1. My Official Debt is wiped clean today. My final payment was sent to my last credit card. And as of Noon PST I am debt free (although I still owe some on my Shell gas card)
2. The sequel to the best movie in the last decade-The Matrix- comes out today. I wont get to watch due to the postponement of the movie party tomorrow that was to be the viewing…might have to wait till next week..(If I don-t go into convulsions by then)
3. Sony Pictures announced the Start of principal photography for Starship Troopers 2 here locally at Manhattan Beach Studios. Boo Ya baby…those who know me know I have true soft spot for the underrated and under seen original. Go-Motion guru Phill Tippett is at the helm and Clancy Brown (Zim in the original) is signed on to return. Bad news: it is slated for DVD release only-but I think Sony is keeping their options open. If the buzz is there…it may make it to a Digital Theater near you.
4. Last Nights Ducks-Wild game made the Anaheim Ducks look completely unstoppable-just like the 99-01 STL Rams. One win away from going to the cup baby-Had a guy here at work from New Jersey comment on my ducks jersey and say-Devils will stop my ass–I said-Cinderella lives in Anaheim, Dude, Just ask the Giants-
5. Clay and Ruben made it to the top two on American Idol. On the show last night two from American Idol 1 came back to perform and Simon was right…the top 5 last year couldn-t hold a candle to the top 10 this year. And while I love Kelly Clarkson-this years two are a quantum leap ahead of her.

First big hit if the summer (100 Million in 4 days) showed how a sequel should be done. Khan Style baby!!! Forget the character development-we know who they are-just put them in dynamic situations and let the metal fly! Bryan Singer kept the mood, the style, and the attitude and even added in Nightcrawler-a truly top-notch character. The story starts with a phantom mutant attacking the white house in one of the best attack/fights I have seen. But this mutant is under someone else control-and it-s not Magneto. And that-s why all the mutants must unite…to take on this new threat-wait for it-Wolverine-s creator!!! Good fights, God Fun, Good PG Deaths, Bad showing at the Regal in PV. For some reason the aspect cropping was way off. In the Mystique/Wolverine kissing scene I couldn-t even see her head…weird.

Japanese faire loaned to me from Jimmy, my Korean Cinema contact. This is a low budget version of THE TERMINATOR meets E.T meets 12 Monkeys. While the effects were fun, and the Bullet-Time scenes reminded me of TRANCERS II (1991), it still worked well. The director tried to mix John woo style fights but they came off looking like-Better Tomorrow- Woo instead of-Hard Boiled- Woo. It was still a good time but the bad guy-s over the top performance made that facet of the film more irritating than fun. The Story follows a young woman in who in an effort to stop the impending apocalyptic war-travels back in time to 2002. In an effort to find the crash-landed alien that started the war, she befriends a super-cool spy that-s chasing a notorious gangster. Once the Gangster finds out about the alien, the returner and the spy must joins forces to get to the alien first.

“THE” Big Chinese flick of the new century. Nominated for an Academy Award for foreign language film (lost). The film draws a lot of its interest from the Sony media blitz that was Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. And while the scale of the film is 10 times that of CTHD, the action and overall fascination falls short of the Ang Lee film. It tells the legend of an assassin sent to kill other assassins sent after his king, a king trying to unite china. It-s big, it-s grand, and almost none of the fights are full speed. Cool at some times, and just plain monotonous at others. Visuals seemed more important than the pace and story. It is a good legend, and was the defining moment in the unification of china and the domination of the Qin dynasty (The ones who built the wall). The one thing that pulses through both films is the overall tragic feel of all the situations…and the lack of blood. Saw this on DVD. Loaner DVD from Jimmy.

