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A Stylish, Cool, Neo-Noir is "Drive"

2011-10-18T11:54:00.000-07:00

Moving at a steady and at times slow pace is key to the drama Drive. It is the movie that takes its time moving through the streets of L.A. while exploring an anti-hero whose clear purpose is to drive and drive only.
A stunt driver by day, getaway driver by night, this man-with-no-name maneuvers his life under his terms that he determines. He has control, he calls the shots. This is his code that points him in the direction of right and wrong, even if those extremes are not exactly the most clear.

But when he confronted with some choices to make, one in order to help his close financially challenged friend, Shannon, the other befriending the his next door neighbor, Irene, and her son whose husband is in jail. It is his difficult choices to live his life from job to job or live as someone who is to help and protect those who are closest to him.

His skills are clearly defined in the opening chase sequence, and define the rest of the film as that does not blow the audience away with over the top action sequences but a film that takes its time to make details of the chase count. From the music and the non-existence of dialogue, sound takes center stage creating an atmosphere of anxiousness which immediately gravitates the audience to our "Driver".

From the pink font glistening over the opening credits, to the unknown electric soundtrack and score, to souped Impalas and Mustangs, to the Driver's sweet scorpion emblazoned silver jacket, this film is screaming with style and substance. Essentially expressing cool.

This oozing of cool is noticed in the ultimate look of the film, a look that contributes to the neo-noir look and feel of the film. Night shots are made to look like night shots, little lighting; whereas day shots are clearly day shots where there is strong natural lighting. But whether it is day or night, The Driver is entangled amidst the thousands of miles of road that makes up Los Angeles. These exterior shots are an ode to the city similar to how Michael Mann paid tribute to the city in Collateral and Heat. This film carries that same tone while applying neo-noir details that which are exclaimed in the main character, The Driver.

While The Driver navigates through cavernous roads of L.A. but he also trying to entangle himself from the predicatment with some not so kind thugs. The Driver is an anti-hero who loses control of his reality but it when this control is lost that the film takes an unexpected more violent turn, a turn that picks up the pace of the film and changes the tone of the film as a whole.

The pacing of the film and identification of the Driver as a hero who clearly does not want to be a hero but is force to be allows the audience to enjoy the ultimate coolness and style that the movie expresses and wants to show off. It is this style in which the film takes on a neo-noir tone that makes this film unique and in the end cool.

"How can you not be romantic about baseball?"

2011-09-27T17:24:00.000-07:00

"Moneyball" is a term coined to characterized the way business was done by the Oakland A's during the 2002 MLB season.

Moneyball is a non-fiction book by Michael Lewis that follows Oakland A's general manager, Billy Beane, and how he sparked a dramatic change in philosophy not only amongst the Oakland A's ball club but also throughout baseball.

Moneyball is a fictionalized film based upon the events of the 2002 Oakland A's and how Billy Beane created a playoff and record-breaking team using the fraction of a payroll than his counterparts.Now while the 2002 Oakland A's did not win the World Series that season, it should be noted that they made the playoffs and set an American League record with a 20-game winning streak. And they accomplished this by spending within their means, that is to say, frugally.

Moneyball, the film, authentically visualizes the game of baseball from the perspective of a unique character by the name of Billy Beane. Billy Beane is a man who has grown up with baseball, right from high school to where he is today. He was a highly touted prospect of the New York Mets, but proved to nothing but a bust, bouncing around from team to team before becoming a scout for the Oakland A's.

Baseball, as seen in the film, is a frustrating, harsh, and stubborn sport. Billy has experienced this. It is a sport that prides itself in its tradition and storytelling while expressing this history through statistics and numbers. It is its tradition and numbers that make the game as frustrating as it is rewarding and best describes the career that Billy Beane has made for himself.

Having developed some of the best young talent in Major League Baseball and coming off a heartbreaking playoff loss to the not so frugal New York Yankees, Billy Beane is faced with an issue of replacing three key pieces to that playoff team while staying within the confines of Oakland's $40 Million or so payroll.

To accomplish this Beane is forced to look at numbers that do not follow a dollar sign but rather numbers that create wins. Given his simple-minded payroll, the game of replacing top talent is simplified to how does one create wins. One create wins by scoring runs. One creates runs by getting on base.

It is these sort of numbers and how efficient a hitter is based on how much they are spending makes perfect economical sense, however not baseball sense.

The application of economics from a statistics point of view was an idea tossed since the 1980's, but was never seen as a reliable form of creating a ball club until the Oakland A's won 20 straight games in 2002. They were a competitive baseball team that was not supposed win on paper.

Moneyball is a thoughtful and authentic film about not only baseball but a man's love for the game that has, at times, not been the most sincere to him. The film recreates this in not only his playing days but also during the fabled 2002 season, as he faces critics from baseball pundits and challenges that his job and in jeopardy.

However, it is Baseball that is challenged by Billy Beane. The game that he develops a so-called romance for is forced to evolve itself and see numbers in ways, forms, and angles. He was able to win when all the odds were stacked against him. And that is what this film accomplishes wonderfully in depicting a subject that may be difficult to understand even by the casual baseball fan. It depicts how this team won and its significance of winning consistently when they were not supposed to.

Success in the game he loves is what matters to Billy Beane. Though he has yet to win a World Series title, his significance has already impacted the game and in some respects that is already a recipe for success.

It's Fast, it's Furious, and probably the best in the series

2011-05-06T21:12:00.000-07:00

Just when you thought the Fast & Furious franchise was old, dull, borning, and pretty much the same as any of the others, think again.

Fast Five or Fast and Furious 5 or The Fast and the Furious 5: Rio Heist, whatever you may call, is clearly on its own an action movie, that makes the franchise relevant once again in mainstream media (over $80 Million in its first weekend) and well keeps us wanting more, setting up for a possible sixth edition.

While the original The Fast and the Furious is quite simply about illegal street racing and other illegal activities that might be included in that environment, Fast Five enters the world of heist films, a theme that was frequented in and out of the four other films but none of which were executed as well as the most recent.

One may compare this film to Ocean's 11 films, given the twists and turns of the heist and the improbable double take that which Ocean's films deliver.

However, Fast Five accomplishes this heist by destroying the infrastructure of Rio De Janeiro in way cool and awesomely built super cars. While the action sequences border on the ridiculous (specifically the film's final action sequence), there is still reason and some sort of sense to this insanity. It is throughly entertaining and wildly spectacular, which makes the idea ridiculous seem more normal.

And what makes this film work very well is the engaging characters, who span all five movies. The characters are simple and create a sense a family, a theme that is pounded over the head of audiences, but in the end makes these people more human and identifiable.

As the years have past and more Fast & Furious have been released, the franchise has grown up much how the characters have grown up too. The film is still centralized about an obsession of automobiles and the unbelievable feats that which these vehicles can be stretched, but is also grown into an ideal action flick that is fit with action superstars, gun battles that resemble Western shootouts, and villains who we all love to hate.

The fact that the franchise has grown, to this point, into a heist movie, simply shows the durability of the franchise and spells that there are no bounds in creating story lines from something simple as fast cars.

Fast Five is film that works in this action/heist genre and is shows its worth and effort. Director Justin Lin has taken the franchise to new heights and shows there is still more the story of Fast & Furious crew, where ever in the world they may be, in whatever fast cars they will drive. This a perfect movie to start off the summer, an ideal blockbuster.

Believe it, baseball is here

2011-03-29T13:39:00.000-07:00

It was a refreshing site to see the Giants under the lights at AT&T Park once again. It was refreshing to see the stands pack to the gills for an exhibition game, where there was no bobble head giveaway and Tim Lincecum was not pitching. What does this mean? It means the champs are back.

While questions still remain on whom will make the final 25 on Thursday, one thing is certain, the San Francisco Giants title defense will begin on Thursday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

For the Giants to repeat as champions, they will need the same sort of events to fall in place once again. They will need the timely hitting from the expected and unexpected sources. They will need the stellar defense that was indestructible against opponents. And they will need their pitching to be elite as it was last year.

All of these keys all count on the Giants ability to stay healthy, avoid complacency, and assure the goal to win a championship still matters. Staying healthy is what many feel could make or break this team. This was a team that had all of the right parts moving a the right time and staying off the disabled list was one of those key components.

One of those parts is NLCS MVP Cody Ross, whose strained calf will put him on the 15-day disabled list to start the season. The loss of his bat in the lineup will hurt but the bigger issue that stands is who will replace Ross in right field. Will it be Aubrey Huff in right instead of first? Will Brandon Belt make the leap to the show and start in the outfield or first base? These questions and others invovling the roles of Aaron Rowand, Travis Ishikawa, and Nate Schierholtz are all issues that Bruce Bochy and Brian Sabean will have to figure out by Thursday.

Another involves the status of closer Brian Wilson. While much of the attention has been paid to his offseason antics and his forest of a beard, an oblique muscle strain may keep Wilson out of action. He was not with the team Monday night and did not make the trip back the Bay Area with the team on Sunday. Wilson stayed back in Arizona to test out his body in some bullpen sessions, which will determine his status for the beginning of the season, but it is looking more and more he will begin the season on the disabled list.

Aside from injury issues, another includes the throwing elbow of Matt Cain, which may be alright for now, the Giants made very little changes to the core of the team, losing Juan Uribe, Eugenio Velez, and World Series MVP Edgar Renteria and adding shortstop Miguel Tejada. Let's face it the loss of Renteria hurts only for the fact is a hero in Giants lore and the loss of Uribe hurts simply because he is now a Dodger. But the chemistry that made last year's team a group of misfits is still intact and then some.

Though he has mostly been forgotten ever since being put on a permanent disabled list, Mark DeRosa is back healthy *fingers crossed* and could be a key utility player off the bench for a team that could use that kind of flexibility. His 2010 is entirely forgettable, as he tries to find a form that would prove his bat is worthy to be in the lineup, let alone worthy enough to be on the team.

2010 was a year to forget for the Kung Fu Panda, Pablo Sandoval, as well. However, 40 pounds lost, a new panda is reborn, hoping to recapture the same form he had during the 2009 campaign. Pablo has shown glimpses of great both at the plate but also with his glove, showing off his agility and quickness for a man his size.

In order for the Giants to recreate the magic of 2010, standouts such as Andres Torres, Freddy Sanchez, Aubrey Huff, Pat Burrell, and Buster Posey must all contribute in key moments as they did last season.

Torres and Sanchez were the table setters hitting one and two in a lineup that needed these two to get on base in order for its offense to perform the way it did. Torres' baserunning was effective as well, finally making someone from the Giants a danger on the base paths, while Sanchez's acrobatic defensive plays backed the pitching in which relied heavily on its defense to make the team roll.

Huff was the team's leader in homers and RBIs and to be cheesy, provided part of the heart and soul of the Giants along with his partner in crime, Pat Burrell.

Burrell hit 18 homers in his time with the Giants, which began in late May and early June, including clutch homers down stretch, which chugged the Giants along into the postseason.

And finally there is Buster, who had the monumental task of handling the best pitching staff in Major League Baseball, while jump starting an offense that was in desperate need of a boost in the month of May last year on his way to the NL Rookie of the Year award. His presence in the lineup changed the dynamic of how those hit before and after him. As he became more patient at the plate, the rest followed his lead, leading to better at bats up and down the lineup.

Pitching has been the story of the Giants and will continue the Giants. Last season was very strenuous on all the starting arms on the staff.

Tim Lincecum continues to be the face of the staff and the franchise, leading the National League in strikeouts for the third consecutive year and outpitching the likes of Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee in the playoffs last year.

Matt Cain, while struggled at times during the spring with an inflamed elbow, appears to be ready and carry an edge of consistency with him to 2011.

Sanchez hopes to be just as nasty and reach the 200+ strikeouts once again and find more consistency from start to start.

Madison Bumgarner hopes to dominate and mystify opponents once again in his first full season in the Majors. And then there is Barry Zito, whom every Giants loves to blame every little problem the team has on.

Zito was left off the playoff roster, a phrase he probably heard a number of times in the offseason. However, for the Giants to succeed, the team needs Zito. As much as he may not like it and others, Zito is a great number four or five starter. Though an overpaid one, Zito is key for the Giants if a starter is to go down onto the disabled list. Zito has not missed a start due to injury in his tenure with the Giants, so whether you like or not, Zito is an important member of the San Francisco Giants.

So while questions remain on the last remaining spots for the 2011 opening day roster, the Giants appear ready and set for their title defense, fully aware of the target on their backs. To repeat as champions is incredibly difficult in baseball, let alone all sports today. The last MLB team to repeat was the New York Yankees in 2000. The last National League team to do it was the 1979 Cincinnati Reds. So the odds are definitely against the Giants, who expect to be challenged but are welcoming the challenge, as champions of baseball. The Giants are back.

Sharks Turn a Corner; A Sharks fan is born again

2011-02-01T23:46:00.000-08:00

I am going to be honest here. I have not been following the San Jose Sharks at all. Maybe it is because they have caused me much disappointment for most of this past decade. Maybe it is a result of a World Series Championship, where anything less is just plain inferior to all, which the Sharks have been. Maybe it is because the Sharks have been good, but inconsistent, a theme that does not match regular season performances of the last few years rather representing the team's sour playoff performances instead.

Any of the above, is absolutely correct. However, this evening, the team showed something that has been rarely seen this year, a win, a comeback, that is not only convincing, but gives one, myself, confidence anything is possible.
Entering this evening, the Sharks have garnered 56 points in 50 games played, on the outside of the playoff picture as the ninth seed.

These stats are a unfamiliar territory for a franchise that has made the playoffs six straight seasons. It is unfamiliar for many fans, including myself, who have expected dominance by a team that has some of the most notable and top players in the game.

However, with the exit of Evgeni Nabokov and a heavy reliance on a string of players from San Jose's AHL affiliate, the Worcester Sharks, the 2010/2011 Sharks have somewhat underachieved, even after an exit from last year's Western Conference Finals.

So when the Sharks fell behind the Phoenix Coyotes, 3-0 in the second period, this performance the team gave thus far, is equivalent to the team we have seen most of this season. A feeling that makes one think, there is no way the Sharks can come back against a tough squad in the form of the Coyotes. And yet, those expectations are dashed just short of a half-hour in hockey time.

Middle of the second period, Antti Niemi is pulled from goal, and Alex Stalock enters his first NHL game. Just before the end of the second, Pavelski nets a power play goal to give the hometown fans something to cheer.

About 90 seconds into the third, Pavelski scores another, inquiring that a come back is possible. And just a four minutes later, Kyle Wellwood, a player I never even heard of or recognize and probably still will not be able to recognize, scores the game tying goal, putting the tank into a frenzy, and giving the fans a hint of what this team is all about.

The scoring rampage came as a result of the Sharks' charge into the zone rather its saunter that has been all too familiar and frustrating for me to watch. Shooting from all angles, creating chances rather than pushing the puck to the net, resulted in scoring opportunities and goals. A fresh sight, that was a pleasure to see. At this moment, it dawned it me: these Sharks are finally fun to watch.

The Sharks were the aggressors and even on the penalty kill they were able to throw the Coyotes out of rhythm. It was this type of play that enabled them to take the lead on a shorthanded goal by none other than Patrick Marleau, who was celebrated before tonight's show for playing 1,000th career game.

Added with a empty net goal by Joe Thornton and a stellar half-hour in net by Alex Stalock, earning his first career NHL victory, the Sharks have saved their season.

As many of us have recognized, it does not matter where a team finishes the season, as long as that finish within those top eight spots. Anything after that is any teams game, which makes the Sharks dangerous.

The Sharks are a team with playoff experience, be it experiences that are synonymous with defeat, but are nonetheless dangerous because of what they can be. All that matters is that they find a spot in the playoffs, and see where they go from there.

The Sharks have proven to lose your expectations and play the game. A theme that fits the game tonight and a theme for a team that is underachieving but may be reachieving at just the right time. And whether reachieving is a word or not, it does not matter because it is what the Sharks are doing and what make this writer a fan of the Sharks once again.

PLUS: A video that is bit outdated, but nonetheless, will pump you up.

Must See TV: The NHL Winter Classic

2011-01-01T02:32:00.000-08:00

As the New Year has come, today marks not only a day for college football but also a day for the NHL, specifically, the NHL Winter Classic. Now in its fourth year, this is probably the most compelling matchup of all, pitting not only two of the top teams in the NHL, and probably the league's most intriguing rivalry, with the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Washington Capitals, but also its two brightest young stars, and probably the top two players in all of the world: Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby and Washington's Alexander Ovechkin.

However, this is the first year HBO's "24/7" has covered the weeks leading up to the game and deservingly so being that this game pits boxing match of its own with Crosby and Ovechkin, which has created more hype and interest in the event than ever.

Being postponed to primetime (NBC - 8 ET, 5 PT) to go against two college bowl games is all the better to see how the sport matches up in the eyes of America. And mixing up a true and modern rivalry with the top two players in all of hockey makes this matchup, which is just another game on an 82 game schedule for each team, bigger than any other regular season game thus far.

HBO's series "24/7" has long done a masterful job since its inception covering the weeks leading up to boxing's top fights the last couple of years, starting with Mayweather and De La Hoya. Now the series has shifted its focus to the sport of hockey, much like boxing seeks this necessary exposure in order gain much deserved notoriety.

The series exposes the behind the scenes, as it usually does, but does it in a manner in which the players, coaches, training staff, etc. are not just those respective aspects of their team but characters in a dramatic film, leading to the culmination and climax that is the NHL Winter Classic. All aspects of the team are investigated and shown to most public audiences for the first time.

Whether if its showing a player getting stitches following a puck in the face or pregame rituals that which players go through day in and day out, "24/7" has done a marvelous job showing parts of the game of hockey that are rarely seen or even mentioned in sports talk shows or even during an NHL game.

And it is not only those behind the scene aspects that which make this particular run of "24/7" unique but also its storytelling of the games that which involve both of these teams. Specifically, their coverage of most recent clash between the Caps and the Pens was a remarkable ride, establishing an arc that could have been only written on the ice.

Just like how "24/7" hypes up a top prize boxing match, the Washington Capitals and the Pittsburgh Penguins are being hyped up as not only the strong rivals they are but also establishing to audiences the grind and toll that an NHL season takes out on both teams, even leading to the NHL Winter Classic.

It is rare, if at all, that we are treated to such a magnificent piece of television, along with matching it with special matchup between two unique and special teams. Doubly so, it makes all more special that this game will broadcast in primetime, on national TV, showcasing a sport that was meant to be played in the outdoors with its best two players going toe-to-toe.

So stay tuned to tomorrow's Winter Classic and take a look at the finale of "24/7 - Penguins/Capitals: Road to the NHL Winter Classic" on Wednesday January 5th at 10PM on HBO. Both will be a treat.

An undeserving sequel to complete an unnecessary trilogy

2010-12-30T15:11:00.000-08:00

The collision of Robert DeNiro's hard nosed, mob-like exterior with Ben Stiller's comedic aloofness provided the classic that is 2000's Meet the Parents. Add the star power and talent of Barbra Streisand and Dustin Hoffman to play Stiller's parents in the amusing 2004's Meet the Fockers, it is only fitting that a third and final film that entail the next chapter in this long tale between DeNiro's Jack Byrnes and Stiller's Greg Focker, right?

No, not really actually. Though Little Fockers is amusing through cheap sex jokes and little kids swearing, the film is not at all necessary and blemishes the films that precede it, all in all hurt the franchise as a whole and makes one hopeful that this will be the last of the Focker-franchise.

Little Fockers starts with Greg and Pam Focker bearing twins, a boy and a girl prepping for their day-to-day troubles with two kids while trying to set-up their fifth birthday, whom both the Byrnes and the Fockers are invited to.

Things begin to be twisted when the incredibly attractive Andi Garcia, a drug sales representative, enlists Greg to be a pitchman to sell a new erectile dysfunction drug.

Greg is reluctant at first but he eventually sees the financial incentives involved, being that Jack has also asked Greg to be the Byrnes family patriarch after Jack suffers a mild heart attack.

Little Fockers provides the typical arc seen in all three films where Jack becomes suspicious of Greg in a some way or another, however, this film achieves this but comedically suffers, taking in jokes that most might consider obscene, easy, and possibly not funny at all.

Both Stiller and DeNiro when paired together provide most of the film's laughter, whether it is them being confused for a gay couple or when Greg helps Jack with a certain erectile issue.

Little Fockers is a film that relies heavily on its precedents in Meet the Parents and Meet the Fockers, from which most of the film's comedy is rooted from. Although this is the case, the film is still mild funny despite its undeserving title within this unnecessary trilogy of films.

Lee going to Philly and how this affects the Giants

2010-12-14T00:24:00.001-08:00

Cliff Lee is going back to the city of Brotherly Love, according sources at FoxSports.com. Lee spurns for the Phillies for reportedly less money than what he would receive from either the New York Yankees or the Texas Rangers. Rumors are to be the deal is for about five years, $100 million.

Though it seemed as a long shot for the Phillies to land Lee, who was commanding Sabathia-like money from both the Yankees or Rangers, that long shot is a reality.

Lee's addition to the Phillies makes their rotation maybe the most dominant in all of baseball. Phillies scored last winter by adding Roy Halladay who did not disappoint, earning the NL Cy Young Award. Along with the addition of Roy Oswalt at the trade deadline, they already displayed a foreboding rotation with the Roy's and Cole Hamels, but with the addition of Lee, this rotation could potentially dominate all of baseball and march them right towards October baseball.

At first glimpse, by the Phillies adding Lee to rotation just doesn't seem fair. The two teams who were the leading suitors for Lee are truly and utterly stunned.

The Rangers is no longer without an ace and the Yankees have realized that money does not talk always, losing out not only on Carl Crawford, if they were ever in the running, and now Lee, possibly the man on the top of their wish list this winter

But as shocking and surprising a move to the Phillies was for Lee, it was just as comical for myself.

Cliff Lee becomes apart of a staff that has the names of Halladay, Oswalt, and Hamels, all of whom, including Lee can be the aces of a pitching staff anywhere in baseball. It is a rotation that has been picked and pulled together to be the best but not must live to the question, can they be the best?

No matter how forboding this rotation may be, all four these Philadelphia pitchers lost to the San Francisco Giants in the 2010 postseason.

No matter how dominant their numbers can be on paper and how anemic the Giants offense was supposed to be they all got out-dueled by San Francisco's bright set of young, home grown arms.

Though I still may be riding high on a World Series title, a home grown staff of Lincecum, Cain, Sanchez, and Bumgarner is still just as impressive and dominant and maybe even more so than the Phillies.

Nonetheless, Cliff Lee signing with the Phillies has shook the baseball world to its core, easily making the Phillies one of the early favorites in 2011.

Though this presents a threat to the Giants and their title defense, look for more spectacular pitching matchups between the two clubs this season, as both are prime to contend once again for a pennant and a World Series title as both are going to sport the top two pitching staffs in all of baseball.

