More commentary and reviews with Johnny Ngo

NBA Mock Draft 2009 Round 1

2009-06-24T11:29:00.000-07:00

Let's see how I do with all the other experts in predicting this weak draft. It's point guard heavy but these guards, except for maybe a couple, have superstar potential. Taking into account the T'Wolves trade with the Wizards and the swap between Portland and Dallas, here goes nothing.

1. LA Clippers – Blake Griffin, PF, Oklahoma. There is no secret to this pick because he’s the only sure bet on this list. His low post skills need some polish, but an athletic 6’10”, 250 lb kid is the buzz my Clips needs to become serious 8th seed contenders again. Look out Zach Randolph and/or Chris Kaman (please be Z-Boh), one of you guys are leaving this god-forsaken franchise.
2. MEM Grizzlies – Hasheem Thabeet, C, Connecticut. If they weren’t so confident in Michael Conley, then it’s feasible to take that chance on Ricky Rubio. But Rubio is a scary pick because I don’t know how his game will translate to the NBA. Thabeet will be in the same mold of Dikembe Mutumbo. He will be a great presence defensively but his downside is that he’ll be such a liability offensively. But I like the idea with Marc Gasol and Thabeet protecting the paint.
3. OKC Thunder - James Harden, SG, Arizona State. The Thunder will have a tough choice between Rubio, Stephen Curry and Harden. Harden will surely give the Thunder a solid two guard. But if Thabeet slips from the second spot, look for OKC to pick him up instead.
4. SAC Kings – Ricky Rubio, PG, Spain. For me, his flashy passes won’t come close to being prolific as it was in Spain. But people love his potential to be that pure point guard with star-like ability. Kings need some buzz and Beno Udrih just isn’t getting the job done. Kevin Martin deserves better, hopefully Rubio will be it.
5. MIN T’Wolves – Tyreke Evans, PG, Memphis. Some view him as the best point guard in this draft and he’ll surely make life easier for Al Jefferson and Kevin Love down in the post. After getting rid of Mike Miller and Randy Foye, it’s time to fix that backcourt, Evans is a good start.
6. MIN T’Wolves – DeMar DeRozan, SG, USC. He’s still a little raw, needs to expand his shooting range, but he’s physically gifted and can provide some stability with Evans in the backcourt with him.
7. GS Warriors – Jordan Hill, PF, Arizona. A team that is stacked with guards and in need of a power position, Hill is the most logical choice. Sure, Curry is still on the board, but with Ellis, Crawford, Maggette, and Azubuike, what would the point be to bring in Curry. He has good skills down low and has the ability to finish.
8. NY Knicks – Stephen Curry, PG, Davidson. Knicks want this kid. They will think about trading up just to ensure that they secure him but I believe he’ll fall that far enough. Curry is a combo guard and will flourish in D’Antoni’s system.
9. TOR Raptors – Jonny Flynn, PG, Syracuse. They need a backup for Jose Calderon and after watching his spectacular performance against Syracuse, he’ll provide much relief for them.
10. MIL Bucks – Brandon Jennings, PG, Italy. He didn’t do that well when he was in Italy (that can be due to the fact he just didn’t get lots of minutes) but other than Griffin, he has the highest ceiling among the rest of these PGs. After getting rid of Jefferson, the Bucks are in rebuilding mode and Jennings will complement Michael Redd well.
11. NJ Nets – DeJuan Blair, PF, Pittsburgh. Lots of questions about his knees and this can be a little too high on the list for him, but the Nets are looking prime and ready to be in playoff contention. With Blair in the lineup up, Vince Carter, Devin Harris and Brooke Lopez will have freer reign on offense.
12. CHA Bobcats – Gerald Henderson, SG, Duke. Henderson should’ve been ACC Player of the Year but it’s not his fault Duke wasn’t even close to the stature of UNC. Larry Brown loves players that’ll listen to coaches and defends.
13. IND Pacers – Tyler Hansbrough, PF, UNC. Scouts have been surprised at the skill set he’s got other than the guy that tries hard and gives it his all. He isn’t a superstar type of player but there is nothing wrong with drafting a guy that’ll be a solid 10-10 and will hold his own down low.
14. PHX Suns – Jrue Holiday, PG, UCLA. I have him slipping more than most draft boards will but it does hurt his stock that he couldn’t get the important minutes with his only season at UCLA. He has tremendous upside though, can get better offensively and is so sound defensively. This would be a steal and a great incumbent for Steve Nash.
15. DET Pistons – Earl Clark, SF, Louisville. Very long small forward that has a lot of athleticism. Pistons looking for another long player in the power position and he is the best available at this point.
16. CHI Bulls – Ty Lawson, PG, UNC. Not going to lie, I have no idea what my Bulls will do. I don’t know whether or not we are going to keep BG or not. Drafting Lawson will be contingent that they are dealing Kirk Hinrich (I would hate to see this happen). Derrick Rose will need a backup and Lawson is the fastest PG in this draft.
17. PHI 76ers – Jeff Teague, PG, Wake Forest. A score first PG, he can give much lift off the bench behind Andre Miller. He needs to work on his defensive game but hopefully, that’ll come over time.
18. MIN T’Wolves – Eric Maynor, PG, VCU. He, arguably, is the smartest PG in this draft alongside Darren Collison. He looks like the mold of a Chris Duhon, never a superstar type of player but can lead any type of offensive.
19. ATL Hawks – James Johnson, PF, Wake Forest. A little undersize at 6’8”, he is very versatile with his offensive skills. Package that with Josh Smith and Al Horford in the front court and that’s a lineup that can look dangerous for years to come.
20. UTA Jazz – Austin Daye, PF, Gonzaga. He’s 6’11” but very raw in basketball skills. But knowing Jerry Sloan, it can be good for Daye. If he listens to this coach, he can fit within this system and will relieve some pressure if and when Carlos Boozer leaves for something else.
21. NO Hornets – BJ Mullens, C, Ohio State. He’s the best available big man left in the draft and I don’t foresee Tyson Chandler staying any longer. He’s been compared to some like Chris Kaman, hopefully those comparisons hold out to be true.
22. POR Blazers – Terrence Williams, SG, Louisville. I don’t understand why they traded so many picks to move up and I won’t. But I believe Williams will be there and he’s a good fit to the second unit. They need some solid D and Williams can provide it.
23. SAC Kings – Omri Cassipi, SF, Israel – From everything I hear through scouting reports, he’s a hustler. He’ll work hard on both ends of the court. Let’s hope he has the speed that is required to catch up to some of the best 3’s at that position.
24. DAL Mavericks – Darren Collison, PG, UCLA. Even trading down, Collison will still be there for them to draft. He’s a little undersized but he can be a competent PG for a team looking to win now rather than later.
25. OKC Thunder – Sam Young, SF, Pittsburgh. He’s NBA ready, can defend and rebound. Not a high ceiling for him but you see what you get with Young.
26. CHI Bulls – Wayne Ellington, SG, UNC. Working on the assumption that Hinrich is out of the door, they’ll need a backup for BG and Ellington is a kid that can shoot from almost anywhere from the court. Hopefully BG doesn’t teach him all of his gun-trigger ready shooting because Ellington could be BG 2.0.
27. MEM Grizzlies – Jonas Jerebko, SF, Italy. He’s not coming to the NBA this year but the Grizzlies can use him next year as he builds up his game.
28. MIN T’Wolves – Josh Heytvelt, PF, Gonzaga. I’m pretty sure they won’t have this pick because if they do, this is a lucky guess. Heytvelt is a decent perimeter shooter and has size to help out Jefferson and Love. But expect this pick to go to a different team.
29. LA Lakers – Rodrigue Beaubois, PG, France – He’s very quick, something the Lakers clearly lacked during the NBA postseason. Granted, Farmar will definitely get more PT next season, but why not add some depth to an already good thing.
30. CLE Cavs – Chase Budinger, SG, Arizona. This kid can flat out shoot. Toughness is being questioned but “Prince” James can build that in him. Wally Szczerbiak is going to leave and Budinger is a very suitable replacement.

