MOVIE, MOVIE: The Bridge to Terabithia and Ghost Rider

This fractal is called Yin Yang. I picked it because it was a two-colored fractal, representing positive and negative energy. It's a bit like today's blog where I review two movies . . .

I promised you movie reviews in this blog and I think it’s high time you got some.

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Robyn and I haven’t seen a movie since New Year’s Day (it was Dreamgirls and we enjoyed it thoroughly but we won't be reviewing it here): we have gone to the theater twice in the past two weeks. First we went to see The Bridge To Tarabithia on Presidents Day: from the previews I’d seen I went in expecting some sort of high fantasy cross between Narnia and Lord of the Rings. Imaginer my surprise when what I saw was a touching story about relationships--two outcast kids finding friendship while dealing with school, parents and teachers. Yes, there were fantastic elements in the movie but they were secondary to the larger plot and didn’t have a major impact on the story as a whole.
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This movie, based on a “popular” children’s book (which I'd never heard of) by Katherine Paterson, is the story of Jessie Arrons Jr. (played to sullen perfection by Josh Hutchensen), a talented artist and athlete dealing with a turbulent home life and difficulty at school meets new girl Leslie Burked (Anna Sophia Robb of Because of Wynne Dixie) who is equally athletic, and a gifted writer with a fertile imagination. The two become from an unlikely friendship as they imagine the fantastic realm of Terabithia into existence. Robert Patrick (Flags of our Fathers) has the schizophrenic (not really) role of Jesse Aarons Sr. who has trouble relating to his only son. Zooey Deschannel (about the only standout in Failure to Launch) plays the role of a hippie-chick Music Teacher who tries to encourage her students creativity who ends up inadvertently brings tragedy. The plot as a whole doesn’t take any unexpected turns but most of the characters will surprise you in unexpected if reasonable ways.. Be warned: the movie takes a surprising turn near the end that may well have you in tears.

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The production values are high throughout and the movie is a pleasure to watch all the way through for the craft alone. The movie has broad appeal that crosses generational and genre lines. I wouldn’t recommend it for children under about ten (because of the serious issues) but older children and parents would enjoy it.

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FINAL GRADE: B+

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The Bridge to Terabithia was obliterated at the box office in its first two weeks by Ghost Rider. Seldom have I seen worse reviews for a movie that did so well at the box office so I was curious to see what it was that was drawing people into the theaters. Sadly, the critics were right in this case.

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Ghost Rider is a muddled second-rate mess-of-a-movie based on a second rate comic book character. The plot has more holes than a hunk of Swiss Cheese and each and every one is large enough to jump a motorcycle through. (All too many times I was jerked out of the movie by a “huh?” moment though in fairness I should say that Robyn didn‘t recognize any of these moments until I pointed them out to her on the way home. Maybe I'm just too much of a critic . . .) The scares aren’t frightening and the special effects, while pretty, are nothing special.
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Nicholas Cage (of National Treasure fame) channels Elvis on Prozac is protagonist Johnny Blaze who sells his soul to the Devil (played like a black leather-clad CPA by Peter Fonda). Sam Eliot (can you believe he used to be a hunk?) plays desiccated cowboy Carter Slade (who has a strange connection to the Ghost Rider): he does the best he can with the clichéd claptrap he has to work with (but, like the rest of the movie, fails to rise above the mediocre.) Wes Bentley (the video-obsessed kid from American Beauty) plays Satan spawn (literally) Blackheart. (You know Blackeart was the chubby Goth kid who used to get beat up by the Jocks on a regular basis when he was in High School) He comes across about as scary as a spinach salad. The rest of the cast are forgotten even as you’re watching them on screen.

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Ghost Rider really isn’t a bad movie--but it’s really not good: I find it hard to believe that it is racking up the dollars it’s bringing in. Comic book fans (at least the ones who are none to discriminating) might like it but horror fans won’t care for it. Teenage and young adult males would probably enjoy the movie but most of the rest of the world should stay away.

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FINAL GRADE: D+

A Love Letter, Long Delayed

Today's fractal image is called Crystal Blue Heart. It seems singularly appropriate for a love letter. I hope you enjoy it, Now, on to todays blog, the first one not related to current events.

