Movie Review-"Amelia"

By Christian Toto www.whatwouldtotowatch.com

What took so long to make a biopic about legendary aviatrix Amelia Earhart?

Maybe Hollywood was waiting for a two-time Oscar winner like Hilary Swank to swoop in and commandeer the role.

Swank, a fine physical match for Earhart, finally gets her chance to soar with “Amelia,” directed by Mira Nair (”The Namesake”).

It’s a perfect storm of just the right actress, a story deliciously larger than life and a time of year when Oscar-friendly films start hitting the cineplex.

Yet after nearly two hours audiences feel no closer to Earhart’s legend than when they stumbled their way into the darkened theater.

“Amelia” begins just before the soon to be famous pilot became the first woman to cross the Atlantic by plane.Amelia didn’t pilot that plane herself. It was all part of a marketing scheme cooked up by George Putnam (Richard Gere), the savvy publisher who would become Earhart’s husband.

Amelia wasn’t satisfied with a publicity stunt. She wants to soar amongst the clouds and break cultural barriers by becoming the first woman to cross the Atlantic on her own.

But … why?

“Amelia” never answers that and many other crucial questions.

Sure, we get inspirational speeches, beautifully choreographed flying sequences and luxurious period detail.

It’s Amelia’s motivations which are given short shrift, and as good as Swank can be on screen she’s no match for a unimaginative screenplay which can’t fill in many blanks.

A few sequences hint at more complicated themes. Earhart’s fame came during the Depression, where she symbolized the hope of a nation. And while the pilot didn’t care about publicity, she realized working within the commercial system meant more money for more planes she could pilot.

Earhart’s romantic motivations prove cloudier than the friendly skies, whether it’s her chemistry-free romance with Putnam or her gallavanting with a handsome fellow pilot (Ewan McGregor in yet another thankless role).

It’s almost like a biopic on autopilot - a few memorable scenes here, some archival footage there and a star gussied up to resemble the film’s protagonist right down to her perfectly mussed up hair.

We’re still waiting for a big-budget biopic to do Earhart justice.

Epilepsy Awareness Month Hits Close To Home

By Mike Henle www.mikehenle.com

November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month and the period strikes very close to home.

I don’t have epilepsy now, but I did have it until I was almost 44 years of age. When I was nine months old in 1951, a nasty mosquito infected with the encephalitis virus bit me. Not long after the bite, I started to sleep more often and while my parents were concerned, they felt that a baby sleeping more was simply a part of being an infant.

However, serious concern set in one evening when their baby suddenly started having convulsions right in the middle of a friendly card game. I’m told I quit breathing and only quick emergency work by one of the family friends kept me from dying.

The next thing anyone knew, I was in a coma and would remain in that state for a week. The encephalitis virus had infected the brain and I would remain hospitalized in Intensive Care.

When I awoke from the coma, it was thought that the concern had subsided. I bounced back and my grandmother quickly told me parents that radiant smile of mine was proof enough that I had fully recovered.

As far as anyone knew, the encephalitis had not left any lasting effects. Life was good until at the age of about seven, I recall a very strange sensation of fear rushing through my body. The episode made no sense especially considering that it lasted only a few minutes.

The problem was that I had just what would be the first of thousands of epileptic seizures. While the first seizure was evident by a slight drooping of the face along with a blank stare that lasted for a few moments, the truth was that I was about to begin a mysterious journey that would last for decades.

For the most part, I was able to hide the seizures until I awoke one evening with a terrific headache. The next thing I knew, the seizure had advanced into a full-blown grand mal seizure in which the body stiffened and jerked uncontrollably. I would awaken to see several family members alongside the bed explaining that I needed to go to the hospital immediately.

The seizures would continue creating concern that one work eventually kill me. Worse yet, there was the awful fear that I would have a seizure while driving a car. The thought of hurting someone else as the result of having a seizure was a fear I would carry with me.

No medicine helped and in fact, I was allergic to just about every prescription. Every medication carried with it a side effect. I was frustrated and scared.

Then, in December of 1994, doctors are Scripps Green Hospital in La Jolla, Calif. determined they could remove the epilepsy from my life by removing a five-centimeter piece of my right temporal lobe in a very delicate brain surgery procedure. The surgery worked and I haven’t had a seizure since the day before the surgery.

Even better yet, I no longer need medications to regulate my life. I am free of epilepsy and there isn’t a day that goes by when I don’t think take at least a short minute to realize how lucky I am.
However, there are a reported two million people affected with epilepsy. I think I know what every one of them is going through since I have traveled that bumpy road, too. In fact, every time I hear that someone crashed a vehicle because of a “medical incident,” I think back about my own close calls.

