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CNN Live Today
Bush Meets With Blair
Aired April 16, 2004 - 10:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Daryn Kagan. Let's take a look at the stories at this hour. Tensions are rising in the Iraqi holy city of Najaf. U.S. Forces have been massing around the town and peace trying to avert a showdown with militia members loyal to a radical cleric. U.S. Authorities have vowed to kill or capture Muqtada al- Sadr who is blamed for the violence.
Vice President Dick Cheney wraps up his Asian trip today he met with South Korean leaders he praised the country for its role in the war on terror, increased cooperation on Iraq and North Korea tops that agenda.
The National Rifle Association opened its national convention today in Pittsburgh and much of the focus may be on the Presidential elections in November. The NRA supported George W. Bush 4 years ago but some gun owners are angry about the enactment of Patriot Act. The election season will also see the NRA's launch of a radio station and an Internet talk show.
John Kerry shares the political stage with a rock star. The presumptive democratic nominee is courting the college vote at this hour. He appears at the University of Pittsburgh with singer Jon bon Jovi. A live picture there from that campus.
Want to go live to the White House that is where President Bush meets today with British Prime Minister Tony Blair. They'll discuss the surging death toll and the deepening crisis in Iraq. And how best to expand international involvement. Our senior White House correspondent John King standing by now with more. John, good morning,
JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you. Private meetings in the White House and both leaders will appear in the 11:00 hour in the Rose Garden just before noon where both will embrace at least give a qualified endorsement to the plan being put forth by the special envoy to Iraq that plan is dramatically different than what the Bush administration envisioned a week ago for the political transition in Iraq. But you mentioned the violence this has been the deadliest month for U.S. troops on the ground in Iraq.
The insurgency against U.S. troops holding up any progress toward a political transition so the Bush administration is now prepared to go from a position in which it said the United States sent the troops and shed the blood it would develop the political transition plan to essentially giving power over the political future of Iraq to the United Nations. President Bush and Prime Minister Blair discussing that plan. Also of course discussing whether both governments need to send in more troops to quiet the insurgency in Iraq. White House press secretary Scott McClellan saying the President hosting a man no greater friend than Prime Minister Blair and both men after the talks about voice their resolve in a news conference in joint statements in the Rose Garden here.
KAGAN: We will be holding that conference live on CNN. The other big news coming out of the White House this week, John, President Bush's stance on Israel and backing Prime Minister Sharon on his take on what he wants to do with Gaza, the west bank and the Palestinian's right of return. Politically popular with some groups here in this country but controversial around the world. Does that make it more difficult for Tony Blair to stand next to George bush?
KING: It certainly does. Prime Minister Blair at the United Nations yesterday said he viewed this step as a way to get back to the road map, the peace plan agreed upon by the United Nations and by Russia and sponsored and approved by great Britain as well. But Across Europe there is a conception that President Bush is too close to Sharon and too lopsided on Israel and has not done enough to reach out to the Palestinians.
Many continue to have a dialogue with Yasser Arafat and President Bush has said flatly that will not happen while he is the president of the U.S. So there is a great deal of tension there and Prime Minister Blair putting the best face on a disagreement between the United States and Europe in public and private that is certain to be a topic here.
KAGAN: John King at the White House, thank you. The news conference set to begin in about an hour and 15 minutes. You'll see it live on CNN. Meanwhile while we wait for that news conference, we get other news and turn to a much lighter topic. How about the NBA playoffs? They get underway this weekend. Some of the biggest names and biggest talents hitting the hardwood beginning tomorrow. As with any sport, much of the drama is on the back door.
Who better to discuss this than the man who runs the place, Commissioner David Stern joining us from New York City? Good morning, Mr. Commissioner.
DAVID STERN, COMMISSIONER, NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION: Hi, Daryn. Good to have light-hearted entertainment here amidst those news stories.
