My Uncensored Review of My Time With Cricket

Like most college students working a part-time job in retail, I’m poor. I have rent to pay, an Internet bill to pay, books for school, and of course, a cell phone. For the most part, everyone needs a cell phone. If work needs to get a hold of you, if your family needs you, or if something happens, like say an emergency, it’s good to have a cell phone handy.  Since I’m poor, I try to find the cheapest plan for most everything.  For the Internet, I have Clear, which is only forty dollars a month for 4G, unlimited Internet, and I’ve never had any problems with them.  For my cell phone, at first, I had a prepaid cell phone with Virgin Mobile. It was nice and cheap, but with being a writer and doing a lot of social networking on the go, interviews, and reviews, I needed something more, but I didn’t want to pay an arm and a leg to do so.

I saw a lot of commercials about Cricket and their unlimited talk, text, and web plan. It was only forty dollars a month, which seemed pretty reasonable and fair. I went in to the Orland Park store, and the people seemed nice enough and helpful, so I went with them. I got one of their Blackberry phones. It was pretty cool at first and it offered me fast texting, but the phone itself turned out to be a piece of junk. Within a month of using it, the keys were chipping away as was the print on the keys. I understand that I text a lot, but compared to your average sixteen-year-old, I’m pretty tame. So, the cheapness of the phones was instantly a turn off. I tried to keep a positive state of mind, though, and keep rolling with them.

Before long, I had people tell me that they would receive my text messages up to three or four times, the same message. I would get dropped calls all the time, or one to no bars. Again, sometimes I’ll buy something and even though I know it might have been the wrong decision, I try to talk myself into seeing the bright side of things, even when the writing is on the wall that I made a horrible, horrible mistake.

Their online customer support also left a lot to be desired. First of all, and I’m not trying to be mean here, I had an incredibly difficult time trying to understand them. This causes frustration and confusion when trying to figure things out. When I have a problem, I want to have a civil and reasonable conversation with someone about it. I don’t want to have to figure out what in the blue hell they are saying. Like I mentioned previously, they seemed nice at first at the store in Orland, but when I went back in a few months later, it was an all-new staff that was in a word: dreadful.

To make a long story short, I had someone texting me non-stop that I did not want texting me. It was bothering me and annoying the crap out of me. I called up Cricket to see about blocking them and they said they are not able to block numbers. I could, however, get a new number, for fifteen dollars. So basically, I am being harassed, but I have to pay fifteen dollars to stop the harassment.  Does that make sense, on any planet, to you? That’s Cricket Customer Service for you!

Stupid me, I stayed with them, and back in November 2010, I was naïve and insane enough to buy one of their Android phones for 150 dollars. It took only a week for the back off the phone to fall off, without me dropping it. I went back to the store in Orland Park, and they were about as helpful as a man with two hands tied behind his back and a blindfold over his eyes. They simply shrugged their shoulders and said that there was nothing they could do about it, completely insensitive to the fact that I just dropped 150 dollars on their phone at their store a few days ago. The employees looked, to be frank, like drug dealers. They had slicked back hair, exposed chest hair, and pagers for God’s sake. I felt like I was going to the seedy side of town for a drug pick up. They told me I had to go all the way out to Bedford Park to get my phone fixed. Once there, I was rudely met by a large security guard and had to wait over an hour for them to look at my phone and fix it.  Seedy, dirty, and underhanded is exactly the vibe I got from their employees and their way of doing business.

Let’s talk about my phone and how it literally had to be charged every two hours, or if not, the battery would be drained and perished.  I tried everything they told me to do. I turned off the Wi-Fi, I used Task Killer, Juice Defender, you name it. Nothing worked. Isn’t the point of a cell phone that you can carry it with you? It’s not supposed to be a landline phone that is plugged into the wall. I had to carry my charger with me EVERYWHERE: work, girlfriend’s house, school, you name it and find the nearest outlet or I would be screwed.

