Archive for September, 2010
"…how was it before the economy weakened?"
“…how was it before the economy weakened?” – This article by a Haitian “reviewing” life in America spurred a thought for me. Maybe we aren’t in a recession at all. Maybe America has simply experienced it’s first (big, notable) economic ma…
"…retaliation against film studios who paid an Indian company called Aiplex Software to attack…"
“…retaliation against film studios who paid an Indian company called Aiplex Software to attack torrent websites…” – One of the downsides of “value-based” off-shoring is that they are assigned the virtual jobs that are otherwise undesirable….
DVD New Releases – 9/21/2010
These are my DVD and Blu-Ray picks that are getting released this week.
American Beauty (Sapphire Series) – Such a beautiful film that I question why it wasn’t released on Blu-Ray earlier.
Charade (The Criterion Collection) – I had a disagreement …
Living in hipster-central I see a continued trend among white…
Living in hipster-central I see a continued trend among white men to eschew fashion in all manner: nasty beards, unwashed hair, ironic t-shirts, suspenders. Most clothing choices seem like they were recycled from the trash — one step removed even fro…
"…he says that he’s you’re best, biggest fan and I’m thinking it’s a Trekkie! [laughs] and so I…"
“…he says that he’s you’re best, biggest fan and I’m thinking it’s a Trekkie! [laughs] and so I said certainly and I got up and turned around and maybe 10 or 15 feet coming towards me I see Dr. Martin Luther King…” – This story made me …
I would so completely love to play SHADOW OF THE COLOSSUS…
I would so completely love to play SHADOW OF THE COLOSSUS again…although, I didn’t completely finish it the first time.
(image from ICO / Shadow of the Colossus HD bundle pops up in another retail listing, with box art | Joystiq)
I think the funniest part of this would be if you had an…
I think the funniest part of this would be if you had an infographic depicting the proportion of the “Richest 1%” that ever actually had to be in a foxhole.
(comic from Tom Toles – Warm regards)
Tom Toles – Warm regards
I think the funniest part of this would be if you had an infographic depicting the proportion of the “Richest 1%” that ever actually had to be in a foxhole.
DVD New Releases – 9/14/2010
These are my DVD and Blu-Ray picks that are getting released this week.
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Glee: The Complete First Season
– I’m not buying as many TV shows on disc lately, but I enjoyed so many moments of this ridiculous show that I have to physically possess it.
- The Twilight Zone: Season 1 – Rod Serling was a genius, bringing genre fiction to popular television in a magical way.
- Jacob’s Ladder – I remember how much this creeped me out and solidified Tim Robbins as one of the most talented actors of his generation. I hear the transfer is not good but I may buy it anyway.
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The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring; The Two Towers
; and The Return of the King – DO NOT BUY THESE DISCS! New Line is pulling more Lucas-esque bullshit by releasing the inferior individual Theatrical Editions which were already available in a multi-disc pack. They will be releasing the Extended Editions in mid-November.
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Monster House [3D Version]
– It’s wonderful that the second “BluRay 3D” (where the 3D is built-into the data, not just a red/blue 3D movie) is this great kid’s movie. Unfortunately I won’t be going 3D until I can afford passive 3D (like RealD) at home.
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Raging Phoenix
– This is not a perfect movie, but the lead actress Jija Yanin is the greatest embodiment of girls kicking ass since Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The plot is as silly as DRUNKEN MASTER but it’s a fun ride.
- Return of the Living Dead – The broken off comedy arm of The Living Dead movies started with this timeless zombie flick.
- Seven – One of the most memorable serial killer movies of all time.
- Letters to Juliet – I missed seeing this in the theater and the reviews say it is completely unimpressive, but I love Amanda Seyfried so I’ll catch in on Netflix.
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My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done?
– I didn’t make it out to the screening of this Lynch-produced/Herzog-directed nightmare, but the people I trust about this kind of bizarre arthouse fare tell me it’s something I should see.
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Return of 5 Deadly Venoms
– I saw this at BNAT 4 (2002) for the first time, and it is a glorious Shaw Brothers movie — think USA’s Kung Fu Theater — that is better understood under its original title CRIPPLED AVENGERS.
- Where the Red Fern Grows – Now that Disney is either animated or HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL we don’t get many good live action family films anymore. Even the hardest of souls will have a soft spot for this true classic directed by Norman Tokar. This was Tokar’s only non-Disney film, but in film he was almost always a Disney man, and in TV he directed the bulk of LEAVE IT TO BEAVER.
I’m not saying that the iPhone’s camera’s new…
I’m not saying that the iPhone’s camera’s new “HDR” feature isn’t a great addition to the phone, but it falls short in its actual capacity to provide a full HDR experience. I downloaded the new version of TrueHDR this weekend and took these pictures while Brian was working on the final edit. You can see that the iPhone image still has washed out colors on the bright monitors, and is missing some detail in the black areas. TrueHDR’s only downside is my inability to hold the camera steady so there is more grain in those pictures then there should be, but you can clearly read the monitors in all three modes of TrueHDR.
I made a machinima video this weekend! Well, I produced one at…
I made a machinima video this weekend! Well, I produced one at least.
I often wonder what it’s like to be a “real” producer — you know, one that gets paid for it. I spent the weekend working with friends on the 48 Hour Machinima Filmmaking Challenge, and I imagine that on their best days producers have experiences like mine. I invited several really talented people to come over, and then encouraged them to finish a film while I played a video game. Thanks to Ashley for managing the writing chaos that starts any 48 hour film challenge; David for bringing the funny voices; Brian for tirelessly working heads-down for the entire weekend from acting to sound design and the final edit; Josh, Joanna, Mike and Kelly for writing and “acting”; and especially Angela and Becky for being the kind of amazing supporting spouses (Brian’s and mine, respectively) that contribute, coddle and cook in the face of sleep-deprived husbands.
(video of Dead Red’s Recreation Ranch, via jaireaux)
Comic from Guest Strip by Jen Brazas – Dueling Analogs.
Comic from Guest Strip by Jen Brazas – Dueling Analogs.
Now this is an infographic that’s important for the…
Now this is an infographic that’s important for the cultural fabric of our society. (For the uninitiated: I’m serious about this. I brought 48 bottled sodas back from my last trip to L.A.)
(image from Map: A Soda By Any Other Name – LAist)
DVD New Releases – 9/7/2010
These are my DVD and Blu-Ray picks that are getting released this week.
- Hatchet – This played at Fantastic Fest 2006 and I wasn’t the only one who really liked this throwback to fun 80’s American horror, and the opportunity to see BtVS alumni Mercedes McNab run around screaming topless is a nice touch. Adam Green is coming back to the Drafthouse this year with the sequel!
- Mars Attacks! – I’ve been cranky lately about films that try to recreate the camp of classic cult films, but I need to figure out why I exclude this movie from that classification. It’s a fun homage to 50’s/60’s alien invasion films.
- Poltergeist (Blu-ray Book)
– There’s a cheaper simpler Blu-Ray available, but then you wouldn’t get this cool interior
(or a “digibook” — whatever that is.) Coincidentally, I came across this cool thing over the weekend.
- Pulse – If the jerk studio executives would make a Veronica Mars movie for Kristen Bell then we’d be less likely to bring up these horrible movies they thought were a better idea.
- Stardust – The freshness rating — 76% — of this movie is higher than what I gave it, but I do love Claire Danes…even if she is a home-wrecker.
- Tommy, the Movie
– How do you think he does it?
- THX 1138 (The George Lucas Director’s Cut)
– This is starting to follow the pattern of his other films. How many times can Lucas get you to purchase the same movie? Still, it will be nice to see this dystopian vision in high def.
- A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
and It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown – I will absolutely be upgrading to Blu-Ray for these but I think I’ll wait for the Peanuts Holiday Collection combo-pack which comes out Oct. 5.
Here’s a cool/funny sticker I saw on the side of a bar…
Here’s a cool/funny sticker I saw on the side of a bar this weekend with a built-in QR code. You can go here to read what the hidden message is.
p.s. Yes, this is a repeat of something you may have seen me post on Twitter or Facebook, but I’m referencing this in my weekly DVD post later. You should be able to guess why.