KAGAN: I know some pretty heavy stories and we appreciate the break. Let's talk about the playoffs. Some would suggest why even bother having the Eastern Conference playoffs and make that the nit. And make the Western Conference like the NCAA playoffs.
STERN: They wouldn't those some wouldn't focus that Indiana has the best record in the NBA better than the Lakers and better than Minnesota and better than Sacramento and they wouldn't focus on the fact that Miami is the hottest team in the NBA right now and that Detroit since they got Rasheed Wallace had a very good run and that the nets themselves made it there twice and gave a pretty good account of themselves last year, so stop me when you want to talk about the good stuff!
KAGAN: You're making your case. But if you truly were all powerful, wouldn't you rather have a more balanced situation of the Eastern and Western conference?
STERN: You know what? Nobody even raised the subject when the Celtics were winning all of their championships or Michael Jordan and the Bulls were winning six. That's just the way it is. And it's going to be very good playoffs. We're going to have intense tension on all of our teams for the next couple of months and it's about as exciting as it's been in my time here and I've been here for 20 years.
KAGAN: Well apparently the fans are agreed with you in some ways with people be nostalgic back in the day for some of the older stars. You're coming off your board of governors meeting today with the NBA I want to ask you a business question here. I'm looking at interesting statistics. You're getting people in the seats. Attendance highest since the '97 '98 season and 89 percent capacity of your arenas and yet still not pulling in the cash. Still a negative cash flow. How does that work?
STERN: Well that's when you add up various all of our teams. We have many teams making money and some aren't. But we've been working with our teams to increase attendance across the board and we usually drawn down by the teams at the bottom that don't have the attendance and media deals that some of the other teams have. But the prospects are pretty good for all of our teams if they stay with it and they're well-managed over the long haul.
KAGAN: We're coming up on the NBA draft and a record number of high schoolers planning on or at least maybe making the try to join your league. Let's focus on LeBron James. He, I think, would a huge success story going from high school into the NBA but in some ways Mr. Commissioner isn't that a bad thing to happen for your league because it encourage too many high schoolers to skip college?
STERN: I want to de personalize this for LeBron, I think it's great. I think he's added a lot and I think he'll have a great career. But the answer to your question is it is a bad thing not just for other high schoolers and I'm told there may be as many as ten but for all of the kids out there who are perhaps ten years old who think that immediate and guaranteed path to glory is a NBA career when they will not be able to sustain that dream at all.
KAGAN: We've been watching this in the courts with the NFL, Maurice Clarett so far is on the winning side of that with the NFL. If you could put an age limit on people coming into the NBA, would you do that if you had control?
STERN; Yes, we do have control in this respect The NFL if they agree to that age limitation with their players association, which I believe the Clarett case is, then we believe that that's legal. We do have an age limit right now. Its high school graduation or 17. We would like to, with our union agree to perhaps 20 years old, but that requires the union to agree with us and if labor and management agree on these things we're pretty sure that in fact, we're certain that withstands legal attack.
KAGAN: I would be remiss if I didn't ask you about the women. Tomorrow, the WNBA draft and Diane Taurasi from Connecticut expected to be the number one pick. We've seen the WUSA not make it but Women's sports in general; do you consider WNBA a success case?
STERN: Yes. I think it's a great success. We're going into our eighth season. People are astounded to know that this year's NCAA women's final was the highest rated basketball game in the history of ESPN. Men or women. And the fact of the matter is we've got these exciting new stars that are going to join a growing cast of stars in this WNBA season is going to be our best.
KAGAN: And before we let you go if we could fast forward and see in the finals for the NBA this year, which do you think it will be.
STERN: I refuse to answer.
KAGAN: Come on OK.
STERN: But I will say that the first round is great. We've got extraordinary matchups. Shaq and the Nets and Knicks and emerging cast of new rivalries and some old ones as well that are absolutely going to, I believe, set records for our playoffs this year.
