Did anyone see Radiohead on Conan last week?
They were amazing.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
I think that it is an interesting time in the NBA. The Sun's, the Nugget's and the Maverick's are all headed for shake ups and they all fell short of winning the title that they were built for. The Sun's and the Mav's especially remind me of the early '90's Trailblazer's who were solid and so close to making it happen, but ultimately couldn't win the big one. Do these teams quickly rebuild or will it take 5-6 years or so like it had with the Blazer's the last two times they almost made it. One thing is for sure, rebuilding in the West will be difficult for any team the next couple of years with so many good young teams these oldies could be done for a while.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Gas Prices Hit All Time High In Oregon!
I just paid 3.51 a gallon on the way home, and local news reports that it could get to $8 a gallon. Which sounds reasonable since the cost of living has also gone up 400% during the Bush administration. Oh wait, gas is the only commodity that has increased at that rate? Weird.
I just paid 3.51 a gallon on the way home, and local news reports that it could get to $8 a gallon. Which sounds reasonable since the cost of living has also gone up 400% during the Bush administration. Oh wait, gas is the only commodity that has increased at that rate? Weird.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
I love Charlie Chaplin
I also love Buster Keaton, so don't get me wrong I'm an equal opportunity lover of silent film comedians. I even have a Harold Llyod film recorded on my DVR right now so I may soon have more love to spread around.
I watched City Lights recently, and was truly smitten with this silent film star all over again. Chaplin has such incredible comedic timing. When I think of modern comedy and what it now takes to be funny in a movie, I am saddened that no one carries this torch of smart, physical comedy. There are physical comedians, I think of Jim Carrey's Ace Ventura trying to be stealth while dancing on of a roll of bubble wrap or the football play that Ace physically rewinds and plays again in slow motion. It's not that a market doesn't exist for these guys its just that they are truly special and there are not that many of them around. I guess we should just cherish these gems when they are captured on screen. The boxing scene in City Lights is probably one of the funniest things I have seen in a movie, and every time I watch another Chaplin or Keaton film I am amazed at the timelessness of the laugh that has been and will always be enjoyed by those who watch these films.
I also love Buster Keaton, so don't get me wrong I'm an equal opportunity lover of silent film comedians. I even have a Harold Llyod film recorded on my DVR right now so I may soon have more love to spread around.
I watched City Lights recently, and was truly smitten with this silent film star all over again. Chaplin has such incredible comedic timing. When I think of modern comedy and what it now takes to be funny in a movie, I am saddened that no one carries this torch of smart, physical comedy. There are physical comedians, I think of Jim Carrey's Ace Ventura trying to be stealth while dancing on of a roll of bubble wrap or the football play that Ace physically rewinds and plays again in slow motion. It's not that a market doesn't exist for these guys its just that they are truly special and there are not that many of them around. I guess we should just cherish these gems when they are captured on screen. The boxing scene in City Lights is probably one of the funniest things I have seen in a movie, and every time I watch another Chaplin or Keaton film I am amazed at the timelessness of the laugh that has been and will always be enjoyed by those who watch these films.
Pan & Scan, I Hate You.
Let me clarify, Whomever invented the idea of pan & scan, I hate you sir/ma'am. Pan & Scan is what television producers have done to kill movies from the inception of the idiot box until a few years ago when some genius decided it was a good idea to stretch televisions out to a more eye pleasing dimension. Pan & Scan refers to the concept of taking a film shot for the wide screen and cropping and/or squeezing the image to fit inside the more square confines of the TV screen. I am not here to drop math on you and use terms like 16:9, but I will say that when I recorded Steven Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind from AMC I thought they would have the decency to broadcast the film in the original format that the director shot and intended it to be seen in.
They did not.
I would say that about 65-75% of the film has this grinding pan from one side of the frame to another, especially annoying on any already existing camera movement. I found the whole experience off putting and degrading to the film watching experience. I am disappointed that through my trek of AFI's 100 greatest films to have not truly experienced Close Encounters as the film Spielberg had intended to show. AMC stands for American Movie Classics, so please continue to show classics, but give us proper presentation and while you're at it how about less commercials, most of which are only promoting your own channel.
Psst.. We're already watching your channel.
Turner Classic Movies is where its at anyhow, better movies, no commercials, and properly formated movies. Thanks Ted Turner.
Let me clarify, Whomever invented the idea of pan & scan, I hate you sir/ma'am. Pan & Scan is what television producers have done to kill movies from the inception of the idiot box until a few years ago when some genius decided it was a good idea to stretch televisions out to a more eye pleasing dimension. Pan & Scan refers to the concept of taking a film shot for the wide screen and cropping and/or squeezing the image to fit inside the more square confines of the TV screen. I am not here to drop math on you and use terms like 16:9, but I will say that when I recorded Steven Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind from AMC I thought they would have the decency to broadcast the film in the original format that the director shot and intended it to be seen in.
