OSCAR PICKS!

All right... a little late at making picks this year... but here we go nonetheless...

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Who will win: Melissa Leo

Who I want to win: Hailee Steinfeld

There's no question that "The Fighter" had some great performances on both side of the gender spectrum. Melissa Leo is great, as well as Amy Adams, Mark Wahlberg, and of course, Christian Bale. Having said that, Hailee Steinfeld's breakout performance in "True Grit" is one of the best, if not the best, performance by an actress this year. She shows some great promise for her future acting career. Still, Melissa Leo has a lot of legs this year and will win it.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Who will win: Christian Bale

Who I want to win: Christian Bale

Having "The Fighter" take home both supporting acting awards this year truly says something about the depth of characters in the film. Geoffrey Rush is remarkable in "The King's Speech", but with all the buzz surrounding Bale, there is no doubt in my mind that he will not leave empty handed.

BEST ACTRESS

Who will win: Natalie Portman

Who I want to win: Natalie Portman

This is probably the easiest award of the year. Although it would be nice to see Annette Benning take home the award after failing to win it in previous years, there is not a soul who can take this away from Portman. She truly transformed her life to take on this role, and her hard work and dedication shine through. These are too easy so far.

BEST ACTOR

Who will win: Colin Firth

Who I want to win: James Franco

There were a lot of strong performances in this category this year. James Franco's turn as trapped hiker Aron Ralston in "127 Hours", is the standout performance of the year. Without Franco's acting, this movie falls apart at the seams. Yet, Colin Firth has a ton of steam and there is no doubt that he will win. I prefer Franco's desperation act to a stuttering Firth. Ta ta today, Junior!

BEST DIRECTOR

Who will win: Tom Hooper

Who I want to win: The Coen Brothers

I'm still bitter over Christopher Nolan being snubbed this year. It's inexcusable. There is no way that "The King's Speech" is a better directed film than "Inception". One is held together by the acting (King), while the other is held together by the utter genius of the man in charge (Inception.) Like I said, this will be a bitter award and Tom Hooper will go from not deserving to be nominated, to winning it outright. Blah.

BEST PICTURE

Who will win: The King's Speech

Who I want to win: INCEPTION

I have no shame in saying that INCEPTION was my favorite movie of the year. From start to finish, it's the most original, intriguing, and well executed film of the year. Also the most entertaining and thought provoking. Yet The King's Speech will win because that's how these things work. It's got all the pre-oscar awards in its pocket, and all signs point to it taking home the most gold this year. Whatever. There's always next year.

Some quick ones here:

Best animated film: Toy Story will win as the sky is blue.

Cinematography: True Grit. Amazing, amazing camera work.

Editing: Social Network will win. The editing make this movie pop.

Score: Hans Zimmer SHOULD win for inception.... but social network will win. Blah.

Original Screenplay: I'm going to pick Christopher Nolan for INCEPTION here... but I think The King's Speech might steal it.

Adapted Screenplay: I wish the Coen's had a chance, but Aaron Sorkin will get it for "Social Network."

TOP FIVE OF 2010

Another year of films has come and gone. I haven't done a list of this sort since the days of Backstage Pass (56 pride!!) so let's roll through the BS and get right into it. Here are my top 5 films of 2010. (minor note: I have not seen Black Swan yet... therefor, there is no need to go crazy on me for not including it. Although, even without having seen it, I will award it some kind of honorary degree for greatest sex scene of the year. I'm looking at you Mila and Natalie. Hey now. Winky face.)

5) Shutter Island

This film is definitely going to be looked over this year. It's a shame, but it's rare for a film released at the very start of the movie calendar year to receive any such recognition come award season.

I've watched this film about a half dozen times so far. With each viewing, my appreciation only increases. Martin Scorsese's psychological thriller, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, is simultaneously chilling, emotional, powerful, and thought provoking. The screen is peppered with beautiful imagery and cinematography, that you can't helped but get pulled in to its sense of time and space.

More things I love about it: pretty much all of the performances. All vary in complexity, but my two favorites belong to Ben Kingsley and Michelle Williams. Even though Williams plays a bit part, her performance carries the most emotional impact and displays the overall subtle creepiness felt throughout the film. I also love all of the nightmare's that Leo's character has to endure each and every night. Hands down this is a beautiful film to watch unfold and it's also one that benefits from multiple viewings.

4) Toy Story 3

Let it be known... this film made me fight back tears. Prior to its releases, I was definitely a tad skeptical about a third film. Yes, everything Pixar makes is miles above the care and quality of 90% of the films out there, but the thought of Andy growing up and going to college had me a little on edge. Lo and behold, there was no reason to fret. Toy Story 3 proves yet again that the geniuses at Pixar are some of the best story tellers of this generation.

The one scene that stands out the most when I think of this film definitely has to be the one in which our plastic heroines lock hands as they're heading for certain doom. I don't think I've witnessed a more intense scene in an animated movie.... ever. Mufasa getting killed in the Lion King doesn't even come close. Toy Story 3 is as hilarious as it is heart warming. This is why is definitely deserves to be on this list. Wall-E is still my number 1 Pixar film, but this one comes close.

3) 127 Hours

James Franco, you should probably win some kind of award for this. Hell, even if it's a Kid's Choice Award, I'll be happy for you.

Without a doubt, this is one of the most claustrophobic and thrilling movies I've seen in a long time. We all know the story by now: Hiker Aron Ralston goes on a trek in the middle of nowhere, gets stuck in a crevice for five days, and has to cut off his own arm to survive. The film (based on the inspiring true story) is somehow able to tell an engaging story with its principal actor trapped in the same space for an hour in a half. Without the performance from Franco, this movie would not be nearly as engaging. In the end, it's really a story about how precious life really is, and how one single person can do incredible things when faced with absolute death.

The film also works so well because the viewer automatically puts themselves in the situation as it unfolds. What would you do in his shoes? Could you bring yourself to saw off your own arm with a dull knife? What kind of regrets would you have if you had to face a fate like this? Would you have told that girl you were sorry? That you loved her? That you should have lived life a little more fully? These are the questions I pondered during this film and it makes one man's personal story all the more personal to each and every one of us. Also, let's just call the real Aron Ralston a complete badass with balls the size of bowling balls and move on.

2) True Grit

If Jeff Bridges didn't win the oscar last year, he would be taking it home this year. Maybe he'll repeat, who knows? However, the Academy can be funny sometimes and will probably not go for Bridges. This, coupled with the buzz surrounding Colin Firth, spells out no two-fer for the Dude.

It should be noted that I have somewhat of a Coen bias. I hold mostly all of what they create in high esteem (barring intolerable cruelty, and the ladykillers, naturally). True Grit is just a miraculous film to behold. It's full of brilliant performances (the most notable coming from newcomer Hailee Steinfeld), as well as a superb script that demands that you listen intently to every word coming out of each character's mouth. I read somewhere that the Coen's rarely ever allow an actor to go off script, and you can plainly tell here because the words are so perfectly spoken, delivered, and purposeful that if they do not win the oscar for best Adapted Screenplay, then the Academy is full of blithering idiots.

