I am starting to do a better job at making my Xbox 360 more than just a glorified, fancy DVD player. I went out last Friday to the local Game stop and purchased Assassin's Creed II. As usual I did my research prior to buying (the game had been out for about 3 months) and I can say that I am not disappointed. The game is really cool and I got it at a bargain price ($29.99). Before I begin a pseudo-review, I will state that I have only played for about 6 hours, barely scratching the surface of the game.
The basic story is you play a present aged man who has ancestry in Italy during the time of the Templars. Well a new company has created a way to go into a machine and have you sync up to memories of your ancestors. You play as them, and then go through their life to uncover the rivalry between the Templars and the assassins. It is a pretty cool concept, though can be rather confusing. The main theme is easy to follow (your father was wrongly hanged and you are out to avenge his death), but a lot of the dialogue is in Italian and they all have medieval Italian names. If I come across another Francesco, I'm going to throw the controller through a window.
First thing that will grab you is the visuals. And not just how vivid they are, but how well the landscapes and colors flow together. The cities you inhabit are open-air and fantastic, you run and pounce and fly through the cities with ease. I really haven't enjoyed an open world environment this much since my first foray into the genre with Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.
Controls can be wonky at times, but are real easy to pick up and not too difficult to get used to. Voice acting is solid, and soundtrack is really good. One of my favorite parts in any game is the ambient noise of your environment. This game has it covered in droves. Other civilians hold conversations, birds caw, wind blows, and guards discuss troublemakers.
And lastly, there is the violence, which is over the top, but still enjoyable. Maybe I'm strange, but it never gets old to leap from a rooftop, land between two guards, and then knife them both in the neck through and through.
It is a game I am just getting into, but so far I am blown away. Much more fun and user friendly than it's predecessor. It gets the Zach vote of confidence.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
Big Monday....
I voted for our current President, and am pretty excited about the health care legislation. The way I see it, the new stuff will not affect 99% of those who are already insured. What it does do is give those who are unemployed or just not covered, a different opportunity than approaching an insurance company. They can go with the government option. There are critics to everything and right now all Democrats are getting killed over the decision. People call them socialists. I call it understanding. Everyone deserves the chance to see a doctor, and they will still be paying. This is another step in making the playing field equal for everyone. And on a side note, if we did not have public education in our country and a President proposed the idea of creating learning institutions, I seriously think a lot of people would call that person a Socialist because they want everyone to have an opportunity to learn. See how ridiculous that sounds.
In the throes of March Madness, and my bracket is in tatters. I had 7 of the sweet sixteen picked correctly. SEVEN! That's 44% correct. Truly atrocious, and yet I am still optimistic, because I have 5 elite eight, 3 final four, and my national champion still left. In all my years of filling out a bracket (about 14 years or so) I have never had under 10 teams right in the sweet sixteen. And with all my wisdom this year, I got 7. Wow. And the really scary part? I still have a chance to win the pool I am in. That's why I love this tournament.
Booked my flight today to Dallas in May. Gonna stay with an old college buddy who has relocated there and catch some inter league baseball action. Cubs are in town taking on the Rangers, and I couldn't be more excited. A weekend of catching up and catching baseball in Texas weather. Average temperature in Dallas in May = 72.8. Yar betcha.
And lastly, I bring to you the ridiculousness that is ticket prices for comedians of note. Sure you can see up and comers for relatively cheap, but Minneapolis is having their fair share of headliners come this way, and it is crazy cash. I wanted to check out Joel McHale from The Soup and Community, but tickets are near $50 a head. Saw that Chelsea Handler is going to be here in April. Was intrigued and thought I could take the girl on a date night, so I pulled it up and tickets start at $69. And the coup de gra is Conan O'Brien. Coming to the Orpheum Theater in July, tickets started at $109. Who can afford this nonsense? Granted those are big stars, but pretty expensive in my book. I want to know how much of that they see. For what amounts to a 60 or 75 minutes performance, that is a lot of green.
In the throes of March Madness, and my bracket is in tatters. I had 7 of the sweet sixteen picked correctly. SEVEN! That's 44% correct. Truly atrocious, and yet I am still optimistic, because I have 5 elite eight, 3 final four, and my national champion still left. In all my years of filling out a bracket (about 14 years or so) I have never had under 10 teams right in the sweet sixteen. And with all my wisdom this year, I got 7. Wow. And the really scary part? I still have a chance to win the pool I am in. That's why I love this tournament.
