There is a place in my heart for the Home Alone movies. While I am not usually a fan of sequels (unless it is part of a trilogy), Home Alone 2: Lost in New York kept enough of the same theme to be entertaining yet changed things up enough to provide fresh material for audiences of all ages.

At 26, I am just four months younger than Macaulay Caulkin, the star of the Home Alone movies. I can recall playing ‘home alone’ in my own house. I spent my play time devising my own plan to booby trap it…just in case criminals ever broke in to my quiet, small-town, Midwestern, three-story home in the middle of the most boring and non-violent areas in the state of Ohio.

The Plot

In Home Alone 2, Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Caulkin) is ten now. It is Christmas time again and the McCallister family is set to head to a new vacation destination. All of the McCallisters from Peter (John Heard) and Kate (Catherine O’Hara) and Uncle Frank (Gerry Bamman) and Aunt Leslie (Terrie Snell)’s broods are ready to head down to Florida for some fun in the sun.

In typical Buzz (Devin Ratray) fashion, Kevin’s older brother gets Kevin in trouble. This time, Kevin has a solo at his Christmas concert. As Kevin is singing, he is humiliated by Buzz. In retaliation, Kevin charges toward his brother (who always seeks to ruin anything special that Kevin does) and as a result, he knocks the entire choir off the risers.

Back at the McCallister house, the family is listening to Buzz, who has, in “court-style” fashion sucked up to the family by pointing out how immature he was and apologizing to both the family and his brother for his behavior. Of course, Home Alone fans know just how sorry Buzz truly is, so it is clear why Kevin does not apologize, especially since he did not start the incident and Buzz humiliated him in front of an entire auditorium of people.

Since Kevin will not apologize, his mother takes him upstairs to the attic again. This time Kevin makes a new wish. He wants to go on vacation, on his own, without his family. This, of course, foreshadows the events of the next morning.

The McCallisters wake up late again, but this time Kevin makes it to the airport. However, he needs batteries for his talking recorder. So, his father, Peter, gives him his carry-on bag, which contains batteries as well as cash and credit cards. As Kevin is putting the batteries in his “Talkboy”, he loses sight of his father. As a result, he mistakes a man with a similar coat for his father, and follows him onto a plane to New York.

In fact, the movie was different enough for you to enjoy yourself, yet it kept the same conventions of the first movie. Home Alone became such a success at the box office and beyond because it was funny and entertaining for audiences of all age levels. It was not just about kids. It was not just made for kids. People can relate to the characters, and that is the sign of a great movie.

Sure, it is a little far-fetched to imagine a child is left behind twice by the same family. However, if it were to happen, every parent and grandparent could relate to what Peter and Kate were going through. In fact, most parents would feel the same way.

That being said, as most of us reflect on our childhood…would we be a Kevin if we were put into the situations he faced? Would we be able to defeat two bumbling idiots or would we end up just going to the police even if it meant trouble for us? I like to think we all see a little bit of Kevin in ourselves and can relate to the way a child thinks…using toys and household items to make a fun house and defeat the powers of evil in the process.

What People are Saying

As always, IMDB does not let me down. Fans of Home Alone 2 are fighting and nitpicking over the stupidest things. I do not know why it is so difficult to realize that this is a movie. It was meant to entertain, not be realistic down to the letter. Since when did it matter whether ten year olds can spell insurance right or not? Since Kevin can, the movie must be wrong….It was just a year (or two) before when he was les incompetents. How did he get so smart so fast?

Otherwise, talk of the movie is good. As those of us from the 1980’s grow up and have our own families, we have brought this Christmas staple along with us for the ride and are introducing it to our own children.

The Bottom Line: Home Alone 2: Lost in New York is family-friendly. If you like the first movie, you will like this sequel. It was written by John Hughes back when John Hughes actually wrote excellent movies that audiences could truly appreciate. Home Alone 2 was directed by Chris Columbus (Harry Potter, Home Alone). It is clear Chris knew the story, and the actors were very comfortable in their characters by now, making Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, a box office blockbuster, and a Christmas Classic for generations to enjoy.

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Written by Dominick - Visit Website
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Dominick Evans is in his late 20’s. He spends his days working as a full time writer/editor and a part time musician/composer. His passions in life include music, directing films, watching movies, reading books, watching sports, wheelchair football, politics and spending time with his family (fiancée Ashtyn, son Robert, and shih-tzu Oliver). Other interests include being an advocate for the disability and GLBT communities.

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After watching the true-life story of retired Philadelphia Eagles player Vince Papale I cannot help but think that it was given the perfect name. Invincible is exactly what Vince Papale was. A true underdog story, Vince Papale went from being the guy who had good intentions but nothing to show for it, to the guy who had, and has, everything a man could ever need.

