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3,409 comments Add your comment
tiger297
February 2nd, 2010
9:14 am
pelfrey
where do you get 2 good bottles of wine for $40? But with 3 under 5 I’m guessing shoes/clothes/diapers is a more likely landing spot for the money.
darren
February 2nd, 2010
9:19 am
Rob
I ordered it on Jan 15th..hopefully you will get yours soon
KC
February 2nd, 2010
9:46 am
DOB, I have really enjoyed Robin Williams in those darker roles. One Hour Photo was another good one. Unfortunately, they don’t seem to sell tickets. A lot more people paid to see “RV” and a couple of his other less-than-stellar comedies in recent years than went to see either of the aforementioned darker films. What’s wrong with America?!
ghbrave
February 2nd, 2010
9:53 am
DOB, Congrats on your girl P Cruz nomination for Best Supporting Actress. You seen Nine yet?
Here are the top catagory nominees:
1. Best Picture: “Avatar,” “The Blind Side,” “District 9,” “An Education,” “The Hurt Locker,” “Inglourious Basterds,” “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire,” “A Serious Man,” “Up,” “Up in the Air.”
2. Actor: Jeff Bridges, “Crazy Heart”; George Clooney, “Up in the Air”; Colin Firth, “A Single Man”; Morgan Freeman, “Invictus”; Jeremy Renner, “The Hurt Locker.”
3. Actress: Sandra Bullock, “The Blind Side”; Helen Mirren, “The Last Station”; Carey Mulligan, “An Education”; Gabourey Sidibe, “Precious: Based on the Novel `Push’ by Sapphire”; Meryl Streep, “Julie & Julia.”
4. Supporting Actor: Matt Damon, “Invictus”; Woody Harrelson, “The Messenger”; Christopher Plummer, “The Last Station”; Stanley Tucci, “The Lovely Bones”; Christoph Waltz, “Inglourious Basterds.”
5. Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz, “Nine”; Vera Farmiga, “Up in the Air”; Maggie Gyllenhaal, “Crazy Heart”; Anna Kendrick, “Up in the Air”; Mo’Nique, “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire.”
6. Directing: James Cameron, “Avatar”; Kathryn Bigelow, “The Hurt Locker”; Quentin Tarantino, “Inglourious Basterds”; Lee Daniels, “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”; Jason Reitman, “Up in the Air.”
DAP
February 2nd, 2010
9:53 am
dpelfry, you get sportsouth and foxsportsouth on direct tv?
ive always thought to get the channels i watch braves games on, i would have to buy a special sports package or something.
DAP
February 2nd, 2010
10:01 am
abreu signed on feb 11th last year…for $5mil…anderson signed on the 24th, for $2.5mil….
i think the buzz around abreu was a little hotter than it is around damon right now. i bet damon will get somewhere in between those two numbers, and i would still like to see the braves get him.
David O'Brien
February 2nd, 2010
10:13 am
ghbrave: hopefully Penelope will win, and Jeff Bridges for Crazy Heart, which to me was the best acting performance (even better than Clooney in Up in the Air.
Of the best-picture nominees, I’ve seen six of the 10: District 9, An Education, The Hurt Locker, Inglourious Basterds, A Serious Man, Up in the Air. All six of those would’ve made my top-10 list, along with Crazy Heart. The Hurt Locker was the best of the year.
Others that would’ve made the list of favorites I’ve seen: Zombieland; (500) Days of Summer; I love You, Man; Adventureland; Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call – New Orleans; The Informant; Duplicity; The Cove. I’ve gotta see The Messenger, missed it at my local theatre. Invictus, too.
I’ve also gotta see The Blind Side, Up, and Precious. I guess I should see Avatar, but for some reason I don’t feel compelled to. Maybe I’ll wait for blu-ray.
dpelfrey
February 2nd, 2010
10:14 am
DAP, if you’re in the Braves home market area, you’ll get all the Braves games through the regional sports channels and alternates with the Choice package or above. Nothing special needed. I think they do a lousy job of advertising the alternate regional sports channels to trick people into buying the sports packages, which is silly since local games are blacked out on those. It’s all really confusing, but it works.
For example, in my channel lineup, I get FSN South (FSN) and SportsSouth (SS) along with a few alternate channels labeled “FSNa” and “SSa” along with some more alternate channels labeled “RSNa” for regional sports network alternates. So let’s say FSN is showing different local college basketball games to different areas all in the same basic region. On FSN, I can see Duke-Carolina men, on FSNa I can see Duke-Carolina women, on another FSNa I can see Wofford-Furman and on another RSNa I can see another local game. Depending on where you live, these will be rearranged, but rest assured they are will be there. The same would apply for the Braves games, you’ll get the game on one of the FSN channels or SS channels or on the alternate BRVS channel. Again, as long as you’re in the Braves home market. I’d say check with other people in your area to confirm.
