Movie Review: Fireproof

Okay BoOgie, if you are reading this before posting your take on the movie, stop now. Continue no further. Write your review blog here, then read mine. We gotta get to posting again. I'm interested in your take. :) Love ya mann!

Well about 2wks ago, BoOgie and I took are wives to watch the movie Fireproof. I'd seen it advertised along time ago and it always looked really good. Well, it finally got to our town. It releases soon in early Jan on DVD if you missed it at the theatres. I'll be buying a copy and showing to friends and family. It is a story about a fireman who risks his life all the time to save perfect strangers but at home his marriage is "burning to the ground." An interesting twist on the topic of marriage that I don't remember seen brought to film before. Most drama films or romantic comedies bring you into a plot of two people coming together, have some struggles, and it works out in the end of the movie as a starting point for their relationship. This film shows an existing marriage that has absolutely no passion left in it, and how to regain hope and rekindle that sacred bond. It stars Kirk Cameron (Growing Pains, Left Behind, TBN, etc...) and is made by the same writers, directors, producers of Facing The Giants. It is a Christian film dedicated to keeping the vows of marriage sacred. Although it is a Christian film, non-Christians will enjoy it as well, it gives the message without being too "preachy." You will be truly blessed by watching it. Guys, sneak in some tissues, becuase there are some scenes associated to the film that may affect your allergies. Not emotions, allergies. :)

They had excellent representation of firefighters and their equipment, showed firefighters in a heroic light. Also the movie is backed up by an awesome soundtrack with some deep meaningfull songs.

I think Fireproof is a great family friendly Christian film showing a positive message of marriage in a world full of marital problems. I would warn parents there are suggestions of a character with a pornography problem, it doesn't show anything or exactly spell it out, but an adult can get the intent. It does not promote pornography, but it does show it can be a negative influence on marriage. There is some dramatic peril in some of the firefighter scenes. I highly recommend Fireproof and on the Woo Dig It scale of 1 to 10, I give it a 10!

Good job Kendrick brothers, and church team! Keep making these kinds of movies, you have my support! God Bless!!!!

Check out the trailer.

www.fireproofthemovie.com

The Incredible Hulk DVD review

In the early 1980's my father and I used to excitingly gather around the television every Friday night. In great anticipation, we were ready for our weekly dose of "The Incredible Hulk" starring Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno. When David Banner grew angered or outragged it triggered a startling metamorphisis into the Incredible Hulk!!! Lots of fun and good memories. Over 30 years later, my father and I gathered around the television the release night for the new Incredible Hulk 2008 DVD. This was a fun movie and a great DVD. It had some great extras explaining how Ed Norton even got to be involved in the acting facial expressions and motions of the CGI Hulk monster as well as his human character. Lots of fun cameos in the movie and more interlocking scenes connecting current and future Marvel Comics movies. They also played homage to the old TV show very respectfully as well as staying true to the comic. This is a reboot of sorts and is not a sequel to the Hulk 2003 psychotic thriller style movie. FYI. On the Woo Dig It scale, I have to give it a 9.0! Well done!!!

site

DC Heroes Vs Mortal Kombat

Another video game VS game is enroute. This time the DC Heroes/Villians take on the characters from Mortal Kombat. The site has a preview and a media clip showing some of the supermoves as well as some pretty neat screen shots. Reminds me of the oldddd days when the first two Mortal Kombat games were popular. website

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles

09-26-08

Fox television has started on season 2 of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. The first season only went 8 or 9 episodes due to the writer's strike, but it seems fans have kept this one going. Sarah Connor and company has continued the story with about 3 episodes (so far) that directly continue from the events so far in the series. Two of the main characters, Sarah Connor and her son John Connor, are both from the Terminator movie franchise but recast to different actors. They are doing a stand up job and bringing to life both old and new elements to the characters. Also along with them, they have two new characters with exciting twists and turns. The show so far has dealt with trying to save mankind from a dark future where robots hunt down humanity. The premise of the show is to stop an intelligent super computer named, Skynet, from existing - thus saving humanity as we know it. Although it may sound "done before" the show is done exceptionally well, from the acting, writing, special effects, and even to the continuity. Well done cast and crew of T:SCC!!!! On the WOO DIG IT scale of 1 to 10, you get a very good 8.5! Well done! 

