Justice!

Courtesy Fox News. 2006

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Saddam Hussein, the shotgun-waving dictator who ruled Iraq with a remorseless brutality for a quarter-century, was taken to the gallows and executed Saturday, Iraqi state-run television reported.
It was a grim end for the 69-year-old leader who had vexed three U.S. presidents. Despite his ouster, Washington, its allies and the new Iraqi leaders remain mired in a fight to quell a stubborn insurgency by Saddam loyalists and a vicious sectarian conflict.
Also hanged were Saddam’s half-brother Barzan Ibrahim and Awad Hamed al-Bandar, the former chief justice of the Revolutionary Court. State-run Iraqiya television news announcer said “criminal Saddam was hanged to death and the execution started with criminal Saddam then Barzan then Awad al-Bandar.”
Mariam al-Rayes, a legal expert and a former member of the Shiite bloc in parliament, told Iraqiya television that the execution “was filmed and God willing it will be shown. There was one camera present, and a doctor was also present there.”

****Now, it’s just a matter of time before some liberal comes out and starts spewing the merit of all the great things that Saddam did. Then, another liberal will develop courage (Because someone else had already said something first), and say the USA is evil for ‘killing’ another person and killing is wrong. Then, another liberal will call another liberal who knows someone at CNN and someone who works in Hollywood, and they’ll call a meeting with Oliver Stone and Michael Myers and they’ll show the kinder side of Hussein.

Then, they will show Bush with dark, brooding music and imply he’s the evil dictator of the devil’s army and how he’s going to find another country to attack and then kill that leader (Hopefully, it’s Venezuela and it’s Chavez’s face falls into this crosshair! However, Iran sits at 3-1, while Syria and North Korea both open at Vegas with 5-1 odds! ****

fini

"What’s crazy about standing toe to toe and saying ‘I AM’?"

DramaBlog Review

Saw Rocky Balboa on the day it opened – first showing – 11am – with dad – turning back the clock – going old school – reliving the past – back in time, I went! I couldn’t believe that I was sitting there watching another Rocky movie. Check that – I can’t believe that I was FORTUNATE enough to see another Rocky movie. As a child, I once saw a Rocky movie and was so inspired that I left the movie theater and jogged home with my friend (However, according to Hollywood, movies do not affect us though – oh well!)

 

I have always been just mesmerized by Rocky movies. Perhaps it’s the comeback story, perhaps it’s the underdog plot. Maybe it’s just the fact that we like to think that we all have that in us – that superhero “We can do it” type of mentality. I understand that movie critics like to bash Rocky movies as cheesy and campy and so fo forth. I understand their need to do that. However, the movies affected me – they inspired me. Te Rocky movies, for an hour and half or so, made me feel energetic, excited and alive. I mean, that’s what movies are supposed to do right? Allow us to escape and feel something different?

 In the 1980’s, seeing Rocky fight the unbeatable Russian, to have Adrian lose faith in him, to have the whole world think he dies if he fights this machine, well, this was stuff that scars a young teenage kid…..in a good way! The training scene was breath-taking, edge-of-your-seat gasping for air type of a scene. His trainer:

Duke: You’re gonna go through hell, worse than any nightmare you’ve ever dreamed. But when it’s over, I know you’ll be the one standing. You know what you have to do. Do it……..DO IT!

How can one forget Rocky battling the giant Soviet? Rocky’s literally being pounded into submission. The Russians are smiling, he’s on the ropes and his Rocky’s chances are simply go….are go….BOOM! Rocky nails the Russian with a vicious Rocky blow! With that shot – with that one single bomb the whole world took pause. Was it possible? Did Rocky just dent the mammoth man that stood before him? Did we just see what we saw? Do we believe? The bell starts ringing in the back ground, the music starts to build, the level of excitement increases, the crowd starts to gasp and then, in the corner of the ring, his trainer Duke utters that awe-inspiring line which leads to a complete onslaught of energetic, over-the-top, miracle music!

Duke: He’s worried! You cut him! You hurt him! You see? You see? He’s not a machine, he’s a man!

Those are the moments that define this franchise. Rocky Balboa is no different. As in life, as with us all, time and grief take their toll. It doesn’t help that his son doesn’t like hanging out with him because of the attention Rocky still receives. Rocky’s living his life but in the past. Down and somewhat depressed about the hand he’s been dealt, he looks inwards and backwards for answers. His old pal Paulie can’t stand to see him acting like a broken man, even though his concern is most likely rooted in his own regret. Once again, boxing comes to the rescue. Rocky sees a computer-simulated match between himself and the current world heavyweight champion, Mason “The Line” Dixon (Antonio Tarver) – and Rocky wins the simulation! The fight promoters for the current champ want Rocky to fight an exhibition because the champ’s image needs a boost – for Rocko, it’s back to the gym, back with Duke in his corner, and the training begins with this line:

Duke: “You know all there is to know about fighting so there’s no need to go down that road again! To beat this guy you need speed, you don’t have it! And, your knees can’t take the pounding so hard running is out. You’ve got arthritis in your neck – you got calcium deposits on most of your joints, so sparring is out. So what we’re gonna be calling on is good old-fashioned BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA! HORSE POWER – HEAVY DUTY – CAST IRON – PILE DRIVING punches that’ll hurt so much they’ll rattle his ancestors!! Everytime you hit him with a shot it’s gonna feel like he was kissing the Express train! OK? Let’s start buildin’ some hurtin’ bombs!”