What are your guys thoughts? Give me some feedback? What do you think your respective teams will do with their picks?

A Letter to the King

2009-06-04T09:54:00.000-07:00

Dear Lebron James,

You really fucked up. OK, I don't mean that. What I really meant to say is, you really really fucked up. This isn't a slip by you because if it was, everything would've been forgiven. But by losing your composure and having that pathetic Q&A the day after, only two words can describe your situation. You're fucked.

OK, let's start with the beginning. I don't care if how you react if you lost. It's Sportsmanship 101, you shake the hands of the players that beat you, plain and simple. You congratulate them, tell that how lucky they got and you'll kick their asses next year. It was taught when you were little, when you started playing basketball, and when you were in high school. There is no way you could've forgotten those manners by then right?

Next, you just walk off the court. You know what, that's fine, I don't care. You want to be a baby and a poor sport, that's fine. And you know what, everyone in Cleveland and all your "witnesses" out there would've totally forgiven you because it was a lapse in judgement. They would've, I certainly would. I'm not a witness like the gullible people in the entire world but I would've understood why you didn't want any contact with the opponent, your teammates and the press.

But you screwed it all up the next day, royally (no pun intended). Not only did you send a congratulations to one player (Dwight Howard) through a text, but your explanation for not shaking hands is because "I'm a winner?" Bullshit. Last time I checked, you have won jack.

Not only was that a classless answer, but you really damaged your rep. First off, you've basically written off your team. The Cavs stuck around and shook the Magic players' hands. You must think your team is a bunch of losers for shaking hands afterwards huh? Oh, and they stayed around, took the brunt of the questions while you were off on an airplane flying back. Couldn't face the music? Even Kobe and Jordan, when they lost important games and series in the playoffs, sticked around and faced the limelight. You couldn't even own up to that.

Your explanation makes you look like a baby. It really does. We should change your nickname to "Prince James" because you clearly don't understand what it means to be on top of the food chain.

Your friend,
A New "Witness"

Movie Review "Milk"

2009-05-23T00:28:00.000-07:00

Harvey Milk isn't a household name. Unless one was in San Francisco during the 1970s, or paid really close attention to politics, Milk is nothing more than a blip on the radar. Gus Van Sant's Milk tries to give us a little more insight into this man's life.

Milk is told mostly in chronological order. At the beginning of the film, Milk (Sean Penn) begins dictating into his tape recorder in 1978. He takes the viewer back to 1970 at a subway station in New York. Walking down the stairs, a hippie named Scott Smith (James Franco) catches his eye and the two instantly fall in love. They decide to move to San Francisco, open a camera shop and live their alternative lifestyle in the open.

Moving away from New York doesn't mean that their lifestyle is more acceptable. Cops are raiding the streets, beating up gay people, wrecking their hangouts and creating an unpleasant atmosphere for them to live in on Castro Street.

Milk knows he's only one man but he can't stand the attitude that his city and its inhabitants is developing. So he decides to run for a spot on the Board of Supervisors.After three tries, we finally becomes the first openly elected gay politician. Once on board, he has a lot of obstacles to contend with.

First is another member of the Board of Supervisors, Dan White (Josh Brolin). There is more to White than meets the eye. They form a mutual bond in order to help push each other's agendas. One rejected proposal after another, White's relationship with Milk becomes strained, and in the end, really costly.

Second is Proposition 6, a law that would have banned gays from teaching in schools, or associated with gay people at all. This was sponsored by John Briggs and Anita Bryant, who successfully got similar laws passed in Florida. Milk and his staff, headed by Cleve Jones (Emile Hirsch) and Anne Kroenberg (Alison Pill), know that this is an uphill battle, but nothing is going to stop them from letting this prop pass.

