Poetry: "My Rollercoaster Weight"

Poetry: "My Rollercoaster Weight"

My rollercoaster weight

But dieting I hate

Being heavy's my fate

I can't seem to get a date

I'm gonna be late

Might as well give me another plate...

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Elizabethtown" (2005)

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Elizabethtown" (2005)

Dir.: Cameron ("Fast Times at Ridgmont High", "Almost Famous") Crowe

Characters/Actors: Drew Baylor (Orlando "Lord of the Rings" Bloom), Claire ( Kirsten "The Virgen Suicides" Dunst), Phil (Alec Baldwin), Susan "Thelma and Louise" Sarandon, Ella (Jessica "Seventh Heaven" Biel, etc.

Young shoe designer Drew Baylor gets fired from his job after the shoe of his design loses the shoe company close to a billion dollars. Soon afterwards, Drew prepares to end it all when he gets an unexpected call informing him that his father has just passed away. Baylor decides to live and travels alone by a redeye flight to Kentucky, specifically headed toward Elizabethtown, where his father grew up. On the plane, Drew meets a friendly and optimistic flight attendant named Claire (Kirsten Dunst), who has an extensive conversation with him, the only other passenger besides herself and the pilot. Claire gives him a map to Elizabethtown, and she includes her phone number. Using the map, Baylor finds his destination with little trouble, where he meets his father's quirky extended family. Eventually, Drew calls Claire and they have long phone conversations and also spend time with each other. After the funeral, Claire encourages Baylor to take a road trip narrated with songs and commentary which she put together until they get together again. This is one of my favorite movies.

Poetry: "'Tis the Season to Indulge"

Poetry: " 'Tis the Season to Indulge" A work in progress

'Tis the Season to Indulge

Eat too much

Your gut will bulge...

Eat too much cake

Better plan your wake

Eat too many cookies

You won't get much nookie

Eat too much pie

You'll get too fat

Perhaps you'll die

Eat too many chips

For now you'll live

But your pants may rip... (tbc?0

Sci-Fi Bri's Television Casualties of 2010

Sci-Fi Bri's Television Casualties of 2010

Two thousand and ten was a very good year for televisison. Unfortunately, many good programs ended before they should have.

"Breaking Bad" This series on American Movie Classics was an example of "All good things must come to an end". In case you never saw it, the show was about a high school chemistry teacher named Walter White ( Bryan Cranston of "Malcolm in the Middle") in New Mexico who uses his chemistry skills to 'cook' crystal meth to support his wife Skyler and his cerebral palsy afflicted teenage son soon after discovering that he has terminal lung cancer. His unlikely sidekick is a former student who is a recovering addict, and Walt's brother-in-law is a Drug Enforcement Agency agent. Unlike many series, "Breaking Bad" got better, and more dangerous for Walt and his family as time went by. In the final episode, White just barely maneuvers to avoid being killed by his drug kingpin employer's (Giancarlo Esposito) henchmen.

"Legend of the Seeker" Poor farm boy Richard Cypher discovers as a young man that he is the "Seeker of Truth" who with the "Sword of Truth" helps innocents in the 'Midlands' from evil tyrant "Darken Rahl". Rahl himself has magic powers and the loyalty of many ruthless soldiers and the sadistic Dominatrix-like "Mord- Siths", beautiful young women with no compassion. The Seeker travels with his protector, "Kahlen", also known as the "Mother Confessor", who is a witch-like nun of sorts who has the power to know if someone is lying. Also, if she "confesses" someone, they will show absolute loyalty to her and even kill for her. Before long, Richard and Kahlen fall in love, but they can never consummate their love or the Seeker will be "confessed" by her and go insane. The Seeker also travels with a powerful wizard who turns out to be his grandfather. After the evil Darken Rahl is slain, Richard must contend with the Devil-like "Keeper of the Underworld", who can raise the dead in exchange for them bringing more dead to the Underworld. This excellent syndicated series only lasted two seasons. It was a victim of a lousy timeslot and even worse publicity. While Darken Rahl, the Mord- Siths, and the Keeper couldn't defeat Richard the Seeker, he met his demise at the hands of lousy ratings and an arbitrary Nielson Ratings system which rewards popularity over quality.

"Lone Star" This very short-lived series was about the son of a con artist with two girlfriends who has a life of grifting on one hand and a the potential of giving up that life as an oil magnate. This series had great potential, but as too often happens in the world of television the plug was pulled before it could become popular. This show was on Fox, a network that used to be willing to take chances on shows which would likely die on ABC, NBC or CBS.

"Outlaw" Jimmy Smits, who lately has a bad track record with series television (2009's canceled "Cane") fails again with this short-lived series about an arrogant conservative Supreme Court Justice who quits the Bench to practice as a lawyer of controversial cases. Smit's character is a gambler on the side, and his team of lawyer's and investigator's are also an interesting aspect of the show. This is another example of a series with great potential killed by low ratings.

"Undercovers" Samantha Bloom (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) and her husband Steve ( Boris Kodjos) are an African-American married couple who are former CIA agents turned caterers, who are lured back into the lives of secret agents. They are enticed to accept espionage assignments by their irritable handler, played by Gerald "Simon and Simon" McRaney. The tagline of this series was "sexpionage". In every episode, Ms. Mbatha-Raw appeared in bikinis and/or lingerie. In my opinion, she is perhaps the sexiest woman on television. Also, I think this show should have lasted longer than it did. Mission terminated by ratings or a bad time slot.

"The Whole Truth" Maura "E.R." Tierney and Rob "Numbers", "Northern Exposure" Morrow played rival lawyers and friends. I only caught a few episodes and I was impressed with what I saw, but I think this show's early demise was due to going head to head with another lawyer show in which Jim Belushi and Jerry "Stand By Me" O'Connell play a pair of cocky Las Vegas attorneys.

I'm not 100% sure, but I think the excellent new version of "Nikita" was also unfortunately cancelled. If you haven't caught the show it is or was about a sexy female government assassin for the clandestine organization "Division" who escapes and uses a young recruit to try to "take down" the organization which trained her to kill or else. (tbc?)

Update from Monday, December 13, 2010: Good news for "Nikita" fans, "Nikita" will resume its schedule in January 2011

Unfortunately, both "Medium" the psychic murder mystery series and the excellent cop show "The Closer" are about to meet their imminent demise by the end of 2011. On a unrelated note, wouldn't a show like "Legend of the Seeker" make a good movie or a great movie franchise? Ciao for now.

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "The Next 3 Days"

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "The Next 3 Days" Dir.: Paul Haggis

Characters/Actors: John Brennan (Russel "A Beautiful Mind" Crowe), Lara (Elizabeth "The Forty Year Old Virgin" Banks), Damon Pelligrew (Liam Neeson), Olivia "House" Wilde, Brian "First Blood" Dennehey, Daniel "Home Alone" Stern, etc.

The night after arguing with her boss, Lara Brennan (Elizabeth Banks), a wife and mother from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania gets arrested for her manager's murder. Before she knows it, Ms Brennan has been given a life sentence for murder with little or no chance of being paroled. The convicted murderess, who is evidently innocent of the crime she has been convicted of, has a hard time adjusting to life behind bars; especially being away from her husband and young son, plus she has diabetes. Her husband, John (Russel Crowe), who teaches at a community college is very devoted to her, and tries his best to get her released or at least new trial. After a suicide attempt, John Brennan risks everything to try to break her out of jail. Russel Crowe is the best thing about the movie. It is amazing how his personality changes from being a mild mannered professor and loving husband and father, to a person who will go to practically any length to save his wife from an unhappy life in incarceration. The best part of the movie is the jailbreak, which practically goes awry before it even occurs.

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "127 Hours" and "Due Date"

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "127 Hours" and "Due Date"

"127 Hours" Dir: Danny ("Slumdog Millionaire", "Trainspotting")

Starring: Aron Ralston( James "Spiderman", "The Pineapple Express" Franco, Amber ("House", "Joan of Arcadia") Tamblyn, Treat Williams, etc.

True story of Aron Ralston, a young go-it-alone adventurer who after getting his arm stuck between two rocks while climbing a canyon in Utah eventually resorts to amputating his own arm with a pocket knife to escape. Most of the movie takes place with the protagonist trapped between the two large rocks. The movie was really, really good, but the explicit amputation scenes are not for the squeamish and may turn off some of the potential audience of this film.

"Due Date" Rated R

Characters/Actors: Robert Downey Jr. ( "Iron Man"), Ethan Chase/Tremblay (Zach "The Hangover" Galifanakis), Jamie Foxx, etc.

After being kicked off a flight with a destination of Los Angeles, where his pregnant wife is about to give birth; a strait-laced father-to-be (Robert Downey Jr.) reluctantly travels with an oddball aspiring actor named Ethan (Zach Galifanakis) whose drug paraphenalia got him put on the "no fly list" due to a mixup and the guy's masturbating canine companion. The supposed actor gets on the father-to-be's nerves, but eventually they become good friends. A typical buddy picture/ road trip film. It had its amusing moments, but the laughs are few and far between. In addition, who really wants to see a masturbating dog?

Poetry: "Abra Cadaver" A work in progress

Poetry: "Abra Cadaver" A work in progress

Abra Cadaver

Hide in your bed

Prepare to run if

Ye reanimate the dead... (tbc?)

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Skyline"

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Skyline"

Character(s)/Actor(s): Jarred (Eric "Haven" Balfour), Terry (Donald "Scrubs" Faisson), etc.

Soon after attending a wild soiree on the top floor of a highrise penthouse, all kinds of bright lights cascade from the sky. A large-scale extra-terrestrial attack is underway in the city of Los Angeles and presumably in other major cities as well. At first, hungover partygoers don't know what the hell is going on, but the bleary-eyed revelers quickly realize that they are in mortal danger with almost nowhere to hide from the flying menace above. There are relatively small squid-like automatons with metallic tentacles, large 'brains', and vagina-like mouths; there are dinosaur-sized bipeds with large claw-like 'hands', and large spaceships raining down destruction on any and all humans, fighter planes, and many buildings. Nowhere seems safe from their probing tentacles and laser-like lures. Also, captured humans seem to serve as batteries for these robot-like creatures. This movie was like "The War of the Worlds" on steroids. The dialogue perhaps wasn't its strong suit, but in a movie like this the awesome special effects are the real star of the film. Not that that's necessarily a bad thing.

