Ghostbusters 3 for 2011?
Ghostbusters 3 has had countless rumors over the past few years, but recently they’ve started to get more definitive. Most likely, it will be a total destruction of the iconic 80′s original, but secretly millions of 35 year olds hope that its going to be awesome.
Over at SlashFilm, they’re reporting Harold Ramis (Egon from the film) is saying it’s a go for 2011. Unfortunately everything he’s touched pretty much in the past 15 years has been horrible. As long as Bill Murray’s in it, though, I’ll pony up for some CGI slimer.
Check out the full article Harold Ramis Promises Ghostbusters 3 for 2011.
A Real American Pie Sequel Coming?
Not wanting to admit too often, but the American Pie 1 and 2 movies are some of my all-time favorite comedies. Perhaps because the characters were the identical age I was when released, so the story was sort of targeted at my generation.
Multiple direct-to-dvd sequels with none of the original cast (save Jim’s dad) have been made and were generally pretty throw away. Apparently the recently done direct-to-DVD American Pie: Book of Love (also with none of the original cast) has been reviewed and done pretty well in sales. I actually put it in my Netflix after seeing a review online.
But what I have secretly wanted is a more satisfying last chapter than American Wedding. (As a side note, the original director Chris Weitz, director/producer of the first two films, most recent work was Twilight New Moon).
Over at Moviehole.net, they are reporting (though this is pretty unlikely) that an actual 4th sequel in theaters with original cast may be in the works because of the popularity of the latest DVD. Since none of the original cast is doing much of anything (besides rehab or jailtime) this may be true.
For what it’s worth, check out the “exclusive”..
- Moviehole can exclusively report that the next “American Pie” film will likely be both a sequel (as opposed to a spin-off) to the original trilogy of films and a theatrical release. Universal are apparently quite happy with both the reaction and returns generated on the latest DTV effort, “American Pie Presents : Book of Love”, so are “seriously considering” reintroducing molested pastries to theaters. No word on whether Jason Biggs would be back as Jim… but don’t see why not; he’s not doing anything else, right?! Watch this Space.
Your Intellectuals Have Failed Us, Now What
Regardless of all the shifts that happened when Obama was elected, the most overreaching one was the fact that America for the first time elected a cadre of intellectual elites to run the country.
As they say, there are people that can do something and then there are teachers. The new elite class came with the lowest private sector experience in history by far. The Obama administration is made up of thinkers, intellectuals, bureaucrats, and organizers. When I was in middle school I had all kinds of better ideas about how to run the country. As I continued to learn from reality, I saw otherwise.
The intellectuals did the same thing only they turned their Utopian ideas into college credit courses. Once only on the fringe and laughed at by the regular working class, the day is here where they rule us because they know what’s best for us because they thought about it a lot.
The past few days have shown what everyone else already knew. You turn your business around with Jack Welch, not with a PHD economics professor, or Senator Al Franken.
So much foolishness in such a short span of days. Here you are America. You were worried about 4 more years of Bush (as was I) but the next 3 years are far worse.
The Terrorism Attempt and the White House Response
Out of the gate the administration published a report to watch out for right wing terrorism from members of the military, anti-abortion activists, the NRA, etc. They weren’t using the term terrorism much, just for conservatives. As dumb folk would expect, they missed their own terrorism watch list and 300 people nearly were blown away just a few days ago.
This nut, like the 9/11 hijackers, flew under his real name and was stupid enough to buy a one-way ticket and check no baggage. It’s just that we were … a little more stupid. Hot Air – bonus, read our new airline regulations.
Obama responded harshly…a few days later. “We will not rest until we find all who were involved and hold them accountable. “Not resting means go play a round of golf 40 minutes later. I think a recent retarded President did this and it didn’t go over so well. Perfunction Link: Obama Now Watch This Drive!
His Homeland Security Secretary, the close to criminally incompetent Janet Napolitano, seemed to think the system worked because it was thwarted. If “the system” means that the terrorist having a faulty device while igniting it on the plane worked, I’m scared. Video of interview defending response.
Link to thinking people’s response.
Oh, but one day later she changed her mind (after much intellectualizing about it) and said the system failed miserably. These, are the smartest people in the room.
Video of her doing a 180 a day later.
The Iranian Protestors are Dying for Freedom Again
At the same time we’re bumbling, the Iranian protestors have launched a second wave of attack on the fraudulent reelection victory in Iran. The same Iran that is hiding nuclear development and threatens Israel (used to be ally) about once a week. Obama is “deeply disturbed” yet again. If anything resembles the American Revolution and is a just fight, it’s Iran dying for the right to be a free people at the hands of their corrupt government. But the intellectuals weren’t all that thrilled with our revolution either.
Embarrassingly for Washington, even many European leaders showed more backbone in condemning the Iranian regime’s brutal suppression of protestors, with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton humiliatingly outflanked by her French and German counterparts, who had no qualms about speaking out swiftly and firmly against the election result and the actions of the Iranian government. – from British Media
Iranian human-rights groups say that since the government crackdown began in late June, at least 400 demonstrators have been killed while another 56 are unaccounted, which is several times higher than the official figures.
