I have to admit - I was never that impressed with John Cornyn during his stint as Texas Attorney General. When Phil Gramm retired and Cornyn ran to replace him, I voted for him, but not with enthusiasm.
Boy, was I wrong.
Cornyn has quickly risen in the ranks in the Senate, has become a force for good on the Judiciary Committee, and now, as we've seen over the last month or so, has really taken the lead on working to defeat this shamnesty immigration reform bill. Kay Bailey hasn't really made much of an impact in Washington that I can tell, but Cornyn has quickly become one of my favorites.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Monday, June 25, 2007
Movie Review: Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End
I'm giving this movie three stars, but I think it's the kind of film that could improve upon repeated viewings. It has a pretty good start and a good action-filled ending, but as with the second installment, the middle section leaves some to be desired.
The opening section, where our heroes join together with the once-late Captain Barbossa to rescue Jack Sparrow from Davy Jones' Locker. This involves a trip through some Gilliamesque environments (that's Gilliam-lite-esque, by the way). Particularly amusing is Jack's personal hell - a ship full of himself as crew members (this multiple-Jack effect would be used a few times later on as well, to not as good an effect as it is at the start, though). And the solution of how to escape from the underworld back into reality was particularly well-executed.
Unfortunately, once back in the real world, things bog down as the negotiations dragged on into the night. Well, not really, but this section is mostly involved with various characters acting on hidden agendas, setting up and breaking alliances, and so on. It's not particularly clear in this section who is setting up whom, and how many of our heroes are aware of the others' plans. The movie itself gives us mixed messages, sometimes dropping hints that everything is part of a master plan, sometimes not. The scene in the Bretheren Court was well-done (and smartly played by Jack), but a lot of the rest of this segment probably could have been trimmed up without adversely affecting things.
I also wasn't happy about the changes in a couple of characters during this part. The second film looked like it was going to do some interesting things with Norrington, but most of that was thrown out in this film - he gets a change-of-heart once he sees what he has signed on for, and then is suddenly (but heroically) killed off. And Davy Jones spent much of the movie as an unwilling hired gun, which had the effect of making him a lot less threatening. It's not until the end of the film when we get a little look inside his characters and the shackles come off that he regains the menace he showed in the prior movie.
And speaking of the end of the film, here's where things shift into overdrive, finally getting us out of the doldrums of the middle section. The movie sets up a battle between the pirate fleet and the East India armada, but as it ends up, there's only a battle between the Black Pearl, the Flying Dutchman and the East Indian Endeavor (why everyone else packs up and leaves after that, I'm not sure - the "bad guys" still have vast numerical superiority, don't they?). The main battle takes place in a giant maelstrom and is one of the few times this kind of sea battle was shown in an interesting and exciting way on screen (to me, anyway). Yeah, there's a few too many Spider-Man moments (Jack swinging his way just about anywhere he needs to be), and the marriage in the middle of a fight scene was a little too cute, but the action keeps moving at a fast clip to keep minor issues at bay.
Thinking back, it might be possible to work through all of the machinations of the middle section of the film, and that might bump things up to four stars. But for now, a solid three stars, and a good ending to a good series.
The opening section, where our heroes join together with the once-late Captain Barbossa to rescue Jack Sparrow from Davy Jones' Locker. This involves a trip through some Gilliamesque environments (that's Gilliam-lite-esque, by the way). Particularly amusing is Jack's personal hell - a ship full of himself as crew members (this multiple-Jack effect would be used a few times later on as well, to not as good an effect as it is at the start, though). And the solution of how to escape from the underworld back into reality was particularly well-executed.
Unfortunately, once back in the real world, things bog down as the negotiations dragged on into the night. Well, not really, but this section is mostly involved with various characters acting on hidden agendas, setting up and breaking alliances, and so on. It's not particularly clear in this section who is setting up whom, and how many of our heroes are aware of the others' plans. The movie itself gives us mixed messages, sometimes dropping hints that everything is part of a master plan, sometimes not. The scene in the Bretheren Court was well-done (and smartly played by Jack), but a lot of the rest of this segment probably could have been trimmed up without adversely affecting things.
