New in at Cinema Books: Mission Impossible My Life in Music by Lalo Schifrin, $35.00 cloth.  Invaluable insights into jazz, classical musical styles and their interactions in his film and television work.  We all remember the music of Mission Impossible but he also was nominated for The Competition, Cool Hand Look. How about Bullitt and television shows such as Dr Kildare, The Equalizer, Mannix?  Book includes cd.

I need a break from discussing politics, health care, right vs. left, Sarah Palin; I want some comfort entertainment. If I want heavy, I’ll watch one of those high-brow movies Marilyn forces me to watch; if I want serious, I’ll read a book (so there, Kaarin); if I want something spiritual, I’ll listen to music; but when I want to travel far down that low road – and I do sometimes – I have TV. Although there are some seriously good TV shows that I watch (from Public TV specials to well-written dramas and sharp comedies), there’s no better diversion for me than frothy, salacious, superficial television. Whether it’s “Snapped” an Oxygen series about women who kill their husbands (I’ve managed to stay alive this long thanks to what I’ve learned from this series), or “Rock of Love,” which has absolutely no redeeming qualities, I simply love bad TV. Sometimes bad TV turns out to have redemptive qualities like “Tool Academy,” “From G’s to Gents” or “Charm School,” and sometimes good TV turns to junk: cable news — but it is always entertaining. So here’s a diversion for me, what I’m loving on TV right now.

1) Sue Sylvester/”Glee”: Jane Lynch, who I’ve loved forever, especially with her work with Christopher Guest (“Best in Show”), has the role of a lifetime in “Glee.” The show itself has its ups and downs for me — I thought it was brilliant at the beginning of the season, but this mistaken-identity-baby-daddy arc is not fun to watch. (Although Quinn is.) What is fun to watch are the production numbers when they’re hip and joyous (not Broadway-y and predictable); the actors, all without exception; and, most of all, big meany Sue Sylvester, the bulldog cheerleading coach who does not have an “off” button. She is fed, arguably, the best lines on TV, and she is so savoring her role, it drips all over the screen. She is, not arguably, the best character on TV.

2) “Curb”/”Seinfeld” Reunion: Finally, the reunion! Not only was the penultimate show of the season the best of both series, it was a nice homecoming for those of us who loved “Seinfeld.” You might have forgotten how likable Jerry was (I did) and he’s terrific in these “Curb” episodes. The minute you see his puppy dog face, it’s like welcoming an old friend back. The back and forth between him and Larry David is extraordinary to watch, and the insight into a “Seinfeld” table read is perfect TV. Add to that the typically-”Curb” story line about little Emma and her rash (remind me to change my daughter’s name) and little gems like addressing Michael Richard’s past racial troubles, and you end up with one of the most satisfying 36 minutes of television this season.  Even if Susie Essman was not in the episode.

The real star of the "Table Reading" episode?

3) “Tabatha’s Salon”: OK, call me gay, whatever, but “Tabatha’s Salon Takeover” is one of the most enjoyable reality shows on TV (and I watch them all, and I mean all). Much of that has a lot to do with the abrasive, but understandably confident hair stylist Tabatha Coffey (who, herself, was a reality show winner on “Shear Genius”). With her defiantly short, chopped platinum hair, seductive English accent, take-charge ultra-hip black outfits and take-no-prisoners attitude, she visits failing salons and gives them a turnaround.

The format’s great, especially the undercover surveillance cameras, the heavy-hands-on observation of the hairdressers at work, the destroying of dreams and careers, and the filth she finds when she first examines the salon, often wiping up chunks of disgusting hair and other foul refuse (only once did she cry, “I want my Mommy.”). The final assessment to the owner is especially fun, because it often involves firing someone who has most likely called her a bitch during the course of the show. The hour flies by, and it has as much to do with running a small business (Take that, “Shark Tank”) as it does with hairdressing (Take that, inane “Shear Genius”).  And there’s so much drama. If you think I’m gay for watching this, you should see some of the hairdressers!  Tabatha’s one of reality TV’s best host/stars, and the show is absorbing. Like a good conditioner.

4.  “Modern Family”: I have to say, I laugh out loud at this show more than any other. The acting is so top-notch and the funny characters are so filled-out by those great actors. The premise is simple. Here’s a modern American family, including a clueless dad, annoying teenage daughter, hapless mom, and a gay couple that happily gives in to stereotypes, but is still funny. There’s the hot Colombian second, and younger wife (Sofia Vergara)

Sofia Vergara, Ed O'Neill's hot, younger, second wife on "Modern Family."

and her way-too-mature pre-teen son, Manny, (played like a pro by 11-year-old Rico Rodriguez), who just about steals the show.

Modern Famiy's scene stealer, Rico Rodriguez, as the precocious Manny.

Just about, because Ed O’Neill (You know, Al Bundy) is so amazing in this show as the gruff, yet tender grandfather (and husband of the hot second, younger wife and reluctant stepfather to the precocious Manny). But it’s the tangents in which the show goes off that makes this a stand-out. Just this week they paid tribute to Both Spandau Ballet (Edward Norton in a funny turn as Izzy LaFontaine, bassist for Spandau Ballet) and Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark . You’ll never be able to listen to SB’s “True” again with a straight face. ” That is, if you we you were ever able to in the first place.

5.  “Parks and Recreation”: OK, I lied. The out-loud laughs record is not held by “Modern Family,” but rather by the very smart and funny P&R. Amy Poehler   and a brilliant ensemble cast (Rashida Jones and Chris Pratt, especially) romp through some very smart dialogue and topics, some never before seen on the always predictable and rehashed world of sitcoms. While “P&R” started off as an “uh-oh, where’s this going?” rip-off of “The Office,” it has matched that show (this past week’s “Office” with its Southern murder mystery parlor game was that series at its best). There are many smart (dare I even say “intellectual”) references sprinkled throughout the show, and the uber talented Poehler has a field day building her lovable character, Leslie Knope, as deputy head of a yokel Midwest parks department. She a larger aspirations.  This mockumentary always lets on that she’s smarter than we think, but if you begin to take her too seriously, she’ll do something so goofy, you’ll fall in love with her again and again. If you saw last season, and were disappointed with the first few episodes, do yourself a favor and watch again. If Amy Poehler doesn’t win an Emmy, the gig is rigged. I heart Leslie Knope.  As much as I heart Liz Lemon and the wildly crazy, funny and uneven “30 Rock.” Alright, I heart Tracey Jordan/Morgan, too.

Yes, I heart Tracey Morgan...Jordan.

