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June 15, 2013:

REVIEWING THE SITUATION

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, once again I must write these here notes in a hurry because it is late and she of the Evil Eye will be here all too soon.  So, to begin with, let me just get something off my chest.  Something has been on my chest for several hours now, and I’d like something to go be on someone else’s chest for a while.  Damn them, damn them all to hell.  So, you all know my propensity for loathing several of the Blu and Ray sites, and many of the “reviewers” who do their thing on such sites.  The only one I can stomach, frankly, is the Home Theater Forum and one of the reasons I can stomach is because there are a few pros on there and everyone who’s on the site seems to be willing to learn things as they go.  They also tend to just write a little about the film itself and then discuss what we’re all there to really read – about the transfer.  But on other sites it’s not like that at all.  I’m not going to get specific, but, for example, there’s one reviewer who spends two-thirds of every review talking about things that have nothing to do with what’s being reviewed – he goes on and on about this or that, or personal connections, or yaks on about a book he read that had some vague connection to some vague something or other and it’s just so irritating to read.  If it were once or twice you could forgive it – but it’s EVERY review.  I can do that here because I don’t call myself a reviewer – I’m just a guy who writes some notes who offers opinions about transfers and films and if I want to get personal about my connection to a film, I can because I – listen carefully – don’t call myself a reviewer or critic.

But when you’re called a reviewer, no one cares about your life or your history or hearing about some book that has nothing to do with the film being reviewed.  But we get endless paragraphs, then more endless paragraphs about the film itself, then four lines about the transfer.  I’m sorry, I don’t need to read a review of the actual film – I mean, who gives a flying Wallenda – there are plenty of real reviews on Google should I actually want to read such things.  No, the responsibility of a reviewer on those sites is to talk about the transfer.  The review is appearing on a site that has very specific intentions.  Then, of course, the problem becomes that most of these people haven’t a bloody clew as to what certain films should look like, what color is accurate and what color isn’t, what causes supposed softness, what an optical is (before Mr. Robert A. Harris and, yes, my very own self) began posting to these sites ad nauseum about opticals, no one knew why certain scenes look the way they do and some of them still don’t – while others just use what Mr. Harris and, yes, my very own self say.  Some of these people do much harm – they either call something great that clearly isn’t, or call something terrible that clearly isn’t.  Very few of these “reviewers” have any history reviewing – most were recruited by the site owners asking any and everyone who would do it, for the promise of free discs.  I’m sure they’re all nice chaps, but it’s very frustrating reading these things and knowing that others are reading them and believing a lot of the misinformation.  And it’s rather amusing to watch them defend themselves when people on those boards take exception to a review.  In any case, I think I just have to stop reading all of it.  Well, something is now off my chest.

Yesterday was a day I like to call Friday.  On the first day there were no workers in three weeks, I could finally sleep in – so why in tarnation was I up at five-thirty in the morning.  I finally fell back asleep around six and slept until a bit after ten, so I did get eight hours but I wanted a few more.  I did a three-mile jog, then did some work on the computer.  I had some poached eggs and an English muffin and bacon to tide me over until dinner, then I did some banking, then I picked up a couple of packages.  The helper came by and got invoices and the keys to the house.  I then made a tentative order for the Kritzerland show – I think I’ll probably swap a few things around but most of it should work as is.  Then I wrote the first part of the commentary, which I’d like to finish at least half of before I leave town tomorrow morning.  I then sat on my couch like so much fish and watched the first twenty minutes of The Only Game in Town, the new Blu and Ray from Twilight Time, which stars Miss Elizabeth Taylor and Mr. Warren Beatty.  I’ll have quite a bit to say about both film and transfer after I’ve finished.

Then it was time to mosey on over to The Gardenia.  Adryan Russ and I were amongst the first people there, so we got a really good seat.  I gave Tom Rolla, the owner, a hug, but I don’t think he’s so happy with me because of moving the Kritzerland shows from there, but we had to do what we had to do – we’d outgrown it, frankly, and I was just not happy with the location anymore, mostly due to the awful neighborhood and the parking situation.  I saw quite a few folks I knew.  Both Adryan and I had the salmon.  And then the show began.  It was an evening of Shelly Markham playing his songs – he has a new CD out, his first, actually, and this was in honor of that.  Shelly’s a natural performer and he sings very well.  He’s a charming fellow so the show was enjoyable – but too long and too unfocused and with too many guest singers.  Everyone needs another pair of eyes, and singer/songwriters are no different.  A few less songs, some structure and no guests would have made for a more cohesive evening.  But that’s nitpicking – the audience had a great time and Shelly is a delight.

There was a shocking amount of traffic coming home – just totally nonsensical and incomprehensible.  Once home, I read through our first Unseemly Interview in eight years – it’s quite long and detailed, but a lot of fun, and it should be up by Monday, if not sooner.

Today, I shall do a jog, pack, do some banking, have a meal with friends, and relax.

Tomorrow morning I shall be up very early and then on my way to the airport, and then on my way to Washington DC, so please begin sending your strongest most excellent vibes and xylophones for a safe, secure and on-time flight.  Monday we’ll have a work session, same Tuesday, then Tuesday night we see Company at the Signature Theatre, then I’m sure we’ll work a bit on Wednesday before I leave for the airport around three.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do a jog, pack, bank, eat, write some commentary, and relax.  Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite films of Miss Elizabeth Taylor?  Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland where I shall be reviewing my dreams with pointless digressions and personal revelations that have nothing to do with anything.

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