Batman: Under The Red Hood

Just finished watching the Blu-ray of this, which was released earlier this week. I have to say, I was very impressed. Although I wanted to hate the storyline--because of a certain controversial decision to bring someone back from Batman's past who's been long dead--the production values of this animated film kept me glued for the entire 75 min run. The voice work was superb, and the animation's more in line with what I like to see in animated movies of a dark and mature nature. Almost like the HBO's "Spawn" series from back in the day.

And you know what? Now that I had some time to process the big reveal of just who it is that's "under the red hood," I actually think it's a pretty neat new development. Sure, we probably could have done without it . . . but now that it's here, Batman will just have to deal with it like he always does. It makes the universe he inhabits just a little more interesting now.

But I won't say anymore. What I *will* say is this: if you're a big fan of anything and everything Bats, do yourself a favor and check this out. Especially if you've liked the superbly slick and mostly spot-on direct-to-video animated movies Warner and DC have been putting out lately. This is another shining badge to add to their collection.

Check out the trailer below if you want an idea of what you're getting with this film:



Rent or buy (I recommend buy), you owe it to yourself to check this out. Trust me.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

The Future's So Bright . . .

Yesterday on his blog, "Whatever", SF writer John Scalzi expressed amazement over his new Droid X phone, and asked us all to consider the moment a particular piece of technology or advancement made us realize that we were now in TEH FUTURES!!! The comments from folks writing in their moment is quite the cross-section of different experiences, but little did I know that my own would come this very day. Like Scalzi, the discovery came with regards to my mobile phone; except that my phone is the phone everyone loves to hate -- the Apple iPhone 4.

See, I was watching a Chase bank commercial today. Chase is the bank that I'm with, for those keeping score at home. The commercial was for the Chase banking app on the iPhone that lets you manage your account, pay bills, and transfer money between accounts all remotely. I've had this app on my phone for almost 2 years now. It works great. But apparently it was recently upgraded to include a new exciting feature that has now convinced me that I am truly and surely in TEH FUTURES!!!

Let me presage this discovery by admitting that, in this day and age, I still find the occasion where I have to deposit paper checks. It doesn't happen every day, or even every week. But enough times throughout the year to make it an annoyance for me, particularly during tax season. So what has Chase done now to make my life all the better? Why, they've given me the ability to simply take a photo of my check with the iPhone's camera and use the Chase app to send the pic remotely. When the send is complete, the amount is magically deposited to my account sans the need for an ATM visit or face-to-face time with a teller.

In other words: I can deposit checks into my account FROM MY BED, people! Holy hells!

Yes, yes . . . I'm pragmatic enough to know that this singular feat is probably not as impressive to some of you as it is to me. And I'm also aware that the basic technology behind this function has been around in some form or another on mobile devices for quite some time. But I'd be willing to bet that *your* bank doesn't have this feature, not if your bank isn't Chase. And I'm also willing to bet that you receive the occasional check what needs depositing from time to time, too.

And, I'm sorry, but to me this is just friggin AWESOME!

Isn't it? Well -- ISN'T IT?!!!

Okay, okay. I'm calm now. Let's all return to our more important matters.

Rather Apropos, Don't You Think?

I find it eerily convenient that one of my favorite British sci-fi writers (of which I have quite a few on my short list of fave SF writers these days), just happens to have a book released last week that takes place entirely in a near-future Istanbul. Exactly two weeks after I'd just return from visiting that city for the first time!

Click here for more on the book at Amazon.

Ian McDonald first wowed me a few years back with his short stories and one novel that took place in a near-future India. The way he was able to so aptly capture a foreign culture and render it within some pretty nifty and mind-bending sci-fi concepts was something that just left me in numbing awe. His style and deft of prose and characterization is something I immediately found myself attracted to in these stories, and I've been shamelessly trying to imitate him ever since in my own writing.

He did the same thing for Brazil in another groundbreaking novel, too. And now it seems he's set his eyes on Turkiye. More specifically, Istanbul. Of course, you know, I just had to get this book. I haven't yet read his novel "Brasyl" which is sitting on my shelf, nor "Cyberabad Days" -- a collection of his award-winning short stories set in the near-future India I mentioned before. Both books I've been dying to get to, so I'm afraid "The Dervish House" will have to wait until then.

