This has the potential of changing the movie industry

The new Steven Soderbergh film "Bubble" is set to be released to theatres on January 27. It is also set to be released on DVD and shown on cable TV the same day. This move could potentially change forever the way movies reach the public.

Needless to say, movie theatre owners are pissed. With the theatre audience dwindling, I can't say as I blame them. Most people I know just wait the few months for the DVD release these days rather than go to the theatre. I used to go to the theatre to see a movie at least once a week, these days I go about two or three times a year. Between the cost of the tickets, the cost of snacks (for my wife, not me, I don't believe in eating in a movie theatre and people who do tend to piss me off, except my wife, I just roll my eyes at her, she knows how I feel), and the ten to fifteen minutes of commercials (not previews, I like those), I'd rather wait for the DVD release. For $20.00 or less, you can by the DVD, take it home, make your own snacks, drinks, watch the movie, pause it if you need to visit the bathroom, whatever you want. Hell, you can not go to the theatre for less than $20.00!

But I digress...

This film, "Bubble", is apparently a low budget piece, the backers are maverick billionaires Todd Wagner and Mark Cuban (Cuban is the outspoken owner of the NBA Dallas Mavericks, in case you didn't know, and Todd Wagner co-founded Brodcast.com with Cuban, together they now own 2929 Entertainmen, 2929 Entertainment holdings include Landmark Theatre Corporation, Magnolia Pictures, Rysher Entertainment, and the HDNet cable channel. It also has an interest in Lions Gate Films. 2929 Entertainment produces films in the $10 - $40 million budget range. 2929 Entertainment produced "Good Night and Good Luck", I had to look that info up). So, we've got a couple of producers who don't have a problem bucking the status quo, a well know director, and a whole new approach to getting a movie to the public, this could get interesting.

Heh, I didn't mention what the movie is about... "Bubble" is a murder mystery set in a doll factory. I might just have to buy the DVD...

We've lost another of the greats

I just read where Wilson Pickett has died of a heart attack at the age of 64. Somehow this seems too young. “Mustang Sally” and “In The Midnight Hour” are two of the best soul recordings ever. It's sad that we are losing the greats, not only do we lose wonderful music and talent, though they will live on through their recordings, but we have no one today capable of stepping up and continuing the tradition of great music these and other legends have given us.

These days, obviously, there is no one talented enough to compare to Ray Charles, Wilson Pickett, or Barry White, just to name three. These guys had more talent in their little fingers than, well, you get the idea. I'm not one of those people who pine for "the good old days", but so much of the music today is just crap.

R.I.P. Wilson Pickett 1941-2006

First Post

Well, I have decided to start a blog. Some may ask, "Why?" Truthfully, I have no idea. What am I going to do with my blog? Again, I have no idea. I guess I will be posting my thoughts about current events, movie and book reviews, political concerns, things of that nature. I'll probably talk about my wife, I love her deeply and she is my better half.

I don't really expect people to see this, with the number of blogs out there, mine is but a speck on a gnat's ass.

If you are reading this and you are wondering about the titile of my blog, "Live From The Grill-O-Mat", it is the title of episode 18 of "Monty Python's Flying Circus". I'm not real sure why I chose it, well, that's not true. There were two reasons: 1) I love Monty Python, and 2) It sounded funny, at least it sounded funny to me.

Well, that's all for now. Give me some time to warm up to this, it shouldn't take me long to get rolling.