6. “So You Think You Can Dance”: Best talent competition on TV, and certainly the best dance competition (yes, I even watched “Dance Your Ass Off!”). Forget the amazing, sometimes stunning dancing (hello, Legacy   ), and the totally sexy and extremely likable host, Cat Deely,   this show has turned me on to better music than “American Idol”: Mirah’s “The Garden”, Roison Murphy’s “Ramalama (Bang Bang), and most recently George Baker Selection’s “Little Green Bag.” The dancing…it’s sick, as judge Adam Shankman would say. (Where’s Mia Michaels this year? Boo.)  Did I mention that I hate dance? But I love SYTYCD. My money’s on Jakob, Legacy, Russell to all tie in the end.

7.  “The Good Wife”: Biggest surprise of this season. I had no idea what this show would be like. And it turns out it’s one of those lawyer shows. But with a million twists and the really, really good and riveting Julianna Margulies guiding it along like a laser.  Hands down, best new drama of 2009.

8. “Chopped”: Love this cooking show where four cheftestants have to make three courses out of unlikely ingredients. Yeah, yeah, I love every cooking show (especially any one that features Padma Lakshmi   ), and the new “Chef Academy” seems to have the winning ingredient of all these reality shows: a good cast of characters. Oh, and if Kevin doesn’t win “Top Chef”, I’ll be really surprised. Unless of course one of the innovative Voltaggio Brothers wins.

9. “True Blood”: I miss you, young Jessica, my favorite vampire.

"True Blood"'s Jessica, the brattiest and best teenaged vampire in Bon Temps.

If I had to pick my desert island show, this would be it. If the desert island had a TV.

10. “Mission Impossible”:  I am absolutely addicted to this surprisingly complex ’60s series. It’s on between midnight and 2 a.m. on the AmericanLife Network (ALN), and I am under its spell from the second it starts. There’s nothing like the Cold War and Latin American dictators to get your adventure-thriller blood boiling. Problem is, there is something about this guilty pleasure that puts me to sleep within 5 minutes of its distinctive theme. It never fails, no matter how wide awake or tired I am. So I DVR it, and during daylight hours, watch Cinnamon, Paris, Phelps and the gang keep the world safe. Like Jack Bower, but not.

11. “Dexter”: I’m still sticking with you Dexter even if I have to see John Lithgow naked and you are completely predictable.  I judge TV predictability on “Oz,” one of the most adventurous cable TV achievements. You never knew what to expect and which main character would be killed off. On “Dexter” you always know what to expect, and Dexter is always safe — but it’s done so well, it almost doesn’t matter. Michael C. Hall is an acting revelation, but it’s the opening credits that are so good, I’m in for the whole next hour.

Dexter/Michael C. Hall and his sister/wife Deb/Jennifer Carpenter. You figure it out.

Bare in mind, this took them five years to make.

It’s got nothing on Pixar but nevertheless this is pretty brilliant. (There’s a quote for their marketing campaign).

- La Battaglia dei Tre Regni – 2009 – ♥♥♥ -

di

John Woo

John Woo ritorna a casa e lo fa stupendo il cinema cinese con un kolossal da ottanta milioni di dollari, decisamente il film più costoso della storia del cinema della nazione dalla Grande Muraglia. E ciò che vien subito da pensare è che con gli action movie il regista cinese ci sa fare. Reduce da un Mission: Impossible 2 spettacolare ma non entusiasmante come il primo capitolo ha sicuramente dato maggior prova delle sue capacità da regista d’ azione in Face\off. Nella sua ricostruzione della leggendaria Battaglia dei Tre regni, avvenuta nel 208 D.C. durante la dinastia Han, John Woo trasforma anche la guerra in uno spettacolo visivo e musicale che rende le spade , le armature e gli scudi ornamenti coreografici di una danza battagliera. Da noi arriva dimezzato (la durata dell’ originale film in Cina era di quattro ore) ma non perde comunque la furia visiva che il film intende mostrare grazie soprattutto a un montaggio serrato e di ottima fattura. Troppo grossolano l’ uso del digitale che molto spesso non è così realistico soprattutto nella sequenza tanto cara a Woo delle colombe spie che attraversano volando l’ intero campo di battaglia. Ma questa lacuna viene ben compensata dalle ottime capacità recitative dell’ intero cast che nonostante sia spesso costretto a sfoggiare un eroismo cameratesco un pò infantile dato dai loro personaggi riesce sempre a essere convincente. Ci sono poi tutti gli elementi umani pronti a colpire dritto al cuore di ogni spettatore anche se  i profili psicologici sembrano così nettamente tracciati da risultare usciti da una favola eroica per ragazzini cinesi. Il resto è eroismo di chi riesce a vincere una battaglia nonostante l’ inferiorità numerica. Vicende che a noi occidentali ci fanno rimembrare battaglia come quella delle Termomili o di Poitiers. Sembra con questo film che anche la Cina voglia entrare nel mercato delle pellicole ad alto budget che tanto contraddistingue Hollywood. Quelle pellicole destinate al puro intrattenimento visivo realistico, ma che seppur confezionato bene, come in questo caso, restano pur sempre dei prodotti commerciali. Sembrano quindi lontani i tempi di Lanterne Rosse, della sua  fotografia calda (qui sostituita da una più cupa e grigia) e della sua impostazione da cinema  d’ essai. Si lascia apprezzare, in definitiva, La Battaglia dei Tre Regni per le lunghe battaglie rese appassionanti soprattutto per le scaltre strategie militari. Molto meno per la scelta di un software digitale che spesso risulta essere visivamente imbarazzante o per la decisione del mercato cinese di lanciarsi nel mondo dell’ intrattenimento. De gustibus non est disputandum.

(Parte dell' imponente esercito di Cao Cao)

(Il fuoco è l' unico elemento fotografico rosso rimasto al film cinese)

Barin Kayaoglu
JTW Columnist

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Saturday, 24 January 2009

The Mission

The Israeli invasion of Gaza and its horrific toll on Palestinian civilians demonstrate that, so long as this self-destructive conflict goes on, the innocent people of Israel and Palestine will wallow in their suffering.

It is time to stop this bloodbath. And the creation of a viable Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza is the only way to reach that goal.

The question of Palestine remains the biggest chasm between Israel, the Arabs, and non-Arab Muslims. Since the first war between Arab states and Israel in 1948-49, there has been no end in sight to the conflict. For sure, Israel managed to sign peace treaties with, and gain recognition from, two of its neighbors (Egypt and Jordan). But because Israel does not take the bold steps necessary to create the Palestinian state, most Arab and Muslim countries refuse to recognize it. Israel, without recognition and security, refrains from normalizing relations with the Palestinians. And without the prospects of a viable Palestinian state, groups like HAMAS gain prestige in the eyes of Arabs in general and Palestinians in particular.
(Tragically, HAMAS’s rocket attacks had prompted Israel to attack Gaza over three weeks ago. And this deadlock has played out disastrously: more than 1,200 Palestinians – many of them innocent civilians – lie dead. Over 5,000 are wounded.)

So, how do we create a Palestinian state; convince Israel that it is in its interest to do so; and move forward to a new order in the Middle East?
How, in other words, do we accomplish mission impossible?

