'The Dark Knight' is Awesome!!

Wow... Robert and I just got back from a sold-out IMAX showing of TDK (I bought the tickets on Wednesday because I'm smart - all the showings are sold out until tomorrow, which was to be expected. Still, just as Robert and I were picking our tickets up, two dudes walked up to the "Sold Out" sign and were actually surprised to see they couldn't buy tickets. Duh!! Sheesh.) and it was absolutely fantastic. I loved Batman Begins but I think TDK has it beat; the plot is fantastic, with lots of twists, turns, intricacies and action and take it from me, people - there is NO good time to go to the bathroom! :o) There was always something exciting and important happening, I swear!!! I definitely don't want to give any little thing away so I'll just say that the movie was just as awesome as the hype claims it is and both Robert and I highly recommend it. I think we'll be dorky and see it again next weekend...

Movie Morsels 21 - Terminator Salvation

I'm back!!! Yes, unfortunately for me I'm back at work... but luckily for you that means I'm back to blogging! ;o) Sporadic as it may be. As you can imagine, I missed a lot of stuff (both gossip- and work-wise) while I was gone so I'm a bit overwhelmed and won't be able to post as much or as in depth over the next few days. It'll take me a bit to get evened out and back in the swing of things so I apologize. Until then, enjoy this new teaser trailer for Terminator Salvation... and my Christian is in it! Wee-hoo!!!

Teaser trailer de Terminator Salvation
by UrulokiBlog

Blowing Out to the Windy City

Today's the day - Robert and I will be heading out to Chicago to visit my sister and two nieces in just a few short hours. (I will be in major gossip withdrawal; five days with no computer access?!! I'm already stressing out about missing out on something juicy... dang.) Naturally, though, the Bay Area is going to start cooling down just as I leave it and head for warmer, more humid parts... hooray!!! But I will glad to see my sis and the girls and we have an itinerary chockablock full of excitement so it should be a lot of fun. And, as the photo above says - I'll be sure to take lots of pictures. In the meantime, I know you will miss my hot men posts while I am away, so here are a few parting shots of my Christian (courtesy of christian-bale.org) from the new issue of GQ... ;o)

Biji and His Banner

Just a note - Robert and I are heading to Chicago on Thursday so posts this week and next will be few and far between, I'm afraid. But, before we head off I thought I'd upload a couple photos of Biji, fresh from Fort Lewis (and semi-fresh from Iraq).

Here's Biji trying to look tough in front of his banner. He'd taken a similar photo just moments before but he looked too goofy, so he asked to retake it. I'll be nice and not post the goofy photo... but I'd be happy to sell it off to anyone to asks. :o) Robert and I made Biji a Welcome Home banner after his first tour so it was only fitting that he receive a banner upon returning home from his second. (No, it's not the same banner - I didn't even buy it from the same site. I will say, though, that sites dedicated to personalized military banners have increased exponentially from when I first tried to buy one until now.) The man deserves some fanfare when he comes home!!!


And 12 picture attempts later, here we all are in front of the banner. I love Robert dearly but the man is not particularly photogenic. I mentioned this already in Cankle Head & Cadaver Eyes but the man is so good looking in person - why does he always look like a big face of crazy in photos?! Is he stressing himself out or what? You'd think he has some girlfriend off to the side constantly harping at him not to look constipated or something. Sheesh. Now, I am not particularly photogenic myself so I should beware throwing stones BUT... he's got to work on this before we get married. Seriously.

Anyway, we are psyched to have Biji back and I must commend Biji on toning down his usual peskiness - he's been in town since Thursday afternoon and we've only seen him once. Usually, he'd be pestering us to death by now! I kid (sort of).

Welcome home, Bij. Don't be a stranger. :o)

Recital Videos

Now, I know everyone has been waiting, waiting, waiting for my recital video uploads so you'll be ecstatic to know that your wait is finally over!! I'll wait for you to calm yourself and quit shrieking and jumping up and down excitedly...

