Val Kimer Has Passed

Val Kilmer died this most recent Tuesday at the age of 65 due to complications from pneumonia. He was a fantastic actor. He is one of a small number of folks to portray Batman, he was a hoot in, "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang," amazed folks in, "Tombstone," and the original, "Top Gun." Whether in, "Heat," or doing voice-over work for animated properties, Kilmer was a great talent. 

Kilmer developed throat cancer in 2015 and treatment rendered it difficult for him to eat or speak, but that didn't stop him from making a fascinating autobio film, "Val," in 2020. His last film appearance was a brief but impactful role in, "Top Gun: Maverick," in 2022, which had his voice digitally fine-tuned. He was a superb actor and by many accounts a lovely person in general (although at times it was rumored he was hard to work with on films, hence him kinda-quitting/kinda-being-fired from portraying Batman again back when George Clooney replaced him, to give one example).

My favorite role with Kilmer has to be the absurd aforementioned comedy, "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang." Pitch black in tone while also being hilarious, it features Robert Downey Junior as well and it is a treat to see Kilmer and Junior on screen together being uproarious. It's a strange little flick that shows off how much range Kilmer could have when allowed to let loose. Val Kilmer was a great talent. He will be missed.

Switch 2 Details Have Been Announced--The Good, Bad, and Pricey

The Switch 2 was announced earlier this year, but we were informed that more details would be forthcoming. Today, we learned a lot more. Due for release on June 5th, the Switch 2 has some cool elements! It will feature an open-world Mario Kart game at launch ("Mario Kart World,") plus a number of 3rd-party titles as it'll have a lot more tech. It will also have a degree of backward compatibility with original Switch games (some will even be enhanced). Plus, there is a camera you can use to video-chat with friends you're playing online with! There are issues already, however. You see, the battery life will be sucky, a number of games will not work on the new console, and then there is the price of the Switch 2 and its games. 

A Switch 2 is going to cost $450 (it could even be more with inflation from tariffs), and some games will be $70-$80 for digital copies, and up to $90 for a physical one. The backward compatibility will have games cost extra if you want any enhancements. The camera will cost extra too. Nintendo is, in essence, squeezing fans for every dollar that they can. In the old days, Nintendo could say, "We're known for slightly cheaper and less powerful but very fun consoles!" Now, they can state, "Screw you, pay me for this tech!" There are pluses and minuses to the Switch 2 news, clearly.

It is exciting that the Switch 2 is coming out soon, but is also discouraging how it will be expensive. Then again, I think that is a trend that will continue with future consoles due to general inflation and how unsteady the economic and political landscape can be. I do wonder if the Switch 2 is different enough that folks will feel it is worth the cost. Will people look at their somewhat similar Switch and say, "Eh, this is good enough," and pass on the Switch 2 until the price drops? Will it be a big hit and sell like hotcakes even if it is slightly more of the same--but with more power and features? I don't know, but I'll be watching what happens with great interest.

The Saint Louis Blues Are On An Amazing Winning Streak

The one sport I follow (like, at all) is NHL hockey, and I am quite fond of our city's team, The Saint Louis Blues. The Blues last won the Stanley Cup during the 2018-2019 season and in that year they had their longest winning streak ever at one point of 11 games. Currently, after a shaky start to the season, they've been on fire as of late and hopefully have earned a wildcard sport in the playoffs whilst currently having a winning streak of 10 games! The Blues managed to beat the Detroit Red Wings in overtime for a score of 2-1, yesterday, and it was an intense game to watch! 

The game was scoreless until late in the 3rd period when Detroit got a goal, the Blues managed to squeak a puck into the net with barely 30 seconds left in regulation, and then Cam Fowler sunk an overtime goal with an assist from Robert Thomas and the whole stadium went wild--besides a handful of Detroit fans who were present and looked a bit despondent.

