Olympus Has Fallen - Review

Saw a screening of Olympus Has Fallen tonight.  Thanks to my weak-ass camera phone, my picture of our surprise guest turned out blurry.... Anyways, GERARD BUTLER was there to introduce the film, and he sat 2 rows behind me to watch it through as well!

NOTE: If you have screening tickets and you're waiting on line and someone comes out to say there are no spots available, there's a chance you won't get in...STAY IN LINE!  Wait it out, because you never know what may happen.  In this case, I was about #20 in line when the 1st warning announcement was made, and I moved up to #3 after they let more people in and made the 2nd warning announcement.  Then the line had become so short due to people leaving that they just let everyone else in.  HA!  It was cold as hell waiting in line but in the end, it was all worth it.  Lesson learned, people... it ain't over til the fat lady sings.  To some of the beautiful ladies behind me, sorry, but you could've seen Gerard Butler... =/

The movie was enjoyable, very action-packed, somewhat predictable, generic plot, but still fun.  It touches on the whole United States-North Korea conflict going on and had an Air Force One feel to it.  I'm going to start writing fuller reviews soon, but I'll leave this one short for now.  There are several funny moments throughout, but the funniest for me was the "hashtag" moment.  That's all I will spoil for now, but I would recommend this if you're looking to sit back, relax and enjoy an action thriller that has the feel of a summer blockbuster flick.

6/10

UPDATE: I forgot, before the screening they were giving out Olympus Has Fallen mini-posters, and afterwards, they gave out this Olympus Has Fallen pin.

New York Knicks vs. Miami Heat, Sunday, March 3, 2013

A poor attempt at panoramic photo... Welcome to Madison Square Garden!

New York Knicks vs. Miami Heat, Sunday, March 3, 2013.  We should've had this one... We had a 16 point lead after the 1st half.  Then LeBron James came out strong in the 3rd and next thing you know, we're tied.  We didn't hustle as much as we did in the 1st half defensively, and we were getting sloppy.

All in all, as a fan of basketball, this was an entertaining game.  It was a great experience watching arguably the best player in the league right now in LeBron James in an NBA basketball game, and it was icing on the cake to see 3 LeBron alley-oops and the LeBron James vintage-ball-to-the-side-dunk (which I took a nice mid-air photo of, see below), even though it sealed the win for them.  As a fan of the Knicks, very disappointed.  We should be 3-0 against the Heat.

They also gave free Knicks t-shirts to everyone, size XL, sponsored by Time Warner Cable:
 

Celebrity Row included one of the LMFAO guys, tennis players Victoria Azarenka and Juan Martin Del Potro, singer Phil Collins, actor Paul Rudd, director & long-time Knicks fan Spike Lee, New York Giants Michael Strahan and Victor Cruz, comedian JB Smoove, and more (see Celebrity Row photo down below).

The View

I'm so excited now, because this happened last night....



My goal of experiencing an Undertaker Wrestlemania entrance will be met!
I had received an ominous text before the show that read, "I have risen."  But now it's official...

The Undertaker vs. CM Punk @Wrestlemania XXIX

Coming soon: My weekend @The Big Event on Saturday and @the Knicks vs. Miami Heat game @MSG on Sunday 03.03.13 with PHOTOS!

If the Mick Foley @MSG post didn't already give it away... here's the big announcement:

I'm officially going to Wrestlemania XXIX (29) @MetLife Stadium on Sunday April 7, 2013!!!

I missed the opportunity to go to Wrestlemania XX (20) in 2004 due to being in California and taking a shift at the Cal Dining Center & Bar.  My frickin' co-worker/supervisor went while I had to handle his shift, WTF!!!  He was from Cali, I'm a New Yorker, that was supposed to be my ticket!!!  Missed watching my boy, Mick Foley and the reunion of the Rock n' Sock Connection, and most of all, an epic Triple Threat Match for the WWF Championship with my boy, Chris Benoit (RIP) vs HHH and Shawn Michaels, making HHH tap out, followed by a celebration with Eddie Guerrero (RIP), the World Champion at the time.  That would've been my chance to experience an epic Undertaker "Wrestlemania" entrance but looks like this will be the year that I get to check that off my bucket list.  Wrestlemania XXIX, here I come!!!

Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

Got to see Who Framed Roger Rabbit in its original 1988 35mm film stock tonight!
So far, I've been able to watch 4 of my 5 favorite movies ever on the big screen.

The 25th Anniversary Blu-Ray of the movie is coming out soon, be sure to get your copy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WWE CM Punk uses a Piledriver on John Cena

Wow!!!! I haven't seen one of these in 15 years!!!! Match of the Year candidate, simply amazing!!!




WWE '13 - PS3 (Google Affiliate Ad)

A New York Minute With Jill Martin: Mick Foley (2/24)

Congratulations on the WWE Hall of Fame induction, Mick!  See you again soon... Have a Nice Day!

Been busy working the past few weeks.  Big announcement coming soon...

Here's an important message from Stephen Silver to us artists out there to "Stop Working For Free":
http://www.cartoonbrew.com/ideas-commentary/stephen-silver-stop-working-for-free-77417.html 



I have worked on some past productions for free and it is true what he says... sometimes you are treated like shit and no one respects you and the time and effort you invest, especially when you don't have the confidence in yourself and what you bring to the table.  Of course, on the professional sets I've worked on, they pay minimum or low wages and this is because they respect your hard work and dedication and assistance (I for one know that whatever I'm working on, I put forth all my effort to do my job the best that I can).  Even those that I am paid to work on, I put up with people, most of the time younger than me (yeah, I'm old despite looking and sounding 10 years younger than I am), barking orders at me time and again, but when you're not getting paid, you should say "fuck this, I'm not taking this shit, I'm outta here" because that's just plain disrespectful, especially when you're working for free when you ought to be getting paid for your services.  Believe you me, it's just not worth it.  Credit my ass, these people don't respect the fact that everyone is a part of a team and therefore everyone should be treated fairly and respectfully.  Some people don't understand how this industry works just yet.  Then again, some people are just assholes, heh.

Soon, if no one has figured it out yet already, I will let everyone in on my profession and my ties to The Dark Knight Rises.  But for now, I want to say that this industry that I work in is all about teamwork and if some people are getting paid for their work, then you should as well for your skills, talents, efforts, and experience.  I support your rant, Stephen Silver.  Spread the word.

What a great week for the Knicks -- 3 home games, 3 wins!  We defended our home turf well, and albeit they were teams we should beat, in the past we would've probably lost one of those or played 3 tight, close games, but we didn't this year.  Our team chemistry is stronger than ever and we are ready to make a strong playoff push to the championship!

The Orlando Magic got off to a hot start but couldn't stop us.  No Arron Afflalo and Big Baby Glen Davis (sorry man, you'll always be Big Baby, thank that punk bitch KG for that) left the game early within minutes.  Jameer Nelson had it going early but we got him off his rhythm and he couldn't hit nothing after that.  Looks like we will sweep the Magic this season, but this is something that should happen because they're horrible this year.  Amare was 7 for 7 from the field, which was very impressive.  He's getting his hops back and his summer with The Dream Hakeem Olajuwon is paying off as his post-moves look amazing!

The Milwaukee Bucks was a close game up until the 4th when we started to pull away.  Jason Kidd returned from a sore back and played limited minutes.  We need you in important games as well as during our push in the playoffs.  We need all our veterans, Kidd, Camby, Sheed.  Larry Sanders looked impressive on defense for the Bucks, but we kept Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis in check this game.  Tyson Chandler had a 20 rebound game, first Knick to do it since David Lee a couple of years ago.  Good job crashing the boards, Tyson!

Finally, the Sacramento Kings...  We remembered that game in Sacramento's home court, where James Johnson hit that buzzer 3 to win.  The Knicks remembered that too.  Despite the poor 1 for 13 shooting and 18-4 deficit start, we turned it around in a big way... I mean, a really big way... the 3rd quarter wasn't over yet and we had a 45-point lead!  It expanded to 50 at one point in the 4th, where it was all garbage minutes for our bench players.  Melo finished with 9 points, 5 assists, which showed his sharing the ball when his scoring wasn't needed.  Tyson had back-to-back 20 rebound games.  Amare was 10 for 10 with 21 points.  Steve Novak Discount Double Check sighting!!!  He hit 4 for 4 three-pointers in the 2nd quarter, finished with 5 of 7 behind the arc and absolutely nothing else except 1 foul, haha.  Welcome back, Steve!  Way to bring the championship belt back!  Let's keep this rhythm going...

