Jay Bookman

By The Corporal

December 29, 2008 12:02 PM | Link to this

When are they going to do the remake of **Old Yeller ??

By The Corporal

December 29, 2008 12:08 PM | Link to this

My Own Answer

Never. It would be politically incorrect to have a kid take a firearm and shoot a rabid dog.

By ByteMe

December 29, 2008 12:10 PM | Link to this

Wait… Gaza burns, Somalia’s civil war is about to get bigger (and involve more on-the-seas piracy), Jim Webb is announcing that he’s going to take on prison reform in the Senate, and you think it’s a slow news day? Wazzup with that?

By spankmonkey

December 29, 2008 12:14 PM | Link to this

Song of the South?

By The Corporal

December 29, 2008 12:16 PM | Link to this

To ByteMe

I suggest interesting/relevant topics to Jay quite often but alas we have to go with what he decides for his fiefdom.

By Davo

December 29, 2008 12:25 PM | Link to this

Slow news day? Whatever the AJC is paying you is too much…go back to your crossword.

Jay is in a race to the bottom with JW.

By scrappy

December 29, 2008 12:35 PM | Link to this

In defense to Jay - the people would have to care about the actual whole “world” news. The AJC barely has articles of importance from around our nation, much less the world. In order to get the attention of most readers from GA the topic has to be UGA, Vick, or taxes.

By Midori

December 29, 2008 12:36 PM | Link to this

I went to see Valkyrie on Christmas Day, and I loved it.

Funny thing is, everyone but Ebert gave the movie a bad review.

I also want to see Benjamin Button - may go to see that one on New Year’s Day.

By Mr Snarky

December 29, 2008 12:36 PM | Link to this

I saw James Bond and it was…James Bond. Daniel Craig is a bada$$.

By Logical Dude

December 29, 2008 12:36 PM | Link to this

In quite a turn from the current postings, I’ll actually try to answer the questions.

“Tropic Thunder” was awesome and funny. Good war movie spoof, as everything was fake, but they pulled this one off well.

“Fred Claus” - funny and good to watch, but one I probably wouldn’t buy, just watch at Christmas.

“Step-Brothers” - funny plus a dose of toilet humor, if you like that kind of thing. (and I do)

“Harold & Kumar escape Guantanamo Bay” is hilarious, with toilet humor, drug humor, and cultural jabs.

Now the BEST movie I saw this year was … ummmmmm… hmmmmmmm… hold on a sec…

The Dark Knight?

mostly because “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” will not be released until next year.

… and I didn’t see Twilight.

By getalife

December 29, 2008 12:56 PM | Link to this

“Nailin’ Paylin” is hilarious.

By The Corporal

December 29, 2008 1:21 PM | Link to this

Off Topic

Kerry to Hold Hearings on Chasing Pirates

Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman favors hot pursuit against pirates, but is resistant to U.S sending American forces to chase them ashore.

Two Comments:

1) Don’t Chase …… blow them out of the water!

2) Reminds me of the old comic book series ….. with a slight change …..Kerry and the Pirates.

For you youngsters:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TerryandthePirates(comic_strip)

By DB, Gwinnettian

December 29, 2008 1:54 PM | Link to this

The first two thirds or so of wall-e had me thinking that Pixar might have a genuine classic on their hands, but they didn’t seem to know what to do/where to go with the post-apocalyptic premise.

By RealityKing

December 29, 2008 2:41 PM | Link to this

Good movies are few and far between these days.., mostly do to the actors guild. I mean, are we suppose to enjoy watching fictional characters with their hypocrits mindless poltical viewpoints etchasketched across their foreheads? The same hypocrits again and again and again?? Hollywood is obviously in dire need of new talent.

By RealityKing

December 29, 2008 2:44 PM | Link to this

Although there is a really good comedy on now…, about this goofy guy turn democratic politician.

By Copyleft

December 29, 2008 2:54 PM | Link to this

Yep, the spunky smart guy takes on the corrupt establishment—and beats them!

Truly a heartwarming holiday classic.

By RealityKing

December 29, 2008 3:05 PM | Link to this

No no Copyleft…, not the goofy guy destine to win best picture by playing the gay guy turned democratic politican. The professional goofy guy play acting the nieve politican. You know, the one that will fit right in with the corrupt establishment, especially the known dirt from Chicago.

By @@

December 29, 2008 3:08 PM | Link to this

I’m frugal, jay. Besides, hollywooders, for the most part, don’t support America, so I don’t support them.