DAP
February 2nd, 2010
10:19 am
dpelfry…im definitely in the home market. i havent even ever considered getting dish network because when i look at the channel listings, they dont show any of those channels you mentioned. i figure that there is no way im going to buy some crazy spots package when all i really want is braves baseball. this at least gives me something to think about.
i love the idea of sticking it to the cable monopoly.
KC
February 2nd, 2010
10:20 am
Check out this David Wright / Martin Prado comparison: http://bit.ly/9YhVtR
Consider that Prado had 85 fewer AB’s, and didn’t hit in the middle of the order as Wright did, which affects RBI totals.
While many realize Wright’s power numbers were down… how many national baseball observers realize that Martin Prado was every bit the offensive player that David Wright was last year?
DAP
February 2nd, 2010
10:21 am
or direct tv. whatever. i get them mixed up.
richbrave
February 2nd, 2010
10:24 am
DAVID:
“The Blind Side” worth seeing. Good character story about MICHAEL OHER and his background.
richbrave
February 2nd, 2010
10:26 am
“The Hurt Locker was the best of the year.” Missed that one. Want to see it, boys night out.
DAP
February 2nd, 2010
10:31 am
KC, im betting that david wright never slugs .500 again while playing in citi field, and look for jason bay’s numbers to take a plunge, as well.
i think the mets have to build a different kind of team with that stadium, and while wright probably still fits into what they will need to do to win, jason bay does not. just my opinion.
dpelfrey
February 2nd, 2010
10:32 am
tiger297 “where do you get 2 good bottles of wine for $40? But with 3 under 5 I’m guessing shoes/clothes/diapers is a more likely landing spot for the money.”
You can find good bottles of wine for $20, you just have to do some research and look a little harder. We have a friend in northern Calif that turned us onto a wine club that sends us 2 bottles per month for $40. I would put these up against most $40 wines. The trick is they don’t sell to retailers which keeps their prices down. You’d be surprised the fees that get added in through the typical retailing process. Do a search for Wine Shop at Home and that can get you started.
And yes, most of my resources go towards the kids right now. So my concept of “good” may be skewed a little low right now. But I still find plenty of wines in the $12-20 range that are enjoyable, which is the point, isn’t it?
Daybed Wagmoe
February 2nd, 2010
10:32 am
“The Messenger” was good. Glad that Harrelson got a Supporting Actor nod for it.
dpelfrey
February 2nd, 2010
10:36 am
“I would put these up against most $40 wines”
Well, maybe not most, but hopefully you get my point. It all depends on your individual preferences anyway.
18 Wheels of Love
February 2nd, 2010
10:49 am
Goats Do Roam or Our Daily Bread for around $10 are good calls for good, cheap reds.
ncscoots
February 2nd, 2010
11:00 am
how many national baseball observers realize that Martin Prado was every bit the offensive player that David Wright was last year?
In other words, Prado is every bit as good as David Wright’s career-worst year, LOL? How, exactly, is that a toutable virtue?
RHR
February 2nd, 2010
11:01 am
The Mets will add some seats to that outfield sooner rather than later, thats almost a given. I really thought they’d do it this off season after the year King David had, I guess they didn’t have the money to do it. I bet it gets done next winter.
ghbrave
February 2nd, 2010
11:04 am
DOB, please be sure to give the ol’ blog your review of Avatar after you see it. I am back and forth on whether to see it or not. When I first heard of the movie in development, I was looking forward to seeing it, but the more I have seen previews and read about it the less I want to see it. Too much computer generated graphics for me,guess I am old fashioned because I like to see real actors with real emotion. My wife and daughter saw it and thought it was highly overrated (guess they are in the minority,huh?). I have also heard from other friends that they would like to see it again. Word is the best viewing experience is in IMAX 3D (at a price near $20). Guess that’s why it appears to be on track to pass Titanic as the highest grossing film of all time by mid to late February ( another movie I waited late to see and thought was overated).
RHR
February 2nd, 2010
11:06 am
I’ve gotta do some serious movie watching before the Oscars. I’ve only seen Precious and Basterds out of the 10 best pic nominees. I always feel like I have to see at least most of the best pic nominees before the Oscars. I know I won’t bother with Avatar, my son saw it so thats close enough lol.
RHR
February 2nd, 2010
11:06 am
Morning scoots, still hatin, I see.
Jim
February 2nd, 2010
11:07 am
Dave:
Would you please explain the Tavares transactions – a trade and then a DFA. Why didn’t Cinci just DFA him? Was there some reason they could not? Seems like extra paper work for nothing?
