You're Never Going to Be Younger Than You Are Today!

The sands of time!

Are you putting off doing something? As is the case with most humans, we think we can put off to tomorrow something we do not want to do today. This is our nature; we think we have control over our lives and the time we live and work in, but that is an illusion. We are all getting older as every second, minute, and hour clicks away – we are in an aging process. The truth is this: you're never going to be younger than you are today!

Our obsession with time comes in many forms. The guy waiting on a subway platform looking at his watch and yet glancing at the clock above his head. Is he confirming that his watch is right? Is he late for work? 20 years from now – hell, even a year from now – it won't matter at all. 

We live in an age defined by time. The saying is "Time well spent." But what exactly is that? Reading a good book? Spending time with loved ones? Mowing the lawn? Taking a jog along the water at sunset? Getting your work done for tomorrow's nine o'clock meeting? It is a very subjective thing. My time well spent is nothing compared to your time well spent.

We are very obsessed with time but, like the weather, there is nothing much we can do about it. The hours, minutes, and seconds keep clicking away, and we are neither the masters of time or the keepers of it. I remember my mom, who was as loving a person as there ever was, looking at her watch and saying, "I don't know where the day went" when I came home from school. It wasn't angry or mean – she was noting that her day in which she had expected to do so much had gotten away from her.

In the bigger picture we hear people gripe about Daylight Saving Time. I've been hearing this complaining since I was a little kid. I remember going around the house and changing the time on all the clocks with my dad, who was grumbling about the time change. In the kitchen he would lift me up, and I would change the clock – the one that mattered most in a sense because everything depended on that clock. We looked at it when we had to get out the door to go to school, my dad had to get to work, and mom's day that was already getting away from her had started. 

Now, we have two clocks in the house that have to be changed – the trusty kitchen clock and the chiming clock on the mantel. This clock is more difficult if you are turning back the hour because the hands can only go forward. In the spring it is easier to just add an hour. Still, when I think of how my dad and I had to go to every room to change the clocks when I was little to now only having two clocks in the whole house, I wonder if we are less obsessed with time or more dependent upon our devices to keep us in check.

U.S.A. Time Zones

Of course, then there are time zones. I remember an episode from M*A*S*H when Henry Blake (MacLean Stevenson) wanted to call home to his wife from Korea, and he asked Rader (Gary Burghoff) what time it was in Illinois. Radar figured it out and told him, and Blake said, "Why can't all time be the same?" It's funny because I often thought that when I was a kid, but Radar explains to Blake that the world is round. Ah, reality always gets in the way..

So, to get back to the point of this whole article – you are never going to be younger than you are today! That's right and true whether you're six or sixty. Tomorrow you will be a day older, as you will be the next day, and the next day, until the end of your life. It is a salient truth that I think we sometimes ignore. 

The point is this – do not put off today what can be done tomorrow because tomorrow may never come. I hate to sound morbid, but there are no guarantees about anything. So, if you wanted to tell someone that you love them, I'd say get right to it. If you want to speak to someone you haven't seen in a long time, go over to their house and knock on the door. Or, if you are unable to do that, call them or even text them. They or you may not be here tomorrow. 

The sun sets on another day. 

If you wanted to fix something – the fence in the yard or the cabinet door in the kitchen –get to it! If you feel like taking a walk on the beach, get in the car and go. If you still have your parents, go over to their house and hug them both. I wish I could do that now.

Time is the greatest currency we have – it's better than gold, silver, and cash. Time is the most precious commodity, but we waste it like we had all the time in the world. Guess what? We do not. So, get out there and get moving. The clock is ticking!

*Please watch the video for Jim Croce's song "Time in a Bottle" and think about how he died in a plane crash, leaving behind his wife and little baby. Get ready to shed a tear or two. 

