The Malaysia Diaries: A Prologue

I haven't been to my mother's homeland of Malaysia, since I was an infant. Why has it taken me so long to accompany Mama Cass for a return visit? I don't really have a good answer for that, other than to say any reasons that I may have given for not traveling with my family seem silly some 10-15 years later. As a teenager and young adult who didn't always see eye-to-eye with his parents, the idea of having the house to myself while my family was on the other side of the planet held a lot more appeal than learning about my mother's heritage and expanding my worldview. Like I said, that feels absurd now. And, quite frankly, heartbreaking.

I'll never get a chance to walk with my father and listen to stories of his time in the Peace Corps while surrounded by the very landscapes in which those formative experiences took place. I've heard my mother tell me about meeting my father and how they grew to fall in love with each other. But I never got to hear my father's side of the story.

I know my mother has a lot more to tell, and now I want to listen. I want to hear all of it. I want to meet the people who made her the person she is today, the woman who raised me. I want to hear their stories. And I want to write her story because I know it's an amazing one. There won't be any distractions. We'll be off the grid. No TV, no internet - none of the things that currently make me too preoccupied and twitchy to intellectually fulfill myself the way I used to.

If I get to indulge my inner aspiring Anthony Bourdain, walking the streets and markets of a completely foreign environment, while sampling the exotic foods of a new culture, this trip will be that much more enriching. And I know my mother won't let me board a flight back to the United States without having those sorts of experiences, because she knows how important it is to me (and, honestly, I think she misses a lot of the food she grew up with). But that will be the undercard to the main event.

I've put off experiences like this far too often in my life. I've denied this part of my heritage for far too long. I don't want to look back another 10-15 years from now and wish I'd learned more about my mother, where she came from, what molded her as a person, and how much of that was passed down to me and my sister. But I'm not too old to make up for that. And I have every intention of making this the first step in an enlightenment.

Oh, yes - there will be pictures. You can bet your sweet ass on it. A camera will be attached to my face the entire time I'm in Malaysia. I'm bringing back a lot of pictures and a lot of words with me. I'll see you in two weeks.

Iron Man: A Four-Sentence Movie Review

In the two weeks or so since Iron Man hit theaters, it occurred to me that trying to write a review might be redundant, as I've already written about how interesting I find the character of Tony Stark and how excited I was to see Robert Downey, Jr. do his thing with the type of role that should make him a star.

And Downey absolutely owns this movie, bringing the wit and charm that has made him so utterly capitvating in roles such as Tommy Larson in Home For the Holidays, Terry Crabtree in Wonder Boys and Paul Avery in Zodiac, yet also infusing Tony Stark with a vulnerability and heroism that makes him a fascinatingly compelling character. Downey is so enjoyable to watch, in fact, that hiding him in that super-suit kind of takes some o the thrill from the inevitable climactic battle scene, which is unfortunately rendered a bit coherent by sequences that moves just a little too fast - probably to hide the seams that hold the CGI special effects and physical action together.

As fun as it is to see Stark test out each version of the Iron Man armor, and riveted by his robot servants into the final kick-ass product, the scenes in which he tells Gwyneth Paltrow's Pepper Potts (another great performance) how important she is in his life, or when his fellow prisoner in Afghanistan tells him not to squander the second chance he's been given, both scenes are more believable (and touching) than you might expect from a rock 'em, sock 'em comic book action flick.

How Do You Like Your Billionaire Superheroes?

You may have already seen this, since it's been making the internet rounds. Batman vs. Iron Man. Both with movies out this summer. Both billionaire superheroes who have all the toys and get all the chicks. (Well, at least Tony Stark does. Bruce Wayne doesn't seem to allow himself that much fun.) Both also drink gross-looking green protein shakes.



Okay, I'm about to take it even nerdier. The guy who made this couldn't have found better Batman and Iron Man action figures? Maybe it adds to the charm of the video. I saw two better ones at Target yesterday, though.

Charles Barkley, Professional Announcer

It's surely a sign of getting old, but I don't stay up to watch "Inside the NBA" most nights. By the time the evening's playoff games are over, I'm knocked out. I miss the days when I either a) didn't have to get up so early or b) could go through the day on four hours sleep.

But that's besides the point. Since TNT's NBA studio show is on rather late, they can be a little goofy. Case in point, Ernie Johnson playing an Anchorman-esque prank on Charles Barkley:



I'm Charles Barkley... ? Go #@$% yourself, Atlanta.



(via Awful Announcing)

What Magic Make-Up Can Do

So were you at all skeptical when you heard or read that Oliver Stone cast Josh Brolin to play George W. Bush? Maybe we should all shelve that skepticism now.