My daughter rented “The Dark Knight”. Ledger’s performance was exceptional. My husband rented “Expelled” which enlightened me as to the restrictive policies of the liberal elitist within the science /sarc/ community. Agree with Darwin’s theory or you’re out on your keister.

250 proteins are required to form a single cell, and they must all come together in the proper sequence. There’s an information quotient that must be included to pull that off. What is it?

When renowned scientists were cornered on the question, they responded with a theory of something!?! from the primordial ooze finding it’s way onto the backs of crystals (oohmmmm) or that life was “seeded” here by alien beings.

Christopher Hitchens acknowledged that some sort of intelligence had to be involved, but under no circumstances, could he entertain the possibility it may have belonged to God. He’s the one that preferred the “alien theory”.

The scientists who had been booted, losing tenure, and being blacklisted were more than eager to entertain both theories.

Then the movie goes into Darwin’s impact on the nazis.

I found/find Ben Stein to be very unpretentious. Liberal elitists? Not so much.

By Dusty

December 29, 2008 3:13 PM | Link to this

Best movie??

“Marley and Me” sounds good.

Interesting news?

Jay, I though you would surely zero in on the Atlanta firm now making “guy girdles”. Sounds like a headliner to streamliners. Forget the biceps and waste the waist! (Oh well….maybe Woman to Woman might wish to girdle the grid on that one.)

By DB, Gwinnettian

December 29, 2008 3:16 PM | Link to this

@@, this review’s for you.

By Copyleft

December 29, 2008 3:28 PM | Link to this

I knew who you meant, RK… and I knew who I was talking about too. Franken’s smarter AND funnier than the GOP establishment he’s been ticking off, and it’s heartwarming to watch him defeat them.

By The BlogFather of Scroll

December 29, 2008 3:34 PM | Link to this

I saw Hancock last night. An alcoholic super-hero. Most of the dialogue was lifted from my blogs. Seriously.

I must have the ear of many many script writers. There’s simply too much similarity in what I write and what ends up in screen plays.

I rule the world from my keyboard. I am in the enviable position, which I have deliberately brought about by always giving away payoffs to anyone who reads me, of being able to write history, change the world, and effect change from my keyboard, because people want to be the hero, people want to be considered great, so you simply arm them with greatness and they parrot. That way, I am slowly educating the world to the Age of Analchord, in which I will emerge the toppermost of the poppermost, A#1, top of the heap…these vagabond shoes….are yearning to stray…..I’m going to be a part of it….from old new york…

Everybody gets me.

By Paul

December 29, 2008 3:40 PM | Link to this

For mood and scenery - and exploring the theme of transformation - Twilight

For watching two great actors together for the first time - and tackling several thought-provoking themes - The Bucket List

For one I haven’t seen but will, based upon the recommendations of two people who don’t recommend many movies - The Secret Lives of Bees

For taking the nth sequel and making it into what the series should have been from the start - The Dark Knight (Batman)

For being the first in a superhero genre and getting it comic-book right - Iron Man

Havta do it - for light fun that turns out better than we could have hoped, given the caving into picking nonmusical ‘stars’ for the lead - Mamma Mia

For showing that a great actor is just that - a master in his craft - regardless of what you think of the person, his views or anything else personal - Sean Penn in Milk

And two I haven’t seen, haven’t heard people say much about but will see - for latest cgi and a timeless story - Wall-e and

for a movie of historical import, that successfully transfers the two lead actors from the theater to the cinema - Frost/Nixon

By Hillbilly Deluxe

December 29, 2008 3:41 PM | Link to this

I haven’t been to the movies in years. Always liked Roger Ebert though.

By Chad Harris

December 29, 2008 3:55 PM | Link to this

The most disappointing movie I saw this year was There Will Be Blood with Daniel Day Lewis (dir. Paul Anderson). It reminded me of an 18th or 19th century morality play or novel, but the plot was bland to me.

Lewis won the Best Actor Oscar, and it was nominated in a lot of categories, and won the best Art Direction for its set.

It was nominated for Best Pic of Year but didn’t win.

I always like to rate them 1-10 on the “would see it again” or “glad I saw it scale”, and the only reason I’m glad I saw it wes because Daniel Day Lewis is a great actor, and there was a lot of buzz over the movie.

It was disappointing to me in a big way.