Booked my flight today to Dallas in May. Gonna stay with an old college buddy who has relocated there and catch some inter league baseball action. Cubs are in town taking on the Rangers, and I couldn't be more excited. A weekend of catching up and catching baseball in Texas weather. Average temperature in Dallas in May = 72.8. Yar betcha.
And lastly, I bring to you the ridiculousness that is ticket prices for comedians of note. Sure you can see up and comers for relatively cheap, but Minneapolis is having their fair share of headliners come this way, and it is crazy cash. I wanted to check out Joel McHale from The Soup and Community, but tickets are near $50 a head. Saw that Chelsea Handler is going to be here in April. Was intrigued and thought I could take the girl on a date night, so I pulled it up and tickets start at $69. And the coup de gra is Conan O'Brien. Coming to the Orpheum Theater in July, tickets started at $109. Who can afford this nonsense? Granted those are big stars, but pretty expensive in my book. I want to know how much of that they see. For what amounts to a 60 or 75 minutes performance, that is a lot of green.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
A Little Vandross on a Thursday Morning.....
As usual, very excited for the NCAA tournament to begin. Absolutely wide open field and anyone (okay more like 10 teams) can win the tourney. As much as I like the tournament, it is a bit of a buzz kill to have to work on the opening Thursday and Friday. College was by far the best time for NCAA tournaments. It was literally a couple of Thursdays that I would not do anything but basketball. Which reminds me of my favorite NCAA year: 2005. Let's take a trip in the way back time machine and reminisce.
The year was 2005 and Zach was a wide-eyed freshman at UW-Whitewater. Not truly wide-eyed because it was second semester and by that point I realized how much work was required to excel at school. The answer was not a great amount, which worked out well for the impending tournament. Illinois was the #1 team in the land at 32-1 and the number one seed in the tourney. As a fan I selected them to go to the title game against North Carolina, and my bracket was crisp.
The first Thursday I had a class at 8:50 with the one and only Brian Lucas. I had thoughts of not going and prepping for the games that started at 11:15. Yet, I went to class, because I knew I would be awake, and if I stayed in I would drive myself crazy for two hours. Went to class, which was not very eventful, but after everything I had discussions with the Blues Man about the radio station and basketball. We chatted and at 10:30 I was out the door, and headed back to my dorm. After returning I searched for other people who were around and one of my buddies was sitting in his room watching a little ESPN pregame. We noticed that the first game of the day was UW-Milwaukee against Alabama, a classic 12/5 match up. We went downstairs, got a little pizza from Drumlin (YUP!), came back upstairs and it was on.
When the ball is tipped on that first game, a little magic happens. Being a great basketball mind, and a Wisconsin resident, I knew that UW-M had something special that year and a chance to do real damage. It was true, and they blitzed Alabama to head to the second round. I don't remember much else about the day, except it was about 11 hours of constant basketball, and during the afternoon break (4p-7p) everyone gathered to play poker. It was a fantastic day.
The weeks and games passed, and then came spring break. I had no where to go, but did head home and was accompanied with basketball. By this time Illinois was in a regional final with Arizona. It is quite possibly the best game of any kind I have watched that I had an actual rooting interest in. Illinois erased a 15 point deficit in the final 4 minutes, and eventually won in overtime. I picked 3/4 of the Final Four correctly in my bracket. I was in first place in both of my basketball pools. All being told, I was in line to pull down about $1,200 from a $30 investment. Not too shabby.
Fast forward one week, and I am back at school, staying in on a Saturday to watch Illinois/Louisville ball. Illinois crushed them to advance, and North Carolina followed suit. I had them in the title game, and lead both of my pools. I did some recon with those who ran the pools and it was simple. About 10 guys in each one had picked North Carolina to win. I was the only one who had Illinois, and also had a shot to win. So it was that easy. An Illinois W, and I don't have to worry about cash for a little while.
