SJ Sharks vs. Colorado Avalanche - 12/30/05

I brought Dan to this game for his birthday. Yeah, it's been almost 3 months since his birthday, but he's an Avalanche fan and this was the first time they played this season in San Jose.

The Sharks have been struggling after winning their first 6 games with Joe Thornton in the lineup, so I was leary as to which team would show up for this game. It didn't start well as Jim Fahey was called for hooking 2 minutes into the game and Joe Sakic scored on the ensuing power play to put the Avs up 1-0. Although the Sharks had some good chances, the score stayed the same for most of the first period. With 1 minute left, the Avs were called for a penalty and Joe Thornton converted on the power play with 6 seconds left to tie the game.

The Sharks kept the pressure on to start the second period as Joe Thornton scored again 3 minutes in to put the Sharks up 2-1. Alex Tanguay answered back a few minutes later for the Avs to tie the game at 2. However, the Sharks dominated the period by outshooting the Avs 12-5 and Scott Thornton got into the action by scoring an unassisted goal with 6 minutes remaining in the second to put the Sharks up 3-2.

The third period was more of the same as the Avs looked very sluggish and the Sharks took advantage of the opportunity. Patrick Marleau scored a power play goal 2 minutes into the period and Jonathan Cheechoo scored a few minutes later to put the Sharks up 5-2. The Avs best shot was to the face of Joe Thornton who lost 3 teeth, but didn't miss a shift (there was no penalty called despite Joe's protest with blood running down his mouth). It didn't matter as the Sharks cruised through the third period, outshooting the Avs 14-5 and winning the game 5-2. Let's hope these Sharks show up more often.

Of note: Nils Ekman had 4 assists, tying a Sharks record. Joe Thornton tied the Sharks record for points in a month with 21 (5 goals, 16 assists).

Score: W 5-2
1st Period
Avs - Joe Sakic(PP) (Brett Clark, Milan Hejduk)
SJ - Joe Thornton(PP) (Nils Ekman, Christian Ehrhoff)
2nd Period
SJ - Joe Thornton (Nils Ekman, Kyle McLaren)
Avs - Alex Tanguay (Ian Laperriere, Brett McLean)
SJ - Scott Thornton (unassisted)
3rd Period
SJ - Patrick Marleau(PP) (Nils Ekman, Jonathan Cheechoo)
SJ - Jonathan Cheechoo (Nils Ekman, Joe Thornton)

SJ SOG: 43
Avs SOG: 22
Winning Goalie: Vesa Toskala
Losing Goalie: David Aebischer

Tickets: Section 220 Row 4

Murderball - Movie Review

Wheelchair Rugby (originally known as Murderball) is a game created by quadriplegic athletes that is every bit as aggressive as the name would lead one to expect. The game has become an official event at the Paralympics and the United States and Canada have become fierce rivals in the event. This documentary follows both teams as they prepare for and compete in the 2004 Paralympics in Athens, Greece. It offers an up-close look at the 2004 Wheelchair Rugby tournament, as well as the personal stories of the athletes who are passionate, driven, and determined to win.

If you think of someone confined to a wheelchair and you picture a person who is limited to what they can do and their ability to get around, this film will open your eyes and completely change the way you think of people with "disabilities." The guys in this film that play wheelchair rugby are tougher and probably live fuller lives than most able body folks. The competition between the wheelchair rugby teams is so fierce, as the movie went on, I found myself focusing less on the wheelchairs and more on rooting for Team USA to win the gold in the 2004 Paralympics. The fact that they go on with their lives and don't complain about the things they can't do anymore (or might take them longer to do) make the everyday bellyaching the rest of us do even more trivial. This is an eye opening and captivating documentary that seems too short at 90 minutes. Encore!

Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: Yes
Starring: Mark Zupan, Joe Soares

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Cinderella Man - Movie Review

In the 1920s, James Braddock was a promising contender for a boxing championship, but the combination of a serious hand injury and a 1929 defeat sent his career into a tailspin. As his career in the ring dried up, the Great Depression decimated the US economy and Braddock found himself working at the New York docks for pitiful wages to support his wife and 3 kids. Desperate for money, he turned to his former manager who was able to secure a bout with a boxer who wanted to use the out of practice Braddock as a stepping stone. However, despite conventional wisdom that he was too old and out of shape, Braddock won the bout and continued to defeat his opponents with a powerful left hook he had gained from his time working on the docks. In a nation full of bad news, Braddock's comeback provided a rallying cry for struggling workers and unemployed people who all had their eyes on Braddock when, in 1935, he took on the heavyweight champion, Max Baer, in the fight of his life.