Or perhaps I should do what I want to do and read this latest book first? C'mon, let me buck the trend and be a total REBEL for once!

Heh, heh . . . we shall see.

Wouldn't You Know It?

They tell me it's going to pour buckets during my morning commute, so I bring my umbrella and nary a drop falls all the way to work. But had I not brought the umbrella? Oh, it would have been the second coming of Noah's flood out there!

What's the big deal you say? Well, nothing 'cept that I *hate* carrying things with me when I have to take the subway. It's crowded and annoying enough on public transportation. Don't need to add to it by burdening myself with unnecessary accessories.

Oh well, such is life . . .

A Movie Scene I Still Love

Was just thinking about the movie "Hustle & Flow" today and how great it was, with one scene in particular standing out for me as a writer. The movie is one of those polarizing effects by which those who have never seen it make wildly inaccurate judgments on what they think it's about, and those who *have* watched it who've come to the realization that it's one seriously good flick!

Yes, the movie is about a Memphis pimp trying to break into the rap game. Yes, it has naughty language and scenes with female bits showing -- OH NOES! But at its heart this is a tale about overcoming the odds and reaching for a dream.

If you have not seen the movie, you should rent it. If you think you're not into this sort of thing, just watch it anyway. Open your mind for 2 hours and think of the real message behind all the cussing and such.

Or, alternately, just check out the clip below and get a glimpse of what it's like to wring creativity out of a few pages of scribbled lyrics:

Thank You, Thank You . . . You're Far Too Kind!

I just wanted to issue a quick, but heartfelt THANK YOU to all you wonderful people who continue to read this blog on a daily basis. Or, at least, to make a quick check for updates -- which I know I'd been lax on for the first half of the month.

Truth of the matter is, I've been receiving unprecedented amounts of traffic to the site in the past several weeks. Traffic that even increased for the two weeks I was away and couldn't update. I've even quadrupled the number of unique daily visitors to the blog since I started it almost 2 years ago, and for that I just have to say:

Well, gosh! I didn't realize anyone cared enough to visit. :)

Now, if you shy sonsuvbitches would just leave COMMENTS when you truck on in through my living room and eat my pie, that would really be something. Seriously, how hard is it to click on the little link at the bottom of each entry and leave a few quick words revealing your thoughts?

But it's okay, for I still love you. Mostly.

Except you over there, with the striped green shirt and ridiculous hair. I'm pretty sure I hate you.

Because, Danny Trejo Has To Eat . . .

Back in 2007, Grindhouse was released in theaters -- a double-feature bill directed by both Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino as a testimony to their love of the schlocky exploitation B-movies of the 60s and 70s. To round out the whole retro feel of the project, 4 "fake" trailers were attached to simulate an actual Saturday afternoon matinée -- complete with film grain and burn-ins on the stock. It was awesome!

One of the phony trailers was for a movie that just looked way over the top, starring RR's favorite go-to guy, Danny Trejo. It was called "Machete" and perfectly encapsulated the tongue-in-cheek tone of one of the two Grindhouse feature films, Planet Terror. At the time the trailer was never meant to be taken seriously, but it went over so well with audiences that RR decided to give more attention to the thought of actually making this his next real feature film.

And, now ladies and gentlemen, that day has come.

"Machete" -- very much real, large and in charge -- will be coming to a theater near you in the coming weeks. The official trailer was just released last week, and I have to say I'm impressed with how close in tone it still remains to the previous "fake" trailer. With a few surprise faces added to the cast to boot!

As an interesting study, I've included both trailers below. First the phony one from Grindhouse, followed by the real one just released. Keep in mind that this is a movie made purposely to be over-the-top with copious amounts of blood, sex, and violence. Not unlike last year's critically acclaimed, but woefully under-appreciated indie action flick, "Black Dynamite".







I've always been a Danny Trejo fan and a huge supporter of Robert Rodriguez's films, so needless to say I going to be there on opening day.

How about you?

Parents Need To Discipline More

And, no, I'm not talking about hitting the child. You can discipline without resorting to corporeal means to do so.

