Published in The Post-Star (A1)
7/26/06
Death doesn't always shake up seniors as much as others -- as the years go by, they watch natural causes take away many of their peers.
But the loss of six friends shocked members and staff of the Bedford Senior Center in southern Michigan when the Ethan Allen tour boat capsized Oct. 2 on Lake George.
Beverly Becker, 78; Virginia Ciesinski, 82; Joann Manore, 74; Joyce Rochowiak, 69; Viola Urbaniak, 89; and Wilma LeJeune, 78, joined a group of 47 seniors from Michigan and Ohio last fall for a one-week scenic tour through the Northeast.
The six women never returned. They were among 20 people killed in the boating accident.
"All of the ladies are still very much missed here," said Sharon Throm, director of community education for the Bedford Public Schools, which runs the senior center. "Over the months, as we've had different special events and activities where they normally would have been active participants ... obviously, we miss them being there with us."
Throm said she and others at the center have followed news related to the accident and investigation in the past few months, although she did not know that the National Transportation Safety Board released its conclusions Tuesday morning.
After hearing a summary of those conclusions, she said she hoped the board's findings would be used to prevent future accidents.
"Maybe that can be some good that comes from this," she said. "Hopefully it will shine the light on safety issues and regulations."
A senior center in Trenton, Mich., is also grappling with the loss of three members on that October day.
Earl Hawley, 76; Francis Wrock, 87; and Joyce Chapman, 75, were killed in the accident. At least a dozen others from the center were on the tour and survived.
"Sure, we continue to talk about it," said Pat Hawkins, director of the city's Parks and Recreation department, which runs the senior center. "With as many people as we had on that trip, and losing some very active people, it stays with us."
Hawkins personally knew two of the three victims. He was closest to Chapman, who had been his friend for at least 25 years.
"She was the kind of person who everybody would think of as a best friend," he said. "She'd put you in your place if it was called for, but even then it was with a smile."
He also spoke fondly of Earl Hawley, a retired telephone company engineer whose wife, Anna May, survived the accident.
"He was such an outgoing guy, with a big smile ... well known and respected in the community," he said. "Basically, if you knew Earl, you'd like him."
Hawkins said the NTSB's conclusions did not surprise him, and he doesn't think any one party is solely to blame for the accident.
"What does surprise me a little ... is that the boat met the requirements of the state certification," he said. "Maybe (more stability testing) should have been required."
Margie Kidon, a 64-year-old Trenton resident who was traveling with the seniors as a city liaison, had a more decisive response.
"Well, that boat was definitely overloaded. They should have used two boats and split the people," she said Tuesday afternoon, after hearing the NTSB's conclusions. "I thought that from the start. There were still people on the dock, and the boat was full, but the captain made people move over. I said to my friend, 'Why are they putting more people on here? There's no more room on this boat.'"
Kidon has filed a lawsuit against Shoreline Cruises and Capt. Richard Paris for the pain and suffering she says the accident has caused her.
"My life will never be the same," she said. "I've had health issues. I've gone from being a very happy person to a very depressed person who cries a lot."
Some survivors seem more at peace than others, said Hawkins.
"I know that there are some people that are angry, and there are others that look at it as a tragic accident," he said.
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
DVD recommendation: Sahara
Published in The Post-Star (G6)
7/27/06
Sahara (2005). Directed by Breck Eisner, based on the novel by Clive Cussler. Starring Matthew McConaughey, Steve Zahn, Penelope Cruz and William H. Macy. 127 minutes. Rated PG-13 (for action violence).
If the humidity has sapped your appetite for outdoor adventure lately, try curling up with your air conditioner and living vicariously through this hot action flick.
Squirt on some self-tanner and pretend you're in league with the gorgeous Matthew McConaughey and Penelope Cruz as they cavort around the desert in a desperate search for sunscreen.
No wait, that's not it -- they're searching for an American Civil War battleship that wandered improbably into the heart of Africa some 150 years earlier.
On second thought, it's probably more important to find the source of a deadly plague that's killing the people of Mali and threatening the entire global ecosystem.
But with a greedy, brutal warlord controlling much of the territory they need to explore, their quest takes on a dangerous edge.
It starts when plague hunter Eva Rojas (Cruz), a doctor with the World Health Organization, meets treasure hunters -- sorry, marine salvagers -- Dirk Pitt (McConaughey) and his goofy sidekicks Al (Steve Zahn) and Rudi (Rainn Wilson). They all end up in the same boat, in more ways than one.
Pitt's smug self-confidence is occasionally grating -- in terms of emotional depth, his character is a real desert -- but McConaughey's dimples make it hard to hold a grudge.
The film is based on a Clive Cussler novel with the type of plot that makes great beach reading, and director Breck Eisner seems to be striving for the same cheap-paperback feel. Plenty of things get blown up and there's the requisite good-guy fatality, but even the action scenes are playful.
Sure, it ends predictably, but there's something satisfying about plots with clear villains and heroes, and conflicts that wrap up neatly, sealed with a long-awaited kiss.
It's a fun diversion from a world where the plot is much more complicated.
7/27/06
Sahara (2005). Directed by Breck Eisner, based on the novel by Clive Cussler. Starring Matthew McConaughey, Steve Zahn, Penelope Cruz and William H. Macy. 127 minutes. Rated PG-13 (for action violence).
If the humidity has sapped your appetite for outdoor adventure lately, try curling up with your air conditioner and living vicariously through this hot action flick.
Squirt on some self-tanner and pretend you're in league with the gorgeous Matthew McConaughey and Penelope Cruz as they cavort around the desert in a desperate search for sunscreen.
No wait, that's not it -- they're searching for an American Civil War battleship that wandered improbably into the heart of Africa some 150 years earlier.
On second thought, it's probably more important to find the source of a deadly plague that's killing the people of Mali and threatening the entire global ecosystem.
But with a greedy, brutal warlord controlling much of the territory they need to explore, their quest takes on a dangerous edge.
It starts when plague hunter Eva Rojas (Cruz), a doctor with the World Health Organization, meets treasure hunters -- sorry, marine salvagers -- Dirk Pitt (McConaughey) and his goofy sidekicks Al (Steve Zahn) and Rudi (Rainn Wilson). They all end up in the same boat, in more ways than one.
Pitt's smug self-confidence is occasionally grating -- in terms of emotional depth, his character is a real desert -- but McConaughey's dimples make it hard to hold a grudge.
The film is based on a Clive Cussler novel with the type of plot that makes great beach reading, and director Breck Eisner seems to be striving for the same cheap-paperback feel. Plenty of things get blown up and there's the requisite good-guy fatality, but even the action scenes are playful.
