Headlines for scottced

The Xbox ordeal: Part One

boxwatcher — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 03:04:31 GMT

The first video game system I ever owned was an Atari 5200. We never had a 2600 and by the time we could get a system the 5200 was out. Of course several years later I had an NES. Every few years a new generation of systems would be released and I usually got them; Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, Playstation, N64, Playstation 2, and Xbox. I wasn’t always the first one to have them but I usually got one eventually and had fun with all of them.

But in Nov. of 2005 the Xbox 360 was coming out and decided I’d get one right off the bat. I put down a deposit at the local video game store to ensure I’d get one right away. A week before release I went in to confirm and pay off the unit, that’s when the raping began. I was told that while I was assured I’d get a unit I might not get one out of the first batch. The only way to be sure to get one would be to buy an accessory. Alright, I plunked down some cash for an extra controller, I’d need one any way. In hindsight I should have pulled the plug on the whole thing.

So opening night I go to the launch event at the store. It was actually pretty cool, the store was in the mall and it was all closed up. Security lined us up in the food court and it was neat to be in there while everything was dark and locked up. I get my Xbox, buy a couple of games go home and hook it up. Everything was fine, had a lot of fun.

The problems began a few months later. At the request of a friend I picked up Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfare. It’s a great game to play online. Basic third person shooter/military game, you form up teams and have several maps to chose from. If everyone is wearing headsets you can communicate with teammates. Here is the problem, 90% of the Xbox live users ARE ASSHOLES. First there are the snobs, in G.R.A.W. you can play ranked games. But to get ranked you have to play ranked matches. The snobs won’t play with low ranked players. So how is a player supposed to get ranked if he can’t play in ranked games? Online game playing is overrated. Secondly, Xbox Live is populated with the usualy band spawn campers, hackers, and obnoxious middle school kids.

So things were fine for about a year-and-a-half. I’d been hearing about people getting the “three red lights of death” for a year and a half I was lucky. When it did happen I called Xbox, they told me my one year warranty has expired and that if I wanted it fixed I’d have to pay. I told them that was unacceptable, with some colorful expressions of course. They wouldn’t budge. Later on they would extend the red light warranty. I never sent that box in. I had a PSP to satisfy my gaming needs, it was fun but not like having a console.

After a couple of years I broke down and bought a new Xbox, the unit was made in Jan. ‘08 and I bought it in April of ‘08. Things were fine for, yeah thats right: a year and a half, but then I noticed it would freeze up from time to time. Finally I got the three red lights. Now this time Xbox had a three year warranty on the red lights problem, a year for each light? So after a few weeks of procrastination and being pissed I got online and had them send me the labels. I went to the UPS store, bought a box and shipped it out.

After about three weeks it came back and was actually excited. I was surprised at what I found, a letter saying that they didn’t actually fix my unit, they sent me another one. I looked on the back of the unit and found a “serviced on” date. So instead of fixing mine and sending it back, they shipped me refurbished box. Included was a card for a free month of Xox live, which actually worked out. Normally I just subscribe for a year, but while the box was gone I got emails saying my account expired and for some reason they couldn’t auto renew. So I figured I’d just use it for my first month when back up and running.

I went out that day and traded in some games and got Madden football ‘10 and NHL ‘10. Came home, hooked up and put in Madden, played one game and decided it was hockey time. I put NHL ‘10 in and the unit wouldn’t read the disc. WTF?!? Ok, so I thought maybe, just maybe, I got a bad disc. Grabbed the disc, the case, and the receipt and headed back to the store. Gave them my tale of woe and said I just wanted to exchange for another disc. They gladly obliged and I was back home twenty minutes later. Put the disc in the Xbox…. FAIL! SHIT!

Okay, I thought lets try a few things. First I put Madden back in, guess what won’t load now? Put Ghostbusters in, it seemed to load. Hmm, perhaps I need an update. Maybe this won’t turn into a big deal. Yeah right. For some reason I can’t use my DSL with the computer and the Xbox. If I want to hook up to Xbox live I have to disconnect the computer. Don’t know why but thats how it is. So I do that and try to hook up, tells me my account is suspended.

