Sometimes I just want to turn off my brain and enjoy a good action film.

In movies there are "summer blockbusters" or so-called "popcorn movies" which are fun, action-filled, films with flimsy plots and lots of grunting. They are pure escapism. If you try to dissect the story, or search for hidden meanings, you'll end up either very disappointed or aggressively confused.

Goofy blockbuster movies are fun, mindless, entertainment which may or may not have actual depth to their stories. Why demean this form of enjoyment? I sure have in the past, but my best friends taught me not to be so stubborn and judgmental. Due to those lessons, I hope I've become a much better man and kinder and nobler and more magnificent and wonderful and all around a fantastic kinda guy!

See what dumb action movies can do for you? It's miraculous!

- M

Seriously though, there's no need to disregard the silly or absurd. There's great value in being goofy. Comedy dwells in the realm of the curious. Children's tales are filled with the fantastic. And wisdom comes from all quarters. It's only the truly foolish who ignore everything.

What starts at the beginning gets things moving.

Many stories (especially the visual kinds, such as movies and television) get things moving with a short vignette that sets the mood. Consider "Raiders of the Lost Ark," where Indiana Jones demonstrates his skill not only as an archaeologist but as a tomb raider. This is known as a "cold open" and serves to get the audience ready for the main story. This opening doesn't need to connect with the overall story, but provides the rules of the universe and how characters behave.


"Policeman Being Tripped" by Tom Frantzen (Brussels, Belgium)

By using this method, you can avoid delivering backstory through exposition and narration. Audiences don't tolerate loads of narration, so by using a cold open you demonstrate character qualities, motivations, and even possible backstory without interrupting the burgeoning pace of the story--the James Bond movie "Goldeneye" shows this very well. Naturally, there's plenty of room for improvisation and creativity, which makes this technique so much fun.

What I find most fun about storytelling is there's no wrong way to go about it. If your audience is following along, then how can it be a problem? Sure, there may be better ways to do it, but the essence is the story. As I've grown, I've realized this more and more. Focus on telling a good story. Let the story dictate how it's told, then adjust from there. The most enjoyable books I've read are the ones where the narrator disappears right into the background, and the story comes through naturally. Whatever method you choose, use it with gusto!

- M

Make more Tolkien movies, pretty please.

The successes of the "Lord of the Rings" movie trilogy, followed by "The Hobbit" trilogy demonstrates the world has a great appetite for epic fantasy. There are mole Tolkien works available, and even further ones by Christopher Tolkien in the same expansive world. The biggest would come from "The Silmarillion." J.R.R. Tolkien spent a huge amount of effort creating not only the world, but all the stories covering its past. While "The Silmarillion" attempts to tell a cohesive story, it's really more of a series of short tales which a movie could easily latch onto and make real.

I don't see any reason we cannot have single movies within Tolkien's universe. They don't all have to be epically long trilogies. Why not tell the story of the creation of Middle Earth, which is a wonderful scene of creation where it is actually sung into existence. The story of how evil came about and festered is all part of it. Or, the corruption of the elves (hinted at in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, but never explained). There are many, many, many, many captivating stories contained in chunks. Just give us a story within a single movie, and let it be at that.


April Fools joke from the "Skiffy and Fanty Show"

Maybe a resurgence of fantasy movies will happen, as it has with superhero movies. I love a good fantasy story to share with my wife--snuggle time. More than that, I feel fantasy encourages imagination more than any other genre. Anything is possible with fantasy, and it's so easy to capture the attention of any age with mysterious dragons and heroes and villains.

Please, Hollywood, make some more Middle Earth movies! I'll definitely go see them.

- M

Star Wars thoughts on "The Last Jedi"

So, the new Star Wars movie has a title: "The Last Jedi." Yummy. Of course, there's not rampant speculation about what it means, what this new revelation foretells about the story, and everyone is going bonkers online about it. I've stayed away from such speculation for the most part, mainly because I only want a good story and refuse to let guesses spoil it all for me. In this case, however, I feel like stepping in and offering my thoughts. Take them or leave them, I'm no fortune teller.

To me, this title is exactly what I was expecting. The entire Jedi/Sith idea is being rewritten, so a fresh and new idea can take it's place. This is more than passing the baton to the next runner, it is a change of the overall picture. In the past, there's always been Jedi and Sith and there's pretty tight restrictions on the story because of it. "The Last Jedi" could simply mean that the very concept is ending. Remember, the original Star Wars was written as a "Hero's Journey." It's a great story framework. In it, many times, the mentor figure goes away (by death or otherwise leaving) in the middle of the story, so the fresh hero can face the world on their own. My hope is this is what's happening for Star Wars episode 8.

