Thor: A review

I admit, I’m probably not the most objective reviewer when it comes to comic book movies. As someone who reads all about these movies from the second they’re announced to the minute they reach theaters, the anticipation often times exceeds the actual product. Not so with Thor. The movie seems to have everything you’d want from a summer action film. Plenty of comedy, good acting, epic fight scenes, and a good story to make it all work.

The movie tells the story of Thor’s rise from arrogant prince of Asgard to mighty hero of Earth. I don’t want to give away too much of the story so to sum it up briefly, Thor decides to attack the Frost Giants in order to make them fear him as they did his father. It winds up going badly and for his foolishness and for plunging the kingdom into war, Thor is stripped of his powers and banished to Earth. One thing I did appreciate about the movie is that we don’t get the usual “fish out of water” tale. Thor knows Earth, he just remembers it from a while ago. So while we do get a bit of comedy from his inability to adapt to Earth, it’s not forced and feels very natural. Another thing I liked is that while Thor does redeem himself for his action (It’s not a spoiler, you all knew it was coming) , we don’t get some cheesy standout redemption moment. Would the movie be better with that scene included? Maybe, but it works just fine without it.

The acting in this movie was also superb. While you want see anyone nominated for an Oscar because of this movie, the cast does a good job. Chris Hemsworth does a great job as Thor, Anthony Hopkins does a good job as Odin, all in all the entire cast does a great job, solid performances all around.

The pacing of this movie is good. While some might complain the the beginning feels long, it’s necessary to set things up. Plus when you have scenes that are reminiscent of the opening of the Lord of the Rings in your intro, how bad could it be? The comedy in this movie is also quite natural, avoiding the forced feeling that might come up. There are some great cameos in this movie, especially if you’re a comic book fan with a sharp eye. If you’re not, some of the references and teasers to the Avengers might go over your head but they’re so subtle that it won’t detract from your enjoyment of the movie. (There is a post-credit scene that you’ll want to stay for.)

The CGI, whoo boy, the CGI. It was excellent! You get a good idea of Thor’s power, the magnificence of Asgard, the beauty of the Bifrost, and more. The special effects again feel very solid, the one thing about special effects is that you’re not supposed to notice them and that’s the case here. The soundtrack can be repetitive and overall bland but nobody watches a movie for the soundtrack.

All in all a very solid movie. It presents a good story, and still manages to tease the 2012 release of the Avengers without hitting you on the head with it a la Iron Man 2. There’s something in this movie for everyone and I think it’s something the whole family can enjoy.

Rating: 8 out of 10.

Osama Bin Laden is Dead

As someone who still remembers 9/11 in vivid detail, the fear, the anger, the heartbreak, and the national pride, this day holds deep significance for me. I honestly feel that words can’t adequately describe the feelings that I’m experiencing right now. Vindication, joy, national pride, and sadness. Thus this post will attempt to capture a few of the feelings that I’m currently experiencing. Please bear with me:

1. This is a huge victory for the American military and the American people. We set out to make this man pay for his crimes and now, almost 10 years after 9/11, we finally accomplished what we set out to do. After years of war and American lives being shed, we finally made the man who planned the worst attack on the American people pay the ultimate price. Add to that the fact that no Americans were hurt in the operation and it makes this a great moment.

2. Just like September 11th, this is another time for our country to come together. Not in mourning and sadness, but in joy and victory. For today, political parties and petty differences need to be tossed aside. America did this. We did this. Democrats and Republicans, poor and rich, etc. No more Obama sounds like Osama jokes, no more Obama did what Bush couldn’t cracks. Today, we the people of the United States of America are victorious.

3.  The war is not over. Yes this is a huge victory and yes, we deserve to celebrate. However this is one victory, one battle. This war is a war on terror, and terrorism is not vanquished. We can and should expect retaliation. We can and should expect the fighting to continue. We took down a leader. What is yet to be determined is the importance of the leader. Did we take down the equivalent to a general or the equivalent of the Monarch of England. Was Osama the most vital piece of Al-Qaeda leadership or was he more of a ceremonial head? This remains to be seen. Rest assured that our enemies will not relax their efforts to destroy us and we must not relax our efforts to keep this country safe.

4. We are not the ultimate judges of Osama Bin Laden. Yes, we killed him. But what happens now? The same thing that happens to any other man when he dies. I realize this is a touchy subject but I’m attempting to write my feelings so again, forgive me if this offends you. Ultimately, God is the judge of Osama Bin Laden. As someone who strives to show people love, the thought of another man going to hell because he didn’t accept the good news about Jesus is a sad thought. No matter what atrocities this man committed, and the President is right: this man was a mass-murderer, he was not too evil to be forgiven. In all our celebration that an Earthly enemy has been slain, let’s not forget that Osama Bin Laden was another soul that was created by God; another soul that is on its way to hell.

