Movie Preview: Armored

So what happens when you have several old actors, a couple that never made it big time, and a few newbies thrown in for the hell of it? Well you could make a film that has been done a dozen times before.

Armored is a film we all have seen before. It's a heist film. Which means it's the same as Heat, or the Sting, or even a major sub-plot for The Shield. The question is really, is this a well done version of the same old thing?



As can be seen, the film is looking to convince with a couple of interesting tidbits. There is the influence of Laurence Fishburne, and Jean Reno. There is a bit of the old in Matt Dillon resurfacing in a major film after decades of straight to DVD films. Plus there is Skeet Ulrich, the go to guy for looking like you have Johnny Depp in a film.

The concept is simple and obvious. An inside job, planned to the very detail. Except a detail comes up that was never considered. And there is where the film will be made or broken.

This is not a deep film with a massive twist from start to finish like Inside Man. This is not a bad versus even worse like on The Shield. It isn't a catchy slick con like Ocean's Eleven. It isn't even cops and robbers like Heat. It's just how bad people can get like Treasure of the Sierra Madre. (hope you saw all those films to get what I mean)

The questions that hit me are far from the movie trailer itself. Is this a film that Lawrence Fishburne had enough time to really commit to since his work on CSI? Is this a good film that just doesn't fit the summer blockbuster season, or is it a fill-in until Oscar season yet better than the ususal January throw-aways? Will Matt Dillon finally make the comeback he has been hoping for or is this another cable standard?

None of the questions I pose are the ususal ones asked about a film by the general public. Still they all reflect the quality of the film. In all likelyhood I expect this film to do 2 things:

Justify the desire to have a nice thriller/action film before the feel good and Oscar (boring) contenders come out

Keep the audience busy for 1 1/2 hours of their life

Now I will add to this. I felt the same way prior to seeing Inside Man. I came away from that film far more rewarded than I went into it. Low expectations can be a good thing when you get a quality piece of film. But low expectations are more the norm from the copycat and derivative nature of Hollywood films these days.

Still I think that this might live up to more than what it looks like. There are far too many good actors for me to think this is just a throwaway. The trailer is not filled with just random action impling the lack of a plot. It almost asks you to see it to be sure exactly how good it might be.

Would I see this instead of Ninja Assassin? No. But I would see both films. The only thing is that I am pretty sure what I will get from Ninja Assassin. I'm not as sure this will be worth the $20 a ticket. Though it at least seems like it might be, which is better than most films out around this time of year.

Red Tails - George lucas does the Tuskegee Airmen

Back during WWII tens of thousands of Americans fought bravely to preserve American ideals and defeat Nazi rule. Since that time, literally hundreds of films, video games, and books – plus a few television shows – have been created to celebrate and honor those men and women. Except if they were people of color.

Just like in high school, where there was never a word spoken about people of color fighting in any conflict, battle, or war America was involved in, the contributions of African Americans, Latinos and Asians was an unknown in the media depicting WWII (or any conflict up to Viet Nam really). Essentially the history books most were given their basic education upon passed over the concept that anyone else was in America. Until around 1995.

It was about that time that we finally got something both real and worthwhile. That is not to say that there were no films on African American contributions or that Hispanics were never seen on screen. But there is a major difference of having an African American in Force 10 from Navarone, Dirty Dozen, or giving Desi Arnaz a bit part in a war film (Bataan), and telling a true story of Americans of color fighting like every other American.

Thus we saw in the HBO film The Tuskegee Airmen, the real and courageous actions of the first Black fighter pilots – who never lost an escort bomber to enemy fire during the entire war, and the only unit to claim such to my knowledge. It only took some 40 years to get this story out.

Now, slightly more than a decade later, it is going to be revisioned in the motion picture Red Tails [a reference to the insignia of the fighter group].

Well that is unfair I suppose. George Lucas is not known for his remakes, nor for a lack of originality. I believe that he definitely is educated enough to have learned about the Tuskegee Airmen on his own, or in college. I believe that he is fair-minded enough to want to see this honorable part of American history discussed and celebrated. And I believe that he is talented enough to ensure that such a film, depicting the battles these men fought in the air and on the ground with the American military of the time, will be worthy of these men.

It’s just that HBO has already done this film. With Laurence Fishburne, Cuba Gooding Jr., Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Allen Payne, Courtney B. Vance, Andre Braugher, and Mekhi Phifer. It was nominated for 12 Awards and won 6. Including Emmies for casting, camera production, sound; an Image Award for acting – Laurence Fishburne; and a Peabody Award. Because the film was done that well. [Though the DVD was not. It lacks any really meaningful additions most DVD’s have – like commentary from any of the actual Tuskegee airmen.]