This is a very powerful movie which will make you think about your life and realize how good most people have it in this day and age. The struggles that people went through during the Great Depression were far worse and not really even comparable to the most recent stock market plunge. While the dot-com bust of 2001 forced a lot of people to sell their second homes and go back to living a middle class existence, the Great Depression tested a lot of people's will to survive as they had to take any work they could find to keep the lights on. Beyond that, this film is an inspirational story of a relentless boxer who literally fights to keep his family together and triumphs over all odds. Russell Crowe and Renee Zellweger were excellent and had great chemistry on screen. For the 2+ hours I was watching this film, I was transported to the 1930s and felt the pain and elation that the family was experiencing. The bonus features showed the actual man and his family in action which was nice to see for a film based on true life. Excellent!

Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: Yes
Starring: Russell Crowe, Renee Zellweger, Paul Giamatti

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

The 40-Year-Old Virgin - Movie Review

A middle aged geek who has an extensive collection of comic books, action figures and collectible models and works in an electronics store seems reasonably happy with his life. However, one day his friends and co-workers discover that, due do his severe jitters around women, he is still a virgin. Appalled at this state of affairs, they set out to find a woman willing to give him that first experience. Many disastrous and comical situations ensue.

In order to enjoy this film, you have to be in a very immature frame of mind; preferably with your buddies and a little drunk or stoned. If those conditions are met, you might think this is one of the funniest movies you have ever seen. If not, you'll probably think this movie is Lame (with a capital "L"). Just about every joke in this movie is of a sexual nature and you probably heard most of it in junior high. Don't attempt to watch this movie with anyone you get embarrassed around as the situations presented in this film will only heighten those feelings. In summary, this is not a smart comedy, just a immature one and certain conditions should be met for the best chance of enjoyment.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Steve Carell, Catherine Keener, Paul Rudd

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Must Love Dogs - Movie Review

A thirty-something kindergarten teacher becomes convinced by her sisters that it's time to get over her divorce of eight months ago and start dating again. One of the sisters posts the teacher's picture and profile on an internet dating site and the responses come pouring in. Most of the guys turn out to be losers, but there is one potential winner she finds online. Also, she makes the acquaintance of the divorced father of one of her students and finds herself having to choose between the two.

This is a total chick flick that Shawnna didn't even enjoy very much. The plot wasn't original in the least - a woman who has had her heart broken decides it's time to start dating again and searches for a good guy. There is no suspense as you can tell what's going to happen before it happens and you know who she's going to end up with. There are some funny scenes, but this is mostly a boring movie with no plot twists and it ends exactly the way you imagine - ZZZzzzzz...

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Diane Lane, John Cusack, Elizabeth Perkins

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

The Island - Movie Review

Midway through the 21st century, thousands of people live in a confined indoor community after ongoing abuse of the Earth has rendered most of the planet uninhabitable. One of the only places in the outside world still capable of sustaining life is an island paradise where citizens are chosen to live through a lottery. The only problem is that there is no island and everyone in the community are actually clones of rich people who have paid lots of money for an "insurance polity" that can provide replacement parts in case of illness. When one of the clones discovers that his existence is a fraud, he escapes to the outside world with a fellow clone to shed light on this autocracy. Of course, the scientists will do anything to make sure that doesn't happen.

I really enjoyed this film and thought the story line was very original. While some films that take place in the future go over the top in their interpretation of what it will be like, this film is much more conservative and realistic to the point you almost forget it's the future since everything seems like it could happen. With the recent debates about the ethics of cloning, this movie seems even more relevant as a cautionary tale. Even though it's a work of fiction, I could easily see rich people buying clones as "insurance policies." Great concept, well executed, terrific acting, awesome sets, fantastic movie.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Scarlett Johansson, Steve Buscemi

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

The Dukes of Hazzard - ACE Train Movie Review

Boss Hogg, the county commissioner, leads a charge to take away the Duke family farm under the pretext that Uncle Jesse is running a moonshine business. Bo and Luke Duke have a hunch that Boss Hogg has an ulterior motive and set out to find some answers. In the process, they wreak havoc on Hazzard County in their beloved 1969 Dodge Charger, the General Lee.

