dstoudt80 posted a BLOG item 15 days ago

WalkAway's Challenge 5/10

Go to Google images and type in the name of your MFC celebrity bf/gf and post the very first image. (include these rules in the post so others know what's going on).

dstoudt80 posted a BLOG item 3 months ago

Thoughts on WrestleMania 29

This might come across as a rant, but I wanted to throw out my thoughts on the upcoming WrestleMania and how it's shaping up. I also wanted to see what other WWE schmoes think of it as well.

Right now I am not excited for this event, and I guess the obvious place to start is with Rock vs. Cena II for the WWE title. Last year's "Once in a Lifetime" match was really special. It wasn't the greatest wrestling match we ever saw, but I say it lived up to the hype. You had one of the greatest superstars in history going against the one of the greatest of the current generation. They built the hype of the match for a whole year which was unprecedented. Adding to all this was the mystique of who was going to win. People thought that Rock would lose and pass the torch to Cena. Of course The Rock could win (in his hometown none the less) and further cement his legacy as one of the greatest of all time. When all was said and done, The Rock came out victorious. Now we have the rematch and the WWE hangs in the balance. The biggest problem I have with the match is that with the title on the line it seems very predictable. I would be willing to bet it all on Cena walking out with the title. Adding to that is The Rock's movie schedule pretty much dictates he drop the title at WrestleMania. Secondly, except for a few rare cases I am not a fan of WrestleMania rematches. Of course the exceptions are HBK vs. Undertaker, Triple H vs. Undertaker and Ausin vs. Rock. In my opinion, Rock vs. Cena was really good, but it won't ever be as good as Austin vs. Rock. Austin and Rock's 2nd match at WrestleMania X-Seven blew the roof off the Astrodome and surpassed the last match at WrestleMania XV. Honestly, I don't expect Rock vs. Cena II to surpass last year's encounter. Personally I was hoping CM Punk found his way into the main event because he's a hell of a worker and his presence would have upped everyone's game and added to the unpredictability.

That transitions us to CM Punk's role at WrestleMania. Right now we're assuming he takes on Undertaker and the Streak. Most WWE fans know by now that Undertaker made a surprise return this last weekend in a house show. From most reports it sounds like unfortunately Undetaker wasn't very capable in the match. Now Punk vs. Taker isn't exactly a lock, but most say that Punk's loss Monday on RAW indicates this is the direction we're headed. Although Undertaker may not be in the best of shape I have faith in CM Punk carrying the match. And he's probably the best candidate to end the Streak. If the match doesn't happen, where does that put Punk? In a mid-card throwaway match? That would be a big shame after the year he had. If it happens I hope Undertaker can bring his game because right now I'm not so sure.

Last Monday saw the return of Triple H to continue his feud with Brock Lesnar. This will be Brock's 3rd match this year and 2nd with Triple H, and that's where my problem is. Brock's schedule is very limited so maximize his time with giving us something new. His match with Cena was great. His match with Triple H was ok. Nothing more, nothing less. A Lesnar vs. Triple H rematch at WrestleMania does not excite me because I want to see Lesnar take on new opponents. This match lacks any originality which seems to be the theme of this year's WrestleMania.

I hardly ever order any WWE PPV's to watch, but I ordered last year's WrestleMania. This year feels like a predictable rehash. I'm not excited for "Twice in a Lifetime." Lesnar vs. Triple H lacks originality and further proves that WWE doesn't know what to do with Lesnar and his limited schedule. And unless CM Punk faces Undertaker, I'm really concerned about his place on the card.

Just wanted to throw my thoughts out there and why I'm less than enthusiastic about WrestleMania this year. I'll be interested to see what others think as well.

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dstoudt80 posted a BLOG item 5 months ago

1st half of 2013 belongs to The Rock!!!

Dwayne Johnson has one helluva film release schedule for 2013!

