I'm in the process of putting together a post on the NRL Grand Final. Was there, 10 rows back from the Roosters bench - with Roosters fans surrounding me. It was...an experience.
Will include pictures, and details of the GF in this post. Stay tuned in the next three or four days.
Until then...
P.S. - Just thought - will make the NRL GF a page in itself. It deserves it - and it's going to be big!
Wednesday, October 06, 2010
Saturday, October 02, 2010
Just a short post today...
Just a quick note for those of you who are interested...
I'm going to the Grand Final tomorrow, between St George-Illawarra Dragons and the Sydney Roosters. This should be a very thrilling (fingers crossed) match as they have both provided some spectacular moments during the season, as well as in the finals series. Hopefully it won't be a fizzer.
Anyway, the rain is supposed to come and stay for this weekend, but that shouldn't dampen the spirits out at the stadium. It's supposed to be a packed house, so the atmosphere should be awesome.
I've also put a poll up on my site for who you want to win. Of course, you can (if you are really desperate) click more than once on the voting, but, really, it's a bit sad if you do. Just vote the once, and we'll see who goes for which team the greatest...perhaps.
Overall...GO THE DRAGONS!!!!
I'm going to the Grand Final tomorrow, between St George-Illawarra Dragons and the Sydney Roosters. This should be a very thrilling (fingers crossed) match as they have both provided some spectacular moments during the season, as well as in the finals series. Hopefully it won't be a fizzer.
Anyway, the rain is supposed to come and stay for this weekend, but that shouldn't dampen the spirits out at the stadium. It's supposed to be a packed house, so the atmosphere should be awesome.
I've also put a poll up on my site for who you want to win. Of course, you can (if you are really desperate) click more than once on the voting, but, really, it's a bit sad if you do. Just vote the once, and we'll see who goes for which team the greatest...perhaps.
Overall...GO THE DRAGONS!!!!
Friday, October 01, 2010
'The Sorcerer's Apprentice'
I think I saw only one preview for this movie, but, from that, I thought that it would be fun, easy to watch, and have great special effects. Well, I certainly wasn't disappointed in the effects! Having sat through a preview for the Yogi Bear movie that is coming out soon, the effects in this movie were superb. The number of times that special effects were used in this movie - I swear it would be close to every minute! Yet, you wouldn't like the movie without the effects - they make it in some ways. But the acting is very good that you don't really think about the effects at all. (Hmmm...does that even make sense? I hope so...) That's how effects, though, should work - they should complement/supplement the acting.
The plot line is simple enough: reluctant hero finds the courage by the end of the movie to save the world. The message - which is being pushed at kids these days over and over again - is to always believe in yourself and you will conquer your most difficult problems in life. Every movie and book that I watch or read at the moment seems to be focused on that. This, though, does it in a fun way, with many spontaneous funny moments along with the serious scenes.
The actors are well chosen for their parts (or approached their roles in the best way possible). Nicholas Cage does a very good job showing a serious, but also understanding and lighthearted manner at the same time throughout the movie. He has demonstrated in several movies that he can play a fun role (eg. National Treasure, The Rock, Gone in 60 Seconds - all movies that I've enjoyed numerous times), and the car he has - I want one. Then again, Alfred Molina's car is also very suave at this point (both race through New York in very stylish sports cars - one a Mercedes, didn't catch the other make). Alfred Molina has proven numerous times that he can play a baddie very well. In this he does it brilliantly again. I first saw Mr Molina in 'Chocolat' (which is one of my favourite movies), and he was great in 'Spiderman 2'. He can demonstrate a 'soft' side, but put in the nasty little comments at the same time. In this movie he doesn't demonstrate a soft side at all, but does have numerous situational comedic moments.
