Suns Squeak Out Season Opener

The Suns do what they do best...let an inferior team hang around and try to come up with stops at the end. Fortunately, they did come up with a couple late stops and "O" Canada took over to push the Suns over the top. The Fredstrom isn't going to say much more about tonight's game, except that they need to play a whole lot better.  The Fredstrom will now digresses to give you his Western Conference preview Power Rankings.

Standings after the 09-10 regular season...

1. LA Lakers- champs add Artest, could be good or bad, and hang on to Odom. Pending any Kobe injury, Lakers will finish 1st in the West. There is no reason to put LA anywhere else. Was Ariza the Laker X-factor? We'll see...

2. San Antonio Spurs- add McDyess and Richard Jefferson to the already dangerous trio of Parker, Duncan, and Manu.  Aren't we all sad that Bowen retired? Nash can finally play the Spurs without getting raked across his arms or repeatedly tripped: )

3. Portland Trailblazers- A young team that has continued to improve, Brandon Roy and company will build upon last years 54-win season to secure the 3rd spot this year.  Greg Oden is "healthy" going into the season and that can only help.

4. Denver Nuggets- Give Chauncy Billups a full year with Denver along with a returning core of dangerous scorers. Look for Denver to be among the top 5 in the West all year and will finish in the 4th spot.

5. Utah Jazz- Have one of the leagues best point guards with D. Williams, a returning Boozer, Brewer, and Millsap...a core that has had much success in the West over the past few years. Sloan's teams are tough, gritty, play hard-nose defense and frustrate many.

6 (7). Dallas Mavericks- Dirk, an aging Kidd, Howard, Terry, and Marion make up a pretty good team. They will finish with the same record as the Suns cause the Fredstrom can't figure out who is the better team despite the Mavs looking horrible last night.

7. (6) Phoenix Suns- On paper the Suns look pretty good, Nash, Richardson (who needs to step up), Amare, Frye, Barbosa, and Hill; with a vastly improved bench.  The bench kept them in the game tonight, although it was the Clippers.  The Suns will finish either 6th or 7th depending upon the tie-breaker with the Mavs.

8. Golden State Warriors- If Stephen Jackson can hold his drama together the GSW's will once again find themselves in the 8th spot.  They add Stephen Curry to a high-octane scoring machine.  This team will be interesting to watch for sure and maybe even for the basketball?

The Fredstrom feels really confident about his top 4 picks...do you see it the same way?

Where the Wild Things Are...The Fredstrom Isn't

It was one of the most anticipated movies of the past 6 months, but probably shouldn't have been.

In case you live in some imaginary place, the story is about a boy named Max who likes to act a little "wild" sometimes too wild.  The book tells us that Max is sent to his room without supper for his punishment...the movie has Max laying his chompers into Mom's shoulder and running out of the house...

Max often escapes these strong feelings through use of his vast imagination, one that takes him to a far off place- "Where the Wild Things Are."  He convinces these leader-less, direction-less wild things that he is a king from a far away place.  The wild things make Max their king. His first order of business is to have a "wild rumpus".  The wild things are a divided crowd and Max's solution is a dirt-clog fight and for them to make a giant new home.  Max becomes particularly fond of Carol, a wild thing that resembles Max in many ways.  Max does his best to be king but is clearly unfit for the job, longing to be home. After what seems to be days,  Max leaves the land of the wild things to return home as if only seconds have past.

This is not a kids movie...while watching this movie, parents were taking their bored children out of the theater, never to return again: )  The Fredstrom was expecting a fun movie with more laughs, instead he got a serious adult movie about a boy with an angry childhood.  It's not good when you invite people to a movie and you turn to them and apologize for taking them wasting their $7.75 (matinee!). So sorry Tricia, first Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Dull, and now Where the People Who Take Naps Are...The Fredstrom owes you...

"Where the Wild Things Are" earned an abysmal 3 Picasso's for making those Wild Things look so real, and that's about it...

Have You Heard of PS22?

August 28, 2009 - They're an Internet sensation with more than 40 YouTube videos. They've been courted by celebrities, they've been on Nightlineand MTV, they've sung songs with Tori Amos and Stevie Nicks, and they're only 10 and 11 years old. They perform in the fifth-grade chorus from Public School 22 on Staten Island, N.Y., and their singing has captivated millions. - Margot Adler

Notable songs by PS22 include, Viva la Vida, Just Dance, Eye of the Tiger, Don't Stop Believing, Landslide..and more..

You have to check out this choir! Thanks April! 

For more info click http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112336166 

This is Real...Not Kidding!

So let's say that you get a traffic ticket and have to take traffic school online to avoid going to court or don't want to pay that fine...

