I love it when I'm wrong. Looking at the fights that were on the card for this UFC event, I wasn't overly impressed. Some good fighters were on it, but nobody in the top of their division. Still, I stayed up and watch all 3 hours of this event that not only included the fights, but also a look at the Intrepid Heroes Fund, talk of TBI, celebrity endorsements to donate, and a lot of other things to support the cause the event was being held for. In the end, not only was the event successful, it also had some of the most exciting fights I've seen.
A lightweight fight started the event as Matt Wiman took on Jim Miller, who was a late replacement for Frank Edgar. Although Wiman was now a favorite, I had a good feeling about Miller. Plus he's from Jersey, so I had to root for him some. The fight won Fight of the Night honors because of the skill of Miller and the heart of Wiman. Miller ultimately won by decision, and after that I started having a good feeling about the event.
Next was a fight between middleweights Tim Creduer and Nate Loughran. I ended up buying into the hype of Loughran, and I payed for it. Creduer won the two rounds that the fight lasted very easily, and at the end of the second Loughran couldn't continue, so Creduer was awarded the TKO victory. I've learned to never underestimate Creduer ever again.
They then showed former WEC light heavyweight champion Steve Cantwell take on newcomer Razak al-Hassan. Not surprisingly Cantwell was a heavy favorite, and not only did he win easily in the first round, he topped the arm break of Tim Sylvia by Frank Mir from several years ago. Cantwell locked in an armbar, al-Hassan wouldn't tap out, so Cantwell turned his elbow inside out. The ref had no choice. I will also mention that this wasn't the only broken bone of the event. As was on UFC.com today, they showed a fight between lightweights Corey Hill and Dale Hartt. Hill was winning the fight through the first round, but things took a drastic turn in the second. Hill threw a leg kick at Hart, and broke his ankle. It looked like rubber, and was still an amazing thing to see. Sadly Hartt was given a win he didn't want, but both these fights had truly devastating results that made for good entertainment.
Next was a fight between Mike Swick and Jonathan Goulet. Again, Swick was an easy pick for victory in this welterweight fights. And in a matter of 33 seconds he proved us right as he TKO'd Goulet with a barrage of punches that put him out while he was on his knees. Swick has now made a serious move for taking on some top contenders in this weight class.
Before I go on to the main event, after the main card was over they showed another undercard fight between Steve Bruno and Johnny Rees. This was a tough fight to call for anybody, and it was a good fight that both men got into. It was back and forth until Bruno was able to lock in a rear-naked choke that forced Rees to tap out. Bruno gets his first win in the UFC, so now he needs another one.
Then it was the main event welterweight fight between Josh Koscheck and Yoshiyuki Yoshida. This was an interesting matchup because Koscheck was a wrestler, and Yoshida was a grappler. Koshcheck was favored to win, but something slightly unexpected happened. Don't get surprised, Kosheck did win the fight. But instead of it going the distance like most expected, Koshcheck landed a straight right in the first round that knocked Yoshida against the fence, bounced back with his hands down and a pained look on his face, and left himself open to a vicious right hook that knocked him out cold. Simply brutal.
The UFC put on a good show again. And guess what? We get treated to another show this Saturday! It'll be the Ultimate Fighter Finale on Spike TV, featuring many talented fighters seen on the show. Of course you'll hear about it this Sunday. As for my next blog before then, I'll go over the upcoming return of TV shows after the new year. Until then, go find something to entertain you..........I'm clocking out and looking for entertainment for myself.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
A Look At Two-Face
Batman has probably the most well-known rogue's gallery (that's a comic term for list of villains) than any other comic book hero; probably bigger than anyone else's too. He actually has a lot of villains I like over some of the more super-powered ones out there. Bane. Scarecrow. Can't forget about the Joker either. Though these characters are well-known, I've come to respect one of the more intriguing characters that though well-known doesn't seem to be as popular. I'm talking about former attorney Harvey Dent, who after getting acid thrown in his face, turns into the criminal we know as Two-Face.
Probably the one thing that stands out to me is that Two-Face has an interesting modus operandi. Although most villains commit crimes to take over the city, or become filthy rich, or in the case of The Joker just because he can do it, Two-Face wants something else: justice. Now granted he has no problem committing crimes that would be against that, but in the end because he was once an attorney, and wants to see the right thing done. That's part of the split personality disorder he has: one side wants to do good, and the other wants to do bad. But rather than suffer with his two sides arguing against one another, he's found a way to settle it that I think is very creative: a coin toss. With a double-headed coin that he had one side scratched, every decision that involves right or wrong he flips it. Of course, the scarred side means that he'll probably do the wrong thing.
Part of what helps my fancy with this character is that he's a part of my favorite story in the Batman universe: The Long Halloween. The origin of Two-Face is told in this story about a mob family being murdered one by one on holidays on the calendar. The mystery gets deeper, and manages to involve most every major villain that's been a threat to Batman. As for the role of Two-Face, not only do you know where he comes from, but how he operates. And it makes for a great story. In the end, you see both sides of Two-Face in full force.
