Movie Review: Trouble the Water August 31, 2008
Posted by judylobo in Movie Reviews, Movie Trailer.Tags: movie review, Trouble the Water
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Movie Review: Trouble the Water
Alternate Title: Hurrishame
Story: I thought it appropriate on the third anniversary of the disaster known as Hurricane Katrina to see this must see documentary, produced and directed by Tia Lessin and Carl Deal. The directors, originally focused their camera on the National Guard for their film, but found the real eye of the storm and the center of their film at a Red Cross shelter north of New Orleans. Her name is Kimberly Roberts. A young 23 year old during the storm, she grabbed her inexpensive video camera and filmed herself, her husband Scott and their many neighbors in the Ninth Ward who were too poor to get out of the City of New Orleans. She is truly a New Orleans Saint.
This is a first person account, with visual testimony to what these poor people went through. The documentary makes its social and political commentary loud and clear by us being able to see what happened to them during the storm but more pointedly what happened to them after the storm.
As Hurricane Gustav roars towards that devastated area I can only think about these faces and hope that they stay out of harm’s way this time.
Acting: Not applicable in a documentary.
Trivia: Trouble the Water won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival.
Predilection: I like documentary films.
Critters: An adorable cat and two dogs. Warning to those that have queasy stomachs when it comes to animals in trouble. There are a few fleeting images that you might find disturbing.
Soundtrack: Kimberly is trying to make it as a hip hop singer. Her wonderful ‘I am Amazing’ is featured in the film as are some very appropriate tunes including the gospel song, Trouble the Water.
Opening Titles: The action opens quickly as she started to flm the day before the storm hit the area.
Visual Art: The visuals are something you are not likely to forget for a long time.
Theater Audience: About a dozen other riveted viewers.
Weather: It was a hurricane – it was very very bad.
Sappy Factor: 0
Quirky Meter: 0
Squirm Scale: I squirmed often over the plight of these individuals.
Drift Factor: Not for a second.
Tissue Usage: I welled up a few times.
Oscar Worthy: Yes
Soap Box: Do not get me started about how I feel about the way this catastrophe was handled by the Bush administration. Does any one need to recall that phrase “You ‘re doin’ a heckuva job, Brownie”.
Big Screen or Rental: Support Indies and see it on the big screen if you can.
Length: 90 minutes
LOBO HOWLS: 8
Sarah Palin is Dick Cheney in a Dress August 31, 2008
Posted by judylobo in Animal Videos, Links, Photography, Politics, Videos, Zoos.Tags: Bronx Zoo, JOhn McCain, Jon Stewart, Sarah Palin
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The word is out that Sarah Palin is not a good substitute for Hillary Clinton. She will not draw those 18,000,000 cracks in the ceiling to pull the Repugnant lever on November 4th. Sarah Palin is Dick Cheney in a dress except that she has not shot anyone in the face yet.Palin is an Uber-right -wing nut job who happens to have a uterus. Palin has not met an oil deal she has not loved. She supported Pat Buchanan in 2000. She is frighteningly untested beyond the State of Alaska. She wants creationism to be taught alongside evolution in the classroom. She approves of aerial shooting of wolves and bears and ignores the appalling plight of the polar bear by suing the Government for putting them on the endangered species list. She strongly opposes reproductive rights for women, even in cases of rape or incest. She wants to overturn Roe V Wade.
How much thought went into this pick? McSame met Palin just one time at a meeting. They spoke on the telephone one more time last week and he then offered her the position. Yikes! Scary stuff. Someone commented on my blog that ” She’s Mike Huckabee with boobs.” Also interesting to note that Cindy McCain was a beauty pageant gal as well. What is it about John McCain and beauty pageant ladies? When the flap dies down and we are in the middle of what promises to be quite a battle for the White House, people will start to think about John McCain’s age and long list of health problems. Do you really want Sarah Palin a heartbeat away from the Oval Office?
She will surely need a crash course in the duties of a Vice President.
- Over 38,000,000 people watched Barack Obama’s acceptance speech Thursday night. I am not sure how they tally those people but it certainly is an impressive number. Jon Stewart had an exceptionally funny piece on Obama last night. Due to Viacom’s insane insistence over copyright violation it is no longer available on youtube but you can see the 5 minutes of fun on Comedy Central’s website.