Poetry: "Clowngress" A work in progress

Poetry: "Clowngress" A work in progress

Clowngress, the Joke's on you

Vote for them, you know you're screwed

Count on them to overtax your pay

While voting for their own pay raise

All the while they're funding wars

Into which your money pours

Tax breaks for the very rich

While your dreams go in a ditch

Cutting programs you may need

And when you're poor they fail to heed

When your nearly on the streets

They'll make it hard to afford your heat... (tbc?)

Special Guest Short Fiction: "Baldo & Snorb"

Special Guest Short Fiction: "The True Story of Baldo & Snorb" by Robert Mason

[After a little over 400 posts today I have my first guest writer. As you may know, fiction isn't my strength, but my guest writer is quite adept at it. Bob Mason is a friend of mine and occasional writer. We both belong to the same social club. I don't know about now, but in the past he has worked as a mason. I have pretty much transcribed his story as is, with as few edits as possible. And now, "Baldo & Snorb".]

I woke from an excruciating nightmare last night. All I remember is screaming in pain, and then turning on the light I look to the end of my bed to see a horrible sight... A small plump woman with huge sharp canine fangs protruding from her blood spattered mouth. She looked as though dumbfounded at my sudden awakening! She was licking her chops when I looked from her face to where my feet were sticking out from my sheets... I SCREAMED louder than before, "She ate my big toe!!!" There at the foot of my bed, my right foot pulpy and reddened with blood, with my Big Toe Missing.

She suddenly licked the blood from her mouth and jumped from my bed to the ceiling fan, grabbed the blade, and with her orange and purple polka-dot muumuu flapping, she swung towards the exit. She let go of the blade and with her muumuu acting as an umbrella, she sailed gracefully to the door of my apartment; landing on the latch with her chubby little foot opening the door, then running full speed into the hallway. I threw the sheet from me as I quickly and carefully got out of bed. I hopped over to my drawer and put on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. Then I hopped in my truck and drove with my left foot to the hospital at 3 a.m.

I told them [doctors, etc.] about my nightmare and how I had seen the horrid dwarf chewing down my big toe. They did not believe a word of it. They operated on my big toe and bandaged me up, gave me some pills, and told me to stay off my foot for a month. The nurse asked me if I wanted to speak to a psychiatrist and I staunchly refused! I hobbled out of there on crutches. The I got into my truck and drove home. As I round the corner to the street where my apartment complex is I notice all sorts of people in a line leading toward my parking lot. There were firemen and policemen, judges and lawyers, doctors, construction workers, office personnel, agents, truck drivers, children and their moms; you name it they were there. I slowly drive past them in awe, wondering what they're all waiting for, and in the distance I see a sign that read "Baldo & Snorbs" in big yellow letters.

I park my truck and walk over to the sign and I see this happy crowd gulping down plastic cups full of lemonade. I am right near the front of the line, and I notice a small lemonade stand; and beneath the sign I see two people. One of them was a pudgy looking bald man with a peculiar aperture sticking out of his head who was wearing nothing but a red cape wrapped around his body so as to present a modest appearance. And, right next to him I immediately caught the unmistakable eyes of the little beast who ate my big toe... her name must be Snorb!!

I am mortified when I see her, but am also curious to find out why she ate my toe. So I try to regain my composure and approach her. "Uhm, excuse me Snorb". She immediately looks up to me and starts spewing a garbled and unheard of language composed of squeaks, ploobs, and jabberwocky. She then fixedly stares at the ground and nudges Baldo; they proceed to converse in this same incomprehensible speech. She then begins to pour more lemonade. The pudgy guy then looks to me and says," Yes sir, Snorb apologizes to you for last night's intrusion." I am taken aback by this weird couple... they are making lots of money selling lemonade, for one; and two, they speak and gesture in fits and starts! The little guy with the aperture on his head then says, " Sir, Snorb tells me for you to adorn your other big toe with pepper rings to prevent her from eating it." I replied, " Oh, what is this, some supernatural deterrent?" Baldo responds, "Why no, Sir, this is the only way you can save your other big toe! Snorb is allergic to pepper rings, and despises them. She has the habit of eating Big Toes and Cat Tails. I have to apply pepper rings to our cat Snickers tail whenever Snorb and Snickers are in the house together!!!"

Suddenly I am poked by one of their customers and told to move out of the way because I'm holding up the line. I move backwards carefully while still watching this spectacle. I decide to go into my apartment and suddenly a cat crossed my path... with a stub for a tail. I then decide to go to the apartment later, and instead I am off to the store to buy some pepper rings!!

Poetry: "Have An Issue?'

Poetry: "Have An Issue?"

Have an issue?

Grab a tissue

Certain folks will never miss you

Life can be rough

And if you don't like it

Too damned tough... (tbc?)

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Conviction"

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Conviction" Based on a true story

Characters/Actors: Betty Ann Williams (Hillary "The Next Karate Kid" Swank), Ken Williams (Sam Rockwell), Juliette Lewis, Minnie Driver, Peter Galagher, etc.

In Massachusetts, the devoted sister of a man with a police record falsely accused and later convicted of first-degree murder gets her G.E.D. and then goes to law school to try to get her hapless brother out of prison. Little does she know that it will take about twenty years of her life, cost her her marriage, and once they have proof her brother is innocent they have to deal with red tape from government officials who don't want to admit they were wrong. Meanwhile, her brother is ready to give up on his freedom, and he is hardly a model prisoner. I was surprise with how much trouble Betty Ann went through to get her brother released form prison. This movie very well might win acting awards for several members of its cast. This movie was enjoyable from start to finish.

Poetry: "The People Have Spoken"

Poetry: "The People Have Spoken"

[Note: This poem was posted on my political blog "Rage Against The Regime" A few days ago.]

The people have spoken

They made a mistake

The system is broken

And now I'm awake

I shudder to think it

Inside I still quake

The right-wing took over

The people I hate

Like rich businessmen cheat

The Republicans won

By using deceit

We still have the Senate

But they have the House

I hate to say it

But our dream has been doused

You should not complain

If you failed to vote

The right-wing agenda

Should drown and not float

Though Rush and Karl Rove will certainly gloat

As our country is now on a financial vacation

May right-wing thought burn

In a huge conflagration

I refuse to congratulate my foe

The right-wing Republicans

They have to go...

Poetry: "When Ye Have Nearly Nothing"

Poetry: "When Ye Have Nearly Nothing"

When ye have nearly nothing

Except for fresh air

And you come to the conclusion

That life just ain't fair

Life at times can be quite hard to bear

Even if you're not waiting for the Electric Chair

Unless you're a rich man's heir

The world don't seem to give a care

Assert yourself if you will dare

But all you'll get is crueltie's glare...

Poetry: "End of Days?" A work in progress

Poetry: "End of Days?' A work in progress

End of Days?

From our nuclear hubris?

Or will our final solution

Be a wave of pollution?... (tbc?)

Poetry: "Conspiracies" A work in progress

Poetry: "Conspiracies" A work in progress

Conspiracies oft go all the way to the top

But don't try telling that to a cop

For your freedom it may stop

And in a strait-jacket you may flop...

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Red"

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Red"

Character(s)/Actor(s): Frank Moss (Bruce "Die Hard" Willis), Sarah (Mary Louise "Weeds" Parker), Joe (Morgan "Shawshank Redemption" Freeman), Victoria (Helen "The Queen" Mirren), Marvin (John "Being John Malkovich" Malkovich), Cooper (Karl "Star Trek" Urban), James "The Warriors" Remar, Richard "Jaws" Dreyfuss, Ernest Borgnine, etc.

Bruce Willis plays Frank Moss, a retired C.I.A. agent who not only has a difficult job adjusting to retirement, but he and several of his aging former colleagues are all branded as "RED" or "Retired, Extremely Dangerous" by the powers that be. Moss and friends become targets of a seemingly endless wave of government assassins led by an agent Cooper (Karl Urban). Frank goes on an unannounced visit of Sarah, a pension customer service rep (Mary Louise Parker) he often calls just to talk and he abducts her to save her life. These "RED" former trained killers are very hard to kill and won't go away quietly. Meanwhile, Moss, Sarah, and his ex-spy friends travel all over to survive and they even break into the highly secure Central Intelligence Agency headquarters. This movie was over the top and highly implausible, but Willis and his fellow targeted retirees are fun to watch. John Malkovich was a hoot as Marvin, a paranoid old man who was once frequently dosed with LSD while an agent. Unless you don't like action movies with a certain amount of comic relief, you should enjoy this movie.

Poetry: "Tempus Fugit" [Time Flies]

Poetry: "Tempus Fugit" [Time Flies]

Tempus Fugit

Time does fly

Like an airplane in the sky

If it crashes you may die

Ere your loved ones say goodbye... (tbc?)

Essay: Too Many Movies To See"

Essay: "Too Many Movies To See"

I try to see at least one movie a week. Sometimes I see several in a week, but since I have cable tv I don't see as many films as I used to. Until recently, if I really enjoyed a movie I would see it a number of times before it went to home video. I have seen "Raiders of the Lost Ark" about 15 times, I have seen the "Planet of the Apes" movies at least a dozen times. I have seen "Goodfellas" about 8 times, I'm not exactly proud of it, but I have seen the notorious "Showgirls" about 5 times. These days certain movies I really want to see I never get to see in theaters because if a movie isn't popular in its opening week it may get pulled a week or so later to make way for other films. For instance, I never got to see the superhero movie "Kickass" in a local theater because it got pulled so fast. Most recently, I really wanted to see the vampire movie "Let Me In" but in the week it was there I saw "The Social Network" and "Case 39" on my only days off from work. Chances are, "The Social Network" will be playing at least 4 weeks at my local theater, while if I wanted to see "Let Me In" the only place it was playing in my area was thirty some-odd miles away with one show at 11:50 p.m. when I'm very likely to fall asleep during some or much of the movie. In fact, I originally planned to go but I was too tired to make it. I suppose I'll settle for when its on home video or cable, but I shouldn't have to. Fortunately, most movies are just about as good on the small screen, except for epics such as "Lawrence of Arabia" or certain big action films. If a movie nut like myself can't see all the films I would like to, perhaps movie distributor's should slow down with how many films are out there to see.