Anyway, I must preface what I'm about to say with an admission: I don't watch daytime tv, so I'm not familiar with the names of the people who populate such shows like Live! With Regis and Kelly (although I'm sure of at least two of them there), or Good Morning, America and such. Usually the tv plays in the background while I work from home and I barely pay attention to what it's saying.

But yesterday was different. I believe it was the Today Show that was on. I could be wrong. And I don't know who the Asian-looking lady is on one of the segments, but it was during this one that I noticed what's fundamentally wrong about these parents today who want to be their child's friend.

The segment, if I remember correctly (which I'm sure I don't) was about finding activities to do with your children. The guest was a mother who had her young 4 year old with her on the set. While this woman and the host spoke, the little girl could be seen causing all sorts of destructive mayhem in the background. And without barely a pause in her conversation with the other woman, the mother said to her daughter: "Good job, honey!" in that distracted, off-handed manner parents use when they could care two shits what the child is really doing. In this case, the little girl had just finished throwing a toy plane straight into the wall with much relish, breaking it in two.

Excuse me? Good job? Are you fucking KIDDING me? That little girl was clearly acting out to get some attention, and you're just going to congratulate her like some puppy that just did a trick for you?

Since when have parents become such pussies? Because, truth be told, I see this kind of behavior ALL the time these days. Young parents that are so afraid to emotionally scar their child that they give up all rights as a parent to knock some sense into the brat and teach them right from wrong. Instead, they want to reward and comfort them for ANYTHING the kid does short of burning the house down. Drawing a nice family portrait in crayon or snipping the tip of the dog's tail with scissors -- doesn't really matter. Either way: Good job, honey!

Look, people. Stop it. You are not there to be your kids' best friend. They have friends. They don't need that from you. What they *do* need is a firm hand to call them out on their bullshit. Because, let's be honest, kids know full well that they're full of shit. They just want to test the waters and see how much they can get away with from their lackwit parental figures. A pat on the head and a quick "atta boy" is no substitute for actual parenting -- and kids respond to this by acting out even more. Geez, no wonder.

I'm not a parent yet, but when I am I'm certain I'm not going to treat my kids like some accessory to show how successful in life I am. Because that's what children are to some people. Little puppies that are cute and cuddly and fun to show off, but who should be mollified with a nice treat if they intrude too much on your own important big people activities.

Good job, honey! Now just keep doing what you're doing and leave me alone -- mommy's on TV!!!

Out Brief Candle . . .

Since I was out of the country for two weeks and of sporadic Internet access, I completely missed the sad news from fave sci-fi writer, John Scalzi, about the passing of his family's pet Akita, Kodi.

Now, I wouldn't necessarily call myself a dog person. In fact, I'm not much of a pet person at all. But Scalzi's account on his blog of Kodi's life and what she meant to him and his family is probably the most touching tribute to a beloved pet I've ever read:

http://whatever.scalzi.com/2010/07/17/kodi-1997-2010/

Please check it out for yourself. Trust me, you will be moved to tears. I know I was, which is no small feat. But by the end of the article, I couldn't help myself. Perhaps because I've been reading Scalzi's blog now for several years, and had grown to appreciate his affection for Kodi and laugh at her often serious demeanor and antics with the several cats in that household during this span. I don't know if that is why the news hit me particularly hard, or if John's writing was just so beautifully rendered as to pull at a particular set of heart strings. Probably a little of both. In any event, a loss to the family is sad no matter what.

If any of you are dog lovers out there, be prepared with a box of tissues if you click on the above link. Just a fair warning.

Farewell, sweet Kodi. I did not know you personally, but your passing is felt heavy on my heart nonetheless.

Leave A Tip, You Bum!

I just updated to both a brand new wireless-N network router and a DOCSIS 3.0 cable modem, and was on the phone with the cable company to register the latter. After the exchange of information was done, I was put through to an automated survey asking to rate the performance of the operator who assisted me.

I did so happily, knowing that these people depend on their customer satisfaction ratings. And, anyway, how hard is it to spend 60 seconds pressing "1 for very satisfactory" over and over again? Unless of course the customer service rep was horrible, in which case that's even MORE of a reason to participate in the survey, no?

So why do most people ignore these things? Is it really that hard to exercise a little empathy for the person assisting you?