So, following these thoughts, what I come up with is a question. Will Luke fight someone, as Ben Kenobi did against Darth Vader? Or, will Luke allow himself to fade away, like an old cowboy hero riding into the sunset? Will they pay homage, or blaze a new trail? I don't know and hope nobody spoils the surprise. I'm hope we receive a wonderful story. In the end, the story carries our hearts, not the visuals. George Lucas said as much in an old interview. I'm hoping the story again takes primary focus.

- M

Movie adaptations of popular stories.

I'm sure if it's a modern trend, but it sure seems like we see a lot more retellings of famous stories. Movies remake old movies, comics become movies, oral folktales show up in theaters. Yes, it's easy to take something which has already survived the test of time, yet it feels somehow cheap to do so. I love a good story, no matter the medium, and so I approach them all with an open mind.

 

 

"X-Men: Apocalypse" is a recent one which takes the wildly popular Apocalypse storyline and puts it on screen--with mixed results to be sure. I enjoyed it for what it was--a popcorn movie where you put your brain in a jar and enjoy the antics in front of you. We are heading toward the "Infinity Gauntlet" story in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which will be in two movies, and I can hardly wait to see them. Another movie, which is a retread of a whole movie series, is "Godzilla" from 1998. Yes, that Godzilla movie. I enjoy it for what it is--a goofy, utterly silly, monster feature.

 

Why does the source material have to be taken seriously? Yes, it is popular and well-received originally, but if you simply retell it the same way then what have you accomplished? Stories need to find their own voices, even when that voice is from something already told. Think about any modern story and I'll bet you can find influences from other stories which came before it. We tend to build on what's been successful in the past. It's only natural. But, make sure to find something original within it. Make the story your own. If it excites you, then your audience will feel it in their bones. And, who doesn't want to be thrilled?

 

- M

Stage Musicals from Movies

Back when the "Lion King" came out, and subsequently became a huge hit, I remember talk of turning it into a Broadway musical. I thought the idea absurd (hey, I was young and the idea seemed so crazy, and didn't realize there's a long history of that very thing). But, I've always loved musicals. I grew up with "Sound of Music" and "Fiddler on the Roof" and "Westside Story," so it's in my blood to enjoy them.

 

One I sadly just became aware of is the musical "Ghost," inspired by the movie of the same name. That movie had a singularly powerful effect on me: when it was over, I felt like the real world was a shadow and the movie was true. I'm aware such mental shifts happen, but hadn't experienced it before. It didn't last long, but the emotion was overwhelming. The musical surges with that emotion through the music. Likely I'll never have opportunity to see it, which is a pity.

 

What especially impresses me is how the music is created with such sensitivity to the source movie. I've never written music, so it seems incredibly hard and difficult work. Yet, there are a constant stream of such musicals, even with movies hardly dealing with music much at all--such as, "Bridges of Madison County" or "Rocky" and even "Carrie"). The variety is astounding. Hopefully I'll have opportunity to see some Broadway shows; high on my list are "Beauty and the Beast" and "Les Miserable."

 

It's well worth seeing a stage musical, and there's plenty to choose from!

 

- M

3D movies, here to stay or only a gimmick?

1950's advertisement about the new gizmo

Being colorblind prevented me from partaking in the early days of 3D movies (those red/blue lenses did nothing but darken the double image for me). And, the distance between my eyes is very narrow, so the 3D effect didn't work until the new shuttering technology came around. So, I've watched this field as an unbiased outsider for years (it actually started in the 50's, but saw a resurgence in the 80's and on). Now, I'm able to see what others have been talking about. And, so I ask, is it adding something we didn't have before? I'm not against the idea at all, however I'm curious why it's being pushed so forcefully.

 

There is a darkness issue, but I'm certain they'll work that bug out. What I really wonder is do audiences want to be actually immersed in scenes? 3D movies do enjoy the "poke you in the eye" scenes. 3D is similar to watching a stage play, though at distance it has very little "depth" to it. Human eyes tend to lose the 3D effect after around 10 feet (though large objects still produce a slight version). Beyond the technicalities, does 3D improve aspects of movies not utilized before?

