Taking a look at the current top 10 box office leaders reminds me how it's possible for a bad movies to make a lot of money.
The Amityville Horror is No. 1 while Sahara is No. 2. Nuff said there. At No. 3 is Fever Pitch, which I liked a lot. No. 4 is Sin City, which got pretty favorable reviews. After that, though, it's Guess Who, Beauty Shop, soon followed by Miss Congeniality and The Pacifier.
OK, I get that there can't be a Million Dollar Baby or Aviator released every weekend and studios make movies to make money and couldn't really care about quality as long as their pics turn a profit, but it can be awfullly depressing to see bad movies make lots of money only because it perpetuates the belief that consumers will go see anything if it's marketed enough.
A good friend of mine calls me a movie snob, in a playful way, because I refuse to see films that are nothing more than attempts to milk $10 out of the movie fan. Maybe if moviegoers were more discriminating we'd get higher-quality films, but I know that's just a fantasy.
Friday, April 22, 2005
Cirque-le of life
I was in Vegas earlier this week for some work meetings and caught the latest Cirque du Soleil show, "Ka," at the newly redone MGM Grand. Goodbye Dorothy, hello poker room!
Now having seen three Cirque shows -- "Mystere," "O" and "Ka" — it's fair to see that all three are very different from each other. "Ka" is very much about the incredible set design and production design. There's a huge stage that not only rotates but becomes completely vertical at one point in the show and the performers climb from the bottom to the top.
"Ka" is also more linear in its storytelling than the other two as well. If I was to suggest to first-time Cirque-goer which production to see of the four currently playing on the Strip (there's also "Zumanity" at New York-New York, which has received mixed reviews and in 2006 there will be another Cirque show opening that's based on the music of the Beatles), I'd recommend "Mystere" because it showcases the incredible acrobatic skills of its performers better than the others. You'll definitely be wowed.
That being said, the Cirque shows are not cheap. Top seats go from anywhere between $100-$150 depending on which show you see, so while it might be an event that comes with a high price tag, it's worth saving up for.
Now having seen three Cirque shows -- "Mystere," "O" and "Ka" — it's fair to see that all three are very different from each other. "Ka" is very much about the incredible set design and production design. There's a huge stage that not only rotates but becomes completely vertical at one point in the show and the performers climb from the bottom to the top.
"Ka" is also more linear in its storytelling than the other two as well. If I was to suggest to first-time Cirque-goer which production to see of the four currently playing on the Strip (there's also "Zumanity" at New York-New York, which has received mixed reviews and in 2006 there will be another Cirque show opening that's based on the music of the Beatles), I'd recommend "Mystere" because it showcases the incredible acrobatic skills of its performers better than the others. You'll definitely be wowed.
That being said, the Cirque shows are not cheap. Top seats go from anywhere between $100-$150 depending on which show you see, so while it might be an event that comes with a high price tag, it's worth saving up for.
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
Idol chatter
I took Zoe to the "American Idol" taping on Tuesday and we had a ball.
We waited outside for about an hour. Sitting nearby was Scott Savol's parents, the Bo Bice chicks and someone with a "Kiss Me Constantine" sign. There were only a couple hundred of us hanging out til the doors opened and I kept thinking that it's hard to imagine that the show so few of us would be seeing in a small soundstage in the back of the CBS lot would soon be seen by 21 million people around the country. Or, as I like to say, the number of drivers on the Santa Monica Freeway at any given time.
The studio is smaller than what it seems on TV — isn't that always the case — and we got our seats at about 4:15. At about 4:40, the warmup host comes out and jazzes up the crowd. Pandemonium soon erupts when Simon, Paula and Randy and introduced and run out from behind the bleachers to their seats.
We're told by the exec producer to give a standing ovation to everyone, as to not make anyone feel bad and that we should be very silent when the show first opens and then burst into spontaneous applauase after Ryan makes his opening remarks.
Overall, the music sounds better in person than on TV. With a bunch of really loud speakers and a live band, most of the performances are impressive, though I think Scott was pretty bad and Zoe's favorite, Carrie, seemed to have a hard time hitting the high notes from "Love Is a Battlefield."
During commercials, the judges banter a little with the audience or go to their dressing room. The contestants are always backstage until they come out to give their performances. I can't imagine how nervous they must be but they seem like cool customers when they get out on stage.
I've never watched the series before but now Zoe has me hooked. Before yesterday I would've have predicted a Bo-Carrie final but now Constantine, who rocked the house with "Bohemian Rhapsody," is looking like he may be the one to beat.
We waited outside for about an hour. Sitting nearby was Scott Savol's parents, the Bo Bice chicks and someone with a "Kiss Me Constantine" sign. There were only a couple hundred of us hanging out til the doors opened and I kept thinking that it's hard to imagine that the show so few of us would be seeing in a small soundstage in the back of the CBS lot would soon be seen by 21 million people around the country. Or, as I like to say, the number of drivers on the Santa Monica Freeway at any given time.
