Mattlog

The Oscars

First of all I don't who looked hotter, Kate Winslet or Natalie Portman, but they both made my night.

My biggest problem with watching this year is that I had little interest in the nominees. I'm sure the Boxing Baby movie is great, Clint is great, but I have no desire to see it. If I want a watch a great boxing movie it's Raging Bull. Or Rocky, if I'm in a sly mood. Aviator... again, I'm sure is great between Scorsese and Leonardo, it's probably a great film... but I don't know if I can shell out 7.00 bucks to see it. Course this is coming from the guy who shelled out 7 for Meet the Fockers, so maybe I'm not the best judge. Anyway onto the telecast.

Chris Rock: Good host. Great opening.

Lots of stuff... no surprises. Cate Blancett looks great as Kate Hepburn.

All the blondes have gone Brunette this year. Charlize was Brunette, Renee was Brunette and Brew was too. Odd I guess Brunette is the new blonde? Did I really write that?

Johnny Depp's outfit. Hmmm. I could go either way I guess.

Chris Rock stole my joke. "Next year, I think, they'll be having people announcing awards in the parking lot." That was mine.

Every year when they show the IN MEMORIUM I always forget some people had died. And sometimes I just completely missed some people died. Like Janet Leigh. And Tony Randall... how did I miss Tony Randall?

Wow. Sean Penn. Trying to be way to tough. I'll TELL you who Jude Law is... I just wanna know where your tie is, Sean. More proof that Mr. Penn has no sense of humor.

Hilary Swank winning again was a bit of shocker. Of course, I haven't seen either of winning performances.

Yay, for Charlie Kaufman winning an Oscar, and I enjoyed his speech. "I don't want to take my time I wanna get off."

I watched all this on tape. I had to work. I don't feel I missed much by passing the orignal songs.

Congrats to Jaimie Foxx. That's pretty amazing. I haven't seen Ray, but I saw a clip of Jaimie talking to Ray Charles and Ray just smiles and says "you're it." THAT's Impressive. Very Heartfelt speech.

Clint. Well, he's Clint. The guy rules.

And best picture....

Boxing Baby. Wow. Ryan just turned to me and said... "Well, we're gonna have to see it." *Shrug* I guess.

Well, Sideways has been running here forever, I wanted to see that. It's probably gone now.

Another year another few hours lost. Despite my FFing it still took me 2 1/2 hours to watch this thing. But it ended before 11 which you gotta admit is pretty impressive.

Well, till next years telecast (or Wednesday's blog) DON'T trip on the red carpet.

*Big dating game kiss*

Matt

Greatest American Hero

So... once I become a famous movie producer... I'm producing The Greatest American Hero Movie.

Now sitting here watching this little blast from the past, this show, barely stands. It's so eighties in look and style. I mean, it takes soem chances but the format fits almost any 80's hour long show.

Teaser... commercial... Set-up... First encounter... reevaluation ... final encounter... demouement.

Like the Incredible Hulk....

Teaser- Kid gets shot
Set-up: David Banner works at a steel mill. One guy who works there with David, Joe, is upset cause his kid was shot ofr some bets he owes.

First encounter- the mob shows up to collect from Joe and locks David in the furnace room. Trying to find a way out David accidentally opens a steam valve and turns into the Hulk rescues Joe.

Reevaluation- I should run but the boys in the hospital. You should get a loan from a bank, says David. It'll work out.

Second encounter-- This time the mob locks Joe and David in a car and the car is taken to a junk yard where the car will be smashed. As the car starts to crumble David turns into the Hulk and uses his stregnth to stop the car being smashed. Jow is knocked out and doesn't see David change. THe hulk knocks out all the mobsters. (Cause no ever dies on the show.)

Denouement- David must leave cause Mr. McGee is on his way into town. Joe thanks David for the help and the slow Piano music rolls as David hitchhikes into the sunset.

Wow I just wrote a treament for an episode of the Hulk.

AT anyrate, the HERO is set-up the same way:

Teaser- Boy is shot

Set-up: One of Mr. Hinkley's students is the boy shot. His dad, Joe, comes to Hinkly for help. He owes money to the same mo mob guy Bill Maxwell has been trying to ctach for years.

First Encounter- Mob tries to kill Joe. Ralph uses the suit.

Reevaluate- We gotta get Joe to an FBI safe house.

Second encounter- Bill Joe and Raplh are knocked off the road by a mysterious car and they end up in a junk yard. They try to smash the car but Ralph uses the suit to stop the machinery. He then throws the bad guys around knocking them out. (Cause no one ever dies on the show.)

Denouement- Raplh leaves before the police arrive. They talk the next morning in the hospital with Joe and the kid. Bill makes a conservative remark. They laugh and freeze as credits roll.

