Now You've Seen The Dark Knight.....Now What?

Hello folks.

For people who've watched the new Batman over the weekend......your question might be "Where can I get more of this!" I have an answer for you.

Batman has been around since the late 30's.....and many runs by creators have been singled out as fantastic in their run. Denny O'neil, Neal Adams, and the original Bob Kane have made the Dark Knight who he is today. But, there are 3 stories that have been released in the last 25 years that perfectly capture who the Batman is.

First and foremost is Dark Knight Returns. Frank Miller turned the comics world on its head with his alternate universe Batman. He's retired, and Gotham is going to hell. So The Batman returns to bring order. It's violent, gritty, and viewed as the best Batman story period.

Second, Frank Miller returned to Bats with Batman Year One. Considered now the definative look at Batman's beginnings. It's thought provoking, down and dirty, and interesting to see a green Batman.

Third, is Batman:Hush. Featuring the ABSOLUTELY gorgeous artwork of Jim Lee, Batman has to get down to detective work to find a man killing those who are close to him. (Villians and heroes.) It's a great story featuring a battle between a bewitched Superman, and Batman.

Happy reading!

Jason

I'm sick of eras ending!

How much can I take! Sopranoes.....over! Harry Potter books.....over! Inside the NFL......over! Now comes word today that Roger Ebert and Richard Roeper have opted to not sign on for another season of Ebert and Roeper.

NOW COME ON!


They hint at another show with them coming down the pike.....but criminy.....I'm just tired of stuff I love coming to and end. I guess that's just a sign of getting older.....but I'd rather not.

I've been watching their show, and the many forms of it since the late '70s. PBS's Sneak Previews, with Siskel and Ebert was a treat I never missed. Yes I was 7, but I LOVED the show. They eventually moved to At the Movies....a syndicated show. And then Siskel and Ebert and the movies. This lasted until the death of Gene Siskel, when Roeper was the annointed replacement. (Bonus for you, if you know who replaced Siskel and Ebert on Sneak Previews.....and At the Movies! Answer at the end.)

Of course the current show has been without Ebert for two years, as he recovers from Throat Cancer surgery. And, he revoked the current shows use of Thumbs Up, when Disney wouldn't pony up enough cash to use it. And now today, Ebert and Roeper have quit.

The only constant in life is change.....well I'd like it to slow down for awhile!

Jason

(Answer to your bonus question, and no fair looking at wikipedia. Neal Gabler and Jeffrey Lyons were the replacements on Sneak Previews. Rex Reed and Bill Harris were the replacements on At the Movies. If you got both, or any of them, you are a true movie maven.)

Football Season Starts Tonight @ Midnight

Hello folks,

My national nightmare ends tonight at midnight. The unofficial beginning of the football season starts with the release of EA sports NCAA football 2009!

Since February with the end of the Super Bowl, I get into a funk. I miss football terribly. (Arena doesn't fit the bill) There's few things I love more than a full day of college football on Saturday, and NFL on Sunday. Yes I'm sick, but I at least know it.

So tonight, is the first sign that football is coming back. The football magazines are showing up at stores. Camps start at the end of the month, and pre-season starts at the beginning of August.

I'm a happy camper.

Jason

World Series of Poker- $9.1 Million for the Winner

I hope everyone had a fantastic Fourth of July Weekend. Here in the Tri-Cities, we could not have had three better days of weather. Not too hot.....but hot enough.

Part of my weekend was checking out the progress in the World Series of Poker- Main Event.



All time leader in World Series Bracelets, and being in the money, Phil Hellmuth arrived, in a full military uniform. Hellmuth has a tradition of showing up late to every event he's in. Nobody loves the spotlight on Phil, than Phil. Last year he was going to show up in a Nascar vehicle....but wrecked it the day before. He still showed up in a Nascar outfit. Phil is doing alright this year, he has around 79000 chips left. Well behind the chip leaders....but theres a long way to go.

Today is the only day off for the remaining competetors. One group gets back to action tomorrow, and another on Wednesday. Then they play for a little less that a week straight, until the final table is set. Then....they have to wait for November to play for the prize.

Currently, 3663 players remain out of 6844. The top prize is $9.1 million....up a little from last year. Should be fun!

Have a great week,

Jason