Kenneth Boss, one of the 4 officers who shot and killed Armadou Diallo when they mistook his wallet for a gun on the 1100 block of Wheeler Ave in the Bronx on Feb 4, 1999, was promoted to NYPD Sergeant yesterday. Of course this infuriated Diallo's mom, Kadiatou Diallo and reopened old wound between NYPD and minorities. Let's get one thing clear, Boss was promoted by Civili Serviced rules where he took the NYPD Sergeant's exam, passed it, and was later pulled off from the eligible list. There is nothing anyone can do under NY State Civil Service Law to prevent anyone from being promoted. And I am a proponent of Civil Service.
However, it appears that Boss is not really interested in his mea culpa or apology to the Diallo family. In 2003, Kenneth Boss claims that he didn't find any time in his "busy" schedule in apologizing to the Diallo family for that tragedy (since a jury in Albany found the 4 officers not guilty of all counts, we will refer this as a tragedy, given they received due process of the law.) - - and to this day, he still refuses to apologize to the Diallo family. But he found a lot of time to file NY State and Federal lawsuits against the NYPD to get his gun back, not to mention pleading with three police commissioners before the last Commissioner, Raymond Kelly, gave Boss his gun back in 2012. Boy, you can't just have a press conference or meet with Diallo's mom to man up and apologize cause you couldn't find the time to do so but you wanted everything else that's good for your restoration of your career with the NYPD. Maybe you don't understand what Diallo's mom is going through for nearly 16 years - - a $3 million settlement with the city won;t bring her son back from that Wheeler Ave apartment lobby. About a week after the shooting, I visited the walk-up apartment building and saw walls ripped with bullet holes.
In contrast to Kenneth Boss' self-righteous attitude, Sean Carroll, one of the other officers who confronted Diallo that fateful night, at least had a heart about what happened, saying that he has felt sorry about this incident from Day 1. / Carroll was emotionally distraught about it but whether Carroll's response is real or crocodile tears, at least he apologized for it.
The NYPD promoted dozens of Sergeants at 1 Police Plaza - - one of them was vermin.
Friday, December 18, 2015
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
Star Wars returns - May the Force Be With You
Last Saturday, I was fighting the Times Square and Santa-Con crowds to get to 8th Ave for the subway - - I passed by the Playstation 4 theater on West 44th Street where I had my fondest childhood memory in a long, long time ago (but a galaxy not far away) of another movie theater. Back in the summer of 1977, my father took me to see Star Wars for the first time at the Loews Astor Plaza theater - - the same location where the PS 4 theater is now (and that used to the the Nokia or Best Buy theater - - how much we lose sight of naming rights). Watching Star Wars at the largest regular first run single screen theater in New York City was an experience in itself which can never be duplicated in an IMAX or regular theater - - the 1,500 seat theater situated in the basement of 1 Astor Plaza, largest of it's kind with 50+ rows of seats (and plenty of room for standees), the long escalators, the wall murals of actors/actresses like Bogie, Cagney, Sinatra, Crosby, Monroe and other stars from the 1930s through 50s,, the large concession stand (and a smaller one in the back of the theater) and the awesome Dolby sound system on a huge (and I mean MAMMOTH 70MM screen. ). But most of all, watching Star Wars with the crowd experience was the best time I had at the movies, hands down. When the Death Star exploded at the end of the film, the crowd cheered so loudly, you can feel the earth shake. I also remember watching huge movie hits at the Astor Plaza, such as Superman I and II, the next two Star Wars films, (Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi) and Logans Run (prior to Star Wars). Today, the largest auditorium of a multiplex theater typically hovers around 300-450 seats although there are IMAX theaters with more seats. This Friday, December 18th, Star Wars, The Force Awakens opens in U.S. theaters and will be projected to be one of the biggest, if not biggest, all time box office blockbusters in recorded history, filling multiplex theaters with die hard Star Wars fans dressed out in a stormtropper, Yoda, Jabba The Hut, or Darth Vader. Of course many theaters will be showing evening shows tomorrow evening (12/17).
To me, Star Wars is every one's childhood memory and like a candle burning forever, that memory will carry on for past, present and future generations. It feels like yesterday about that memorable trip my father and I took to a Long, Long, Long Time Ago in a Galaxy Far, Far, Far Away. May the Force Be With You.
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
1 train skips stops - -,before announcement was made
Many times, trains running behind schedule would skip certain stops to make up lost time and to maintain even intervals of train service - - this is known in NYC Transit jargon as a "battery run" and I never have a problem with that as long as there is a train right behind us. What I do have a problem with is making a battery run first then telling customers after the fact. Such a case of miscommunication took place last week on the 1 line, historically known for it's frequent battery runs as many trains fall behind schedule.
On Friday December 4th, at approx 2 PM, I was on a northbound 1 train (car #1841) when a woman dragging her heavy bag was struggling with her daughter - - it was crowded at that time of midday. When we got to 181st Street, it was a normal stop and the conductor announced 191 as the next stop. Once the doors closed and the train was leaving the station, the conductor changed his previous announcement - - stating that the next stop is Dyckman Street - - thus the train will bypass 191st Street station. This made the woman with the heavy package and daughter angry - - she was cursing. At Dyckman, I asked the conductor why did he make the announcement to skip 191 after we left 181 - - the conductor said that control center (RCC) told him to skip 191 even though he told them that our train already left 181 when the order was made. The conductor also told me that RCC told him to keep it moved because our train was way behind schedule. We continued our conversation after our train left Dyckman with 225th Street being our next stop (as per RCC) to make up some lost minutes and he did apologized for the error. .