 

One of my favorite memories of childhood is going to Disney's Epcot Center and seeing this incredible 3D sampler. It wasn't a movie, but a technical achievement demonstrating the impressiveness of the technology. There were two scenes in particular: a field of flowers with butterflies going all around the theatre, and the Wicked Witch of the West coming on screen and shooting lightning from her fingertips that raked right across my eyeballs. Wow, what a memory! Incredible!

 

Yet, in movies using heavy 3D the effect seems like a parlor trick. Is the story different with the addition of 3D, or is 3D a feature of the experience and not serving the story in any significant way? I vividly remember when we watched "Tron: Legacy" in 3D, there was a preview for "Prometheus" and when they showed the sleep capsules, I was astounded by the depth of field--I could see the holographic displays floating inches over the capsules. Wow, that looks like it's actually there! Perhaps 3D is a technology still searching for it's place in the world of entertainment?

 

- M

Superhero duels. Line them up and knock them down!

With the highly anticipated movie "Batman v Superman" coming this week, I thought it'd be fun to talk about superheroes duking it out. One thing we nerds love to talk about is: who'd win a fight? Comic fans have pitted Superman against Hulk for ages, or Batman against basically anyone, what about Sherlock Holmes versus Columbo (eh, maybe too obscure), or Star Wars versus Star Trek? It's fun to talk about the strengths and weaknesses, compare it all, and argue your point. Mostly its just for fun, but wow do some people get upset about it (sorry, but the Flash will always beat Quicksilver...)

 

Part of the fun is you get to see how good guys compare against each other, especially since normally they would never fight. Superheroes have such crazy abilities, it's all ridiculous anyway. What you really need are two viewpoints that have nothing to do with each other, and then slam them together so you can watch the fireworks. Debate is good for you, just stop short of punching each other. Then, you can swap to bad guys fighting, because they do that all the time and it's easy.

 

See how many mixups you can come up with. You can easily spend an entire evening in these mind games, and it's all good sport. It's better than playing board games, because you're coming up with new material and hopefully engaging your brain a bit. Sure, it helps if you know lots about the subject, but don't let that stop you. Some of the best debaters I know have only basic knowledge to work with and it sure doesn't stop them.

 

Just have a good time with it. Do it for the kids.

 

- M

X-Files returns!

The famous poster from X-Files television show

I've been a fan of the X-Files for quite a while. It was a goofy show back when it first came out (sometimes hilariously so) and then it started taking itself far too seriously so I dwindled away from it. However, it created a wonderful movie "Fight the Future" and another good one "I Want to Believe." The X-Files was the show where the audience was constantly confused and groups of fans got together to compile information and try to figure out what was going on. It was fun to be a part of it, and occasionally things made sense (more so toward the end as it got serious).

 

Now, the X-Files are back for a 6 episode comeback! I have to admit I've been very excited about it. I love the old show, and this new one apparently has 2 mythology episodes and 4 stand-alone episodes. What that means is the first and last episodes will deal seriously with the show while the others anyone can enjoy without knowing anything about the show at all. I'm looking forward to them. Be prepared to have your brain tickled and smashed at the same time.

 

The interesting thing about a show such as the X-Files is that it tap-dances between science fiction and fantasy, all while incorporating conspiracy stories of the modern age. Audiences clearly enjoy the concept, and I wish them all the success possible to the format. What I really hope is that it'll inspire new shows. I just can't get enough science fiction, and there's far too few of them out there.

 

- M

BB-8, the newest Star Wars droid everyone wants.

BB-8 droid from Star Wars: The Force Awakens

I admit it, when I saw the previews for the new Star Wars, I actually hated the newest droid, BB-8. Well, now that I've seen the movie, I love the little guy. He's happy, loyal, intelligent, and has just enough human-like qualities to make him instantly endearing. I'm not sure droids have gender, but I'll just use the male since I'm male and I like it. Funny, I never thought they could pull off another R2-D2 without being ridiculous.

Yup, they did.

The little ball robot mimics a thumbs-up, chirps in a way sounding almost exactly like "yep", and has sounds that speak of a vocabulary without using any words (just like R2-D2 did). I'm amazed how instantly I related to the little guy and had no trouble at all falling right into line with him. I'm sure we will see him function in the same way the other droids have, with him doing little helpful things and being generally nice.

He's the only droid in focus, and that's fine since he easily fills both fun guy and useful guy. The most important part is he's likable and not in the way. He's a great part of the movie without interfering. You can't ask for much more than that.

- M

By the way, did you know it's a real toy too? One you can drive around with your smartphone? Just passing along the word...

Batman v Superman new trailer!

