Saturday, May 31, 2008

Things to Do, Saturday Edition, Philly Sub-Edition

I'm in Philadelphia today visiting my sister. As I write this, we hanging out in her apartment watching The Departed. I was able to acquire LOST season finale that I missed the other night. I gave it a spin. I'll write up something more substantive tomorrow when I get home but my capsule review: underwhelming. I had seen the end on Thursday and, as I watched the episode from the beginning, I kept waiting for some big something to happen but when I got to the end, that something hadn't happened. I'll go a bit deeper tomorrow.

Speaking of tomorrow, I'll also write up my thoughts on Machine Girl. Bottom line: great low-budget high body count action splatterfest.

I saw Prince Caspian this afternoon. It's drek. Although surprisingly dark and bloody (I don't remember much from the book), it's light on charm, internal logic, and plot sensibility.

Tomorrow I'll be seeing another flick at a Philly art house theater but I don't remember what it is at the moment. Hopefully, it will be better than Prince Crapsian.

Friday, May 30, 2008

Adieu, Count de Money


Harvey Korman
Originally uploaded by Da Nes

It just bums me out that so many of the personalities that shaped my youth are leaving us. Add to that list: Harvey Korman. Mr. Korman had so many memorable roles, from the Carol Burnett Show to all his Mel Brooks film characters. According to the NY Times, his favorite role was the evil Hedley Lamarr in Brooks's Blazing Saddles. Here's a taste of Korman's Lamarr from YouTube:


To quote Lamarr, "My mind is aglow with whirling, transient nodes of thought careening through a cosmic vapor of invention." Except, now there is one less node a-whirling. RIP.


"Tribbles" Director Dies

Another of the old guard passes on.

Joseph Pevney, who directed some of the best-known episodes of the original “Star Trek” television series, died on May 18 at his home here. He was 96.

...Mr. Pevney directed 14 episodes of that 1960s series, including “The City on the Edge of Forever,” in which Captain Kirk and Spock travel back in time to the Depression, and “The Trouble With Tribbles,” in which the starship Enterprise is infested with cute, furry creatures.

Now, if I could only get the original series on blu-ray, I could give Mr. Pevney the send-off he deserves.  RIP.

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Damn You, Technology!

I just got back from Machine Girl with the aim of immediately firing up the LOST season finale via my trusty DVR. Did I say trusty? I meant backstabbing. Treasonous. Satanic. It was recorded nothing. It's blank faceplate regarded me with pure, unadulterated disdain. So now I will have to acquire the finale by other means. And I will have my revenge. Oh yes, I will have my revenge.

Dreck in the City?

Somebody did not enjoy the new Sex in the City movie:

The first hour of SATC is as garish and putrid and spiritually repulsive as can possibly be imagined without throwing up...

And that's just the first hour!

I wasn't a fan of the series (not that I was in their target audience) and have no intention of seeing the movie but I never figured it to be equated with the act of vomiting. At least it got a reaction.  Nothing's worse than apathy, though vomiting comes close.

NY Times Goes Gaga for Gore

The NY Times reviewed Machine Girl.  I think they liked it:

The Japanese obsession with cavorting ninjas, cunning hardware and comely young avengers in abbreviated plaid skirts reaches some kind of climax with “The Machine Girl,” a riotous blend of arterial spray and grindhouse glee.

I'm bleeding with excitement.

Port-A-Potty to the Stars

Major Tom to ground control: the urine collection unit is on the fritz again.

International Space Station astronauts are eagerly awaiting the arrival of shuttle Discovery - it is bringing a new pump to mend their broken toilet.

"Eagerly" here being defined as hopping from one foot to the other and not thinking about running water.  I'm sure all that astronaut training comes in handy.  Don't break the seal!

She, Him, and Me

I wanted to see She & Him when they came to the city in April but I wasn't able to get a ticket. However, when my RSS reader spat out a pre-sale notice for a July show this morning, I jumped on it. Hooray, internets!


Gun Head


The Machine Girl
Originally uploaded by kainproductions

What a wonderful day Thursday is, so full of the promise of Friday and, tonight, filled with two hours of half-gun half-Japanese schoolgirl on an ultra-violent rampage of blood, guts, and steel. The Machine Girl is on tap tonight at the Two Boots Pioneer Theater on East 3rd street. A short work week, ultra-violence: it can't get much better than this!

Here's a trailer for the flick from YouTube (be warned: there's mucho blood and gore, severed body parts):


Yakuzas, ninjas, dismemberments, schoolgirls with guns: this film hits all the right chords. I can't wait!


Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice!

I can't believe it's been twenty years since Beetle Juice first hit the cinema.  It's got cynical dead social workers, a pre-Ed Wood Tim Burton, a pre-Renny Harlin Geena Davis (Cutthroat Island for the win!), a pre-Batman Michael Keaton, a pre-Heathers Winona Ryder, and a pre-everything Alec Baldwin.

The Tim Burton cult classic 'Beetlejuice' is headed to high-def this Fall, with Warner confirming a 20th Anniversary Edition with all-new bonus features and Blu-ray exclusives.

I know some of the optical effects in the film didn't look so good last time I saw them.  Hopefully, as part of the anniversary treatment, they'll clean everything up for my favorite ghost with the most.

Blu-Ray Coming to Aisle 10

The blu-ray push into mainstream continues.

DVDPlay has announced that they will add Blu-ray titles to their popular kiosk style DVD rental machines that are present at many grocery stores this June. They will offer these titles at the same $1.49 rental fee as their DVD selections. The first Blu-ray titles available via the kiosks will be 'Untraceable' and 'Men In Black', both of which should be available around June 10th.

Could they not find two better titles to stock? Ok, Men in Black is a good flick but it's not exactly a film to inspire a potential renter.  And Untraceable? Did that even come out in theaters? Will anybody even care? I like DVDPlay's moxie but surely they could have found a better starting combo of movies than these, couldn't they?  Please?

The Bard Needs Some New Digs

Do not taunt Shakespeare's bones.

Fix the gravesite. But don't touch the bones. That's the work order, in a nutshell, for brave architects contemplating a fixup job for the deteriorating gravesite of William Shakespeare at the Holy Trinity Church in his hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon.

Surely the great poet wouldn't begrudge a little toil and trouble to upkeep his earthly abode?

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Family Psychic?


Family Guy
Originally uploaded by Proteus IV

This evening I experienced one of those strange moments in which I felt myself at the center of a tuning of events that was both remarkable for its strangeness and completely meaningless.

