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Monday, June 17, 2013
Right-wing yahoos meet in Washington, D.C.
At the recent Faith and Freedom Conference in Washington, D.C., the "intellectual" wing of the conservatives came to display their brain power. There was crazy, crazy Herman Cain. Texas Governor Rick Perry who can't tell the difference between Lebanon and Libya. Thank God he did not become President. That kind of mistake gets people killed. Of course, there was right-wing yahoo Sarah Palin. She demonstrated her tolerance by insulting Muslims. Here's Chris Matthews with a piece from Hardball.
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Man of Steel 3D review
In 1978, a film version of the comic book superhero Superman was released. Its slogan was "You'll believe a man can fly." That movie deserved its motto. It was inspiring, and mythic. After some lesser sequels in Superman Three and Four came Superman Returns.(2006) Hardcore fans were disappointed in the last movie and studio Warner decided to reboot the superhero legend in the just released Man of Steel. The question becomes is the newest movie as good as the first one?
Man of Steel starts on the planet Krypton. Scientist Jor-El (Russel Crowe) is warning the ruling council of the impending destruction of the planet due to over mining of the core. Krypton is a truly alien world mixing advanced technology with Romanesque art. General Zod (Michael Shannon) rushes in and stages a coup. Jor-El decides to send his infant son, Kal-El by spaceship to earth with the Codex that contains the DNA. Zod's coup fails but the planet is doomed. Zod and his cohorts are sentenced to a black hole.
Jor-El's son is found by farmers Jonathan Kent (Kevin Costner) and his wife, Martha. (Diane Lane) They name him Clark and raise him, showing him love and teaching morality. Eventually, Jonathan tells Clark of his extraterrestrial origins. As a man (Henry Cavill), Clark works odd jobs while trying to discover what his destiny is. He secretly completes superhero tasks. While investigating an ancient Krypton based ship, reporter Lois Lane (Amy Adams) discovers Clark and his true identity. Meanwhile, Zod escapes and comes to earth to demand the surrender of Kal-El. He also wants the Codex.
Russel Crowe is a better Jor-El than Marlon Brando was in the first Superman movie. That's because he's given more to do but more importantly, he believes in the existence of the character. Initially, Michael Shannon's villain, Zod, is one dimensional until we discover why he wants the Codex. Only, then is this villain fleshed out. Amy Adams as Lois Lane is more than just a love interest for Clark Kent aka Superman. She's the epitome of the serious journalist who is searching for the truth. However, there is no spark between Clark and Lois. She seems interested but Clark lacks passion. Henry Cavill certainly has the body for Superman. There's a shirtless scene that is sure to make women swoon. I'm sure women will say what one female military officer says, "I just think he's kind of hot." He's better off as the human Clark Kent than Superman who comes off as somewhat cold. There's nothing to make one like Clark. Perhaps, it's the absence of friends as photographer Jimmy Olsen is missing from this Superman tale.
Director Zack Snyder does a great job in setting up the action set pieces. Yes, there is fast cutting and jump cuts but he keeps the scenes in logical order. You know what is going on. It's all very exciting. You won't get bored watching this movie.
But Man of Steel is no Superman. Part of the problem is the screenplay by David S. Goyer and Christopher Nolan. Leaping between Superman's childhood, his journeys and the present day sap the movie of much of its energy. Pa Kent telling Clark that maybe he should let a bunch of drowning kids die to hide his identity makes no sense in the creating the moral fabric of Superman. The should have just redid a scene from Superman where Kent tells Clark that he has greater purpose than playing sports. Yes, the Kents did the right thing by hiding his identity but the idea that the world would not understand him takes away from Superman's destiny. There is also a lack of the American mythic quality that the first one had. That's all because of the whole secret identity thing while doing heroic acts. There's no goose bump moments where Clark Kent as Superman saves lives before the big climax action pieces in the end.
The movie also suffers from Hans Zimmer's score. Look, it's okay but is more like musical wallpaper. And you don't get enough of the main theme. The problem is John Williams score for Superman. His main theme or march for that movie describes Superman and is so iconic that you identify the character to the music. It's inspiring. And that original score had nice touches of Aaron Copland for that distinct American quality. After all, Superman is an American myth.
As for seeing this movie in 3D, see it in 2D. Man of Steel 3D is a conversion from 2D. After a very good first twenty minutes in 3D, the movie goes flat. You will forget that 3D version of this movie is in 3D. Part of the problem is that it feels as if the director wasn't thinking in 3D. And 3D conversions cannot capture the angles, nooks and crannies of the real world. The result is that at best the movie has a pop up book effect. But there is no depth or popping out in a picture. This 3D conversion is nothing more than a cash grab. Save your money. Nothing super about this movie's 3D.
Man of Steel is exciting but sullen. It's a joyless exercise in superhero storytelling. The grade is B.
