A Dowminating Movie Review - "How to Train Your Dragon"

You ever hear the saying, “Don’t judge a book by its cover”? Well, the same can be said about movies and their titles. When I first heard about this movie, I thought it was going to be some dumb kids’ movie. I mean, common, just look at the title. It screams “KIDS MOVIE! All Adults who like their movies to have a thing called a plotline STAY AWAY!” Well, after seeing a few previews, I thought it probably would be a decent movie to go and see. I figured I would at least get a few laughs and be somewhat entertained. I could not have been more wrong.

“How to Train Your Dragon” is a heartwarming story of a young Viking named Hiccup who wants nothing more than to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a great dragon slayer. There is only one problem; he is the scrawniest misfit that makes all other misfits look good. One night, while his village is being attacked, he manages to use an invention of his to shoot down a dragon. The rest of the village doesn’t believe Hiccup, so goes out on his own to track down his prize. However, when he finds the beast, he is unwilling to kill it, so he sets it free. This act of kindness results in a series of events where he eventually befriends the dragon. As a result of this unusual friendship, Hiccup comes to question everything that he and his village know about Dragons.

I would have to say that the 3D animation in this movie is very well done and probably the best 3D experience I have ever had. If "Avatar" set the bar or 3D movies, "Dragon" just set it even higher. The 3D experience in “Avatar” I felt at times could be overwhelm with all of the stunning graphics. “Dragon” managed not only to make you feel like you were in the action, but did it in a way that you were not overwhelmed by it all. "Dragon" also didn’t fall into the classic 3D pitfall of throwing lots of things at the camera, and whenever they did, it seemed like it was something that should have happened that way, like flying though a fire-burst or having an attacking dragon coming at you,

Also, the flight scenes of this movie were absolutely breathtaking and were my favorite parts of the whole experience. They are probably the most well animated segments of the movie, and when you add the 3D aspect of the movie to them, you are left with just this feeling of awe, wonder, and the longing to know how to fly.

Another great aspect of this movie is the action. Vikings are not known for their peaceful ways, and this movie has just the right amount of action for its story. The action in this move serves a real purpose to the story and in character development. These scenes have some of the best character development you could ask for in an action scene. You get to know some of the other characters who don’t get a lot of screen time very well here, and those you do see throughout the movie, the action helps you get to know them even better.

One other amazing thing about this movie is the soundtrack. As a lover of music, I set a very high standard for the soundtracks of movies. After all, a soundtrack can make or break a movie. John Powell did a wonderful job in making the music for this movie fit. It blends in very well with the scenes and sounds amazing. You are not aware of the music that is playing, yet if the music were not there, you would know that something was missing. It is one of the better movie soundtracks and does its job of complementing and completing the movie.

Overall, I would say that this is easily the best movie to have come out so far this year. This movie is very much worth, and would even go as far to say that it should only be seen in 3D. It has everything one could want in an animated movie: absolutely AMAZING visuals, great action, a very well thought out and funny story, and a little bit of guy gets girl. This movie has set the bar that all movies to come out this year will be very hard pressed to match, let alone overcome. So, what are you waiting for? Stop reading this and go see “How to Train Your Dragon” if you haven’t already. And if you have seen it, then go see it again. It's worth it.

Who, What, Where. My 2010 Mock Draft

With the NFL Draft coming up, a lot of experts are coming out with their Mock Drafts. I decided to do a bit of research into what the first ten teams need and come out with my own personal Mock Draft. So here is Dowminator Mock Draft 1.0

1. St. Louis Rams:
Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma University
Marc Bulger is getting old and is not performing like he did when he took the reins for this team from Kurt Warner. The Rams need a quarterback who can be the face of the franchise and take them into the future. Normally, I would worry about a pick like Bradford this early. He is coming off recovery from shoulder surgery and only played a couple of games last season. However, reports show that he is throwing very well and he has proven that he has the mental capacity to be a very good quarterback in the NFL.

2. Detroit Lions:
Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State
Last season the Lions spent the top pick of the draft on Matthew Stafford, signing him to a huge multi-million dollar deal before the draft even started. Well, last season he took a beating, being sacked 24 times in 10 games. Both Schwartz and general manager Martin Mayhew know that Stafford is the face of the future Detroit Lions, and in order to protect their hefty investment in their future, they take the best offensive tackle available and draft this beast from Oklahoma State

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma
In the 2009, the Bucs ranked last in Rushing Defense. The biggest cause for this was that they didn’t have an inside presence that could be a brick wall. McCoy would fill this hole very nicely. They could also take Ndamukong Suh. However McCoy is just a little bit better and would also help out just a bit more in the passing game as well as being that big presence inside against the run.

4. Washington Redskins
C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson
Many think that Shanahan is going to take an OT or a QB with the number 4 pick, but I don’t. However Shanahan has proven that he loves running backs and Spiller easily meets the requirements Shanahan likes in a RB. He is fast and explosive out of the backfield and has is a threat in the passing game. This is just the kind of running back the Skins need to shift their running game into high gear.

