Reading: A Gathering of Doorways by Michael Jasper
Music: Solas
TV/Movie: Speed Racer
Link o' the Day: Animated Knots by Grog

Time for a couple of quick movie reviews.



First up, I've finally gotten around to seeing Hellboy II: The Golden Army. It was...okay. The second half was better than the first half. I wasn't a fan of Abe Sapien's voice--played as it was by the actor inside the costume, Doug Jones, instead of David Hyde Pierce doing the voice. Hellboy himself looked a little smaller, less bulky and imposing than he had in the first movie. Selma Blair was as ignorable in this movie as she was in the last--but they may also be the fault of the character. Moody women on fire is so three years ago. Likewise the prince and princess characters were likewise flat and un-interesting despite one being the villain and the other an unlikely love interest. Furthermore, the story and set design seemed to move away from the Cthulhu-esque horror adventure of the last movie to a more Gaiman-esque fantasy kind of setup. It wasn't what I was expecting, and it took me a while to get into the groove of it.

I was not a fan of how, particularly in the beginning, it seemed they were going for Men In Black style gag humor. It just didn't fit and served as more a distraction than anything else. Directors and their toys, ya know?

Okay, John. So what did you like?



I liked the character of Johann Krauss--and specifically how I was set up not to like him at first, but as the story progressed, I grew to like him more and more. I thought that was pretty skillfully done. I liked the Angel of Death scene and the chilling revelations of Hellboy's fate. I liked the stone giant that functioned as the gateway. I thought the Tooth Fairies were interesting and unique. And I still liked Hellboy. And Abe--somewhat. The story got better as it moved along, but overall...it could have been a lot better.

Recommendation? A one-time rental for fantasy adventure fans. Worth watching once on cable, but not pay-for-view. Hellboy fans... well, they'll buy the DVD no matter what I say. Some will probably sell it for the used bins. Other Hellboy fans may do well to get their copy there than paying full price.

Oddly enough, I do hope they make a sequel. But if they do, they better pay off the set up from the Angel of Death scene.

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Next up, Auto Focus starring Greg Kinnear and Willem Dafoe, a biopic about the late Bob Crane, star of the classic TV show Hogan's Heroes.

This was pretty good. The pacing was a little slow, but for a biopic, that's probably to be expected. The movie focuses on Crane's rise to stardom and his subsequent fall into obscurity, and his introduction and obsession with pornography and sex addiction. It ends, of course, with his infamous motel room murder--mostly likely at the hands of John Carpenter (not the director) who first introduced Crane to homemade porn and the swinging scene. Carpenter was tried but not found guilty--but the movie nonetheless paints a strong argument for him as being Cran'e killer after Crane tried to break free from Carpenters influence.

Acting wise, Kinnear does a good job doing a Rob Lowe impersonation of Bob Crane. I can't judge the verity of Dafoe's rendition of Carpenter, but Dafoe is a damn fine actor and can play creepy with the best of them.

Special shoutout goes to Kurt Feller's portrayal of Werner Klemperer--and especially Klemperer's Commandant Klink. It was spot on.

Overall, it's a good picture, tho not for everyone. I loved Hogan's Heroes as a kid, and somehow seeing Bob Crane playing drums at a strip joint just doesn't jibe. I suppose that's why it's an interesting movie. Recommendations? It's on the Sundance Channel's On Demand right now, so you can see it there. It might be worth a rental if you're in the mood for something slow and sleazy. Cinematically and scriptwise it doesn't impress enough to warrant a purchase unless you're an absolutely die-hard fan of Crane's or of the movie's stars, Kinnear and/or Dafoe.

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Today's link goes to a page with fine selection of knots. Yeah, knots. Good for sailing, camping, securing stuff to the roof of the car, and taking care of lifes other little problems like that dog next door that won't stop barking. I'm just saying. Anyway, check out Animated Knots by Grog.

Then go find some rope.

Cheers!