I was watching Family Guy on TBS this evening. The episode was Jungle Love. From the TBS episode guide:

Chris' fear of his first experiences in high school lead him to join the Peace Corps where he is assigned to a remote island tribe. Lois sends Peter out to job hunt and he lands a dream job at Pawtucket Brewery. Stewie goes on a quest to punish Will Ferrell for the remake of BEWITCHED.

Two things were weird about this episode (the first maybe not so wierd but we'll see). The first (not chronologically) was that the Griffins, at the end of the episode, escapes from the "remote island" in a replay of the Raiders of the Lost Ark jungle escape sequence. Ok, maybe not so wierd right? It's not as if a sequel to that film isn't playing in every theater right now, as we speak. Fine.

However, in this same episode, Stewie has a sequence pulled out of Tootsie. Sydney Pollack who both directed and co-starred in Tootsie (including in part of the sequence aped in the episode) died yesterday but, due to the holiday, the news was only widely reported today. Now that's weird.

And, lest I forget, RIP Mr. Pollack, you'll be missed.


Oh, Those Darned Undead

Doesn't anyone appreciate a good old fashioned dance of death anymore?

A procession of devils, ghosts and zombies through the historic Spanish city of Toledo has been branded blasphemous by the Catholic Church.

Sweet Tooth Didn't Like It Either


Twisted Metal
Originally uploaded by PSP Theme

I like David Jaffe. He's a very good game designer. His Twisted Metal games are amongst my favorite games ever. Ever. But now, having read his impromptu, rambling review of Indy IV, my admiration for the man has only grown.

His postscript sums up my thoughts nicely (although I'll beg to differ on The Scorpion King):

and before you post that I should just chill and enjoy a fun time at the movies, please read the part in the review where I address that very issue. I think since Star Wars Episode I, that has been a battle cry for folks trying to defend shitty movies ('ahh, just chill and have a good time! You take it too serious!"). But the reality is, a dorky, fun, let it all hang out movie CAN WORK and I love movies like that (The Mummy, The Scorpion King, The Forbidden Temple come to mind)...but this movie is not that. Those 'B' movies still thrill and entertain. This just bores and embarrasses all involved.

Well said and better said than I did.


Like a Sanitary Wipe, Only Not As Funny

Anyone else see the commercials ABC has been running for their ultra-lame looking MXC ripoff Wipeout? First of all, the MXC love-affair ended in tears years ago. Secondly, if you're going to copy the show, at least make it as funny and interesting. This new show is anything but. The commentary is awfully unfunny and it looks like the show copied the least interesting stages from now twenty-year old material. Yes, twenty years. And this is the best ABC can do? Really?

Someone might ask (but won't) why I would provide a link (and thus a plug) to a show that I clearly think poorly of. Why? Why? Because to see that show is to know it's pathetic soulless heart. No one who sees the clips of that show could possibly be moved to actually watch it. Follow that link. Watch a clip. I dare you. I double-dog dare you.

As for ABC, they will suffer the rotating surfboard of death:

...or bad ratings, probably bad ratings. But if they have a contestant named baba ganoush, I'm calling Beat Takeshi. Seriously. And Guy LaDouche. Get it on!

Monday, May 26, 2008

Truth or Dare?

I often have discussions with a friend over various conspiracy theories. He believes in many of the theories while I don't (though I find them very interesting). During our latest discussion (via email), he began with this statement: "Just because you can't verify something doesn't necessarily mean that it's not true." This is statement is, of course, true. However, often I think that this axiom is used to devalue the worth of proof.

Proof, after all, is the difference between knowledge and faith. We have no other method of confirming the veracity of a hypothesis. It should always be the aim to assemble and verify whatever proofs we can find. Dismissing proof makes all theories unfairly equal. All it takes is one visit to Above Top Secret to see where that leads.

Not all things can be true. Thankfully. Otherwise I would have to freak the hell out. And welcome my new Draconian overlords.



via videosift.com

I love you, Kent Brockman

Sunday in Pictures

I ended up biking down to the bridge rather than walk. It worked out: I got a bit of a late start because I got suckered into watching some of the Indy 500. I'm not a racing fan but I found this year's race somewhat compelling. I like the broadcast touches such as playing the snippets from the car-pit radio conversations. I just love hearing Danica whine about being slow, sloooooooooow.

Having finally gotten in gear (pun intended), I took some pictures of Cadman Plaza, the bridge, and the telectroscope:


Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

I need to get back to the telectroscope to get some better pictures. Maybe at night. The glare from the sun on the glass made it difficult to see the other side of the "tunnel" in the pictures.

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Random Detritus, Sunday Edition

Things that I had forgotten from Friday night have risen like bubbles of gas from the dark depths of my brain. I already mentioned the mega-visor but I forgot to mention that I spent part of the afternoon floating around Bryant Park. Pictures were taken. Of course.


Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.


While I was at the park, I picked up a schedule for the Summer Film Festival:

Film Schedule
June
6/16Dr. No
6/23Bride of Frankenstein
6/30Hud
July
7/7The Man Who Came to Dinner
7/14Fail-Safe
7/21Arsenic and Old Lace
7/28The Apartment
August
8/4Lifeboat
8/11The Candidate
8/18Superman

Happy Birthday, Brooklyn Bridge!

Today, after I grab something to eat, I'm going to walk down to the Brooklyn Bridge. This weekend, the city is celebrating the bridge's 125th birthday. In grade school I wrote a report on the building of the bridge. It really was a triumph of engineering and will. The old girl still looks good.

I'm especially interested in checking out the telectroscope. What's a telectroscope?

Hardly anyone knows that a secret tunnel runs deep beneath the Atlantic Ocean. In May 2008, more than a century after it was begun, the tunnel has finally been completed. An extraordinary optical device called a Telectroscope has been installed at both ends which miraculously allows people to see right through the Earth from London to New York and vice versa.

Now I'll finally be able to see what those damned Brits are up to when they think no one's watching!

The fates are showing the old bridge some love because today is a beautiful day for a birthday.

Saturday, May 24, 2008

Soupy Sale

I walked over to El Cofre to get something for dinner. I hadn't been there before but an ex-coworker had given it a good review. I ended up walking out with a sausage soupy rice which, I must say, was excellent.

While I was waiting for my food, I was looking at their TV which was tuned to Telemundo. A Rebecca Romijn movie was playing. The Spanish title was "Mujer Fatal". Wouldn't that translate to "Fatal Murder"? Aren't all murders fatal or did I miss something? [EDIT: I missed something. "Mujer" means "woman". Thanks, Angel.] One good thing I saw was an ad for Modelo beer with a boxer and masked wrestler arguing at a bar. At one point, the wrestler had the boxer on the bar and pinned him with a quick three-count. That's good stuff. And I had no idea what they were saying. Yet, I have a strange craving for Modelo beer...

