January 12, 2007

Great Time-Lapse Video, Basketball to Hockey in 2 hours

I'm not a big sports fan, by any means. This video was fun to watch, though. It involves two sports that aren't NASCAR, and some tight scheduling. I understand that there's one sport (that isn't NASCAR), called Basketball, that is played on a specialized surface. In this case, it's wood. There's another sport (that isn't NASCAR) called hockey, that's played on ice. In Raleigh, NC, both are played in the same facility, the RBC Center. The thing is, the basketball game started at 2pm, and the hockey game starts at 7. Once the basketball game ends (when one side gets 15 points, maybe? Maybe one of my readers is familiar with this uncommon game), the crew has approximately two hours to convert from the wooden basketball court to an ice surface. They did it in one hour, nineteen. Watching it happen was, to me, the most enjoyable moment in sports I've had since the last pit-stop of the NASCAR season.

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January 9, 2007

24 Season 6 Soon to Begin

With the new season of 24 just days away, I thought it might be a good time to do a review of the first episode of the season. I'll keep it short, and relatively spoiler-free. Jack's back. He's not quite himself, but he hasn't completely lost his touch. If you remember the cliffhanger to the firt episode of Season 1, you'll cheer near the end of this episode. No, there's no "gonna need a hacksaw" line, but actions speak louder than words.

Deep Space Nine's Dr. Bashir will be joining us for episode 2, and the best line belongs to him so far. I'm looking forward to watching episodes 3 and 4 tonight.

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March 6, 2006

Best Simpsons Intro EVER

This is the best Simpsons intro I've seen yet. Small bits of the intro change each week, with occasional MAJORLY changed intros. Count this as one of the latter. If you've ever seen the intro to the Simpsons, you need to see this one.

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February 2, 2006

Why I Love Toyotas - The Video

As my friends and family can tell you, I'm a fan of Toyota. In general, they make quality cars. Their trucks are known for their strength and long life. Nothing, though, prepared me for the following video. The TV show, "Top Gear" took a 1980s era Toyota pickup and proceeded to determine what it would take to destroy it.

What does it take to destroy a Toyota Pickup? Good question. Rough treatment was just the beginning. Next came a collission with a tree. After that, it just gets to be ludicrous.

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January 31, 2006

The Great Zuchinni

Over at The Volokh Conspiracy, Jim Lindgren points out a fantasic piece of journalism. The subject of the story is an odd man, full of troubles and contradictions, who just happens to be the highest-paid children's party entertainer in the Washington DC area. His name is The Great Zuchinni.

"In the two months I'd gotten to know him, I'd seen several slightly awkward encounters between Eric and a parent, but not one such moment between Eric and a child. It's tempting to imagine him as Holden Caulfield imagined himself, protector of children's souls, poised beside the field of rye at the edge of a cliff, catching them before they plummet to their spiritual deaths. But this man with the guardian angel on his shoulder; who forfeits love for gambling but looks to find it in a strip club; who can't tie a tie or remember to pay a bill; who makes a tidy living but doesn't know where the money goes; who can't recall things that deliver him emotional pain; who solemnly prays to God in the bathroom before every performance for the strength and wisdom to make the 4-year-olds giggle -- this guy has not yet surrendered himself, as Holden reluctantly did, to adulthood. He may never. Maybe it's that he's seen the alternative, and wants no part of it."

Take the time to read this. It's nice to find such well-written work about a truly interesting individual, involved in a world that, to me, seems so alien yet familiar.

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December 12, 2005

Stanley Crouch Comments on Flawed Richard Pryor

You can count me among the long list of people who enjoyed Richard Pryor's work. He was an amazingly funny man, and may go down in history as one of the top comedians of the latter part of the 20th Century. That said, I have to agree with Stanley Crouch that Richard Pryor was not someone to look up to as a role model. While he was extremely funny, his was not a humor that looked to the best of society. No, he reached down to the worst as a source of humor, and helped lead the way to a comedy market that relied on shock and raunch as the primary tool to be funny.

"In the dung piles of pimp and gangster rap we hear from slime meisters like Snoop Dogg and 50 Cent, the worst of Pryor's influence has been turned into an aspect of the new minstrelsy in which millions of dollars are made by "normalizing" demeaning imagery and misogyny.

"What is so unfortunate is that the heaviest of Pryor's gifts was largely ignored by so many of those who praised the man when he was alive and are now in the middle of deifying him.

"The pathos and the frailty of the human soul alone in the world or insecure or looking for something of meaning in a chaotic environment was a bit too deep for all of the simpleminded clowns like Andrew Dice Clay or those who thought that mere ethnicity was enough to define one as funny, like the painfully square work of Paul Rodriguez.

"Of course, Russell Simmons' Def Comedy Jam is the ultimate coon show update of human cesspools, where 'cutting edge' has come to mean traveling ever more downward in the sewer."

Like Crouch, I acknowledge Pryor's genius and absolutely funny work. He was a great comedian. It does no one any good, however, to forget that Pryor, along with many who followed, did damage to society with his work. Like Dave Chappelle and South Park, Pryor's work was biting, cutting-edge, and funny. Another thing he has in common with them is that no one should really be watching them.

Even I shouldn't be watching them, but I do.

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December 10, 2005

Chronicles of Narnia - Movie Review (Minor Spoilers)

At the end of my sixth grade year, my school had a book fair. My Mother and I walked through the school's library, looking at the selection of books available. Not twenty feet through the door, my eyes landed on a box set of "The Chronicles of Narnia" by C.S. Lewis. After walking through the whole fair, I came back to that box set. I had made my decision. My Mother, not a fan of fantasy and science-fiction, was a bit reluctant to spend the extra money for the box set, but I insisted that I had made my decision and was determined to read the whole set. She bought the books. That turned out to be one of the best book purchases in my life.

The following week, my Mother and I went to Ridgecrest Baptist Conference Center for (I believe) Music Week. In amongst all of the activities, the choir rehearsals, mountain climbs, and performances, I found time to read. Before the five days were up, I had read all seven of the "Chronicles of Narnia" and begun to re-read.

For years, I've known that "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe" would have made a great movie. Imagine my joy several years ago, when I discovered that Walden Media was working on a screen adaptation. The long wait began, and yesterday it ended. The family and I went to the 4:15 showing at Sanford's new multi-plex.

One review I read of the movie called it the most adult-friendly kid's movie in years. That's a good way to explain it. I spent the entire movie absolutely enchanted by the scenery, the animals, and the story itself. Though it has been a few years since I've read the book last, nearly everything was as I remembered it.

When I say everything was as I remembered it, I don't mean just the story. When Lucy first walked into the room containing the Wardrobe, she walked into the room of my memories. The wardrobe, aside from some top detail, was the wardrobe she walked into in my mind. As she slid by the coats, they were the same coats, hanging the same way, that I saw in my own personal movie so many years ago. She walked into MY Narnia, and met the same Tumnus. It was almost as if the director had read my own mind when planning the movie, as so many details directly mirrored what I had come to expect of Narnia as a kid.

The casting was expertly done for this movie. The children were perfectly chosen for their roles. Liam Neeson's vocal work for Aslan was excellent. Every role, from the White Witch to Tumnus to the voices of each animal led to an intensified sense of being in a story, rather than a movie. By staying away from the typical Disney bad-idea of using star voices for the animals, they instead chose the right voices. There's a whole rant out there waiting to be made against using huge stars to voice animation, when you have qualified and extraordinary voice-talents who can do the jobs better and cheaper. I'll leave the whole rant for later.

