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My Achievment
As my forum for all things geek I realized that I had to post pictures of this wonderful feat of geeekdom. This is 1085 piece Lego set stands 18 inches high. Prior to completing this my best ever Lego achievement was a Clone Drop ship that had 81 pieces. It took about six hours to put together stretched over a few weeks. With school I’d stalled a bit, but finished him just a few minutes ago. He’s taken a place of honor on my bookshelf in the office in our home, which is yet another example of how great my wife is that she’ll let me display it openly where others can see. Though now I’ve got a problem. Looking around on Amazon there are more sets I want to build, and with the price they each cost this could be a real test of my wife’s understanding.
Pictures below.
Watchmen review
So let me come right out and say it, there is a lot of digital blue penis in The Watchmen. Doctor Manhattan, one the stars of the film, is a man made of energy who is naked for almost the entire movie. For a small time he’s in human form, and when out on a mission sports a banana hammock. I’ll be honest that I felt a little uncomfortable seeing a flaccid blue dong on the IMAX screen repeatedly.
Right now that’s out of the way, on to the review.
Woes of a small media market
Those who know me on any level are quite aware that I’m a huge movie nerd. Those who know me slightly better know that I am also a fan of professional wrestling. While my interest in the “squared circle” has waned over the years it is still there. So when I heard that one of my favorite directors, Daron Aronofsky, was directing a movie called The Wrestler I was almost immediately interested. It stars Mickey Rourke fresh off his fantastic turn in Sin City (one of my favorite films in recent memory), and has gotten a large amount of Oscar buzz. The last three weeks I’ve been off of school and had a chance to take a day and see several movies (BTW see Valkyrie it was great, The Spirit can be skipped, and Frost/Nixon is great if you are either a theater or political nerd). However I had one slight problem, I live in Utah which, along with its other flaws, is one of the smallest markets in the country. So while this movie has won awards, including a recent Golden Globe for Rourke, its not playing in my state. So what is a geek to do?
Two moments that renewed my faith in movies
Awesome . . . Frakking Awesome
Yesterday I finally got to see the new James Bond film Quantum of Solace. I’ll hold off on any deep review because I hate spoilers as much as the next guy. However I will say that it has taken Bond films in a whole new direction. Quantum is really unlike any other Bond movie you’ve ever seen. It does not feature a visit to Q branch, there really are no gadgets (even his beautiful armor and smoke bomb less Aston Martin gets badly beat up before the credits), there is no Money Penny, and not even an order for a vodka martini. Yet as someone who has been watching Bond movies as long as I can remember I have to say I loved it.
When word first hit the tubes a few years back about Daniel Craig taking over as Bond the Internet did what they always do in the face of change, they whined and whined and bitched and complained and whined and whined. Fans don’t like change, they want the same comfortable thing they’ve seen hundreds of times before because it’s safe(Though that’s a rant for another post). Any who saw Casino Royale can agree that he did not destroy the franchise and may have very well saved it. Taking Bond into the 21st century without loosing what makes him they guy we all dream we are every time we put on a tux.
Overall it was very good. Quantum acts as a follow up to Royale, in fact the two could probably be watched back to back and make one very nice Kill Bill esque experience. It opens with Jeremy Clarkson’s wet dream featuring Bond in an Aston being chased by baddies in an Alfa Romeo. It has good action, evil villains with global ambition, pretty girls, helpful friends, and Dame Judi Dench’s M proving why she is one of the coolest and toughest characters in recent cinema.
And now for the second moment. It’s from yet another font of fan boy hate. The new J.J. Abrams directed Star Trek. Before Quantum there is a trailer for the new film, and I have to say if you didn’t already have enough reason to see Quantum you now have even more. I literally found myself with my jaw dropped and my eyes open wide so I wouldn’t miss one single second. As soon as it hits the web Monday I’m sure I’ll watch it several more times. The move looks freaking amazing. I know that only a Sith deals in absolutes but, anyone who sees this trailer and can still spit bile at this movie (until it comes out) is just a hater who could never be pleased. I know that some movies can produce a great trailer then be crap upon release (see Mark Wahlberg’s magnum opus The Big Hit and you’ll know what I mean), but this looks great. The casting looks great, and I can’t wait for next summer. It is going to be fantastic.