Anyone who visits Robyn and I at home would probably be struck by one thing right off the bat: we have lots of books! We have seven bookcases filled to overflowing (and even went so far as to transfer our Cds from their "Jewel Boxes" to binders so we could use the three racks to store paperbacks).

Anywhere you look around our place (except the bathroom) we have books! Yes, Robyn and I are both complete bibliophiles and proud of it!
Our collection doesn’t just sit there gathering dust either! (Well, it does but that’s because we don’t clean up as often as we should.) Both of us read and re-read our volumes: any book that won’t be re-read is passed on. This past week Robyn started re-reading Ingathering, an anthology by Zenna Henderson that caused me to remember why I learned to love reading . . .

Robyn’s parents were both readers so she grew up around a lot of books: my folks didn’t do much “pleasure” reading until later in life so I never had an example to follow. If the truth were to be told it might be a wonder that I ever started reading at all . . .

I was labled “reading delayed” through third grade and I lagged behind most of my classmates. I figured out the key in Grade Four (and a hearty “Thank You“ to my Teacher Mr. Ross for that) so I finally caught up. Still, I didn’t discover the joy of reading in Grade Five when I came across an anthology called Tomorrow’s Children in our small school library.

Tomorrow’s Children was edited by Isaac Asimov: I didn’t have a clue who he was and what he contributed way back when.--nor did I realize how many important authors were included in the volume. The focus of all the stories were young people (and I think it was at least partially designed to get children interested in Science Fiction.) It wasn’t my first exposure to Science Fiction but it sparked something inside me that had been sleeping before. That was due to one story in particular.

Reading Pottage by Zenna Henderson was a revelation: at the time I had no idea why it spoke to me so powerfully. Years later I came to articulate the reasons behind my feelings. The “People” were Outsiders in a hostile world who were persecuted, even killed, for their differences. But it was the very fact of their difference that made them special--and that difference which saved them in the end. To a bright, fat, frankly oddball kid from a small town who spent most of his time on the outside looking in that was a very powerful message. It gave me hope for better days to come. (It wasn‘t until college that I found my own “group“ of “People“ who shared my interests and with whom I felt I truly belonged but that‘s a story for another time: I need to get back to the love letter . . .)

Readers today would probably find Zenna Henderson’s “People” stories quaint and dated (and since they were written in the 1950s and 60s I suppose that isn’t so surprising). The real world has long surpassed the science in these stories but it is the characters that still make them worth reading today. Her work also has a lot more positive and spiritual bent then most of today’s fiction: things can and will get better: there’s a happy ending out there waiting for you.

Sadly, Zenna Henderson isn’t one of the “Classic” SF Authors who has been published and re-published over the years: her stories aren’t respected by most Science Fiction fans so she will likely fade into obscurity. For me though, I will always appreciate her and what she did for me all-unknowing when I was young. Fans of classic science fiction (particularly stories with a psychic bent) would probably find them worthwhile. Her work is getting harder to find but it’s worth seeking out.

Zenna Henderson died in 1983, long before I thought to write this fan letter. Still, I will always have a special place in my heart for this dear woman. Thank you, dear lady, wherever you are May the Power, the Presence and the Name shelter and comfort you as you did for me when there was need. . .

A New Low in Hate Crimes

I wasn't really sanguine about posting an image with this blog entry but I promised a fractal with each entry (as a bribe to get people to keep reading my deathless prose) so here is Bloodrose: hope you enjoy the image. I doubt you'll enjoy this blog entry.

Maybe I should stop reading the morning newspaper ‘cause I always seem to find something that gets my blood boiling: here’s today’s exercise

in the outrageous and absurd . . .

Way back in April 2006 two caregivers working at the Jossen Vocational Academy in Anaheim. beat two of their charges--both of them severely mentally disabled. The crimes might have gone unnoticed but for the fact that the two criminals (in a rare stroke of genius) decided to videotape the beating. (The abuse was reported by another co-worker but not fully investigated for several months but that’s another story entirely.) Still, both men were finally charged with assault and yesterday (February 16) local prosecutors filed additional charges of hate crimes and civil rights violations--making the (alleged) criminals subject to much longer prison sentences. (And hooray for that, says I!)