As for the movies, Two-Face has been portrayed in two of them. In "Batman Forever," he's portrayed by Tommy Lee Jones. Though more of your typical criminal than how he's portrayed in the comics, Jones puts on a great performance in his little speeches about justice, and uses his coin in most every moment there is. A more realistic approach his taken to the version played by Aaron Eckhart in "The Dark Knight." He's given a full origin in the movie (although different from the comics of course), and although his moments as Two-Face aren't as abundant, you get a real feel for why he is who he is. And he still uses the coin.
Harvey Dent/Two-Face is indeed my favorite Batman villain. I hope to read more stories involving just his character, as he seems to have gone from villain to vigilante to hero.......circling between all of these makes his character all the more interesting. I also look to further appreciate this character as I feel he's been well-thought out, even with a simple start in comic books so long ago.
What shall I talk about tomorrow if I get on here? Maybe I'll talk about the television shows I'm looking forward to after the New Year. A lot of my top favorite shows will be starting their newest season, while some will be returning from their break or hiatus from the holidays. Otherwise, Thursday you'll definitely be hearing about the UFC Fight for the Troops event that's on tomorrow night at 9pm on Spike TV. Though featuring some known fighters, nothing high-profile is happening; still, it's MMA, and it's free on TV, and it's an event especially for our troops overseas. It'll be something to watch, no matter how you look at it. Until all this though, you'll have to find your own entertainment while I do the same.......luckily I'm easily entertained.
Probably the one thing that stands out to me is that Two-Face has an interesting modus operandi. Although most villains commit crimes to take over the city, or become filthy rich, or in the case of The Joker just because he can do it, Two-Face wants something else: justice. Now granted he has no problem committing crimes that would be against that, but in the end because he was once an attorney, and wants to see the right thing done. That's part of the split personality disorder he has: one side wants to do good, and the other wants to do bad. But rather than suffer with his two sides arguing against one another, he's found a way to settle it that I think is very creative: a coin toss. With a double-headed coin that he had one side scratched, every decision that involves right or wrong he flips it. Of course, the scarred side means that he'll probably do the wrong thing.
Part of what helps my fancy with this character is that he's a part of my favorite story in the Batman universe: The Long Halloween. The origin of Two-Face is told in this story about a mob family being murdered one by one on holidays on the calendar. The mystery gets deeper, and manages to involve most every major villain that's been a threat to Batman. As for the role of Two-Face, not only do you know where he comes from, but how he operates. And it makes for a great story. In the end, you see both sides of Two-Face in full force.
As for the movies, Two-Face has been portrayed in two of them. In "Batman Forever," he's portrayed by Tommy Lee Jones. Though more of your typical criminal than how he's portrayed in the comics, Jones puts on a great performance in his little speeches about justice, and uses his coin in most every moment there is. A more realistic approach his taken to the version played by Aaron Eckhart in "The Dark Knight." He's given a full origin in the movie (although different from the comics of course), and although his moments as Two-Face aren't as abundant, you get a real feel for why he is who he is. And he still uses the coin.
Harvey Dent/Two-Face is indeed my favorite Batman villain. I hope to read more stories involving just his character, as he seems to have gone from villain to vigilante to hero.......circling between all of these makes his character all the more interesting. I also look to further appreciate this character as I feel he's been well-thought out, even with a simple start in comic books so long ago.
What shall I talk about tomorrow if I get on here? Maybe I'll talk about the television shows I'm looking forward to after the New Year. A lot of my top favorite shows will be starting their newest season, while some will be returning from their break or hiatus from the holidays. Otherwise, Thursday you'll definitely be hearing about the UFC Fight for the Troops event that's on tomorrow night at 9pm on Spike TV. Though featuring some known fighters, nothing high-profile is happening; still, it's MMA, and it's free on TV, and it's an event especially for our troops overseas. It'll be something to watch, no matter how you look at it. Until all this though, you'll have to find your own entertainment while I do the same.......luckily I'm easily entertained.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Giants vs. Eagles and LEGO Batman
What can I say about the NY Giants today? In their game against the Philadelphia Eagles today, they looked like the Giants of old.......and I don't mean that in a good way. I was confident in the Giants, but I also had a bad feeling at the same time. Damn, and I was openly rooting for them in the face of my fellow Pennsylvanians who may or may not have been Eagles fans. Oh well, I guess I paid for it.
The first quarter was a little lackluster. Philadelphia managed a field goal, which didn't bother me too much. The Giants were generally holding them on defense. The offense, however, was a whole other story. Brandon Jacobs was his usual stellar self, but were was the passing game? Boss and Hixon were dropping passes they could've had, and Eli Manning had trouble finding some openings. They looked a little lost out there. The second quarter got worse, as Philadelphia started relying on Westbrook, and he brought them a touchdown without the Giants doing anything to stop him throughout. A small sign of hope came just before the half when the Giants blocked a field goal, and Dockery got a hold of it, and ran back for the touchdown. The score was 10-7.
I thought the Giants would wake up now, and start playing like they've been for most of the season. Instead, Jacobs got injured, and the Giants just couldn't get anywhere. Westbrook continued to run through the defense, and another touchdown and field goal got added to their score. Not much hope left at that point. In the last minute of the game, the Giants got a touchdown, making the score 20-14. Although it was a long shot, the Giants needed an onside kick, and one more touchdown to pull the game out by 1 point. The onside kick failed, and that was the end. I can't say the Eagles won easily, but as far as I saw it, the Giants beat themselves. I can only hope they get it together for the game against the Cowboys next week. While we've pretty much secured a playoff spot, I want to see us with some momentum going in.
