Popcorn 'N Roses

Bugged Thoughts...about the inexplicable failure of SPEED RACER

For those of you who may have missed it on this past weekend's edition of Subject:CINEMA, I was absolutely APPALLED and utterly gastiflabbered by the seemingly overwhelming number of negative reviews for the film SPEED RACER. I named it not only one of the best films of the year but OF ALL TIME, giving it 5 stars and naming it my new number one pantheon film, knocking the much revered HERO to #2 and WRISTCUTTERS: A LOVE STORY to #3.

OH MY GOD, what HAPPENED?

WHY did this movie totally TANK at the boxoffice?

I just do NOT understand the hatred the reviewers showed for this absolutely fantastic, fun blast of a movie. It is perhaps the most visually stunning movie of all time, its incredible CGI work absolutely unbelievable (and NOTHING like TRON, as so many reviews tried to hang on it). The score is fantastic. And the performances, from Emile Hirsch as Speed all the way down through the fantastic supporting cast including John Goodman, Susan Sarandon, Matthew Fox, Roger Allam, Rain, Kick Gurry, Paulie Litt, and Christina Ricci, are all DYNAMITE!  The plot is simple, sweet, and to the point, and SO VERY OBVIOUS I don't know WHY most reviewers can't seem to find it. And more to the point, both times I saw it last weekend, it seemed to me that EVERY SINGLE PERSON in the whole theater - kids, adults, grandparents, parents, college students, teenagers, EVERYBODY -  absolutely LOVED IT!  Where is the hatred coming from?

No, actually, that first statement in the last paragraph is WRONG. I DO Know why a good deal of reviewers hate it - because they know that it takes square aim at EVERYTHING that is their livelyhood - corporate greed, power, success, corruption - all of which are rampant in both industries - Hollywood AND The Media. And they want to look like they couldn't possibly support such things as (GASP!) FAMILY VALUES! And the idea that GOOD triumphs over EVIL.  We all know Hollywood prefers it when EVIL wins these days...look at movies over the past several years and you'll figure out what I mean...

Well, NOW is your chance to show the reviewers out there - AND THE STUDIOS - what the public REALLY THINKS.

I'm coming to you to ask you to help save SPEED RACER from undeserved premature extinction...and boost chances for a possible sequel down the road (if Emile is willing...he dropped his agent this week; hopefully it wasn't because of Speed Racer, because that would be wrong...).

Here's how we're gonna do it.

1) Make time and GO SEE IT this weekend - at least once, but if you really love it like we did, go a couple of times - and if you've already seen it, SEE IT AGAIN!!! SKIP whatever else you were planning to see this weekend (except PRINCE CASPIAN if you're planning on seeing it) and use the bucks to see something worth the money like SR and not some goofy, gawd-awful comedy or horror film. Above all else, we want to make sure that despite the studios, the trades, and practically everyone else giving up on it way way WAAAAAY too quickly,  and despite the bad reviews, that word of mouth will make sure it STAYS in the TOP 3 This weekend - if everyone gets it together, and goes with their friends to see this movie (which is the kind of fun movie that families and friends will LOVE seeing together) we CAN stay at #3 behind Caspian and Iron Man...and maybe we can even beat one of them...great word of mouth has saved other great movies that the critics (and the fanboy haters) have unfairly maligned..and we can DO IT AGAIN!!!

2) Broadcast how much you liked it (assuming that, like Kim and especially like me, you will love it) on EVERY FRIGGIN' WEBSITE you have - MySpace, Facebook, Digg, and whereever else you're webbing at, and tell people to GO SEE IT!

3) Spread the word everywhere else - let people know that if they miss this movie in the theater they'll regret it because while fantastic on the big screen, the effects will be lost in many ways when it comes to DVD this fall, BluRay or no BluRay

4)If you have a local newspaper that gave SR a negative review and you don't agree with the reviewer, let them know by sending them an email or snail mail and telling them so in a polite businesslike manner

5)And most importantly, LET WARNER BROTHERS STUDIOS Know! Go to http://warnerbrothers.com and check for contact info and let them know in NO UNCERTAIN TERMS (but POLITELY!) that they'll be making a big mistake if they give up on it so soon...