It was total annihilation, obliteration, whatever word you wish to use.  I felt really bad for Keith Smart and the Sacramento Kings (my 3rd favorite team behind the Portland Trailblazers), but you guys did sneak one by us last time and we had to respond.

Although Carmelo Anthony didn't break the Richie Guerin record of 33 straight games (over 2 seasons) with 20 points or more due to the blowout game against the Sacramento Kings, we did get the win and it didn't even look like he was trying to.  He was a team player and it is clear his focus this year is winning and getting his teammates involved.  Good job, Melo, your record at 31 will still stand for something.

One more home game against the Detroit Pistons before our 2-game road trip.  If the Miami Heat lose tonight to the Toronto Raptors, we will attain the #1 spot in the Eastern Conference and Mike Woodson gets to coach the Eastern Conference All-Stars during the All-Star Game in Houston... let's go Raptors!  Beat the Heat!

Some amazing news I want to share but won't until a few weeks... I won't spoil it yet until I have official pictures. 

By the way, what a great win for the Knicks against the Atlanta Hawks last night!  Came all the way down to the wire with Carmelo Anthony's 3-point-play giving us the 106-104 lead.  J-Smoove almost made a last second three pointer despite our excellent defense keeping the ball away from the hoop, but shades of the Sacramento final shot a few months ago came into notion.  Luckily, we had a different outcome.  Melo also tied the franchise record for 3-pointers made at 9.  He could've tried to reach Kobe's NBA record of 12 but his focus was on getting the win, and in that we succeeded.

Thank you Juliette for the Piggy chocolate lollipop!

Knicks vs. Celtics game 2 going on right now.  So far, we're looking good and ready to rebound from our first encounter to tie the series up.  I don't understand how we lost to the Brooklyn Nets in the last game of our 4-game series.  They are a scrub team, and despite the new home, they are still the New Jersey Nets to me so those "Brooklyn" fans can just shove it.  The Brooklyn Nets suck.

I started playing Dead Island recently and man is it fun.  It's like a Diablo game with zombies -- 4 different character types to choose from, zombies drop money and items when killed, rare weapon drops/finds/purchases, side quests, etc.  Overall, a very awesome game so far, especially since I'm a Diablo fan (although I haven't played the 3rd one yet), and I'll update my progress soon.  I started playing as the Chinese hotel receptionist, Xian Mei, who is the martial arts blades expert in the game, so I've been jumping around slashing and chopping heads off!  I just made my "mule" character, Purna, and I will get into her build as I level her up a bit.  I hear Borderlands 2 is similar but is more of a 1st person shooter than a 1st person hack-n-slash.  I'll probably be getting that in the future when it gets a Game of the Year edition with all DLCs.


RE: 89-86 Knicks!  JR Smith, who could not hit a bucket this game, made a big 3 to give us an 89-84 lead with under a minute to go, then makes the defensive play of the game, causing Paul Pierce to turn the ball over.  Despite the poor shooting, never gave up and still played hard on the defensive end in this game (I didn't forget his steal to stop a 3 on 1 fast break alley-oop attempt earlier in the 3rd or 4th quarter).  Funny note, he was wearing Jordan XIIs (12s) black/white playoffs earlier in the game and I guess switched out with these white/orange Nikes.

I have to say, I really like the tenacious defense of the Celtics... I wish our team can pressure the ball like that, leaving opponents with only 16 seconds to run their plays.  Much respect to their team defense, but of course KG's punk bitch bullying doesn't get any respect.  Used to like him back in the Timberwolves days... I still remember being in UC Berkeley at a downstairs bar under Tower Records near campus, watching the Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Los Angeles Lakers playoff series back in 2003 and cheering the shit out for KG, Sprewell, and Cassell.  Fred Hoiberg was on that team too, haha, and of course "Mad" Mark Madsen.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2

And now, the newest additions to my Call of Duty family:

Call of Duty Experience

It took me a while before I finally decided to get my PS3.  I believe I purchased it 2 years ago, the Call of Duty Black Ops Edition w/ First Strike 160 GB console that came with a $100 BestBuy Gift Card so I figured that package was worth it.  That's when my Call of Duty adventures began.