James Tedford, Attorney for accused perpetrator Michael Douglas Rama characterized the charges as “ridiculous”, since (get this folks!) his client “merely filmed the attacks! Let me repeat that again in bold and italics in case you didn’t get it on first reading: he merely filmed the attacks.

Who is the biggest creep here? (Honestly, I’m not sure.) The guy who tapes an attack on a truly defenseless individual and does nothing but laugh or the Attorney who characterizes is as no big deal. Maybe it’s just me but I think both of ‘em are pretty darned low individuals.

Patrick John Dizon Solis showed up in court clutching a rosary: hmm--I guess he was pleading to a higher power for mercy. Which brings up the obvious question--where was his mercy (not to mention sense of common decency) while he was having fun beating his victim?

Attorney Richard Leonard said Solis “regrets his actions.” (Well, duh!) Further quoting this worthy: “the video speaks for itself. He did a dumb thing and he’s sorry.” Guess what! I totally believe this. Solis really is sorry. Sorry he got caught, sorry he was dumb enough to videotape the incident and sorry he felt the need to share the evidence with his friends and co-workers.

If he were truly sorry Solis would have pled guilty and owned up to what he did. He’ll get less then nine years total if convicted on all charges. Of course there’s time credited for “good behavior” (or anything else the prison system can think of) and he might always plea bargain down to a couple of years. (I’d suggest the families of the victims file civil suits but these guys don’t have anything to take and I doubt they ever will.

So here’s a modest suggestion for some proper justice: lets take these two “gentlemen” (sarcasm on) into a secluded public bathroom, bind them hand and foot and maybe cuff them to a urinal so they can’t get away. Then let in a couple of Hells Angels armed with Brass Knuckles, chains and truncheons who could then beat them until they understood you don’t do that. They could even have the beating filmed so the defendants could watch the show any time they wanted. Now that’s justice!

When a Binding Contract Isn't: a Reconstructionist Fantasy

This fractal is called Ultimate Star. Again, it has little to do with the following text but I picked it because stars shed light and I hoped to shed light on a truly outrageous situation. Ah well, now lets move on to today's rant . . .

When anyone I know signs a contract they’ are expected to live up to the agreed-upon terms: failure to do so results in whatever penalties the contract specifies. Such, it seems, is not the case when Big Business works for Big Government,

Anyone who lives here in the OC is aware of the ongoing reconstruction of the Garden Grove (22) Freeway (and woe to anyone who‘s been driving the thing for the past eighteen months!) Granite-Meyers-Rados was awarded the contract and agreed to a completion date at the end of November 2006: the contract also included a $50,000 per day penalty should they fail to fail to complete the job on schedule. As all of us locals know (to our never-ending sorrow) the date came and went and the job wasn’t finished.

Who besides me knew G-M-R would find a way to weasel out of paying pay up? (Raise your hands high so everyone can see you: we need to know who is that gullible . . .)

Granite-Meyers-Rados complained they couldn’t finish the job because of “bad weather”, a bridge re-design (requested by the Orange County Traffic Authority) and the failure of construction materials to arrive in a timely fashion. (Wah, wah, wah! Aw poor babies! If G-M-R didn‘t like the contract why did they sign it in the first place?) Now the OCTA is in negotiations with G-M-R. over said penalties. (If my calculations are correct that’s almost four million dollars as of today 02-16-07,)

OCTA Chief Executive Officer Art Leahy described the negotiations with G-M-R as “very tough.” (Can someone please explain to me why there were any negotiations??? Hel-lo! Signed contract here!!!) So now Granite-Meyers-Rados has agreed to pay the fines for any work not completely by April 30. The one bright spot in this mess is that construction continued during the negotiations so I guess that’s a good thing (and the 22 really is a nice ride--for the time being at least).

Now lets have a show of hands for anyone who believes that G-M-R will ever pay a dime in “liquidated damage” should the project fail to be completed. (Anyone who does please see me: I can make you a nice deal on the Brooklyn Bridge and I’m sure we can negotiate ownership of the Golden Gate as well.)

