The Rum Diary's Diary. . .

                An alcoholic tale of American insertion in a foreign culture with greed and an appetizing temptress tangling together a love story sets the tone for The Rum Diary. A long awaited film, not to mention that the book had a lengthy wait in the archives amongst some of the most pioneer writing of its time, The Rum Diary finally made it to the theaters.
                Coerced by actor Johnny Deep, starring in many Burton films such as Edward Scissorhands, as well as the other cult classics like Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Hunter S.Thompson final published some early giblets of his youth called The Rum Diary in 1998. Later in 2005, Bruce Robinson, directed Withnail and I and Jennifer 8, picked up the book and eventually wrote the screenplay and directed the film. The story is about a young journalist, Paul Kemp played by Johnny Depp, moving to Puerto Rico in the late 50’s to work for dying newspaper called the San Juan Star.
                Amber Heard, who had starring roles in Friday Night Lights and Pineapple Express, plays Chenault, the temptress that is sure to cause confusion whether it be swimming nude in the sea or sleeping on a plane. Sanderson, played by The Dark Knight‘s Harvey Dent, otherwise referred to as Aaron Erkhart, plays the role of the wealthy playboy with Chenault on his arm and greed as his game. Schlepping along Kemp will be Sala, played by Michael Rispoli, roles include Death to Smoochy and Rounders, a fellow coworker that will be Kemp’s tour guide and partner in self-sabotage, but not to forget Moburg, played by the talented Giovanni Ribisi, having starred in such roles as Gone In Sixty Seconds and Public Enemies, plays an eccentric journalist that lives inside the bottle and splashes out truths, myths, and a journey not to be avoided. 
                Kemp struggles to play nice with Sanderson and his business tyrants due to the greed factor not to mention the man has the golden girl and all the extras one might consume in the early 50’s. Leaving Puerto Rico and returning back to the states to pursue happily ever after is the entire spoiler I will supply.

                When compared to Hunter S. Thompson’s other book movies, Where The Buffalo Roam and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, The Rum Diary is still just as entertaining but ending with slight disappointment because of Bruce Robinson’s screenplay. Although not entirely horrible adaption but knowing how Thompson was on set he probably would have never let the weasels get away with it. “One of God's own prototypes. Some kind of high powered mutant never even considered for mass production.” This quote from Thompson says a lot about Thompson and even though The Rum Diary was his first novel and left and the shelf for over thirty years, you can still hear his pre-gonzo style throughout the book and movie. If desiring a sequel to Fear and Loathing this isn’t it and will not fill that void. While it does have copious amounts of rum and an added surprise it is not the drug induced journey of the Vegas tale.

                 With the infiltration into a foreign country’s culture, it does shine some light on the shady side of American motives. Acquired through war and exploited by greed Puerto Rico remains a commonwealth and who can blame them. It’s interesting how much profit we always seem to accumulate after war and related to present day what will be the reward now, land or natural resources or both? Cause justice doesn’t feed mouths. 

                 This movie will appeal to all the gonzo enthusiasts, the generation that knows anything about the late 50’s and sixties, as well as to the group who just want to see a Johnny Depp movie and a beautiful lady on the big screen. Theaters overall probably won’t do that well, but I can see the aftermath of DVDs and other medians that will eventually turn this into a cult classic. With mixed reviews the majority of critics pummel this movie till they run out of breath. Maybe they have not read the book, or perhaps not aware that almost every time without fail movies always turn out different.  

                  I felt that the movie was a little bit on the average side of the scale, with the lack of Thompson on set to make sure his work wasn’t tainted is exactly what this movie missed out on, although it will join my movie library regardless. I would recommend reading the book, but not necessarily before in this case because the book has such a different feel and flows so fast you’ll feel like you just read a short story because you won’t be able to put it down.Overall the book will leave you much more satisfied at the end opposed to the movie.
                 I’m actually considering going back and watching it again even with my mixed feelings, but instead of filling my flask with cheap white rum I’m going to throw some cognac in there and enjoy it for what it is with no expectations, I recommend you do the same. After that it’ll be time to open those classic pages to refresh my brain with a fallen American pioneer’s words. So after viewing the corrupted ending I can indulge in the original presented masterpiece.

                 The real question is when do I get to watch Hell's Angels: A Strange and Terrible Saga?

The Walking Dead is the Newest Resurrection!

                AMC’s The Walking Dead is the newest resurrection to episode TV.  The post-apocalyptic setting after a mysterious outbreak leaves band of survivors fending for their lives and fighting off the flesh driven diseased. Rick is a sheriff leading the group, along with his wife, Lori, and son, Carl, the apparently last family unit that managed to survive together. Dale has assumed the wise man role and forces others to gravitate around him with reason and logic when they begin questioning Rick’s leadership. Daryl is the great equalizer slaying the undead in creative redneck ways that keep you wanting more meanwhile leaving T-Dog wondering if Daryl will take him out for leaving his racist brother Merril to rot.The crew of survivors has fled Atlanta after the C.D.C. was no longer the save haven they imagined. They find a pile up of vehicles on the highway and decide to round up supplies. In the middle of searching for items amongst the dead and chewed, they discover a herd of zombies dragging their way toward the survivors. All hid because there are definitely not enough bullets for all of them. Sophia, the little girl, gives her location away and runs into the woods while being pursued by two zombies. Rick catches up to her first and tells her to hide and stay put but head back to road if he doesn’t return. He takes care of the two but no Sophia when he returns. Daryl saves T-Dog by tossing dead bodies on him and himself in spite of the fact that T-Dog was very reason his racist brother Merrill was left atop of the C.D.C. They continue the search for Sophia the next day with no results and the show closes with Rick, Shane (Ricks former coworker and short term boyfriend to his wife while she thought Rick was dead in early zombie chaos), and Rick’s son Carl all staring at a dear and you keep waiting for zombies to jump out and attack it but instead a bullet rips through the deer and strikes the young boy in the chest, end scene. The only actor I recognized was Daryl, Norman Reedus, from Boondock Saints, which just happens to be in my top five, if not the top favorite movies of all time. As for the rest of them they are all fresh faces to me.

