Hey! A non TV/Music related article.
Jul0
I don’t often post things that are unsensical or frivilious but here’s one:
Gaming on a Dime - Arcades can save a gamer money
I wrote this as my first article into the foray into Associated Content. I’ve had this idea about budget gaming and although I contemplated starting up a website (like budget gamer or something) I realized that there is one website out there that is so much better, so I refrained.
The Ugly Truth Part 2
Jun0
Recently, I’ve seen several friends on Facebook announce messages like “Going to get a headshot,” “Does anyone know any good photographers?,” or “Pick my headshot.” I look at photos and think: Jeez, these people are ugly.
Now I know that there is a stereotype to writers. I’ve addressed that before. But shouldn’t there be a stereotype to actors? Like maybe….they are good looking? Yes I know that talent does come first and play a big part, but when you’re ugly, you’re only going to get typecast roles for “Ugly Best Friend” or “Generic Mall Cop.” You’re not going to be a leading lady. (Click Continue Reading to Continue Reading!)
Such a beautiful day for an error.
Jun0
I’m having website meltdown. At the moment I hate HTML. I really do. HTML, CSS, Javascript. Everything. Why can’t websites be drawn on a piece of paper, scanned, and then mysteriously just work the way you wanted? Of course I have to struggle my way around with my small web bag of tricks, trying to make this webpage as effective as possible.
It’s pretty, but not exactly everything I wished for, you know? Sometimes the image in my head doesn’t match the drawing on the picture.
Anywho, I realized that one thing that websites are supposed to do is increase the length of time one person is on it for a while. How is a personal website supposed to do that? I’m not going to offer games, contests, or giveaways. That’s not my style and I’ve heard from other webmasters that giveaways aren’t as helpful to increasing readership. It causes a spike then disappears again. Moot. That’s what it is.
Quick Review: The Hangover
Jun0
The Hangover ©Warner Brothers
There is something I can’t pinpoint about The Hangover that I liked so much. Was it the fact that the main cast are B-Listers and all of them together made a good movie? Was it the fact that the movie went there and had no reservation about it? I don’t know, but the movie was good.
The Hangover had a lot of word of mouth going for it (Also the week of it’s opening, Land of the Lost got a negative word of mouth which helped) and after the movie I would definitely suggest it to friends. It is definitely a “Unrated Version” Blu-Ray purchase when it comes out as well, because you just know that there will be funny commentary, extended scenes, and funny outtakes.
The things of note:
+ I found a very Momento-esque element to the movie. I don’t know why, but it probably was the whole working backwards that created the connection.
The Ugly Truth
Jun0
I have this underlying fear that people think writers are ugly. Probably less ugly than radio people, but still ugly. Why is that? Well, it’s because unlike television writers and radio people have a medium to fall behind, become a mask and display their work first before ever even seeing a face. I’m sure people read TV Squad and don’t even think about the person who wrote it.
Personally, I’ve seen the images of writers, radio people, and podcasters and was taken aback. Maybe it’s true. Maybe a lot of these people are the bastard ugly children of successful television and film stars. Even the people on YouTube have good looks and usually only the good looking (or just insanely funny) YouTube videos become the most popular.
…
Quick Review – Angels & Demons
Jun0
Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon on the movie poster
I have mixed feelings about Angels & Demons. I feel as though all the pieces were there and yet there was something I can’t put my finger on that I didn’t like. I think that Ron Howard knows how to make a good movie with strong shots, while Tom Hanks both understands Ron Howard and is a good actor in general. Here are some musings about the movie:
I don’t like the whole end twist – It happened in the last movie and they put it in again. Regardless of whether or not it’s in the book, the end sequence is redundant and in both cases makes Robert Langdon just a little dumber.
Quick Review: Disney/Pixar’s Up
Jun0
Up's Logo. ©Pixar
I don’t get out often. I have some rewards program where I can watch movies free on Tuesdays, but I haven’t gotten the opportunity to use it. Last night I had a teleconference, and usually during the Spring/Fall I’m covering Dancing with the Stars. Anywho, I finally got out of the house to watch Up in 3D. There’s that mysterious charm that Up has that continues the Pixar legacy. A lot of recent Disney movies don’t have that charm anymore (probably Enchanted was the last one that had that charm). I had mostly praise for the movie after getting out. I felt invigorated and moved; something a movie hasn’t done in a while.
One thing that I love is that Up gives you the whole premise in the first fifteen minutes. After watching Key Largo (Oh Boogie and Bacall), I noticed that a lot of old movies will give you text to read and then jump right into the storyline. Up goes the other route and gives a vignette of Carl’s life all the way up until present. His life is like many: sometimes you can’t catch a break… or when it rains, it pours.
