Friday, May 31, 2019
Thursday, May 30, 2019
Foul Tragedies of Baseball
Another kid gets hit by a foul ball. A toddler to be exact. Someone who may not know what is going on. To see that happen in Houston is something Major League Baseball has to address. It was bad enough a couple seasons ago when a similar incident happened at a Yankees Twins game at the end of the 2017 season. Does the league even care?
The proposal to extend foul netting has been a question for a good while. I understand it may block the view of those people sitting near the nets, but better safe than sorry when a 100 mile per hour ball comes driving towards people. At the same time however, people have to be aware of the at bats. It's not a simple scenario where you can watch other things as the action unfolds. Parents do need to keep eye on their kids and protect them if a ball comes towards them.
I don't get it. Last year, an LA Dodger fan was killed by a foul ball. At 79 years old, they are a little frail and more subjective to fatal blows. Regardless of age, a kid dying could set MLB in a panic. It's always when more than enough people die in a sport or at a sporting event do leagues even change their ideals. I'm not saying its common to see people get hit by foul balls, but baseball can try to narrow it down a lot more. Foul netting should be necessary in the minors and majors. And they need to protect camera people and anyone involved in mass media production. A lot of players have kids and the push for this kind of stuff will only get stronger if they can get Rob Manfred and the higher ups to understand their point.
I'll end by saying if not now, when? When a kid dies?
The proposal to extend foul netting has been a question for a good while. I understand it may block the view of those people sitting near the nets, but better safe than sorry when a 100 mile per hour ball comes driving towards people. At the same time however, people have to be aware of the at bats. It's not a simple scenario where you can watch other things as the action unfolds. Parents do need to keep eye on their kids and protect them if a ball comes towards them.
I don't get it. Last year, an LA Dodger fan was killed by a foul ball. At 79 years old, they are a little frail and more subjective to fatal blows. Regardless of age, a kid dying could set MLB in a panic. It's always when more than enough people die in a sport or at a sporting event do leagues even change their ideals. I'm not saying its common to see people get hit by foul balls, but baseball can try to narrow it down a lot more. Foul netting should be necessary in the minors and majors. And they need to protect camera people and anyone involved in mass media production. A lot of players have kids and the push for this kind of stuff will only get stronger if they can get Rob Manfred and the higher ups to understand their point.
I'll end by saying if not now, when? When a kid dies?
Wednesday, May 29, 2019
2019 NBA Finals Prediction
Another year, another appearance for the Golden State Warriors. With some injuries, they might not have a huge advantage over the Toronto Raptors. Depending on DeMarcus Cousins and Kevin Durant, how the healthy players play will determine how long they are in the finals. I think we're going to see a six game series and another championship for the Warriors.
If Toronto has any chance, it rests on Kawhi Leonard. He has been the x factor to this team. Add in Serge Ibaka and Kyle Lowry to the starters and it's a good trio to fear. The jitters will be in these guys considering the franchise has never gotten that far into the playoffs. First time playing in June. If they can limit and stress out Curry and Thompson, they could make the series interesting.
Prediction: Warriors in six, but don't assume Toronto will give up easily.
If Toronto has any chance, it rests on Kawhi Leonard. He has been the x factor to this team. Add in Serge Ibaka and Kyle Lowry to the starters and it's a good trio to fear. The jitters will be in these guys considering the franchise has never gotten that far into the playoffs. First time playing in June. If they can limit and stress out Curry and Thompson, they could make the series interesting.
Prediction: Warriors in six, but don't assume Toronto will give up easily.
Tuesday, May 28, 2019
Detective Pikachu Review
I'm going to start by saying I'm not into Pokemon. I was into the cartoon its first two or three years and after that, it got very stale and repetitive. But Detective Pikachu did catch my interest just because it seemed different and the voice of Ryan Reynolds was also part of the reason to see it. My expectations were pretty low, but it was surprisingly good. I wasn't thinking I would enjoy it that much.
The plot is a little convoluted, but you will get it by the time it is finished. Experiments are made on Mewtwo and he finds a way to break out. He doesn't cause any damage other than one car, killing Harry Goodman. His estranged son, Tim, finds out the next day and comes to Ryme City to find out what happened. Tim does not encounter much until he finds Pikachu at his father's home. Together, they try to piece together what happened to Harry, figure out Pikachu's memory being blanked out, and make sure Ryme doesn't get obliterated by whatever evil approaches.
