MP's "Hero of the Day"

posted 02-26-2001 01:18 PM
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1. Saturday's was TIM ROBBINS (watched "Bob Roberts")
2. Sunday's was KEVIN SMITH (started watching the animated Clerks DVD)


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posted 02-26-2001 10:40 PM
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COLONEL LES CLAYPOOL'S FEARLESS FLYING FROG BRIGADE
performing Pink Floyd's Animals in its entirety! (God, I Love(d?) Napster!)

[ 04-06-2001: This Message Was Edited By: ]


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OLIVER STONE
Caught alot of "Any Given Sunday" last night for the 2nd time and like all of his movies, couldn't take my eyes off the screen...
Just got the 11 disc DVD Box Set of his and I'm looking foward to digging into all those films again...


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posted 03-01-2001 03:06 PM
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ROINE STOLT
...for the fat, kick ass mix on the new TransAtlantic Live CD! I just got the finished product in the mail this morning and I'm pumped!

For any of you that were put off by the mix (or non-exisistance of one) on the Live VHS, forget about it...THIS IS THE REAL DEAL!! Order it now, it truly rocks!


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posted 03-03-2001 10:03 PM
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DWEEZIL AND AHMET ZAPPA
Been listening to the many different versions of their famous giant medleys that I have....These are absolutely pure genius!!!


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posted 03-05-2001 01:53 AM
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easy one today.....hands down:
THE SOPRANOS

The King of TV is back! (and the wicked witch is dead!)
It's good to have ya back...it was a very long 11 months without you!


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posted 03-05-2001 05:33 PM
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QUEEN
Live at Earl's Court 1977
(thanks Napster! I've been on a downloading binge for days stocking up in case they get shut down!!)


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posted 03-07-2001 11:25 PM
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TENACIOUS D
JB & KG Rule!!!!!!!!
I am so into these guys.....I've gotten so much milage out of my beat up videos of the old HBO shows and my homemade compilation CD's.

Most of you are probably not hip to the D yet, but with their first album and a movie due out this year, remember where you heard it first!

MP


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posted 03-09-2001 03:11 AM
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MR. BUNGLE
Live in Berkeley, CA 1991

One of my favorite bands of the decade....the cream of the crop...the weirdest of the weird....the sickest of all!
They were doing Slipknot when Slipknot were still in Junior High School!

This is what Frank Zappa's music would have sounded like if he grew up on Slayer!



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posted 03-10-2001 02:00 PM
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went and saw the mighty
PANTERA

last night at the Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC

After all these years, they are still stronger than all

MP


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posted 03-16-2001 03:19 PM
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THE RUTLES
"All You Need is Cash" has finally been released on DVD!!! (with some great extras!)

This is an equally great "mockumentary" to Spinal Tap (and this came first)!
An all time favorite of mine!

Cheese and Onions (O-no)
MP


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posted 03-18-2001 03:08 AM
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PHISH
Watched "Bittersweet Motel" tonight...
I don't think the film captured any of their great musical moments, but an interesting watch regardless....(the DVD has some great bonus tracks too)


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posted 03-20-2001 02:15 AM
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ANDY DICK
I was a bit sceptical at first, because nobody will top Tom Green in my book...but after 3 episodes, I can now safely say this guy is totally hilarious!

There have been a bunch of skits that had me totally cracking up out loud (Cribs parody, Fear parody, BoogieMan, Moby Dick)

Great - Just what I needed...another show to tape every week!!

MP


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posted 03-24-2001 08:33 PM
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DANCER IN THE DARK
I've been a Lars Von Trier fan for a while (loved Breaking The Waves and The Kingdom), and this was just as great.

I have a whole new liking for Bjork whom I was never really a fan of...

MP


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posted 03-25-2001 02:08 AM
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OSCAR DE LA HOYA
I don't care how jealous people are of him...the man is still one of the best out there!
(and Arturo Gatti had tremendous heart as always)

MP


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posted 03-26-2001 07:39 PM
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STEVEN SODERBERGH
You should have seen me jumping for joy when his name was announced last night!
He TOTALLY deserved this oscar, but I figured he was going to cancel himself out of the vote....

I also have to give credit to the Academy for having the sense (and balls) to recognize his achievements this year...
(also check out "The Limey" from a couple years back)

MP

Trivia - Did you know he directed Yes' 9012 Live video!


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posted 03-31-2001 02:16 AM
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the late great Polish Director
KRZYSZTOF KIESLOWSKI
After working my way through all 10 hours of the Brilliant "Decalogue" films on tour last year, I am now finally getting to catch up with his Three Colors Trilogy.(watched "White" tonight)

Surely not for everybody's taste...but I am definitely in tune with him!
A bit of a modern day Hitchcock....

MP


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posted 04-02-2001 01:14 AM
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MEMENTO
...raf os 1002 fo mlif tseb eht ylisaE
!suinegni yletelpmoc dna yletulosbA
!!WOW

PM



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posted 04-06-2001 04:30 PM
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PLAYBOY MAGAZINE
for their *awesome* interview with Metallica in the latest issue....

Never before have I seen Metallica exposed so openly and honestly (for better or for worse!!)....

Oh...and the rest of the magazine has some other interesting articles as well...

MP


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posted 04-11-2001 05:24 PM
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Warning: possible controversial entry ahead!
MUDVAYNE

Just picked up the DVD for the Dig video....this is some crazy shit!!!
Yes, it is gimmicky...but still I can't look away!
Kinda reminds me of something between Slipknot, Pantera and Tool...

Mark my words...they are totally destined for hugeness in the coming months! (and then I wont like them anymore!!)