Created by Disney, Invincible stars Mark Wahlberg in the lead role of Vince Papale. Supporting roles include Greg Kinnear as the head coach of the Eagles in 1976, Dick Vermeil and Elizabeth Banks as Janet Cantrell. Additional stellar performances were turned in by Kirk Acevedo, who plays Tommy, and Tony Luke Jr. who is merely credited as the Cape-Clad Fan.

While Vince starts with little in this movie, he soon ends up with less. His wife leaves and he feels he truly has nothing. Vince’s wife leaves him a note explaining that he is nothing and he will never be anything. This mantra leads us through the movie. This is what guides us and Vince through this underdog story about a guy we all could relate to and call a friend.

In 1976, open tryouts were held for the Philadelphia Eagles. Vince Papale was one of many to show up. However, he was the only one to make it to training camp that year. Vince spent the entire year convincing himself that he would be going home and yet, his skills, determination, and heart kept him on the team. Invincible is the true football underdog story of our generation with an ending we can all strive for in our own lives.

Some people, such as the numerous users on IMDB (The Internet Movie Database) have strong reservations against Mark Wahlberg playing the lead character in Invincible. When they were asked who they would have liked to play the part or who would have been better, the answers were mixed. My favorite though was a bulkier Vin Diesel with a toupee.

I am not sure how much bigger Vin would need to be, but I couldn’t stop laughing when I read that response. It had the same effect I would have received had someone said they should have painted Gary Coleman white and given him some stilts so that he could have been Vince Papale.

Needless to say, I don’t agree with the IMDB users that downgraded this movie. While many think that Rudy and other underdog stories were better, I don’t think there is any real comparison. Rudy was about college football and though Rudy loved Notre Dame he really had no skill. Invincible is about the NFL and Vince Papale had game.

The Bottom Line: Invincible works for people that love football and for those that don’t like the sport. For sports fans it will fulfill the sporty, action requirement and for non-action lovers it will give you the heart-warming, mushy feeling you have come to know and love from a grown-up Disney movie.

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Written by Dom and Ash - Visit Website
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I Shouldn’t Even Be Doing This!
And Other Things That Strike Me as Funny
By Bob Newhart
239 pp. Hyperion. $23.95

Who am I to critique Bob Newhart? The man is an icon; a sacred cow of the comedy world. Newhart has Emmys, Grammies, Peabodies and awards from places I have yet to visit as a tourist. He is still getting royalty checks from albums released while I was toddling in diapers. Public Television featured the comic in their American Masters series. This man is in the Television Hall of Fame, for God’s sake!

Now, after many decades of stand-up, television and film, Bob Newhart has put comedic pen to paper and etched out his long-overdue autobiography. While, I Shouldn’t Even Be Doing This! is the title of Newhart’s first book, it also reflects the guilty feeling I had while reading the text knowing full-well when I reached the last page, it was my responsibility to deliver an honest and critical review.

I Shouldn’t Even Be Doing This! is slow-paced and steady; much like the author’s own delivery. Anyone who has never heard the careful, quiet and dry deliver of Bob Newhart will be disappointed by the overall crawl of this book. The written words, jokes and situations of any known comedian are far more funny and effective if the reader can hear the comic’s voice in his head.

For example, Woody Allen’s books are brilliant, but they take on a new dimension when Allen’s voice becomes the reader’s. Dennis Miller’s rants really come to life if his nasal, sarcastic wit echoes in the reader’s head. Comedy is all about timing and delivery—two things you cannot reproduce or control when the words are in print. A joke that gets people nauseous with laughter when delivered live on stage becomes lifeless and dull when read quietly by someone else.

While the life and times of Mr. Newhart make for interesting reading, I will admit the only time I laughed out loud was when he related a story about Don Rickles. This may be as much my fault as the author’s; perhaps I just need to wait for the audio version read by Bob Newhart himself.

I’m not sure anyone will learn the secrets of comic deliver from this book, but they will read the enchanting life story of a great comedian. And, if the reader has seen even a few of Newhart’s television shows, it is guaranteed I Shouldn’t Even Be Doing This! will elicit many smiles of familiarity. In the end, I Shouldn’t Even Be Doing This! delivers exactly what it should; the autobiography of a fine gentleman, a good Catholic and a wonderful comic who has entertained the world for more than half a century.

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Written by SimonKing - Visit Website
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So much for getting off to a roaring start. A Christmas disaster postponed my 700 Club re-cap debut. Apparently, a spark of divine intervention knocked out my cable and internet just as I was ready to start. Our relief came yesterday as the Time-Warner guy sauntered up the ladder to replace a line that had been spliced by the electric company.

So, where the hell is Pat Robertson? Today’s episode featured hosts Gordon Robertson and Terry Meeuwsen.

She was instantly pulled in. Bridget eventually joined the Urban Outreach church. It was here that she met Pastor Ken, who took her into his home and helped Bridget put her life back together. Bridget is doing well. Now she leads worship services and attends bible college. After this heart-wrenching segment, Terry took the opportunity to let us know that Bridget was not strong enough to save her own life. It was only God who spoke to her, and who could save her.

