Peter Tork, singer and multi-instrumentalist, the Monkees:
"The Vietnam war was going on, of course. We knew it was bogus from the start-not unlike contemporary situations. One of the reasons for the Summer of Love was that a ton of kids simply withdrew from Lyndon Johnson's world because it was so clear that those who were in charge were totally bereft of any moral underpinning whatsoever. We said: You guys know nothing, so we're going to run off and have our fun."
Saturday, June 16, 2007
As is so often true, a Monkee makes the most convincing case
All of this snow just made us glow in the dark
Hands up, the first person who's surprised
Ben Varkentine -- [noun]: An alien 'How will you be defined in the dictionary?' at QuizGalaxy.com |
I'm guessing they probably don't mean it in the Mathilda May, naked vampire babe alien from Lifeforce kind of way...
Perspective
But to me, it makes me go "Wait...does that mean she's Eric Roberts' daughter?" Yes, yes it does.
Tee-hee.
Which of Henry VIII's wives are you?
this quiz was made by Lori Fury
Friday, June 15, 2007
High upon a hillside, A preacher tells a story to a crowd
This is the last line of this film, but is sometimes cut from commercial television broadcasts, which has the effect of hollowing the whole film out as far as I'm concerned:
"You can't come in here."
It is a biopic, and has the name of the person it's about in its title.
Oh, allright, that person was a comic...
...The Life and Death of Peter Sellers.
"Did you ever dream about a place you never really recall being to before? A place that maybe only exists in your imagination? Some place far away, half remembered when you wake up. When you were there, though, you knew the language. You knew your way around. *That* was the sixties. [pause] No. It wasn't that either. It was just '66 and early '67. That's all there was."
...is from a film associated with a man who is making out like a bandit at the moment.
...The Limey, directed by Steven Soderbergh, currently a winner at the box office with Ocean's 13. Get it?
"I'm gettin' too old for this shit."
I don't mean any of the Lethal Weapon movies. However, that doesn't mean at least one of the stars of that series wasn't involved with this film...
...Maverick. Okay, so maybe watching this movie isn't quite as pleasant as it used to be now that we know what we know about its stars. But if that doesn't get in the way of your enjoyment, it can still be a lot of fun.
(a teenaged boy is watching a woman in her late 30's take clean laundry out of a basket)
Boy: Can I eat you out?
Woman: Not now. Folding.
...is from one of those controversial movies that tries to mix explict sex and real drama.
Namely, Ken Park.
This is the only one of these films that I don't necessarily recommend. It's not the explicit sex that makes it a failure--actually those scenes are well-shot-- it's the drama, or rather melodrama, of the story.
I thought the same director's Kids and especially Bully were at least somewhat underrated. But here the whole thing is so extreme that it sacrifices credibility. He does give us at least one or two characters to care about, but at least as many unpleasant ones. And fails to give any of them anything really engaging to do.
I do like that dialogue exchange, though.
"Hello, Mr. Griffith."
"Hello, Mrs. Page."
...is from a movie starring a frequent host of Saturday Night Live.
Planes, Trains and Automobiles, starring Steve Martin & John Candy. If you don't know the movie, don't watch this clip. But if you do know the movie, and just forgot the lines, please enjoy the ending again with me. I always, but always cry.
A couple of other notes: The music playing over the scenes of Martin on the train is an instrumental of the song "Power To Believe" by Dream Academy. One or two of you long-timers might recognize the lyric, I tend to post it when I'm feeling most hopeless.
And I've always admired the performance of Laila Robins, who plays Mrs. Page. She took what could have been the very definition of a thankless role-"the wife"-and found riches in it.
(man to his dying son)
"Pesaram, I am here!"
...is from a film starring someone who both I, and homosexual women apparently, feel is one of the beautiful people.
Sigh. If you people had better memories than goldfish, this hint might have worked. The film is House Of Sand And Fog, starring Jennifer Connelly and Ben Kingsley.
"You'll be hung!"
"Oh I am, I am, and very well thank you."