Poetry: "Living On Fumes", "Truants"

Poetry: "Living On Fumes"

Living on fumes

I'm financially doomed

Bankruptcy looms

So sweep me away with a broom.

"Truants"

Truants who are AWOL from school

Oft grow up to be fools

They think they're so cool

But they're from the shallow end of the pool... (tbc?)

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "The Social Network"

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "The Social Network"

Starring: Jesse "Zombieland" Eisenberg (Mark Zuckerberg), Justin Timberlake (Shawn Parker), etc.

Based on the true to life story of how a nearly friendless computer nerd at Harvard University around 2003 became the youngest billionaire in history soon after founding the popular Facebook website. It started out at Harvard and gradually proliferated to other colleges and eventually to millions of computer users around the world. Much of the movie takes place in disciplinary hearings against Zuckerberg, but he eventually has the last laugh. Along the way, Mark's evidently sole friend helps him fund the venture, but the friend and several other Harvard-based rivals sue him over the idea. Eisenberg gives a potentially award-winning performance, and surprisingly, popular singer Timberlake was also excellent as the hard-partying Shawn Parker, founder of the notorious Napster music-sharing website. Parker gets involved in Facebook, much to the chagrin of Zuckerberg's best friend and business partner. This movie was really interesting and fun to watch, somewhat similar to the earlier movie "21" about M.I.T. students who start card counting in Las Vegas.

TV Worth Watching: "Boardwalk Empire"

TV Worth Watching: "Boardwalk Empire" TV MA for Violence, Nudity, Profanity and Sexual Situations On Sundays at 9 p.m. on HBO

Executive Produced by: Martin Scorsese ( Director of"Goodfellas", "Taxi Driver", etc.)

Starring: Steve Buscemi ( "Fargo"), Michael Pitt, Gretchen Mol ("The Notorious Betty Page"), etc.

In the 1920s in Atlantic City, New Jersey, local politician Nucky Thompson (Steve Buscemi) attends a woman's temperance [anti-alcohol] meeting when Prohibition is about to become the law of the land. Little do these women know, Thompson is or will be heavily involved in the bootlegging business and will do almost anything to keep the liquor and the money resulting from illicit booze flowing. He has many policemen on his payroll, but there are certain FBI agents who would love to put him out of business and maybe even behind bars. Before long, he starts to associate with well-known gangsters like Lucky Luciano and a young Al Capone. It is amazing what Nucky seems to get away with, and that's what makes this show so fun to watch. I predict that Steve Buscemi will be at least nominated for an Emmy or a similar acting award for this role. If you can afford HBO, this show is reason in itself to get it.

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Devil"

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Devil"

Dir.: M. Night Shyamalan ("The Sixth Sense")

Starring: Bokeem Woodbine, etc.

Soon after a person commits suicide by jumping off a building five people: a security guard, a mechanic, a sleazy salesman, a young woman, and an older woman; become trapped in an elevator. After awhile, strange things start to happen, they turn on each other, and then they start to die one by one. One of those on the elevator is the Devil in human form, who is there to torment the others, who each have done terrible things to other people. Meanwhile, an alcoholic detective is on the scene, who is still grieving the death of his wife and son by a drunk driver several years before. I have seen similar movies before. I enjoyed this movie, especially guessing who may be the Devil in human form. The "Sixth Sense" and "Signs" were better movies, but this is one of M. Night Shyalaman's better movies.

Poetry: "Como Usta, Kinichiwa" A work in progress

Poetry: "Como Usta, Kinichiwa" A work in progress

Como Usta, Kinichiwa

Tell me how you've been

Later tonight it's a time for sin... (tbc)

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Case 39"

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Case 39" Rated R for Violence and Disturbing Images

Starring: Emily Jenson (Renee' "Chicago" Zellweger), Doug (Bradley "The Hangover", "Alias" Cooper) ,

Detective Mike (Ian "Kings" McShane), Lilith Sullivan (Jodelle Ferland), etc.

Emily Jenson (Renee' Zellweger), a harried but caring social worker with child protective services, reluctantly takes on another case of Lilith Sullivan, a seemingly sweet little girl who shows signs of parental neglect. After meeting with the girl's parents, Emily has a feeling in her gut that the girl is being physically abused. During a late night trip to the girl's house with a detective friend (Ian McShane) in tow, she hears screams and catches the parents trying to kill their own child. After the parents are put away, Ms. Jenson agrees to take in young Lilith until a suitable foster family is found. Soon afterward, Emily's friends start to die in strange and terrible ways, plus tragic circumstances also befall many of her young clients who are in therapy with the little girl Lilith. Lilith may or may not be truly evil or diabolical. Soon after taking the girl in, Jenson starts to act erratically and may be going insane. Showing a little girl being thrown into an oven will be too disturbing for many moviegoers, but horror movie fans will likely enjoy this film.

Poetry: "Fake IDs and Spelling Bees" A work in progress

Poetry: "Fake IDs and Spelling Bees" A work in progress

Fake IDs and Spelling Bees

Burger King and party brie

Words by Goethe and abscessed teeth

Dirty jokes and secondhand smokes... (tbc?)

Poetry: "Never Cross The Russian Mob", "A.R.M."

Poetry: "Never Cross The Russian Mob"

Never cross the Russian Mob

They'll kill you at home or at your job

With their funds, don't ever rob

Or in the sea your corpse will bob...

"A.R.M." A work in progress

An Adjustable Rate Mortgage

Also known as ARM

Can do your finances an awful lot of harm

Once it resets, you'll be deeply in debt

But the lenders don't care

That you can bet... (tbc?)

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "The Town" Rated R

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "The Town" Rated R for violence, profanity

Dir: Ben Affleck (also directed "Gone Baby Gone"

Starring Ben "Chasing Amy" Affleck (Doug Macray), Jeremy "The Hurt Locker" Renner, Rebecca Hall (Claire), John "Madmen" Hamm, Titus "Sons of Anarchy" Welliver, Blake "Gossip Girl" Lively, Pete "The Usual Suspects" Postlethwaite, Chris Cooper, Victor "Alias" Garber, etc.

The leader of a bunch of masked, armed bank robbers in Massachusetts falls for a woman he took hostage during a heist. The woman has no idea that he was involved in the robbery. Meanwhile, the FBI at first have no idea who the thieves are, but chances are they are from Charlestown, Massachusetts where (according to the opening credits) for many Charlestown residents bank robbery is a way of life. This was a really good movie. It was much better than the Affleck directed "Gone Baby Gone". However, the movie "Takers", released about a month ago had a similar plot and was a more entertaining film.

Poetry: "Swimming In Debt"

Poetry: "Swimming In Debt" A work in progress

Swimming in a sea of debt

But can I stop spending?

I wouldn't want to make that bet

I'm not pretending

I cannot stop, yet

I won't be bending

I can't afford to fly a jet

I'm not defending [my actions]

Misery is what I'll get... (tbc?)

Poetry: "I'd Never Sleep In The Nude"

Poetry: "I'd Never Sleep In The Nude"

I'd never sleep in the nude

I just think it's too lewd

I doubt I'll e'er be in the mood

You could say I'm a prude

I think it's too rude...

Poetry: "Kickin' Ass and Taking Names"

Poetry: "Kickin' Ass and Taking Names"

Kickin' Ass and Taking Names

No more Bullshit, No more Games

We all know who is to Blame

May they burn in demon's flame... (tbc?)

"Christopher Hitchens" A work in progress [Note: Christopher Hitchens is an outspoken atheist and the author of "God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything"]

Christopher Hitchens wrote: "God Is Not Great"

Now terminal cancer is his horrible fate.

He's the guy many Christians most certainly hate

Soon perhaps with his 'maker' he'll soon have a date

While phony preachers continue to prate...

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "The American"

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "The American" Rated R for violence, sexual situations and nudity

Starring: George Clooney, Clara (Violante Placido), Mathilde (Thekla Placido), Father Benedetto (?), etc.

An American assassin is tracked by killers while in Sweden in the company of a woman friend, so after evading the would-be killers he lays low in the picturesque town of Castel Del Monte, Italy. While preparing for an assignment, he befriends an aging priest and falls for a beautiful Italian prostitute. He is also in danger from fellow assassins and perhaps from his own people. This was rather slow at times, other than his trysts with the gorgeous and frequently nude Italian prostitute. For the most part, I enjoyed this film. It was nothing like a James Bond movie. If you go, keep in mind this has copious nudity and sexual situations ; so keep your kids at home. It also has the occasional assassination.

Poetry: "Smacked By A Bible Belt"

Poetry: "Smacked By A Bible Belt"

Smacked by a Bible Belt

It's sure to give him quite a welt

It seems to him cruel fate's been dealt

He's not a Druid Celt

In a church he often knelt

Which seemed to others his heart did melt

But at him certain rocks were pelt[ed].

Poetry: "Strong Woman"

Poetry: "Strong Woman"

She's a 'strong woman'

In other words, a Bitch

Not too many like her

But her husband it quite rich... (tbc?)

"When the sun's a swelter" A Work in Progress

When the sun's a-swelter

You look for shade and shelter

Your ice cream is a-melter

In the Mississippi delta

Just like helter- skelter

I feel like Alka-Seltzer...