Check it out.
- Speaking of copyright challenges – I got busted a few months ago for using copyrighted music in one of my 51 uploaded videos. It was not a cease and desist order. It was a note informing me that I was singled out for using music without permission. I had a choice to do nothing about it or I could take the video down. If I chose to keep the video alive an advertisement would now appear to the right of my video. This is one of the ways some corporations are dealing with copyright issues. Can you imagine? Out of the gazillion videos floating around out there, I got busted? Guess they are really watching me, huh? Check out the article from the NY Times on August 16th on this subject and then watch my video. I am not inserting the video into the blog so that you can actually see the ad on youtube.
- The sensational weather (and news of a sea lion pup) took me up to the Bronx Zoo last week. The sea lion pup did not disappoint and I was also surprised and delighted to see a juvenile De Brazza’s Monkey in the Congo habitat. Enjoy the photos and the video.
Bias in the media? Shocking! Oh yes, and Sarah Palin August 29, 2008
Posted by judylobo in Links, Politics, Videos.Tags: Add new tag, Charles Babbington, Keith Olberman, Sarah Palin
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Watch Keith blast AP reporter Charles Babbington for his assessment of the Obama speech. Why is this lone reporter’s article so important? The AP is used by 1000’s of newspaper all over this country and the world, who do not have staff to cover all of the events of the day. Decide for yourself. Here is the article.
Sarah Palin: Correct anatomy – bad choice. Sure, Sarah Palin is a woman. However, she is a pro-gun, pro-life and anti-gay. Hey John McCain – guess what? We women are not interchangeable. If he thought this would bring the Hillary voters over to his column – he was wrong. That said – I suppose she is a perfect choice for the Christian Conservatives out there.
Here are some quick snapshots of Palin’s record on issues related to energy and the environment thanks to gristmill.
- Opposed a statewide ballot initiative to prohibit or restrict new mining operations that could affect salmon in the state’s streams and rivers
- Has pushed to build a natural-gas pipeline from Alaska’s North Slope
- Got the state legislature to pass a bill to provide each Alaskan $1,200 to help with energy costs
- Sued the Interior Department over its decision to list the polar bear as a threatened species
- Has proposed eliminating Alaska’s gas tax
- Has pushed to open Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling
- Has created a committee to forge Alaska’s climate-change strategy, and has made Alaska an observer (but not a member) of the Western Climate Initiative
- Opposes a windfall profits tax on oil companies
- Was the ethics commissioner of the Alaska Gas and Oil Conservation Commission from 2003 to 2004
- Lifelong angler and hunter
- Husband is an oil production operator for BP on Alaska’s North Slope
- Started Alaska’s Petroleum Systems Integrity Office, an oversight and maintenance agency for the state’s oil and gas equipment, facilities, and infrastructure
- Chairs the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, a multistate panel “that promotes the conservation and efficient recovery of domestic oil and natural gas resources while protecting health, safety and the environment”
- Believes intelligent design should be taught along with evolution in science classes
Speech, Speech! August 29, 2008
Posted by judylobo in Politics, Videos.Tags: Obama speech
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History was made last night and we were able to see it happen. I was moved by Barack Obama’s speech. I am excited for the campaign and hope you are too. From the campaign website “Obama made the case for why America cannot afford four more years of the same failed policies and laid out his vision to bring about fundamental change at home and abroad. He reminded us of the extraordinary promise of America at its best and challenged us to continue to fight for that promise, to march ahead, to not turn back” – If you missed any of the 45 minute speech, I urge you to take the time this weekend to listen and watch. If you know someone who is ‘on the fence’, not enthusiastic, or uses the euphemism for some deep hidden racist attitudes, that Obama has no experience, this speech will change your mind. The Repugnants are going to come out blasting their negative hits starting today. Be prepared. Do not let them take this away from us. It is too important. Oh, and by the way – I think McSame is going with the very white, Tim Pawlenty.
