Category: Pop Culture

Those of us old enough to remember Jackie Gleason remember him fondly. (No, I wasn't around for his early success - I'm not that old. I discovered him on TV with reruns of his movies and, of course, The Honeymooners which I originally thought was kind of a live action version of The Flintstones. I was a kid, whuddya want from me?) By the time I saw The Hustler, with Jackie portraying Minnesota Fats to Paul Newman's Fast Eddie Felson, I came to understand why this larger-than-life actor was r...

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WORDSLINGER'S NOTE: Yes, it has been a while since I posted a new article on here. Yes, I know that some of my loyal readers have been patiently waiting for me to get off my ass and write something new. And yes, I realize that I have used the excuse of book editing/rewriting before regarding that, final changes on the novel, BROODING, are now completed, and publication is imminent. More details coming soon. Meanwhile Fans of old school video games like Tetris, Space Invaders, Pac Man, Frogg...

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Now that James Cameron has officially directed the two most globally profitable motion pictures of all time, Titanic and Avatar, the question remains: how did he do it? Especially Avatar (see my review here).Yahoo Movies just posted a fascinating 22-minute documentary on their site, regarding the making of this extraordinary film. Interviews include Cameron, Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, and many of the brilliant artists who brought Pandora to breathtaking life.If you loved A...

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Over the holidays, while watching a Christmas video with a friend's children, I was shown a direct-to-DVD film entitled Santa Buddies. This was by no means a great, or even a good, film, but it did have the welcome distinction of featuring Christopher Lloyd -- a favorite actor whom I haven't seen in a long while. Whatever happened to this classic performer? The man who gave us iconic roles in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Taxi, Star Trek III - The Search for Spock, the Back to the Future tr...

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On this date, January 8th, 2010, Elvis Presley would have celebrated his 75th birthday. Hard to imagine what Mr. P would have been doing these days had he not succumbed to excess, but the legion of us who still hold him dear never tire of the question. While we will never know, we still treasure the legacy he left behind.To read MUCH more about Elvis, and watch some of his classic performances, check out my profile of the man on Examiner.com, a blurb of which appears below.Widely regarded as t...

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This kind of speaks for itself. Thanks to Comixed.com for making me laugh this morning -- they entitled the comic below "I hope it's a new hand!"Merry Christmas....

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Heartbreaking news here, folks:  32-year-old actress Brittany Murphy died this morning (December 20, 2009) after she suffered a massive heart attack.  According to TMZ:Brittany Murphy's mom discovered her unconscious in the shower.  When paramedics arrived, they quickly determined Murphy was in full cardiac arrest and immediately administered CPR.  They continued CPR in route to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center -- several miles away -- and Murphy was unresponsive.  She was pr...

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In a previous article regarding the 1979 TV biopic, ELVIS, directed by John Carpenter and starring Kurt Russell as the King of Rock and Roll, I sang the praises of this little-seen film, bemoaned the nonexistence of the movie in DVD form, and encouraged readers to sign a petition form to see it reissued in a digital format.Well, I am bemoaning no longer.KURT RUSSELL AS ELVIS PRESLEYHere is the press release I just received from SHOUT! Factory:Timed closely to coincide with the 75th anniversary o...

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While talking to a friend recently about my own longish writing (BROODING will soon be coming to a book store near you -- more on this later), the topic turned to "the shortest story of all time." Written by Ernest Hemingway in 1920 to win a $10 bar bet, ol' Ernie wrote down six words which to this day cannot be challenged in the most emotion packed into the fewest words. Here they are:For sale: baby shoes, never worn.Is that a whopper, or what? It is also a challenge to writers everywhere (my...

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While the rumors are still flying as to what director Christopher Nolan might do for a follow up to his masterful The Dark Knight, one of the more interesting ideas I've read was to bring The Joker's moll-doll Harley Quinn into the mix. While I would love to see that relationship explored on the big screen, I don't see how this could happen in the wake of Heath Ledger's tragic death. Nolan is reportedly so heartbroken over the actor's demise, that many believe he will not return to the franchi...

