30.5.06

hey nerds...

i deleted my windows calculator awhile back. i had been using google to calculate things, but sometimes, the internet will not be available. so i decided to fish for a new one. here is the coolest one i found (click title). gotta love command-line calculators, just like the ones we made in compsci.

28.5.06

Movie Review: X-Men 3: The Last Stand

Starring: Patrick Stewart, Sir Ian McKellen, Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Famke Janssen, Rebecca Romjin, Kelsey Grammer, Vinnie Jones, Shawn Ashmore, Anna Paquin, James Marsden and too many others.

Directed by: Brett Ratner (Rush Hours)

Story Outline: the development of a "cure" that suppresses mutations on the genetic level, based on the powers of a unique mutant, divides an already embattled mutant community into two camps: those that follow Xavier and fight for peaceful coexistance, and those that follow Magneto and his fight for mutant supremacy. chaos erupts when the government weaponizes the serum. hostilities reach fever pitch when Magneto rallies his forces to neutralize the source of the "cure" by whatever means necessary.

Plot:
all the materials were there for an epic. perhaps there was just too much material. the plot had a quick pace that bordered on recklessly fast, concluding after 104 minutes. as stated above, battle lines are drawn over how to interpret mutation: is it a disease? or is it evolution? is it a blessing? or is it a curse? not every mutant has a sexy power like telekinesis or ice powers.

Character:
execution of all these themes and character issues was spotty at best, but the plot had to go on. i guess they were really afraid of developing 10+ characters with the depth alloted to Spider-Man 2 (that bored some people). everyone with spoken lines had a personal take on the "cure", except for the most tertiary of characters (colossus and shadowcat). the general consensus is that there were just too many characters for the audience to attach to any single character. this installment of the x-men trilogy (perhaps the final one??) plays out like LOTR:RotK did. PLOT PLOT PLOT PLOT ACTION ALL OVER with cursory mention as to why said action must take place.

Visuals:
live action mutant powers were considered to be quite difficult to pull off without going compeltely green-screen. as it were, this movie does not rely as heavily on computer generated images as other blockbusters would have. even Colossus' metal form was a highly polished bodysuit. the Beast was all make up and fake hair. very awesome. the uninitiated did not even recognize that he was played by Kelsey Grammer. lots of helicopter pans of landscapes (alkali lake, downtown vancouver, etc).

Dialogue:
failure here. the dialogue succumbs to campy one-liners and platitudes. the Batman and Robin Syndrome. it was so cheesy.

Final Thoughts: so much potential, so much hype, so disappointing when all the good things are given up for flying fire cars instead. still, adequate, if the first two weren't so good.

* * * out of 5

20.5.06

A Chink in the Armour

just one of the cool things we do at UHS.

17.5.06

the lenovo tapes

yeah, this is pretty funny in a cool-i'm-better-than-you,-james-bond sort of way.

14.5.06

The Da Vinci Code Movie

this friday, the da vinci code will be released in movie form, filling Dan Brown's pockets with more pocket change.

Brown's novel is a poorly written but lively and fascinating thriller that's well suited for adaptation. - David Etherington, movie reviewer


i, for one, am looking forward to watching this movie at Costco or Wal-Mart, despite my disdain for the book itself (contrary to popular belief, i have scruples). my main reason is given by Etherington's concluding statement in his pre-release review of the Da Vinci Code (click title). my other reason is the excellent ensemble that put this film together.

The DVC is directed by Ron Howard who's work i admire, insofar as a film amateur can admire the work of a director when he is barely capable of seeing what it is, exactly, that a director does. but i really liked A Beautiful Mind and Cinderella Man.

Tom Hanks plays the Harvard Professor Robert Langdon. this was a pretty good choice for, in my opinion. Hanks can give character depth to a character written flatter than my chest, i.e. Robert Langdon of Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code. oh, hey, how convenient!

---begin digression---

i just came up with a dynamite name for a band: "Sphincter Control". i hope it isn't taken yet.
---end digression---


Audrey Tautou was definitely the perfect choice for the alluring and conveniently talented French crytopgrapher Sophie Neveu. i've had a huge crush on her since i saw her in Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amelie Poulain, one of my favourite movies of all time with the freakiest movie poster i've ever seen.

Sir Ian McKellan plays the bad guy, Sir Leigh Teabing. he always plays the old bad guy! i.e. Richard III, Magneto. the exception is the Lord of the Rings. he plays the old good guy, Gandalf.

11.5.06

snark!

honestly the funniest thing i read today:


Re: Are averatecs reliable? even more specific the 2200 series

This brand seems to have a great apppeal (sic) for people who like to break the seal on the box, remove the unit and start fixing it.

If you are not inclined to take it apart and remedy issues perhaps anothr (sic) brand would suit you more.

good luck with your purchase.

susan

4.5.06

10 Ways to Stop Procrastinating

1.

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