One weak point, I admit, is the girl, Becky. Her character is too quick at taking in and accepting all the magic. She believes everything that Dave tells her too easily. Maybe this makes sense to kids, but to adults surely not. The actress herself (Teresa Palmer), though, is not bad at her role; just the lines are not very well written. The guy who plays Dave - our reluctant hero - (Jay Baruchel) does a wonderful job in gaining and keeping the audience's attention. No doubt he will be one to watch in future movies, especially comedies, as he has already starred in things such as 'Tropic Thunder' and 'How to Train Your Dragon'.
There are several funny moments in Dave's training to become the next, most powerful sorcerer in the world (click here if you wish to see one of the more funny moments of the training Dave experiences). Of course, with the title of the movie, it wouldn't be complete without the Mickey Mouse-type scene from 'Fantasia'. Dave, however, does learn his lesson, but teaches his Master (Balthazar Blake), at the same time, a couple of important things too (naturally).
Oh, I forgot to mention: love the Star Wars reference! Love it!
Oh, I forgot to mention: love the Star Wars reference! Love it!
Overall, not a bad movie. Probably will buy it when it comes out on DVD, but not until it drops in price a little bit. However, it'll be good to veg out with - and one that the kids might like on a rainy day during sport at school.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
'Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters'
I mentioned a few posts ago that I had borrowed the book 'The Host' by Stephenie Meyer, and at the same time I borrowed 'Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters'. Well, I got through 'The Host' in no time flat (the first week I had borrowed it - after not really getting into it for the first two or three days), and, finally, I read and finished 'Percy Jackson'. Thank goodness for school holidays.
This 'Percy Jackson' is a continuation of the original story - in that he is fighting against the same people who wish to use him and see him fail in the first novel. However, it is, also, a stand-alone novel enough for anyone who hasn't read the first novel to be able to pick it up and read it seperately and understand what is happening. There are only one or two slight references to the first novel, and anything that needs to be explained is, but not in a boring "This is Quidditch - for the 6th time" manner that you get with 'Harry Potter'. Maybe by the final book in this series it could be like that, but at the moment, it's all good.
The story has you wondering what is going to happen from the moment you open to the chapter listing. This is one of the good things about Rick Riordan's chapter titles - they are written for kids to have a laugh over. You are always wondering what is going to happen in the chapter because of the title. Many times, also, the chapters just keep flowing on, one from the other, with no time gap between. One good thing, though, is that there are plenty of spacings within the chapters, or time gaps, so that when you need to put the book down to do something (like sleep, in my case sometimes), you can read to this minor ending within the chapter, and be able to follow the story easily from there onwards when you come back to it.
The story itself is very easy to follow. You know who most of the bad guys are, from the first novel. You know that Percy will have to come up and face these bad guys over and over, from the end of the first novel, but you aren't always sure how, where, and what with in this novel. Some of the classic moments occur when there are cyclopses about - including Percy's brother. Oops...did I just put a spoiler in? Nah, you would find out soon enough, anyway, if you read the book. Perhaps the most hilarious moment in the book for me was when the centaurs came to the rescue - but I won't go into detail about that, at all, for that would spoil it.
All in all, Rick Riordan has produced another fun, witty, and full of hilarious situations story that any kid would love to read. There are, also, a couple of messages - or more - in the story that kids may or may not pick up on: courage in yourself, as well as in others, as well as being there for others no matter what, are just two of which I can think.
It is worth while reading, and a good veg at the same time. And, once again, you can learn a little about the gods and goddesses of Ancient Greece at the same time.
This 'Percy Jackson' is a continuation of the original story - in that he is fighting against the same people who wish to use him and see him fail in the first novel. However, it is, also, a stand-alone novel enough for anyone who hasn't read the first novel to be able to pick it up and read it seperately and understand what is happening. There are only one or two slight references to the first novel, and anything that needs to be explained is, but not in a boring "This is Quidditch - for the 6th time" manner that you get with 'Harry Potter'. Maybe by the final book in this series it could be like that, but at the moment, it's all good.