Now a days a show like this would stand this formula on it's head. But having grown up on this the show is too predictable. Course I'm not 10 anymore either.

But where this show was ahead of it's time is that we actually see a HERO dealing with his super powers. And although the show tries to be funny (Ralph can't get the hang of flying, hee hee) it's an excellent exploration. Course, Spiderman 1 and 2 has taken care of this now... but back in the '81 this idea was a bit ahead of it's time.

My idea for the movie would be a better mix of comedy (I mean, jokes that are funny) and action. It seems on the show every episode uses the "Ralph can't fly gag." Wouldn't it be more fun to see Ralph dealing with new power every few episodes. Like on Smallville, Clark has only flown once. They're like four seaons in.

I'm working on the treatment. It'd be similar in tone "but a fresh new take" on the idea. It's something that's perfect for me to write.

One last bit, William Katt's not bad as Ralph Hinkley he does a good job. But even as a kid I remember my favorite character on the show was always Bill. Robert Culp is perfect as the the old curmudgeonly FBI agent. Calling people "kid, and counselor, and sweetheart." He was a tough as nails g-man... with a small, teeny heart of gold. The character in the wrong hands migth have come off horribly, but twinkle in his eye Culp pulls it off fantastically. And with Connie Selleca, all I kept thinking was "This hottie married John Tesh?"

Have a good weekend... I'm working my fanny off.

Matt

inconsistencies

Some years ago Wal-Mart, in all their glory, decided that they would not sell any music CDs with Parental Advisory warnings on them.

Okay at first I could accept that because they're a southern store with conservitive customers and they want their stores to mirror their customers wants and desires like any good store should.

It makes sense that a parent would want to know the rating on the music their kids are listening to. We've had moive ratings for years . Parents like to know what their kids are geting into. So if kids say they are going to Wally World to pick up a new CD the parents could trust their kids to buy something... decent. (If anyone uses that word to mean proper anymore.)

It's a marketing ploy "come to us to buy your music and your kids will buy safe things."

BUT I've noticed over the last few months that apparently this "G" rating doesn't follow into movies. In fact not only are their R rated films there but I have seen UNRATED with not only horrible language but gratuitous nudity. (I'm always up for gratuitous nudity but we're not trying to protect me) The UNRATED version of Harold and Kumar got to White Castle is a perfect example. Crazy language. A scene with "battleshits" and at least three (very nice) bits of nudity.

The key is that for R or UNRATED movies you're carded at the register. But then why not do that with pratental advisory cds. Why choose one over the other. Why sell 9 1/2 Weeks and not Eminems new cd.

My brother said it last month we've become a visual society. We are more impacted by what we see that any thing else. And seeing Neil Patrick Harris snort coke of a strippers ass is same thing as hearing Snoop talking about gin and juice.

Course that's just my opinion...

*Puts down the soap box*

Two days off in a row. I may go stir crazy. And I work three doubles. I love my life.

And now, the stupidest purchase of the week. (I can't help myself sometimes.)

Matt

No pleasantries... too much to say so we'll just go.

First of all, I love my girlfriend. I'm sorry, it's gross but I just thought you'd want to know. Saturday we finally had our Valentine's Day. The idea was to spend the day together just laying on the couch watching movies and going to a nice dinner. Kristen arrived a bit late, but her excuse was too good. We exchanged gifts. And she bought me tickets to the Cubs Astros series in Houston. So Ryan and I will be going April 30th... I'm kidding, it's her joke. Actually, her and I will probably hole up in a hotel downtown and enjoy the game a night out after.

Incidentally that's 3 days after I come back from Vega$ with the boys. We're leaving Saturday arriving home on Wednesday. Then Saturday to Houston fot the game.

Kristen and I hit Z Tejas a nice restaraunt where she ate salmon and I had a chipolte ribeye. Good Stuff.

We were going to see Hitch but it ended up being sold out so we went to a friends for a little party. In Texas there's TABC. They're Texas' attempt to try and keep responsible drinking. All servers and bartender's must be certified, yearly, for a mere $25 dollars. *grumble* well they send out sting operations and one of our friends got busted for serving a minor. She was in a hurry to leave (her last table) didn't card the table, served a margarita, the girl took a sip ate and left. 10 minutes later in came TABC and busted her. A night in jail, a firing from the 'Bee's and a possible $4000 fine.
So we had a Haley gets out jail free card.

In other news... I watched Satuday Night Live: the First Five Years on TV tonight. Interesting. Learned lots. Bill and Gilda? Really. I'll probably import this as an MPEG and keep it around.

