Moto and Lloyd

I’ve been watching the TV show Heroes since it’s one of the only shows that I can watch online. I am beginning to find the show somewhat depressing. There are two completely insane psychotic characters on this show. That is at least one psycho too many. The good guys are not very good. Most of them are not heroic at all. They are what I call grey characters, neither black hats nor white hats. I would enjoy the show if there was a better ratio of crazy bad guys to decent heroic guys. Too many people get killed in horrible, horrible ways for me to fully enjoy this show.

The final Mr. Moto movie in the first boxed set is Mysterious Mr. Moto. I’ll be getting set number two when I save up some money. This was an excellent movie. Mr. Moto is not just a spy, but a well known one who would put himself into terrible situations to solve a case. He escapes from Devil’s Island prison in the beginning just to win the confidence of a murderer.

I also saw the move “A History of Violence.” It was very good. The director David Cronenberg is not just about blood and guts anymore. This film’s slowly paced, well studied scenes were the best I have seen since David Lynch’s “Straight Story.” Cronenberg is even starting to develop Lynch’s hairstyle. It’s eerie.

Since Mr. Moto is all done, I have started in on a methodical watching of Harold Lloyd’s films from the boxed set of DVDs that came out a while ago. I got these discs not long after they were released, but I only watched a few movies from them when I was in the mood. Starting with Volume 1, Disc 1 I watched “Safety Last” with excellent commentary from Leonard Maltin and Rich Correll. I also watched “An Eastern Westerner” with a dilettante Harold being sent out west by his wealthy father to get some of his lazy ways out of him.

How to make money

I am also reading “Damn! Why didn’t I Write That: How Ordinary People are Raking in $100,000 or more Writing Non-Fiction Books & How you Can Do it Too” by Marc McCutcheon. So far it just gives lists of people and books that have sold well without giving any real information on how to get started in the business. While he says there are some sure-fire subjects like cooking and weight loss, he also says that the market is glutted with these titles and people are always looking for something different. In other words, writing a big hit will pretty much be dumb luck. Well, wish me dumb luck! I’m going to come up with my own niche title and rake it in!

Today’s Mr. Moto movie is “Mr. Moto Takes a Chance.” This was quite good with another surprisingly strong female character… and another dopey guy whose only concern is to chase her. Mr. Moto has now advanced from chasing antique smugglers to becoming a spy looking for an ammunition dump and a possible revolution. This is an excellent entry into the series with a really nice documentary about the life of Peter Lorre thrown in as well.

Also today is when Volume 2 is released, with the final four Peter Lorre Mr. Moto films. I have to save up my pennies for that one.

I also watched the Silver Chair, the last entry into the Narnia movies. It was quite good with Tom Baker (Doctor Who #4) as Puddleglum the Marshwiggle.

The Daily Moto

The book I’m reading now is “Wild Trees” by Richard Preston. It’s not due to be published until April 2007, but I got an Advanced Reader’s Copy (for advanced readers only!) So far it is a great adventure read, but even though I am about half-way through, there isn’t much talk about the life in the canopy. Preston focuses on the lives and loves of the people involved, giving such details like how one tree climber supported himself selling Cutco knives. And I mean a lot of detail about this. Too much.

I got my Mr. Moto DVDs and I am going to watch just one a day. (I could really watch all in a row, but I’m pacing myself) Monday I watched “Think Fast, Mr. Moto” and it was great! A case of diamond smuggling is no problem for Mr. Moto, as long as he can keep the drunken American lout out of the way. My favorite line in this is when the American dope says to a Chinese rickshaw driver “You drivey muchy careful, chop chop.” And the driver replies in somewhat British English “Very good, sir.”

Today I watched one of my favorites “Thank You, Mr. Moto.” He tracks down ancient scrolls that show the way to a secret treasure. While the barbarian American is running around looking for his girlfriend, Mr. Moto is trying to save the honor of a friend who had to kill himself.

While they don’t seem that politically correct these days, these movies can be re-made today to show how heroic and intelligent the Japanese are.

My busy weekend

I am getting very far behind on my blog, or I am watching too much stuff and reading too much!

“Case of the Missing books” by Ian Sansom didn’t get any better. I will write my own librarian mystery to counteract the bad taste in my mouth that this book left.

“Brother Bear” DVD – The most depressing Disney movie I have ever seen. And with Disney’s propensity to kill mothers and leave a scattering of cutesy orphans… that’s saying something! I watched it because Dave Thomas and Rick Moranis were basically channeling Bob and Doug MacKenzie into the moose.

Speaking of which – I’m on Volume 3 of SCTV. This show is a bit dated (those 80’s haircuts!) but just as funny as I remember it.

Babylon 5 – Now that I have watched a bunch of Dr. Who, its time for me to start in on another landmark sci-fi series. I watched "The Gathering" this weekend as the prelude to the first season.

But, Dr. Who DVDs are still being made and “Hand of Fear” was recently released. Sarah Jane’s last episode was excellent, and a great way for her to exit gracefully.

But that’s not all! My friend Tina and I watched the DVD “The Secret.” The secret itself was familiar to us. We were both fans of Wayne Dyer’s “Manifest Your Destiny” as well as the “Do it” books. Basically, the Law of Attraction says that like attracts like. Be positive and upbeat, and positive upbeat things will happen to you.

Bladders

The following post should have been before the last... never mind, it's too confusing.

I just finished Blackadder the Third on DVD and I’m having a great time! I thought it was time I commented on the whole series as I start in on Blackadder goes Forth.

The first series was wonderful and had tremendous production value. Lots of outdoor sets made it feel very real, and very silly. Without a live audience however, the actors tend to talk over their laughter, making hard to hear some jokes.

With the second series, the Blackadder franchise really kicks into gear. Edmund is dashing, handsome and I love the beard! His wickedness is less pathetic and more (dare I say?) cunning. I root for him to win!

The third series could be my favorite (but it’s hard to choose!) simply because of the inclusion of Hugh Laurie. For those of you who only know him from “House”, this was made when he was British… and funny. Edmund’s lot in life has gone down, but his intelligence has skyrocketed. And, I am glad to say, he very often wins at the end of each episode.

The specials are nice, but the “Cavalier Years” is too short and too reminiscent of Series three. “Blackadder’s Christmas Carol” is a funny twist on the old story, but unfortunate that he loses out on 50,000 pounds at the end.

I get started on the fourth series tonight.