Man of Steel starts on the planet Krypton. Scientist Jor-El (Russel Crowe) is warning the ruling council of the impending destruction of the planet due to over mining of the core. Krypton is a truly alien world mixing advanced technology with Romanesque art. General Zod (Michael Shannon) rushes in and stages a coup. Jor-El decides to send his infant son, Kal-El by spaceship to earth with the Codex that contains the DNA. Zod's coup fails but the planet is doomed. Zod and his cohorts are sentenced to a black hole.
Jor-El's son is found by farmers Jonathan Kent (Kevin Costner) and his wife, Martha. (Diane Lane) They name him Clark and raise him, showing him love and teaching morality. Eventually, Jonathan tells Clark of his extraterrestrial origins. As a man (Henry Cavill), Clark works odd jobs while trying to discover what his destiny is. He secretly completes superhero tasks. While investigating an ancient Krypton based ship, reporter Lois Lane (Amy Adams) discovers Clark and his true identity. Meanwhile, Zod escapes and comes to earth to demand the surrender of Kal-El. He also wants the Codex.
Russel Crowe is a better Jor-El than Marlon Brando was in the first Superman movie. That's because he's given more to do but more importantly, he believes in the existence of the character. Initially, Michael Shannon's villain, Zod, is one dimensional until we discover why he wants the Codex. Only, then is this villain fleshed out. Amy Adams as Lois Lane is more than just a love interest for Clark Kent aka Superman. She's the epitome of the serious journalist who is searching for the truth. However, there is no spark between Clark and Lois. She seems interested but Clark lacks passion. Henry Cavill certainly has the body for Superman. There's a shirtless scene that is sure to make women swoon. I'm sure women will say what one female military officer says, "I just think he's kind of hot." He's better off as the human Clark Kent than Superman who comes off as somewhat cold. There's nothing to make one like Clark. Perhaps, it's the absence of friends as photographer Jimmy Olsen is missing from this Superman tale.
Director Zack Snyder does a great job in setting up the action set pieces. Yes, there is fast cutting and jump cuts but he keeps the scenes in logical order. You know what is going on. It's all very exciting. You won't get bored watching this movie.
But Man of Steel is no Superman. Part of the problem is the screenplay by David S. Goyer and Christopher Nolan. Leaping between Superman's childhood, his journeys and the present day sap the movie of much of its energy. Pa Kent telling Clark that maybe he should let a bunch of drowning kids die to hide his identity makes no sense in the creating the moral fabric of Superman. The should have just redid a scene from Superman where Kent tells Clark that he has greater purpose than playing sports. Yes, the Kents did the right thing by hiding his identity but the idea that the world would not understand him takes away from Superman's destiny. There is also a lack of the American mythic quality that the first one had. That's all because of the whole secret identity thing while doing heroic acts. There's no goose bump moments where Clark Kent as Superman saves lives before the big climax action pieces in the end.
The movie also suffers from Hans Zimmer's score. Look, it's okay but is more like musical wallpaper. And you don't get enough of the main theme. The problem is John Williams score for Superman. His main theme or march for that movie describes Superman and is so iconic that you identify the character to the music. It's inspiring. And that original score had nice touches of Aaron Copland for that distinct American quality. After all, Superman is an American myth.
As for seeing this movie in 3D, see it in 2D. Man of Steel 3D is a conversion from 2D. After a very good first twenty minutes in 3D, the movie goes flat. You will forget that 3D version of this movie is in 3D. Part of the problem is that it feels as if the director wasn't thinking in 3D. And 3D conversions cannot capture the angles, nooks and crannies of the real world. The result is that at best the movie has a pop up book effect. But there is no depth or popping out in a picture. This 3D conversion is nothing more than a cash grab. Save your money. Nothing super about this movie's 3D.
Man of Steel is exciting but sullen. It's a joyless exercise in superhero storytelling. The grade is B.
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Lewis Black takes on new technology
Last night, Lewis Black did another piece in his series for The Daily Show, "Back in Black." This time it was about new technology. Featured today is Google Glass and XBOX One. Black does what I want to say to Microsoft after they made the requirement for the XBOX One users to log into the Internet every 24 hours. Check out his funny piece.
Bill Maher, "Reagan was the original tea partier aka tea bagger"
On Friday's Real Time with Bill Maher, Bill puts out this thought on the last New Rule. Former resident Reagan would fit in with today's Tea Party. I can agree with that. You see Ronald Reagan, who's a big hero to the right, thought socialized medicine was an attack on our freedoms, favored the rich in tax policies and many other things that sound like the tea partiers or tea baggers. Here's Bill Maher's funny and insightful piece courtesy of Mediaite and HBO.
Microsoft "Buy XBOX 360 if you have no Internet"
As I have wrote about yesterday, the new XBOX One will require gamers to check in via the Internet every 24 hours to continue to play video games. And if you have no Internet? Don't want to engage with other gamers over the Internet and play single player games? Have bad connections to the Internet? Tough. According to Micrrsoft, buy the soon to be obsolete XBOX 360 instead.
