Hola --
How many of yall went to Comic-Con this year? Raise your hands. Me? Yeah, I went. Of course I went. And for the first time, I went all five days. Not every minute of every day, but I was physically there for five days. Heres how it went.....
WEDNESDAY
This was Preview Night. The exhibit hall was open from 5 to 9 and it was our first chance to see all the goodies. Didnt see anybody famous or anything, Justin and I walked the floor and left.
THURSDAY
Today was a... different... day. I got to Comic-Con at 2pm... alone. Justin was in Del Mar at a work thing, and so I went by myself with the expectation that he would join me later for the "Lost" panel which starts at 5. So I get there, see a couple people "in line" and decide theres no need for me to sit there with them, so Ill go look at the people signing autographs to kill some time. So I walk around the corner, heading for the door to Sails, and... I see a bunch of people sitting on the floor in a line formation. Next to them is a sign that says "Lost line starts here." So those couple people I saw "in line" before really werent. So I walked the length of the real line, followed it around another corner, and saw even more people sitting down. At 2pm. For a panel that starts at 5. Peachy. So killing time would not be an option, instead I would have to sit down and join the line. I called Justin, he said hed be leaving around 3:30, and I wouldnt be alone for long. At 3pm, the line starts moving. They opened the doors and we start filing inside. By 3:30, when Justin said he was leaving, I had already sat down and saved him a seat. Its 3:45 and Justin calls and said he was just leaving and would be there in about 20 minutes. So hell be a little late, but all is well. 4:00 comes, then 4:05, twenty minutes have passed so I call to check up and see where hes at. No answer. I leave a message and go back to waiting. 4:10, 4:15, still no word, so I call again to see whats up, no answer. 4:20 I call. 4:25 I call. No answer. 4:30 another call and finally he picks up. He cant find parking, doesnt know if hes gonna make it. 4:35, hes still not parked. 4:40, still not parked. I talk to security walking around and they say if the seat isnt filled by the time the panel starts, I have to give it up. 4:40, 4:45, still no Justin. I call again, hes still not parked, and while Im on the phone he does some illegal stuff to get himself a space. Hes now parked, its 4:50, and he still has to get inside, upstairs, and then stand in a huge line. 4:55 he walks in the room... just passed the entire line and walked right inside. Talk about cutting it close. So we watched "Lost" and then after that we went to the exhibit hall to pick up our Mini-Mate Treasure Hunt package (which we never participated in), I bought Blancas niece a special edition Comic-Con exclusive My Little Pony, and then we left around 8:00.
FRIDAY
Justin couldnt make it today, but Mary decided to come for her very first day ever at Comic-Con. There wasnt any panels we wanted to see, so for 5 hours - 2pm until 7pm - we walked the floor. Saw our share of famous people and then we left.
SATURDAY
Saturday was me and Mary again, and today was panel day. The only thing she wanted to see was "Heroes" and it started in the afternoon so we got there at 10 thinking wed have plenty of time and still be able to get good seats. Nope. Before "Heroes" was two other panels - "Bionic Woman" and some "TV Guide" thing. When we got there, we saw something rather surprising... the line was HUGE! For "Bionic Woman"? Really? We did get in, but ended up with seats at the back of the room, but it was okay, cuz when "Bionic Woman" was over, people would leave, and wed be able to much closer. Again, nope. Turns out, 95% of the room had the same idea we had: sit through the first two panels just to get to "Heroes." Thankfully, I was entertained by "Bionic Woman" and not bored with the "TV Guide" thing, and much to my surprise, I really enjoyed "Heroes" and I think I need to start watching this Not a horrible start to the day. After "Heroes" was over, we walked the floor for a bit and then decided to go get some lunch, so we left the Convention Center and walked to Gaslamp and got some pizza. Pepperoni for her, teriyaki chicken for me. And lots of iced tea. So then we head back to Comic-Con for the panel I wanted to see: "Smallville." Learning a lesson from earlier, we got there in time to sit through two other panels - "Ray Bradbury and Ray Harryhausen" and then "The Sarah Conner Chronicles" - just to get to the third. This time, after the first ended, we were able to move closer and we got some really good seats. The Rays are entertaining to listen to just for the history that they bring so it was ok, and again, much to my surprise, the "Sarah Conner Chronicles" really kicked ass. It was an awesome action movie. Yet it wasnt a movie, it was just the pilot episode for a new tv series based on the "Terminator" mythos. I look forward to this. And then "Smallville" starts and pretty much all the secondary characters showed up to talk about season two... no Clark, no Lex, no Lana, but Lois, new Supergirl, Martian Manhunter, and Green Arrow were there, so all was not lost. I did mention Lois was there, right? Yeah, shes cute. So that was it, six panels, 9 hours, and home we went.