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In a previous post, Bionic Blunder: Where Are Those Six Million Dollar Man and Bionic Woman DVDs?, I reported on the legal entanglements between Universal Studios (who owns the TV shows) and Dimension Films (who owns the rights to the source material, Martin Caidin's novel Cyborg), and when we could expect to see any season DVD box sets of these iconic 1970's shows. While there has been no official news from either source, an interesting development has occurred which may (or may not) signal so...

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I've done a few Twilight-related articles here ... however, after recently doing a bio of Elvis Presley over at Examiner, something occurred to me about one of the mysterious reasons this series is so popular.Yes, Stephenie Meyer paid homage to some classically successful literature in her books (Romeo and Juliet, anyone?), and basically told a story about an “every-girl” in love with the "ultimate bad boy with a heart of gold," but when it comes to the furor over the film series, I'...

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To commemorate the passing of Elvis Presley, I spent damn near all day yesterday working on a profile of The King of Rock and Roll. Elvis died on this date, August 16th, way back in 1977. Hard to believe his career only lasted 21 years, and he's been gone now for 32. Regular visitors to TheWordslinger know I'm an Elvis aficionado, but I wasn't sure if I could condense this man's complicated life into a brief (ha!) bio. I gave it my best shot -- you can check out my profile of The King at Exa...

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Whether you are a casual movie fan or a full-fledged, wait-outside-for-days-to-get-your-tickets-early-for-that-midnight-screening-geek, you are bound to appreciate this. Straight from The Dark Knight, a 1/6 scale Joker action figure that is hands down the most realistic (read creepiest) “toy” I have ever seen.From head to toe (and everything in between), this thing looks like Heath Ledger's Joker.According to Hot Toys official Site, specs include:Hot Toys debut of their Movie Master...

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I've always loved it when Julia Roberts would make a guest appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman. For almost 20 years now (even back when Dave was still on NBC), Julia and Dave have shamelessly flirted with each other, making it obvious to all that the two of them had (and still have) a rather large mutual crush.They are both married now, but that doesn't mean the cooing, blushing and innuendo have stopped. On the contrary ...On March 17th, 2009, St. Patrick's Day, Julia was a guest ...

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While surfing around my favorite sites (thanks Geekologie.com), I found a video of what has to be the scariest hiking trail in the world. Bold statement, I know, but I'm from Colorado so I at least have some perspective.Speaking of perspective, the view from this trail is crap-your-pants spectacular -- it is 700 feet high in some places, with a non-existent rail, a narrow and crumbling base, and has taken its share of lives. Indeed, some of these images are SO incredible, I thought a couple ti...

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More Smallville news. According to an interview done by Chicago's Windy City Times, actor Michael Rosenbaum, who played Lex Luthor for seven seasons, may return for an episode or two when the show wraps up. Providing he doesn't has to shave his head.Q: Well, you definitely hit it big with the WB show Smallville, playing Lex Luthor. How many seasons were you on?MR: I did seven seasons and I just finished this past May. They are continuing on another season. My contract was up and it had run ...

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Over the past few months, the rumors, gossip and tabloid mudslinging regarding the health of actor Patrick Swayze have reached a fever pitch. Diagnosed a year ago with stage 4 pancreatic cancer, Swayze has so far beaten the odds, even shooting 13 episodes of the new A&E series The Beast.This week, Barbara Walters interviewed the actor in a program entitled Patrick Swayze -- The Truth, in which he comes clean about his disease and prognosis. He is joined by his wife of 33 years (a miracle b...

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Good news for Smallville fans (of which I am a big one, and have been since the show's inception waaaaay back in 2001). According to EW.com and Kryptonsite, the best source of information about this cult hit on the web:DEAL CLOSE FOR TOM WELLING & SMALLVILLE SEASON 9?Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello has posted some good news for those of us who are hoping for a ninth season of Smallville starring Tom Welling.From this week's Ask Ausiello column:Question: Any news as to whether Tom We...

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I'm a big fan of Juno, and even more so of its creator: stripper-turned-blogger-turned-Oscar-winning-screenwriter, Diablo Cody. if you're wondering what she's got planned next, wonder no longer. Two projects are being released this year.The first is a feature film called Jennifer's Body, about a high school cheerleader who becomes possessed and starts killing local boys -- it's up to her best friend to try and stop her. The film stars Megan Fox as Jennifer. The film will be released Septembe...