How about text messaging, you ask me? Like I mentioned earlier, people would either get my messages 3 or 4 times or they would not get them at all. Oh, and phone calls? Many times people would call me and it would go straight to voice mail or I would get the call/voicemail three hours later.  As far as the Internet on the phone, it was constantly freezing, lagging, and moving slower than an 86-year-old grandma in a mile race.

Well, my phone battery died last Thursday after only 7 months of use, and I finally had enough. I went to the Cricket store, and I should have learned my lesson from my previous visits as my problems were met with indifference and complete and utter ignorance.  The employees are sitting on the Internet looking bored and not helpful at all. I guess Customer Service means nothing to them, as they are just content to run out the clock and go home. I decided to say goodbye to Cricket, once and for all, after a year and a half. It felt good. It was like ending a bad relationship that you knew you should have gotten out of a long, long time ago.

My grade for Cricket is a big fat F.  I’m now a happy customer with Sprint. With my next blog post, I’ll tell you about my experience with Sprint and why I ended up going with them. I’ll tell you about my search for a new cell phone provider and the different stores I went to.

In the meantime, I will leave you with this: stay far, far away from Cricket and their shady business tactics. Their phones are cheaply made, horribly overpriced, and their Customer Service is by far the worst I have ever experienced. Do not be sucked in by their low monthly prices. As they say, you get what you pay for.  Cricket lost a loyal customer that always paid his bill on time.  Bye, Bye, Cricket.

-Tony Farinella

June 6th is a memorable day, and here's why

June 6^th is always an interesting day to me for many reasons.  First and foremost, it was my mom’s birthday.  Whenever June 6^th rolls around, I always think of her and the times that we shared together.  It will be six years this July since she passed away.  To give a little back story on things, my mom was one of the few people who believed in me and believed in my writing.  My dad and his side of the family were always more old-school in their ways of thinking.  They always thought you should find a stable career with good money, benefits, and stability.  While I understand they were just looking out for my best interests, sometimes in life you have to go for what’s right for you, regardless of how it looks to others. Often times, my dad would just think I was wasting time on the computer, being lazy and doing nothing. I would be lying if I said that it didn’t hurt my feelings. It made me feel like I was just a big disappointment and a waste of space.  With my mom, she just wanted to see me happy and always told me that no matter what I pursued, she knew I would do great in that field.  She always saw something in me and knew I had the talent and the potential to be whatever it is that I wanted to be.

Every Tuesday, my mom would take me to Best Buy, Target, and Walmart to buy the newest movies, so I could write about them online and watch them with her. She really supported me, believed in me and saw that I had a real passion and interest for watching movies and writing about them. When she passed away in 2005, movies were my outlet for dealing with the pain. A local Hollywood Video was closing and had all their movies for sale. I ended up buying about 30 movies for 90 dollars and locked myself in my room to watch all of them. It was my escape.

After I recovered a little bit, I started writing for some movie websites online, as many as possible, in fact. I watched all kinds of movies:  big movies, Indy movies, and everything in between. As I mentioned in the introduction, I started writing for 411mania.com.  Because of writing for 411mania.com, I was invited to press screenings downtown.  In May 2007, I attended a screening downtown for Hostel Part 2.  After seeing the movie on a Thursday, I would be interviewing Eli Roth over the phone on Friday to promote the film and talk about it. The screening, first of all, was amazing. I ended up sitting next to Michael Phillips from the Chicago Tribune, someone I had followed and respected from his time as a guest critic on Ebert and Roeper. He was very nice, asked me about my website, and even shared his popcorn with me. I felt like I was on cloud nine, sitting next to a major critic, seeing a movie before anyone else, and enjoying the experience of feeling like a real critic.

Anyone who knows me knows how much I research. I also have a big chip on my shoulder. I wanted my interview with Eli Roth to be the best interview possible. I know he has done probably thousands of interviews in his career, and I researched most of his previous interviews and tried to come up with unique and informative questions. The interview was very, VERY good. Anyone who has ever talked to Eli Roth before knows that he’s a talker and can give you many great sound bites, if you ask the right questions. I did, and he started talking about Richard Roeper and his negative review of Cabin Fever.