Poetry: "Unhappily Employed"

Poetry: "Unhappily Employed" A Work in Progress

I never should have took this job

I could have done much better

I only started working there

To not become a debtor...

Some days I feel like I could head off for the hills

This job here is punishment for lacking useful skills

I settled when I took this job

I've been there several years

Sometimes when I have to work

I feel like shedding tears

When I have to work there,

I seldom do enjoy

It can be said without a doubt I'm

Unhappily employed... (tbc?)

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Takers"

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Takers"

Starring: Matt "My Bodyguard" Dillon, Paul "The Fast and the Furious" Walker, Hayden "Star Wars: Revenge of the Clones" Christenson, Morris Chestnut, Zoe "Avatar" Saldana, etc.

A sophisticated quintet of thieves foolishly agree to an armored car heist proposed by a just paroled, bad news ex-convict who once was in their crew, very soon after pulling a successful bank job. Meanwhile, a Los Angeles police detective (Matt Dillon) and his partner are at first stymied about the thieves identity, but he finds a carelessly left behind clue at the scene of another crime. Also, the two detectives are under the scrutiny of the Internal Affairs department of the police. This is one of my favorite films of 2010. It won't likely win any awards, but it was interesting and very fast paced most of the time.

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "The Last Exorcism" Rated R

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "The Last Exorcism"

Characters: Rev. Cotton Marcus (?), Nell Sweetzer (Ashley Bell), Louis Sweetzer (?), etc.

Reverend Cotton Marcus, a Protestant preacher from Baton Rouge, Lousiana, heads to the rustic Sweetzer farm, where the owner, Louis Sweetzer, is convinced that his daughter (Ashley Bell) is possessed by a demon or the Devil himself. In the past, Marcus has just gone through the motions to financially exploit the superstitious families of arguably unbalanced religious zealots. The reverend brings a camera crew this time to record what is supposed to be his "last exorcism" before he gives up the clergyhood due to doubts about his faith in God. Basically, he is a fraud. However, Louis Sweetzer's daughter Nell, who seems a sweet, innocent, pious and virginal sixteen year old girl, is pregnant and does things at times that show she is very disturbed. She goes from sweet sixteen to cat mutilator to attempted murderess. She also draws extremely disturbing pictures. Her father is so devout that he rules out psychological trestment for her and insists on having her exorcised instead. The preacher comes to realize that this time perhaps, this young girl may genuinely be possessed, and Marcus is unprepared to really help this potentially dangerous, afflicted girl. This is like a combination of "The Exorcist", "The Blair Witch Project" and "Paranormal Activity". At first it is slow-paced, but eventually suspense builds before the scares happen. There is a surprise toward the end which I won't give away. Worth seeing at either the cinema or on home video in a few months.

Poetry: "Killing Dolphins, Clubbing Seals" A Work In Progress

Poetry: "Killing Dolphins, Clubbing Seals"

[Note: I have known for years that Canadian furriers club seals for their fur or pelts, sometimes even the babies. Lately, I have been following the saga of a former trainer of dolphins for the tv show "Flipper" Ric O'Barry, who is now an opponent of capturing dolphins for our entertainment and is fervently against the slaughter/murder of dolphins and other small whales in a cove in Taiji, Japan as depicted in the Academy Award winning documentary "The Cove". In Taiji, they say they do it for tradition and for food (dolphin meat has a high concentration of dangerous mercury), but if so, why do they try to hide what they're doing from the Japanese media and people? In a parallel development, in many parts of the U.S., wolves are being slaughtered, and even their pups are often gassed to death.]]

Killing dolphins, clubbing seals

One for fur, one for meals

Their murderous actions cannot heal

When they do this, do they feel?

I for one am not fooled

The Taiji (Japan) and Canadian practices are cruel... (tbc?)

Poetry: "Life Is Fair...Unless It's Not!"

Poetry: "Life Is Fair... Unless It's Not!"

Life is fair, unless it's not

Do as you will, but don't get caught

The best things in life are often bought

But not all can afford some pot

Or even their own funeral plot...

Poetry: "Puppy-Throwing Girl"

Poetry: "Puppy-Throwing Girl"

A young girl was filmed

Throwing puppies in the drink

She may be young

But her heart's as black as ink

If she's found out

I hope she goes to the clink

As her mind is on the brink

She threw newborn puppies

In a raging river

She's a taker and not a giver

I hope she gets cirrhosis of the liver...

Poetry: "Hours Cut At Work"

Poetry: "Hours Cut At Work"

They cut my hours to the bone

Restricted access to the phone

Made it tough to pay my loan

I know I like to bitch and moan

Perhaps I ought to stay at home

Or on the streets I could always roam

And later blog about a poem...

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Get Low"

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Get Low"

Starring: Felix Bush (Robert Duvall), Robert Quinn (Bill "SNL" Murray), Buddy (Lucas Black), Maddie (Sissy "Carrie" Spacek), Gerald "Simon and Simon" Macraney, etc.

Felix Bush, an ornery,old, shotgun-wielding hermit (Robert Duvall), widely disliked and gossiped about, comes out of a nearly forty year seclusion because he wants to have a "funeral party" while he is still alive and to invite anyone who has a story to tell about him; whether positive or negative. Bush also has a shameful secret which has bothered him for the last four decades. Meanwhile, a money-hungry funeral director (Bill Murray) is all too eager to benefit off of Felix Bush's 'funeral' plan. At the same time, his younger assistant has his misgivings about exploiting the old eccentric. I really enjoyed this movie. Perhaps one of Duvall's most memorable characters since he played "The Great Santini".

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: Best Wishes to Actor Michael Douglas

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: Best Wishes to Actor Michael Douglas

This week (Sept. 2, 2010) actor Michael Douglas announced that he has Stage 4 throat cancer. Douglas is son of acting legend Kirk Douglas and is currently married to the glamorous Catherine Zeta-Jones Douglas. He started out on the televised police drama "The Streets of San Francisco with the late Karl Malden. Douglas is best known as the character Gordon Gecko in the movie "Wall Street" (also starring Charlie Sheen), who proclaimed: "Greed is good." in the eighties when Reagan was President. Douglas also appeared in the "Romancing the Stone" movies, "The War of the Roses" about a divorce that goes horribly wrong, "The Star Chamber", "An American President" with Annette Bening, in which he plays a Clinton-like Leader of the Free World, and a number of other movies. On David Letterman Douglas acknowledged his former drinking and smoking habits were likely factors in his cancer diagnosis. Although, in some respects he may only have himself to blame, I still can empathize with him because a few years ago I was diagnosed with a pre-cancerous esophagus; due to Barrett's Esophagitis or a form of Acid Reflux Disease. I don't mean to bring my own ailment into my tribute of actor/producer Michael Douglas, but I didn't even know I had Barret's and/or Acid Reflux until I happened to have an Endoscopy for a completely different condition. I don't know for sure, but I suspect I came down with Barret's and Acid Reflux due to drinking excessive acidic sodapop plus acidic foods and perhaps even artificial sweeteners like high fructose corn syrup. I used to drink several liters of tonic every single day until I gave it up. If cola can dissolve a nail perhaps noone should drink it. Anyway, Mr. Douglas, I hope you make a quick and complete recovery. Think positive, continue to love your gorgeous wife, and if possible continue to make great movies for people to see.

Poetry: "Four-Wheelin' In The Rain" A Work in Progress

Poetry: "Four-Wheelin' In The Rain" A Work In Progress

Four-Wheelin' In The Rain

Treating safety with much great disdain

Are you racked in the brain?

If you're lucky you''ll finish with an ankle sprain

When you're ATV tips over you'll be in lots of pain

Slow down in the rocky lane

If you're not careful you will soon have to walk with a cane

Always wear a helmet to protect your brain... (tbc?)

Poetry: "747" and "Nobody's Fool"

Poetry: "747" and "Nobody's Fool"

"747"

7:47 and it's time to fly

If the damned thing crashes

Then you're gonna die

At the wake and funeral your

Friends will cry

That'll be the last time you'll be in the sky...

"Nobody's Fool"

He cheated on taxes

He cheated in school

He cheats on his girlfriends

He's nobody's fool

He cheated his lovers

He cheated his friends

He cheated all strangers

Up to his end

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Piranha 3-D"

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Piranha 3-D" Rated R for Blood and Gore, Profanity and Copious Nudity

Starring: Elisabeth "The Karate Kid" and "Leaving Las Vegas" Shue, Jerry "Stand By Me" O'Connell, Ving "Pulp Fiction" and "Dawn of the Dead" Rhames, Richard "Jaws" Dreyfuss, Christopher "Back To The Future" Lloyd, etc.

A Geologic event at Lake Victoria in Arizona brings hundreds of an ancient species of voracious piranhas eager to feast on drunken reveling college kids and scantily clad co-eds. In addition, a sleazy photographer (Jerry O'Connell) is in town to entice young women to flash their breasts and/or disrobe for the camera. Little does he know that these piranhas jeopardize his life and livelihood plus that of the models he exploits. Also, the so-called local "sandrat" son of the town sheriff agrees to work for the sleazy "wild wild girls" photographer when he is supposed to be watching his much younger siblings. His young brother and sister are also in danger if they get in the water. Not the greatest, but if you don't mind seeing almost constant nudity plus blood and gore; all in 3-D, this is a fun day or night at the movies.

Poetry: "Sigmund Fraud"

Poetry: "Sigmund Fraud"

Sigmund Fraud

He's very flawed

The way he acts, he thinks he's God

Vacations a lot around Cape Cod

All he ever does is nod

And goes to bed in a sleeping pod

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "The Expendables"

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "The Expendables"

Starring: Barney (Sylvester "Rambo" Stallone), Christmas (Jason "The Transporter" Statham), Yin Yang (Jet Li), Church (Bruce "Diehard" Willis), Arnold Scharzenegger, Mickey "Ironman 2" Roarke, Gunner (Dolph "Universal Soldier" Lundgren), Steve 'former pro wrestler' Austin, Eric Roberts, Etc.

