Category: movies
The Good, Bad and Ugly of Movie Downloading
If you are thinking about trying one of the movie download services (as I am), first read this review by David Pogue of the NY Times:
In fact, though, the Internet movie download era is more distant than pundits think, for four colossal reasons …
The Good, Bad and Ugly of Movie Downloading
Pogue projects that Apple will be the first to deliver a good user experience. But that the day is not here yet.
amazing 3D technology is here already
Check this post on 3D electronics:
… stunning examples of cutting edge technology which is already reality today or will become reality in 2008.
I have seen the future. And it is 3D.
When I was a young man, Gord Starchuk introduced me to a hip Irish Band. Their Album was called War.
Ever since, I’ve been a big fan of U2.
Bono may be preachy. But in rock music, who’s done more to improve the world? (U2 made it BIG at the same time as Bruce Springstein. But what’s Bruce done to change the world?)
I very much recommend you go see the new IMAX film U2 3D.
It’s fantastic. One I’ll include on my very short list of BEST concert movies:
Prince – Sign of the Times
The Band – The Last Waltz
Talking Heads – Stop Making Sense
Neil Young – Heart of Gold
(What am I missing?)
A rave review:
In fact, watching U2 3D—a concert film shot using digital 3-D multicamera technology during the South American leg of the band’s Vertigo tour—projected onto the museum’s giant Imax screen is perhaps the next best thing to actually being within fingers’ reach of the Edge’s ubiquitous wool cap. …
But U2 3D’s true achievement comes less from its cool gimmicks and perfect simulation of an environment than from the effect this optical illusion has on your perception of the band itself: The sensation of physical proximity imparts a newfound feeling of immediacy to the songs, making the delivery of every lyric feel fresh, heartfelt, almost raw. Even if you don’t wholeheartedly buy the politics of the man in the cool shades and blazer, when Bono belts out “Sunday Bloody Sunday” onscreen, it’s like falling in love all over again with the band. Goosebumps included.
At times you feel you’re in a hologram. You can reach arms length and clean the smudge off Bono’s famous glasses. The potential for 3D technology is mind boggling.
Bono’s self-admittedly only an average vocalist. But Edge is one of greatest, innovative guitar stylists ever.
Vince Vaughn – Wild West Comedy Show
Saw a preview of a new feature film to be released Feb. 8th. Surprisingly good.
In this documentary, the show’s emcee, Vince Vaughn, and four stand-up comedians hand-picked by Vaughn, travel the country and perform in 30 cities. This film documents the interactions on and off stage along the way.
… In the spirit of the old west variety shows, Vaughn played host to the ensemble of comedians and performed improvisational sketches with surprise celebrity and musical guests.
… a rare opportunity to experience Vaughn and his team as bring their unique styles and perspectives to regional audiences throughout Western, Southern and Midwestern states. Through rousing on-stage performances and behind-the-scenes interviews, the engaging grass roots documentary breaks down the true essence of each comedian’s life altering experiences and the personal and professional challenges that will unite four comics, one movie star and legions of fans from Hollywood to the Heartland.
The highlight for me were clips of two comedians:
John Caparulo Bret Ernst
In fact, Bret was at the preview showing in San Francisco. He answered questions from the very appreciative audience after the screening.
Normally I am no great fan of stand-up comedy. But this is pretty good.
Disclaimer: Vince Vaughn conceived and funded this project, filling it with his personal friends. But there is not much Vince in the movie.
Click PLAY or watch the trailer on YouTube:
Banff Film Festival World Tour
I posted the 2007 Award Winners on my hiking blog.
In Calgary, the World Tour arrives Jan 15-20, 2008. And some smaller version is scheduled for Apr 5-6th.
Tickets available from MEC Calgary
Calgary, January 15 – 20, 2008
Evening shows each night plus a matinee on SaturdayOutdoor Adventure Show
Highlights from the 2006/07 Tour please note — these are not full length screenings
Round-up Centre , Stampede Park
April 5 & 6, 2008
Holly Hunter rocks
Just saw Holly Hunter in the new TV show Saving Grace.
She’s awesome, as always. One of my favourite actors.
This time a hard-drinking, bad ass detective. And flirty. Like CRASH flirty.
Hunter’s first starring role in films came in 1987’s Raising Arizona. That year, she also starred in Broadcast News, for which she earned an Oscar nomination for the Best Actress. In 1993, she won the Best Female Performance Prize at the Cannes Film Festival and the Best Actress Oscar for The Piano and showcased her skill with the piano by playing all the elaborate pieces on the score herself. That year, Hunter was also nominated for Best Supporting Actress for The Firm.