MP


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posted 04-18-2001 01:46 PM
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JOEY RAMONE
Believe it or not, for a period around 1980 & 1981 - The Ramones were my #1 favorite band. I saw them live many times back then - and somewhere here in my house I have a great picture of me and the 4 of them from when I was 13 years old...meeting them at that stage of my life was like meeting the Beatles or Kiss...If I ever dig up that picture I will post it here..

8/13/03 - FOUND IT!!




R.I.P. Joey

Gabba Gabba Hey!

MP



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posted 04-22-2001 12:32 AM
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TOM GREEN
Yes....."Freddie Got Fingered" may be the worst, most ridiculous, totally over the top, STUPIDEST movie ever made....but I still loved every minute of it!!

Sorry...but I love the guy and he still totally cracks me up no matter how over the line he steps..

Thank god for the MTV show re-runs which I can still never get enough of!

MP



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posted 04-30-2001 05:19 PM
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RADIOHEAD
(Actually, I cannot name how many times these guys have been my heroes of the day!)

I've been digging the hell out of my advance CD of June's "Amnesiac"...

Still not quite "OK" or "Bends" (then again, how can any band do that everytime out?), but some real great stuff on here...

Hope I'll be around to catch a show this summer....

MP


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posted 05-03-2001 02:38 AM
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VINCENT GALLO
Rewatched "Buffalo '66"....What a totally unique film...very David Lynch at times...

Best use of a Progressive Rock Classic in film history (the Heart of the Sunrise sequence)

MP


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posted 05-07-2001 11:32 AM
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ELTON JOHN & BILLY JOEL
Went to see them live in Syracuse this past weekend....
Definitely one of the best show I have ever seen!!

Nothing but hits and amazing music...song after song...and to see them play together and sing each other's song's was totally spine tingling!

MP


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posted 05-10-2001 01:29 AM
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REPULSION
Roman Polanski's Classic Psycho-drama which I haven't seen in a good 10 years or so. (thanks IFC!)

A cross between Hitchcock, Lynch and the Coen Bros.....this definitely had to have influenced "Eraserhead".
Not for the squeemish!

MP


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posted 05-12-2001 01:51 AM
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LARRY DAVID
Watched a few episode's of HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm" that I had on tape but hadn't seen yet.
What an awesome show!!

Any Seinfeld or Woody Allen fans out there that don't know about this show, tune in when the new season begins later this summer..

MP


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posted 05-13-2001 02:14 PM
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RADIOHEAD (again!)
Re-watched "Meeting People Is Easy" again last night....
This must be the most realistic documentation of what it is really like to be a band on the road. (the press, the soundchecks, the travelling, etc.)

I totally related to so much of it.
Even the venues they were playing were the exact same venues that DT have played...(Electric Factory in Philadelphia, Zeleste in Barcelona, Astoria in London, Zenith in Paris, Huxley's in Berlin, the venues in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya & Fukuoka Japan....)
I could smell the dressing rooms just watching this movie!!

MP


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posted 05-15-2001 09:02 PM
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TOOL
Lateralus was finally released today....been waiting for this one for a few years.

Long songs, unorthodox arrangements, lots of odd time signatures, cool drumming....
(hmm...reminds me of another band I know!)
I'm glad to see success hasn't changed their style!

I can't really understand how mainstream America (Rolling Stone, USA Today, MTV, etc.) has embraced their progressive nature as much as they have, but still snub their noses at us!
(In fact, I think we are way more digestable!)

Anyways, I'm looking foward to enjoying this CD for the many months to come!

MP



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posted 05-16-2001 09:17 PM
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WEEZER
This was the *other* big release yesterday that I was looking foward to for a while...(actually even longer than Tool...5 Years between CD's!!)

I know....many of you die-hard proggers out there are probably scratching your head and asking "why???"
But I love these guys! I was a big fan of their 1st CD.

I have a soft spot for *good* power pop (Ben Folds Five, Foo Fighters and yes, sometimes even Green Day!!)

Sorry!

MP


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posted 05-23-2001 08:09 PM
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MARILLION & PORCUPINE TREE
I had the great fortune of being able to go see this show tonight while still in Paris...(at Le Bataclan no less....home of "Once in a Livetime")

It was great to see both bands on the same stage (actually a perfect double bill) and getting to spend some time with all my friends in both bands...

PS - Special "Heroes of the Week" awards go to:
Stephane & Sebastian from Your Majesty in France and Savvas, Chris & Nicholas from Infinate Dreams in Greece....
All of you did great jobs coordinating the DT Fan conventions and made mine and Marlene's stays very enjoyable!! Thanks!


MP


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posted 05-26-2001 03:36 AM
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REQUIEM FOR A DREAM
This was *hands down* my favorite film of 2000 and it was finally released on DVD this past week packed with all kind of extras!

This film is an incredibly intense experience from start to finish and has some of the most incredible visuals I've ever seen...

Darren Aronofsky has now been added along side of Paul Thomas Anderson as my favorite new Director out there.


MP


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posted 05-31-2001 01:00 AM
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SPOCK'S BEARD
Just finished watching the "Making of V" video that Neal sent me....what a great and very thorough look into the creating and recording process of the band. (I hope Neal does one of these with his TA2 footage)

It also reminded me of how much I LOVE this CD.... it is really a masterpiece!


MP


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KaZaA
I have spent WAY too much time the past few days downloading stuff off of here!
There is sooo much cool video stuff available I am having a field day!

This is better than Napster because it's filled with audio, video, images, etc.

I must thank (or blame) Kasper for turning me onto it!

MP


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posted 06-11-2001 03:24 PM
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SIX FEET UNDER
I held off on mentioning its premiere last week because I was still a little unsure about my feelings on it...

After last night's 2nd episode, I can now safely say I think HBO has another winner!