This is Van Sant's best work since Good Will Hunting. He mixes in real stock footage of the 70s and incorporates it into the film. He also uses bright images to drive in the hate and anxiety the gay society faces in their town on Castro Street. Van Sant, along with writer Dustin Lance Black, elects to tell Milk's story as an individual fighting for civil rights, rather than a gay man fighting for just gay rights. This is the greatest achievement he could've accomplished with this film.

Penn loses himself as Milk. With Penn, sometimes the audience sees the actor more than the character, like in I Am Sam. Instead, he completely lets go of his persona and absorbs himself as this courageous figure. Milk doesn't want to be known as a crusader, just a person that advocated change. He doesn't want to save the day, he's a man that wants to stop the fear flooding his streets. Penn captures all of this and will certainly give Josh Brolin's W. a run for his money.

Speaking of Brolin, he also deserves a supporting nomination for his portrayal as Dan White. We get this feeling that White isn't all he's made out to be. There's some underlying gay subtext in him, but the audience never actually hears him admit it. We get it through his mannerism, his body movements and his faltering eyes. Not since Jamie Foxx does an actor deserve multiple nominations like Brolin.

Kudos should also go to Franco. Viewers are accustomed to seeing women be the sane person in the household, the one that keeps the house running while the husband is trying to take care of his job. We've never seen a man be put in that position, as a caretaker and a nurturer. Franco brings the same raw emotion, love and tenderness that we usually associate with women in these roles.

Some will see this film as a direct response to Proposition 8 that took place this past election. Yet it doesn't feel preachy. Van Sant's message wasn't about gay rights, but civil rights that everyone is entitled to. The final product is a biopic that is emotionally powerful and heartbreakingly tragic. This picture is simply one of the best of 2008.

Movie Review "Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li"

2009-05-23T00:26:00.001-07:00

"Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li" is awful. Represented as a reboot to this video game franchise, like "Batman Begins" was for the Caped Crusader, it fails to attract the common viewer let alone those die-hard Street Fighter fans. Even the decent action sequences and a steady performance by Kristin Kreuk can't save this atrocity.

As the title of the film suggests, this is how Chun-Li (Kreuk) becomes the woman she is now. Her dad, Xiang (Edmund Chen), envisioned his princess as a concert pianist, but she loved martial arts as well. Followers of the game will already hate the change of story, as Chun-Li is an INTERPOL agent, not a pianist.

Xiang is also a well-known businessman with deep connections that bad men, like Bison (Neal McDonough) would love to have, so they attempt to kidnap him. He doesn't go down willingly until Bison assures him that Chun-Li won't be harmed.

Life goes on after this tragedy, and Chun-Li is now all grown up. She starts getting weird, cryptic signs, which lead her to Bangkok. Once there, she is seeking out a man named Liu Kang, umm, Gen (Robin Shou). He and Bison were well-known members of the Shadaloo, but when he couldn't do the things Bison could, Gen decided to create his own group to fight them, known as the Web of Shadows.

Chun-Li and Gen aren't the only people looking for Bison. On his tail are Bangkok Police detective Maya Sunee (Moon Bloodgood) and INTERPOL agent Charlie Nash (Chris Klein). Nash has been looking for Bison all these years but could never come close.

One of the biggest mistakes that director Andrzej Bartkowiak (who is getting close to Uwe Boll territory) and screenwriter Justin Marks did is not fully focusing on Chun-Li. Even though she is the titular character, she shares it with Bison and Nash. Kreuk is a good fit as Chun-Li and evokes emotion for the audience to feel, with whatever little material and screen time she's got. But when she isn't on screen, we get McDonough, who is already a prime choice for one of the worst performances of 2009. His accent is so over-the-top that sometimes he can't keep it consistent. It was straight out horrendous, and inadverently funny. Or we get Klein, who speaks deep, slow and wanting every word to matter, like David Caruso's character on "CSI: Miami." That isn't a good thing, it's straight out annoying.

Another mistake the film producers made is not making full use of characters fans have been in love with. "Street Fighter IV," the newly released game by Capcom has Ryu and Ken on the cover, yet they make no appearance whatsoever. People will recognize Chun-Li, Nash, Bison, Gen and other minor characters like Balrog (Michael Clarke Duncan) and Vega (Taboo). But to exclude the likes of Ryu, Ken or Guile is plain out dumb.

But the worst thing was attempting to draw sympathy towards Bison. Bison is a man that is bent on creating hell for everyone, or so the movie tries to depict. There is no logical reason for the writers to delve into his story. Unless the bad guy has an arc where he eventually becomes bad, just present the guy as a ruthless killing son-of-a-bitch. Don't try to bring pity on the audience when it obviously can't be drawn from.

The action can be exhilarating at times. They try to keep the feel and impact of the game as close as possible and, in certain sequences, they do it well. But there are other times the editors don't know how to piece scenes together. Chun-Li would be doing a back flip onto a box and the next scene will show her not even close to any of those boxes. That kind of inconsistency kills the action whenever it's about to catch any sort of momentum.

It's not the worst video game adaptation but it's awfully close. With a sequel inevitable, here are a few tips for the producers: get rid of that Boll wannabe, fire the screenwriter, recast Charlie, bring back Kreuk, and add characters fans care for. That way, we can avoid another catastrophe for this Capcom title.

Movie Review "Observe and Report"

2009-05-23T00:14:00.000-07:00

Producers must think it's the year of the mall cop. "Paul Blart: Mall Cop" was a huge success with a fatty rent-a-cop living in his own deluded world, protecting his so-called territory. In "Observe and Report," another fatty rent-a-cop does the same thing except in a completely different manner. The former offers wholesome fun for the family, the latter is dark, sinister and pushes the envelope for the comedic genre.

