My favorite movies of 2008

So, I was thinking this morning about what movies I really enjoyed last year. As I've commented many times, I don't think it was a particularly deep year for films, although, some of the ones at the top, were REALLY good. But nothing like 2007, where there were about 7 movies that had a legit argument, not only to be nominated, but to win Best Picture (No Country for Old Men, There Will Be Blood, Juno, Atonement, Michael Clayton, Charlie Wilson's War, etc...).

So here we go, starting at 10.

10. Quantum of Solace

I just think it would be fundamentally wrong not to have this film listed here. I think the world knows how I feel about Daniel Craig, and just how much I really love what he has done with the character. I have made many, many comparisons to the reinvention of Bond and Batman, and I think they are both just incredible. This films biggest downfall, was that it wasn't Casino Royale. But given that Casino Royale is probably the greatest Bond film of all time...That's not so bad.

9. Smart People

This is a movie I never heard much about, but because I watch a lot of HDNet, I knew it existed, and threw it on my Queue. Really glad I did. It was smart, funny, charming, and SJP actually looked like a human being. I LOVE Dennis Quaid. Ellen Page is incredible, and Thomas Haden Church is a riot. Not a lot of people have seen it, and everyone really should. It won't take up too much of your time, it's short, and makes every second on screen count. Sort of like a "Little Miss Sunshine," kind of film.

8. Frost/Nixon

This is here pretty much out of respect for Ron Howard. The movie itself didn't blow me away, but the incredibly strong performances by Frank Langella and Michael Sheen did. It was a story that a young man like myself didn't know a lot about, and it was well acted, and wonderfully made. It tells a story that needs to be heard, without being overly critical or sympathetic to the man.

7. The Reader

This is a movie that actually did come pretty close to blowing me away. First of all, Kate Winslet is naked for a good portion of the first hour, so that can't be bad. But also, you want a story to tell, this was the best story of the year. It was heart wrenching, intelligent and frustrating. I always say, a great movie draws an emotional response out of you. It may not always be one you like...But it draws one out none-the-less. 

6. Iron Man

Did not think I would enjoy this movie. Didn't think I liked Robert Downey, Jr., turns out, I do. This was arguably the year of the comic book movie, and this one kicked off the summer in the right way. Great story, well acted, and Jon Favreau did a wonderful job of putting it all together. Not to mention, a movie that actually made me feel like Gwenyth Paltrow was good looking, very good looking. Well played Favreau...Well played.

5. Pineapple Express

HILARIOUS! Most importantly, introduced me to Danny McBride, who is now rocking my socks off with his HBO show Eastbound and Down. This guy is brilliant. And not to mention James Franco...how great was he? Good year for Seth Rogen as well. Zach and Miri was also a good movie that is not far outside of this list.

4.Gran Torino

I want to first say that the movies 2-4 could be in any order, depending on my mood. I'm pretty sure it is obvious what number 1 is going to be...but all 4 of these films totally blew me away. This movie in particular showed me something I wasn't expecting out of Clint Eastwood. Totally got snubbed by the Academy, and that's just sad. Incredibly well put together, and beautifully acted. Should have gotten a lot more respect than it did from those idiots.

3. In Bruges

If you haven't seen this yet...Good night alive, you MUST. Colin Ferrel hasn't really been making a bunch of great films lately...but wow. Just wow. This was the funniest, strangest, most wonderful movie I have seen in a very long time. I mean, midgets, hookers, drugs, and hitmen...Do you need any other reason to believe this film is a masterpiece? 

2. The Wrester

I am noticing a trend here. Films that didn't get the love they deserved from the Academy. I actually turned off the show when Sean Penn won instead of Mickey Rourke. I mean, did they not see this performance? I'm not saying it was Daniel Day Lewis good, but it wasn't far away. This movie touched me, and made me a little sick, and totally intrigued me. No nomination for this movie for Best Picture--idiotic.

1. TDK

No surprise there. Lack of nominations for the major categories--Idiotic, crazy, narrow minded, wrong, stupid, uppity, ridonk.