Well, on the positive side, I will mention that I am close to finishing the current Playstation 2 video game I am playing, "LEGO Batman." Now, when I discuss the video games I've played, I want to talk about what's good, what's bad, and anything else interesting. Usually I'll wait until I finish the game completely, but I'm close enough with this one. Essentially in the game, you play as Batman and Robin through several levels, taking on some of his well-known villains. The levels take place in Gotham City, with many of its elements, including the characters, made of LEGO blocks that we probably played with as kids. As you play, there are many secrets you can unlock, including extra characters, power-ups to help you in the game, and pieces for building small LEGO structures.
What makes this game different than the Star Wars versions (I haven't played the Indiana Jones version yet, though hopefully Santa will leave that under my Christmas tree this year) is that after you play through the levels as Batman and Robin, you get to play a completely different version of those levels as the villains. This makes for a more expanded game compared to the previous versions. Aside from the special abilities that the various characters possess, this time when you play as Batman and Robin, they carry their own abilities different than anyone else. This alone adds to the gameplay value. Things also change up to because aside from playing as the characters themselves, you have levels where you get to use LEGO versions of their vehicles as well.
The only problems I've really seen with the game is that some of the darker levels hurt the look a little bit, and a good hand full of levels force you to use a few characters constantly. Although you can choose the characters you want to play as, there isn't a lot of variety as far as abilities go. While The Joker, Mr. Freeze, and The Riddler have some cool abilities, you end up using them constantly. A little too much repetition after a while.
Still, I can't take away from the actual fun you have with the game. Although I liked the Star Wars versions a little better, this one stands out as a good game too. Takes you back to playing with those LEGO toys as a kid, and you manage to find some fun while you're at it. Also like the other games, you do get a little committed to finding the extras. It also helps that the game is for 2-players, so you can have fun with your friends even after you're done with it. I never thought I'd get into these LEGO games, but I got caught by surprise.
Well, I think that's enough for now. Since this LEGO Batman game has me thinking about the original comic book, I think tomorrow I'll delve into that a little bit. Should I talk about my favorite Batman storyline, my favorite villain, or my favorite Batman ally? I'll decide that later. For now, it's up to you to find entertainment, while I do the same..........I knew I'd find a quote less dirty than the last one.
The first quarter was a little lackluster. Philadelphia managed a field goal, which didn't bother me too much. The Giants were generally holding them on defense. The offense, however, was a whole other story. Brandon Jacobs was his usual stellar self, but were was the passing game? Boss and Hixon were dropping passes they could've had, and Eli Manning had trouble finding some openings. They looked a little lost out there. The second quarter got worse, as Philadelphia started relying on Westbrook, and he brought them a touchdown without the Giants doing anything to stop him throughout. A small sign of hope came just before the half when the Giants blocked a field goal, and Dockery got a hold of it, and ran back for the touchdown. The score was 10-7.
I thought the Giants would wake up now, and start playing like they've been for most of the season. Instead, Jacobs got injured, and the Giants just couldn't get anywhere. Westbrook continued to run through the defense, and another touchdown and field goal got added to their score. Not much hope left at that point. In the last minute of the game, the Giants got a touchdown, making the score 20-14. Although it was a long shot, the Giants needed an onside kick, and one more touchdown to pull the game out by 1 point. The onside kick failed, and that was the end. I can't say the Eagles won easily, but as far as I saw it, the Giants beat themselves. I can only hope they get it together for the game against the Cowboys next week. While we've pretty much secured a playoff spot, I want to see us with some momentum going in.
Well, on the positive side, I will mention that I am close to finishing the current Playstation 2 video game I am playing, "LEGO Batman." Now, when I discuss the video games I've played, I want to talk about what's good, what's bad, and anything else interesting. Usually I'll wait until I finish the game completely, but I'm close enough with this one. Essentially in the game, you play as Batman and Robin through several levels, taking on some of his well-known villains. The levels take place in Gotham City, with many of its elements, including the characters, made of LEGO blocks that we probably played with as kids. As you play, there are many secrets you can unlock, including extra characters, power-ups to help you in the game, and pieces for building small LEGO structures.
What makes this game different than the Star Wars versions (I haven't played the Indiana Jones version yet, though hopefully Santa will leave that under my Christmas tree this year) is that after you play through the levels as Batman and Robin, you get to play a completely different version of those levels as the villains. This makes for a more expanded game compared to the previous versions. Aside from the special abilities that the various characters possess, this time when you play as Batman and Robin, they carry their own abilities different than anyone else. This alone adds to the gameplay value. Things also change up to because aside from playing as the characters themselves, you have levels where you get to use LEGO versions of their vehicles as well.
The only problems I've really seen with the game is that some of the darker levels hurt the look a little bit, and a good hand full of levels force you to use a few characters constantly. Although you can choose the characters you want to play as, there isn't a lot of variety as far as abilities go. While The Joker, Mr. Freeze, and The Riddler have some cool abilities, you end up using them constantly. A little too much repetition after a while.
