Mountain Views News          Saturday, January 2, 2016

13

FOOD AND DRINK

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

 Mountain Views News Saturday, January 2, 2016 

SEAN’S SHAMELESS 

REVIEWS:

“POINT BREAK” – A DISASTROUS 
REMAKE 24 YEARS LATER 

By Sean Kayden


THE 10 COMMANDMENTS OF 2016 

FOR PETER DILLS

1. I resolve to drink more water when I drink.

- Translation – add more ice to my drinks

2. I resolve to send back cold food, even if I’m 
starving.

Translation – No Mr. Nice Guy

3 I resolve to ask to be moved if there are screaming 
kids next to me.

Translation – “Two things I can’t stand crying 
women and crying babies.”

4. I resolve to send back my meat if its not cooked 
to my liking.

Translation – I want more perfection in 2016

5. I resolve to order a Grande at Starbucks instead of a Venti to save

money.

Translation – Watch out Starbucks a big dip in the stock in 2016

6. I resolve to smoke more cigars this year.

Translation – I always smoke with my friends.

7. I resolve to ask the dumb question, is it really a Champagne Brunch

or a Sparkling Wine Brunch?

Translation – It is always a Sparkling Wine Brunch

8. I resolve to ask, is it really World Famous?

Translation – Never World Famous, often people in the neighborhood

don’t know the place.

9. I resolve to tip 10% if the service warrants it.

Translation - Yeah right - I know I am a coward when it comes to

stiffing these waiters, even when they deserve it.

10. I resolve to cook one meal a week at home.

Translation – One more than I am now!

Bonus When ordering to-go food I will have 

my order ready before getting on the phone!

Please listen to Dining w/Dills **New time** 5PM Saturdays AM 830 KLAA Angels Radio station


Last week, “Point Break” 
nosedived into theaters without a shred of the charisma, 
frills, or thrills that were found in the original 
installment from 1991. Kathryn Bigelow directed the 
first “Point Break” with flair and style. The over the top 
and cartoonish cop adventure was exhilarating with 
self-awareness and solid performances from Keanu 
Reeves, Patrick Swayze, Lori Petty, and Gary Busey. 
Sure, many have deemed it as a dumb action flick, but 
it’s a cult classic with “spiritual” undertones behind the 
action sequences. However, this 2015 reboot, which had 
been delayed for months (not a good sign), is nothing like 
the original (except for a few nods throughout the film). 
The raw intensity, the meaningful dialogue delivered 
by Swazye’s mystical-criminal character Bodhi, and 
the keep-you-on-the-edge of your seat storyline was 
ferociously missing in this updated version. With relative 
newcomer Luke Bracey taking over Reeves’ Johnny 
Utah character (this time an extreme sports star rather 
an ex-QB college star) and Edgar Ramirez slipping into 
the character of Bodhi (lacking charm), the new duo had 
little to offer from a cliché-riddled script. Veteran actor 
Delroy Lindo and the beautiful up and comer Teresa 
Palmer are in the film as well, but provide minimal to 
story. Palmer’s role is so limited, as a viewer, you have 
to question to what the point is? The love relationship 
that quickly develops (literally after just a few exchanged 
lines) between her character and Utah has no deep 
connection or relevancy. Furthermore, as I mention the 
word “story,” I am using it loosely as frankly the action 
sequences, party scenes, and some awful dialogue seem 
to take the forefront over any coherent plot to be found. 

 After years in motocross, Johnny Utah decides it’s time 
to make a change and enter the FBI. Why you ask? There 
is no rhyme or reason. He just simply enrolls seven years 
down the road after the death of a good friend. Delroy 
Lindo’s FBI instructor character has the power to make 
him an agent and grants him a provisional opportunity. 
Utah has a theory to the strange robberies (criminals 
giving away stolen goods/money to poor communities/
countries) committed by individuals using motorcycles 
and parachutes. You know, since Utah was an extreme 
action star, he immediately believes these are extreme 
sports athletes. It’s up to him to infiltrate the “gang” 
and of course in this movie, it seems way too simple on 
landing within this group of unorthodox thieves. Utah 
and his new partner, “Pappas” played by Ray Winstone 
just happen to stumble upon a huge party on a cruise 
ship that may very well have the criminals on board. 
When Utah attempts to surf an impossible wave, he gets 
in the way of another guy and that guy is Bodhi. Like in 
the original, Bodhi comes to the stranger’s rescue despite 
disrespecting him, as he was about to ride that wave. 
Bodhi’s cronies (that offer zero personality or spark) 
question why their spiritual leader saved this nobody. 
Bodhi replies with don’t you know who this is? This is 
Johnny Utah. Apparently Bodhi, a figure that is keen 
on the simple things in life and walking his own path 
knows about some mildly popular motocross star from 
nearly a decade ago. After a few scenes together, which 
include a “Fight Club” sequence, Bodhi sees something 
in Utah and lets him in. Just like that, Utah is in and I 
already wanted out.