See Blind Side today. They actually toned down the Sandra Bullock role from the book. Bullock plays very well. It’s her movie.
bravesgrl4life
February 2nd, 2010
11:07 am
From late Sunday/early Monday – mentions of Andres Gallaraga and Javy Lopez – some serious eye candy for us lady fans there. Ummmm, love the Big Cat and Javy
Daslied
February 2nd, 2010
11:08 am
RHR, Bay and Beltran will appreciate those seats. 9 innings is a long time…
TnBrian
February 2nd, 2010
11:10 am
Damon to the Tigers?
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/rumors/post/Damon-headed-to-Tigers-?urn=mlb,217076
Eric from MO
February 2nd, 2010
11:16 am
KC while I have enjoyed some of Robin Williams darker roles(One hour photo, Insomnia) and think he does a good job in them, it is sometimes hard to picture him as being evil. I will always think of him in Good Morning Vietnam, Mrs. Doubtfire, and Patch Adams. It makes it sometimes hard to take him serious as a villian. Like I said I like them, but it is sometimes hard too.
RHR
February 2nd, 2010
11:17 am
Some folks working for teams had the same reaction to the story that Johnny Damon wants to play for the Tigers as I did: This is an effort by Scott Boras to reach out to Detroit owner Mike Ilitch, who has OK’d the signing of many Boras clients in the past, including Magglio Ordonez and Pudge Rodriguez. Within the George Sipple story linked in the previous sentence, Boras acknowledges he hasn’t talked to Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski.
The Tigers moved Curtis Granderson and Edwin Jackson as part of their effort to reduce their payroll, and keep in mind that Granderson will make $5.5 million this season. The first question that would be asked if the Tigers signed Damon to a deal for something in that neighborhood would be: Why didn’t they just keep Curtis Granderson?
And how ’bout this from MLBTR:
There is plenty of experience in the revamped Braves bullpen with closer Billy Wagner and Takashi Saito in the twilight of their careers. Braves manager Bobby Cox, who has plenty of miles on the odometer as well, will try to avoid overworking his seasoned relievers.
“I don’t know if you can pitch them four days in a row, but certainly at times I think you can go three,” Cox told David O’Brien of the Atlanta JC. “Depends on the number of pitches they throw.”
The plan could call for other relievers, such as Peter Moylan, to get some ninth inning work as well.
Keith Law
Makes you wonder about Wagner
“As much as I’d love to see a manager run his bullpen in such an old-school fashion, without rigid role designations like ‘closer’ or ‘8th inning setup man,’ this sounds to me like a back-door way of admitting that Atlanta doesn’t know how much Billy Wagner’s elbow can take this year. The Red Sox used him on back-to-back days once last year, and while he should be stronger in 2010, there are no guarantees on how his elbow will bounce back from normal closer usage.”
TnBrian
February 2nd, 2010
11:18 am
Who doesn’t like Robin Williams’ hairy ass? He’s annoying sometimes, but I think he’s a very good actor and is funny most times.
Wendell Gee
February 2nd, 2010
11:19 am
ghbrave, I would not pay $50 to see Avatar. Also, I would not pay $9 to see it in 2D. Very thin plot. I saw it in 3D. I would see it for $9 in 3D. Cameron does some very cool things with the 3D, but the storyline is so weak as to make you wonder why he bothered.
Eric from MO
February 2nd, 2010
11:19 am
dpelfrey I agree with you. You can find good wine at lower prices if you know what your looking for. Just because it is cheap doesnt mean its bad; same goes as expensive. Just because they charge alot doesnt mean its always good.
tiger297
February 2nd, 2010
11:22 am
pelfrey
I agree completely. Normally I buy wine at the store until I find something I really like then I order it if possible and would agree there are many $20 bottles that are enjoyable. They are generally above average and regardless of how much you pay you can always get into a bottle of something you don’t really enjoy.
RHR
February 2nd, 2010
11:27 am
All this wine talk…I’m gonna have to stop at the winery conveniently located on my drive home from work. I love buying straight from the winery where you can sip before you buy…I’d never try anything new if not for those sips lol and yes, plenty of good stuff for $20.
BravePack12523
February 2nd, 2010
11:28 am
Has anyone seen Zombieland? I was wondering if it is worth buying?
Piece
February 2nd, 2010
11:32 am
DOB,
I would definitely see Avatar in the theater while you still can. It really is a tremendous viewing experience (especially in 3D, if available). The storyline itself is nothing special, but the scenery and wildlife in that world will doubtless make you wish you lived in a place more like that.
On the other hand, you should DEFINITELY see Precious. You can probably wait until DVD for that, but it was the best movie I saw all year, and I’ve seen every movie on that list except for Blindside and A Serious Man. Absolutely brutal was that movie. But incredibly moving.