I also wasn't happy about the changes in a couple of characters during this part. The second film looked like it was going to do some interesting things with Norrington, but most of that was thrown out in this film - he gets a change-of-heart once he sees what he has signed on for, and then is suddenly (but heroically) killed off. And Davy Jones spent much of the movie as an unwilling hired gun, which had the effect of making him a lot less threatening. It's not until the end of the film when we get a little look inside his characters and the shackles come off that he regains the menace he showed in the prior movie.
And speaking of the end of the film, here's where things shift into overdrive, finally getting us out of the doldrums of the middle section. The movie sets up a battle between the pirate fleet and the East India armada, but as it ends up, there's only a battle between the Black Pearl, the Flying Dutchman and the East Indian Endeavor (why everyone else packs up and leaves after that, I'm not sure - the "bad guys" still have vast numerical superiority, don't they?). The main battle takes place in a giant maelstrom and is one of the few times this kind of sea battle was shown in an interesting and exciting way on screen (to me, anyway). Yeah, there's a few too many Spider-Man moments (Jack swinging his way just about anywhere he needs to be), and the marriage in the middle of a fight scene was a little too cute, but the action keeps moving at a fast clip to keep minor issues at bay.
Thinking back, it might be possible to work through all of the machinations of the middle section of the film, and that might bump things up to four stars. But for now, a solid three stars, and a good ending to a good series.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Movie Review: Super Troopers
Meh. Some of friends were raving on this film, but it didn't work for me. A typical sketch comedy movie - some of the bits worked, some didn't, and a bare edge of a plot to string them all together. More didn't work than did. Why on earth Brian Cox got involved in this, I can't imagine. Two stars.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Movie Review: Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Not a bad movie. I didn't enjoy it as much as the first one - maybe familiarity is breeding a little contempt. I just got the feel that while the set pieces were OK, the whole thing ended up being overly long. In particular, the little side trip to the cannibals' island was, as far as I can tell, completely superfluous - the only thing it contributed to the plot was getting rid of the troublesome half of Jack's crew.
There's also the aspect of characters coming back from the dead. It sure looks like in this universe that no one can die - even Barbossa from the last film managed to survive. So it kind of lessens the threats against our heros knowing that anything that happens can be undone - and that especially includes Jack's "death" at the end of the film. Of course he's not dead permanently - and no one in the audience thinks it for a second.
Given that the plot involves about five different groups chasing after a heart locked in a chest, the film didn't seem to do a good job of explaining just what the power of that heart was. The whole story (Jones cut out his heart, and became a human squid, and the heart somehow gives control of the ocean, and what about the kraken, etc. etc.) just doesn't make a lot of sense. And if the heart is so important, why doesn't Jones keep it somewhere safe? For that matter, if he can't go on land, why does he have it buried?
I know, I know - he's a pirate. That's what they do.
The movie does give us the expected touches - Jack Sparrow prancing around, speaking gibberish; Will Turner swordfights; Elizabeth, well, trailing around a couple of hours behind everyone else. At least until the end - her betrayal of Jack was about the only true surprise in the film. Bill Nighy does a good job as the heavily CGI'd Jones, although his crew of nautical Hellraiser rejects could have been a little better designed.
I wasn't as disappointed as some in the ending, since I already knew it was a cliffhanger (everyone knew there was a third film - did they really think it wasn't going to be set up like The Matrix Revolutions?). But the whole thing could have been a bit tighter, especially at the beginning. Three stars, and I'll be seeing the conclusion tomorrow.
There's also the aspect of characters coming back from the dead. It sure looks like in this universe that no one can die - even Barbossa from the last film managed to survive. So it kind of lessens the threats against our heros knowing that anything that happens can be undone - and that especially includes Jack's "death" at the end of the film. Of course he's not dead permanently - and no one in the audience thinks it for a second.
Given that the plot involves about five different groups chasing after a heart locked in a chest, the film didn't seem to do a good job of explaining just what the power of that heart was. The whole story (Jones cut out his heart, and became a human squid, and the heart somehow gives control of the ocean, and what about the kraken, etc. etc.) just doesn't make a lot of sense. And if the heart is so important, why doesn't Jones keep it somewhere safe? For that matter, if he can't go on land, why does he have it buried?
I know, I know - he's a pirate. That's what they do.