The performances and the writing is top notch to satisfy my Sopranos void and it's quirky and dreamy enough to satisfy my Twin Peaks void.


MP

posted 06-18-2001 02:28 AM
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STANLEY KUBRICK
Well, actually he is one my top 3 heros in my whole lifetime....
but this particular week I must mention him because I just watched the new 2.5 hour documentary on him (A Life in Pictures) and it was an amazing look into his life and his career that has rarely been shown elsewhere.

He really is one of 3 or 4 people that I call God and he was a true inspiration on every single ounce of creativity in my body...

...and the strangest coincidence of all is that he died the same day my son Max was born! It was one of the happiest days of my life and one of the saddest at the same time...

MP


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posted 06-21-2001 08:33 PM
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STATE AND MAIN
Watched this excellent movie last night....
Really enjoyed the screenplay and the performances (utilizing 3 actors from PT Anderson's clan)

One of the best Hollywood satires I've seen since "The Player"

MP

STEVEN SPIELBERG

Saw "A.I." tonight on my night off here in Salt Lake City and I absolutely loved it....

It totally confirmed in my mind that now without Kubrick alive, he is the greatest living filmmaker today. (I will debate anybody on that!)

Sadly, this is the final chapter in Kubrick's career, but I think Spielberg payed quite a tribute with this film....even looking and pacing itself at times like a cross between 2001 and A Clockwork Orange.

The final 5 minutes had me in tears... :(


MP

SE7EN

Watched this again for the ? time on the tourbus the other night and was still as blown away as the 1st time...

Everything about this film is so well done.
I think this is one of the greats of the 90's and David Fincher's masterpiece so far. (although Fight Club came close at times)

MP

BULLY

Every year there are one or two new films that completely push the limits and boundries...(Requiem For A Dream, Happiness, Gummo, Trainspotting, etc.)
This is 2001's entry.

A cross between "River's Edge" and "Kids" (same writer and director)

Proceed with caution!

MP

RADIOHEAD

(for the 3rd time!! My first Hero Hat Trick!!)

Jordan and I saw them tonight at Madison Square Garden and it was one of the best shows I've seen in a long time.

The live reproduction of some of the new songs was very impressive and the experimental instrumentation was amazing! (shows how much attention I pay to drummers, as he is their weakest link and I could care less!)

I think they have become one of my very favorite bands of the past 10 years!
Truly inspiring and breathtaking.

MP

TENACIOUS D

YES!!!! I finally got the advance CD of their upcoming debut.
Prepare for the D to take over the world!!
(I guess I'll have to share em now!)

All of their classic songs that I've been digging bootlegs of for years are here - beautifully recorded and with full band arrangements!
I'll be getting milage out of this one for a while...

MP

TRAFFIK

While out here on my Asian Clinic tour, I'm finally getting the chance to watch this 6 hour British mini-series which inspired the American remake (with a C)..

It doesn't have Soderbergh's innovative technique or a great all star cast, but this version is totally gripping and enjoyable!

MP

RUSH

To be honest, I really had lost alot of interest in them the past 10 years or so...but today on my flight to China, I listened to a boot from ALLENTOWN, PA 9/30/80 (thanks Setlist Scotty) and it reminded me why I used to love them so much!!

All of the old classic stuff (By Tor, 2112, Hemispheres, Xanadu, etc...) reminds me so much of DT at times....(yes, I know it's the other way around...but we are still writing stuff like this, not them!)

I really think DT needs to tour with them in 2002!!!!!!!
C-mon, it's about time guys!!

MP

BEN FOLDS

Totally digging the first solo album from the leader of one of my favorite (unfortunately now defunct) bands of recent times....

MP

SYSTEM OF A DOWN

Their new CD is great....
Serj Tankian's vocals are so incredibly bizarre and original...kinda like a weird combination of Mike Patton and some strange Hungarian Folk music!!

Definitely one of the most original of all the "new" Metal shit that's out there..

MP

MIKE PATTON

(....speaking of which!)

I got a great video while in Japan a few weeks ago of a German TV special on both Fantomas and Mr. Bungle (one of my all time favorites....but you already knew that)....
It has interviews and great live footage of both bands and Fantomas do an incredible Slayer medley!

Fantomas' new CD Director's Cut is totally insane as well....
(Bizarre interpretations of various movie themes ranging from The Godfather to Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me)

I think Mike Patton is now up there as one of my favorite artists out there at the moment...

MP

THE WHO - LIVE AT LEEDS

One of the greatest live albums of all time just got even greater!!
(I should write their ad campaign....)

A new 2 CD version of the entire concert was just released and it totally rules!!
This is them totally in their prime and they are playing great!!
(even Keith is surprisingly tight and his drums never sounded this good.)

MP

HUDSON MUSIC

I just approved the test discs of the LIQUID DRUM THEATER DVD's...and they are AWESOME!!!! (If I may say so myself!)

I'm not sure of the release date, but I think it is in the coming weeks (sometime in Oct...)

For those of you not "in the know", it is a 2 Disc set with the same programs as the LDT Videos, but also has:
a) 2 full length running audio commentaries by yours truly
b) Multiple camera switching options on several songs (Biaxident, When The Water Breaks, Home and The Dance of Eternity)
c) Bonus Live Footage (Paradigm Shift and Lines in the Sand - both in their entirety)
d) photo gallerie
and a few other awesome features.....
(even just having chapter selections on this is great in itself!)

Enjoy!
MP

BRIAN DePALMA

One of my favorite directors of all time (#7 to be precise! )

Special Edition DVD's were just released of Carrie and Dressed To Kill, both with great extra features...

MP

WILLIAM H. MACY

Watched "Panic" tonight...yet another great performance!