SUNDAY
Today was a pretty slow, relaxed, uneventful day. Kind of like Preview Night was. Justin and I left my house around 10am and got to Comic-Con around 10:15, but drove around for like 45 minutes looking for a parking space. Well, a free parking space. Finally we just decided to pay for a spot underneath the Convention Center. So we finally got inside, walked every single aisle of the exhibit hall, and then left. Thats pretty much it.
So, another year come, another year gone, and it was alot of fun..... even if it was extremely tiring on me. I already got my tickets for next year, and I cant wait!
Until next time...
-- DBW --
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Sunday, July 22, 2007
George W Hitler
Wanna hear something funny? President Bush has now said that there is no person or branch of government that can over rule him. He is the only one who can say just how much power he has. Hes the limiter, the extender, the decider. Hes God. No, hes the guy God looks up to. Hes George W Bush... bitch!
If you wish to read the full article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/19/AR2007071902625.html?hpid=topnews
If you just want some highlights...
"...the Justice Department will never be allowed to pursue contempt charges initiated by Congress against White House..."
"...Congress has no power..."
"Mark J. Rozell, a professor of public policy at George Mason University who has written a book on executive-privilege issues, called the administration's stance "astonishing. That's a breathtakingly broad view of the president's role in this system of separation of powers. What this statement is saying is the president's claim of executive privilege trumps all. The administration's stance is almost Nixonian in its scope and breadth of interpreting its power. Congress has no recourse at all, in the president's view. . . . It's allowing the executive to define the scope and limits of its own powers."'
"Sen. Charles E. Schumer (N.Y.) said the administration is "hastening a constitutional crisis."'
"Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif.) said the position "makes a mockery of the ideal that no one is above the law. I suppose the next step would be just disbanding the Justice Department."'
"Stanley Brand, who was the Democratic House counsel during the Burford case, said the administration's legal view "turns the constitutional enforcement process on its head. They are saying they will always place a claim of presidential privilege without any judicial determination above a congressional demand for evidence -- without any basis in law." Brand said the position is essentially telling Congress: "Because we control the enforcement process, we are going to thumb our nose at you."'
"Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) called it "an outrageous abuse of executive privilege" and said: "The White House must stop stonewalling and start being accountable to Congress and the American people. No one, including the president, is above the law."'
Not true my friend, not true at all. One person is above the law, and his name is George W Bush.
KTP baby, KTP.
Until next time...
-- DBW --
If you wish to read the full article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/19/AR2007071902625.html?hpid=topnews
If you just want some highlights...
"...the Justice Department will never be allowed to pursue contempt charges initiated by Congress against White House..."
"...Congress has no power..."
"Mark J. Rozell, a professor of public policy at George Mason University who has written a book on executive-privilege issues, called the administration's stance "astonishing. That's a breathtakingly broad view of the president's role in this system of separation of powers. What this statement is saying is the president's claim of executive privilege trumps all. The administration's stance is almost Nixonian in its scope and breadth of interpreting its power. Congress has no recourse at all, in the president's view. . . . It's allowing the executive to define the scope and limits of its own powers."'
"Sen. Charles E. Schumer (N.Y.) said the administration is "hastening a constitutional crisis."'
"Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif.) said the position "makes a mockery of the ideal that no one is above the law. I suppose the next step would be just disbanding the Justice Department."'
"Stanley Brand, who was the Democratic House counsel during the Burford case, said the administration's legal view "turns the constitutional enforcement process on its head. They are saying they will always place a claim of presidential privilege without any judicial determination above a congressional demand for evidence -- without any basis in law." Brand said the position is essentially telling Congress: "Because we control the enforcement process, we are going to thumb our nose at you."'
"Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) called it "an outrageous abuse of executive privilege" and said: "The White House must stop stonewalling and start being accountable to Congress and the American people. No one, including the president, is above the law."'
Not true my friend, not true at all. One person is above the law, and his name is George W Bush.
KTP baby, KTP.
Until next time...