As with the voices, the special effects were very well done. By combining live-action and special effects in an expert manner, the viewer rarely had the chance to discover where reality ended and special effects began. This is very important, as the slightest error could have broken the spell. If the beavers hadn't been believable, the the movie wouldn't have been believable. It really is that simple.

Lewis, the author of the books, was a contemporary of Tolkein. The Narnia books have often been compared to the "Lord of the Rings" books for many reasons. Having grown up re-reading the Narnia series, but not the Rings books, I had no point of comparison. As an adult, I finally read the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, and was struck by one major detail. Much of the major story in Lord of the Rings happens in the past tense, almost as an aside to the rest of the story. The first book, because of its use of this technique, wasn't nearly as good as I had thought it would be. As a reader, I found that the Narnia books were superior to those of Middle Earth in simple storytelling. Given the choice of taking either set with me as the only reading material on the ubiquitous desert island, I'd choose Lewis in a heartbeat.

One thing to remember when watching this movie is that it is, at its core, a kid's movie. You won't find gushing blood, impalings, or severed limbs in the combat scenes as you did in "Braveheart" or the "Lord of the Rings" movies. This took little from the battle scenes, which were handled quite well. The only time my son was bothered was during the buildup to the scene on the stone table (I won't overly spoil the movie in this review) which he knew was coming. I'd say this is a more kid-safe movie than most kids movies of recent years.

The Christian symbolism was more obvious on-screen than I remember from the book, as well. A major part of that is that I am far more familiar with the details of the Christ biographies now than I was as a child. That Aslan represented Jesus was obvious. So much more was lost on me at the time. I'm sure my next reading will solidify the symbolism in my mind further.

This movie has been on my must-see list for years. Now it's on my must-see-again list. Ideally, I'll be able to get my Mother to see it with me, so she can see what those books looked like in my mind so many years ago.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe - A+

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November 21, 2005

Most Inspirational Movies of the Century

AFI is polling for the Most Inspirational Movies of the Century. That's an interesting concept for a list. Betsy Newmark offers her suggestions for the list and I'm sure more will be coming. I thought I'd mention a few of my own thoughts.

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November 14, 2005

Terminator TV Show - Sarah Conner Chronicles

For the fans of the Terminator series of movies (which includes my wife and myself), Fox has ordered a pilot for a new show that focuses on Sarah Connor and her son John. The series will be set between the second and third movies, and will be more character driven and less cyborg-action oriented. Let's hope they get a quality product, and that it actually turns into a good series.

If it is of high quality, expect it to be cancelled after a move to a hardly-watched timeslot against stronger shows, as seems to happen to nearly every other Fox show that my wife and I like. Latest quality Fox show to get the axe, the highly acclaimed, award-winning Arrested Development. Then again, is Arrested really being cancelled? It's hard to say. Only the first 13 episodes of the season are being shown, and the "back nine" aren't on order. Maybe Fox will smarten up and stick this show back on a good night.

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October 30, 2005

Mr. Sulu is Gay? George Takei Comes Out.

I've watched George Takei on an interview or two, and met him in person once. At times, my "gay-dar" would go off a bit when I watched him, but I always discounted it. After all, Mr. Sulu is a real man's man. As it turns out, so is George Takei. Takei has come out of the closet in a recent magazine interview.

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October 11, 2005

Wallace and Gromit - #1 For a Reason

A few years ago, I was watching one of the movie review shows, as they discussed the Oscar nominees for that year. The most memorable moment of the show was a clip from Nick Park called "Wallace and Gromit: The Wrong Trousers." Park went on to win the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film. Weeks later, I came across a copy of the video in Wal-Mart (still less evil than the DNC) and bought it, against the advice of my wife. After one viewing, we were hooked. Park, whose first Wallace and Gromit film had been nominated for the same Oscar, went on to collect a second Oscar for his third, "Wallace and Gromit: A Close Shave."

As you can guess, I've been waiting for Wallace and Gromit to make the jump to the big screen for some time. Learning that a film was in the works a couple years back, I've been chomping at the bit to see the modern classic comedy team in action once again. This past weekend, I got the chance.

If you're a Wallace and Gromit fan, you won't be dissapointed by this film. Given a chance to take a franchise to the big screen, most directors try to make it so much bigger and more exciting that they end up producing a poor product. Not so in this case. Park did go bigger, populating the town with many more characters, and having the action happen on many more sets. The result, however, is exactly what you'd expect from Wallace and Gromit. Low-key humor punctuated by real side-splitters. The film builds to an energetic climax that is both exciting and hilarious.

Unlike many G-rated movies, these days, "Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit" is truly a movie for all ages. It's not a movie made for kids. It's the next chapter in the lives of characters that have captured the hearts of fans of all ages. My whole family was brimming with excitement at the prospect of seeing this movie, and that we would see it on opening night was never in question.

On a sad note, however, Aardman Animation's triumph at receiving the #1 box office slot was balanced by a sad occurrence. Aardman's studio warehouse burned this week, destroying most of the history of the company. Lost are the sets from the early Wallace and Gromit shorts, and Chicken Run. Not everything was in the fire, though. The sets from the new blockbuster hit were elsewhere, as were a few of the props such as the rocket from "A Grand Day Out." Also safe are Nick Park's three Oscars for Wallace and Gromit and Creature Comforts.

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September 8, 2005

Rock Star - No Need to Watch Now

I wasn't addicted to the show, but I was enjoying "Rock Star: INXS" quite a bit until this week. Not being a fan of INXS for the last 20 years, I thought it might be possible to be a fan in the future, if they chose the right lead singer. Unfortunately, they've now kicked off the two people I thought were worthy of the job. Ty and Jordis were fantastic. The rest of the current group are okay, but I'd have bumped the whole group weeks ago, cancelled the show and hired Ty and Jordis as the two leads for a new lineup.

Jordis is gone this week. I'm not counting on much from the new INXS, whenever they release a new CD. I am, however, looking forward to Jordis' sure-fire solo effort, undoubtedly soon to be in the works.

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July 27, 2005

That Deaf, Dumb, and Blind Kid Sure Plays a Mean Pinball!

This is a great story. There's this kid in Nebraska who claims he can be beaten in the video games he plays, but other people seem to have a hard time doing it. The catch? He's blind. He's learned to follow audio cues and play better than most.

It's always great to hear stories like this. Too often, you'll hear people complaining about the constant limitations in their lives. Not this kid.

He's not alone, either. I've had the pleasure, recently, to talk with a great radio guy. He runs a radio business, and maintains a LOT of equipment, and he's completely blind. Today, when we went by his place, he was hooking up the newly repaired PC. Watching him program a radio on the computer was an inspiring sight. Using audio cues for keystrokes, menus, and on-screen text, he was able to work on a PC faster than many of the users I help on a daily basis. He also has a reputation for being able to solder a better connection than most, apparently using smell as a guide. He's known for his talent because he's talented, not because he's blind.

No excuses. Get it done. Limitations aren't always limitations. If you want to do something, or be something, the only thing holding you back is you. Be inspired. Go do somethting. Do, excel, succeed.

And have fun.

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July 20, 2005

Scotty is Dead - James Doohan 1920-2005

James Doohan, known to millions as Scotty on Star Trek, has passed away. He had been diagnosed with Alztheimers and withdrawn from public life in 2004. He died from pneumonia.

James Doohan, beamed up at 85.

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May 24, 2005

American Idol Finals Voting Math

Tonight is the final performance episode of American Idol. Count me as a fan of Bo Bice for the winner, but I'm not putting a lot of stock in either tonight's performances or the voting when it comes to the outcome.