The newest trailer for the movie "Batman v Superman" is now out. It shows a lot of action, and we get our first look at the super-monster: Doomsday. I'm only guessing, but I'm thinking a lot of what we see isn't consecutive in the actual movie, in other words, the editor is playing with our minds. Of course, trailer editing is a fine art but it isn't a truthful one--they tell stories all their own. But, what I'm seeing shows a great movie. I love the new Batman.

 

 

I'm very hopeful for this movie. The story seem well conceived, though I am worried about too many characters. Apparently DC is now wanting to kick start the Justice League universe and this movie is the beginning of it all. So, they're putting in the big hitters right away (they still haven't shown Aquaman though). The story assumes a big fight between Batman and Superman, but it seems clear now that this is the opening conflict, and a bigger fight joins everyone together despite their differences.

 

Superheroes are finally getting a Renaissance. It seems the world is looking for heroes once again, and Hollywood is responding in a big way. I wonder how far this will go? My wish is for a new golden age. We need heroes in our culture again. We need heroes in life and story, myth and reality. I love Batman and Superman, so I am pumped for this movie.

 

- M

The new Star Wars trailer is out, and already breaking records at the box office!

Way back, far away, and seeming ages ago, Star Wars blasted into theatres and forever changed cinema. Star Wars ushered in a new kind of special effects, and brought audiences into the future with glee and vigor. The story was unashamedly heroic, with larger than life heroes, acts of dastardly evil, and incredible sacrifice. It gave us a world of wonder and danger, wrapped in effects so dazzling we still point to them as groundbreaking.

 

And now, we have the preview of what's to come with the new story (Episode 7, The Force Awakens). The 88 second video practically crashed the internet, and ticket sales have gone so crazy that some are selling them on EBay for $10,000. It's crazy. Maybe the reason is because the story displayed by the preview is epic and what we've been begging for since the very first Star Wars. I hope the actual movie lives up to the hype--since reality never seems to match up to hype. Here's hoping Disney knows what it's doing with this one.

 

If this new vision of Star Wars is successful, I predict a new swell of stories copying the myth. That's not bad at all. In fact, I welcome it, since I love science fiction. Maybe will all the new money pouring in to fantastical worlds it will bring fresh creative talent into the mix. I doubt I could ever have enough space adventures ... or fantasy ones either.

 

May the Force be with you!

 

- M

The miracle of undeniable imagery

Jurassic Park (the original one) is still considered one of the finest examples of computer graphics ever made. The dinosaurs depicted by computer are phenomenal, even today. But, how often were the CGI dinosaurs actually on screen? Only 4 minutes out of 127 total minutes. Yet, that's what people remember ... 4 minutes out of a whole movie! I find that remarkable.

T-Rex from Jurassic Park

But, the concept goes far beyond movies. We tend to remember what surprises us, especially images. I think that's why our childhoods are a series of disjointed memories, focused on certain visuals and impressions. It's like a slideshow of our lives. We constantly rearrange the images, fiddle with the colors and make them into something special for ourselves--it's why we often remember something a bit different than reality.

 

Images come to us from our own imaginations too, like when we read or see abstract arts. Even listening to people conjures images we can't deny--such as campfire ghost stories. I admit some of the scariest images I've ever seen are from inside my own head. That's pretty powerful stuff.

 

 - M

Star Wars projects as we await the next episode!

Several of my friends find all kinds of incredible projects people have done in the spirit of Star Wars--a Darth Vader grill, or Stormtrooper doggie sets, and I see Boeing just painted one of their Dreamliner jets as R2-D2. Amazing. Kinda strange, but neat. It's a testimony to how deeply this series of movies has affected our culture. It's safe to say that everybody knows what Star Wars is, even if they haven't seen the movies.

I still can't say I fully understand why these movies are so beloved. The story is a very simple hero's journey. The setting is pretty standard science fiction for the era. Perhaps it was the incredible special effects? Maybe. Was it the actors? Nope, since they were unknowns at the time (aside from the eminent Sir Alec Guiness). I think it was a very special and unique blend of people wanting a story of hope and ultimate victory mixed in with cutting edge special effects and that ultimate strangeness of "it's awesome." Okay, so I don't know for sure, but I definitely believe it was a "one in a billion" happening.

Star Wars 7 is coming up quickly (Dec. 2015) and is almost sure to be a huge blockbuster. I have great hopes that they focus back on story rather than dripping the scenes with special effects. Let's bring back the hero stories with villains that are simple and get under our skin. Let the Jedi ways be mysterious and sparingly used. I want the old Cowboys in Space kind of feel that the original series had. But, whatever shows up, you can bet I'll be there watching it. So help me, I love Star Wars!

