Movie Time: Running Scared

Say hello to the next Cult Classic.

$3 million dollars. That is how much money Running Scared made it's opening weekend in the theatre, and you know what? It's a cryin shame. Running Scared is one of the most enjoyable movie experiences that I've had in a long, long time. This movie is unapologetically, violent, fast, and at times it's even a little genius. That's not to say that it's doesn't have any plot holes or mistakes, because it does, but Writer/Director Wayne Cramer does do something that a lot of movies lately don't, and that's take some chances.

On the surface the story seems pretty normal. Paul Walker plays a mobster who was supposed to dispose of a gun used to kill a cop, the gun is stolen, and he has to track it down before he and his family are killed. That's the official synopsis, but it doesn't even scratch the surface of what this movie really is. Not much can actually be said about the plot because it would ruin the entire movie, which is sad because the official synopsis makes the story sound pretty standard. From the first scene this movie grabs you and pulls you in, beats you into submission and spits you back out with a smile on your face. The cinematography in this movie is awesome. Lot's of handheld and point of view shots, but one of the biggest surprises for me in the film was the acting. Paul Walker is generally known for making pretty bad movies, but he is excellent in this one, and I don't even think he says "bro" a single time. The movie also has two child actors who are ridiculous(in a good way). They go through things in this movie that no child should ever have to and yet they still come off as believable, no bad kid acting here. There is one particularly contrived yet way creepy scene in the middle of Running Scared where you will see what I'm talking about with these kids. It will haunt you forever, I promise. I won't give anything away though, the surprise of this scene is the best part. I want to say so much more about the plot of this movie but it's hard to say anything without ruining it, but I can say that this movie is much more that what it appears to be on the surface. To sum it up: Brutal action, crazy story, solid acting. This movie earns every last bit of it's R rating.

Running Scared will not win any oscars, but it will entertain the pants off of you. I just hope more than $3 million dollars worth of people see this movie on the big screen, because it's a sight to see.

8.5/10

LOST: One of Them

One of them was a Sayid-Centric Episode that told the story of how he became a torturer. The flashbacks themselves were really well acted and put an interesting spin on why events during the gulf war shaped the person that he ultimately became. Naveen Andrews should win some Emmy's thats for sure, he is one of the best actors on this show and it really shined in this particular episode.

Like all flashbacks on Lost, they run parrallel to the events happening on the island.The flashback has Sayid and his comrades being captured by the US military and interogatted. Sayid's commander has some valuable information but wont speak, so they force Sayid to torture him for the information. On the Island, Danielle (the french lady) finds a strange man and traps him. She brings Sayid to the man and tells Sayid that he is an "other". After Danielle shoots the stranger with an arrow when he tries to escape (which was pretty funny) Sayid takes him back to the hatch. Jack fixes him up and they all begin to question were he came from. Sayid and Locke don't trust him entirely, and Sayid says there is only one way to find out the truth. Sayid convinces Locke to change the combination to the armory so they can lock the man inside. Once they do, Sayid locks himself in there with the man to begin the "questioning". The man says his name is Henry Gale and that him and his wife crashed on the island while they were riding a hot-air baloon across the world. (It's interesting to note that one of Dorothy's Uncle's in the Wizard of Oz was named Henry Gale). Henry says that his wife died and he had to bury her. It's at that point that Sayid snaps and begins to beat the crap out of Henry. Jack hears the commotion in the armory and demands that Locke opens the door. Locke wont, so Jack pins him up against the wall. Just then alarm sounds for the button to be pressed. Jack wont let him go until he opens the door. Locke opens it, but by the time he is entering the number into the computer the clock reaches zero. This was the climax of this episode for sure. Once the clock reached zero the numbers turned into symbols. There has been a lot of speculation as to what the pictures meant. Some people think that they are heiroglyphics, but I think they are symbols representing other stations (hatches) on the island. It also sounded like a machine was starting up, which leads me to also believe that the pictures were that activation of all the stations. We just havent seen the consequences yet.

After all that, Jack pulled Sayid out of the armory, and while he does so Henry gives Sayid a sinister look that at least suggests Sayid was right in thinking he's an other. I definately do. Then they cut back to the flashback where Sayid is dropped off in the middle of the desert by the FBI agent Inman. Inman tells him that he will be able to use his new foud torturing skills one day to get someone to tell him the truth, which nicely intertwines the two running stories of Sayid in this episode.

Overall another solid episode. It's hard to find a bad one this season to be honest. I was glad to see Sayid back as a predominant character, but they did a good job still making his character emotionally detached due to Shannon's death. The Lost writer's never cease to amaze me. It's a rerun this week, but the show will be back on March first with what looks like another doozy of an episode. That one will be called "Maternity Leave" and it's Claire-centric. Should be sweet.

