| Archives of Nolan's Pop Culture Review | ||
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 LA FLORIDIANA What’s In A Name? A Look at the Origin of Names of Florida’s Towns and Counties C to D by William Moriaty | ||
THIS WEEK'S MOVIE REVIEW "Catwoman" by Mike Smith | ||
ODDSERVATIONS Pricey Fixx Tixx....The Psych Furs are coming to Jannus Landing....1974 vs. 2004 - the difference 30 years makes by Andy Lalino | ||
THE DIGITAL DIVIDE THE CURE Appearance At the Florida Amphitheater: Concert Review by Terence Nuzum | ||
COUCH POTATO Twilight Zone Magazine Revisited....The Lost Works of Vin Blesi by Vinnie Blesi | ||
SPLASH PAGE "Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith"....The Future For "Spider-Man"....Identity Crisis For Catwoman....Ash In Comics....Avengers Disassemble!!! by Brandon Jones | ||
MATT'S RAIL Romero Rumors True!! New Dead Film In The Works....Bush-Speak by Matt Drinnenberg | ||
MIKE'S RANT Hey, You Dropped Your Gun....You Think I Hated The Movie....Movie Notes....Happy Birthday....Meet The Beatles, Part 27 by Mike Smith | ||
LETTERS | ||
Established A.D. 2000, March 19. Now in our fifth calendar year!
Number 227 (Vol. 5, No. 31). This edition is for the week of July 26--August 1, 2004.
Star Wars, Episode Three: Revenge of the Sith Scheduled for release May 19, 2005, the George Lucas/20th Century Fox production carries the following synopsis:
Two years after Attack of the Clones, Anakin Skywalker and Padme Amidala are married, The Republic is at war with Count Dooku's Confederacy of Independent Systems, and Darth Sidious is preparing to make the final move that will ensure him control of the galaxy. With it's nearly endless supply of clone soldiers, the Republic is gaining ground against the Confederacy. Determined to avoid defeat, Dooku places a bounty on the Jedi Knights, who have already come under fire from the Republic itself. When Anakin turns to the Dark Side of the Force and joins the genocidal purge, Obi-Wan Kenobi must fight to protect Padme and her children as he heads toward a tragic showdown with his former pupil.
The main cast from "Attack of the Clones" is reunited for this sequel.
Fan hysteria for this work has been high enough that even if initial bad press accompanies the film (as it certainly did with "The Phantom Menace" and "Attack of the Clones"), like it predecesors, it will, nevertheless, most certainly still be one of the highest-grossing blockbusters of its summer. That, of course, would make the entire Star Wars "collection" occupy most of the Top Twenty highest-grossing films of all time.
Much has been written and debated about George Lucas's near-obsession with periodically "remaking" (sort of) the previous episodes in the series with computer technology, including inserting CGI scenes where none existed before and high-tech hocus-pocus on previously rougher segments. This, presumably, was to make all six episodes in the series have a more congruous look and play down the fact they were made over a nearly thirty-year
In any event, the long, strange, and frequently wonderful road that is Star Wars finally approaches its end next May 19, 2005. I'm crossing my fingers that the hard lessons Lucas learned in Episodes 1 & 2 will result in an ending truly worthy of its lineage.
The Democratic National Convention Tuesday was marked by similar memorable appearances, among them Ted Kennedy who, in a take-off of the old FDR slogan "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself", said, "The only thing we have to fear is four more years of George Bush!" Howard Dean, the one-time front-runner whose campaign crashed in a January loss to Kerry in Iowa, received the biggest ovation of the evening. He told roaring delegates that "never again will we be ashamed to call ourselves Democrats -- never, never, never."
Bill and Hillary Clinton helped open the Convention Monday to rousing ovations. Clinton credited Al Gore on many issues and touched on his popularity in the 2000 elections. Although Hillary is frequently favored to run in 2008, the irony of her vigorous support of Kerry means if he wins this election and manages to score a renomination for 2008, Hillary would be knocked out and wouldn't be able to run again until at least 2012. She'd be 67, but also, the country might be likelier to go Republican by that time as well. No matter, if Kerry falters in 2008, Hillary would be the only candidate that could possibly swing voters from going Republican---further, she's got the very best chance of being the first female president of the United States, with many fans still singing her praises from the last go 'round (myself among them).
South FL Kids Hanging Themselves on Meathooks The Key West Citizen newspaper reported on Sunday that the Monroe County sheriff’s office and U.S. Coast Guard were called on July 12 to the sandbar off Whale Harbor in Islamorada where locals say that five young people had erected a bamboo tripod and were hanging from meat hooks firmly embedded into their shoulder blades. Further, that this act is becoming some sort of tradition(!)
The youths seem to feel no pain as they dangle. How they are erect themselves onto the hooks is something of a mystery (they are not very far above the water, in fact their toes just brush the waves), presumably someone has to help them get into position.
The Coast Guard and local police summoned to the spot said it was certainly unusual, but there were no laws against sticking meat hooks into yourself and hanging from a tripod on a sandbar. The Coast Guard passed a video of the stunt on to federal justice authorities to decide if action ought to be taken.
OK first it was body-wide tattoo art, then skin-piercings every few centimeters....what's next? Fashion sense in meathooks? Are there special chrome varieties to show "metal" or "goth" you are? Hey...put me down for a bad-ass Harley-Davidson special-edition "biker" meathook for my dangling needs!
