Finally! Tonight!!

Roy "Big Country" Nelson takes on Kimbo Slice at 9pm on SPIKE TV! I've been waiting on this episode for a week now and it's finally almost here. Kevin Jr., Kevin II, Kevlar, Kassandra, Kiara, and Kevina's daddy is going to be bringing it against Thibodaux, Louisiana's finest beer bellied fighter, Mr. Big Country, who has lost his last 2 fights (against Jeff Monson and Andrei Arlovski). He is, however, a much more rounded and experienced fighter at this point in his career (13-4 vs Kimbo's 3-1) and is a former IFL Heavyweight Champion.

Alice In Chains Get Born Again

I picked up the new Alice in Chains CD "Black Gives Way To Blue" yesterday and must say I'm blown away by how good it is. When Layne Staley died back in '02, I thought the band died with him. When they reformed and Comes with the Fall vocalist William DuVall joined them, I was a bit skeptical... until I actually heard some live stuff. Still though, it seemed more like a tribute. Now that I've heard all the new stuff I must say welcome back boys. This totally rocks. Jerry Cantrell, Mike Inez, and Sean Kinney are all present and accounted for and Jerry's unique stamp is on all the songs. Do yourself a favor and buy this.

They were on Jimmy Kimmel Live last night and did one of the new tracks, "Check My Brain" and a classic Alice in Chains tracks from the Singles soundtrack, "Would?"

Some Comics For Your Hump Day

Movie Review: Children of the Corn (2009)

Synopsis: It'’s 1975, and a young married couple – Vietnam vet Burt and preacher’s daughter Vicki – are driving cross-country straight into the heartland of Hell. Here in Gatlin, Nebraska, the town’s bloodthirsty children – led by the boy preacher Isaac and his teen enforcer Malachai – have slaughtered all adults by command of He Who Walks Behind The Rows. Now two new Outlanders have arrived…and The Time Of Sacrifice is at hand.

Despite being pretty faithful to the original story, this remake isn't any better than the 1984 version of the Stephen King short story. That's not to say it's awful either, but somewhere in between.

It starts out incredibly annoyingly with the couple driving through the Nebraska corn fields on an isolated highway, having gotten off the main interstate. For the first 30 minutes it's just bickering and arguing between the 2 as she complains and bitches about every thing that happens whether it's in his control or not. This reminded me of being at dinner with a couple who is at each others throats the whole time, it's just uncomfortable and annoying. It didn't exactly cause me to sympathize with her or really even care what happened to her to be honest. Once her mouth is shut, the film becomes a lot more watchable.

Preston Bailey (who plays Cody on Dexter) plays Isaac this time around and I thought his performance was pretty wooden. This could be due to all the religious garbage he has to spew though. All of the dialog in the film is pretty weak actually. There's a bit of blood and guts, a very interesting church sex scene, and of course some chases through the cornfield. I did like how they have the vet, played by David Anders (Adam Monroe on Heroes), think he was back in Nam while out in the corn, being pursued by Viet Cong instead of a bunch of kids. I would have liked to have seen He Who Walks Behind The Rows, but that never happens, which is a wasted opportunity I thought.

In the end the movie is sort of about the social climate of the ’70s, with lots of religious fanaticism and of course the effect of Vietnam on a relationship and an individual. It's really not a bad flick at all for a SyFy Channel product, but it's not going to sweep the Academy Awards or anything either.

5/10

Sonic Syndicate Burns This City

How do you like your Swedish melodic death metal? I like mine heavy with a side of ass-kicking. This is the new video from Sonic Syndicate for the song Burn This City. It's the brand new single of the forthcoming album due early next year, but they've got a 4-song EP out in November.

This video features their new singer Nathan J. Biggs, formerly of The Hollow Earth Theory.

Turn this up please.

No really, do it.

Movie Review: Hit And Run

Synopsis:After drinking a lot of booze with her girlfriends in a bar, a college girl drives her jeep home; however, she looses control avoiding a tire in the road and runs off the road. She recovers and all seems well, except when she arrives home she is horrified to discover a man's nearly dead body impaled on the bumper of her Jeep. Terrified and irrational, she is faced with a series of decisions that determine her fate.

