THIS AND THAT - FEBRUARY 2020

DOLLAR TREE BOOKS.....

It's been a while since I've found anything I liked in the book aisle of my nearest DOLLAR TREE.

I was happy to find these books.

THE BOY WHO LOVED BATMAN

This book was written by Michael Uslan. He's produced a ton of BATMAN movies, both live action and animated.

This book contains a lot of emotional material - including joy and sorrow.

I really love it.

The book also has a lot of color and black / white photos. Many of those photos are personal, and that makes it even better.

If you see this at your local DOLLAR TREE, I recommend you buy it.

WRITER - Michael Uslan
PUBLISHER - Chronicle Books
ISBN - 9780811875509
HARDcover
APPROXIMATE PAGE COUNT - over 250


THE BLACKLIST: THE BEEKEEPER NO. 159

This tv show airs on NBC.

I have NOT had the time to read this tie-in novel.

WRITER - Steven Piziks
PUBLISHER - Titan Books
ISBN - 9781783298051
SOFTcover ( mass market tie-in )
APPROXIMATE PAGE COUNT - over 300



Above is a view of MUGU ROCK via GOOGLE MAPS street view... I would often eat my diner there. It was therapeutic beyond description.

CLASS OF 1981.....

I've got a new webpage. It's personal, and has meaning to me.

Please have a look, and if you know someone that was in that program, leave a comment.



Click on link below.....

CLASS OF 1981 REGIONAL OCCUPATIONAL PROGRAM




MORE PODCASTS.....

Here are some more podcasts I recommend. Maybe you'll like them, maybe you won't. You won't know until you listen.

See links below.....

SUCK THE JOY - Lots of fun. Kathleen Wilhoite is one of the hosts, and she's the main reason I started listening. Now, I listen because I actually like the show.


NEVER 30 - I love this documentary style show. Lots of great stories.


PROUDLY RESENTS - Fun rants and interviews. Give it a chance and listen.


FILM PHOTOGRAPHY PODCAST - Great show. If you love photography, you should listen at least once.


ON STORY - Interested in screenwriting?... Then listen to the screenwriters.



RANDY NEWMAN performing I LOVE L.A.

VIBES.....

A reminder, that these radio shows - and one station - may, or may not, help you relax.....

HEARTS OF SPACE


ECHOES


KROQ



THE BANGLES performing MANIC MONDAY on AMERICAN BANDSTAND.

Search for these music videos......

THE LUNATICS HAVE TAKEN OVER THE ASYLUM by FUN BOY THREE

E=MC2 by BIG AUDIO DYNAMITE

THIS IS RADIO CLASH by THE CLASH

ANARCHY IN THE U.K. by THE SEX PISTOLS

ROCK THE CASBAH by THE CLASH

VOICES CARRY by TIL TUESDAY

DANCING WITH TEARS IN MY EYES by ULTRAVOX

BLASPHEMOUS RUMOURS by DEPECHE MODE

BUT NOT TONIGHT by DEPECHE MODE

STRANGELOVE by DEPECHE MODE

PICTURES OF YOU by THE CURE

HEAVEN by THE PSYCHEDELIC FURS

HEARTBREAK BEAT by THE PSYCHEDELIC FURS

MANIC MONDAY by THE BANGLES

I LOVE L.A. by RANDY NEWMAN

THROUGH BEING COOL by DEVO

FREEDOM OF CHOICE by DEVO

CHANNEL Z by THE B52's

ROAM by THE B52's


RANDY NEWMAN performing I LOVE L.A.

Below are Screengrabs of a MOUNTAIN DEW commercial with Bryan Cranston - THE SHINING


That's all for now.....

THIS AND THAT - NOVEMBER 2019 ( PART 1 of ? )

Above is the cover of BLOOD SUGAR by Daniel Kraus ( HARD CASE CRIME ).

IT'S BOTH, FICTION AND REALITY.....

Life and art have always been inseparable.

A new novel called BLOOD SUGAR has been released.

The book is about a psycho that uses halloween for homicidal activities.

I was reminded about the book, when I saw news reports about a man being arrested for putting RAZOR BLADES in treat or treat bags.

I have great memories of halloween during the late sixties and early seventies. Actually, that's a LIE! For me, halloween has always been a surreal event.

Once upon a time, it was common for kids to roam the streets from sundown to about nine P.M.

It was halloween night, so that made it ok to stay out.

We usually stayed in groups, but that was NO guarantee of safety.


Above are news reports of another typical halloween night in the U.S.A. ( how sad for all of us ).

