I often choose movies based on the time I am passing the theater. If a movie is about to start, and it's one I have an interest in, I'll go. It's an impromptu thing.

That's how I got to "A Prairie Home Campanion." It's playing at the theater closest to my home and, well, the timing was right. I figured with such an interesting cast and directed by Robert Altman, it should be worth seeing.

I left the theater thinking, they made that movie because??? It felt disjointed, with pieces that didn't quite fit, like the narrator, Kevin Kline's character. It was a movie that should have taken place in the '30's or '40's, and I guess that's the point. A live radio variety show is a thing of the past. How can it survive today?

And frankly, Garrision Keillor is CREEPY! I had no idea I'd have that sort of reaction to him. I've seen pictures of him; I'm familiar with who he is. I've never read his books. But on film, yewww. He's got eyebrows that could scratch you from across the room. He's weird looking, and he can't help that. But there is something quintessentially not right about him. Maybe because his ground of being is so foreign to me. He makes Minnesota seem like another country, to me at least.

I enjoyed Meryl Streep and Lily Tomlin. Lindsay Lohan was miscast. And I am a sucker for Robert Altman. I keep thinking I'm going to enjoy his movies because he has made some fantastic flicks (think "MASH," "Nashville," "McCabe and Mrs Miller," "The Long Goodbye," and "Three Women"). With the exception of "Gosford Park," I haven't really liked any of his films in years. Those that I named were made years ago.

It's a movie that can wait for cable, if you've a mind to see it. But for whom was this movie made? What audience? I think the mean age of the audience I was in was 75.

I rarely see current Japanese movie. But I have an interest to this movie.



Light Yagami is a bright young high school student who has until recently led a boring and uneventful life. That changed very quickly when he found a strange notebook with the title "Death Note" lying on the ground one day in 2003. After realizing that the "Death Note" was a Shinigami's tool with the power to kill anyone whose name was written on its pages, Light decided to use it to "cleanse" the world of evil. And soon the many unexplainable deaths of criminals reported.......

It's weird isn't it? Check this official site and trailer. http://wwws.warnerbros.co.jp/deathnote/


Shinigami = The god of death

I tried to show some self-control and not read the new Jack story until I got to that spot in the Thriller Anthology. In fact I was even thinking of "saving the best story for last", but by the time I got a few stories into it, my discipline faded fast. I started taking peeks at that new Jack adventure and a few chapters into it finally gave up the chase altogether.

Now after reading the story twice, here are a few comments:

*******Minor Spoilers Ahead*********

I loved this story! Anything that starts out with Jack dropping a wreath at the top of the Empire State Building in honor of Kong has got to be a good time.

Loved the humor in this story! There were a couple of spots where I burst out laughing. For people who have already read it, I'll just mention these two lines: "Jack hoped that wasn't meant for him" and my favorite, "Was there a community model?"

A "naked" Jack having to live by his wits in a fast-paced adventure - too much fun! Always nice to have a new Jack story - even if it is a short one.

On a bit of a negative note, I was a little disappointed to see that James Patterson's introduction lifted just about everything verbatim off of this website. Seemed a bit of a cop-out to me. Anyone else feel that way?

-Luthie

[SIZE="3"]...is ready at last. (I sold this sucker in 2003!)[/SIZE]

http://www.subterraneanpress.com/Merchan...lansdale21

Okay... for those interested I have posted the "test" trailer (not 100% complete since it's missing a few sound effects but it's very close to the final mix) and a 5 minute sequence from the movie. Both require Quicktime 7. The scene is a fairly large file at 35MB but it is pretty high resolution. These are going to be posted on the official site this weekend. Finally, the 5 minute sequence hasn't been color corrected yet so in the final film the scene will look more colorful and natural.

Trailer
5-minute Sequence

Enjoy!

I finished reading "INFERNAL" the other day so I'm going back and re-reading all the Jack novels in anticipation of "HARBINGERS" Had to order Legacies because I lent it out and never got it back. Anyway, I somehow missed the fact that Sandy Palmer from "HOSTS" worked for the same newspaper, The Light, as Jamie Grant from "CRISSCROSS."

I know the band Polio has made two appearances but I'm trying to think of more not so obvious connections.

Anyone have any????

I was collecting pics of Universal movie monsters as reference for a tattoo I have to start tonight and remembered Jack complaining that the creature costume he had rented in Crisscross was green. Thought this might settle that mystery.

http://kensforce.com/05creaturebl16.jpg

[SIZE="3"]Just as I'm starting a YA series...[/SIZE]

http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6343693.html

Shockwave is announcing Harbingers as 10th Repairman Jack novel,
in the book section of this site it"s ends with Criss Cross ( 8th ),
what am I missing?
Recently I bought 3 books of the Adversary Cycle as German first
editions ( from 1989 ), The Keep,The Tomb and The Touch,
for 95 Euros each ( about 115 US $).
Mr. Wilsons books are only published in Germany as paperbacks
( you have to change that, I want them in hardcover! ) and Repairman
Jack is called Handyman Jack ( what a funny name,I prefer the original ).
Mr. Wilson, please speak with your german publisher to put RJ books out
in hardcover ( preferably in a limited edition, the market is there ).
Clive Barkers Blood Books ( in hardcover long out of print ) as first editions
are scratching the 300 Euro mark ( $ 370 ).
Take care

I was pleased today to receive (finally) my signed, limited edition of Midnight Mass from Cemetary Dance. It was beautifully packaged and presented. Lettered "X" now holds a special place in my bookcase. If anyone is interested, I can take some digital photos and post them here.