It got me to thinking about tips, and how nasty folks can get over giving their service person the due appreciation he or she deserves. On our recent European vacation we witnessed some of our fellow cruisers routinely leaving out tips for services rendered. Services, I might add, that were delivered with the utmost courtesy, professionalism, and skill.

WTF? What is that all about? I'm not talking about on the ship, which had a mandatory gratuity already built in for each cruiser anyway, but on shore excursions mostly. We just couldn't believe it. You might as well slap the tour guide in the face and spit on his shoes!

Why are people so miserly when it comes to money? When I plan the budget for our trips, I do so with the knowledge that tips will have to be factored in. To me, it's part of the cost of travel. So when it comes time for it, I'm not surprised or put out at all.

Why is this so hard for others to do? Given how readily a lot of people accept services but don't tip for them . . . it becomes a little easier to understand the human penchant for enslaving their fellow man. No one wants to do the dirty work, but they'll happily let others do it and not pay them to do so.

Yeah. That's the kind of role model *I* want to be for kids.

Look What Came In The Post While I Was Away . . .

My latest electronic toy, and after a much maligned delay of 2 weeks! Sure, I could have used this phone while I was abroad. In fact, it was something I was looking forward to bringing with me due to its improved speed and the compass factor and what-not. I'm not bitter, though. The iPhone 4 got to me in the end, and that's all that matters.

So far it seems to be a significant upgrade to my 2-yr old iPhone 3G. I have to play around with it some more to unlock all its secrets, but so far I'm loving the super gorgeous screen resolution and the advanced camera with video function. Nifty!

Yes, such things make me happy.

Now, What If I Had Been A Serial Killer?

This is why texting will be the death of people.

The other night I took the wife to see Knight and Day -- the latest action spy-thriller starring Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz. Awesome movie, btw. Very well put together, with plenty of humor to boot!

Anyway, as we were leaving the theater, my wife needed to use the restroom. Fine. I waited outside. Lo and behold, a very young petite Asian woman wanders over to me with her eyes glued to her phone's screen and her fingers texting a mile a minute. She stands so close to me that she's damn near pressing her body against my arm.

Weird, I think. So I step a few feet to the right to give her some space.

Not taking her eyes off her phone, she immediately follows and continues standing uncomfortably close to me. I think I figured out what's going on: she assumed I was her boyfriend, who I had noticed earlier was wearing a similar black t-shirt to mine.

Rather than say something and have to deal with numerous apologies (which I hate, btw) . . . I create an even bigger distance between us. Surely she must be wondering why her "boyfriend" is avoiding her like the plague and look up, no?

Nope.

Yet again, she comes right up on me, still texting away.

Okay, she definitely has me mistaken for someone else. To make matters worse, I see her tilt her head towards me--eyes still glued to her screen--as if about to ask me something. Oh, great! So I turn my head away to pretend like I'm not aware of what's going on.

See, I'm not one of those people that enjoys when other people mess up. If someone trips going up some stairs, I'm not laughing. Shit like that is not funny to me. Nor do I need to laugh out of feeling uncomfortable for that person. Either way, laughing makes the other person feel like shit. And that's not cool. I take it one step further, though, in that I actively try to not let other people make fools of themselves around me.

I know, it's a losing battle.

Anyway . . . so this girl is about to say something to me. I'm looking away, hoping that she realizes the error of her ways and not feel the need to say sorry a hundred times while laughing awkwardly.

And it works!

She stops before the first word can come out, and I think I feel her staring at me for a second or two longer than is necessary. I mean, it seriously takes her 15 seconds to finally register what's going on. And when she does, she makes this funny sound and IMMEDIATELY takes off as if stung by a bee!

Her boyfriend was just coming out of the men's room at this point, and she quickly ran to him and locked her arms around his. I could hear her excitedly telling him everything that had just happened, and mention ". . . the same shirt!" I looked over and smiled at that, just a quick acknowledgment that I did indeed know what had just happened. They both laughed and continued on their way.

When Lisa came out of the ladies room, I related the incident and she got a kick out of that. Although she told me I'm too nice for my own good, and that she would have said: "Hey, back up off me bitch!"

Haha . . . no, she wouldn't have done that. I know her better than that. She's polite to people just as I am.

