SKYFALL 2012 Review

Skyfall is an incredibly well-done Bond film. I had fun watching it, and I definitely think it ranks as one of the best Bonds I've ever seen. Four out of four stars. So go see it.

Boom, review over. Right?

Not a chance.

My Life With James Bond

This has always been one of my favorite posters.

Happy James Bond day everyone. Fifty years ago today, Dr. No was released bringing the world face to face with 007 brought to life from Ian Fleming's novels. My experience with Bond and his movies is quite extensive. I've literally grown up with them. This being the case, I thought that I might celebrate today by sharing my own experiences with the super spy.

Much Ado About Nothing Review (X*ACT Theater, Xenia)

As a student of literature in all forms, of course I have spent some time with the Bard. Shakespeare's collective works are some of the most treasured and widely read of any author that has ever lived. You may even remember that I took a turn acting in one of his plays, from this post right here. I had a great time performing as the villain, Don John, and I did a lot of work studying the play, Much Ado About Nothing. Happily, another production of Much Ado is being put on at the Xenia Area Community Theater and I was very fortunate to be able to see it Opening Night this past Friday. This one was directed by Lisa Howard-Welch and was an incredible amount of fun to watch. And, would you believe it, there's a trailer for this play. And its pretty damn good too.

Absolutely gorgeous artwork by Jacinda Bridger

The Oscar Nominees Spell Doom For Humanity - Or Something...

I avoid doing these kinds of articles every year because its kind of a tired, old gag in film circles that the Academy Awards are pretentious, elitist, and overly high-brow and completely miss the point of awarding deserving movies. This year is special though. If you missed the drama, Eddie Murphy was slated to host but backed out of the proceedings after his friend, the despicable Brett Ratner, was fired from the Academy Awards show for saying that "rehearsal is for fags." After Murphy left (who I was very excited to see host the show because even though he hasn't made a movie I enjoyed since 2001, he still has goodwill earned with me from making Coming to America)  the Oscars went with the safe choice to replace him: Billy Crystal.

Finding Depth in Film Re-Releases

I'm a pretty big fan of re-releases of movies I love. I first started going to see them when everyone else my age started going to see them: the Star Wars: Special Edition re-releases. I must have seen Empire in theaters three or four times. Either that or I've just seen that movie so many times it all runs together. Now a days the big thing is to re-release classic movies in 3-D, and we've already seen The Lion King done that way and the entire Star Wars franchise is being done in 3-D as well. I'm completely on the fence about whether or not I'll go see the Star Wars movies again, but one thing is certain for me: As long as Disney keeps putting out their movies in 3-D they can count on me being in the audience to watch it.

That's me right there. The one in the glasses.