Knowing my debit card is about to expire I figure I’ll use that pre-paid card and get my free month. I type in the activation code, won’t work until I sort out this account business. I look at my debit card info and it say that my card expired THREE YEARS AGO! What the Hell? If that was the case how did it auto-renew the last three years? I change it and save it. Doesn’t take. I call Xbox and start arguing. After a bunch of haggling and problems accessing my account, they can’t, they offer me a free year of Xbox live. I get off the phone after over a half hour and hook the DSL back up to the computer and get online. After snooping around I find the problem. On the back of the cards now they have this three digit “security” code. It doesn’t even appear in the field box. After typing it in the problem is fixed. I just did their job for them, where is my mad Microsoft money?

I fix the problem and it all seems to work now, I can access everything and have my free year. Sure enough it says I need an update and it downloads it. Cool, I’m an optimistic guy, this is going to work and I’ll be playing hockey in a few minutes. With controller in hand I insert the disc and get ready to play. No dice, won’t read the damn disc. I try a DVD, nope. It’s late now and I’m tired of messing with it. I’ll work on it more tomorrow.

TO BE CONTINUED….

Getting Ruthless

boxwatcher — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 21:08:56 GMT

“This could very well be the stupidest person on the face of the earth. Perhaps we should shoot him.”

Ken and Sandy (Judge Reinhold and Helen Slater) are what you would describe as “good” people who are pretending to be ruthless. Barbara (Bette Midler) can be ruthless, when she want to be. Carol and Earl (Anita Morris and Bill Pullman) are not too bright, but they’re trying to be ruthless. Sam (Danny Devito) IS ruthless, in fact, he’s a complete bastard. Take all this ruthlessness and stupidity, mix it together, and you get a madcap comedy called Ruthless People.

Sam can’t stand Barbara, in fact he absolutely hates her. The problem is she’s his wife. He even tells his mistress he has plans to kill her. So imagine his delight when he arrives home and finds his wife has been kidnapped. The kidnappers ask for $500,000, which Sam has no intentions of paying. Adding to the chaos a videotape the mistress has her boyfriend record. Expecting to find Sam murdering Barbara the boyfriend records a different, yet equally, disturbing event. How all involved juggle the cops, and each other drives the story into some pretty hilarious places.

The 1980’s have a well deserved bad rep for turning out some really bad movies. Based on the concept Ruthless People sounds like it could fit in on that list. But some nice screenwriting makes this film a real diamond in the rough. Characters are fleshed out just enough. It doesn’t take long to meet everyone and understand who they are. There is no useless exposition or back story. We learn everything about these people from their words and actions.

Structure-wise the script is pretty tight. The kidnapping is the genesis of the story. Every scene builds logically on the the previous scene. That may sound like a pretty basic screenwriting concept. But check out almost any comedy at the multiplex and it becomes apparent it’s a quality that is sorely lacking. The filmmakers don’t throw out good storytelling just because they are making a comedy.

Despite some bad 80’s fashions, clothing and hair, the movie is very much worth the 90 minute running time. It’s not often a movie has multiple directors but, when those directors are Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker (Airplane, Police Squad/The Naked Gun) you can rest assured these guys know funny.

**** out of *****

Rambling about THE ICE STORM

boxwatcher — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 03:24:26 GMT

One of the top villains in pro wrestling right now is C.M. Punk. His character is that he lives a “straightedge” lifestyle, meaning he doesn’t drink, smoke, do drugs, or have promiscuous sex. What makes his character great is he comes out and lectures the crowd. Telling them what failures they, and by proxy the other wrestlers, are because they don’t subscribe to his lifestyle. The interesting thing is that a great deal of what he says is true but, the fans boo him anyway. The characters in The Ice Storm would boo him too.

Set in 1973 the movie follows two well off Connecticut families during Thanksgiving weekend. These families deal with their mundane suburban lives by giving in to vice. Two of the parents are having an affair and the older kids are drinking and smoking pot in hopes of having affairs. When the younger kids aren’t blowing up toys or playing with a bullwhip, they’re learning about sex while wearing Richard Nixon masks.