Well Illinois lost and Zach was very sad, more so about the team than the bracket immortality. North Carolina wins a lot and it would have been Illinois's first title. They finished the year 37-2, and have earned the moniker of the best team this decade to not win a title.
Nonetheless it was a whirlwind of a tournament. Great highs and lows. Exactly what the tournament should be. What does this year have in store for us? I won't be able to watch those first games, but you can bet I will be home at 5:30, TV on, and bracket in front of me.
The year was 2005 and Zach was a wide-eyed freshman at UW-Whitewater. Not truly wide-eyed because it was second semester and by that point I realized how much work was required to excel at school. The answer was not a great amount, which worked out well for the impending tournament. Illinois was the #1 team in the land at 32-1 and the number one seed in the tourney. As a fan I selected them to go to the title game against North Carolina, and my bracket was crisp.
The first Thursday I had a class at 8:50 with the one and only Brian Lucas. I had thoughts of not going and prepping for the games that started at 11:15. Yet, I went to class, because I knew I would be awake, and if I stayed in I would drive myself crazy for two hours. Went to class, which was not very eventful, but after everything I had discussions with the Blues Man about the radio station and basketball. We chatted and at 10:30 I was out the door, and headed back to my dorm. After returning I searched for other people who were around and one of my buddies was sitting in his room watching a little ESPN pregame. We noticed that the first game of the day was UW-Milwaukee against Alabama, a classic 12/5 match up. We went downstairs, got a little pizza from Drumlin (YUP!), came back upstairs and it was on.
When the ball is tipped on that first game, a little magic happens. Being a great basketball mind, and a Wisconsin resident, I knew that UW-M had something special that year and a chance to do real damage. It was true, and they blitzed Alabama to head to the second round. I don't remember much else about the day, except it was about 11 hours of constant basketball, and during the afternoon break (4p-7p) everyone gathered to play poker. It was a fantastic day.
The weeks and games passed, and then came spring break. I had no where to go, but did head home and was accompanied with basketball. By this time Illinois was in a regional final with Arizona. It is quite possibly the best game of any kind I have watched that I had an actual rooting interest in. Illinois erased a 15 point deficit in the final 4 minutes, and eventually won in overtime. I picked 3/4 of the Final Four correctly in my bracket. I was in first place in both of my basketball pools. All being told, I was in line to pull down about $1,200 from a $30 investment. Not too shabby.
Fast forward one week, and I am back at school, staying in on a Saturday to watch Illinois/Louisville ball. Illinois crushed them to advance, and North Carolina followed suit. I had them in the title game, and lead both of my pools. I did some recon with those who ran the pools and it was simple. About 10 guys in each one had picked North Carolina to win. I was the only one who had Illinois, and also had a shot to win. So it was that easy. An Illinois W, and I don't have to worry about cash for a little while.
Well Illinois lost and Zach was very sad, more so about the team than the bracket immortality. North Carolina wins a lot and it would have been Illinois's first title. They finished the year 37-2, and have earned the moniker of the best team this decade to not win a title.
Nonetheless it was a whirlwind of a tournament. Great highs and lows. Exactly what the tournament should be. What does this year have in store for us? I won't be able to watch those first games, but you can bet I will be home at 5:30, TV on, and bracket in front of me.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Weekend Movie....
Went to the local cinema and caught Alice in Wonderland in 3D on Saturday. It was basically what I expected, which is a hard thing to do from the mind of Tim Burton. It was weird, eccentric, and somewhat Gothic. At times it was strikingly brilliant. And at other times it felt ordinary and disinterested. Just one man's opinion. I did enjoy the movie, and it had my full attention for two hours. And then Avril Lavigne started screeching a song during the end credits, and I couldn't have gotten out of the place faster. I'm a guy who stays well into the credits of every movie. Check out the names, let everyone else filter out, just slowly cap off my movie viewing experience. But the sound of Lavigne's bellowing was so heinous I ran out of the theater as though a chicken breast was taped to my ass and I was being looked at by a disheveled alligator.
