Greetings,
Sometimes I like things that other people do not. Sometimes I like things that other people have not heard of. These "people" of which I speak are the ones I know. And I talk about so many things of which they are so unaware. Maybe it's because I love going against the flow, I'm not sure, but when it comes to television shows, this aspect of my personality leaves me constantly disappointed. I start to watch a show, I like it and it gets cancelled within a year or less. I suppose some people just can't grasp the greatness of some of these series as I do. Of course, there are exceptions, like my beloved Law and Order or Beverly Hills, 90210. And then there are the shows that do last for some time but never become the huge hits that they should be. Rather they tend to develop what has become known as a "cult following". And here lies The Pretender.
The Pretender ran from 1996 to 2000, or 2001 if you count the two TV movies used to wrap everything up. It was a show that would most likely be considered science fiction, but I've always called it "sci-fi with heart". It had a lot of heart. Now this was a series that, if you watched it, you got it. It wasn't confusing to the regular viewer, but trying to explain it to a non-viewer can get a little complicated. Not overwhelmingly so, but if you intend to watch it on DVD reruns, you really have to start from the beginning and not lose the flow. I hate to make watching a TV show seem like work, but it's not. What it is, in fact, is one of the best series ever on television. And I'm going to tell you all about it.
Let's start with our main character, Jarod, played by Michael T. Weiss, a disgustingly underrated actor. He was brilliant. His face could literally go from innocent man child to psycho in about two seconds, an ability that became quite useful here. Not to say that face wasn't extremely attractive. It was. Extremely. What can I say? We girls love a project, and that is what this character was. Now Jarod was a man who, as a child, was stolen from his parents by The Centre (I did not misspell that) which was a think tank of sorts cloaked in a lot of secrecy, and it was in Delaware. Yes, Delaware. The reason that Jarod was taken was because he was a genius and a child prodigy who could easily become whatever he wanted to be. For example, if he read a book on heart surgery, he could flawlessly perform a heart surgery. So The Centre groomed him as a "Pretender". As Jarod became an adult, he realized that his abilities were going to be and had been used for unethical, even dangerous purposes, so he managed to escape from the Centre and the show begins with him on the run. He's kind of like a fugitive who has done nothing wrong. Before I tell you about what he did while on the run, let's discuss some of the other characters.
So any nemesis to the protagonist would be considered the villain of the show. But here we have two types of villains. While they all come from the Centre, they are different from one another. We have ones that are more just opposition who are actually sometimes sympathetic and even compassionate characters. Then we have the serious villainy villains, the real bad guys. Let's start with the nicer crowd.
First, we have Sydney played by Patrick Bauchau, a wonderful character actor who has quite possibly one of the best accents I've ever heard. Sydney was Jarod's mentor and eventual father figure, which we see in regular flashbacks. Despite the objections, he has always been emotionally attached to Jarod, and his desire to bring him back to the Centre is more out of concern for his safety than anything else. Then, we have Miss Parker, played by Andrea Parker. It was apparently destiny. I love this woman so much that I have often been known to say that I want to be Miss Parker when I grow up, and I don't know if I mean fictional or non-fictional. Maybe a little of both. Anyway, Miss Parker also grew up as part of the Centre and was even a childhood friend of Jarod's, but she existed on the other side as her parents were involved in the work there. As an adult, she has become an operative. She can be vicious, wonderfully so, but due to her difficult childhood, which includes the loss of her mother, there are so many times where we feel sympathy for her. I've always seen her as a little girl trapped in a woman's body searching for love and a place to belong. Finally, we have Broots, played by Jon Gries of Napoleon Dynamite fame. He was often comic relief and was constantly given grief by Miss Parker. These three together were a team tasked with finding Jarod and returning him to Centre. Of course, at times, their personal feelings sometimes foiled the plans.
And now for the baddie bads. We have Mr. Parker, played by the late, great Harve Presnell. I miss him so much, if I may say. Mr. Parker was the father of Miss Parker (you'll love the way she calls him "Daddy")and he had a very high position in the Centre. Of all the baddie bads, I think he may have been the least of such. As many secrets as he was keeping and as much as he knew, you always felt like someone always knew more than him. Then, we have Mr. Lyle, played by Jamie Denton, who would later become known as James Denton and rise to fame on Desperate Housewives. Yeah, he was so mean to my Jarod that he is the main reason why I never watched Desperate Housewives. Not the only, but the main. Anyway, Mr. Lyle was a young man who had a checkered past, to put it very mildly. He was quite power hungry and was dangerously determined to get Jarod back. No love lost between these two. Finally, there's Mr. Raines, played by Richard Marcus. Genius actor, by the way. Raines was the big bad, and he was that the entire time, save a fling of "finding God". Yeah, so he was like the Larry Flynt of the show.
So those were the villains and villains not so much on The Pretender who were there on a regular basis. But each week Jarod faced other adversities while trying to make a difference in people's lives. And here's where I can delve more into what he actually did.
While he was constantly on the run, Jarod still found time to aid people in their troubles. So every week he would meet someone who had been wronged in some way, and, since he could fall so easily into any persona, he used that ability to make things right for them. Basically, because he was so innocent after being caged away his entire life and he had this overwhelmingly compassionate heart, his first reaction to seeing someone in trouble was to help them, no questions asked. Of course, he always had fun and interesting ways to give the weekly bad guys their just desserts. If memory serves, he may have used actual desserts to give them their just desserts, a couple of times. That's where the aforementioned psycho face usually came in handy. It was this main aspect of the show that kept it episodic while still having the thread of the ongoing plot.
Now I would be remiss not to mention my favorite thing about this show. See, because Jarod, from childhood, was locked away in the Centre, they only exposed him to things that THEY needed him to know. That was not much in the way of pop culture type things or just the fun things we experience every day. So every week, he would discover some new thing, be it Wheel of Fortune or Silly Putty or ice cream. Man, did he love ice cream! And it was always done in the most hilarious way. Oh, and of course, they never taught him about the sex so we had to have the obligatory, and in my opinion unnecessary "30-something Jarod Loses His Virginity" episode. Why? Now, as to be expected, after the first couple of years this got hard to keep up. I mean, you can only go so long without knowing what Pop-Tarts are, but it was super fun while it lasted.
Over the years, many secrets about the Centre and the people involved with it were revealed, but it was done in a very good way. Questions would be raised and mostly answered in a timely fashion, a skill that perhaps some other shows that shall remain nameless should have learned. And in the end, they did the best thing that could have been done. By the time the fourth season finale came along, the show was still in limbo when it came to renewal, but they still ended on a cliffhanger, complete with a huge explosion. Well, the show did not get picked up for a fifth season, which initially left fans very upset. But they did what every show should do in this situation. They made two TV movies that resolved the cliffhanger and eventually wrapped up the show and the mythology surrounding the ongoing story line and characters. While this probably could not have ended perfectly, and what show does, they really did an amazing job with it. I think so. Now, of course, some fans probably weren't pleased, but I bet that most of us, though sad to see it end, were quite happy with the fact that they took the time and effort to try and reward us for being loyal to them for those four years. It made me feel like they really appreciated their audience, something I rarely feel from a show.
So that was my little tribute to one of my favorite shows, The Pretender. I would recommend this to everyone really. The stories and the characters are so rich and complex, but never overwhelming, and that is exactly what a show like this should be. It keeps your mind going without making it go insane. And, like I said before, it had a lot of heart to it. You actually care about these characters and want to know about them. It's just an amazing show, and I hope everyone checks it out. It is so worth it.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
They're Bold, They're Beautiful, So Why Aren't They More Famous?
Greeting,
Ah, soap operas. Or, as so many of us have called them over the decades, my stories. Sometimes they are the only moments a woman (or man) gets to escape her hectic reality. In my life, I have visited a few of these shows, even enough sometimes to actually keep up with what the heck is going on. Currently, though, I only have time for one - The Bold and the Beautiful. They win, mostly, because they are only half an hour long. But there are other reasons why I like this show. First, I love fashion, and it is based in the fashion world. I thank you all for that. The other of those reasons is the people. There are some amazingly talented actors and actresses on this show, but, like with most soap operas, they are completely underrated because of the work they choose to do. I never understood that. Of course, they win their Daytime Emmys and have a lot of fans, and I am not trying to undermine either of those things. I am, after all, one of those fans. But I still don't get why some of these people are not uber-famous. They certainly have the chops to be. So today I will honor some of the fabulous actors and actresses of The Bold and the Beautiful.
Now over the years, there have been many people coming in and out, but I'm going to stick with current cast members. Let's begin with the Mom and Pop of the show. First, we have our matriarch, Stephanie, played perfectly by Susan Flannery. Before B&B, she had a pretty decent career in television and movies. One well remembered movie role was in The Towering Inferno. Yeah, if you've ever seen her character in that movie, it will make every jab she takes at another B&B character, Brooke, seem kind of ironic. Anyway, Susan Flannery is the best, and I love nothing more than to see her get mad at someone. Oh, yeah, the clenched jaw, the blazing eyes, the balled up fists ready to throw a punch - perfection. Now her sometimes husband is Eric, played by John McCook. May I humbly say that, despite the fact that he is very much more "mature" than I am, I find this man incredibly attractive. It's no wonder he has always gotten the chicks on this show. Why wouldn't he? And I must reveal a little pre-B&B experience I had with him. Second season of Family Ties, an episode entitled "This Year's Model", he shows up as what IMDB calls "Tuxedo Man" helping Elyse Keaton hock frozen food called (I'm not kidding!) The Proper Penguin. It is quite possibly the best guest appearance on any show in TV history. It must be seen.