Political Activism

Now before I get started I want to say one thing. I’ve tried my best to stay relatively objective while writing this blog. I’ve tried to approach topics with an open mind as well as not reveal my personal feelings, religious beliefs, and political leanings. However this is an issue that’s been on my mind a lot recently and I can’t adequately address my thoughts without revealing these things about me.

So I was thinking about political activism, specifically the how, why, and to what point it serves. I can’t accept the fact that I’m supposed to stay out of the political system, however I can’t not argue for my own viewpoints. However as a Christian I believe that ultimately, my point of view will lose every political battle. Thus it becomes a question of the worthiness of fighting a futile battle. After all, Jesus never told his followers to define marriage or to stop the killing of unborn babies. Instead He said to go and preach the good news. That, I believe, should be a Christian’s primary objective. Being politically active, fighting for your political viewpoints, and even just expressing your political ideals, will not change the world and will only serve to take away from the primary objective of every Christian.

However, if one takes this viewpoint, it only serves to empower those whose view you disagree with. Can one sit by and do nothing and forfeit the political battle? As an American citizen isn’t it my duty to participate in the political process? By extension, shouldn’t I be active? In addition, how can any responsible individual not fight for what he believes to be true? In America, the arena for this fight is the political sphere. Even if I know that ultimately I will lose the fight, is my fight worth fighting, a cause worth fighting for?

The conclusion I’ve come to is that while political activism is good, it shouldn’t distract from the act of loving, caring, and witnessing to people. As long as your political fight doesn’t distract from the primary objective, it’s important to keep fighting for what you believe.

A Quick Preview/Update

Hello my loyal readers. Yes, this blog still exists. I’ve avoided updating it because I’ve been focusing on my academics. However with the school year coming to a close, this blog should be up and running in no time. Meanwhile you can look forward to a review of the movie Thor, some random thoughts that have come through my head, as well as random news bits that I come across during my travels around the Internet. Anyway, just thought I’d give you a quick update and I look forward to writing more regularly in the near future!

Playoffs?! Playoffs?! Don’t Talk to me about Playoffs! Playoffs already?!?! (NFC edition)

When it comes to the NFC side of the playoffs I really wish none of these match-ups were happening. Eagles vs. Packers is a matchup I’d much rather see in later rounds as both teams have the potential to go deep in the playoffs. On the other hand, Saints vs. Seahawks features the first sub .500 team in the playoffs and I really wish that wasn’t happening, especially since they happen to be playing the defending Superbowl champs. Anyway, here’s the breakdown of these games:

New Orleans Saints vs. Seattle Seahawks

Usually I break down the individual matchups but I’m going to save time here: there’s no way the Seahawks beat the Saints. Despite the facts that the Saints are not as strong a teams as they were last year, they should be able to easily defeat a team that is ranked 28th offensively and 27th defensively. In fact, a quick Google search of the matchup reveals that the only reason people think that Seattle could win this game is because the last Superbowl winners to win a playoff game were the 2005 Patriots.

My Prediction: The Saints take this one and talks of a repeat title will begin. Final Score: 35-7.

Philadelphia Eagles vs. Green Bay Packers

Green Bay Offense vs. Philadelphia Defense

Most people expect this game to be an offensive showdown and for once I’m inclined to agree. The Packers offense has been clicking despite the fact that they lack a quality running game. While their passing game is led by quarterback Aaron Rodgers and is ranked 5th in league, their running game is ranked 24th in the league and alternates between competent and dreadful. The Eagles defense is filled with a bunch of no names yet have managed to stay competent. Can their defense oppose a high powered offensive team? That question is yet to be determined. Their defense is ranked 15th against the run and 14th against the pass with their defense being ranked 12th overall. Basically this matchup will come down to two squads that can either play great or dreadful. If Aaron Rodgers and Greg Jenning hit their stride and the running game is competent, the Packers could win this matchup. However if the Eagles defense steps up and makes the Packers work for their points, similar to how Chicago played last week, the Eagles could win this matchup. Because of these facts I’m calling this a tie.