Thanks to my friend Chris Yandek, another fellow journalist, I learned how to promote my interviews. He taught me how to put together a press list of all the major newspapers and how to send out a press release, highlighting the interview and talking about the main points that might be newsworthy in a major newspaper. Well, it turns out, on June 6^th, 2007, my name and my interview with Eli Roth was quoted in Richard Roeper’s column on page 11, which also happens to be my mom’s birthday.

I don’t usually believe in these sorts of things, but I tend to believe that she had something to do with that happening.  My dad came home from work and ended up buying about ten papers and was glowing like a proud papa. I received countless phone calls, emails and praise from friends, family and people I hadn’t talked to in years. They all were saying they saw my name in the paper and loved my interview with Eli Roth. To me, I felt like I had made it.

I remember being the young kid who couldn’t put a decent sentence together, and now I was being quoted in the Chicago Sun-Times. I was sitting next to a film critic from the Chicago Tribune, and he was talking to me like I was one of them. I remember being the depressed kid who lost his mom and didn’t even want to come out of the bedroom, and now I ran out to my local Walgreens and saw my name in the paper. I remember watching countless hours of footage from Ebert and Roeper, Siskel and Ebert, and hoping to one day be them, and now they knew my name and mentioned it in their paper. It gave me great confidence to know that yes, I could do this.

Now, every time June 6^th rolls around, I think of two things. One, I think of my mom and the influence she had on me.  Two, I think of being mentioned in the Chicago Sun-Times and feeling like damn it, I was worth something and I was not a failure or some stupid kid on the Internet. I’ll never forget that day or the confidence I have received seen then.

There is something special and unforgettable about waking up and having a newspaper in your hand with your name on it. I know newspapers are seen as old and outdated, but to me, I’m always partial to newspapers.

Here's the article:

Here is a link to the interview with Eli Roth from 2007:

http://www.411mania.com/dev/movies/columns/55242/411-Movies-Interview-Hostel-Part-2-Director-Eli-Roth.htm

Here’s a link to the time it also got mentioned on the Howard Stern show:

http://sternbuzz.com/daily-rundown/the-doctor-is-in-the-howard-stern-show

Hangover Part 2 Review

Two summers ago, The Hangover was released in theaters and took the movie world by storm with its raunchy, in-your-face humor and WTF moments. It was an R-rated comedy but also a mystery, which kept moviegoers laughing while also trying to piece the puzzle together. The cast was also a unique blend of characters featuring Ed Helms from The Office, Bradley Cooper, at the time, probably best known for being the villain in Wedding Crashers, and Zach Galifianakis. With the Hangover Part 2 being released, the question many people were asking was: Is it funnier than the original? Hype can be a dangerous thing because it leads to high expectations and hopes. With the first Hangover, no one really knew what to expect, which made the whole experience that much more enjoyable.

This time, the nerdy dentist Stu is getting married in Thailand to the beautiful Lauren, played by Jamie Chung. Still having nightmares and issues from the previous time they had a bachelor party, Stu just wants a simple brunch at IHOP. Phil, the party animal, is disappointed with this news and tries to coax Stu into something more exciting and dangerous. Alan, the lovable disaster, is thrilled beyond belief that his wolf pack is getting back together. At first, Stu wants nothing to do with Alan at his wedding after what he put them through in the previous film. After some persuading from Doug, Justin Bartha, he agrees to let Alan come along for the ride.