The following screenshots were taken of the actual final exams. Don't worry about studying, taking notes, or paying attention to the material! Check out some of theses questions and answers...redonkulous! (Click image to enlarge)So let me get this straight...the trunk isn't the safest place for a child?
Trucks have large liver spots?
People are using coffee makers, toasters, and copy machines while driving? Memo to test makers, try GPS's, radios, or iPods for decoy answers, you know things people actually use while driving! Idiots!
Telegraphs? Fax machines? Refer to comment above.
WATCH OUT FOR THAT ELEPHANT?!
To avoid neck injuries be sure to fasten your bulletproof vest?
This one was really difficult.
We have all heard of the Dept. of  Bar and Pub Safety, not to be outdone by the Dept. of Liquor and Drug Safety!

No wonder there are so many idiots on the road!  This is our standard for graduating driving school? Maybe the kicker is that you get 2 attempts to pass this test! If you fail this test you should have your license revoked and your car repo'ed immediately... helping lower the Fredstrom's car insurance.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

The Fredstrom went and spent his night with his beautiful wife at a kids movie: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. Based on a popular children's book by Judi Barrett, Meatballs stars a young inventor named Flint Lockwood. Flint is a scientist who's dreams know no bounds, unfortunately his ideas get him into all kinds of trouble.

Flint ends up saving his hometown by inventing a machine that turns water into food, and he can make it "rain" anything he wants.  Cheeseburgers, ice cream, and the Fredstrom's favorite: giant hot dogs! But of course too much of a good thing ends up causing more trouble than expected.  Flint and company have to come up with an plan to stop his out-of-control experiment.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is a movie that adults can enjoy and one that kids will love. The best part of this movie was Officer Earl who's voice was provided by Mr. T.  He was hilarious!  He was worth the ticket alone.  The Fredstrom was thoroughly entertained but really looking forward to "Where the Wild Things Are"!

Meatballs earned a cool 7 Picasso's.

Tarantino Tops Fredstrom's Favorite Movie of the Summer

You already know the plot. It's 1941, the Nazi Regime has occupied France.  Brad Pitt plays Lt. Aldo Raine, in charge of 8 Jewish-American vigilante Nazi Headhunters-the basterds. In vintage Tarantino fashion, the basterds aim to strike fear through brutal killings of their enemies. 

Inglorious Basterds has a side plot developing along with Lt. Raine and his posse, involving a cinema owner-Shoshanna.  Her family was killed by the Nazis and karma has given her an opportunity to avenge their deaths with a theater full of the 3rd Reich.  These two subplots meet each other in an ending that can be summed up in one word- "WOW!"

Brad Pitt was amazing!  Pitt has some incredible lines that are sure to end up in pop nomenclature...Oh yes, yes yes! IB was a harmonious blend of comedy, action, and drama claiming it the Fredstrom's favorite flick of the summer, favorite Brad Pitt performance, and favorite Tarantino movie (pending his viewing of Pulp Fiction). Be ready to read, most of the movie is subtitles, and don't forget the awkward Mike Myers cameo!

Inglorious Basterds earns a cool 8 Picasso's

Not Sure if District 9 is Genius or Just Plain Weird?

Where does the Fredstrom start with this movie? An alien space craft has run out of fuel and stands hovering over Johannesburg, South Africa. The world has created the MNU to extract and contain these new visitors, called Prawns. This documentary style movie tells the story of a man named Wikus van der Merwe, who is put in charge of the MNU. He has been appointed to  evict the Prawns to another district further out of town.  While serving eviction notices, Wikus encounters and alien secret that would dramatically change not only his fate, but the Prawns as well.  The Fredstrom doesn't want to give away too much, but take the plots of  Independence Day, IronMan, Alien and Men in Black, put them in a blender-volia!
District 9 was a bit slow, a whole lot of weird, and just straight different. If this ever really happened, District 9 would describe what humans would actually do with alien visitors, sad but true. The Fredstrom may have missed the genius with this movie but just wasn't as impressed as he would have like to have been. District 9 earns a very flexible 5 Picasso's. See it for yourself.

Publike Enemies

Johnny Depp plays John Dillinger, notorious bank robber during the depression era.  Dillinger is loved by the public since he robs the banks that brought them into this depression.  No jail or bank can contain him making him America's #1 public enemy.  J. Edgar Hoover is forced to create an agency not bound by state boundaries or jurisdictions-the FBI.  Lead agent Melvin Puris (Christian Bale) pursues Dillinger from state to state in a slew of stake outs, car chases and gun blazing shoot-outs. 

Movie strengths: Depp delivers an amazing performance-again. Depp has to be the most under-rated actor in Hollywood today. Christian Bale, not used to being the supporting actor, gives a quiet contribution to this captivating story.  The cars, guns, and sets are the real strengths. Public Enemy was digitally filmed as well, making the movie near HD.