The story has you wondering what is going to happen from the moment you open to the chapter listing. This is one of the good things about Rick Riordan's chapter titles - they are written for kids to have a laugh over. You are always wondering what is going to happen in the chapter because of the title. Many times, also, the chapters just keep flowing on, one from the other, with no time gap between. One good thing, though, is that there are plenty of spacings within the chapters, or time gaps, so that when you need to put the book down to do something (like sleep, in my case sometimes), you can read to this minor ending within the chapter, and be able to follow the story easily from there onwards when you come back to it.
The story itself is very easy to follow. You know who most of the bad guys are, from the first novel. You know that Percy will have to come up and face these bad guys over and over, from the end of the first novel, but you aren't always sure how, where, and what with in this novel. Some of the classic moments occur when there are cyclopses about - including Percy's brother. Oops...did I just put a spoiler in? Nah, you would find out soon enough, anyway, if you read the book. Perhaps the most hilarious moment in the book for me was when the centaurs came to the rescue - but I won't go into detail about that, at all, for that would spoil it.
All in all, Rick Riordan has produced another fun, witty, and full of hilarious situations story that any kid would love to read. There are, also, a couple of messages - or more - in the story that kids may or may not pick up on: courage in yourself, as well as in others, as well as being there for others no matter what, are just two of which I can think.
It is worth while reading, and a good veg at the same time. And, once again, you can learn a little about the gods and goddesses of Ancient Greece at the same time.
Monday, September 27, 2010
NRL Dragons/Tigers Semi-Final
Well, my team made it through to the Grand Final that is going to be played this coming Sunday in Sydney. My team, if you didn't already know it, are the St George Dragons (click here to see the Dragons' website). It was a bit touch and go on Saturday night, when they were playing in the semi-final against Wests Tigers. I admit, it was REALLY awesome to see them live, in a semi-final. I haven't been to a semi-final before, and...well...the atmosphere was just...perfect.
At half time my team was down 12-6. Wests had two converted tries, and we only had the one. The teams were fairly good at being picked up on infringing the 10 metre distance between the tackled player and the defenders, until about 10-15 minutes before the end of the first half. Then things really started getting interesting. Yes, Wests had scored in the first 15 minutes, which should have been disallowed due to interference. Two of the Dragons were taken out, defending, and so a gap was produced that someone could just run straight through to score. Not fair. That is not what rugby league is about. If you want to play that kind of game, go over to America.
Anyway, St George came back and scored a converted try, so it was 6 all for another 10 or so minutes. Then the Tigers scored another try - off a forward pass. St George should have been given the ball after the Wests fellas passed the ball forward. Yes, they may have scored another try in the first half even if the Dragons had got the ball because of the forward pass - but the pass should have been picked up, considering St George's had been, and they were close to scoring a try then, as well!
Anyway, half-time came and went. About half-way through the second half, the Dragons go in for a try! They converted it, too. That made it 12 all. Two other attempts had been made, but they were unsuccessful, unfortunately. The Tigers' fans that I was sitting near - they were starting to get not only nervous, but unhappy as well. It was not looking good for their team. They had been eager, pleased as punch, and assured in many ways, at the start and after the second try had been converted, they were now anxious and unsure.
With roughly 5 minutes left of the second half, Jamie Soward kicked for a field goal. This does not always work - field goal attempts tend to go off to the side. But his went straight through, and the Dragons were leading, 13-12. It was unbelieveable! The atmosphere, as I mentioned, was ecstatic for all the Dragons fans that were there - and there were A LOT! The Tigers fans were starting to despair - but they still had roughly 5 minutes! In football, anything can happen in five minutes.
And something nearly did happen with only 30 seconds to go. A missed tackle and one of the Tigers was running up the sideline opposite to where we were sitting. Thankfully, one of the Dragons got him, and they started wrapping up the match when Benji Marshall (the best player in the NRL, according to the person I was sitting next to for the game - a Tigers fan) kicked the ball out, and there was going to have to be a scrum with only 10 seconds to go. It didn't take place, and the players started shaking hands, with the siren going off in the background. The roar of the crowd was astounding, with Dragons fans hugging, high-fiving, and singing the team song all around! It was....(what's another word I can use???)...phenomenal!
