Poor little blog. All abandoned and no real updates to speak of. Alas. The end of the year is like that for me though - short weeks lead to more relaxation and unwinding. And since there are new things to mock on television (Head Cases? Seriously? Who greenlights this stuff?) Less time here. Oh well. You'll live.
Picked up Super Monkey Ball 1 & 2 for the kids. We borrowed the first one and loved it. Nice gameplay and there are lots of things to do with the girls. I even got my Dad to play some. ^_^
I meant to write more on 12 Monkeys. It's been a while since I've done a bit of a retrospective post. Grand ideas and such... That's been one of the standout sci-fi films in the last several years. Criterion needs to put it out on DVD with a nice set of goodies. All star cast and a script that lets you go back and watch it again and again. You'll probably pick up something new every time you see it. I need to track down a good site with some commentary on the film. It's probably a little late, but as the net never throws anything away (pack rat that it is) I'll probably be ok.
At any rate, a time travel story that twists in on itself a couple times, 12 Monkeys follows Bruce Willis as he travels back in time to unlock the secret of a virus that wiped out most of humanity. And along the way he unlocks a few things about his past as well. I suspect a good portion of the film is really Gilliam's critique of the mental health care industry, but there's a solid story here with some great acting by Willis, Pitt and Stowe. If you haven't seen it, you really should. And if you have, watch it again. It's that good.
I've been reading a bit about Takeshi Kitano. An interesting fellow with some interesting movies under his belt. I need to track a few more of them down and watch them. This is a nice little site that follows his career. Go give it a couple moments of your time. Some of the background on Zatoichi was quite interesting.
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
New TV sound bites
Supernatural - best new show tonight, will definitely keep watching (this is 'd' speak for don't get attached I'll be cancelled before you can blink).
House - excellent as always, although my wife isn't too sure about the Sela Ward dynamic.
Bones - weakest link tonight. Will give it a couple more episodes to see if they can find their stride, otherwise Tuesday gets a little simpler.
House - excellent as always, although my wife isn't too sure about the Sela Ward dynamic.
Bones - weakest link tonight. Will give it a couple more episodes to see if they can find their stride, otherwise Tuesday gets a little simpler.
Monday, September 12, 2005
Monday rides again
Gearing up for Serenity later this month. We're watching through Firefly and enjoying it immensely.
New TV season starts up in earnest tomorrow. Once again Tuesdays feature far too much TV for one night. NCIS (not new tomorrow), House, Bones and Supernatural. And the checking things out begins. Threshold is also a possibility...
And there are even a couple DVDs worth checking out this week: H2G2 and Fever Pitch. So many ways to kill brain cells, so little time.
1up has some video coverage of PAX up. I'd like to get there some day.
And for a random link, here's a list of some software that you may, or may not, find interesting if you have a Mac.
TV's new season
features things that go bump in
the night. Ooo spooky...
New TV season starts up in earnest tomorrow. Once again Tuesdays feature far too much TV for one night. NCIS (not new tomorrow), House, Bones and Supernatural. And the checking things out begins. Threshold is also a possibility...
And there are even a couple DVDs worth checking out this week: H2G2 and Fever Pitch. So many ways to kill brain cells, so little time.
1up has some video coverage of PAX up. I'd like to get there some day.
And for a random link, here's a list of some software that you may, or may not, find interesting if you have a Mac.
TV's new season
features things that go bump in
the night. Ooo spooky...
Friday, September 09, 2005
Sound bites
12 Monkeys - still great.
Battlefield Baseball - wacky, get together with some friends fun.
Mean Girls - formulaic, but not too bad.
Confessions of a Teenage... - I watched about as much as I typed. And I regret that... (Actually we didn't make it past 10 minutes or so.)
Battlefield Baseball - wacky, get together with some friends fun.
Mean Girls - formulaic, but not too bad.
Confessions of a Teenage... - I watched about as much as I typed. And I regret that... (Actually we didn't make it past 10 minutes or so.)
