SNAP!!!....I GOT THE JOB!!!

For those in the know or hooked up through Facebook, HERE is where the details will be on what happened today!...

However, I'm at Happy Hour right now, it's been a long, exhausting, yet incredibly HAPPY day! My fingers are completely out of gas to even type this much. Looks like I'm going to have to post my incredible news in a full report later tonight or first thing tomorrow morning. So STAY TUNED!....and sorry about the delay.

Interview scheduled at major trailer house

Received a call this morning from my contact at the top trailer house I mentioned in my last post. She asked if I could come in for an interview today at 3pm! This has been a very fast turnaround from their first contact with me. So I am here now parked right out in front of the building a full 25 minutes early!

My confidence level is very high and I have complete faith that this is going to go very well. Expect to head in at the ten minute mark. As soon as I get out, and depending on how things go, I'll be posting the outcome.

This is why I came here.

Call from the head of a major trailer house!!

I just received a phone call today from the head of a major trailer house I've been trying to get into since 2002....

However, I DO NOT want to jinx this amazing opportunity by spilling the beans right now. Trust me on this one...IT'S HUGE!!! I should have some info by later this week and will be able to talk more freely then. This could really be it!

The 10th Box Cinema BIG reveal: movie theater seats!!!

Here it is! THIS IS IT!! I am now the proud owner of a row of three movie theater seats!!! We're not talking puffy, reclining, super comfy chairs that happen to have cup holders (although those can be nice). NO!! These are actual, brand new, bolt 'em to the floor, swing up cup holder arm, rocker theater seats like you'd see at the Arclight or other fine movie plex!!!

Click on the image to see the newly updated set of photos. Now, here's the story of how all of this came to be.

I'd been talking for some time with a person I've worked with about our mutual love and appreciation for serious home theater design. Before making a career in the entertainment industry, he previously worked with several home theater installation companies in California. We talked about all the elements I'd gathered over the last couple of years, but that I still sought to purchase my ultimate seating choice.

A number of weeks later he mentioned that there was a home theater accessory company in Florida, Seats and Chairs, that was phasing out a particular style of chair to be replaced by this year's model. He showed me the style on their official website and I immediately fell in love with it, happily being the color scheme I probably would have chosen myself; red and black!

I had planned for a row of three because lengthwise that would comfortably fit into my home theater allowing for two others to join me...PLUS, I could sit dead center when I watched a movie by myself! Seats and Chairs had quite a number of these new theater seats and was selling them at a discounted price to clear the warehouse. Being that he had a favorably solid connection with them, my co-worker was able to order the prescribed row of three chairs for....

...are you ready?

JUST the cost of shipping and handling!!! You heard it right!! I wouldn't have to pay for the actual chairs themselves, only the cost to have them delivered! That came out to be an unbelievable $222! How could I possibly say no?!!

So last Monday he put in the order and they shipped the very next day for delivery 7 to 10 days later. They arrived yesterday. Now here was the added bonus.

He also arranged to have a couple of guys he use to work with bring the shipment over to my apartment, directing the chairs to be delivered to his former home theater installation company to make pick up a bit easier. Due to the fact that I live in an apartment, an alternate method of anchoring these seats would have to be put in place; two steel plates covered with aesthetically pleasing dark grey mats. They came by this morning at 7:45am to assemble the row in an hour flat, and I have to say I was very impressed with not only their precision, but in how careful they were with assembly!

Expertly bolting the stands (arm rest posts) to those two steel plates, they even washed their hands afterward to continue assembling the fabric covered components with rubber gloves....RUBBER GLOVES!! Talk about care! I told them afterwards how much I appreciated the lengths they took to keep each piece brand-new clean as they put everything together. If I ever transfer my home theater into an actual house and do more expanding, I will definitely call these guys!

Still can't get over my amazing fortune to have connected up with this guy I've been working with who helped me realize a 25 year old dream come true!! Movie nights in the 10th Box Cinema will never be the same! In fact, I expect to get much more mileage out of the home theater, enjoying even more screenings now that I have these amazing theater seats!

4th top trailer house contacts me: O.K. THAT'S IT!!!

Right after I got into work this morning at Happy Hour I checked my e-mail to find that I had a message from Insync Advertising, yet ANOTHER top trailer house and one of the original ten I interviewed with back in 2002 during my very first visit to LA!!! Since that first meeting I've been regularly sending my reel and resume, segueing into the pro-site a little over a year ago. They are now...at last...knocking on my door!! Click on the image to be taken to their site.

My contact at Insync asked if I could send a copy of my resume in addition to the pro-site link I'd sent. I directed her to the bottom of the page where there's a downloadable PDF link, but added an attachment of it as well in my response. She said they had something coming up shortly.

Work with Happy Hour has continued to cruise along, although they mentioned last week that things do slow a bit during July because a lot of people in the industry go on vacation.

So two things are happening here.

#1 - Even though I still expect to be here at Happy Hour right up until Comic-Con, there could be a hole for me to work elsewhere and get my feet into some important doors!

#2 - I HAVE to break loose and work for these top trailer houses, ESPECIALLY since Insync is now the 4th one of those to contact me in the last couple of weeks; first Trailer Park, then Cimarron Group and Hammer Creative.

Bottom line: I told Insync I would be available.

This is NUTS and the time is NOW!!!

More of what I dreamt of, planned for and made traction to achieve my ultimate goal, is happening RIGHT NOW!! And, of course, what I mean by 'more' is the fact that I am working at a trailer house at the moment and clocked some major time with KO Creative, although not recently. I walked through the door and established myself in what I set out to do.

Good sized fishes have hooked on my reel and I happily pulled those in. Now the bigger and BIGGEST fishes of all are taking a bite. I'm not just gonna sit back, let them take the worm, then swim away. I'm gonna start reeling them in like Quint on the deck of the Orca! "Keep it steady now, I've got something really big!!"

I am here, open that next door, LET'S GO!!!

"Stripes" discharged 30 years ago today

Hey, here's a movie that almost fell through the anniversary acknowledgment cracks...made even more a sin because I love and own it!

"Stripes" was Bill Murray's first high profile movie. Two years after "Meatballs" and three years before "Ghostbusters", Murray's unforgettable final basic training review march would be a staple of movie comedy, with everyone mimicking his famous line, "THAT'S THE FACT, JACK!!!"

This would also be Harold Ramis' acting introduction in a major Hollywood movie one year after his directorial debut with "Caddyshack". Also our first encounter with Sean Young just one year before "Blade Runner".

Now that I've positioned everyone on the 80's timeline, it's time to have that all important 30th Anniversary screening in the 10th Box. I have the 25th Anniversary DVD that I picked up the week it came out but, believe it or not, haven't actually opened yet. So now I can enjoy this special edition-laden set in all it's boot camp glory!

One of my favorite lines:
John Winger: "Oh, it's not the speed really so much, I just wish I hadn't drunk all that cough syrup this morning."