Moving on to the next generation. Here lies the infamous threesome . . . yeah, I don't know what else to call them but that. Well, I guess I can go with trio. It does make them sound like they're in a sixties singing group together, but it's far less disturbing than the predecessor. We're going to go with trio. Anyway, it's Taylor, Ridge and Brooke. These three have been on a carousel of marriages, divorces, love, heartache and everything in between and beyond since the show started, and they are all fantastic at it! Let's start with Taylor. She is played by Hunter Tylo. Now I could go on and on about how much I love this woman. She is truly one of my life's heroes, and she has an amazing story that everyone should find out about. Here on this show, however, her poor character often gets the shaft. Somehow, though, mostly, she has managed to show this character as a strong woman who has been able to overcome much adversity with much dignity and grace. Her nemesis, if you will, is Brooke, played by Katherine Kelly Lang, or KiKi as I call her because of the two K's in her name. Anyway, I am always on Taylor's side on the show, because I just am. But we NEED Brooke. And it is a testament to the brilliant acting of my dear KiKi that she can be such a lovely woman in real life, but then turn around and make me want to punch her on the show. That is a gift with which one must be born. And finally we have the man in the middle, Ridge, played by Ron Moss. He has perfected the art of playing both sides to Oscar-worthy levels. I can't tell you how many times some of us have wanted to grab him and say, "Dude, seriously, grow up and choose a side!". And let us not forget that he was (maybe still is) in the band Player, which gave us the song "Baby, Come Back". I don't think I have to say any more about that.
Okay, all of those fine people are what we would consider the big legends of the show, but they are backed up by some excellent . . . well, back up. I could mention a lot, but I will mention a few.
Let's start with Heather Tom. She has been here on B&B for about five years, but she is also very well-known for her role on The Young and the Restless (Y&R), a soap I never got into. Sorry. And I even saw her playing Marlee Matlin's sign language helper on an episode of Law and Order: SVU. This woman can do it all. But here, she plays Katie, a character that has had more ups and downs than a roller coaster on crack. She does manage to balance a sense of grown up innocence with an inner strength that makes her very memorable and, at times, quite admirable. Her husband on the show is Dollar Bill Spencer (no, really, his nickname is DOLLAR BILL) played by Don Diamont. This guy is MAG-nificent. He also was swimming in that Y&R pool for awhile, but he's been settled here for about three years now and what a wonderful three years it has been. He is so deliciously evil that every time I see him I think, "How has this man never been cast as a Bond villain?". He's that good/bad! And since we seem to be liking the Y&R people we've shared, I have to mention Adrienne Frantz who plays Amber Moore. She has been in and out of B&B for the last fifteen years or so, and to be honest, at first, I wasn't crazy about her character. I don't think I was supposed to be. But once I got some info about Ms. Frantz in real life, I started to love her and Amber. Now Adrienne is a great actress, but she is also a great musician. Her 2007 album Anomaly was brilliant, and it has added one more reason to my list of why I do not trust the Grammys. It didn't win one. But it gets a big thumbs up and a future review on this blog from me. Stay tuned.
Okay, I am giving one more paragraph here to one more cast member. She has become one of my all-time favorites on the show and also of the show. She is Jacqueline MacInnes Wood a.k.a Steffy Forrester, daughter of Ridge and Taylor, namesake of Queen Stephanie, and she is fabulous. She has been on the show since 2008, and as good as she has been from the start, she has only improved and become a better actress since then. Jacqueline has also managed to branch out to other television roles, like on the upcoming show Arrow, and also into film. She was featured in the last Final Destination movie, something I may not have seen had I not wanted to see and support her performance. And, like some of her previous cast members that I've mentioned, she's got some serious music skills. I must say that, of all the youngsters on this show, and there are some really talented ones, I believe Jacqueline has the most promise. And I cannot wait to see her fulfill it.
And so there is my tribute to the wonderful folks at The Bold and the Beautiful. The wonderful folks who, yes, should be more famous! Now I know it is difficult to get anyone to start watching a new show, especially a soap opera, but check them out if you can. They are all more than worth your time.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Ah, soap operas. Or, as so many of us have called them over the decades, my stories. Sometimes they are the only moments a woman (or man) gets to escape her hectic reality. In my life, I have visited a few of these shows, even enough sometimes to actually keep up with what the heck is going on. Currently, though, I only have time for one - The Bold and the Beautiful. They win, mostly, because they are only half an hour long. But there are other reasons why I like this show. First, I love fashion, and it is based in the fashion world. I thank you all for that. The other of those reasons is the people. There are some amazingly talented actors and actresses on this show, but, like with most soap operas, they are completely underrated because of the work they choose to do. I never understood that. Of course, they win their Daytime Emmys and have a lot of fans, and I am not trying to undermine either of those things. I am, after all, one of those fans. But I still don't get why some of these people are not uber-famous. They certainly have the chops to be. So today I will honor some of the fabulous actors and actresses of The Bold and the Beautiful.
Now over the years, there have been many people coming in and out, but I'm going to stick with current cast members. Let's begin with the Mom and Pop of the show. First, we have our matriarch, Stephanie, played perfectly by Susan Flannery. Before B&B, she had a pretty decent career in television and movies. One well remembered movie role was in The Towering Inferno. Yeah, if you've ever seen her character in that movie, it will make every jab she takes at another B&B character, Brooke, seem kind of ironic. Anyway, Susan Flannery is the best, and I love nothing more than to see her get mad at someone. Oh, yeah, the clenched jaw, the blazing eyes, the balled up fists ready to throw a punch - perfection. Now her sometimes husband is Eric, played by John McCook. May I humbly say that, despite the fact that he is very much more "mature" than I am, I find this man incredibly attractive. It's no wonder he has always gotten the chicks on this show. Why wouldn't he? And I must reveal a little pre-B&B experience I had with him. Second season of Family Ties, an episode entitled "This Year's Model", he shows up as what IMDB calls "Tuxedo Man" helping Elyse Keaton hock frozen food called (I'm not kidding!) The Proper Penguin. It is quite possibly the best guest appearance on any show in TV history. It must be seen.
Moving on to the next generation. Here lies the infamous threesome . . . yeah, I don't know what else to call them but that. Well, I guess I can go with trio. It does make them sound like they're in a sixties singing group together, but it's far less disturbing than the predecessor. We're going to go with trio. Anyway, it's Taylor, Ridge and Brooke. These three have been on a carousel of marriages, divorces, love, heartache and everything in between and beyond since the show started, and they are all fantastic at it! Let's start with Taylor. She is played by Hunter Tylo. Now I could go on and on about how much I love this woman. She is truly one of my life's heroes, and she has an amazing story that everyone should find out about. Here on this show, however, her poor character often gets the shaft. Somehow, though, mostly, she has managed to show this character as a strong woman who has been able to overcome much adversity with much dignity and grace. Her nemesis, if you will, is Brooke, played by Katherine Kelly Lang, or KiKi as I call her because of the two K's in her name. Anyway, I am always on Taylor's side on the show, because I just am. But we NEED Brooke. And it is a testament to the brilliant acting of my dear KiKi that she can be such a lovely woman in real life, but then turn around and make me want to punch her on the show. That is a gift with which one must be born. And finally we have the man in the middle, Ridge, played by Ron Moss. He has perfected the art of playing both sides to Oscar-worthy levels. I can't tell you how many times some of us have wanted to grab him and say, "Dude, seriously, grow up and choose a side!". And let us not forget that he was (maybe still is) in the band Player, which gave us the song "Baby, Come Back". I don't think I have to say any more about that.
Okay, all of those fine people are what we would consider the big legends of the show, but they are backed up by some excellent . . . well, back up. I could mention a lot, but I will mention a few.
Let's start with Heather Tom. She has been here on B&B for about five years, but she is also very well-known for her role on The Young and the Restless (Y&R), a soap I never got into. Sorry. And I even saw her playing Marlee Matlin's sign language helper on an episode of Law and Order: SVU. This woman can do it all. But here, she plays Katie, a character that has had more ups and downs than a roller coaster on crack. She does manage to balance a sense of grown up innocence with an inner strength that makes her very memorable and, at times, quite admirable. Her husband on the show is Dollar Bill Spencer (no, really, his nickname is DOLLAR BILL) played by Don Diamont. This guy is MAG-nificent. He also was swimming in that Y&R pool for awhile, but he's been settled here for about three years now and what a wonderful three years it has been. He is so deliciously evil that every time I see him I think, "How has this man never been cast as a Bond villain?". He's that good/bad! And since we seem to be liking the Y&R people we've shared, I have to mention Adrienne Frantz who plays Amber Moore. She has been in and out of B&B for the last fifteen years or so, and to be honest, at first, I wasn't crazy about her character. I don't think I was supposed to be. But once I got some info about Ms. Frantz in real life, I started to love her and Amber. Now Adrienne is a great actress, but she is also a great musician. Her 2007 album Anomaly was brilliant, and it has added one more reason to my list of why I do not trust the Grammys. It didn't win one. But it gets a big thumbs up and a future review on this blog from me. Stay tuned.
