Friday, July 14, 2006

That Nostalgic Feeling

Over the past few weeks, I've experienced a feeling of nostalgia like no other. I know that this is a broad statement, but let me try to explain. Last week I came across 2 movie trailers that bring me back to my childhood. The first trailer that was released was for the third sequel in the Spiderman series. Check it out at http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/spiderman3/site/ This trailer makes me extremely excited because it revolves around a villain (Venom) that I grew up with in junior high/high school. Though the back story in the movie is not going to follow the comics (Spiderman brings the alien symbiote back from another planet after the Secret Wars series, wears the black and white symbiote for a long time, and then decides that it is trying to manipulate his mind...gets rid of it in a bell tower (because it is sensitive to high pitched sound)...the symbiote hooks up with Eddie Brock..who become Venom). Though none of us right now know for sure what the story will be around Venom in the movie, all that has been leaked has said that it won't follow the comics..which stinks. I'm massively excited about this new movie..and the trailer is one of the best things I've seen in a long time.

Though the Spiderman trailer is great, I have to admit that the teaser trailer for the Transformers movie (due out next summer too) is very imaginative. Check it out at www.transformersmovie.com/. We don't get to see an actual picture of either an Autobot or Decepticon, but you get to see the shadow of one of them...which is great considering the lead up to the the appearance of the shadow. I won't spoil the trailer, but I have to say that it really psyches me up to see the movie.

Another element of nostalgia was delivered to me on Monday of this week in the mail. I got an invitation to my 10 yr. high school reunion (scheduled for Aug. 26). Though I have to say that I'm not overly excited about the reunion, it will be nice to see some of the people. My class was so small that we were pretty close knit..guess a class size of around 30 will do that to you. I'll show up at the reunion to show off my wife and my new child...wonder how many people will be married, divorced, and college graduates. Maybe I'll be surprised considering alot of my class wanted to jump the gun and get married right after high school graduation..more power to them...it definitely wasn't my cup of tea then.

Finally, I have to end my nostalgia trip with a 2 thumbs up review for the New Super Mario Bros. Nintendo DS game. Nintendo decided to go back to the look of the old games I grew up on (side scrolling, block breaking fun). I've seen some people complain about Nintendo not pushing the envelope (considering the Xbox 360), but I say screw them. This game is so addictively fun. Makes me harken back to the middle school/junior high days of sitting on my rump in front of a TV with blood shot eyes...banging the red A and B buttons. The game is worth the money..have fun with it.

Currently listening to:
The Futureheads
News and Tributes
Released on:6-13-06

Thursday, July 13, 2006

What a Shame

I was looking at the website for the newspaper from my hometown today. It mentioned that the movie theater that I grew up going to is being torn down to make room for a parking lot ( http://www.jacksonsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060713/NEWS01/607130306/1002 ). The theater has been abandoned for well over 6 years because more advanced movie theaters were built in town. The theater owners didn't have the money or the desire to update with the technology and modern times...which is kinda sad. I remember going to see the Indiana Jones movies, Ghostbuster movies, my first date movie (Forrest Gump when I was a freshman in high school), the Matrix movies, and numerous crap movies that I can't remember. I know that in the big scheme of things that this theater is just another building, but to alot of people my age, it is a landmark. So many memories of popcorn, syrupy drinks, sticky floors, make out sessions, long nights standing in line, and booming theater speakers....it's a place of memories. It's just a shame that nothing was done with the theater...guess I can take my child by a parking lot in the near future and point to him and say...'Yeah, Dad saw lots of movies here when he was growing up.' I'm sure he'll look at me with a strange look, think I'm crazy, and turn on the dvd player in the minivan. Oh well, I guess it's all about the memories.

Currently listening to:
The Legends
Public Radio
Released: 6-13-06

Wednesday, July 05, 2006

False Advertising

You know that you are a man when you begin to watch advertising (some aimed at ladies) and think..that's utter bullshit. I was reminded many times this past weekend when I was shown the new KY Sensual Mist commerical. The lady is talking to her friend on the phone and she says the words 'a warm sensual feeling,' and then the guy looks up there thinking...'wow, my wife/girlfriend wants to have sex...and heck, she bought something to help us out.' As any guy will attest, this commercial is utter bullshit. First of all, (a) how many men need to be told by their wives/girlfriends that it's time to have sex..aren't we the ones hounding them all the time; (b) how many women are actually in the mood to have sex regularly...and seriously, how many women are walking around Target/Wal-Mart and thinking..'wow, I need to buy that KY sensual mist stuff because I'm really in the mood to have sex'; and (c) why does a woman as hot at the girl in the commercial need to tell her guy to have sex with her...the guy must be completely stupid or queer. I know that my statements listed here were not considered by the likely all female/dike/queer advertising group of people who put together the commercial.

Next up, a commercial that was obviously meant for men. The recent new batch of Klondike ice cream commercials are hilarious and likely aimed toward men. Within the commercial, a
guy is talking to his girlfriend/wife...and a hot chick walks by them..the guy doesn't look at her..he focuses on his wife's coversation...you see a screen saying..this guy deserves a klondike bar...then you see him eating it next to a proud looking wife/girlfriend. This commercial is so true and funny to boot. Maybe as nice as I've been helping out with the baby..that I'll get a Klondike bar sometime soon.

Finally...on behalf of all Americans, can we please have the irritating Ford commercial with Mr. American Idol Taylor Hicks removed from TV, radio, and all other advertising mediums right away. Seriously, what kind of talent does this guy really have? I'm totally aware of the large audience of American Idol and now I'm completely aware of what little musical taste the US public has. Seriously, can't you find something better to watch on Tues. and Wednesday nights? Let me think...Tues nights...you have Scrubs, the Shield, Gilmore Girls...shows with actual good writing and talent. I guess the test audience for American Idol involved a bunch of lab monkeys that were so dumbed down that they forgot how to throw poop. Yep, sounds like the American Idol audience.

Currently listening to:
The Bottle Rockets
Zoysia
Released on: 6-20-06