PIcture of The Week: Stop or my Vice-President will shoot.

Now that the media mega storm on this story is starting to pass I thought I might make a few comments on the Dick Cheney/Harry Whittington/Quailtard situation.

I do honestly believe that it was an accident, but I also beleive the "media" were completely justified in their scrutiny. Cheney is one of the most secretive leaders in this countries history, and when something like this happens, people are going to ask questions. Especially with the entire way it was handled.

If Cheney's people had come out right away and made a statement and a police reoprt had been filed then I dont think the hellstorm around this story would have gotten so big. What got alot of people going was the secrecy in which this was handled with and the seemingly total lack of police action. I'm not saying that charges should have been filed, because if Whittington didn't want to press charges then that point is kind of mute. But if I accidently shot a friend of mine, and there had been any traces of alcohol, no matter how much, then that would have a least been looked in to. So I can understand what people got so angry about, but I also recognize that this really shouldn't be that big of a story. I think more people should be paying attention to things Cheney has done wrong that really matter, like authorizing the identity leak of a CIA operative. People should also be paying attention to the deal the Bush Adminstration is trying to make with the United Arab Emerates for the sale of U.S ports. Republicans and Democrats are upset about the deal. Which in my opinion is a lot more of a news story than Cheney gunning down a senior citizen.

In conclusion, It think this was an accident for sure, but in no way do I feel "sorry" for Dick Cheney. Although I'm sure it's easy to mistake a 78 year old man for a quail. I do it all the time. I mean c'mon, the resemblance is uncanny.

LOST: The Long Con

I know that I'm a little late with this episode review, but hey, at least I'm doing it before the next new episode airs..

Next to Man of Science Man of Faith, and Orientation, the Long Con was the best episode of season 2. To begin with it was the first Sawyer centric episode of the season, and in my opinion, Sawyer is one of the most intruiging characters on the show, as are his flashbacks. By the end of this episode you really understand why Sawyer is the way he is, especially towards the people that he cares about. There is direct parrelles between the character Cassidy in the flashbacks and Kate on the island and it's cool to see their stories play out side by side. On top of that this episode threw a mondo sized wrench into the ways we percieved a few of the main characters on the show (Charlie,Jack, Locke, Sayer). The turn of Charlie at the end of the episode was truly surprising and should provide some good television later down the line, especially when Jin finds out. Sawyer's turn at the end was unexpected but not out of his character and I wouldn't be surprised if he is back to his friendly form by the end of this season or the begining of the next one. All it will take is something happening to Kate and Sawyer will be passing out the guns, because like Cassidy in the flashbacks, Sawyer loves Kate, and I don't think he will make the same mistake twice.

That's about all I have to say for this episode. The next one is a Sayid -centric episode titled, One of Them. I'll be a little more on time for that one. But until then.....

What I've been listening to...

One of the most pleasant surprises I have had so far this year has to be some of the new albums that I've had the pleasure of listening to, and a couple old ones that I have rediscovered. It's only a handful of albums really, but to tell you the truth I can only handle a couple at a time. I just thought I would share them with whoever reads this, and hopefully this music might brighten your day as well (plus I can't sleep :)


The Format: Interventions and Lullabies
This is one of those older albums that I have re-discovered as of late. I never fully appreciated these guys the first time around, but I'm not making the same mistake twice. Their music has kind of a poppy-bluegrass-country sound and their lyrics are pretty much genius. The music itself is really upbeat, and if they don't get you with "The First Single" then they will with "Give it up".

Action-Action: An Army of Shapes Between Wars
The cool thing about this band is that they all play the standard rock band instruments (guitar,bass,drums) but each one of them also plays a keyboard or a synthesizer at the same time. Which is insane. You have to see them live to believe it. This cd itself is really good, it makes you want to dance , nod your head, and sometimes go to sleep because it can drag at times. Overall it's a solid cd though, plus they are pretty nice people, so that's a plus.

The Strokes: First Impressions of Earth
I wasn't into the Strokes at all before this CD. In fact I nearly didn't like them at all. I always thought their music was monotonous and I didn't like how every song sounded muffled. I couldn't even pretend to not like this CD though. They really have grown as a band,the muffle is gone, and besides that it's a really solid rock cd. Those are an endangered species in today's world, so I'll take em when I can get em.

Yellow Card: Lights and Sounds
I was surprised by this cd, very surprised. Mostly because I had heard from so many people that it was awful. Before I passed judgment I gave it a listen because I loved "One for the Kids""the Underdog ep", and "Ocean Avenue" wasn't terrible by any means, and what do you know this album wasn't terrible either. It's not the best album I have ever heard,or even Yellow Card's best, but there are some good songs on here. I think a lot of people are giving this cd a bad rap before they even hear it, which isn't fair if you ask me. If you don't like it that's one thing, but don't lie about it.