So why do these characters make these choices? With the kids it’s pretty easy to understand. They’re growing up and discovering things in ways they shouldn’t. At a dinner party wine is spilled on Ben’s pants but it is Janey, his mistress, who ties to clean it up while her teenage son watches. It is obvious to all what is going on.

For the adults it’s a bit more complicated. Elena’s shoplifting is easy to figure out. She knows her husband is cheating on her, but instead of anger she seems to feel like life has lost it’s luster. She longs to be free again and shoplifts some makeup in an attempt to recapture her youth. The other adults reasons seem to fall somewhere between boredom and conformity. It is the hedonistic 1970’s and “key parties” seem to be all the rage. So yeah, I guess if everyone else jumped off a bridge, these characters would jump too.

The perplexing part of the movie is everyone is aware of how wrong their behavior is. A few characters have the will power to do the right thing. After the key party Elena and Jim, who are now aware of their spouses marital indiscretions, try to do the same. But neither can bring themselves to do it. The pair are united in their pain, but apart because of their morality. It takes a tragedy to open the eyes of a few of the others.

So what kind of film is The Ice Storm? Is it a dark comedy with a twist of 70’s nostalgia? Is it an indictment on declining family values, set in an earlier time so that we may reflect on how our role models molded our teenage, years which in turn molded us? Filled with great actors (Kevin Kline, Sigourney Weaver, Toby Maguire, Elijah Wood, Christina Ricci, Joan Allen, etc) and a story that is equally challenging, funny, depressing, yet always entertaining I think it’s a mixture of both.

A few to watch out for!

boxwatcher — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 05:08:39 GMT

The Informant (Sept. 18)

Big Fan (Out in limited release, expanding soon)

Where The Wild Things Are (Oct. 16)

The Men Who Stare At Goats (Nov. 6)

The Great Hat Trick of 1997

boxwatcher — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 06:16:32 GMT

By the early nineties my life as cine-phile was blooming. I’d starting working and for the first time had disposable income that was actually mine and not borrowed from a family member, usually my mom. I was also fortunate to own my car so I had money and wheels and a love of going to the movies. There was nothing to hold me back, if I wanted to drive over an hour away to see a flick that would never play anywhere near me, I could, I did.

It was also a time when film, especially independent film was on a rise. Studios were learning that gifted filmmakers were out there out who can turn out films that were not only well received but also profitable. This was such a boon for me. I was at that point where I was trying to figure out what exactly the difference between a film and a movie was.

In 1994 the movie on everyone’s lips was Pulp Fiction. I was already considering myself a big Quentin Tarantino fan after Reservoir Dogs. The movie was stylish and hip and bloody all at the same time. Throw on top of that his script for True Romance and Tarantino was quickly one of my new Hollywood heroes. Of course nothing would ever top Pulp Fiction, his masterpiece and the one he’s still remembered most for today.

That same year I started reading about Kevin Smith. There wasn’t an internet then, at least not for me, so news travelled through magazines and Friday/Sunday newspaper articles. It seemed like the talk about Smith and his film Clerks was all the rage on the festival circuits, it was a great story. The young store clerk maxed out his credit cards and funded the movie on his own dime. It became a hit and the dude’s been working steady ever since.

I think it’s fair to say that for better or worse there have been two hugely influential movies in my life. The first, Star Wars, came out when I was six-years old. To say it rocked my young world would be an understatement. It would begin a life long obesession that started out as playing with the toys and evolved into thinking and talking about it all the time with friends.

Clerks would have a similiar effect on me. They say if you watch enough movies eventually you have to see your story up on that screen. Clerks may not have been my personal story, but it was the collective story of just about every friend I had at the time. A movie that spoke about the things we spoke about in ways only the most creative voices could. It dealt with the same issues we were, the characters shared the same passions we did. To this day I still quote the film with friends even though we’ve all moved on to places the characters in the movie seemingly never would.