Thursday, September 08, 2005
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
Hmmm
Apple made their announcements today. iPod Nano looks trés cool. I'd take one of those.
And the new TV season is trickling in. Haven't really watched Prison Break, but it might be interesting. House starts up next week. And why does Martha Stewart have some form of reality show? Haven't we been punished enough? Is the American TV viewing audience that stupid? Oh. Wait. Yes, yes it is... <sigh>
And the new TV season is trickling in. Haven't really watched Prison Break, but it might be interesting. House starts up next week. And why does Martha Stewart have some form of reality show? Haven't we been punished enough? Is the American TV viewing audience that stupid? Oh. Wait. Yes, yes it is... <sigh>
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
And we're back
And the long weekend has come to a close. It seems we are unable to have an end of summer activity that doesn't end in sunburn. Last year the beach trip resulted in massive burns and kidney stones for my wife. This year we went to watch border collies herd sheep. Hopefully we can skip the kidney stones. I was a little surprised at how much fun it was to watch the show, but there you go. Plus there was plenty of food and some Scottish Highland games going on in the background. I suppose we should buy some sheep for Ein to practice with. It would be pretty amusing to see how she handles something like that.
Sahara ended up being a lot of fun. If you've read a Clive Cussler book, you know what to expect. And despite my initial wincing over the casting decisions, things worked out. The banter and chemistry between Steve Zahn and Matthew McConaughey was actually just about spot on. They still don't really fit the physical descriptions, but they fit the part. And I have no idea why everyone hated Penelope Cruz in this movie. I didn't find her accent that hard to follow and I think her acting was fine for the role she was cast in. Besides, it's an adaptation of a Cussler book. What are you expecting here? So, yeah, Sahara was just what it should have been. Could be the beginnings of an interesting franchise.
White Noise, however, was mediocrity in it's purest form. In theory it's a spooky idea. In reality not so much. I suspect part of the problem lies with my own personal beliefs on the afterlife and how we interact with it. The movie tries (mostly) to play it straight - up until the end - and those sections work alright. I was able, for a while, to just sit back and watch the show, but ultimately I just couldn't buy it and my own biases ruined any real enjoyment that might have been had. I think the problem stemmed from the fact that the movie tried to play it straight - since it was serious, my own world views felt no need to take a hike so I could just watch. And so, in some ways, the ending lost a lot of its impact.
If nothing else, it is an interesting topic. My friends and I messed around with Ouija boards for a bit (well ok, a very small bit) and my wife and her mother have some interest in psychics and communication with those who have passed on. I certainly believe that we continue to exist and I think that communication is possible. But it follows very strict rules. And when you try to just randomly interact with that world, you're asking for trouble. Part of me wonders if the end of the movie is meant to add credence to that view. While on the one hand he helped someone, it wasn't necessarily worth it.
And I think I'm going to have to rent The Longest Yard. It looks funny...
Sahara ended up being a lot of fun. If you've read a Clive Cussler book, you know what to expect. And despite my initial wincing over the casting decisions, things worked out. The banter and chemistry between Steve Zahn and Matthew McConaughey was actually just about spot on. They still don't really fit the physical descriptions, but they fit the part. And I have no idea why everyone hated Penelope Cruz in this movie. I didn't find her accent that hard to follow and I think her acting was fine for the role she was cast in. Besides, it's an adaptation of a Cussler book. What are you expecting here? So, yeah, Sahara was just what it should have been. Could be the beginnings of an interesting franchise.
White Noise, however, was mediocrity in it's purest form. In theory it's a spooky idea. In reality not so much. I suspect part of the problem lies with my own personal beliefs on the afterlife and how we interact with it. The movie tries (mostly) to play it straight - up until the end - and those sections work alright. I was able, for a while, to just sit back and watch the show, but ultimately I just couldn't buy it and my own biases ruined any real enjoyment that might have been had. I think the problem stemmed from the fact that the movie tried to play it straight - since it was serious, my own world views felt no need to take a hike so I could just watch. And so, in some ways, the ending lost a lot of its impact.
