"EPiC: Elvis Presley In Concert" Review

Yesterday, I went to the Red Rock 10 Theaters in Gallup to see the new Baz Luhrmann EPiC: Elvis Presley In Concert movie. It is a documentary/concert film. Afterwards, I went to Jerry's Café for dinner before heading home.

The movie focused Presley's early residency at the International Hotel in Las Vegas (circa 1969) and some arena concerts circa 1971-1972.  

Reviews of the movie have been raving and, quite frankly, it didn't disappoint. The only narration was by Presley himself and not any talking heads of commentators. 

Much of the footage I had never seen before. The sharpness and color were great, as if the footage was shot only recently. What really impressed me was the sound. The theater had a great surround system and make one almost feel as if they were in the showroom. 

I was thinking during the movie that it was too bad my mother wasn't alive to enjoy it. She was the big Elvis fan in the family. 

I have to give this movie a strong A+ grade. 

EPiC: Elvis Presley In Concert

The documentary by Baz Luhrmann opens in theaters this week. I have been seeing rave reviews.

The movie features long-lost films found at the Graceland estate and restored.

The Hanford Sentinel posted a review which starts with:

Over the years, countless attempts have been made to resurrect the King, whether it was movies, TV specials or musical ventures celebrating his artistry and legacy, attempting to bring him back and keep him among us.

No single project has done a better job of making Elvis feel present and alive than "EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert," director Baz Luhrmann's dazzling documentary-slash-concert film, which lets us see and feel Elvis on stage, in his element.

It's a pure joy to see, to feel, to behold, as Elvis tells his story, in his own words, and hits the stage to let us bask in his greatness. The movie, meanwhile, helps to reclaim Elvis as a singular force of nature, an otherworldly dynamo, not the parody of himself with which we've come to associate his Vegas years.

The movie will be opening February 27 at the Red Rock 10 Theaters in Gallup. I'll be seeing it there.

To read more, go here.

Ishiro Honda Documentary To Screen In New York

Above, Jonathan Bellés, Yoshikazu Ishii and yours truly in Tokyo in 2014.

Jonathan Bellés's documentary on Godzilla director Ishiro Honda will be screening in New York on December 16.

According to Rue Morgue:

It’s a heartfelt celebration of the kaiju king.

ISHIRO HONDA: MEMOIRS OF A FILM DIRECTOR will have its first commercial U.S. showing, following screenings at Sitges, G-Fest XXX and other festivals, on Tuesday, December 16 at 7 p.m. at the GE Theatre at Proctors in Schenectady, New York. Tickets can be ordered here. Written and directed by Jonathan Bellés and distributed by SRS Cinema, the documentary focuses on the director whose genre career began with the seminal 1954 GOJIRA/GODZILLA and encompassed seven more movies starring the Big G, as well as further classics like RODAN, MOTHRA, FRANKENSTEIN CONQUERS THE WORLD, WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS and others. Later in his career, he worked alongside Akira Kurosawa on films such as KAGEMUSHA and the Oscar-winning RAN.

To read more, go here. 

Kelsey Smith: "Murdered at First Sight: Without A Trace"

Above, Kelsey Smith.

Greg Smith, father of Kelsey Smith, posted a relatively new video from the Roku Channel. It is titled, "Murdered at First Sight: Without A Trace" the story of the June 2007 kidnapping and murder of Kelsey. 

According to Greg:

This documentary was filmed last year and originally aired in the UK (and also in Europe, I think). It is now on the Roku Channel or you can click the link in Tim's post below.

I just viewed the video in its entirety and it brings back sad memories of that time. I started following the case when it first broke. I was at my mom's and Greta Van Sustern had the story on her program. It hit home with me as my daughter at the time was interested in going to veterinary school, like Kelsey, and was only a few years older. When I started following the case, Kelsey hadn't been found yet and her parents were trying to get Kelsey's cell phone ping information from the cell company. 

I followed the story on the Fox News Channel and online, even at work. It was after the police got the cell phone ping information, they were able to find Kelsey's body pretty quick. 

Above, yours truly with Greg Smith at the Kansas Capitol Building in 2016.