www.fox.com/terminator

City of Heroes

09-26-08
City of Heroes has been an online superhero computer game for almost 5 years or so now. It's a fun game that allows you to create you own superhero or superheroine with distinct costume design and choose your own powers. It has been so successful that it's still going strong and they continue to add new game elements like: better graphics, more character detail options, new missions, and many - many more new features. They have special events with monsters or aliens attacking certain parts of the city and large number of superheroes turn up to help out. You can play solo or join up with up to 8 people (from all over the internet) on a team of superhero or even more for coalitions or special events. Details for their newest updates can be found here. 

COH

Don LaFontaine Dies At 68

09-02-08
From etonline.com:

Voiceover Master Don LaFontaine has died. He was 68.
LaFontaine, known as the "King of Voiceovers," died Monday afternoon at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. LaFontaine's agent, Vanessa Gilbert, tells ET that he passed away following complications from Pneumothorax, the presence of air or gas in the pleural cavity, the result of a collapsed lung. The official cause of death has not yet been released.
Over the past 25 years, LaFontaine cemented his position as the "King of Voiceovers." Aside from being the preeminent voice in the movie trailer industry, Don also worked as the voice of Entertainment Tonight and The Insider, as well as for CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox and UPN, in addition to TNT, TBS and the Cartoon Network. By conservative estimates, he voiced hundreds of thousands of television and radio spots, including commercials for Chevrolet, Pontiac, Ford, Budweiser, McDonalds, Coke, and many other corporate sponsors.
He recently parodied himself on a series of national television commercials for Geico. At last count, he has worked on nearly 5000 films, including appearances as the in-show announcer for the Screen Actors Guild and Academy Awards. Based on contracts signed, he has the distinction of being perhaps the single busiest actor in the history of SAG. Don is survived by his wife -- singer/actress Nita Whitaker, and three children: Christine, Skye and Elyse.

Naturally Supernatural

08-27-08
Someone recently showed me this clip interviewing Jason Westerfield. I had never heard of this person or the website before and found it interesting. Many might interpret this to be weird, I think it's a nice change of pace. This man has supernatural encounters with the Lord that are not hindered by any distractions. Weird, but AMAZING stuff. Enjoy. God Bless!!!
Jason Westerfield on Sid Roth Part 1
Jason Westerfield on Sid Roth Part 2

Windows 7 Details Coming Soon

08-26-08
From news.bbc.co.uk:

A first glimpse at the technology inside the next version of Windows will be given in October.
Microsoft has said that engineering information about Windows 7 will be shared with attendees at two technical conferences it runs.
Windows 7 developers will show off their work at both the Professional Developers Conference and the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference.
Based on Vista, Windows 7 is expected to be released in January 2010.
The announcement about the unveiling was made on a new Windows 7 blog written by engineers putting the software together.
Before now details about Windows 7 have been scant. Writing on the blog the two senior engineers on the project, Jon DeVaan and Steven Sinofsky, said this was because Microsoft did not want to talk up features that never make it to the final product.
It was also wary, it said, of talking about features and technologies in a way that would cause confusion among its partners.
Microsoft has also been reluctant to talk about Windows 7 as it continues to promote Windows Vista as its flagship operating system.
What is known about Windows 7 is that it will use components from Vista at its core and that it will have a touch interface that, with the appropriate screen, can recognize gestures to complete tasks. For instance pinching the screen could be used to close documents or manipulate images. Industry experts have speculated that Windows 7 will also have more virtualization technologies on board as well as tools that make it easier for people to get at their data and programs as they use different machines.