Honorable Mention: Forgetting Sarah Marshall--Totally hilarious, and Jason Segel is awesome. Not to mention how hot both Mila Kunis and Kristen Bell are. Ghost Town--The only time I remember actually crying I was laughing so hard at a scene all year. Didn't know it was going to be so good, but it really was. Charlie Bartlett--This is technically a 2007 movie, but I didn't see it until recently. So I wanted to give it some props, knowing that if it had been a 2008 movie, it would have been in the top 5 or 6. Funny, funny stuff.

I am sure you notice a lack of the films nominated for Best Picture...Yeah, that's because they weren't actually all that good. I will refer you back to my post about what the nominations should have been.

A Poor Year in Movies

Every year, there are films left off of a whole bunch of different categories when the Academy Award nominations come out. But this year, people seem to be really upset. I'm one of them obviously! I am under no sort of delusion that "The Dark Knight" is the greatest movie of all time, far from it. Although it could be argued that TDK is one of the best movies in a very long time, it's probably not "The Godfather." But in what, in my opinion, was a pretty weak year of movies, to say that it wasn't even one of the best 5 of the year is astronomically stupid.

The only thing I can come up with was that this had to do with the Academy shrugging off a comic book movie, which was the popcorn movie of the year. Well, that bothers me. It first bothers me because, sure it was a "comic book" movie, but wasn't it so much more? This was a truly masterfully, carefully put together crime drama. It had incredible performances, a non-stop pace, and a really well crafted story. And also, didn't one of those stupid "Lord of the Rings" movies WIN Best Picture? I know that's not a "comic book" movie, but it's sort of a similar argument right?

But I think a greater travesty is that Chris Nolan wasn't even nominated for Best Director. I think that everyone who worked on the film would agree with me. What he accomplished with this film is unseen, or heard of before. It was his masterpiece. 

My award nominations (Taking into account, at this point, I am yet to see "Milk," or "Rachel Getting Married")

Best Picture

The Dark Knight

The Wrestler

Gran Torino

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Slumdog Millionaire

Best Actor in a Leading Role

Frank Langella--Frost/Nixon

Sean Penn--Milk

Dev Patel--Slumdog Millionaire

Clint Eastwood--Gran Torino

Mickey Rourke--The Wrestler

Best Actress in a Leading Role

Cate Blanchett--The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Anne Hathaway--Rachel Getting Married

Kate Winslett--The Reader

Kate Winslett--Revolutionary Road

Angelina Jolie--Changeling

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Heath Ledger--The Dark Knight

Michael Caine--The Dark Knight

Robert Downey, Jr.--Tropic Thunder

Josh Brolin--Milk

Phillip Seymour Hoffman--Doubt

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Amy Adams--Doubt

Penelope Cruz--Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Marisa Tomei--The Wrestler

Viola Davis--Doubt

Taraji Henson--The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Director

Danny Boyle--Slumdog Millionaire

Darren Aronofsky--The Wrestler

Christopher Nolan--The Dark Knight

Clint Eastwood--Gran Torino

David Fincher--The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Don't hate him because he's beautiful

What is with people? Everyone just seems to hate the new Bond movie. Why? Because it isn't as good as "Casino Royale"? Well, there hasn't been a single Bond movie as good as "Casino Royale," so maybe all you clowns should back the hell up!

Is it flawed? Absofreakinglutely. Many of the things complained about by people are legit. The story is not traditionally Bond complicated, and the editing of the action sequences is a little jumpy.

Here is my take though. This is a different Bond. Much like we have a different Batman now, what is being done here is different than what used to be done in these films. Old school Bond was episodic. One had NOTHING to do with the other. Same for Batman. But that is not the case anymore. "Quantum" picked up right where "Casino" left off. And given that we still don't know what this "organization" really is, and given that Bond still has not caught Mr. White, I suspect this story line runs right through the next film as well. Perhaps into all four that Daniel Craig has signed on for. (On a side note, while I hope that Nolan and Bale make one more Bat film, and then the franchise is completely put to rest, I hope that Craig signs on for more Bond films. I believe that Nolan could completely end any notion of another Batman film, because he has perfected it, but we all know that Bond films are unlikely to ever stop. So I would like to see Daniel Craig in as many as possible.)