- M

p.s. I'd love one of those Darth Vader grills, if anyone wants to make one for me.

Robots. Those goofy, charming, scary, and downright perplexing machines.

I love robots. Big, small, huge and fighting, or tiny and sneaky. I've always loved robots. The recent Transformers series of movies have highlighted robots in a big way, and I think it's all great. Also, Pacific Rim showed us huge robots fighting giant monsters! With the Avengers and now Avengers 2 we have Iron Man and an evil robot (Ultron). I'm smiling ear to ear about it all. I can't wait to see miniaturized robots flying around--perhaps a remake of Fantastic Voyage.

Iron Man, the villain Ultron, and Captain America

Today's robots mostly build stuff--assembly line robots, or automated cutters, or 3D printers--and they destroy things--demolition, military robots--and they explore distant worlds. Of course there are also medical robots, but they are mostly directed tools used by human operators. I think we are quickly arriving at the point where robots will do quite a lot in regular life. I doubt we'll ever have fully autonomous robots (able to think and learn for their own), mainly because life is simply too complex for a programmed mind to handle. Now, if we could create artificial intelligence on the scale of what we see in movies it would be possible, but I have my doubts. Anyway, scientists will continue pushing toward that point until time comes to an end.

What makes robots fun is how they can be human and yet not. As an example, think about Data from the Star Trek series. It's a common story tradition--using something not quite human to express human concerns, issues, and troubles--and robots are perfect for the job. The great thing is we aren't even all that worried when a robot is destroyed, because we can rebuild them! Great stuff. One of my favorite movies is The Iron Giant, which lets that happen in fact. It is my wish that robots see a long life of use in reality and stories.

- M

Possible sequel? Ooh, tempt me more!

Is there a story that you desperately want to have a sequel? To continue the tale and keep the world alive? And how do you react when an announcement comes out that your wish is coming true? What if you could make it happen yourself?

I think back on one of my most beloved movies: Tron. When the announcement of a sequel shocked the world, with brilliant new light cycles and an incredible teaser, we were given Tron: Legacy. Whatever your impression of the movie (personally, I loved it), it generated incredible buzz. Now, it sounds like we may even get a sequel to that one! (Possibly named Tron: Ascension). Anyway, my point is the buzz about the sequel was unbelievable. People were slobbering all over themselves just to talk about it. It was inspiring, especially when you consider the length of time between movies. Amazing.

Right now there is a bit of a sequel frenzy going on. It seems like no story has a chance without at least three parts already made (trilogies, tetralogies, or more). Maybe it's because a three act story is such a fantastic framework (the starting triumphs, the middle tragedies, and the ultimate victory). But, I'm all for it. I love continued stories. Any good story is worth an extension. But, please make sure there's a story to tell and not just make it for profit--give it a reason to exist.

I think stories define us in ways nothing else does. Entire civilizations are known mainly for their stories. Take the Greeks for instance. We all know about Greek gods and goddesses (particularly with Percy Jackson books and movies). Isn't that incredible? So, what's your story?

- M

Accept one crazy idea and leap into the unknown! Avengers are awesome!

Avengers Assemble!

Many fiction stories contain ridiculous ideas for the setup of the movie. When the audience accepts the idea and moves along it is called "suspension of disbelief" and is one of the most important things that must happen for a story to succeed. With the newest Marvel film "Avengers 2: Age of Ultron" in theatres I thought I'd talk about how this ancient concept works so well still today.

Think about what the audience must accept for the movie to even function at all? Artificial Intelligence to the level of sentience, manned robot suits capable of sustaining damage which would destroy most modern tanks, regular humans with combat skills so advanced they can fight murderous robots without dying instantly, and then we have the superhumans with powers able to twist reality and superspeed and on and on and on. That's a huge amount to accept and move on with. But, the audience does it with hardly a thought. I find that simply incredible. What it means to me as a writer is that there aren't ideas too crazy to get away with, but it's all in how it's presented. Come up with an idea, explore it to come up with the rules, and go for it! People will follow you on that crazy journey.

There is one rule that authors must abide by when using this method... internal consistency. If you set out the rules and then break them, the audience will loose their suspension of disbelief. It's like making up rules for tag when you're kids: if you don't all agree and stick to them, then the rules don't matter and the game fails. But, stick with it like the law and your audience will love you for it. Just look at Marvel and its massive universe (or is it multiverse still, I can't remember). There are millions of words written on all the history and other resources for it, yet it's all fiction! Incredible. Even more, audiences will join the ride and create their own fan-fiction to boost it yet further.

