Miabi Films

Thought Bubble 20

Greg — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:54:16 +0000

From now on, I’m going to offer my 3 cents.

Once, Just Once 6

Greg — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:12:32 +0000

Once, just once…I want to see someone on a payphone.

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Star Wars: Flashback Method

Greg — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:49:53 +0000

Let me preface this by saying that A) I’ve been watching a lot of Star Wars lately and B) I’m completely aware of how geeky this discussion is- but I don’t care. I spend a lot of time thinking about a proper Star Wars viewing order. I spend a lot of time thinking about a proper Star Wars viewing order. That is… the correct way in which you should see the 6 Star Wars movies. Especially if you are a Star Wars virgin. For the uninitiated, the original 1977 Star Wars is episode 4.

I truly want to impart an optimal viewing experience onto a newbie. This is important to me. I want you to feel the same way I’ve felt for years. The wonder. The amazement. The unadulterated geekery. While it is impossible for a virgin (or anyone else who hasn’t seen it) to consume Star Wars in the same way I have, since so much of the fun is locked up in nostalgia, I do of course think anyone can still enjoy it. As long as they watch it properly.

***SPOILERS AHEAD*** If you are indeed a Star Wars newbie. Do not read any further. Contact me directly and I’ll set you on the path to the light side. It is your destiny. The following discussion is aimed at people who have seen all 6 movies and who are nerdy and brilliant enough to read on. ***SPOILERS AHEAD***

Up until a few days ago there was only one way to view these films. Original Trilogy (OT – Episodes 4, 5, & 6) first, Prequel Trilogy (PT – Episodes 1, 2, & 3) second. That’s it. No question. Watching them chronologically from Episode 1 to Episode 6 is simply out of the question. DO NOT try this. Horrible idea.

The OT is parsecs better than the prequels and will encourage any virgin to actually stick with it. These movies are all classics and not crushed under the weight of their special effects. They’re actual movies, not video games. Furthermore, the twists stay in tact. All the fun shit- like Luke finding out that Vader is his father or that the little green guy is actually the greatest Jedi ever- is not disrupted. And while I do think the prequels do have some merit, watching them first ruins all of this.

There is a distinct story-telling and special effects gap between the OT and the PT. Watching the originals first will make this transition less jarring. This is how the majority of people over 15 have seen Star Wars in the first place and it most likely still remains the best way to watch these movies. At least for a newbie. Besides, I submit that this is how Lucas intended it anyway. He could have started from the beginning if he wanted to. But he didn’t. The series is supposed to be non-linear… so why change it?

There is another. In doing a little research on the topic, I’ve come to the conclusion that there is in fact another viable way to watch the Star Wars films.

The Flashback Method. It goes like this… Watch A New Hope(4)/Empire(5), then flashback to Clones(2)/Sith(3). After Vader’s revelation that he is Luke’s pop, find out how it all went down via flashback. Then end on Vader’s redemption/Sidious’ demise in Jedi(6). Leave Phantom Menace(1) as an added bonus to go back and watch after it is all done. I honestly believe The Phantom Menace is a pointless movie and is not necessary to the story as a whole.

Yes this method essentially shortens the series to five films, but you’re basically trimming the fat. Most of the twists of the OT are preserved here I believe, with the exception of the Skywalker siblings being born at the end of Sith. (Luke and Leia were originally revealed to be brother and sister in Jedi) However, this revelation is simply moved up in the story. You know Anakin is Luke’s father, but when Padme announces she’s having twins in Sith, you’ll wonder who Luke’s twin is! Is it Han??? So it’s not spoiled, just relocated. Additionally, after the drama of Empire and Han’s imprisonment in a coffee table, he’ll be gone for two movies, which will only increase our concern as to what happens to our favorite scoundrel.

A recap:

Method 1 (Traditional)
456123 – Still the best way. OT first, PT second.

Method 2 (Flashback)
452361 – Pretty good option. Episodes 2 and 3 become a flashback.

Method 3 (Chronological)
123456 – Don’t even fucking try it.

The more I think about it, the more I love the flashback method. But I don’t know if I’d go through with recommending it to a newbie. Might only be a recommendation for Star Wars fans who are re-watching. Thoughts?

