Summer Movies

Others have done it I guess I'll chime in on the upcoming summer movies. At least a few that jump out at me.

The new Batman movie The Dark Knight Rises will be a definite trip to the theater even though I wasn't too crazy about the ending of the last movie. Batman assuming the role of the outlaw felt forced. But, I will go see this one even though the Bane character is not my favorite. What I think this version of Batman has done is capture the feel of Gotham City. Oh yeah, and Gary Oldman as James Gordon is spot on. Spot on. Perfect. In other words, he is Jim Gordon.

How about Prometheus? Have you seen the trailer? Now, that is a proper trailer. Just enough to show you what it's going to look like and tease you enough to get your ass in the seat. Possible Alien prequel or a movie set earlier in the Alien universe? I'm in. Aliens was one of the best theater experiences I ever had. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. Plus, Ridley Scott can make a proper spectacle. There are a movies that think their spectacles but Scott just has this touch that makes a movie feel huge.

You have to think The Avengers will be the movie of the summer. I can't imagine any movie grossing more at the box office. And, judging from the fifteen trailers that have been released it may actually be really good. I think they may have put the right guy, Josh Whedon, in charge. I didn't watch Serenity when it was broadcast but I have caught a few episodes in syndication and most of what I have seen I have really liked. I have had put myself in an Avengers trailer blackout. I am not watching any more of them, I am starting to feel like I have seen half the movie. People are even posting Japanese trailers because there is a brief glimpse of footage not shown in the American trailers. I appreciate the obsessions of some people on the internet but this is a little much.
I think what can make this movie work is Chris Evans as Captain America. I thought he was perfect in the Captain America movie and, if they play it right, his development as the leader of the super hero team will be the heart of the film.

(A side note on trailers....I know I have mentioned it before but sometimes trailers show too much. One of the funniest moments in Shrek was ruined for by the trailer. The moment I am referring to is when princess tells Donkey that she thinks Shrek is her true love after they rescue her from the dragon and Shrek and donkey share a gut laugh after a perfectly timed pause. Great moment ruined.)

Dark Shadows caught me by surprise. I will wait for the reviews on this one. I just hope all the really funny lines aren't in the trailer. Still, it's hard not get excited about Johnny Depp starring in a light/dark comedy directed by Tim Burton.

The Amazing Spider Man I don't understand. Sure, this guy looks like a good fit as Peter Parker. Whicita from Zombieland as Mary Jane? Martin Sheen as Uncle Ben? I think this is going to be a dud. Partly because the previous movies were cast perfectly. Besides that, why, if you are going to reboot the franchise, go with another origin story? I would be more apt to go see a movie with a mature Spider Man who has established himself in the hero trade. Why not have him as a 30 year old and married to a pregnant Mary Jane? Anything but another origin story. Then there is Brave. It's Pixar and they haven't struck out yet (except for Cars which wasn't really a strikeout but more of little looper than falls in for single) and when they are on it they create masterpieces.

Test

Test

Fireworks go Boom

On the 4th of July in 2007 I traveled down to Chris' condo in South Carolina to blow shit up. I got lucky and caught this mortar shot right as it went off. Boom!!

Drive by Truckers STP Commercials

Just found out today that Mike Cooley of the Drive by Truckers did the voice over for two STP commercials. Each of the commercials features music from a Drive by Truckers song. I think Cooley does a great job with the voice work. He reminds me of Sam Elliott. Maybe he'll get more work doing this?


The first commercial has music from the song Lookout Mountain.



The second commercial has music from the song The Devil Don't Stay. I really like how they used the opening to the song.




Thanks to the Three Dimes Down blog for the Youtube links.

Weird but True

There is someone out there whose username is RejectObamunism. There are some nutjobs out there.

18th Fairway at Larkhaven

A nice feature of Larkhaven is the 18th hole. The fairway has a crescent shape that curves right to left and it reminds me of the 18th at TPC Sawgrass (a picture of the 18th hole is at the bottom of the page). As a lefty with a slice that can rear its ugly head the tee shot on 18 at Larkhaven is a little scary since as the day goes on and I get a little tired my slice can really start to be an issue.

I did slice my drive on the 18th last week but I got lucky and popped it up and the ball stopped about two feet from the water and I had a pretty good lie. I hit it as hard as I could with my five hybrid from about 150-160 and it stopped on the green. Probably one of my best shots ever. Of course I three putted for a bogey.

The view of the 18th fairway from the clubhouse area.

Another Panorama

The view from the first tee at Larkhaven golf course in Charlotte, NC. I hadn't played Larkhaven in a few years and I was nicely surprised by how much the course had been improved. The fairways are lush and soft and the greens are perfect.

Golf

I was wondering recently just when exactly I started playing golf. I found this picture of me at a driving range on the day I purchased my first set of clubs. The picture was taken in May of 2005. After almost seven years of playing you would think I would be better than I am. All I have of that original set of clubs is the bag they came in. Everything else has been replaced by better equipment.

Trayvon Martin and Zimmerman

I see that Zimmerman is going to charged with second degree murder in the killing of Trayvon Martin. Regardless of race, it seems to me if you are armed and you instigate some kind of confrontation and an unarmed juvenile ends up shot to death then how could the shooting not be a criminal act? I am sure this will drag on for years but I think the legal system is moving in the right direction.

The Sunset that Brought it

This is the sunset that lit up downtown in the picture below.

Another Picture

The day of the rainbow I caught a nice view of downtown in the sunset.

Rainbow

The other day there was a nice rainbow over Charlotte which was beautifully captured by a local photographer. I wasn't in a good spot to grab a photo of it but I got this shot below.