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2010: Terrible Year for Rock ‘N Roll

Posted on May 25, 2010 Written by ripitup

2009 was a tragic year for music. But it looks like 2010 is not that bright either. Scorpions are done, Steven Tyler fall off stage, Brett Michaels gets a brain hemorrhage and just we thought he recovered, it turns out he has a stroke and has a whole in his heart. Oh, and heavy metal/rock band DIO’s vocalist Ronnie James Dio died. He was recovering from stomach cancer.

Dio: Ronnie James Dio second from right. Image from http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/_/19412333/Dio+AppiceGPilson+90s.jpg

Poison frontman Bret Michaels. Image from:http://www3.whig.com/whig/blogs/thebreakdown/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/michaels2.jpg

It’s weird to see rock starts have all these health problems. Yeah, we are well aware that they are human, but they did get over a great deal of stuff in the past: death of best friends/band members (Steve Clark from Def Leppard, Cliff Burton from Metallica), loss of health, loss of crucial body parts (Rick Allen from Def Leppard) , drug addictions.(Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Aerosmith) , loss of their looks…But since they always seem to bounce back, it is just feels awful to have all the bad news in a row. After all, they symbolize energy. Their stage shows rock us and their songs celebrate life, parties, sex, friendship and love. We grow up with them. Hell, our parents grew up with Aerosmith.It also reminds us of mortality and fragility of all.

For more (mostly) uplifting facts and posts on Rock N’ Roll:

6 Fast Bon Jovi Songs That Feature The Word Love

7 Cover Songs That Rock

What Do You Mean You Haven’t Heard of Metallica?

7 Interesting Facts About Jon and Bon Jovi

Swing Shift starring Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn

Posted on May 25, 2010 Written by ripitup

Swing Shift starring Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell, Ed Harris and Christine Lahti. Image from http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f0/Swing_shift.jpg

Kay Walsh (Goldie Hawn) is happily married to her husband Jack (Ed Harris).When World War II strikes, Jack has to join the navy and Kate is left alone. Kay finds a job; after all almost all plants are need of extra labor after most men go off to war. Women are not made all that welcome by some of the men. Kay tries her best to do her job and makes a new friend called Hazel (Christine Lahti). Her new “leadman” Lucky (Kurt Russell) also is really nice to her. Well, it is more like he is smitten by her. He keeps asking her out and she keeps turning her down. But eventually, she gives into his charm. Along with her friendship with Hazel and Hazel’s romance traffic, her guilt about her own affair and work life, her life gets very busy. And her husband is due home any day…

This is one harmless, sweet movie. It is not memorable. It is by no means bad, but I was misled into thinking that it would be a romantic comedy with few dramatic touches (I am blaming it on IMDB’s genre labels). It has some funny moments. It has some romantic moments. But with all the war background and the relationships….something is missing. Of course watching Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn is never boring. And Kay’s husband is played by Ed Harris. It is weird seeing Ed with hair, I’ll give you that (well, he had more hair in 1984). Academy was more impressed with the Hazel character than I was as she was nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.

5.8 on the IMDB. Sounds just about right. Directed by Jonathan Demme.

Also on Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn

Overboard starring Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn

6 Hollywood Couples: Gorgeous, Glamorous and Happy Together feat. Goldie and Kurt

Also on Ed Harris

A Beautiful Mind starring Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Ed Harris & Paul Bettany

Copying Beethoven starring Ed Harris & Diane Kruger

Air Force One starring Harrison Ford, Glenn Close and Gary Oldman

Posted on May 23, 2010 Written by ripitup

Air Force One starring Harrison Ford, Gary Oldman and Glenn Close. Image from http://www.kotiposti.net/

With the collaboration of Russia and USA, a tyrant leader is captured and put the jail. This is seen as a triumph by both countries. However US President James Marshall (Harrison Ford) is skeptical. He is determined to favor humanity over politics and save more people the next time.

It is time for the President to go home on Air Force 1. The plane has The First Lady (Wendy Crewson), the president’s daughter, important administrative staff, his press secretary, bodyguards and a Russian-speaking (led by Gary Oldman) group who is supposed to make an interview with the President and the staff. The plane safely takes off. However unknown to the passengers, there is a traitor on the staff and with his help, the Russian group prove that they are something else all together. They hijack the plane, threatening to kill the hostages. Their demand? The release of the tyrant. The Vice President (Glenn Close) does her best to control the situation. The President can leave in his escape pod and jump off to safety or he can stay to fight for the hostages and the family. While it seems like mission impossible, the president will do his best to use his “General” skills, his intelligence and well…adrenaline…

This movie was fun. Pure, unsaturated action/thriller. So what if Harrison Ford will save the world once again? He does it well and we expect him to. Our Han Solo/Indiana Jones/ Jack Ryan sure has the guts and the experience to pull it off.