Movie rating: 9.5/10
Trailer rating: 11/10
Really Good, but Overrated
Recently the film Righteous Kill was released in theaters. Now let me start by saying that I’ve not yet seen it, I’m planning on it, but not yet. It stars two actors you may have heard of; Al Pacino and Robert De Niro. These two are widely acknowledged as two of the “greatest” actors of our time. Since this movie was announced I though, “Yeah they’re good, but are they really the greatest?” I’d have to say no.
As I write this I have IMDB open in another window and am looking at their filmographies. While both have some truly brilliant films in their repertoire; Raging Bull, Serpico, Godfathers 1-3 (yes I count 3 as brilliant), Awakenings, and Scent of a Woman etc etc. I probably didn’t list some that you may enjoy, but between the two they’ve acted in round about 100 movies. However while they have many great films, there are lots of bad movies among the list where they both seem to only be playing themselves, or some variation on themselves. I realize that many actors, in fact many of my favorite actors regularly play the same character over and over again. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but if we are going to call someone “Greatest” then they should really earn the title.
Now if I’m going to say they are not, as any strongly opinionated geek should I’m going to give you my pick for “Greatest” His name is Gary Oldman. Now stop and think about this for a second…….. Have you thought? Good. He has himself been in, according to IMDB, 59 films. These cover a wide range, and in each he plays a totally different character. Off the top of my head I don’t think I’ve ever seen and interview with him, and thanks to his wide range of work I have no idea who he actually is. Think about these films; Harry Potter, Batman Begins, The Professional, The Fifth Element, Immortal Beloved, Romeo is Bleeding, True Romance, Dracula, J.F.K., and Sid and Nancy. Some you may have seen, and some not. But think about the films that I’ve listed and for one try to think about who he played in each film, then compare them and see how many similarities there are. You won’t find many.
Here is his IMDB page for reference. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000198/
If variety is the spice of life, then it should also be a good measuring stick for greatness.
Man Crush
(Good News my father is doing much better, and should be able to go home in a few days. He had the best kind of inter cranial hemorrhaging. So I thought I’d post an additional slightly more light post as well)
Let me get it out of the way first. I am a staunch heterosexual. I like girls. I once broke my own hand over a girl I fancied who wasn’t even my girlfriend (ask Zuke he tried to set the bone, with emphasis on tried). However despite this I have to admit that I have a bit of a man crush. I’ve narrowed them down to my top 3. (Don’t worry my wife already knows). So in no particular order:
Tell Them About It
Nothing really geeky has jumped out at me this week, so this will again be a slightly atypical Droids post. However don’t worry it won’t be another political rant. Based on the number of responses to my comments following the DNC I’m guessing the average geek isn’t very politically interested, aside from Zohner.
Yesterday I received a call from my sister informing me that our father was in the hospital. A little more than a year and a half ago my dad had a heart attack. Following this he began to take, among many other medications, blood thinners. Some time within the last week or so a blood vessel burst in his brain, causing the area surrounding his brain to begin filling with blood. This resulted in added pressure on his brain, that caused sever headaches and short term memory loss. Dad was taken to the hospital where doctors literally had to drill a hole in his head to relative the pressure. According to them he’s going to be alright.
This is in no way a cry for pity. I don’t want any condolences, nor do I need anything that I’m not already getting. This is merely a request for you out there to realize what you have, and be grateful.
I am fortunate to have been raised well by two loving parents, who are both still alive. They raised me well, and I say without question that my father really is my hero. He showed me what it meant to be a man, and latter his example has helped me to be a good husband. I can only pray that I’m half as good to my children as he was to me. When i spoke with him yesterday after his surgery he sounded good, a little out of it but good. I made sure that I told him several times that I loved him, and also that he wasn’t allowed to die yet.