I must say, as well, that leaving the stadium was not a nightmare as I thought it might be. The crowd was good, and didn't push to try to get out or onto trains at the station, and we were all generally well behaved. Of course, there was a bit of a problem between a Tiger supporter and a Dragon supporter towards the end of the match - didn't see anything much and security was onto them before I knew anything about it.
And now, guess what? My dad has informed me that maybe, just maybe, he might be able to get two tickets to the grand final! That would be AMAZING! I would love to go, to see my (and his) team win - crossing fingers!
Here's hoping to the Dragons pulling off a Grand Final win; to win not only the Minor Premiership, but also the Major Premiership. Good luck, guys!
At half time my team was down 12-6. Wests had two converted tries, and we only had the one. The teams were fairly good at being picked up on infringing the 10 metre distance between the tackled player and the defenders, until about 10-15 minutes before the end of the first half. Then things really started getting interesting. Yes, Wests had scored in the first 15 minutes, which should have been disallowed due to interference. Two of the Dragons were taken out, defending, and so a gap was produced that someone could just run straight through to score. Not fair. That is not what rugby league is about. If you want to play that kind of game, go over to America.
Anyway, St George came back and scored a converted try, so it was 6 all for another 10 or so minutes. Then the Tigers scored another try - off a forward pass. St George should have been given the ball after the Wests fellas passed the ball forward. Yes, they may have scored another try in the first half even if the Dragons had got the ball because of the forward pass - but the pass should have been picked up, considering St George's had been, and they were close to scoring a try then, as well!
Anyway, half-time came and went. About half-way through the second half, the Dragons go in for a try! They converted it, too. That made it 12 all. Two other attempts had been made, but they were unsuccessful, unfortunately. The Tigers' fans that I was sitting near - they were starting to get not only nervous, but unhappy as well. It was not looking good for their team. They had been eager, pleased as punch, and assured in many ways, at the start and after the second try had been converted, they were now anxious and unsure.
With roughly 5 minutes left of the second half, Jamie Soward kicked for a field goal. This does not always work - field goal attempts tend to go off to the side. But his went straight through, and the Dragons were leading, 13-12. It was unbelieveable! The atmosphere, as I mentioned, was ecstatic for all the Dragons fans that were there - and there were A LOT! The Tigers fans were starting to despair - but they still had roughly 5 minutes! In football, anything can happen in five minutes.
And something nearly did happen with only 30 seconds to go. A missed tackle and one of the Tigers was running up the sideline opposite to where we were sitting. Thankfully, one of the Dragons got him, and they started wrapping up the match when Benji Marshall (the best player in the NRL, according to the person I was sitting next to for the game - a Tigers fan) kicked the ball out, and there was going to have to be a scrum with only 10 seconds to go. It didn't take place, and the players started shaking hands, with the siren going off in the background. The roar of the crowd was astounding, with Dragons fans hugging, high-fiving, and singing the team song all around! It was....(what's another word I can use???)...phenomenal!
I must say, as well, that leaving the stadium was not a nightmare as I thought it might be. The crowd was good, and didn't push to try to get out or onto trains at the station, and we were all generally well behaved. Of course, there was a bit of a problem between a Tiger supporter and a Dragon supporter towards the end of the match - didn't see anything much and security was onto them before I knew anything about it.
And now, guess what? My dad has informed me that maybe, just maybe, he might be able to get two tickets to the grand final! That would be AMAZING! I would love to go, to see my (and his) team win - crossing fingers!
Here's hoping to the Dragons pulling off a Grand Final win; to win not only the Minor Premiership, but also the Major Premiership. Good luck, guys!
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