Summer Movie Preview

As always, there are a lot of new summer movies this year. And as the trend seems to be going, the summer is for the over-the-top, fun and exciting, kick-ass action and comedy movies, while late fall and winter is time for the more emotional and dramatic movies (trying to stay as fresh in the minds of Oscar voters as possible). And while I get frustrated with Hollywood's endless sequels and re-makes (I think last summer had at least 10 sequels/series/remakes) there are still some movies I am excited to see.

So here is my list of must-see summer movies in order of release (clearly not a preview of all movies, just the ones I am looking forward to):

Iron Man | Release Date: May 2
Yes, I know, it has already been released and been in theaters and has done well. Partially because I think people love the Iron Man character, partially because they hear Robert Downey Jr. does a great job playing Stark, but in my opinion, mostly because people (like me) were looking forward to this and wanted a blockbuster action movie. Still haven't seen it, but really want to. So... anyone wanna go?

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The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian | Release Date: May 16
As I have said before, as much as I loved C.S. Lewis' books, I was disappointed by the first Narnia movie. I know some people loved it, and that is their opinion, but I was disappointed. Regardless, Prince Caspian was a great book... dare I say my favorite of the series, so I think I'm gonna try to see it. Right now, I feel like it falls in the wait-for-Netflix category, except for the large epic nature of it, which means you have to see it on the big screen.

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Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull | Release Date: May 22
Despite the questions and controversy, despite the uneasy feeling in my stomach telling me that they shouldn't have done this re-make, I still want to see this movie and hope that it isn't embarrassingly horrible. Harrison Ford is old... and Indiana Jones may be asking too much of his frail self. If this film falls flat on its face, I think Spielberg should take the blame for trying to resurrect a popular character and series almost two decades later with an aging actor. It just doesn't sound like a recipe for success, but I have to see for myself.

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Honorable Mention Mid-Summer Comedies
Kung Fu Panda and You Don't Mess With The Zohan | Release Date: June 6

They are both coming out on the same day. They both have a ridiculous premise. As much as I love Jack Black (and attempt to remain a loyal supporter of all his movies... except for The Holiday. I mean, come on Jack) and want desperately for Adam Sandler to make another great comedy (it's been ten years since The Waterboy, with only Big Daddy and Anger Management worth mentioning afterwards)... I don't see the need to pay for a theater ticket to see either of these this summer. Am I curious? Some. Will I rent these? Maybe. If I am bored. And in the mood for mindless comedy. That I might regret afterwards. Then yes.

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The Incredible Hulk | Release Date: June 13
I'm interested to see Edward Norton's try at this. Yes I think it is stupid that they are making ANOTHER Hulk movie so soon after the last one, and no, unlike the original plan, this is not a sequel. Nonetheless, if you are looking for a big, action-packed thriller, this time possibly including a deeper psychological and emotional aspect, this is a good one. Not the top of my list for the summer, but one that I would like to see on the big screen instead of rent.

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The Love Guru | Release Date: June 20
Probably not worth it, but this comes out during a summer movie lull. So who knows. Maybe I will watch it. More likely, it will be rented later. Kinda like Adam Sandler, I am pulling for Mike Myers on this one. I am really hoping he can come up with a funny comedy to match his Austin Powers greatness. Or maybe I should just go back and watch Austin Powers.

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The Dark Knight | Release Date: July 18
Finally. July 18th. The wait is over. By far, the newest Batman movie is the one I am looking forward to the most this summer. Ever since seeing the super short, super teaser last year with the eerie, chilling laugh of the Joker, I have been counting the days. Yes that was before I knew Heath Ledger was playing the Joker, yes that was before he died. No, I am not going to watch this movie as some sort of act of sympathy because of Heath's death. I have always respected him as an actor and was looking forward to this movie after seeing sneak peeks of his performance in the trailers. And yes it is sad, but honestly if his death did stem from the passion and heart he put into this performance, then it sounds like he died doing what he loved and I want to see him at his best. And yes, initially, before seeing Batman Begins, I was very skeptical about Christian Bale as the Caped Crusader... but now, I like it and I am stoked to see him again, this time darker and more menacing than before. This one is a definite must for the big screen. If possible, the biggest screen, IMAX. Can't wait.

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Step Brothers | Release Date: July 25
Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly team up again for what could be a funny and silly comedy. Probably not worth seeing on the big screen, but from the trailer I saw, it does look funny. And I am sure it is stuffed with one-liners like all their other movies. Verdict: wait for Netflix or a rainy day in late summer.

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The X Files: I Want To Believe | Release Date: July 25
An unexpected sequel. I just found out recently that there is a new X Files movie coming out later in the summer. Now, it has been a long time since I was really into The X Files, but I loved the first movie and used to follow the TV show... when I was allowed to watch it. So, I am really excited about this and definitely want to see it on the big screen. Flying mostly under the radar, but still could be really awesome!

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And really, that's it. At least as far as I know. There may be a couple other ones that sneak out this summer that I might want to see, but really, after the X Files sequel, the rest of the summer kinda runs out of steam.