Back on topic, all of these movies run together, so the "lack" of a story is just an unfair complaint. And frankly, it's just not even that true. The movie has a story. It's just not as complicated as past Bond films. And why is that necessarily a bad thing? This film serves a purpose in the greater plot of Daniel Craig's James Bond. 

As for the second big complaint, the editing, yeah, that one is pretty real. You are jumping all over the place, and if you are in the first 10 rows, and you don't have a perfect view of the screen...Poor you! But, you know, it's not that big of a deal. It's not really distracting from the movie. And the action sequences are really cool, just slightly poorly edited. 

But all and all, this is the new James Bond. I have seen probably 20 of the Bond films in my life, and this is by far, my second favorite of them all. It's not "Casino Royale," but we shouldn't expect it to be. This is a quality movie, with the finest James Bond to date, that continues the reinvention of the character into what Ian Flemming intended him to be. A dark, mysterious, bad ass, but also, very human. This is Bond, and I can't wait for November 2010.

Commissioner Hates Astros

Home games...Perhaps an overrated thing, but then again, maybe not. But maybe we got a definitive answer this week when the Astros had to go play at Wrigley North against the Cubbies. The Commish says there were no other options, but I beg to differ. There were lots of other options. And pulling these guys away from their families and loved ones hours after a devestating disaster...was NOT the answer.

The Commish says he had to do it. But Brad Ausmus, who lives in West U, had other things on his mind. He had a few of his teammates at his house when the storm rolled in. The water got so close to his front door, that he was afraid he was going to have to wake his sleeping friends to ask them to move all his furniture up to the second floor.

Lance Berkman luckily has a home near his home town of New Braunfels, in San Marcos. Or maybe that's not so lucky. Since he got a call at 4 a.m. to leave his family, and get back to Houston for a 10 a.m. flight to Milwaukee.

And all this while, what are the Cubbies doing? Just relaxing in their homes, and then getting on a bus a couple hours before BP and riding the 80 miles to Miller Park from Wrigley. Man, that sounds so fair.

It was an incredibly difficult situation for ALL involved. There is no doubt about that. Would I want to be in Selig's shoes to make that decision? No, not at all. Did he make the right decision? No, not at all. Baseball is a business, everyone gets that...But there are about what, 8 gajillion other business in the Houston area? And all of them understood the importance of family after this storm, all except Major League Baseball.

The games had to get played, and sooner, rather than later, no doubt about that one. And could MMP have hosted a game on Sunday? Yes, it could have. Should it have? No, probably not. But making the Houston Astros go to Milwaukee to play the Cubs? That is about like asking a team on the west coast to play a "home game" against the Yankees at Shea.

So why not put the onus on the Cubs to have crappy conditions? Maybe play the games in Round Rock? No, that wouldn't have drawn much, but hey, so what? At least it would have almost been like a home game for the Astros, at least more so than the Cubs right? And just play one there on Sunday, and then back at MMP on Monday, which would have been perfectly fine. This city was ready for a game on Monday. It would have been a really nice distraction. And then just play the last game, if needed, on the Monday after the season is finished.

But instead, the Commish thought it would be more fun to completely ruin the Astros emotional state. Is he the reason the Astros got 1 hit in 2 games? No, not exactly. They are professionals, and should have been ready to play mentally. But can we blame them for not being ready to play?

Chris Sampson said that he didn't even want to get on the plane because he hadn't heard from some of his friends and family yet. Is that not more important than a freaking baseball game? The way that tv runs the world is a great thing in some ways...but in others...it is just stupid. And this is one of those moments. Couldn't the playoff tv schedule have been slightly adjusted if needed? And hell, we don't even know if it would have needed to be. The Astros may have been no hit, and one hit no matter where they played. But that doesn't seem too likely does it? Given that they are the best team in baseball in the second half, it seems like had things gone a little closer to their way, it might have been a bit better for them.

But now it's finished. They have lost 3 straight, but luckily, the Brewers are just awful and have lost everything lately. So it is still up to the Astros to go out there and take it! They have only games left against crap teams, and have no one to blame anymore. Rally around your city and make us proud. But I will be honest. In this bloggers opinion, it doesn't matter how it turns out, they have done me very proud. They have continued to fight, and play hard, and that is all we can really ask for. But they are the best team of the 3 in the fight for the Wild Card, so hopefully they will go and take it!

