|
Throwing it All Away
October 17th, 2009
Even though the cover date of this is October 17th (when I first started writing this entry) there was no possible way I could actually finish it before the Yankee game ended. Who knew the game would go until after 1am? The Yankees hold a commanding 2-0 lead heading into Anaheim and both games show that the Yankees can win in pretty much any way. They blew out the Angels in the first game (well as close as a blowout can be in the postseason) and CC was just dominant. Game 2 was just insane. I mean, A-Rod hitting a THIRD game-tying HR late in a ballgame this post-season. I don't know what's going on but this guy isn't choking anymore. Sure he hit a pop-up with the bases loaded two innings later, but he wouldn't have been in that situation if he didn't unload on Fuentes in the bottom of the 10th.
The game was a mess. 5 errors in the game, possibly because of the conditions, and it was appropriate the game ended on an error. The Yankees took advantage of a bad throw by Izturis (and some fumbling on Chone Figgins' part) to score the winning run in the bottom of the 13th. I knew this would be a closely fought series and the Angels proved that tonight but there is a thought in my mind saying, will the Yankees even lose? They have a fire in their eyes I haven't seen since 2001. This was an impressive Yankees win and going into Anaheim they hold all the momentum. Oh, and that phantom call (the neighborhood play) was one I thought was ridiculous, even as a Yankees fan. I think the officiating was rather week this game for some reason. Whatever, Let's Go Yankees!
In all my excitement I forgot that today is the customary Graphic Novel review. This week's offering is Marvel Masterworks: The Human Torch Volume 1. This was a cool book chroncling the silver age Torch in Strange Tales. There's some fun stuff in there. I've been able to keep these comic trade reviews going and I have a ton in store for you in the coming weeks. If only I could pick up the DVD reviews!
Who Watches the Watchmen?
October 18th, 2009
Short answer: I did! Yes, I reviewed the Watchmen DVD and I have it all ready for your reading pleasure at my website archives. Of course I always get the special edition discs and this would be the extended version of the film. Check out the review to see what I thought about the adaption of one of the greatest graphic novels of all time.
I don't have too much else to write about right now. I need to watch a few more matches on WWEClassics.com before they post the new content. If I fall behind it usually means I cannot catch up so I have 40 minutes to kill before bed dedicated to those reviews.
In sports news the NFL Giants were embarrassed on the field and the Jets lost another heartbreaker. Luckily I don't really care about football and so when I was listening to the games on the radio (I was out today) I wasn't too concerned. All I care about are my fantasy teams and the players that play on them. I'm down about 6 points now with two guys going tomorrow (but my opponent is running Tomlinson so I don't foresee a win) so we'll see. That's about it. I have a FULL WEEK of school next week after having about three weeks in a row of 4 days and less of teaching. Yikes! Well, Heroes and Animation Domination reviews should be up tomorrow. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
TV Round-Up - 10/18/09 & 10/19/09
October 19th, 2009
The Cleveland Show 10/11/09
Episode 4: Birth of a Salesmen
Cleveland is down because he doesn’t have a job, which Cleveland Jr. happily points out after Cleveland takes some jabs at his weight. Cleveland does get a job with a cable company in its sales division thanks to Tim (the bear). Cleveland immediately outclasses Tim and Tim prays to have something bad befall Cleveland. And something does. Cleveland is out drinking with Tim and an old friend who happens to work with Cleveland and when they get into an accident with drinking involved, Cleveland takes the blame. See, he’s saving his friend to repay him for a similar incident years ago. In the end, Cleveland keeps his job by bribing his gay boss, Tim is repentant and all is good. The b-story features Cleveland Jr. keeping his parent’s divorce bottled up so Braulo and Roberta (I figured out her name!) call him fat to make him cry. The b-story wasn’t really resolved that well which is why this gets a lower rating, but it was a solid show overall and I like how Cleveland seems to be taking the same route as American Dad in its storytelling. B+.
Family Guy was a repeat already and I just have no idea why. Is that a bad sign? The episode they did show (Three Kings) was one that I think was just as good as it was when I watched it last season.
American Dad 10/18/09
Episode 4: “Brains, Brains and Automobiles”
The episode title didn’t really go with the episode. Anyway, this was a weird one. Steve and Hayley go away from the summer (and that’s all we see of Hayley this episode) and Stan is worried that Francine will realize that he’s boring and will leave him, similar to what happened to a co-worker. Stan does have an ace in the hole – Roger. Unfortunately Roger overhears Stan making fun of him and he proves to Stan he can be on his own and move out. So Stan is alone with Francine and he tries his hardest to bring Roger back by repeatedly poisoning him. The episode starts grinding to a conclusion as Roger, Stan and Francine take trips through their minds using a device we saw earlier in the episode and I thought that this episode wasn’t as tight, story-wise, as they usually are. The writer’s really struggled to end this one. The b-story of Steve trying to get boxers so he won’t be branded a nerd was amusing but not enough to carry the show. This is troubling; American Dad is off to a bad start. C.