-- DBW --
Jerky
Hola --
Last night we went to our annual family night at the Padres game (which has been loosely attached to my birthday celebration), and we chose to go on "Tony Gwynn Appreciation Night" where they unveiled the first, of hopefully many, statues at Park At The Park.
But this isnt about the good and the great of the night or the legend that is Gwynn.....
Why, oh why, must people insist on being obnoxiously rude and calling attention to themselves at the expense of the comfort and enjoyment of everyone else?!
We were sitting in right field - appropriate since it was Tony Gwynn night - and in the seat right behind us, literally right behind us, was this guy who was either drunk (though in all honesty he didnt appear to be) or just a first class ass.
For the entire game, and you must understand that by saying the entire game, I really mean the entire game, he didnt shut up. He alternated from screaming, to yelling at the roving camera man, to yelling at the players, to yelling at nobody in particular, to screaming some more. And if youve ever been around someone thats being obnoxious, youll notice that - like this guy - whatever is being said or screamed makes absolutely no sense.
"Yeah, thats it, whos your Daddy, thats it, yeah, go ahead and swing again with that empty.... bat.... thing..... yeah!!!! Camera man!!! Over here!!! Were cool!!! Were cooler than them!!!"
Around the sixth inning his throat got sore. How do I know this? Cuz he rolled up one of the free posters they gave away and used it as a megaphone to scream "My throat is sore!!!" Unfortunately, not sore enough to shut him up though.
So why? Why do people feel the need to do this? Why do they choose to be an ass? And why doesnt anybody thats with him - like the guys girlfriend - tell him to shut up? And if youre one of these people, and youre reading this, do me a favor... die.
-- DBW --
Last night we went to our annual family night at the Padres game (which has been loosely attached to my birthday celebration), and we chose to go on "Tony Gwynn Appreciation Night" where they unveiled the first, of hopefully many, statues at Park At The Park.
But this isnt about the good and the great of the night or the legend that is Gwynn.....
Why, oh why, must people insist on being obnoxiously rude and calling attention to themselves at the expense of the comfort and enjoyment of everyone else?!
We were sitting in right field - appropriate since it was Tony Gwynn night - and in the seat right behind us, literally right behind us, was this guy who was either drunk (though in all honesty he didnt appear to be) or just a first class ass.
For the entire game, and you must understand that by saying the entire game, I really mean the entire game, he didnt shut up. He alternated from screaming, to yelling at the roving camera man, to yelling at the players, to yelling at nobody in particular, to screaming some more. And if youve ever been around someone thats being obnoxious, youll notice that - like this guy - whatever is being said or screamed makes absolutely no sense.
"Yeah, thats it, whos your Daddy, thats it, yeah, go ahead and swing again with that empty.... bat.... thing..... yeah!!!! Camera man!!! Over here!!! Were cool!!! Were cooler than them!!!"
Around the sixth inning his throat got sore. How do I know this? Cuz he rolled up one of the free posters they gave away and used it as a megaphone to scream "My throat is sore!!!" Unfortunately, not sore enough to shut him up though.
So why? Why do people feel the need to do this? Why do they choose to be an ass? And why doesnt anybody thats with him - like the guys girlfriend - tell him to shut up? And if youre one of these people, and youre reading this, do me a favor... die.
-- DBW --
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Not my President
A year and a half. Thats it. One year and one half until we can wipe our hands, or our asses, of the mockery that was the Bush White House. And thats 18 months too long.
It seems that every day I log onto the internet I see yet another story about how Bush has tried to give, or has given, the finger to someone. Congress. Iran. Mexicans. Civil Rights. Your Mom. The list could literally go on and on and not end.
Unfortunately, theres plenty of blame to go around for this. And alot of it goes to you people. Yes you.
You can claim that in the year 2000 you didnt know any better and that you honestly thought Bush would be a decent President. For that, you get a pass. But when 2004 rolled around, when you knew how screwed up in the head he was, when you knew how much of a damn liar he was, when you heard about secret after secret that he was keeping, when youve seen him continue to take our rights away one by one, when youve seen him turn the world - including many of our long time friends - against us, we he unjustly declared war and invaded another country (or four), when his hands became soaked in the red blood of our soldiers while the pockets of his friends became lined with green... when all of this, and more, happened, what did you do? You said "Thank you, give me four more years."
Good job America. Good job.
Its tough to sit here and continue to watch the exploits of the most corrupt President this country has ever had, to see him prance around like he rules the entire world, acting like a drunken redneck, all the while thumbing his nose at every single one of us - even at you dumbasses that voted for him - and not be embarrassed to be an American.
