Author: ssw15

Saw the movie “Van Helsing” yesterday. I know that the reviews in the media have been mixed about it, but I thought it was all right. Don’t go see it expecting an Oscar award type of movie – it’s most certainly not. But, it’s a good popcorn movie (and I was certainly munching a bunch of that – spare the butter flavoring, save some calories) and even better to see it at matinee pricing (avoid paying the full price – it’s not that good a movie).

Hugh Jackman as Gabriel van Helsing, hunter of demons on the side of Good (well, apparently having allied himself with the Catholic Church which allied itself with Buddhists, Muslims, and others to stop monsters). Demonstrating some gravitas and moral virtues and sadness in his character, Jackman saved the movie from becoming a silly computer graphic animation (the movie, made by the guys who gave us “The Mummy” franchise – do they realize that they can only so much rely on the graphics?). Plus, it’s funny saying the name, “Van Helsing” with a fake Eastern European accent (say it three fast, and you’ll see what I mean). Richard Roxburgh, playing Dracula, had his over-acting moments (if you had seen his playing Sherlock Holmes in the latest version of “The Hound of the Baskervilles,” on Masterpiece Theatre as I have, you’ll know what I mean), but it’s all about Jackman. Plus I think there was the most accurate portrayal of the Frankenstein monster (as in, true to the original book version by Mary Shelley). David Wenham, the guy who played Faramir in two parts of the “Lord of the Rings,” was almost unrecognizable in this movie – a very skilled actor, I’ll say, to do a totally different character well. Oh, and Kate Beckinsale co-stars. Curious ending – almost daring. I won’t give it away, really – you’ll all have to see it for yourselves. But, it’s all about Jackman. Do I really have to say it again?

Last year, the horse Funny Cide tried real hard to get the Triple Crown of horse racing, but was stopped by the Belmont stakes. That odd horse of 2004 – Smarty Jones – (again) came from behind yesterday to beat out the not-so-great pool for the Preakness – and, like Funny Cide last year, will try for the Triple Crown at Belmont. Hmm. Funny how this time of year makes me think that I like the horsies.

“The Practice” series finale tonight – salute to the firm of Donnell, Young, Frut, and Berluti for having tried real hard for the past several years to give us decent tv/non-reality stuff to watch.

Enjoy the nice weather in NYC today. I could have sworn we were in the middle of spring.

Wednesday’s “Angel” – crazy stuff indeed. I swear, Angel’s whole free will thing is amazingly impressive. That’s always been his theme, and he’ll stick to it, thank you very much.

“Frasier” – umm… okay. It was all right. I’m not a big “Frasier” fan, and haven’t watched it at all this season (any storylines I have followed have been entirely due to NBC’s commercials or from TV Guide), but the series finale was all right.

More APA stuff: check out NY1’s series of articles/news stories about APA’s in the five boroughs; it ain’t just your grandpa’s Chinatown anymore (well, certainly not my grandfather’s, to be more precise).

More series and season finales tomorrow, and the weekend. So it goes.

Tiresome. Should have gotten more sleep this weekend (not like I did very much), so then today wouldn’t have felt so tired.

So… some comments on “The Last One” of “Friends,” because I’m assuming that enough people have seen it by now. If you don’t want to be spoiled by any spoiler, just close your eyes and scroll down.

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spoiler/spoiler/spoiler/open your eyes if you dare….
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As Chandler would say, could it have been any less predictable? But, all in all, a harmless, warm, fuzzy episode that gave a lot of closure. I’d quibble that Rachel, the one character with a lot of character growth in the past ten years (going from dentist’s-ex-runaway bride to fashion industry career girl) settles for the one guy who has pined for her all this time, but it’s a sitcom – we’re meant to be kept happy, and I suppose that there is nothing wrong with that. But, it was such a constructed sense of tension – it wasn’t as if Ross really was losing Rachel; they (momentarily) forget that they’ve a child together and it wasn’t as if they were having a permanent goodbye to each other as a result. And, where was Ross and Rachel’s child in this last episode? Or any mention of Ross’ other child? Kids get shafted in this series, I must say. (Monica and Chandler’s offspring had an appropriate amount of attention – considering that they’ve a hyper-responsible parent like Monica, maybe that’s unsurprising).

Even the foosball machine gets a goodbye – must they say goodbye to everything and anything? The cute thing: the new chick and duck. Aww, so cute.

Otherwise, good closure. Back to reruns to catch up on the last five years of “Friends” that I missed out on anyway…

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spoiler over.

And, what about “Survivor: All Stars”? Hmm. Jeff Probst’s arrival at Madison Square Garden from the helicopter – weird, silly scene (“So, you’re risking life and limb by standing on the side of the chopper, Probst?” My brother and I chortled if Mark Burnett, producer of “Survivor” and “The Apprentice” got a hold of Trump’s helicopter just for Probst). Boston Rob – only a runner up. Hehe – wearing that Bosox cap must’ve been spread that Bosox karma. And, Amber? Ok; so she won. But, that… engagement? Well… I think I’ll leave my comments at that. For some reason, I just can’t quite think of something really remarkable considering to say. It was just one odd season finale, and I haven’t been particularly good about following the series this season.

A belated article to link, but appropriate in honor of Asian Heritage Month (in May, but as I’ve noted, my alma mater celebrates it in April to avoid conflict with final exams) – but I had mentioned this article to my sister the other day, and so I figured I’d mention it here: ever wonder where General Tso’s chicken comes from and where would one get the best kind (in the Morningside Heights area anyway)? Note what this undergraduate says, from my alma mater’s newspaper. I’m more of a sesame chicken person myself.

Slate.com has this not-that-regular feature on commenting on other web sites; in the latest edition, Bryan Curtis writes on athletes’ blogs. Personally, I had no idea that Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants had a blog on his website; I wouldn’t even think that athletes, like most celebrities, are very interesting in their blogs (well, maybe none of us are interesting; perhaps I should say that I fear that the athletes or celebrities are more interested in self-promotion in their blogs). Scrolling down, I find out that there’s this thing called “City ‘blog maps'”. Curiously interesting – a way to look for blogs on a website organized by… transit maps? Ok. There’s no way to see if these are interesting blogs, but curious to see how the Internet can organize itself “geographically.”

The end of “Frasier” on Thursday – set your VCR’s again, folks… Otherwise, enjoy the week.