Caught Beneath the Planet of the Apes recently, and mostly just want to go on and on about cult siren Linda Harrison. Ask many men of a certain age, “Who’s the hottest actress in cave woman garb?” and many will tell you Rachel Welch from One Million Years BC, but I beg to differ. True, Welch has greater overall star appeal, did sexy wet suit stuff the same year in Fantastic Voyage, and was technically a few years older during that performance, but Harrison captures a quintessential early 70’s look.

I just can’t stop imagining riding around the lusher parts of the Forbidden Zone, mounted on the same black horse as she, The Association’s ‘Never my Love’ somehow always playing in the background, until we are eventually captured and dissected, perhaps used for target practice. OK, she can’t speak, but she looks great in dog tags, or munching pilfered fruit.

Yes, of course it’s pathetic - but that’s what aging fanboys do. Not to mention, I heard she only dates astronauts…
Also, silly ape pep rally set to Queen courtesy of Blancotron industries.

Did I go to this film just to see Scarlett Johansson and Penelope Cruz make out? Well maybe…but I wasn’t disappointed on any other level. It’s like an older Woody Allen film in a lot of ways: a concise and simple story, perhaps lighter on the jokes (one liners) than you may be used to. And I think having someone else, in this case Christopher Evan Welch, do the narration voice was a wise choice.

It’s pretty much what the trailer appears to be, no surprises. But in keeping with his one or two films a year work ethic, it’s a goodie, when so many throw aways have crept into the rotation. It will make you want to travel in Spain, “hook up” European style, and maybe long for a day when film making was about telling a story and exploring passion rather than the variations of over the top spectacle.

Also, Woody’s hilarious fictional diary from the shoot from 8-24-08 NYT. Link may not last long…

Part Two

It couldn’t have been easy being that bald in the 70’s. But the chain jacket helps…
And Jesse Jackson definitely needs to go back to his old look!

I’ve got to hand it to ya China, I was impressed by the opening ceremony! Photos from Boston Globe. Never mind you used the mind of director Zhang Yimou, who The Party had earlier banned the work of for seeming critical. I’ve enjoyed at least six of his films myself, and we won’t call this egg on your face (no pun). My country loves to first persecute, then later revere, it’s artists as well.

Consider me “visually stunned”…

there will be 2 or 3 NYC episodes total.

special thanx to Laura for taking such good care of us!