“Enchanted” – Walt Disney’s Apocalypse Now
-Helicopters and Dragons-

by Daniel Mallock, BookFolks

Sometimes a movie hits just the right notes (espcecially a musical), and is released at just the right time – that it is on its way to massive box office returns by the first day of release. Disney’s “Enchanted” is such a movie. The last time a movie was so perfectly timed, and of such high quality, might have been Francis Ford Coppolla’s “Apocalypse Now”. This is not to say in any way, of course, that “Enchanted” has anything in common with “Apocalypse Now”… wait. Hold on. Now that I think about it – they have so much in common.

Apocalypse Now documents the shattering of a country and the two male leads (Brando and Emelio Estevez’s dad) through the Vietnam War, a complete upheaval that sucks up everything in its path and spits it out again all broken and battered, or just plain dead. Lots of folks end up waking up dead in “Apocalypse Now”. Enchanted is a kind of apocalypse, too- a potentially life shattering event for a cartoon princess in which the heroine could well find herself waking up dead! Great stories are about watching interesting characters go through changes. The more intense and cinematic the change, the better! Few films have come close to the shattering images in Apocalypse Now, for example the image of Marlon Brando making a million dollars a minute for his fairly average performance is hard to forget. Much like the disturbing and artsy images from Coppolla’s violence-fest, Disney’s “Enchanted” has equal number of bright, happy, and sometimes “ewwwww!” inspiring moments to match.

While helicopters thump and whirr overhead and shriek across village’s blowing them to bits in Coppola’s helo homage, Amy Adams twitters and flits and bobs and dances and smiles her way into almost every viewer’s heart in “Enchanted”. Met with almost universal affection from viewers and pointy headed critics alike, There are exceptions, of course. These folks can find help easily. Some folks just haven’t got any joy. One unhappy reviewer even suggests that “…the movie becomes pedantic and predictable, proceeding from fanciful to boring in about ten minutes flat.” So wrong. So sad. So many people scratch their heads and wonder aloud about critics – how they can appear in print when they are so often utterly mistaken or deluded in their grasp of art and the artists who perpetrate it!? The value of critics and criticism is outside the purview of this particular post; needless to say, most critics have little merit. A by-line doesn’t make one insightful. However, even the most clueless of critics can have moments of accuracy. Roger Ebert, for example, so notorious for being so wrong, so often, is favorable to the movie. So, where critics are concerned, fantasies can come true! [For a great illustration of how deeply confused most critics are take a look at their utterly pathetic wrong misinterpretations of "Running With Scissors". A superb and disturbing movie almost completely misunderstood by critics.]

“Apocalypse Now” has Emiolio Estevez’ dad, while “Enchanted” has the by far more talented and lovely Amy Adams. Both films were just right for the times in which they were released, both were box office hits and critically acclaimed (not that that matters). It was the right time in 1979 for Coppolla’s movie. It was right for him-he needed money for his vineyard and winery, and he got it. It was right for the movie-going public-folks were ready for a serious artistic review of the Vietnam War. Apocalypse Now was there when it was needed and wanted. In a sense it provided a service. Now, folks are ready for a more whimsical tour de force. “Enchanted” is perfectly timed, and has just the right mix of charm, humor, drama, action, music, and romance. This is the combination that America needs now. And boy do we need it bad!

Some will say, including me, that “Enchanted” may be the best Disney movie since Julie Andrews’ stole America’s hearts in with her attitude heavy portrayal of Mary Poppins. The country is ready for “Enchanted” – America now has more than enough real apocalyptic activity going on right about now what with the vanquishing of evil, mysogonist, reactionary, cruel and heartless, self-aggrandizing Islamo-Fascists over in Iraq and Afghanistan and on our own shores currently underway. “Enchanted” is a much deserved break from the harsh realities of our lives. And its timing couldn’t be better.