That's great miscommunication - - now what about the woman with the package and the girl - - they needed to leave the train at - where else? 191st Street, of course. The woman would have to ride all the way to 242nd Street/Van Cortlandt Park, the northern terminal for the 1 line then ride back to 191 as she would not be able to drag the package all the way down the stairs at Dyckman (she still would have steps at 191 though). The conductor told me that there are elevators at Dyckman and I told him that he was only half right - - there is only one elevator at Dyckman and that is only on the southbound side from mezzanine to platform. There is no elevator from the mezzanine to the northbound platform. (Another important piece of information which NYCT employees should be trained on). So I made sure that the woman and girl would stay on the same 1 train when leaving 242 before I left the terminal.
This is one reason why the MTA's Pledge To Customers is pure garbage and lies - - nothing more than a PR smokescreen to make them look good. To make the announcement after the train leaves the station as miscommunication occurs can be dangerous - - what if RCC gave one set of instructions to avoid an accident or dangerous condition and the crew does not get the information until it's too late? If the order was made after the train left the last station where customers can wait then the adjustment should be made.
On Friday December 4th, at approx 2 PM, I was on a northbound 1 train (car #1841) when a woman dragging her heavy bag was struggling with her daughter - - it was crowded at that time of midday. When we got to 181st Street, it was a normal stop and the conductor announced 191 as the next stop. Once the doors closed and the train was leaving the station, the conductor changed his previous announcement - - stating that the next stop is Dyckman Street - - thus the train will bypass 191st Street station. This made the woman with the heavy package and daughter angry - - she was cursing. At Dyckman, I asked the conductor why did he make the announcement to skip 191 after we left 181 - - the conductor said that control center (RCC) told him to skip 191 even though he told them that our train already left 181 when the order was made. The conductor also told me that RCC told him to keep it moved because our train was way behind schedule. We continued our conversation after our train left Dyckman with 225th Street being our next stop (as per RCC) to make up some lost minutes and he did apologized for the error. .
That's great miscommunication - - now what about the woman with the package and the girl - - they needed to leave the train at - where else? 191st Street, of course. The woman would have to ride all the way to 242nd Street/Van Cortlandt Park, the northern terminal for the 1 line then ride back to 191 as she would not be able to drag the package all the way down the stairs at Dyckman (she still would have steps at 191 though). The conductor told me that there are elevators at Dyckman and I told him that he was only half right - - there is only one elevator at Dyckman and that is only on the southbound side from mezzanine to platform. There is no elevator from the mezzanine to the northbound platform. (Another important piece of information which NYCT employees should be trained on). So I made sure that the woman and girl would stay on the same 1 train when leaving 242 before I left the terminal.
This is one reason why the MTA's Pledge To Customers is pure garbage and lies - - nothing more than a PR smokescreen to make them look good. To make the announcement after the train leaves the station as miscommunication occurs can be dangerous - - what if RCC gave one set of instructions to avoid an accident or dangerous condition and the crew does not get the information until it's too late? If the order was made after the train left the last station where customers can wait then the adjustment should be made.
Sunday, December 6, 2015
AHA's Jump Rope and Hoops for Heart Events - - how you can help.
I don't need to remind you how prevalent heart disease is in adults - - the facts speak for themselves about heart attacks are the leading cause of death among adults in America. We think of heart disease in adults but how many of us think about children who are diagnosed with a heart condition at a very early age? Yes children can have heart conditions too, or Pediatric Heart Disease - - the most common is Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) which most children acquire it at birth - - their heart is not working at optimal capacity like most children who have healthy hearts. It is psychologically devastating for a child to endure a lifetime without any or restricted physical activity at the school gym or playing with friends/siblings - - it's most difficut for the parents who keep praying for the continued health of their child. 40,000 babies are diagnosed with CHD at birth each year along with other children who acquire CHD later on in their lives. Approx 10,000 of those babies who have CHD will require heart surgery or intense medical help to prolong their lives.
But it's an ongoing tragedy which you can help - - The American Heart Association, in partnership with local elementary/middle schools across the nation, is sponsoring the first ever Jump Rope/Hoops for Heart events in 2016 and I am pleased to announce that my daughter Sabella is participating in this event - - sponsored by her school. You can make an online donation through Sabella's dedicated online webpage. Additionally, you can leave an encouraging or thank you note to Sabella (don't worry, I will make sure she reads any of them each day before her bedtime.). Your support will help children such as, Vivian, Cassandra, and other kids who are living with PHD. Thank you.