This has nothing to do with anything I just talked about but, yesterday, I saw this woman as I was waiting outside the movie theater prior to seeing Indy IV. I can only describe what I saw as... the mega-visor! I think she may be the member of a rogue street welder cult but I haven't been able to confirm it.

(And yes, that is Morgan Freeman's brother checking her out from across the street.)

The Last Last Crusade

I was only a few minutes into the opening of Indy IV when a sinister feeling began to sneak up on me: this film isn't very good. As much as I wanted it to be good, as much as I avoided any reviews in hoping it to be good, it just wasn't. It wasn't good at the start, it wasn't good in the middle, and it wasn't good at the end. It's just not good. It's taken me all day to gather the strength to write down these words and, even now, I can barely bring myself to do more but the truth is the truth and the truth is this: Indy IV is a bad film. It's just plain bad.

I could go on and on about everything I disliked about this film but what's the point? This isn't a flawed masterpiece or even a solid film that touches the edge of greatness but doesn't cross over. It's bad. It's the sort of bad I didn't expect from Steven Spielberg and company. Great talent on both sides of the lens are wasted. At least the special effects are good (as if there was any way they weren't going to be).

The communist had it right: the Russians made a poor choice of villain. What puzzles me more is that, given the South American location of most of the action, why they didn't stick with the Nazis and use ODESSA as the enemy? If you can't get wartime Nazis, get war-crime Nazis. That's some free advice I would have given Spielberg if only he had asked. My advice for the rest of humanity (yes, I know that no one's asked): spare yourself from this film. It's made me want to go see Postal, just to burn this experience out of my mind. My eyes! The goggles do nothing!

Friday, May 23, 2008

Indiana Jones and the Dignity of Communism

Communist Defense Force, unite!

Russian Communist party members condemned the new Indiana Jones' film on Friday as crude anti-Soviet propaganda that distorted history and called for it to be banned from Russian screens.

Actually, this guy has a pretty good point:

"What galls is how together with America we defeated Hitler, and how wesympathized when Bin Laden hit them. But they go ahead and scare kidswith Communists. These people have no shame," said Viktor Perov, aCommunist Party member in Russia's second city of St Petersburg.

The evil communist is not only a bit of a tired stereotype but one about twenty to forty years past its expiration date.  Didn't we learn anything from Sting's The Dream of the Blue Turtles?  The Russians love their children too!

Robert Asprin, RIP


Myth-Told Tales
Originally uploaded by Critical Todd

I just read that author passed away on the 22nd. He was one of my favorite authors growing up. While I hadn't read any of his books in a long time, I have very fond memories of the Myth series, the Phule series and others. I remember swooping through Barnes & Nobles on summer break grabbing every new edition I could find. When I couldn't find anything I hadn't read, I'd just read through one of the books I already had.

I wish it wasn't only when people leave that we think back upon them. It's time to go back to the bookstore, back to the A section of the well traveled sci-fi/fantasy aisle. Only now, when I look over theMyth books, the Phule books, there won't be anything new to find. Rest in peace, Mr. Asprin. You're already missed.


The Omega Men


Alien Head
Originally uploaded by adamantine

So I find myself scrolling through the AboveTopSecret.com news feed this morning when this gem reveals itself from the surrounding darkness: The Omega secret = Vatican + Aliens + USgovt. The Vatican. Aliens. The government. Is this not the wet dream trinity of every UFO conspiracy theorist? Yes. Yes it is.

Pregnant with excitement, I went first to the web post then to the original article, part one of a translation from Italian of a book by Cristoforo Barbato. I'll print out and read the entire article later but my eyes immediately locked on this passage, from an interview the author had with a mysterious man known as "The Jesuit" (this is a movie that writes itself!):

[In February of 1954] ...was the meeting that occurred in California at Muroc Airfield (which later became Edwards Air Force Base) of an alien delegation with the President, Dwight D. Eisenhower, attended by the Bishop of Los Angeles, James Francis McIntyre.

The meeting was filmed by the military with 3 16mm cameras, placed at different points, loaded with color film and spring drive motors; that is because each camera operator had to change the film every 3 minutes and because in the presence of the aliens, electric motor did not work. In total they shot 20 minutes of film in 7 rolls, each of them 30 meters in length.

At the end of the meeting, each member of the Earth delegation swore never to reveal to anyone what he had seen and what he had heard about the aliens. Don't ask me where the film is because I think that you must know the answer...

I don't know the answer! What's the answer? Won't anybody tell me the answer?

[Sorry for that outburst. I have regained my composure.] The wonderful thing about these reports is that they rely on the testimony of one or more people whose identities and connection to the events cannot be confirmed. They hint at evidence which is not in hand and also cannot be confirmed. They also contain details that fit in with the existing UFO lore, such as the malfunction of electronics in the presence of the ETs. Given all this, why am I reading this stuff?

Because for all those reasons I love it. It makes great theater if not, ultimately, truth. If we wonder how the ancients believed in their leaders as the sons of gods or that those gods walked the earth, swam the seas, and flew through the skies, we need look no further than the same impulses that drive us towards these UFO theories. I can't say that this story is absolutely not true in the same way I can't say that Heracles definitely didn't exist. Still, I wouldn't bet on those odds. But I will read the literature. Unlike the myths of the very old world, these new myths are being created right before my eyes. And I can watch them happen. And there's a bishop!

The Bishop!


PS3 Finally Getting Shocked

Good news for the PS3 crowd:

...the July issue of Electronic Gaming Monthly has a big feature on BioShock with 2K Games confirming the title is heading to PS3 for the holiday season 2008.

I still haven't played BioShock yet and now that my 360 has bitten the dust (I still need to get in gear and send it off for repairs) I may finally pick it up for Sony's machine.  And there was much rejoicing.

Thursday, May 22, 2008

How Fit is Wii Fit?

A fitness trainer has had a go at Wii Fit.  His conclusion?

Ultimately “Wii Fit” is not the all-encompassing fitness package that people might think it is. “Fitness isn’t just about these things in the game, but it’s about proper lifestyle, proper diet, stretching,” he said. “I don’t think I would recommend this as someone’s sole way of getting fit, but I think that this is definitely a way to pique people’s interest — getting people to transition from sitting on the couch to being interested in exercise. That being said, I think that ‘Wii Fit’ is a great way to start exercising without the pressure of a gym or class setting; people just need to make sure that they are doing things correctly and safely.”