So that brings us to the magical year of 1997, the year it seemed to all come together. First George Lucas re-released the original Star Wars in the Special Editions. Say what you will about the changes he made to them, it was incredibly exciting to see them on the big screen again. I hadn’t seen the first one in a theater since I was a kid. Yet here we were 20 years later and that six-year old in me was back in that theater. Seeing the Lucasfilms logo and hearing the fanfare in the theater still gives me goosebumps. Yet as cool an experience as that was it was later in the year that would shape another golden age of film.

April saw the release of Chasing Amy. Kevin Smith’s third film and his strongest script yet. Somewhat a departure of his previous works, Chasing Amy told the story of a man who falls in love with a lesbian and what happens when she loves him back. It was funny like his films but the love story was a complex one, heading to places that couldn’t have been guessed. For Smith it was the next step in his growth as a filmmaker.

That summer was a huge at the box office with such blockbusters as Men in Black, Air Force One, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, Face/Off, Batman and Robin, Contact, Con Air, and The Fifth Element. As the summer wound down so did the fanfare at the theater. Smaller and quieter fare was coming out. One of these smaller films was generating a signifigant buzz.

Boogie Nights seemed to come out of nowhere. Paul Thomas Anderson’s film about the porn industry has the most amazing energy in every frame. So many fun scenes; Shooting the first porno scene, the adult movie awards, the Brock Landers/Chest Rockwell scenes, and the awesomeness in the recording studio. But it all builds to one scene, THE scene. The drug deal at Rahad Jackson’s place. The greatest single scene filmed in the last 15 years. Simply amazing use of music in the scene, as well as the rest of the film. It’s one of the few film where I wonder what these characters are doing all these years later.

This all lead to Christmas day and the release of Tarantino’s Jackie Brown. Based on the Elmore Leonard novel Rum Punch, the film was Q.T.’s long awaited followup to Pulp Fiction. A heist film that’s more about the people involved than the event itself. One of the many great scenes is the heist itself. Instead of bogging the story down by keeping track of three sets of characters during the heist, Tarantino shows us the same scene from each perspective. It’s not so much who gets away with what, by why they’re doing it in the first place that makes it matter.

Three great films from three diverse filmmakers, all in one year. Of course there were many other great films released that year, but none feel as important as Chasing Amy, Boogie Nights, and Jackie Brown. Three character driven films about some very unique people thrust from their mundane lives into some very bizarre situations. Three great stories, three great movies. Does it get any better than that?

Movie Review: Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round

boxwatcher — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 02:35:34 GMT

In many ways Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round is typical heist film. A group of con men plan to rob an airport bank while the premier of Russia visits. They have their tools and blueprints, deal with obstacles along the way, and have a lot of fun while doing it. There is a lot to like about it but strangely enough the things that make it work are also its faults.

The film follows Eli Kotch (James Coburn), freshly paroled from prison, as he beds various women and robs them. Always playing whatever part the woman needs him to be, while cleverly leaving vague details for the women to report to the authorities. This happens so many times it becomes tedious. But it soon becomes clear that it’s all part of his plan. See, Kotch has a way of using people to help him with the robbery, but the brilliant part is they don’t realize they’re helping.

Every time he robs a woman, the money is used to bankroll the heist. He tricks one of the women into going to the airport to take pictures, she’s just become his reconnasince without even realizing it. It’s a pretty clever trick the movie plays showing the sleight of hand as a sleight of hand. We’re never told what the plan is we have to figure it out as it happens.

About half way through the film starts to tread into more familiar territory. It’s a credit not just to writer/director Bernard Girard, but also to a time when films like this didn’t have to be cookie cutter. The audience is never given clues or told as to what the plan is, it must be discovered along the way.

It’s a slow burn kind of movie. It’s not until that halfway point that any of what has come before seems to mean anything. The heist is filmed in an almost slice of life fashion. Just like it’s a group of friends on their way to normal day at work. While not your typical, or great, heist film, Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round is worth a watch.

