sliggy

I'M BACK, BABY!!!!

For those that asked, YES, I am still alive. Yes it's been a long time since I've been on this site and posted a new journal, and for that I apologize! But I have a good excuse that involves gypsies, an alien invasion, time travelling mishaps, and fending of legions of the undead....but enough about me, how are all of YOU!?

I have a ton of journals to look up and get updated on everyone. It will take me a while, so any help you want to give me would be much appreciated. Just a heads up, is all I'm looking for, and let me know how you've been.

Seriously, folks, I have been mega busy with freelance work, racing around and such. I haven't had a lot of time to be on the journals. But I do miss all of you and I really want to catch up with you all.

And for those impatient suckers that canceled our friendship...
, I'll find you little punks, you can be sure of it. Geez, disappear for a month and a half and people start ditching ya. What gives?

In other news, New Jersey was FUNtastic! I had a blast! Everyone there was great. The whole wedding was full of characters, so it was really really wild. Plus, the groom's father is an ex cop, so we didn't have to worry about being to loud and obnoxious. Kick ASH!

Next, I fly to L.A. on the 8th of July. So anyone in that area send me an email, cause I WANT TO MEET YOU! I'll be there till the 13th, then I head down to San Diego until the 17th. So anyone there during those times, you gotsta let me know, ok?! I'm hanging out with a ton of friends while I am there, but there is always room for more. It's gonna be crazy.

And now, I proudly present: Sliggy's Movie Reviews


STAR WARS EPISODE III: REVENGE OF THE SITH

It has been three long years since the Clone Wars have first begun, and Jedi Knights Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) and Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) have fought as hard as they possibly could. When the capital planet of Coruscant becomes under attack by the Separatist droid armies and Supreme Chancellor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) is kidnapped by the army leader, General Grievous (voiced by Matthew Wood), Anakin personal problems begin to develop, including his anger at the Jedi Council for not giving him the rank of Master, though he is on the council, and his plagued visions of his secret wife, Padme Amidala (Natalie Portman), dying in childbirth. He is determined to do anything to save her, no matter the cost. While Obi-Wan is sent to kill General Grievous on Utapau, Anakin is taken under Palpatine's wing, being subtly seduced by the Dark Side of the Force and convince that the Dark Side is power than can save his wife from death. Soon enough, a new, darker, ominous figure that would eventually be feared by the entire galaxy is formed: Lord Darth Vader. Obi-Wan, discovering Anakin's betrayal, sees no choice but to face his own apprentice in an attempt to bring back the young, loyal Jedi that had been like his own son, brother, and friend.

Over all, I liked it. I thought it was much improved upon than the last 2 movies. It was darker, as it should be. As always, the music, special effects, and production design are fantastic! But, the dialog still needed some work. I am refering mostly to poor Natalie Portman, for the most part. Granted, there wasn't much that she had to do in this picture except pop out the twins and die, but the few lines they gave her were not quotable, by any means. How many times was Lucas going to have her say "love" anyways? Very corny dialog for her. I picked up the production art book for ROTS, and there was a plot developed by the art team that had Padme try to assasinate Anakin (there is a drawing of her with a dagger walking up to him on Mustafar. The idea was that she realized he had turned evil and she was the only one he trusted enough to get that close to him and stop him. I thought that would have been a nice touch to the film, but thay left it out. It would have provide better grounds for him to force choke the shit out of her, but whatever. According to the Art book, Han Solo almost made it into the movie, which I am glad he didn't. It would have been completely pointless. Which is kinda how I feel about throwing in Chewbacca. Sure, I love the walking carpet as much as the next person, but it was nothing but a name drop and completely unnecessary. Chewie didn't even do anything, I didn't even realize it was him. Without sounding racist, don't all wookies look the same? My last and final gripe was I thought the Emperor was borderline comical than intimidating, but that's just me. Things I did like alot were the fight between the Emperor and Yoda, the absence of Jar Jar, some pretty cool lightsaber fights, and overall better acting from Hayden C.

SLIGGY'S RATING:



BATMAN BEGINS

A new restart of the "Batman" franchise under the helm of "Memento" Director Chris Nolan and more in tone with the early "Batman: Year One" style comics. As a boy a young Bruce Wayne watched in horror as his millionaire parents were slain in front of his eyes, a trauma which led him to become obsessed with revenge but his chance is cruelly taken away from him by fate. After disappearing to the East where he seeks counsel with the dangerous but honorable ninja cult leader known as Ra's Al-Ghul, he returns to his now decaying Gotham City overrun by organised crime and dangerous individuals manipulating the system whilst the company he inherited is slowly being pulled out from under him. The discovery of a cave under his mansion, and a prototype armoured suit leads him to take on a new persona, one which will strike fear into the hearts of men who do wrong - he becomes, Batman. In the new guise, and with the help of rising cop Jim Gordon, Batman sets out to take down the various nefarious schemes in motion by individuals such as mafia don Falcone, the twisted doctor/drug dealer Jonathan 'The Scarecrow' Crane, and a mysterious third party that is quite familiar with Wayne and waiting to strike when the time is right.

FUCKING A!!!!!!!!! This is how Batman was meant to be. This movie fucking Rocked! I saw the midnight show, last night, and it was unbelievable. Actually, it was very believable, which what makes it work, I think. A very intelligent script that doesn't play down to the audience and make the dialog filled with exposition. The characters allow the audience to put things together and not give a play by play of what's happening. Characters don't scream out, "Oh my god, that's hot boiling acid!" Really, Einstein, the steam and sizzling noises didn't give it away. No, folks, none of that crap. This film explains, in an intelligent manner, the how and why Batman does what he does, and the where and how he gets all those wonderful toys. And everything has a plausible purpose, nothing is just for the sake of a cool effect. I think that is what made the film for me. All of it, from the villians to the batmobile, it all seemed to be something that could actually happen. Scarecrow was awesome. It could have been a disaster, but they did the character incredibly well, considering what they had to work with ( a guy in a scarecrow outfit). And he wasn't kooky, he was creepy. Cillian Murphy did an excellent job playing the demented psychologist. Christian Bale is by far, the best Bruce Wayne/Batman ever! How he portrayed the difference in characters was excellent. A careless and drunken billionaire without responsibility, to a driven and disciplined defender of the innocent. Michael Caine makes a great Alfred, adding light humor and heart to the film, without being overplayed and corny. I have to say, I liked every character in the film. EVERYONE of them! I can't wait for the next one, and trust me....there will be another one, as you'll see at the end. Great plot twists, great story, great effects, superb acting.

SLIGGY'S RATING:


NEXT WEEK:

George A. Romero's LAND OF THE DEAD!

Well, I hope you enjoyed my little reviews. Not too informative, but just a little somethin'.

Love ya!