Johnny Depp needs to go back to regular roles. The guy is a fantastic actor, and yes he has made a career playing the strange roles. But seriously it has to end. He clearly was having a lot of fun in Alice, and why wouldn't he. His best friend is directing and they pretty much just let each other do as they please. But he couldn't make up his mind on whether the Mad Hatter was a gay Scotsman, or an angry, English tailor. I just want Depp to go back to normal roles. Anyone every seen Donnie Brasco with Pacino? Or even Public Enemies was at least watchable because Depp played a normal guy. I'm sick of weird accents and spoonfuls of makeup. His performance in Alice just solidified my thought that if Depp gets cast in the third Batman flick as The Riddler, I will strongly consider not seeing it in theaters.
Not to sound uppity, but we went to a theater in St. Louis Park, and they have VIP seating. Now that's not a big big deal, but the theater was set-up as if we were in medieval times. The VIP's were above us surfs, and there was, and I shit you not, at least a 10 foot high wall between the two of us. I know it is hard to visually see, but the sight was astonishing. Why yes lets visit the cinema this eve, have a few spirits, and possible throw our popcorn at the peasants. I love watching them scrounge for their food on a Saturday.
And lastly, because I went to the theater to view a PG-rated movie (no idea when the last time I did that) we saw mainly awful previews. And the icing on the cake, or in this case, diarrhea in the toilet, was Furry Vengeance. Here is the synopsis from IMDB:
In the Oregon wilderness, a real-estate developer's (Brendan Fraser) new housing subdivision faces a unique group of protesters, local woodland creatures who don't want their home disturbed.
Wow. I sat with my mouth open, and had to hold my chin so it would not hit the floor. In the trailer Brendan Fraser was subjected to getting pooped on by birds, getting skunked by a pack of skunks, and getting stuck in a port-o-potty, then having said port-o-potty tipped over by a herd of deer. The worst part of this all, people were actually laughing at the trailer. Not that I try to be high and mighty, but you have to be god damn kidding me about this movie. I would rather suck on an AIDS soaked corn cob while getting defiled by a rabid wolverine then ever have to view this movie.
Johnny Depp needs to go back to regular roles. The guy is a fantastic actor, and yes he has made a career playing the strange roles. But seriously it has to end. He clearly was having a lot of fun in Alice, and why wouldn't he. His best friend is directing and they pretty much just let each other do as they please. But he couldn't make up his mind on whether the Mad Hatter was a gay Scotsman, or an angry, English tailor. I just want Depp to go back to normal roles. Anyone every seen Donnie Brasco with Pacino? Or even Public Enemies was at least watchable because Depp played a normal guy. I'm sick of weird accents and spoonfuls of makeup. His performance in Alice just solidified my thought that if Depp gets cast in the third Batman flick as The Riddler, I will strongly consider not seeing it in theaters.
Not to sound uppity, but we went to a theater in St. Louis Park, and they have VIP seating. Now that's not a big big deal, but the theater was set-up as if we were in medieval times. The VIP's were above us surfs, and there was, and I shit you not, at least a 10 foot high wall between the two of us. I know it is hard to visually see, but the sight was astonishing. Why yes lets visit the cinema this eve, have a few spirits, and possible throw our popcorn at the peasants. I love watching them scrounge for their food on a Saturday.
And lastly, because I went to the theater to view a PG-rated movie (no idea when the last time I did that) we saw mainly awful previews. And the icing on the cake, or in this case, diarrhea in the toilet, was Furry Vengeance. Here is the synopsis from IMDB:
In the Oregon wilderness, a real-estate developer's (Brendan Fraser) new housing subdivision faces a unique group of protesters, local woodland creatures who don't want their home disturbed.
Wow. I sat with my mouth open, and had to hold my chin so it would not hit the floor. In the trailer Brendan Fraser was subjected to getting pooped on by birds, getting skunked by a pack of skunks, and getting stuck in a port-o-potty, then having said port-o-potty tipped over by a herd of deer. The worst part of this all, people were actually laughing at the trailer. Not that I try to be high and mighty, but you have to be god damn kidding me about this movie. I would rather suck on an AIDS soaked corn cob while getting defiled by a rabid wolverine then ever have to view this movie.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Sunday, Sunday, Sunday....
Watched the bulk of the Oscars last night and all really went as I assumed it would. All the acting winners had won just about everything leading up to that point. Kinda makes me wish there was only a couple of awards shows, because the drama is completely lost. I really had no horse in the race because I hadn't seen any of the movies the actors were nominated for. Though congrats to Jeff Bridges, who can't go 12 seconds with calling a dude "man."