Willy Wally
February 2nd, 2010
11:33 am
The thing that gets annoying about Robin Williams is that you can tell what he’s up to. It’s like okay, he’s gonna be the zany comedian in this one, he’s gonna be more the Disney comic in this one, he’s gonna be touchy feely in this one, he’s gonna be the evil guy in this one. Although he actually does a good job in all of these roles, it feels contrived for reasons that have nothing to do with his acting performance.
It just feels like you can tell he and his agents are sitting around, saying we need to reinvent Robin as a touchy feely guy, so here’s Awakenings, Good Will Hunting, and Dead Poets Society OR Robin needs to be bad, so here’s Insomnia and One Hour Photo.
I know that this is what all actors and their agents do, but it just feels so blatant with Robin Williams. It’s likely because he is so over the top as a comedian that it’s much more noticeable when he goes from one kind of character to another kind of character than it is for other actors who ain’t so identifiable with one extreme way of acting.
DAVBRAVES
February 2nd, 2010
11:36 am
go braves
cricket
February 2nd, 2010
11:37 am
I guess I should see Avatar, but for some reason I don’t feel compelled to. Maybe I’ll wait for blu-ray.
I saw Avatar last week in 3D (non-Imax) and may be I was expecting too much after the hype for so long, but while the effects were impressive, they didn’t blow me away. Off course I nominated ‘Up in the Air’ as the most overrated movie of the year, so dunno how much value you would put in my opinion.
Loved District 9, Up is pretty good and Hurt Locker should win.
cricket
February 2nd, 2010
11:39 am
Invictus is definitely worth seeing.
David O'Brien
February 2nd, 2010
11:43 am
Ahh, numb mouth and new crown in place….
Check out 40 Watt Club “story” in today The Onion:
http://www.theonion.com/content/news/backpack_strategically_placed_in
chin music
February 2nd, 2010
11:43 am
to echo other comments, DOB, i urge you to see avatar in 3d imax while it’s still available. it’ll look beautiful on blu-ray, obviously, but that will not compare to the 3d experience. the plot, characters, and acting were all good enough, but the visuals are like nothing you’ve ever seen, i’d imagine.
Eric from MO
February 2nd, 2010
11:44 am
Willy Wally you means he plays the roles of his characters like all actors do? Only difference is he has played alot of different roles.
Willy Wally
February 2nd, 2010
11:45 am
RHR is a wino
DAVBRAVES
February 2nd, 2010
11:46 am
help
BravePack12523
February 2nd, 2010
11:48 am
Zombieland anyone have any input?
DAVBRAVES
February 2nd, 2010
11:48 am
saw 6 was actually alot better thn the last three, just thought i would throw that out their
David O'Brien
February 2nd, 2010
11:48 am
BravePack: Yes, it’s worth buying. Kind of movie you’d watch multiple times and laugh your arse off every time. The Bill Murray cameo alone is worth the price of admission….
DAVBRAVES
February 2nd, 2010
11:49 am
Did anyone else hear about taht dude from twilight playing spiderman thats awful
David O'Brien
February 2nd, 2010
11:52 am
They just announced MY MORNING JACKET at Chastain on April 23. Alas, Braves are in New York that night to start a seven-game trip that I’m covering. Oh, well — I’d rather see them just about anywhere but Chastain anyway. Unless it’s a no-tables show there, which eliminates a lot of the wine-and-cheese crowd chatter.
DAVBRAVES
February 2nd, 2010
11:52 am
seen gamer the other day taht was awful
Knuckle Sandwich
February 2nd, 2010
11:53 am
I didn’t feel particularly compelled to see Avatar either, but I’m sure glad I did. Seeing it at the IMAX in 3D was a very cool experience. Great looking movie with a “Dances With Wolves” type story line. How can you go wrong?
bravofan
February 2nd, 2010
11:55 am
DOB: did you go to the varsity yesterday?
Jim
February 2nd, 2010
11:58 am
DOB – when you can feel youself biting your tounge, would you please try to explain Tavares moves yesterday? Not bugging you, just acknowledging that you will need a diversion once you can feel the pain in your mouth.
BravePack12523
February 2nd, 2010
11:59 am
Thanks for answering my question DOB and your advice. I’ll pick it up on the way home from work.
Fish Bisch
February 2nd, 2010
12:01 pm
Interesting read: http://braves.scout.com/2/941702.html
David O'Brien
February 2nd, 2010
12:02 pm
DOB, please be sure to give the ol’ blog your review of Avatar after you see it. I am back and forth on whether to see it or not. — ghbrave
Tell you what, you see it first and give us your review. I want to see The Messenger, Precious, Blind Side and Invictus more. And a couple of foreign movies that have gotten great reviews, The White Ribbon and 33 Shots of Rum.