Sure, it ends predictably, but there's something satisfying about plots with clear villains and heroes, and conflicts that wrap up neatly, sealed with a long-awaited kiss.
It's a fun diversion from a world where the plot is much more complicated.
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Shakespeare calls for big hair
Published in The Post-Star (D1)
7/23/06
SARATOGA SPRINGS -- Aqua Net hair spray isn't exactly Elizabethan, but it's playing an important role in the Saratoga Shakespeare Company's latest production, "The Tempest."
The play is set on a magical Mediterranean island, where an Italian royal entourage ends up shipwrecked after an unnatural storm. With a large cast of characters that includes sprites, goddesses, and other strange creatures, bringing the play from text to life presents some unique challenges.
"My character, Caliban, is half-man, half-monster or beast," actor Tim Dugan explained as two teenage girls painted strange, dark geometric designs on his face and legs before Wednesday night's show. His costume includes a fishing net, flesh-colored underwear, and long, dark dreadlocks.
Other actors bustled around the basement of the Saratoga Arts Council building, getting ready for the 6 p.m. curtain call. They would have to imagine the curtain -- the play is performed on an outdoor stage in Congress Park, before an audience that includes picnickers, ducks and squirrels.
Near the door to the park, actor Dorian Makhlogi paced and recited lines into the wireless microphone attached to his ear. But his words didn't match the script for his character, the prince Sebastian.
"One hen. One hen, two ducks. One hen, two ducks, three squawking geese," he said, speaking quickly but clearly as he added "four limerick oysters" and "five corpulent porpoises" to the bizarre litany.
He explained this was a trick he learned as a theater student at Skidmore College. It helps him practice proper articulation and volume -- factors that are especially important in an outdoor performance.
A few doors down, the girls worked on their hair and makeup before climbing into costumes.
"Do you need some Aqua Net?" Johanna Fey Parker asked her fellow actresses Anna Hendrick
and Carly Hirschberg, interrupting their discussion of the downfalls of cheap eyeliner.
Her own red hair was already teased into a wild, windswept crown above her long, narrow face, creating a look to suit her character, the sprite Ariel. She looked at herself in the mirror and laughed.
"It doesn't even feel like hair anymore. I feel like I could be in a Gwen Stefani video!" Parker said.
Hendrick laughed, then frowned at her reflection in a small mirror propped against a chair. She frizzed her fine, blonde hair with a crimping iron.
"I want it to be more...aaah!" she exclaimed, pulling at the air around her head to demonstrate.
Hirschberg glanced at her sideways in the mirror as she tugged at her own brown hair with a curling iron, working on a more natural hairstyle for her character, the female lead Miranda.
"They have that blue Elmer's glue," she suggested. "It's washable."
Hendrick reached for the Aqua Net.
---
IF YOU GO: "The Tempest" will be performed by Saratoga Shakespeare Company at 2 p.m. today and July 30 and at 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, weather permitting. All performances are free and open to the public, with donations appreciated. No seating or shelter is provided. Dogs and picnickers are welcome. For information, go to www.saratogashakespeare.com or call 581-1853.
7/23/06
SARATOGA SPRINGS -- Aqua Net hair spray isn't exactly Elizabethan, but it's playing an important role in the Saratoga Shakespeare Company's latest production, "The Tempest."
The play is set on a magical Mediterranean island, where an Italian royal entourage ends up shipwrecked after an unnatural storm. With a large cast of characters that includes sprites, goddesses, and other strange creatures, bringing the play from text to life presents some unique challenges.
"My character, Caliban, is half-man, half-monster or beast," actor Tim Dugan explained as two teenage girls painted strange, dark geometric designs on his face and legs before Wednesday night's show. His costume includes a fishing net, flesh-colored underwear, and long, dark dreadlocks.
Other actors bustled around the basement of the Saratoga Arts Council building, getting ready for the 6 p.m. curtain call. They would have to imagine the curtain -- the play is performed on an outdoor stage in Congress Park, before an audience that includes picnickers, ducks and squirrels.
Near the door to the park, actor Dorian Makhlogi paced and recited lines into the wireless microphone attached to his ear. But his words didn't match the script for his character, the prince Sebastian.
"One hen. One hen, two ducks. One hen, two ducks, three squawking geese," he said, speaking quickly but clearly as he added "four limerick oysters" and "five corpulent porpoises" to the bizarre litany.
He explained this was a trick he learned as a theater student at Skidmore College. It helps him practice proper articulation and volume -- factors that are especially important in an outdoor performance.
A few doors down, the girls worked on their hair and makeup before climbing into costumes.
"Do you need some Aqua Net?" Johanna Fey Parker asked her fellow actresses Anna Hendrick
and Carly Hirschberg, interrupting their discussion of the downfalls of cheap eyeliner.
Her own red hair was already teased into a wild, windswept crown above her long, narrow face, creating a look to suit her character, the sprite Ariel. She looked at herself in the mirror and laughed.
"It doesn't even feel like hair anymore. I feel like I could be in a Gwen Stefani video!" Parker said.
Hendrick laughed, then frowned at her reflection in a small mirror propped against a chair. She frizzed her fine, blonde hair with a crimping iron.
"I want it to be more...aaah!" she exclaimed, pulling at the air around her head to demonstrate.
Hirschberg glanced at her sideways in the mirror as she tugged at her own brown hair with a curling iron, working on a more natural hairstyle for her character, the female lead Miranda.
"They have that blue Elmer's glue," she suggested. "It's washable."
Hendrick reached for the Aqua Net.
---
IF YOU GO: "The Tempest" will be performed by Saratoga Shakespeare Company at 2 p.m. today and July 30 and at 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, weather permitting. All performances are free and open to the public, with donations appreciated. No seating or shelter is provided. Dogs and picnickers are welcome. For information, go to www.saratogashakespeare.com or call 581-1853.
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Rodeos in the Wild East? Who knew?
Published in the Post-Star (G1)
7/20/06
Most of the time, the only thing Josh Mead wrangles are packages, but he's a cowboy at heart.
The slim, gentle-eyed 23-year-old from Clifton Park is a UPS worker by day. But at least one night a week, he's an amateur bull rider at the Double M Western Rodeo in Ballston Spa.
"I'm a rodeo cowboy. I mean, I do live on a farm, but that doesn't make me any more of a cowboy," he said. "It's not about that. It's all a test of skills, and how strong a person you are."
He certainly looked the part last Friday night, wearing a worn plaid shirt unbuttoned at the top, jeans, leather chaps, tall boots with silver spurs, and a big, classic cowboy hat.