Now the one who created the universe was speaking to me. So let us pray. Terry led us in a solemn prayer in which she exclaimed, "I want the blood of Jesus to fall on me". Gross. Terry also had the chance to plug the pamphlet, "A Higher Calling", which was free and put together just for me. Thank you, but right now I am just thanking god that I am not Bridget.

Another CBN newsbreak started with a story on the Somalian crisis, followed by the placement of a cross at William and Mary College, and ending with a group of people who are retracing the steps of Abraham.

Then came Nick, "The Lame Boy". Nick suffered a deep cut on his leg that seemed like it would never heal. After being hobbled and tormented by this injury for sometime, Nick also considered suicide. That is, until his friend invited him over to watch the 700 Club.

During this episode, Nick prayed with Pat Robertson and he was miraculously healed. And you thought watching TV was bad for you. Of course not, and for $20.00 a month you can watch "Foundations of Faith", a four hour DVD barrage of inspiring propaganda.

If Nick and Bridget did not get your collective emotions running, then let me introduce, "Ben the Skydiver". Ben suffered a midair collision with a friend while skydiving that ultimately, killed his friend, and put Ben in the hospital for three months. While in the hospital, he underwent fifteen operations, and his leg had to be amputated below the knee.

After returning home, Ben became, "selfish", according to Terry, and started struggling with school and fighting with his stepfather. Then Ben, like his toiled comrades from the show, considered suicide. I am sensing a theme here, but do not fret, Ben was saved by an invitation to church from his mother. Ben still skydives, and found a church where he can worship with young people his age who enjoy extreme sports. How cool is that?

Terry followed this harrowing tale with another pamphlet, "Think Boldly, Move Boldly", containing stories just like the one we just saw. "Just ask for the boulder", Terry cried out to the camera, in an excellent Freudian slip.

Our final segment today was a piece about a woman who suffered from chronic migraines. I never had one myself, but I have a friend who has them on a weekly basis. Apparently, he does not watch the 700 Club. I’ll suggest it to him.

Finally, it was time for Gordon’s favorite part of the show (and mine). Let the healing begin. Today Gordon encouraged us to think big, and proclaimed that "big" is possible. So how "big", is possible? Well, "big" is a rotator cuff, a pinched nerve in the neck, and a bad case of Mesothelioma. Okay, so maybe he was close on the last one, but when I think big, I think of cancer. But let’s face it, Gordon is no Pat Robertson.

The show was closed with a passage from Proverbs 30:5

"Every word of God is pure. He is a shield to those who put their trust in him"

On tap for tomorrow: "actor" Stephen Baldwin.

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The fourth-annual Monday Night RAW "Tribute to the Troops" from Iraq proved to be a treat for both soldiers and civilians alike.  Featuring superstars from each of the three WWE brands (RAW, Smackdown and ECW) and great matches, this episode was one of the best in recent weeks.

Edge hit Cena in the back, cockily wiggling his head and showboating some more before hurling the Champ to the canvas.  Cena battled back, picking Edge up and dropping him perpendicularly, slamming Edge’s face to the turnbuckle.  Whipping Edge to the opposite corner, Cena continued with the right hand trend.  Edge cold-cocked Cena right in the jaw, dazing the Champ long enough to capitalize for another near-pin.

Cena kicked out and Edge and Cena began wailing away on one another with Edge in the ring and Cena standing just outside of the ropes on the ring apron.  Edge turned the tide with a fast baseball slide, sending Cena flying hard into the barricades.

Back in the ring, Edge wrapped Cena in a body scissors and then moving in for a side headlock on the champ.  Cena managed to get up, flinging himself into the ropes and flying over Edge’s head with a flipping bulldog to the Rated R Superstar.  Once again, Edge spun things to his favor, booting Cena in the face and nearly scoring a pin… Again.

Edge tried to bring a chair into the ring, possibly echoing the trend of mauling Flair and Triple H on Cena.  The referee grabbed the chair before Edge could do anything with it.  Cena caught Edge off guard and rolled him backwards for what was probably the fourth near-pinfall of the match.  (Okay, this near pinfall thing is getting stale already, guys!)

Following the first match of the night, there was a brief montage set to the tune of John Lennon’s "Happy Christmas" of greetings from the troops to their families back home and the WWE wrestlers interacting with the men and women overseas.  One of the coolest images was of the Undertaker mock-choking a soldier.  In turn, there was another image of ‘Taker himself being choked by yet another soldier.

Seeing the images put a human face to the many men and women who are serving in Iraq.  The Army, the Navy, the Marines, the Air Force isn’t simply a faceless body that protects the United States.  They’re real people with family and friends at home that they miss.  Like the rest of us civilians, they find joy in something as simple as watching a wrestling match and receiving a reprieve from the barren desert violence that has been a part of their lives and livelihoods for the past four years.