The most annoying thing about it though was a commericial for the American version of "The Office." It doesn't look good. I'm a bit upset. I love the original and I don't know why NBC thinks that it can pull off the right sense of humor. But I guess we'll see.

And lastly, I really liked COnstantine. It's the right kind of movie for Keanu. A man with one level. I've heard some minor complaints from people who loved the comics saying that the his dark sense of humor didn't come off right. But I think the fact that Keanu couldn't punch up the lines to TRY and make it funnier makes it work.

That's it. I'm out. I'll really try to write Wednesday, but I can't promise anything. But if I do... it's about Wal-Mart.

Matt

TV

Ryan was watching Plesantville the other night. I wandered into his room to discuss something random. As is my way, you know. I got stuck watching 10 or so minutes of the movie when I wondered if I could be in any television show... which would it be.

So I posed the question to Ryan who wouldn't answer and decided he had to think about it. And as I thought about it the question wasn't nearly as easy I had first thought.

RYan's initial instinct was Seinfeld. That's a great answer. But who would you be. I wouldn't mind being one Elaine's boyfriends that'd be pretty hot. The New Putty or something. But they've already got Jerry's dry wit they wouldn't nees mine.

Off I went to consider this question. (Apparently, I don't have anything important to do.) Would it be a sitcom? I mean I'm funny. I'm Chandler funny. I make no bones about it. The other night I was being driven home since Ryan had the car and I saw a girl being given a sobreity test. And in garbled form what comes out my mouth was "Oooh a sobrority test." EVeryone laughs and makes fun... and without missing a beat I said "Well it was a girl being given the test." Which is a good point.

But I think I'd want to be on something really cool. Like 24, be the new Chase. Jack's right hand man. Cause with Jack and a gun you can get anything done.

But what about Star Trek. Riding around with Kirk and the crew exploring strange new worlds. As long as I wasn't a red shirt Ensign.

But that's when it hit me. I don't want to be in the Original Series as much as I love Kirk. No. I want to be Next Generation. For one word. And this one word would put the show at the top of my list.

Holodeck.

With a holodeck you could do what (or who) ever you wanted. Watch a Christina Concert then take her backstage and show her something really "Dirrty." Or go sky diving or rock climbing. I would just turn my entire quarters into a holodeck. I'm getting so excited thinking about it... I may have myself cryogenically frozen until the technology exists.

My girlfriend would probably choose Fresh Prince of Bel-Aire because apparently Will Smith is hot. She doesn't know what she's talking about though. ;)

Matt

Valentine's Day

I've been seeking backthrough the archives of my mind I can't help but think it's very possible that this is the first Valentine's Day in at least 5 years I've had a girlfriend. But since her and I are only in the beginning stages of our relationship we have decided not to make a big deal of this holiday. In fact we're both working doubles. I'm bartending. So that'll be a wad o dough.

But we have decided to take off Staurday and spend the day together. So Saturday is OUR valentines Day. Nice dinner. The works. And we've agreed to only spend 20 bucks on each other so as to be more romantic then extravagant.

If all things work out this will be our tradition. It's only a Hallmark Holiday way. After all Valentine's Day was has it's roots in Pagan relgions. Apparently, young men would kill a goat, cut strips of the hides out and dip them in sacrificiel blood. They would then take to the strips slapping both women and crops with the strips. This would apparently, make both crops and young women more fertile in the year to come.

My girlfriend will be far less fertile this year thanks to the pill.

In other totally exciting news (if you're me) is that the new Round Rock Express ball team has gone Triple A. And included in the list of teams they play are the Iowa Cubs. So I'll get see some up and coming Cubs before they make the team which is exciting.
I'm planning on hitting at least a game per series. Tickets are like 15 bucks a game so that's a nice night out. And the Express has Thirsty Thursday where all beers are a buck. Just another reason to go.

And as I'v mentioned there's nothing like being at the Ball Park. Between Hot Dogs and Cracker Jacks and beer. How could a game possibly be bad.

So there's my summer.

And the saddest thing in my life right now is....

http://entertainment.msn.com/music/article.aspx?news=181299

:(

Matt

PS Happy Valentine's Day anyway, babe. ;)

Frustration

I had a great week of blogs all ready for you guys and then my cable modem decided to short circuit on me.

The entry I had written for Wednesday was never saved and therefore never published and I only yesterday got my modem working again.

The worse part is I had a great idea about what to write today and it was included at the bottom of Wednesday blog and it, too, was lost forever.

But the Wed. blog was basically comparing Superman II with Spiderman II and the amazing similarities. Let's see if I can remember them all.

Superman II Spiderman II

Supes for the love of a good Spidey for the love of a good woman
woman decides to give up his decides to give up his job.
powers.

