Movie Review: Spiderman 2

I will say first unflinchingly that this was the best movie I've seen all year. I saw Harry Potter 3, and it was a major disappointment compared to Spiderman 2. To be fair, they're two totally different movies, but in terms of what each was trying to accomplish, the comic book flick fared much better, in my opinion. But we'll save the inadequacies and inaccuracies of The Prisoner of Azkaban for another day. (I liked the movie, really... but I didn't love it.)

So, what makes Spiderman 2 so awesome? Is it the so-cool-you-almost-don't-notice-them CGI effects? Yes it is. Is it the fact that the storyline, while having been done before (Superman 2), is still intriguing and heartrending? Yes, that too. Is it the spectacular fight choreography and abundance of smashing and explosions? Ohhh yes.

Better question is: what is there about this movie which was not totally awesome? Seriously. Go see this movie.

Update 7/5: America agrees, this movie is worth watching.
Read some reviews by real critics.

Spiderman 2 at Midnight

Sweet.

Update: Movie was awesome. Totally.

Word of the Day: Proselytize

Proselytize

(from Merriam-Webster Online)

intransitive senses
1 : to induce someone to convert to one's faith
2 : to recruit someone to join one's party, institution, or cause
transitive senses : to recruit or convert especially to a new faith, institution, or cause

"The Iraqi people have their country back"

Today's Top Story:


US Declares Iraq Sovreign Again

On a short study break, so not much time for commentary, but I question whether this makes much of a difference in reality. Iraq still doesn't have its own policing force, and in the mean time, our troops are still in danger. In addition, I still have my doubts about this:



I mean, really, it all sounds lovely and neat on the outside, but honestly, why are our soldiers still getting attacked and why is it that there seem to be more terrorist attacks than ever? I mean, this guy knows a lot more about it than I do, and he has more than just doubts about the whole thing. I'm certain I'll rant about the whole international situation at a later date, but for now, I take everything that the Bush Administration sends my way with a shaker full of salt.

DeBartolo Performing Arts Center

It's so pretty...

So the story behind this picture is that they appear to be nearing completion of the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center. I can't find any actual news articles to back this up, but I found this picture on the ND homepage, and it looks pretty done to me. They started planning for this my senior year at ND, and I was most disappointed that I wouldn't be afforded the chance to perform there as a student. However, it is looking a-pretty-pretty good right now. I'll definitely have to make it up there for a glee club concert just for the chance to check the place out. So cool.

We Got Death Star!

Wacky Fun Du Jour: Star Wars Gangsta Rap SE

It's not the east or the west side... no it's not
it's not the north or the south side... no it's not
it's the dark side... you are correct!

You might remember the classic flash animation. This is the new and improved beta edition. Fo shizzle.

In other news, Pot Beer!

MiniGolf / GoKarts

The wife and I had a lovely afternoon at Gator Park mini-golfing and go-karting. I am officially a "not-so-bad" mini-golfer. My sweetheart is officially a "not-so-good" mini-golfer. But she totally kicked my butt on the Go-Kart track, mostly because I had a go-kart with the "go" removed. Looked kind of like this:



Had a better kart the second race, but I had to use the red pedal too much. It's stupid really, because places like that are meant for family/kid entertainment, but I was getting very angry at this one kid who kept smashing into me an cutting me off. My kart was obviously faster, but I was trying to obey the rules and stuff and not slam into him. Whatever. Still had a fun afternoon.

Cow-Monkey!

Source: CNN Offbeat News

Whiplash the monkey entertains the audience as he rides his Border Collie on June 19 at the El Kadir Shrine Pro Rodeo at the NEMO Fairgrounds in Kirksville, Missouri.

Good morning! Everyone should have a monkey, I think

In local news: child-rapist walks free, again

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported today (Arkansas section, top story):

The Arkansas Supreme Court vacated the sentence of a convicted rapist Thursday in a first-of-its-kind ruling that a defendant has the right to a speedy sentence under the Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

The 5-2 decision paved the way for the release of Michael "Shane" Jolly, 27, of Saline County after serving just one year of a 24-year sentence.

Jolly was sentenced to prison in 2003, nearly six years after he pleaded guilty to the rape of a 12-year-old girl.

Allow me to say that in my humble opinion, this is utter crap. The story goes that this guy rapes the girl, then pleads guilty. He then walks around free for 6 years with no sentence, thinking he's all done with it. I mean, he said he was sorry, right? Then, for some reason, they bring him back in and sentence him to 12 years in prison with an additional 12 years suspended. Then, yesterday, the state supreme court says: "Oops! Our mistake for letting you have that 6 years of freedom after you raped that girl. I guess we really can't put you in prison now. Go on home, you rascal you, and don't rape any more 12-year-olds, okay?" And now this guy gets to walk free after serving 1 year of prison time.

So for now I'll ignore personal convictions I might have about the fact that he was only getting 24 years in prison for raping a 12-year-old. Yes, he was 19 at the time, but SHE WAS TWELVE! Think about it. If it were your daughter or little sister getting raped before she even gets to high school, you'd want the sicko locked away forever, no matter how old he was. But we'll put that aside and say that he's at least getting 12-24 years.

Let's look at the issue at hand. This guy is being released from prison (after having psychologically scarred this girl for life) because it's within his 6th Amendment rights to be sentenced right away instead of WALKING AROUND FREE for 6 years. I am by no means a constitutional scholar, but I sincerely doubt that the 6th Amendment was written with the intent of freeing child-rapists on a technicality.

I could rant for quite a while about the injustice of it all. It's not just that he's getting out of prison. It's not just that he raped a girl and is getting out of prison. It's the fact that HE'S GETTING OUT OF PRISON BECAUSE HE WASN'T IN PRISON FOR 6 YEARS WHEN HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN. It's a sign of the apocalypse, my friends. I've heard a bunch of stupid things since I've been here in Arkansas, but this may be an all-time-favorite.

Obligatory First Post

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