Director Michael Mann spared no expense at making sure this movie was completely accurate. Mann used the actual Tucson hotel and one of the prisons that Dillinger actually broke out of.

The film ends with some strong metaphors leading you to wonder if Dillinger knew his fate.

Public Enemies was one of the most anticipated movies of the summer.  Did it live up to the hype?  Well kinda but not really.  Public Enemies was good not great. Liked it, didn't love it.

7 Picasso's

Transformediocre

Well... Let's just say that if the Fredstrom were 12 years-old he would love this movie. Tranformediocre's was indirectly proportioned with extreme CG effects and a suffering plot. Talk about really trying to piece together a plot to make a sequel!

There's just something super cheesy about robots talking trash to each other. They are FREAKING ROBOTS, robots don't talk smack!  Also, is it really necessary to have Decepti-lames with two wrecking balls in the groin region? Autobots talking about their fathers? How does that work? The Fredstrom was anticipating a mega-battle at the end of the movie only to missed it due to a sneeze (that darn sternutatory reflex)! The Fredstrom is also not sure why American soldiers bring their guns to a Transformer fight?  They don't seem to do anything! Haven't they learned anything from the 1st Transformer flick?

Transformers: Rise of the Fallame did have some strengths. Megan Fox-nuff said.  In addition to the amazing special effects, Michael Bay employed a vast array of beautiful aircraft for this movie. The Pyramid scenes in Egypt were pretty incredible as well.  There were quite a few moments of comic relief that were quite entertaining including Witwicky's mom getting high on Pineapple Express Brownies.

Was Translamers worth the money? It was... just barely and earned 6 Picasso's.

3 Movies in a Week? You Crazy!

Okay movie goers...The Fredstrom did a little homework for you all this week.... $68 dollars and 3 movies later he has a report. If you live in a cave and don't already know the plots of these new releases here it goes as only the Fredstrom can provide.

Monday night: The Hangover

Three friends decide to take their friend to Vegas for his bachelor party only to wake up to a destroyed Caesar's Palace Suite, wondering what happened the night before.  The rest of the movie is spent trying to re-piece together their night in order to find their missing friend, the groom. A trashed room, a Mike Tyson cameo, a stolen cop car, a Vegas wedding, a lost baby, a wrecked Mercedes, an angry Asian gang, and a visit to the hospital are just the beginning for these troubled gents. The Fredstrom was expecting The Hangover to be a lot funnier than it was....like Ricky Bobby or Step Brothers funny. Even so The Hangover earns 6 Picasso's.

Tuesday night: The Taking of Pelham 123

It's Phonebooth in a train, but definitely better. Travolta and crew take over a subway car holding hostages in a New York City tunnel.  Denzel is in charge of this route and engages Travolta via radio trying his best to meet his demands.  John Travolta plays a great bad guy, reminiscent of Face/Off. If you don't mind the repeated use of the "F"word, this movie is worth seeing.  Denzel and Travolta earn Pelham 7 Picasso's.

Saturday night: The Proposal

The Fredstrom was pleasantly surprised with this little movie. Relationally challenged and power-editor Sandra Bullock has some complications with her visa and is being deported. Her doormat-assistant, played by Ryan Reynolds is her only hope to keep her job. Guaranteed a promotion, Reynolds agrees to marry. Now they just have to get through a weekend with his family in Alaska. Now that Reynolds has some bargaining power, he turns up the sarcasm creating some hysterical lines. A good balance of romance and comedy earns this dark horse 8 Picasso's.

Surprise Birthday Party for The Fredstrom!

So the Fredstrom was headed out for a routine dinner with his beautiful wife and family only to be met at the top of the stairs by 31 of his closest friends! SURPRISE! The Fredstrom was speechless, and you know that's amazing in-and-of itself! It was an amazing night for the Fredstrom.  Thank you SO much for all of those that took their time out to attend the party.  It truly was a night that the Fredstrom will never forget.

Here's some of The Fredstrom's old and new family: Tricia, JoLinda, Granny, Mom, Dad and Erika.

Some more of the Fredstrom's new family cont'd: Kyle, Kent, Matt, Joyce, Kirk, and Grand-dad.

The first of my dear friends: Nick, Elizabeth, Richard, and Marcia.

My sweetie Kristin, Jon, Debbie, Kelly, and the Big Kahuna.

The Arrowhead Elite: Coreen, Steve, Brent, Liz, Travis, and Ashley with George and Cristi. 

Thank you Sgt. Julio for taking these photos!

The Fredstrom can't wait to see you all again.

Don't Drag Me to That Movie!