I Still Have a Dream August 28, 2008
Posted by judylobo in Photography, Politics, Videos.Tags: Bob Dylan, I have a dream speech and video, March on Washington 1963
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August 28, 1963 was a momentous day. Forty five years ago (yes, I was really young) I was lucky to be among the 250,000 other people in Washington, DC that historic day along with my sister and new brother-in-law (who thought my going to the March alone was not a good idea). We headed down to DC, from Brooklyn, in their green VW Beetle not knowing that we would be witnessing history.
Luckily, my sister is the saver of mementos in the family and during a recent trip down memory lane, in one of the family souvenir boxes, I stumbled across the March on Washington pin (below) that she had saved from that day. Thank you, Terry for taking care of our treasures.
My memories of that day are murky, grainy and other than the color of the VW Beetle, in black and white (probably because of the file footage that is always viewed). I remember it was hot and I had never been with so many people with one purpose in mind. It was life altering. I continue to fight the good fight to this day. And that day did change things. It changed the course of civil rights in our country. Shortly after the March, the Civil Rights Act (1964) and the National Voting Rights Act (1965) were passed. If you look carefully at the photo on the left you might see the three of us on the right side of the reflecting pool (we are waving and smiling).
Some real progress has been made since that day as evidenced by the fact that our Party will be nominated Barack Obama for President last night. I am very proud to be a Democrat and am sure I will cry my eyes out tonight as Obama accepts the nomination. There can be a new March on Washington to get rid of the rat bastards, restore their assault on our Bill of Rights, reverse the horrific spying practices, the fear mongering and the abuse of power. Much is left to be done to assure equality to all. We have another opportunity this election cycle to right many of the wrongs and to change the course of our Nation. Am I suddenly turning into an optimist? Certainly not. Tune in this weekend and my usual cynicism will return.
However, those feelings of hope and promise that I felt 45 years ago, as a young girl, are stirring inside me once again. I too, can still have a dream.
- Bob Dylan performing at the March.
- Here is the short version of that momentous speech that still brings tears to my eyes.
- The full version of Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech.
All Quiet on the Eastern Front (at least on E 22nd St.) August 27, 2008
Posted by judylobo in Animal Videos, Photography, Politics, Videos.Tags: Dennis Kucinich, DNC, JOhn McCain
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I have been conspicuously quiet during the Democratic National Convention. Why, you say? There are enough talking heads on TV who are being paid to say stupid, aggravating things that I did not think anymore opinions coming from me would do anything to clear up the picture. As a long time fan of Keith Olbermann even I have had quite enough of both his and the always annoying Chris Matthews’ ongoing comments during the Convention. I have chosen C-Span as the way to go for enjoying the Convention. On C-Span you get to see all the the speakers, not just the ones that MSNBC, PBS or any of the other TV station carriers want you to see. If you missed it here is one of my favorites from last night, watch Dennis Kucinich. His six minute speech was carried in its entirety on C-Span. And oh yes, I thought Hillary was great and I am looking forward to Bill Clinton’s speech tonight.
Anyone seen this ad?
Or this one?
There is always time and room for some humor:
Movie Review: I.O.U.S.A. August 26, 2008
Posted by judylobo in Movie Reviews, Movie Trailer.Tags: I.O.U.S.A., movie review
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Movie Review: I.O.U.S.A.
Alternate Title: Deficit for Dummies!
Story: Oh brother, can you spare $9,000,000,000,000? Director and writer Patrick Creadon ( based on the book, Empire of Debt by Christine O’Malley and Addison Wiggin) tackles a subject that is not exciting, sexy or appealing to most Americans (which could be part of the problem). He has a successful go at trying to explain to the typical American dunderhead why we are broke, how we got here and what we need to do to get out of this mess.
In a non-partisan approach, using as much humor as possible, he explains via charts, file footage and talking heads (see list below) why we cannot sustain spending money that we do not have. He explains the national debt, the foreign trade deficit, why we need to save money and clearly shows why we are dead last in the ranking of trade deficits. Shame on us.
Long sad story short – if you can’t afford it – don’t buy it.