Seth Rogen stars as Ronnie Barnhardt, a bi-polar head security officer that is on assignment to find the mysterious flasher that is perverting his mall. When his dream girl Brandi (Anna Faris) is part of the victim list and head detective Harrison (Ray Liotta) is now on the investigation, Barnhardt becomes insulted and jealous. With the help of his team, who includes his right hand man (Michael Pena), a couple of expendable twins (John and Matt Yuan) and a student-in-training (Jesse Plemons), Barnhardt will do whatever it takes to find his flasher.

The movie's set-up seems typical of most lovable loser films. There's a man that is socially awkward, nowhere near the norm of what an ordinary person would do and act. He gets presented with a situation and his lovable charm will come through and win the audience over at the end of the film. That's "Paul Blart." This is nothing like "Observe and Report."

This should be a credit to Rogen. He has always been the lovable loser, ranging from his initial lead in "Knocked Up" or the mistaken action hero in "Pineapple Express." But here, there is no empathy for Ronnie. He's loud, obnoxious and delusional to what he can and can't do. But there is also a certain sincerity and human element that surrounds Ronnie. He is someone that deserves to get beaten up, but at least he's true to himself. Like Adam Sandler in "Punch Drunk Love," Rogen shows that he does have some depth in the acting department.

The rest of the cast is effective. Faris is good as the bimbo in distress. But then again, she does that in every film. Liotta comes in with his "Goodfellas" demeanor and is scary and hilarious. It's also nice to see Pena do something else other than serious dramas like "World Trade Center" and "Crash."

As comedy is concerned, it's really dark. If one is coming in expecting to laugh out loud the entire time, then they will really be disappointed. Instead, if they come in with the notion that this is a black comedy, they will have a greater appreciation for the film. Director Jody Hill made sure that the film was way over the top with the violence and profanity, but always kept the serious tone throughout.

Speaking of profanity, it is used abruptly and constantly every other minute. There hasn't been this many f-bombs since "The Departed." There are also a lot of racial epithets towards Middle Easterns. People will get put off by this and there are times that using this language seems unnecessary, but it wouldn't have been true to the film spirit if the f-word was limited.

As ridiculously stupid as the plot sounds, Hill effectively points out the way Americans think. This is an age where violence is expected and accepted. Nudity, on the other hand, isn't. Especially when it's a part of the male anatomy. Nobody is comfortable with that. So when a flasher shows off his dick to women at the mall, everybody goes berserk. But as the ending will prove, violence is more accepted then nudity, even if it is coming from a psychotic cop.

Without the constant cursing and violence, the entire purpose of this film would be lost. Hill wanted to show how trivial nudity should be in comparison to violence, in a dark and uneasy tone. With the help of Rogen's best performance to date, "Observe and Report" does just that.

Movie Review "X-Men Origins: Wolverine"

2009-05-23T00:09:00.000-07:00

So after three X-Men films, 20th Century Fox finally decided that they will do an origin story for the most beloved character out of all the X-Men, Wolverine (Hugh Jackman). In "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," the audience is supposed to learn why and how Logan becomes the mutant he is today. If you are a die-hard comic fan boy, you will be feeling one of two ways. Either it's "Wow, tell me something I didn't know," or "Did they really just tweak his back-story?"

Logan discovered his powers when he was a little kid in 1845. When he is directly responsible for a couple of deaths, one of them being his father, he and his half-brother Victor (Liev Schreiber) decide to run away and never look back.

We are then told, through a montage of war clips, that the brothers fought in the Civil War, both World Wars, and the Vietnam War for the U.S. One has to question how this can happen when they are Canadian.

Both then get recruited by William Stryker (Danny Huston) to join an elite team of mutants. After a couple of trial runs with the group, Logan doesn't like the direction this team is heading and decides to leave.

Six years have passed and Logan is now a logger, living in the woods with his lover Kayla Silverfox (Lynn Collins). Somehow Victor tracks them down and kills Kayla in the process. Logan is out for revenge, but Stryker insists on helping him out so he can track down Victor. So Stryker puts adamantium into Logan's body and the results are perfect.

For an action film, there really isn't a lot of buzz or excitement. When action is taking place, especially with special effects, we are suppose to be jaw-dropped and gazing with amazement that technology can do such a thing. Instead, it's more of a sigh then a cheer.

What people will notice are more mutants introduced into the film, with a big list that includes Gambit, Deadpool, Agent Zero and an early Cyclops. That's an orgy of mutants, but they do nothing with them. We see a couple of cool tricks, but that is it. It doesn't make sense to add characters into a film if you're not going to divulge a little bit of who they are or what they are capable of.

There are two reasons that keep this movie from being an utter failure. Jackman and Schreiber both fit perfectly well as Logan and Victor. In Jackman's fourth film as Wolverine, he has perfected the mannerisms that are needed to play this character. Whether it's summoning his claws, delivering one-liners or having that angry stare, Jackman brings life to the title character.

Schreiber is a good fit as Victor. Victor has always been the one that is out for blood without thinking of the consequences. All he wants is to kill and Schreiber gives that evil touch to Victor that is sorely needed. It's a good thing when we want both Logan and Victor on screen together.

What ultimately makes this film unsuccessful is inevitably. Given that this is a prequel to the first three X-Men films, we all know that Logan will lose his memory and then go on his way to find out who he really was. So there has to be some type of incentive to watching this film when we all know the end.

This is a lot like "Star Wars Episode III." In the final chapter of the prequel, we all know that Anakin will become Darth Vader. But Lucas kept enough emotion and action to distract us to what we know will be the undoing of Anakin. "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" didn't do that. If anything, the audience will leave the theater, scratching their heads and thinking, "that's it?"

Movie Review: Obsessed

2009-05-23T00:03:00.000-07:00

"Obsessed" wants to be like "Fatal Attraction" or "Basic Instinct." The latter films were sleek, sexy and thrilling to watch. The former offers nothing of the sort. With a formidable cast, it's disappointing to see this film not live up to it's predecessors.

