Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Brutal “Logan” Either End Of A Franchise Or Birth Of One

Posted by Duane Dudek
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“Logan” steps out of the digital superhero fantasy world and into a more realistic, one leaving a trail of sometimes headless bodies behind.

“Logan” is the new and “final” entry in Marvel’s X-Men Wolverine series, and is either the end of a franchise or the birth of one.

It’s 2029 and mutants have been put down or like Professor X are hiding. X has a dementia that results in earthquake type effects that Wolverine, played by Hugh Jackman, controls with medication. The grey and infirm Logan is not in great shape either.

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Cubs Win Packer-Sized Rating, Fox Point Man’s Cubs’ Film

Posted by Duane Dudek

The Chicago Cubs dramatic extra innings World Series victory over the Cleveland Indians earned a remarkable 32.5 household rating. That means about 291,000 television households in the Milwaukee area watched the game on Fox affiliate WITI-TV. (Though Joe Buck haters might have had the sound down.)

That’s twice the rating of first game.

Also: I previously wrote about a Milwaukee native John Scheinfeld’s 2010 film about the Cubs called “We Believe.” He previously directed “The US v. John Lennon” and his latest film “Chasing Trane,” about John Coltrane, is touring the festival market.

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Football Free Final Debate Doubles Ratings

Posted by Duane Dudek
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Local ratings for the final presidential debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton were almost double those of the previous debate, due to the absence of competition from Green Bay Packers football.

Of course controversies surrounding both candidate could have also added to interest in the debate.

The cumulative rating for all four network affiliates was a 23 rating, or about 206,000 television homes.

WMVS-TV, FOX and MSNBC additionally earned a cumulative 10.8 rating, or the equivalent of 96,700 TV homes. That brings the total local audience for the debate to 302,700 TV homes.

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Milwaukee Viewers Vote Overwhelmingly for Packers v. Debate

Posted by Duane Dudek
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There is nothing undecided about Milwaukee viewers. They cast their vote for the Green and Gold.

In head to head competition with the tawdry presidential candidate tire fire airing on three other local channels, the Green Bay Packers game against the New York Giants posted a robust 43.7 rating on NBC affiliate WTMJ-TV (Channel 4).

That’s the equivalent of 391,420 TV homes. A local rating point is the equivalent of 8,957 television homes.

The presidential debate – seen locally on Fox affiliate WITI-TV (Channel 6), ABC affiliate WISN-TV (Channel 12) and CBS affiliate WDJT-TV (Channel 58) – earned a cumulative 17.6 rating the equivalent of 157,643 TV homes.

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“Bourne” Again? Sure, Why Not

Posted by Duane Dudek
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Bourne again? Sure, why not.

This fifth dip into the well-worn well of super-soldier “Jason Bourne” has nothing going for it if not brand identity. Like Bond and Marvel and “Star Trek,” you go into a “Bourne” film knowing just what you will get – a predictable exercise in adrenaline.

“Jason Bourne” marks the return of Matt Damon in the role he originated in a trilogy of films, the last two directed by Paul Greengrass, who brought the visual immediacy of his documentary background to the screen.

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“Ghostbusters” Reboot A Likable Mess

Posted by Duane Dudek
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Visually, dramatically, structurally and comically the “Ghostbusters” reboot is a likable mess.

It moves in fits and starts while recycling the premise of the 1984 film and its only original idea is to reverse the gender of the characters. This gives it an opportunity to explore the comic concept and interactions from the other end of the telescope, but which it does not do often enough to sustain it.

The result leaves the characters – a brainy Kristin Wiig, feisty Leslie Jones, straight man Melissa McCarthy and twitchy Kate McKinnon – stranded and armed with nothing but their proton packs. Chris Hemsworth’s dumb beefcake receptionist – whose glasses have no lenses – is as deep as this role reversal gets.

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Second Annual DVD Blowout, Friday and Saturday!!

Posted by Duane Dudek
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The Dudek Abides will hold its second annual DVD blowout Friday and Saturday – July 15 and 16 – from 8 until 4 p.m.

It’s like a rummage sale for movies.

Categories include Hollywood, indie, documentaries, foreign language and Asian, family, TV, box sets, stand up comedy, concert films, and others that defy genre.

Many are priced as low as $1, most of them are unopened.

This year featuring a huge selection of movie books, some rare. Also, CDs, comics, vinyl and collectibles. Free items with purchase.

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“B.F.G.,” “Swiss Army Man” And The Economy of Scale

Posted by Duane Dudek
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When Steven Spielberg releases a new film attendance is mandatory. It’s not always a great experience but it’s always an interesting demonstration of the strengths and flaws of  one of the great directors of our time.

Sometimes his films are facile, sentimental and narratively broken in ways he cannot fix. But occasionally he creates something extraordinary like “E.T. The Extra Terrestrial.”

He dabbles in textures and technologies but always with an eye to the marketplace. At 69 he might consider the Biblical advise to “put away childish things.” Because the awe of childhood has deserted him.

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Budget Crisis Cited In UWM Broadcast Prof Zoromski ‘s Jump To Marquette

Posted by Duane Dudek
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Mark Zoromski, a broadcast journalism professor at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee for 20-years, has accepted a position as director of student media at Marquette University it was announced Friday.

And the UW system budget crisis was cited as a factor in the move. Zoromski, a Milwaukee television news veteran was news director at WITI-TV (Channel 6) from 1983 to 1986.

In his new position he will be advisor to the student operated Marquette Tribune, Marquette University Radio, the school’s quarterly magazine and journals.

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“Captain America: Civil War” Makes Avengers Great Again

Posted by Duane Dudek
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As the last battle was being fought in “Captain America: Civil War” I realized I couldn’t remember the first battle, the one that opened the film. Put it down to short-term memory loss or approaching senility.

But it is just as likely the sheer length of the film, 146 minutes, and apathy brought on by superhero fatigue.

Despite its title “Captain America: Civil War” is very much an Avengers film.

Instead of asking which Marvel superheroes are in it, easier to say that only Thor and Hulk do not assemble. Heroes battling heroes is the new template  for comic book movie creators that have run out of fresh ideas.

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