Reviews by GreatMartin

GreatMartin says "FILM HAS BEEN TOO OVERHYPED--TOO MANY SPOILERS KNOWN" about "PRECIOUS"

GreatMartin — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:41:55 GMT

Every year there are one or two movies that critics rally around, give rave reviews and say is is a 'must see' film. I, usually, fall for the trap, go see the movie and feel 'taken' again. I really went to see "Precious" this afternoon expecting to be moved, to cry, to see a first rate drama. All the news, reviews and articles, and they have been all over, made this seem to be THE movie of the year and, of course, with Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry adding their kudos endorsement how could it miss. I didn't see the movie they saw. I saw, what seemed to be a very slow moving film with bad directing and poor editing saved by good, and in two cases, excellent acting. Gabourey Sidibe who has to carry the movie on her shoulders being in most, if not all, scenes impresses with her performance. Sadly, I don't think there is a future for her in films after reaching somewhat of a peak here because of Hollywood and the public's expectations. The main reason to see this movie, and the main reason......

GreatMartin says "IT COULD HAVE/SHOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER" about "THE BLIND SIDE"

GreatMartin — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:22:24 GMT

There is just something in "The Blind Side" that keeps it from being a better than average film and as much as I think about it I am unable to put my finger on it. All the acting is first rate. I am a fan of Sandra Bullock and she plays the feisty, Scarlet O'Hara type, accomplished woman, wife and mother perfectly, maybe too perfectly, as she seems to do nothing wrong and is always there, no matter what time of day, whenever she is needed. Oh, yes, I don't like her as a blond though the person she plays, Leigh Ann Tuohy, is a real woman, a blond, and this film is based on a true story. Tom McGraw is all charm and understanding as her husband, as the owner of 78 Taco Bells and yet never seems to check on any of them even though the script has a take on that. Let's say he has 78 outstanding managers it just strikes me that a man as successful as he is would be too busy to be home, 'around' so much. Lily Collins, as the teenage daughter, is a delight and Jae Head is a little too precocious...

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GreatMartin says "USE TO BE A 4 STAR RESTAURANT" about TEQUILA SUNRISE - OAKLAND PARK, FL

GreatMartin — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:02:48 GMT

While never the best Mexican restaurant in the Fort Lauderdale area Tequila Sunrise was a good restaurant serving strong drinks, large portions at fair prices and food that was reasonably tasty.

I have been eating here once or twice a year for a number of years and was satisfied with both the food and service. It was about two years ago the place changed hands with the former boss staying on to help out. This was the first time I had lunch at Tequila Sunrise since the new owner took over the restaurant on his own.

The waiter greeted us right away and brought a basket of chips and salsa. The latter was watery without any 'punch'.

We ordered our food and the waiter pointed to a soup and salad bar which had to be the smallest I had ever seen. If I owned the place I would be ashamed to offer that to the customer.

Allen ordered the crab meat wrap and a diet coke while I ordered the shrimp fajitas and coffee. There was only another deuce in the place so I understood when he said the coffee...

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GreatMartin says "AT THIS PRICE SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT 2" about Hewlett Packard Office Jet J3680 All In One

GreatMartin — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 04:06:57 GMT

I bought this on sale at The Office Depot for $49.99 It copies, scans, prints and has a fax attachment with phone. I don't use/need the latter so can't say how it works though all the other functions are fine. It is easy to set up but if you register you will constantly get pop ups for new additions whcih can't be closed or, at least, I haven't found out how to do it. As with all inkjet printers they make their money by selling ink cartridges and these cost $32 for one set of black and color. It is an easy machine to work though you have to get use to how to put the paper in which is reverse from the usual printers. All in all it is definitely worth the sale price....

GreatMartin says "THE END OF THE WORLD OR NOT????" about "2012"

GreatMartin — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 03:51:57 GMT

I knew going in that "2012" would be filled with special effects, and that it was, with here and there a stab at personal stories which really don't add (or take away) anything to the end of the world scenario. Special effects are fine but it seems that is all that sells movies these days and how many volcano eruptions, crumbling freeways, falling skyscrapers, earthquakes, solar fires, meteors falling, planes going wild, huge ships and planes being tossed around not to forget all kinds of tidal waves can one movie have? Well, "2012" has them all, and more, not to forget John Cusack doing a Shelly Winters impersonation from "The Poseidon Adventure" only staying under water a lot longer and having a kid along with him. The problem with special effects today are that they are all done withCGI equipment and the wonder of "How did they do that?" no longer is thought by the movie audience. When thousands of 'people' are killed, or jump off roofs, we know they aren't stunt actors but images......