                Although this show follows numerous basic zombie rules it brings a whole new connection to the typical story line by offering it in a series. It still has the golden rule which if a zombie sees you; it will stop at nothing to get a taste. Aided by the ability not to get exhausted, the zombie can literally run down its prey. Another appreciated rule is that their bodies are softer and a rock to the head actually smashes and caves in the skull, a classic feature in zombie entertainment. When fighting the undead you need to be able to trust those around you, so tension can be a lot higher among the characters if someone doesn’t feel like someone is pulling their weight.This show stands out for simply fact that a running zombie TV series has never been attempted and gives viewers like myself a break from Reality shows and the C.S.I. ‘s that dominate television but also stands apart from zombie movies by getting the viewer attached to the characters and adding emotion into the story line rather than the movie themes which just seem to be kill, kill, kill.

                The twist in making this zombie picture is simply the fact that it is an evolving story rather than an hour and half movie. Keeping the basic fundamentals of zombie production is a no brainer and will help unite all cult zombie coinsurers.  Keeping the outbreak's cause a mystery is a major tease but a necessary one. Is this a result from a government experiment gone mad, a biological war on the United States, an act of god, or simply evolution? This in itself could trap a viewer to keep tuning in to satisfy their thirst for an answer.The series target audience consists of the obvious hardcore zombies fanatics but as well as the sci-fi community and I believe reaches those of all ages that like blood and guts but as well to those who need drama in their stories, to feed off emotion and distress from others. This show extends farther than the typical zombie diehard. With elements of adultery and racism just in this episode I’m sure there is no offensive subject matter limits in this series. But the ads at the end seemed like every 5 minutes, in the beginning wasn’t bad promoting other AMC shows, upcoming movies, and car commercials but at the end shoveling ad after ad down my throat made for some festering irritation. 
                This concept is fantastic and I’m hooked already. With chaos inevitable I hope to see Daryl take charge of the group, more so the group will probably identify with his views. It’s going to get messier and essentially it is a war, the dead vs.the living and a peace treaty is out of the question. From the silent knife and hand to hand combat kills, to the extravagant sniper and armed to the teeth kills, there is no way anyone will be bored in watching this. Undeniable strength is that a zombie TV series has never been done but the weakness for me is the drama. I would prefer to watch Daryl run amuck and murder all of them one by one in an angry fury of glory. I bet if you flicked on the tube from another country and were not exposed too much TV, you would probably think Americans are sick and no wonder why were fat and dumb, but after 20 minutes you’d be hooked too!

                Tony'G-Man' Guerrero article about the cause of the outbreak is a great discussion. Does it even matter, do we even want to know, would it be considered unnecessary information embedded in what is usually strictly shock and awe entertainment. I feel it should always be left as cliff hanger with subtle hints toward an answer but also providing contradicting clues that mix it all up leaving the answer to the viewer. I can’t wait for next Sunday’s episode at 9/8c on AMC. I will more than likely be tuning in online to amctv so my DVR will be uninterrupted recording Showtime’s Dexter and Homeland!

I have definitely reaffirmed I love violence, blood, and disorder. I simply cannot get enough of this!

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Little Madagascar

Madagascar is the world’s fourth largest island and home to a rare variety of animals, plants, insects, and basically everything alive on the island. With my favorite animal, the lemur, growing more and more endangered due to deforestation and poaching. With over 90 percent of the original forests destroyed and illegal poaching and hunting to sell the bushmeat to restaurants as delicacies, six species have been put on critical status on the endangered species list. In one year along it was estimated that over $100million worth of hardwood was harvested. Strangely enough China seems to have links to both these problems.  Richard Branson is trying to give bring some lemurs to one of his islands in the Caribbean and creating a questionable debate. On one hand he would be preserving a species but possible endangering an ecosystem on the other. I think it’s a great idea, they would all come from zoos and it’s not like the lizards and plants on that Caribbean island only exist there.  Madagascar is the only place lemurs live not to mention that I’m sure his $30million project involves scientists as well as veterinarians. This is fantastic and I hope his ideas spread more awareness of the overwhelming need to preserve prehistoric Madagascar.  I can’t imagine anyone wanting to eat smoked lemur, come on! On a side note it is legal to have a pet lemur in most states, and it only sets you back $1000-$5000. Wow, still not sure if that’s a good idea. . . I hope little Madagascar is a success!

VIVA LA RAREZA!

Overtime, countless elegantly crafted pieces of machinery have been forgotten until the youth of that era resurrects survivors and relives their better years once they fall into a little bit of mad cash. This process is too slow because the rarer classics, unlike your more conventional classics like the 1972 Malibu SS or the 1969 Camaro SS, will be forgotten. For example the 1969 Volvo 140-series, these magnificent classics are getting rarer and rarer by the minute, and every time I hear about one being pulled apart like an organ donor I want to weep. Sure search away and you’ll find clean representatives of the species but the cult following of the Swedish gold needs to grow and grow fast before all hope and future admirers know not what of. This isn’t the only endangered classic, others would have to include the 1982 XJ550 Seca and the 1980 Suzuki GS1100 but it doesn’t just stop there. These bikes are getting harder and harder to find and must join the list amongst other forgotten treasures. I purpose to start a charity to save the endangered metal of the 20^th century. Round up these specimens of history, repair them as see fit, preserve them, and ride the holy hell out of them to let them know they’re still alive and appreciated.  VIVA LA RAREZA!