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Up till now I haven't done any posts about the Discovery Channel's insanely popular show Mythbusters -- however, let me state now, unequivocally and without reservation, that I love this freaking show!Who could argue that FX specialists Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman have two of the best jobs in the world? They get paid to be kids on a gargantuan scale -- dropping stuff off buildings, strapping rockets to cars, blowing shit up, and either busting or confirming the legendary urban myths we have a...

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Who doesn't love Sam Cooke? I know I do. Although I think it was the movies that first introduced me to him. Director John Landis used Sam's music in a number of his films, starting with Animal House, which included both Wonderful World and Twistin' the Night Away, and An American Werewolf in London where Sam's version of Blue Moon played over the transformation to ironic, horrifying effect.Sam's other hits (all of which he wrote) included You Send Me, Chain Gang, Cupid, Another Saturday Nigh...

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Yes, Mattel Inc. has really gone and created a toy guaranteed to give your child nightmares ... that is, if they have any clue what it's about, which they probably won't. Then again, educating children on the genius of Alfred Hitchcock can't start soon enough as far as I'm concerned.According to the official site:"In 1963, Alfred Hitchcock, the Master of Suspense, gave us a tale of terror not soon forgotten in his film “The Birds.” Dressed in a re-creation of the stylish green skir...

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When it comes to pop culture icons -- those whose likenesses have generated more revenue since their passing than during their lifetimes -- there is, of course, the holy trinity of Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe and James Dean. Yet, there is another who is arguably even more popular (peruse any Hot Topic store at your local mall to see what I mean), whose image has inspired everything from Xena and The Rocketeer to biopics and pop art.I'm speaking, of course, about Bettie Page who died yesterday...

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One of my favorite films is director Carol Reed's cinematic take on Dickens' Oliver Twist, called simply, Oliver! Based on the British (and later Broadway) stage sensation by Lionel Bart, the film has an endlessly singable soundtrack and garnered 11 Academy Award nominations -- it won 5, including Best Director and Best Picture of 1968.Songs include, Food, Glorious Food, Oliver, Boy For Sale, Where Is Love?, Consider Yourself (posted below), Pick a Pocket or Two, It's A Fine Life, I'd Do Anythin...

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Now that summer is over and 2008 is the most financially successful box-office year in recent memory -- thanks to Iron Man and The Dark Knight -- we are in the midst of a onslaught of superhero movies. As DC and Marvel scramble to get the next big thing on the Silver Screen, we are about to be bombarded with comic book movies.So what better time for a serious rethinking of how to market these fanboy wet dreams?Artists Timothy Lim and John Liem have re-imagined the posters for Watchmen, Transfor...

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This video has been making its viral rounds recently and I decided to put it up here. If you've never seen it, I don't want to give too much away, but it involves a pilot who loses his right wing during flight and ... well, take a look. More after the jump.BEST PILOT EVER ...? So, what do you think? Is this real or a very convincing fake? There are a couple of videos on YouTube which claim to prove this is indeed a fake, but I wasn't convinced by any of them. Let me know your opi...

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Because Halloween is almost upon us, I thought I'd post some fare more apropos of the season. While perusing Hulu's Alfred Hitchcock Presents and The Alfred Hithcock Hour channels (same show, 1955-1965, different running times), I stumbled upon an episode I'd never seen, which many consider the series' best, entitled An Unlocked Window.The story is as simple as it is classic: two nurses watch after a bedridden man in a spooky old house, while a murderer with a penchant for candy stripers is on ...

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This is the saddest news I've heard in a long time. One of my all-time favorite actors died today, at age 83, from lung cancer: Paul Newman.One of the last of the 20th Century's great actors, Paul got his start in the 1950s at Warner Bros. alongside the likes of James Dean and Dennis Hopper. He would quickly become one of the most revered stars to come out of Hollywood. An icon in his own time, Newman starred in such classics as The Long, Hot Summer, Cat On a Hot Tin Roof, The Hustler, Hud, C...