Jack Johnson and Friends: Curious George:Songs and Lullabies
If I had to pick my favorite cd of the year so far it would be this one. Which is crazy because it's a soundtrack for a children's movie, but on the other hand it's also an amazing cd. I have to be honest, I never really listened to that much Jack Johnson before, but this cd makes me want to go out and buy all of his old stuff. This album is just so laid back and is guaranteed to put you in a good mood. If it doesn't then I'm pretty sure you have no soul (ginger kids!) Seriously though, even the songs geared towards children (sharing, 3 R's) sound great and are laced with smooth melodies and guitar. This the album that I would recommend the most out of all of these.

Well that's what I'm listening to, I hope you enjoy them if you get around to giving any of them a listen.

LOST: Fire + Water

I know it's been a week or so since this episode was on but I figured I would still share my thoughts on it before the next new episode airs.

The was the first Charlie-centric episode of season 2, and I must say it was pretty darn good. Especially since the Charlie episodes from season one were probably some of my least favorite. I think the difference this time was the fact that they focused more on Charlie's personal traits than simply all of the times that he screwed up in his life (i.e heroin, stealing). Granted that those flashbacks are paired with him screwing up on the island, but at least you know that he means well.

The flashbacks went into more detail about Charlie and his brother Liam, and how Liam really was responsible for Charlie's downfall in life, yet Charlie always defended him and tried to help him. It also made it clear that Charlie had never had a stable family and that is why he cares so much for Claire and Aaron on the island, because he sees them as family.I really think that Charlie's dreams of protecting Aaron are foreshadowing for later events in the season, I have no idea how that might play out, but I seriously doubt they would just make Charlie go insane.The way Locke developed during this episode also brings up a few questions about his character as well. Why does he care about Aaron so Much? Why did he keep the statues?, and Why is he taking control of the guns? A few smaller side stories are starting to play out as well. The Hurley-Libby thing should be interesting, I think there is more to her character than it seems. The Ana Lucia -Jack thing is movin forward a little bit too. I just hope the show doesn't get to bogged down in romantic relationship angles, they are too easy, and I think the writers of Lost are too good to be overusing romance.

I also really like the way that Lost is finally starting to put to rest the complaint about how most of the characters on the show never seem to talk to one another about things. There were many occasions during this episode that people were talking about things that they would have no knowledge of unless someone had told them about it. For example, Charlie mentions that no one thinks Kate is crazy because she saw a horse in the woods. Charlie wasn't there when that happened so that means he talked to someone about it. Then there was the end of last weeks episode where Jack meeting to Ana Lucia that he knew she was a cop. So the characters obviously communicate. I think the complaint that they don't seem too is kind of funny, because if they fleshed every single conversation out on camera then the show would never progress. People are already complaining about the pace of the show, that would make the pace even slower. So use your imaginations people. We don't need to see everything.

I thought this was a really good episode. It moved forward a lot of story, and overall was just an aesthetically pleasing episode (the dream sequences were awesome). So I am definitely looking forward to the next new episode, The Long Con, which is Sawyer-centric. Until then.....

The NFL Outsider: Super Bowl XL

I must be honest. I am very bitter about this Super Bowl. The teams I picked to be here are not, and on top of that I am a Panthers fan. Nonetheless, there is still a game being played, and people do care about it, so I guess I'll make a pick in this game as well. Just to be fair. So here goes.

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Seattle Seahawks

Both of these teams deserve to be in this game. They both beat really good football teams to get here. There are no technicallties that fans can use as as excuse (cough*"tuck rule*cough). So this should be a very good game. Pittsburg's defense is on fire. Porter is jacked up, and despite a tweaked ankle ,Polamalu and his hair are ready to go as well. The Steeler O is palying just as well as the Defense. Just look at the AFC Championship for that evidence. On the other hand, Matt Hasselback did have a near QB-Godlike performance against Carolina, whose defense was fourth in the league this season. Toss in Alexander, who is running like it's a contract year (oh wait, it is). I know it's a cop out statement but this game could go either way (because every game goes either way) but it's especially true for this match up. Usually in every Super Bowl there is a clear cut favorite to win it, but this time there are two teams that are about as evenly matched as possible. The biggest upset in this game would be if it turned out to be a bad game. I guess anything will be better than the snorefest that was last years game.

I am going to go with the Steelers in this one, I want Bettis to get his ring.

Pittsburgh 34, Seattle 27