Of course, that described pretty much all the guys in the herd.
Eric Berghammer, a 35-year-old motorcycle parts salesman from Scotia, was similarly decked out as he and Mead lounged on a picnic table and waited for the rodeo to start. Berghammer's 10-year-old son roamed nearby, scowling beneath his black cowboy hat like a miniature John Wayne.
They were soon joined by Steve Dobbs, another bull-riding, hat-wearing, rodeo cowboy.
"Cowboys aren't born, they're made," Dobbs declared. "When I was a kid ... I saw the rodeo on TV one day, and said, 'That's what I want to do.'"
Mead explained that any adult who pays the $40 entry fee and has appropriate "Western attire" can ride the bulls at the Double M. Most nights, about 20 or 25 guys take the challenge.
The hats usually fly off as soon as the bucking begins, but the crowd likes them. So do the girls.
"I don't think of myself as a tough guy, but I guess that's the image that goes with bull riding," Mead said.
Berghammer nodded.
"A lot of chicks are into that," he added.
Since joining the rodeo circut about five years ago, Mead has learned just how rough-and-tumble a cowboy's life can be.
"It's dangerous, yeah. I broke my wrist two years in a row, and had to get pins in it and a bone graft," he said. "But if you love something enough, you keep doing it."
To an outsider, bull riding is a perplexing sport. These guys actually pay for the chance to straddle an angry animal that could crush, skewer or trample them.
"Yeah, it's pretty much the only sport where you have to pay to play," Berghammer said with a rueful chuckle.
The riders' only potential reward is a few hundred dollars. Most of the time, they go home empty-handed, bested by the beasts in less than eight seconds.
And (no offense, pardners), it's not like they're saving the world from destruction by this act of self-sacrifice. In fact, the only reason the bulls are angry in the first place is because they have a rope around their flanks and a person on top of them.
Mead gets this.
"I wouldn't want somebody on my back, either," he said, grinning. "But there's a misconception that the rodeo is cruelty to animals. The bulls are well taken care of. They know they have a job to do, and they're proud of it."
And in the end, there's one simple reason these guys put up with so much bull. It's the same reason other people jump out of planes, ski down glaciers or drive racecars.
"It's the rush," Mead said. "It's like an addiction. But a good one."
IF YOU GO
Bull riding and other events take place at several rodeos in the region throughout the summer.
Double M Western Rodeo, Ballston Spa 8 p.m. Fridays, $15/$10 at gate. 885-9543 or www.doublemwestern.com/rodeo.html
Painted Pony Championship Rodeo, Lake Luzerne 8 p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, $14/$9 at gate. 696-2421 or www.paintedponyrodeo.com
Pond Hill Ranch Pro Rodeo, Castleton, Vt., 8 p.m. Saturdays, $10/$5 at gate. 468-2449 or www.pondhillranch.com
RODEO LINGO:
Bullrope: Braided rope wrapped around the bull and held onto with one hand by riders.
Chute: Gated pen where a rider gets on a bull right before it is released into the arena.
Cover: To stay on a bull for the full eight-second period.
Rank: Measure of how ornery a particular bull tends to be. Higher ranks bring higher scores for riders who can cover them.
Rosin: Sticky substance placed on bullrope to improve riders' grip.
Roughstock: Rodeo events which depend on endurance rather than speed, like bullriding and bareback bronc riding.
7/20/06
Most of the time, the only thing Josh Mead wrangles are packages, but he's a cowboy at heart.
The slim, gentle-eyed 23-year-old from Clifton Park is a UPS worker by day. But at least one night a week, he's an amateur bull rider at the Double M Western Rodeo in Ballston Spa.
"I'm a rodeo cowboy. I mean, I do live on a farm, but that doesn't make me any more of a cowboy," he said. "It's not about that. It's all a test of skills, and how strong a person you are."
He certainly looked the part last Friday night, wearing a worn plaid shirt unbuttoned at the top, jeans, leather chaps, tall boots with silver spurs, and a big, classic cowboy hat.
Of course, that described pretty much all the guys in the herd.
Eric Berghammer, a 35-year-old motorcycle parts salesman from Scotia, was similarly decked out as he and Mead lounged on a picnic table and waited for the rodeo to start. Berghammer's 10-year-old son roamed nearby, scowling beneath his black cowboy hat like a miniature John Wayne.
They were soon joined by Steve Dobbs, another bull-riding, hat-wearing, rodeo cowboy.
"Cowboys aren't born, they're made," Dobbs declared. "When I was a kid ... I saw the rodeo on TV one day, and said, 'That's what I want to do.'"
Mead explained that any adult who pays the $40 entry fee and has appropriate "Western attire" can ride the bulls at the Double M. Most nights, about 20 or 25 guys take the challenge.
The hats usually fly off as soon as the bucking begins, but the crowd likes them. So do the girls.
"I don't think of myself as a tough guy, but I guess that's the image that goes with bull riding," Mead said.
Berghammer nodded.
"A lot of chicks are into that," he added.
Since joining the rodeo circut about five years ago, Mead has learned just how rough-and-tumble a cowboy's life can be.
"It's dangerous, yeah. I broke my wrist two years in a row, and had to get pins in it and a bone graft," he said. "But if you love something enough, you keep doing it."
To an outsider, bull riding is a perplexing sport. These guys actually pay for the chance to straddle an angry animal that could crush, skewer or trample them.
"Yeah, it's pretty much the only sport where you have to pay to play," Berghammer said with a rueful chuckle.
The riders' only potential reward is a few hundred dollars. Most of the time, they go home empty-handed, bested by the beasts in less than eight seconds.
And (no offense, pardners), it's not like they're saving the world from destruction by this act of self-sacrifice. In fact, the only reason the bulls are angry in the first place is because they have a rope around their flanks and a person on top of them.
Mead gets this.
"I wouldn't want somebody on my back, either," he said, grinning. "But there's a misconception that the rodeo is cruelty to animals. The bulls are well taken care of. They know they have a job to do, and they're proud of it."
And in the end, there's one simple reason these guys put up with so much bull. It's the same reason other people jump out of planes, ski down glaciers or drive racecars.
"It's the rush," Mead said. "It's like an addiction. But a good one."
IF YOU GO
Bull riding and other events take place at several rodeos in the region throughout the summer.
Double M Western Rodeo, Ballston Spa 8 p.m. Fridays, $15/$10 at gate. 885-9543 or www.doublemwestern.com/rodeo.html
Painted Pony Championship Rodeo, Lake Luzerne 8 p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, $14/$9 at gate. 696-2421 or www.paintedponyrodeo.com
Pond Hill Ranch Pro Rodeo, Castleton, Vt., 8 p.m. Saturdays, $10/$5 at gate. 468-2449 or www.pondhillranch.com
RODEO LINGO:
Bullrope: Braided rope wrapped around the bull and held onto with one hand by riders.