KAGAN: Spoken like the true grand pubaa of the NBA. You want the fans to tune in beginning tomorrow. Mr. Commissioner, thanks for your time.
STERN: Thanks for having me in. Good luck with the news.
KAGAN: Yeah we could use it thank you so much, David Stern, commissioner of the NBA.
Coming up, it's also a weekend packed with action will the Punisher take a beating from "Kill Bill 2"? Find out when we preview both films with Mr. Moviefone.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: Let's take a look at the stories across America.
First in Wisconsin the body of Michelle Witmer is returned home. The 20 year old she was killed in a Baghdad ambush one week ago today. She was returned in a flag-draped coffin yesterday. Her two sisters are both soldiers as well and have not decided if they will return to Iraq or seek a new assignment.
In riverside California we have an update on the little girl who spent ten days in a crashed car alongside the body of her mother. Five year old Ruby Bustamante left the hospital and a fractured knee and has a cup of ice cream. Family members marvel at her resiliency. While mourning the death of her mother. A judge in New York has ordered Air America back on the air today the radio station was pulled off the air in Los Angeles and New York saying they bounced a check for leased air time. Air America sued the owner demanding to be put back on the air.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: You're looking at a live picture from the University of Pittsburgh, that is rocker Jon bon Jovi who is there for democratic presidential candidate John Kerry. Two very different days for the two candidates. President Bush right now meeting with Tony Blair and more on that in a little bit. Also movies.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One condition. She must suffer.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: That is some of the action you'll seen in "Kill Bill 2." One of several movies opening up this weekend and also including "Connie and Carla." And first we bring in Russ Leatherman also known as Mr. Moviefone.
RUSS LEATHERMAN, "MR. MOVIEFONE": Happy Friday to you!
KAGAN: I'm looking at the clip of "Kill Bill Volume Two" and I'm not thinking light romantic comedy.
LEATHERMAN: Oh that was Darryl Hannah and Uma Thurman.
You're right. You'll get that later on in the segment. This is "Kill Bill Volume 2," you sort of know what to expect here if you saw volume 1. I haven't enjoyed sitting in a movie this much in a long, long time. Stars Uma Thurman and David Carradine and Michael Madsen Darryl Hannah is in the movie and it's second part of the first "Kill Bill" movie but the thing great about this one is you learn why Uma wedding party was wiped out in the beginning and why she is on this mission to get rid of and assassinate all of this viper assassination squad until she actually gets to Bill.
You understand why he did it and you understand why she did it. I think that's why Quentin Tarantino is a great American filmmaker and evidence in this movie he knows how to mix his genre and gritty violence and a mix them all together in this pie that is just a fantastic thing to watch and behold. Like I said, I loved this movie, Daryn. I loved it!
KAGAN: Sort of gritty violence? Come on.
LEATHERMAN: Come on! It's gritty violence but there is also some very campy humor and if you like "Pulp Fiction" I think this goes back to those Quentin Tarantino days. You don't have to see the first one to appreciate the second one but it wouldn't hurt but you have to see a movie this weekend, I say it's "Kill Bill." KAGAN: All right "The Punisher," Thomas Jane, he stopped by not to long ago for a visit on this program what did you think of his movie?
LEATHERMAN: Interesting they bring out a movie that is similar to "Kill Bill."
He is the Punisher. His entire family is wiped out at a family reunion so he's going to take care of these underworld characters including John Travolta is in the movie and Rebecca Stamos also in the movie. It's another comic book movie and the comic book is very popular but this guy has no super hero powers.
He's just a guy out on a mission to kill all of the people who took out his family. There's not much to cheer for here. I thought the characters were sort of very flat. John Travolta, sadly is pretty ridiculous in this movie. Pretty much the same character he played in "Swordfish." So I wasn't that much into "The Punisher." Who is being punished the most, really, the criminals or the audience.
KAGAN: It has the feel of Clint Eastwood sort of the revenging cop character.
