Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes Divorce: Couple To Split After 5 Years Of Marriage

See? He’s cute too. I’m not an idiot. He’s difficult NOT to admire in that aspect.

 

Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes Divorce: Couple To Split After 5 Years Of Marriage

Third time’s a charm. Please note: National Organization of Marriage, who, supposedly, wants to preserve the institution of marriage, has said very little about this upcoming divorce. We’re talking popular culture, here, folks. Tom is, frankly, one of the more bankable stars in Hollywood. He does have the ability to pick the scripts that he wants; he tend to pick bigger pictures that ring in the dough for the Hollywood snob studios (you know, the ones who think they are being robbed of their third and fourth houses…)

When it comes to the accusations of homosexuality, I’ve been very, very patient. However, these rumors fly again and again about Tom and John Travolta. It bothers me that they even come up at all. First off? Who the heck cares, really?

If they are gay, think of the message they’re sending. I mean, they’re basically saying its not okay and they need to hide it forever and ever. As much as I want to play this down, when someone has the ability to stop the hurt and show the world you can be gay AND bankable (a reality that is coming to light…see Neil Patrick Harris et al).

But enough is enough already. There’s a fuck-ton of news out there. Can we report on starving children, the uprising in Syria, the impact of ObamaRomneyCare?

LIke I’m much better. Look at me. I’m blogging about it. Oh well, it’s a Saturday.

Peace,

McBoingBoing

Supreme Court upholds health-care law, individual mandate - The Washington Post

Supreme Court upholds health-care law, individual mandate - The Washington Post

Okay, I usually step aside and leave my other blog for more political commentary, but the fact is, this one isn’t getting much traffic these days. So, well, why not post about what is aggravating me and see if it riles up someone to respond to it?

I have to admit my hesitancy in supporting the President before this year. I remember a bevy of campaign promises and the anti-gay agenda of the GOP and, so, painted into a corner, I sorta HAD to vote for him. Then I noticed things weren’t getting any better. Then, suddenly, he announced he’d stop supporting DOMA.  Then, he nails out "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." 

Lastly, he comes out in support of Marriage Equality.

And I’m swayed.  Frankly, I think I’m okay. I think it is okay, even as a democrat, to question the president. And my problems with Mr. Obama were not like my issues with Mr. Bush. The last president appeared as a bully, yelling, YELLING about how he hated gays and lesbians. My issue was with this president, at least, appearing to do something for my culture and group.

Then this all happened.

I use this as a preface to the article at the top of this.  I saw a while ago the movie, “Sicko,” by Michael Moore. Yeah. I know. You know you’re a dem when you watch Moore’s comedies (which is, why, well, his movies are a bit more watchable) and like them. But it really got me researching. I couldn’t believe the message it had been sending.

Now I work and play in the Deep South. And it is humorous. Most are down here are living off the government’s dime but feel that we shouldn’t. The irony is a bit painful to watch.

But we need coverage for everyone. It is getting silly the amount help costs. I get tired of the argument, usually coming from the lips of someone who labels themselves a “good Christian,” that—“we need to get those people off of welfare!”  I thought religion was about caring for one another. So, instead of stopping and saying a statement like, “get them out!” Why aren’t we asking, “what can we do to help those in need?”  Yes, there are some who are greedily sucking from the teat of government (there’s an image that’ll stay with you), but we should probably find out why they have failed so hard in the mainstream. What message have we sent out as a society to get people to that point? Have we given them ample opportunity to succeed? Can they find a job? Usually no. And when the cycle has repeated itself over and over, no wonder.

I am glad to hear the Supreme Court supported this, I guess. I wish it didn’t have to come to this, but, well, now that people can feel secure in their health some, maybe things might change here? It’s an idea.

There. Back to your regular programming.

1979 Muppet Movie Camera Test - Part Two - YouTube

You can see the natural sense of comic timing and performance these “handlers” have. Too awesome!

Muppet Movie camera test.

Just something beautiful...

