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I have to admit it was pleasing at first to see that Dave Chappelle finally made it to the original Sunday edition of 60 minutes. Back in the olden days, getting a Sunday slot meant you had truly become a mainstream success. Dave hadn’t made it there yet tho…50 million dollar contract…best selling TV DVD set of all time…only worthy of a 60 Minutes Wednesday appearance.

And yet, here’s Dave on a Sunday. It looked like they were using him as filler…but even so, in this post-season-finale era, he might get more of an audience than usual. But probably not with a decent end result the way 60 Minutes framed it.

The ‘Way-too-ready-for-primetime-players’ framed his segment on a down note. That he had disappeared…that he was found in South Africa where he said that he was neither crazy nor on drugs. But that, “He offered no explanation for his flight from the spotlight.”

Now, this is all happening two weeks after the detailed Time Magazine article came out in which Dave tells everyone exactly what happened (for the most part). Surely more than enough detail to make 60 Minutes’ comments seem uninformed and unprofessional.

C’mon 60…it’s not like this one needed some pipe-hittin’ journalism to be completed. This smacks of opportunism and downright laziness. Bitches…

Side Note: Looks like Dave is back home in Ohio chillin’…Rock on!

Double Side Note with Chili Fries: Check out the bonus DVD on Season 2 of Chappelle Show. The extra Charlie Murphy’s True Hollywood Story about him being Eddie Murphy’s head of security is too damn funny. ^_^

Revenge of the Sith…

Fantastic special effects…expected and appreciated…

Great battles, light saber or otherwise…expected and appreciated…

Stilted dialogue and acting (except for Palpatine)…unfortunately (and fortunately) expected…

Way too many scene transition wipes…unexpected and not appreciated…

Still…I could have looked past all the bad and irritating…it’s not like a Star Wars film (or at least 4-6) doesn’t usually contain those…everything else overcompensates and leaves you feeling WOW (or somewhat of a WOW) afterwards.

I was perfectly willing to come back and give the movie and big thumbs up…except for one thing…

Considering all the things that happen 10 minutes before and after Anakin submits to the Dark side, his immediate acceptance of the darker faith seemed overwhelming, painfully, mindnumbingly FUCKING UNBELIEVABLE!

Why and how Anakin turns to the dark side is what fans of the series have wanted to know for almost thirty years…the moment of his acceptance is crucial to the believability of it all. And frankly, Lucas failed miserably.

I won’t go into details, so I don’t spoil it for people, but I’ll tell you that I was literally left with a bad taste in my mouth for the rest of the film (which, by itself, was pretty damn cool, otherwise).

I still don’t know what to rate the damn thing. It’s a damn shame…the effects and battles were sooo tizzaight. Talk about a scene that needed to be massively reworked and rethought…WTF…

And the beat goes on…
After you read these, go out and see Crash…
Fantastic…Emotionally manipulating…Sugoi powerful film!
(When you get a great performance out of Sandra Bullock, you know you’ve got a unique film)

The Interpreter (http://www.theinterpretermovie.com/)

• Good: Oscar Winner Nicole Kidman as a White Afrikaner interpreter
  Much Better: Oscar Winner Charlize Theron, a real life White Afrikaner
• Superbly understated performance by Sean Penn…reminded me nothing of Spicoli…
• Return of the underutilized Catherine Keener (of ‘Being John Malkovich’ fame)
• Big props for giving a bunch of Carribean bruthas a nice payday. I know when I think of Africa, I hear calypso music…
• My first problem: Nighttime UN security. Found it very hard to believe anyone could run full blast, out of the UN at night, without anyone stopping them or running after them.
• My second problem: Won’t reveal the specifics, but it’s another ridiculous security lapse. I really hope Sydney just got over anxious with his plot devices
• Special Note: I was actually visiting the United Nations while Sydney Pollack was scouting out the place. Saw him eyeballing one of the lesser auditoriums. Good Job, Syd. You kept the hideous 60’s style of upholstery to a minimum.
• Overall: Very well acted and enjoyable enough to sorta-recommend. The plot holes leave much to be desired tho…

The Amityville Horror (http://www.amityvillehorrormovie.com/)

• Was semi-nauseously awaiting this remake of a childhood fave…spewing was kept to a minimum…
• Considering how painful it was to watch some of the American ‘remakes’ of Japanese horror films this year, it’s good to see anything with some teeth (even if they’re baby ones)
• Enjoyed them delving deep into the history of the secret room…nasty piece of work…
• Still…it’s no Saw…never could be…
• Side Note: Just don’t take for granted that this was all a hoax. None of the movies nor the original book tell the full, real story. Before you start to throwing bullshit into the air about authenticity, talk to the family themselves…
• Overall: Worth a rental. Much better fare than the Grudge remake or the Ring Two…

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (http://hitchhikersmovie.com/)

• Must warn you…I never touched the book until after the movie…(slay me for my ignorance if you must!)
• Two words and overused punctuation: Mos Def!!!!
• Absolutely adored the entire planet builders segment :)
• Enjoyed the quirky Brit humor for the most part (Smeghead ahoy!), but there’s was definitely a big feeling of being left out of the joke…
• I thought it was geeky watching trekkers, star wars, and harry potter fans dress up for movies. Those pale in comparison to all the people wearing towels in my theatre. The looks of confusion by the theatre staff was priceless.
• Bought the Hitchhiker compendium right after the movie…I’ll get to it…
• Overall: Enjoyable. Mildly amusing…tho, you might find it a bit off if you have a normal sense of humor.