The reason for this is the method being used to vote for and decide the winner. Each of the finalists will have four phone lines assigned to them for a four hour period. Presumably, each phone number can handle more than a few telephone calls at once, but everything will be equal. Equal time, equal lines, equal call handling capabilities for each line.

For the next four hours, those phone lines will be jammed. Phone calls will be coming in to every available line as fast as they can be piped in, registering votes so fast it boggles the mind. Each person voting can vote as many times as they wish.

The result of all of this will be a very close result. In the end, I believe that the final tally will be decided as much by variances in the electronics making up the phone and voting circuitry as anything else. It isn't that the support for these two is so evenly divided. I believe that the support is actually quite unbalanced, by human nature.

How could we get a more accurate tally of who has the most support? We can change the system completely. Here are my basic ideas.

Let's propose an experiment. We get 50 people to line up in front of a ballot box labelled "Candidate A." We get 100 people to line up in front of a ballot box labelled "Candidate B." When we start the lines, each person takes a slip of paper from a pile and drops it into the box, then gets in the back of the line. For one hour, both lines will cycle as fast as they can, casting as many votes as they can. At the end of the hour, the number of slips of paper in each box are counted to determine the winner. What are the odds that the winner will be the candidate with the most people in line?

50:50

That's right, the odds that the candidate with the most voters will win is statistically dead even. That's pretty stupid, isn't it? That's the same system being used by American Idol.

In a real election, we use a single ballot box. Of course, we've replaced the ballot box with other voting systems, but each voter goes through the same line. Each voter also votes only once (theoretically). This allows each voter an equal opportunity for representation. Equal representation means a better vote, and it really is that simple.

Why should they use a 1-900 number? I believe that the 1-900 number represents a form of poll tax that is entirely appropriate in an entertainment venue. By charging a small amount to voters (say, $1), the fans who decide to vote will place a higher importance on their vote. If the vote is free, the voters do not have to take it seriously. If the voter has to pay a buck, they'll place a value on the ability to vote. Those who don't think voting is worth a buck just won't vote, and who needs them anyway?

By the way, I do think we should charge a buck to voters on Election Day, as well. As a "poll tax" goes, a buck is hardly oppressive. 99% of people who might find one dollar to be too much to pay would probably not hesitate to spend that same amount on a drink at the store, or as much as five times that for a day's worth of cigarettes.

Tomorrow night, I'll be watching to see who wins American Idol. I won't be fooled into believing that the vote is an accurate representation of the feelings of the fans, but I'll watch anyway. Maybe next year, the American Idol producers will institute a better system. Until then, I'll just have to enjoy the real world instead.

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May 21, 2005

Revenge of the Sith - Political Review

There has been a lot of discussion about George Lucas' politics, statements, and the content of Revenge of the Sith lately in the blogosphere. Now that I've seen the movie, I thought it was time I gave my own point of view on what I saw. My take is going to be a little different than what you've seen elsewhere.

If you have NOT seen Star Wars - Revenge of the Sith, and do not want to have the story spoiled for you, read no further. This entry is bound to be full of spoiler information. You have been warned.

Is Revenge of the Sith an anti-Bush movie? My answer is a resounding NO! I think you can get from the movie what you want. Some of the same things that others saw in the movie as anti-Bush or very liberal, I saw as the exact opposite. Instead of a commentary on conservatism, I saw a strong commentary on modern liberalism. Since this bears some explanation, read on.

The basis for this explanation is in the two sides of the battle. The Jedi and their allies represent the people, Democracy, and freedom. The Sith, on the other hand, are the liberals.

Wait, the Sith are the liberals? Isn't that a pretty strong statement? That's a horrible thing to say, don't you think? Isn't it obvious that Lucas intended the Sith to represent something altogether different?

Lucas probably DID intend the Sith to represent something altogether different. I am making a strong statement. Is it horrible? I don't think so. Movies, as with any art, leave the interpretation in the eyes of the beholder. Lucas can make any movie he wants, but he can't control what I, as the viewer, see with my own eyes. My eyes saw something unique, that no one else in the theater saw. We watched the same images, heard the same sounds, and followed the same dialogue. What I'm conveying is my own interpretation of this work.

Palpatine, the Sith Lord, tells Anikin Skywalker, "Good is a point of view." As with modern-day liberalism, the concepts of good and bad must be twisted to draw someone to the dark side. If one believes in the concept of absolute good and absolute evil, the lure of evil isn't as strong. When I look at modern-day political belief structures, I only see this moral relativism coming from the left-of-center political divisions.

Later, Palpatine tells Anikin, "If one is to understand the great mystery, one must study all its aspects, not just the dogmatic, narrow view of the Jedi. If you wish to become a complete and wise Jedi leader, you must embrace a larger view of The Force."

If you replace "Jedi" with "Christian" and "The Force" with "The Universe," you've got one of the great anti-christian liberal arguments of the day. In Star Wars, "The Force" is often presented as a religion. The Jedi are presented as the preservers of order and justice in the galaxy. The parallels to the modern battle between liberalism and faith are obvious. I have real trouble seeing how this could be interpreted as anti-conservative. Quite the contrary, this makes the Sith look more and more as the great liberals of the galaxy.

"If you're not with me, you're my enemy." This line was spoken by Anikin Skywalker after his conversion to the Sith. This is being seen as strictly anti-Bush in nature. I'm not so sure. Yet again, this is the point of view of modern liberalism, much more than conservatism. I see the modern conservative movement criticizing liberalism on a case-by-case basis across the issues. To conservatives, the difference between left and right is visible through the issues. Liberals are defined by their views on taxes, crime, abortion, international affairs, individual rights, property rights, and so on. Liberalism, increasingly, tends to generalize. Conservatives are bad, not by their responses on individual issues, but because they are not liberals. This can be demonstrated through their reaction to George W. Bush and the current Congress. As the Republicans in Congress move further toward the center, liberals paint them as more extreme. As President Bush reaches out to the left, even having prominent Democrats such as Kennedy and Moynihan author large parts of important bills on education and Social Security, the left lambasts him on those same issues.

Let me be clear on this. George W. Bush had Kennedy write much of his education bill. Liberals blasted Kennedy's work as evil, right-wing extremism. Patrick Moynihan led Bush's team to develop his Social Security Reform. Those same reforms are blasted as right-wing extremism. While the Republicans are reaching out to work with the Democrats, the Democrats are screaming about how partisan the Republicans are being. It isn't true, but truth is not the way of liberals, or the Sith.

Later in the movie, The Emperor gives "Order 66" to the Clone Troops. Order 66 can best be described as the great liberal protest sign, "We support our troops when they shoot their officers." The clone troopers set out to kill their commanders, the Jedi that have been protecting the Republic, and Democracy.

The clincher? Anikin Skywalker goes to the Jedi Temple, and proceeds to kill the young children who are being trained as Jedi. When I look at the "right-wing," I see many faults. One fault I do not see, though, is the need or will to kill young, innocent children. Indeed, that is one urge virtually limited to the left-wing in the United States of America. When I see a newborn child, I know that there is a small minority in the world that could care less whether that child lived or died. Abortion is the child sacrifice demanded by the modern religion known as liberalism. To liberals, a child can be killed in the womb simply because it has the potential to be a problem. Anikin's murder of the "younglings" in this movie was for the exact same reason.

Had it not been for Obi-Wan, Anikin and Padme's children might not have lived. Had Padme been left behind and discovered by the great, wise, liberal, Sith Lord Palpatine, it is likely that her children would have died with her, or even in the womb before she died.

