'TBH Politoons'
Thanks, again, Tim!
Reader Response
Re: LOTR: The Two Towers
from Tim in Denton
Listen, I'm a fan of Tolkien. I've read every bit of his work not ghosted by Christopher Tolkien, and even a little of what was ghosted. But the "review" of The Two Towers that appeard on the E!Page was not anything related to criticism. It was more of a compare/contrast piece which served only to point out the differences between the books and the movie. It's different from the books; okay, I get it. But was the movie good? Bad? Indifferent? Does the story as seen on film make sense? Is it entertaining? Is it visually engaging? Are the characters-again, as depicted IN THE FILM-believeable, charismatic, or otherwise interesting?
What you published in the web page was nothing more than some purist with a clipboard checking off differences between what JRRT wrote and what Peter Jackson shot. Good heavens, just tell me what you thought of the movie for the movie's sake. Don't point to the novel and say "the movie is wrong." Instead, point to the screen and tell me what you think of it as a filmgoing experience.
BTW, I blew off going to see the new Star Trek movie to see The Two Towers a second time. I had a lump in my throat from the thrilling opening sequence until the battle at Helm's Deep began. It's a visual stunner; I MUST go to New Zealand and see it for myself now.
The only real movie criticism put into piece by Brad B. was his comment on Gollum, "Finally - and this is a minor point - why does Gollum sound like Donald Duck with laryngitis?" a fair enough point. The rest of the piece was just some purist bitching about how his beloved story was bastardized by the Hollywood machine. Want a film that's true to the novel? Make it yo' damn self. But don't expect a mass audience to buy tickets.
Of course the book is better than the movie. Whan has that ever NOT been the case? Whenever possible, I always see the movie version of a story before reading the book. That way I can enjoy them both.
~~ Tim in Denton
Thanks for the comments, Tim. One thing I've learned is to never fuck with Tolkien purists.
Perhaps the movie should be billed as 'Peter Jackson's LOTR', because he has re-written enough that a kid couldn't watch the movie for a book report without getting busted.
Cripes, Elrond was half-human. He had no problem with his daughter's marriage, so long as he knew that she was sure she knew what she wanted.
Yes, it's 'little' things. But, as a kid, I remember reading a book/seeing a movie (& vice versa) and being able to pick out the differences. Made me remember both.
BTW, one case where the movie is better than the book, and still remains true to the story, is 'The Godfather'.
He's Been Busy, Again
The Worried Shrimp
In The Chaos Household
Last Night
Very foggy morning, but cleared nicely by noon.
Sorry there's no 'Disinfotainment Today' today. Between computer problems, an unhappy ISP & sundry quirks, it's been a long day. Shit, to be honest, it's been a long week - and it's not even Wednesday.
Guess I didn't 'win' any 'Rolling Stones' tickets by lottery. Does anyone know anybody who did?
Tonight, Tuesday, there is nothing fresh (AGAIN) on CBS. RERUN 'JAG', RERUN 'The Guardian', and RERUN 'Judging Amy'.
Scheduled on a fresh Dave are Claire Danes and Bob Sarlatte.
Scheduled on a fresh Craiggers are Oscar de la Hoya and Annabella Sciorra.
NBC has a fresh 'Just Shoot Me', a fresh 'In-Laws', a fresh 'Frasier', a fresh 'Hidden Hills', and then 'Dateline'.
Scheduled on a fresh Jay are Nicole Kidman, Dame Edna (Barry Humphries), and Shania Twain.
Scheduled on a fresh Conan are Martin Lawrence, Michael Rosenbaum, and Thievery Corporation.
Scheduled on a frseh Carson Daly are Moby and Fat Joe.
ABC starts the night with a RERUN '8 Simple Rules', then a RERUN 'Jim', followed by a fresh 'Bonnie',
followed by a RERUN 'Less Than Perfect', and then a fresh 'NYPD Blue'.
The WB has a fresh 'Gilmore Girls' followed by a fresh 'Smallville'.
Faux starts the night with a RERUN 'That 70's Show', followed by another RERUN 'That 70's Show', then a fresh '24' (Day 2: 5:00 - 6:00pm).