Let's ALL come together - Speed Racer fans, anime fans, Wachowski brothers fans, Emile Hirsch fans - and help Speed Racer get the weekend IT DAMN WELL DESERVES at the box office - and make it a hit that WB will be sorry they gave up on so soon...

Subject:CINEMA #111 - "A Piece Of The Action - The Chicago Gangsters"

In the second installment of Made May, TC and Kim take a look at real-life and fictional gangsters based in Chicago during the 1920s.

Plus - This week's Callback, Dancing With The Stars coverage, E-Mail, and a VERY indepth review of the new film SPEED RACER starring Emile Hirsch.

Then, TC addresses the film community about what being a podcaster means to him, and why Speed Racer had an effect on the conclusions he came to...

Be forewarned - although not profanity laced, TC and Kim do drop the S word several times during the last hour...sorry if we offended anyone!

See you next week for the next installment of Made May, and throughout the week with columns and such!

Marquee Mix is in serious jeopardy...PLEASE help us save it!!

As mentioned on last week's Subject:CINEMA and as posted on the Marquee Mix site this past Sunday,
we're so happy that so many listeners have found Marquee Mix and its sister channels a great station to turn to for the latest in movie music.

But now, we find ourselves fighting for survival.

Within the last month, Live365 has implemented a new pricing structure which has raised our costs by almost 40% for each of the stations we run. Live365, still the best priced radio network on the network, implemented the pricing increase because they are being hit hard by the RIAA and the CRB decisions. And because of those decisions, we too are being hit hard, and it has triggered some hard thoughts about the future of Marquee Mix.

At the time of the increase, we had several more mini-channels on the project block including two Marquee-branded stations: Marquee Mouse, featuring all Disney songs, and Marquee X, a channel geared at extreme sports fans. Now we have had to temporarily postpone the launch of these channels, both of which were starting to get some pre-debut buzz from listeners.

In order for our fledgling network of stations to survive, we are coming to YOU - the loyal Marquee Mix listener.

Effective immediately, Marquee Mix and its sister channels Marquee Classics and Marquee Scores must be able to begin generating at least enough revenue for the stations to break even every month. If they do not, it unfortunately will mean a series of changes aimed at saving the stations will have to be enacted that could see the disappearance of the mini-stations, and even endanger the existance of Marquee Mix itself.

Between now and June 15, we need to generate at least $500 in donations from our listeners. If we are unable to do so, both Classics and Scores face at least going to premium-only listenership, and possibly complete extinction. And Marquee Mix proper will have to drop our from our current program level, and be unable to bring you the continually expanding and already extensive library of classic movie songs you have grown to love listening to.

The easiest and most painless way to help Marquee Mix out is to sign up for a recurring monthly donation. We have recurring donation levels at $2, $5, and $10 a month that are deducted automatically from your PayPal account. Selecting one of these ensures that you are always donating, which helps not just operating expenses for Marquee Mix, but for all PNR projects.  Your donations are what help us to grow and expand our operations, adding more music to existing channels and also adding new specialty channels for niche audiences.

We hope that for providing you with some great musical selections, you will come to our aid in our time of need to help save the entire Marquee Mix network.

Please DON'T assume that your donation isn't necessary because the next person will donate - that is simply NOT the case. We need EVERYBODY to help out. And that kind of thinking will surely lead to the extinction of the network.

You can also make a one time donation if you'd rather not sign up for a recurring donation, and that's cool as well - every dollar is one dollar closer to our goal, and believe me...IT HELPS!!!

You can donate and help save Marquee Mix and its family of stations by going to the "Film Fund" and clicking on the button of your choice - $2 a month, $5 a month, $10 a month, or a one-time donation.

Thank you for your support and for your generosity!  And pass the world to your friends - the more we can generate in the next 45 days, the better we'll be able to serve you in the future!

Sincerely,

TC Kirkham
Programming Director
Marquee Mix