Thursday, February 28, 2019

Sunday, February 24, 2019

With the Oscars tonight, I have to say that I'm one of those who isn't for Black Panther getting a Best Picture nomination. While I haven't seen it, I can't imagine it was better than Avengers: Infinity War. That being said, I get sick and tired of people online who when they talk about superhero movies that should've been nominated, it's always the same two examples: The Dark Knight and Logan. Honestly, I found both movies entertaining but very overrated and I wouldn't consider either one to be Best Picture worthy.
Even if you do, is it too hard to find other examples? Seriously, we've had superhero films for 50 years going back to Batman '66. Let's have some variety and bring up Superman '78, Batman '89, Batman Returns, Spider-Man 2, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, or X-Men: Days of Future Past. You can disagree with me on those picks but my point is that there are other options besides those two movies.

Wednesday, February 20, 2019

Remembering Gene Siskel (1999)

Sad milestone as it was on this day 20 years ago we lost one of the great film critics Gene Siskel who of course was best known as part of the Siskel & Ebert team with Roger Ebert with the two hosting several critic shows from 1975-1999 and popularized "Two Thumbs Up". Siskel passed away from complications from brain surgery at 53 years old and at the time of his death was on a six month leave of absence that began on February 3, 1999. Anybody who knows Siskel & Ebert know he had been in declining health for nearly a year as he underwent surgery for a brain tumor in May 1998 and was never the same after that as the June 1998-January 1999 episodes can be tough to watch as we was slower. Outside of the show, Siskel worked for the Chicago Tribune, TV Guide, and CBS This Morning while working locker room reports on Chicago Bulls games for the local WBBM station.
While Ebert soldiered on with Richard Roeper who did a good job, it obviously wasn't the same and it makes you wonder what more they could've done had Siskel lived longer. Plus, it would've been nice if Ebert kept their old specials like "If We Picked The Winners" and "Memo To The Academy".

Deuce

KISS-Strutter

Happy 45th Anniversary to the first KISS album.



Monday, February 4, 2019

I forgot but did anyone else realize that yesterday was the 60th Anniversary of "The Day The Music Died" where Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson were killed in a plane crash?