What if you lived in a world where everyone told the truth all the time, but you alone had discovered the ability to lie? That’s the basic premise of Ricky Gervais’ new film The Invention of Lying. I’m not sure the premise can work for an entire film, but the trailer looks like this one might be fun. The lying begins on September 25th.

You certainly don’t need me to tell you that Michael Jackson died on Thursday. I have to admit: This one hit me pretty hard, even though there’s a big part of me that would rather believe Jacko died back in 1988 or so.

We’ve spent more than a few inches of print space on Michael over the years, and I can say that I consider “Off the Wall” and “Thriller” to be two of the best ass-shaking good time records ever recorded.

I remember hearing “Billie Jean” for the first time, riding in the backseat of a car with some friends (on the way to who knows where) and arguing if it was a girl or boy singing (give me a break, I was 10). I sang it incessantly until the utter face-melting glory of “Beat It” was unleashed upon the world. I’ve been a die-hard Michael fan ever since. Sure, he lost me about the time of “Dangerous”, but damn those singles still snuck into my head each time I heard them. To this day I’ll defend “Moonwalker” for nothing else than giving us the “Smooth Criminal” video, which might be last time he really just blew us away with that effortless grace in motion. MJ made this awkward gangly tangly boy want to dance, and that’s saying something.

Hell, “Black and White” still pops into my head on occasion. I bought “Invincible“, for heaven’s sake; hoping, hoping, hoping that it’d have even a trace of that genius Michael left behind. Over the years I went back and discovered the almost effortless joy and power of the Jackson 5, always just floored at how much power and grit that little boy’s voice had at 11 years old. “I Want You Back” is a guaranteed smile on my face to this day by the time the first verse begins.

But at the end of the day there will always be “Off the Wall“. Holy crap, but I love that album. I don’t know ANYONE who can wholly resist movin’ when ‘Rock With You’ or ‘Don’t Stop ’til You Get Enough’ comes over the speakers, and it’s been the soundtrack to many a fine dance party at this, and every iteration of Fort Awesome.

It’s with a heavy heart that I say “G’night”, to Micheal at aged 50, but in some ways many fans like myself said it years ago. Even now I look past the freakish surgeries, the insane behavior, the allegations (that I suspect are truer than I’d like to believe), and see a man who effortless bridged the gap between soul, funk, pop, and rock. A troubled and talented soul who for all his faults, will always have those years of genius preserved for eternity.

G’night, Michael. Fade into that beautiful fog-filled laser hallway because you, at long last have gotten enough.

As you may have noticed by glancing at a calendar we’re rapidly approaching the 4th of July. For next Thursday we’re looking for a good Top Ten or two inspired by the upcoming holiday. And we’re looking to you. That’s right true believers! Now’s your chance to get your own Top Ten published on the site! Feel free to cover anything you wish as long as it fits into the theme of the holiday: movies, specific scenes, songs, whatever. Hey, if you want to do the Top Ten most patriotic super-heroes I’m not gonna’ stop you. Take a look back at some of our past Thursday Top Tens to get a feel what we’re looking for. All we’re asking is you get it to us as soon as possible so we can look it over, make any suggestions or necessary edits. And if you have certain pics or video clips in mind be sure to include links to those as well. Thanks folks!

There was more to read, but it’s been a busy, busy week. These three will just have to do…

Wonder Woman #33 - I’ve never been a big Wonder Woman fan. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I dislike the character. The fact is, much like Marvel’s God of Thunder, the stories sometimes get far too bogged down in comic re-imagining of mythology for me. I like Diana as part of a larger group, such as the JLA, but on her own I sometimes find her tedious. This issue is a good example: War of the Gods, yah dah, yah dah, yah dah. However, in the final scenes (after Diana cold cocks Zeus) we are given a glimmer of a possible new beginning for the character apart from the Amazons. Now you’ve got my attention. I think I’ll stick around a little to see where this goes. This issue isn’t a must-read, but I’ll be sure to take a look at the next one.

Continue reading Comic Rack - Wonder Woman, Spidey, & Guardians

Our pal Eric from Scene-Stealers and I caught an early screening of Michael Mann’s new film Public Enemies last night. You’ll have to wait for the review (the film doesn’t hit theaters until next Wednesday), but I’ll share with you this short scene involving John Dillinger (Johnny Depp) explaining to Billie (Oscar winner Marion Cotillard) just what it is he does for a living.

Can you believe 2009 is almost half over? It’s been an up-and-down year at the movies, but here’s a short list of ten films which represent the best I have seen so far this year. I wouldn’t take bets on more than a couple having a real shot at this list come December, but, for now, this is the best of the bunch. Note: There are a couple of flicks, most notably The Hangover and The Girlfriend Experience which I haven’t been able to get to yet. Whether they would wind up on this list will just have to remain a mystery.

Continue reading Thursday Top Ten Movies of 2009 (so far)

This really bums me out. Just days after learning that Johnny Carson’s longtime sidekick, Ed McMahon, had passed away comes the news that the former Mrs. Majors and original Charlie’s Angel has succumbed to cancer at the age of 62 earlier today in Santa Monica, California.

Although known best for Charlie’s Angels (and this iconic 70’s poster), Farrah Fawcett worked for years in television (I Dream of Jeanie, The Partridge Family, S.W.A.T., Ally McBeal), films (Logan’s Run, The Apostle, Dr. T & the Women), and several off-Broadway productions.

She earned three Emmy nominations, most notably for playing a battered wife in 1984 TV-movie The Burning Bed. And I’ll always remember her fondly for her role as tree-lover Beauty in The Cannonball Run.

G’night Farrah, you will be missed.
February 2, 1947 - June 25, 2009
R.I.P.

How ’bout a little time waster? Check out Zodiac Reactor. Collect elemental orbs from the target zone (don’t grab them too soon, and don’t let them get inside!) to power the reactor which will convert the energy of the four elements into stars.

During the third season of the 60’s Batman TV-show the character of Batgirl (played by Yvonne Craig) was introduced along with her own theme song composed by Billy May.

Although the character was a regular during that final season the full song was only heard twice in “The Wail of the Siren” and “The Unkindest Tut of All.” That doesn’t mean it wasn’t memorable, or worth sharing. Enjoy!

Batgirl theme song

I hated Michael Bay’s first Transformers, and this second installment is more of the same only longer, louder, sleazier, and (if possible) dumber.

Part Deux is filled with lazy humor, cheap gags (such as multiple shots of humping dogs and robots), a confusing and ridiculous plot (which is so inane characters twice have to stop and explain it not only to us but each other), big, though not too impressive, special effects, and little else. It’s obvious that Bay and screenwriters Ehren Kruger, Roberto Orci, and Alex Kurtzman love robots (wait, it took three of you to write this movie?). What isn’t obvious is if they give two shits about Transformers, or their fans.

Continue reading The Transformers have Fallen and they can’t get up