Indian Hill High School Mock Trial Red Team is advancing to the Ohio State high school mock trial finals. This is a team that has suffered adversity and overcame it. Congratulations Red. Time to celebrate.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief Movie Review
I'm sure whoever at 20th Century Fox greenlit Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief was thinking popular youth book, teenage heroes, and Greek mythology would be a great idea for a movie. Hey, hire Harry Potter's first movie director Chris Columbus and we got a franchise. Not so fast. It takes respect for the audience before you make a great franchise. And Percy Jackson doesn't have that.
The movie starts out with Zeus (Sean Bean) confronting Poseidon (Kevin McKidd) and accusing his son for stealing his lightning bolt. He gives him an ultimatum to get the bolt back or there will be war.
You see Poseidon's son is Percy Jackson, (Logan Lerman) a very cute high school kid with ADHD. Ah, it's the magic of casting. Lerman's going to get all the teenage girls to watch this movie multiple times like Titanic. But I digress. A field trip to the museum and Percy is confronted by his substitute teacher who turns out to be a fury. Hey, I knew there was something wrong with substitute teachers. He's saved by a wheel chair bound Latin teacher Mr. Brunner, played by Pierce Brosnan who is probably wondering what happened to his James Bond gig. He reminds Percy's best buddy Grover (Brandon Jackson) who is a satyr, to protect him and take him to a training camp for the demigods. Percy's human mother (Catherine Keener) joins them on their way to the camp. However they are attacked by a Minotaur who takes mom to the underworld where Hades lives.
At the demigod training camp called Camp Half-blood, it's sort of like Hogwarts, Percy meets up with Mr. Brunner who is really Chiron, a centaur. What!? A centaur is a half man, half horse. Okay, how does he fit those horse's legs in the wheel chair? Oh forget it. Percy meets Annabeth, (Alexandra Daddario) a daughter of Athena and forced love interest. Hey, wouldn't it be cool to make Percy gay? We could call the flick, "Brokeback Mount St. Olympus." Okay, back to the plot. While at the camp, Hades makes an appearance and demands the return of the lightning bolt or Percy will never see his mother again. Percy decides to go to Hades and get his mother back. To do so, they must get Persephone's pearls. The pearls are the only means to escape Hades. You see Persephone (Rosario Dawson) is Hades' bored wife and she likes to bring lovers to Hades. So the lovers have to find a way back out of Hades. Now pay attention, young folks. Percy, Grover and Annabeth decide to make the journey. There are only three pearls.
The rest of the movie is about their heroic journey through America to find the three pearls, get to Hades, rescue mom and get the lightning bolt back. Fun fact here. I bet you didn't know the entrance to Hades was under the "Hollywood" sign in Los Angeles? Ha ha. Maybe those right-wingers are correct about the evil of liberal Hollywood? Never mind. The journey is littered with mythology's greatest hits. You want a hydra. Check. How about Medusa? Check. How about a campy Uma Thuman playing Medusa? Check. By the way, they should make a new Academy acting award for Uma. Best Head Without a Body.
The problem with Percy Jackson is the slam bang pacing. The movie feels like it's made for kids like Percy, i.e. those with ADHD. When Percy is at camp, he immediately knows how to wield a sword. What? No training montage? No. That would be too much exposition. Percy falls for Annabeth at first sight with no electricity between them. Oh, and the movie can be brain dead. Remember my point about Persephone's pearls? Sounds like a Jackson 5 song. Anyway, there are only three pearls to get our heroes out of Hades. Let's count. Percy, Annabeth and Grover. That's three. But they must also get mom out of Hades. Percy, Annabeth, Grover and mom. DOH! That's four. Um, somebody should have thought this one out.
IF you're a high school kid studying mythology, you might like Percy Jackson. If you're not, this movie is time filler.
The grade is C+.
The movie starts out with Zeus (Sean Bean) confronting Poseidon (Kevin McKidd) and accusing his son for stealing his lightning bolt. He gives him an ultimatum to get the bolt back or there will be war.
You see Poseidon's son is Percy Jackson, (Logan Lerman) a very cute high school kid with ADHD. Ah, it's the magic of casting. Lerman's going to get all the teenage girls to watch this movie multiple times like Titanic. But I digress. A field trip to the museum and Percy is confronted by his substitute teacher who turns out to be a fury. Hey, I knew there was something wrong with substitute teachers. He's saved by a wheel chair bound Latin teacher Mr. Brunner, played by Pierce Brosnan who is probably wondering what happened to his James Bond gig. He reminds Percy's best buddy Grover (Brandon Jackson) who is a satyr, to protect him and take him to a training camp for the demigods. Percy's human mother (Catherine Keener) joins them on their way to the camp. However they are attacked by a Minotaur who takes mom to the underworld where Hades lives.
At the demigod training camp called Camp Half-blood, it's sort of like Hogwarts, Percy meets up with Mr. Brunner who is really Chiron, a centaur. What!? A centaur is a half man, half horse. Okay, how does he fit those horse's legs in the wheel chair? Oh forget it. Percy meets Annabeth, (Alexandra Daddario) a daughter of Athena and forced love interest. Hey, wouldn't it be cool to make Percy gay? We could call the flick, "Brokeback Mount St. Olympus." Okay, back to the plot. While at the camp, Hades makes an appearance and demands the return of the lightning bolt or Percy will never see his mother again. Percy decides to go to Hades and get his mother back. To do so, they must get Persephone's pearls. The pearls are the only means to escape Hades. You see Persephone (Rosario Dawson) is Hades' bored wife and she likes to bring lovers to Hades. So the lovers have to find a way back out of Hades. Now pay attention, young folks. Percy, Grover and Annabeth decide to make the journey. There are only three pearls.