Okay, I am giving one more paragraph here to one more cast member. She has become one of my all-time favorites on the show and also of the show. She is Jacqueline MacInnes Wood a.k.a Steffy Forrester, daughter of Ridge and Taylor, namesake of Queen Stephanie, and she is fabulous. She has been on the show since 2008, and as good as she has been from the start, she has only improved and become a better actress since then. Jacqueline has also managed to branch out to other television roles, like on the upcoming show Arrow, and also into film. She was featured in the last Final Destination movie, something I may not have seen had I not wanted to see and support her performance. And, like some of her previous cast members that I've mentioned, she's got some serious music skills. I must say that, of all the youngsters on this show, and there are some really talented ones, I believe Jacqueline has the most promise. And I cannot wait to see her fulfill it.
And so there is my tribute to the wonderful folks at The Bold and the Beautiful. The wonderful folks who, yes, should be more famous! Now I know it is difficult to get anyone to start watching a new show, especially a soap opera, but check them out if you can. They are all more than worth your time.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Monday, July 16, 2012
Top Ten Monkees Songs
Greetings,
It's been nearly five months since we tragically lost Davy Jones. I know a lot of people were stunned, and I'm no different from them. His passing had special significance for me because, believe it or not, he was my first celebrity crush. It does seem odd due to my age, but I got the bug during that eighties resurgence of the Monkees TV show, which was surprisingly started by MTV. After that, I was hooked. Funny enough, this is probably also where my tendency to like things that are unexpected for my age started. So when all my little friends at school were crazy about New Kids on the Block, I was listening to the Monkees. Don't get me wrong. I eventually started to like the New Kids, because as much as I want to go against the flow, I cannnot deny good things for long, no matter how popular they are. Anyway, that mentality went right through high school where my locker was plastered with pictures of Fleetwood Mac and the Bee Gees, but it all started with the Monkees.
So I thought I'd share with you my favorites of their songs. Now bear in mind, if you're not as big of a fan as I am, some of these songs may be unfamiliar to you. I suppose that's a good thing because then I'd just be telling you what you already know.
Alright, here we go. Or should I say "Here we come".
#10."Valleri" - I'm going to move beyond the fact that this song made me want to change my name to Valleri so Davy would be singing to me. Just let me bring up that amazing guitar rift. If you've heard this one, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about.
#9. "Papa Gene's Blues" - This is one of the few songs they recorded that was written by Mike Nesmith. It makes me wonder why they did not let him do more, since he was obviously talented. I think it's a fairly simple song, but it brought the "country" which is what Mike did very well.
#8. "Words" - If there's one thing I can say about Peter Tork, it is that he is a very gifted musician. Now is he a gifted singer? Not so much. He's not that bad, but next to Micky Dolenz, well, let's say that's a hard act to follow. However, on this song, we actually get to hear him sing. It's not a solo here, because he is doing a duet with Micky. The verses that they both sing are beautifully arranged in this back and forth, overlapping way that ends up sounding amazing. And thank God Micky was a phenomenal vocalist. But . . . still love ya, Peter!
#7. "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone" - Generally speaking, the Monkees would be considered a "pop" act. This song, however, was straight up rock. Logic would tell you that this should not have worked for them, but it did, again, thanks to Micky's fantastic vocals.
#6. "What Am I Doing Hangin' Round?" - Here's another one that shows their country flavor. Though Mike was not the writer, as one might think, it was written by an old friend of his, and Mike did choose it for the country feel. And may I say that, in this one, it is Mike who gets to show off what a great voice he has.
#5. "All of Your Toys" - A little back story on this song, which is probably one most people don't know about. This was put on a 1995 reissued version of their 1967 album Headquarters. That album was a big step for the Monkees because they chose to write a lot of the songs themselves and play the instruments, instead of using professional songwriters and session musician, which was commonplace in those days. And it actually kind of worked. The album went to number one . . . for one week . . . until Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band came out. And that marks one of the few times where I am angry at the Beatles. The good news is that Headquarters did stay at number two for about three months, and being second to Sgt. Pepper's isn't that bad at all. But besides all that, the song is awesome.
#4. "Porpoise Song" - Okay, this song is from the soundtrack to Head, a movie (I guess) they made in 1968 that was partly written and produced by Jack Nicholson. Yeah, THAT Jack Nicholson. The movie did not do well on its release, but, of course, it eventually got a big cult following. Don't they always. Anyway, this song is considered the theme for the film. It was written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King, and it is, frankly, a little strange. But that's why I like it.
#3. "She Hangs Out" - I'm not sure how big of a hit this song was, if at all, but I love this one. It has what I would consider a bit of a quirky feel to it, and the basic rhythm of it is so catchy. Plus, in the "video", you get to see Davy dance . . . a lot!
#2. "Pleasant Valley Sunday" - I love songs that you can see, and this one has lyrics that are so incredibly, visually stimulating. You can literally see this place about which they are singing. It's another Goffin and King contribution, and, of all the songs they's ever written, which is a ton, I really would call this their best. And they gave it to my boys. Yay!
#1. "Love is Only Sleeping" - Again, I don't think a lot of people know about this one, but they should. I've often referred to this song as being very "garage band". Not the game or whatever. I mean, a legit garage band, stripped down, but very powerful. It opens with this amazing guitar rift, and that is used throughout the whole song. The melody is driving, and the payoff when you get to the title lyric is so worth it. Oh, and about the lyrics. They are great, and you know how I am about lyrics. AND, wait for it, you get to hear Mike Nesmith singing falsetto. It's just the best song I've ever heard from them.
So there you have it. One day, I might do a top ten Monkees TV show episode list, but for now, you'll have to be satisfied with this. Now though I've bragged about the guys throughout this post, let me emphasize the fact of how underrated they were. Maybe not as celebrities or even legends, but as musicians. I feel like, because of how they came together, some people still don't consider them a legitimate band or a legitimate force in the music industry. But they were extremely talented with what they did, and no one will ever convince me otherwise. And I will miss Davy Jones forever.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
It's been nearly five months since we tragically lost Davy Jones. I know a lot of people were stunned, and I'm no different from them. His passing had special significance for me because, believe it or not, he was my first celebrity crush. It does seem odd due to my age, but I got the bug during that eighties resurgence of the Monkees TV show, which was surprisingly started by MTV. After that, I was hooked. Funny enough, this is probably also where my tendency to like things that are unexpected for my age started. So when all my little friends at school were crazy about New Kids on the Block, I was listening to the Monkees. Don't get me wrong. I eventually started to like the New Kids, because as much as I want to go against the flow, I cannnot deny good things for long, no matter how popular they are. Anyway, that mentality went right through high school where my locker was plastered with pictures of Fleetwood Mac and the Bee Gees, but it all started with the Monkees.
So I thought I'd share with you my favorites of their songs. Now bear in mind, if you're not as big of a fan as I am, some of these songs may be unfamiliar to you. I suppose that's a good thing because then I'd just be telling you what you already know.
Alright, here we go. Or should I say "Here we come".
#10."Valleri" - I'm going to move beyond the fact that this song made me want to change my name to Valleri so Davy would be singing to me. Just let me bring up that amazing guitar rift. If you've heard this one, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about.
#9. "Papa Gene's Blues" - This is one of the few songs they recorded that was written by Mike Nesmith. It makes me wonder why they did not let him do more, since he was obviously talented. I think it's a fairly simple song, but it brought the "country" which is what Mike did very well.
#8. "Words" - If there's one thing I can say about Peter Tork, it is that he is a very gifted musician. Now is he a gifted singer? Not so much. He's not that bad, but next to Micky Dolenz, well, let's say that's a hard act to follow. However, on this song, we actually get to hear him sing. It's not a solo here, because he is doing a duet with Micky. The verses that they both sing are beautifully arranged in this back and forth, overlapping way that ends up sounding amazing. And thank God Micky was a phenomenal vocalist. But . . . still love ya, Peter!
#7. "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone" - Generally speaking, the Monkees would be considered a "pop" act. This song, however, was straight up rock. Logic would tell you that this should not have worked for them, but it did, again, thanks to Micky's fantastic vocals.
#6. "What Am I Doing Hangin' Round?" - Here's another one that shows their country flavor. Though Mike was not the writer, as one might think, it was written by an old friend of his, and Mike did choose it for the country feel. And may I say that, in this one, it is Mike who gets to show off what a great voice he has.
#5. "All of Your Toys" - A little back story on this song, which is probably one most people don't know about. This was put on a 1995 reissued version of their 1967 album Headquarters. That album was a big step for the Monkees because they chose to write a lot of the songs themselves and play the instruments, instead of using professional songwriters and session musician, which was commonplace in those days. And it actually kind of worked. The album went to number one . . . for one week . . . until Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band came out. And that marks one of the few times where I am angry at the Beatles. The good news is that Headquarters did stay at number two for about three months, and being second to Sgt. Pepper's isn't that bad at all. But besides all that, the song is awesome.
