"A Midsummer Night's Dream," A Modern Moron Book Review

To say the truth, reason and love, keep little company together now-a-days, what fools these mortals be, said Puck, servant to the ancient fairies. 

Lit for Little Hands, "A Midsummer Night's Dream," is a marvelous rendition of William Shakespeare's play. It's a story of love and fantasy. Had it not been for this Little Libraries acquisition, I would have never know Shakespeare wrote about supernaturalism.  

This gem of a book contains original lines from the play and lots of interactive elements for the very young and those with youthful hearts. 

Many centuries ago in Athens, Hermia and Lysander were riding the waves of tangible love and romance, but the girls father wanted her to marry Demetrious, so she runs away with Lysander. The king and queen of the fairies, Oberon and Titana and their fairy servant Puck get involved. Mixing magical flowers into a love potion causes Lysander to fall in love with his lovers best friend Helena and thus the conflict begins. 

Adapted by Brooke Jorden and illustrated by Olga Skomorokhova, this children's tale of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" is four and a half stars easy and it's going back in a Little Libraries for others to enjoy. 

Mark Izzy Schurr    

"Hey Yang, Where's My Thousand Bucks?" A Modern Moron Book Review

"I got a sinking feeling in my stomach watching Trump win, I don't hate Trump or his supporters like a lot of people do, but I felt his election was bad news for the country, Trump is a mind killer," Andrew Yang said in his latest book. 

America needs the Forward Party. Yang officially ran for president in 2020 and on page 101, he details the qualifications to run for president. In 2020, MATH, Make America Think Harder was a slogan coined by a random Yang Ganger, and yes, I still have my MATH hat. In this book, Yang details the vital need for real and positive change in America's current polictical apathy and sheer division. 

Yang got into politics and the public eye because of the things that got Trump elected in 2016. People say Trump is the cause of all our problems, he's not, he's a symptom of the (political) desease, Yang said in 2020. 

Trump and his cult are instilling hate in far too many American's including myself. This Trump shit needs to end yesterday, and shame on anybody who still worships the fascist and rapist fool with the silver spoon up his ass. ICE is legally killing unarmed people because they are not Trump supporters, four at least. MAGA, Made America Germany Around 1938. As of Feburary, 28, Donald J. Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu have bombed and killed at least 383 school aged children, mostly 12-years-old and younger, and Trump said bombing is fun.  

The above paragraph has nothing to do with Andrew Yang, nor "Hey Yang, Where's My Thousand Bucks?" Yang is certainly no Trumpster, but unlike myself, he exercises wisdom when mentioning Trump. I've read three of his books and personally spoke with him twice and he doesn't trash talk anyone, not even the orange Hitler wannabe. In 2020, Yang had me at his four day work week prosposal and UBI, Universal Basic Income, something Martin Luther King Jr. wanted for Americans in 1967. 

Yang wants every United States citizen given a $1,000 a month for life upon turning 18 and his 2018 book, "The War on Normal People" details how this could be an easy reality. Any American citizen making less than $12,000 a year is officially considered impoverished by the American government, hence if we got the $1,000 bucks a month, no more poverty in America, a technicality I know, but regardless, more money and more time away from work is win win. 

Yang founded the Forward Party in October, 2021 and it's the third most popular party in America already, surpassing the Green and Libetrian Party which was easy to do, Yang said. Three states, Utah, Minnessota and South Carolina's independent parties now identify themselves as the Forward Party; not left, not right, but Forward.

The Forward Party isn't a Ralph Nader screwing things up, let's only focus on the presidency, it's a party of inclusion. The Forward Party wants to reform the political system, so people can vote for who they actually want in office and make it so policy makers have to listen to the general public as opposed to their party's base. Open primaries and a party for all Americans, not the failed fiasco we've had since 1776. Forward Party policies include UBI, free child care and universal health care for all.  

More than 45 percent of the American voters are independent and the Forward Party has more than 50 elected officials in office, so there is still cause for joy in politics. 

This book details the positive changes that are possible in politics and the many flaws in both the Democratic and Republicain parties. Both the democrats and republicans need to abandon the we win, you lose mentality, Yang said. CNN hired Yang, then quickly fired him when he officially left the Democratic party and then was hired by Fox News which he quickly left. 

