Your Friday Video Link: The Inside Scoop On the Last Supper

Under the heading of "I hope God does have a sense of humor", particularly with Easter around the corner, Your Friday Video Link is an inside look at what went down with Jesus and his disciples at the Last Supper, courtesy of Mel Brooks. 

Batman: The Bat Man Of Gotham

If Batman doesn't exist, Bruce Wayne will have to invent him.

"Yes, Gotham! I shall become a bat!"

Chip Zdarsky's current story arc in Batman picks up where "Failsafe" left off.  At the end of that story, the out of control android was only stopped by letting it fulfill it's mission. 

Batman was destroyed! 

Except...

No, not quite. 

Nope, Bruce Wayne was not killed but shunted out of existence from his Earth to another one. 

"The Bat Man Of Gotham" tells the story of Bruce Wayne consigned to an Earth where Gotham City is even more of a hellscape than ever. 

Crime is beyond rampant. The cops are more than just corrupt but actively working to make life a torment for it's citizens. The very air and water are making people crazy.  

Oh, Gotham is a good place to be if you're rich... no, rich is not good enough. Super rich, that's enough to put you in a good place in Gotham. 

Without the stratospheric protection of super wealth, everyone else in Gotham City is on a fast track of torment, torture and death. 

And there's no one to help them.

The Bruce Wayne of this world is dead. 

Our Bruce Wayne is trying to suss out how to get back to his world but damn if this one doesn't really need someone to save it. 

Which is a neat trick because in this world, Bruce Wayne lacks his own wealth and access to his support network of associates. But nonetheless, these people need help and Bruce arrives at the only conclusion he can. 

"I shall become a bat!"

The art for this storyline by Mike Hawthorne and Adriano di Benedetto with colors by Tomeu Morey has a retro look, clean lines mixed with grit and shadows. It's a hard core film noir Gotham with a Batman to match.  

The back up strip by Zdarsky chronicles Tim Drake's Robin working with Mr. Terrific to figure out where in the multiverse did Failsafe send Bruce Wayne.  

"The Bat Man Of Gotham" is off to a pretty cool start, putting Bruce Wayne in the role of Batman without the usual supporting mechanisms he has in his own world.  Some things still hold true. Criminals are still a cowardly and superstitious lot. But the members of that lot are not exactly ones that Bruce knows from his world.   

The Political Story That Really Matters

 So Tuesday, Donald Trump showed up in Manhattan to be arraigned on 34 felony charges relating to his hush money payments to Stormy Daniels and blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah oh who really gives a god damn anyway?

Oooh! It's a big story that we have the unprecedented occurrence of a former President being charged with a crime? That would be more of big deal if we hadn't already lived through the the unprecedented occurrence of having a President who was a brain damaged fucking liar. 

While the press was breathlessly reporting on, as Mark Evanier put it, "ten minutes of actual information paraphrased and repeated over and over for hours", the political story that REALLY matters was happening in Tennessee.  

The story began last week as hundreds of protestors gathered at the capitol in Nashville to urge lawmakers to pass gun safety measures in the aftermath of a shooting at a local school that left three adults and three children dead.

The protests have been noteworthy for the level of passion and commitment to their cause. 

It should come as no surprise that such passion and commitment has made no impression on the Republicans who hold a majority in the House. By God, people can have all the guns they want as the 2nd amendment and Jesus intended and it doesn't matter how many children have to die. 

From the House floor, Reps. Gloria Johnson, Justin Jones and Justin Pearson led chants calling on their colleagues to pass new gun laws. 

It should come as no surprise that the Republicans did not care for that either. The Republican leadership immediately stripped these Democrats of their committee assignments and introduced a resolution to expel them from the state legislature.

So let's see if we have a handle on what's going on in Tennessee? 

Weeks after 6 people lost their lives to gun violence in the state, the Republican legislature has done fuck all about protecting the people of their state from further such violence. 

Those hundreds of young people protesting outside? Fuck 'em! They don't vote Republican anyway so who cares? 

But they will find time to expel three members who dared to speak out in support of those citizens demanding justice? 

Fuck following Donald Trump around! This is the political story that really matters!  

Tuesday TV Touchbase: A Sort Of Homecoming

While Andrea and I were over on Disney+ catching up on The Mandalorian and Moon Girl & Devil Dinosaur, I noticed a banner on the site promoting a new documentary featuring Bono and the Edge from U2 and David Letterman. 

What the what?  How is this a thing? Why is this a thing?

 “Bono & The Edge: A Sort of Homecoming, with Dave Letterman” is a documentary centered around Bono and the Edge performing some stripped down and slightly re-worked U2 classics at a tiny theater in Dublin.  

But it's beyond just U2's front men doing an "unplugged" set of U2's hits. It's a story about U2's journey as it parallels Ireland's development. Ireland's not an easy nation to live in, to survive let alone thrive. It's a nation that was the center of violence driven by political and religious schisms but has over time learned to be a peace with itself. 

