When I was a kid, I loved reading those "Choose Your Own Adventure" books. I collected them like crazy. Choices like, 'If you want to follow your friends into the cave, turn to page 45. If you want to stay back and await their return, flip to page 31'. I loved that. I loved the format. You never knew what was going to happen. So I was thinking about it one night, and decided that something like this would make for a cool, interactive feature in my blog. I hope you will too.
Each story will be told over a period of three weeks. After each installment, I strongly encourage readers to email yours truly and give me your thoughts, opinions, and general comments on where the second and third parts of the story should go. My hope is that you'll enjoy the cliffhanger I leave you on enough to come up with some different scenarios that the characters might find themselves in, or ones to get themselves out of!
Reach me through email at druttle@theoutlook.ca. You can also check out our website at www.theoutlook.ca.
Thanks for reading! And now, I give you...
Land Of No Law
Jack Owens shoved his thumb in his mouth and dropped his hammer, no doubt to block the curse words that would've easily flown out. He had taken his eye off the nail for a split second and brought the heavy hammer down on his own flesh so hard, it was numb.
This was the second time in a month that the fence keeping the cattle in was purposely broken, and Jack knew just who it was.
"Johnson...." he muttered under his breath.
William Johnson was the bank manager in town, and was a man who didn't reason with anyone. Jack had originally thought he was square with the bank, having made several payments on his land, but Johnson just couldn't be swayed to give a guy a break. Granted, Jack still owed him about $150 out of an original $500 loan, but they had mapped out a payment plan that, until recently, Johnson had honoured. But that time was over.
Jack finished up his work on the fence and gathered his tools. Slapping dust off his legs, he wiped his brow under his hat and headed into the house. His wife Alice looked at him almost sternly, and all he could do was shrug.
"You told me that you paid him," she said.
"I did. Last month I handed him 35 dollars. I suppose that just wasn't enough," said Jack.
"When is it going to be enough?" Alice asked. "For God's sake, Jack, we've got two kids to feed! Henry is gonna be almost 12 years old soon, and Emma just turned seven!"
Jack looked at her and could tell she was getting upset. He wrapped his arms around her and tried consoling her, but what could he really do? He couldn't make the rain come and force his crops to grow, along with the vegetables that Alice and little Emma enjoyed planting. They were in debt, but were still able to feed their kids, put clothes on their backs, and get them to school every day. It just seemed that they were only able to scrape by, and just when they thought they could get their heads above water, they would sink under.
Jack washed up and grabbed his hat again, heading out the door. Just as he was saddling up, Henry spotted him and ran up to him.
"Where you headed, Pa?" he asked.
"Just into town for awhile; I got some folks I gotta talk to," replied Jack.
"Can I come too?" asked Henry.
"No, you better stay here with your mother and Emma. Keep 'em company and give Ma a hand around the house, OK?" said Jack.
With that, Jack rode into town, tipping his hat and nodding to people he saw along the way, including the blacksmith, general store owner, barber, butcher, and the school teacher. Finally, he stopped at the bank and walked inside, looking for William Johnson. When he saw him sitting at a desk, feet propped up and counting money, Owens was furious.
"Johnson!" he yelled, marching straight to the desk. "We had a payment plan! I gave you 35 dollars last month and was fixing to hand you another 20 by the end of next week!"
Johnson sat up straight and put the money away.
"Jack, I know you're fuming and looking to take a swing at me for what my boys did to your fence, but I had to get your attention one way or another!" he said. "Now, I recently had a meeting with several other bank managers from around the countryside. We were told that a railroad is being built, and to collect any outstanding debts from farmers and cattle ranchers, because the construction foremen aren't gonna settle your debts for you!"
"So what does all that mean for my family?" Jack asked.
"It means that once you're square with me, the railroad builders are gonna try and buy you out. They'll take a look at what you got, money and collateral-wise, I mean, and make an offer," said Johnson.
"So how long do I have?" Jack inquired.
"Two weeks." said Johnson.
Jack let the information sink in before trying to come up with a plan. He still owed over 100 dollars to Johnson, and on top of that, now had to get a good crop going in two weeks, as well as buying more cattle. He left the bank and walked across the street to the saloon, sitting at the bar and nursing a drink. He had no idea what he was going to do, but he needed to feed his family and take care of them, one way or another.
Just then, Johnson walked into the saloon, with another fellow behind him. Frantic and in somewhat of a panic, the man was clearly trying to get the attention of Johnson.
"But Mr. Johnson, that box needs to get to Plainview! There's a lot at stake here!" he said.
"I know that, Billy! But our courier just backed out of the job and no one else in town will do it! Too much complaining over the long travel," Johnson replied.
Jack couldn't help but hear the conversation. He stood up and walked over to the two, standing behind Johnson.
"So what's in this box?" he asked, surprising Johnson and Billy.
"That's really none of your business, Jack! The point is that there's a box that needs to be transferred from here to Plainview, and..." Johnson trailed off. "Wait a second - why don't you deliver it, Jack?"
Jack's interest was peaked, but he was suspicious.
"I appreciate the offer, but if I gotta pay you back and get a crop going within two weeks, I better just stay put," Jack said.
"Jack, please, there's no one else! My job depends on this and I'm sure there's a way we can make this work on both our ends," Johnson pleaded.
Jack thought it over in his head. Was he really going to leave his family and deliver a wooden box all the way to Plainview, filled with God-knows-what? But then again, this worked to his advantage, seeing as how Johnson was now the one with his back against the wall.
"Alright, William. If I'm gonna go through with this, there's gonna be some conditions," Jack declared. "First, I want my debt wiped clean. Second, I want three of my good friends to come with me. And third, I want you to hand my wife $200 not five minutes after we've left. You hear?"
Johnson wiped his brow.
"Alright, Jack. I think that's fair. So you're gonna do it?" he said.
"Yeah, I'll do it," said Jack.
To Be Continued...
Who, or what, will Jack and his friends run into along the way? What's in the mysterious box? Are they headed for trouble? I'll let you decide, faithful reader...
Friday, February 29, 2008
Mania Card Is Taking Shape
This year's WrestleMania is really starting to take shape. With this week's WWE TV now done (well, almost, since Smackdown airs tonight but is taped on Tuesdays, and everyone reads the spoilers) the big matches are now locked in place, but there's still room for 2-3 more under/middlecard ones. Right now there are seven, so there's thankfully gonna be a lot of hype and exposure since we're still a solid month away from this year's Granddaddy Of 'Em All. I think this year's WrestleMania is focussing on the "wrestle" part of that name, instead of a bunch of over-the-top storylines and gimmick matches. Sure, there's a mainstream celebrity attached to it in Floyd Mayweather, but that's become almost a required aspect of the biggest show of the year.