Chute: Gated pen where a rider gets on a bull right before it is released into the arena.
Cover: To stay on a bull for the full eight-second period.
Rank: Measure of how ornery a particular bull tends to be. Higher ranks bring higher scores for riders who can cover them.
Rosin: Sticky substance placed on bullrope to improve riders' grip.
Roughstock: Rodeo events which depend on endurance rather than speed, like bullriding and bareback bronc riding.
Monday, July 24, 2006
Fiddler on Broadway
Published in The Post-Star (D1)
7/17/06
Broadway isn’t such a surprising place for a certain familiar Jewish fiddler to show up, but in this town, his cry of "Tradition! Tradition!" is coming from a storefront rather than a roof.
Fiddler on Broadway, a seasonal shop filled with Jewish art, games, literature and religious objects, recently opened its doors for the summer in downtown Saratoga.
It’s operated by the local branch of Chabad, a worldwide community of Jews who place a strong emphasis on spreading Jewish tradition and teachings through social action and the arts.
"The idea of Chabad is that wherever you are, you should bring godliness and goodness," explained Devorah Rubin, who works at the store. Her brother, Rabbi Abba Rubin, leads the local Chabad community with his wife, Rochelle.
The group welcomes Jews of all ages and backgrounds to participate in worship services, study groups and other events at the Saratoga Chabad Center on 130 Circular St., but Rabbi Rubin said he hopes the store will give them a more visible presence downtown.
He wants "Fiddler on Broadway" to be more than a store — it’s a sort of visitor’s center for Jews, where they can find out things like where to buy kosher food (the closest place is Price Chopper in Colonie) and when local synagogues are holding services.
"I think people should be exposed to their heritage and be proud of it — not just in a synagogue, but also in public, in a friendly way," he said. "We picked the theme of the fiddler because it’s something that most Jewish people can recognize and relate to."
So far, he said, the response has been very positive.
"Sometimes, people don’t even need to buy anything, they just want to pop in and say they’re Jewish," Devorah said. "It’s neat."
From menorahs and prayer scrolls to kosher Candyland ("Magical Mitzvah Park"), the merchandise is meant to appeal to Jews of all ages and types. Framed prints and paintings by Jewish artists line the walls of the long, narrow shop, sharing space with kitschier items.
There’s a tower of plastic cups bearing the design "Torah — It’s the Real Thing" in the shape of the Coca-Cola logo, and a shelf of kosher candy imported from Israel. In the back of the store, kids can make arts and crafts while watching videos about Jewish history.
On Friday afternoon, Rabbi Rubin stopped at a shelf of mezuzas — small parchment scrolls, containing a Hebrew prayer for protection, that are placed in doorways — and decided it was time the store had one of its own. Uttering a brief blessing, he attached it to the store’s entrance, then turned and smiled.
"It’s kind of like an insurance policy," he explained.
IF YOU GO
Fiddler on Broadway, at 466 Broadway in Saratoga Springs, is open now through September 15 from 11 to 5 p.m. Monday to Wednesday and Friday, 11 to 7 p.m. Thursday, and 11 to 6 p.m. Sunday. More information at www.saratogachabad.com
7/17/06
Broadway isn’t such a surprising place for a certain familiar Jewish fiddler to show up, but in this town, his cry of "Tradition! Tradition!" is coming from a storefront rather than a roof.
Fiddler on Broadway, a seasonal shop filled with Jewish art, games, literature and religious objects, recently opened its doors for the summer in downtown Saratoga.
It’s operated by the local branch of Chabad, a worldwide community of Jews who place a strong emphasis on spreading Jewish tradition and teachings through social action and the arts.
"The idea of Chabad is that wherever you are, you should bring godliness and goodness," explained Devorah Rubin, who works at the store. Her brother, Rabbi Abba Rubin, leads the local Chabad community with his wife, Rochelle.
The group welcomes Jews of all ages and backgrounds to participate in worship services, study groups and other events at the Saratoga Chabad Center on 130 Circular St., but Rabbi Rubin said he hopes the store will give them a more visible presence downtown.
He wants "Fiddler on Broadway" to be more than a store — it’s a sort of visitor’s center for Jews, where they can find out things like where to buy kosher food (the closest place is Price Chopper in Colonie) and when local synagogues are holding services.
"I think people should be exposed to their heritage and be proud of it — not just in a synagogue, but also in public, in a friendly way," he said. "We picked the theme of the fiddler because it’s something that most Jewish people can recognize and relate to."
So far, he said, the response has been very positive.
"Sometimes, people don’t even need to buy anything, they just want to pop in and say they’re Jewish," Devorah said. "It’s neat."
From menorahs and prayer scrolls to kosher Candyland ("Magical Mitzvah Park"), the merchandise is meant to appeal to Jews of all ages and types. Framed prints and paintings by Jewish artists line the walls of the long, narrow shop, sharing space with kitschier items.
There’s a tower of plastic cups bearing the design "Torah — It’s the Real Thing" in the shape of the Coca-Cola logo, and a shelf of kosher candy imported from Israel. In the back of the store, kids can make arts and crafts while watching videos about Jewish history.
On Friday afternoon, Rabbi Rubin stopped at a shelf of mezuzas — small parchment scrolls, containing a Hebrew prayer for protection, that are placed in doorways — and decided it was time the store had one of its own. Uttering a brief blessing, he attached it to the store’s entrance, then turned and smiled.
"It’s kind of like an insurance policy," he explained.
IF YOU GO
Fiddler on Broadway, at 466 Broadway in Saratoga Springs, is open now through September 15 from 11 to 5 p.m. Monday to Wednesday and Friday, 11 to 7 p.m. Thursday, and 11 to 6 p.m. Sunday. More information at www.saratogachabad.com
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Polo -- uppity fun
Published in The Post-Star (D1)
7/13/06
There's something suspiciously yuppie about the sentence: "I'm going to a polo match."
It brings to mind images of a crowd wearing designer suits or dresses and elaborate hats, sipping champagne and sharing stock tips, doesn't it?
But at least in Saratoga, the field has really opened up since the days when Julia Roberts' less-than-aristocratic (OK, hooker) character was scoffed at by the rich elite for daring to attend a polo match in "Pretty Woman."
These days, you can cram a six-pack of friends and a tailgate picnic into your station wagon and pay just $20 a carload for a spot on the sidelines.