The movie does give us the expected touches - Jack Sparrow prancing around, speaking gibberish; Will Turner swordfights; Elizabeth, well, trailing around a couple of hours behind everyone else. At least until the end - her betrayal of Jack was about the only true surprise in the film. Bill Nighy does a good job as the heavily CGI'd Jones, although his crew of nautical Hellraiser rejects could have been a little better designed.
I wasn't as disappointed as some in the ending, since I already knew it was a cliffhanger (everyone knew there was a third film - did they really think it wasn't going to be set up like The Matrix Revolutions?). But the whole thing could have been a bit tighter, especially at the beginning. Three stars, and I'll be seeing the conclusion tomorrow.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Pick, Pick, Pick
You know those estimated tax payments that are due at the end of June, September and January?
Turns out they're due in the middle of June, September and January.
Huh. Who knew?
Turns out they're due in the middle of June, September and January.
Huh. Who knew?
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Movie Review: Casablanca
Yeah, I hadn't watched Casablanca until now - so sue me.
Sure, we've all heard all the now cliched lines - "Here's looking at you, kid", "round up the usual suspects", "I'm shocked - shocked!". But fortunately, this movie's more than just a set of famous quotes.
Not to say there aren't a lot of famous quotes, but the script is full of great lines. When Rick threatens to put a bullet through Renault's heart, he replies "That is my least vulnerable spot." Just about every conversation between Rick and Renault is outstanding.
It's a movie full of great characters. Yeah, Rick and Ilsa, but Claude Rains' Captain Renault steals every scene he's in; just a great performance of a great character. And even all of the small roles are well-done. Consider Rick's employees - that group would make a fine cast of a regular series, not just a two-hour movie. (Yeah, I know they tried - I didn't say it would be a good idea.)
Well, I don't need to say anything about this movie. It's a classic, and justifiably so. Five stars.
Sure, we've all heard all the now cliched lines - "Here's looking at you, kid", "round up the usual suspects", "I'm shocked - shocked!". But fortunately, this movie's more than just a set of famous quotes.
Not to say there aren't a lot of famous quotes, but the script is full of great lines. When Rick threatens to put a bullet through Renault's heart, he replies "That is my least vulnerable spot." Just about every conversation between Rick and Renault is outstanding.
It's a movie full of great characters. Yeah, Rick and Ilsa, but Claude Rains' Captain Renault steals every scene he's in; just a great performance of a great character. And even all of the small roles are well-done. Consider Rick's employees - that group would make a fine cast of a regular series, not just a two-hour movie. (Yeah, I know they tried - I didn't say it would be a good idea.)
Well, I don't need to say anything about this movie. It's a classic, and justifiably so. Five stars.
Keeping Your Eye On The Ball
Patterico has been running a series of posts about crimes committed by illegal aliens - you know, the kind of people that the Senate doesn't want to see deported. This installment focuses on a illegal alien drunk driver who killed three people, include an infant and a pregnant woman. He had been arrested for DUI - three times. Three!
He hadn't been deported. Why? Because Houston police don't report or check on illegal alien status - they're a "sanctuary city". They don't want to ruffle any feathers in the immigrant community. So a city still reeling from the influx of Katrina criminals can also look forward to less enforcement of laws towards Hispanics.
This comes a couple of days after hearing about what the Houston police do consider important - citing drivers for being in violation of our stupid "obscured license plate" law, a law that the legislature has already stated is being interpreted overly-broadly by some, and which is already scheduled to be clarified in the fall.
But that doesn't bring in money.
So - now we see what the priorities are in Houston. Police used for a money grab, rather than protecting the public. I would condemn Houston for this - except my city of Austin probably wouldn't be any better.
He hadn't been deported. Why? Because Houston police don't report or check on illegal alien status - they're a "sanctuary city". They don't want to ruffle any feathers in the immigrant community. So a city still reeling from the influx of Katrina criminals can also look forward to less enforcement of laws towards Hispanics.
This comes a couple of days after hearing about what the Houston police do consider important - citing drivers for being in violation of our stupid "obscured license plate" law, a law that the legislature has already stated is being interpreted overly-broadly by some, and which is already scheduled to be clarified in the fall.
But that doesn't bring in money.
So - now we see what the priorities are in Houston. Police used for a money grab, rather than protecting the public. I would condemn Houston for this - except my city of Austin probably wouldn't be any better.
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