Okay blog fans, The Fredstrom’s blog is venturing into uncharted territory: H-E-Double Hockey sticks!  The Fredstrom sent his most trusted scary movie associate, BadBrad, into Hades to watch Drag Me to Hell.  Unfortunately, Drag Me to Hell was literally what seeing that movie felt like for the BadBrad. He reports:

That old ladies get really upset when declined for credit extensions, so much so that they will hide in the back seat of your car so that they can (A) Put a curse on you, and (B) gnaw on your neck with their nasty old gums cause their dentures fall out!

Of course curse protocol requires a consultation with your local witch doctor and an appointment for a séance.  This séance doesn’t go as planned, sending the sacrificial goat on an angry talking-rampage? AWKWARD!

The BadBrad apologies for ruining this movie (although it’s hard to ruin a movie that was already ruined) for anyone who still wishes to see it.  Unless you enjoy decrepit nasty-old ladies, maggot puke, insects entering orifices, raging goats, and gaping holes in the earth sucking a woman down to into fiery hell, then please take his word for it…it’s not worth the cheddar or your time.  The BadBrad mercifully gives Drag Me To Hell -2 Picasso’s for the number of suspenseful jumpy parts.

Didn't Quite Live UP

Well...It was the most anticipated movie for the Fredstrom, but didn't quite live UP. This was by far Pixar's most emotionally TUGGING movie starting off slow and sad, but HANG on UP fans! Meet The Fredrickson, a retired balloon seller that sets out to fulfill a childhood dream. The Fredrickson was supposed to take his wife on this adventure, but life got in the way. Unfortunately,  The Fredrickson out lives his sweet wife, leaving him to take their house with him. Destination: South America.

So this is Russell, a very accomplished Wilderness Scout needing to assist the elderly for that last badge to become a senior scout.  Russell gets CAUGHT UP with The Fredrickson and is along for the adventure, encountering some of his own challenges and adding new ones for his geriatric compadre.

UP was very clever. Although slow at parts, UP's two main characters come from totally different places, ending up on the same page forming a very sweet relationship. And as with any Pixar film, it offered a very creative short film called Partly Cloudy...love it.

UP earns 7 Picasso's for it's creative plot and lovable characters.

Terminator Stinkation

So Terminator gets sent back to take out Sarah Connor because her future son John will lead the resistance against the machines in the future. John sends back his dad, Kyle Reese to protect her.

Terminator gets Terminated only to get sent back again this time to defend pre-pubescent John Connor (remember that squeaky voice?), from a liquid-metal terminator and again both terminators end up taking dirt naps. 

Terminator gets sent back again to defend college co-eds John and his woman against uber-hot terminator.  Terminator again takes care of terminat-her and sacrifices himself to keep John alive. Viva la resistance!

Judgment Day has come and gone leaving the world in utter decay. Nuclear fallout is no fun! It's the year 2018 and middle-aged John is battling against the machines along with a bunch of thugs that were extras in Tupac and Dre's video "California Love".  Weird thing is that John Connor's dad who's a teenager(?) Has been captured by the machines.  John has to go into Skynet headquarters to fetch him out.  He ends up running into the Governator in his birthday suit!  Good thing for computer generation, not sure anyone wants to see 62 year-old Arnold in his birthday suit!

The Fredstrom won't give away anymore info about this somewhat disappointing movie.  There is only so many ways to remix this Terminator saga.  The 3rd one was redundant enough, this is just getting ridiculous.  This near waste of $7 earns 5 Picasso's.

The Fredstrom Likes Angels and Demons

If you like The Da Vinci Code then you will really enjoy Angels and Demons.  It's a sophisticated European version of National Treasure and let's face it, Nick Cage doesn't have much on Tom Hanks.  Dan Brown is a genius at creating this very smart and intriguing plot.

Tom Hanks (Robert Langdon) is back and called upon by the Vatican to help find 4 kidnapped Cardinals that are finalist in line for Pope-hood. Hanks roams all over Vatican city in search of clues to find these lost Cardinals before they are killed in ways that only he can unlock.  Ewan McGregor brings it as the late Pope's right hand man and gives Hank's a serious run for his money. The ending was completely unexpected with a shocking twist! Everone dies after the...just kidding, go see it for yourself!

The spiritual metaphors are fascinating and endless.  The CG effects were pretty decent-regenerating a hodgepodge of the innards of the Vatican and other Roman churches.  You history buffs will like the symbol decodings, the Vatican archives (including Vatican cover-ups), Galileo's writings, Bernini's statues, and more.

The more the movie went on the more the Fredstrom was feeling that this movie is really good. Dan Brown, Tom Hanks, Ewan McG. and Ron Howard have earned themselves 8 Picasso's!