The Task

The trick to creating a viable Palestinian state can come about by addressing the “people problem.”
At the moment, of the West Bank’s population of 2.5 million, nearly 200,000 are Israeli settlers. An additional 175,000 Israelis live in East Jerusalem, the venue that Palestinians hope will become the capital of their state. Resettling unwilling Israeli civilians into Israel’s pre-1967 lands will be a troublesome task (just as it was in 2005 when Israel withdrew from Gaza).

An even larger problem will be to accommodate the return of Palestinian refugees, a large body of 5 million. Truth be told, since the State of Israel would not allow the return of former residents of Mandate Palestine into its territories, probably not all Palestinian refugees would come into what would become the Republic of Palestine; at least not immediately.

The third hurdle is the status of Jerusalem. Jerusalem houses the Western Wall of Solomon’s Temple, the Church of Sepulcher, and the Masjid al-Aqsa/Qubbat as-Sahra, the holiest sites for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, respectively. Israelis and Palestinians contest this city fiercely for its great symbolic value. Currently, Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and the Palestinians will never accept statehood without Jerusalem as their own capital.

The Possible and the Necessary Mission

Aside from Jerusalem, the “people problem” is one that can be solved by careful planning and a price tag. Building decent housing for the nearly 5.5 million people in question (5 million Palestinians and a total of 375,000 Israeli settlers) will be a gargantuan task but it is not an impossible one. (A feasibility study commissioned by the World Bank would probably be the best way to start this project.)

For years, the major players of the Middle East conflict – indigenous and foreign – have wasted their resources on warfare – clandestine and open. In its stead, if the wealthy countries – oil-rich Arab states, the United States, and the European Union – can channel their energies to relocate Israelis and Palestinians, peace can be within reach.

As for Jerusalem, two alternatives – neither of which will be pleasant, it must be said – exist. The city can be divided into Israeli and Palestinian sectors and United Nations (UN) peacekeepers can monitor the holy sites. Alternatively, Jerusalem (old and new) can be administered as a single unit by a UN commission, although experience with “free cities” (Danzig/Gdansk had given Hitler the pretext to start a world war in 1939) does not bode well for this option.

The Substitute

“There is no substitute for victory” said General Douglas MacArthur upon Japan’s capitulation in 1945. In the case of Israel and Palestine in 2009, the only substitute for solution is the current situation: HAMAS gains political strength (for merely surviving the latest Israeli onslaught); Israel fails to succeed in its political objective (annihilating HAMAS and keeping moderate Palestinians on its side); and radical Islamists everywhere have another excuse to engage in anti-Western propaganda (Western support for Israel and distance to Palestine).

This is the mission, should you choose to accept.—

Barın Kayaoğlu is a Ph.D. candidate in history at the University of Virginia and a regular contributor to the Journal of Turkish Weekly.

E-mail: kayaoglu@virginia.edu

Saturday, 24 January 2009

Issued At:

http://www.turkishweekly.net/columnist/3080/mission-impossible-ending-the-israeli-palestinian-conflict-in-a-nutshell.html

See his Other Articles in previous years issued at ”Journal of  Turkish Weekly”(2009 yılı öncesinde JTW’de yayınlanan diğer makalelerine de) bakınız.

http://www.turkishweekly.net/previous.asp?id=5

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Mission: Impossible? Ending the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, In a Nutshell

Anti-Americanism: What Causes It, How Can It Be Stopped?

There is an incredible difference in my life from when I started running three years go to the past six months; something happened that altered not only my entire lifestyle, but that actually had serious repercussions on my running, my swimming, and my biking (and every other aspect of my life, too, I suppose): I wound up with a boyfriend.

Having been single for my entire running career, I didn’t realize what difficulties in the running realm lay ahead of me when I changed my status from “single” to “in a relationship” on my Facebook relationship status. Sure, I have married and might-as-well be friends who cited “just not having enough time” to exercise, but that excuse did not make sense in my single days. I was working 80 hour weeks and still swimming a mile every day and running five days a week; if I had the time, didn’t everyone?

My wising up process was a slow one; it started with giving up one day a week of swimming when my boyfriend was noticeably irked that I was slagging my way out of bed at 5:00am every day. That was followed by a sudden lack of bicycling unless he was coming with me –it was something we both liked to do, so I felt like I was multi-tasking, and then only playing on two instead of three soccer leagues, and then only one instead of two. And then, we both transitioned from being partially employed people to being full-fledged employees; he puts in at least 40 hour weeks, and my work is relentless—I usually put in at least 50 hours, and I definitely need to put in more. With the latest change, I noticed it even harder to run, and for awhile, I couldn’t figure out why. I had worked this sort of schedule before. What was different?

Oh right; the boyfriend thing.

Instead of coming home from work and motivating myself out the door, I come home from work and find someone sitting on the couch who is super happy to see me, and says “what do you want to do?” I have learned he is not asking me what I want to do solo, but rather, what do we want to do – what are my ideas for us. Strangely, he does not want to go for a one hour run the second he comes home from work. Everything I do has become everything we do, and with that comes the responsibility of not functioning as a completely selfish being. With the sharing of all the fun stuff comes the sharing of everything from laundry, to bookcases, to time.

Oh time, you flighty bat.

I now all too well understand that feeling of “just not having enough time.” With a full time job and a boyfriend, slipping swimming and running every day has become more impossible than Mission Impossible (because um, MI was totally possible—anyone else annoyed by that?), and that is without mentioning that I lack any sort of social life. What’s a runner to do?

Finding balance between my priorities, my incredible need to run, and just making it through every day life is a challenge I did not expect to face, but since I want happiness for me, my boyfriend, and me and my boyfriend, it is one I am taking on.

I should note that I’m whining that I don’t get to run and swim every day, but that does not mean I’m not doing one or the other. My friend Sean actually pointed out I might be healthier since I’m not asking so much of my body physically, and I’m typically only doing one physical thing a day. I still aim for two or more.

I’m still figuring out how to figure all this out – I know I usually advise others on the art of running, but I’m curious how other people in long-term relationships, especially at the front of those relationships, managed to incorporate fitness into their lives.

Ani mnie to nie ziębi, ani nie grzeje. Było, minęło. Pominę sam fakt, że jestem głupi albo mam coś  z ideowca, co już jest patologią. Mission impossible  nie bez powodu nosi taką nazwę. Dzień niczym się nie różni, gdy było z, a bez z i na śniadanie zrobię sobie jajecznicę na szynce i cebuli, z czterech jajek. A potem spróbuję poszukać w sobie motywacji, żeby w końcu zarobić kasę na te wakacje, na które wybieram się z kolegą od dobrych pięciu lat. Znudziło mi się, gdy za każdym razem przy kolejnej obalanej flaszce, rozmawiamy jak to zajebiście będzie, a że Włoszki, a że Hiszpanki, a że Polki z obozu, no i że wódka, wódka to koniecznie musi być. I na gadaniu się kończyło. Teraz będzie inaczej. Pod warunkiem, że moja ambicja i motywacja nie zgaśnie za 20 minut.

ps. Coma najlepiej smakuje wieczorami.