The foundation of good drama, good art is watching folks change. The more change, the more real the change, the better! What could be more traumatic to watch (other than repeated viewings of Rocky Horror Picture Show) than a lovely cartoon princess being thrown into the real-life (at least from her perspective) bizarre, shocking, and dirty world of current day Times Square? Not much! That is exactly the predicament sweet Princess Giselle finds herself in. But she handles this existential change not by being shattered or violently blowing things up, but by handling herself with panache, positivity, music, and meeting new animal friends! Princess Giselle then has to fight Susan Sarandon, of all the horrors the film makers could throw at the young lass, did they have to be so cruel as that? Well, yes. And despite Ms. Sarandon’s lack of “clue”, the ensuing conflict works. Princess Giselle grows into a perfectly decent, always stunning and talented New York gal of the current day. Patrick Dempsey of Grey’s Anatomy is lucky enough to find her wandering in the rain in Times Square and takes her home so that his five year old girl can explain how life really works to him. Male leads in Disney films are often incredibly daft. And over time, we see Dempsey change and grow and learn that his cynical approach to life can be quickly overturned when the right princess is dropped in his life to muck up his very tight schedule, which doesn’t include cleaning his very expensive west side apartment. All the leads are quite good except for Sarandon whose obvious obsession with Frank N. Furter leads her far far astray.

While a critic (not me, of course) could readily blame the director for allowing Ms. Sarandon to so muck up her role, it’s more fun to directly heap criticism upon her. But it’s not all bad with Ms. Sarandon. Taking a much needed break from her seeming endless agitprop silliness Ms. Sarandon may well have put her most memorable role on celluloid with this movie. A small hint regarding her questionable performance can be found here in this interview in which she says that she never was really “into” the princess thing and doesn’t really understand why so many little girls are so intrigued by them. In answering the question “Why do you think the princesses still resonate with a new generation of girls today?” Ms. Sarandon uses the term “I don’t know” four times. Clearly, she is being honest. Looking a cross between Nora Desmond and Rocky Horror’s FrankNFurter Ms. Sarandon is so far over the top that the plummet to the bottom of the fountain for Giselle is but a quick dip compared to the endless millenia it will take for Sarandon’s Princess Narissa to fall her own distance to bottom.

“Apocalypse Now” had helicopters spitting fire from on high, “Enchanted” has a dragon doing the same. Both are scary in some primal way. But as our helicopters were silent during the release of “Apocalypse Now” – they are very much in action again today. Now is the time for “Enchanted” with it’s personal upheavals and battles and profound multiple apocalypses for a battle and war weary public.

This is not an anti-war film by any stretch, it recognizes as so many in our country do not, that there are times when force and evil must be met with an overwhelming force response so that the princess and the kingdom can be preserved. Believing that our enemies will desist in their evil because we request them to do so, or because we hope they will, or because we apologize to them is more a fantasy than anything in “Enchanted”.

    

Tragedy of Cleveland, Ohio Should Not Be Its Obituary – It Should be A Call for Renewal!

by Daniel Mallock, BookFolk

Recent headlines for Cleveland could hardly be worse, “Where Cleveland Went Wrong”, and School Shooting! are two of the most recent. This once proud “rust belt” city on Lake Erie is in eclipse. Long known for lake effect heavy snows and too many gray days per year Cleveland is now the horror that all American cities fear to become. With a completely diminished tax base, a failed economy, and little apparent hope for economic recovery in the near future Cleveland waits to figure out how to repeat the stunning recovery of similar cities like Pittsburgh. After the steel mills close, the inner city rots away, foreclosures suck the life out of low and middle class areas, and folks who can flee flee, where can Cleveland turn for growth and renewal?There are four fascinating aspects of Cleveland life that, if properly fostered, encourage, and leveraged, will be the foundation of its rebirth – diversity of population, superb civic culture and history, excellent health care, Lake Erie waterfront and port.

The excessive and horrible foreclosures currently sweeping the country, based upon shady and misleading mortgages sold to folks wanting a share in the American dream of home ownership – have hit Cleveland hardest. One section of Cleveland in particular now is littered with empty foreclosed homes looted by dirtbags and crooks (see link above).

This is now the time for urban renewal folks to make their plans. Giving up on Cleveland is for fools – Cleveland can now become a shining example of American ingenuity – a place where folks will want to move to and live. It’ll take time, but the effort should be made, and quickly.

