Sunday, January 30, 2011

Piranha 3D lacks bite and falls short of its lowly predecessor

Growing up in the 80s, creature features were one of my favorite films. The films were entertaining with cool special effects monsters and didn't require a whole lot of thought to understand. Plus, I could always count on at least two pairs of breasts showing up somewhere in the film. 2010's “Piranha 3D” only delivers on the breasts and nothing else.

With a cast including Elisabeth Shue, Jerry O'Connell and Richard Dreyfuss the first assumption is “Piranha 3D” can't be that bad. You know what they say about assumptions. The “Piranha 3D” starts with Richard Dreyfuss mercifully meeting his demise after an underwater tremor releases hundreds of prehistoric man-eating piranhas onto Lake Victoria. Of course, this happens just time for Lake Victoria to explode from a sleepy population of 5,000 to 50,000 for spring break. From there “Piranha 3D” only attempts to find new and exciting ways for piranhas to eat the adolescent spring breakers. I'm not a viewer who expects movies like “Piranha 3D” to make sense or explain everything. That is the beauty of film, stories do not have to make sense. But I like films that have some sort of plot, of point. “Piranha 3D” makes no effort to do this. The film just jumps from naked bodies to dead ones with no discernible pattern or point.

The special effects were okay but with everything that can be done with computers, it seems that everybody just wants to go over the top with their creations. The piranhas are menacing and scary but look and act more like an alien than a fish. The death scenes are bloody and gory but rather bland and lacking ingenuity. The only positive I saw in “Piranha 3D” were the 3D effects. The effects looked good and fit with the film and scenes. I rate “Piranha 3D” a poor 1 out of 5 stars and would recommend its 1978 predecessor instead but it seems I am in the minority because “Piranha 3DD” is planned for release in September 2011.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Shot or killed? A question that can only find proper context in a great western like "True Grit"

Well made Western films are hard to come by these days. With the success of high action, high special effects films, the Western genre has not only lost fan base but interest from the studios. It takes big names at every level of production to grasp everyone's attention for a western film. “True Grit” has accomplished that. With brothers Joel & Ethan Coen directing and Jeff Bridges leading a stellar cast, “True Grit” reminds us how good a western film can be.

“True Grit” is an excellent remake of the 1969 John Wayne classic by the same name. “True Grit” is the story of fourteen-year old Mattie Ross, played excellently by newcomer Hailee Steinfeld, whose father was murdered in cold blood by the outlaw Tom Chaney. Young Mattie Ross aims to hire aging U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn, played flawlessly by Jeff Bridges. I imagine it's a fearful task for anyone to fill the shoes of a legend such as John Wayne, but Jeff Bridges plays Rooster Cogburn in a way that makes the character his own. One of the traits I look for in great acting is the ability of the actor to make the viewer forget the actor and any other roles he may have played and see only the current character on the screen. Jeff Bridges accomplishes this throughout “True Grit.” Rooster and Mattie are accompanied by Texas Ranger LaBoeuf, played by the generally likable Matt Damon but I found him out of place and bland in his scenes. Josh Brolin playing murderous Tom Chaney also has played better roles. From there the story centers on Mattie's obsession with revenge against her father's murderer regardless of the cost to herself and companions.

The most surprising part of “True Grit” was the acting of Hailee Steinfeld. The character of Mattie Ross is a very stubborn and hard headed one but watching Ms. Steinfeld on screen the viewer senses she wants us to remember her every frame. She seems to take over a scene and push her co-stars, at times even Jeff Bridges, around much like young Mattie gets her way in the movie. Her recent Oscar nomination for her supporting role in “True Grit” is much well deserved as she is one of the best young talents in a long time. Her acting is reminiscent of Natalie Portman in “The Professional.” For his work, Jeff Bridges also earned a leading actor Oscar nomination as well as kudos to the Coen brothers for their best director Oscar nominations. All in all, “True Grit” takes us on an emotional ride and delivers excellent performances and storytelling and well worth an evening at the movies. I give “True Grit” a 4.1 out of 5 star rating.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Fuel Efficiency Leads the 2011 Detroit auto car show

I wrote this article as a short review of the 2011 Detroit auto show. No head turners were on display but the auto industry does seem to have its head on straight this year.

Shorter, More Intense workouts lead to more gains

Here is another article I wrote for the Yahoo! Associated Content website, enjoy!

Sunday, January 16, 2011

GOOD IS LONG GONE

My home is out in the desert.
Where the scorpion live inside the cattle bone.
All that was once good is long gone.
All that was filthy remains so.
All the rest hid long ago.
Stumblin’ across this dust, this dust and pain.
Shouldering the blame for Judas, for Cain.
The blood spilled on the bones.
The scorpion searched for the flesh that bled.
Those who believe pray for rain.
Those who do not, chew the dirt and kill the snake.
I’ve seen love die and I’ve seen her take.
Take gold, take souls and take men from their homes.
Breathe in the poison of her name.
Swallow the day in which she came.
Fall amongst the dust and pain.
Kill the snake and curse the rain.

