What I'm...

(Loyal readers, please note that this week’s editions of “What I’m…” and “The Point Game” are appearing early this week so you can enjoy 8 uninterrupted columns on the upcoming Oscars.)

…Renting
Zathura- Here’s a film that’s really a throwback to the children’s films the past. Director Jon Favreau relies heavily on miniatures and practical special effects to create his world rather then using CGI elements, and the results are more then successful. By staying away he gives his child stars real things to react to and thus strengthens the corresponding audience reactions. As an adult you know they aren’t going to kill the children in this type of film but it brought memories to mind of watching similar films as kid and feeling the dread and fear for the characters. I’m looking forward to watching this again someday with a child and seeing how they react.

…Watching
Olympic Hockey- Yes I know the U.S. has been disappointing but overall this has been a wonderful tournament. I know there is some talk of the NHL pulling out of future Olympics but I think that’s a huge mistake. I’m taping all the quarterfinal match ups today because the all hold a lot of drama. Slovakia’s been playing the most exciting hockey of the tournament and today they play one of the medal favorites and former countrymen the Czech Republic. Sweden plays the surprising Swiss. Undefeated Finland takes on the U.S. which will hold my interest to see if one team is really as good as they’ve been playing and if one team is really as bad as they’ve been playing. Lastly we have the Canada/Russia match up. On two teams loaded with veterans it’s been the young guns carrying these teams. Alexander Olvechin (sp?) has shown why he’s the best rookie in the NHL while Danny Heatley is showing why he’s helped make Ottawa the odds on favorites for the cup. Sure taking out the NHL players may give the U.S. a better chance to win, but if its quality hockey you want then leave the NHL in. The ice at the Olympic arenas is inscribed with the words, “Passion lives here”. This tournament has reawakened my passion for hockey and reminds us all how good the game CAN be.

…Listening To
Top 5 on my iPod (Most thanks to eMusic edition)
1. Everywhere- Yellowcard (Cover of a Michele Branch song that really lends itself to Yellowcard’s style)
2. Seeing Double at the Triple Rock- NOFX (Typical NOFX and that’s a good thing, plus any song touting my homeland gets multiple plays)
3. I Bet You Look Good On the Dancefloor- Arctic Monkey (Count me as one of the masses swayed by the relentless declarations of the music media that this is the next “it” band)
4. If I Can’t Change Your Mind- Sugar (One tends to forget that in between writing theme songs for World Championship Wrestling, Bob Mould wrote some great songs)
5. Lump- Presidents of the United States (Found this for free on eMusic and couldn’t pass up a guilty pleasure.)