AJ says:

That's What I Said

• 
  On Kiss...

  I said "These guys have a new one coming out in October called "Sonic Boom." It's Paul and Gene with style-free session guitarist Tommy Thayer and good 3rd drummer Eric Singer (depicted on the cover as clones of Ace and Peter), and what is being billed as an honest return to form. After what? 30 years? They actually all wrote and performed with no one from the outside helping this time. Gene did all his basslines and Paul didn't call on prissy balladeers like Michael Bolton to write garbage for him. I am sure Tommy shows up on time on a dime, so no one needs to cover for Ace anymore. They're getting too old for this sort of thing I loved KISS growing up because they were like Marvel superheroes singing about sex. And as I grew up, I appreciated the raunchy solos Ace could coax out of his Les Paul, and what Pete was doing beyond just keeping the beat. Owners Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons were iconic, The solo albums proved that Ace was actually a major force in the overall sound of KISS in the '70s. Just listen to what came later, and what he did as a solo artist afterward. Eric Carr (RIP) was a fabulous drummer, as was/is Eric Singer. But the current attempt to duplicate the classic lineup still makes me nauseous. And now we have a new album by the old farts about...screwing? That's what KISS is about. No criticism 'til I listen, but I'm pessimistic."
• 
  On Hollywood's Creepiest Families...

  I said "That's repugnant."
• 
  On Time Travel Movies ...

  I said ""Back to the Future" is the king of Time Travel films. "Terminator" is close behind."
• 
  On The Original Star Trek Movie Cast: Then & Now...

  I said "Saying ST:TMP set the stage for the latest 2009 film is rubbish, and ignores the impact and unique history of three troubled years the show had on TV in the '60s. Beholden to Neilsen research, NBC ran "Star Trek" in prime time for two years ('66/'67 and '67/'68 seasons) before canceling the show. A well-organized fan campaign dumped thousands of letters on NBC, and it was renewed, but with a reduced budget, and without its creator, Gene Roddenberry. The 3rd season was rerouted to 10pm on Fridays, and in a TIVO-less world, died. The 1970s saw these three seasons syndicated around the US, and a short-lived animated series,and it took off. Big time. A reboot TV show was in pre-production ("Phase II") when Star Wars took the world by storm in 1977. Paramount quickly re-thought Phase II and greenlit a film to ride the coattails of Star Wars' runaway success. While TMP brought the original cast together, it was considered by many to be too long and cerebral for general consumption. In fact, the released version was barely finished when it hit cinemas, and a re-edited 'director's cut' supervised by Robert Wise was released on DVD several years ago. In any case, the iconic characters from this TV SHOW carried themselves through six (and some seven) films. The 2009 version of Trek owes more to the spirit of those three years in the '60s than it does The Motion Picture. It's much more fun, and was written by individuals with a deep knowledge and appreciation of the spirit of the Original Series. By the way, Trek grew into four more series, and now consists of over 700 televised episodes (and hundreds of books). Not bad."
• 
  On Celebrity Criminals...

  I said "Ramones' "End of the Century" was a crime. Sounds like it was recorded in a public toilet."