But it's an ongoing tragedy which you can help - - The American Heart Association, in partnership with local elementary/middle schools across the nation, is sponsoring the first ever Jump Rope/Hoops for Heart events in 2016 and I am pleased to announce that my daughter Sabella is participating in this event - - sponsored by her school. You can make an online donation through Sabella's dedicated online webpage. Additionally, you can leave an encouraging or thank you note to Sabella (don't worry, I will make sure she reads any of them each day before her bedtime.). Your support will help children such as, Vivian, Cassandra, and other kids who are living with PHD. Thank you.
Thursday, December 3, 2015
Westchester Bee Line communication fail.
Westchester County' Bee Line bus system has a good operation, although they could improve on-time performance on some bus roues like the 25. But when it comes to providing information on their website, they are worse than the MTA.
From November 8th until now, a road construction project on Jerome Ave at the Woodlawn Subway terminal on the NYC subway 4 line has detoured Bee Line bus routes 4, 20/20X/21 in the northbound direction. These buses usually run on Jerome Ave from Bedford Park Blvd to Yonkers and are the busiest routes in the entire Bee Line system (the 20/20X/21 is Bee Line's busiest while route 4 ranks up there for it's quick access from Yonkers' Getty Square to the 4 train). Northbound buses are detoured off from Jerome Ave onto Gun Hill Road and Bainbridge Ave until further notice.
But nothing about this service diversion is posted on the Westchetser Bee Line website - - I called Bee Line on two occasions to let them know about the missing information on this temporary detour on their website and it still hasn't been fixed. Mind you, this is not the first time that Bee Line has not posted information about planned detours.
This is the screenshot as of today (12/3) - - only one service notice on Route 1 in Hastings:
The following pictures were taken on Monday at the Woodlawn subway terminal area - - I also drove past this area tonight - - here is a White Plains bound 20 local on Bainbridge Ave
Here is the NYC Transit Bx16/34 bus stop - - now Bee Line buses have to share this stop.
And the service notice - - this picture was too blurry to make out the start date but it was November 8th when the northbound 4/20/20X/21 Bee Line buses to be detoured off Jerome Ave. Therefore, Bee Line was aware of the road work on Jerome and implemented the detour.
So why can't they post this detour on their website? When a fire destroyed a row of stores, and damaged the 260 year old Saint John's Episcopal Church in Yonkers' Getty Square - - Bee Line posted every bus detour which was affected by the street closings. They also go a good job during temporary service changes due to snow over the winter. But I also noticed last summer that Bee Line doesn't post bus detour information during weekend parades and street fairs which required street closures. During 2016 when warmer weather approaches and the parades/fairs kick off along Westchester and Bronx counties, I will try to follow the Bee Line website to see how Bee Line is performing.
For a detour to last almost a month now - - and Bee Line is aware of this project in the Bronx - - it's inexcusable for them not to update this on their website. That is a major communication fail. Wake up Bee Line.
From November 8th until now, a road construction project on Jerome Ave at the Woodlawn Subway terminal on the NYC subway 4 line has detoured Bee Line bus routes 4, 20/20X/21 in the northbound direction. These buses usually run on Jerome Ave from Bedford Park Blvd to Yonkers and are the busiest routes in the entire Bee Line system (the 20/20X/21 is Bee Line's busiest while route 4 ranks up there for it's quick access from Yonkers' Getty Square to the 4 train). Northbound buses are detoured off from Jerome Ave onto Gun Hill Road and Bainbridge Ave until further notice.
But nothing about this service diversion is posted on the Westchetser Bee Line website - - I called Bee Line on two occasions to let them know about the missing information on this temporary detour on their website and it still hasn't been fixed. Mind you, this is not the first time that Bee Line has not posted information about planned detours.
This is the screenshot as of today (12/3) - - only one service notice on Route 1 in Hastings:
The following pictures were taken on Monday at the Woodlawn subway terminal area - - I also drove past this area tonight - - here is a White Plains bound 20 local on Bainbridge Ave
Here is the NYC Transit Bx16/34 bus stop - - now Bee Line buses have to share this stop.
Here is the original bus stop, with temporary sign directing Bee Line customers to walk across Bainbridge Ave to the Bx16/34 bus stop - - note the road work which has taken out the curb lane
And the service notice - - this picture was too blurry to make out the start date but it was November 8th when the northbound 4/20/20X/21 Bee Line buses to be detoured off Jerome Ave. Therefore, Bee Line was aware of the road work on Jerome and implemented the detour.
So why can't they post this detour on their website? When a fire destroyed a row of stores, and damaged the 260 year old Saint John's Episcopal Church in Yonkers' Getty Square - - Bee Line posted every bus detour which was affected by the street closings. They also go a good job during temporary service changes due to snow over the winter. But I also noticed last summer that Bee Line doesn't post bus detour information during weekend parades and street fairs which required street closures. During 2016 when warmer weather approaches and the parades/fairs kick off along Westchester and Bronx counties, I will try to follow the Bee Line website to see how Bee Line is performing.
For a detour to last almost a month now - - and Bee Line is aware of this project in the Bronx - - it's inexcusable for them not to update this on their website. That is a major communication fail. Wake up Bee Line.
Sunday, November 29, 2015
53 years of James Bond, Part 2
Now let's take a look at the rest of the James Bond films
The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
The Good: Best pre-credits sequence ever with a breathtaking ski jump by stuntman Rick Sylvester, Jaws fights Bond, excellent plot, Roger Moore finally gets comfortable in his Bond role, the Lotus Esprit car that can swim underwater as well as drive on the road.
