It seems that WWE wrestlers and abuse of women go hand in hand (that's a joke har har). The latest fracas of a WWE wrestler beating up a woman is now with Chris Jericho. Now I am very biased in a situation like this. I had once had the great opportunity to interview Chris Jericho when he came to Boston University to do a book signing for his autobiography. I did a phone interview with him and found him to be cordial, pleasant, and a great interview. At the book signing, he was chatting casually with fans and answered more questions from me. Also, he signed a book of Shakespeare's plays for one fan who didn't have enough money to buy his book. You have to be a really cool dude to do that. I am also a Jericho mark. He is the best wrestler working today.
Now on to the incident. The video is all over Youtube so feel free to watch and make your own assessment. The video doesn't show it, but from eyewitness reports, it was said that Jericho is trying to leave in his vehicle. It was then the fans take it too far. They blocked his vehicle and he is forced to get out and tell them to move. He is arguing with someone, probably that idiot guy who calls him "motherfucker" and "disgrace to Canadians." Someone puts his hands on him, don't know who though. He then tries to get back into his car and is then pushed into by that blonde lady (that's the nicest term I'm willing to call her.) Jericho then snaps back and pushes and punches that lady. Security in the meantime is off in la-la land.
And so it happened. Jericho was attacked physically and he defends himself. Questions arise from this: did Jericho even know a woman pushed him, did he attack the first person he saw and it just happened to be her, when Jericho realized he punched someone was he playing his role as a heel by showing little emotion?
I don't think questions like this will be answered. The local police who responded to the scene called it a "minor incident," so this is as probably as far as the incident will go. However, I think it is clear the lady provoked Jericho and what happened was a result of frustration. No I don't think "the bitch deserved it" as I bet some have said on some message boards. It happened as a matter of circumstance. Had their been past revelations of Jericho beating up women (not including the incident with HBK's wife har har), I would have a different assessment of this. But nothing has come about of this. I therefore have to believe that Jericho's actions were that of a man who was provoked and nothing else.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Protesters rally against cell tower
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20237269&BRD=2731&PAG=461&dept_id=574901&rfi=6
My first published freelance article for the Queens Chronicle. It is about protestors in Queens, NY rallying against a cell phone tower being built in their area. Check it out.
My first published freelance article for the Queens Chronicle. It is about protestors in Queens, NY rallying against a cell phone tower being built in their area. Check it out.
Monday, January 19, 2009
The Pop Culture Wizard is in London
Hello loyal followers. The Pop Culture Wizard is here. Where you might ask? In merry ol' London. Starting tomorrow, I will update all of you wonderful people of my travels, trials, and tribulations as I take over Europe starting tomorrow. So far PCW has seen the much smaller than originally pictured Buckingham Palace, the eerie Tower of London (and by eerie I mean the fact that it has those stoic soldiers who aren't supposed to react), Westminster Abbey (without going in ironically), and a few other assorted venues. Despite study abroad being my goal, I will be travelling to other European places. I will try to post pictures of my wondrous odysseys but I will mainly update all you wonderful people on my goings-on. I am off to bed to another full day in London. Ta ta.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
WWE Survivor Series 2008 Predictions
It's 2008 and Survivor Series will be at the TD Banknorth Garden live tonight at 8pm. It will be a powerhouse Pay-per-view that will be exciting and memorable. Here are the predictions:
Chris Jericho (c) vs. John Cena for the World Heavyweight Championship: I don't think Cena will get the belt (I truly hope not). It will be interesting to see how the Boston crowd reacts to Cena's awaited return. I think the match will end in a disqualification for either Cena or Jericho.
The Undertaker vs. The Big Show in a Casket Match: Undertaker without a doubt. I need not say anymore.
Triple H (c) vs Vladimir Kozlov vs. Jeff Hardy for the WWE Championship: If the news about Jeff Hardy being found unconscious in his hotel is not a storyline, which I hope it is not, it goes to Triple H. My god, my god, I hope it isn't. I want this to be Hardy's time to finally achieve that gold.
Team Michaels (Shawn Michaels, Rey Mysterio, Cryme Tyme (JTG and Shad), and The Great Khali) vs. Team JBL (John "Bradshaw" Layfield, Kane, Montel Vontavious Porter, John Morrison and The Miz) in a 5-on-5 Survivor Series Elimination Match: You know, with MVP's 6 month losing streak, perhaps he will be the sole survivor. Or maybe he will be the first one eliminated. Regardless, I think Team HBK will take this one.