*** out of *****

Book Review: Walking Dead

boxwatcher — Wed, 06 May 2009 21:08:41 GMT

Walking Dead is the latest, and perhaps last, book in the Atticus Kodiak series. What began as a series about personal protection took a 180 degree turn two books ago. At first it was a jarring change that left many questions: How could Atticus not just work with but also fall in love with an assassin? Would he become unrecognizable from the hero of Keeper, Finder, and Smoker? The biggest question was would we see Atticus held accountable for his seeming betrayal of his friends from his previous life?

The book opens with Atticus living in the former Soviet state of Georgia with his lover/girlfriend/wife Alena. Of course after the events of Patriot Acts, they’re living under aliases. Small town living suits the pair well as they are able to stay happy and anonymous . Until one night Atticus stumbles onto an ambush at the neighbors house. The family has been slaughtered. Husband, wife, and son are all killed, even more disturbing is the disappearance of Tiasa, the family’s teenage daughter. After investigating the scene the local police rule it a murder/suicide and close the case. Atticus can’t let it go and begins to track the girl. The trail leads him around the globe to Turkey, Dubai, Amsterdam, and Las Vegas. But it’s the journey into the world of slavery and sex trafficking that is more taxing.

Greg Rucka really knows how write action. Giving just enough detail for readers to envision the scene, but not so much that it slows down the narrative. Making each confrontation easy to visualize and exciting.

But his greatest achievement as a writer is his characterization. Atticus is a constantly evolving character. Long time fans of the series will be able to think back on the early books and see how the Atticus in Walking Dead is in many ways is the man he always wanted to become. This is illustrated greatly with a certain plot twist that plays on Atticus’ story arc from the first book, Keeper. It is this devotion to continuity, but not so devoted that reading the previous installments is necessary, that leads to one of this books best scenes.

At one point Atticus needs help from someone he can trust so he looks up his former girlfriend Bridgett Logan. Logan is a fiery Private Investigator who felt deeply betrayed by his actions. When Atticus finally confronts her, the scene doesn’t play as intense as one would think. At first it felt like a letdown, but after reading the following chapter and realizing that time does indeed heal all wounds it winds up being sweet moment.

Walking Dead is a fun thriller that is easy to read. If it is the last in the Kodiak series then it is a fitting send off. Marking the end of an unlikely evolution that began in Critical Space. While there is hope that there will be more adventures, Atticus is finally in a place where it wouldn’t be necessary.

***** out of *****

More Rapid Reviews

boxwatcher — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 04:00:13 GMT

First up, two more Popcorn Panel reviews.

Monsters Vs. Aliens 3D

For a 3D animated film, Monsters vs. Aliens it falls flat in all other regards. Intended to be a parody of 50’s sci-fi/horror films, it never feels enough like one to work. There are some interesting character moments and a few good gags but overall there is not enough tension to feel there is any real danger. Sometimes a celebrity voice can be be distracting in animation but not here. The actors are all right for the parts. Not a bad movie but not a memorable one either. Save yourself the extra charge and skip the 3D.

Observe and Report

“Observe and Report” is the story of a mall security chief played by Seth Rogen who dreams of becoming a police officer. However, his biggest obstacle is himself. He is clueless in almost every aspect of his life. At one point, in order to impress a girl, he gives her his bipolar medication. Despite his sometimes psychotic behavior, he is very determined to live by a moral code, however twisted it may be. The humor, more akin to “Bad Santa” than “Paul Blart: Mall Cop,” is very dark and uncomfortable, yet very funny and worth the price of admission.

Now on to the other films.

I Love You, Man

Any project featuring both Paul Rudd and Jason Segel gets my immediate attention. This movie, about a groom’s search to make a friend to be his best man, is full of laughs and most of them come from Rudd. He has this uncanny ability to be the guy who never quite fits into any crowd. The humor is mined from people in normal, albeit awkward situations. Funny people just being funny, end of story.

**** out of *****

Duplicity

Duplicity stars Julia Roberts and Clive Owen as a pair of corporate spies playing two business against each other. It’s a caper film along the lines of Ocean’s 11, just not as exciting. It’s funny and Roberts and Owen make a good couple but the rapid fire dialogue gets a little repetitive. I hate to say it but there was too much talking and not enough stealing.