The rest of the movie is about their heroic journey through America to find the three pearls, get to Hades, rescue mom and get the lightning bolt back. Fun fact here. I bet you didn't know the entrance to Hades was under the "Hollywood" sign in Los Angeles? Ha ha. Maybe those right-wingers are correct about the evil of liberal Hollywood? Never mind. The journey is littered with mythology's greatest hits. You want a hydra. Check. How about Medusa? Check. How about a campy Uma Thuman playing Medusa? Check. By the way, they should make a new Academy acting award for Uma. Best Head Without a Body.
The problem with Percy Jackson is the slam bang pacing. The movie feels like it's made for kids like Percy, i.e. those with ADHD. When Percy is at camp, he immediately knows how to wield a sword. What? No training montage? No. That would be too much exposition. Percy falls for Annabeth at first sight with no electricity between them. Oh, and the movie can be brain dead. Remember my point about Persephone's pearls? Sounds like a Jackson 5 song. Anyway, there are only three pearls to get our heroes out of Hades. Let's count. Percy, Annabeth and Grover. That's three. But they must also get mom out of Hades. Percy, Annabeth, Grover and mom. DOH! That's four. Um, somebody should have thought this one out.
IF you're a high school kid studying mythology, you might like Percy Jackson. If you're not, this movie is time filler.
The grade is C+.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Thirty Years Ago, A Miracle Occurred in New York
Today is the thirtieth anniversary of the "Miracle on Ice." At the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid in New York, a group of college kids defeated the heavily favored Soviet Union team. Back then, only amateurs were allowed to participate in the Olympics. The Soviets were hardly amateurs as some of them were in the military or had bogus government jobs with advantage of allowing them to play and practice virtually full time. (Wikipedia article on the game.)
How good were the Soviets? The prior year they thumped an all-star NHL team 6-0. Thirteen days before the game, they crushed the Americans 10-3. Meanwhile, the United States seemed to be in a downward spiral. The economy was a mess. Iran had our diplomats as hostages. The Soviets occupied Afghanistan. The Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union still existed.
It is indeed a happy coincidence that we celebrate this day as the United States just upset a favorite Canadian team at this year's Olympics. Mind you the United States hasn't won anything yet, and like that legendary 1980 team sill had some games to go before winning the Gold. But thirty years ago, miracles do happen; David beat Goliath.
How good were the Soviets? The prior year they thumped an all-star NHL team 6-0. Thirteen days before the game, they crushed the Americans 10-3. Meanwhile, the United States seemed to be in a downward spiral. The economy was a mess. Iran had our diplomats as hostages. The Soviets occupied Afghanistan. The Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union still existed.
It is indeed a happy coincidence that we celebrate this day as the United States just upset a favorite Canadian team at this year's Olympics. Mind you the United States hasn't won anything yet, and like that legendary 1980 team sill had some games to go before winning the Gold. But thirty years ago, miracles do happen; David beat Goliath.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Okay, Give This Guy Decaffinated!
Weatherman Jim Kosek's riotous blizzard forecast has gone viral. Check it out.
The Bengals And The Two Mr. Jones
ESPN is reporting today that the Cincinnati Bengals have worked out cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones. What!? Okay, let's go over some of the Bengals who have gotten in trouble. First there was Stanley Wilson who loved drugs more than playing in the Super Bowl, Peter Warrick had a theft offense, a DUI for Justin Smith, ... oh, just forget about naming the offense; Odell Thurman who got booted from the league, Jason Shirley, assault rifle lovin' Tank Johnson and um, some guy named Chris Henry, who by the way had so many demons that it led to his death.
Pacman Jones' problems seem to stem from strip clubs. Cincinnati strippers beware. Lucky for the Bengals, there is basically only one club in the greater Cincinnati area if you exclude northern Kentucky clubs and trust me please do. Why do the Bengals need another cornerback? We've got two good starters in Jonathan Joseph, and Leon Hall. Morgan Trent is also a decent backup and good in the nickel and dime packages. Oops, I noticed that Joseph (marijuana) and Hall (reckless operation) have had problems with the law. Maybe, it's because we need a corner who will commit more serious crimes than them.
The report also notes that the Bengals are interested in Matt Jones, WR. WHAT!? First, this reminds me of the Laveranues Coles signing. Second, he's got drug abuse issues. Let's go over this again, Peter Warrick had a ... oh, forget it. Instead of going after a quality receiver who can help the team, the Bengals are making the same mistakes they always do. They hope to reform some criminal. Yes, I know they did it with Cedric Benson but the record is not that good. Sooner or later, the Bengals are going to get burned again. Maybe getting Matt Jones will lead to some gadget plays because he was a college quarterback. But wait, that would require an offensive coordinator with some imagination. We've got the "genius", Bob Bratkowski.
Update: The Bengals have signed Matt Jones for one year at $700,000. At least he came cheap by NFL standards. He can be assured that Hamilton County has a drug court.
Jon Stewart Ridicules Republicans Over Fears Of Health Care Meeting
Jon Stewart does it again. He mocks the Republicans for their fear of meeting with President Obama on the issue of health care. Later, Daily Show reporter Jon Oliver goes to a Republican National Committee conference in Hawaii to question them over Hawaii's "evil" universal health care. Still having trouble with embedding so here's the video link. Enjoy.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Keith Olbermann Takes On Conservative Stupidity Over Global Warming
Look, I've already posted Rachel Maddow's intelligent view on global warming versus conservatives' anti-science stance. Time to post my man, Keith Olbermann's view. Thank you, Keith for calling them idiots. Here's his take.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
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