Pepperoni Hot Pocket Recall

08-26-08
From kentucky.com:

A Kentucky food packaging plant has issued its second recall this summer.
Approximately 215,660 pounds of Hot Pockets made in Nestlé Prepared Foods Co.’s Mount Sterling plant have been recalled, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.
The recall is for 54-ounce, 12-pack cartons of Hot Pockets Pepperoni Pizza with the following printed on the sides of each carton: “8157544614D,” “EST 7721A” and “BEST BEFORE JAN2010.”
Pieces of red, hard plastic and clear, flexible rubber-like material have been discovered in some of the Hot Pockets, Nestlé spokeswoman Roz O’Hearn said.
The company thinks the pieces might have come from a small, plastic testing device that is used to test the sensitivity of metal-detection equipment in the Mount Sterling plant.
Nestlé has received four complaints over the past week, O’Hearn said. There have been no reports of injury.
Nestle said consumers who might have the recalled package should call the Nestlé Consumer Services Center at 1-800-350-5016.
In July, Nestlé issued a recall on a variety of Lean Pockets packaged in Mount Sterling, also because some contained pieces of plastic.
About 350,000 packages of the products, a spinach artichoke chicken package with two sandwiches, were affected.
Nestlé makes Hot Pockets and Lean Pockets at the Mount Sterling plant, which employs about 1,100 people.

American Idol Adds A Fourth Judge

08-26-08
From nydailynews.com:

The judges' table at "American Idol" is going to get a little bigger this season with the arrival of a fourth judge, singer-songwriter Kara DioGuardi.
The proven hitmaker will join the current judges Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul in the coming season of the hit Fox series, which returns in January.
"We are turning the heat up on 'Idol' this year and are thrilled to welcome Kara to the judges' table," creator and executive producer Simon Fuller said in a statement. "She is a smart, sassy lady, and one of America's most successful songwriters. We know she will bring a new level of energy and excitement to the show."
Adding DioGuardi is the latest twist in the popular singing franchise. It also comes after a season in which the show suffered some audience erosion and critical barbs that the format had grown stale.
After the season was over, the producers and Fox executives vowed to shake up the series.
Recently, executive producer Nigel Lythgoe said he would step away from day-to-day involvement in the show.
DioGuardi is no stranger to being around budding pop stars. Some of her catalog of several hundred songs have been recorded by such folks as Gwen Stefani, Celine Dion, Taylor Hicks, Carrie Underwood, Pink, The Jonas Brothers, Britney Spears, Jewel and Hilary Duff.
This isn't the first time the producers have tried to add a fourth judge to what has been a very successful panel. In the second season, New York radio deejay Angie Martinez was added to the mix, but she left the program soon after saying she couldn't be critical of upcoming singers who had a dream to hit big.
"We had originally intended for 'American Idol' to have four judges," executive producer Cecile Frot-Coutaz said in a statement. "We've seen from our international series that having a fourth judge creates a dynamic that benefits both the contestants and the viewers."
Mike Darnell, Fox's head of alternative programming, said the addition of DioGuardi would add another female voice to the mix and provide a buddy for Abdul.
"With Kara by her side," Darnell said in a statement, "Paula finally has some back-up and now there is going to be a lot more 'girl power' on the show."
DioGuardi gets her start on the show Tuesday in New York when the contestants who have been passed through the early addition phases so far face the big judges for the first time.

A New Way To Search The Web

08-26-08
Check out this new, fun, visual alternative to traditional internet searches:
www.searchme.com
Click here for a review of the site.

"Superman: Man of Steel" - WB's Reinvention of Superman

08-26-08
From io9.com:

Now that Batman has taught Warner Brothers how to make a modern superhero movie, it's time for the the man of steel to step up and deliver the goods. Warners announced that it's pooling all its Bat-money into one big Superman tent-pole production. And yes, the movie will be a reboot, not a continuation of Bryan Singer's Super-meh film.
Passing on the idea of a multiple hero storyline like Superman/Batman or Justice League for now, the WB is focusing its efforts on just making a successful Superman movie.
Warner Bros. Pictures Group President Jeff Robinov told the Wall Street Journal that the Superman movie the WB is envisioning will be cut from the same dark and gritty cape as Dark Knight. He wants to explore the darker recesses of Superman's soul explaining that "We're going to try to go dark to the extent that the characters allow it."
Warners is finally realizing that the lackluster Superman Returns was a huge disappointment. And recognizing the problem is just the first step: Studio execs told Variety they may start the script over from scratch with Superman: Man of Steel. But as of right now there are no writers attached to the script. Also director Bryan Singer (X-Men and X2) is still "attached" to the project but the execs are more than happy to let him loose if he doesn't follow the direction the studio wants the movie to go. If I was him I'd leave artistic differences behind (if there are any) and go with the gobs of money they want to invest in this project, especially if they're OK with a darker Superman.
Deepak Chopra agrees, and encourages everyone to update their superheroes. It's not enough that their gadgetry awe inspiring, they need to deal with issues that the people care about, in order to make the people care about them. Plus a lot of their powers need an upgrade, flying around and super strength just ain't cuttin' it anymore.

But just as we evolve, so must our superheroes, he said. “We need to create a new mythology for our superheroes,” Chopra tells MTV Splash, “because they’re not parochial anymore. They’re cross-cultural. We’re in dire need of mythologies that go to the next level of consciousness.”

What does Chopra mean exactly? "He [Batman] needs to go to Darfur, or Somalia. Superman needs to have more paranormal abilities – like precognition, telepathy, the ability to see past lifetimes.”

With more DC Comics films on the way, it looks like a boom in superhero movie madness over at WB, and it looks like they're attempting to deliver goods that actually appease fans and make money.

The studio is set to announce its plans for future DC movies in the next month. For now, though, it is focused on releasing four comic-book films in the next three years, including a third Batman film, a new film reintroducing Superman, and two movies focusing on other DC Comics characters. Movies featuring Green Lantern, Flash, Green Arrow, and Wonder Woman are all in active development.

Now if only Joss Whedon's Wonder Woman script can be rescued from development oblivion...

GI Joe 2008 Convention In Dallas, TX

08-15-08
Greetings! I'm behind in blogging the GI Joe 2008 convention in Frisco, TX (near Dallas), but here we go. Fun convention at a great hotel! New product teasers with great merchandise on the way to continue the 25 years plus of the Real American Hero! The big buzz HANDS DOWN was the presentation clip of a new GI Joe animation project called "GI Joe Resolute." It was a few minute short that was later showed at San Deigo Comic Con, and someone leaked a recording on YouTube. The clip features the characters of Duke, Roadblock (or Heavy Duty, not sure), Snake Eyes, and a ton of Cobra soldiers. It included a more real world take with bullets, muzzle flashes, and shell casings, instead of laser bolts like its 1980's counterpart. The Hasbro panel showed production art, explained details, and answered a lot of questions. Resolute definitely has more of a PG or PG -13 feel, with "little to no blood" but you still see swords swinging, blades twisting, and you can hear bones breaking, so the violence is more implied than showed. A++ on Resolute!


The convention had A LOT of cool custom contests as well as dioramas and interesting panel discussions. Hearing some of the back story on the production of the original 1980's GI Joe Real American Hero product line was interesting for collectors. Pictures of the con can be seen by clicking the link below. Enjoy!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28403997@N02/

New GI Joe Comic From IDW

08-14-08
With Devil's Due Publishing's run on the GI Joe comic book now over, IDW has the license now and are relaunching it in October with issue #0 and issue #1 in January. Unfortunately, 25 years of story continuity will be scrapped for a new relaunch on the property. However, on the upside, the original writer and "Grandfather of GI Joe," Larry Hama, is returning to write. In his interview posted on hisstank.com he explains that IDW is giving Hama alot of creative freedom and letting him do it "his way" this time. It will be interesting to see what Hama comes up with. Robert Atkins is the new artist and has posted some of his GI Joe artwork on deviantart.com. It is worth a look! Check it out!

Dead Monster Washes Ashore In Montauk

08-14-08
From gawker.com:

No, Lizzie Grubman's still alive. This is an actual monster, some sort of rodent-like creature with a dinosaur beak. A tipster says that there is "a government animal testing facility very close by in Long Island," but unless the government is trying to design horrible Montauk monsters that will eat IEDs and fart fire at bad Iraqis, we're not sure why they would create such an unthinkable beast. Our guess is that it's viral marketing for something.