Yes, I said it. Im "this close" to actually being embarrassed to have been born in this country. In all honestly, if I was in another country and someone asked me where I was from, Id be very tempted to say Canada.
But I wont do that. I wont be embarrassed. I wont let him, or you, force me to feel that way. Instead, I will do what I should have done long ago..... from this point on, George Walker Bush is no longer the President of MY United States. Hes no longer MY President.
To all of you that voted for him, hes your responsibility. His path of destruction, devastation, and utter contempt for right and wrong is the legacy that you left to America. No, what you left to the world. Youre just as much to blame for this as he is. Maybe more. He is who he is, and he cant change that. But you, you had a choice. And you fucked up. And you did so knowingly, willingly, with a smile on your face, and then celebrated afterwards. Again I say, good job.
A year and a half until Im rid of him. But today, I reclaim my country for myself. The rest of you, you can take your dictator and get the Hell out of here, cuz I dont want you anymore.
So Happy Birthday to MY America. And Georgie... go fuck yourself.
-- DBW --
It seems that every day I log onto the internet I see yet another story about how Bush has tried to give, or has given, the finger to someone. Congress. Iran. Mexicans. Civil Rights. Your Mom. The list could literally go on and on and not end.
Unfortunately, theres plenty of blame to go around for this. And alot of it goes to you people. Yes you.
You can claim that in the year 2000 you didnt know any better and that you honestly thought Bush would be a decent President. For that, you get a pass. But when 2004 rolled around, when you knew how screwed up in the head he was, when you knew how much of a damn liar he was, when you heard about secret after secret that he was keeping, when youve seen him continue to take our rights away one by one, when youve seen him turn the world - including many of our long time friends - against us, we he unjustly declared war and invaded another country (or four), when his hands became soaked in the red blood of our soldiers while the pockets of his friends became lined with green... when all of this, and more, happened, what did you do? You said "Thank you, give me four more years."
Good job America. Good job.
Its tough to sit here and continue to watch the exploits of the most corrupt President this country has ever had, to see him prance around like he rules the entire world, acting like a drunken redneck, all the while thumbing his nose at every single one of us - even at you dumbasses that voted for him - and not be embarrassed to be an American.
Yes, I said it. Im "this close" to actually being embarrassed to have been born in this country. In all honestly, if I was in another country and someone asked me where I was from, Id be very tempted to say Canada.
But I wont do that. I wont be embarrassed. I wont let him, or you, force me to feel that way. Instead, I will do what I should have done long ago..... from this point on, George Walker Bush is no longer the President of MY United States. Hes no longer MY President.
To all of you that voted for him, hes your responsibility. His path of destruction, devastation, and utter contempt for right and wrong is the legacy that you left to America. No, what you left to the world. Youre just as much to blame for this as he is. Maybe more. He is who he is, and he cant change that. But you, you had a choice. And you fucked up. And you did so knowingly, willingly, with a smile on your face, and then celebrated afterwards. Again I say, good job.
A year and a half until Im rid of him. But today, I reclaim my country for myself. The rest of you, you can take your dictator and get the Hell out of here, cuz I dont want you anymore.
So Happy Birthday to MY America. And Georgie... go fuck yourself.
-- DBW --
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Fair or fowl
Fried zucchini. Fried mushrooms. Mile long hot dogs. Hot dogs on a stick. Blooming onions. Fried potato cakes. Fried Twinkies. Fried Snickers. Giant fried onion rings. Roasted corn on the cob. The "exotic Mexican churro", which Im sure plays well in Ohio, but doesnt have the wow factor here in San Diego, a giant fire roasted chile smothered in nacho cheese, funnel cakes.
What do all of these things have in common? Well, if youve been to a Fair recently, youd know that you can get all of these - and more - for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or just to satisfy the curiosity of your tastebuds.
And every year I go to the San Diego County Fair - one of the biggest in the country - there always seems to be at least one thing that leaves me scratching my head. This year, there was three.
Fried Coke - I looked for this, but I was unlucky enough to find it. Fried avocados - we were tempted to get one, but... decided against it. But, the one that made me look twice, ok, four times, was something called a Krispy Kreme chicken sandwich. Take your normal chicken sandwich, remove the bun, and replace it with a Krispy Kreme doughnut. Now, doesnt that sound yummy? Or... sick. Im not sure. But I admit, if its there next year I just might have to try me one. And a fried avocado. And wash it down with a fried Coke.