Still, I can't take away from the actual fun you have with the game. Although I liked the Star Wars versions a little better, this one stands out as a good game too. Takes you back to playing with those LEGO toys as a kid, and you manage to find some fun while you're at it. Also like the other games, you do get a little committed to finding the extras. It also helps that the game is for 2-players, so you can have fun with your friends even after you're done with it. I never thought I'd get into these LEGO games, but I got caught by surprise.
Well, I think that's enough for now. Since this LEGO Batman game has me thinking about the original comic book, I think tomorrow I'll delve into that a little bit. Should I talk about my favorite Batman storyline, my favorite villain, or my favorite Batman ally? I'll decide that later. For now, it's up to you to find entertainment, while I do the same..........I knew I'd find a quote less dirty than the last one.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
TV For The Week: 11/30 to 12/6
I'm starting to think that with the new content in these blogs, they'll get longer than they previously will. Oh well, can't help it if I have a lot on my mind! Anyways, I thought I'd go over the TV shows I watched this week. How this works is that I'll run through the new episodes of shows I genuinely watch, and just give little blip of what was good to watch and what wasn't. If you'll notice, I'll start with this past Sunday, and work my way to today.
The Simpsons- Any Homer-related episode is fun to watch. Of course I loved the little salute to "24" in it. As usual, I'm never interested in Lisa's story. Still, a decent episode overall.
American Dad- So far this show has actually been better than "Family Guy" this season, but American Dad kept it simple this week. Some good jokes, and most of the cast was included at least. But not a lot of jokes were funny. Not their worst episode, but not their best.
Terminator: The Sarah Conner Chronicles- Great episode for Summer Glau's character. She continues to impress. John Connor has been disappointing this season, but hopefully they'll do something major soon to change him up. I can only hope because as an avid Terminator fan, I want to see this show keep going.
Prison Break- After the best episode of the series last week, they of course had to tone it down a little. At least they did good in setting up how the rest of the season will go. Upset that the character Mahone disappeared during the end, and I hope they still keep him around as he's one of my favorites. The show's still going strong though.
Heroes- Still continues to go downhill. They finally returned the character of Sylar to his roots, but it may be too late, and even that wasn't handled properly. Still tired of Hiro's current angle. Glad to see the Haitian back, and to see some more development of Claire's character. Overall though, the events of the last couple of episodes have been pointless, and hopefully they can turn things around with the showdown they're promising this Monday.
Dirty Jobs- I still can't believe they keep coming up with ideas, and can still be fun to watch. Can't help but enjoy Mike Rowe's wit and humor. Getting more entertaining now that they involve the crew more (last week's episode did that great).
My Name Is Earl- Another general episode with some decent help with a guest character. Not too many laughs though. I'm waiting for the show to have some continueing storylines, and maybe even some major changes to keep it fresh. I used to love this show, but now it's getting absurd.
The Office- Still funny as always. Glad to see they're making things interesting between Jim and Pam. Dwight and Andy continue to get the most laughs. While nothing major, this week was still entertaining. My current favorite comedy for sure.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars- Yes, I watch a kid's cartoon for crying out loud. It's Star Wars, I cant help it. Glad they bring in various Star Wars characters that are known and liked. It was good that Asajj finally got some time since she hasn't been seen much since the movie. The episode was a little more adult too, so for me this ended up being a good episode overall.
The Soup- I'm glad this show catches the funny things we don't catch during the week. This episode was funnier than some of the last ones, and had a funny Clip of the Week involving a male soap opera star's thong sneaking out. Plenty of good clips overall, and some real good jokes about them.
Hulk Hogan's Celebrity Championship Wrestling- The finale for the season came, and Dennis Rodman is the winner. At first I was a little peeved because he had actually wrestled before, and is kind of friends with Hogan. But after watching the matches in this episode, he did deserve to win. Still, the episode itself suffered from some quick cuts in the matches to make them seem better when you know they probably sucked. It's a reality show! Still, I want to see the show come back since they do have something to work with. We'll have to wait and see.
That's it for this week. Next week you'll see most of this same lineup, though I may check out something different here and there. As for tomorrow, you'll see a recap of the Giants/Eagles football game, and maybe I'll throw in a little something extra. Until then, you'll have to entertain yourselves before I entertain you again...........Does that sound dirty?
The Simpsons- Any Homer-related episode is fun to watch. Of course I loved the little salute to "24" in it. As usual, I'm never interested in Lisa's story. Still, a decent episode overall.
American Dad- So far this show has actually been better than "Family Guy" this season, but American Dad kept it simple this week. Some good jokes, and most of the cast was included at least. But not a lot of jokes were funny. Not their worst episode, but not their best.
Terminator: The Sarah Conner Chronicles- Great episode for Summer Glau's character. She continues to impress. John Connor has been disappointing this season, but hopefully they'll do something major soon to change him up. I can only hope because as an avid Terminator fan, I want to see this show keep going.
Prison Break- After the best episode of the series last week, they of course had to tone it down a little. At least they did good in setting up how the rest of the season will go. Upset that the character Mahone disappeared during the end, and I hope they still keep him around as he's one of my favorites. The show's still going strong though.
Heroes- Still continues to go downhill. They finally returned the character of Sylar to his roots, but it may be too late, and even that wasn't handled properly. Still tired of Hiro's current angle. Glad to see the Haitian back, and to see some more development of Claire's character. Overall though, the events of the last couple of episodes have been pointless, and hopefully they can turn things around with the showdown they're promising this Monday.