National Epilepsy Awareness Month is a crucial period in which special attention is brought to the forefront of a mysterious disorder that can strike without warning.

The great strides to conquer the disorder are all-important and the month of November is a huge example of the progress that has been made to conquer the disorder.

Perhaps one of the greatest advances has been in Las Vegas where the Nevada Neurosciences Institute at Sunrise Health has made incredible progress. With neurologist Dr. Samir Bangalore and neurosurgeon Dr. Stuart Kaplan leading the charge, three surgeries to correct epilepsy have been conducted in the past few months.

Considering that I still remember vividly returning from Scripps on Dec. 13, 1994 only to discover that we had lost all of my medications, I know first-hand how terrified I was returning home knowing that Las Vegas was essentially a city weak in many medical elements including epilepsy.

That has all changed in Southern Nevada, an area where great improvements are being made in the medical community.

Thank God. From someone who knows personally, helping people who are suffering from epilepsy is vitally important. In Southern Nevada, those living with the disorder no longer need to leave town for help.

Mike Henle is a Las Vegas freelance writer and the author of “Through the Darkness: One Man’s Fight to Overcome Epilepsy.” http://www.mikehenle.com/

Andre Agassi's Shocking Drug Confession

NEW YORK - Andre Agassi's upcoming autobiography contains an admission that he used crystal meth in 1997, the year he dropped to No 141 in the rankings.

In a story posted on People magazine's website today, Agassi says: "I can't speak to addiction, but a lot of people would say that if you're using anything as an escape, you have a problem."

Excerpts from the book are being printed this week by People and Sports Illustrated. A writer from SI first revealed the crystal meth reference on a Twitter posting today, and it was confirmed by publisher Knopf spokesman Paul Bogaards in a telephone interview.

For more, click the link below from the NZ Herald:


http://www.nzherald.co.nz/gossip/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501135&objectid=10605915

WATCH U-2 LIVE FROM THE ROSE BOWL!

Click the link below to watch live...NOW


http://www.youtube.com/u2?feature=ticker

11pm Local News Ratings Race!

Okay, the big race is for the 11pm ratings. Here are the numbers for the July 2009 ratings period. Adults 25-54 years old. Everybody is seeing serious ratings decline. This is due to people viewers leaving the local TV market, plus the addition of a new player in the game.

As is usually the case, KLAS 8 and KVBC 3 are battling out for the top spot. KVVU Fox 5 is a newcomer to 11pm, but they still don't finish at the bottom. That distinction belongs to KTNV 13. In spite of the success that ABC has had in its prime time shows, it has not translated into viewers at 11pm. Interesting, while I was at 13 for so many years the blame for poor 11pm ratings was usually placed on the poor showing for the network during prime time, that clearly cannot be the excuse now with the success of ABC during "prime"The ratings below reflect who has the most viewers. One rating point equals approx 15,000 viewers. The percentages show the change from the July 2006 ratings.

KLAS 8.......1.6......-56%

KVBC 3.......1.3......-62%

KVVU 5.......0.9.....

KTNV13......0.7.....-42%
Labels: Local las vegas tv news ratings july 2009

Movie Review-"Law Abiding Citizen"

By Christian Toto www.whatwouldtotowatch.com

Charles Bronson does some nasty things in those “Death Wish” films, but there’s no question the audience is rooting him on every step of the way.

Unless Phil Donahue is in the theater.

Gerard Butler, the vigilante at the heart of the new thriller “Law Abiding Citizen,” makes it all but impossible for audiences to rally around him.

To say precisely why would be to spoil elements of the film, but “Citizen’s” problems don’t stop with an inability to connect with Butler’s anti-hero.

The new film proves dumber than a Jim Carrey comedy, more moronic than “Jumper” and “Push” combined.

Who writes this stuff? And what on earth is Jamie Foxx doing wasting his Oscar cred in such slop?

“Citizen” opens abruptly with a family man named Clyde getting conked on the head by two home invaders who proceed to murder his wife and child - off screen, mercifully.

We soon learn only one of the thugs will be heading to death row. The other will serve but a few years thanks to a judicial snafu. It’s the best the assistant DA (Foxx) can do, but that’s not good enough for Clyde.