Team Batista (Batista, CM Punk, Kofi Kingston, Matt Hardy and R-Truth) vs. Team Orton (Randy Orton, Shelton Benjamin, William Regal, Cody Rhodes and Mark Henry) in a 5-on-5 Survivor Series Elimination Match: I think Team Orton will take this. This is RKO's first truly big match since returning from his injury. Not to mention, the members of Team Batista haven't been faring well in the individual matches they have had.
Team Raw (Beth Phoenix, Mickie James, Kelly Kelly, Candice Michelle, and Jillian Hall) vs. Team SmackDown (Michelle McCool, Victoria, Maria, Maryse, and Natalya) in a 5-on-5 Diva Survivor Series Elimination Match: I don't know why, but it seems like Smackdown tends to win these Raw vs. Smackdown type of matches. While I think Raw has the better overall wrestling talent, I think it will go to Smackdown.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Thursday, October 2, 2008
"Miracle" is a Mess of a Movie
Spike Lee will have to deal with negative criticisms of his newest film, Miracle at St. Anna, mainly in reference to the word “Miracle.” Picture the headlines: “Miracle is Anything but a Miracle,” “St. Anna Needs a Miracle of a Writer,” and so on. While those critics may find fault with the film, they will be wrong, somewhat. Miracle at its heart has a great story, but its heart is not in the right place. Instead, it is a mess of a movie that tries to swallow more than it can chew.
Miracle is told in flashback (and later in another flashback), with four survivors of an all-black army company after an ambush from the Nazis. They take in a wounded Italian boy and hold up in a small village hoping for reinforcements to arrive. However, are they survivors out of pure fortune or does a statue head that one soldier carries keep them safe?
While the plot description sounds hokey, explaining anymore would ruin a few surprises of the film, though if attentive, you will guess in advance as to what they are. Essentially the movie tries to tell three stories: the black soldiers, the Italian boy they befriend, and an Italian resistance group. Each could have their own film. Yet, at a running time of 2 hours and 46 minutes, it still is not enough. Undeniably, director Lee and writer James McBride (who also penned the novel) feel the most important story is about the black soldiers. Their story is engaging, but not enough. He merely uses the story of the Italian boy and Italian resistance as afterthoughts. Their stories are just as intriguing as the soldiers are and it is a shame the writer and director chose to ignore that. Had they given focus to those two other stories, the film would’ve clocked in at four hours. Length, however, does not dictate a good or bad film. It’s the final product that does.
Director Spike Lee also has an intentional tendency to get preachy in his films. We come to learn that the Italian village people treat them better than at home back in the USA. That itself is an interesting fact. However, Lee has to tell us that. We know it already and he just keeps hammering it in us as if we are stubborn children who refuse to pay attention. In addition, we know it’s a war where blacks were sent in as guinea pigs on the more dangerous missions. Again, the characters, or I should say the filmmakers, feel they have to announce these things as if we did not know. Lecturing is for professors to do, not films. It alienates the film goers who do not like to be spoon-fed the messages or themes of the film. Also, it is generally insulting.
What the director and writer do get right is the compelling relationship between the Italian boy and one of the soldiers, whom the boy calls by a funny pet name. Watching the relationship grow between this boy and young man, who is a kid at heart, is both beautiful and emotional. Seeing them break communication barriers and come to an eventual understanding of one another is done elegantly by the filmmakers. It is not treated in a sappy, force fed way, but with truth and honesty.
Miracle could have been, and should have been a great film. The stories of black soldiers are one that needs to be told and Lee had an opportunity that failed. He should have either stuck to one story or fully fleshed out all three. Instead, it is a muddle film that thinks it is a masterpiece, but ultimately, it is not.
Rating: 6/10
Miracle is told in flashback (and later in another flashback), with four survivors of an all-black army company after an ambush from the Nazis. They take in a wounded Italian boy and hold up in a small village hoping for reinforcements to arrive. However, are they survivors out of pure fortune or does a statue head that one soldier carries keep them safe?
While the plot description sounds hokey, explaining anymore would ruin a few surprises of the film, though if attentive, you will guess in advance as to what they are. Essentially the movie tries to tell three stories: the black soldiers, the Italian boy they befriend, and an Italian resistance group. Each could have their own film. Yet, at a running time of 2 hours and 46 minutes, it still is not enough. Undeniably, director Lee and writer James McBride (who also penned the novel) feel the most important story is about the black soldiers. Their story is engaging, but not enough. He merely uses the story of the Italian boy and Italian resistance as afterthoughts. Their stories are just as intriguing as the soldiers are and it is a shame the writer and director chose to ignore that. Had they given focus to those two other stories, the film would’ve clocked in at four hours. Length, however, does not dictate a good or bad film. It’s the final product that does.