#4. "Porpoise Song" - Okay, this song is from the soundtrack to Head, a movie (I guess) they made in 1968 that was partly written and produced by Jack Nicholson. Yeah, THAT Jack Nicholson. The movie did not do well on its release, but, of course, it eventually got a big cult following. Don't they always. Anyway, this song is considered the theme for the film. It was written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King, and it is, frankly, a little strange. But that's why I like it.
#3. "She Hangs Out" - I'm not sure how big of a hit this song was, if at all, but I love this one. It has what I would consider a bit of a quirky feel to it, and the basic rhythm of it is so catchy. Plus, in the "video", you get to see Davy dance . . . a lot!
#2. "Pleasant Valley Sunday" - I love songs that you can see, and this one has lyrics that are so incredibly, visually stimulating. You can literally see this place about which they are singing. It's another Goffin and King contribution, and, of all the songs they's ever written, which is a ton, I really would call this their best. And they gave it to my boys. Yay!
#1. "Love is Only Sleeping" - Again, I don't think a lot of people know about this one, but they should. I've often referred to this song as being very "garage band". Not the game or whatever. I mean, a legit garage band, stripped down, but very powerful. It opens with this amazing guitar rift, and that is used throughout the whole song. The melody is driving, and the payoff when you get to the title lyric is so worth it. Oh, and about the lyrics. They are great, and you know how I am about lyrics. AND, wait for it, you get to hear Mike Nesmith singing falsetto. It's just the best song I've ever heard from them.
So there you have it. One day, I might do a top ten Monkees TV show episode list, but for now, you'll have to be satisfied with this. Now though I've bragged about the guys throughout this post, let me emphasize the fact of how underrated they were. Maybe not as celebrities or even legends, but as musicians. I feel like, because of how they came together, some people still don't consider them a legitimate band or a legitimate force in the music industry. But they were extremely talented with what they did, and no one will ever convince me otherwise. And I will miss Davy Jones forever.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Friday, July 13, 2012
The Last Sin Eater - Movie Review
Greetings,
Due to some recent problems I've been having in my life, I thought I could gain some blessings by blessing others. Others, like anyone who may read this, and I thought I'd do it through one of my movie reviews. This one, though, is something that I find very inspirational as a Christian, but I believe it can affect even someone who is not. It's a movie called The Last Sin Eater.
Now this movie is actually based on the book of the same name by Francine Rivers that came out in 1998. I am in the middle of reading this book myself. I cannot believe it took me so long to get around to it, since I've loved the movie for quite a while. It was written after the author heard about the old tradition of "the sin eater" that was practiced in Appalachia by early settlers from Europe. The sin eater is a person chosen in the village to absolve the sins of a deceased person by taking them upon himself. Does anyone else feel extreme pity for that man?
The story in this movie centers around a ten year old girl named Cadi Forbes, played flawlessly by a young actress named Liana Liberato. At the funeral of her beloved grandmother, she meets eyes with the sin eater of their village, something that is strictly forbidden. Afterwards, word gets around about what she has done, and she also begins to be accompanied by a little girl she befriends named Lilybet. But another family tragedy that happened before the most recent death weighs more heavily on her than anything. Feeling rejected by her mother because of past acts, Cadi seeks out the sin eater to take away her sins early so that she can move on. She fails to have the act completed, and, during a dramatic second attempt to escape her pain, she comes into contact with someone who is simply known as a Man of God. He is portrayed here by an all grown up Henry Thomas, who is absolutely brilliant in this small but powerful role.
Cadi shares her story with the man, as well as their tradition of the sin eater, and he tells her of another sin eater named Jesus. After accepting this new belief, Cadi runs from the river with Lilybet, joyfully proclaiming about how free she feels and goes to tell some of her closest friends about what she has discovered. Unfortunately, not everyone is pleased with the visiting man of God, mainly Brogan Kai, the leader of the cove and the father of Cadi's best friend. He goes to great lengths to keep this new message far from his people.
The movie culminates with everyone gathering together, including the sin eater, because it was his tolling bell that brought the people there. A multitude of secrets are revealed that night going back decades from when the settlement was first established. They all realize that, when they are no longer burdened by all these secrets, they can finally put themselves on the road to freedom and redemption.
Besides the main story of the Cadi, there is also a beautiful, yet tragic love story between the sin eater, whose real name is Sim, and a woman named Bletsung, whom he has been separated from since he was given this unfortunate destiny. Also, there is a wonderful performance by Louise Fletcher as Miz Elda, an elderly confidant of Cadi's and, for all the CSI:NY fans, you'll recognize A.J Buckley playing Cadi's father, Angor. Or maybe you won't since this role is quite different from that one, but still wonderfully portrayed.
Now, despite the obvious Christian theme here, I don't think this movie shoves it down anyone's throat. It tells the true message of Christ the best way that it can be done, with love and understanding, but above all, the truth. And whether people like it and accept it or not, it is the truth. All those "stories" from the Bible did happen, and the power in them is as real today as it ever was. There is a loving, forgiving, yet very holy God waiting for each and every person to come to Him. I do my best to live every day not making Him want to regret the decision to give up His Son for us. I hope He looks at me and smiles. I know that when I think of how blessed I and all of us have been to have had Jesus "eat" our sins, I smile, too, to the depths of my soul.
As much as I love this movie, I am looking forward to getting through the book. I've already been inspired enough to write some songs based on the events of this story. I just hope I can share them one day with Ms. Rivers and make her proud.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Due to some recent problems I've been having in my life, I thought I could gain some blessings by blessing others. Others, like anyone who may read this, and I thought I'd do it through one of my movie reviews. This one, though, is something that I find very inspirational as a Christian, but I believe it can affect even someone who is not. It's a movie called The Last Sin Eater.
Now this movie is actually based on the book of the same name by Francine Rivers that came out in 1998. I am in the middle of reading this book myself. I cannot believe it took me so long to get around to it, since I've loved the movie for quite a while. It was written after the author heard about the old tradition of "the sin eater" that was practiced in Appalachia by early settlers from Europe. The sin eater is a person chosen in the village to absolve the sins of a deceased person by taking them upon himself. Does anyone else feel extreme pity for that man?
The story in this movie centers around a ten year old girl named Cadi Forbes, played flawlessly by a young actress named Liana Liberato. At the funeral of her beloved grandmother, she meets eyes with the sin eater of their village, something that is strictly forbidden. Afterwards, word gets around about what she has done, and she also begins to be accompanied by a little girl she befriends named Lilybet. But another family tragedy that happened before the most recent death weighs more heavily on her than anything. Feeling rejected by her mother because of past acts, Cadi seeks out the sin eater to take away her sins early so that she can move on. She fails to have the act completed, and, during a dramatic second attempt to escape her pain, she comes into contact with someone who is simply known as a Man of God. He is portrayed here by an all grown up Henry Thomas, who is absolutely brilliant in this small but powerful role.
Cadi shares her story with the man, as well as their tradition of the sin eater, and he tells her of another sin eater named Jesus. After accepting this new belief, Cadi runs from the river with Lilybet, joyfully proclaiming about how free she feels and goes to tell some of her closest friends about what she has discovered. Unfortunately, not everyone is pleased with the visiting man of God, mainly Brogan Kai, the leader of the cove and the father of Cadi's best friend. He goes to great lengths to keep this new message far from his people.
The movie culminates with everyone gathering together, including the sin eater, because it was his tolling bell that brought the people there. A multitude of secrets are revealed that night going back decades from when the settlement was first established. They all realize that, when they are no longer burdened by all these secrets, they can finally put themselves on the road to freedom and redemption.
Besides the main story of the Cadi, there is also a beautiful, yet tragic love story between the sin eater, whose real name is Sim, and a woman named Bletsung, whom he has been separated from since he was given this unfortunate destiny. Also, there is a wonderful performance by Louise Fletcher as Miz Elda, an elderly confidant of Cadi's and, for all the CSI:NY fans, you'll recognize A.J Buckley playing Cadi's father, Angor. Or maybe you won't since this role is quite different from that one, but still wonderfully portrayed.
Now, despite the obvious Christian theme here, I don't think this movie shoves it down anyone's throat. It tells the true message of Christ the best way that it can be done, with love and understanding, but above all, the truth. And whether people like it and accept it or not, it is the truth. All those "stories" from the Bible did happen, and the power in them is as real today as it ever was. There is a loving, forgiving, yet very holy God waiting for each and every person to come to Him. I do my best to live every day not making Him want to regret the decision to give up His Son for us. I hope He looks at me and smiles. I know that when I think of how blessed I and all of us have been to have had Jesus "eat" our sins, I smile, too, to the depths of my soul.