I still remember one specific incident, it involved some guys trying to abduct a boy - they ran out of a Chevy/GMC Suburban, or International Travelall. But, as soon as all the kids on the sidewalk started screaming, they jumped back in the vehicle and hit the gas.

Teenage bullies would occasionally arrive in packs and steal bags from little kids - and hit them also. What a bunch of PUSSY LOSERS! However, they weren't so brave when some of the parents chased them down, and gave then the beatings they so richly deserved.


Above are screengrabs of a man arrested for putting RAZOR BLADES in kids candy bags.

There were also countless reports of drugs and sharp objects in candy.

These days, you usually don't see kids going from home to home. In some communities it still happens, but in most areas, that type of interaction is history.




DECADES TV.....

Is there a DACADES affiliate in your area?



During a recent weekend, The DECADES TV channel aired every season one and season two episode of TWIN PEAKS. It was fantastic!



DARK SHADOWS is also shown on DECADES TV.

I think 1970, is when I saw my first episode of DARK SHADOWS. I had arrived home from school early, and was flipping channels, when I stumbled across this show. I remember thinking, "this isn't a soap opera. It has vampires and other spooky stuff".




FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA AND MARTIN SCORSESE CAN EAT SHIT AND CHOKE ON IT!.....

I do NOT like superheros. However, what I HATE FAR MORE than superheros, are ARROGANT, OUT-OF-TOUCH, SHOBIZ SCUMBAGS, that defend CHILD RAPISTS!

If I remember correctly, Mr. SCORSESE has defended FUGITIVE / CHILD RAPIST Polanski on several occasions! So, where does he get off insulting others?!



COPPOLA is even worse! He has A LOT OF NERVE using the word DESPICABLE! Keep in mind, that he SHAMELESSLY DEFENDS - AND WORKS WITH - THE ABOMINATION CALLED VICTOR SALVA! He looks down on people involved with comic book based films. Really?! Are you FUCKING KIDDING ME?! HE's the one that should be ashamed!

Both of these guys think their shit doesn't stink. Even worse, are the folks that proudly kiss their asses - as if, they were deities.

The next time CRAPPOLA - AKA COPPOLA - uses the word DESPICABLE, he better be standing in front of a mirror!



Above is a PIC 'N' SAVE newspaper ad from 1968.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE STORE CHAIN?......

If you lived in the western United States during the sixties, seventies, and eighties, then you're familiar with PIC 'N' SAVE stores. They were similar to DOLLAR TREE, except everything did NOT cost a dollar.

Everything was extremely discounted, and they would occasionally have peculiar items.

As a kid, I was fascinated by that store. I got books, model kits, t-shirts, and even discovered HOT WHEELS at PIC 'N' SAVE.


Above are cell phone photos of a PIC 'N' SAVE bag from the sixties or seventies - I don't know for certain how old it is. The bag is in excellent condition! One of my family members found it in a box.

PIN 'N' SAVE's name was ripped-off by countless companies - both regional and national.

Just for the record, this store did NOT change their name. They were ELIMINATED and then, REPLACED by BIG LOTS. The folks that owned PIC 'N' SAVE, also owned BIG LOTS.

Several other chains were also REPLACED by BIG LOTS.



Above are scans of the front and back covers of PETER GOWLAND PHOTOGRAPHS THE FIGURE ( 1962 ).

PETER GOWLAND PHOTOGRAPHS THE FIGURE.....

This is a great little instructional book.



It was published by WHITESTONE in 1962, and it's been out-of-print for a LONG time.



It's printed on a crappy type of paper.

It's still useful, and contains great photography.




DVD covers for 10x10 and BERLIN SYNDROME.

MORE DOLLAR TREE DVD's.....

10x10 ( VERTICAL ENTERTAINMENT ) - I didn't think I would like this movie, but I did. Great acting and action.

It's in WIDEscreen.


BERLIN SYNDROME ( VERTICAL ENTERTAINMENT ) - The acting is great, and I really enjoyed this movie.

It's in WIDEscreen.




KISS KISS BANG BANG ( WARNER BROS ) - I loved this flick. It's a lot of fun.

It also has a great cast - Robert Downey Jr., Val Kilmer, Michelle Monaghan, and Corbin Bernsen.

It has dark humor, great action scenes, and Michelle Monaghan makes it sexy.

It's in WIDEscreen.


TOMORROW YOU'RE GONE ( RLJ ) - I like this movie.

Willem Dafoe, Stephen Dorff, and Michelle Monaghan are in this film.