Plus, let's not forget that surprise accessory for the 10th Box that shipped last week and will be arriving by this Tuesday! Excitement abounds!

Call from Hammer Creative, another top trailer house!

Hammer Creative, another trailer house I've been trying to get into for the last number of years, has responded to my most recent pro-site link mass e-mailing!

I actually interviewed with them twice previously, but this is their very first firm request asking about my availability for next week. I'm still cruising along here at Happy Hour with the notion that I may very well continue to be right up until Comic-Con. However there are no guarantees at this point so I'm trying to keep Hammer on my fishing pole if perhaps there is a break with HH sooner than planned. After checking in here about next week, I had to let Hammer know I was booked.

This has certainly been a bountiful period with calls and e-mails coming in from Cimarron Group, New Wave Entertainment and now Hammer! And of course I just reached out once again to my new contact at Trailer Park to see what might be coming up. Yeah, it's even more frustrating with yet another top trailer house request and my current inability to just go there next week. But I'm still very grateful to be working and I have faith that when the time becomes available I'll definitely be able to get in the door at Hammer as well. The positive note to be left with: they're contacting me!!

Click on the logo to go to their website.

Peter Falk dies at age 83

I was saddened to learn this morning that actor Peter Falk had passed away. Of course he will always be remembered as the rumpled raincoat clad detective Lt. Columbo. That show was one of four detective series rotated every sunday night during the "NBC Sunday Mystery Movie" in the early to mid-70's. I watching the rundown just about every week...plus I'm reminded of the fact that out of the four original sleuths, my Mom always hated Hec Ramsey. I can hear her saying, 'oh, I can't stand that Hec Ramsey! He's just so dirty looking."

Falk had a very lucrative movie career as well, with roles in films I grew up with like "The Great Race", "Murder by Death", "The Cheap Detective", "The Brink's Job" and "The Princess Bride". But the one movie I connect him with the most after his role as TV's Lt. Columbo is Vince Ricardo in the 1979's "The In-Laws". His loose cannon CIA agent was so well teamed with Alan Arkin's New York City dentist Sheldon Kornpett in this screwball comedy that's absolutely one of my favorite movies of all time.

Here is the original 1971 opening for the "NBC Sunday Mystery Movie" that was an umbrella for "Columbo", "McCloud", "McMillan & Wife" and "Hec Ramsey".



And here is one of Peter Falk's funniest and most iconic scenes from "The In-Laws".

Scouting "Almost Famous" locations

This weekend we'll be heading down San Diego way to visit Rebecca's sister. Suddenly we had it in mind that while there we should check out a particular filming location from one of our favorite movies, "Almost Famous". Most notably the San Diego Sports Arena where budding writer William Miller (Patrick Fugit) meets the band Stillwater for the first time (as seen in the photo) right before they open for Black Sabbath at the venue.

It's essentially the long driveway that leads to the loading dock on one side of the arena. I really want to go there at dusk to capture the moment as it happened in the movie. Rebecca also located William Miller's house which is located in Santa Monica. We'll probably be heading there next week. Continuing our love of scouting filming locations from some of our favorite movies, "Almost Famous" was actually shot quite extensively in LA and I'm hoping we'll cross paths with a few more scene specific spots in the near future.

BTW, there's another location that would be perfectly timed to visit, what with this month being the 25th Anniversary of "Ferris Bueller". One place we never got to after our world wind trip to all the John Hughes teen movie locations in the Chicago area was the house used as the Bueller residence which is located in the Long Beach area, just a short drive from Los Angeles. Hopefully we can make that happen this weekend as well.

Final Cut Pro X: WHAT THE F**K?!!!

The new Final Cut Pro X was released on Tuesday and I am absolutely and completely APPALLED at what they've done with my beloved software! This is a purely technical post for editors out there who love and have mastered what has become one of the go-to tools in the industry.

So many functions about this complete overhaul of the software package are just flat-out wrong! The main gripe: you can't open a project from a previous version!! Talk about a major misstep! That was always a given even if you couldn't do it in reverse (newer version back). A number of angry editors and post professionals online are fuming about how this really just comes across like an upgrade to the very basic iMovie, which comes bundled with every OS upgrade, as opposed to the next giant leap of a professional application. INSANE!!!

One of the editors here at Happy Hour downloaded it the day it came out and after only a few hours has decided to return the software for a full refund. He claimed it was beyond comprehension that Apple would toss SO MUCH from previous versions to be replaced by this complete change-of-game! Said he was going to bring it in tomorrow so the rest of us can play around for a bit and see for ourselves.

I am truly amazed! Click on the image to be taken to one of a number of articles that have popped up in the last two days about the atrociousness they encountered. And to think I was closing in on upgrading my Final Cut Studio package to the next level sometime this fall. Oh and BTW, as of June 21 (the same day this new software was released) Apple discontinued all previous versions. Seriously?!! C'MON!!

This is so radical that I wonder how Apple will contend with the backlash. Being that I've always been a complete Mac whore, I hope something constructive is done quickly!

Recent project reveal

I can now talk about a project I worked on. "Monte Carlo" is a Twentieth Century Fox movie starring Selena Gomez ("Wizards of Waverly Place") and Leighton Meester ("Gossip Girl"), hitting theaters July 1. I recently cut a series of broadcast trailers for the film at Happy Hour Creative. Click on the image for a larger view of the 1-sheet.

Out of the eight spots we submitted, three (including one of mine) headed for final studio approval. However for some reason there's still been no final word on when any of these will air. The clock's ticking because obviously the movie comes out a week from tomorrow. I have not heard a definitive 'yes' that these even made it all the way up the ladder.

At the moment I've been cutting another series of broadcast trailers for a Warner Bros./Alcon Entertainment movie. More about this soon, although certainly I can't talk plot details of either film until after they premiere. The second feature's release date is in September.

Special home theater addition in the works

Something really amazing is on it's way to me, thanks to someone I work with!

Just a small addition to the 10th Box Cinema that'll be in my possession by the beginning of next week. Can't say what it is yet...stay tuned!

Call from New Wave Entertainment

Got a call from my contact at New Wave Monday night asking what my availability was for a job that would last two weeks. Two reasons why I can't do it: I'm still on multiple projects at Happy Hour, plus they'd want me to work from 6pm to 2am. Even it I could swing two gigs at once, I'd probably be dead from exhaustion after three days.

I really appreciate them continuing to contact me. Hoping I'll be able to get over there once again sometime soon. In the meantime I'm going to give my contact at Trailer Park a call just to check-in. Even though I get the distinct feeling I'll be at Happy Hour right up until Comic-Con, I still want to make sure they don't forget about me.

"Green Lantern" review: flat and lifeless with a bad script, bad dialogue and bad acting

Wow! How incredibly forgettable! This was a movie I was kind of looking forward to but holding out a bit because it came across like a big video game. The final trailer right before the film's release looked promising, however. I actually read the comics pretty regularly in the mid-80's and was somewhat of a fan.

Then came the onslaught of some really bad reviews.

