*SPOILER ALERT*

The kids and I present a review/summary of the movie “Despicable Me,” and encourage you all to go see it! It was a thoroughly enjoyable movie for kids and adults, and well worth a visit to the theater – which is saying a lot, considering our family usually waits for everything on Netflix!

Then, we have a few voicemails from Lizzie, Tim and Wyatt, and then I urge everyone to visit the Parsec Awards site to check our our newly posted list of finalists! These are some of the best offerings out there in speculative fiction podcasting!

Please email me with your own comments at howtogrowyourgeek-at-gmail-dot-com, or call my voicemail number at 206-202-7309   and leave your thoughts. You can also visit our forum at the Farpoint Forums. And last but not least, you can follow me on Twitter at SusietheGeek or the show at HowToGrowGeek!

Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton

Promos: Parsec Finalists: Variant Frequencies and The Babylon Podcast

Back twenty five years ago, a lot of things were different. Music kinda sucked, clothes were different, man dad had actual hair, and video games were just getting started. In fact, back then if you wanted to play the lasted one out there, you had to go to a arcade or a bowling alley. Wow how things have changed huh? Back then, a kid playing a video game had dreams; some of getting the high score and others a much larger dream. Something on the verge of becoming a hero, rising above their drab and boring lives, and gaining something epic. Such is the dream of Alex, but I am getting a head of myself….

The Last Starfighter – A dvd review by Darcy Low

From the back of the dvd: ” Greeting Starfighter! You have been recruited by the Star League to defend the frontier against Xur and the Kodan armada.
So begins a adventure of galactic proportions in The Last Starfighter. After earthling, Alex (Played by Lance Guest) conquers the Starfighter video game, he is recruited by alien Centauri (Played by the late Robert Preston) to be part of an elite legion fighters. Leaving behind his trailer park home for the outer regions of space. Alex becomes the last hope for the beleaguered Star League and hundreds of worlds, including earth.

I love this movie! We got the twenty five year anniversary one, and it is full of extras.

Alex is boy who has just graduated from high school, and has big dreams of getting into a good college. He lives in a small trailer park, where he is spending most of his summer fixing things for the people there, electrical problems; and a little of everything. Seems like everyone needs him for one thing or another. He doesn’t mind too much; but it is really not how he wants to spend his summer. He is in love with Maggie, who will be heading off to the local community college at the end of this summer. Alex is wanting to go somewhere away from where he lives, he feels tied down and wants to see what’s out there beyond the trailer park. But as I said everyone there needs him to do something for him, and sometimes he can’t even get away to go swimming. His one form of escape is a video game up at the small store at the entrance to the park. It is The Last Starfighter, of course and Alex plays it so much he is close to beating the record on it. On the night of a very bad day for Alex. (He got a rejection letter from a school, his girl went off with some friends to a beach; and Alex spent the whole day in the park fixing other peoples problems.) He starts playing the game, taking out all of his dashed hopes and frustration on it, he is barely paying attention when it is pointed out to him that his score is VERY close to beating the high score. He is up past 900 million! And he is still going. In what is a very exciting and funny scene, where the entire trailer park crowds around him, he finally beats the all time record. That when the fun really begins for Alex.
The next night, he is up by the little store again, when the video game starts acting funny, flashing lights and giving off all these weird sounds. Just as he is going to investigate, a strange, futuristic car pulls up. The door opens, and a voice inside asks for the name of the person whole beat the high score. Alex says it was him, and the voice invites him to step inside the car, that he has a prostitution for Alex. Alex, I guess thinking he is going on some tour for being the kid that broke the record, climbs in. Now let’s stop there a second, NEVER, EVER get into a strange with anyone you don’t know, this could very well be why Alex gets all those rejection notes from colleges. Getting into a car like that is just asking for trouble. The owner of the car and the voice, tells Alex his name is Centaruri, and that he invented that game. He explains to Alex how that game wasn’t even supposed to be delivered there but to Vegas instead, which must mean that it was Alex’s destiny to be the high scorer on it. (Basically he gives Alex the same kind of fast salesman’s type talk he did in The Music Man years before. Which was really cool to see he still had it going on. More on this gifted actor later.) He introduces his assistant, Beta who is is sitting in the darkened backseat as Alex gets in, they shake hands and there is a blinding flash of light before the person steps out of the car. Centaruri then closes the doors and locks in Alex, taking him on a high speed ride. Explaining to him how that video game was supposed to go to Vegas, not some trailer park. And how it must have been fate that Alex would be the one to break the record. (Basically he is doing the fast talking salesman routine he did in The Music Man so many years before, it was really fun to see it again and he had some very funny lines.) They finally arrive at a hidden space station, where Alex learns that everything that was in the video game was real, and how there is a actual war for survival going on out in space. He then learns that he has been tricked by Centaruri, and that he has been “Recruited” into the group of hot shot pilots that are to help stop Xur and save the countless worlds. Alex, of course thinks this is all crazy and refuses; telling Centaruri to take him home. NOW!
While they get back to earth, the hidden space station comes under attack by Xur, killing almost everyone and destroying everything….almost.

When Alex arrives back at the trailer park, he learns that Beta is actually a robot who has been pretending to be him this whole time. Alex is really mad now and uses a device to call Centaruri back to get his robot. The group comes under fire from a hired alien killer and Centaruri is badly hurt, Alex goes back to the space station with him, knowing now that his family and friends are in danger, and that he has become a target in this space war.

They find station in ruins, and Centaruri is critically hurt. Alex goes with a alien navigator and launches into space to do his part to help in the war effort. It is then that Alex realizes the truth. He alone is the only Starfigher left alive. Can he put his video game skills to good use? In a war he is not supposed to be a part of, in a Star Fighter that is still so new that a lot of it’s systems have never been tried before? Can one lone teenager face a army of a mad man set on taking over the galaxy?