It's in WIDEscreen.




SOVIET SPIES ( MILL CREEK ENTERTAINMENT ) - This 4 movie collection has, The Russian Specialist ( with Dolph Lundgren ), Little Nikita , Man on a String, and A Dandy in Aspic.

LITTLE NIKITA is my favorite. I saw it in the theater. A lot of familiar faces in this flick. Such as, Sidney Poitier, River Phoenix, Richard Lynch, Richard Bradford, and Jerry Hardin.

I did NOT like, MAN ON A STRING.

All of these movies are presented in WIDEscreen, and are on one disc.

I love MILL CREEK collections.


GO ( MILL CREEK ENTERTAINMENT ) - I think this movie is a lot of fun.

I enjoy watching Sarah Polley. She's genuinely talented and smart.

Katie Holmes, Scott Wolf, and Jay Mohr, also share the screen.

It's in WIDEscreen.




THE WALK ( SONY ) - I prefer the documentary that aired on PBS. But, this is still good movie.

When I first heard Joseph Gordon-Levitt's French accent, I couldn't stop laughing.

I do NOT like Ben Kingsley. So, the less I say about him the better.

I really enjoyed the movie.

It's WIDEscreen.


AFTERNOON DELIGHT ( CINEDIGM ) - In my opinion, Kathryn Hahn is one of the most UNDERRATED and UNAPPRECIATED actresses in hollyWEIRD.

Juno Temple is also an important part of this movie.

I liked this movie a lot.

It's in WIDEscreen



Photo of the 45rpm record of SAME OLD LANG SYNE ( picture from EBAY ).

NOT JUST A SONG.....

Some songs are like micro-sized novels, and others like poetry. These types of songs bring out your memories, and raw emotions. They're the types of songs that mean something to you.

For me, one of those songs is called SAME OLD LANG SYNE. It was written and sung by Dan Fogelberg ( 1951 – 2007 ). The song is from 1980, and I remember purchasing the 45 rpm record.


P.S. - Sorry for any grammatical errors. I do NOT have a lot of time to write these blog posts.....

THIS AND THAT - OCTOBER 2019 ( PART 1 OF ? )

I scanned PART of a recent DOLLAR TREE advertisement.

DOLLAR TREE flicks... I've purchased a few dozen titles this year. Below are some brief thoughts on a handful of discs.



BAD WORDS ( UNIVERSAL / FOCUS FEATURES ) - I LOVE THIS MOVIE!... Great story, great performances, and great camera work.

It's presented in WIDEscreen, and is a DVD/BLU-RAY combo set.

SUSHI GIRL ( MAGNOLIA / MAGNET ) - I'll get straight to the point, I HATE THIS MOVIE!

Think of it, as a counterfeit seventies exploitation film. This is what happens, when I do NOT read the back of the DVD case.

Also, I do NOT like Tony Todd, enough said.

SUSHI GIRL is presented in BULLSHIT-VISION.



INFORMERS ( SONY ) - This movie was a BIG surprise to me. I ended up liking this film tremendously. It takes place during the early eighties. It deals with love, sex, drugs, aids, self loathing, wealth, fame, and the way we treat each other.

It's beautifully filmed, and the acting is excellent.

It's in WIDEscreen.

COMPLIANCE ( MAGNOLIA ) - A few years ago, I wrote a rant about this movie. Actually, my rant was about the film's DETRACTORS.

I like this movie a lot. They kept the story as factual as possible. Love the acting and camera work.

It's in WIDEscreen.



MIDNIGHT MOVIES 4 PACK ( MGM ) - Contains, MORONS FROM OUTER SPACE, ALIEN FROM L.A., THE MAN FROM PLANET X, and THE ANGRY RED PLANET.

ALIEN FROM L.A., THE MAN FROM PLANET X, and THE ANGRY RED PLANET, are FULLscreen. I did NOT watch MORONS FROM OUTER SPACE. So, I don't know if it's FULLscreen also.

It's a two disc set ( double sided discs ).

SHAKES THE CLOWN ( MILL CREEK ENTERTAINMENT ) - I must have been one of the few people to pay to watch this flick when it first hit theaters.

I LOVE IT!... And I make NO apologies for feeling that way!

It's presented in WIDEscreen.


Above are the front and back covers of BUNNY YEAGER'S ABC'S OF FIGURE PHOTOGRAPHY ( from 1964 ).

BUNNY YEAGER'S ABC'S OF FIGURE PHOTOGRAPHY is a great little instructional book.