During my 2016 trip to Metropolis, Illinois to attend Noel Neill's celebration of life services, I stopped in the Kansas State Capitol in Topeka, Kansas for a visit with Greg Smith, who was then a state senator. That was one of the things I wanted to accomplish on the trip. It was a big honor that he took the time for me to meet him. He and his wife Missey founded the Kelsey Smith Foundation to educate people on missing persons and what to do should they find themselves in that situation. Their hard work had the Kelsey Smith Act enacted in many states.

To view the video, go here.

UFO Documentary: "The Age of Disclosure"

 

A new documentary on UFOs (or UAPs) and alien life is coming soon.

From Yahoo! Entertainment:

AUSTIN, Texas — The documentary The Age of Disclosure sets out to do what countless films have done before: present proof that humans on Earth are not alone in the universe. What’s different this time is that 34 senior members of the government, military and intelligence community went on camera to talk about it.

“This is the biggest story there is,” director Dan Farah told Yahoo Entertainment. “What’s a bigger story than an 80-year-old cover-up of the existence of nonhuman intelligent life and revealing there’s a secret Cold War race among nations to reverse-engineer technology of nonhuman origin?”

There’s a lot to unpack here, so let’s back up.

The movie, which premiered on March 9 at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film & TV Festival, reveals information alleging that the U.S. government has been working to hide evidence of the existence of extraterrestrials and that it’s competing with other countries to reverse-engineer the complex technology they’ve uncovered.

To read more, go here. 

The Buckley Documentary

Above, William F. Buckley Jr. in an undated photo from Wikipedia.

Last night was the first time in months that I stayed up to almost 11:00. This was to watch the PBS documentary, "The Incomparable Mr. Buckley".

I learned a lot about William F. Buckley Jr. from the program. It was interesting that many of the liberals who appeared on Firing Line were also personal friends. It was refreshing to see how friendships can be made despite political differences. 

It was interesting to see a photo of Buckley shaking hands with Sen. Robert F. Kennedy. Kennedy would not appear on Firing Line. When asked why, Buckley quipped, "Why does the baloney avoid the slicer?"

Above, Buckley and Robert Kennedy.

Buckley passed away while working in his study. At the time, he was working on a book on Barry Goldwater. He was 82.

The only thing that marred the program for me was the Trump-bashing at the end. Otherwise, it was a worthwhile documentary.

UPDATE:

I just discovered that the full documentary has been posted at YouTube.

Here it is:

"The Incomparable Mr. Buckley" On PBS Friday

PBS American Masters will be airing "The Incomparable Mr. Buckley" on Friday (9:00 PM on New Mexico PBS 5.1) evening. (Check your local listings.)

It takes a look at William F. Buckley Jr., one of the fathers of the modern conservative movement in American politics. This is one program that I am looking forward to seeing.

I have some of Buckley's books such as In The Jeweler's Eye, Quotations From Chairman Bill and Up From Liberalism. I was a regular viewer of his Firing Line television show and read National Review.

I remember seeing Buckley at the 1976 Republican National Convention as he took a "stroll" on the convention floor. I was a California Reagan delegate at that convention in Kansas City, Missouri. He received a great welcome from the delegates.

Here's the official trailer:

Documentary: "Leaving California: The Untold Story"

California, once the "Golden State", is now a sh*thole and thousands of residents are fleeing the state. I left five years ago. I am glad I did without any regrets.

This is what happens when the radical Left Democrats have total control of the machinery of state government. It is essentially a one-party state that is destroying the state.

There is a new documentary that all people should see, especially those who are thinking of moving into California (or, as many of us know it, Commiefornia). It started streaming on April 21 on EpochTV.

From the documentary's official website:

“Leaving California: The Untold Story” is a feature-length documentary that portrays the multifaceted challenges of living in the Golden State, causing an unprecedented mass exodus.

Siyamak Khorrami, host of the show “California Insider” and editor of The Epoch Times: Southern California, guides the viewers through compelling narratives and diverse voices, exploring the untold perspective of Californians as they grapple with the heart-wrenching decision of parting ways with their beloved state.

Here's the official trailer:

For more information, go here.

