authorize any activity with stolen biological materials, no matter what form it was created it was stolen and it is stolen. It all need to be delivered to authorized personals control in Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Original Scarlett is not engage, by the way!
Her close friend Serge G.
P.S.
H.R. 534, the Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2003, was introduced to the U.S. House of Representatives on February 5, 2003. After discussion, it was passed on February 27 by a vote of 241-155. It now moves on to the Senate for consideration. This bill makes it unlawful for any person or entity to perform or participate in human cloning, or to ship or receive embryos produced by human cloning. The penalties are imprisonment of up to 10 years and fines of $1 million or more. These now join other nations as diverse as Norway, Australia, and Germany, which had already added cloning for any purpose to their criminal code. And in Germany where it carries a penalty of five years imprisonment they know a thing or two about unethical science.
Re: “American Teen: Reality bites the documentary”
Hello dear ladies and gentlemen!
I would like inform you that Scarlett Johansson (actress) actually is a clone from original person, who has nothing with acting career. That clone was created illegally by using stolen biological material. Original person is very nice (not d**n sexy),most important - CHRISTIAN young lady! I'll tell you more,those clones (it's not only one) made in GERMANY - world leader manufacturer of humans clones, it is in Ludwigshafen am Rhein, North Bavaria, Mr. Helmut Kohl home town. You can not even imaging the scale of the cloning activity. But warning! Helmut Kohl clone staff 100% controlling all their clones (at least they trying) spreading around the world, they are very accurate with that, some of them are still NAZI type disciplined and mind controlled clones, so be careful get close with clones you will be controlled as well. Original person is not happy with those movies, images, video, rumors and etc. spreading on media in that way it would be really nice if we all will try slow down that ''actress'' career development, original Scarlett will really appreciated that. Please remember that original Scarlett's family did not authorize any activity with stolen biological materials, no matter what form it was created it was stolen and it is stolen. It all need to be delivered to authorized personals control in Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Original Scarlett is not engage, by the way!
Her close friend Serge G.
P.S.
H.R. 534, the Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2003, was introduced to the U.S. House of Representatives on February 5, 2003. After discussion, it was passed on February 27 by a vote of 241-155. It now moves on to the Senate for consideration. This bill makes it unlawful for any person or entity to perform or participate in human cloning, or to ship or receive embryos produced by human cloning. The penalties are imprisonment of up to 10 years and fines of $1 million or more. These now join other nations as diverse as Norway, Australia, and Germany, which had already added cloning for any purpose to their criminal code. And in Germany where it carries a penalty of five years imprisonment they know a thing or two about unethical science.
Re: “See Cruz (and more)”
I would like inform you that Scarlett Johansson (actress)actually is a clone from original person,who has nothing with acting career.Clone was created illegally by using stolen biomaterial. Original person is very nice(not d**n sexy),most important-CHRISTIAN young lady!I'll tell you more,those clones(it's not only one)made in GERMANY-world leader manufacturer of humans clones,it is in Ludwigshafen am Rhein,N. Bavaria, Mr. Helmut Kohl home town.You can't even imaging the scale of the cloning activity.But warning! H. Kohl clone staff 100% controlling their clones spreading around the world,they are very accurate with that, some of them are still NAZI type disciplined and mind controlled clones,be careful get close with clones you will be controlled too.Original family did not authorize any activity with stolen biological materials,no matter what form it was created,it all needs back to original family control to Cedars-Sinai MedicalCenter in LA.Original Scarlett is not engage,by the way!
Re: “Privilege: The link between Elvis and Britney”
Lance, sorry to spoil your fun, but to place Paul Anka and Elvis in the same sentence as Menudo, and then add the matter of Britney and Hanna Montana, is way too much.
To begin with, Elvis Presley was America's, and then the world's first really young superstar in the field of music, so he's definitively in a class of his own. With 200 shows in 1954, 256 in 1955 (when no one knew who he was, outside of the South...), with close to 190 performances in 1956 and, take this, with 12 television appearances in that same year whose cumulative viewership was 230 million, as well as drawing in excess of 500,000 teenagers to arenas and stadiums, and all of this before he ever appeared in his first movie, there was nothing "manufactured' about his initial huge success.
He'd changed the music world, upside down, before he appeared in 1,230 theatres in his film debut, "Love me tender", in November of 1956, having fused, I repeat, having fused, the two most important music idioms then existent in America, namely C&W and R&B, exacttly 30 months earlier, I repeat, 30 months earlier at the SUN studious in Memphis, on July 5, 1954, to be precise. In other words, had Presley died in, say, November of 1956, and not in August of 1977, we'd still be talking about him.
Now, neither Menudo, nor Britney, let alone Hanna Montana, were, are, or will ever be global superstars. And there's a reason for it. In this connexion, I challenge you to name one single global superstar, in the history of the music business, who was "manufactured.' It is simply not possible, if you're global, like Sinatra, Elvis, the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Elton John, Queen, Michael Jackson, and a few others were, to be manufactured. The words "global" and "manufactured", at least in the music world, are not complementary. This is not the world of Coca Cola. Tastes, in music, are much more varied, and it would clearly be impossible to "manufacture" such a global entertainer. Oh, yes, people and managers, have tried, but, in fact, global superstardom happens, but only when huge talent is a common variable.
Which brings me to Paul Anka. A genius who could write wonderfully catchy, and beautiful songs before he turned 16, there was nothing "manufactured" about his success, coming in the heels of a one-of-a-kind voice, superb writing skills as a songwriter, and a pretty decent stage act.
Finally, there's no missing link between Elvis and any of the global superstars that followed him, either. There are all linked, in many ways. Presley, like those few that came before, or just like the many that came after him, was not "manufactured'. Otherwise, he, and the others, would have not been able, to go global, for the reasons I cited.
And that is a fact.
Re: “The Dark Knight is remarkable”
Hi Lance,
I really enjoyed your review of The Dark Knight!
See you at the movies!
My Best,
Janice Caldwell
Re: “The Standard Operating Procedure of Abu Ghraib”
This review all but goes down on Morris and gives him a blow job. Get real.
Re: “Sex bomb”
Looking at the rating system, I guess you're calling this movie "gaseous". I'm sure you know its ticket sales eclipsed the new Harrison Ford movie - one my 32-year-old son (who idolized that series, and even owns an Indiana Jones hat) couldn't wait to see but found beyond gaseous (or, "Uranus").
Usually I love your reviews and have even quoted you to movie reviewers of other newspapers - in other cities and other states. Such was the case with the Meg Ryan movie, "In the Cut". You got it; your comments were smart. Other reviewers didn't have a clue.
Sorry but I'd give you one star for your review, and you know what that means.
Re: “Oscars roundup: The envelope, please”
There may be a good way for people to get to know more about GLBT and support them more. Indeed they need more support and concern in daily life. I know some hidden bisexuals choose the online service **BiMatching dotcom** to come out, enjoy their lives as bi, explore their sexuality, etc. It's very hard for them to be open bi.