Great fight here!

Another incredible video, this one involving a curious cat.

Greatest video every put on the internet

This fool deserves some sort of medal.

Could They?

Ok, this is getting a little interesting. With another strong performance from Randy Wolf, and a great night from the Puma, the Astros pulled themselves to within 4 games of the Wild Card lead. There are 17 games left to play, and if the Astros finish up 12-5, that gets them to 90 wins. Is that enough to get in?

I think that it could be. The Brewers are awful. The Phillies could fall, if it weren't for one Brad "Lights Out" Lidge. And the Astros are just better than the Cards. The only real problem here is that the Astros don't have any games left with any of those teams. But you know, 4 games is not that much, so let's at least wait and see. Got 5 left with the Pirates, so that should help...

And on that note. If the Astros somehow pull off this thing, and make the playoffs, how can anyone but Lance Berkman be the MVP? With no El Cachubby for a month, Roy struggling early, and Wandy going out recently, Lance has been the steady hand for this team. So if the Astros make it in, Lance has to be the MVP, and Coop may be Manager of the Year too...

A New York State of Mind

For all the doubting, for all the name calling, for everyone who said Roger was done and couldn't win anymore. For everyone who said that Rafa was the greatest thing ever...I believe it is time for an apology. Roger won his fifth straight US Open this week, and looked good doing it. So for everyone who wants to call this a down year for Roger, think about what you're saying. Yeah, it was a down year, but how would you like this for a down year? 1 major semis, 2 majors finals, playing in the greatest tennis match in the history of the world, 1 Olympic gold medal, 1 major championship...

Wow, he must really suck...

While I agree that it was a down year, just think about the standard that he set for himself. Roger is the greatest tennis player ever, and anyone who gets in front of a mike agrees with me. Be it Novak, Rafa, Andy Murray, or Johnny Mac. Everyone knows this guy is the greatest, and he has a long way to go before he is done.

Now, he probably has to make some changes if he wants to dominate again, and it is not all that likely that he will, given his age, and the ability of one Rafa Nadal. But if he takes care of himself, and continues to be able to get out on the court, he is not only going to pass Pete's record for majors, he is going to shatter it.

And I am going to make a really bold prediction right here, and right now. He will finally get Rafa at the French in 2009, and here's the big one...he WILL win the Grand Slam next year. He will have his training back to normal this year, after missing a good hunk of it last year with Mono, and he will dominate the Austrailian to get his fourth Austrailian, then shock Rafa at the French, and reclaim his dominance at Wimbeldon, and continue his dominance at the Open.

I say that, because frankly, there are 2 majors a year where you know that Rafa will not be a factor. For how special a player that Rafa is, his game on the hard courts is just not improving all that much. Lest we forget that Rafa also has all sorts of health issues as well. First of all, Uncle Tony makes him play way too much, and second, he plays on every surface as if it were clay. That absolutely distroys his knees!

2009 is the year that Roger solidifies his position as the greatest that ever was, and ever will be. He will train harder, play less, and be ready at each and every major, and will claim all 4. All he needed was a little confidence, and the gold medal, and the Open championship gave it back to him. I think we are about to see some 2006-07 Roger Federer again.

Bigger Bad Ass: Daniel Craig or Christian Bale?

This question is posed to the readership today for a simple reason. The new trailer for "Quantum of Solace" came out this week, and good night alive, it looks INREDIBLE.

I am not going to sit here and hate on Pierce Brosnan as Bond because I really enjoyed his first couple shots at it, but it did appear that he, and everyone else, gave up on the last couple. Daniel Craig really rejuvinated Bond in "Casino Royale," and it looks like he continues to do so in Solace.

The comparisons between Batman and Bond are actually pretty striking. Both had really kind of hit a dull note, and then added new leading men, and totally new crews, most importantly, directors and writers, and the results have been outstanding for both. "Batman Begins" was great, and TDK needs no comment. "Casino Royale" was a flash back to old school Bond, while adding a sort of realism that the Brosnan films sort of got away from. On the same note, Nolan wanted to do just that with his Gotham City. He moved it from some comicy place to downtown Chicago, got rid of outlandish villians, and made the franchise real.