Surprisingly good story executed in a sub-par way. The story telling need some cleaning. The premise is very M. Night (SIGNS), and while the bombshell happens a bit sooner than most films, the-Hold your breath- moment never happens. Spoilers Coming so stop reading if you are going to see it——..The story plays like a ensemble version of the Bates Motel, methodical showing how each of the characters timelines intertwine. Well done on that part. Then we see people start dying, and we follow John Cusack as he tries to figure it out. But all the characters turn out to be the split personalities of a mass murder going through a special therapy. The therapy forces all the personalities to kill each other off so that, hopefully, the purest and kindest personality is the one that-s left–..kind of cool huh? Well the filmmakers hopped narrative about 10 times and made the investigations more of a mess than a timeline. So by the time the revelations happened, you really didn-t care anymore.

On our trip down to SD last weekend Deb found her wedding dress and bought it. I have not seen and would like to wait for wedding day for that. Finally finished the Hottiehouse.com website and video box design. Launch is Friday but if you want a sneak peek. Still have the Wedding Dj-s site, Altivo-s revamp and a new film conversion project coming in July. I might just hit my money target for the wedding/honeymoon. And to bring in more money, I have decided to roll over my lease compensation into my paycheck. And instead of a lease, I am going to use my 401K loan to get a used Toyota Previa (always liked those). That will leave me with no debt and my payments and interest will just be going back to myself-cool.
Started work on the WEDDING section of the site. It-s a work in progress. Registries are up, but the calendar of events,-save-the-date- poster and online RSVP system are not yet running.
4:20 count is at 50, and I added a new TATTOO gallery (password protected)

Thank you……and good night!!

On the war: It-s over. Excellent job boys-Semper Fi. And Captain Dale Dye, thank you for being part of the home front. Your analysis blew the doors off every other armchair general I saw. Thank you Ollie North, for being one of the only embeds with an understanding of the big picture. And while there is a long way to go, the proven experiment with Japan is going to turn the Iraqi nation into a thriving entity of the Arab world. It took 8 years after Hiroshima for the US to make Japan a thriving economy. If it weren-t for us, I wouldn-t be typing this on my LX-800, or watching DVD-s or LD-s. Russia and Britain had the task of rebuilding Europe after WWII and they are still working on it. There is a solid reason to keep the UN out of the rebuilding. My other belief that this puzzle piece will cause a ripple effect to end terrorism seems to be working as well. The-toothless tiger- tag put on the United States since the Korean conflict, including unfinished business in Vietnam, Somalia, Beirut, Kosovo, 1991 Gulf (but that-s not on the list anymore…he he) , has been removed. The once uppity Syria and North Korea have suddenly flipped sides and become very diplomatic in the last week. Now if we can figure out a way to give the Kurds, Palestinians and the Kashmir residents their own countries…all this will be over!! And there is only ONE country who can do it- Estados Unidos-.Chica!
And thank you Americans for showing one of the great Amish traditions: Shunning. Maines, Robbins, Sarandon, Norton and the others are in for a tough couple of years. By the way weren-t some of you supposed to leave the country or crawl across glass or publicly apologize if the Iraqi people accepted us? …That-s ok-no need.

On Movies: The summer trailers are starting to popup. And while the new T3 trailer hasn-t made my pulse race up. The new MATRIX: RELOADED, CHARLIES ANGELS, THE ITALIAN JOB and PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN defiantly got me racing. The old standbys from the Superbowl; HULK, KILL BILL and BAD BOYS II need a fresh infusion in the next couple weeks.

On the Wedding: Deb and I-s initial quick start has slowed down. Locations, Minister, Wedding Party, Registration, DJ, Men-s Tuxedos and Favors have all been secured. The website and-Save the Date- designs should be done by Monday. Deb has done a few experiments with the flowers and feels she is close to what we are going to do. All extra money has been going to paying off all remaining debt by May, so the ring creation, photo, video , honeymoon bookings and invitations are waiting till then.

On my Work: It-s starting to turn around, The Goldmine fiascos are clearing up and we are getting to a state of normalcy. My car lease is coming up and I have to deicide the best way to handle it. A new lease keeps me where I am. But buying a used car frees up a lot more money for the wedding and a house. Still running all the numbers and I have til the end of June to deciede.

