The Dark Knight Rises -- My Thoughts (Non spoiler version)

picture from http://www.a2-m3.com/2012/07/10/13-minutes-of-the-dark-knight-rises-sneak-peek/

I think this is one of those cases where I expected too much from a movie. It’s staggering that I have been a fan of the character and mythos for 41 years. Regardless of what you’re about the read,  I strongly urge you to go and see the movie. It will be well worth your movie dollar and something to talk about and enjoy despite the unfortunate events at the midnight premiere in Colorado. At the end of the movie, many in the audience with me clapped and cheered. My prediction is this will be a big movie, but come nowhere close to ‘The Avengers” in box office or magnitude. That hurts me a little to write as Batman is my favorite character.

For me, what I took from this movie is that Chris Nolan wanted to have his cake and eat it too; a huge, big, goodie filled multi layered cake with lots of decoration and icing. Especially at the end of the movie. The movie suffers a little in order for him to accomplish this. I expected MUCH better from he and his brother, who with David Goyer, wrote the screenplay. In regards to the previous 2 movies, I found this movie to be sloppy in parts. This installment has much more action than the previous 2. And in my opinion, it kind of needed it. Nolan crammed a lot into this movie. To me, it didn’t seem like a nearly 3 hour movie

The story basically is a continuation of the 2^nd movie 8 years after the events of Dent’s death.  It turns out, there are tremendous consequences as a result of the scheme Gordon and Batman concocted to frame Batman for Dent’s death so the city could have a hero (in Dent) and overcome crime for the most part. Nolan does a good job tying the previous 2 movies into this one not letting you forget what has led up to this tale. A glaring observation to me was The Joker is the only thing from the prior 2 movies that’s not referenced either in dialogue or flashbacks. My opinion is how could they have left him out and included nearly EVERY character and aspect of the first 2 movies? I think I know why, but still, to me it was an obvious omission regardless of the reason.

Anne Hathaway was a much better Catwoman than I thought she’d be. I was wrong about her as the Catwoman character. Her injection into the story felt rushed to me. It could and should have been allowed to develop.  Tom Hardy was believable as Bane. Like Catwoman, I felt rushed to believe he was the bad guy. Michael Caine did an extraordinary job as Alfred. Unfortunately, he’s only in the 1^st quarter of the movie, and appears briefly at the end. Cillian Murphy’s appearance is also very brief and obviously gratuitous to me. He is more wasted and irrelevant than his cameo in the 2^nd one.  All the supporting cast did a great job; Gary Oldham, Mathew Modine, Morgan Freeman, my Pittsburgh Steelers as the Gotham Knights- hahaha!  Despite my negative laden feelings and thoughts about the movie, the acting was spot on.  2 major characters from the Batman mythos appear in this movie. One was kind of expected; one I didn’t think about but SHOULD have known.  

The end of the movie. Well, here’s where I believe Nolan failed – the movie to me had two endings and you’ll understand it when you see it. There’s a predictable scene at the end of the movie involving Gordon-Levitt’s John Blake character that made me groan loudly.

 I’d give this movie 6.5 out of 10. Even though I don’t like cake, I didn’t entirely not enjoy this experience.





Coffee Ad

http://vintage-ads.livejournal.com/3607660.html

1652 coffee advertisement-- yep, 1652!


click on the link to read the ad-
the ad reads...




The Vertue of the COFFEE Drink.

First publiquely made and sold in England, by Pasqua Rosée.
THE Grain or Berry called Coffee, groweth upon little Trees, only in the Deserts of Arabia.

It is brought from thence, and drunk generally throughout all the Grand Seigniors Dominions.

It is a simple innocent thing, composed into a drink, by being dryed in an Oven, and ground to Powder, and boiled up with Spring water, and about half a pint of it to be drunk, fasting an hour before and not Eating an hour after, and to be taken as hot as possibly can be endured; the which will never fetch the skin off the mouth, or raise any Blisters, by reason of that Heat.

The Turks drink at meals and other times, is usually Water, and their Dyet consists much of Fruit, the Crudities whereof are very much corrected by this Drink.

The quality of this Drink is cold and Dry; and though it be a Dryer, yet it neither heats, nor inflames more than hot Posset.

It forcloseth the Orifice of the Stomack, and fortifies the heat with- [missing text] its very good to help digestion, and therefore of great use to be [missing text] bout 3 or 4 a Clock afternoon, as well as in the morning.quickens the Spirits, and makes the Heart Lightsome. It is good against sore Eys, and the better if you hold your Head o'er it, and take in the Steem that way.

