Monday, November 10, 2008
Vertigo II: Jimmy Stewart Need Not Apply
...or the ghost of Jimmy Stewart, for that matter.
Alfred Hitchcock's movie Vertigo takes place in and around San Francisco, and chronicles the adventures of Stewart's character trying to track down the woman of his dreams, played by Kim Novak. Unfortunately he's afraid of heights and she isn't.
Good thing Ms. Novak never led him to the site of my current wallpaper.
Makes me a bit woozy, myownself.
Hat tip: digg.
Alfred Hitchcock's movie Vertigo takes place in and around San Francisco, and chronicles the adventures of Stewart's character trying to track down the woman of his dreams, played by Kim Novak. Unfortunately he's afraid of heights and she isn't.
Good thing Ms. Novak never led him to the site of my current wallpaper.
Makes me a bit woozy, myownself.
Hat tip: digg.
Labels: Movies, San Francisco, wallpaper
Friday, November 23, 2007
A Musical Interlude with Phil
I joined the zombies over at WalMart this morning at 4:00am for the feeding frenzy known as Black Friday/post-Thanksgiving shopping. Walked away with a new digital camera. The Kodak Z710.
Decent pictures -- Phil lost one of his top front teeth on Tuesday (and based on the angle of the remaining one, it won't be in there for long), here's how that looks.
The big selling point on the camera, however, was the 30 frames-per-second video with sound. It's not full-fledged camcorder quality, but it's good. Good enough to commit this musical interlude to posterity: Fanfare from the Common Phil. (YouTube has tweaked the sound some. If you have an onboard equalizer, pump up the bass to adjust for the Donald Duck effect...)
Decent pictures -- Phil lost one of his top front teeth on Tuesday (and based on the angle of the remaining one, it won't be in there for long), here's how that looks.
The big selling point on the camera, however, was the 30 frames-per-second video with sound. It's not full-fledged camcorder quality, but it's good. Good enough to commit this musical interlude to posterity: Fanfare from the Common Phil. (YouTube has tweaked the sound some. If you have an onboard equalizer, pump up the bass to adjust for the Donald Duck effect...)
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Books, Marvelous Books
Please sir, may I have some more...
Soitenly! <nyuk, nyuk>
I was remiss last week not to point out that y'all should check out Katy Popa's book To Dance in the Desert. It was part of the CFBA tour and I blew it. Check out the trailer, too.
(And don't miss this post at Katy's blog: Free the Jena Six. Makes me stinkin' mad...)
Book Two-oh to check out is Tony Hines' debut follow-up: The Dead Whisper On. On what do they whisper? Thursday? Empty stomachs? Marble ballroom floors? Guess you'll have to get the book.
And be sure to hunt down all the secrets in the hijacked Dead Whisper On website. (Very fun site, reminded me of the Lemony Snicket VFD conspiracy, but without the Baudelaire triplets.) Did I mention there were prizes? Well there are. Enjoy!
Book Three-oh is a graphic novel -- actually, a movie of a graphic novel. 300 is amazing to watch. Even if you're not the world's biggest Gerard Butler fan. (Hi Mir! Gotta admit, he sure is hunky.) Stylized and graphic violence and gore and sensuality and battle rhinos. But awesome (even if the battle rhino only gets a dozen seconds or so of screen time).
And if you've got a book recommendation, friend Angie's looking for 'em
Soitenly! <nyuk, nyuk>
I was remiss last week not to point out that y'all should check out Katy Popa's book To Dance in the Desert. It was part of the CFBA tour and I blew it. Check out the trailer, too.
(And don't miss this post at Katy's blog: Free the Jena Six. Makes me stinkin' mad...)
Book Two-oh to check out is Tony Hines' debut follow-up: The Dead Whisper On. On what do they whisper? Thursday? Empty stomachs? Marble ballroom floors? Guess you'll have to get the book.
And be sure to hunt down all the secrets in the hijacked Dead Whisper On website. (Very fun site, reminded me of the Lemony Snicket VFD conspiracy, but without the Baudelaire triplets.) Did I mention there were prizes? Well there are. Enjoy!
Book Three-oh is a graphic novel -- actually, a movie of a graphic novel. 300 is amazing to watch. Even if you're not the world's biggest Gerard Butler fan. (Hi Mir! Gotta admit, he sure is hunky.) Stylized and graphic violence and gore and sensuality and battle rhinos. But awesome (even if the battle rhino only gets a dozen seconds or so of screen time).
And if you've got a book recommendation, friend Angie's looking for 'em
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Mooch Off Brenda Coulter Week Continues
On Sunday friend Jen Tiszai mooched a "hugging for men" video from other friend, Brenda Coulter. Today I'm keeping the trend alive (all the cool kids are doing it) by poaching from her post about a Disneyfied PSA on copyright/fair use.