"It's a great deal, especially if you can get a lot of people in your car," said 25-year-old Eric Hoover, who is in his second year on the parking and security staff at the polo fields.
"I think they're really trying to promote this to a younger crowd, and it's working," he reflected. "I mean, I'll even come for fun in my free time."
An optional touch of glamour remains for those who can afford it -- $20 a person scores you a seat in the "VIP hospitality tent" and admission to the air-conditioned clubhouse, where patrons can splurge on things like champagne or linger after the match for a $35 gourmet buffet.
This is where they keep the fancy hats (as the Polo Association's Web site gently puts it: "VIP Clubhouse Patrons typically take care to choose outfits that would not be out of place at other traditional Saratoga summer venues, such as the racetrack and ballet").
Over on the cheap -- excuse me, general admission, side -- spectators are more likely to be sporting polo shirts and shorts, and snacking on Cheetos and watermelon.
Behind one open tailgate, a group of friends settled in Sunday evening to watch the Chamber of Commerce Cup semifinal match at Whitney Fields.
"My dad played, and I used to play at Skidmore, but now I just like to watch," Kris Moskos-Guyette said. "We've all been coming together for a long time."
One of her friends chimed in: "We're family now."
Most of the parking spots are first-come, first-served, but it's easy to find the most devoted fans. Two spots at the head of the row are marked with nameplates, indicating the holders of what amounts to season tickets.
"It's beautiful, it's green, it's outdoors, it's horses ... what more can you ask? It's a lot of fun to watch," said Mark Doane, a Clifton Park resident.
He and his wife, Valerie, have been attending matches for at least two decades, and for the past few years, they've paid extra for a reserved spot, marked "Doane."
As Valerie cooked steak kabobs on a portable Coleman grill, Mark smiled contentedly from his camping chair.
"We can afford to be on the members' side, but we enjoy the atmosphere over here," he confided.
There are six chukkers, or periods, in a polo match. At halftime, the VIPs mingle with the commoners when everyone walks onto the field to smooth out the divots of grass churned up by three chukkers of pounding horseshoes.
Have fun, but as the polo announcer in "Pretty Woman" advised: "Avoid the steaming divot!"
IF YOU GO
Saratoga Polo Association holds matches at 5:30 p.m. every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday evening through Labor Day, subject to field and weather conditions. Matches take place at Whitney or Skidmore fields, located off Denton Road in Saratoga Springs. Gates open at 4 p.m. Live music on Friday and Sunday nights until 10 p.m.
General admission tickets $10 per person or $20 per carload, $5 per person on foot or bicycle. VIP admission $20 per person. For more details, go to www.saratogapolo.com or call 584-8018.
POLO LINGO
Bump: When one player spoils another's shot by riding into him at a slight angle and jarring him.
Chukker: One of six periods in a standard polo game, each lasting seven minutes.
Hook: When one player spoils another's shot by putting his mallet in the way.
Mallet: Tool used by players to hit the ball, typically about 50 inches long with a bamboo shaft and hardwood head.
Near Side: Left-hand side of a horse.
Off Side: Right-hand side of a horse.
Ride-off: When two riders use their horses to push each other out of a position where they can strike the ball.
Tailshot: Hitting the ball behind and across the horse's rump.
(Source: Saratoga Polo Association 2005 summer program)
7/13/06
There's something suspiciously yuppie about the sentence: "I'm going to a polo match."
It brings to mind images of a crowd wearing designer suits or dresses and elaborate hats, sipping champagne and sharing stock tips, doesn't it?
But at least in Saratoga, the field has really opened up since the days when Julia Roberts' less-than-aristocratic (OK, hooker) character was scoffed at by the rich elite for daring to attend a polo match in "Pretty Woman."
These days, you can cram a six-pack of friends and a tailgate picnic into your station wagon and pay just $20 a carload for a spot on the sidelines.
"It's a great deal, especially if you can get a lot of people in your car," said 25-year-old Eric Hoover, who is in his second year on the parking and security staff at the polo fields.
"I think they're really trying to promote this to a younger crowd, and it's working," he reflected. "I mean, I'll even come for fun in my free time."
An optional touch of glamour remains for those who can afford it -- $20 a person scores you a seat in the "VIP hospitality tent" and admission to the air-conditioned clubhouse, where patrons can splurge on things like champagne or linger after the match for a $35 gourmet buffet.
This is where they keep the fancy hats (as the Polo Association's Web site gently puts it: "VIP Clubhouse Patrons typically take care to choose outfits that would not be out of place at other traditional Saratoga summer venues, such as the racetrack and ballet").
Over on the cheap -- excuse me, general admission, side -- spectators are more likely to be sporting polo shirts and shorts, and snacking on Cheetos and watermelon.
Behind one open tailgate, a group of friends settled in Sunday evening to watch the Chamber of Commerce Cup semifinal match at Whitney Fields.
"My dad played, and I used to play at Skidmore, but now I just like to watch," Kris Moskos-Guyette said. "We've all been coming together for a long time."
One of her friends chimed in: "We're family now."
Most of the parking spots are first-come, first-served, but it's easy to find the most devoted fans. Two spots at the head of the row are marked with nameplates, indicating the holders of what amounts to season tickets.
"It's beautiful, it's green, it's outdoors, it's horses ... what more can you ask? It's a lot of fun to watch," said Mark Doane, a Clifton Park resident.
He and his wife, Valerie, have been attending matches for at least two decades, and for the past few years, they've paid extra for a reserved spot, marked "Doane."
As Valerie cooked steak kabobs on a portable Coleman grill, Mark smiled contentedly from his camping chair.
"We can afford to be on the members' side, but we enjoy the atmosphere over here," he confided.
There are six chukkers, or periods, in a polo match. At halftime, the VIPs mingle with the commoners when everyone walks onto the field to smooth out the divots of grass churned up by three chukkers of pounding horseshoes.
Have fun, but as the polo announcer in "Pretty Woman" advised: "Avoid the steaming divot!"
IF YOU GO
Saratoga Polo Association holds matches at 5:30 p.m. every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday evening through Labor Day, subject to field and weather conditions. Matches take place at Whitney or Skidmore fields, located off Denton Road in Saratoga Springs. Gates open at 4 p.m. Live music on Friday and Sunday nights until 10 p.m.
General admission tickets $10 per person or $20 per carload, $5 per person on foot or bicycle. VIP admission $20 per person. For more details, go to www.saratogapolo.com or call 584-8018.
POLO LINGO
Bump: When one player spoils another's shot by riding into him at a slight angle and jarring him.
Chukker: One of six periods in a standard polo game, each lasting seven minutes.