The Bad: Kurt Jergens as Stromberg is one of the weaker playing villains, Stromber's lair reminds us of Dr. No.
Gerber's take: This is my favorite Roger Moore film and the third best 007 film in the series, Moore clashes with Jaws so brilliantly in a great story about the capture of USA and the now former USSR nuclear submarines hijacked as Bond's main woman is a KGB agent who might kill him for the death of her lover during the opening ski chase. The casting of Barbara Bach as a smart Bond woman is a complete departure from Britt Elkland who set womanhood back a 100 years in the Man With The Golden Gun. Grade: A
Fun Fact: This is the first 007 film where Bond directly kills a woman (Caroline Munro as Namoi), It is also the first Bond film to be shot is Dolby Stereo as well as the only Bond film where M's name was used (Miles)
Moonraker (1979)
The good: Bond in outer space, Bond and Jaws tangle again, good plot to create a master race in outer space to destroy earth.
The bad: The film takes the laughable route, at one point a "Magnificent Seven" type scene occurs. Then the film goes the Star Wars route.
Gerber's take: It's laughable at times and Roger Moore really does a lot of jokes - - but what makes this film so interesting to watch is the use o he space shuttles as well as the special effects - - just 2 years after this film was released, NASA launches the first space shuttle, Columbia (STS-1). But Q line at the very end of the film ("I think he's attempting reentry, sir") is the best of the Bond series. Grade B
Fun fact: #1 This is the fifth and final Bond film where the original and undiluted John Barry/Monty Norman 007 theme could be heard - - as well as the only Roger Moore film using said theme. The others were Dr. No, From Russia With Love, You Only Live Twice and OHMSS. #2 Director Lewis Gilbert's last film but more interestingly is the fact that it's his second film which deals with an outer space theme (You Only Live Twice)
For Your Eyes Only (1981)
The Good: Roger's Moore's best film, good chase sequences, Topol, Bond finally kills Blofeld as well
The Bad: Film suffers from rehash of previous Bond film with underwater sequences (Thunderball), and a ski chase (OHMSS) as well as the recovery of an encryption device (the Lektor in From Russia With Love),
Gerber's take: Moore takes his role more seriously then his other Bond outings and Julian Glover is decent as the main villain. There is a satisfying conclusion to Bond finally killing Blofeld after Bond visits his wife's grave, however the ski chase and underwater sequences remind us of past Bond films. Grade C+
Fun Fact: Julian Glover appeared in 2 episodes of The Saint's Roger Moore. Coincidentally, at the end of a different episode of The Saint, "Luella" (1963), a woman would come up to Roger Moore's Simon Templar - looking forward to work alongside James Bond then asks Templar if he was James Bond. 9 years later, Moore would start playing Bond in 1972 for Live and Let Die.
Octopussy (1983)
The Good: Carly Simon's theme song, Maude Adams returns to play the title character. Good plot to start an Soviet invasion on Europe.
The Bad: Moore getting silly but still holding his own, some actions sequences are getting worn.
Gerber's take: Silly at times (Bond as Tarzan and a clown) but this is a film starting Roger Moore and he does provide the comic relief mixed in with a very good plot to disarm most of Europe by plating a nuclear bomb to kill thousands at a U.S. air force base in West Germany, allowing the Soviet Union to invade Europe. This is a much better film than Never Say Never Again, however is falls short of the best Bond films. Grade: B-
Fun fact: This is the first Bond film to use a title named after a female character as well the first actress (Adams) to "die" in one Bond film (The Man With the Golden Gun) then appear in another film.
Never Say Never Again (1983)
The Good: Sean Connery comes back for one more Bond, good cast with Kim Basinger, Klaus Maria Brandauer, and
The Bad: Thunderball ripoff plot, Connery gets beaten up most of the time, Since this was a Warner Bros film, not MGM-UA, no gun barrel sequence
Gerber's take: Producer Kevin McClory finally got his wish to see his Thunderball version on the big screen after a nearly 2 decade court battle with Eon Productions over McClory's rights to the Thunderball novelization by Ian Fleming. He should have burned the entire production down. The only bright spot in the film is Barbara Carrrera who plays the killer Fatima Blush. Edward Fox plays a overacting M, lousy. Grade: D
Fun Fact: The only differences between Thunderball and Never Say Never Again are the absences of the gun barrel sequence and the Aston Martin car in the latter, as we as some minor character differences between the two films (Emily Largo/Maximilian Largo, Fiona Volpe/Fatima Blush, etc.) and addition of the video game battle between Bond and Largo in the latter. Adjust those items and you have two nearly identical films.
A View To A Kill (1985)
The Good: Duran,Duran's theme song, Grace Jones and Christopher Walken as baddies.
The Bad: Moore is too old and worn to play Bond anymore. Plot to destroy Silicon Valley, CA - - ho hum.
