PAUL MCCARTNEY IN THE SKY WITH DIAMONDS
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THE GLORIOUS CORNER
Story By: G. H. HARDING
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| Paul McCartney |
MACCA'S BACK --- From People.com: Paul McCartney returned to a concert stage Saturday in Albany, New York, after being sidelined for two months because of a virus, spinning out songs from the Beatles, Wings and a solo career that has spanned more than 50 years of rock 'n' roll.
"It's great to be back," said McCartney, who turned 72 two weeks ago. He looked none the worse for wear, putting on a show of just under three hours with 38 songs before finishing with the three-song medley that ends the classic-Abbey Road album.
McCartney was briefly hospitalized in Tokyo in May because of the viral infection. The illness forced him to cancel a Japanese tour and a concert in South Korea and reschedule half a dozen June dates in the United States before resuming his Out There tour in Albany.
Before his illness, McCartney last performed May 1 in Costa Rica.
BUZZ IS BACK --- On July 20, 1969, Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong made their historic Apollo 11 moonwalk, becoming the first two humans to set foot on another world. An estimated 600 million people – at that time, the world’s largest television audience in history – witnessed this unprecedented heroic endeavor. To commemorate the anniversary, Buzz is launching the #Apollo45 social media campaign on Tuesday, July 8 to remind people of the moon landing in order to get them to share their memories of this historic event or how Apollo 11 inspired them. We’ll be asking the public Where were you when Apollo 11 landed on the moon? or if they weren't born yet to share how Apollo inspired them and the world. Videos from the public can be shared through YouTube, or on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ or Instagram. The special YouTube Channel url is www.youtube.com/Apollo45.
Some of the notable personalities who will be sharing their stories on the Special YouTube Apollo45 channel include Pharrell Williams, John Travolta, Stephen Colbert, Tim Allen, Jared Leto, Sir Richard Branson, Neil de Grasse Tyson, Bill Nye, Patton Oswalt, Quincy Jones, Bryan Adams, David Copperfield, Sen. Marco Rubio, Austrian astronaut Franz Viehbock, HRH Prince Sultan of Saudi Arabia and London Mayor Boris Johnson, with more to come. Buzz will be doing a countdown of celebrity videos leading up to the anniversary, releasing new videos every day starting from July 10 leading up to July 20.
ROBOCOP REDEUX ---We are huge fans of the original Robocop movie, starring the brilliant Peter Weller and Nancy Allen. That movie came out in 1987 and was directed by the visionary Dutch-director Paul Verhoeven.
The movie, written by Edward Neumeier and Michael Miner, was a sly jab at commerce over art as a crime fighting robot was infused with the soul of a recently deceased cop, Alex Murphy; certainly the logical next step in crime fighting, right?
The movie was just as brilliant for its magnificent special effects, including several innovations we still use and see to this day.
Earlier this year came the remake, with Gary Oldman, Michael Keaton and Joel Kinnaman, from TV’s The Killing. Ironically, by the time I was ready to see it in the theaters, it had suddenly vanished. Seeing it this weekend, I marveled at how good it was and the performances by Oldman, Keaton, and Kinnaman, just spectacular. Abbie Cornish, as the wife, is marvelous too.
Opening with a monologue by Samuel L. Jackson, as the host of a Wolf Blitzer-like TV show (The Pat Novak Show), the movie took off from there and really didn't stop. The original, with hints from several of Philip K. Dick’s brilliant works (especially his Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep) it was a send up of current day politics while interweaving the brilliant love story between Murphy, now a robot, but with memories of his earlier life drifting in and out of his now robot-consciousness.
The new movie is smartly shot and the direction by Jose Padila, just exceptional. And, just for the record, Oldman is exceptional here as well as a sly-turn, from henchman Jackie Earle Haley.
I don't know why this wasn't a bigger hit; in fact, truth be told, I don't think it even registered, but let me pick this as my #1 must see, under appreciated movie of this year.
CLOSING NOTES --- Talking movies; the box office so far this year is down a staggering 20%. If it were a restaurant, it'd go out of business. Face it, not an exceptional summer by any means. This past weekend (usually the stellar weekend of the summer), the two big movies of Transformers 4 and Tammy from Melissa McCarthy. Slim pickings for sure ...
From Rex Reed at The Observer about this week’s Tammy movie: The good news is that Tammy is not a crappy remake of the 1957 Tammy movie with Debbie Reynolds that spawned three sequels and a TV comedy series. The bad news is that this one is much worse… It’s about as funny as a liver transplant ...
Just asking: What white table-cloth restaurant, around for decades, is suddenly on the chopping block. Known universally for their great steaks and fantastic fish; the family-owned business has finally had enough. Business is down, but not as bad as when they jettisoned their entire promo-staff. Sad for sure, as it was a great, great spot ...
Ringo Starr turns 74 today and there was a public celebration outside of L. A.'s Capital Records. 74! How's that happen? Happy B-day Mr. Starr.
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