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The WORD of the Week

Matthew 3:7-10

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.

And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.

The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.


Stupid Fact of the Week
There was only one civilian casualty during the three-day Battle of Gettysburg

22 December, 2007
Coming in 2008, part 3
The International
Nine years ago (back when I was in Highschool... woof), Tom Tykwer saw some pretty unprecedented (for a German director) critical success with "Run Lola Run." Unfortunately, he's been rather quiet since then, with his only major project, "Perfume: The Story of a Murderer," not generating anywhere near the buzz or support of Lola. Even so, he's back with another big project, and this time he's got Clive Owen and Naomi Watts in a crime/espionage story surrounding international arms dealing. Although I'm not a huge Watts fan, she does bring star power, and Clive will definitely be in his element here. This won't be heart pounding, explosive entertainment for two straight hours, but should be a good thriller. I'll see a matinee. B-

Iron Man
I'm a huge fan of Jon Favreau. He's one of my favorite writer/actor/director/producers working today. Does he have the chops to pull of Iron Man? Have you seen the trailer? Of course he does. Plus, Robert Downey Jr. as Stark is just awesome. I'll pay full price. B+

James Bond 22
I don't know what to make of this one. First of all, even though they've been working on this thing since before they shot Casino Royale (and all reports are that this will be a "sequel" to Royale), the last report I got was that they hadn't locked a script before the strike began, which makes me wonder if this thing will find it's way to theaters in Summer 09 rather than Winter 08. Either way, they offered this project to Roger Michell (Notting Hill. Yes, that's right. Notting Hill), but negotiations there broke down or some such, so now Marc Forster (Finding Neverland, Stranger than Fiction) is attached. Traditionally, the Bond films have gone (understandably so) to directors with more Action in their background. Too many things seem off in this scenario. But, it's Bond, and the new and improved/everyone's favorite Blonde Bond at that (Craig), so it should still fly pretty high. I'll probably pass this one up in theaters completely, simply because I've never been a huge Bond fan. B

Jumper
Now here's an action director. Doug Liman directed the Bourne Identity as well as Mr. & Mrs. Smith, which probably set a record for highest bullets/explosions to casualty ratio in movies (even when people aren't dying, he'll find a way to blow shit up). He even managed to make "Go," a teen drug comedy/drama, feel like a non-stop action flick. Unfortunately this time around he's working with Hayden Christensen and Samuel L. Jackson. That right there is enough to keep me out of the theaters. But it'll do fairly well and I'll have to watch it on video. C+

Kung Fu Panda
I love Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, and Iam McShane. Even so, I'm having a hard time getting into the animated flick. But Dreamworks (as young as their animation company is) has a pretty good track record going, so I can't see this one doing too badly. $2 theatre for me, because I refuse to pay over ten bucks to see an animated movie (outside of, maybe, something like Beowulf) on a big screen. C

The Love Guru
Wow. This thing is all set up for fail. I like Mike Myers, but his work has slowly declined as of late (outside of the Shrek series), and now he's back writing himself another wacky character in a super-kooky plot. After the decline in popularity of Austin Powers, I don't know how much success this'll have. I think the studio agrees with me as evidence by the fact that they've cast Jessica Alba and Justin Timberlake to ramp up the young audience. He's even bringing Verne Troyer back. It'll be a miracle if this makes it big. I'll wait for video. D+

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
Another Mummy. Seven years later. The first two weren't terribly great, but this one features Jet Li, which should at least make it moderately successful. Video. C

The Other Boleyn Girl
News of Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson working together was enough to get many a young man's heart racing. Upon seeing the recently released trailer, I have to admit it may actually be a quality flick. Period drama based on historic records means a good chance at Oscar nominations (costume and makeup if nothing else), and I'm predicting some pretty good numbers (not stellar, but pretty solid) at the box office. I'm split between matinee and full price at this point. B-

Pineapple Express
I just saw a screening of "Dewey Cox," and I must say, even though quite a few of the risks taken didn't pay off, I laughed quite a lot and enjoyed it thoroughly. Even so, I'm not sure how well Apatow's original writing stacks up to his parody material, especially recently with the mixed-reviews of Knocked Up and the trailer for You Don't Mess With the Zohan, which looks nothing short of terrible. But, I suppose if there is anyone today who could redefine the pot comedy, it's probably the guy who redefined the sex comedy with 40-Year-Old Virgin. Hopefully, I can get away with a matinee. B-

Rambo
After the unexpectedly Huge success of the new Rocky, it'd be hard for the majorly anticipated, radically gory new Rambo to fail. I'm not a follower of the series, so I probably won't check this out in theaters unless I can find a $2 theater. C+

Repo! The Genetic Opera!
This is just the type of oddball, box-office-disaster film I would normally be excited about. However, this is from the director of all the Saw sequels (though not the original), and features Paris Hilton, so I refuse to comment (except I will say that Rupert Giles keeps this from getting an F). D-

RocknRolla
Guy Ritchie is awesome. They're starting to push his "Revolver" in US markets and it should be out soon, which should give him a nice boost before he releases RocknRolla which is a return to his bread and butter: London mob flicks. He's got a pretty good cast again (as always), including Jeremy Piven, which should be interesting. I'll definitely be in theaters for this one, though if I could avoid full price, it'd be nice. B-

The Ruins
Just saw the trailer for this on the big screen (before Sweeney Todd) and it looks like an odd combination of "Descent" and "Slither." From the looks of it, it's more creepy and disgusting rather than it is cheap, jump-out-of-the-dark scary, which is somewhat promising. But in the end, it's a horror flick which means I won't be seeing it and it won't do anything too massive at the box office. C-

4th and Final installment coming shortly.
posted by Rockel @ 3:40 PM  
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Lyrics of the Week

ON THE NICKEL
by Tom Waits

("I'd like to do a new song here. This is eh, it's about downtown Los Angeles on 5th Street. And eh all the winos affectionately refer to it as The Nickel. So this is kind of a hobo's lullaby.")

sticks and stones will break my bones,
but i always will be true, and when
your mama is dead and gone,
i'll sing this lullabye just for you,
and what becomes of all the little boys,
who never comb their hair,
well they're lined up all around the block,
on the nickel over there.

so you better bring a bucket,
there is a hole in the pail,
and if you don't get my letter,
then you'll know that i'm in jail,
and what becomes of all the little boys,
who never say their prayers,
well they're sleepin' like a baby,
on the nickel over there.

and if you chew tobacco, and wish upon a star,
well you'll find out where the scarecrows sit,
just like punchlines between the cars,
and i know a place where a royal flush,
can never beat a pair, and even thomas jefferson,
is on the nickel over there.

so ring around the rosie, you're sleepin' in the rain,
and you're always late for supper,
and man you let me down again,
i thought i heard a mockingbird, roosevelt knows where,
you can skip the light, with grady tuck,
on the nickel over there.

so what becomes of all the little boys,
who run away from home,
well the world just keeps gettin' bigger,
once you get out on your own,
so here's to all the little boys,
the sandman takes you where,
you'll be sleepin' with a pillowman,
on the nickel over there.

so let's climb up through that button hole,
and we'll fall right up the stairs,
and i'll show you where the short dogs grow,
on the nickel over there.

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