For all of the hype about Jessica Simpson in this movie, she is barely seen. There is some eye candy in the form of co-eds in the dorm (If I knew dorms were filled with naked women playing hackey sack in their unlocked rooms, I might have opted to live on campus :-) However, the movie is really about the General Lee (the car). The film is basically just a big car chase scene with the General Lee jumping, skidding, spinning and ramming its way out of hairy situations. The characters in the film are pretty true to the TV show with the exception of Rosco P. Coltrane being a hard-nosed serious cop in the film where he was a goofy putz in the TV show (also, Burt Reynolds should have gained about 100 pounds to do Boss Hogg justice). Overall, they basically just copied the TV show and put it on film with average modern day actors, which begs the question, "Why not just watch the TV show?"

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Seann William Scott, Johnny Knoxville, Jessica Simpson, Burt Reynolds, Willie Nelson

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Fantastic Four - ACE Train Movie Review

Four astronauts are on a mission aboard a new experimental spacecraft when they are exposed to a massive dose of gamma rays. The accident causes all four to transform in strange ways and gain unusual skills. With their new "powers", the four become known as the Fantastic Four and begin to fight crime. Another person who was on the spacecraft during the accident and becomes altered, Doctor Doom, decides to use his powers for evil and becomes a hated nemesis. The Fantastic Four must band together to defeat Doctor Doom who has visions of world domination.

As a movie based on a comic book, this film doesn't live up to the originality of Sin City. However, as an action movie, it's actually a pretty good quality. I would argue that at about 1:40 minutes, it might have been too short. The set-up of how the four people became the Fantastic Four took about half of the film, then it took about 20 minutes for them to figure out how to use their powers which left less than 30 minutes for the heroes to really show off their stuff. The entire story was necessary to tell, so I didn't mind waiting for the payoff. In addition to the action, it was also a pretty funny film with Johnny and Ben providing most of the comic relief. The ending left it open for a sequel, so I wouldn't be surprised if there was a movie that picked up where this one left off.

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Jessica Alba, Ioan Gruffudd, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

The Polar Express - Movie Review

When a young boy loses all belief in the holiday spirit and Santa Claus, a mysterious train pulls up to his house on Christmas Eve to take him away to the North Pole to witness Santa's launch. At first reluctant to embrace the magic of the moment, the train's perilous journey, budding friendships with his fellow passengers, and sage advice from the Conductor, shake the young boy into the hope that the Christmas spirit could possibly be true; all the while leading him into whimsical misadventures during the journey.

This is a great film for kids who are at the age where they are beginning to question whether Santa Claus is real. The story is enjoyable and has a good message. Tom Hanks does a great job voicing at least 5 of the characters as well as helping to produce the movie. One thing I didn’t like was the animation. The characters looked very lifelike to the point of being a little creepy (especially when they showed the "Steven Tyler" elf whose face was a spitting image of the Aerosmith lead singer). However, the plot more than makes up for the creepy animation and results in a good kid-friendly Christmas movie.

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Voice of Tom Hanks

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

The Skeleton Key - ACE Train Movie Review

A care provider for the elderly is hired away from the hospice where she works by a woman who needs someone to take care of her husband who is in poor health and not long for the world. They live in a decaying mansion near New Orleans and the care provider starts to explore the house in her spare time from working. It's not long before she discovers evidence that the husband might be under a spell and his wife could be the one who cast it. She finds herself trying to make sense of a bizarre world of hoodoo and ghosts.

This is a strange movie that deals with hoodoo (African-American folk magic) which shouldn't be confused with Voodoo (a Haitian religion). If you can get over the fact that the main plot is based around the use of magic spells, this is a pretty entertaining film. However, I thought that the Kate Hudson's character was a little too bold in how she explored the house right after she was hired and just happened to come across the room that contained all of the secrets – how convenient. Beyond that, I was drawn in trying to figure out what was real, what was imagined and who was to blame for what. The ending had a nice twist that nicely wrapped everything up.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Kate Hudson, Gena Rowlands, Peter Sarsgaard, John Hurt

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

War of the Worlds - ACE Train Movie Review

A divorced, dead-beat dad from New Jersey gets his kids from his ex-wife for a typical weekend of lounging around. The weekend turns out to be anything but ordinary starting with a series of lightning storms that hit the neighborhood and knock out all power. Strange spacecraft emerge from the points where the lightning struck and start to attack and annihilate everything in their path. The dad is tasked with trying to survive and protect his two kids from the all-out alien invasion.