Movies I hope to see are Benjamin Button, Gran Terino, Changling, Revolutionary Road, Marley and Me (for the 26 dogs in it), Valkyrie (although it takes considerable license with history), and The Reader all without quotes and italics because AJC doesn’t provide hypertext markup buttons.

I hope to see Button in the next two nights.

By getalife

December 29, 2008 3:55 PM | Link to this

Watching “No Country For Old Men” now.

A sick and twisted story of dope, murder and psyhco Texans.

By @@

December 29, 2008 4:02 PM | Link to this

Why thank you DB @ 3:16.

And in Ebert’s SunTimes review, we have one man’s critique. I gave you one woman’s.

When I WAS paying to watch the hollywooders hone their art, I based my decisions on reviews, OR another person’s critique. Nine times out of ten I was sorely disappointed, feeling like my money had been wasted.

Now this may surprise you but I like movies with a philosophical/sociological message. If I can’t find one of those, I go for blood, guts & violence.

“Pan’s Labyrinth” I enjoyed for its message of good…evil…and sacrifice.

Oddly enough, Mr. Ebert and I agreed on that one but we won’t always…

By RealityKing

December 29, 2008 4:20 PM | Link to this

Horton Hears a Who! The symbolism reminds me of Bush’s steadfast stubborness to save Iraq from itself and the progressively self-centered.

Horton hatches the Egg was apparently written for Obama..

By Taxpayer

December 29, 2008 4:34 PM | Link to this

I have not seen any movies in a while. What about comedy acts. I liked Jingle Bombs. That Ackmed is a blast.

By Chad Harris

December 29, 2008 4:35 PM | Link to this

@@ help me with the concept of “liberal elitist” policies within the scientist sarc community.

I assume you’re advocating creationism as an answer to existence of cells>>> “humans.”

It seems to me creationism is a psuedo-science elitist religiousity meme. I find most of Rick Warren’s stances petty and elitist.

I don’t think it’s any accident that thousands of animals have much of the same anatomy and physiology that you do, and that Mr. and Ms. doggie are far and away and 99% of what are used to plough through the NDAs before a drug hits controlled hospital beds when a new medication wins approval in any country including this one.

Variation, reproduction, and selection make scientific sense to me.

I don’t want to offend anyone, but I’m with Hitchens and many other people in failing to understand how someone birthed from a virgin. I think it takes sperm and egg.

I see the Old and New Testamant as interesting literature, inspiring to some people, and giving guidance to some people, but not to be interpreted literally.

Hitchens often cites the existence of evil as evidence against benevelent design and a designer.

As to well known people in Hollywood, there are actually more “conservative” personalities than “liberal” ones, and arch conservatism epicenters are plentiful in many geographical parts of California, including Orange County.

I don’t have a lot of information and evidence as to “aliens” and haven’t heard Hitchens invoke them in the PBS debates and speeches I have seen him participate in (a few).

I can’t help noticing that the majority of the same people who are anti-evolution and pro-creation are in the same anti-science camp as Bush whose administration has forced redactions of scientific documents in agencies, fired scientists for reporting the truth, even cowed Julie Gerberding, a CDC administrator who has done considerable damage to CDC and lost a significant percentage of brilliant staff over the last few years.

Recently (this spring) Gerberding acquiesced to having CDC testimony and reports on testimony on health effects of climate change censored by the Office of Management and Budget and Council on Environmental Quality.

By the way, can you tell me what the anti-science anti embryonic stem cell research public funding group plans to do with or about the 400,000 plus embryos that are discarded each year in this country by IVF clinics/labs because they are non-usable?

By Bosch

December 29, 2008 5:08 PM | Link to this

I watched Fargo and Dr. No on AMC last night. Both great flicks. Dr. No is such a cheesy Bond flick compared to now, but it’s still good, even the cheesy music. When Bond kills that big spider - that’s the best cheesy music part.

Anything by the Cohen Bros. I am all about. Santa bought me “Burn After Reading” for Christmas, so I’m going to sit back, drink some hot tea, with honey, lemon, and Jack Daniels (the entire Bosch family is sick-that’s my tee-totaler grandma’s cure for all which ails) and watch that tonight.

By Bosch

December 29, 2008 5:10 PM | Link to this

OH, and the Dark Knight is awesome. Lots of blowing up things. That was by far my favorite flick of the year.