Dirty Jobs- I still can't believe they keep coming up with ideas, and can still be fun to watch. Can't help but enjoy Mike Rowe's wit and humor. Getting more entertaining now that they involve the crew more (last week's episode did that great).
My Name Is Earl- Another general episode with some decent help with a guest character. Not too many laughs though. I'm waiting for the show to have some continueing storylines, and maybe even some major changes to keep it fresh. I used to love this show, but now it's getting absurd.
The Office- Still funny as always. Glad to see they're making things interesting between Jim and Pam. Dwight and Andy continue to get the most laughs. While nothing major, this week was still entertaining. My current favorite comedy for sure.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars- Yes, I watch a kid's cartoon for crying out loud. It's Star Wars, I cant help it. Glad they bring in various Star Wars characters that are known and liked. It was good that Asajj finally got some time since she hasn't been seen much since the movie. The episode was a little more adult too, so for me this ended up being a good episode overall.
The Soup- I'm glad this show catches the funny things we don't catch during the week. This episode was funnier than some of the last ones, and had a funny Clip of the Week involving a male soap opera star's thong sneaking out. Plenty of good clips overall, and some real good jokes about them.
Hulk Hogan's Celebrity Championship Wrestling- The finale for the season came, and Dennis Rodman is the winner. At first I was a little peeved because he had actually wrestled before, and is kind of friends with Hogan. But after watching the matches in this episode, he did deserve to win. Still, the episode itself suffered from some quick cuts in the matches to make them seem better when you know they probably sucked. It's a reality show! Still, I want to see the show come back since they do have something to work with. We'll have to wait and see.
That's it for this week. Next week you'll see most of this same lineup, though I may check out something different here and there. As for tomorrow, you'll see a recap of the Giants/Eagles football game, and maybe I'll throw in a little something extra. Until then, you'll have to entertain yourselves before I entertain you again...........Does that sound dirty?
Friday, December 5, 2008
WEC: Torres vs. Tapia and The Ultimate Fighter Finals
Wednesday night had 2 somewhat important events in MMA: the latest WEC event on the Versus Channel, or the final two episodes of "The Ultimate Fighter" for the season. Originally I was more interested in watching TUF, but after seeing that it wasn't on until late, I stuck with the WEC event.
I wasn't too enthusiastic about the WEC event since the only fight with promise was the Bantamweight title fight between champion Miguel Torres and Manny Tapia (Even that fight was terribly one sided). The rest of the fights tried to showcase some very promising talent, but proved as no real test for them. I also had a feeling that there wouldn't be anything impressive about any of the fights.
The first fight initially showed some promise as newcomers Joseph Benavidez and Danny Martinez went at it. Benavidez showed some promise with some unique striking you don't see too much (straight kicks to the face, spin kicks....mostly kicks actually), but other than that and a hard hip throw, he didn't dominate very strongly. Martinez didn't fight smart to begin with, throwing one punch at a time hoping for a knockout. Benavidez got the unanimous decision in the end.
Two other bantamweights fought as highly-touted Brian Bowles fought Will Ribeiro. I had a little more faith in Ribeiro, but most were expecting Bowles to get an easy win. This fight ended when Bowles submitted Ribiero with a guillotine.........in the 3rd round. Before that, though Bowles was winning, he wasn't showing why he's one of the top guys, and I wasn't impressed.
The third fight of the event featured the debut of two well-known featherweight fighters: Wagney Fabiano and Akitoshi Tamura. Fabiano was a huge favorite, and expected to put on a great show. Fabiano finished the fight with an arm triangle........but it took until the 3rd round again. This fight was even more boring than the previous one, and Fabiano took down Tamura, and looked for submissions, but all Tamura did was defend constantly, barely putting up a fight. Still, Fabiano looked as if he should've finished this early.
Luckily, the main event title fight was actually exciting. Tapia was a major underdog, and I expected a quick finish from Torres. The first round consisted of Torres out-striking Tapia with the extra six inches of reach he had. Tapia could do nothing. In the second round, Torres knocked down Tapia twice with some hard shots, and then knocked him down a third time, and threw a few unanswered shots that forced the referee to stop the fight in favor of Torres. Impressive as always, I expect Torres to stay the champ for a very long time.
I ended up watching "The Ultimate Fighter" yesterday since I had recorded it, and let me say I was very happy with the results. The last two episodes consisted of the semi-final fights in the lightweight and light heavyweight divisions. First they showed Ryan Bader vs. Elliot Marshall. Bader was initially my pick to win the light heavyweight when the show started, and I was confident we would win this fight. Bader won by unanimous decision by taking down Marshall constantly. Marshall wanted to attempt some jiu-jitsu, but could put up much of a fight. Still Marshall is a promising fighter, and although it wasn't the most exciting, Bader showed that if he can't finish, he'll dominate and grind you out.
Next they showed lightweights Phillipe Nover and George Roop. Nover was my choice for winning the lightweight contract as soon as I saw how impressive he was in his preliminary fight. And he continued to impressive in his fight after that when he knocked down a guy with a strong chin. Again, he ran through Roop easily, charging in and taking him down. Although Roop managed to get on top, Nover worked on a kimura (arm lock) and secured it a few moments latrer, forcing Roop to tap. Very impressive again Mr. Nover. He may be the next big thing at lightweight.