Movie Review: 'Frankenstein' Is Guillermo del Toro's Masterpiece

 

The word "Frankenstein" evokes a visceral response from me every time I hear it. My mind races back in time to my first viewing of James Whale's haunting 1931 film. As a kid I feared the sight of the creature, and the movie was filled with dark shadows in stark black and white hallways. Boris Karloff's portrayal in the original film and then in Bride of Frankenstein (1935) defined what seemed gruesome and yet, as I got older, I found his performance to be somewhat sympathetic.   

del Toro obviously and assiduously studied those classics, because his Frankenstein includes many revised iterations of the scenes from Whale's two films, but it also gives rise to looking at the monster in a new way. While the director deserves much credit, Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein and Jacob Elordi as the monster scream, stomp, and weep their way into embodying their characters in most compelling ways.

The movie begins on a ship stuck in Arctic ice. Captain Anderson (Lars Mikkelsen) and some of his men investigate a fire out on the ice, where they find a wounded Victor. In the distance the roar of an ungodly creature can be heard, and they rush Victor back to the ship where they presume they will be safe. 

Charles Dance plays Victor's father

Victor recovers well enough to start telling his story. Flashbacks to the past show Victor as a boy (Christian Convery) who lives in fear of his overbearing father Leopold (a terrific Charles Dance). His only refuge is his mother Claire (Mia Goth) who is pregnant. Leopold is teaching anatomy to his son, who seems to have an intuitive feel for the subject. Even when the boy shows a keen understanding of things, it doesn't satisfy Leopold's drive for perfection. 

These are important scenes because we see the birth of Victor's brother and his mother's death in childbirth. Leopold dotes on young William (Rafe Harwood) in ways Victor never experienced. After Leopold's death, Victor vows to be not just better than his father but the greatest doctor of all. 

Christoph Waltz as Victor's benefactor Harlander

We move forward to an adult Victor presenting his research in a hearing into his unusual medical methods when he unveils an animated partial creature that exhibits some abilities. The other doctors are at first excited but then deride Victor for exploring areas that should be left unknown. After the proceeding, a wealthy man named Harlander (the always excellent Christoph Waltz) expresses interest in his work. He also happens to be the uncle of Elizabeth (also played by Mia Goth) who is engaged to be married to his brother (Felix Kammerer).

Eventually, Harlander installs Victor in a castle with a recognizable tower high in the sky just perfect to collect lightning. Isaac gets under Victor's skin and instills movements, mannerisms, and facial expressions that allow us to see his transformation from an ambitious. brilliant young man into an obsessed maniac who has lost all sense of reason. This is not a parody of the late great Colin Clive's performance of Henry Frankenstein, who famously lost his mind and screamed, "It's alive!" when his monster moved its hand. Rather, it is a more nuanced but no less dangerous portrayal of an unhinged genius with the power to play god.

The monster being born 

In opposition to Victor is the monster he has created. The creature is technically the antagonist, but it is also difficult to call Victor the protagonist. Although I lovingly remember Karloff's portrayal, there is something compelling about how Elordi brings the monster to life in a manner that is childlike at first, and then transforms him into a rather eloquent and intelligent creature that not only wants to live but also to have a mate to share life with because he is lonely. This version of the monster is less frightening in appearance, but is still unsettling to look at.

The monster connects with Elizabeth

When William and Elizabeth come for a visit, their presence starts to set things in motion for everything to unravel. Elizabeth quickly finds the creature chained in the basement, and they develop a mesmerizing relationship. She seems to value his innocence and strength, while the monster admires her beauty and her sincere interest in his well being. 

Victor realizes what has happened between Elizabeth and the monster, and he believes the situation is out of control. With things not going the way that he has planned, Victor sends William and Elizabeth away before anything bad happens to them. He sets a massive fire to destroy the castle and his creation, but he gets injured after he has second thoughts and tries to go back into the castle to save the creature. Victor is seriously injured in a blast, and William and Elizabeth return and watch the fire in shock and amazement. 

Meanwhile, the creature does survive and escapes, setting out to get revenge. At this point the rest is spoiler territory, but I can say that del Toro does bring us some narrative throwbacks to the 1931 and 1935 films, including Elizabeth in a wedding dress, the creature interacting with a blind man and a little girl named Maria, and a wedding that is occurring at the wrong time. 

