'The Incredible Hulk' Review

***/***** You've probably read that the movie in some people's opinion is a glorified chase scene for two hours with not much substance and overblown CGI effects. Or you've read that it delivers and The Hulk (franchise?) has been redeemed and that the action scenes are awesome, the pacing good, and The Hulk's roar loud. I would say that the truth, or my opinion, lies somewhere in between. While the CGI is at times egregious and fakely applied, so much so it could possibly take you out of the movie, so is the whole premise of the thing. But it is a comic book movie, and if you can suspend your disbelief for that, it is not much further a stretch to just take the CGI for what it is: that is, a part of a nicely paced, entertaining chase film, with moderate character development and substance, that happens to be incorporated with comic book characters. The good guys most likely win--barely; and in the sequel we'll find out if the proverbial 'beast' or 'mutant' will be reunited with his 'girl-next-door'. All the while a new villian is making devious and disastrous plans, for what else would a comic hero do if not?

The Plan

Mike slipped the jewels into his pouch and backed away from the display. So far everything had been going according to plan. He reached towards the hole cut in the ceiling above him, a hole that was a good ten feet above him.

The rope that was supposed to drop down so that he could escape never appeared. Joe’s smiling face never appeared in the hole above either. “Looking for something?” A voice rang out from behind. Mike knew what he would see before he turned around, Joe with his slicked back greasy hair and better than you smile. The knotted rope was in his left hand and a revolver was in his right.

“I was starting to think you weren’t going to show,” Mike said as he turned around.

“No sudden moves Mike,” Joe said as he kept the gun leveled at Mike. “You were right when you brought me in on this job, it was the perfect score. You had all the angles. Everything was worked out. All that I had to do was play my part and get my cut. Your plan was perfect, I’ll admit that, but it had one flaw that you didn’t count on. You needed me.”

Hands slightly raised in submission, Mike slowly approached his partner. “We’re a team, you don’t have to do this.”

“There is a new buyer on this deal. He wants me to bring in the jewels, alone.”

“You don’t have to do this. We can work this out.” Mike held out the pouch with the jewels. Jo hesitated as he grabbed the pouch out of his mentor’s hand. Mike seized the moment and leapt for Joe. The pair fell to the floor struggling for control of the gun. The tussle stopped with a crack of thunder that rumbled though the room.

'An Unreasonable Man' Review

"The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man."
-George Bernard Shaw, Man and Superman (1903)
"Maxims for Revolutionists"

****1/2 Out of ***** 'An Unreasonable Man' sure maybe to some or sum, however, to badly paraphrase the quote at the beginning of the film, it's going to have to be that way when going against vast popular opinion or a country set possibly in ill-fated contemporary or foregoing ways. The unreasonable man should always be present in time, sound and communal ways: that way we can check ourselves and make sure the emperor has good threads, and of course, reason too. That is the way it has to be, or should be. However, I guess it's not that way; and so it goes, but this is not a political diatribe, spread it where they or I may. This documenatary, is one of reasonably objective, standard and possible edifying fare; one half of the doc brings on opponents of the whole 2000/2004 election elicitation, and brings forth the questions or accusations or presumption that Nader had ruined the election for the dems in both respective races. The other half covers Nader's extensive history in bringing about social change, i.e auto safety and Nader's Raiders. It is a thorough documentary with footage seemingly inclusive of converse thoughts and events, but obviously biased. Even opponents seem to admit possibly not a dime's worth of difference between our two parties. So Nader states, "and so when people say, 'why'd you do this in 2000?', well I'd say, I'm a twenty-year veteran, of pursuing the folly, of the least worst, between the two parties, 'cause when you do that, you end up allowing them to both get worse, every four years." In a supposed free-market, like cheese or milk, let the voter decide. What did Nader owe Gore or Kerry? Let the voter, or the faux-voter, decide, again! Some party's inability to provide the right hors d'oeuvres or melodic tune might be to blame. Whom did he owe any votes?