So why is David Letterman there? 

Well, here's Bono's explanation:  “The thing that Dave brought is that he brought the comedy to the tragedy. And you know, there’s a reason why Willie Shakespeare wrote that form. And our music is just better with him around, I thought. Musically, it was better just by him being in the room, kind of taking the piss out of it.”

Well, some of Letterman's classic snark does go a long way to deflating any pomposity relating to the impact U2 and Ireland have had on each other but interestingly, David Letterman comes across as sincere and respectful of both the history and legacy of Ireland and the power and artistry of U2's music. 

There's a genuine sense of David Letterman's unexpected joy of just being out of the house and getting to meet new people. In addition to chatting with Bono and the Edge,  Dave interacts with Glen Hansard, an Irish singer and actor; the two compares the magnificence of their respective beard.  Dave interviews an Irish drag queen who made her name performing shows in Japan because she didn't feel safe in Ireland. Seeing U2 on tour when they came to Japan convinced her to return to Ireland.  

Dave hangs out with regular people at various Irish stores and bars where after all these years he can still find the humor of everyday life. 

Dave goes to a sea side spot known as "The Forty Foot": Irish folk go out in the icy cold Atlantic waters at all seasons of the year. At first David Letterman demures from going out into the water of the Forty Foot but at the end of the film, with a grimace and a grim, he wades triumphantly into the icy sea.  

On the soundtrack is a new original song that Bono and the Edge wrote especially for Dave, "The Forty Foot Man". 

It's a little weird that a documentary about U2 is missing two of it's members, Larry Mullen and Adam Clayton. Their absence is briefly addressed, Dave gets a couple of jokes out of it and there is a credit at the end where Bono and the Edge thank Larry and Adam for letting them do this.  

"A Sort of Homecoming" is a beautifully constructed documentary about Irish life, history and culture and the parallel story of U2. David Letterman's inclusion provides the expected laughs but an unexpected earnestness. Letterman has a deep and abiding appreciation for what he finds in Dublin, Ireland and his affection for the people is palpable. 

Next week's Touchbase takes a look at two new series that have gotten my attention.

Until next time, remember to be good to one another and try to keep it down in there, would ya? I'm trying to watch TV over here.   

Tears For A Clown

 I suppose of all the things going on in the world, we should deal with the large, loud, flabby orange elephant in the room, the indictment of Donald Trump. 

As I posted here on Friday, "Donald Trump was indicted by a Manhattan grand jury Thursday for his role in a $130,000 hush money payment to Stormy Daniels in the days before the 2016 election."

I also posted a linked to "Ding Dong The Wicked Witch Is Dead" from the Wizard of Oz which may be a bit much. 

Indicted only means Li'l Donnie has been charged with a crime. He hasn't been arrested with the prerequisite perp walk and we're not likely to get one. The Secret Service are trying to navigate the totally new territory of what exactly to do when a former President under their protection has been charged with a crime and needs be arrested. 

Donald Trump has not be found guilty of a crime. But the mere act of being indicted is as close as we've seen Donald Trump actually being held accountable for any damn thing, well, excuse me for getting a little excited over that. "Ding dong!" indeed. 

But Li'l Donnie's slippery tendency to avoid actual legal trouble may yet prevail. When it's time for Trump and his lawyers to answer the charges in the indictment and whole kerfuffle is worked on in open court in front of a jury, Donald Trump may still scamper back to Florida a free man.  

But news of the indictment on Thursday was greeted as if a bent and beaten Donald Trump in a orange jump suit and shackles was being lead away the gallows. 

On Fox News, there was such a wailing, a rending of garments and gnashing of teeth over the mere act of Trump being indicted. Sen. Lindsay Graham was on the edge of frickin' tears for Christ's sake as he begged and pleaded for Trump supporters to go Trump's website and donate money to help their billionaire buddy fight this travesty of justice. 

One Fox News pundit confessed to having tears in his eyes when he heard about the indictment.  

What exactly pray tell is this "travesty". Well, as I am writing this, we don't really know.  We know it relates to the money Trump paid to porn star Stormy Daniels but as to the specific laws that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and his grand jury are alleging Li'l Donnie actually broke, we won't know until the indictment is unsealed. 

The prevailing assumption is that Bragg would not have signed off on this indictment if he didn't really feel like he had something solid to go on. I've seen enough Law & Order to know district attorneys do no like bringing charges against a high profile target without making damn sure that every fucking duck is a fucking row.

As the adage goes, "When you come gunning for the king, you best not miss."  

But there is a prevailing concern that pursuing criminal charges against a former President for questionable payments to a porn star is a rather specious basis for a criminal case. Even people who don't support Li'l Donnie think this is a shaky foundation to launch criminal charges. 

Well, if that doesn't work out, there's always Georgia's investigation over Trump's efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

Or the forthcoming trial relating to Trump’s alleged 1990's rape of E. Jean Carroll in a Bergdorf Goodman department store dressing room in Manhattan.