"All Fox News did was bash the democrats, hey Yang, tell us why you left that idiot party. Like Fox News and the Republicans are the answer, not! Yang said. 

Yang get's personal and light hearted in this book, it's nothing like "The War On Normal People," or "Forward." He points out interesting facts in the USA. The majority of college students are women, less than 41 percent of college students are male. The majority of 18-34 year-olds live with their parents instead of a romantic partener. Yang also talks about the need for positive masculinity, dating and finding a soul mate, he's very detailed and never fails to surprise. 

Andrew Yang with his wife and two children

This book was released in Feburary and since March I abandoned Verizon and saved myself more than a $100.00 a month on my phone bill be switching to Moble Noble, something Yang started. Moble Noble uses the T-Mobile network and my phone bill has been less than $40.00 a month instead of a $160.0 a month Verizon was gouging me for. Moble Noble is a tad over $50.00 a month with insentives not to play around on social media too much which I'm very guilty of, but non the less, since March, I have always gotten more than $15.00 taken off my phone bill each month. Yes, I kept my same phone and number and switching over to Moble Noble was indeed a smart move.  

"America, love it or leave it. I'm not going anywhere, neither are you, stop pretending, let's get to work." Yang said.

Four stars easy for "Hey Yang, Where's My Thousand Bucks? Moble Noble will save me over a $1,000.00 bucks a year on my phone bill, it's a start.  

Mark Izzy Schurr

"A 107 Days Kamala Harris," A Modern Moron Book Review

 

"I believe we can accomplish so much more in this country if we are led by calm and not chaos," Taylor Swift said. 

Fifty-five days before the 2024 election Taylor Swift officially came out and said she was voting for Kamala Harris and I really thought Harris would win, I even bought Swift's album, "The Tortured Poets Department" as a Christmas present to myself. Fast foward to the now, I'm still devastated Trump won. On the bright side, Swift is not a Trumpster. As a billionaire, Trumpism is beneficial to her, but she has heart and soul and she's a fan of the iconic Clara Bow, so those two things alone give me cause to like Taylor Swift.

During the 2024 election campaign a journalist for the LA Times said it's no exaggeration to say this may be the most consequential election in a generation. 

If you don't believe Trump is going to do everything he can to remain president after 2028, you know absolutely nothing about politics. Trump is a fascist and praises Hitler, his own generals have attested to this, Harris said on page 277. She didn't mention Trump having Nazi propaganda on his personal web site in May of 2024 and I've heard him talk positively of Hitler myself. Harris said Trump also romanticized a time when freedom and rights were limited and denied to so many Americans. 

The book is over 300 pages in length, and not even a full page details Trump's desire to make America white again. 

Obviously this novel isn't for the Trump cult, but it's great. Harris doesn't bash Trump with wreck less abandon, she simply states the obvious about comb over Caligula. 

She also talks about the assassination attempts on Trump. No matter who the president is, killing is not the answer, and because of Bill Maher, Kamala Harris and my own wisdom, I have seen the light, murder is not the answer. Once upon a time I wanted a successful attempt on his life, but now I just want the orange disease out of politics forever and jailed. 

Trump blamed the Democrats for their rhetoric truths for the attempts on his life instead of addressing the lame gun laws in America. The fool who tried to shoot Trump on his golf course had a criminal record and was flagged by the FBI for illegal possession of guns including a fully loaded semi-automatic weapon. Despite numerous convictions, he was still able to aquire guns legally. Elon Musk who spend over $288 million on Trump's 2024 campaign instead of helping children with cancer, or say youth sports, tweeted; Why doesn't anybody try to kill Harris or Biden?

In 2024 there where 83 school shootings in America, not even a record number. Harris gets in-depth about the much needed gun reform in the USA. 

A 14-year-old high schooler in Georgia shot 11 people at Apalachee High School while a freshman, killing two students and a math teacher. In Georgia, people can purchase semi-automatic weapons without a permit or any type of gun safety training. 