As much as I love this movie, I am looking forward to getting through the book. I've already been inspired enough to write some songs based on the events of this story. I just hope I can share them one day with Ms. Rivers and make her proud.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Monday, July 9, 2012
Top Ten Destination Truth Half-isodes
Greetings,
Tomorrow night brings forth the return of a show I enjoy very much, Destination Truth. For those of you who don't know, Destination Truth is a "reality" show on the SyFy Channel where a team of investigators go looking to uncover the "truth" about a number of strange beings in far off locations around the world, and, occasionally, even in America's own backyard. The show is hosted by Josh Gates, a well-known and quite adorable photographer, adventurer and explorer. Can I just say I love that someone can still, even in the 21st century, be famous as either an adventurer or an explorer? Anyway, he leads a team of some very interesting people, currently including (according to my information) awesomely hair-styled cameraman Gabe Copeland, always on top of things medic Rex Williams, and the well-experienced field investigator who could probably kick the butt of every guy she works with Erin Ryder a.k.a. just Ryder. And there are many more fascinating characters that fill the past of this show as well.
Basically, each hour long episode includes two different subjects to examine. Each one starts with Josh explaining what they will be looking for and where they will be going, then the team heads off to get more info, especially from the locals. This tends to be the most entertaining part of the show, because really what's funnier than people being exposed to a new strange culture, including all their customs and "food" right before your eyes? Yeah, I say food with quotations because sometimes I think my poor DT friends are just getting punked. Then we move on to the actual investigation. A word to the wise, if you are not a fan of night vision, this is the part of the show you may want to skip, because pretty much every investigation is done at night. Finally, they head back home to examine whatever evidence they may have obtained. There is a reason why this part of the show tends to be the shortest.
Now let me say this. I am not a huge believer in the paranormal. I don't believe in ghosts or aliens. I don't believe in Bigfoot, but I do believe in the Loch Ness Monster. Actually, some of the "monsters" for which they search seem almost plausible. There are a lot unexplored places on our planet, especially under the water, so in some cases, I can keep an open mind. Still, like on a lot of these types of shows, I get a fair number of eye roll moments. Like they'll be sitting in the middle of the rain forest at night and someone will claim that they heard something. Really? You're in the jungle and you heard something? I don't want to burst anyone's bubble, but I think that's normal. Call me when you're in the jungle and surrounded by complete silence. Now that would be creepy.
I also find it amusing that a show with the word "Truth" in the title is on a channel called SyFy. Because, you know the Fy was formerly Fi, which was short for fiction. Even Josh Gates himself has said it's more of a travel show, as well as an adventure show, even a food show at times. That makes me think it would be more suited to the Travel Channel, or Discovery than SyFy, but, hey, take the checks where you can get them.
Alright, let's get to the meat of this post, my top ten list. Like I said, with a few exceptions, every episode has two parts. One may be good, and the other, not so much, so I had to divide them. Therefore, I refer to them as "half-isodes". And normally, I wait until a show has ended before I do a list for it. But I have waited over a year for this new season to start, so, out of frustration and anticipation, I am going to do it.
#10. "The Leperchaun" (Ireland, Season 3) - No, seriously, they went looking for leperchauns. Apparently, in Ireland, there are actual protected areas for these creatures. That is how much they drink. Wait, I mean, that is how much they believe in them. Yeah, I made an Irish people drink a lot joke, because I am nothing if not original. I just hope it wasn't the booze that made the boys, at one point, misplace Ryder in the caves.
#9. "Bigfoot" (Malaysia, Season 1) - Despite my previous denial of the Bigfoot, this half-isode is special because I've heard it is the first one they made, the one that got them the deal for the show, so it means something to all of us fans. Plus, it's the one where they got their best piece of evidence ever. On the first one. Peak early much, boys?
#8. "Chernobyl" (Ukraine, Season 3) - Okay, we all know the story of the tragedy that occurred here over twenty-five years ago. What you might not know is that people claim it is haunted. So Josh and the gang headed off, got their shiny haz-mat suits and went looking for ghosts. Even if there were ghosts at this place, you know what's scarier than ghosts? Cancer. I don't care how much protective gear you offer me, you couldn't get me to spend even a minute in a place that is, to this day, basically a big ball of radiation. The things people do for an adventure.
#7. "Ghosts of Antarctica" (Antarctica(duh!) Season 4) - I cheated a bit on this one, because it actually took up a whole episode. It was a biggie. And, yeah, ghosts again. The whole thing was pretty interesting, considering most of the adventure was just in getting to the huge and mainly abandoned continent. Two things stuck out for me, though. First, it was Josh's and Ryder's Titanic re-enactment on the bow (I think) of the ship. That's fine in the Caribbean, but you may want to avoid such things in the Arctic where there are, what do call them? Oh, yeah. Icebergs! The second stand out moment: Josh's "sweet Arctic beard". His words, not mine.
#6. "El Lobizon" (Argentina, Season 1) - So this is a basic werewolf legend where the seventh son of a family is in danger of becoming a Lobizon. He must be baptized by the president of Argentina (what?) in order to be safe, but they found a little kid who had not been baptized. So what did they do? Well, logically, they kept him outside, sitting in a chair until about one in the morning. Just to see if he would go werewolf on them. Did he? Guess you'll have to watch and find out. But, really, what do you think?
#5. "Haunted Forest" (Japan, Season 2) - This one is actually on my list because it's really sad. The team went to explore the Aokigahara Forest in Japan. This forest has a lot of history concerning Japanese mythology of demons and probably ghosts, as well, but it is also a very, I guess you can say popular place for suicides. There have been so many suicides that Japan has put up many, many signs around the area encouraging people to not do it. They did go looking for paranormal things, but they did find tangible evidence, such as ripped up pictures and tickets, that were no doubt the remnants of someone's life that had been given up on. Even the team members seem to moved by it, proving that real life can be more effective than anything they may be looking for.
#4. "Worm Monster" (Iceland, Season 2) - Okay, back to amusing incidents. This half-isode is full of funny moments. First, they had a hearty meal of lamb's face and goat testicles, the latter of which will, according to the waitress, "make you a man". Second, as they prepared to do an initial dive into a lake to search for the monster du jour, the boys realized that their wet suits were a bit small for them , not that it stopped them from painfully squeezing their way into them. It did though give Josh the opportunity to brag about his size 14 feet. He is such a man. Hey, I guess the goat testicles worked. Anyway, the actual investigation was kind of a nail biter because, due to a heavy fog, some of the team got lost on the lake, forcing them to spend practically the whole night in frigid temperatures. But all is well that ends well.
#3. "Island of the Dolls" (Mexico, Season 3) - Here the team heads off to an island in Mexico inhabited by creepy, evil dolls. Yeah, I know that's a little redundant. These dolls are purported to open and close their eyes and move their heads. Sadly, a little girl drowned there as well as did the former owner of the island, so everyone thinks it is haunted. The most memorable part is when Josh and Jael, a former team member, explore a shack full of, what do you know, dolls! They get a strong reading on their EMF recorder from one doll, so they stopped and you see a shot of Josh just staring at it for a few seconds, then - BAM! - the doll's eyes opened! It was awesome! It was awesome because Josh made a noise like he was going to puke or pass out or both. Now later Mike, another former member, tried to upstage him by running and screaming like a little girl after hearing a noise, but, sorry, Mike, the best I can give you on this one is second place.
#2. "Israeli Mermaid" (Israel(duh, again!) Season 3) - Sure they wanted to find a mermaid, but what they really wanted was the million dollar reward for finding it. Now Josh tried to say that if they did, he got the whole million, while the rest of the team got a free trip to Israel. Ryder, of course, later got him back for that remark by puking over the side of the boat while he was in the water. Girl power! And, later on the bigger boat during the nighttime investigation, there was an entertaining conversation between Josh, Ryder and Rex. It's worth a view just for that few minutes.
#1. "The Lusca" (The Bahamas, Season 3) - In this, my favorite half-isode, the DT team goes to the Bahamas to search for the Lusca, which is basically a GIANT octopus. This is one of the times where I actually believe it is very possible that this thing might exist. Apparently, Josh felt the same way because he expressed concerns about being "hugged to death". Oh, I can hug you to death, babe! Sorry. Moving on. The actual investigation was yet another nail biter. Josh went down to the caves where the Lusca allegedly lived, and he went at night, of course. Anyway, he is in communication with the team on the boat, says he sees something and then they lose contact. They lose contact for a really long time. Giant octopus or not, that made the team nervous. It made me nervous, and I wasn't even there. But, of course, he resurfaced after both he and the others got a look at something really big in the water. In this case, I think I may decide to believe.
So there is my list. Check out these episodes/half-isodes if any of my synopses interest you. I look forward to many more adventures with this group of wonderful people. May they always remain safe.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Tomorrow night brings forth the return of a show I enjoy very much, Destination Truth. For those of you who don't know, Destination Truth is a "reality" show on the SyFy Channel where a team of investigators go looking to uncover the "truth" about a number of strange beings in far off locations around the world, and, occasionally, even in America's own backyard. The show is hosted by Josh Gates, a well-known and quite adorable photographer, adventurer and explorer. Can I just say I love that someone can still, even in the 21st century, be famous as either an adventurer or an explorer? Anyway, he leads a team of some very interesting people, currently including (according to my information) awesomely hair-styled cameraman Gabe Copeland, always on top of things medic Rex Williams, and the well-experienced field investigator who could probably kick the butt of every guy she works with Erin Ryder a.k.a. just Ryder. And there are many more fascinating characters that fill the past of this show as well.
