The Legend, The Myth, The Man

Michael Jackson was a cultural phenomenon. He had a great impact on the media in general. His music influenced a generation of musicians that are still performing today. Without Michael, MTV wouldn't be where it is today. Music videos in general would not be where it is today. Tabloid magazines would not be where they are today. Dancing would not be where it is today. And Late Night TV monologues would have been 1/3 less shorter had it not been for this man. I find it awesome that even after all of his troubles of the last 15 years or so that on his day of death he be remembered for what he will and should always be remembered as around the world: The King of Pop.

Stand-Up and Delivered

In the last couple of days I have finally done what many have said I should do for the last 3 years at least. It is also something I have wanted to do I was just afraid to get the ball rolling. It took someone special to remind me that I really wanted to do it. I've even been writing some material for the past year. Not much but a good start. But I must say I was right about starting. I went to Kick Butt Coffee for their open mic night. I felt a bit dodgy at first but I felt I was getting the hang of it a bit by the time I was done. As soon as I was done I wanted to get back up there and try again. The crowd could have been a bit better in my opinion they weren't really laughing at anyone's jokes that night. As my friend Craig would say "You couldn't move that crowd with a gun!" I did hit them with one good one though. The thing is I always thought that as soon as I did stand-up I would have felt like 'been there done that' and be done with it but that's not the case. Instead it makes me want to try harder to make people laugh. And write more jokes. Which I have done. I tried again on Thursday night at The Velveeta Room. The anticipation to get up on stage was almost too overwhelming there. I would be lying if I didn't admit that I was tempted to leave a few times. For the record if you are going to perform late at night be sure to eat something before you leave the house so you don't think you will pass out from not having anything in your system. This time I had more of a receptive crowd. I did have some friends in the audience as well. I got more laughs than I did the previous night. When I was done I was congratulated by many in the crowd which made me feel even better about it. I will definitely be making a habit of this.

Summer Movie Preview

If you know me you know that watching movies is one of my favorite things to do. And here comes the summer movie season with a shit ton of movies that I want to sit in the AC while watching.
In no particular order except for number one.

1. Star Trek: I have been a trekkie/trekker most of my life. My favorite has always been DS9. I even liked Enterprise. And the only reason I didn't watch Voyager was because I didn't have UPN at the time.

2. Wolverine: As long as it is closer to X2 as opposed to X3.

3. Public Enemies: Christian Bale, Johnny Depp FTW.

4. The Proposal. I will watch anything with Ryan Reynolds in it.

5. GI Joe: This looks like it could be either really awesome or really cheesy.

6. Transformers 2: Nostalgia for the Original will make me go. Bay may make me leave early though.

7. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: These movies never cease to amaze.

8 Terminator Salvation: The only Salvation for me to watch a McG movie is Christian Bale.

9. Angels and Demons: Opie has gone and made a sequel, Bee.

10. Year One: You had me at Harold Ramis.

11. Julie & Julia: Yeah it looks like a chick flick. So what? Don't judge me.

12. Funny People: Apatow + Sandler = Bring on the funny.

13. 500 Days of Summer: I heart indie flicks.

14. Next Day Air: Donald Faison is in this so I'll be watching this.

Okay that's enough for now. There are many more and this Summer season looks like it is going to be a busy one for me. I'm already behind which is not good.

And the Award (Should) Go To. . . .

Unfortunately I have to work tonight so I won't be able to watch the Academy Awards live but that doesn't mean I don't care. Though I am skipping categories I don't particularly care about or have an opinion on.

Here is my short list with a little description afterward of . . .

Best Actor : The only movie I have seen that is nominated in this field is Benjamin Button and as much as I love Brad Pitt this is not his year to win it. This one will probably go to Mickey Rourke unless he has alienated too many of the voters.

Best Actor in a Supporting Role: If this doesn't go to Heath Ledger expect EVERY news outlet to be making it THE news story of the week. Though Hoffman was great in Doubt.

Best Actress in a Leading Role: This one is a tough one. Jolie was amazing in Changeling so I believe it will be between her and Streep in Doubt. Streep edges out for me because while watching Doubt I was pulled out of the movie briefly to point out to myself how intense and awesome the acting in this is. I only take Winslet out of the picture because in my opinion she was better in Revolutionary Road and she was nominated for the Reader so she wouldn't win this time around. Plus she just won two Golden Globes.