Two Great Weeks: The Giants and Manny Pacquiao

2010-11-28T11:28:00.000-08:00

During my long hiatus, many events have occurred that have either should garnered my attention here but now otherwise gone unnoticed because of various reasons. In this hiatus, I traveled to the Philippines and learned: a 3G network doesn't really exist in this country, WiFi is a wonderful thing, baseball is not really a big thing, that dancing and performance in any sort of event is meaningful no matter what Flo Rida song you may use, Manny Pacquiao is king of the world, and gay horses are apparently the in thing. But we'll that point for another day.I begin my recap, with the world champion San Francisco Giants. While their popularity was breaking through before I left for the Philippines, as they won the division on the last day of the season, escaped Atlanta in four one-run ball games. People were starting to take notice, which was surprising but amazing to see.

From watching the games on my phone or whatever ESPN International decides to show early in the morning, I was unable to gauge the popularity of the San Francisco Giants from a country half-way around the world. It was not until I got back to the Bay Area. It was the night of Game 2, and from my aisle seat and over my mother's shoulder, PR104 circled around the bay and what happened to veer into my view, none other AT&T Park lit up on the 28th of October of all days. It finally hit me, the Giants were in October Baseball and beyond that even. The Giants were in the World Series!

Winding through the customs lines, I never overheard so many people talking about the Giants and even decked out in Giants gear. Even the customs agents were talking about the Rangers' bullpen collapse as the kept on walking in runs in the bottom of the 8th. Even my brother was tuned in on his phone, making friends along the way because of the magic that was happening.

It was something that has been unseen and unheard of. I never knew of so many people rooting for the Giants at one time. It was magical, it was amazing, it made me happy. The parade confirmed that revelation. Whether there are the true die hards or the bandwagon fans, the Giants were able to convert believers in the beautiful game of baseball making new fans and confirming the belief in those who had already been.

Next, the man that is Manny Pacquiao is utterly destructive machine, who means no harm unless you get in his way towards greatness. While Antonio Margarito was not an opponent worth dreading over or even worthy having a fight with Pacquiao in the first place, he was a tall, strong, and natural welterweight, one who's size is something Pacquiao has never faced and it showed.

Pacquiao absolutely dominated Margarito. His size, however, proved to be a difference ebtween a decision and a knockout, as Margarito just got pummeled, Pacquiao began to understand the this is one big man, and even his strength would not be able to topple him. Even Pacquiao took some shots that hurt him but by no means not as bad as the licks Margarito was inflicted upon.

This fight may have decided what the future may hold for Manny Pacquiao. Manny will most likely not go up in any more weight classes, rather stay in the welterweight or even lighter. But who would be up for the fight against the best "Pound for Pound" fighter in the world?

A matchup against Juan Manuel Marquez seems likely, as their previous two fights had been absolute battles with the first resulting in a draw and the other in a controversial split decision to the Pacman. A rematch against Miguel Cotto seems likely as well, with both each to be able to make some good money if they were to square off again. But a fight that all want to see is a fight, in my opinion, will never happen.

Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s dodger act is further cemented with criminal charges not only he is facing but also his trainer Roger Mayweather. Let's just say, I think Manny Pacquiao has a better chance winning the presidency of the Philippines than fighting Mayweather and the next presidential election may not be for another six years!

For now Manny is the man. The Pacman is the man. He is king of the boxing world and a so-called king in the Philippines where his face is everywhere that is anywhere.

Sustaining the Conversation: "The Social Network"

2010-10-03T21:24:00.000-07:00

"The Social Network" is an well constructed film that excellently reflects and mirrors the digital age its audience is coming from. It recognizes its audience as technologically savvy individuals and as people living in the 21st Century. By doing this is develops dialogue that sustains and maintains itself that will surely go beyond words on a screen or even images that have been arranged before us.

While this is the so-called 'Facebook Movie', it is not exactly the most truthful, sacrificing this for the sake of the dramatics. Coupling the fast-paced dialogue and story-telling of Aaron Sorkin with the vision of David Fincher, "The Social Network" ultimately becomes an incredibly smart film that keeps the conversation of 'Facebook' moving forward.

The film explores the origins of the popular social networking site, Facebook, and its creator Mark Zuckerberg (a brilliant Jesse Eisenberg) and the relationships that have come under fire due to the site's rapid popularity amongst college-aged students and now beyond. It is those relationships that define Mark Zuckerberg and his ascension to billionaire that become the centerpiece of the film and define his character as one who could careless about the money but ultimately suffers crumbled friendships as a result of his success.

From the beginning, audiences begin to understand Mark Zuckerberg as a complex and unique individual who desires to be liked by others but wants to do it on his terms and in his own way. The opening scene of dialogue between him and then girlfirend Erica (Rooney Mara), is filled with comic wit and utter disgracefulness that leads the couple's demise at the end of the scene. Zuckerberg's incomprehensible emotions and computer science language is authentic but also representative of his thinking for the rest of the film. This demeanor is especially reflective in his each of the depositions he serves as a defendant where he faces multi-million dollar lawsuits.

Centralizing the film's plot are these two depositions, two groups of relationships that which Zuckerberg tarnished as 'the Facebook' began to rise. These depositions interact with the rest of the film, developing a somewhat sympathetic appeal for the film's characters, specifically the plantiffs in each of the cases: Eduardo Saverin (a calm and stoic Andrew Garfield), co-founder and original CFO of Facebook, and the athletic and all-American Winklevoss Twins (both played by Armie Hammer) and their partner Divya (Max Minghella), who initially enlisted Zuckerberg to create a social netowrking site for Harvard University.

Sorkin's script works brilliantly interplaying the main story with the depositions, excellently describing the range of emotions of relief, shock, and anger felt by not only the plantiffs but for Zuckerberg as well, who rarely if at all shows any sort of remorse to those who are suing him but rather displays blantlantly his ignorance to the precedings as a whole.

With Sorkin's words and Fincher's vision and direction, "The Social Network" provides an insight to the content and future of what films are going to be and will be. The film creates a conversation with audience as result of not only its topic but also its representation of the world according to Zuckerberg and the thriller-like atmosphere it presents.

This notion is supported by a haunting score composed by Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor and musician Atticus Ross whose tones hauntingly reflect the turbulent and dark fictionalized moment in not only Facebook's history but also in each of the characters involved in this whirlwind.

And it is this whirlwind that has taken place or even is taking place right now in society. It is the cultural influences that Facebook has left upon us that has led to creation of this film. Yet, while the real story may have been induced with a little 'Hollywood', what this film brings is an outstanding story that has been told exceptionally. Much dialogue about "The Social Network" has already been made even before people set foot in a theater and this conversation will not cease once people leave the theater, a characteristic which all films should possess.

And as result of the people whose lives are discussed, this dialogue will potentially include topics such as the irony of a pop music star (Justin Timberlake) playing Napster co-founder Sean Parker, that of which will ultimately be shared on the centerpiece of all of this: Facebook.

As Ordinary as its Title, "The Town", that is...

2010-09-27T21:58:00.000-07:00

Comparisons to "The Departed" or even "Heat" do not give "The Town" justice, as these very compliments of "The Town" should be seen as very damaging to two of the greatest films of the past 20 years. "The Town" should stand on itself as a film that wants to be each of these great films but is nonetheless put into a category that marks it simply as ordinary.

In this Ben Affleck directed (who is also starring in the lead role) film, the town from which the title comes from is the Charlestown neighborhood of Boston, that which is explained in the first moments of the film is a part of town known for its blue collar appeal and ridden by crime, more specifically its high density of bank and armored car robberies.

In the opening sequence, we are amidst a bank robbery led by Affleck and his group of Charlestown buddies, who are disguised in ghoulish masks. In this sequence, the robbery is a success but the robbers go further by kidnapping the bank manager (Rebecca Hall), whom they suspect may endanger their identities. While at times exciting, the sequence is neither surprising nor jaw-dropping enough to garner any sort of comparison to another film that has preceded it. Guns waver around, meaning to do harm or spark excitement, however, none is apparent, as this scene shows only Affleck is able to construct an action sequence, no matter how ordinary it can be.

As we delve further into the plot, an unconvincing love connection has blossomed between Affleck's and Hall's characters when the Affleck and his buddies become even more suspicious of Hall after finding out she resides in Charlestown. While the love story is necessary to the movement of the plot and to each of these characters and how they react to the events afterwards, the chemistry is non-existent between the two, and Affleck's performance as a whole is hurt because of this, which in turn assumes a weak to no character arc.

While Affleck seeks to change his ways and leave Charlestown behind him, along with his friends and ex-girlfriend, his desire to leave is unbelievable. His best friend, played by Jeremy Renner, gives a more convincing performance to stay than Affleck's forced departure as a result of the multiple killings he undertakes after a bothched heist job.

In addition to Ben Affleck, Rebecca Hall, and Jeremy Renner, the film possesses an outstanding cast, that is simply underused or even misused, who also include: Jon Hamm, Chris Cooper, Pete Postlethwaite, and Blake Lively. While their screen time does not even compare to the ubiquitous helicopter shots of Boston, each actor gives fine performances fitting to their roles.

Overall, "The Town" is an extremely ordinary movie that deserved worse than a "Heat" and "The Departed" comparison. There are too many storylines that which Mr. Affleck simply wanted to evolve. Some are open-ended, others are frustratingly ignored. This is poorly done, formulaic cops and robbers film that brings nothing new to the genre, which does not need this film to be associated with.

"Takers" is not great but can be surprisingly entertaining

2010-09-07T01:36:00.000-07:00

The initial draw of Takers could be the cast that includes T.I., Chris Brown, and Paul Walker put together with a bank heist formula, which feeds into this cliched action thriller. And what makes the film even more interesting is the subtext of reality that of which is occurring with its actors, specifically with T.I.

In the film, T.I. plays a recently released ex-con who plans a job from the inside with some old friends who have become wildly successful while he was away, highlighting the opening robbery sequence where the group, led by Idris Elba, stylishly walk away safely with a cool $250,000.

While thoughts of Heat come to mind with a bank heist film being set in Los Angeles, this film does not even come close to the quality and authenticity of the bank heist film.

However, it does accomplish much in making the life of the bank robbery 'cool', as in the clothes the men sport, the vehicles they drive, and the night life that portray. There is much to be desired, much like a music a video.

Putting this together with some entertaining chase and action sequences, much that is desired from this film is satisfied and probably to the ends of ridiculousness on how these come about. Chris Brown's best impression of 'Parkour' is spectacular and drives this term to the extreme by the amount of stunts and cuts in editing it took for this sequence to happen.

Takers is not great but is nonetheless entertaining. The action is good enough to be worthwhile but the characters whether good guys or bad guys (the ambiguity of this is pretty good) when some of these characters die one could care less if they die in style or die for a cause. Matt Dillon's washed up and tired cop routine does not bring enough emotion or even care towards him and his mission to catch these group of takers.

The mixture of the hip hop culture with the action thriller amidst bank robberies draws an audience that will enjoy the pleasure of the gun battles and action that is brought about. That is all that can said though in a film that lacks emotion and leaves one to care less what happens, as long as guns are fired, money is taken, and somehow someone gets away in a stylishly and cool manner.

"Inception", a dream come true

2010-07-19T10:34:00.002-07:00

Christopher Nolan has always pushed the boundaries when it comes to filmmaking, boundaries that have always been on the edge, dark, and wonderfully intelligent. In his latest film, Inception, he accomplishes this by fusing the heist and science fiction film genres, creating quite an experience; a film experience that snares the mind, emotion, and attention of the spectator, thus making the spectator enter this world, much like the characters in this movie, in a dreamlike state.

To start out, the cast of characters are once again put together fantastically, as it is in a lot of Nolan's films. Dom Cobb, played Leonardo DiCaprio, is Nolan's muse leading us on a journey that is not only remarkable but innovative as the team's leader and a title known as 'The Extractor'.

Assuring most of the film's onscreen time and dialogue, DiCaprio puts on a stellar performance teaching not only college student Ariadne (Ellen Page) about the work he does in creating dreams and extracting ideas from those dreams, but also the audience, which at times can be very confusing and tedious but in the end is worth it.

To complement DiCaprio as the rest of his team are 'The Architect', Ariadne, 'The Point Man', Arthur (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) 'The Forger', Eames (Tom Hardy), 'The Tourist', Saito (Ken Watanabe), and 'The Chemist', Yusef (Dileep Rao). This cast also includes Mal (a tragic, yet stunning Marion Cotillard) who is the film's antagonist and Robert Fischer (Cillian Murphy) who becomes the target of the heist, who's mind the team must enter in order to perform inception, planting an outside idea into his mind. All these characters serve their purpose as their titles imply, and whose roles are described meticulously throughout the first half of the film.

As I have mentioned, the 'lessons' of the first half of the film are confusing and possibly frustrating but not entirely incomprehensible. As with the cast of characters they all serve a purpose, listing out rules, laws, do's, and don'ts of the dream world they are creating and will enter via the subconscious of Fischer. As a team they all will play a part in a shared dream experience with Fischer, in which they will take the idea to dissolve his father's company and break it apart. How the team goes about inserting this idea in a natural manner serves as one of the many interesting and intelligent parts of the film.

The film continues as a decent pace, not to rush the movie, but also to explain what this job is about, a plot technique that resembles many a heist film rather a sci-fi film but is done magically.

Along with this pace comes some well done chase and gun battle sequences that are exciting, enthralling, and simply entertaining. In the film's main action sequence in a hotel corridor, fisticuffs and the ballet come head to head as we find Arthur struggle and fight against security guards where gravity becomes a non-issue. The special effects are subtle, not overdone, accompanying the plot and not taking it over.

Inception truly resembles and is influenced by many other films in history and shows Nolan's own hand as he is a student of film and film history. As it is remarkable that this is an original story and not adapted from any sort of novel, comic book, television series, or a remake of any type, one can note the amount of influence 20th century science fiction has made on Nolan and this movie itself. However, before any one compares in any such way to The Matrix or 2001 let it be known that this film can stand on itself by being an original work, which is hard to say about many summer blockbuster films and film in general these days.

In a year where, let's face it, movies have been less than spectacular, reviews of Inception may be overblown by what has been produced by its predecessors. Regardless, Inception must be seen as an original film that throughly examines the fiction that is a shared dreamed experience, asking the question what if? That is a question that faces many film ideas within their infant stages, where the ideas are only located within one's dreams and not on paper or film itself.

What Christopher Nolan has accomplished is bringing together a dream world and creating hybrid genre of the heist and science fiction film that not only operates cohesively but does this in a manner that generates excitement and enthusiasm for audiences. This on the edge behavior Nolan brings to his film extends to the very end of the film and causes the audience to wonder about not only what happens at that moment within the plot of the story but also questioning their own experience in the theater: Is this a dream or is it reality?

Five things LeBron-A-Thon has taught us

2010-07-09T13:15:00.000-07:00

With the announcement of LeBron James going to Miami to play with buddies and fellow All-Stars Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh, there are five points that have come mind about what this whole saga has brought about in the past 24 hours. From the ridiculousness of an entire show dedicated to one man to the destruction of Cleveland, these are five points, facts, ideas, things, etc. that causes one to think about the bigger picture of life, wondering why is this important?

1) As ESPN has advertised, "The Decision" was the name the hour long special that probably needed only to be 10 or 15 minutes long. But the show was marketed and portrayed as if this is the election and where LeBron ends up has implications that affect not only the teams and individuals involved but the entire world.

I know this is a good sports story, and story in general but for the 'LeBron James Team' to order this from ESPN is totally a self-involved and self-centered move by not only the LeBron James brand, but the man LeBron James. Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh did right by not taking an hour out of primetime but rather announcing their futures in interviews, which would have been more than enough for LeBron James. People thought how selfish Kobe is but what about LeBron, this image that he has brought upon himself is a lot worse than what Kobe ever was.

2) To follow up on earlier post about the World Cup and the idea of the individual, this whole NBA free agency period furthers the age of sports we live in. The individual player has become bigger than the team and in the case of the Miami Heat, the individuals. Aligning three perennial all-stars on one team in Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade, and LeBron James is just plain ugly.

Three individuals who can separate their talents and make their individual teams better, have decided that their individual talents will bring them success and ultimately championships. Bringing in talented superstars all on one team is nothing new. The New York Yankees have been doing this for years, along with the Spanish football club Real Madrid.

But to bring in three all-stars and sacrifice any sort of semblance of a team is once again ugly. Mario Chalmers and Michael Beasley were the only players on the Heat under contract before this new-super-three sign. And with the trade of Beasley to Minnesota, leaves Miami with four players under contract. Include their three second round draft picks from this year's draft, the Heat will have seven players, three of which should belong in the D-League. But to sacrifice the team, in order to bring in the stars, who can resemble a 'team' is the ultimate goal and thus will bring championships. We will have to wait and see because stars do not always bring in championships, teams do. And if they can prove the team is bigger than the individual or the 'LeBron James Brand' then all the better.

3) Sometimes I cannot watch ESPN. During football season the network is overblown with unnecessary analysis and content. But yesterday, their special, "The Decision" brought a whole other dislike and distaste for the network.

An analysis of LeBron James' play on the court is one thing and is acceptable, but an analysis of where is going to play in the 2010/2011 season and having three of the four guys who served as hosts and analysts of the NBA Finals this year, as if this were an athletic competition, is absurd.

Michael Wilbon is decent choice, but please stick to PTI (Pardon The Interruption). Jon Barry please only analyze games and not this. Stuart Scott go back to the 90's and find where you discovered the word, "booyah!" And Chris Broussard, one of ESPN's many 'NBA Insiders', who is not bad at all in this situation, was probably the only one who belonged, if any of the four are necessary. I also have to acknowledge Jim Gray, who was a delight to see and was impressive during his interview with LeBron.

And the few hours leading up the special, the network should have changed its name to 'LeBron-S-P-N' and called Sports Center, 'LeBron Center' because as the network does with the NFL in the fall and winter, it turns head over heels over a single individual or sport, when in the bigger picture this does not matter and there are more important stories and feats to showcase. I mean where is all the insight on Ubaldo Jimenez's 15-1 start before the All-Star Break.

4) Cleveland ultimately is the loser in all of this. Their baseball team is atrocious. As for their NFL franchise, if the city is excited about quarterback Jake Delohmme's new beginning in Cleveland then you know the Browns are going to be bad. And for the Cavaliers, owner Dan Gilbert said it all in his articulation of this feelings towards LeBron but also how he came off:

http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/news/gilbert_letter_100708.html

I understand his and the city's anger over LeBron's departure, but by this account and other's I have seen on television and read about, Cleveland you are losers in the LeBron-A-Thon and more so based on how you all reacted to this.

Dan Gilbert and fans have shown their ungratefulness and their ignorance to the world and to LeBron James and what he has done for the city. Although he did not win any rings, the amount of money and revenue just by him playing in the town is impressive and should be at least acknowledged for. Burning LeBron jerseys, causing ruckus in the town and having to have extra police around LeBron's Ohio home is sickening.

The Cleveland Cavaliers did not do enough to convince LeBron James to stay in Cleveland. That is obvious. And LeBron James knows he cannot win a title by himself as evidenced in previous playoff failures. LeBron James cannot win titles by himself. He is not Michael Jordan and never will be and the city of Cleveland should understand that.

And on the same night BART police officer Johannes Mehserle was found guilty on a lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter, the City of Oakland has more to be angry about, maybe at times misguided, than Cleveland. In the reality of all of this free agent hoopla and looking at the bigger picture of the world we live in, what is more important in our society, the lack of justice served for those who commit crimes or the departure of a sports superstar and his disloyalty to a city.

5) How does the world view LeBron James playing for the Miami Heat? Well for one thing my cousins see it as the most glorious and awesome thing to happen since Manny Pacquiao's last knockout showing off the Philippines adoration for the game of basketball.

But as for the rest of the world, who cares, when you have the best national team in the world in Spain squaring off against the hottest national team in the world in the Netherlands this Sunday in the final of the World Cup. In maybe one of the most exciting and controversial World Cups in recent memory, the end of one amazing month of soccer is coming close and crowning a new champion and a new 'King' of the world's game.

The amount of coverage LeBron James' 'decision' received speaks of the volumes of the United States' attention to the World Cup and how far we have or have not come in trying to lure an entire to love the game as the world does.

But this is the world we live in and the age of sport that exists. Whether insightful, disgusted, or appeased LeBron James has taught us much of why he is the most important individual in sports and seeing how all this results for him and pretty much all that is mentioned here remains to be seen.

A typical summer blockbuster, "Knight and Day" fails to amaze and perhaps be amazing

2010-07-03T00:00:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for plenty of that involves some sort of aspect of espionage and those who become the center of an espionage crisis, combined with two movie stars, and a summer release, then Knight and Day is a film that may fill your appetite.

Although it is entertaining, most notably in a car chase scene through Boston, Knight and Day fails to amaze or even be a worthy enough film to pay for its special effects, stunts, and its two superstars, Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz.

I have to say, overall, the action is superb. However, the action scenes in towards the beginning of the film are far better as the film moves along, as it seems the sequences are sacrificed in order create some semblance of a plot and develop a romance between its two stars.

Meeting the expectations of what a action film is, especially within the circumstances of its release and that actors who are in it, this film accomplishes much of nothing exceeding nothing that is amazing and is simply ordinary.

Knight and Day has its moments, especially with Tom Cruise's character who brings about a comical side that is beautiful to see. The ridiculousness of the stunts of these action sequences and the calm demeanor that Cruise goes about his work as a rogue agent in the C.I.A. is natural but simultaneously is humorous, helping in the entertainment value of the film.

Cameron Diaz's character, whom we take from her point-of-view through various instances of being drugged and waking up to another world and not knowing what is going on. Little to no character development occurs with both Diaz and Cruise, which furthers the film in more misery.

What makes the film even more unconvincing is that the villains are unclear and show no type of fear to the audience. There is no reason to sense danger for the protagonists, creating no sense of tension or suspense of what is going to happen next.

The trailers made Knight and Day more appealing than what it really was. It did what it supposed to do as a summer blockbuster, but overall is not anything amazing. It is at best ordinary with a decent performance by Tom Cruise. The formula to makes a good blockbuster is put into full effect, but meets the expectations of exactly it set out to do. It is a very entertaining film but has many weak areas that spell its demise to a mediocre film.

The World Cup of the Teams, the Nations and not of the Individual, or Club

2010-06-19T17:21:00.000-07:00

In this age where it is the individuals that define a sport or franchise, one must be taken aback and realize the importance and notion of the team rather than one single individual.As a result of the dominance Michael Jordan, Pele, Barry Bonds, and Brett Favre had on their respective sports over a decade ago, comes the emergence of their clones of this decade in LeBron James, Cristiano Ronaldo, Albert Pujols, and well, Brett Favre. But as the individual becomes bigger and larger than their team, and crossing over from sport to entertainment comes the glorification of the individual in sport as I observe today.

The World Cup in South Africa highlights this notion of the individual by detaling that the individual does not define success rather it is the team. In this environment and in a tournament of this magnitude under the spotlight of the entire globe, the individual cannot carry the weight of nation and bring glory that might have preceded them in other aspects of their life and professional careers.

