"Glee" - Sings a New Tune on Television

For several weeks now I had ignored D's suggestion of watching "Glee". Not because of what some might think is a typical male resistance to anything musical. I was fortunate to earn my degree in a school that had a fine musical theatre program, and as a non-musical theatre major I was still required (i.e. forced) to audition for every musical our department produced. That effort taught me to appreciate musical theatre... to this day I'm a confirmed Sondheim fan.

No my resistence came from my memories of t.v. shows past that tried combining music with dramatic action. In 1990 we got Steven Bochco's "Cop Rock" and more recently "Viva Laughlin"; neither of these shows rang true with audiences, so they were quickly discarded into the pop culture wastebasket. It appeared that music had no place on t.v. except for on award shows or another attempt to revive the variety show format (I think Rosie O'Donnell finally put the variety show out of its misery).

"Glee" is something different. The show revolves around a group of misfit high school students that belong to the school's glee club. What a perfect setup to work the music organically into the plot lines. But the music isn't only a function of the kids' glee club performances, music is used to communicate character subtext. I can't explain how amazed I was with what I watched in the first two episodes of "Glee" - the first five episodes are available on hulu.com - for those interested in catching up.

The characters are certainly stock - the jock, the cheerleader, the nerd, etc. But these characters are so well defined and the music so well presented that the whole is better than the parts. My favorite characters are the obsessive compulsive guidance counselor (she's afraid of germs, so she constantly cleaning and washing her hands), and the school principle (he's always looking to turn a situation to his advantage). I can't express how great of a t.v. show this is... just check it out and you'll hear the difference.

Indiana Jones and the Final Do-over

When Indy rode off into the sunset in "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" (1989) I sat in my seat hoping for more. "Last Crusade" was a fitting end to the Indiana Jones trilogy. The movie adhered to the old entertainment axiom, "Leave'em wanting more." And for almost twenty years Indy fans did just that - we waited for another fix of our favorite archaeologist.

We endured rumors every several years that a new Indy adventure was in the works. All the principles - Ford, Lucas, and Spielberg - kept saying they were "in" for another movie, if a suitable script appeared from somewhere. Anticipation grew further when news leaked out that Frank Darabont (screenwriter of "The Green Mile" and "The Shawshank Redemption") was working on Indiana Jones IV. Talk about finding great riches - Darabont collaborating with George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, the next Indy movie would certainly be as good if not better than "Last Crusade".

1989 marched on to 1999 that crawled to 2008. Somewhere in those 19 years, Darabont's script for Indy IV ended up buried along with the Ark of the Covenant - never to be seen by human eyes ever again. What we got was "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" (2008). Sure the movie earned 787 million dollars in worldwide box office (according to Box Office Mojo), which only goes to prove how forgiving Indy fans truly are - we had waited so long that we were willing to accept whip cream on crap as a sundae. "Crystal Skull" had such an inferior storyline, it made "Temple of Doom" look good. Not even bringing back Karen Allen (as Marion Ravenwood from the original "Raiders") for a romantic reunion with Indy felt right. It was George Lucas, who didn't like Darabont's script and insisted on the alien storyline. The fridge and the nuclear blast - what a mess.

So imagine my surprise when I saw a small item on Monday (9/14/09) that was reported by Access Hollywood. Harrison Ford gave an interview to a French magazine recently in which he says another Indiana Jones movie is possible. Ford said that, "The story for the new 'Indiana Jones' is in the process of taking form." Well hopefully it takes "form" soon... Ford isn't getting any younger (he's all ready 67). If it takes as long as "Crystal Skull" did, we might see Indy using his whip to pull his wheelchair. I'll keep my fingers cross that the next Indy movie will be a better outing for one of my favorite characters and become the ultimate do-over movie. Oh, here's hoping that George Lucas decides only to produce this film. Nuff said!