In keeping with the grand Ohlone College Television tradition, the quality of said videos is spotty at best. But, if you like your videos out of focus then you're in luck!! I swear - isn't Ohlone's broadcasting program supposed to be at least sort of good? 'Cause you can't prove it by this video! (Then again, it is better than the first year's DVD - the one that focused entirely on our faces. I mean, it was only a dance recital - why would anyone want to see our feet?) Since it's hard to pick me out of the blurry mass, I spent oodles of time adding in a few highlighting boxes to point out where my genius can be found on the stage... too bad when I embedded them in the blog post, the annotations didn't show up. So, below are the videos in their original form. If you want to check them out with the helpful little highlight boxes, click on the link after each video. :o) Enjoy! [UPDATE: Since posting this my original YouTube account was deleted; as a result, you can't view the videos with the highlight boxes. Sorry!!]

This is (der) Hound Dog - it was the second number in the first act. I am in the middle of the second row to start (about 5th from the left... I'm the only blond-headed ponytail in the second line), though I do move up to the front line for a bit. It's sort of hard to follow me... like one of those 'follow the ball' shell games, y'know?

This was the the final number of the show - it's "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" from Monty Python's 'Spamalot.' I am in the front row, third from the right, throughout most of the routine.

Blind Items Revealed

To celebrate the long holiday weekend, Crazy Days and Nights revealed the subjects of many blind items. Most of them were pretty boring (well, all of them were pretty boring... most of them were downright snoozers!) since only a handful were about A-list people (I don't care much about Brandon Davis or Peaches Geldof, sorry). I tried to wrangle up the most interesting for you, but be forewarned that there's no real Earth-shattering revelations to be found - even gossip peeps have to keep their jobs!

• May 19, 2008

#1 - Ahhh, you hear that? It's the sound of a gold digger? So imagine if you will that you are a reality star. A network reality star. As in this has nothing to do with MTV. So, our reality star is a female, although gold digging is by no means gender specific. Our reality star was at an event where she was unfamiliar with many of the people. Unfamiliar means she hadn't heard of them and so didn't know how much they made or what they did. So, she found a publicist at the event and made small talk and got her to spill on each person. When the publicist would rattle off an estimated worth, our reality star would wander over and flirt and try to get a number or give a number. Married, single, it really didn't matter. Cute, ugly? Inconsequential. The only thing that did was a big checkbook.

Julianne Hough

• (unknown)

#1 - Judging by the way this formerly married male singer with a reality television past was being mobbed by D list women you would think his current long term relationship was over. Judging by the amount of phone numbers he collected from said women, it very well could be.

Nick Lachey

• June 2, 2008

A-list film actor. Yes, A-list, no ifs ands or buts. Well, if he had stuck with what made him famous he probably wouldn't have made it to A-list but he adapted. Latest film? Not a great film. First day. Table reading. Our actor showed up for it and was so drunk he could barely stand. No one who was setting everything up would come near him because you could smell him a mile away. He kept stumbling and falling everywhere. Affectionate to everyone. Lots of hugs and kisses. Finally managed to get the actor in a seat. He then started mumbling incoherently and the crews were trying to figure out what he was saying. Then he takes a package out of his jacket pocket...it was a mushed up burrito. He held it up to one of the crew and said "look....what is this?" So she looks and tells him it's a burrito...with chicken...he couldn't comprehend this AT ALL. She went and got him a soda and a sandwich. She was trying to get him into some kind of shape for the reading. It wasn't looking good. Oh, did I mention that he rode his motorcycle to the place? Yeah...good...right? Well, everyone LOVED him...said it was one of his best readings ever...he was brilliant. On and one it went, even though no one had been able to understand one word that came out of his mouth.

Keanu Reeves

• June 2, 2008

This must have happened about six months ago now. Chicago. In one corner you have a B list actor. Married. For now. A list name recognition. How about A+ name recognition. Anyway, our actor was in town doing some press, making some friends, drinking a little bit. Hey just because it is a kindness doesn't mean that it is going to be lovely dovey. He shouldn't, but he does. So, our actor befriended a few of the waitresses at this particular establishment. One of them came up to him and was talking about how some guy had ordered Cristal or something for his girlfriend for their six month anniversary or something and he then realized he had left his wallet at home. Our actor told the waitress to say that the manager had picked up the bill and our actor paid it. Our actor had such a good time doing that nice thing that he decided to pick up every tab in the place that night. He didn't announce it or scream it because then everyone would have just ordered and ordered. Instead, he spoke with the manager and as each person settled their bill they were told it was on the house and thanks for being such a good customer when instead each tab was actually paid for by the actor. Final bill? About $10,000. Plus tip. He is always a good tipper.

