AlanBarber.Org
TV, Movies, & Music
Saturday, June 05, 2004
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Well I saw the new Harry Potter movie last night with my girlfriend and a friend. We were over to the friend’s new apartment and watched Gothika (I’ll write up a review on this next). It was still early and we wanted to go do something so since the friend is a Harry Potter fan we went to see the new movie.
Now I’ve never read the books and I’ve only seen the first two movies when they showed up on HBO so don’t expect any comparing or contrasting to the books.
Suffice to say it wasn’t a bad movie. The core cast has defiantly matured and it is very noticeable. Both in physical as well as vocal changes which could mean the end of this cast is not far off.
The story was good. I didn’t notice any obvious plot holes although I’m sure the hardcore fans will watch it 20 times and manage to nit pick every little detail.
The basic story goes something like this. It’s Harry’s third year at Hogwarts. A murderer named Sirius Black has escaped from the Azkaban prison. There’s a history between Black and Harry’s family and Black wants to kill Harry.
It’s a much darker story from the previous two movies. There was far less humor and silly hi-jinks this time round. Which I found a bit disappointing to say the least. The first movies were very much kid friendly with the humor but this one was so much darker that I just don’t see it being as enjoyable. Of course the hardcore fans out there will sit there and enjoy it just as much I’m sure.
Story aside the movie was very good at the special effects. This is obviously an important issue considering that magic is a fundamental part of the story. They did very well at not making the CG effects stick out like a sore thumb. Many movies I can sit there and point out every CG effect because the computer work is just so different from physical special effects. However, I was able to watch the movie and not really tell.
If I had to rate it I’d give it one thumb up and one down. One thumb up for the overall movie and one down for the darker and less child friendly experience. If you’re out wanting to watch a movie and liked the first two movies then go check it out. However, if you didn’t then go find something else because you will end up bored.
on 06/05/2004 at 04:00 PM
Friday, May 07, 2004
TechTV is no more...
First some background...TechTV is a technology channel. They have shows that cover the whole gambit. Shows that do nothing but show off cool new gadgets and toys, a show about video games, two shows that let viewer call in and ask the hosts tech questions, etc, etc. It's not the best quality I'll admit. They only have maybe a half dozen shows and rest of the time they air tech related shows from the BBC which is a bit annoying. Plus, they do dumb down the info so beginners and tech newbies can learn and understand. That's fine though. It's still good watching even for us tech experts.
G4 is a gaming channel. It's nothing but shows on computer and console games. Problem is its all trash. They're hosted by obnoxious asshats and the production quality is sub-par. The failure in the channel is that's its no fun to watch TV about gaming all day. Video games are about playing not watching. After like the first week that G4 started everyone got bored of it and stopped watching.
Comcast cable bought TechTV a few months back and merged it with their technology channel G4. For the last few months they've been separate and preparing for some type of merger but no one knew what to expect.
Well it's official today as Leo Laporte, a cast member of several TechTV shows, posted on his blog, The Laporte Report, that G4 was closing up the TechTV shop in San Fran and just gave everyone a 60 days notice.
The good news is 100 of the current jobs are being posted for any that want to relocate to LA. But they still have to renegotiate contacts, move to LA, etc. So, you have to wonder how many of the staff will actually go through with it.
This is why Comcast bought TechTV. TechTV is a success and has a strong loyal fan base. G4 has nothing. But G4 is Comcast's baby and TechTV is the competition so obviously they bought TechTV for the sole purpose of removing it. The 100 jobs being offered in LA is just an appeasement to fans.
In a few months time channel 354(DirecTV) will no longer be known as TechTV but G4tv. It will be a craptastic channel full of hosts that try to act cool and hip but are just retarded and lame. The shows will lack substance because it's cheaper to fill an hour slot with worthless hype and trash that spend time and money doing something worthwhile.
I never really watch TechTV that much. I'll catch some of the shows on the weekends when I'm bored. I usually catch the reruns of The Screen Savers the next day while I eat lunch. The Screen Savers is taped live every night and they always have something interesting to watch though. Modding X-Boxes, building high end computers, interviewing people in technology, etc. You usually get 15-20 minutes of good content for the hour show. Rest of the time is pretty boring. They do let people call in and ask questions which is very cool. The questions are always pretty easy stuff but it's still nice because the fans get to interact with the hosts live.
I'm just ticked off TechTV is getting the boot. If anything it should be the other way around. They should keep TechTV and incorporate G4 into the TechTV lineup. They could finally dump some of those BBC shows and have real content. However, that would be too obvious and logical. Why do what would be popular and successful when you can just screw things up. You have to remember that the people in charge are the same people that keep making reality tv shows, stopped showing music videos on MTV, cancel good shows like Futurama, Family Guy, Farscape, Keen Eddie, etc and crank out crappy mini-series like 10.5 on NBC. They live in their own little world and have clue what mainstream TV Viewers are like.
Sometimes TV execs just piss me off so much!