Right now, here's the current card for WrestleMania 24:
1. Triple Threat match for the WWE Championship, Randy Orton (C) vs. Triple H vs. John Cena
2. The Title vs The Streak, World Heavyweight Title match, Edge (C) vs. The Undertaker
3. Career Threatening match, Ric Flair vs. Shawn Michaels
4. Money In The Bank Ladder match, Jeff Hardy vs. Ken Kennedy vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. Chris Jericho vs. 4 other participants to be decided
5. Raw vs Smackdown match, Umaga (Raw) vs. Batista (Smackdown)
6. Playboy Bunnymania tag team match, Candice Michelle & Maria vs. Beth Phoenix & Melina
7. The Big Show vs. Floyd Mayweather
I'm super-pumped for those first 5 matches. The other two I can take or leave. The Playboy stuff is simply there to add a hot chick element to the show, when there really should have been a Women's Title defense. Fortunately, all four ladies involved know how to wrestle and should be able to show off their skills accordingly. As for the Big Show/Mayweather stuff, I'm really not all that into it, even though its a key match in promoting the show due to Mayweather's mainstream celebrity status as a boxing champion. Honestly, I could care less. Its cool that the Big Show is back, but I'm not all that interested in this program. Especially since Mayweather made the mistake of acting too cocky and arrogant and turned the fans on him, since he's supposed to be the babyface. And good God, he is annoying.
My prediction, and wish, of a Flair/Michaels match has come true, and I can't wait to see this one. This has a chance to go down as the greatest story ever told in the ring, and I don't think these two will disappoint. About 99% of the web is certain that Flair's going down in this one, and it'll be his last match, but I'm not entirely convinced. I won't make any predictions right now because its too early to tell. All I can say is this - whatever happens, it should be the main event. Granted, the focus of almost every WrestleMania has been on the World Belt, no matter how big or hyped any of the upper card matches are, but I think this needs to go on last. Just my opinion.
So with those seven matches in place, I could see 2 or 3 more added. And I have an idea of what those will be.
1. Vince McMahon/JBL vs. Finlay/Hornswoggle, OR a singles match between McMahon/Finlay
2. United States Title match, MVP (C) vs. Matt Hardy
3. ECW Title match, Chavo Guerrero (C) vs. CM Punk
Those are just an idea. If all 3 were used, that'd be a total of 10 matches at this year's show. Mania gets a span of 4 hours so I think that's enough time for all of them. Granted, 2 or 3 will have to be shorter than the rest, but that's always been the nature of the beast.
Tomorrow is the 1st of March, and we're then only 4 weeks away from WrestleMania Weekend. And the countdown continues...
Keep 'em laughin',
Derek
Right now, here's the current card for WrestleMania 24:
1. Triple Threat match for the WWE Championship, Randy Orton (C) vs. Triple H vs. John Cena
2. The Title vs The Streak, World Heavyweight Title match, Edge (C) vs. The Undertaker
3. Career Threatening match, Ric Flair vs. Shawn Michaels
4. Money In The Bank Ladder match, Jeff Hardy vs. Ken Kennedy vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. Chris Jericho vs. 4 other participants to be decided
5. Raw vs Smackdown match, Umaga (Raw) vs. Batista (Smackdown)
6. Playboy Bunnymania tag team match, Candice Michelle & Maria vs. Beth Phoenix & Melina
7. The Big Show vs. Floyd Mayweather
I'm super-pumped for those first 5 matches. The other two I can take or leave. The Playboy stuff is simply there to add a hot chick element to the show, when there really should have been a Women's Title defense. Fortunately, all four ladies involved know how to wrestle and should be able to show off their skills accordingly. As for the Big Show/Mayweather stuff, I'm really not all that into it, even though its a key match in promoting the show due to Mayweather's mainstream celebrity status as a boxing champion. Honestly, I could care less. Its cool that the Big Show is back, but I'm not all that interested in this program. Especially since Mayweather made the mistake of acting too cocky and arrogant and turned the fans on him, since he's supposed to be the babyface. And good God, he is annoying.
My prediction, and wish, of a Flair/Michaels match has come true, and I can't wait to see this one. This has a chance to go down as the greatest story ever told in the ring, and I don't think these two will disappoint. About 99% of the web is certain that Flair's going down in this one, and it'll be his last match, but I'm not entirely convinced. I won't make any predictions right now because its too early to tell. All I can say is this - whatever happens, it should be the main event. Granted, the focus of almost every WrestleMania has been on the World Belt, no matter how big or hyped any of the upper card matches are, but I think this needs to go on last. Just my opinion.
So with those seven matches in place, I could see 2 or 3 more added. And I have an idea of what those will be.
1. Vince McMahon/JBL vs. Finlay/Hornswoggle, OR a singles match between McMahon/Finlay
2. United States Title match, MVP (C) vs. Matt Hardy
3. ECW Title match, Chavo Guerrero (C) vs. CM Punk
Those are just an idea. If all 3 were used, that'd be a total of 10 matches at this year's show. Mania gets a span of 4 hours so I think that's enough time for all of them. Granted, 2 or 3 will have to be shorter than the rest, but that's always been the nature of the beast.
Tomorrow is the 1st of March, and we're then only 4 weeks away from WrestleMania Weekend. And the countdown continues...
Keep 'em laughin',
Derek
Thursday, February 28, 2008
No Country: Four Gold Men
The Coen brothers' violent epic "No Country For Old Men" was the big winner at the Oscars on February 24, taking the win in four of the big categories.
- Best Picture
- Best Adapted Screenplay
- Best Direction
- Best Supporting Actor (Javier Bardem as Anton Chigurh)
I thought the show was a lot of fun, and glad to see that it was entertaining since the writer's strike juuuuust ended a little while ago. I think a lot of the right people took home awards, even though there were a few surprises, such as "The Bourne Ultimatum" picking up the Oscar for Best Film Editing, Best Sound Editing and best Sound Mixing, and then Marion Cotillard winning Best Actress for "La Vie en Rose". But that's what makes the show so unpredictable. You can make your picks and justify them all you want, but there's still gonna be a surprise or two when the show goes on the air.
Daniel Day-Lewis picked up the Best Actor nod for his portrayal of a greedy, insane oil tycoon in "There Will Be Blood". He was the odds-on favorite to win it in the first place, and "Blood" also nabbed the statue for Best Cinematography.
But it was "No Country" that garnered the most attention. Javier Bardem collected the first of four Oscars for the film that night, winning it for Best Supporting Actor in the role of sadistic, cold-blooded killer Anton Chigurh.
I wasn't surprised that "No Country" took the most wins. I was incredibly impressed with the film, and it was definitely one of the best of the year. I'm dying to read the novel, and hope to find it in a book store soon.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Its WrestleMania Season!
January has come and gone, the weather is getting warmer, the SVHL season is coming to a close, and even February is gonna be gone in a few days. Yes oh yes, its that time of the year.WrestleMania time!
The 24th annual Super Bowl of sports-entertainment takes place on March 30 in Orlando, Florida, where over 50,000 people will see it live from the Citrus Bowl, as well as millions around the world on Pay-Per-View. And just like every year before it, this one's sure to be a huge hit. People can roll their eyes and scoff at professional wrestling all they want, but there's no denying that WrestleMania is a major household name that everyone is familiar with, and it draws attention like no other event on Earth.