David O'Brien
February 2nd, 2010
12:08 pm
bravofan: No, I did not. Were you there?
Hillbilly
February 2nd, 2010
12:09 pm
Willy Wally,
My favorite Robin Williams moments are not even in the movies at all. Without a doubt his best perfomances are in live interviews and late night talk shows. Williams is unstoppable when he’s unleashed and spitting out one-liners and impersonations 90 to nothing.
TennesseePaul
February 2nd, 2010
12:19 pm
I guess I should see Avatar, but for some reason I don’t feel compelled to. Maybe I’ll wait for blu-ray.
DOB, gotta say this would be a huge mistake. There is hype. I agree. But of all the movies to see on a big screen, this is it. And the 3D… like nothing you have ever seen. Simply put I was amazed by the film. I didn’t buy into the under-tones of New Age philosophy, but it was a well told, albeit familiar story that I enjoyed. (I felt similar about Gangs of New York concerning story familiarity and amazement of set and scene. Though don’t think I am comparing these two movies on any in-depth level). But the movie itself… simply unbelievable. Just amazing and extremely well done.
Another good one I just saw was The Book of Eli. I enjoyed that movie. I want to see it again only to check for something that I think was… well … not going to spoil it. But both Denzel and Oldman did a fabulous job in the film.
Up is a great film. I’m not sure I’d give it the overall nod, but certainly worthy of a nomination.
Anyway, I really enjoyed Avatar. The work that went into making that film, and the final product are just astounding. I can only image that, if I saw this film for the first time on DVD, Blu-Ray or basically, non-big screen I would not be as impressed. It’s worth it on the big screen.
Puma
February 2nd, 2010
12:23 pm
Avatar – I will only say that it was entertaining. Beyond that, the story really was not great, pretty standard Dances with Wolves type story, almost felt like I was watching Dances with Wolves only in the Year 2000 a la Conan O’Brian.
I will say that for the first half hour I was pretty amazed by the special effects. I think I actually muttered to myself “Dang”. So from that standpoint, I think it is worth the $$ to see it in the theaters. I did not see the 3D version, but that is only because whenever I see a 3D movie, it makes me feel sick.
I do not understand how it can at all be considered a best picture – but I felt much the same way about Titanic. This calls into question the entire nominating process, but hey that’s nothing new. It’s entertaining eye candy, but beyond that, don’t expect too much.
StingerSplash
February 2nd, 2010
12:25 pm
DOB,
I’ll be an honest. As a lifelong Patriots fan, there is some serious mancrush here on Mr. Brady. The fact that he took one of the league’s biggest laughingstocks (under the Sullivans) to four Super Bowls and three championships is fairly remarkable.
I still think Montana is No. 1. But he was surrounded by Hall of Fame caliber guys, specifically Rice. And Roger Craig wasn’t bad either. John Taylor gets way overlooked, too. I got respect for Manning. Dude is good. Love Johnny Unitas, too.
StingerSplash
February 2nd, 2010
12:32 pm
Saw Inglorious Basterds. Enjoyed it. A couple of things about it I didn’t like, but I won’t get into it here.
I do think Christoph Waltz was excellent in it.
Have heard many, many good things about The Hurt Locker.
Not all that fired up to see Invictus or The Blind Side, though some friends of mine said they enjoyed The Blind Side very much. Not rushing out to see Avatar either. Heard that visually it’s cool as hell but it isn’t that taxing on the intellectual processes.
David O'Brien
February 2nd, 2010
12:34 pm
TennesseePaul: Fully respect your opinion on this and other matters. But I’ve got to say, almost every review of the movie says the special effects and all other visual components are just astounding, like nothing before, etc., but that the story and acting is nothing special. So while I’m sure that it will blow me or anyone else away visually, in 3D or otherwise, I really don’t go go movies for the special effects and visual experience as much as I do for the acting and the story and the script and dialogue. To me, the music is also more important than any special effects.
If I just want mesmerizing visual experience, I’d go to every movie shown at the IMAX theatre. But how many of those have I gone to see? Maybe three in my life, and I’m 10 minutes from an IMAX.
Again, I fully understand, just from reading and seeing all the Avata clips I’ve seen, that this is unprecedented levels of special effects and all that. I get that. But again, I like a movie’s story to resonate with me, I like to feel for the characters, to be deeply saddened or happy or angry for, at or with them. A small-budget movie like Crazy Heart can leave me thinking for days about a scene or scenes that just featured one character experiencing an excruciating personal crisis, or two characters discussing something that happened in their lives, over a beer with some great song playing.
I’m sure I’ll enjoy Avatar, and I’ll see it in the theatre or on blu-ray. But I don’t know that I’ll be so impressed with it as an overall movie if the only thing that really stands out is all the special effects and visuals, rather than the acting. It’s just not what I go to movies for.
