Monday, February 24, 2014

In general the weather here has been really good, sunny and cool but ... we are in a serious drought situation. We have always been in this situation for over a decade but the lack of rain this year has been staggering.  No water here and in the mountains which is even more important because that is where the fresh water comes from unless we have to pipe it in from Colorado.  As the mountains get snow, it melts and flows down while being filtered by nature and man.  It cleans the "pipes" as it where and just provides millions of people with fresh usable water and now, we are out.  We aren't entirely out but we simply are very low and the best solution for this, rain.  I don't know why we are continuously in a summer weather pattern.  We need rain people!  Don't waste your water.

Weekly Update:
Not really a sad time in Hollywood but for the world.  The real-life icon who the movie "The Sound of Music" was based on, the real Maria Von Trapp, has passed away.  She was the last surviving member of the Von Trapps, passed away on Saturday.  Their story was made famous when the movie came to the big screen and she was one of The Trapp Family Singers who fled Austria with war brewing.  The movie may have told the story with music and drama but Maria had lived what they portrayed in the film.  The family fled to the US where they found much success and she was the third-oldest of the seven children.  She passed away in her sleep at her home in Vermont.  Her family's life inspired generations and brought hope during rougher times.
She was 99.

At the movies:
They can build their own crown with gold blocks as "The Lego Movie" still holds the #1 spot for a 3rd week in a row!  Earning another 31.5 million with a little drop from last week and now has a domestic cume of 183 mil.  This film is on track to hit at least 250 mil cume by the time it is done, if not more!  New at #2 is 3 Days to Kill with an expected opening of 12.3 mil.  A little less than I thought it would do but not by much.  New at #3 is Pompeii with 10 mil to open.  This was expected to hit 15 mil but I didn't think it had it in it to do that number.  Average drop to #4 is "Robocop" with another 9.4 mil.  Rounding off the top 5 is "The Monuments Men" with another 8.1 mil and the last time we will see this film in the standings.

Quote of the week:

"You can't build a reputation on what you're going to do." - Henry Ford

Facts & Tips:
A strawberry is not an actual berry but a banana is.

"How come the only time get invited anywhere is on Halloween?" - Sarah Jessica Parker as Patty Greene in the TV series "Square Pegs."

Monday, February 17, 2014

This past week turned out to be a little cooler than what the weather reports forecast which is nice.  We were suppose to have 80 degree weather during the week but ended up with mid 70's which was way better because this winter has been nothing but another summer.  Still in a serious drought and now our road LED signs all over town are pointing that out with messages to conserve water.  We've been doing that for years now and so it continues.

Weekly Update:
Really crazy week for Hollywood as we lose two of our very notable best ... On Tuesday we lost one of our first child stars, Shirley Temple.  Her first big head was in 1934, "Little Miss Marker" which lead to "Captain January," "Poor Little Rich Girl" and "Wee Willie Winkie."  During the time of the great depression, the movies were the most inexpensive escape for America and Temple was there to give them that escape if only for the next 90 minutes.  She was America's little darling and generations would continue to watch her films.  She received a special Academy Award in 1935 and some of my favorite films include "The Little Princess" and "Little Miss Broadway."  She was 85.

Then on Wednesday, another TV comedy legend passed.  TV and movie icon Sid Caesar passed away in his Beverly Hills home.  One of my favorite films of his was "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World," "Grease," "Grease 2" and a brief appearance in "Vegas Vacation."  His ad lib TV appearances is what really solidified his career with shows he hosted and others including "The Carol Burnett Show," "The Danny Thomas Hour" and "The Bob Hope Show" to name only a few.  Funny thing, I've watched his made up German-English impression when I was young and that is what inspired me to learn German in High School.  He was a classic actor and an icon.  Sid was 91.

At the movies:
The pieces still all fit as "The Lego Movie" continues to dominate the box office for the 2nd weekend in a row with an extra 48.8 million.  The film has passed the 100 mil cume mark with ease as it makes it way to 200 mil.  New at #2 is About Last Night with about 27 mil which is a little above expectations.  Also new at #3 is the remake of Robocop with 21.5 mil.  Just under expectations and will probably drop off sooner than later.  Holding on to #4 is "The Monuments Men" with another 15 mil this holiday weekend and will probably cap around 60ish mil when it is all said and done.  Rounding off the top 5 is Endless Love with a debut opening of 13.4 mil which is very close to expectations.

New Movies that did not make the top 5:
Just one this week as the romantic fantasy film Winter's Tale comes in at #7 with only 7.8 mil.  Way below all expectations and ended up at the bottom of the three romance films this weekend.

Quote of the week:
"I love being married.  It's so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life." - Rita Rudner

Facts & Tips:
Queen Isabella I of Spain, who funded Columbus' voyage across the ocean, claimed to have only bathed twice in her life.

""Skull Flats." You know, General, I'm not complaining, but for once I'd like to go on one of these survival missions to a place called, oh, like, "Happy Valley" or "Merry Meadows," hmm?" - Bill Daily as Captain Roger Healey in the TV series "I Dream of Jeannie."

Monday, February 10, 2014

And end rain ... that was sure short and quick.  We just had one nice day of rain and then it went like it never happened.  To top it all off, this week looks like a heat wave with expected temps in the low 80's during the day.  I know we are approaching the end of winter but this kind of sucks.  We need the water, pretty plain and simple.  With out the water here and the mountains next to us, we will drop deeper into our drought situation.  Hopefully the "April Showers" is true and we will get some water but who knows with the way things have been as of late.

