Tuesday, October 15, 2013
One Pager
“Anytime, anywhere”,
he said as he carefully pulled the sleek device out of the display case. “We
believe you should never be more than a few seconds away from everything.”
“So you’re telling me the iLife is the only device I need?”
“No sir, I’m telling you iLife is the only device you will ever need.”
“So what makes this a “anytime, anywhere” device?”
“Well, you will never need a TV, Computer, Radio, or Gaming
system ever again. Anything you could possibly need is right here on this
device!”
“Okay, okay. Well I’m certainly interested but why do I need this device?”
“Well once you sync the device with your iLife account, the
device will automatically download any app it thinks you will enjoy.”
“And how does it know these things?
“A proprietary algorithm you have been personalizing with
every website you visit or app you download.”
“That seems a bit invasive” I said hesitantly.
“No, no, not all, it’s just our way of make iLife, your
life”
“I don’t know, it seems like this could lead me down a path
in which the iLife becomes the only thing in my life”
“There is nothing wrong being addicted to surf”
“Even if it
alienates me from the real world?”
“Who wants the real world? Can you like someone’s page or
watch cat videos or travel to distant worlds in the real world? No.”
“Actually you can do at least two of those things, you know
cats don’t only exist on the internet, and a car or a plane or even a train can
take you all kinds of exotic places.”
“Yeah but why would you, when you can do all of that
anytime, anywhere, without actually doing
anything or going anywhere.”
“Okay, I’m not sure this iLife device is for me.”
“But the iLife is the future and the future is now.”
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Thursday, August 29, 2013
My Top Movies of Summer 2013
1. Before Midnight
Let me first admit that I knew nothing of this “trilogy” until news about Before Midnight began showing up everywhere, newspapers, websites, etc. After seeing people passionately talk about it for months, I decided to check out the first two movies, Before Sunrise and Before Sunset, for myself. Since this is about Before Midnight and not the first two movies, all I will say here is that they absolutely blew me away. Before Midnight continues the strong tradition of the first two movies by providing the most intimate and realistic depiction of a relationship I have ever seen in any medium, bar none. The impeccable performances by Hawke and Deply, as well as the flawless script and simple direction by Richard Linklater, easily made this my favorite movie of the summer. It certainly isn’t the most “fun” or visually spectacular film of the summer but it hits you hard… repeatedly, where it counts most, and that makes it worth seeing. While you could easily see this film without seeing the first two and still appreciate it, I strongly recommend against that. This is a movie about a relationship that has grown and changed over 18 years and without the background provided by the first two films, the full emotional resonance will be lost. While this movie didn’t technically come out during the summer, it got its widest theatrical release in June so I think that counts.
2. This is the End
I would be shocked if This Is The End does not remain my favorite comedy of 2013. It is extremely well made, funny, and actually heartfelt. The dialogue is hilarious throughout, with very few of the jokes falling flat. It also thankfully avoided showing us all of the good jokes in the trailers unlike many movies today, making it surprisingly fresh. The movie takes the now over-used apocalypse plot and makes it feel new again by showing it in a comedic tone instead of a super-serious, gritty portrayal of doom and gloom. The all star comedic cast all hold their own in the film but Craig Robinson and Jonah Hill stand out. This is vulgar laugh out loud comedy, not toned down witty comedy. This is the kind of comedy in which there are many penis, vomit, and semen jokes, but the cast and story lift this comedy higher than most. The bottom line though, is that this movie is funny and having seen it multiple times in theaters, I can attest that it holds up to repeat viewings easily. See this one with a bunch of friends and be ready to laugh… a lot.