February 22 - Snitch
March 29 - G.I. Joe: Retaliation
April 26 - Pain & Gain
May 24 - Fast 6
June 10 - Empire State

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dstoudt80 posted a BLOG item over 1 year ago

Thoughts on WWE '12

I've been playing the new WWE '12 game for PS3 for a week now, and so far I've been having a blast with it. The biggest plus this game has going for it is the roster. It boasts all the current stars of WWE and a good number of legends with more to come in the way of future DLC. So far we've got everyone from Triple H, CM Punk, Cena and The Rock to Brock Lesnar, Stone Cold, Arn Anderson and Demolition! Plus, Macho Man is on the way soon (can't wait)!

The presentation is spot on with WWE programming. It definitely feels like you're watching Raw or Smackdown. And for the first time in a WWE game I feel like the commentary (this time provided by Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler) makes sense with what's going on in the matches.

One of the biggest improvements is the control scheme. I did not care much for the controls in last year's game and I felt like each wrestler's move sets were quite limited. Pulling off the same moves over and over took a lot of fun out of the game.

The Road to WrestleMania mode is fun but feels like it drags on a bit sometimes. I wish there were a few more options to play as other superstars on the road to WrestleMania. The WWE Universe mode is back this year and it's been improved to where feuds develop and partnerships actually make sense.

One big complaint I have with the game is the lack of alternate attires for a good number of the wrestlers. I know not every wrestler needs an alternate attire, but some of them should. It would have been awesome if they gave The Rock an attire with either his "I Bring It" or "Team Bring It" shirts, or Stone Cold in one of his classic shirts.

All in all, this game has been a blast so far. There's a lot of create options (wrestlers, storylines, arenas, etc). I can't wait for more legends to be released courtesy of DLC on the PSN.

Rating: 9/10

dstoudt80 posted a BLOG item over 1 year ago

Untitled Star Wars Blu-ray Blog

As September 16, 2011 approaches I am still undecided on whether or not I will be purchasing the Star Wars Saga on Blu-ray. This isn't going to be another rant on George Lucas changing the movies, but rather a different view of the release of the saga on Blu-ray.

I just finished listening to the JoBlo Podcast, and I really enjoyed the interview with the director of The People vs. George Lucas, Alexandre Philippe. During the interview he makes a great point about the release of the movies to Blu-ray and its a point that I've constantly made every time Lucas decides to "improve" the Star Wars movies. Philippe stated that Blade Runner has five versions of the movie and they are all conveniently available for fans on Blu-ray. Hell, they're even available in one set (and its one of my favorite Blu-ray sets). Just the other day I was talking to my cousin and I made mention that on the T2 Skynet Edition Blu-ray there are three versions of Terminator 2 on one Blu-ray disc. And all three versions have great video and sound transfers. Terminator 2 was the first DVD I bought with my first DVD player back in 2000. Even at that time, it still came with three versions of the movie. The technology is there to give people multiple versions of a film. I'm not simply talking about the dime a dozen "Unrated" comedies that are released every week. I'm talking about directors that give the audience a choice to see a slightly different version of their films. One that has scenes that were cut due to run-time constraints, alternate takes, etc. Alien and Aliens (Ridley Scott and James Cameron again... seeing a trend here???) are two other great films that have alternate versions available.

Going back to T2 (my favorite movie of all time), I remember there was a point in time when I really preferred the Special Edition of the film. But as time has passed, I have gone back and stated that the theatrical version is my preferred take on the film. But the point is that I have a choice in which one I want to watch. Some directors recognize that the audience originally fell in love with the original movies but they also want to give you a chance to see something different about it too. Blu-ray gives you the opportunity to do this... hell, DVD had the technology as well.

I don't prefer the continuing tinkering that Lucas does with the Star Wars movies. Sometimes I even think it can be ok whether its erasing the puppeteer's arm sticking out of a Wampa's ass, or adding a few extra Tie Fighters to a space battle. But if he insists on doing them I just wish he gave us a choice as to which version we wish to see. I guess some filmmakers listen and others don't.

I loved DVD and I love Blu-ray, and I really like it when the format is used to its potential. Alien Anthology (even with 2 lackluster sequels) is the textbook of how a saga should be released on Blu-ray. Just wanted to throw a different take on the Blu-ray release. Still don't know if I'm going to pick this up on Friday. Thanks for reading!