Today’s television shows suck. Yeah, I’m showing my age but it’s true. The TV programs we watched 30 to 40 years ago were terrific by today’s standards. I truly enjoyed the mindless comedy of Gilligan’s Island and Hogan’s Heroes; rugged Westerns like Have Gun Will Travel and Rawhide; exciting thrillers such as Mission: Impossible (the real version) and the Twilight Zone; and terrific variety shows like the Ed Sullivan Show and the Carol Burnett Show. 

There’s no doubt that some of these shows were over the line in terms of prudishness. And there was no shortage of schmaltz and corniness. Yet, it was kind of reassuring living in an age of innocent entertainment. Parents didn’t have to worry about what their kids were watching on television and kids were more likely to read, play outside and partake of other activities. Why? Because for many years most of us could only receive three network channels (and maybe a UHF channel). At the end of the evening, most television stations signed off the air playing the Star Spangled Banner and then displaying a test pattern.  

Now we are treated to 437,682 channels playing 24-hours a day with some of the most mindless drivel known to mankind. In real life much of what we watch on TV today could never happen. This includes the alleged “reality TV shows.” Years ago, Barbara Eden was never allowed to show her navel in the show, I Dream of Jeannie. Until recently we had a show that actually included the word SEX in its name – Sex and the City. In the old days bad guys might be shot, but no one ever seemed to die. Matt Dillon shot and killed a few gunslingers in Gunsmoke but you rarely saw any blood and it was clear that it was done in the name of justice and all that is good. Today we have numerous CSI programs that leave nothing to the imagination when it comes to blood and guts.

Modern day plots are predictable and often political. Actors and actresses are poster boys and girls for bad behavior and advocates for wacky causes. Back in the day, Andy Griffith, Jackie Gleason, Lorne Greene, Lucille Ball and Marion Ross lived to entertain us. Now, Pierce Brosnan shills for the environmental movement; Sean Penn is a stooge for Hugo Chavez; Sally Field is a peacenik; Charlie Sheen doesn’t believe that the 9/11 attacks were carried out by Islamic terrorists, and Gwyneth Paltrow believes that shampoo causes cancer. Cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo.

How bad has it become? I think that the worst television show in history must be Jon & Kate Plus Eight.  Don’t we have anything better to watch than a real-life married couple dragging their family through a real-life divorce? Unbelievable. Pass the Pepto-Bismal . . . I think I’m gonna puke.

It seems that Hollywood is never trying to reinvent itself. If it has worked in the past, let’s recycle the idea. Television shows from past decades are being turned into big budget films and some have been a great financial success and some have bombed. Some have been critical success stories and some have bombed with the critics as well as the public.

Quite frankly I am sick of the piss poor remakes of television shows that I have loved or grown to love from watching the reruns. In addition I am tired of waiting for shows that I loved to get the big screen treatment they deserve. It remains doubtful if I will ever get to see these.

The Addams Family, The Beverly Hillbillies, Casper The Friendly Ghost did very well at the box office yet I didn’t like them. I didn’t like The Brady Bunch, Get Smart, Speed Racer, The Honeymooners, Wild Wild West, and most recently, The Land Of The Lost. Nobody that I know who saw the movie had anything nice to say about it. For me, I only laughed once and it was in the first three minutes of the show. If Matt Lauer had not been in the movie it would have been a complete waste of my time.

Maybe Hollywood would make better movies if they were forced to donate to charity the difference between the amount of money a film makes and how much it costs to make. The script never should have been approved and the person who approved it should have lost their job by now.

Some of the movies that I did enjoy were Serenity (from Firefly), The Fugitive, Mission Impossible, Star Trek I-XI, Police Squad (Naked Gun Series), and Transformers. I’m sitting here writing and wondering what are some of the movies that you liked from TV shows? Which are the ones you hated?

Soon to be seen is the A-Team. Really looking forward to the action and banter in this movie. Also Johnny Depp is set to star in Dark Shadows.

In the upcoming years I would like to see a franchise started for The Six Million Dollar Man/Bionic Woman series. I would love to see, even if it is just straight to DVD, a Monk movie. They are sure to end the series with the case of his wife solved but with so much crime…

I would like to see Speed Racer get the treatment it deserves, so another remake should be in the making. Wonder Woman was a great show for a hormone ravaged teenager so I’d like a movie of that show as well. If this truly is the last year for 24 coming up, of course I want it to go to the big screen. Ultraman and Remington Steele would also make my list. My list could go on a little while longer but I will spare you.

I am interested in what you have to say. Please leave some suggestions. Maybe a Hollywood exec will read my blog and start the wheels in motion.

.

*November 1, 2009 this morning at 2:00 am Daylight Savings Time ends and you should turn your clocks back on hour. Yes, you lose an hour of sleep.

.

Ecco gli ascolti, basati sui dati forniti quotidianamente da Auditel, dei programmi di prima serata di ieri, e a seguire una guida completa dei programmi in onda sui canali in chiaro e a pagamento di questa sera, mercoledì 28 ottobre 2009. Per maggiori informazioni sulla programmazione televisiva visitate le sezioni Telefilm News, Cartoon News, Sat News e Dig News, per esprimere la vostra opinione utilizzate la sezione settimanale TelePagelle.

MARTEDI’ 27 OTTOBRE 2009

IERI SERA… Si confermano gli elevati ascolti, con una media ben superiore ai 6 milioni di spettatori, per i due episodi inediti della serie italiana di RaiUno “Un medico in famiglia 6″ con Giulio Scarpati e il ritorno di Lunetta Savino; poco meno di 5 milioni di spettatori per il programma di RaiTre “Ballarò” con Giovanni Floris, che dalle 23.00 in poi ha ospitato per via telefonica il presidente del Consiglio Silvio Berlusconi; appena 3 milioni e mezzo invece gli spettatori della terza puntata della fiction-flop in prima visione su Canale 5 “Il falco e la colomba” con Cosima Coppola. In salita a 3 milioni il pubblico del varietà di Italia 1 “Le Iene Show” con Ilary Blasi, Luca Bizzarri e Paolo Kessisoglu; poco sotto i 3 milioni la media della serata poliziesca inedita di RaiDue con i telefilm “Senza traccia” e “Criminal Minds”; risultato scarso per il film d’azione “Mission: Impossible” con Tom Cruise proposto in replica da Rete 4; infine, la prima puntata della nuova edizione del programma di La 7 “Impero” con Valerio Massimo Manfredi ha totalizzato 649.000 spettatori (2,54%).