Gerber's take: Christopher Walken is a great actor but he is so stiff in this weak Bond film, Moore lacks the humor he exhibited in eariler films and he is bedding women half his age. Grade C+
Fun Facts #1 Patrick MacNee would be the third Avengers TV star to appear in a James Bond film. The other two - Honor Blackman and Diana Rigg. #2 So far, this would be the final James Bond film to be shot in the United States.
The Living Daylights (1987)
The Good: Bond seeking revenge against a drug lord, Dalton's final film
The bad: Truck doing a wheelie????? Oh please
Gerber's take: Only Die Another Day tops the worst Bond film. No megalomaniac bad guy, no interesting Bond, and it plays more like a made-for-TV film. Banal Bond. Grade: F
Fun fact: #1 Final film for longtime Bond filmmakers Richard Malibum (Screenwriter), Maurice Binder (he's the one who created the famous Bond title sequences), and director John Glen. Glen also was film editor of On Her Majesty's Secret Service. #2 David Hedison is the first actor to play Felix Leiter in more than one Bond film. His first appearance was Live and Let Die.
Goldeneye (1995)
The Good: New Bond (Pierce Brosnan) reignites the Bond franchise after a 7 year hiatus, Tina Turner belts out the title song, Judi Dench as the new "M".
The Bad: Special effects start to take over the Bond series, Some critics say Brosnan is nowhere near the league of Connery and Moore
Gerber's take: No doubt Brosnan is a definitive improvement over Dalton but he is nowhere near Connery, Moore or even Daniel Craig. There is a terrific chase between Bond (in a tank) and Ourumov (Gottfried John). The film is Brosnan's best but he goes downhill from there with the next 3 entries. Grade: B-
Fun fact: Joe Don Baker is the fourth actor who appeared as two different characters - - as the arms dealer Brad Whitaker in The Living Daylights and as CIA agent Jack Wade. Baker reprises his Jade Wade role one more time in the next film, Tomorrow Never Dies.
Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)
The Good: Johnatha Pryce as an above average villian, good plot to cause WW III by a media mogul
The Bad: Typical Bond formula
Gerber's take: Part Thunderball (stolen missile), part From Russia With Love (encoder machine) - - with the only best parts are from Johnathan Pryce and Michelle Yech as a Chinese spy working alongside Bond. Bond does his exercise by jumping over machine gun bullets, ho hum. Grade: C-
Fun Fact: TND opened the same day as the epic classic Titanic, enough said!.
The World is Not Enough (1999)
The Good: At last an original Bond plot that does not rely on previous films, spectacular opening sequence which is the longest in any Bond film, at nearly 15 minutes.
The Bad: Robert Caryle as Renard is one of the weakest Bond villains,
Gerber's take: After a fantastic pre-credits sequence where Bond escapes death then chases a woman who killed a friend of M's - the chase ends at the Millennium Dome and nearly 15 minutes into the film - the rest of the movie goes the convoluted route and becomes and exercise in action without rhyme/reasoning - - as well as a lack of character development. Grade: D
Fun fact: Final film for Desmond Llewelyn as Q (Major Boothroyd). Mr. Llewelyn remains the longest serving actor in a recurring role to date with 17 films over 36 years - - the notable exceptions where Lleewelyn did not appear in a Bond film are Dr. No and Live and Let Die. (Never Say Never Again does not count because it's not an Eon produced film).
Die Another Day (2003)
The Good: The 20th Bond film takes everything from the previous 19 films (excluding Never Say Never Again which is a remake of Thunderball),, Halle Berry, Madonna singing the title song, Piecre Brosnan's final Bond role.
The bad: Awful CGI takes up almost the entire film, too many scenes reflecting on the past 19 Bond films, plot is ripoff of Diamonds Are Forever
Gerber's take: Positively the worst Bond film ever made - - instead of a film which reflects on the past 19 Bond films - - it is crammed into almost every scene along with some of the most awful CGI special effects/ Take for instance the invisible car, Bond surviving an avalanche (shades of OMHSS) by now take a surf wave, Bond rescuing Jinx by finding a hot water area in a glacier filled scene (????). Even Roger Moor hated this film (and he made it clear that shooting Bond in outer space was preposterous) Grade: F
Fun fact: Almost every single reference to the previous 19 Bond films can be found in the "classified" MI6 page here Even a page as detailed as this can have a couple of omissions too, one of them I know is the "house of mirrors" sequence in the "Thunderball" health clinic. Those mirrors are from The Man With Golden Gun.
Casino Royale (2006)
The Good: Daniel Craig as the new Bond. Film is based on Ian Flemings first novel, the 007 franchise gets a new life with a "reboot" - how Bond gets it 007 status.
The Bad: Longest film until Spectre, no gadgets,
Gerber's take: Casino Royale is one of the best Bond films. The film not only take us back to Bond's roots as a cold-blooded killer of bad guys, the film allows Daniel Craig to mold and grow into his Bond role. Instead of the phony CGI effects in DAD, we see Craig as not a cartoon character but a man who is vulnerable and intimidating. The Madagascar Parkour chase sequence with Sébastien Foucan as Molika is one of the best action sequences ever filmed, using Parkour free running moves. Grade: A
Fun Fact: Loved that Parkour chase sequence? You should because this foot chase it is the very first non-vehicle chase sequence in the entire 007 franchise (well 95 percent of the time as Bond hops on the back of a truck for a few seconds).