And that’s not being a movie snob or anything like that. I love stuff like Zombieland and I Love You, Man and The Hangover. So I’m not some arthouse-only movie person. But I generally need a good story and great acting if it’s not a movie that makes me laugh my arse off.
ppaddy123
February 2nd, 2010
12:37 pm
All this talk of wine…….I support the Justin Wilson (How Y’all Are?) theory about wine……….”The kind of wine that’s right, is the wine YOU like!” Pretty much sums it up for me, too
sidslidkid
February 2nd, 2010
12:39 pm
I think it’s funny that a poster named “StingerSplash” would say he doesn’t want to see a movie because he heard “it isn’t that taxing on the intellectual processes.”
Marc in FL
February 2nd, 2010
12:41 pm
I hate the little glasses they give you for 3D movies, I guess my head is just too big or something, the lighting and stuff from the side view always distracts me.
Willy Wally
February 2nd, 2010
12:45 pm
Eric, I honestly don’t know what I mean. But to attempt to explain it further. It’s kind of like musicians. Most musicians are identifiable by a certain style of music, whether that be rock, metal, country, blues, pop, disco, or hip hop. When they crossover to another genre, it’s obvious. When a metal guy makes a straight country album or a straight pop album or straight blues album, it jumps out at you. They may actually do a good job with it, and demonstrate a cool ability to go from one style to another. That’s kind of what Robin Williams is. He’s like the metal guy who’s gonna make a love songs duet album in this movie, a country album in this one, a pop album in that one, and so on.
There are however other musicians and actors who aren’t identifiable with any one style. Sometimes they lean more towards one style or are at least heavily influenced by one genre and/or another. But they are pretty much influenced by all of those genres, and just make whatever music comes out organically when they sit down and make music. They don’t need to make herky jerky transitions to one genre or another just to prove they have range as a musician. Their natural style allows them to blend all styles, and to be subtle in incorporating all of those styles in a nuanced manner.
An actor that’s like that is Robert Downey, Jr. He doesn’t necessarily go herky jerky from one kind of character to another kind of character, trying to reinvent himself. His natural acting style kind of incorporates the evil guy, the good guy, the sensitive guy, the jerk, the funny guy, the serious guy all into one nuanced package almost no matter what the role is. Obviously, though, his characters will generally lean more one way or the other, but not overly so. And that’s kind of how most humans are. Each one of us for the most part is all of those things. So his acting feels more real, not usually over the top funny, nor over the top touchy feely, nor over the top evil. Sure, when it fits the character, he’s gonna be a bit more sinister or funny or touchy feely in this role than he is in others, but he generally doesn’t go so over the top with it that his characters becomes compromised as overly evil or overly touchy feely or overly funny for the sake of proving one has acting range.
That probably makes no sense, but there it is
ppaddy123
February 2nd, 2010
12:45 pm
Knuckle Sandwich
February 2nd, 2010
11:53 am
I didn’t feel particularly compelled to see Avatar either, but I’m sure glad I did. Seeing it at the IMAX in 3D was a very cool experience. Great looking movie with a “Dances With Wolves” type story line. How can you go wrong?
You’re the second person (other than myself) to describe this as a “Dances with Wolves” story line. It’s not the greatest movie ever made, but certainly the future of movie making. And it should be seen on the big screen!
lpad
February 2nd, 2010
12:49 pm
“I don’t know if you can pitch them four days in a row, but certainly at times I think you can go three,” Cox told David O’Brien of the Atlanta JC. “Depends on the number of pitches they throw.”
Keith Law
Makes you wonder about Wagner
“As much as I’d love to see a manager run his bullpen in such an old-school fashion, without rigid role designations like ‘closer’ or ‘8th inning setup man,’ this sounds to me like a back-door way of admitting that Atlanta doesn’t know how much Billy Wagner’s elbow can take this year. The Red Sox used him on back-to-back days once last year, and while he should be stronger in 2010, there are no guarantees on how his elbow will bounce back from normal closer usage.”
Sounds to me that Keith Law needs to learn how to read better. Bobby said Wagner and Saito should be able to go three days in a row, just not four. How does that translate into they don’t know if Wagner can pitch on back-to-back days? Bobby must be pretty confident about 2 days if he says they can go three.
bravesgirlnc
February 2nd, 2010
12:50 pm
Ah wine! Finally a non-baseball subject I can chime in on (I am not an expert on music or movies or BBQ for that matter….although I greatly enjoy it)
I started to really enjoy wine when I went to local vineyards and just tried everything there. It was educational and I really learned what I enjoyed. Almost every state in the country has a booming wine business, so go local! Fun fact! Before prohibition NC had more vineyards than anywhere else in the country. Tobacco became the crop to plant later. A lot of those fields are not being replaced with vineyards once again.