 The movie treks along with “extreme” snowboarding 
sequences and the rest Bodhi’s guys accepting Johnny 
as one of their own. Bodhi has a certain perspective of 
the world. He believes everyone has his or her own path 
despite encouraging those to follow him. However, his 
dialogue never reaches the heights of the first film. In 
the original, you really get a feel and understanding of 
all the characters, but here, there’s so much disconnect. 
There’s a lack of a true “bromance” between Utah and 
Bodhi that strongly represented in the original. With 
an embarrassing plot filled with holes and emptiness, 
extremely poor dialogue, and actors just reading 
lines rather than slipping into their characters, the 
film ultimately feels like a waste of time for all parties 
involved. The only redeeming quality may be the decent 
action sequences, but in a day and age where we have 
seven Fast & Furious films, the “extreme” scenes seem 
tame and uninspired. As for the ending, it felt rushed 
and plain out silly. It was a half-baked conclusion that 
tried to somewhat mimic the original before choosing its 
own path (which made no sense). One of the laughable 
lines amongst the group of criminals about the afterlife 
or right before someone was in danger of dying was “see 
you soon.” Well, I hope to never see you soon or ever 
again “Point Break” of 2015.

Grade: 1.5 out of 5

TABLE FOR TWO by Peter Dills

thechefknows@yahoo.com


Jeff’s Book Pics By Jeff Brown

The Relic Master: A Novel by Christopher 
Buckley 

From New York Times bestselling author 
Christopher Buckley, “one of the funniest 
writers in the English language” (Tom Wolfe), a 
compelling and hilarious adventure featuring a 
sixteenth-century relic hunter and his best friend, 
Albrecht Dürer, who conspire to forge the Shroud 
of Turin.The year is 1517. Dismas is a relic hunter: 
one who procures “authentic” religious relics for 
wealthy and influential clients. His two most 
important patrons are Frederick the Wise, Elector 
of Saxony and soon-to-be Cardinal Albrecht of 
Mainz. While Frederick is drawn to the recent 
writing of Martin Luther, Albrecht pursues the 
financial and political benefits of religion and 
seeks to buy a cardinalship through the selling 
of indulgences. When Albrecht’s ambitions 
increase his demands for grander 
and more marketable relics, 
Dismas and his artist friend 
Dürer conspire to manufacture a 
shroud to sell to the unsuspecting 
noble. Unfortunately Dürer’s 
reckless pride exposes Albrecht’s 
newly acquired shroud as a fake, 
so Albrecht puts Dismas and 
Dürer in the custody of four 
loutish mercenaries and sends 
them all to steal Christ’s burial 
cloth (the Shroud of Chambéry), 
Europe’s most celebrated relic.
On their journey to Savoy where 
the Shroud will be displayed, 
they battle a lustful count and 
are joined by a beautiful female 
apothecary. It is only when they 
reach their destination that they 
realize they are not alone in their 
intentions to acquire a relic of dubious legitimacy. 
Filled with fascinating details about art, religion, 
politics and science; Vatican intrigue; and 
Buckley’s signature wit.

Only That - the life and teaching of Sailor 
Bob Adamson by Kalyani Lawry (Author), 
Sailor Bob Adamson (Foreword)

Through John Wheeler and other influential 
teachers, and through his two books of dialogues, 
Sailor Bob Adamson has become a familiar name 
to those interested in non-dual spirituality. With 
assistance from friends and family, and from Bob 
himself, Kalyani Lawry has compiled an absorbing 
account of his life illustrated with photographs 
from Bob’s personal collection. The second part 
of ‘Only That’ consists of dialogues which have 
an immediacy that is “closer than your breathing, 
nearer than your hands and feet” and a depth 
that reflects Bob’s life experience while pointing 
clearly to the ultimate reality ‘Thou art That’.

