I have no desire to see the new Star Wars movie. This is something of a surprise. I was about as much at the center of the Stars Wars generation as you get. I saw the first movie in the theaters 6 times. I have vivid memories of the disappointment I experienced when I parents were taking me to see the movie for the first time a couple weeks into it’s run, and we had to abort the trip and go home because I was running a fever and about to puke. I waited on line for tickets to see Empire and Jedi on opening day.

Episode I really lost me. The plot didn’t make any sense. While it was still entertaining to watch and had some good action scenes, I didn’t get it. It didn’t seem true to the originals. But I didn’t even make it through Episode II (which I waited to see on video as it was). Specifically, the very place where he lost me was when, in the middle of the city chase, Obi-Wan turned to Anakin an said, “Use the Force, Anakin. Think.” (see script.)

My jaw just dropped. Compare that to Obi-Wan to Luke in the famous blind training scene on the Falcon in the original Star Wars, “This time, let go your conscious self and act on instinct.” (see script.) To paraphrase, “Use the Force, Luke. Don’t Think.”

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What is soooo wrong?

That I feed my children Burger King kid’s meals? Well, yes, probably.

That Burger King is activity advertising a PG-13 “extremely dark” Star Wars movie to kids under the age of 5? Well, yes, definitely.

But, really, what I’m here to talk about it the toy pictured below that was included in the kid’s meal. It’s a wind-up, shaking, big-head Han Solo who wiggles out of his pained cryogenic chamber to freedom. With perfect hair. It’s really weird.

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I watched Farenheit 9/11 last night. While I’m a Bush-hater, I still didn’t much care for the movie. Moore’s got some interesting things to point the finger at, but that’s all he really does. He doesn’t make a case for anything. Just seems like a long list of “things that make you go hmmm.” Did have some good footage of Bush looking stupid though. I liked that.

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DirecTV has just been nice enough to offer us 4 months of free Showtime (and the 8 or so other related premium channels). This morning I TiVo’d Master of the Flying Guillotine, aka One-Armed Boxer vs. the Flying Guillotine. I know Kt will be dying to watch that with me.

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George Lucas needs to leave it alone! Or at least offer the original untainted versions before offering the screwy new versions.

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Reading this story, I’m not sure if I’m more scared that a 3-yr-old choked on popcorn, or that the parents brought a 3-yr-old to see “Alien vs. Predator”.

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Kt and I watched School of Rock last night. It was a lot of fun. Formulaic, predictable, etc….yes. But a lot of fun, none the less. I was impressed that they cast kids that all actually played the instruments…and rocked!

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You could easily come away from this article about Disney’s withering 2D animation efforts thinking that computer animated features are the way of the future simply because they are computer animated.

Clearly, you could still make a highly-successful hand-drawn animation film, if had a story worth watching! With interesting characters! Boy, that would be novel. Yes, Pixar does spectacular animation, but Nemo wouldn’t make $850 million if it just wasn’t a good movie to watch.

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How odd.

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Tried watching some of the oscars last night. You know, they just aren’t much fun if you haven’t seen any of the movies. I’m not so sure they are even if you have seen the movies, but at least you get a few of the jokes that way.

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Interesting. The company I work for is providing free advanced tickets to a screening of The Passion of the Christ for employees (and friends and family)…and/or reimbursing you for the ticket cost if you go see it on your own.

Talk about hype and good marketing. I could believe they would do this if the higher ups had seen the film, and were so moved that they thought it was worthwhile to encourage others to see it — but they haven’t seen it. I’m guessing they didn’t extend the same offer when The Last Temptation of Christ came out.

It seems there’s more buzz around this at Church on Sunday than there will be about Kevin Smith’s Green Hornet at ComicCon.

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So, Oswald and Stanley are OK, but when are my boys going to be old enough to watch Clint and John with me?

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Kt and I went to see Bad Santa on Saturday at the Movie Tavern.

Bad Santa was wrong, on just about every level, but very funny. Don’t let your kids near this one. Billy Bob was great.

As far as the Movie Tavern goes…this chain remodels closed theaters to serve food/drinks along w/ the shows. Sounds pretty good. They do it by taking out every other row of seats, and replacing them with a bar for your food. Also sounds good. They put the bar way too low. As a result half the people in the theater put their feet up on it. This really turns you off eating, because you sit there wondering who’s had their feet on the bar in front of you.

Also, I was reminded that I really like to see what I’m eating. Or least get a good glimpse of it in the light before I start eating. An opportunity you don’t get when they serve you after the movie starts.

The funniest part of the whole venture was my trip to bathroom after the show let out. Two other guys were chatting at the urinal about the movie. They agreed that they liked the girl in the movie — and one of them said, “Yea, I really liked her in the Gilmore Girls.” Not a phrase I ever expected to hear in a men’s room.

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The first trailer is out. Looks great!

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I plan to watch Bride of Frankenstein tonight on TCM (9:30 EST/8:30 CST). It’s my favorite of the Universal Studios horror films…stronger than the first in so many ways.

If you haven’t seen the original Frankenstein, it’s also showing immediately before Bride…and is recommended viewing….but, Bride takes it to another level. Bride is masterful in it’s ambience, and full of originality and humor as well. If you haven’t watched this movie, at least in recent memory, give it a chance — I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by it’s complexity.

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Kt and I watched Old School Monday night. I think it was the first movie we’ve watched together in months. It was stupid. It was funny. It was a relaxing break from all the prep for selling the old house. Kt’s parents loaned us the DVD of Chicago, which we want to watch and is a far superior film on all levels, I’m sure — but we just couldn’t bring ourselves to watch it — we wanted something stupid!

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Oh man, I wanna see this movie.

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I’m not sure I understand the point of the AFI list of the greatest heroes and villians. Beyond simply being a ploy to get a little press coverage.

The #20 villian cracked my up though, “Man, in Bambi”. I don’t know what kind of film historians they are, either…Freddy Kruger is on there, but Dracula and Frankenstein didn’t even make the list! Geez.

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Loved it! Didn’t make any sense, but luckily I’ve never thought that was a requirement for a good movie…visually brilliant!

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I’m going tonight. Yea!

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