Indeed, I believe that this movie should be seen as one of the great anti-liberal statements of modern cinema. George Lucas should be applauded. When Padme asks if this is how freedom dies, my thought is, "Yes." Freedom dies when you let liberals gain too much power.

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Revenge of the Sith Review - Apolitical

Last night, the wife and I went to see Star Wars, Revenge of the Sith with our friend Roxie. We showed up early, got into the admit line, and grabbed the ideal center-screen seats. What followed was a movie that met my expectations, explained many of the questions, and entertained. This will be a quick non-political review of the movie, with as few spoilers as I can give. Later, I'll give my viewpoints on the political discussion of the movie, with significantly more spoilers.

Revenge of the Sith wasn't without its problems. Yes, the dialogue was often poorly delivered. Yes, the love story was poorly delivered. At times, story elements seemed to happen because they were demanded by the original trilogy, instead of because they made sense.

All that said, it was a great movie. I truly enjoyed it. You can see the mistakes made along the way that led to the downfall of Anikin Skywalker. The opening space-battle scene was spectacularly done, but dissapointingly short. Likewise, the battle between the Jedi and Dooku left me wanting more.

Further on in the movie, more is what I got. Obi-Wan versus Grievous was an exciting, varied battle. Palpatine's arrest scene surprised many in the audience. Above all, Anikin and Obi-Wan's fight was the most exciting duel I've seen on film, surpassing the big fight in Episode I by far.

My son, at 10 years old, decided to wait to see the movie until he is 13 years old. In retrospect, I'm glad he did. He'll enjoy the movie when he does see it, but some aspects of this movie were deserving of the higher rating of PG-13. I heard repeated gasps from Roxie at times, as she was disturbed by what she saw.

I've said for many years now that George Lucas doesn't produce high art. Lucas is a master of the cinematic form of schlock. He delivers some of the best schlock around, but Citizen Kane it isn't. If you're expecting cinematic brilliance, Revenge of the Sith isn't the movie to see. If you're looking for a good conclusion to the Star Wars series, that's exciting and engaging, you'll get what you want out of this movie. I loved it for what it is.

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May 17, 2005

Arthur Chrenkoff on George Lucas

Arthur Chrenkoff has posted an open letter to George Lucas concerning his recent statements in Cannes. Lucas stated,

"In terms of evil, one of the original concepts was how does a democracy turn itself into a dictatorship," Lucas told a news conference at Cannes, where his final episode had its world premiere.

"The parallels between what we did in Vietnam and what we're doing in Iraq now are unbelievable."

In response, Chrenkoff points out how to him, and many of his former countrymen who lived under the yoke of socialism and communism in Soviet controlled Poland, the Star Wars movies gave an allegory not of the United States as oppressor, but the Soviet Union.

"Yes, we were very wrong indeed - to you, the Empire was the United States of America, and if that's the case, then the brave rebels could only be all those people around the world fighting the American Empire - the Castros, Che Guevaras, Ho Chi Minhs, Pol Pots, and by extension, the Brezhnevs and the Mao Tse Tungs of this world. You, of course, live in the Free World, and as such you have the right to believe that your country is the most powerful force for evil operating in the world. But just for the sake of completeness and historical accuracy, can I just mention that whatever the sins of the United States - and I certainly understand well enough that no country is perfect - your rebels, both when fighting for power and when finally in power, ended up being responsible for the death of tens of millions and enslavement of hundreds of millions; the Luke Skywalkers and Han Solos of the last century gave us gulags and re-education camps, terror famines and political prisons; they institutionalized cults of personality, stifled every human freedom and impoverished whole nations."

In one paragraph, Chrenkoff sums up very well why I question the intelligence, logical thought processes, wisdom, and knowledge of anyone who willingly identifies themselves as "socialist" or "communist."

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May 5, 2005

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Review

The wife and I just returned from my big birthday event. We went to see The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I won't go into great detail, and spoil it all, but I do want a couple things to be clear. First, the movie was great. I had come to expect something less than that which was delivered, and I was greatly surprised. Secondly, I left the theater feeling as if the most important bits of the book, TV show and audio show were there, as well.

The Zaphod in the movie is exactly how Zaphod should be played. The same goes for Arthur. Trillian was different than I expected, but surprisingly enjoyable. As for Ford, I'm becoming more of a fan of Mos Def's acting every time I see him.

I almost cried when I saw Marvin the Paranoid Android's cameo.

At the end, during the end credit song, "So Long and Thanks for All the Fish," we watched the other half-dozen folks in the theater file out. We sat still. You should too.

I expected to give this movie a C+. I have to give it an A.

Posted by Lockjaw at 10:35 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

April 26, 2005

Amazing Race Blogging - First Time for Everything

I have to admit, I'm not a fan of Amazing Race. My wife is, though, so while she watches, I browse the blogs or play a game of Civilization III or something. Tonight, I'm typing along on the PC, and The She Ogre is watching AR. The thing is, they're in Turkey tonight, and she keeps yelling, "I've BEEN THERE!"

She keeps yelling it over, and over, and over. Once, she yelled, "I've been in that same place, not just that city."

The She Ogre spent her last semester of college in Europe, visiting museums and archaeological digs across Italy, Greece, Turkey, and elsewhere. She's having a ball.

Posted by Lockjaw at 9:36 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Family Guy is BACK!

We're less than a week from the new season of the previously cancelled Family Guy, on Fox. I've been looking forward to this one for a while. The show was cancelled after 3 seasons, because that's what Fox does with good shows, but the huge response to the DVD caused Fox to want MORE!

I just finished watching the season premier, and it was excellent. The opening gag had me rolling. Peter and Lois are funny in their sacrilegious storyline, but Brian and Stewie are hilarious. Be sure to catch this one. I'm not going to spoil it for you, but I will leave you with one question from the show.

"What good is mining nose gold if you can't share it with the townspeople?"

Posted by Lockjaw at 10:54 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

April 25, 2005

Maggie Gyllenhaal - Cute, but Dumb

There's almost nothing worse than deciding that you really like a particular actress, and want to see her in more movies, only to discover she's stupid. It's not enough that she's stupid, but she's willing to openly display her stupidity publicly, too. Maggie Gyllenhaal has joined the club, following in the footsteps of Melanie "What's the Holocaust" Griffith, Cameron "If you think rape should be legal, then don't vote" Diaz, and Jane "commie" Fonda. She had this to say about her latest movie, which deals with the aftermath of 9/11 in New York City:

“I think what’s good about the movie is that it deals with 9/11 in such a subtle, open way that I think it allows it to be more complicated than just, ‘Oh, look at these poor New Yorkers and how hard it was for them,’” Gyllenhaal told the NY1 cable channel.

“Because I think America has done reprehensible things and is responsible in some way and so I think the delicacy with which it’s dealt allows that to sort of creep in,” she added.

Cute may go away with age, but dumb goes on forever.

Nod to Say Anything.

Posted by Lockjaw at 6:42 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack

April 22, 2005

Star Wars Episode III Soundtrack - Mini-Review

I've been listening to the soundtrack to the new Star Wars movie that comes out next month, and it's GREAT! How could it not be, though, considering that John Williams is such a fantastic composer. I'm not going to give a lot of detail, but I will point out a few things I found interesting.

First, I listened to track 3, "Battle of the Heroes." At once low-key and exciting, this ominous piece conveys the feeling of motion. You know that something energetic is going on (a battle, I'm guessing) and that there is real danger. Suddenly, without warning, Vader's theme punches at you in the middle. Wow!

Next I skipped ahead to track 11, "Enter Lord Vader." Although it wasn't quite what I expected, it was a great listen. You can feel the emotional buildup toward the reveal of Vader, and pick out the probable point at which we finally see Vader for the "first" time.