These two are part of the films I have most looked forward to all year. TDK certainly did not disappoint, so now the onus is on Craig to deliver the way Bale did. And if the trailer is any hint, it certainly looks like they did.

Just like July 18th couldn't, November 14th can not get here fast enough!

2008 and Beyond

I saw something this morning that greatly disturbed me. I often sit in amazement at just how absolutely stupid some fans are. I was reading Chip Bailey's blog on chron.com and at the bottom, in the comments section, a fan commented how the Astros should trade Valverde, Oswalt, and Berkman before next season.

Really? Come on...how stupid can someone seriously be? Is this team, as assembled a World Series champ? No, not very likely to be. But it is a lot closer than it would be without those three guys. There are so many stupid things with that comment, I am honestly not even sure where to start.

First of all, this years team is really not all that bad! Those 3 have been incredibly effective for huge hunks of this season, and we have no reason to believe that next season, they won't be effective for huge hunks of the season. The last month, Roy has been by far the best pitcher in all the game, as he was from 2003-2005. Valverde has made good on his last 15 save opportunities, and Lance is hitting over .330.

So sure, they could probably get a crap ton on the trade market, but let's not forget, none of them want to go anywhere, and they shouldn't go anywhere either. Basically, the fan was saying that the "rebuilding process" should begin. Again, that is just showing his total ignorance for the game of baseball. A team that will finish the season about 15 games over .500 aren't exactly in a place where rebuilding is necessary. This is a team that is a catcher, and second starter away from being very, very good. So why would we blow it all up?

Good thing Uncle Drayton does not listen to idiot fans who post on chron.com.

Randy Wolf=Best GM Award for Ed Wade

Is this guy for real? Did he really just throw a complete game shut out against the Cubbies? That is pretty awesome! Many people were wondering exactly what Wade was doing when he made this trade, and while this team still is nowhere near the playoffs, I have to say, I dig it. What it shows is that he and Uncle Drayton will not give up on winning. And that is a good thing to show a team. It shows that sometimes, all a player needs to rejuvinate himself is a change of scenery, a la Lights Out Lidge.

Most important about all this though is that this team is showing perhaps there is something to look forward to in 2009! Roy looks like Roy again. Wandy really looks like a guy who could be a very solid third starter, Backe looks like he can be solid in the back of a rotation, Wolf looks like he still has a little left, and Brian Moehler looks incredible. The only thing really missing is a solid 2. If this team can go out and get one of those, very little is actually missing. There is enough offense to take care of that pitching staff with a solid 2 added. A catcher should be high on the list, and Darin Erstad just needs to get more playing time instead of searching for a centerfielder again this off season.

And oh yeah, the bully...it's pretty good too! Chris Sampson has really found his home. He is perfect as the long reliever. Wesley Wright is a great lefty in the pen, LaTroy Hawkins is just like Randy Wolf, and has found himself, and Valverde is a lot better than I thought!

I believe in this teams ability to compete in 2009! Much more on that much later though!

A "Riddler" not named Depp?

With all the rumors floating around about the next "Batman," film (all of which are incredibly premature until Nolan signs on), and who the villians will be, and who will play them, there are a couple of notes I think should be made.

One that can not be substantiated at all in any way, shape, or form. Nolan will NOT use Catwoman in his films. It is so un-Nolan like, it seems to me. Doesn't it to anyone else? While she is a realistic villian and would be played wonderfully by Angelina Jolie, I just don't see it happening. Although, I wouldn't be too terribly upset if I was wrong. But many fan boys are just throwing this out there because they think Nolan left them a hint in TDK. I don't think he did. I just think that was a little joke by Fox that happened to mention a cat, I don't think it was foreshadowing a future villian.

Another popular idea that has been thrown around is the introduction of "The Riddler." Again, a fairly realistic villian, which is key in the Nolan world of Gotham/Chicago. The original rumor was for Johnny Depp to take the part, which seems like a really good idea, and Depp has agreed that "it would be fun."