Successful business man Derek (Idris Elba) has finally have a home of his own, married to his beautiful wife Sharon (Beyonce Knowles) and raising their baby son together.

Trouble brews with the arrival of Derek's new temp Lisa (Ali Larter). Their first encounter happens in the elevator. Derek is his friendly self, Lisa believes it's love at first sight.

The advances come but Derek rejects profusely. Flirtation becomes obsession and that's no good for Derek. Especially when Sharon is one crazy bitch when it comes to her man.

There are plenty of things that hurt this movie, the biggest being the writing. David Loughery knows how to set up a story but it stops right there. All the characters are given one note.

Derek should show some struggle between love and lust when Lisa is teasing him but he's regulated to being a saint. There is no fun when the most confused character in the film isn't confused at all.

Lisa is all obsessed with Derek but here really isn't a gradual process to the stalking. The obsession basically happens from the get-go. Audiences will hate her only because she is meant to be hated, not because of her actions throughout the film.

Sharon is the worst of the three. She's there to raise havoc for the last act of the film. She wants to seek and destroy the bitch and that is all she's good for.

It doesn't help that the actors inhibiting the characters bring nothing to the script. Elba likes to yell and then be restraint and yell again, all in the same motion. Larter looks sexy but her being delusional really doesn't work. Then there is Beyonce, who was sensational in "Cadillac Records," really was in bitch mode the whole time.

Like all movies with bad scripts, they all have bad endings. And the ending for this film will leave you laughing (not in a good way), disgusted (did they really write that in) and having your jaw dropped (again, not in a good way).

There are a few funny parts in the film, some intentional and some not. Granted, this film is intended for a certain demographic (especially if Beyonce and Earvin "Magic" Johnson are executive producers) and they surely will suspend their disbelief in some parts. But as the movie goes, no one will be obsessing over this.

Movie Review "The Day the Earth Stood Still"

2009-04-09T20:24:00.000-07:00

A remake can only be good if it does two things right. It has to offer something new and it has to stay somewhat faithful with it's previous adaptation. Following these rules can make a movie better than the original ("The Departed") or it can be shun upon critics and viewers alike ("Psycho"). With "The Day the Earth Stood Still" it does both of them right but not enough to make it better than the original.

In 1951, this black and white sci-fi film was a cautionary tale. An alien named Klaatu comes to Earth and warns the people who inhibit this planet that violence isn't the answer. If violence escalates, then Klaatu will make sure that Earth is protected at all costs. During the 50s, with the space age and the US trying to outwit the Soviets, war looks imminent. This movie warns that if the world is destroyed, it'll solely be on us.

Flash forward to 2008 and now the tale is different. The Earth isn't in danger because of the Cold War anymore. Instead the planet is dying from global warming. And with a new tale comes a new Klaatu (Keanu Reeves). This alien is still here to observe the planet but bypasses the warning. Instead, plans are in action to save the Earth, by killing the people that occupy it. The only salvation Earth has is through Helen Benson (Jennifer Connelly), a step-mother and scientist that was called to investigate why Klaatu is here. She has to somehow convince this alien that the Earth is worth saving.

Followers from the old will be familiar with the story and with some of the words that are uttered as well, "Klaatu barada nikto." Unlike the original, this movie is somewhat over-the-top loud. Those words were barely whispered as helicopters, police cars and guns come roaring through the speaker. It's great to use the technology to enhance sound, but they over amplified this but a lot.

Casting is a strong suit for this film. Reeves have always been a man that has a lack of emotion on his face and it embodies Klaatu perfectly. This alien is here to observe and judge and should show no emotion because his stake is to make sure the planet is safe, not the people that occupy it.

Connelly has the hard job and she also does it effectively. She has to be the whole heart and soul of the film. Sure, her step son (Jaden Smith) is there as well but he becomes increasingly annoying as the film goes on. Connelly has to represent humanity and what humans can bring to life and she knows when to use that soulful look. It's hard to describe but anyone can spot it when it's seen.

So why doesn't this film stand out from the original? It's technically and visually better but, like the first film, there's a certain energy missing. It's very methodical, the visual effects are good-looking, the film tells a good tale and the acting is fine but there is something missing. Maybe it's the heart of the film. There is no pulse to the film. Who knows why.

"The Dark Knight" and Tony Stark among Oscar snubs

2009-02-11T15:25:00.000-08:00

The Academy Awards return on February 22. When the Oscar statuette comes to Hollywood, everyone has opinions and predictions to who deserves their perspective awards. This is the first of a two part article. This article will focus on who is snubbed.

Best Picture: "The Dark Knight" - Let's already give it the fact that Christopher Nolan's epic is nominated for eight awards. But those awards, aside from Heath Ledger's terrifying performance as The Joker, are a joke. How the Academy, with all their wisdom, knowledge and sense of films, pass up the second highest grossing film of all time and that was critically acclaimed across the country boggles the mind. Over the recent years, the Academy tends to award those indie films that are more pretentious and, at times, more gratifying than the blockbusters that hit multiplexes worldwide. Maybe it's because this is an action film. Or maybe it's because it's a comic-book film. It doesn't and shouldn't matter. This film showed the consequences that affect people when decisions are made.

Best Director: Sam Mendes, "Revolutionary Road" - It would've made sense to put Nolan's name here but the best picture snub is bigger. Mendes, on the other hand, does a great job at showing how bleak a marriage can be when both spouses are trapped in confines that they don't want to be in. Not only that, he did get great performances from Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet.

Best Actor: Robert Downey Jr., "Iron Man" - Here, another comic-book film gets the heave-ho. Downey Jr., who's already nominated for "Tropic Thunder," is more deserving of a nomination in this category. With all the action and excitement that came with "Iron Man," the charm and charisma is all Downey. With a lesser actor, the film wouldn't be as entertaining or as energetic. Downey commands the attention of the audience and makes Tony Stark bigger than his iron suit.