Visually, the Pokemon monsters are very good. At 150 million dollars for the budget, I'm surprised it wasn't more expensive. The detail on each one is through the roof. Ryme City has a Japanese look and the hustle and bustle reminds me of Roger Rabbit. Speaking of, there isn't much pop culture references in the film. Just a couple 90s references and a jab at the original cartoon.
As far as human characters, they do a strong effort in providing enough backstory for each character. Justice Smith gives Tim a lot of life and despite the sci-fi elements, feels like a real person with all the stuff he is going through. I didn't care for Kathryn Newton's Lucy, but she was one of the better characters of the film. They tease a few moments where they could fall in love with each other, but they don't. That's not a bad thing. But Tim and Lucy form an unlikely partnership to solve the crime. The other human characters aren't given as much care. Even the main villain, though it's very late into the film that you hear his intentions.
It has the right amount of length that isn't short, but not long either. Pikachu can be a little annoying, but he's better developed than any cartoon version of him. My complaint would be he talks a little too much. While it provides some of the comedy to it, there are moments where they could have toned down the dialogue. Mileage will vary on what it turns into. It's a comedy at first, but when it gets to the halfway point, it becomes more of a crime thriller. There is some filler, but it's mindless fun material. I would say check out Detective Pikachu. It should still be playing in theaters, but try to see it before they pull it out.
Score: 7.5 out of 10
The plot is a little convoluted, but you will get it by the time it is finished. Experiments are made on Mewtwo and he finds a way to break out. He doesn't cause any damage other than one car, killing Harry Goodman. His estranged son, Tim, finds out the next day and comes to Ryme City to find out what happened. Tim does not encounter much until he finds Pikachu at his father's home. Together, they try to piece together what happened to Harry, figure out Pikachu's memory being blanked out, and make sure Ryme doesn't get obliterated by whatever evil approaches.
Visually, the Pokemon monsters are very good. At 150 million dollars for the budget, I'm surprised it wasn't more expensive. The detail on each one is through the roof. Ryme City has a Japanese look and the hustle and bustle reminds me of Roger Rabbit. Speaking of, there isn't much pop culture references in the film. Just a couple 90s references and a jab at the original cartoon.
As far as human characters, they do a strong effort in providing enough backstory for each character. Justice Smith gives Tim a lot of life and despite the sci-fi elements, feels like a real person with all the stuff he is going through. I didn't care for Kathryn Newton's Lucy, but she was one of the better characters of the film. They tease a few moments where they could fall in love with each other, but they don't. That's not a bad thing. But Tim and Lucy form an unlikely partnership to solve the crime. The other human characters aren't given as much care. Even the main villain, though it's very late into the film that you hear his intentions.
It has the right amount of length that isn't short, but not long either. Pikachu can be a little annoying, but he's better developed than any cartoon version of him. My complaint would be he talks a little too much. While it provides some of the comedy to it, there are moments where they could have toned down the dialogue. Mileage will vary on what it turns into. It's a comedy at first, but when it gets to the halfway point, it becomes more of a crime thriller. There is some filler, but it's mindless fun material. I would say check out Detective Pikachu. It should still be playing in theaters, but try to see it before they pull it out.
Score: 7.5 out of 10
John Wick 3 Review
The likelihood of a trilogy of movies being strong is very slim. Many movie goers have theirs. Mine would be Toy Story and I'm willing to add John Wick 3 to that conversation. While it doesn't do anything new, it has quite a bit of fresher material along with more intense fights and manipulations. It really does feel like Parabellum.
Where it starts, it is immediately following the events of the second, so watching the first two is necessary. Wick is in deep shit. Killing a man on continental grounds made him an excommunicado and now any assassins within an hour will hunt him down. On his own, he must make amends to get everyone off his back, and survive the magnitude of bullets and melee combat to get out of exile. The pacing was about as strong as the second and it didn't feel boring. The writers made points of when to come in guns blazing and when to slow down a bit.
There is less of a stylized approach, but it becomes a lot noticeable towards the later half of it. Regarding the gunplay, it is a lot more frantic due to the way the story is. And they find various ways to keep it from being stale and add in unique ways of Wick to kill and pacify anyone that gets in his way. It's balls to the wall and some of the fights are comical despite the serious nature of the film. I felt like I was watching a combination of Jackie Chan and Die Hard at the very beginning. That being said, the cinematography is top notch and there are still the same lengthy shots. Takes a lot of guts to have a few 30 second shots.