Last Word on the "I, Robot Rap" There is one more thing that's been brought up and I did determine may need clarification---to everyone and maybe to Andy especially. "Crazed Fanboy" is my trademarked term. The staff of PCR is encouraged to use it to identify themselves as part of the team and to do so in writing sparingly, but it is not to be made subject to re-definition and re-interpretation in pursuit of anyone's personal agenda. My original Mission Statement, written in 2001, states plainly, albeit crudely, what I'm about and my intentions for the site. It does not say anywhere, nor will it ever, that I am for or against any creative time period in history, and it says nowhere, nor will it ever, that anyone can speak on my behalf regarding that or anything else. Andy and everyone else on the staff has a very personal definition of what fandom means to them, and that's fine. But the banner that we work under is intended to be shared by everyone who writes for this site equally and, as a favor to me, sparingly and appropriately.
The new comic premiered at Orlando's Megacon to glowing reviews: "strange, bizarre, and twisted little tales that begged for answers." "..Aimed at not only scaring or twisting the reader but also educating them about arcane and, often, obscure facts and legends." "Students of the Unusual" is a new cutting-edge horror anthology. Issues #1-4 include the work of noted artists Jorge Alderete, Arnold Arre, Gary Scott Beatty, Poly Bernatene, Sarah Lynn Brown, Jorge Calamato, Ann Danielson, Julia Lichty aka ghostfire, Dove McHargue, Michael Tyson, Steve Mack, & Andrew Skwish.
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Rick Danford
Star Wars and Politics
Featuring.... 
"Star Wars, Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith" Democratic National Convention South FL Kids on Meathooks Last word on the "I, Robot Rap" Announcements
Well, it's final! After months of speculation and guessing games, George Lucas announced to the fans at the recent San Diego Comic Con the final title of the last installment planned for his legendary Star Wars series: "Star Wars, Episode Three: Revenge of the Sith".
space of time. I understand where he's coming from with that, although I never agreed with this approach (I'm sure he's up nights worried about what I agree with). He's looking for the day when all six episodes can be released in a box set, a la the old Republic "Flash Gordon" or "Buck Rogers" serials, and played beginning-to-end with high visual continuity. Fine. But it also disassociates itself from the original fans of the series who made Lucas a gazillionaire, who've aged in real time, and still refer to the first 1977 film as simply "Star Wars". (The whole series is called "Star Wars". The original film was re-titled years ago to "Episode Four: A New Hope". I predicted to fans even younger than myself years ago that the day would come when that movie would be routinely referred to as "A New Hope", but they vehemently fought me on that. I think I was right. Not that I'm glad about that, mind you.) A minor sub-category of film trading revolves around original editions of the first three films in the series (A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi) for fans eager to see the original versions or original fans seeking replacements for worn-out videos. Whatver, Lucas seems uninterested in them, preferring to market the newer high-tech versions.
Teresa Heinz Kerry, heir to the Heinz ketchup fortune and wife to Senator/Presidential nominee John Kerry, took the Democratic Nat'l Convention by storm Tuesday, day two of the convention, calling for a "free, good Democratic society". Earlier in the week she earned some surprise "ballsiness" points and not a little scorn by telling a reporter to "just shove it." No matter, the stunt solidified her image as a woman ready to speak out.
Just when I thought I'd heard every nutty thing teenagers do to entertain themselves these days comes a story from the Florida Keys....Whale Harbor, Islamorada FL...to be precise...in which is found the latest rage among the young surfers is to hang yourself by meathooks over the water.
Thanks to everyone who continued to write me over the weekend regarding the hits and misses of Andy Lalino's controversial "Do the I, Robot", which I continually refer to as the "I, Robot Rap". Some readers thought the piece too rascist as last week's Lettercol certainly suggests---I thought the piece was judged too harshly, but then I know Andy personally and am aware he can be misinterpreted. But facts are facts and I'm not always right (it just seems that way).
I've already forwarded my regrets and apologies for any offensive content and I don't wish to belabor the point by continuing a Lettercol war. I believe everybody had their say. The one exception is Mike Smith whose letter I am publishing as it arrived last week just after deadline. Otherwise, I feel Andy is a dedicated writer, researcher and artist, misguided by his obsession on movie timelines sometimes, yes, but Andy's writing will sink or swim on its own merits.
The critically-acclaimed new horror comic "Students of the Unusual" will be on the shelves this week in your local comic shops. "Early orders surpassed my wildest expectations," says publisher Terry Cronin! of 3 Boys Productions, "We are sure to be in the top of the independent comic sales". 3 Boys Productions which is busy preparing to host the 6th annual Melbourne Independent Filmmakers Festival (MIFF) (3Boysproductions.com) is excited about this month's solicitation for issue #2 in Diamond's Previews (p.324) with a striking cover by artist Steve Mack-- just in time for Halloween!
"Clearly at the head of the class"-
TheComicFanatic.com
-Jason Terrill -Comixview.com
J.P. Dorigo- BrokenFrontier.com
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Please sign my online petition to help us get this channel added. The Horror Channel would be a great addition to our cable lineup, not to mention we have a big part of the advisory board among us in Steve "Uncle Creepy" Barton. Hopefully we’ll see a "Nightmare Collection" Weekly or Monthly show locally produced on there as well.
ENIGMA FILMS