This movie rocked! The plot was good,the actors were great and you really got behind Alex and his growth though out the movie. The special effects, which were all computer generated of course; were a little dated. But you were able to look past that and it did not take you away from the great plot. There was more than a few laughs as well, most supplied by Alex’s younger brother. And I felt the part about Alex having no choice in killing another being was well acted out. I loved the ending, which i wont spoil here. I would like to find maybe a book on this if one is out there. One thing too, Hollywood is always making remakes, yet here with this movie you can easily do more stories. Three people in it at least could go on to do more.

If you have not seen this, get it. If you are an adult, get this and watch with you kids. There were only two words in it that parents might find bad for younger viewers. But honestly, if it was me and I saw that, I would say the same thing. When you see the scene I am sure you will agree. This is a good one guys!

Darcy

Darcy’s fun fact:

Robert Preston was such a great actor. Everyone knows of his Harold Hill character in The Music Man. He won a Tony Award for it when he was in the broadway play version. He got his start in acting in westerns, and was also a intelligence officer in world war two. Yep he was a spy, makes you wonder if he did his fast talking back then, hehe. Sadly he died of lung cancer in 1986 at the age of 62.
OH! Dad gave me this trivia, back in 1961, year dad was born; Mr Preston made a recording called “Chicken Fat” which schools then went on to use in gym classes. I found a link for it, with a online mp3 file of it. I it is pretty funny, maybe some of you parents will remember it.

http://www.clubcourtyard.com/ChickenFat.html

This week, I join the celebration of the Summer of SciFi at Slice of SciFi with my review of the 1978 original theatrical release of Battlestar Galactica. You can find my review of the movie over there, and listen to my casual commentary of the movie, the series, my comparison of it and Star Wars, and other general bits of me babbling here! I also remind you all to be looking for the finalists of the Parsec Awards to be announced here soon – as we are finishing up semifinalist judging right now!

Please email me with your own comments at howtogrowyourgeek-at-gmail-dot-com, or call my voicemail number at 206-202-7309   and leave your thoughts. You can also visit our forum at the Farpoint Forums. And last but not least, you can follow me on Twitter at SusietheGeek or the show at HowToGrowGeek!

Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton

Photos from the Battlestar Wiki

Promos: Slice of SciFi and The Dragon Page: Cover to Cover

Hey guys,
Well I am finally back online after being with out the internet. Longest two weeks of my life!  This time I thought I would go back to the very beginning. To the movie that started me on the road to geekness. When I first got here and got to looking at all of dad’s old dvd’s  I saw a lot of cool covers and names, but I had no idea where to start. What was good, what was bad, what was worth watching? So dad pulled down this one and said if I wanted a good Sci Fi movie, one that is a classic in every sense of the word; I should start with this. It has spaceships, a mad scientist, a robot, ray guns and monsters.
Now Slice has a thing going of the best memories of Sci Fi that got us all started, I already sent in one of mine, but this one got dad started and then me later on. It is one of the best out there and I just know if it is new to any of you; you will love it too.

This time around we go way back again, back to the beginnings, when Sci Fi and space travel was something of fiction, back in the days of pulp fiction, full of bug eyed monsters; pretty woman in distress and human beings exploring what is out there. I give you guys a real treat, this time I review the classic;

Forbidden Planet – A dvd review by Darcy Low.

From the back of the dvd: “ One of the most  ambitious and intelligent films of its genre. A startling science fiction story conceived on a positively intellectual level. Forbidden Planet is innovative, intriguing,  and one of the most celebrated and imitated films of it’s kind. Featuring riveting performances, astonishing Oscar nominated special effects and the first  ever all electronic musical score. Forbidden Planet is the best of the science fiction interstellar productions of the 1950’s and a landmark masterpiece. In the year 2257, a spaceship ventures to the planet Altair VI; where a earth colony has mysteriously vanished years earlier.  There, commander Adams (Leslie Nelson) and his crew discover colony survivors; Dr. Morbius (Walter Pidgeon) , his daughter Altaira (Anne Francis) and their mechanized servant, Robbie the robot. But to their horror,  they also discover a invisible but massively destructive force which savagely attacks their ship. And threatens to destroy their lives!”

I tell you what, this is one of the coolest old movies ever! The sounds, the music, the acting, everything about this film is just too cool! When the movie starts out, the spaceship is just coming out of hyperspace and enters orbit around the planet Altair IV.  Years ago a colony of scientists were sent there to explore and colonize the planet. They found ruins of a ancient culture, a race that was much more advanced than our own. Dr Morbius is the type of scientist that studies languages, so he went to work trying to figure out their writings and what happened to the race. As they all work, the scientists are struck down with a mysterious plague. Each one dies, leaving only Dr. Morbious and his young daughter alive. He has no idea what killed them, only that his wife died as well and he buried each person himself.

The crew of the spaceship is met by Robbie. Which is the coolest robot in a movie ever! (Dad even has a model of him sitting next to his computer.) He is far advanced by anything humans could build at the time. He takes the Captain, the Doctor and another crew member to see Morbius. Morbius nearly begged them not to land, that he was fine and needed no help at all. telling them almost to turn back and just leave him be. Which is very curious, given everything that has happened. He shows them around his home, and explains what he is doing. He also shows them a lot of gadgets that the home has, which like Robbie; is far beyond anything the crew has seen before and  is more advanced than we could ever build. (A lot of the stuff you see here, comes up later in Sci Fi, a lot of it is in Star Trek. So that should tell you how good this movie is, seeing how people have been influenced by it.) He tells them that he himself built all of this, including Robbie! It was all thing the race of the planet built themselves, he just followed the blueprints. He tells them all of this to prove to them just how safe he is, how he and his daughter have everything they need and how they do not need any rescue. As he says this though, two things seem clear. One he is very egotistic and aggorgant.  But there is fear there as well, almost panic.

