The blogosphere says what?

(Inspired by the return of Jackie Harvey)

Okay, guys, I probably don’t need to tell you this, but SUMMER MOVIES ROCK! I know I’m a little late with my super summer review, but Rand-O and I just finished redecorating our utility closet. It was exhausting. I feel bad that I haven’t given you my reviews, so here they are:

“Spider-Man 3″ — loves me some Tobey Maguire — was fantastic, even if it wasn’t quite as fantastic as the first two. I just wish I looked that hot in tights. A real thrill ride. I give it 4.5 stars (out of five).

“Georgia Rule” was as sweet as Skittles — why didn’t more people see this movie? Jane Fonda was hilarious as the feisty grandma, and even though she’s going through a tough time right now, Lindsay Lohan proves yet again that she’s the most talented actress in Hollywood. Plenty of laughter, and lots of tears — just like real life. 4.67 stars.

As for “Shrek the Third”: Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy, Antonio Banderas … enough said. A true delight. Brings out the kid in you, which isn’t that hard since I’ve got a lot of kid left in me. :) 4.72 stars.

Unlike “Spider-Man 3,” the second sequel to “Pirates of the Caribbean” was even more fantastic than the other two. And they were pretty amazing. Johnny Depp is the best actor — ever — and you’ll love the Keith Richards cameo. Talk about perfect casting. A real thrill ride. 4.8 stars.

“Knocked Up” is pregnant with laughs. Get it? It’s even funnier than “The Devil Wears Prada.” I mean, instant classic. Quite possibly the funniest movie ever made. Heck, it is the funniest movie ever made. And I loves me some Seth Rogen (sorry, Tobey). Five, yep, FIVE stars.

Just saw “Ocean’s Thirteen.” If you liked “Ocean’s Eleven,” and “Ocean’s Twelve,” you’ll love “Ocean’s Thirteen.” George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon — now there’s a threesome. Like one of those Old Hollywood films, but better. It’s in color, for one, and those old guys weren’t nearly as handsome as the new ones. I mean, Frank Sinatra’s no George Clooney. A fun thrill ride. 4.67 stars.

Still so much to look forward to: “Fantastic Four” looks scary as hell — a perfect popcorn movie (with lots and lots of butter). I laughed out loud at the “Even Almighty” trailer, even though I’m not a huge Steve Carell fan (notice how the audience never laughs on “The Office”). If it’s half as funny as the trailer, I’ll be there. I’m betting it will be: “Bruce Almighty” was a classic.

Meanwhile, the cutie from “The Office” is in “License to Wed,” which looks totally sweet. And it’s got Mandy Moore in it. What more do you need? How about Robin Williams, who plays a priest. I’m laughing already. The preview is hilarious, especially when the baby farts real loud. Mandy Moore + Robin Williams + a farting baby = a must-see. Oh, and one more thing: it’s from the guy who directed “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,” one of my favorite tearjerkers of all time.

So much more to get to — “Transformers,” “I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry” (Adam Sandler? Gay? Whatever), the new Harry Potter movie, “Hairspray,” “Rush Hour 3″ … don’t you wish it was summer all year long?

Oh well, I better get going. We still have to finish wallpapering the utility closet. Rand-O is such a perfectionist.

But before I go — one complaint. Why no “Brokeback Mountain” sequel? Maybe with Ashton Kutcher as the new cowboy in town? Now that would be a thrill ride.

A (gulp) post about abortion

I rarely go there. But I’m beginning to wonder if the consensus we’re all alleged to share — the less abortions, the better — still stands.

Exhibit A: this piece in which the writer seems pissed off that the female lead in “Knocked Up” doesn’t consider a visit to Planned Parenthood.

As the mother of a 1-year-old daughter, I think I can say that if she turned up pregnant in her early 20s under exactly Alison’s circumstances—single, barely acquainted with the father, financially dependent (she lives with her married sister), weeping miserably at her first sonogram—I would encourage her to at least consider the possibility of abortion …

Wouldn’t that make a delightful comedy?

Meanwhile, a film executive frets:

“At a time when women’s reproductive freedom is under attack in the courts, why wouldn’t it come up as part of the conversation?” the executive said. “Are you making a statement by assiduously avoiding the discussion?”

So has Hollywood been taken over by Phyllis Schlafly? Not bloodly likely:

As a liberal who writes about film, there are few things that I find more irritating than the tendency of other liberal film writers to treat the 95 percent of Hollywood films that push (explicitly or implicitly) liberal ideas as if they were utterly apolitical and commonsensical, and then react with shock and despair on those rare occasions when a movie with conservative themes makes its way to theatres.

