cabbageboy

I said a while back that something needed to be done to tone down this insane Orton push. Jobbing him last night won't stop them from having him win the Rumble, or winning the title. It's goofy though because it doesn't seem a particularly good way to build up a heel. Compare it to Shawn circa 97, when he beats refuses to job to Bulldog in England, beats UT in HIAC, does the screwjob on Bret in Montreal, and beat UT again in the casket match. Smackdown isn't going to do shit the next few weeks anyway, with Christmas and New Year's upcoming. When they get back it'll be time to start hyping the Rumble, so no one will care about Orton jobbing here. Not like anyone ordered the show anyway.

That Tim White thing is the most out of nowhere shit I've heard about in a long time. Maybe Orton was imagining that too? I can't tell anymore. I have thought for a long time that the WM main needed to be Batista/UT for the title. There's so much intrigue there I think. Can UT keep his streak going and get that one last title? Can Batista retain and end the streak? Easily more compelling than "Will Randall get the job back from his former Evolution buddy and have a heatless title run?" Deep down though I bet they still try to push Orton after this. UT will get the shot at the Rumble and lose via someone running in (Big Show?). And our boy Randall will win the Rumble despite having zero heat or credibility at this point. Thus we get two heatless matches for WM in Show/UT and Batista/Orton. Works for me!

Regarding the pacing, I'll put it this way. On the recent Kong DVD release they mention that spider pit scene that Merian C. Cooper cut from the original and is now lost. On the DVD Jackson and Co. reconstruct the scene as an extra. Obviously in the new film the scene is in there and then some. The irony is that Jackson obviously didn't listen to WHY Cooper removed it to begin with, namely that it killed the actual narrative pacing and that the audience hated how unpleasant it was to see the crew all killed so violently. Cooper realized that less is more sometimes. Kong throws them into the chasm off the huge log and they die...period. I really couldn't forget the original here, mainly because I don't think Jackson himself wanted that. In the 1976 film they tried some different directions scriptwise in order to make people forget it (and failed badly, but that's another matter). If Jackson wanted people to come in and not think of the 1933 film, he wouldn't set it in 1933, wouldn't use some of the same dialogue, and wouldn't have had the same iconic images (Statue of Liberty, the T Rex fight, the huge log, etc). I mean everyone knows Kong to some degree, right? Huge ape on the Empire State Bldg., the "It was beauty killed the beast" line, and so on. We all know it even if we don't realize it. The natives really weren't something I had a huge problem with, but I found it kind of harsh and unpleasant for such escapist entertainment. Almost like Jackson wanted to throw in his LOTR style with orcs and Mordor, but the ultra terrifying nature of it doesn't fit the material like it would LOTR. Kong would be more suited to someone like Spielberg, who has a style more akin to old school Hollywood adventure (Raiders, Jurassic Park, etc). Black's Denham will undoubtedly split viewers. I didn't fault Black's actual performance, but his character was written as such a cock. Which is the point I know, but why does he have his men that follow his every word? Why is Jack Driscoll is buddy despite Denham fucking him over, not paying him, putting his life in danger against his will, etc.? I have to admit it was cool to see Denham actually shoot footage on the island this time, whereas in the original I don't recall them ever shooting a reel (though they didn't exactly have time, what with dealing with the natives and then searching for Ann). I guess that's why I didn't like Denham in this, though it's kinda the point I suppose. They changed him from a major protagonist in the first film to antagonist in this one. They changed him here from macho documentary/nature filmmaker (much along the lines of Cooper himself or maybe Frank Buck, who also did African documentaries), the sort who went into dangerous places but really never asked his crew to do things he himself wasn't doing. Here Denham is a sleaze and a liar willing to have his crew killed off and then feign some sympathy and a piece of the profit for the family of the deceased. In the original and Son of Kong we see a much more sympathetic Denham, someone who ends up being truly sorry for bringing Kong to NYC, sorry for the mayhem that Kong caused and also remorseful for Kong himself. That key thematic shift is what caused problems for me. Once we make Denham, the slightly seedy captain, and quite a bit of the crew (Driscoll and maybe Hayes and the Kid aside) as assholes, it really screws up the way we're supposed to view things. In the new one are we supposed to root for Denham and Driscoll to find Ann and save her from certain death? Not really, since we know Kong "loves" her and is protecting her. Are we supposed to want Ann to stay on the island with Kong and live happily ever after in some pseudo bestiality arrangement? I figure Jackson wants us to ponder things like "Is Denham an asshole for shamelessly risking the lives of his crew?" but we don't need to care about that, we just need to go with it. In the original film Ann is likely grateful on some level for Kong protecting her from the dinosaurs, but at no time buddies up to Kong since he's a seriously bad motherfucker and also killed most of the crew she had bonded with on the voyage. As far as the peeling of the clothes stuff in the original, I do believe that scene was cut out for years and restored at some point for video release. Either way I mostly found it harmless Pre Code goofing, stuff that wouldn't have been allowed post 1934. It was mostly Kong being curious I thought, kinda like he really didn't know what all he was doing. Besides, we get to see Fay Wray scantily clad, and who but the bluest of bluenoses can object to that? Haha! Anyway, I actually did like some things in the film. But since the original Kong is one of the few old classics I've seen in a theater reissue I have to say it's an easily better film, with a much faster pace, more likable human characters, and a more vicious badass Kong.