If nothing else, it is an interesting topic. My friends and I messed around with Ouija boards for a bit (well ok, a very small bit) and my wife and her mother have some interest in psychics and communication with those who have passed on. I certainly believe that we continue to exist and I think that communication is possible. But it follows very strict rules. And when you try to just randomly interact with that world, you're asking for trouble. Part of me wonders if the end of the movie is meant to add credence to that view. While on the one hand he helped someone, it wasn't necessarily worth it.
And I think I'm going to have to rent The Longest Yard. It looks funny...
Friday, September 02, 2005
Radio silence
And this will be me for a couple days. Time to enjoy the weekend and spend some time with the folks and the kids. I've managed to round up enough booster packs of Pirates that I can attempt the full game so we'll see how that goes. And we may track down a copy of Sahara. Or who knows, maybe there's actually something worth seeing at the theater.
Have a great weekend, and our hearts go out to those in Louisiana.
Have a great weekend, and our hearts go out to those in Louisiana.
Thursday, September 01, 2005
Tasty
Ah, Del Taco. You are my friend. And Graeme has decided that Del Scorcho sauce packets are the best of toys. I tried to take one away from him and he cried until I gave it back. That's devotion to your hot sauce. ^_^
And so the four day weekend commences. I predict much laziness attempted and some laziness accomplished. Gonna coerce my Dad into a game or two of Pirates and we may track down a copy of Sahara. Other than that, who knows.
Sounds like Blockbuster has decided to get rid of their VHS tapes. A silly move at this point if you ask me. There are still plenty of classic movies that aren't out on DVD yet. And Star Wars 3 won't come out on DVD. Eh. Whatever.
And I borrowed a copy of Super Monkey Ball from a guy at work, so much monkey goodness will be had.
And so the four day weekend commences. I predict much laziness attempted and some laziness accomplished. Gonna coerce my Dad into a game or two of Pirates and we may track down a copy of Sahara. Other than that, who knows.
Sounds like Blockbuster has decided to get rid of their VHS tapes. A silly move at this point if you ask me. There are still plenty of classic movies that aren't out on DVD yet. And Star Wars 3 won't come out on DVD. Eh. Whatever.
And I borrowed a copy of Super Monkey Ball from a guy at work, so much monkey goodness will be had.
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Evil
Kohl's. Kohl's is evil. One day sales. One day sales are evil. Especially one day sales at Kohl's. Went in to get some shoes (which I did), came out with shoes and shirts. Lots of shirts. I did manage to leave behind the t-shirt that read, "Work Bad. Videogames Good." though. (It was a close call...)
Family is in town again. Will be nice to see them for a bit. And it's a long holiday weekend. Posting may be very sporadic over the next several days. I'm sure you won't notice.
So. The computer world is waiting on the new announcement from Apple. And the gaming world is still hoping to hear more about the Nintendo controller. And apparently Nintendogs is "better than Barbie". Groovy.
And there was some horror film festival in the UK. Grrrr...
Family is in town again. Will be nice to see them for a bit. And it's a long holiday weekend. Posting may be very sporadic over the next several days. I'm sure you won't notice.
So. The computer world is waiting on the new announcement from Apple. And the gaming world is still hoping to hear more about the Nintendo controller. And apparently Nintendogs is "better than Barbie". Groovy.
And there was some horror film festival in the UK. Grrrr...
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Monday, August 29, 2005
Book 32 and Cake
True Story: Murder, Memoir, Mea Culpa by Michael Finkel is an odd book. A good book, but an odd one. I was unfamiliar with the events depicted, but Finkel certainly weaves a fascinating narrative out of a surreal situation. Fired from his dream job with the Times magazine for fictionalizing parts of a story he wrote, Finkel is alerted to a situation where Chris Longo (charged with killing his family) has been captured while impersonating Finkel. It makes for a compelling read as you realize the little games the two men begin to play.
Layer Cake was vastly different from my expectations. Having seen Snatch I expected a witty (if convoluted) British crime drama. Layer Cake leaves out most of the wit. It's still convoluted and a crime drama however. I don't think some of the pieces came together as well as they could have, but it's an interesting film. The swearing does wear thin though. Definitely a rental.