If there were any major flaws, I didn’t notice. I was too busy having fun. I liked the fact that all the terrorists spoke in Russian between themselves. It added authencity. While some might argue that we get another heroic President with the perfect family life gets to save the world, along with a little help from his friends (Independence Day, Bill Pullman also comes to mind), it is not like the screenplay writer hasn’t rubbed the viewers’ noses in America’s political sins. Movies like this tend to portray a perfect politician: honest, determined, family-oriented, loving and humane. He also comes with a fondness for football and a good sense of humor. I like this type of fictional politicians because let’s face it, movies are the only places we are going to see this politician. So enjoy his character, root for him and well…let the action begin. I guess I don’t really need to mention that Glen Close and Gary Oldman are good as always. I am yet to encounter a role that they sold and I didn’t buy.

Reasons to see the movie:

– The Cast: Harrison Ford, Glenn Close, Gary Oldman, William H. Macy

– The Concept and The Genre: It is so cool to imagine how it would be to fly in that nuclear-war resistant, ultimately gorgeous plane. And action on a plane is a concept I do enjoy.This one is truly well done. It had 2 Oscar nominations: Best Sound and Best Editing.

– The script is good.

Made in 1997. Directed by Wolfgang Petersen (Outbreak, The Perfect Storm, Troy). Written by Andrew W. Marlowe.

6.3 on IMDB. 7 for the art, 9 for the entertainment from me.

Favorite Villain Quote:

– Egor Korshunov (Gary Oldman)- to the First Lady: In a war, people die.

– First Lady: This isn’t war! You just murdered an unarmed woman!

– Egor Korshunov: You who murdered a hundred thousand Iraqis to save a nickel on a gallon of gas are going to lecture me on the rules of war? DON’T!!!!

Six Days Seven Nights starring Harrison Ford and Anne Heche

Firewall starring Harrison Ford and Paul Bettany

Gary Oldman Tribute

The Scarlet Letter starring Gary Oldman and Demi Moore

6 Shows and Their Season Finales: Castle, House, Cougar Town, The Mentalist, Gossip Girl and Grey’s Anatomy

Posted on May 22, 2010 Written by ripitup

This week saw a lot of season finales for popular shows. No major spoilers.

CASTLE

Richard Castle and Kate Beckett are working together once again on a case. The case is really interesting. It involves secret operatives, deadly games, espionage, hidden motives and a really cool love triangle. You probably know Beckett has been seeing hunky robbery detective Tom Demming and Castle is depressed about it. His daughter will be going away for the summer and so will his mother Martha. Castle has a manuscript to finish and a couple he wants to get away from.

Michael Trucco appears in the last 4 episodes of Castle's 2nd season. I wish he had more episodes. But you can watch

You may not like everything that happens in this episode, romantically speaking.

But as always, the show provides a cool season finale and many more episodes to look forward to.

HOUSE

And the best season finale ever award goes to House!! House has been going on for 6 years and I am just as addicted to show as I was when I first started. Not all episodes are created equal. Some are inevitably more engaging and some of the cases are more unique. But it is OK. House’s (Hugh Laurie) lines and his interactions with other characters and guest stars (patients, etc) is what matters. Some episodes provide more comic relief and some leave us depressed. But it is always good. But if there is an episode to hit you right in the guy and swear you’ll back for the other season is the episode finale. Season 5’s finale was amazing- a great balance between what we wanted to happen and what actually happened. Season 6 us gives us a great case outside the hospital while House multi-tasks with a case at the hospital. And we get all the House-Cuddy confrontations we need. I watched some great finales this season but House’s was the best.

COUGAR TOWN

I really hope this show goes on because its quirkiness and adorably crazy and grumpy and sweet characters, it is a modern comedy that happens to be relevant, funny and interesting all at the same time. Courtney Cox is great and so is the rest of the cast. Andy and Ellie’s baby will really entertain you this time too. It is a nice change for a season finale not to leave the main romance hanging in the air. Jules and Grayson finally hooked up a couple of episodes ago. This episode just has them try to figure out how to tell Bobby…

THE MENTALIST

Obviously, Red John strikes again. Or maybe it is a copycat? Actually, there is both the real thing and the copycat and this makes things much more intriguing. Along with Patrick’s (Simon Baker) first date with Kristina, the case(s), and some really stupid mistakes on Kristina’s part will really keep you glued to the screen. This is one of the most intense episodes ever- Simon Baker is again at the top of his game. And for those of you who have seen it: I have a pretty good guess on who Red John might be. What do you think?

GOSSIP GIRL

OK, Gossip Girl is not an addiction but a guilty curiosity. It is not a show to be watched from beginning to end but rather watch on fast-forward to see what the authors did this time. How much more soap can you add to the opera after all? But this episode might actually the best one yet. Not only I watched more than I usually do but they added a pretty nice cliffhanger to the all the drama and romance and disasters. But please, somebody else make the wardrobe for Blaire. Her clothes are almost often dreadful. And Jenny should put on less make-up. The actress playing her is 16 just like her character. She might age pre-maturely. Just a thought.

GREY’S ANATOMY