1) Inception

This is everything I want in a movie. There is so much to love about this film that I am not going to even try writing a coherent paragraph or two. List spewing, activate!

I love every single action set piece. The film takes your typical caper type shoot out/chase scene film and flips it upside down (sometimes literally). The last hour in a half is so beautifully realized and executed that one can't help but appreciate everything it must have took to put this film from pre to post. This film is the brain child of Christopher Nolan, and I'm going to jump out and say that if his movies were his children, this would definitely be the one he chose to take out for ice cream all of the time. He remains one of the most influential and creative auteurs of our time.

It has to be mentioned that the score by Hans Zimmer is fantastic. Every note, every crescendo, adds to the environment and compliments the film in every way that a musical score can.

I also love Joseph Gordon-Levitt. I feel that this film has cemented him as one of the coolest fucking actors working in Hollywood today.

There's too much to love about this movie. I could honestly watch is 100 times and never get bored. It won't win for best film of the year, but in my mind there is no more obvious choice.

There you have it. What would you put in there?

Who I'll Marry

Because I am single, it would appear that I have a conglomeration of options to pick whomsoever I wanted to date. I like to think of myself as a nice catch, so finding a member of the opposite sex who semi-tolerates me shouldn't be too difficult, right? Well... whatever the case may be, I remain single. It could be because I'm shooting too high. You can decide for yourself, for here are the top three women I'm holding out for with hopes of marrying them.

1) Zooey Deschenel

A lot to like here. She's beautiful, she's witty, and she's got (in my honest opinion) a really sexy voice. She currently sings in a two person group known as "She and Him". If you need proof that angels exist, just listen to one of her songs. Or check out this clip from behind the scenes on CONAN:

Hell... yes. If she could meld her character's personalities from ELF and 500 days of Summer, then that's the perfect girl for me. Also, I'm sure her child bearing hips will be sure to give me a fit, masculine child. I don't want to plan too far ahead. Just giving myself something to shoot for (pun intended...?)

2) Taylor Swift

I first started paying attention to T. Swift when I heard Love Story for the first time. First of all, great song. Second of all: How can you not like a girl who has big enough balls to change the ending of William Shakespeare's classic tragedy? That's like changing the ending of the Titanic so that instead of hitting an iceberg and sinking, everybody lands safely and eats pie at a carnival. Point made.

She's also pretty damn cute and although I wouldn't classify her looks as "hot", she is definitely beautiful. Taylor Swift, if you're reading this, you should probably consider a life of happiness with yours truly. I'll give you plenty of great inspiration for love songs. Also, I want you to read me a bedtime story as I fall asleep. Just saying.

3) Mrs. Carlson

Every boy has a crush on a certain teacher as they're growing up. For me, it was the darling woman who taught me in pre-school. Ahh yes... I had a huge crush on the woman who taught me to keep my mouth away from that plate of glitter and glue. Sure, she was too old for me back then... and yes, the last time I saw her was 18 years ago, but that doesn't mean I should give up hope. Although I can't remember what she looked like, I'm sure she was pure beauty personified. I only go for the hot danes.

* It should be noted that this picture is not of Mrs. Carlson. But who knows, it could be...

There you have it, ladies. If you're one of those three, do not hesitate to phone me directly. I am ready and willing.

Tats

I’ve occasionally entertained the idea of getting a tattoo. It’s a short-lived debate because I’m too much of a pre-pubescent girl to actually go through with it. A tattoo is sort of like a bumper sticker: something you get for yourself, but it also serves as a badge to show off to all around you. It’s also stuck there forever. We’ve all seen those cars with bumper stickers for something that’s completely out of date. Ones like, “Ross Perot for President”, or “I Heart Women Suffrage”. Sorry to tell you but these aren’t really relevant today. Yet, there they sit on your tired vehicle. If you try to remove ‘em you can never quite get it all. Every person approaches an outdated bumper sticker the same way:

"Okay. All I have to do is pull up on this one protruding corner. Look sticker… my track record of removing you cleanly is spotty at best. But this time it’s going to be different. Today is the day that I get ALL of you. I can see your weaknesses clearly now. OK, world… await my victory!

(riiiiiip) “Shit! It happened again! Okay, this isn’t terrible. I think I got a third of it off now. Just gotta dig under it a little more… and… I’ll… have it. . . (riiiiiiiiip) Shit! It’s ok. Keep your calm, Tim. Everything will work out in the end. Half… way… there.” . . (Riiii Riiiiiii Riiiiiiiiiiip Rip)

“HA!! HA HAAA! VICTORY! You were a stubborn little bastard but I got you now. I laugh in your pathetic little sticky face. HA HA HA.--- Now what the hell is this sticky residue you left behind? “

Truth be told, you can never remove a bad bumper sticker completely. Tattoos are permanent in the same way. Sure, you may be able to get them removed somewhere down the road, but who in their right mind wants to be left with a sticky residue (or in this case: sticky residue = a puss filled skin sac).

Going hand-in-hand with a tattoo is tattoo regret. All kinds of thoughts fly through your brain. “Maybe I shouldn’t have gotten my dogs name tattooed on my scalp.” Or, “Maybe it isn’t the brightest idea to tattoo my bank account under my wrist watch”. Twenty years from now I don’t want to be staring at my kickass Blue’s Clue’s tat seeing the word, “loser”, instead of an innocent blue paw print. That and the fact that having a plethora of kids pointing at my leg shouting, “A CLUE! A CLUE!” is plain creepy.

There’s a long list of things that I’m afraid of. It’s a list so extensive that it rivals anything that Schindler could ever dream of compiling. Tattoo regret makes that list. BUT!.... here is my proposal for a totally awesome tattoo that would make everyone around you jealous. This idea was born from the fact that if I were to tattoo my body, I would want something Irish. I’ve thought about a Celtic cross, an Irish flag, or hell, maybe even a box of Lucky Charms cereal- all amateur compared to what I came up with:

Ready for this? Located on your left wrist is a tattoo of a leprechaun. Travelling up your entire arm to your shoulder is a rainbow. This rainbow continues the entire way across your chest until it reaches your other shoulder, then travels down your right arm. Waiting at your right wrist will be a tattoo of a pot of gold. BOOM! Genius, I know.

Upon telling this to a co-worker, I was notified that it “sounded sort of gay”. That person is a fool. What, it’s gay just because there’s a rainbow involved!? Screw that. I have zero problems with gay people, but who do they think they are for hijacking the rainbow and making it theirs? They had no right to do that. Rainbow’s are totally badass, right? Gay people need to seriously consider a different symbol. Richard Simmons could be a possibility.

FREE THE RAINBOW!

Scars... Sexy, right?