Ben Affleck

• January 4, 2008

#2 - This married has been of an A list singer/ teenage heartthrob was seen making an absolute fool of himself at a NYE party at the Playboy Mansion. She was probably 21, but looked about 16 and he followed her around all night promising the world if she would just go home with him. Touching her, kissing her, and even trying to grope her, our singer even offered to leave his wife. Now we all know he was probably joking about leaving his wife, but when she finds out about it, she might leave him.

David Cassidy

• January 18, 2008

#1 One of India's biggest actors __________, had an affair going on with one of India's most famous beauty queens turned actress ________________ However, after some time, the actor convinced his son to marry the actress - which he did, and the father now tags along to almost all the events with the son and mistress/daughter-in-law with the son looking like the third wheel. Our actor's wife, was an actress in her own right back in the day and acts as if she knows nothing. To make this even more interesting there are other rumors that the son has something on the side going on with another actor, who is the son of the chief minister of one of the Indian states.

Amithabh Bacchan/Aiswarya Rai

• January 30, 2008
  
  #2 This aging Academy Award nominated actor is really starting to show even more signs that he may not have all his faculties. Lately he has been trying to make purchases with gold coins instead of cash. No one knows if he is truly crazy or a genius since the past few times he has attempted to use the coins, the owners of the store just let him have his purchases for free after he threw a fit about how he didn't believe in cash or credit anymore and that he was returning to the past. Uh huh.
  
  
  #3 This diva of divas singer and sometime very bad actress spends a great deal of money at one particular store. No problem there. She always goes after closing. No problem there. The problem lies in the fact that she will only shop at the store if a certain person is working there and waits on her. Right before Christmas the salesperson was on vacation in Europe with her family when our singer decided to do some last minute Christmas shopping. When she was informed the salesperson was on vacation she threatened to never shop at the store again. Not wanting to lose our diva as a customer, they flew the salesperson from and back to Europe in Business Class just to wait on our diva.
  
  #2 - Gary Busey
  #3 - Mariah Carey

• February 29, 2008

#1 So there is this sports bar at Times Square and it is Super Bowl Sunday. At this bar you had to buy tables in order to get in (for the game), but this regular person talked herself in anyway and hung out at the bar. There ended up being an empty table, so she approached the guy who "owned" it. (B- list film and television actor who used to be A list back in the late 70's early 1980's) She said from out of town and it's my birthday and I was wondering if I could buy the table from you if you're not using it. The guy looks over and says no problem, I don't need it but you'll have to arrange it at the bar. The woman says thank you so much, you're so great etc - can I tell the waitress your name? Guy stops and says You don't know who I am? She says no. He says just for that you can't have it, Fuck off...turns his back and that was that. No table. She ended up getting drunk at the bar and calling him an asshole every time he walked by to get to the bathroom.


John Schneider

• April 23, 2008

I feel like most of the kindness items lately have revolved around women. That is all well and good, but it is nice to hear that guys can be kind as well. This one involves an actor who would be A list by the definition that he is the star of a long running dramatic television series. Films? He's done a couple, but is really known for his television role. Age? Not old, not aging, but not in his twenties anymore either.

Our actor is married, and she should be included as well in this kindness since she is part of it. Every two weeks or so, no matter where he is, our actor stops into a local toy store. Generally a big chain, but no love from me since they make him pay retail. Our actor spends $1000 every two weeks like clockwork. When he was filming and kept going to the same store every two weeks, someone asked him why he was buying so many toys every few weeks.

Turns out our actor, stockpiles about 75% of the toys he buys all year long and at Christmas time donates them all to organizations like Toys For Tots, etc. The other 25% he sends to various children's hospitals throughout the year.

You know the best part? The guy doesn't need publicity to keep doing it.

Tom Welling

• May 1, 2008

#1 - That marriage didn't last long. You know the B+ list actress on the hit network drama who got married and said it would last forever. Heck, the fake marriage from the same show is going to last longer than this real one. How long do you have to stay married in order not to return wedding gifts?