Trump fans the flames of hate and division, especially when it comes to immigrants, highlighting the rare tragic cases of violent crimes while smearing the reputation of the overwhelming majority of hard working immigrants. 

Remember Trump and his great wall Mexico is going to pay for? Back in the day Trump did a photo shoot for his cult while standing in front of the border wall, only it was a wall built under the Obama administration. 

While Trump rambled on about his make America white again agenda, bashing immigrants, Biden and Harris tried to pass a comprehensive immigration reform bill to provide a pathway to citizenship for hardworking long time residents. 

Harris also points out that everything Trump has was literally handed to him. In the 1980s the narcissistic nincompoop inherited $413 million and still managed to file for bankruptcy nearly a dozen times if not six. He's nothing but a baleful moron with absolutely no redeeming qualities. 

Myself and many more Americans should stop using Amazon and Prime, Jeff Bezos is another piece of shit. Harris details this in the book much more eloquently than I just did. Incidentally, I'm no saint, I still shop on Amazon and have Prime, but I should stop, but how much impact can ONE person really have? 

Non voters are a huge part of the problem in America. Harris talks about the election, voting and its results. Unlike Trump, Harris is a mature adult. When Trump won in 2024, Harris said it was a fair election and we will facilitate a peaceful transition of power, which the Democrats did. Harris even shook Trump's hand and congratulated him on his victory, I personally saws her do so on live TV. 

What did Trump do on his shellacking electorial loss to Joe Biden in 2020? Exactly, he was only the 5th president who didn't attend the inauguration of the new one. It was more than a 150 years ago the last time this happened. Trump is still touting 2020 election fraud and the base of his cult still thinks he won despite losing at least 60 court cases. Many of the federal judges were appointed by Trump. Some judges said the courts need real evidence as opposed to what's posted on Facebook and Instagram. Trump's submoronic lawyers tried to use this in federal courts. Rudy Giuliani, Trump's lawyer at the time had his license to  practice law revoked because his arguments for fraud were extremely ludicrous and lame. Harris doesn't mention any of this in the book. She'd have to write dozens if not hundreds of more books to detail all of Trumps lies, inaccuracies and why he should be in jail and not the president.

Harris details January 6, 2021 very well. Members of Trump's moronic mob, all pardoned put a pipe bomb outside the DNC head quarters, mere feet from where Harris sat when she was a U.S. senator and vice president elect. 

While rioters bashed police (all pardoned) smashed windows and carried a confederate flag through the halls of the capitol they also deficated and urinated in the offices. Trump did absolutely nothing for more than several hours while watching the violent mayhem unfold on Fox News.

Trump's cuts have caused the death of dozens if not hundreds of children, how? Read the book. 

Harris details the harm Trump is doing for vital scientific research, ruining the environment, bringing back or revitalizing diseases, cutting SNAP benefits, Medicaid, aid to veterans, undermining America's global friendships, terrorizing immigrants and so much more. 

Harris also talks about Project 2025, very scary stuff incidently, Trump's tariffs, the right wing media ecosystem agenda and the toxic domain of social media, it's a great book, four stars easy for "107 Days Kamala Harris."  

 Mark Izzy Schurr

 

Morro Rock Tour Show, A Modern Moron Music Review

No soul can be owned...seek truth in a single grain, it's the only words I can remember from the bevy of lyrical prowess weaved into the wondrous journey of life on Saturday night. 

Schurr Shots of Saturday night's fest at Graton Resort & Casino.

I didn't even know Billy Bob Thornton and the Boxmasters existed weeks before this show, and without any research, I went in blind, bought the cheap seats and was literally one row ahead of the very last one. I'm still in a pleasant and coherent daze. Just what my mind needed. B.B.T. and the Boxmasters delivered a belief and practice of happiness I need to regear myself into. Guy Fieri smiled sincerely with his cigar, there's a genuine bond between Fieri and Thornton, certainly there was last night.  

I'm ecstatic to have acquired a signed copy of "The Boxmasters Vol 1: A Twisted Tale Through Time," still encased in its diaphanous, yet study wrapping. I'm still going to tamper with the original seal and read it, but not now. This band and Rush are the only two that have excited me about literature. 

