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Hey, Barry was persecuted too, don't ya know. Just ask Bud.

If you say so.

Harrison Ford is pretty good as Branch Rickey. Although there's a bit too much John Goodman in the movies and on TV, I'm surprised he didn't get the role. Dead ringer?

No such thing as too much John Goodman. He's awesome. And yes, dead ringer for Rickey. He also could've played Walter O' Malley.

Recent Netlfix:

Sliver Linings Playbook: Jennifer Lawrence is good. The Cooper guy is ok, I guess. A few funny moments. But overall, a very annoying flick. If I wanted to hear lunatics yell at each other for 2 hours, I'd go to my family Christmas gathering.

This weekend I have "Letters From Iwo Jima" -- recommended by Bud. If this stinks, you'll be hearing from me.

I never saw Silver Linings Playbook, and now I doubt I ever will.

I'm confident in my recommendation for Iwo Jima, assuming you appreciate quality movies :-) It's a lot better than the American-perspective companion, Flags of Our Fathers.

Despite Bud's poor taste in baseball teams, he has recommended a solid movie in "Letters From Iwo Jima." Predictable from first frame to last? Sure. Are you spoonfed the humanistic message? Of course. One of Director Eastwood's top pictures? Definitely. I looked up the 2006 Oscar nominees for Best Pic, and this easily outclassed The Departed, Little Miss Sunshine and The Queen. I've not seen Babel.

Definitely one of Clint's best movies.

Need to escape of the summer heat and humidity out here and see something. Anyone have any recommendations?

I haven't seen it, but I think "Fast & Furious 6" would be right up your alley, Bud.

Just saw "Gangster Squad" w/ Josh Brolin and Sean Penn. I'd heard it was pretty bad, but wow, had no idea it would be THAT awful. "Chinatown" or "L.A. Confidential," this ain't.

Just got back from the new Star Trek. I don't believe Gene Roddenbery would approve. :-(

Not surprised. Though it had its moments, I didn't much care for the first Star Trek by JJ Abrams.

Over the weekend I saw "Cloud Atlas" (my girlfriend had read the book and wanted to see it). When it came out last year, apparently many people were confused by the multiple stories. I "got" the movie, and though it clocks in at nearly 3-hours, it managed to hold my attention. Only problem: It wasn't very good. I didn't hate it. But I wouldn't recommend it.

What is good? Surprisingly, the new made-for-HBO movie about Liberace ("Behind The Candelabra") was entertaining. Michael Douglas (as Liberace) does a good job, though at times he does slip into his regular Michael Douglas acting.

Just got home from seeing "20 Feet From Stardom," a documentary about background singers and groups from the 50s to today. Lots of compelling personal stories. The Boss, Mick Jagger, Stevie Wonder, Chris Botti and are interviewed. Part of it was filmed at Humphrey's in San Diego! Can't recommend this one highly enough! If it's playing near you, definitely go see it if you have the chance!

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/20_feet_from_stardom/

Thanks for the tip, Bud. Hadn't heard of this movie. Sounds good.

Kind of freaky: Saturday I watched "Flight" with Denzel Washington as a drunk airline pilot who crash lands a passenger jet. Sunday morning I pick up the newspaper and see the headline about the jet crash landing in San Francisco.

Anyway, as for Flight, Denzel is great as always. The movie, not so much. Starts off very good, but then stumbles.

The Hobbit: Ugh. Peter Jackson is up to his same old tricks. Endless CGI video-gamish battles/chases with Orcs and goblins and monsters. Unforgivably ridiculous, Jackson-invented scenes involving the Brown Wizard, who if I remember correctly gets a one-sentence mention in the book. The Bilbo-meets-Gollum stuff is good, but by then you've already sat through 2-1/2 hours of this tedium, and are ready for it to end. And there are still two more 3-hr Hobbit movies to come? My God, make it stop! Looking back, the only good Peter Jackson/Tolkien movie was the first LOTR installment, Fellowship of the Ring. Its been downhill ever since.

I haven't seen "Captain Phillips" yet (I hear it's very good). But I did just see the Danish movie "A Hijacking", which is also about Somali pirates hijacking a ship. Wow. Best film I've seen this year. Tense, harrowing, not exactly a "fun" time at the movies -- but you gotta appreciate the skill it takes to put you right there in the situation without a Hollywood explosion or action set piece in sight. Frighteningly realistic. It's now available on Netflix. Rent it.

Thanks, mapache61. Not sure how much stress I want from movies, since I have plenty from work. But I might check out one or both of the Somali pirate movies.

Saw Gravity. Was better than I expected, given the previews! Recommended if you haven't seen it.

Of course you saw Gravity. You're a space geek. Did you happen to see "Europa Report" earlier this year? Was thinking about getting it from Netflix.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europa_Report

No, haven't seen Europa. Definitely looks like it might be worth checking out.

Speaking of movies, I recently had the unique opportunity to be an extra in one. The History Channel is filming a miniseries about World War I and World War II from the perspective of the leaders. Someone forwarded me an email that they needed people of Japanese ancestry, for filming in West Virginia. As you might guess, West Virginia is not quite California in terms of the population density of people with Japanese ancestry, so I decided to jump in.

It was pretty fun. I didn't want a speaking part, because my accent is 100% Californian, but they got into a slight pinch and I had to say a few words. Personally, I hope they dub me over with a native Japanese speaker!

If you're on Facebook, Garret T. Sato, who played Tojo, has a shot from the set as his cover photo. I happen to be a shadowy figure in the window :-)

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... 896&type=1

Very cool, Bud. You'll have to let us know when it airs.

I saw Europa Report. Not the greatest thing ever, but pretty good.

If you haven't seen the Blues Brothers done in LEGOS, check it out. Hilarious.
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-new ... 2yvj0.html

Anyone see the National Anthem at the Rose Bowl? The stars of the film performed! Well done.

Bud wrote:Just got home from seeing "20 Feet From Stardom," a documentary about background singers and groups from the 50s to today. Lots of compelling personal stories. The Boss, Mick Jagger, Stevie Wonder, Chris Botti and are interviewed. Part of it was filmed at Humphrey's in San Diego! Can't recommend this one highly enough! If it's playing near you, definitely go see it if you have the chance!

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/20_feet_from_stardom/

Bud wrote:I never saw Silver Linings Playbook, and now I doubt I ever will.

Actually, I was wrong. I finally saw Silver Linings Playbook last night. And I enjoyed it. A lot. In fact, I'm becoming a Jennifer Lawrence fan, after seeing her in American Hustle too. Also, I missed another of director David O. Russell's recent films, The Fighter, and that'll be corrected soon!