Basically, each hour long episode includes two different subjects to examine. Each one starts with Josh explaining what they will be looking for and where they will be going, then the team heads off to get more info, especially from the locals. This tends to be the most entertaining part of the show, because really what's funnier than people being exposed to a new strange culture, including all their customs and "food" right before your eyes? Yeah, I say food with quotations because sometimes I think my poor DT friends are just getting punked. Then we move on to the actual investigation. A word to the wise, if you are not a fan of night vision, this is the part of the show you may want to skip, because pretty much every investigation is done at night. Finally, they head back home to examine whatever evidence they may have obtained. There is a reason why this part of the show tends to be the shortest.
Now let me say this. I am not a huge believer in the paranormal. I don't believe in ghosts or aliens. I don't believe in Bigfoot, but I do believe in the Loch Ness Monster. Actually, some of the "monsters" for which they search seem almost plausible. There are a lot unexplored places on our planet, especially under the water, so in some cases, I can keep an open mind. Still, like on a lot of these types of shows, I get a fair number of eye roll moments. Like they'll be sitting in the middle of the rain forest at night and someone will claim that they heard something. Really? You're in the jungle and you heard something? I don't want to burst anyone's bubble, but I think that's normal. Call me when you're in the jungle and surrounded by complete silence. Now that would be creepy.
I also find it amusing that a show with the word "Truth" in the title is on a channel called SyFy. Because, you know the Fy was formerly Fi, which was short for fiction. Even Josh Gates himself has said it's more of a travel show, as well as an adventure show, even a food show at times. That makes me think it would be more suited to the Travel Channel, or Discovery than SyFy, but, hey, take the checks where you can get them.
Alright, let's get to the meat of this post, my top ten list. Like I said, with a few exceptions, every episode has two parts. One may be good, and the other, not so much, so I had to divide them. Therefore, I refer to them as "half-isodes". And normally, I wait until a show has ended before I do a list for it. But I have waited over a year for this new season to start, so, out of frustration and anticipation, I am going to do it.
#10. "The Leperchaun" (Ireland, Season 3) - No, seriously, they went looking for leperchauns. Apparently, in Ireland, there are actual protected areas for these creatures. That is how much they drink. Wait, I mean, that is how much they believe in them. Yeah, I made an Irish people drink a lot joke, because I am nothing if not original. I just hope it wasn't the booze that made the boys, at one point, misplace Ryder in the caves.
#9. "Bigfoot" (Malaysia, Season 1) - Despite my previous denial of the Bigfoot, this half-isode is special because I've heard it is the first one they made, the one that got them the deal for the show, so it means something to all of us fans. Plus, it's the one where they got their best piece of evidence ever. On the first one. Peak early much, boys?
#8. "Chernobyl" (Ukraine, Season 3) - Okay, we all know the story of the tragedy that occurred here over twenty-five years ago. What you might not know is that people claim it is haunted. So Josh and the gang headed off, got their shiny haz-mat suits and went looking for ghosts. Even if there were ghosts at this place, you know what's scarier than ghosts? Cancer. I don't care how much protective gear you offer me, you couldn't get me to spend even a minute in a place that is, to this day, basically a big ball of radiation. The things people do for an adventure.
#7. "Ghosts of Antarctica" (Antarctica(duh!) Season 4) - I cheated a bit on this one, because it actually took up a whole episode. It was a biggie. And, yeah, ghosts again. The whole thing was pretty interesting, considering most of the adventure was just in getting to the huge and mainly abandoned continent. Two things stuck out for me, though. First, it was Josh's and Ryder's Titanic re-enactment on the bow (I think) of the ship. That's fine in the Caribbean, but you may want to avoid such things in the Arctic where there are, what do call them? Oh, yeah. Icebergs! The second stand out moment: Josh's "sweet Arctic beard". His words, not mine.
#6. "El Lobizon" (Argentina, Season 1) - So this is a basic werewolf legend where the seventh son of a family is in danger of becoming a Lobizon. He must be baptized by the president of Argentina (what?) in order to be safe, but they found a little kid who had not been baptized. So what did they do? Well, logically, they kept him outside, sitting in a chair until about one in the morning. Just to see if he would go werewolf on them. Did he? Guess you'll have to watch and find out. But, really, what do you think?
#5. "Haunted Forest" (Japan, Season 2) - This one is actually on my list because it's really sad. The team went to explore the Aokigahara Forest in Japan. This forest has a lot of history concerning Japanese mythology of demons and probably ghosts, as well, but it is also a very, I guess you can say popular place for suicides. There have been so many suicides that Japan has put up many, many signs around the area encouraging people to not do it. They did go looking for paranormal things, but they did find tangible evidence, such as ripped up pictures and tickets, that were no doubt the remnants of someone's life that had been given up on. Even the team members seem to moved by it, proving that real life can be more effective than anything they may be looking for.
#4. "Worm Monster" (Iceland, Season 2) - Okay, back to amusing incidents. This half-isode is full of funny moments. First, they had a hearty meal of lamb's face and goat testicles, the latter of which will, according to the waitress, "make you a man". Second, as they prepared to do an initial dive into a lake to search for the monster du jour, the boys realized that their wet suits were a bit small for them , not that it stopped them from painfully squeezing their way into them. It did though give Josh the opportunity to brag about his size 14 feet. He is such a man. Hey, I guess the goat testicles worked. Anyway, the actual investigation was kind of a nail biter because, due to a heavy fog, some of the team got lost on the lake, forcing them to spend practically the whole night in frigid temperatures. But all is well that ends well.
#3. "Island of the Dolls" (Mexico, Season 3) - Here the team heads off to an island in Mexico inhabited by creepy, evil dolls. Yeah, I know that's a little redundant. These dolls are purported to open and close their eyes and move their heads. Sadly, a little girl drowned there as well as did the former owner of the island, so everyone thinks it is haunted. The most memorable part is when Josh and Jael, a former team member, explore a shack full of, what do you know, dolls! They get a strong reading on their EMF recorder from one doll, so they stopped and you see a shot of Josh just staring at it for a few seconds, then - BAM! - the doll's eyes opened! It was awesome! It was awesome because Josh made a noise like he was going to puke or pass out or both. Now later Mike, another former member, tried to upstage him by running and screaming like a little girl after hearing a noise, but, sorry, Mike, the best I can give you on this one is second place.
#2. "Israeli Mermaid" (Israel(duh, again!) Season 3) - Sure they wanted to find a mermaid, but what they really wanted was the million dollar reward for finding it. Now Josh tried to say that if they did, he got the whole million, while the rest of the team got a free trip to Israel. Ryder, of course, later got him back for that remark by puking over the side of the boat while he was in the water. Girl power! And, later on the bigger boat during the nighttime investigation, there was an entertaining conversation between Josh, Ryder and Rex. It's worth a view just for that few minutes.
#1. "The Lusca" (The Bahamas, Season 3) - In this, my favorite half-isode, the DT team goes to the Bahamas to search for the Lusca, which is basically a GIANT octopus. This is one of the times where I actually believe it is very possible that this thing might exist. Apparently, Josh felt the same way because he expressed concerns about being "hugged to death". Oh, I can hug you to death, babe! Sorry. Moving on. The actual investigation was yet another nail biter. Josh went down to the caves where the Lusca allegedly lived, and he went at night, of course. Anyway, he is in communication with the team on the boat, says he sees something and then they lose contact. They lose contact for a really long time. Giant octopus or not, that made the team nervous. It made me nervous, and I wasn't even there. But, of course, he resurfaced after both he and the others got a look at something really big in the water. In this case, I think I may decide to believe.
So there is my list. Check out these episodes/half-isodes if any of my synopses interest you. I look forward to many more adventures with this group of wonderful people. May they always remain safe.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Friday, July 6, 2012
My Butler's Back
Greetings,
I believe in miracles. I really do. Of course, every now and then, I may have weak moments where my faith is tried, but always something comes along to pull me back in. Recently, I experienced something that has erased any doubts I may have had about the validity of miracles.
About a month ago, I saw a movie entitled Coriolanus, and a mere three days ago, I saw Machine Gun Preacher, which I had been wanting to see for quite a long time. And what do these have in common? First of all, they were both, in my opinion, excellent movies. Second, Gerard Butler was in them. That's right. The Butler did it. He was in two good movies in a row. And therein lies the miracle. It appears that Mr. Butler has decided to be a good actor who appears in good movies again. Now some people may replace my word "again" with the word "finally". It all depends on the angle from which you've been looking at him. I personally have always held him in high regard, for one reason or another, and I have done so for longer than most people, especially in this country.
Now I have known about Gerard Butler for a really long time. Not only did I know about him before 300, which is pretty much considered his major "Okay, now I am a famous movie star" moment, but I knew about him even before The Phantom of the Opera, which gave him his main introduction to us here in America, albeit on a smaller scale. And I can prove that . . . sort of. See, when I heard about this new Phantom movie based on the Broadway show, I wanted to know who would play this iconic title role. I found out and my first thought was, "Gerard Butler? I didn't know he could sing". Yeah, I still don't know if he can sing, but we'll get to that later.