The selling point of this film is that practically every action star of the last twenty some-odd years (except Mel Gibson, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Steven Segal, among others) appears as a major character or as a cameo. The premise of this move is as follows: A group of commando mercenaries, led by Sylvester Stallone's character, accept international assignments as soldiers of fortune, where they shoot as many bullets as is possible at their foes. On one of their missions, the "Expendables" go to a backwards 3rd-world Spanish-speaking island run by a ruthless dictator funded by an equally ruthless American and cause quite a bit of mayhem . Predictably, at one point they get betrayed by one of their own. Also, they attempt to rescue a relative of the dictator, who may or may not want to be rescued. This movie was ok if you like action films, but a previous movie "The Losers" had a very similar storyline and was a much better movie (other than the unnecessary sideplot about a girl's soccer game).

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Inception"

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Inception"

Starring: Cobb (Leonardo "Titanic" Dicaprio) Joseph "Third Rock From the Sun" Gordon-Levitt, Ariadne Ellen "Juno" Page, Ken "The Last Samurai" Watanabe, Robert Fischer, Jr. (Cillian "28 Days Later" Murphy), Pete "The Usual Suspects" Postlethwaite, Michael Caine, etc.

An exiled widower, wanted in the States for the death of his wife, and his cohorts; make a living by illegally "extracting" information from people's dreams. One of his victims hires him to "implant" an idea in a young businessman, which is difficult and maybe impossible to do. "Implanting" an idea is potentially dangerous to both the dreamer and the dream thieves. Also, Cobb is haunted by his dead wife, who tends to appear in the subconscious both in his dreams and in the dreams of people he is hoping to "extract" information from. Sometimes she is violent, and subverts his dream thievery. This movie was at times a little hard to follow. Sometimes you didn't know a dream-state from reality, but in a movie like this that's a good thing. This movie had really impressive special effects and a great cast. I would see it again. It was well worth spending 2 1/2 hours seeing.

Poetry: "Beauty Is A Superficial Wound"

Poetry: "Beauty Is A Superficial Wound"

Beauty is a superficial wound

Which oft heals with age

Jealous suitors are filled with rage

Their violent actions wind them up in a cage

As time goes by, girls' good looks turn a page

As Shakespeare once said, "All the world's a stage..." (tbc?)

Poetry: "You Can't Out-Swim A Shark"

Poetry: "You Can't Out-Swim A Shark" A work in progress

You can't out-swim a shark

So don't enter water after dark

Dogfish cannot bark,

But Great Whites and Makos can kill on a lark.

And their serrated teeth leave a permanent mark.

If you see a Dorsal Fin,

Get out of the water! You cannot win.

If the water runs red,

Chances are, something is dead.

Don't take a chance. Dream about it in bed.

There's nothing wrong with fear.

Be wary in your SCUBA gear.

If a killer shark is near,

Its teeth and jaws can tear and shear.

And then you'll never drink another beer

Your friends and loved ones will shed some tears... (tbc?)

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Salt"

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Salt"

Starring: Evelyn Salt (Angelina Jolie), Liev "X-Men: Origins" Schreiber, Chiwetel "2012" Ejiofor,etc.

Loyal CIA agent Evelyn Salt goes on the lam after a Russian points her out as a "Russian spy". Moments later, Salt is on the run and uses all of her spy training to dodge bullets and a ruthless fellow spy (Chiwetel Ejiofor) who is determined to find her and kill her if necessary. Her only ally seems to be another fellow spy ( Liev Schreiber) plus her entomologist husband, who has gone missing. Although the plot and conspiracy are largely implausible, the nearly nonstop action and mayhem kept me on the edge of my seat. Arguably as good as or better than the "Bourne" movies, starring Matt Damon.

"Despicable Me" Animated

Starring: Gru ( Steve "The Office" Carell), etc.

Self-proclaimed "number one supervillain" Gru has been displaced by a young upstart named Vector, so with the help of dozens of "minions";he decides to steal the moon. Also, to get back at Vector, he adopts three young orphan girls, who can unwittingly help him sabotage Vector's impenetarable fortress. Against his expectations, the love he ends up feeling for "Margo, Edith and Agnes", his adopted daughters, ends up interfering with his nefarious plans. In spite of using freeze rays and other devices on unsuspecting people, it turns out Gru perhaps isn't such a bad guy after all. Mostly for kids, but I enjoyed it.

Poetry: "Dancing At The End Of A Rope"

Poetry: "Dancing At The End Of A Rope" [Note: This poem is fictional and not based on my own life or outlook.]

Dancing at the end of a rope

Enjoy life? I say nope!

With life's problems I cannot cope.

Even if I smoked some dope

To the darkness I shall lope.

In the unknown I will grope.

For I have abandoned hope.

Some Recent Poetry

Some Recent Poetry:

"Identity Theft"

Identity Theft

Your credit's been cleft

Now your reputation's completely bereft

The thief was so deft

No trace was left...

Untitled Work in Progress

I baked and got some flour

Then I took a shower

It felt good for an hour

I felt a surge of power...

"A Tick"

I felt a tick on my leg

I threw it down the sink

It was too small to beg

Its carapace was black as ink... (tbc?)

"He Went To The Dance"

He went to the dance

To get in her pants

Now they both live in France

In a farm filled with plants

Infested with ants...

"A 5 Billion Year Old Sun" A work in progress

I have no kids

But a five billion year old sun

Which gives out much warmth

And allows for much fun... (tbc)

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Cyrus"

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Cyrus" Rated R for language

Starring: John C. Reilly "Boogie Nights", (Molly)Marisa Tomei "My Cousin Vinnie", (Cyrus)Jonah Hill "Superbad", "Accepted", etc., Katherine Keener "The 40 Year Old Virgin"

A middle-aged divorcee (John C. Reilly), who has spent years alone feeling sorry for himself, reluctantly attends a party at his ex-wife's urging. While there, against the odds, the socially awkward guy manages to charm a beautiful woman with "his honesty" about his post-divorce loneliness. The sadsack divorcee finally is with the woman of his dreams, but she has a secret she tries to keep from him, her 22 year old son. When the divorcee finally meets the son, he seems like a nice guy. Before long though, the 20-something man-child does everything in his power to passive-aggressively try to sabotage his mother's new relationship. In addition, the son has a strange almost Oedipal closeness to his mom. John C. Reilly and award-winning actress Marisa Tomei are always excellent, but Jonah Hill is more than a little creepy; but is surprisingly good is his first serious role. This was a good movie, but it is an independent film with a non-traditional ending.

Essay: Too Good To Be True Radio Ad

Essay: Too Good To be True Radio Ad: If you hear an ad about "free groceries" do not respond.

A little over a month ago I was listening to the Rhode Island-based alt-rock station WBRU. After listening to several songs I heard an ad by Nelson Research Group about calling a survey and in return I would get $1000 in "free groceries". Against my better judgment I responded to the ad. Before I knew it, I was asked to give them my credit card information (what should have been a giant red flag to hang up). Also, I was signed up for several programs (such as "Auto Savings USA" and "Powerhouse Savings", among others) that I neither wanted nor needed to sign up for. Each of these programs would cost me $19.99 per month on my credit card if I failed to cancel within a month. In the coming month I had to pay at least $50.oo on my credit card for responding to this ad. I successfully canceled all the programs I was signed up for, but I had a hell of a time calling and canceling them all. I must admit I did get a voucher for supposedly 'free groceries', but it is a coupon service; which I have to pay a fee each time I order the coupons. I have yet to order any of these coupons, but I have a feeling I won't save anywhere near what I hoped to save (if any). Hopefully, I won't lose money on the deal. At least I learned my lesson.

Poetry: "Playin' Through The Pain

Poetry: "Playin' Through The Pain" A Work in Progress

Play through the pain

Got to win the game

Ignore the feelin' in your brain

If we lose guess who they'll blame

If you're lucky you won't need a cane

Whether in PeeWee football, the pros or Notre Dame... (tbc?)

Poetry: "Certain Old Folks Shouldn't Drive"

Poetry: "Certain Old Folks Shouldn't Drive"

Certain Old Folks Shouldn't Drive

They oft forget to brake

Their license should be pulled

And they cause others to ache

Ere they reach say eighty-five

To keep us all alive

On the other hand,

Seniors like to roam

Without a doubt to drive from place to place

Sure beats a nursing home... (tbc?)

Poetry: "When a Privilege Becomes a Right"

Poetry: "When a Privilege Becomes a Right" A work in progress

When a Privilege becomes a Right

Many people will fight

When those rights are at risk

Political organization suddenly becomes quite brisk

When a Privilege becomes a Right

Union members will fight

When these rights are at threat

Even if we all go into debt

It's more than an even bet

When sufragettes won the vote

Women didn't want to miss the boat

Today they take for granted

What they one time could only rant about

When your boss is unfair

Or the CEO doesn't care

If we all went on strike

Our pay or benefits could be hiked

Or they'll hire some 'scabs' and tell us all to take a hike

When a Privilege becomes a Right

Many people will fight

From dark to light

Even when the perk is trite

Such as a peaceful vigil

Though angry mobs they aren't so civil...

Poetry: "June Came So Soon"

This is my 365th post. Enjoy.

Poetry: "June Came and Went So Soon" A work in progress

The end of June

Has just elapsed

Can scarce believe

It came so soon

Comfort's gone

It's so damned hot I could just swoon

Buy some booze

And drink so much and howl at the moon

Go to the beach

Sing off key feet burning in the dunes

July was nigh

The Fourth is here

The summer heat won't anon go by

And fireworks suffuse the sky

Global warming's here

So pleasant cooler days will die

Sun block is needed, or my skin is sure to fry... (tbc?)

Cookouts and picnics make the summer a joy

Movies and ball games are like a toy

Shakespeare in the park

Discovery's "Shark Week" after dark

When late September's here, 2010's summer will disappear.