MP

CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM

So far, the new season has been hilarious!
Tonight's episode (Cobb Salad, Trick or Treat) was a classic!
This has to be the funniest comedy since Seinfeld hands down..

MP

MEGADETH

Went and saw them last night in Hartford, CT....
Was great to see them again...great set list...played so much of the classic old stuff.

Cheers to my friends Dave, David, Al and Jimmy for being so hospitable to me and Marlene as well....

MP

OYSTERHEAD

It's funky (Les), it's trippy (Trey), it's groovy (Stewart).......
Need I say more?

MP

JANE'S ADDICTION

Went and saw em tonight at Madison Square Garden.
It was great to see one of my favorite bands *OF ALL TIME* together again and back in action!

And they sounded and looked great! (I saw them many times way back in the Nothing's Shocking days circa 1988 or so.....)
The stage show was totally original and "Ted, Just Admit It" and "Three Days" gave me goosebumps!

How about a new studio album???

MP

PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON

Watched some of "Magnolia" again for the ??th time....
I am in awe of this guy.....he is *truly* one of my biggest HEROS of the last decade!
He and Tarantino hold the distinction of the only directors having 2 films each in my top 10 films of the 90's....(but I hold Anderson in even higher regard)

Everything about the way he makes films is totally inspiring to me.
His acting teams are the best out there (Reilly, Macy, Hoffman, Moore, Hall, etc.), his use of music, his dialogue is perfect and his visual direction is absolutely brilliant.

Cannot wait for the next one.....

MP

THE CONCERT FOR NYC

I know I'm a week late on this (I was in Mexico and only got to watch the tape tonight)....but there were some really great moments throughout this broadcast.

Musically I really enjoyed Billy Joel, of course Paul McCartney, and especially The Who....
but my favorite moments were the great films by Woody Allen, Martin Scorsese, Spike Lee, Kevin Smith and Jerry Seinfeld.

MP

THE COEN BROTHERS

Went to the private screening tonight of "The Man Who Wasn't There".
It was great! Shot in beautiful Black & White and great performances by Billy Bob Thornton and James Gandolfini.

Also at the screening were Joel & Ethen themselves as well as Holly Hunter and Jennifer Jason Leigh!

MP

MONSTERS, INC.

Another great one from Pixar!
Just as good as Toy Story, Toy Story 2 and A Bug's Life...(of course the kids loved it and I'll now be seeing this movie another 50 times in the next year!!)

Cheers to one of my indie favorites Steve Buschemi for landing this gig!!


And oh yeah.....the Episode II trailer RULED!!!!

MP

These 2 entries are actually overdue as I've been digging these CD's for months:

NEAL MORSE

His new solo CD "It's Not Too Late" is another example of his songwriting genius and why he is one of my favorite musicians in the world right now....
The lyrics to "Leah", "Broken Homes" and "I Am Your Father" are so incredibly heartfelt they bring tears to my eyes.....
In a perfect world, an album like this should've catapulted Neal into the league of pop artists like Don Henley and Bruce Springsteen....


THE FLOWER KINGS

I am totally enjoying the hell out of "The Rainmaker"......It may be my favorite FK album to date....
The songwriting is great, the performances are great and the production is great...
Definately check out the limited edition 2 CD version......The bonus track "One Whole Half" is worth the price of admission alone....


I'm looking foward to spending the next 2 weeks with Neal and Roine on the TransAtlantic tour of Europe.....It is my honor and privilege to share the stage with such talent!

MP

YES

We (TransAtlantic) went to see Yes (and Symphony) tonight on our night off on Frankfurt, Germany.

"The Gates of Delirium" was worth the night in itself....

Got to spend some good time with Alan White and Chris Squire afterwards (and briefly Steve Howe) which was nice...

MP

COLDPLAY

I cannot stop listening to the "Parachutes" CD....these melodies have some serious hooks...kinda Dave Matthews Band meets Radiohead.

I know these guys were last year's news, but better late than never!

MP

FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA

First, the release of the *amazing* Godfather Trilogy DVD Box Set last month...and now this month, the DVD release of his other masterpiece Apocalypse Now (the new Redux version)....

I believe FFC deserves the DVD MVP award of 2001!

MP

THE MIND OF A MARRIED MAN

Tonight was the season finale... I've been following this show all season long and loving it. (man, HBO can't miss!!!)
Very Woody Allen-esque at times...

Also the cameo on tonight's season finale to Curb Your Enthusiasm was a very cool touch!

PS to any married men - don't watch this show with your wife!!!!

MP

JACK BLACK

He's been half a hero twice now with Tenacious D, but today he finally attains full solo hero status!

Finally got around to seeing "Shallow Hal" tonight and congrats go out to Jables for carrying the entire new Farrelly Bros film! (a heavy load too!!)

Between this star-making role and the D currently on the road opening for Weezer (man, I'd love to see that one!), JB should finally get the recognition he deserves!

MP

GEORGE HARRISON

What can I say?
This is a very dark day for me and all other Beatles fans around the world....

MP

TODD HAYNES & JULIANNE MOORE

Watched "Safe" again tonight for the first time since it came out....

Brilliant, incredibly Kubrick-like direction by Haynes and a tour-de-force performance by Moore.

The pacing and subject matter may be tough for some to tolerate though...

MP

HAROLD AND MAUDE

Caught the last half of this last night on IFC (for the 100th time!)
It is still one of my *all time* favorite movies!!!

I think Cat Steven's music in it must be the greatest use of Rock music in a film ever! (and strangely, there was never a soundtrack album)

MP

CAPTAIN VERNON RICHARD

He was an aquaintance of mine and a firefighter who lost his life in the World Trade Center on September 11th 2001.