We had tickets and were planning to go this past weekend when suddenly we found ourselves in U-turn land thinking perhaps we should wait a week for word of mouth, opting to go see something else. Ultimately we decided 'what the hell' after hearing that perhaps if we put our expectations in the basement we'd get something out of the experience.

That didn't help at all.

Nothing resonates in this movie. The script needed to be much better, having our characters live in a grounded yet fantastical world split between the deep space planet of Oa and here on Earth. Instead we are constantly bouncing back and forth without dramatic depth. Ryan Reynolds is fine as Hal Jordan, but if you're going to have someone like Reynolds in the lead role at least let his humor and charm roam a bit. There's not much of it in this movie and the only two spots where you do see it are the clips they showed in the trailer when 1) he's trying to do the oath in front of the lamp and 2) he turns to Blake Lively's Carol Ferris during the big climactic battle, saying 'stay....here'. Other than that, nothing particularly memorable about his performance, which is too bad because I really thought he was a good choice for the role!

There's absolutely no connection or passion in Hal and Carol's romance. Just two people going through the motions. In fact none of the character interactions seem to matter, as Jordan is spirited off to The Guardians home world of Oa to begin his training as a Green Lantern. This, of course, after a Green Lantern Corps member named Abin Sur crash lands on Earth and has his ring locate a being to replace him after being mortally wounded in combat. The origin is very faithful to the comic book and the gallery of Corps members we ultimately see is a great representation and interpretation of that source material. Unfortunately, that's where my appreciation for this movie ends.

Visual effects are fine, but sometimes only passable. Several scenes involving speaking aliens show the limitations the production put on making mouths look as realistic as possible. At times they come off rubbery and like a video game. I always felt from the very beginning that the CG of the mask as well as the actual design wasn't very good. The giant movie screen only multiplied that feeling. It's absolutely part of Green Lantern's iconic costume. Here it just looked like Chris O'Donnell's Robin mask in "Batman and Robin".

As far as the actions scenes were concerned, when we approached the first big smach-down I thought, 'O.K. here we go!' But even those play without any major heft or excitement. Kind of on par with "Fantastic Four". The big reveal scene where Hal Jordan must save a crowd of people from a crashing helicopter should have played out with much more anticipation, not unlike when Lois Lane hung from the helicopter in "Superman, The Movie". Instead it just seems to come and go with some pop and flash but nothing really that amazing.

We pretty much decided a while back not to see this movie in 3D because, quite frankly, we're getting off the 3D bandwagon like a lot of other people...but that's another story.

Very early on I said that they needed to kind of take the "Iron Man" approach a little; Hal learning to use the suit and keeping the story grounded on Earth. Then, only in the third act would we actually become aware of The Guardians and planet Oa...not blowing the wad with a full-on Corps gathering. I guess what I'm trying to say is something along the lines of a "Greatest American Hero" angle only more dramatic and action oriented. So what do they do?

'Let's go into space right away!'
'Let's see everything in the the first movie and not hold back!'

Bad, overloaded idea.

I didn't bring a lot of expectation-baggage into the theater and after the shitty reviews felt disappointed but not like I'd truly lost anything of major value. Who knows...maybe in a few years they'll try a reboot, like so many other franchises do these days. It's funny because that's the kind of thing you'd never see even just 10 years ago. Once something crashed and burned that was the end of it...bye-bye.

Unfortunately "Green Lantern" never quit brings you into the fantastical story the way it should have, instead turning up the eye-candy level to 11. Even though it does have a couple of extreme moments for little kids, they are the only ones who will probably enjoy this movie.

"The Rocketeer": blasting back 20 years ago

OMG, yet ANOTHER milestone anniversary this month!! "The Rocketeer" premiered in theaters exactly 20 years ago today! I'd only read a smattering of the original graphic novels that Dave Stevens created and drew at the time. Sadly, he passed in 2008 and would not see that a movie based on his original concept would continue to be a cult hit amongst movie fans.

I saw the movie on the big screen when it first came out and was immediately captivated by the adventures of stunt pilot Cliff Secord as he battled Nazi spies, all the while accompanied by James Horner's thrilling original score. It's a shame the film never lived up to studio expectations causing the production of any further adventures to be dropped. Today the movie stands as an incredibly fun period adventure, visually lifted, lovingly and quite literally from the graphic novel images.

It's amazing that a special edition of "The Rocketeer" has never been released. I own the only version of the DVD produced by Disney which contains just the movie and a trailer. Where's the big honkin' anniversary standard and Blu-ray editions? I mean, C'MON!! Tonight, Disney is presenting a special 20th Anniversary screening of the movie plus a Q&A with some of the cast at the El Capitan in Hollywood. As previously mentioned, I REALLY wanted to attend this! However the incredibly overpriced $50 tickets seemed VERY excessive on Disney's part.

Ultimately the line-up for the Q&A moderated by Kevin Smith includes director Joe Johnston, actor Bill Campbell, make-up artist Rick Baker, screenwriters Danny Bilson and Paul De Meo, and fellow cartoonist to Dave Stevens, William Stout.

O.K....nice.

But for 50 bucks a pop the fans should also be getting Jennifer Connolly, Terry O'Quinn, Alan Arkin, Paul Sorvino and maybe even Timothy Dalton. You wanted my money, Disney? Maybe you should've ponied up the actor-goods! That list would have definitely been worth $50. Instead, there'll be props and costumes (which I've seen a number of at Comic-Con last year) and some posters and T-shirts given out.

After a day or two of frustration once tickets went on sale at the beginning of May, I finally became quite content with the idea of not attending. Disney D23 members got top priority on seating and even THEN, THEY had to spend $50! Three weeks later the rest of the theater was released to the general public for admission. I'm sure at that point only the 'beyond nose bleed' seating was the only thing left.

So guess what? Tonight I'll be having my own 20th Anniversary screening of "The Rocketeer" in the 10th Box....FOR FREE!!! O.K. so the bells and whistles present at the El Capitan won't be at my home theater. I'll still be relishing a movie I haven't actually watched in quite a number of years!

One of my favorite moments: When Paul Sorvino's gangster Eddie Valentine realizes that the guys he's been working for are Nazi's...

Secord: What's it like working for a Nazi, Eddie? Does he pay you in dollars or reichsmarks?
Valentine: What's he talking about, Sinclair?
Secord: Oh, yeah Eddie! I got it straight from the Feds. Nazi spy ring, Flying Commandos, the works!
Neville: He's been flying where the air's too thin.
Jenny: Tell him about the secret room. Tell him about the Germans on the radio!
Goose: [pointing a gun at Lothar] Easy, Frankenstein. You ain't bulletproof!
Valentine: Start talking, Sinclair!
Neville: C'mon, Eddie. I'm paying you well. Does it really matter where the money comes from?
Valentine: It matters to me. I may not make an honest buck, but I'm 100% American. I don't work for no two-bit Nazi. Let the girl go!

LOVE that scene!

Comic-Con in 30 days!!!

