watchmen review

From the start of the Watchmen cult, film people knew two things about the comic book: (1) that it simply had to be made into a movie and (2) that it couldn't.

An epic superhero saga, spanning 45 years, with six major characters who all sport double identities and crucial, intertwined back-stories, does not lend itself to the narrative turbo-thrust of a standard action film. Indeed, the superest hero of the bunch — Dr. Manhattan, once known as Jon Osterman — is not an action hero; he's a passive one, a contemplative godhead, a sinewy blue nude Buddha, emotionally removed from the comic's central whodunit quest: Who killed Eddie Blake? A.k.a. the Comedian.

Complicating this is the possessiveness felt by hardcore Watchmaniacs, who believe that any change is an act of treason. When director Zack Snyder showed clips of the movie last fall to an audience of rapt but wary votaries, one portly fellow told him, "On behalf of the obese-obsessive demographic, I want your assurance that the ending does not puss out." Such is the snakebite of hype, especially for a project with such outsize expectations. The film, budgeted at $100 million and the object of a rights wrangle between Warner Bros. and 20th Century Fox, has received less than rapturous early reviews. In his Hollywood Reporter critique, Kirk Honeycutt predicted that the film would be "the first real flop of 2009."

That's the dilemma the director faced: to risk disappointing both the fan base (for diverting from the sacred text) and the agnostic mass audience (for being a confusing, unsatisfying movie experience). Snyder — who had a big hit two years ago with 300, and who took Watchmen on after interesting auteurs from Terry Gilliam in the '80s to Paul Greengrass a few years ago fell out — went with the fan base. He worked from a script written in 2001 by David Hayter, and filigreed by Alex Tse, that was as close to the original as a movie could be. The best and worst thing to say about the Watchmen film is that, if you read the book, the movie you made in your head probably looked a lot like this.

american idol wild card surprise

Thirteen turned out to be the lucky number for Anoop Desai on "American Idol."

After announcing the three remaining finalists at the end of Thursday's wild card round, Simon Cowell announced that the much-loved 22-year-old college student from Chapel Hill, N.C., won a previously unannounced 13th spot in the next round of the popular Fox singing contest. In past seasons, 12 finalists were picked to move on.

"We decided -- recently -- we're going to make this a top 13," Cowell revealed.

The three other wild-card finalists were Jasmine Murray, the big-voiced 16-year-old high school student from Starkville, Miss.; Megan Corkrey, the quirky 22-year-old single mother from Sandy, Utah; and Matt Giraud, the soulful 23-year-old dueling piano player from Kalamazoo, Mich.

The previously dismissed foursome were selected by the show's judges.

Desai's last-minute selection wasn't the night's only seemingly unscripted moment. After oh-so-emotional semifinalist Tatiana Del Toro performed Whitney Houston's "Saving All My Love For You," she kneeled and pleaded for a spot from the judges. Then, host Ryan Seacrest came on stage and told her she didn't have to get up off her knees.

"Family show, family show," judge Kara DioGuardi repeatedly proclaimed throughout the awkward moment.

Desai, Murray, Corkrey and Giraud join previously picked finalists Kris Allen, Danny Gokey, Alexis Grace, Allison Iraheta, Adam Lambert, Scott MacIntyre, Jorge Nunez, Lil Rounds and Michael Sarver. The 13 finalists will start competing next Tuesday.

pacquiao vs. hatton winner result

THE HISTORIC BOXING WINNER

The much awaited battle between Philippines Boxing Champ Manny Pacquiao and United Kingdom's Boxing Pride Ricky Hatton marks another glorious year in Boxing history.

Pacquiao after winning thru a technical knockout against international boxing icon Oscar Dela Hoya has attracted various opponents willing to match the fist of "Pacman".

There are deserving opponents but one stood out from them. It's Ricky Hatton. After weeks of doubt whether this historic boxing event would indeed be placed in history was finally finalized and scheduled on May 2, 2009.

By Andy Samuelson

Manny Pacquiao just completed one of boxing’s most impressive years ever with three wins in three different weight classes, highlighted by his dominant victory over the iconic Oscar De La Hoya on Dec. 6, 2008, at the MGM Grand.
And while fans line the streets by the thousands in his native Philippines to watch the universally regarded pound-for-pound champ box, another prize fighter thinks he’s got just the type of style to stop Pacquiao’s legendary status from growing.
“To say I'm confident would be an understatement,” said British boxer Ricky Hatton, during a media conference call Wednesday to talk about his May 2 bout at the MGM Grand with Pacquiao being called “The Battle of East and West.”
“Training is going well. I'm feeling really sharp. Me and Floyd have been doing good work,” continued Hatton (45-1, 32 KOs), the current Ring Magazine Junior Welterweight Champ, whose lone loss was to Floyd Mayweather Jr.
“They're going to see the boxing side of Ricky Hatton.”
Hatton’s trainer, Floyd Mayweather Sr., wasn’t as politically correct in his prediction for the spring bout.
“We're going to bust his (expletive) up,” Mayweather Sr. said. “Ricky is one of the easiest guys in the world to train. Makes it easy for me and hard for Pac-Man. Ricky surprises me at times. I'm sure he'll surprise Pac. He's an A-1 student.
"Ricky has a very good chance of knocking him out. (Pacquiao) is fighting a man who has real strength, can keep real pressure on him, bang him to the body and the head and smother him at the same time. That's hard to deal with.”
Earlier in the week, Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, avoided any bold predictions in an interview with the United Kingdom newspaper, The Telegraph, but instead insisted the Filipino star (48-3, 36 KOs) will be in the best shape of his life when he takes on “The Hitman.”
“I love training Manny. He doesn't stop between rounds, he doesn't rest,” Roach said.
“He's a machine. He fights like he trains, that's why he's in such great shape. We don't take anyone lightly, and he carries the hopes of many people when he fights. That's why we'll be in 100 percent shape for this fight.”
Hatton, who stopped Paul Malignaggi in the 11th round of their November fight at the MGM Grand, admitted he would have to be weary of Pacquiao’s incredible speed.
But Hatton countered that the former WBC lightweight world champion, WBC super featherweight world champion, IBF super bantamweight world champion and WBC flyweight world champion won’t have an answer for his size and strength.
“Obviously the speed factor is going to be a big factor,” Hatton said. “I've always said at 140 pounds I believe I'm too strong and too big.
“With the hand speed and punching, the things I'm learning with Floyd and my boxing ability, Manny has got something else to worry about besides the sheer size. He has got some technical ability to worry about come the night.”
While it is expected that Hatton’s large legion of fans from Manchester, England, will outnumber Pacquiao faithful 2-to-1 in the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 2, if Tuesday’s news conference in Manchester is any indication, then all bets are off.
"I did not expect it in Manchester because this is Ricky's hometown," said Pacquioa, who was mobbed by fans throughout his three-day press junket.
"I was surprised to see so many of my people in Manchester, and I think Ricky Hatton was surprised to see them, too. Although it is Hatton's place, I think Manchester is now 'Mannychester!'”