When his daughter shows up, we see that she is very pretty and very innocent. Having lived her entire life there with her father, she doesn’t know anything but what he has told her. Dr. Morbius becomes angry with her, having forbid her to come around while the Captain and his crew were there. (This was always curious to me, being protective of her is one thing. But this just seemed extreme to me the way he acted.) The crew, all of them men who have been locked up traveling in space for a long time, fall for her looks. Which doesn’t help with their trying gain her father’s trust.

The Captain tells Morbius that he still has his orders, but that he will contact earth and let them know what is going on, to see what they want him to do. But in order to even send a message, they have to build a transformer out of parts from the ship in order to send a message that far. Which will take days, even with Robbie’s help. So they are stuck there, where the Doctor likes it or not. Morbious blows up and says that he is not responsible for anything that “might” happen, and that he and his daughter were not effected by the sickness that killed off the other scientist, but that’s not to say the Captain and crew might not get it.

As the crew begins to build the transformer, a series of mysterious deaths and mishaps happen. Destroying parts they need to contact earth, which forces them to stay longer than expected. With only the crew, Morbius and his daughter on the planet, the list of suspects is not very long. It couldn’t be Robbie, although he is strong enough to push over the over two tons of lead in one hand, he has programing that will no allow him to harm a human being unless it is to save the doctor and his daughter, or to save himself. He is even given the Captain’s blaster, told to take aim at his head and to pull the trigger. He was not able to do so, in fact all his circuits well blow if he tries long enough. So he can’t be the one. And the daughter is much too sweet and innocent. Morbius himself is far too interested in his research, and only wishes to be left alone. The Captain has the guarded and sets up a fence and automatic guns. And a cast is made from the giant footprints left around the ship, it seems the killer is a large alien creature, but one that should not exist. It has a claw on the foot for climbing trees like a monkey, but has the foot of a creature that would walk on all fours like a elephant. None of it makes any sense. As they are testing the fence and guns, the ship and crew is attacked! The creature is invisible! Having chased it off, with the lost of more men. The Captain and the doctor race back to warn Morbius and his daughter, that they know what killed the colony and why they are in danger. The mystery has been solved……or has it?

If you can’t tell by now, this is my all time favorite old sci fi movie. When dad sat me down the first time, he said if I really wanted to see how good a science fiction movie can be; then this is the place to start. And he was so right. I said this was a murder mystery, and it is. But there are other mysteries to the plot as well. Like what happened to the original people of the planet and why if they were so advanced, did they cease to be now? And why is it Dr Morbius and his daughter where the only ones to survive after all this time?

What is really cool about this movie for me is the story. Oh sure you got some really cool special effects, and the music and sound effects are the best; but it’s the whole story that I just love. I heard it is a lot like a Shakespere play called Tempest? I don’t know about that, not ever read that.

The other thing that sets this movie apart is the actors themselves. This was Leslie Nelson’s first staring role, he went on to do comedy in Airplane and Naked Gun. (Should have stuck with sci fi, but that’s just me. )
Walter Pidgeon who started out as a banker but grew tired of that and decided to be come a actor. He got his first staring role back in the thirties, and you can tell by his proformance here; he made a wise choice.
Anne Francis, who started her career at age five as a child model, she was also in the old film Blackboard Jungle, which dad says is a good one. She is also known to geeks from episodes of the old Twilight Zone.
Robbie was voiced by a local St Louis legend here, Marvin Miller. Who got his start in radio here, and when he passed away in 1985 got his star on the walk of fame in University City.

So there you go guys. My all time favorite old Sci Fi movie, the one that got me started on this geeky road. If you have seen it, watch it again. And if your kid’s have never seen it, you owe it to them to sit and watch it together. The creature might be scary to young kids, but it is only on for a few seconds. The movie is rated G, so there is really nothing for parents to be concerned about.

Find it, get it, own it. It’s the best out there!

Darcy

Back again for another dvd review. This one really surprised me, with a lot of well named actors, a good story and a few other surprises. What I thought was going to be a all out comedy, turned out to be something else. Just goes to show you can’t judge a dvd by the cover. So this time around I am going take you back in time. Back to the days of Knights and Ladies, Heroes and Villains, Swords and of course; Dragons!

George and the Dragon – A dvd review by Darcy Low

From the back of the case. ” A dragon, a princess and a knight to remember. George, a handsome English knight, tired from battle; desires to hang up his sword and settle down to a quiet, peaceful life. Upon returning to England, George heads north where the land is good and ruled by a kindly king Edgar. Unfortunately he finds King Edgar in a terrible state. His beautiful daughter, Luna recently disappeared. In return for a small plot of land, George agrees to search for princess Luna and immediately setting out with King Edgar’s faithful servant, Elmendorf. After finding the princess, George discovers she has found a dragon’s egg, which they both believe holds the last dragon on earth. But protecting the egg unfolds more than George ever imagined.”

Wow, this movie really surprised me. I really thought when we popped it in that it would be a comedy. The picture on the cover makes you think it will be. And there is some really funny parts to it, a lot happens in the background of shots too! You have to look closely, and the out takes are as good as a Jackie Chan film!