3. Pacific Rim
Go in expecting Mechs vs. Monsters and walk away with a big smile on your face. Pacific Rim sets out to depict epic battles between humanity and extraterrestrial invaders and it does that in spades. The special effects in this movie are outstanding and honestly need to be seen on the biggest screen possible. The story is simple yet told in such an in depth and creative way that this fantastical world of Jaegers (human powered mechs) and Kaiju (alien monsters) seems pretty real. But for those who have seen a movie directed by Guillermo Del Toro already know that he is incredible at world building and making things like monsters seem real and not cheesy, especially in the Hellboy movies. The action in this movie is some of the best action I have ever seen in film with near perfect framing and choreography. While the visuals and concept are great, the acting is not always the best but it honestly doesn’t matter. I didn’t go into Pacific Rim hoping to see an Academy Award worthy performance, I went to see mechs fighting giant monsters and that was exactly what I got. This movie made me feel like a kid again because it is exactly the kind of movie a younger version of myself would have worshipped. But just because a younger version of myself would have loved this movie, that doesn’t mean adults can’t enjoy it as well. Pacific Rim is a visually stunning, action packed ride that should be enjoyed by everyone (particularly on the biggest screen and best sound system you can get your hands on).
4. The Wolverine
The Wolverine instantly dropped off my radar once Darren Aronofsky left the project. I was so excited to see a small, serious, and dark look at the iconic Marvel character that I thought Aronofsky would bring that I completely lost interest in the film once James Mangold signed on. I can now admit that my doubt was completely unwarranted as Mangold has delivered an awesome Wolverine movie. It is a small movie for sure as the plot revolves around a wealthy family in Tokyo rather than the destruction of the universe, making this superhero movie feel incredibly fresh. The action scenes in the movie are exhilarating including an intense battle at a traditional Japanese funeral and the much touted bullet train sequence. Hugh Jackman continues to completely own this role despite the fact that he could easily do this role in his sleep and the supporting actors hold their weight as well, except for one. Svetlana Khodchenkova seemed completely uninterested and out of touch with her character Viper. In such a serious movie, the character sticks out like a sore thumb with her over the top performance and cartoony character design. The pacing is great throughout and there is never a dull moment yet it doesn’t exhaust you with constant action. It’s a comic book movie in which the characters actually sit down and talk to each other, making the characters much easier to connect to. This is the kind of film we all wanted to see back in 2009 when we instead got the incredibly disappointing X-Men Origins: Wolverine.
5. Star Trek Into Darkness
The final spot on my “best of” list came down to two movies with mysterious villains and ultimately Star Trek: Into Darkness narrowly beat out Iron Man 3. Into Darkness wins the spot by being the more consistently entertaining experience of the two. This movie is loud, bright, and in your face for it’s most of it’s two-hour plus runtime without many moments of downtime but it is just so exciting and visually stimulating that it doesn’t ever feel like an issue. The set pieces in this movie are so well done that you immediately want to see them over again as soon as they end. J.J. Abrams and crew’s use of practical effects and actual sets really elevate the look of this film over movies that rely too heavily on CGI. The performances are just as good as they were in the first film and the cast are beginning to really own these roles. This may not be the Star Trek of old and that may upset some die hard fans but for those of us who are new to the franchise, this is another fantastic entry into this beloved franchise. After seeing Into Darkness, I cannot wait to see what J.J. Abrams can do with the traditionally more action oriented Star Wars franchise in 2015.
Movies I Saw That Didn’t Make the List: Iron Man 3, Man of Steel, Monsters University, Elysium, We’re The Millers, Fast & Furious 6,The Great Gatsby, and Now You See Me.
Movies I Wanted to See But Didn’t: Fruitvale Station, The Way, Way Back, World War Z, The Conjuring, and Much Ado About Nothing.
Let me first admit that I knew nothing of this “trilogy” until news about Before Midnight began showing up everywhere, newspapers, websites, etc. After seeing people passionately talk about it for months, I decided to check out the first two movies, Before Sunrise and Before Sunset, for myself. Since this is about Before Midnight and not the first two movies, all I will say here is that they absolutely blew me away. Before Midnight continues the strong tradition of the first two movies by providing the most intimate and realistic depiction of a relationship I have ever seen in any medium, bar none. The impeccable performances by Hawke and Deply, as well as the flawless script and simple direction by Richard Linklater, easily made this my favorite movie of the summer. It certainly isn’t the most “fun” or visually spectacular film of the summer but it hits you hard… repeatedly, where it counts most, and that makes it worth seeing. While you could easily see this film without seeing the first two and still appreciate it, I strongly recommend against that. This is a movie about a relationship that has grown and changed over 18 years and without the background provided by the first two films, the full emotional resonance will be lost. While this movie didn’t technically come out during the summer, it got its widest theatrical release in June so I think that counts.