We are now at the official 30-day mark from Comic-Con! Jeez, how did it get here so fast?! Probably because we attended Wondercon just three short months ago and still have that Comic-Con sister event taste on our lips.

Starting to look at exclusives that'll be on sale as well as the big panel presentations expected in Hall H. Definitely looking forward to hanging out with some new friends and of course sharing another amazing week in San Diego with Rebecca and Bill!!

"Superman II" 30th Anniversary

Just when you thought this month couldn't get more choked full of anniversaries....today is the 30th Anniversary of "Superman II"! The movie marked the return of Christopher Reeve in the role that made him famous, producers Alexander and Ilya Salkind switching out winning "Superman, The Movie" director Richard Donner for Richard Lester, plus the re-introduction and bringing to center stage of Terence Stamp as General Zod along with the other Phantom Zone escapees Ursa and Non.

The movie certainly did not have quite the same polish as it's predecessor, but was a true continuation of the original. Even though it would be another 25 years until we saw Richard Donner's original cut and version of the film. Unfortunately, John Williams did not return to score "II" so we given Ken Thorne instead. With Lester in place, the Salkinds had him reshoot footage that Donner had completed.

Now, by no means am I putting the movie down! Even though it's a slightly different animal than what we'd hoped Donner would bring to the table, Lester's version added a few more comedic elements to the story. Plus, there are so many memorable lines:

Ursa: "They need machines to fly."
Zod: "What bravery. Be nice to them, my dear. Blow them a kiss."

Luthor: "What am I gonna do with you people, huh? I held up my end, I delivered the blue boy. What do I get from my triple threat? 'Bow! Yield! Kneel!' That kind of stuff closes out a town."

Superman: "General, would you care to step outside?"
General Zod: "Come to me, son of Jor-El, kneel before Zod!"

And of course, the ever popular...

Zod: "THROW IT!!!!"

Tomorrow night I'll be setting the 'way back' machine for 1981 and having a screening of the movie at the 10th Box.

BTW, check out this pic of me with Margot Kidder, Jack O'Halloran, Sarah Douglas and Marc McClure from Comic-Con in 2006. Click to see a larger version.

"Ferris Bueller": 25 years after the day off

Last Saturday, June 11 marked the 25th Anniversary of "Ferris Bueller's Day Off". We saw the movie for the first of several times at the Showcase Circle Cinema in the Chestnut Hill area of Boston. YES, just one of those movie facts I specifically remember!!

Just looking at photos of that theater now (it's still standing but closed in 2008) brings back memories of the movies we saw there. "Ferris Bueller" is at the top of that list. You can check it out on Google Maps: 399 Chestnut Hill Avenue, Boston, MA.

Anyway, back to the anniversary!

I've always considered "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" part of a trilogy of top John Hughes movies, the others being "The Breakfast Club" and "Sixteen Candles". In the summer of 1986 when the film was released we were on a Hughes high and would see anything he directed and wrote. As the film unspooled and we continued to laugh at the antics of Ferris, Cameron and Sloan, I knew this was going to be another classic.

I'd always stayed through the end credits of just about every movie I saw beginning in the 1970s and that has continued right through today. So as the school bus with Rooney on board drove off into the distance, we found ourselves amongst no more than 15 people still left in the theater. The screen went to black briefly, then back up again to a hallway in Ferris' house; "you're still here?...it's over....go home!" We were like 'OMG, everyone missed that, we were the only ones left! LOL!'

I even bought a few pieces of Ferris' trademark apparel right after the movie came out. These included the 80's-style sunglasses (which I can't reference by name right now because the internet is running so goddamn slow to check) and green beanie he wears while driving the Ferrari.

At the beginning of this past decade, with the help of iTunes and other music outlets, I was finally able to construct the complete soundtrack, which was never officially released during or after the movie came out. I'd known some people who had tried to do the same, coming up with an almost complete album. But there were a couple of tracks that just seemed to keep alluding fans. With a lot of patients and heavy perseverance, I was actually able to track down every last song used in the film...PLUS two orchestral pieces composed by Ira Newborn; 'Chasing Ferris' and Rooney Gets It', which had in fact been posted online and were hiding amongst other unreleased music from 80's movies. That was an extremely satisfying moment when I finally came to end of my music search and realized I had it all!

I watched the movie in the 10th Box Tuesday night to commemorate the 25th Anniversary. And as I always question when one of these milestones comes up, has it really been 25 years?!! This is one movie I can just watch over and over and over again. I don't think it will ever seem dated or out of sync with our culture, just the same way "The Breakfast Club" won't. Check out the original 1986 trailer, which includes some brief bits of excised scenes like Jeannie in the girl's locker room at school talking to friends about Ferris.

Fantastic time at the "Raiders" screening!

Last night's 30th Anniversary Academy screening of "Raiders of the Lost Ark" was wonderful! They showed an amazing brand new digital print of the movie with remastered sound. It totally felt like we were watching the movie for the very first time!

The Q&A with Frank Marshall, Ben Burtt and others who worked on the technical side of the movie was actually very enlightening and informative. A realization of what those guys had to work with back in the day as opposed to how picture and sound are compiled and blended together today using automation. Now that I'm an editor I appreciate much more what a Herculan task that must have been!

The crowd was amazingly appreciative as well, applauding and laughing at all the right moments. Even acknowledging minor details that only true fans would. Examples: as a German soldier falls off the truck during the desert chase, the Wilhelm scream is heard for the first time in the film. Also, as Belloq speaks to a bazooka-aiming Indiana Jones about the ark being history itself, it appears as though a fly actually crawls / flies into his mouth. Both of these moments drew cheers of recognition from the crowd. I was loving ever second of it!

We were also in the company of our friends Chili and Paul, plus a couple of new people we started talking with and ended up friending on Facebook. One in particular is even going to Comic-Con and actually staying at our hotel in San Diego. Just a really satisfying and nostalgic evening!

"Raiders of the Lost Ark" 30th Anniversary Academy screening tonight!

We're here at the Samuel Goldwyn Theatre and ready for the movie, plus Q&A with Frank Marshall, Ben Burtt and a group of technical people who worked on the movie. Hoping there may be a surprise guest showing up (Ford, of course, would be awesome!) but am just glad to actually have gotten tickets right after they went on sale. This event is sold out! Thank you for picking those up, Rebecca!

"Green Lantern" gets a 20% rating on Rotten Tomatoes...Yikes! Splat City!

Wow! Due to this horrendously low rating, we've decided not to go see "Green Lantern" this weekend. Even though I already bought tickets for the Arclight. At this point we're going to wait a week and see how the word of mouth pans out, then make a decision from there.

Incredible! I always thought we'd go opening weekend, plus the film was looking a bit better with that last epic trailer. At this point if things don't get any better I could actually see us bypassing the movie altogether. Click on the image to be taken to the "Green Lantern" Rotten Tomatoes page.

Just really sad, since I was a fairly avid Green Lantern comics fan in the 80's and was hoping for this to be pretty cool. Yeah, it's gonna be cool alright...cool at the box office.