Still I am glad that Lucasfilm and George Lucas are making a push to have a major motion picture made about these men. The cast has some exceptional members, including Gooding, who is the only member from the HBO film to be in this re-telling of the actions of the 99th Fighter Squadron and 332nd Fighter Group http://www.tuskegeeairmen.org/Tuskegee_Airmen_History.html.

Other cast members include: Terrence Howard, Bryan Cranston, Nate Parker, David Oyelowo, Tristan Wilds, Cliff Smith (aka Method Man), Kevin Phillips, Rick Otto, Lee Tergesen, Andre Royo, Ne-Yo and Elijah Kelley.

And in this new cast I am confounded by several choices. Cliff Smith and Ne-Yo. A rapper and R&B singer/rapper. Ne-Yo (Shaffer Smith) has been in blockbusters like Save the Last Dance 2 and Stomp the Yard. Method Man (Cliff Smith) has a slightly better resume with his appearances in the cable television shows Oz, The Wire and CSI. He also was in the mega-wonder How High and Soul Plane.

Suffice to say that I find them to be incredibly weak. In fact they make me recall an old saying that I made on this blog years ago.

“The quality of a film degrades in exponential proportion to the number of rappers that are in it.”

I can’t recall a film where this though has not been proven. Thus in a major film, about incredibly important and honorable men, the inclusion of 2 rappers bodes poorly. I can only hope that their characters are minor and die off in the film quickly.

Can Red Tails do justice to the Tuskegee Airmen? It should. Will it be as good as the HBO film? That’s hard to say with a cast that is mostly unknown and less experienced than the HBO original. Plus the inclusion of rappers (that should help to pull in the hip hop audience, most of which likely know little about this part of history) makes for many doubts.

Are there so few stories of African Americans and other people of color that fought in WWII that this is the only story to be told over and over? NO.

While I am glad this is a story being done bigger than ever before, and it is finally starting a trend of honoring men that the American Government failed to honor for some 40 years, it is not the only thing that can be said. Much like the film Glory touched on a fact of African Americans involvement in the Civil War, there are many stories based in fact that can be told. Like the recent Spike Lee WWII film.

African Americans and other people of color have been a part of every aspect of America since before this nation existed. As such, we deserve to be celebrated in films as much as any group of Americans. And that celebration does not need to be, nor should it be, the same story told repeatedly.

Models, actresses, and Valerie Bertinelli on People magazine

So here is a question. What is fat? Because the answer is very different for men and women. And that answer is the motivation of tens of millions of dollars in weight loss programs, ads, diet fads, magazines and so on.

I was wondering this recently as I was looking for models for my upcoming model photo shoot for my designer clothing lines. I decided to write on it after seen the cover of People magazine with Valerie Bertinelli.



Now there is no question that Ms. Bertinelli looks good. Considering her age and being a mom, very good indeed. But it was not like she was a slobbering mass of fat previously. In fact, if you look across the nation, at 172 pounds and 5’2” just 2 years ago she was about the norm.

But such a shape won’t get you on the cover of a magazine, or in many a movie role. For a woman. Yet I have to wonder why?

I recall how the nation was ogling the shape of Jennifer Lopez. Because she was considered by Hollywood standards to be voluptuous and extremely curvy. But in fact she was just the normal size of just about any Hispanic/Latino woman of her age in New York City. Hell, in the Bronx you can walk down the street and see a dozen women with better figures every day of the summer.

I recall how I had a conversation with a friend, who informed me that Beyonce is a plus-sized woman. I still reel with amazement at that. Most Black women I know have her shape and weight – again if not better.

So why is it that women must strive to look like Gabrielle Anwar from Burn Notice. Who I equate with anorexia and would never want to touch for fear of breaking her.

This is especially true when you consider men are not held to the same standard. Jack Nicholson, which Hollywood still considers sexy, is hardly fit or trim. And there are a host of men, Will Pertersen, Sean Connery, Laurence Fishburn, ect. that have varying degrees of extra weight and yet are still considered good looking and ready to work.

Now there is nothing wrong with anyone who wants to lose weight. Or anyone losing an extra person in fat off of them. It’s great that looking and being healthy is acknowledged. But I don’t get the drama associated with it.