It supresseth Fumes exceedingly, and therefore good against the Head-ach, and will very much stop any Defluxion of Rheumas, that distil from the Head upon the Stomach, and so prevent and help Consumptions and the Cough of the Lungs.

It is excellent to prevent and cure the Dropsy, Gout, and Scurvy.

It is known by experience to be better then any other Drying Drink for People in years, or Children that have any running humors upon them, as the Kings Evil. &c.

It is very good to prevent Mis-carryings in Child-bearing Women.

It is a most excellent Remedy against the Spleen, Hypocondriack Winds, or the like.

It will prevent Drowsiness, and make one fit for Busines, if one have occasion to Watch, and therefore you are not to drink of it after Supper, unless you intend to be watchful, for it will hinder sleep for 3 or 4 hours.

It is observed that in Turkey, where this is generally drunk, that they are not troubled with the Stone, Gout, Dropsie, or Scurvy, and that their Skins are exceeding cleer and white.

It is neither Laxative nor Restringent.

Made and Sold in St. Michaels Alley in Cornhill, by Pasqua Rosee, at the Signe of his own Head.

GREAT STORY!!

Make-A-Wish Brings Six-Year-Old Zachary Face To Face With Hellboy

Father's Day 2012

Given my past, I'm fortunate to have two special "fathers" out there, whether they wanted to be or not. Last year, after building up the courage to actually look for him,  I found out my biological father had died in March of 2001 up near Asheville, NC. I was amazed how profound this affected me after putting so much behind me over the last 40 something years of my life. How could I feel loss of something I first lost around 5 years old? Truly incredible. Being of Christian faith, I now see God had other plans, for some reason that I'll never understand. But today, I know that I am fortunate.

Terry Ducker - has been so much more than a dad to me whether he knows or not. Always there helping me to see how things actually are in his view. We disagree on some things, but agree on so much more. He sometimes changes my perceptions and challenging me to reaffirm what I believe in or think I know.  I really try not to dwell on things we disagree on.I am truly thankful he's in my life. He's rebounding from a terrible stroke last year. It's hard to sit back and honor his wishes to do things for himself. It's hard for me to see him get so upset over too many things I don't think he should get so upset over, but that's one of the things we disagree on. I don't want to disrespect him. I'm thankful and fortunate he allowed a snot nosed 7th or 8th grader into his home and became a bad influence on his oldest son, one of my best friends, and adopt the rest of his kids as my own siblings. They are so incredible to me. Not many people grow up in a perfect family. All families have dysfunction. It's how we live through these imperfections and unhappiness that makes us strong and tests our character. We have to take the positives and love and the good times and memories and lessons learned to forge personal armor against life's more unfair than fair predicaments, imperfections and unhappiness. To me, a father steers his children through these waters the best he can. Sometimes north isn't always true when navigating life. Terry Ducker was and continues to be a very valuable, needed compass to me.

Joe Self is probably one of the most moral people I've ever encountered in my 46+ years on this planet. It is very unfortunate I don't make more time to at the very least call or stop by and say 'hello' to him. If there is a 'phrase' dictionary out there, for the phrase 'walks it like he talks it', he would be the FIRST example or definition. He would also be the first to shy away from such compliments. My 'brother from another mother' Terry Self is one of the luckiest people I know because of his father. Terry is probably one of the few people who will actually acknowledge this. Joe Self allowed gave me sanctuary more than a couple of times in my life when I was more than down only luck. They way he lived his life and took care of his family and myself at times was a no nonsense, caring, and instructional to me. He did not judge me for the predicament I was in at the time. He seemingly added more hours to the day for his son and at times for me. I'll never forget taking time to pass a football around with Terry and I in a field at Donaldson Center close to where he lived at the time. He can laugh at himself which is rare for many people. Only until recently did he hang up the cleats and baseball glove to stop playing softball for church. A church he used to preach at and still looked upon as many people's pastor. To me he's a firm believer of 'free will'. He won't beat you over the head with Christianity or the Bible, he'll simply show you or expose you to the truth and what path may be the best for you and allow you to make the choice to take it or not. You may not like what he says and it may contradict what you feel inside, but my experience is that he's  dead on target. He'll be there for you at anytime of day or night. He's a calm voice of reason is emotional chaos. Joe Self is one of the few people out there you can actually believe it when he tells you 'everything's going to be alright'. 

I'd like to stop rambling now and wish both of these guys as well as all the other dads out there a very Happy Father's Day...

Heeeeee's Baaaaaaack!!

