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A Man In Transition

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Helen Thomas, Lynne Stewart, a vat of anchovies and me ... indeed!
-Glenn Reynolds

Art From A Current Painter

I discovered Peter O'Neill by wandering into his Gallery in St. Augustine, FL about a year and a half ago.  He is the artist that painted this (and gave out free prints to firehouses and victims).  Well, with his permission, I am going to post a few more of his paintings (all of which are available for sale (originals and prints), should you want one ... just go here), starting with this one, which was painted just this past September or so ...

Original Sin: The Fall of Man:

Posted by: Jheka at November 19, 2006 12:34 | link | comments |
art

Casino Royale - A Movie Review

James Bond is a huge responsibility for an actor and no one in Bond history felt the pressure like Daniel Craig ... not Moore or Lazenby (Bond wasn't as huge when Lazenby made his clumsy effort and Moore followed Lazenby, so that was an upgrade), not Bronson or (ick!) Dalton.  Not only was Craig dealing with with the build up of a four year hiatus since the release of the last Bond movie (Die Another Day; 2002) but he was (egads!) bolnd, an apparently scandelous fact which was received by some vocal Bond enthusiasts as you would expect them to receive news that a transsexual Polynesian midget was slated to play Bond.  Since the announcement in October, 2005 that Craig would play Bond, the speculation has been non-stop about whether Craig had the chops, looks, demeanor, etc. to head up the most profitable franchise in movie history (it will surge past $4 billion and approach 4.5 billion in total global box office with this movie).

Last night I went to see Casino Royale and I want to tell you that Daniel Craig does not maintain the Bond tradition.  He takes James Bond to a new level that the character has never seen.  Critics are comparing Craig's Bond to Connery's Bond.  Folks, there is no comparison whatsoever.  Craig's acting and the direction of Martin Campbell have given James Bond depth that we have never seen.  This Bond is not particularly slick.  Bond does not defeat his opponents through an overabundance of guile or gadgets (in fact, there is no "Q" and nary a laser watch or jetpack tuxedo in sight) but simply by being personally tougher.  This fact is demonstrated in an early chase sequence (in recognition of Craig's remarkable athleticism, most of the chases in this film are on foot rather than in cars, tanks, boats, etc.) where a ridiculously athletic bomber for hire is chased (and chased and chased) through a construction site by Bond.  At one point the bomber leaps over a wall and Bond ... well, Bond crashes straight through it like the Incredible Hulk with a less colorful complexion.  Gone are the easy humorous quips of Moore (though there is humor sprinkled throughout the film).  Gone is the uncaring playboy demeanor.  Instead, we are introduced to a Bond who is as cool as ever in front of his enemies but visibly suffers , both physically and emotionally, in private.  This is a Bond who is not only capable of not only bedding a woman but comforting her as well.  Craig's Bond bleeds so much and takes such a beating throughout the film that the veneer of invulnerability that has traditionally been associatted with James Bond is stripped away.  There is no feeling that Bond will inevitably find a way out of any difficult predicament simply because he is Bond.  In fact, on at least a couple of occasions, Bond is saved rom an imminent demise not by his wits or a clever gadget but by the intervention of third parties and he fails, physically, emotionally and intellectually, nearly as often as he succeeds.  Yes, he is still a spy ... even a superhero, but more Spiderman than Superman and more human than ever (and thus, more impressive than ever when he does succeed). 

The natural inclination is to compare the different Bonds.  Connery, Moore, Brosnan and Craig ... but that may not be the best comparison.  The latest Bond is such a departure ... so much grittier and rawer and simultaneously more brutal and vulnerable that it's really a different character.  Perhaps the better comparison is between today's secret agent men ... Craig's Bond, Matt Damon's Jason Bourne, Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt and even Kiefer Sutherland's Jack Bauer and, well, there's no comparison.  Go forth to your local theatre and see the baddest, most interesting secret agent working today in what may well be the movie of the year so far.