"The Unbelievable Journey of Abraham Lincoln's Corpse"

Above, the sarcophagus chamber of the Lincoln Tomb
 with the red marble cenotaph. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Six years ago, I paid a visit to Springfield, Illinois to see the attractions of President Abraham Lincoln.

The places visited included the Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, the Lincoln home and the Lincoln tomb at Oak Ridge Cemetery.

Above, yours truly in front of the Lincoln Tomb in 2016.

Last night, I came upon an interesting documentary video, "The Unbelievable Journey of Abraham Lincoln's Corpse" by Grave Explorations.

I highly recommend viewing it. 

One interesting factoid from the video: in the burial (or sarcophagus) chamber of the tomb, Lincoln isn't buried within or below the red marble cenotaph in the chamber. He lies ten feet below the floor and six feet from the north wall (where the former doorway is) with his head to the west.

Here is the video:

"An American Adventure: The Rocket Pilots"

Here's a little something for you aviation history buffs: "An American Adventure: The Rocket Pilots"

It is a 1981 documentary on the X-15 rocket plane program from NBC News (back in the days when NBC News was a quality organization). I have it on DVD.

The video's synopsis:

A comprehensive documentary covering the history of aviation high speed innovation and advancement from the first powered flights of the Wright brothers up to and including the X-15 space plane. An emphasis is placed on the adventures and stories of the test pilots of Edwards Air Force Base, and how engineers of the era helped to develop the hardware and technical data that were eventually used by NASA in the design of the Space Shuttle.

Presented by Lloyd Dobyns for NBC News.

"Elvis and the USS Arizona" Documentary

Last year, the 80th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, PBS presented a documentary, "Elvis and the USS Arizona".

It is a well-made documentary about Elvis Presley's role in making the USS Arizona Memorial a reality.

As today is National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, here is the documentary.

"2000 Mules" Doing Gangbusters Business Despite Media Blackout

Despite the efforts of liberal media and big tech, 2000 Mules is doing gangbusters business.

2000 Mules is a documentary by Dinesh D'Souza on the election fraud that was the 2020 election. The major media and big tech won't allow postings of it as it doesn't follow their narrative. 

From Mike Huckabee's website:

I’d venture to say that someone who watches only mainstream media might not have even heard of the eye-opening new film, 2,000 MULES. Sorry to say, that’s likely true even if they watch FOX News and Newsmax, as those audiences are hearing nary a mention of it, either. (That perplexing fact might be a story for another time. Needless to say, the left is loving it.)

But even with that, Dinesh D’Souza’s new documentary, which disrupts the mantra that the 2020 election was ‘the cleanest, safest and most secure election in American history,’ has been doing gangbusters business at the box office and on home video since its debut.

If you haven’t yet seen it, this link will tell you all the ways you can. It is an absolute must-see, as anyone who has watched it and is not an idiot will tell you.

https://reclaimthenet.org/2000-mules-1-million-rumble-locals-12-hours/

To read more, go here. 

Presley Family Has Concerns Over New Movie

Above, the Graceland Pool and the Meditation Garden in the background. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since Elvis Presley's death in August 1977, I have seen only one docudrama on the King of Rock 'N Roll. That was the one starring Kurt Russell and Season Hubley. It was an okay movie, but I have no interest in seeing the new one that's about to be released. I really don't see Tom Hanks as Col. Tom Parker, Presleys manager.

I was wondering if the Presley Family had any input into it. Apparently very little. In fact, they have concerns about it.

According to the Express (U.K.):

ELVIS PRESLEY's relatives, who were so close to The King that they'd spend hours talking to him on his bed upstairs at Graceland, have shared their concern over the upcoming Baz Luhrmann Elvis movie starring Austin Butler and Tom Hanks, claiming they weren't consulted and that The Colonel's voice is wrong. Meanwhile, Priscilla Presley has admitted she is "very nervous" about how the film could turn out, despite having met with the director.

Around a month ago, Warner Bros released the first trailer for the upcoming Elvis movie. Baz Luhrmann’s biopic will chart the life and career of The King through the Fifties, Sixties and Seventies. The creative team behind the film have consulted Graceland and others like the star’s ex-wife Priscilla Presley about the project, although some family members aren’t sure what they’re going to make of the movie’s accuracy, having seen the first footage.