I'm envious of Matt here. How I would love to travel the world and use various toilets from eating food that isn't FDA approved. No. Lemme rephrase that. There's just something beautiful going on here. One of the reasons I love Anthony Bourdain is that he shows a distinct facet of ALL cultures. Food. People define themselves by what they eat. It's true on many, many levels.

And Matt here? He shows us another cultural facet. Dancing. Even if it isn't their dance, their costumes, expressions and responses give us a brief but very telling glimpse into their worlds. Look at North Korea's dancing moments. Those are fifties moves the gentleman is doing! Look at the pride in the faces of the people in Pennsylvania and Seville, Spain. And yes, those women's faces are blotted out in one part, but look at the lithe movements they incur.

So, just a brief share. Truly enjoy.

Chronicle

This recent trend in SuperHero movies was made for me. I was big in comic books, long before Kevin Smith made it fashionable for the jocks and the dweebs to read them as well. Surely, I remember aching, ACHING for an X-Men movie even in the late eighties.

And then I got married and that movie opened. The flood gates have opened and picture after picture of heroes have flooded the market. Luckily? These movies are the bastion of special effects so they aren’t cheap. The various studios really have to make a decision to make a movie about being a super hero. I thank them for it. It gives me time to make a decision when it comes to purchasing a ticket.  It also means Hollywood should seriously consider hiring a screenwriter for a few of the lines.

Now, see, The Dark Knight had a profound effect on the super hero genre. Not only a decent actioner, it was a movie with a bit more going on in the heady department; you were required to actually participate in the movie by thinking about the consequences of every characters’ actions.   This was new. Before that point, superhero movies were mere fluffy, great for a last minute movie decision on a Friday night.  What a change in things.  Now, you couldn’t be drunk, high or tired to watch a superhero movie. Suddenly, these movies had a bit more credibility.  Again, I was thankful. This meant that superhero movies might start in a different direction.

Chronicle is a superhero movie that is a step in that direction. Its central conceit, instead of relying on a story we’ve read in the comic books or Saturday mornings, is that three ordinary high schoolers find they have psychokinesis powers and elect to document (the “Chronicle” of the title) it with the latest technology.  Think of the famed Blair Witch Project or Paranormal Activity. I guess another super power they inherit is the ability to keep batteries from dying out. Never once in the entire picture is there a bad image or a red light for a dead battery. Amazing how that works!

The fact is; the movie does work on some level.  Josh Trank and Max Landis bring what appears to be an experienced picture. This is director Trank’s first foray into directing for the big screen; he has only handled some television programming. No complaints, mind you, the best directors get started this way. Even Speilberg. Landis brings pedigree, being he’s the son of director John Landis (Animal House, MJ’s Thriller), but, looking over his resume, I don’t see much on there that sticks out-in other words, this seems to be his first big screen try as well.   The drawback is, sadly, we’ve been down this road before. I kept pointing out what would happen next—and that was when I first heard the drunken father yelling through the door in the first five minutes.

The film is amazingly brief in 84 minutes, but moves at a decent clip, hitting the needed script points. In this tale, a socially awkward youth goes to a party with his cousin and a friend they discover the usual McGuffin-giving them incredible powers. However, things quickly dissolve through trying to live a life that everyone experiences and the ability to make things fly through the air.

I liked it, thought it to be decent. All the actors are right on cue; the special effects are well blended into the scenery and the script. But, well, here’s the thing with these kinds of movies. Blair Witch worked due to a mythology and a terrific marketing campaign that blurred the line between reality and fantasy. And that was the last time it worked. Both Paranormal Activity and Chronicle really don’t cover new material.  We lovingly hate reality television in the world today. Why would we pay for further copies of it?  Not many people would. Paranormal Activity came off with only one scare. Chronicle? We’d seen it before, so why should we care.

Yes, you’ve seen this movie before. Take away the super hero antics and you have a very violent John Hughes movie; a rated “R” Sky High.

However, I can’t help thinking this is a stepping stone. There’s something more here, almost like a sketch of a future picture that will add more depth and cause then this movie tries to do. Is it possible? I hope so. I liked the idea, and everyone was truly trying. Now? Get to making the next Big Thing….