The Silk Roads: A New History of the World 
Kindle Edition by Peter Frankopan 

The epic history of the crossroads of the world—
the meeting place of East and West and the 
birthplace of civilization.It was on the Silk Roads 
that East and West first encountered each other 
through trade and conquest, leading to the spread 
of ideas, cultures and religions. From the rise and 
fall of empires to the spread of Buddhism and the 
advent of Christianity and Islam, 
right up to the great wars of the 
twentieth century—this book 
shows how the fate of the West 
has always been inextricably 
linked to the East.Frankopan 
realigns our understanding of the 
world, pointing us eastward. He 
vividly re-creates the emergence 
of the first cities in Mesopotamia 
and the birth of empires in Persia, 
Rome and Constantinople, as 
well as the depredations by 
the Mongols, the transmission 
of the Black Death and the 
violent struggles over Western 
imperialism. Throughout the 
millennia, it was the appetite 
for foreign goods that brought 
East and West together, driving 
economies and the growth of 
nations. From the Middle East and its political 
instability to China and its economic rise, the 
vast region stretching eastward from the Balkans 
across the steppe and South Asia has been 
thrust into the global spotlight in recent years. 
Frankopan teaches us that to understand what is 
at stake for the cities and nations built on these 
intricate trade routes, we must first understand 
their astounding pasts. Far more than a history 
of the Silk Roads, this book is truly a revelatory 
new history of the world, promising to destabilize 
notions of where we come from and where we are 
headed next.

On the Marquee: Notes from the Sierra Madre Playhouse


NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS


By Artistic Director, Christian Lebano

 I’ve never really been one to make New Year’s 
Resolutions – they have always seemed too 
contrived an exercise and much too easy to ignore 
after the holiday decorations have come down. But 
I do keep my promises and I want to make a few to 
you - our loyal Playhouse patrons:

 I promise to surprise, inspire, and move you with 
a variety of plays, events, concerts and readings all 
year long.

 I promise to continue hiring the best talent I 
can, on-stage and off, all through the year.

I promise to delight you when you walk through 
the doors of the theater when you see the set for 
each of the shows.

 I promise to continue expanding our lobby 
exhibits and special programming.

 I promise to make your experience at the theater 
a pleasant one from start to finish. (And now that 
we are so close to reaching our matching grant goal 
for air conditioning the lobby – I’m even closer 
to keeping this promise and the year hasn’t even 
started yet!)

 I promise to make our theater one in which you 
feel at home and welcomed.

 I promise to always be available to you for 
comments and suggestions at artisticdirector@
sierramadreplayhouse.org.

 And finally, I promise to always be grateful for 
your support of SMP and to share my enthusiasm 
for this theater and town and YOU.

Now, if YOU want to resolve to see more plays and 
participate in more events at the Playhouse, I’ll 
happily help you keep that promise! Happy New 
Year!

 Deathtrap is selling briskly – it opens January 
15 and runs through February 20. The set is being 
built – and it’s a beauty. We have an extraordinary 
cast for this one – you won’t want to miss it. 
Please visit our website at SierraMadrePlayhouse.
org or call Mary at 626.355.4318 to arrange your 
purchase. 


Jeff’s History Corner By Jeff Brown

 The Statue of Liberty, a symbol of democracy 
and freedom that has greeted countless 
immigrants to US shores, was inspired by a 
project representing an Arab woman guarding 
the Suez Canal, researchers said. 

 The recent findings are especially startling for 
some in the United States amid a heated debate 
over the arrival of refugees from war-scarred 
Syriaand other Muslim majority countries.
French sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, who 
traveled to Egypt in 1855-1856, developed there 
a“passion for large-scale public monuments and 
colossal sculptures,” said the US National Park 
Service, which guards the Statue of Liberty in 
New York. Since its discovery of oil more than 
30 years ago, the United Arab Emirates has 
undergone a profound transformation, going 
from a small desert to a city with high living 
standards. 

 When the Egyptian government sought 
proposals in 1869 to build a lighthouse for the 
Suez Canal, Bartholdi designed a huge statue 
of a robed woman holding a torch, which he 
called “Egypt (or Progress) Brings Light to 
Asia.”The sculpture originally took the “form 
of a veiled peasant woman,” explained Barry 
Moreno, who has written about the statue, 
as quoted by the US-funded Smithsonian 
Institution.“Bartholdi produced a series of 
drawings in which the proposed statue began 
as a gigantic female fellah, or Arabpeasant, 
and gradually evolved into a colossal goddess,” 
added EdwardBerenson, who has also 
written about the subject.At the time, most 
Egyptians were Muslims — about 86 percent in 
Alexandria and Cairo, and91 percent in other 
regions, according to the Smithsonian.

 Bartholdi’s second chance came when French 
historian Edouard de Laboulaye originated the 
idea of a monument presented by the French 
people to the United States representing “Liberty 
Enlightening the World.”In 1870, Bartholdi 
began designing the statue based on his previous 
design. It was inaugurated in 1886.

Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com