Side note: I was a senior in high school in 1999 when Episode I came out, and now that Lucas is already altering that film makes me feel really fucking old.

dstoudt80 posted a BLOG item almost 2 years ago

WWE '12 Roster Revealed!

I'm really looking forward to this game, and the roster is looking good so far. Here it is if you missed it:

- John Cena
- John Morrison
- Ted DiBiase Jr.
- Mark Henry
- Kofi Kingston
- William Regal
- R-Truth
- Husky Harris
- Daniel Bryan
- Tyson Kidd
- Santino Marella
- David Otunga
- Evan Bourne
- Sheamus
- Goldust
- Cody Rhodes
- Zack Ryder
- Mason Ryan
- Michelle McCool
- Kelly Kelly
- The Rock
- Kane
- Alex Riley
- Alberto Del Rio
- Rey Mysterio
- Triple H
- The Miz
- Stone Cold Steve Austin
- Arn Anderson
- Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat
- Road Warrior Hawk
- Road Warrior Animal
- Vader
- Kevin Nash
- Booker T
- Eddie Guerrero
- Demolition Smash
- Demolition Ax
- Edge
- Eve
- Natalya
- Maryse
- Layla
- Beth Phoenix
- Michael McGillicutty
- Yoshi Tatsu
- Jack Swagger
- The Big Show
- Justin Gabriel
- Heath Slater
- Dolph Ziggler
- Randy Orton
- CM Punk
- Wade Barrett
- Ezekiel Jackson
- Mr. McMahon
- The Undertaker
- Christian
- Drew McIntyre
- Sin Cara

Also, on THQ's official website for the game it shows that there are 14 "Coming Soon" roster spots to still be announced. So we can still hold out hope that Legends like Chris Jericho, Shawn Michaels, Macho Man, Goldberg, Bret Hart, etc will me added.

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dstoudt80 posted a BLOG item almost 2 years ago

Thoughts on Brock Lesnar's book (the WWE chapters anyway)

I was walking thru my local Borders yesterday and I picked up Brock Lesnar's new book "Death Clutch." I didn't buy it (I plan on checking it out from the library), but I did sit down and flip thru it.

I was interested in reading about his Summer Slam match with The Rock for the Undisputed Title and what led to his departure from WWE.

Brock shoots and is completely honest in his thoughts and words about everything WWE. CM Punk's great shoot promo last night pretty much said a lot of the things that Brock hated about WWE too.

The only thing is that I think Brock comes across as two-faced and a guy who looks out only for himself. He said was very grateful for what Rock did for him in their Summer Slam match, but when the time came for a rematch he was very pissed that the plan was for Rock to win and thought the Rock did shady business.

Just by reading 2 or 3 chapters, you get a sense that Brock didn't understand the business aspect of pro wrestling. He shot to the top so quickly that his expectations I think got out of control and it's no surprise he's not w/ the company today nor do I think he'll ever be back.

Like I said, I plan on checking the book out from the library but from a quick skim it seemed interesting enough.

dstoudt80 posted a BLOG item about 2 years ago

Sex vs. Violence in Movies

Due to some life circumstances, my fiancee and I are currently living with her aunt and uncle and their 2 children: a 13 year old boy and a 11 year old girl. My fiancee and I are very close to the 2 kids.

Their son has just started to get into watching more movies lately which I'm very excited about. I was having dinner with him and his parents last night. His mom was heading out for a ladies' night and us guys were staying in and thinking about watching a movie.

I knew that he could watch certain R rated movies, but I wasn't sure what the criteria was for what he could watch was so I asked. His mom said that they're pretty much cool with action violence and most language, but sex related content was not allowed.

His dad replied in good humor "because we're ok with our kids seeing people getting hurt or killed, but sex is BAD!" Haha! We all got a kick out of the comment, but then it got me thinking "why is ok for kids to see violence in film, but sex is off limits?" Obviously we're not talking about content that is porn-like, but rather your standard R rated sex and sex related content... including comedy movies like Superbad.