Hook: When one player spoils another's shot by putting his mallet in the way.
Mallet: Tool used by players to hit the ball, typically about 50 inches long with a bamboo shaft and hardwood head.
Near Side: Left-hand side of a horse.
Off Side: Right-hand side of a horse.
Ride-off: When two riders use their horses to push each other out of a position where they can strike the ball.
Tailshot: Hitting the ball behind and across the horse's rump.
(Source: Saratoga Polo Association 2005 summer program)
Food pg: Apples and globalization
Published in The Post-Star (D1)
7/13/06
New Zealand, Chile, China -- There's quite an international crop of stickers on the apples in most American grocery stores these days.
Consumers may benefit from the fruits of globalization, but what does it mean for farmers?
"The food we eat every day primarily originates on farms, but we neglect to think about the circumstances of the farmer," said Tracy Frisch, a freelance writer who founded the Regional Farm and Food Project to promote local agriculture in the Hudson-Mohawk Valley.
Todd DeGarmo, director of the Folklife Center at Crandall Library, recently called on Frisch to brainstorm ways to combine the center's current exhibit of agricultural photos with a public discussion of broader issues related to farming.
The result is this month's two-part film series, which kicks off Thursday with a screening of "Broken Limbs," a documentary about the impact of globalization on the apple industry.
"This will be a chance to learn about the food system ... and what's going on with farmers," Frisch said. "The fact that we're losing farms, and more of more of our food is being produced in other nations, should be a real wake-up call about our own food security."
The film is set mostly in Washington state, and shows how the "apple capital of the world" is feeling the pressures of globalization. Apple buyers are migrating eastward to places like China, lured by cheaper labor and weaker regulations, leaving many U.S. orchards with few choices but to close down or expand into large corporations.
"That has a big impact, especially on small farms that can't afford to take advantage of the economies of scale," said Dan Wilson, a second-generation apple farmer who owns Hicks Orchard in Granville.
Wilson said he sees strong parallels between the dairy and apple industries, and one of the main problems with both is that farmers don't typically handle their own distribution.
"That puts farmers in the least favorable position in terms of getting a return on their investment, while they're taking the highest level of risk," he said.
Farming is an unpredictable profession, with weird weather and market forces often wreaking havoc on even the best-tended seeds of profit, so farmers tend to be slow to panic. But there's an uncommon urgency in Wilson's words.
"Our region is beginning to experience a very basic change in the nature of our communities...Farmers are the main landowners, and development pressures are really mounting, so there needs to be a really concerted effort on a county level to address some of these issues before the bulk of farming disappears in our area," he said. "I'm just reading the writing on the wall."
Wilson will lead a discussion after the film screening on Thursday night.
7/13/06
New Zealand, Chile, China -- There's quite an international crop of stickers on the apples in most American grocery stores these days.
Consumers may benefit from the fruits of globalization, but what does it mean for farmers?
"The food we eat every day primarily originates on farms, but we neglect to think about the circumstances of the farmer," said Tracy Frisch, a freelance writer who founded the Regional Farm and Food Project to promote local agriculture in the Hudson-Mohawk Valley.
Todd DeGarmo, director of the Folklife Center at Crandall Library, recently called on Frisch to brainstorm ways to combine the center's current exhibit of agricultural photos with a public discussion of broader issues related to farming.
The result is this month's two-part film series, which kicks off Thursday with a screening of "Broken Limbs," a documentary about the impact of globalization on the apple industry.
"This will be a chance to learn about the food system ... and what's going on with farmers," Frisch said. "The fact that we're losing farms, and more of more of our food is being produced in other nations, should be a real wake-up call about our own food security."
The film is set mostly in Washington state, and shows how the "apple capital of the world" is feeling the pressures of globalization. Apple buyers are migrating eastward to places like China, lured by cheaper labor and weaker regulations, leaving many U.S. orchards with few choices but to close down or expand into large corporations.
"That has a big impact, especially on small farms that can't afford to take advantage of the economies of scale," said Dan Wilson, a second-generation apple farmer who owns Hicks Orchard in Granville.
Wilson said he sees strong parallels between the dairy and apple industries, and one of the main problems with both is that farmers don't typically handle their own distribution.
"That puts farmers in the least favorable position in terms of getting a return on their investment, while they're taking the highest level of risk," he said.
Farming is an unpredictable profession, with weird weather and market forces often wreaking havoc on even the best-tended seeds of profit, so farmers tend to be slow to panic. But there's an uncommon urgency in Wilson's words.
"Our region is beginning to experience a very basic change in the nature of our communities...Farmers are the main landowners, and development pressures are really mounting, so there needs to be a really concerted effort on a county level to address some of these issues before the bulk of farming disappears in our area," he said. "I'm just reading the writing on the wall."
Wilson will lead a discussion after the film screening on Thursday night.
Monday, July 17, 2006
Un-dangered: the bald eagle
Published in The Post-Star (A1)
7/10/06
At a time when the country's feathers are frequently ruffled by military and diplomatic challenges to its global dominance, one classic American symbol is stronger than it has been in a long time: the bald eagle.
Declaring the last few decades of recovery efforts a success, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is poised to release the bald eagle from the federal list of endangered species.
Last century, the species had a close call with extinction in the country that has considered it a national symbol since 1782. Biologists believe there were once more than 100,000 bald eagles in America, but that population plummeted as humans hunted them, devoured their natural habitat with development, and released deadly pesticides like DDT into the environment.
By the early 1960s, there were only 417 breeding pairs of bald eagles left in the lower 48 states, prompting Congress to pass the Bald and Gold Eagle Protection Act and declare the bird an endangered species.
Recently, that number has soared past 7,000 breeding pairs -- even higher than biologists hoped when they began a regional recovery program in the mid-1970s.
As a leader of the endangered species program for the state Department of Environmental Conservation since 1976, Peter Nye has handled thousands of eagles. He spent the early years of the bald eagle recovery program climbing trees in Alaska to capture baby eaglets and bring them back to the northern U.S., where they were gradually released into the wild.
With the help of a helicopter, Nye now keeps a close eye on each of the 110 breeding pairs of bald eagles in New York state.
The federal recovery program split the lower 48 states into five recovery regions, each with a numeric goal for re-establishing bald eagles. In the 16-state northern region, which includes New York, the goal was 1,200 nesting pairs.
"At the time, everybody thought those numbers were really pie in the sky," Nye said. "Then, lo and behold, eagles started to come ... we blew by the numeric goals. Now, there's probably like 2,000 pairs in the northern states."