Director Spike Lee also has an intentional tendency to get preachy in his films. We come to learn that the Italian village people treat them better than at home back in the USA. That itself is an interesting fact. However, Lee has to tell us that. We know it already and he just keeps hammering it in us as if we are stubborn children who refuse to pay attention. In addition, we know it’s a war where blacks were sent in as guinea pigs on the more dangerous missions. Again, the characters, or I should say the filmmakers, feel they have to announce these things as if we did not know. Lecturing is for professors to do, not films. It alienates the film goers who do not like to be spoon-fed the messages or themes of the film. Also, it is generally insulting.
What the director and writer do get right is the compelling relationship between the Italian boy and one of the soldiers, whom the boy calls by a funny pet name. Watching the relationship grow between this boy and young man, who is a kid at heart, is both beautiful and emotional. Seeing them break communication barriers and come to an eventual understanding of one another is done elegantly by the filmmakers. It is not treated in a sappy, force fed way, but with truth and honesty.
Miracle could have been, and should have been a great film. The stories of black soldiers are one that needs to be told and Lee had an opportunity that failed. He should have either stuck to one story or fully fleshed out all three. Instead, it is a muddle film that thinks it is a masterpiece, but ultimately, it is not.
Rating: 6/10
Saturday, July 19, 2008
WWE 2008 The Great American Bash Predictions
I will be attending the 2008 Great American Bash tomorrow at the Nassau Coliseum. I am truly looking forward to this event. The card will have some great matches and perhaps some history will be made as well. To that, here is my predictions for the Pay-Per-View.
Matt Hardy (c) vs. Shelton Benjamin for the WWE United States Championship:
I think they will keep the belt on Hardy. Regardless I think this could be a great match. Shelton can show off some good moves of his. He's improved a lot in the ring since his stint on Raw where he did absolutely nothing. I think they'll keep the belt on Hardy for a few months before it's decided to drop it to Shelton.
John Morrison and The Miz (c) vs. Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder vs. Jesse and Festus vs. Finlay and Hornswoggle in a Fatal Four-Way match for the WWE Tag Team Championship:
Finlay and Hornswoggle. Morrison and Miz have surprisingly made a competent tag team. It's interesting to note that their characters don't seem to care about each other, but only in keeping the belts. I like that new twist on a tag team. The Edgeheads and the team of Jess and Fest I don't think have shown enough to warrant a win for tag team gold. I think we will see the disintegration of the Morrison and Miz to a loss to Finlay and Hornswoggle. It's Team Ireland's time.
Mark Henry vs. Tommy Dreamer in a singles match for the ECW Championship:
Mark Henry. Tommy Dreamer unfortunately has been held back. I don't think it will be a squash match (I hope it isn't), but if anyone will be beat Henry, it certainly won't be Dreamer.
Natalya vs. Michelle McCool in a singles match for the WWE Divas Championship:
Natalya. Honestly, I haven't paid much attention to the Smackdown! women's division. However, I will say both are capable talents. I think this one will go to Natalya based on that she'd be a better champion but also is a member of the Hart family.
John Cena vs. John "Bradshaw" Layfield in a New York City Parking Lot Brawl:
Though I don't want it to, John Cena. It's simple. The WWE is marketing John Cena as Superman. No one can beat the man the kids love and the grownups love to hate.
Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho in a Singles match:
Chris Jericho. I think this will be a great match and may possibly the best on the card. We got two great technical wrestlers who have a limited high-flying repertoire. They both have past wins and loses to each other. Both of them have their respective fans who cheer and boo them. While the two have fought before, I think they will both put on a good show.
CM Punk (c) vs. Batista in a Singles match for the World Heavyweight Championship:
CM Punk. I don't think that Batista is going to win back the belt just yet. I give CM Punk perhaps until the end of the year before he drops it to Batista or someone else. This should be an interesting match considering the two different styles with Punk's martial arts expertise and Batista's power moves. Perhaps some interference with Kane I predict.
Triple H (c) vs. Edge in a Singles match for the WWE Championship:
Triple H. Triple H rarely ever jobs. I think this will be no exception. While I hope Edge wins, I don't think he will. I get the feeling that there will be some sort of interference. Perhaps Undertaker or Vickie Guerrero?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)