Three Minutes

Clip your toenails, download porn, eat a hot pocket, read a haiku

Get a phone call, tie your shoes, put on a clean shirt, find your keys

Warm up the car, wait at a stoplight, forget where you’re going, what you’re doing

Chug a beer, slam a whiskey, smoke a joint

Take a piss, wash your hands, make new friends, get a phone number

Kick off shoes, unbutton a shirt, unhook a bra, fumble for ecstasy

Forget a phone number, a name, a life

Rob a store, ruin a shirt, reload a gun, crash a car

Live it up, fall from grace, truly live, truly die

'The Accidental Tourist' Review

****/***** Life is makin' Macon Leary leery. After the death of his son, he continues to write travel guides for the weary traveler, advising them in such a way that it feels they've never left home while away. In other words, Macon likes his comfort zones, as he goes through his middle-aged lassitude (similiar to Bill Murray's characters in 'Lost in Translation' or 'Rushmore'). Hurt is exceptional here, subtly conveying with facial expressions and the like his inner turmoil. After this film, I had a new appreciation for him, as he proves himself a masterful actor here. As way leads to way, Geena Davis' eccentric dog trainer comes into the picture, and Macon finds himself landing in destinations he could've never predicted. The voice-over narration is great at communicating the metaphors of a man isolated, trying to control his environment and not always being as successful as he'd hoped. But that is at the heart of the film, that is, the fact that our best-laid plans seldom come to fruition.

Penumbral Gambit - Episode 2: Assembling The Team

Disclaimer: Penumbral Gambit is a work of fan fiction set in the Star Wars universe. Several locations, items, and concepts belong to George Lucas and Lucasfilm Ltd. The picture is a combination of an image from Sergio Leone’s “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” and an image from Wizards of the Coast’s Star Wars Saga Edition role playing game book. This story and image is purely meant for entertainment. No copyright infringement is intended.

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The expanse of the Coruscant skyline was encroached upon by the many skyscrapers that composed the planet wide city behind the Supreme Chancellor. A large oak desk resided in front of him. His hairy Bothan face had a wolfish grin spread across it as he surveyed the hand picked team in front of him. The spies had worked hard to secretly research and bring in each member.

To my left sat a large human wearing flight suit armor. The stylized armor told me that he was no normal human, he was a Mandalorian. It has only been a short 1,500 years since the Mandalorians attempted to conquer the galaxy. Now they are reduced to the role of mercenaries and pirates. Jett, as he is called, would be crude and aggressive in his methods, but I know he will be able to carry his own weight in a fire fight.

On my right were three beings that could only be described as Jedi knights, since all three were dressed in the style of robes that the order was known for. Directly on my right sat a large Ithorian. The strength of his bulging muscles could be sensed, even from under his robes. Tahnel comes from a peaceful race that is known for power within the force. His wisdom and demeanor should be a good anchor for the party.

To Tahnel’s right was a young woman with an older fish-like Mon Calamari standing behind her, master and apprentice. A black silk scarf was wrapped around her non-existent eyes. Miralukans are known for not having eyes, they can only see through the force. As an apprentice, Re’ahn, may end up being the loose cannon in the group, with any luck Master Ragab will be able to keep her reigned in.

Once the introductions were concluded, Supreme Chancellor Strask Joran'bek got down to business. “As you know,” he started, “you have been summoned together for a special reason. We are living in dangerous times. Enemies of the republic are behind every corner. Jedi masters have been turning up dead and dark Jedi have started appearing in greater numbers. Strange happenings have also been occurring in the Outer Rim, shadows seem to have been coming alive and attacking settlements. I need a team that can take care of situations like these, a team that can protect the Republic from behind the scenes without the knowledge of the Galactic Senate.”

“However, as important as these problems are, they are not the current problem at hand.” The Chancellor pressed a button on his desk and a door slid open. A well dressed human entered the room with a briefcase in hand. The Chancellor continued, speaking to the newcomer. “Senator Scora, this is the team that will quell the uprising on your planet, Dorreth.”