The movie starts off with George and his Moorish friend from the crusades arriving by boat back to England and George’s home. (His friend is played by Michael Clark Duncan, if you don’t remember him; he is the huge black man from Mission Impossible. The one with the deep voice.) They both talk about what they will do next, George say he wants to settle down now, his days as Knight are over. All he wants is a small farm, a couple of cows and peace and quite. But his friend laughs, knowing full well that’s not going to happen. He says he is off on another adventure, looking for a bandit that is rumored to be a great fighter. He is determined that he will be the one to best him.
Meanwhile in a city close by, we see a friar being run out of town. Seems he and the magistrate had a disagreement. this was pretty funny as you see him racing down the street, winding up on a small board with wheels on it. (The world’s first skateboard?) By the time he reaches the beach where George and his friend are, he has what looks like the entire city guard after him. hehe. After they all manage to escape, George and the friar head off on their own. When the arrive at George’s childhood village, he rushes to see his father and tells him of his wishes to settle down. His father thinks this is foolishness, once being a knight himself. He would still be fighting if not for the fact he had a run in with a dragon that took both his legs. But he sees that his son has decided what he wants to do, and sees him off the next day, wishing him good luck and giving him a special gift. It is a claw from the dragon he fought with, hollowed out into a small horn. When blown, only dragons can here it and will come. Yeah you guessed it, he wants George to find the dragon and seek revenge for him.

While traveling, George meets up with a group of the king’s knights, lead by……wait for it…..Patrick Swayze! Yep. He tells George that he and his men have been out searching the countryside for the king’s daughter who they believe to have been kidnapped. He asks for George’s help, but of course George says no, he just wants to settle down. The knight agrees to take him to the king and introduce him himself. Once there though, even before George can say a word, the king recognizes him to be the son of his once dear friend. George takes pity on the old king and agrees to help in the search for his daughter, asking in return his bit of land that he has always wanted. The king readily agrees and our hero sets out with king’s men.

However, things aren’t all that it seems. It’s true the Princess was kidnapped, but not by men and certainly not by the Picts as the leader of the king’s guard think. What actually happened was, the princess was out wading in a quite lake one day and got snatch up by…….Yep, a dragon. This dragon however is very hurt has been for a while now. Having been stabbed by a large lance that it was unable to remove. (Putting things together yet?) The dragon is a female that has been given birth to a large green egg. It is also the last of it’s kind and the princess takes pity on it. Staying in the cave and protecting the egg from the roaming picts. She is pretty good in a fight and does not seem to need to be needing any rescue attempts.

When George finally finds her, and tells her he is here to take her back to her father and to the captain of the king’s guard, who has told George he wishes to marry her. She would like to go home to her father, but she in no way wishes to marry the captain. In fact she refuses to go at all, because the egg is almost ready to hatch. George is quickly seeing his plans will never come to be with this head strong girl. So they agree she will go back to her father, BUT the egg has to come along as well.

Now George finds himself saddled with a headstrong, snarky, bratty princess. A Dragon egg the size of a cow that is ready to hatch and must remain hidden at all costs, a roaming band of of picts lead by a mysterious black Knight, and a jealous Captain of the guard, that will stop at nothing to gain the princesses hand in marriage. George, by now; is wishing he never left the crusades.

This is a really great movie, it was one I found in the Walmart bargain bins. It is serious, but also has a lot of humor in it as well. The sword play is very good and really looks like they know what they are doing, the characters, while seeming familiar are still well thought out and the actors are really good in this.

I think this might also have been Patrick Swayze’s last movie. If so he had a blast making this. You can tell he is really enjoying it all. Also look for other actors in cameo roles as well. And you will never guess what happened to our Moorish friend or who he the person is that he has been seeking all this time. Also, there is a three way fight scene involving George, the Captain of the guard and the leader of the picts that is just too funny! Think Princess Bride.

Over all I loved this movie and I think you will too. It is of course a telling of Sir George and the Dragon, but with a few different spins.

Look for this one guys, everyone will like it. OH! And make sure to watch the closing credits, they put in the outtakes like Jackie Chan does in his films. YOU WILL BE ROLLING!

That’s it or now, I’ll have more coming soon. Give you a hint, it will be a movie where a doctor and a bald guy share a danish. hehehe, I am so bad.

Darcy

So it is summertime, and that usually means trips if you can afford it. So let’s take one, you will need a large trunk and you will have to pack for for everything. Where are we going? Everywhere. How long will we be gone? Oh….eighty days.

Around the world in eighty days – A dvd review by Darcy low.

From the back of the DVD.
“Around 1872, an English gentleman Phileas Fogg (David Niven) claims he can circumnavigate the world in eighty days. He makes a PS£20,000 wager with several skeptical fellow members of his London gentleman’s club, the Reform Club, that he can arrive back within 80 days before exactly 8:45 pm.

Together with his resourceful valet, Passepartout (Mario Moreno “Cantinflas”), Fogg sets out on his journey from Paris via a hot air balloon. Meanwhile, suspicion grows that Fogg has stolen £55,000 from the Bank of England so Police Inspector Fix (Robert Newton) is sent out by Ralph the bank president (Robert Morley) to trail and arrest Fogg. Hopscotching around the globe, Fogg pauses in Spain, where Passepartout engages in a comic bullfight. In India, Fogg and Passepartout rescue young widow Princess Aouda (Shirley MacLaine) from being forced into a funeral pyre with her late husband. The threesome visit Hong Kong, Japan, San Francisco, and the Wild West. Only hours short of winning his wager, Fogg is arrested upon returning to London, by the diligent yet misguided Inspector Fix.”

OMG. This guys, was such an incredible film! Such a great plot and so many beautiful places. When the movie starts out, a man tells us all about travel and how we are able to get to far off places in much sorter time. We are also told about Jules Verne and treated to a VERY old silent film, “From earth to the moon”; which was one his stories dealing with men’s first trip there. It is really pretty funny, but sets up up this film nicely.

