Is the Hardass, Tough, Blond Man Making a Comeback?
Thursday, May 31, 2007











My opinion is based on watching "24", with Keifer Sutherland in the lead role as an evolving super agent fighting terrorism. Usually a role such as his goes to a brown or blue eyed, dark haired man.

I also base this modest theory on the producers of Bond films picking a rugged looking - fine ass body - blond, Daniel Craig, for the first time evah! It was such a big deal!



Going back in my mind the badass blonds of the past were:

• Clint Eastwood, boy, was he pretty back then!

• Steve McQueen was the man! Every guy in every film since, has tried to be him. He was tough, blue eyed, blond, and ruggedly handsome. And a true badass.



It was shocking to watch the "Getaway" and how he just up and smacked Ali McGraw's character across the face several times . It must have worked, because in real life she left her husband for McQueen.

Don't get it twisted!! I'm not into anyone smacking anyone (unless it's consensual). I realize that was exaggerated macho for a film of that period. It's simply the tough guy persona that is the attraction.

Here are other blonds I could think of:

• Paul Newman, not a bad guy, more nuanced and layered. See "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof": I was sympathetic to Elizabeth Taylor's character. I wanted Paul to scratch my itch too!

• Kurt Russell, sometimes he was blond, sometimes he was not.

• Kevin Costner he has his moments; loved him in "Bodyguard", "Tin Cup", etc.

• Arnold Schwarzenegger was always more of a comedic butt kicker than an angry, rough man. Although he did scare the crap out of me with "Terminator."

I'm sorta iffy with the following:






• Matt Damon with the Bourne series are getting really good. His other stuff, I just don't bother to watch. I'm not into his "The Talented Mr. Ripley" lemme-win-an-Oscar-with-this-performance kind of films.

I'm ignoring the blond pretty boys. I don't like films where the men aren't hardcore and gritty.

So, let's hear it for the hardass, rough and tough guys with blonde hair! Yeah.

I'll make updates if and when I remember other fair haired chaps.

Labels: actors, Arnold Schwarzenegger, blond men, blonds, Daniel Craig, Keifer Sutherland, Kevin Costner, Matt Damon, Paul Newman, Steve Mcqueen, tough guys

posted by GoldenAh
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Madagascar and Chris Rock's Voice




This little computer animation film, by Dreamworks, was a big hit when it was released in 2005. It made $195 million domestically (not that I care, this fact doesn't put money in my pocket).

I usually love watching computer animation films, especially anime (don't get me started on that topic).

I enjoyed it, but not as much as I should have.

And then I realized what it was: Chris Rock's voice gets on my nerves. Now, this is a guy I watched in "CB4." Yes, that film. Like him, I'm from Brooklyn, so I feel him on a number of subjects.

Movie actor he is not: the screech is not the kind of voice for conveying a range of emotions. Chris Rock lacks the comedic delivery and inflection of Mike Myers and Eddie Murphy. Even hot and sexy Antonio Banderas is funny (a la "Shrek").



It's an odd thing about Rock, because most comedians, when they want to be serious, are some of the best actors around. Eddie Murphy showed superb acting chops in "Dreamgirls." I hope he chooses more dramatic work in the future.

The person who did have the loveliest voice, which surprised me, was Jada Pinkett Smith. She should definitely lend her voice to a lot more efforts. It was really nice to hear her.

Labels: anime, Ben Stiller, cartoons, Chris Rock, comedies, comedy, computer animation films, Jada Pinkett Smith

posted by GoldenAh
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TV / Movies over the internet
Friday, May 25, 2007

I don't own a television set. I gave it up around two to three years ago.

I cancelled my cable subscribtion long before the television was removed.

I don't miss either.

Well now, you may ask, how does she keep up with the television programs?

- I purchase episodes on iTunes, although not as much anymore.

- I watch Netflix DVDs to get an entire season. For a show like "24", it's required. I don't want to see any ads.

- When I was feeling quirky, I downloaded flicks off of Movielink, but now Netflix does the same.

Nowadays, I just go to the web sites of the TV networks and watch the shows. The commercials are limited, yet it's a richer experience based on my method.

When I gave up the television, I purchased replacements:

1. I bought a new computer (with a connection for an S-cable) and a big screen projector.


2. I connected the projector to the computer (S-cable) and the DVD player (component cable).


3. I connected the computer and DVD player to the audio / visual system. There are plenty of available input plugs for these items.