Ellen Pompeo

#3 - So why would you leave a hit show and a great part? Well if you ask this actress/model with a unique role on that hit show, she will give you a completely different reason than the producers. She will say to explore new opportunities. The producers will say that someone in a supporting role shouldn't be the diva who thinks the show revolves around her and when she can fit work into her schedule.

Rebecca Romijn

• May 8, 2008
  

#1 - This A list film actor. I was thinking about it, but he definitely has opened movies on his own. Action though. That is kind of like women opening a horror film and being called A list. Oh, well, everyone knows him, and when I say know him, you know him. You know, (points eyes)down there. Well seems that our actor is a very generous sort to women on the street who he is attracted to. When he meets someone he likes and likes a great deal, he gives them his card. On the back of the card is a 1-800 number to a credit card concierge with a note that says, "buy something as beautiful and exotic as you... my treat xoxo". There is a pre-set spending limit on the gift.

#1 - Gerard Butler

Today's Tidbit - Dmitri's a Dick

I don't like to make a habit of posting old items but this - it's about a week old - was too good to pass up. [Plus, with the holiday weekend approaching, good gossip is thinning out FAST!] Apparently, a dude named Dmitri hit on some chick named Olga in the SF Marina, after which Olga gave him her card and told him to call her. He did; she didn't return his call. He called back and was none too impressed by her 'passive aggressive' behavior. The original post can be found at The Sherman Foundation blog - worth checking out because the original messages are posted there. I haven't listened to them yet (since I'm still at work) but I read that they are HI-larious. Jezebel.com was kind enough to make a transcript of the messages, the entirety of which follows:

Message 1

Hey Olga, it's Dimitri.

Sorry I had to leave such a rushed message with you when we met the other day. I just wanted to quickly give you my phone number, and needed to get the heck out of the area. In any event, I thought I had better leave you a more detailed message and explain why I approached you. I am single. I have no trouble meeting women; I mean, women approach me six or seven times a day. But I'm extremely particular about what I like. You're an extremely elegant woman. I couldn't take my eyes off you, and your friends were very jealous — even if they say they weren't, they were envious of the fact that I approached you, and I was very taken by you. Elegant women are very rare. I'm Greek and I'm extremely particular about what I like. So I'm giving you an opportunity here. I don't know if you picked up the message on the weekend but I'm working on a movie script so I'll be doing that all weekend…

This looks like a land line, and if it is you may not get the message till Monday. But when you do, call me and we'll get together for coffee or drinks, and let the romance begin. You looked very taken aback by my approach, and I hope that wasn't timidness, I hope it was just shock at being approached so directly. Because I don't really date timid women, because I'm a very direct, very passionate, very assertive man, and I want a woman who is very independent and strong. So… we'll talk about that, but I just wanted to formally introduce myself. I leave the ball in your court. You call me as soon as you have the courage to. Okay, Olga? Talk to you soon, bye.

Message 2:

Hi there, Olga it's Dimitri calling again, the guy from the street.
I left you a message several days ago you said you were interested. Now, here's the way I work. I don't like leaving second messages but I like you, you're a very elegant woman, you're very attractive, but, you know, I don't play that game. I know your friends tell you not to return calls; you're playing games like you see in stupid TV shows. So here's how it's gonna work. It is now 4:30 on Wednesday. Now I'll assume, I'll assume that you've already left work, because, you know, some people leave work early, so I'll grant you that. But if I don't receive a phone call back from you by 3 o'clock Thursday afternoon I'm no longer interested and I'm going to erase your number. I don't play games like that. I'm completely single, I'm very intelligent, I'm great in bed, I make great money. Believe it or not, I'm a complete catch. I've only been single four months; I had a long distance relationship for about a year, it's very tough to maintain it like that; there's nothing wrong with me. As a matter of fact I'm one of the few men in the city that has nothing wrong with him. So I'm giving you the three o'clock deadline. If I don't hear from you by then, you lose my number — I'm erasing your number right now, so you won't be hearing back from me.

So that's it: three o'clock tomorrow, or you can just completely forget it.

