Saturday, June 24, 2006

I'll wait for the DVD...

It's the summer movie season, but if you're like me you've found youself saying that a lot. Why? Because it takes less than a year for the DVD to come out, and actually going out to a movie theater has become more of an experience to dread than anticipate.

Let's just start with the movie theater experience:

It's hard to find a place to park. That should indicate people are still going to the movies, but I swear the parking lots of new theaters are microscopic.

No need to talk about concession prices. They've always been expensive and always will be. That's how theaters make their money. If you can afford it, buy it, if you can't don't.

Ticket prices. Now those are outrageous. You can buy the DVD when it comes out in only a few months for less than the cost of 2 movie theater tickets. It's a catch-22 really. They keep raising the prices because less people are going to the movies, and less people are going to the movies because the tickets are too expensive.

The movie experience itself. The print is always scratched, even on the first weekend. Sometimes the sound is bad. There is usually some annoying person in the audience: talking, eating louder than you would think humanly possible, letting their kids talk and/or kick the seats in front of them, answering their ringing cell phone. Why would I want to put up with all of that when I can watch something in the comfort of my own home?

Usually I don't, but sometimes I do. Sometimes I just want to see something on the big screen.

X-Men 3? I don't know. I thought the first one was good, the second I didn't really like. I'll wait for the DVD.

Superman Returns? I loved the first 2 when I was a kid, so there is the nostalgic factor. It seems like something that should be seen on the big screen. I'll see that.

Thursday, June 22, 2006

Is Matt Damon the new Captain Kirk?

Insider TV has said Matt Damon is being considered for Captain Kirk in the upcoming Star Trek prequel.

I had heard the next Star Trek was going to have the familiar characters from the original series in their younger days.

Personally I think this concept is unnecessary. They could just create a new story and new characters if they want to do a new movie and have it not be a Next Generation movie.

I do kind of like that idea, but why use the same characters? It will be interesting to see if Trek fans want to see the adventures of young Captain Kirk or not.

As far as Matt Damon? I don't know. I think he is a good actor, I have no problem with him, but it seems like he is too well known to take over the part. I really think they would be better off going with an unknown actor.

That is if any of this is true, which I'm still very skeptical about right now.

Saturday, June 17, 2006

Happy Birthday Paul!

June 18th marks the 64th birthday of Paul McCartney.

Aside from Taylor Hicks I haven't written much about music on this site, but I figured the 64th birthday of the former Beatle who wrote When I'm 64 would be as good a time as any to start.

I love The Beatles and I love Paul McCartney, so in honor of his birthday I thought I would list my 10 favorite solo McCartney songs (yes the list will include Wings).

1. Maybe I'm Amazed - I consider this to be one of the greatest loves songs ever - from the album McCartney though I prefer the Wings Over America live version.

2. Let Me Roll It - I just love the sound of this one. It's minimal but so effective. From Band on the Run.

3. Take It Away - This may the song that first got me into pop music. I was 9 years old when it came out, and I just loved it. It gets my sentimental vote, though I still think it's great. From Tug Of War.

4. Coming Up - This song was a single from McCartney II, but I have to go with the live version which was the B side to the single. The live version is a great funk/rock song, with excellent vocals from McCartney. I also love the optimistic lyrics - You want a better kind of future. One that everyone can share. You're not alone, we all could use it. Stick around, we're nearly there. It's coming up.

5. Band On The Run - A great song from what might be McCartney's greatest album (though I'm still undecided on that). I love all the changes this song goes through, with the keyboard and vocal opening to the crunchy guitar riff and then to the acoustic rhythm. And McCartney's vocals are at their best.

6. Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five - Another one from the Band on the Run album. I find the piano riff on this to be irresistible.

7. Spin It On - I don't know why but I really love this song. It's from Back To The Egg, which is probably McCartney's most underrated album. It's a rocker with impossible to understand lyrics, but I'm hooked every time I hear it.

8. Back Seat Of My Car - From the Ram album. What I love most about this song is McCartney's vocals. There is something very wistful and honest about them, and the build into an awesome yearning yell is great.

9. Calico Skies - This is a very nice and unexpected love song from Flaming Pie. I say unexpected because Flaming Pie came out in 1997 and this sounds like it could have been a Beatles song. It's a nice acoustic guitar backing over a simple melody. Very nicely done.

10. Every Night - And another from the McCartney album - which is a great album and is quickly becoming a favorite. I love the simplicity of the lyrics on this one. What more needs to be said other than ...but tonight I want to stay in and be with you?

Honorable Mention - Oh Woman, Oh Why - This song was originally the B side to Another Day and can now be found, as a bonus track, on the import only remastered version of Ram. It was also a bonus track on the Wildlife album. This song has one of the greatest vocal performances from McCartney ever. They are raw and powerful as are the lyrics. It's worth checking out if you haven't heard it.

I'm sure tomorrow I'll think of some song that I will wish I had put on this list, but these are the ones that came to mind first.

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

People's hottest bachelors

See them here.

Some highlights:

2 2005 American Idol constestants (well 1 winner) make the list and the American Idol host.

Ryan Seacrest likes women with a "guttural laugh." And 5'10"? - questionable.

Taylor Hicks - wants a woman who can be entertaining.

New bachelor Nick Lachey - can't wait to have kids.

Not to be outdone Ace Young says he'll have as many kids as he can afford.

CSI's Archie Kao wants a woman with "Oprah-esque qualities."



So if any of you ladies posess these qualities and/or want to have a lot of kids, there you go.

Tuesday, June 13, 2006

Taylor Hicks single release day...

This has been a week of transition for this site. Believe it or not this site is going back to entertainment related material.

Taylor Hicks info is going to its own site that I newly created .... The Taylor Hicks Page.

So please visit that page for all your Taylor Hicks info and discussion.

Saturday, June 10, 2006

Taylor Hicks musical guest on The Tonight Show June 22nd

I am hearing a rumor that Taylor will be the musical guest on the The Tonight Show on June 22nd.

I haven't verified it yet, but I hope so. Maybe he will get to sing something besides Do I Make You Proud. And as much as I like Takin' It To The Streets, it might be kind of nice to hear something besides that as well.

I already have several versions of both of those songs to choose from. I'm sure he probably will have to do Do I Make You Proud, since the single is being released on Tuesday, but maybe he will get to do a second song, and maybe that song will be something we haven't heard before.

Friday, June 02, 2006

Taylor Hicks performs at Wal-Mart - video up for Taylor's fans

I got a couple of emails directly from Wal-Mart about this. They sent me a link to what would have been a live video feed of Taylor performing at their annual shareholders meeting - 10:15 AM eastern.

Unfortunately for me that means 7:15 AM my time and I was sitting in rush hour traffic at the time and didn't see the email until after the performance was over.

Don't be too disappointed thought, because they also gave me a link to the video of the performance which they will have up at 2 PM eastern (that's 11 AM Pacific).

Here it is:

http://www.walmart.com/exclusiveperformances


The email stated that they wanted Taylor's fans to be able to see the performance first so...

Check it out!

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