4. For the visual aspect, I only needed S-cables (pc) and component cables (DVD).


5. To keep my sanity, I ignored anything to do with DVI or HDMI or whatever they are called. Only because more crap will come down the pike and who needs the headache?

So, when I watch a rebroadcast of a show on the internet, it is done in surround sound, a darkened room, and in a complete movie theater-like setting.

I could't ask for more.

Labels: DVD, internet, movies, television

posted by GoldenAh
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CSI: Lady Heather and Grissom
Tuesday, May 22, 2007



I try to keep pace with the show. I've loved it since its inception. It barely got any push by CBS at the time, because they were busy promoting the program scheduled as a lead in.

CSI is still around, but I bet no one can recall what the proceeding show was. Since I don't care, I won't mention it.

I've read sites about the show. Grissom isn't as liked as the more "emotionally accessible" characters.

Frankly, I like the introverted, analytical and seemingly emotionally remote characterization of Grissom.

Why? He fits the profile of the type of scientist in his field: a highly analytical, logical, extremely bright fellow who spends a lot of time in his own head.

In my humble opinion, Lady Heather is his soul mate. She's as smart as he is. She's very very beautiful and she's fearless. Aside from Hodges, Lady Heather actually understands Grissom. And he understands her.

My favorite scene from Episode 723 | The Good, the Bad & the Dominatrix is when Catherine Willows says (paraphrasing), "Boy I'd like to know who wore the chaps."

I don't like the relationship between Grissom and Sidle. Why? Catherine said it best (paraphrasing again), "It's better to see someone away from all of this." She also mentioned something about dipping into the same well.

That's my philosophy in a nutshell. But on TV dating a co-worker is de rigeur, otherwise there'd be no dramatic tension.

Whatever....

Labels: Catherine Willows, CSI, Gil Grissom, Lady Heather, Sara Sidle

posted by GoldenAh
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From "Heroes" to Zeros
Sunday, May 20, 2007

Should I even bother to complain about this one?

I liked "Heroes", so far. But I can only fathom that so many of the leading character are being eliminated due to budget concerns. I suspect the series will return (year 2) with a smaller (and much cheaper) cast.

Sounds cold, right?

I've been watching the show more or less faithfully and to be honest, the storyline (to me) is even more muddled than "Lost". This was the problem I had with "Star Trek: TNG" shows / movies and the successive "Star Trek" shows: timeline jumping that weakened a story, not made it better.

I hate that ridiculous plot device.

Does anyone see the sense in a character jumping through time and meeting up with the self in different time periods? Especially when each subsequent self should logically be going through the same experience right after the first time jumper? So isn't that like a hatch full of rabbits jumping willy nilly all over the place? This is so stupid.

It is a perfect conundrum to jump into the past to change yourself, a historical event, and then be able go back to the future having fixed the mistake. However, if you've change the past, then the future won't be same to return to, and based on the circumstances that changed you died or will die, thus unraveling and effectively changing many other events.

Wow, I just though of the perfect stories covering time jumping: Lathe of Heaven by Ursula LeGuin or the movie Lathe of Heaven DVD And one more: Twelve Monkees DVD Love me some Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt.

Labels: diversity, Heroes, miniseries, minorities, television

posted by GoldenAh
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"Lost" is Lost - Year 3
Saturday, May 19, 2007

I love serial television programs. They remind me of the days, when I was a child, networks presented 15 hours+ miniseries. One could watch a program with a beginning and a definite end.

Today, it's "What do you get for watching a program for three years?" A whole-lotta-nothin' and a whole-lotta-questions.

Aside from saying that Lost is an ABC television program about plane crash "survivors" on an island in the pacific, there's not much more to add. From this show's inception the writers - appear to me - pull all and any sundry plots out of the whazoo.

My issue with the series are as follows:

• The plane broke in 2. Year one was about the front, which was excellent! and dramatic!
• Year two dealt with the back section, and the elimination of each "survivor" one by one right into Year three.

Say what? Yeah, we see people take up a year of story time, and they add absolutely, positively no value to the overall plot (I use the word plot, because I can't think of what else to call it).

Try doing that mess in a creative writing class.

I've only got one question, since this is near the end of year three. If John's father (Sawyer #1) says that everyone was found dead: What happened to Michael and Walt?

I think I could forgive the writers if when they present the big "what the fook is that?" they answer it in the following year.

Now that's not too much to ask, is it?

Labels: ABC, Lost, miniseries, television

posted by GoldenAh
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