Today I attended his memorial service which served as a bold reminder of the horrors of that tragic day as well as the need to seize each and every day of our precious lives.

MP

FATES WARNING

Listened to "Awaken The Guardian" today for the first time in ages....
It reminded me that this is one of my favorite metal albums of all time and in my book, it sits right beside Metallica's "Master of Puppets" as one the best metal album of the 80's....

John Arch's totally original voice and haunting melodies were one of a kind and Jim Matheos' riffs were so incredibly cool and heavy.
This was back in the day when they sounded more like Rush meets Black Sabbath than Marillion meets Queensryche...(not that there's anything wrong with that - it's just that *this* is the Fates Warning that I fell in love with.....)

Those were the days!

MP

CHRISTOPHER NOLAN

Memento's director proved to me that he's not just a one-hit wonder and is one of the brightest new talents in film today with the DVD release of his first film "Following".

It also proves that Memento wasn't as original as I thought, because it turns out he had already made a film that was as equally unique in structure....(it's just that nobody knew it existed!), as this film also utilizes the same non-linear storytelling technique.

The DVD also has a feature that can play the film back in chronogical order as well....which is a feature I was praying the Memento DVD would have but didn't....(hopefully they'll re-release a new Special Edition some day!)



Bonus Hero of the day:

Speaking of first films....I recently acquired copies of one of my bigtime film heroes PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON's first 2 short films.

The first is a homemade video version of "The Dirk Diggler Story" that he made when he was 17 years old...and the second is his short film "Cigarettes and Coffee" which features a great performance by PTA regular Philip Baker Hall.

Anybody jealous?

MP

VANILLA SKY

Absolutely f*cking brilliant!!!!
I thoroughly enjoyed every single second of this masterpiece! (although more traditional movie goers expecting another Jerry Maguire are going to be scratching their heads in total disappointment....)

This film was the biggest head trip I've seen since Jacob's Ladder (with a bit of the Usual Suspects thrown in)...I cannot wait to see it again....

As always, Cameron Crowe's taste in music is awesome...from the opening chords of Radiohead to the Beach Boys to one of my favorite new bands of the year, Sigur Ros.....

Damn this was good!

MP

DAVID LYNCH

(Anybody who knows me should know he has always been one of my ALL TIME heros for many many years now)

Well - as if my head wasn't spinning enough this week from the mindtwisters of "Following" and "Vanilla Sky"....I FINALLY got to see "Mulholland Drive" tonight!!
This is possibly the longest a Lynch film was ever in theaters before I got to see it!!

Wow....My head is still spinning!
Like all of his films, I'll need to see it a few more times to try to tie it all together...(although there were times I wondered if even *he* knows what the story is doing!!)


And also - today was the big, long-awaited day in DVD land....
the release of the first season of Twin Peaks!!!!
Of course, many of you know this is my favorite show EVER (hell, I even have a Twin Peaks/ Log Lady tattoo!!), so I've been waiting for this for a while....(even though I have the entire 2 seasons on Laserdisc already!)

So far on first glance, the extras look very promising! Lotsa commentaries and documentaries...
(But the most noticable thing missing is the Pilot and a commentary from Lynch himself....????)
Regardless, I cannot wait to revisit these episodes again!!!


The owls are not what they seem.....

MP

HBO'S PROJECT GREENLIGHT

I've been thoroughly enjoying this latest HBO documentary series which shows the most honest and indepth look at the job I would most likely have had if I didn't already do what I do....

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidaze to you all!!

MP

RICHARD LINKLATER

Saw "Waking Life" tonight....totally "Slacker" on acid!

Probably the deepest and most profound movie I've ever seen on dreams....Linklater is as much a philosopher as he is a filmmaker.

MP

WES ANDERSON

Saw "The Royal Tenenbaums" tonight which is now (another) front runner for one of the best films of the year in my book.

Anderson directs with a mix of Peter Greenaway's striking visual style, Woody Allen's comedic sensibilities and the Coen Brother's bizarre quirkiness....and great performances all around.

Highly recommended!!

MP

IN THE BEDROOM

Went and saw this very intense, incredibly heavy film tonight.

Kind of a cross between "The Sweet Hereafter" and "Boys Don't Cry"...

Smells of Oscar material all around and would be very deserving.

MP

TRAVIS

I'm still having trouble fully getting into their latest CD, but I can never get enough of their 1999 masterpiece "The Man Who" which I listened to again today.

This is the album I was hoping Radiohead would've made to follow up OK Computer with....sometimes I can close my eyes and pretend!

Sorry all you Proggers and Metal Heads, I also happen to have a soft spot for well written and produced pop stuff as well!
ouch!

MP

Time for a years end Round up....

Best CD's of 2001:
(in no particular order)

1. Tool - Lateralus
2. System Of A Down - Toxicity
3. Tenacious D
4. Ben Folds - Rockin The Suburbs
5. Weezer - Green Album
6. Neal Morse - It's Not Too Late
7. Sigur Ros - Agaetis Byrjun
8. Oysterhead - The Grand Pecking Order
9. Radiohead - Amnesiac
10. The Flower Kings - The Rainmaker

OK....11. TransAtlantic - Bridge Across Forever (Can I do that?)


