291 - Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

Pirate of the Caribbean: At World’s End is a fantastic example of filmmaking, though not much of a film. The special effects are impeccable, the performances and direction admirable, and it clearly cost as much as the GNP of a third world country. But the story, if one could call it that, lacks relevance to the point where one could literally turn off the sound during most speaking parts and still get the gist of it. Each character fights every other, resurrections and deaths come and go without warning or an attempted coherent explanation, and it edges close to three hours in length. This silliness earns my endorsement primarily by its qualifications as a pretty commercial treat, not as a movie.

3 out of 5

290

Sorry about the lack of updates. I've got a couple more reviews in the works, I promise.

A few people have called to tell me that they saw my picture in the WCF Courier, which is nice.

289

The caucus was a madhouse. The Republicans severely underestimated the number of people attending, and it was crowded beyond belief.

I met a bunch of Ron Paul supporters there, and for the most part they seemed like a bunch of childishly aggressive twerps that couldn't spell politics, much less capably vote for someone deserving. I would have voted for Fred, but then I actually met Ron Paul, who was in attendance, and got my picture with him. I told him that my father was a flight surgeon like he was, and we talked for a couple of minutes. He got my vote in the end. My friend Tony voted for Fred Thompson. Huckabee was there, but I didn't get to see him.

I knew about six people who swore they were going to support Ron Paul. One of them had to work, one of them spent the caucus at some bar in a drunken stupdor, another slept on my couch, another bluntly copped out, and the rest just didn't show. The first case aside, it takes a lot of character to blow off democracy.

There was a man named Hugh Cort at the caucucs who spoke for a while, a Republican presidential candidate I'd never heard of. After the caucus, Tony and I went to Perkins and were seated right next to him, and we talked for a couple of minutes, which I enjoyed.

And that was that.

288

In what I hope can be called progress for me, I am now reviewing movies for the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier. I'll only be in there twice a month, but it's something.

My first review for them can be found online here. They cut a paragraph, but fortunately it didn't ruin the review or anything. I'll post a full version later.

In other news, I am eagerly awaiting the caucus tonight, where I and a precious few Republican voters will help pick the man to be defeated by Hillary in November. I have decided to caucus for either Fred Thompson or Ron Paul. Hopefully one or both will do better than predicted.

287 - Legends of the Fall review

Soapy melodrama about three brothers (Brad Pitt,Aidan Quinn, and Henry Thomas) and the woman they all love (Julia Ormond). Though the brothers are extremely close, raised on a Montana cattle ranch by their tough anti-government father (Anthony Hopkins), the flames of The Great War and that woman rip their relationship apart.

Unapologetically sentimental, pic breezes through a selection of Meaningful Moments, no time for intimacy throughout its two hour plus running time. Despite its status as a lightweight tearjerker, its well-acted and often very moving, with distinct characters that enthrall for the running time, just as long as it needs. Director Edward Zwick seems unable to make any other sort of film, but he does them well.

3 out of 5

286 - Pink Flamingos review

Fuck this.

0 out of 5