The Ultimate Marvel Team Up

Comic book fans will either remember August 31, 2009 as another square on the calendar or as the end of an era. Today The Walt Disney Co. announced its purchase of Marvel Entertainment Inc. for 4 billion dollars. Mickey Mouse and Spider-Man all under the same roof - a sign of the apocalypse? I guess we'll wait and see.

From a business stand point this deal favors Marvel along with its stockholders (Marvel stock went up $9.72 a share to close at $48.37 a share). Imagine what Marvel might do with Disney's deep pockets. Maybe Marvel can collaborate with its new sister company, Pixar. Hmmm... intriguing possibilities! At the same time Disney gains access to Marvel's universe of characters and all the movie franchise potential that lies there in. Time Warner Inc. has done well since acquiring DC Comics back in 1969 (ignoring the stench of "Batman & Robin" (1997) with George Clooney). How long before we see Spider-Man the Ride at a Disney theme park near you?

From my point of view Disney is 1 for 2 on its acquisitions. In 1993 Disney purchased Miramax Films in the great indie rush of the early 90's. Independent films were a hot commodity back then and all the major studios wanted a piece of the action. But Miramax made its name by producing edgy films like "The Crying Game", "Reservoir Dogs", and "The Piano". Bob and Harvey Weinstein sought out talents like Tarantino that certainly do not fit the Disney mold. The creative differences and in-fighting between Disney and the Weinstein brothers got to the point that in 2005 the boys left Miramax Films and started the Weinstein Co. Disney's next acquisition occurred in 2006 when, after an extremely difficult courtship, Disney purchased Pixar. This deal can truly be described as a "match made in heaven" since both companies shared similar sensibilities. Pixar has flourished, and Disney has only profited from this acquisition.

I've all ready read some of the comments online about the team up of Marvel and Disney. Most comments seem favorable, but my suspicion is that this relationship will have more in common with Miramax than Pixar. Disney did not just offer 4 billion dollars to be an absentee landlord. Disney will have some say as to the kinds of comic books Marvel produces - remember for a lot of us Marvel is and will always be a comic book company. All Disney needs is for some right-wing parent organization to get a hold of a comic, such as the current "Dark Tower" series, to start clamoring about the kind of "smut" Disney is "peddling to our children". At that point, we can all set a timer to see how long before Disney begins to homogenize what Marvel does. Disney has no choice. The Walt Disney Co. is extremely protective of its image built around family friendly entertainment. This Marvel and Disney team up will play out over many issues... here's hoping that we are happy with the ending.

And the Geeks Shall Inherit... San Diego?

Call us what you will - fanboys, enthusiasts, or geeks - but there is no denying our power during this time of year. I'm referring to Comic-Con International, which began Wednesday night in San Diego. Every year in July Comic-Con brings together all the coolest things (movies, video games, comicbook art, etc.). The number of attendees has grown to approximately 125,000 strong - this is more people than attended either of the political conventions during the last presidential campaign (according to the LA Times).

Unfortunately due to budgetary constraints, I was unable to attend this year. So this 'bark' goes out to my brothers & friends... I'm with you in spirit on the crowded convention floor. Yet in spite of my absence I've managed to quench my inner-geek and I'm excited about what I've heard coming out of Comic-Con.

This has been another year of firsts. Peter Jackson (the overlord of "The Lord of the Rings") came out his New Zealand lair to attend Comic-Con for the first time. Tim Burton appeared for the first time in years and James Cameron gave Comic-Con a first peek at his latest work Avatar (his first film since Titanic)

Jackson

Peter Jackson announced that he was weeks from completing the first draft of The Hobbit. Exciting news indeed, since there was a time when Jackson further involvement in the Tolkien saga was in question due to legal issues with the producers of the first three LOTR fims. The Hobbit will be two films and Guillermo Del Toro is set to direct the films. Jackson did some promotion for District 9, a film that revolves around aliens that earth is keeping in detention/concentration center. The trailer I've seen for this film looks great.

