Round 9:

Marlins 1 vs Rangers 5 (Rob 2, Anthony, Gabe, Dave)

For tonight's report we cross live to SBS and The Movie Show.

David Stratten: Well, for tonight's episode of The Movie Show we are
focussing the entire show on just one movie, Grangiator. I don't know why
really. I didn't ...

Margaret Pomeranz: I'll tell you why David. Because it is the best movie
of the year so far. The excitement, the action, the skill. It had it all.
Rob Parton as Maximus was brilliant, slicing through many Marlins as he
smashed home two.

David: The problem I had with the movie was that the plot was predictable
and you knew what was going to happen. Except I did enjoy the opening
battle with neither side giving much ground. But after a little while the
Grangiators began to assert their authority over the Marlins.

Margaret: And the Evil Marlin Empire suffered its first blow when after a
cross from Baldius and scramble within close quarters, Anthony the Beelius
slotted one for the Grangiators. But this was just a precursor of what was
to come. The Grangiators put on raid after raid. Merrick had a rasping
shot deflected away. The Evil Marlin Empire did try and spread it and at
times were menacing but The Keeper of Troy protected his homeland
excellently.

David: Sure the Empire didn't collapse immediately. But we all knew it
was going to be a 90 minute movie with a ten minute intermission.

Margaret: Well, it wasn't long before the hero Maximus made his mark
slicing through the Empire's defence and finishing the movement into the
roof of the net. The colloseum was quiet as the crowd of Evil Marlin
Supporters was stunned. Who was this man and why had he not been hacked
down previously? But it wasn't all just raids and fighting. Their were
moments of hilarity and mesmerisation as Froggius danced his way down the
touchline. Some of the acting was fantastic as Merrick, Hackius Nigglius
and Gabius all went flying through the air. And then we were treated to
the brilliance yet again of Maximus. With some fancy footwork he had
rounded his opponent rendering him useless before cutting it back for
Merrick to miscue his stab home only for Baldius to slam a cannon against
the column or post. Gabius then followed up the carnage with a delightful
right foot stab to beat the keeper despite his best efforts.

David: There were definitely some good performances. Mainly I would say
from the back four. Maximus would have been nothing but a little lamb to
the slaughter without the support of his troops behind him.

Margaret: Agreed. They were all exceptional.

David: I don't know about exceptional but they all played their part well.
Nickus Shortius was winning more heading battles than the Empire. Markos
and Barrius the Butcher chimed in well when required. And it was good to
see Andy as Andius back in a movie. As well as Dave as Strikius. We
remember when they both walked out on that movie Rangers Go A Wandering.
And what a disaster of a movie that was. This wasn't a lot better however.

Margaret: Oh come on David. Grangiator pisses all over any other movie
around. Take this part of the movie when Maximus strikes for the second
time.

Film Action: Haslerious fires a cannon over the defence from inside his
own territory to where Strikius was waiting. He rose above the Empire
forces to deflect the cannonball onto a rampaging Maximus who again subdued
an enemy warrior with some mastery by sneaking inside and a quick fake and
easily slotting home.

David: Haslerious was brilliant in his display of power at the back. But
it was all too one sided. Especially when Strikius accepted a ball from
the wing command to turn on his enemy and fire in a killer blow from the
outskirts of the Evil Marlin Keeper territory.

Margaret: I disagree. At times for all their attacking, the Gladiators
were sometimes caught short in the middle of the Colloseum.

David: Yes but that was because they knew what was going to happen. They
were dominating.

Margaret: They were on top for most of the movie but you never know.
There can always be a twist at the end.

David: Like the one the front man of the Evil Marlin Empire almost
received when Markos lashed out at him. The powers that be deemed it
illegal and awarded the Evil Marlin Empire a penalty which they duly shot
home.

Margaret: Yes, the Keeper of Troy had been beaten but he could still stand
tall as his Grangiators had fought and fought well to defeat the Evil
Marlin Empire.

David: Predictable stuff. But at least in what is normally a very male
dominated movie setting, there was at least one woman in a powerful
position.

Margaret: Yes although she didn't have much to do, Lineswomanus, Assistant
to Referrius made some crucial decisions.

David: All in all, it was a hohum of what was expected.

Margaret: I absolutely loved it and I gave it five stars, one for each
score by the Grangiators.

David: You just loved all that muscle running around Margaret. Frankly, I
see enough muscle at the seafood bar at Sizzler. I gave it one star for
the score by the Evil Marlin Empire.

Margaret: *****
David: *

Team in order of appearance:

Maximus - Rob Parton
Petus the Running Riotius - Pete
Andius - Andy
Baldius - Russell
Hackius Nigglius - Ray (Martin Short as stunt double)
Strikius - Dave
Merrick - as himself
Haslerius - Harry
Markos - Marko
Anthony the Beelius - Anthony
Gabius - Gabe
Barrius the Butcher - Barry
Nickus Shortius - Nick
The Keeper of Troy - Eroy
Froggius - Froggi
Linewomanus - Sweeeet
Referrius - The Ref
Linesmanius - Some Dude
The Evil Marlin Warriors - Who Cares
Crowd - Evil Marlin Empire Supporters and some stray kids

Quote of the movie - Strikius for "I haven't had any shots yet" before
Baldius said "What about the stab, the fluff, the headers" followed by
Markos "And the left footer stab".