This is how it was for me as well when I was growing up and my parents were starting to slowly let me watch more R rated movies.

Not looking to settle the debate. It was just an interesting thought that I had, and I had forgotten that it was this way for me too when I was growing up. Have any other schmoes experienced this in one way or another?

dstoudt80 posted a BLOG item about 2 years ago

Which "Office receptionist are you more attracted to?

This question has plagued me for weeks. I cannot decide for the life of me which "Office" receptionist I think is more attractive: Pam or Erin?

Outside the context of the show I give the edge to Jenna Fischer (thanks in largely to her great scene in "Blades of Glory"), but I'm trying to decide this based on their respective characters from the show.

In terms of who is hotter, I think I have to go with Pam. But I am a HUGE sucker for cuteness and I think Erin exemplifies that quality.

Pam may have the edge in the body category, Erin is no slouch herself. In terms of style and dress, I think Erin wins. Pam's style is somewhat bland in my opinion.

Personality is the tough one. Pam seems like see can hang out and have a lot of fun (the 1st Dundees awards comes to mind). But there is a charm to Erin as well. I think she has yet to bust loose.

Basically I'm trying to decide that "if" I was an employee at the Dunder Mifflin Scranton branch, who would I try to pursue and date and eventually (hopefully) nail. Obviously this is hypothetically assuming both are single. And I can't go with the easy answer and say "both." Trust me, real office life really only gives you ONE chance to date or sleep with someone. Once you play your hand, you have to live with your decision because you can't try to date another person after your choice has been made. You can certainly try, but your life will be miserable. I've seen it firsthand.

I can't wait to see how you, my fellow schmoes, weigh in on this.

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dstoudt80 posted a BLOG item about 2 years ago

James Cameron's Masterpiece

Which film of James Cameron is his masterpiece? I was on a boring 2 hour drive home from visiting my parents, and this thought popped into my head.

First off, Cameron is a genius of film making. He his a box office champ, and an innovator of his craft. His films have set the bar for groundbreaking technology in special effects... so much that even George Lucas is playing catch up with Cameron these days (haha). In short, his resume speaks for itself.

But out of all of his films, which one is the masterpiece of James Cameron? I would expect a good number of people to say Titanic seeing as it captured Cameron his Best Director Oscar and also Best Picture. Some might say Avatar, and I know some people felt it should have won Best Picture over The Hurt Locker.

Titanic and Avatar are both good films, but for me there is one film the stands out as the masterpiece of James Cameron. That film is...

Terminator 2: Judgment Day

My main reason for this is easy... the story. With T2, Cameron crafted what is perhaps the best action film ever. I say this because he created an action movie with a great, original story that mattered. In this day and age, action movies are numerous. But how many of those movies come with a story we care about?

Now before I'm hanged to death, let me say this: I did enjoy Titanic and Avatar. The true story of the doomed luxury liner is very heartfelt, but the dialogue in the movie can grow very tiresome. And with Avatar, there is a point to the story but its one we've seen before (i.e. Dances With Wolves, Ferngully, etc).

The Terminator universe is the creation of the man himself. It is his brainchild. And while I somewhat enjoyed T3 and T4, I have always liked that Cameron stated that he told the story he wanted to tell in the first two films.

T2 does not include action scenes for the sake of action scenes. The action compliments the story that is being unfolded. The epicenter of T2 is the story and the emotion of the characters... it just so happens that it is one kick ass action movie as well.

The other important thing that stands out in T2 are the effects. T2 broke new ground with the morphing effects of the T-1000. There is also great use of practical effects as well (Arnold cutting the flesh off of his robotic arm). But the T-1000 effects still hold up very well today. T2 led the way in CGI to make films like Jurassic Park possible.

At the center of the film is a great story about a boy destined to become the leader and the Terminator who learns the the value of life and ultimately sacrifices itself for the greater good. Great story, original James Cameron creation and groundbreaking CGI and effects. This is why I truly believe that Terminator 2: Judgment Day is the masterpiece of James Cameron.