Handsome Men’s Club

Greg — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:44:52 +0000

This is hilarious, though I have to disagree with Kimmel on some of his moves as president.

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Spot On

Greg — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 05:48:15 +0000

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RIP Robert McCall

Greg — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 05:43:43 +0000

An artist who made many of us dreamers has passed away. Robert McCall is responsible for some of the most awe-inspiring images from the space age. Some futurists weave their tales with a pen, he did it with a brush. Click on the links to check out his amazing work.

NASA Space Art Gallery

Picasso of the Space Age

LMGTFY

Greg — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 05:53:45 +0000

Next time that one friend who’s always bothering you for information that can easily be found using Google comes along, send them to Let Me Google That For You. They’re guaranteed to find the answers they’re looking for.

This has been a public service announcement from Miabi FIlms.

The Science of Sleep (Paralysis)

Greg — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 05:29:22 +0000

This is really scary and you probably shouldn’t watch it if you have trouble sleeping. Like I did. Super-interesting nonetheless.

It’s ok though. If you do have trouble sleeping after watching the video, you can download the iPhone app, Sleep Cycle. Pretty much the coolest app I’ve so far used and the best 99 pennies I’ve ever spent. Sleep Cycle is an alarm clock on HGH. It stays in bed with you and actually measures how you toss and turn through the night using the iPhone’s accelerometer. These subtle measurements allow the app to determine what sleep phase you are in. “Waking up in the lightest sleep phase feels like waking without an alarm clock – it is a natural way to wake up where you feel rested and relaxed.” So even though you set the alarm for a certain time, it can wake you up at any point during a 30 minute window, according to what phase you are in. After a while, it learns your sleep patterns and displays them in nightly graphs. You can even annoy your friends by posting the graphs to Facebook!

Naturally, I was skeptical at first, but so far this thing works like gangbusters. Since I started using it, I don’t feel groggy during the day and have had more energy than I know what to do with. Don’t know if it’s magic or psychological or if it just works, but color me a believer. Now I can’t wait to go to sleep. Read more about it here and here.

Real Good Experiment

Greg — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:09:14 +0000

A little long, but worth it. Really pretty social experiment about chairs.

Blu Dot Real Good Experiment from Real Good Chair on Vimeo.

Ironing

Greg — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 14:57:14 +0000

I hate to iron. It is a mindless, numbing activity. And a whole friggin’ to-do. You lug the ironing board out, fill the thing up with water, straighten out the shirt, detect the wrinkles, make sure there are no creases, iron and repeat. Multiple times. I could be spending that time washing dishes. It’s dangerous too! This heavy appliance is inches away from linens and skin with only one purpose… get really, really hot.

Why do we do it? Why can’t I walk around in wrinkled pants? Who says a pressed shirt is stylish or put-together? I’ll tell you who: Big Iron. This entire pro-pressed sentiment is all a racket put forth by the marketeers of Big Iron to sell more irons. I think it stinks, and I don’t like it.

I will make one point. There is a certain purification I get from ironing out those wrinkles. Watching them melt away somehow makes me feel like I’m accomplishing something, however menial. At least as much as I can accomplish while standing in the middle of my apartment in my underwear, listening to REO Speedwagon. (You don’t spin “Keep On Loving You” when YOU’RE ironing?) So I suppose ironing has an oddly cathartic component. Add in the danger and you have something to talk about. I just don’t think the ends justify the means.

Nearly four years ago, on the very first day of work, I was ironing. It was a new me. I was going to press my clothes. In a moment of distraction however, my forearm decided it wanted to get to really know that iron. What my forearm didn’t know is that irons are extremely racist toward skin. Actually, the tip of an iron looks like a Klansman’s hood. A painful, bright purple welt immediately showed up. As an added bonus, because of the confusion from burning myself, I forgot to zip up my fly. So I had a smoldering forearm and an unzipped fly on my first day of work. Awesome! What a disaster. Maybe not- I’m still here. And all my clothes are wrinkled.

http://www.outnext.com/on/2009/04/the-iron-of-the-future.html

So do I take my clothes off?