'Heir to an Execution' Review

***1/2 out of ***** This is a pretty good documentary, directed by the Rosenberg's blood granddaughter Ivy Meeropol, it covers in more detail the relationship the trial and execution has had on the family, than on the actual trial and evidence. It is clear and objectively shown that indeed it has had an arrant multigenerational effect and most likely will continue with the director's children. However, important in the film was the revelation of information contained in the 1995 opening of classified government documents (The Venona Papers) which pretty much proves Julius' guilt (guilty of passing secrets, but nothing supposedly as serious as atomic info) and exonerates Ethel. This is presented as a surprise in the film, although this information was revealed nearly a decade before the film had been made. We spend half the film getting to this point, whereas the film would've been much more effective and comprehensive if it would've started off at this point. I only say this 'cause the guilt, or the degree of guilt, affects this family's identity, and is highly relevant and a major theme of the documentary. This, and Morton Sobell's incomplete answers to the nature of their guilt (he was their co-defendant!!) made the film seem a little more biased than it had to be. The film also in a way martyrizes them, which is fine, I guess, if they were innocent (of passing atomic info), but a sad and unavoidable manipulation if not. Overall, this is slightly nitpickish on my part and anyone interested in this era of history will not be disappointed.

Brotherhood

Drinking a beer
Sitting with friends
There’s something to be said
About the brotherhood of men
In the heat of the battle
When the games in full swing
It is brother against brother
Battle to the end
But after the game
When the scores tallied up
They are slapping each others back
And trying to buy their foe a pint
Cutthroat in the boardroom
Buddies to the end
There is something to be said
About the brotherhood of men

'Next Stop Wonderland' Review

(Spoilers) ****/***** The best way to classify this film would be to say that it's an indie romantic comedy. Going into it, you already know who will end up with whom, as they encounter each other in a multitude of ways, as if fate is knocking on their respective doors. There is a lighthearted theme throughout of destiny versus random events, but that is just part of this talky, at times seriocomic and sardonic, and other times genuinely affecting and somewhat enlightening film. Furthermore, it doesn't matter that you know they will end up together; this is about THAT journey, about fish in sea, or singles in bars, and the painstaking, embarrassing and asinine things we'll do to potentially seek that proverbial 'one' out. It is replete in imagery as well, half the time the characters are in what seems to be The New England Aquarium, including a little side story with a blowfish. Philip Seymour Hoffman is hilarious as Erin's activist ex-boyfriend, lost in his own little idealistic world too. However, in the end, boy meets girl, and they wander from Wonderland Station.

The Liar and The Whore

“What the hell is this?!?” The man shouted as he kicked open the bedroom door. A fist of papers was grasped in his hand as he stormed towards the bed. The form in the bed just rolled over and groaned towards the verbal assault. “Who the hell are you? I invite you into my life, I give you all that I have, but what for? You are nothing but a liar and a whore.”

“Your not talking any sense baby,” the form said from under the covers. “Come back to bed, I’m cold.”

“No! I want you out of my house and out of my life. I never want to see you again.” He yelled as he pulled the covers off of the bed.

“Why did you have to do that?” the girl asked as one hand rested on her naked stomach and the other rested under her head and pillow. “We had a good thing going. Why did you have to go and ruin it?”

“Who are you? These papers say that you aren’t the woman that I fell in love with.” He threw the papers at her in disgust. “I don’t want some sort of crook under my roof.”

She sighed as she withdrew her hand from under her head and beneath the pillow. Her heavy navel revolver was brought into view and roared to life. Fine red mists exploded from his body as shot after shot penetrated his body. His blood splattered across the room and covered her naked body as he fell to the floor. “Why did you have to ruin it,” she asked, “We had such a good thing going.”

'Feast of Love' Review

*Spoilers*: **/***** There are a few nuggets of wisdom to extrapolate from this film full of tired, retread formulas, cliched characters and ridiculous, nonsensical twists and harbinger outcomes; the apex of this film is when Freeman gives his narration or he and Kinnear interact. Some of the preceding writing is pretty decent, unfortunately, the rest of the movie is buried amongst tired plot conventions and impractical character motivations. No better way to underscore this than in the ending where all the now sugary characters of shattered, debauched relationships come together to try to rescue the life of one of their crew. It is one of the most insipid and uninspired things I've seen in a movie in quite a while (you could see this 'surprise' coming a mile away, and why didn't they wait for an ambulance, as a football game had just ended with spectators walking around everywhere before trying to drive through it?). Overall, if you want to see a movie that writer/director Robert Benton made that was truly good, if not great, check out 1979's 'Kramer Vs. Kramer', or 1994's 'Nobody's Fool' with Paul Newman. For now, this feast has me bloated.