Recently stories are beginning to surface on how Bill Clinton may be setting himself and/or his wife up for political office in 2016. Bill Clinton's recent remarks concerning the Romney campaign (tepid support for Romney' and his brief tenure at Bain Capital) and his support for the Bush tax cuts (until next year, at least) have Democrats scratching their heads. Republican sycophants are licking their lips at the free mud they can now sling at Obama using Clinton's words. The NY Post ran a story over the weekend concerning Bill Clinton's supposed posturing and positioning at an event where Clinton praised NY Governor Andrew Cuomo suggesting, like his recent remarks, indicates he's positioning himself for something like the Secretary of State job should Hilary Clinton not run for President. Then of course, there are the countless blogs and news stories questioning Clinton's loyalty to the left with headlines declaring he's crazy or crazy like a fox. Hmmmm. What do you think?



On a more humorous note, Zimbio.com is running what I consider to be a hit piece on the right boasting that Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson, Matthew McConaughey, Freddie Prinze Jr., rapper 50 Cent, Vince Vaughn, Adam Sandler, Joan Rivers, and Shannen Doherty are all proud Republicans.

PROMETHEUS : A Short, Quick Review



What a spectacular film. Yes it’s very familiar for the most part and yes it’s somewhat predictable in areas. This movie is a high quality effort in so many areas.

The Nostromo, Ellen Ripley and Ash have been replaced with Prometheus, Elisabeth Shaw and David. The female actress playing Shaw does a good job, but she’s no Sigourney Weaver. That being written, her character (Shaw) goes through a lot in this film and endures much more than Ripley did in the ‘Alien’ movie. Michael Fassbender excels in this movie and steals in, in my opinion. His ‘David’, like many other sci-fi humanoid robots, endeavors to be human. Much like ST:TNG’s Data. Fassbender show me what it would have been like if “they” had cast Patrick Stewart as Data instead of Brent Spiner. Charlize Theron adds weight to the characters as a supporting actress in my opinion. The Watchmen’s Patrick Wilson plays Elisabeth Shaw’s religious father.


Sorry for the tangent.

As with Alien, Prometheus is as much horror as it is science fiction, which is a compliment. Not your usual sci-fi horror that’s been released over the years. Most of these fail. Prometheus does have it’s faults. Among them are minor plot issues, and those annoying philosophical discussions about the beginning of mankind and humanity. I can see how it can be argued that Prometheus isn’t all that original when compared to ‘Alien’. I think there’s enough difference that makes this movie stand on it’s on.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will no doubt take notice of the film’s special effects. To me, one of the best quality special effects I’ve seen in a very long time- absolutely brilliant. The 3-D version may actually be worth the extra cost of your movie ticket. There will be (are) negative reviews about this film. I think it’s one of those great summer movies you HAVE to see in a theater.

Hot Enuff Fer Ya?

RE: The new "Prometheus" movie- WOW! I was so surprised. I'm a fan of the 'Alien' movies, this movie surpassed my expectations in many ways. Michael Fassbender (Magneto in X-Men 1st Class) is going to be the newest 'it' actor I predict.

What's up with all the cannibal stories lately?

A womern at a Missouri Wal-Mart was being detained at the store’s loss prevention room and decided to cook up some meth while waiting for the cops…

In case you haven’t heard, we’ve got an electoral MESS here in SC. It’s overwhelming to me trying to sort it all out.

Here’s a picture of your favorite MST3K robots in Lego version!!

So Donald Trump is going to sue Miss Pennsylvania for saying the Miss America pageant is rigged?

Police in Nashville Tennessee say former Fleetwood Mac bassist Bob Welch died from a self inflicted gunshot wound..

DC Comics will rehash an old marketing idea when it releases “Issue #0” of many of the company’s current comic books in order to explain to new reader’s (and those of us who aren’t so new) these character’s ‘NEW” origins. Last year, DC rebooted it’s lineup by introducing a storyline that reshaped the DC universe and introducing an alternate “Earth 2” universe. Don’t get me started on this….

Check out these Ewok made-to-order dresses!!

AMC has released the first image of English actor David Morrissey as the fan-favorite villain The Governor from the upcoming third season of "The Walking Dead."

Samuel L. Jackson has been cast as Pat Novak, a charismatic media mogul and a powerful force in the next Robocop movie; allegedly a reboot.

And finally, I saw Bill Murray on the Late Show with David Letterman last night. He looked real good. Was dismissive about Ghostbusters 3. He said he didn't have as much fun filming Ghostbusters 2 and that it was real hard ot capture the magic in the first one. He said he's seen many scripts over the years and didn't like any of them. Dave reviewed a list of Murray's prior movies. WOW!! Too many great films- along with some stinkers in my opinion. I've heard and read that Murray is not the friendliest person to people he doesn't know and is a bit of an eccentric. Along with other not so family friendly adjectives. He's still one of my favorite all-time movie guys and comedians.