Cleveland is blessed with one of the finest orchestra’s in the world, the Cleveland Orchestra. Long recognized as one of the finest symphonies in the world it is a testimony to Cleveland’s importance that so many in the area continue to support this great institution as the city that hosts it continues its long crumble into decay. There is enough money in the area, enough people loyal to the area – living outside the city limits – who continue to support the superb cultural and educational offerings of the city. In addition to the Orchestra, Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Museum of Art are available for all to enjoy. Cleveland has a proud history. Ohio was one of the largest contributors of soldiers to the Union during the Civil War. The monument to Civil War veterans in downtown Cleveland is a little known national treasure that all who appreciate American heritage and history should visit. Folks are not leaving the region en masse, only the inner city itself (with folks who can’t leave, staying). Cleveland can be saved. If Cleveland is not revitalized and rehabilitated it will become a sister city Detroit. While the proponents for Cleveland and Detroit may challenge the studies that proclaim the failure of these cities and speak of the irresponsibility and cruelty of suggesting such things – the problems remain. These problems must be resolved, and quickly. Hopefully, for both Cleveland and Detroit the hour is not too late to make a change. And don’t forget, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is in Cleveland, too! Cleveland rocks, remember?

The failure of American steel and the closure of most of Cleveland’s factories, steel mills, and economic infrastructure shattered the economy of the city in the 70s and 80s – but… businesses remain and are growing – albeit in completely different sectors. Now, healthcare and technology are the economic hopes for Cleveland’s future growth and prosperity. Cleveland Clinic is a nationally ranked hospital system serving folks from all across the planet. Imagine – Cleveland as a destination city just for health care! Well, that’s the truth.

The true natural resource of Cleveland and the foundation of its recovery is the waterfront. Some folks in Cleveland are actively working to build up the waterfront, attract investment and bring folks back to Cleveland. The Port Authority is leading the way. Why can’t Cleveland have a bustling port and waterfront anchored with the Rock Hall and the Science Museum just like Boston’s or Baltimore’s or San Francisco’s. Build a destination for folks – a beautiful place with great hotels and parks and condos and apartments and restaurants and homes – and folks will come!

So, how does a city recover after being the hardest hit in the nation by foreclosures with school shootings and serious inner city decay? All the great urban planners, investment gurus, historians, restaurateurs, and government officials – city, regional, and federal – should build a commission now to reclaim Cleveland.

It is a national sin to let our cities fall and die while our pathetic neanderthal pseudo allies grow rich on our consumption of their oil. Our cities should be a shining light, a beacon, to everyone in the world – a testament to our ingenuity, our skills at planning, organization, and creativity. Shame on the government of Cleveland and the federal government for allowing Cleveland to rust and die a slow wretched death.

Bring Cleveland back to life and bring Detroit back to life, too. America is built on hard work and business and caring for our fellow citizens. Let Cleveland be a beacon to those creative folks who want to show their stuff, their organizational and leadership skills, and their patriotism. Rebuild Cleveland. Do it now.

by Daniel Mallock, BookFolk

Jeremy Brett vs. Basil Rathbone:

The Best Sherlock Holmes on Film

vs.

The Truth is Always a Simple Matter Once Explained!

Most fans of Sherlock Holmes will attest that Jeremy Brett is the very embodiment of Sherlock Holmes on any television or movie screen anywhere, ever, period. However, there are those who retain some affection for Basil Rathbone the Sherlock Holmes of previous generations. Both actors are superb, and model the height of acting skill for their generations. But Brett is clearly the superior actor, and the superior Holmes. The game is afoot!

Different Generations, Different Film Technology Demand a Different Holmes

Basil Rathbone’s Holmes fits perfectly into the 1940s era in which his films were made. In the midst of WW2 England and the U.S. needed heroes on the screen. Sherlock Holmes through Rathbone helped the Allies find and destroy Nazi goons within their midsts. A patriotic Brit and hater of fascism Rathbone’s Holmes is the perfect addition to Air Force, Marines, and Navy power. The intellect used as a weapon of war is rarely shown so effectively as in Rathbone’s portrayal of Holmes! One of the major problems with the Rathbone Holmes stories is that 95% of them are originals, that is, they are not adaptations of Conan Doyle’s Holmes stories. Granada Television did every episode as a spectacular and deeply faithful adaptation of the Doyle originals with Jeremy Brett. Most every episode included one or more scenes taken directly from the original drawings by Sydney Paget from the Strand Magazine – that is faithful adaption if ever there was!