It debuted in 1985, the same year I was born. Right from the very beginning, the WWE (or WWF as it was known back then and up until 2002) made it a grand event for everyone to see, and attracted the likes of celebrities, Hall of Fame athletes and world-famous entertainers to appear in various roles and appearances.
Just a few of the names that have appeared at a WrestleMania include:
- Mr. T (appeared in the main event with Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania 1)
- Muhammad Ali
- Liberace
- Alice Cooper
- Ozzy Osbourne
- Jenny McCarthy
- Pamela Anderson
- Burt Reynolds
- Little Richard
- Pete Rose
- Mike Tyson
- Lawrence Taylor
- Aretha Franklin
- Gladys Knight
- Ray Charles
- Willie Nelson
- Robert Goulet
- Donald Trump
As of now, there are several matches locked in place, including the RAW and Smackdown brand double main events.
1. WWE World Heavyweight Title Match, Edge (C) vs. The Undertaker
2. WWE Championship Triple Threat Match, Randy Orton (C) vs. Triple H vs. John Cena
3. Money In The Bank Ladder Match, Jeff Hardy vs. Ken Kennedy vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. 5 others to be decided
As well, there are other matches being discussed and predicted all over the web, such as...
a) United States Title Match, MVP (C) vs. Matt Hardy
b) Flair's Final Farewell, Ric Flair vs. Shawn Michaels
c) Finlay & Mick Foley vs. JBL & Vince McMahon
Personally, I'd love to see those other three, especially Flair and Michaels. Last week on Raw, Michaels made the announcement that the Nature Boy is (finally) being inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame, which takes place the night before WrestleMania. From there, I could see a great storyline play out where Shawn tells Flair that he'll be honoured to induct him into the HOF, but wants to tangle with him on the biggest stage of them all - WrestleMania. For those who aren't aware, Flair is involved in a storyline where he will be forced to retire the next time he loses a match, so every bout he's in is a must-win situation. Michaels doesn't need to turn heel to invoke a match with Flair, it could simply be one life-long fan wanting to know if he has what it takes to put his idol out to pasture. I'd love to see it, and if this turns out to be the direction WWE is headed, then it should be the main event.
I've seen every WrestleMania leading up to this year's edition, and there just isn't anything like it. It isn't just "another PPV". There's something in the air, something electric, that just brings a certain atmosphere to it all. Even if you don't follow wrestling on a regular basis, even if you don't follow it AT ALL, its something to be seen.
So I'm thinking, 'What are some of the greatest matches in Mania history?' Obviously, that's incredibly difficult to narrow down. But I've thought about this a lot this week, so here is my Top Twenty List of the Greatest Matches in WrestleMania History. It took a lot of time and effort to compile this list, as anyone who knows my love of wrestling knows that I'm articulate, precise, and sometimes very critical when it comes to breaking down a match. And that's because professional wrestling is an art form. Its an action movie playing out in real life, 20 feet in front of you in the first row at the local arena. It isn't just two guys in tights throwing fake punches and bodyslams. A great match between two wrestlers should tell a story in the ring, from beginning to end.
With that, here is what I've personally come up with. They aren't in any specific order, only the dates of the Mania events go from oldest to newest. I can't even begin to fathom what my absolute favorite Mania match of all-time is.
Away we go...
The Top Twenty Greatest Matches In WrestleMania History
1. WrestleMania 3 - WWF Intercontinental Title match, Randy Savage (C) vs. Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat: Over 90,000 people packed the Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan. This match didn't disappoint any of them. What everyone remembers about Mania 3 is the much-hyped, uber-promoted clash between Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant for the WWF World Title, but it was this match that left a lasting impression when it was all said and done. Savage and Steamboat gave the crowd all they had in a memorable match, and blew the roof off the place when Steamboat, believed to have the spirit and will beaten out of him, surprised the Macho Man with a small package pin to win the IC Title. It was wrestling at its purest, in a time where it was all about big men with freak physiques who looked like they could sell merchandise.
2. WrestleMania 8 - WWF Intercontinental Title match, Rowdy Roddy Piper (C) vs. Bret "The Hitman" Hart: Another classic IC Title match at Mania. This time, it was a match between two guys who respected the hell out of each other. A great match that told an even greater story, and was a rare occasion that a wrestler (Hart) was split open on PPV. Back then, blood on WWF TV and on PPV was considered taboo and sort of a no-no, but a drenched Hitman still found the will to surprise Piper with a roll-up pin by countering a sleeperhold, winning his second IC Title.
3. WrestleMania 8 - WWF Championship match, Ric Flair (C) vs. "Macho Man" Randy Savage: Awesome feud. These two hated each other. Flair got Savage's blood boiling by claiming he had been dating Miss Elizabeth, Savage's wife, and even had photos to prove it. They were obviously fake, but the Macho Man was still steaming. He pounded Flair all over the inside and outside of the ring, and it was only a matter of time before Flair was now busted open. But the Nature Boy's manager, Mr. Perfect, slipped the Champ a pair of brass knuckles that knocked Savage out cold. And yet, he kicked out of a pin attempt. Going to plan B, Flair focused on Savage's leg, softening him up for a figure four leglock. Miss Elizabeth then made her way down to the ring to cheer on her husband. With her and over 60,000 screaming fans on his side, the Macho Man reared back and blasted Flair in the face with a right hand. As the Champ staggered around, Savage rolled him up and listened to the 3-count that won him the World Title. Fans cheered, Elizabeth hugged him tight, and the Macho Man was king of the mountain again. Amazing.
4. WrestleMania 10, Bret "The Hitman" Hart vs. "The Rocket" Owen Hart: Brother versus brother. The story going into this match was that Owen was jealous of Bret's larger-than-life status as one of the most beloved and respected wrestlers on the planet, and had viciously attacked him in a tag team match at the Royal Rumble two months before, turning on his brother when Bret's knee was in bad shape and the match was stopped. The back and forth action in this was incredible. Both were trained in the legendary "dungeon", where their father Stu trained many other wrestlers in their home in Calgary, Alberta. It also was the opening match of WrestleMania, and set the bar sky-high for the rest of the locker room in the rest of the card. Very mat-based in the beginning that escalated to hard-hitting moves. When Bret tried a victory roll, Owen countered it by tying Bret up in a pin and getting the surprise win himself. An awesome performance by two brothers who went on to have even greater matches as the months rolled on in 1994.
