As regular readers of this blog know, I have become a big Clint Eastwood fan in the last few years. So I looked upon the release of the Warner Brothers 35 Years, 35 Films mammoth box set with the zeal of a man craving a T-bone steak. Until I hit cyberspace and found that the 35 films are there, all right.
On 19 discs.
In an (admittedly handsome) rectangular box that I have held at a local HMV.
That's right, folks. 19 double-sided discs.
What that means is this: Not only do you have to wrestle a disc out of a holder, but if the film you're dying to see happens to be on side B, it takes some extra work to flip the disc over and put it on the DVD tray without getting dust, fingerprints, or scratches (or eventually an ungodly combination of all three) on it, thereby negating your $130+ investment. Especially if, like me, your manual dexterity isn't one hundred percent.
I would rather have a Dirty Harry-style briefcase with 12 single-sided discs in those goofy little envelopes everyone seems to be obsessed with these days, as long as they are tastefully decorated and organized as they currently are by theme. I'd even pay between $175 to $200 for the redesign.
Because under those guidelines, the mammoth tribute to a celebrated star and director could concievably enjoy pride of place in video collections worldwide. It would be cherished and treasured, even passed down to succeding generations of movie fans.
So come on Warner Brothers. Release a single-sided set. Do it for Clint. Do it for his most faithful fans, whose hands aren't what they used to be.
But in case you don't, I'll start working my fingers out with Nerf balls again.
MTMG
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Hello My Friends
I apologize for not posting for the last two days. Just wanted to let you know that tomorrow I will be discussing the pitfalls of DVD box sets, and the big reason why I reluctantly don't buy them very often. See you then. Looking forward to it!
MTMG
MTMG
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Wow! 100 Posts! Can It Be?
I can't believe I've posted 100 times since Christmas Day. How time goes by!
Thanks to everyone who has stopped by. I am truly grateful, and to show my appreciation, I will do my best to provide you with wholly original content with no links that only require me to toss off a phrase or a line or two. It doesn't challenge me, and I'm pretty sure that it's boring for you to read. Those who know me well know that I was a pretty busy freelance writer back in the day, and it's time to flex those muscles again.
Because if you don't, whatever your walk of life, the consequences can be pretty dire.
So I will.
Every day.
Starting now.
In fact, after I spend about a week updating you on movies and pop culture happenings, I will be adding to a blog I've barely started entitled Scenes From Mike's Life, in which I talk more about my life experiences. I'll post a link when it's up and running.
But for now, I want to announce that, as of this past Sunday, I have finally entered the digital age. I made baby steps earlier this summer when I bought a Palm Pilot at a garage sale for ten bucks. I was ecstatic because:
1) I finally had something to put on the table at restaurants amongst all the other cellphones, iPhones, and BlackBerrys. The Palm was retro, useful and cool.
2) I was able to use the Palm's scheduling software to begin to organize my life.
Cut to this past Sunday. My sister, dad, and aunt Louise came over to help me build and organize shelves. Or rather, they built and organized while I watched, due to space and physical limitations.
Earlier that morning, my sister had Facebooked something to the effect of "bye bye BlackBerry, hello iPhone 4!" I commented half-jokingly that I'd be willing to take over the BlackBerry. She didn't respond, but when she called on the way over, she said she "had a treat".
I thought, "I'm inheriting the BlackBerry!"
But my mind was absoloutely blown when after about an hour of building shelves, she reached into her purse and brought out a new iPod Touch.
Holy Christmas in October Batman!
Then Aunt Louise, who is one of the most courageous and understanding people I've ever known, reached into her purse and brought out an iPod nano, which she said she'd been keeping for me because she'd won an extra.
Double Christmas in October!
Quick story involving Aunt Louise: In 1983, at my 12th birthday party, we were in the cake-and presents portion of the evening. Aunt Louise passed me her gift, and I excitedly opened it to find a sweater. I smiled.
I then opened the gift from my Aunt Betty and Uncle Marcel, which was a Cooper basketball with hoop.
I went absolutely bonkers, loving the new-rubber smell of the ball and the bright orange hoop. I thanked Aunt Betty and Uncle Marcel profusely, and ran out (oops, wheeled) to play after Dad had set everything up.
It was only right before I went to bed that night that Mom reminded me that I had forgotten to thank Aunt Louise for the sweater.
I felt like crap. Aunt Louise graciously accepted my thanks at the next gathering, but I know it hurt at the time. I now realize two things about sweaters:
1) You can never have too many sweaters
2) When you recieve sweaters as a gift at a young age, it instills a hopefully lifelong sense of bills-first, fun-later practicality that I've tried never to forget.
So thank you Aunt Louise, for the sweater and the nano.
Thank you Jacquie, for all the help, the shelves, and the treat.
Thank you Dad, for being Shelf Project Foreman, for the Oilers jersey, and for keeping on keeping on.
And thank you Mom, for still occaisionally providing the gentle reminders as I stumble toward middle age.
I love you all!
MTMG
Thanks to everyone who has stopped by. I am truly grateful, and to show my appreciation, I will do my best to provide you with wholly original content with no links that only require me to toss off a phrase or a line or two. It doesn't challenge me, and I'm pretty sure that it's boring for you to read. Those who know me well know that I was a pretty busy freelance writer back in the day, and it's time to flex those muscles again.