...is from a movie starring a former juvenile lead in a family drama who never quite launched an adult career. This movie didn't help. It's one of those treasured by people who love bad movies, sometimes painfully bad, and a guilty pleasure of mine.
I really can't believe not one of you got this one. I'm talking about, of course, The Pirate Movie.
Hm, Did I say Ken Park was the only one of these films I wouldn't recommend? Pirate Movie is bad on any number of levels-but at least Ted Hamilton's Pirate King, who delivers the punchline in question, seemed to be having fun. And that is fun to watch.
But, there is that whole bad-on-any-number-of-levels thing, and Hamilton was also the executive producer.
And finally,Woman: Have you broken something?
Man: Only my tailor's heart.
[She kisses him]
Man: What was that for?
Woman: For saving my life.
Man: Remind me to do it more often.
...is from a movie with music by John Barry...
I think Moonraker is a film most "serious" Bond fans would rather forget.
I've gone back and forth on it myself. It was the first Bond I ever saw, when I was like seven so all it was to me was a fun movie.
Even if, at that age, I didn't quite understand why all those ladies kept getting in the way.
FF some eight years later when, heavily influnced by the Edgar-nominated book The James Bond Bedside Companion, I renounced the more humorous films and insisted on the "serious" ones.
Like Goldfinger.
I was a bit of an stereotypical anal-retentively obsessed fan, really.
But recently, I've found myself noticing something. One or another of the cable channels runs a "salute to 007" seemingly every month.
I still like films like Dr. No and The Living Daylights; I'll watch them almost any time.
But the movies I most often find myself watching again are the ones that are just good fun and terrific experiences.
Like this one, or Diamonds Are Forever. I even think Die Another Day was more adroit than most people seem to feel.
Meanwhile, a film like For Your Eyes Only, which "serious" fans tend to think is the best of the Moores--puts me right to sleep...
Frankly, I'm dubious.
You fit in with: Spiritualism 40% spiritual. 40% reason-oriented. | |
Your ideals are mostly spiritual, but in an individualistic way. While spirituality is very important in your life, organized religion itself may not be for you. It is best for you to seek these things on your own terms. | |
Take This Quiz at QuizGalaxy.com |
What sick fuck...
4 Dolphins Shot to Death in Calif.
By NOAKI SCHWARTZ (Associated Press Writer)
LOS ANGELES - Four dead dolphins have washed ashore with fatal bullet wounds and fifth with lacerations on its pectoral fin, said authorities who have offered a reward for information on the slayings.
The long-beaked common dolphins were all discovered between Carlsbad State Beach and Oceanside Harbor between May 29 and June 5. Photos showed their normally sleek gray skin mottled and stained with blood from the bullet wounds.
"It's a horrendous thing that happened," said Mark Oswell, spokesman for the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. "That someone would go out there and shoot four dolphins."
Dolphins, for fucks sake. Creatures that unless I missed it have never done anything to humans but entertain us (and, of course, help Aquaman).
God, I hate mankind.
As Prime Minister of Belgium, I must walk amongst my people
This is one of my people. And by the way...redhead!
I think I'm going to enjoy being Prime Minister of Belgium.
ETA: And this is the vocalist of one of my newly adopted country's dance groups, Sylver. Her name is Silvy De Bie and "As a little child, she already scored a number-one-hit with...[wait for it] 'Ben', a cover of Michael Jackson."
Yes, I really do think I'm going to enjoy being Prime Minister of Belgium.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Finally.
My feelings aside, the show was doing poorly in the ratings, and I know how these things work. That was before I found out that 30 Rock's numbers are only as good or worse, and that got renewed. But that's another post.
Writing about what was bothering me most about Studio 60 in recent weeks (at that time), I wrote that Aaron Sorkin's other written/created shows like
Sports Night and especially West Wing made me want to write well. They almost always made me think, "I have to do better." Studio 60 may have made me think, "I actually can do better." I have no idea right now whether that's a good sign, or not.
I just wanted to say that tonight's middle part of a three-parter...finally got me wanting to write well (I always want to write well, but you know what I mean).
