Professor

Finally got around to the Shawn vs. Bret DVD. While this was a really good interview/vent session, I feel that they still glossed over some of the issues between the two leading up to the Survivor Series. I did come away with the impression that Shawn doesn't remember those days much and that he is a much different person now. That, and he really seems self conscious about his lazy eye. He was using his baseball cap to keep it in shadow for most of the DVD.

I must take this time to thank Kellen for point out this fact and killing my free time for the next few weeks.

30 for 30: King's Ransom - Not the strongest of the documentaries to start with I must admit. I think that comes down to the subject matter being a little on the light side. It was a trade. I get that it was for Gretzky and all, but it was still just a trade of a player in the last year of his contract. It happens. And nothing about the deal seemed outrageous, so I am left thinking this was longer than it needed to be. What really shocked me was Gretzky was traded in the summer of 88, when I was two, yet I always remember him as an Oiler. 30 for 30: The Band That Would Not Die - Nice documentary about the Baltimore Colts band and them surviving without an NFL team until the Brown moved in 95. One little thing that I really like was that members of the band where not overjoyed when they got a team back, because they did to Cleveland what Indy did to them, so to speak. At least they acknowledged that.

It Might Get Loud - I have been contemplating getting this from work for a few years. Having found this was available uncut on youtube, I am glad that I did not. I was under the impression that this would be a documentary watching Jimmy Page, Jack White & (sigh) The Edge sitting in a room with guitars and talking shop. Nope. More of a slight biography on each and very little of them together. Very disappointing. I come out with the same ideas I had going in: Jack White is a bit eccentric, Jimmy Page is a legend and (sigh) The Edge is just there. Only real take away was Jimmy Page's house. His record collection and basement of guitars? Just beautiful.

Ghost World - I don't get it. New X-Men by Grant Morrison (#114-133, A01) - I don't mind the story, but I cannot say I am engrossed by it either. Also, the art is consistently bad, which with multiple artists is kinda surprising. Interesting enough to finish off the run tho. Comics: 2 Graphic Novels: 1 Trades: 134 (744)

I did that once. I am still at Live and Let Die. But, the thought was there.

My lunch. A cheddar cheese smoke sausage, served in a sub bun, topped with colby pepperjack cheese, baked beans, honey ham and cole slaw. You're welcome.

X-Men Origins II - I enjoyed the first volume. Not so much this one. Only the Nightcrawler story has great art; the rest feel average to goofy. The stories lack.. heart is word the springs to mind. Fantastic Four by Hickman Vol. 4 - Knowing that death was coming hurt this. Granted, I believe it wasn't exactly a secret that one of them was going to die. That said, it never felt epic. It never felt like a real threat. It never felt like a Fantastic Four story. I guess it comes down to the team never being together. And the kids annoy me. All that said, the last issue (#588) dealing with the aftermath with no dialogue, save the Spider-Man/Franklin conversation? That was really well done. X-Men: S.W.O.R.D. - Now Time To Breathe - I feel this would have worked better as a second story arch with foreshadowing in the first. And Beast is just handled horribly, to the point it did not feel like Beast. Didn't help that he looked like a furry blue Joe Camel. Otherwise the art is passable, but that Beast design is just ass. Comics: 2 Graphic Novels: 1 Trades: 129 (723)

Thor: Wolves of the North - Three complete unrelated issues that make up a complete unneeded collection. Hard to shake the feeling that this is a cash grab. Spider-Man: Hobgoblin Lives - Kinda sad that 'Ned Leeds was the Hobgoblin' was kinda retconned. Comics: 2 Graphic Novels: 1 Trades: 126 (707)

Um, it was good and I enjoyed it, but I think this film had its flaws. My main problem is sadly Bane. The voice was bad. I was having a hard time understanding the dialogue and I was not alone. I went with four friends and they were all having the same problems. I got a general feeling while going through the crowd that most people had that problem. The overdubbed vocals were distracting to begin with for me personally and kinda pulled me out of the film. And I am going to contradict myself here, but I think the film was too long and yet, felt rushed. While it doesn't have the boat scene of TDK that I can clearly point to as the 'this could have been edited down' scene of the movie, I do feel that some scene dragged. Bigger than that, it felt rushed as certain things happened just because they needed to, more than a progression of the story. And the returning supporting characters all seemed to get nothing to do. And that is kinda sad. Typing this out, it seems like I am down on the movie. But I'm not. I did enjoy the film, but like I said, it does have its flaws.