Chicks dig scars. At least that's what I've heard. If you ask me, I don't particularly understand the obsession. Are girls really sitting around going, "Tommy has a nice body, but ya know what... it's really missing some sort of disfigurement to make it a GREAT body!" ? If they are (they are), there are some serious fetish problems prevalent in todays youth (there are). After all, R & B singer Seal has it working for him.

Ladies, you're in luck... for concealed beneath my polyester exterior lie not one, but two scars! Woooo two for the price of one! Driving you wild, isn't it? They are located flush on my hairless, egg white, chest. By now, you're no doubt wondering how it was that I obtained such manly medallions. Before I continue, I must warn you that some of these details are disturbing. Continue reading at your own risk... for the manner in which I obtained these scars may shock you. I guarantee, you're opinion on me will change by the end of reading this (it won't).

SCAR NUMBER ONE

I must have been no older than six or seven. Each and every summer, my family would vacation in Cape Cod at our families getaway house. Located in my bedroom sat an antique rocking horse. Made of wood and standing about four feet by two feet, this rocking horse was a cornerstone of the bedroom. When I was little, I would delight in spending countless hours (minutes) on this horse. But now I was six (or seven) and the horse was too small for me. Instead of climbing on top of it, I melancholically pushed the empty apparatus from the front. I would start out slow, then increase the rate and speed at which I pushed and shoved. That was until it kicked back. The tip of the nose caught my flat chest square, and out poured blood. Before you knew it there was a pool of blood all over the carpet. I would eventually pass out from losing so much blood only to awake at Cape Cod General Hospital -----

Okay, okay... that really isn't true. I tried to juice that up a bit for ratings... and sympathy. Truth is, there wasn't too much blood at all... but there was a gash (more of a scrape, really). In actuality, it really didn't hurt. Yet, to this day there remains a one inch scar from this fateful incident. (Remember... I warned you to stop reading).

SCAR NUMBER TWO

I... am... ticklish. Very ticklish actually. This has been a constant struggle for my entire life. Take doctor visits for example: When my doctor had to do that test where they lays hands on your abdomen, I would be giggling like a little girl. It was embarrassing. Every time... giggles. Not very manly whatsoever.

As soon as anyone got their hands (no pun intended) on this piece of information, they would not hesitate to use it. I was tickle fodder. An old girlfriend (as in ex, not elderly) used to abuse this knowledge constantly. I would be doubled over on the floor, laughing hysterically, trying to gasp a breath, while praying that it would soon be over. The tickling got so severe that at one point, I obtained a nice scratch on my chest, located kiddie corner to my rocking horse scar. It bled a little... and it hurt... but this girl just kept on scratching me to death. All the while, there I lay, laughing hysterically at my pain. Needless to say this was not a proud moment in the life of me.

There you have it. My two scars: one from a rocking horse. The other from a fight of tickles. Manly, right? No? It would be funny if it wasn't so sad.

:)

My Morning

This morning I had a homeless man dance up to me.

Before I launch into my story of this homely looking individual, let me provide some background information. NOTE: Ironic that homeless people look homely.

For five days a week, my day job requires me to be a Mike Rowe wannabe.

Job title: Fire Extinguisher Technician

Employer: Moore Fire Equipment

Location: The ghetto (Hood would also be acceptable)

Usually, when explaining my job to an interested party, I receive a plethora of confused looks and follow-up questions. When I said that I'm a Mike Rowe wannabe, I meant it. This is because, depending on the day, my work can take me to places I've never been before. Places like this for example:

I work at the family business started by my grandfather. We service, inspect, and sell fire extinguishers for both commercial and private facilities. We also install fire suppression systems in restaurant kitchens. If you ever want to know how clean a restaurant's kitchen is, I'm the guy to ask. (Hint- Don't eat Chinese!) Regardless of where I am on a given day, the work usually incorporates some kind of back-breaking labor. I swear I haven't had smooth or clean hands in over a year. When the job doesn't take us on the road, you can find us working in our shop (located in the gut of Albany. AKA The ghetto).

It goes without saying that the business is located in a rough patch of the city. There have been shootings down the street, stabbings around the block, vandalism on vacant buildings (to which there are several), and enough littering to overwork a Wall-E machine. Case in point, just a few weeks ago, two of our car windows were shot out by BB's:

Check around the nearest corner, and chances are you'll find at least one transient wanderer; most making you extremely uncomfortable at the slightest bit of eye contact. Now to my story:

My morning started just like any other:

-Got to work around 8

-Made Coffee

-Opened garage door to vent the humid shop air out into the wild

-Set up workbench

-Watched a homeless man do jumping jacks-----Hold on, what?

Before the Susanne Summers workout session began, I made a key flaw that drew this man's attention: I made eye contact. All of a sudden, his direction of travel shifted from the sidewalk to our shop's driveway. He then told me to watch what he was doing. Now... inside my head I had already begun saying a "Hail Mary" while I simultaneously scanned the area for the most accessible device to use as a weapon.

Instead of attacking me, the homeless man (dressed in a pink Yankee's jersey nonetheless) began doing jumping jacks in our driveway. He mumbled for the most part but some of what he said was clearly audible:

"This is how you to it bro. This is how it's done. I do this everyday."

Not knowing what to say, my brain just spit out, "Oh. What are you doing, exactly?"

Still flailing his arms and legs about, he replied, "I'm just living life. I do this everyday. I jog in place five miles everyday. This is living. This is the life."

That's right. He jogs five miles a day... in place. So....... he's pretty much a human treadmill. The poor man's treadmill, if you will.

After advising me on living life to the fullest, he proceeded to meander closer to me. The uncomfortable feeling inside of me increased at this point. Instead of approaching me directly, he veered off to some nearby pine bushes. "This is what it's all about," he said. He then took a branch in his hand and breathed in heavy through his nose. Now, I could be wrong, but what I think he was trying to convey was that you have to stop and smell the roses. Only, with no rose bushes located anywhere on the block, he decided a plain pine bush would suffice. However odd his gesture was, his message was clear. A few more lines of dialogue were spoken. He filled me in on how he doesn't understand why people stare at him while he does this all day long. Hmm... I didn't really have an answer for that one.

Eventually he sauntered off never to be seen again. As I went back to work, all I could think about was his odd display of wisdom. "Stop and smell the roses", I thought. Wise words to live by. In today's world, we're all moving a thousand miles an hour to get as much done as we can. In our cars... on the street.... at our jobs... it seems we're always in a hurry. The bottom line: Instead of running all over the place, why not jog right where we stand? We might notice a thing or two about our surroundings that we never took in before... Some new appreciation for life that wasn't there before. Sometimes, we need to take time to stop and smell the roses. That's the lesson I learned from my homeless fortune cookie of a friend.

(Side note: After he left I swiftly closed the garage door to avoid any more contact)

:)

Rant

The world is going to shit.

"Why, Tim... what makes you say such a thing?"

Let me explain.