The film is visually beautiful with the juxtaposition of brightly colored landscapes and dark castle scenes. Cinematographer Dan Lausten has imbued the screen with gorgeous scenery, darker than dark nights, and works in unison with composer Alexandre Desplat to overwhelm our senses with visual and musical delights and depths of despair. 

Victor becoming more unhinged

Frankenstein is del Toro's masterpiece. The care and attention to detail in every scene keep moving the story forward toward its surprisingly and almost gentle conclusion. No one goes into the theater to see Hamlet and thinks that things are going to turn out well, and I can same thing here. However, del Toro incessantly reminds us that humanity's greatest gift is life, and that is not something that humans can take for granted or believe that they can play at being a god and not encounter severe consequences. 

The monster becoming more human

At one point in a crucial moment during the doomed wedding scene, William tells Victor, "You're the monster." Isaac does an amazing job of reinforcing his character's status, while Elordi's monster evolves and becomes more human as the story progresses, including one final act that proves his respect for humanity. del Toro leaves us with a final scene that is both memorable and meaningful, and you'll think about this movie long after watching it. That's what happens when we see a film masterpiece by a director who is seemingly at the height of his powers, 

I give the film the highest of recommendations, and you can watch it on Netflix in the comfort of your own home now. It is two and a half hours long, but I never looked at my watch once. Get some popcorn and enjoy what will be a memorable experience. 

Halloween Week Movie Binge – Why We Love Scary Movies

Since this past weekend, when I am not at work or busy with other matters, I have been on a scary movie binge. I haven't done this in years, but this sort of happened in a default way. Someone at work suggested I watch the French film Eyes Without a Face. After watching that, I decided this year I would not let Halloween slip by without revisiting some of my favorite scary movies.

All of this movie watching has gotten me to thinking: Why do we love scary movies? I'll go into the movies I've watched first and get to that question later. I've also given each movie a Scare Score (from 1-10 with 10 being the scariest). 

Eyes Without a Face (1962)

This film has haunted me since I watched it last weekend. Director Georges Franju's descent into madness and horror is a deceptive film. At first it seems pretty straightforward that brilliant Doctor Genessier (a slimy Pierre Brasseur) wants to help his daughter Christiane (Edith Scob) whose face was disfigured in a car accident while he was driving, and she has to wear a mask on her face. However, his idea of plastic surgery is rather unique – he wants to give her a full face transplant. That means he requires a living donor to supply that face. He sends out his secretive laboratory assistant Louise (Alida Valli) to act as a more attractive version of Fritz (Dwight Frye from Frankenstein 1931) to kidnap beautiful young women with blue eyes. As the experiments continue to fail, the bodies pile up, and Genessier's young colleague at the hospital grows suspicious, things take an even darker turn. I don't want to ruin the rest for you because the ending is unforgettable.

Scare Score: 7

Night of the Living Dead (1968)

George A. Romero's Night of the Living Dead is a classic that I used to watch every Halloween season, but work and family pulled me away from that practice. Having not watched it in a few years, I feel it is still the grisly and bloody charnel I remembered it to be. The recently deceased are coming back to life because of a failed Venus probe that brought a mysterious radiation back to Earth. Barbara (Judith O'Dea) and her brother Johnny (a hilarious Russell Streiner) are visiting a local cemetery to put a wreath on their father's grave. Barbara is attacked by a ghoul, and Johnny dies as he tries to save her. Barbara runs to an old farmhouse where she encounters Ben (Duane Jones) and other survivors. They board up the place as the ghouls surround the house, which becomes like a covered pot on the stove when various personalities clash. Will they be able to survive together despite their differences?

Scare Score: 8

Dracula (1931)

This oldie but goodie stands the test of time. I haven't watched it in years, but seeing it again reminded me of it's true greatness, and it's even more scary in stark black and white and the slight hissing of the soundtrack. Director Tod Browning's masterpiece features the slick and deceptive Count Dracula (the magnificent Bela Lugosi) making lawyer Renfield (a deliriously amusing Dwight Frye) into his slave. They travel to London where Dracula lives in the rented Carfax Abbey. The Count insinuates himself into society and meets Lucy Weston (Frances Dade) and Mina Seward (Helen Chandler), both of whom he desires to take as his new brides. Dr. Van Helsing (a terrific Edward Van Sloan) discovers the situation when using a mirror as Dracula is speaking to everyone in a parlor. Can Van Helsing stop the count's evil plans before it's too late? I love this film, and Lugosi's vampire set the tone for all those who would come after him.