A Fair(y) Use Tale
Brenda linked directly to the Fair Use Project site at Stanford that produced the video. That didn't play too well for me, so I've linked to YouTube. (site link above takes you to the original vid.)
I may have mentioned it before, but I'm 14-year (with optional 14-year extension) copyright kind of guy. The Framers of the Constitution got that one (like they got most things) right.
A Fair(y) Use Tale
Brenda linked directly to the Fair Use Project site at Stanford that produced the video. That didn't play too well for me, so I've linked to YouTube. (site link above takes you to the original vid.)
I may have mentioned it before, but I'm 14-year (with optional 14-year extension) copyright kind of guy. The Framers of the Constitution got that one (like they got most things) right.
Labels: Brenda Coulter, Friends, Humor, Movies
Monday, May 21, 2007
Silver Screen Gauntlet, Dallas Edition
A friend of mine further south in Texas has challenged me to watch three (potentially five) movies that inform her writing:
I challenged her to:
She's officially started Shaun. I've finished Fried Green Tomatoes. Always a pleasure to see Mary Stuart Masterson, who I've crushed on since the '80s. I can't think of an actress whose passing I've felt as strongly as Jessica Tandy's. (On the guys' side that would be Ossie Davis.)
I probably won't get to either of the others until after my trip next week, but I'm looking forward to them. My friend Angie's done quite well this year with stories in Infuze and another upcoming in Issue 3 of Relief (pre-order now!). A lot of that, I know, is hard and persistent work. But I see some FGT in the stories of hers I've read, too; so it's interesting to see that influence coming into play.
Got a movie that's influenced your career, writing or otherwise? Can't commit to seeing it (though I'll try -- as long as it doesn't feature Julia Roberts), but feel free to share with the group.
- Fried Green Tomatoes
- A Love Song for Bobby Long
- Bastard out of Carolina
(The Color Purple or Places in the Heart may substitute for BooC, since the local Blockbuster didn't have that stocked last time I was in)
I challenged her to:
She's officially started Shaun. I've finished Fried Green Tomatoes. Always a pleasure to see Mary Stuart Masterson, who I've crushed on since the '80s. I can't think of an actress whose passing I've felt as strongly as Jessica Tandy's. (On the guys' side that would be Ossie Davis.)
I probably won't get to either of the others until after my trip next week, but I'm looking forward to them. My friend Angie's done quite well this year with stories in Infuze and another upcoming in Issue 3 of Relief (pre-order now!). A lot of that, I know, is hard and persistent work. But I see some FGT in the stories of hers I've read, too; so it's interesting to see that influence coming into play.
Got a movie that's influenced your career, writing or otherwise? Can't commit to seeing it (though I'll try -- as long as it doesn't feature Julia Roberts), but feel free to share with the group.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
The Advantage of Low Expectations
Phil and I had a big day today. Mongolian Grill after church. Haircut for him after lunch. Then to the $1.50 theater for Flushed Away. I had high hopes for lunch and the haircut, hopes that were met or exceeded. The movie, though, not so much--so I was pleasantly surprised.
It's not a great movie, but it has some fun moments. The singing slugs, for instance. Most things with Whitey the sewer rat. Everything with the frog mime. The rest? Pretty much, meh.
Still, not a waste of a buck-fifty. Phil had a blast and that's worth at least the three we paid to get in.
It's not a great movie, but it has some fun moments. The singing slugs, for instance. Most things with Whitey the sewer rat. Everything with the frog mime. The rest? Pretty much, meh.
Still, not a waste of a buck-fifty. Phil had a blast and that's worth at least the three we paid to get in.
Labels: Movies
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Cars Easter Egg
Phil got Cars on DVD for Christmas. We just finished watching it and were going to watch the "Mater and the Ghostlight" bonus cartoon when we noticed a strange thing on the menu screen. If you want to find the Easter Egg for yourself, go check out the main title menu (don't know if you have to finish watching the movie first or not). I'll throw the secret in the comments for the lazybones in the group...
Labels: Movies
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Celebrate the Season, Ralphie-Style
I'll admit I've never seen the movie A Christmas Story. One of my sisters bought it for us for Christmas a few years back, but to date Dina hasn't consented to let it be played in the home DVD player. Or a computer DVD drive. Or the car DVD player. I think were I take the DVD and watch it at a remote location on my PowerBook I would not be able to admit, publicly or privately, that I had watched the movie. Phil would find himself in the library doing "alternate study" were the film to be shown at school.
She does not like it, Sam I Am.
But from what I gather there's a boy, Ralphie, who wants a BB gun, but his folks are afraid he'll shoot his eye out. And there's some kind of mannequin leg lamp. I think there's a tongue-stuck-to-a-frozen-flagpole bit, too. Chevy Chase is not in the movie. (But we can't watch that film, either.)
