Images

This is a forecast map for June 28 2015–that trough you are seeing over the East Coast is more like a winter time pattern than mid-summer.. It’s strong for this time of year. If it happens to occur like that, there may be some flooding over Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and other parts of the East Coast. 

My forecast area is in the trough location.. Current forecast for the time period in question: High temperatures in the 60s with rain.. That is more like April of October.. Not the week of the Fourth of July.

The photo pictured here is of an abandoned theme park in Ohio. It’s haunting–it looks more like the scene of a horror flick.. But it’s real. It is also among many other strange abandoned structures across the world. Seph Lawless, an amazing photographer who has done the same thing with abandoned malls, is focusing attention on closed amusement parks.. His newest work is labeled BIZARRO.

You can see examples of his work here.. But I really recommend you purchase his book–you can also peruse his site to look at some of the amazing empty malls he has photographed. (I personally think my local mall may be next.)

I have been following Lawless for some time. He is an amazing artist who makes a point with his work. Often, he puts himself in dangerous situations to get the perfect shot.. He did that with his work on malls, and clearly now the same thing with abandoned amusement parks…

Each photo represents a story–with that has laughter in the past with the smell of cotton candy in the air and the sound of organ music. Today lifelessness.. Sadness.. emptiness. Each photograph has a story, if not a multitude of tales under the stars of a warm summer night…..

REAL MOMENTS IN JOURNALISM..

Photos have been leaked and broadcast–through GAWKER–to the world.. New York TIMES journalists in the late 90s and June 2001 mocking mass killings. One was the Heaven’s Gate suicides.. the other, the top photo, is a spoof of the murders committed by the Crown Prince Dipendra, who took the lives of nine people including the king, queen, as well as his own. One of the weapons that he used was an M16…

And now the Old Gray Lady’s past sins are exposed. Smiles for the camera–long before Facebook and Twitter. Back when Polaroids were quick and private.. Back when the NET was only just beginning.
And now today, 2015, when the entire world is seeing the fun that the TIMES had thanks to leaked photos and a few websites making them be seen across the planet..

ROB ZOMBIE promising a NON HORROR flick about Groucho Marx.. 

I have been a long time critic of Zombie’s style of horror, I think it did more harm than good since HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES became a hit. 

But he also struck while the iron was hot, figuring out what the post 9/11 horror crowd would accept and celebrate. Even though I disdain his style, especially his HALLOWEEN remakes, 

I think Zombie is one of the most creative and greatest movie makers alive today. 

His films may not be my cup of tea, but those cups are enjoyed thoroughly by millions of others. So really, in the end, my criticism is more a matter of opinion than factual based.  And a Groucho Marx movie? Now I’ll try that one.

Forgive me.. I may just be coming off the high of an amazing summer movie experience. Or just too much movie theater popcorn, with extra unhealthy butter. That stuff will kill you.

But JURASSIC WORLD may have been one of the best films I have seen in years.. it reigns high in the action department. The fun department. the laughter.. the homages to the amazing original 1993 film that inspired me as a 13-year-old in a movie theater..

JURASSIC WORLD has every single thing that a summer box office buster should have.
And with it.. a record.

JURASSIC WORLD can now boast that it has over $500 million .. in one weekend.. all over the globe.

The AP reports:

“This over-performed in a way that I’ve never seen,” Rentrak’s Senior Media Analyst Paul Dergarabedian said. “It broke the box office sound barrier.”

So why?

I would suggest that families, parents, people like me, who were stunned in the early 90s with the amazing original film, are in part passing that love of film and action to their own children. A new generation is seeing JURASSIC WORLD, with their parents.. and grandparents. That is how the arm-to-arm theater I was in tonight looked. A mixture of ages, from young to old.. all sitting with fascinated eyes staring at the screen. Amazed at the sights, dreading the plight.. and applauding the might of the secret victor at the end of the film..

This movie had what I expected. And more..
…The movie theater butter is secreting from my scalp.. But my brain is going to be filled with the images of JURASSIC WORLD for years to come–the same effect the original had.

A record setting box office opening.
Something that analysts have never seen before.

And perhaps won’t again.
Experience the moment in a theater, should you get the chance. It’s a visit to the WORLD you will not regret..