He spends the next decade, literally, plotting his vengeance. And he isn’t just angry at the killers. He wants to punish the legal system which couldn’t throw the book at both men.
It’s a crude but effective setup for your standard vigilante film, but “Citizen” pushes the genre in ways it never should be pushed.

Even after Clyde is imprisoned for his actions he’s still able to reach out to smite his enemies.
But how is he able to create such mayhem when he’s incarcerated?

Mid way through, a mystery character appears out of some Deep Throat-approved shadows to explain everything. The character needs to hang around another hour to decipher the rest of this mess.

We never get to know Clyde, his family or anyone else, for that matter. The moral quandry faced by Foxx’s character might be intriguing if the screenplay gave it any room to breathe.
Clyde proves to be a rather unlikeable victim, something confirmed early on during a scene stripped right out of a “Saw” feature. The actor also needs to decide once and for all if his accent will be explained away on screen or not. It floats in and out of the film like a ghost, haunting his performance.

Foxx, always magnetic on screen, is left twisting from one scene to the next, alternately sounding credible and weak with neither emotion registering as needed.

“Law Abiding Citizen” will keep your interest until the half-hearted finale, but who could look away from such a creative train wreck?

Storage One to Collect Donations to Local Food Bank

WHEN: Sunday, October 25, 2009 – 12 Noon to 4 pm
WHERE: Las Vegas and Henderson, NV•
LAS VEGAS: StorageOne: Las Vegas: 8424 Farm Road, 89131
HENDERSON: StorageOne: 550 Conestoga Way, Henderson 89002

In their ongoing effort to help StorageOne achieve it’s goal of collecting 10,000 pounds of food in the month of October, StorageOne will be hosting a pumpkin patch, haunted house, and a nonperishable food drive at two locations – one in Las Vegas and the other in Henderson on Sunday, October 25th.

Three Square will have drop boxes stationed at two locations to accept the nonperishable goods. The community event will feature free pumpkin painting for the first 100 kids, and food vendors. In addition, there will prize drawings throughout the day and a grand prize drawing valued at over $400.00 including iPods, movie passes, photo sessions, and much more. StorageOne President Jim Meservey said, “The number of people in our community who go hungry each day is astonishing. With an estimated 40 million additional pounds of food needed to feed the hungry, we’re proud to help raise awareness and sponsor a food drive.”Items high in protein like canned meats, tuna, and peanut butter are of particular need. Canned vegetables, canned fruits, and boxed goods such as baking mixes, cereal, oatmeal, flour sugars, etc. will also be gladly accepted. (No glass containers, perishable items or home canned foods please.)

Three Square is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide wholesome food to hungry people, while passionately pursuing a hunger-free community. With over 210,000 men, women and children living in poverty in Clark County, Three Square must provide 234 pounds of food per person for a total 49,000,000 lbs of food per year.

We think it’s great that StorageOne is engaging the community to give on a wide scale-with so many locations for donation drop off, said Melia Smith, Events Coordinator for Three Square. Everyone has a chance to make an impact and help the 210,000 people in our community in need of food assistance. Over half of those 210,000 individuals are under the age of 18. It’s wonderful to have the support of local businesses who believe in our mission to end hunger.Three Square endeavors to meet the estimated 40 million pounds of food needed this holiday season for Southern Nevadan families.

For a complete list of participating StorageOne locations, please visit www.gostorageone.com to contribute to 10,000 pounds of food goal.StorageOne is a self-storage company who strives to provide quality storage at value pricing, while consistently striving to be a valuable community partner.Three Square is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide wholesome food to hungry people.

CONTACTS:Chris Flangas / Sutton Watkins: 702.270.2147
Mary Ann McQueen Butcher: 702.533.8803

LVMS To Celebrate Champion's Week in December

Las Vegas Motor Speedway and NASCAR are bringing Champion’s Week to the race fans. Speedway and NASCAR officials have created the Chasers for Charity Fanfest to be held Dec. 2 in the Neon Garage and Blackjack Club at LVMS. The event will include a free-admission fan event throughout the afternoon as well as a charity roast of the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion. The fanfest will serve as the kickoff for NASCAR’s inaugural Champion’s Week in Las Vegas.

“One of the key elements to bringing NASCAR Champion’s Week to Las Vegas was creating an event for race fans,” said LVMS president Chris Powell. “This event will bring the drivers and the fans closer together and raise money for charity in the process. We’re very appreciative of NASCAR’s efforts to make this a special fan event that we hope becomes a tradition during Champion’s Week.”