The Hurt Locker destroyed Avatar, because Hollywood is full of yuppies. I threw The Hurt Locker into my queue for netflix to see what all the fuss is about. If it is a good movie then I have no problem with it winning. But I see a direct correlation between the two movies as if it were an MVP race in sports. The Hurt Locker is most likely the better movie, and should win the Most Outstanding Movie. Avatar was the most integral part of movies this year and will probably be remembered longer, making it the Most Valuable Movie. Either way I kind of have an issue because in 10 years no one will remember The Hurt Locker. But when 1 out of every 2 movies made is motion-captured, we will remember Avatar being that trailblazer. Reminds me of 1998, when Shakespeare in Love won the award over Saving Private Ryan. 12 years later which movie do you remember more vividly?
Congrats to Kathryn Bigelow for winning best director. It is overdue for a woman to win. Yet, I have a soft spot in my heart for Tarantino, and sadly think he has a Scorsese-like fate in his future. In about 15 years after being nominated 3 more times, he will finally win for a movie that is inferior to his previous works. But that is hardly his fault that he peaked so early. Also find it hard to believe there was a movie that went back and forth between English, Italian, German, and French as much as Inglorious Basterds did this year. So how that doesn't win best screenplay I will never know.
And lastly, people who produce the actual awards show, make it entertaining. This is not 1947, I the casual viewer, do not need a musical number to open the show. Even if said number involves NPH. We are not trying to inspire national pride, we are giving out awards for movies. If I needed to find pride in my country, I would go to my local grocery store and start racially profiling people. You think you are sneaking those strawberries under your turban? Not on my watch! Also, the actors from Twilight and Miley Cyrus do not belong at the awards. I realize you want to bring in the younger viewers, but seriously those people could not attract flies if they were wearing horse-shit covered overalls.
The Hurt Locker destroyed Avatar, because Hollywood is full of yuppies. I threw The Hurt Locker into my queue for netflix to see what all the fuss is about. If it is a good movie then I have no problem with it winning. But I see a direct correlation between the two movies as if it were an MVP race in sports. The Hurt Locker is most likely the better movie, and should win the Most Outstanding Movie. Avatar was the most integral part of movies this year and will probably be remembered longer, making it the Most Valuable Movie. Either way I kind of have an issue because in 10 years no one will remember The Hurt Locker. But when 1 out of every 2 movies made is motion-captured, we will remember Avatar being that trailblazer. Reminds me of 1998, when Shakespeare in Love won the award over Saving Private Ryan. 12 years later which movie do you remember more vividly?
Congrats to Kathryn Bigelow for winning best director. It is overdue for a woman to win. Yet, I have a soft spot in my heart for Tarantino, and sadly think he has a Scorsese-like fate in his future. In about 15 years after being nominated 3 more times, he will finally win for a movie that is inferior to his previous works. But that is hardly his fault that he peaked so early. Also find it hard to believe there was a movie that went back and forth between English, Italian, German, and French as much as Inglorious Basterds did this year. So how that doesn't win best screenplay I will never know.
And lastly, people who produce the actual awards show, make it entertaining. This is not 1947, I the casual viewer, do not need a musical number to open the show. Even if said number involves NPH. We are not trying to inspire national pride, we are giving out awards for movies. If I needed to find pride in my country, I would go to my local grocery store and start racially profiling people. You think you are sneaking those strawberries under your turban? Not on my watch! Also, the actors from Twilight and Miley Cyrus do not belong at the awards. I realize you want to bring in the younger viewers, but seriously those people could not attract flies if they were wearing horse-shit covered overalls.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Well, what do we have here....
What we have here is the Chicago Bears making waves in free agency. At a time where I usually focus on baseball and the jamokes playing in Arizona, I am focusing on Halas Halls and the doings for the Winter. The NFL free agency period is about 16 hours old and the bears have already signed three guys. I break them down here, because those other sites are for nancies.