Quantum of Solace (2008)
The good: Continuation of Casino Royale, Judi Dence as M has a larger role
The bad: Shortest Bond film in history, product placement is getting annoying (possibly because of the short running time),
Gerber's take: QOS could have been a much better film if director Marc Foster and his crew took more time in continuing to develop Daniel Craig's Bond. We immediately jump to a car chase sequence which looks like part of the northbound FDR Drive tunnels in New York City (but it's not, obviously) without any reasoning why this chase happened until after it ends (Mr. White from Casino Royal is tied up in the car's trunk). The short running time builds on one thing, chase and action sequences - - and leaves little time on the plot development until the last 30 minutes of the film. And the last 30 minutes of the film is not that great either. Grade: C-
Fun Fact: To date, this is the only Bond film which as a car, boat and foot chase sequences.
Skyfall (2010)
The Good: Craig in one of his better Bond roles, Judi Dench in her best role as M
The bad: Judi Dench's final film as M
Gerber's take: Judi Dench gives her best performance as M - - this film has a lot of character development as well as humor - - especially between Bond and the bad guy Raul Silver (played by Javier Bardem). Skyfall also makes you want to care about Bond relationship with his boss, M. However, the final 30 minutes is disappointing, not so much when M dies but the overall action takes places in a house. Grade B+
Fun fact: Skyfall received the most Academy Award nominations in the entire Bond franchise with five, winning two of them (Best Original Song performed by Adele, also the first for a Bond film to win in song and sound editing)
The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
The Good: Best pre-credits sequence ever with a breathtaking ski jump by stuntman Rick Sylvester, Jaws fights Bond, excellent plot, Roger Moore finally gets comfortable in his Bond role, the Lotus Esprit car that can swim underwater as well as drive on the road.
The Bad: Kurt Jergens as Stromberg is one of the weaker playing villains, Stromber's lair reminds us of Dr. No.
Gerber's take: This is my favorite Roger Moore film and the third best 007 film in the series, Moore clashes with Jaws so brilliantly in a great story about the capture of USA and the now former USSR nuclear submarines hijacked as Bond's main woman is a KGB agent who might kill him for the death of her lover during the opening ski chase. The casting of Barbara Bach as a smart Bond woman is a complete departure from Britt Elkland who set womanhood back a 100 years in the Man With The Golden Gun. Grade: A
Fun Fact: This is the first 007 film where Bond directly kills a woman (Caroline Munro as Namoi), It is also the first Bond film to be shot is Dolby Stereo as well as the only Bond film where M's name was used (Miles)
Moonraker (1979)
The good: Bond in outer space, Bond and Jaws tangle again, good plot to create a master race in outer space to destroy earth.
The bad: The film takes the laughable route, at one point a "Magnificent Seven" type scene occurs. Then the film goes the Star Wars route.
Gerber's take: It's laughable at times and Roger Moore really does a lot of jokes - - but what makes this film so interesting to watch is the use o he space shuttles as well as the special effects - - just 2 years after this film was released, NASA launches the first space shuttle, Columbia (STS-1). But Q line at the very end of the film ("I think he's attempting reentry, sir") is the best of the Bond series. Grade B
Fun fact: #1 This is the fifth and final Bond film where the original and undiluted John Barry/Monty Norman 007 theme could be heard - - as well as the only Roger Moore film using said theme. The others were Dr. No, From Russia With Love, You Only Live Twice and OHMSS. #2 Director Lewis Gilbert's last film but more interestingly is the fact that it's his second film which deals with an outer space theme (You Only Live Twice)
For Your Eyes Only (1981)
The Good: Roger's Moore's best film, good chase sequences, Topol, Bond finally kills Blofeld as well
The Bad: Film suffers from rehash of previous Bond film with underwater sequences (Thunderball), and a ski chase (OHMSS) as well as the recovery of an encryption device (the Lektor in From Russia With Love),
Gerber's take: Moore takes his role more seriously then his other Bond outings and Julian Glover is decent as the main villain. There is a satisfying conclusion to Bond finally killing Blofeld after Bond visits his wife's grave, however the ski chase and underwater sequences remind us of past Bond films. Grade C+
Fun Fact: Julian Glover appeared in 2 episodes of The Saint's Roger Moore. Coincidentally, at the end of a different episode of The Saint, "Luella" (1963), a woman would come up to Roger Moore's Simon Templar - looking forward to work alongside James Bond then asks Templar if he was James Bond. 9 years later, Moore would start playing Bond in 1972 for Live and Let Die.
Octopussy (1983)
The Good: Carly Simon's theme song, Maude Adams returns to play the title character. Good plot to start an Soviet invasion on Europe.
The Bad: Moore getting silly but still holding his own, some actions sequences are getting worn.
Gerber's take: Silly at times (Bond as Tarzan and a clown) but this is a film starting Roger Moore and he does provide the comic relief mixed in with a very good plot to disarm most of Europe by plating a nuclear bomb to kill thousands at a U.S. air force base in West Germany, allowing the Soviet Union to invade Europe. This is a much better film than Never Say Never Again, however is falls short of the best Bond films. Grade: B-
Fun fact: This is the first Bond film to use a title named after a female character as well the first actress (Adams) to "die" in one Bond film (The Man With the Golden Gun) then appear in another film.