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Although Sony Pictures recently signed Sam Raimi and Tobey MacGuire for Spider-Man 4 AND 5 (to be shot back-to-back with a release date of May 2011), you won't have to wait that long if you want to see him. Next year the web-slinger will make his debut ... on Broadway!A Spider-Man musical? I was pretty dubious when I first heard about this -- at least until I read who was behind this project. Tony-award winning director Julie Taymor (The Lion King) is well into pre-production on this big-budg...

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As I've stated before: I hate politics -- especially during election season. After putting up an earlier post regarding Sarah Palin's acceptance speech at the RNC, the haters let me know their opinion. What I posted wasn't even a full-fledged endorsement, yet this topic divides us more than anything I know. Election season? Ha! this is Civil War ... and not very civil at that.One of the people who commented on that earlier post, compared this election to a beauty and popularity contest, a p...

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I hate politics. Especially during an election year. I find the pompous promises and bureaucratic bullshit quite distasteful. During the last eight years -- where Republicans and Democrats have gone from differing ideologies to utter contempt and hatred for each other -- we have truly become a nation divided.While years ago I called myself a Republican, I have since eschewed that moniker, choosing instead to remain independent of all political denominations.Even the war in Iraq is not as cut ...

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I've written at length about my admiration for author Richard Matheson and his immeasurable influence on so much of today's popular culture. I may have also mentioned that when I was 9-years-old he scared the crap out of me with a little movie called, Trilogy of Terror.Produced in 1975 for ABC-TV, the film was a pilot for a horror anthology series that -- despite critical acclaim -- was never picked up. It has gone on to achieve cult status. Each of the three tales is based on Richard Matheso...

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There are two kinds of people in this world. Those who like ...David Letterman or Jay Leno -- I'll take Letterman.Bull Durham or Major League -- Bull Durham, baby!Star Wars original trilogy or prequels -- original, puh-leeze!PC or Macintosh -- I'm Apple all the way!Having said that, I just watched a video about Bill Gates' last day at Microsoft and frankly, it's probably the funniest thing Bill Gates (aka Satan) has ever done. It's long -- about 8 1/2 minutes -- but if you are at all intereste...

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In the wake of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull grossing 750 million dollars worldwide in just ten weeks, producer George Lucas talked last week to the press in regards to his ideas for a fifth Indy film."If I can come up with another idea that they [Steven and Harrison] like, we'll do another. Indiana Jones only becomes complicated when you have another two people saying 'I want it this way' and 'I want it that way', whereas when I first did Jones, I just said 'We'll do it th...

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I reported a few months ago that the grandfathers of stoner comedy were not only on speaking terms, but were actually getting along famously after giving interviews to promote the 30th anniversary of Up in Smoke. After years of being estranged, a 2003 reunion movie, Cheech and Chong Get Blunt, was waylaid when Tommy Chong was arrested for selling Chong Bongs on the internet (for much more info on that fiasco, click here).Well, here's the new buzz: Richard "Cheech" Marin and Thomas Chong will giv...

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We just lost a legend. George Carlin has passed away from heart failure at the age of 71.Elsewhere on this site I have written at length about the controversial comedian, and you can check those articles and videos out by clicking on George Carlin - Early HBO Specials or George Carlin - Religion is Bullshit.George had zero tolerance for bullshit in life - and life, apparently in some sort of contractual agreement, gave him no end of material.Below is my favorite of George's 14 HBO specials. I ...

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I recently posted an article entitled, The Best Bio-Pics You've Never Seen. While I discussed many of my favorite biographical pictures, I inadvertently left out 1964's Your Cheatin' Heart, starring George Hamilton as Hank Williams. George was too pretty to pull off anything but a passing resemblance to the Grand Master of country music, but he did all right. Ironically, Hank Williams Jr. provided all the vocals.It occurred to me this film is screaming for a remake. I'd like to see Martin Sc...

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A friend sent me this video this morning and I was pretty astonished at the thing. It's called Women in Film and ... that's precisely what it is. 77 actresses from the golden age of cinema to the present age, all transforming into and out of each other.Morphing has been around for almost twenty years now -- the earliest glimpses of that technology I can remember were from James Cameron's The Abyss and Ron Howard's Willow. However, this video is the most clever use of the medium I've seen in a ...