GreatMartin says "A FRANCHISE AND ALL THAT MEANS" about THE OLIVE GARDEN - FORT LAUDERDALE, FL

GreatMartin — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:18:25 GMT

I have never cared for The Olive Garden as I found their defrosted frozen foods to be served in very bland sauces as if the corporate chef was afraid to use spices. I did like their bread sticks and salad which is one of the reasons we decided to go for lunch there yesterday along with the fact that I had a $20 gift certificate! Forgetting that it was Veteran's Day which meant many people were off from work and school, I as surprised to see the place crowded but we were seated immediately. We decided to do the soup, salad and bread stick lunch which goes for $6.99. I figured between that, having a beverage, the tip and tax I might have to add a dollar or two in cash to the gift card--WRONG!!! Sorry, I'll pay anything for a good main course but it irks the hell out of me to pay $2.30 for a cup of coffee and $2.40 for a diet soda--why the ten cents different I don't know since neither beverage costs more them more than twenty five cents. There were 4 different soups and with the......

GreatMartin says "A JUMP AHEAD OF THE REST IS THEIR MOTTO AND IT IS TRUE" about OLD FLORIDA SEAFOOD HOUSE - FORT LAUDERDALE, FL

GreatMartin — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:07:21 GMT

There are two excellent seafood places in Fort Lauderdale, one being the 15th Street Fishery and the other The Old Florida Seafood House. The last time I had been to the latter was when Terry and Chuck were down here so last night was a treat due to Shirley, Boodles and Pepper--the former gave me a gift certificate for taking care the of the latter two when she was away on a trip. The Old Florida Seafood House opened in 1977 and I have been going there since 1979 and the prices, as much seafood, have really changed since then but the quality of the food hasn't. Considering we are by the ocean I am surprised at how many seafood places, yes, the chains included, serve frozen fish with a few exceptions and Old Florida is one of them. The restaurant has 3 different, distinct rooms the first being as you enter where the clam bar is. Going to the left is a large bar with surrounding tables for dining and then there is the main dining room where most of the sitting is. We arrived just after......

GreatMartin says "NOT EVEN A SHOT OF CLOONEY'S BUTT SAVES THIS ONE!" about "THE MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS"

GreatMartin — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:17:46 GMT

It seems harder and harder to find a major motion picture that is good, let alone entertaining, anymore. "The Men Who Stare At Goats" is a major disappointment including the leading men. The previews led me to believe this was a comedy and since is starred George Clooney, Mister Charm himself, along with Jeff Bridges and Ewan McGregor generally reliable performers and Oscar winner Kevin Spacey, who really hasn't had a hit movie in awhile, I figured it would be a winner. This film is a MAJORdisappointment from all points of view. In many ways, at many times, the story in incomprehensible and in a try for farce it is too spread out to be seen in that genre. The jokes are not only few and far between but it has been a long tine since putting LSD in the drinking water has been funny enough to get laughs. This is hippiedom, Viet Nam, Iraq, psych and psychos, Ishitar and crossed signals all mixed together in the hope it would make sense or, at least, be fun enough in its craziness. It just......

GreatMartin says "NOT A LOSER IN THE BUNCH" about SEE GREAT FILMS THIS WEEK

GreatMartin — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 03:22:34 GMT

The cream of the crop! The stars of yesterday and today! Oscar winners! All genres! Foreign films! Dramas! Comedies! Killers! Lovers! A slate of films that should be seen by everyone and if you have seen them all are worthy of seeing again.

Liz Taylor goes crazy, Ingrid Bergman thinks she is crazy and Joan Crawford drives everyone crazy! Sylvester Stallone knocks them out and THE shark drags them down with Richard Widmark throws an old women down the stairs in his first film and Marlene Detrich is not to be trusted. Chaplin falls in love, silently, while Kathleen Turner and Mike Douglas have a noisy divorce. Russell Crowe plays gay, Chocolat is as sweet as its namesake and the Black Book is dangerous while Ralph Feines gives a performance not to be forgotten in Sunshine and Joan Fontaine wins her Oscar.

These films are in many cases equal to today's if not better.

GASLIGHT CITY LIGHTS RAINTREE COUNTY

HARRIET CRAIG SUSPICION ROCKY ...

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GreatMartin says "CHANGING TAPES IN YOUR HEAD FOR THE BETTER" about TRANSACTIONAL ANALYSIS

GreatMartin — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 02:55:23 GMT

The four basic books that introduced me to Transactional Analysis in the 1970s that have steered the course of my life for the past 36 years--it is not easy changing the tapes put in our head before the age of 5 and that, in many ways, rule our personal, social and business relationships. The books are: I"M OKAY--YOU'RE OKAY BY THOMAS HARRIS BORN TO WIN BY MURIEL JAMES AND DOROTHY JONGEWARD GAMES PEOPLE PAY BY ERIC BERNE LONELINESS: THE FEAR OF LOVE BY IRA J. TANNER Do you play "Yes, but...", "Negative Attention Is Better Than No Attention", "Poor Little Me", "Rescue Me", "Kick Me", just to name a few games people play? Have you, are you settling for less in your life? In love? That's your choice and if you are unhappy with your choice these books will help you change your choice. Easy reading--lifetime lessons!...