Lauren tells Stu it’s OK to just have a couple of beers with his buddies and also encourages him to bring along her brother Teddy, a mild-mannered and very intelligent young student. Of course, a couple of beers leads to them waking up in Bangkok not knowing how they got there or why Stu has a Mike Tyson tattoo on his face and Alan’s head is shaved. After a while, we start to learn a little bit more and other characters are introduced, such as a mobster played by Paul Giamatti and a tattoo artist played by Nick Cassavetes. The deadly but quite comical gangster Mr. Chow, played by Ken Jeong, also returns for this film, and he’s as crazy as ever. While some new characters and a new setting are introduced in Hangover Part 2, it’s basically the same story as the first one with a few minor tweaks here and there.

At the end of the day, there are not a lot of differences to report from the first film to the second film.  We know what to expect this time, so it does ruin the element of surprise.  The first Hangover, for me, was a movie that I liked but didn’t love.  I tend to fall in the same category with this movie.  I liked it, but I didn’t love it.  It’s funny, but it’s not fall out of your chair funny. The characters are developed a little bit more this time because we know them from the first film.  We know them, like them, and ultimately care about them at the end of the day.  The actors seem more in touch with their characters as well, and by now, they are such a big part of pop culture.  When the film works or succeeds, it’s because of the characters, not so much the situations they are put in throughout the course of the film.

If you are looking for originality, you have come to the wrong movie.  Some critics have called this movie a remake of the first film and you would be hard-pressed to disagree.  Instead of a tiger, we get a monkey. Instead of a missing tooth, we get a missing finger.  Instead of Doug getting married, it’s Stu getting married. Instead of Alan having a baby, he carries around a monkey.  At the end of the day, the laughs are consistent enough to recommend that you see it.  Plus, as I mentioned, these guys are so unique when they are put together you can’t help but laugh at their timing and their interactions. It’s not a movie you should rush out to see. It might even be just a DVD rental.  If you liked the first film, however, you will not be disappointed with the second one. If you were indifferent about the first movie or thought it was just OK, you will most likely have the same reaction to the Hangover Part 2.  This is yet another movie where men behave badly and get humiliated and embarrassed because of it.  It’s funny, as long as it’s not happening to you.

Grade: B-

How should you see it: See it for a cheaper price in the afternoon or wait for the DVD to come out.

Kung Fu Panda 2 Review

The original Kung Fu Panda was a surprise hit back in the summer of 2008 with Jack Black voicing the lovable and plump Po.  He works in a noodle shop with his father, a goose, but dreams of performing Kung Fu. He ends up joining the Furious Five, which includes Tigress, Crane, Mantis, Viper and Monkey, and is trained under the tutelage of Master Shifu.  It was the classic underdog story of an underachiever put into a difficult situation, but after he believes in himself and undergoes the right training, he becomes the dragon warrior.

Kung Fu Panda 2 follows up after the first film and shows what life is now like for Po, being a superstar and dragon warrior.  He is legendary in his father’s noodle shop and even has action figures that little kids play with and collect.  Master Shifu, voiced by Dustin Hoffman, informs him that the next step in his journey is inner peace.  While looking for inner peace, he runs into an evil peacock from his past, Shen, voiced brilliantly by Gary Oldman.  Po must defeat this peacock in order to find inner peace, learn more about his past, save Kung Fu, and bring peace to China.

What is most interesting about Kung Fu Panda 2 is how the filmmakers had great ambition to peel back the layers of Po and answer some of our questions from the first film.  This is not just another cash-in sequel with little to no creativity or craft behind it.  There is a tremendous amount of back story behind Po and we find out why his father is a goose, a question that I’m sure many fans had after the first film.  It might seem a little comical and far-fetched to think that a peacock would have any chance over a panda, but he holds the all important mental advantage over Po.  Not every battle is about strength, toughness, and brute force.  There is the battle that is deep within all of us.  Kung Fu Panda 2, for a children’s film, has a tremendous amount of depth behind it.  Yes, we have amazing Kung Fu scenes that are sure to entertain children and even adults, but to me, it’s all about the heart and soul.  That is what carries this film and makes it so much more than a simple sequel or a simple cute panda movie.

The humor of the first film is also present in this film. Just when things might be getting a little too heavy or intense, it pulls back a little and keeps it light.  If you put Jack Black in most films, I am going to be annoyed with his loud, fat guy antics, but in the Kung Fu Panda franchise, he’s very subdued while also having a humorous side to him.  It’s very balanced, which helps the character from becoming too over the top.  Gary Oldman does a great job in voicing the peacock and really gives him a sinister side.  It’s all about mind games for him, and you can tell that Po is dealing with a formidable foe. Seth Rogen, Angelina Jolie, and David Cross also offer up their voice talents to this project, and they do not disappoint at all.

Kung Fu Panda 2 is a rarity in Hollywood.  It’s a sequel that is better than the original.  While the first Kung Fu Panda was a fun movie with a lovable character, this film is a darker, more thoughtful picture that allows us to really get to know more about Po.  It shows us that just because you have success, it doesn’t mean your past pain immediately goes away. You still have to deal with it and face it in order to be successful deep within, as well.  I saw the film in 2D, so I can’t say how the 3D works, if at all, but in 2D, it’s a beautiful picture filled with bright colors and images.  No matter how you view Kung Fu Panda 2, it’s worth your time and money this summer.

Grade: A-

What should you do? See it on the big screen.

Introduction

For the past ten years, I have been writing on the Internet in some form. As soon as I got my first computer, it was all I wanted to do, to write, see what people think of my writing, and for them to enjoy what I have to say. I started doing reviews of independent wrestling shows in Chicago for the now deceased websites ChicagoWrestling.Com and MidwestMarks.Com.  I did that from about 2001 until 2004.  I traveled all over the Midwest writing about shows, interviewing wrestlers, ring announcing, setting up rings, and even did some managing for a short time, as a heel manager. I managed against former WCW wrestler, Lash Leroux, as a matter of fact. After a while, I sold most of my wrestling tapes, lost interest in the sport, and started to become a fan of movies. I started writing movie reviews on MySpace in 2005 and before long I got my big break, writing for the popular website, 411mania.com. That was the break I needed because I took the ball and ran with it. I interview people from all walks of life in the entertainment industry. Here is a list of some of the talent I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing. Keep in mind this is not the complete list. The complete list is at 295 right now: Andy Dick, Andy Samberg from Saturday Night Live, poker player Annie Duke, adult entertainers Beladonna and Tera Patrick, comedian Bill Engvall, Carmen Electra, the late David Carradine, the late Roy Disney, wrestlers CM Punk, Diamond Dallas Page, Ken Kennedy, Kane, ESPN’s Sean Salisbury, NBA players Ronny Turiaf and Jalen Rose, NFL Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, Larry the Cable Guy, rapper Tech N9ne, Pauly Shore, and Academy Award winning director of the Exorcist, William Freidkin. My interviews have also been quoted in major newspapers, such as the Chicago Sun-Times, the Chicago Tribune, and the Kansas City Star. I’ve also had my reviews quoted on DVD covers, both front and back.

With this blog, I am going to be bringing you all of my experience and more when I talk about movies, entertainment, and everything else.  I’m still a writer on 411mania.com, but with this blog, I want to be a little more personal and random.  It’s going to have my own little touches.  I am going to be reviewing movies, giving my thoughts on the latest TV shows, sports, and even having a section called, “From the Vault,” where I will link you to some of my old interviews. I have USB’s full of stuff, and I want to share all of this with you. 

All the time at my job, Blockbuster, customers ask me, “What did you think of this movie? Is it any good?” Even my girlfriend, friends, family, coworkers, and teachers want to know my thoughts on movies, so I thought this would be a good forum to be in control of what’s put out there and when I post and how often I post.

I just have one rule for this blog: Be respectful. I encourage feedback, and I’m not afraid of criticism, but it has to be done in a respectful manner. If there is any name-calling, excessive swearing or negativity you will be blocked, no questions asked.

I look forward to sharing this with all of you, and I hope you like what I have to say.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. J

-Tony Farinella