The Countertop Chronicles

The boys and I are enjoying a little Mel Brooks tonight!

When I graduated high school, our valedictorian started his speech with “Now, excuse me while I whip this out”

Wall-E

Simply incredible. My son sat fascinated. Go see it, even with the yucky enviro themes.

RIP Ellas Otha Bates

Diddley died of heart failure at his home in Archer, Fla., spokeswoman Susan Clary said. He had suffered a heart attack in August, three months after suffering a stroke while touring in Iowa. Doctors said the stroke affected his ability to speak, and he had returned to Florida to continue rehabilitation.

One of my fondest memories, was catching him in the Spring of 1991 under the Tent at Knoxville’s World Fair Park. Opened up with Hey Bo Diddley.

Went with my roommate, we were smack dab in the center, second row. Mayor of Knoxville at the time (Victor Ashe???) sat in front of us, and he and his entourage got up after the press left. Bo let people video tape his first song, but then threatened to stop playing if he saw any other video cameras in the audience.

He put on a great show - and came back out with a killer Hey Bo Diddley after the recordings had stopped. Apparently, there was a dispute over money before the show started. I was surprised at all of this, but he was a rock pioneer, and probably learned the hard way that he needed cash up front or he was gonna get screwed.

”They copied everything I did, upgraded it, messed it up. It seems to me that nobody can come up with their own thing, they have to put a little bit of Bo Diddley there,” he said.

Despite his success, Diddley claimed he only received a small portion of the money he made during his career. Partly as a result, he continued to tour and record music until his stroke. Between tours, he made his home near Gainesville in north Florida.

”Seventy ain’t nothing but a damn number,” he told The Associated Press in 1999. ”I’m writing and creating new stuff and putting together new different things. Trying to stay out there and roll with the punches. I ain’t quit yet.”

Diddley, like other artists of his generations, was paid a flat fee for his recordings and said he received no royalty payments on record sales. He also said he was never paid for many of his performances.

”I am owed. I’ve never got paid,” he said. ”A dude with a pencil is worse than a cat with a machine gun.”

RIP Bo. I’ll drink one to you.

Watched Star Wars (the original one) with my 6 year old last night.

Great memories. Boy they grow fast.

The final, triumphant scene, from one of my favorite books (and movies) of all time.

Took my son this afternoon to see it. Wonderful fantasy story about a boy growing up on the shore’s of Loch Ness during WWII who discovers a standge egg along side the water, and raises the strange beast that hatches from it.

5 stars (for the 5 year old crowd, but good for parents too!)

Sitting in the movie theaters with my oldest son. We’re here to see Alvin and the chipmunks. Its a theater filled with 5 year olds.

What do they decide to show as the comng attractions?? An ad for the next season of Lost.

Complete with a close up of someone getting their brains blown out.

Totally inappropriate.

In other previews, Kung Fu Panda seems to be the most anticipated movie (at least amongst the 5 year old set) of the last few years. My son, of course, is more excited about Speed Racer.

I think Jim Carey and Steve Carrell in Horton Hears A Who is looking pretty spectacular.

Remember, on the remade web page, I’m going to include much more detailed reviews on a variety of entertainment subjects.

Cause, they are all things you might discuss when sitting down for a cup of java at your favorite greasy spoon countertop.

But right now, here’s some one line reviews of our recent DVD viewings

The Simpson’s Movie
What a fantastic episode. I didn’t think it was worth the $12 admission as a movie, but its a fantastic episode. Plus, I have a professional interest in it too!

Underdog
Great family movie. HL, the 5 year old, loves it. He was jumping up and down the whole time.

The Bourne Ultimatum
I tried watching it twice. Didn’t like it. Maybe it got better, but for some reason, I couldn’t get into it. Fell asleep on the sofa twice while watching it. The beginning is way to long and drawn out.

Pirate of the Caribbean; At World’s End
Didn’t care for this one either. I kept waiting and waiting and waiting. Maybe if I had seen it in the movie theater it would have been better. But on DVD it sucked. And was just too far fetched. The original one was great because, more than being a fantasy movie, it was a gosh darn good pirate movie. This one, with those dumb crabs in the beginning, was just too over the top for me.

Rolling Stone agrees!!!!

Superbad
McLoving It!!!

Heh

6.) Ian Fleming’s (original) James Bond: Bond would murder Bourne in his sleep, then go and seduce Bourne’s German girlfriend.

Its why I still can’t get enough of my daily Kim fix.

I suspect Kim will appreciate this bit of movie magic.

I think, following my disappointment at The Simpson’s Movie, its important to go back to the best and again be reminded of all a movie can be.

Enter Zulu.

A truly inspiring tale of a 139 soldier Welsh regiment, stationed at Rorke’s Drift, and outmanned and facing certain death, arising to conquer their demons and snatch victory out of the hands of sure disaster (by way of superior tactics, leadership and the wonderful Martini-Henry)

This is the final battle scene of this terrific movie. Enjoy

Not terribly good

Not bad, mind you. Just not something you have to see. Or see in the movie theater.

WARNING SPOILER BELOW

(more…)

Just got back from the NRA (did I ever tell you how much I hate the NRA Range these days??? Wait tonight was over an hour). Loaded up 60 rounds last night and shot the new trigger on the Marlin.

Like Butter

Put every shot in a 5 inch hole at 50 yards.

Standing, off hand.

Sure, not a 1 inch group - but then my Marlin isn’t a 1 inch national match rifle. Its a deer killer. And a 5 inch hole will do plenty of that.

Went straight to Tysons Corner (like walking into some Islamic 90210, ugh) to see the Simpsons movie.

That’s where I am now. Watching previews in a HUGE stadium theater - with the dead center seat.

Open carrying. (good thing too, cause I’m surrounded by fucking muslim terrorists). And no one noticed a thing.

Previews so far:

Alvin and the Chipmunks (snooooze)
New Batman (looks dark and forboding)
Jerry Seinfelds Bee Movie (go back to retierment)
The Rush (dumb jackie Chan movie, I can’t wait to see it).

The other netflix flick that came in this week was The Shooter with Marky Mark

Best Line:

Welcome to Tennessee, patron state of shooting stuff.

As I’m sure ya’ll know, its the updated screen version of Stephen Hunters terrific Point of Impact. While the political overtones are typical hollyweird trash, the gun play and action are superb.

Turns out, Wahlberg trained at Front Sight in advance of making the film, and the DVD special features includes a detailed look at that experience.

If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend it

One of the great things about never going to the movie theaters, and just renting the movies I want to watch, is that I have a high probability of seeing a lot of movies I would never have chosen to see before, and as a result, I find some real gems.

Rocky Balboa is one of those gems.

Never in a million years would I imagine Sly Stallone could put out a movie anywhere near this good. It had a story line (where was that plot the last 30 years??) it had action, it had feeling, it had acting.

4 out of 5 boxing gloves