The event will consist of a charity roast of the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion. The fanfest will feature appearances by the champion as well as drivers in the Chase for the Sprint Cup.

The charity portion of the event will begin with a procession of the Chase drivers and the champion through the Neon Garage. A reception in the speedway media center will follow the procession, with credentialed fans having an opportunity to mingle with the drivers. The event will culminate with the roast in the Blackjack Club. Admission to the reception and roast is $250 per person and will be limited to the first 300 people due to space limitations. Proceeds from the event will benefit Speedway Children’s Charities.

The fanfest will allow fans free admission to the Neon Garage beginning at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 2. Live entertainment and car displays will entertain race fans for the early part of the event. At approximately 2 p.m., the Chase for the Sprint Cup drivers and the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion will arrive and walk a red carpet through the Neon Garage. The roast will be shown via closed-circuit television throughout the Neon Garage.
Over the next few weeks, the speedway will be announcing more elements of this inaugural event.

To purchase tickets to the roast, please log on to www.lvms.com or call 1-800-644-4444.

Rebel Basketball First Look 2009!

Tonight is the night. Runnin' Rebel FirstLook 2009 is tonight at 9 p.m. at the Thomas & Mack Center. It is the first official practice event for UNLV men's basketball and is an official event of UNLV Homecoming. Below are some frequently asked questions about FirstLook. We look forward to seeing you there.

What is the price of admission?

Admission is free.

Will there be concessions at FirstLook?

Yes, concession stands will be open starting when the doors open at 8:15 p.m. Will there be a dunk competition? While there will not be an official dunk competition, an increased number of drills this year will allow fans to see some of the athleticism of the players - including several dunks.

Will fans have a chance to meet the players?

Immediately following the practice, fans are invited to meet and greet the Runnin' Rebel players on the court for a brief period.

Will there be fireworks?

UNLV's famous pregame fireworks show is scheduled. Don't be late to the event.

Where can I sit at FirstLook?

Seats in the plaza section of the Thomas & Mack Center are available on a first-come basis. Doors open at 8:15 p.m.

Are there any alterations to the program this year?

Yes. With several new players on the roster, FirstLook will be a great opportunity for fans to see the players in action - both in drills and during a live scrimmage. This will be the focus of the evening. The event will start with the introduction of the team, followed by a few select team and individual drills and will end with a 20-minute scrimmage.

Is this a good event for families?

Even though it is a late starting time, this is a great event for families. And - for that reason - the event will be fast-moving to help parents get the little ones back to bed after a late night with the Runnin' Rebels. Children will also enjoy seeing the band, Hey Reb, cheerleaders and Rebel Girls perform as they do during games. Kids will also have a chance to meet the players on the court after the game.

What should I wear?

Red. Today is Rebel Red Day all day.

We look forward to seeing you tonight. Go Rebels!

The Latest Numbers in the Evening News Race!

The battle once again in the evening news is between KLAS 8 and KVBC 3, once again, KTNV 13 is lagging far behind. KVVU Fox 5 jumped into this race recently and they only do a 5pm newscast, so we did not include them in the numbers, but here's how things shake out.

These are the July 2009 numbers of Adults 25-54. The percentages listed are the change from the July 2006 numbers. One rating point reflects about 15,000 total viewers.

KLAS 8......2.2.....+5%
KVBC 3......1.5.....-42%
KTNV13.....0.9....-25%

The morning ratings are already listed and the 11pm numbers to come out soon.....

TV stations battle behind the scenes in Vegas

A battle among television stations in Las Vegas complete with a complaint filed with the FCC by Jim Rogers of Valley Broadcasting has already sparked a huge feud and you can bet this is only the beginning of a long war.

In the complaint, the feisty Rogers, owner of KVBC TV-3 in Las Vegas, went after KVVU TV-5, KLAS TV-8 and KTNV TV-13 charging that the competition sold time while using reporters to conduct interviews in an alleged agreement to keep the advertiser – United Automotive – happy.

In other words, the accused stations allegedly crossed the lines of journalistic ethics by guaranteeing news coverage as part of the agreement with Arrowhead Advertising. Such an accusation is the ultimate kick in the teeth to journalists.

During the broadcasts, a 30-second commercial was aired featuring a “reporter” and a member of United Automotive detailing the liquidation process while also telling of steep discounts. The problem was that the commercial did not have a disclaimer at the bottom of the spot to show that the so-called interview was actually a paid-for commercial and not a live interview.
The fact that the commercial was aired many times during a news broadcast undoubtedly confused some viewers who may have thought that the commercial was actually a news report.The practice of mixing the news and advertising violates FCC regulations and thereby sends chills down the spine of every employee involved. The fact that the advertising buy also reportedly required news coverage complicated matters even worse since such an agreement is frowned upon.

