December 2010
48 posts
1 tag
"The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call - New Orleans"...
Dec 31st
1 tag
"The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call - New Orleans"...
Dec 31st
1 tag
"A Serious Man" 3/5
It’s all allegories and symbolism and I’m afraid a bit too cryptic.  Bizarre, even by the Coen brothers’ standards.  But I still liked it.  I just wish it made more sense.
Dec 30th
1 tag
"A Serious Man" 3/5
It’s all allegories and symbolism and I’m afraid a bit too cryptic.  Bizarre, even by the Coen brothers’ standards.  But I still liked it.  I just wish it made more sense.
Dec 30th
1 tag
Dec 30th
1 tag
Dec 30th
Dec 29th
Dec 29th
1 tag
Dec 29th
1 tag
Dec 29th
"The Town" 3/5
Dec 26th
"The Town" 3/5
Dec 26th
1 tag
"TRON: Legacy" 4/5
I was a little surprised at how much I enjoyed this movie.  Story is a bit silly at times (like where does this “grid” exist and what is the purpose of it?), but incredible CGI and that Daft Punk soundtrack is sublime.
Dec 26th
1 tag
"TRON: Legacy" 4/5
I was a little surprised at how much I enjoyed this movie.  Story is a bit silly at times (like where does this “grid” exist and what is the purpose of it?), but incredible CGI and that Daft Punk soundtrack is sublime.
Dec 26th
1 tag
Dec 23rd
1 tag
Dec 23rd
1 tag
"Capitalism: A Love Story" 3/5
I kind of agree with his message that greed is bad, etc., but I think his shtick is getting a little old and is so very transparent at times here.  Also, he somehow confusedly compares the economic system of capitalism with the political system of democracy, and therefore offers no viable alternative to capitalism. Yes, other countries are quasi-socialist and prosperous, but they also have little...
Dec 22nd
1 tag
"Capitalism: A Love Story" 3/5
I kind of agree with his message that greed is bad, etc., but I think his shtick is getting a little old and is so very transparent at times here.  Also, he somehow confusedly compares the economic system of capitalism with the political system of democracy, and therefore offers no viable alternative to capitalism. Yes, other countries are quasi-socialist and prosperous, but they also have little...
Dec 22nd
1 tag
"Star Trek" 5/5
I inexplicably slept through my first attempt at watching this.  Not sure how though (must have been tired), because it was spectacular.  Abrams really handles the origin story well here and introduces an alternate timeline plot which was actually quite brilliant on his part to allow him to make the story his own. If I had to say one bad thing about the movie?  J.J., step away from the lens flare...
Dec 22nd
1 tag
"Star Trek" 5/5
I inexplicably slept through my first attempt at watching this.  Not sure how though (must have been tired), because it was spectacular.  Abrams really handles the origin story well here and introduces an alternate timeline plot which was actually quite brilliant on his part to allow him to make the story his own. If I had to say one bad thing about the movie?  J.J., step away from the lens flare...
Dec 22nd
1 tag
Dec 22nd
1 tag
Dec 22nd
Dec 21st
Dec 21st
1 tag
"Adventureland" 4/5
From the director of Superbad. This was a little less funny, but more measured, introspective and insightful.
Dec 21st
1 tag
"Adventureland" 4/5
From the director of Superbad. This was a little less funny, but more measured, introspective and insightful.
Dec 21st
1 tag
"Guzaarish" 4/5
Excellent movie all around.  Also addresses my pet peeve of Bollywood movies with unnecessary songs crammed in every which way.  There are songs here, but they fit in the story, are believable and don’t overstay their welcome.  I’ve been impressed with the director ever since Devdas.  Sanjay Leela Bhansali is really a world-class filmmaker.
Dec 21st
1 tag
"Guzaarish" 4/5
Excellent movie all around.  Also addresses my pet peeve of Bollywood movies with unnecessary songs crammed in every which way.  There are songs here, but they fit in the story, are believable and don’t overstay their welcome.  I’ve been impressed with the director ever since Devdas.  Sanjay Leela Bhansali is really a world-class filmmaker.
Dec 21st
1 tag
"Transsiberian" 4/5
Very well-made Hitchcockian thriller.  I just love Woody Harrelson in everything.  He brings a certain goofiness to even deadly serious thrillers like this (in a good way).
Dec 20th
1 tag
"Transsiberian" 4/5
Very well-made Hitchcockian thriller.  I just love Woody Harrelson in everything.  He brings a certain goofiness to even deadly serious thrillers like this (in a good way).
Dec 20th
Dec 20th
"Push" 3/5
Straddles the line between incoherence and mid-bending plot twists, not always successfully.  Loved the Hong Kong setting and it was surprisingly well shot.  Reminded me of some of Christopher Doyle’s best camera work on Wong Kar-Wai’s films.
Dec 18th
1 tag
"Push" 3/5
Straddles the line between incoherence and mid-bending plot twists, not always successfully.  Loved the Hong Kong setting and it was surprisingly well shot.  Reminded me of some of Christopher Doyle’s best camera work on Wong Kar-Wai’s films.
Dec 18th
"Fred Claus" 3/5
Dec 17th
1 tag
"Fred Claus" 3/5
Dec 17th
Dec 13th
Google Books + No Portability = Total FAIL
This question posted to the new Google Books forum about uploading existing eBook collections and the resulting thread is edifying and the main reason I will not be using Google Books to buy or read my books.  Here is Google’s simple yet unsettling answer: We don’t support uploading your own ebook files. I believe blame falls on 2 parties here.  First are the publishers, who more...
Dec 9th
Game Developer Says Farmville Is Designed To Be... →
I always knew there was something that bothered me about these types of games.  Whereas with traditional games that act as a form of stress relief, games like Farmville suck you in further and further and then force you to suck in your friends to progress. If you take his comments out of context, it’s almost like he’s describing an abusive relationship.
Dec 9th
Dec 9th
1 tag
Dec 7th
1 tag
"The Road" 3/5
While it was well made/acted/shot/just about everything, it was just so damn bleak and disturbing that it was a little hard to like.  I can only tell you that I won’t be forgetting it anytime soon, especially one particularly gruesome scene that will forever be burned into my memory and that will be giving me nightmares for at least a few days.  It also asks some serious moral questions...
Dec 7th
1 tag
Dec 7th
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Dec 5th
1 tag
Dec 5th
1 tag
"Knowing" 2/5
I’m a Nic Cage apologist, but even I thought this was pretty terrible.  I caught myself getting caught up at a few key moments, which were well done, but at the end it just left me feeling bleh.
Dec 5th
Spinal Tap's IMDb rating goes to 11; the Internet...
IMDb (via New York Magazine)
Dec 3rd
1 tag
"The Thomas Crown Affair (1968)" 2/5
Really has not aged well. I think the first time I have liked a remake better than the original. Dunaway was good, but McQueen was terrible. Also the plot was kind of stupid and the climax anticlimactic.
Dec 3rd
How the Bandit, Coors and a bunch of Makers... →
I guess we have Coors to partly thank for all the great craft beer selection we have today.
Dec 1st