LA FLORIDIANA Florida's Gardens Up Front and Personal -- Part Two by Will Moriaty

THIS WEEK'S MOVIE REVIEW "Matchstick Men" by Mike Smith

COUCH POTATO Update on Sci-Fi Hunks and Babes....Whoops, it's Whoopi!....Happy Family  by Vinnie Blesi

ASHLEY'S HOLLYWOOD Notable Passings and Child Stars  by Ashley Lauren

CREATURE'S CORNER Freddy vs Jason....Monsturd....JLA/ Avengers #1....the last "Pillars"?  by John Lewis

MIKE'S RANT Not Yet....Save Me A Spot In The Dandelion Patch....Monkey See, Monkey Do....Cutting Out The Middle Man....Happy Birthday....Top 10 '60s Albums....Send Lawyers, Guns And Money  by Mike Smith

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Notable passings and Child Stars

Another week, another article. This week is filled with things to talk about. The passing of a legend, a blast from the past, and Hollywood gossip. Quick disclaimer: The Brandon Lee article has been postponed indefinitely. I know how you all are looking sooo forward to this article, but there is just too many other things to discuss. Lets get started.

German filmmaker Leni Reifenstahl passed away this Monday at her home in Germany, she was 101. Leni is known for her Nazi propaganda films like the 1934 film, Triumph of the Will. The film is internationally known and considered a crucial film to understanding the Third Reich. She made various other important films for Nazi Germany like Olympia, a chronicle of the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

She has always been known as an innovative and masterful filmmaker but her ties to the Third Reich hurt her career for years and always seemed to haunt her. She completed her last film at the age of 100. Impressions Under Water is a film showcasing her love for underwater photography.

Warren Zevon also passed away this week after a battle with Cancer. Warren wrote songs during his final months about death in a cynical approach. Warren Zevon was 56. I’m sure Mike Smith will elaborate on this more.

Britney Controversial???
This Friday’s Rolling Stone magazine is set to be controversial. Britney Spears graces the cover in barely nothing, apparently, and lashes out at her ex-beau Justin Timberlake. Do we really need to hear more about their realtionship? I honestly don’t think so. When stars leave their dirty laundry for public consumption and complain later how they were misunderstood, I get very angry. I have a feeling that this will be a prime example in a matter of months.

ShowEast
Pirates of the Caribbean: the Curse of the Black Pearl director, Gore Verbinski, is going to be honored at Orlando’s ShowEast next month. I may be in attendance for this event, so I will have more about this topic at a later date.

Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star
Our own Mike Smith reviewed this film for you last week, and a fine job he did. I am glad that he liked the movie because most critics have torn it apart.

The best part about the movie is all the actual former child stars. Leif Garrett, Dustin Diamond, Corey Feldman, Danny Bonaduce, and Barry Williams round out the main group of child stars. They are "Dickie‘s" weekly poker buddies.

The one that really caught my attention was Goonies star, Corey Feldman. When he popped up on the screen I immediately began to laugh, with him not at him of course. The Goonies is a classic film to kids my age and older, so essentially he reminded me of my very early days as a movie watcher. He and his used-to-be friend Corey Haim defined the ‘80’s in films like Lost Boys and Licensed to Drive. Corey Haim, on the other hand, expanded in other ways over the years...not as a star, but in girth. My god, I was shocked to see him in the end of Dickie Roberts. What a beast! Corey Feldman on the other hand looks exactly the same. The 5’3" actor has been on the silver screen recently as well. Feldman and other former stars were on the show The Surreal World early this year. Feldman also released his latest CD, titled Former Child Star last year. Hmmm, so he isn’t completely gone from the scene, but pretty much. As a matter of fact, you can see Corey Feldman in Wes Craven’s new film, Cursed. He plays...well, himself. He has played himself in his last 8 films. How does something like that happen to an actor. He goes from being on top of the world to a has-been practically overnight. Though, thank god, there is room for idiot actors like Hilary Duff and Frankie Muniz to take his spot. Hopefully in years to come Corey Feldman will be able to re-establish a "career" and entertain us yet once again. He really was a pretty funny guy. As for Corey Haim, he is now living in Canada and not doing much, how "aboot" that.

Over all, I believe that Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star is a great film for everyone. It has many different things to offer various groups of people. The end musical number is worth seeing the whole movie for.

Rate Worthy -- A

Well, I guess that finishes up this week.

Til next time!
Ashley Lauren