For more information check out the Mad Dog Blog.

http://www.mikehenle.com/

Movie Review, "Zombieland"

By Christian Toto www.whatwouldtotowatch.com


Do we really need another zombie comedy after the sublimely silly “Shaun of the Dead?”
If it involves a rompin,’ stompin’ Woody Harrelson … you betcha.

“Zombieland” strips away the social commentary weighing down George A. Romero’s recent “Dead” epics and the hand wringing over why the dead are suddenly springing back to life.
It goes right for the jugular - and the funny bone - doing far more damage to the latter.

“Zombieland” opens with one of the few remaining humans, nicknamed Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), sharing his tips for staying alive in a world overrun by the undead.
Cardio is crucial to staying alive, as is “double-tapping” zombies to make sure they’re dead - again. Each lesson is shown in bold type, a recurring gag which gets funnier with every repetition.

Columbus teams up with Tallahassee (Harrelson), a natural zombie slayer, but the two are no match for a pair of girl grifters (Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin).

Both duos are trying to reach friendlier terrain - any place where zombies don’t overrun the land.

“Zombieland’s” killer trailer captures the essence of this efficient thrill ride. Clever sight gags rub elbows with snarky punch lines, all the while our heroes mow down zombies in spectacular fashion.

Harrelson’s grandiose performance overshadows the wax paper-thin plot. It’s easy to dismiss his work here as just another aggressively comic romp. It’s far better than that.
He creates a stir whenever he’s on screen, whether he’s snapping off an outlandish one-liner or simply staring down his neurotic partner in zombie slaying.

And what a blast to see Harrelson square up with Eisenberg, two actors whose disparate screen personas complement the other. The mix clicks from their opening scene, and while a
“Zombieland” sequel isn’t necessary who wouldn’t want to see these two team up again?

“Zombieland” slows to a crawl mid-film, not a good sign since the movie’s running time is only 81 minutes long. And while the film’s signature cameo (no spoilers here!) is grand fun, the joke overstays its welcome.

Director Ruben Fleischer can’t deliver the kind of scares a good horror film demands, but his comic pacing is darn near perfect.

“Zombieland” should be required viewing during the upcoming Oscar season - a kinetic jolt to clean the palate from movies “for your consideration.”

Movie Review, "Couples Retreat"

By Christian Toto http://www.whatwouldtotowatch.com/


The first time Vince Vaughn teamed up with Jon Favreau they created the guy’s guy classic “Swingers.”

In “Couples Retreat,” the pair have more pressing things on their minds - carpooling, potty training and divorce proceedings.

The new comedy finds the duo, who co-wrote the film along with Dana Fox, facing the kind of problems the “Swingers” characters never dreamed of.

Just don’t expect “Retreat” to go down as a middle age classic of any sort. It’s as lazy as a carefree night in Bora Bora, with only a colorful cast to save itself from utter banality.
“Retreat” follows four couples who, at the behest of one duo on the cusp of divorce, head to Bora Bora for a well deserved vacation.

When they arrive they find the vacation isn’t what they expected. It’s a highly regimented couples program meant to work through relationship problems.

“This looks like a screen saver,” Favreau’s character says, and the gorgeous locales make it feel like the audience is on an all expense paid vacation. But the program’s rules quickly grate on the couples, and the embattled pair (Jason Batemen, Kristen Bell) seem heading for divorce despite their best efforts.

Director Peter Billingsley - yes, he’s Ralphie from “A Christmas Story” - negotiates the funnier scenes with clocklike precision. But considering the improv potential here, and the fact that Vaughn and Favreau penned the script, we’re left with predictable gags and surface-level insights into married life.

Any Hollywood hack could write gags around a massage table and yoga session. A few lines hit the mark, like references to Applebee’s as a generic source of tranquility in married life.
Vaughn and Favreau may be pals in real life, but few of the actor pairings here feel genuine. There’s too much going on and too little genuine bonding to think these four couples truly share something more than just a vacation oasis turned sour.

Why not push the envelope on the program’s rigid structure, or give the great Jean Reno better lines - and more screen time - as the program’s eccentric creator?

We do get some laughs, mostly courtesy of Vaughn’s still potent motor mouth. The actor may be getting older, but his comic tic is forever young.