As Krauthammer is basically saying…Obama “You’re Doing it Wrong.
Drunk With Power on Health Care. And Actually Drunk.
In pontificating on health care over the holidays as they try to ram the amazingly unpopular (and probably unconstitutional) bill into law while no one is paying attention, Dem Senator Max Baucus delivered what most think was a drunken tirade on the floor. Let’s pray it was drunken, because at least there would be some explanation for the slurring, incompressible bill..I mean speech..that he gave. Link to Politico Reaction
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Goldwater Conservatism..a different strain than the conservatism of Sarah Palin (closer to that of Reagan), was considered unelectable because it was too intellectual. While the bumbling governor of Alaska would be far less dangerous to our freedoms and our security then the intellectual elite, we have about 2 years to find someone to salvage the mess that happened when we gave the kids the keys to the country.
The intellectual elite, who received the benefits given to them by their much wiser greatest generation parents, were able to produce nothing for society and live a rich life that allowed them to sit and think for a living. It’s time to give the keys back to the big kids before something goes much worse than it already is. Take off the suits, put back on the tie-dye shirts, and go back to protesting a world you only understand from the safety of an ivory tower. America will figure out what to do without you telling them.
Or do some PR recovery by going on The Food Network.
These people won’t mind if you tell them what to do. They probably need the direction anyways.
Global Warming Believers Faith to Be Tested
877 US snowfall records set last week (below). But faith is not so easily shaken by the facts of this year and the ones to come in what will be a long winter. If the world is without purpose, this belief is all there is to hold on to. Almost a new opiate for the masses. Rather than change course, you will dig in. And bundle up.
Christmas Break Catchup Movie Reviews
Like many, I caught up on a few movies I missed during the break. Mostly recent DVD releases. If you’re curious whether they’re worth the rental, here’s my quick takes on these 2009 blockbusters and how good they really were.
The Hangover
A movie that had a lot of hype for me, and a lot of potential. One of my favorite comedy directors, Todd Phillips (from Old School and Road Trip), a winner cast, and a winning plot idea. It seemed like a no-miss. It did amazing at the box office, as well.
With that expectation, it was a very mixed bag. In the positive corner, it avoided the descent into silliness that movies of this type tend to have. There’s a lot of odd things introduced and the plot continues to get weirder and weirder each minute, but it never bails on reality. That being said, it just really wasn’t all that funny.
If you haven’t seen it by now, you’re probably not in the main target demo, and probably will just find it passable. If you like the in-your-face funny style of Old School, it’s also likely not to satisfy. If you enjoy more complex plots and a few good laugh lines (and don’t mind some rough content) it’s the movie for you.
I’d have to say I was disappointed because of my expectations, but probably wouldn’t have loved it even if I had none. It has a standard comedy premise (guys wake up in Vegas with no memory of the strangeness of the night before, just a lot of clues) and the rest is just watchable and somewhat amusing. Didn’t laugh out loud much at all.
Not a date movie, not a super funny comedy, but an interesting yarn and moves pretty smoothly.
2.5 Stars out of 4
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Inglorious Basterds
Another one that I was really looking forward to, and it just didn’t quite make the grade. Since it was Quentin Tarantino, I can’t really complain that it was a weird uneven mix of violence, dialogue, and randomness. The basic premise was strong – making the Nazis pay for their crimes vigilante style – but it just was an exhausting set of scenes to get them there.
The movie is pretty long – almost two and a half hours – and has more dialogue than any movie in recent memory. Half of the dialogue is subtitles, oddly enough. The characters are fairly memorable, but none of the interesting ones get much screen time. The scenes drag on unbelievably long to move the plot forward, and you find yourself thinking “hurry up and get to the point” quite often.
In the end, it wasn’t as bloody as Tarantino’s previous efforts, but also didn’t really seem to have a point besides the obvious. And it took a whole lot of talking to reach no real point. And good luck keeping up with what’s going on as you drift in and out of caring.
2 Stars out of 4
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Twilight New Moon
Oddly enough, since it is heavily targeted not at my demographic, New Moon ended up being the most satisfying of my viewings over the holidays. I am a mild fan of the first one simply because I like Vampire stories. I could do without some of the depressing love story, but then the movie would be 11 minutes long.
The second one has a new director, and while it is similar to the first, it is at the same time quite different in most ways. Mostly an improvement over the first, but there are still long scenes of depressing conversation about..I guess love is what they’re talking about. The suicidal kind. And lots of shirtless dudes (I closed my eyes for the scary parts).
But the backstory and action are satisfying, and the acting and dialogue were passable. The best thing I can say about it is that I’m up for the third installment – Eclipse – coming out in June. Even though I can’t really rave about the film, that’s saying a lot more than I can for everything else I watched over the holiday that was much more critically acclaimed that this teen super-angst love story.
