Michael Jackson Dead at 50

The King of Pop is dead.

There will never be another entertainer like him.

Say what you will, as a musical entertainer Michael Jackson had no equal. The first concert that I ever attended was the Jacksons Victory tour which took place at the height of Michael Jackson's popularity.



I was thirteen years old.

I distinctly remember witnessing hundreds of teens crying in uncontrollable hysterics while listening to his music during the concert. It was unbelievable. To this day I've never seen anything like it.

The first VHS video that my family ever owned was "The Thriller" video directed by John Landis. We must've watched that thing a thousand times.

He was an entertaining actor too.

He notably appeared in "The Wiz" which was directed by Sidney Lumet and the 3D Disneyland attraction "Captain E.O." which was directed by Francis Ford Coppola and produced by George Lucas.









Big names...I know.

If that wasn't enough, he was directed by Martin Scorsese in the short film / music video "Bad".



Of course, later in his life he was known more for the controversy that was generated in his wake. At best, he was ridiculed for his eccentric behavior, at worst, he was accused of being a child molester.




But what was undeniable was his incredible music.

I remember going to Club 70's on Sundays in Hollywood. Every time Michael Jackson's "Don't Stop Till you get Enough" played the whole club rocked, literally EVERYONE in the club would dance. People would come streaming out of the bathroom, people would stop drinking their drinks, strangers would grab strangers just so they wouldn't have to dance alone. People would be doing the moonwalk. Grabbing their crotch, spinning, the whole deal.

It was classic.

The song symbolized the height of that evening's festivities.

Cause it was all down hill from there.

Rest in Peace Michael Jackson.

Inglourious Basterds Trailer #2

This is the second trailer for Inglourious Basterds and with this footage we get a better sense of the tone of the movie. Looks like Brad Pitt's character has some comedic, even slapstick moments in this film. We also get a hint of some of the historical liberties and re-imaginings the story takes.



Looks good. I'm hoping that the negative buzz is just Much ado about Nothing and unrealistic expectations placed on the works of Quentin Tarantino.

Can't wait till August 21st to see the film.

Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland

USA Today has revealed concept artwork for Tim Burton's 3D take on"Alice in Wonderland".



Freaky.

I'm not a fan of crazy hallucinogenic fantasy films like "The Wizard of OZ".

Those kind of films just freak me out.

But I am a fan of Tim Burton and Johnny Depp. So I'll probably check this film out.

Ummmm...actually after seeing this image of Tweedledum and Tweedledee via Movies.IE....maybe not.



Yikes. Apparently, I won't be taking the kids to see this.



"Alice in Wonderland" is tentatively scheduled for release in the U.S. on March 5, 2010.






Make-up photo of Johnny Depp via Ain't It Cool News.

Inglourious Basterds International Poster

Although reviews for Inglourious Basterds have been decidedly mixed so far, this is still the most anticipated film of the year for me.

One look at this poster, which I found via Ain't It Cool News and the reasons become apparent.



Quentin Tarantino really knows how to sell a film. Doesn't he?

He also knows how to tell a fun story. At least so far.

I admit my expectations are lower considering the negative to mediocre buzz the film generated at Cannes, but Tarantino hasn't disappointed me once yet. So I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt.

Inglourious Basterds is released nationally on August 21, 2009.

Los Angeles Lakers 2009 NBA Champions

Photo courtesy of Robert Gauthier/ Los Angeles Times


It's been a long, brutal road since the Los Angeles Lakers last won the NBA championship in 2002.

Chick Hearn passed away. Kobe Bryant was charged with rape. Karl Malone and Gary Payton joined the team. Lakers lost to the Detroit Pistons in the NBA finals. Shaquille O'Neal was traded for Lamar Odom, Brian Grant and Caron Butler. Phil Jackson left the Lakers. Rudy Tomjanovich was named head coach, then retired soon after. Lakers missed the playoffs. Shaq won a championship with the Miami Heat. Phil Jackson returned to the Lakers. Kobe Bryant demanded a trade. Lakers acquired Pau Gasol for Kwame Brown. Lakers lost to the Boston Celtics, of all teams, in the 2007 - 2008 NBA Finals.

Then we finally have today.

I have to admit, although it's great to celebrate a championship for the Lakers and their fans, it wasn't a fun ride.

I'll be the first to admit that I've been critical of Kobe Bryant and the franchise during this time and I still mourn the loss of my favorite player Shaquille O'Neal.

It's hard for me to just forgive and forget the horrible road it took to get to this position again.

But I've been a fan of the Lakers since I first learned to dribble a basketball. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was my favorite player growing up and I cried when Magic Johnson was forced to retire prematurely.