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "The Karate Kid" (2010)

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "The Karate Kid" (2010)

Dir.: Harald Zwart ("Agent Cody Banks", etc.) Starring: Jaden Smith (Dre Parker), Mr. Han (Jackie Chan)

After popular Detroit resident twelve year old Dre Parker (Jaden Smith) [son of former "Fresh Prince" actor/rapper Will Smith and actress Jada Pinket ("Hawthorne")] moves to Communist China after his mom accepts a job there, he has a run-in with a bully with strong Kung Fu skills over a cute young Chinese girl. After Cheng (the bully) won't stop bothering Dre, the unhappy,picked-on boy is rescued from one beating by Mr. Han (Jackie Chan), a maintenance man where Dre and his mom now live; who happens to be a secret master of Kung Fu. Han easily handles a gang of bullies from the "Flying Dragons"dojo, who live by the credo of "no fear, no pain, no mercy" instilled by their ruthless instructor. When Han accompanies Dre to the kung fu dojo of the dragons, the sensei (instructor) insists that the boy enter a kung fu competition against the kung fu adept dragons or else. Han teaches that kung fu is supposed to be for peace rather than for violence and intimidation. In a subplot, young Dre befriends a young Chinese classmate who is a dedicated musician. Perhaps not as good as the original with Ralph Macchio and the late Pat Morita ("Mr. Miyagi"), but I really enjoyed this movie, the location, the culture shock, the unconventional training, and especially the martial arts tournament.

P.S. This is my 364th post. I started contributing to this blog on July 26, 2008. It is hard to believe I am one post away from a year's worth of material. If I knew anything about computer graphics, I would celebrate the milestone with Virtual Fireworks or something. It took me nearly two years to reach this point. I hope to contribute more short fiction and poetry when I have the inspiration. If anyone besides myself reads this, I thank you. I hope to publish a book in the near future about saving money and budgeting.

Sci-Fi Bri's Television Picks

Sci-Fi Bri's Television Picks: Summer Shows Worth Checking Out

"Scoundrels" (on ABC) Starring: Virginia "Sideways" Madsen, David James "Jag" Elliott, etc.

After her husband gets arrested and ends up with a five year prison sentence, the matriarch (Virginia Madsen) of a family specializing in petty crime and chicanery, decides that she and her children will become law abiding citizens. Her moronic son will steal anything he can get his hands on and in the pilot episode he nearly ends up behind bars. His vacuous eldest sister can only seem to get jobs that involve removing her clothing, and his younger sister is highly intelligent, but blackmails her principal into allowing her to be truant as much as she wants. With Madsen's intervention, all three situations are nipped in the bud. This could be one of the most quotable series in recent memory. For instance, Madsen's character tells her son: "We don't break into people's homes, at least when they are home." I intend to watch this show every week, and I definitely recommend this show in its Sunday timeslot.

"Rookie Blue" (on ABC) Starring Missy Pelgrym ("Reaper") Doe-eyed police rookie Andie (Missy Pelgrym) and four other recent graduates of the police academy are fresh on the job and do their best while making their share of mistakes. In the pilot, Andie fouls up an undercover drug sting and defuses a hostage situation on her first day on the job. A routine police drama in which the love interest from "Reaper" shows she can do more than look pretty.

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "City of Your Final Destination"

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "City of Your Final Destination"

Starring: Anthony Hopkins (Adam), Laura Linney, etc. Dir. : James Ivory (of Merchant-Ivory fame)

An Iranian-American graduate student named Omar travels to Uruguay at his semi-pushy girlfriend Deirdre's behest after the surviving family of a deceased writer fails to grant him approval of a biography he hopes to pen. If Omar cannot get their approval he will likely lose his job and his funding to continue his education. Soon after Omar arrives at the deceased writer's estate he is invited to temporarily stay there among the late writers' widow (Laura Linney), mistress and illegitimate daughter, plus his brother Adam ( Anthony Hopkins) and his Japanese partner/ handyman.

The writer's extended family are worthy of a book themselves. Definitely an independent film, but well worth seeing.

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "The Prince of Persia"

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "The Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time"

Characters/Actors: Dastan (Jake Gyllenhaal), Tamina (Gemma Atherton), Ben Kingsley, Alfred Molina, etc.

In ancient Persia (what is now Iran), the king is so impressed by the brave boldness of a young peasant orphan boy that he adopts the lad. A decade or more later, the adopted prince leads an invasion on a peaceful rival city reputed to have a cache of knives. The city is easily conquered, but Dastan unwittingly comes to possession of a dagger which can enable its wielder to travel backwards in time and to potentially change history. Soon afterward, Dastan's older, noble-blooded brother (by Dastan's adoption if not by blood), first in line to succeed the king; bestows on Dastan a gift to give to the king which has a deadly poison. When the poison kills the king, Dastan is blamed for the assassination, and he flees with Tamina a beautiful queen or princess of the fallen city (0ne-time James Bond girl Gemma Atherton). At first the two don't get along very well, but they eventually fall for each other. Tamina reveals to Dastan that in the wrong hands the "sacred dagger" could allow an evil man to conquer or destroy the world. The king's jealous brother (Ben Kingsley) is the potential evil man who it is necessary to keep the dagger away from. By the director of such films as: "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire", "Donnie Brasco",etc. Similar to "Raiders of the Lost Ark". Not the greatest, but a fun, action-packed summer diversion.

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Splice"

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Splice" Rated R for Nudity, Violence and Sexual Situations

Starring: Sarah "Dawn of the Dead" Polley (Elsa), Adrian "The Pianist" Brody (Clive Nikoli),

Dren (?), etc.

A married pair of genetic scientist who specialize in gene splicing new life-forms stumble onto a scientific breakthrough when they splice a human/animal clone and create a dangerous hybrid creature with a deadly barbed tail, animal instincts, and human appearance, intelligence and urges. Meanwhile, they are under pressure to deliver a profit from their scientific efforts and their lab and its funding may be shut down. A really good horror movie but even though it is unique in giving the creature a sexual dimension I personally would have preferred it was just a potentially dangerous creation. If you enjoy horror and science-fiction, you will certainly enjoy this film.

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Robin Hood" (2010)

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Robin Hood" (2010)

Characters/Actors: Robin Longstride (Russell Crowe), Marion Loxley (Cate Blanchett), William Hurt, Max Von Sydow, etc.

In this prequel to the "Robin Hood" we all know, in the 11th century, King Richard the Lionhearted has been off fighting in the Crusades for at least a decade. He is gradually making his way home while his ruthless but weak brother is serving as interim king, and is fighting the French en route. Richard is looking for an "honest Englishman", and the monarch said he found one in the intrepid archer Robin Longstride (Russell Crowe) [the future Robin Hood]; but when Longstride is encouraged to speak his mind, he and several of his cohorts wind up in the stocks awaiting punishment. Something happens, which I won't give away; so Robin and his men go free.

After making a promise to a dying man, Robin and his men don knight's armor and head to Nottingham, England to deliver the fallen soldier's sword to his widow, Marian Loxley (later maid Marian). The sword has an inscription, which paraphrased means: Nover give up "until the lamb becomes a lion". Robin pretends to be a knight and lives under the roof of Marian and her father or father-in-law (Max Von Sydow). Meanwhile, arrogant King John demands even the poor pay tribute taxes to him.

With the help of Robin and some largely disgruntled subjects, King John manages to foil an invasion by the French King, orchestrated by a treacherous friend of the arrogant king . In spite of this, John reneges on a promise to treat his subjects fairer and declares Robin "an outlaw" for the rest of his days. This movie was like an amalgam of "Braveheart" and "Gladiator". If you've seen either of those two movies, you know what's going to happen in this one. However, due to a strong cast, in my opinion, this movie was well worth spending close to two and a half hours seeing.

R.I.P. Ronnie James Dio 1943-2010

R.I. P. Ronnie James Dio 1943-2010

Ronnie James Dio, former singer of the band Rainbow; a short-lived incarnation of Black Sabbath, his short-lived solo band, and most recently Heaven and Hell (made up of most members of Black Sabbath except for Ozzy Osbourne), died this week of stomach cancer. This diminutive man with a powerful voice was best known for such songs as : "Heaven and Hell" and "Mob Rules" as Ozzy Osbourne's replacement in Black Sabbath, "Holy Diver" as a soloist and many more. Most, if not all of his music dealt with good vs. evil and magic and such. He is perhaps notorious for inventing the two fingered "Heavy Metal Devil Horns " that many metal fans still use. I am a real fan of Dio and Black Sabbath. When I was in high school, for almost a year every Saturday I would listen to the entirety of Black Sabbath's "We Sold Our Soul For Rock n' Roll" album. I know that had all of Ozzy Osbourne's primarily supernatural songs, but I liked Dio's voice and songs as much as, if not more than Ozzy's music. Dio's most recent music, with the band "Heaven and Hell" was well worth purchasing. He will be missed. To quote Dio's most famous song from Black Sabbath : "The world is full of Kings and Queens, who Blind your Heart and Kill your Dreams, it's Heaven and Hell."

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Un Prophete"

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Un Prophete" Rated R for violence, nudity, sexuality, drugs, etc.

Characters: Malik El Djabani (Tahar Rahim), Cesar (Niels Arestrup) In French with English subtitles

An illiterate young Arab named Malik El Djabani sentenced to serve a six year sentence in a French prison for assaulting a policeman becomes protected by an aging ruthless incarcerated gang leader, but there is a high price for this protection. Although Cesar (the gang leader) is never exactly friendly toward Djabani, he becomes Malik's mentor and introduction to the world of organized crime inside and outside the walls of the prison. Malik learns to read and write, but his true 'education' behind bars grooms him for power in the criminal underworld. Djabani even finds religion and friendship with a dying Moslem and several other fellow current and former convicts. Like a French version of "Goodfellas" with Moslem and "Corsican" prison gangs instead of Irish and Italian gangsters. This was an excellent movie in spite of nudity, sexuality, drugs, violence and other depravity. Unlike any other prison drama I have seen.