Heroes 10/19/09
Episode 6: Tabula Rasa
Sylar is in the carnival and he goes on a spiritual walk in the mirror room where he learns of his murderous past. He confronts the police officer (Ernie Hudson) that is after him and he is killed by the speedster (Ray Park’s character). Sylar is then installed as a new member of the group in a weird ceremony. Hiro is slowly wilting away and Peter puts him in the hospital he works at. There he meets Emma and he figures that his mission in life is to help Emma with her powers. Hiro actually mentions Charlie (from Season 1) which is a cool nod to fans of the show. Meanwhile, Peter goes to HRG for help in finding a healer for Hiro. They find one, thanks to HRG’s old files, but he’s not in control of his power, killing everything he touches. Peter and HRG try to help him but he’s a little unhinged and fires on the two of them. Peter freezes time (having borrowed Hiro’s powers earlier in the show) but he sees that the bullet has already gone through him and we see the freeze frame of the blood leaving the exit wound. That was pretty cool. Anyway, HRG convinces the kid, Jeremy that he can heal Peter and he does. Peter returns to Hiro to find him gone with a note on his bed: Save Charlie. The new and improved Heroes is working well, focusing only on a few characters at a time and seemingly running on an alternating schedule of who to focus on. This is my favorite of the seasons’ since season 1.
WWE Superstars 06/15/91
October 22nd, 2009
It's Thursday and you know what that means! It is time for the WWE Superstars review. This is the June 15th, 1991 edition of the show. It's actually featured a match I have already reviewed, too.
In other news, the Yankees and CC Sabathia dominated the Angels in Game 4, 10-1, to take a 3-1 series lead, though Yankees fans are not comfortable. We still remember the epic collapse from 2004. As of right now, the Angels are winning 7-6 in the bottom of the eighth so we'll see if this series goes back to the Bronx or not. I do think the Yankees will take the whole series regardless of what happens in this game. My other team, the Rangers, lost to the Devils tonight and that is never fun to watch. Sigh. I guess we'll see how the sports scene looks on Saturday.
A Quick Sunday Update
October 25th, 2009
First, I completely forgot to post the Trade review yesterday so here it is today: Marvel 70th Anniversary Collection. It's a really cool concept by Marvel to celebrate it's big birthday and I hope they release follow-up volumes, too.
Second, no DVD review this week because I just didn't have time to set it up. I do have a WWE DVD review done and I should finish Superman/Batman Public Enemies by the end of the week so you should get two the next two weeks.
Finally, the Yankees are playing as we speak with Rivera giving up a run in the 8th inning to make it 3-2. As you can see, I shouldn't be on the computer at all, I should be watching the game!
I'll see you tomorrow for the Heroes review (no Animation Domination this week, folks!)
Heroes 10/26/09
October 28th, 2009
Well, no Animation Domination this weekend so it was only Heroes. Of course, I couldn't post this on Monday because I was doing the Fantasy Basketball draft. I don't know anything about the NBA but I had the #1 pick and Lebron was an easy choice.
Heroes 10/26/09
Episode 6: Strange Attractors
Claire does the Previously on Heroes. Is that a first for her? We have a very interesting opening scene (Matt making love to his wife and Sylar takes over halfway through). Parkman deals with Sylar in his brain, and even tells Janice to leave. So Parkman tries to drink Sylar out of him, but that just managed to get Sylar in control. We head to HRG seeing Jeremy getting locked up due to events of previous episodes and he calls Traci to help free him. Traci tries calling in a favor from a friend when she encounters Simon, who brings her to the carnival. Simon offers a place for Jeremy at the carnival and Traci seriously considers. However, Jeremy kills another guy and he’s taken back to prison but one of the cops brings him down out back and has him dragged by a car. Claire and her roommate talk about the whole kissing thing until they get kidnapped (and Claire accidentally fights back!) and brought to a slaughterhouse for their sorority’s hell week. Gretchen and Claire share more of themselves (like that Gretch is a lesbian and Claire is a virgin) and we get the episode title from Gretchen, relating that she and Claire are like Strange Attractor’s in Chemistry. As usual, Heroes ends with a bang, this time with Simon tearing down the police headquarters in response to what happened to Jeremy. I really like the Parkman/Sylar stuff, I’m finally getting into Simon and those characters, and this is actually a Claire story I don’t mind.
|