The second episode then kicked of with light heavyweights Krzysztof Soszynski (don't ask me how to pronounce it) and Vinny Magalhaes. Most expected Soszynski to win, but I thought better. I saw Magalhaes getting the submission. Although Soszynski looked good at the start, winning with his striking, Magalhaes did what he did his last fight: picked up the pace towards the end of the round, got it to the ground, and locked in an armbar that Soszynski tapped out to. Soszynski is a good fighter, but needs a ground game.
The last fight was between Efrain Escudero and Junie Browning. For those of you who've seen the show, you know that Junie was not only out of control, but not the greatest fighter either. And most of the viewers, including the other fighters on the show, wanted to see him get beat. Escudero answered our prayers. After a slow first round that Escudero won by getting some better strikes in, Escudero took Junie down in the second, and submitted him with a D'arce choke. Oh what a line-up for the finals we have now.
From that start of this season, I was impressed with a lot of the fighters on the show, more than I was with the last couple of seasons. Now any of the guys in the finals I would be more than happy to see win the UFC contract. However, I do have my favorites picked to win. I expect Bader to win by unanimous decision of Magalhaes much the same way he beat Marshall. Although it's likely that Magalhaes could sneak in a submission, I think Bader could keep him in check. As for the Nover vs. Escudero fight, this one's a little easier to call: Nover should get the win. He's the better striker, and his ground game looks perfect to take on a wrestler like Escudero. Still, these will be some great fights to see. Everyone who was on the show will be fighting on the event (even Browning, unfortunately, who somehow gets his fight televised), but at least it will be a good line-up. Two fights between veteran UFC fighters will occur too, but they'll easily be outshined by the new talent from TUF Season 8.
That's all for today (I know this was a lot, but I don't care because I got it all out). The blog coming up this weekend is a toss-up; aside from the NY Giants/Philidelphia Eagles on Sunday, I would also like to cover the week in television, and we'll see if anything else comes up. When it comes to entertainment, you never know what you'll be entertained by until you see it. See you again soon!
I wasn't too enthusiastic about the WEC event since the only fight with promise was the Bantamweight title fight between champion Miguel Torres and Manny Tapia (Even that fight was terribly one sided). The rest of the fights tried to showcase some very promising talent, but proved as no real test for them. I also had a feeling that there wouldn't be anything impressive about any of the fights.
The first fight initially showed some promise as newcomers Joseph Benavidez and Danny Martinez went at it. Benavidez showed some promise with some unique striking you don't see too much (straight kicks to the face, spin kicks....mostly kicks actually), but other than that and a hard hip throw, he didn't dominate very strongly. Martinez didn't fight smart to begin with, throwing one punch at a time hoping for a knockout. Benavidez got the unanimous decision in the end.
Two other bantamweights fought as highly-touted Brian Bowles fought Will Ribeiro. I had a little more faith in Ribeiro, but most were expecting Bowles to get an easy win. This fight ended when Bowles submitted Ribiero with a guillotine.........in the 3rd round. Before that, though Bowles was winning, he wasn't showing why he's one of the top guys, and I wasn't impressed.
The third fight of the event featured the debut of two well-known featherweight fighters: Wagney Fabiano and Akitoshi Tamura. Fabiano was a huge favorite, and expected to put on a great show. Fabiano finished the fight with an arm triangle........but it took until the 3rd round again. This fight was even more boring than the previous one, and Fabiano took down Tamura, and looked for submissions, but all Tamura did was defend constantly, barely putting up a fight. Still, Fabiano looked as if he should've finished this early.
Luckily, the main event title fight was actually exciting. Tapia was a major underdog, and I expected a quick finish from Torres. The first round consisted of Torres out-striking Tapia with the extra six inches of reach he had. Tapia could do nothing. In the second round, Torres knocked down Tapia twice with some hard shots, and then knocked him down a third time, and threw a few unanswered shots that forced the referee to stop the fight in favor of Torres. Impressive as always, I expect Torres to stay the champ for a very long time.
I ended up watching "The Ultimate Fighter" yesterday since I had recorded it, and let me say I was very happy with the results. The last two episodes consisted of the semi-final fights in the lightweight and light heavyweight divisions. First they showed Ryan Bader vs. Elliot Marshall. Bader was initially my pick to win the light heavyweight when the show started, and I was confident we would win this fight. Bader won by unanimous decision by taking down Marshall constantly. Marshall wanted to attempt some jiu-jitsu, but could put up much of a fight. Still Marshall is a promising fighter, and although it wasn't the most exciting, Bader showed that if he can't finish, he'll dominate and grind you out.
Next they showed lightweights Phillipe Nover and George Roop. Nover was my choice for winning the lightweight contract as soon as I saw how impressive he was in his preliminary fight. And he continued to impressive in his fight after that when he knocked down a guy with a strong chin. Again, he ran through Roop easily, charging in and taking him down. Although Roop managed to get on top, Nover worked on a kimura (arm lock) and secured it a few moments latrer, forcing Roop to tap. Very impressive again Mr. Nover. He may be the next big thing at lightweight.