By GOP is gone

December 29, 2008 5:10 PM | Link to this

Slumdog Millionare: very good movie

7 pounds: predictable, my husband commented that he would gladly help out with the suicide so he could leave.

By Bosch

December 29, 2008 5:14 PM | Link to this

I really enjoyed “Wanted” too this year - great music, unlike Bond.

The guy who did the soundtrack for that movie, Dan Elfman, is the red-haired guy from Oingo Boingo, for any of you who might remember that band.

He’s done the soundtracks for tons of movies as I have since found out. All the Batman movies, I think, and lots of other good ones.

By Bosch

December 29, 2008 5:17 PM | Link to this

Midori,

If you return, I read an article in the ol’ ajc, that pointed out the guys who did Valkyrie also did the Usual Suspects, another one of my favorite films.

I’m not allowed to see any more Tom Cruise movies, not that I would want to - he’s a freak.

By Paul

December 29, 2008 5:32 PM | Link to this

Hi Bosch

Heckuva way to end the year and begin a new one. Hope you and yours are better soon.

PS - skip the honey and lemon…

By Chad Harris

December 29, 2008 5:34 PM | Link to this

One of my candidates for Best Film but not this year is Dr. Zhivago always worth seeing.

By Bosch

December 29, 2008 5:43 PM | Link to this

Hey Paul! How’s the new grandson?

Aw, we only have colds, nothing serious. My son came home from college, and we’ve all been cooped up together. So, while it’s good to have all us home and not running around, it’s kind of a good excuse to lay around and watch movies.

Oh, and my hot water heater busted the day after Christmas, so not only were we all sick, but had to take cold showers. But some of us ( like me) just decided to be dirty. I love Christmas.

By Paul

December 29, 2008 5:52 PM | Link to this

Hey Bosch

He came home Christmas Eve - doesn’t get any better. Up to five pounds. Features are like a porcelain doll - sculpted. I was holding him and talking - he laughed. Daughter in law said it was gas. It’s her first… what does she know?

Why is it the kids stay healthy at college and sick at home? Just when you teach them to share -

Your remind me of George Carlin “why would anybody buy a hot water heater? They’re gonna pay to heat hot water?!? Me, I’m gonna buy a cold water heater - “

Wife and I watched The Bucket List last night. Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson. About two ill guys and their “Bucket List” - a list of things to do before they kick the bucket. Fine movie. Wonder if I’m too old to backpack up Italy and over through Greece?

By Bosch

December 29, 2008 6:01 PM | Link to this

Yeah, what does SHE know? But you know I could make a joke about the gas thing, but it’s Christmas. That’s really great news about your grand son. I’m glad he’s doing well.

To be honest, the college kid was the last to get sick. My daughter started it all. She’s been coughing like she needs to be in an iron lung. Hasn’t slowed her down though. She’s at the mall right now. OMG!!!

One thing you’ll never hear escape my mouth, “Hey, would you like to meet me at the mall?” I went to the mall a few days before Christmas for the first time in about three years and had to come home and drink.

No, your never too old to backpack in Europe. Great fun for any age. :-)

By GOP is gone

December 29, 2008 6:07 PM | Link to this

Bosch, I have been a Cohen Brothers fan since Blood Simple, don’t cha know.

Hard to pick a favorite but it would be hhhmmm, a little tipsee, drinking a nice Zin while cooking, The one that was a parody of the Odyssey? Something Brothers? And Fargo

By Paul

December 29, 2008 6:21 PM | Link to this

Bosch

Hey, you’re right! He had gas, he let loose and laughed! What does she know? It’s a guy thing!

Here’s how you can tell if a kid screaming in a store or a mall is a boy or a girl: screaming going in, it’s a boy. No way does futureman want to go shopping. Screaming leaving: it’s a girl. “No more shopping? Wahhhhhhh!!!”

By Bosch

December 29, 2008 6:36 PM | Link to this

GOPs gone,

O Brother Where Art Thou - my favorite line, “Damn, we’re in a tight spot.”

Watched Fargo last night. Everytime I heard Palin talked it reminded me of that movie.

Paul,

It is a guy thing. They learn to burp and fart early, don’t they?

By GOP is gone

December 29, 2008 6:46 PM | Link to this

My favorite line was “Looks like I’m the only one unaffiliated”

By GOP is gone

December 29, 2008 6:51 PM | Link to this

My favorite Fargo line is”Soooooo, would that be your partner in the wood chipper?”