Cimarron Group calls again...TRYING!!

Just received a second job request via text from my contact at trailer house Cimarron Group late yesterday. He asked what my availability was for today and Friday. Of course I had to say no because I'm still at Happy Hour. His response was 'no worries' and to let him know when I'm done with my current gig. I said please continue to keep me in the loop and that I definitely wanted to make this happen soon.

This is really great that he contacted me a second time in just under a week, but very frustrating because I can't take it! As of right now I know I'm going to be rolling through next week here at Happy Hour and it could possibly fill out the following. Still have the impression I'll be working until the end of June at least. Let's just hope they'll have a need at Cimarron Group when I do finally become free. I HAVE to get in there, especially now with this perfect contact!

The 10th Box Cinema

For everyone whose been wondering for some time...'exactly what is this 10th Box Cinema you speak of?' Well I've just created a new set on Flickr that shows off the best of my home theater in all it's glory. These are just the first few shots to give you a taste, but I'll be adding more shortly.

First an explanation.

The name '10th Box' comes from my friend Maria in Massachusetts. As I was gearing up to move to LA from upstate New York in 2003, I wanted to make sure everything was ready on this end before I made a total commitment; regular work, transportation and a place to live took top priority. But being that I'm a very thorough person when it comes to ensuring security in most situations, Maria observed, as opposed to just jumping in and tying up things along the way, that I always preferred to complete a check list before committing.

In other words I had to secure a list with all of the boxes checked, including the '10th' one (metaphorically final). Being that the place I lived had to be somewhere I felt at home and comfortable in, plus that I would be constructing a home theater in the second bedroom, it seemed only natural to call it The 10th Box. A place to live would be the final box I checked in making my transition from East to West Coast.

My own home theater is absolutely something I've wanted for at least 25 years, piecing it together now over the last 5. Still a couple of items left to include, but what you'll see in this photo set represents the screening room's arrival at being 90% complete. Right outside the home theater are several components that will ultimately become a full concession stand (just for show). Being that this area is not quite ready to be photographed, I opted to hold off until next time.

Click on the image to be taken to the 10th Box Flickr set. You can also access it and the rest of my photo sets by clicking on the Flickr link near the bottom of the left-hand column.

My "Ferris Bueller" 25th Anniversary screening

Heading home tonight for a 25th Anniversary screening of "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" at the 10th Box Cinema. There's been a few flickers of possible public screenings in the LA area. One in particular at the LA Film Fest is being held this month. My only problem with that is it's an outdoor screening, free to the public. Sounds like a lawn event of sorts.

What I'm hoping for is a proper indoor theater acknowledgment, like say at the Aero Theatre, with guest Q&A's. Seeing nothing like that on the horizon at the moment with this past Saturday being the officially 25th release date, I'm ready to roll now. So bring it!...or rather I'm gonna bring it! You know what I mean!!

"Super 8" review: magical, nostalgic, exciting and even a bit scary

My initially reaction coming out of the theater: Oh...My...God!! That was frickin' AMAZING!!! I am in Spielberg heaven!!

"Super 8" is exactly what we need right now; a throw-back to the days of Steven Spielberg magic! Nicely crafted and tuned right down to the last detail just as his mentor would have done 30 years ago, JJ Abrams perfectly channels a boy's wonder of the unknown that mixes equal doses of "Jaws", "Close Encounters of the Third Kind", "E.T", "The Goonies" and even "Jurassic Park".

WARNING: there are SPOILERS ahead so if you haven't seen the movie yet, stop reading now!

Joel Courtney, who plays a 13-year-old boy living in a fictional town in Ohio, is wonderfully cast alongside a group of young actors that completely echo the best of Spielberg's late 70's child icons. All Joel wants is to impress the girl he thinks he can't have (Elle Fanning) when an unimaginable event occurs as he and his friends are filming a Super 8 movie at a train station. As a midnight train comes barreling down the tracks, running into a pick-up truck that has intentionally run onto the tracks, we become witness to one of the most jaw-dropping and show stopping train wrecks ever put on film! It literally felt like we were blown out the back of the theater by the time it ended! The sequence is long and incredibly thrilling. You might feel like you need to catch your breath for a moment afterward.

What ultimately comes out of one of the derailed cars is only caught in glimpses throughout most of the movie, brilliantly hinting at what Joel and his friends will come more face to face with than they could have ever imagined. This is where the military steps in, turning the otherwise quiet small town into a bee-hive of fear and unbelievable events. By this point we were completely immersed in the mystery of what was really happening, given very small tidbits of information (the way JJ Abrams likes to dish them out) that would all fit together near the end.

The effects are top notch, the music at times evokes John Williams best and the movie itself feels like some long lost Spielberg gem from back in the day that has finally been unearthed. If you know these movies intimately, you'll discover a whole series of visual goodies to savor and smile broadly about. I was amazed at the level of detail Abrams put into his shots that make up what so many of us recognize as the 'Spielberg look'; the slow dolly and crane shots, the depiction of suburban life, with parents at the dinner table laughingly struggling to reel-in their hyperactive children ("Toby, you are close to death!"), and even details as minute as blue lens flare! No, I'm not talking about Abrams signature lens flare.

Early in the film, as the group of kids head out to a train station to film a scene for their amateur film, headlights and street lights aimed into the camera lens give off a very distinctive blue lens flare. You can see this in a number of mid to late 70's films due to Panavision anamorphic camera lens used at the time. Not necessarily indigenous to a Spielberg film, Abrams has intentionally added this blue lens flare to emulate that precise look which you do see in films like "Close Encounters" and "E.T." An incredibly minor detail I picked up on right away and savored just as much as the tone and feel of the characters and story.

Is there anything new and unexplored in "Super 8"? Not especially...but that's not why we're here. We're here to remember. To laugh and cry and be swept up in the magic and even the scariness of the unknown. The alien creature who is at last revealed late in the film is of incredible design, so very well lit and never over the top or out of place. There was not one moment where I felt like it was a CG creature.

Cast wise, also of note is Kyle Chandler as Joel's father and the town deputy. He's a man of action, emulating Roy Scheider's Sheriff Brody from "Jaws" at times. Ron Eldard as Elle Fanning's father is also quite good and for comedic relief, David Gallagher in a small role as a guy who works at a convenient store who has the hots for Elle Fanning's character and will do anything to impress her.

I fully intend to catch this again a few times over the summer. Remember what it was like to grow up with and fall in love with the classic films of our youth? Speaking to anyone who was between the ages of 10 and 25 in the late 70's and early 80's....go see "Super 8"! You absolutely won't be disappointed!

Happy Birthday, Ferris and Indy!

Today is the 25th Anniversary of "Ferris Bueller's Day Off"!! And if that isn't enough in it's own right, tomorrow is the 30th Anniversary of "Raiders of the Lost Ark"!!!

