Movie Predictions

I've been watching a lot of trailers at the Apple Quicktime Movie Trailer site and following along at Greg's Previews, Ain't It Cool News, Counting Down for all the movie info I can get.

There are quite a few highly anticipated films due out this year (The Hulk, Matrix Reloaded and Matrix Revolutions, Terminator 3 to name a few) and I can tell from the previews that some films are going to suck.

I was talking with a friend yesterday about my plans to create a site dedicated to predicting how well a movie will fare. But, before I get the chance to finish putting that together, I should jot down films that are top-of-mind, so here goes:

(The scale is a typical one, 1 being really sucky-bad and 10 being excellent non-sucky great).

The Matrix: Reloaded: 10
I wanted to start the list out with a bang. Everything that I read about this movie leads me to believe it will be as good as the original and maybe better. This one's gonna kick ass and take names.

Terminator 3: 3
I think this film is going to be terrible, but it's worth 3 points because we get to see some more cool special effects.

The Hulk: 8
There's no Lou Ferrigno Hulk this time around (although he does have a cameo in the film), but with Ang Lee helming the film and a well done leave-it-to-the-imagination teaser trailer, I think this film will be better than Spiderman.

Daredevil: 7
Many people are calling this movie a potential suck-fest, but I really think it's going to be good. Jennifer Garner will be perfect as Electra and Ben Affleck seems to be well cast as Daredevil.

Kill Bill: 2
This 4th film by Quentin Tarantino is going to suck. I mean suck bad. I have been reading about this film for almost 2 years now as it has gone into production, then out, then a rewrite, then another rewrite, then filming problems...etc. I think it'll be much worse than Jackie Brown, which I would have given a 4.

Charlie's Angels 2: 7
I know you must be thinking it's for the girls, but it's not. The film looks like it'll be a lot of fun, campy yes, but fun, have considerable (and well-filmed) action and some pretty funny lines. McG will be directing again (also directed the Angels first outing) and I think he's learned a thing or two about action while filming Fastlane.

That's all for now.

Robbie Burns Day!

Today is Robbie Burns day, one of the biggest celebrations for those of Scottish descent. Below, I have included the 'Address to a Haggis' by Robbie Burns (pictured), known as the Bard of Scotland.

Some links of interest:
Typical Burns Supper
Biography of Robbie Burns
Vocabulary of Robbie Burns
Robbie Burns Encyclopedia
Haggis Recipe
Find your Tartan

Address to a Haggis

Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face,
Great chieftain o' the Puddin-race!
Aboon them a' ye tak your place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm:
Weel are ye wordy of a grace
As lang's my arm.

The groaning trencher there ye fill,
Your hurdies like a distant hill,
Your pin wad help to mend a mill
In time o' need,
While thro' your pores the dews distil
Like amber bead.


His knife see Rustic-labour dight,
An' cut you up wi' ready slight,
Trenching your gushing entrails bright
Like onie ditch;
And then, O what a glorious sight,
Warm-reekin, rich!

Then, horn for horn they stretch an' strive,
Deil tak the hindmost, on they drive,
Till a' their weel-swall'd kytes belyve
Are bent like drums;
Then auld Guidman, maist like to rive,
Bethankit hums.

Is there that owre his French ragout
Or olio that wad stow a sow,
Or fricasee was mak her spew
Wi' perfect sconner
Looks down wi' sneering, scornfu' view
On sic a dinner?

Poor devil! See him owre his trash,
As feckless as a wither'd rash,
His spindle shank a guid whip-lash,
His nieve a nit;
Thro' bluidy flood or field to dash,
O how unfit!

But mark the Rustic, haggis-fed,
The trembling earth resounds his tread,
Clap in his walie nieve a blade,
He'll mak it whissle;
An' legs, an' arms, an' heads will sned,
Like taps o' thrissle.

Ye Pow'rs wha mak mankind your care,
And dish them out their bill o' fare,
Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware,
That jaups in luggies;
But, if ye wish her gratefu' prayer,
Gie her a Haggis!

Backing the Bid

I'm backing the Olympic bid for Salzburg 2010.

As much as I would love to see the Olympics come to Vancouver, I am simply not convinced that it would result in a positive outcome for the city.

Sure, it's great that we are getting infrastructure improvements like the upgrading of the Sea to Die highway, but shouldn't that be a priority anyway?

Almost every modern Olympic Games has resulted in massive debt, resulting in unfavorable economic conditions for the people who choose to live in the host city after the games are over.

I'll admit that my reasons for supporting the Salzburg bid are selfish: I'm looking to buy a home in the next year or so. I would like to housing market to stay its current course of about 3 - 5% increase per year, making a purchase within my grasp. The IOC are planning to announce the winning bid on July 2, 2003. If Vancouver wins that bid, there is a very real possibility of the housing market inflating far more than the yearly average.

So, come July 2nd, if Vancouver is announced as the Host city, I'll be greatly disappointed that Salzburg lost....and very excited about the Olympics here in my home town.

Long time, no blog

I have been neglecting my blog and website in general since my last mention of it a few weeks ago.

Being stuck at home, sick with a cold, has given me a few extra hours to get caught up on various things.

If you are interested in following my Weight Watchers project, check this out.