However, I came across something interesting this evening, and honestly, just thought it was brilliant. Staying with The Riddler, what about Guy Pearce as Edward Nygma? I find this to be a very interesting idea. While I have no doubt that Johnny Depp would be quite incredible, because he is a very good actor, I like what Pearce has to offer as well. And Nolan doesn't necessarily go after the biggest stars for his films, and Depp is pretty much as big as it gets (Obviously, I know Christian Bale is a huge star right now, but he wasn't when he first put on the Bat Suit, Nolan created his stardom). Nolan seems to take great, but not over exposed actors, like Bale, Ledger, Pearce in "Momento," and Eckhart, and put them in his movies. Then takes elder statesmen superstars, Caine and Freeman, and puts them in supporting roles (I also recognize this is not always true, as you don't get much bigger than Pacino, and that was the title role, but as a rule, I think my premise proves true).

And let's not forget Pearce's brilliance in "Momento." That was a very special movie, and it also really seems like Nolan likes working with people he is familiar with. If you take a look, the crews are very similar in all his movies. He and his brother write most of the scripts, stories are written by he and Emma Thomas, and Thomas is on the production team of every film too. My point being, I bet Nolan would love the idea of working with a guy like Pearce again. Really see what he can deliver as a villian in the next Batman film.

What does my loyal readership think of Pearce as a villian in the next film?

Then there are all sorts of other rumors floating around that are much less interesting. Megan Fox in a Batman film? No. Phillip Seymour Hoffman? Not as Penguin, but finding a spot for him would be cool.

No one will be able to top what Health Ledger put together in TDK, but I don't believe it will be necessary. Nolan will be able to create the greatest ending of a trilogy yet. Even better than "Major League 3: Back to the Minors." But it will not focus on a villian as TDK did. The last of the trilogy will focus on Batman and Bruce Wayne, and will only use the villians to add to the story line, much like in the first film.

While I like to hope Nolan will sign on soon and get us a new movie in 2010, it seems more likely it will be 2011. Which will WB prefer? They are only interested in money, and what gets them more money? Making us wait? Or feeding our frenzy? None-the-less, I am sure Nolan will take a break with a different film between Batmans, and I am sure that Christian Bale will be in it!

Redeem Team

As someone who normally does not watch or get into the Olympics, this was a strange year for me. Because of the fun of watching Michael Phelps, and the hotness of Nastia Liukin, I found myself actually watching much of the Olympics.

But of course, I planned on watching the basketball portion of the Olympics regarless, so I digress. I must admit, the dominance of this team DID surprise me a little. I expected them to win gold, but I expected them to have a lot more trouble with Argentina, and at least a little more trouble with Greece and Spain.

Now, obviously, Manu going down with his ankle injury made the Argentina game a little easier, but even in the first quarter, it was quite obvious the way that game was going to go down. Not even Manu could save that game, the Redeem Team pretty much dominated that game for 3 quarters, and dominated the world in the tournament.

Now, about that title, the Redeem Team. I think that is a decent title. I think that because this team had to do a few things. They had to not only redeem the dominance of American hoops, but also the image of American hoops.

Now, I am not going to sit here and say that everyone on this team is a boy scout or anything, because clearly Melo and CP3 are no such things (you may find Paul a strange name for me to mention, but frankly, my NBA loyalties are too great, and I quite simply hate Chris Paul). However, this team handled themselves very well in Bejing by every report, and they won the right way. They wanted to play Argentina, they wanted to play Spain, they wanted to dominate the teams that had a chance to beat them. They didn't want to win the gold by default, by some team like China pulling of a miracle against one of these teams. They wanted to beat the best, and they did, as a matter of fact, they dominated the best the world had to offer. And for that, this team should be very proud.

But on another note, people have begun to post things about comparing this team to the Dream Team. Stop. Just stop. This team would be blown out of the water by the Dream Team. Frankly, you don't even have to get into deep analysis here. One of those teams had Michael in his prime, the other doesn't. Pretty much that simple.

For my first post in a while

Please watch this. I am not totally sure that this video needs any prepping, but surely this dude should have thought this through a little better, no?

