Cooties, Shared Germs and Executives....OH MY!

Why on God's great grand earth do people, especially the executives at the various production companies I freelance with, think or fail to think about how WE THE little PEOPLE, don't want to share their bodily excretions. I've seen it too many times. I've had to throw away good meals because of it.

My angst of the day....I was two seconds from popping open the side order of rice ordered for the OFFICE. Not for one executive to walk by....sloppily tear the top off dip his friggin' personal fork into it, take a mouth full, pause because it was so good and circle back around to dip his fork in it again....again I say. This man, this executive who...for all I know picks up prostitutes on Sunset every night while simultaneously tongue kissing his dog, didn't think once or twice about mixing his saliva into the batch of delicious looking rice that I now have to go without. My Achilles heal is being denied good food. And I know all kinds of stuff goes on in kitchens and blah, blah, blah....the office is not the kitchen and I'm not hanging out in restaurant kitchens to see what's going on, because I don't want to know. But these executives are blatant with it.

I had an exec. at a different company, my first time working there, she didn't know me from Adam, Eve or Amy, but she felt comfortable or goddess of her office enough to put her (God knows where they've been) fingers in my plate and grab some fries. This woman who owns a big dog, loves her big dog and I'm sure feeds him right from her own fork. That's your deal...fine. I was raised by a Southern woman who taught us that dogs and their excretions, belong outside. I make doggie cootie exceptions for people I know and like and little cute dogs, but I'm not stopping in the street to coo and make out with random dogs. The obsession with dogs as pets is ownership and loyalty but if an owner really stops and pays attention, most dogs, a majority of dogs, will follow the food. Not the love of some human holding them captive and dictating to them when it's okay to eat, pee and other gross things. And I said OBSESSION with dogs as pets. We had a dog named Christmas, Chris for short and I loved that little so and so. But he knew his place and his place wasn't on my bed or my Grandma's bed or our couch or the dining room table. He slept UNDER my Grandma's bed and spent most of the day running (and shitting) around the nice big yard we had. And if he had a momentary animal instinct relapse and jumped on a table or couch, he was quickly reminded. Don't call the humane society yet, he understood my Grandma's stern voice and my hysterical screaming to mean he was doing something wrong. That is a normal animal/human relationship. Chris was great company for me and protection even though he had a mean bark and that's about all that was mean. But fools coming to violate didn't know, they just heard a wild animal with sharp teeth warning them to stay out of our yard. But again....I digress.

Back to the executive cooties running through my bloodstream....I'm at her company, working for a living, I'm not the Princess Leia to her Jabba the Hut. She doesn't know what I did to that food before she came along and violated my plate and I don't know what she did with her fingers so......I tossed the whole thing and subsisted off of water for the day. It's an outrage. And honestly I've experienced it in Los Angeles not New York and I've worked for years in both places.

I really don't know if I'm really staying here in Los Angeles, yes the weather is da' bomb. But I have winter coats and boots and I'm really, really not feeling the majority of God's children I've come across here in the city of Los Assholes.
Being here is beginning to change how I feel about people. I find myself saying some really nasty things to and about everyone I come across and I'm trying hard to love all God's LOST children. I had to reprimand myself because I actually had a moment where I wished for an earthquake in Los Angeles because I felt that would be the only way to put these egomaniacs in check. Mother Nature is the only one. Shake things up a bit and let these people know...the one with the most money and power, still dies in the end. If you want me to be impressed figure out a way to live forever (an awful thought) but if you can do that, then your money DOES count in the realm of nature and life and death. If a tornado hits the center of a city you are visiting and your money and position at some company keeps you from being swept away while everyone around you flies into the air...then I stand corrected. Pour some hot fudge on my words so I can much away on them. And then bring me some stockings and dress suits, I'm about to become a natural disaster exempt executive.

A 45 minute break.....


Again one of my rants was interrupted by work. And good thing. It always reminds me of how important it is to WALK AWAY. I must walk away, cool down and then return. It's what I have to remember in all aspects of my dealings with humans, from lovers to friends to family to stone cold enemies although I have forgiven all former enemies so I no longer acknowledge having them. Walk away and breath, don't drink or anything like that just walk away.

