Hulk Hogan may as well be playing Hulk Hogan. That’s how close WWF superstar Rip is to the real-life entertainer. His nemesis here is a beast of a man named Zeus who, at one point, puts a brutal beating on Rip’s little brother.
It’s Rocky with a wrestling slant and trainer Charlie is Mickey Goldmill. The movie is hackneyed and somewhat predictable from beginning to end, but there are funny moments and the peak showdown is better than expected.
my rating : 3 of 5
1989
“There is one thing we also should consider and that is the wrestling of Nate Diaz,” Joe Rogan says after a brief exchange about stances, “His submission game is very very highly respected.” The “very/very/highly” bit makes it a ridiculous overstatement, but, as Diaz goes on to prove, the gist is correct.
Conor McGregor has the advantage on the feet; his movement and striking is on a higher level; but Diaz lands a hard punch in the second round, which flips the momentum of the fight. McGregor eventually goes in for a desperate takedown and ends up getting caught in a guillotine choke.
my rating : 4 of 5
2016
This song is rather dull and dreary until about the final third when Tori Amos, over spacey electric guitars, starts listing chemical elements from the periodic table. That whole end section, in which she sings of wanting to be “the very best machine I can be”, is rather dazzling. The whole song should sound like that.
my rating : 3 of 5
2017
“M&M’s” are the most overrated candy in America, but this Peanut Butter version is probably the best among them. It would taste better without the chocolate, which is sandwiched between the peanut butter filling and colorful candy shells, but then it would be Reese’s Pieces.
my rating : 3 of 5
The name is simple and to the point. It’s also sort of clever. The “o”s represent the O-shaped loops of the cereal; look at the logo on the box; though the one in the “p” is left alone. It doesn’t taste like any “froot” I remember having though. It has its own distinct, sweet and yummy flavor. The Marshmallows version is even better.
my rating : 4 of 5
![video review : Orange Is The New Black [ Season 7 ]](https://marcellee.com/posts/84037.jpg)
This is the final season of Orange Is The New Black, a Netflix series that started off good then lost its way. The first half of this season is a return to form; it’s the best, or at least the longest, consecutive episode run since Season 2; but before long, it too drops the soap.
That’s about the time Lolly; the show’s most annoying character after Suzanne, whom she takes care of chickens with here; shows her face and loose ends start to tie. Cue the reemergence of more faces you haven’t seen in a while, including dead ones in flashbacks.
The focus ultimately goes back to Piper, appropriately enough considering the series began from her perspective. It’s a shame her story, having to do with her adjustments to the free world and her romantic feelings for Alex, is among the most mundame.
my rating : 3 of 5
2019
Feminists may object to the term, but I don’t think Michael Jackson gives a damn. He’s too enthralled with the girl he just met. The setting isn’t clear; it’s nighttime in what seems to be a big city with lots of lights; but the crooner has already fallen in love.
In lust is probably more like it. It’s her Pretty face he’s mostly focused on as strong sexual overtones fill the air. Even more pungent is the funk of the disco groove, which sounds suspiciously like Carl Carlton’s Bad Mama Jama, banging away in the background.
my rating : 4 of 5
1982
Quentin Tarantino says he wants to retire after ten movies. This is number nine. If he were to ask me what I think he should do to end his career on a high note, I’d sum it up with one word; suspense. That’s what makes his best movies; Inglourious Basterds and Jackie Brown; the classics they are. They’re filled almost to the brim with moments of suspense.
There’s a scene in Hollywood in which one of its two leading men; Brad Pitt as stuntman Cliff Booth; drives a sexy hitchhiker girl to Spahn Movie Ranch, where she says she lives. She invites him on the premises to meet her hippie friends. The tension that follows could be cut with a knife, but it leads nowhere. The suspense doesn’t return until the movie is about to end.
That ending, in which members of Charles Manson’s killer cult target Cliff and his famous actor buddy Rick Dalton; Leonardo DiCaprio as the other leading man; is violent and enthralling. Most of what comes before it is relatively uneventful. A lot of the movie is spent watching Dalton act in movies that are more entertaining than the one you’re watching.
my rating : 3 of 5
2019
As funny as it would be, this isn’t a song about masturbation. When Michael Jackson says Beat It, he’s telling some boy to scram because it’s not worth risking his life fighting those other boys. There’s one of him, too many of them and “No one wants to be defeated.” I just love the way he harmonizes that last part.
A lot of guys, perhaps the boy’s father or older brother, will criticize Michael Jackson for telling him to run like a coward, especially with rock music this kick-ass blaring in the background; Eddie Van Halen’s guitar solo alone would destroy those little punks; but the point is that he’ll live to fight another day.
my rating : 5 of 5
1982
The title reminds me of Valentine’s Day. That would make it a cold February night as Michael Jackson offers to warm a girl in his arms. He already has her at his place. Now he wants to “share my feelings in the heat of love’s embrace” and “show you all the passion burning in my heart today.”
Rod Temperton is to blame for those lyrics. Quincy Jones is responsible for the slinky disco groove, which is upbeat enough to dance to and sensual enough to seduce to. Michael’s trying to have sex with this girl. “Only you and I can make sweet love this way,” he confesses, “There’s no more I can say.”
my rating : 5 of 5
1982
E-40 announced this album about a year ago. It was supposed to be the third in a trilogy having to do with the definitions of the title phrases. The first was The Gift Of Gab. The second was supposed to be Rule Of Thumb. He either changed the order or canceled that one. This does seem to be two albums combined into one.
There are 26 songs, one of which features Scarface. I remember E-40 saying in an interview that Scarface was the one rapper he wanted to collab with but never have. Also featured are Rick Ross, Redman and Method Man. E-40 is never outshined though. Even when the hooks are lacking, as is often the case, he’s spitting game.
my rating : 3 of 5
2019
![Honey Bunches Of Oats [ With Almonds ]](https://marcellee.com/posts/15900.jpg)
The name is silly, but this cereal is a tasty alternative to the ones made with plain flakes. The honey bunches of oats, which are literally that, are the best part. They’re sweet clusters that could make a granola-like snack on their own. The almonds, which are thinly sliced thus easy to chew, just add to the goodness.
my rating : 4 of 5