I had never played first person shooters competitively on a console before since I had a PS2 before without any networking, so all my games were played on the same screen or on split-screen with friends.  Before that, it was Counterstrike on a PC with the mouse for aim.  It wasn't until Multiplayer online play that I realized I had to up my game and improve my aiming skills in a shooter.  It took a while at first... starting out on low sensitivity, getting used to the recoil of each weapon, and that "noob" period is the reason for my horrible W/L and KD ratio that I started out with.

No matter, time went on, I got more practice & experience, and I have improved much now to be able to get above a 1.0 KD.  The best basic strategy that I can give you: slow down and let the game come to you.  I still have the goal to reach Prestige level 15 to get the gold camo for my weapons.  On a side note, the First Strike Package that was included came with 3 new Multiplayer maps: Berlin Wall, Discovery, Kowloon.  I love these maps as they were built better for snipers and I love to snipe.  Kowloon is probably my favorite map in all of Black Ops so far.

The Campaign for Black Ops was absolutely spectacular!  The story was just amazing and low and behold, one of my favorite actors, the great Gary Oldman, did voice-over work as Victor Reznov!!!  I had a funny feeling that it sounded a lot like him, rather his Russian character from Air Force One, but I didn't confirm it until I saw him do it on an episode of Conan (see below).  I replayed the game in Veteran mode and it indeed was him... very cool!  He is my favorite character in the game and there is a great twist revealed near the end.



 
Zombies is just so fun... a little bit hard when you first start out but once you figure out a pattern in the map, dynamite!  My friend and I worked together on the Kino Der Toten map for quite a long time and finally figured out a strategy and loop to work with and after a year, perhaps, we finally were able to get up to Round 37 together.  I got to 45 on Solo using the same strategy and it just took so long that I started getting sloppy in the end but it is definitely more fun to play with others.  Dead Ops Arcade was an old-school arcade game, sorta like Contra with a birds-eye view.  I didn't play it much so I won't go into it.  The other map, Five, I still can't figure out a strategy for so I'm stuck at Level 9 or 13 being the highest.  I just started playing the First Strike map, Ascension, so I will definitely go into Zombies a little more in the future as my friend and I figure out a strategy for Ascension.

I ended up borrowing Modern Warfare 2 from my brother-in-law but I only played the Campaign, as I was told there were hackers in Multiplayer and warned that it could compromise my PS3.  I recognized Keith David's voice-over work, and apparently there were some other famous names attached to the game as well!  All the Modern Warfare Campaigns are supposedly tied together so I don't know the story of the first one, but this one was engaging and fun, and the ending definitely leads to a third game in the series...

Two months ago, I finally got Modern Warfare 3, and boy it was different when I first began.  I was so used to Black Ops that I felt like playing a different game.  The "feel" of the movement & environment was awkward, almost surreal or smooth, which I think was just better graphics looking at it now.  The sound is different.  Black Ops weapon fire sounds more realistic to me but I got used to Modern Warfare 3 that it doesn't bother me so much anymore.

The class building & weapons upgrade is different.  In both games, new weapons unlock as you level up.  In Black Ops, money earned in gameplay is used to purchase weapons, including attachments & upgrades.  In Modern Warfare 3, no purchasing necessary, but weapon proficiencies (upgrades) & attachments require usage of the weapon to unlock.  In other words, you can't use another weapon that you may be well-suited with to purchase upgrades & build up a new weapon as you could in Black Ops.  Individual weapons must be used to be improved, different but makes sense.

Additionally, the whole killstreaks/strike packages is somewhat new.  Modern Warfare 3 breaks down Black Ops killstreaks into offense (assault), defense (support), and specialist categories.  Assault packages is the same as a Black Ops killstreak, you must pile up kills without getting killed.  Support packages add up even after you are killed.  Specialist gives you additional perks as you get kills to build you into a super soldier.  And now, you received bonuses for assists and other objectives acquired as well so it is a bit easier to get strike packages.  Finally, there are deathstreaks that lend a helping hand in different ways if you are getting pummeled constantly in the field of battle.


