Saturday, July 30, 2005

"Good-Bye

Bob Goodenow the head of the NHLPA and one of the main reasons the 2004-05 season never came quit his job Friday. Easily, one of the best days in NHL history. Good-bye you nut case.

ESPN article.

Monday, July 25, 2005

"100?!?!"

Most people have us nailed down for 96 or 97 degrees tomorrow. I think we have a real shot of hitting 100 at least in some areas. Down south they are already pegged for it. The heat index is 100-110 for tomorrow.


I will give anyone 20 bucks if they litterally try to fry and egg on the street, succed and send me pictures. Of course you have a deadline till tuesday at midnight. It doesnt count if the egg doesnt fry. Try it on the street or a parking lot. Might get her cooking up good.

Read here from your air conditioned office at home about the un-godly heat.

Summer Movie Files 205: Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

Okay, I really don't like it when movies are remade of films, that I think still stand up today. It really annoys me.


However, since TIm Burton is a great director. I was willing to see this. Burton went off the deep end in the late 90's and adpated The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Sadly, though and oddly, he went against every Burton instict and Hollywoodized the story. Adding an annoying kid for no reason, made the hero a dectieve not a teacher who accidentally stumbles across the legend, and making just an awful movie. On top of that he remade The Planet of the Apes, resulting in an unwachable mess that put me to sleep all 3 times. I attempted to watch it.

Thankfully, Burton returned to form with Big Fish. So, I was ready to forgive him.


Anyway, Im told Burton didn't want to remake the movie, but wanted to adapt the book better. Burton's style certainly gels good with the borderline creepy story of a grown man being sadistic to a bunch of brats.

Although Johnny Depp, looks a bit too much like Micheal Jackson playing the role. He is pretty good as Willie Wonka. The difference between him and Gene Wilder is Depp's verision has a little less heart. He is more of a social outcast and bitter than Wilder's Wonka who was more or less a goofball who had his heart in the right place, but was missing a few buttons.

The additions to the story are what you would expect from Burton. Fleshing out his childhood, and showing that Wonka was missunderstood.

Visually the film is breath taking and times looks like a moving painting. Burton has the ablitiy to make his films almost hyponotic combined with the genius music of Danny Elfman. I saw this movie on an IMAX theater which made it that much better.

The music is updated, and the lessons to the kids are made to be more meaningful in todays society. The ommpa-Lommpas are played by the same guy. The music is enteraining, but instead of looking like freaky clowns he looks like a drug pusher at times.

I could debate which film is better, I might still have to go with the first one.