"Hercules" Meant for the Big Screen

Varied emotions dwelling in a vortex of an average story with amazing visuals made "Hercules" a difficult movie to review.

First and foremost, if your considering viewing this flick, seeing this movie on the 'big' screen in real d 3-D (digital 3-D) is a must. I still have cuts and scrapes from various debris, arrows and spears pelting my face. The fantastic visuals by senior special effects technician Scott Armstrong, daily special effects technician Bence Arik did along with the literally 100s of other visual and special effects tech heads did was A-plus stuff.

Dwayne Johnson, aka the Rock was an excellent choice to portray the son of the most powerful God, Zeus, his son Hercules. I feel if I were to punch Johnson in the chest with all my might, my wrist and some of my fingers would break if not shatter.

The story line is average at best. Having Hercules and his select few warriors, bandit types fighting battles solely for gold was too "Fist Full of Dollars" for me. The lead character Joe, Clint Eastwood in 1964s "Fist Full of Dollars" was a full mortal man who happened to be a wild west 'bad ass' (parliament language of our times) to thrawart evil sorts for cash. Half God Hercules should want more out of life than money, but that's just my opinion.

Hercules and his loyal warrior pals eventually conclude to themselves life is not just about money when double crossed by Lord Cotys, John Hurt. The predictability in the plot hinders the tension between the quote, unquote heroes and villains in "Hercules," but the special effects carried this movie to a three star rating for me.

Soul Ritual Rocks Cloverdale

Soul Ritual a Cloverdale band rocked the Grange Hall while displaying a true passion for real music.

I was thoroughly impressed that Soul Ritual has an actual singer. The band's vocalist and bass player was described to me as a hot Geddy Lee (bassist / vocalist; Rush) and I had no argument. Most hard rock bands today just have a vocalist who yells into the microphone.



In regards to Phil Garcia's 43rd birthday, his wife Gina acquired the use of Cloverdale's Grange Hall for the gathering of various friends and family including myself. Plenty of food and malted spirits enhanced the conversation and laughter amongst everyone.

It was refreshing to see local musicians who understand the nature of real music. Everyone in Soul Ritual displayed a penchant for high level musicianship. In an era in which pop music seems to cling one sound, Soul Ritual produced an original hard rocking sound that saturated the ears with musical bliss.

"I just appreciate the progressive playing," drummer Awseund Mejia said.

Hanging out with Garcia's is always a pleasure, but Soul Ritual's music heighten the fun and restored my faith in local bands.

"Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" in Digital 3-D doesn't Disappiont

"Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" in Digital 3-D Doesn't Disappoint.

Returning screen play writers from 2011's "Rise of the Planet of the Apes," Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver added a third writer, Mark Bomback for this years "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes". These three screen writers did a splendid job adapting Pierre Boulle's novel "La Planète dews Singes" into an action adventure movie master piece.

"Dawn on the Planet of the Apes" doesn't require being seen in digital 3-D, but it was still an eye pleaser, especially on the big screen. A sturdy story-line carried the special effects and this movie is OK for most children I believe. (PG-13) The violence is very mild for today's standards and there is no profanity.

"Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" takes place 10 years after its predecessor, "Rise of the Planet of the Apes." The human race has been devastated by a virus it caused, and the few remaining humans on Earth have been living without electricity during this time. The only way to get electricity back is to reach a damn near San Francisco's golden gate bridge, an area now vastly populated by Caesar and the rest of his ape clan. Caesar, also the main monkey in "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" prefers that the humans stay away and he and the rest of the apes will live separate from the humans.

Actor Jason Clarke, a human in the movie named Malcolm wants what Caesar wants, yet he also desires to penetrate ape territory in order to regain electricity.

(The following paragraph contains the word; 'san' which means without. A word I acquired from William Shakespeare.)

Caesar is willing to allow humans into ape territory as long as they san guns and leave as soon as the power of the damn reignites the electrical age. Caesar's counter part, the ape Koba will not be satisfied until all humans are dead or in cages. Dreyfus, the human counter part to Malcolm portrayed by Gary Oldman feels the same way about the apes, thus the conflict of impending war between intelligent apes and people begins.

If your in for non stop over the top special effects with extreme violence and a minimal plot, don't bother with this movie. If you desire a well constructed saga complete with interesting characters, both human and ape weaved into the throngs of peace and war, this movie is well worth seeing on the big screen whether it's in digital 3-D or not. Three and a half stars for this flick.

Several Years After His Death, Paper Back Icon Mickey Spillane Still Packs a Punch

The character Mike Hammer first provoked readers in 1947. Induced from Mickey Spillane's imagination, Hammer and his detective stories were admits the first paper backs to seduce audiences into varied opinions about love, lust, violence, crime, integrity, greed and the pursuit of meaning.

