Getting Gangster with Dr. Love

Good Afternoon Ladies & Gentlemen,

Today is Christopher Columbus Day...and I really don't care except that the bank is closed. Why? As I've probably stated before on my blog, I really don't like Christopher Columbus being celebrated for settling the Americas. Sure, I love living here...but to celebrate a man for starting the genocide of millions and millions of native people seems...well, wrong. It's kind of like celebrating a Stalin Day or a Hitlereen or something. Does anybody do Columbus Day parades or anything? I know they have Columbus Day sales at furniture outlets and stuff...but does anybody celebrate it other than staying home to watch Monday Night Football? That's a start...but yeah, not a big fan of the holiday. Especially when I didn't cash my paycheck on Saturday, then I went to a concert and spent all my cash, then the banks don't open for two days. That's a shallow excuse for hating a holiday...but I don't want to bore you with the history of Columbus, because it's far too depressing...and there's really nothing that can be done about it now...other than opening the banks.

P.S. He didn't discover a smurfin' thing.


Yesterday was a fun-filled day at the Lagoon amusement park. I hadn't been there in about three years, so a lot of the rides were new to me...and of course there are the old favorites. The best part was that it was a Sunday in October...so there was hardly anybody there. We literally would get off adrenaline-pumping rides, get back in line, and be on the second ride after. It was awesome. I had never had an experience like this at Lagoon before. Usually I have to wait for about 30-45 minutes between rides. Instead I got to ride the newest ride Wicked (which was wicked awesome as my New England friends would say) six times, Re-Entry five times (not nearly as dirty as it may sound), the Spider five times, and all of the other 'big kid' rides in the park a few times. A great time was had by all. I also noticed something that I mentioned on an earlier blog first-hand. Girls are developing MUCH faster than their male counterparts...and I'm talking physically, not the usual mentally. There were many a teenage couple there with a very tall, well-developed girl and a very small guy. It was quite funny to me...but I'm easily amused.


Since the park closed around 8 PM, we only had a few hours to do rides, so we didn't get around to their cheesy Halloween themed Frightmares thing that they have going on...but it's okay because the only reason that I go to haunted houses is to have a girl freak-out and grasp onto me for protection. I've also been thrown out of a haunted house before...because some mechanized Frankenstein with giant rake-like hands hit me in the head pretty good so I tore the arms down and punched the paper mache face. Yeah, that's what happens when my head gets hit by something in a dark haunted house. I go Hulk for a few minutes. They decided not to press charges...since I had blood trickling down my face. Wise choice.


After that, I met with the people that I'm going to Dallas with and we discussed the plan of attack for the Big D. It should be a fun trip...and their dog Jinko really liked me. I have a way with animals and little kids. They're hesitant at first (I assume because of the size) but they warm up to me really quickly. People in general open up to me, I guess. It's a gift or something. Maybe because I'm too open myself...or I have one of those faces or something. Who knows? Anyway, after a half-hour of that, I went home and finished watching the first season of Battlestar Galactica. I can't wait to start season two.


Not really much else to blab about today, so I think I'll just go with my next movie list...


Gangster Movies - I really like gangster movies. Deep down, I guess I'm just a frustrated criminal (who's too easy to pick out of a lineup) because I love watching these movies and dreaming of getting BILLIONS of dollars from drugs or robbing banks and exciting, dangerous stuff like that. However, when it boils down to it, I live the life of a square. Oh well, these movies help me get through mediocrity.

Medal Winners

Gold - The Godfather Trilogy (1972-1990) - It has been said before (on Family Guy, so it must be true) that the original (and probably number two) is basically the perfect movie. Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, Talia Shire, James Caan, Robert DeNiro, Joe Mantegna, Andy Garcia, basically every great gangster movie legend in one trilogy going through the epic story of the Carleone family. The third one wasn't all that great...but the first two make up for it. All other gangster movies try to be in the same ballpark as the Godfather...but few are even in the same sport.