LEATHERMAN: It is sort of just down dirty gritty stuff but you have to ask who is the brilliant person, the marketing department of this movie studio who decided to bring out this movie against "Kill Bill 2." Because they sort of have the same premise but if you're going to go to a revenge movie, don't you have to go see if Uma kills Bill? I think you do.
KAGAN: One of those deeper questions in life that we've had all day. Your idea of punishment is seeing a romantic comedy movie.
LEATHERMAN: Daryn! Why do you say that?
KAGAN: Because I know you. You hate the movie that I love.
LEATHERMAN: This movie is up my alley. Really, it's a big fat follow-up to "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." She and Toni Collette play lounge singers who witness a mob it and flee to west Hollywood they disguise themselves as drag queens and they become a hit and Vardalos falls in love with David Duchovny who thinks that she's a man they fall in love who thinks she's a man and she's a woman. If you loved "My Big Fat Greek Wedding."
KAGAN: I did!
LEATHERMAN: Then you will like this movie. The thing about "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" was new to us. But we get an hour and a half of that mugging with her in drag so there is a lot crack falls, a lot of silly comedies a lot of silly comedies. A lot of the people in the theater were laughing very hard but I thought it was at times as annoying as it was entertaining.
KAGAN: Better you should go to a movie and watch everybody blow up and kill each other. LEATHERMAN: That is exactly what I'm talking about, Daryn.
KAGAN: It's what you're always talking about.
LEATHERMAN: Breaking news. I'm pretty sure, I'm not positive, but I think Nia Vardalos may actually be a man. This is man who is playing a woman who is playing a man.
KAGAN: All mixed up.
LEATHERMAN: Who is a woman?
KAGAN: Mr. Moviefone, the man, thanks for stopping by.
LEATHERMAN: Talk to you later, Daryn!
KAGAN: You can keep your eye on entertainment 24/7 just point your browser to cnn.com/entertainment, you'll find thoughts about the violence in the movies there you go from "Clockwork Orange" to "Kill Bill." And we are back in a flash.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired April 16, 2004 - 10:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Daryn Kagan. Let's take a look at the stories at this hour. Tensions are rising in the Iraqi holy city of Najaf. U.S. Forces have been massing around the town and peace trying to avert a showdown with militia members loyal to a radical cleric. U.S. Authorities have vowed to kill or capture Muqtada al- Sadr who is blamed for the violence.
Vice President Dick Cheney wraps up his Asian trip today he met with South Korean leaders he praised the country for its role in the war on terror, increased cooperation on Iraq and North Korea tops that agenda.
The National Rifle Association opened its national convention today in Pittsburgh and much of the focus may be on the Presidential elections in November. The NRA supported George W. Bush 4 years ago but some gun owners are angry about the enactment of Patriot Act. The election season will also see the NRA's launch of a radio station and an Internet talk show.
John Kerry shares the political stage with a rock star. The presumptive democratic nominee is courting the college vote at this hour. He appears at the University of Pittsburgh with singer Jon bon Jovi. A live picture there from that campus.
Want to go live to the White House that is where President Bush meets today with British Prime Minister Tony Blair. They'll discuss the surging death toll and the deepening crisis in Iraq. And how best to expand international involvement. Our senior White House correspondent John King standing by now with more. John, good morning,
JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you. Private meetings in the White House and both leaders will appear in the 11:00 hour in the Rose Garden just before noon where both will embrace at least give a qualified endorsement to the plan being put forth by the special envoy to Iraq that plan is dramatically different than what the Bush administration envisioned a week ago for the political transition in Iraq. But you mentioned the violence this has been the deadliest month for U.S. troops on the ground in Iraq.
The insurgency against U.S. troops holding up any progress toward a political transition so the Bush administration is now prepared to go from a position in which it said the United States sent the troops and shed the blood it would develop the political transition plan to essentially giving power over the political future of Iraq to the United Nations. President Bush and Prime Minister Blair discussing that plan. Also of course discussing whether both governments need to send in more troops to quiet the insurgency in Iraq. White House press secretary Scott McClellan saying the President hosting a man no greater friend than Prime Minister Blair and both men after the talks about voice their resolve in a news conference in joint statements in the Rose Garden here.