This has zilch to do with the ever-staggering economy. Nor does it relate to Iran or North Korea furthering their agenda to destroy the world. It doesn't even pertain to terrorists, NYC mosques, rabid dogs, little old ladies trying to cross the street, or gender confused cuttlefish. No, my friends. What I have in mind is far worse than all of these factors combined.

Jersey Shore's "the situation" is making five million dollars this season.

FIVE MILLION DOLLARS!!!!!

I shit you not.

Gee... I wish I could make a cool five mil by being a morally reprehensible, stereotyping scumbag. Take a look around ladies and gents. This is the world we live in. A world where thousands of American businesses are struggling to keep up their payroll while giant douches like "The Situation" stand to get fat.

Evidently, he goes by this name because his abs are actually what "the situation" refers to. What.... a..... jackass. I have a name for my abs too. I call them the Tyrannosaurus Rex... because much like the T-rex, they are extinct. All right Mr. TV Producer, can I have my check now?

It's not just "The Situation". It's everything about that show. Snookie looks like something mothers threaten their kids with when their acting up. "Kids, if you don't behave the Snookie will come eat you." Then she pulls out a picture of what the monster looks like, and the children promptly jump out the nearest window.

Then there's Pauly D; a guy who must have gone to the barber after watching a marathon of the movie "Eraserhead".

*Which is which???

Honestly, do girls go for the "troll doll that just got dropped in the toilet" look? If so, I'm in for a lonely life.

In the end, I really don't care that these people are walking stereotypes capable of offending every race, creed, and code. That's not the part that bothers me. It's the fact that they are, indeed, members of the human race. You see, I'm a big fan of the human race. Every living person has substantial potential to make the world a better place to live in. Yes, every so often a bad egg comes along and wants global domination. And yes, some decide to hack up their family members because they heard a voice in their head forcing their hand. But people for the most part are inherently well intentioned. Annnnnnd then there's the Jersey Shore crew.

We're screwed.

Waldo: I hardly knew ye.

Growing up, I had a vast collection of "Where's Waldo" books. This was my home school version of Geography class. It would later lead to problems in school when my teacher asked me to find the state of Wisconsin on a map. After exhausting my search I gave up, citing the fact that although one state looked like it had the red and white colored hat, it lacked the glasses. Another day, another F on the report card. That teacher just didn't understand the cultural phenomenon that is Waldo. I couldn't recognize my own country on a map, but man was I good at picking out an odd looking man in a crowd of people.

Waldo really was an odd looking individual. Close your eyes and it doesn't take long to picture a slightly homosexual looking Jeff Goldblum decked out in red/white stripes and sporting a pair of glasses. What kind of fashion sense does this guy have? But it wasn't just Waldo. On every page there were crowds of people wearing eerily similar outfits. Waldo "impersonators" if you will. They were solely responsible for throwing you off the trail, making you think you found Waldo, only to make you look foolish when it was revealed that you still had searching to do. In other words, these guys were dicks. Some would wear larger hats with the same colored stripes. Others would wear striped overcoats. And others still wore glasses with square rims instead of the traditional circular optics. Waldo must have had a lot of sway in this society to be able to influence that many people. (Coming soon: Queer Eye for the Waldo Guy) And am I the only one who's concerned about the cane? Why is he handicapped at such a young age? Is it a bone deficiency? Does he walk with a limp? Dear Waldo creator, please write an origin story. Thanks.

In each and every Waldo book, the objective was simple: find Waldo. Perhaps I'm in the minority of people who desperately wanted to know why. Why should I find Waldo? What the hell did he do to merit this kind of investigation? To me, it always felt like Waldo was just trying to get away for a while. We all need a vacation, don't we? Instead, no matter where he went, there were thousands of probing eyes waiting to shout out his name. "Ooh let's go to a medieval castle" -FOUND. "How about a middle eastern marketplace" -FOUND. "A glacier in the south pole?" -FOUND. Poor Waldo just couldn't catch a break. You don't need to ask a celebrity what it's like being constantly bombarded by the paparazzi day in and day out; just ask Waldo. Angelina Jolie ain't got nothing on him.

Still, I kept looking for Waldo and pondering these sorts of questions. What did Waldo do for a career? He must have been massively successful in order to afford all of the trips he took. I like to assume he was a playboy billionaire. His parents made their fortune as oil tycoons, but due to a fatal car accident, he was left with their fortune. Now, in order to grieve with his loss, Waldo travels the globe in search of solidarity. I think that would make a good movie.

There could also be a deeper meaning to these books, aside from just killing time and enteraining your children with A.D.D.. Perhaps the Waldo books serve as a cautionary tale for the future. Something every setting has in common is that they are all severely overcrowded. Just take a look at this picture:

See? There are wayyyyyy too many people in one area. Where the hell are they? Every place can't be Disney World on the fourth of July. It appears in this image they're selling vacuum cleaners in one area and boots in another.... WHAT!?!? This many people for boots??!! As you can see, not many people are even buying these items. There's no identifiable line anywere. Everybody is just standing in the way. If only they would move, I could warn Waldo: "WALDO, GET OUT! THEY'RE REALLY SHITTY LOOKING VACUUM CLEANERS. YOU'RE WASTING YOUR ENTIRE SATURDAY! NOOO!"

Another movie idea: A wacky school teacher named Waldo has just killed one of his students who always spoke out in class. Scared and on the run, he seeks refuge across the globe. Due to his increasingly growing popularity and influence, he convinces droves of people to wear disguises to throw off the cops. Will they find him and bring him to justice? It's up to you, dear viewer, to ask yourself this question, "Will you find Waldo?".

Hollywood, I'll be in touch.

These are just things I ponder sometimes...

Duck.... Duck..... Duck!

I miss playing Duck, Duck, Goose.

Ahh those were the good old days. A time when we would all be content just sitting around a circle tapping each other on the head. They were simpler times indeed. Times when a game of tag could occupy three hours of every day and give you a great nights sleep every night. Sometimes I try to relive these days by going out on the street and touching people at random while notifying them that they are indeed "it". Results haven't been positive thus far, and have resulted in numerous restraining orders and psychiatric appointments. However, I have now built up an immunity to pepper spray so it's not all bad.

There should be nothing wrong with a group of twenty-somethings all getting together to compete in these activities again. The next time somebody asks you to help fill out a game of basketball or football, notify them that you applaud their leadership but would much rather engage in a rousing game of tunnel tag! The look they give you is one only reserved for us true revolutionaries.

Duck, Duck, Goose was also a fantastic sport (yes, a sport. It's coming to the olympics soon). This was a game that taught kids at an early age how exclusionary it is to be a goose. Nobody wants to be a goose. We all want to be ducks. If someone calls you out as being a goose you have to defend yourself by tackling them as quickly as possible, thus proving that you are way more duck than they could ever be. Tip: If there's a girl you have a crush on, make sure you make her the goose every single time. You'll revel in the time you get to spend grabbing for each other.

