Random Thought

Why do women's favorite romantic movies always seem to involve the main female character cheating on her current spouse (usually fiancé)? It's actually worse now because in the 80's/90's, the guy would be some überjerk possibly abusive. Now it's just some nice guy who made the foolish choice of going to her house for Christmas and then one week later, he's riding the bus home with a diamond ring burning a soul-searing hole in his pocket.

If I had a girl and her favorite movie was The Notebook, I would be Lord Concernicus, ruler of all the lands in the Concernia Empire.

I think asking "So do you have some true love back in your hometown I should be aware of" should be added to the list of questions you should ask before getting serious about someone.

Movie of the Week: Live Free of Die Hard

It's rare that I get to use "awesome" to describe a movie but this movie was awesome.

I was worried in the beginning that this was just going to be an action movie starring Bruce Willis playing a character who just happened to be named John McClane.

And for the most part, it was. The action was over the top compared to the previous Die Hard films. But I didn't care.

They don't make action movies like this anymore with car crashes and the hero getting the shit kicked out of him and more physical work that CGI. The last movie like that was True Lies I think.

Justin Long didn't annoy me as much as I thought he would.

I think what this movie lacked was more interaction between Bruce Willis & Timothy Olyphant. Olyphant had some great lines, both to Willis and his techie crew. Thats really what makes a Die Hard movie - the back and forth between McClane and the head villain. What few conversations they did have were good.

P.S.: I'm officially in love with Maggie Q.

F@*%

Chris Benoit, family found dead
Written: June 25, 2007

World Wrestling Entertainment is deeply saddened to report that today Chris Benoit and his family were found dead in their home. There are no further details at this time, other than the Benoit family residence is currently being investigated by local authorities.

Tonight’s Raw on USA Network will serve as a tribute to Chris Benoit and his family. WWE extends its sincerest thoughts and prayers to the Benoit family’s relatives and loved ones in this time of tragedy.

Just Because I'm Not Having a Party or Anything...

...doesn't mean you shouldn't be compelled to buy my a birthday present.

It would be like buying me a drink or taking me out to dinner.

Except I get to enjoy it forever (or until technology renders whatever you got me useless).

If You Don't Watch Flight of the Conchords...

...here's what you depriving yourself of.

Ridin' Dirty

So after all the bullshit with UPS to get this goddamned thing, I finally took the bike out for a spin.

After spending all Saturday afternoon doing laundry and night getting my booze on for Tony's birthday, I decided Sunday would be the day I would take the bike out for a spin (I haven't named it yet but I'm leaning towards Ironhide because of the red and silver color scheme).

First of all, it was a BITCH to get out of the apartment. I think I expended more energy getting Ironhide (I'm trying it on for size) in and out of the apartment than I did riding the bike¹. I can tell that this is going to a deterrent from future bike rides.

When I started on my journey, I realized that I didn't tighten the handlebars and seat enough but because it took so long to get out of the apartment, I was willing to risk it.

After a couple of annoying hills, I made my way to Central Park. I brought a couple of magazines and my new iPod speakers to lay out and chill. I found one spot but it was the "quiet area" which seemed way too pretentious so I got back on Ironhide and moved on. I eventually ended up riding around the entire park once looking for a spot. It really makes you appreciate just how awesome Central Park really is...and how out of shape you really are. I gave up and just went to the Great Lawn.

I read the new GQ with Jessica Biel on the cover², got hit in the head by a kid's football and then headed back home when I started to fear getting a sunburn (I'm dark enough).

My knees are killing me. My ass hurts³. But once I get the handle of getting the bike in and out of the apartment, this could become a regular thing.

¹: Not true
²: And on the eighth day, God came up with the idea for Jessica Biel and said "That should keep them happy for awhile" and all was good
³: Me thinks I need a new seat...or a new ass.

Movies I'm Interested In Seeing: July

June was definitely better than May. Let's keep the good times rolling.

July 4th
Transformers

July 6th
Joshua

July 11th
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

July 13th
Talk to Me

July 20th
I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry
Sunshine

July 27th
The Simpsons Movie

Movie of the Week: 1408

One of the better Stephen King adaptation but only two and a half stars which should let you know how bad they usually are.