Scare Score: 9 

Horror of Dracula (1958) 

It was interesting watching this film after the original Dracula. Director Terence Fisher and writer Jimmy Sangster turn the tables on the storyline. With Renfield nowhere to be found, it is Jonathan Harker (John Van Eyssen) who visits Dracula in Transylvania to become his librarian. Harker is on a secret mission to destroy Dracula (the amazing Christopher Lee) at the behest of Dr. Van Helsing (the equally amazing Peter Cushing), though it is never fully explained. Dracula quickly discovers the plot and dispatches Harker and turns him into the undead. Dracula steals a picture of Harker's fiancé, and after Van Hesling kills Harker, Dracula sets out to take revenge on those near and dear to Van Helsing. The film works as an alternative to the traditional Dracula story, and Lee and Cushing are brilliant in opposition to one another. It is definitely worth your time to watch this one.

Scare Score: 8  

Frankenstein (1931)

I think that this stark black and white film is scary because of the lighting and the eerie atmosphere of the castle and the village in the Bavarian Alps. Director James Whale even makes a staircase leading up to the laboratory seem fraught with danger (and cobwebs). Brilliant scientist Henry Frankenstein (the outstanding Colin Clive) has a plan to create life from nothing but dead body parts. Aided by his sinister and deranged assistant Fritz (Dwight Frye back for more in the same year as Dracula), they gather body parts from graves to stitch together a new body. Fritz is sent to get a normal brain from the medical school, but he drops it and decides to take a brain that is marked as abnormal. The procedure is a success, but the Monster (Boris Karloff) with that brain cannot be taught to act as a normal person would, and the creature rebels and escapes. The Monster starts killing people, and the villagers with their torches and weapons seek him in the countryside with Henry at their side. Will they be able to stop this rampage that Henry created?

Scare Score: 8

Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

With James Whale once again directing, Colin Clive is back as Henry Frankenstein who has recovered from his injuries sustained in the first film. He is trying to live a normal life and marry Elizabeth (Valerie Hobson replacing Mae Clark form the first film). The sinister Dr. Pretorius (the creepy Ernest Thesiger) has other plans. He discovers the revived Monster (Boris Karloff) in the graveyard, and they form a partnership. Pretorius wants Henry to build a woman as a mate for the Monster. Henry rejects the offer at first, but once the Monster kidnaps Elizabeth, Henry has no choice to proceed with the plan. Henry sends his assistant (Dwight Frye now playing Karl) to the morgue to get a heart (he obviously learned his lesson and secured the brain himself). But Pretorius directs Karl to get a live donor. I will never forget watching this as a kid for the first time and the blood curdling scream of the girl as Karl kills her. Things go well enough with the procedure, and Henry produces a mate for the Monster. Will they live happily ever after?

Scare Score: 9 

Halloween (1978)

John Carpenter's revival of the slasher genre (started by Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho) is the scariest of this batch because of where it takes place. It's not in some remote village in the Alps or the busy streets of Victorian London, but in a small town in America that seems like it would be the last place anything bad would happen. Young Michael Myers (Will Sandon) murders his sister Judith on Halloween in 1963. He is put away for 15 years, but on the night that Doctor Loomis (an intense Donald Pleasance) comes to take him away, he escapes the insane asylum. Inexplicably able to drive cars and find his old town without a map, older Michael (Tony Moran) is intent on returning home and getting revenge by killing his sister Laurie (Jamie Lee Curtis in her first role). What is frightening about this film is how Michael stalks Laurie and others. Wearing the now iconic Shatner mask and wielding a knife,  he kills anyone connected to Laurie until he can get to her. This film spawned a franchise and many imitators, but Halloween remains as the standard for the genre and still the best scare fest.