Best Supporting Actress: This one I have no idea though. I think Amy Adams will edge out over the competition due to Doubt being Shandley's baby.

Best Animated: Wall-E. I haven't seen any of these and can tell you Wall-E will win.

Best Cinematography : The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. My love for this movie is known but it should win this category.

Best Film Directing: Having seen 3 of the 5 nominees I say that Danny Boyle will get this one.

Best Score: Like what happened with me with Doubt while I was watching Defiance I couldn't help but think how awesome the score was as I was watching the movie.

Best Music (Song) : Don't care.

Best Writing (Adapted) This one will more than likely go to Doubt. But I wouldn't count out the Reader.

Best Writing (Original) I hope it goes to In Bruges but I have a feeling that's another throw away nomination and it will go to Milk. (Nothing against Milk).

Now for Best Picture. . .

I feel it should go to Benjamin Button but that's probably just me. See don't get me wrong I liked Slumdog Millionaire but to be honest to me it is my least favorite Danny Boyle movie. Sunshine was better, Millions was better, I even liked the Beach more than I liked Slumdog Millionaire. Though if Slumdog Millionaire wins expect Hollywood to shoot more movies in India to cash in on it's success. Why pay actors in L.A. when all you have to do is offer clean water to people in the slums of India. It's a win-win for the producers.

Oh and I hope they ask John C McGinley to portray Dr. Cox tonight just so I can see his reaction to Hugh Jackman hosting the Academy Award Show.

New America

Welcome to the New America. I don't know about you but once it finally set in that Obama was inaugurated as President of the United States and Bush had left D.C. I felt a change come over myself and my surroundings. The sun shined a bit brighter. I was walking a bit taller. Nipples were a bit more erect. It's a wonderful feeling. And the cynical, downward spiral that has plagued our great nation for the last eight years has finally come to a close. What will the new Presidency bring? I don't really know but at this point all Obama really had to do was show up yesterday and already he is doing a better job than his predecessor.

Curious Case

In Superman: The Movie Lex Luthor talks about how someone can "read War and Peace and think it to be just a book about war. Others can read the ingredients on a bubble gum wrapper and unlock the secrets of the Universe." I had a moment like that last week when I finally watched the movie I was most looking forward to. Let me just say that it was a splendid piece of art. I thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end. Maybe because it was David Fincher and Brad Pitt. Maybe because I may have unlocked a secret in myself I have been unable to see or kept myself from seeing for a long time. Great movies tend to be more than the sum of their parts. I believe what constitutes a brilliant film is one that still has you emotionally reeling long after the credits have rolled. This film was no exception. I not only was watching a movie I was able to connect to this movie on a personal level. The movie's central themes dealt with loss, loneliness, abandonment, and most importantly love. It made me think about the loss of people throughout my life whether it was loved ones who walk in and out of my life for whatever reason to the death of my Grandpa last year. It had me face the sense of loneliness I have been feeling lately and offered some hypotheses on why I am still single after all of these years. I took a long look at myself after the movie. That's when the movie hit me the hardest. I felt more alone than I had in a long while. I came to the conclusion that one of my main reasons for being single for so long is that when I start to like someone I almost immediately think that it's going to end. I cannot seem to reconcile those thoughts. Or about how I will feel when it does end. Even when there is no evidence to support it my brain goes through that motion. I'm not sure why but like it or not they are there. I know in the end these are just thoughts and they only have whatever power that I give them and I tend to give thoughts like these more power than I should. I love it when movies do that. This will definitely be one I add to my collection when it comes out.

Tis The Season

Apparently I didn't do a blog the entire month of Nov. Holy Crabapple. Well anyway the X-Mas season is in full swing and I'd like to take this opportunity to say that the holiday time for me has always been my favorite time of year. Presents, Holiday Music, Holiday Movies and most importantly it's about loved ones and family. For me though it also means I slow down with everything non-holiday related. Don't expect me to do any hard labor or anything mentally tasking. School was always hard for me at this time because I was ready for the year to end and was always counting the days until vacation time. In the spirit of the holiday season I give you one of my favorite Holiday songs. By s John Bongiovi who later became famous as Jon Bon Jovi.




And to prove to you it is Bon Jovi