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Oceans"

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Oceans" Rated G Narrated by Pierce Brosnan

A beautifully filmed documentary of the world's oceans featuring many of its myriad lifeforms. Pierce Brosnan's narration was very poetic, but not particularly informative or enlightening. However, he said, "The only way to know what the ocean is is to" experience it up close. Well worth seeing for the cinematography alone.

Poetry: "An Arrogant Bully" , A Work in Progress

Poetry: "An Arrogant Bully" A Work in Progress

He's an Arrogant Bully who Curses and Drinks

An insult to all who are able to think.

Egged on by his Friends who also imbibe,

Don't Get in His car If he ever should drive

If to you he is ever a jerk

You'll Know damn well that you'll hear it at work

Like him or hate him he's related to you

Maybe you can hit him with a steel-toed shoe.

Now he Owes you for a favor you did

But Pretends he don't know you

Or his money is hid

Quite the Racist when he has a few brews

And antiSemitic when he talks about Jews

Tolerate his Bullshit and try as you might

To be around him it's hard to be polite... (tbc?)

Poetry Bits and Pieces from April 2010

Poetry Bits and Pieces from April 2010

"Making It Big"

The only way to make it big these days

Is to Bend or Break the Law

For the average low-paid common folk

It's a very lousy flaw.

So perhaps it's not surprising

That to many people crime is such a draw... (tbc)

"Small Government is Beautiful?"

Some say: "Small government is beautiful.",

While our bridges and our roads are crumbling

And our employment rate is tumbling

And even staunch conservatives are angrily mumbling

Due to the policies of a Bush.

But ironically, Tea Party members want to throw out Obamaites on their tush

Due to their employment and Health Care push... (tbc?)

"Icelandic Ash"

Icelandic Ash can stop a plane

Or fill your lungs with lots of pain

This cloud of ash is an aeronautic bane... (tbc?)

Due to their employment and Health Care push... (tbc?)

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "THe Girl With The Dragon Tattoo"

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" Rated R for nudity and sexual situations

[In Swedish with Subtitles]

Characters: Mikael Blonkwist, Lisbeth Salander, Harriet Vanger, the Vanger family, etc.

Based on an internationally best-selling novel which I have never read, set in Sweden. Mikael Blonkwist is a disgraced investigative reporter who is about to spend three months behind bars for allegedly libeling a rich and powerful businessman. Before resigning from the magazine where he has up to then worked, he is offered a job by another wealthy businessman, a member of the notorious Vanger family. Blonkwist is offered a position as an investigator of the presumed death of Vanger's beloved niece who disappeared at a festival in the 1960s. Harriet Vanger, the missing girl, once babysat Blonkwist as a young child. Though the Vanger who hires Blonkwist seems like a good guy, there are many skeletons in the Vanger proverbial closet, including Nazism and Nazi sympathies, racism, antiSemitism, sexual abuse and possibly murder(s).

Lisbeth Salander is a heavily tattooed and pierced bisexual, genius computer hacker and ex-mental patient with anger issues. She is in a no-win situation with her state-appointed guardian, a pervert who blackmails her into a relationship involving rape and sexual abuse. Fortunately, the pervert eventually gets his comeuppance. Salander is skittish and odd socially, likely due to past sexual abuse as a young girl. She is hired by the Vogel's to keep tabs on Mikael Blonkwist, but when he discovers that she has been hacking into his computer instead of turning her in to the authorities he hires her to help him with his investigation. This was a really excellent murder mystery, but the nudity and sex scenes will make many people uncomfortable. Definitely not a movie to bring a child, but could likely be a Best Foreign Film nominee in the very near future. Another thing to keep in mind is that this movie is over two and a half hours.

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "How To Train Your Dragon" in 3-D

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "How To Train Your Dragon" in 3-D

Character(s)/Actor(s)/Voices: Hickup ?, Astrid (America Ferrara), etc.

A scrawny young misfit Viking who serves as an apprentice to a blacksmith is supposed to be trained to kill dragons, but instead he captures one and secretly makes it his pet. After interacting with his pet dragon, "Toothless", he comes to realize that his fellow Vikings have the wrong idea about the creatures. While undoubtably dangerous, most dragons attack only to avoid being killed or harmed themselves. Although mostly for kids, people of almost any age should enjoy this movie.

Poetry: "There's A Chill In The Air"

Poetry: There's A Chill In The Air" Version 1: A Work in Progress

There's a Chill in the Air

But I really don't care

I've protected my hair

Like a thermal-clothed Bear

I sit inside in my chair

I go outside when I dare

Life isn't so fair

If you easily scare

Know what to wear

It does little good if you swear...

Poetry: "No Internet in Heaven"

Poetry: "No Internet in Heaven" A work in progress

If there's no internet in Heaven

Then I don't want to go

If the other place has the net I'd gladly go below.

With how cruel and unjust our world is

God's existence is in doubt

The so-called 'Father' of all things seems to be a cold, unfeeling lout...

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "The Crazies"

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "The Crazies"

Characters/Actors: Dave (Timothy Olyphant), Judy (Radha "Melinda and Melinda" Mitchell, etc.

In the small midwestern town of Ogden Marsh, Iowa, soon after a military plane crashes into the water supply the people who live near that water start to go murderously crazy. The sheriff (Timothy Olyphant) and his pregnant, local physician wife (Radha Mitchell) must deal with the normal citizens going crazy and mysterious military people in hazard suits before they and the whole town are destroyed. Watch for the car wash scene. Based on a much earlier movie of the same name by George Romero ( Director of the original "Night of the Living Dead", etc.) who also was one of the producers of this film. Could be one of the best horror movies of 2010.

Sci-Fi Bri's Last Minute Oscar Picks

Sci-Fi Bri's Last Minute Oscar Picks

This year there are ten movies nominated for Best Picture. I haven't seen all of them, but some deserve to be nominated more than others do. I will only make picks for the categories I have seen.

Best animated film: "Up" , about a grumpy old man (Ed Asner) who makes his home into a giant hot air balloon and travels a long way with a young stowaway. The movie was also nominated for Best Picture, but it is very unlikely to win against the likes of the Box Office juggernaut "Avatar" (with about $2 billion plus in ticket sales worldwide) or the critical darling "The Hurt Locker".

Best Director: Katharine Bigalow, James Cameron's ex BTW, is almost a sure thing for "The Hurt Locker" about American Bomb Squad members serving in Iraq. James Cameron arguably could win for "Avatar", but he has won before and the Academy has snubbed the fairer sex for too long. Quentin Tarentino perhaps deserves a nod for "Inglourious Basterds", but he has no chance in hell.

Best Supporting Actor: I haven't seen all the movies in this category, but if Christoph Waltz doesn't win for his portrayal of an urbane Nazi then something is very wrong.

Best Supporting Actress: Again, I haven't seen all the movies in this category, but of the ones I have seen Maggie Gyllenhaal is the best performance as a single mother/ journalist who gets involved with an aging country musician in "Crazy Heart".

Best Actor: I haven't seen every single movie in this category, but if Jeff Bridges fails to win as an aging, broken down country singer then the winner won't truly deserve the award.

Best Actress: I have seen only four of the movies in this category. The most likely to win is Sandra Bullock as a Southern Matriarch who takes in a hard luck African-American boy who later becomes an NFL star. Meryl Streep could possibly win in her role as Julia Child in "Julie and Julia". Less likely to win are Carey Mulligan in "An Education" as a young woman seduced by a much older man, and Helen Mirren as Leo Tolstoy's histrionic wife in "The Last Station" though both performances were excellent.

Best Picture: I have seen eight out of the ten movies in this category. Most of these movies were really good, but it is debatable if all of the films deserve to be lauded as possible Best Picture. The most likely to win are "Avatar" and "The Hurt Locker". A lot of critics are going with "The Hurt Locker". While "The Hurt Locker" is an excellent movie with a low budget, I am going with "Avatar" as Best Picture. If "Avatar" wins expect a lot more movies to be made with stratospheric budgets bigger than the Gross National Product of most nations. I chose "Avatar" because I could watch it over and over again and never get tired of it.

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "The Blind Side"

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "The Blind Side"

Characters/Actors: Michael Oher aka Big Mike ?, Leigh-Ann Tuoy (Sandra Bullock), Tim McGraw, etc.

Based on a true story. A large black boy named Michael Oher but referred to as "Big Mike" with questionable academic ability who has lived a difficult life gets admitted to a prestigious Christian school based on his athletic ability. His academic potential leaves a lot to be desired. Soon after attending the school, Big Mike gets kicked out of his foster family's home. His biological mother is a drug addict, so she isn't much help to him. Leigh-Ann Tuoy, the matriarch of an affluent white family takes pity on Big Mike and she lets him sleep on her couch. Her husband (Tim McGraw) , who owns nearly one hundred fast food restaurants, is none-too-thrilled about the arrangement at first. Before long though, Bib Mike becomes part of the family. Leigh-Ann is a little pushy, but she has a good heart. With Leigh-Ann's help, Michael Oher becomes successful on both the athletic field and to a lesser extent in the classroom. Oher, after a rusty start, does so well at high school football that he has the choice of attending almost any college he desires. There is a brief investigation by a semi-heartless NCAA investigator about possible improper recruitment by certain college football coaches, though. In real-life, Oher was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens (an NFL team) in 2009. I've seem a lot of similar uplifting sports movies. Sandra Bullock was excellent as Leigh-Ann Tuoy and she received a well-deserved Best Actress nomination.

Poetry: "The incantation"

Poetry: "The Incantation"

Poison wafting in the air

You can smell it if you dare

You'll be lying on the ground

Dying or dead without a sound.

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "The Wolfman"

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "The Wolfman" (2010)

Characters/Actors: Lawrence Talbot ( Benicio ["The Usual Suspects,etc.] Del Toro), Sir John Talbot ( Anthony ["Hannibal Lecter] Hopkins), Gwen (Emily Blunt), Aberline (Hugo ["The Matrix"] Weaving), etc.