5. WrestleMania 10, Ladder Match for the vacant WWF Intercontinental Title, Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon: A definite must-have on any best-of lists. The story with this feud was that both guys were claiming to be the rightful Intercontinental Champ, after WWF President Jack Tunney stripped Michaels of the belt and held a tournament for it, which Razor won. However, Shawn returned to action with his OWN belt, and Tunney decided a Ladder match would crown the definitive Champion. And both guys left the crowd on their feet. The tide turned in both mens' favors at different points in the match, and their bodies each took a hell of a beating. The big moment in this match, which is always shown when Mania history is revisited, was when Michaels stood on top of the ladder, flew down, and flattened Ramon with a body splash. But I also loved the slingshot HBK took, as well as Ramon being crunched with the steel as Michaels rolled it over top of him from the top rope. Finally, Razor was able to shove HBK off the ladder, which resulted in Michaels' foot getting stuck in the ropes. Seeing his chance, the Bad Guy scaled the ladder and grabbed the title, winning the match and having his name etched in history books.
6. WrestleMania 11, WWF Championship match, Diesel (C) vs. Shawn Michaels: I always thought this one was underrated. Its rarely brought up in conversation when discussing Mania history, probably because it was overshadowed by the "main event", which was ex-football player Lawrence Taylor fighting Bam Bam Bigelow in what was nothing more than a publicity stunt, and a bad one at that. Diesel and Shawn must've seen that themselves, so they amped up the action and told a classic story in the ring. Two former best friends going at each other's throats for the WWF Title. Shawn and Diesel's matches always told a cool, spandex-laden version of David and Goliath, except in this particular battle, David was the bad guy (that'd be Shawn). These two made the notable size difference between them obsolete, and it was Shawn who did much of the damage to Diesel. I especially liked the bulldog off the top rope, as well as the flying elbow right into the Champ's back. Diesel got his second wind and wound up putting HBK away with the Jackknife powerbomb, but this match made critics take notice of Shawn's ability to perform at a main-event level.
7. WrestleMania 12, Iron Man match for the WWF Championship, Bret "The Hitman" Hart (C) vs. Shawn Michaels: Another match that's on every critic's list of great matches. These two had some great matches in the past, most notably at the 1992 Survivor Series, but this was a much-anticipated match between two men in their prime. Hart was the fighting Champion who took on all comers, whether they be big, small, brawlers, high-flyers, or a mat technician like himself. Michaels was the guy looking to "break the glass ceiling" and win his first World Title. The object of this match was simple - the wrestler with the most falls in 60 minutes would walk out with the win and the WWF Title. So for an hour, these two told arguably the greatest story ever told in the history of pro wrestling. It went from a feeling-out process, to a here's-what-I-know game, to a submission contest, and finally to a painful stage of hard-hitting action and excitement. Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels were two men who absolutely couldn't stand each other in real life, but when it was time to get it done, there might not have been two guys who could enthrall the audience more. When Bret had Shawn locked in the Sharpshooter when the final seconds fell off the clock, it was like time stood still. Everyone was still on their feet, and debates flew around the arena as to who might get a possible decision win. After it was decided that a sudden death period was needed, Hart went back to hammering HBK down, but made the fatal mistake of walking into a superkick. It took a second one to put the Hitman away, and Shawn Michaels had finally achieved his boyhood dream of winning the WWF Title.
8. WrestleMania 13, I Quit match, Bret "The Hitman" Hart vs. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin: This match had an ever-lasting impact on the WWF and pro wrestling in general. Over the last few months, fans had been starting to silently root for the bad guys and boo the good guys, and it was the double turn that both guys did in this match that changed the landscape of wrestling forever. Hart went from the classic good guy to a despised heel, while Austin went from a law-breaking bad guy to a beloved outlaw - all in a span of 23 minutes. The match was non-stop, brutal action that resulted in Austin bleeding bad from the forehead. Hart never let up on his assault, but Austin came back with some moves of his own. Ultimately, Hart got the Sharpshooter locked in, and Stone Cold never once said "I quit!". He held on and clenched his teeth through the pain, but passed out as a result of blood loss. The Hitman got the win, but it was the Rattlesnake who got the glory. A definite classic that was responsible for the "Attitude" era, and it pretty much "made" Steve Austin.
9. WrestleMania 14, The Undertaker vs. Kane: A very anticipated match that really paid off, in my view. For months, Kane and manager Paul Bearer tormented the Undertaker, claiming that the Phenom had set fire to the family home and burned Kane's face, which was why he wore a mask. Taker kept refusing to fight his brother, but the final straw came at the Royal Rumble that year, when Kane interfered in Taker's WWF Title match against Champion Shawn Michaels, chokeslamming him into a casket and lighting it on fire! From there, a great set of mind games were played between the two "brothers", all leading up to this historic clash. The match didn't disappoint; it was a great display of two big men who had virtually identical styles. Whatever Kane dished out, Taker took. Whatever Taker could hand out, Kane felt. I think fans were really worried that Kane was going to beat his brother, because it seemed like he was impervious to anything the Dead Man did to him. One really cool spot happened outside the ring; Taker clothelined Kane over the ropes and ran off the other side, hoping to splash his brother and gain some momentum. Instead, when Taker vaulted over the ropes, Kane side-stepped him and sent him plunging through the announce table. Great spot. Taker eventually beat Kane, but it took three Tombstone piledrivers to put him away, and this was only the first of a nearly-endless list of matches between these two.
10. WrestleMania 15, WWF Championship match, The Rock (C) vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin: The first Mania encounter between these two that would eventually result in three of them. Sadly, this one really doesn't get recognized that often, which is very odd because it was an amazing match. The Rock was Vince McMahon's "Corporate Champion" and was cocky as Hell, but Austin had the support of millions and was mad as Hell. These two burned up the ring and quickly spilled to the outside, where they took turns beating each other senseless with TV equipment and guardrails holding the audience back. Eventually, Austin dropped an elbow on the Champ that sent them both through a table at ringside, and the action returned to the ring, where Rock hit Austin with a chair when the ref's back was turned. Eventually, Austin countered The Rock Bottom into a Stone Cold Stunner, and substitute referee Mick Foley counted to three. McMahon was in shock, and Austin gave him a Stunner as well before celebrating his third WWF Title win with a beer shower.
11. WrestleMania 16, Triangle Ladder match for the WWF Tag Team Titles, the Dudley Boyz (C) vs. the Hardys vs. Edge & Christian: Whenever historic ladder matches are talked about, everybody points to SummerSlam in 2000 as the start of the TLC match (Tables, Ladders, Chairs). People seem to forget that it was THIS match that started the whole "crash and bang" phenomenon of these types of matches. History says that the first TLC match was indeed at SummerSlam that year, but only because somebody stamped a different name on it. This match was, in my view, the ACTUAL first TLC match - it was just called a Triangle Ladder match until somebody came up with a catchy, clever name. This was definitely what people were talking about on the way home that night. Lots of great spots that took a lot of guts to pull off, including a Swanton Bomb on Bubba Ray Dudley that saw Jeff Hardy fly down a good 15 feet from below, straight through a table in the entrance way. Edge & Christian went on to win it, as well as the one at SummerSlam and WrestleMania 17 the next year.