There you are-.all caught up,

A large group of Iraqi soldiers are moving down a road when they hear a voice call from behind a sand dune. “One American Marine is better than ten Iraqi soldiers”.
The Iraqi commander quickly sends 10 of his best soldiers over the dune whereupon a gun-battle breaks out and continues for a few minutes, then silence. The voice then calls : “One American Marine is better than one hundred Iraqi soldiers”. Furious, the Iraqi commander sends his best 100 troops over the dune and instantly a huge gunfight commences. After 10 minutes of battle, again, silence. The American voice calls out again “One American Marine is better than one thousand Iraqi soldiers”.
The enraged Iraqi Commander musters one thousand fighters and sends them across the dune. Cannon, rocket and machine gun fire ring out as a huge battle is fought, then silence. Eventually one wounded Iraqi fighter crawls back over the dune and with his dying words tells his commander: “Don’t send any more men, its a trap. There are two of them!”
Thanks Greg Roper for that one.

The best of the weekend-Hands Down, a hugely overlooked film last year. One of my top ten writer/directors David Twohy (Pitch Black, Arrival) takes a run at U571/Das Boot and turns in the best of the bunch. Wolfgang-s great Das Boot was a wonderful film, but BELOW tightens it up with some of the best tension and cinematography I have ever seen. Every shot is a work of art, and the DVD has the clearest images I have seen-period! The film is a ghost-on-a-boat movie but the background actions and situations float (he he) it into the action/horror genre as well. The CG work is top notch, and if you listen to director-s commentary you-ll see he is rather giddy about them as well. Miramax is for better-than-average Indie films not this. This is a top notch-B- for the likes of New Line or the new and improved Sony. Twohy seems to have found his signature shot: large evil displayed in the darkness with a flash of light. (PITCH BLACK’s aliens seen with a burst flame and BELOW’s devil rays). Side note to Twohy-if you put the deleted scenes back in the film-you would have gotten a 4.5-the-Hot Fish- scene was better than most that you left in.

One of those films I would have walked out of if I had paid for it. Demme has a knack of making characters quirkier than they need to be, many times leading us in the wrong direction or destroying the narrative. This movie falls under: ‘Indie with a budget’, cause the stars have to fight for lines that make sense. I did not see Charade, but I have to believe that something this jointed and messy could not have been released in 1964. Demme took one of the best cinematographers in the industry and gave him 5 shots in the whole film, everything else was hand held. And a horrible hand held at that. When the bad filmmaking takes over the story and characters, disaster is not far behind. This was a DVD rental (haven’t rent in quite a while) and my controlled home theater could not control the suck. Side Note: Certainly a red mark in the career of one of the only female composers in the industry, Rachel how can you claim such an awful score.

A few more laughs than I expected, (most politically liberal movies make me cringe) but this silly romp with its literal translations of rock-s mind, hits the mark. Super Whore training camp was pure genius. The film played more like a good Living Color skit. And Bernie Mac-s comedic violence kept the film going as it was running out of steam. On a side note the opening credits were a great idea that I am amazed has never been done before. Worth a matinee despite the worthless supporting staff, the dancing socialites got more laughs than anyone with speaking parts. Politically you knew where everyone was coming from even though they never mention parties on either side. If they had made both sides fight for the democratic nomination instead for president, it would have worked better. Rock-s direction is not too heavy handed, but doesn't offer anything new either.

My wonderful PT Cruiser-s lease is up in 2 months and a replacement is needed. I have the option to extend my lease, buy the car outright or get another PT. Not wanting to finance a 3 year old car, I have chosen to get a different car altogether. Following my one main criteria :-I have to fit comfortably in the damn car!!- Many cars didn-t get my rose and were voted off the island. Xterra…gone, Element…gone. CRV…gone. Durango…gone. Baja-gone. And while a few new models have joined the competition: Rav4, Forrester, Sorrento, Santa Fe, Neon RT/4 and the WRX. There is only one rose left-Kyle–. and it goes to-

2003 Mini Cooper
INDI Blue – White Roof / Mirror *USA Flag on Roof – Auto – 16″ Wheels / 5 Spoke – Computer NAV System

Nothing has been finalized yet, and in the next 2 months alot may change.