So I recognize and celebrate the significance of a NBA championship for the team and the fans of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Some milestones in this series win include the first NBA Finals MVP for Kobe Bryant.

Phil Jackson won his tenth NBA Championship as a head coach. The most for any coach in the history of the NBA.

Derek Fisher won his fourth NBA Championship, all with the Lakers.

The Lakers won their 15th NBA title in the franchise's history.

Congratulations to the 2008-2009 NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers.

Shutter Island Movie Trailer

Here's the new trailer for the new Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio film Shutter Island.



Wow.

Looks like Scorsese is in Cape Fear mode.

Really like the look of the film and the production design.

The thriller also stars Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Michelle Williams, Patricia Clarkson and Max von Sydow.

Shutter Island is set for release October 2, 2009.

Check out the trailer in HD here.

Mickey Rourke in Iron Man 2

I found this image of Mickey Rourke in Iron Man 2 via Dark Horizons and also through the blog of my friend Lon Harris.

Not sure what to...um...make of it.

Word is Rourke will be performing his role speaking in mostly Russian. He also spent some time in a Russian prison preparing for the role.

Nice.

No doubt Rourke is back. But what is up with that costume?

Dude, looks like a silly extra in an episode of Farscape.

I liked the first Iron Man movie.

But ironically what I liked about the film had nothing to do with the action or comic book elements.

I pretty much just enjoyed Robert Downey Jr.'s take as Tony Stark.

Truth be told, I thought a lot of the movie felt kinda silly and the action felt almost like a television movie of the week. Especially in comparison to The Dark Knight. Almost like an A-Team television reunion.

Well...maybe not that bad. But close.

I'm sure it was just the limited budget. I trust Jon Favreau. I'm sure he'll deliver a great movie with a bigger budget.

And I'm sure there's an excellent explanation for that outfit that Rourke has on.

Right?

King LeBron James the Loser?

LeBron James finally apologized to the media and fans for skipping the mandatory news conference following the Cleveland Cavaliers loss to the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Sort of.

David Stern fined the NBA star $25,000 for not taking his media medicine and for refusing to discuss the Cavaliers disappointing series loss.

Stern stated, "He asked that I express to the media, the Magic and the fans his apology, and particularly the young fans, because he knows he has a responsibility to all of our fans, and that sportsmanship is appropriate whether you win or whether you lose. He understands why it was necessary for me to fine him $25,000 for missing the media availability."

Much has been made by the media and fans for LeBron James not congratulating the Orlando Magic players after losing the series, which is customary and for LeBron James leaving the arena in an insolent huff without talking to anybody.

Adrian Wojnarowski at Yahoo! Sports even went so far to call LeBron James a loser.

A...LOSER.

Not as a player in a game either...but a loser in terms of his character.

Ouch.

He has a point. Little League players are taught to congratulate each other after games. If we expect it from our kids shouldn't we expect it from our most revered athletes?

Supporters of LeBron James will say that it's his competitive fire, his fear that he'd say something he'd regret. The anger and disappointment in the series loss being too much for him to explain appropriately.

But isn't this what he's paid for?

He's paid to entertain, which includes taking his lumps when things go bad. If he gets the acclaim when they win, then he should get the blame when they lose.

It's unquestionably immature and poor behavior from someone who should know better.

The question I have is....why are we surprised?

We're talking about a guy who's nickname is "KING JAMES" and "THE CHOSEN ONE".



Seriously folks.

"THE CHOSEN ONE" as in The Savior, in essence "a basketball god".

Poseidon is the "God of the Sea". Apparently, according to the media, LeBron James is the "God of Basketball".



We're supposed to be surprised when "The King" ignores the pleas of his subjects? Or when a "god" ignores the humble prayers of his worshipers?

This is what we get when we anoint someone as all powerful.

I've stated before that I hate the media coverage of LeBron James. Not sure how the inappropriate media coverage of James got started, but it is now spinning way out of control.

We've gone from playfully calling players "Magic" and "Dr." to giving a talented player, who hasn't won a championship yet, a deity status.

I thought calling Michael Jordan, (Air) an element was pushing it.

But calling LeBron James a god?

Not only a god, but one that we must sit back in awe of and "witness"?




It's sickening.

What's worse is that the media is now shifting attention away from the deplorable behavior of LeBron James and towards the Cleveland Cavaliers so-called "crucial off-season". Crucial because the team must make moves to keep LeBron James in Cleveland.

Cause they must appease the God with a suitable sacrifice.

It's disgusting.

So...apparently... the Cavs have to give LeBron James a championship on a silver platter in order to make it enticing for him to stay?