So certainly a gi-normous blow-out celebration is in order on this site...being that these are two of my very favorite movies! BALLS-OUT banners are in the works for tomorrow along with a proper remembrance of seeing both of these iconic movies when they first came out in 1986 and 1981, respectively.

Unfortunately, with trying to catch a nap before tonight's movie extravaganza, my clock time is limited when it comes to showering Ferris with his proper on-the-day appreciation. But don't worry....tomorrow's going to be HUGE!! You'll see.

"Bridesmaids" review: gut-bustingly funny, equal parts crude-humor guy movie and heartfelt chick flick

"Bridesmaids" is crazy hilarious, briefly gross, and at times somewhat touching chick flick. A perfect balance of "The Hangover", "Wedding Crashers", and "My Best Friend's Wedding".

Kristen Wiig is the bride's (Maya Rudolph) best friend who keeps getting outdone by the perfect girl (Rose Byrne) who seemingly has everything and an abundance of giving power. Constantly outgunned by the perfect girl's pre-wedding affections, Wiig must go to incredible lengths to prove to everyone (and herself) that she's a good person and THE bestest friend of all.

Along the way she crosses paths with Chris O'Dowd's local patrol-car bound cop with some really hilarious back and forth scenes coping with commitment issues, as well as a crazy / funny montage with Wiig and Byrne trying to get his attention on the road. O'Dowd is great here and the perfect regular, grounded guy against Wiig's hyperactive lonely girl. Melissa McCarthy is the obligatory chubby chick you see in every wedding party and provides much of the over the top humor. You just never know when she's gonna slam something totally off the wall in your face.

With Judd Apatow producing and absolutely another home run for his stable of films, this movie will have solid legs over the summer and definitely warrants multiple viewings. Rebecca went back with some girlfriends last week and she's up for number three when I'm ready to go back as well.

Certainly not for kids with one 'meter-in-the-red' gross out scene, "Bridesmaids" is laugh-fest tight and seriously entertaining! When they do the sequel, we're IN!!

"Super 8"

Yes, True Believers! What could very well turn out to be the movie of the year has arrived!

As mentioned, we have tickets in hand for tomorrow night's screening of "Super 8" at the Arclight Dome and I am giving any and all broadcast spots a WIDE BERTH!! Don't show me anything else because I...am...wait...ing! I'm even staying away from that 'government film' that just showed up online, released virally by the studio, which is incorporated in the movie to explain more about the creature's origin. No, no and NO!!

The next time I see ANYTHING it's going to be on the gi-normous screen! I absolutely expect to be seriously wowed and very moved by this movie. Sherman, set the 'way-back' machine for the Spielberg Era!

Several post house responses and...OH CRAP, SERIOUSLY?!!

A few responses have trickled in from my mass e-mailing to 62 post houses exactly one week ago. One in particular from a company called Shapeshifter Post. They do trailers and broadcast spots as well as DVD content, commercials, TV series, features, and music videos.

They were very interested to work out getting me in the door and bring some new blood to the table. But first I needed to be passed through Disney approval, since they'd be looking for me to cut Disney content. I've heard that the Mouse House is VERY strict on who they work with...in this case, even freelance editors who work at independent facilities. I had to fill out a separate 'editor profile' sheet and fax it over to them, beyond my pro-site Shapeshifter checked out.

Now...here comes the BIG kicker of responses!

Last night I received a call from a contact of mine who previously was the post supervisor at the now defunct Cannery Agency, and we'd worked together a number of times. A few months ago Rebecca and I bumped into him at Ralph's Supermarket. He told me he was now working with Cimarron Group and gave me his card. I responded by e-mailing him a link to my pro-site.

His call was to find out what my availability was.

Cimarron Group is one of THE top trailer houses in the industry. One that I've been trying to get into since 2002.

AAAAGGGGHHHH!!!!!

Why am I screaming? Because as much as I am EXTREMELY grateful for the constant work I've been blessed with at trailer house Happy Hour Creative, I can't go and work for them right now because I'm booked here for the next several weeks, probably until the end of this month.

I told him my situation and that I really appreciated his call. He said to definitely give him a call back when I was done with my current gig. Despite the timing, this is pretty awesome! Next to my repeated resumes and reels, and now that link to my pro-site, I officially have an 'in' at Cimarron! Now all I need is a hole in my schedule when they need me to finally get in the door! It's gonna happen!!!

"The People vs. George Lucas" review: spot-on, hilarious take of Lucas' fall from fanboy grace

If you have a love / hate relationship with the creator of the "Star Wars" movies, than this documentary is completely and totally for you!! The crap that fans have been bitching about for years like having Han Solo shoot first and the mere existance of Jar Jar Binks is all addressed here by fans and filmmakers who grew up on the original trilogy, only to see it torn down by the off-kilter special editions and horrendous prequels.

There is a true passion that exudes from these commentators and it's blended wonderfully with a lot of laughs and clips from amateur films that honor our love for "Star Wars". Documenting Lucas' journey from anxious 1977 Grauman's Chinese Theater mob scene to disappointment from fans walking out of the initial prequel screenings, the movie shoots squarely for George's jugular while praising his infinite change of the film industry. From inspired master to Howard Hughes-like nut job, we follow the "Star Wars" creator's path from Godhood, through the ringer, then back out again as the undeniable inspiration for many people's lives and careers.

Are these movies just that...movies? The answer is yes and no. For some, they're entertainment, a launching point for believing in one's self, and a way of life. They are many things to many people, and being that I am a true original trilogy fan who later scoffed at the over the top and badly acted prequels, not to mention the altering of those classics, I was on the edge of my seat with glee watching Lucas getting ripped a new asshole by people who have every right to want those films (original trilogy) at they're disposal because they grew up on them. Lucas still refuses to give the original "Star Wars", "Empire" and "Jedi" the proper DVD re-mastering, continuing to tamper with what ultimately became iconic movie history.

The documentary also presents the argument of who has the figurative right to say 'yes' or 'no' on changing or even denying access to a classic; the artist or the audience. Ultimately, "The People vs. George Lucas" is highly entertaining and at times very nicely 'inside' for fans who truly 'get it'. The movie began by making the festival rounds, now playing across the country for limited engagements. We saw it at a one-week run at the Nuart Theatre in Santa Monica. If it doesn't come to your town you may have to wait for DVD. Sooner or later definitely see this movie because it's great!

SO MANY movie events happening this weekend!!

This weekend is SUPER JAM-PACKED with movie events I almost think I'll need to take a day off afterward to recover!

"Super 8" premieres this Friday and we have tickets to see it in the Arclight Dome on Saturday night. Can't wait! Immediately afterward we'll be heading to our friend, Chili's house for a second weekend of his 80's movie summer series. At his two story, three bedroom residence he has a complete 18-seat home theater, a drive-in screen set up in his six-car driveway and an outdoor screening area in the backyard. He regularly invites everyone on his Facebook friend's list and our first introduction to this movie mania event was last weekend where he was showing "When Harry Met Sally", "War Games" and "Raiders of the Lost Ark". Films usually run simultaniously from 6pm to 1am.