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This summer's reboot of Marvel's THE INCREDIBLE HULK has got me green with anticipation. As a boy I was more hooked on the TV series than the comic, and ... I think that was why (after initially liking Ang Lee's 2003 take) I came to hold it in disdain. The main reason: I missed Bill Bixby.Having said that, I recently discovered Hulu, a new site with tons of free movies and television shows. Well, "free" is a relative term - there are commercials and pop up ads sprinkled through their programm...

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I mentioned in a previous post, Bionic Blunder, that ABC's two classic series from the seventies, The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman were NOT available on DVD. Since I explained why in that post, I won't repeat myself here. I also mentioned that, of the three Bionic Reunion movies produced in the late 80s/early 90s, 1989's Bionic Showdown featured a young Sandra Bullock as Kate Mason, the new bionic girl.As big of a fan as I was of the original shows, these reunion films were all ...

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Fans of Cheech and Chong (of which I am certainly one) may not need to wait much longer for their long rumored reunion movie. After breaking up in the 80s, news circulated in 2003 that Richard "Cheech" Marin and Tommy Chong were going to re-team for their first movie in almost 20 years. Tenatively titled Cheech and Chong Get Blunt, the project fell through when Tommy was the victim of a government sting, and was arrested for selling Chong Bongs on the internet (more about that travesty here). ...

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OK ... the scoop:We've been hearing for years now (or at least since 2004) that Quentin Tarantino is preparing a longer, linear, re-edited version of his 2-part homage to Hong Kong martial arts cinema, Blaxploitation films, Japanese samurai movies and Italian spaghetti westerns, Kill Bill.Titled Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair, the 4-disc DVD box set would also feature 2 new animé sequences, one detailing the history of Bill himself (David Carradine), and the formation of the Deadly Vi...

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The Hollywood Reporter announced this week that Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles has been renewed for a second season. Great news for fans. I reviewed this show after the first two episodes. Bottom line ... I loved it.Executive producer Josh Friedman spoke with the press yesterday regarding Season 2 details: "The show is about the family and everything that concerns the family concerns us. Last year, John was still in denial and didn't want the problems of being a hero. This season ...

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No deep or meaningful commentary here. Just a question.Is it just me or ... is Natalie Morales from NBC's The Today Show, TOTALLY SMOKIN' HOT?...

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For those of age, the name Charlton Heston brings to mind many different-yet-iconic images:A Hebrew slave raised as an Egyptian prince, turning his back on his adopters to do God's bidding and set free his oppressed brothers.A rich merchant of noble blood, welcoming a new governor, his childhood friend, to Jerusalem. But differing political and religious loyalties separate the Roman and the Jew in this powerful Tale of the Christ.An American astronaut stranded on a planet where apes rule and ma...

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If this video is for real - and I've no reason to believe it isn't - it's one of the most amazing things I've ever seen.I saw a peanut stand, heard a rubber band,At night, in my bed, where I laint.But I think I will have seen everythingWhen I see an elephant paint.I saw a front porch swing, heard a diamond ring,Even though there are those who cain't.But I think I will have seen everythingwhen I see an elephant paint.I heard a fireside chat, I saw a baseball bat,And I just laughed till I thought ...

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Heath Ledger has taken up residence on The Boulevard of Broken Dreams.Not long before passing away from an accidental over dose of prescription medication at age 28, Ledger posed for his friend, renowned Australian artist, Vincent Fantauzzo. The day after the three-portrait painting was completed, Ledger died. Fantauzzo is revealing it now, publicly, for the first time. Though he has received numerous and outrageous offers, he says he plans to give the painting to Heath's mother, who was pres...

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As a cinema aficionado (or movie freak, if you will), I'm pretty anal retentive regarding my DVD library. I've got alphabetical shelves, a Spielberg shelf, a Hitchcock shelf, a Stephen King shelf, Cameron, Carpenter, DePalma, etc ...I also have a section devoted to Hollywood biopics -- a genre of which I am a huge fan. When done right (Ray, Walk The Line), biographical pictures are a wonder to behold. When done badly (Wired, Elvis and The Beauty Queen), they are an embarrassment to all. I ow...