The Fish and Wildlife Service downgraded the bird's risk status from "endangered" to "threatened" in 1995, and in 1999 proposed removing it from the list completely. Now, after a lengthy review process and public comment period, it appears that proposal will soon be implemented. The species will still be protected from hunting and other forms of disturbance under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
Nye said delisting makes sense based on numbers alone, but the eagles' future could still be clouded if the government fails to set strict habitat management guidelines.
"I think where everyone was a little shortsighted was simply saying, if we ever get these numbers again, we're golden," Nye said. "But what's it going to be in 2040? Is the habitat base that created those numbers going to be there?"
Bald eagles only breed once a year, and they are sensitive creatures, said Nye. If nearby human activity disturbs them too much, they may abandon the nest -- and their eggs.
"We saw one active nest this year, on the lower Hudson, and when we went back in May we found it abandoned, with eggs," Nye said. "We noticed an ATV trail about 25 feet away, and said, 'Oh.'...That's that. I guess they just go and mope somewhere."
The habitat management guidelines currently proposed by the Fish and Wildlife Service are "probably okay," but they're only voluntary, Nye said. He and other raptor biologists are recommending the adoption of a mandatory habitat management plan "with some teeth behind it" to protect bald eagles' nesting sites from development in the future.
"Without that, seeing the way things have gone in the Hudson Valley and throughout the state, we're just chopping up the habitat as if there's no tomorrow," he said. "Basically, the species has had a remarkable recovery, and they warrant delisting, but it's kind of irresponsible to delist them and just walk away."
LOGGING ON: To learn more, visit www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/BaldEagle.
7/10/06
At a time when the country's feathers are frequently ruffled by military and diplomatic challenges to its global dominance, one classic American symbol is stronger than it has been in a long time: the bald eagle.
Declaring the last few decades of recovery efforts a success, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is poised to release the bald eagle from the federal list of endangered species.
Last century, the species had a close call with extinction in the country that has considered it a national symbol since 1782. Biologists believe there were once more than 100,000 bald eagles in America, but that population plummeted as humans hunted them, devoured their natural habitat with development, and released deadly pesticides like DDT into the environment.
By the early 1960s, there were only 417 breeding pairs of bald eagles left in the lower 48 states, prompting Congress to pass the Bald and Gold Eagle Protection Act and declare the bird an endangered species.
Recently, that number has soared past 7,000 breeding pairs -- even higher than biologists hoped when they began a regional recovery program in the mid-1970s.
As a leader of the endangered species program for the state Department of Environmental Conservation since 1976, Peter Nye has handled thousands of eagles. He spent the early years of the bald eagle recovery program climbing trees in Alaska to capture baby eaglets and bring them back to the northern U.S., where they were gradually released into the wild.
With the help of a helicopter, Nye now keeps a close eye on each of the 110 breeding pairs of bald eagles in New York state.
The federal recovery program split the lower 48 states into five recovery regions, each with a numeric goal for re-establishing bald eagles. In the 16-state northern region, which includes New York, the goal was 1,200 nesting pairs.
"At the time, everybody thought those numbers were really pie in the sky," Nye said. "Then, lo and behold, eagles started to come ... we blew by the numeric goals. Now, there's probably like 2,000 pairs in the northern states."
The Fish and Wildlife Service downgraded the bird's risk status from "endangered" to "threatened" in 1995, and in 1999 proposed removing it from the list completely. Now, after a lengthy review process and public comment period, it appears that proposal will soon be implemented. The species will still be protected from hunting and other forms of disturbance under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
Nye said delisting makes sense based on numbers alone, but the eagles' future could still be clouded if the government fails to set strict habitat management guidelines.
"I think where everyone was a little shortsighted was simply saying, if we ever get these numbers again, we're golden," Nye said. "But what's it going to be in 2040? Is the habitat base that created those numbers going to be there?"
Bald eagles only breed once a year, and they are sensitive creatures, said Nye. If nearby human activity disturbs them too much, they may abandon the nest -- and their eggs.
"We saw one active nest this year, on the lower Hudson, and when we went back in May we found it abandoned, with eggs," Nye said. "We noticed an ATV trail about 25 feet away, and said, 'Oh.'...That's that. I guess they just go and mope somewhere."
The habitat management guidelines currently proposed by the Fish and Wildlife Service are "probably okay," but they're only voluntary, Nye said. He and other raptor biologists are recommending the adoption of a mandatory habitat management plan "with some teeth behind it" to protect bald eagles' nesting sites from development in the future.
"Without that, seeing the way things have gone in the Hudson Valley and throughout the state, we're just chopping up the habitat as if there's no tomorrow," he said. "Basically, the species has had a remarkable recovery, and they warrant delisting, but it's kind of irresponsible to delist them and just walk away."
LOGGING ON: To learn more, visit www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/BaldEagle.
Christian consumers
Published in The Post-Star (D1)
7/10/06
Flip through the "Churches" section of the Yellow Pages, and you'll notice that Christians represent a major chunk of the local population.
From a marketing perspective, that represents a major chunk of change.
Realizing this, some local businesses have started to offer special events that target Christian consumers.
At The Great Escape theme park in Lake George, July 1 was "Glory Day," an all-day festival of Christian music. Groups from about 50 area churches flocked to the event, paying between $22 to $40 per person to mix holy rock and rollercoasters.
"This is the third annual Glory Day, and the driving force behind this is really the Christian community," said Jeff Bartone, general sales manager for the park. "We wanted to provide them with a place to get together and join in a day of praise and worship...and it's always a lot of fun."
Holy rolling is also popular at The Fun Spot, a rollerskating rink and entertainment complex in Queensbury that recently began hosting a monthly Christian-music skating night called "Momentum" during the school year.
"It's kind of a market that isn't really tapped a lot, which is why we were interested," said Steven Duckett, a manager at The Fun Spot.
The events coordinator for Word of Life Bible Institute in Schroon Lake doubles as a DJ on Momentum nights, and picks out a playlist heavy with heavenly hits from the likes of Casting Crowns, Toby Mac, and Barlow Girl.
It's a concept that's been around for years, at roller rinks throughout the nation. But earlier this year, a rink in Accord, N.Y., about an hour south of Albany, got a slap on the wristband for featuring "Christian skates" on Sunday afternoons.
According to The Associated Press, Skate Time 209 received a letter from the state Division of Human Rights warning that it was breaking human rights law because playing exclusively Christian music was allegedly discouraging non-Christian customers.
Duckett said he thinks places like Skate Time 209 and The Fun Spot are simply responding to customer demand, not trying to push anyone out of the rink.
"I don't really see it as discrimination -- all of our sessions are open to the public," he said. "Anything we can do to get people in here seems like a good idea to me."