I have been told that some models and actresses are just too big. That they are not thin enough by industry standards. Yet I know that most men find the more realistic female models and actresses to be very attractive. In fact every model I have used or will be using in my next photo shoot is an attractive successful real woman. As opposed to the look of starvation found in say America’s Top Model.

So, I want to ask the women out there. Does it matter to you. Beyond any one woman losing weight, does it matter when you see an actress in a movie how much she weighs? Will a woman buy clothing modeled by a woman that looks anything but anorexic?

And to the guys, virtually all of whom date and marry a woman that is anything but a size 0, do you really want a woman with the shape of one of the Olsen twins – or Beyonce?

I really want to know, because I think all my models are beautiful and real examples of women. And I will not go with an anorexic looking model for my clothing lines. So I want to know if that’s shooting myself in the foot or not. I won’t change, but I want to know the battle I am facing.

An Obama effect in Hollywood is insulting

There is something that’s been nagging at me for months. The Obama effect on media and television. The very statement is an insult. Let me explain why.

An effect is a reaction to a stimulus. As long as the stimulus is around the effect continues. Once it is gone the effect fades. An Obama effect is a temporary shift in a long held belief system. And I don’t want to accept that as good enough.

Since before, and massively since, the election President Obama has been used as a reason for media to remember that African Americans have been a vital part of this nation since inception, are a rather large part of the population, and an enormous factor to the prosperity of the economy.

Television and movies have long ignored all of that. With the exception of the Cosby Show and a few programs that were on broadcast television at that same time, the small screen in everyone’s living room is devoid of people of color. In fact, once the Cosby Show went off-air (ending the Cosby effect), the executives in Hollywood seemingly scrambled to eliminate what they had created. Proof that Americans will watch a good program no matter the color of the stars.

At this point, the 9th year in a row, the line-up of television features 2 programs with Black actors as lead. They are on the smallest and least seen public television broadcast network, and hold the worst time-slot possible. Beyond this, there are 2 prominent Black actors in drama ensembles. And then there are 2 programs on cable television that feature Black casts. That’s it, out of over 120 programs just looking at broadcast television alone.

But President Obama will cause all that to change. Kiss my ass.

I do not need, nor should it take, the leader of our nation to be Black to make me aware of the abilities of tens of millions of Americans. There have long prior been examples of success in front of and behind cameras. There has long prior been proof of our viability. And to claim that only now people can see or accept this is insulting to generations of African Americans and the American public at large. To say nothing of the even less acknowledge or seen Latino/Hispanic and Asian communities.

Back in November of 2008

“It may say something about the state of American television that there is one more black president-elect of the United States than there are black actors with individual lead roles in a network television drama.”

Recently Bill Cosby had this to say about the supposed Obama effect and television

“No, because these people are stupid," he says, referring to network bosses. "Look at how NBC is struggling. You would think they would make some changes and be talking about trying to get another 'Cosby' kind of show. But they would probably die before putting another show on about a black family and black pride."

And Bishop T.D. Jakes stated

“I think sometimes the only images we see of people of color are the images that Hollywood projects: the hip-hop, the gangs, the street life. Now, it would be wonderful for them to recognize what has always existed in the African-American community and what Obama's presidency suggests: middle-class African-Americans who are articulate, intelligent and thoughtful."

And that is the issue. Hollywood wants African Americans to be limited to gangsta rappers or such ilk. President or not, African Americans are supposed to be bad guys, poor, uneducated and in need of a hand-out. Adding more African Americans because of President Obama is just that. And once he is out of office, just like with the Cosby effect, they can go back on message.

That is insulting. I don’t want laws to tell me that I am equal. I don’t want executives in Hollywood to portray African Americans in a movie or program because they want to enlighten me to success. These things should be obvious to anyone that looks around or reads more than a high school book on history.

America does not need an effect. We need respect. For those that work everyday, that contribute to the prosperity of the economy, of those that aren’t living the commoditization of Black culture. We need to acknowledge that without African Americans, America would have failed before it could have started. And that right this second, there are tens of thousands that are qualified and capable but overlooked because they have a permanent tan.

Jaime Foxx, Denzel Washington, Laurence Fishburne, Bill Cosby, Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy, Sidney Poitier, Angela Bassett, Terrance Howard, Gabrielle Union, Oprah Winfrey, Spike Lee, Bill Duke, and so many others are not an Obama effect. They are not an effect at all. They are representatives of a far larger, more diverse community that has been right here for as long as America has been around – they have just been mostly ignored.

Trying to placate this vital segment of America with insincere transitional leftovers is not the answer. Though it does answer a sincere question that often is asked and I think best stated in the movie The Tuskegee Airmen.