The England National Football team explains this point by defining the successes on their club teams do not always translate to success on the international stage. Being made up soccer elite such as Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard, and John Terry, England, on paper, was supposedly to make a giant splash and significant dent in this tournament, being predicted to contend for the Cup or at least make a run deep into the tournament.

However, two draws in their first two matches and an anemic offense have resulted into a less than stellar performance and a pure battering by the British press.

So much is focus on these individual players and what an impact they make on their national teams and how they make their teams better. But in some ways, how much are they hindering their team's performance by being the one, the individual, the go-to-guy. Based on the Portugal's performance, Cristiano Ronaldo may be a culprit of this in their opening match against Ivory Coast, where Ronaldo did not have a great game at all and neither did the rest of the Portugese.

In some instances, the individual does make the team better, because that individual does not have the offense run through him or revolve around them. Lionel Messi has no goals so far in this World Cup. However, his Argentine side are on their way to the knockout stages of the tournament after winning each of their first two matches. Messi creates chances for others, making him not the only dangerous player to look out for. He creates chances and in turn creates goals for his teammates resulting in victories. When an individual put its team first, success is inevitable.

Soccer is a definitive team sport. All levels of play must be in sync and all together to reach a goal as a whole. The teams that have seen the most success thus far in the tournament have been teams that are all about the team itself. The team has become much more than the individual, and more about a total team goal, a goal that will not only define the success of the team but also the individuals who together that make that team successful.

A Giants Identity?

2010-06-02T10:26:00.000-07:00

Entering tonight's series finale against the Colorado Rockies, the San Francisco Giants are three and a half games behind surprising division leader in the San Diego Padres. In this series and in most cases where the Giants have dropped in the loss column, it is the lack of run support that of which is mostly likely the culprit for this losing.

With one of the top starting fives in all of baseball, the Giants have earned a reputation of being a pitching heavy team. While people once thought, the Giants could win 1-0 almost every game, this is not true. As with all ball players, the Giants pitching staff is human, including Tim Lincecum.

This is where the offense has to take charge and earn victories beside being carried on their pitcher's back. Are the Giants a small ball team or are they a long ball team? From their start so far, it seems they are no ball team because of the non-existent offense.

Aside from Tim Lincecum's recent struggles, the Giants starting pitching has been stellar. Starters one through five have had their moments of success but have been victims of minimal or no run support at all. For example, Jonathan Sanchez lost 1-0 in early May to the San Diego Padres after giving up no earned runs and one hit in a complete game. While San Diego's pitching has been has been just as good and maybe even better than the Giants this season, it is just absurd to lose a game after giving up only one hit.

This issue of run support has largely to do with the Giants ability to drive in runners in scoring position. Now that Andres Torres has established himself the leadoff hitter and Freddy Sanchez is finally healthy batting second, it is up to these two individuals to reach base in any sort of manner to set the tables for the power guys, such as Pablo Sandoval, Aubrey Huff, and Juan Uribe.

I mention these three individuals as the power guys because at this point of in the season, they have been the most productive, although it is not much. Others who have tried out in these roles, Bengie Molina, Aaron Rowand, and Mark DeRosa have all failed miserably. I want stress how miserable these guys have failed.

Molina, the Giants clean up hitter last season has seem to been lost at the plate batting .250, 2 HR, and 11 RBI. Starting out as the lead off hitter, helped Rowand with his bat at times but his recent struggles echoes his performance with the bat throughout his time in San Francisco. DeRosa's injury woes continue and cause one to wonder why would any one offer a contract to an injured 35-year-old. His .194 average is just plain pitiful and in a rehab game at Class-A San Jose he went 0 for 4.

Combine these poor performances with the mediocre hitting of Sandoval, Huff, and Uribe and not much production is happening at all. Torres and Sanchez have been a tear and with the call up of Buster Posey, the Giants can only get better and help this fantastic pitching staff.

Generating run production will come around, as long as Torres and Sanchez continue their play with consistent and efficient at bats. Whoever it may be, these are the guys that must be driven in by way of home run or a string of singles. The guys batting in the three, four, and five slots must give reason why they are batting there in the first place. They must take responsibility and do what must be done.

The identity of what the offense may undertake is unknown to me and I believe it is unknown to the Giants. However, the Giants Identity will only take shape as consistent hitting from the right guys continues in combination with stellar pitching performance. Having an identity is important not only to the offensive production but also to generate victories for a franchise that is desperate for a postseason future.

One way to find an identity is to avoid a sweep against the Rockies tonight and create consistency and become a productive offensive team. Pitching will always be there but the offense will only come around and it won't hurt if they start tonight.

"Date Night" starts strong but that is all can be said about this star-fest

2010-05-18T10:18:00.000-07:00

Comedy in any sort of media can be accomplished in a number of ways. How this is accomplished and the process that which it takes is key if any joke is ultimately funny or not.

"Date Night" had potential to be a very funny and hilarious movie, however this is not the case. The amounts of talent salted throughout the film gave it some box office muster, drawing in audiences but taking its comedy to a ridiculous and quite exorbitant level hurt anything that could have been funny about the encounters of the husband and wife team of Tina Fey and Steve Carell.

The first act of "Date Night" does a marvelous job of expressing the simple life of a husband and life living the stereotypical surburban life with the kids. It is the ideal nuclear family. The everyday actions and things to do are expressed in such a simple manner but are very comedic and funny due to it's simplicity and everyday nature. It is a life and comedy that becomes relatable for these types of couples, and which make the comedy all the more pleasing.

It is when Carell and Fey hit Manhattan the ridiclous comedy that just comes off as trying too hard. It is a persistence that becomes annoying and just not all too desirable.

Ultimately, "Date Night" is a waste of talent and a waste of time, aside from any of the first scenes that take place in the suburbs. Tina Fey and Steve Carell are terrific but only to the point of where the script takes them. The cameos are a nice touch but could only be better if the film allowed them to be. It is a film that could have been but was not and is in all a film that will get by it's star power but not by it's plot by any means.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

"Iron Man" does good, opening the summer blockbuster, but fails to live up to its predecessor

2010-05-15T22:07:00.000-07:00

In an unsurprising fashion, Iron Man 2 grabbed a stranglehold on the weekend box office, last weekend, earning over $130 million. It served to be a movie most people were looking for, delivering another solid comic-book adaptation from Marvel Entertainment. But through its successes, it may have failed in some ways to capitalize on the awesome success of its previous installment.

Once again, Robert Downey, Jr. is absolutely spectacular as billionaire Tony Stark. He shines at a role that it seems he was fit to play. His quick wit, confidence, and unruly attitude as a so-called 'God' is stellar. He brings personality to superhero and gives it an attitude that reflects how most people would feel, if they were rich, powerful, and had a power that is unbelievably remarkable.

But to Robert Downey, Jr.'s Tony Stark, there is Mickey Rourke's Ivan Vanko, who seals the role of a dirty, obscure, and soft-spoken antagonist and villain of Iron Man. From the look of his long black hair, with silver streaks, to the excessive tattoos from head to toe, literally, Mickey Rourke took this villianous turn and practically made it his own man, a man that may or may not look and feel all too much different from himself.

He is a brilliant astrophysicist, with a troubled past from the law, who is from deep from the depths of the Siberian Tundra, who's only friend is a bird. These elements that are introduced and become apart of who Ivan Vanko, make him a unique villain of sorts but ultimately finds common ground with those who precede him, seeking revenge and destruction of Tony Stark and Stark Industries. Rourke's performance as Vanko rivals Downey Jr.'s Stark as a villain that is necessary in the arc of Tony Stark and Iron Man in this franchise.

While the performances its leads are strong and star-studded, a slow-moving storyline and action sequences, which are amazing nonetheless, are few and far between and create no excitement or struggle for us to want more than what was given.

Tony Stark is ask to give up the 'Iron Man Weapon' by the United States government, as it serves to spark potential trouble overseas from other weapons dealers. As it seems, this weapon serves not only ask for trouble but it also is necessary in order to create safety from forces abroad and at home. But while this irony exists, the film does nothing to create any sort of resolution in regards to this 'weapon' even after all the craziness and destruction that ensues at the Stark Expo in New York City.

Though the action sequences were spectacular, there was nothing left to be expected. The Monaco Grand Prix was a favorite but was a showdown between Stark and Vanko that was short lived much like their final encounter at the end of the film.

Given the greatness and unique outlook of the superhero as portrayed in the first Iron Man, high expectations are granted for Iron Man 2, and which ultimately spelled this second installment a decent film at best. Spectacular to certain points, but just leaving one to ask why, how, and desiring a little something new or innovative from one of the better film franchises out there today.

However, like any major comic book franchise, sequels will run amok, and Iron Man is no stranger. Hints about future installments of the franchise were found from beginning to the end of the credits. And in this film it does not appear, Iron Man will stop saving the world any time soon.

The Beginning of the End?

2010-05-07T10:49:00.000-07:00

Losing 7-1 or getting blown out is never a game that one would ever like to remember or see over again. There is a certain air take out of you if that does happen that makes you reflect, "what are we doing?"

That is the feeling of the San Jose Sharks team and coaching staff this morning. That is the feeling for most San Jose Sharks fans. A feeling of confusion and how does one move forward from this.

Not only was the Red Wings dismantling of the Sharks huge for them and their playoff future, but it was just as devastating for the Sharks. For a team that has excelled at playoff failure, allowing the Red Wings to storm from a 3-0 deficit and win the series would be the cherry on top for this playoff-melancholy franchise.

Riding a wave of provin doubters wrong and winning six straight games, the Sharks were feeling pretty good going into Game Four. However, in only a matter of minutes and with the stick of Johan Franzen the Red Wings muscled the momentum from the Sharks.

The Sharks could have afforded to lose Game Four, but they could not afford to lose as big as they did last night. Miscues, misplays, and certain Red Wing playoff magic cost the Sharks a chance to sweep, and cost them any sort of momentum or confidence advantage they had over the team from Detroit.

The Sharks last night looked like a Sharks playoff team of years past, showing the different faces of failure they have been in the playoffs.

The shocking 5-0 outburst in the first period by the Red Wings brings in memories of last year's shocking first round upset by the Ducks.

Their predictability in the offensive zone and in the power play reeled in unwanted memories of the 2008 playoffs where they squeaked past Calgary and were ousted handedly by Dallas.

And in this playoffs, this team has faced adversity and has overcome it, quite remarkably. New faces, new names having been stellar relieving pressure from the "Canada Line" and the Sharks francishe itself. However the Sharks face a new form adversity that of which posseses a very scary Red Wings team that is never finished and series swinging game that will either sting for the summer or just be a scab that will hurt only until the next game.

Game Five for the San Jose Sharks has drastically become a 'do or die' game. Scoring cannot become predictable. High percentage shots on the net and not by it, near it, or ones that do not even reach the net are key to their success. Shots on the net and crashing the net is what the Sharks do well and must do in order to overcome this adversity.

It is a must-win, because the destruction and the remnants of Game Four will be much larger than if they do not.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

The "Clash" of many people, places, things, myths, stories, and silly costuming

2010-04-25T23:21:00.000-07:00

"Clash of the Titans" is at the very least, an entertaining film and accomplishes this factor in a moderate time. The soundtrack keeps the journey of the group of men and woman led by Perseus, son of Zeus, moving and making those aerial shots of them traveling along such rugged terrain at the very least bearable.

Otherwise, "Clash of the Titans" is a confusing, fast-moving film, that is at times hard to comprehend because of the constant moving from place to place with reasons that one should not really know because action is just around the corner.

The film does not let up on the action whether how comprehensive it can be and how far one can get past the costuming, special effects, and somewhat ridiculousness that Perseus never seems to be at a point where he is down and there is no hope for the humans, in their war against the Gods.

I came into the film expecting to see a not-so-great-movie-but-could-be-entertaining. And that is what I got. But after seeing this film, I was left wanting more out of it, oddly enough.

I wanted more from an outstanding cast, that was just plain mediocre. I wanted more from the special and visual effects that just was not that great and just too unreal that one can see that green screen right in from of their face. I wanted more from a story and the mythology that I have followed all through my childhood but received in return, abbreviations of all these different characters and not really understanding their significance in Greek mythology.

This "Clash" of many great ideas to start off with was a bad move and made the film appear to be rushed and not getting the most out of what it could have been.

I come back to the length of the film, which shocked me and could possibly my reasoning here. This film was around 90 minutes, which in terms of today's movie is short. Considering the epic-like magnitude "Clash of the Titans" was advertised and what its mythology-based plot could have be, a measly 90 minutes is not what this film deserves. The 90 minutes that was given, shows it hurried release, poor performances from the entire cast, weak special and visual effects, and abbreviated story.

"Clash of the Titans" is a movie that could have been great, but after was not. From Zeus' glowing aura and shiny armor and cape that was a bit exorbitant to Perseus' never facing any sort of adversity at all, this is a film that met my expectations to be simply mediocre but entertaining at times. And it was but boy I wished it could have been more.

"The Damned United" is neither spectacular nor terrible but is certainly a must see

2010-04-03T23:20:00.000-07:00

While it helps to have some sort of background of what English Football is all about or even club football internationally, The Damned United is a well-told film that tells the story of Brian Clough and his early career as manager in England's First and Second Division football leagues.

Brian Clough is at the very least an eccentric character who demands the attention from anybody. We are introduced to him the next man to manage the First Division English Football Club and the best team in the country, Leeds United.

From the short montage at the film's inception, Leeds United is and has been the most dominant team in England for the past few seasons by way of their blatant dirty play but also by way of their previous and dearly revered manager Don Revie, who accepted the job to lead the English National Team.

Brian Clough is an unusual coach who loves to talk and garner the attention of his team and the media. To balance this behavior is Assistant Manager Peter Taylor. The two are uniquely linked together at Derby County, a lowly football club in the Second Division. It is at Derby County though where a triumph of the Second Division, led to a similar triumph in the First Division, most notably over Leeds United. Their successes stem from Clough's ambitious goals to garner the notoriety of the English Football world and Taylor's efficient eye for talent that Clough needed.

While it is the opposites of these two friends that bring them together, it also creates a conflict, in which becomes divisive split between the two. Brian Clough's obsession to achieve a European Cup, a title to which Don Revie never achieved during his great run at Leeds, becomes his goal and certainly becomes a reality when he is offered to lead Leeds United.

The Damned United is an interesting title to which describes this profile of Brian Clough but also to the relationship that he has with Peter Taylor. Their relationship becomes a barometer of how successful each can be, in which one cannot be successful without the other. The title also brings in an interesting notion that it is that damned Leeds United team creates the split between these soccer minds, displaying their differences in personalities and team management.

However, all in all The Damned United is a film that soccer fans, players and even non-fans and non-players would certainly enjoy based on the terrific profile of a polarizing figure in Brian Clough and his relationship with his most trusted protege, Peter Taylor. It is an above average sports film that displays the unique politics of English Football while chronicling a brilliant manager and personality in English football.

Doses of noir, the thrilling, the psychological, and certainly the creepy is "Shutter Island"

2010-03-22T11:45:00.000-07:00

And yet, we have another Scorcese and DiCaprio sighting, this time on Shutter Island. The duo comes together once again for fourth time, in probably their most poignant and thrilling film thus far.

In this dizzying tale of mystery, murder, and the missing, Leonardo DiCaprio is Teddy Daniels, a United States Marshal, and is called upon to investigate a case of a missing patient at an asylum for the criminally insane. Partnered with another U.S. Marshal, Chuck Aule (a brilliant Mark Ruffalo), both men enter a new and certainly unusual world of Shutter Island.

The score plays a crucial role in detailing the role of the island, with its slow pulsating beats, which foreshadow even more ominous activity throughout the rest of the film. The soundtrack makes Shutter Island sound as unsettling as it looks and feels.

Lighting and cinematography provide the very uneasy noir world that harkens back to classic film noir genre. But what these two film elements also provide is a crucial element of creepiness that which reflects the time period in which the film takes place but also creating a world of Shutter Island that exists entirely on itself. Shutter Island is a world that exists within the walls of psychiatric wards and the various terrains that make life difficult for our protagonist.

Editing in the first act follows this unsettling tone, while we are introduced to the various police officers, doctors, nurses, orderlies, and the island itself. Edits, in which cause one to think of certain continuity mistakes causes audiences to take a double take on what they have seen and what they are seeing, similar to the feelings and psyche of Teddy Daniels.

From this, it obvious that as an audience we are put squarely in the uneven footsteps of Teddy Daniels. As his world spirals and uncovers Shutter Island's facts and fictions, his world spirals even more creating a dizzying experience. We the audience, are actively trying to unwrapped the mysteries but as Teddy Daniels goes in circles trying to find the truth, we are caught up in circles as well.

There is never a dull moment in Shutter Island. The film never stops to catch itself and reflect. The pace of the film is never slow moving or rapidly speeding through sequences. This is largely due to the editing and cinematography of Shutter Island creating sequences that not only build upon its precedent but also lead into dead end moments where, Teddy Daniels has no where to go but continue his dizzying tale until the film's fine finish.

The thriller comes to mind and which also brings memories of the best Hitchcock films, in which the protagonist is caught in an ominous world, where there is no one trust but himself. These elements overlap with film noir but exceed this by incorporating the psychological where, maybe Teddy Daniels is not one we should trust at all.

Shutter Island is a thoughtful and complete film experience. It is a film that is much like salad, which brings together nostalgia for filmgoers, mixing film noir and a psychological thriller, while honoring past films of these genres and the history it has staked. Martin Scorcese is certainly a student of this history and continues to recreate it in various manners, in whatever dosage we desire.

A Little Dose of Reality in Visions of the American Dream

2010-03-01T23:18:00.000-08:00

Sin Nombre and Sugar are two films with similar themes and ideologies when envisioning the American Dream. They both are able to portray difficult journeys to the United States, showcasing individuals who seek for better futures for themselves and their families.

Sugar is a baseball film that follows the already difficult journey of a professional baseball player trying to make it to the majors. Miguel Santos, "Sugar", is a star pitcher at a baseball academy in the Dominican Republic, who is invited to Spring Training and impresses scouts and coaches enough for him to skip Single-A and go straight to Double-A minor league baseball.

Miguel leaves his family in the Dominican Republic to live in Iowa to play for the local Double-A minor league baseball team. In this strange place, he is forced to live in isolation aside from the time he spends with his teammate and fellow Dominican, Jorge.

Sin Nombre opens up a world of gang culture in Southern Mexico, which has run rampant amongs the youth of a community, specifically with Willy who goes by the pseudonym "El Casper" within the gang La Mara Salvatrucha. Recognizing La Mara's cruel attitude towards the youth and to life itself, Willy begins to question his role and feelings in being a gang member when his girlfriend, who is kept secret form the gang, is accidently killed by the gang's leader, Lil' Mago.

As a way to prove their loyal to La Mara, Lil' Mago takes Willy and a young gang member, Smiley, to ride a migrant train, carrying immigrants from Mexico and Central America, including a Honduran family of a young woman, Sayra, her father, and her uncle.

Lil' Mago leads Willy and Smiley to rob the travelers on the train but amidst the robbery, Willy turns his back on Lil' Mago and La Mara and kills him. He tells Smiley to leave the train, allowing him to escape his past of La Mara, for the time being.

While both Miguel Santos and Willy have dreams and desires, in which entails them having to leave their homes, their futures are uncertain.

Miguel's performance in Double-A baseball is initially outstanding but as he begins to struggle, his isolation of being from home and the frustrating up and down nature of being a minor league baseball player begin to affect not only his performance on the field but also his emotions about the game of baseball itself.

Willy's fears of the power of La Mara and their capabilities to find and punish him for his actions affect him as he aimlessly follows the path to which the migrant train follows. As he begins to befriend Sayra, his worries and fears begin to affect her as she vies to protect him from the demons of his past.

The reality and what both parties envision their futures in the United States do not ideally find their way as the typically defined version of the American Dream. Miguel's ideas of being an All-Star baseball player at Yankee Stadium is not exactly how his dream entailed.

Willy's ideas of fleeing his gang member past catch up to him and discontinue his dream to escape La Mara is begin a new life in the United States. His dream to begin a new life with Sayra and her family in New Jersey are halted at a point of no return for these migrants.

While film only represents reality in the form of entertainment, both Sugar and Sin Nombre represent reality as it is, vastly different that many movie audiences are not normally confronted with. Reality is harsh and unforgiving world, in which dreams are made but normally not in a form that fits a plot of a structured, ninety minute, everything that must go right does go right, feel-good film. Both are able to give hope but a hope that is not one that is to be expected but one that actually happens everyday.

Pacquiao, Mayweather, and Destiny

2010-01-28T16:24:00.000-08:00

Much has been made of the fiasco that is the formerly March 13th fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV between Manny Pacquiao and FloydMayweather, Jr. And who would have thought it was not money that which these two sides disagreed on but Olympic-style blood testing, which should have been cited given the nature of performance enhancers in sports today and certain accusations made by one side against the other during negotiations.

It is this disagreement that brings us a Manny Pacquiao fight on the 13th of March not at the MGM Garden Arena rather at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, TX and not against Floyd Mayweather, Jr. rather the 20 and 3 Joshua Clottey from Ghana.

And in recent news the debacle of Pacquiao-Mayweather has also led the former 'Dancing with the Stars' star Floyd Mayweather to the possible fight with Shane Mosley in the beginning of May, most likely May 1st or the 8th, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

The breakdown in the heated negotiations brought out more hype in fight that is destined to happen, even though there is no agreement by the two sides regarding the Olympic-style blood testing.

These two fighters want and need each other for this fight to happen. This is a fight that boxing needs and with the weight of the entire sport on their shoulders, will happen. This is the fight that will either define the dominant climb of Manny Pacquiaofrom flyweight to welterweight or Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s undefeated reign over the boxing world.

Pacquiao will agree to whatever blood testing, urine testing, any sort of drug testing needed, as will Mayweather. Mayweather will have to back up the words of not only himself but his Uncle, Roger Mayweather, his father, Floyd Mayweather, Jr., and Oscar de la Hoya and Golden Boy Promotions, all of whom doubted and downplayed Pacquiao's abilities and accomplishments in recent years.

Worries and cries for this fight have been made by many fans of both fighters as a result of the breakdown in negotiations and the scheduled fights with Clottey and potentially Mosley. However, disappointment should not be a final word to describe the relationship between these two fighters, rather reward, as in it will be a reward to see these men in quality fights against two quality opponents, hopefully before they finally face each other later this year.

Joshua Clottey is no piece of cake. His three losses were to quality opponents and all resulting in controversial decisions. The Mayweather-Mosley bout would have been one of those 'super fights' even a few years ago, however bringing these two together now provides a solid opponent for Mayweather, one who is significantly bigger and stronger than his previous opponent, Juan Manuel Marquez. In any sense, these opponents do not bring any sort of the flavoring that Pacquiao brings to Mayweather or Mayweather brings to Pacquaio, but rather a solid, good matchups for two fighters who appear to be on top of the sport.