On Sunday I'll be hooking up with my friend Paul, who I met during the "Back to the Future" 25th Anniversary celebration last November, to attend a double feature of "Iron Man" and "Iron Man 2" plus a Q&A with Jon Favreau. This is part of the Hero Complex Film Festival at the Mann's Chinese 6 in Hollywood. Paul had a couple of extra free tickets he'd won and asked if I wanted to attend any of the screenings with him. Ticket prices are $45, which is why I bowed out when the festival was announced initially. Note that I'm not attending the "Superman, The Movie" and "Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut" on Saturday for that very reason. Now I can use Paul's extra ticket and enjoy Sunday's double bill with no worries!

Domain name back online, next podcast delayed a week

The lafilmcutter.com domain name is now back up after a brief period of down time. Although I have been posting regularly and there are a few of you out there who know how to get in (you know who you are!)

I had planned to post the LA Filmcutter Podcast 2.0 this week. But due to a scratchy throat and persistent cough, I've decided to wait until next week after the premiere of "Super 8"....where there'll be even MORE to talk about!

"X-Men: First Class" review: pitch-perfect, slickly cool and spectacular!

Right out of the gate: THIS is what we loved about Bryan Singer's first two X-Men movies! A comic book action movie with heart, soul, emotional depth, and in the case of this finely crafted prequel, perfect and respectful connectivity to the previous films. THIS is how the "Star Wars" prequels SHOULD have gone down!

As the movie opens, we are greeted by the opening sequence from the original "X-Men", painstakingly recreated shot-for-shot, showing a very young Erik Lencher being separated from his parents in a concentration camp in Nazi-occupied Poland. I was very impressed by the fact that they were so incredibly faithful to connecting this to Singer's other films. They could have easily done a facsimile that splintered off in tone a bit, but that's certainly not what Singer and director Matthew Vaughn were even considering.

Arriving in 1962, we find two young men who will soon become fast friends and eventual, eternal opposites. James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender are perfectly cast as the young Charles Xavier and Erik Lencher. They play off each other wonderfully against a world about to be altered by the Cuban missile crisis. Xavier is suavely intelligent, using his unique abilities to probe the early stages and intricacies of mutation, while Lencher exudes James Bond coolness as he tracks down Nazis who have escaped retribution, post-WWII.

The search for other mutants brings them to a hilarious cameo and the forming of Xavier's 'First Class'. But along the way there are perfectly toned insights into how some future enemies were once heavily connected. Not through blood relation, but just by being one's 'brother' or 'sister' in a sense.

There are some purists out there who will balk at the re-writing of the history of "X-Men" First Class" in it's original comic format. It goes without saying that I completely respect this per my tirades in the past about mucking with canon, etc. Having dabbled in X-Men comics from time to time in the 80's, I was never completely tied down to any one interpretation, and of course LOVE the Singer incarnation of the most iconic X-Men team.

That being said, this First Class team mixes it up quite a bit from the colored page, introducing a number of mutants who've appeared in other stages of the X-Men run...and I was completely fine with that from my perspective. Again, with utter respect for those who do take issue.

This movie is set brilliantly in the early 1960's with it's stylish lincoln automobiles and period suits, dresses and hairstyles. But the great thing is they keep the characters connectable and not too intrenched in the time period. Even though the era as depicted here has a James Bond coolness throughout in it's gadgetry, weapons and tactics that lends fittingly to the fantastical.

The costumes are perfectly period, yet at times modern in design. The classic yellow and black (here a dark hue of blue) jumpsuits are functional upgrades from the comic's iconic look. The effects are top notch and the music is thrilling. I would have thought Bryan Singer would bring composer John Ottman back to the franchise, but it definitely makes more sense to have a fresh musical voice for this first of hopefully a trilogy of movies. This go-around, Henry Jackman whose mentor is none other than Hans Zimmer.

A trilogy seems to be practically in the bag after the incredible 89% on the Rotten Tomato meter. Incredibly strong reviews going hand in hand by moviegoer bliss is what will keep this movie in people's minds throughout the summer. One could note that this is almost like a prequel with a reboot cleverly rolled in...yet done RIGHT! There are so many places this tale of the early years can go now! With Singer and Vaughn at the helm, an incredibly satisfying, very emotional and action packed ride has begun!

The moment the credits rolled, Rebecca and I looked at each and said 'we definitely have to see this again very soon!'

Now THAT was a prequel!!!

"X-Men: First Class" is everything they're saying it is: Amazing!!! Everything a prequel should be with all the love and connectivity we dream of. Take that George 'it's only about the toys' Lucas! Expect my glowing review shortly! Now I can't wait to see it AGAIN!!

"X2" last night, "X-Men: First Class" tonight

Rebecca and I are heading to the Arclight tonight to see "X-Men: First Class", which is now considered 'certified fresh' on Rotten Tomatoes. Can't wait!!

Ramping up to the new film, I watched "X2: X-Men United" last night in the 10th Box Cinema. I have to say the two scenes that always strike me are the opening where Night Crawler spectacularly invades the White House, plus the very emotional climax of the escape from Alkali Lake. This scene especially is part of the core that fuels Bryan Singer's take on the classic comic book. The emotion, the depth, the story and characters that resonate with our society and feel totally grounded while dealing with fantastical elements.

Two moments that also pop for me: a military missile ruptures the back end of the X-Jet, sending Rogue flying out through a hole in the fuselage. A beat...another beat...no music, just the wind rushing. OMG, she's falling! BAMPH! Night Crawler appears, grabs her in his arms and reappears on the X-Jet! Moment two: Wolverine leads everyone to an empty landing field where a helicopter had just been sitting. There's no escape! Suddenly, over the treetops comes the X-Jet piloted by Rogue. She screams while desperately trying to control the huge plane, landing it with a thud and a skid in the snow.

It's a pity that Brett Ratner had to take over for the departing Bryan Singer on the third outing, but it is seriously sounding like "First Class" will wipe that one off the map. I can't say "Last Stand" was bad, but the movie seemed rushed from moment one. You didn't really have a chance to connect like when Singer was at the helm. Thank God he's back AND with Matthew Vaughn!

BTW, I'll finally be posting photos of the 10th Box Cinema by Monday so look for them!

Amazing "Tron Legacy" mural time-lapse!

Check out this incredible "Tron Legacy" mural in the making...and thanks to Allen for posting! I'll let the creator's copy do the talking:

'Created to document the production of a painted promo for Disney’s Tron: Legacy, this groundbreaking project was filmed in December 2010 and January 2011 in a warehouse in Shoreditch with the exterior shots taken from the rooftops of East London. Filmed over 4 days, it shows the execution of a 20-metre mural that was painted on huge canvases for installation on Great Eastern Street. The time-lapse was created using 2 x Canon 5D MK2 cameras and a specially constructed rig.'