It is always fun when our town has a team doing well as it gives the city something to be proud of and celebrate. When the Blues won the Stanley cup for the first time back in 2019 it made Saint Louis so proud and that celebration parade was a hoot to see. the Blues play the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday. I know many people around here (and fans nationwide) will be rooting for an 11th straight win!

Television Tuesday: "Doctor Odyssey," is a Wild Cruise Worth Booking!

Two people seem to work on a ton of shows. Taylor Sheridan ("Yellowstone," "Landman," "Special Ops: Lioness," and more) and then Ryan Murphy ("Nip/Tuck," "Glee," "American Horror Story," "911," "Feud," and so much more). Murphy makes weird shows and I generally quite enjoy them, with a newer production he is involved in being, "Doctor Odyssey." This is a show that has a mix of medical drama, relationship drama, is quite quirky, and everyone involved is generally super horny...which makes sense for a Ryan Murphy show.

"Doctor Odyssey," follows Doctor Max Bankman as he starts working on a massive and impressive cruise ship known as The Odyssey. Played be Joshua Jackson, as he's new to the boat in the first episode it is a clever way for the show to ease us into everything as we're, of course, new too. Max is assisted by two nurses during cruises--Avery and Tristian (Phillipa Soo and Sean Teale) and the boat's captain, Robert Massey is often important to the plot too (expertly portrayed by the always delightful Don Johnson). All of the main characters are intriguingly complex in their mix of hang-ups, interests, and nobody comes across as too one-dimensional. The cruise format allows weeks to have different themes and a variety of special guests too, which allows a lot of fun actors to swing by. There are lots of medical maladies to keep things intense as well.

As Johnson makes apparent in the first episode, people on a cruise want to live in a happy fantasy World so Max and his team need to keep everyone as safe as possible. As strange as it sounds, "Doctor Odyssey," really reminds me in some ways of a show that Ryan Murphy had nothing to do with (which is rare, I know). There is a bit of a vibe of the first season of, "Westworld," of all things to this show. It's a specially controlled environment where everything is perfectly designed and calibrated to make guests happy...so things obviously have to keep going wrong despite the, "Programming." 

There aren't any human-like robots on, "Doctor Odyssey," of course, but cruise ships are big floating theme parks, in essence, and no matter how hard we try to make a theme park flawless, cracks will show eventually. "Doctor Odyssey," is a fascinating exploration of how a ship's crew tries to fix or at least temporarily remedy said metaphorical cracks. Is it realistic in some of its wild medical cases? Hell, no, it is exaggerated to the extreme. Is it fun to see what crazy medical cases occur or watch as a zany love triangle forms between the medical crew? You know it is!

"Doctor Odyssey," is weird, sexy, clever, and quite often funny too. I've greatly enjoyed this debut season and hope it gets picked up for another. You can view new episodes of the show by watching ABC on Thursdays or catch up on everything via Hulu.

5 out of 5 Stars (for this season so far).

Tonia Haddix, of, "Chimp Crazy," Fame has Plead Guilty to Perjury and Obstruction of Justice

Tonia Haddix is a local-ish celebrity, living in Missouri and gaining notoriety for her role in faking the death of celebrity chimp Tonka--all of which was chronicled in the documentary, "Chimp Crazy." She admitted in court today she committed crimes when she had claimed Tonka was deceased while under oath and he was actually living in her basement. The whole story is bizarre and I'd encourage you to check out, "Chimp Crazy," on MAX for a wild ride. Having pleaded guilty to two counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice, Tonia will be sentenced in July. 

Tonia Haddix could face years in person for her actions and some hefty fines too. I don't condone her actions at all and personally feel Tonka is served better living in a safe and big habitat with other chimps--but all of that said, I am somewhat impressed that someone could love a chimp that much. I don't know about you, but I would not be willing to face decades in prison for chimp, no matter how charming/adorable/lovable he or she is. We'll see what the future holds for Haddix this July.

Mary Jane Watson is the New Venom...Okay?