Best Actress: Michelle Williams, "Wendy and Lucy" - The movie itself is simplistic, about a girl trying to find her dog. But Williams bring such warmth, sincerity and emotion to her Wendy that it's hard to look away from the screen. Any other actress with fewer abilities would have us finding flaws in between the film but Williams wouldn't have it that way. We feel for her and its all thanks to Williams's great acting presence.

Best Supporting Actor: James Franco, "Milk" - Sean Penn gets the Best Actor nod, Josh Brolin gets the supporting recognition, so what does Franco get? Snubbed. Franco, coming off a great year with "Milk" and "Pineapple Express," basically wasn't recognized for playing the endearing and understanding role most women are accustomed to. It's a role everyone has seen before but Franco brings a different angle and emotion to it.

Best Supporting Actress: Rosemarie DeWitt, "Rachel Getting Married" - Even though at times Anne Hathaway dominates the screen, DeWitt playing the titled character, steals moments which we will remember her for. It's her wedding but her sister is always the center of attention. DeWitt shows that anger, anxiety and jealously that comes with getting married and always having a sister that is the focus of the party. Her portrayal is subtle but powerful.

Top 10 Animated TV Series Rebuttal

2009-01-30T19:44:00.001-08:00

IGN and their staff last week showed off on what they believe to be the best 100 animated series of all-time. For their list, you can get it here http://tv.ign.com/top-100-animated-tv-series/index.html. I look at that list and, with the list and their top 10, I'm a little disappointed. First off, they should distinguish between what the term animated is. Cartoons and anime are two completely different genres and therefore shouldn't be included in the same list together. Second, shows that I've watched before, "Rocko's Modern Life" or "Doug" didn't even make the cut. So here's my rebuttal, the top 10 animated TV series of all-time (no anime included).

10. "X-Men" - Another animated action series that was a comic fan's dream. They took what was in the comics and let it play out on the small screen. Aside from making sure the essential characters were there, they deserve credit for incorporating lots of minor characters.

9. "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" - These four, green brothers work together to protect the NYC from The Shredder. No one will ever forget Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello and Rapahel. Not only was this a fun show to watch, it created a frenzy of merchandise, action figures and three live action films.

8. "Family Guy" - Ever since "Family Guy" returned back to FOX, most of their episodes have been hit and miss, mostly more of the latter. But only taking into account what they did with the first four seasons, it is a great series to watch. Creator Seth MacFarlane should take all the credit in the world for this series success because making references from past and present films and TV shows is astounding.

7. "Pinky & the Brain" - I'm probably leaving lots of shows out but this is one case where the spin-off is more memorable than where it diverted from. This is not to take away from the "Animaniacs" because it is a good show. But the adventures for world domination with the master and his doofus assistant is more enjoyable in a 30-minute format than for 5 minutes.

6. "King of the Hill" - I believe Mike Judge failed miserably with "Beavis and Butt-head." That show was stupid, idiotic and was painful to watch. "King of the Hill" is a totally different story. This show will go down as one of the most underrated series in TV history. Judge created a family and community that people can relate with. Whether it's Hank Hill's manly attributes or Dale's phobia of the US government, these characters and their morals make this series one the bests.

5. "Looney Tunes" - Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck. What a great tandem that these two, along with a whole lot of memorable characters, gave us kids and adults alike in the mornings. Whether it's Elmer Fudd chasing down the "wabbit," or Wily E. Coyote trying to catch that incredibly fast Road Runner, this show had a little of everything.

4. "South Park" - Lewd, crude, politically incorrect, this show is everything that wouldn't and shouldn't catch people's attention. Yet there is a certain charm, a certain arrogance and a certain humor creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker have come across. They take a very black and white look at society and flip it on us. All you need to do is watch "All Apologies to Jesse Jackson" and you'll know what I mean.

3. "Batman: The Animated Series" - I was captivated by the original "Batman" film and when they decided to keep the look and feel of Burton's vision to the small screen, it was a kid's dream. But more than the feel and look, it actually had great storytelling. It made us want to know more about Bruce Wayne and Batman. Plus it was the first film where Batman and Wayne's voice were different, something that isn't evident until Christopher Nolan and Christian Bale had their interpretation. Plus, Mark Hamill's Joker is devilishly fun. Now he isn't only known as Luke Skywalker.

2. "The Flintstones" - Take a loving family, couple them with their favorite neighbors, put them in misadventures, what do you have? If you guessed "The Flintstones" you are correct indeed. Not only did this show proved that cartoons can be just as, or even more, popular than live sitcom shows, but it also paved for shows of the future. Fred Flintstone is the grandfather of the animated family man. Which leads us to number one...

1. "The Simpsons" - Homer Simpson took everything Fred Flintstone was, and amplified him in big and more resounding ways. He's a little slow and naive, but in the end, he will make decisions that is best for his family. But that isn't the only reason why this show is on year 20 and counting. Creator Matt Groening has created a community everyone can recognize. What other show can you think of is willing to give big stories to minor characters like Ned Flanders or Krusty the Clown? It's a testament to the voice actors, writing staff and creators to keep this show fresh, new and hilarious all at the same time.

Movie Review "Doubt"

2009-01-26T09:12:00.000-08:00

In religion, one is to accept faith as it exists. There should be no inch of doubt when talking about the beings that are unknown. This kind of believing extends beyond the church, having to believe that the pastors, priests and other clergymen know what is good for the masses in that community. But what if there is doubt out there? This question is brilliantly explored in "Doubt," John Patrick Shanley's award winning play which he adapted and directed.