What I will say about these gross execs who have somehow equated their positions of power with making all others in their company ingest their cooties, is that when I come across, the kind and sensible production company executives who are pretty well adjusted and grateful for what they have been able to accomplish over the years, it makes me appreciate the absolute hell out of them and then I go above and far beyond any of my duties to help and make sure I respect their homes (offices) when I'm in them. God help the nasty and ungrateful ones whose homes will be amongst the first to go in whatever natural disaster is coming this way. Not their families, just those possessions they hold so far above human interaction. The humbling experiences we all have, to remind us of the kind of people we are supposed to be. Thank you very much.

And while I'm ranting.....let's just address Mr. Mel Gibson. One of my fav's. I've never seen "The Passion of the Christ" because I heard it was extra specially gory and I just can't take it, I really can't. But cheers Fool for having the balls to make it. And so I'm in Starbucks today and I hear this woman going ballistic...."Yes he apologized, but he didn't mean it and I hope it doesn't work". I mean discussing it like this guy aimed a nuclear war missile at Switzerland. I know she's talking about his apology not being accepted by more of those lovely executives who are making the decisions about his professional career. And I say this....



Firstly.... if this is really your mug shot, good for you Mel Gibson, you look damn good for a DUI charge.


Secondly...Here in Hollywood, Film Directors can molest kids, kill their wives, do lines of cocaine off the backs of underage mail order prostitutes and a whole lot more and still get a busload of work, respect and awards. So for real they are trying to Crucify this middle aged acting talent who we've all loved for so long. He really set himself up for some dumb shit to go down in the name of religion. Damn Mel. I say you leave the country for a while. Like Michael Jackson. It's about to be the new movie "The Passion of the Mel" because he's about to get his testes handed to him on a brass platter (not even silver.) Though I'm hoping for a swift blow over and then on to the next bullshit controversy.

and Thirdly.... I read that he referred to a female officer as Sugartis (hilarious.) I think Sugartits is a compliment. It's better
than being called Bittertits. Right?

I mean a lot is going on in the world right now and Mel was probably just getting out some of the many thoughts that are going through plenty of folks minds. Not mind per se, I remain silent about these wars because I feel too helpless and distraught.......see.....zipping my war tongue right......now. So give Melle Mel a break. He did take a load of crap over his career decisions and clearly he has a bit of a substance abuse problem, like every third human in the entertainment industry.....hey me included. Coffee is da' bomb and I can't stop. But I have yet to crash a car over some coffee, even when I happen to spill a hot cup on my lap.

I'd like to teach the world to sing.... in perfect harmony......perfect harmony and then I'd like to buy the world a coke...but only the ones made to for distribution in Mexico because they are made with real delicious SUGAR, not lethal High Fructose Corn Syrup.


It's just so crazy to see what pisses the masses off and what the masses are willing to brush under the rug. Everyone is so on edge and looking for anyone to jump on, shall I point my arrow towards the east side...ummmmm.....say......around the Washington D.C. area, for you fools who like to waste energy on the rants of a drunk and frustrated Hollywood entertainer. But I guess all this mish mosh of mishaps does make for entertainment. I wonder if God is entertained by all the things done in his name.

Gnarls Barkley...what the !!!!!!!

So, Last night I went to a show at Avaland, I believe was the name of the place. One of my L.A. buddies who is great about doing thangs..ie...going to concerts....she is dedicated and I'm grateful, had an extra ticket. It's very hard in this line of work to make plans, yet we continue to try. So we wound up with two extra tickets. We sold two. It always feel so strange, seedy even, acting as a scalper, but we sold those bad boys. Whispering out the sides of our mouths "tickets, tickets anybody need a ticket." Scandalous. What a sense of accomplishment, seriously.