This was one of John Cusack's best performances ever. Between this and Grace Is Gone (I saw a test screening), he has really stepped it up.

It started strong but definitely faded in the last 25 minutes.

But if you want to take a girl to a movie and have her crawling all over your arm screaming, this is the film to take her too.

HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival: Annie Hall

Photo by whatisee.org
I finally went.

Number two on my summer to-do list.

So I left work 15 minutes early because the website said that the lawn opens at 5 PM.

I got there at 5:05 and the place was completely packed. Mental note: When I go to see Casablanca, take a half day at work.

Luckily I happen onto a good spot towards the front and lay down my blanket. My friend was meeting me there with her own blanket so I had to sit on the wet grass to save her spot.

The movie didn't start until 9 PM.

I have to say, if you don't have patience for people talking during movies, this isn't for you. Because this was like a who's who of annoying moviegoers. There was a guy who kept standing up in front of the screen to take pictures of someone in the crowd (stalker?). There was an incident about 30 minutes into the movie where some frat boy realized that the guy laying up next to him was a homeless Hispanic dude and he caused a commotion until the homeless guy left (which is a shame because I saw that guy arrive at 5 just like me and he held his spot down for as long as I did. Who said you needed to have a home address or a shower to participate?

It was also cool seeing the original HBO feature presentation intro from the 80's:


All in all, it was a good time. My knees hurt. My butt is sore but I enjoyed it.

Next time, I'll know to come earlier, bring two blankets and some wine.

Currently reading

Movie of the Week: Ocean's 13

I hate the Ocean's franchise for two reasons:

1. Every time I watch these movies, I feel that my wardrobe if woefully inadequate and I become very vulnerable to buying expensive clothes I'll probably never find a reason to wear.
2. I can watch an Ocean's movie ANY TIME THEY ARE TV and it is a drain on my life. Anytime TNT or HBO run Ocean's 11 or 12, I will watch it. It doesn't matter what point of the movie it is. If I am not already watching something in particular, I will watch Danny Ocean and crew.

Anyway, this movie was better than second but not as good as the first. It started slow when they were setting up the plan against Pacino's Willie Bank (probably as restrained as you'll see Pacino) but once they start executing, it becomes fun with a lot of throwbacks to the first two films.

Don Cheadle gets the shaft that Bernie Mac got in Ocean's 12 as the character with the least screen time. At least it spares us from one of the worst British accents in cinematic history.

Feist at Town Hall NYC

I wish I got a better picture

Goes without saying she was great. Such a beautiful voice. It was a fun show and Kristy and I had awesome seats (third row).

My favorite songs she did were "So Sorry", "I Feel It All", "Lover's Spit" (with Kevin Drew from Broken Social Scene on keys), "Sea Lion Woman" and "Let It Die".

The Sopranos Finale

Working hard to get my fill,
Everybody wants a thrill
Payin' anything to roll the dice,
Just one more time
Some will win, some will lose
Some were born to sing the blues
Oh, the movie never ends
It goes on and on and on and on
- "Don't Stop Beliving" by Journey
(The last song playing before the screen goes black)

Well played, Chase. Well played.

Yeah, I Was In The Shit

So I finally playing Paintball yesterday. I don't think I can expect a call from Jack Bauer anytime soon.

First game, we played, I was the first man taken out. I got better though.

For some reason, there was a Filipino paintball team there "practicing" for a tournament. They did not look like a paintball team. They looked like a tactical unit. I keep scanning the paper or the internet for a report of an incredibly organized assault team attacking the White House.

Anyway, because there were so many of them, it was essentially the Filipino assassins vs. everybody else. Guess who won? Actually, we held our own more times than not but they eventually won. Later we found out they were cheating because their guns were too powerful (the max velocity for the field was 280fps and some of their guns clocked at 375fps once the issue was raised).

I only have one bruise and it's from our last game. I raised my arm to say I was out and as I was walking off the field, some little fucker shot me under the arm.

I always fucked up my left knee by trying to leap over some rocks to get to cover. It looked a lot shorter than it was. My right leg cleared. My left leg, not so much. Then I made it worse in the last game. I was trying to run for cover and I stumbled on some sand. To prevent myself from falling on my face, I went into a great front roll and landed upright. I wish someone had it on tape.