Posted by: Jheka at November 18, 2006 22:36 | link | comments (4) |
miscellaneous musings

A Few Random Thoughts

Welcome back to The Daily Blitz.  Here is some miscellany to get the blog rolling again.

Movie thoughts:

First, let me save you a few bucks.  You know that terrific new Brad Pitt movie, Babel?  Total crap.  Seriously.  It's craptacular.  Save your money.  If it gets nominated for an Oscar or even if it wins ... still pointless, self important crap.  If someone offers you a free ticket (my friend took me because she really wanted to see it ... she hated it too), say thanks but no thanks ... seriously, see damn near anything else in the theatre. 

I wasn't blogging when I saw The Last Kiss, so I couldn't warn you about that horrid, hugely depressing crapfest that was disingenuously marketed as a romantic comedy, so I'm trying to make amends now.

Also, The Departed, if you haven't seen it, really, really needed an editor.  It was at least 30 minutes too long ... and Alec Baldwin showed that he might be the most overrated actor working today.  In a movie full of great actors, his bit role was very memorable for just how badly acted and out of place it was.  He plays the same buffoonish character that he plays now in 30 Rock and that he played in Along Came Polly.  I wonder if anyone told Alec that The Departed is not a comedy. 

Finally, I am really looking forward to Casino Royale (opening tomorrow).  We really need a great, intelligent action flick.  The closest we've come recently was the B+ Batman Begins and the new Bond film looks like the best hope for a film that will not require a quadruple espresso to sit through.

Politics:

Good God, where to begin?

Well, first the good news.  Tom DeLay, Rick Santorum, Mark Foley, Katherine Harris and several others who really needed to be removed are no longer infesting our government.

Joe Lieberman is back and more powerful and moderate (in a fashion) than ever.  Guiliani-Lieberman '08, anyone?

Frank Murtha, a corrupt, anti-American gasbag got denied the Majority leader position, in spite the vigorous support of Nancy Pelosi and the psychotic, anti-American Left, so there is evidence that more than a few Democratic lawmakers may be sane and may actually be serious about cleaning up corruption. 

The bad news is voluminous.  First, America missed a wonderful opportunity to have Michael Steele and Harold Ford join Barack Obama in changing the face of black leadership in America.  There was a wonderful opportunity to move from simple minded histrionics and empty theatrics of people like Barbara Lee, John Conyers and Maxine Waters (to say nothing of rhyming charlatans like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson) to intelligent, moderate leadership on both sides of the political aisle that would have elevated not only the American Black community but America as a whole.  Oh well, at least Cynthia McKinney will be out soon.  Thank God for small favors.  I hope that both Michael Steele (who ran a wonderful, positive campaign) and Harold Ford will be back.  They have a lot to offer

The War in Iraq may well be over (or our part of it, at least) by 2009.  At the least, our role in it will be reduced in the coming months and years.  However, I think it's clear that the War on Terror will not be won or lost on the battlefields of the world.  it will be won or lost at American ballot boxes in 2008. 

Moreover, the Democratic victories in both the House and the Senate (assuming that the idiots on the hard left don't hound Joe Lieberman into caucusing with the Republicans) will likely increase worldwide terror and conflict as terrorist groups feel emboldened and our allies feel that they might have to act because America won't (keep an eye on Israel and Iran ... if there is a general feeling that America will not move to stop Iranian nuclear ambitions then ...).  Look for repeats of the Madrid bombings as terrorists realize that, for the time being, their greatest victories will come in the form of vote counts rather than body counts. 

I am not saying that all (or even most) Democrats are pro-terrorist or that they wish for us to lose The War on Terror (those that actually believe that there is such a thing), I'm only saying that the effect will be what it will be. 


Anyway, it's late and I've rambled enough.  More commentary and pretty pictures soon.

Posted by: Jheka at November 17, 2006 04:12 | link | comments (4) |
miscellaneous musings