The site for ranting and reporting by John Masters
I would classify things in this category that were related to arts, literature, cinema, performance. Things that make us and the world better.
Let me direct. Skip this movie and watch the 1981 Harry Hausen version of the movie. It’s much better. Remakes tend to be very good, or be epic failures, and this was an epic failure. This film tears to shreds the “Perseus vs. Medusa” myth and replaces it with mindless power chord progressions, endless action sequences, and a trivialized view of the Greek gods.
Read moreI’ve been trying to get a copy for some years now. Sean Chapin has finally put it in a video, and now the secret is out. While Betty Bowers disclosed a version of the Gay Agenda a while back, I think this video version is a more accurate portrayal of what those nasty boys are up to.
Read moreIf you’ve ever played any of the old school video games, Tetris, Pacman, Donkey Kong and others, you’ll love this video. The effects are amazing. It’s what would happen if the Pixels took over New York City. Look for characters from Space Invaders, Pacman, Tetris, Arkanoid, Donkey Kong, and Frogger.
Read moreI woke yesterday listening to NPR as always, only to hear the sad news that Dixie Carter had died. She was 70 years old and is survived by her husband, Hal Holbrook, and two children. I guess most people know her as that steel magnolia, Julia Sugarbaker, from the TV Series Designing Women. I certainly remember that, as it was always one of my favorite shows. Besides some fine comedy, and a great cast, they were very progressive for their time, and that was usually expressed through one of Julia’s soliloquies. I’ve included one of the more famous, “The Nights The Lights Went Out in Georgia.”
Read moreEaster Sunday afternoon me and Lay went to his parent’s farm down in Ruskin to hide Easter eggs and eat. At one point, I was running to a nearby Walgreens to pickup a couple of items. I was stopped at the traffic waiting to turn in and noticed a young man on the corner holding a large sign and his Bible. I felt sorry for him, because the picture was one of an angry God, and I have trouble with that image, but it’s an image held by too many on the religious right.
Read moreRocketing from one bobby-trapped and treacherous site to the next, the men search for deadly chemical agents but stumble instead upon an elaborate cover-up that inverts the purpose of their mission. Spun by operatives with intersection agendas, Miller must hunt through covert and faulty intelligence hidden on foreign soil for answers that will either clear a rogue regime or escalate a war in an unstable region. All-in-all, a pretty good movie with an authentic feel.
Read moreClareece “Precious” Jones is an overweight, illiterate African-American teen in Harlem. Just as she’s about to give birth to her second child, Jones is accepted into an alternative school where a teacher helps her find a new path in her life. It’s still not a fun film to watch, but it’s worth watching to see real struggles protrayed in such an authentic story by excellent actors who nail their parts.
Read more19-year-old Alice returns to the whimsical world she first encountered as a young girl, reuniting with her childhood friends: the White Rabbit, Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the Dormouse, the Caterpillar, the Cheshire Cat, and of course, the Mad Hatter. Alice embarks on a fantastical journey to find her true destiny and end the Red Queen’s reign of terror. We liked this one, but it wasn’t all I expected.
Read moreJeff Bridges stars in this drama based on Thomas Cobb’s first novel about an alcoholic country singer. The musician’s career is going downhill as he watches his protégé’s star ascend, but his encounters with a journalist might just keep him from hitting rock bottom. This one was worth the ticket price, and Jeff Bridges gives a well-deserved Oscar Winning performance.
Read morePhotos of my two annual guests who are sticking around this year for a bit longer than usual. Also a link to the photo gallery of the State Fair photos.
Read moreAfter becoming the first woman to fly across the Atlantic, Amelia was thrust into a new role as America’s sweetheart – the legendary “goddess of light,” known for her bold, larger-than-life charisma. Yet, even with her global fame solidified, her belief in flirting with danger and standing up as her own, outspoken woman never changed. Lay and I were both disappointed with this one.
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