Elvis Presley's cousin and last surviving original Memphis Mafia member Billy Smith knew The King before he was famous and was one of the last people to see the star alive.

On his YouTube channel Elvis Fans Matter, he said: “I just won’t go to the movies to see something like that now. When it comes on TV, I’ll probably wind up watching it sooner or later. It’ll be interesting to me to see how Tom Hanks plays The Colonel. Outside of that, I don’t know. I’ll probably get around to watching it, but I don’t know when or where or if I’m going to be here to watch it, but we’ll see. And with that, I don’t care nothing else about this subject.”

When he and his wife Jo, who used to spend hours talking to Elvis in his Graceland bedroom, were asked if they were consulted for the movie, they said no and added: “It’s from another point of view.”

If there's any documentary on Elvis Presley worth watching, it would be Elvis Presley:The Searcher.

To read more, go here. 

The Last Concert of Rush

Above, The Forum sign as we approched. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It was the last concert of the rock band Rush.

The death of Rush's drummer, Neil Peart on January 7, 2020, made the August 1, 2015 concert at The Forum in Inglewood, California the last ever for Rush. Usually, my focus is usually on the lead guitarist. But in the case of Rush, my focus of attention was on drummer Peart. He was voted the greatest drummer of all time in a 2021 musicradar GOAT Hunt poll.

It was the final concert of their R40 tour.  

My daughter Amber treated me to the concert, which was the first time I stepped foot inside The Forum since a New Year's Eve concert by the Beach Boys on December 31, 1979. The place really hadn't changed much. It was also the first concert I've attended since the Beach Boys one.

If I remember correctly, cameras were not allowed, but most everyone there, including me, used their cell phone cameras. A bit redundant if that was the case.

Last night, I made two screen captures from a video of their last concert:

Here's some photos I made during the concert with my crappy old cell phone:

Next to an Alice Cooper 1973 "Billion Dollar Babies" concert, this was the best concert I've ever attended. It's a toss-up which was better.

UPDATE (3/11/22):

The following video is an excellent documentary on Rush's R40 tour that includes their last show at The Forum.

Remembering My 2010 Visit To Tsukiji Fish Market

Above, inside the Tsukiji Fish Market. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last night, for the first time in years, I popped in my DVD of Jiro Dreams of Sushi, a 2011 documentary of one of the top sushi chefs in Tokyo, Jiro Ono. Happily, Jiro Ono is still with us at age 96.

Above, Jiro Dreams of Sushi poster.

It was an interesting documentary and it featured quite a bit of Tokyo and surrounding areas. 

I had forgotten that it had featured the now-gone Tsukiji Fish Market. It had been relocated several years ago to Toyosu.

Above, one of the many vendors at the Tsukiji Fish Market. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I visited the Tsukiji Fish Market in December 2010. It's hard to believe that it is nearly 11 years since my visit in the wee hours of the morning. I was going to get up early to go there anyway, but a small earthquake got me up an hour earlier than planned.

Above, yours truly with a restaurateur at the Outer Market.

Following my wandering in the fish market, I went to the outer market where shops and restaurants are located and had a great tuna sushi meal.

ELVIS and The USS Arizona Documentary On PBS This Month

PBS will be airing a new documentary, Elvis and The USS Arizona this month.

According to Elvis News Examiner:

This year, Presley will finally get the historical recognition he deserves with a new documentary by the World War II Foundation called Elvis and The USS Arizona. In addition, filmmaker Tim Gray, the president of the foundation, is organizing the creation of a memorial plaque to be displayed in Honolulu to bring awareness to Presley’s role. Funds for the plaque will rely on public donations. 

Above, the USS Arizona Memorial in 2016. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

And from the Always Elvis Fan Club:

Elvis was already heading to Hawaii to film a movie called Blue Hawaii. Col. Parker asked Elvis if he would consider holding a benefit concert at Pearl Harbor to help move the USS Arizona Memorial project forward. Elvis did not hesitate and said “yes” right away. Elvis already had a strong connection to Hawaii and was just coming out of the United States Army himself. The planning commission’s work continued.