Fortunately for me, the crowd was very small, and mellow, a perfect atmosphere for my boring soul.

Before playing the last three songs to us sedateful folks, Thornton said to everyone, stand up and come up to the stage, we'd love to see your faces. Myself and Steve obliged, and only two rows of people stood before us and the stage. It was truly a musical moment of YES! I SO SCORED GOING TO THIS SHOW! Happy late birthday Steve. 

Like Dogstar, this band is very photo friendly, a huge no-no for lots of big name celebrities, four and a half stars easy for Saturday night's Morro Rock Tour show at Graton Resort & Casino.  

Mark Izzy Schurr

 

"Everything Men Know About Women," A Modern Moron Book Review

 

I read this book in less than a minute, its more than 50 pages and I comprehended it thoroughly, I'm not trying to scam anyone. 

Dr. Alan Francis, America's Foremost Psychologist wrote this book and a writer for the Chronicle said; "Says it all." 

Word around the campfire claims many men have died or been killed trying to obtain the information contained in this book. 

The book contains five chapers; Making Friends With Women / Romancing Women / Achieving Emotional Intimacy With Women / Making Commitments to Women and Satisfying Women In Bed. 

Four and half stars easy for "Everything Men Know About Women."  It would have been a five star read if I didn't have to chapter the book myself. 

Mark Izzy Schurr

Dogstar: All In Now Tour, A Modern Moron Music Review

 

I expected 1970s rock 'n' roll on Friday night, and found myself amidst the realms of melodic grunge fused into a colossal cocktail of progressive and acid rock. 

The musical imagination of Dogstar went way beyond predicable genres of music, the band definitely has a signature sound that impressed me. 

Keanu Reeves didn't say a single word during the entire show, it was all about Dogstar and its sounds on Friday night. The band was focused and serious, yet light hearted, having fun on stage and true to their songs.    

If your a fan of live music, I highly recommend seeing a Dogstar gig. Dogstar was a very photo friendly band. I wish I brought my Sony hi-fi video camera, it would have been allowed in. I missed a golden opportunity on that one.

With all the political apathy ruining and dividing this county like never before, the unification of music via Dogstar on Friday night was refreshing and showcased the infinite pursuit of positivity. Note to self! My spirit has cause again to flee from the darkness of today's ills. 

The show started a few minutes after 8 p.m., and was over before 10 p.m., perfect for an introverted old foggy such as myself. I hate people, but I love gatherings, it's bizarre. Four stars easy for this Dogstar show. 

Mark Izzy Schurr 

 

 

"Mortal Kombat II, A Modern Moron Movie Review

 

The entire universe works according to the laws of nature and "Mortal Kombat II" shatters the laws of physics. Actor Johnny Cage and Earth's best warrior, Liu Kang are the two Earthlings chosen for the six on six Mortal Kombat tournament. 

The losers of this tournament face absolute death or complete submission in the world's of ruin while the winners can set their own rules to many realities and save the Earth. Some say the storyline and visual effects are sub-par, others said it remained more true to the video game and it's fatalities. Personally I found the 'finish him / her moves gore-geous on the big screen. If you liked the first one released in 2021, I see no reason you shouldn't like "Mortal Kombat II." 

Like the first movie, this flick also pokes fun at itself for over the top special effects and scientific impossibilities. I still laugh when I hear Johnny Cage telling the Mortal Kombat gods in the first movie, they can't even spell combat. 

The violence is graphic and a bit cartoonish, but I liked that, "Mortal Kombat" movies are not supposed to be intense. It's a movie based on a video game. 

Kitana in "Mortal Kombat II" showcases the residence, compassion and power of the female species. She's an excellent role model for girls and young women of today, and yes, she's a bad ass when she uses her war fans. Make no mistake, the fans Kitana uses look exactly like those paper folding fans made in China, but trust me, you don't want to give her any reason to use them on you, unless you want to be decapetaded or severly cut. 

Three and a half stars easy for "Mortal Kombat II," it took me by surprise, people die you don't expect too and its fantasy will always aid my mind from our current political demise. 