Burton

Tim Burton didn't come alone to Comic-Con. He was accompanied, to the surprise of everyone, by Johnny Depp. They both spoke about their next collaboration Alice in Wonderland (due out in March 2010). Depp is playing the Mad Hatter, and the film appears to have Burton's trademark darkness. The production still for Alice make it look like Burton took the work he did on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and is pushing that "look" to the extremes.


Cameron

Hall H is the biggest hall at the San Diego Convention Center (it holds several thousand people), and it's reserved for the biggest events of Comic-Con. Apparently people waited for hours to get into Hall H for James Cameron's session on Avatar. There's a tremendous amount of buzz surrounding Avatar, since it's Cameron's first film since Titanic. Cameron wrote this story over a decade ago, and he has literally waited until the technology reached the point to allow him to create this film the way he envisioned. Briefly the story is set on the planet of Pandora and revolves around a human soldier, who is befriended by a Navi princess (the Navi inhabit Pandora). The film is in 3D, and Cameron screened 20 minutes of the film for the capacity crowd. Everything I've read about this project says it could be a "game changer" for Hollywood - how's that for buzz.

Well... this dog is done barking.

Transformers: Revenge of the Pudding Heads

All right, so I’m a couple of weeks late to this party. I finally saw the Transformers movie last night. I can’t believe this was the movie I was so looking forward to months ago. Unfortunately the experience was much like going to a party given by one of your parents’ friends – you had to go, the party was okay, but staying home could of also worked out fine.

This Transformers movie should serve as a case study for a common Hollywood fallacy that states “more is better”. In this movie more comedy, more explosions, and more robots didn’t make a more enjoyable film. Now had the screenwriters put more originality into the story these excesses could of worked. Instead this movie plods along from one effect scene, to another explosion scene, to a comic relief moment with little subtlety. I know… this is a Michael Bay film; expecting subtlety from Michael Bay is like expecting the Pope to handout condoms at a free clinic – not going to happen.

I saw trouble on the horizon at the opening credits when three names appeared credited with the screenplay. Screenplays by committee seldom produce worthwhile results. What annoyed me most about Transformers was the “cutesy” factor. The two jive talking, twin Autobots and Mikaela’s pet Decepticon were glaring examples of screenwriters desperately trying to connect with the kid audience (blatant merchandise development posing as story). Another low points included - Sam’s dog (Mojo) and the pet Decepticon’s leg-humping bits (cheap laughs from lazy screenwriters), Sam’s annoying college roommate (who added nothing to the story), and Sam’s over-the-top mother (a smaller dose was funnier in the first film). I wonder is there a screenwriters’ Magic Eight Ball that they shake whenever they need a conflict between their main characters? In this case the ball showed “boyfriend can’t say, ‘I love you’ to girlfriend.” Sam and Mikaela, fighting to save the world from total annihilation, have no time for romantic conflict. I’m sorry, but saving the world requires complete focus from those involved. Obviously the screenwriters felt the urge to give the female audience a token plot point, too bad this one clanked so hollow.

By now I’ve created the impression that I hated Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. So let me say that watching the vehicles transform into robots is such a cool effect that each time it happened it stirred my inner-geek. I give Michael Bay credit, the purported 200 million dollar budget is all on the screen – every technical aspect of this film is top drawer. Bay has developed a great relationship with the U.S. Defense Department, so they give Bay access to the coolest military paraphernalia (aircraft carriers, jets, tanks, etc.) that I love watching Bay play toy soldiers on such a life-size scale. To say nothing about how Michael Bay does more to keep explosive manufactures in business, than some small terrorist organizations; lots of things loudly going BOOM on the screen all the time. Fabulous! Then there’s Megan Fox… boobs, booms, and Autobots - a combo that’s all ready taken in over 700 million dollars worldwide at the box office (Boxofficemojo.com).

It just too bad a little more attention didn’t go into a creating a better story to pull all these elements together into a tighter movie. Too bad that instead of “more is better”, no one recalled the better old Hollywood chestnut - “It’s the story, stupid!”

