Thursday, July 31
#4 We Just Like It
wejustlikeit.com has quickly become one of my favorite blogs to hit for design inspiration. They pick way more than design to show off. Most things are just down right fun.
Tuesday, July 29
#3 The Dark Knight
I had to see this one twice to really allow myself to form an opinion about it. The first time I saw it, I was so caught up in the hype and my Heath Ledger thoughts, that I had a hard time relaxing and enjoying it. Don't get me wrong, I loved this movie from first site. But it threw enough curve balls at my expectations, that I was left a bit off center.
I want to take a shot at some of the things that bugged me the first time around, and how they resolved themselves upon second viewing. This is going to sound like nitpicking. That's because it is. Ultimately, it was a fantastic movie. The critics are raving about it. Many of my friends are saying that it's the best super hero movie ever.
In my opinion though, (and I hate to say it), I think saying it's the best super-hero movie ever is a bit much. I should point out that to say that a film falls just short of supreme greatness is no slight. So let the nitpicking commence.
1) The bat-voice. This was something that bugged me in the first Christian Bale bat-portrayal too. Why would Batman talk like a chain smoker? His deep scratchy voice was a little much. I know he's supposed to sound dark and fearsome, but it didn't even come close to Christian's Bruce voice. In reality, I guess Batman might have needed to disguise his voice from those who might recognize his secret identity, but somehow, the extremities of this portrayal stick out a bit as bad acting.
2) The Bat-cycle - The one time in the entire movie I felt like I lost track of my suspension of disbelief was the bat cycle scene. The bat-tank is destroyed, but somehow what was left was a transformer. I'm not buying it. It was the point at which the story stooped to the usual superhero fare, and seemed far fetched. As cool as the bat cycle was, it didn't go with the reality I was seeing in the rest of the movie.
3) Length - The first time I saw it, the movie felt a tad long. The second viewing, I found it was just right. I wouldn't edit a thing.
4) Two-Face's other face. This was a strange mix of fantastic digital effects, crossed with an attempt not to gross out the audience. Frankly, I think it looked really good, but could have been a little more gory. I know they had to keep things on the nice so that little kids could go see the film, but seeing as how there was plenty of other violence, Harvey Dent's face would have looked a lot worse that soon after an accident. I could totally imagine the gauze still seeping with puss and blood and hanging onto his burns long after he left the hospital.
Okay, now the things they did right. There are a lot of them:
1) Character Ethos - Everyone involved in the movie did their homework. That was the joker I always imagined. That was the two-face I always imagined. Everything was exactly on par.
2) Heath Ledger - He stole every scene. He brought way more to the screen than the script.
3) Slaughter is the best medicine. Nice subtle touch there.
4) Large scope - This was a story about far more than a super hero and a couple of bad guys. It was about the nature of evil itself. It was about the tipping point when normal people lose control.
5) Confidence in the audience. I am so proud of the writers of this script. They didn't feel the need to hand hold the audience at any point. Back stories were left untold unless absolutely necessary. The exposition was kept to a bare minimum.
6) The morale tale of the boats. Much better than just terrorizing citizens, this plot point, got into the heads of the citizens by pitting them against each other, and as a result, got into our heads as well. What would you have expected the outcome of that predicament to be? What does your answer say about you and your take on the human race? Much better than sharks with frikkin lazers attached to their heads.
7) The burning stack of money. Another great visual that makes a point about what we think motivates crime and violence. For some, money isn't the chief motivator.
I could go on and on.
Nitpicking this film is like griping about other classics. "Casablanca" was melodramatic, "Pulp Fiction" was overtly violent, "Blazing Saddles" resorted to fart jokes and "Star Wars" had some really bad prequels. The true test for "The Dark Knight" will be the test of time. My second viewing was better than the first, so "The Dark Knight" is on the right track. I'm not ready to concede "Godfather" status just yet though. For now, there are other super-hero films that hold the throne. In the meantime, "The Dark Knight" will be bucking for the crown.
I want to take a shot at some of the things that bugged me the first time around, and how they resolved themselves upon second viewing. This is going to sound like nitpicking. That's because it is. Ultimately, it was a fantastic movie. The critics are raving about it. Many of my friends are saying that it's the best super hero movie ever.
In my opinion though, (and I hate to say it), I think saying it's the best super-hero movie ever is a bit much. I should point out that to say that a film falls just short of supreme greatness is no slight. So let the nitpicking commence.
1) The bat-voice. This was something that bugged me in the first Christian Bale bat-portrayal too. Why would Batman talk like a chain smoker? His deep scratchy voice was a little much. I know he's supposed to sound dark and fearsome, but it didn't even come close to Christian's Bruce voice. In reality, I guess Batman might have needed to disguise his voice from those who might recognize his secret identity, but somehow, the extremities of this portrayal stick out a bit as bad acting.