GreatMartin says "FOR jACKSON FANS ONLY" about Michael Jackson: This Is It

GreatMartin — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 01:58:39 GMT

In the middle of Michael Jackson's This Is It movie Allen leaned over to me and said that a little of Michael Jackson goes a long way and a lot of Michael Jackson is too much and this movie proved his point. I was never a fan of Jackson's nor did I see 'genuis' in his music though I must admit he is a smooth dancer, though I can do without the crotch grabbing--and I am a gay man!! LOL The movie does show that he was a hard worker and was really going to present himself in a huge show that must have cost a mint. He had very masculine looking male dancers and pretty female dancers surrounding him along with singers who know how to sing and the best of musicians. It was also obvious that everyone on the staff loved and/or admired him. Though he sings most of his hits he was holding back on his vocals as he was saving his voice as he mentions a few times. He really seems to enjoy the dancing aspects of his performance but doesn't project the charisma he must have had, I assume, to hold the......

GreatMartin says "Made with Nestle's and they are good" about Flipz - White Fudge and Chocolate covered Pretzels

GreatMartin — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 03:11:02 GMT

I was at the Dollar Tree store and I came across two packages of pretzels: one were covered with Nestle's white fudge and the other with Nestle's milk chocolate. They were 4 ounces a package with about 32 pretzels in each package.

When I got home I tried a few at room temperature and put the rest in the fridge--hey, they are chocolate-- only to take them out a half hour later and devour them.

Both pretzels were tasty, tempting and, simply, I discovered a new treat.

On the back of both packages they give you excuses for eating them such as, "With all the holes, you can eat more," so along with a treat you get a smile.

Grab a package, or two, if you can.

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GreatMartin says "A DELIGHTFUL SURPRISE" about The Big Gay Musical

GreatMartin — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:52:04 GMT

Sometimes a movie comes along that takes me by surprise which is absolutely delightful and "The Big Gay Musical" which is such a movie. I walked in expecting a bunch of cliches and, yes, they were there, but there was also humor, a touching story, some Broadway caliber singing and a lot of believable acting--and the latter is rare in most gay independent movies.

First the cliches--there are the gratuitous nude, not frontal, nudity and one too many sex scenes--there is the hustler, the trying to be a slut and the real slut, the wise cracking fem, the coming out, the eye candy, the Liza Minnelli, AIDS, Safe Sex, the gay guy with religious parents, not to mention the big gay musical numbers and guys over 40 are always fat and, mostly, trolls! LOL

Yes the cliches are there but handled a little bit differently. There are a few story lines going on with an off-Broadway musical called, "Adam and Steve Just The Way God Made Them", the story of Eddie losing his virginity and coming out, Paul...

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GreatMartin says "THEY DON'T MAKE THEM LIKE THIS ANYMORE!!" about 12 MORE FAVORITE MOVIE MUSICALS

GreatMartin — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 01:15:15 GMT

I don't know how anyone does it--how do they pick their 10 or 100 best movies? I have already listed over 100 movies in different catagories and I haven't even started yet!!!

IN ANY CASE HERE ARE AN ADDITIONAL 12 MUSICAL FILM FAVORITES OF MINE--IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER:

SHOWBOAT

LOVELY TO LOOK AT

BRIGADOON

FINIAN'S RAINBOW

SWINGTIME

LIL ABNER

MOULIN ROUGE

APRIL IN PARIS

I'LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS

ON THE TOWN

BANDWAGON

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GreatMartin says "ONLY IN AN EMERGENCY"" about VICTORIA PARK DINER - FORT LAUDERDALE, FL

GreatMartin — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 16:42:57 GMT

Whatever happened to the good old fashioned diner? You know, the one where every waitress was a gum snapping, smart mouth, no nonsense woman like Flo in the sit-com "Alice"? You know, the one where each table had a small jukebox that you put a quarter in and got five songs. You know, the ones that were open 24/7 and everything looked like and tasted like grease? You know, the ones that didn't look like they were on a Hollywood set, all chrome and spit and polish?

The Victoria Park Diner is a few blocks from The Gateway Movie Theatre, and though convenient, it is not my first choice of a place to eat. In reality it isn't even a diner. It formally was a combination Miami Subs, Baskin Robins and Arthur Treaches restaurant that went bust. I guess because diners are more or less the 'in' place now they decided to call it a diner. Very little was changed inside and I don't know what makes it a diner. It isn't open 24/7 and it does not look like a separate railroad dining car that diners look...