One thing to give credit is developing the characters a bit more. I got a feeling they will develop Laurence Fishburne's Bowery much more if there is a fourth movie. Ian McShane's Winston is still a slick man and we get to see a different side of Lance Reddick's Charon that make him more than just a supporting character. With new characters from this one, something tells me we haven't seen the last of Halle Berry's Sofia, along with the characters that Anjelica Huston and Asia Kate Dillon play. They seem like the perfect setup to finish up a franchise that has gotten better with each release. And it helps that each character has their own purpose and that there are pros and cons to their decisions and whether they help Wick or not. They did not rush this one bit.
Personally, it's going to be hard to top the frantic action and intense moments of John Wick 3. Add in a varied amount of music that compliments the scenes and you got a movie that doesn't overstay its welcome. It plays it smart and knew when to pull the punches. Definitely see it in theaters.
Score: 8.5 out of 10
Where it starts, it is immediately following the events of the second, so watching the first two is necessary. Wick is in deep shit. Killing a man on continental grounds made him an excommunicado and now any assassins within an hour will hunt him down. On his own, he must make amends to get everyone off his back, and survive the magnitude of bullets and melee combat to get out of exile. The pacing was about as strong as the second and it didn't feel boring. The writers made points of when to come in guns blazing and when to slow down a bit.
There is less of a stylized approach, but it becomes a lot noticeable towards the later half of it. Regarding the gunplay, it is a lot more frantic due to the way the story is. And they find various ways to keep it from being stale and add in unique ways of Wick to kill and pacify anyone that gets in his way. It's balls to the wall and some of the fights are comical despite the serious nature of the film. I felt like I was watching a combination of Jackie Chan and Die Hard at the very beginning. That being said, the cinematography is top notch and there are still the same lengthy shots. Takes a lot of guts to have a few 30 second shots.
One thing to give credit is developing the characters a bit more. I got a feeling they will develop Laurence Fishburne's Bowery much more if there is a fourth movie. Ian McShane's Winston is still a slick man and we get to see a different side of Lance Reddick's Charon that make him more than just a supporting character. With new characters from this one, something tells me we haven't seen the last of Halle Berry's Sofia, along with the characters that Anjelica Huston and Asia Kate Dillon play. They seem like the perfect setup to finish up a franchise that has gotten better with each release. And it helps that each character has their own purpose and that there are pros and cons to their decisions and whether they help Wick or not. They did not rush this one bit.
Personally, it's going to be hard to top the frantic action and intense moments of John Wick 3. Add in a varied amount of music that compliments the scenes and you got a movie that doesn't overstay its welcome. It plays it smart and knew when to pull the punches. Definitely see it in theaters.
Score: 8.5 out of 10
Sunday, May 26, 2019
Stylized: John Wick 1 + 2
I've had a chance to watch some John Wick with the first two being on television. They're well received and I say it deserves the accolades a little bit. Pretty good. Not sure I'd say they're great, but solid films.
My thoughts on the first is simple. It builds up the momentum. Starts off slow and like a different movie. A bit more suspenseful as the title character vows revenge on the Russian mob for taking his car and killing his dog, a gift from his late wife. Once he gets back to the job he gave up for love, it does not let up. Plenty of bullets, kills, fist fights. Times where Wick finds himself in plenty of trouble, but finds a way to finish or outsmart the bad guys. Very flashy, and plenty of shots that go for five to fifteen, maybe twenty shot takes. No multiple cuts, especially when multiple killings occur. Some complaints include a bit louder audio in a number of scenes, and a plot that drags a little bit in the middle. Still, it's worth checking.
Chapter 2 is not a full rinse and repeat movie. They start off with frantic moments before slowing down a little bit. Wick now has a job to assassinate a guy's sister so he can take over a seat for a group. Some of the stuff is similar, but there is more than enough to not consider it a rehash. Not as much flash, but it is noticed towards the second half of the film. Plenty of action throughout, but the film knew when to slow down and when to get back into the fray. Still a lot of shots that go anywhere from five to twenty seconds. The end shootout struck me as an interesting idea and both sides trying to outsmart another. It was rather nice. A bit of double crosses and working for various sides, the job of an assassin does not end. Louder audio was still an issue, but not as bad compared to the first. Other than that, it doesn't drag as much. I'd say better than the first.