*** out of *****

Sunshine Cleaning

This years Little Miss Sunshine/Indie darling. Quirky story about a pair of sisters who start a business cleaning up crime scenes. Along the way they deal with parental deaths, infidelity, and quirkiness! Parts work and the cast is good but the screenplay comes off as cliche ridden. Flawed but still somewhat likable.

** out of *****

17 Again

Your basic “It’s a Wonderful Life” type story. Nothing special but it is very funny mostly due to Thomas Lennon. Zac Efron is just entertaining enough to carry this light-weight little comedy. Nothing special but good for a few laughs.

*** out of *****

Earth

Disney is relaunching their Nature films with one called Earth. Following families of Polar Bears, Elephants, and Whales for one year. If you watch a lot of Discovery Channel or Animal Planet the content probably won’t be anything you haven’t seen before but, the visuals are worth the cost of admission.

**** out of *****

A look at Wrestlemania 25

boxwatcher — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 07:08:37 GMT

Another Wrestlemania is in the books and I can’t believe it’s been 25 years since this all started. I wasn’t yet a wrestling fan when the first ‘mania took place back in 1985. It’s kind of funny to watch the event now, there was an aura about it but, the production standards were so low compared to now. A year later I was now hooked on the WWF. When Wrestlemania 2 took place I had no access to Pay Per View, and didn’t get to see the event until the VHS came out. But starting with Wrestlemania 3 I’ve seen each one either on closed circuit (’mania’s 3, 4, & 5), or on Pay Per View. I’ve even been fortunate enough to see three of them live (’mania’s 8, 13, and 23). If you’re a wrestling fan it’s a fun event. So how was this year’s edition?

Money In The Bank Ladder Match- Shelton Benjamin vs. Christian vs. CM Punk vs. Finlay vs. Kane vs. Kofi Kingston vs. Mark Henry vs. M.V.P.

These matches are fun. Every Wrestlemania for the last several years have included this match. The deal is you have eight wrestlers fighting for a briefcase hanging over the ring. Inside the case is a contract that can be redeemed for a title match within one year; any title, any time, any where. The only way to win is to climb a ladder in the middle of the ring, and unhook the case, while trying to keep the other guys from knocking you off.

Every year the contract has been used to win the title. The good thing about this years bout was feeling like at least half the field had a good chance at victory. Kingston impressed with his athleticism and Benjamin, a staple in this contest, did his usual crazy leap from an 18 foot ladder. In the end CM Punk wins for the second year in a row. Good match with lots of crazy “High Spots”.

Grade: B+

Next up is a ten minute performance by Kid Rock. I have nothing against this but it took like ten minutes and felt like a time waster. Especially considering the tag team unification match was moved to before the broadcast. Eliminating the music performance would have opened up some time for that bout.

25 Diva battle Royal- 25 women battling it out for the title of “Miss Wrestlemania” Instead of individual introductions all 25 participants came down during Kid Rock’s last song. The match itself was pretty tame and was won by “Santina Morella”, AKA Santinio Marella in drag. Marella is funny but he’s also a good wrestler, I hope they reward him for doing this.

Grade: C-

Handicap Elimination Match- Chris Jericho vs. “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, and Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat w/ Ric Flair in their corner and Mickey Rourke at ringside.

Chris Jericho is possibly the best villain in the business right now. He speaks with a quiet confidence that really sells his belief that he is better than all of us. Starting last January he’s been dogging Mickey Rourke of the movie “The Wrestler”. Saying how Rourke and the movie are indicative of the older generation of wrestlers that just can’t give it up. Pointing out how sad and pathetic he views these men. Over the weeks he’s physically and verbally abused not just the men in this match but also Jerry “The King” Lawler and “Nature Boy” Ric Flair.

This match went down the way most expected it to. Snuka was out first, “Superfly” is 65 and just can’t go like he used to. Next up was Roddy Piper was eliminated. Piper put up a fight but years of abuse have taken their toll. Steamboat then came in and wowed the crowd. Steamboat is one of the most under appreciated wrestlers of all time. At age 56 he showed he still has gas left in the tank. Alas “The Dragon” was pinned cleanly by Jericho, who then beat on Flair. Afterwards Rourke came to the ring and the former boxer pounded on Jericho who then fled. Good match and by letting Jericho pin the three legends it cements him as a legitimate threat.