5. Kansas City Chiefs
Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa
I could spend forever on the Chiefs, but I’ll try and be as brief as possible. The Chiefs could go 2 ways here. They could easily take Eric Berry, the Safety from Tennessee, to help out with their atrocious passing game. However, it has been proven that Safeties taken in the top 10 are not that much better than those taken later in the round or even in the second round. Or they could take Bulaga, place him at the left tackle position, and move Branden Albert to right guard, filling 2 holes in their offensive line. Also, GM Scott Pioli likes character guys and Bulaga fits that bill very nicely with no off the field issues. So the choice becomes clear, and that choice is Bulaga.

6. Seattle Seahawks
Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma
With OT Walter Jones retiring, the Hawks have a huge hole to fill on their offensive line, and Trent Williams fills this hole nicely. They could also take Jimmy Clausen (QB, Notre Dame) but right now the tackle position is the place where they will need the most help.

7. Cleveland Browns
Eric Berry, S, Tennessee
The Browns have several needs and so they have several options. They could take Jimmy Clausen, and taking Clausen at this point would allow them to take the time to shape him into the signal caller that he has the potential to be. However, their greatest need at this point is at the Safety position, so they take Berry for the immediate impact he would have on their defensive passing game.

8. Oakland Raiders
Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland
Owner Al Davis should have learned his lesson last year and draft for the needs of the team and not speed. Nothing would make me happier if Al Davis wasted another pick for the Raiders again this year, but I don’t think that will happen. Campbell fits in nicely here and fills a hole they have had for some time in their O Line.

9. Buffalo Bills
Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma St.
Last year, Terrell Onews had minimal impact at this position and he is now looking to move on. As a result the Bills have a need at the receiver position and Bryant would fill that need nicely. His off the field issues raises some questions, but Chan Gaily is one to overlook them and give Bryant his shot with the Bills. However, if they decide not to take a risk with Bryant, Jimmy Clausen would fill in nicely here if he is still available.

10. Jacksonville Jaguars
Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida
The Jags have a glaring need at defensive end. Last season, both ends only produced a combined 2 sacs. Pierre-Paul has the speed and talent to be a great end, but lacks experience. However pros, when combined with the need, outweigh the cons, so the Jaguars take a gamble and go with Pierre-Paul.



This here is what I think the first 10 teams will take as their picks. That doesn’t mean that this these represent who I think they SHOULD take, as all of these teams have many problem areas that they could address. For instance, I think the Browns should think long term and draft Clausen, but Mike Holmgren (Brown’s GM) has said that he will not take a QB in the first round. But I am not the GM of these teams, so what I think has no bearing on what they will do. All I have done here is look at trends and needs of these teams and said who I think is going to go where. We will see just how right I am come draft day on April 22.

Death to Sudden Death!

Ok, so I am going to start off by saying this. I love football. My favorite time of year is the 4 months at the end of the year (and the January for the playoffs) when the primary focus of the US, in terms of athletics is on football. However, after the season ends, there isn’t a whole lot of excitement in the world of Football. Yeah, there is the draft and maybe a big free-agency splash, but that is about. But today is the exception, and that thing is what I’m talking about. “What happened?” you ask? Not much, just a simple rule change. But this rule change is one of the most hotly discussed rules in recent years.

Many of you who know football know that I am talking about the rule for Sudden Death Overtime, and know just how out of hand things have gotten because of it. For those of you who do not know, please allow me to give you a bit of a history lesson mixed with some statistics.

In 1974, the NFL put in place the current Overtime (OT) Sudden Death rule in an effort to limit the amount of ties that were occurring. What this did is, in the event of a tie, the game would continue into a 5th 15 minute period until either team scored. The first team to score would win the game. If at the end of the 15 min period neither team had scored, the game would end in a tie. This change did what it was supposed to do, and limit the number of ties that were occurring.

During the time from 1974-1993, the team that got the ball first won the game 34.4% of the time on the first possession. Now here is where things get hairy. In 1994, the league moved the spot of the kickoff back 5 yards from the 35 yard line to the 30 yard line. The reason for this change was that kickers were kicking the ball into or out the back of the end zone on a consistent basis, resulting in a touchback and no chance for return. Making this change moved the average starting point for offenses from the 20 yard line (on a touchback the ball is places on the 20 yard line) to around the 30 yard line. Now most of you are asking, “How does this translate into Sudden Death?”

After this change, the team that won the coin toss at the start of OT won the game (on the first possession) 59.8% of the time. Basically since offenses didn’t have to go as far to get into field goal range, the team that lost the coin toss didn’t even get to touch the ball. Not very fair or completive at all.
Now that you know, here is how the rule is changing.
1) If first team to score a touchdown wins the game
2) If the team that wins the coin toss kicks a field goal, the opposing team gets an opportunity to have the ball and
a. Tie the game with a field goal or
b. Win the game with a touchdown
3) If both teams have had the ball for at least one possession and the game remains at a tie, the first team to score wins

Now, before you all run in the streets celebrating this change, know this. These rules will only apply in the playoffs. So during the regular season, it’s going to be same old sudden death as usual. But this change is still a good thing. This simply means that at the owners meatings next year, they will evaluate if the change was a success and allowed for more competitive and fair OT’s. If they like the results they will most likely vote allow this change to occur in the regular season, where it will have the most impact.

Overall, I am very happy with this change. This means that games will not be decided by a coin toss, which was what was starting to happen. It give teams a fair chance to compete and remain competitive if they find themselves on the losing side of the coin toss. So Kudos NFL for a step in the right direction.