12. WrestleMania 17, No DQ match, The Undertaker vs. Triple H: This was just a great, no-holds-barred, classic brawl. The build-up to this was simple but exciting. HHH basically came out on TV and said, "Hey, I've beaten everyone here, so where's my Title shot?" Undertaker shows up and says, "You've beaten everyone, have ya? You wanna beat someone, beat ME!" Simple, yet effective. And fans were just pumped for it. They wanted Taker to beat HHH down so badly. The Game destroyed Taker's motorcycle, he split him open with a sledgehammer, and really got under his skin. The match was awesome and kept the fans on the edge of their seats. Taker pounded HHH into the audience, and fought with him in the technical area, where the Game found a chair and beat the Dead Man down repeatedly. A big "Holy $&%!" moment occured when Taker grabbed HHH and chokeslammed him off the scaffold before dropping a big elbow down. Back in the ring, HHH countered The Last Ride powerbomb by snatching a sledgehammer on his way up and bringing it down across Taker's skull. Eventually, HHH tried hammering him again, this time with right hands in the corner, but Undertaker picked him up and finally drove him down with The Last Ride for the win. Very cool.
13. WrestleMania 17, No DQ WWF Championship match, The Rock (C) vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin: Out of all three of their encounters, from WrestleManias 15, 17 and 19, its usually this one that people say is their favorite. And its hard to argue, because this one tells a great story, especially in the last 10 minutes or so of the match. At this point, both of these guys were huge fan favorites, although Austin had the bigger fanbase on this night because this year's Mania was in Texas, his home state. This battle was 10 times better than their one at Mania 15, particularly because it was given more time. It didn't take long for blood to be shed, as both guys were busted open and clearly getting exhausted in the last part of the match. Soon, they were stealing each other's finishing moves, with The Rock first hitting Austin with a Stunner, and Austin later replying with a Rock Bottom. To me, things like that help keep the audience excited and it tells more of a story, because it shows the two are becoming desperate for a win. Later, Austin locks Rock in the Million Dollar Dream, which was really cool to see because it showed the Rattlesnake's obsession with winning the WWF Title, and almost foreshadowed the final moments of the match. Vince McMahon, Austin's long-time nemesis, actually helped him win the Title by giving him a steel chair and watching him bludgeon The Rock over and over and over again with it, before he made the cover and listened to the ref count to three. Incredible match, and an amazing story.
14. WrestleMania 18, The Rock vs. Hulk Hogan: The new generation vs. the old generation. Cool angle, and a great money-making match. I've never been a fan of Hogan, but there's no denying this match was anticipated by millions, and I think it paid off. The Rock did more than enough to make Hogan look good, and I was glad to see Rock drop The People's Elbow on him and get the win. The only gripe I had with the match was it's position on the card. It was the third to last one, and was BEFORE the Women's Title match. Now, no offense to the women wrestlers, but why was this one AFTER Rock/Hogan? It should've been the main event, because I'm not sure that the actual main event between Triple H and Chris Jericho lived up to its potential. Whatever. Small gripe. Though I've never agreed with the match order at most WrestleManias over the years.
15. WrestleMania 19, WWE Championship match, Kurt Angle (C) vs. Brock Lesnar: Awesome match, and Angle has to be commended for being as good as he was, considering his neck was in horrendous shape and he was actually risking paralysis by going through with it. You know that had to be on his mind the entire match. Lesnar, on the other hand, was only in his rookie year and was already main-eventing WrestleMania. The amount of butterflies and knots in that guy's stomach had to be huge. But despite the nerves and the mangled neck, these two gave the Seattle audience a great wrestling clinic. Plenty of submission moves, technical holds, and suplexes in all ways and directions. Of course, as anyone who saw this match can attest to, the big "Uh oh" in this match was when Lesnar went for a shooting star press from the top rope. This move involves jumping forward, doing a backflip, and landing square on your opponent. Well, Lesnar got the height but he didn't make the complete flip, and his head jammed into the canvas pretty hard. I remember seeing that and just going "Holy crap! Is he dead?" Amazingly, Lesnar finished the match with Angle silently coaching him, putting the Champ away with an F5 and winning the WWE Title. Unfortunately, Lesnar got a bad concussion because of the botched move and there was some concern for his health immediately after the show. He probably doesn't remember the ending of the match, but take it from me, it was good. Damn good.
16. WrestleMania 20, Triple Threat match for the World Heavyweight Title, Triple H (C) vs. Chris Benoit vs. Shawn Michaels: I know what Chris Benoit did in the last few days of his life was horrendous, unforgivable and emotionally painful, but this match was at a time when Benoit was happy, loved by millions and on top of the world. He had just won the 2004 Royal Rumble, and switched over to Raw to challenge HHH for the World Title. Shawn Michaels interjected, stating he had "unfinished business" with The Game and eventually was put into the match, too. So for the first time ever, a World Championship match at WrestleMania was decided under Triple Threat rules. And from the get-go, things were heated. Bodies flew all over the place and the action soon got heavy, as Benoit attacked HBK and HHH with everything he had, wearing them down. HHH took a breather as Michaels and Benoit went at it, each looking to take the other guy out so the focus can be shifted to the Champ, Triple H. Soon, Michaels was busted open and bled profusely, as his entire body was nearly covered in his own blood. The Game was then split open by Benoit as the action continued on the outside. In a rare act of team work, both HBK and HHH suplexed the Rabid Wolverine off one announce table and through the other. The remaining two then tore into each other, with Triple H hitting the Pedigree for a close 2-count. Benoit got back in the match, and locked a Sharpshooter on HHH. Michaels hit him with a superkick just before the Champ was about to tap out, and then lined up another. This proved to be a fatal mistake, as Benoit launched him from the ring with a backdrop. When he turned, HHH went for another Pedigree. This time, Benoit countered it into the Crippler Crossface, and a new World Champion was crowned. Definitely one of the best endings to a WrestleMania ever, especially when then-WWE Champion Eddie Guerrero came out and celebrated with his best friend. Now, four years later, its hard to look at that match without thinking of Benoit and his family's tragic deaths.
17. WrestleMania 21, The Undertaker vs. Randy Orton: Some people might read this and go "Huh?" But I really liked this match and was anticipating it a lot, because I for one thought that Orton was finally going to be the one to end the Undertaker's winning streak at WrestleMania, which at this point was 12-0. Two things told me that he might win it. They're little, subtle things but they raised a few eyebrows. For one, Undertaker was introduced FIRST. That's incredibly rare on regular WWE television, let alone WrestleMania. His opponent is introduced first and then has to see the Dead Man make his way out, getting psyched out and having his mind played with. But this time, it was Taker seeing Orton make his way out - the cocky, arrogant fighter who had all the momentum he needed to knock off the Phenom. Second, it was the offense that Orton displayed in the beginning moments of the match, hitting several hard right hands and launching Taker in the air with a back body drop. How often does THAT happen? The match itself was really good. I think they had great chemistry and really clicked. Orton countering a chokeslam with the RKO, in MID-AIR, was really cool to see. Eventually, Orton made the mistake of going for his own Tombstone and Taker reversed it, hitting it himself and racking up another Mania win.