LA PRIMA SERATA (ore 20.30/22.30)

	PUBBLICO	SHARE %
	6.259.000	22,57
	2.854.000	10,29
	4.275.000	15,41
	229.000	0,83
	13.617.000	49,09
	4.908.000	17,69
	2.899.000	10,45
	1.760.000	6,34
	145.000	0,52
	9.712.000	35,01
	779.000	2,81
Altri canali terrestri	1.654.000	5,97
Canali satellitari	1.975.000	7,12
TOTALE	27.737.000	100,00

A seguire alcune segnalazioni sugli ascolti disponibili della prima serata di ieri, e per concludere una guida alla TV di questa sera sui principali canali in chiaro e a pagamento.

I CANALI RAI E MEDIASET

• Alle 20.41 il gioco “Affari tuoi” (5.961.000 spettatori – 21,30%). Alle 21.19 gli episodi inediti 13-14 della serie italiana “Un medico in famiglia 6”: il primo episodio “Il fantasma di Cettina” ha totalizzato 6.545.000 spettatori (23,26%), il secondo episodio “Baci rubati” (ore 22.16) ha avuto 6.000.000 spettatori (26,34%).
• Alle 21.04 l’episodio 7 “Un figlio, un padre” della sesta stagione inedita della serie poliziesca Senza traccia (2.910.000 spettatori – 10,12%).  Alle 21.48 l’episodio 9 “L’importanza della pulizia” della quarta stagione inedita della serie poliziesca Criminal Minds (2.898.000 spettatori – 10,84%).  Alle 22.36 l’episodio 9 della serie mystery-thriller Harper’s Island (1.205.000 spettatori – 5,55%).
• Alle 20.35 l’episodio 2.882 della soap opera “Un posto al sole” (2.520.000 spettatori – 9,15%). Alle 21.08 la settima puntata del programma “Ballarò” (4.898.000 spettatori – 19,69%).
• Alle 20.48 il varietà “Striscia la notizia” (7.654.000 spettatori – 27,18%). Alle 21.17 la terza puntata della miniserie italiana “Il falco e la colomba” (3.517.000 spettatori – 13,89%).
• Alle 20.04 l’episodio 5 “Telespalla Bob Roberts” della sesta stagione della serie animata “I Simpson” (2.045.000 spettatori – 8,16%). Alle 20.31 il gioco “Prendere o lasciare” (2.042.000 spettatori – 7,44%). Alle 21.11 la sesta puntata del varietà “Le Iene Show” (3.013.000 spettatori – 13,11%).
• Alle 19.39 la soap tedesca “Tempesta d’amore” (1.866.000 spettatori – 7,87%). Alle 20.28 l’episodio 4 “Lupo solitario” dell’ottava stagione del telefilm Walker, Texas Ranger (2.358.000 spettatori – 8,56%). Alle 21.12 il film d’azione “Mission: Impossible” (1.407.000 spettatori – 5,52%).

MERCOLEDI’ 28 OTTOBRE 2009

Sono elencati principalmente i programmi di prima serata. Gli orari e i titoli indicati possono variare senza preavviso.

CANALI IN CHIARO

• Alle 21.10 il film commedia “Shall We Dance?” (2003), con Richard Gere e Jennifer Lopez.
• Alle 21.05 il talent show musicale “X Factor” con Francesco Facchinetti – puntata 8. Alle 00.30 il varietà “Scorie” con Elena Di Cioccio – puntata 7.
• Alle 21.10 la serie italiana “La nuova Squadra” con Rolando Ravello e Gennaro Silvestro – episodi 2×15-16.
• Alle 21.10 il varietà “Chi ha incastrato Peter Pan?” con Paolo Bonolis e Luca Laurenti – puntata 4.
• Alle 21.10 la serie poliziesca C.S.I.: Miami con David Caruso e Emily Procter – episodio 7×07. Alle 22.00 la serie poliziesca The Mentalist con Simon Baker e Robin Tunney –  episodio 1×13. Alle 23.00 la serie Californication con David Duchovny e Natasha McElhone –  episodio 2×04.
• Alle 21.10 il film commedia “Don Camillo e l’onorevole Peppone” (1955), con Fernandel e Gino Cervi.
• Alle 21.10 il film western “Silverado” (1985), con Kevin Costner e Kevin Kline.
• Alle 21.00 la serie tedesca Kebab for breakfast con Josefine Preuß e Elyas M’Barek – episodi 3×09-10.
• Alle 20.15 una rotazione di video musicali (- 12 giorni al debutto della nuova ).
• Alle 20.40 il programma sportivo “Diretta Stadio… Speciale Campionato Serie A”.
• Alle 20.30 il programma “SchiaMazzi, confessioni ad alta voce” con don Antonio Mazzi.

DIGITALE TERRESTRE:

• Alle 21.10 il film drammatico “21 grammi – Il peso dell’anima” (2003), con Sean Penn e Naomi Watts. Alle 23.15 la serie drammatica Crash con Dennis Hopper e Moran Atias – episodio 1×04. Alle 00.05 la serie Weeds con Mary-Louise Parker e Elizabeth Perkins – episodi 1×07-08.
• Alle 21.00 il film western “Lo straniero senza nome” (1974), con Clint Eastwood.
• Alle 21.00 la telenovela per ragazzi “Flor – Speciale come te” con Florencia Bertotti e Ángeles Balbiani – episodio 20. Alle 21.50 la serie animata “Don Chuck castoro”.
• Alle 21.05 la serie animata “Atomic Betty” – episodio 3. Alle 21.25 la serie animata “Team Galaxy” – episodio 17.
• Alle 20.45 il varietà “Takeshi’s Castle” commentato da Lillo e Greg.  Alle 21.40 la serie animata “X-Men”.
• Alle 21.00 il programma “La storia siamo noi”.
• Alle 21.00 il film commedia “Giallo napoletano” (1979), con Marcello Mastroianni e Ornella Muti.
• Alle 21.00 la serie italiana “Provaci ancora Prof 2” (2007), con Veronica Pivetti e Enzo Decaro – episodio 3 “Dietro la porta”.
• Alle 21.00 la replica della puntata di ieri sera del programma “Ballarò” con Giovanni Floris.

CANALI A PAGAMENTO

Sono compresi i principali canali delle offerte Mediaset Premium e Sky. Nell’elenco non considero i vari canali “+” disponibili, con programmazione differita nel tempo rispetto al canale principale.