2. This is the End
I would be shocked if This Is The End does not remain my favorite comedy of 2013. It is extremely well made, funny, and actually heartfelt. The dialogue is hilarious throughout, with very few of the jokes falling flat. It also thankfully avoided showing us all of the good jokes in the trailers unlike many movies today, making it surprisingly fresh. The movie takes the now over-used apocalypse plot and makes it feel new again by showing it in a comedic tone instead of a super-serious, gritty portrayal of doom and gloom. The all star comedic cast all hold their own in the film but Craig Robinson and Jonah Hill stand out. This is vulgar laugh out loud comedy, not toned down witty comedy. This is the kind of comedy in which there are many penis, vomit, and semen jokes, but the cast and story lift this comedy higher than most. The bottom line though, is that this movie is funny and having seen it multiple times in theaters, I can attest that it holds up to repeat viewings easily. See this one with a bunch of friends and be ready to laugh… a lot.
3. Pacific Rim
Go in expecting Mechs vs. Monsters and walk away with a big smile on your face. Pacific Rim sets out to depict epic battles between humanity and extraterrestrial invaders and it does that in spades. The special effects in this movie are outstanding and honestly need to be seen on the biggest screen possible. The story is simple yet told in such an in depth and creative way that this fantastical world of Jaegers (human powered mechs) and Kaiju (alien monsters) seems pretty real. But for those who have seen a movie directed by Guillermo Del Toro already know that he is incredible at world building and making things like monsters seem real and not cheesy, especially in the Hellboy movies. The action in this movie is some of the best action I have ever seen in film with near perfect framing and choreography. While the visuals and concept are great, the acting is not always the best but it honestly doesn’t matter. I didn’t go into Pacific Rim hoping to see an Academy Award worthy performance, I went to see mechs fighting giant monsters and that was exactly what I got. This movie made me feel like a kid again because it is exactly the kind of movie a younger version of myself would have worshipped. But just because a younger version of myself would have loved this movie, that doesn’t mean adults can’t enjoy it as well. Pacific Rim is a visually stunning, action packed ride that should be enjoyed by everyone (particularly on the biggest screen and best sound system you can get your hands on).
4. The Wolverine
The Wolverine instantly dropped off my radar once Darren Aronofsky left the project. I was so excited to see a small, serious, and dark look at the iconic Marvel character that I thought Aronofsky would bring that I completely lost interest in the film once James Mangold signed on. I can now admit that my doubt was completely unwarranted as Mangold has delivered an awesome Wolverine movie. It is a small movie for sure as the plot revolves around a wealthy family in Tokyo rather than the destruction of the universe, making this superhero movie feel incredibly fresh. The action scenes in the movie are exhilarating including an intense battle at a traditional Japanese funeral and the much touted bullet train sequence. Hugh Jackman continues to completely own this role despite the fact that he could easily do this role in his sleep and the supporting actors hold their weight as well, except for one. Svetlana Khodchenkova seemed completely uninterested and out of touch with her character Viper. In such a serious movie, the character sticks out like a sore thumb with her over the top performance and cartoony character design. The pacing is great throughout and there is never a dull moment yet it doesn’t exhaust you with constant action. It’s a comic book movie in which the characters actually sit down and talk to each other, making the characters much easier to connect to. This is the kind of film we all wanted to see back in 2009 when we instead got the incredibly disappointing X-Men Origins: Wolverine.