You know, I always thought I was a fairly bright, fairly reasonable individual but stories like these just leave me completely baffled: there must be something I’m missing ’cause it really seems quite straightforward to me. Ah well, when you drive the 22 Freeway think about your tax dollars at work . . .

Beating a Dead Horse: the Dixie Chicks, Iraq and Anna Nicole Smith

Each post in this blogwill begin with a fractal image I created: they have little or nothing to do with the text: I just thought you all deserved a "cybercookie" for wading through my deathless prose. This one is called Arabic Square 5: I picked it because of the Valentine colors and lacy look. Hope you enjoy it.

So here I am re-visiting stuff that has very likely already been talked to death but I think all three subjects are strangely connected. Read for yourself and see what you think . . .

Yesterday morning (February 14) in my local newspaper (the Orange County Register if you're curious) I came across an article stating that Country fans are up in arms over the five Grammy's the Dixie Chicks won earlier in the week. "If anything," it said (paraphrasing here) "it'll make Country Radio even less likely to play their music rather than more. " It seems Country Fans find this recognition offensive to their delicate sensibilities.

Even after all this time Country fans aren't "ready to make nice," aren't "ready to back down." They're still "mad as hell" and they "don't have time to go 'round and 'round and 'round. It's too late to back down" (They probably wouldn't if they could--but that's why I'm writing this.) Even after all this time they're still as up-in-arms as the day Natalie Maines said those words. (I don't have the exact quote handy so I won't even try to paraphrase them here--but, remember, it was exactly one sentance.)

Even after all this time I find the situation completely disturbing: our nation has had a long tradition of Freedom of Expression--and that should be respected. You don't have to agree with everything that is said but you must respect an individuals right to say (or in this case sing) it. When did it become a requirement that we agree with a performer's political sentiemts in order to enjoy their works? Banning (and worse burning) their records is far worse than anything the artust might have said. When did it become a bad thing to hold a different opinion in this country? And here's the ultimate irony: what Natalie Maines said way back then wasn't popular at all but now a lot more people are coming around to her view. ("Isn't it ironic, don't you think? A little too ironic--yeah I really do think!" No wait, that's Alannis Morisette . . .)

Natalie Maines dared to criticize the President and the Iraq war--and now we're all seeing what a huge mess that has become--which brings me to the second link in my chain. One week ago today I heard a brief news item that literally dropped my jaw. It seems that as much as eight billion (yes billion, that's not a misprint) dollars earmarked for the reconstruction of Iraq has simply vanished! (Why can't I make an eight billion dollar accounting mistake and have it go unnoticed.?) Nobody really knows where all this money has gone but three Army Reserve Officers are being prosecuted. (It seems that some of the money made its way back to the United States in bricks of hundred dollas bills.) Can somebody please tell me why this isn't bigger news? why more people aren't up-in-arms over something so completely and utterly outrageous and why this doesn't get more reportage in our media?

I can tell you one big reason: this story hit the same day Anna Nicole Smith died--and since then it's been all Anna Nicole all the time. (This story is doing wonders for the cable news channel ratings and Hollywood "infotainment" shows like Entertainment Tonight.) What is it about this woman that fascinated us so? She was no beauty of the ages: she was no towering intellect and God knows she was no great talent. Sadly, her death has little or no meaning in the grand scale of things, Anna Nicole Smith was a tawdry cautionary tale of epic proportions, the Poster Girl for "don't try this at home", a human train wreck waiting to happen--and the American Public just had to watch. In life she was a sad spectacle and in death she's become a sideshow.

And what does that say about us as a population? Are we ostritches burying our collective heads in the sand so we don't have to look at the real world or are we just glad this wasn't us? I don't have the answers--and to be completely honest I'm not sure I want them. (I fear that knowing would make me even sadder than I already am.)

But now I've come to the end of my chain. It would be poetic if I could find a way to link Anna Nicole Smith back to the Dixie Chicks--thus making this rant a perfect circle. Sadly, I can't: maybe I'm typing too early in the morning or maybe I just haven't had enough coffee. . . No, wait! I just got it! The Dixie Chicks are from Texas and Anna Nicole Smith was born and raised in Arkansas--so I guess that makes her a Dixie chick too . . .