Brandon Manumaleuna-
Zach's Take
Holy freaking god that is a long name. One can only hope they re-sign Pisa Tinoisamoa so they can corner the "Hawaiian-born players with too many vowels in their last name market." As a player he gets a dismissive wanking motion. He will not catch more than 5 passes this year as a tight end, but he is 300 pounds and essentially a second tackle on which ever side he lines up on. He will be there to help pass protect, and hopefully this means Greg Olsen can be a monster mismatch in the slot on both line backers and defensive backs.
Zach's Grade
C+, based on the fact it gives Mike Martz the man he wanted, and anything to appease that crazy mofo is a plus
Chester Taylor-
Zach's Take
Signs a 4 year-$12.5 million deal to platoon at running back. Possibly the best RB find in the entire free agency pool. He is an aging 31, but still plenty of tread on the tires because he was WAY underutilized in the Viking's scheme the past few seasons. Good at picking up the blitz and even better at catching passes out of the backfield. Next step is for Cutler to actually figure out how to throw a pass into the flat.
Zach's Grade
A, based on the fact I am a big fan of the two back system, and Taylor is a clear upgrade over the other RB's, especially when it comes to third-down play. Also, in my opinion, $7 million guaranteed for a running back is a real-good deal.
Julius Peppers-
Zach's Take
It is a big move, that is for sure. The guy can flat-out rush the passer. The only downfalls are age (by the end of his deal he will be 36) and the well-known fact he takes plays off. He can be a force up front, and putting him on a line with Tommie Harris and Alex Brown is a big time upgrade for the Bears. Should make the defense better as a whole, and give them a better pass-rush than years past.
Zach's Grade
B+, a whole lot of money and commitment are a bit unnerving, but as a whole, real good signing here.
The team still needs to address issues at safety (everyone they have blows) and offensive line (everyone they have is old and blows). But, I am excited for the Bears season, and it makes the NFC North, much more interesting.
Brandon Manumaleuna-
Zach's Take
Holy freaking god that is a long name. One can only hope they re-sign Pisa Tinoisamoa so they can corner the "Hawaiian-born players with too many vowels in their last name market." As a player he gets a dismissive wanking motion. He will not catch more than 5 passes this year as a tight end, but he is 300 pounds and essentially a second tackle on which ever side he lines up on. He will be there to help pass protect, and hopefully this means Greg Olsen can be a monster mismatch in the slot on both line backers and defensive backs.
Zach's Grade
C+, based on the fact it gives Mike Martz the man he wanted, and anything to appease that crazy mofo is a plus
Chester Taylor-
Zach's Take
Signs a 4 year-$12.5 million deal to platoon at running back. Possibly the best RB find in the entire free agency pool. He is an aging 31, but still plenty of tread on the tires because he was WAY underutilized in the Viking's scheme the past few seasons. Good at picking up the blitz and even better at catching passes out of the backfield. Next step is for Cutler to actually figure out how to throw a pass into the flat.
Zach's Grade
A, based on the fact I am a big fan of the two back system, and Taylor is a clear upgrade over the other RB's, especially when it comes to third-down play. Also, in my opinion, $7 million guaranteed for a running back is a real-good deal.
Julius Peppers-
Zach's Take
It is a big move, that is for sure. The guy can flat-out rush the passer. The only downfalls are age (by the end of his deal he will be 36) and the well-known fact he takes plays off. He can be a force up front, and putting him on a line with Tommie Harris and Alex Brown is a big time upgrade for the Bears. Should make the defense better as a whole, and give them a better pass-rush than years past.
Zach's Grade
B+, a whole lot of money and commitment are a bit unnerving, but as a whole, real good signing here.
The team still needs to address issues at safety (everyone they have blows) and offensive line (everyone they have is old and blows). But, I am excited for the Bears season, and it makes the NFC North, much more interesting.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Whatever you Like....
A little grab bag of thoughts for you to wrap up the weekend.
