I just read that Hulu is developing an iPhone app that’ll stream over 3G and Wi-Fi.  What’s more, it’s supposed to be better than good.  Actually, the comment was the app was “badass”, but that remains to be seen.  Still, good news.  I hope it doesn’t get killed like the South Park app.

It’s been a year, but I have made my fateful return to the Toronto area this week.  I’m here on business, and it feels nice to be back.  I’m here on work, but I always enjoy Canada.  To be honest, I think Montreal is okay, but I like the city of Toronto.  It’s very metropolitan.  Lots of places to see, lots of great restaurants, and I think the people are nice.   I’m not actually staying in Toronto this trip – we’re in Mississauga, but maybe we’ll get to visit.  One of my wife’s cousins lives somewhere around here, so I should try to visit him and his family.

The trip itself was pretty uneventful.  No problems getting to Newark airport, flight was on time, no problems with bags, and the hotel is pretty nice.  Even better, they upgraded my car rental (at no cost) and I’m driving a Chevy Trailblazer.  What can I say?  So far, so good. 

This is also a good week, as it’s my birthday on Wednesday, which marks it the 2nd year in a row that I’ve spent my birthday in Canada.  Coincidence? I think not.  I think it’s a conspiracy involving the Canadian Prime Minister, and possibly the Queen of England?  Why the British Queen?  The question is why not?

I think I’m rambling.  Long story short: I’m north of the US border, everything is peachy. Don’t text or email me, because I’m roaming, and will cost me each and every time you write. Wait until I get back, but if you need to reach me, the cell phone works fine.  I love having a phone that works internationally.

UPDATED: Man, I have such a bad memory.  My wife was kind enough to remind me that I was home last year during my birthday, and not up north.  I was actually working in NYC that day.  I wonder why I thought I was in Canada during my birthday last year?  Blame the encroaching senility!

The next movie in my queue was Man on Fire, a 2004 action movie starring Denzel Washington and Dakota Fanning. It’s got so-so reviews from users, but I thought it looked interesting.  The movie is about a man with a questionable past, and dealing with a lot of demons (Denzel) becoming a bodyguard to a little girl (Fanning) in Mexico City.  He tries to keep his emotional distance, but ends up getting close to Fanning’s character.  Not a big surprise, but she gets kidnapped, and he goes on the warpath against anyone who was involved with it. 

I thought the movie was good, although there were some aspects that I didn’t like.  I felt there was a bit too much artsy-ness when showing Denzel being tormented internally with his drinking and past demons — that part wore thin in the beginning.  Understanding the fact that this was  2-hour movie, I do understand they had to get the Denzel and Fanning characters ingratiated, but it still felt a bit rushed.  Then again, maybe more time passed chronologically, and possibly didn’t notice. 

I enjoyed the parts where Denzel’s character was kicking ass. Denzel’s character didn’t pull any punches either.  No, he’s killing them brutally, which I felt was honest to the character, and made it a better movie.  I thought the ending started to fall apart, but I’d still recommend this movie as a rental.

Do you know who else is in this movie?  Marc Antony and Radha Mitchell.  Marc Antony, you know.  Radha Mitchell, if you remember, was the actress who starred with Vin Diesel in Pitch Black.

Man on Fire (2004)