(Digitale terrestre)

• Alle 21.00 la serie Dr. House – Medical Division con Hugh Laurie e Jennifer Morrison – episodi 1×11-12.
• Alle 21.00 la serie One Tree Hill con Chad Michael Murray e James Lafferty – episodi 5×13-14.
• Alle 21.00 il film d’azione “Lo specialista” (1994), con Sylvester Stallone.
• Alle 21.00 il film drammatico “The Burning Plain – Il confine della solitudine” (2008), con Charlize Theron.
• Alle 21.00 il film drammatico “La casa della gioia” (2000), con Elizabeth McGovern.
• Alle 21.05 la serie animata “Gaiking – Legend of Daiku-Maryu“. Alle 21.30 la serie animata “I Cavalieri dello Zodiaco”.
• Alle 20.45 il programma sportivo “Diretta Premium”.

(Digitale satellitare)

INTRATTENIMENTO:

• Alle 21.00 il varietà “In viaggio con Darwin” con Syusy Blady e Patrizio Roversi – puntata 6.
• Alle 21.10 la sit-com Scrubs con Zach Braff e Sarah Chalke – episodio 7×02. Alle 21.35 la sit-com Better Off Ted con Jay Harrington e Portia de Rossi – episodio 1×02. Alle 22.00 la serie Mental con Chris Vance e Annabella Sciorra – episodio conclusivo 13
• Alle 21.00 la serie gialla Castle – Detective tra le righe con Nathan Fillion e Stana Katic – episodio 1×04. Alle 21.55 il reality italiano “S.O.S. Tata” – puntata 5×04.
• Alle 21.00 la serie giudiziaria Law & Order – I due volti della giustizia con Jerry Orbach e Sam Waterston – episodio 12×22. Alle 21.55 la serie legale Shark – Giustizia a tutti i costi con James Woods e Jeri Ryan – episodio conclusivo 2×16.
• Alle 21.00 la replica della puntata 2×16 di ieri sera del varietà “Victor Victoria” con Victoria Cabello.
• Alle 21.00 il programma “Ma come ti vesti?!” con Carla Gozzi ed Enzo Miccio. Alle 22.00 il programma “Grassi contro magri”.
• Alle 21.00 la serie Dexter con Michael C. Hall – episodio 3×06. Alle 21.50 la serie thriller 24 con Kiefer Sutherland e Carlos Bernard – episodi 7×09-10.
• Alle 21.00 il film di fantascienza “Fuga da Los Angeles” (1996), con Kurt Russell.
• Alle 21.00, per il ciclo “Retro Movie”, la serie Charlie’s Angels con Jaclyn Smith, Cheryl Ladd e Shelley Hack – episodi 4×01-02 “Gli Angeli sulla nave dell’amore” (1980), guest-star il cast della serie “Love Boat”.
• Alle 21.00 la telenovela “Il segreto della nostra vita” con Adele Noriega e Eduardo Yanez – episodio 136. Alle 22.00 la telenovela in lingua originale “Mientras haya vida” con Margarita Rosa de Francisco – episodio 123.
• Alle 21.30 la replica della puntata di ieri sera del programma “Matrix” con Alessio Vinci.
• Alle 21.00 il docu-reality “Dr. 90210″ - puntata “Rivoglio la mia vista!”.
• Alle 21.00 il film drammatico “Le relazioni pericolose” (1988), con Glenn Close e John Malkovich.
• Alle 21.00 la serie gialla Il ritorno di Sherlock Holmes con Jeremy Brett e Edward Hardwicke – episodi 8-9.
• Alle 20.30 il documentario “Il Vaticano e i crimini sessuali”.
• Alle 21.00 la serie Il Corvo con Mark Dacascos e Marc Gomes – episodio 2. Alle 22.00 il film thriller “The Skulls II” (2002), con R. Dunne e N. West.
• Alle 20.45 la miniserie inglese (in lingua originale) Last Rights con Charles Dance e Kiera Malik – prima parte.
• Alle 21.00 la serie australiana Crimini di famiglia con Grant Bowler e Robyn Malcolm – episodi 3×01-02.
• Alle 20.50 il programma sportivo “New American Gladiators”. Alle 21.40 il varietà “Bugs Tv”.
• Alle 21.00 la serie animata “Dai Guard”.  Alle 21.30 la serie animata “Alexander”. Alle 22.00 la serie animata “Mao Dante”.

SPORT:

• Alle 20.45 la diretta dell’incontro di calcio Napoli – Milan valido per la decima giornata di Serie A.

CINEMA:

• Alle 21.00 il film TV thriller “The Summit” (2008), con Bruce Greenwood e James Purefoy – seconda ed ultima parte.
• Alle 21.00 il film TV thriller “The Summit” (2008), con Bruce Greenwood e James Purefoy – prima parte.
• Alle 21.00 il film commedia “27 volte in bianco” (2008), con Katherine Heigl e Edward Burns.
• Alle 21.15 il film commedia “La famiglia Addams” (1991), con Anjelica Huston e Raul Julia.
• Alle 21.00 il film thriller “No Good Deed – Inganni svelati” (2002), con Milla Jovovich e Samuel L. Jackson.
• Alle 21.00 il film commedia “Juno” (2007), con Ellen Page e Michael Cera.
• Alle 21.00 il film comico “Totò le Moko” (1949), con Totò e Gianna Maria Canale.
• Alle 21.00 il film drammatico “Gli ammutinati del Bounty” (1962), con Marlon Brando.
• Alle 21.00 il film drammatico “La finestra di fronte” (2003), con Giovanna Mezzogiorno e Raoul Bova.
• Alle 21.00 il film di spionaggio “La cruna dell’ago” (1981), con Donald Sutherland.

DOCUMENTARI:

• Alle 21.05 il programma “Effetto Rallenty” – puntata “Metallica”.
• Alle 21.00 il documentario “Megastrutture giganti” – puntata “Ponte”.
• Alle 21.00 il documentario “L’ascesa del denaro” – puntata 4 “Risky Business”.
• Alle 21.00 il programma “Pronto Soccorso Veterinario – Il tirocinio” - puntata “La filosofia Fitz”.
• Alle 21.05 il programma “Come è fatto” – puntate “Stuzzicadenti/vasche da bagno acriliche/elicotteri/birra” e “Chiodi/graffette/vetri di sicurezza/stoffa/biciclette”.

RAGAZZI:

• Alle 20.55 la serie animata “Hello Kitty’s Paradise”. Alle 21.20 la sit-com italiana “The Band” . Alle 21.35 la serie animata “Z-Girls”.
• Alle 20.45 la serie animata “Occhi di gatto”. Alle 21.15 la serie animata “SpongeBob” – due episodi.
• Alle 20.50 la serie animata “Le nuove avventure di Scooby Doo”. Alle 21.15 la serie animata “Shin Chan”. Alle 21.40 la serie animata “Gli amici immaginari di casa Foster”.
• Alle 21.00 la serie animata “Hello Kitty – Alla ricerca delle mele magiche”.  Alle 21.25 i cortometraggi animati della serie “Bugs Bunny”.
• Alle 21.05 la serie animata “Le nuove avventure di Winnie the Pooh”. Alle 21.30 la serie animata “I Numerotti”.
• Alle 20.35 la telenovela per ragazzi “Il mondo di Patty” con Laura Esquivel.  Alle 21.30 la serie animata “Bruno the Great”.  Alle 21.35 la sit-com italiana “Quelli dell’intervallo”.
• Alle 20.45 la serie animata “Un pizzico di magia”. Alle 21.10 il programma “Art Attack” con Giovanni Muciaccia. Alle 21.35 la serie animata “Sabrina”.
• Alle 21.05 la serie animata “I Fantastici Quattro”. Alle 21.30 la serie animata “L’incredibile Hulk”.