Listening on, there are lighter pieces such as "Anakin's Dream," and "Palpatine's Teachings." There are MUCH more energetic pieces when General Grievous is on the scene.

"Anakin vs Obi-Wan" is another one of those great pieces. You get a great feeling of the dichotomy of evil vs good with the separate themes for each man in the battle. This is a VERY energetic piece with repeated use of the Vader theme, which gets stronger as the piece moves on. In the latter half, we start to hear the choir join in and the music ends in anticlimax, leading to the next track, "Anikin's Dark Deeds."

I'm not going to go into every track on the soundtrack. There might be some folks who don't yet know the storyline, but I can say that this movie can be expected, as all five of the other chapters were, to move along very well with the use of a fantastic soundtrack. From track one, "Star Wars and the Revenge of the Sith" to track 15, "A New Hope and End Credits," this music pulls your emotions along for the ride. I can't wait to see the music video :)

Posted by Lockjaw at 2:20 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Habemus Star Warseum

To those who aren't Catholic, or otherwise don't care so much about the new Pope, here's some entertainment news. Three new Star Wars Episode III TV spots have been released. Nice action shots, General Grievous, and Darth Vader. Grooviness ensues.

Posted by Lockjaw at 2:17 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Picking Out State Fair Date, 6 Months In Advance

I photoblogged my visit to the North Carolina State Fair last year, and never did I think I would be planning my visit to this year's fair six months before it comes around. Planning is exactly what I'm doing, though. It looks like I'll be going to the fair on October 21st. That's the day my favorite band is playing. Third Day is booked for that day. If I'm lucky, it will be my 5th show. I say if I'm lucky because they're also playing Carowinds on June 24th.

It gets even better. The Carowinds show is SonFest, a three day festival featuring some of the best names in Christian Rock around. Third Day, Reliant K, Casting Crowns, Audio Adrenaline, and much more.

Lockjaw Happy

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Moore Farenheit 9/11 Lies Exposed - Box Office

Michael Moore has quite a name for fictionalized "documentaries." He collects a lot of film, and cuts it together to make of it what HE wants to make of it. It's his stock in trade, and he's good at it. His job allows him to create the "truth" he wants the viewer to see, and to make fun of people he doesn't like in the process. It's been good business for him. The problem is, he spends a lot of time pushing "truths" that just aren't true.

The content of his movies isn't the only place he tells untruths. Sometimes I wonder if he even knows WHAT the truth is. In this article in National Review, another of his lies is exposed. During the release of F911, Moore praised the performance of the movie, pointing out how the movie was doing better in the red states than the blue. Some people even believed him. Byron York sets the record straight.

"Still, that did not answer the question of whether Fahrenheit 9/11's appeal was nationwide, as Moore had claimed. The reporters and commentators talking about the film could not have known the answer to that question at the time they were confidently asserting that the picture was indeed doing well in red states as well as blue. Sold out in Tulsa? A standing ovation in Greensboro? That sort of thing was anecdotal evidence at best. To learn how well the film really did would take weeks and would require a detailed look at its performance everywhere it played. The newspapers and magazines didn’t have time for that."

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Idaho Commends Makers of Napoleon Dynamite

Folks, you just can't make stuff like this up. The Idaho Legislature has voted to commend Jared and Joshua Hess, makers of Napoleon Dynamite. That's not so unusual, actually. Have a nice laugh, though, at some excerpts from the bill.

"WHEREAS, tater tots figure prominently in this film thus promoting Idaho's most famous export; and
WHEREAS, the friendship between Napoleon and Pedro has furthered multiethnic relationships; and
WHEREAS, Uncle Rico's football skills are a testament to Idaho athletics; and
WHEREAS, Napoleon's bicycle and Kip's skateboard promote better air quality and carpooling as alternatives to fuel-dependent methods of transportation; and
WHEREAS, Napoleon's tetherball dexterity emphasizes the importance of physical education in Idaho public schools; and..."

And the best part:

"WHEREAS, any members of the House of Representatives or the Senate of the Legislature of the State of Idaho who choose to vote "Nay" on this concurrent resolution are "FREAKIN' IDIOTS!" and run the risk of having the "Worst Day of Their Lives!"

Gosh!

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Mark Lee Has A Blog

Mark Lee, of the fantastic band Third Day has a blog. Whoodathunkit? Check it out at This Guy Falls Down. I swear, I didn't yell "Free Bird" at any of the Third Day shows I went to, but I might at the next one.

Posted by Lockjaw at 1:50 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

New Doctor Who Premier "Rose" - A Review

It's a kids show from the black and white era of the BBC. It's a 1970s comedy. It's a decades-long adventure story. The lead character is an old man, a younger old man, a middle-aged man, or... whatever. Over the years, Doctor Who has been a mainstay of the BBC, until one day it was cancelled. The thing is, it wasn't cancelled because of sagging ratings, but more because of lack of love. With new management of the BBC, and changes in the way their shows were produced, Doctor Who just didn't seem feasible anymore, so it was gone.

Now, though, it's back. Well, it's about to be back.
The official website says it will air "sometime in 2005." Lucky me, though, I've just finished watching the premier episode. Review follows, with some minor spoilers.

There are some basics that are vital to Doctor Who that I must clear out of the way first. The theme song is virtually unchanged. The opening titles graphics are an updated version of the classic, but essentially the same. The TARDIS is still the same old classic police call box. The sound effects for the TARDIS are pretty much the same, if less grating. There's even generous use of the "sonic screwdriver."

That's where the new series stops comparing with the old, cheesy, classic, low-budget show. Don't get me wrong. I love the old show, but I think I'm going to love this new version even more.

The opening shot of the show starts where the old one couldn't tread. We see a special effects shot of the Earth, which zooms down into the heart of London, and to the bedroom of Rose, our female lead. Rose is played by British pop star Billie Piper. Rose goes to work, amid a high-energy montage, and goes through her day. Within moments, we've established the character, and are ready to put her in danger. This high-energy sequence is a new thing to Doctor Who, and it establishes a pace for the show to come.

Rose goes to the basement to deliver a package to Wilson, the "CEO" of the store. Apparently, "CEO" means Chief Electrician in Wilson's twisted sense of humor. When she gets there, Wilson is nowhere to be found. As it turns out later, he's dead, killed by the walking mannequins that are now coming after Rose.

Rose is rescued by The Doctor, played by Christopher Eccleston. He leads her out of the building, and to safety, while explaining that the mannequins are "living plastic," and that she is in danger. He turns to re-enter the building, to plant a bomb on a rooftop transmitter. Then, he returns to introduce himself.

"I'm The Doctor, by the way. What's your name?""Rose""Nice to meet you rose. Run for your life."

This is only the very beginning of the show. What follows is a fun, adventurous romp through London, with Rose trying to learn more about The Doctor and what's going on. She meets a man who has been tracking The Doctor through history, and his several incarnations, and has built a collection of materials placing The Doctor at historical disasters and even at the JFK assasination.

Rose turns out to be a capable young woman, who is capable of action when needed. It's just that she's never needed to go into this type of action before.

The Doctor is played very well by Eccleston. The sense of humor he displays early on has me liking this incarnation of the old Time Lord a lot. When he turns serious, he's completely believable, and then he's back to his lighthearted self again. Fans will compare him favorably, I believe, to Tom Baker's portrayal, with a good balance of action and humor.

