Z's and Chicago

Seeing Chicago, the musical, on Valentines day was a bit of a trip. First, let me say it's overrated, and I suspect this is because it's about show business. I think the people who do the reviews and ratings are themselves really into the show business world and movies about actors and performers always tend to fascinate them. That said, it was well acted and entertaining, and I certainly didn't get bored.

Rene Z, as Roxie Hart, played the part of a ditzy murderess with pizazz and subtlety. She blew Zeta-Jones out of the water, imho, just as her character did in the plot. ZJ was beautiful, talented, perfect, and, underneath it all, icy. Now, her character was supposed to have all those traits, too, so maybe it was just good acting, but I think it was also good type-casting. Wonder what Michael Douglass did karma-wise to deserve her? Murder a nun, maybe? Poor guy.

Speaking of heartless, self-absorbed, self-righteous, female murderesses, I couldn't help but think of that woman who just got convicted of running her husband over three times because the creep deserved it and besides it was an accident. The big number in the movie where all the women on death row sing, "He Had it Coming" would make a perfect theme song for her real world trial.

As I said, it was a strange movie to see alone on Valentine's day, or, depending on your mood and perspective, a completely perfect movie for V-Day. The men were all heartless cads and the women all dangerous gold diggers. (I know, I know, it's a satire on Hollywood so what else could they be) Oops, there was one guy in the movie who seemed to actually be in love with someone other than himself. Roxie's husband, deeply loved her and sarcificed selflessly. He is portrayed as a total fool and a loser. Roxie uses him and tosses him aside on her path to success.

I came home and watched another installement of Dr. Zhivago. What a contrast. And, I was thinking, one thing that make the movie so good (aside from great acting, beautiful music, and thrilling scenery) is the way it plays off contrasts so well. You have poverty next to immense wealth, cruelty next to kindness, heartfelt love next to bitter hatred, icy winters next to daffodil spring days, the promise of the revolution next to the horrible reality. But mostly the movie is sincerely and unapologetically about romance and love. Like I said, what a contrast with Chicago.

Dr. Zhivago

It’s improved over the 20 plus years since last I saw it. The actors are all younger and the plot has more depth. It’s 200 minutes, though, so I’m turning it into one of those serialized TV movies. I left off last night with Lara and the good doctor treating the WWI wounded as the revolution starts to heat up along with their relationship. Oh man, Julie Christie! The musical score and the incredible scenery and elaborate sets are as good as the acting, which is inspired. And, one thing I had never realized before: Obi-Wan Kinobi was Dr. Zhivago’s brother. That guy got around. I miss few actors after they’re gone, but Alec Guiness I miss.

Gun Control

I'm all for it.

Gun control means hitting what you aim for... Right? As in, "Aim for the guy with the box cutter." I'm in favor of that.

And I'm for gun control laws, too. I think all Americans should be required, by law, to be good shots.

Islamic Apostasy

Osama Fake Laden's tape today announced that any Muslim helping the U.S. was an apostate. Here's an interesting article on that topic by Andrew Bostom on FrontPage.

Commie Chomsky

Noam Chomsky, I remember, was idolized by the radical anti-war professors back in the '60s and I've seen his name popping up again recently. Read this article about his treasonous perfidies.

Baghdad Blog

Feeling a strain keeping your Blog up to date? This brave fellow, is probably risking his life to post to his.

Feel Like Loosing Your Breakfast?

Madonna. She's gonna try cashing in on the anti-war chic. Geez Louis, I hope her career continues its current screaming nose dive, and she loses all her money and ends up old, ugly, and standing with a cardboard sign on some freeway entrance ramp.

Oh, and Katy Couric, too. Let her have her own sign and entrance ramp. I channel surfed past an interview she was doing with, hold your nose, Slick Willie Himself this morning. I changed channels fast enough to prevent actual regurgitation, but some sort of morbid curiosity kept bringing me back for quick looks. Clinton saying, "we" gave "them" the impression that we weren't serious when we asked the UN for a resolution on Iraq. Presumably he was talking about the French, or somebody, but I couldn't stay long enough to find out. (click, click back) Couric's syrupy voice narrating a retrospective of Bill's life. Pictures of a Very Young Willie grinning like a spoiled angel. Picture of Young Willie gazing at JFK like an asslicking puppy. (click, click back) Couric, eyes glittering with admiration, asking Willie some seriously idiotic question. She was absolutely creaming her panties talking to him. I swear to God she was ready to give him a Lewinsky right there on network television. I take it back---no entrance ramp out in the fresh air for her. Make her work the subways.

Exactly

A nice, elderly lady with a strong German accent just called in on the G.Gordon Liddy show. She related growing up under Hitler and being a child during the war, living near where the Krup factories were located. She said they, "prayed for the Americans to come liberate our city." It was horrible to be a child living under a tyrant. After the war she married a Texan and moved to the U.S. She traveled all seven continents during her life and said there is no place, anywhere, as great as this country. Why, she asked, don't Americans appreciate what they have and get behind their wonderful president...?

Mt. Hood

On a clear day, it floats above our city like a schoolgirl's daydream.

It was clear and warm here today (Sunday). I wanted to take my nine year old daughter to the park or something, but she prefered to go to the mall... So we drifted around the mall for a couple of hours, looking at lava lamps, massage chairs, squishy-bags full of eyeballs (yep, they got em), Playstation games, ionic air purifiers, and people. We held hands as we strolled along the polished floors past kiosks full of expensive, colorful nonsense. I fought off several noble attempts to wheedle me into buying a Baskin-Robbins ice cream, some Sees candy, or an Orange Julius. My daughter descended into pouting despair, only twice and recovered wonderfully. She purchased a $5 used Playstation game (which they called "previousely owned," la tee da), and the clerk, apparently overcome by her dimples, tossed in a free game tote bag worth at least $10. We rode the escalator back up to the parking lot and cruised home in the sunshine listening to Spanish guitar on the car stereo. I love her.