I have not yet played the Campaign yet, but I have played the Survival Special Missions, which seem to be Modern Warfare's version of Zombies, and the Missions are fun too, although the last few are pretty difficult.  My goal is to get the trophies needed for the Platinum as that has been my ultimate goal for these Call of Duty games as well.  In Multiplayer, I'm currently at Level 80 and ready to Prestige in Modern Warfare 3.  I'm just trying to get in some more practice with the MSR sniper before I ultimately lose everything to start at Level 1 again.

All these differences are due to Treyarch being the makers of the Black Ops series and Infinity Ward doing the Modern Warfare series.  It is the same game in actuality, but with different styles, so to speak, which change the gameplay ever so slightly.  Nevertheless, I feel that I've gotten somewhat comfortable with both series.

This was a quick summary of my experience with all the games, and hopefully later down the road I will get into more detail about certain aspects and details, maybe a better review or some strategy to help out people just starting out.  I would love people to join me in this adventure, in working together as a team to level up or just to have fun, so my PSN is dwkungfustar, same as my blogging name.  Hope to see some of you on the battlefield!

And finally, a third game joins my collection... and it's full unveiling will be next...

Awesomeness arrived in the mail today.

Sony PS3 Blu-Ray Remote Control & HDMI Cable, $20 each from BestBuy:

KWA M9 PTP GBB (Gas Blowback, Full Metal):

And finally, this should go along nicely with my new Arkham City game.  I asked Amazon.com for the Catwoman Exclusive Edition Cover in the gift card area and they obliged.  Thank you Amazon.com, you rock!!!

Merry Christmas!

I am a Call of Duty fan.  I am in no way a powerhouse among players, but I consider myself a decent gamer.  I mean, I was ecstatic when I somehow managed a 23-1 KD in a game when there are gamers who get that left and right and more.  The first games in the series that I played were Call of Duty 2: Big Red One & Call of Duty 3 on the PS2 but my real love for the series began when I purchased my Call of Duty: Black Ops First Strike Edition Playstation 3 Bundle.  More on my history with Call of Duty in an upcoming post as I have some catching up to do with some recent things I wish to share first.


Today, I will share what I got for Christmas this year, and boy was I grateful and happy for the gifts I received this year.

I saw this for the first time in a toy store in Williamsburg, Brooklyn only a few weeks ago.  Never knew it existed except from Toy Story.  Toy Story 3 is one of my favorite movies and I'll admit it, (SPOILERS AHEAD!!) I damn near teared up when the group held each other hand in hand as they were pulled down towards the incinerator.  What an emotional moment.  Loved the Totoro cameo too.  This will go on display with my Disney/Pixar collection of DVDs & Blu-Rays.

Have you ever been to Google?  Oh man, I will tell you about their office one day.  Simply amazing.  It's like a taste of what I've seen in DVD extras on the Pixar office in Emeryville, CA.  More on that later, but I got this nice size small Google/"I'm Feeling Lucky" shirt that I'm starting to work out more to fit in.
 

My cousin from Australia visited recently, and this is what she got me.  By the way, if you're reading this Yvette, thank you for the card you had written.  I don't know how you managed to have zero errors writing that because I didn't see no white-out or cross marks or anything, but that was an exceptional, thoughtful piece of writing.  You are one of my best friends and will always be treated as such.

The first step to starting out with these recipes is to be able to afford the ingredients.  Every time I complete a recipe, I'll try to share it, sort of like that movie Julie & Julia with Amy Adams (what a sweetheart!) and Meryl Streep.  If I'm lucky, I'll get one done per month, but even that might be pushing it.

Shout out to my boy LegendaryJ31, my Call of Duty sidekick, for this one.  Absolutely hated the cover art when it was first revealed... I mean, look at it, it's completely filled with advertisements and reviews.  Dammit, I already know this game is great!!  Anyways, I'll get more into the Batman Arkham games in a future post.

My last gift, which I haven't received yet, is tickets to a Knicks vs. Miami Heat game!!!  Lebron & company played against New York last year at Madison Square Garden on my birthday, but I wasn't able to get tickets.  It was a great birthday gift to me last year that we won!!  I wish I had been there... but this year I will be, and I will be amongst the thousands chanting for our boys to bring home the W.

Finally, here's the gingerbread house my nieces built at my place on Christmas Eve, and next to it is one of my favorite desserts/snacks, Beard Papa Cream Puffs FTW!!  I know it's late, but I hope everyone had a Happy Holidays!  Peace.