Skate Time 209 owner Len Bernardo told The Associated Press he's hoping the "strange situation" will resolve itself soon.
The company has changed the name of the sessions to "spiritual skate," and their Web site now states in bold yellow lettering: "We would like to reiterate that everyone is welcome, and we wheelie mean it!"
7/10/06
Flip through the "Churches" section of the Yellow Pages, and you'll notice that Christians represent a major chunk of the local population.
From a marketing perspective, that represents a major chunk of change.
Realizing this, some local businesses have started to offer special events that target Christian consumers.
At The Great Escape theme park in Lake George, July 1 was "Glory Day," an all-day festival of Christian music. Groups from about 50 area churches flocked to the event, paying between $22 to $40 per person to mix holy rock and rollercoasters.
"This is the third annual Glory Day, and the driving force behind this is really the Christian community," said Jeff Bartone, general sales manager for the park. "We wanted to provide them with a place to get together and join in a day of praise and worship...and it's always a lot of fun."
Holy rolling is also popular at The Fun Spot, a rollerskating rink and entertainment complex in Queensbury that recently began hosting a monthly Christian-music skating night called "Momentum" during the school year.
"It's kind of a market that isn't really tapped a lot, which is why we were interested," said Steven Duckett, a manager at The Fun Spot.
The events coordinator for Word of Life Bible Institute in Schroon Lake doubles as a DJ on Momentum nights, and picks out a playlist heavy with heavenly hits from the likes of Casting Crowns, Toby Mac, and Barlow Girl.
It's a concept that's been around for years, at roller rinks throughout the nation. But earlier this year, a rink in Accord, N.Y., about an hour south of Albany, got a slap on the wristband for featuring "Christian skates" on Sunday afternoons.
According to The Associated Press, Skate Time 209 received a letter from the state Division of Human Rights warning that it was breaking human rights law because playing exclusively Christian music was allegedly discouraging non-Christian customers.
Duckett said he thinks places like Skate Time 209 and The Fun Spot are simply responding to customer demand, not trying to push anyone out of the rink.
"I don't really see it as discrimination -- all of our sessions are open to the public," he said. "Anything we can do to get people in here seems like a good idea to me."
Skate Time 209 owner Len Bernardo told The Associated Press he's hoping the "strange situation" will resolve itself soon.
The company has changed the name of the sessions to "spiritual skate," and their Web site now states in bold yellow lettering: "We would like to reiterate that everyone is welcome, and we wheelie mean it!"
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Movie review: Superman Returns
Published in The Post-Star (D7)
7/6/06
Superman Returns (2006). Written by Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris, directed by Brian Singer. Starring Brandon Routh, Kate Bosworth, James Marsden, Frank Langella, Eva Marie Saint, Kevin Spacey and Parker Posey. 153 minutes. Rated PG-13 (for some intense action violence).
Superman's back in Metropolis, and back in the box office.
Don't care for men in Spandex? Keep an open mind. This cotton-candy comic-book plot probably won't inspire anyone to save the world, but it's certainly an entertaining way to watch a few hours fly past.
As the film begins, Martha Kent (Eva Marie Saint) is immersed in a homey scene of dishwashing and Scrabble (look quick, and you'll notice words like "alienation" on the board) when a hunk of flaming meteorite lands in her cornfield.
Make that, a hunk and a flaming meteorite. It's her son Clark (Brandon Routh), aka Superman, returned from an unproductive voyage to the ruins of his home planet. His mom welcomes him back, but he soon discovers that not everyone feels the same way.
Reporter Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth) was justifiably peeved when her super-studmuffin flew off to a distant galaxy without so much as a goodbye kiss. Talk about a man who can't commit, right? He seems to think he can just swoop in and sweep her off her feet after five years of silence -- but alas, the Man of Steel has a lot to learn about the women of this planet.
Lane has moved on -- or at least, tried valiantly. She has a son (he's about 5 years old ... hmmm), a supportive, down-to-earth fiance (James Marsden), and a freshly won Pulitzer Prize for an editorial titled "Why the World Doesn't Need Superman."
And then there's his old nemesis, Lex Luther (Kevin Spacey), who has escaped life behind bars because Superman failed to appear as a witness at his trial. He's plotting another earth-shatteringly evil caper, and only a caped do-gooder with a weird little curl in the middle of his forehead can stop him.
The movie has all the elements of a blockbuster -- humor, romance, drama and action -- but something about it feels a little too airbrushed to evoke real emotion.
Cartoonish, you might say.
But I guess that's not such a bad thing. If you can't save the world, you might as well entertain it.
7/6/06
Superman Returns (2006). Written by Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris, directed by Brian Singer. Starring Brandon Routh, Kate Bosworth, James Marsden, Frank Langella, Eva Marie Saint, Kevin Spacey and Parker Posey. 153 minutes. Rated PG-13 (for some intense action violence).
Superman's back in Metropolis, and back in the box office.
Don't care for men in Spandex? Keep an open mind. This cotton-candy comic-book plot probably won't inspire anyone to save the world, but it's certainly an entertaining way to watch a few hours fly past.
As the film begins, Martha Kent (Eva Marie Saint) is immersed in a homey scene of dishwashing and Scrabble (look quick, and you'll notice words like "alienation" on the board) when a hunk of flaming meteorite lands in her cornfield.
Make that, a hunk and a flaming meteorite. It's her son Clark (Brandon Routh), aka Superman, returned from an unproductive voyage to the ruins of his home planet. His mom welcomes him back, but he soon discovers that not everyone feels the same way.
Reporter Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth) was justifiably peeved when her super-studmuffin flew off to a distant galaxy without so much as a goodbye kiss. Talk about a man who can't commit, right? He seems to think he can just swoop in and sweep her off her feet after five years of silence -- but alas, the Man of Steel has a lot to learn about the women of this planet.
Lane has moved on -- or at least, tried valiantly. She has a son (he's about 5 years old ... hmmm), a supportive, down-to-earth fiance (James Marsden), and a freshly won Pulitzer Prize for an editorial titled "Why the World Doesn't Need Superman."
And then there's his old nemesis, Lex Luther (Kevin Spacey), who has escaped life behind bars because Superman failed to appear as a witness at his trial. He's plotting another earth-shatteringly evil caper, and only a caped do-gooder with a weird little curl in the middle of his forehead can stop him.
The movie has all the elements of a blockbuster -- humor, romance, drama and action -- but something about it feels a little too airbrushed to evoke real emotion.
Cartoonish, you might say.
But I guess that's not such a bad thing. If you can't save the world, you might as well entertain it.
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