As far as acting for both films, it's well done. The scripts are given a bit of thought. Quite a bit of foreign language for a few scenes. Plenty of violence, but not much swearing. You don't need a bunch of F-bombs to be R rated for films like John Wick. It has me a bit curious about the third one that just came out. Kind of sad I missed out on the first two when they released. Give them a watch. You will understand a lot more from watching them in order.
Chapter 1: 7 out of 10
Chapter 2: 7.5 out of 10
My thoughts on the first is simple. It builds up the momentum. Starts off slow and like a different movie. A bit more suspenseful as the title character vows revenge on the Russian mob for taking his car and killing his dog, a gift from his late wife. Once he gets back to the job he gave up for love, it does not let up. Plenty of bullets, kills, fist fights. Times where Wick finds himself in plenty of trouble, but finds a way to finish or outsmart the bad guys. Very flashy, and plenty of shots that go for five to fifteen, maybe twenty shot takes. No multiple cuts, especially when multiple killings occur. Some complaints include a bit louder audio in a number of scenes, and a plot that drags a little bit in the middle. Still, it's worth checking.
Chapter 2 is not a full rinse and repeat movie. They start off with frantic moments before slowing down a little bit. Wick now has a job to assassinate a guy's sister so he can take over a seat for a group. Some of the stuff is similar, but there is more than enough to not consider it a rehash. Not as much flash, but it is noticed towards the second half of the film. Plenty of action throughout, but the film knew when to slow down and when to get back into the fray. Still a lot of shots that go anywhere from five to twenty seconds. The end shootout struck me as an interesting idea and both sides trying to outsmart another. It was rather nice. A bit of double crosses and working for various sides, the job of an assassin does not end. Louder audio was still an issue, but not as bad compared to the first. Other than that, it doesn't drag as much. I'd say better than the first.
As far as acting for both films, it's well done. The scripts are given a bit of thought. Quite a bit of foreign language for a few scenes. Plenty of violence, but not much swearing. You don't need a bunch of F-bombs to be R rated for films like John Wick. It has me a bit curious about the third one that just came out. Kind of sad I missed out on the first two when they released. Give them a watch. You will understand a lot more from watching them in order.
Chapter 1: 7 out of 10
Chapter 2: 7.5 out of 10
Friday, May 24, 2019
Thursday, May 23, 2019
Early NBA Games? You Bet!
A lot of West Coast games typically start at 10, 10:30 P.M. at night for East Coast viewers. Obviously, a lot will turn off the set to go to sleep or work. Baseball, hockey, and basketball have that issue quite a bit. But Adam Silver, commissioner of the NBA, might persuade teams to move up times for the games.
I think it's smart. If it does happen, it could make people throughout the United States actually stay up to watch most of those games and see it end around 11:30, midnight compared to 12:30 or 1 in the morning. I'm assuming it is for regular season games, but I wish Silver could persuade networks to move up game times to 6 or 7 o'clock at night. No excuse for these playoff games to be on that late.
It's a small step, but a nice one. I think other sports leagues should look at changing game times if the NBA is real with this decision. It would make viewing games a lot better without feeling very tired with only five or six hours of sleep. Hopefully it makes ratings better.
I think it's smart. If it does happen, it could make people throughout the United States actually stay up to watch most of those games and see it end around 11:30, midnight compared to 12:30 or 1 in the morning. I'm assuming it is for regular season games, but I wish Silver could persuade networks to move up game times to 6 or 7 o'clock at night. No excuse for these playoff games to be on that late.
It's a small step, but a nice one. I think other sports leagues should look at changing game times if the NBA is real with this decision. It would make viewing games a lot better without feeling very tired with only five or six hours of sleep. Hopefully it makes ratings better.
Tuesday, May 21, 2019
Perfect Ending?
The title of the blog is subjective to everyone. I have never watched Game of Thrones, but the amount of backlash from Sunday's final episode is astonishing. We're talking petition type outrage. Literally, there is a petition to redo the entire eighth season and some of the actors getting sick of the anger. Is there a perfect ending to a TV show? Is there?