David O'Brien
February 2nd, 2010
12:51 pm
I’m guessing that Damon signs with Tigers or Braves, and probably soon. Dark Star (Braves camp) is closer, but Lakeland (Tigers) also isn’t far from his Orlando home. Of course it’s gonna come down to money, and Tigers probably can and/or will offer more.
N8
February 2nd, 2010
12:52 pm
DOB, are you a guy that gets annoyed by the overhype of a movie? I sometimes find myself avoiding shows that use every fast food or advertisement angle possible to push the flick. To me Avatar seems to fall into that category.
But I agree with you. From the first time I saw previews for it, the first thing I said to myself was how stunning the visuals looked…. but wasn’t drawn to it at all by what the story appeared to be.
To the people I was chatting with yesterday about The Hangover, I watched it again last night before returning it this morning to the rental store, and have to say that I enjoyed it more the 2nd time than the first, as I suspected I might.
I think it was just so hyped up, and for the most part I’m more of a comedy guy and can find humor in most comedies (even kids movies – just watched Mall Cop with my 9 year old the other night for the first time & while silly and stupid, I enjoyed watching him laugh at the physical comedy).
Too many people talked it up and compared it to some great, classic comedies and I was disappointed on the first viewing. Now I might actually buy it. Plenty of one-liners to enjoy in it.
Heath
February 2nd, 2010
12:52 pm
DOB -
I’m with you…I don’t want to have to be wowed by special effects just to like the movie. I still have movies at the top of my list from 20 and 30 years ago because of the acting and the lack of special effects. So, if I have to go see Avatar in 3D to enjoy it…I’ll get to that movie when I get to it far more intriguing movies on the list I’d prefer to see first. (Ditto on the music making or breaking scenes…WAY more important than special effects for me too.)
sidslidkid
February 2nd, 2010
12:54 pm
A good winery about an hour or so north of Atlanta in Dahlonega.
http://www.wolfmountainvineyards.com
Willy Wally
February 2nd, 2010
12:54 pm
I would go see Avatar this weekend, but we’ve got the Shootout, UFC 109 and the Super Bowl this weekend. Maybe next weekend.
N8
February 2nd, 2010
12:56 pm
Mark in FL, most of the movie theaters around here are now giving out some pretty kick ass 3-D glasses that are black and wrap around your face a bit more, eliminating that peripheral issue of light coming in from the side. I used to hate 3-D movies for the same reason, but now it’s a tad more enjoyable.
Of course that means some snotty movie theater employee standing by the exit making sure they all end up in the basket, as though he was a security guard at a diamond mine, when the moviie is over.
DMV, post office and movie theater employees have to be some of the most bitter “i hate my job” people I’ve ever run across. LOL
Wendell Gee
February 2nd, 2010
12:59 pm
just to clarify my earlier statement re: Avatar, it’s the 3D part of it I found intriguing. My job entails working with 3D computer imagery, and it seems to me that there was some special effort to make the 3D aspects of Avatar eye-catching. Just sayin’. It’s not the CGI aliens or animals. I’m completely convinced that I wouldn’t have liked the movie in 2D.
Arkansas Transplant
February 2nd, 2010
1:00 pm
Anybody going to be watch this last season of Lost?
Venice Jim
February 2nd, 2010
1:01 pm
Arkansas Transplant – most definitely…
lpad
February 2nd, 2010
1:02 pm
Here’s a general question about Avatar and the graphics. I haven’t seen it because I wasn’t impressed by the graphics in the previews and storyline didn’t impress me. To me it just looked like normal video game graphics and I’m a gamer, so my question is if you play video games how impressed were you by the graphics?
ghbrave
February 2nd, 2010
1:02 pm
I think you mean 35 Shots of Rum and I read good things about that as well.We only have one “art house” theatre in our area and I am waiting for it to appear here.
I have seen 6 of the 10 films nominated and think The Hurt Locker is the best. I was exhausted after viewing that movie……the suspense and tension throughout the film left an impression with me. Definate best movie I have seen this past year.
Nova Scotia Steve
February 2nd, 2010
1:05 pm
RHR: I’m worried about the bullpen this year too…I think it could be a major problem for this team.
If you can’t hold leads late in ballgames you’re not going anywhere…
Bay Area Steve
February 2nd, 2010
1:06 pm
Braveheart is never better than when he drops one of those analogies on us.
And, just saw Natural Born Killers. Well, the first 90 minutes. How can you people like that movie? And why can’t I ever seen to like a Quentin Tarantino movie? And why do I wait 15 years to see popular movies? And, will I be on this blog in 2026 posting I didn’t think Avatar was that great?