OR the special counsel probing the events of Jan. 6, 2021 and Trump's involvement in the Capitol riot.

OR the OTHER special counsel investigating Trump’s handling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago and potential obstruction of that investigation.

There will be other opportunities for Lindsey Graham to shed more tears for this clown.  

Cinema Sunday: Shazam! Fury of the Gods

This week's Cinema Sunday is reflects on a movie Andrea and I went to see 2 weeks ago in it's opening weekend. 

Let's turn out gaze towards Shazam! Fury of the Gods! 

It's been a couple of years since Billy Batson and his fellow foster family kids "SHAZAM'd" up as super heroes and defeated the nefarious schemes of Thaddeus Sivana. In the intervening time, these heroes have become the...

Well, certainly not the pride of Philadelphia. 

The local media refers to this collective of heroes as the "Philly Fiascos".  

Case in point, a bridge begins to collapse and hundreds of motorists are in danger. Billy and his "Shazamily" swoop in and save 162 lives with no injuries or deaths. 

But they can't stop the bridge from collapsing. 

Philadelphia's collective response? "You SUCK!" 

Philly sports fans are mean assholes and damned if they ain't the same way with their would be super heroes. 

Billy is trying to hold the gang together but they're getting older and itching to do their own thing. Mary wants to go to college but has to work. Billy is on the verge of turning 18 and aging out of the foster program, meaning he may have to leave his foster family. 

And there's a dark and ominous plot afoot from immortal beings known as the Sisters of Atlas, seeking revenge on the Wizard for killing their father, stealing their powers and always forgetting to put the toilet seat down.   

So the sisters are on a tear to get back the powers from those upstart heroes in Philadelphia. 

Beyond that, well, the sisters are not in agreement vis-a-vie their long term goals. One of them is seriously pissed at humankind and ready to destroy the world.  

There's some obstacles to be overcome, battles to be fought, secrets to be revealed, sacrifices to be made....

Well, it all works out in the end. 

Is Shazam! Fury of the Gods a great movie? Not really.

At the very least, is Shazam! Fury of the Gods a good movie? Well...

Look, I came out of this movie feeling sufficiently entertained and amused.  

But sitting here writing about it, I am kind of hard pressed to explain exactly while I was entertained and amused. 

One my favorite bits from the movie involves the Shazamily, their sentient magical pen they named "Steve" and a letter they dictate to the Sisters of Atlas.  When Steve takes dictation, he literally writes everything the speaker (or anyone around them) says. 

So we have a sequence that begins with adult Billy beginning the letter with "To the Sisters of Atlas, violence is not the answer..."  

A moment later, the sisters magically receive the letter and the one played by the great Helen Mirren reads the letter:  "To the Sisters of Atlas, violence is not the answer. Oh, that's a great opening. Yeah I thought we needed to set the right tone. Anyway, where were we? Oh yeah, right. Violence is not the answer. I propose we should meet for a peaceful negotiation. Wow, that sounds so grown up. We need the Sisters to take us seriously." And so on and so on. 

I and everyone else in the theater was laughing so hard at this bit. It is just too damn funny hearing Helen Mirren read this stream of consciousness dreck.  

But I think where the movie falters is the see-saw between these bits of outright comedy and also trying to be a straight up super hero action film. Hell, this goofy movie ends with people frickin' dying. 

In one case, death is reversed with help from a cool cameo from Wonder Woman. (Gal Gadot is still with us for one more movie.) 

Scenes with Billy as an adult super hero are always played for laughs and scenes with Billy as a teen-ager are always played for drama. So when adult Billy has to make a sacrifice play to save the Earth from being destroyed, one might wonder where the hell did that come from? How is this big goofball suddenly the dramatic core of our big save the world ending? 

Billy spends most of the move in his adult form played by Zachary Levi and has very little to do in his teen-age persona played by Asher Angel. OK, we get it. The funniest moments from the first film was a teen-ager mucking about in a super powered adult body so let's give everyone more of that, right?

 But there is a disconnect when the boy is more mature than the boy in the man's body. In the sequel, Billy is now 17 while Zachary Levi is playing adult Billy with the mentality of someone closer to 13.  

As I said before, I came out of  Shazam! Fury of the Gods feeling like I had a good time. But upon reflection, I wish that good time had been with a better movie. 

Next week, Cinema Sunday visits this year's Oscar winner for Best Picture.

It's Everything Everywhere All At Once.

Songs For Saturday: Weird Al Yankovic

 

Since today is April 1st, AKA April Fool's Day, Songs For Saturday will indulge in some foolery with Weird Al Yankovic.

We'll start with what I think is hand's down my favorite Weird Al parody of all time, "Amish Paradise".

Only Weird Al could merge Dire Straits' "Money For Nothing" with the Beverly Hillbillies. 

Let's wrap up our April Fool's Day tribute to Weird Al with "White & Nerdy".  

And that is that for this week's Songs For Saturday. 

Until next time, remember to be good to one another and to always keep the music alive!