Steve D

Hi, folks. As usual, away from the board much too long. Just saw Skeleton Key, a movie that has gotten very good reviews and has been compared with The Sixth Sense for its twist ending. I promised no spoilers so that everyone who sees this movie can decide for themselves whether or not they saw that ending coming from a mile away, as did I. Sub Twilight Zone story, IMHO.

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From Gauntlet's email newsletter today it appears that people who want RJ#10 better order from Gauntlet as soon as it's announced.

[INDENT]We have a long waiting list for the sold-out F. Paul Wilson title INFERNAL. It's possible we may receive some returns from one distributor, but the book is almost impossible to get except on the secondary market (for far more than the Gauntlet website price). We urge anyone interested in receiving the next book in the Repairman Jack series to order no later than May 1, 2006 to guarantee yourself a copy of the book.

As we have said in the past we provide copies to our customers first, guaranteed. Next we service a number of dealers with whom we have solid relationships. Finally, we provide one national distributor with remaining copies. Once the book is published we are obligated to send them their copies. With INFERNAL a number of people have ordered the book 2-3 weeks after publication. We have no other choice than to put them on a waiting list. Save yourself the hassle in 2006 by ordering early.[/INDENT]

Not sure if anyone outside the UK has caught this TV show, but I got around to watching the first series, and it was good.

A group of Grifters who put the con back onto the map with style, panache, and a touch of fun.

From the BBC, and the production company behind Spooks (MI5). Check it out if you get a chance.

Anyone catch the second series on TV? As good as the first?

Dave

Today I watched "The Great St. Louis Bank Robbery". Very classic McQueen's movie. Story about four bank robbers. McQueen's role is car driver. They thought their plan is perfect. They did simulation training. But they failed one thing.......have you ever seen this movie?

Steve McQueen is my favorite actors as much as Clint Eastwood. I saw a lot of his movies. In "The Magnificent Seven", he was fast with a gun. In "The Great Escape", he was a soldier/prisoner. In "The Cincinnati Kid", he was a gambler. In "The Towering Inferno", he was a fireman. Tom Horn, Papillon, The Blob, Bullitt, The Thomas Crown Affair, Nevada Smith......his movies anytime made me enjoy. Not only movies. "Wanted Dead or Alive", when I was youth, I enjoyed it on TV every week.

Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Steve McQueen, they were superstars in '70s. But McQueen was special. Too bad he died at 50. If he is alive now, he is 75 years old. I don't know how many movies we can see after "The Hunter". But he is always my hero.

Are you McQueen's fan? What are your favorite McQueen movies?

"Capricorn One ". This is good ol' '70s movie. Today I saw this movie on rental DVD. Gosh....When I saw it previously, maybe it was 20 years ago or so! Has anybody seen this movie?

At NASA's Mission Control the first manned space flight to Mars is about to blast off. But as it's three astronauts (JAMES BROLIN, SAM WATERSTON, and O.J.SIMPSON) await their historic journey a mysterious man enters the craft and he said "Get out". He explained that the spacecraft is dangerously flawed. The mission, however, must be seen to go ahead, otherwise the Government will stop funding the space programme. In a TV studio the astronauts are coerced, through threats and bribery to make broadcasts as if they were on Mars.

After that, of course, like always whitewash by governments was waiting for three astronauts. Hal Holbrook as Dr.Kelloway, he has sneaky dark heart.

This movie wasn't made in massive special effect, but this is very good, even now. Especially, two helicopters fly and chase to a small plane, that scene was thrilling.

** Conspiracies spoilers, too!! **








I was reading the Little Beige Book that came today, and when I got to the end of "Traps" I thought "So, that's how Mauricio (from Conspiracies) kept himself amused during all those years Rasalom was away."

Okay, the description of the critter isn't an exact match, but it seems close enough to posit the connection.

I've always been a little bothered by Mauricio and the Twins, anyway. They feel like somewhat awkward additions to the story, and then they all get rubbed out before we can learn much about them. Where was the "ancient companion" Mauricio during all those centuries Rasalom was locked up, and when did they rejoin forces? Where were Mauricio and the Twins during the events of Reborn?

Anybody watch this show?

It has the most cumbersome termination line in reality show history.

In Survivor, you have "The tribe has spoken."
In The Apprentice, you have "You're fired."

In Rock Star: INXS, you have "I'm sorry. You're just not right for our band, INXS."

Any other "termination lines" from other shows?

I saw this a couple weeks ago and overall it was just okay, but there were some disturbing scenes in there. A few well choreographed scares can make a movie for me. Like...

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When the girl looks in the trash compactor and finds her friend's father's body in there all twisted up and he's still alive!

And when she's getting a ride home from this reporter in the middle of the night and she sees her father and you see a brief glimpse of him with a long, spiralled tongue sticking out of his mouth.

I was half drunk and half sleep by the end so I fell asleep on it. I'm in the middle of Audition (recorded it on IFC) now.

Another of those movies Mary and I thought we could watch together. We both bailed after 20 minutes. Un-freaking-watchable.

FF=8