Gnarls Barkley is the group. Now I'm all.....Who? and What? But whatever I'll go,because I'll try anything once..except anything that requires ingestion through the nose or by needle....never say never they say....I'm sayin' never. Never!!!!!!!!! not willingly at least. But I was game for a Sunday night concert. So I went. And what I found out was, Gnarls Barkley consists of Danger Mouse and Cee-Lo(formerly of the hip-hop group, Goodie Mob). I am so pleased I am an individual who goes with the flow, because had I turned my nose up at the unfamiliar and refused to go, I would have missed this cool ass show. Author, Author to that singing and rapping man...Cee-Lo. I'm so pleased he is out doing thangs'. Touring and earning a living. Good for him. Because I don't know how well his solo album sold, but I sure as hell enjoy it.

The band, which changes with the tide, the only constant being Danger Mouse and Cee-lo entered the stage decked out in Emergency room gear. Doctors and Nurses and orderlies...Oh my!!!! There was a cellist and a few violinists, bass guitar player, background singers, all decked out Emergency room style. My friend informed me they come out in different costumes every show. An outline of a gun with a heart extended from it was the stage decor of choice for this Peace and Love promoting duo. As they entered the stage....a funky rendition of Dr. Feelgood played, how nice. I didn't know any of the songs, had no prior exposure, whatsoever,yet enjoyed it nonetheless. And music really does have the power to unite the masses, because that was the strangest yet most interesting mix of an L.A. crowd I've experienced to date. From corny frat boys to grunge kids to women with mohawks to scandalous women in halters and then back again. I love diversity but there is still a very apparent difference in seeing a concert in the east versus the west. Poor folks from Los Angeles really lack human interaction skills. It's sad and whack. Had the same concert been in New York, the pulse of the audience would have been bumpin'. There are some definite intimacy issues plaguing the masses here in Sunny Southern Cali. It's kinda gettin' on my nerves. Especially since I'm not coming to a solid enough understanding of how guarded and detached from human emotion all these HUMANS are. It's weird. But the concert was still quite entertaining. Short, as Gnarls Barkley, only has one album out, but good. I look forward to seeing this very eccentric duo perform again. Hopefully in an amphitheatre with a more loving group.

I just realized I didn't address the kind of music this is....Mmmmm let me see. I'd say it's some kind of strange fusion of soul, rock, electronica and plain out old fashion madness. And I love plain out old fashion madness, it's best for creating wonderful works of art.

In the unfortunate event I wind up in a coma or (allow people and their madness to run me into ) a crazy home (hey you never know), below is the list of songs to help bring me out.....


PART I - CONDITIONING THE MIND FOR RESPONSE

L'Arena - Ennio Morricone/ Kill Bill 2 soundtrack
She's Not There - Santana
Stay - Chaka Khan
He's A Friend - Eddie Kendrick
Unbreakable - Alicia Keys/ live
Cinderfella - Dana-dane
Climb Ev'ry Mountain - Mother Superior/Sound of Music soundtrack


PART II - GET UP, DAYNA, GET UP!!!!!

I Wanna Dance With Somebody - Whitney Houston
I Want You Back - The Jackson 5
Play That Funky Music - Wild Cherry
These Boots Are Made For Walking - Nancy Sinatra
Can You Feel It - The Jacksons
One Moment In Time - Whitney Houston
Jump - Madonna

L'Arena again...



If I'm not up or ready to get out by the end of this playlist, wait a couple of days, play once more. If I'm still out or in.....then leave me!!!!! :-)


Honorable Mention: You are my friend - Patti Labelle * This song might wake me out of my coma or send me straight to the other side...either way it will move me.

A Holiday Ode to Julia Roberts

I stopped in Connecticut for some mystic pizza
Making me late for my best friends wedding.
A grand affair for america’s sweetheart
Whose favorite catch phrase is, I love trouble.
Her fiancé let us all in on his conspiracy theory
While she defended her case like erin brokovich.
She reluctantly confessed to sleeping with the enemy.
Still hoping for the chance to become a stepmom
She forced some tears to get herself off the hook
No longer under the spell of her mona lisa smile
His heart was as hard as steel magnolias.
Refusing to be known as a runaway bride
She professed her love while moving in closer.
He turned and fled to notting hill.
Leaving us all with something to talk about.
Left all alone, she cried like she was dying young.
At the end of the day, I guess everyone says I love you
When looking into the eyes of a pretty woman.