“Lt. Col. Benjamin O. Davis Jr. – Andre Braugher -
…I ask myself the most difficult question everyday. How do I feel about my country… and how does my country feel about me.”

Fall 2008 broadcast television season

Next week starts the new television season. New shows and many old ones will be back, seeking to gain your attention. Now I rarely watch broadcast television these days because the general tone is mind-numbing programs meant to keep you in one place while you get to see the television commercials that are the real important point. But what will this season bring?

Well on Monday the big winner is the return of the Sarah Connor Chronicles. The continuation of the Terminator movies in a TV format. This should also receive and give a boost to the up-coming Terminator movie that takes place after the machines have made their first strike.

Of course there is Monday Night Football. Or you can watch celebrities dance.

For Tuesday hands-down House is the winner. This show has a great lead actors, intelligent writing, and is bitingly sarcastic. All winning parts in a television show to me. But this might be a bit too high-brow for some.

That means in the same time slot you can get comatose watching the new version of 90210 – which I despise – or families taking on questions about each other in a ‘revisioned’ family-safe version of the Dating Game. I’d rather watch the original Dating Game re-runs than these 2.

After that you have the choice of going to sleep, watching more celebrities dance, or try on The Menatlist. The Menatlist is basically a broadcast version of Monk, without the neurosis and adding in a lot more guilt. It may be good, but I always tend to prefer the originals to copycats.

Wednesday is the perfect night to work overtime, learn how to play GO, or revisit the coma inducing qualities that television writers these days excel at. Maybe if you are a complete car fanatic you might want to watch one episode of the new Knight Rider program. But I would suggest reading Wuthering Heights. You’ll get the same type of thrill.

On Thursday there is the chance to see CSI. With the addition of Laurence Fishburne there are so many interesting storylines that can be tapped into, especially if he becomes a serial murderer. But before that comes on, you can always have a late dinner.

Still some just will insist on watching TV from 8 til 9. So that means Ugly Betty or Smallville. But really, why not catch up on politics, or learn about investing. You’ll do better and save more brain cells.

On Friday you have just enough time to see Everybody Hates Chris, get dressed, and go out for the night. If you are sitting in the home and watching the drivel on TV this night you have to be 80. It’s the perfect time to go to the gym and excercise off the extra pounds you gained mind-melding with the couch earlier in the week.

Saturday you can watch college football, or fix the house like your significant other has been bugging you about. Again if you are in during this night you really have no life. Go bowling, or watch the grass grow if you hate football.

Sunday has 60 minutes and Sunday Night Football. The Simpson’s are too old, King of the Hill is not worth missing the opening kick off, Family Guy is good but can be caught on re-runs at Cartoon Network, and American Dad is too on and off.

Now later in the season Lost will return. I don’t see the excitement. Scrubs should be worth the time even on a new channel. Fear anything on the CW, and CBS as no winners coming in late.

24 is sure to be a great television show, and well worth the time. American Idol will sadly return to lower the collective IQ’s of America. Such is the fate of ‘reality TV’. Law & Order is a constant comfort, and a safe bet.

So this is my suggestion overall. Stop watching so much television. If 5 or 6 days out of the week you are watching broadcast TV you are in trouble. But if you have to watch something try this.

Monday – football of course.
Tuesday – Eureka
Wednesday – Mythbusters
Thursday – read a book, go out, or catch up on politics until time for CSI
Friday – Just go out
Saturday – enjoy real life, maybe have friends over for football and poker
Sunday – football and get some sleep.

Now this is not the perfect schedule. There is too much football. But it’s about as much television as anyone really needs. If you want to round out the missing or in-between hours I suggest the news.

Law And Order: Criminal Intent - Season Finale

Did you see the season finale of Law & Order: Criminal Intent last night? I did and I’m glad.

I have to admit that I have not been following the show closely for a couple of seasons. Basically once Vincent D'Onofrio started to take time off and Chris Noth joined the cast. I’m not a fan of Noth.

But when I saw the television ads for this episode I was intrigued. There was the return of Nicole Wallace (Olivia d'Abo) and the murder of those close to Det. Goren. Nicole is a wonderful foil, both in love and hating Goren. Her episodes are among the best in the series.

So I watched the season finale, and was surprised, disappointed and left with big questions.

The surprise was the intricate nature of the crimes. Each murder was part of a larger scheme, turning the entire Major Case squad against itself. Trust was destroyed, and the revelations foreboding. There was honest suspicion that Goren was the true killer. And Goren was glorious in his rage as his private demons were stripped bare.