So, until next time.
-- DBW --
What do all of these things have in common? Well, if youve been to a Fair recently, youd know that you can get all of these - and more - for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or just to satisfy the curiosity of your tastebuds.
And every year I go to the San Diego County Fair - one of the biggest in the country - there always seems to be at least one thing that leaves me scratching my head. This year, there was three.
Fried Coke - I looked for this, but I was unlucky enough to find it. Fried avocados - we were tempted to get one, but... decided against it. But, the one that made me look twice, ok, four times, was something called a Krispy Kreme chicken sandwich. Take your normal chicken sandwich, remove the bun, and replace it with a Krispy Kreme doughnut. Now, doesnt that sound yummy? Or... sick. Im not sure. But I admit, if its there next year I just might have to try me one. And a fried avocado. And wash it down with a fried Coke.
So, until next time.
-- DBW --
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
The Hitcher
Hola --
Every once in a while a movie comes along and surpasses any reasonable level of "suspension of disbelief." When youre watching a movie, you accept with no problem that giant gorillas exist and that they roam New York. Or that an undead serial killer can haunt your dreams. Or even that the geeky loser best friend can actually walk away with the most beautiful girl in school.
Yesterday I watched a movie called "The Hitcher" that was supposed to be a thriller, yet I could help but laugh my ass off at its stupidity and absurdity. If you havent seen the movie yet and dont want it spoiled for you, skip the rest of this post cuz Im gonna give you a brief run down of it.
We open in perhaps the most predictable of places: it was a dark and stormy night and two people are driving down a deserted road in the middle of nowhere. Pretty original. So theyre driving and they almost run over a guy - "The Hitcher" - whos standing in the middle of the road besides his broken down car. Their car spins, they dont know what to do, the Hitcher starts walking towards them, they cant start their car, he gets ever closer, the car starts, they take off, leaving the Hitcher once again standing in the middle of the road.
The couple drive to a gas station to fill up and get some snacks and who should hop out of the passenger side of a rig just a few minutes later? The Hitcher. The couple is getting ready to leave and the guy feels the need to apologize for almost killing the man so he goes up, says sorry, and then agrees to take the Hitcher down the road a bit. Big mistake.
Not long into the ride, the Hitcher pulls out a knife, threatens to kill the girl, then turns and holds it against the guys neck. The guy slams on the breaks, the Hitcher smacks into the windshield, and the couple manage to literally kick him out of the car. The Hitcher goes rolling along the road, and lays face first in a pool of collecting rain, in not too good of shape. The couple - who drive a suped up muscle car - speed off like their lives depend on it - which they do. Remember that point: a speeding suped up muscle car.
Its now the next day, the couple are driving down the road when a station wagon with a family of four passes them. Whos in the back seat? The Hitcher.
Did you get that? A familys station wagon manages to pick up the Hitcher and then catch and pass a speeding muscle car. Unbelievable. But wait, theres more.
The couple try to warn the family, but in the process drive off the side of the road thus destroying their car. They climb back to the road and walk a bit where they come across the station wagon and the now slain family of four. No, wait, the dad is still alive, so they get into the car and drive to the hospital - or truck stop, whichever comes first.
While theyre there the cops arrive and arrest the couple for the murder of the family. They take them to the jail and lock the guy up while they question the girl. Guess who shows up at the jail? Yep, The Hitcher. And he kills every single cop in the building. With just a knife. No, seriously. But wait, theres more.
Somehow the couple manages to escape just before a gang of cops show up. Next stop, a junk yard. And guess who shows up? A cop. Ha! You thought I was gonna say someone else huh? Gimme a second. So the guy goes out to tell the cop whats going on, the cop is having none of it and tries to arrest him. The girl comes out with a gun, and as shes trying to explain to the cop that theyre innocent, the cop gets a bullet right between the eyes... from The Hitcher. He was hiding in a bus with a sniper rifle. Another cop shows up, couple escape in a cop car, Hitcher kills the second cop. Just for fun.
Now the couple are driving down the road, being chased by a phalanx of cops. Theres like 37 cop cars and even a helicopter. Then guess who joins the chase? Yep, The Hitcher. In a Trans Am. Where did he get the car? Anywho, he chases the cops down and one by one picks them off. He pulls up along side a cop, shoots him in the head, and the cop car flips. Cuz its a known fact that a cop car will automatically flip once its driver is killed. Remember this.