The Tardis has seen a bit of a redesign, as well. The outside still looks the same, but the inside has been updated. No longer does it have straight walls with decorations to make it look like a futuristic jail cell. It now has more of an organic look, with curved and forked columns, rounded walls, and much less of a clean feel. It's the best look yet for the old box.

When The Doctor comes in contact with a mirror, he comments, "Could have been worse. Look at the ears." insinuating that this is his first look at his new look. Couple this with historical photos and drawings of him through history, and it brings to mind any number of storylines that could be coming. I'd love to see The Doctor involved during the JFK assasination, as a future episode.

I'm an instant fan. I can't wait to watch more of the series. Any worries about the new series being done poorly have gone out the window. In fact, I'm hoping that the new series creators will feel free to re-write the history of the show if they need to, to prevent the old series from limiting the new.

Way to go, BBC. Now, bring on the Daleks!

Posted by Lockjaw at 1:33 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Understanding The Matrix Trilogy - Analysis

The Matrix was one of the top grossing, and most talked about movies of the past decade. It revolutionized the technology of making movies, and created a huge base of fans who waited for the completion of the trilogy. The problem, though, was that the trilogy ended, and many of the fans just didn't get it. The complex story ended in what looked like a truce, instead of a win for humanity. What's more, it seemed confusing and pointless.

I've watched all three movies many, MANY times. I'll play the trilogy while I work on the computer, or do other things. I'm not a Matrix fanatic, mind you. It's just a good movie to have on in the background.

As a result, I've been able to understand the story much better. I've dissected some key parts of the dialogue, and come to understand more about the motivations of various characters. In an effort to help you understand, I'll pass along what I've learned.

Let's start with the setup. In the Animatrix shorts, we learn about the history of the Matrix. Mankind created robots as helpers, and kept them under absolute control. In a key moment of political upheaval, war began between man and machines. The machines were exiled to the Middle East desert, where they grew and prospered. Eventually, the war between man and the machines continued, and the machines won. In the process, mankind "scorched the sky" to prevent the machines receiving solar power.

This led the machines to enslave mankind, to use them as batteries and provide power. This process was made easier by the creation of the Matrix, a false world in which the minds of mankind interacted with the world through programs. The machines also interacted with the Matrix through programs, in order to control mankind easier.

You knew all that. That's the easy stuff.

Enter two main characters; The Architect and The Oracle.

The Architect is a program whose job is to create The Matrix. He looks at problems and makes changes to head them off. When mankind causes problems within the matrix, he improves the system to gain more control over them. Perfection is his goal.

The Oracle is a program whose job is to bring perfection to the Matrix by analyzing mankind. She looks at how the human mind works, and how this information can be used to improve the system and gain more control over mankind. Perfection is her goal.

Machinekind demands absolute control over humanity. Allowing humanity to thrive in their absence has, to this point, resulted in destruction and imperfection.

Enter "The One." What the Architect said to Neo was true. We are looking at the fifth version of the Matrix. A small group of humans was allowed to exit the Matrix. They caused problems, which exposed weaknesses of the Matrix. Eventually, one of them emerged who had greater access to the machine language of the Matrix, and thus greater power. Inside this "One" was program code which exposed the weaknesses of the machines. When this "One" emerged, he eventually worked his way to The Architect. The code was extracted from him. At this point, Zion would be destroyed, "The One" would select a group of humans to remove from the Matrix, and the Matrix would be completely remade using this new knowledge, making it more perfect. The select group of humans would then become the new Zion, and the system would begin again. At all times, it is the machines who are in control.

The Architect states that humans accept the Matrix very well, as long as they are given a choice. This choice need only be made at a subconscious level. Those who choose to be a part of the Matrix live unquestioningly within the construct, and have no problems. Those who choose, unconsciously, to not be a part of the Matrix, never quite feel right. If they are lucky, they will be given the option of escaping the Matrix, as Neo was.

This time around, though, The Oracle sees something different. Her entire job is to study the humans. What she sees changes everything. This is the key point of the movie. The Oracle knows that the key to perfection in the Matrix is to stop trying to control those who decide to deny the programming. This is contrary to everything that the Machines believe. The machines demand absolute control. She knows that perfection can be gained only by giving up control over those who choose to be uncontrollable.

This means that there are two wars. The first, most obvious war, is the war between the humans of Zion and the machines. According to The Architect, this war is actually a planned part of the control mechanism. As it turns out, the real war is between The Oracle and the rest of the machines.

The Machines discover that she is working against them. Her program is considered rebellious, and she is given the option of being deleted or exiled. She chooses exile, knowing that she can still work from that position to achieve her goal of perfection within the Matrix.

The Neo-Smith connection is a second problem. Neo holds code that exposes the weaknesses of the Matrix. When he jumped into Smith at the end of the first movie, this code corrupted Smith's program. Smith came back to "life" much stronger than before, and became a problem. Instead of temporarily taking over programs that are attached to human brains, he is now capable of permanently taking over machine programs as a means of replication. In the end, Smith becomes simply the motivation that allows the machines to cooperate with Neo. That's all.

So, the bottom line for understanding the Matrix trilogy is this. The Oracle, using Neo, Morpheus, and the others from Zion as her army, is waging a war against the rest of the machines. The goal of this war is, quite simply, to remove problematic humans from the Matrix so that the rest can live in perfect harmony.

When you watch the movies again, pay close attention to the dialogue with The Oracle, The Architect, and Smith. All the clues are there, and understanding these clues are everything to making sense of The Matrix Trilogy.

Posted by Lockjaw at 1:01 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack

Ocean's 12

There are a small few movies that, in my house, are always worth watching. If we are looking for something to watch, and we come across one of them, we'll be glad to watch again. These include the Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Matrix trilogy, The Usual Suspects and Ocean's 11. Needless to say, I've been looking forward to the sequel to Ocean's 11 for some time, and Saturday night, we finally got to see it.


Let me say, every review I read of the movie was right on. Ocean's 11 was an inspired piece of work. The sequel pales in comparison. Rusty, who was always seen eating in the first movie, hardly eats at all in this one, but his eating does punctuate changes in mood. The individual characters feel less like a cohesive unit in this movie, too.


That said, Ocean's 12 is a really good movie. The dialogue is great, the funny parts are REALLY funny and the viewer is regularly surprised. This is a great movie to take a date too, and one you'll enjoy watching all the way through.


I don't think this will go into the list of always-watch movies. I do think I'll watch it again, mainly to look for the clues I missed the first time through. Compared to Ocean's 11, I'd give this movie a C. Standing on its own merits, though, I'd have to give it a B+. It's good, but the original was great. Go see it anyway.

Posted by Lockjaw at 12:56 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Movie Reviews Parents Can Trust

Now that my son is almost 10 years old, his entertainment choices are changing. He's no longer limited to just seeing the kids movies, but a responsible parents wants to keep his kid from seeing movies that are full of unnecessary violence, sex, drugs and the like. Today's rating system has become almost meaningless, with PG meaning violence and some profanity, PG-13 meaning boobs and obscenity and R meaning more of the same. I need a way to know which PG movies are okay for my kid, and which aren't.

I've started going to the Crosswalk website for help. Crosswalk is a christian website containing articles, bible resources, and much more. My most-used tool on the site is their movie reviews.

I like to use the crosswalk reviews because they're aimed directly at the family audience. They go overboard, if anything, in their detail of what is not acceptable. After providing a direct review, they have a detailed description of objectionable content at the bottom. They note both profanity and obscentity, sexual content as innocent as a kiss, alcohol and drugs and so on. They go into so much detail that I can show my son the listing for a PG movie I want to take him to, to help convince him it's okay. That's right, my son has to be convinced to watch a PG movie.

