A New Post!

Well, finally I have a few minutes to update! Whee! (I can hear SFL rubbing his hands together in anticipation already, planning his next barrage of comments.)

First of all, I have something I would like to get off my chest. This is a memo to people everywhere: Russell Crowe's name is spelt R-U-S-S-E-L-L C-R-O-W-E! Two Ss! Two Ls! "Crowe" with an E, not "crow" like the black cawing bird! Why is this so difficult?!

*ahem*

*sits back down daintily*

*folds hands*

*looks innocent*

I just had to say it. Forgive me. All of my faithful readers can ignore this; this was not meant for you. It just really, really irks me when I see people (like at the movie theatre when I went to see Cinderella Man) constantly misspelling his name. It is not hard! Really, I promise!

Anyway. On to the next topic. This is also something I just have to say. And I am going to say it in capitals. Prepare yourself.

TIMOTHY TREADWELL WAS A FLAMING IDIOT!!!

For those who don't recognise the name, he was the guy featured in Werner Herzog's Grizzly Man that just came out on DVD. You know, the one who got eaten.

I know we are not supposed to speak ill of the dead, but honestly. What on earth did he and his girlfriend EXPECT to happen when they moved into a grizzly bear community? Good grief. It doesn't take much of a brain to figure out that when an animal has BIG TEETH and SHARP CLAWS and outweighs you by about, oh, 400 kilos or so and can kill you with the swipe of a paw if it so chooses that YOU SHOULD NOT MOVE IN WITH IT!

OK. Next topic. I am convinced that spell-check is going to be the demise of civilisation. When you have a computer correcting all your spelling/punctuation/grammatical/structural mistakes for you without being asked, how are you going to learn how to spell correctly? Most people insist that you learn by doing. Yes? Well then. Point made, I believe.

All right, I have gotten the weighty stuff out of the way. Now!

I am very happy that Drew and Cheryl won Dancing With the Stars! Huzzah! (No, before anybody starts making smart remarks, I have never heard a 98 Degrees song, have no idea what Drew Lachey does in "real life," and will, with difficulty, restrain myself from making a comment on his brother's choice of a wife. Excuse me, ex-wife. Or whatever. If I never see another Pizza Hut commercial in my life, I'll be very happy. If you don't know what I'm talking about, consider yourself very fortunate to have escaped the headache.)

Also, congratulations to Shizuka Arakawa of Japan for skating a nearly flawless performance to win the Olympic gold. Japan's first-ever Olympic gold ladies' figure-skating medal! That's a milestone. (That was the only part of the Olympics I actually watched, so that's the only one I can comment on.)

Some random movie reviews now...bear with me...

First, I must say that I was a little disappointed with the new Zorro movie. I loved the first one -- have always been a big fan of Zorro movies (and there have been plenty. I think I like Alain Delon's version the best, though). And The Legend of Zorro had plenty of fire, plenty of dazzling spectacle and flashy swordfighting, plenty of pretty people to carry the film. It was almost too perfect. Except...yes, you knew there had to be an "except..."

They completely ignored the historical aspect of the film! No, scratch that, they didn't ignore it -- they just got it totally wrong. I expected better given their historically-based precedent involving the Murieta brothers, though technically I don't think Alejandro Murieta ever existed. It was only Joaquin. But I digress. I could go on all night about that -- I love the whole Joaquin Murieta story. Wrote a paper on it once...

Yeah. Anyway. So in this movie, suddenly Alejandro Murieta is Alejandro de la Vega, with not a word of explanation? I guess Alejandro took Elena's name. Interesting. He was so proud of being a Murieta in the last movie (wrote an M on Captain Love's face with his sword, even!), but now he doesn't care?

And then there is the whole Confederate Army thing. The "newly-formed" Confederate Army, in 1850? Please.

*puts on fake London accent* "Bit premature, darling, don't you think?"

Not to mention that the "Confederate Army" was headed by a very ancient Pierre Beauregard who got blown up with nitroglycerin before ever getting the chance to lead the army to a Fort Sumter victory. Oh, but that's right, it was 1850! They still had to wait11 years for Fort Sumter. I suppose they just wandered around in the wilderness of Tennessee until then. But poor old General Beauregard looked as if he would have keeled over in a stiff breeze, so then they wouldn't have had a field commander. Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. *tsk*

Nevertheless, if you want to get the movie just to enjoy a beautiful spectacle with great effects, acting and cinematography, go ahead. You will like it. Just shut your eyes and block your ears whenever they attempt something historical.

Next: His Girl Thursday, with Rosalind Russell and Archibald Leach -- I mean, Cary Grant! (Poor bloke, no wonder he changed his name.) All I will say is that they talk very fast in this one and it is very amusing. I liked it!

Next: This Gun For Hire, with Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake. On the DVD cover it was describing the main character and said something like, "Skilled with both a gun and a girl..." Well, hate to burst anyone's bubble, but the movie was nothing like that. Actually the main character was very BAD at relating to the main female character. Not to mention she was happily engaged to the fellow who played the Music Man. (LOL!) And in the end...well, I won't tell you what happens in the end. All I will say is that I could have murdered the main character myself when he offed the poor little kitty cat just because it was purring...stupid man. Totally unnecessary. That's the only thing I didn't like.

Anyway...I had a couple more to review, but Mum wants her turn on the Fantabulous Machine (and besides I need a shower). Next post I will review the last two films (Firewall and the miniseries Into the West). Ciao for now, y'all.