The best Batman movie since the first, The Dark Knight was everything fans of superhero movies could want. Cast, music, and effects were up to expectations, while the real highlight was the writing behind Ledger’s excellent performance. Comparisons to Empire are deserved, will the next one fare better than other third movies?
Category: Movies
21st Century Game Changers
A post on the Freakonomics blog got me thinking. What inventions have genuinely improved, or even affected, my life. I drew up a list, and decided to constrain it to the 21st century, so things like the cellphone, the VCR, the CD, the ATM, instant messaging, and online banking aren’t on the list. Here they are, and where possible I put the approximate year I adopted them.
Major Improvement to Daily Life
- Tivo (2000) – Definitely #1 on the list. I don’t consider myself a couch potato, but this completely unshackled me from the network’s arbitrary scheduling. It also make more shows enjoyable, or even watchable, by cutting out commercials.
- RSS/Google Reader (2002, 2005) – RSS enabled me to keep track of a much broader set of sources, and Google Reader took RSS to the next level by making my subscriptions and unread articles available anywhere (including my phone).
- Smartphone (2006) – I’m far more organized now that I have my full contact list and calendar on me at all times, as well as being backed up, plus last-resort internet access is a nice bonus.
- TV shows on DVD (2003) – There’s now a new category of TV show, the ones I don’t even bother to Tivo and just wait for the DVD.
Minor Quality-of-Life Improvement
- Netflix (2002) – Like they say, no more late fees.
- Wifi (2004) – Adopted later than most geeks, has proven useful in many ways.
- Wikipedia (2003?) – Coming from someone who used to read the encyclopedia for fun, Wikipedia is like crack.
- Text Messaging (2006) – Late to the game here. Enables a new layer of communcation and makes me both more responsive and more proactive.
- GPS (2007) – I waited a while for the price dip, and now consider GPS a mandatory item for my car.
- mp3 player/iPod (2002/2004) – No more discman and CD cases is a good thing.
- Digital Camera/DSLR (2001, 2004, 2007) – I’m too lazy to deal with film. I got my first digital in 2001, my first nice one in 2004, and my first digital SLR in 2007, each a vast improvement over the previous.
- Firefox (2004) – Firefox has gone from lightweight security-minded browser to bloated, customizable security-minded browser, both of which I’ve found value in.
- Eclipse (2002) – Java wins in my book because of Eclipse. Having a program that thinks for you enables you to think about the real problems.
- Launchcast (now Yahoo! Music) (2002) – One of the earliest and still one of the best customized music services. If you’re not sold on Pandora and Last.fm it might be because they are are inferior versions of Launch.
(supposedly) Major Advances, Adopted by Me, Negligible Impact
- Social Networks (2004) – I use LinkedIn as a sort of resume-light, and myspace to keep up with my sisters, and facebook as the site du jour, but they are all just curious diversions.
- OS X (2005) – Scores high on sexiness. Scores low on stability & usability
- XP/Vista (2003) – Windows 2000 made computers better and more useful. XP and Vista seem to just make them slower.
Major Advances, Unadopted by Me
- VoIP/Skype – I don’t use landlines.
- Fastlane/Speedpass – I still find the ease with which someone can track me disturbing, plus the lines these days are usually shorter at the cash lines.
There’s probably some that I missed, or just weren’t important enough to remember. My main question is, what’s next to get on the list, and where on the list will it end up?
52 Word Review: Eastern Promises
Eastern Promises, an exercise in minimalist plot, succeeds due to delicate acting and stoic directing. It’s got the villian, anti-hero, idealist, and the fairly obvious Twist, but saves itself from mediocrity by telling only the important parts of the story. Cronenburg’s films succeed because they leave you with questions, not answers.
52 Word Review: 3:10 to Yuma
3:10 to Yuma is a violent Elmore Leonard western, but unfortunately the setting was rather unimportant to the story. Russell Crowe flashed his trademark smirks, and Christian Bale flexed his trademark angst, in a decent, but relatively unremarkable story of redemption. If you’re hankering for a hunk’o’Western, this should do the trick.
52 Word Review: Superbad
Superbad, the newest Apatow -flavored flick, is yet another “high school is ending” teen comedy, but unlike too many of its predecessors, it’s hilarious. The humor actually masks the fact that it’s a well-written, well-paced story, so even if you’re too old to laugh at it, you’ll probably enjoy it.