Scare Score: 10

These are the movies I've binge watched since last weekend. Now, what about the question: Why do we love scary movies? Part of the answer is that we enjoy seeing someone else in a dangerous situation. We live vicariously through their desperate circumstances, and we basically take "a better you than me" attitude.

We also like scary movies because they are thrilling; they are sort of like the roller coaster ride of viewing experiences. There is an adrenaline rush to see other people getting in and out of trouble, and sadly even sometimes seeing them not make it. 

This feeling can be related to watching a Shakespearean tragedy. For hundreds of years audiences have enjoyed seeing plays like Hamlet, Macbeth, and Othello, where we witness someone of royalty or high importance riding high and then taking a terrible fall. It makes us feel like even those people who seemingly have it all can still stumble and fall.

So, Halloween night is fast approaching. After all the trick and treating is done, grab a bowl of popcorn and sit down and watch one of these movies  – or one of your choice – and enjoy being scared to death because it is a lot of fun. 

Happy Halloween!

My New Novel 'Life and Death in Venice' Paperback Is Now Available

 

My new novel Life and Death in Venice is now available as a paperback. I know that some people – myself included – still enjoy sitting in a chair (whether on the beach, in a coffee shop, or on the front porch) reading a physical book in hand. 

The story remains the same:

Life and Death in Venice is the story of New Yorker Robert "Bobby" Valenti who moves to Venice to start over after divorcing his wife and the death of his mother. In the magical city he navigates the streets and yearns to get to know the place on an intimate level while wanting to forget a past that he is trying to escape. He joins a writers' group where he makes friends and hopes to enhance his goal of writing a novel. Bobby starts seeing Mireille, a beautiful French girl who is a group member, but she has many personal dramas that cause their relationship to be on and off again. After he meets Elena in a bar, he takes her home and learns that she is a prostitute who has an abusive pimp, so he reluctantly pays her. He continues seeing Elena even after Mireille comes back from a long trip to Paris, creating an unusual love triangle. As he attempts to write his book and hopes to find some peace and happiness in Venice, many obstacles are standing in his way.

As the gift giving season is coming soon, there is nothing like getting a book as a present. Also, those of you who have already read the e-book and mentioned that you wanted to give a physical copy of it to someone you love, this is your opportunity. And a big thank you to everyone who has already purchased the e-book. Your support is very much appreciated. 

Click here to get your paperback version of  Life and Death in Venice today!

LEGO 'Star Wars' Death Star - Ultimate Collector Series (75419) – The Most Expensive Set Ever Released!

 

I love Star Wars, and I love LEGO sets. There is no denying these facts. Over the years I have built countless LEGO sets from Star Wars – and many sets from other series – with my son that have provided hours and hours of pleasure. However, this new set – LEGO Star Wars Death Star - Ultimate Collector Series (75419) – takes us to boldly go where no other LEGO set has gone before. It costs $1000. Yes, dear readers, you're not reading it wrong. One thousand bucks!

This unprecedented price for what is ostensibly a big toy seems completely overwhelming. What, you may ask, are you getting for the money spent? According to the LEGO website, you're getting "...the largest LEGO Star Wars set to date, designed to transport fans into the heart of the Galactic Empire's most infamous space station." 

Okay, not sold yet? You get 9,023 pieces and 38 LEGO Star Wars minifigures, including the most popular characters like Han Solo, Emperor Palpatine, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and more. Of course, many of us have all of these characters from other sets we have collected, but here they are for good measure to populate the various sections of this set.

One of the immediate problems I have with the set – besides the astronomical pricetag – is the shape of it. While the inside sections are well crafted, it's the exterior that is unsettling. This Death Star is a cross section of what is a sphere in reality of the films. I find that very disappointing considering the price of this set. 

Looking at it makes me feel like something is off big time. Perhaps, if the set was half the price, I wouldn't feel as cheated, but it really feels like something is missing when I look at it because there is something missing. This extremely large set is more like a diorama to display rather than a toy for play. So, parents, this is certainly not something that kids can actually play with, and the box does indicate that it is meant for the 18+ builders out there. 