And so I will give a retrospective on my Gerard Butler experience. No, there is nothing else I can call it, but that.
My life as a member of the concubine of Gerard Butler began around the year 2000 when he played Dracula. Well, look at that, a guy from the UK playing a vampire. There's a trend that'll never take off. Anyway, I saw him and was immediately infatuated with him. Now this movie and it's alleged plot, particularly the ending, can be considered somewhat preposterous. So hilariously preposterous that, in fact, it kind of becomes entertaining. But Gerard has quite a commanding presence in this film, and he manages to hold his own against such a legend as Christopher Plummer. Yes, Christopher Plummer was in this, keeping his title as the face that can add legitimacy to any sub par movie of the last twenty-five years. Not to say that this film is super sub par. I'm just making a point.
Moving on. The next film I saw him in was Attila, as in Attila the Hun, where, again, he played the titular role. Let me say that again and more slowly. Gerard Butler, of the SCOTLAND Butlers, portrayed Attila the Hun in a movie. Okay, I was not a history major in college. I barely passed that class in high school. But I do not recall the Huns coming from anywhere near that area of the world. If you want to see a legit Hun, I suggest you watch Mulan. That's right. For maybe the first time ever, in a race to historical accuracy, Disney is actually in the lead. And, of course, it will not be the last time that Gerard's acting career coincides with inaccuracies such as this. However, I do find this production very well done and entertaining, so, give and take, I suppose.
Now between these early days and those of the Phantom, Gerard Butler did make a few movies that some people did not consider . . . well, good. No help was it to put him with overrated actors who shall remain nameless, but he did have a stint with Christian Bale in Reign of Fire and was a teamed up again in Timelinewith the great Billy Connolly, who was actually with him in his first movie Mrs. Brown in 1997. Despite all of this, Gerard was cast in the, no doubt, long awaited and highly anticipated The Phantom of the Opera.
It is this movie that proved I was truly blinded by love, or in this case, deafened. A lot of people were perplexed at his being cast in this role, citing the fact that he was too young or too good looking (Yeah, life sucks for him!) and when it came to singing, Michael Crawford he was not. But I certainly came to his defense on more than one occasion. I tried to explain to people that they wanted this Phantom to be different from the above ground character of Raul. The Phantom, dark and growling and brooding with his rock and roll-like persona versus girly-man Raul with all his on-key-ness. Who wants that mess? (P.S. Sorry, Patrick Wilson.) After all the years that have passed, though, here is my conclusion of this movie and its star. He wasn't the best singer, but he wasn't the worst. He was what Andrew Lloyd Weber wanted, if not exactly what the fans wanted. I guess I can still give it a thumbs up, and a good many people have also done that.
And then after a few more movies that maybe weren't seen by many, though in some cases they should have (I'm talking to you, Dear Frankie), the big break of 300 came along. I remember seeing a big display for this movie in the theater, and I had to do a double take. My Gerard just looked so mean and ferocious, but good, don't get me wrong. Yeah, that was the main buzz about this movie. How good he looked. Now I personally preferred his physique in the aforementioned Attila movie. He was built, but he looked natural, not like he borrowed the fake chest of Ricardo Montalban from Star Trek 2. And since I bring up the Attila thing, I may as well address the historical accuracy, or lack thereof, once more. Again, I am not a history major, but yet again, Sparta? Pretty sure it's nowhere near Scotland. No, it was in ancient Greece, and I don't even think they asked him to tone down his Scottish accent. In fact, everyone in this movie had an accent, but no one had a Greek accent. What the heck? Regardless, I enjoyed it.
Like I said, this is the one that really thrust him into the stratosphere of stardom. Unfortunately, this also put him into the category of people who get paid big money to make really bad movies. Again, don't get me wrong. I did enjoy a few of his post-300 films. P.S. I Love You was one I liked, as well as Nim's Island, the latter one there I mostly liked because it is something that we can one day show our children. Oh, there I go again. But for the most part, in the last four or five years, I have not been pleased with his choices. I would see these movies and say "What are you doing? You are a good actor! Do good things. It's not that hard. Just call Daniel Day Lewis and ask for his advice!". Well, it seems that all of my ranting made its way to him, and he has decided to do as I asked.
I must say that I am really proud of him. He has these two amazing movies, and I also heard that he quit smoking. So, if that's true, yay. Clearly, he is on an upswing. I just pray that it will last.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
I believe in miracles. I really do. Of course, every now and then, I may have weak moments where my faith is tried, but always something comes along to pull me back in. Recently, I experienced something that has erased any doubts I may have had about the validity of miracles.
About a month ago, I saw a movie entitled Coriolanus, and a mere three days ago, I saw Machine Gun Preacher, which I had been wanting to see for quite a long time. And what do these have in common? First of all, they were both, in my opinion, excellent movies. Second, Gerard Butler was in them. That's right. The Butler did it. He was in two good movies in a row. And therein lies the miracle. It appears that Mr. Butler has decided to be a good actor who appears in good movies again. Now some people may replace my word "again" with the word "finally". It all depends on the angle from which you've been looking at him. I personally have always held him in high regard, for one reason or another, and I have done so for longer than most people, especially in this country.
Now I have known about Gerard Butler for a really long time. Not only did I know about him before 300, which is pretty much considered his major "Okay, now I am a famous movie star" moment, but I knew about him even before The Phantom of the Opera, which gave him his main introduction to us here in America, albeit on a smaller scale. And I can prove that . . . sort of. See, when I heard about this new Phantom movie based on the Broadway show, I wanted to know who would play this iconic title role. I found out and my first thought was, "Gerard Butler? I didn't know he could sing". Yeah, I still don't know if he can sing, but we'll get to that later.
And so I will give a retrospective on my Gerard Butler experience. No, there is nothing else I can call it, but that.
My life as a member of the concubine of Gerard Butler began around the year 2000 when he played Dracula. Well, look at that, a guy from the UK playing a vampire. There's a trend that'll never take off. Anyway, I saw him and was immediately infatuated with him. Now this movie and it's alleged plot, particularly the ending, can be considered somewhat preposterous. So hilariously preposterous that, in fact, it kind of becomes entertaining. But Gerard has quite a commanding presence in this film, and he manages to hold his own against such a legend as Christopher Plummer. Yes, Christopher Plummer was in this, keeping his title as the face that can add legitimacy to any sub par movie of the last twenty-five years. Not to say that this film is super sub par. I'm just making a point.
Moving on. The next film I saw him in was Attila, as in Attila the Hun, where, again, he played the titular role. Let me say that again and more slowly. Gerard Butler, of the SCOTLAND Butlers, portrayed Attila the Hun in a movie. Okay, I was not a history major in college. I barely passed that class in high school. But I do not recall the Huns coming from anywhere near that area of the world. If you want to see a legit Hun, I suggest you watch Mulan. That's right. For maybe the first time ever, in a race to historical accuracy, Disney is actually in the lead. And, of course, it will not be the last time that Gerard's acting career coincides with inaccuracies such as this. However, I do find this production very well done and entertaining, so, give and take, I suppose.
Now between these early days and those of the Phantom, Gerard Butler did make a few movies that some people did not consider . . . well, good. No help was it to put him with overrated actors who shall remain nameless, but he did have a stint with Christian Bale in Reign of Fire and was a teamed up again in Timelinewith the great Billy Connolly, who was actually with him in his first movie Mrs. Brown in 1997. Despite all of this, Gerard was cast in the, no doubt, long awaited and highly anticipated The Phantom of the Opera.
It is this movie that proved I was truly blinded by love, or in this case, deafened. A lot of people were perplexed at his being cast in this role, citing the fact that he was too young or too good looking (Yeah, life sucks for him!) and when it came to singing, Michael Crawford he was not. But I certainly came to his defense on more than one occasion. I tried to explain to people that they wanted this Phantom to be different from the above ground character of Raul. The Phantom, dark and growling and brooding with his rock and roll-like persona versus girly-man Raul with all his on-key-ness. Who wants that mess? (P.S. Sorry, Patrick Wilson.) After all the years that have passed, though, here is my conclusion of this movie and its star. He wasn't the best singer, but he wasn't the worst. He was what Andrew Lloyd Weber wanted, if not exactly what the fans wanted. I guess I can still give it a thumbs up, and a good many people have also done that.
And then after a few more movies that maybe weren't seen by many, though in some cases they should have (I'm talking to you, Dear Frankie), the big break of 300 came along. I remember seeing a big display for this movie in the theater, and I had to do a double take. My Gerard just looked so mean and ferocious, but good, don't get me wrong. Yeah, that was the main buzz about this movie. How good he looked. Now I personally preferred his physique in the aforementioned Attila movie. He was built, but he looked natural, not like he borrowed the fake chest of Ricardo Montalban from Star Trek 2. And since I bring up the Attila thing, I may as well address the historical accuracy, or lack thereof, once more. Again, I am not a history major, but yet again, Sparta? Pretty sure it's nowhere near Scotland. No, it was in ancient Greece, and I don't even think they asked him to tone down his Scottish accent. In fact, everyone in this movie had an accent, but no one had a Greek accent. What the heck? Regardless, I enjoyed it.
