Do you actually believe I am separate from you?

I watched Ang Lee’s 2003 movie Hulk last night for the first time in countless years.  I stand by what I’ve been saying my entire worthless life: this is by far the superior Hulk movie.  Lee has always been a prime visual artist and the aesthetics here are sumptuous in a couple different ways.  First, I love the use color, fucking love it – all the greens and purples popping up in flowers and labs and all kinds of unexpected places.  This coupled with all the bio imagery of amphibians and molecules hi tech machinery gives the film a palpable pulpy and deliciously sciencey flavor.  Of course the multipanel/split-screen weirdness is something which hasn’t really been attempted since and immediately calls to mind the colorful and bombastic panels of modern comic book pages.  This was a bold experiment and I can’t say it’s entirely successful as it rarely seems to tie in thematically and is sometimes exhausting in its insistence.  Its boldness is endearing however and I will always praise experimenting and creativity over rote and dull competency (which was in full display in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk).  Also, I cannot fully express how CUTE the Hulk looks when he was hopping and bouncing through the desert.  Finally, Danny Elfman contributes another great score.  I plan to purchase it via Amazon.com and then listen to it during hot and miserable summer days.  

 

I just get the sense that Lee and the creators here were truly focused on making a movie first and foremost without worrying about any of the traditional trappings or “requirements” of a superhero film.  It was bold then and absolutely refreshing and audacious now.  Also, as it comes a full 2 years before Batman Begins I can see many ideas it spearheaded which the later film took to heart (perhaps more successfully) such as that close examination with the parental bond, the use of flashbacks, the aforementioned way color and music is employed and even the overall tone which was decidedly more dour than Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man which was released a year or so earlier.  I appreciate Hulk more and more as the years progress.  It is not perfect but within its genre it is a defiantly honest and genuine piece of art.  Hulk seems to be a particularly difficult character to make work in a solo film.  I think the reason is the heavy anticipation audience members have to just see Bruce Banner turn green and smash things while not necessarily being too interested in Banner’s story.  I enjoyed Mark Ruffalo in The Avengers.  For now, the green goliath seems to work better as a side character where he doesn’t have to be the driving force of a story.  Still, I would love to see another Hulk movie one day.  Or would I? 

 

Sticking with the overplayed and now largely uninteresting topic of comic book movies I’ve been doing a lot of pondering about the Batman flicks recently.  I came to the chilling realization they all have at least one superfluous character that could/should have been excised in order to create a leaner and likely better movie.  Here are two amazing examples: 1. Alexander Knox played by Robert Wuhl from 1989’s Batman is an obnoxious and worthless reporter who does nothing Kim Basinger’s character couldn’t have done.  2. John “Robin” Blake played by Joseph Gordon Levitt in 2012’s The Dark Knight Rises is another character who does nothing and is a constant source of bad exposition and weak thematic reinforcement.  I would like both of these movies to be reworked without these characters.  That would make my life complete. 

 

My boys The Athletics remain undefeated in Cactus League play so far.  Though I am one or two games behind so I may just not have heard the news but right now things are looking smooth.  Is there a greater delight than spring training games?  That last game against the Angels was excellence with the A’s coming back from a 5 point deficit to score the win in the 9^th.  Baseball is my life.  I’m putting all my money on Billy “Country Breakfast” Butler this year to make the big hits and bring in the high numbers.  I love Crisp but I’m worried about his shoulder this season.  Still, if he can stay the course with his patented “small ball” style he may be the team’s secret weapon. 

 

Madonna’s new album is released stateside today. 