I'm still on the fence about the thing and this hasn't helped.  Maybe I'll just use things I already own like my bike.  Once more around the park!

Kingdom of the Crystal Fakes?


Aztec Skull
Originally uploaded by seriykotik1970

I guess it figures that this news would emerge just as Indy IV arrives in theaters: apparently, at least some of the supposedly ancient crystal skulls of Central America are fakes.

From the BBC:

The researchers used an electron microscope to show that the skulls were probably shaped using a spinning disc-shaped tool made from copper or another suitable metal.

The craftsman added an abrasive to the wheel, allowing the crystal to be worked more easily.

Well, isn't that a buzz-kill.


Looking for Johnny Favorite

It looks like Lionsgate will be releasing Angel Heart (imdb) on blu-ray at some point:

Lionsgate has included a new promotional insert with this month's Blu-ray debut of 'Rambo,' previewing a quartet of upcoming titles, including the first confirmation of still-unscheduled next-gen releases of 'Universal Solider' and 'Angel Heart.'

I always felt this movie was underrated, perhaps due to the presence of Denise Huxtable (Lisa Bonet) in her first film role (I think).  At any rate, I've always liked it but haven't owned it since I long ago retired a scratchy VHS tape of the film.  Whenever it comes out, I'll probably pick it up.  I refuse to even notice Universal Soldier (imdb).

Where's My Friendly Neighborhood Creperie?


crepes
Originally uploaded by ycon801

I want a crepe. I do not want a ham and cheese crepe, a seafood crepe, or any other of the so-called savory crepes that pepper the menus of the local bistros around the 'hood. What I want is quite simple: a nice crepe au sucre or, if I'm perhaps feeling a bit more decadent, a crepe avec nutella. In short, I want a simple sweet crepe, maybe with a cup of coffee or cappuccino. Unfortunately, I can't find a single solitary spot anywhere in the brownstone vastness that is Fort Greene and Clinton Hill. It's not much to ask, is it? If anyone knows anything let me know. I am growing desperate.


In an Indiana State of Mind


LEGO Indiana Jones (photo)
Originally uploaded by Dunechaser

Yesterday, I bought my ticket to see Indy IV tomorrow at the Regal E Walk Stadium 13. I would have loved to see the movie tonight but it's just easier to see it tomorrow, Friday, leaning into the long Memorial Day weekend. I don't know anyone who went to the midnight show last night so, thankfully, I will not have to dodge spoilers. I'll certainly need to be careful not to get spoiled via the interwebs but that's a bit easier of a road to hoe.

Does anybody remember the Robert Townsend movie, Hollywood Shuffle(imdb)? Before his career descended to the likes of The Meteor Man (imdb), Townsend was a very funny man. Very funny. How does this connect to Indiana Jones? In Shuffle, a inner-city version of Ebert & Roeper review several films, including a parody of Indy, Chicago Jones. If you haven't seen this, you haven't lived. This is pure comedy gold. It's Sneaking in the Movies:


Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Mr. Jones and Me


Still Rocking
Originally uploaded by Critical Todd

I just bought my ticket to paradise. Okay, not to paradise, not exactly. But I did get my ticket to see the fourth Indiana Jones installment this Friday. I haven't read any previews, reviews, or spoilers for the flick which is unusual for me but I really want to go into the movie as blind as possible. That there is a crystal skull, one or more Nazis, and good ol' Indiana is all I need to know.

Between now and Friday, I will drown out any hype with a continuous loop of Eddie Money singles. As the Money-Man said, get a move on:


Poli-Tikka


Chicken Tikka Masala
Originally uploaded by Crashworks

Right about now, I am tired, dead tired. It's been awhile since I've gone out two nights in a row early in the week. This morning, I'm paying the price. Ian, a friend of mine, is visiting. He came for his sister's wedding and used the occasion to come down into the city. Monday night, we just hung out at Rope on Myrtle. Last night, we went to meet up with his friend Baba and a few others at the Indian Cafe. The food was excellent but the talk was even better.

I usually avoid getting into geo-political discussions with people because it tends to get emotional in all the wrong ways. Baba has no such qualms and jumps into that murky pool full-bore, yelling "Cannonball!" as he goes. Ian, having past experience, tried his best to stay on the sidelines but, worn down by gin and tonics, he finally couldn't help himself. My own views were closer to Baba's than to Ian's which made things a bit more interesting at the end when, as the restaurant closed around us, the heat went up a few notches.

The battleground was a rocky wasteland of colonialism, neo-colonialism, and the moral prerogative of nations. It was interesting, fun stuff to discuss that I don't get to do much. I loved it.

A wrinkle was provided from a Columbia U. history professor who happened to be at the bar and became a second front of battle: the professor, being British, and Baba, being Indian, made for an interesting back-and-forth. I enjoyed just listening to them fence with each other.

In the end, a good time was had by all. Not counting the chickens and other animals that died to make our feasting possible, the only casualties were our own (mis)conceptions. That, and my sleep, my precious, precious sleep. I need some coffee.


Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Who Directed Tombstone?


Tombstone
Originally uploaded by kenny42952

As is my wont during a slow work day, I take to the labyrinthine tubes of the internet in search of nothing in particular. Today that search took me to an interview with Kurt Russell from the October 2006 issue of True West magazine.

The interesting thing about the interview is that in it, Russell says the he actually directed Tombstone. From the interview:

...I backed the director; the director got fired, so we brought in a guy to be a ghost director. They wanted me to take over the movie. I said, “I’ll do it, but I don’t want to put my name on it. I don’t want to be the guy.”
I said to George [Cosmatos], “I’m going to give you a shot list every night, and that’s what’s going to be.” I’d go to George’s room, give him the shot list for the next day, that was the deal. “George I don’t want any arguments. This is what it is. This is what the job is.”
“Yeah, absolutely.”
I got him from Sly Stallone—called up Sly, said I need a guy. Sly did the same thing with Rambo 2 with George. And I said to George, “While you’re alive George, I won’t say a goddamn thing.” [Cosmatos died April 19, 2005.]
And it was the hardest work of my life. Tombstone was so painful. Tombstone was so tough, you know what I mean? It was just so painful; it was hard physically to do—I got four hours sleep every night. And I’m so happy that we got it made.
I didn’t get a chance to edit the movie, which I thought was unfortunate because it could have been one of the greatest Westerns ever, ever, ever made. And it’s pretty damn good. We had a great cast. A phenomenal script.