Similarly, it’s reassuring seeing a lot of the wrestlers over there doing what they love to do for a receptive audience and occasionally breaking character.  I guess that’s what Christmas and the winter holiday season is all about, breaking down the walls and allowing others in in the most honest way possible and sharing what you’ve got.

The next match of the night paired RAW’s Shelton Benjamin against ECW’s up-and-coming CM Punk, arguably, two of the best young wrestlers in the industry right now.  Things started off with a dual takeover.  Shelton picked Punk up over his head, throwing him down.  Punk turned around hammering Benjamin with a series of fists before Shelton slid out of the ring, avoiding a further beatdown.

CM Punk threw Benjamin back into the ring but the wily Shelton sent the young Punk’s shoulder crashing directly into the ring post.  Capitalizing, Benjamin whirled Punk into one of his signature backbreaker slams before stretching the heavily-tattooed arms of Punk into a hammerlock.

Having had enough, Shelton hurled Punk backwards to the canvas by his hair.  CM Punk got to his feet and elbowed Shelton Benjamin in the stomach.  Continuing the streetfighting style, Punk kneed Shelton.  Upping the ante with more refined and high-risk maneuvers, CM executed a beautiful flying bulldog headlock to Benjamin.

Not to be outdone, Shelton threw CM Punk off of the top rope in an impressive Snap Superplex before going fro the Sheldon Splash.  CM dodged Shelton’s signature move, pinning Benjamin for the win.

A brief yet strong match, this was one of the best bouts of the evening.  The crowd was incredibly receptive to both men, with Punk going over as a huge favorite.  I guess they understand how hard it is to wrestle with a lip ring.

Going for the old school approach and to the crowd’s delight, Taker walked the top rope as if it were a tightrope before jumping directly down onto Nitro.

Whipping out the insaguri kick from his moveset portfolio, Nitro found his usually devastating maneuver to have little effect on the Dead Man.

At this point, "Uncle Jerry" made a comment about how he had been wanting to "stuff Melina’s stockings all year long."  J.R. chided his broadcasting cohort.  Speaking of stockings, Melina had some spiffy pink leopard print ones on.  I think I want a pair.

Back to the action, however, Undertaker was taking complete control of the match, booting Nitro in the face before snatching him up in a chokeslam.  Nitro looked like a toddler in ‘Taker’s grasp.  The Dead Man went for a Tombstone piledriver before putting young Mr. Nitro away for good with a pin.  Rolling his eyes back in his head, the Dead Man walked to the back before lingering a bit longer to interact with the crowd.

Replacing the usual backstage vignettes, this Tribute to the Troops episode took more of a realistic approach to additional, non-match material.  Among the segments rounding out the two hour show were Lillian Garcia’s rendition of the "Star Spangled Banner" and interviews with the troops themselves, wrestlers and the production crew.

On December 7, 2006 — the day of taping the show itself — Camp Victory had been attacked by mortar in an area that hours prior had been host to the WWE crew eating breakfast with the troops.  14 soldiers were wounded in the attack.  Further away, near where the ring was set up, the production crew was rattled by the blast in such close proximity, however, the show went on.

The next match of the night involved ECW’s new champion, Bobby Lashley facing perennial fan non-favorite, Hardcore Holly.  Wow.  Bobby Lashley had more hair on his head than ol’ Spark Plug — and that’s not saying much at all.

The strapping young Lashley was the sentimental crowd favorite having served as a Sergeant in the United States Army.  The crowd gave the ECW Champion a huge response as he jumped directly onto the ring apron.  Hardcore Holly was met with boos nearly as loud as Lashley’s positive response.

The two men nearly hooked up for a Festivus-style Feats of Strength which Lashley would have easily won.  Very early on in the match, Lashley handily grabbed Holly in a vertical suplex, holding Hardcore Holly in the air for nearly 10 seconds before sending him crashing to the mat.

Following the match, some more behind the scenes vignettes showed the Masterpiece Chris Masters with his fiance’s brother who is in the Army.  Also shown out-of-character was the announcer/model/Diva, Maria, who sounds nothing like the "dumb brunette" character she portrays on RAW when she uses her real voice and not the giddy schoolgirl put-on she usually works with.

Shooting back to in-ring character personas, Christ Masters was shown in the makeshift backstage area wiggling his prominent pectorals and informing the audience and production crew that he would be challenging a random member of the military audience to break his heretofore unbroken Masterlock.  I was wondering if the "random member" would end up being his future brother-in-law.  (I was wrong.  The challenger to the Masterlock did seem to be a random soldier from the front rows.)

In an act of déjà vu straight out of the "Haven’t I Seen You Destroyed By This Guy Before?" category, RAW’s Intercontinental Champion, Jeff Hardy battled the undefeated Umaga.

