Lately I've been mainling the FX series "Sons of Anarchy".  I had no idea that the show loosely followed the story of "Hamlet" with a little "MacBeth" thrown in for flavor.  Its the story of Jax (our Hamlet) who is the heir apparent in the Sons of Anarychy a 1% motorcycle gang that mainly earns their living by running guns.   Jax's father (SoA's leader and founder) died 10+ years ago and the gang is now led by his stepfather and mother (our Claudius and Gertrude). 

Last nite I was invited to see Jude Law in "Hamlet" on Broadway and I found myself not only comparing his performance to Kenneth Brannagh's but also to Charlie Hunnam (Jax).   Jude Law's performance was very physical, like a dancer or contortionist.  I felt his anger and his confusion, but I really never bought that he loved Ophelia or cared for his mother.  Something that Brannagh definitely did (although the movie cheated with flashbacks).  I think I prefer my Hamlet a little bit more still, more contemplative, more weighty. 

After the show the police had to keep a throng of fans, lined up across the street, in check as they waited to catch a glimpse of the star heading out.  Honestly.

So - Thumbs up for Sons of Anarchy, for Jude Law in Hamlet, eh.

Just a thought...

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From a Salon.com piece (http://www.salon.com/ent/feature/2009/05/07/obama_spock/index.html):

In a September 2008 broadcast of the popular NPR show "Wait Wait … Don't Tell Me!" guest Leonard Nimoy recalled a recent encounter with a fan.

"About a year and a half ago, I was at a political event," Nimoy recalled. "One of our current campaigners for the office of president of the United States saw me -- and as he approached, he gave me the Vulcan hand signal." You can practically hear Nimoy's eyebrow raise. "It was not John McCain."

I only want to say that "Chuck" is awesome and this episode in particular was the awesomeoness of awesome episodes.   Next week is the season finale.  Crossing my fingers that it doesn't become the series finale.

I just want to say "WOW" because that was awesome.  ( Read more... )

Spoilers ahead...

I missed BSG and I have hopes that they will focus the show now that they have only 10 eps to finish the story.

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I saw "Slumdog Millionaire" last nite.  I loved it.  The various actors playing the 3 main characters from young childhood to young adulthood were wonderful.  The story, about an unlikely "Who Wants to Be a Millionare" winner, was original as you see his life unfold thru flasbacks and its relevance to each answer on the show. 

The soundtrack is fun, lively, full of energy. 

It deserves its place on so many top 10 lists.

HELLO HOLLYWOOD PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT A GOOD MOVIE LOOKS LIKE BECAUSE YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN!

Phooey on you Rotten Tomatoes reviewers for the 52% given to "Australia".   What a cynical world we live in.   Sure the villian is very villiany but so what.  Its Baz Luhrmann giving us a wonderful epic story, with sweeping vistas, romance, and people striving to do the right thing.  What's better than that?

1.  Not watching the show the night its on.....just letting the dvr pick it up.

2.  Waiting days to view the show....more days pass by...worse for the relationship.

3.   Contemplating reading the TWOP recap to see if its worth watching next week.

4.  Actually reading the TWOP recap to see if its worth watching next week.

5.  Reading the TWOP recap to keep up but not watching the show.

6.  Not worth reading the TWOP recap.....Break-up official.


I am now at stage 3 for "Heroes".   Very sad.  I went thru all six for "Lost" last season.  

I was very moved by this (meaning there were tears).   The Republican mayor of San Diego reverses course and approves a council resolution supporting gay marriage.    Its not often we see a man wrestle with his conscience in such a public way.  He's a good man.  We need more like him.  His daughter must be very proud.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rfea8iEGNw

With much embarassment, I confess to being absorbed by HBOs True Blood.  The characters have really grown on me and I just love Lafayette and Tara.

Since the show is based on the Charlaine Harris novels I went and purchased a few.  There are currently eight.   Ms. Harris has created an interesting world.  But, yes there is a but,

she really sucks at character development.    And I hope that Alan Ball takes this world into a very different direction.   5 episodes of True Blood have aired and I've read the first three novels.  Hurray! for these differences:

( Spoilers for 1-5 True Blood eps and 1-3 Sookie Stackhouse novels.... )

Its getting a little scary out there in Right Wing Blog land.   They've seized upon this ACORN stuff and are fanning the flames.  So basically, their belief is that if Obama gets elected it will be due to massive voter fraud and that he should be resisted by any means necessary.

Wow!

I had hoped that we could somehow turn the page on this extreme partisanship era.  It truly hurt our country.  Look at us.  I won't even do the list because its depressing.  We have to come together and fix our country.   Its alright to disagree on the how but not this. 

I will be drinking heavily on November 4th.

Go Obama!

Kevin McKidd is on "Greys' Anatomy" in a story line with Sandra Oh.  I've just fast forwarded thru the 2 hour premiere to watch roughly 8 minutes and it was worth it.

It is so dreary outside that I am considering going back to bed.

My good friend Carolyn sent this essay around.  Billy was a very big part of her life and Billy's mom found this essay when she googled her son's name.  It's written by Billy's college roomate.   I just want to park it here because its a wonderful reminder of how funny he was. 

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"God Hates Fangs"


( Spoilers..... )

Brilliant ......... http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/64ad536a6d

Beautiful, of course, and (surprising to me) a huge international travellers destination.  I think my family was one of the few Americans at our hotel.  Lots of Germans, French, Spanish, Japanese, Brits and Aussies.   I don't know if that's a function of how weak the US dollar is or that Americans just don't take vacations.   Fascinating.



This is Glacier Point.  Breathtaking.  The picture doesn't do it justice.  We had to leave because of lightening.



A creek running thru Yosemite Valley



Bridal Veil Falls



One of the Giant Sequoias referred to as "The Clothespin Tree" .  You really can't take a proper picture of these trees, they are just massive and a must see.



A lovely place to have a picnic