KAGAN: We will be holding that conference live on CNN. The other big news coming out of the White House this week, John, President Bush's stance on Israel and backing Prime Minister Sharon on his take on what he wants to do with Gaza, the west bank and the Palestinian's right of return. Politically popular with some groups here in this country but controversial around the world. Does that make it more difficult for Tony Blair to stand next to George bush?
KING: It certainly does. Prime Minister Blair at the United Nations yesterday said he viewed this step as a way to get back to the road map, the peace plan agreed upon by the United Nations and by Russia and sponsored and approved by great Britain as well. But Across Europe there is a conception that President Bush is too close to Sharon and too lopsided on Israel and has not done enough to reach out to the Palestinians.
Many continue to have a dialogue with Yasser Arafat and President Bush has said flatly that will not happen while he is the president of the U.S. So there is a great deal of tension there and Prime Minister Blair putting the best face on a disagreement between the United States and Europe in public and private that is certain to be a topic here.
KAGAN: John King at the White House, thank you. The news conference set to begin in about an hour and 15 minutes. You'll see it live on CNN. Meanwhile while we wait for that news conference, we get other news and turn to a much lighter topic. How about the NBA playoffs? They get underway this weekend. Some of the biggest names and biggest talents hitting the hardwood beginning tomorrow. As with any sport, much of the drama is on the back door.
Who better to discuss this than the man who runs the place, Commissioner David Stern joining us from New York City? Good morning, Mr. Commissioner.
DAVID STERN, COMMISSIONER, NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION: Hi, Daryn. Good to have light-hearted entertainment here amidst those news stories.
KAGAN: I know some pretty heavy stories and we appreciate the break. Let's talk about the playoffs. Some would suggest why even bother having the Eastern Conference playoffs and make that the nit. And make the Western Conference like the NCAA playoffs.
STERN: They wouldn't those some wouldn't focus that Indiana has the best record in the NBA better than the Lakers and better than Minnesota and better than Sacramento and they wouldn't focus on the fact that Miami is the hottest team in the NBA right now and that Detroit since they got Rasheed Wallace had a very good run and that the nets themselves made it there twice and gave a pretty good account of themselves last year, so stop me when you want to talk about the good stuff!
KAGAN: You're making your case. But if you truly were all powerful, wouldn't you rather have a more balanced situation of the Eastern and Western conference?
STERN: You know what? Nobody even raised the subject when the Celtics were winning all of their championships or Michael Jordan and the Bulls were winning six. That's just the way it is. And it's going to be very good playoffs. We're going to have intense tension on all of our teams for the next couple of months and it's about as exciting as it's been in my time here and I've been here for 20 years.
KAGAN: Well apparently the fans are agreed with you in some ways with people be nostalgic back in the day for some of the older stars. You're coming off your board of governors meeting today with the NBA I want to ask you a business question here. I'm looking at interesting statistics. You're getting people in the seats. Attendance highest since the '97 '98 season and 89 percent capacity of your arenas and yet still not pulling in the cash. Still a negative cash flow. How does that work?
STERN: Well that's when you add up various all of our teams. We have many teams making money and some aren't. But we've been working with our teams to increase attendance across the board and we usually drawn down by the teams at the bottom that don't have the attendance and media deals that some of the other teams have. But the prospects are pretty good for all of our teams if they stay with it and they're well-managed over the long haul.
KAGAN: We're coming up on the NBA draft and a record number of high schoolers planning on or at least maybe making the try to join your league. Let's focus on LeBron James. He, I think, would a huge success story going from high school into the NBA but in some ways Mr. Commissioner isn't that a bad thing to happen for your league because it encourage too many high schoolers to skip college?