Layer Cake was vastly different from my expectations. Having seen Snatch I expected a witty (if convoluted) British crime drama. Layer Cake leaves out most of the wit. It's still convoluted and a crime drama however. I don't think some of the pieces came together as well as they could have, but it's an interesting film. The swearing does wear thin though. Definitely a rental.
Sunday, August 28, 2005
Saturday, August 27, 2005
Pirates and Ghosts
Picked up a handful of the Pirates Constructible Strategy Game packs. I suspect I've found a CCG that I could play. I've always enjoyed Pirate games and the little ships that you construct in this one are quite nice. Build some ships, sail the seas, find treasure, and blow up your opponent. What's not to like? The basic game is pretty easy to pick up and the advanced game looks like it adds some length and strategy without adding too much to the difficulty. Perfect for the upcoming speak like a pirate day. Arr...
We watched The Ring Two last night. I would say it wasn't as scary as the first one, but it had a pretty good story. And the extras on the DVD were quite nice. I especially liked the Rings short. It's a nice piece of Ring mythology that fills in the events that led up to the beginning of the second film. Quite well done. I still find it interesting that they're bringing over the Japanese directors to re-make these films. Part of me wishes they'd just release them, but it is interesting to see what the re-makes are like. The second one has several nice moments including the scene with the deer and the (in)famous bathtub sequence. We get more of Samara's background and more creepy little kid moments. Plus a really good contortionist.
In related news, there's now a box set of all the original Japanese Ring movies out. Sounds like a birthday present to me.
We watched The Ring Two last night. I would say it wasn't as scary as the first one, but it had a pretty good story. And the extras on the DVD were quite nice. I especially liked the Rings short. It's a nice piece of Ring mythology that fills in the events that led up to the beginning of the second film. Quite well done. I still find it interesting that they're bringing over the Japanese directors to re-make these films. Part of me wishes they'd just release them, but it is interesting to see what the re-makes are like. The second one has several nice moments including the scene with the deer and the (in)famous bathtub sequence. We get more of Samara's background and more creepy little kid moments. Plus a really good contortionist.
In related news, there's now a box set of all the original Japanese Ring movies out. Sounds like a birthday present to me.
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Book 31.5
Tried reading The Dante Club. I wanted to like this book. Intriguing premise and some Dante. And in a lazy sort of way, I did like the book. Just not enough to finish it. So that marks about three books that I've started recently that I haven't been able to convince myself to read. We'll see if the next one bucks that trend. I suspect it will. Actually I have a couple more books on tap, so expect something relatively soon. As for whether or not I'll try counting any of the failures, I guess not. But I'm leaving the half score in my count. Well, not visibly, but I'll think it every time! ^_^
The Brothers Grimm is getting pretty mixed reviews. Which may imply a Gilliam Effect. Typically you either love him or hate him. My wife's undecided enough that this one may get relegated to rental status as opposed to theater venture, but I'll carry a special place in my heart for it.
The Brothers Grimm is getting pretty mixed reviews. Which may imply a Gilliam Effect. Typically you either love him or hate him. My wife's undecided enough that this one may get relegated to rental status as opposed to theater venture, but I'll carry a special place in my heart for it.
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
And one year later...
So. It's been a year. And frighteningly enough, I'm still here. A venture started due to lack of sleep and irrational desire continues through pretty much those same commodities. I've started taking weekends off (mostly) but otherwise you get to endure my pointless ramblings and the odd link or two that you've seen thirty other places. And the infrequent kid pictures. Can't forget those.
At any rate, I don't have anything terribly special to mark this momentous milestone. So let's just opt for a coupe lines of silence...
I think that's enough. The neighbours next door are moving. They've been there since just before we moved in. I suspect it will be a couple teary days for the kids as they're losing their most frequent playmates. I offered to save them the trouble of moving the big screen TV, but they seemed oddly attached to it. Go figure. ^_^
The Brothers Grimm opens this weekend. I expect all of you to patronize the movie (in the original sense, thank you very much). It's good to see a Gilliam film in the theater again. Now we just need Fincher's Zodiac...