I seem to recall two recent films, The Cider House Rules (which the Times article mentions but dismisses) and Vera Drake (which neither article mentions at all) that netted Academy Award nominations (and one victory) for actors playing heroic abortion providers. … When actors start getting nominations for playing anti-abortion activists, then I’ll expect to see a raft of articles about Pro-Life Hollywood.

“If you leave me now”

Classic films, classic scenes: Saddam approaches, from the underrated Gulf War flick “Three Kings.”

Really bad news from Iraq (as opposed to the usual bad news)

A watch tower of the famous Golden Dome Shiite shrine is left standing alone after insurgents blew up the two minarets in Samarra, Wednesday, June 13, 2007. The Askariya shrine’s dome was destroyed on Feb. 22, 2006, in a bombing blamed on Sunni Muslim militants believed linked to al-Qaida that unleashed a wave of sectarian violence that continues to bloody Iraq. (AP Photo/Hameed Rasheed)

The attack immediately stirred fears of a new explosion of Sunni-Shiite bloodshed. There are close ties between al-Qaida and some Iraqi Sunni militants. State television said Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki quickly imposed an indefinite curfew on vehicle traffic and large gatherings in Baghdad as of 3 p.m. Wednesday.

Just before the curfew was to take hold, Shiite militiamen carrying light weapons fanned out across Jihad, a mixed neighborhood in western Baghdad, police said. No violence was immediately reported.

Bob Barr keeps making sense

The author and sponsor of the Defense of Marriage Act — signed into law by Bill Clinton — has come out against “don’t ask, don’t tell”: 

Republican presidential candidates left me — and I suspect many others — questioning whether those candidates really even understood the issue, or were simply pandering to the perceived “conservative base.” The fact is, equal treatment of gay and lesbian service members is about as conservative a position as one cares to articulate.

The blogosphere says what?

(Inspired by the return of Jackie Harvey)

Okay, guys, I probably don’t need to tell you this, but SUMMER MOVIES ROCK! I know I’m a little late with my super summer review, but Rand-O and I just finished redecorating our utility closet. It was exhausting. I feel bad that I haven’t given you my reviews, so here they are:

“Spider-Man 3″ — loves me some Tobey Maguire — was fantastic, even if it wasn’t quite as fantastic as the first two. I just wish I looked that hot in tights. A real thrill ride. I give it 4.5 stars (out of five).

“Georgia Rule” was as sweet as Skittles — why didn’t more people see this movie? Jane Fonda was hilarious as the feisty grandma, and even though she’s going through a tough time right now, Lindsay Lohan proves yet again that she’s the most talented actress in Hollywood. Plenty of laughter, and lots of tears — just like real life. 4.67 stars.

As for “Shrek the Third”: Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy, Antonio Banderas … enough said. A true delight. Brings out the kid in you, which isn’t that hard since I’ve got a lot of kid left in me. :) 4.72 stars.

Unlike “Spider-Man 3,” the second sequel to “Pirates of the Caribbean” was even more fantastic than the other two. And they were pretty amazing. Johnny Depp is the best actor — ever — and you’ll love the Keith Richards cameo. Talk about perfect casting. A real thrill ride. 4.8 stars.

“Knocked Up” is pregnant with laughs. Get it? It’s even funnier than “The Devil Wears Prada.” I mean, instant classic. Quite possibly the funniest movie ever made. Heck, it is the funniest movie ever made. And I loves me some Seth Rogen (sorry, Tobey). Five, yep, FIVE stars.

Just saw “Ocean’s Thirteen.” If you liked “Ocean’s Eleven,” and “Ocean’s Twelve,” you’ll love “Ocean’s Thirteen.” George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon — now there’s a threesome. Like one of those Old Hollywood films, but better. It’s in color, for one, and those old guys weren’t nearly as handsome as the new ones. I mean, Frank Sinatra’s no George Clooney. A fun thrill ride. 4.67 stars.

Still so much to look forward to: “Fantastic Four” looks scary as hell — a perfect popcorn movie (with lots and lots of butter). I laughed out loud at the “Even Almighty” trailer, even though I’m not a huge Steve Carell fan (notice how the audience never laughs on “The Office”). If it’s half as funny as the trailer, I’ll be there. I’m betting it will be: “Bruce Almighty” was a classic.

Meanwhile, the cutie from “The Office” is in “License to Wed,” which looks totally sweet. And it’s got Mandy Moore in it. What more do you need? How about Robin Williams, who plays a priest. I’m laughing already. The preview is hilarious, especially when the baby farts real loud. Mandy Moore + Robin Williams + a farting baby = a must-see. Oh, and one more thing: it’s from the guy who directed “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,” one of my favorite tearjerkers of all time.