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I knew I was getting old (older) when in recent years I heard kids talk about Steve Austin. They, of course, were referring to wrestler Stone Cold ... I was thinking Lee Majors.A child of the 70s, two of my all-time favorite shows were The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman. When I was a kid, nothing was cooler than this bionic duo. I know I'm not alone in my geek-love for these shows, nor am I alone in the major crush I had on Lindsay Wagner (who deserves better these days than being...

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While discussing Iconic Moments in Television recently, I argued that one of the biggest emotional wallops (we're talking show biz here, not news or politics), was Johnny Carson's second to last Tonight Show (his final with guests), in May of 1992, where Bette Midler serenaded him with a couple songs. Hard to believe it's been almost 16 years. I own The Ultimate Carson Collection on DVD (highly recommended), and these final moments never fail to move me to tears. The same can be said of Bette...

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Those who own any of the DVD releases of Steven Spielberg's Jaws, have undoubtedly seen the documentary about the making of the film, directed by Laurent Bouzereau. I could write an entire post about Bouzereau -- and I just might -- hands down the best cinema documentarian around. His Making of Jaws was produced in 1995 for a laser disc release, but was so thorough in its coverage of interviews with all the principals (save for Robert Shaw, who died in 1978), it remains a remarkable testament ...

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In 1999, after seeing M. Night Shyamalan's landmark, The Sixth Sense, the first words I spoke as credits rolled, were, “Instant classic.” The low budget thriller went on to be (at the time) the 10th highest grossing film ever. “A Little Movie That Could” if there ever was one.A month after its release, another spooky little film came out entitled, Stir of Echoes. Given the fact its story was quite similar to The Sixth Sense -- a little boy who sees dead people -- the mo...

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Not long ago, I was talking with a friend about Elvis Presley. When the question came up, What actually killed Elvis? I responded without thinking: We did.I've been reminded of this lately as the media frenzy regarding Britney Spears' meltdown plays out ad nauseum on our televisions. It's been like watching a train wreck in slow motion over 2-3 years. How can this girl ever expect to regain any semblance of sanity, when every time she opens her door there are scores of paparazzi lingering ou...

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Despite the fact I am a huge fan of James Cameron's first two Terminator movies, when I first heard about this Sarah Connor Chronicles project, I was pretty skeptical. I think it had more to do with the fact that 2003's Terminator 3 (the first without James Cameron at the helm) was simply ... okay. It had enough thrills and spills to satisfy your average action junkie, but what it was truly lacking was the Cameron touch. Not to mention, Linda Hamilton as the toughest madonna around ~ trying t...

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For years, if someone brought up the subject of Mister Rogers (and his legendary neighborhood), I would place tongue firmly in cheek and pose the question, "Do you know why I like Mister Rogers?"Answer: "Because he likes me just the way I am."I also used to add he was the first person to teach me about the Neighborhood of Make Believe ... only now I don't get there by Trolley Trolley.I'm kidding, but ... after discussing this remarkable man with a friend, I mentioned I'd seen a documentary abou...

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In 1979, two years after the tragic, untimely death of the King of Rock and Roll, Dick Clark sanctioned a 3-hour TV biopic, entitled simply, Elvis. Director John Carpenter, a lifelong Elvis fan, red hot after the success of Halloween, was hired to helm the film. After lengthy auditions, Kurt Russell was cast as Presley and it would be this film that cemented his transition from juvenile Disney fare to more adult roles. Carpenter and Russell, would, of course, go on to make many more films toge...

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A friend pointed me to this video recently. I had never heard of Kiwi, but ... it would be hard to find another animated short, that in the span of three minutes inspires such warmth, pathos, and profundity. Enjoy. ...

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We've seen it before: cutting-edge technology in the movies is commercial fodder a season later. In the late 80's/early 90s, morphing in James Cameron's The Abyss and Terminator 2, soon begat jiggly Lifesavers and dancing fruit, among countless other imitations. The most recent example was inspired by Michael Bay's Tranformers, and is actually pretty entertainining. Check it out. ...

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