Really? It seems that Microsoft isn't interested in your choices on how you game. It's telling you how to game. Paul Tassi of Forbes calls their approach "arrogant." And screw the poor. Microsoft is telling you that if you can't afford the Internet then we're not for you. That''s why Sony's Playstation 4 will be the people's machine. It does not require you to connect to the Internet to play video games. Sure, if you don't connect you lose out on DLC, media connections and multiplayer. But you won't be ordered to check in every 24 hours either.
This all reminds me of the Apple Computer ad that had a "1984" theme to it. In it, we see the masses oppressed by a totalitarian state. Then out of nowhere, a healthy athletic, beautiful woman dressed in bright shorts and a Apple jersey, runs down the theater that is showing the dictator broadcasting his message. She hurls a hammer which destroys the screen. The bad guy in that ad was IBM. Now it's Microsoft. And the woman hurling the hammer? Sony.
Really? It seems that Microsoft isn't interested in your choices on how you game. It's telling you how to game. Paul Tassi of Forbes calls their approach "arrogant." And screw the poor. Microsoft is telling you that if you can't afford the Internet then we're not for you. That''s why Sony's Playstation 4 will be the people's machine. It does not require you to connect to the Internet to play video games. Sure, if you don't connect you lose out on DLC, media connections and multiplayer. But you won't be ordered to check in every 24 hours either.
This all reminds me of the Apple Computer ad that had a "1984" theme to it. In it, we see the masses oppressed by a totalitarian state. Then out of nowhere, a healthy athletic, beautiful woman dressed in bright shorts and a Apple jersey, runs down the theater that is showing the dictator broadcasting his message. She hurls a hammer which destroys the screen. The bad guy in that ad was IBM. Now it's Microsoft. And the woman hurling the hammer? Sony.
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Is XBOX One dead on arrival?
Microsoft has launched the XBOX One with a series of blunders. And it looks like Sony's Playstation 4 is about to crush its game console competitor. In video game speak, Playstation 4 looks to "pwn" the XBOX One. And hero of the Halo series, Master Chief (pictured) , may not be able to save XBOX again like he did with the original XBOX. The Huffington Post is already announcing a winner in the game console wars. They say it's the Playstation 4. And I can't say I disagree with them. Let me say first that I'm a XBOX 360 guy. After playing both the Playstation 2 and XBOX, I went to the XBOX 360 because of the Halo video game series. Yep, I had to conclude the story of Master Chief. Anyway, after hearing about the new XBOX One, I'm beginning to let go of my love for the Master Chief. Here's why.
1. Price. At this point, the XBOX One will sell for $499. The Playstation 4 will sell for $399. I'm not made of money. And the added features like the Kinect? I don't use it. And I play with a bunch of hardcore gamers. They don't use it. What about it becoming an all in one entertainment system? Nice idea but gamers get their TV from multiple sources like cable and satellite. It would be better if they made the console, a PC like machine that could allow users to easily put a keyboard to it and allow them to use it as a PC. Regardless, these are hard economic times. This round goes to the Playstation 4.
2. No backwards XBOX 360 game compatibility. You've worked hard to get that "Rolled over" achievement for Grand Theft Auto 4. I mean you've driven your car to the airport and rolled it over and over again. Finally , you got it. Guess what that means for the XBOX One? Absolutely nothing. You see you will not be able to play XBOX 360 games on the XBOX One. The reason is that the two machines are two different types of computer architecture. Okay. But that means your classic XBOX 360 games are now obsolete. If you wanted to revisit Liberty City, the adventures of Shepard in Mass Effect or the Master Chief in Halo 3, you can't.
But Playstation 4 has the same problem. Yes. Except for one thing. You will be able to play Playstation 3 games on the cloud. (Internet) It might require more money but at least the classic games will be available. Round Two goes to Playstation 4.
3. You must connect to the Internet every 24 hours. In a WTF moment, Microsoft has announced that you must connect to the Internet every 24 hours to continue to play games. Okay, who's running things at Microsoft, Adolf Hitler? This is the most draconian and idiotic idea that a business has announced in a long time. I can't even remember anything close. What it means is that if you are a poor gamer and can't afford the Internet, you will be out of luck. If you're a busy gamer and forget to go online for over a day, too bad for you. You will have to jump through hoops to get back to gaming. If you like being dictated to, XBOX One is your machine. You might also like the future of Terminator. But I kid. That makes Playstation 4, the people's video game console. Round Three goes to Playstation 4. It sweeps the series.
The way of Betamax.
Listen up Microsoft. Nothing that you've announced at E3 is getting me motivated to save my money and buy the XBOX One. On the contrary, I am seriously considering the Playstation 4 as my video game console of choice. If Microsoft doesn't change its ways, the XBOX may go the way of the Betamax video tape.
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
John Oliver of the Daily Show on the NSA wiretapping scandal
John Oliver, reporter of the Daily Show takes over for the Jon Stewart on a temporary basis. And his first story? Possibly the biggest intrusion on the privacy of every American, the NSA's wiretapping scandal. Check out his very funny piece below.
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