**Spoiler**
The disappointment was the loss of Nicole as an adversary. She was malicious and deceptive in the best of ways. Her desire to hurt Goren was almost primal. Yet she could not resist him, always returning always creating a need for Goren to chase her.

Far too often serial killers are portrayed as simply sick individuals, which they are but that is too simple a description of the evil they live. Nicole is complex, intelligent, and evasive. She is more accurate a description of the crazed killers out in the real world.

Seperately she is probably the most intelligent woman on television. While the negative is that she is a killer, the positive is that intelligent women exist. She is pretty without having to be gorgeous, strong without having to be manly. She avoids the bitch stereotype so many female characters are relegated to if they have any authority.
**Spoiler end**

The big questions though are perhaps the best part. Goren is traveling a dark path. He has had major losses in little time. He is under huge financial stress. His boss lacks full faith in him. And his partner is no longer his most trusted ally.

Add to that the emergence of a nephew, and the fact of his parental lineage and you have a character that is on the razor’s edge. Goren has too much of a connection to the mindset of killers, too insightful in how to best dispatch those he might find worthy of death.

Goren is in need of a challenge. A grand mental maze to traverse. He needs to unlock and control his environment. Nicole was one outlet for such a need. Declan Gage was another.

**Spoiler**
With Declan now incarcerated, and having murdered Nicole, the truth is that Goren is free as Declan stated. Free of responsibility to family and expectations. Free of the need to keep the structure he has made of his life. Free to release his mind.

If genetics can be an indicator of murder, and if the bonds of family and friends were the boundaries of how Goren expressed himself then he has nothing to stop him now. Given his intelligence, resourcefulness and drive he could easily begin a killing spree that would be unprecedented. And he has the legal wherewithal to know how to get the easy road out with the use of his mother’s mental illness, his fathers actions, and the fall of his mentor to name a few.
**Spoiler end**

CSI has just added Laurence Fishburne, and the issue in his background is similar to Goren. I’m sure the writers were discussing the ideas over breakfast more than once. And while the ability of Fishburne to convey such a character in the character devoid background of CSI is huge, D'Onofrio has a far richer and more involved character to exploit.

In the new 8th season I expect a couple of things. I expect a serial killer to emerge. I expect that the eventual clues will target a police officer. I would guess that the first suspect will of course be Goren, but will shift to the medical examiner who betrayed his trust. Once she is dead the fingers will point to Capt. Ross (Eric Bogosian) who easily distrusts Goren after this season end. Ultimately the question will be is it Det. Alexandra Eames (Kathryn Erbe) or Goren.

My bet is that it will be Eames, under the guidance and direction of Goren. She will fall and Goren will be found to be responsible far too late, distracted by the potential of Goren’s unknown nephew. By the time anyone figures out what is happening, Capt. Ross will be dead, the mediacal examiner will be dead, Eames will be arrested by the new character Jeff Goldblum will introduce, and Goren will be wanted.

Now in the 9th season I expect a better twist. Jeff Goldblum’s character will be framed, and shown to be the real killer. Eames will be released – and possibly killed. And Goren will ultimately be the actual killer, split in personality due to his family history and the freedom granted by his former mentor.

Am I viewing this darkly? Yes. And I’m making a twisted trail that leaves no main character untouched in a story arc that spans 2 seasons. But wouldn’t that be high drama? And don’t you think Goren is capable of it?

Replacing Gil Grissom - Fishburne or Russell or Malkovich

Oh how the rumors are flying now. With the fact that William Petersen will be ending his well-known role of Gil Grissom on C.S.I. the race has been on for producers to find a replacement. Previously I stated that I felt without the presence of Grissom the show was more than likely to fold. I may have spoken too soon.

The buzz is out stating that Laurence Fishburne will be stepping in and heading the C.S.I. original. Now that is a surprise to me. Fishburne is a definite presence and is renown for his roles in movies, like Apocalypse Now, The Matrix, The Tuskegee Airmen as well as stage like Thurgood. Obviously the producers of C.S.I. are looking for serious star power to fill the gap Petersen will create.

Is this enough to make the show continue to be interesting and viable? That’s hard to say. The purported storyline that would go with the character replacing Grissom is that the character would have

“same genetic profile as a serial killer but hasn't previously acted on any homicidal impulses.”

Now what that exactly means I’m not sure. It could be a spin in the series similar to the premise on the cable television show Dexter – where the lead is a serial killer but works within the legal system. It could be that the thought of such could drive the back stories on the television program.