The National Debt Clock was shut down for a brief time in June of 20o0 when Bill Clinton and Congress was able to balance the budget and accrue a surplus. That was short lived. Check out the National Debt Clock website and watch the debt and your family obligation grow before your very eyes.
Watch the trailer:
Acting: This is a documentary so there are no ‘actors’, per se. The two major explainers, David M. Walker and Robert Bixby are part of a crusade by non-profit, non-partisans to go around the country to help explain to the American people what this crisis is all about and what needs to be done. Other talking heads include: Alice Rivlin, Robert Rubin, Ron Paul, Judd Gregg, Warren Buffett, Kent Conrad, Paul O’Neill, Paul Volker and Alan Greenspan.
Trivia: While watching the 90 minute film the National Debt increased by $85 million.
Predilection: I like documentary films.
Critters: None
Food: Spaghetti and meatballs and salad.
Sex Spectrum: This is not a sexy subject
Soundtrack: At times, quite funny.
Opening Titles: A file footage montage of past Presidents and their speeches concerning the economy.
Theater Audience: About 10 other people who seemed as depressed as I was when the film was over.
Squirm Scale: I squirmed at the mess we are in.
Drift Factor: I paid attention throughout.
Oscar Worthy: Probably not. FYI – the new rules of the Academy state that is a documentary film is to be considered for an Oscar nomination, it has to play in NY and LA for two weeks by August 31st.
Big Screen or Rental: Rental would probably be the way to go on this one. Fleming’s other film is Wordplay, about Will Shorz and the NY Times Crossword puzzle.
Length: 90 minutes
LOBO HOWLS: 7.5
Movie Review: Hamlet 2 August 25, 2008
Posted by judylobo in Movie Reviews, Movie Trailer.Tags: Movie Review: Hamlet 2
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Alternate Title: Not Waiting for Guffman
Story: I was hoping for a Waiting for Guffman type frolic but sadly, only got bits and spurts of side splitting laughter and too many meandering scenes that should have been relegated to the cutting room floor.
Failed as an actor, occasionally bitter, always frustrated high school drama teacher Dana Marschz learns that the school will be dropping drama from the curriculum. He writes his own play, Hamlet 2, thinking that the powers that be will see the genius in him, his students and the program and they will reinstate drama and all will be fine. Needless to say – all does not go as planned. The ultra-conservative community, student discipline problems, an unfaithful wife and Dana’s unresolved therapy issues all make for some funny bits.
The big problem is that director Andrew Fleming is all over the place. There is no clear direction and the film starts to sputter. It was written by Fleming and Pam Brady (South Park). The film has heart but needed tidying up before it hit the big screen. That said – if you want a big dose of stupid summer entertainment, or need a movie to watch on your next flight, check it out.
Watch the trailer -
And just for the fun of it, here is one of the funnier bits -
Acting: Steve Coogan as Dana Marschz stays in character and is funny and endearing most of the time. Catherine Keener as straying wife Brie is always good. David Arquette’s part was puzzling and incomplete. Amy Poehler as ACLUs, Cricket Feldstein was annoyingly funny. The cast of students did not have enough to do and they mostly played stereotypes, including: Melonie Diaz, Joseph Julian Soria, Skylar Astin, Phoebe Strole, Shea Pepe. The role that Elisabeth Shue played, which was herself, was totally baffling.
Trivia: Steve Coogan was born in Manchester, England. Catherine Keener is of Irish and Lebanese descent. Elisabeth Shue got started in commercials as “The Burger King Girl” and in DeBeers diamonds ads and Hellman’s mayonnaise ads. David Arquette dated Ellen Barkin in 1995. Amy Poehler lives in Tribeca and is a Boston Red Sox fan.
Predilection: Sometimes a silly movie is fun.
Critters: A very funny, typically behaved orange cat.
Food: Mall fast food quesadillas, pizza and cereal.
Sex Spectrum: No sex but plenty of talk about sperm banks.
Blatant Product Placement: Apple
Soundtrack: Funny
Opening Titles: A funny bit with some of the ads that our star had made while struggling to be ‘discovered.’
Visual Art: Lots of funny visuals from the Tucson area.
Theater Audience: Six young ladies were sitting near me. They laughed quite a bit.
