Saturday, February 10, 2007
Followup: Give A Moron A Hug
Well I see that the morons did manage to get 2000 people out to form their little Circle Of Power this morning - not the 5000 they were hoping for but frankly better than I would've thought. The News 8 Austin article says they "tried to make a human chain around the perimeter", so I'm assuming that means they didn't quite make it, and a little bit of private property rights and capitalism managed to sneak through and infest the site. Oh well, better luck next time.
Movie Review: Infernal Affairs
Wow, what a great, twisty movie. A police superintendent is trying to take down a mob boss, but the boss has a mole in the police force. Fortunately, the police have a mole in the mob. Each side finds out about the other's mole, and assigns the mole to hunt down themselves. Lots of turns here as each side briefly gains the upper hand, and each mole has to decide on which side their loyalties lie. I haven't seen The Departed yet, which is an American version of this film, but it's on my list, and this film has only made me more interested. And thank goodnees they didn't go with the alternate ending found on the DVD - that would have been horrible. Five stars.
Friday, February 9, 2007
Movie Review: Five Fingers Of Death
Picked this one up blind at the library. This is apparently the film that launched the 70's kung fu craze in America, but it must have just been at the right place at the right time, because this film didn't do much for me. I'm not a huge student of old school martial arts films, but I've seen a few I enjoyed more than this one.
Of course, part of this may be since I'm more of a Jackie Chan fan, and this flick is not of the "goofy student becomes a stud" model that many of Jackie's early movies were. But neither does the lead character here, Chao Chih-hao, have the kind of coiled spring intensity of a Bruce Lee. He's just kind of there, not really showing much intensity anywhere, even in the poses where his fists glow red to show his inner strength. The plot is fairly standard - two schools, one good and one evil, plan to compete in an upcoming tournament, and the evil one tries various tricks to cause the best student for the good school to miss the contest. The good school wins, but at the cost of many of its students and its leader, and the final fight has the hero beat the evil school's champ.
It's all pretty standard and kind of slow in building, at least until the evil school brings in some Japanese assassins. Not much of the tournament itself is shown, which kind of makes the build up to it relatively meaningless. But the final fight, where Chih-hao takes on the evil school henchmen and then the Japanese big boss, is pretty well done. The style here is the old school "men-jumping-on-trampoline" type of fighting, with the sudden switches to bright blue sky in the middle of nighttime fights being the kind of continuity error that brings a smile to my face.
In the end, I suspect this film is more respected for its historical significance than for the film itself, but that may be my relative inexperience with the genre. It probably says something that I recognized the siren sound from Kill Bill here rather than the other way around. But as I said, I'd have to rate this film lower than other films of the same genre, so I'm going with two stars here.
Of course, part of this may be since I'm more of a Jackie Chan fan, and this flick is not of the "goofy student becomes a stud" model that many of Jackie's early movies were. But neither does the lead character here, Chao Chih-hao, have the kind of coiled spring intensity of a Bruce Lee. He's just kind of there, not really showing much intensity anywhere, even in the poses where his fists glow red to show his inner strength. The plot is fairly standard - two schools, one good and one evil, plan to compete in an upcoming tournament, and the evil one tries various tricks to cause the best student for the good school to miss the contest. The good school wins, but at the cost of many of its students and its leader, and the final fight has the hero beat the evil school's champ.
It's all pretty standard and kind of slow in building, at least until the evil school brings in some Japanese assassins. Not much of the tournament itself is shown, which kind of makes the build up to it relatively meaningless. But the final fight, where Chih-hao takes on the evil school henchmen and then the Japanese big boss, is pretty well done. The style here is the old school "men-jumping-on-trampoline" type of fighting, with the sudden switches to bright blue sky in the middle of nighttime fights being the kind of continuity error that brings a smile to my face.
In the end, I suspect this film is more respected for its historical significance than for the film itself, but that may be my relative inexperience with the genre. It probably says something that I recognized the siren sound from Kill Bill here rather than the other way around. But as I said, I'd have to rate this film lower than other films of the same genre, so I'm going with two stars here.
