From the only authorized person...

...to do it, I give you my unabashed review of "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull." Warning, possible spoilers ahead...





Well...hmmm...first, let me review the new Muvico theater out in Rosemont. I decided that Indy was worth $18 a ticket for reserved seating, VERY large seats at that, free, all-you-can-eat popcorn, and Sony 4K digital everything. I couldn't find the free valet parking, though, which pissed me off. That's because no one reminded me that "Sex and the City" was premiering yesterday. Now, if I was a single guy, man, the theater would have been THE hotspot yesterday...it was probably about 10 women to 1 man in there, no joke...and all the women were dressed up like they were out clubbing...thought it was hilarious, honestly.

Muvico was a good theater...however, the popcorn was terrible, probably because they had it sitting in bags already, drying out, in advance of the rush. But it was nice to be able to have a beer while watching the movie. The reserved seats though, were TOO big. The Web site says 74 inches wide...will be nice in the winter when you're looking for somewhere to put your coat, but I had no easy place to rest my arms. Not a huge deal, but still...the GA seats looked big also, but more accommodating.

But, on to the movie that counts...

Overall, it was fine. But I had some major complaints...in comparison to the previous three. 1. There wasn't enough plot development or character development in my opinion. It would have been easily remedied if they would have taken out one or two of the extraneous fight or chase scenes. They probably could have done without most of the chase/fight through the jungle on jeeps/ducks, and the story would have been just fine. Next, there were just too many characters running around with Indy. Who the hell is Mack? Who the hell is Mutt, really, beyond what everyone knows? I know more about Short Round than I do any of the characters that appeared in this movie. Seriously.

BIG SPOILERS AHEAD

I just don't feel as though the story was nearly as good, even though it DID have the potential to be, as the ones in the first three. I mean, in Raiders and Crusade, I felt like Indy was truly chasing after something really special and powerful and cool. Here, I didn't really understand what the endgame truly was going to be. Return the skull? OK...then what? Then, when it was returned, it was really, in my opinion, anticlimactic...I mean, the spaceship just "takes off" and leaves, and that's it. Seriously.

There were just so many undeveloped parts of this movie that could have been so much more deep...I sit here and think about the possibilities and general lack of memorable stuff (other than the few frames of Indy stepping up and facing the giant mushroom cloud, which was just such a cool shot, to me, anyway. Instead, it's like Spielberg and Lucas decided America couldn't take a movie that wasn't nonstop action -- because, really, the movie was mostly nonstop action. And, yeah, it was fun, but still. One of the "cool" things about the first three Indy movies was "learning" about the legends involved. I learned not much in this one, honestly.

I was concerned, too, going in, that the story would be forced. The nice thing about the first three movies was that the times and happenings of the period in which the movies took place were there, part of the story, and they blended pretty much perfectly with it. I was worried that Lucas, Spielberg, etc., would try too hard to fit Indy into a time period -- and at times, I felt like they did. From minute one, actually. I mean, they could have cut the '50s "drag race" down quite a bit and communicated the era just fine.

And the thing I hate the most, stating/showing the obvious, happened early on with "the warehouse" ... I felt relieved that they didn't state the obvious, that this was where Indy's Ark was taken at the start...just subtley used a similar shot and played the Ark score in the background. But then, as they were busting out of the warehouse, I was really dismayed at the quick shot of the busted box with the Ark sticking out. This is the reason I stopped watching the Simpsons (and most TV, for that matter), and it pissed me off...it wasn't important to the story if the entire audience understood what was there...yet they felt like they had to clue everyone in, you know?

Overall, I guess I would say this one was average to maybe, possibly, slightly above average. I will be seeing it again, so maybe I'll pick up more the next time I see it and will grow to like it better. Who knows? But I guess, in general, even though I held my expectations in check and all, I was kinda disappointed. Again, maybe I'll like it better after a couple viewings, but we'll see.

Am I way off? Too harsh? Too easy on the film? I'd be curious to hear what all of you think...

Happy Birthday, Andy!

Here's to my favorite Chicago curmudgeon. May you, Gina, A.J., and Kazak enjoy another year of health, happiness, and grousing about the damn weeds in your garden. (=

not even remotely famous

One of my flickr photos has been "borrowed" without my permission! Another flickr user actually pointed this out to me: http://coloradoindependent.com/view/moving-mountains

I think I might just send them an email that politely asks them to 1) get my name right and 2) links back to my flickr page.

Can I Borrow A Feeling?

The 50 Worst Album Covers of All Time.

dillo day news, courtesy of nu's alumni association

"Dear Alumni,

Many of you may be planning to return to campus for Dillo Day. This year there are some changes.

Instead of Memorial Day Weekend, Dillo Day is May 31 this year. We know that some of you enjoy returning for the event and didn't want you to make the trip on the wrong weekend. The line up of bands is the best ever. We are very excited. The line up so far includes Common and Tedd Leo and the Pharmacists.

Also of important note is the construction that has happened on campus in the last twelve months. We are experiencing a construction boom and most of it by the lake front. On the recreation fields on the north end of campus (the usual site of Dillo Day) is now a wonderful Soccer/Lacrosse stadium. What this means for the concert, is a shift in venue. The concert will now take place on a new recreation field, a much smaller space, to the south (closer to the lagoon) and necessitates the closing of multiple parking lots by the Allen Center, Pancoe and Cook. What this means for you is that the entry points to Dillo Day are now at SPAC and at the Allen Center.

The university has worked hard in the last five years to make Dillo Day a safe, fun annual tradition that allows every student at Northwestern to have a relaxing, safe Dillo Day. We ask that if you choose to return to campus to celebrate spring with us that you also respect the changes we have made and enjoy the day with us.

Dillo Day
May 31, 2008
Five Bands, One Day
Play Smart!"

(y'know, of all the myriad things i've gone back to campus for since graduation, dillo day has never really crossed my mind. i wonder how many alumni tend to show up.)

yay or nay?

pbs is remaking the electric company. i'm not sure how i feel about this. at least they've asked rita moreno to do a cameo.

Don't blame me...

...I voted for Kodos.

And so ends my relevance in the political process. Come November, this friggin' state will go 60 percent for McCain even if he eats three small children and a baby panda on live television every day for the next five months.

And he might.