Dinner was good, I was practicing a recipe for cooking demo I am giving soon. I am calling it “Israeli couscous with kale and black beans” appropriate for the headlines today.

By GOP is gone

December 29, 2008 6:59 PM | Link to this

Bosch, Let me know if you like the newest Cohen Brothers. I was a little put off, bad reviews and all. But they have always done it for me in the past, I will rent it soon.

I am sort of hooked on watching “Dexter”. I guess I like black comedy. You might like it too. I have it on DVD and will go finish season one soon. Different twist, Serial Killer with an ethics code.

By @@

December 29, 2008 7:25 PM | Link to this

Chad:

It’s understood that ID or Intelligent Design isn’t always attributed to a god or The God.

Intelligent Design is the study of patterns in nature that are best explained as the result of a pre-existing intelligence. So there you would find Hitchens’ “alien being” thingy. But…..

where’d the aliens come from?

All those ostracized scientists ask is that their theory be up for consideration in whatever form is comes.

Like Ben Stein, I question why the insistence that only Darwin’s Theory be considered. Natural selection takes us down a very slippery slope.

Did I mention that Margaret Sanger of Planned Parenthood was covered in the movie? Sanger was a eugenics enthusiast promoting elimination of the weaker races.

A slippery slope indeed. Unfortunately, it is one on which we have already stepped .

By Chad Harris

December 29, 2008 7:36 PM | Link to this

@@-

Whatever you call an entity you’d ID as the designer, whether pre-existing intelligence or some other name, that points towards some supernatural designer to me—or something, or somebody with a plan. I don’t think it happened that way, and what I do think happend what developmental anatomy courses are “designed” by biology profs at colleges to study.

I’m not sure cutting up dog fish sharks or cats helps the students at all to become better doctors, so much as it is one more memory hurdle for them, but I do see an “evolution” of the anatomy. I’m not sure an Intelligent Designer made it happen.

By @@

December 29, 2008 8:06 PM | Link to this

Chad:

I’ve never been one to read the scriptures literally. I will tell you that many Christians can and do reconcile, within themselves, the two theories. All the ostracized scientists were asking is that “the possibility” be considered.

When “an entity” such as those scientists refusing to consider, demand the ultimate word, a danger exists.

They see the existence of a Supreme Intelligence threatening.

I see them, and the supremacy that they demand as threatening.

I’ve never understood how non-believers could feel threatened by some thing or someone that they don’t believe exists.

By Chad Harris

December 29, 2008 10:40 PM | Link to this

@@:

I don’t pretend to be very knowledgable in that nexus that would reconcile the two or in nuances of evolution. I guess some of my “scientific background” makes me instinctively lean strongly towards evolution. I see many of the same structures getting better as you move up the ladder towards humans—I’m sure someone could argue that’s because there is a plan of some type. And then there’s always the time factor. During the runnup to the election, Dems criticized Palin for a gamut of reasons as well they should have, and one of them was that she thought the panoply of development sprangup with the dinosaurs or different versions of that.

This reminds me of some of the things I read in philosophy courses.

When we were in high school Humanities which was a great course taught by a lady who was worth several times what they paid her as a teacher, we were assigned to read a book by a guy whose name I can’t find in a search engine, and I probably don’t have the book anymore although I could have it and never find it, but the phonetic pronunciation was Lecompt D’nuoy and there was a very methodical mathematical proof in the existence of a plan, and I can’t remember if he was trying to proove there was a “God” behind this plan or not.

I’d like to find the name but I haven’t been able to find the guy’s name. It was a French name and possibly I spelled it the wrong way when I searched.

By Copyleft

December 30, 2008 9:24 AM | Link to this

You’re incorrect, @@… AGAIN.

They see the existence of a Supreme Intelligence threatening.

That’s an assumption on your part, and once again, your mind-reading apparatus has failed. Many legitimate scientists are also people of faith—they simply recognize that religious faith has no bearing or value in scientific pursuits, and indeed would invalidate the very notion of trying to uncover the truth.

I’ve never understood how non-believers could feel threatened by some thing or someone that they don’t believe exists.

They don’t. However, they have every reason to feel threatened by the actions of irrational and superstitious people who have proven so dangerous in the past.

Scientists, astonishingly, prefer for only actual science to occur in the labs and be taught in science courses. Intelligent Design, just as obviously, fails to qualify, since it’s at best a philosophical position, not a scientific theory—or even a hypothesis!