Mark Izzy Schurr

    

"Normal," A Modern Moron Movie Review

"Normal" is a clever dialog / action flick with some over the top violence and sly comedy thrust into a crazed cocktail of political corruption and gangster violence. 

Prominent Japanese gangsters have an intense interest in the fully stocked bank vault residing in the town of Normal, Minnesota. A substitute sheriff, brand new to Normal is forced to become prey or hunter against the heavily armed town people and Asian gangsters. 

As the plot thickens, enemies must join together to stay alive. "Normal" isn't a barrage of explosions and gun-shots, it's a tale of morals and survival. Just when your ready for the predicable, something else happens.

A light hearted moment occurs when the sheriff pulls out his ticket book, writes on the ticket and places it on a woman's windshield who sees this, and before she can complain about the parking ticket, the note on the ticket says; Park better.

Bob Odenkirk portrays sheriff Uylsses. Myself, my brother Leon and one other movie patran were the only three to attend the Monday night showing of "Normal" at Airport Cinemas. This movie was nothing like the films "Nobody" and "Nobody 2" according to the man who saw "Normal" and both of the "Nobody" flicks starring Bob Odenkirk. 

"Normal was first released in Toronto in 2025 and America in April 2026. 

Three and a half stars easy for "Normal." 

Mark Izzy Schur  

   

"Dr Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine," A Modern Moron Movie Review

Simone O. Elias said the 1960s beach flicks, particularly the ones with Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello haven't withstood the test of time. She also said these movies were objectifying, yet liberating for women. 

"Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine" was not specifically mentioned in Elias's book "Old Films Young Eyes," nor is it a Beach Party movie, but it's the same genre and contains a lot of bikini clad ladies. 

Vincent Price portrays the titles villain who assembles a legion of robots guised as luscious ladies. His robots target extremely rich men, get them to fall in love, and then persuade the men to sign over their fortune to Dr. Goldfoot. The star robot, Susan Hart, mistakenly targets Frankie Avalon, a pauper according to Dr. Goldfoot. 

A true cult classic? A movie so terrible it's great? Who am I to praise or pan? I can't honestly say I liked this flick, but I've watched it multiple times and I always laugh at Avalon's government job title; SIC. 

With pride he's told he's a member of the Secret Intelligence Command, "You're a SIC man!" 

Susan Hart seizing her victims attention.

Dr. Goldfoot's robots programed to be gold Diggers. 

Three and half stars because this Reel-Ality is a pleasant escape from the current ills of reality. It seems like the world is plunging further into a nose dive with every single news headline, but there's always hope, Simone O. Elias said. 

Elias shares her wisdom and film knowledge in her book, "Old Films, Young Eyes." In the book she reviews Pre-Code Hollywood flicks, movies from 1930-1934 and 1960s films. Her insight on Reel-Ality and actuality makes absolute sense, she's clear, consise and insightful in her reviews. 

Mark Izzy Schurr   

  

The 2026 Olympics, Captivating Reality TV

 

I was blessed to watch Alysa Liu live, the Bay area sensation on ice win the gold medal in this years winter Olympics. 

Alysa Liu-Min-Nating lived up to the hype. She needed a perfect performance to defeat the two ladies from Japan, and she did just that a broadcaster said. However, if Japan's Kaori Sakamoto had won gold or even Mono Chiba, I wouldn't have been shocked. I got the Alysa Liu-Min-Nating from a skating broadcaster.  

"She skates with so much freedom and wild abandon, throws herself into these jump, she's a veteran and has the experience," an announcer said about Sakamoto who place second to Liu with a silver medal. 

Sakamoto, right after finishing her performance on ice to seize the silver medal. 

The Bronze medalist, Mono Chiba was also a sheer pleasure to watch. Everything she does is done with precision and accuracy, a broadcaster said about Chiba. One thing is certain to me, I wouldn't want to be a figure skating judge. Chiba, Sakamoto and Lui are all first place podium pythons in my opinion. 

Prior to this years Olympics, I never heard of Alysa Liu. She's only 20, and like Chiba she won back to back world champion in figure skating before the age of 20.  

