All comics by larryta

 

L.A. Flicks by larryta 4-13-08
Somewhere inside Charles Foster Kane's storage room at Xanadu, two Tylers discussed the topic du jour... The first rule of movie blogging is... There's no money in it?	The second rule of movie blogging is... There's no money in it?	The third rule of movie blogging is... There's no money in it, but look at the fabulous ways you can waste time?

 

L.A. Flicks on Summer Movies by larryta 4-15-08
Meanwhile, back in Xanadu's basement, the two Tylers are still talking cinema... I hate the summer movie season. More insipid comic book flicks for adolescent adults. Iron Man! Iron Man! Speed Racer! Speed Racer!	Please. How much longer can we contribute to the infantalization of modern culture? So, this means you’ll be skipping the Spielberg?	OMG! No way! Dude, I am so freakin’ there! Hey, do you think there’ll be tie-in toys? Memo to Indiana Jones: I think we’ve located the kingdom of the crystal numbskull.

 

L.A. Flicks: On Charlie Chaplin's Birthday by larryta 4-15-08
Suddenly, the two Tylers stopped their ceaseless cinematic one-upmanship when they realized that today, April 16, is Charlie Chaplin's birthday. I cry like a baby at the end of 'City Lights.' I weep like a child at the end of 'The Circus.'	Writing, directing, acting, producing. He was the original multi-hyphenate. And he was perhaps the biggest star in the history of cinema. We tend to forget that, don't we?	The Little Tramp. 'The Gold Rush.' 'Shoulder Arms.' 'Limelight.' 'Monsieur Verdoux.' 'Modern Times.' 'The Great Dictator.' 'A Dog's Life.' 'The Immigrant.' 'A Day's Pleasure.' 'The Kid.' Wow. There will never be another like him, huh? Except for maybe, you know, Judd Apatow.

 

L.A. Flicks On "Shine A Light," Part 1 by larryta 4-20-08
Meanwhile, back in Xanadu's basement... So, I went to see the new Stones -Scorsese movie today. Did it shine a light on anything?	Yeah. Have you ever noticed how Mick Jagger and Keith Richards seem to be putting on solo shows — on the same stage? And how Ronnie Wood, after what, 20 or 30 years in the band, still looks like a puppy seeking his masters' approval?	Yeah. But where does all that incredible musical muscle come from after all these years? I've got two words for you: Charlie Watts.

 

L.A. Flicks On 'Shine A Light," Part 2 by larryta 4-20-08
The two Tylers are still 'Stoned' on 'Shine A Light'... I'll tell you another thing. The Rolling Stones are still one hell of a blues band. It's like they go into another dimension, another zone , when they play the blues. A stoned groove, huh?	Yeah. Did you see them with Buddy Guy on "Champagne and Reefer"? Highlight of the movie. Mick can still blow some righteous harp. And did you see the way Ronnie and Keith acted around Buddy?	It was like they were at, I don't know, a 'Star Wars' convention. And Buddy was Boba Fett.

 

L.A. Flicks On 'Shine A Light," Part 3 by larryta 4-20-08
Still Rolling with the Stones... So, what did you think of the other guests? Jack White on "Loving Cup'? Pretty good. Except he had more makeup on than Keith.	And Christina Aguilera on "Live With Me"? When did wailing become singing? She's no Tina.	You could tell Keith didn't have a clue who she was. But he seemed to appreciate her, uh... Assets?

 

L.A. Flicks On "Shine A Light," Part 4 by larryta 4-20-08
The two Tylers are still rocking... So, what about Scorsese's direction? Tight, muscular, in the pocket. Fluidly shot. Energetically edited.	So, the cinematic equivalent of the music? Two masters of the forms in a summit meeting? Yeah, well...	What? I still prefer "U2: 3D."

 

L.A. Flicks On "Shine A Light," Part 5 by larryta 4-20-08
Still, shining a light on cinema... Yeah. I know what you mean. It is a bit old-school after the U2 movie. But there are probably a million bands that would sell their soul for that kind of old school authenticity.	Time to wrap up. How many stars? Thumbs up or down? Let's do The Shalit Summation! Not again. A perfectly literate, five-part strip marred by a simplistic encapsulation.	C'mon, man, give us your quote blurb! "I loved it! Wild horses couldn't drag me away from 'Shine A Light!'" Paint it, flack.

 

L.A. Comics: The Curious Case of the Two Tylers by larryta 12-06-08
After disappearing for months, the two Tylers resurface in the basement at Xanadu... So, what did you think of "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"? I liked it better when it was called "Youth Without Youth."	Right. Same plot: Man mysteriously ages in reverse. Coppola must be pissed. Serves him right. Art films! Please.	Yeah, that must be why Fincher cast Jake Gyllenhaal in "Zodiac." Jake Gyllenhaal. Exactly.

 

L.A. Comics: "The Day The Earth Stood Still" by larryta 12-06-08
The two Tylers resurface in the basement of Xanadu and are still talking movies... So, why am I so irritated about this remake of "The Day The Earth Stood Still"? Dude, have you jumped the couch? This remake is going to be totally slammin'!	C'mon, the original is pretty slam...,uh, excellent already. A classic parable of cold war fears. But, guy, Keanu Reeves as a robot? "Klaatu! Barada! Nikto!" That casting is tight!	No, he's not playing Gort. He's playing the Michael Rennie character. The kindly alien who warns Earth of its self-destructive ways. Whoa! "Keanu! Oscar! Not so!"

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