No matter how crazy or absurd we humans are, you gotta give it to us ... we humans love our fantasies.

- M

Talking points, exposition, and generally getting information out there

A funny thing happens in stories ... there is stuff the audience needs to know but isn't readily obvious. In other words, the narrator needs to get involved somehow and explain things. This is usually labelled "exposition." There's lots of ways to do it, with a current vogue of characters having a weird conversation about, "remember how we..." or "since ... happened we now do..." The easiest way is have a narrator step in and explain it quickly (like in the new Lord of the Rings movies where the first movie has a great voiceover explaining the One Ring, the other rings, elves, and so on). However the author does it, exposition stops a story flat until the explaining is done, then audience understands, and we can get on with it.

Let the reading begin...

Now this can also be done without words at all--for example, the beginning of Up features a short visual story that is less than 5 minutes of pure brilliance and without a single word--by using visuals, music, artwork, scents (think Art Gallery). All these things provide clues, and a basis for the story. I love experimenting with different methods, but my favorite is taking a character that has no reason to know anything and having them "taught" what the backstory is through some form of instruction--usually a quick few sentences. The point is to make it quick and gentle, get everyone up to speed, and carry on with the adventure.

That's probably the biggest reason I don't mind a voiceover start to a movie (instead of a bunch of scrolling text) is because I haven't even started the story yet and so I don't mind listening to a short lecture. Though, in a book, if I must have exposition, I prefer it directly from the narrator as a snappy few sentences.

Funny thing is, we do this in regular life as well. Think about it. Most jokes have a setup... we inform new staff of how we do things... a visitor will be told the history of curious objects... Life is a series of narrations, cherished memories, odd trifles, and patchwork images, strung together like diamonds on a chain. Make it a good one.

- M

Year of the superhero!

Being a comics nerd, I'm excited about this year's movies. There are superheroes everywhere! TV shows, movies, comics are surging again. I love it. The biggest thing about it is that people are celebrating the heroic, and the possibilities, and the courage. As I've long said, we need heroes around us--even if they're only stories. Because, they inspire! We want things around us that make us reach and strive and hope for better.

 

The funny thing is, I really don't care how good or bad these stories are. I actually enjoy the new Amazing Spiderman 2 movie. Sure, it's not great art, and there are plot problems, but it's a fun story. Take your brain off the hook for a couple of hours and have fun. What's wrong with that? Since stories are a two-way street, with the audience bringing just as much to the event as the author, there is always room for whatever story people want to create. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so it makes sense that not everything will be beautiful for everyone.

 

What's coming up? In the world of movies, there's the new Avengers movie, Antman (yeah, you heard that right), Fantastic 4, Star Wars 7, Jurassic Park World, and a new James Bond (not a superhero, but may as well be). The video game, Assassin's Creed is getting a movie, and so is World of Warcraft. It's a season of gambles, but I think a pretty safe one. We want our heroes, and we don't care how many there are.

 

Bring on the supers!

 

- M

Overacting, chewing the scenery, and the hilarious ways actors take over their roles.

Movies are great entertainment. I don't deny that I love them. Most of the time it's because of the stories, and for some odd reason I have developed an encyclopedic knowledge of movies (strange quirk, but I love freaking out my children by remembering them from single frames, or even the opening credits). Anyway, there is a particular part of acting that I grin at nearly every time.

Overacting.

I'd say it's an art form. Sure, when it's done badly it fails horribly. But, in those occasions when actors are gleefully chewing through their lines with such wild abandon that you get swept along for the ride without knowing it, I find myself grinning like a crazy cat. It's hard not to. Think of the early Jim Carrey movies, like "The Mask." Mr. Carrey really cuts loose when he becomes the cartoon hero, and it is glorious! Watching him blow away everyone around him is terrific fun. That's what I mean when I say how great overacting can be.

And then there are actors who growl through their lines to such a degree that nobody else gets noticed. Robert De Niro is famous for it, and so is Clint Eastwood. "Do you feel lucky, punk?" (yes, not an exact quote, but it's turned that way by common usage I think).

My point is that acting doesn't need to always be Oscar-quality seriousness. Make things over the top, crazy, pure outrageous scene chewing. Overact. I dare 'ya. I double dare 'ya. I triple-dog dare 'ya!

- M