18. WrestleMania 21, Kurt Angle vs. Shawn Michaels: Not even two seconds after this amazing match was over, wrestling analysts and fans around the world were calling this an instant classic. Two very different styles that fell into sync right away, between two guys who could make a match with a coffee cup look good. I loved everything about this match. The timing, the pacing, the counters, the reversals, the brawling, the high spots - it was all done perfectly. I don't know if even Angle or Michaels knew it would turn out that great. The last 5 minutes of this match is, in one word, incredible. Angle, who's getting desperate after failing to put HBK away with an Angle Slam off the top rope, screams at Michaels to give it up and just tap out. Shawn replies by winding up and knocking Kurt out with a superkick as the fans are screaming on their feet. Both men are laid out after tearing into each other for nearly a half hour, but Michaels manages to cover Angle for a VERY close 2-count. While HBK tries to get to his feet, Angle recovers and snatches his ankle, clamping on an ankle lock and not once letting go. He wiggles and rolls around, trying to pry Angle off, but HBK just can't do it. Finally, after being locked in this vise-like hold for nearly two minutes, Michaels taps out and Angle gets the win. Of course, its the fans who ultimately win for being witness to this match, which will no doubt go down in history, right alongside the Iron Man match from Mania 12 and Hogan/Andre from Mania 3.
19. WrestleMania 22, Hardcore match, Edge vs. Mick Foley: Best match of the night. These two worked their asses off and put their bodies through Hell, in what was IMO a pretty disappointing WrestleMania overall. I think Edge wanted to have the best match of the night so that he could show WWE management, "Hey, you wanna put the belt on Cena? Well, then I'll show you who the DESERVING Champion is!" Edge had won the WWE Title from Cena at New Year's Revolution, only to drop it back to him at the Royal Rumble. Many fans saw his 3-week reign as a fluke of sorts, but not me. Edge has always been a huge favorite of mine, and I was mad as Hell when they decided to mess with his character's dignity by having him "keep the Title warm" for Cena. And while Cena may have won the main event against Triple H that night, he DIDN'T win the best match of the night. Mick Foley really helped Edge and worked with him to create an awesome spectacle, which saw these two just beat the crap out of each other. Barbed wire, baseball bats, steel chairs, the ring steps, these two used everything BUT the kitchen sink. In the end, Edge speared Foley through the middle rope and off the apron, straight through a flaming table, in arguably the biggest "Holy $^%!" moment of the last 10 years, and gets the win. Awesome match, and one that I was still thinking about long after this so-so Mania.
20. WrestleMania 23, World Heavyweight Championship match, Batista (C) vs. The Undertaker: I was so disappointed that this was only the fourth match of the night, out of eight in total. THIS should have been the main event, because the anticipation to this one was huge. The Animal vs The Phenom. The Title vs The Streak. Instead, the main event is pretty much a rehash of Mania 22's main event, with John Cena this time making Shawn Michaels tap out to keep the WWE Title. But Taker and Batista excelled in this one to make up for the crappy match order. Hey, when the very first move of the match is a big spear to the Dead Man by the Champ, you know its gonna be good. And there was no disappointment here. A lot of critics had their mouths shut when all was said and done. Those who said it was just gonna be a bunch of "clothelines and headbutts" were sorely mistaken, because this one left the fans on their feet as these two bulls tore into each other. The Champ powerslamming Taker through the announce table was really cool, and thousands of jaws hit the floor when they both kept kicking out of each other's signature moves. Batista hits a spinebuster, Taker kicks out. Taker hits a chokeslam, Batista kicks out. The Animal hits the Batista Bomb, the Dead Man incredibly kicks out. The Phenom drops the Champion with a Last Ride powerbomb, and he kicks out. Finally, Undertaker nails the Tombstone, his Mania record is 15-0, and he wins the World Heavyweight Title. Awesome match, and its been said that this one "saved" WrestleMania 23. Not sure if I believe that entirely, but it was my personal favorite.
There you have it. My absolute Top Twenty. Sorry for the incredibly "War & Peace"-like post, but its not hard to see I'm a huge pro wrestling fan, and its easy to discuss, in length, the things you love most.
With that, Raw is on tonight and we might just see who else is going to tangle at WrestleMania 24, as well as who else is going into this year's Hall Of Fame.
Keep 'em laughin',
Derek
Monday, February 4, 2008
Moronic Movie-Watching Moments
I was thinking about this the other day, just while driving around town. I do my best thinking when I'm just out for a drive, and sometimes the most random things pop into my head.
Here's one for ya...
Do you ever think back, and remember your first viewing of a movie that you NOW consider one of your all-time favorites? And in doing so, do you remember the way you saw certain scenes, and completely missed the mark on what REALLY happened?
I thought this would be a good topic for the ol' blog here, so feel free to comment and leave a thought or two.
Here's a list of movies and certain scenes that I either:
a) Misinterpreted
b) Remember differently
c) Missed something very crucial
d) Had/Still Have no idea just what the Hell was/is going on
This list is in no certain order, and I'm not even sure how many I can come up with, in case you're thinking this is a Dave Letterman-esque Top Ten or something. Away we go.
1. Vito Corleone's death in "The Godfather": I can't remember how old I was when I first saw this masterpiece. Must've been about 11 or 12. You'll remember that this scene takes place in Vito's garden, and he's playing with his grandson. The kid has the pesticide sprayer and Vito shows him how to use it, where to spray, etc. So, after doing the orange slice in his mouth bit, The Don collapses and passes away. Only I didn't see it that way when I was a kid. I knew he was having a heart attack/stroke/whatever killed him, but I always thought the kid played an accidental role in Grandpa's death by playfully spraying him over and over with the pesticide. Hey, call me an idiot, but I don't think its that hard of a conclusion to draw when you see "Godfather" for the very first time.
2. The briefcase in "Pulp Fiction": Nobody has ever been told just what was inside the briefcase carried around by John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson. All we know is that the two hitmen retrieved it for their boss, and it has a golden glow whenever opened. I guess you're supposed to draw your own conclusion, and I've heard ones ranging from diamonds to the soul of Marcellus Wallace to simply a 20-watt light bulb. I really don't have any conclusion myself, although I guess if I had to come up with an absolute answer, it would be diamonds/other forms of stolen jewellery.
3. The unborn baby's Daddy in "The Departed": When I first saw the film, the audience is told that it belongs to Matt Damon's character Colin Sullivan. But the more times I watched it, I realized that it might not be his baby and it could be the result of Madolyn's one night stand with Billy Costigan, played by Leonardo DiCaprio. Further evidence of this is the scene in which Madolyn and Colin are discussing a certain "problem" that some guys have in a relationship as it pertains to sex, and near the end of the film, when she finds out Colin worked for Frank Costello, she remarks "And I thought I was the liar," meaning she was lying to Colin about the baby's father. Just my own observation.