Thursday, April 22, 2004
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
What's there to say... hmm... It's a great movie! Yup that should sum it all up pretty well. No seriously folks. It's not showing at every theater so you might have to look around to find it but it will be worth it.The basic summary of "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" goes something like this. Joel Barish (Jim Carrey) and Clementine Kruczynski (Kate Winslet) have a rather rocky relationship. After a rather nasty fight Joel goes to apologize at Clementine's job, she works at a book store, but she acts if she has no idea who he is. He learns from friends that she had him erased from her memories at this place called Lacuna. He goes to them and decides to have them erase her from his memories as well. After the procedure is started he begins to realize that he still lovers her and doesn't want to loose the memories.
The cool thing is 90 percent of the movie is played in reverse chronological order. It does that because we follow the procedure that erases memories from most recent to earliest. As a result you really don't get the whole picture until the end which I think is great. So many movies basically dump out everything on the floor within the first 20-30 minutes. You know everything and you just spend the rest of the movie being entertained by the pretty special effects till the hero(s) win.
Ok, sure anyone with a half a brain will know how this movie will end, I won't say it just to not spoil it, but the fact that they don't describe anything upfront and make you watch to see how the relationship unfolded is a wonderful change.
On the technical front the movie was impressive. It's no Lord of The Rings but there are plenty of little details there. Most of the movie takes place inside Joel's head so the little effects of things dissapering as the memories are erased is nicely done. Most people probably won't pay enough attention to notice them all and it's a shame. For example in one scene Joel is talking to Clementine in the bookstore. As they talk books on the shelves slowly lose their titles and change to blank white. Each time the camera would shift more and more would turn blank. Then when all were blank the entire room slowly darkened and this showed very nicely the idea of the memory disappearing.
I went with my girlfriend to see it. You know what folks, Weekend dating is overrated. I think catching a movie on a Wednesday night is way better. Why you may ask? Simply there's nobody at the theater! I think there were maybe 10 people total at the theater to see the movie. You get to feel like it's just the two of you there and that's much more romantic in my opinion. No being stuck next to some sweatty fat guy that managed to eat his entire jumbo popcorn before the previews are over, no moron that talks non-stop to his friends, no stupid parents bringing little children to an adult movie and then having the kids whine for two hours. It's pure bliss people!
Of course the downfall is being the middle of the week you can't stay out really late since you both have work or school in the morning. Then again being able to see each other in the middle of the weak is enough to make it worth it. For my girl and I we only see each other on the weekend and Tuesdays normally. Any extra time we get we have to take advantage of.
So enough of my ramblings already. Everyone go see the movie "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind." Then get your friends to go too. It's another one of those rare intelligent movies so don't pass it up. We have to let Hollywood know that it's not enough to just spend millions on special effects. We need good original stories that inspire and provoke the mind too!
Friday, March 12, 2004
Wonderfalls
I just watched Wonderfalls. It's a new show on FOX. The basic premise of the show is this girl Jaye, who works at a souvenir stand at Niagara Falls, has a mental breakdown and stuffed animals, statues, heads on coins, etc start talking to her. The things talk to her in order to help other people.On top of that the girl is the sulky I hate my life type with a dysfunctional family and a dead end job. They use plenty of voiceovers from the main character. Plus, throughout the episode, plenty of wacky things happen that don't make any sense until the end when it all wraps up to a nice happy ending where we learn a valuable lesson.
Sounds rather family in concept doesn't it. As I was watching it I said this is a rip-off of Showtime's Dead Like Me. While I was checking it out on IMDB, but who should I find is the writer/creator of this show but Bryan Fuller. He's the writer/creator of Dead Like Me! He actually left after the first few episodes of DLM. So I guess this is what he's been up to.
Other than Caroline Dhavernas, Jaye, I don't recognize any of the actors on the show. Caroline was in this great snowboarder comedy called Out Cold. It's a brilliant and funny comedy that apparently no one has ever seen.
I don't know how I feel about the show yet. It's interesting and the humor is right on button like DLM. I love that over that top goofiness mixed with sappy sentimental type of stuff. I guess I'm just a sentimental goofball at heart.
Anyhoo, go check out Wonderfalls, you might like it.
Sunday, February 29, 2004
The Passion of Christ
I went and watched The Passion of Christ Saturday with my girlfriend. You hear lots of people describe it as powerful and there's good reason they do. It's hard to find any words to use to describe to people what it's like.It's a very gruesome movie from the get go. Although being how I'm a heartless monster it didn't bother me. Maybe it's that I've just been desensitized with all the violence in the world. Perhaps that as a Roman Catholic I've been told the story so many times I went in knowing how violent the torture of Jesus was going to be. Mel Gibson sure didn't leave anything to the imagination that's for sure. You see every swing of wooden rods bruise and metal teethed whips tear flesh from the body. You watch as blood is sprayed from his body as nails are driven through his hands and feet. If you are even the least bit weak in the stomach it will be horrific to watch. Mel Gibson wasn't just trying to tell you the story of the last day of Jesus, he wanted to you feel it.