Weather: It takes place in Tucson. It is hot, sunny and dry.
Sappy Factor: 0
Quirky Meter: Should have been quirkier.
Squirm Scale: 0
Drift Factor: I drifted during the meandering parts.
Predictability Level: High
Tissue Usage: 0
Oscar Worthy: No
Big Screen or Rental: Rental would be fine. You could also rent those other teacher as inspirational films like Mr Holland’s Opus, Dead Poet’s Society and Music From the Heart.
Length: 90 minutes
LOBO HOWLS: 5
Kings, Queens, UFO’s & Black Holes August 24, 2008
Posted by judylobo in Animal Stories, Animal Videos, Links, Photo Archives, Photography, Religion, Zoos.Tags: Biden, Jr., Large Hadron Collider, Martin Luther King, Mets, obama, pandas, Queens Zoo, Star Trek, UFO sighitings in Flushing Meadows
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The Barack Obama and Joe Biden duo is more than a fine ticket. It is a Kingly ticket. (Speaking of Kings — It is interesting to note that 45 years to the day of the March on Washington when Martin Luther King, Jr delivered his ‘I have a dream’ speech, Obama will accept his party’s nomination as its Presidential candidate. It makes me almost cry). It is a winning ticket. Joe Biden can debate with anyone, is always enthusiastic, stays focused, does not mince words (even though often he has too many words) and will say the tough stuff that Obama seems reluctant to say. The litany of issues that this ticket can use almost makes the time between now and the election too short (only kidding). The economy, the endless wars, the spying, the dissolution of the Bill of Rights, the Injustice Department, the corrupt Bush administration, the upcoming Supreme Court vacancies and the disconnect between the real John McCain with his seven or 10 homes and the rest of the population is wide and deep. If they stay focused – and not get sidetracked by the bombshells that the Repugnants will throw at them we will win this election. Get out your checkbooks or go on line to make a donation to the Obama-Biden ticket. They need every penny. It is going to be an expensive campaign but the stakes are too high not to do something. Here is a quickie overview on the Life of Biden (with none of the color). Now check out Biden for Dummies. Frank Rich writes about the campaign today.
- The list of speakers at the Democratic National Convention is a work in progress. Check out the tentative schedule. Watch for the Clintons. I am sure they will be sincere (no matter how much they are hurting) and be able to convince you that they are going to do their best to fight for this ticket.
- The Repugnants have chosen their party’s stars to represent them at the convention. Can you imagine a worse choice than Giuliani as their Keynote Speaker? I do not plan to set up my DVR to record any of these folks, how about you? It seems to me that the list of names is mighty fodder for the Comedy Central gang. How many times do you think 9/11 and the War on Terror will be spoken?
Daytime Monday, Sept. 1: Joe Lieberman, VP Dick Cheney (gasp)
Primetime Monday (10 p.m.-11 p.m. EDT): Arnold Schwarzenegger, George Bush and Laura Bush
Daytime Tuesday, Sept. 2: Former Gov. Tom Ridge, Former California Secretary of State Rosario Marin, Former Sen. Fred Thompson, Gov. Linda Lingle and Former Lt. Gov. Michael Steele
Tuesday primetime (10 p.m.-11p.m. EDT): Gov. Sarah Palin, Gov. Mike Huckabee, Rudy Giuliani — KEYNOTER
Daytime Wednesday, Sept. 3: Sen. Norm Coleman, Meg Whitman, Ebay CEO, Carly Fiorina, former HP CEO and Mitt Romney
Wednesday primetime (10 p.m.-11p.m. EDT): Cindy McCain, VP nominee, Gov. Bobby Jindal will speak after the VP nominee
Daytime Thursday, Sept. 4: Gov. Tim Pawlenty, Gov. Charlie Crist, Sen. Sam Brownback, Sen. Mel Martinez
Thursday primetime (10 p.m.-11 p.m. EDT): John McCain
- The Large Hadron Collider goes on line very soon. Who cares, you say? Most of what I know about black holes I learned thorugh watching Star Trek. Well, this is no Star Trek adventure. When the collider, located on the Swiss French border is activated, it is theorized that the collider will produce the elusive Higgs boson, the observation of which could confirm the predictions and “missing links” in the Standard Model of physics and could explain how other elementary particles acquire properties such as mass. In other words, we will all be sucked into a bottomless pit or you will still have to pay your credit card bill next month. Gulp! For those that like to look at things that they do not understand, check out the website. Gail Collins wrote a fine column on this subject yesterday.