Now I understand if you've got other issues, maybe you're not playing games, I don't know… maybe you were abused in childhood?…Maybe your mother has cancer, and you're going to chemo…maybe you're just a person who's extremely frightened or has an anxiety disorder, maybe you're on some medication for that…I don't know, there could be another issue that I'm not aware of. But nobody says "Call me," hands a person a business card and then doesn't return calls. It's extremely passive aggressive. You should actually look that up, passive-aggressive personality disorder. You let me know, if you've got issues, psychological issues, if you're on any sort of medication for anxiety or depression, I'm not interested. But if you're psychologically normal, and you haven't called me because there's been some horrible thing that's happened in your life that's prevented you from returning my calls, that's fine. But otherwise? Don't call me. Okay, bye.

Movie Morsels 20 - Hancock

Blech. I don't like Will Smith. I know, it's akin to blasphemy but there it is. I find Will annoying. Cocky. Conceited. Overrated. And everywhere! Ugh. As my dad would say: "His face annoys me."

Originally, Biji thought he wouldn't make it down to Fremont until July 15th or so. It's all well and good that he's coming into town two weeks sooner... but for the fact that now he'll be in town when the crap that is Hancock is first released. Boo. I am putting my foot down - I will not see the movie!!! Biji dragged me to see G.I. Jane in the theater and that was bad enough to last me several lifetimes of movie karmic debt I think! Ooh, it was terrible. Plus, Biji always falls asleep in the theater (of all the films we've seen with him, either at home or in the theater, the only one he's stayed awake all the way through for is Casino Royale. It's true. Ask Robert.) so how will he really know if I'm there or he's alone?

And, as the gesture of a true friend, I am posting a review of a sneak preview showing which spoils the entire movie. So, uh, if you don't want to know what happens, you should move along now. However, if you want to save yourself $20 (not including snacks) and 80 minutes of torture, keep reading. (I am posting the review in its entirety - it's LONG (and oddly written) - save for a few superfluous bits. Review courtesy of Latino Review]

Saw a super-secret advance screening of Hancock yesterday at the Bridge in L.A. Both producer Akiva Goldsman and Sony head Amy Pascal were in attendance. Akiva was looking mighty nervous as the movie was about to unspool... you see, this was a surprise screening for the common folks and not an industry event. No one in the audience knew which film they were seeing as they filed into the room... but everyone was secretly hoping it was THE DARK KNIGHT. When one of the studio lackeys announced that the film we were seeing was Hancock the reaction was, to say the least, subdued. The usual pre-amble followed about how the effects were not totally rendered, some shots were not color corrected, etc.

Well, Mr. Goldman was right to be nervous... the film is an unmitigated mess... SPOILERS AHEAD--

It opens with slick Willie on the roof of an L.A. building drunk as a skunk while a radio voice-over tells us in an obvious heavy exposition sequence what an asshole Hancock is... more public nuisance than hero, blah-blah... Hancock walks off the building and slams into the asphalt below destroying the pavement and several cars (he causes lots of property damage throughout the film - it kinda gets redundant. We get that he's a drunk, move on). As Hancock lays on the smashed concrete while he's smashed from the all the alcohol consumption, a homeless guy walks up to him and calls him an asshole (I can't remember the last time I heard that expletive so often in a big budget summer film). Basically the film spends the next 30 minutes showing us what an asshole Will smith can be.

We cut to the scene in the trailer when he lands in the back of a car being chased by cops on the highway. The Asian robbers shoot Hancock, bullets bounce off him and Hancock pulls a Fred Flinstone, punching his feet through the floor of the car and bringing it to a halt. He lifts the car into the sky and impales it on the Capitol Records building... what an asshole.

Then Hancock goes to a bar and gets even more drunk… Anyhow, he's approached by a gorgeous African-American girl who comes on to him hard core. Hancock brings her back to his lair – two nasty, dilapidated motor homes that are stuck together – and Hancock proceeds to show her his... well, you're not gonna believe this part but he tells the chick that she has to get away from him when he's about to blow his load (the actual quote was "when I climb the mountain")... and then we cut to the exterior shot of the two motor homes rocking like crazy. Willie was giving her his hancock (I know I couldn't resist). Then we cut back inside and the girl flies across the room. Then three large baseball-sized holes are poked through the ceiling of the motor home like gunshots. Yup, this is a first in cinematic history. We get to see the results of super-ejaculate. I never thought I would see super-semen on the big screen... I didn't know whether to laugh or cry... this was preposterous... it was at this point that I knew this was a debacle in the making. This was definitely a "what the fuck were they thinking moment" if ever I saw one. The problem with this film is that it doesn't know if it wants to be a comedy or a serious action film. Maybe they never knew. But the film only got worse as it went along. The only bright spot was Jason Bateman. God bless Bateman for actually being the grounding force of goodness and smart humor in this mess... although, the way Hancock meets Bateman is clichéd. Bateman's car is stuck on the train tracks while a train is careening toward him. A drunken Hancock saves Bateman but not before causing yet more property damage, which upsets the folks at the scene of the accident. Bateman invites Hancock to his house to meet his wife Charlize Theron and his adorable kid (the kid was great, Charlize did the best with her very underdeveloped role). There's an immediate weirdness and wariness between Charlize and Hancock (more on that later).