God Bless Julia Roberts!!!!!!!

The Devil Wears Prada

Bored out of my mind and climbing the walls because an intense project I was working on came to an abrupt end, I forced myself out of my friends home in Brooklyn and graced the Cobble Hill Cinema in Brooklyn with my presence.

I've heard nothing but good things about The Devil Wears Prada, but I still carried worry into the theatre with me. I hoped this movie wouldn't take one of my favorite actresses of all times and make her look like she was the lead in a lifetime special. Thankfully, It didn't. I actually did read one negative review, but the overall feel, from actual humans, not bitter reviewers, was "It's all good." May I never lose my ability to just plain out enjoy a movie to the secret jealous caverns in my writers mind. I hope I don't posses secret jealous caverns.

Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestly was a divine affair to watch, especially the hair. The hair was bad ass.

I don't have a bad thing to say. Even if I searched deep within the crevices of my inner cynicism, I'd come up with nothing. This is what movies do for me....I was feeling lost in direction, bored, tired didn't know my next step, career wise. I left the theatre aspiring to find a Miranda Priestly (or maybe a little softer version of) to work for, with or whatever. A challenge is a beautiful thing.

Anne Hathaway as Andy Sachs, the fashion challenged wannabe journalist, law school drop out who must learn to take her job seriously, even though it's fashion and not "real" journalism.....Great! Her big inquisitive eyes made her a perfect fit for this role. Don't get me wrong, Andy Sachs ability to go from flats to heals in less than 60 seconds was a bit of a stretch, but that might be my own issue as I was forced to wear heals as a bridesmaid in a wedding, over five years ago and I'm just now able to wear those actual heals without crying or walking like I suffer from rickets. Heals do lift things to such nice proportions, but damn, they hurt.

Even Mr. Stanley Tucci, the forever sidekick, B-list , very talented acTOUR was a gem as Nigel, the loyal to a fault, art directing, right hand, mirl (man/girl), to Miranda Priestly. Mr. Tucci, slides into the craziest roles and make them his own. He is a "that guy" for sure, as he is one of the most steady working, under billed actors in Hollywood. But at least he doesn't have to wait tables in between gigs.

The fashion icon cameos were subtle and few and far between. They weren't used to draw interest, just used to add validity to the power of Miranda Priestly as editor of "Runway", one of the top fashion magazine's in the world. Very nice.

Go Patricia Field, you accessorized the hell out of this movie. Our three leading ladies, Miranda, Andy and Nigel were dressed to death. And I'm the last to pay attention to clothes in a film (Unless it's a period piece of course), but Miranda and Andy were undeniable. Patricia field had quite the challenge, considering, fashion was the focus of the movie. She rose and rose to the occasion, I can only imagine how many bottles of Tylenol the Wardrobe department went through. I think the last movie I distinctly noticed the garb on an actress was Stepmom. Julia Roberts, to quote my Grandfather, was SHARP! And I thought, how strange I noticed.

The best for me.....Miranda Priestly's ability to get everyone to jump high into the sky without ever changing the tone of her voice. A gift most, fail to possess. Working in the world of film production, I really admire, power without kicking and screaming. So nice.

The cast, especially Ms. Streep, carried The Devil Wears Prada, up and over the moon.

The Devil Wears Prada is a must see. Great Comedy! Great Summer release. And did I mention how great it was to see Meryl Streep. It's always great, isn't it?

SUPERMAN RETURNS

Three words....

An Instant Classic......As far as I'm concerned.

My love for Superman takes me back to my childhood. A time where I found refuge from adult angst and pain in the fantasy (but really real) worlds of Paradise Island and Metropolis. Wonder Woman and Superman were my subconscious saviors and 28 years later I still find comfort in these heroes and their make believe worlds.