Never Say Never Again (1983)
The Good: Sean Connery comes back for one more Bond, good cast with Kim Basinger, Klaus Maria Brandauer, and
The Bad: Thunderball ripoff plot, Connery gets beaten up most of the time, Since this was a Warner Bros film, not MGM-UA, no gun barrel sequence
Gerber's take: Producer Kevin McClory finally got his wish to see his Thunderball version on the big screen after a nearly 2 decade court battle with Eon Productions over McClory's rights to the Thunderball novelization by Ian Fleming. He should have burned the entire production down. The only bright spot in the film is Barbara Carrrera who plays the killer Fatima Blush. Edward Fox plays a overacting M, lousy. Grade: D
Fun Fact: The only differences between Thunderball and Never Say Never Again are the absences of the gun barrel sequence and the Aston Martin car in the latter, as we as some minor character differences between the two films (Emily Largo/Maximilian Largo, Fiona Volpe/Fatima Blush, etc.) and addition of the video game battle between Bond and Largo in the latter. Adjust those items and you have two nearly identical films.
A View To A Kill (1985)
The Good: Duran,Duran's theme song, Grace Jones and Christopher Walken as baddies.
The Bad: Moore is too old and worn to play Bond anymore. Plot to destroy Silicon Valley, CA - - ho hum.
Gerber's take: Christopher Walken is a great actor but he is so stiff in this weak Bond film, Moore lacks the humor he exhibited in eariler films and he is bedding women half his age. Grade C+
Fun Facts #1 Patrick MacNee would be the third Avengers TV star to appear in a James Bond film. The other two - Honor Blackman and Diana Rigg. #2 So far, this would be the final James Bond film to be shot in the United States.
The Living Daylights (1987)
The Good: Bond seeking revenge against a drug lord, Dalton's final film
The bad: Truck doing a wheelie????? Oh please
Gerber's take: Only Die Another Day tops the worst Bond film. No megalomaniac bad guy, no interesting Bond, and it plays more like a made-for-TV film. Banal Bond. Grade: F
Fun fact: #1 Final film for longtime Bond filmmakers Richard Malibum (Screenwriter), Maurice Binder (he's the one who created the famous Bond title sequences), and director John Glen. Glen also was film editor of On Her Majesty's Secret Service. #2 David Hedison is the first actor to play Felix Leiter in more than one Bond film. His first appearance was Live and Let Die.
Goldeneye (1995)
The Good: New Bond (Pierce Brosnan) reignites the Bond franchise after a 7 year hiatus, Tina Turner belts out the title song, Judi Dench as the new "M".
The Bad: Special effects start to take over the Bond series, Some critics say Brosnan is nowhere near the league of Connery and Moore
Gerber's take: No doubt Brosnan is a definitive improvement over Dalton but he is nowhere near Connery, Moore or even Daniel Craig. There is a terrific chase between Bond (in a tank) and Ourumov (Gottfried John). The film is Brosnan's best but he goes downhill from there with the next 3 entries. Grade: B-
Fun fact: Joe Don Baker is the fourth actor who appeared as two different characters - - as the arms dealer Brad Whitaker in The Living Daylights and as CIA agent Jack Wade. Baker reprises his Jade Wade role one more time in the next film, Tomorrow Never Dies.
Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)
The Good: Johnatha Pryce as an above average villian, good plot to cause WW III by a media mogul
The Bad: Typical Bond formula
Gerber's take: Part Thunderball (stolen missile), part From Russia With Love (encoder machine) - - with the only best parts are from Johnathan Pryce and Michelle Yech as a Chinese spy working alongside Bond. Bond does his exercise by jumping over machine gun bullets, ho hum. Grade: C-
Fun Fact: TND opened the same day as the epic classic Titanic, enough said!.
The World is Not Enough (1999)
The Good: At last an original Bond plot that does not rely on previous films, spectacular opening sequence which is the longest in any Bond film, at nearly 15 minutes.
The Bad: Robert Caryle as Renard is one of the weakest Bond villains,
Gerber's take: After a fantastic pre-credits sequence where Bond escapes death then chases a woman who killed a friend of M's - the chase ends at the Millennium Dome and nearly 15 minutes into the film - the rest of the movie goes the convoluted route and becomes and exercise in action without rhyme/reasoning - - as well as a lack of character development. Grade: D
Fun fact: Final film for Desmond Llewelyn as Q (Major Boothroyd). Mr. Llewelyn remains the longest serving actor in a recurring role to date with 17 films over 36 years - - the notable exceptions where Lleewelyn did not appear in a Bond film are Dr. No and Live and Let Die. (Never Say Never Again does not count because it's not an Eon produced film).
Die Another Day (2003)
The Good: The 20th Bond film takes everything from the previous 19 films (excluding Never Say Never Again which is a remake of Thunderball),, Halle Berry, Madonna singing the title song, Piecre Brosnan's final Bond role.