To me, this was a huge revelation but I don't remember hearing anything about it anywhere. I know True West is a niche magazine but I would have thought someone would have picked up on this. I put Tombstone at or near the top of my list of modern westerns. It's a classic. That Russell directed it from behind the scenes is no small feat. Did I just miss this completely or does nobody care? IMDB still lists Cosmatos as the director. Hmm. That reminds me: I need a good high def version of the film. Who will be my huckleberry?


Going Postal


Old Mailbox
Originally uploaded by Tru Image Photo

I find highly amusing. Let me repeat: highly amusing. But it has nothing to do with his (de)merits as a filmmaker as much as it has to do with the permanent circus that revolves around him - he is like a clown singularity, pulling media in towards him as he spins dervishly in place, waving his hands, fighting journalists (physically and verbally), and generally carrying on.

His latest oeuvre, an adaptation of the mega-unpolitically-correct videogame is due to debut on Friday but, to no one's surprise except for (maybe) Mr. Boll's, he's having a hard time finding theaters willing to show the film.

According to the MTV Multiplayer blog, he's got twelve theaters in hand. Nationally. 12. This is not a typo.

(Un)luckily for me and any fellow Brooklynites, one of these special theaters is in this neck of the woods: the Cobble Hill Cinemas. I really, really have no desire to see this film but given the desert-like rarity of screenings, I may actually go see it just to see it, to say, I was there. It will be like Saint Crispin's Day... or something.


Monday, May 19, 2008

Blu Monday

I woke up this morning to find a shiny new Borders coupon in my inbox: 40% off of DVDs today and tomorrow. Looking over the coupon, it's clear that the store is getting cagey. The coupon only applies to single or double-disc DVDs or blu-rays, no more boxsets. It's a damned sneaky move that cuts me to the quick. I used to use these coupons to specifically buy boxsets. Oh well. Still, 40% off is 40% off. If you didn't get the coupon, grab it here.

Sunday, May 18, 2008

A Bloody Good Time


Pepper Bloody Mary
Originally uploaded by kevincrumbs

I had brunch at Maggie Brown today and ran into a guy named Matt. It turns out Matt is organizing a Bloody Mary (the drink, not the queen of England) contest that will take place at Rope on June 14th. According to Matt, the contest will pit his skills against those of other Clinton Hill / Fort Greene area restaurants. There will be grub to go with the ruby libations. Other than the date and place, this is all I know: there will be blood*.


* Added bonus: More blog posts with the word "blood" in them - yay!


Subway Social Commentary

Posters adorn every subway stop in the city, hawking upcoming movies, television shows, products, or whatever. Every time I go down to my local subway stop (the Clinton-Washington G), it seems like there's a new poster glued to the wall. Also, within a day, someone has usually marked up the poster with a sharpie or other marker. Sometimes the result is offensive but mostly, this commentary is either funny, socially relevant, or both. As a consequence, I started taking photographs of the marked up posters.

I've decided to collect them together. I think they form an interesting look into the mind of my fellow Clinton Hill dwellers, or at least those lovable (maybe) rogues who wander the subway stations, marker in hand, meting out justice (or miscarriages thereof) on the commercial powers that be. The sharpie is mightier than the sword?

Arr, 'Tis The Married Life for Me!

I've finished going through all my pirate wedding pictures. I've sifted out the best of the lot and posted them to flickr. I'm still digesting the experience. I'm sure I'll have lots to say about it a bit later. For now, here are the photos:


Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Back from the Isle of Wife

I'm in recovery from yesterday's pirate wedding. It was a long day. I was up at five in the morning and didn't get home until almost midnight. It was a fun but tiring. I took a bunch of pictures which I am still laboriously sifting through, uploading, and describing. I'll post them later. Until then, I offer you this:

Saturday, May 17, 2008

Lobster Quadrille

As was long ago foretold, tomorrow later today I shall be in the Westbrook, Connecticut, Elk Lodge for a pirate wedding. For the occasion, I bought myself a shiny new tricorn hat and an eye patch. I also purchased a plethora of cupcakes to take with me for the potluck portion of the nuptial feast.

I have no idea what to expect tomorrow but, armed with my camera and an itchy trigger finger, I will attempt to record every aspect of this buccaneer banquet. Whatever else happens, I will get my pirate groove on. I shall attack the food table as if it were the Spanish main. I've got my letter of mark, I've got my orange Crush.

Friday, May 16, 2008

Bloodshed


First Blood
Originally uploaded by Critical Todd

I've got a few notes from my viewing of First Blood last night that I thought I'd share because... because I can.

Before the movie started, there was an interview with Sly himself. I didn't catch the entire interview but it was clear that it was produced for the latest Rambo movie. Sly's face looked like it had been frozen in carbonite. It didn't help that there were many, many closeups. He had some interesting things to say, mostly about Rambo and Burma but he did talk about the original ending to First Blood which saw Rambo die. This alternate ending was shown at the end of the film.

The film itself was good. The print looked good: I didn't notice much dirt, speckles, or associated wear and tear. It was overly dark. In some scenes in the woods, the actors's faces were obscured by the dark. I don't recall it looking that dark in the past. It really felt too dark. Other than that, the film looked in good shape.

The sound of the film has certainly suffered, not that, in itself, it's bad, but because movie sound has come so far since the film was made. The explosions have no power, the M60 sounds like a pea shooter, and the other guns sound even worse. It's no fault of the film, time has just left it behind in that regard. Maybe the sound can be remastered when the film gets remastered for hi-def.

It was hilarious to see a young David Caruso as a whiny deputy and Switek from Miami Vice (Michael Talbott) as another deputy.

The crowd (~ 50 people) was really into it which was fun. There was a great pop for Colonel Troutman's entrance. Troutman's got some great lines and they all got a good response, as did Rambo's rare bits of dialog.

Something I had forgotten: the song at the end of the film is one of the worst bits of audio tripe ever. It completely destroys the atmosphere of the film. It is brutally bad. It's worse than that. It is beyond words.

The alternate ending was just poorly done. It could have been very powerful but it's just not conceived properly. Rambo is trapped in the police station. Troutman is there. Rambo takes Troutman's gun and tells Troutman to kill him. He can't live like this. Troutman doesn't seem keen to do it so Rambo forces the issue and the gun goes off, down goes Rambo, end of story. It's weak.

What I would have done is have Troutman comfort Rambo, ease his pain, then put a bullet into the unsuspecting soldier's brain. To my mind, this is much stronger ending. Of course, for sheer b-movie bravado, Troutman could just walk up to Rambo, put a bullet in his brain, then lean down and whisper, "I'm still the best, John. I'm the best!" However,if I have to choose between the two actually filmed endings, the original non-dying ending is by far better, except for that hideous song.