Instead of expecting LeBron James to lead a team to a championship, the front office MUST build a "Dream Team" around him or he'll bolt to another team as a free agent.

How did things get turned around like this?

Truth is, LeBron is just looking for an excuse to leave and I say good riddance. If he wants to play in Europe or worse with the New York Knicks more power to him.

He'll learn that changing teams doesn't equal winning a championship.

Winning a championship takes unquenchable desire, overcoming intense adversity, displaying unquestionable heart and proving one's unmatched talent.

Greater players than LeBron have been unable to win a championship. Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, John Stockton, Karl Malone and Dominique
Wilkins to name a few.

It's one of the few things, LeBron, "a King" cannot summon on a whim or "a god" cannot conjure at will.

Bruno at the MTV Movie Awards

I missed the MTV Movie Award Show last night.

The reason why I missed it is because....I'm not 15 years old and I don't think Twilight should ever be nominated for any movie awards, much less win a best picture.

The net, however, has been a buzz with the antics of Sacha Baron Cohen who made an appearance at the event as his alternate persona Bruno.



Hilarious.

In case your wondering, it was all staged and Eminem was indeed in on the joke. Drew McWeeny at Motion Captured was able to get confirmation that the skit was rehearsed and planned.

I can't WAIT to watch Bruno on July 10, 2009.

The Boyfriend Experience

My friends over at Totally Sketch have created a parody trailer of the film The Girlfriend Experience starring porn star Sasha Grey and directed by Steven Soderbergh.

The clip is funny without seeing the original trailer. But for proper perspective first watch the trailer for The Girlfriend Experience.



Here's the well made parody trailer directed by the talented Michael Gallagher and starring my friend Lon Harris.



Hilarious.

Totally Sketch comes out with funny original videos every Thursday. Check out the official site at http://www.totallysketch.com/.

Sunday Scores and More

My friend and former Mahalo.com co-worker Jon Moncrief has decided to start a radio show on the Sports Journey broadcast network.

Guess who he asked to be his co-host?

If one has visited this site before they'll note that besides movie reviews and posting trailers, I'm also an opinionated and passionate sports fan. I've always been a big follower of athletics, especially of the local teams and boxing. But since I've worked the past several years covering sports news, as well as doing extensive sports research for Mahalo.com and I have spent the majority of my life in media and theater performance, this feels like a logical next step.

The title of the show is Sunday Scores and More and our premiere episode streams at 10AM Eastern, 7AM Pacific on June 14, 2009 at http://www.sportsjourney.com/ on the Sports Journey network. Each show is archived for download so if one misses it live they can still catch it at their own convenience. The show will air at the same time every Sunday.

The host and creator of the show is Jon Moncrief. He has been in the sports industry for most of his life. He is currently a writer covering the Los Angeles Kings for Examiner.com. He has also written for publications such as That's Life Magazine, The Bergen Record, The Florida Times-Union, AllSports.com, and New Jersey Blitz Magazine. He was lead writer for 4CHOSEN The Documentary, which won Best Documentary Film at the 2008 Garden State Film Festival. Jonathan also was lead writer for North Jersey Sports Showcase in 2004.

Since he's a big East Coast guy, he has asked me to provide some West Coast flavor and perspective to the show. Besides listening to us blab, Crief (short for Moncrief) has lined up an impressive line-up of guests and personalities from the sports world.

So please visit Sports Journey.com and check out the show. Should be lots of fun.

Surrogates starring Bruce Willis - Trailer

Surrogates looks like an interesting commentary on the virtual reality, social networking community.

It's actually based on a graphic novel of the same name writen by Robert Venditti. Not sure how faithful it is to the source material however.

But an interesting premise nonetheless and a good star vehicle for Bruce Willis.

Surrogates directed by Jonathan Mostow opens September 25, 2009.

LeBron James playoff 3 point buzzer beater

I hate the "Witness ad campaign."

LeBron James is far from a savior of any kind.

He hasn't saved anything.

The NBA and Nike were financially profitable before his arrival. Same thing with Sprite or any of his other sponsors.

I guess he's been a savior for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

But that's not saying much.

He hasn't even won an NBA Championship...yet.

I've always thought of LeBron as a overhyped Scottie Pippen.

Magic Johnson in his prime would've ate him up.

But he is capable of amazing things, like last night's amazing 3 point buzzer beater.

I was lamenting the impossible hole that Cleveland would have to climb out of in the series, when LeBron pulled a rabbit out of his hat.

I still think Cleveland has a huge mountain to climb, but LeBron gave them a chance with his amazing shot.

Which means for at least for one night.... he truly was a savior.