"King of the Weeds" released in May is the last novel Spillane wrote (co-wrote). He died in 2006. How did Spillane co-write a novel seven years after his death? He's very clever and an amazing writer. Author Max Allan Collins has collaborated on several novels with Spillane including "King of the Weeds." The notes in the book state that Jane, Spillane's wife was told by him that when he dies there will be a treasure hunt around here. (Meaning Spillane household.) Spillane, years before his death instructed his wife to give all his manuscripts to Collin's, he'll know what to do he said. Indeed Collins did.

"King of the Weeds" is a sequel to 1996's "Black Alley" which I have not read, nor any other of Spillane's novels. So many books, so little time. Collins notes at the beginning of the book claim not having read "Black Alley" before reading "King of the Weeds" will not hinder ones understanding of "...Weeds" and he's right.

Suspense and action are presented with class and posh in this novel. Despite it's predictability, Hammer's guile on survival, including being shot point blank in the chest and surviving is very clever.

The book depicts Hammer as an aging PI with a long term girl friend Velda, and one year his fiancé whom Hammer describes as a timeless good looking older women. Her health regime consists of no smoking, moderate drinking and the gym every other day. "...Weeds" has a solid story line and vivid character development which enriches the imagination.

There are two main plots in this book. Hammer is researching whether a man in jail, Rodolph Olaf, aka The Bowery Bum Slayer is innocence for the serial killings of gay men. Hammer and his wife are also among the extremely few who know exactly where $89 billion in cash is hidden. Hammer and his woman Velda have even taken a few $100,000 for them selves.

The $89 billion is mafia money that has been stashed away in a cave large enough for trucks to drive in and out to stash the money, which the mafia has been doing since 1929. Needles to say, there's a lot of groups and individuals who want Hammer's knowledge of the location of the cash. Unsavory folks have nefarious methods in their attempts to attain the money.

The conclusion of the book was very unexpected and somewhat disturbing, but that's life, it sucks and is marvelous at the same time; four stars for "King of the Weeds."

"Tease" Appeases the Entertainment Senses.

First time novelist Amanda Maciel sheds new light on modern day high school bullying with an intelligent fictitious tale based on reality.

"Tease" contains many of the behavioral elements of quote-unquote cool high school students in a PG-13 fashion. This teenage tale is complete with jealously, deceit, fornication and vendettas.

Loosely based on a Jan. 2010 suicide by a high school girl at South Hadley High, "Tease" maps out the paths of both the bullies and the victim. Emma Putnam, a 16-year-old girl, known as Slutham to a vast ensemble of her peers succumbs to her enemies harsh words, viscous posts on Facebook and mild violence toward her and hangs herself in her parents garage with a heavy duty extension cord.

Sara Wharton, one of five bully's to Putnam is a kind soul blinded by her unenlightened rich good looking popular friends. Beautiful notorious Brielle is the key instrument in the band of five students, including Wharton who constantly attack Putnam with their cruel actions and arrowed words shot into Putnam's heart.

The story starts with a cliché of eye pleasing well known teenagers par taking in alcohol and pot usage. To fit in with the cool kids, Wharton yields her virginity to the handsome baseball star Dylan. Wharton is officially a poplar 16-year now, the girl friend of the picturesqueness sports idle. Soon after Wharton's adult encounter with Dylan, she sees a Facebook post with Dylan and Putnam posing together with keg cups at a party she was not invited to. A recipe of rage becomes a hostile mixture stirred by Brielle.

Brielle is the mastermind who ropes Dylan, Wharton and two other guys, Kyle and Jacob into attacking Putnam's character. The quintet end up in the court room accused of causing Putnam's death.

"Tease," released in April effectively deals with the ups and downs of adolescence, its innocence, wanton desires and tragedies. Author Maciel in a very 'lawyeristic' way communicates both sides of the bullied and the ones who bully. Three stars for "Tease."

"High Crap Area Tales of Dull and Dreadful" a More Apt Title for the Book "High Crime Area Tales of Darkness and Dread."

A blitzkrieg of bazaar bonds within the realms of twisted and damaged individuals dwell in the novel "High Crime Area Tales of Darkness and Dread."

"The Home at Craigmillnar," the first of eight stories kicks off the short book "High Crime Area" in sup-par fashion. The story line contains some delicious deceits which seize the readers attention, but the lack of character intrigue cascades the story into the void.