It's funny, I think I had some ideas I meant to jot down here in commemoration, but at the moment nothing's jumping out. I could point you over to Neil Gaiman's site so you can listen to the first bit of Anansi Boys, but that's fairly predictable. (And yet I'll do it anyway.)
If nothing else I expect my sanity level has been on a slightly more even keel this past year. It's nice having this outlet. Random writing is good for the soul.
At least you have the fall TV season to look forward to. New NCIS, House... And a whole slew of spooky shows. Good to see horror getting its 15 minutes.
At any rate, I don't have anything terribly special to mark this momentous milestone. So let's just opt for a coupe lines of silence...
I think that's enough. The neighbours next door are moving. They've been there since just before we moved in. I suspect it will be a couple teary days for the kids as they're losing their most frequent playmates. I offered to save them the trouble of moving the big screen TV, but they seemed oddly attached to it. Go figure. ^_^
The Brothers Grimm opens this weekend. I expect all of you to patronize the movie (in the original sense, thank you very much). It's good to see a Gilliam film in the theater again. Now we just need Fincher's Zodiac...
It's funny, I think I had some ideas I meant to jot down here in commemoration, but at the moment nothing's jumping out. I could point you over to Neil Gaiman's site so you can listen to the first bit of Anansi Boys, but that's fairly predictable. (And yet I'll do it anyway.)
If nothing else I expect my sanity level has been on a slightly more even keel this past year. It's nice having this outlet. Random writing is good for the soul.
At least you have the fall TV season to look forward to. New NCIS, House... And a whole slew of spooky shows. Good to see horror getting its 15 minutes.
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Monday, August 22, 2005
Couple random links
This one is a transcription/description of the Serenity panel at the recent San Diego ComiCon.
And this is the Cry_Wolf blog.
Kind of different and yet the same. It's been interesting to me lately to see a little further behind the curtain of the movie industry. Between reading Bruce Campbell and Robert Rodriguez, listening to commentary tracks on DVDs, and skimming through film blogs, bits and pieces of that world have opened up. Things to think about. Film can certainly be a powerful medium.
And this is the Cry_Wolf blog.
Kind of different and yet the same. It's been interesting to me lately to see a little further behind the curtain of the movie industry. Between reading Bruce Campbell and Robert Rodriguez, listening to commentary tracks on DVDs, and skimming through film blogs, bits and pieces of that world have opened up. Things to think about. Film can certainly be a powerful medium.
Monday catchup
Here's Macworld's Mac Gems blog. If you have a Mac, chances are there's something for you there.
Watched The Cat Returns. For the Ghibli title we knew the least about (out of the last batch of three released) we ended up enjoying it the most. This one is a nice little fairy tale. The girls loved it and my wife and I weren't far behind.
Rescue Me is what Dennis Leary would have done with The Job were it not on network TV. I'm not sure how I feel about that. I like Dennis Leary, but I think he's a little better when he's working under some restraint. The Job is probably just a touch better than Rescue Me, although it has been quite some time since I've seen The Job - that could be the nostalgia talking.
And school is back in session. The world breathes a collective sigh of relief and I suspect we'll start gaining back some semblance of sanity. There are times when the track system is terribly appealing.
Watched The Cat Returns. For the Ghibli title we knew the least about (out of the last batch of three released) we ended up enjoying it the most. This one is a nice little fairy tale. The girls loved it and my wife and I weren't far behind.
Rescue Me is what Dennis Leary would have done with The Job were it not on network TV. I'm not sure how I feel about that. I like Dennis Leary, but I think he's a little better when he's working under some restraint. The Job is probably just a touch better than Rescue Me, although it has been quite some time since I've seen The Job - that could be the nostalgia talking.
And school is back in session. The world breathes a collective sigh of relief and I suspect we'll start gaining back some semblance of sanity. There are times when the track system is terribly appealing.
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