4. The exact year it is in "Napoleon Dynamite": There's no indication as to what year the movie takes place in. I think its just one of those things where a certain family is behind the times and seem to be stuck in 1993 or something.
5. "I Heart Huckabees": That entire film. What the Hell was THAT?!? I've never seen a more pretentious film desperately trying to be commercial. I don't mean to woo myself here, but I'm pretty damn good at diciphering the message behind the medium. I tried watching this film with an open mind and I paid great attention, but I still do not know what that movie was about. A 5-star cast in a 0-star film.
6. "Mulholland Drive": Same thing here, and oddly enough, BOTH films star one of my favorite actresses, Naomi Watts. Just a shame that I'm ragging on her choice of work. David Lynch is a widely-respected filmmaker, and I myself applaud him for his success, but I'm not a fan at all. Experimenting with the material in ONE film is enough, but not when you've made a career of trying to confuse the Hell out of your paying audience. I'm not attacking director Lynch or his way of filmmaking, but there's a reason why studios stay away from his unproduced scripts and projects. If one wants to be known as mysterious but comes out looking pretentious, its his own fault. That's an important lesson I learned in film school in Victoria. In the end, your making a movie for THEM, not YOU.
7. Jack Torrance becoming part of the Hotel's history in "The Shining": I honestly still can't decipher the ending to this movie. I've read that we the audience unknowingly "Shine" Jack into the mysterious photo at the end, but I don't know. Maybe its just one of those movie mysteries that'll stay a mystery.
That's it for now. Feel free to comment on the ones I've written about, or tell me your own.
Keep 'em laughin',
Derek
Here's one for ya...
Do you ever think back, and remember your first viewing of a movie that you NOW consider one of your all-time favorites? And in doing so, do you remember the way you saw certain scenes, and completely missed the mark on what REALLY happened?
I thought this would be a good topic for the ol' blog here, so feel free to comment and leave a thought or two.
Here's a list of movies and certain scenes that I either:
a) Misinterpreted
b) Remember differently
c) Missed something very crucial
d) Had/Still Have no idea just what the Hell was/is going on
This list is in no certain order, and I'm not even sure how many I can come up with, in case you're thinking this is a Dave Letterman-esque Top Ten or something. Away we go.
1. Vito Corleone's death in "The Godfather": I can't remember how old I was when I first saw this masterpiece. Must've been about 11 or 12. You'll remember that this scene takes place in Vito's garden, and he's playing with his grandson. The kid has the pesticide sprayer and Vito shows him how to use it, where to spray, etc. So, after doing the orange slice in his mouth bit, The Don collapses and passes away. Only I didn't see it that way when I was a kid. I knew he was having a heart attack/stroke/whatever killed him, but I always thought the kid played an accidental role in Grandpa's death by playfully spraying him over and over with the pesticide. Hey, call me an idiot, but I don't think its that hard of a conclusion to draw when you see "Godfather" for the very first time.
2. The briefcase in "Pulp Fiction": Nobody has ever been told just what was inside the briefcase carried around by John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson. All we know is that the two hitmen retrieved it for their boss, and it has a golden glow whenever opened. I guess you're supposed to draw your own conclusion, and I've heard ones ranging from diamonds to the soul of Marcellus Wallace to simply a 20-watt light bulb. I really don't have any conclusion myself, although I guess if I had to come up with an absolute answer, it would be diamonds/other forms of stolen jewellery.
3. The unborn baby's Daddy in "The Departed": When I first saw the film, the audience is told that it belongs to Matt Damon's character Colin Sullivan. But the more times I watched it, I realized that it might not be his baby and it could be the result of Madolyn's one night stand with Billy Costigan, played by Leonardo DiCaprio. Further evidence of this is the scene in which Madolyn and Colin are discussing a certain "problem" that some guys have in a relationship as it pertains to sex, and near the end of the film, when she finds out Colin worked for Frank Costello, she remarks "And I thought I was the liar," meaning she was lying to Colin about the baby's father. Just my own observation.
4. The exact year it is in "Napoleon Dynamite": There's no indication as to what year the movie takes place in. I think its just one of those things where a certain family is behind the times and seem to be stuck in 1993 or something.
5. "I Heart Huckabees": That entire film. What the Hell was THAT?!? I've never seen a more pretentious film desperately trying to be commercial. I don't mean to woo myself here, but I'm pretty damn good at diciphering the message behind the medium. I tried watching this film with an open mind and I paid great attention, but I still do not know what that movie was about. A 5-star cast in a 0-star film.
6. "Mulholland Drive": Same thing here, and oddly enough, BOTH films star one of my favorite actresses, Naomi Watts. Just a shame that I'm ragging on her choice of work. David Lynch is a widely-respected filmmaker, and I myself applaud him for his success, but I'm not a fan at all. Experimenting with the material in ONE film is enough, but not when you've made a career of trying to confuse the Hell out of your paying audience. I'm not attacking director Lynch or his way of filmmaking, but there's a reason why studios stay away from his unproduced scripts and projects. If one wants to be known as mysterious but comes out looking pretentious, its his own fault. That's an important lesson I learned in film school in Victoria. In the end, your making a movie for THEM, not YOU.
7. Jack Torrance becoming part of the Hotel's history in "The Shining": I honestly still can't decipher the ending to this movie. I've read that we the audience unknowingly "Shine" Jack into the mysterious photo at the end, but I don't know. Maybe its just one of those movie mysteries that'll stay a mystery.
That's it for now. Feel free to comment on the ones I've written about, or tell me your own.
Keep 'em laughin',
Derek
Good Weekend, And Hopefully More To Come
Last week, I talked about the previous weekend, and how it had *almost* come out as I had planned. I say almost because I hadn't anticipated the flat tire that the SUV had on Saturday, and my overall tiredness over the ensuing 48 hours that resulted in taking the entire weekend to watch "The Godfather Part II". Still, it was better than most.
This past weekend, however, was a demonstration in the funnest times happening when you least expect them to.
On Friday, the paper was produced and uploaded, and I ducked over to the elementary school to watch a cheque presentation and snap photos. When I came back, I dumped the photos into a folder on my computer and Photoshopped them. At that point, everyone else had left for lunch, so I decided to take off at about 12:45. I ran some errands before grabbing some Subway and jetting home, where I relaxed all afternoon.
Later, my brother Brendon and I were able to acquire the services of the SUV and headed up to the city to see "Rambo", since we didn't see it last weekend because of the previously mentioned flat tire. Once again, I didn't pay for my ticket and just used the points on my Scene card. (Now I'm trying to accumulate enough points to see Wrestlemania 24 for free at the Galaxy, too).
"Rambo" was awesome. If you saw the original trilogy from the 80's, then there's no reason why you wouldn't love this updated sequel. Sylvester Stallone was fantastic, and the movie showed me just how much he's underrated as a filmmaker. The violence is brutal, savage, and outright shocking at times. I gasped at a few select scenes myself, but the ultra-violent imagery just mirrors real life. Stallone made sure that the film wasn't censored in any way because he told the studios that this sort of slaying and killing really happens in parts of the world. Despite the fact that its packaged and targeted at young males and action addicts, "Rambo" is somewhat educational, in a "good-God-did-he-really-just-do-that" sort of way. To censor the graphic nature of the film would be to shield ourselves from the events of real life, and sweeping things under the rug is something that filmmakers need to stop doing in their line of work.
