© by Gerald So | geraldso.blogspot.com | 12:30 P.M.
Back from the Regal United Artists theater in Farmingdale, where three friends and I watched an IMAX 3D screening. A barrage of negative reviews left me with no expectations going in, but I come away with nothing too negative to say myself.
I liked Man of Steel, so I knew I'd like Henry Cavill and Amy Adams continuing their parts. I also appreciated the effort to tell the story of an older Batman and thought Gal Gadot was fine as Wonder Woman.
This was something of a "kitchen sink" movie, but much of it didn't feel long. It laid the groundwork such that I am definitely more excited for Justice League, and that was the point.
Thursday, March 31, 2016
Monday, March 28, 2016
At The Five-Two: Catherine Wald
© by Gerald So | geraldso.blogspot.com | 5:00 A.M.
This week, Catherine Wald imagines Old Testament God as a Yellow Pages private investigator. "Better Call Yahweh":
Subscribe to Channel Five-Two for first view of new videos.
The Five-Two's blog tour for National Poetry Month (April) begins Friday. You can join in with a blog post, comment, or tweet.
This week, Catherine Wald imagines Old Testament God as a Yellow Pages private investigator. "Better Call Yahweh":
Subscribe to Channel Five-Two for first view of new videos.
The Five-Two's blog tour for National Poetry Month (April) begins Friday. You can join in with a blog post, comment, or tweet.
Monday, March 21, 2016
At The Five-Two: "Fair Housing"
© by Gerald So | geraldso.blogspot.com | 1:00 P.M.
This week, more from Charles Rammelkamp:
Subscribe to Channel Five-Two for first view of new videos.
This week, more from Charles Rammelkamp:
Subscribe to Channel Five-Two for first view of new videos.
Friday, March 18, 2016
Marvel's Daredevil Season 2
© by Gerald So | geraldso.blogspot.com | 4:30 P.M.
I've finished watching Season 2, having started two minutes after it went live at 3:01 this morning. Not a 13-episode cat-and-mouse game, more of Season 2 felt like standalones, yet everything tied together in the end.
Jon Bernthal as The Punisher and Elodie Yung as Elektra pleasantly made me forget anyone else had ever played the roles. Meanwhile the returning characters, particularly Foggy and Karen, again had meaty subplots that seldom relied on Daredevil to prop them up.
Thematically, Season 2 did a fine job contrasting Daredevil and The Punisher, Daredevil and Elektra, and Karen and Elektra. Season 1 raised the bar for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe, and Season 2 continues to lead the way.
I've finished watching Season 2, having started two minutes after it went live at 3:01 this morning. Not a 13-episode cat-and-mouse game, more of Season 2 felt like standalones, yet everything tied together in the end.
Jon Bernthal as The Punisher and Elodie Yung as Elektra pleasantly made me forget anyone else had ever played the roles. Meanwhile the returning characters, particularly Foggy and Karen, again had meaty subplots that seldom relied on Daredevil to prop them up.
Thematically, Season 2 did a fine job contrasting Daredevil and The Punisher, Daredevil and Elektra, and Karen and Elektra. Season 1 raised the bar for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe, and Season 2 continues to lead the way.
Monday, March 14, 2016
At The Five-Two: "Define Pi"
© by Gerald So | geraldso.blogspot.com | 12:30 A.M.
Last week I challenged horror master and friend of The Five-Two Michael A. Arnzen to come up with a poem for Pi Day (3/14). Here's the result:
Subscribe to Channel Five-Two for first view of new videos.
Last week I challenged horror master and friend of The Five-Two Michael A. Arnzen to come up with a poem for Pi Day (3/14). Here's the result:
Subscribe to Channel Five-Two for first view of new videos.
Sunday, March 13, 2016
Changing Games
© by Gerald So | geraldso.blogspot.com | 9:00 A.M.
Longtime MLB relief pitcher Rich "Goose" Gossage has made headlines with profanity-laced remarks about current players flashier shows of personality (bat-flipping, homerun celebration...) and whether today's players should be allowed to "dictate this game".
While I don't like what some players do, current players and society always influence sports. As much as I admire past players, once they retire, they no longer have direct impact on the games. Even longtime, current coaches have been shown to lose touch with the games.
Anything that doesn't change risks being left behind by everything that does.
Longtime MLB relief pitcher Rich "Goose" Gossage has made headlines with profanity-laced remarks about current players flashier shows of personality (bat-flipping, homerun celebration...) and whether today's players should be allowed to "dictate this game".
While I don't like what some players do, current players and society always influence sports. As much as I admire past players, once they retire, they no longer have direct impact on the games. Even longtime, current coaches have been shown to lose touch with the games.
Anything that doesn't change risks being left behind by everything that does.
TV Or Not TV
© by Gerald So | geraldso.blogspot.com | 8:00 A.M.
After a year of TV reception so flaky I'd almost entirely stopped watching a traditional set, yesterday I exchanged my wonky cable box for a newer, working model. (The nearest cable store is too out of the way to fit into a busy day.) Having reduced my dependency on cable channels in that year, I also happily downgraded the number of channels in the package.