Still, this just goes to show the inherent danger to our society in being too tied up in our tech gadgets and fads. Remember to LOOK UP every now and then, people, and take stock of what's going on around you. Because if you don't, next time it might not be a nice guy like me standing around.

Funny How My Mind Works

Way back in February I mentioned purchasing the complete DVD box set of the tv series, She-Wolf of London. I recalled how this was a favorite of mine back when it first aired during my early teenage years.

Well, I just decided to finally crack it open and take a stroll down memory lane over the weekend . . . and, damn, it still holds up! Yeah, it's painfully corny at many points -- don't get me wrong. But somehow I find myself still being sucked in by the atmosphere and the charm of the main actors.

Oh, and I still have a ridiculous crush on 1990's era Kate Hodge, the lead in the show. Wow!

Anyway, halfway through the episodes now, I began to reminisce on all the horror shows I used to watch growing up. One episode of She-Wolf in particular reminded me strongly of a show who's title I could not remember. The only details I could dredge up from my foggy memory banks was of yet another attractive female lead, and that the setting was some sort of old book or antique shop. I remember that the characters would encounter a strange, horror- or fantasy-themed incident every week -- very similar to the general set-up of She-Wolf, but airing a few years earlier.

As I stated before, I couldn't remember the name of the show for the life of me! But I did recall that it had something to do with a famous horror movie series, while not actually being related at all to said series. I thought it might have been called "Halloween: the series," but subsequent Google searches turned up nothing. Then I thought: come on, David, what other big horror movie series were out in the 80s? A Nightmare on Elm Street? The series? Nah, that just didn't feel right to me.

So, of course, that only left one more. I couldn't believe I waited until last when it should have been my first choice: Friday the 13th! Bingo!

I didn't even have to do a search, for as soon as the the name came into my head the memories all flooded back. I could see the show's title right there in my mind's eye. The opening sequence, the faces of the main characters -- even the music of the opening credits! It was suddenly as clear as day.

How the hell does that HAPPEN?

Btw, you can click here to watch the introduction yourself. Does it bring back memories?

Anyway, now I feel much better. This was the show I had been struggling to remember all day today. I looked it up and found that the series aired for 3 seasons from 1987 to 1990. Whoa! A bit older than I remembered it being. Means I was in my tweens when it started. I also discovered that all 3 seasons are out on DVD. I've already put the first season on my wishlist. It will have to wait until I finish She-Wolf, though, which I feel is starting to decline in quality as the series drags on.

Oh, poo!

Well at least I still have Kate Hodge to drool over:

Can you say . . .YUM?!!!

In Preparation For Rome, Naturally . . .

. . . I have to watch some more episodes of "Rome."

Actually, I've been been humming the opening theme like crazy for the last week or so. I think I mentioned once before here how ridiculously awesome the HBO original series, Rome, is. And this is evident even just in the opening title sequence, which I provided for your visual enjoyment below. Check it out, why don't you?



Is that not an awesome opener or what?

Besides being an utterly memorable piece of music, the opening credits are so cool because they use actual ancient Roman graffiti found on the walls of excavated sites throughout southern Italy -- and animate them! A lot of people were shocked to learn that the ancient Romans were just as lewd and scatological as their modern descendants. Imagine that. My favorite graffito is the one depicting Athena exploding fully-grown from Zeus's head, just as in the myths.

What I enjoyed most about this series--and you can see some of it in the opening, too--is how accurate they got the "look" of what Rome used to be like visually. Gone are the stereotypical and WRONG set pieces of white marble and alabaster statues that backdrop most Hollywood depictions of this ancient society. No, in this Rome everything is colored, worn, and dirtied exactly as the living, breathing city no doubt once was. And what a rich tapestry of everyday living you get with this series! If you've never seen it before, you are really doing yourself a disservice. Especially if you are at all historically minded or a big fan of epic films depicting ancient civilizations. Each episode is so carefully crafted and expertly directed that that's just what you feel you're getting each time -- an epic film on your tv screen!

Now, as for me, I need to get back to packing for our trip to modern-day Rome while this tune drives me crazy in the background. I'll have to bust out the headphones soon before Lisa kills me. And that would just ruin my day, don't you think?