Best Films of 2001:
(in no particular order)

1. Memento
2. Vanilla Sky
3. The Royal Tenenbaums
4. In The Bedroom
5. Mulholland Drive
6. A.I.
7. Sexy Beast
8. Moulin Rouge
9. Waking Life
10. The Man Who Wasn't There


MP

Hey Kids! Sorry about the extensive absence....(I've been a little busy lately!)
Getting into the swing of the DT tour and preparing for the Barcelona gig (amongst other things) has kept me pretty focused on DT and free from much outside inspiration for the past month or so...(meaning: I haven't seen many films or listened to too many new CD's)

But I did finally catch up with a film today that has me very inspired and it's director is my Hero of the Day:

BAZ LUHRMANN

I finally got around to watching "Moulin Rouge" tonight on DVD, which I actually had no interest in seeing until it got a Best Picture nomination....
WOW!!!
I loved it!!!

This is a true modern-day musical!!
Kinda like taking West Side Story or Romeo and Juliet, setting it in the 19th century and making it with a serious 21st century twist!!!

Having now seen this and looking back at the Oscar noms, I am SHOCKED and actually furious that they robbed Baz Luhrmann of the Dirctor nomination!!! What a travesty....as this is clearly the most innovative and original direction of the 5 Best Picture nominations.....

I was obviously blown away by the visual style of the film....but the unique way of twisting modern pop music (Elton, Bowie, McCartney, Nirvana and one of my favorite Queen songs of all time) and rewriting them into showtune musicals was ingenious!

Very impressed indeed!

MP

PAIN OF SALVATION

Not only for being very cool guys and doing a great job as the support band on the first leg of the DT tour (see their tour diary at http://home.wanadoo.nl/almarenherma/Tourdiary/Tourdiary.htm)...

...but because their latest CD "Remedy Lane" is f*cking awesome!!
I think their best yet....great songs, great playing, great production!

The whole band is very talented and Daniel is a true star and major talent.
(hey, why do you think we tapped him for TransAtlantic?)

Best of luck boyz!

MP

DOWN

Just got the advance CD of the new album by this great Pantera/COC/Crowbar side-project.
I'm totally digging it....

This is the best Black Sabbath album since Vol.4!

MP

BLACK HAWK DOWN

Went and saw this tonight during our day off in Monterrey, Mexico.

Totally relentless!
This was some of the most brutal war footage since Saving Private Ryan.

MP

ROGER WATERS

(probably one of my top 3 musical heros of all time....)

We watched the latest "In The Flesh" DVD last night on the drive from Minneapolis to Chicago and were blown away by the band, the stageshow and of course, the music.

MP

ECHOBRAIN

Cheers to Jason Newsted for having the balls to make this his first Post-Metallica project.....

The obvious move would have been to come out and out-metal Metallica, but instead he's showed his diversity with this new CD which is like a cross between the Steve Miller Band, Foo Fighters and Blue Oyster Cult!

I hope he doesn't get discouraged by the inevitable backlash from the close minded Metallica fans!

MP

ORDINARY PEOPLE

Watched this in my bunk on satellite TV last night driving from Toronto to Boston and was blown away by this great film which I haven't seen since its release over 20 years ago.

The performances by Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, Judd Hirsch and especially the tour-de-force performance from Timothy Hutton is some of the best acting you'll see in film.....

DT trivia nuts: note the sample from the film that was pulled for "Don't Look Past Me"...

MP

THE OSBOURNES

Just caught up with the 1st 4 episodes of this show and it absolutely totally rules!!! They are the Brady Bunch of the New Millennium!

Between this show, Andy Dick, Jackass and Tom Green, eMpTyV is actually good for something these days!

Special thanks to my brother-in-law Pete, for taping these while I was on the road!

MP

SIX FEET UNDER

I continue to play "between tour legs catch-up" and have just watched the first 5 episodes of the new season.

HBO continues to totally RULE the tube with the best stuff on TV (The Sopranos, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Mind Of A Married Man, Tenacious D, Project Greenlight, etc.)

The writing and acting on this show is such top notch....I'm glad to see it is getting the attention it deserves.

MP

ANTHRAX

Just caught the VH1 Behind The Music episode on them...
It brought back alot of memories for me as I was totally around that New York scene in the early days of the band in the early to mid 80's....(Fistful of Metal, Armed and Dangerous, Spreading The Disease)

I would go see them at L'Amour in Brooklyn all the time and even caught S.O.D. on their maiden voyage run (the show at The Ritz with Motorhead and Wendy O. Williams was a classic)

I was very much into the whole NYHC scene at the time (Ludichrist, Cro-Mags, Agnostic Front, Leeway and my good friends in the Crumbsuckers) and as far as the metal scene, Anthrax was always my favorite of the "Big 4" (them, Metallica, Megadeth and Slayer - as well as other Thrash pioneers like Exodus, Overkill and Testament)

Anyways, I've always felt a kind of Kindred Spirit with these guys and it's great to see their career documented and recognized after all this time....

MP

BEATALLICA

This is pure genius!
http://sensoryresearch.com/~starkeff/beatallica.html
'nuff said...

Thanks to Matt Smith for turning me onto this!

MP

SEXY BEAST

This is a must-see if you are a fan of Guy Ritchie (Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch) or Quentin Tarantino (Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction)

Ben Kingsley turns in a totally SICK performance and first time director Jonathan Glazer is definitely another great new talent to watch.

MP

MP'S COMEDIC HEROES HAT TRICK!!

Tonight's season premiere of the new season of the Andy Dick Show was like an all-star episode for me with both Tenacious D and Tom Green joining up with Andy.....totally hilarious stuff....These guys are all my heroes!

MP

RUSH

I am honored to have been asked to write the liner notes for the Japanese version of their long-awaited, upcoming CD "Vapor Trails", so I have been listening to this since early last week....

The new CD is excellent and it's great to have them back!

If only they would take out an opener (cough*US*cough) on this tour.....

MP

INCUBUS

I have stayed away from checking these guys out for the longest time because I assumed that from their popularity that they were just another Metal Edge/ Nu Metal band that I can't stand 90% of....

