Why can't we work out our differences? Why can't we work things out? Little people, why can't we all just get along?

After Small Soldiers, Mars Attacks! is another film I saw at cinema on it's original release, but unlike Soldiers seen a few times on VHS, the last time I probably saw this film however is sometime in 1999, so like this is also something else I haven't seen in 9 years until a couple of days ago...

As a Tim Burton movie it rates well above Planet of the Apes, but well below Beetle Juice, Edward Scissorhands, the Batman films, Pee-Wee's Big Adventure and Ed Wood, so what I'm pretty much saying is it's far from vintage Burton. This wasn't the only alien attacking earth film of 1996, the other one was of course Independence Day, this of course attempts to be funnier and on the whole as a much more well known cast, among those Jack Nicholson, Pierce Brosnan, Danny DeVito, Tom Jones, Glenn Close, Michael J. Fox and people like Natalie Portman, Sarah Jessica Parker and Jack Black also went on to become more well known.

My main problem with this film is it feels like the cast are having a much better time then the audience, sure it's quite fun seeing a-list stars getting zapped to death but probably not as much fun as it is for the actors and also sometimes the humour seems a bit mistimed. But at the same time there is a lot to like about this movie, like Jack Nicholson's dual roles at the President and a Las Vegas Hotel owner, some of the deaths are fun like Michael J. Fox's and Rod Steiger's and some of the use of colour is pretty terrific.

You feel there was a much better film there somewhere down the line (i.e in the script or in a different cut), but it's still a fairly watchable movie with some good and some not as good as it should be moments. I'd still recommend it but don't expect anything classic.

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Fonzie's Wall of Cool

Approved by the Fonz*

Welcome to Fonzie's Wall of Cool, now I'm quite sure I know what cool is but not as much as the Fonz does, so it's actually not me choosing here it is Arthur Fonzarelli, every week he will choose two people who deserve to go on the Wall of Cool except for this week, the inaugral ceremony, 4 members will be accepted...

THE FIRST PERSON ONTO FONZIE'S WALL OF COOL IS...

Arhur Fonzarelli

Where would Fonzie's Wall of Cool would be without Arthur Fonzarelli, whose even cool in cartoon form and toy form (you should check out the awesome Mego toy from 70s of him), as any other person been so revered by his peers then Fonz, he's the idol to many including Ritchie Cunnigham, Potsie and Ralph Malph, as well as loved by the parents and of course the chicks. For instant coolness check out the music video to Weezer's 'Buddy Holly'- there's only few better dancers (see directly below). So here's to Fonz the first person to get a place on the Fonzie's Wall of Cool. THE SECOND PERSON ONTO FONZIE'S WALL OF COOL IS...

Christopher Walken

Have you seen Fatboy Slim's "Weapon of Choice" video, that alone guarantees Christopher Walken place on the Wall of Cool. Have you seen the scene with Dennis Hopper in True Romance, that alone guarantees his place on the Wall of Cool. The watch story in Pulp Fiction...Do you get the picture? He's an expert dancer and an ultra cool actor. From Russian Roulette in The Deer Hunter to playing the Angel of Death in The Prophecy, his rendition of Deliah in Romance and Cigarettes and his role as mobster Frank in King of New York, all this and he's played a Batman villain and a James Bond villain (A View to a Kill), Truly cool legend. He's also a funny guy with multiple Saturday Night Live guest hosting stints under his belt (You can't beat the Continentel). Christopher Walken is well deserving as the second person onto Fonzie's Wall of Cool. THE THIRD PERSON ONTO FONZIE'S WALL OF COOL IS...

Jack Nichoslon

Jack Nicholson as been effortlessly cool since the 1960s and is still effortlessly cool today, not many people can say that? Jack could get on the wall alone for his iconic role as Randle P. McMurphy in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, cool, yes but also the hint of being somewhat scarily dangerous. Jack also wrote (and had a small role in) the psychadelic trip of a movie Head, which starred the Monkees which earns coolness point in my book. From B-movies to megastardom, Jack will forever be cool, even when new words are invented. Do yourself a favour watch One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and The Shining back to back and bask in the wonderfulness of Jack.

THE FOURTH ENTRY ONTO FONZIE'S WALL OF COOL IS...