UPN starts the evening with a 'special' - 'UPN's Funky Flubs', then a fresh 'Abby', and a RERUN 'Girlfriends'.
Fresh 'The Osbournes' on MTV.
Anyone have any opinions?
Or reviews?
(See below for addresses)
Singer Sheryl Crow shows off her t-shirt as she arrives for the 30th annual American Music Awards, in Los Angeles January 13, 2003.
Photo by Fred Prouser
Impersonated a Movie Executive
Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg learned about con men long before he directed "Catch Me If You Can."
Spielberg was in high school when he and his friends answered an ad for movie extras. Spielberg says a guy in a trailer had them fill out applications and then asked for a $10 processing fee. Spielberg
says he read in the newspaper about scam-artists who made believe they were making a movie and instead made off with $2,000.
In a separate incident, Spielberg says he got off the bus during the Universal Studios tour in 1965, wandered around the lot and ended up impersonating a movie executive. "I spent the whole day walking
around Universal watching TV shows being made," Spielberg told AP Radio. He says he got a ride home and then took a chance. He put on a suit and borrowed a briefcase. "Then next day I was driven to the
lot, got out of the car and walked past the guard," he said. "I couldn't believe how easy it was."
Spielberg said he continued impersonating the executive for three summers. "I actually went to a camera store and got little plastic titles with stick-ons and found an empty office and stuck my name on
the directory. And my room number in front. That was an Abignale. That's my only Abignale," he said.
Spielberg says he was looking over his shoulder like Frank Abignale the entire three summers. "I always thought I'd get caught. Every single day, I feared police uniforms," he said.
Steven Spielberg
The Information One-Stop
Moose & Squirrel
'Fear Factor' & 'Saturday Night Live'
Super Bowl Halftime On NBC
NBC is tackling the Super Bowl again, pitting a 20-minute edition of "Saturday Night Live" against ABC's Shania Twain halftime spectacular on Jan. 26.
The network saw modest success last year with a two-part, Playboy-themed edition of "Fear Factor" that aired during halftime and after the big game. This year, NBC brass have decided to focus solely on halftime.
At around 7 p.m. EST, NBC will begin airing a repeat 90-minute edition of "Fear Factor." When the Super Bowl hits halftime, NBC will interrupt "Fear" with a live broadcast of "SNL's" Jimmy Fallon/Tina Fey-anchored "Weekend Update," which will
likely include several popular characters and bits from the sketch laffer.
The rest of "Fear" will air once "Update" ends.
Fox pioneered such cheeky stunts in 1992, when it aired a special live edition of sketch comedy "In Living Color" during halftime of CBS' coverage of the game. The special stole a huge chunk of CBS' viewers.
Since then, several cable networks have tried to lure viewers away with various gimmicks, such as a "Beavis and Butt-head" special on MTV or USA Network's 1999 WWF halftime grudge match.
Super Bowl Halftime On NBC
Hollywood Walk of Fame Star
Nicole Kidman
Actress Nicole Kidman on Monday declared herself "thrilled" to be the newest star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, adding that she doesn't care if "people walk all over me for the rest of my life."
The Golden Globe-winning actress claimed the 2,211th star on the fabled sidewalk beside the Kodak Theater, home to the Academy Awards, with a whispered "Wow!"
Dressed in a black knit suit and spiked heels, the flame-haired Australian-raised actress attended the dedication ceremony with a gaggle of executives from Paramount Studios, which produced her latest film, "The Hours."
For more, Nicole Kidman
Returning To WB
Steve Harvey
Steve Harvey won't have to worry about fighting booking wars for his new WB variety-talk show: He doesn't plan to have any celebrity guests.
The primetime show will shun stars in favor of "everyday people with extraordinary and humorous gifts," the network said.
Harvey will produce the series, which is being positioned as an alternative to "the predominance of celebrity-driven talk shows," WB said in its weekend announcement.
Steve Harvey
Not Fans
Leonard & Steve
Don't put Leonard Maltin and Steve Guttenberg in the same room. Guttenberg was mortified when the "Entertainment Tonight" critic wrote a bio of the "Police Academy" actor on imdb.com, calling him, "the youthful-looking everyman." Guttenberg, now starring in "P.S. Your Cat is Dead," told indiewire.com's Brandon Judell, "You know, Leonard was so remarkably rude . . . I just don't deserve what he said because I'm somebody who's really contributed to culture. Popular culture."