Yeah, that’s the line that does it!

Mason Dixon may have the iron fists and the knockout punch, but can that beat the heart and determination of a legend? Will Rocky go the distance again? Right after the movie starts, you’re hit with nostalgia (thanks to that music, which still works) – it “takes you back (Listen here)”. The flashbacks effectively convey Rocky’s emotional state of mind and there are some very poignant moments along the way! The storyline with his son also captures, to a lesser degree, what the struggle must be growing up the child of a ’superhero.’ And it’s single mom Marie who gets the makeover treatment that worked so well on Adrian, but doesn’t work as well the second time around because he’s not romancing the girl (it feels empty without that romance). On that note, Geraldine Hughes is fantastic in her role as ‘Lil Marie.’ She’s very subdued and quiet and subtly revealing her own personal issues that life has dealt.
Of course, the great part of the movie is when boxing is brought to the forefront. They use a real boxer to go toe-to-toe with Sylvester Stallone and that decision was brilliant, because with the way the fight was shot, the sequences look great. The movie was filmed in front of a real boxing crowd and when that stadium erupts and the people all stand and cheer, you can feel the electricity in the room. How can you not stand up with them and start chanting, “Rock-y, Rock-y, Rock-y!!!!”

Here are a couple of nice, HD shots from the film – Rocky Balboa.

Overall, I loved the movie. I don’t need to argue someone’s point that it is not the best film of all time (Did you truly LOVE Citizen Kane? Ok then – shut up! I don’t need to make anyone understand that perhaps a character or two in the film could’ve been better developed. What I do feel the need to explain is that at 36 years old I went back in time. I went to a place far removed and revisited my youth just as I had left it. I felt the same emotion come up into my throat just as I did at the age of 7, 10, 13, 16, and 21. I felt that again in 2006 and I’m so very grateful for it. However, the sad fact remains in that I have probably seen my last Rocky movie. For me personally, that realization instills a great sadness. Is it because there will be no more movies? Partly. Perhaps though, it’s more because, like the latest installment of the series, I, too, am getting older.
Maybe I’m becoming more aware of own mortality? As for me, I love to lift weights and play basketball. The truth though is it gets harder. The weights become heavier, my speed and quickness are getting slower, my drive to improve has begun to wane. I guess we start taking more hits and more hits as we get older. But, like someone just said though, “It ain’t about how hard you hit… it’s about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward… how much you can take, and keep moving forward…” The good news is that I haven’t peaked yet. As I age, I assure you that I will still have something left in the basement, as well. Sometimes a simple movie comes along and reminds us of that. Yeah…I’d say that that is worth $7!
Rocky Balboa – the Movie? I loved it! (Click here)

Goto Thrillproductions.com for a set of awesome HIGH-DEFINITION pics from the shooting of Rocky Balboa.

A Christmas-Miracle hits H-TOWN!!

Ho, Ho, WHOA! Texans finally beat Colts!!

WE WON?? WE WON!! MERRY FREAKING CHRISTMAS!!

(Pics and review courtesy of houstonprofootball.com and texansbullpen.com)

Good things often come in small packages on Christmas, but the Texans were the total package in a 27-24 win over the Colts on Sunday. Kicker Kris Brown nailed a 48-yard field goal with time expiring to vault his team to victory, the Texans’ first win in ten games against Indianapolis. The offense, led by running back Ron Dayne, chewed up 191 rushing yards and swallowed almost 36 minutes of the game clock. Dayne scored twice, rushing 32 times for 153 yards, both career highs.

Beleaguered quarterback David Carr played mistake-free football, throwing for 163 yards with no interceptions and no fumbles. Rookie defensive end Mario Williams also led a solid defensive effort, highlighted by his forced fumble in the first quarter that helped the Texans jump to an early 14-0 lead.
Credit for the winning effort also belongs to the offensive line. In addition to helping Dayne on the ground, they prevented the Colts from sacking Carr all afternoon.

Barak Obama on Charlie Rose

This guy is a HUGE up-n-comer on the political scene. YES, I’m a Republican, but sometimes you have to go with your gut, believe in someone’s character, and find their potential. For some reason, like with Bush and Clinton for instance, if we don’t agree with them then we must spew pure venom in their direction and against everyone associated with them. Why must we ATTACK them with hatred? Why can’t we just vehemently disagree with them and be active in our own views? Why must we promote HATRED toward them? I don’t know really. I didn’t really like Bill Clinton as President but I was not going to BASH, DESTROY, INSULT, and TEAR HIM DOWN at every turn. I just didn’t agree with him on some political issues.

With Barak Obama, I don’t have to agree with everything he says. I can stand fervently against him in some areas. However, I do have a good feeling about him. I do agree with his approach to many points. I like his stance on many issues.

MAYBE - JUST MAYBE – “I” could be wrong about some things and JUST MAYBE “HE” could be right?! MAYBE someone else has the right answer? How would I ever know if I never gave anyone the chance to explain it to me? I wouldn’t. Some peopple are so shut off to opposing viewpoints! Perhaps this is because of the addictive nature of the venom they’re about to release!? Could be.

Well, that’s not me. Maybe when I was 20 and blind. But now that I’m 36 – I’m more open to other ideas. It does not in ANY WAY mean that I will accept things that go against my fundamental Christian beliefs. However, I will exercise a fundamental Christian belief and be kind and compassionate when hearing their argument. Well, at least I’ll try…