When the movie then changes to our story, we see Mr. Phileas Fogg; (played by David Niven.) sitting in a men’s club playing cards and discussing the recent bank robbery that has taken place. A great deal of money was stolen, and Fogg agrees with the statement that with that much money the thief could be anywhere by now. He even goes so far as to suggest that a man could travel the world in just eighty days if he had the money and means to do so. So a bet was made, Fogg himself will prove that it can be done by traveling himself!

Next we meet. Passepartout. He is a very interesting fellow, when we first see him; he is riding down the london streets on the back of a large wheeled bike. (Taller than he is!) If you look closer, you can see he is dressed nice, but he clothes have patches on them. He is on his way too look for work, but he takes the time to flirt with the ladies as well. When he finally arrives at a employment office, he is greeted by the sight of a line of people all looking for the same thing. So as he takes a seat at the end, we over hear a very stressed out man complaining about having had to work for our Mr Fogg. He is a mess, very nervous and just shaking all over as he talks about how it was “Unbearable to work for the man!”

Passepartout listens closely, and while the other people in line act shocked by all of this, he seems somehow interested. When the man is finished and the employer says that the job is impossible to fill, that no one would take it. No one that is but Passepartout, who says he will take the job, he isn’t afraid.

When he gets to Fog’s house, he is told all he needs to know. Mr Fog eats at certain times, has to have his food just right, (his toast should be made at a certain temp, etc.) Fog comes off as something of a Sherlock Holmes, very set in his ways but very smart. A bit stuck up at first, but that will change.

The next day they are all set for their journey, there is just a small catch. The train there were going to catch is not available, so they are stuck before they begun. Luckily the travel agent has a solution. He has built a large balloon and sells it to Fog. So they are able to get under way.

Once they get started the film gets more and more beautiful. And each place you learn a bit about the culture and the people. In the first place, they land thinking they are in France. But they are in Spain instead, Passpartout is able to speak the language though and gets them to a club where they can rest and eat, and they are told there is a man with a boat that could help them with their journey.

This is where we get to see that Passpartout is much more than he seems. He is what they call a “Jack of all trades.” That means he has many talents, like acrobat, working in a circus and other things. Here he has to fight a bull in order to win the boat they will use.

As the movie progress, we see him get into more and more things like this. Each time he either saves the day for Mr Fog, or has to be saved himself. But each time we learn more about Mr Fog and also about each place they go though.

Mean while back in England, there are all kinds of bets being placed on if Fog will be able to travel the world in such a short time. Also, the hunt for the bank robber is on. And rumors are floating it could have been Fog himself! In fact, they go so far as to hire someone to follow him. And it is starting to look more and more like he just might have done it, he is carrying around a large bag full of money.

They travel all over, meeting a lot of people played by a lot of stars. You will see Joey Brown, Buster Keaton, Shirley McClaine, Red Skelton; and if you look really close you will see Frank Sinatra.

Over all this is really a great movie, it really has you guessing whether or not Fog will make it or not, and if he did steal all that money. The places they go are just incredible, really pretty. Makes me wonder if this is out on blu-ray yet. And this is just full of stars! always someone you do, hey isn’t that…..

If you have never seen this movie before, you are going to love it. It has romance, adventure, so real funny moments, and a twist ending. I won’t spoil it, just say it has to do with time ans it took me a while to figure it out. And parents, sit and watch this with your kids, show them all the different places and cultures. At one point, Passepartout has to fight a bull in a ring; but in India when he tried something like that he was almost ran out of town Point out to your kids why that is, I didn’t know until I asked.

This is one of the movies I have seen, it is two and a half hours but that flies by. You don’t even know it. So pick this one up guys, its a keeper!

Now for some cool facts:

The filming took only 75 days, with over 680,000 feet of film being used. That’s 128 miles!!!

It cost under 6 million to make, filming on 140 locations. With 100 sets built and 36,000 outfits made.

It grossed over 25 million.

In the bull fight scene in the very beginning, there were over 10,000 extras used. Some 3.500 we brought in from local villages in Spain.

Real indians were used in the one part of the film, but 650 white actors had their skin dyed with orange dye for the film.

David Niven, like me; has a fear of heights. So a stand in was used for long shots. What is funny is that the stand in was much shorter.

And I got one more cool thing for you. The Nellie Bly connection to the film.

From Wiki: “In 1888, Nellie suggested to her editor at the New York World that she take a trip around the world, attempting to turn the fictional Around the World in Eighty Days into fact for the first time. A year later, at 9:40 a.m. on November 14, 1889, and with two days’ notice,[5] she boarded the Augusta Victoria, a steamer of the White Star Line,[6] and began her 24,899-mile journey.

She brought with her the dress she was wearing, a sturdy overcoat, several changes of underwear and a small travel bag carrying her toiletry essentials. She carried most of her money (200 £ in English bank notes and gold in total as well as some American currency) [7] in a bag tied around her neck.”

Cool huh? A young woman did that way back then. You should look her up, she was really a cool person she did a lot of things that were first for any woman back then.”

So there you go guys, a long review but hopefully you liked it.

Darcy

Some of you may know Rowan Atkinson from the Black Adder series, which is wicked funny. But is geared more towards teens and adults due to the humor. But he also did a tv series where it was just him playing the main character, who seldom talked; but always got into some type of trouble. I am of course talking about Mr Bean. Here are a couple clips you might like.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bS1ePEZZCDY&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=717G-A0N4Zo&feature=channel

Funny huh? This reminds me of all those old silent film stars I love like Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd. He takes the simplest things and makes them funny. The TV series is clean and everyone in the family can sit down to enjoy it together. Oh! When you do watch the show, be on the lookout for a little blue car, it shows up time after time and something always happens to it. The best one I saw was the one where he went down to the store to buy a new lounge chair. The car he has is so tiny the chair would never fit into it. (He drive a tiny mini cooper.) Wait until you see how he was able to dive home with the chair, you will be rolling, hehe.