Lui retired from the sport when she was 16, obviously came back to skating at the highest level. After winning the gold in February she said; "I don't feel the pressure, I don't care about competition results. I skate now to show my art, and that was art," Lui said. 

Oakland native Alysa Liu after winning the gold 

There were 351 events during the two weeks of the Olympics and my favorite sports besides the women's single skating events included the doubles figure skating competition and the men's and women's hockey gold medal matches, both against Canada. I'm no hockey fan by any stretch of the imagination, but it was a sheer pleasure to watch the women play the Canadians from start to finish. I even called out from work to watch the USA gals play Canada live and wow, what a game. With just over two minutes left in regulation, America trailed Canada 0-1. USA's leading scorer Hilary Knight tied the game in regulation and the American ladies went on to win in sudden death with a 2-1 victory over the Canadians, the same score as the men who also won in overtime against Canada. 

The cross country skiing showcased the endurance and stamina needed for the athletes who participated. 

The uneasy covenant between the mind and body. Can the mind overcome the pain of the body? You perform beyond the pain...an indelible snapshot of determination, was said about USA's Jessie Diggins, a skier. 

Another skier who put her signature on February's Olympics was Italy's Fredera Brignone, who broke her leg 10 months before the Olympics and won the gold medal in women's Super G. I saw the replay of Brignone breaking her leg in the spring of 2025, and it hurt my leg just watching. Seeing her seize gold in February was sports magic.

Ninety-two or 93 countries participated in this years winter Olympics and before the games in February I never heard of the county Georgia which is in-between Russia, Turkey and Armenia, and to its west, the Black Sea. Several of their athletes impressed me, especially figure skater Anastaiia Gubanova. I think she placed 14th overall and in my mind she should have been on the podium for a silver or bronze medal, again, I wouldn't want to be a figure skating judge.

Georgia's Anastasia Gubanova after her fantastic Olympic performance. Fourteenth place? She got robbed. 

The perfect mix of technical precision and beauty, figure skating capture's the magic of allure and the passion of precision. 

"So much dimension to their skating, technically they were machines tonight," a judge said. The level of sportsman ship is the best I've ever seen, another one said during the women's Short Skating event. 

Participating in her 23rd winter Olympic's, USA's Lindsey Vonn acquired a silver medal, while the American snow boarder Chloe Kim clinch a spot in the next winter Olympic's by winning her third world title in snowboarding.

Speed skater Jordan Stolz seized the gold in the 500 and 1,000 meter races. Stolz and Eric Heiden are America's only two time gold medalists in speed skating. Stolz also got a silver medal in the 1500 meters race, becoming the only Olympian to win speed skating medals in the 500, 1000 and 1500 meter races in the same years Olympics.  

I watched the entire gold medal game of the USA women and most of the men's game, also against Canada. I'm no hockey fan by any stretch of the imagination, I don't dislike the sport, it's just not for me, but wow, both matches were a blast to watch. 

The USA women, after defeating Canada 2-1 in overtime for the gold medal.

Seven of the last eight gold medal games in women's hockey have been between America and Canada. This year's American team featured 12 new players to the Olympics.

During the entire history of the winter Olympic's the Canadian women's team has only lost four games, including this year's gold medal loss to the Americans. The USA ladies also defeated Canada 5-0 in this year's preliminary round in the Olympics. The American gals have handed Canada all four of their Olympic hockey losses including the 1998 gold medal match. 

Bravo to the women's hockey gold medal team for declining their invitation to visit America's shame. Months after winning the gold medal, Trump launched America into an unjust and unprovoked war. On day one, more than 100 Iranian girls between the ages of 7 and 12-years-old were obliterated by a U.S. Tomahawk missile. 

  

Trump touting "Praise be to Allah. Tuesday will be power plant day and bridge day all wrapped up in Iran. There will be nothing like it. Open the FUCKING straight you crazy bastards or you will be living in hell!!! Just watch! An actual Trump tweet on Easter Sunday. This is not America, but the Olympics are. 

Mark Izzy Schurr

"Ready or Not 2 Here I Come," A Modern Moron Movie Review

 

"Ready or Not 2 Here I Come," is a sensational sequel to its predecessor. 