After the film, Brendon and I watched and snickered as the car passengers in front of us noticed the ticket tucked in their windshiled wipers, and hit Blockbuster, where I bought "Hot Fuzz" on DVD. We left after grabbing a late supper at KFC. After getting home, I ended up staying up all night and eventually going to sleep at nearly 6:30 AM, watching movies and listening to music.
On Saturday, I watched "Executive Decision" on DVD. Its a good mid-90's action flick with Kurt Russell about a group of military men trying to disarm a bomb on an airplane while terrorists hold the passengers captive. I remember back in 1996, while on our school's last year-end trip before closing, all the kids from Conquest School went to Regina with parents, teachers and chaperones. We stayed at the Travelodge Hotel and while eating Pizza Hut for supper, we had tried ordering "Decision" on the PPV in our room. We missed the first 45 minutes so the rest of the film was tainted, as far as I was concerned. Funny how nearly 12 years later, here I am watching it again. This time I liked it.
Before picking Brendon up from work, I rented "Saw IV", and watched it after the Conquest Merchants/Central Butte Flyers game at the rink. I didn't like the first two "Saw" sequels, so high hopes for this one were non-existent. But I'm surprised to say that I really liked it. The writing had suddenly gotten a lot better following Parts Two and Three and I found myself immersed in the story. Yeah, its still torture porn in many scenes, but I've become so desensitized to on-screen brutality that I sometimes even curse the filmmakers when a death on-screen goes on too long. It has a great ending and for the first time in a few years, I'll actually be anticipating another "Saw" sequel. (There's going to be six of them overall, so we're in this until at least late 2009, people!)
Sunday was the Super Bowl, which saw the New York Giants take out the New England Patriots. I was glad to see that, because the Giants were the underdog and nobody was expected to beat the Patriots. I hate that arrogant attitude and I'm not much of a Tom Brady fan. Matter of fact, I think he's a pretty boy who's enjoying his 15 minutes of sports glory a little too much, so I was cheering for New York pretty hard, and was pumped to see them score a touchdown with only 30 seconds left. I thought it was really immature and unprofessional of the Patriots coach going to the locker room before the game was officially over, but I guess he had some screaming he had to do. Overall, it was a good game and I'm glad the underdog Giants took the victory, because sometimes a cocky undefeated team needs to get knocked down a peg or two. Good job, New York!
So yeah, it was a good weekend. Saw some good movies, watched some good sports, and discussed fun little video-making projects when spring comes and all this snow and ice takes a hike. I hope more spur-of-the-moment weekends like this come along.
Keep 'em laughin',
Derek
This past weekend, however, was a demonstration in the funnest times happening when you least expect them to.
On Friday, the paper was produced and uploaded, and I ducked over to the elementary school to watch a cheque presentation and snap photos. When I came back, I dumped the photos into a folder on my computer and Photoshopped them. At that point, everyone else had left for lunch, so I decided to take off at about 12:45. I ran some errands before grabbing some Subway and jetting home, where I relaxed all afternoon.
Later, my brother Brendon and I were able to acquire the services of the SUV and headed up to the city to see "Rambo", since we didn't see it last weekend because of the previously mentioned flat tire. Once again, I didn't pay for my ticket and just used the points on my Scene card. (Now I'm trying to accumulate enough points to see Wrestlemania 24 for free at the Galaxy, too).
"Rambo" was awesome. If you saw the original trilogy from the 80's, then there's no reason why you wouldn't love this updated sequel. Sylvester Stallone was fantastic, and the movie showed me just how much he's underrated as a filmmaker. The violence is brutal, savage, and outright shocking at times. I gasped at a few select scenes myself, but the ultra-violent imagery just mirrors real life. Stallone made sure that the film wasn't censored in any way because he told the studios that this sort of slaying and killing really happens in parts of the world. Despite the fact that its packaged and targeted at young males and action addicts, "Rambo" is somewhat educational, in a "good-God-did-he-really-just-do-that" sort of way. To censor the graphic nature of the film would be to shield ourselves from the events of real life, and sweeping things under the rug is something that filmmakers need to stop doing in their line of work.
After the film, Brendon and I watched and snickered as the car passengers in front of us noticed the ticket tucked in their windshiled wipers, and hit Blockbuster, where I bought "Hot Fuzz" on DVD. We left after grabbing a late supper at KFC. After getting home, I ended up staying up all night and eventually going to sleep at nearly 6:30 AM, watching movies and listening to music.
On Saturday, I watched "Executive Decision" on DVD. Its a good mid-90's action flick with Kurt Russell about a group of military men trying to disarm a bomb on an airplane while terrorists hold the passengers captive. I remember back in 1996, while on our school's last year-end trip before closing, all the kids from Conquest School went to Regina with parents, teachers and chaperones. We stayed at the Travelodge Hotel and while eating Pizza Hut for supper, we had tried ordering "Decision" on the PPV in our room. We missed the first 45 minutes so the rest of the film was tainted, as far as I was concerned. Funny how nearly 12 years later, here I am watching it again. This time I liked it.
Before picking Brendon up from work, I rented "Saw IV", and watched it after the Conquest Merchants/Central Butte Flyers game at the rink. I didn't like the first two "Saw" sequels, so high hopes for this one were non-existent. But I'm surprised to say that I really liked it. The writing had suddenly gotten a lot better following Parts Two and Three and I found myself immersed in the story. Yeah, its still torture porn in many scenes, but I've become so desensitized to on-screen brutality that I sometimes even curse the filmmakers when a death on-screen goes on too long. It has a great ending and for the first time in a few years, I'll actually be anticipating another "Saw" sequel. (There's going to be six of them overall, so we're in this until at least late 2009, people!)
Sunday was the Super Bowl, which saw the New York Giants take out the New England Patriots. I was glad to see that, because the Giants were the underdog and nobody was expected to beat the Patriots. I hate that arrogant attitude and I'm not much of a Tom Brady fan. Matter of fact, I think he's a pretty boy who's enjoying his 15 minutes of sports glory a little too much, so I was cheering for New York pretty hard, and was pumped to see them score a touchdown with only 30 seconds left. I thought it was really immature and unprofessional of the Patriots coach going to the locker room before the game was officially over, but I guess he had some screaming he had to do. Overall, it was a good game and I'm glad the underdog Giants took the victory, because sometimes a cocky undefeated team needs to get knocked down a peg or two. Good job, New York!
So yeah, it was a good weekend. Saw some good movies, watched some good sports, and discussed fun little video-making projects when spring comes and all this snow and ice takes a hike. I hope more spur-of-the-moment weekends like this come along.
Keep 'em laughin',
Derek
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