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April 19th, 2008
Ghostbusters II
Well, you had to know that since Ghostbusters was posted last week, the follow up was not going to be far behind. Ghostbusters II is one of those movies I have really fond memories of as a kid and I really wanted to see if it held up well 2 decades later. Read the review to find out. Anyway, I am still not done with Futurama Vol. 4. I hope to have it done by the end of this weekend but with so much work and school, it is very hard. I have only 4 DVD's left to review after that but luckily a $25 Best Buy card and $25 Amazon card make it a snap to get some more DVD's soon, and the ones I really have my eye on is the New Frontier one. I can't end this
without the usual, Let's Go Rangers!
April 20th, 2008
Game 5: Rangers 5 Devils 3
I am sorry this is late but I didn't see the need to rush it as the other series' are still going on and I had time. Plus, due to my agreeing to chaperone my school dance, I didn't actually get to see it live, but I did listen to it on the radio. My thoughts on the game? I am too damn happy to put into words. I love when the Rangers advance in the playoffs but it is even better when it is against the Devils. I don't think there is a team I despise as much as them. Anyway, it was an exciting game and a more exciting series than I thought. The Rangers were just dominant in the third period and that is what killed the Devils. Both teams scored more than I thought but the Rangers just were better. Lundqvist simply outplayed Brodeur, who made what seemed like a ton of errors and let in some easy goals. Lundqvist was good when it mattered, especially stoning Madden in the third period of Game 5 while the Rangers held onto a one goal lead. Gomez burned his old team, Jagr was strong, and Staal and Dubinsky played great in their rookie campaign. Sean Avery got all the headlines for his move in Game 3 and Brodeur repaid him by not shaking his hand. Avery had the line of the night saying that, "I guess the fatso just forgot." Gotta love Avery (but only if he's on your team). The Rangers were just better this year, Lundqvist played better. Theoretically, looking ahead to the next round, if Boston can pull off a surprise playoff upset and if Philly holds on, the Rangers will have home-ice advantage in the second round. I will be back probably on Tuesday with my round 1 thoughts and round 2 predictions. As usual, LET'S GO RANGERS!
April 24th, 2008
NHL Playoffs - Second Round
Well, I went 6 for 8 in the first round. The big surprise for me was Montreal needing all seven games to beat Boston. I did predict 7 games for Caps/Flyers and I was right on that, too. Overall, with three game 7's this was one of the best first rounds in recent memory. Interestingly enough, the 1, 2, 5 and 7 seeds advanced in both conferences. Here are my second round playoff predictions:
Western Conference
-No. 1 Detroit vs. No. 7Colorado- I saw this and had visions of their late 90's rivalry. Those were some of the most fierce games in the playoffs during that era. Unfortunately, I think that time has passed. Colorado is much different than they were with a slight drop in goaltending ability. The Red Wings are about the same, being one of the best most consistent teams the past decade. I see Detroit coming out early, winning all three of their home games, and finishing off the Avs in 6. Detroit will make it to another Conference Finals.
-No 2. San Jose vs. No. 6 Dallas- Dallas pulled off a bit of an upset knocking off the Ducks and they will have that momentum carrying over against the Sharks. The Sharks have become a bit of chokers in the playoffs lately and they will be looking to rid themselves of that tag. I foresee Thornton stepping up and taking control of this and finally putting the Sharks into the Conference Finals in 5 games. It was a nice run for Dalls but I don't see them matching up. The Sharks need to stay focused and the playoff victory over Calgary, especially with how they played in Game 7, will help.
Eastern Conference
-No. 1 Montreal vs. No. 7 Philadelphia- I think this will be one of the most physical series this round. Philly and Montreal both went the distance so fatigue will not factor into the early games. I don't know if Price is ready to be an elite goalie but the Flyers are notorious for their goaltending woes. This will come down to Briere. If he can play well and score some points like he did against the Caps, it is over for the Canadiens. I just don't see the Flyers outlasting one of the best power play teams we've seen in the new NHL. Montreal takes this in 6.
-No. 2 Pittsburgh vs. No. 6 New York Rangers- This is one of the most anticipated series in a long time. The young guns of Pittsburge battling a division foe in the Rangers, with one of the greatest Penguins ever on their roster. The Rangers have the playoff experience, the Pens have the youth. This will come down to the goaltenders. Whoever plays best, Fleury or Lundqvist, will decide the series. If it goes 6 the Rangers will win, if not Pens in 7. This is tough for me as a Ranger fan to pick. The Rangers had success against the Pens this season (winning 5 of 3) and if Avery can get under the Pens skin and make them lose focus (like he did to the Thrashers last year) it will be well but I think the Pens are too good for that. I have decided, Rangers in 6 as they win Games 1, 3, 4, and 6. Jagr will shine and the Rangers will make it to the Conference Finals for the first time since 1997.
There you have it. Let's see in a week how I do!
Let's Go Rangers!