Why bring this up now, you ask? Well it just so happens that I saw a pack of ducks swimming today as a tight-nit group. Off in the distance on the lake, a goose. A smart, yet cautionary game this Duck, Duck, Goose turned out to be. So what did I do with this pack of happy looking ducks? I fed them bits of bread of course. The goose got nothing. Just as well. Have you ever tried approaching a goose? They hate humans... and I think they're plotting something sinister. We've tried to appease them by allowing them to have their own brand of vodka, what else could they possibly want? Keep a keen eye, that's all I'm saying.

Also, I just want to say that feeding the ducks brought a certain level of glee to my heart. It really is enjoyable knowing that you helped some kind of creature gain some sustenance for the day. This will probably make me a good candidate for fatherhood. Some day I will have little ones relying on me to be fed. And when that day comes, I will place them gingerly in the tub and start throwing bread crumbs at them. Ahh, I can't wait for that day to be here.

It's 3 A.M. I Must be Lonely

I have to admit, that title is a little misleading. It's actually 12:30 in the morning. I just wanted to use a lyric to a Matchbox 20 song that I like because... well because I can. That, and any time I hear the letters "A" and "M" together, I instantly go to that song. Not sure why. I'm sure there are a lot of other perfectly acceptable references coinciding with the morning hours, but I honestly can't think of any because now this damn song is stuck in my head. And this isn't even the direction I wanted this post to go. If it wasn't for that damn song, this might have been the best freaking blog posting ever put out into the blogosphere by a human being with fingers! (Go, run on sentence, go!)

Yes, it's 12:33 now but I'm up typing when all I really should be doing is sleeping. This stuffed penguin lying next to me should be in my arms right now... and yes I'll admit to sleeping with a stuffed penguin. I tried a live penguin once but my bed turned a wreck and he stole my wallet. If you're reading this Wobbles, thanks for charging two tons of anchovies on my VISA.

12:36 now and no immediate plan to shut it down, so I may as well go with it. The reason I opened my blog and started typing in the first place has to do with this peculiar thing thats been happening to me for years. It's something always unexpected, something that always happens at night, and something that is really really intriguing to me, albeit uninteresting to others.

Many people are born with inherit abilities. They develop these abilities to turn them into skills. These skills help them succeed in life. Take for instance a boy that grows up with a love for baseball. On the field, he can show early signs of having a knack for the game. After years and years of practice, drive, and a little bit of luck, he can turn these skills into a career in the major leagues. There are human beings capable of throwing a baseball over 100 miles an hour. Think about that. 100 miles an hour! That's five times as fast as old people driving to church! And this guy can throw a ball that fast. Crazy.

Another example: take for instance the kids who are on the national spelling bee. They're really really good at spelling. They can spell words that I have never even heard of. Words like Hepaticocholangiocholecystenerostomies (yes, this is really a word. It's a medical term). In our spelling bees, we had to spell words like "bear" (due to an unfortunate error, I spelled "bear" B-E-E-R. This led to many meetings with the principal and a good deal of counseling. Still not sure why). My point is, these kids are just talented at spelling. It's what they do good.

So what's my skill. What's my ability? If there are people throwing a baseball 100 miles an hour and kids spelling words that even God would have trouble spelling, then what can I do? I'll tell you. I have the ability to turn street lights off by either driving and/or walking underneath them.

Yup.

That's it. That's my ability. I can turn street lights off by being in their general vicinity. And you know what? This doesn't even work for all street lights. It's completely random. So not only does my ability suck, it's unreliable! It's not like I can point out the lights that will turn off. I can't point to one and say "Hey, we're going to go dark in 5...4....3...2....now." My ability really really blows. There's no purpose or reason for it. Yet this happens all the time. Lights just turn off when I'm near them. Maybe one day I'll find that this is actually a really beneficial power to have. Maybe I'll be getting mugged in an alley somewhere and when the mugger gets close to me, the street light shuts off, thus helping me escape under the shade of darkness. Unless there's a full moon that night. If that's the case, "so how would you prefer my money? are twenties good with you?".

If there's a practical use for my magic, I'll be sure to post it here. Until then, I'm just a guy with a useless ability. Man can walk on the moon. I can sometimes make street lights go off. Sigh.

F.Y.I. It's now 12:58

Blocked? Where's the fiber?

Before becoming more active on this blog, I have slowly been conditioning myself to write down any kind of creative thought that enters my skull. If you've read any of these postings, you know all too well that these ideas are few and far between (pity party, please form a line to the left). Until these notes, I would sit at my laptop wanting so badly to jot something down. Each attempt would yield unfruitful results. The harder I tried to force my fingers on these keys, the harder it became to form a coherent thought. Looking back at some of the drafts during this time I found one titled, "World Travelers Beware" which only included the line, "Seeing the world is overrated." One sentence. One cynically driven sentence. Following that, blank space for the words that could have been but never were just sat there, eagerly anticipating the slightest black marking.

I wonder what I could have added to such a wonderfully developed thought? Even now, I don't know what drove me to try and write a blog with this underlying theme. Do I believe that seeing the world is overrated? Ehh, not really. Perhaps what I wanted to say would have addressed the fact that there are certain places in the world I wouldn't ever want to visit. (Kids! Get your bags packed, we're going to Mary, Turkmenistan!)

Writers block is a bitch. When somebody asks you a question, and you're not too sure how to answer it, what do you do? You come up with some BS kind of answer, of course! It may take a second to spew and spurt the BS out but you can take comfort in knowing that you said something. Writers block is like this, but you can't wiggle your way out of it. There are no life lines. No asking the audience. Naturally when this occurs in a written environment you will start writing your BS. If you can just conjure up something, then maybe, just maybe, you can turn that something in to a bigger something. Then you look down at your screen to find what you conjured up was along the lines of, "Seeing the world is overrated". Crap. Backspace, backspace, backspace.... blank slate.

This is when the bizarre, bat-shit insane ideas come out of the woodwork and an inner dialogue follows. For instance:

Hmm. Maybe I can write about a cactus.

Okay, develop that.

What about this cactus makes it special?

Hmm... special... special... Special K!

Okay, so this cactus enjoys eating cereal. Wait, why is the cactus eating cereal?

Because it likes cereal.

But cactus' don't eat cereal.

This one does.

So it must have facial features then, right?

Yes.

So if it has facial features this means it has eyes and if it has eyes then it can wear sunglasses.

Okay, so the cereal eating cactus is wearing a cool pair of aviators when... what?

What's going to happen to this cactus to make this story worth while?

Hmm. Maybe a bird lands on it?

What kind of bird?

It really doesn't matter, it can be any kind of bird, we can just say bird and people will understand.

So the bird lands on the cactus. Does it get hurt?

Yes.

Yes, it hurts itself and this upsets the cactus.

The cactus, being the hip cool Special K eating cactus that he is, would never dream of hurting a bird. Now we have a depressed cactus, what do we do with that?

