By Dave Montalbano

AdventuresOfCinemaDave.com

In last year’s Flicks column, the Amazing Randi accurately predicted that the Mayan prediction was wrong and the world did not end in 2012.

Given that idle hands are the devil’s workshop, the 84-year-old magician has been producing his documentary, An Honest Liar, which is in its final phase of production in Broward County and will feature interviews with Bill Nye the Science Guy, Penn Jillette and Alice Cooper.

Given recent doomsday scenarios and fiscal cliffs, Edge of Salvation seems to be a timely independent movie. Director Luciano Saber will host the South Florida premier at Muvico Broward 18 on Sunday, Jan. 13 with cast members expected to attend the special screening.

It will be business as usual for corporate Hollywood this year as X Men, Die Hard, Scary Movie and Paranormal Activity can add the number “5” to their sequels. Only The Lone Ranger and Guillermo del Toro’s Pacific Rim present any originality for 2013.

Sadly, it will be in early 2013 that we will be seeing some of the best movies of 2012 as Oscar season begins. Many will be surprised by the omissions from my list (Les Misérables, Zero Dark Thirty); there was not enough time to screen them all.

The Best of 2012

Skyfall

A Royal Affair

Robot & Frank

The Avengers

Prometheus

ParaNorman

Lincoln

The Life of Pi

The Dark Knight Rises

Cabin in the Woods

Honorable Mention

Queen of Versailles

Men in Black 3

The Hunger Games

The Haunting of Whaley House

Follow Me, the Yoni Netanyahu Story

The Expendables 2

Deadfall

Dark Amazon

Arbitrage

The Amazing Spider-Man

Since 1999, it has been my pleasure to remain the longest standing film columnist in Broward County. Thank you, Dear Reader, for sharing my Adventures in the Florida Motion Picture World. With Megacon, PBIFF, Spooky Empire and FLIFF on the horizon, I predict more adventures for 2013.

Broward County commissioners have passed the FY 2012 budget, keeping the tax rate the same as last year’s. Despite no increases, the budget will be lower by $7768.7 million and the combined millage rate for the county is 5.553 or $5.553 per $1,000 in taxable value. The flat millage rate means the county takes in about two percent less, or $20 million than last year for a total reduction of $257 million since 2007.

The major of taxpayers will experience either flat or reduced taxes on the Broward County portion of their tax bill. Some may see an increase, but typically only if their property value has increased or the homestead recapture rule allows for a three percent increase.

The FY2012 budget provides funding to reopen County parks full time, extend library hours and maintain public transportation and social services.

Other service enhancements include the mid-year opening of the Young at Art Museum and Children’s Library whose operations will be primarily funded by Young at Art. In addition, the Northeast Transit Center will be opening in the fall. This center will provide seamless transfers between four Broward County Transit fixed routes and two municipal community bus routes and will serve as a drop-off location for commuters. There is also a full year budget for the new Inspector General’s office, mandated by voters last year.

RELAY FOR LIFE OF DEERFIELD BEACH/LIGHTHOUSE POINT
Join the Relay teams as they wrap up the 2011 Relay For Life. Committee Members, Team Captains and Members, Survivors . . . everyone is invited. There will be food, cash bar, fun, awards, and prizes (lots of prizes) as we look back on 2011 and forward to 2012.

Tuesday, June 21st , 7 – 9 PM
Hilton of Deerfield Beach (Hillsboro and I-95)
Hilton is kindly donating the light hors d’oeuvres and room for us, so we would appreciate an RSVP to TJ – tjego2@aol.com,
Gordon – printingxcetera@aol.com, or Nona – nonabreit@gmail.com

Be sure to bring any monies you have not yet turned in and register your team for next year

On April 16, Real Estate mogul and TV celeb Donald Trump visited Sanborn Square in Boca Raton to speak at the 3rd Annual Tax Day Rally for the Tea Party. Trump was joined by other guest speakers including Congressman Allen West, Bill Nelson, Adam Hasner and radio personality Joyce Kaufman, who emceed.

Trump is considering running for President in 2012, but he will not make an official announcement yet. “Sometime before June,” he continues to say. But, he had plenty to say at the rally about everything from inflation and gas prices to trade with China and our involvement with Libya. He also seemed to have plenty of support from the large crowd that had gathered.

See Video here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/42625344#42625344

Photo and story by Rachel Galvin