Pride of Baghdad - You know what I could have done without? Lion gang rape. Yeah, that happened. For some reason. Comics: 2 Graphic Novels: 1 Trades: 124 (698)

Thor/Iron Man: God Complex - This was ass. High Evolutionary? Pass. Also, the art was bad 90s art. Captain America: Man Out of Time - I am torn. I like the idea of exploring the recently thawed Capt dealing with being a, well, Man Out of Time. However, Capt waking up in a world of cell phones and internet and Classic Avengers? Creates a disconnect in my mind. Captain America: Patriot - This surprised me. This simply follows the Patriot (a character I didn't know existed) as he deals with becoming the 3rd Capt. America. Well done. Comics: 2 Trades: 124 (698)

Finally went and saw it this afternoon. I really liked it. I feel it had a few things wrong with it, but otherwise great. Loved the casting. Aunt May & Uncle Ben are just perfect. I guess my main problem is middle of the film. The Curt/Peter "How to kill a lizard" scene in the lab felt 'off'. Seeing as this really sets up the conflict, yeah. Just kinda bugs me. Also, not a fan of the POV web-slinging. All in all, I left in a better mood than I went in so that is a success in my eyes. EDIT: I almost forgot about this. The traditional Spider-Man origin is Peter being just in the wrong place at the wrong time. In this movie however, Peter put himself in the wrong place at the wrong time. Maybe I am looking too much into it, but I think that should mean something. What that is I have no clue.

Right, villain pick. Forgot and all that. Those people. That is not really Emma. It's a robot. Or a clone. Or an Emma from Earth-364849B. Or something.

Almost forgot, I watched the Hardy/E&C No Mercy ladder match. This is the match that really hooked me into being a fan. I think it still holds up for the most part. The bumps are not overly ridiculous (most being done on the 2nd or 3rd rung of the ladder (lower than the top rope)). And the crowd. They go from 'time to buy popcorn' to 'holy shit this is awesome' by the end. Heck, JR has the hardest times telling Matt/Jeff and E/C apart. Another thing that popped into my head was the Mania triangle ladder match. Jeff Hardy standing on the huge ladder about to jump off. You know what really made that moment? The camera flashes in the crowd. He jumps off and the place lights up. Sad that do to camera phones you really can never repeat such things.

Watched a couple of the WWE documentaries on netflix. Edge - I came away with one thought, that being that he is completely happy with life after wrestling. He seems like someone who is content to live in the mountains. That is nice to see, specially with how he was force to retire. Stone Cold - 30 minutes too long. Things could have been cut down to make this a tighter documentary. Ric Flair - Best of the 3 I watched. Woo.

Astonishing X-Men: Vol 1-4 - I think my enjoyment was hampered by knowing the payoff. I enjoyed the path there, but since the ending was in no way a surprise, I wasn't emotionally attached I guess. Comics: 2 Trades: 121 (685)

I'm somewhat disappointed with these extras.

The last hero pick of the draft: Dani Moonstar

Next up: Douglas Ramsey

Captain America: Hail Hydra! - This sucked a donkey. Have five artists with really different styles (while probably the idea) was not good. Astonishing Spider-Man/Wolverine - As much as the above sucked, I never felt like my intelligence was being insulted. Cannot say the same here. At least the art was better. Hulk/Wolverine - Not much Hulk here. This was a really quick read. Four issues that I think could have been done in justice in a backup feature. Avengers & The Infinity Gauntlet - This was wonderful. A hyper-space semi! A space zeppelin! Space Pirates! Best Marvel all ages book I have read in a while. Comics: 2 Trades: 117 (660)

Howdy folks. A date has been set for the 4th (sometimes annual) cake party. Cakes will be eaten and judged. (And then the sugar coma.) A miscarriage of justice happened last time and my roommate somehow won. (Cake parties are highly political it turns out.) So, any awesome cake recipes?

With a pick in some round of the 2012 X-Men draft, the New Mutants Select: Surge

With the 39th pick of the 2012 X-Men Draft, the New Mutants select: Dust