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dstoudt80 posted a BLOG item about 2 years ago

Thoughts on WWE All Stars

I picked up WWE All Stars for PS3 last night from my local Redbox, and I thought I'd throw some of my thoughts out there for anyone that might be thinking of picking it up.

Last night I completed all the Fantasy Warfare matchups. This is the selling point for this game... "the greatest matches that haven't happened." This pits WWE legends against current superstars. Matches includes Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka vs. Kane. Andre the Giant vs. Big Show. Mr. Perfect vs. Miz. Hulk Hogan vs. John Cena. There are some matchups that have occurred like The Rock vs. Triple H and HBK vs. Undertaker. For the most part I liked the Fantasy Warfare. And of course you can create your own matchups. One of the best parts of this mode is prior to each match there are video montages complete w/ narration on the match and why the 2 star are facing one another.

There is a Path of Champions mode where you're given three paths to choose from. One is Undertaker, the other you face Randy Orton for the WWE Title and lastly you pick a tag team to face DX. I didn't get very far into these modes.

Then there is just Exhibition mode and Online.

Pros: I LOVE the exaggerated character models and moves. It's like playing w/ action figures! The arcade feel of the game is very cool as well. I found the Fantasy Warfare cool as hell, but I'm not sure if it will be fun to go thru again. The roster is pretty awesome. Standouts for me in the Legends were The Rock, Macho Man and Mr. Perfect!

Cons: Lack of match types I think will hurt the game's replay value. There is only 1 on 1, tag, elimination matches (triple threat, etc), extreme rules and cage. Another con is that I found it difficult to pull off finishers. The wrestlers preform a special taunt before doing their finisher but this gives the opponent a perfect opportunity to counter and pull off a move on you. You have to be strategic in when to do the finishers which is something that goes against the arcade feel that the game is going for.

Verdict: WWE All Stars is a fun time, but I wonder for how long. The roster is great and Fantasy matches kick ass but lack of modes and match types hurts replay value. I wouldn't drop $60 on this game new, but I might be willing to throw about $30 or less for it on sale or used.

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dstoudt80 posted a BLOG item about 2 years ago

Quick blog/rant on "One More Match"

I wanted to throw this out there to see if any of my fellow WWE schmoes feel the same way as I do.

I get so annoyed by the "One More Match" chant that the WWE crowd is notorious for. Obviously it occurred last night on RAW when HBK came out during the Triple H and Undertaker confrontation.

To me, the chant seems very selfish on the part of the fans. The WWE performers sacrifice so much of their bodies and health to entertain us. But there has to be an eventual stopping point. I remember Hulk Hogan's last run in WWE and he could barely move, and after the final match inevitably people were crying for one last match. Also, correct me if I'm wrong but I think it happen w/ Bret Hart as well after his WrestleMania match w/ Vince.

Most of them also have families that they deserve to go home and be with. These men and women are on the road so much that I cannot fathom the strains it puts on their families.

I truly respect the hell out of HBK for his final match and farewell last year. I really believed him when he said he was done "in the ring." Of course we know he's going to show up every now and then. But he had one of the most emotional, clear cut, no bullshit farewells ever, and I loved it.

The WWE performers have created memories for us that will never die. And thanks to the very extensive WWE DVD library all those memories are at our fingertips (or a mouse click away on Netflix). We should be thankful for what they gave us in their prime, and put our selfish desires aside. Heroes always live on!

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dstoudt80 posted a BLOG item about 2 years ago

Is The Rock going to have a match or not?

The finish to last night's RAW was classic!.

We all knew that when The Rock came back, that he would most definitely get into some kind of physical altercation eventually. But the verbal feud between Rock and John Cena kept building momentum to the point where it seemed like Cena was facing Rock at WrestleMania instead of The Miz. Miz threw himself back into the fray, and now Rock has 2 enemies.

The internet is raging w/ rumors that there will be a match between Rock and Cena, possibly at Summer Slam. I know most schmoes on here will agree that this has been a lot of build-up for a possible non-existent match. In my opinion, I don't see Rock hanging around or coming back for Summer Slam. For this to happen, it needs to happen sooner than later. Also, I'm still not sure Rock will do another match.