I want all of you reading this to stop and think for a moment. Think about the people in your life. Think about when the last time you said “I love you”, or “thank you”. I try to tell my wife both of these things several times a day, and I know that it has made a difference. I would urge each and every one of you to make sure that the people around you know that you appreciate them. Never ever assume that they must know. I don’t care if you’ve been married for weeks, months, years, or longer.
I have reason to hope that my Dad will pull through without any major problems. However if he should not, I can know without question, that he knows that I love and appreciate him.
What Women Want
Before you get to excited let me clarify. This is not a review of Mel Gibson’s 2000 film. Nor is it my pitch for the sequel, What Men Want, because I quickly realized the answer was “Boobs”, and didn’t really think that could be stretched to feature length. It’s also not my editorial on what makes a successful husband, though as a psychologist I’ve thought about doing just that. No this is my quest to answer one of the great mysteries of the 21st century. What do women want in a video game? This is up there with who shot JFK, and why Reggis Philbon has a career, for the great questions of life. So I thought I’d give it a go.
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I was born a ramblin man
After last weeks Democratic convention I became motivated. Motivated to register, and to vote. To actually learn more about what is going on in the world around me. Then the morning after Senator Barack Obama’s acceptance speech another bombshell was dropped. The Republicans, the Grand Old Party of old white men named a 44 year old 1st term Alaskan Governor as the Vice Presidential nominee to a man who is 72 years old, and has had cancer. Granted it was skin cancer, but cancer is cancer.
Despite what the “Red Side” is trying to tell me I don’t dislike her because she is a woman. I really don’t even have a problem with her being young and incredibly inexperienced. Or that she is under investigation for influencing state officials, or that her 17 year old daughter is pregnant. Or that she was not McCain’s 1st choice, but merely a concession to the far right of his party. I have a problem with her because I disagree with her on practically every issue. She’s in favor of making abortion illegal, I’m always in favor of a citizens right to chose. Same goes for her belief in banning gay marriage, and denying survivor benefits for gay couples. Again I feel that all people have the right to choose, so long as it doesn’t affect my life.
She claims to be a “reformer” who will fight against the rampant government spending. Yet her state spends more than ten times as much per citizen as the national average, and that is after massive cuts in the budget one year ago.
Both she and Senator McCain represent four more years of style that have lead to one of the darkest times in American history. A time of near financial collapse, war, terror, fear, and xenophobia. Is this what we want? Or do we need policies that focus on the environment, economy, and improving our world image to no longer be viewed as blood crazy christian fundamentalist (With an emphasis on mental).
Why has “liberal” become a dirty word, and yet “conservative” is viewed as smart and responsible? No one has ever achieved anything great by acting conservatively. Chuck Yeager, Neil Armstrong, Lance Armstrong, The Wright brothers, Bill Gates, Tom Brady, Nolan Bushnell, and many many more. Practically everyone who has ever achieved true greatness has bucked the status quo to achieve greatness. In politics some choose to lead with a bright vision of the future; JFK, FDR, Teddy Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln. These were all men with visions that defied the accepted logic, and broke from the way things are done.
If I were to sum up my opinion of the options for this Presidential election I would say that it is a matter of one major choice. Do you think that things are fine how they are, or do you feel we need a change? If you feel that a change is needed who do you think will bring it? The one who is a career politician who’s greatest claim of authority is that he was a P.O.W., or someone who is promising great change and hope. One promises more war, replaying Vietnam assured that we can win this time. Or the other who promises to follow the will of the people, and get us out. I am not downplaying Senator McCain’s military service, or time as a prisoner of war. These are things that say a great deal about his character. However it does not mean that he should run the country simply because his plane was shot down.
I realize that this is primarily a geek blog, and I’m a great fan of it. I am also a great fan of democracy, and the American system. These are my thoughts, and they may conflict with some of yours, and that’s ok. That is the beauty of our system. We are allowed, and I think encouraged, to disagree with each other in a civil and respectful manner. We have the glorious right as citizens to voice our opinions in the public forum.
This was by far the topic that I felt my interest leaning towards this week. I suppose I’ll know if any of you feel the same based on how many responses it gets. Let me know what, if any, thoughts you
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