I spent the rest of the night with an ice pack on my knees.

30 Days of Night Trailer

Currently reading...

American Gangster trailer

Starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe

What I Hope To Do This Summer

Remember in grade school in the fall when the teacher (who you would grow to hate because if she was making you do work on your first day back to school, the rest of the school year was going to be a bitch) would make you write that "What I Did On My Summer Vacation" essay?

I always labored to get three-paragraphs out of it because except for a couple of occasions, I didn't go on family trips or anything. I spent the entire summer hanging out with my friends, riding my bike and going to the pool. No road trips. No Disneyland/World (I still have never been)

(What was the point of all this again? Oh yeah)

This summer, I want to do some shit aside the usual (although I'll still be doing plenty of that):

Shakespeare in the Park I always want to go but never do because of the ridiculous process of getting tickets. This is the summer I go. I have off one week and I am getting up at 6 AM, grabbing my iPod, PSP, a book and a chair and waiting on line until I get tickets. They are doing Romeo and Juliet with Lauren Ambose (Six Feet Under) playing Juliet.

2007 HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival There really is no excuse that I haven't done this yet. It is a train stop and a couple of blocks away from work. I'm definately going to either Annie Hall on June 18th, Wait Until Dark on July 9th or Casablanca on August 13th

Bike Riding Yes, I did end up getting my bike. To sum up my Fuck UPS (Parts I & II), I ended up having to go to UPS, pick it up myself and carry the 35 pound box back home from the Bronx. Anyway, I put it together and am ready to ride except for the facts that 1) I'm terrified of cars and 2) I'm terrified of riding something I had to put together myself. I'll get over it.

Kickball I'm a part of a ZogSports Kickball team consisting of friends, friends and friends, co-workers and ex-coworkers. I was in a Touch Football league during the spring (we finished 4-3 and lost in the playoffs). Our first game is tonight. I can't wait.

Alone Again Or

Yeah, I heard a funny thing
Somebody said to me
You know that I could be in love with almost everyone
I think that people are
The greatest fun
And I will be alone again tonight my dear
- "Alone Again Or" by Love

So I think I have crossed a line where I have been single so long, I can't imagine being with anyone.

So this month will make it three years that I have been unencumbered with the wants and needs of another human being that isn't of my blood single*.

This is generally what happens to me. I go through long spells between relationships (Before my last relationship, it had been four years). But this time feels different because I no longer feel open to the idea of having a girlfriend.

I know this is kinda pathetic but I've gotten used to being selfishly concerned with my own wants.

I've gotten used to having time to doing the things I want to do and not having to do stuff I have no interest in doing. I've probably only seen a handful of bad chick flicks in the theater and most of those were by choice.

I like always being available to go out or to stay in. I love never having to ask "Well, what do you want to do/want to eat"

I don't know if I can see myself dating some which what cut into all this "me" time I'm used to.

Is it a lonely life I lead? Maybe. I have friends. I have stuff to do. I never find myself thinking, "I'm lonely". More likely, I'm thinking "I'm bored".

And I do bore myself a lot but at least it is a victimless crime.

I'm not a blind idiot. I know all it will take is one pair of pretty eyes, one kiss or one acquaintance to go left instead of right to make me renounce this post as the work of a ghostwriter.

That's why this will be the first post I delete when that happens.

* Just kidding, future love of my life.

Movie of the Week: Knocked Up

Judd Apatow can do no wrong.

Pretty much hilarious from start to finish. I think I liked it better than The 40-Year Old Virgin because even though some of the situations were ridiculous, the characters seemed more real.

Everyone was great but the standout was definitely Paul Rudd. The scene in Vegas with Rogan and Rudd had my friend and I in hysterics. Hopefully Apatow will make Paul Rudd the star of his next comedy classic.

Other standouts, aside from Seth Rogan and Katherine Heigl (I forgive for the ridiculousness of the second half of this season of Grey's Anatomy), were Kristin Wig and the Apatow all-stars (Jonah Hill, Jason Segel, Jay Baruchel, Martin Starr) from Freaks and Geeks and Undeclared.

The only reason I couldn't give it four stars was it was a little too long and I was traumatized by the birth scene at the end.