Dina, as far as I know, would prefer that Ralphie get the gun and then shoot himself in the eye. Off-screen, of course, and not necessarily in the eye. A bang. The twang of a ricochet. A satisfying Ow! Which is why I think I'm safe in sending you to dontshootyoureyeout.com. A game where Ralphie-boy finds himself with a Red Wrangler Authentic Pump Action Saddle Carbine -- a knock-off of the Daisy Red Ryder 200-shot Carbine Action Air Rifle Ralphie (according to the IMDB) wanted. Only holds ten shots, but you can get more ammo for good shooting (1,000 points). Pump the gun (hit spacebar) up to three times. More power means greater likelihood of a high score, but also increases the possibility of shooting yourself in the eye. (No fair turning your back to the BB. Any "accidental contact" loses you the points for that shot.)
My high score is in the 24,000 range. Two "accidents." How well can you do? (presuming, of course, that your goal isn't that satisfying Ow!)
via digg.com
This blog post has been read and approved by Dina, who recognizes its exaggerated nature and comedic intent. Were I to watch the movie off-site no harm would come to me; Phil would be doing independent study in the library because 94 minutes of instruction time is too precious to fritter away on a movie. Yes, fritter. I can "Bah Humbug!" too.
[just got a 75-bouncer, cycled through the million-point scoreboard several times; full load of ammo]
She does not like it, Sam I Am.
But from what I gather there's a boy, Ralphie, who wants a BB gun, but his folks are afraid he'll shoot his eye out. And there's some kind of mannequin leg lamp. I think there's a tongue-stuck-to-a-frozen-flagpole bit, too. Chevy Chase is not in the movie. (But we can't watch that film, either.)
Dina, as far as I know, would prefer that Ralphie get the gun and then shoot himself in the eye. Off-screen, of course, and not necessarily in the eye. A bang. The twang of a ricochet. A satisfying Ow! Which is why I think I'm safe in sending you to dontshootyoureyeout.com. A game where Ralphie-boy finds himself with a Red Wrangler Authentic Pump Action Saddle Carbine -- a knock-off of the Daisy Red Ryder 200-shot Carbine Action Air Rifle Ralphie (according to the IMDB) wanted. Only holds ten shots, but you can get more ammo for good shooting (1,000 points). Pump the gun (hit spacebar) up to three times. More power means greater likelihood of a high score, but also increases the possibility of shooting yourself in the eye. (No fair turning your back to the BB. Any "accidental contact" loses you the points for that shot.)
My high score is in the 24,000 range. Two "accidents." How well can you do? (presuming, of course, that your goal isn't that satisfying Ow!)
via digg.com
This blog post has been read and approved by Dina, who recognizes its exaggerated nature and comedic intent. Were I to watch the movie off-site no harm would come to me; Phil would be doing independent study in the library because 94 minutes of instruction time is too precious to fritter away on a movie. Yes, fritter. I can "Bah Humbug!" too.
[just got a 75-bouncer, cycled through the million-point scoreboard several times; full load of ammo]
Labels: Flash Games, Movies
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Barnyard: Better Than I Expected
Took Phil out to the cheap theaters this afternoon. After a few months of little to nothing for kids, all the summer toons have landed there. Cars and Over the Hedge we saw first run, leaving Barnyard and The Ant Bully as possibilities. I wasn't really looking forward to either, so I threw in Superman Returns as a third-way choice.
He went with Barnyard.
From the ads, I was expecting the typical authoritarian father/screw-up son film, sort of like The Great Santini on Bovine Growth Hormone. Then the dad died and it turned into The Lion King with udders.
Actually, it wasn't that bad (they passed on the one scene they could've had the dad come back as the advice-dispensing face in the moon). Predictible plot, sure; some of the best lines (boy tipping!) spoiled by the trailers, yeah -- but there were still a few surprises both in plot and dialogue.
I've been working with Phil on recognizing that cartoon characters often have the voices of real-life actors (hey, that cat in Shrek 2 is the dad from Spy Kids). Phil recognized that the voice of Pip the Mouse was the same as Sheen's on Jimmy Neutron (Sheen, I fear, is "real" to Phil ... oh dear).
Final verdict? Could've used more cowbell, but otherwise a pretty good film.
He went with Barnyard.
From the ads, I was expecting the typical authoritarian father/screw-up son film, sort of like The Great Santini on Bovine Growth Hormone. Then the dad died and it turned into The Lion King with udders.
Actually, it wasn't that bad (they passed on the one scene they could've had the dad come back as the advice-dispensing face in the moon). Predictible plot, sure; some of the best lines (boy tipping!) spoiled by the trailers, yeah -- but there were still a few surprises both in plot and dialogue.
I've been working with Phil on recognizing that cartoon characters often have the voices of real-life actors (hey, that cat in Shrek 2 is the dad from Spy Kids). Phil recognized that the voice of Pip the Mouse was the same as Sheen's on Jimmy Neutron (Sheen, I fear, is "real" to Phil ... oh dear).
Final verdict? Could've used more cowbell, but otherwise a pretty good film.
Labels: Movies