What does it say about this PPV when I watched a DVD of HOME ALONE tonight instead of bothering with it. But hell, I figured Orton would obviously win this HIAC so I had zero interest. If I thought UT was actually going to kick the Ortons' asses I'd have watched, haha.

OK I saw the movie today....and I thought it pretty much sucked. My parents and brother all liked it though. Anyway here are my thoughts: The bottom line: What else can you give a huge budget misfire with some nice aspects? **1/2.

Yeah the like Jags are a scoring juggernaut even with Leftwich and Taylor. They averaged about 20 points a game.

I don't believe in tanking your last 3 games. I might rest some guys next week since it's Christmas Eve, but I'd get my guys back and kick the ever loving shit out of the Cardinals in the closer. You can't end the season on a 3 game losing streak, and most certainly can't lose to the friggin Cardinals. Dear God, the Vegas linemakers know their business. I saw that Seattle/Tenn game with the Seahawks favored by 7 and laughed, saying it was ridiculous and that Seattle would kill them. Then they win by 4. WTF? Heh, Jags win over the Niners 10-9. What a classic that must have been. That game in the playoffs with NE would be a low scoring shitfest. And yeah, I'd say Dallas is basically done after today. All this did was practically clinch the NFC East for the Giants. That win today really didn't do much for SD I don't think. Look, Denver isn't going to lose to the Raiders next week, no way in hell. And the Steelers seem back on track so they shouldn't lose to Cleveland or Detroit. Even if the Steelers DID lose we're assuming SD beats KC on the road and then Denver too in order to make the playoffs. In short, they are still fucked.

Yeah, I'm sure Cappotelli is the only wrestler in WWE or OVW that is a homophobe. Not that it really matters, but is OVW going to take the belt off him due to the tumor? I mean he obviously can't wrestle right now. Put it back on Jeter or maybe the heel turned Chris Cage. I'd say Jeter more, since Cage just seems like the blandest guy on earth.

From Joe's TNA stuff I honestly don't know what he can do on the mic and don't really care a hell of a lot. The ass beatings speak for themselves. It's funny but as I was watching that Joe/AJ match I thought "Man, this is like an X Division version of Sting and Vader." Then I read Scott Keith's (yes, I know) rant and he made the same Sting/Vader comparison. Ironically I just watched Starrcade 92 on the 24/7 this week and one of the main events on it was...Sting vs. Vader.

Sabu's not going to die. He won't ever die. He'll be out there at age 65 trying to hit moonsaults and putting people through tables.