STERN: I want to de personalize this for LeBron, I think it's great. I think he's added a lot and I think he'll have a great career. But the answer to your question is it is a bad thing not just for other high schoolers and I'm told there may be as many as ten but for all of the kids out there who are perhaps ten years old who think that immediate and guaranteed path to glory is a NBA career when they will not be able to sustain that dream at all.
KAGAN: We've been watching this in the courts with the NFL, Maurice Clarett so far is on the winning side of that with the NFL. If you could put an age limit on people coming into the NBA, would you do that if you had control?
STERN; Yes, we do have control in this respect The NFL if they agree to that age limitation with their players association, which I believe the Clarett case is, then we believe that that's legal. We do have an age limit right now. Its high school graduation or 17. We would like to, with our union agree to perhaps 20 years old, but that requires the union to agree with us and if labor and management agree on these things we're pretty sure that in fact, we're certain that withstands legal attack.
KAGAN: I would be remiss if I didn't ask you about the women. Tomorrow, the WNBA draft and Diane Taurasi from Connecticut expected to be the number one pick. We've seen the WUSA not make it but Women's sports in general; do you consider WNBA a success case?
STERN: Yes. I think it's a great success. We're going into our eighth season. People are astounded to know that this year's NCAA women's final was the highest rated basketball game in the history of ESPN. Men or women. And the fact of the matter is we've got these exciting new stars that are going to join a growing cast of stars in this WNBA season is going to be our best.
KAGAN: And before we let you go if we could fast forward and see in the finals for the NBA this year, which do you think it will be.
STERN: I refuse to answer.
KAGAN: Come on OK.
STERN: But I will say that the first round is great. We've got extraordinary matchups. Shaq and the Nets and Knicks and emerging cast of new rivalries and some old ones as well that are absolutely going to, I believe, set records for our playoffs this year.
KAGAN: Spoken like the true grand pubaa of the NBA. You want the fans to tune in beginning tomorrow. Mr. Commissioner, thanks for your time.
STERN: Thanks for having me in. Good luck with the news.
KAGAN: Yeah we could use it thank you so much, David Stern, commissioner of the NBA.
Coming up, it's also a weekend packed with action will the Punisher take a beating from "Kill Bill 2"? Find out when we preview both films with Mr. Moviefone.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: Let's take a look at the stories across America.
First in Wisconsin the body of Michelle Witmer is returned home. The 20 year old she was killed in a Baghdad ambush one week ago today. She was returned in a flag-draped coffin yesterday. Her two sisters are both soldiers as well and have not decided if they will return to Iraq or seek a new assignment.
In riverside California we have an update on the little girl who spent ten days in a crashed car alongside the body of her mother. Five year old Ruby Bustamante left the hospital and a fractured knee and has a cup of ice cream. Family members marvel at her resiliency. While mourning the death of her mother. A judge in New York has ordered Air America back on the air today the radio station was pulled off the air in Los Angeles and New York saying they bounced a check for leased air time. Air America sued the owner demanding to be put back on the air.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: You're looking at a live picture from the University of Pittsburgh, that is rocker Jon bon Jovi who is there for democratic presidential candidate John Kerry. Two very different days for the two candidates. President Bush right now meeting with Tony Blair and more on that in a little bit. Also movies.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One condition. She must suffer.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: That is some of the action you'll seen in "Kill Bill 2." One of several movies opening up this weekend and also including "Connie and Carla." And first we bring in Russ Leatherman also known as Mr. Moviefone.
RUSS LEATHERMAN, "MR. MOVIEFONE": Happy Friday to you!
KAGAN: I'm looking at the clip of "Kill Bill Volume Two" and I'm not thinking light romantic comedy.
LEATHERMAN: Oh that was Darryl Hannah and Uma Thurman.