So to rank them by priority and importance, not by release date:

1. The Dark Knight
2. The X Files
3. Iron Man
4. The Incredible Hulk
5. Indiana Jones
6. Chronicles of Narnia
7. The comedies.... I guess Step Brothers, Love Guru, Zohan, and then Panda

Should be a good summer...

rainy day lyrics

Made an on-the-go playlist that ended up being very close to the one I came up with last week. Some lyrics that stuck out in the car as the rain drenched our clothes and spirits...

God forbid you call their bluff.
Like the nightmares ain't enough.
Remember when we used to think that we were tough?
God forbid you call their bluff.

First they make you out to be the only pirate on the sea.
Then they say Danko would have sounded just like me.
"Is that the man you want to be?"

You'll be loved like you never have known
The memories of me
Will seem more like bad dreams
Just a series of blur, like I never occurred

You may feel alone when you're falling asleep
And everytime tears roll down your cheeks
But I know your heart belongs to someone you've yet to meet
Someday you will be loved

And I hold you close in the back of my mind
Feels so good but damn it makes me hurt
And I'm too scared to know how I feel about you now
Las cienega just smiled... "see ya around"

And I hold you close in the back of my mind
And raise my glass 'cause either way I'm dead
Neither of you really help me to sleep anymore
One breaks my body and the other breaks my soul
La cienega just smiles as it waves goodbye

I'm waiting for someone who just wont show
And every night it feels like there's no tomorrow
Not that you will ever know,

Where ever you are I hope you're happy now
I'm caught in a dream and I cant get out
I'm caught in a dream
I'm caught in an endless dream

Well it's life informing art, informing life again
Like every stupid kid that thinks that they're the first in pain
The first to rip themselves apart
The first to try and live without a heart

I got a choke chain
Made out of nightrain
To keep your memory down
Quicksand from the main man
To drown everything out
We were out on a joyride
Fucked up from insides
Always at a dead stall
From sticking pins into miniature men
Who can't feel it at all

And the picture frames are facing down
And the ringing from this empty sound
Is deafening and keeping you from sleep.
And breathing is a foreign task
And thinking's just too much to ask
And you're measuring your minutes by a clock that's blinking eights.

Goodness knows its been a wonderful run
The autumn lakes where the children were swans
Your mother's convictions and your father's predictions dont seem so insane
They laugh they say your treasures are fake but dont throw it away

You've been framed with a beautiful name
You've been saved, but you've lost your head
With halos and friends, the trinity saves, but three is a crowd

far far away

Throw it all away
Let's lose ourselves
'Cause there's no one left for us to blame
It's a shame we're all dying
And do you think you deserve your freedom

How could you send us so far away from home
When you know damn well that this is all
I would still lay down my life for you
And do you think you deserve your freedom

No I don't think you do
There's no justice in the world
There's no justice in the world
And there never was

straw + camel's back

So, we're talking forever and you almost feel better
but, better's no excuse for tonight
you see, it's never bad enough to just leave or give up
but, its never good enough to feel right

Now I'm lying on the table with everything you said
it will all catch up eventually
well, it caught up and honestly
the weight of my decisions were impossible to hold
but they were never yours...

Well I, know you know... everything

in the news

This is disgusting, sad, and makes me really angry: Teen girls from cult were impregnated
And they were up in arms about their rights being violated and how they had the right to practice their religion and their traditions.  Well, I am sorry, but horny 50 year old men creating a religious cult just so they can fulfill their fetish to have sex with young girls is not ok.  I don't care what the religion is, someone needs to step in and protect these girls from this abuse, not to mention the fact that they got pregnant and supposedly carried their babies to the full term...

Bad idea: More Accessible Viagra

I think in general, the idea of Viagra is a bad one, but making it freely and readily available... I don't see that ending well.  Granted, I am not in the position of some of these men (or their wives for that matter) so I can't really speak to it or identify.  But... I think at some point you have to think about why there are so many people having trouble.  Is it psychological or maybe emotional?  Maybe they just aren't as turned on by their wives as they used to be but want to pass the buck and blame something or someone else.  Having a disorder to point to and a pill that fixes it seems to be the easiest way.  I don't know.  If it is increasing intimacy and enriching the relationship of older couples, then I guess that is great.  I just wonder if we really can or need to fix everything by popping a pill and over-medicating.  Maybe there is a reason for the problem and a pill isn't going to fix that.

That darn global warming... We are surely doomed: Record snowfall in Alaska | Rough winter in Michigan | Famous meteorologist getting cut off for his views

Now, I am not going to go off on a tirade about global warming or Al Gore making millions of dollars and receiving a Nobel Peace Prize for what could turn out to be brainwashing propaganda, fear-mongering, and lies.  In my opinion, the jury is still out on this whole issue.  There is too much conflicting evidence, too many scientists and meteorologists on both sides to know which is right.  And since Gore's movie came out and made such a huge splash (aka the public sat and gobbled up what they were spoon-fed) more and more scientists have come out against global warming and climate change.  It is hard to know what to think when very respected experts in the field say that global warming is false, or claim we are about to go into a severe cooling trend, some calling it the "greatest scam in history."  I am just skeptical and don't like that one person takes his opinion and presents it as fact, when the experts aren't in agreement...