A good time was had by all. As Troutman tells Rambo, "this mission is over."


LOST: There's No Place Like Home, Part 1

is in a strange position going into tonight's episode, the first of a three-part season finale: we already know the future. We don't know what happens to all the characters but most of the main ones' fates are already set: Sayid, Jack, Kate, Hurley, Ben - we already know where they end up, just not how they got there. This puts tonight's episode in a strange position: it's hard to build up tension in a scene if the ultimate outcome is not only not in doubt but is, in fact, known.

Knowing this, why did the show bother to keep pointing out Jack's leaky appendix wound? We all know he's one of the six "survivors"- if we didn't know, or had forgotten, they reinforce this within the first few minutes of the show. This completely undermines any tension we might feel since we know he'll survive: whatever happens with his injuries, ultimately it isn't a factor. Yet the writers waste time and dialog on it. I don't know why.

It's the characters whose fates we don't know that should have gotten the lion's share of the time but don't: Sawyer, Locke, Jin, and Desmond (I'd say Claire but she seems to have gone over to the dark side). Locke spends the episode standing behind Ben chewing his lip and looking confused while Sawyer plays baby taxi and Jack escort. Jin? He does a good job standing behind Sun doing exactly nothing. Great.

I think I've labeled just about every episode I've written about thus far as a "setup" episode. This must be the ultimate setup episode but nothing happens. And I mean nothing. I could summarize the "action" as a travelogue of movement around the island. It was all about moving people around to put them in place for next week. That's it. And they didn't exactly do much to make those moves exciting to watch. It was a five minute bit of exposition stretched out into an hour. I hope it's worth it because, otherwise, this was a total throwaway. Next week better make up for it.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

"Michael" Pimps Roca Wear


Michael Pimps Roca Wear
Originally uploaded by Critical Todd

I saw this while walking to the Virgin Megastore on Broadway by Times Square. As an avid watcher of "", I immediately recognized Michael (Tristan Wilds) pimping the on the giant billboard.

While, I'm happy that the guys from the show are breaking out since the show is over, there is also something disconcerting about seeing the actor outside the Michael persona. It's not quite as awkward as seeing Bodie Broadus (J. D. Williams) delivering pizza for Domino's (or was it Pizza Hut?) a few years ago but still, it's odd.


Zohan Criticism Goes Too Far

I was on my way into Manhattan to see First Blood, when I saw this movie poster for at the Clinton-Washington G train stop.

While I generally find unfunny and this movie particularly unfunny (judging by the trailer), it in know way deserves (nothing does) the marker drawn swastika plastered over Sandler's face. It's just plain wrong. I don't know what offends me more, the image itself or the fact that someone thought it was clever. I know one thing: there's at least one idiot in Brooklyn who I can say, with absolute certainty, is less funny than Adam Sandler. Way to go, jackass.


World Turning

I was lucky enough to get out of work a bit early today. I walked out of the office and noticed a small film crew working cross the street. It turns out they were filming a segment for . I snapped a couple of pictures:


I don't anything about the soaps other than Victor Newman, Susan Lucci, and a few random characters from Days of Our Lives (my grandmother's husband watches it religiously). Unfortunately, none of them were there.

Bloodletting


First Blood
Originally uploaded by Critical Todd

Rambo is the iconic expression of American uber-patriotism and bravado. He goes in alone, kicks ass, grunts a few well-timed quips, and slips away, leaving a blood-slick trail of body parts and explosions behind him. A pile of films have built up this image into self-parody and beyond. What has been destroyed in the process is the troubled, shell-shocked Vietnam veteran that was the Rambo of First Blood (imdb 1982), the movie that spawned the series.

Tonight, First Blood will be on the big screen once more. I'll be going with some friends to check it out. I've seen the film several times but always on TV, never in its OAR, and never uncut. I've always found this film to be very underrated. Thematically, it concerns veterans of an unwanted war who are, themselves, unwanted, and wounded in ways that go deeper than muscle and skin. This is the original John Rambo, a war victim, thrown away, unwanted, and hurt.

Of course, there is plenty of bad-assery on display. However, there is something unsettling, something disturbing about it: Rambo is like a weapon that, once triggered, is almost beyond the ability to stop - he is a prisoner of his own experiences, forced to obey triggers of violence embedded into his being like DNA. There is nothing glorious about it.

This subtext has been completed eradicated in the subsequent films but it is preserved, like a fly in amber, in First Blood. Not yet a super-soldier in fatigues, here Rambo is still human, fighting for America, not against some stereotypical foreign enemy but against America itself. Given the current political environment, the original Rambo is much more timely and significant than any of the Rambo figures that have come since, including last year's sequel. For one night, those larger-than-life images get swept aside to show the troubled figure beneath. I look forward to making his re-acquaintance.


Is That a Bird in Your Pocket?


Tweet of Dweams
Originally uploaded by born1945

I just recently started using twitter. I enjoy using it to chat with my friends (cheaper than text messages) or just send random bits of nonsense into the depths of the internets. Originally, I was using mobile web interface on my but it lacks a few features that, particularly on the iPhone, would make it really shine. I recently stumbled upon Pocket Tweets. It's got a really sharp, iPhone formatted UI and it has all the features I was looking for. Unfortunately, after trying it out for a week or so, I've gone back to the vanilla twitter setup.

What happened? The problem I have with is that the page is too heavy. I takes too long to load. Even when I'm on a Wi-Fi network it loads very slowly. On EDGE, it's glacial. Worse than that, the page will hang as it's loading up the twitters. I find myself having to refresh the page multiple times to get it to go.

I was hoping that the page, once loaded, would have some handy-dandy AJAX kung-fu to auto-refresh the twitters so I can see messages as they come in. Unfortunately, it doesn't. I have to refresh the page and it's back to the long wait. The same problem happens when I post a message - the page says the message was posted but it doesn't show it on the screen. I have to refresh the page to confirm the message went live. Refresh, refresh, refresh.

Ultimately, the slim profile of the twitter mobile page outweighed the better feature set but extremely sluggish performance of the Pocket Tweets page. Hopefully, they'll be able to work their web mojo and improve things a bit. If they do, I'll definitely give it another shot. Until then, I'll just keep posting random ramblings through the twitter mobile page.