Weekly Update:
So the 2014 Winter Olympics started on Thursday night with the opening ceremonies and I did not watch one bit of it.  They are being held in Sochi, Russia and there has been report of problems after problems from Sochi that it doesn't deserve the world's attention but more of the world's disgust.  Reporters are sending in photos and stories of unfinished hotels and their rooms have no plumbing.  But that is not even the biggest issue ... one of the earlier issues is Russia's anti-gay laws and treatment.  This has nothing to do with the Olympics but the country itself!  How could the Olympic Committee approve such a place simply based on that.  One has to remember the history of the Olympics and its origins from Ancient Greece where such behavior is common.  Then the big issue (with me) is that Sochi is known for having a huge stray dog population so the government hired an extermination company to poison them and remove them from the city.  From ALL reports, the dogs are friendly, just homeless and play with each other and haven't attacked or threatened any person.  The government should have spent funds to neuter the animals, not kill them in the name of the Olympic games!  This year is simply tainted with bad press and bad feelings ... not the spirit the Olympics should be based upon.

At the movies:
Big box office surprise as the debut of The Lego Movie kicks off with a huge 69.1 million!!  Most projected around 30, I projected closer to 50 and we were all off!  But at least I was a little closer.  New at #2 is The Monuments Men with a solid 22.7 mil and was pretty close to my estimations with a 20+ opener.  Holding on to the #3 spot is "Ride Along" with an extra 9.4 mil as it passes the 100 mil mark, really impressive number for an urban comedy.  Holding steady at #4 is "Frozen" with another 6.9 mil as it gets a little closer to 400 mil cume domestic.  Rounding off the top 5 is "That Awkward Moment" with another 5.5 mil and will probably be it for that one in the top 5.

New movies that did not make the top 5:
Just one this week as Vampire Academy comes in at #7 with only 4.1 mil for its debut.  Projected to be above 10, I didn't think that was going to happen.  Vampires seem pretty much done and no one cares anymore for the lightly clothed just out of teenage year girls anymore when you can see that for free on the Internet, why spend $12 for it.  That era is dead and gone in the theatres.

Quote of the week:
"The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek." - Joseph Campbell

Facts & Tips:
John Wilkes Booth's brother once saved the life of Abraham Lincoln's son.

"Heyyy!" - Henry Winkler as Arthur 'Fonzie' Fonzarelli in the TV series "Happy Days."

Monday, February 03, 2014

RAIN!!!  We had rain finally ... for about 20 minutes but it was something!  We are in such a slump but at least the weather has dropped down into the 50's and 60's so it now feels like winter, only three months later.  But I hope it does stay this way for awhile and we are able to get more rain because we so need it and just to have a change in weather. But we had several days of cloudy weather but it never resulted in any rain.  It was like a big tease for days.  Aside from that, the rest of the country is getting hammered by crazy storms and massive snow.  A bunch of funny statements on Facebook but one of my favorites is "Southern California exist to piss off the rest of the country."  It's funny because it is true.

Weekly Update:
Pretty busy week and I did it all fighting off a cold ... but I think I lost at the end of the weekend.  I hang out at a comic book store a lot and on Saturday it was really busy.  Some indie film crew was there doing some movie while Magic The Gathering had a new pre-release event.  At first I thought to myself, oh great, another indie film that no one will ever see or know about.  Although that may be true but they did have some folks there who were recognizable to me surprisingly enough ... amazing what favors can do.  Just last week I quoted David Blue from the short lived TV series "Stargate Universe SGU" was there along with "The Wonder Years" David Lauria.  But then there was someone new for me:

*Neil Grayston - from the TV show "Eureka" and a really cool guy.

Huge loss in the world of entertainment on Sunday as award winning actor, Philip Seymour Hoffman, was found dead in his NYC apartment from an apparent overdose from heroin.  Hoffman was a proclaimed drug user but he was also a talented actor and all around easy going guy.  I had the pleasure of meeting him during the "Doubt" movie premiere after-party.  He was standing by himself in the outside make-shift patio next to the bar and I simply went up and asked for a picture, he then said, "of course" and put his arm around me as we found a person passing by to take the photo.  Could not have been any nicer and said thanks to me as I said thanked him.  I wish there are more actors like him, approachable and easy going.  Don't get me wrong, there are but he was a little different, sort of drew you in.  He will be greatly missed and often remembered. He was only 46.

At the movies:
Slow week this week probably due to 1) award season and 2) Superbowl Sunday!  But aside from that, holding ground at #1 for a third week is "Ride Along" earning another 12.3 million and has amazingly hit 93 mil cume to-date.  Getting a slight increase and holding to #2 is "Frozen" with another 9.3 mil and looks like will finish shy of 400 mil cume domestic, not too bad!  New at #3 is That Awkward Moment earning only 9 mil which is below expectations.  At #4 is "The Nut Job" with another 7.6 mil.  Rounding off the top 5 is "Long Survivor" with 7.2 mil extra as it passes the 100 mil cume mark with pretty solid word-of-mouth.

New movies that did not make the top 5:
In at #7 is Labor Day earning a low 5.3 mil for it's wide-release debut.  Just as I predicted though, wouldn't hit 10 as most thought it would.

Quote of the week:
"Talent alone won't make you a success.  Neither will being in the right place at the right time, unless you are ready.  The most important question is: 'Are you ready?'" - Johnny Carson

Facts & Tips:
Tennessee banned the use of a lasso to catch fish.

"Lord, I'll do anything you ask tomorrow... just don't call an alert tonight!" - Dirk Benedict as Lt. Starbuck in the TV series "Battlestar Galactica."