As an example, I'll excerpt Crosswalk's Objectionable Content listing for Christmas with the Kranks.



Like I say, if anything, they go overboard. That's a good thing, though, if you're a parent who wants to protect his child from objectionable content. If you're thinking of taking your kid to see a movie, check Crosswalk first. It only takes a few minutes, and it may be the best review you see.

Posted by Lockjaw at 12:52 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

National Treasure - Lots of Fun

I took the wife and son to see the new Nicholas Cage movie, "National Treasure." We took in a matinee showing, as I've taken the day after Thanksgiving off. "National Treasure" is an enjoyable, exciting adventure, appropriate for adults and older kids alike.

The premise of the movie is fairly simple. Nicholas Cage plays the latest in a long line of men in his family to search for the clues that lead to a huge ancient treasure, discovered by the Knights Templar during the Crusades, and placed into hiding by the founding fathers of America. Sean Bean plays his partner, who turns into his enemy when the next clue in line turns out to require the theft of the Declaration of Independence.

I thought the action scenes were exciting, without seeming to go too far overboard, as happens too often in action movies. The dialogue was sometimes unnatural, mostly on the part of Cage's character. The female lead notes at one point that "people don't really talk like that." There was a good amount of lightheartedness, as well as a logical progression to the story that kept a natural feel to the whole thing.

It was nice to see a movie in which history played such a great role. It was surprising how much history played into the details. The movie is a grand tour of historical and important locations. In the Washington D.C. scenes, I found myself appreciating that I had actually been there, quite a bit.

It wasn't perfect, by any means. There were some details that one had to overlook. The shadow cast at a certain time was handled with no concern for the fact that shadows fall at different places throughout the seasons. I was willing to discount this, though, because the movie was exciting enough that I didn't want it slowing down to explain.

As for taking the kids, my son is almost 10 years old. Alcohol appeared as champagne at a party. No drugs. I noticed no profanity, though I could have missed something. No sex, and only two kisses in what was a very low key romantic subplot. The violence wasn't gratuitous, but the badguys were the stereotypical bad shots. My son was riveted throughout most of the movie, and joined in the guesswork near the end, as he picked up clues on his own.

Want to see a fun movie? Go see this one. It's good. It's not great. It's just a good quality, fun adventure that you can take the family to see.

Posted by Lockjaw at 12:46 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

The Incredibles

Yesterday was Veteran's Day. Today is the anniversary of my marriage. Normally, I would work on Veteran's Day, but I took yesterday off to spend time with the wife and kid for my anniversary. We decided to take in the noon showing of "The Incredibles."


In short, this movie blew me away. It was one of the most enjoyable and complete movie experiences I've seen in a long time. The story was very well written, which is a real treat these days, and you came out of the movie loving the characters, and wanting to see more. Let's hope more means sequel movies, and not a TV show.

The early part of the movie introduces most of the main characters through flashback. We meet Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl in their prime, the former in an onslaught of emergencies en route to a big event. We then switch to the present, where the duo are married with kids, trying to deal with civilian life. The writing is done so well that we require very little movie time to understand the position that these characters are in, and to love them for all their quirks.


I hadn't even looked at the cast list for this movie, so I was very happy with Holly Hunter as Elastigirl. I never could place the voice on Mr. Incredible, until I got home. Craig T. Nelson did a fine job, his voice fitting into the superhero vision quite well. I almost jumped up and screamed when I realized that the VERY familiar voice for Frozone was Samuel L. Jackson. All the voices fit very well with the feel of the film, which I think is an art in itself.


It shouldn't have been a surprise to me that the animation on this film was so beautiful. I've seen Toy Story. Finding Nemo was a huge leap forward in graphics quality. The Incredibles is the new bar by which future animation must be measured. I often found myself so caught up in the film that I had to remind myself I was watching a computer-generated movie. Although the style of the images was cartoonish, the feel of the movie was very real. The hair on the characters' heads was one notable feature that caught my eye. The scenes involving water hardly looked animated at all.


A well-writte villain needs a well-designed lair. This villain was indeed well-written, and given a fantastic lair. Anything more would spoil you on the storyline, so...


Go see this movie. Take your spouse, girlfriend, kids, Mom, Dad and Grandma. There's probably not going to be anything better released this year. I've seen some great movies this year (now that we have a 10 screen, first-run cinema in town) and this was, by far, the best.


4 stars

Posted by Lockjaw at 12:27 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Third Day Concert

Last night was the Third Day, Toby Mac, and "other guests" concert in Fayetteville. Those of you know know me well know I'm a BIG fan of Third Day. This was the band that demonstrated, to me, that contemporary christian music had gone from something hardly worth listening to, to something I was missing out on. In the past, I've felt that christian rock prioritized message over music, preaching the message through sub-par music. All that has changed, which accounts for the major surge in recent years for christian rock.

As it turns out, the "other guests" for the show was a band called Day of Fire. I've heard more than a few opening acts in my day, so I wasn't expecting a lot from this band. I was happily surprised when they turned out to do a great job. They played that style of music I never know how to categorize. Is it "thrash?" Is it "neo-punk metal?" I don't know what to call it, but it was fantastic. The standout song in my mind was their first released single, "Cornerstone." Their short set left me wanting more. I'm going to enjoy listening to their brand new, self-titled CD, available from Essential Records.

I wasn't looking forward to the second band of the evening. Toby Mac is popular with the kids, but having seen him perform once before, I didn't relish the thought of a whole set of his pop/rap style. Yet again, I was surprised. Toby came on stage with his 7 piece backing band and put on a fantastic show. The music was harder, and more enjoyable than in his earlier show. The backup band was tight, and put on an energetic display.

Toby's band featured two rappers/singers/dancers that I wanted to dislike, mainly because of the rappers/dancers part of the show. As the set progressed, I found it harder to do so. Not only did they do a great job, but their presence amplified the whole show. The female backup singer not only had a fantastic voice, but was well-utilized. The real showman was the drummer. He was constantly dancing in his seat, laying down a tight rhythm, and having a blast through the whole set. On at least three occasions, he broke a drumstick, sending half of it flying across the stage. He would toss the other half over his shoulder, grab a new stick and never noticeably miss a beat.

By the end of Toby's set, I was sold. I might have approached the show with a bit of dread, but I'd love to see that performance again.

By the time Third Day was ready to take the stage, I felt that I had already seen a great show. At this point, Third Day could have phoned it in, and the crowd would have still been happy. Third Day, however, is known for putting on a great show for a reason.

Third Day opened with "Rock Star" from their latest CD, Wire. Although I'm not as familiar with their latest CD as I am the rest of their catalog, I have to say this was the best song to pick for the opening slot. This show was kicking off with a bang.

High points of the show included "Creed," "Consuming Fire," "Show Me Your Glory," and as always, "Come Together." Notably missing from the show was my favorite Third Day song, "King of Glory." They even took a chance to "practice" a rendition of "Georgia on my Mind" for today's NASCAR race. (They're also singing the National Anthem)

Several of the songs during the set were synchronized (quite well) with the music video, shown on screens to the left and right of the stage. This was especially nice during the encore, when they played "Wire," the title track of their latest CD.

This was a fantastic show. I had started with trepidation at having to sit through a couple sub-par bands in order to hear Third Day, but I was surprised by hearing three great sets from three great bands. If you have a chance to catch this show on any of the remaining dates on the tour, don't hesitate.

I was talking with one of the kids in the youth group that I chaperoned on this trip. He asked about other shows I'd seen. I told him I've seen most of my favorite bands over the years. I've seen Pink Floyd, Genesis, Yes, Todd Rundgren, America, Fleetwood Mac, Rush and many others. Right now, given the choice, I'd choose Third Day over any of them.