Umaga’s handler, Armando Alejandro Estrada was absent from action and ringside last night with Umaga running rampant on his own.

The match began with Hardy using his speed and stealth to evade Umaga’s powerful clotheslines.  Eventually, Umaga splattered Hardy to the mat, climbing to the top rope to splash Jeff into oblivion.  Hardy deftly moved out of the way at the last minute with Umaga landing flat on his ass.

The Samoan Bulldozer got to his feet again with Jeff Hardy trying to topple him backwards, eventually succeeding with a nice standing dropkick, sending Umaga crashing to the outside of the ring.  Attempting one of the high risk maneuvers he’s famous for, Hardy ended up jumping directly into the waiting arms of Umaga.  (And I just realized how much like slash fiction that last sentence sounded.  I don’t think there are too many sick souls out there who are Googling Umaga slash.  However, I’ve been wrong before.)

With the match now favoring the lumbering Samoan, Umaga hammered Hardy into the corner, running at him and flapjacking the Hardy Boy’s face with his own humongous ass.  It looked like it hurt worse than one thousand stinkfaces.  DAMN!!!  (Since Ron Simmons/Farooq wasn’t on the program this week, I’ll say it instead.)

Umaga finished Hardy off with the Samoan Spike before pinning him and chasing the referee out of the ring.

Up next was a battle of the Always Arrogant versus the Formerly Arrogant.  Randy Orton strutted out, kissing his Tag Team Championship belt.  Orton may be disputed as one of the brightest young talents of the WWE, but he seriously has to have some of the best tattoos of anyone in the WWE.  I’m not a huge fan of tribals, but Orton’s are very nicely done, complimentary to his physique and have a cool bit of edging in white.

Yet, I digress!  Orton’s opponent for the evening, Carlito came out, slapping hands all the way down to the ring, clad in bright orange to rival even the desert sun itself.

Orton started off the match strong, grappling Carlito into a side headlock before the two men found their way to the corner with Carlito gaining control and landing several punches to Orton’s head from the second work.

Carlito twisted Orton’s upper extremities into an armbar before Orton resorted to his new favorite move, the thumb to the eye.  Whipping out one of his other favorite moves, Orton executed a beautiful standing dropkick to the Puerto Rican second-generation superstar.

Dusting off the Ronnie Garvin Stomp — newly rechristened the Randy Orton Stomp — RKO delivered a series of circumferential kicks to Carlito before picking up the side headlock again.  Given Carlito’s unruly main, it was hard to see the positioning of Orton’s hands, making it look like Carlito was getting and Atomic Nougie.

Carlito reversed the hold, picking up Orton in a sidewalk slam before the two multi-generation grapplers traded punches.  Carlito went for the Carlito Clothesline before jumping off of the ropes backwards and into Orton.

Closing out the evening, "Santa Claus" (JBL sporting the familiar red and white duds of Jolly Old St.Nick.) made an appearance with his "Ho Ho Hoes," (Torrie Wilson, Krystal, and Maria).  The three Divas claimed that they had been "naughty" all year.  Bradshaw Claus approved, telling the pneumatic trio that they would have to sit on his lap later.  Surprisingly, I think this was the least inappropriate comment that JBL had made all year.

Bless his little heart. He’s fast moving up into my own hallowed halls of commentators, possibly next to the great King of Snark, Bobby "The Brain" Heenan.

After "Santa Claus" and his scantily clad elves handed out gifts of t-shirts and X-Box games to the troops in the audience, Jolly Old Bradshaw Layfield was about to depart on his merry way before being accosted by The Masterpice, Chris Masters.

Masters grabbed the mike from Bradshaw Claus, claiming that he "hates Christmas" and "doesn’t believe in Santa."  Looks like someone didn’t get any Creatine in his stocking this year, eh?

The Masterpiece forced "Santa Claus" into taking him up on his Masterlock Challenge, flinging poor Kris Kringle around like a rag doll before throwing him aside.  Santa lay there like a slug.  It was his only defense.

As Santa lay on the ring apron, Masters took the mike calling for "the biggest strongest troop out here."  (Even though he didn’t get Creatine for Christmas, it does look like the Masterpiece was given The Pat Patterson Big Book of Plural and Singular Nouns and dug right in on reading it.)

Pulling a scrawny looking soldier out of the front rows, Masters interviewed the man in the middle of the ring.  Young Jose Avilar, a Staff Sergeant, seemed to be the next victim of Masters’ dread hold.

As Avilar sat down in the chair and Masters locked the Full Nelson on him, Santa Claus threw his red and white garb aside, revealing his true identity as John Bradshaw Layfield, more affectionately known as JBL.  JBL kicked Masters in the back of the leg and broke the hold before laying him out with a Christmas Clothesline From Hell.  And the record books will read that Jose Avilar broke the Masterlock.