For those two of you who are also watching it: I can't help it. I sense metaphors. To me, Jordan's health crisis is really the health crisis of TV itself. Remember, her ficticious (oh yeah; ficticious) exec was the one who explained why she wanted to pass on a reality show being offered to the network by saying:
"It's patently disgusting. It appeals to the very worst in our nature, and whoever airs it will play a measurable role in subverting our national culture. It doesn't belong on anyone's air--certainly not ours, at a time when we're trying to re-brand the network as a place for high-end viewers. I swear to God, sir, the better our shows are, the more money we'll make."
That's the alternate universe reality. In our reality, a show that was erratic, but good and getting better, has been cancelled. And the network is jamming in as many ads for "unscripted" series, game shows, and "reality" programs as they can.
I'm sure at least part of the reason is because they can't sell much ad time on a show that's already cancelled, so they fill the space with in-house ads. I understand that. I'm also aware that NBC doesn't have to let S60 finish out the season at all, and I'm genuinely grateful that they have.
Nevertheless, the end result is an hour of television that mocks the medium's own best aspirations.
So, of course Jordan's health has taken a turn for the worse.
And her baby?
That's the show.
Trouble in the gestation, delivered prematurely, but looking good, and surrounded by people who want to take care of it. But may be prevented from doing so by cirumstances beyond their control, or at least not completely within their grasp.
Danny, looking down at the little girl whom he considers his daughter in all but biology, but is prevented from touching by a glass window: That's Sorkin and/or his friend and producing partner/director, Tommy Schlamme.
Because they have created this thing. Even though Schlamme's name isn't on the show as creator--just as Danny's name isn't on any forms as the father of Jordan's child. But like Danny, there may be a limit on what they can do for this "child."
If Jordan dies, Danny will have no legal rights where her child is concerned, it was pointed out to Matt tonight. And no matter how much Sorkin & Schlamme love this show and want to do right by it...
-unless some other network decides to be Santa (unlikely, though I still long to see what the series could do on Showtime).
For the discriminating sexist...
Redhead (yes, it's a theme)
(Michelle Beaudoin)
(I don't know how long I'll keep this theme going, but every blog needs one or two redheads around, I say.)
Eight things you may or may not know about me
1. I have to post these rules before I give you the facts.
2. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
3. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
4. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names. (You’re not the boss of me!)
5. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.
Ok.
1. If memory serves, the first woman that I ever saw completely nude in Playboy was Carol Ficatier. For better or worse, every woman that I've ever known since has probably been contrasted to her-and, of course, Sylvia Kristel, the first woman I saw naked onscreen.
2. Sometime in the mid-to-late '70s, I found $20 in a Burger King parking lot. I blew it on...a Kiss action figure. No, I can't explain it either (I never even liked the music!).
3. Some cereals I miss in (roughly) alphabetical order:
Pac-Man:
4. I have never known, or even met, my father. However, reasonably belivable information suggests that he is currently working as a psychic healer of some kind. This leads me to believe that he is either a con man, a nut, or both. Either way, I don't like my chances if heredity is anything to shout about.
5. I once dreamt I was in bed with Amber Benson. It wasn't all sexy, but snuggly and warm and friendly. Which doesn't really surprise me because as much as I loved Tara, it's never really been as much about the heat so much as the warmth.
6. I have never seen any of the Shrek movies in their entirety, though I have seen bits of the first on TV. They just look horrible to me.
7. I've met all but one of the Kids in the Hall.
8. I wrote a comic strip that a friend drew for our high-school newspaper.
Whew! Ok, for my tags: Jen, RAB, George, spyder, Steve, Mike, Johnny, Dave Lifton
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Hint, hint
This is the last line of this film, but is sometimes cut from commercial television broadcasts, which has the effect of hollowing the whole film out as far as I'm concerned:
"You can't come in here."
It is a biopic, and has the name of the person it's about in its title.
Oh, allright, that person was a comic...
"I'm gettin' too old for this shit."
I don't mean any of the Lethal Weapon movies. However, that doesn't mean at least one of the stars of that series wasn't involved with this film...