So going in, I thought.... No one can top Christopher Reeve as Superman. And how dare they attempt. Arms crossed, lips twisted, standing my bullheaded ground as I was herded into the theatre with the rest of the cattle-like, eager movie goers. Who later proved to be rude, loud fools who just wanted to see some ACTION! Not interested in STORY! Well then go see X-men 3, all the bang, bang, fire and explosions a kid could hope for sans the depth.
So holding my breath as the house lights dimmed, I began my journey into the reincarnation of Superman 2006.
I stand before Warner Bros. and Bryan Singer....humbled, quieted and pleased as punch at the return of Superman. Bravo and well done. Bryan Singer is one hell of a director...he takes the impossible and makes it flow like water over pebbles in a river. For example...X-men and X2. His sensitivity, unlike Luther Vandross' song, does not get in the way, it actually helps him to create classics in the new millennium...How nice. Here is a movie I'll be able to sit down and watch, happily, with my (yet to be conceived) children.

Kate Bosworth as Lois scared me initially....bowled over, post viewing of Superman.
The dude who played Cyclops in X-men, James Marsden as Lois Lane's man.......disturbed initially as he is like an Orange County, weight obsessed, spoiled boy Cyclops in X-men, turned out to be quite the capable suitor, in Superman.
Kevin Spacey as Lex Luther.....Good in theory, Great in the can (on film).
Parker Posey (love that name) as Kitty, Lex Luther's partner in crime, wasn't to shabby either.

and Mr. Brandon Routh as Superman....author, author man...you did it. You were able to make a blue and red spandex suit look normal, good even. Small number of humans who can do that.
I laughed, I cried, I was pleasantly surprised by plot twists. Goosebumps and chills ran through my body as Superman did what he does best....Save foolish humans who, in the face of danger, freeze like Deer caught in headlights.

I intend on seeing it again in the imax theatre, far from the hood. I went to a hoodrat theatre in Brooklyn and honey child....cell phones ringing, babies crying, loud brotha's commentary, bags of (not theatre) food rattling and the two girls who sat next to me who I guess never learned the ever so gentle art of whispering, was way too much for this serious Superman fan. Seriously. And let me just add....if you can't go two hours without checking your cell phone then you are into some serious s&%# and might want to consider, NOT, attending a movie, EVER. Turn the damn thing off and leave it off....it's two little hours. Obstetricians and Cardiologists are excused.

After the credits started rolling, a young brotha' who I'm sure is still pleased with the laughs he collected in the theatre earlier today, hollers out...."Batman was better" and all the uneasy followers of the crowd laughed, long and hard.

OUTRAGEOUS!

Yet still, Superman was a pleasure. A brand new bundle of joyful entertainment. I look forward to more. Ahhhh it's always nice to have something to look forward to, necessary for the soul.

EXHALE!!!!!!

Pay Bryan Singer whatever necessary to have him direct Wonder Woman.....pahhleasssseeeee.

Second official year of Los Angeles livin'

The five people you meet, your first year in Los Angeles if you're me:

Porn Star (in a house in the valley.) or more like a Porn Actress - "Star" is a bit generous.
Semi-retired (quite high) rap star.
A soon to be divorced swinger.
A waiter you think you know...but you just remember him from some old movie...
A couple of extra-drunk girls (in the bathroom stall) trying to level themselves out with an altoid can full of coke.

Ohhhh La La land......


I ain't mad at cha'

Happy Aniversary to me.... THE SECOND YEAR!


I'm bringing in my second year anniversary of my move to Los Angeles, here in New York...that's right. And bummed out that I'll be going back at the end of the week. I'm sure once I get back I'll start to appreciate some things about the land of plastic...ie...not running from big hunks of trash swirling around the street and not having to holding my breath when some fool sneezes and coughs in my direction, on the subway. Trying to find a different exit from the subway, because a rat the size of a small dog felt the need to dash out at the moment I looked up. Gross....but again I'll say..I'm willing to deal with it for the love of NYC.

Let's see..The five people you meet your second year in Los Angeles.....is just about the same as the first year, except I learned to avoid going to barbeques in strange homes in the valley, hence I was spared the porn actress scene. Oh and I've met at least 400 film producers. :-)

New York, New York

I am back. Working, living, drinking, loving and just lost in the wonders of NYC. I left Los Angeles like I was on the run from the law. I'm not back as in....packed up all my stuff. I'm back as in, coordinating an independent feature film. And although independent feature films have a tendency to be ABSOLUTELY HELLIFIED in the amount of things you are supposed to get done with zero dollars and zero time....I AM LOVIN' IT!

