KVUE Top Stories: 10/23/2008

Here's a list of all the stories on the local news tonight.

1. Crazy Man Harasses Gas Station Customers

2. Boxer Convicted of Aggravated Assault

3. Officer Shot and Killed a Pit Bull

4. Fake ID Sting

5. Woman Killed By Hit and Run Driver

6. John McCain Supporter Attacked

7. Restaurant Los Jaliscienses Failed Health Test Again

8. Cold Weather

9. High Allergy Forecast

10. Sports

Damn, I thought I had a pretty good day. But according to the news, today sucked.

250-to-1, I Like Those Odds

Greatest investment of all-time; betting on the Tampa Bay Rays to win the World Series. The Rays had 250 to 1 odds in spring training, so one would get $250 for every $ gambled. Now the Rays are a mere 4 wins away from winning the Fall Classic. 

Dave Marger of St. Petersburg was smart enough to take on those odds, and if the Rays win he will receive $25,000 for a $100 bet!

Maybe the Rays weren't a sure fire way to win 25 grand, finishing in dead last in 2007 and almost every year before that. The Rays have never even finished a season over .500, let alone make the playoffs, let alone make the World Series. 

Still, next season I'm putting my money on the Washington Nationals. 

The House of Torment

As a virgin to the haunted house scene, I didn't know what to expect from the House of Torment. How long would it be? Do they touch you? And is it OK to cry? Well, it's only 15 minutes long. Thankfully they aren't allowed touch you (even though it is hard not to push them away in self-defense). And even me being the wimp that I am, did not cry. 

The house tries to spook you from the start, with ghouls roaming free by the ticket line. All of the monsters look a little to real for comfort. Especially when they get right up in your face, you can't help but feel a little uneasy. 

What impressed me was the diversity in each character and room. You have all your horror essentials: zombies, aliens, pig-men, skeletons, mummies, clowns, and a handful of other bizarre creatures. All of them placed in a room befitting for their evil persona. 

Exiting the haunted house is quiet a sight, watching distressed customers trying to forget the experience they had just inflicted upon themselves. And like every attraction, there is a souvenir shop in the parking lot. 

  

Hopefully Badass Movies of the Fall Pt. 2

Quantum of Solace- Picking up from Casino Royale, Daniel Craig plays arguably the best James Bond in history. Capturing Bond as the rugged live wire that Ian Fleming seemed to envision when he created the infamous spy. (Nov. 14th)

The Soloist- Jamie Foxx may of finally picked his first good movie since Ray, as he plays a classical music prodigy who has found himself sleeping on the streets of L.A. The film also stars newly revived Robert Downey Jr. (Chaplin, Iron Man) and Catherine Keener (Capote) whom I swear never picks a bad movie. (Nov. 21st)

Milk- Sean Penn is obviously looking for another Oscar with his portrayal of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man elected into public office. Penn is surrounded by hot upcoming actors such as Emile Hirsch (Into the Wild, Lords of Dogtown) and James Franco (Spiderman). The film is also directed by Oscar nominated Gus Van Sant (Good Will Hunting, Finding Forester). (Nov. 26th)

Doubt- Starring Meryl Streep (The Deer Hunter, Out of Africa) as a nun who confronts a priest (Philip Seymour Hoffman) about abusing a black student. The movie has a lot of potential and it should be interesting to see how John Patrick Stanley directs the film, given he has only directed one other motion picture (Joe Verses the Volcano). (Dec. 12th)

The Class- A French film about a high school teacher who has trouble getting through to his students. There is not very much information about this film, but it did win the prestigious Golden Palm d'Or at Cannes this year. (Dec. 25h)

Revolutionary Road- One big reason to see this movie, it's directed by Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Road to Perdition). Starring Leonardo DiCaprio (The Departed, Gangs of New York) and Kate Winslet (Iris, Little Children) as a young married couple having trouble dealing with conforming to the 1950's lifestyle. (Dec. 26th)