Wednesday, May 14, 2008

The Jedi Have Truly Fallen


Nonsense
Originally uploaded by Critical Todd

The founder of a jedi church has been attacked by a man dressed up as Darth Vader. Read the above line again. Let it sink in. Now, let's sprinkle in a few choice details, such as the Darth Vader costume consisted of a black trash bag and that the Sith assailant, rather than using a light saber, used a metal crutch.

Don't believe me? Here it is, straight from the BBC:

A man posing as Darth Vader attacked a Star Wars fan who had founded a Jedi Church, a court has heard.

Arwel Wynne Hughes, 27, from Holyhead, Anglesey, admitted assaulting Barney Jones and cousin Michael with a metal crutch. They suffered minor injuries.

Hughes, who was drunk and dressed in a black bin bag, shouted "Darth Vader!"

The question is: where was Emperor Palpatine when all this went down? I pray someone alerted the police, nay Scotland Yard, that another Sith must be on the loose. After all, there are always two. Has the Queen been informed?


Thanks to my friend Paul for hipping me to the story.


Have You Seen Billy Jack Lately?

Have you seen him? You really should. He loves you. And He can kill a man with his feet. Really.

Oh Billy Jack, where has your brand of '70s carefree barefoot justice gone? We need it now, more than ever.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Winds of Change


LostWinds.jpg
Originally uploaded by ShengWD

I put a little time into this evening. I haven't gotten particularly far yet but I've gotten to play enough of it to know that if can establish games like this in its library, its future will be very bright.

The game is a side-scrolling platformer. The look is simple yet very well realized and pleasantly stylized. It's one of those games that's figured the out: created graphics that play to the Wii's strengths and a look and feel that transcends the graphical limits of the platform. The game looks great.

The gameplay hook is in using the wiimote to create gusts of wind which the main character, Toku, can use to platform through the levels and complete puzzles. The wind is integrated into the environment so that brushing the cursor across trees, plants, and grasses will cause them to shake and wave. It's a small touch but the first time I did it, by accident, I grinned from ear to ear.

As I said, I haven't played too far into the game but, right now, the concept has really hooked me and the execution- smooth wiimote controls thankfully- make LostWinds a game I will definitely come back to. It's easily worth the ten dollars I spent on it. It's better already than games charging triple the price. I pray this will translate into strong sales. Games like these deserve all the success they get. Hopefully, this is just the beginning.


Afternoon Delight

The weather was so nice today that, when I emerged from the bowels of work early, I decided to walk a bit in lieu of rushing headlong to the subway. Ere long, that idea morphed into a plan: I'd walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and then pick up the subway on the other side.

As I got across the bridge, I realized that it had taken less time than I anticipated. I decided to press my luck and go all the way home. It was a perfect day for a walk and I made it home in about an hour.

I took some photos on the bridge:


Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Sophie Makes a Mean Sandwich


Sophie's Cuban Cuisine
Originally uploaded by Critical Todd

I went to lunch at Sophie's on Chambers Street with an ex-coworker. He had introduced the place to me last month. That outing, I had a good fish stew. Today I had a steak sandwich and I was blown away. It was awesome. I almost ordered a second one to take home with me. On top of that, it's a seriously cheap eats. I think my sandwich, soda, tax and tip came to nine dollars. What-a-bargain. That is a bargain for me.


Medieval Prophecy Revealed

I ran across this at Mysterious Universe:

For the past 150 years, an intricate, allegorical mosaic containing an apocalyptic prophecy has been hidden beneath a carpet...

The mosaic in question is in Westminster Abbey and has just been restored. Originally, lettering spelled out a number of prophetic inscriptions. While the letters are now lost to us, the words were recorded and preserved, some of them calculations of the age of the world, according to the cosmology of the day. How long before this rediscovered marvel works its way into the Templar/Mason/Illuminati literature? Coming soon:
The Da Vinci Code 2: Mosaic of Doom

MGOver


Metal Gear Online screenshot
Originally uploaded by gamesweasel

I called in every marker and favor I could lay fingers to in order to get in on the beta. Having finally gotten the beta, I played it exactly once. And now it's over.

Allow me a moment to weep for my lost opportunity. I hereby place all blame on GTA IV and Boom Blox. Damn you, Liberty City, damn you!

William Shatner, Superstar

My sister spent the weekend in Paris and is now in Cannes for the film festival. I might have been envious yesterday, maybe even today. But not now. For now, I have just returned from an interview and book-signing by . Cannes, I pine for you no more.

I am not a trekkie*. As I write this, I actually own no Star Trek movies (though I do want movies I through 4) nor do I own any seasons of any of the TV series (though I want the original series). I'm apathetic towards the Next Generation (though I do like Patrick Stewart) and did not care for the series that came after. All this aside, I have always been a fan of Shatner, whether on Trek, the Twilight Zone, T.J. Hooker, or whatever he happens to be in. In short (too late!), I'm a fan of the man, not of a particular role.

Actually, that's not quite true. The particular role I am an unequivocal fan of is Shatner as himself, a role he has honed over the years Whether this persona is real or public face, he does it so well that it hardly matters. I will never know the man himself. This is enough. Tonight, Shatner put on a virtuoso performance of himself.

Shatner has a wonderful sense of humor. Clearly, the man appreciates himself but he never lets it get in the way of his self-effacing comedy. He's a great story-teller. I was, as the entire audience seemed to be, drawn into his narrative. He really seems to be talking to us not at us. It sounds easy but it isn't. Many of these interviews come off as lectures. This one did not.

The interview was a solid 90 minutes and I was enthralled by all of it. I could have listened for another 90 minutes easily. I like his easy speaking style so much I might buy the audio version of his book just to hear him tell it rather than read it. I liked listening to him that much.

After the interview, there was a book signing. I bought two copies of the book (one for me, one for a friend) and he signed both. I told him I enjoyed his talk and appreciated his work. He thanked me. I left the auditorium a happy, happy man.

I only found out about this thing at the last minute. Being a work night, I had a tough internal debate over going. What finally swung me round was this: Shatner is 77 years old. While he has been an amazing workhorse in recent years, you never know when he'll call it a day. If I didn't go to this signing, would I get another chance? If I didn't go and no other chance came, would I always be kicking myself for not going? It was a no-brainer: I had to go.

The interview took place at the 92nd Street YMCA. In the auditorium, they did not allow photographs and, at the signing, it was tough to get an open look at the man. I did manage one shot and a snap of my signed book. For your viewing pleasure:



* In a strange twist of fate, I have now seen two captains of the starship Enterprise within three days. What a wonderful, weird world we live in.

