Has it really been that long??? (J)

So, I'm scanning the archives and I notice that I have not posted anything since August. I am ashamed. I'm surprised you guys haven't changed the locks and put my belongings on the curb. So, have a seat, crack open a can of German wine and see what I have watched in the past 5 months.

RENT: Good but a little long in my book. Although, I was pleased to see that it seemed to follow the stage script very closely. Now mind you, I have not seen Rent on stage but have seen enough Broadway Across America/London theatre to recognize a pattern in stage scripts. This seemed to follow the general stage formula. Good message, surprised that Mr. Diggs can sing and is pretty. I give it 3.5 support groups out of 5.

A SOUND OF THUNDER: No one knows who added this to our queue but I am glad they did. Ed Burns, whom I LOVE in everything (including my bed), is a scientist running a thrill ride (of sorts) in the future. For big coin, you can go back in time and hunt dinosaurs. Turns out it is a carefully researched and planned event that will have no effect on the future but the "hunters" think this is a unique experience for them. Well, of course, some jack-off steps off the path and alters the future. I didn't think I would like this (except for Ed Burns) but I really enjoyed this. For Sci-Fi, it rocked. I give it 4 Time Waves out of 5.

LEGEND OF 1900: Tim Roth, whom I love in about 85% of what he does (including my bed), is a man named 1900. He was born on a Titanic type ship and lives his entire life on the ship. He plays the piano like nobody's business and then when the ship is to be destroyed, what will happen to 1900??? This is mildly dumb. It was directed like it was a made for TV movie, which it may have been, I don't know. I'm not mad that I watched it but I'm not happy about it either. 1.5 broken records out of 5.

MELVIN GOES TO DINNER: Typical Indie flick. Lots of talking, mildly interesting. Language is racy. Nice twist at the end. I gave this 4 stars on Netflix but I think I was being generous or the memory of the film is not as great as the initial reaction. 3 odd Maura Tierney appearances out of 5.

ROME: The series from HBO. All I can say is Roman Holiday!!!!! I'm raising the rating scale here, baby. 10 OMG! out of 10

1408: John Cusack, whom I love in everything (especially my bed), let me down. This could have been good but it just wasn't. It wasn't scary, it was too long but I love me some John so I stuck with it to the end. I didn't even like the ending. I'm sorry about this John, but only one tiny Sam Jackson in the fridge out of 5.

THE NUMBER 23: Jim Carrey, whom I only like in non-comedic roles (and not in my bed), is a normal guy who really gets into his reading. I really liked this one. Jim gets a book from his wife and starts reading it. The more he reads, the more he thinks the book is about him. He becomes obsessed and just when the film is not really making any sense, they tie it together nicely. I recommend this. I give it 1 + 2 + 2 stars out of 5.

DREAMGIRLS: Long and not really what I was expecting. I did not recognize Beyonce until half way through the movie. I'm not a fan of Jennifer Hudson and didn't like her on American Idol. I don't think that I should have watched this. Josh really liked it, I thought it was predictable and another one of those stage to film scripts that keep too much to the stage script formula. 2 sparkly dresses out of 5.

STONE READER: This was something Robin recommended about a year or so ago and it finally worked its way up my queue. It was a little slow to start and I almost shut it off but then I found myself wanting to know if he would ever find the author. It seems to me that he took the most round about way to get to the person who could really help him but I guess he was making a movie not a short story. Pretty good and I almost bought the original book off Amazon. 3.75 twitchy English professors out of 5.

THE SECRET LIVES OF DENTISTS: Why are Indie films so long? Good but long and I needed a neater ending. Two dentists married, but not happily, it turns out. Is she cheating?? Is Denis Leary real? Not bad. 3 pulled teeth out of 5

CAPTURING THE FRIEDMANS: I think someone watched this a while back and said it was good so it was on my list. I really like documentaries so I liked the style of this film. Very interesting and I don't know what to believe but I am pretty sure the Dad deserves The Chair. 3 computer labs out of 5.

AMITYVILLE HORROR: I realized I have never watched this in my life and it was On Demand for free so I watched. 2 hours is a long movie for a movie made in the 70s. James Brolin was a little tubby but really good. Scary in parts and hard to wrap your mind around that these are actual events that took place. It makes me want to read the book to get a less Hollywoodized version of the events. Very interesting though. 3.75 Jade Dragon statues out of 5.

THE FISCHERKING: One of my favorites and it was On Demand so I watched it again. Robin Williams is so good when he is acting and not being spastic. This could be applied to 9/11 events too. Robin loses his wife in a shooting rampage brought on by the off the cuff "humor" of shock jock Jeff Bridges (I think?). This makes him loose him mind sort of, but he is not without hope or love. This is a movie from the 80s (I think). Worth checking out. 5 Robin William's penises out of 5.