Net Neutrality

killed by the FCC 12/14/2017

Net neutrality was killed by a 3 -2 vote by FCC. Close right, with only 5 votes possible? Now think about the Supreme Court (in office for life) might be capable of with justices appointed in the next 2 - 3 years. Optimism is a difficult state of mind to maintain lately.

An episode of SJ News published on 12-14-2017:


https://youtu.be/E1_UvX1oiN4

Disney bought FOX

12/14/2017

thoughts:
well, I guess in the next year or two we will find out if, "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely..." happens in the land of fantasy and imagination.  On a positive note, "Yub Nub" song lives (maybe).


Thoughts on animated movie, Ferdinand (2017)

I have only seen trailers on this movie.

20th century Fox is listed as one of the production companies on Ferdinand. Disney bought Fox (not news and sports divisions). Children and parents will be disappointed by this Ferdinand movie. Kids will clamor to see another movie, parents acquiesce. Where will they go? Most likely to see or re-see Coco, a Pixar/Disney movie resulting in increased profits for one of our new corporate overlords. Conspiracy solved?

Edward VIII The Nazi King
(BBC)

seen on Netflix 12/13/17

For the information that this documentary presents, I would give a rating of 5 stars, however the individuals interviewed (although real participants or were close to real participants) made this documentary drag. The soundtrack added to the ponderous and dour tone. I came to this documentary after watching season 2 of The Crown (very good btw). I was fascinated how close England came to having a sovereign who believed in and admired Hitler. It is probably addressed in some historical text, but how did a disgraced former monarch know so much about certain aspects of  England's war effort?  It would have been interesting had the documentary gone there and explored those implications. However, as a general political/monarchy overview of the England of the early twentieth century, this documentary is a good starting point.

Holidays


an 8 episode anthology

watched on Netflix 12/12/2017


Looking for quirky holiday movies and found this (8 episode) anthology. As half stars are not allowed on this service and it IS the holiday season, I upped my review from 2 1/2 stars to 3. While all 8 stories share a gory/horror theme, not all are as well written or even filmed. (1) Valentine's Day - bad dialogue, bad acting with a very predicable conclusion. (2) St. Patrick's Day - started very good and continued that way (acting, dialogue and cinematography), but the final 5-6 minutes totally lost cohesion and melted away. (3) Easter - started well, but then just ended abruptly without a decent payoff. (4) Mother's Day - started bad (too new age-y and burning man in a very cliched way) with an ending (last few seconds) that was intriguing but way too brief. (5) Father's Day - good, however had that horrible trope of the lead leaving their cell phone in their car that paired with an ending that was very abrupt seemed like the writers left the script off, one day too early. (6) Halloween - the Canadian accent and main characters (one is a daughter of the writer/director) gave this away to me, it was funny though. (7) Christmas - while Seth Green's acting makes everything better, the premise on this episode is so tired and over-used along with a very predictable conclusion gives this one low marks. (8) New Years - While I did see where this episode was going, it was the best one, funny, gory, full of horror and yet a satisfactory conclusion.


Looking for quirky holiday movies and found this (8 episode) anthology on Netflix. While all 8 stories share a gory/horror theme, not all are as well written or even filmed. (1) Valentine's Day - bad dialogue, bad acting with a very predicable conclusion. (2) St. Patrick's Day - started very good and continued that way (acting, dialogue and cinematography), but the final 5-6 minutes totally lost cohesion and melted away. (3) Easter - started well, but then just ended abruptly without a decent payoff. (4) Mother's Day - started bad (too new age-y and burning man in a very cliched way) with an ending (last few seconds) that was intriguing but way too brief. (5) Father's Day - good, however had that horrible trope of the lead leaving their cell phone in their car that paired with an ending that was very abrupt seemed like the writers left the script off, one day too early. (6) Halloween - the Canadian accent and main characters (one is a daughter of the writer/director) gave this away to me, it was funny though. (7) Christmas - while Seth Green's acting makes everything better, the premise on this episode is so tired and over-used along with a very predictable conclusion gives this one low marks. (8) New Years - While I did see where this episode was going, it was the best one, funny, gory, full of horror and yet a satisfactory conclusion.

The Disaster Artist

(2017)

I did laugh frequently during The Disaster Artist.  In an interview made around the time of the book release, Greg Sestero seemed far more self-aware and intelligent than his movie persona. I have (sort of) seen The Room. The "sort of" 10-15 minute segments. Maybe I could sustain one full uninterrupted viewing if I were to attend one of those fan (throwing those spoons) events.



Good review Brad and Allison. Especially pointing out that "so bad it's good" movies do entertain so do have value. I laughed through a lot of The Disaster Artist (did not read the book and have only watched The Room in 10-15 min increments). I enjoyed the side by side extras. Although I did not recognize it at the time of viewing the movie, I enjoyed Tommy Wiseau's cameo.

Jurassic World:  Fallen Kingdom (2018)

First Trailer launched: 12/08/17

If the CGI dinosaurs are decent, I am probably seeing this movie, as a matinee or as "free" movie with pass. I wasn't impressed with the humans in this trailer, (except of course, Jeff Goldblum). At least at this point the trailer seems to suffer from 2nd-movie syndrome, as it appears to be kind of a bridge from a good popcorn movie that was Jurassic World (2015) to maybe a more complex, more action-centric 3rd movie with evil scientists plotting or dinos damaging Dallas?

August Rush
(2007)
Watched on Netflix December 3, 2017




Missed this movie in its theatrical release. Rotten Tomatoes reviews were not good. However I watched this movie anyway.  It held my attention. Although it could have used more music, some editing, less closeups and much less wide focus shots, I did enjoy this movie.  This is a fairy tale, mixed with a romantic view of a Mozart-type prodigy and a sequence of events that unfold in a way that can only be categorized as fantasy. This movie soars with the talented leads Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers and Freddie Highmore who are all likable, attractive and very good actors. Jonathan Rhys-Meyers did his own singing. Robin Williams' character of "Wizard" (an itinerant and emotionally damaged street musician) is mostly used as a plot device to make this movie have stakes and risks. However  even with the skill of the late Robin Williams this character never seems part of the movie. The conclusion is very much in the fairy tale category. This is a sweet movie that is like the gauze of a tulle wedding dress...beautiful, impractical and satisfying for a limited period of time.