I've cried, I'm working 13 to 15 hour days, six to seven days a week, where I'm so amped up after work I can't fall asleep for hours. Meaning I get about 2 to 3 hours of sleep a night. Again I'll say....I AM LOVIN' IT!

I love the people I work with. LOVE. And for me that is the key. I will draw my own blood for you in the name of love be it work or professional. I have a major problem working, well better yet, we will have a major problem if I attempt to work..just for the dough. I've taken a pay cut (Good God!) and have accepted four times the amount of responsibility, and for some strange masochistic reason.....I AM LOVIN' IT!

1. My car is parked, garaged in Los Angeles...lurve it!
2. I can walk across the street from my office, to the hole in the wall pizza joint...and grab a SLICE of heavenly pizza.
3. I have lost myself in work so I can remain distracted from the loss of my best friend.
4. Bacon and egg sandwiches.
5. Drinking wine on the balcony of badass highrise apartments with unbelievable views of the city.
6. Missing my subway stop and getting a little turned around in brooklyn because I fell asleep (drunk) on the train.

Making sure I fulfill all my four food group needs when I'm in NYC...Salt, Sugar, Caffeine and Fat.


I started this post before my body started to reject this lifestlye.....Ummm...it's used to existing off of Green tea, water, ice, veggies, bacon and Trader Joe's white cheddar popcorn and didn't take long to scold me for expecting it to quickly adjust to my NYC sinful food, liquor and partying ways. I've not been congested in two years and here I am....congested. From friends and co-workers who smoke in my face. Not to say the same doesn't go down in Cali, but I believe my immune system is able to fight it off when I'm not abusing it.

This post has taken me ten days to finish...I'm finishing now. Lost my voice. I've never lost my voice not in my entire major shit talkin' life. Los Angeles has softened me. The stress of this movie I'm working on doesn't help. The behind the scenes of this movie is driving me crazy. Friendships are going down the drain. Lovin' less and less the people I work with as they begin to love themselves less and less. Realizing I didn't know people as well as I thought or they don't know me as well as I thought. People are LOSIN' it and trying to make me lose it. But I'm a rock who, I believe, suffers from some serious emotional disorder. That I would subject myself to making less money and working five times as harder on an independent film where they expect us to subsist off of fritos and twizzlers is insane. Not to sound snobbish but me body, when worked far past it's limit needs things like, carrots, celery, maybe a little hummus, is that too much to ask when you're on your fourteenth day straight of working fourteen to fifteen hour days, everyday. Some healthy, not just bags and bags of chips. But again, I'm a sadomasochist. So there you have it. I have met some wonderful people which always gives me a boost. But my body is not agreeing with my sadomasochistic ways and I am SICK. No voice to speak of...get it...to speak of. Oh, isn't it great to find humor in my agony. I'm boiling water right now for some magical garlic concoction I'm about to force myself to drink and then.......SLEEEEEEP it off. I've got to get the immune system up and running so I can continue to abuse it.

Good night.

X-MEN 3 - The Last Stand

The last stand indeed....maybe. I had been living for the third installment of my beloved X-men. They were my beloved before the release of any major motion picture. I read the comics (collected more than read). I use to collect X-Men trading cards. And one of my favorite Sega Genesis games (back in the day) was X-men, Wolverine was my X-man of choice. The ability to heal oneself is priceless.

So...Now I have to find the next thing to live for because the release of X-MEN 3 hath cometh and goneth, in this beautiful memorial weekend.

I was a bit apprehensive going in, because this movie was given to Brett Ratner to direct. Brett Ratner got his start, his roots and all that stuff in the music video world. And having started my production days working on hellified music videos, I have a block with most music video directors, especially the wanna be cool and down ones. I like to describe the wanna be down ones as fathead opportunists who talk most shit about the hip-hop artists they use to get on the featured director map. Don't worry about being cool and down, just direct the damn video. I don't wanna knock this guys hustle. I'll go down in the books saying he's good at what he does, but X-MEN 3 could've been in a whole other category of great, had it been someone else. The director of the first two installments of X-MEN for example.