2) The Bat-cycle - The one time in the entire movie I felt like I lost track of my suspension of disbelief was the bat cycle scene. The bat-tank is destroyed, but somehow what was left was a transformer. I'm not buying it. It was the point at which the story stooped to the usual superhero fare, and seemed far fetched. As cool as the bat cycle was, it didn't go with the reality I was seeing in the rest of the movie.
3) Length - The first time I saw it, the movie felt a tad long. The second viewing, I found it was just right. I wouldn't edit a thing.
4) Two-Face's other face. This was a strange mix of fantastic digital effects, crossed with an attempt not to gross out the audience. Frankly, I think it looked really good, but could have been a little more gory. I know they had to keep things on the nice so that little kids could go see the film, but seeing as how there was plenty of other violence, Harvey Dent's face would have looked a lot worse that soon after an accident. I could totally imagine the gauze still seeping with puss and blood and hanging onto his burns long after he left the hospital.
Okay, now the things they did right. There are a lot of them:
1) Character Ethos - Everyone involved in the movie did their homework. That was the joker I always imagined. That was the two-face I always imagined. Everything was exactly on par.
2) Heath Ledger - He stole every scene. He brought way more to the screen than the script.
3) Slaughter is the best medicine. Nice subtle touch there.
4) Large scope - This was a story about far more than a super hero and a couple of bad guys. It was about the nature of evil itself. It was about the tipping point when normal people lose control.
5) Confidence in the audience. I am so proud of the writers of this script. They didn't feel the need to hand hold the audience at any point. Back stories were left untold unless absolutely necessary. The exposition was kept to a bare minimum.
6) The morale tale of the boats. Much better than just terrorizing citizens, this plot point, got into the heads of the citizens by pitting them against each other, and as a result, got into our heads as well. What would you have expected the outcome of that predicament to be? What does your answer say about you and your take on the human race? Much better than sharks with frikkin lazers attached to their heads.
7) The burning stack of money. Another great visual that makes a point about what we think motivates crime and violence. For some, money isn't the chief motivator.
I could go on and on.
Nitpicking this film is like griping about other classics. "Casablanca" was melodramatic, "Pulp Fiction" was overtly violent, "Blazing Saddles" resorted to fart jokes and "Star Wars" had some really bad prequels. The true test for "The Dark Knight" will be the test of time. My second viewing was better than the first, so "The Dark Knight" is on the right track. I'm not ready to concede "Godfather" status just yet though. For now, there are other super-hero films that hold the throne. In the meantime, "The Dark Knight" will be bucking for the crown.
Monday, July 28
#2 They Might Be Giants / in memory of Chaucer
Eric and I went to go see the They Might Be Giants towards the beginning of the summer. There's more to this story than a concert, but I want to start back there. Eric was in town and Kristi had not been feeling well, so he used Kristi's ticket. Eric's friend Chris joined us as well. I guess he's a friend of mine too now since we are playing in a DND game together.
Eric was not in town for fun and celebration. Chaucer, his 10 year old Sheltie had suffered a bad reaction to some medication and was brought in town to go to our vet and to stay with us for a week or two. Eric was moving to Springfield to start his summer job, and we were going to be more available to keep an eye on the little guy during Eric's transition.
We went to the concert, and They Might Be Giants were incredible. It was my inaugural TMBG show, but I was prepared for the mayhem. I've been a fan for a while now, and have watched the documentary about them several times.
As good as the show was, Chaucer was never far from our minds.
When Kristi and Eric took Chaucer to the vet the following morning, the vet immediately got worried about our four legged buddy's condition and sent him directly to the emergency med-vet. Chaucer was in bad shape, and not really drinking or eating anything. The Med Vet folks took great care of him and despite kidney failure, they sent him home a few days later with the hope that Chaucer had gotten through the woods and was on the road to recovery.
Chaucer spent two days with Kristi and I at the house. Eric had ran back to his job, and Kristi and I cared for the little booger (a term of endearment, I assure you). He had enough energy to take on the two large poodles who live next door to us. They were pacing and barking from their side of the fence, but Chaucer triumphantly trotted right up and let him know who owned his side of the barrier. Once he showed them that neutered pups have kahunnas too, he plopped himself right there in the cool grass and basked in the sunny glory of his victory.
Chaucer was obviously feeling much better than before, but he was showing signs of not recovering properly. He wouldn't eat anything. He wouldn't drink anything, and was now beginning to cough. His return to the vet for a checkup found him in need of return to more intensive care. We called Eric to return to town.
We went to visit Chaucer when Eric got back. Both Chaucer and Eric were incredibly tired from the grueling week. Chaucer is no doubt Eric's most constant companion and best friend for the last 10 years, and the stress of the last week had been a lot to endure.
Chaucer passed away in his sleep that night. The three of us went to say our goodbyes.
I know this isn't exactly the They Might Be Giants concert review you were expecting. But the truth is, the show we saw will forever be marked in my memory by the events of that week. I still picture Chaucer sitting in that grass looking happy. I picture myself listening to that show, dancing to the music, singing along, and thinking of our friend. In the words of the Giants, Chaucer was our little glowing friend. We will miss him very much.
Epilogue:
I originally wrote this blog the morning we learned of Chaucer's passing. Unfortunately, the internet erased my post and no one ever got to read it. Since then, I wanted to give Eric a little time to recover before rewriting it, so I waited till now to do so. Chaucer was a great friend. I cried that morning, something that I don't do much. I know my pain wasn't a fraction of what Eric was going through. Chaucer had a great life. He was spoiled and loved as much as any dog ever was. I picture him barking at large poodles in heaven.
Eric was not in town for fun and celebration. Chaucer, his 10 year old Sheltie had suffered a bad reaction to some medication and was brought in town to go to our vet and to stay with us for a week or two. Eric was moving to Springfield to start his summer job, and we were going to be more available to keep an eye on the little guy during Eric's transition.
We went to the concert, and They Might Be Giants were incredible. It was my inaugural TMBG show, but I was prepared for the mayhem. I've been a fan for a while now, and have watched the documentary about them several times.
As good as the show was, Chaucer was never far from our minds.
When Kristi and Eric took Chaucer to the vet the following morning, the vet immediately got worried about our four legged buddy's condition and sent him directly to the emergency med-vet. Chaucer was in bad shape, and not really drinking or eating anything. The Med Vet folks took great care of him and despite kidney failure, they sent him home a few days later with the hope that Chaucer had gotten through the woods and was on the road to recovery.
Chaucer spent two days with Kristi and I at the house. Eric had ran back to his job, and Kristi and I cared for the little booger (a term of endearment, I assure you). He had enough energy to take on the two large poodles who live next door to us. They were pacing and barking from their side of the fence, but Chaucer triumphantly trotted right up and let him know who owned his side of the barrier. Once he showed them that neutered pups have kahunnas too, he plopped himself right there in the cool grass and basked in the sunny glory of his victory.
Chaucer was obviously feeling much better than before, but he was showing signs of not recovering properly. He wouldn't eat anything. He wouldn't drink anything, and was now beginning to cough. His return to the vet for a checkup found him in need of return to more intensive care. We called Eric to return to town.
We went to visit Chaucer when Eric got back. Both Chaucer and Eric were incredibly tired from the grueling week. Chaucer is no doubt Eric's most constant companion and best friend for the last 10 years, and the stress of the last week had been a lot to endure.
Chaucer passed away in his sleep that night. The three of us went to say our goodbyes.
I know this isn't exactly the They Might Be Giants concert review you were expecting. But the truth is, the show we saw will forever be marked in my memory by the events of that week. I still picture Chaucer sitting in that grass looking happy. I picture myself listening to that show, dancing to the music, singing along, and thinking of our friend. In the words of the Giants, Chaucer was our little glowing friend. We will miss him very much.
Epilogue:
I originally wrote this blog the morning we learned of Chaucer's passing. Unfortunately, the internet erased my post and no one ever got to read it. Since then, I wanted to give Eric a little time to recover before rewriting it, so I waited till now to do so. Chaucer was a great friend. I cried that morning, something that I don't do much. I know my pain wasn't a fraction of what Eric was going through. Chaucer had a great life. He was spoiled and loved as much as any dog ever was. I picture him barking at large poodles in heaven.
30 posts in 30 days (and this counts as numero uno)
Ok, so I've been pretty quiet on here of late. It seems like every time I find something to write about in the blog, by the time I sit down to write it, I just stare at the blank screen and get the urge to... go... do... something else.
But there have indeed been plenty of great things to write about. So I give you this promise:
30 blogs in 30 days.
Sounds like a tall order, I know. But I really have had a ton of things to write about. It's been a busy summer. Tons of movies to talk about, a few trips, books, television shows, and every day nonsense. That's not to mention a few fabulous videos and sites to share. I've run across more than a few. In fact, let's start off that way, here's a great video. Enjoy!
But there have indeed been plenty of great things to write about. So I give you this promise:
30 blogs in 30 days.
Sounds like a tall order, I know. But I really have had a ton of things to write about. It's been a busy summer. Tons of movies to talk about, a few trips, books, television shows, and every day nonsense. That's not to mention a few fabulous videos and sites to share. I've run across more than a few. In fact, let's start off that way, here's a great video. Enjoy!
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