Time Flies

The pair danced back and fourth as deadly flashes of steel kept them apart. Clanging of their weapons melded seamlessly with the ticking of the massive clockworks in the tower.

“In the name of Queen and country, I demand your surrender,” the man in red called out between labored breaths.

“This is only the eve of what is to follow,” the man dressed in black retorted. His thin black mustache bounced and weaved, punctuating each word. “I can not allow you to stop me.”

The dark clad man lepta backwards onto a giant turning gear. Hesitating, the guard glanced down at the depths of the tower below them before following. The duo leapt from gear to cogs to gears again on their way down through the bowels of the clock tower. Staying one step ahead the man in black led the way. Exhausted, the guard faltered a step or two, but never gave up the chase.

“It is the dawn of a new era,” the darkly clad one shouted as they neared the bottom. The guard clutched his sword and lunged forward. Far above them an explosion echoed through the confined tower. Metal and fire rained down upon the pain. Massive mechanical parts came crashing down. The clock hands flew off and crashed into the building across the street.

The Ups and Downs of Caps and Gowns

“Do it,” he said to me a few short hours ago as we were chugging beers. “No one will know.”

I took a long pull on my beer as I rolled it over in my mind. “But I’ll have no place to put my flask,” I retorted.

“I’ll be sitting right next to ya. I’ll make sure your booze won’t go missing… Besides, it’ll be an adventure to tell the grandkids.”

That’s how I got talked into this. My buddy passed the flask as I shivered in the Chicago night air. He kept ribbing me and chuckling. Finally it came to our turn to rise and follow the line of students towards the stage. The dean of students was handing out diplomas. I reached out to shake his hand and receive my diploma. A gust of wind rushed through the stage, blowing off my cap, raising my gown, and exposing my worth as a man to all the students and parents in the audience. The announcer called out my name…

'3 Women' Review

****/***** I have seen 95% of Altman's films, and I would say '3 Women' is in the upper-middle echelon of his body of work. Stylistically and thematically, it reminds me most of his 'Images' from '72. And as others have mentioned, Altman basically derived the film from a dream he had. And yes, this film is like a dream; from the almost Jungian imagery of Willie's murals that are archetypal and could possibly denote the collective unconscious, to the idea that Pinky is basically reborn after falling into the pool(Altman said the water in the movie symbolized amniotic fluid), we are in a virtual dreamscape. Identities are reaccessed, and seem to shift as a barren desert engulfs them. Maybe it is about the cycle of life, as each of the three women, seem to embody some stage, or step on the ladder of life? We are introduced to these characters in a nursing home (where people are again in water), and leave these character's lives, after Millie helps Willie give birth (symbolic possibly of Willie channeling or embodying Millie, or vice-versa) to a still-born. They all only seem to consort with one man, that being Edgar, and in the end, live together a mesh of each other. But this is a dream. So one interpretation could be as good as the next. Or as irrelevant as the next. However, I wonder what Freud would think?

The Trap

The soft crunch of the freshly fallen snow was music to Steve’s ears as he trekked across the snow covered field. It wasn’t too far to the edge of the woods, and then it would only be a mile hike across a few different properties before he reached the tree stand that he had set up. The northern Wisconsin woods were peaceful, a place where you could go to lose yourself. No worries, no problems, no cell phone reception. Just the serine bliss that comes from being deep in the wilderness. The worst part would be having to drag out the buck. They can get quite heavy.

After the short hike Steve had his tree stand in sight, just where he left it.

Snap! Crack! Echoed through the woods when Steve approached the ladder to his tree stand. It took a moment for the shock to wear off, but when he looked down a large old rusted bear trap was clamped around his now deformed leg. As he collapsed in pain a note nailed to a nearby tree caught his eye. It read: You get what you deserve murderer!