(You know the drill, click continue reading, well unless you’re all RSS friendly)
Catching up on movies
Jun0
So in one of my previous posts, I mentioned that I saw Night at the Museum 2. Well, it turns out that in a week’s span, I ended up watching three more movies: Up, Angels & Demons (which I keep instinctively try to type as “daemons”) and The Hangover. All three movies were actually good (reviews coming up soon), but this isn’t what this post is about.
I ended up going to three different movie theaters, two AMC Lowes, one United Artists (according to Fandango, it is actually owned by the Regal Entertainment Group), and the last owned by National Amusements. Three in New York, one in New Jersey. The quality level of all four movie theaters varied, but the biggest thing was that the prices of all four theaters were different. First I’m going to list off the prices:
- Regal Entertainment - $11/adult (Night at the Museum 2)
- National Amusements * - $14.75/adult (Up)
- AMC Lowes (NY) - $11/adult (Angels & Demons)
- AMC Lowes (NJ) $10/adult (The Hangover)
(Click continue reading for more rambles)
The underbelly of websites
Jun0
Sometimes I have those days where I’m just trying to make sure that I have a properly functioning website. I mean, I do pay for this damn thing. Yes, I understand that there is only one photo album at the moment, the contact page is sparse, and the review table mysteriously disappeared when I updated the design. But, the big thing I finally fixed was the damn RSS feed. Now it actually works up-op. Thanks Feedburner for never telling me that Google ate you.
So now, Feedburner should be taking care of my problems with RSS. Maybe I can finally get past that one subscriber and have…dare I say… two?
(Click on that Continue Reading for a picture of Sailor Moon and a dumb story)
Quick Review: Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
Jun0
Normally I would go all intense on reviewing things, but truthfully his movie really only lives up to expectations. The movie is visually stunning (except for a few points which I will mention), the soundtrack is fine, and the acting is good across the bar. I’m going to instead focus on certain actors. Anyone who plays Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon (AKA The Actor/Movie Game) will love this film because this movie is a big (huge) ensemble. Try stumping a friend by using The Jonas Brothers as your launching point; they are the cherubs in the movie.
His tie will disappear halfway through the movie. Someone explain that to me. Did I go pee when he removes it dramatically? Image © Fox
Ben Stiller – HIS TIE DISAPPEARS HALFWAY THROUGH THE MOVIE. In the beginning in the locker room, you can see a tie on him; then out of nowhere, the tie disappears. Either way, Ben Stiller was doing his basic schtick.
Amy Adams – Steals the show, she keeps in character the whole time and just evokes the sense of adventure that Amelia Earhart had.
Hank Azaria – I love his voice acting skills, but couldn’t get the Blue Raja from Mystery Men out of my head. He maintains that wit that he always had as well, and the character really wasn’t a stretch.
Robin Williams – The same as before, doesn’t overact. Thank God.
Ricky Gervais – Usually I’m hit or miss with Ricky. For some reason, I was miss for him in this movie. I guess he really didn’t play a big part, so he kinda just had to say a few lines.
Mizuo Peck – I like her portrayal of Sacajawea and hope to see her in a movie where she actually has some lines.
Bill Hader – Somehow I didn’t know that it was him playing Custer (musta been the hair), so kudos to you. You won me over a little more. Oh and if anyone could tell me who the blonde comedian that I’m thinking of (for some reason I associate him with a bad fake mustache if it helps), please tell me.
Owen Wilson – Okay, I know the movie is over the top, but there are so many things wrong with Owen Wilson in this movie. Firstly, he (and Steve Coogan) had some of the worst green screening. I don’t know why, but you could see their outlines so much more than the rest of the characters. Dammit, Al Capone was black and white the whole movie and it didn’t show any poor green screening (Granted it probably was technologically similar to Plesantville, one funny aside, a still on the official movie website has Al Capone colored in). Then if you are in an hourglass there are several things you can do. How about not standing where the sand falls? Even Princess Jasmine in Aladdin struggled. Also, pacing around in the beginning would help by elevating you as the sand increased. It’s sand, not quicksand. Thirdly, if Steve Coogan’s character can break glass with a sword, why couldn’t Jedediah use the blunt end of his gun and just get out?
Overall, the movie was fun. It was a children’s movie with a few comedian nuances. Amy Adams is the bright spot in the movie providing adventure and excitement with just the look in her eye. For me the movie is like a 72%. The plotline is stupid and there are a lot of plotholes.