The studio is smaller than what it seems on TV — isn't that always the case — and we got our seats at about 4:15. At about 4:40, the warmup host comes out and jazzes up the crowd. Pandemonium soon erupts when Simon, Paula and Randy and introduced and run out from behind the bleachers to their seats.
We're told by the exec producer to give a standing ovation to everyone, as to not make anyone feel bad and that we should be very silent when the show first opens and then burst into spontaneous applauase after Ryan makes his opening remarks.
Overall, the music sounds better in person than on TV. With a bunch of really loud speakers and a live band, most of the performances are impressive, though I think Scott was pretty bad and Zoe's favorite, Carrie, seemed to have a hard time hitting the high notes from "Love Is a Battlefield."
During commercials, the judges banter a little with the audience or go to their dressing room. The contestants are always backstage until they come out to give their performances. I can't imagine how nervous they must be but they seem like cool customers when they get out on stage.
I've never watched the series before but now Zoe has me hooked. Before yesterday I would've have predicted a Bo-Carrie final but now Constantine, who rocked the house with "Bohemian Rhapsody," is looking like he may be the one to beat.
Sunday, April 10, 2005
So I saved $10 on Sunday
Every year I bet $10 on one or two players to win the Masters but for several reasons — one of which was just being too lazy - I didn't this year. And I always bet on Chris DiMarco, who plays extraordinarily well there. DiMarco went off at 50-1!
This year, he was phenomenal. He got off to his usual great start and collapsed at the end of round three before battling Tiger over the entire fourth round before going down in the playoff.
I've said it before and this year proves it once again, the final round of the Masters -- specifically the back 9 -- is the greatest sporting event, if not the greatest TV event -- of the year.
Tiger's chip on 16 might be one of the greatest shots I've ever seen. And the drama of the ball hanging on the rim of the cup...and...then...slowly...falling...in...with...the...Nike... logo...in...perfect....placement was one for the ages.
Every year for the final round I go to my friend Joe's house and we eat pizza, chips and analyze every shot by every golfer. It's great fun and something I look forward to every year. One of these days, Joe and I will go to Augusta to watch in person but until that happens, we have a blast just watching on TV.
A tradition like no other... indeed!!
This year, he was phenomenal. He got off to his usual great start and collapsed at the end of round three before battling Tiger over the entire fourth round before going down in the playoff.
I've said it before and this year proves it once again, the final round of the Masters -- specifically the back 9 -- is the greatest sporting event, if not the greatest TV event -- of the year.
Tiger's chip on 16 might be one of the greatest shots I've ever seen. And the drama of the ball hanging on the rim of the cup...and...then...slowly...falling...in...with...the...Nike... logo...in...perfect....placement was one for the ages.
Every year for the final round I go to my friend Joe's house and we eat pizza, chips and analyze every shot by every golfer. It's great fun and something I look forward to every year. One of these days, Joe and I will go to Augusta to watch in person but until that happens, we have a blast just watching on TV.
A tradition like no other... indeed!!
Monday, April 04, 2005
I've got the Fever
Saw Fever Pitch the other night and besides the fact that this Yankee fans doesn't hide his distaste for the Red Sox, it was terrifically fun.
Jimmy Fallon, who's not much a baseball guy, really captured the fanaticism of Red Sox Nation and the boyish enthusiasm for baseball, that some of us try to maintain but it's almost impossible as we get older.
And what's with Drew Barrymore? She can be awfully likeable in stuff like this, "The Wedding Singer" and "Never Been Kissed" but so grating in the "Charlies Angels" nonsense.
Anyway, this one will go down as one of great baseball films that doesn't take itself too seriously. Kind of like the Caddyshack of baseball.
Go Yankees!
Jimmy Fallon, who's not much a baseball guy, really captured the fanaticism of Red Sox Nation and the boyish enthusiasm for baseball, that some of us try to maintain but it's almost impossible as we get older.
And what's with Drew Barrymore? She can be awfully likeable in stuff like this, "The Wedding Singer" and "Never Been Kissed" but so grating in the "Charlies Angels" nonsense.
Anyway, this one will go down as one of great baseball films that doesn't take itself too seriously. Kind of like the Caddyshack of baseball.
Go Yankees!
Friday, April 01, 2005
Randy Newman was right
We do love L.A. I realized it again this morning as I took out my bike and rode down to the ocean in Santa Monica on a breathtakingly beautiful day.
About 78 degrees and not a cloud in the sky, the coastline was the place to be Friday morning. I headed north on the oceanfront bike path for a little while before turning around biking toward Marina del Rey. While I enjoy going to the gym a couple of times a week and riding the bike there, it's no substitute for the real thing.
For anyone who'd like to join me on an hourlong bike journey at the beach one morning, please let me know and we'll peddle to the metal.
About 78 degrees and not a cloud in the sky, the coastline was the place to be Friday morning. I headed north on the oceanfront bike path for a little while before turning around biking toward Marina del Rey. While I enjoy going to the gym a couple of times a week and riding the bike there, it's no substitute for the real thing.
For anyone who'd like to join me on an hourlong bike journey at the beach one morning, please let me know and we'll peddle to the metal.
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