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button- Possibly the most hyped movie of the fall, stars Brad Pitt (Babel) as Benjamin Button who was "born under unusual circumstances," as a man who was born in his eighties and ages backwards. Adapted from the F. Scott Fitzgerald short story by Charlie Kaufman, this movie has everybody talking Oscars. (Dec. 25th)

Hopefully Badass Movies of the Fall Pt. 1

W.- Director Oliver Stone (Natural Born Killers, Platoon) is as brilliant as he is liberal, this bold depiction of George Bush should be interesting to say the least.

Changeling- A Clint Eastwood production seems to be the closest thing to a sure thing these days, as Angelina Jolie plays a dramatic role as a mother who is searching for her kidnapped son. (Oct. 24th)

Synecodoche, New York- the directorial debut of my all-time favorite screenwriter Charlie Kaufman (Adaptation, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) narrates a story about a theatre director who is in the process of making his masterpiece as he is suffering from a disease that is slowly shutting down his body. By the way, the movie is starring Philip Seymour Hoffman (Capote), Catherine Keener (Being John Malkovich), and Michelle Williams (Brokeback Mountain). (Oct. 24th)

 

Zack and Miri Make a Porno- Director Kevin Smith (Clerks, Dogma) is back. Supported by currently hip funny man Seth Rogen (Pineapple Express, Superbad). The title is intrigue enough to see this film. (Oct. 31st)

Role Models- Paul Rudd (Knocked Up) and Seann William Scott (Dude, Where's My Car?) are forced to do community service with smart mouthed children and Christopher Mintz-Plasse (aka McLovin) now that sounds funny. (Nov. 7th)

Australia- About the bombing of Darwin in Australia during World War II, Australia stars Nicole Kidman (The Hours) and Hugh Jackman (The Prestige) in what appears to be a visual spectacle of the year. (N0v. 26th)

Albums Everybody Should Own

Whether or not they're yours or my favorite albums, these works have an undeniable place in music history. Only rule, no repeating the artist. 

Revolver, The Beatles

Highway 61 Revisited, Bob Dylan

Kind of Blue, Miles Davis

King of the Delta Blues Singers, Robert Johnson

Electric Ladyland, The Jimi Hendirx Experience

Tommy, The Who

At Folsom Prison, Johnny Cash

A Love Supreme, John Coltrane

The Velvet Underground & Nico, The Velvet Underground

What's Going On, Marvin Gaye

Live at the Apollo, James Brown

Exile On Main Street, The Rolling Stones

Pet Sounds, The Beach Boys

Astral Weeks, Van Morrison

I Never Loved A Man The Way I Loved You, Aretha Franklin

The Dock of the Bay, Otis Redding

Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin

Harvest, Neil Young

The Dark Side of the Moon, Pink Floyd

Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols, The Sex Pistols

The Clash, The Clash

Meat Is Murder, The Smiths

Doolittle, Pixies

Nevermind, Nirvana

(What's The Story) Morning Glory?, Oasis

Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, Wilco

Elephant, The White Stripes

In Rainbows, Radiohead

The Foot Fist Way

The Foot Fist Way is a low budget comedy that was shot in only 19 days staring Danny McBride as an over eccentric tae kwon do instructor. The movie has a plot, but is more of an excuse to tie together "kick-ass" jokes. A significant part of the movie is clips of little children, graceless middle-aged men, and senior citizens awkwardly practicing tae kwon do. 

The movie revolves around McBride's character Fred Simmons and his relationship with his dimwitted wife and his hero Chuck "the truck" Taylor. Simmons, like most comedy leads today, is exceptionally stupid and arrogant but is also oddly somebody for the audience to cheer for.  

There isn't much to the movie, but if you like laughing out loud while watching some "crazy awesome" tae kwon do, then this is the movie for you.

B

Here's a link to the badass trailer