But as of today this my choice, and i hope to have a happy life together.

‘Islam is a religion in which God requires you to send your son to die for him – Christianity is a faith in which God sent His son to die for you.” -A.G.J.A.

Antoine Fuqua made a big bang with his first flick-Replacement Killers-, It brought in a great Asia film star, and was top notch for it-s Hong Kong style action. Next up Training Day. A good movie by most standards, but was dirty, way too dirty. The action part disappeared in lieu of a story of power and corruption. So the green light was lit for a Bruce Willis war movie, and we all hoped for a-Replacement Killers- in the jungle. Praying for a remake of the great-Dark of the Sun- (Mercenaries). What we got was Training Day in the Jungle-.DAMMIT!!!. It was straightforward and methodical journey it to a commanders soul- and did I mention slow. It had the feeling of a Tom Clancy movie-one of the so-so ones, and was less entertaining to boot. The actors did great, but the movies style was more like Apocalypse Now without the fight scenes. One battle takes place in the film-that-s right ONE. A lot of stupid thing kept happening that took me out of the movie…what the hell was Skerrit doing talking on a cell phone when jets are landing behind them, good thing he knew his lines cause he definitely couldn-t hear who was on the phone. Overall, the film offered more frustration than enjoyment. By the way, Cole Hauser, you did great, great character- we need more heroic demolitionists.

“France has neither winter nor summer nor morals. Apart from these drawbacks it is a fine country. France has usually been governed by prostitutes.” – Mark Twain

“I just love the French. They taste like chicken!” – Hannibal Lecter

“I would rather have a German division in front of me than a French one behind me.” – General George S. Patton

“Going to war without France is like going deer hunting without your accordion.” -Norman Schwartzkopf

“We can stand here like the French, or we can do something about it.”- Marge Simpson

“As far as I’m concerned, war always means failure”-Jacques Chirac, President of France
“As far as France is concerned, you’re right.” – Rush Limbaugh,

“The only time France wants us to go to war is when the German Army is sitting in Paris sipping coffee.”- Regis Philbin

“You know, the French remind me a little bit of an aging actress of the 1940s who was still trying to dine out on her looks but doesn’t have the face for it.” -John McCain, U.S. Senator from Arizona

“You know why the French don’t want to bomb Saddam Hussein? Because he hates America, he loves mistresses and wears a beret. He is French, people.”- Conan O’Brien

“I don’t know why people are surprised that France won’t help us get Saddam out of Iraq. After all, France wouldn’t help us get the Germans out of France!”-Jay Leno

“The last time the French asked for ‘more proof’ it came marching into Paris under a German flag.” -David Letterman

Great pace, Great story, very good performances. I figured it out way to early, but the ride was still very engaging. Spacey was perfect as the doomed inmate, Laura Linney keeps her-hey that-s creepy- nudity streak alive. And a surprisingly unattractive Winslet keeps her clothes on in a rare, great performance. The twist is top notch, and shows the problem with the true believers of this world. Alan Parker does another great movie about the south. Kinda Liberal in nature but also shows them as kinda wacko too.

I love musicals, but I love the West Side Story, Moulin Rouge, and Holiday Inn type of musicals. On location live action, when words cant covey the emotion, break into a song. Kind of cheesy…but it’s what I think musicals should be. Marshall’s Chicago takes a different style, half location-half stage show, and some nice mixes and transitions in both. Most of the numbers are shot a little sporadic, but 2 or three work extremely well. Not the way I would have done it, but definitely the Fosse would have made it.