Bateman is a publicist with big kind heart... the kind of PR schlub that only exist in movies but you buy it because Bateman's so good. He offers to polish Hancock's image. Hancock ultimately takes the offer. Batemen tells Hancock that step 1 is to turn himself in to the cops. “Let the world miss you and then they will come begging for your services.” Hancock reluctantly agrees. The whole thing about sending a super-being to jail was a stupid idea... he can bust out at any moment but I digress. In jail, Hancock encounters many old enemies that he actually put there and then in an altercation, Hancock actually shoves an inmate’s head into another inmate’s ass... you actually see this!!! You actually see a guy's head in another guy’s ass! And hilarity ensues. I just could not believe what I was seeing.

Later, a bank robbery occurs with many hostages and a massive shootout. The mayor calls on Hancock for help. In jail, Hancock rises, shaves his scruffy beard with his fingernails and puts on his nifty new supersuit (which looks like a leftover from the X-men franchise. Way to be original, costume design team).

Hancock confronts a redneck madman who has a pressure bomb trigger in his hand. If he let's go of the trigger everyone goes boom! Hancock severs the bomber's hand, saving everyone. The city is grateful, the cops are grateful and so begins Hancock's road to redemption and public image glory.

Also, throughout the film we see FLASHBACKS that show Hancock running thorough a rainy forest with a child in his arms. We always see the same flashback multiple times in the film with a voice-over by Smith about dying vs. immortality but get this – the flashbacks are never resolved or explained! I almost felt like I missed something. Like there was a reel missing (hell, maybe there is). It was exactly like the flashbacks in Batman Forever (another Akiva masterpiece) in which little Bruce Wayne keeps seeing a diary beside his parents two coffins... but we never found out what was in the damn diary that so traumatized little Brucie!

Anyway, Bateman and his wife Charlize take Hancock to a fancy restaurant to celebrate his rehabilitated image. At the restaurant, Hancock explains that he's not an alien, he's human... the last thing he remembers is waking up in a hospital 80 years ago with two tickets to the movie Frankenstein in his pocket. More weirdness between Charlize and Willcock.

Later that night, they all return to Bateman's home. Bateman is passed out drunk. Charlize is alone in the kitchen with Hancock. Hancock is about to kiss her when she suddenly picks him up and throws Hancock out the window with vicious force. OH MY GOD, Charlize is a superhero too!!! This is the big twist. Charlize later reveals that she and Will are descendants of Gods or Angels... she was at one time Isis. She also reveals that they were once husband and wife! We also find out that they are each others respective kryptonite. The more time they spend together, the weaker and more mortal they become... so they need to stay apart. She was at the movies with Willcock 80 years ago. They were on the road to mortality when Will saw a man getting mugged. Will intervened and got clocked in the skull. He lost his memory and Charlize decided to disappear from his life because the world needs one hero – Hancock!

Willcock wants his wife (Charlize) back and vows to destroy every living thing to get her (this is never really explored or developed but could have been very cool). It leads to a huge showdown between Will and Charlize... more needless property damage. Charlize is stronger than him. Bateman finds out that his wife is a super-being. He's pissed. Bateman accuses Willcock of being selfish because he wants Bateman's life. Depressed, Hancock goes to a liquor store and buys more booze only to thwart a robbery in progress, except this time the bullets don't bounce off him. He's gunned down and bleeding. He's rushed to the hospital. Bateman and Charlize show up. This is the climax of the film, so the mad bomber from the bank with the severed hand escapes from jail and heads to the hospital. Hancock is in a hospital bed, Charlize by his side when the Bomber and his cronies show up and shoot Charlize. She's bleeding and dying. Willcock suddenly gets his super strength back (I have no idea how since they're supposed to be each others kryptonite... I'm still not sure about the rules in this movie).