I liked the movie. I didn't love it like I loved the Matrix when I first saw it and had to watch it again immediately. What would have made me love it....more attention being paid to the emotional battles here over the explosions and car crashes. Now I'm not pointing any fingers but I'm led to believe we have Mr. Music Video Director to thank for the very explosive X-Men 3. We could play the whole movie replace the sound and play a prodigy song over it. Brett Ratner also directed Rush Hour, which is fine for action sans the emotion, I mean the stars were Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan. A match up made for action and comedy, not depth.

My review is going to be a bit biased because I just kept wondering how much better (in my opinion of better) X-men would have been had Bryan Singer, the original director been available to handle the (supposed) last installment of X-men.
There was little space for major disappointment for me because just seeing my super-duper X-Women Jean Grey and super-duper mutant villain Magneto gets a girl all excited. My two favorite characters hands down..as far as the movie release favorites. Historically for me it's Storm. Of course. Little black girl reading about great black woman who controls the weather. And though I love Halle Berry and am not knocking her hustle at all.....This Fox motion picture Storm is just too watered down for me to get excited over. Iman....now that's a Storm for your ass....but not for Hollywood. I get it. So by default and her own wonderfulness Famke Janssen as Jean Grey worked her way right to the top of my fanfare pot. I feel like she didn't get enough screen time (but that's my issue). Jean Grey as Phoenix, the most powerful mutant of all, is just too much excitement for me. So I'm glad (in a way) she didn't do too much, get me too excited otherwise I might have been asked to leave the theatre.


I'd like to get a hold of the screenplay because it seems like it was a great one. I enjoyed the movie. It was entertaining as a movie should be. But, this movie would have been mounds better had it been handled with more emotional care and less focus on the shoot'em up bang, bang. Not to say there was too much action. It's a comic book turned movie, action, I suppose is to be the focus. But action doesn't draw people in and keep them. It's just a temporary fix. Story keeps us. It was the non-action scenes. They lacked emotion and failed to show the intense struggle these characters (especially Dr. Jean Grey) were going through. I mean the dude (director) had some wonderful talent to work with. Who's better than Ian McKellan? Seriously. That guy is a master. Hugh Jackman is a joy, even as a difficult and rebellious self-healing mutant. Seriously, I love that guy. Rebecca Romjin is officially Mystique to me. She can be Pepper Dennis and a slew of other characters from here on in, but she put her foot in the role of Mystique and that's who she is. And Kelsey Grammer as beast sounds exciting. But wasn't really as exciting as I had hoped. (Love Frasier though.) And I need to find more of Famke Janssen's work, I've only seen her in one other movie, but I appreciate her existence in the film world, really I do. And love Phoenix/Jean Grey with long wild comic book hair, much better to me than the suburban wife haircut she rocked in the previous X-MEN.



X-MEN 3 - The last stand was good. I will watch it over and over like I do the other two but I will watch it as strictly action, almost like I watch a cartoon. This could've been a classic action movie shocker where it would've been steeped in emotion like Batman Begins. We were supposed to cry for Jean Grey, The Professor, Wolverine, Rogue, Magneto, Mystique and all the trials and tribulations, okay maybe not cry, but at least care. It all sped by too quickly to draw you in and make you care. It was almost like we were being shown flash cards of the intensity of these very emotional characters. But I don't want to show my nerd card and break it down to much, so let me just wrap this up.The little 5 and 6 year olds in the movie theatre enjoyed all the action. Us grown folks who like to check out in to the fantasy realm every once and a while, could've gone for a little more substance. Or maybe I'm just a nerd who's reading way too much into the X-men story, but that makes 50 million of us then.

