the media post returns
Meh I'm really anxious tonight since I hopefully will hear about my test results tomorrow. :< Anyway figured I should post this so I can at least provide OTHER people with some angst-free distraction; holy backlog, Batman. Been working on this saved file for months. :P
Also completely unrelated but I'd feel remiss if I didn't mention it . . . the third movie in the "Blood and Ice Cream" trilogy (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and supposedly "The World Ends") is going to be: "Story revolves around two British slackers who after visiting Comic-Con go on a road trip to Area 51 where they encounter a small alien named Paul, who enlists them to help him find his way home." Oh snap, guys, you better have your asses at SDCC 2009 . . . btw if you're a Simon Pegg fan, I forgot to recommend listening to the Sideshow Toys podcast interview. Especially since they said that the remaining Cornetto flavor was mint chocolate chip (brown and green) - and the Sideshow guy suggested aliens. He must be having a fanfit.
Book: Outrageous Fortune by Tim Scott
I picked it up 100% randomly at Barnes and Noble when I needed a book for Japan, and I really loved it. I think I had a better description before but right now I'm going with "William Gibson as written by Douglas Adams". I'm generally bad at short summaries - guy wakes up to discover that not only has his house been stolen, he's being chased by encyclopedia salesmen in helicopters and the four horsemen of the apocalypse (on motorcycles). I give it extra credit for pulling off the bizarre and the humor while maintaining a philosophical bent - it's not just cheap-shot wacky, which it is in danger of sounding like if you try to describe the plot.
Book: Idlewild by Nick Sagan
Nick Sagan's first novel (yeah, son of Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan), which has since spawned a series. I haven't read the others yet since I can't find the second one. >_o I will have to be careful what I say - it doesn't "rely on a twist", but saying too much would spoil it. Basically, the main character wakes up in a cornfield in a very strange world with no recollection of who he is. I think it does read like a first novel; the science background makes for an interesting read and a unique perspective, but sometimes it feels a bit ADHD, or like a loss of focus. But, at the very least, it's not a long read, and has some very interesting concepts.
Book: The Phantom Tollbooth
The under-appreciated children's classic of the past century, which is long past due for a new film version (not complaining about the animated version, though I haven't seen in it a long time). It's a very directed book in its vision - something I didn't really notice when I was reading it as a kid. Everything that happens happens for a reason, but not in an obnoxiously obvious way that feels patronizing. It works because the world seems real, as bizarre as it is. But it's a read I recommend to people "too old" for it - because even though it's "why knowledge is important", it's more fundamentally "why knowledge is meaningful", which really becomes "why it's worth bothering to care about anything". Milo starts the story with ennui far beyond his years, and is able to discover in a very basic fashion how to overcome that.
Movie: City of Ember
I'm only going to mention this briefly because I think it probably went under everyone's radar. It's not an awesome movie. I think there were some very specific flaws to it that were primarily plot-related; and unlike the reviews I saw, I am not signing up for Bill Murray's fanclub over his acting in it (small part). He was NOT the strongest part. (No love for Tim Robbins, who was genuinely compelling with very little dialogue? Come on.)
BUT. You guys should see this, because the visuals are very cool - it's worth it for the art design. It's some kind of slightly storybook lovechild of Brazil and City of Lost Children.
May I also recommend for visuals the fancy version of Hellboy II: The Golden Army, specifically for the Troll Market tour (can I live there kthxbai), and Mike Mignola walking you through most of his concept art for the film.
Movie: Absurdistan (Germany . . . kind of)
Basic story: Obscure hamlet in "Absurdistan" is dominated by the do-nothing men . . . until the town's water supply runs dry, and the women use the best weapon they have - until it's fixed, no sex. Woe unto the recently reunited young lovers.
The director was a whooooole lot of fun and I was really bummed I couldn't go to the reception the next day. The movie was also profoundly multi-national - they cast in like 27 countries? I'm hoping that when the movie gets a DVD release, that the documentary they did about the making will also get one. Of course, because it was a film festival, people had to ask dumbass pseudo-intellectual "questions" (thinly disguised "btw here's my agenda") . . . and all missed the point that it's a sweet, funny, FAIRY TALE and there is NOT, in fact, something fundamentally wrong with those.
Movie: Terribly Happy (Denmark)
Basic story: An unfortunate movie to see AFTER Absurdistan, since it's also about an isolated small town culture - but in this one, it's dark and murderous. Policeman gets sent off to
This movie could have been . . . well, it just never quite got there 100% with the tension. I don't think it was shot nearly as atmospheric as it should have been and that was the primary reason it just felt "uncomfortable" instead of scary. Maybe that was the movie it wanted to be, but the plot and the location had the potential to be incredibly unsettling, and they weren't. I think that it was very popular at the festival though, so what do I know . . .