Posted by Lockjaw at 12:08 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

My Favorite Christopher Reeve Film

With the passing of Christopher Reeve, there have been many blog entries written about the man and his work. Usually, the references are to the Superman movies. I prefer to only consider the original Superman and ignore the sequels. The first was a high-quality film with a good storyline. The rest were good attempts at getting money from the kids.

When I think of Christopher Reeve, however, I think of my favorite of his movies, a film called Street Smart. Reeve plays Jonothan Fisher, a reporter who promises his editor an interview with a real Times Square pimp. When his attempts to actually interview a pimp fall through, he does something that you'd think came from today's big media problems. He makes it up. The result is an article that is "fake but accurate."

Fisher knew that an interview with a real pimp would make good reading. He knew what it would be about, and what it would say. He was really only missing one ingredient. He didn't have a subject to interview.

He spent a good amount of time trying to find a pimp to interview. He approached prostitutes on the street, trying to work his way to their pimp. In the end, he only attracted suspicion, and no interview was gained.

So Fisher, faced with a promised story and a deadline, writes the interview. He goes into great detail about the pimp he interviewed. He knows details about this man's business, personal habits, and even favorite drink. The result is a great story which pleases Fisher's editor and readers.

Soon, Fisher and his story are the talk of the town. Soon, everyone wants to meet the colorful figure who is the subject of his story. There's also someone who wants to meet Fisher. His name is Fast Black. He's a Times Square pimp, and the fake article describes him, his business, and his personal habits in every detail. Fast Black and the fake interview's pimp even drink the same drink, Yoo Hoo.

Before long, Fast Black (the role for which Morgan Freeman received his first Oscar nomination) is a big man in town. He's invited to all the best parties, where he meets the richest and most fabulous New Yorkers up to the Mayor himself. Fast Black is a star. Fisher, on the other hand, finds himself drawn into the depths of the prostitution underworld and the fear of discovery for his fraud.

Reeve's portrayal of Fisher was adequate to the role, but Morgan Freeman as Fast Black was fantastic. His demeanor switches from jovial to murderous so quickly and completely that you begin to understand the quality of his acting later in his career.

This movie has come back into my memory a lot, lately, what with the Jayson Blair scandal and Dan Rather's fraudulent documents. I begin to wonder if "fake but accurate" has become the modern minimum standard for reporting.

Posted by Lockjaw at 12:04 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Blog$hares and the Opera Browser

Blog$hares is an addictive stock-trading game. I'm a fan of stock-trading games, and have been a sporadic player of Hollywood Stock Exchange since 1996, having built a substantial portfolio in that time. Blogshares is a new experience, to me, and it has many differences. One thing they have in common, however, is that both are made much easier and faster to play because I use Opera as my browser.

Opera has long been my favorite browser for various reasons. Like Mozilla/Firefox, Opera allows you to use a tabbed window interface. Opera, however, lets me click a link with the mouse roller/center button to throw the page opened by that link into the background, leaving me on the original page. It's very fast to render, with on-the-fly reconfiguration available for a variety of functions. How these features apply to stock trading games, however, is the focus of this article.

If I wanted to play a stock game in a single window, I'd have go through many steps. First, I'd perform a search, then click on the stock I wanted to trade. On Blog$hares, I'd then click the "Buy" link in the page that loaded, and then on the next page I'd click the buy button (assuming the amount to buy is correct). After going through three pages, I could then go back and perform the search again. I'd have to do this for each stock I wanted to make a buy in. Often, I'll have a page loaded of 100 stocks, and I'll make a buy in at least 80 of them. This process could swallow a large amount of time. As it can often take 3-4 buys to gather up all the available shares of one stock, 80 stocks could eat up hours.

Personally, I don't want to spend hours performing tedious tasks to play a game that isn't going to make me real world money. What if I could perform ten buys in the course of 1-2 minutes? That would surely speed up the gameplay, especially in the early phases of the game where buying extremely low and selling as high as possible is the name of the game?

Enter the Opera Web Browser. In Opera, I load my search window or appropriate list of stocks (I'll let the reader figure out how to find the lists, as I just don't want to compete for access to those stocks right now) and take a deep breath. I click the mouse roller/middle button on the link for each of the stocks in the list until I have 10-20 stocks loaded in the background. I can see the tabs for each page loaded across the bottom of the page. The default is to place the tabs at the top, but I configured mine for the bottom, which makes it feel like a taskbar.

Now that I've got 10-20 stock information pages loaded in the background, I have to click each tab on the taskbar, click "buy" and then the "buy" button on the page that loads, wait for the results page, and then close that window before moving to the next window and repeating. Still too much time. I must streamline further.

One of the great things about Opera is that it has a great keyboard interface. Many operations can be done using the keyboard, which can greatly speed webbrowsing. One keyboard sequence allows me to move from tab to tab quickly. Pressing 1 will move me one tab to the left, while 2 will let me move one tab to the right. By using my left hand to move window to window on the keyboard, I move the mouse that much less. This shaves a mere fraction of a second off of the time. I think we can do better.

If I can load all of these windows, why should I have to wait for one window to load before moving to the next window? The greatest time-waster of the whole process is page loading. I'll just let the pages load in the background, as I did when I opened them.

So, here I am with 20 pages loaded. I press 2 to go to the next tab, where I click the "buy" link. If the link is down a page, I press spacebar with my thumb before clicking "buy." After clicking, I press 2 again and repeat in the next window. I simply repeat this until I have clicked the "buy" link on each of the loaded pages. After the last page loads the purchase form page, I verify the amount of shares to buy and click the "buy" button. Then, I press 1 to go to the previous window and repeat. This goes all the way back to the first window again. Now, all I have to do is click the close window X (NOT the close application X, but the one nested inside it) until all the individual stock windows are closed.

Using this process, each stock purchase takes a very few seconds to perform. If one page doesn't load properly, I press F5 to reload the window, adding a couple seconds, but otherwise it goes very quickly.

Using this method, I can perform 80 stock buys, and then have a chance to do something else while I wait for the 20 minute purchase timeout to run out. For those not in the know, Blog$hares limits multiple purchases in a single stock to only one in a 20 minute period. This gives me chance for a bathroom break, get a drink, or to update my blog, between purchase runs.

While waiting for the next round of buys, I load my portfolio in shares view, sorted by the number of shares held by the public, largest number at the top. As each stock's purchase timeout ends, the stock will turn green. reload the page as the time arrives for the first batch to timeout, and start to work. As before, I middle-click on each stock that has turned green, until I have 10-20 loaded in the background. Then, it's 2 click, 2 click, 2 click through them all. Then it's 1 click 1 click 1 click through them again, and finally close all of the windows by clicking their X to close. This time, it's even faster, because I don't have to pay attention to each blog's share price and available shares, to be sure I want to buy it. If it's in my portfolio, I've already made that decision, and my sorting process verified the stock's availability. I reload the portfolio page and repeat this process until this round is finished.

The whole process of buying up 4000 shares in a stock takes one hour and 20 minutes at minimum. It's really more of an hour and a half, but using this method, that time is a combination of game play time and rest periods. I'm also doing dozens of purchases during that time. I have, in fact, done an 80+ stock purchase run while selling off a previous 80+ purchase run and STILL had time to read some blogs while I waited for Blog$hares to catch up with me.

There are a couple other tricks I like to use. One is to disable image loading, which can be done with a single click under Opera. I do this to stop the image ads from loading. This benefits for multipl