April 1st. April Fool's Day. Bah!

April 1st has always been my least favorite day
of the year. Heck, I prefer April 15th over April 1st!
I don't mind paying taxes, but I sure hate April Fool's jokes.

Everyone wants to be a comedian. You're pants are unzipped. Har-dee-har. You dropped a dollar. Hooo-boy! Even some web sites get in on the fun by posting April Fool's "news" items. Ain't that a hoot?

Not really.

Well, this April 1st is different. Why, you ask? [And I thank you for asking.]

Because Sin City opened today. I was able to catch the first showing and it lived up to all of my expectations [which were high].

Many comic fans love to debate. They'll argue about who's the best artist or best writer; they'll argue about storylines. They'll even argue about who would win in a fight or race between characters. And quite often they'll argue about which comic became the best movie. Well friends, the days of THAT debate are over.

You see, Sin City is without a doubt the best translation of a comic story into a movie ever made. You may argue that you like a different "comic" movie better, but NO movie made from a comic has even been truer to the source material.

If you're a fan of Frank Miller's Sin City comics, then I'm preaching to the choir. If you don't like the Sin City yarns, then avoid the movie. And if you've never read the comics, then do a bit of research [there's nudity and stylized violence] before you make your decision. Keep in mind that the violence is more intense on the big screen than it appears on the comic page.

As for me, I absolutely loved Sin City.

Mickey Rourke is amazing [PERFECT!] as Marv. But then again, Rosario Dawson, Jessica Alba, Benicio Del Toro, Michael Clarke Duncan, Brittany Murphy, Devon Aokia, Alexis Bledel, and Elijah Wood are also perfectly cast.

Bruce Willis, although a bit young [Clint Eastwood would have been perfect ten years ago], and Clive Owen are absolutely right for their roles as well.

It was also great seeing Rutger Hauer, Powers Boothe, and Frank Miller in smal but important roles. I also have to give a special nod to Nicky Katt for his very brief but memorable part.

I posted earlier how much I love the Sin City soundtrack, but it's so good that it's worth repeating... so let me:I loved the Sin City soundtrack.

I can't wait to see Sin City again on the big screen... and you just know that I'll be counting down the days to the dvd.

And believe me, I'm not fooling.

Isn't that cover just the coolest? [Click on the image for a larger version and you'll get a better idea of just how cool it is.]

John Bolton is the artist who painted it for the cover of ESPers 2 which was published way back in 1986. ESPers was created by James Hudnall [who was also the series writer] and drawn by David Lloyd [and later John M. Burns]. It was a cool series about a group of people with exceptional psychic abilities who are recruited to help a woman rescue her kidnapped father from terrorists. [Man, was Hudnall ahead of his time!]

You can probably find the original issues at your local comics shop or get the trade paperback by clicking HERE.

24 continues to be in the midst of it's best season ever. Believe it or not, things are about to be taken up a notch!

USAToday [from today's edition] reports:

"The folks behind Fox's real-time thriller 24 are crowing that next week's episode contains a twist so unexpected, viewers will hardly believe it.

It may be hard to top the twists in a season that has featured a train crash, the kidnapping of the secretary of defense, a chain-reaction meltdown of nuclear plants and detonation of an electromagnetic pulse bomb. In an effort to help fans process the latest events, Fox is repeating Monday's episode Friday April 8 and Sunday April 10 (9 p.m. ET/PT both nights)

Ok. What will the twist be? Let the speculations begin.

The popularity of American Idol continues to grow as we get closer to choosing the ultimate winner. Last night Jessica Sierra was voted off. Although Randy, Paula and Simon felt that others should have gone before Jessica, I felt it was her time to go.

My personal favorite is still Scott Savol. I was impressed with Savol's singing from his first audition and am thrilled that he's lasted this long. I doubt he'll be the next American Idol, but hey, one can hope.

I'm very surprised that Nadia Turner has been in the bottom three a couple of times. She may not be the best singer, but I could see her winning the whole thing. Even if she doesn't, she's got a bright future.

Who do I think will win?

I'm glad you asked. Most likely it will be Carrie Underwood. I think that even if she were voted out next week, she would get a recording contract and do real well.

Who do I think will be voted off next?

Unless he blows the roof off with his next performance, my guess would be Anwar Robinson. [Nadia could be in danger as well since she has been in the bottom three twice.]

Anyone I'd like to see go?

I don't like to wish anyone bad luck, but Constantine has become somewhat irritating... but he probably has a strong fan base with teenage girls.

Still, one never knows how America will vote... that is until we tune in next Wednesday.

Johnnie Cochran, the attorney, best known for successfully defending O.J. Simpson against double-murder charges, died yesterday at the age of 67.

Already a well-known attorney when he took on the Simpson case, Cochran became perhaps the best known lawyer in the world after the "not guilty" verdict came in.

Cochran also became a part of pop culture, inspiring parodies of himself on shows from "Seinfield" to "South Park" to "Saturday Night Live." Cochran's line, "If it doesn't fit, you must acquit" became a catch phrase throughout the country. And to his credit Cochran took it all in stride.

I imagine that Cochran was able to laugh along with everyone because he was confident in his abilities as an attorney. Many people forget that in addition to his involvement in the Simpson case, Cochran also successfully defended James Brown, Todd Bridges [attempted murder], Tupac, Snoop Dog and many others.

I imagine that some folks aren't going to mourn Cochran's passing due to their anger over the Simpson verdict. And while that's their right, I believe that their anger is misdirected. If people want to be angry about the Simpson case, then look to OJ Simpson, or the jury or even the prosecution. To be angry with Johnnie Cochran because he was able to win what should have been an unwinable case, that's just silly.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Johnnie Cochran.