Robs takes on Media and Entertainment

 Today on Scooby Doo: * The gang place a miniature radio tracker on Scooby and then used a directional antenna and mapping equipment to find him. This stuff was apparently already installed in the van. I am still baffled by their income situation and what defines "kids" - in the first episode, they were definitely in high school ... today I figure they have gone rogue from the NSA. * Shaggy ate a Scooby Snack on purpose and like it. * Shaggy had several punch lines that the audience did not laugh at - I felt sorry for him - he was the ultimate actor and kept in the scene despite what must have been a little heart breaking. Sometimes the crowd just isn't with you Shag. * Shaggy referenced the "Batusi" when he and Velma were dancing around while being swarmed by bats. This is 3 years after it was introduced in the Batman episode "Hi Diddle Riddle". Is this a case of co-evolution, do they exist in the same universe, or does Shaggy watch the same TV we do?...

 I have decoded the meaning of ”stylish" when used in conjunction with "neo-noir". * Music in minor key (check)  * Slow motion camera pans and zooms (check)  * Half the image is out of focus (check)  * The other half is shifting focus (check)  * Color palette is red or grey (check) * Scenes are raining or lit by a single lamp way far away from the action (check) * Most of the dialog is banal and whispered (check)  "Stylish" should be spelled: m o r o s e

 I saw 2 movies recently: "The Beekeeper" (2024) -- who says you can't make gonzo cinema anymore? Children today will grow up and watch this alongside "Con Air" (1997) or "Face Off" (1997) as examples of stupidly entertaining cinema. Acting students will memorize Jeremy Irons lines as monologues* for class. I almost bailed out at the 10-minute mark because the predation on Phylicia Rashad really bothered me. She was very compelling. Right after that tragically brilliant piece of character the film double clutched into coocoo banana pants gear and took off on a streak. "The Third Man" (1949) is brilliant -- Orson Welles makes an entrance!** There are entrances and then there are ENTRANCES. Mr. Welles definitely did the latter. If it is possible, I think he is underrated as both an actor and director. All the characters are fun - the dialogue (in multiple languages) does a really good job of increasing the tension. The camera work and music pla...