Ron Artest?

Yeah, umm...this required a post from out of my quiet summer. The Rockets' have made a deal to acquire Ron Artest from the Sacremento Kings, in exchange for Bobby Jackson, some rookie, and next years number one pick, as well as some cash.

First of all, let's just throw this out there. That is a gutsy and interesting move by Daryl Morey. Totally took me by surprise, no doubt about that. I would have figured there were teams in the Ron Artest sweepstakes, would not have figured the Rockets' to be one of them! But I digest. (Yes, I know it is digress).

I love Ron Artest on the basketball court! I really do. And I know that he loves Rick Adelman. So, from that point of view, this seems like a nice deal. And if all goes to plan, this really puts the Rockets' in a pretty good position. Doesn't quite put them with the Lakers, but puts them right there with the Spurs and the Hornets as far as the West goes.

But let's just think about this a second. Chances are HIGHLY likely this will not go to plan. Ron Artest just adds another player with the problem that our other 2 alleged "stars" have. He can't stay on the court. Only once since the 03-04 season has Artest managed to appear in more than 57 games. In that time, he has missed an average of 41 games a season. Now, I do realize that one of those seasons included an almost season long suspension, and that is not the same as an injury. However, when you are talking Ron Artest, you never know just how close you are to an outburt causing a season long suspension! So he has missed half a season each season for the last 6 seasons.

That is a lot of money to invest in someone who misses that much playing time. Let's just throw some numbers out there. This is a guy who has played 13 seasons, and this is a sample of his games played: 27, 28, 55, 7, 16, 40, 56, 57. That is 8 of those 13 seasons right there. That is a whole bunch of games missed. Now add that to Yao and T-Mac's propensities to get hurt all the time, and you start to question this deal. A number 1 pick for a guy who misses half of the season on average for the last 6 seasons? Not to mention, I was hoping the Rockets' would dump T-Mac this off season. The guy is not a winner, plain and simple. I will not call him a loser...well, yes I will, the opposite of a winner is a loser. And the guy has never won jack taco. He's a loser.

On the face, I think this seems like a possibly great deal. But when it is considered how much time the 3 stars of the Houston Rockets' miss, I don't think this deal will have any effect. The Rockets' still can't get out of the first round with T-Mac. Although, this could be his best shot.

"And here we...go."

Ok. So obviously, it has been a while since anyone has heard from me. But that's ok. School has been out, and I pretty much use this blog as an outlet for the use of my time during class. But "The Dark Knight" has now come out, so it was time to come out of hiding.

Just to note...a full report on TDK will come later, but I have been thinking about this certain line (the one above), for a few hours now, and just reflecting on it.

Such a simple line. Delivered...perfectly. It is delivered at an incredibly important moment in the movie. The Joker has put a great deal of explosives on 2 boats, and given the detonators to the people on the other boat, with the instruction, blow them up, or they blow you up. And if neither of those things were to happen, he would blow them both up.

Now, one of the boats was filled with convicts, the other with innocent civilians, but neither was willing to take all those lives. However, the Joker thought they would. So he is sitting over Batman, waiting for it to happen, and just utters those magical words. "And here we...go." The delivery was just incredible, but what happened next makes those words even more magical. Nothing. The look in the Joker's eyes, a look of defeat almost. Total surprise that the people of Gotham would not stoop to his level to save their own asses.

If you have seen the movie already, try to think about that line. Picture it in your head. The delivery, and then what happened next. I had to see the movie a second time before I really appreciated it, but now...Wow. Just magical.

Why the Derby is STUPID!

Read this headline...this is seriously the headline...

"Favorite Big Brown dusts field; runner-up Eight Belles euthanized"

I am sorry, that is just not ok. This is just not right, it's like someone just said, hey, what are you up to today? I don't know, I was thinking about taking that beautiful animal over there, strapping a saddle on its back and then riding it, and making it go faster than he is capable of going. Oh really, how are you going to manage that? Well, I am going to take this whip and whip him in the ass until he goes faster and faster. So fast in fact, that he breaks all his ankles and can't be saved. He will be so bad in fact, that he has to be euthanized in front of 175000 people. It will be great, wanna come? You know it! Well bring your funny hat!