But after a friend at Sony sent me a box of new CD's to check out, I decided to pop in their new CD "Morning View" and I am totally surprised and very impressed by these guys!

Maybe it's uncool or trendy to like them, but I think this CD is awesome!
Kinda reminds me of old Faith No More....
Cool odd time signatures, cool vocal melodies....what a surprise!
Some real playing going on here!

MP

REVELATIONS: PARADISE LOST 2

After seeing this documentary for the 2nd time (now available on DVD), I am convinced of Mark Byers' guilt.
Several scenes featuring Byers in this sequel are completely chilling...

This is an absolutely fascinating and incredibly well made film.

Free the West Memphis Three!
www.wm3.org

MP

AMERICAN MOVIE

There are possibly as many classic scenes in this film as there are in "This is Spinal Tap"...though the sad thing is, that this is REAL!

The first time I saw this film, I thought it was a mockumentary...
I only found out afterwards that it was actually real events and real people!
(Kinda the exact opposite effect of when I saw the Blair Witch Project opening weekend and wasn't sure if it was real or not)

Mark Borchardt and Mike Schank are the real life bizarro counterparts to Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes!

MP

CAMERON CROWE

Just watched the Special Edition DVD' s of both " Say Anything" and " Untitled" (the uncut version of " Almost Famous" which I found to be far superior to the theatrical version...)

Yes, he' s mainstream....
Yes, he' s slightly sugarcoated....
But dammit, he is a really good filmmaker!
His work is very consistant and always has top quality writing.
And I love his use and choices of music in his films.

Looking foward to revisiting " Jerry Maguire" and " Vanilla Sky" in upcoming Special Edition DVD' s...

Another viewing of " Singles" might also be in order as well to pay some last respects to Layne Staley while I' m at it... <img src=icon_smile_sad.gif border=0 align=middle>

MP

STEVE VAI

While in Japan last week, I picked up an awesome DVD of Vai from Bulgarian TV in April of 2000....

This just confirms what I had already thought: Vai has picked up Frank Zappa's torch and is breaking new ground in terms of creating ridiculously talented bands and taking them musically to new heights of virtuosity.

The band featured on this DVD (Vai/Mangini/Keneally/Bynoe/Weiner) has to be one of the most talented bands I've seen assembled since Zappa's heyday and is pulling off some shit here that has me just shaking my head in total disbelief!

(Oh, and my old drum tech Magee makes a special appearance on the last chord of the show!)


Looking foward to seeing Steve and his new band (Sheehan/Donati/MacAlpine/Weiner) next month when we do some make-up G3 shows in Mexico...

The modern day virtuoso refuses to die!!

MP

PHIL SATTERLEY & NEAL MORSE

...for an amazing job putting together the TransAtlantic "Building The Bridge" home video.

This is as thorough of a look into the making of a record as you could possibly get....everything from the writing sessions to the basic tracks to the overdubbing process...all told with very extensive personal interviews and alot of behind the scenes silliness. (I should be embarrassed!)

Phil did an amazing job in assembling all of Neal's footage and editing it together as well as he did.
Hat's off!

As of this moment, there are no DVD plans....so if you don't check out the video, you're possibly missing out on some very cool viewing!
www.radiantrecords.com will begin shipping next week or so...

PS - the TransAtlantic Live DVD from the European tour is on deck for a release later in the year....

MP

ALICE IN CHAINS

Due to the manner in which Layne Staley tragically died last month, I can't really call him a hero, but I popped in "Dirt" today and remembered how absolutely great this CD is.

The riffs are so f*ckin dark and heavy and the vocal melodies and harmonies are totally incredible and one of a kind. (definitely a big inspiration for some of the 2 part melodies and harmonies I've written like New Millennium, Home and The Glass Prison)

This CD is up there in my book as one the greatest metal CD's of the 90's and this band will sorely be missed....

R.I.P. Layne

MP

DAVID LYNCH

Recently got the " Short Films of David Lynch" DVD and got to see all of the missing links of his work that I never had the opportunity to see.

" The Alphabet" and " The Grandmother" were truly incredible and just as <i>out there</i> as Eraserhead. (which he made after these shorts)

MP

GEORGE LUCAS

No, I didn' t see Episode 2 yet which opened today (it did not open yet here in Mexico where I am this week...), but I did watch the DVD of Episode 1 tonight to get myself psyched...

I actually never had the chance to dig into this DVD and revisit the Phantom Menace after all this time, so it was pretty fresh to me again after all these years...
I don' t understand all of the controversy and backlash against Episode 1....I thought (upon its release and again on rewatching it), that it was thoroughly entertaining from start to finish and totally groundbreaking filmmaking. (Jar Jar or no Jar Jar...)

And watching the making-of Documentary was proof that George Lucas is one of the most hardest working, innovative, imaginative and genius writers and directors of all time.

It said it all in the final shot of the documentary, when all the hype, hoopla and 100' s of millions of dollars of work was finished...it all boiled down to him, a pen and a pad of paper in the silence of his office.
What a brilliant closing image that was!

Can' t wait to see Episode 2 next week!


MP

EDWARD BURNS

Watched " Sidewalks of New York" tonight and really enjoyed it.
Incredibly close in themes and style to one of my all time heroes Woody Allen....however, as much as I hate to admit it, this was a much better character and relationships study than anything Woody has put out in many years...

MP

THE ANNIVERSARY PARTY

Watched this film tonight and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Great performances from an all-star cast and a very PT Anderson/Robert Altman ensemble feel...

MP

GALACTIC COWBOYS

Popped in " Space In Your Face" today for the first time in a long time....Man, this CD totally RULES!
Great songs, great harmonies, great sounds....
Definitely one of my top " metal" CD' s of the 90' s.