How about the power of wigs and prosthetics? Of course, a still photograph is different than seeing whether or not Brolin and Elizabeth Banks can convincingly portray the President and First Lady. But man, they sure look the part. (Though I'm still not really comfortable with an actress I consider rather adorable playing Mrs. Bush. I suppose that's an issue I'll have to deal with on my own.)

The Entertainment Weekly feature article includes a close-up photo of Brolin in full Bush make-up. I can't help but think of this as sort of a dark comedy, especially with some of the wacked-out directions Stone's films (excepting World Trade Center, which was surprisingly conventional) can take.

(via Cinematical)

Robert Downey, Jr's Victory Lap

The plan is to post a Four-Sentence (if I can rein myself in) Movie Review of Iron Man tomorrow, although - really, should I? Is it any kind of mystery as to what I may have thought of it?

But one of the great things about Iron Man is the triumph it represents for one of my favorite actors (Home for the Holidays, Wonder Boys, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Zodiac), a guy whose talent should have made him a giant long ago. Robert Downey, Jr. should've had George Clooney's career, if not for his well-documented self-destructive impulses and addictions. But maybe it's not too late for him to get some of that now. To me, it was impossible not to root for Downey as he absolutely owned this movie and the role of Tony Stark, and enjoy watching him seize his moment of world-dominating stardom.

Monday night on The Tonight Show, Downey got to bask in the afterglow of his movie's huge opening, and you could tell he's going to relish this for quite some time. I dare you not to be charmed by his answer to Jay Leno asking him which was better, an Oscar nomination or blockbuster movie (1:05 mark):



And here's part two of the appearance, with an amusing story about the difficulties he encountered inside the Iron Man suit (2:50 mark):

Don't Think Twice, It's All Right

I don't normally nudge people to check out movies here (though maybe that's what the Four-Sentence Movie Reviews are kind of about), but when a good one is out there that deserves a bigger audience. I'm Not There was released on DVD today, and I thought it was just about the best movie I saw last year. Here's a trailer, though I'm not sure Todd Haynes' film can be summed up in two minutes:



And here's my Four-Sentence Movie Review, if you're interested. Really, Cate Blanchett's performance is worth your time. Though I didn't have a problem with Tilda Swinton winning the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, we're going to look back in five to 10 years and wonder how someone other than Blanchett could've won.

If you're a Bob Dylan fan, I can't imagine you not liking this movie. And if you're not a Dylan fan, but a movie fan, Haynes puts a creative spin on the biopic, a genre that's become pretty tired and predictable. (He cast both Batman and The Joker to play Dylan!) Unconventional, yes. But it seems to capture the elusive spirit of the man whose story he's telling extremely well.

I Guess This Would Be Cup Half-Full?

I'd be lying if I said this wasn't my occasional world view:


Did I say "occasional"? Sometimes, this is what gets me through the day, man. I can walk to a coffee shop! Yay!

(Courtesy of Savage Chickens)

Making Little Kids Fill Their Pants Since 1978

I probably shouldn't admit this, but Lou Ferrigno as The Incredible Hulk, flexing and roaring in a thunderstorm, scared me a bit when I first saw him as a five-year-old. I'm happy to say that I fast outgrew any fears of overmuscled green men with torn shirts and bad wigs.

But judging from some of the whines, whimpers, and cries I heard from children before a showing of Iron Man yesterday (PG-13 rating, parents!), the 2008 computer-generated version of the Hulk, raging roars and all, might scare a whole new generation of little ones. Or maybe it was having to watch more slam-bam montage with symphony and chorus booming on the soundtrack.



At least those same children won't later have to deal with seeing this version of the Hulk trying to cash in on five years of fame decades later at comic book conventions. (That's right, Ferrigno. I remember you cutting in front of me in the hot dog line eight years ago in San Diego.)

A Proud Brother, a Beaming Bride

I don't know how many times in my life I've really felt proud, full of that warm, tingly sensation in my chest that makes me just want to hug everyone in sight. Watching my mother become a U.S. citizen was certainly one instance. But as happy as I was for my mother that day, I still held some bitterness over the incompetent bureaucracy that kept her from getting there for so long. It just never should've been that difficult.

Maybe the first time I truly felt joyful without a hint of cynicism or resentment was last Saturday, when I walked my sister down the aisle on her wedding day.


I'm not sure I'll ever feel so proud, yet humble again. Actually, I kind of hope I never do, because what could possibly match this? Maybe if I ever have children, I'll find something to surpass this moment. It should've been her father - our father - taking her by the arm to the front of the church.

Did Lil' Sis and I walk down that aisle? It felt like we were on a conveyor belt. And I think it took every bit of discipline I had not to constantly turn my head from side to side, to thank all in attendance for sharing this moment with our families, to enjoy how everyone was looking so admiringly at the bride-to-be. I can't even imagine what she was feeling, what was going through her mind as she saw everybody stand up to greet her entrance, as she saw her husband-to-be, Brian, waiting at the altar.