Supes realizes what Jor-El said Spidey realizes what his uncle true. That with great power said was true with great power
comes great responsibility. comes great responsiblilty.

[there were more I know but it bascially came down to these ideas.]

However they are two completely different films. Supes II is a tad slower paced and for 1979 those fight scenes are tough. Now Superman kicking Non in the air would look a little nices. And the morph scene when Supes loses his powers to become a real human being still stands up considering morphing with compters wouldn't be createed for another 10 years. But Spidey throws the action to you in a faster edited more thrilling way. As my girlfriend always says that train sequence takes your breath away.

I'm not saying Sam Raimi stole from anything Superman II but it is interesting how highly I rate these films. Superman II has it moments of being the best of the first two films. And certainly Spiderman II nears the top of the list as being the best sequel of all time.

Oh and allposters.com was having a sale I finally agreed decided to by a Spidey II poster. Choice. Double sided. And it is, to turn an '80's phrase, choice.

Well next week more stuff and the hope that I remember the great idea I had to write about today.

Matt

100 Days

100 days till Ep III.

I've been lucky the last two times as I've haven't been the one to stand in line for seats... but I think this time I will be. I've taken May 18th off for to stand in line for good seats... cause being second in line isn't near as geeky as being the first.

In other news... New England won the Super Bowl. I was at work so I saw bits and pieces. But that first half was a thing to watch. It was anybody's game going into that fourth quarter. But as I predicted New England won.

But as I said I was work... It's amazing to me how many interestin moments in history has occured while I was at work.

9/11/2001 - I was living on Ryan's couch. My sister called me on my cell phone. She was working at the NBC affiliate in Springfield. She called and said I should check out TV. How unreal it all seemed. Like watching Independence Day or something. I was scheduled to work at 5 PM. I sat glued to the TV till then. Assuming we were closing early I went into work. It was a ghost town. And I watch TV... all night. The call was made not to close. And, as a cook, I sat all night watching TV. We were all glued.

12/31/02 New Years. I was at work. Closing. Toby and I and Steph. We shut down the place. Making it to Toby's just the three of us with 5 minutes to spare. Shots and a kiss each to Steph.

I remember a few times sneaking out during break to talk to my mother in her final months to say hi and see how she was doing.

So many other moments strike me. I started Applebee's June 1995. THis June will make it 10 years. AND THAT is ridiculous. So much time in my life stuck behing the giant Apple.

It's not that I'm complaining but it's certainly a tell tale sign of how my life is not where I want it. I've never thought of Applebee's as more of a day job. The place I work while at school. A place to work while I write my script. A place to work as I prepare for the next phase of life. And yet, here I am.

I'm finally going back to school. I've got like 2 classes left. So I'm taking it. At least then I'll have a BFA. With any hope I sneak my way under the radar into the Film school here at UT which is pretty good. Really good.

So here's to continuing my hope that 2005 is the year where it all comes together.

Oh and my girlfriend rocks.

Matt

I'm stumped.

Stumped stumped stumped.

WIth the exception of Star Wars and my girlfriend there is not much going on in my life worth discussing. And both of these subjects I have talked to death.

Kristen is awesome and great and sweet. And I'll slightly embaress her by reprinting a bit from her blog.

Speaking of my wonderful boyfriend, some very interesting things happened with him this past week.... On the way home we are talking just about random stuff and all of the sudden we get into this serious conversation about our relationship and all this other stuff. So what are you thinking.......bad stuff right?? Wrong. ... and was telling me how he liked me more and more every time he saw me and how this relationship was growing by the minute. We conituned to laugh and talk about different aspects of the relationship etc. throughout the rest of the night. So that was good.

That about says it all. I'd launch into how wonderful I think she is... but that'd just be gross... and we realize it. You should see us just on the couch staring at each other.

And we have 106 days till EP III. I'm reading the Novel that leads into the events that begin in EP III and it's awesome.

Other than that, I guess I'm gladd Sammy's out of the picture. Let the Cubs focus on player that don't hit the insignificant home run. Let's start worrying about winning and not why Sammy's in a slump. Or isn't a clutch hitter. Let's worry about Todd Walker and Nomar and Ramirez and Derrik Lee. I'm excited about this next season.

But a season with Steve Stone behind the mike will be sad. I always liked Steve specially when he had to hold a broadcast together with Harry Carey talking about what was happening the night before at his restaraunt. I was always hoping Steve would end up in a baseball game. It would feel authentic to me. He will be missed by meand my sis.

Finally, Jeff sent me this link. I think it's worth mentioning. Although hilarious I'm not sure who's ring I would use this as. More embarassing would be when it goes off in the middle of a nice dinner with your parents. So go here.

Talk to you Friday where I promise I'll be all topic filled again.

Matt