The bad: Awful CGI takes up almost the entire film, too many scenes reflecting on the past 19 Bond films, plot is ripoff of Diamonds Are Forever
Gerber's take: Positively the worst Bond film ever made - - instead of a film which reflects on the past 19 Bond films - - it is crammed into almost every scene along with some of the most awful CGI special effects/ Take for instance the invisible car, Bond surviving an avalanche (shades of OMHSS) by now take a surf wave, Bond rescuing Jinx by finding a hot water area in a glacier filled scene (????). Even Roger Moor hated this film (and he made it clear that shooting Bond in outer space was preposterous) Grade: F
Fun fact: Almost every single reference to the previous 19 Bond films can be found in the "classified" MI6 page here Even a page as detailed as this can have a couple of omissions too, one of them I know is the "house of mirrors" sequence in the "Thunderball" health clinic. Those mirrors are from The Man With Golden Gun.
Casino Royale (2006)
The Good: Daniel Craig as the new Bond. Film is based on Ian Flemings first novel, the 007 franchise gets a new life with a "reboot" - how Bond gets it 007 status.
The Bad: Longest film until Spectre, no gadgets,
Gerber's take: Casino Royale is one of the best Bond films. The film not only take us back to Bond's roots as a cold-blooded killer of bad guys, the film allows Daniel Craig to mold and grow into his Bond role. Instead of the phony CGI effects in DAD, we see Craig as not a cartoon character but a man who is vulnerable and intimidating. The Madagascar Parkour chase sequence with Sébastien Foucan as Molika is one of the best action sequences ever filmed, using Parkour free running moves. Grade: A
Fun Fact: Loved that Parkour chase sequence? You should because this foot chase it is the very first non-vehicle chase sequence in the entire 007 franchise (well 95 percent of the time as Bond hops on the back of a truck for a few seconds).
Quantum of Solace (2008)
The good: Continuation of Casino Royale, Judi Dence as M has a larger role
The bad: Shortest Bond film in history, product placement is getting annoying (possibly because of the short running time),
Gerber's take: QOS could have been a much better film if director Marc Foster and his crew took more time in continuing to develop Daniel Craig's Bond. We immediately jump to a car chase sequence which looks like part of the northbound FDR Drive tunnels in New York City (but it's not, obviously) without any reasoning why this chase happened until after it ends (Mr. White from Casino Royal is tied up in the car's trunk). The short running time builds on one thing, chase and action sequences - - and leaves little time on the plot development until the last 30 minutes of the film. And the last 30 minutes of the film is not that great either. Grade: C-
Fun Fact: To date, this is the only Bond film which as a car, boat and foot chase sequences.
Skyfall (2010)
The Good: Craig in one of his better Bond roles, Judi Dench in her best role as M
The bad: Judi Dench's final film as M
Gerber's take: Judi Dench gives her best performance as M - - this film has a lot of character development as well as humor - - especially between Bond and the bad guy Raul Silver (played by Javier Bardem). Skyfall also makes you want to care about Bond relationship with his boss, M. However, the final 30 minutes is disappointing, not so much when M dies but the overall action takes places in a house. Grade B+
Fun fact: Skyfall received the most Academy Award nominations in the entire Bond franchise with five, winning two of them (Best Original Song performed by Adele, also the first for a Bond film to win in song and sound editing)
Monday, November 16, 2015
Paris attacks in comparison to other attacks this year.
Blogger's note: The Bond films and other stuff will resume next week,
Tragic
Paris and the world are mourning right now since ISIS orchestrated the largest terrorist attack in France since Hitler's invasion of Europe in 1939. Social media and news media dominated coverage of the Paris attacks with millions of Facebook users using the France flag on their profile pictures.
But the attention on France is different from other terrorist attacks which get little or no interest in news and social media, like this interesting news page from the Inquisitir on the April 3, 2015 attack in a Kenya school which left 143 dead - - or the 2,000 innocent people in Boko Haram in January, 2015. Both attacks were plotted by Islamic extremists like ISIS and both resulted in mass casualties. They received little media attention and far less attention on social media.
And President Obama's response to the Paris attacks? Forget it, he is a joke - - his response after a reporter grilled Obama during the G-20 Summit shows how much a joke he is on terrorism.
A human life is a human life - - we need to think about God's children, regardless of the city or country,
Pray for France, Kenya, Boko Haram, and everyone in this world.
Tragic
Paris and the world are mourning right now since ISIS orchestrated the largest terrorist attack in France since Hitler's invasion of Europe in 1939. Social media and news media dominated coverage of the Paris attacks with millions of Facebook users using the France flag on their profile pictures.
But the attention on France is different from other terrorist attacks which get little or no interest in news and social media, like this interesting news page from the Inquisitir on the April 3, 2015 attack in a Kenya school which left 143 dead - - or the 2,000 innocent people in Boko Haram in January, 2015. Both attacks were plotted by Islamic extremists like ISIS and both resulted in mass casualties. They received little media attention and far less attention on social media.
And President Obama's response to the Paris attacks? Forget it, he is a joke - - his response after a reporter grilled Obama during the G-20 Summit shows how much a joke he is on terrorism.
A human life is a human life - - we need to think about God's children, regardless of the city or country,
Pray for France, Kenya, Boko Haram, and everyone in this world.
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