Eau Claire, an elderly care facility in the fist story illustrates the dark side of orphanages. Sister Mary Alphonsus, an intestate, someone who dies without a will was the director at the Craigmillnar Home for Children, a catholic run orphanage with more than 300 children. Time eventually took away Alphonsus's job of more than 20 years at Craigmillnar and sent her to Eau Claire where she eventually became another victim of time.

Craigmillnar, the orphanage punished children as young as 2 and 3-years-old who where bed wetters. The toddlers were forced to be wrapped in their pee laden sheets and stay outside in the cold till they passed out. Nothing like old fashioned Christian tough love to modify the natural acts of young children. Many children were also beaten at the orphanage for running away by the police, than by the Christian folk who ran the place when the police brought them back. This book's author, Joyce Carol Oates shares the twisted imagination of the likes of Stephen King and John Saul.

"High," the second story was about as enticing as watching paint dry. The third story, "Toad-Baby" was almost as uninteresting as "High." An 11-year-old girl, the sister of the infant Toad-Baby is the child's only hope for survival. The child's mother purposely drops the infant down a flight of stairs and shakes the baby. "High Crime Area" may be a book on what not to do when angry with a child or children.

The fourth tale of terrible is "Demon." Jethro, the demon boy (alleged) is a not so handsome dwarf who is frequently teased at school. The entire story from start to finish is nothing more than a collaboration of crap.

"Lorelei," the 5th story has it's moments of marvel, but like all the other sorry saga's within the book, it lacks love or loathing for any of the characters. Lorelei is the name of the young women in this yarn and she confronts her own personal demons as whether to acquire a soul mate or commit suicide.

The 6th allegory, "The Rescuer" has all the ingredients for a fascinating yarn, but Harvey, the main character and his sister are too damaged to root for or even hate in this tale of greed, rape and excessive drug use.

"The Last Man of Letters, the 7th piece to "High Crime Area" falls just short of pornography when a 73-year-old celebrated writer, a man known as X is relieved of his sin sauce by a few young women in his hotel room. Definitely not a children's book, and left me to ponder the stories intention with one word; Why?

The last narrative, "High Crime Area" focuses on 26-year-old Mz. McIntyre, aka Mz. Mc'tyre, a college professor at Wayne State University in Detroit. McIntyre carries a snub nosed nickel plated .22 caliber sterling arms semiautomatic in her purse because she is frequently followed to her car while leaving the university throughout the story. By the time it arose for whether or not she would have to use the pistol, the yarn had completely dwindled into a disastrous debacles of disarray.

Using a .22 on ones own head may have been a better alternative than reading this novel spawned in April; one star rating.

As Suggested in the Novel "Grandmaster," is Chess the Ultimate Game of Life?

Far across the eastern seas in India more then 2000 years ago the game of chess was created, and for some it's the meaning of life itself.

If taken too edgy, chess may thrust ones soul into the deepest depths of insanity and loneliness. High school tournament chess at Loon Lake Academy is taken extremely serious with possible deadly consequences when the Loon Lake chess team enters a tournament in New York state.

The February release of David Klass's novel "Grandmaster" sheds some intriguing light on the history of chess and its major champions while birthing an originally riveting story. This afternoon read starts out simple enough when a father and son chess tournament arises in New York state. Each team has six players, one of them a dad.

The Mind Cripplers senior chess players get Daniel Pratzer, their freshman team member to convince his father to join the Loon Lake team. Daniel's father, unknown to him was once a grandmaster of chess, the highest ranking any chess player can achieve, just above master. Daniel's father hasn't played a game of chess in 30 years, but joins his sons team, the Mind Cripplers.

Eric Chisolm and Brad Kinney, both seniors on the Mind Cripplers chess team know of Mr. Pratzer's past chess prowess because Chisolm's father, Dr. Chisolm played against Mr. Pratzer decades ago. The top five players on the tournament scores are counted while the 6th player or lowest scoring one is discarded.

"Grandmaster" at first is nothing more than a typical tale of white suburban high school woes and routine family issues. "Grandmaster" suddenly grips its reader(s) when Mr. Pratzer gets drastically annoyed with Dr. Chisolm's better than thou attitude and constant badgering of why he quit playing chess. Mr. Pratzer, as he's walking away from Mr. Chisolm says;

"I quit because I almost killed a rude asshole with my bare hands at a chess tournament."

Incidentally, that is the only profanity in the book. As the tournament in New York state continues, the million dollar question is not whether or not the Mind Cripplers win the tourney, but will Mr. Pratzer snap and kill himself or someone else.

I also liked the secondary story line of how Daniel developed a crush on two girls, and as I was reading, hoped he'd go for Lui, the only female high school student in the tournament.

"Grandmaster" is a fast easy read with interesting chess facts, complete with rich characters, both to love and loath interlaced in a cool story; a three star read.