I really thought this started off with some good potential but it was quickly ruined by the lead character's continually unrealistic and ridiculous reactions to situations. Once she's home and finds the man she just behaves so stupidly it's hard to sympathize with her at all. It's also based on a true story really, as I think everyone remembers reading the news story a woman who actually did hit a man and drive home with him in her bumper, but after that it all gets absurd to the point of being a slasher movie with that villain you can't kill ala I Know What You Did Last Summer.

The lead actress (Laura Breckenridge) is pretty believable and really cute and actually most of the acting in the film is pretty decent for this type of film. It's got a bit of gore too in it and a few suspenseful scenes. The direction leans a bit towards "artsy" I guess as some of the camera angles give it a very up-close type.

By the end it's just some OK b-movie type fun, decent for the budget, but isn't anything special at all and really could have been a much better flick with just a few changes to the script I thought, because it's an interesting story. You could do worse for 80 minutes.

5/10

Weekend Wrap

So I had originally planned a big Oktoberfest party for this past weekend, but it sort of got all hosed up and plans were changed. Well then I ended up with nothing going on so at some point I decided I needed to at least put up all the decorations even if it was just me to enjoy them. I put them up, bought some German beer (Spaten Oktoberfest and Kostritzer), and of course then figured what the hell, might as well make some German style food. I picked up some beer brats and kraut and such and figured hey what the hell, all this food and beer so I might as well call a few peeps. We watched football, drank and ate, played a few yard games and listened to Oktoberfest music. By about 2 AM as a couple of us closed it down in the hot tub I decided that I'm definitely, beyond the shadow of a doubt, going to the real Oktoberfest in Munich next year. I vow! I've said it before, but 2 AM drunken guarantees in the hot tub cannot be broken. So it's on. Again.


The weather in Arkansas yesterday was upper 80s and a bit humid, still very Summer-like, so I figured the lake would be nice. We drove up, hopped on the boat and were greeted with a whole lot of sun, very few boats and an overall very pleasant cruise around the lake. I did try the water out though and let me tell you it was pretty cold. A good day for enjoying the weather, just not in the water.

Check out my beer brats and kraut. Load the pan up with brats, pour a full beer (I used Sam Adams Oktoberfest) and finish covering the brats with water. Then take about half an onion sliced up and add a can of sourkraut and bring to a simmer on the grill. When it simmers, take the brats out and grill them while letting the pan still simmer on the top. When the brats are done, toast some hoagie buns, slap on the brat, top it with your kraut and onions (and mustard for me) and enjoy with a cold brew.

A New Nightmare On Elm Street

Here's the new trailer for A Nightmare on Elm Street remake, due in theaters April 30th, 2010. It's a re-imagining of the horror icon Freddy Krueger, this time played by Jackie Earle Haley (Rorschach in Watchmen). I think it looks pretty cool.

Dexter's Back!

Check out this very cool and creative video set to the Queen/David Bowie tune "Under Pressure" for the new season of my favorite show on television, Dexter. It starts tonight!

"This season Dexter Morgan has everything he wants except the one thing he needs. A little time to kill. Don't miss the season 4 premiere of Dexter Sunday, September 27th."

Sunday Funnies

Foxy Ladies

So I get tired of all the dudes on the planet in their Affliction shirts but I would never tire of this. Affliction does ladies swimwear now. The line is from Sinful Clothing by Affliction and this video has a bit of music by Jimi Hendrix, Kid Rock and Joan Jett mixed with lots of tats, plenty of slow motion and Sinful models Tashia and Monica. I instantly went online and ordered 7 bikinis. Giggity!

KISS Returns To Detroit

Fox News coverage about KISS' Cobo Arena shows in Detroit. What I think the guy failed to mention is that the "dress rehearsal" or whatever he called it is actually the shooting of the video for "Modern Day Delilah" I believe. About 1,500 lucky fans attended the event, where they also previewed the new stage and taped two songs for an upcoming episode of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" KISS' appearance on ABC-TV's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" will be broadcast on the Wednesday, October 7 episode.

Cheers! Guinness Beer Turns 250 - The World Newser

Cheers! Guinness Beer Turns 250 - The World Newser

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New Video From RED

Here's the new video for Nashville rockers Red's "Forever," from their latest album, Innocence & Instinct. Not really music video as much as just a bunch of clips from their tour. Good song though.