It was published in 1964, by a company called WHITESTONE PUBLICATIONS. Do NOT confuse them with WHITESTONE PUBLISHING ( a religious publisher ).

It's a softcover. However, it's constructed more like a magazine. In fact, the interior pages have a brittle newspaper feel to them.



All the interior photos are in black and white.

If you're wondering, yes, there's plenty of ladies in and out of clothes.

It's been out-of-pint for decades.


Screengrab from GOOGLE NEWS, about FAMILY CIRCLE magazine.

MORE MAGAZINES DISAPPEAR.....

FAMILY CIRCLE magazine will soon be history.

So many magazines have disappeared, or are close to disappearing.



Many periodicals SHOT THEMSELVES IN THE FOOT by doing stupid things, and by continuing to make the same mistakes. They do NOT listen to their customer base.



PLAYBOY is a great example of what happens when you do NOT listen to your customer base, and continuously make STUPID decisions.

The BUNNY RAG is close to extinction. It's been dead to me since the nineties. Read the quotes below ( from the NEW YORK POST - 2019 ).

QUOTES.....

"Playboy went ad-free with its winter issue"

"hiked its cover price to a hefty $24.99 per issue"

"USPS data that shows that circulation has continued to dip over the past 12 months"

"alienated its loyal older readers"

"Its average total paid circulation was 206,483 for the six issues in 2018, down by more than a third from a year earlier"



TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS PER ISSUE?!... Are you FUCKING KIDDING ME?!

From what I understand, they only publish FOUR pathetic issues per year!

Millions of people, like me, watched this publication quickly lose it's magic.

My interest started fading during the early nineties, when they became obsessed with sensationalism.



Remember when PLAYBOY had THE WOMEN OF WALMART issue? How about THE WOMEN OF 7-ELEVEN issue? Or THE WOMEN OF ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS issue?... OK, I lied about that last title. When they started doing that kind of crap, it did NOT receive a warm reception from most of the folks I knew.

They would also pay whatever FLAVOR OF THE YEAR, ridiculous amounts of money to pose for them.

PLAYBOY used to be a beautifully photographed, well written, and well-thought-out publication. Now, it's just fading wallpaper.

I see the same thing happening to many other periodicals, and it makes me sad.


Above is a screengrab from a Norwegian vacation commercial. I find it very relaxing.

WHY SPORADIC UPDATES?..... This blog is NOT a job. So, when it stops being fun / therapeutic, it's time to stop.

My reasons for NOT posting?... I've been, and continue to be, extremely busy - to put it mildly.

I've been dealing with A LOT of serious issues and personal tragedy. It's been truly horrific in countless ways, and for far too long.

CHEAP DVDs - TAKE THIS WALTZ

So-called romance flicks are usually NOT on my must-see list. However, there are exceptions, and this movie is definitely an exception to the rule.

FYI - this is a Canadian film, written and directed by Sarah Polley. It stars Michelle Williams and some other familiar faces. I also want to mention how beautifully filmed this movie is.

I remember hearing a lot about TAKE THIS WALTZ. Unfortunately, it was only about the nude scenes. I never heard or read much about the story.



I think of WALTZ, as an unromantic slice of life. Yes, it has romance, and comedy in it. But, those things do NOT make this a romantic comedy.

The romance in this movie is NOT the cliched crap you've seen in other flicks and the comedy in WALTZ is dark.

None of the characters are assholes, so you don't really cheer against anyone, but you do find yourself cheering for Margot ( Michelle Williams ).



As for the nudity, is it worthy of all the hype?... Yes, in my opinion it is. Michelle Williams has some full-frontals in this film, but the movie is actually worth watching.

I found this DVD at the DOLLAR TREE. So, do I want my money back?.... NO!



TAKE THIS WALTZ

DISC INFO

FORMAT - region one DVD ( MAGNOLIA )

BOOKLET / FOLDER / SHEET? - None

SLEVE? - None

WIDEscreen

EXTRAS? - Yes, there are trailers for 2 DAYS IN NEW YORK, 360, THE GOOD DOCTOR, STEVE JOBS THE LAST INTERVIEW, AXS TV, and TAKE THIS WALTZ.
Also, MAKING OF TAKING THE WALTZ, and AXS TV A LOOK AT TAKE THIS WALTZ

RATING - R

PRICE - One dollar!

CHEAP DVDs - ART SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL

I found this DVD at DOLLAR TREE during the first week of January 2019.

This is the story of an artist in love, a serial killer, and a bunch of morons.