Regardless of the outcome in either Pacquiao-Clottey and Mayweather-Mosley, the so-called 'super fight' and the fight to break Pay-Per-View records and to save boxing will happen. Although the sides are at a disagreement, these are two of the best fighters of this generation whether fans love them or hate them.

Pacquiao-Mayweather is going to happen. It is not a fact, it is destiny.

"Wanna play trucks?"

2010-01-28T15:34:00.000-08:00

Authenticity and Intensity: "The Hurt Locker" and a Soldier's Perspective of the Iraq War and War itself

2010-01-14T21:44:00.000-08:00

The Hurt Locker is an authentic and turbulent glance into the Iraq War and the soldiers who are fighting in it. It follows U.S. Army EOD Team that works to disarm bombs in the war ravaged country while exploring the psyche of this team, in which paranoia, danger, and death are apparent and rampant amongst them. One soldier, Sergeant William James, relishes the opportunities to face death right at its front door through his unconventional manner about disarming bombs. This although stresses his team to the point that drives them away from war, physically, mentally, and emotionally.

The plot is episodic following the number of calls the team is asked upon and counting down the days until the Bravo Company's rotation is finished, which this EOD Team is apart of. Through their encounters, we view a perspective of war that is without ridiculous politics and rather focuses solely on the soldiers and the lives that are lived in Iraq. From this perspective, we are able to experience up close, from dirt to sweat to dizzying danger. The cinematography and editing is strongly influence this view by not always giving us the best view, and at times frustrating our desire the obtain the best view in the film. Audience desire is also affected in that there are no spectacular battle sequences but intense moments that present the shock and surprise that is evident in modern warfare.

It is the authenticity of the lives that this EOD Team leads in Iraq in which the filmmaking accomplishes and creates moments of extreme intensity. The reality of the Iraq War as presented in The Hurt Locker is a real as one can experience and as close as some us will get to war. A story that lacks the politics but does well and even better without it, stresses the role of the U.S. solider and the physical, mental, and emotional ties that affect them. Authenticity and intensity are experiences that give a perspective of the Iraq War that has been rarely seen or yet to be seen in mainstream media, and which The Hurt Locker produces and accomplishes in very clean and practical manner.

Groundbreaking Visuals Overarch Weak Plot in "Avatar"

2009-12-26T13:29:00.000-08:00

While it took most of at least 10 years to make, James Cameron's dream 3D project became reality for movie audiences last week. Avatar puts us into the future on a planet that does not seem all that different ours besides the presence of the Na'vi people who inhabit there all tropical-looking and naturally rich planet.

Cameron places us into the crippled body of Jake Sully, an ex-marine, who has recently awakened from a cryogenic state and soon discovers the murder of his twin brother. As a result, Sam is recruited into the Avatar program under the umbrella of the RDA Corporation on the planet of Pandora, which inhabit the Na'vi. In this program, human beings are trained to become operators of avatars of the Na'vi which are exclusively made and designed for humans based on DNA. Being that Jake and his brother were identical twins, he serves well as a cost effective tool to take over his brother's position in the Avatar program, while not having any sort of training of Avatar operation at all.

The imagination and the attention to the details of how humans become their avatar selves and operate on Pandora is simply magnificent. As Jake discovers his new found abilities in being a Na'vi and especially the ability to walk, we as spectators are learning more about Pandora and the Na'vi people. The energies and natural processes that occur on Pandora are essential for the Na'vi and their beliefs and is visually pleasurable. The creation of the rich forests of all colors along with the diverse animals that live amongst the Na'vi are unique and extraordinary.

The film has been mostly touted from its work with 3D, which was much of the talk in anticipation of the release of the film. And the 3D does not disappoint. Every opportunity James Cameron was able to use 3D he used it and used it in a manner that is neither overbearing for the viewer or unbelievable. However, while visually Avatar is a victor, the plot is somewhat weak and predictable. Given the predictability though, I feel the plot is giving what audiences desire for Jake and the Na'vi people when fighting against the RDA Corporation.

Fulfilling audience expectations in a predictable nature while impressing and stunning them with moving pictures that are wonderfully constructed and spectacular is what ultimately James Cameron wishes for Avatar to be. Groundbreaking the plot is not, I mean, what plot is groundbreaking these days anyway. Touted for his visual and special effects an groundbreaking they were, providing much awesome entertainment, that which has been realized.

A True and Very Inspirational Glance of "The Blind Side"

2009-12-03T19:14:00.000-08:00

The Blind Side, the book is a extremely technical look at the game of football, and how a single play in a game between the Washington Redskins and the New York Giants, dramatically changed they way the game was played and who exactly played the game as well. The focus of the book is mainly rooted out the quarterback's blind side and who exactly will protect it.

The who will exactly will protect the blind side, is where the story of Michael Oher comes and the which the film The Blind Side exclusively focuses on. Though the first few moments do set up the purpose of the left tackle in its relation to the blind side of the quarterback. It accomplishes this by playing, rewinding, replaying the play where New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor broke the leg of Washington Redskins quarterback, Joe Theismann, as a result of the lack of protection from Theismann's blind side. This moment is highlighted by how this play not only changed the life of Michael Oher but also his adopted mother, Leann Tuhoy, and her family.

The film chronicles Michael's journey to a new life that is drastically a change from what he has experienced until that point. His journey includes the struggles that comes with being an outsider and someone who has not had the best education up until high school. His size plus the color of his skin not only threatened this predominantly white community but also makes him even more alone than ever before, with the loss of his father but also the lack of presence of his mother throughout his foster home life. Michael Oher is presented in this matter as someone who has absolutely nothing and has little to no future at all.

At this point, Michael is certainly a low point in his life and where the Tuhoy family takes charge and makes sure Michael gets the life he deserves. It is discovered, underneath his large exterior is a soft-spoken and kind young man, who is not threatening at all. Sean Junior discovers this along with the rest of the Tuhoys. Being accepted into the family, solidified a steady familial life in Michael's life, that he never had before.

Michael's journey surrounds ideas of protection, which is exemplified in a car crash he and Sean Junior were in, where he saved Sean Junior from the air bag crushing his face. His protective instincts are highlighted in tests but most certainly highlighted by his adopted mother, Leann Tuhoy. Leann Tuhoy is the center of the transformation of Michael Oher, having a hand in each aspect of his life, including football.

Though The Blind Side is a sports movie, more specifically a football movie, it best reflects the transformation of a young man who has nothing to a man who has everything, not only by what is given to him but how uses what is given to him to his own advantage. The gifts the Tuhoy family presents to him gives Michael is solid education but also a true family with a home where Michael is safe and comfortable. The size, with tree trunks for legs, a wingspan that goes for days, an athleticism that closely resembles Michael Jordan are biological gifts, given to Michael Oher, uses them to do what he does best, protect his family.

Although The Blind Side can be at times 'cheesy', this film presents a truly fantastic story, from very good book. The film describes the influence of Michael Oher not only the game of football but also those close to him. His story is one that could have been represented in a number of ways, but in the end leaves audiences feeling that way the magic of movies are supposed to make us feel: satisfied, inspired, and happy.

Pacquiao Dominates His Way Into History

2009-11-16T16:17:00.000-08:00

This past Saturday evening provided a spectacle that many had viewed as 'the fight of the year'. Many have considered this fight between Miguel Cotto and Manny Pacquiao a fight that is to have many layers and battles to it. Miguel Cotto is fighting critics and his own inner demons that have followed him from his reddening loss to Antonio Margarito a year before. Manny Pacquaio is fighting his own criticisms of a lifestyle that may seem to chaotic and distracting but also the challenge of facing a much stronger and larger fighter than he is. With these questions, we have received answers on Saturday night.

Miguel Cotto is no longer the same fighter he was before he fought Antonio Margarito in 2008. Although he won the first round against Pacquiao, and had shown clouds of power, once he was knocked around, he never retained the same power and speed he had shown in round one. He was able to shake off a round three knockdown and come back and find ways to get to the Pacman but became so erratic, allowing Manny Pacquaio to knock him down once again.

After this, Cotto was no longer the same. His strength and power, seen as serious advantages over Manny's speed and power never quite reached the potential that many have been familiar in seeing of Miguel. Pacquiao absorbed what punches Cotto was able to land but was able to answer easily a number of times, knocking around Cotto and bruising his face and his performance.

Manny Pacquiao showed he can take a punch. We all knew that he was able to give out vicious throws with not only his left hand but also his right hand. Pacquaio showed Saturday, that he can take his fair share of punches and not be startled or surprised by the power that comes from a true welterweight.

Manny truly dominated the fight from round two on, showing his graceful footwork and blindingly fast hand speed that was able to squeeze into any sort of gap to target Miguel Cotto's face. He was able to showcase his abilities on all sides of the boxing game, showing he belongs in this weight class as well, and deserves to fight the best in the sport.

A record breaking night plus a dominating performance writes the Pacman into the history book and solidifies in spot in boxing as the best pound-for-pound boxer today but also one of the best boxers ever. The challenges he faces in the ring are no match for the work that he has been able to put together in such a remarkable career. All that awaits for this dominating force is another 'fight of the year' with the undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr. Another night in history is within our grasp.

Michael Moore's latest attempt to undermine American ideology, punches greed in the mouth

2009-10-06T21:26:00.000-07:00

Being that I am not a huge fan of Michael Moore to begin with, I entered "Capitalism: A Love Story" with a certain reluctance to take all what he brings to the table to heart. Though I brought this point of view prior to seeing this film, I was thouroughly surprised, intrigued and very interested to the debaucle that is the American economy and how this entire mess came about. I came to the realization that there are many evil forces, seen and unseen.

Moore's points of interest include foreclosure of homes, the mess that is Wall Street, the rise of unemployment, the fall of banks, and the certain control that corporate America has in Washington D.C. These points are to be expected from Michael Moore, giving him an opportunity jab those evil forces with humor but sometimes even the truth no matter far stretched it may be.

The most surprising and most interesting points of the film come from stories that are not necessarily heard or seen in mainstream media. Two of them include the unfair wages of commercial airline pilots and the unjust incarcerations of juveniles at a corporate-run detention center in Pennsylvania. While these stories represent only small portion of Moore's argument, they are nonetheless the most interesting and the most memorable for the sake they are barely mentioned or not even mentioned at all in mainstream media.

Various montages are used to direct the flow of the film with a soundtrack that is humorous and tension building. This creates a strong narrative for the film that may leave audiences helpless and hopeless at times but eventually finds pockets of hope in small groups of people who fight the greed that Michael Moore is exposing. By exposing the underbelly of greed that is exists in America and showing the faces of Americans that this greed affects, causes audiences reflect upon their history but also seek a future that will alter one's state of thought of this dark period in American history. This will only come to realization by the actions that are done by those watching this film, who Michael Moore recruits in the final moments of "Capitalism: A Love Story".

My Fenway Experience

2009-09-23T13:56:00.000-07:00

One August morning, in the midst of the remnants of another Northeastern Summer time storm, were two outstanding young men on their way to Boston. The city this journey started in New York City around 5:00AM.

After a good night's of watching baseball, playing video games, drinking beer, and loud thunder awakening the NYC sky from its sleep, we set out on this journey to Boston, with an idea of what we will accomplish, yet not knowing how. Straight out of an episode of "The Amazing Race" we sloshed our with with backpacks and rain gear through subway stop to subway stop, through Little Italy, and eventually finding ourselves in Chinatown. It is in Chinatown where we were able to catch that 7:00AM bus to Boston, and not having to wait another hour for another sketchy bus to leave this less than desirable area of NYC.

And yet, we were on our way. Astonished by the Manhattan Bridge we crossed, and the sights of the Bronx that, we were unable to catch up on lost sleep not until we left the area known to be New York City. We caught up on our sleep for a good three to four hours until we stopped in some New England area rest stop, which had the fine American and Italian delicacies of Roy Rogers and Sbarro. Not being able to eat much of anything all morning, we held our breaths and swallowed what is thought to be Roy Rogers' version of the Egg McMuffin, which was not even close but just good enough for us to get by the next hour or two until we finally reach the great city of Boston.

When arriving in Boston, we can already see what will foreshadow our very short stay in the city. The tall and bright "Citgo" sign that is memorable sight for any baseball fan familiar via TV or live in person, a sign that is most notably seen hovering just beyond the all holy "Green Monster". Passing by the sign on the highway, signaled, this is it.

Arriving in Boston, we relieved ourselves at the Bus Depot of any waste or indication of Roy Rogers from our tired and drained bodies. We then set out to plan what to see in a city where there is much to be explored and to be lived. Harvard being the furthest away from our current position at the time was the logical choice to start, if we were going to move in towards the downtown area.

Harvard in of itself was a magnificent place to be. This is what all those kids dream of every fall, when they apply to go to college. This is the college every parent would like there child to attend. This is the college where the smartest kids ever go. I mean wow. The brick buildings and castle like structures, made the school appear as exclusive as Hogwarts. Harvard Square was another sight that left me jealous of those kids who actually have to opportunity to go to such a fantastic looking school and also in such a spectacular area of the United States. Lucky.

After a good exploring and mocking those parents who were trying hardily to convince their son or daughter to go to Harvard, we stopped at a Chinese Restaurant where we met a cartoon character of hostess, and the most Chinese food for just two people I have ever seen in my life. We had enough for left overs, so boxed it up and brought it along, thinking we can enjoy it on the bus ride home.

Next stop was the hallowed Fenway Park. Traveling down into the depths of the T, we encountered a barrage of Red Sox and Yankee fans on their way to the very destination of our desire. The red of Red Sox t-shirts, hats, and jerseys bled through the T, with spots of Yankee fans every where you looked, representing for the baseball they believe in. And yet, here we were. Amongst all these fans were two San Francisco Giants fans, who have no such championship glory to speak of or experience, two fans of baseball who just wanted to see Fenway.

After two transfers of following the river of Red Sox and Yankee fans, we finally made it out of the depths and saw the bright blue sky and scorching sun bathe the day. We marched alongside fans who clearly bled the colors they believed in, and in the midst of all this commotion we saw a man riding his bike along the sideway, advertising ticket sales for this day's games. Both of us were confused. This is Yankees and Red Sox right? This is supposed to be sold out. This is Major League Baseball's most storied rivalry. These two teams give you the definition of rivalry. They hate each other so much. And there are still tickets available for the game? We looked at each other, curious, yet, reluctant. Fuck it, let's just see how much they are.

We walked down to the store front, opened door to the ticket office, and asked, "What are your two cheapest tickets?" The clerk, who seemed to be having a really bad day, or was sick out of his brains, said,"$100". We walked outside declining to pay this much for a baseball game and discussed the reality and opportunity that we had in our hands. Fuck it. Let's do this. Back inside we go and on to purchase those $100 seats. Little did we know, those $100 seats were not seats at all but just tickets to enter the Park. $150 would be the price if we were to have seats three rows behind the bullpen in leftfield! Fuck it. So we purchased these tickets, with the plastic our parents had bestowed upon us and readied ourselves what was about to be the best day of our lives...

Twisting the old "aliens invade Earth" story...

2009-08-31T19:23:00.000-07:00

What "District 9" accomplishes and does very well is telling the story of aliens arriving to our planet in a manner that presents them not as a harm to society rather a nuisance, which the human population can only help to control. The film follows a faux-documentary format in order to introduce the history that lies behind the alien mothership, which hovers above the city of Johannesburg, South Africa. This documentary-like format is not only feels as real as a documentary should be but is also very informative to key information that audiences need know throughout the rest of the film.

Shifting gears from documentary to a more standard filming techiniques, "District 9" centers around Wikus van de Merwe, as he tries expose Multi-National United's (MNU) secrets and plans for the aliens and District 9. MNU's role is to act as a sort of ambassador in order to control the "prawns" in relation to other human beings. Themes of human rights, capitalism, and thoughts of the South African apartheid come to mind with MNU controlling where the prawns roam, separating them from humans, and putting them in the most destitute and terrible living conditions.

"District 9" is a remarkable achievement in both story and filmmaking overall. In recycling an old genre of alien invasion, the film is able to twist the genre and somehow relate treatment of the prawns to human relations as a whole. The film seems to hint at the fact prawns have human qualities as well, which on its own is such a fantastic feat. Along with the story comes the action which does not disappoint and keeps the tension rolling until the end.

The closing moments of the film revert back to this documentary style, telling the story as if it is the truth and gathering conclusions from family members, MNU employees, and so-called experts on this whole event. Incorporating various film styles and providing a unique story that makes this film a remarkable feat and a truly outstanding cinematic experience.

Altering History and Audience Spectatorship: The Fulfillment of "Inglourious Basterds"

2009-08-27T15:28:00.000-07:00

In Quentin Tarantino's latest film, he brings his ever so typical, quick-witted dialogue and in-your-face violence and blood to World War II. Specifically set in Nazi-occupied France, centering around a number of narratives, in which converge together by the end of the film. While being Tarantino's first film set within our very history, he does not digress from his own filmic stylings in which make him uniquely, an auteur. Along with the dialogue and violence, Tarantino brings along also his constant love for the cinema, inserting film references of the Western (notably in the soundtrack) and echoing Enzo Castellari's own "Inglorious Bastards".

Quentin Tarantino's obsession with film translates to the narrative of the film, where audiences are treated to goings-on of what occurs at film auditorium during the actual screening of the film. While this perception may cause confusion, it brings in a strong and possibly haunting look at our own spectatorship when screening "Inglourious Basterds". Our own spectatorship is put into question and made aware of during the screening of the German propaganda film, and the eventual events that occur towards the end of this screening.

It is these events and the audiences own notion of history and spectatorship are put in perspective. Tarantino's altering of history and what truly ended the war is what the power of film allows him to do when writing and directing this film. He is able to construct a history that is based on what is already known but changing in the terms of his own desire, creating an entirely new fiction and simultaneously building a fulfillment of the audiences own desire to see this new history unfold.

While Tarantino was the architect of this film, much has to be noted of the performance of Christoph Waltz, who plays Colonel Hans Landa aka "The Jew Hunter". He brings about villainly that is absolutely terrible and horrific while being entirely charming and careful, that there is not a single protagonist that is able to match him for words. His performance is one that should be noted and is truly and utterly outstanding.

"Inglourious Basterds" brings Quentin Tarantino to World War II, however no flavor is lost in this time travel, in which allows Tarantino show off his skills as film auteur, while expressing his undying love for film, cinema, and the movies altogether.

Priceless...

2009-08-26T10:03:00.000-07:00

Four hour bus ride from NYC to Boston: $15

Day Pass on the Boston T: $9

Lunch for two at a Chinese Restaurant across from Harvard: $26

Two Tickets at Fenway Park behind the bullpen: $300

Watching the ultimate baseball rivalry in person: priceless

Packing the Heat, Lacking Clarity is "Public Enemies"

2009-07-11T22:50:00.000-07:00

What Public Enemies brings is what is exactly portrayed in its previews leading up to its release. Gunfights, fast cars, bank robberies, charismatic bad guys, and with a little side for women. Michael Mann delivers in bringing forward an certain intensity and tension to the gun battles that ensue throughout the film, giving them meaning and purpose rather than placing them unnecessarily and blowing things up entirely. These choreographed scenes are among the film's great strengths not letting up on the violent and grim nature of gangster living of the 1930's.

Public Enemies harkens back to that of gangster films released during the era in which the events of this film take place. These men, portrayed in the moving pictures or in the newspapers captured the consciousness of the public in a phenomenal fashion. Certain odes to the older gangster films are represented in filmic techniques of the gun fights, lighting, and cinematography give in to the phenomenom of the American Gangster.

However, any reason why and how John Dillinger's celebrity took off is never made clear. Although he relishes in the idea of gaining positive public support as, the primitive form of the FBI struggles to catch dangerous individuals. Any reason to why Dillinger is a bank robber is also never made clear as well.

Despite these flaws, Johnny Depp as John Dillinger excels amongst a star studded cast that fails to deliver overall. The gun fight balletics of the film are what save the film from being almost boring. Director Michael Mann achieves gun battles that which echo that of Heat, which is suspenseful, intense, and absolutely spectacular. The gun fights help the film from being a boring one, hiding aspects that which still remain unclear.

"Transformers 2" fulfills its purpose and has earned THE blockbuster of the summer

2009-06-29T00:50:00.000-07:00

Much has been made of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. The amount of stuff getting blown up. The certain claims of racism that is pretty obvious amongst certain transformers. The role Shia LaBeouf's broken hand played into the narrative of the film. However, most of all one can decipher from the long lines drawn in and out of the theaters across the country or the number of status updates made facebook or twitter featuring any sort of relevance to this film that this is the summer blockbuster of 2009. While it may not measure of to numbers of 2008's The Dark Knight, Revenge of the Fallen succeeds in entertaining and moving audiences to the point shock, awe, sorrow, and hiliarity.

Through these various states of emotion, this film is able to achieve this crown of becoming the must watch movie of the summer. In order to succeed in becoming a blockbuster movie, Revenge of the Fallen is able to portray world of today that ultimately makes one cheer, clap, and scream out one's fulfillment and euphoria from what Michael Bay has brought into consciousness.

Michael Bay is no stranger to blowing things up and knowing what images want to make the audience yearn for more. A long resume of summer blockbusters are in his pocket, but none come close to the achievement of audience satisfaction that which Revenge of the Fallen has received. While the plot of the film and the reasons for the "Rise of the Fallen" are unclear in the midst of dialogue that is not entirely comprehensible or even necessary and alien robots just breaking each other apart like the world is at stake, all that there needs to be known is how spectators perceive the action, the romance, the comedy, and the drama that of which this film achieves in many ways.

Revenge of the Fallen has lived up to the hype and then some, silencing critics who feel there is too much action and not enough plot. Critically acclaimed, this film is not, but it not needs to be when all the elements needed to create a perfect summer blockbuster are available, equaling into complete audience satisfaction and fulfilling its purpose within society: completely and utterly awesome entertainment.

"Star Trek" is Rejuvenated, Reenergized, and Ready for more

2009-05-26T23:40:00.000-07:00

In what has been a long and very historic television and film franchise, Star Trek, seems to have found new life in recreating the very first series. This new edition of Star Trek features all the humor, plot lines, and effects that made the series and films so popular. Not being a 'Trekkie' or even a fan of Star Trek at all put guarded me from this film even during the previews. However, reignited by director J.J. Abrams, this eleventh edition of Star Trek has proven to stake its claim as something to watch for now and in the future on not only fans before this film was released but to new fans as well, like myself.

Opening with a battle sequence that is sure to hook any viewer into the action and the story, the film sets up for what is to come of James T. Kirk and his destiny to become Captain of his own ship in the Star Fleet. The film initially structures its way around the lives of Kirk and Spock, through their childhood and fast-forwarding to their encounters at Star Fleet. The differences between Kirk and Spock, played by Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto respectively, are what stir conflict on the ship, given the young, brash, yet innovative leadership of Kirk combatted by Spock's leadership by logic, reasoning, and firmness. The distinctive qualities of both of these characters are a driving force that provides a certain internal strength to the film's glorious space battles.