You're right. You'll get that later on in the segment. This is "Kill Bill Volume 2," you sort of know what to expect here if you saw volume 1. I haven't enjoyed sitting in a movie this much in a long, long time. Stars Uma Thurman and David Carradine and Michael Madsen Darryl Hannah is in the movie and it's second part of the first "Kill Bill" movie but the thing great about this one is you learn why Uma wedding party was wiped out in the beginning and why she is on this mission to get rid of and assassinate all of this viper assassination squad until she actually gets to Bill.
You understand why he did it and you understand why she did it. I think that's why Quentin Tarantino is a great American filmmaker and evidence in this movie he knows how to mix his genre and gritty violence and a mix them all together in this pie that is just a fantastic thing to watch and behold. Like I said, I loved this movie, Daryn. I loved it!
KAGAN: Sort of gritty violence? Come on.
LEATHERMAN: Come on! It's gritty violence but there is also some very campy humor and if you like "Pulp Fiction" I think this goes back to those Quentin Tarantino days. You don't have to see the first one to appreciate the second one but it wouldn't hurt but you have to see a movie this weekend, I say it's "Kill Bill." KAGAN: All right "The Punisher," Thomas Jane, he stopped by not to long ago for a visit on this program what did you think of his movie?
LEATHERMAN: Interesting they bring out a movie that is similar to "Kill Bill."
He is the Punisher. His entire family is wiped out at a family reunion so he's going to take care of these underworld characters including John Travolta is in the movie and Rebecca Stamos also in the movie. It's another comic book movie and the comic book is very popular but this guy has no super hero powers.
He's just a guy out on a mission to kill all of the people who took out his family. There's not much to cheer for here. I thought the characters were sort of very flat. John Travolta, sadly is pretty ridiculous in this movie. Pretty much the same character he played in "Swordfish." So I wasn't that much into "The Punisher." Who is being punished the most, really, the criminals or the audience.
KAGAN: It has the feel of Clint Eastwood sort of the revenging cop character.
LEATHERMAN: It is sort of just down dirty gritty stuff but you have to ask who is the brilliant person, the marketing department of this movie studio who decided to bring out this movie against "Kill Bill 2." Because they sort of have the same premise but if you're going to go to a revenge movie, don't you have to go see if Uma kills Bill? I think you do.
KAGAN: One of those deeper questions in life that we've had all day. Your idea of punishment is seeing a romantic comedy movie.
LEATHERMAN: Daryn! Why do you say that?
KAGAN: Because I know you. You hate the movie that I love.
LEATHERMAN: This movie is up my alley. Really, it's a big fat follow-up to "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." She and Toni Collette play lounge singers who witness a mob it and flee to west Hollywood they disguise themselves as drag queens and they become a hit and Vardalos falls in love with David Duchovny who thinks that she's a man they fall in love who thinks she's a man and she's a woman. If you loved "My Big Fat Greek Wedding."
KAGAN: I did!
LEATHERMAN: Then you will like this movie. The thing about "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" was new to us. But we get an hour and a half of that mugging with her in drag so there is a lot crack falls, a lot of silly comedies a lot of silly comedies. A lot of the people in the theater were laughing very hard but I thought it was at times as annoying as it was entertaining.
KAGAN: Better you should go to a movie and watch everybody blow up and kill each other. LEATHERMAN: That is exactly what I'm talking about, Daryn.
KAGAN: It's what you're always talking about.
LEATHERMAN: Breaking news. I'm pretty sure, I'm not positive, but I think Nia Vardalos may actually be a man. This is man who is playing a woman who is playing a man.
KAGAN: All mixed up.
LEATHERMAN: Who is a woman?
KAGAN: Mr. Moviefone, the man, thanks for stopping by.
LEATHERMAN: Talk to you later, Daryn!
KAGAN: You can keep your eye on entertainment 24/7 just point your browser to cnn.com/entertainment, you'll find thoughts about the violence in the movies there you go from "Clockwork Orange" to "Kill Bill." And we are back in a flash.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com