Venom was originally Eddie Brock (after Peter Parker rejected the alien suit and it sought revenge). However, at this point, so many people have been Venom or shared their body with a symbiote that it might be easier to make a list of who hasn't even bonded with one. Eddie Brock is currently working with the Carnage symbiote so as to keep its bloodthirsty urges in check and for a while his son, Dylan, was bonded with the Venom symbiote but after some assorted comic events, it became a mystery who the newest Venom was. That's been the plot of the latest ongoing series, "All-New Venom," which introduced a variety of, "Suspects," but within the fifth issue this week, it will be revealed it wasn't anybody on our radar. Nope, it's Mary Jane Watson, because why not?

I'm a little befuddled why Mary Jane would want to bond with Venom considering when he first emerged on the scene (bonded with Eddie Brock back in his earliest appearances) he harassed/terrified/otherwise was pretty awful towards her and Peter Parker. I guess she's come around on the idea of sharing a body with a symbiote, however, as it has been confirmed that, "All-New Venom," #5 is coming out this week and will confirm she is the latest iteration of the anti-hero (he quit being a baddie a good number of decades ago). I'm not mad at this reveal or particularly excited. I'm fine with it. I read the news and said, "Okay," with a bit more confusion than anything else. If it serves the story well (and writer Al Ewing is a fantastic storyteller) I'm all good with this latest, "Host," for Venom.

A Combination IHOP and Applebee's Exists--How Did I Just Learn About This?

Apparently, back in late 2024, it was announced that there were going to be a restaurant that served as a combination of IHOP and Applebee's. It would be one big space that featured the decor of each brand on either side, but you could order from both menus regardless of where you sat. I did not know about this, but in February of this year, the first combo spot opened in Texas. It reminds me of those Pizza Hut/Taco Bell locations that used to be very popular and which inspired the infamous song, "Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell." I am a fan of both IHOP and Applebee's so being able to get a mix of items all in one place sounds appealing to me. I don't intend to take a road trip just for this purpose anytime soon, but if they wanted to open one of these franchises in the Saint Louis region I'd gladly visit.

Film Friday: "Moana 2," is a Fun and Serviceable Sequel

"Moana," is a fantastic movie. The plot is great, the songs are superb, and the animation is a treat with the water effects being a feast for the eyes. The sequel, "Moana 2," looks just as beautiful...and has a solid enough plot with forgettable tunes. It's fun and serviceable as a sequel, in other words. It has an amazing foundation with the first flick and gives us something pleasant even if it isn't amazing.

The biggest element missing in, "Moana 2," is without a doubt Lin-Manuel Miranda. He made a number of insanely catchy tunes for the first flick and does not return for this one. Instead, we get Barlow and Bear who have on offer songs that are by no means bad, but besides maybe, "We're Back," I struggle to remember any songs in, "Moana 2," as compared to the original film with a number of great tunes. Miranda is a tough act to follow, without a doubt. The plot is intriguing, with more Gods involved and the idea of finding other cultures out on the ocean. The movie also introduces a younger sister to Moana, Simea, who seems to serve almost no purpose within the story and was created for little reason other than to sell toys (or maybe serve a bigger role in the inevitable, "Moana 3," I imagine we'll be getting).

Everything in, "Moana 2," continues to look gorgeous. From the wave effects to an imposing sea monster, and more. Even if you find yourself zoning out a bit during some of the songs you'll snap back once an assortment of exciting set pieces occur. There are some good zingers as well, with Dwayne Johnson (Maui) well-versed in telling one-liners at this point in his career and Auli'i Cravalho's return as Moana being most welcome as she excels in her portrayal of the character's mix of grit, determination, and a dash of self-doubt (as we all have to some degree). Everyone is doing a stellar job acting and the visuals match, making this an enjoyable sequel overall even if it doesn't amaze as much as the debut film. In summary, if you adored, "Moana," you'll like, "Moana 2."

3.5 out of 5 Stars.

"Batman," #158 Kicks off, "Hush 2." Time for my Thoughts on this Sequel's Debut

DC has been excitedly promoting a new story arc in, "Batman," that kicked off with this week's issue (#158). Titled, "Hush 2," it is a big sequel-of-sorts to the original, "Hush," storyline that introduced the villain, a former childhood, "Friend," of Bruce Wayne actually named Tommy Elliot (he was secretly quite crazy). The original, "Hush," featured the writing of Jeph Loeb and art by Jim Lee. They've reunited for this new arc years later and what I've read so far is good, but not great.

I have a mix of feelings. I don't know what the point is of a, "Hush 2," storyline as since the original one a lot has changed for the main characters of Tommy and Bruce. The comic acknowledges this, however, and even makes some meta-comments by having Batman's internal monologue express surprise when the Joker tries to recycle an old gag/crime and it throws our hero off as the Joker isn't generally that lazy in his capers. It's almost like Loeb and Lee know we're going to question, "Why Hush 2 and why now?" and they want to head us off. Lee, to his credit, is as skilled an artist as ever when he isn't busy running comic companies and his artwork is a beauty to behold. 

The plot eventually has Hush abduct Joker and possibly plan to kill him to prove a point about Batman's refusal to let even a monster like the Joker die--this is, again, a reused story idea and the comic makes it clear it is aware it is retreading old ground. Does pointing out that you are doing repetitive plotting with a meta-wink at the reader excuse the fact you are still being lazy, however? Your own personal answer to that question may influence how much you enjoy issue #158 of, "Batman," as it kicks off this new Hush 2 story. I myself loved the art and thought the story so far was alright if not amazing. Then again, even the original Hush was more of an excuse to have Batman face a bunch of his villains as they were drawn impressively well with the plot more in place to give Jim Lee an excuse to draw cool stuff. That is a bit of the vibe I'm getting we'll receive with Hush 2 as well so I guess the more things change the more they stay the same, as the saying goes.

3 out of 5 Stars.

I'm Not a Fan of Beef Tallow For a Simple Reason

There has been a lot of talk lately about how we should cook or fry foods at certain restaurants and whether said establishments should be using seed oil or beef tallow. It has become a whole politicized debate regarding what’s healthy or not, natural or artificial, etc. There is much discussion on whether we should eat more meat, less meat, or focus on meat substitutes, and I know everyone has their own reasons for how they feel. I am personally opposed to beef tallow for reasons that are not political, ecological, or anything too high-concept. As longtime readers know, I am allergic to beef and anything fried with beef tallow will send me running to, “Blow up,” the nearest restroom, if we’re being blunt.

I do not know where this beef allergy came from as while other members of my family have certain allergies nobody is allergic to beef. I can tell you that it is not due to a tick bite as people who suffer from that cannot eat a variety of meats which I am capable of ingesting. It is easy for me to have a buffalo burger as long as it’s not prepared anywhere by beef— It’s something specific with cows. If food that does not normally contain beef is prepared via frying in beef tallow I will get a miserable stomachache. This isn’t me hypothesizing either. I have experience with this problem. 

In the past, I would eat at Buffalo Wild Wings and then usually get pretty bad stomach cramps, diarrhea, and otherwise find myself feeling miserable after eating a bunch of boneless chicken wings and french fries. I was confused about what the problem could be. Eventually, I looked into it and discovered Buffalo Wild Wings was an establishment that fries their food in beef tallow. At that moment everything kind of clicked into place and I realized what the problem was.

It is annoying to see beef tallow versus seed oil become a thing that’s being debated because if a restaurant is going to make a loud proclamation about how they’re going to use beef tallow from this point forward, kind of like how Steak and Shake did, I’m going to plan not to eat there. I don’t have any moral issue with what people fry food in, I just simply cannot eat beef products. Feel free to fry your food in seed oil, chicken fat, or anything else— I just request if you’re going to use beef tallow you make it readily apparent so I know I need to avoid your restaurant. It’s nothing personal, I just would prefer to avoid a stomachache. I’m sure anyone who has to use the bathroom after me will appreciate it too.