Join Together Redux
There's been a sudden rash of musical reunions announced recently, some of which I'm more interested in than others:
The Who
This one has already occurred - what's left of the band has recently released a new album. I heard the first single from the album on the radio once, and it left such a big impression that I can't remember the name of the song, or even the name of the album. Hold on a minute.
/me checks All Music Guide
The album is called Endless Wire, and the song was apparently "It's Not Enough". I haven't heard anything else off of this album, but Daltrey did seem to be in pretty good voice during their Live 8 performance. On the other hand, the last few Townshend albums I listened to did absolutely nothing for me. It's been a while since his last solo release - maybe he's relocated some inspiration. I'll keep my ears open - my interest factor in this reunion is Mild.
The Police
This reunion has been announced, with the reformed band playing at the Grammys this weekend and a tour to follow. I don't know if they are releasing new music or just touring the old material. I like a lot of the old Police stuff, and I was also liking Sting's solo work until about Ten Summoners Tales. His more recent material though strays too far from the eclectic part of albums like Dream Of The Blue Turtles - they sound more like album-long copies of "Fields Of Gold". Andy Summers has mostly been doing jazz guitar work, some of which I find interesting, some of which drifts too much into the New Age genre. And I don't really know much about Stewart Copeland's solo work, except that he's done a lot of soundtrack work, so I've probably been hearing it without knowing it.
I hope there is new material coming out of this reunion - the last one only managed to produce that lame cover version of "Don't Stand So Close To Me". Hopefully, Andy and Stewart can pull Sting back away from the generic pop rut he's been in. Interest level = High.
Van Halen
Van Halen's decade-long search for a front-man to replace that guy from Van Halen III has led them to hire some ex-radio-talk-show host. Eddie's life has pretty much been a train-wreck, and I don't think anyone's interested in seeing Diamond Dave bring out the spandex. It's been a long time since these guys produced anything of relevance, and I'm not expecting much here. Interest level = Low.
Genesis
This reunion tour has been announced, and apparently will only include Collins, Rutherford and Banks, with no new album. I might be interested if they include some stuff before Invisible Touch. I know everyone slags the Collins era, but I think there's some good stuff on the albums after Gabriel left, but before Invisible Touch, and I'd like to see some of those songs covered. Interest level = Medium.
Pink Floyd
I'm including this one just since the endless rumors about a reunion (with or without Roger Waters) have ramped up a bit since their Live 8 performance. It looks like the official word is still No, and I wouldn't really expect anything. Gilmour just released On An Island, which is a nice enough quiet listen, but not really very Pink Floyd. He doesn't seem to feel a need to return to that genre right now. As for Roger, I'm pretty sure I'm not that interested in anything he has to say anyway. Apparently, he thinks lyrics like "Oh George! Oh George! That Texas education must have fucked you up when you were very small" (from "Leaving Beirut") are clever, creative political commentary. He really thought that this song would affect the 2004 Presidential election? Sheesh.
Since this one ain't happening, my interest level is Irrelevant.
The Who
This one has already occurred - what's left of the band has recently released a new album. I heard the first single from the album on the radio once, and it left such a big impression that I can't remember the name of the song, or even the name of the album. Hold on a minute.
/me checks All Music Guide
The album is called Endless Wire, and the song was apparently "It's Not Enough". I haven't heard anything else off of this album, but Daltrey did seem to be in pretty good voice during their Live 8 performance. On the other hand, the last few Townshend albums I listened to did absolutely nothing for me. It's been a while since his last solo release - maybe he's relocated some inspiration. I'll keep my ears open - my interest factor in this reunion is Mild.
The Police
This reunion has been announced, with the reformed band playing at the Grammys this weekend and a tour to follow. I don't know if they are releasing new music or just touring the old material. I like a lot of the old Police stuff, and I was also liking Sting's solo work until about Ten Summoners Tales. His more recent material though strays too far from the eclectic part of albums like Dream Of The Blue Turtles - they sound more like album-long copies of "Fields Of Gold". Andy Summers has mostly been doing jazz guitar work, some of which I find interesting, some of which drifts too much into the New Age genre. And I don't really know much about Stewart Copeland's solo work, except that he's done a lot of soundtrack work, so I've probably been hearing it without knowing it.
