Monday, July 03, 2006

Monty Python ‘The Instant Monty Python CD Collection’ (Box Set)



Okay, I’m coming clean. I thoroughly enjoyed March Of The Penguins. I gave it 4 out of 5 stars on Netflix.

I was a little concerned that I was wasting my time and a rental by seeing it. I had put it on my queue before and I took it off. But after seeing so many folks giving it high marks, I threw it back on.

It’s like a documentary about Emperor Penguins and how they go about reproducing in the harshest place on our planet. I say it’s like a documentary because the credits say the film is based on a story. And as a matter of fact, the penguins are doing their thing right this minute.

We could see record highs here in North Carolina with a predicted high around 96. In Antarctica, the penguins are putting up with -80 degree temperatures and when a storm rolls in, they have to deal with winds up to 100 miles an hour. Many penguins die from starvation and cold as they continue the species. And I just don’t get it.

I would think these guys would take a little advice from the sparrows and hit California once a year. They would definitely dig it there. Why don’t they go north for the winter instead of walking over 70 miles to get to the breeding grounds?

As I was watching this film, I couldn’t help but think about how nature keeps itself right with checks and balances. Many penguins perish and many aren’t even born because they will freeze to death when the mother passes on the egg to daddy. Then the moms take a 70 mile walk while literally starving to death in order to get to the ocean to feed. Some die along the way and others get snapped up by sea lions. And when the mothers don’t make it back, the chick dies from starvation.

To me, it’s totally crazy. These Emperor Penguins risk their lives just to mate and keep the species going. I am sorry, but if dating for humans was anything like that, I would never leave the house.

I also watched another 5 star flick from Netflix… It’s a documentary on a little known legend that bridged the gaps between country, bluegrass, and rock. Gram Parsons: Fallen Angel follows his life beginning in Winter Haven, Florida and ends with the weird little footnote death and cremation at Joshua Tree National Park.

I was turned onto Gram Parsons back when I was working at Peaches Music & Video by frequent comment contributor Brad Kesler. I was just getting into Dwight Yoakam and opening up my mind to country music. I didn’t much care for the stuff that was on my father’s radio, but the roots country and honky tonk varieties spoke to me. And over the years, I picked up an anthology from The Flying Burrito Brothers and picked up a couple of used LP’s from Collectibles on Lee Street in Greensboro.

Even with those recordings in my collection, I still didn’t know that much about Gram Parsons. The documentary, Gram Parsons: Fallen Angel, filled in every little hole that I had missed.

If you have an appreciation for the southern California country rock sounds… Like Poco and the Eagles, then check out where it all began. Parsons also influenced the Rolling Stones and befriended Keith Richards. So do yourself a favor and check it out.

As for my experiment with the failed television series featuring the lovely Ms. Eliza Dushku… It didn’t turn out so good.



The show was pretty lame with characters that are fairly one dimensional. Dushku plays this chick that heard her mother say some soothing things at mom’s funeral. She goes on for a decade without mom or any other dead folks speaking to her… Until… She interns at the City Morgue.

Now every so often, a body turns its head and coughs out a “Help Me” and she’s transported to the beginning of her day. That’s right, the day starts over for her and it’s her personal mission to save the person from their unnecessary death. Tru (Dushku) is like a second rate Columbo with a heaping helping of the movie Groundhog Day.

It’s a cool concept, but the writing and stories leave a lot to be desired. I gave the show 2 out of 5 stars on Netflix and took the rest of the series off my queue. It just didn’t keep my attention and I’m through wasting time on it even though the series is a scenic route featuring Ms. Dushku.

Now I’m waiting on the first season of Scrubs.

1 comment:

  1. Anonymous4:13 AM

    Umm, I've got nothing on Penguins, Gram Parsons or Eliza Dushku. Post about wrestling again so I can discuss my newest thoughts on ECW without looking like I am ignoring the actual posted topics.

    ReplyDelete