Grade: B+

Extreme Rules Match- Matt Hardy vs. Jeff Hardy

Brother vs. Brother in an anything goes type match. Jeff’s popularity has really exploded in the last couple of years and he was rewarded with a WWE Championship reign. Matt playing jealous brother turned on Jeff and cost him the title at the Royal Rumble. It’s been a slow build to this match ever since. Both men are great wrestlers and put on a decent match. However the crowd wasn’t into a match that never felt epic. Despite two really cool high spots by Jeff, the match was flat. Considering how good they are this one was a disappointment.

Grade: C

WWE Intercontinental Title Match- J.B.L. (C) vs. Rey Mysterio

Rey is comic book fan. At past Mania’s he’s worn masks paying tribute The Flash and The Silver Surfer, this year it was Heath Ledger’s Joker. It looked stupid and seemed weird. Not as stupid as the match which saw Mysterio capture the strap in 21 seconds. It was rumored J.B.L. would retire and after losing he simply said “I Quit” and stomped out.

Grade: D-

The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels

Going in to this match The Undertaker was 16-0 in Wrestlemania matches. Micahaels is “Mr. Wrestlemania” having some of the most classic matches in the history of the event. This bout was an amazing spectacle. Lasting just over a half hour, both men hit their signature moves only to come up short time and time again. In the end Taker’s streak survives yet another year. This match really felt important for a non-title affair. Most likely match of the year.

Grade: A+

World Heavyweight Championship- Edge (C) vs. John Cena vs. Big Show

Triple threat match the ended up being better than it probably should have. All three guys put on a good show but the match would have been better if it had just been Edge defending against Cena with Big Show in his corner. Still it was impressive when Cena lifted Big Show (485 lbs) on his back with Edge (250 lbs) on Show’s back. Cena gets the win and captures the World Title.

Grade: B

WWE Championship- Triple H (C) vs. Randy Orton

Orton, has done a great job playing heel the last several years. Of all his dastardly actions none were as bad as assaulting Hunter’s wife, Stephanie McMahon during various times over the last couple of months. After spending all this time raising the stakes for this match it should have been an violent fight. Instead it was just okay. Weak ending but some decent stuff leading up to the finish which saw H.H.H. retain his belt but never feeling like he got his revenge.

Grade: C+

Overall Wrestlemania 25 was a pretty solid affair. The good was able to overshadow the bad but, not make you forget it’s shortcomings. One thing that detracted was shoddy direction. Big spots were ruined by bad camera angles. There were even a few spots where the announcers commented on something that wasn’t even shown or replayed. Having said that, the wrestlers, for the most part, seemed up for the show and did a decent to great job telling their stories. At $54.95, $10 more for HD, the WWE charges more for this show than it’s other Pay Per Views during the year. Was it worth it? Yeah, I think so, but not by much.

Overall Grade: B-

Movie Review: Knowing

boxwatcher — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 02:28:54 GMT

Nicolas Cage can be a great actor. Looking at his IMDB.com listing you find his films run the gamut from truly great (Leaving Las Vegas, Adaptation, Matchstick Men, The Weather Man, Raising Arizona, etc..) to the, well, downright terrible (Ghost Rider, The Wicker Man, etc) and all points in between. Lately his films have been closer to the down side of things. At first glance Knowing didn’t look to be anything special.

It’s 1959 and a new middle school is opening. As a class project each student is drawing a picture to place in a time capsule. Move forward to 2009 for the capsule opening. When the contents are handed out Caleb Koestler (Chandler Canterbury) is given one. He unfolds it to find not a picture, but a list of numbers. Luckily his dad John (Nicolas Cage), is a professor at MIT. He soon uncovers the pattern hidden in the numbers. They detail the date, location, and how many people died in every disaster of the last fifty years. Including three events that have yet to occur. Thus sets in motion a race to figure out the greater meaning behind it all.