I SIMBOLI USATI
L’indicazione tipo 1×02 segnala il 2° episodio della 1^ stagione.
= film o film TV.
= telefilm (serie/sit-com) straniero.
= telefilm o sceneggiato di produzione italiana, o miniserie straniera.
= soap opera o telenovela.
= cartone animato.
= programma sportivo.
= prima visione sui canali non a pagamento, o al primo passaggio sui canali pay.
= variazione rispetto al programma previsto.
comprende Rai 4, Rai Gulp, Rai Storia, Rai Sport Più, Rai News 24, Rai Edu1 ed i canali RaiSat.

JJ Abrams himself said he’s only producing, “MI: 4″ with Tom Cruise. JJ won’t be directing.

From Tom Cruise’s official website:

http://www.tomcruise.com/blog/

I’m no Mission Impossible fan but am interested on who they will get as a director for the next movie.

Kev

T’m starting this blog hoping to hear from other soundtrack listeners.  I can’t see or listen to every movie or tv series, so this will also inform me of some good soundtracks I may have not heard.   Maybe some trades can be worked out.  Of course, one soundtrack I may like someone else may not or I may not like one you do.

I’ll start with my all-time favorite “Enter the Dragon” by Lalo Schifrin.  I consider this a secret agent/spy movie so that’s what I’ll start with.  I’ll won’t include the James Bond movies as I will save them for later since there are so many.  As far as I know “Enter the Dragon” had a record and two different CD’s released.

I have heard   “The Silencers”, a Matt Helm movie.  I wish I could hear the others, especially “Murderers Row” by Lalo Schifrin.  I wish they would have used Lalo Schifrin in the “Mission Impossible” movies.  The composers they used are good, but I would prefer the one who got the tv series started.  Except for James Bond, I don’t have many spy movies on CD except  “In LIke Flint”, “Our Man Flint” and “Mission Impossible”, besides of course “Enter the Dragon”.

The next blog will be about secret agent/spy tv series.

Until next time, good listening.

all4tortoises@yahoo.com

MEETA LALL

At work, your colleague gives you a big laddu as prasad. Next, your secretary comes with samosas and gulab jamuns; her son has done extremely well in board exams.

You eat this too, and then, drink a cup of hot, sweet tea to wash it all down. Soon, at home, you will have your tea and a snack. A short while later, it’s time for dinner. Nothing new, is there?

Overeating increases stomach size: Our stomach is actually only the size of our closed fist. When full, it stretches; as it empties, it starts returning to its original size. However, when we habitually eat large meals, the stomach muscles lose their natural elasticity and the stomach actually increases in size.

Experts say that it may take as little as two to four weeks of overeating to expand stomach size! A bigger stomach needs a lot more food to feel full and we end up eating more food at every meal.

But we can shrink our stomach. As impossible as it may sound, research shows that it is possible to shrink the stomach back to its original size. Here are a few tips for shrinking your stomach quickly and safely.

Never skip a meal: Dieters think that they are saving on calories when they forego meals. In reality, self-starvation leads to overeating at the next meal.

Eat small meals frequently: Reduce the amount of food you eat at every meal gradually. This will slowly but surely minimise the stomach’s daily stretch; over time, it will shrink and you will need less food. So, eat 5-6 small meals instead of tree large ones every day. This reduces the size of your stomach by one-third!

Stretch your meals: Make the meal last at least 20 minutes. Your stomach, mouth and brain are all connected and it takes 20 minutes of chewing before your stomach signals to the brain that you are full. So extend every meal to at least 20 minutes. Put down your spoon after every bite. Chew the food well and take the next bite leisurely.

Increase intake of fibre-rich foods: Foods high in fibre like chapattis, dal especially whole pulses, fruits and vegetables fill you up faster. This means that your stomach gives the signal of ‘fullness’ to the brain much before you have eaten a large amount of food.

Drink cold water before meals: Drink a large glass of ice water just before meals. The cold causes your stomach to shrink slightly, which will make you feel full faster.

Be positive: Negative emotions such as sadness, depression, anxiety, fear, guilt and anger push us towards overeating. Try yoga for a sense of optimism.

The writer is a nutrition and health researcher and the author of The Power of N: Nutrition In Our Times.

An end to obesity?

In recent years, gastric bypass surgery is becoming increasingly popular. The surgery shrinks the stomach’s capacity from the size of a bottle to that of a small glass and also reconfigures the small intestine. Within a year, patients lose more than 60 per cent of their excess weight.

However, experts caution that gastric bypass is major surgery and should not be undertaken lightly. Surgeons recommend surgery only in cases where obesity is a huge problem.

The argument that self-published books are always inferior has got me thinking about the ways in which common and widespread views are not always the correct views. This may have been brought up before enough times to make my take on the issue a tad too little, too late, but I want to address the main sticking point that has been chewed over time and time again. This will probably piss people off, but I got the notion that the playing field had been so completely dominated by the views of one camp that a balanced view was needed.

First off, I am gonna separate the fiction from non-fiction, because they are completely different beasts. I’ll ignore the fiction at the moment, because there are enough self-published fiction authors out there who will argue the quality issue endlessly. I’m not interested in that debate. The question of quality, in regards to works of fiction, is one which has many opposing viewpoints, and it would take a foolish man indeed to stake a claim that self-published novels were all as brilliant as the best novels from mainstream publishers. I’m no fool.

Non-fiction, on the other hand, is an area where many of the usual rules fall away. The standard viewpoints are irrelevant, and we have something tangible to base our opinions on. With non-fiction we are able check the veracity of any claims, analyze the words for their worth in relation to comparable texts, and see that there are many layers to the ’self-published vs. large publisher’ argument. There should be checks and balances in this argument, yet simplistic views are thrown around with nary a thought for the details we should be considering.

Let’s get started.

Non-fic self-published books have been around a long time. A very long time. Before the advent of publishers, and before the notion of paperbacks as a commercial success, there were non-fiction books being published by ‘amateurs’ in their specialist fields. I’m going to be looking at specialist fields from the realm of pop culture when I make my defense of self-publishing in a moment, but this is as good a place as any to define ‘amateur’ for you, because the word is not a negative. Plenty of Victorian science texts were written by amateurs.