I hope there is new material coming out of this reunion - the last one only managed to produce that lame cover version of "Don't Stand So Close To Me". Hopefully, Andy and Stewart can pull Sting back away from the generic pop rut he's been in. Interest level = High.
Van Halen
Van Halen's decade-long search for a front-man to replace that guy from Van Halen III has led them to hire some ex-radio-talk-show host. Eddie's life has pretty much been a train-wreck, and I don't think anyone's interested in seeing Diamond Dave bring out the spandex. It's been a long time since these guys produced anything of relevance, and I'm not expecting much here. Interest level = Low.
Genesis
This reunion tour has been announced, and apparently will only include Collins, Rutherford and Banks, with no new album. I might be interested if they include some stuff before Invisible Touch. I know everyone slags the Collins era, but I think there's some good stuff on the albums after Gabriel left, but before Invisible Touch, and I'd like to see some of those songs covered. Interest level = Medium.
Pink Floyd
I'm including this one just since the endless rumors about a reunion (with or without Roger Waters) have ramped up a bit since their Live 8 performance. It looks like the official word is still No, and I wouldn't really expect anything. Gilmour just released On An Island, which is a nice enough quiet listen, but not really very Pink Floyd. He doesn't seem to feel a need to return to that genre right now. As for Roger, I'm pretty sure I'm not that interested in anything he has to say anyway. Apparently, he thinks lyrics like "Oh George! Oh George! That Texas education must have fucked you up when you were very small" (from "Leaving Beirut") are clever, creative political commentary. He really thought that this song would affect the 2004 Presidential election? Sheesh.
Since this one ain't happening, my interest level is Irrelevant.
Thursday, February 8, 2007
TV Review: Lost: Not In Portland
Lost is one of three shows I consider "appointment TV" (along with 24 and The Shield). However, I have to say that the first part of season three dampened my enthusiasm for the show somewhat. I'm not sure that I've gotten a lot out of the adventures of Jack, Kate and Sawyer over on Island 2.0 - mostly a lot of weirdness and hints of internal politics (like I don't get enough of that over on 24), and that's eaten up most of the time so far. What little time we've had back on Island 1.0 has had some good bits (Locke's "spirit journey") and some bad bits (Eko's death, Desmond's precog abilities). But things seem to be in a kind of holding pattern while we wait to see what the inevitable Big Reveal About The Others will be.
So I have to say I'm happy with the first episode of the rest of the season, since if nothing else, we at least got two-thirds of our captives heading back to the first island. The Juliet flashback served to reinforce the reach of the Others, that some of the Others are also at least somewhat captives, and that there is still a tie-in back to the only baby we've seen so far. So do we have at least three factions among the Others now: the Others (Ben), ones working with the Others but not able to leave (Juliet), and those working against Ben (Alex)?
Plus some reasonable action scenes and several good Sawyer lines (the "Wookiee escape trick" - lol). So definitely an upturn for me - let's hope it keeps up.
Now if The Shield would get back online, we'd have Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday covered...
So I have to say I'm happy with the first episode of the rest of the season, since if nothing else, we at least got two-thirds of our captives heading back to the first island. The Juliet flashback served to reinforce the reach of the Others, that some of the Others are also at least somewhat captives, and that there is still a tie-in back to the only baby we've seen so far. So do we have at least three factions among the Others now: the Others (Ben), ones working with the Others but not able to leave (Juliet), and those working against Ben (Alex)?
Plus some reasonable action scenes and several good Sawyer lines (the "Wookiee escape trick" - lol). So definitely an upturn for me - let's hope it keeps up.
Now if The Shield would get back online, we'd have Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday covered...
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Give A Moron A Hug
Well, everytime I think Austin has gone as stupid as it can go...