FALLING APART

Why can’t you hold me
As I’m falling apart?
Why can’t you tell me
I’ll be healed by your heart?
Where can you be?,
The person I knew at the start.

DESCENT INTO MADNESS

Desire is the first step towards madness.
Desire digs into the flesh, burrowing the soul.
Feeding on that ever burning flame.
Desire is how I met you.

BLACK SKIES

When I see the sun cry,
I hear the echoes of your lies.
They snuff the light of the stars
And blacken my skies.
Dark shadows revealing only scars.

Saturday, January 8, 2011

My 5 most memorable college football games

College football is full of memorable games. From Doug Flutie's miracle pass against Miami to Appalachian St. upsetting Michigan. To narrow down a list of the most memorable that everyone agrees upon is nearly impossible. What I've done is list the five most memorable college football games for me.

JAN. 1, 1991 ORANGE BOWL COLORADO VS. NOTRE DAME
The Orange Bowl pitted #1 Colorado against #5 Notre Dame in a rematch of the 1990 Orange Bowl that Notre Dame won. In this college football game, Colorado upended the Fighting Irish by one point and some luck. A questionable clipping call on a Raghib “Rocket” Ismail 92-yard punt return for a touchdown preserved the 10-9 victory for Colorado. The college football game featured several future NFL players including Rick Mirer, Jerome Bettis and Chad Brown.

JAN. 1, 2007 FIESTA BOWL BOISE ST. VS. OKLAHOMA
Nobody gave Boise St. a chance, and with good reason. Oklahoma was in the middle of a very dominant run and Boise St. had played a schedule full of third rate teams. No way could Boise St. even share the field with the mighty Sooners. But that is why they play the games. In an up and down game which saw Boise St. blow an 18 point lead, it took a trick play on a two point conversion in overtime to win it for Boise St. The college game featured future NFL players including Adrain Peterson, Juaquin Iglesias, Orlando Scandrick and Ian Johnson.

JAN 2, 1996 FIESTA BOWL NEBRASKA VS. FLORIDA
This college football game featured #1 Nebraska against #2 Florida in what became a record setting performance for Nebraska. The game was not close but featured one of the most dominant performances in college football history. Nebraska was thought of as an underdog against Steve Spurrier's Gators but quickly and with a record setting 29 point second quarter, Nebraska proved to everyone the greatness of their team. It also showed Steve Spurrier what his team lacked and he hired Bob Stoops soon after to improve his defense. The college game featured many future NFL players and college greats such as Lawrence Phillips, Tommy Frazier, Ahman Green, Danny Weurffel, Fred Taylor, Terry Jackson and Mike Minter.

NOV. 13, 1993 FLORIDA ST. VS NOTRE DAME
This college football game featured another #1 vs. #2 but with a huge talent gap between the college teams. Florida St. featuring Heisman Trophy winner Charlie Ward, Warrick Dunn and Derrick Brooks was being billed as the Team of the Century. They were undefeated and unchallenged while lowly Notre Dame although undefeated did not have the same level of talent. Lou Holtz prepared his team and through execution defeated the Seminoles to win the fourth #1 vs. #2 matchup in college football history. Unfortunately they followed the victory with a loss to Boston College and were knocked out of championship contention the next week.

SEPT. 24,1994 COLORADO VS. MICHIGAN
This college football game featured two highly talented college football teams in probably the most memorable play of the 90s. The college football game was a see saw battle with Heisman Trophy winner Rashaam Salaam scoring on early two yard run. But both teams featured outstanding receivers. Colorado had Michael Westbrook and Michigan Amani Toomer. Toomer scored on a 65-yard pass from Brian Griese. But this college football game will always be remembered fro Kordell Stewart's almost 70-yard pass caught by Charles Johnson as seconds ticked to zero. The improbability and athleticism of such a play make this game a memorable game for me. The matchup featured such players as Kordell Stewart, Brian Griese, Amani Toomer, Ty Law, Trevor Pryce and Michael Westbrook.
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Sunday, January 2, 2011

ALL YOUR BODY WOULD SELL

These tired eyes weaken,
waiting for the blood letting to begin.
I feel all that I was, seeping,
Waiting for the end.
I remember your lips,
but not their taste.
When love rips,
all is laid to waste.
So goodnight, farewell.
Serenade me with one more lie.
I paid for all your body would sell.
I paid for a dream so high.

A NEW DAY

A drink in her hand,
The smoke hanging thick,
The music hot as sand.
I could feel her body stray,
Searching for the flesh of a new day.
The lessons of a new romance.
She holds my hand as we step to dance.
Clinging to these old bones
That no longer induce her moans.
She smiles as my heart breaks.
Leaving everything she took
As she walks away.

Happy New Year!

It's the second now and I've yet to wish anyone other than family happy new year. I'm not much for resolutions either so nothing there. Seems like the only thing that's changed is the calendar. I'm just a believer that if you really want to do something you don't need an excuse like a new year. Happy new year everyone!