Like I said, this is the one that really thrust him into the stratosphere of stardom. Unfortunately, this also put him into the category of people who get paid big money to make really bad movies. Again, don't get me wrong. I did enjoy a few of his post-300 films. P.S. I Love You was one I liked, as well as Nim's Island, the latter one there I mostly liked because it is something that we can one day show our children. Oh, there I go again. But for the most part, in the last four or five years, I have not been pleased with his choices. I would see these movies and say "What are you doing? You are a good actor! Do good things. It's not that hard. Just call Daniel Day Lewis and ask for his advice!". Well, it seems that all of my ranting made its way to him, and he has decided to do as I asked.
I must say that I am really proud of him. He has these two amazing movies, and I also heard that he quit smoking. So, if that's true, yay. Clearly, he is on an upswing. I just pray that it will last.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Monday, July 2, 2012
Belzer and Munch: A Tribute
Greetings,
I recently reached out to my virtual friends for some ideas of things to review or about which to make top ten lists. Though I do have a fairly long to do list for that, I know other people can bring ideas to me that may have slipped or never entered my mind. I got a few responses, and one of them caught my attention.
A guy I knew from high school suggested a top ten list of all the shows on which Richard Belzer has portrayed the character of John Munch. Now I knew he had played this character on many different shows, but I didn't think it would be enough out of which to make a top ten list. Turns out, it actually is possible. Unfortunately, I have not seen all of these shows, and I'm not certain I would want to. So it seems unfair to rank things about which I am not properly informed. Still, as I was doing my research, I began to remember my fondness for both the man and the character. Therefore, I decided to simply do a tribute. And here we go.
Let's start with the man, in his pre-Munch days.
Richard Belzer was born in Connecticut in 1944, where he worked as a reporter for a local newspaper before going off to college in Massachusetts. He has had a diverse career as a stand-up comedian, author and a film and television actor. He spent about five years on Saturday Night Live and had some roles in movies and TV shows during the eighties. He also is known as a conspiracy theorist and has written a book on the subject called UFO's, JFK and Elvis: Conspiracies You Don't Have To Be Crazy To Believe. No, seriously, that is the title. I actually read that one and found it quite entertaining, maybe for reasons that he didn't plan on, but I can give a thumbs up, nonetheless. Regarding his personal life, he's been married three times, but it's the last one to actress Harlee McBride that has seemed to stick. They've been married since 1985, and he has two step-daughters from that marriage. No, you're math is not playing tricks on you. He is a celebrity who has been married for nearly thirty years. And that is about all I know about Mr. Richard Belzer. Also, that he is awesome, but that should go without saying.
Now on to the character.
John Munch made his first appearance on the overwhelmingly underrated series Homicide: Life on the Street, where he was a detective in Baltimore. The character was based quite a lot on Jay Landsman, a figure in a true crime book by David Simon. Although, it has occurred to me over the years that some of Belzer has been melded into the character, what with Munch also being a bit of a conspiracy theorist himself. And something tells me that, like Munch, Belzer was probably also a hippie in his youth. Or am I just really hoping that was the case? Oh, to be a fly on a 1967 wall. He had several partners and even opened a bar with a few of them. And it was on this show where he was groomed for his later career in a few crossover episodes with Law and Order, the most memorable of these being when he discovered that Lenny Briscoe, portrayed by the late, great Jerry Orbach, had once "hooked up" with one of Munch's ex-wives. Yes, I said "one of", but we'll get into that later. After his time in Baltimore, he made his way to the Special Victims Unit of the NYPD on Law and Order: SVU. Here is where most people know him from. I will admit this. He is the reason why I decided to start watching that show.
As all the Law and Order series' tend to be more story driven than character driven, we have learned a precious few things about John Munch during his thirteen years in the NYPD. But what we have learned has been intriguing. He has been married and divorced four times and therefore pretty much only talks of his relationships in the past tense. In season five, he reveals that after a fight with him as a teenager, his father committed suicide. And in one of my favorite episodes called "Legacy", during a rooftop conversation with Olivia Benson, he tells a story of a young girl who lived in his neighborhood when he was a boy who was abused and ultimately killed by her mother. Munch has had a number of these moments where his emotions truly are revealed, and we can easily see why he has become so cynical about the world around him. As much as I love and need the comic relief that he often provides, it is these moments that I remember and appreciate most of all.
Over the years on L&O:SVU, his character has diminished a bit. I barely see him anymore, and I have no idea why they are doing this. He's one of the best characters in the franchise, and, considering how long it has been around and how many people have come and gone, that is saying a whole lot.
Now while these two are his most prominent, as I said, John Much has appeared on others series. He has been on The X-Files (what a surprise!), Arrested Development, a show I've never heard of called The Beat, and a few others. He even has had a muppet based on him on Sesame Street, and it was in that moment that he became a luminary.
Now I could go on even further about both the man and the character, but I think I've covered some of the most important things. We have been enjoying John Munch for twenty years and Richard Belzer for even longer. I just hope they both keep going strong for many years to come.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
I recently reached out to my virtual friends for some ideas of things to review or about which to make top ten lists. Though I do have a fairly long to do list for that, I know other people can bring ideas to me that may have slipped or never entered my mind. I got a few responses, and one of them caught my attention.
A guy I knew from high school suggested a top ten list of all the shows on which Richard Belzer has portrayed the character of John Munch. Now I knew he had played this character on many different shows, but I didn't think it would be enough out of which to make a top ten list. Turns out, it actually is possible. Unfortunately, I have not seen all of these shows, and I'm not certain I would want to. So it seems unfair to rank things about which I am not properly informed. Still, as I was doing my research, I began to remember my fondness for both the man and the character. Therefore, I decided to simply do a tribute. And here we go.
Let's start with the man, in his pre-Munch days.
Richard Belzer was born in Connecticut in 1944, where he worked as a reporter for a local newspaper before going off to college in Massachusetts. He has had a diverse career as a stand-up comedian, author and a film and television actor. He spent about five years on Saturday Night Live and had some roles in movies and TV shows during the eighties. He also is known as a conspiracy theorist and has written a book on the subject called UFO's, JFK and Elvis: Conspiracies You Don't Have To Be Crazy To Believe. No, seriously, that is the title. I actually read that one and found it quite entertaining, maybe for reasons that he didn't plan on, but I can give a thumbs up, nonetheless. Regarding his personal life, he's been married three times, but it's the last one to actress Harlee McBride that has seemed to stick. They've been married since 1985, and he has two step-daughters from that marriage. No, you're math is not playing tricks on you. He is a celebrity who has been married for nearly thirty years. And that is about all I know about Mr. Richard Belzer. Also, that he is awesome, but that should go without saying.
Now on to the character.
John Munch made his first appearance on the overwhelmingly underrated series Homicide: Life on the Street, where he was a detective in Baltimore. The character was based quite a lot on Jay Landsman, a figure in a true crime book by David Simon. Although, it has occurred to me over the years that some of Belzer has been melded into the character, what with Munch also being a bit of a conspiracy theorist himself. And something tells me that, like Munch, Belzer was probably also a hippie in his youth. Or am I just really hoping that was the case? Oh, to be a fly on a 1967 wall. He had several partners and even opened a bar with a few of them. And it was on this show where he was groomed for his later career in a few crossover episodes with Law and Order, the most memorable of these being when he discovered that Lenny Briscoe, portrayed by the late, great Jerry Orbach, had once "hooked up" with one of Munch's ex-wives. Yes, I said "one of", but we'll get into that later. After his time in Baltimore, he made his way to the Special Victims Unit of the NYPD on Law and Order: SVU. Here is where most people know him from. I will admit this. He is the reason why I decided to start watching that show.
As all the Law and Order series' tend to be more story driven than character driven, we have learned a precious few things about John Munch during his thirteen years in the NYPD. But what we have learned has been intriguing. He has been married and divorced four times and therefore pretty much only talks of his relationships in the past tense. In season five, he reveals that after a fight with him as a teenager, his father committed suicide. And in one of my favorite episodes called "Legacy", during a rooftop conversation with Olivia Benson, he tells a story of a young girl who lived in his neighborhood when he was a boy who was abused and ultimately killed by her mother. Munch has had a number of these moments where his emotions truly are revealed, and we can easily see why he has become so cynical about the world around him. As much as I love and need the comic relief that he often provides, it is these moments that I remember and appreciate most of all.
Over the years on L&O:SVU, his character has diminished a bit. I barely see him anymore, and I have no idea why they are doing this. He's one of the best characters in the franchise, and, considering how long it has been around and how many people have come and gone, that is saying a whole lot.
Now while these two are his most prominent, as I said, John Much has appeared on others series. He has been on The X-Files (what a surprise!), Arrested Development, a show I've never heard of called The Beat, and a few others. He even has had a muppet based on him on Sesame Street, and it was in that moment that he became a luminary.
Now I could go on even further about both the man and the character, but I think I've covered some of the most important things. We have been enjoying John Munch for twenty years and Richard Belzer for even longer. I just hope they both keep going strong for many years to come.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
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