In the first movie Grace, portrayed by Samara Weaving marries into a family richer than God while running a Satanic cult, to say the least. Upon the marriage, Grace knew nothing of the Satanism in her grooms family. On her wedding night she is the intended prey in a lethal game of Hide and Seek. All the security camera's are turned off and she is given time to hide any where in the massive mansion. A Nineteenth century pistol, a modern one, a hunting shot gun, cross bow and a scythe are some of the weapons used to hunt the newlywed. The reasoning behind this baleful insanity is to preserve their immortal souls for Lucifer himself. If she is not sacrificed before dawn, Beelzebub himself will eradicate the entire families bloodline.  

If you haven't seen either movie I'm not going to reveal vital spoilers, but in the first flick, surprise, she survives until dawn and the Bible's Dark Lord indeed destroys the entire family and its bloodline.   

"Ready or Not 2 Her I Come" begins exactly where the first movie ends. Now there's four families left who want to sacrifice Grace to Satan. This time around Grace's sister inadvertently gets involved. The two sister's must combat a small army of slow witted Satanist eager to murder them. The sequel expands on the story. There are ways for Grace and her sister to survive without violent mayhem, but is it worth it?     

I'm already excited to own this flick on Blue-Ray disc accompanied by the amazing sound of Dolby Atmos. To some this movie might be an over the top silly action flick, but for me, it raised the questions; How evil is big money? Are there supernatural forces? Just movies I know, but the realms of fact and fantasy seem as vast as infinity.  

Four stars easy for "Ready or Not 2 Here I Come." Samara Weaving is simply amazing in both films. When her sister pulls shards of glass from Grace's (Weaving) arm, the wincing and her eyes of agony display Weaving's acting prowse. I felt the pain of Weaving's suppressed screams when a boy blows a hole the size of a silver dollar through the palm of her hand. In too many action / horror flicks, the actors are sub par at best when it comes to displaying such pain. Weaving also showcases her allure and power in Hulu's "Eenie Meanie."

Mark Izzy Schurr

 

"Old Films, Young Eyes," A Modern Moron Book Review

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Films are an effective way of teaching young people about the past in an entertaining way, Simone O. Elias said, the author of "Old Films, Young Eyes." 

Elias shares her impressive and enlightening knowledge of Pre-Code Hollywood, which began in 1930, the same year sound on film became mainstream. Luring ladies such as Clara Bow and Ginger Rodgers embraced the tangibles of life while ignoring the Christian critique of their time. Bow and Rodgers blind sided the censors with lurid and lascivious story-lines in their movies.  

Elias, like myself is a fan of Clara Bow and Ginger Rodgers, both pictured above, Bow on the left and Rodgers on the right. Elias writes detailed information on the two. She also reviews two of their Pre-Code flicks and why vintage films remain relevant.   

Bow's silent features have held the test of time such as "Capital Punishment," "The Plastic Age," "Hula," "Wings," "My Ladie of Whims," "Black Oxen," and "It." These movies merely tinge the surface of Bow's immortal personality and allure on and off the screen. In 1925 or 26,' Bow appeared or starred in more than two dozen feature films.  

"I'm gest a woiken' a gol," Bow said to journalist's in the 1920s. 

Prior to Clara Bow, women's sexuality in the movies was non-existent. This was the B.C era of Hollywood; Before Clara. I got the B.C. reference from David Stenn's book "Running Wild," the biography of Clara Bow. 

The clever and sometimes crazed plots detailing free sex, and indulgent vices have withstood the test of time. Elias, the 15-year-old author of this book reviewed 1932s "Call Her Savage," starring Clara Bow, arguably the inspiration for Betty Boop. Bow was a dominant box office draw during the Roaring Twenties. Betty Boop was created in 1930 and in July, 1934, her garter was forced to disappear and her skirt was drawn closer to the knees. 

Thou shall not show women in scanties or lingerie was just one of the many things written into Hollywood law midway into 1934, officially ending the fabulous four year run of the Pre-Code flicks. Ridged rules were literally written biblically, such as the above. 