The doctor's are trying to resuscitate Charlize while Willcock fights the baddies... but the closer Charlize is to death the stronger Will gets. But if she gets better Will gets weaker... to be honest, it was all very muddy and needs to be better explained or edited... I was confused. Anyway, Will throws all the baddies out the windows except for the big villain who is knocked out by an angry Bateman who in turn saves Willcock.

Willcock sees that Charlize is dying and he jumps out of the hospital trying to get as far away from her as possible so she can regain her strength/immortality/whatever. In the end, Bateman and Charlize are together and happy while Hancock is in New York sitting atop the Chrysler building saving lives in the big apple.

In my humble opinion, if the filmmakers want to save this film, drop all the silly stuff, like the super-ejaculation, the inmates head in the ass, and the lousy opening sequence and just stick to a straight forward action film... otherwise this will be Will Smith's first box office dud since WILD WILD WEST.

But what really infuriates me is that with all the resources at their disposal, no one knew what film they were making. This film is the equivalent of being tone deaf. Hence, the panic I was reading on the executives’ faces after the screening. This film is not as dark as it thinks it is and not as funny as it thinks it is. It's right down the middle and that's a dangerous place to be. IRON MAN got the tone right. The DARK KNIGHT knows exactly what it wants to be. HANCOCK is going into the most competitive summer season since the glorious summer of 1989… Half-Cocked.

Trout BBQ

In keeping with the tardy posting I've been doing of late, here's a bit from back back on June 14th...

Christina's brother, Jim is headed to WASU - with his wife, Karen, of course! - to pursue his Ph.D. As such, the Trouts gave Jim a going away party and Robert and I were invited. Rob couldn't make the trip out to CA with Christina but it was a great opportunity to catch up with Christina... and a good way to get our butts out of the house to meet up with Emily and Paul, who live about a mile away from Robert and I but with whom we never really get together because neither Emily nor I like the phone. So there you go. :o) I always enjoy hanging out with the Trouts, as I've said before, and I was glad to have a chance to see Jim and Karen before they left. (Karen was always a friendly face in a sea of strangers at both Emily and Christina's respective wedding showers!) I feel so bad for Mrs. Trout - now all her kids live out-of-state. My mother would shrivel up and die!! Mrs. Trout definitely looked like she needed a hug a couple times throughout the night... Anyway, the food was fantastic (Robert had three full plates! I have a picture of him eating but he looks a little... less than his best so he's requested that I omit it from the post) and the company was better so what better way is there to spend a Saturday? I just hope Christina makes it back to CA sometime before next year...

Emily, Paul (with Moochie), Christina & I

Moochie is THE CUTEST dog ever!!! After seeing him that weekend and then hanging out with my sister's dog last weekend, I am having some serious puppy pangs. Robert is not excited.

Yes, it's June and yes, we are wearing parkas. Actually, Emily is tougher than I am - I have a thinner jacket on under my parka!! (All three jackets belong to the Trouts... I was stupid and didn't bring one. Did I mention it was mid-June? C'mon!)

Movie Morsels 19 - The Dark Knight (Limited Time)

Direct from TunaFlix this morning:

What is it with movie trailers and pizza these days? First Papa John’s premiered the Mummy 3 trailer, now Dominos has an extended Dark Knight trailer you can only watch if you’ve ordered a pizza in the last 48 hours. And because that’s probably the stupidest condition for watching a preview I can possibly think of, you can also watch the awesome new trailer above. And I won’t even ask for a tip.

This really is a stupid idea - but Domino's needs the help, I'm sure. But is this promo even advertised anywhere? I haven't seen it... but (1) I have TiVo and (2) I don't like Domino's so those could be contributing factors to my neglecting whatever ads there are. :o) Even if I had seen it, though, I would not really be tempted to ordering anything from Domino's. Bleh. Plus, I obviously have the connections... and thanks to me, now so do you!

UPDATE: I just stumbled across a link to two behind-the-scenes videos at IESB.net.

(And these actually have behind-the-scenes footage... not like the lamer Quantum of Solace video I posted yesterday!)