Uno, Due, Tre . . . My Secret To Learning New Languages

Been monstrous busy this past week, mostly to do with preparing for our cruise two weeks from now. As I've mentioned before, I'm doing what I did when we went to Paris for the first time last year. But learning Italian instead of French. Mostly basic words and phrases to help me through some possible scenarios while in Rome and Naples. I'm able to learn the fundamentals, at least, right away simply by applying the same exact language skills I learned while studying Mandarin in college -- repetition, repetition, and MORE repetition.

Sure, I know. You probably already know this technique. It's no secret. And yet, constant practicing doesn't always mean sitting at a desk with dusty language books and audio cues. Not for me. When I learn a language, I tend to live and breathe it everywhere I go. In this case, I take the lessons I learned the night before and constantly repeat them in my head while brushing my teeth, taking a shower, putting myself to sleep at night, etc. When I work out, I count each rep in my head in Italian. This way I get the numbers down pat.

On the subway commute to work, I live out mock scenarios and practice my response to each. I don't say the phrases out loud, naturally, because then I would be one of THOSE people on the subway. But I do keep a constant inner monologue going.

At work, I plug in my mp3 player and earphones and play the audio lessons in the background while I work. In a nutshell, I immerse myself in that language for weeks before I arrive in the country. No, I'm not fluent or even close to being so. But at the very least I can say what little I do know very, very well. And my pronunciation ain't so bad, either.

See, there's no trick to it. And you don't have to have a knack for languages. Hell, I'm virtually tone deaf! All you need are the right practice materials, the technology to make the most of them . . . and the discipline to work away at it little by little each and every day. If you're like me, you might even find yourself dreaming in the language you're trying to learn.

Yeah, ain't that some heavy shit?

Movie Review: Duel Of The 80s Remakes -- The A-Team & The Karate Kid

I'm a little late with these reviews, sorry. It's been a busy weekend for me, so I hope you don't mind a double-feature review. It won't be a bargain matinée at the Paradise Theater type of double-feature, but maybe I can still capture that 80s nostalgia we all miss anyway. Maybe? Yes?

Okay, maybe not.

Anyway . . . we went to Times Square Friday night to get our 80s throwback movie party on right! First up: The A-Team.

To be frank, the A-Team was a cool TV show when I was a little kid -- but not THAT cool. Knight Rider was better. But it was still something that occasionally enough delivered the goods for an action-loving 7 year old, and that's all anybody could ever ask for. Most of all, me.

This new take is not without its faults, but I was surprised by how well plotted and written the screenplay turned out to be. It hangs up a little at the end, but overall it was a taught, intriguing, and well developed story that kept me mostly on the edge of my seat. It helps that the director, Joe Carnahan, is great with these types of ensemble action movies. Just check out Smokin' Aces as an example. Here he manages to deliver the same expert mix of high-octane action scenes combined with an intricate, sometimes dense, plot that balances just the right amount of seriousness and goofiness to not fall too firmly into either side of the melodrama or camp territories.

The cast of Sharlto Copley (Murdoch), Quinton Jackson (B.A.), Bradley Cooper (Face), and Liam Neeson (Hannibal) gelled really well together -- displaying that cool, brothers-in-arms chemistry that is so crucial for this to work right. And which worked better here, in this movie, than with the the original cast of the tv show I might add.

Yes, I went there. And if you take off your rose-tinted fankid glasses, you'll see it too.

Where the movie falters, in my opinion, is the lack of set-up planning montages that made the tv show so much fun to watch. I mean, sure, they're in this movie. Twice, in fact. But both times felt rushed and too veiled in mystery for their own good. Still, when the payoff "comes together" in the end--as the team's leader, Hannibal, so famously puts it--the result is much bang for your buck. Times TEN!!!

This fun popcorn flick with just the right amount of laughs and kick-ass action gets:   7/10.

Next up for the night: The Karate Kid.

Now, I'll come straight out and say it: I absolutely LOVE the original 1984 flick! Some of you already know this. I just gushed all over the movie a few weeks ago here, after all.

But, you know what? I think I might just have to say that this new remake is *gasp* . . . BETTER! Yeah, I know. WTF am I smoking, right? But it's true! Oh god help me, I think it is.