April 25th, 2008
Game 1: Penguins 5 Rangers 4
This was a tale of two games. The Rangers dominated the first 25 minutes, staking themselves to a three-goal lead off goals by Straka (on the PP), Drury (which seemed to be hit with a high stick but video was inconclusive) and Avery. The Pens looked down but managed two quick goals in 14 seconds (from Ruutu off of Roszival's skate) and Dupuis from the circle. The Rangers managed to keep them down until the start of the third. I thought the NYR were in good shape since they destroyed the Devils in the third period but this was not the same team. The Rangers frequently looked lost and the Pens struck again, with two goals in 20 seconds to take a 4-3 lead. The first was a bad angle goal by Hossa that Lundqvist wants back and then a Sykora goal off a beautiful two on one into the empty net. The Rangers looked really down. They had no momentum and were just falling all over the place (literally). Gomez would even the score off a feed behind the net from Jagr and give the Rangers some life but a Straka penalty on Crosby gave the Pens a power play with under three minutes left and the Pens would make them pay. Crosby blasted a shot from the point that Malkin deflected to give the Pens a 5-4 lead that would hold up. The Pens won game 1 in front of a frenzied Mellon Arena.
I could sit here and complain about the call on Crosby and say that it was just incidental conduct but truth be told, the ref's didn't decide this one. The NYR could've had some calls but the Pens could've, too. The ref's may have given the Pens the final PP but the Rangers shouldn't have let it get that close. Bottom line, if you give up a 3-0 lead in the playoffs you don't deserve to win. The Pens just outclassed the Rangers in the last half of the game and this could be their year. If I were to give three stars it would look like this: #3: Jagr (2 assists), #2 Sykora (1G) and #1 Crosby (2 assists). I hope the outcome will be different in Game 2 but the Pens look strong and Lundqvist needs to play better if the Rangers want to win.
Let's Go Rangers!
April 26th, 2008
The Truth About Cats and Dogs
I had heard about this movie but I had never seen it, or really had any desire to see it to be honest, but my wife wanted it after we saved up enough General Mills Cereal UPCs and we sent in and got this one for free. It is what it is, basically, and you can read the review to The Truth About Cats and Dogs by clicking on the title. I really don't have much else to write. I have one review left before I run out of material which worries me since I am still working on Futurama Vol. 4. It usually doesn't take me a month to do a review but this is low on my to-do list compared to work, school and TPL. Let's Go Rangers!
April 27th, 2008
Game 2: Penguins 2 Rangers 0
You know, I am really glad I don't write these immediately after the game, since being a Rangers fan, I am usually extremely upset. I watched the third period of this game at the gym as well and it helps, since I can't curst at the screen like I normally do. Of course, when I watch it live I make a million excuses as to why the NYR lost, either the referees blew some calls, or some other far-fetched thing. This game I did the same. Of course, looking back an hour or two later I see one fact; The Penguins outplayed the Rangers. That's all there is to it. Fleury outplayed Lundqvist, the young kids on the Pens outplayed the NYR veterans and now the Pens are up 2 games to none with momentum resting on their bench. The Pens really dominated things from the get-go and only the strong play of Lundqvist kept the Rangers in it. Jordan Staal would score on the powerplay right in front of the net on a beautiful goal with about five minutes left in the second and that's all the Pens needed. Throw in an empty net goal and the Pens are in firm control of this series. The Rangers did appear to score late in the third on a powerplay but the goal was waved off when the referee lost sight of the puck. It was a bad break for the Rangers and the goal should've counted since Fleury did not have control of the puck but the Rangers got a lucky break the game before when Drury's goal counted. It happens. The Rangers played well, the Penguins simply played better. The Rangers need to regroup for Game three and really need to win the next two at home to have any chance at winning. The "veteran" presence needs to step up, especially Shanahan who has been non existant this series, and they need to find an answer the Pens amazing power play. I end like I always do, but this time it's only a half-hearted, "Let's Go Rangers."
April 27th, 2008
Family Guy / American Dad 04/27/08
-Family Guy 04/27/08: Former Life of Brian-
This episode deals with Brian looking for true love and finding his old flame, who has turned into a grotesque, obese, mess. She has a child that Brian fathered and Brian goes through being a father to a bratty kid who won't listen. Eventually he gets through to him (after smoking some pot) and when Peter has had enough of Brian acting like a little bitch since he's a father, he brings the woman back to take the son. Brian realizes it is time to let him go. It was a sweet story. There were two parts that stole the show here, Stewie talking to Matthew McConaughay about how much he sucks and Brian listening to Stewie on a baby monitor trying to seduce Brian's son. This was a good episode, probably the best of 2008. A.
-American Dad 04/27/08: Red October Sky-
Stan looks for an old KGB agent but cannot find him, until he moves in next door. The old spy renounces his ways and Stan believes him, until the Russian starts feeding Steve his Communist beliefs to help him win a rocket race. Stan eventually gets Steve back and they build a rocket together. Roger and Klaus travel through Europe in a storyline that wasn't terribly entertaining or fun. Definitely the week episode of the night.
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