Either way I am sure that Laurence Fishburne is more than capable enough to lead this popular show.

But the Hollywood rumor mill has a few other choices in mind as well. Also slated to be in the running for this program is John Malkovich and Kurt Russell. Both are strong film leading men, just like Fishburne.

For me, considering the proposed storyline that goes with the top spot, I would prefer Kurt Russell I think. He has a hard edge (like the Snake Plisken character from Escape from New York) to his characters that could be played well off of his generally calm demeanor. I can easily see him as a very dark, but highly charming character.

It’s not that Laurence Fishburne or John Malkovich can’t do the same, they have. But I think Russell can be more believable as a vile, sinister, evil and yet deceptive character. He really has the look for it.

So here is a question, who would you prefer as the lead of C.S.I. – with the understanding that he may or may not also be a serial killer:

• Laurence Fishburne
  
  
• John Malkovich
  
  
• Kurt Russell
  

Laurence Fishburne, Sealand, Disney and Iwao Takamoto - 1.9.2007.2

Here is some recent good news for Mr. Laurence Fishburne. It seems that he is expecting a new child with his wife Gina Torres. Mr. Fishburne is a father already, with 2 other children, so I’m sure he’s well prepared for the task of fatherhood. I wish their child a health birth and great success.

In odd news I think I know what you can do if you win the lottery for XXX millions. If you think it’s too crowded where you live, or disagree with the government you can always just buy your own nation. I’m serious. The principality of Sealand is now on the market according to Prince Michael Bates. It seems the family took over a platform that’s 7 miles off the coast of England and claimed sovereignty. Already the miniscule nation has fended off a hostile takeover and the British Navy. So you get a little history with you nation. And a currency as well as a national anthem.

I wish I had the money. Though the view is a bit parse, and it’s hardly self-sufficient. If it comes with a seat at the U.N. (and thus international aide) I think it’s a steal. I could really have some fun with this. So what would you do if you had your own country? Talk about a dollar and a dream.

In other odd news is the announcement that a sequel to a 43-year-old movie is now going forward. Yes it’s only taken more years than I have been alive. The demand must be intense, the money has been rolling in. Or so you’d assume. In fact is a sequel to It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. This is a genuinely funny movie. It’s filled with an ensemble cast (which is virtually impossible in the current environment of mega-pay for top entertainers) and a decent script. It made me laugh at least. But the plans have been made to continue the story with stars from today. Considering the quality of most sequels and re-makes these days I don’t have high hopes. Since most stars will not forgo their pay to make a movie, lesser stars are probable and I doubt a top notch comedy director is available at a discount (though most comedies these days makes me wonder who is a top-notch comedy director). Lastly the story is a bit dated, without a solid comedy writer I don’t think the idea grabs today’s generation. Essentially all the reasons why Rat Race was such a failure. Let’s hope this try is better.

Another thought that scares me a bit is the fact that Disney seems determined to enter the MMO space. If you aren’t familiar a MMO is a massively multiplayer online game. You may have heard of, or seen commercials for, Everquest and World of Warcraft. These are not a niche game genre, many games boast millions of players. And they get to play together in real-time. So you begin to see the attraction for Disney.

While the current efforts to bring a Pirates of the Caribbean MMO to life may be interesting I’m just afraid of a trend. Disney is know for running amok when it goes in a direction. I base that observation on Disney Europe and 42nd Street in New York City. Some may enjoy the mini-Disney that is now on west 42nd, I tend to feel that all the character has been sucked out of the area. When I’m there I don’t feel like I’m in NYC, I feel more like I’m in some kind of corporate vortex. So news that this corporation plans to try to map out world’s of whatever vision it would like to sell to our kids, terrifies me. My only hope is that they lose enough money to prevent any other mega-corp from following. If not I fear the gaming landscape that will appear.

Lastly, I wish a sad goodbye to Mr. Iwao Takamoto. His name may not be familiar to many but his creations are known world-wide. Mr. Takamoto created one of the most loved dogs ever, Scooby-Doo. Mr Takamoto was an animator, a career he started on due to the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. His legacy far outstrips the deplorable conditions that gave rise to it. In multiple decades his animations have brought joy to millions. Whether it’s the humor of Alexandra from Josie and the Pussycats, or Wilbur in Charlotte’s Web (which he directed), to Astro from the Jetsons. The artistic that provide us such wonderful gifts always go too soon. Any time we lose them it’s always too soon.

This is what I think, what do you think?