They did not.
I would say that about 65-75% of the film has this grinding pan from one side of the frame to another, especially annoying on any already existing camera movement. I found the whole experience off putting and degrading to the film watching experience. I am disappointed that through my trek of AFI's 100 greatest films to have not truly experienced Close Encounters as the film Spielberg had intended to show. AMC stands for American Movie Classics, so please continue to show classics, but give us proper presentation and while you're at it how about less commercials, most of which are only promoting your own channel.
Psst.. We're already watching your channel.
Turner Classic Movies is where its at anyhow, better movies, no commercials, and properly formated movies. Thanks Ted Turner.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Thursday, April 10, 2008
I am addicted to Red Bull. I don't know when exactly it happened, but if I smell the stuff my heart rate jumps and I start thinking about when and where I can get my next fix. I'll even drink RockStar or Full Throttle or the one from the dollar tree. Look for more on this topic soon. I have to do some research to get to the root of the problem.
Sunday, April 06, 2008
R I P
Charlton Heston
Passed Saturday at the age of 84.
If you have not seen a film starring Charlton Heston in a while, do yourself the favor and enjoy one soon. His presence on screen as a leading man in cinema is undeniable. I recommend Ben Hur, Touch of Evil, or The Greatest Show on Earth. As a matter of fact, go to the video store, because that would be a perfect weekend of movie watching.
Charlton Heston
Passed Saturday at the age of 84.
If you have not seen a film starring Charlton Heston in a while, do yourself the favor and enjoy one soon. His presence on screen as a leading man in cinema is undeniable. I recommend Ben Hur, Touch of Evil, or The Greatest Show on Earth. As a matter of fact, go to the video store, because that would be a perfect weekend of movie watching.
My Better is Better than Your Better
I catch myself at times being a bit of a label snob. I tell myself that I get what I pay for, and that quality costs money. That is except for Nike. I buy Nike stuff (not exclusively) because I am a sucker for their advertising. Media Studies was my major in college, so this is what I spent my youth learning to immune myself to, and yet every time Nike rolls out a new ad campaign I am ready to buy some swooshed shoes and go train for something. I cannot think of another companies' ads that inspire brand consumption like Nike. A lot of slick ads can catch my attention with sly cleverness, but I usually end up just buying the music from the ad on the internet (hint: they weren't selling music). Nike has through the years made commercials that have stuck in my concessness and inspired me. My two favs are the Winter Olympics ad that used match cutting to portray various Olympic events with kids playing ie. a kid ridding a bike seemlessly cut with a speed skater on a track. The other was during the "We Love Runner's" campaign when a boombox weilding fan followed a guy jogging down the street blasting "eye of the tiger". Fantastic.
Well the newest campaign is a quickly cut montage of in your face trash talking from a bunch of today's best athlete's including my favorite... Mr. Brandon Roy. I have to say though that my favorite line comes from Sonics rookie Kevin Durant when he states that his fast and his quick just had a baby named speedy. Once again this onslaught of pure adrenaline has readied me to work... For what I am not sure, but I better get going because my better isn't really better than anyones better. Yet.
I catch myself at times being a bit of a label snob. I tell myself that I get what I pay for, and that quality costs money. That is except for Nike. I buy Nike stuff (not exclusively) because I am a sucker for their advertising. Media Studies was my major in college, so this is what I spent my youth learning to immune myself to, and yet every time Nike rolls out a new ad campaign I am ready to buy some swooshed shoes and go train for something. I cannot think of another companies' ads that inspire brand consumption like Nike. A lot of slick ads can catch my attention with sly cleverness, but I usually end up just buying the music from the ad on the internet (hint: they weren't selling music). Nike has through the years made commercials that have stuck in my concessness and inspired me. My two favs are the Winter Olympics ad that used match cutting to portray various Olympic events with kids playing ie. a kid ridding a bike seemlessly cut with a speed skater on a track. The other was during the "We Love Runner's" campaign when a boombox weilding fan followed a guy jogging down the street blasting "eye of the tiger". Fantastic.
Well the newest campaign is a quickly cut montage of in your face trash talking from a bunch of today's best athlete's including my favorite... Mr. Brandon Roy. I have to say though that my favorite line comes from Sonics rookie Kevin Durant when he states that his fast and his quick just had a baby named speedy. Once again this onslaught of pure adrenaline has readied me to work... For what I am not sure, but I better get going because my better isn't really better than anyones better. Yet.
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