Cedar Rapid’s Fast and Furious Flood
Current mood: shocked
Category: News and Politics

1:49 AM - 0 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Roger Ebert’s Film Festival

This coming Wednesday, I am off to screen "Roger Ebert's Film Festival" in Urbana, IL. (April 23rd to 27th). If my site is not back up by the time I start writing, I will post my coverage here (until my site is online again) and possibly on other websites.

This year Roger is dedicating his festival to Dusty Cohl, founder of the Toronto International Film Festival. Dusty, at 78 years-old, died last year. I have very fond memories of Dusty (I met him at Ebertfest years ago before I started attending on a regular basis). He gave me one of his famous Dusty Hat Pins (a shiny, silver cowboy hat pin to wear at every festival I attend). Dusty only gave this pin out to select friends, so I will be very honored to wear my pin at this year's festival.

If you can, I urge you to come to this festival. Each year it is history in the making and below are the films Ebert has hand-picked for you to watch (click on the link to go directly to the site). Be watching for full coverage from Criticdoctor.com.

-- Critic Doctor

For more information, go to http://www.ebertfest.com

9:37 PM - 0 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival
Category: Movies, TV, Celebrities

Does your film have an Iowa connection in some way? Then you may want to consider submitting your work to the Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival. I attend this fest each year and it's one of the best in the state of Iowa. Check out the call for entries on their MySpace page (and web site) and help them feel welcome by inviting them to be your friend. They are new to MySpace, but the festival has been around a long time.

 -- Critic Doctor

http://www.myspace.com/crifilmfest

4:58 PM - 1 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

William Shatner loves my recipe! Try it for yourself!
Current mood: creative
Category: Movies, TV, Celebrities

Formerly called Chicken Schwing, this dish was renamed in honor of everyone involved with William Shatner's reality TV show "Invasion Iowa" which was filmed in Riverside,Iowa in 2004. The term "LOVE BOMB" was shouted frequently throughout the show as a way of showing love for one another. Several months after the film crew left town, I had arranged to have William Shatner (through his agent, Chris) call my house to surprise my dinner guests - the Riggans - who were in the TV show. Shatner agreed to do it and so he called. When my phone rang and Shatner was on the other end, I must admit this was kind of surreal - like being in the Twilight Zone. We talked briefly and I handed the phone to the The Riggans. They mentioned to Shatner that I had fixed "Chicken Schwing" for dinner. Shatner immediately wanted to try it. His agent initially requested that I simply make up a dish and send it directly to Bill. I declined because of possible food safety issues in the transportation process. So I ended up sending Bill the recipe. Mr. Shatner and his wife Liz sent me a thank you note:

If Captain Kirk and his wife likes it, you will too! --Critic Doctor

Ingredients:

2 lb's Chicken breasts cut into 1 inch (bite size) pieces
1 10.5 oz. cans Cream of Mushroom Soup (Country Fare brand,if possible)
2 cups shredded Mozzarella Cheese
1 box (6 oz.) seasoned croutons (use only Pepperidge Farm "SeasonedCroutons". THIS IS IMPORTANT)
¼ cup butter, melted

Preparation:

1) Preheat oven to 375º
2) In a 9 X 13 pan, place cut up chicken (raw) on bottom of pan.
3) Sprinkle shredded Mozzarella cheese over the chicken evenly.
4) Layer cream of mushroom soup over the mozzarella, spread evenly.
5) Layer 1 box of croutons over the cream of mushroom soup.
6) Evenly pour melted butter over all.
7) Cover pan with tin foil and place in 375º preheated ovenfor 25 minutes.
8) Remove foil and bake additional 5 minutes or until croutonsare golden.

How to serve "Cheesy Chicken Love Bomb!"

1) Place a hot pad in the middle of dining room table.
2) Carefully remove the baked dish from the oven.
3) Place the product in middle of table on a hot pad for all to view.
4) Everyone must shout simultaneously - "Cheesy Chicken LOVE BOMB!!!"

Enjoy!

Copyright 2004 by Herb Kane.
All rights reserved. For personal use only, not for commercial use.

Criticdoctor.com
PO Box 742
Cedar Rapids, IA 52406

12:44 PM - 12 Comments - 5 Kudos - Add Comment

Critic Doctor and The Final Season
Current mood: artistic
Category: Movies, TV, Celebrities

Dear Friends,

I'm about to put my Critic Doctor jacket back on and begin dissecting movie critic reviews again. Yes - I've had a nice, long (and I mean long) vacation from the world of movies - but enough is enough.

My first column will be on "The Final Season," a movie about the Norway, IA High School baseball team who won 20 state championships. Why this movie?

Last year I had the opportunity to hang out on the set of "The Final Season" and in the coming days I will be publishing my coverage (interviews, photos & stories). It was a fun experience.

You see, I live in Iowa and it's not often I get a chance to participate in the actual filming of a movie. I thank the producers - Tony Wilson, Steve Schott, Carl Borack, Sean Astin and others for their generosity in allowing me interact with the cast & crew. I've met some really talented people such as Sean Astin, Powers Boothe, Tom Arnold, Larry Miller and some newer talent such as Danielle Savre who is destined to become a huge star. Just watch her new MTV show "Kaya" which debuts October 22nd (see the clip on myspace page).

That said - since I have been so close to this project in terms of getting to know the actors, the extras and everyone who was involved, one might say I will be somewhat biased in my opinion on the movie. To be fair, I simply cannot deny that it must have some kind of an impact on me. In fact, I had to go watch the movie several times just to make sure that what I felt about the movie was real and true. I'm now satisfied.

Good & bad reviews about this movie are a click away - and I'm here to make sense of it all. Get ready. ;-)

Until then - Critic Doctor is out. See ya!

-- Herb Kane

9:44 PM - 1 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

Attention All Filmmakers - New Award!
Category: Movies, TV, Celebrities

New "Critic Doctor Approved!" award for filmmakers

The "Critic Doctor Approved!" official seal will be issued to all movies the Critic Doctor deems worthy of viewing (the equivalent of a 3 or 4 Star movie rating - out of 4 Stars). This seal is awarded regardless of the "critical consensus" of movie reviews offered by the nation's film critics - which can override any negative connotation derived from the critical community. Thus this is THE FINAL SAY on the quality of any given movie.

For more information, please go to http://www.criticdoctor.com

-- Critic Doctor

12:43 PM - 3 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment