THE ARTIST AND THE MODEL Release Date: August 2, 2013 What it’s about: In 1943 occupied France, a beautiful young refugee changes the life of a famous sculptor. What it’s got working for it: Great reviews. What’s it’s got going against it: Potentially painfully pretentious. EUROPA REPORT Release Date: August 2, 2013 What it’s about:…
July 30, 2013: Upcoming Movie Releases to Look Forward to! Or Not!
2 GUNS Release Date: August 2, 2013 What it’s about: A DEA agent and a U.S. naval intelligence officer become unlikely allies in an off-book effort to take down the criminals who set them up. What it’s got working for it: Mark Wahlberg and Denzel Washington are the Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg of our…
July 29, 2013: Our Movie of the Week Club reconvenes! Cookie Monster reviews Stargate!
Monster not familiar wit Stargate series starring MacGyver and RuPaul so left somewhat confused by dis film dat be reminiscent of de old Crosby and Hope road movies - but wit more killing and androgyny. Movie open in distant past where revival of de musical Hair get awaken while sleeping on a giant soundstage. Wind…
July 28, 2013: Summer in Vancouver; Christmas in Tokyo!
Vancouver is beautiful in the summer and, given the choice, you wouldn't want to be anywhere else. Of course, a couple of months down the line, and things change. Mainly, the weather. September kicks off "the rainy season" here that runs through, well, most of the year, ending sometime in May, April if you're lucky.…
July 27, 2013: Books! Dogs! And foodtrucks!
My latest book haul. As I mentioned in yesterday's entry, my days of shopping at the local Indigo/Chapters mega-chain are a thing of the past. Instead, I'm supporting the smaller, independent bookstores - in this instant, White Dwarf Books (WHITE DWARF BOOKS - Dead Write Books) over on 10th Avenue. It's your one stop shop…
July 26, 2013: It’s simple really. Just don’t get on my bad side…
"How long are you going to be?"asked Akemi as I parked the car. "Ten, fifteen minutes,"I said. "Okay,"she said. "I'll wait in the car." "No, you'd better come with me,"I said and then proceeded to tell her about the article I read this morning concerning a woman who was charged with animal cruelty for leaving…
July 25, 2013: Six-Eyes, YoYo and The Spider!
Lately, Akemi, presumably too bothered to put in her contacts, has taken to wearing her glasses when she's out and about - and, on sunny days, her sunglasses as well. That's "as well" as in "in addition to" rather than "instead of". As a result, I've taken to calling her Six Eyes.Which brought me back…
July 24, 2013: Your embarrassing childhood photos!
When Akemi sent me the above pic, my initial reaction was: "Who's that goofy pudgy boy on the left?". Well, I'm sure you can guess. That goofy pudgy boy blossomed into this - not so pudgy though no less goofy girl: Yep. People change A LOT between ages 2-5 and 21+. A quick visit to…
July 23, 2013: Akemi on a culinary tear! And Cookie Monster’s next movie review will be…
This morning, I woke up to this: And, later, came home to these: These delectable chocolate ganache macarons are just the latest in the long line of culinary creations Akemi has put her little heart into. Check 'em out... I feel fortunate that her interests don't run to less delicious pursuits like macrame or the…
July 22, 2013: The Supermovie of the Week Club Reconvenes! Cookie Monster reviews Despicable Me!
It happen to monster all de time. Me have fond memories of a movie or t.v. show, someting from way back in de day when monster have more fur on top and much less on de bottom (if you know what me mean) but, invariably, when me sit down for a rewatch, monster always end…
July 21, 2013: A 17 (actually, 21) Question Science Fiction Book Meme!
The gang at http://www.sfsignal.com/ have launched another one of those irresistible SF-themed memes, what they're calling a " 17-question science fiction book meme for a lazy Sunday". I wrestled over a few of my responses, struggling with the relative worthiness of some of the titles, and finally decided to solve the problem by adding four extra questions to…
July 20, 2013: Some opinions on things…
THE SUPERIOR FOES OF SPIDERMAN A terrific first issue by writer Nick Spencer and artist Steve Lieber focuses on the flip side of superheroics = the lives, both personal and professional, of their colorful counterparts. Try as they might, supervillains just can't seem to catch a break and, in this book, we find out why.…
July 19, 2013: My Japanese expressions! A cook book signing! And a movie poll!
"I have a headache,"I informed Akemi as I picked her up following her afternoon English class. "Do you know what that's called?"she asked me. The Japanese seemingly have a term for everything, so I was expecting something along the lines of atama na atsui (hot head) or tayo nemutai (sun sleepiness) or even kanso nomiso itai (dry brain pain). Instead,…
July 18, 2013: Meetings, mellophones, and munchies!
This morning, Paul and I met with a potential production partner (our fourth in four days) to discuss a series we'll soon be developing for an interested broadcaster. Everyone we met to date has been very nice, seemed very smart, very capable and, most important of all, responded favorably to the script. One more meeting…
July 17, 2013: Contractual obligations! And an almost addition to the pack!
Akemi has "the" worst sense of direction. And that's really saying something coming from me, someone who HAD "the" worst sense of direction prior to my meeting her and relinquishing the crown. Every time she takes the dogs out for a walk, I experience an uneasy sense of foreboding, sort of akin to what the…