You'll see Max Minghella, Sophia Myles, John Malkovich, and many other familiar faces in this movie.

I enjoyed this film far more than I thought I would. I laughed quite a bit, but I didn't really like the ending.


Screengrabs from ART SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL.

I can identify with the frustration the main character feels in his art class. Far too much crap passes for art, while true art gets ignored and trivialized by pompous douchebags and ass-kissing retards.

Just for the record, my art history class was a mind-numbing experience. Plus, my main art teacher was fucking uptight, and took things far too seriously.


Screengrabs of Sophia Myles in ART SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL.

Superficial observation... In my eyes, Sophia Myles is one of the cutest women to ever appear on a movie screen. Just for the record, there are NO full frontals by her. Instead, we get a guy's nuts-n-twig foisted upon us... oh my eyes!

Do I want my money back? - No!

DISC INFO

FORMAT - region one DVD ( SONY )

NUMBER OF DISCS - 1

INSERT? - None

SLEEVE? - None

WIDEscreen

EXTRAS? - Yes, there are five... Making of ART SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL, Sundance featurette, deleted scenes, additional scene: testimonials, bloopers and alternate takes

TRAILERS? - Yes, a bunch of them... VOLVER, THE DEVIL AND DANIEL JOHNSTON, CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER, STRANGER THAN FICTION, MARIE ANTOINETTE, THE HOLIDAY, CRUMB, QUINCEANERA, THE QUIET, AMERICAN HARDCORE, FRIENDS WITH MONEY, PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS, THE THREE BURIALS OF MELQUIADES ESTRADA, CACHE, SKETCHES OF FRANK GEHRY, WHO KILLED THE ELECTRIC CAR?

RATING - R

PRICE - One dollar!

DOLLAR TREE DVDs: THE BRASS TEAPOT

Alice and John are a young married couple. They're living from paycheck to paycheck in a crappy rented home. Despite all their financial hardships they genuinely love and care about each other.

One day, John gets fired and things get even worse.



On a lonely rural road, their car gets t-boned by a flatbed truck. A dazed Alice gets out of the car and walks into an antiques shop. Minutes later, Alice steals a teapot from the elderly woman that owns the store. She runs to their car and tells a bewildered John to put the pedal-to-the-metal.



Soon after, they discover this is no ordinary teapot. So what makes it special?... It spits-out money! But, it doesn't come easy. They only get a payday after experiencing physical and emotional pain.

They get two unwelcomed violent guests, and then a man shows up at their new expensive home and warns them about the teapot.

Alice turns into a very nasty person and they end up in a very dark and ugly place in their lives.

Will they destroy themselves and everyone around them?... I'm NOT going to tell you.

When was the last time you gave a shit about the characters you were watching on screen?... Well, I gave a shit about Alice and John.

THE BRASS TEAPOT was written by Ramaa Mosley and Tim Macy. It was also directed by Ramaa Mosley.

It stars, Juno Temple as Alice, Michael Angarano as John, Alexis Bledel as Payton, Ben Rappaport as Ricky, Billy Magnussen as Arnie, Cristin Milioti as Brandi, Alia Shawkat as Louise, Bobby Moynihan as Chuck, Steve Park as Dr. Ling, Lucy Walters as Mary, Jack McBrayer as Joe, Debra Monk as Trudy, and a lot of others.



I never paid much attention to Juno Temple before, but I was really impressed by her. Plus, as an added bonus, she looks really cute in this film.



The region one DVD was released by MAGNOLIA HOME ENTERTAINMENT. I purchased it for ONE DOLLAR ( at DOLLAR TREE ).



The DISC EXTRAS are.....

COMMENTARY ( director Ramaa Mosley and executive producer P. Jennifer Dana ).

PROLOGUE / ALTERNATE OPENING

DELETED SCENES

UNCOVERING: THE BRASS TEAPOT

INTERVIEW WITH DIRECTOR RAMAA MOSLEY

INTERVIEW WITH MICHAEL ANGARANO

AXS TV: A LOOK AT THE BRASS TEAPOT

Optional English and Spanish subtitles

Plus TRAILERS, for KISS OF THE DAMNED, SHADOW DANCER, TO THE WONDER, VENUS AND SERENA, AXS.TV, and THE BRASS TEAPOT.



A tremendous job by everyone behind and in front of the camera, and I sincerely mean that.

I'm very happy to add this to my movie collection.

This movie put a BIG smile on my face for many reasons, and I think it's a crime that it's not more well known.