Leonard & Steve
Broke A Toe
Jennifer Aniston
Jennifer Aniston, nursing a broken toe, needed a cane and a co-star to collect her People's Choice Award.
Aniston, who plays Rachel Green on the hit NBC series "Friends," used the cane and a helping hand from co-star Matthew Perry Sunday to walk to the stage of the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.
The 33-year-old actress received the award for favorite female television performer during the 29th annual awards show, hosted by Tony Danza.
Aniston broke a toe on her right foot after hitting it on piece of furniture, her publicist said Monday. He didn't elaborate.
Jennifer Aniston
In The Kitchen With BartCop & Friends
Gets Date with CBS
'Greek Wedding'
Sixteen months after CBS made a pilot commitment to a small-screen version of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," the Nia Vardalos starrer finally has a premiere date.
CBS is expected to announce Monday that "My Big Fat Greek Life," as the show's being called, will get a high-profile bow Monday, Feb. 24, at 9:30 p.m., sandwiched between original episodes
of "Everybody Loves Raymond" and "CSI: Miami." The date also happens to be the night after CBS' annual Grammycast, and barely a week after the "Greek" DVD is set to hit stores -- all of which
is intended to give the show the maximum promotional platform possible.
"Greek" won't get to stay put on CBS' comfy Monday schedule, however. Its regular time slot is set to be Sundays at 8 p.m., starting March 2. "Becker" moves to 8:30 p.m.
'Greek Wedding'
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) meets with Antwone Fisher in Washington January 13, 2003. Fisher is a former sailor whose story the recently released movie 'Antwone Fisher,' directed by Denzel Washington, is based on.
Photo by Jeff Snyder
Says She Doesn't Have a Tattoo
Anna Kournikova
Anna Kournikova has settled one of the debates at this year's Australian Open -- the fabled tattoo on her back does not exist.
Speculation has been rife after Kournikova was photographed with a large plaster on her back just above the waistband of her skirt.
But laughing at reports the plaster was to cover up the name of a boyfriend or some body art, the blonde Russian said: "I don't think I have anything on my body, no.
It is a heat patch ... I have had chronic back pain and it is a heat patch I have worn for some years.
Anna Kournikova
Released on Bail
Pete Townshend
British rock star Pete Townshend was released on police bail after being questioned by detectives on suspicion of possessing indecent images of children but has not been charged, his lawyer said on Tuesday.
Police said the 57-year-old guitarist with legendary band The Who had been bailed to reappear at a police station in late January after being quizzed by officers for more than an hour on Monday night.
"Mr. Townshend has been at the station this evening answering questions from police. He has not been charged," the musician's lawyer John Cohen told reporters. "He's been bailed to come back perhaps at a future occasion if they want him to answer more questions."
Townshend was arrested on Monday after police involved in Britain's largest-ever operation against pedophilia descended on the rock star's mansion in Richmond, southwest London. They took away boxes full of computers and other equipment.
Townshend, who has said he believes he was abused as a child, acknowledged on Saturday he had downloaded child pornography from the Internet but insisted he had done it for research purposes.
Townshend is the most prominent figure to have been questioned as part of the Operation Ore police inquiry which has resulted in more than 1,300 arrests so far in Britain.
The probe, which began 10 months ago, was launched after U.S. law enforcement agencies identified about 7,000 British suspects as users of child pornography Web sites.
Pete Townshend
For a perspective, from a rational British site, check out 'The SideShow', by Avedon Carol.
As phrased there "You may not be interpreting what you're reading about this bust correctly because you don't know how stupid UK law can be.
Thanks, Avedon!
Ends After Failures
Voter News Service
Six major news organizations announced Monday the breakup of Voter News Service, the consortium they had built to count votes and conduct surveys on Election Day. The decision follows two major election-night failures in a row by VNS.
Given the expense of mounting such operations on their own, ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, Fox News Channel and The Associated Press said they were considering other options for sharing vote counts and exit poll surveys.
But it will no longer be VNS, an operation that was created in 1993.