Brought back alot of memories for me of the " Pure Love Fantasy" tour we did together 9 YEARS AGO (!!! damn time flies!) in the summer of ' 93.
We had some great times and I still love my brothers Alan, Ben, Dane and Monty! (Wally gets a special shout out too!)

PUMP UP THE SPACE SUIT!

MP

DAVID LYNCH

Well, one of my biggest heroes is my Hero of the Day yet again!

I finally got around to rewatching " Mulholland Dr" ....and man oh man, did a second viewing make a WORLD of difference in my opinion of this incredible film!

The first time I saw this movie, I thought it was totally baffling and it made hardly any sense to me....
(see my original Hero post from 12/19/01 - I was even slightly convinced that Lynch himself wasn' t so sure what the film meant....)

But upon second viewing, I thought it was totally brilliant and it all made *perfect* sense to me....
(with alot of help from the awesome analysis at http://www.salon.com/ent/movies/feature/2001/10/23/mulholland_drive_analysis/ which you should absolutely read before rewatching this incredibly complex film a second time...)

I' ll even venture to say that this may very well be Lynch' s masterpiece....
(and you don' t get a bigger Twin Peaks or Blue Velvet fan than me!)

Silencio,

MP

SPOCK' S BEARD

Just got an advance copy of their upcoming double concept CD " Snow" ...

Neal Morse has finally written Spock' s Beard' s masterpiece!
This is the album that their whole career has been building towards...

The obvious comparisons are to The Who' s " Tommy" , Genesis' " The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway" , and Kevin Gilbert' s " The Shaming Of The True" .

I am going to get ALOT of milage out of this CD this year!

MP

JOHN ENTWISTLE

This is some very sad news, boys and girls....
The Who have always been one of my top 10 favorite bands of all time (and when I was younger, they were more like top 3...)

James and I watched the latest DVD " Live at Royal Albert Hall" yesterday on the tour bus driving to Poland to pay homage...
check out the bass solo on 5:15 to see why there would be no Geddy Lee, Chris Squire or Billy Sheehan without a John Entwistle....

Don' t know what their tour plans are as of this writing, but honestly I hope this is the end for a while as I cannot picture The Who continuing at the moment without him...


R.I.P. OX

MP

DAVE LOMBARDO

Dream Theater played at the Graspop Metal Meeting in Belgium last night along with (amongst many others....) Slayer, Machine Head, Biohazard, Bruce Dickinson and Rob Halford.

Although we' ve played with Slayer about 4 or 5 times in the past few years, this was the first time since Dave' s been back in the band....

Anyways, I had the great pleasure of watching their set from directly next to his drums (behind Kerry King' s wall of amps) and was blown away by his speed, stamina and ferocity.

It brought back alot of memories for me as I know practically every drum part from Reign In Blood, South Of Heaven and Seasons In The Abyss and I had seen them many times live back in those days....


MP

GENESIS

By strange coincidence, this week I was given by 2 seperate people (thanks Denis and Andreas), 2 different old Genesis bootlegs.

One was a video of some amazing old European TV performances from 1972, 1973 and 1974...doing all the classic stuff: The Musical Box, The Return of the Giant Hogweed, Supper' s Ready, etc.
It was very interesting seeing Peter Gabriel slowly transform from the quiet, shy frontman in ' 72 to a flamboyant, outrageous one by ' 74.

The other was a CD of The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway in rehearsal form and alternate studio mixes....which was very interesting to hear some of these classic pieces evolve (Fly On The Windshield, In The Cage, Slipperman...)

This stuff is as good as it gets....

MP

WEEZER

Marlene and I went and saw them last night at the PNC Bank Art Center (I think we were the oldest people there!!)

I totally love these guys!
They are the king of the 4 chord power song! (early Beatles meets Nirvana)

Also - if you are a fan, they have one of the coolest websites around www.weezer.com (besides MP.COM and DT.NET of course)

MP

PS - for all you prog-purists they are gonna bash me for the audacity to actually like these guys....here' s a bit of cool trivia:

In the late 80' s, a young Fates Warning fan from Connecticut named Rivers Cuomo (a hero in my book, BTW) used to take guitar lessons from Jim Matheos! [:' (]
True story!!

STEVEN SPIELBERG

Finally saw Minority Report tonight....
(I was in Europe when it was released and it wasn' t out over there...)

Man...and people thought A.I. was dark and uncharacteristic for him!
Drugs, Sex, Violence, projectile vomiting, shooting snots and rolling eyeballs!!
If I was shown this film without knowing the director, never in a million years would I have guessed it was Spielberg....maybe Terry Gilliam or Ridley Scott...

In any case, I loved it!
I' m still baffled over the some of the storyline details (and surely a second viewing will help), but the filmmaking, imagery and futuristic art direction was truly awesome.

I' ve said it here before in HOTD, but I' ll say it again...
I am convinced this man is the now the greatest living director on the planet...nobody out there has got such an incredible body of work as he has.

He is my hero!

MP

MIKE MYERS

Saw it tonight!

Austin Powers, Dr. Evil, Fat Bastard, Goldmember....' nuff said!

The Austin-Pussy cameos totally ruled!

MP

M. NIGHT SHYAMALAN

Saw " Signs" tonight and thought it was excellent!!

It brought back many memories for me of the thrill of seeing Close Encounters of the Third Kind for the first time 25 years ago....this film is quite possibly on the same level in many respects and has many similarities.

Shyamalan is really quite a talent...
While most of my favorite new filmmakers tend to be independant or more experimental, this guy has got to be the cream of the crop in the mainstream department.
A perfect blend of Speilberg and Hitchcock!

MP