“Couples Retreat” delivers jaw dropping scenery and a cast you’d kill to hang with on a deserted island, but the film isn’t nearly as money as it thinks it is.

The Latest Numbers in the Morning News Race!

Okay, back by popular demand we have the numbers from the latest TV news ratings in Las Vegas. These are the July 2009 numbers in the key demographic of adults 25-54 years old. Bottom line, the rise continues in the mornings for Fox 5 and the slide continues for KTNV 13.

These are the ratings from M-F 6-9AM. The percentages are the changes between July 2009 and July 2006.

KVVU Fox5......2.6..... +136%
KVBC NBC3......1.4.....-36%
KLAS CBS8.......1.1.....-21%
KTNV ABC13....0.6....-56%

UNLV Hoops Picked Third in MWC

Team

1. Brigham Young (23) 215
2. San Diego State (1) 166
3. UNLV 161
4. Utah 143
5. New Mexico 141
6. Wyoming 89
7. Texas Christian 82
8. Colorado State 58
9. Air Force 25

Preseason All-MWC Team
Jimmer Fredette, Jr., G, BYU
Tre’Von Willis, Jr., G, UNLV
Jonathan Tavernari, Sr., G/F, BYU
Billy White, Jr., F, San Diego State
Zvonko Buljan, Sr., F, TCU

Preseason Player of Year
Jimmer Fredette, BYU

Newcomer of the Year
Derrick Jasper, UNLV

Movie Review-"Surrogates"

By Christian Toto www.whatwouldtotowatch.com

Consider “Surrogates” a CliffsNotes version of a science fiction feature.

We’re still waiting for the full-length treatment of what seems to be a rock solid genre entry.

The new film, which opened with a respectable $15 million over the weekend, involves a future world in which people live their lives through pleasure-seeking androids.

It’s a neat premise, and who better than Bruce Willis to ground a silly sci-fi thriller?
So why the mad dash toward the final credits?

Willis plays Tom Greer, a cop trying to crack the case of two dead surrogates, robots people buy to live vicariously through. Why risk life and limb, or even rejection on the dating scene, when you can buy a flawless robot facsimile and experience everything it does?

Why, indeed. Most of the people we see in “Surrogates” are actually robots buffed to aesthetic perfection, all the while their human owners stay at home receiving all the stimuli they can safely absorb.

The men are movie-star handsome. The women look as if they just stepped out of a Bally’s commercial. “Surrogates” is like a feature-length CW drama.

It’s a great premise, but the film’s scant 85 minutes can’t be bothered to luxuriate in its own setup.

The surrogates’ short circuiting leads to the death of the people connected to them, something which isn’t supposed to happen. How often do variations of that phrase pop up in modern sci-fi films?

Tom is forced to abandon his own surrogate - complete with blond hair - to solve the crime.
“Surrogates,” directed by respectable action auteur Jonathan Mostow (the great “Breakdown”), moves at an impressive clip and bullies past pedestrian dialogue and questionable plot points. It’s a race to the finish, but Mostow squeezes in a few impressive chases without wasting his leading man’s grizzly appeal.

But why so fast and furious? The best science fiction films, like “Alien” and “Blade Runner,” take their time developing atmosphere and the sly sense that we’ve landed in an entirely new reality.
Here, there’s simply no time for such niceties. We don’t know enough about Tom to care when his life is in jeopardy, and the source of the surrogates themselves (James Cromwell) isn’t fleshed out enough to make the big reveal worth our attention.

Quality science fiction is almost an oxymoron these days, so even a tantalizingly terse one like “Surrogates” is worth a genre fan’s attention.

But oh, what might have been had the story been teased to its proper potential.

Las Vegas, A City In Slowdown Mode

LAS VEGAS -- After a six-year building frenzy that transformed this city, casino companies are shifting strategies dramatically toward slower growth, paying down debt and cutting back on spending.
Many casino executives don't expect to break ground on another major building project in Las Vegas for at least 10 years.
"The old model has been thrown out the window," says MGM Mirage Chief Executive Jim Murren.
For most of this decade, casinos embarked on a debt-fueled expansion, plowing more than $30 billion into casino and hotel projects around Las Vegas. When the economy collapsed, it left casino companies with dwindling revenues and mountains of debt. Several entered bankruptcy-court proceedings.
Now, casino companies are eschewing capital-intensive projects to focus on increasing profit margins through branding, marketing and customer loyalty.

To see entire WSJ article click the link below.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125470120316763089.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLENexttoWhatsNewsSecond