SEBRING SOCCER: Streaks Face ‘Chobee Tonight

SEBRING, November 25, 2008 – The Sebring Blue Streaks boys varsity soccer team looks for redemption tonight against non district opponent Okeechobee at Firemen’s Memorial Field.

Game time is 7:30, but the junior varsity begins play, also against Chobee, at 6:00.

The varsity Streaks suffered a serious setback against district foe Palmetto Monday night, 6-0. Despite some fine individual efforts, the team, which has looked much better in other games, appeared dazed, particularly in the middle and on defense, where, despite a congestion of Streak players, Tiger attackers were allowed to penetrate to areas in front of the goal.

Coach Tim Boulay will likely tighten things up for Chobee and strengthen the middle.

The varsity Lady Streaks also took a 2-0 loss on the chin from the Palmetto Lady Tigers. With some of their best and fastest players used on defense – Amanda Grimaldo as goalkeeper and Lisa Przychocki on the back line, the Lady Streaks were unable to mount a serious offensive threat once they fell behind.

The JV Lady Streaks suffered as well, as the mixed boys and girls JV team from Heartland Christian roughed them up, 8-1. Despite the score, however, there were several bright spots that included Danielle Acosta, Jeanette Benitez, Mekenzie Hargaden, Bethany Alcordo, and goalkeeper Meghan Williams.

BOX OFFICE: ‘Twilight’ Takes Bite Out Of ‘Quantum’

SEBRING, November 25, 2008 – There might be more action in Quantum of Solace than any Bond film ever, but Twilight swept away all the action and took a huge bite out of Quantum’s revenues the weekend of Nov. 21-23.

Twilight finished as the No. 1 film in the land with a $69.6 million haul. What remains to be seen is if this contemporary vampire flick has staying power during the holiday season.

Quantum of Solace fell an astonishing 60.4 % with revenues of $26.7 million. That was good enough to keep it in the No. 2 position. Reviews of the film have been above average to good but not overwhelming as they were for Daniel Craig’s first shot at the role.

Bolt finished in 3rd with $26.2 million and, though the trailers looked good, it appears to be another underperforming 3D film. It does not show any signs of being a blockbuster.

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa pulled in more than $15 million, but it, too, is underperforming, having cumed about $137 million. It should exceed its $150 million production cost, and worldwide revenues will give it a boost, too, but moviegoers may be displeased with a lack of holiday themed movies during the holidays.

We’ll see how that possible explanation pans out with results from next weekend, after Four Chistmases debuts at the Fairmount Cinema Square.

Fireproof has come to the Fairmount as well, and we encourage moviegoers, particularly Christians, to see this terrific film.

NEW MOVIES FRIDAY: Spotlight On Twilight

COLD-BLOODED LOVE: He might be blue and cold, but vampire Edward (Robert Pattinson) has the hots for Isabella (Kristen Stewart). The only problem is some of his kind see her as hot, too, as in meal, in Twilight.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SUMMIT ENTERTAINMENT

SEBRING, November 21, 2008 – The major new release today is Twilight, which debuted with a midnight showing.

Coming up next Tuesday/Wednesday, however, will be Four Christmases with Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon, and Transporter 3, the series that made Jason Statham such an in-demand and good B film actor. It’s high tech B, though, so expect lots of action and effects. He’s a terrific martial artist.

OUR RECOMMENDATIONS: Quantum of Solace, Twilight (mostly for teens and young adults), Saw 5 (for horror fans only), the comedy Role Models, and the star-studded Appaloosa.

BOX OFFICE: Bond Banks Success!

NO WALK ON THE BEACH: No sirree! Spy work is hard! That’s why Bond (Daniel Craig) and Camille (Olga Kurylenko) look so… so… so… sandy? Well, OK, they look great. That’s why they get paid the big bucks. They’re beautiful and know how to deliver fake kicks and punches and fire fake bullets better than most. You can catch the action – and the good looks – in the latest Jame Bond movie, Quantum of Solace.

PHOTO COURTESY OF COLUMBIA PICTURES

SEBRING, November 18, 2008 – Bond is back, then he left for the bank!

Quantum of Solace finished the weekend of Nov. 14-16, 2008, as the box office champion for North America. The latest Bond inhaled $67.5 million and averaged a whopping $19,528 at each theater it played.

Surprisingly, Yahoo! users and critics have given it only above average marks. The trailers look good, so I plan to see it.

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa dropped only 44.5 % in its second week, so it still grossed a hefty $35 million and has already grossed cumulatively $116.9 million in two weeks of release.

Rounding out the Top Three is Role Models with $11.2 million. No other film scored in double digits.

Movie Recommendations for Nov. 7 Weekend

SEBRING, November 7, 2008 – We have a few good movies to tell ya about. One of them is Fireproof, which remains a mainstay at the Regal Eagle Ridge in Lake Wales, barely a 20-minute ride from the north end of the county (metro Avon Park). This unabashedly Christian film has moved folks to tears and rekindled the flames of love. And as we’ve said before, the train scene is a nail-biter. Below is the trailer:

There are lots of things to do once you get to the Eagle Ridge mall, including the Recreation Station, Bowling, and a terrific sports restaurant, not to mention the usual array of sports stores.

As we observed yesterday, Role Models opened at the Fairmount Cinema Square. It’s about two guys (played by Seann William Scott of American Pie fame and Paul Rudd) who get into a wee bit of trouble and are sentenced to community service, where they have to take on big brotherhood for two extremely challenging children. The trailer for Role Models is below:

Playing at the Regal Eagle Ridge is Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa. The old crew of zoo animals, plus a few, is back and into all kinds of antics. This looks like a great kids film. The trailer is below:

I have little doubt that Madagascar 2 will be the box office champ come Monday. The Thanksgiving/Christmas season is almost here. That means the new James Bond flick and the Vince Vaughn-Reese Witherspoon comedy are almost here, too. Get ready!

Have a blessed weekend and a great time at the movies!!!

Sebring Earns Dramatic Fourth Quarter Win Over AP

THE DIFFERENCE: Sebring kicker Buck Schroeder delivered when it counted Friday night, kicking the winning extra point that elevated Sebring and left the Red Devils of Avon Park disconsolate.

AVON PARK, November 7, 2008 – The Sebring Blue Streaks rallied with a little more than three minutes to go in the game against Avon Park Friday night, then sealed the deal with an interception to defeat their bitter arch-rivals, 14-13, at Joe Franza Stadium.

Jack Howard caught a pass from Matt Grubb and ran into the back of the end zone for the tying touchdown. Then Buck Schroeder blasted the decisive extra point through the center of the uprights to launch a swelling of pride and cheers among Sebring fans.

Here is the video of the tying touchdown:

Then Sebring kicker Buck Schroeder gave his team the margin of victory with his crucial, dead-center extra point! The video is below:

A fumble recovery with little more than a minute left sealed the win, and only Sebring was left standing!

URGENT!: Sebring Defeats Avon Park

AVON PARK, November 7, 2008 – The Sebring Blue Streaks scored with little more than 3 minutes left to play in the game, and Buck Schroeder nailed the crucial extra point as Sebring defeated Avon Park, 14-13, at Joe Franza Stadium Friday night.

Heartland Gets Three New Movies Nov. 7!!!

SEBRING, November 7, 2008 – You often see adults who coach or officiate at the YMCA wear colorful T-shirts or uniforms that declare “Official Role Model.”

Well, the movie Role Model debuts in Highlands County at the Fairmount Cinema 6.

Though R-rated, this one looks more acceptable than some of the quasi-X comedies Hollywood has vomited.

The kids animated feature Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, and the comedy Soul Men, with Samuel L. Jackson and Bernie Mac, open at the Regal Eagle Ridge. It is R-rated and edgier than Role Models.

The Christian marriage story, Fireproof, continues to perform strongly and remains for yet another week at the Regal.

Some of the aforementioned movies also open the Carmike.

LOCAL ANGLE: Marriage Amendment Passes

SEBRING, November 5, 2008 – The Marriage Amendment passed in Highlands County by 77 % to 23 %, or 32,632 to 9,943.

Although the crushing victory was not necessarily achieved in other parts of the state, Floridians did adopt the amendment to their constitution by a 62.1 % to 37.9 %. The vote was 4,679,896 to 2,857,187.

The adoption of the amendment bars homosexual couples from marriage, though other legal options may exist for them. Only one man and one woman may be legally construed to be partners in marriage.

Whether that would affect divorce and remarriage was uncertain.

Floridians also decided they wanted to keep on the books a law that bars foreigners ineligible for citizenship from real property ownership. Highlands voters rejected an proposal to erase that law by a 56 % to 44 % margin, or 22,455 to 17,733 votes.

Floridians accepted amendments nos. 3, 4, and 6, related to taxation and assessment, but rejected No. 8, which would have given the legislature authority to force counties to impose a local option tax to help fund community colleges. Highlands Countians also rejected No. 8 by a 63 % to 37 % margin, or 24,752 to 14,478.

LOCAL ANGLE: McCain Wins Highlands; Loses Florida, Country

SEBRING, November 5, 2008 – He may have lost the state and the country, but Sen. John McCain was first in the hearts of his Highlands County countrymen.

The war veteran claimed more than 58 % of the popular vote here, outdistancing Barack Obama by 25,903 to 17,913.

The achievement was remarkable considering the mood of the country and the high Democratic turnout during early voting. Even though about 900 more Democrats turned out during early voting, however, McCain took the early vote, 10,552 to 9,811. That’s about a 1,600 vote turnaround for McCain.

McCain also took the absentee/provisional ballot vote by 5,188 to 2,439 and the election day vote by 10,162 to 5,661.

Highlands remained staunchly Republican, with every Republican candidate winning except in the sheriff’s race, where incumbent Susan Benton won re-election.

The likely explanation for the results: Highlands voters, even among Democrats, are conservative; many Dixiecrats remain within the Democratic Party. A Dixiecrat is a Southern Democrat, one without the left-wing leanings of the Northern end of the party.