The 2010 version is filmed entirely in China. Yes, even the Detroit sequence at the beginning. And, as those who know me know -- I have this huge love for anything China-related. So that right there is already a major solid on the movie's part. Furthermore, the action sequences are both more brutal and authentic looking than the original. Which is no slight to the choreographer of the first film, martial artist Pat E. Johnson, who did an awesome job. But just that the stunt coordinator on this modern take--famous Hong Kong stuntman and frequent Jackie Chan collaborator, Gang Wu-- is better! And it shows. All of the fight scenes in this movie are more intense, longer, and more technically accurate.

However, I think what gets me the most in this movie is the trip to the Buddhist mountain where Jackie Chan's "Mr. Han" leads Jaden Smith's "Dre" to show the boy the roots of true gong-fu. This whole sequence is poignant and beautiful, almost feeling like a step into another dimension compared to the hustle and bustle of noisy Beijing where the rest of the movie takes place. Mr. Han demonstrates to his pupil, Dre, that gong-fu is about stillness and reflection of one's inner peace, and not about an outward flashy display of prowess. I would watch the movie again just for this scene alone.


This theme of stillness and reflection is echoed well with another story thread in the film regarding Dre's gal pal (and somewhat love interest) Mei Ying, who is a budding violinist struggling to "capture the pauses" between notes. In this sense, both kids learn this lesson together by the end, and thus grow closer as friends. Trust me, it's a very tender and sweet relationship that doesn't stray too far into icky territory, considering that the two are only middle schoolers.

And, as a brief aside here -- the young, unknown Chinese actress playing Mei Ying is simply too cute for words! She is such a marvel in both acting and poise, somehow grounding the often outlandish aspects of Jaden's personality and seeming to make HIM a better actor in the process. Honestly, the scenes with the both of them are a joy to watch, and I think it's the actress, Han Wenwen, who should be given the credit. While I won't go so far as to say the two have excellent chemistry together, she's definitely more likable to this reviewer than Elisabeth Shue's "Ali" was in the original.

Now, to be sure, there ARE in fact big differences between the two movies, despite the fact that the new version borrows the dialogue almost word for word from the original. The 1984 version, for instance, starred an older protagonist and nemesis, which was definitely necessary in the time and age the movie was made. However, times have changed. With all the kiddie kung-fu movies like Spy Kids, Shaolin Soccer and this summer's upcoming Last Airbender movie being so popular nowadays, it kinda makes sense to cash in on this trending towards younger protagonists in action movies.

Also, in China, wushu is a national sport and practiced at a very young age. It's taught during what we in the West would call "gym class" as part of the normal school curriculum. So, in this sense, it's not at all implausible to see the 12 to 14 year olds being so proficient and accurate in their gong-fu prowess. They would have been practicing this since they were 6! And while the sheer evilness of the antagonist and his friends in this film is something that would not be so nonchalantly ignored by adults in real life, it does happen even in China. Yes, the bullying here in this movie is extremely violent and graphic. But, hey, I grew up in the South Bronx. This is reality for a lot of kids these days, as it was for me in my day.

The other big difference is in the dynamic between the teacher and pupil. In the end, Mr. Miyagi was a more effective character than Mr. Han. And "Daniel-san" was a more charming protagonist that "xiao Dre." Yes, this is definitely true. What can I say? Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita just had that special bond that is so hard to pull off right between actors. Jaden and Chan are good together, though. Don't get me wrong. Just not on the same level as their predecessors. But then, who would be?

Yet, still, this 2010 revisit of the same story is more modern, more relatable, and more authentic (i.e., less CHEESY) than the original in every other way possible. So there you go.

My rating for this surprise hit is:   8/10.

Yes, yes. I know. I gave it a higher rating that The A-Team. I expect almost no other male viewer in his 30s to agree with me here, but take it as it is. I honestly did get more enjoyment out of watching the Karate Kid "jacket off" than I did the A-Team "put a plan together."

As a last parting observation: The audience for the A-Team did not applaud when the credits rolled, though they did seem very pleased with the film. Whereas the crowd I watched the Karate Kid with was on its feet cheering and clapping at the end.

I think this says it all right there.

Clash Of The 80s Remakes!