Roland Atkinson also did a stand up video, where he made fun of everything from people winding up in Hell to Schoolboys. (The schoolboys one had some words in it, so parents if you find the live dvd keep that in mind. It’s not TOO bad, but still.)

Here are a couple ones from that as well. The first one he plays the devil, welcoming people to hell. Remember, make sure you go to the bathroom before you take any trip, just a FYI.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UbqZ_oN5do

This one you just have to see. It’s Mr. Bean discovering an invisible drum set.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Sf_pogZ8jE&feature=related

In this last bit of a video clip I found, Mr Atkinson does a interview where he talks about Mr. Bean and how popular it is around the world, and also talks about the Back Adder series.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Gr0Fa_QPNU&feature=related

Darcy fun facts:

Rowland Atkinson got his start on radio, doing a show for the BBC where he played a reporter interviewing famous people from history, he would play both sides.

From Wiki: “After university, Atkinson toured with Angus Deayton as his funny man in an act that was eventually filmed for a television show. After the success of the show, he did a one-off pilot for ITV in 1979 called Canned Laughter. Atkinson then went on to do Not the Nine O’Clock News, produced by his friend John Lloyd. He starred on the show along with Pamela Stephenson, Griff Rhys Jones and Mel Smith, and was one of the main sketch writers.

The success of Not the Nine O’Clock News led to his starring in the medieval sitcom The Black Adder, which he also co-wrote with Richard Curtis, in 1983. After a three-year gap, in part due to budgetary concerns, a second series was written, this time by Curtis and Ben Elton, and first screened in 1986. Blackadder II followed the fortunes of one of the descendants of Atkinson’s original character, this time in the Elizabethan era. The same pattern was repeated in the two sequels Blackadder the Third (1987) (set in the Regency era), and Blackadder Goes Forth (1989) (set in World War I). The Blackadder series went on to become one of the most successful BBC situation comedies of all time, spawning television specials including Blackadder’s Christmas Carol (1988) and Blackadder: The Cavalier Years (1988).

Atkinson’s other famous creation, the hapless Mr. Bean, first appeared on New Years Day in 1990 in a half-hour special for Thames Television. The character of Mr. Bean has been likened somewhat to a modern-day Buster Keaton.[10] During this time, Atkinson appeared at the Just for Laughs comedy festival in Montreal in 1987 and 1989. Several sequels to Mr. Bean appeared on television in the 1990s, and it eventually made into a major motion picture in 1997. Entitled Bean, it was directed by Mel Smith, his former co-star from Not the Nine O’Clock News. A second movie was released in 2007 entitled Mr. Bean’s Holiday, the last of the Mr. Bean films.”

Along with his TV work, he did two Mr Bean films, but was seen in the movies for the first time in a small role in the James Bond film, “Never say never again.” He stared as Nigel Small-Fawcett: A bumbling MI6 operative working in the Bahamas who clumsily meets Bond in Nassau. He later did his own comedy take on the Bond films in a funny movie called Johnny English.

All of these I have listed are available on DVD’s. So check them out guys, Mr Atkinson is one of the best slap stick and comic geniuses we have left. He is really funny and you never know what he will come up with next.

Darcy

Oh, just don’t ask him to cook you Thanksgiving dinner. Trust me on this.

From the back of the cover – “The time: World War II. The place: Morocco. The film: Casablanca, perhaps most legendary achievement in cinematic history. Suspenseful, gloriously romantic and filled with unforgettable dialog, this winner of three Oscars continues top critics lists of all time favorite films, for as Rodger Ebert (My favorite reviewer. ) so aptly put it; “Casablanca is THE movie.” Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman light up the screen as Rick and Ilsa, former lovers briefly reunited in the chaos of war. He is a world weary nightclub owner who “sticks his neck out for nobody.” and she is a beautiful woman fleeing the Nazis with her resistance hero husband. Only Rick can the pair escape..and only if Ilsa can reawaken the idealism she killed in him when she left him long ago. Bogie and Bergman incomparable as the star crossed lovers who will always have Paris.”

Wow, where to start? This was just such a great movie with some much going on. Dad told me to break it down so that is just what I am going to do, this might get long but I don’t think you guys will mind too much.

It is World war two and the Nazi’s have started their march across Europe, they have already occupied France. The people are fleeing to safer areas before them, trying anything to get on planes and fly off to America. One place a lot of people have run to in Casablanca, where everyone is selling all they have, making shady deals with black market guys; and hoping against hope that the next plane to fly out, they will be on it. The Nazis are getting closer and time is running out.

Rick is the owner of a nightclub called Rick’s Cafe Americana, like it said above he is sad and world weary, meaning he does not trust people other that those that work for him and he does not try to help others. He makes very good money and as they say in the movie, sooner or later everyone comes to his club. As the Nazis start closing in and rounding of resistance leaders; even he looks longingly and planes as the come in of out of the city.
One of his friends is a french man who is the chief of police, I liked him the best out of all the characters. He was still a proud french man, even though when a high ranking Nazi general comes to town looking for the head leader of the resistance group, he is reminded that France is now occupied and that he is now under the rule of Germany. And has to do whatever the general tells him. He does so, but he is as sly as a fox and is just waiting for his chance to one up the general.

Years before, Rick met a young girl in Paris (Ilsa) and fell in love, he was much older than her but together they fled before the war’s advancement along with Rick’s friend and current piano player named Sam. It was so romantic seeing them falling in love and you could tell he was really wanting to spend the rest of his life with her. But there was just something about her that wasn’t quite right.

