What a Dreamboat

He's an Edmonton Oiler.
He scores goals.
He has a sweet Eastern European accent.
He's ridiculously good-looking.

He's Petr Sykora.
And I love him.

My Beloved Edmonton Oilers engaged in the always-exciting Battle of Alberta against the enemies, the Calgary Lames, and despite being clearly outplayed, we squeaked by with a win. Deservingly, Sykora was the first star, having scored both Oiler goals, including the gee-dub-gee. And while I am obviously thrilled with this Czech, I am unfortunately disappointed with his fellow countryman and linemate, Ales Hemsky. Sure, he also got two points against the Flames, but he's really been, in my opinion, subpar. SUBPAR. His neutral zone play has been abysmal. He's finally starting to shoot a little more, but that isn't saying much since he loses the puck more often than not. I just want him to dangle it. Dangle it and score. SCORE!!!

And what's with Stoll? It seems that he's been kicked out of the faceoff circle about a zillion times in the past few games, and he's been relegated to the fourth line. Tsk tsk. A few games ago, centering the fourth line wouldn't have been so bad, but that little spark they had sort of fizzled. Ah! And when the fourth line was out there with Bergie and Greene???? Eeek!

But yes, I should actually stop complaining, because there's nothing to complain about when the Oilers are winning.... except for when every other team in the Northwest is winning. Okay, now I can stop.

Creepin'

I was looking through my tracking information today and it dawned on me the number of regular readers that have never made a comment here. I can say with certainty that I have commented at least once on every blog that I read with any regularity. Thus, it creeped me out a little that people are reading my blog and I have no idea who they are. Or, I know who they are, but don't know it's them. For example, there is someone who reads my blog from Calgary quite often. I don't think I know anyone in Calgary except my aunt, who definitely doesn't read this. There is someone in Edmonton who I'm assuming is not someone I know from school since they can read my blog in the middle of the day from the same location they read it from on weekends, which I am assuming is home. In the end, it's difficult to resolve what's more creepy: knowing I have regular lurkers, or the fact that I'm keeping tabs on these lurkers.

Maybe I'll try my hand at a little magic here....
Lurkers....REVEAL YOURSELVES!

A Most Prestigious Cinematic Production

As part of my long weekend recuperative activities, I went to see The Prestige this afternoon. I was impressed, though initially hesitant about its subject matter considering The Illusionist was recently released. I was assured, however, that they are not similar apart from the fact that they both feature magicians.

The story is probably the most interesting. It starts off believably, focusing on the illusory aspect of turn of the [nineteenth] century magicians Alfred Borden (Christian Bale) and Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman), who under the guidance of Cutter (Michael Caine) create more and more illusions to wow the masses. The "accidental" death of Angier's wife, Julia (Piper Perabo), however, turns Borden and Angier against each other, and a very extensive rivalry ensues, each man attempting to discover and better the other's secrets to their illusions. It gets especially interesting with the involvement of early studies in electricity as conducted by Nikola Tesla (David Bowie, who looks old and not very Bowiesque). I cannot say much more without ruining the creepy, twisted ending, but just know that it's pretty clever and justifiable.

It's sort of weird in that it's hard to distinguish which of the two main characters are worthy of your support. Throughout the majority of the film, I thought I like Angier better, but then my affection for him waned a little as his obsession with revenge went from somewhat noble to downright creepy. Borden was hard to trust, though as the story unravelled, you couldn't help but feel for him... a little.

Just as a note, Scarlett Johansson's role as Olivia Wenscombe, the magician's assistant, is played up a little on the movie poster and in the trailer. Though her character's role in the story is kind of important (as a double agent at the height of the rivalry), it seemed like Johansson was there more to look pretty than to act. And she has a super-fake British accent.

Speaking of accents, it was weird to hear Christian Bale with his "native" accent. I think that in everything I have seen him to date he's had a North American accent. And I really didn't get why Hugh Jackman's character had a North American accent, when it seemed like he should have had an English one (as most of it was set in London and his travels to Colorado seemed foreign).

And speaking of Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman, HELLO HOTTIES. Seriously. H-O-T.

One thing that viewers might find tedious would be the way in which the backstory was presented. It jumps around a lot, starting with the end and then filling in the blanks sort of deal. Sometimes hard to follow, yes, but ultimately it allows the ending to be presented to full effect.

So...... this was a pretty good movie. I would recommend that you see it, if not now, eventually. I would now like to see The Illusionist, just to see how it portrays the old-timey magician bit. I also want to read the book The Prestige, though I think the movie was based loosely on it.

Other Movies I'd Like To See:

• The Departed
• Apocalypto (with my Dad)
• Stranger Than Fiction
• Borat (just because......)
• Night At The Museum
• The Fountain
• Flushed Away
• Children of Men
  
• Babel
• Confetti
• For Your Consideration (I watched Waiting for Guffman and Best In Show this weekend - too funny)

At Long Last

The happy couple together for the first time in three weeks.

It is difficult to express just how content with life I am at the moment. I am done with midterms. I have a four-day weekend to recuperate. I have finally been reunited with Mr. Fahrenheit, my boyfr- erm, laptop of two years. My life could only be better if the Oilers were winning more.

That's pretty much all I had to say.

McGeough Must Die

You know, I've never really like Mick McGeough. The way he refused to wear a helmet until recently. The way he always looks a little too tanned. The way he wears the collar of his uniform. The way he lives up to his visually impaired monicker.....

I was having a perfectly splendid Friday until the 19:56-ish mark of the third period in the Oilers-Stars game. I had remained awake through both of my classes. I got paid extra for tutoring. I learned I earned a perfect score on a recent midterm. I ate a fine steak for dinner and took Baileys in my coffee. I even enjoyed watching the Flames-Bluejackets shootout, and despite the lacklustre play of the Oilers, I almost enjoyed a hockey game.

Maybe it was the Baileys, but I was almost moved to tears when that goal was called off. Tears! Me! TEARS!