Because if you don't, whatever your walk of life, the consequences can be pretty dire.
So I will.
Every day.
Starting now.
In fact, after I spend about a week updating you on movies and pop culture happenings, I will be adding to a blog I've barely started entitled Scenes From Mike's Life, in which I talk more about my life experiences. I'll post a link when it's up and running.
But for now, I want to announce that, as of this past Sunday, I have finally entered the digital age. I made baby steps earlier this summer when I bought a Palm Pilot at a garage sale for ten bucks. I was ecstatic because:
1) I finally had something to put on the table at restaurants amongst all the other cellphones, iPhones, and BlackBerrys. The Palm was retro, useful and cool.
2) I was able to use the Palm's scheduling software to begin to organize my life.
Cut to this past Sunday. My sister, dad, and aunt Louise came over to help me build and organize shelves. Or rather, they built and organized while I watched, due to space and physical limitations.
Earlier that morning, my sister had Facebooked something to the effect of "bye bye BlackBerry, hello iPhone 4!" I commented half-jokingly that I'd be willing to take over the BlackBerry. She didn't respond, but when she called on the way over, she said she "had a treat".
I thought, "I'm inheriting the BlackBerry!"
But my mind was absoloutely blown when after about an hour of building shelves, she reached into her purse and brought out a new iPod Touch.
Holy Christmas in October Batman!
Then Aunt Louise, who is one of the most courageous and understanding people I've ever known, reached into her purse and brought out an iPod nano, which she said she'd been keeping for me because she'd won an extra.
Double Christmas in October!
Quick story involving Aunt Louise: In 1983, at my 12th birthday party, we were in the cake-and presents portion of the evening. Aunt Louise passed me her gift, and I excitedly opened it to find a sweater. I smiled.
I then opened the gift from my Aunt Betty and Uncle Marcel, which was a Cooper basketball with hoop.
I went absolutely bonkers, loving the new-rubber smell of the ball and the bright orange hoop. I thanked Aunt Betty and Uncle Marcel profusely, and ran out (oops, wheeled) to play after Dad had set everything up.
It was only right before I went to bed that night that Mom reminded me that I had forgotten to thank Aunt Louise for the sweater.
I felt like crap. Aunt Louise graciously accepted my thanks at the next gathering, but I know it hurt at the time. I now realize two things about sweaters:
1) You can never have too many sweaters
2) When you recieve sweaters as a gift at a young age, it instills a hopefully lifelong sense of bills-first, fun-later practicality that I've tried never to forget.
So thank you Aunt Louise, for the sweater and the nano.
Thank you Jacquie, for all the help, the shelves, and the treat.
Thank you Dad, for being Shelf Project Foreman, for the Oilers jersey, and for keeping on keeping on.
And thank you Mom, for still occaisionally providing the gentle reminders as I stumble toward middle age.
I love you all!
MTMG
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Paula Abdul's Live to Dance Will Premiere in January on CBS : People.com
Paula Abdul's Live to Dance Will Premiere in January on CBS : People.com
Hopefully since dance is the one area that Paula knows really well, she won't be a sugary-sweet cream puff like on Idol (though I did cheer when she berated the girl on the Lloyd Webber show for starting "You Must Love Me" over. Who was she? I don't remember, but that's OK, since we probably won't see her again. And don't get me started on the cake walk that was the Fame remake...
MTMG
Hopefully since dance is the one area that Paula knows really well, she won't be a sugary-sweet cream puff like on Idol (though I did cheer when she berated the girl on the Lloyd Webber show for starting "You Must Love Me" over. Who was she? I don't remember, but that's OK, since we probably won't see her again. And don't get me started on the cake walk that was the Fame remake...
MTMG
Monday, October 18, 2010
Clint Eastwood in "The Witches" (aka: "Le Streghe") ...
Clint Eastwood in "The Witches" (aka: "Le Streghe") ...
More rare Clint from this 1966 Italian art-house film that had a brief US release in 1969.
MTMG
More rare Clint from this 1966 Italian art-house film that had a brief US release in 1969.
MTMG
YouTube - Clint Eastwood Meets Mister Ed - 1 of 2 (Captioned)
YouTube - Clint Eastwood Meets Mister Ed - 1 of 2 (Captioned)
Unbelievable but true! Not sure how Mr. Eastwood feels about this today, but it's kinda fun!
MTMG
Unbelievable but true! Not sure how Mr. Eastwood feels about this today, but it's kinda fun!
MTMG
Sunday, October 17, 2010
'Jackass 3D' sacrifices life and limb for $50 million; 'Red' lures in...
'Jackass 3D' sacrifices life and limb for $50 million; 'Red' lures in...
Just lost my faith in the moviegoing public where Jackass is concerned, but good for Red and its $22 mil. I may regain my faith tomorrow.
MTMG
Just lost my faith in the moviegoing public where Jackass is concerned, but good for Red and its $22 mil. I may regain my faith tomorrow.
MTMG
Friday, October 15, 2010
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