He's so intertwined in the Cena/Miz feud now that maybe the most logical thing to do would be to throw him into the WWE Championship match and make it a triple threat. At the very least, its almost certain that he will effect the outcome of the match.

I love seeing The Rock back whooping ass in WWE even on a very part-time basis. On the other hand, he's worked so hard to separate himself from wrestling that maybe he will stick to his guns and not do another match.

No matter what his involvement will be this Sunday, I'm sure he will steal the show and entertain us all.

dstoudt80 posted a BLOG item about 2 years ago

Thoughts on "The True Story of WrestleMania"

I just finished watching "The True Story of WrestleMania" and it was a pretty decent watch. Obviously most of us WWE fans know the story of how WrestleMania came to be by now, but it was a good production running in at 2 hours (not including the bonus matches).

Some of the highlights in my opinion were:

1. I liked how both Triple H and Chris Jericho stated that they did not want to follow Rock vs. Hogan at WrestleMania X8. If I remember correctly the Women's title match even followed Rock and Hogan... WTF!!! Edge, Cena and Orton pretty much said the same thing about following HBK vs. Undertaker I at WrestleMania 25. Sometimes the order of matches on the card don't make much sense.

2. Very interesting to hear the Superstars opinions on what kind of venue hosts WrestleMania whether it be a traditional arena or a stadium.

3. I liked hearing the Superstars opinions on greatest WrestleMania matches.

4. I was surprised to hear most of the Superstars, including Edge, say how they also think that Undertaker's WrestleMania streak is more prestigious than the titles. The streak is the most meaningful accomplishment in a predetermined "sport."

5. I wish that they had some more recent interviews for some of the Superstars. I could tell that Hogan's interviews came from around the time of WrestleMania XIX and HBK's interviews were also noticeably from a few years ago.

6. Chris Jericho is probably the most interesting WWE Superstar to listen to in an interview when he's out of character. I enjoyed hearing him say what his WrestleMania goal was.

I enjoyed it the feature. I wouldn't purchase it, but definitely worth the rental.

P.S. I absolutely hate watching old "WWF" matches such as The Rock vs. Hogan and all the old WWF logos are blurred out. I can't stand that.

dstoudt80 posted a BLOG item about 2 years ago

Joker thoughts for The Dark Knight Rises

With it being confirmed that Joseph Gordon-Levitt is now officially a part of the cast for The Dark Knight Rises, everyone is speculating on who JGL will be playing.

I prefer to not lose too much sleep over. I remember when Anthony Michael Hall was added to the cast of The Dark Knight and everyone was throwing out all kinds of fantastic theories on who he would play, and he simply ended up being a news anchor. Christopher Nolan knows what he is doing, so I'll play the wait and see card.

But everyone is wondering if JGL will be playing the Joker?? The answer is simply no. Nolan has already stated on record that he is not recasting that role. It was Heath's role, and he's leaving it at that. I would be lying though if I didn't say that I think that some of JGL's facial features looking strikingly close to that of the late, great Heath Ledger. If it were to happen, than JGL would be the man to do it.

However, I do wish that Nolan would incorporate some deleted footage of Ledger's Joker from the last movie into The Dark Knight Rises. I obviously loved The Dark Knight, and I'm glad despite Ledger's untimely death that they stuck with their original ending. But as I sat in the theater on opening night and watched Joker dangling upside down I felt almost tearful. I was sad because we all had witnessed a powerhouse performance that was obviously meant to continue on in the next film. I was also sad knowing that we would not get closure for this great portrayal of the character.

It's funny because as I type this blog, Superman Returns just came on the TV. Personal opinions on that movie aside, I did like how Bryan Singer used deleted footage of Marlon Brando as Jor-El and put it into the movie. I think that the same could be done with Ledger, with of course the consent of his family.

In the end, I think that this would be a great tribute to Ledger's performance, and it would be satisfying to all the Batman fans for the next film at the same time.

As always, I look forward to reading your guys' thoughts!