Movie Review: Grace

Synopsis: After losing her unborn child in a car accident, a distraught woman insists on carrying the baby to term. But following the delivery the child miraculously returns to life... with an appetite for human blood.

This isn't really an "in-your-face" type horror movie as much as it's a disturbing, atmospheric, psychological horror piece... which of course means a pretty slow pace. The whole thought of it is just creepy and it really takes some sacred things, like a mother-daughter bond and newborn babies in general, and makes them horror. That will disturb a lot of people and I really can't imagine most mothers or especially mothers-to-be even wanting to see this film. That being said, and since I'm neither (surprise!), I thought it was an OK little film.

The characters were sort of dull and the dialog wasn't much to speak of (get the pun? ha!) but at least the character with the most amount of screen time, the mother, was played by the sexy Jordan Ladd (Hostel II, Death Proof) and I thought she was good and plays the role with some depth. The part of the mother-in-law was played sort of over-the-top but the role also seemed to call for that. Without the mother-in-law role the film might have gotten really boring.

It's a pretty emotionally moving story, despite what feels like a little dark humor, and it's definitely unsettling. What limits would a mother go to provide for her child, while dealing with the other trying times of motherhood and also an overbearing mother-in-law?

Do not go into this thinking, as I did, that it's another take on the old baby-goes-wild-and-eats-some-fools classic "It's Alive" because it's nothing like that film. This is more of a slow-paced horror/drama. It's unique and well worth a look too, if you can get past how wrong it all is.

6/10

Small Boy Stops Burglar

Little Boy Heroically Shoots, Mutilates Burglar

The Juggernaut Diaries: Episode 2

Check out Arkansas' own Mike Wessel's blog about The Ultimate Fighter: The Heavyweights 2nd episode last night. He talks about the fight between Wes Shivers and James McSweeney, what really went down between Roy Nelson and the coaches and also a bit about how he felt Team Rampage was giving special treatment to Kimbo over the other team members..

The Juggernaut Diaries: Mike Wessel’s TUF 10 Blog; Episode 2

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Kimbo vs Big Country Preview

One of my favorite shows on TV is The Ultimate Fighter and we found out on last night's episode that next week's fight will be Kimbo Slice vs Roy "Big Country" Nelson in what will surely be the biggest fight in the show's history. This is absolutely going to rock. If they stay on their feet it will be a thunderous war. If Roy can take him down, he might finish him quickly.

Personally I'm pulling for Kimbo. I like his attitude and his work ethic. Roy Nelson comes across as arrogant and full of himself like he's already the greatest UFC fighter ever or something.

So here's a Spike TV sneak peek at next weeks TUF 10 show featuring Kimbo Silce vs. Roy “Big Country” Nelson. It's so on!


Sneak Peek: Kimbo Fights

More Dallas and UFC 103

I already blogged a bit about the first day of my Dallas trip, but figured I'd blog a bit more since you know I always have lots to say.

We got up on Saturday and looked for something touristy to do downtown and found the The Dallas World Aquarium just a few blocks from our hotel, right by the West End District. We were there right as is opened so there was no line and it was only $20 for adults and I have to say it was money well spent. If you're ever in downtown Dallas you must see this place. I can't really put it up there with aquariums I've been to in New Orleans or Atlanta as they're massive, but this place is pretty cool. They had a great rain forest type room with lots of tropical animals, crocs, manatees, flamingos, a leopard, sloths, sharks, sting rays, snakes... and lots more. It's just a really neat place and a great value.


After that we walked around the West End District as it was "Talk Like A Pirate Day" and there were various things going on, from street vendors to an outdoor stage with bands. It was starting to get a bit warm and we were looking for A/C and good beer and we happened upon West End Pub, which had both. In fact, they had a really good selection of beer and it was a great little atmosphere. I had a couple of Widmer Brothers beers, Okto and Drifter Pale Ale, and we chowed down a bit while we caught some college football before heading back to the room to "freshen up" for UFC 103.


After making the sweaty walk over to American Airlines Arena early enough to make sure we didn't miss any fights, we avoided standing in a big line by ducking into a cigar bar right outside the arena and buying the cheapest cigars they had ($10) while drinking a couple of Negra Modelos. Then we stank. So we headed over to the fights.