JBL (who JR and Lawler mentioned as having come up with the original concept of the "Tribute to the Troops" four years ago) closed out the show thanking everyone as the credits rolled.

WWE’s "Tribute to the Troops" was one of the best episodes of RAW in recent weeks.  The focus, beyond entertaining the servicemen and women overseas, was purely on wrestling and not beating dead horse feuds.  Nearly every match on the card ended with a clean finish and no outside interference from other wrestlers or factions.

Another positive of this episode stemmed from the involvement of several top superstars from the different brand extensions (Smackdown and ECW) alongside those relegated to RAW.  More and more, there seems to be a leaning towards a détente of the brand extensions.  As one of the many fans who has long favored recombining the brands, it was a nice change of pace seeing the Undertaker and CM Punk on a Monday night.  Lately, the WWE has seemed to have become a lot less stringent and allows for more of a crossover between the different shows.  This is a smart move that allows for greater possibilities and excitement to building up inter-branded matches.

However, the highlight of the show was the no-frills, lack of filler in this episode.

As a longtime fan of wrestling (or "sports entertainment"), I find myself torn between enjoying the storyline aspect of the programming as a soap opera populated with beefy, brawny men and enjoying the athleticism and choreographed combat of the genre.  With the storylines having moved away from fantastical characters like Razor Ramon and Goldust (and Mantaur, but we’d all like to forget about him) and more towards the "real," what the creative team has termed as "real" has seemed a lot more forced.

Plus, with certain feuds being beaten to death for the sake of selling PPVs, it seems as if more matches had been crafted with a storyline in mind that purely enjoyable matches.

Without the long-winded hyping of matches and 20-minute promos, the athleticism factor became the main focus of the matches.  Several unorthodox and unexpected pairings really worked and made for enjoyable bouts.  The "Tribute to the Troops" was a refreshing and welcome change that made this jaded fan quite pleased to have tuned in last night.

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Written by Lana - Visit Website
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A 2001 graduate of Temple University, Lana Cooper earned her BA from Temple University in Broadcasting, Telecommunications and Mass Media (BTMM for short) as well as a dual minor in Ancient Mediterranean Studies and English. It’s an odd mix of academic interests, but then again, she’s a pretty odd broad. While at Temple, Lana was a staff-writer on their student-run newspaper reporting on pop-culture based topics, writing music reviews and occassionally bagging an op-ed piece from time to time. During her college years and for that glorious year on the cusp of unemployment and formally entering the indentured servitude known as the working world, she self-published her very own critically and internationally ignored ‘zine, Media Medea, later re-titled Quality Bathroom Reading Material. The ‘zine was sold in several bookstores around the United States and boasted a staggering readership of about 10 people, which included included Lana’s parents, brother, and various and sundry friends. For the past several years Lana has worked in the advertising industry doing everything from marketing and light graphic design to trafficking and charting. It’s not nearly as glamorous as Melrose Place would have you believe. (If you don’t believe her, she can show you her pay stub.) Nevertheless, it pays the bills, has a decent benefits package and has proven to be entertaining at times. (Dealing with high strung people can be a hoot.) Outside of the advertising industry, Lana promotes, designs materials and maintains the website for DEC (Dance Entertainment Company). DEC is an up-and-coming competitive dance troupe based out of Wilkes-Barre, PA that pits all different styles of dance against one another. On any given night, you can see a hip hop specialist engage in competition against a tap dancer or a ballerina square off against a jazz expert. She is very proud of her work with DEC and cites it as a great venue for her to excercise a little creativity while working in the realm of my areas of expertise. Oh, yeah…and her brother runs the company. After an epiphany while getting her first tattoo, Lana realized how far off the path she had strayed from her true love of writing. While currently working a 9-to-5 day job, one day she hopes to write full-time as an occupation. From reviews, articles, recaps, short-stories, every genre of the field holds its appeal. For Lana, writing allows her to share opinions and observations with an audience. “It’s gratifying to get your thoughts out there and at the same time, open yourself up to what other people are thinking on those same things and listening to what others have to say as well. As jaded and cynical as I may be some days, I still believe that one of the greatest gifts in this world is connecting with other people and exchanging ideas, and sharing knowledge on the world around us, no matter how small that part of the world may be.” Lana is the regular recapper and reviewer for WWE’s Monday Night RAW and House, M.D. on LiteraryIllusions.com. A die-hard wrestling fan since she was 6 years old, Lana has a surprising (and until now, utterly useless) cache of wrestling knowledge and trivia dating back to the early ’80s and possibly earlier. Her style tends to be a bit critical and smarmy at times, but it’s only because she loves professional wrestling so and holds it to a higher standard that combines the best of the worlds of atheletics, drama and yes, even sly social commentary. “House, M.D.” is a show Lana has come to love over several seasons. A man after her own heart, the title character is snarky and devoid of any tact, yet still very much a part of a world that places extraordinary value on diplomacy and the warm and fuzzy, regardless of sincerity. Some of her favorite TV shows are Married… With Children, That ’70s Show, The Golden Girls, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Smallville, Supernatural, Little Britain and 90210.