• An episode list of Brett’s Holmes can be viewed here.
• You can see some of Paget’s Holmes illustrations for the Strand Magazine, here.

For the purest the Rathbone lack of faithfulness to Doyle is an almost unforgiveable problem. In fact, it’s something of an insoluble conundrum. In addition to the problematic stories themselves whose pacing and supporting actors are often of questionable quality and expertise the characterization of Watson by Sir Nigel Bruce is distracting, aggravating, and overly comedic.

The Problem of the Three Watsons

vs. vs.

The relationship between Holmes and Watson in the Rathbone series is supportive, considerate, gentlemanly, but with Holmes so far eclipsing Watson in intellectual acumen that one has to wonder why the two stay together. In addition, Rathbone’s Holmes is so markedly without those neuroses of character shown by Brett’s portrayal that the viewer must wonder why Rathbone’s Holmes is not married or at least involved with some stunning academic, classical pianist, opera starlet, or some brilliant Irene Adler-type lovely lady. But there is no explanation and no context in which Holmes should be alone, accompanied everywhere by Sir Nigel. Holmes as played by Rathbone should have girlfriends, a wife, some kind of vibrant emotional connection to some favored female(s)!

Brett covers Holmes in self-doubt, utterly driven by intellect. So much so, that he has sacrificed the better parts of his nature, those tender parts that would appeal to a woman and that would allow him to relax and trust enough to be loved by a woman and to love her in return. He has essentially “shut off” those parts of his soul that he believes might distract him from his work – or something has happened. Something dark and painful long ago that Brett occasionally hints at, but never reveals. The depth of Brett’s Holmes is astounding. Brett plays Holmes as a grand knight of deduction who has sacrificed the pleasures of love. As a lover Holmes would be a second-rate detective, and that would simply not do. But there is more to this than all that. Brett is haunted by his sacrifices and his lack of tenderness. This is seen most clearly perhaps in the Adventure of the Abbey Grange. (Pay special attention to the part when the lady attempts to thank Holmes. He does not handle the moment well.)

• You can get a nice plot summary of Abbey Grange right here.

Rathbone’s Watson (Sir Nigel Bruce) plays Watson as a bumbling oafish but utterly dedicated partner and friend exactly the companion that Holmes needs. Brett’s Watson(s) are much more formidable.

Menace, Mania, and Moroseness – Choosing Brett

While Rathbone is not to be faulted for acting in the 40s style, flat and somewhat affected – Brett’s Holmes is the very picture of a highly complex, brilliant, intellectual artiste – the great detective brought to life.

Granada television and PBS is to be complimented for airing such a beautifully written and lovingly adapted series such as the Brett Holmes set. Rarely in recent television history has such a finely made program been aired. The Hollywood writer’s strike of the current hour is little lamented here as nothing of this quality has been seen in so long on the small screen. The complexity and depth of Brett’s Holmes will long be held as the standard for this character. Brett’s early death was a serious loss to every Holmesian. Brett is the Johann Sebastian Bach of the Sherlock Holmes world.

Others have attempted Sherlock Holmes from Ian Richardson’s overly whimsical take to Rupert Everett’s quite passable go, but Brett is the master interpreter. Without a case to work he is difficult, petty, argumentative, morose, bored. His seven percent solution would see him through too many dry spells, but when the game was afoot Holmes’ intellect, brilliance and bravery the finer components of his character always quickly came to the fore.

Basil Rathbone a Fine Holmes – But No Match for Jeremy Brett

From the LoveBoat to Immortality

Having once appeared on the LoveBoat (see this incredible clip on YouTube) Brett rose to the very heights of the acting profession. Still mourned today by those who knew him and appreciated his brilliance as Sherlock Holmes, the same reverence cannot be claimed by Rathbone. Now known to but a few, and those mostly Holmes fans, Rathbone long ago set the stage for the appearance of someone like Brett – to finally bring a permanent record to a living Holmes on screen. Depth of characterization, complex line deliveries, hints of past events and unspoken secrets and pain – Jeremy Brett is an actor’s actor.