"The Nature Boy" Ric Flair

The man is a bonafide legend in the wrestling ring, with his stylin' and profilin' and promises of been taken to Space Mountain. A seventeen time world champion (most of them back when it mean't something) was the wrestler who completely stole the show when I went to see my first ever WWE event, showing the young whipper snappers a thing or too about entertaining the fans. I hope he comes back to the WWE sooner or later just for one last run at the top, remember ---To Be the Man, You Got to Be the Man---. The first wrestler to be put on Fonzie's Wall of Cool.

*sadly not the real Fonz

What I've been watching...

Keep thinking I've been and posted on here when I haven't. STUPID STUPID ME.

Here's some stuff I've watched lately.

The Stepford Wives (1975) left me somewhat underwhelmed, it's good for the first part of the film, but I couldn't help but drift off after a while, there's good moments in there but it's nothing special.

The Last Tycoon (1976) was the last film from legendery Communist Witchhunt sell-out Elia Kazan and the only film to feature Robert De Niro and Jack Nicholson, the play ping-pong together no-less, recommend as the film is very interesting, cast also includes Robert Mitchum. Not the best work for anyone involded though.

Watched a fair bit of TV shows lately rather then films, here's some of the shows.

NewsRadio. Decided to re-watch the first two seasons (29 episodes) and got through them very quickly. This show is very, very funny mainly thanks to Phil Hartman (R.I.P.) and Stephen Root, this is the sort of sit-com that proves the laugh track sit-com doesn't deserve to die. Might have to starting rewatching the third series.

Punky Brewster. On the second series at the moment. I think Soleil Moon Frye gives one of the best child performances on a television comedy, she as very realistic movements and emotions that real kids have, good cast, the show is very watchable.

I've watched odd episodes of the original Twilight Zone and All in the Family, and gonna start a rotation thing with Three's Company, Happy Days, In Living Color and Columbo (also Punky and Family and any other show I feel like adding to the rotation)

I'm gonna do a life post later...

What I've been watching

The Departed (2006) is the latest film from the masterful Martin Scorsese. Of course it's a wonderful piece of cinema, what else would you expect from him?. It is probably his best film for quite some time (that's not discounting his most recent films I'm just saying how much I loved this). The cast are all great but extra word should go out to "mad" Jack Nicholson as the crime boss Frank Costello and Mark Wahlberg (with films like this and I Heart Huckabees) he's more than made up for Planet of the Apes). Highly recommended. Rent (2006) is a limp musical based on the original Broadway production. I don't know something just didn't click for me- the music was bad it sounded like musak-, the performances where pretty good though in places such as Wilson Jermaine Heredia as Angel. I'd never seen the original production so maybe I'm missing something. Give it a miss P.S. any film that features BOTH Rosario Dawson and Sarah Silverman and I'm saying give it a miss, they must be something wrong. Dead and Breakfast (2004) surprised not that it was anything special, in that it surprised me that it was a lot better then I thought it would be. There's enough blood to satisfy the blood lust crowds and actually as some funny little moments. The cast features David Carradine, Erik Palladino (formerly Dr. Dave on ER), Bianca Lawson (formerly Kendra on Buffy. I also remember her from Saved by the Bell: The New Class), Jeremy Sisto (Spoiler: He seems to die in every horror film I see him), Diedrich Bader (The Drew Carey Show) and Oz Perkins (son of Anthony 'Psycho' Perkins). Not groundbreaking or life changing but recommended.

The Hills Have Eyes (1977) is "classic" grindhouse horror - not a piece of art but a piece of enjoyable cinema- Wes Craven as directed some good and some duds in his career and this thankfully falls in the good category, if anybody as seen the remake and not seen this- it pretty much follows the same pattern, including the dogs called Beauty and the Beast and the order of the family's demise. Watch it for Michael Berryman. Watch it for a funny 70s moustache. Watch it to be on edge. Recommended.

THE TV SHELF

What I'm watching at the moment in rotation to each other:

Ali G in the da USA (I believe titled Da Ali G Show in America)

French and Saunders at the Movies

The Addams Family Volume One

Party of Five Season One

My So Called Life: Complete Series

How I Met Your Mother Season One