So much more to get to — “Transformers,” “I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry” (Adam Sandler? Gay? Whatever), the new Harry Potter movie, “Hairspray,” “Rush Hour 3″ … don’t you wish it was summer all year long?

Oh well, I better get going. We still have to finish wallpapering the utility closet. Rand-O is such a perfectionist.

But before I go — one complaint. Why no “Brokeback Mountain” sequel? Maybe with Ashton Kutcher as the new cowboy in town? Now that would be a thrill ride.

Jackie Harvey returns

Finally — an excerpt:

After buying one song at a time off iTunes, I could have kicked myself after I realized that I would’ve saved money if I had bought the entire Fergie album The Dutchess at once. There’s about 10 summers’ worth of summer songs on her album. My favorite is “London Bridge.” It’s got all the power of “Who Let the Dogs Out” and “Whoomp! (There It Is)” all in one song. If she hadn’t already coined the word, I would’ve done it for her: she’s Fergalicious—half Fergie and half delicious! 

A (gulp) post about abortion

I rarely go there. But I’m beginning to wonder if the consensus we’re all alleged to share — the less abortions, the better — still stands.

Exhibit A: this piece in which the writer seems pissed off that the female lead in “Knocked Up” doesn’t consider a visit to Planned Parenthood.

As the mother of a 1-year-old daughter, I think I can say that if she turned up pregnant in her early 20s under exactly Alison’s circumstances—single, barely acquainted with the father, financially dependent (she lives with her married sister), weeping miserably at her first sonogram—I would encourage her to at least consider the possibility of abortion …

Wouldn’t that make a delightful comedy?

Meanwhile, a film executive frets:

“At a time when women’s reproductive freedom is under attack in the courts, why wouldn’t it come up as part of the conversation?” the executive said. “Are you making a statement by assiduously avoiding the discussion?”

So has Hollywood been taken over by Phyllis Schlafly? Not bloodly likely:

As a liberal who writes about film, there are few things that I find more irritating than the tendency of other liberal film writers to treat the 95 percent of Hollywood films that push (explicitly or implicitly) liberal ideas as if they were utterly apolitical and commonsensical, and then react with shock and despair on those rare occasions when a movie with conservative themes makes its way to theatres.

I seem to recall two recent films, The Cider House Rules (which the Times article mentions but dismisses) and Vera Drake (which neither article mentions at all) that netted Academy Award nominations (and one victory) for actors playing heroic abortion providers. … When actors start getting nominations for playing anti-abortion activists, then I’ll expect to see a raft of articles about Pro-Life Hollywood.

The gayest tattoo ever

Scary, actually.

Poll du jour

(via Gallup)

“If you leave me now”

Classic films, classic scenes: Saddam approaches, from the underrated Gulf War flick "Three Kings."

Really bad news from Iraq (as opposed to the usual bad news)

A watch tower of the famous Golden Dome Shiite shrine is left standing alone after insurgents blew up the two minarets in Samarra, Wednesday, June 13, 2007. The Askariya shrine’s dome was destroyed on Feb. 22, 2006, in a bombing blamed on Sunni Muslim militants believed linked to al-Qaida that unleashed a wave of sectarian violence that continues to bloody Iraq. (AP Photo/Hameed Rasheed)

The attack immediately stirred fears of a new explosion of Sunni-Shiite bloodshed. There are close ties between al-Qaida and some Iraqi Sunni militants. State television said Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki quickly imposed an indefinite curfew on vehicle traffic and large gatherings in Baghdad as of 3 p.m. Wednesday.

Just before the curfew was to take hold, Shiite militiamen carrying light weapons fanned out across Jihad, a mixed neighborhood in western Baghdad, police said. No violence was immediately reported.

Bob Barr keeps making sense

The author and sponsor of the Defense of Marriage Act — signed into law by Bill Clinton — has come out against "don’t ask, don’t tell": 

Republican presidential candidates left me — and I suspect many others — questioning whether those candidates really even understood the issue, or were simply pandering to the perceived “conservative base.” The fact is, equal treatment of gay and lesbian service members is about as conservative a position as one cares to articulate.

Jackie Harvey returns

Finally — an excerpt:

After buying one song at a time off iTunes, I could have kicked myself after I realized that I would’ve saved money if I had bought the entire Fergie album The Dutchess at once. There’s about 10 summers’ worth of summer songs on her album. My favorite is "London Bridge." It’s got all the power of "Who Let the Dogs Out" and "Whoomp! (There It Is)" all in one song. If she hadn’t already coined the word, I would’ve done it for her: she’s Fergalicious—half Fergie and half delicious! 

The gayest tattoo ever

Scary, actually.