Ilsa, as I said is much younger than Rick, maybe by ten years? I am not really sure. When the have to flee Paris a head of the Nazis, they all agree to meet at a train station and leave on the next train out. As the rain pours down and the last train is about to leave, Rick is handed a later from a baggage carrier. It’s is from Ilsa saying that she is not able to leave and that he must go on without her. No other explanation. Sam pulls Rick aboard just as the train is pulling out.

Since then, Rick has made a name for himself; and has some of the richest customers who are all trying to get his attention and his help. In one scene we see that he really doesn’t stick his neck out for people; when someone he knows comes into the club and ask for his help in hiding some papers and fake passes that will allow someone to get out of the city. When the french police chief shows up, we learn that he murdered someone; I imagine for the papers. He pleads with Rick to save or hide him. But Rick just watches as he is gunned down while trying to run away. He feels bad about it, but he has so much he could loose I guess and people that work for him that getting involved could cause trouble for them as well.

It is then that Ilsa walks in on the arm of a handsome man. After all these years, she has found Rick and now needs his help. To get away with her husband before Nazis take over everything.

But now that Rick has papers and a way to get out with his friend Sam, will he leave her behind like she did him? Or is there still something there he feels for her, and will he put everything aside to help out the woman he one loved?

I watched this movie twice, that is how much I liked it. Second time we all sat and watched and I asked questions and took notes. It’s not too complicated, I just wanted to make sure I didn’t miss anything.

At first I could not understand why they wanted Ilsa’s husband so bad. He makes a reference about a camp, so I thought maybe he was a prisoner and had escaped? Dad says it was because he was the leader of the resistance.

I also did not like Ilsa at all, at first I did bit later; no way. She just uses people I think and even with her pretty smile and acting nice, you can tell that she is not so innocent. I just could not feel sorry for her at all. And I wonder too, was she always married??? If so, wow. To do all of that for years just to get someone out.

(Sorry, that may be a spoiler, but come on this movie is older than dad.)

I really think, if for some reason you never seen it. I also think older teens might like it. There is mystery, romance, and a lot of plot twists to it.

There is also so many great lines! A lot I had heard before, so I hadn’t.

One of the best scenes that dad liked too, was just after Ilsa asks Rick for help and then leaves. He is sitting in the dark getting drunk, and Sam is trying to get him to get up and go somewhere. To forget about hings and move on. In that scene, with Mr Bogart’s acting; you can really see a devastated man. Someone that tried for years to forget someone, only to have her walk back into his life and cause trouble. You really get into his character then and really feel sorry fr him at this point.

So there you have it, I finally saw one of the all time classic films. I really wish I had not waited so long. It is easy to see why this won best picture back in 1943.
And I agree with Jenny, they just don’t make movies this good anymore. Which seems dumb, They could if they tried I think.

A little bit of trivia for you:

In doing research on this movie I came a across some cool stuff you guys might like.

in 1988, Sam’s piano that he played during the Paris scenes was sold at a auction for 154.000 to a Japanese collector.

Howard Koch’s Oscar for co writing the movie was also sold for 184,000.

The Lockheed Electra 12A used at the end of the film was discovered dusting crops in 1987. It was bought by Disney and is used for the Great Movie ride at Disney World Florida. (How cool is that?)

In 1970, for just 3.457 Warner Brothers musician Lyle Ritz bought the car that drove Rick and the french police chief to the airport, it is said it still had cigarette burns on the seat. Later in 1986 the same car went on auction and sold for 35.000.

So make sure you get this one and own it!

Darcy

Please email me with your own comments at howtogrowyourgeek – at-gmail -dot-com, or call my voicemail number at 206-202-7309 and leave your thoughts. You can also visit our forum at the Farpoint Forums. And last but not least, you can follow me on Twitter at SusietheGeek or the show at HowToGrowGeek!

Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton

Promos: The Chronic Rift and The Seeker Cast

“A scientist combines the cells of a rose with those of Godzilla to create a biological creature more horrifying than any seen before. The two do battle after a destructive tour of Japan by Godzilla. A newly released version includes many new fight scenes that were cut out of the theatrical version.

Following the events of Godzilla 1985, scientists collect genetic material from the mutated dinosaur Godzilla’s scales. A Middle Eastern country wants the samples for their own purposes, but meanwhile, a lonely scientist combines Godzilla’s genetic code with those of a rose and his own deceased daughter. The result is Biollante, an eerie plant of titanic proportions. To make matters worse, a psychic woman detects Godzilla stirring from his volcanic prison. The military sends the flying Super-X2 to stop the beast from thrashing Japan, but eventually Godzilla engages the rapidly mutating Biollante in a fight to the death.”

I love Godzilla movies!! There is just something fun about seeing a guy dressed in a big rubber suit stomping all over the place. It’s just too cool for words hehe. Dad got me started on them soon after I moved here, the first one I saw was the one with the robot Godzilla that flew. hehe. I was hooked. All of them I have liked except one, but more on that later.

This time around we find Godzilla having destroyed all of the city yet again, falling into a active volcano. (wasn’t watching where he was stepping I guess. Those things can sneak up on ya you know.) where he falls a sleep for five years. After the big fight, we see members of the military walking though the rubble; one comes upon a scale from Godzilla and drops it into a collection jar. And one of the most complicated Godzilla movies begins.

Now I have a lot to tell you here, and you are all going think I am spoiling the movie. Trust me, I am not. There is a total of four, maybe five plot lines in this movie. All of them are related to each other in one way or another, but with so much going on it is easy to get lost. Or like me, you will sit there going; “Okay, now who is that guy and why is he doing that???”

Plot one:
Next we meet Dr. Shiragami, he is brilliant micro biologist who has this idea of using DNA from Godzilla and combining it with plant cells, will allow him to make a super plant. A food source that will survive in even the harshest of weather. He has a dream of ending hunger world wide. (Yeah I know, Godzilla’s DNA is highly radioactive. It’ a Godzilla movie, you just got to roll with it.)