So again, one by one the Hitcher is killing cops on his way to get to the couple. And then he goes and takes out the helicopter too. From the Trans Am. C'mon man, Kitt can even do that. So he finally gets to the couple, destroys their car and then... drives away. What? Why?
The couple high tail it to a hotel where they take a nice romantic shower and get themselves a little something something. Then the guy goes outside, leaving the girl alone inside. Well, not alone for long cuz shes joined in bed by... the Hitcher. They eventually manage to go outside where the girl sees her guy tied up between two rigs - each facing a different direction - and they hop inside one of them. But all is okay because the cavalry has arrived.
A cop walks up to the tied up guy, looks at him, and instead of helping him out he decides to just stand there and point his gun at nowhere and nobody in particular. How could he not untie the guy? What purpose is leaving him there gonna accomplish? Oh, gotcha, if he untied him then the Hitcher wouldnt be able to step on the gas and tear the dude apart. Which is exactly what happens. Lame.
Finally the Hitcher is arrested and hes taken to a jail full of cops who have yet to be murdered. Notice I said "have yet." So instead of keeping the Hitcher there, they decide to move him to a different jail - which only tells the audience that something bad is gonna happen. So hes handcuffed, loaded into a police van, and hes accompanied by three heavily armed guards - one of which is sitting in the back staring the Hitcher in the face. And in a moment that may be the most mind numbing of all - the girl is loaded into a car and the car proceeds to follow the van - cuz apparently the victim always has to follow her attacker where ever he goes.
Once on the road, the Hitcher frees himself from the cuffs and kills all three guards in the van with him. Remember what I said about a cop car flipping when its driver is killed? Yep, the van flips too. Im no expert, but this just doesnt happen in real life.
During the van flippage, the car thats following gets disabled and the cop unable to defend himself. So the Hitcher walks up and kills him. And then, instead of killing the girl, he walks down the road and into the sunset. That is, until the girl walks up behind him and shoots him in the back with a rifle. And then in the head.
And that my friends, is the end.
This had potential to be a decent hunter-prey thriller, but it never even approached believe ability. I never felt suspense, or fear, or anything other than embarrassment for whomever wrote this piece of crap.
Seriously, its mind numbingly bad. Not in a "so bad its good" way like "Plan 9 From Outer Space", but in a so bad its bad way. If theres ever one movie you should avoid, its this one. Go rent "Catwoman" instead, you wont be disappointed. At least not any more than youd be by this one.
-- DBW --
Every once in a while a movie comes along and surpasses any reasonable level of "suspension of disbelief." When youre watching a movie, you accept with no problem that giant gorillas exist and that they roam New York. Or that an undead serial killer can haunt your dreams. Or even that the geeky loser best friend can actually walk away with the most beautiful girl in school.
Yesterday I watched a movie called "The Hitcher" that was supposed to be a thriller, yet I could help but laugh my ass off at its stupidity and absurdity. If you havent seen the movie yet and dont want it spoiled for you, skip the rest of this post cuz Im gonna give you a brief run down of it.
We open in perhaps the most predictable of places: it was a dark and stormy night and two people are driving down a deserted road in the middle of nowhere. Pretty original. So theyre driving and they almost run over a guy - "The Hitcher" - whos standing in the middle of the road besides his broken down car. Their car spins, they dont know what to do, the Hitcher starts walking towards them, they cant start their car, he gets ever closer, the car starts, they take off, leaving the Hitcher once again standing in the middle of the road.
The couple drive to a gas station to fill up and get some snacks and who should hop out of the passenger side of a rig just a few minutes later? The Hitcher. The couple is getting ready to leave and the guy feels the need to apologize for almost killing the man so he goes up, says sorry, and then agrees to take the Hitcher down the road a bit. Big mistake.
Not long into the ride, the Hitcher pulls out a knife, threatens to kill the girl, then turns and holds it against the guys neck. The guy slams on the breaks, the Hitcher smacks into the windshield, and the couple manage to literally kick him out of the car. The Hitcher goes rolling along the road, and lays face first in a pool of collecting rain, in not too good of shape. The couple - who drive a suped up muscle car - speed off like their lives depend on it - which they do. Remember that point: a speeding suped up muscle car.