The Superlaser – which should be an impressive element – seems to be jutting out of the side of the build like it was just tacked on there, making me feel like it was not as important as it was in the films. In fact, the main reason that the Death Star was so feared was that laser.

If you look at this older set – which my son and I built five years ago – it appears more like the Death Star from the films. The Superlaser is attached to a working chamber where technicians are poised to fire it. Its sphereical shape is intact, and the set is extremely playable. While it is great to look at on the table, it is not meant to be just on display but for active play scenarios. 

Over all, it seems like a cruel joke to release this set right before the Christmas toy buying season because it is not a toy at all, but no doubt kids will be putting it on their lists for Santa before they get mailed to the North Pole. If I were you, I'd make sure that letter never makes it to the mailbox. We don't want Santa to get any wrong ideas about us, you know, like we're a greedy spoiled family or anything like that. 

In the end the verdict is clear – this is way too much money to spend on a toy that is not a toy. If you have the money and the space necessary to display this behometh, then by all means shell out the bucks and happy building. You will even receive a LEGO Star Wars TIE Fighter and Hangar Rack (40771) if you purchase the Death Star between October 1 through October 7, 2025. 

As always, may the Force be with you!

My Novel 'Life and Death in Venice' in Kindle Countdown Deal

 

My new novel, Life and Death in Venice, is entering a Kindle Countdown Deal. The promotion begins with the book being available for 99 cents starting on September 28, 2025, at 11:00 EST. It will end on October 5, 2025 at 11:00 EST. 

With the summer over, Life and Death in Venice makes for a good read as the leaves fall from the trees and the air gets colder. Why not experience a few moments each day reading about a hot summer in one of Europe's most beautiful and magical cities? 

So, please get in on this great deal today, and thank you to everyone who has already ordered a copy. 

Also, the paperback version of the book is coming soon. Please keep checking back here for details. 

Get your deal here: Kindle Countdown Deal 

Blast from the Past – Old Magazines Bring Back Good Memories

Sometimes cleaning out a closet can be a drag, but once in awhile you find something unexpected. Such was the case when I was cleaning out a basement closet and stumbled upon three perfectly intact magazines from 2007. 

These were my daughter's magazines, and the stars featured on the covers were ones she loved as a little girl. At the time Miley Cyrus was on the Disney Channel's Hannah Montana, and it was certainly my daughter's favorite show. She had the dolls, playsets, and the tour bus that was a big hit with her. Miley appears on two of the three covers. 

Also appearing on two of the three covers, the Jonas Brothers were another of her favorites. She loved their music and the Camp Rock movies. 

Danielle Radcliffe appears on two of the covers – solo on one and with his Harry Potter co-stars on the other. At that time she was reading the books and loved the movies. 

Zac Efron (at the time the star of the High School Musical Disney movies) appears on two covers, and on the TV Guide cover Zac's co-stars from those movies appear. My daughter watched these movies over and over again after they debuted on a Friday night and were also broadcast on Saturday and Sunday nights of the premiere weekend. Of course, we watched all three nights on those weekends. 

My daughter was totally thrilled to have these magazines back. Talk about a blast from the past – she gleefully took them and got a chance to revisit 18 years ago. It was a time that was more innocent and seemingly much easier than today now that she is an adult with responsibilities. 

So, of all the people on those covers, I would say Miley Cyrus is still the biggest star. The Jonas Brothers have made a comeback, and Zac Efron still makes movies. I may be wrong, but for the most part I am not aware of any current projects that the rest of these former stars are involved in now.

As I look back at these faces, I am remidned of how important many of them were in my daughter's life. I know that she still likes Miley and the Jonas Brothers, but it must be strange for her to see the faces of many people on the covers that are not doing much anymore. 

While I was happy to find the magazines, they also are a double-edged sword. They are a reminder that she and I are 18 years older. It saddens me that those days of playing with her and watching her favorite TV shows are over. I can never recapture those moments, but I can remember them fondly, and I'm happy that I have them.

Now that I am done cleaning out that closet, who knows what other hidden treasures await me in the boxes stacked in the garage. If I find anything of note, I'll write about it here.