As for the story, right from the start, viewers are able to recognize the good and evil. There was not one moment of confusion in the film, which makes it remarkably refreshing.The pace at which the story unfolds is steady, following a structure that introduces viewers to the characters, recognizing their distinctive qualities and features in which makes the Star Trek in of itself. The character development and how each are shaped around and about each other on the ship not only make them identifiable by any viewer but make them obscure enough for the audience to desire more in future installments in this new Star Trek franchise.

No prior knowledge is needed to enjoy the best summer movie so far this year. Star Trek is bound to wow viewers of all backgrounds while receiving some well deserved appreciation from all 'Trekkies' alike. Abrams scores again with another summer hit and leaves all viewers wondering and wanting even more in the end.

"Terminator Salvation": A Visually Stunning Movie Experience

2009-05-25T23:28:00.000-07:00

Throughout all the computer generated images of the year 2018 and awesome action scenes, "Terminator Salvation" was able to serve a visually stunning example what should be expected from an action film, especially a film that follows the "Terminator" lineage. Being set around the converging storylines of Kyle Reese and John Connor, to which sets the stage for the first film, "Salvation" was able to twist its way to unite these two figures of the Resistance into one exciting and pleasurable viewing experience. The setting where the war against machines takes place, is shown to be a desolate world where all humans struggle to survive against the machines who take humans for their own means, in building the new Terminator, the T-800. Compositionally, the exterior scenes of life after Judgement Day, were some of my favorites, viewing a world that is not exactly sure what will or can happen next.

Where the visual elements are the strength of the film, the story and plot remain very weak. Managing to converge the lives of John Connor, Kyle Reese, and terminator, Marcus Wright, seems to be so easliy contrived and resolved, in that, any conflicts that these main characters faced, were seen and then easily conquered. The film starts out very slow trying to set aside John Connor as a prophet of the Resistance Army, however, is not seen or recognized as any leader to his peers. His rise through the ranks and figuring how to solve SkyNet and the machines are nothing but walls that John Connor can break through because he is John Connor.

Regardless, the visual elements make up for a weak story line and weak character development. The special effects and action sequences are what define "Terminator Salvation" to be a considerable hit, regardless of its name and previous films. "Terminator Salvation" is a film that cannot be missed in the theaters. Creating a world that appears to be attainable and not at all fictional is what this film accomplishes and does magically.

'Wolverine' packs a punch but is not that spectacular

2009-05-04T19:20:00.000-07:00

The latest installment of the X-Men saga comes in the form of X-Men Origins: Wolverine. In this prequel, we learn about the reasoning behind why Wolverine is Wolverine. The story and background is fast-forwarded through the opening credit sequence in a montage of James Logan (Wolverine) and his brother, Victor Creed, fighting in the number of wars involving the United States. The montage is brilliant edited to dictate and position the opposing views on life by Logan and Creed but also to show the everlasting life that these men lead as result of being mutants. The narrative begins, in what I assume, is in the late 1970's or even 1980's where the brothers are recruited by United States Colonel William Stryker. As the story follows, the opposing sides that Logan and Creed take shape within Stryker's organization of mutants leading Logan to leave and seclude himself in the Canadian Rockies.

Many things about Wolverine are revealed, including how the name 'Wolverine' came about, how ever the darkness that resides in his behavior is never touched or revealed. The story and background of Wolverine lies deeper than what the film has shown and barely touched the surface of what Wolverine is all about. A film has been dedicated to the most interesting character of the X-Men series however, he, played by Hugh Jackman, was the most uninteresting character of the film. His many encounters with human victims, as a result of his presence among them or even his encounters with other mutants is seen as showcase of different special effects the filmmakers can play around with given the wide array of mutant powers available at their disposal.

As the story does not give justice to the story of Wolverine in the comic book, the action disappoints just as much. While the action scenes are great, they are not spectacular. They are just mediocre and average. In what most of these comic book films strive to accomplish in creating mesmerizing action sequences, Wolverine does at best, what can be expected from an average comic book film. By comparison of previous incarnations of the comic book film, The Dark Knight and Watchmen certainly raised the bar in each film's depiction of action and story as well. Wolverine contains much potential in background, story, and action however, the film swings and misses in all departments lacking any sort of spectacular that which the comic book film genre has come to expect as a result of certain films that have been released in the past year.

Yet again, the Sharks fall in the Playoffs

2009-04-27T23:34:00.000-07:00

Earlier this evening the Sharks were eliminated miserably by the Anaheim Ducks, losing the series four games to two. The fast and emphatic start by the Sharks represented the Sharks' play throughout the series by showing flashes of brilliance the catapulted them to the top seed in the playoffs and not sustaining those flashes throughout the game. The first period was probably started with a brawl between the Joe Thornton and Ryan Getzlaf, continuing their mini-battle from Game 5, however it is Getzlaf who had the last laugh, scoring a late third period goal, which deflated any opportunity by San Jose to march a comeback.

The Sharks came into the series dragging their feet and leave the series dragging their feet. Losing the first two games at home proved to be the major obstacle by which the Sharks were unable to counter. Earning the top seed in the playoffs and home ice in the playoffs means, that team must take advantage of these games at home, which the Sharks did not do at all. The Ducks top line of Ryan, Getzlaf, and Perry dominated the Sharks top line of Marleau, Thornton, and Setoguchi, while blueliners Chris Pronger and Scott Niedermayer just ripped any quality opportunity the Sharks were able to generate. The Sharks outshot the Ducks in the series, but in every game were unable to create quality chances to put the puck in the back of the net. Jonas Hiller may be a big reason why the Sharks were unable to score much of anything, shutting out San Jose twice in the series. Hiller made fantastic saves tonight, as he did throughout the series. The clogging of shooting and passing lanes disrupted San Jose's rhythm but also the relentless forecheck of Anaheim would not the Sharks to move up the ice efficiently.

Basically, the Sharks were outplayed and the Ducks executed on their chances terrifically. The Ducks came in playing outstanding hockey, while the Sharks straggled into the playoffs and being handed the Presidents' Trophy and not earning it. The Sharks played out of character in comparison to their early season triumphs but it can be said that they played out of character for most of the second of the season when their struggles were apparent. The Ducks followed through on a game plan that worked right into their hands and dismantled the Sharks. In what can be said as another wasted year, I feel this year has to be the most wasteful. It was the perfect opportunity for these Sharks to reach their Stanley Cup dreams, however those dreams are not to happen this year. Their rival from the southland basks in a series victory while the Sharks are once again scratching their tales, wondering how the hell do they equal their regular season performance in the postseason. That's a good question. We will just have to wait and see.

Sharks Uninspired as They Fall in Game 1

2009-04-16T22:01:00.000-07:00

The Anaheim Ducks playoff muscle showed mightily as they pull off a 2-0 win over the San Jose Sharks in Game 1. Ryan Getzlaf of the Ducks was big star with a goal and an assist, helping Scott Niedermayer on the first goal of the series early in the third period. The Sharks dominated the shot column by doubling the total of the Ducks, but rookie, Jonas Hiller was absolutely solid scoring a shutout. While the big names of the Ducks, like Getzlaf and Niedermayer made noise on the score sheet and throughout the game, the Sharks' big names were non-existent. Joe Thornton had only one shot on goal while Patrick Marleau could have stayed at home to watch the game and the result would have still been the same. The Sharks falter in Game 1 to lose home ice advantage in the series and will hope to get this one back on Sunday.

The Sharks Logo is a Pokemon

2009-04-14T23:21:00.000-07:00

Go Sharks!

Photos From:

http://sanjose.metblogs.com/archives/images/2007/07/SharksLogo02.jpg

and

http://www.serebii.net/potw/Sharpedo.jpg

Former NBA Greats, Do Not Fare Too Well In The Front Office

2009-04-13T22:47:00.000-07:00

After reading about the Phoenix Suns missing the playoffs for the first time since 2004, it came over me why is this so. Just four years ago, these guy were one of the NBA's top teams, garnering the NBA's best record in 2005. Then I realized something. Steve Kerr happened. The former NBA champion with the Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs ruined the Phoenix Suns. The former TNT Basketball Analyst ruined the Phoenix Suns. He has put Steve Nash in a position where he will never win an NBA Championship, joining so many other greats who never reached such a plateau through their careers. Steve Kerr ruined the Phoenix Suns, first and foremost by adding Shaquille O'Neal to their organization at the 2008 trade deadline. While it seemed like a good idea at first, the Suns lost one of their premier defenders on their team in Shawn Marion. And don't get me wrong, I love Shaq. He is having a fantastic season with the Suns this year and him back in the Western Conference with the Suns seemed something like a good thing. However, this did not work. Suns got eliminated by the Spurs in the first round last season. And now this season, they will not be returning to the playoffs. Why? Because Steve Kerr felt like Terry Porter can make this run 'n' gun team into a half court team, taking away what made Steve Nash and so many other players so dangerous. To make matters worse, Kerr traded away Raja Bell and Boris Diaw, two key players in this offense for Steve Nash to the Charlotte Bobcats. That is how Steve Nash ruined the Suns.

From this I have come to the realization that NBA greats do not make good front office personnel. And when I mean good front office personnel, I do not mean a paper pusher, consultant, or secretary, I mean a front office position such as a General Manager, President, Vice President, some position with some or a lot of significance for the organization.

Case and point: Michael Jordan. The best to ever play the game. The worst to join any front office ever. His stint with the Washington Wizards included a return to the game but also included a number one draft choice of Kwame Brown. Enough said. Currently he is in the Charlotte Bobcats front office, however, let's be honest all those young, great college players, are not going to bring that team from the cellar of the East anytime soon. Tenth place in the East is equal to very bad in the West.

Elgin Baylor. While I do not have the slightest idea who he played for, I know he was a good NBA players. Why? Someone decided to give him a front office position with the Los Angeles Clippers. He was let go from the team last year or the year before, but the team is still going no where. After making the playoffs in 2006, the Clippers are not going to the playoffs again for a very long time, again.

Joe Dumars. Another example of Steve Kerr on how to dismantle a good contender. While Joe Dumars has been the most somewhat successful out of this bunch by winning an NBA title in 2004, he is single-handedly making the Pistons from an elite team to a mediocre team at best. Firing Flip Saunders was dumb. Signing Michael Curry was dumber. Trading Billups for Iverson is a head scratcher. Plus, he signed Michael Jordan's number one pick Kwame Brown this past off-season, possibly giving help and learning from NBA greats Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess? I give it to them, they have some good young talent, but this team has been an Eastern Conference giant for this entire decade. Now, they are just blah. Iverson has not done much of anything while Billups has lifted the Nuggets to possibly a second seed in the West. I would not be surprised to see other key guys such as Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince on the way out this off-season, because that is where this one is heading.

Kevin McHale. The Minnesota Timberwolves GM has not been so great. One good year out of many does not cut it. While he did draft Kevin Garnett out of high school back in 1995, he also traded him away for a bunch of scrubs that make the Timberwolves one of the league's worst. While the team has some upside with Kevin Love, Al Jefferson, and others the team is still in a disarray after the Garnett trade. McHale took over coaching duties back in December and will hopefully try and find a coach to bring the T-Wolves back to a place of respectability. Kevin McHale is the longest tenured front office rep out this bunch, however out of all his years has small successes to show for it.

Larry Bird. Larry Bird was a somewhat successful coach. He led the Pacers to the NBA Finals back in 2000, however as the director of Basketball Operations, I have not seen much of anything. In charge of coaching changes and drafting players, Bird has not built much of anything that resembles the Pacer teams of the 90's. The Pacers have come up short to the playoffs, behind the Pistons, but need someone other than Granger to pick up the scoring. And Troy Murphy can't be that guy by himself. This is where the draft comes in and that is where Bird comes in. From this group, the Pacers have the most upside (yes, more than the Suns, because Nash is on the way out, no matter how much he wants to stay). Larry Bird has not been as atrocious as his fellow former player turned front office person but he has not been great.

That is all I have to say about that. Great basketball players, do not make great basketball decision-makers. You might be asking what about Danny Ainge, he has made a huge turn around for the Celtics or Danny Ferry clinched the best record in the East tonight. Well, those guys are just lucky for the circumstances they are under. Ainge and Boston were extremely lucky to land both Garnett and Allen during the 2007 offseason. Ferry and the Cleveland Cavaliers are just lucky to have LeBron James. Other than that, I have one recommendation for NBA players. Go golf, hunt, be TV analyst, watch your kids grow up, or just relax because the front office should be a no go zone for you.

The Sharks Win President's Trophy, Earn First Round Meeting with Rival Ducks

2009-04-13T19:08:00.001-07:00

The San Jose Sharks earned the President's Trophy by amassing the most points in the NHL through the regular season. They did it by not winning in their final two games of the season. They got some help from Buffalo beating Boston on Saturday. This has been by far the best team in franchise history and can be all because of the Sharks' fast start in the beginning of the year. Although they never reached that level of dominance during the rest of the year, the Sharks were able to maintain a level of consistency that enabled them to be on top of the rest of the league after 82 games.

However, with the regular season over, it is time for the real season to begin. The reason behind the trades, signings of Boyle, Blake, Lukowich, Lemieux, and Moen is because of all of their Stanley Cup histories. Histories that all include winning the Stanley Cup itself. Coach Todd McClellan can very well be apart of that list of the major changes in the organization since he won the Cup last season in Detroit. With all this experience and stellar play by Marleau, Thornton, and Nabokov, the Sharks should be set to cruise to their first Cup, right? Sorry to say but no. It is not going to be easy at all. Every team in the Western Conference has either beaten the Sharks this season, which says a lot in itself, or has given the Sharks trouble this season. Being on top of the Conference and the League makes the San Jose Sharks a marked team. A team that many feel they can compete with and beat in the playoffs, given San Jose's dreadful playoff history the past three years. But being the marked team in the playoffs, should provide that extra motivation, knowing that they are the team to beat. The Sharks have never been in this position in their entire franchise history, which makes these particular playoffs special.

Making things even more special is drawing the Anaheim Ducks in the first round. The hated rivals from the Southland are going to be a real test to how the Sharks will fare in the playoffs. First being, they have to eliminate them to move on but also because this is a team with lots of Stanley Cup experience, ready to take the Sharks out of their style of play. Expect a very physical series, many fights, and lots of penalties to come out of these games. Even in the regular season, these games are always intense, but the level of intensity will be brought up exponentially given it is the playoffs as well. Anaheim's physical play will probably play in to their strategy for success against the Sharks. The Sharks beefed up for the postseason by adding in Travis Moen (who played with Anaheim for the majority of the year), however they must stay focus with their style of play in mind to overcome the physicality of the Ducks.

The San Jose Sharks ended the season sluggishly and I expect them to start the postseason on the same not. However, as the series wears on the Sharks will begin to restore some sort of rhythm and play that solidified their role as one of the NHL's elite. The return of Patrick Marleau and Ryane Clowe are key to the Sharks finding that rhythm once again. Till then, we will have to wait and see and play out all the various scenarios of what will happen. GAME 1: SHARKS vs. DUCKS, 7:30PM

"Fast & Furious" provides much to be expected: Cars, Women, and Action!

2009-04-07T14:03:00.000-07:00

The reunion of the original cast, which was thought to not be after the first installment, proved to be a driving force in the box-office this past weekend. Fast & Furious earned over $75 Million over the weekend, breaking box-office records. Headlining the cast was Paul Walker, Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, and Jordana Brewster, the four were apart of the first film of "The Fast and the Furious" franchise. The film begins by chronicling how the original cast comes to reunite. They reunite in finding a common enemy, who is both the enemy of police authorities and certain criminals who are seeking revenge. In order to find their common enemy by Walker and Diesel enter themselves in a street race that certainly no drag race or drift race. It is a mixture of the two while providing some unexpected twists. The reunion of Diesel and Walker is bittersweet, given the grave circumstances it comes after and how each would like to deal with their own individual issues at hand.

Nonetheless, Fast & Furious does not disappoint. While the story and how the reunion between the cast members is forced down our throats and the acting is less than spectacular, the action does not disappoint. Whether if it is by foot or by car, action appears in moments of the film where the film needs it the most. Director Justin Lin understands the importance of the car and the race to the story and creates car chase sequences that are simply awesome. While some sequences are not exactly of this world and represented in CGI, the sequences are nonetheless very well done. Vin Diesel was better than I expected, meshing well back into the role of Dominic Torretto, knowing his role and presence in the film. Seeing how successful this film was this past weekend, talks of a fifth installment might be in the works, however getting these actors back together once again might be asking more than what can actually be done. Another installment can certainly be put together, considering the end of this film and how the previous Tokyo Drift ended. Though I find this highly unlikely. Overall, fans of the franchise will not be disappointed and those expecting to see cars flying, crashing and looking damn good on the streets are getting what they wanted.

Sharks Enter the Final Three Games of the Season Before Playoffs

2009-04-07T00:29:00.000-07:00

After an emotional and blood-boiling 3-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks, the second of a home and home series between the two teams, the Sharks will enter the final three games of the season with a four point lead for the number one overall position in the Western Conference and a three point lead for the top record in all of the National Hockey League. It would be the first time in franchise history if the San Jose Sharks are to gain the top record in the conference and the league. But receiving home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs and earning a President's Trophy is the least of the Sharks' motivations to end the year. As they hold tight to the top position in hockey, the Sharks need only to worry about continuing to play at a high level, ensuring some sort of momentum as they enter the playoffs, and to most of all stay healthy and get healthy. With Patrick Marleau, Ryane Clowe, and Mike Grier still all out due to injury, the Sharks need to stay healthy to stabilize this nice run they are enduring to end the regular season.

Impressive one goal victories in Alberta, have guided them to the top spot but most of all have given them the confidence that is needed to sustain them through the playoffs. Jonathan Cheechoo has gathered his scoring touch scoring in three of the last four, while Dan Boyle has lit up the net last week for the first time in over a month. While the injuries have hindered the Sharks to dominate as they did at the beginning of the season, young guns such as Brad Staubitz, Thomas Plihal, and Jamie McGinn have all contributed equally giving depth to the club for not only the playoffs but the future as well. The experience these players are getting now, during games that do matter, will benefit them in the future and definitely now. Evgeni Nabokov has been never been more solid in goal, solidify the last line of defense and his presence on the ice. His performance over the last month has defined his role in Sharks hockey history and his role for the Sharks in the playoffs. His play will dictate and initiate on how the Sharks will operate and continue this strong stretch of play in the playoffs.

Once the injury bug is out of the Sharks system, this team will look to dominate as it did through the first quarter of the season. Reuniting the lines during that run will be important to not only the chemistry between the individual lines, but to the chemistry of the team as a whole. There is a lot of Stanley Cup experience and that is Stanley Cup winning experience that can carry the load to those players who have not been deep in the playoffs. However, getting there is the first step. The Sharks have clinched the division and will possibly clinch the conference by Thursday. The experience matched with the dynamic play of Thornton, Marleau, and Nabokov are key to the Sharks' run. This run starts with these three games leading into the playoffs, giving the Sharks to generate momentum against a very tough Western Conference field. Generating momentum going into the playoffs is key for every team but is key for San Jose's own success this coming post season.

Giants Open 2009 Tomorrow

2009-04-06T18:58:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow afternoon, Tim Lincecum will be striking out people much how he went through the National League last season (Weather Permitting). Yep, the 2009 baseball season has started. It actually started last night, with an impressive Derek Lowe spoiling the Phillies' World Series party. The San Francisco Giants, however, do not begin their campaign until tomorrow, that is if the rain is not too much. If not, Tim Lincecum will take to the mound, in his first Opening Day star, against the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Giants finished Spring Training with a 21-19 record. Their first above .500 Spring Training since 2005. But what does this mean? Not much, other than we got to see the future and how they might perform this season. Travis Ishikawa will start at first base and finished the spring leading the team with seven home runs. Pablo Sandoval batted over .400 for the majority of Spring, living up to the hype that follows him into the start of this year. These are two guys that will be manning the corners on the infield (Ishikawa at 1st and Sandoval at 3rd) and are packing the punch that is the Giants offense this season. Yes, I know both these guys are new and will struggle at times or throughout the season against real pitchers and in real games but both of these guys have talent that will come around. Much like the Giants, these two system guys have more upside than down. They are the heart of the order, but hopefully they will only have to do a little to put this team over the top.

The National League West is the worst division in baseball. Manny Ramirez makes the Los Angeles Dodgers the favorites, but does not make them the favorites by a lot. The Dodgers lack pitching to the amount of bats they have. The Diamondbacks are a close second, who could run away with the division if they learn patience at the plate. The Rockies are in rebuilding mode, after trading Holliday in the off-season but still can be dangerous in the hitter friendly Coors Field. The Padres are definitely rebuilding even having Jake Peavy on opening who will be traded by the deadline. With so many issues with every team in the division, I think any one can win it. And just winning the division will make the NL West a very dangerous team in the playoffs. The Dodgers showed this last season, stunning the Cubs and reaching the NLCS.

The Giants can be particularly dangerous because of the pitching. They have one of the best staffs in all of baseball and even have more fire power waiting in the minors with Madison Bumgarner and Tim Alderson. Although the offense once again will be the issue that keeps this team from being somewhat elite, the young talent of not only Sandoval and Ishikawa but also of Fred Lewis and Emmanuel Burriss and the veteran leadership of Aaron Rowand, Edgar Renteria, and Bengie Molina are what will define how well this team will do. These guys will define how well these pitchers will do also. We know that Lincecum, Randy Johnson, Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez, and yes, Barry Zito will get the job done but that is only to the extent of the amount of run support that will back them, especially in the case of Zito.

The season begins tomorrow. The season will not be determined by the performance of the Giants tomorrow but it will give hints to what to expect from these guys. Have faith, patience, and be optimistic. The Giants have tons of talent on the major league roster and in the minors, and how they use this talent has yet to be seen. What will be seen is Tim Lincecum, showing up his Cy Young stuff, striking out a few heads, and then some.

"I Love You, Man"... but only a little

2009-04-06T18:37:00.000-07:00

Once again, another 'bromance' film is out in theaters, not falling far from the Apatow tree. Starring Paul Rudd and Jason Segel, "I Love You, Man" centers around newly engaged Peter Klaven (Rudd) desperately trying to find some friends that are of the male kind. Through a humourous montage of Peter's numerous man-dates with random guys and some he is somewhat familiar with. However, it is not until he meets Sydney Fife (Segel) where Peter finds a real true friend who could possibly be his best man. Both find a common ground through a number of hobbies and interests Peter has abandoned and Sydney has kept going in his life. Sydney, much like Peter, is looking for some guy time when most of his friends have entered new chapters of their lives with wives and kids. Sydney on the otherhand is single, and living a bachelor's dream in his nice home near the beach with his dog. Problems arise when Peter finds himself spending so much time with Sydney that it is affecting his own love life with Zooey (Rashida Jones) and possibly putting their impending wedding up in the air.

