We're A Happy Family

God, how I miss The Ramones. Fortunately, there are others who feel the same way that I do. This brings us to a wonderful new CD release in record stores today called We're a Happy Family: A Tribute to Ramones. It's the long-awaited Ramones tribute album featuring a host of stellar artists including Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rob Zombie, Eddie Vedder, Metallica, U2, Kiss, Marilyn Manson, Garbage, Green Day and others. The CD sports an awesome cover by Rob Zombie, who also co-produced the album with Johnny Ramone. Also inside the package are some great photos and liner notes by the master of the macabre himself, Stephen King. If you search around, you can get it for cheap too! New Jersey folks can go straight to (All Hail...) CD World and, with the purchase of the CD, get free stickers, download cards and a collectible Ataris Rock and Roll High School CD single. All this for under ten bucks! Oh yeah, don't miss the incredible hidden cut #20, Today Your Love, Tomorrow the World by Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante. Joey and Dee Dee are looking down and smiling at this one.

Willard

Back on October 23rd (check entry below), I mentioned that shooting had wrapped on the remake of the 1971 horror film classic Willard. The release date for the film is now March 14th, not too far away. Check out the web site for the movie and you can see the trailer, download images and desktops, get a synopsis of the story and check out still photos from the film. Looks like fans of the original film (like me!) are not going to be disappointed, since the look and feel of the original has been retained, accompanied by an injection of current horror techniques and sensibilities. The trailer is awesome and Crispin Glover looks to be perfectly cast as Willard, a downtrodded misfit who takes revenge on his enemies with his legions of pet rats!. As a long-time horror film fan, it really pleases me to see this property handled right by New Line. This is going to be a downright creepy and fun flick! Tear 'em up!

Confessions of a Dangerous Mind

Meanwhile, I saw Confessions of a Dangerous Mind upon release, last weekend. As you know, I have been waiting for this, the film version of Chuck Barris' "unauthorized autobiography," to finally be released wide (see another entry below). My opinion is that Director George Clooney did a fine job bringing this together. Sam Rockwell is dead on as Barris. The film is surreal...true to the nature of the book. If you haven't yet read it, by all means do so. The movie has gathered critical acclaim, but I'm a bit worried about how the public took it. It didn't do well during the first weekend. A funny thing happened when I saw it: as the movie ended, an older woman, as she was walking out, abruptly turned to me and asked, "Wasn't that the most awful movie you've ever seen?" Smiling, I gave her my answer: "Why no, I loved it!" She grumbled something and left the theatre. The movie was officially released in NY and LA at the end of 2002 to qualify for this year's Academy Awards. I hope that it is nominated for Best Picture.

Diablo II Redux

With all of my newfound free time, I have been re-acquainting myself with a long-time passion: Diablo II. I have explained elsewhere on this site how much I love this game and why. Those of you who know me well understand that I have spent a lot of time playing D2 since it was released in July 2000, over two and a half years ago. My current favorite character is my Amazon, StrafeAZon, a level 78 beauty who now prefers a buriza crossbow to a standard weapon. She is wandering through Hell and looking to someday take on the Ancients so that she can graduate beyond Matriarch. I ordinarily get together with my friend from North Jersey, Gary Matsko, and the Amazon and the Barbarian cause lots of destruction on Battle.net on practically a nightly basis. If you haven't picked up the game for your PC, go get it and join us online. We need party members to get us through Hell!