Well he's gotta make amends to the bird somehow.

But how?

Well cactus' haves spines, right?

Duh- that's why the bird got hurt in the first place!

Well what if he offered to shave off his spines so that the bird would have a safe place to land?

This is assuming, naturally, that the cactus is capable of shaving.

Jesus, I don't even need to shave that often. This cactus really is special.

So he shaves off his spines to benefit the bird. What does he do with his spines?

I know! Let's have him make a bird nest out of his spines so that the bird also has a place to live to go along with a place to land.

Brilliant.

This means that the cactus took basket weaving classes at one point.

What? Birds don't take basket weaving courses.

Yes but they were born knowing how to make a nest out of grass and sticks and what have you.

Yes... but this is a cactus.

Oh, right.

Duh. Cactus' wouldn't have a clue unless they took the appropriate classes.

Glad we're in agreement. So the bird is happy and the cactus no longer feels guilty.

And they lived happily ever after?

I don't know, that's an awfully cliche way to end a story.

True.

How about, "It was at this moment that the cactus learned a lesson. Sometimes it takes more than sunglasses to make you cool. Sometimes it takes friends. And the bird... well he learned that sometimes you have to be careful where you land. Landing on a cactus can be risky, but through risks come great adventures. The end."

Love it.

BOOM! Talk about non-sequidor. What does that story have to do with anything? I suppose it shows the gory aftermath of particular cases of writers block. Did I have writers block before writing this, or did I plan it all? You're free to take a guess. A little piece of advice for all you writers out there. Your writing is never finished, it is only published. Best of luck.

Toy Story 3: Beyond Infinity and Back Again

When I first heard of a third Toy Story movie being in the works, I was admittedly a little skeptical. Sure, Pixar has had such a masterful track record in the past, so why should one worry? The studio that captured audience imaginations everywhere with the original Toy Story has never had a serious misstep. I've always felt that Cars and Ratatouille have garnered more of a niche following more so than its other works, but both were equally fantastic and inspired. But this was different. This was Toy Story... a film that when it came out in '95, instantly became a part of my storied childhood. I really didn't want to see the tarnishing of a film franchise with a "cash in" second sequel that played down to an audience. Now that I have seen one of the most anticipated animated movies in a decade, I can safely say that the brilliant minds at Pixar have done it again. The saga that is Toy Story continues to be held in high esteem.

I found it pretty shocking to realize that the first time we were introduced to Woody and Buzz, I was eight years old. I remember seeing it in the theaters and just knowing that it wasn't your standard run-of-the-mill animated flick. There was a certain magic and originality so evidently present that you couldn't help but take notice. Just as the original spoke directly to me as an eight year old, this third (and most likely final) chapter speaks just as much to me at 23.

Just as time has gone by for us, the clock has also been ticking for the characters we know and love. Andy is no longer the same person we see playing with his toys in the opening flashback minutes. Just like everyone else, he has grown up. Woody, Buzz, and others have been cast to the toy chest to collect dust. The bedroom, almost a character itself, has seen its array of changes. When Woody calls a staff meeting, only a few beloved toys are still around to hear what he has to say. Just as the posters and wall hangings begin to be stripped as Andy heads off to college, the toys have been stripped over the years as well.

As I just mentioned, Andy is heading off to college. As moms are prone to do, his forces him to make a decision about what to do with his old toys. A dilemma ensues as he has three choices: trash them, hide them away in the attic, or donate them to Sunnyside Daycare. Unable to permanently part with his toys, he banishes the majority to the attic, while also deciding to bring Woody to college with him. But, thanks to the fact that we still need a plot to fill 90 more minutes of film, the toys are mixed up and end up being given away to the daycare center by mistake. Not wanting to abandon his plastic counterparts, Woody follows suit.

At the daycare we meet Lotso (as in Lotso Hugging Bear). Just like a wal-mart greeter, Lotso is there to welcome the new batch of recruits and to show them the ropes. It's sort of like the toys going off to their own version of a nursing home. There are areas for relaxation and pampering, as well as a place for broken toys to be repaired. That's right, there are plenty of spare parts and batteries to go around. It all seems too good to be true, and for our heroes, it is. You see, they are being used as toddler fodder. Instead of getting the kids who play with their toys in a nice manner, they are thrown to the hyperbolic wolves, the wee ones that enjoy mashing their toys against a wall or pulling apart their arms and legs instead of hugging them. If this torture goes on any longer, Buzz and the gang will end up looking worse than the toys in Sid's yard, so they decide to make a break for it. We find that getting out isn't easy, and what they're going to do once they get out (now that they're orphans) remains up in the air. You'll just have to see it yourself to find out their exact fates.

Toy Story 3 is a tour de force of creative filmmaking. Nothing can match the originality and creativity of the first film, but this one comes damn close. The screenplay, written by Michael Arndt, is bulging with so much depth, humor, and emotion that, at certain moments, it pulls at our heartstrings. The film isn't afraid to get dark either, with one of the most spectacular looking action sequences taking place on the way to the incinerator.

There's so much to love here. The voice acting is top notch once again with the old cast of favorites returning, as well as notables like Michael Keaton as a Ken doll. The moments between Ken and Barbie are some of the funniest in the film. I also loved the little twist they pulled with Buzz lightyear, first restoring his factory setting, and then making him a spanish speaking space ranger. Also the Sunnyside jailbreak sequence contains some of the most clever and ingenious plotting placed in an animated flick. Oh yeah, and the ending made me tear up. Between this and Up, I might have even needed a tissue or two. The film isn't just about toys trying to find their home. It's about anybody that's ever felt lost, abandoned, or plain just forgotten about. I believe there are a lot of people who can connect with this message, which is why Toy Story is so good at appealing to a mass audience. The kids may come for the talking cowboy and space ranger dolls, but the adults will leave with the understanding of how important it is to love, and be loved in return.

Toy Story 3 is smart, it's funny, and it has got a huge heart. In a summer full of mediocre movies, Toy Story 3 stands out as a hugely entertaining and emotionally charged piece of filmmaking. It's also the best movie of the year.

Leave Your Bumper Stickers at the Door

Good people, there is a growing trend that I have been witnessing more and more on public roadways. Something so heinous it threatens the very fabric of safe driving everywhere. Something so distracting it's truly a marvel that all motorists aren't climbing out of ditches. It's something that makes me sick to my stomach. It induces shivers throughout my entire body. It's worse than all world wars, flu pandemics, human genocides, and christmas cards combined. I am speaking, of course, about the white decals peppering mini vans and SUV'S everywhere alerting the public to how many family members are in that particular drivers family.

Upon googling them under the precise phrase "white car decals with family members", I was redirected to www.familystickers.com. What I discovered here is not for the faint of heart. But before I go into that, let's discuss what the hell these are in the first place.