Being that this is another 'Bromance' film, Rudd and Segel play the star crossed lovers whose relationship is the focus of the film. Although both retain their heterosexuality, the homosexual undertones or brotherhood between the guys is explicitly shown throughout the film, enhancing and possibly hitting people over the head with themes of 'bromance' that audiences have become aware of from previous films such as "Knocked Up", "Superbad", "Pineapple Express" and "Forgetting Sarah Marshall". The formula for these films has been effective and unique in that it brings in a new comedy that audiences have come to adore. "I Love You, Man" once again brings in comedy that people will enjoy along with quite a slew of co-stars that many will recognize. My favorite is Jon Favreau, who plays the angry husband who dislikes Peter to the greatest degree and does not seem to care whether he shows it or not. Other that some funny sequences, the explicit undertones of relying on the themes of 'bromance' are what seem to be the flaws of the film overall. The reunion of Peter and Sydney is put together so simply by comparison of other reunions seen in romantic comedies, but reflects male attitudes towards friendship overall, which the film seems to understand fairly well. The film has flaws but do not overwhelm the comedy that both Rudd and Segel bring equally. "I Love You, Man" maybe not one of the best 'bromance' films but is still decent enough to bring in the laughs.

Let's face it, the Sharks are at a low point, but...

2009-03-11T22:19:00.000-07:00

The San Jose Sharks escaped Minnesota last night, in what seems like since the All-Star Break, a overtime victory, or even a victory, period. The Sharks were once again ahed of the Minnesota Wild 3-0, before blowing the lead, when the Wild cut the lead to one, 3-2. The Sharks, however, answered back by scoring a key goal increasing the lead but only for the Sharks to squander a lead once again, allowing two Owen Nolan goals within the last 10 minutes of the third period. Although, they did get the victory and the two points, to stay neck and neck with Detroit for the Western Conference lead, the Sharks are at a low point in this season. They have lost the past four games before last night's win and are 9-5-6 since the All-Star Break, but I only read it as 9 wins and 11 losses since. A shootout loss is still a loss and I don't care if you get one point. Let's face it people, the Sharks are struggling but some how some way they are still atop of the Western Conference, although barely, since Detroit has hit some rough spots recently, as well. Nonetheless, this is an important time for the Sharks. Injuries, illnesses should be no excuse to lose especially this close to playoff time. Furthermore, these losses and how they approach these final 17 games, will show us how good are these guys really. The signings of tough guys, Travis Moen and Kent Huskins has only toughened up an already hard hitting and fast hockey team, when they are at their best. Adding this much Stanley Cup veterans, including from this past offseason, this year or bust is the finals. The positive thing I can say about the Sharks losing now is that the losing is happening now. They are struggling and playing uninspired now and not in late April or May. However, how the Sharks recover from this slide, will tell the story of how they perform in the playoffs. The Sharks' top performers, all-stars, young stars, and veterans must play like their titles say. Thornton must play like an All-Star. Michalek and Setoguchi must play like the young, up and coming stars they are. Nabokov must be solid and show off this stuff every night. Lemieux must be a veteran and bring that kind of experience to the rest of the team. Marleau must lead by example. He must show that he belongs as the leader of this team and perform to his top ability, like he has been showing most of the year. The Sharks are a scary team, but only when they are at their best. Injuries and such have hurt as of late but this team is deep and there is no reason and no excuses for such maddening, inexplicable, and lousy play that I have seen this past month. The Sharks will turn it on sooner if not later, waiting for the playoffs should not be on their minds and this slide will help them fight adversity and discover their stride once again.

Let's Catch Up!

2009-03-02T22:35:00.000-08:00

Well, I haven't been here in awhile, so I figured I would catch up with you all (I say this hoping there is more than one or two of you).

Movies. Haven't watched any movies in the theaters lately. Not much to bust out the Nine or Ten dollars for two hours of my life. Although Watchmen is coming out this Friday, which looks to be a huge deal. At least for those who are fans of "The Greatest Comic Book Ever!" Or at least that is what I have heard. Don't know if I will watch this weekend but if I do stumble upon it I will keep those of you who are interested updated. Watched Slumdog Millionaire once again with two of my friends. Third time seeing and still amazes me. The music is just brilliant. The photography is stunning. And the story still takes me to the edge of my seat. I am happy to see that it flourished at the Oscars, for this reasons there were no clear surprises at this year's awards. The Dark Knight took home two awards, one for Heath Ledger's performance and one for Sound Mixing (correct me if I am wrong, please). The bigger stunner was Sean Penn's win over Mickey Rourke. I was a bit disappointed but I gotta hand it to Penn, he was good in Milk and I would have chosen Rourke given the whole comeback thing but nonetheless I am happy for Sean Penn.

A couple of flicks that I would like to recommend that I have seen at school lately are On the Waterfront and Rebel Without A Cause. Both star Hollywood's up and coming stars of the 1950's in Marlon Brando in On the Waterfront and James Dean in Rebel Without A Cause. Both films exemplify the talent that both of these men possess as new, up and coming actors of that generation.

Now off to the wonderful world of sports. The World Baseball Classic started today in Japan. I think Japan played China in the first game, don't know the outcome, don't really care much about the WBC, but in the end I will watch just to get a dose of baseball into my system and for the fact that it will probably be on TV at work this weekend as well.

Free agency has commenced in the NFL this past Friday, and the big names have already found homes. Albert Haynesworth to the Redskins. D'Angelo Hall to the Redskins. Bart Scott to the New York Jets. TJ Houshmanzadeh to the Seahawks. Matt Cassel and Mike Vrabel traded to the Chiefs. Lots of action in the first few days and I expect more movement and signings to be kicking with Ray Lewis and Kurt Warner still available. In speaking of Kurt Warner, he came over the Santa Clara today to meet with 49ers officials, including Mike Singletary. Although I think this is a move only to make the Cardinals throw up more money to keep Warner in Arizona and especially from a division rival like the 49ers. But if Warner does find himself in red and gold, it will be interesting and hopefully give fans a optimistic outlook on what this team can accomplish for the 2009 season.

The Warriors have all but given up on the rest of the year. With still about 20 games left on the schedule, Don Nelson is throwing in the towel by sitting his best players (Crawford on Friday, Jackson yesterday) and playing more of the young kids. Although Anthony Randolph had a career game yesterday versus the Utah Jazz, the Warriors all but fell apart in the 4th quarter in a game where they were for the most part competitive with a quality team. And staying competitive with quality teams has been the story of the Warriors season. It has been a season of heartbreaks and great learning experiences for the youngest team in the NBA. Giving the young guys opportunity to show what they can contribute is something good to see but I don't believe it is what fans want to see. To them, it is like the organization is throwing in the towel and hoping for the best next year, when really how much are these young guys going to contribute if you only select a few to be in the rotation anyway. Although Marcus Williams has been in Don Nelson's dog house for the majority of the season, isn't this an opportunity for him to show himself what he can do, instead of seeing him in uniform but on the bench. And why is Marco Bellinelli on the bench in the second half yesterday. I feel he is one the team's better talents in a very crowded backcourt, but he needs these times to develop his game against some of the NBA's best if you want him to be a part of the future. Don Nelson is all over the place when deciding to play which players now and even throughout this season. Although Don Nelson has brought the Warriors back to relevance within the NBA, he is slowly taking them out any sort of notoriety by preaching offense, run, and shoot and no defense at all. In the end, Nelson is hurting the team and the future of some of these players who I believe would flourish outside of Nelson, which may possibly be outside of the Golden State Warriors organization.

The Sharks have the top record in the NHL. Last spoke about the Sharks, they beat Boston decisively but other than that victor have struggled. The San Jose Sharks are in a slump. They are in a slump, in terms of Sharks definition of a slump. They win tight games at home and are inconsistent on the road. With this combination they will not get anywhere near a trophy called the Stanley Cup. But then again, this is the Sharks' definition of a slump. They won four in a row, although close games, in their last homestand. They came away with two victories in four games on this recent road trip but nonetheless, when you have only lost 10 games in regulation and you are more than three-quarters through the season, losing is such a heartbreak. Three of the next eight games are at home. The Sharks have struggled on the road this season but in these next eight games, the Sharks play against teams who they have or will dominate, if they play their high powered, high pressure, and physical hockey they have been known for all season long. I can see the Sharks winning eight straight and possibly even more. However, looking at it more realistically the Sharks can come away with, hopefully, at least five or six victories, keeping their standing in the Western Conference. Detroit dominated them once again, winning 4-1, splitting the season series 2-2 where the home team has won every game. Looking at the remaining games on the schedule, the Sharks could very well finish the season like they started: on an absolute tear. And this could very well spark a playoff run that San Jose fans have been waiting for long for. But let's not predict anything. We are not at this stage yet. The Sharks' struggles now are good for what is in store for the future, and hopefully the future is bright. Sharks come home tomorrow night to face division foe, the Dallas Stars. Watch it.

Sharks take a bite out of Boston but let's not get too excited

2009-02-10T22:35:00.000-08:00

In only the second of a five game East Coast swing, the Sharks edged the Boston Bruins tonight, the team with the most points in the NHL thus far, 5-2. Coming off three tough losses, the Sharks new this game would be very important for the rest of the road trip, and possibly giving them momentum towards the last third of the regular season. Being down after two periods, the Sharks were up against adversity, shutting down the Bruins' power play all six times, including a 49 second wave where Boston had a two-man advantage. Sparked by a relentless penalty kill and an overwhelming forecheck, San Jose muscled their way to victory in the third period, scoring four unanswered goals. Going into Boston and coming out victorious, in a somewhat dominating fashion, proves the Sharks are one of the NHL's best, if not the best.

However, this is only just one game. There is still a number of games left to be played until the regular season and eventually the playoffs until people can say the Sharks are the best. While this is a big win for San Jose, relieving them of their first three game losing streak of the season and winning in an elite team's arena, this is still just only one game. It only proves that the Sharks were the better team tonight. Come playoff time, the atmosphere will be different and Boston will come with a different game plan than tonight if these two teams meet in the Stanley Cup Finals.

I interrupt myself again. We should not even be thinking this far when the defending champion Detroit Red Wings are still the team to beat. Although stats, the amount of points, and two Sharks victories over Detroit make the Sharks "better" on paper, I still believe the Detroit Red Wings are the team to beat in the Western Conference and the NHL. The Red Wings are at the top because they have won it all and have shown consistency through this season that they are team to be reckon with. Up there close to them are the Sharks who have made amazing strides to knock Detroit off. Necessary changes to the personnel behind the bench and on the ice have allowed the Sharks to excel, quite awesomely, this year and have allowed them to compete and stand toe to toe with the Red Wings.

Nonetheless, the night belongs to the San Jose Sharks with a very impressive win over a very good up and coming team in the Boston Bruins. The Sharks shown the rest of the NHL and North America that they belong in the same tier as Detroit. We will have to see if this desire will come true.

Steroids Strike Back

2009-02-09T22:00:00.000-08:00

In the wake of accusations of Alex Rodriguez using and admitting to using performance enhancing drugs, I would like to say: Baseball you are at fault. Major League Baseball is at fault. Bud Selig, you are at fault. Gene Orza and other executives of the Players Union, you are at fault. It is all of you idiots that make these guys put so much pressure on themselves to perform and do their absolute best for 162 games a year. Yes, I know it is ultimately up to the player's discretion to use or not. They are idiots as well for doing it and are at fault as well. However, through all this, Major League Baseball as an organization and Baseball as a sport and a whole did not do enough to anticipate this terrible fall out, which the sport is experiencing right now.

Steroids has made it even harder for fans to even want to attend a game, given that there is a belief that the game is no longer clean and has not been clean in a long time. From Jose Canseco, Mark McGwire, and possibly Barry Bonds, to Roger Clemens and Alex Rodriguez some of baseball's biggest names from the past 20 years have all made it their names huge due to performance enhancing drugs. It is not until the early part of this decade that Bud Selig decided to finally take action against performance enhancing drugs and not until 10 years after the 1994 players strike, that punishment was given to where it was due. However ever since the installation of certain punishments for using banned substances, only minor names, names who have no worthy in baseball to begin with have been caught and suspended. Names like Andy Pettitte, Miguel Tejada, and Brian Roberts, who all appeared in last year's Mitchell Report for reportedly testing positive for banned substances, never received much of any punishment from baseball's front office other than 'bad boy. don't do that ever again.'

Perhaps, these players did use when the rules against baseball's banned substances list were, in Alex Rodriguez's words "loosey-goosey". Their usage was perfectly legal. But one must wonder, why would they ever put such substances in their bodies when they know it will harm them? Well, first things first I do believe it all has to do with outrageous amounts of money that baseball gives away to players each off-season. I know they word almost everday from April through October, but $300 Million! Are you kidding me?! What the hell is Alex Rodriguez going to do with $300 Million, which the Yankees gave him over the span of 10 years, plus incentives during the 2007-2008 off-season. No salary cap means, teams can throw money around all they want, hoping to lure players in and win championships. However, having so much running around one man's head is bound to enter his mind and envelop of certain amount of pressure and anxiety to do well, which was Alex Rodriguez's excuse for using performance enhancing drugs with the Texas Rangers from 2001 to 2003.

In 2001, Rodriguez signed a contract worth about $250M, the largest ever at the time. In an interview with ESPN, he acknowledged the amount of pressure on him to perform to the best of his abilities given the price tag that was put on top of him. And one year out his three years he did out perform everyone else, earning the American League MVP.

However, give the amount of pressure that was placed upon him, he is not the one to blame. Bud Selig and Major League Baseball allowed for this kind of activity to go on throughout the rest of the 90's after the strike, with the amount of Home Runs skyrocketing due in part of Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa. Although there is no confirmed reports of Sosa using steroids, McGwire's brother recently came out saying his brother used steroids, which probably was the reason why his home run totals spiked during the end of the 90's. Baseball needed a boost after the strike and the single-season home run chase gave them that.

Seeing the success and recognition McGwire and Sosa received during their chase for Roger Maris' record of 61 home runs in one season, Bonds decided to enter himself into the record books. Supposedly, but not confirmed, Bonds use performance enhancing substances early in the 2000's, which explains his burst to new levels during the 2001, 2002, 2003 seasons. During the this period, Bonds surpassed McGwire's single season home run record from 70 to 73 and saw his home run numbers sky rocket, allowing him to eventually pass the home run king, Hank Aaron.

Through all this, Baseball finally started to take action, well after these athletes were using or had used performance enhancing drugs, after records started to follow and attendance and revenue for the League was through the roof. Baseball started to feel the pressure from the media and players from the past to test the players of today, which they reluctantly did. Then the Mitchell Report surfaced and what happened, well from what I see and have heard in the past year, much of nothing. That is why, I believe Baseball is the one to blame in this entire mess. Steroids are struck back and bit Baseball where it hurts. Hurting them and the best player in the game, be it the highest paid player in the game, Alex Rodriguez. So take that Bud Selig, let's see you get out of this deboucle now!

10 Songs

2009-02-06T15:56:00.000-08:00

10 Songs You Must Download, Buy, or Listen to, because I am just recommending...

Kanye West (Feat. Lil' Wayne) - See You In My Knightmares

Kanye West (Feat. Young Jeezy) - Amazing

Daft Punk - Voyager

Los Indios Tabajaras - Perfidia

Big Boi and the Purple Ribbon All-Stars - Kryptonite

The Game (Feat. Ne-Yo) - Camera Phone

Guns N' Roses - Sweet Child of Mine

Mudvayne - Happy?

Mos Def - Quiet Dog

Collective Soul - December

Mickey Rourke Hits the Mat Hard and Delivers in 'The Wrestler'

2009-02-04T23:59:00.000-08:00

Being set towards the end of his pro wrestling career, Randy 'The Ram' Robinson must decide whether to call it quits from doing the only thing he knows how to do well or go on with his life and basically live a life. A life that consists of interacting with people on a day to day basis, without bashing them over the head with a garbage can or slamming another dude into a mound full of tacks. A life that involves spending time with a daughter who does not even know who you are, let alone you know who she is. A life where the stripper at your favorite strip joint, cannot basically just fall in your lap and listen to you go on about your life within the squared circle. Yes, it is the real world that consistently haunts Robin, (Randy 'The Ram) and it is a life that he does not exactly desire to lead.

Mickey Rourke puts on a truly real performance of a pro wrestler, who is just about down and out before a calling to put on a comeback match with "The Ayotollah". Rourke looks, feels, and exemplifies how beat up a wrestler can be after taking the beatings, that are visualized within the first act, a wrestler takes over a career. Audiences are put into his shows with constantly throughout the film and feel the emotional (and physical) ups and downs he goes through. Hearing him breathe throughout the film gives it an authentic feel and makes it all the more real. Rourke is a definitely a shoe-in for some big recognition come this awards season (that we are in now). "The Wrestler" is truly a remarkable film and true to its authenticity in portraying pro wrestling.

A Truly Memorable Super Bowl, as Steelers win Sixth Title

2009-02-02T09:43:00.000-08:00

Once again, the Pittsburgh Steelers have triumphed above and beyond the rest of the National Football League, defeating the cinderella, Arizona Cardinals 27-23, in thrilling fashion. Super Bowl XLIII MVP Santonio Holmes comes up huge making three key catches in Pittsburgh's game-winning drive, including an incredible catch for a touchdown. Pittsburgh answered, the Cardinals' Larry Fitzgerald's long TD reception from Kurt Warner, with a dramatic drive of their own. Fitzgerald's second TD put the Cardinals up for the first time in the game, however the defense could not Big Ben and Santonio Holmes, as they tore through the Cardinals tired pass rush, in the final two minutes of the game.

It was another marvelous game that outshined everything. Only one could hope for a close game after last year's amazing game, and boy did we get one. The heavily favored Steelers were able to come up with the key plays throughout the game to stay ahead but the Cardinals kept on chopping away at their lead keeping the game competitive and eventually capturing their short-lived lead. Kurt Warner put up Kurt Warner-esque numbers against the NFL's best defense, but it was the 100 yard interception return that showed how go this defense was, even if it was not one of their better days. James Harrison's 100 yard interception return for a touchdown at the end of the first half, might have been the ultimate difference maker, as the Cardinals were threatening to score and the TD put up the Steelers by 10 at the end of the half.

Nonetheless, the Steelers have won six out of seven Super Bowls they have been. They are now the winningest team in NFL history surpassing the Cowboys and my 49ers who each have five Super Bowl wins. And the sixth championship did not disappoint, as the game was one of the best Super Bowls I have witnessed. A super sixth for Pittsburgh, and for that congrats.

The Dark Knight Re-Release: January 23rd

2009-01-13T23:20:00.000-08:00

A day after Oscar nominations will be announced, the biggest film of 2008 will be re-released, in order to capitalize on its Oscar push. Expecting to garner a nomination for Heath Ledger's performance as The Joker and possibly for Best Director and Best Score, The Dark Knight will try to convince Academy voters of its place in film history amongst the amount of accolades it will receive and lure fans to watch a second, or third, or fourth, or fifth, or sixth (and so on...) time.

Having just discovered the re-release date just a few minutes ago, I have decided to bring you this news, if you do not already know. The Dark Knight will be re-released in theaters and on IMAX on January 23rd. If you are one of the ten people who has yet to see it in theaters, see it! If you have yet to see it on IMAX, I highly recommend it. Having seen the film about a total of a million times now, since its DVD/Blu-Ray release, I am thinking, it is not going to hurt to invest another $10 into a film that is just simply a visually pleasurable experience.

Clint Eastwood Brings American Muscle to the Weekend Box Office

2009-01-12T21:38:00.000-08:00

In Clint Eastwood's latest film, as both lead actor and director, he brings an original story that centers around a disgruntled, Korean War veteran, Walt Kowalski. Living in rough, gang-riddled territory of Detroit, Mr. Kowalski, as he would like to be called, enters a new chapter of his life as he buries his wife and new neighbors come to live next door. Much to his disliking, his new neighbors bring all sorts of trouble, as the young Thao, tries to steal Mr. Kowalski's mint and supreme 1972 Ford Gran Torino. In return for his wrongdoings, Thao's family ask Mr. Kowalski to put Thao to work in order to redeem himself and his family. Putting Thao to work, allows Mr. Kowalski to learn about life and death and teach Thao a little bit of being a man is like, providing some delightful and needed humor to a man who portrays a past that he cannot let go.

Gran Torino is truly original and innovative, retelling life of an American who lived during the country's good and bad times. This film is a new American story that provides an old school American view of immigrants moving into the middle America and the view of those very immigrants on a man who is just simply trying to protect his property. Clint Eastwood delivers a performance that I doubt will be even acknowledged by the Academy but nonetheless is fantastic and real. While it may seem at times Mr. Eastwood carries the film on his back with his terrific performance in front of camera and behind it, Gran Torino still shines, as many audiences can identify with one or more of the characters presented onscreen. This portrayal of American and immigrant life in Middle America, especially during these tough economic times, provided audiences across the nation a break from the world but also allowing them to reflect upon the lives of Walt Kowalski, Thao, Sue, and others and see how strikingly similar these lives are to the truth. In doing so, Gran Torino muscled its way to the top of the box office. Clint Eastwood delivers once again as an actor and director, giving a new, original look into essence of America.

'Milk' Gives Us Hope

2009-01-11T09:06:00.000-08:00

Gus Van Sant's latest film, Milk, tells the story of Harvey Milk and his tumultuous political career that started as simple political activism within his new home in the Castro District. The film surrounds itself around Harvey Milk himself, as he recites his will, narrating the events and accomplisments of his life after he moves to San Francisco from New York. Milk relies heavily on old footage that can be seen in the Oscar winning documentary The Times of Harvey Milk. Both stories follow the same path of Milk's rise to fame in the city of San Francisco and across the nation during the late 1970's. The three different lines of story-telling are revealed, telling the different layers and point-of-views of the this crazy time in not only San Francisco history but United States history as well. The archival footage places us within the 1970's with its grainy picture, sweet clothing style, outrageous people and events, mostly through the view of the news media. Harvey Milk's narration gives a more personal touch and feeling to the man himself, allowing us to learn about important aspects of his life that may have not been revealed.

Sean Penn's uncanny resemblance to Harvey Milk enhanced not only his performance of truly unique individual but also his message of hope to not only homosexuals but to all citizens of the United States. His fight for gay rights during the 1970's bares a strikingly similarity to fight for gay marriage today. As the film depicts, Harvey Milk failed many times before he was able to make a change within the Castro, the city of San Francisco, and the rest of the country. However, he never stopped fighting for what he believed in. As he gained notoriety throughout the country, he became symbol for the gay rights movement in the United States, allowing us, the audience, to believe the fight for right of marriage is not over at all.

Bicol: A Filipino-American Perspective

2009-01-04T22:02:00.000-08:00

Bicol is a place that is defined by its most famous vista, Mayon Volcano. Life exists within and around a volcano that provides a picturesque background of many photographs and a place to live for many families.

The people of Luzon's most Southeastern region are known for their diversity, friendship, and optimism. From my impression of the many times I have visited my family within the town of Guinobatan, the smiles are everlasting and there is never a dull moment. Whether if it is celebrating someone's birthday or taking part in a gathering of singing our favorites songs in English or Tagalog, Bicol is a unique and remarkable place that one must experience. The people are friendly and are always willing to lend a hand to one and another or even to the American tourist as in myself.