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In these days of remakes Hollywood shouldn’t tamper with the classics. What they should do is come up with original ideas rather than reject them.

Based on Paul Gallico’s novel of the same name, The Poseidon Adventure is about a handful of survivors on New Year’s Eve who push, pull, climb and swim toward the ship’s engine room after it is struck at midnight by a 90 foot tidal wave (due to a subsea earthquake). The S.S. Poseidon was also on it’s last voyage and would soon end up in a scrap yard.

While this was 1972, the special effects were top rate for a disaster film for its time and Shelley Winters also received a Best Supporting Actress nomination for her role as Belle Rosen. It did win one Oscar for Best Song- "The Morning After."

Disaster master Irwin Allen did do a sequel a few years later but it literally sank at the box office.

Rogo (Adam Baldwin) discovers the plot and while the Poseidon cuts through the stormy waters on New Year’s Eve a bomb is detonated which causes the ship to capsize before midnight.

The one thing I like about this retelling is they have survivors scattered throughout the ship and the main dining salon doesn’t flood as fast as in the original. It makes for better viewing as the story jumps around in the upside down ship.

However, there are two problems I have with this version: How is it possible to send an email for help? This time when the survivors make it to the engine room the rescue team is on the other side of debris waiting for them. How is this possible?

Five and a half months later Poseidon sailed onto the big screen. This had the potential to be a big hit but it fails after the first half of the movie.

The beginning I have no problem with. Everything held my attention until the survivors are stuck in a duct with water rising all around them. After they get out of their predicament then it’s downhill from there.

I also can’t figure out how Richard Dreyfuss had enough time to get back into the main ballroom after being out on the deck. Maybe it’s movie magic.

The special effects are top notch during the capsizing and for a change the extras really get into their roles by panicking the way people would react in that type of situation. They should all get special Oscars just for panicking alone!

Speaking of acting, while she doesn’t have a speaking role Stacy (Fergie) Ferguson as Gloria does a great job of "entertaining" the revelers and in a pivotal scene between her and the captain (Andre Braugher) her eyes and expression need no words. It still sends shivers up my spine.

One of the good things about the movie is they show different parts of the ship once again with survivors and the capsizing of the ship.

All in all each movie has it’s good and bad points, but if you plan on staying home this New Year’s Eve then maybe you’d like to have a Poseidon marathon. After a few drinks you might even think you’re turning upside down.

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Written by EricT - Visit Website
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Chances are if you missed the WB’s 2000 fall line up then you’ve probably never heard of the short lived Grosse Pointe. This series was poised as a potential hit for the network.

Fast, fresh and funny it centered on the show’s diva (a close to has-been child star who’s still hanging on); new cast member (and "serious actress"); the love struck/naive best friend of the diva; the dumb actor (and series heartthrob); the aging actor who tries to convince himself he can still play a teenager and the "stand in" who would do anything to get a role on the show.

While the show starts off strong with the addition of the new cast member (and the diva’s plan to get rid of her throughout the entire show) I’m not sure where the show wanted to go after the first few episodes. It could have gone in a lot of directions and even at the end of the 17th episode you’re still left scratching your head as to what went wrong or what happens to the characters.

I came across the show by accident when I was recording something else and loved the few episodes I saw thereafter. As a result, I wondered what happened to it after it was yanked off the air.

Maybe Star had a lot on his plate since his bread and butter was with Sex and the City at the time, but I would highly recommend Grosse Pointe if you like off-beat humor and root for the underdogs. 

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It is Christmas time, and the countdown has begun, as the days quickly fade. It is now time, since the kids who are not schooled at home are finally on vacation, to curl up in the family room and indulge in a little Christmas entertainment. Not only has the countdown begun to the holiday celebration (whichever you may celebrate), the countdown has also begun for those who celebrate Christmas (and even some of those who don’t) to watch all of their favorite Christmas movies.

Jingle All the Way is a relatively new Christmas movie. They do not make classics as they did in the olden days. However, every once in a while an entertaining Christmas movie is released. For those of us in the Evans household, this is one of them.

Unfortunately, Howard must fight off all the other last minute shoppers and deadbeat parents who are desperate to buy the ultimate toy, "Turbo Man", for their children. One parent is the psychotic, post office employee/parent Myron Larabee (Sinbad) who is so desperate for a "Turbo Man" he will go to any lengths to get one.

Bottom Line: If you are looking for a light-hearted comedy you can watch with your kids, check out Jingle All the Way. The funny moments are littered throughout the entire movie as the scenes shift from moments at the various stores throughout the city where the movie is set, to the home of Howard and Liz. So, consider adding Jingle All the Way to your Christmas Collection. While it is definitely not Miracle on 34th Street, it does have its appeal as a modern Christmas comedy.