18 Wheels of Love
February 2nd, 2010
1:06 pm
DOB, you listened to the 2 new DBT songs they released on their website? First spin I wasn’t thinking much of them but I really like them after a few more listens.
So no one out there is attaching us to Damon but DOB predicts us or the Tigers. I like it! Bring him on for LF…nothing like having options!
Nova Scotia Steve
February 2nd, 2010
1:08 pm
Has anyone here heard of Big Sugar?
Excellent Canadian band…check out this tune if ya have a minute…you won’t regret it…especially if you like a rocky/blues harmonica sound
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjIITHFoizo&feature=related
ghbrave
February 2nd, 2010
1:09 pm
“Anybody going to be watch this last season of Lost?”
Yes, I have watched since it first came on.
Several times I started to give it up, but I keep going back. I gotta see how it ends.
BravesFanLostinOhio
February 2nd, 2010
1:17 pm
DOB, I don’t usually go to movies just for special effects, because I am like you, I would rather see a movie that can stand on its script alone. But this one might be worth going to see anyway…
ghbrave
February 2nd, 2010
1:18 pm
DOB, heard anything about “That Evening Sun”? Supposed to be a good little flick and it is coming to the art house theatre near me. I have read lots of positive reviews and the film was shot just outside of Knoxville.
BravesFanLostinOhio
February 2nd, 2010
1:18 pm
Anybody seen Book of Eli? No spoilers, please.
Fischerking04
February 2nd, 2010
1:19 pm
So you would consider I Love You, Man for one of the best movies of the year? Well, to each his own I suppose but I thought that was one of the worst movies of the Apatow era. I couldn’t get into it and I love comedy.
Avatar is a must see IN THE THEATER. Once it isn’t available on a big screen in 3-D it will lose a lot of its awe. A fantastic movie and with the visual effects obviously the focal point I thought the story got short shrifted in most of the reviews. Basically it is a retelling of Native Americans getting forced out of their homeland but it’s done in a very cool way.
And just to add to those effects…I never thought I would leave a movie theater so attracted to a 12 foot blue cat!
Daslied
February 2nd, 2010
1:20 pm
BAS – I’m with you on “Natural Born Killers”. I generally love Quentin Tarantino movies, but I believe he only wrote this one? I also remember him saying he walked out of the movie because he hated so much how Oliver Stone interpreted it.
Anyhoo, I thought it was horrible.
pryguy
February 2nd, 2010
1:21 pm
DOB…
Can’t you just knock on Wren’s door, walk in and say something along these lines….
“Frank, I understand the money may not be there. I’m willing to work donate my year’s salary to make the money available to sign Johnny Damon.”
Frank responds with, “Dave, I really appreciate your extreme efforts. However, your miniscule salary figures are not as appetizing to Damon as cocaine was to Daryl Strawberry.”
rammerjammer
February 2nd, 2010
1:21 pm
BAS,
Speaking of Pulp Fiction (a Tarantino movie), did you ever see Get Shorty?
Bay Area Steve
February 2nd, 2010
1:27 pm
To the dude asking about Willy Taveres:
He’s guaranteed $4 million in 2010. So, I think the trade was about the A’s picking up the salary. Seems strange that Oakland has cash for Sheets and to be throwing $4 million down the drain. But, I think that’s all that was. If I wasn’t so lazy, I’d look into the minor league players. Perhaps Oakland picked up a solid prospect for their cash.
Arkansas Transplant
February 2nd, 2010
1:29 pm
Yeah, I’m interested in how they are going to wrap it all up in Lost too. Been watching since the beginning.
RHR
February 2nd, 2010
1:30 pm
RHR is a wino
Ahh I forgot that “drinkers” are frowned upon on this blog.
AtTheMike
February 2nd, 2010
1:31 pm
A.T.M. to o’brien…you hearing anything on the damon front…over
dpelfrey
February 2nd, 2010
1:32 pm
bravesgirlnc “I started to really enjoy wine when I went to local vineyards and just tried everything there. It was educational and I really learned what I enjoyed.”
That’s the way I learned, except it was Napa & Sonoma that did it for me, not exactly local. I think the whole process of wine tasting is intimidating for most people who may be interested in trying new wines. The whole process of seeing, swirling, smelling, sipping, savoring and all that jazz really seem like a made-up system that no one could ever hope to understand. But I encourage any of you out there to take the wine tasting process to heart. There’s a reason to the madness and once you gain some familiarity with it, you’ll be surprised at how quickly you start to pick up on the subtle nuances of each style or brand. It will absolutely increase your level of enjoyment.
18 Wheels of Love
February 2nd, 2010
1:35 pm
Woohoo, 4/28 MMJ in Charleston, SC!