52 Word Review: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
The fifth Harry Potter book, more thriller than adventure, was the one that I think was ghostwritten, and the movie held true to the book, as usual. The three main actors weren’t nearly as horrible as they are in the previous movies, acting lessons finally? Effects: nice. Story: padding for the series.
52 Word Review: Eagle versus Shark
I went to see Eagle vs. Shark because I think Jemaine Clement is one of those inherently funny people. If you agree, you will probably like it. Otherwise it’s an “offbeat” Napoleon-Dynamite-style romantic comedy from New Zealand. What it lacks in hobbits it makes up for in Awesome clothes and nunchucks.
52 Word Review: Transformers
Transformers was the coolest, silliest movie I’ve seen in a long time. There’s obviously some nostalgia at work here, but it’s a solid, loud, typically-Michael Bay action movie. If you played with the toys as a kid like I did, rest assured, Optimus Prime is still as cool as you remember.
Savage: The Movie
Saw this over at Matt’s LJ, seemed interesting.
IF YOUR LIFE WERE A MOVIE, WHAT WOULD THE SOUNDTRACK BE?
REMEMBER, DON’T CHEAT!
So, here’s how it works:
1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, iPaq etc)
2. Put it on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every question, type the song that’s playing
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button
6. Don’t lie and try to pretend you’re cool…
Note: I skipped the song if the same artist came up again.
Opening Credits: Dr. Dre & Ice Cube – “Natural Born Killaz”
What kind of movie is this going to be?
Waking Up Scene: Susie Van Der Meer – “Somebody Has to Pay”
From the Run Lola Run soundtrack, not a bad choice for a breakfast montage.
Walking Down The Street Scene: House of Pain – “House of Pain Anthem”
This could be funny, fitting or tragic depending on which street we’re talking about.
Car Driving Scene: The Police – “Don’t Stand So Close to Me”
Eh, not a great fit.
High School Flashback Scene: Mr. Mackey – “It’s Easy, Mmkay”
Nice choice here. Life advice, South Park stylee.
Drug Abuse Flashback Scene: Blue Swede – “Hooked on a Feeling”
Bizarre.
Summer/Beach Scene: Blink 182 – “All the Small Things”
Good beach music.
Nostalgic Scene: Insane Clown Posse – “The Neden Game”
Just can’t make this one work.
Bitter, Angry Scene: Nine Inch Nails – “Where is Everybody?”
Few better choices than Nine Inch Nails for bitter music.
Break-up/Throwing Things/Slow Motion Scene: The Dust Brothers – “Psycho Boy Jack”
If you broke up in a run down gas station with flickering flourescent bulbs, this would be a good choice.
Regret Scene: Ahmad – “Back in the Day”
Title works, song doesn’t.
Bar Scene: Air – “The Vagabond”
Harmonica, hand clapping and Beck, sounds like a good bar to me.
Nightclub Scene: Underworld – “Ballet Lane”
It fits if its a laid back club full of people sipping amaretto.
Fight/Action Scene: Green Day – “Basketcase”
Eh, can’t imagine this song causing any fights.
Sad, breakdown scene: Korn – “Lost”
Angsty, gritty, good pick.
Death Scene: Hüsker Dü – “M.I.C.”
Pacifist punk song, bad fit.
Funeral Scene: Moby – “My Weakness”
Kinda sad I guess.
Mourning Scene: Beastie Boys – “Eugene’s Lament”
Probably the best pick of the bunch.
Mellow Scene: Kittie – “Immortal”
Instrumental Kittie song, I guess that passes for mellow.
Dreaming About Someone Scene: Bjork – “Sod Off”
Dreaming about pre-emptively dumping someone.
Sex Scene: Kompressor – “Vitamins are Good”
Bizarre.
Contemplation Scene: Outkast – “Prototype”
Well he says “i think” alot…
Fancy Party: Ministry – “Psalm 69”
Not too fancy.
Realization Scene: 311 – “Fat Chance”
Realizing one of your favorite albums is almost over.
Flashback/Build up Scene: Howlin’ Wolf – “Moanin’ at Midnight”
This song begs for sepia tone.
Chase Scene: Mudvayne – “Nothing to Gain”
Hmm, wouldn’t work for a car chase, maybe a foot chase through the city.
Happy Love Scene: Marilyn Manson – “The Speed of Pain”
Might work with a loose interpretation.
Happy Friend Scene: Cut Chemist meets Shortkut – “No Mistakes in this Number Son”
Not a bad fit.
Closing Credits: Basement Jaxx – “Same Old Show”
Decent credits song.