I don't think so. Out of the very few series finales I have watched, there are always minor issues. Whether it's pacing, enough jokes or serious moments, there are those and the large issues that can hurt a final episode, or an entire last season. When I went to college, there was a guy that was in my major. His big thing was watching How I Met Your Mother on Monday nights. He was one of the few to enjoy the final episodes when it ended five years ago, but displeased with the alternative ending. He was one of the minority since not every ending gets the happy treatment. And it wouldn't surprise me with Game of Thrones the kind of ending that probably happened that pissed off a big fanbase.
Fanbases want something in a particular way. They'll root for a specific good or bad guy and how much interest they are in depends on that character in question. It could be how they do episodes or some of the dialogues. I don't think Thrones will be forgotten for a very long time, but its legacy will possibly be a little damaged. There isn't much else to be said. We will never agree on what a perfect series finale will be for any television show.
I don't think so. Out of the very few series finales I have watched, there are always minor issues. Whether it's pacing, enough jokes or serious moments, there are those and the large issues that can hurt a final episode, or an entire last season. When I went to college, there was a guy that was in my major. His big thing was watching How I Met Your Mother on Monday nights. He was one of the few to enjoy the final episodes when it ended five years ago, but displeased with the alternative ending. He was one of the minority since not every ending gets the happy treatment. And it wouldn't surprise me with Game of Thrones the kind of ending that probably happened that pissed off a big fanbase.
Fanbases want something in a particular way. They'll root for a specific good or bad guy and how much interest they are in depends on that character in question. It could be how they do episodes or some of the dialogues. I don't think Thrones will be forgotten for a very long time, but its legacy will possibly be a little damaged. There isn't much else to be said. We will never agree on what a perfect series finale will be for any television show.
Monday, May 20, 2019
Internet Cheats
I don't claim to be an expert on marriage and relationships. For all I know, anything can happen. That also includes the YouTube personalities we see rise in fame. Jared Knabenbauer is learning the hard way of the alleged stuff that has torn apart his marriage.
The man known as ProJared has been subject the last few weeks to controversy. A lot of it has to do with soliciting young girls. We're talking teenagers on sites like Tumblr with nude pictures. There was also infidelity. Cheating on his wife Heidi O'Farrell with another YouTuber with ties to Game Grumps. Some "victims" (alleged stuff, so let's not jump yet to conclusions) have shared stories about what Knabenbauer did. It has also led to a YouTube network, NormalBoots, to can him. Other projects may be on hold or continuing without him.
If the alleged stuff is confirmed true, this is what will send Knabenbauer to jail for quite a bit of time. That's what I don't get. You do good content, you get a sizable audience. He was one of the biggest names to gaming on YouTube. I don't know if some people can't stomach being married to one woman, but why be in the relationship in the first place? Why stray away from having that forever love? I've listened and read news about having an ego problem and the way it sounds, it sounds like a lot of ill things were in his head.
The fact that he is trying to blame certain things on O'Farrell says to me he is trying to damage control his screw ups. Cheating is one thing, but doing stuff with teenage fans in a sexual manner is unacceptable. Unlike something like Channel Awesome, Knabenbauer may not ever recover from this. He built his own grave. Only he can change himself to do things better, but I doubt that will ever happen.
The man known as ProJared has been subject the last few weeks to controversy. A lot of it has to do with soliciting young girls. We're talking teenagers on sites like Tumblr with nude pictures. There was also infidelity. Cheating on his wife Heidi O'Farrell with another YouTuber with ties to Game Grumps. Some "victims" (alleged stuff, so let's not jump yet to conclusions) have shared stories about what Knabenbauer did. It has also led to a YouTube network, NormalBoots, to can him. Other projects may be on hold or continuing without him.
If the alleged stuff is confirmed true, this is what will send Knabenbauer to jail for quite a bit of time. That's what I don't get. You do good content, you get a sizable audience. He was one of the biggest names to gaming on YouTube. I don't know if some people can't stomach being married to one woman, but why be in the relationship in the first place? Why stray away from having that forever love? I've listened and read news about having an ego problem and the way it sounds, it sounds like a lot of ill things were in his head.
The fact that he is trying to blame certain things on O'Farrell says to me he is trying to damage control his screw ups. Cheating is one thing, but doing stuff with teenage fans in a sexual manner is unacceptable. Unlike something like Channel Awesome, Knabenbauer may not ever recover from this. He built his own grave. Only he can change himself to do things better, but I doubt that will ever happen.
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