MJ and the Rat

In 1972 my mom took me to the Orphium Theatre, on Broadway, in downtown Los Angeles. In those days the Orphium played first-run movies with Spanish subtitles, this allowed mom and me to enjoy the same movie.

On this particular outing to the Orphium, the movie was Ben; the story of a young boy, named David, who befriends Ben, a dark colored rat. Ben leads a horde of pissed off rats – pissed because the last human they trusted tried to incinerate their furry butts. Somehow Ben finds it in his rat heart to make nice with this goofy kid, the unpopular kid, the kid that gets picked on (I think he might have even been in a wheelchair). Fast forward - spoiler alert – at the end Ben gets hurt (or dies) in a fiery blazed courtesy of the fire department, police department, or maybe the National Guard. It’s been over thirty years, so some of the details of this cinematic gem get lost. Three things I’m certain about – one, Ben was a sequel to an equally ridiculous 1971 film, Willard. Two, I was about ten years old and I cried my eyes out at the end of Ben. Lastly, the title song, in Ben, was sung by Michael Jackson. Michael’s voice begins to sing the sad ballad of Ben, as David comforts the hurt/dying rat and the credits begin to roll.

Not long after seeing Ben, I convinced my mom to buy me the movie soundtrack. This was one of my first LP’s. I listened to Michael Jackson sing and relived the end of Ben probably more than I want to admit. In the years since my Ben affliction, any time I hear the name “Michael Jackson” I think back to those innocent and simpler days. I never picture Michael in the leather outfits and the sequin glove instead I see the picture of a young black man, with an afro, on the album cover to the soundtrack of a movie best forgotten. The picture on album cover exudes wholesomeness. For me it records a point in time when Michael and normal where within close proximity and today for some unexplainable reason I am comforted by this thought.

I write this not in denial of the freakish sideshow Michael Jackson’s life became. Over the next several weeks a media tsunami will wrench every aspect of this man’s life, and undoubtedly the most bizarre bits will float to the top. These “bits” may influence how those of us who grew up listening to Michael’s music reconcile his musical talent to his life. Can you like the music, but not the man who creates it? I do not know for I am not keen to judge. Nonetheless, how absurd that a song about a rat may be what softens my opinion of Michael Jackson.

Myla's Last Bark

Today we finally had to let our oldest pug, Myla, go. For some time, we knew this day was near. Having gone through this with so many animals, you'd think letting them go would get easier - it doesn't!

Every time one of these little creatures goes, they leave a void. For days something is missing in the house. The absences of their unique sounds makes our eyes tear up. In our minds we hear their huffing & panting - we think, "Oh, it's time to let Myla out." But Myla is gone, no girdle to put on, no treats to be given.

Myla came to this house as a rescue, along with her sister Monty. Old dogs that were cast out by people whose lives could no longer accommodate their needs. Surprise that in our disposable society even these little spirits get the boot as a matter of convenience? Luckily for Monty and Myla, D & M took them in without hesitation - they were granted "family" status from the moment they stumbled through our doorway. Although Monty went first, neither of these pugs went without affection or attention our household. These girls were special, they were queens.

Over the years Myla went by many names: Myla-bones, Bonez, and My-by. She loved her treats... I don't believe Bonez ever met a cookie she didn't like. Our young pugs gravitate towards her - they loved lying next to her (or on top of her in some cases), but Myla never complained. She was the Grandam of the house, and she knew it.

The most special thing for me... I would some times walk into the room and I could see Myla rising her nose, taking a couple of sniffs, and Myla knew I was in the room. Please don't be mistaken, I did not do the lion's share of the work with Myla. D was the one who cleaned up after her, hand fed her, stayed up with her at night when her breathing was labored & shallow. D & M paid all the vet bills, and did so without complaint. Without fanfare - D & M deserve medals for what they have endured with Myla and all our animals. They have a love for these angels, that I will never understand. But who am I?

Mother Teresa once said, "I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love." Today with Myla's passing, I believe I understand this wisdom a little better.