For some reason the embed code doesn't seem to work so here is the direct link: Tron Legacy : Aerosol Mural

Pro-site links sent

62 e-mails with links to my pro-site went out to 62 post houses yesterday. Once again, how frickin' easy! This time all I had to do was copy and paste the messages from my last mass e-mailing in March.

Received three responses so far thanking me for sending my info and that they'd put my name on the freelancers list for future need. Still waiting to hear back from some of those top trailer houses.

"X-Men: First Class" 30 second spots

Note to all "X-Men: First Class" broadcast spots: STOP GIVING SO MUCH AWAY!!! I DON'T want to know what happens to the missiles after Magneto puts his hand up! I've had to quickly turn away whenever one comes on now. It seems like as we get closer to the premiere on Friday they show just a little more and a little more and a little more of that action sequence. Jeez, don't blow the wad! We already know the movie's great!

The 7 ways "Smallville" raped the Superman canon

There was a recent article on Blastr.com heralding the 7 ways "Smallville" changed the Superman comic-book canon. I, of course, had to do my own version out of my complete and total love of this incredible show....BBAAARRRFFF!!!! LOL!

What, you thought I forgot about doing this? Aside from the fact that they got Lex Luthor's origin right (and cast a great actor in the role), here's my rundown:

1. Forming The Fortress of Solitude; this is how the series should have ended. Clark finally realizes what he must do, heads to the northern frozen tundra and discovers his birthright via the recorded messages of his dead father, Jor-El. NOT a place we build halfway through the series to have a bunch of friends and girlfriends over! C'mon!! It was cheapened by the fact that it almost became Clark's 'guy pad'. Lame!

2. Every DC hero and his brother showing up in Smallville; Green Arrow, Aquaman, Cyborg, The Flash, Supergirl, Hawkman....Seriously?! Let's just have everything that happens to Clark as Superman later in life...happen right next to the Kent Farm! Give me a fucking break!! BTW, what can Aquaman possibly do IN THE MIDDLE OF A CORNFIELD?!

3. Clark goes and works at the Daily Planet while still living in Smallville and still not even thinking about his future persona of Superman. Vrrrooommm! I'm a confused biker boy who needs action. Hey. let's go rape the future home of Clark Kent and Superman while we're at it! Jeez, like SLOW DOWN, EH?! Oh I forgot, we need to have everything that ever happened to Superman happen in this show.

4. I was certainly willing to accept characters like Lionel and Chloe because the creators, writers and producers of the show were trying to expand the universe of Clark Kent's teen years. But when they introduced Lois Lane into Clark's live and the midwestern town he crash landed in as a baby, I was rolling my eyes with extreme displeasure. NO!! Clark DOES NOT meet Lois until he gets to Metropolis! STOP IT!! This had to have been one of the most 'pushing it' aspects of the show. She was more like a model rather than the spunky reporter we all know and love (God Bless Margot Kidder!). I'm sure even Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel were spinning in their graves with this one.

5. The Justice League...see #2. REALLY, REALLY SUPER BAD!!! And I don't mean the Judd Apatow movie! An almost laughable and completely ludacrious attempt at speeding up the Superman harvest. Isn't this series suppose to be about Clark Kent growing up? Suddenly it turned into 'how many DC heroes can we possibly and ridiculously cram on this show'! Even though the costume design at times was pretty good with some nice updating...these guys STILL did NOT belong ANYWHERE near Smallville and Clark's youth!

6. Lois and Clark walking down the aisle. NOOOO!!!! Again, [Consuela voice] Lois no come to Smallville. Clark go to Metropolis, work for Daily Planet, meet Lois Lane, become Superman, save people. You just don't even THINK about marrying Lois Lane in Smallville! Even a five year old kid with a comic book in his hand will tell you that! GAWD!! This leaves absolutely NO mystery to their relationship as Clark/Superman and Daily Planet reporter Lois in the future. Thanks, guys!

7. The use of John Williams' music from "Superman, The Movie" in later seasons. My ears literally hurt when I started hearing what I consider to be THE quintessential Superman theme against this turd! O.K. the first time I heard it in one episode (before things started to spiral out of control) was kind of cool. But PLEASE don't even think about comparing "Smallville" to the epic grandeur of Christopher Reeve's opus! Yes, Reeve did do a couple of guest appearances and I appreciated that. But that doesn't give you guys carte blanche!

As a disclaimer, there are a lot of fans out there who really love "Smallville", and I completely respect that. But to me the show is just another example of how reboots and re-imaginings created in the US have almost never worked. I've said it before and I'll say it again....The Brits SERIOUSLY know how to do it! "Doctor Who" is an incredible show that could have dug a huge grave for the classic show and dumped it in. But instead they know how to savor and respect what's come before while moving forward with some amazingly expansive ideas and emotional impact.

"Raiders of the Lost Ark" 30th Anniversary Academy screening

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is having a 30th Anniversary screening of "Raiders of the Lost Ark" at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills on Friday, June 17, a mere five days after the actual release date in 1981. I've been really excited about this because they'll not only be showing a brand new digital print of the movie straight from Paramount, but Frank Marshall and Ben Burtt (among others) will be on hand for a very special Q&A. Click on the photo for full details.

This promises to be THE anniversary event for the film and I wouldn't want to miss it for the world! But we almost did.

I'd read last week that tickets were going on sale June 1. So I very precisely set the alarm on my iPhone to go off at midnight last night. When it rang I went online and saw that tickets weren't up yet. This morning I did the same and still nothing. Then, as I called Rebecca to let her know I was leaving for work, the little icon on the ticket page went from 'not yet' to 'buy now'. A few minutes later when I was stopping to pick up bagels for breakfast, I got on once again to actually buy tickets. As I progressed, a message came up that the screening was sold out.

What?! You're kidding?!...I thought to myself.

I called Rebecca at work to tell her what I was finding only minutes after the tickets became available. I could only surmise that they were perhaps holding everyone else back to allow Academy members the opportunity to buy first. Or perhaps everyone had been poised in front of their computers first thing in the morning and everything really was gone. Crap!

Fifteen minutes later I was stuck on the 405 at a dead stop. I had to try again, maybe there had been a glitch on the site. I quickly grabbed my phone and refreshed the site. THERE IT WAS! The sold out notice was gone and you could actually purchase tickets!! Suddenly I realized I needed to pull over because maybe this wasn't going to last. Wasn't sure what had happened and didn't care...I needed to act! I began hearing John Williams music in my head as Indy fought the giant Nazi while gasoline inched towards a flaming tanker truck near the flying wing that held Marion. At the same moment the phone rang as I was changing lanes. It was Rebecca calling to tell me she had done the same exact thing right before I did and was able to buy tickets! WOOHOO!!

So I want to officially say....Rebecca, you are a ticket-buying golden goddess!! THANK YOU!!!

Now we have tickets in hand and I am SO HAPPY!! This will not only be an acknowledgment of the three decade milestone, but also a trip back for me...remembering the first time I saw "Raiders" in the theater back in the day when Steven Spielberg and George Lucas were true Hollywood Gods.