We have all seen them. On any given day, you'll find yourself engaged in a pleasant, peaceful drive. The sun is shining. You're humming your favorite song (mine would be something by The Wiggles). The gentle breeze rustles your hair (or scalp, for all you baldies out there). Then BAM! A minivan pulls in front of you flaunting these white decals on their rear window. These white decals account for each and every member of their family. There's one for mom, dad, and however many children they may have. There are even ones for pets. All right, hold on one minute. Why must people feel it necessary to show off how great their families are? Is it to sadden all of the motorists on the road that don't have families? Are they trying to make everyone else jealous?

"Ohh look at my family. I have not one, not two, but six children! This is proof that I can procreate (but not proof that you believe in protected sex). And my dog! Ohhh, look at my dog! His name is Ruffles. I bet you wish you had a dog this awesome. And my wife. Just check out the rack on my white stick figure wife! You wish you had a wife this stacked! And these kids. Oh, these kids! One's a soccer star and the other's allergic to peanuts!"

A few thoughts:

1) What happens if your family splits up? It must feel really painful having to pull mommies sticker off the family car when she decides to leave you for Samuel, the scoliosis prone balloon salesman.

2) When you cut people off on the road, do you really want those behind you to say things like, "That asshole! That's it. I'm following them home to kill one... two... three of their pet sparrows! Oh, and their two perfect looking children too!"?

3) Can anybody obtain these stickers or is there some kind of authentication process? Can I create my own fake family? I think I'll give myself a wife holding a bag of money, and two boys depicted as rich baseball stars. Drivers behind me will be so jealous.

4)Do you have to keep buying them to update your family? Susie's 26 now but on the back of your car she's still wearing curlers in her hair and drooling with a box of crayons in her mouth.

5) Morbid thought: If a family member passes on, does the company sell the red circles with the line going through it as well?

6) From a race standpoint: Where the black stickers at?

Here are some examples of what can be found on the website:

Oh, my God. When did the government start issuing drivers license's to turtles? I blame this on global warming. If we keep polluting the waters around us, more and more turtles will take to the road to drive gas guzzling cars with the mentality "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em."

Somebody please contact the humane society. This dog is extremely malnourished. And its neck may be broken.

This family is really sporty and talented... except for the mother who's only good at folding her hands and standing on one leg (try it. it's actually very difficult) or their youngest, who's only good at shitting their pants (with years of training, she too may be able to master the ancient art of hand folding).

Well, folks. I could just go on and on with example after example. Here's the bottom line: I really don't like cars with these stickers. There are probably worse things on the road like texting or nail painting, but they don't bother me as much. I never would have thought that I would harbor such hostility for little white sticks on the back of glass. And if you're reading this and happen to have these on your cars... may God have mercy on your soul.

Dick Clark's Rockin New Years Eve

It appears this is my first posting in the year 2010. That's inexcusable. I'm blaming this on you, 2010. You must be an incredibly dull year so far for me not to write anything. Oh, how far we (as a society) have progressed since the year 2009. Still no flying cars. I hear-tell Toyota is in the process of pioneering this technology. Their premature ambitions have only yielded par results, however. The flying is still non-existent. But the automatic acceleration... now that's something they've gotten good at. Orville and Wilbur (not the popcorn man and the pig) would be proud... I think? (Note to self: develop television sitcom entitled Orville and the Pig)

2009, you wouldn't even recognize 2010. People gather in the masses now to view moving pictures in a place called a cinema. Sure, you had them back in '09 as well, but now everything is three dimensional. This means that pre-teen girls can feel three times as pathetic trying to make out with an emo-werewolf/vampire type thing. Is it just me or does anybody else think that in the future, scientists may discover that 3-D causes side effects such as eye sweats, pupil confusion, face displacement, or brain amplification? Note: People experiencing pupil dilation for more than four hours should consult an optometrist or else risk an onset case of Stevie Wonderfication. It should also be noted that the Twilight movies already cause all of these side effects, even without being 3-D. Oh, and cancer. Twilight causes cancer. Alert the authorities.

Another miracle product of 2010 is something known as an iPad. Sure, iPods existed in your day, but this is something completely revolutionary. It's 10 times as big as an iPod. And if you're a midget, they're 100 times bigger! Disclaimer: Not actual midget approximations.

Apple is also releasing a new iPhone. Sure, it's a lot like the old iPhone, but now it includes a video camera capable of connecting you face to face via a phone call! It also includes voice recognition software. Say a name of a contact and your phone calls that person. This is terrifying. Hear me out with this hypothetical:

You're dating a girl named, say, Jessica Hiddlepot. It's been a pretty long-term relationship but things are starting to get dicey. So, you end up cheating on Miss Hiddlepot. You're with your mistress, who knows of your infidelity, when her name comes up. "Oh, you're such a better kisser than Jessica Hiddlepot. She utilizes her teeth muscles way too much." Then boom! Your phone hears your voice, recognizes the name, and calls up the neglected girl. Not only does she have to hear you making out with a girl with less tooth muscles, she gets to see it! This can create all kinds of difficulties in your relationship, as you may have guessed, and the fact that Jessica has muscles in her teeth is just the beginning.

Technology is scary. And so is the year 2010. Time to go hide in my glow in the dark sleeping bag and re-play those nostalgic 2009 moments over and over again. Oh, and exercise my teeth. They're starting to atrophy.

AVATAR

Expectations for the much anticipated Avatar have gotten so great over the years, that many were beginning to doubt director James Cameron's ability to deliver on the hype. After all, it's a film that's been 14 years in the making. When the first trailer was released earlier this summer it looked as though those doubts might become a grim reality. Well Avatar has been out for over a week, and I can easily tell you that all of those doubts were completely unfounded. Cameron proves once again that he's a director that can deliver on the hype, and then take that hype and hump it into submission. Avatar is a stunning achievement. A visually mesmerizing piece of movie making that is the first "must-see" in years.

Set in the year 2154, Avatar tells the story of a legion of mercenary soldiers sent to a far off distant planet called Pandora. Their mission: obtain a highly sought after mineral called "unobtainium" (actually a scientific word, if you believe it). The only problem with unobtainium is that, it's (you've guessed it) very hard to obtain. The only thing standing in between humans and this mineral are the indigenous population of Pandora called Na'Vi. The Na'Vi are 10 foot tall blue humanoids with large ponytails and long tails who live in peace and harmony with their tropical habitat. They are also "very hard to kill".

Jake Sully, played by up and coming star Sam Worthington, is a paraplegic marine recruited to the distant planet to partake in their Avatar program. The atmosphere of Pandora is toxic to humans so the easiest way to travel is to essentially become a Na'Vi yourself through a process that involves linking your brain to the DNA of a homegrown alien shell. It's kind of like The Matrix where your body lies dormant in a tube while your Avatar body is allowed to go native all throughout this hostile environment.

Jake is taken under the wing of Col. Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang) and ordered to infiltrate the natives, gain their trust, and then convince them to vacate their home village so that the Military can harvest the sweet sweet unobtainium (I never tire from using that word). With the promise of having the use of his legs given back to him, Jake easily obliges. That is, until his life is saved by the Na'Vi princess Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) and everything he thought he knew and believed in now means jack shit.