These old films are objectifying, yet liberating for women, Elias said. Elias is correct, many early 1930s films portrayed women as independent, smart, sly and sexy. 

Anna May Wong, as pictured in "Old films, Young Eyes." 

In "Call Her Savage," Bow is seen in a diaphanous blouse without a bra, and Ginger Rodgers is a teenaged flirt who drinks in 1934s "Finishing School Girls." Bow, nor Rodgers is punished for their sins upon the ending of these movies, a big no-no for films made after July, 1934.   

Elias reviewed "Finishing School Girls," starring Ginger Rodgers. Rodgers portrays a smart young woman, free from the uptight expectations of society. She acts and behaves on her own terms, Elias said. 

"Old Films Young Eyes" is so much more then what I've said. Elias not only reviews "Call Her Savage" and "Finishing School Girls " in detail, she also mentions an array of many more Pre-Code flicks and talks about 1960s films, her personal life, politics and so much more. 

From 1890 to the 1920s there were more female film makers then there are today. Elias writes in-depthly about the screen-writers and directors, Alice Guy Blache,' Lois Weber and Frances Marion. Alice Guy Blache' made the first ever film to tell a story, 1896s "The Cabbage Fairy." Until I read this book, I thought the inaugural story telling film was 1903s "The Great Train Robbery." Blache' was also the first female to operate and control her own movie studio, Solax Studios in New Jersey. 

Films before "The Cabbage Fairy" were mostly magicians, disappearing acts and dancing. Alice Guy Blache said women can master every technicality of the art of movie making...Acting, painting, music and literature. Women have long held their place among the most successful workers...Scores of women are not found among the most successful creators of photo drama offerings. This is an actual quote from Moving Picture World in 1914.   

Years before 1920, writer and director Lois Weber made feature films such as "Where are My Children?," "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle," "The Blot," and "Hop, the Devil's Brew." Weber addressed the need and political controversy over birth control, voting rights and poverty in her films. She also showcased the ills of alcohol and drug addiction more than a 100 years ago in her films. 

Screen-writer Frances Marion was the highest paid writer in Hollywood for decades. She wrote more than a 130 movies, including films with Shirley Temple, Marion Davies and Greta Garbo. 

The great grand uncle of Simone was black listed by Hollywood. Like Simone, he was Jewish. She details how black and Jewish actors, screenwriters, directors and musicians were black listed by Hollywood in the mid 20th century. "Old Films, Young Eyes" is laden with a bevy of enlightening information. 

My favorite parts of the book entailed her talking about Clara Bow and Ginger Rodger. Simone mentions several Pre-Code flicks I've seen multiple times. 

"Gold Diggers of 1933" is a Pre-Code cliche' of women's bodies, drinking, gold diggers and portly men in three piece suits and dance numbers existing only to show off women's legs and women hanging out in their underwear half the time, and my favorite, women tricking men to get money and status, Elias said. She describes this movie with aplomb detail. Ginger Rodgers has an amazing voice and sings brilliantly in Latin, the song "We're in the Money." Pictured below is Joan Blondell, my favorite Pre-Code babe. Joan Blondell and Ginger Rodgers were sensational and funny as showgirls in"Gold Diggers of 1933".

 

The Book, "Old Films, Young Eyes," is only a year old and refueled my fascination for these films. Claudette Colbert, pictured below was another lady of lure who pushed the skin bearing envelopes in mainstream movies. Some people collect vintage cars, I collect vintage movies, especially Pre-Code films.

 

I own a geekish amount of Clara Bow and Joan Blondell DVDs, along with several other starlets from nearly a century ago and because of "Old Films, Young Eyes," I will aquire some Colbert movies I've never heard of before I read this book, particularly "The Wiser Sex" and "Man of Manhattan."  

Thank you so much Simone, this afternoon read I took weeks to finish was amazing. Four and a half stars easy for this 2024 book. Instagram; @teeneagegoldenage and teenagegoldenagebook. Bravo Simone, not even old enough to drive, yet your wisdom far surpasses mine.

"Being a teenager means being hopeful, cynical, ambitious and risky, Elias said. 

Mark Izzy Schurr