5. Star Trek Into Darkness
The final spot on my “best of” list came down to two movies with mysterious villains and ultimately Star Trek: Into Darkness narrowly beat out Iron Man 3. Into Darkness wins the spot by being the more consistently entertaining experience of the two. This movie is loud, bright, and in your face for it’s most of it’s two-hour plus runtime without many moments of downtime but it is just so exciting and visually stimulating that it doesn’t ever feel like an issue. The set pieces in this movie are so well done that you immediately want to see them over again as soon as they end. J.J. Abrams and crew’s use of practical effects and actual sets really elevate the look of this film over movies that rely too heavily on CGI. The performances are just as good as they were in the first film and the cast are beginning to really own these roles. This may not be the Star Trek of old and that may upset some die hard fans but for those of us who are new to the franchise, this is another fantastic entry into this beloved franchise. After seeing Into Darkness, I cannot wait to see what J.J. Abrams can do with the traditionally more action oriented Star Wars franchise in 2015.
Movies I Saw That Didn’t Make the List: Iron Man 3, Man of Steel, Monsters University, Elysium, We’re The Millers, Fast & Furious 6,The Great Gatsby, and Now You See Me.
Movies I Wanted to See But Didn’t: Fruitvale Station, The Way, Way Back, World War Z, The Conjuring, and Much Ado About Nothing.
Elysium Review
In 2009 director Neill Blomkamp blew everyone away with his debut film District 9. It was a sci-fi action film had something to say but did so subtly. The world in which the film took place felt like it existed before the cameras showed up and would continue to exist after they left. The special effects were implemented seamlessly making it look like the aliens in the movie truly existed. So when Blomkamp announced that his follow up film would be Elysium, another sic-fi action film that took place on a dilapidated earth and a pristine space station for the rich, I was beyond excited. I could not wait to see what kind of world Blomkamp would take me to next and finally, four years after District 9, I could experience another one of his stories.
To be completely honest, Elysium was a disappointment, especially on the heels of a genuinely great movie like District 9. The action is there and the look is there but the feel is off. Gone is the subtle social commentary. Gone is the spectacular world building. Instead we get just a taste of this world when such an interesting place needed to be developed much more. In fact, most of the movie takes place on Earth before finally making it to Elysium in the third act. I feel like I saw no more of Elysium in the movie than I did in a single one of the movie's trailers.
The only person we actually get to meet on Elysium is Secretary Delacourt played horribly by a seemingly confused Jodie Foster. Throughout the length of the movie, Foster constantly changes from one weird accent to another like it's her job. If she would have simply stuck with one weird accent it would be acceptable to assume that the accent is weird because hey, it's 2154 and things in the future are weird right? But no, she changes it for every different scene she's in and it is extremely distracting, pulling me out of the experience multiple times. Besides Foster though, the performances are pretty good with no real standouts, mainly because the plot doesn't really allow any of the characters to develop the way they should.
The action in this film is pretty entertaining mainly because of the futuristic weaponry and the locations. Matt Damon proves yet again that he can be a total bad ass and Sharlto Copley brings a surprisingly threatening villain, Kruger, to the screen to try to take Damon's character Max down. The fight scenes between the two seem pretty awesome but truthfully it was often times very hard to tell what was going on because of the choice to shoot most of these scenes with a very shaky hand-held camera. Half the time I couldn't tell who was throwing who or who was winning the fight.
In the end I felt like Blomkamp was trying to simply replicate the success he had with District 9 by doing, what felt like, the same kind of movie but this time it was far too under-developed. The incredible visuals of this film keep it from failing completely and it is always nice to see some originality but the okay performances and shallow plot really held this movie down. I know I have pretty much only slammed this movie in this review but it is still a pretty good movie. It is definitely an entertaining movie from start to finish and the concept and look of the film are fantastic. Most of the disappointment comes from the feeling that had the script been just a little bit better, this would have been a modern sci-fi classic. Hopefully Elysium is the fluke and not District 9 but only time will tell which is which. I know I certainly have my fingers crossed that Mr. Blomkamp has more District 9's up his sleeve.
6 out of 10
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