Known for their spicy tastes and flavors, Bicol brings in a new way of envisioning what Filipino food is all about. Famously known for its "Bicol Express", Bicolanos pride themselves on the intense rush of flavor and heat within each bite of their food. Pilinuts and other candies bring a sense of natural freshness to sweets that is not seen anymore among the candies that are available in the United States. The food defines the people who eat, showcasing further the diversity and pride that is found in each resident of Bicol.

Visiting my family in the Philippines is always a unique experience that brings to light the things in life that are most important. From the glamorous confines of my Auntie's many properties in Manila and the surrounding cities, to the much simpler but comfortable and slow-paced living in Guinobatan, life is presented in the Philippines, through my eyes as a series of extremes. Walking through the tiled floors of the Mall of Asia to walking the gravel and dirt roads in Bicol, life is seen in a manner where glamour and the simplicity of life are one of the same. Surrounding myself around family in all places is what makes both scenarios worth seeing and reliving over and over again. Happiness within what one owns and possesses is what brings satisfaction to the people of Bicol. Bicol brings my life into perspective. Life is not about the possessions, how much something is worth, life is about family and the people that are around you.

Bicol does present life at its most simplest, but should not be seen or interpreted as something that should go unnoticed. Bicol is a unique area of the world that makes one realize what one has been missing. The food, the people, the view, are all characteristics of Bicol and define what Bicol is all about. Bicolanos are proud to be Bicolanos because of the unique view of the Philippines it provides. Bicol as a place is not defined solely by Mayon, but by all the qualities and diversity it envisions and lives by.

Disappointed.

2008-12-16T22:22:00.000-08:00

There is much to be disappointed about the spectrum of Bay Area sports these days other than if you are a hockey fan of course. The Stanford Women's Basketball team lost at Duke tonight. The Athletics missed out on acquiring Rafael Furcal. There is not going to be a San Jose Sabercats season this upcoming year. San Jose State was snubbed out of a bowl birth. Cal will probably lose to Miami in the Emerald Bowl at AT&T Park. The Warriors are just bad. The Raiders are worse. The Niners could be better. And well, the Giants have done nothing to bring people to watch them play.

Last week, the Yankees acquired both CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett for a total of over $240 Million for about 13 or 14 years. Some say these moves were irresponsible during such horrid economic times but they have been doing this for years and just following the trend of spending more and more year after year. However, the ridiculous amount of money that these Yankees have is one issue, the Giants doing nothing and even saying they are doing nothing is truly disappointing. Rumors of the Giants being in the running for CC got readers, columnists, and Bay Area baseball fans buzzing, the same buzz that was brought along over 16 years ago when the club signed hometown boy Barry Bonds. CC would have brought that buzz, a change, a sign of hope for a club with clearly a bunch of no names who have yet to make a splash or an impression on the rest of the league. Signing CC would have justified the organization actually showing fans they want to be contenders this season. But that is not happening. The Giants will not make any news-making moves, this offseason unless something drastic happens. Randy Johnson seems to be in the mix, but we will see what he has left as he tries to reach 300 wins. The Giants will once again be in the cellar of Major League Baseball, a mockery for teams and analysts even with a Cy Young winner on their staff. Disappointed is one word to describe the Giants position within this offseason.

The Warriors are at a deeper disappointment. Who would have thought that Monta Ellis' injury would have such a negative ripple throughout the organization causing the team to start off so horribly. His injury revealed secrets from this past offseason breaking hearts of Warrior fans everything when they could have signed Baron but the front office negated it. This team would still be a contender if Baron was still on the team that is for sure. With Ellis or without Ellis these guys would have the confidence and the abilities to play the uptempo ball that they perfected these past years with Baron. Now the team has no leader. The team has no backcourt. The team has no point guard. The team cannot rebound. The team does not want to rebound. The team does not want to play to win. This team is young, so let's play the young guys and see what they can do. Toughen them up Don Nelson, let them gain confidence, let them gain experience. Bench Jack. Let Maggette be injured and trade him. Trade Crawford or don't pay him the ridiculous amount he is getting to be putting out mediocre performances. Wait for Monta to gain his form and let the young guys for a team around him. Let Wright play. Let Randolph play. Let Kurz play. Let Morrow play. Let Watson play. These young guys are the future. They have talent. They would not be at this level otherwise. There is no way the Warriors will be making the playoffs this season. Wait for the lottery and hope the youth will develop. The future should be promising. Should be. But with such divisions within the front office the future is not all drawn out as I lay it out here. Wait and see with these guys. Stay faithful and let's hope that it is not another 12 years until they make the playoffs.

The Warriors and Giants are two reasons to be disappointed, given the tough economic times and seeing that the people who are paid to perform not deserving of the money they receive.

'Pacman' Dominates the 'Golden Boy'

2008-12-06T22:05:00.000-08:00

It was as deemed 'The Dream Match' for Oscar De La Hoya seemed like more 'The Worst Nightmare' for the 35-year-old fighter. Manny Pacquaio wins after De La Hoya's corner called it quits after eight rounds of total annihilation and pure domination by quick footed Filipino fighter. Round by round, the bigger De La Hoya's left eye got, showing why Pacquiao has been deemed boxings top "Pound for Pound Fighter". De La Hoya was not able to establish any rhythm with his jabs and his powerful left hook due to Pacquiao's quick movement of his head, body, and feet. His quickness proved to be overwhelming for De La Hoya, who appears to be heading down the hill from his prime. Weight, height, reach were insignificant because of the agility and quickness Pacquiao displayed tonight. He looked sharper than ever at the unofficial weight of 148.5 pounds, throwing a barrage of punches that De La Hoya was unable to defend.

Chants of "Manny" fueled Pacquiao as he prepared in the halls of the MGM Grand Arena and as he stepped out into the ring and fight his idol. Manny Pacquiao's step into the spotlight, shows once again when the light is shining right on him, he is able to pull through and put on a magnificent performance. This fight not only put him in the spotlight once again in the Philippines, but make his mark amongst U.S. boxing fans, by beating one of the most glorious fighters from the United States in the past 20 years. The torch has been passed, and Manny appears to be ready to take on the challenge. Not only has the weight of an entire nation been put on his shoulders fight-in and fight-out, but now the future of boxing as an American athletic institution. Future headliners involving him and other elites of boxing today, will set the tone for boxing as sport and how it will compete against emerging fighting sports such as Mixed Martial Arts.

For now, let Filipino-Americans, Filipinos in the Philippines, and all Manny Pacquiao fans from here and beyond celebrate in Manny's coming out party and possibly his biggest win to date.

Here is my picture with the man in 2006:

Photos Courtesy of Yahoo! Sports and Myself

Giants sign Renteria, Sabathia Next?

2008-12-04T12:30:00.000-08:00

The San Francisco Giants have signed 13-year veteran Edgar Renteria to a two-year, $18.5 Million contract to enhance the pitiful batting lineup the Giants showcased last season. Renteria is coming off a poor season in Detroit, but hopes come back to his old self in the National League where he has hit significantly better throughout his career. Renteria has won a World Series back in 1997 for the Florida Marlins and hopes to bring that kind of championship experience and veteran leadership to a young and rebuilding franchise.

Renteria is the second signing in as many days for the Giants after they signed relief picter Bobby Howry to a one year, $2 Million deal yesterday. After calling to the needs of the bullpen and filling a possible void left by a Omar Vizquel, the Giants look to adding another bat and maybe a high profile free agent. Rumors have been circling that the Giants are looking to deal young lefty Jonathan Sanchez to the Florida Marlins for third basemen Jorge Cantu, who had an outstanding year for the Marlins this past season. The Giants have been also rumored to be signing one of the big three free agents in Manny Ramirez, Mark Teixeira, and CC Sabathia.

The Giants did what they had to do muscle the bullpen and hold leads from the starters to closer, Brian Wilson, by signing Affeldt and Howry. They also made their hitting a little more dangerous by signing Renteria, which I feel is a better fit and decision than Rafael Furcal. Although Furcal is a much more dangerous hitter and a larger threat on the base paths, he is injury prone (Furcal played only 36 games last season) and is a larger investment, given he was asking for at least four years and over $40 or $50 Million. The Sanchez for Cantu deal seems like it is something good, but hopefully the Giants get some kind of year from Cantu at third and not a dreadful quarter of the year, as they got with Jose Castillio at third this past April and May. Cantu is no dream choice of trading Sanchez and prospects to Seattle for Adrian Beltre but Jorge Cantu will have to make due. Cantu's strong numbers, last year, make a good case for the Giants but may anger most Giants fans than please. Cantu is not a big name and fans feel the organization might be giving up a lot in Sanchez for someone that is pretty much unknown.

Big names include the big three free agents I have listed above. Manny Ramirez is a logical choice that will bring fans to AT&T and fill the left field void of Barry Bonds, but does not seem like the logical direction the Giants want to be heading.

Mark Teixeira is the ideal man you want holding down first base. He is decent defensively and an absolute monster at the plate. Plus, he is only 28 years. However, the Giants have possible first basemen of the future in Travis Ishikawa and Pablo Sandoval, who both showed signs of greatness towards the end of last season. Also, being that Teixeria is only 28, he is going to be asking for a super-long-AROD-length type deal that will exceed seven years, possibly being 10 years for well over $100 Million. Teixeira is a very sexy choice but, I don't think the Giants will be willing to go after this type of player who is demanding so much and when they have two players waiting to play first, in the wings.

That leaves me with none other than the 6'7'', 270 pound beast that is CC Sabathia. The Yankees have already offered Sabathia a deal that is around seven years, $140 Million, but this is a deal that has been on the table for about a month now, and still no bites. The Brewers have offered a significantly smaller package to Sabathia, but it does not seem Sabathia wants that either. Why? Well, in a recent rumor I have read, his wife Amber would love for CC to play in California, specifically in San Francisco, close to their Vallejo home, where Sabathia grew up. Although the Giants are not going to offer CC an enormous contract as the Yankees have offered, I am thinking he might be willing to take discount in order to play for his hometown team. Another choice for Sabathia would be the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, a team that has the money to spend on both Sabathia and Teixeira, but it seems unlikely Angels would spend such large amounts of money all at once. That is why the Giants are a perfect fit for Sabathia. I know, I know, why not sign a big bat rather than add another pitcher with $100 Million on their contract on the rotation. It would seem rather idiotic for the Giants to dig themselves into another $100 Million-plus type of contract, after seeing the performance of Barry Zito in the first of two of seven years, he is under contract with the Giants. However, this is different. Sabathia is an ace. He would be the number one that the Giants tried to put Zito in and didn't quite work out. He can eat up innings like no other and as seen this past season is a force on the mound. Adding him to the rotation would not only take the pressure off of both Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain, but also help out the offense as well. If you cannot find the right bats to fit into your lineup then why not make your pitching the most dominant force ever ensembled by man. Sabathia would bring this dominance to an already forboding rotation. And trust me, Zito will come around, especially after having the pressure off of being the only $100 Million man in the clubhouse. Plus by not adding a fat bat like Barry Bonds was to the franchise for so many years, shows the Giants are actively going a another direction that is different from the days of Bonds. They are working on improving the homegrown talent they have in the farm system and playing small ball that will play heavily in their speed and clutch hitting. Adding Sabathia will significantly improve the franchise, help the sales in their retail stores! and bring people to the park.

Next week's Winter Meetings in Las Vegas especially be interesting with all the hot stove activity of trades, signings, and money flowing as if there is no recession. However especially be on the look out for the Giants to buy buy buy. And when I mean buy buy buy, I am not referring to the late 90's pop hit by *Nsync, I am referring to the Giants signing CC Sabathia.

Photo Courtesy of SI.com

The Sharks Surge

2008-12-03T22:56:00.001-08:00

At 21-3-1, the San Jose Sharks are off the best start in franchise history, tying the best all-time start of the a 1940's Montreal Canadiens team (the exact year I cannot find) at 43 points.

Given the changes in rules and the point system between the 1940's and 2008, the Sharks would only have 40 points under the rules the Canadiens played instead of 43 points under the new rules. However, rules change all the time and have changed drastically along with the game itself so to compare these two teams is nonsense. Look at it as it is on the sports page, letting go who played who, under whatever rules, disregarding how many points a shootout loss gets, and asking what the hell a shootout is anyway, it is quite a feat to have a dominant record like the Sharks do this early in the season. Both teams are at 43 points through 25 games. This is quite an accomplishment for the San Jose Sharks to match from such a historic franchise such as the Montreal Canadiens.

The Sharks are on fire and have been on fire since the start of the season. The only thing that can stop them is if the ice starts melting and they cannot even play anymore. In all, through injuries and deficits, this team has shown a lot through the first quarter of the very young 2008/2009 NHL season. There are still many games played and the Sharks have gotten off to a Fast & Furious start.

Photo Courtesy of Yahoo! Sports

Slumdog Millionaire

2008-11-26T22:34:00.000-08:00

One question away from 20 Million Rupees is 18 year old Jamal Malik. How he reached this point in his life, is story in all of its own that establishes the hell and heaven of the world of a child growing up in the slums of Mumbai, Indian. Slumdog Millionaire charters the life of Jamal, his older brother, Salim, and friend, Latika, as they struggle, fight, rejoice, and surivive to make money, entertain themselves, and ultimately stay alive. We first find Jamal, being tortured by police the night after he reaches the final question of India's "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" for being speculated of cheating, since he is just a "slumdog" who is supposed to know nothing. On the contrary, this is not the case. The life experiences in which precede Jamal's moment on the hot seat are all what he needs to reach the final question of the game.

Slumdog Millionaire brings storytelling to film that is almost never seen to this day. Essentially, we follow three main narratives of Jamal on "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?", Jamal telling the police of how he got his answers, and the "slumdog" life that Jamal has lived, in which how these answers come alive in Jamal's "genius". And through this, these narratives converge to the final moments of the film, in which, both we, the spectators, and the viewers of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" sit on the edge of our seats, anticipating the 20 Million Rupee final answer from Jamal. A fast-paced style sets the tone for the film to fit in easily with the action-crime-gangster genre but is pulled back to reveal the underlying story of the love between Jamal and Latika. With the soundtrack as radiant and uplifting as the images seen onscreen, it is hard to even look away from Slumdog Millionaire for even one moment. The film constantly moves, leaving no dull moment in sight. Slumdog Millionaire is as visually appealing as it is narratively, and is a work that cannot be missed at all. On all fronts, audiences will be saddened, amazed, and in the end will be celebrating for a film that will likely be on many people's Top 10 Lists for this year and possibly all-time.

5/5 CLAPS!

Photo Courtesy of the New York Times

Quantum of Solace: Action Packed but How?Why?What?Where?Huh?

2008-11-17T00:24:00.000-08:00

Quantum of Solace picks up right where Casino Royale left off. So watch the previous film before picking up the next one, or watch it many man y times like myself, just to get into the mold. James Bond continues on his hunt to discover the people who are behind the murder of his love, Vesper Lynd. A very scenic car chase begins the film, which sets the high mark of action throughout the film, but nonetheless spectacular, making every shot count, given the amount of cuts that were taken to construct the sequence. The film has all the characteristics of any Bond film, with the Bond girls, various worldly locales, and the typical shootout, fist fight, and even a fire fight. Daniel Craig returns as a Bond full of vengeance and tragedy written all over his demeanor. His display of this vengeful nature is the definition of his take on the Bond character that drives the film's action and plot.

The action scenes in the full are in full force. One comes after another, giving audiences just enough time to get over the previous action sequence and get them ready for another. Though some, seemed unnecessary and a bit chaotic and rushed, they will not disappoint any viewer who wants to see a spectacle happen before their eyes. The one action sequence I would like to highlight was the parallel montage of the opera and a simultaneous shootout. It was probably an abbreviation of other action sequences but got its message across through the extravagant set design of the opera itself and the music, non-diegetically playing over the shootout. Very cool indeed. Meanwhile, in between these sequences, certain plot points seem to miss their point altogether leaving audiences hanging until the very end when everything seems to come together all at once. Questions of the reasoning behind certain actions are not taken care of until the end, which is satisfying but at the same time a struggle to understand. However, the lack of plot and overpowering action sequences cannot take away from another remarkable performance of Daniel Craig. Though he is only seen shirtless once throughout the entire film (I know a true disappointment...) he delivers as a man who serious and full of rage that is truly makes one feel empathy for the man. The lack of a somewhat comprehensible story line cannot take away from another outstanding performance of Daniel Craig as James Bond. He shines, rages, and broods, saving the film and the world until next time.

3/5 CLAPS!

Photo Courtesy of the New York Times

Sharks Status: Promising

2008-11-12T21:09:00.000-08:00

Seventeen games in the San Jose Sharks are 13-3-1. A promsing stat for a team that has nothing but a Stanley Cup on their mind. It seems as if the Stanley Cup has been nothing but the goal for about four or five years. Ever since their appearance in the Western Conference Finals in 2004, the Sharks have been 'Cup Crazy' but have never reached that goal or even reach the finals for that part, being outsted in the second round each of the past three years. Carrying the momentum of a 20 game unbeaten streak, the Sharks skidded past the Flames and looked miserable against the Stars before being ousted in the second round once again.

However, with Todd McClellan anda new coaching staff at the helm and the addition of offensive-minded defensemen Rob Blake, Dan Boyle, and Brad Lukowich, the 2008/2009 Sharks outlook has never looked more ideal. Being the pre-season favorites to win it all by many hockey analysts in past years, one can highly note that these Sharks were not picked by many to go all the way, given their history. That is fine by these guys, I do believe. It just gives them a greater expectation to show these experts that they can get over the hump and finally reach that goal. But, realize this: Seventeen games into the season (13-3-1) and it is November 12th. The Stanley Cup Playoffs begin in April. The Stanley Cup Finals, are probably in May. So let's absolutely not get ahead of ourselves, at all.

Though the Sharks had been perfect at home before last night and have been tearing through the NHL via their high-octane attack, some things still need to be addressed with this team. The Sharks are at the top (or somewhere near the top) of every major offensive category. The Sharks struggled on the offensive end but this aspect of the game has certainly been fixed with McClellan in charge. However, the Sharks remain in the middle of the pack in the Power Play and Penalty Kill, two aspects that are key to winning hockey games. Scoring when you are up a man and defending goals when you are down are two important sides of the puck that the Sharks are not necessary horrible at but they not great at it either. Drew Remenda's comment on this issue of the Power Play and Penalty Kill being stuck in the middle is frankly "It will get going, don't worry." Well frankly, I am worried. The Sharks had a record 57 shots on goal. Yet, only three went in and they still lost. Also, I understand it is only seventeen games into the season, but this is the part of the season where rhythms and tendencies are understood and made by the lines and how players become comfortable with each other's style of play. If it is not going right now then I feel it is not going to go at the end of the season as well. The Detroit Red Wings have converted on an astounding 33% of their power plays. This is an aspect of the game they do well and consistently do well this year and last year. What happened last year? The Detroit Red Wings won the Stanley Cup. Getting the power play and penalty kill going now are key aspects if the Sharks want to reach the ultimate goal of winning a Stanley Cup. Getting those things together now and not later would be preferable.

Besides that giant bothersome, knit picking issue that is of the San Jose Sharks, they are excelling. The defense is setting up the offense and the offense sets up the defense. These guys play with speed and power, that cannot be seen by many teams in the NHL. Beating both the Penguins and Red Wings, in early season tests, shows how far along this team has come, but there is still much work to do. The players, coaches, and the organization all understand this and are not looking past any team, in which stands in their way of a Stanley Cup dream. Seventeen games out of eighty-two, the Sharks are 13-3-1. I would have to say this team and that dream look very promising indeed.

Photo Courtesy of Yahoo! Sports

2008 NL Cy Young Award Winner: Tim Lincecum

2008-11-11T12:55:00.000-08:00

"The Freak", "The Franchise", The Cy Young of the National League is Tim Lincecum. Lincecum captures the award in only in second season in the majors, dominating the NL and leading in almost all of the pitching categories there is! Congrats Tim and congrats to the Giants. Here is something to celebrate about this past season. Now lets hope for some more breakthroughs in the future.

Photo Courtesy of Yahoo! Sports

Perfect 'Role Models'

2008-11-09T21:24:00.000-08:00

Starring comedy regulars of this day, Paul Rudd and Sean William Scott, Role Models, is a film about two co-workers finding themselves in a rut of sorts, that results in them to doing some community service for some damage they caused to a local school. Their community service is done for a Big Brother program where meet teen Augie Farks (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) and child Ronnie Shields (Bobb'e J. Thompson). Danny (Rudd) is paired with up with the fantasy-fiend, Augie, and participates in LAIRE, a fantasy get together of teens and adults celebrating the wonderful world Middle Earth, Medieval Times, and all that nonsense, which Danny is reluctant to believe. Wheeler (Scott) is matched with the bad-mouth Ronnie, who takes a liking to what Wheeler loves the most: Women and boobies! However, through a series of events the "The Bigs" find themselves facing prison time, once again.

Role Models is not a typical film that displays Big Brother organizations in the brightest of lights, but putting those ideas aside about these community service organizations, this film gives them every ounce of power by making these kinds of friendly relationships one of the most comical experiences I have felt in awhile. Although Rudd and Scott play the roles that audiences have come to seen over and over again, they execute their roles to the point that makes one think "Who cares? It is hilarious!" Thus, this film accomplishes comedy and so much more, getting down to the point of the relationships between "The Littles" and "The Bigs." Plasse and Thompson fill in the roles of "The Littles" well, reeling in their comedic talents well. Role Models is a clever and comical film, that does job of making the audience and especially myself laugh. 4/5 CLAPS!

Photo Courtesy of the Los Angeles Times

President-Elect Barack Obama

2008-11-04T21:48:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Barack Obama. Congratulations to the United States of America.

Photo Courtesy of Yahoo! News

Coming Soon...

2008-11-01T11:46:00.001-07:00

Outlook For Your SF Giants - The Offseason

2008-10-29T21:23:00.000-07:00

With the Phillies, finally, winning Game 5 of the 2008 version of the Fall Classic, the 2008/2009 Hot Stove season officially commenced. As a result of this, questions arise, as I hear every weekend, of what your San Francisco Giants will do (or won't do) during this offseason. Will Matt Cain be traded for big bopper? Will they sign a big bat for a ridiculous amount of money? Will they fork up many dollars to obtain baseball's most coveted free agents? How will the young talent that flourished at the end of the season fit into Bochy's/Sabean's plans of '09? These are questions that should be answered within the next few months. If they are not, more questions and more frustration over this franchise will continue.

The pitching staff is the one constant that appears to shine out of all the miseries that was the 2008 season. Cy Young candidate, Tim Lincecum, was a shining star dominating clubs throughout the entire season. He showed a consistency that Giants fans hope to see more of in the future. His outlook is promising.

