Asleep at the Switch

Ok, first of all I would like to apologize for the gap in content.

No, I didn't say lack of content. I said GAP. Yeah, yeah, I know this blog has always lacked real content. Whatever. Look what I was trying to say was that I have been remiss in my blogging efforts of late and I plan to make it up to you by-

Wait a second what do you mean LACK of content? This thing has been chalk full from the go. Or maybe you have forgotten all of the interesting tidbits that I have wrapped into a snarky little bow over the last five months. You stupid-

Ok, ok, let's put this whole "lack of content" thing behind us. You said some things, I said some things...let's start fresh, ok? Why don't I just empty out the oooooll notebook so we can start anew..

I don't want to bore you with a recap of the last ten days. I mean, what kind of a narcissist would I be if I laid out examples of my personal greatness? Have I predicted many of the events of the last couple of weeks, sure  when it came to predicting the events of the last several days on this very blog? It's silly and childish and I for one won't stoop to such-

Does anyone really care that I knew Tony Romo would come up small in a big game? Or that I said Norv Turner would find a way to coached the most talented team in the field just poorly enough to lose. Clearly not...but if you do it's here.

And I am sure that you people have better things to do than to reread some old entry about how the Jets are going to be a force eventually because Revis, Greene and Sanchez are studs, but nobody wins with a rookie QB. Am I right?

And sure some folks might take pleasure in pointing out that they predicted Brett Favre's last play of the season would be an interception. Or, and I quote,

Minnesota- Brett Favre, despite what you hear from Ron Jaworski, Brett Favre hasn't been a reliable QB since the turn-of-the-century. The last play of the year for Minnesota's offense WILL be a pick, write it down.   - Trip, Tripschinmusic.blogspot.com, SEPT, 2009

BORRRRRRRRRRRing! Who does that? And who would expect any less from the Great Dane from the Bayou. And who cares if Brett Favre threw two picks in the Championship Game anyway? This next part is far more fun and interesting. Now is the two-thirds of the year that we get to speculate on whether he will or won't play again. Riveting stuff. To be or not to be. [editor's note- I really wanted to do a whole thing on Mr. Wranglers (check out Kenny Mayne's piece) because as I have mentioned before NOBODY in the history of the game GETS a pass more than this guy. Both of his interceptions were awful, rookie mistakes and had Brees made them all of the pundits would have lambasted him for allowing the game to overwhelm him. It's why I have never been happier to see an interception...other than every interception the Steelers have made since 1975. Of course that didn't happen at all this year so I am trying to remember the feeling]

You aren't going to hear about how Jay Leno ruined NBC. You can read about that here and here. Nope not from me. But I will say that Late Night television benefits when NBC Executives are idiots. Letterman was always funnier when he was renegotiating his contract back at Late Night. Ever since his move to CBS he has been too fat and happy. Thank you NBC for destroying an empire because now we get the old Dave back. All bitter and filled with venom. The gloves have come off and I hope it continues. But that topic has been beaten to death, hasn't it?

They are going to "reboot" Spider-Man with Marc Webb from (500) Days of Summer [check the list to the right of the best movies of the year]. I mean who could have seen THAT coming?

And finally, Avatar became the all-time highest grossing movie today. Shocking? To some but if you are keeping track at home.

Look I'm not saying that I am better than 93% of you...I'm just saying that I'm smarter. It's like Joan Crawford used to say to her ten year old little girl, after beating her at tennis.

I'm Bigger and I'm Faster. I'm ALWAYS going to beat you.

-Faye Dunaway, Mommie Dearest

[editor's note 2.0- tripschinmusic and GEOL91 Entertainment is not responsible for the any of the following predictions: Mike Vick to Buffalo, The Steelers, Eagles or Steagles winning the Super Bowl, A-Rod choking in the playoffs, Colts losing momentum, or Tiger Woods playing poker at Ken Griffey Jr. house before Elin took a nine iron to his head. Those predictions were meant to be, you know, funny. Ironic. I mean the Steelers winning the Super Bowl again. How many times can one team win the Super Bowl...SIX]

Sam Mendes is THE MAN...and he's directing James Bond

I just read that Sam Mendes is slated to direct the next James Bond movie with Daniel Craig returning in the titular role. This is EXACTLY what this franchise needed. I have long been a proponent of making solid franchises, like James Bond, into vehicles for directors.

Years ago Steven Spielberg wanted to do a Bond movie but the Broccoli family denied his request. So he turned his attention to some move about a professor that searches for old artifacts.

Imagine what Mr. Spielberg would have done with James Bond. I'm not sure if it would've been any good but it would've involved James Bonds parents getting divorced. I would've liked to have seen that movie.

Just as I would've liked to have seen Quentin Tarantino's version of the suave spy. He wanted to do a reboot of James Bond and gives himself credit for coming up with what ended up being Casino Royale. Of course he also gives himself credit for being the best screenwriter in the world...I guess it was just his acting that screwed up Dusk 'Til Dawn. Having said all that his James Bond would've been very interesting.

Bringing in the Auteur du Jour to an established franchise will always keep it fresh. It won't always be good, but you will always interesting. Especially if the Broccoli's give over full creative control.

Sam Mendes is a brilliant director. American Beauty was a deserving Best Picture Oscar winner, which is rare, and I think that his best work is Road to Perdition. Jarhead showed significant range (although I didn't like it). Revolutionary Road was brave (because it called for allowing Leo DiCaprio to have his way with his wife) and Away We Go has inexplicably been forgotten in many of this years Ten Best. He is exactly the kind of filmmaker that will give James Bond a fresh look.

Martin Campbell was also a great choice at the two times he was brought in to revive the franchise. He has swashbuckling down to a science. Marc Forster was an interesting choice for Quantum...but it didn't work. And that's the beauty of the franchise. Just kick him to the curb and bring in some new blood.

Other directors that would put an interesting spin on James: James Cameron, Kathryn Bigelow, Zack Snyder, Michael Mann, Chris Nolan. And what would you pay to see what the Cohens would do, or Matthew Vaughan?

All other franchises should follow suit. Hopefully the latest setback with Spider-Man will get Sam Raimi to reassess the need to make another superhero movie with the Jockey and the Hack. Give the franchise some new blood. Hire Joe Gordon Levitt, before he explodes, or someone younger and find an up and coming director, like the guy from District 9 (Neal Blumpkin is his name I think, which is REALLY unfortunate), Marc Webb, Joss Whedon or even Jason Reitman. Reitman would bring his whole teen angst-y-ness thing that is perfect for the teenage Peter Parker.

Holy Tangents, Batman! Batman, I almost forgot. Chris Nolan is the poster boy for rebooting franchises or keeping them fresh. Everything started with Batman Begins. Halloween, Terminator, Freddy Kruger, Superman, Star Trek, all of 'em tried to jump on the "reboot" bandwagon. Nolan was brave enough to hire a comic book geek to write a script that didn't have any of the '60s TV show baddies in it and not only breathed life into that franchise, that was on life support thanks to the nipple cladded Joel Schumacher days, but it also revolutionized the industry. Tarantino may have actually had the idea first, but Begins showed everyone that it could work.

Anyway, I applaud MGM and the Broccoli's for trying to keep it fresh. I just hope that George Lucas can learn something from this.