In November 2000, flawed information from VNS twice led television networks to incorrectly declare a winner in the presidential race in Florida, the state that proved to be key to the outcome. The results there were not
determined until weeks later after recounts and a court battle that was resolved by the U.S. Supreme Court in favor of George W. Bush over Al Gore.
Following that embarrassment, VNS contracted with Battelle Memorial Institute, an Ohio-based research company, to rebuild its system. But in the 2002 election, VNS was unable to provide its members and other clients
with results from exit poll surveys. This material is used to help make projections of winners and to supplement the vote count with an analysis of why people voted as they did.
The dissolution of VNS means that the system Battelle was building will not be completed, according to a network executive who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The networks are considering asking the AP to provide an upgraded vote count to replace the VNS tabulation, the network source said. AP has long conducted a state-based tabulation separate from VNS. Relying
in part on its own numbers, AP was the only consortium member not to declare Bush the winner in Florida early in the morning after the 2000 election.
It's considered highly unlikely that any of the news organizations will strike out on their own to conduct exit polling. Besides the expense, the operation is exceedingly complex, as pollsters
need to take into account increased use of absentee ballots.
Voter News Service
Formerly 'The Vidiot'
Has Knee Operation
Queen Elizabeth
Britain's 76-year-old Queen Elizabeth underwent a successful operation at a London hospital Monday to remove a torn cartilage after a minor accident last month.
"The 45-minute operation, which was performed by The Queen's orthopedic surgeon Mr. Roger Vickers, went very well and Her Majesty is expected to leave hospital tomorrow morning," a statement from Buckingham palace said.
The Queen, who has enjoyed robust health for most of her life, hurt her right knee and had to use a walking stick after stumbling when she walked over uneven ground in December.
Queen Elizabeth
The Osbournes, from left, Sharon, Ozzie, Kelly and Jack open the 30th annual American Music Awards in Los Angeles, Monday, Jan. 13, 2003.
Photo by Mark J. Terrill
Guesting On 'Dragnet'
Sandra Bernhard
Sandra Bernhard, who's had her fair share of mentions in gossip columns, gets to play a columnist in an episode of Dick Wolf's remake of "Dragnet." The show - which stars Ed ("Married With Children") O'Neil
as Sgt. Joe Friday, will debut soon on ABC right after "Alias." Bernhard plays a savvy, cosmopolitan dirt-disher named Alberta Danner.
Sandra Bernhard
Going To TV Heaven
'Touched by an Angel'
"Touched by an Angel" will ascend to heaven as it wraps up its nine-year run on CBS, the drama's executive producer said Monday.
"We will give a glimpse of heaven" in the May finale of the drama starring Roma Downey as a helpful angel on Earth, Martha Williamson said. Della Reese, John Dye and Valerie Bertinelli co-star.
She's focused on creating an "unforgettable" finale that will include some depiction of heaven, which she said has yet to be portrayed on the show.
"Television shows will come and go, but you can never cancel the impact of 'Touched by an Angel,'" she said.
'Touched by an Angel'
Divorced Again
Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson and his second wife were granted a divorce Monday, and the former heavyweight champion agreed to pay her $6.5 million from future earnings.
The deal ends a yearlong dispute between Tyson and Monica Turner, who accused the boxer of adultery when she filed for divorce in January 2002.
Tyson must pay Turner a percentage of his future purses on top of an undisclosed sum he already has given her, according to Turner's attorney, Sanford Ain. That figure rises to $9 million if Tyson fails to pay on time.
Turner was awarded the couple's $4.75 million mansion in Farmington, Conn. and the $4 million Potomac house where she lives. Turner also gets custody of their children, Rayna, 6 and Amir, 5. Tyson keeps his home in Las Vegas.
Mike Tyson
A pair of Siberian Tigers wait for food at the Siberian Tiger Zoo in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, January 12, 2003. The zoo, which has a total of 300 tigers, has a program to breed and reintroduce the animals
into the wild. It is estimated there are only some 700 Siberian tigers in the wild.
Photo by Guang Niu
'The Osbournes'
Freshly Updated! 'The Osbournes' ~ Page 4
'The Osbournes' ~ Page 3
'The Osbournes' ~ Page 2
'The Osbournes' ~ Page 1