On March 25th, 1961 Pearl Harbor’s Bloch Arena, which had hosted the “Battle of the Bands” between the battleships anchored at Pearl Harbor on the evening of December 6th, 1941, was chosen as the location to host the Elvis Presley USS Arizona Memorial benefit concert. The ghosts still echoed in old Bloch Arena from the “Battle of the Bands” on Battleship Row, especially since the entire USS Arizona band died on December 7, 1941, during the attack on battleship row.

The concert was sold out. Even the opening acts before Elvis took the stage (such as Minnie Pearl) had to buy their tickets. It was Elvis’s return to performing and there was no better cause one could imagine.

Airing on PBS stations throughout November check your local PBS listings for dates and times in your area.

 

The New Mexico (where I live) PBS will be showing it Monday, November 8 at 8:00 PM

"Muhammad Ali" Documentary By Ken Burns

Above, a visit with President Reagan in the Oval Office in 1983. White House photo.

For the past three nights, I've been watching Ken Burns' Muhammad Ali documentary. It has been an interesting three nights that brings back to life "The Greatest" boxer of all time. 

It has been airing on New Mexico's PBS channel 5.1. 

Tonight is the final chapter of the documentary. I reminds me of the late 1970s when a friend of mine, Frank "Captain Rowdy" Lunney, and many of us at work were following his bout with Leon Spinks and lost. Lunney was a huge fan of Muhammad Ali.

When Spinks defeated Ali, many at work needled Lunney. Ali eventually beat Spinks in a rematch. 

It also brings to mind how revered Ali was in later years. I recall a supervisor of mine going to a Lakers game at the L.A. Forum in Inglewood, California and saw Ali there. He and others greeted him with, "Hey, Champ!" If memory serves, I think the onset of Parkinson's Disease had already affected Ali at the time.

For more on the Ken Burns documentary, go here.

Durango Train Segment of "Love Those Trains"

Above, the Durango and Silverton train at Rockwood Station last week. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

My first ride on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad took place in the summer of 1983. I have ridden it several times since then (most recently, last week).

In 1984, National Geographic produced a documentary on trains called, "Love Those Trains", which includes the Durango and Silverton train.

Here is the segment on the Durango and Silverton train:

The full documentary can be viewed here:

"Elvis: That's The Way It Is" Set For Theatrical Release

Above, a display of Elvis Presley's jumpsuits on display at Graceland. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It hardly seems possible that 1970 was 50 years ago. But it was.

During that year, Elvis Presley got back on stage at the International Hotel in Las Vegas after a decade of movies he grew to despise doing.

A documentary of Elvis's return to live performances was chronicled in the MGM documentary, Elvis: That's The Way It Is. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the release of that documentary, it will be released in selected theaters.

According to Variety:

Trafalgar Releasing has set a re-release for the concert documentary “Elvis: That’s the Way It Is” for April 22 in 14 countries, Variety has learned exclusively. 

The event will mark the 50th anniversary of the film’s original release by MGM. Most of the remastered footage was shot at the International Hotel in Las Vegas with songs including “Love Me Tender,” “Sweet Caroline,” “Heartbreak Hotel” and “Suspicious Minds.” 

The 1970 concerts in the film were part of Presley’s first tour in more than a decade. The film was directed by Denis Sanders. 

Marc Allenby, CEO of Trafalgar Releasing, said, “It’s been 50 years since this career changing documentary about The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll was released, yet the lasting legacy of Elvis Presley and his music can be seen more clearly than ever in film, music and culture.”

To read more, go here.

"The Atomic Cafe" Revisited

Above, a replica of the first atomic bomb, unofficially called "The Gadget". Photo by Armand Vaquer.

While waiting for Hibachi One to open (as I got there over an hour before it opened), I relaxed and watched The Atomic Cafe on YouTube to kill time.

Since I visited The National Museum of Nuclear Science & History earlier in the day, it appeared appropriate to revisit the tongue-in-cheek documentary of atomic and hydrogen bombs.

In case one hasn't ever viewed The Atomic Cafe, here it is: