Sunday, November 25, 2018
Christmas Watch: The Christmas Chronicles (2018)
Watched: 11/24/2018
Format: Netflix Streaming
Viewing: First
Decade: 2010's
I mean, honestly, they had me at "and Kurt Russell as Santa". Does Russell's participation immediately suggest "amazing film"? No. But he will elevate whatever he's in just by showing up, so I figured - hey, I already have Netflix, if it's painful, we turn it off.
I'm happy to say, The Christmas Chronicles (2018) is the rare Christmas movie that's actually pretty funny and accomplishes its goals in a surprisingly uncynical, actually-earns-it way. All of which is remarkable, because describing the plot of this film will make you raise your eyebrow and say "I've seen this movie. Several times. And it's always terrible."
Wednesday, November 21, 2018
Happy Thanksgiving 2018 from The Signal Watch
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Let's do this |
Thanksgiving is actually supposed to be about being grateful at harvest-time for what we *do* have, and how we can share that with our fellow humans. After all, it was President Lincoln who instated Thanksgiving during the dark days of The Civil War as a balm to the nation's ills and a reminder of what was good and how we could look to those less fortunate as we recognized our good fortune.
The holiday is expressed in many ways, from meals provided by volunteers to the needy to people trying to fly across the country in terrible weather to spend three uncomfortable days with extended family and then fly back, more exhausted than when we left. As part of the crass commercialism that *is* American freetime, of course there's also a tradition of watching football (and therefore ads) and the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade from New York City (and therefore ads).
Sunday, November 18, 2018
Mickey Mouse Turns 90
Happy birthday, Mickey Mouse!
November 18, 1928 Mickey made his first appearance on the screen at New York's Colony Theatre in the short Steamboat Willie. The short holds up incredibly well, retains every bit of energy it had nine decades ago and remains just as clever, creative and funny as anything in animation today.
If you've never seen Steamboat Willie, here you go:
Saturday, November 17, 2018
PODCAST! AVENGERS COUNTDOWN - "AVENGERS" (2012) - Jamie and Ryan take on the great big superhero mashup
Watched: 11/02/2018
Format: BluRay
Viewing: Unknown. 6th or 7th.
Decade: 2010's
Jamie and Ryan return and we finally get to the big team-up movie! Which... people seem to like. We take a look at how it stacks up as part of the bigger Marvel picture, what we like, what we don't (brace yerselves), and try to sort out what Loki was actually up to in this movie.
Avengers Chronological Countdown Playlist
Today Marks the 40th Anniversary of the release of the "Star Wars Holiday Special"
If I'm reading the internet correctly, today marks the 40th Anniversary of the release of The Star Wars Holiday Special.
We look back now at the Star Wars Holiday Special as the trainwreck that it, indeed, is. But I also think it's worth mentioning what a @#$%ing miracle Star Wars itself was when it was released, and that these same actors in the same wardrobe were totally capable of making something absolutely, insanely awful.
We look back now at the Star Wars Holiday Special as the trainwreck that it, indeed, is. But I also think it's worth mentioning what a @#$%ing miracle Star Wars itself was when it was released, and that these same actors in the same wardrobe were totally capable of making something absolutely, insanely awful.
Thursday, November 15, 2018
Mary Poppins Watch: Mary Poppins (1964)
Watched: 10/09/2018
Format: BluRay
Viewing: Unknown
Decade: 1960's
I @#$%ing love Mary Poppins (1964), man. Both the character and the movie. Like, unironically, unabashedly - there is not one thing I do not like in Mary Poppins. It is, as they say, practically perfect in every way. As is Julie Andrews.
Tuesday, November 13, 2018
Noir Watch: Pickup on South Street (1953) w/ special guest to Austin, Karina Longworth
Watched: 11/13/2018
Format: Alamo Ritz hosted screening
Viewing: second
Decade: 1950's
This evening Karina Longworth, host of the much-discussed You Must Remember This podcast, came to Austin for a book signing and screening. Longworth has a new book available, Seduction: Sex, Lies and Stardom in Howard Hughes's Hollywood, which she's promoting. If she's coming to your town, stop on by and see her and pick up the book.
For the film selection, Longworth and the Alamo programmed Pickup on South Street (1953), which starred Jean Peters, one of the main figures in Longworth's book. The film also stars noir star Richard Widmark and high-quality character actor (and multiple award nominee but never the recipent) Thelma Ritter.
Monday, November 12, 2018
Stan Lee Merges with The Infinite
Excelsior!
I am, like everyone, mourning the loss of Stan Lee who passed at age 95.
But. What a world we live in where everyone is mourning a comic book writer/ editor/ huckster! What an amazing guy we had with us for almost a full century!
Sunday, November 11, 2018
Noir Watch: He Ran All the Way (1951)
Watched: 11/10/2018
Format: Noir Alley on TCM on DVR
Viewing: First
Decade: 1951
I admit - I started watching this movie a while back shortly after it aired on TCM and then got busy and forgot to finish watching it, until now. And I'm very glad I did.
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