The story seems basic in nature. The new Father Brendan Flynn (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) comes into town and seems like a normal priest, one that is loving of his community, cuts some slack which other nuns wouldn't have let their students get away with and helps out whoever is in need. But something about his sermon, about this idea of doubt, leads to some suspicion by the head nun Sister Aloysius Beauvier (Meryl Streep).

The first indication of something wrong comes from Sister James (Amy Adams). She suspects something is wrong with her only black student, even suspecting alcohol in his breath. Sister James doesn't want to believe that Father Flynn has anything to do with it but Sister Beauvier has no doubt that Flynn is up to something.

One of the greatest things Shanley does with his film is show less. By doing less, he exposes more. We never see any physical acts of molestation or wrongdoing by Father Flynn but that's a good thing. In the end, we can never be certain whether or not Flynn did something wrong. If Shanley was suppose to prove doubt within the minds of the audience, he clearly achieves this feat.

Anyone that is into great acting will not be disappointed. All three main actors, along with Viola Davis, deserve an Oscar nomination. Streep brings great emotion as Sister Beauvier. She is passionate about ridding evil from her school. Sometimes it feels that her reasons to rid of Father Flynn is flawed but in the end, she is doing what is best for a kid and not the agenda she has against the priest.

Hoffman brings empathy to a priest accused of such great accusations. We can never reach the point of hatred with Flynn and that's a testament to Hoffman and his ability to make us feel for him. Adams is the the opposite of Sister Beauvier. She isn't jaded like her head nun is and looks at everything in life as half full. She's the conscience of Sister Beauvier, who ignores every step of the way.

But out of these three great performances, Davis is the one to steal the show. As the mother of the accused son being molested, she shows the struggles that she deals with her personal life. She has nothing to look forward to but her son's future. It kills her that the accusation might be true but all she wants is to make sure her son finishes school until June. It's painful and emotional to watch a mother struggle with such thoughts in her head and Davis brings it out for us to see.

"Doubt" proves to be one of the best films of 2008. Not only do we have four great performances, but Shanley has written an a script that questions how we believe in our faith. Is it possible to take everything at face value? Can we believe in everything that is told to us? Is having a hunch enough to prove that someone is a liar or cheat? Those questions are brought up by this film and when we leave the theater, those are things we certainly ask ourselves.

The Future of Movie Criticism

2009-01-21T01:04:00.001-08:00

Movie criticism used to be something people looked forward to. I remember placing my butt in front of that TV when I was little at six in the evening on Sundays to catch the latest riffs between Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert. It would be years later that I want to be a movie critic, to be known with the greats like Ebert, Siskel, A.O. Scott and Kenneth Turan, to name a few. But lately, by talking to friends, customers, and reading online, the profession I've chosen doesn't seem to have a great future.

One key reason is websites like IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes. Don't get me wrong, these sites are great to get quick facts or to find an actor's filmography. But the new generation of viewers look at these websites and see an aggregated score of important critics. They look at the score and from there, they make up their mind on whether or not to go see that film. It's rare to see people read full articles about the movie review because it's A) too long or B) they are too lazy.

Another factor is that the quality of new critics have declined immensely. They would say it's a great film because "Jessica Alba is hot" or it's horrible because "I didn't get it." Those comments these critics make are headline grabbers producers and marketing teams strive for but it costs the integrity of film critics across the board. Just look at the idiotic Ben Lyons. How he's considered a film critic and overtakes the seat that used to occupied by Ebert boggles my mind.

I believe that new critics these days have forgotten the formula that has made critics before us great. They give us a general overview of the film, add tidbits here and there and formulate their opinion. Writers these days ignore a step here and there and those people ignorant of these steps are really hindering themselves.

Do I believe I'm going to take the movie critique world by storm? No. But I do believe that I can offer a glimpse of hope to the reviewing arena. I'm not optimistic about the future of my industry, but if enough writers break out and make their words important enough to be read or heard in their entirety, then there is always hope.

2001's Top 10 Movies

2008-11-23T11:25:00.000-08:00

Due to lots of homework and tests, it's been a while since I've made a post. The next several posts in the upcoming week will be a recap of the best films of 2001 and beyond. Only reason I'm doing this list is to inform readers of two things. One is the kind of movies that I tend to love. Two is because 2008 is almost about to wrap up and this would be a great intro to the best films of this past year. So let's begin with 2001.

Honorable Mention: Ghost World, Vanilla Sky, Moulin Rogue (Sorry, LOTR: Fellowship of the Ring is not making my cut)

10. Shrek - An animated feature that isn't associated with Disney or Pixar, this debut from Dreamworks knocks it out of the ballpark. Not only are there jokes for both the adults and children, but the animation is beautifully computer generated. A re-telling of Beauty and the Beast, Shrek works because all four lead vocals (especially Eddie Murphy) bring warmth and humor to their perspective characters.

9. The Deep End - This film didn't get wide release but for people that did get to see it, they were rewarded with one of the best thrillers of 2001. With a blackmailer (Goran Visnjic), a dead body, and an investigation, a mother (Tilda Swinton) tries her best to juggle this seemingly impossible situation.

8. Snatch - Guy Ritchie follows up his impressive debut of Lock,Stock and Two Smoking Barrels with a near perfect picture with Snatch. It's grotesque, violent and often hilarious. Keeping some of his mainstays (Jason Statham, Vinnie Jones) and adding some firepower actors (Brad Pitt, Benico Del Toro), it's a story of different low-lifes after the same thing, an 84 karat diamond. People fan's of Pulp Fiction will enjoy this flick.

7. Training Day - Some people might be shocked at my list already and even more shocked that Antoine Fuqua's film is on this list. The thing is, this film is one of the best cop dramas in a very long time. Denzel Washington uses that laugh and charm and turns it against as a cop who walks a fine line between cop and thug. Ethane Hawke is equally impressive as the man who questions his teacher. This movie operates between shades of grey and it makes us question whether or not Alonzo's (Washington) motives are just.

