The Day The Earth Stood Still...

I went to the movies on this past Saturday night. Saw a movie I have been eager to see, so eager that this is the first time I have seen a movie in a theater in years, I mean that quite literally. The last movie cost me about $7.00, this one cost me $10.25; maybe you can deduct from that about when I went last. (I did go to see one with my daughter last year but it was sold out and we left without seeing anything.)

Several months ago, I started to see billboard ads for this movie. Something about 'they are here, we are gone' and in the fine print the words: The Day The Earth Stood Still. I was thrilled. The original movie from the 50s was part of my childhood in the reruns of the 60s. It was, and remains, one of the all time classic sci-fi movies. I was hoping that the remake would be right up there with it even though I had it on fairly good authority that the new one might stick closer to the book that inspired both in that the alien might not be so beneficent to us.

Here is my review: I was terribly disappointed. Don't waste your hard earned money, wait until it is out on DVD and rent it cheaper, or better yet wait until it comes around on cable for free (or at least as being already included in your cable subscription such as in on demand movies from a subscribed to service).

Keanu Reeves was horrible in my opinion. I mean that, and I like his acting in other movies. There was just something really missing from this one. Even with the plot changes, which I will not divulge just in case you still 'have to' see it, it could have been, but was not, an excellent movie. At best I would classify it as mediocre. At a few points I was wishing I had brought along my watch so I could see how much time was remaining before it ended because I was wishing for it to end quickly. My advice - skip it until out on TV.

I did get to see a trailer for a new Star Trek movie. At first I thought it must be a comedy with a young acne scarred faced James T. Kirk and a young Spock with a huge proboscis, but alas as the trailer unfolded it looks to be a sci-fi adventure film. My guess is that it will be worse, much worse, than The Day The Earth Stood Still.

Outside of the theater there was a poster for a new Terminator movie. That one might be interesting; and it may draw me back inside a theater when it comes out. I may also go back to the theater to see one other movie that looks, on the face of commercials I have seen for it, to be interesting. That would be: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. The story line for this one seems vaguely familiar and I'll have to try to see if I can recall reading the book.

All the best,
Glenn B

CURTAINS it was...

...and let me tell you, if you have the chance, Curtains it should be. The wife and I, accompanied by our daughter Celina who was bored to tears on her day off and just had to interrupt our romantic interlude, went to see Curtains at the Abe Hirschfeld theater on Broadway (actually on W 45th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues). Despite some reviews that said the second act was the saving grace, this was a laugh a minute throughout, and the rest of the audience thought likewise. MY wife loved it, my daughter loved it, and I would definitely see it again, and again.

David Hyde Pierce (Niles from Fraser) was very good; and his supporting cast, were great. I am not sure if it was Megan Sikor as Bambi, or Debra Monk as Carmen (the producer and Bambi's mom), or Jason Danieley as Aaron (the composer), or Jill Pace as Nicki (the Ingenue), or Edward Hibbert (the director) who stole the show for the others who saw it; but I can say that the character of Bambi was one hot lady, and she could have stolen my heart except for the red headed chorus girl; and of course except for my wife sitting next to me.

The play is a musical/love story/comedy/satire/mystery. It covered all those bases more than well. Without giving away any of the story line, I have to recommend it to anyone. The musical numbers were grand, the sets were spectacular, the dancing was vavavaroom (nice dancers), the story line good enough to keep you guessing, and as I said there were a lot of laughs.

If you are going to be in NYC sometime in the near future, I highly recommend you see this one.



All the best,
Glenn B