Dino chase, huh? The original has a dino chase in it too, which is one of the better parts of the film as the crew is being chased by the big dino (I forget what it was, maybe a bronto?). That said, isn't is sickening to look on imdb.com and see this new film with a better rating than the original? I mean the original is only one of the most influential and best loved films of all time, not to mention setting a standard for special effects that lasted decades (I'd almost say until Star Wars). Is this new Kong really going to change cinema? It's mostly just Peter Jackson using the techniques already available.

Well, with RBs they tend to go really fast when they do go and get the equivalent of taken behind the barn and shot. Kinda like HHH with Flair. What I don't understand is why on ESPN these people have apparently no concept of the playoff scenario. They keep blathering about the Pats meeting the Colts in the AFC title game...WTF?? I'd like to know how in the fuck that is going to happen. Denver basically has the 2nd bye locked up (or at the least the AFC West), though I guess the Bengals can get it too if they win out and the Broncos lose to San Diego. Either way Cincy and Denver are your 2 and 3 seeds I'd think, with the Pats going as the 4. Thus they'd play JAX the first round and then the Colts the 2nd round. But as I said, as much as I have badmouthed Jacksonville the past few weeks on these threads I think they can take the Pats in that 1st round. Just wondering, but does anyone else find it unfair that teams with a better record sometimes don't get home field? The Jags will likely end up 12-4, the Pats at best 11-5. I know the Pats would win a shitty division while the Jags finish 2nd to the Colts, but anyone else think it's unfair for the team with the better record in a game not to have the home field in that particular game?

You know what the Patriots are reminding me of right now? The Ravens from 2003. Yes, that's right. When they had Anthony Wright and Jamal Lewis was tearing it up and they started killing people 42-7 and shit. Nevermind that they were still a ho hum 10-6 team. I'm going out on a huge limb now, especially considering I don't even like the Jags. But here goes: Jacksonville over the Pats in the first round. They killed off the fucking Jim Kelly Bills in 96, and they can do it again.

Cameo Kneuer was seriously hot, what happened to her? As far as Luger goes, I think it was just his no compete with WCW that had him dick around in the WBF until he debuted at the 93 Rumble.

I guess this sends a message: Don't fuck around with old school RKO stuff. What's next, a remake of Out of the Past? Aw, shit that was already done as Against All Odds (which also had Jeff Bridges oddly enough).

This really, really worries me. I'm telling you guys, NE beats the Colts in the playoffs this year = me never watching the NFL again. Ever. But let's get real here. The Pats have beat down the Jets, the Bills, and now Tampa (a team that always sucks in cold weather...and has Chris Simms). If they beat Jacksonville 28-0 in the first round, then I'll cradle up in a corner with a blanket and pacifier.

Well, I figured we'd get our asses kicked and exposed at Rupp at the beginning of the season, and that happened today. Ah well, at least U of L tried some in the 2nd half. Frankly, when Padgett got that bogus 2nd foul about 3 mins. into the game it took us out of everything. The sad thing is that now UK fans will act like they really did something, beating the #4 team in the nation and all. U of L isn't even a top 25 team in truth. This will get the fans off Tubby's back, which is totally the wrong thing right now since UK is still not any good really.

I swear the Coen Bros. had to have seen that Kong from 76 and told Bridges to look like the hippie prof. again for Lebowski. You know, my brother made the offhanded comment that "This King Kong movie is going to kill Peter Jackson's career." I thought that sounded absurd (and still think it'll make $$ over time). I will admit a 3 hour version of King Kong with sideplots involving the jobber crew, a Kong/Ann love story, etc. does seem a bit self indulgent.

Joe right now has a huge advantage over pretty much everyone: He looks like he's beating the shit out of someone. If you're going to do a punch and kick style, DO a punch and kick style. Joe's basic kicks make me cringe like "Oh God he is going to KILL AJ here!" Joe is the best argument to "Wrestling looks fake" since nothing he does looks too fake to me. I'd like to see Joe vs. a motivated RVD, with Rob not pulling his kicks and not giving a shit whether he busts Joe open or not.

You guys are forgetting at some point Edge has to use his Money in the Bank shot and get jobbed out. I'd just have him use it at the Rumble I guess, since there's really no other place for him to use it unless he just uses it the Raw before WM. I think they kinda need a do over with the MITB idea. Edge has waited so long that it has no real urgency or heat. I hope they do another MITB match at WM and that the winner uses his shot within a couple of months.