2 and a half stars out of 4
Motorola Droid vs. Blackberry Storm 2 vs. iPhone 3Gs
Here’s some pretty good video tests for those who have Verizon, or for those thinking of making the jump from/to AT&T by comparing the smartphones side by side. Droid comes out well in these tests. In my opinion, I wouldn’t give the Storm2 a first look, Blackberry has just fallen too far behind in the touchscreen smartphone market, but I’d be willing to be their next try will be worth a look. View the complete set of tests here. These videos are a bit long but everything is covered.
Verizon’s Motorola Droid vs. Blackberry Storm 2
The Motorola (An)Droid has the better Browser rendering plus the right screen which wins against BlackBerry’s baby screen. The page load on 3G and Wifi is on The Droid much faster than on the BB. The Storm’s keyboard is much better to use then Motorola’s soft and hard keyboard.
Motorola Droid vs. iPhone 3GS vs. Palm Pre
Couch to 5k to 10k
I just completed my first week of a group running program, and wanted to give it a plug for those in the same position as myself. This program and many similar are terrific ways to try to set some goals for yourself when all your other efforts have failed.
For those that work too much, like myself, or just don’t have the motivation to get to the gym enough, also like myself, these motivational running groups are a great way to get on track. While I still have a long way to go, the first week has been more successful than anything I’ve tried in recent years.
For those who do little to no physical activity, a fairly popular and newer program called couch to 5k is terrific. Over 12 weeks you can literally go from watching Seinfeld reruns all night to running a 5k race. Since I have done a small amount of running in the past, I skipped to the next step, but I know many people who have done great on the couch to 5k program that are currently in the one I’m doing, 5k to 10k. Check out the program details for couch to 5k. It involves very little running at first and just builds your endurance. Find a group in your area and check it out.
Sometimes you gotta take it one step at a time.
If you are like me, you make an earnest effort to go to the gym. Unfortunately it varies between 1 and 3 times a week, and involves treadmills and machines and sometimes less than half an hour. Maybe you got off work late, or the weathers bad, or you’re sleepy. And then when you do have that breakout week, you take it as an excuse to eat and drink like like it’s your birthday everyday. Then you’re further back then when you started and it seems too big a task to even bother again. The problem is accountability. If you skip a workout or 5, only you know, and apparently you aren’t going to scold yourself since it was you who skipped it in the first place.
The 5k to 10k program is designed to get you in 10k shape in 12 weeks. They start with 25 to 30 minute jogs , and after a month build to 35 to 45 minute jogs, and 4-5 mile runs on Saturdays. Compared to what you’ve been doing it takes a lot of discipline, but the group offers the encouragement you need.
Winter is the best time to get started since it has the most excuses to not get outside. I got up on a Saturday at 645 am to run 3.5 miles today. No biggie for many people, but for me it was a world away from where my mindset was only two weeks ago. And it was 34 degrees. I don’t do 34 degrees. Well, I didn’t use to.
So for the many people like me who have good intentions, but no time or motivation, check into one of these groups. You’ll thank yourself for it and for the 12 weeks after you’ll have a goal in mind. Crossing the finish line after your 10k (again, if you’re like me) will be a huge accomplishment for you, and you’ll find that running is mostly mental. As an added bonus, you’ll get into great shape and lose weight. That accomplishment will carryover into many other things you do, so there’s no reason not to at least give it a shot.
On to week two.
Dream of a White Christmas
One of the things I’ve always wanted was a White Christmas. I may be about 30 miles too south to get my dream this year, but it looks like a very good possibility for much of the country.
In a year of many record low temperatures worldwide, a decade of global cooling, climategate emails exposing the making up of scientific data, and some of the earliest blizzards in this part of the country in our lifetimes, it’s a little Christmas gift in more ways than one for many of us.
Check out the early Christmas week forecast over at Accuweather.
Al Gore, Academy Award, Nobel Peace Prize, Poet?
Is there anything this man cannot do? Albert gore, the face of the global warming (or climate change?) movement is a man of so many talents. As a blizzard blows outside in mid-December in one of the biggest blizzards for this time of year in modern history, I cannot helped but be moved.
I laugh with everyone else at George W. Bush’ incoherent babbling. Not many took him seriously by the end of his second term. The real humor is that people still listen to Al Gore with eyes wide open (like the guy doing the interview). Behold his incoherent truth. Do not let this shake your faith. (via HotAir Blog)
For me this is, indeed, poetic irony. With a straight (dare I say solemn) face, Al Gore warns us of what will happen if we don’t change our polluting ways. Yes, this Al Gore.
Here’s another take on the poem, from a somewhat less “leg tingling” audience……
Getting in the Hot Tub Time Machine?
Lots of buzz on this March release…. Hot Tub Time Machine may be a movie right up my alley. A mix of Road Trip, The Office, and Back to the Future. I’ll definitely be there…whether it will be good or not isn’t apparent from this trailer, but it looks promising. There is obviously a decent plot here that isn’t hinted at in the trailer, it isn’t random goofiness, so it will be interesting to see how it ends up.
Very interesting cast, as well, mixing up some favorites from very different movies, including the usually straight John Cusack.
Checks it out. If you’ve ever dreamed of traveling back in time to the 1980s.