The second episode then kicked of with light heavyweights Krzysztof Soszynski (don't ask me how to pronounce it) and Vinny Magalhaes. Most expected Soszynski to win, but I thought better. I saw Magalhaes getting the submission. Although Soszynski looked good at the start, winning with his striking, Magalhaes did what he did his last fight: picked up the pace towards the end of the round, got it to the ground, and locked in an armbar that Soszynski tapped out to. Soszynski is a good fighter, but needs a ground game.
The last fight was between Efrain Escudero and Junie Browning. For those of you who've seen the show, you know that Junie was not only out of control, but not the greatest fighter either. And most of the viewers, including the other fighters on the show, wanted to see him get beat. Escudero answered our prayers. After a slow first round that Escudero won by getting some better strikes in, Escudero took Junie down in the second, and submitted him with a D'arce choke. Oh what a line-up for the finals we have now.
From that start of this season, I was impressed with a lot of the fighters on the show, more than I was with the last couple of seasons. Now any of the guys in the finals I would be more than happy to see win the UFC contract. However, I do have my favorites picked to win. I expect Bader to win by unanimous decision of Magalhaes much the same way he beat Marshall. Although it's likely that Magalhaes could sneak in a submission, I think Bader could keep him in check. As for the Nover vs. Escudero fight, this one's a little easier to call: Nover should get the win. He's the better striker, and his ground game looks perfect to take on a wrestler like Escudero. Still, these will be some great fights to see. Everyone who was on the show will be fighting on the event (even Browning, unfortunately, who somehow gets his fight televised), but at least it will be a good line-up. Two fights between veteran UFC fighters will occur too, but they'll easily be outshined by the new talent from TUF Season 8.
That's all for today (I know this was a lot, but I don't care because I got it all out). The blog coming up this weekend is a toss-up; aside from the NY Giants/Philidelphia Eagles on Sunday, I would also like to cover the week in television, and we'll see if anything else comes up. When it comes to entertainment, you never know what you'll be entertained by until you see it. See you again soon!
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Intro To The New Set-up
This may be still "Average Joe at the Movies," but I thought I'd throw in a little something extra. Since I have a hard time getting around to doing my movie reviews and previews, I thought to myself "how can I make this a regular thing?" I started thinking of all the things that keep me entertained during the course of the week, and since I usually bring them up on our regular blog now and then, I thought it'd be good to bring some of that here. So from here on out, you'll see the following areas explored on my behalf:
Movies-Still gonna do the reviews and previews, but I might throw in some talk about actors and the "state of movies," or anything along those lines.
TV Shows- Yes, I know I watch too much TV, but there's a lot of good stuff on. When I bring this up, I'll be talking about some TV highlights from the shows I watch during the week, and tell you what shows I'm intense about, and which ones are losing my interest.
Sports- I have to be brutally honest, and mention that the only sports I'll cover are MMA and the NFL. Of course, MMA will be at the top of my discussions, but now that my faith has been renewed in the NY Giants since last season, I'll bring them up too.
Comics- Although I'm not a fanatic, the stories told in comics are still some of the greatest stories ever told. I'll bring up my favorite characters, and all the major events occuring in the realms of DC and Marvel.
Video Games- Call me a child all you want, I still enjoy my video games. You'll hear about the games I'm currently playing, and what's coming out that peaks my interest.
Books- I don't read as much as I used to, but I'd like to pick it up again. This a simple one really, as I'll just talk about any books I've finished reading. These might be sparse on here, but they're still a part of entertainment.
Internet- The Internet may contain many of the topics above, but it has its own entertainment value. There are sites with videos you won't see anywhere, and information you might not get elsewhere. These are the things I'll discuss.
Hopefully this all makes for a more active blog, and maybe gets some sort of response. If anything, it'll be nice to get some of this out of my system rather than subject my wife to this stuff (getting called "nerdy" is the most I response I get, even if it's not really nerdy). So look for the first post tomorrow. It'll be MMA related, as I'll be covering the recent WEC event, and the outcome of the last episodes of "The Ultimate Fighter" show. See you soon!
Movies-Still gonna do the reviews and previews, but I might throw in some talk about actors and the "state of movies," or anything along those lines.
TV Shows- Yes, I know I watch too much TV, but there's a lot of good stuff on. When I bring this up, I'll be talking about some TV highlights from the shows I watch during the week, and tell you what shows I'm intense about, and which ones are losing my interest.
Sports- I have to be brutally honest, and mention that the only sports I'll cover are MMA and the NFL. Of course, MMA will be at the top of my discussions, but now that my faith has been renewed in the NY Giants since last season, I'll bring them up too.
Comics- Although I'm not a fanatic, the stories told in comics are still some of the greatest stories ever told. I'll bring up my favorite characters, and all the major events occuring in the realms of DC and Marvel.
Video Games- Call me a child all you want, I still enjoy my video games. You'll hear about the games I'm currently playing, and what's coming out that peaks my interest.
Books- I don't read as much as I used to, but I'd like to pick it up again. This a simple one really, as I'll just talk about any books I've finished reading. These might be sparse on here, but they're still a part of entertainment.
Internet- The Internet may contain many of the topics above, but it has its own entertainment value. There are sites with videos you won't see anywhere, and information you might not get elsewhere. These are the things I'll discuss.