Zito showed once again that he just ain't worth $126 Million. But can you blame him? $126 Million is a lot of money and having that kind of tab put on your forehead, every time you go out there is a lot of pressure. Giants overpriced this man but they are paying the price for the inconsistencies he showed in his latter years in Oakland. He is not worth the amount that the Giants priced him at but going into the third year of Zito, I am telling you Giants fans, live with it. Stop complaining, it is not his fault. He is not an ace. He is a complimentary starting pitcher for the staff. I understand he is a professional baseball player and Cy Young Award winner, but Barry is a different pitcher, different player now. Each of the past two seasons, Barry finished the season strong. His arm strength began to fit into its own, something that is not apparent in beginning of each of the last two years. Hopefully, he starts the season with such arm strength that has made him tough. But I am saying hopefully, let's not expect any miracles to happen. His outlook: We'll see but lets not expect $126 Million worth of work out of him. Lower expectations and allow him to surprise us.

Due to the amount of inexperience that was apparent throughout the season, many prospects got to make their MLB debuts, and bring hope for the future. Pablo Sandoval, provides a big bat and athleticism that fans and players love to see. His hustle and remarkable feats from his 2008 season show that there should be a spot for him on the roster, possibly even a starting spot. Although finishing the season injured, Emmanuel Burriss shined at shortstop and second base, finding niche at both positions and ready to go at either whenever called upon. His speed on the base path can be deadly, which Giants have a lot of. Nate Schierholtz, I must say should have a spot on the roster this upcoming season. He has a solid bat who I believe needs a chance to gain a spot in the outfield for the future. He needs a season to accomplish and I feel with his bat that he could that and cause some damage as well. The young depth that this organization has is remarkable. Throughout the system there are prospects ready to make some noise and bring some respectability back to this organization. If they are building for the future and possibly building upon the successes of '08, then the outlook looks very good.

As for the oldies, Aaron Rowand is missed another World Series title by one year but I do not think he is fretting about it. Aaron is a solid player who brings a fine work ethic to the ballpark everyday regardless if he is striking out every at bat or streaking with the bat. Randy Winn led the team in batting and comes out to play everyday. Although I do not believe he is apart of the club's long term plans, he continues to perform at a level that serves as an example for the team's younger players. Dave Roberts, what can I say. As much as I want him and other want him to go and leave, he still has one more year left. And well, I think it is good for the team. I do not expect the Giants to win or reach the World Series. I do not expect them to go the playoffs. What I do expect is for them to challenge for a playoff spot and be competitive and a tough team to play against everyday. Having Dave Roberts, provides the Giants time for younger outfielders (like Schierholtz) to develop and gives the team some extra speed, whether that is off the bench or in the starting lineup. Big Money Molina, was the bat for the Giants. Sad to say but it is true. Hopefully, he provide that same bat for the next season, possibly complimenting a bigger bat, maybe? I hope so. Bottom line: Old guys rule. Showing the youngsters the ropes is part of life as a Major League Veteran. Putting aside egos and helping develop the future is their most important job and I feel these guys can do the job.

Free agent wise, the Giants hope to add a bat to the lineup, that desperately tried to help their fine pitching staff but failed miserably oh so many times. The Giants' batting was probably one of the worst performances I have ever seen in my entire life. Less than one hundred home runs, does not help a team that needs runs to back up their pitching staff that is capable of shutting down other teams' offenses night in and night out (days too). Will they add the names of Manny Ramirez or Mark Texeira? I hope not. Even both are bats that teams will covet, I do think it is in the right mind to bring these players in. It will just set the Giants back another couple years. Can CC Sabathia receive his wish to pitch in the Bay Area? It would be nice to see, but he is pitcher that will be asking for a high, possibly record breaking price for a pitcher, that I do not think the Giants are willing to hand over after what they are getting out of Zito. But trying to get will not hurt at all. CC is an ace. He is a big man and playing in the Bay Area might bring out some scary stuff out him, stuff that got him such a reputation the second half of this season. Whether through free agency or trade, the Giants need to make a move for a respectable forward moving free agent, that will give the Giants the extra boost that was needed all throughout this past season. Outlook for new faces: good, but if they do not make any big moves I would not be surprised. I will be frustrated but I will not be surprised.

There is a lot of upside for this team. Sure there is a lot of upside for a team that

loses every time Timmy is not on the mound, but there is a lot of young talent that Giants can build off of from this season and to this upcoming one and then to next. These young players will set the tone for the years to come and if they continue to develop and flourish, soon we will see our Giants in the prime time in October. And not fishing like our friends Tim and Noah here.

Photos Courtesy of the New York Post and About.com

Yeah, yeah I said wrong.

2008-10-15T20:28:00.000-07:00

Well, it is the bottom of 9th. The Phils are up 5-1 on the Dodgers. Three outs from winning the NLCS and their first NL pennant since 1993. Yeah, yeah and I am wrong. The Phils have crushed the Dodgers in series without a doubt. Too many weapons in their lineup. Key guys finding their strides at key parts of the series. Ryan Howard found life in his bat entering Los Angeles and Jimmy Rollins struck for his first hit of the series as the first batter of tonights game putting the Phils up early. Yes, I admit I was wrong. The Dodgers pitching did not deliver. Their lineup did not deliver. Manny delivered! but no one else did. No one else did not really want to show up besides the first inning of Game 3, when I thought my prediction would live up to all its hype! You know, hype! Oh well then, the Dodgers have one man aboard right now with no out but lets expect nothing of it. Blake just popped out. Two more outs to go! That is that. I was wrong, and it happens. I can't have my Marlins and Brazil magic live all the time. Can I?

The Los Angeles Dodgers Will Win The World Series

2008-10-03T14:04:00.000-07:00

I am sorry to say this, but yes I do believe the Los Angeles Dodgers will win the 2008 World Series. I may be getting a little ahead of myself as they are up two games to zero over the Chicago Cubs, but there is something that I see in this team that makes them a championship caliber team. Yeah, I know, Dodgers championship caliber! Coming from Major League Baseball's weakest division and having least impressive record out of all the playoff teams, it is strange to say that the Dodgers will win the World Series, be it even make it past the Division Series, a feat they have not accomplished since 1988, the last time they won a World Series. However, they are one win away from reaching the National League Championship Series, as they have trampled over the heavily favored Chicago Cubs in the first two games of their series. But aside from their two impressive victories over the Cubs there are reasons why I believe the Dodgers will win the World Series:

- They have a solid pitching staff. The playoff tested Derek Lowe and young gunslinger Chad Billingsley equally have handled the feisty Cubs offense, while getting some decent support out of their bullpen. Joe Beimel, Jonathan Broxton, and Takashi Saito anchor the bullpen who have proven to be a solid group. They have Kuroda coming up in Game 3, who can be tough, but they also have the everlasting Greg Maddux on their staff, who has proven his abilities throughout his career but has yet to add a World Series ring to his storied career. Although their staff is not the most formidable and are capable of losing focus, I feel these guys will do enough for the Dodgers to put up impressive outings that will break them through.

- They have Joe Torre. A man who brought the New York Yankees back to the World Series glory, creating an astonishing dynasty in the process, winning four World Championships in the mid- to late 90's. He may do the same with these very Dodgers. Leading a late surge to capture the NL West over the Arizona D-Backs, was quite a feat for Joe Torre, who has made the playoffs for 13 straight seasons. Through his playoff experience, Joe Torre is bringing his playoff magic and hopefully World Series magic to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

- They have a scary offense. Aside from stating the obvious, the Dodgers have other bats in their lineup who are excelling in the presence of crucical midseason acquisition. Andre Either, who has been on fire has been a force to be reckon with. Matt Kemp is proving his everyday value. Jeff Kent continues to deliver in all the right situations. The rookie, Blake Dewitt has been impressive, playing years beyond his age. Rafael Furcal, if it was not for a back injury in the middle of the season, could be having a career year at the plate. The Dodgers have solid lineup but I think it would not be at all possible if it was not for this man:

- Everyone has been saying that Manny Ramirez has been the key acquisition in all of baseball at this year's trade deadline. Everyone has been saying that he has been huge ever since joining the Dodgers. Well I'd say that is an understatement. Number 99 has been super %#&^ and a briefcase of a $700 billion huge. Homering in the first two games of the NLDS, his presence at the plate and within the lineup has been the ultimate spark to drive the Dodgers right into the postseason. He has changed the culture of the Los Angeles Dodgers, with his hair, personality, and his play. Most Valuable, is what he has been in his half season with the Dodgers. His ridiculous numbers have said it all and he has been the key for the Dodgers' success this season and possibly for the future, if the Dodgers wave the right amount of money in his face. MAN-RAM is a force to be reckon with and is the ultimate reason why the Dodgers will win the World Series.

I know, I know, having the Dodgers win the World Series will be like Mexico winning the FIFA World Cup, but it is hard to say no to a team that gives me the feeling that they can go all the way. They are the team with the most to prove, but I feel with even less to lose. They are like those two championship teams of the Marlins or even that dreaded rally monkey-induced 2002 Angels team who defeated my Giants. Those were teams that had a lot to prove and little to lose. There was no pressure for them to win and the same can be said for the Dodgers. They are playing relaxed and splendid baseball and they are HOT! So forgive me Giants fans, but the Dodgers just have that feeling that they have something special happening and we will see it through the end of October.

Photos Courtesy of Yahoo! Sports

Acts of desperation, paranoia, and stupidity, yet all together very funny and very good

2008-09-23T22:45:00.000-07:00

Burn After Reading is a satire of spy films of today and the past that has more stars than one can see in the Shanghai sky. The film follows the lives of a CIA analyst, a U.S. Marshal, and two employees of a gym in the Washington D.C. area. The stories of each of these individuals starts to churn when Chad (Brad Pitt) discovers some "secret CIA shit!" Comprehending this discovery as a way to dig up some cash for himself and his co-worker (Frances McDormand). It so happens that these contents are parts of a memoir of CIA analyst, Osbourne Cox (John Malkovich). Through all this, Cox's wife (Tilda Swinton) is on the verge of divorcing him, in order to pursue her relationship with U.S. Marshal and womanizer, Harry Pfarrer (George Clooney).

Through the myriad of connections that these characters have within the story creates a world of desperation by the cast. Desperation in a sense that each chooses a path in order to escape a particular predicament or create a scenario in one's favor. These group of characters also show how paranoia is inescapable when face against or thinking one is facing a particular height of authority in the government. George Clooney exemplified this paranoia not only his thoughts on his affair with Mrs. Cox but also when he discovers the grim predicament he found himself in as a result of his actions. And in the end of all of this, stupidity seem to reign throughout all aspects of the film. From the gym employees to the scenes with the CIA Superior and CIA Officer, the dumbfoundness that this "secret CIA shit!" brings about in the actions of the entire cast comments on the intelligence of high ranking officials within our own government and also the acts of stupidity that are arisen when one becomes desperate and even paranoid. However, through this entire mess, Burn After Reading is a smart and intelligent dark comedy that provides moments of laughter in the most unexpected of scenarios.

4/5 CLAPS!

Photo Courtesy of the New York Times

Niners win! Giants win! and the emmys...

2008-09-22T00:12:00.000-07:00

On this beautiful sunny and fair day, I found myself in the nice and quiet confines of my work. However, being that work is the way it is, I was able to catch both the Niners and the Giants, San Francisco's finest athletes, playing their best capturing victories for the city by the bay.

Although the Giants won in a very offensive-less rubber match of their series against the hated Dodgers 1-0 in 11 innings, the win was nonetheless impressive pitching and defensive wise. Up and comers Nate Schierholtz and Ivan Ochoa both made amazing grabs at right field and shortstop, respectively, keeping Matt Cain out of the losers column for now. His offense did not help out his decent six inning outing, however it was defensive plays by the youngsters Schierholtz and Ochoa and also by veterans Randy Winn and Aaron Rowand. Aaron Rowand threw what can be called a laser as accurately as one can make it on a base hit single that would have put the Dodgers ahead in the fifth. And Randy Winn made an inning ending diving grab in the same inning to get Cain out of the bases loaded jam. But throughout all the amazing defensive plays the Giants defense made, the Dodgers matched them all until the 11th inning. Relief pitcher Brad Hennessey stepped in to pinch run and eventually an unchallenged stolen base of second that proved to be crucial as Rich Aurillia knocked in Hennessey to give them the lead for good. When Giants win and the Dodgers lose it is always a good feeling. But to beat them in extra innings and in a time where the Dodgers cannot afford to lose because of their current pursuit of a NL West title, is very sweet.

Back home in the Bay Area, the Niners featured their Mike Martz-offensive assault. Jumping to a 21-3 lead after the first half, the Niners were in a comfortable position controlling the game on both sides of the ball. Frank Gore had another superb game gaining 130 yards on the ground including running in one for a touchdown. J.T. O'Sullivan showed why Martz and Nolan were right in choosing him as starter throwing 16 of 23 passes completed for 189 yards and two touchdowns. The defense was solid shutting down the receiving tandem of Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson and the offense that is a product of the 49ers' own, Mike Martz. It was a commanding victory for a Niners team that is not expected to much. Although it was not as a shocking victory as last week's comeback victory over division rival Seattle, the Niners proved that they can win those games that they know they can controlled and earn victories in. Next week, they travel to New Orleans to take on the high powered Saints, who came off a tough loss to Denver this afternoon in a shootout, 34-32.

Enough of the sports and let's look to Hollywood in the 60th installment of the Prime Time Emmy Awards Ceremony. AMC's 'Mad Men' captured two awards with best drama and directing, while '30 Rock' once again was dominant behind the acting and writing of Tina Fey, best actor Alec Baldwin, and ending the night by receiving the best comedy series for the second consecutive year. The ceremony was back to its traditional stage setup rather than last years audience circling the stage position. The show was hosted by the five hosts nominated for best host in a reality TV program or competition, which the five as an ensemble did miserably as it seemed that each tried to steal the spotlight from each other whenever one got the chance. Whether it was intentional or not, the rhythm of the show and the chemistry between the five did not operate well and was expressed at points during the show by presenters and award winners. Overall, the show was not the most spectacular but it did have its moments like Don Rickles' win and Josh Grobin's medley of television's most popular themes. The night was a celebration of television and the more than 60 years it has influenced and entertained audiences in the United States and around the world and the show executed the celebration of the medium pretty good but not great but who cares. It is about the winners and their well deserved recognition for wonderful work they bring viewers and a continued showcasing of their talents and abilities.

Photos Courtesy of Yahoo! Sports and the Los Angeles Times

Those were the days...

2008-09-16T23:16:00.000-07:00

Those were the days, when it was mid-August, and triple digit heat was among us and well at least myself enjoyed it no matter how uncomfortable it made me feel.

Talk about a hot dog! Well actually, I ate two hot dogs during this period of high heat, however not the one shown above. Two Costco hot dogs were the ones for me and no matter how unhealthy they may be they are the best.

Ed Hochuli

2008-09-16T22:27:00.000-07:00

On a number sports radio and TV talk shows was the blown call by Ed Hochuli during the Broncos victory over the Chargers last Sunday. My view on this whole ordeal is, that Ed Hochuli has been one of the most trusted and reliable officials in the game, being apart of a number of playoff games and even two Super Bowls, achievements that an official only obtains by sustaining a significant amount of "good grades" based on evaluations done by league officials and coaches across the league. Hell, he is even the face of NFL referees in Madden for three years now. He is well known for his physique that can be comparable to most of the guys he is every Sunday. But to be graded down in a manner that might cost him his job is outrageous. I understand his call of Jay Cutler's fumble as an incomplete pass was one that he would like to forget but can't he be forgiven for this one mistake. The Chargers have every right to complain, however, they still had opportunities to stop the Broncos drive on two more downs before the touchdown and stop them even on a risky two-point conversion try. Ed Hochuli does deserve some kind of punishment for this blown but not to the point where he is seen as the worst official in the league, when really he is one of the best. He just made one mistake as do all human beings do and he should not lose his job and does not deserve the backlash from fans and officials from across the league. Jerry Jones has no right to say he is one of the worst officials in the league; if Jerry Jones says that it is bullshit because Hochuli's record does not reflect any sort of pattern of bad officiating throughout his career in the NFL. I say for you Ed, just move on, people will forget about this in the coming weeks and it will make no difference in the end. Continue to be a model official of National Football League and continue to provide fairness and greatness to the game of football.

Photo Courtesy of WikiMedia

The Bank Job goes very well

2008-08-22T10:47:00.000-07:00

Jason Statham stars in this early 2008 release as a down-on-his-luck car dealership owner. He owes the wrong people money that only seems to make his luck as a car dealer go even more sour. However, when an old friend, Martine Love, played by Saffron Burrows, Terry's (Statham) fortunes seem to turn. Love offers Statham and some his buddies a job to rob a bank where the security system will be deactivated for a week while a new system is being installed. Reluctant at first, Terry and the crew of other 'villains' of London ponder whether they can trust Love and her secret accomplice who told her of this job in the first place but in the end cannot resist the temptation of money and other riches they may discover in the security deposit boxes of this bank.

However, during their conquest of the vault, they discover they not only find large amounts of money, diamonds, and jewelry but also very revealing photographs of high ranking officials in the United Kingdom.

The Bank Job is smart and dynamic movie with many different sub plots that reveal much about the main characters and supporting characters. Being based on a true story, a movie about one of the biggest bank robberies in the United Kingdom was just waiting to be made, however the execution of it how it came all about remained. And the execution was right on the spot. Viewers are able to relate to all the members of the gang as each brings in their own personality and expertise to the job itself but also invites some compassion for these men and woman and the ordeal they endure after the job was done. Overall, The Bank Job wins big as a smart thriller that viewers will enjoy.

4/5 CLAPS!

Photo Courtesy of: nytimes.com

Step Brothers

2008-08-13T16:41:00.000-07:00

In Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly's latest comedy, Step Brothers, the duo play two 40-year-old men still living with their mother and father. It so happens when their mother and father find a spark, they suddenly become step brothers who have a large amount of hatred towards each other because of the simplicity and easiness of life has been flipped upside by their parents' marriage. However, the two seem to liken each other and turn out to have very similar interests, thus creating mayhem within their home. This makes the father, played by Richard Jenkins, to create an ultimatum for his two boys that they must get a job and a place to live by the end of the month.

Upon entering this movie, I was not expecting much other than another stupid, dumb, and idiotic comedy involving Will Ferrell where he happens to find a way to take off his clothes and show his voloptuous bod. Unfortunately, we do not seen anything of his bod but we see something we never really wanted see in the first place but I think what was shown was fake. You have to see to the movie to understand what I am talking about here. But other than that, the movie was everything I said above. Stupid. Dumb. Idiotic. Though these are elements found in almost every Will Ferrell, they are elements that still happen to find a way to make me laugh. I was surprised of how much I laughed because of my low expectations of the film. Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly comprise of an ultimate team that brings this comedy partnership to new heights and creates laughter by not saying or doing anything. They fit parts of the overly dependent, want to be a child forever, and dumbfounded adults perfectly. I enjoyed this movie because of the dumbness that was excessively apparent throughout the film. The film was able to create characters who one can relate to one's own family, which was extremely enjoyable. GOOD STUFF!

3.5/5 CLAPS!

Photo Courtesy of nytimes.com

Messing with the Zohan

2008-06-17T14:43:00.000-07:00

You Don't Mess With The Zohan is a comedy about an Israeli Counter-Terrorist Agent who has a strong desire to style and cut hair for a living. And the only way to accomplish his dream of working in the Paul Mitchell Salon in New York City, he must secretly leave his counter-terrorist work. Going to New York City, much to the doubts of his parents, the Zohan finds himself struggling to find work in the city as it seems his hairstyles (his own and his stylings) are stuck in the 1980's. However, the Zohan finds friends and a place of work in the Israeli and Palestine street of the city. Here, both sides have their differences but still live amongst each other peacefully, or at least more happily and peacefully than their brothers and sisters back home.

This film is a light take on the crisis in the Middle East, which is pleasing to see and a fun take on the whole situation all together. It reminded me a lot of the short film West Bank Story, takes the story structure of West Side Story but places itself within the modern day Israel-Palestine. The same kind of story can be said of the Zohan as he falls for a Palestinian girl. But overall, the film is filled with non-stop stupid humor, which is sometimes funny and sometimes not. Taking advantage of stereotypes to the max is what the film is built on but has a good message to those in the Middle East, which may or may not be effective but nonetheless provides a simple resolution to the nonsense that is happening there. Overall, this is once again another Adam Sandler film that fans will enjoy. So YES!

3/5 CLAPS!

Photo Courtesy of the New York Times

The Netherlands and Euro 2008

2008-06-13T20:17:00.000-07:00

One week and done in Euro 2008 and Portugal, Croatia, and the Netherlands have all clinched spots in the quarterfinals of the tournament by each winning of their first two games. Portugal has jumped out with impressive wins over Turkey and the Czech Republic. Cristiano Ronaldo is proving his value and possible title of best player in the world. Croatia squeezed by Austria and Germany in a pair of one goal games but nonetheless have advanced. Their win over Germany has been the upset of the tournament being that Germany is considered to be one of the favorites to win the tournament.

However the biggest surprise of this tournament has been out of the group of death and the dominating victories the Netherlands has posted over powerhouses, Italy and France. Their dismantling of an Italian team that is hurting and rout of France has turned heads of soccer fans around the world. For the past 10-15 years, the Dutch have been a team known with superb individual talent but have never been able to breakthrough and create any noise around the world of soccer. But is this the year that all their past misfortunes turn around? Maybe so, given the machine that is their attack and a defense that has been stellar. The Netherlands are my favorite not only because they have the coolest uniforms around but also because of the domination and noise they are causing in Euro.

Photo Courtesy of Yahoo! Sports

Sharks win with the annoucement of new coach

2008-06-13T11:23:00.000-07:00

Yesterday the San Jose Sharks announced former Detroit assistant, Todd McClellan, as their new head coach. In his first head coaching job in the NHL, McCllelan hopes to bring the Stanley Cup glory that he experienced this past season in Detroit to San Jose. The future looks very good seeing that this is the man responsible of Detroit's fast-paced offensive attack and deadly power play that mauled the rest of the league during this past regular season and playoffs. Using this same formula, it does seem that he might be able to execute this with the great amount of talent that is available on this San Jose team. This team has all the makings of reaching Stanley Cup glory and I do believe this is the man that will be the kick-in-the-butt the Sharkies need to overcome their past playoff debacles. With Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau leading the way San Jose might have found this last missing link that is keeping them from reaching the Stanley Cup finals. However, this offseason is unfinished. They must resign Brian Campbell, who provided a huge spark late in the regular season and will be necessary in the system that McClellan plans to install in San Jose, given his superb skating and stick handling abilities. The future looks bright in San Jose, but work still must be done.

Photo Courtesy of mercurynews.com

P.S. - I saw the latest installment of Indiana Jones and well if you are a fan, go and see it for yourself if you have money to burn but if not don't. You will be very disappointed aside from a few highlights. The film drops out of this world in the last 2/3 of the film which is disappointing and poorly written. So Indiana NO!

2.5/5 CLAPS!

Mae: The Release Trailers!!!!!

2008-06-04T22:50:00.000-07:00