Bummer, but not a total lost. I was left feeling a tad bit empty. I'm sure Brett Ratner did the best he could and again I don't like to knock anyone's hustle. Because I would've taken the gig too. I just would've asked for a lot of help, don't be afraid to ask for help Mr. Ratner. At least I don't want to find the director and beat him up. I have experienced those levels of disappointment. Oh well. Mr. Bryan Singer, I look forward to the release of Superman. (I believe the reason he was not available to continue directing his legacy of X-Men movies was because he was busy with Superman Returns, which Brett Ratner was originally attached to direct. Good Lord.) And if there is to be another X-Men (with all the box-office records broken, I suspect there will be.) Please be available to direct. Thank you!

And a Happy Belated Birthday to Magneto..Sir Ian McKellan - May 25

The Da Vinci Code

Caught a lovely Sunday crowded as hell afternoon showing of The DaVinci code. I say this every single time I go to a movie no matter what the outcome "Blessed are those who expect nothing for they shall not be disappointed".

I had not signed on to the "The DaVinci Code" scandal. I have a block when it comes to mass hysteria novels. The Christmas gift novels...ie....Harry Potter, The Davinci Code, A Million Little Pieces, She's Come Undone, Lovely Bones, Wicked, The Five People You Meet in Heaven and The Celestine Prophecy. To name a few of the, "Everyone's gone mad for this book", club. In order for me to sign on, I either have to discover the book before the mass hysteria (Lucky for me I found "She's come undone", before the mass hysteria because I love it, love it, love it and would still be waiting around to read it had I not.) Five of the above mentioned are all books I want to read, but just can't because of my mass hysteria block. So needless to say I didn't really know the real deal of The Davinci Code, just the gist of it.

My love, respect and admiration for Sir Tom Hanks is what got me in to see the movie, because I had no urge whatsoever. (The free "Davinci Code", movie ticket courtesy of the Spiderman box set didn't hurt either) First of all the billboards scattered about Los Angeles for the movie did not draw me in at all. They look like some advertisement for an old Lifetime Television special.
I paid little attention to the media's coverage on the religious upset and all that jazz because I shut down. And I still can't believe I hadn't heard the specifics of the religious uproar, especially me, with my beliefs of women as the martyrs, the superior yet most abused, mistreated and taken for granted group of humans, sadly, even by ourselves.

After seeing the movie, I intend to read the novel. That's for damn sure. I could tell without reading the novel that this was a hard one to transfer to film. I'm sure if I had read the book first I would've been upset about all that was left out and how things should've been made clearer and yadda, yadda, but lucky for me I didn't and my interest in the book has been fueled by Ron Howard's interpretation of Dan Brown's work of fiction. The movie is getting mixed reviews. And I understand, but Dayna Clark, as general Jill Shmill audience, enjoyed the movie and all it's performers. Tom Hanks, Ian McKellan, Alfred Molina, Jean Reno. Love all these guys, these gifted actors.


Outside the theatre, there was a woman in a wheelchair with an elaborate spread of signs protesting The DaVinci Code...Denouncing the DaVinci Code. Just sparking everyone's curiosity, making everyone want to go see what all the hoopla is about. Her purpose and all the other protestors....fanning the box office sales flames.

In the world of fiction and movie fantasy women can be raped, cut into pieces, thrown from moving vehicles, stabbed, shot, raped again, have babies ripped from their wombs, all kinds of horrific things I could never imagine in my wildest writer's mind has happened to women on screen and in print.....But actually glorifying one and raising questions about a woman's role and worth in biblical times the way "The Davinci Code" did, causes protests and gasps from the religious masses. Sad State of Affairs.

Don't get me wrong, I get why it would cause protests, because it sure raised some questions in my mind. Even though it's supposed to be a work of fiction. But at the end of the day.....it's still supposed to be a work of fiction. A Hollywood adaptation of a novel, said to be a work of fiction. Protestor's just make folks feel there must be something to it.


All this to say....The Davinci Code is worth seeing and a reminder to the all too serious protestor's.....Richie Cunningham(Ron Howard) directed this movie, not documentary, movie. So relax and continue to believe what you believe and leave Hollywood to it's sinful ways. It's Hollywood, we're talking Poltergeist, Blair Witch, The Omen, The Exorcist....can't stop, won't stop!