6. Amelie - This is easily the most uplifting picture of the year. A film by Aliens:Resurrection director Jean-Pierre Jeunet, he tells the story of Amelie (a fantastic Audrey Tautou), a shy girl that is deprived of friends. After discovering a box of old pictures and toys, she decides to give to take action in her life. Jeunet uses different angles and cuts in order to engage us and does with a lot of flair. People that are afraid of watching films with subtitles need to suck it up and watch this one.

5. A Beautiful Mind - The life of John Nash (Russell Crowe) is made for Hollywood. A man that's a genius yet can't distinguish what's real and fake is something we've all seen in typical motion pictures. Yet Ron Howard directs it with such calamity, and with Oscar-worthy performances by Crowe, Jennifer Connelly and Ed Harris makes this picture more than ordinary.

4. Heist - David Mamet can be accused of having his dialogue, not story, dictate where his movie goes. It doesn't matter because Mamet has created the best heist film you'll ever see. The dialogue is witty, the characters are colorful and Mamet always stays two steps in front of us to make sure we don't not what's happening.

3. Ali - Will Smith's transformation into the greatest boxer in the world is mesmerizing. We go through this journey and we see how arrogant, cocky and at times, how lonely Ali's world could be. Michael Mann steps away from his usual police drama pieces and elected to do this biopic and brings a sensitivity one wouldn't expect from him. The authenticity of the 50's and 60's are intact and the boxing matches create a certain tension and intensity that wouldn't be found otherwise from lesser directors and actors.

2. In the Bedroom - Todd Field's feature debut can be summed up in one word, excellent. He uses the emotions of anger, compassion, grief and revenge and crumbles it all together. He sets up the story with a seemingly ordinary household who has a son dating a much older woman. This woman has a crazy ex-husband and from there, the movie starts on this spiral no one can see coming. Superb performances by Tom Wilkinson, Sissy Spacek, Nick Stahl and Marisa Tomei.

1. Memento - The best film of this year, maybe it'll be the best film of this decade and it's certain one of my favorite movies of all-time. Christopher Nolan is great exploring the depth of humanity and the extremities people will go in order to satisfy their hunger. Leonard Shelby (a terrific Guy Pearce) plays a man bent on revenge after knowing his wife got murdered. The problem is he's got short-term memory loss. He's got some shady friends in Natalie (Carrie-Anne Moss) and Teddy (Joe Pantoliano) but he doesn't know that. Nolan elects to film this with a backward/forward progression, which certainly brings the middle of the act as our ending. One of the bests in any decade.

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

2008-11-05T10:53:00.001-08:00

This first post was supposed to be a joyous one. I was ready to write about President-Elect Barack Obama’s win and what it means, and more importantly, what his win represents to our American psyche. Yet every time America takes one step forward, we somehow manage to take two steps back.

I remember watching on Election Night with my co-worker Jon (who by the way is a black man) and ABC just announced the win to Obama. I remember telling him, “If we can elect a black man, the whole idea of same-sex marriage is obsolete.” He agrees. Unfortunately, not the rest of the Californian public does.

Obama is a breath of fresh air. This man is change in both the literal and metaphorical sense. A black man has won the most prestigious job you can achieve in the United States of America. He will be the reason why no one, and I mean NO ONE, should ever complain about never achieving anything. That imaginary glass ceiling people talk about should be shattered now. If you want to be the President of this free country, it isn’t a question of when; it’s a question of what you are willing to do to get there.

But this isn’t the case. If this prop stands, it is a step back of humongous proportions. Why can’t we accept the fact that a marriage should be between two loving individuals. It shouldn’t matter whether or not it’s between a man and a woman or two men or two women.

I’m not a “Family Guy” type of person but there is an episode that highlights my thinking. Lois Griffin is sitting with her parents and watching the hostage situation that is happening in Quahog. Brain wants gay marriage to be legal but Lois doesn’t believe in it. Only until her dad tells her that his own marriage has been loveless, that they hate each other. Lois then sees the light and thinks to herself, why can’t two gay people, who are deeply in love, get married when two straight people, who can’t stand the sight of each other, can.

Now there will be months and years of legality for gays that are married already. Is there marriage now nullified? Will they still be recognized as a married couple? There have been gay couples that have been married for months. Now there will be a great possibility that with a snap of a finger, they won’t be. They shouldn’t be going through this. No one should.

I understand the Christian side of this argument. I was raised Catholic and my mom made sure that her voice would be known to me that Yes on 8 is good for us. I understand scriptures in the Bible that condemn this kind of behavior. I really do. But I also understand that I can't deny the happiness between two people that love each other. It just isn't right.

Prop 8 is all about discrimination. Blacks, Asians, Mexicans, Women and many others have been discriminated. We can now add gays and lesbians among this list. This shouldn't have even been a discussion. Today should’ve been a day of celebration at what Obama has accomplished and the change that America is ready to embark. I was going to go out there and play some basketball in his name. Instead, this proud, heartfelt emotion I have for Obama is getting pushed out by this disgusting display I’ve seen from the Californian voters.

"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer," says Obama in his opening victory speech. Not for the gays and lesbians though.

Welcome to the first of many posts!

2008-11-04T13:17:00.000-08:00

My name is Johnny Ngo and I'm currently the managing editor for The Mesa Press during this Fall 2008 semester. Knowing that the shift of reading news, opinions and sports are heading towards online, this blog will hope to bring that movement to the forefront. This blog will be on an experimental basis. It's like a opinion/feature column without it being on the newspaper. Feedback and comments on my posts will be appreciated because it means two things. One is that I'll be writing articles that people do have an opinion about. Two is that people are actually reading this. Please be patient if there isn't periodical posts because like I've stated before, this is an experiment. Hoping this experiment works!

If there are any suggestions or topics that you would like to see address in this blog, please feel free to comment. It is suggested!