Silver - Scarface (1983) - I love Scarface. This movie is one of my favorites of all time. Who doesn't love the timeless lines like "This town is one big p**sy just waiting to be f**ked" or "The only two things I have in this world are my balls and my word...and I don't break 'em for nobody" or "Say hello to my little friend!"? Nobody, that's who. Written by Oliver Stone, directed by Brian DePalma, starring Al Pacino, Stephen Bauer, Michelle Pfeiffer, and others, this movie is just great every time that I see it. I liked it so much...that I bought the video game for PS2 that is basically the sequel. If you haven't seen this movie, please check it out. Warning: It's rated R. Another suggestion, watch Al Pacino in "Carlito's Way" (1993). It's also kinda like a sequel to Scarface with the same director & star...but slightly different. Great flick in either case.


Bronze - Goodfellas (1990) - Martin Scorsese just makes great movies. I've said it before. I've said it a thousand times. This is my favorite. Robert DeNiro, Ray Liotta, & Joe Pesci are the ultimate gangster tripod in this biopic of Henry Hill during the fifties & sixties. What is it about gangster movies...and they always seem to be undone by the women in their life? You think they would have learned from the other movies like "Blow" or "Casino" or "Sopranos" or something. It's always the 'nice' gangster that get the evil succubus. Lesson to be learned if you're ever trying to start an empire of drugs and/or racketeering.


Suggestion - Bugsy (1991) - New York gangster Ben 'Bugsy' Siegel takes a brief business trip to Los Angeles. A sharp-dressing womaniser with a foul temper, Siegel doesn't hesitate to kill or maim anyone crossing him. In L.A. the life, the movies, and most of all strong-willed Virginia Hill detain him while his family wait back home. Then a trip to a run-down gambling joint at a spot in the desert known as Las Vegas gives him his big idea. Starring Warren Beatty, Harvey Kietel, Joe Mantegna, Annette Bening, Sir Ben Kingsley, Elliott Gould, and others, this is a great movie that I think own a Golden Globe for Best Picture. Also suggested, "The Departed" (2006) - Don't be swayed because it stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Marky Mark, and Matt Damon, it's still directed by Martin Scorsese and has Jack Nicholson...so you know it's bad ass. That...and I just told you that it is. Trust me on both accounts.


Flush It - State Property (2002) - Sometimes, rappers just shouldn't be allowed to make movies. I have nothing but respect for Roc-a-Fella Records...but when you have a movie where the big star is Beanie Sigel, then that should be a hint that the movie isn't that good. Okay, it wasn't THAT bad...but it really wasn't good. It's the worst that I can think of on short notice. We'll put it that way. Love the Roc-a-Fella music though. Oh yeah...and there was a sequel made in 2005. I haven't seen it. Some good rapper gangster movies though, are "New Jack City" (Ice-T) and "Get Rich or Die Tryin'" (50 cent). Check those out. I've heard good things about "Carlito's Way: Rise to Power", the prequel (based on the book) with Mario Van Peebles...but it also had P. Diddy in a mink, so I was skeptical. I should rent it.


Future Watch - American Gangster (2007) - I can't wait to see Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe reunited in a gangster movie. For those who have never seen the sci-fi action thriller "Virtuosity", you should check it out. It's the first movie they did together...before Mr. Crowe won awards. Ridley Scott makes great movies too...so yeah, I'll probably check it out when it comes out November 2nd. I'm also eagerly await the new projects of Mr. Scorsese. Frankie Machine (2008) - An ex mob hit man (Frankie played by Robert DeNiro) living in rural comfort is lured back into his former profession by the scheming son of a Mafia Don. DeNiro in a mob movie simply can't suck. Also, I'm intrigued by his project after that The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt (2009). A look at the formative years of the 26th President of the United States (played by Leonardo DiCaprio), from his transformation from a privileged New York politician to commander of the Rough Riders during the Spanish-American War. It's probably the closest that I'm going to get to a Benjamin Franklin biopic...but Teddy Roosevelt will do...for now.

Have a great night everybody!!! See ya tomorrow!!!