Maybe this goes without saying, but it was an amazing day. Brian has a wonderful family, and to have them embrace Nicole, along with me and my mother, so openly and warmly was just overwhelming. We also had an unbelievable surprise when our uncle and aunt from California showed up unexpectedly. Technically, I suppose that made them wedding crashers, which makes it all the more hilarious. I couldn't even speak for a few minutes when I saw them, and my mother was moved to tears. I don't think I can properly express how grateful we are to them for making that trip.

The photo above was taken by a friend in attendance. The professional wedding images are now available at the photographer's website. I knew Jill Higgins did great work, but it just seems a little more fantastic when my sister is in the pictures. To have such memorable photos as a record of an unforgettable day is a privilege. So was being a part of a wonderful weekend.

Spiriting Your Interest?

I've posted several movie trailers based on comic books over the past year here (Are we really a week away from Iron Man?), but one popped up a couple of days ago that I'm wondering if the general movie-going audience will really be interested in.

Frank Miller's name has some pull with people now, based on Sin City and 300, and along with that, the highly stylized visuals that made those films so distinct seems to have caught on. So maybe that'll be enough to draw curiosity toward Miller's new project, The Spirit:



Granted, this is just a "teaser trailer," but if you're someone who didn't read the "Spirit" comic books or aren't familiar with the work of Will Eisner (in which titles incorporated into the backgrounds was a signature), was that just a little bit too cheesy for you? Or too vague?

Maybe that teaser was preaching to the converted, the fans who were going to see this movie anyway, either out of devotion to Miller, love of Eisner and his flagship character, or a general love of comic book adaptations. It's just meant to pique some curiosity and give people a taste. Perhaps I'm just overthinking the whole thing and underestimating whatever interest there will be in a good ol' action movie with cool action and hot babes (Scarlett Johansson! Eva Mendes! Paz Vega!).

Of course, I may have also just wanted to post a video, since I haven't posted anything in over a week.

• Here's something I wrote about Eisner, after his death in 2005.


• Miller talked to Entertainment Weekly, following the release of the trailer.


• Comic Book Resources has highlights from a panel discussion at last week's New York Comic Con about The Spirit.

Mach-Go... Go! Mach-Go... Go!

I hope you'll indulge me for posting this video clip more for my own benefit than sharing it with the Fried Rice Friendos out there. After watching the new trailer for the Speed Racer movie - which I'm pretty sure did something to my brain with all of the scenery's sharp, kaleidoscopic colors - I had to find out what the original cartoon looked like. Thankfully, David Poland posted this little refresher over at The Hot Blog.



I actually didn't watch much of Speed Racer as a kid, or just don't remember (though I recall MTV or some other channel showing it at some point). So I can't really call myself a "fan," per se, though I'll see anything the Wachowski brothers make, and the visuals in the trailer (GO!) look absolutely incredible.

This Probably Wouldn't Work as Well in a Shower

Today's New York Times reminded me about this video that I meant to post at least a couple of weeks ago. If you've already seen it, feel free to move along and thanks for stopping by. Otherwise, here's a side of John Malkovich you likely haven't seen or heard (and might not want to again).



Very insightful, no? I'm hoping Craig Bierko interviews one of the up-and-coming acting talents in future episodes. Someone like, say, Scarlett Johansson. Other established actors of Academy Award-winning pedigree like Charlize Theron would be fine, as well.

Leatherheads: A Four-Sentence Movie Review

While promoting The Good German on The Daily Show two years ago, I recall George Clooney raving about all of the old-fashioned techniques and equipment - lens, lights, microphones, etc. - Steven Soderbergh employed to make his film appear as authentically 1940s as he could, to which Jon Stewart said, "I have one question for you: Why?"

Clooney doesn't take that gimmick quite so far with Leatherheads, though he's certainly trying to capture the feel and spirit of 1930s screwball comedies with formulaic set-up/joke dialogue, much of it carried by a roguishly charming man and a brassy dame serving and volleying quips back and forth like a tennis match. Clooney manages to re-create the type of zany comedy that just doesn't get made anymore, but while it's entertaining enough with three well-cast leads (Clooney and Renee Zellweger actually seem perfect for their roles), but it also feels like he's trying so hard to give the movie a certain tone and style that it makes the story far less substantial than it could've been.

This actually is kind of a similar movie to Eight Men Out in terms of showing how money can affect athletes and poison motives that were presumably pure, thus requiring a sport to incorporate rules and authority figures to maintain the pretense of fair play and professionalism in the name of commerce, but tackling heavier, far more complicated subjects like that would get in the way of slapstick chases and the romance they can lead to.