Hopefully this all makes for a more active blog, and maybe gets some sort of response. If anything, it'll be nice to get some of this out of my system rather than subject my wife to this stuff (getting called "nerdy" is the most I response I get, even if it's not really nerdy). So look for the first post tomorrow. It'll be MMA related, as I'll be covering the recent WEC event, and the outcome of the last episodes of "The Ultimate Fighter" show. See you soon!
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Flashback Review: The Incredible Hulk
It took me a few days to get around to reviewing this movie since I saw it, but now I've got my chance. As a fan of comic books, of course I was interested in this one, regardless of how "The Hulk" did a few years ago. But this movie showed some promise. So here we go:
The Incredible Hulk
Dr. Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) is in hiding after a scientific experiment with gamma radiation turns him into the Hulk, a huge green beast only capable of destroying what's around him. On the hunt for him is General Thaddeus Ross (William Hurt), with some help from elite soldier Emil Blonsky (Tim Roth). While on the run from the military, Bruce continues his search for a cure to his "other personality," but from time to time has no choice but to turn into the Hulk to fight back the army and the dangerous Blonksy.
Holy s#$%, you'll be floored by the action sequences alone in this movie. Every time Bruce turns into the Hulk, you know you're going to see something impressive. The special effects are well done, and even the look of this Hulk is more impressive than was last seen. Also helping is Norton's portrayal of Banner, which though different than what you'd expect, actually works very well. His counterpart in Roth also carries well. The path to becoming the character of the Abomination is very well done, and Roth goes with it as if he is Blonsky. Pacing between these character developments and the action makes this a pretty well-done film. Also, as a comic book fan, I enjoyed the little spots as to the future of the franchise (the sight of the next possible villain, and the hint of the forming of the Avengers......can't wait).
A few flaws are present though. The characters portrayed by Hurt and Liv Tyler as Betty Ross don't seem to fit. Hurt seems a little hollow in his role, which was done a little better by Sam Elliot in "The Hulk" previously. Tyler seems more like herself than her character, and some extra moments with her character seem a little unnecessary (her boyfriend seems to have disappeared in the middle of it all, and her scenes with Hurt are a little forced). She was a little more interesting than "The Hulk's" Jeniffer Connolly, but still wasn't used properly. Also, the ending was a little muddled with no real insight into what the characters go through.
I do see this movie as being more than being one for the fans of comic books. This could be an enjoyable action movie for some too. Although it does help to know the comic-book character, you can turn off the "how" and "why" questions and just enjoy what you see outright. Even if you're curious, the movie isn't difficult to understand. Even some kids would get it.
Although a sequel hasn't been hinted at, this movie has some potential for any future it could have. More can be done and expanded on, as long as they keep it new in regards to the action and storylines. The Hulk can keep going. I look at it like Blonsky did in one of his confrontations with the Hulk:
"Is that all you've got?"
Granted, he got kicked into a tree after saying that, but I'm hoping the next view we get of the Hulk floors me as well.
The Incredible Hulk
Dr. Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) is in hiding after a scientific experiment with gamma radiation turns him into the Hulk, a huge green beast only capable of destroying what's around him. On the hunt for him is General Thaddeus Ross (William Hurt), with some help from elite soldier Emil Blonsky (Tim Roth). While on the run from the military, Bruce continues his search for a cure to his "other personality," but from time to time has no choice but to turn into the Hulk to fight back the army and the dangerous Blonksy.
Holy s#$%, you'll be floored by the action sequences alone in this movie. Every time Bruce turns into the Hulk, you know you're going to see something impressive. The special effects are well done, and even the look of this Hulk is more impressive than was last seen. Also helping is Norton's portrayal of Banner, which though different than what you'd expect, actually works very well. His counterpart in Roth also carries well. The path to becoming the character of the Abomination is very well done, and Roth goes with it as if he is Blonsky. Pacing between these character developments and the action makes this a pretty well-done film. Also, as a comic book fan, I enjoyed the little spots as to the future of the franchise (the sight of the next possible villain, and the hint of the forming of the Avengers......can't wait).
A few flaws are present though. The characters portrayed by Hurt and Liv Tyler as Betty Ross don't seem to fit. Hurt seems a little hollow in his role, which was done a little better by Sam Elliot in "The Hulk" previously. Tyler seems more like herself than her character, and some extra moments with her character seem a little unnecessary (her boyfriend seems to have disappeared in the middle of it all, and her scenes with Hurt are a little forced). She was a little more interesting than "The Hulk's" Jeniffer Connolly, but still wasn't used properly. Also, the ending was a little muddled with no real insight into what the characters go through.
I do see this movie as being more than being one for the fans of comic books. This could be an enjoyable action movie for some too. Although it does help to know the comic-book character, you can turn off the "how" and "why" questions and just enjoy what you see outright. Even if you're curious, the movie isn't difficult to understand. Even some kids would get it.
Although a sequel hasn't been hinted at, this movie has some potential for any future it could have. More can be done and expanded on, as long as they keep it new in regards to the action and storylines. The Hulk can keep going. I look at it like Blonsky did in one of his confrontations with the Hulk:
"Is that all you've got?"
Granted, he got kicked into a tree after saying that, but I'm hoping the next view we get of the Hulk floors me as well.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)