In 2004, she earned another Best Supporting Actress nomination for Thirteen and voiced a star role (Helen Parr/Elastigirl) in the animated film The Incredibles. Hunter has also appeared in several television films and has earned two Emmys. She is currently starring in and producing Saving Grace, a crime series on TNT portraying an Oklahoma City Police Department detective.
Rosie O’Donnell posted this photo on flickr
Battlestar Galactica: Razor – strong women
The only two TV shows I follow religiously are The Colbert Show and Battlestar Galactica.
A 2hr flashback special called Razor aired recently. It goes on sale (somewhere) on DVD on the 6th.
I have some criticisms of Battlestar. (It’s “Hollywood” enough to have explosions make noise in the vacuum of space.)
But there’s no other TV show in history that has such strong, complex female characters. Women completely overpower the male actors.
Razor is the best yet. They should study it at film school.
Michelle Forbes plays unforgettable military psychotic Admiral Helena Cain:
Cain later made a name for herself as a smart and ambitious officer in the Colonial Fleet. She was something of a rising star: Commander William Adama later remarks that she was promoted “to Rear Admiral over half the Commanders on the list”.
Prior to the destruction of the Twelve Colonies, Cain’s flagship, the Battlestar Pegasus, was docked at the Scorpion Fleet Shipyards for a major refit. The refit team included a civilian network analyst, Gina Inviere, with whom Cain initiated a lesbian relationship. At the time of the attack, Admiral Cain, like many of her crew, was preparing to leave the ship on shore leave. The initial Cylon strike destroyed five Colonial vessels in Pegasus’ immediate vicinity and severely damaged the Pegasus herself, killing 700 crew members. In a desperate gamble, Admiral Cain ordered a “blind jump” that took the Pegasus out of the combat zone. The stress of losing so many crew members appears to have contributed to Admiral Cain’s later extreme behaviour and possible alcoholism.
Even more fascinating is Stephanie Chaves-Jacobsen, a Portuguese Chinese Norwegian English Aussie, born in Hong Kong. She has degrees in philosophy and English literature.
She plays Kendra Shaw, a smart, tough warrior ethically torn by the commands given by Cain. But who obeys. And who rises rapidly in the military hierarchy.
She numbs her pain with drugs.
OK, I want to buy this special as a download. …
Oops — NBC yanked it off iTunes in a pricing dispute. Oops — it’s not available on NBC.com …
Ah, NBC will make it available from Hulu.com … Oops — Hulu is in Beta, AND not available for Mac.
Oh, well. I don’t want to, but I can buy the DVD from NBC. Mail it as a Christmas gift to my empowered women friends.
Oops —
Never mind, if NBC doesn’t want my business, I know how to get their product. Without all the roadblocks to commerce.
Do you see why I am so critical of old media?
Banff Mountain Film Festival WORLD TOUR
I love this event.
The Banff Mountain Film Festival is on the road across North America and around the world. Whether you are an experienced mountaineer or an armchair adventurer, this event is for everyone. Don’t miss the excitement!
The Tour Schedule is linked from the home page – World Tour: Mountain Culture at The Banff Centre
The event sponsors are prominently mentioned — OK, it’s a commercial — in the second half of the video. But it’s still worth watching. This is the kind of TV commercial I like.
Click PLAY or watch the promo trailer on YouTube.
Calgary: January 15 – 20, 2008 and April 5 & 6, 2008
(via besthike.com)
movie – Mr. Brooks
A film starring Kevin Costner and Demi Moore. …
Is this 1997?
Or 2007?
It has the difficult-for-me-to-remember title Mr. Brooks.
But when I saw it also featured William Hurt, I suddenly got interested. He’s one of the best and most fascinating actors working today. I love all his movies — except the one for which he won the Academy Award, Kiss of the Spider Woman.
For Hurt, I saw the movie. It is excellent and I’m still thinking about it.
Costner and Moore were terrific too. (Kevin Costner makes a much better villain than hero.)
William Hurt steals every scene he is in, playing the challenging role of Costner’s invisible, enthusiastically sadistic alter ego, Marshall.
Thumb’s UP.
trailer – Apple
By the way, Into the Wild (my review on BestHike) included William Hurt in a minor role.
Rick McCharles 