That seriously pains me to even put that picture up there. This stupider than Nascar. At least in Nascar the only animal hurt is an idiot human who volunteered to take left turns for a living.

2nd Round Picks...well, most of them

So the Celtics can't beat the Hawks...whatever. It actually won't change my pick for the next round whether they do or not, but it might change the number of games I pick them in.

So let's just go with the ones we know.

West Semi 1

Lakers(1) v. Jazz (5)

Frankly, the Lakers are just too good for the Jazz. I really believe in all my heart that the west comes down to the Lakers or Spurs. And with news that Kobe is in fact the MVP of the league, I think he will play with an extra bounce in his step. I am going to go with the Lakers in 5. They take both home games to start, then take one game in Utah, and close it out in LA. But all the games will be fun, I just think the Lakers are too good in the end.

West Semi 2

Hornets (2) v. Spurs (3)

This should actually be kinda fun. Experience versus youth, Tony versus Paul, all sorts of good stuff going on. But here, unlike in the first round against Phoenix, I actually think the Spurs are the better team. Not to mention, more experienced. But do not be fooled. The Hornets are an incredible basketball team, I just think the Spurs window is not quite closed yet. I think the Spurs take game 1 in NO, then take both in San Antonio next weekend, and close it out in 6 back in San Antonio. GO SPURS GO!

East Semi 2

Pistons (2) v. Magic (3)

Now...I am not really sure what to say about the Magic, because I didn't watch any of their first round games, because they were all on NBAtv, which I find funny! But none-the-less, they are an incredible team with a great big man. But I think the Pistons have figured out that teams are not just going to give it to them, and that their window is even smaller than the Spurs, even if not as small as the Suns. The Pistons bounce back and get the Magic in 5 or 6. I will take 6.

'Iron Man' not terrible

So I did in fact go see Iron Man, mostly because I was secretly hoping that the new Dark Knight trailer would preceed it, and it did, more on that later, and it really wasn't so bad.

I think the thing I liked the most was the script. I thought it was clever and funny, and pretty fun. It is a movie that never got to dark, and kept everything pretty light, and considering the cast, that was the only thing that would work. Robert Downey, Jr. wasn't so bad, but not really believeable to me as a superhero.

And frankly, I haven't seen Gweneth look this hot in a very long time. I was almost shocked. She was incredibly beautiful throughout the entire film.

But what is with Iron Man as a superhero? One of the reasons I don't particularily like comic movies is that the superheroes are unreal. Like Superman, or Spidey. One of the great things about Batman is that he is just a man. And he just goes out, and beats the crap out of people with his bare hands.

Now, Iron Man is just a man as well. But this suit of his...Although, its perhaps the coolest technology this side of creating dinosaurs, is totally unbelieveable. I think...maybe its not, I am not quite a tech dork. But it seemed unreal.

But anyway, all and all, it was actually a decent movie, and it is for sure worth seeing. But let's not go overboard and call this movie something it isn't. Which is as great as the Dark Knight is going to be.

And while on that topic. The trailer...INCREDIBLE! There was actually one thing that bothered me though. One of the great mysteries of this film is Harvey Dent. Would be become Two-Face in this film? Or the next film? That is one of the things I would have liked to have gone unknown until July 18th. But Nolan did kind of give it away in the new trailer. But I don't care that much...if you thought the last trailer was good...this one is even better!!

The Celtics suck!

I just want to throw this out there. The Hawks, who won only 37 games this season, have won more games in the playoffs than the Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks, and Phoenix Suns COMBINED!!

And if they are somehow able to pull off a stunner in Game 7 (which I think they will), they will have won the same number of games as all those three teams AND the Houston Rockets. That is pretty incredible stuff right there!

So even if the Celtics pull this thing off on Sunday afternoon, it will just be because they have a home game, but when playing the Lebrons, it will not be easy at home either. Lebron is going to go into Boston and take Game 1, assuming that is who he is playing. So the Celtics have finally been outed as the team they really are. A bunch of over paid, over hyped losers who can not win a dang thing.