I saw the star walking around twice on Sunday. Might have said something to him, but I didn't want to assume he spoke English, and the only thing I could have said to him in Danish? Be a complete dork and try "mojn" - the "hello/goodbye" word they use in the small town in the movie. (Maybe I should have done. Nice looking guy.)
Movie: Were the World Mine (USA)
Basic story: The senior show at an all-boys' school is "Midsummer Night's Dream", and when the local ostracized gay boy gets cast as Puck, the whole town gets turned upside down. Also, it's a musical.
It's not perfect. It's a bit low-rent, though that was largely a problem with the projection we had. But it's honest, it features some very good acting. The visuals are the strongest point, particularly the musical stuff - they had a good costumer, the music is quality, and the choreography is very well done. I also think I was one of the only non-LGBT people in the audience; I can see where it would have a cult-type following in that community, but it's not non-functional for people outside it either. It's not "the gay High School Musical", because it's not big budget enough or flashy enough (it errs slightly further to the intellectual/artsy side than Hollywood) . . . but I suppose it's some interesting equivalent.
The director and screenwriter were in attendance and I found out we were sitting between two of the actors. lol. I was bugged that the director's name was terribly familiar, but how I managed to remember someone who did additional casting for PotC 2 and 3, I have no idea . . .
Movie: The Good The Bad The Weird
Basic story: Hapless bandit accidentally steals a treasure map that the Japanese army and basically everyone else is after. Badassery, comedy, a wee bit of angst, and some mind-blowingly out of control fight scenes ensue.
I don't know how Asian movies do the stunts they do without people getting killed - there was a good solid twenty minutes of nothing but people shooting each other from on horseback (TONS of people and horses, some jeeps, motorcycles, and EXPLOSIONS). Freaking hardcore. I got a little frazzled during this one because we were really sure we were going to miss the train, so I wasn't 100% focused during the end. >_o
Student animation from RISD
Windows Masks and Doors
Marionettes make war?
"At least it's not the end of the world"
Japanese animator Kondoh Akino
Densha Kamo Shirenai
sometimes you're so unlucky even the wind is out to get you
"Angst"
Also completely unrelated but I'd feel remiss if I didn't mention it . . . the third movie in the "Blood and Ice Cream" trilogy (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and supposedly "The World Ends") is going to be: "Story revolves around two British slackers who after visiting Comic-Con go on a road trip to Area 51 where they encounter a small alien named Paul, who enlists them to help him find his way home." Oh snap, guys, you better have your asses at SDCC 2009 . . . btw if you're a Simon Pegg fan, I forgot to recommend listening to the Sideshow Toys podcast interview. Especially since they said that the remaining Cornetto flavor was mint chocolate chip (brown and green) - and the Sideshow guy suggested aliens. He must be having a fanfit.
Book: Outrageous Fortune by Tim Scott
I picked it up 100% randomly at Barnes and Noble when I needed a book for Japan, and I really loved it. I think I had a better description before but right now I'm going with "William Gibson as written by Douglas Adams". I'm generally bad at short summaries - guy wakes up to discover that not only has his house been stolen, he's being chased by encyclopedia salesmen in helicopters and the four horsemen of the apocalypse (on motorcycles). I give it extra credit for pulling off the bizarre and the humor while maintaining a philosophical bent - it's not just cheap-shot wacky, which it is in danger of sounding like if you try to describe the plot.
Book: Idlewild by Nick Sagan
Nick Sagan's first novel (yeah, son of Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan), which has since spawned a series. I haven't read the others yet since I can't find the second one. >_o I will have to be careful what I say - it doesn't "rely on a twist", but saying too much would spoil it. Basically, the main character wakes up in a cornfield in a very strange world with no recollection of who he is. I think it does read like a first novel; the science background makes for an interesting read and a unique perspective, but sometimes it feels a bit ADHD, or like a loss of focus. But, at the very least, it's not a long read, and has some very interesting concepts.
Book: The Phantom Tollbooth
The under-appreciated children's classic of the past century, which is long past due for a new film version (not complaining about the animated version, though I haven't seen in it a long time). It's a very directed book in its vision - something I didn't really notice when I was reading it as a kid. Everything that happens happens for a reason, but not in an obnoxiously obvious way that feels patronizing. It works because the world seems real, as bizarre as it is. But it's a read I recommend to people "too old" for it - because even though it's "why knowledge is important", it's more fundamentally "why knowledge is meaningful", which really becomes "why it's worth bothering to care about anything". Milo starts the story with ennui far beyond his years, and is able to discover in a very basic fashion how to overcome that.