- We spent the day in the multi-faceted borough of Queens on Tuesday. First we had a terrific visit to the Queens Zoo then walked over to Shea Stadium to see the Mets play (and beat) Atlanta. I am not a big sports fan but I must say – when you have really good seats, it helps a lot. Check out the Queens theme week in photos. The Queens Zoo photos. The Mets game photos.
- This area in Queens has a wacky history. There have been frequent UFO sightings and apparently some animal disturbances and disappearances. Gulp!
- An overdose of cute can almost be too much as you watch this adorable panda trying to climb a step:
Movie Review: Tropic Thunder August 20, 2008
Posted by judylobo in Movie Reviews, Movie Trailer.Tags: Movie Review: Tropic Thunder
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Movie Review: Tropic Thunder
Alternate Title: My the Farce be With You
Story: You do not have to ‘get’ this movie to have a few laughs. It is a spoof about the Hollywood big movie machine with all of the stereotypes that one would expect. However, anyone who is over the age of entry (it has an ‘R’ rating) can simply laugh at some of the silliness without being a frequent viewer of any of those Hollywood TV shows like Access Hollywood. Director Ben Stiller satirizes the megalomania of the studio moguls, the insecure, oversized ego of its stars, the lunacy of the directors, the wackiness of the special effects guys and the veracity of its writers. It was written by Ben Stiller & Justin Theroux and Etan Cohen and they skewer everyone in the system.
The plot involves a movie within a movie that goes haywire when the director decides to cut the actors loose in the jungle to fend for themselves while making a film about a ‘true’ adventure that happened in Vietnam in 1969. Hidden cameras are to follow their every move with the script outline to be followed by using flash cards. Needless to say, everything goes wrong and chaos and madness ensue. Is the film stupid? Absolutely. Is it funny? Occasionally. Would your 15 year old son, brother or cousin love this movie? Without a doubt. Should you see it? That depends on whether your predilections are similar to mine.
Check out the trailer:
Acting: Ben Stiller is, well, Ben Stiller. Robert Downey, Jr. is having quite a year and I will see almost anything that he appears in. Jack Black is, well, Jack Black. Jay Baruchel is kind of funny and sort of sweet. Nick Nolte is very funny as a cartoon of himself. Danny McBride as the explosive guy is funny. Brandon T Jackson is funny too, as Alpa Chino. Tom Cruise as the mogul, however, steals every scene he is in and if you do see the film, stay until the beginning of the credits.
Trivia: Robert Downey, Jr. lived with Sarah Jessica Parker for 7 years during the 1980s. Jay Baruchel went to the same Canadian High School as William Shatner and is of French and Italian Sephardic Jewish descent on his father’s side and Irish, Prussian and English descent on his mother’s. Jack Black had his gall bladder removed. Ben Stiller is a big Star Trek fan and a clip of an old episode appears in the film.
Predilection: I will see most anything that has Robert Downey Jr and/or Nick Nolte in it.
Critters: A bat, a Mantis, a water buffalo, a fake panda and some goats.
Sex Spectrum: This is bungle in the jungle – not bootie in the jungle.
Soundtrack: Loud and often funny
Opening Titles: A very funny opening sequence before the title.
Visual Art: Pyrotechnic visuals and funny details in all of the venues.
Theater Audience: A bunch of guys and me.
Weather: The weather was fine for a farce. It rained when it had purpose and most of the time it was hot.
Sappy Factor: 0
Quirky Meter: 0
Squirm Scale: 0
Drift Factor: I drifted frequently.
Predictability Level: Over the top as was most of the movie.
Tissue Usage: 0
Oscar Worthy: Ha
Big Screen or Rental: Rental would be just fine.
Length: 100 minutes
LOBO HOWLS: 6