 

I find Chiquis Rivera (the daughter of the late Jenni Rivera) to be devastatingly attractive.  I’ve watched her performance at the recent Premio Lo Nuestro 2015 several dozen times on Youtube across many lonely nights.  Here’s the rub as the kids say: I understand the backlash and harsh criticism she receives across social media.  It is very easy to wonder about what talent she actually possesses versus being handed opportunities because of her mother (and uncle perhaps).  To put it another way I have listened to the 3 singles she’s released so far and various live performances and would sadly say I don’t think she has much singing ability.  This may not have been as noticeable or problematic if she were going for a pure pop sound but thus far she has been attempting to find her way in Jenni’s banda and mariachi style.  This is music that requires a strong, full and expressive voice which Chiquis does not yet possess.  I’m willing to remain optimistic and I’ll no doubt buy her album if it’s marketed well (I love great marketing, I love product) but I think the best thing for her if she wants to be a singer is to try and find something unique to her and not simply retrace her mother’s footsteps.   I love her generous thighs though.  Is that wrong of me to say?  I wonder.  Certainly, I would never be so forward with a woman in person.  But here I am hiding behind my computer, a true coward.  But is thick thigh love so bad?  Especially when one puts them on display?  I think I would find it flattering if someone wrote on their blog that they loved my thighs.  But are those reasons just hollow and chauvinistic?  What if my comments then progressed to her derriere?  Is there a line?  If so, have I already crossed it?  Should I apologize to Chiquis? 

 

In recent days I have come to learn that most teenagers are foul, vile creatures.  This applies to the majority of college folks as well though they are largely lackadaisical in their foulness which makes it more palatable (sometimes).  As someone who attended both high school and college I am 100% certain in these well researched opinions.  Old timers bother me too.  In general I find that I really hate people.  Why is everyone so transparent?  Many people I know love people and revel in their rampant fakeness and crave their company and acceptance.  It is difficult to understand.   Idiots.   

 

I’m looking forward to the new 007 movie Spectre which is coming out some time later this year (I think) although I’m not altogether sure of the source of this anticipation.  I have no desire to ever watch Quantum of Solace or Skyfall again in my life (though maybe Casino Royale once or twice more).  I suspect Monica Bellucci’s presence is a key component in my interest.  I often fantasize about her cruelly rejecting my romantic overtures.  I hope this 007 flick is more classically Bond.  Similar to the Nolan Batman movies, I fear they have stripped away most of what makes this character unique and interesting by going the more “realistic” route.

 

I’ve been listening to the song TVC15 by David Bowie multiple times every morning and every night for the past 9 days or so.  Music fans will remember this as the 4^th track from Bowie’s 1976 album Station to Station album which saw him effectively leave behind the glam era of Ziggy Stardust and the “plastic soul” of Young Americans and premiere his new identity and sound as The Thin White Duke.  TVC15 has a thick bouncy bassline and I attempted to learn this last night but my poor musical knowledge prevented success.  I could hit all the root notes but I have no idea how to adequately transfer between them.  I don’t know how to play anything other than the roots and the result is a bare bones rendition. Please someone teach me!  Please!  I so badly want to play this song. 

 

I’ve spent the last couple hours reading Sam Neill interviews, renewing my love for the man.  How I would love to sit with him on a balcony looking out on a river at early sunset and discuss literature, art and cinema while sipping wine.  Oh Sam, I swear….

 

On a related note, close followers of my work and even those closest to me may be interested to know I learned most of my expressions and reactions – both physical and emotional (verbal too!) – from observing actors in movies.  For instance, my look of incredulity is something I’ve copied and honed from Sam Neill.  Stop me on the street some time and I’ll show you and also name a few of Neill’s movies and specific scenes where he pointedly makes that look so you can compare and see how I did!

 

I’ve been thinking about getting a tattoo of Elvira, Mistress of the Dark but I haven’t figured out where – both in terms of the location on my body and the actual tattoo parlor – yet.  How many of you would love it if I did that?!  Though many focus on her bust I’ve always found the hosiery and big hair more compelling.  I often wish I could go on a double date with her and Vampirella. 

 

Channing Tatum gave a better performance than Steve Carell in Foxcatcher, I’m just gonna lay it out there.