The usual moonbats have been up in arms for a while now over plans for a new Walmart to be located at a practically empty mall in North Austin. Even though the mall itself is largely empty (it biggest anchor is an old Sports Authority location, and most of it is taken up by a closed-down ice skating rink), and even though it is completely surrounded by retail establishments, the "nearby residents" (where "nearby" is defined as "anywhere within 25 miles") are complaining about the traffic and noise the Walmart would bring. What they are actually complaining about is the fact that it is a Walmart, which is of course one of the biggest lefty targets around, mostly for its anti-labor position. Oh, and for its success - another thing many on the left don't like.
So with all of the hemming and hawing, they've finally come up with their masterstroke protest:
Arms Around Northcross
Yep, they plan to get 5000 people to form a human chain around the entire mall on Saturday morning, which will "turn up the heat so much that we could save our neighborhoods, and become a part of Austin history".
Please - this level of moonbattery barely rates a footnote on the list of stupid Austin tricks.
Besides, if they couldn't manage to scare up 1000 people for an anti-war protest (oh, and "Free Mumia!") here in the 'Berzerkely of Texas", what makes them think 5000 will show up for this? Instead of forming circles around malls, they should just stick to forming drum circles in Pease Park.
The usual moonbats have been up in arms for a while now over plans for a new Walmart to be located at a practically empty mall in North Austin. Even though the mall itself is largely empty (it biggest anchor is an old Sports Authority location, and most of it is taken up by a closed-down ice skating rink), and even though it is completely surrounded by retail establishments, the "nearby residents" (where "nearby" is defined as "anywhere within 25 miles") are complaining about the traffic and noise the Walmart would bring. What they are actually complaining about is the fact that it is a Walmart, which is of course one of the biggest lefty targets around, mostly for its anti-labor position. Oh, and for its success - another thing many on the left don't like.
So with all of the hemming and hawing, they've finally come up with their masterstroke protest:
Arms Around Northcross
Yep, they plan to get 5000 people to form a human chain around the entire mall on Saturday morning, which will "turn up the heat so much that we could save our neighborhoods, and become a part of Austin history".
Please - this level of moonbattery barely rates a footnote on the list of stupid Austin tricks.
Besides, if they couldn't manage to scare up 1000 people for an anti-war protest (oh, and "Free Mumia!") here in the 'Berzerkely of Texas", what makes them think 5000 will show up for this? Instead of forming circles around malls, they should just stick to forming drum circles in Pease Park.
TV Review: 24: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
So let me see if I understand the Bauer boys' plan here: Dad heads off to find McCarthy while Graem waits behind. Jack and Graem show up. Grame pretends to send Jack and Dad off to be killed. Dad now depends on Jack getting them free, stopping to kill one of his own men. They both head back, so that Jack can recapture Graem. Jack tortures Graem, who spills the fact he was in on Day 5's attacks.
All this was done to make it look like Graem was the bad guy, so that Dad could act unimpeded. But, now Dad realizes that Graem won't be able to hold out against extended interrogation, and so he kills Graem - but only after conveniently being left alone with him (once again, CTU's outstanding security comes through).
Frankly, this whole thing is a load. Was this supposed to be their contingency plan all along (since they didn't have any time that we saw to plan this out)? Would they have used the same plan if Jack hadn't been the one to come in - after all, the Bauers did not know Jack was back from China yet. And how could this plan end with anything other than the death of Graem?
Arrrrrrgh. Sure, there was a nice interrogation scene, and the new track with Morris could be O.K., but the convulsions this episode went through to hide and then reveal Dad's role in things was just stupid, even for 24.
All this was done to make it look like Graem was the bad guy, so that Dad could act unimpeded. But, now Dad realizes that Graem won't be able to hold out against extended interrogation, and so he kills Graem - but only after conveniently being left alone with him (once again, CTU's outstanding security comes through).
Frankly, this whole thing is a load. Was this supposed to be their contingency plan all along (since they didn't have any time that we saw to plan this out)? Would they have used the same plan if Jack hadn't been the one to come in - after all, the Bauers did not know Jack was back from China yet. And how could this plan end with anything other than the death of Graem?
Arrrrrrgh. Sure, there was a nice interrogation scene, and the new track with Morris could be O.K., but the convulsions this episode went through to hide and then reveal Dad's role in things was just stupid, even for 24.
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