Mom Gives Birth On Front Lawn

08-14-08
From usatoday.com:

Fullerton, California (AP) - Alone and in labor, Jessica Higgins found the first place she could to give birth — her front lawn. The 36-year-old was driving home from the mall Tuesday when little Mary Claire decided to arrive six weeks early.
Higgins — with her 2-year-old son sleeping in the back seat — called for an ambulance as she arrived at her home, but she had already pushed her daughter out when police arrived.
"She was just standing in the driveway rocking the newborn, who was still attached to the placenta," Officer Manny Ramos said Wednesday.
Higgins' husband, Jeff, arrived in time to cut the baby's umbilical cord under the front-yard ficus tree.
The proud mother, who was recovering at a hospital Wednesday, said "everything happened so fast." She said she had her son's portrait taken at the mall earlier in the day and was on hold with the doctor's office when the baby started pushing.
Mary Claire was born at 5 pounds, 11 ounces and was doing fine at a local hospital, Higgins said.

Bigfoot Body Found

08-14-08
From news.com.au:

Two professional Bigfoot hunters claim to have found a body of the legendary creature and will present evidence of the astounding discovery to the world's press and scientists tomorrow.
Matthew Whitton and Rick Dyer, who run Bigfoot expeditions, say they found a dead Bigfoot in the woods of north Georgia about two weeks ago and have put the carcass in a freezer.
They along with "the real Bigfoot Hunter" Tom Biscardi, who has endorsed the find, will front a press conference in California, where they say DNA and photo proof will be presented.
Mr. Whitton, a Georgia police officer on leave to recover from a shooting, and Mr Dyer, a former prison officer, have posted photos of their "find" on their searchingforbigfoot website.
They describe the creature as being a 2.3m tall "part human and part ape" male and weighing over 230kg with reddish hair and blackish-gray eyes.
The infamous feet are described as being flat and 41cm long with five toes.
The hands also have five fingers and and the teeth are more "human-like than ape like".
The hunters claim several Bigfoots were spotted walking upright in the area the body was found but won't reveal the location "to protect the creatures".
Mr Whitton, Mr Dyer and Mr Biscardi say they will soon mount a secret expedition to capture a live Bigfoot.
Commenting on the discovery Scientific American said the apparent reluctance of the Bigfoot hunters to actually display or hand over the body would make those skeptical roll their eyes.

Comedian/Actor Bernie Mac Dies at 50

08-09-08
From people.com:

Bernie Mac, who for the past 30 years made the public laugh with an over-sized comic persona in film, television and comedy clubs, has died of pneumonia, PEOPLE has confirmed. He was 50.

"[He] passed away this morning from complications due to pneumonia in a Chicago area hospital," his rep, Danica Smith, told PEOPLE. "No other details are available at this time. We ask that his family's privacy continues to be respected."

On Aug 1, Mac was admitted to a hospital at Northwestern Memorial hospital with pneumonia said his rep, adding that he was expected to recover, despite widespread rumors about the seriousness of his condition.

Born Bernard Jeffrey McCullough in Chicago, Mac began his career as a stand-up comedian in the small comedy clubs of his native town. As a founding member of the Kings of Comedy comedy tour – the success of which spawned Spike Lee's 2000 concert movie The Original Kings of Comedy (also starring Steve Harvey, D.L. Hughley, Cedric the Entertainer) – Mac was able to spotlight what would become his rapid-fire delivery. This effectively launched him into the big time.

The Bernie Mac Show, which ran from 2001 to 2006, often poked fun of Mac's own life and proved a favorite of both critics and audiences – receiving a prestigious Peabody Award, as well as honors from the Television Critics Association (for best individual achievement in comedy).

In addition, the program provided a popular platform for Mac to win consecutive NAACP Image Awards for outstanding actor in a comedy series, from 2003 to 2006.