Movie: City of Ember
I'm only going to mention this briefly because I think it probably went under everyone's radar. It's not an awesome movie. I think there were some very specific flaws to it that were primarily plot-related; and unlike the reviews I saw, I am not signing up for Bill Murray's fanclub over his acting in it (small part). He was NOT the strongest part. (No love for Tim Robbins, who was genuinely compelling with very little dialogue? Come on.)
BUT. You guys should see this, because the visuals are very cool - it's worth it for the art design. It's some kind of slightly storybook lovechild of Brazil and City of Lost Children.
May I also recommend for visuals the fancy version of Hellboy II: The Golden Army, specifically for the Troll Market tour (can I live there kthxbai), and Mike Mignola walking you through most of his concept art for the film.
Movie: Absurdistan (Germany . . . kind of)
Basic story: Obscure hamlet in "Absurdistan" is dominated by the do-nothing men . . . until the town's water supply runs dry, and the women use the best weapon they have - until it's fixed, no sex. Woe unto the recently reunited young lovers.
The director was a whooooole lot of fun and I was really bummed I couldn't go to the reception the next day. The movie was also profoundly multi-national - they cast in like 27 countries? I'm hoping that when the movie gets a DVD release, that the documentary they did about the making will also get one. Of course, because it was a film festival, people had to ask dumbass pseudo-intellectual "questions" (thinly disguised "btw here's my agenda") . . . and all missed the point that it's a sweet, funny, FAIRY TALE and there is NOT, in fact, something fundamentally wrong with those.
Movie: Terribly Happy (Denmark)
Basic story: An unfortunate movie to see AFTER Absurdistan, since it's also about an isolated small town culture - but in this one, it's dark and murderous. Policeman gets sent off to
This movie could have been . . . well, it just never quite got there 100% with the tension. I don't think it was shot nearly as atmospheric as it should have been and that was the primary reason it just felt "uncomfortable" instead of scary. Maybe that was the movie it wanted to be, but the plot and the location had the potential to be incredibly unsettling, and they weren't. I think that it was very popular at the festival though, so what do I know . . .
I saw the star walking around twice on Sunday. Might have said something to him, but I didn't want to assume he spoke English, and the only thing I could have said to him in Danish? Be a complete dork and try "mojn" - the "hello/goodbye" word they use in the small town in the movie. (Maybe I should have done. Nice looking guy.)
Movie: Were the World Mine (USA)
Basic story: The senior show at an all-boys' school is "Midsummer Night's Dream", and when the local ostracized gay boy gets cast as Puck, the whole town gets turned upside down. Also, it's a musical.
It's not perfect. It's a bit low-rent, though that was largely a problem with the projection we had. But it's honest, it features some very good acting. The visuals are the strongest point, particularly the musical stuff - they had a good costumer, the music is quality, and the choreography is very well done. I also think I was one of the only non-LGBT people in the audience; I can see where it would have a cult-type following in that community, but it's not non-functional for people outside it either. It's not "the gay High School Musical", because it's not big budget enough or flashy enough (it errs slightly further to the intellectual/artsy side than Hollywood) . . . but I suppose it's some interesting equivalent.
The director and screenwriter were in attendance and I found out we were sitting between two of the actors. lol. I was bugged that the director's name was terribly familiar, but how I managed to remember someone who did additional casting for PotC 2 and 3, I have no idea . . .
Movie: The Good The Bad The Weird
Basic story: Hapless bandit accidentally steals a treasure map that the Japanese army and basically everyone else is after. Badassery, comedy, a wee bit of angst, and some mind-blowingly out of control fight scenes ensue.
I don't know how Asian movies do the stunts they do without people getting killed - there was a good solid twenty minutes of nothing but people shooting each other from on horseback (TONS of people and horses, some jeeps, motorcycles, and EXPLOSIONS). Freaking hardcore. I got a little frazzled during this one because we were really sure we were going to miss the train, so I wasn't 100% focused during the end. >_o
Student animation from RISD
Windows Masks and Doors
Marionettes make war?
"At least it's not the end of the world"
Japanese animator Kondoh Akino
Densha Kamo Shirenai
sometimes you're so unlucky even the wind is out to get you
"Angst"