In this reimagining of the 1941 original, Lawrence Talbot, a professional actor, returns to Blackmoor near London, England in the mid-1800s to attend the burial of his only brother. His brother Ben was mutilated by a murderous creature. He was about to marry a beautiful young woman. Soon after the funeral, Lawrence is attacked by the same creature, a werewolf, but he survives the vicious attack. In a Gypsy village, an old Gypsy woman saves Talbot's life, even though she knows there is no cure for the bite except a silver bullet. At the full moon, Talbot becomes a wolfman and cannot control the ravenous beast he becomes until the moon is no longer full. It turns out that a werewolf killed his mother, and caused him to leave his place of birth until another attack results in him coming back. His father, Sir John Talbot knows a lot more than he should about what is happening to his son. The identity of his attacker is closer to him than he expects. Also, Lawrence is starting to fall in love with his late brother's one-time fiance' (Emily Talbot). Perhaps the most disturbing part of the movie was when misguided psychiatrists attempt to barbarically 'cure' Lawrence's supposed "Lycanthropy Delusion" by way of proto-psychiatric treatment (dipping Talbot in a vat of ice water, etc.) Hugo Weaving was pretty intense as a Scotland Yard detective who becomes a zealous werewolf hunter. Quite good, but hard to say if superior to the Lon Chaney version.

Poetry: "That's Not Blood, It's Tomato Sauce"

Poetry: "That's Not Blood, That's Tomato Sauce"

That's not Blood, it's Tomato Sauce

Dripping down the walls

No need to dial up 9-1-1

Or other sudden calls

That's not a corpse, it's just a doll

Lying on the floor

Stay where you are

The room is locked

Don't head for the door...

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Legion", etc.

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Legion", "Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lighning Thief", and "The Beast Must Die"

"Legion" Rated R Starring: The Archangel Michael ( Paul Bettany), Dennis Quaid, etc.

After God loses faith in mankind, he sends thousands of angels to destroy us, except one. The Archangel Michael (Paul Bettany) defies God out of love for humankind. Other than Michael, the remaining hope for mankind is holed up and trapped in a diner, including a young waitress carrying the child supposedly destined to bring about the world's salvation. Demons constantly launch attacks on these remaining people, and intend to kill the yet to be born child and his mother. Based on a comic book or graphic novel. Be forewarned that the best parts of this movie mostly occurred in the movie trailer, especially the old woman who climbs the diner wall dodging bullets.

"Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief" Rated PG Starring: Percy Jackson ?, Sally ( Katharine Keener), Charon ( Pierce Brosnan), Zeus (Sean Bean), Medusa (Uma Thurman), Persephone ? , etc.

A seemingly ordinary teenage boy with Attention Deficit Disorder and Dyslexia discovers that he is actually the demigod son of Poseidon, god of the sea. The other immortals are after him, because they believe he stole Zeus' Ligtning Bolt, the most powerful weapon there is. With the help of other young demigods and a kindly older centaur (Pierce Brosnan), the less-than confident Percy has less than two weeks to find the stolen weapon before the gods wage war on each other and destroy mankind in the process. The people who made this movie also made at least one of the "Harry Potter" films. If you liked "Harry Potter", "Jason and the Argonauts", or the tv series "Hercules: The Legendary Journey" and "Legend of the Seeker", then this movie is probably for you.

"The Beast Must Die!" (1974) Starring: Calvin Lockhart, Peter Cushing, etc.

A rich playboy hunter (Calvin Lockhart) brings a diverse group of people together to discover which one is a werewolf. Once the wolf among them is discovered, he aims to hunt him or her down. One of the best werewolf films I have ever seen. At different parts of the movie, there are clues shown about who may be the wolf man or woman.

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Crazy Heart", etc.

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Crazy Heart", etc.

Characters/Actors: Bad Blake (Jeff Bridges), Jean (Maggie Gyllenhaal), Thomas Sweet (Colin Farrell, Robert Duvall, etc.

Bad Blake ( Jeff Bridges) is a hard-living, smoking, drinking, aging country singer who

meets and falls for a much younger journalist and single mother (Maggie Gyllenhaal). Due to his own actions, the relationship is almost bound to fail. This woman inspires him to reassess his priorities and to get his drinking under control. Thomas Sweet (Colin Farrell) is a much younger rival singer who considers Blake a mentor. Very similar to last year's film "The Wrestler", only with country music substituting for pro wrestling. The most surprising thing about this movie is that both Jeff Bridges and Colin Farrell can actually sing, and either could probably make it as genuine country musicians.

"Edge of Darkness" (Rated R) Characters/Actors: Detective Thomas Craven ( Mel Gibson), Ray Winstone, etc.

A Boston police detective (Mel Gibson), Thomas Craven's adult daughter is murdered right in front of him, and though there are rules against officially being part of the investigation, he uncovers an apparent government conspiracy involving clandestine weapon's research at a shadowy corporation. Just before Emma Craven is slain, she starts vomiting. It turns out she has been poisoned to try to silence her. Det. Craven is the exact opposite of Martin Riggs, the suicidally reckless detective Gibson plays in the "Lethal Weapon" series. Craven is the kind who only fires at those who deserve it, and normally he tries to obey the rules. Although Gibson did an admirable job as Det. Craven, Ray Winstone as a shadowy covert operative was even better. As a police drama this movie was a little dull. However, as a government and corporate conspiracy film, this movie was quite intriguing. Almost without realizing it, his daughter got over her head when she discovered the wrongdoing by the company she once worked for. Also, when Craven gets an inkling of the conspiracy, even he is targeted in spite of being an officer of the law.

"Extraordinary Measures" Characters/Actors: Dr. Robert Stillwell (Harrison Ford), John ? Crowell (Brendan Fraser), Keri Russell, etc.

John ? Crowell, a businessman and father of two children who have "Pompe disease", a form of Muscular Dystrophy, risks everything to persuede an irascible but brilliant scientist who is an expert on the disease to work on a remedy to save the lives of his ailing offspring. Crowell promises to come up with a lot of money to fund the research, but coming up with that much money is much easier said than done. Another complication is Stillwell's temper and the unpredictability of Crowell's ailing children's health from day to day. Also, most Pompe kids die before their tenth birthday, and both of his sick kids are approaching that age. The most interesting thing about the movie was the red tape that Crowell and Stillwell go to to get funding for the research, and how Stillwell's fiery personality clashes with fellow scientists. Although there is a relatively happy ending, the end was a little sappy, but if it didn't have such an ending there would be no reason to make or see the movie.

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "The Book of Eli"

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "The Book of Eli"

Dir: The Hughes Brothers Starring: Eli (Denzel Washington), Carnegie (Gary Oldman), Solara (Mila Kunis), Jennifer Beals, Malcolm Mcdowell, etc.

In the not-too-distant future, in a post-apocalyptic world, a loner named Eli travels for thirty years to protect a Holy book from an erudite, ruthless self-appointed tyrant (Gary Oldman). This tyrant will stop at nothing to get his hands on this book. Carnegie (Oldman) realizes the power of the words of the book, and he intends to twist them to consolidate his power over those who he rules over in addition to his loyal thugs who enforce his rules by force. However, Eli is a more-than worthy opponent, and he will himself stop at nothing to protect the book. In many ways this movie was similar to the other end of the world as we know it film "The Road". In Eli's world, there is no soap, very few people can read, people get whatever food they can slaughter, sometimes even resorting to cannibalism. Also, highwaymen will kill other people for any reason or no reason. I liked this movie a lot more than I expected to.

Essay: " Is '"American Idol'" Biased?"

Essay: "American Idol Biased?"

It has recently come to my attention that the wildly popular talent show "American Idol" may have a bias against the old, the heavy and the homely. The minimum age limit is sixteen, and the upper age limit is twenty-eight. I don't know why the upper age limit is twenty-eight. I'm sure a lot of potentially successful would-be professional singers could be either under sixteen or over twenty-eight. I don't know about those under sixteen, since most of those are legally required to still be in school ( whether they want to be or not), but as for those over twenty-eight; I'm sure there may be grounds for age discrimination over this arbitrary age limit.

For instance, one recent contestant named 'General Larry Platt at I believe the Atlanta auditions apparently made up his own song entitled: "Pants On The Ground". He may or may not have sang it as a joke, but three of the judges started singing along and Simon Cowell even said it could be a hit song. Simon killed the contestant's dream though when the sixty-two year old was declared "too old for the competition".

In a similar recent audition a heavy contestant known for her so-called "boob flex" seemed to faint and a moment later got up and started singing. I'm no expert, but in my estimation, she had a very good voice. Anyway, perhaps for pretending to faint, or more likely for her weight, she was sent home packing.

I have only been watching "Idol" regularly for a couple of years, but most women finalists are young, thin and attractive. While most male contestants are also relatively young and thin. The only really heavy contestant I can think of is Jennifer Hudson, who went on to great success in music and film. Saying "American Idol(s)" are only age sixteen to twenty-eight is to me like saying the "World Series" really represents the whole world rather than just the United States and Canada plus a smattering of Dominican, Asian and international players.

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Daybreakers"

Sci-Fi Bri's Movies: "Daybreakers" Rated R

Starring: Ethan Hawke, Sam Neill, Lyle (Willem Dafoe), etc.

In the near future planet earth is overrun with vampires. More than 99% of the population are vampires. The remaining humans are in hiding or are "farmed for blood". The supply of humans and authentic human blood is running dangerously low. If a substitute for human blood is not found soon, most vampires will revert to a primitive, aggressive state. In this state, they are even dangerous to other bloodsuckers.

Ethan Hawke plays a reluctant vampire and hematologist who refuses to ingest human blood. He also strives to find an alternative to our blood, and even hopes to find a 'cure' for vampirism. He stumbles on people with crossbows, and he joins them. Sam Neill is one of the villains. Good premise, but not the greatest. However, it has a very good cast.