Went to the movies and saw Shutter Island Saturday afternoon. I enjoyed the show, despite the movie getting marginal reviews. Most of those reviews talked about how the movie was not in-line with Scorcese's other work and not his strongest outing. Well, it is hard to put up unbelievable award-winning movies every single time. Even his movies of late that received less fan-fare (The Aviator, Gangs of New York) were pretty damn good. So I find that standard ridiculous. Leo is impressive as usual, Kingsley rocks as a creepy dude, and Mark Ruffalo is solid. Seriously, when is Ruffalo going to get his own starring vehicle. Guy brings it in every movie I have ever seen him in. Twist at the end is somewhat predictable, especially with the way the movie progressed. Visuals were unbelievable and I would have to think the cinematography will be up for some awards. Only thing I have a problem with is that the story works better as a novel, and not a film. But I don't really enjoy reading too much, so I give that a pass as well. Overall it gets an 8. Not a classic, but definitely entertaining and worth going to the theater to see.
Olympics wrapped up yesterday and Canada gets the last laugh beating the U.S. in hawkey. Anyone who knows anything about sports saw this coming. And if you seriously thought the Americans were going to win, you are delusional. Same thing happens to Soccer fans when the U.S. has a good run and grabs some upsets. We think we actually know what we are doing and have the best players in that sport. False. Seriously Americans, let's be happy with basketball and football. We are the best in those and that will not change anytime soon.
I can't talk enough about how much I am loving sushi these days. After partaking at different restaurants and trying different rolls, Spicy yellow tail is my favorite. Just enough kick to get you going, but not so much that you don't enjoy eating it. And congrats to Sushi Tango in Uptown for making the strongest rum and coke I have ever had at a restaurant. Not the strongest I've ever had though, Denny K's in Whitewater will forever hold that title. I'm not even sure it was rum at Denny's. It might have been paint thinner.
Lastly, baseball season is just around the corner and it is that time of year for my head to fill with dreams and false hope. Of course I think the Cubs will do well, but this is probably their last shot with this current roster. They are an aging team, and the window is open just a crack. I will have much more on the state of the Cubs and baseball for that matter in some upcoming posts. I'm sure I will touch on my new found team, the Twins, and how you are allowed to root for a single team in each league. But don't you worry Cubs, you are always my first choice when I need a broken heart or donkey punch....
Went to the movies and saw Shutter Island Saturday afternoon. I enjoyed the show, despite the movie getting marginal reviews. Most of those reviews talked about how the movie was not in-line with Scorcese's other work and not his strongest outing. Well, it is hard to put up unbelievable award-winning movies every single time. Even his movies of late that received less fan-fare (The Aviator, Gangs of New York) were pretty damn good. So I find that standard ridiculous. Leo is impressive as usual, Kingsley rocks as a creepy dude, and Mark Ruffalo is solid. Seriously, when is Ruffalo going to get his own starring vehicle. Guy brings it in every movie I have ever seen him in. Twist at the end is somewhat predictable, especially with the way the movie progressed. Visuals were unbelievable and I would have to think the cinematography will be up for some awards. Only thing I have a problem with is that the story works better as a novel, and not a film. But I don't really enjoy reading too much, so I give that a pass as well. Overall it gets an 8. Not a classic, but definitely entertaining and worth going to the theater to see.
Olympics wrapped up yesterday and Canada gets the last laugh beating the U.S. in hawkey. Anyone who knows anything about sports saw this coming. And if you seriously thought the Americans were going to win, you are delusional. Same thing happens to Soccer fans when the U.S. has a good run and grabs some upsets. We think we actually know what we are doing and have the best players in that sport. False. Seriously Americans, let's be happy with basketball and football. We are the best in those and that will not change anytime soon.
I can't talk enough about how much I am loving sushi these days. After partaking at different restaurants and trying different rolls, Spicy yellow tail is my favorite. Just enough kick to get you going, but not so much that you don't enjoy eating it. And congrats to Sushi Tango in Uptown for making the strongest rum and coke I have ever had at a restaurant. Not the strongest I've ever had though, Denny K's in Whitewater will forever hold that title. I'm not even sure it was rum at Denny's. It might have been paint thinner.
Lastly, baseball season is just around the corner and it is that time of year for my head to fill with dreams and false hope. Of course I think the Cubs will do well, but this is probably their last shot with this current roster. They are an aging team, and the window is open just a crack. I will have much more on the state of the Cubs and baseball for that matter in some upcoming posts. I'm sure I will touch on my new found team, the Twins, and how you are allowed to root for a single team in each league. But don't you worry Cubs, you are always my first choice when I need a broken heart or donkey punch....
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