To think, not many years ago I was against watching TV online.
After a year of TV reception so flaky I'd almost entirely stopped watching a traditional set, yesterday I exchanged my wonky cable box for a newer, working model. (The nearest cable store is too out of the way to fit into a busy day.) Having reduced my dependency on cable channels in that year, I also happily downgraded the number of channels in the package.
To think, not many years ago I was against watching TV online.
Friday, March 11, 2016
Meldonium Meltdown
© by Gerald So | geraldso.blogspot.com | 5:00 A.M.
On Monday, Maria Sharapova revealed she had failed a drug test after she was eliminated from 2016 Australian Open play. The drug in question, meldonium, which increases oxygen flow in the blood and thus one's capacity for exercise, was banned on January 1. Sharapova said she was unaware of the ban and had been taking the drug under the name mildronate since 2006. Subsequent reports say Sharapova was warned five times that meldonium would be or had been banned.
I've been a Sharapova fan since her 2004 Wimbledon championship run. She was described early on as a more dedicated Anna Kournikova, and her results before 2006 prove that. While I question her performance since taking meldonium and whether she had the medical conditions for which it is legitimately prescribed, I understand the mindset of legally gaining a competitive edge. I am disappointed if she knowingly took meldonium after its ban, but I'll support her if she comes back to play without it.
On Monday, Maria Sharapova revealed she had failed a drug test after she was eliminated from 2016 Australian Open play. The drug in question, meldonium, which increases oxygen flow in the blood and thus one's capacity for exercise, was banned on January 1. Sharapova said she was unaware of the ban and had been taking the drug under the name mildronate since 2006. Subsequent reports say Sharapova was warned five times that meldonium would be or had been banned.
I've been a Sharapova fan since her 2004 Wimbledon championship run. She was described early on as a more dedicated Anna Kournikova, and her results before 2006 prove that. While I question her performance since taking meldonium and whether she had the medical conditions for which it is legitimately prescribed, I understand the mindset of legally gaining a competitive edge. I am disappointed if she knowingly took meldonium after its ban, but I'll support her if she comes back to play without it.
Monday, March 07, 2016
At The Five-Two: Angel Zapata
© by Gerald So | geraldso.blogspot.com | 3:30 A.M.
Zapata returns with "The Insider":
Subscribe to Channel Five-Two for first view of new videos.
If you have an original math-and-crime-themed poem, I'd like to publish it the week of March 14 (Pi Day).
I'm also accepting poems about fooling or being fooled to be published in April.
Zapata returns with "The Insider":
Subscribe to Channel Five-Two for first view of new videos.
If you have an original math-and-crime-themed poem, I'd like to publish it the week of March 14 (Pi Day).
I'm also accepting poems about fooling or being fooled to be published in April.
Wednesday, March 02, 2016
Fuller House
© by Gerald So | geraldso.blogspot.com | 11:15 A.M.
Full House skewed just a tad young to be one of the sitcoms of my youth, and I confess, at first I poked fun at the idea of an update. With mild curiosity, I watched Fuller House on Netflix last week, and today I'm glad to hear it will be back for a second season.
The update focuses on D.J. (Candace Cameron-Bure), mother of three boys, a year removed from the death of her firefighter husband, Tom Fuller. Having moved back into the family home, in the premiere D.J. faces the departure of Danny, Becky, and Uncle Jesse to new jobs in Los Angeles. Thankfully, middle sister Stephanie (Jodie Sweetin) and best friend Kimmy Gibbler (Andrea Barber) decide to move in and help raise D.J.'s boys and Kimmy's girl Ramona.
Atmospherically, Fuller House rightly feels as if Full House ended. The characters' chemistry is intact, and there's a mix of grownup and growing-up themes, including some that allude to the actors' lives. What set Full House apart is what sets Fuller House apart: a generous helping of heart that may not be true to life, but we all wish it were.
Full House skewed just a tad young to be one of the sitcoms of my youth, and I confess, at first I poked fun at the idea of an update. With mild curiosity, I watched Fuller House on Netflix last week, and today I'm glad to hear it will be back for a second season.
The update focuses on D.J. (Candace Cameron-Bure), mother of three boys, a year removed from the death of her firefighter husband, Tom Fuller. Having moved back into the family home, in the premiere D.J. faces the departure of Danny, Becky, and Uncle Jesse to new jobs in Los Angeles. Thankfully, middle sister Stephanie (Jodie Sweetin) and best friend Kimmy Gibbler (Andrea Barber) decide to move in and help raise D.J.'s boys and Kimmy's girl Ramona.
Atmospherically, Fuller House rightly feels as if Full House ended. The characters' chemistry is intact, and there's a mix of grownup and growing-up themes, including some that allude to the actors' lives. What set Full House apart is what sets Fuller House apart: a generous helping of heart that may not be true to life, but we all wish it were.
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