Rich Monetti
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I am, I write.
Stories (1006)
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The Wolf Conservation Center Cries out for Understanding and the Wolf's Importance to the Environment
The Grey with Liam Neeson is a very entertaining film in which a group of plane crash survivors find themselves stranded in the territorial hunting grounds of a large, ferocious wolf pack. Ruthlessly and mindfully stalked, only Liam Neeson remains as the human alpha to face a canine counterpart that puts species supremacy above its own survival. Leaving the viewer looking into the determined eyes of the two combatants, the lack of an onscreen outcome still amounts to pure movie magic. But the reality of the entire scenario is as likely as a great white shark jumping on a boat to eat its aggressors. More troubling, this type of broad misconception leaves Maggie Howell of the Wolf Conservation Center in South Salem with her work cut out with her.
By Rich Monetti8 years ago in Petlife
Woody Guthrie Didn’t Read the Headlines. He Found the Battle Lines
Last week at the Jacob Burns Film Center, audience members found residence in Peter Frumkin’s Woody Guthrie documentary Ain’t go no Home. Opening the evening, which included a discussion from Frumkin and Guthrie’s daughter, Jacob Burn’s program director described the initiative of this forefather of American popular song.
By Rich Monetti8 years ago in Beat
'Starship Troopers': The Book and Movie Complement Each Other Perfectly
Some gage the Paul Verhoeven adaptation of Starship Troopersas a brilliantly couched anti-war, anti-fascist statement, while others see no need to elevate this mindless 1997 B-movie slaughter. I’m with the former. But it’s those that are deeply offended by the political hijacking of Heinlein’s message that has me commenting again. I’ve now read the book and find that the vastly different outlooks complement each other perfectly.
By Rich Monetti8 years ago in Futurism
My Top Five Favorite Movie/TV Serial Killers
Dexter Dexter obviously doesn’t have a conscience, and his adoptive father knows it. So in the absence of one, Dad constructs an artificial super ego that allows Dexter to subsist and serve as a positive force. What better way to utilize his violent, asocial behavior than going outside the law to eradicate fellow serial killers. The forensic chops to stay a step ahead of the legal process also endears him, and lets us give a pass to his baser elements. Along the way, Dexter puts in place all the human elements that suffice for a normal life, and they come in the form of wife, sister, co-workers and child. The sedate home life even appears as though neuroplasticity has taken hold, and scaffolds what his childhood trauma negated. But like Star Trek’s Mr. Data, feigned emotions are simply window dressing for those around him. On the other hand, the death of his wife and then sister trumps the science and sends Dexter into seclusion. All those he cares for are now safe. The ending didn’t necessarily please his fans. But his dad and Data would have been proud how the serial killer grew beyond his programming.
By Rich Monetti8 years ago in Geeks
Darlene Love Never Fails to Bring Christmas Home
Darlene Love first appeared on the scene in the 1960’s girl group, The Blossoms. The female flowering provided doo-wop backup for artists that ranged from Sam Cooke and Elvis to Frank Sinatra and Dionne Warwick. On her own - through the sometimes contentious relationship with Phil Specter - emerged hits like He’s a Rebel, He’s Sure the Boy I Love and Wait til my Bobby gets Home. Her resume also includes screen credits as Danny Glover’s wife in the Lethal Weapon movies and a decades long run singing Christmas Baby Please Come Home on the David Letterman Show. But while her voice may have destined her for stardom, it was her father’s weekly inspirational oratory that would actually force the path she landed on.
By Rich Monetti8 years ago in Beat
Daddy Stingray Returns with his Sweet Talkin' Symphony
Who knew that without Daddy Stingray the world we know would barely exist. All the more remarkable since his musical sting and songwriting only blesses us every 15,000 years. In the desolate interim, Daddy Stingray lives in a cave nestled beneath a volcano. But he does at least make frequent appearances as Dave Hoffman - father, husband and entertainment scene professional.
By Rich Monetti8 years ago in Beat
Before Christmas Hopes to Raise Awareness on Child Labor
In America, we know that significant change has occurred in China since the days of Tiananmen Square. There’s rich people, capitalism, and a mountain of US debt owed to the mainland. We even get to meet people who have achieved a Chinese dream of sorts and tell us the tales firsthand. They are educated, successful, and have the freedom to travel back and forth. This is called progress. But the dictatorship still rules, and despite the tip of the iceberg that is the new China, much is left obscured.
By Rich Monetti8 years ago in Geeks
'Jackie Brown' Is So Down
Pam Grier takes on some serious legends in Jackie Brown. Samuel L. Jackson menaces, Robert De Niro boils over and Michael Keaton hems in on the legal end. Nonetheless, this fearless anti-heroine outmaneuvers the trio and shows who should have gotten the moniker of Wonder Woman in the 1970s. But let’s wait a minute. She has a long sordid association with known felons and dupes her way into half million dollars of blood induced, drug money. Should we really celebrate her? Hell yeah.
By Rich Monetti8 years ago in Geeks
Top Five Star Trek Movie Denouements
One of the enduring components of Star Trek are denouements that either bring the science fiction back down to earth or make you feel that much closer to the stars. They can even rescue a bad episode and discard the belief that an hour was just wasted. So how have the movies done in that regard?... Here’s my rankings.
By Rich Monetti8 years ago in Futurism
Israeli Survivor of Munich Olympics Shares Story
Recently at Chabad of Bedford Hills, Dan Alon recounted his ordeal as an Israeli athlete at the 1972 Olympic Games, and the pain he kept silent for the next 35 years. But the tragedy that took the lives of 11 fellow Olympians had a simple message that endures for all Jews, and anyone who values humanity.
By Rich Monetti8 years ago in The Swamp
Five Movie Deaths that Made Me Shudder
Shudder — tremble convulsively, typically as a result of fear or revulsion. Movie deaths such as Leonardo Dicaprio’s sudden death in The Departed certainly take you aback. Nonetheless, the turn of events don’t rise to the level of the definition above. The same goes for the iconic ending of Fredo in The Godfather. You hope against hope that Michael will exempt his own brother from the Mafia code of loyalty, but the gasp does dissipate as the cost of doing business.
By Rich Monetti8 years ago in Geeks