Plot two:
Other people want Godzilla’s DNA for their own even means, and hire thugs to stop it from reaching the doctor. In a running battle though out a complex, the military guys just barely escape and are able to get the sample to the doctor. They wipe out all of the thugs, except for on lone gun man who is very good at what he does.

Plot three:
In every Godzilla movie, the military has been defeated. No matter how many tanks, missiles or airplanes they send in, nothing even makes a dent in ol Goddzy. He just shrugs it off and keeps going. Now with him sleeping in the bottom of a volcano, they have had time to develop a plan of action. And a new flying super tank, the super x2. This one is more heavily armored than before, and has a reflecting weapon in the front made of “high grade diamonds” that will send back to him Godzilla’s breath attack. (providing it is always facing him when he decides to use it.) The new team for this flying tank is lead by a young guy, out to prove himself in battle.

Whew – still with me?

Okay buckle up, this is where it gets complicated.

The doctor gets a sample and decides to go to work on his idea, not letting the military know what he is really doing. His daughter is worried that such things could lead to trouble, but he does not listen and continues his experiments on his own. The group of scientists at the military base push him on and on, trying to find someway to finally defeat Godzilla. He helps of course, but only because he can do he secret research at the same time.
While at the military base, his home is attacked by the lone gunman and that group. Resulting in the death of his daughter, who was out in the greenhouse check on the rose bushes. (you see it already I bet.) At the funeral he vows never again to mess with anything having to do with Godzilla, and goes into shut myself from the world mode. The man he has been working with at the military lab steps in and tries to get him back, but he wont listen.

Meanwhile…..

the hunt is on for the lone gunman and his friends, who were able to get their hands on a sample of the Godzilla scale, and are rushing to meet their clients. A high speed chase happens, and the sample along with two good guys are trapped inside the van being used for the get away. They have discovered that the thugs have seat charges in and around the volcano where Godzilla sleeps. The idea being that should something happen this time, a huge bomb will go off and he will be relished yet again. The time counts down to zero……

A little later…..

We find ourselves back with the doctor a the poor guy trying to get him to come back and help out. But a new person has shown up with a young school girl that can read minds and can communicate with Godzilla. (ummm yeah, more n that in a bit.) While they are fighting, there is a commotion at the docks. A huge 50 foot plant has emerged from the water….one that looks strangely like a giant rosebush. Also one that, the new mind reading girl says; contains the soul of the doctor’s dead daughter.

DUM DUM DUUUUM!!!

Now, not only do we have Godzilla back on the scene, we have a new monster who is part plant, and part human. Which side will the plant take? Will it fight Godzilla when it is in truth, part of him?? Now that the doctor’s experiments have come back to haunt him, what will he do? And will the military’s new super weapon be enough to stop not only Godzilla but the new treat as well?

Whew. Okay everyone, deep breaths. That in a nutshell is the plot of this movie. Which I have to say wasn’t at all bad for a Godzilla movie. There wasn’t the over the top bad acting like you usually get. There is are a few funny lines, like where they are talking about the reflecting diamond mirror and how much heat it can stand. One guy turns to the other and says, “Hmmmmm, sounds really hot.” hehehe.

The Biorante, the giant plant that holds the soul of the doctor’s daughter really adds a new element to the movie. You feel sorry for it, after all here is innocent girl that is trapped in this thing and is unable to go on to her eternal rest. You are unsure that is it is attacked, will she feel it? Will she die all over again if it does?

Over all I like this movie with the other Godzilla films, you just really have to pay attention to whats going on. Like i said there are a lot of plots that finally come together at the end.

Spoiler alert!!

One warning to parents, the giant plant at first is not that scary. However, with each fight with Godzilla, it takes on more of his DNA and more of his looks. The final battle, the rose part is replaced but something really gross looking. It now has a head in the center of all the vines, (which has mouths with sharp teeth on the ends.) they looks like a crocodile. It can be pretty scary so I don’t recommend this for the younger kids. might give them nightmares.)

End of spoiler!!!

Now for some Darcy trivia.

In the movie, the doctor says the plant is Biorante. Which he claims is a Norse viking myth about a person soul that lives in a tree or plant. I looked it up, there is no such myth that I was able to find.

In 1986, a contest was held to decide the plot for the next Godzilla movie. The winner was Shinichirô Kobayashi, a dentist and part-time screenwriter. After the script was heavily altered, the movie came to the screen in 1989. However, the second place script would later become the other Toho science fiction film, Ganheddo (1989).

The movie was originally going to feature a fish-rat hybrid named Deautalios, another of Dr. Shiragami’s creations. Deautalios was to battle Godzilla and lose, after which Godzilla devoured the creature’s flesh. Later on, Deautalios was written out and replaced with the rose form of Biollante.

The rose monster was only featured in this movie, however it shows up in the console game Godzilla, I think for the PlayStation as one of the unlocks.

So there you go, there’s one I bet you guys have never seen or even heard of before. It didn’t do well for them at the box office. But it’s not a bad movie to sit back with some popcorn and watch. Give it a try!

Darcy

This week, we catch up on all of your voicemail comments! We have a comment on the Percy Jackson books and movie, a new podcaster friend, a question about ear-piercing for Gary’s daughter, and Wyatt goes old-school while he can’t get on XBox Live!

Please email me with your own comments at howtogrowyourgeek – at-gmail -dot-com, or call my voicemail number at 206-202-7309 and leave your thoughts. You can also visit our forum at the Farpoint Forums. And last but not least, you can follow me on Twitter at SusietheGeek or the show at HowToGrowGeek!

Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton

Promos: The Signal Podcast