Yeah but Memphis is playing in a very watered down C-USA. But last year? C-USA had 3 teams that at least made the 2nd round of the tourney in addition to U of L going to the FF (UAB and Cincy won convincingly over LSU and Iowa). Truth be told, there is really no rhyme or reason as to how the committee views conference RPI. One year Gonzaga is a 6 seed and people bitch about it, since they play in a crap conference. Then they get a 2 seed playing the same conf. schedule. There's really little rhyme or reason to it.

I haven't seen the new one yet, but in the 1976 film they really piled on the creepy "Kong wants to bang Jessica Lange" stuff. I mean hell at one point Charles Grodin rants on "A giant ape has the hots for her!" I have to admit in that 76 film it was kinda fun seeing Jeff Bridges as The Dude 22 years before Lebowski. The sad thing is that the effects in it aren't even as good as the original! There are no dinosaurs, very few action pieces or intensity on the island, maybe one lame fight with a snake that carried over from the original. I think I speak for most people when I say I don't care about whatever creepy love story or affection for animals story is there between Ann and Kong. I want to see Kong fuck some shit up.

Thing is, I actually like the silent Ten Commandments BETTER than the Heston remake. I'm not sure why exactly, I feel the same about Ben Hur. The silent Ben Hur owns the remake. It has nothing to do with disliking Heston, it's just that I prefer the silents. As far as Wizard of Oz goes, no one has ever seen that crappy silent version (I think there were also a couple other versions too) and no one cares. That would be like saying Frankenstein is the greatest remake ever because there was some nothing 1910 silent. I said Maltese Falcon because it was a remake of an already fairly decent and well regarded film and simply improved things greatly from the original.

I should think the greatest remake would have to be something that is considered most definitely better than the original. I nominate The Maltese Falcon for best remake ever (1941 version).

Games this week, followed by my predictions: Sunday, December 11: 1:00 games: Oakland at NY Jets. Jobber matchup here, who knows. I'll go with Oakland by 4 since the Jets seem even more hopeless. Houston at Tennessee. Another crap game. Titans are still better than the Texans though I'd think, so they'll win here by 7. Chicago at Pittsburgh. I asked last week who needed it more between the Steelers and Bengals, and said Steelers (Bengals won). That said, I can't see Chicago winning here. Pittsburgh by 3 in a man's game. New England at Buffalo. I'll go with a mild upset here. Bills played the Pats tough in NE and should have won, I think they will here by about 3. Cleveland at Cincinnati. Assbeating. Bengals by 21. St. Louis at Minnesota. Tough one to call. The Vikings are getting by on smoke and mirrors, and will likely continue to do so here by 6 or so. Indianapolis at Jacksonville. Yeah I know the Jags played the Colts tough in Indy, but without Leftwich I can't see them scoring over 20 on the Colts and can't see any way they could match that defensive effort and hold the Colts to 10 again. Colts by 10, and secure the division and maybe home field? Tampa Bay at Carolina. Panthers beat Chris Simms' ass in Tampa, why shouldn't they here as well? Carolina by 14. 4:05 San Francisco at Seattle. Seahawks struggled with the hapless Niners recently, but not here. Seattle by 17. Washington at Arizona. Cardinals can be tough at home, but the Skins should pull out a fairly tough win by about 7. NY Giants at Philadelphia. After that 42-0 embarrassment I think the Eagles have to be just about done. Giants by 14. 4:15 Kansas City at Dallas. Most interesting game of the day in my view. Both teams here need the win desperately, but Dallas needs it even more and they are at home so I'll take Dallas by 5. Miami at San Diego. SD in another beatdown by about 21. Baltimore at Denver. Denver should get back on track here at home, win by 10. 8:30 Detroit at Green Bay. Surely the Packers will beat someone, right? GB by 7. Monday, 9:00 New Orleans at Atlanta. Falcons absolutely have to have this game. Atlanta by 10.