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GreatMartin says "AN OLD FASHION MOVIE BIO" about "AMELIA"

GreatMartin — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:16:22 GMT

"Amelia"--a movie review

"Amelia" isn't a bad film, just a film with a lot of 'bad' things mostly what it hints at and doesn't tell.

Most people who see this film will know the ending so it is what happened before that has to hold your attention and what happened isn't explored. There is a hint of a unhappy childhood with an alcoholic father, a hint at her possibly having been a lesbian. There is a hint of an affair with Gene Vidal, the father of Gore, who was starting a new commuter business with her, while there is a hint that her husband is aware what is going on.

Amelia Earhart was first in many things but that is only hinted at. She broke many barriers for women, set records, proclaimed her independence to her to be husband by saying that neither had to be faithful to the other whether in work or play. At her wedding ceremony she had the word 'obey' struck from the vows which wasnt' quite done in the 1930s. There is a hint that her husband had another female flier lose a race....

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GreatMartin says "DON'T SEE IT!!!!" about Where the Wild Things Are

GreatMartin — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:25:27 GMT

Seeing about 60 movies a year in movie houses I certainly see a lot of bad ones and "Where the Wild Things Are" would be in the list as a loser.

It is too boring for adults--I drifted off more than a few times--certainly too dark for the young ones and probably would be appreciated only by 9 year olds who like to bump into and destroy things, which after seeing this movie will send them on a rampage!!!

Special effects have become so common these days--seems like every movie has them--that they aren't special or effective anymore. The only dazzling special effects in this movie are the ones provided by Mother Nature in the shots of along the Australian coast.

The 'wild things' are not scary nor do they allow you to care for them. Max Records as the boy does a good job in his debut role but like the picture is forgettable.

Don't waste your time on this one--not even when it comes on network TV and you can see it for free.

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GreatMartin says "THE MIDDLE CLASS IS DISAPPEARING" about "SCHMATTA: RAGS TO RICHES TO RAGS"

GreatMartin — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 01:10:02 GMT

In the 1960s the percentage of American clothing made in America was 95%--in the 1980s it dropped to 70%--by the 1980s it was 50%--now in 2009 it is only 5%!!!

In 1911 in the Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire 150 women, mostly young, died in a fire due to 'sweatshop' conditions. Just recently, in India, another fire in a sweatshop killed over 30 young, mainly teenagers, women.

The first fire brought about the involvement of unions and the garment industry brought about the thriving American labor movement and the rise of the middle class not only in NYC but all over America.

Today the garment industry no longer exists in NYC and the middle class is disappearing. Every time an American goes into Walmart or Costco and buys clothing they put a nail further into the labor movement.

HBO is showing the documentary, "Schmatta: Rags to Riches to Rags" (schmatta is rag in Yiddish) which is the story of the garment industry which was basically built by immigrants coming to the United States and...

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GreatMartin says "JUST ANOTHER RESTAURANT EXCEPT FOR PRICED 'SPECIALS'" about SCRUBY'S RIBS AND STEAKS - TAMARAC, FL

GreatMartin — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 02:58:13 GMT

We had just gotten out of the movies--it was 3:30--too late for lunch--too early for dinner--I suggested a new place that none of us had been where the choice was enough so that one could eat as light or as heavy as one wanted.

Scruby's is a new chain with 3 locations in South Florida. They are running ads all over the place with all sorts of deals. As it so happened one of their specials was "Full menu is 1/2 price" between 3-5 PM. The time was right and the price couldn't be that bad so we decided to go to Scruby's. (It would be called 'earlybird' normally LOL)

The place looked and felt new with blond wood all over. They have a big to go counter and it seemed to be steadily busy the whole time we were there.

I ordered one of the rib combinations consisting of: 1/4 BBQ chicken, 1/2 rack of baby back ribs, about 4 ounces of sliced pork, a paper cup of Cole slaw, a small cup of baked beans, 2 small sweet potatoes, garlic toast and flavored butter. It was all served on one...

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GreatMartin says "A MUST SEE FILM" about EVERY LITTLE STEP--DVD EXTRAS

GreatMartin — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:00:54 GMT

"A CHORUS LINE" is THE best musical ever presented on Broadway and "EVERY LITTLE STEP" is a documentary worthy of the show. For some reason if you have never seen ACLon stage this will be the closet you will ever get to it and, almost as good. As a stand alone film is certainly is one of the best shown in theatres this year and the 'extras' on the DVD are phenomenal. They not only take you behind the scenes of producing the revival but they show a lot of where it originated.

For those of you who don't know--where have you been?--one night in NYC a group of dancers got together at the suggestion of Michael Bennett to talk about their lives while he recorded them. He, also, participated. From all these tapes a milestone in American theatre took place.

I really don't want to give away too much about this film or the extras because even if you have seen A Chorus Line on stage or this documentary in a movie house you will learn a lot that you didn't know.

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