Named top actor in a comedy series at the '06 ceremony, Mac clutched his trophy and reverted to his standup character, declaring: "America, I heard your prayers, and you wanted me here. The Mac Man cometh, and I'm bringing hell with me."

Movie Roles

He scored on the big screen, too. Among his appearances were those in the comedy Guess Who (as Ashton Kutcher's imposing, prospective father-in-law); the Ocean's 11 franchise; Bad Santa; Charlie's Angels; and Pride, costarring Terrence Howard.

This spring, Mac wrapped the upcoming film Soul Men, a comedy costarring Samuel L. Jackson about a former singing duo staging a comeback. He is also set to appear in Old Dogs with John Travolta, Robin Williams and Matt Dillon.

Responding to news of Mac's death, his Ocean's cohort George Clooney, said, "The world just got a little less funny. He will be missed dearly."

A man of many media, Mac published a 2001 collection of comic riffs, I Ain't Scared of You and a 2006 memoir, Maybe You Never Cry Again.

In February 2005, Mac, then 47, revealed that for the previous two decades he had suffered from sarcoidosis, an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in organs such as the lungs or lymph nodes. "It has not altered or limited my lifestyle," he said at the time.

Since 1977, Mac was married to Rhonda McCullough, with whom he had a daughter, Je'Niece, born in 1978. A graduate of Xavier University of Louisiana (with a bachelors degree in psychology and a masters in mental health counseling), Je'Niece married in 2003 and also has a daughter, Jasmine. His family survives Mac.

Wanted to Enjoy Life

In 2007, Mac told David Letterman on the Late Show that he intended to retire from standup comedy.

"It's going to be 30 years for me, and I'm going to call it," said Mac. "I missed a lot of things, you know. I was a street performer for two years. I went into clubs in 1977."

The years of hard work, Mac says, caused him to "miss out on so much, you know, and you live in all these hotels – I was on the road 47 weeks out of the year." As the comedian told Letterman, "I want to enjoy my life a little bit."

Quote Me: Confucius Say

08-08-08

Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without.

Words from Chinese philosopher Confucius (c.551-479 BC).

John Edwards Lied As Presidential Candidate

08-08-08
From abcnews.go.com:

John Edwards repeatedly lied during his Presidential campaign about an extramarital affair with a novice filmmaker, the former Senator admitted to ABC News today.
In an interview for broadcast tonight on Nightline, Edwards told ABC News correspondent Bob Woodruff he did have an affair with 44-year old Rielle Hunter, but said that he did not love her.
Edwards also denied he was the father of Hunter's baby girl, Frances Quinn, although the one-time Democratic Presidential candidate said he has not taken a paternity test.
Edwards said he knew he was not the father based on timing of the baby's birth on February 27, 2008. He said his affair ended too soon for him to have been the father.
A former campaign aide, Andrew Young, has said he was the father of the child.
According to friends of Hunter, Edwards met her at a New York city bar in 2006. His political action committee later paid her $114,000 to produce campaign website documentaries despite her lack of experience.
Edwards said the affair began during the campaign after she was hired. Hunter traveled with Edwards around the country and to Africa.
Edwards said he told his wife, Elizabeth, and others in his family about the affair in 2006.
Edwards made a point of telling Woodruff that his wife's cancer was in remission when he began the affair with Hunter. Elizabeth Edwards has since been diagnosed with an incurable form of the disease.
When the National Enquirer first reported the alleged Edwards-Hunter affair last October 11, Edwards, his campaign staff and Hunter vociferously denounced the report.
"The story is false, it's completely untrue, it's ridiculous," Edwards told reporters then.
He repeated his denials just two weeks ago.
Edwards today admitted the National Enquirer was correct when it reported he had visited Hunter at the Beverly Hills Hilton last month.
The former Senator said his wife had not known about the meeting.
Since becoming pregnant, Hunter has lived under assumed names in a series of expensive homes in North Carolina and, more recently, in Santa Barbara, Calif.
Edwards denied paying any money to Hunter to keep her from going public but said it was possible some of his friends or supporters may have made payments without telling him.
He said he would ask questions about any possible arrangement.