Anyways, as to the claims of anti-Semitism. Well I walked out of the movie without any feels of hate toward Jews. Just like I didn't have any hate for the Japanese after watching "Pearl Harbor" or Germans after I saw "Saving Private Ryan." It was pretty clear in watching it that not all Jews hated Jesus. Several of the leaders were shown as being against the actions being taken but the other leaders had soldiers haul them away. The movie made it pretty clear that the leaders whipped the populous into a frenzy and used the mob mentality to influence the situation. The fact of the matter is that corrupt minds can see anything as a sign that they're ideals and beliefs are right. No one in their right mind is going to come out of the theaters pounding their fists screaming, "lets go find some Jews to beat up."
It's a very good movie and well worth anyone's time to go watch it. If you're a Christian you've probably already seen it so I don't had to bother talking to you. However, for all those anti-religion types out there, please go see it. If you go in with a clear and open mind, you might just come out with a better understanding of what the Christian and Catholic religion in particular are about. During the weeks leading up to Easter we are told the stories of the events that the movie portrays. This is the core of the religion and what we focus on. During the Christmas season when we are told the stories of the events that end with the birth of Jesus. It's pretty clear for followers that the Christmas season is just about setting the stage for Easter. While the birth is important it's not the birth we are really celebrating. We're celebrating the eventual sacrifice for all men, even those that had a hand in the sacrifice.
I'll be honest and say I'm a bad Catholic. I never go to mass. In the last several years I've just hit Christmas and Easter masses. The movie is powerful and has got me to think about religion and not be focused on scandals or other crap happening in the church. However, it's no life-changing event and won't do much in the long run to change my views. I'm not about to go and join the priesthood or travel third-world counties trying to convert heathens.
I'd say in the end the best this movie will do is give people a good excuse to talk about religion again. It's not about to start some new resurgence of religion in American, even if there are people that hope it does or fear it might. Neither side needs to get all worked up because it's not going to happen. Just relax and see the movie for what it is, the telling of a story.
Tuesday, February 24, 2004
CD Music Settlement
Look what I got in the mail today! It's a check for $13.86. It's part of a settlement from a class action lawsuit against a bunch of music distributors accused of basically doing music price fixing.
You can read up on the whole thing at the official settlement website if you want but here's the basic point.
I copied this right from the website:
The Plaintiffs filed a lawsuit alleging that the Defendants conspired to illegally raise the prices of certain prerecorded Music Products by implementing Minimum Advertised Price policies, in violation of state and federal laws. The Defendants are five music distributors and three music retailers. (A list of the Plaintiffs and Defendants can be found on Page 3 of the Notice of Proposed Settlement.) The Defendants, in agreeing to settle the lawsuit, have denied all allegations of wrongdoing.
So simply put some people finally got fed up with the high price of music and sued a bunch of companies for illegally jacking up prices to gouge consumers. They haven't actually lost or admitted they did it but agreed to settle to end the lawsuit. In all total they're only settling for a few million so it's really just a joke and they still win in the end.
Last year the website was setup and you could file a claim to the settlement. So, some 5 million others and I took advantage of the offer. As a result we're all getting a check for $13.86. Along with the money they're giving a bunch of music CDs to charity and the likes.
Of course I'm not complaining but $13.86 is nowhere a fair repayment for the years of paying way to much for music. I think something in the range of $100 would be more appropriate. Anyways here's to getting a half take of gas free from the music industry!
Saturday, January 31, 2004
Watched Big Fish last night
I went out on a mini-date and watched the new Tim Burton film "Big Fish" last night. I call it a mini-date becuase it was just the movie but I still had a great time. It was nice just to get together and spend some time with someone special instead of just sitting at home alone.Anyways, I'd give it a 4 out of 5 starts. The story was well written and besides Billy Crudup, who played the son Will, the acting was excellent.
I mean not to knock Crudup because he wasn't bad. He just seemed out of place with rest of the cast. I understand his character was suppose to be rather uncaring and emotional-less toward his father but he just came off as a bit too flat and uninspired in the role.
Besides that little issue the movie was great. Tim Burton has apparently gone with a softer feel in this movie. While still having the Tim Burton feel to it, it is far brighter and dare I even say happy, compared to his other movies such as Sleepy Hollow or Edward Scissorhands.
The major thing to point out is don't expect to go into the movie and see an a two hour chronological story of the man's crazy life. All the stuff you see in the commercials for the most part are just small flashbacks that the old man is telling. You'll spend a good portion of the movie in the current day with the family dealing with the dying father.
As a result of this jumping around it really plays with your emotions. Then again that's what Tim Burton is great at doing. You'll be laughing one minute and crying the next. By the end of the movie you'll be crying and laughing at the same time.
Basically, you have a wonderful story with plenty of heart and emotion. For all those sick of the current brain-dead movies out there now, this will make you feel good after watching it. Don't think it for a generic "chick-flick" either. Guys I guarantee you'll find just as much enjoyment is going out to see it as your girlfriends will. Best of all the story give you a good reason to put your arm around her, hold her close and tell her how she's your Sandra Templeton.
I wish I would have thought that up and said it last night at the theater instead of at the car dealer this afternoon while I was filling out the paperwork for my new car! But that's another days post so just go see Big Fish now or even better tomorrow since the Super Bowl is going to be boring.