Its now the next day, the couple are driving down the road when a station wagon with a family of four passes them. Whos in the back seat? The Hitcher.
Did you get that? A familys station wagon manages to pick up the Hitcher and then catch and pass a speeding muscle car. Unbelievable. But wait, theres more.
The couple try to warn the family, but in the process drive off the side of the road thus destroying their car. They climb back to the road and walk a bit where they come across the station wagon and the now slain family of four. No, wait, the dad is still alive, so they get into the car and drive to the hospital - or truck stop, whichever comes first.
While theyre there the cops arrive and arrest the couple for the murder of the family. They take them to the jail and lock the guy up while they question the girl. Guess who shows up at the jail? Yep, The Hitcher. And he kills every single cop in the building. With just a knife. No, seriously. But wait, theres more.
Somehow the couple manages to escape just before a gang of cops show up. Next stop, a junk yard. And guess who shows up? A cop. Ha! You thought I was gonna say someone else huh? Gimme a second. So the guy goes out to tell the cop whats going on, the cop is having none of it and tries to arrest him. The girl comes out with a gun, and as shes trying to explain to the cop that theyre innocent, the cop gets a bullet right between the eyes... from The Hitcher. He was hiding in a bus with a sniper rifle. Another cop shows up, couple escape in a cop car, Hitcher kills the second cop. Just for fun.
Now the couple are driving down the road, being chased by a phalanx of cops. Theres like 37 cop cars and even a helicopter. Then guess who joins the chase? Yep, The Hitcher. In a Trans Am. Where did he get the car? Anywho, he chases the cops down and one by one picks them off. He pulls up along side a cop, shoots him in the head, and the cop car flips. Cuz its a known fact that a cop car will automatically flip once its driver is killed. Remember this.
So again, one by one the Hitcher is killing cops on his way to get to the couple. And then he goes and takes out the helicopter too. From the Trans Am. C'mon man, Kitt can even do that. So he finally gets to the couple, destroys their car and then... drives away. What? Why?
The couple high tail it to a hotel where they take a nice romantic shower and get themselves a little something something. Then the guy goes outside, leaving the girl alone inside. Well, not alone for long cuz shes joined in bed by... the Hitcher. They eventually manage to go outside where the girl sees her guy tied up between two rigs - each facing a different direction - and they hop inside one of them. But all is okay because the cavalry has arrived.
A cop walks up to the tied up guy, looks at him, and instead of helping him out he decides to just stand there and point his gun at nowhere and nobody in particular. How could he not untie the guy? What purpose is leaving him there gonna accomplish? Oh, gotcha, if he untied him then the Hitcher wouldnt be able to step on the gas and tear the dude apart. Which is exactly what happens. Lame.
Finally the Hitcher is arrested and hes taken to a jail full of cops who have yet to be murdered. Notice I said "have yet." So instead of keeping the Hitcher there, they decide to move him to a different jail - which only tells the audience that something bad is gonna happen. So hes handcuffed, loaded into a police van, and hes accompanied by three heavily armed guards - one of which is sitting in the back staring the Hitcher in the face. And in a moment that may be the most mind numbing of all - the girl is loaded into a car and the car proceeds to follow the van - cuz apparently the victim always has to follow her attacker where ever he goes.
Once on the road, the Hitcher frees himself from the cuffs and kills all three guards in the van with him. Remember what I said about a cop car flipping when its driver is killed? Yep, the van flips too. Im no expert, but this just doesnt happen in real life.
During the van flippage, the car thats following gets disabled and the cop unable to defend himself. So the Hitcher walks up and kills him. And then, instead of killing the girl, he walks down the road and into the sunset. That is, until the girl walks up behind him and shoots him in the back with a rifle. And then in the head.
And that my friends, is the end.
This had potential to be a decent hunter-prey thriller, but it never even approached believe ability. I never felt suspense, or fear, or anything other than embarrassment for whomever wrote this piece of crap.
Seriously, its mind numbingly bad. Not in a "so bad its good" way like "Plan 9 From Outer Space", but in a so bad its bad way. If theres ever one movie you should avoid, its this one. Go rent "Catwoman" instead, you wont be disappointed. At least not any more than youd be by this one.
-- DBW --
Saturday, June 02, 2007
June 2nd
Happy Birthday Sunshine. :)
And another year gone... miss you Ma. :(
The happiest sad day of the year.
And another year gone... miss you Ma. :(
The happiest sad day of the year.
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