Bride and Prejudice (http://www.brideandprejudicethemovie.com/)

• My first Bollywood…the dancing…the music…the saris of many colors…I’m certainly diggin’ it ^_^
• From the director of ‘Bend it Like Beckham’…certainly has a similar feel (and ending musical montage)…probably up your alley if you enjoyed that soccer joint…
• Aishwarya Rai…”The most beautiful woman in the world”…who am I to argue?
• Big ups to my man from Lost, Naveen ‘Sayid’ Andrews, who kicks it as the “Indian MC Hammer” ^^
• Overall: Quite funny and a whole lot of fun. A DVD you should certainly check out, especially for those into musicals ^^

The media speculation machine just flies off the handle sometimes when they can’t get full verification on a story. Contrary to popular belief, Dave Chappelle hasn’t lost his marbles. He’s in South Africa at a close friend’s place taking in some deep personal reflection…not recovering at a mental institution from a breakdown.

What? You don’t believe it?

Time magazine talked to him in South Africa this past Friday so he could set the story straight. Sounds like the brutha’s got more of a solid head on his shoulders than most people…

Wanted to give a special plug to the brand spanking new attempt to combat the right’s hold on blogs and popular internet media…enter The Huffington Post!

In an interest mix of bloggers from different walks of life (Politicians, Music, Hollywood, Activists, Authors, Yadda)…Walter Cronkite, Zogby, Harry Shearer, Quincy Jones, Joe Scarborough, Bill Maher, Gary Hart, Rob Reiner, Jerry Brown, Larry David, Russel Simmons, Mike Nichols, John Cusack…and the list goes on (or has it gone on long enough?)

HuffPost also contains the latest selective news, ala Drudge Report. Here’s hoping this test of the liberal waters brings better dialogue to the whole…

For even more proof that I spend way too much time in dark, sticky dens of comfort, pleasure and total sensory immersion, hereth lieth some thoughts on the cinematic discoveries of the month of April…

Beauty Shop (http://www.mgm.com/beautyshop/)

• One too many Maya Angelou quotes. Ladies, Maya is a gem, not a bumper sticker.
• Trying to picture the guys in ‘Barbershop’ getting way with the same level of sexual talk…nah, that type of shiz never happens with the fellas.
• Djimon Hounsou has become the hard body equivalent of Taye Diggs. Rock on Amistad!
• Latifah’s Hollywood connections must have owed her a favor or ten. Kept saying to myself, “WTF is Alfre Woodward doing here?”
• Damn…Keshia Knight Pulliam is fine. Fellas…why Rudy from the ‘Cosby Show’ gotta end up fine?
• The six degrees of Kevin Bacon just brought 75% of the black actors in Hollywood at least 2 steps closer. ^o^
• Overall: OK funny. Rather over the top in places, slim plot, but somewhat chuckle-worthy. Not as solid as ‘Barbershop’ (did I really use ’solid’ to refer to BS1?), but it’s a no brainer…the sequel cometh. ‘Beauty Shop 2: First Weave’?
• Side Note: Enough of a ‘review’ for ya, Big Slick? Michael Mann’s directing the next one, you just watch…

Fever Pitch (http://www.feverpitchmovie.com/)

• By far the best movie of the month. Yep, a Drew Barrymore movie wins the prize. Well written…decently acted…engaging story. Everyone knows somebody like that crazed Red Sox fan.
• I will admit it…I do Barrymore films on GP. Glad when there’s some decent meat to go along with all that cuteness and energy.
• Kudos to Jimmy Fallon…you were born to play that role and you lived it perfectly. Good to see another SNLer hop on the “So, this is what a good movie feels like” bandwagon.
• What the hell is with the MLB…letting Drew & Co. on the field when the Sox actually won the World Series? I’m barely interested in baseball and even I know that was a bad decision.
• Overall: Must See! Very underrated movie…

Kung Fu Hustle (http://www.kungfuhustle.com/)

• Gloriously silly and inventive! Roger Ebert hit the mark: It *is* Looney Tunes meets Kung Fu.
• Sooo much better than the original version of Shaolin Soccer (Stephen Chow’s other movie). Much tighter…someone actually storyboarded this one.
• Amusing parodies of ‘The Gangs of New York’, ‘The Matrix’, and even ‘The Shining’. They’re all meshed together very well.
• The day I find a guitar (or any string instrument) that can decapitate my enemies with the flick of a wrist is the day I will truly come into my own.
• Huge points for not dubbing the movie! The subtitles were just fine and no one really seemed to mind. First ‘Hero’, now this. Our secret plan to get the American public to read their movies is still on schedule…
• Buddha’s Palm Inc…tearing down your house…one powermove at a time.
• Overall: Quite enjoyable time at the movies. Even silly enough for non kung fu fans to enjoy.

(What…were you expecting reviews of something else? Just because someone told me I looked like Ron Jeremy once, doesn’t mean you’ll find juicy-juice reviews here. Still…I never did get around to reviewing Caligula…)