Jeremy Brett is the greatest Sherlock Holmes on screen, ever. Long may he solve cases! And never require the needle!

by Daniel Mallock, BookFolk

Why is it alright for a rock band to play a concert on the site of a
Nazi concentration camp called “Sajmiste” where over 47000 people, Jews,
Gypsies, and political prisoners were murdered?

Learn about Sajmiste here: Weisenthal Center

What has happened to western culture that such a desecration of a place
where so many innocents were killed can occur? Why is there no uproar
against the government of Serbia, and the local authorities of
Belgrade? Why is there no criticism of the band and its management?

This concert is not particularly well known, yet. Jerusalem Post is
covering this story here:
Jerusalem Post

The rock band in question is a UK synth-dance band reminiscent of Ace
of Base called “Kosheen”. This is bad enough, but why do the members of
this band think that playing a gig at a concentration camp will be good
for their careers? Yes, they’ll get negative press from folks like me,
and historians, and Jews all over the world, and folks in Israel, and
any reasonable person who understands history and appreciates the
sanctity and importance of places like Sajmiste. Concentration camps should
never be considered viable venues for commercial entertainments like
rock music or anything that would diminish the hallowed nature of those
places.

To me this is another example of the rolling desensitization of people
in the West. Some events change a place forever so that no matter what
you do there, what structure is placed there, or even what lies and
falsehoods people might say about what occurred there – the events have
left such an imprint that it can never be erased. Remember when some less
than brilliant entrepreneur wanted to build a disco on the ground of
Auschwitz? Auschwitz will forever be associated with the Concentration
camp of the same name, and Germany will forever be associated with the
crimes that German soldiers committed there and so many other places.
Can there be more a disgusting affront to the memory of those tens of
thousands who were murdered at that place? CNN covered this story at the
time here: CNN

To their credit, the authorities in Belgrade appear quite horrified and
disgusted by the concept of this concert occurring on this site of
mass murder. Sajmiste is one of the darkest places of the time of some of
the darkest deeds ever commited in human history. “‘It is awful that
such concerts are being held there, but the building was illegally sold’
by the capital’s previous authorities, said New Belgrade mayor Zeljko
Ozegovic. ‘We have been appealing the legality of the purchase for
years.’”

Other than money, what could be the benefit to Kosheen to perform at a
place were thousands were murdered? There is no discussion of Sajmiste
on the band’s eponymous web site, but there ought to be. Kosheen should
cancel this performance and tell their fans why. They should tell their
fans and people around the world who have never heard of them – but
suddenly will – that they are taking a moral and ethical stand; that they
refuse to desecrate a holy place by performing a dance music concert
on sacred ground where tens of thousands of innocents were murdered by the
Nazis and their stooges. They should tell the world that they distance
themselves from evil, hate, and have compassion for those less fortunate who
came before them murdered in the gas vans of Sajmiste. If they do these
things Kosheen will become famous across the world for taking a moral
position in a crass and shallow industry (pop music) and demonstrate to their fans
that music means more to them than a paycheck.

These places of death and murder and the utter corruption of society
and culture should be memorials to the victims who died there. These
places are hallowed places and ought not to be cheapened and demeaned by
being violated with loud synth pop concerts. These are special appalling
places that are shrines regardless if Kosheen knows it or not. Go there and
place a wreath of flowers at the entrance and say that you will not enter but
in mourning and appreciation to the victims of fascism and cruelty. If
the members of Kosheen do this, they will make news around the globe
and be true trend setters of culture and civility.

Kosheen writes in their website “Biography” that “Once in a while, a
band comes along that doesn’t just ignore the rule book, but rewrites it.
Since forming in the late 90’s, Kosheen have proved that success
doesn’t have to come on someone else’s terms.” Subtle? No. But is there any
truth in this glowing self-assessment?

Let’s see if they will ignore the “rule book” of their industry and
prove that they aren’t just another band built upon the terms of others.

Playing a gig at a concentration camp has nothing to do with music, it
has everything to do with money and money alone. Music ought to be about
more than just money. Music is supposed to stand for something, mean
something – something positive and life affirming. Sajmiste is hallowed
ground. What can be life affirming in disrespecting a place of mass
murder and evil? Nothing.

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