I haven't put up a Movie Maven clip from Mania.com in a while. So here you go! This week's topic is in honor of the two 80s remake films hitting theaters this Friday: The A-Team and The Karate Kid. Who will win? Nobody knows, but Tara Perry has already made her pick:



Personally, I think the Karate Kid will be the better movie. People who keep harping on the factor of the film's title are clueless douchebags trying to show off that they know the difference between karate and kung-fu, and that the movie producers should know better. Well the joke's on you, morons! Story wise, the title refers to Smith's character already knowing some karate before his family is relocated to China where he encounters kung-fu. The Chinese kids who bully him grant him the moniker "the Karate Kid" because this is all he knows, in a country where wushu kung-fu is king.

See how easy that was to explain? It's in the latest trailer, too!

Yes, of course the producers are capitalizing on the previous success of the earlier movies by using the same title. No shit, Sherlock. But my rule is: if it works in the story, then it works for me.

Haters just gonna hate, I guess.

I'll be watching both movies this weekend, so expect to see a review of at least one of them go up on this site before the week is out, if not for both.

Busy, Busy, Busy

Still busy planning stuff for our 11-night, 7-port Mediterranean cruise only 4 weeks away. I now have everything squared away with tours for: Istanbul, Ephesus (also in Turkey), Athens, and Naples. Now all I need to do is figure out things for Rome, Santorini, and Mykonos.

Rome should be fairly easy. I need to purchase tickets beforehand for the Colosseum and Vatican City, which I hope may also include the Sistine Chapel. Everything else in Rome will be a simple walk to and from for us.

Santorini and Mykonos, the two Greek isles on our itinerary, are proving to be a little more difficult. I was hoping to visit this awesome ancient archaeological site on Santorini, only to find out that it has been closed to visitors for several years now due to an accident involving a tourist there. They've been promising to open it up again for the past two years, and each time the date keeps getting pushed back. So I had to scratch that off the list. The only option left now is to go to the beach or walk through the main town and go shopping. Ugh and double Ugh!!!

Mykonos seems to be nothing but beaches and nightlife. Two things I can do without on this trip. But, I figure I should at least put in a showing at one of these beaches. You know, take a dip in the Mediterranean just so that I can say that I have. I'll also be able to add it to the list of major bodies of water I've swam in during my lifetime. So far that list includes: the Atlantic, Pacific, Caribbean, and the Gulf of Mexico.

So for the two islands, it might just be that I won't plan anything. We'll simply get off the ship and walk around looking at whatever there is to see. Santorini has volcanic black sand beaches, so the novelty of it will be interesting. Mykonos has decent shopping and a huge gay scene, the latter of which naturally doesn't apply to or holds much interest for us.

So, yeah, we'll probably just wing those two. Unless anyone reading this has been to both islands and can make any recommendations.

Anyone?

In the meantime, I need to get started on learning my basic Italian phrases. We'll only be in Rome for two days, and in Naples for one, but I always wanted to learn Italian. And now I have an excuse to start!

Ahh! I Think My Head Just A-sploded!!!!

I can't believe it! They've gone and done it! They're actually bringing THUNDERCATS back! It's coming to the Cartoon Network in 2011. Looks to be edgier and darker. I'm actually digging the artwork and the people who are behind this.

"The 21st century reimagining of the series marks a creative collaboration between WBA and Studio4°C, one of the most vibrant animation studios in Japan, with credits including “The Animatrix,” “Gotham Knights” and “Halo Legends.” WBA is working closely with Studio4°C, utilizing the latter’s expertise to give the “ThunderCats” characters a new cutting-edge look while remaining true to the compelling storylines and mythology of the original series."

You can read more by clicking on this link. Now excuse me . . . I'm going to go dig out my Sword of Omens. Thundercats HOOOOOO!

And This Is Why

In this earlier blog entry, I explained why I now believe The Good, The Bad and The Ugly is my new favorite old movie of all time.

And after you watch this clip of the infamous standoff at the end of the film, you'll know why. I mean, you have a roughly 5 minute scene with no talking at all. Just three men staring each other down for what seems like eternity, as Ennio Morricone's ridiculous soundtrack wails in the background. Listen to that horn bleed its heart out, man! Study Leone's shots, too. How he deftly cuts between closeups and wide-angles. How superb each cutaway is framed. Simply put: GENIUS!



That right there is cinema history!