American Airlines Arena is a pretty impressive venue to say the least. Our seats were pretty cool, but as the fights went on we got a text from Roli Delgado, who fights in the UFC and was on The Ultimate Fighter, who was there and when we went down to talk to him he let us set in some unoccupied seats next to him so we were on the 3rd row off the floor, right where all the fighters came in. Lots of fighters around us down there including Todd Duffee and Paul Buentello, who will be meeting at UFC 107, Phil Baroni (2 rows in front of us), Sam Hogar and walking by on the floor we saw Uriah Faber, Tito Ortiz, Skyskrape and Punkass from Tapout and of course all the fighters as they walked right by us to get to the cage. It was also very cool to be sitting next to a UFC fighter and listening to his thoughts on the fights.

The fights? All-in-all I thought it was a great card. I was disappointed in how the Rich Franklin fight ended as I thought it was sort of flukey, but Vitor did jump all over him when he crumpled. Tyson Griffin looked great. Efrain looked great knocking out Cole Miller and I didn't see that one coming. The Koscheck/Trigg fight and the Cro Cop/Dos Santos fight went pretty much as one-sided as I expected. The Rick Story and Brian Foster fight was awesome and Rick "The Horror" Story has become one of my favorite new fighters, as he also walked out to Black Label Society's "Fire It Up". And speaking of walk-out music, we heard some odd ones. Brian Foster came out to Shinedown's "Simple Man", Tyson Griffin to Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger" and Junior Dos Santos came out to "Gonna Fly Now" from Rocky. Add those to Cro Cop's usual Duran Duran's "Wild Boys" and it was a departure from the normal metal or rap. Of course we did get AC/DC's "For Those About To Rock" for Rich Franklin and Ozzy's fitting "Crazy Train" for Hermes Franca.

Anyway... I got to see a few MMA legends, some great finishes, a rowdy sold out crowd of over 17,000 and some upcoming stars in the UFC. It was a pretty awesome time.

And we got to see this fat, drunk guy dance to several songs during intermissions:


Here's a few more misc pics:

Rock Hall Continues With The Suck

Yes, I know that I bitch about this every year. And yes I know it's useless and I just should continue to forget about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and hope someday there is a real one but then they pull me right back it by adding a band like Metallica last year, Black Sabbath in 2006 or Van Halen in 2007. Well, the list of 12 acts up for voting for the 2010 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is out, and it's an eclectic group to say the least. Here they are:

KISS, LL Cool J, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Genesis, Jimmy Cliff, The Hollies, Laura Nyro, Donna Summer, Darlene Love, ABBA, the Chantels, and the Stooges.

Only five acts make it in. On that list, my votes would go to KISS, the Stooges, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Genesis and ABBA. Mind you I don't love all those bands but all were widely influential. If anyone ever convinces me that rap should really be a part of the ROCK Hall I'd go with LL Cool J.

But still, there are some awesome bands that eligible and still not even making it on the damn ballot, while Donna Summer is? Give me a break. Here's my top 10 bands that I think belong in the Hall who can't find their way, with the year they became eligible in parenthesis.

* Alice Cooper (1994)
* Rush (1998)
* Journey (2000)
* Cheap Trick (2002)
* The Cure (2003)
* The Cars (2003)
* Def Leppard (2004)
* Duran Duran (2006)
* Beastie Boys (2007)
* Bon Jovi (2008)

That's my top 10 at least. I can think of a lot more I'd like to see like Styx, Peter Frampton, REO Speedwagon, Foreigner, Judas Priest, Motley Crue, Ozzy Osbourne, Pantera... many more but it seems like they only take 1 rock band per year and at this rate it'll take forever to get some of the great bands in. What's the point? I know you can't just open it up to everybody but it's gotten pretty ridiculous. Like I don't even know who Laura Nyro is. She's a songwriter... well great, so is Bernie Taupin and he's not in yet. Donna Summer is up for vote, but The Cure or Cheap Trick never has been? And it's called the "ROCK" hall?

I'm actually shocked that KISS got onto the ballot. My guess is that there's no way they get voted in. It should be interesting.

The Hall is supposed to be for the fans, then let us vote I say.

The 25th annual induction ceremony is slated for March 15 in New York City. The inductees will be announced in December.

Rock And Roll Hall of Fame website

Hump Day Funnies