Monday, May 12, 2008

WiiWare Comes Aliive


Defend your Castle
Originally uploaded by MonkeyYu

The Wii has long ago awarded every investor of the letter i. The virtual console enabled old-schooler gamers like me to re-buy and replay games from our youth. Until now, however, there were no original downloadable games such as can be found on Steam, Xbox Live Arcade, or the Playstation Network. Now, in the form of , has arrived.

There are a handful of titles at launch, two of which I downloaded: and . I've only had a chance to play Defend Your Castle so far.

My first impression is... it's okay, pretty good if you were to press me. I love the look - a sort of junior high school hand-drawn on a sheet of notepaper with popsicle sticks and bottle caps. As the title suggests, the sole object of the game is to defend your castle from an onslaught of stick figures and stick monsters.

The problem I see is the repetition of the game. It really is the same, exact thing every "stage". There are incidentals: you can buy additions to the castle that you can use to capture and retrain attackers as archers, masons (to repair the castle) and magicians. But with all that, each stage is the same background (changing weather withstanding) and the same action, namely picking up enemy soldiers and hurling them in the air. The castle may get upgrades but, so far, the player doesn't get any changes. I've played up to the 15th stage.

I'd say I'll give LostWinds tonight but I won't, since I'm going to go see William Shatner. It will have to wait until tomorrow.


Shatner Speaks!


extinct_shatner
Originally uploaded by nicelyroastedbeans

Why is it that I'm always the last to know? I'm scrolling through my Google Reader feeds this afternoon when my I lay my eyes on this piece of win: William Shatner giving an interview and book signing. Tonight. I have to go. I have no choice.

Thankfully, I wasn't, ultimately, the last to know since I was able to get a seat. I am not a trekkie but I've always appreciated Shatner's work, from the original Twilight Zone forward. Hopefully, tonight I'll be able to walk out of the auditorium with a song in my heart and an autographed autobiography under my arm.

Three Stooges Stave Off Shark


Great White Shark in Mexico
Originally uploaded by Da Sauce

A slow day at work leads to scanning random news feeds leads inevitably to this find:

An Australian swimmer survived a great white shark attack by poking the creature in the eyes as it dragged him through the water after badly savaging his left leg.

There is no evidence he yelled whoopwhoopwhoop! Curly-style as he swam back to shore.

I don't want to make too light of this, given that the man's life was in the balance but he did survive (thankfully) to give a good hearty nyuk nyuk nyuk from the safety of the shore....Okay, I admit, that wasn't a great joke but, they, they can't all be gems and it's a slow, slow, glacier-ly slow Monday.

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Not Your Ordinary Reshoot

I, along with about a million of my closest friends, were milling around Times Square last night. I was on my way back from seeing MacBeth. Who knows what the other 999,999 people were doing- wait, I know what some of them were doing: either watching or taking part in reshoots of the vehicle, . From FirstShowing.net:

Apparently Hancock was doing very late reshoots in New York City yesterday, most likely as a result of the ratings troubles they've encountered...

I had seen the trucks and equipments for the reshoots earlier, as I arrived at the theater, but I had assumed that it was for background work, 2nd unit type stuff. It was only when I saw a crowd gathered around a trailer that I thought Smith might be there.

As I left the theater after the show and walked down Broadway, however, I was surprised to see Smith, dressed in his black leather Hancock unitard, jog passed me, waving to the crowd. I didn't get any pictures of the Scientologist star (I wasn't ready) but I did take a few shots of the shoot related stuff earlier in the evening:

Hancock #2
Hancock #3
Hancock #4

I can't say I had much enthusiasm for this film. However, I can't see how doing such late reshoots (the film opens in July) can be spun into a positive. If the film is trying to chase the coveted PG-13 rating this late in the game, how much of their original vision have they already compromised and how much more will they to get there? That the principals may say otherwise means exactly nothing. What are they supposed to say? They have to promote the film. Now is not the moment to get an honest answer. And it doesn't matter. No matter what they say, they're running around doing reshoots a month before the film comes out. Does that sound like a good thing to you? Didn't think so.

Big Mac

The set design for is very spare. The white tiled walls, smooth black floor, and bare metal appliances envision a bunker, a prison, or an asylum- all fitting for this play of blood, madness, and war. The stage is left visible before the curtain, perhaps so that we can contemplate it's clean but cruel sterility before chaos comes to call it home.

My excitement and anticipation for the show had been rising ever since finally getting tickets for the play during the week. From what I could see, the show was completely sold out but I luckily managed to get what I consider to be a good seat: first row of the mezzanine, near the center. I'm not too far away and I get a good, clear view of the entire stage. When the play began with a thunderous bang (literally), I was ready to go.

I came to see as the titular thane and I wasn't disappointed. MacBeth is a man who succumbs to raw ambition and is consumed by it, from the inside out, even as he must reap its bitter harvest. Stewart easily navigated MacBeth's fluctuating states of being: strong and powerful, weak and fearful, crazed, calm and contemplative.

Stewart was matched with as Lady MacBeth who provides the prod to push MacBeth to action and then becomes proxy for his madness. She was excellent also. I have no complaints about any of the cast*. They each do what the roles required. I must, however, give special praise to Christopher Patrick Nolan as Seyton and to the three witches, here transformed into nurses, whose physical but silent presences on the stage in key moments gave palpable life to the dark fates they had foretold.

While the play concerns itself with the power politics of medieval Scotland, the setting and costumes reflect a Stalin-era communist state. It's an interesting choice that works very well. It took me a few minutes of the first scene for me to reconcile the Shakespearian English to the much more modern look on stage but, once done, I was very comfortable with the fusion in styles.

By using a modern era, the play was able to use sound effects, such as artillery bombardments, medical instruments, and gunfire to accent the action, signal changes, or provide subtle ambiance. Images were also projected onto the back wall of the stage that heightened the drama. In particular, the video of blood flowing into water as Banquo's ghost arrived to confront MacBeth was an excellent use of the technique.

This was a great show and I'm glad I finally made time to see it. Playbill's Ruth Leon calls Stewart "the greatest MacBeth of my lifetime." While I don't have the points of reference to make that claim (this is the first MacBeth I've seen on stage), there is no doubt that Stewart puts on a riveting performance. His work, coupled with the rest of the cast, great stage, costume, and sound design, makes this a must-see play. I'm just happy I finally got to see it.


* A cast-related note: in one scene, Lady McDuff (Rachel Ticotin) was speaking and I thought to myself, I swear that woman looks like Melina from Total Recall. Sure enough, when I checked IMDB this morning, there she was. The Playbill doesn't mention it, or any films at all. Do the actors create those bios or does someone connected to Playbill or the theater do it?