Philadelphia Offense vs. Green Bay Defense

Michael Vick got his first significant playing time almost leading the Eagles to a comeback victory over the Packers after starting QB Kevin Kolb was knocked out of the game. Since that time Michael Vick has been up for MVP, DeSean Jackson has been phenomenal and Jeremy Maclin has been deadly all year. In addition LeSean McCoy has been explosive all season and can be tough for a defense to contain if they forget to plan for him. It’ll be interesting to watch the league’s #2 offense go up against the #5 defense. The Packers D has been great led by Clay Matthews. Add in BJ Raiji, AJ Hawk, and Charles Woodson and it’s a matchup that any football fan would love. The real difference could be momentum. The Packers have won their last two games to get into the playoffs. In addition they almost beat the Patriots without Aaron Rodgers. Meanwhile the Eagles have lost their last two games and rumors have surfaced that Vick could be benched because he can’t recognize the blitz. Despite this I think the Eagles offense will click again in the playoffs and the Eagles offense will win this matchup.

My Prediction: This will be a close game but Vick will hit his stride and the Eagles will win in a close one. Final Score: 35-31

Playoffs?! Playoffs?! Don’t Talk to me about Playoffs! Playoffs already?!?! (AFC edition)

Guess what people? This Sunday marked the last week of the regular NFL season. With that the playoffs are now finalized and the predictions can begin! On the AFC side we have an intriguing matchup in the Chiefs vs. Ravens game and a rematch of last year’s AFC championship game in the Jets vs. Colts game. Here’s my breakdown and predictions for the two games:

New York Jets vs. Indianapolis Colts

Colts Offense vs. Jets Defense

In a way I could have written the same post in this section without finding out if the Colts were playing the Ravens or the Jets. Because Rex Ryan was the defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens before becoming the head coach of the New York Jets, both teams play a similar style of defense. The personnel might be different but the schemes are the same. That’s good news if you’re a Colts fan because Manning has been able to pick apart these defenses with inhuman precision in the past. Despite this it’s still going to be an intriguing matchup and there are still a few questions whose answers will likely decide the game. Will Manning still be able to operate with so many weapons missing? We know he can beat teams like the Jaguars, Raiders, and Titans but can he keep in form against a defense like the Jets with so many key people missing? Will Rex Ryan change things on defense? Let’s face it unless you constantly mix things up against the Colts, Manning will find the mismatches and burn your defense. The answers to these questions will decide the game but for now I’m giving the advantage to the Colts.

Jets Offense vs. Colts Defense

This is a tough matchup to predict, especially because the winner of this matchup will most likely win the game. For all the talk about Mark Sanchez and the Jets passing game, their running game is where their real strength lies and so it comes down to the same factor that the Colts Defense always seems to face: If the Colts stop the run they’ll likely win the game, if they don’t they won’t. Simple as that. That’s not to say that the Jets passing game is not dangerous, it’s just that they’re ranked 22nd in the league while the Colts are ranked 13th in pass defense. Most of this is because of the pressure that ProBowlers Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis bring on the outside that forces opposing quarterbacks into hurrying their throws and making mistakes. If they can rattle Mark Sanchez the Colts should be able to effectively shut down the Jets’ inconsistent passing attack. With a matchup this close, I’ll call it a tie. Either team could pull this one out. I am saying that whoever wins this matchup wins the game.

My Prediction: I say the Colts win this in a nailbiter. Final score: 27-24

Baltimore Ravens vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Baltimore Offense vs. Kansas City Defense

Does anyone know a player on the Kansas City Defense? I honestly had to go look at their roster before breaking down this matchup! This matchup is more a matter of both teams making sure they play solid consistent ball. The Chiefs feature a solid but average defense, they’re ranked 14th in the NFL. The Ravens offense on the other hand is ranked 22nd. They have a good running game led by Ray Rice, but their passing game has been a disappointment. Don’t count them out though, they can still make a big play in the air. In this matchup I give the advantage to the Ravens, but just slightly. While they statistically have a worse offense than the Chiefs’ defense, I think their experience in the playoffs will allow them to win this matchup.

Kansas City Offense vs. Baltimore Defense

This matchup is the one that everyone will want to see. The Chiefs have the #1 rushing attack in the league, led by Pro Bowl running back Jamaal Charles. Their passing game is their big weakness, they have one of the worst passing games in the league. However, like the Ravens, you can’t count these guys out. They still have Pro Bowl receiver Dwayne Bowe in addition to receiver Chris Chambers and the inconsistent yet capable Matt Cassel. Facing this offense will be a defense that needs no introduction, the Baltimore Ravens usually have one of, if not the, best defenses in the league. With four Pro Bowlers, including Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs, and Ed Reed, the Ravens defense is always a tough matchup. Surprisingly they matchup with the Chiefs in an alarming fashion: Their defense is the 5th best run defense while being one of the worst pass defenses in the league. This matchup will be close and will be interesting to watch. I think that despite the Chiefs excellent offense, the Ravens D will end up winning this matchup.