Director Alex Proyas is this films biggest strength. He brings the same sense of dread from his previous films (The Crow, Dark City) but places it in more familiar surroundings. Horror filmmakers would do well to recruit Proyas. The scenes in the woods when Caleb receives mysterious visitors are chilling. The camera and the lighting combine to give the strangers an eerie look. The actors body language never tips off their intentions.

The film also scores points for being terrifying in parts. The plane crash is shown in one continuous shot. As it comes down there is a horror of seeing something like that happen but, not being able to do anything. The chaotic aftermath drives home the fact that the list is real, and more people will die.

The ending is a little problematic. Some people will have a hard time accepting it. It’s a something of a tonal shift from the rest of the film. It’s also somewhat clumsily telegraphed early on in some expository dialogue. It’s still affective but this will be a deal-breaker for some viewers.

Knowing is a completely wonderful surprise. Cage is not necessarily at the top of his game but he is as good as the material needs him to be. Alex Proyas does wonders blending high concept Sci-Fi elements, all the while never losing the human aspect of it all. When looking at the quality of the films he has directed it’s not difficult to imagine that he is only a breakout away from being an A-list director.

**** out of *****

Brad, Ty & Scott Make a Porno

viewfromthecheapseats@gmail.com (View From the Cheap Seats) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 02:40:46 GMT

After seeing Kevin Smith’s new movie ZACH & MIRI MAKE A PORNO, we locked ourselves in Brad’s van for an hour and this is what happened.

In advance, we apologize for actually recording this and putting it on the internet. Stuff that was said and done in that van is probably better off forgotten.

VFTCS V2 #1– The Return

viewfromthecheapseats@gmail.com (View From the Cheap Seats) — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:45:32 GMT

Not a hoax and not an imaginary story. And definitely not an April Fool’s joke. Here it is– View From the Cheap Seats Version 2, #1 featuring Brad, Ty & Scott discussing the comic and the movie of DC’s THE NEW FRONTIER. Sit back and enjoy!

VFTCS EP 40 - TV Talk

viewfromthecheapseats@gmail.com (View From the Cheap Seats) — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 17:04:10 GMT

We recorded an episode and lost it so we recorded again and this is what you get. All I remember is we talked some TV.

Enjoy.

VFTCS Ep 10

viewfromthecheapseats@gmail.com (View From the Cheap Seats) — Tue, 06 Dec 2005 17:58:51 GMT

Top Albums

VFTCS Ep 9- The Avengers

viewfromthecheapseats@gmail.com (View From the Cheap Seats) — Tue, 22 Nov 2005 17:57:06 GMT

The New Avengers, the Young Avengers and the Ultimates. Which ones should you be reading right now?

VFTCS Ep 8- Revenge of the Geeks

viewfromthecheapseats@gmail.com (View From the Cheap Seats) — Mon, 07 Nov 2005 17:55:10 GMT

The episode where we geek out over Revenge of the Sith DVD

VFTCS Ep 7– All Things Batman

viewfromthecheapseats@gmail.com (View From the Cheap Seats) — Tue, 25 Oct 2005 17:53:50 GMT

We’re back for another go at this, looking at the recent release of Batman films on DVD.

VFTCS Ep 6

viewfromthecheapseats@gmail.com (View From the Cheap Seats) — Tue, 11 Oct 2005 17:52:21 GMT

We talk about everything from Google Reader to cute girls at Best Buy to help Ty out. This one includes all that plus talk about Serenity/Firefly soundtracks.

VFTCS Ep 5- Finding Serenity

viewfromthecheapseats@gmail.com (View From the Cheap Seats) — Sun, 02 Oct 2005 17:50:47 GMT

As fans of Joss Whedon’s Firefly, did you really think that we were going to miss the opportunity to talk about Serenity?

VFTCS Ep 4

viewfromthecheapseats@gmail.com (View From the Cheap Seats) — Mon, 19 Sep 2005 17:45:22 GMT

Ty & Scott (sans Brad tonight) talk newer comics- including Full Moon Fever, Yotsuba, All Star Batman, Astonishing X-Men and Warren Ellis.