Neytiri teaches Jake how to live in harmony with all of the beasties that live on Pandora. In doing this he starts to learn their customs, their beliefs, and even their language. Soon enough, a love story unfolds as Jake becomes to simultaneously fall in love with both Neytiri and the Na'Vi's way of life. The story is very familiar so as you've probably guessed by now there's a big battle between the humans and the natives that unfolds for most of the film's third act. It's a classic good vs. evil... man vs. nature kind of a tale. But the story is not what's on display here. It's the visuals.

In creating Pandora the makers have succeeded in creating a vast, beautiful, jaw dropping and unique planet with a million facets worth exploring. During the day time, the planet is loaded with animals that could have you for lunch, while at night, everything glows from some inherent bioluminescent quality. Every square inch of Pandora is truly a wonder to behold and you will find your eyes constantly scanning the screen to pick up new details along the way. It really is non-stop entertainment for your eye-balls. (I joked with a co-worker claiming that James Cameron totally Roman Polanski's your eyeballs. Think about it... Yup. I went there.)

Now as for the motion capture technology employed, its easily the best ever seen by an audience. This goes double for the emotions conveyed in the face of Jake's Avatar or in Neytiri herself. The believability in the CGI is absolutely remarkable. When I first saw, The Polar Express, I thought that they should shy away from that technology but after Avatar, I want to see others employ it with as much care as Cameron has. The Na'Vi are brought to life by this process and by the end of the movie you will wish that this world really existed, trust me.

Avatar does a great job creating characters that we care about and villains that we hate. We become absolutely invested in Jake's task to become one of the natives that we stop caring about human beings. Screw um... Na'Vi is where the real party is at. And honestly, if you don't fall in love with Neytiri, I don't even want to hear about it. Even though she's a 10 foot tall blue alien with a tail she's still an awesome character.... and sexy. (Let's face it everyone. She is.)

If none of this has yet attracted you, there's the final action sequence which is worth the price of admission itself. The final showdown between the humans and the inhabitants of Pandora is a kick in your face spectacle that ranks right up there with the final battle in Return of the Jedi. It's fantastic.

I absolutely loved this movie. There is so much to be taken in with each viewing. I loved Pandora. I loved all of the animals that inhabit it, in particularly the Banchee's. I love the relationship between Jake and Neytiri. I love the evil Stephen Lang's character exhibits. I love the Na'Vi. I love how Pandora looks at night. I love how the Na'Vi can essentially "plug in" to any form of life to create a symbiotic relationship. I love the folklore. I love... love.... love this film. Multiple viewings are definitely a must. The only way to see this movie for its true value is on the biggest screen possible. Waiting for the DVD is not acceptable in this case. Avatar will absolutely wow you. Enjoy.

Final Grade: 95/100 Fantastic

2012

Quick! Solve this equation: 2+2 = ?

If you answered correctly, you are already too smart for this movie. 2012 is an action overloaded disaster film about the ultimate disaster... the end of humankind as we know it! Although the end result is not a complete disaster in filmmaking, it will leave many theater-goers hoping for the end to have already come and gone.

If you hadn't yet heard, this film is a result of the hype surrounding the much debated end of the Mayan calendar, which runs out on Dec. 21, 2012. Some believe on that day all of earth's inhabitants will have a front row seat to the ultimate destruction show. The mythology surrounding an event of this magnitude is mildly interesting, but the science to back it up is mostly absent. Nevertheless, it's enough for disaster porn director Roland Emmerich to want to cash in his check and numb our brains.

2012 stars John Cusack as Jackson Curtis, a divorced dad and once published author. The book apparently didn't sell too well, because he has also become a limo driver. He also has to live with the fact that his wife's new boyfriend has made quite a comfortable life for himself. He's a successful plastic surgeon and has captured popularity from his inherited children. Oh yeah, when the movie calls for it, it turns out he's also a pilot.

One day, Jackson takes his two kids on a camping trip to Yellowstone. There, he meets nutty conspiracy theorist Charlie Frost, feverishly played by Woody Harrelson. Charlie, it seems, has been predicting the end of the world for a while now and is positive that the government is covering something up. At first, Jackson is quick to dismiss these allegations as pure BS, but as Charlie's predictions start to come true... well you can just assume from there.

The plot nearly chokes on itself to try and entertain an audience. There are one too many "plane takes off and just barely avoids catastrophe" moments. Just as there are way too many cheese factors, one such involving a Russian models ridiculous attempt at saving her pet pooch. When faced with near death, you won't believe what some people will do to save their animals. Also, Jackson runs into a client of his in LA... then again an airport in Vegas... then finally in China. I hardly see the same bank teller from week to week.

Ultimately, Jackson and his family make their way to China, where they have learned secret mega-boats have been built to save a fraction of earths inhabitants from going for the world record in treading water. Aboard the ships, Emmerich pulls out every cheap thrill in his arsenal. A massive wave crashes into the ship... but wait, somebody left the door open... well that's easily solved, just shut it. Oh wait... it won't shut. And hey, isn't that Mt. Everest we're about to crash in to?

Everything is just way too predictable and over the top for anyone to stay captivated by all of it. I really wanted the film to focus on a lot of things that were never addressed. Firstly, you can't feel attached to any of the characters involved, so when many of them are quickly wiped out it's like, who cares? Next! Secondly, I really think 2012 should have done more to explore the mythology and science behind this belief. We're given a brief video explanation by Woody's character but it's quickly thrown by the wayside to make way for more pointless mother nature homicide. Why is this happening? How does the alignment of the planets effect the tectonic plates causing all of these mega quakes? And why, if this is supposed to occur on Dec. 21st, doesn't it? The movie more or less dumbed down the 2012 belief as an excuse to just kill the world. No explanation needed.

Now on to some praise. This is an action film after all, so lets talk about special effects work. In a word, it's solid. Some scenes are really fun to watch, in particular the one showcasing John Cusack's limo trip to the airport. This is the first action scene to occur in the film, and it's never topped throughout the duration, which is definitely a big problem. It's also clear in this scene that the director just said "screw it. I just want to have fun killing off LA". Afterwards, there are just so many quake cracks and huge floods that one person can take. What would China look like flooded? Now how about Washington? Now New york? Emmerich just plugs in a different location every time and produces the same effects at each. Do we even care? Give us a story for crying out loud instead of a video game!

To sum it up, 2012 showcases some very impressive action scenes but suffers from a convoluted plot and a cheesy script. John Cusack and Woody Harrelson are fun to watch, and Danny Glover as the President is kind of interesting, but all other characters are dead to me. It will be interesting to see what Emmerich's next project will be. After this, there really is nothing left for him to destroy... unless it's all cinema as we know it.

Overall: 60/100 See it once and that should be enough.