This is a good film for the action lover since it's pretty much non-stop from beginning to end. The look and mannerisms of the aliens were incredibly original as was their mode of transport - no UFOs in this film. Tom Cruise took a break from preaching Scientology and was actually very good in this film as was Dakota Fanning. I was drawn in to the fascinating plot, but was a little disappointed at the ending; both the seemingly simple way that the aliens were finally defeated and who ended up surviving. Other than the sub-par end, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the film.

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, Tim Robbins

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

March of the Penguins - ACE Train Movie Review

Each year, the emperor penguins of Antarctica travel through the most punishing environment on Earth to their nesting grounds, find a partner, mate, and after the females lay their eggs, the males keep them warm while their mates walk 70 miles back to the sea to fatten themselves with fish and then return the 70 miles to feed their young. Then, the males (who haven't eaten for 4 months at this point) take their turn walking 70 miles back to the sea for food and then return to feed their young. Finally, the young penguins are ready to be on their own, so the penguins go their separate ways back to the ocean. This whole process lasts about 9 months and takes place in temperatures that reach -80°C without the wind chill factor.

This documentary is of the highest quality you would expect from National Geographic. While I was watching, I was amazed at the footage they were able to capture on film. Emperor penguins in Antarctica have to endure and overcome an astounding numbers of obstacles in order to breed - mind-numbing cold, predators, traveling extreme distances to the breeding ground, going months without any food, hatching fragile eggs that can easily break. It's amazing any of them survive. The filmmakers had to brave the frigid temperatures for over a year to capture it all, which is extraordinary in its own right. If you want to see how a seemingly impossible journey can result in the greatest joy, I would highly recommend this documentary.

Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: Yes
Starring: Narrated by Morgan Freeman

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Madagascar - ACE Train Movie Review

A zebra from the Central Park Zoo in New York dreams about being free and going into the wild. When he finally decides to make a break for it, his friends (a lion, hippo and giraffe) go after him to bring him back to the zoo before he gets into trouble - too late. The four of them are caught in Grand Central station and sent to Madagascar after zoologists determine the animals are restless and need to be returned to the wild. Once there, they soon determine that they are not quite equipped to live in the wild.

This is a cute and funny movie. It kept my interest and I enjoyed it from beginning to end. I think kids would love it and it also has some humor that only the adults would understand. The voices were perfectly cast for the characters which definitely added to the enjoyment of the film. While the four main characters (lion, zebra, hippo, giraffe) provided most of the humor, the peripheral characters (penguins and lemurs) might have stolen the show - especially the lemurs singing "I Like to Move it, Move it" - very catchy. Overall, great animation, creative writing, perfect casting, enjoyable film.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Voices of Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith, Cedric the Entertainer, Andy Richter

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous - ACE Train Movie Review

After her undercover mission at the Miss United States pageant becomes public knowledge, an FBI agent becomes a minor celebrity and the FBI uses her notoriety to generate positive PR for the bureau. During a PR trip, the agent becomes aware that the reigning Miss United States has been kidnapped and she can't resist the urge to get involved and try to help bring the kidnappers to justice.

I originally put this film on our list to watch because Shawnna wanted to see it and I have to compromise if I want to stay married :-) Since I didn't put it on the top of the list, Shawnna already saw it on a plane and forgot to remove it from the list before it showed up in the mail. So, I sat on the train watching Miss Congeniality 2 by myself today; not exactly one of the most masculine things I have done. Why am I telling you about things that have nothing to do with reviewing the movie? Because the movie isn't worth reviewing. This is a sequel that shouldn't have been made. The first one was mildly funny, but this one is un-funny, un-original, completely predictable and the bad acting and writing made me cringe at times. Enough said.

Rating: 1 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Regina King, William Shatner

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.