My Prediction: This is a hard prediction for me but I think the Ravens end up winning this game. Final Score: 21-17

Green Lantern Sparks Safety changes in Ohio

Many people consider comics to be a complete waste of time but apparently the Ohio Department of Transportation feels differently. “Taking a cue from the comic book superhero who uses green light to protect the people of Earth, the Ohio Department of Transportation  is hoping a Green Lantern will protect its snowplows from a dangerous spike in crashes this season,” said an ODOT news release. The report said there have already been 63 crashes involving snowplows in the first month of winter, which is more than the 57 crashes that occurred during the entire 2009-2010 winter season. Apparently the solution that the department came up with is to put green LED “lanterns” to illuminate the snowplows so that they are easy to see. Currently snowplows use only yellow flashing lights, commonly shared by other non-emergency vehicles such as tow trucks and mail delivery vehicles. Research indicates that green lights have a better visibility in snowy, wintery conditions.

2010 (A Year in Review): Sports

For some reason, every year sports are different and yet every year they stay the same. Brady and the Pats are still rocking the football world, Peyton and the Colts are still eyeing a Super Bowl, Kobe and the Lakers are still talking smack about the rest of the NBA, and Jeter and the Yankees still looking solid. Yet 2010 also saw some big changes. We witnessed LeBron James take his talents to South Beach, we saw Brett Favre play what could be his last game in the NFL, we witnessed the demise of Tiger Woods, the return of Michael Vick, the Cam Newton scandal and more.

As for the results of my poll, either I’ve got a lot of Colts fans or Peyton Manning had a stellar year. In 2010 we saw Peyton Manning lead the Colts to the Super Bowl while also coming very close to having a perfect regular season. Then we saw the Colts fall behind in their division due to many key injuries. Yet Manning steered his team to a position where the Colts can still clinch the division. While I certainly agree that Manning had a great year, my pick would have gone to either Manning or Michael Vick. Now before you start protesting, hear me out. Vick made some bad decisions. His dog fighting ring was a horrible crime and whether he’s sorry for it or not is up to debate. However I don’t think that Vick should be in jail or executed as some people have suggested. The fact is legally he’s paid his debt to society. Should he have been charged with more than what he was? Perhaps. The fact is that we’ll never get the chance to re-sentence him and even if we stuck him in jail for life, no one can force someone else to be sorry for their actions. With that said, the Michael Vick we’ve seen this season has been a much better player and person and has at least shown a lot of on-field maturity that had not been there before. For that reason I’d give him my vote for favorite athlete of 2010.

2010 (A Year in Review): Movies

Well I was going to go through 2010 and post all the important events but you know what? There was A LOT of stuff that happened in 2010! The world’s tallest building was built and the world’s youngest #1 ranked chess player were two events that happened in 2010 and that’s just within the first 5 days! Instead I’ll be doing a couple small posts covering the last year in a few topics. While I do I’ll try to bring you the results of those polls I had in my last post.

2010 was a great year for movies. The top grossing film of the year was also the film that most of you voted for as your favorite in 2010. That film is the remarkable Toy Story 3. While 2010 had some amazing movies, to me, none of them had the perfect mix of emotion, nostalgia, story, and action as Toy Story 3 making it my pick for best movie of the year.

2010 was also a great year for Walt Disney Pictures as both Toy Story 3 and Alice in Wonderland  grossed over $1 billion dollars. These films were the top two highest grossing films of the year. It’s the first time that two films rated below PG-13 were the top grossing films of the year since 1983. In addition it’s the first time in history that two films grossed over $1 billion in the same year.

Animated movies also came up big in 2010 with four animated movies in the Top 10 grossing films of the year. Those films are Toy Story 3, Shrek Forever After, Despicable Me, and How to Train a Dragon. Another fun fact about Toy Story 3 is that it’s the highest grossing animated film of all time as well as the first animated film to top $1 billion dollars.

 

2010 (A Year in Review): What Do You Think?

So I decided to try to close this year out strong and do a few year in review posts. I thought for this post I’d get your opinions on your favorite movie and favorite athlete for 2010. It’s my first time using polls on this blog so hopefully this goes well. I’m also hoping that lots of people vote! I might add a few more polls as well. At the end, (meaning on the 31st of December or the 1st of January) I’ll probably do a post summarizing the results as well as some of my thoughts. Well that’s all from me, have fun and have a good rest of 2010!