Stream of Consciousness - Movies

Well, I finally got around to seeing Hot Fuzz. I won't go into a detailed review of it, 'cause I'm sure most of y'all who actually take the time to read what I have to say have either already seen it yourself, or intend to in the very near future, or have already been bombarded with "OMG wut a gr8 movie lol!!!!1" propaganda and whatnot. What I will say is that I thought it was superb the way the film transitioned from a "slice of life" flick to a murder mystery to a straight-up police action movie while still maintaining a thread of subtle (wry?) comedy throughout, as well as a fairly well-integrated message about the importance of loyalty, duty, and friendship. Inspirational messages? In a movie for adults? And it's got explosions? Keen!

I also finally saw Flushed Away at my sister's insistence, and enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would! She really sold me on the fact that it's set in London (where I lived for a while last year) and that I would probably recognize a lot of stuff in the movie, and so I agreed to watch it with her. I love how much little detail can be put into a CG (or animated) movie, and how smart it can be - in one scene, an oven falls over and hiding behind it is a cockroach reading Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis. The film was also a lot better than I thought it would be, so I'd recommend it to anyone, even if you don't normally watch kids movies.

With luck, I'll have found someone to go see Pirates 3 with by the end of next week. I didn't want to go immediately to try to avoid some of the crowds, but also because I don't like going to the cinema by myself. I feel like movies should be social events (except for rentals. Rentals are okay to watch by yourself).

What disappointed me was that I borrowed and watched Blade Runner last night, and wasn't as impressed with it as I hoped I'd be. Maybe I'd have liked it better if I'd read Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? first, but I didn't have that opportunity.

I'm convinced it's going to be a terrible movie, but I'm fantastically excited for the upcoming Transformers movie. I am not only able, but perfectly willing to forgive almost any transgressions this movie could make against cinematic quality, just so long as the robots in it look fantastic.

And that, I think for tonight, is that.

PLUR!

Interrupt

Does anyone know of a place where I could order/buy/borrow a t-shirt with a "map" of the Internet on it? I need one for 2 reasons - 1.) because I'm geeky enough to think it would be really cool, and 2.) because I am planning to use it as part of my Hallowe'en costume. I am trying to make sure that I actually have a costume for Hallowe'en this year (I've been slack for I think the last 3 years, unless you count last year's half-assed anthro raver cat-person costume - really just a cat ears headband and some facepaint whiskers and glowsticks), and knowing me the best way to do that is to start planning and preparing months in advance.

...That way it'll actually get done before October 31. >.<

But yes, if you know a place where I can get one, please post me a link! Thanks!

PLUR!

This is why I'll never work in Hollywood

I had what I think is a really fun idea for a movie this afternoon! Now, as a disclaimer, I guess I should make it clear that I said I think it was a fun idea, and I made no claims that it was a good idea. However, it was an idea nonetheless. =P

So, the movie's called "System Upgrade" and it's a near-future almost-scifi flick that takes place not long after AR has been introduced. The basic premise of the film is pretty typical - it would lie somewhere between your classic summer blockbuster hest flick, and your classic summer blockbuster actoin flick. Anyway, the main characters would probably be a group of college/grad school IT kids who are enamored with the new AR technology, as the wider world is creating more and more uses for AR (I bet it would be a fairly easy transition given the visual interface and user generated content-driven "Web 2.0) the kids are creating ways to make AR more "fun" - i.e., they want to crack it for hacking or something like that. In the process, they manage to uncover some sort of cyber-terror campaign to bring about the downfall of Apple (Microsoft would make more sense, in my opinion, but I think the audience would be more sympathetic toward Apple, plus I bet we could make beaucoup bucks on the side through endorsements and product placement deals!) and, being both adventurous and of noble spirit (as all young hackers are, of course), they decide it's their business to shut down the terrorists, especially since the FBI doesn't seem to know anything about the attack or believe the kids when they try to tell them! Crazy and expensive Lethal Weapon/Matrix/CSI special effects ensue.

The film would be released on a Tuesday (at a discounted ticket price, so that people won't get too pissed off) under the title "System Upgrade - Beta", and only the first half would show. On Wednesday, the movie would be "patched" so that something like 2/3 of the movie would be shown. On Thursday, another "patch" would be released, showing the entire movie up to the climactic final scenes. On Friday, the Final Version would be released, showing the entire movie, and with a "hidden scene" at the end of the credits (possible sequal tie-in? "Making of" special? Needs work).

...because if there's one thing the world needs more if, it's Tuesday updates. ( :

PLUR!

Re-Revised

I've decided that, since I have a tendency to forget otherwise, that I'd make a list of all the movies I've been told I have to see (or see again). If you know of another one, or want to suggest another one, please feel free and I'll add it to the list!

Trainspotting
The Lost Boys
Lawnmower Man
Pride & Prejudice
Children of Men
Eragon
Pan's Labyrinth
Donny Darko (thanks sis)
Battle Royale (thanks Jerry)
Boondock Saints (thanks Roommate-Dan)
300 (thanks...um, just about everybody!)
El Mariachi/Desperado/Once Upon A Time in Mexico (thanks Pirate House denizens 3.5.07)
Hot Fuzz (Thanks everybody 3.5.07)
Flushed Away (thanks sis 3.5.07)
Elizabethtown (thanks Megan 3.5.07)
Love Actually (3.5.07)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (thanks...Rachel? 3.5.07)
Meet the Robinsons (Thanks sis 3.5.07)

...And that's all I can remember at the moment. If you remember more or want to suggest a new one, please do and I'll add it to the list!

PLUR!