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Written by Dominick - Visit Website
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Dominick Evans is in his late 20’s. He spends his days working as a full time writer/editor and a part time musician/composer. His passions in life include music, directing films, watching movies, reading books, watching sports, wheelchair football, politics and spending time with his family (fiancée Ashtyn, son Robert, and shih-tzu Oliver). Other interests include being an advocate for the disability and GLBT communities.

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FRIENDS OF GOD: A ROAD TRIP WITH ALEXANDRA PELOSI EXPLORES AMERICA’S BOOMING EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN MOVEMENT 
WHEN THE EXCLUSIVE HBO DOCUMENTARY DEBUTS JAN. 25

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Pelosi Shoots And Directs From The Driver’s Seat,

Taking Snapshots Of Evangelical America

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The estimated 50 to 80 million evangelical Christians living in America today have become a formidable force in our culture and democracy. But the evangelical movement is a big tent. To try and get a better understanding of the range and diversity of this community, intrepid filmmaker Alexandra Pelosi hit the road to meet some evangelicals and learn about what their influence may mean for the future of the country.

With her unique brand of road-tripping reportage, and driven by an unflagging curiosity and genuine interest in learning about this increasingly influential community, Alexandra Pelosi (whose previous HBO credits include 2000’s Emmy(r)-winning "Journeys with George") embarks on a fast-paced cross-country journey, offering snapshots of a cross-section of evangelical America. The exclusive HBO documentary FRIENDS OF GOD: A ROAD TRIP WITH ALEXANDRA PELOSI debuts THURSDAY, JAN. 25 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT).

Other HBO playdates: Jan. 27 (10:00 a.m.) and 30 (1:30 p.m., 10:30 p.m.), and Feb. 4 (2:30 p.m.), 7 (11:30 a.m.) and 12 (6:00 p.m.).

HBO2 playdates: Jan. 28 (10:00 p.m.) and Feb. 13 (5:05 a.m.), 15 (2:00 p.m.), 25 (2:10 a.m.) and 28 (5:30 p.m.).

A sassy one-woman show who directs and shoots from the driver’s seat, Pelosi ventures out over a year-long period for up-close and personal encounters with some influential members of the evangelical community, from Joel Osteen, the most-watched TV minister in America, to pastor Ron Luce, the founder of "Battle Cry," a concert tour that has drawn more than two million young people to its events nationwide. Pelosi also visits with a spectrum of others who embody a wide range of evangelical experiences, among them visitors at religion-themed parks, a Christian comic, creationist educators, Liberty University students and activists in Washington, D.C.

In her slice-of-life exploration, Pelosi travels to the red states and beyond to meet an array of open and forthright evangelicals who represent a broad sampling of the community. Many are pro-life and against gay marriage, and believe in a literal interpretation of the Bible, rebuking Darwinism.

Among them is Pastor Ted Haggard, who recently stepped down as president of the 30-million strong National Association of Evangelicals - the largest evangelical group in the U.S. - following allegations that he had sex with a male prostitute and bought illegal drugs. Before the scandal broke, Haggard welcomed Pelosi to his world, explaining that an evangelical is "a person who believes Jesus is the Son of God, the Bible is the Word of God, and that you must be born again." While mega-churches like his New Life Church in Colorado Springs have replaced the quaint churches of yesteryear, Haggard explains that their sense of community is as strong as ever and this contributes to evangelicals’ happy lives.

Says Haggard, "We’ve settled the issue of eternal life. The Bible is clear about it…we are not afraid of death because of it. We are living in the United States of America; we have representative government; and we have freedom of religion and freedom of the press." He asks, "Why in the world would a person in that environment not be happy?"

During her journey, Pelosi also visits with Rev. Jerry Falwell, leader of The Moral Majority and chancellor and founder of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., who articulates a commitment to change the country and urges his congregation to "vote your values" in elections. "Evangelicals are the largest minority block in this country," he says. "It’s not a majority, but I don’t think you can win without them. John Kerry learned that. Al Gore learned that. And Hillary will learn that in 2008."

Alexandra Pelosi began her career in TV covering politics in Washington, D.C., and subsequently served as a network news producer for seven years. For her first film, 2000’s Emmy(r)-winning HBO documentary "Journeys with George," she spent 18 months on the campaign trail with future president George Bush. For the 2004 HBO documentary "Diary of a Political Tourist," she spent a year and a half following seven Democratic presidential candidates, including John Kerry, Joe Lieberman and Howard Dean. Pelosi is the daughter of California congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, who becomes the first female Speaker of the House in history next month.

FRIENDS OF GOD: A ROAD TRIP WITH ALEXANDRA PELOSI was written, directed and produced by Alexandra Pelosi. For HBO: supervising producer, Lisa Heller; executive producer, Sheila Nevins.

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