Wondertrash®

These pix were just so hot, that I had to post them again!

The recent Spider Man 3 has broken every and all box office record. It was certainly the most 'over the top' Spidey, as the wall crawler went crazy, "Follywood style".There were hokey dance routines, romantic moments interrupted by alien symbionts, & "I love Spidey" parades. Maybe Sam Raimi's tongue in cheek poke at Hollywood?

However it was also the most thematically ambitious of the trilogy, as Raimi & Co. explored the heady concepts of Power, Revenge, and Humanity. Spidey is 'empowered' by an alien symbiont, that bonds with him, and turns his costume black. It also makes him aggressive, manipulative, and a game player. He morphs into a kind of creepy Tom Cruise. In the process, he and friendly rival, or hostile friend, Harry Osbourne exchange a few 'OC Moments' as the two trade barbs worthy of any teen oriented prime time soap, like " I gave MJ what you couldn't",and "You were always a disappointment to your father". It only needed Mischa Barton in the role of Gwen Stacey! James Franco as Harry gave his strongest showing yet, with a 'ready for Prime Time' performance.

Peter discovers that while it feels good to lose your self to power, you still lose yourself. He also learns that a hero worthy of the key to the city, can also do some pretty ratty things! Such as killing the wrong man in his quest to avenge Uncle Ben! It's then, while steeple sitting at one of New York's cathedrals, that he decides that the symbiont has to go. As the church bells ring, he discovers the symbiont's fatal weakness, sound. The church bells were obvious symbolism, but not as hokey and blatant as King Leonidas' crucifixion style death scene in the 300, where he's laid out spread eagle style, and surrounded by his fallen men, in a "Last Supper" arrangement.

Further Peter learns that while the good guys aren't so good, the bad guys aren't so bad either. His uncle's real killer, the Sandman, turns out to be a man who turned to crime in an attempt to help his dying daughter. In a final showdown, Harry turns up to pitch in, reclaiming his lost humanity, and dying a death of heroic sacrifice. Venom, or Eddie Brock, Peter Parker's smarmy Daily Bugle rival, who bonds with the symbiont after Spidey, and declares war on him, fails to redeem himself. He just enjoys being bad, and so dies the fiery death of the damned. In the showdown's culmination, Spidey and Sandman confront each other, but instead of the usual Hollywood style Battle Roy ale, they reach an understanding. Sandman, played by Thomas Hayden Church of Wings and Ned & Stacey - and who is beginning to bear a freakish resemblance to late actor Lee Marvin - explains that he's not a bad man, just unlucky. He didn't choose to be what he has become. Who does? So even fate make a thematic appearance. It ends with Spidey forgiving Sandman, in defiance of all Follywood formulaic cliche's, and letting him go free. It was a refreshing change from the standard Follywood fare, though I can't help thinking that the "Beyond Good And Evil" theme was explored, in a more down to earth way, on Star Trek's "the enemy within", by splitting the ego maniacal star ship Capt. Kirk in to Good and Evil halves. Even more so in the Sci Fi channel's pop culture parody series G. vs. E.!

Incidentally, Clayton Rohner's Chandler Smythe is the inspiration for "Agent Orange". Smythe, together with his partner Henry McNeil ( Richard Brooks, formerly of Law and Order), battle the minions of darkness, and fight to save lost souls, as agents of the Almighty Corps., in their Hollywood division. The idea being that Hollywood is the most evil place on earth, and has a greater incidence of deals with darkness than anywhere else. The show was a fantastic, tongue in cheek send up, of Pop Fiction cliches, ie. the "Cliffhanger" episode. Laughter is the best medicine, and the cure is contagious! Look for NFL player David Deacon Jones, as the Head of the Almighty Corps. He was also noted for perfecting the notorious "head slap" in defensive line play, a tactic that was shortly made illegal in pro football, basically because some little sissies got their necks broke. Head Slap references reoccur in the series!

The "Secretary of Defence" and "Head of the Almighty Corps."
David Deacon Jones

Wondertrash thought of the day:

The sKy's the limit, but is that part of the problem? So shoot for the Stars, but remmeber, the stars might start shooting back!

-Anonymous

Today's tasty Wondertrash recipe:

TO PREPARE:

In a large skillet, melt butter and brown veal. Add onion and cook until tender.

In a bowl, dissolve bouillon in boiling water. Stir in white wine, paprika, lemon juice and thyme. Pour into skillet over veal and onions. Cover and simmer over low heat for 1-1/2 hours or until meat is tender. Stir in sour cream and sherry just before serving.

SERVES: 4 - 5

You might even want to toss in some barley. A University of Toronto study found a 37% improvement in memory for up to an hour after barley ingestion.