Alan Rapp

Simply the Best

Alan Rapp / November 21, 2005 / Home Video

Title: Bret “Hitman” Hart: The Best There Is, The Best There Was, The Best There Ever Will Be
IMDB: link

Bret Hart wasn’t as strong as Hulk Hogan, as quick as the “Macho Man” Randy Savage, as titillating as Shawn Michaels or as controversial as Steve Austin. What Bret Hart brought to the ring was a professionalism and a strong work ethic to always put on the best show for the fans. Beloved all over the world Bret was able to make every opponent raise the bar and put on the best matches of their career. This collection is a wonderful reminder of the Hitman’s career.

The documentary begins by chronicling the life of Bret Hart growing up in Calgary with his large family. All of Bret’s older brothers were involved in the wrestling business run by Bret’s father Stu Hart. From the age of four Bret would sit and watch matches and learn about the sport that would later make him a star. His early amateur background is chronicled as well as his work in Stampede Wrestling for his father.

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The Sandman Cometh

Alan Rapp / November 17, 2005 / Film News & Trailers

Well folks it’s finally official, Thomas Hayden Church, best known for his work as the dumb mechanic Lowell from Wings and as Jack from last year’s surprisingly great Sideways, will be playing Flint Marko AKA the Sandman in the next Spidey flick. Take a look at the pic and compare it to the comic, eerily perfect creepy casting if you ask me.

Spider-Man 3
N/A

Still no positive word from Sony or Sam Raimi acknowledging who the other villain will be (rumors from every Spidey villain from Venom to Electro to the Chameleon). As for the Sandman though, looks like the casting director got this one right!

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Kiss Me Like a Stranger

Alan Rapp / November 14, 2005 / Books & Magazines

Title: Kiss Me Like a Stranger: My Search For Love and Art

Gene Wilder is a complex man who has battled unhappiness and uncertainty while giving pleasure to millions with his brilliant comic performances. Kiss Me Like a Stranger is a narrative look at pivotal moments in Wilder’s life that through fate or coincidence made him who he is today.

The biography is broken up into different sections of Wilder’s life. The first examines his childhood, the second his early career, the third his working with Mel Brooks and Richard Pryor, and the last his life with Gilda Radner.

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Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang

Alan Rapp / November 11, 2005 / Movie Reviews

Title: Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang
IMDb: link

Any movie that contains an argument over the phone about why someone has urinated on a dead body he finds in his hotel room shower deserves some attention. Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang is one of the most entertaining movies of the year. Part Hollywood satire and part dime-store novel this is great fun with terrific performances from Robert Downey Jr. and Val Kilmer. Simply put folks, this is the best comedy of 2005.

Harry Lockhart (Robert Downey Jr.) is a small time thief who stumbles into an audition for a detective show while fleeing from the police. Whisked away to Hollywood Harry meets Perry (Val Kilmer) a gay detective who is the consultant to the show. At a party Harry also runs into Harmony Lane (Michelle Monaghan) the girl who got away so many years ago.

So far sounds like a pretty normal film right? Well here’s where things start to get interesting. Larry takes Harry on a stakeout to teach him more about detective work, but unfortunately they run into a car with a dead body. For reasons to difficult to describe here the two abandon the body only for Larry to find it in his hotel room shower early the next morning.

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We Are All Fools in Love

Alan Rapp / November 11, 2005 / Movie Reviews, Theme Week

Title: Pride & Prejudice
IMDb: link

Let me start out by saying I’m not a big Jane Austen fan and just the thought of reading a novel of hers makes me drowsy. Joe Wright‘s new version of Pride & Prejudice is anything but dreary. With a wonderful eye, energetic performances, and a droll since of humor and wit this piece of Austen’s work comes alive on screen and not only is fresh, inviting, and enjoyable it just happens to be one of the best movies of the year.

In England during the Georgian era Austen’s tale follows the lives of the Bennet women especially the headstrong Elizabeth (Keira Knightley). The Bennet clan is headed by Mr. Bennet (Donald Sutherland) and lorded over by his wife (Brenda Blethyn) who spends all her time trying to wed off her five daughters and improve the family’s fortunes. Into the picture arrives Mr. Bingley (Simon Woods) a wealthy suitor who takes a fancy in the eldest Bennet daughter Jane (Rosamund Pike) and his rather drab companion Mr. Darcy (Matthew McFadyen) who raises the ire of Elizabeth. What follows is the tale of love found and lost and the consequences of choices made.

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