In the modern vernacular we look down on amateurs, because of misconceptions as to the nature of degrees and awards. Lemme tell you this – a degree means nothing. What does mean something, and always will, is research. Any moron can get a degree. That’s an argument for another time though… And I’m sure it will be a heated one. The matter at hand is self-publishing, and I’ll stick to one battle at a time.

Never ever divide your army into two and never fight on two fronts at the same time.

Sun Tzu’s work, of course, wasn’t published by a mainstream publishing house… Given that none existed at the time it’s not really surprising, but that isn’t the dumbest reason I’ve read in defense of self-publishing so I’m not retracting that little pearl of wisdom.

The Battlefield Of Self-Publishing- Official Vs. Unofficial Guides

The biggest salvos were fired during the mid-nineties at the height of The X-Files success. Some of the books which appeared as tie-ins were completely worthless fact-counting books which muddied the waters rather than clearing up any questions. There was serious money to be made as fandom feverishly bought up everything remotely related to the show. The big-hitter was the official series guide written by Brian Lowry, though it was less impressive than many of the unofficial (and some self-published) guides written at the same time.

Numerous errors, omissions and unclear statements made me think twice about trusting HarperCollins’ non-fiction works. It isn’t often that I am completely underwhelmed by the lack of research in a non-fiction book, but this stands as one of the definitive examples of a large publisher dropping the ball when it comes to a tie-in. The more recent Firefly tie-in, which has the self-destructive tendencies that would put Mission: Impossible documents to shame, is another. Is quality really so low on publishers priorities for tie-in books?

Fan publications, on the other hand, obsess over details. This is the main difference in terms of content. You would never find an unofficial book confusing character motivations or history, but I have seen some truly, outstandingly headdesk moments in sanctioned tie-in books. This is largely a matter which concerns shows and films which are still in production, though the holders of large franchises tend to protect their interests with bland and unappetizing books which tow the party line.

So that’s the tie-in area covered. We still have guides and reference books to look at.

A Minor War Of Words In Self-Published Reference Books

Looking through the specialist geek books of the past twenty-odd years throws up a handful of essential texts that no large publisher could have published with a straight face. The outstanding moments of genius which transcend self-publishing and slip into the category of standard texts.

Green’s Guide To Collecting TV, Music & Comic Book Annuals by Paul Green & Laura Taylor, which is indeed self-published, stands as the finest publication to ever list British annuals. I’ll say it again if you are having a hard time accepting that a self-published book can be essential – it is the best book on the subject available. Feel free to try and find a comparable book by a large publishing house, but I’m sure you will find that I am correct. If self-publishing was an automatic admission that a book isn’t worth reading, then this is the book that breaks the rule.

But it isn’t alone. I’ve already said how good The Complete Directory To Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Television Series is, and it is no surprise that such a comprehensive and well-researched book is self-published. The book could have emerged from a big name publisher, but it didn’t. Is that any reason to dismiss it? The lesser book
The Sci-Fi Channel Encyclopedia of TV Science Fiction not only has the blessing of The Sci-Fi Channel, but is published by Warner Books. It is much sparser in content, and feels rushed in places.

While I’m busy showing my geek roots, as if that’s a bad thing, I might as well bring up The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide. You can’t go into a comic-book shop without seeing a copy of Overstreet, and rightly so. It has grown into the most widely consulted reference book for American comics, and stands as an illustration of the heights that a small, and rather ugly, self-published book can turn into once enough attention is paid to its’ merits. It may be currently published annually by Gemstone, but it has its roots in self-publishing.

If anyone wants to disagree, add other definitive self-published non-fiction books, or just flame my opinions, then feel free.

Well for one trial weekend we are visiting my mild schizophrenia.  I had originally thought about pretending t interview the celebrities in a hilarious article which everyone would enjoy.  However after seeking legal (and lets face it after this mad turn a doctor would be more appropriate) I have decided we will profile some of films more interesting characters giving an honest and frank opinion on there careers and the work they have produced.  I will also point out that this is not going to be a dull chronological overview it will just be a mixture of points.  So sit back, relax and discover all about the crazy scientologist and brilliant actor that is Tom Cruise.

We will start of with what is in my opinion Tom Cruises best performance is performance in the now infamous Risky Business.  The film follows Mr Cruise as young Joel Goodsen.  He is left to look after his parents house when they go away.  He breaks his fathers Porsche and has to turn the family home into a brothel in order to earn enough money to pay for the repairs.  While this is Cruise when he is young it is still his best performance bar none.  You believe the character and his situation (something that you cannot always see in Cruise films) and you can see that there is a star in the making.  His on  screen chemistry with Rebecca De Mornay is brilliant and surely set cruise off on a pat of playing the dashing male lead for the rest of his career.

We will pick up cruises thrill of  a career at the Mission Impossible Trilogy.  I am actually a big fan of all three film.  It was the money that he made from the first two films that gave him complete freedom to go and do the things he wanted (i.e. appearing in Magnolia and buying his own film studio).  Cruise plays Ethan Hunt a secret agent working for the IMF (Not the international monetary fund as I initially thought).  I won’t give you a breakdown of all his roles in each film.  However, the first one stand out as he thrust into a position where he is accused of being a rogue agent who tried to steal a list of spy names to sell to another organisation.  The film is a masterpiece and surely illustrates that Brian De Palma was back on form (this has probably given him the freedom to pump mediocre films ever since).  Cruise struts around the screen with all the confidence of a classic Hollywood star and is certainly a film not to be missed

Fans of FilmWipe know that I struggle to keep saying nice things for too long.  While i good say that cruise was also excellent in Valkyerie (which is excellent) I would rather talk about some of his horrible performances.

Eyes Wide Shut is the worst film i have ever seen in my life.  Frankly i am not suprised that Stanley Kubrick died after making it.  I would have felt like killing myself after making that rubbish (he did not kill himself but i would have).  Nicole Kidman is terrible.  Tom Cruise is so bad i actually felt like getting sand paper and rubbing it against my eyes until I had removed all possibility of being able to see rubbish like that ever again.  I am sure Kubrisk sat very uncomfortably during those films.  The worst bit is undoubtedly the satanic orgy he finds himself in.  In no way to believe that Tom Cruise’s character is at an orgy.  Instead i do believe the dirty dog Tom Cruise is looking at all naked women and is using a mask to hide his dirty looks.

Lions for Lambs was his other horrible film.  Cruise is bad and the film is bad, even the presence of Meryll Streep can’t make it ok.

Overall Tom cruise is a great actor.  I have pulled some of his best performances.  And have picked out his worst.  Tell me if you agree leave a comment letting me know if you agree with my best and worst of  Tom Cruise.

BigBadBabar: ‘Just because I made up a theme song [it was the Mission Impossible theme], stalked around the living room like a spy, picked up the coasters and threw them at you like ninja stars doesn’t mean I have ADD!’