Terrific animation. Mario realizes something important.
Tag "film"
Light Warfare.
Read MoreHappy 30th anniversary to one of the greatest movies ever made, science fiction or otherwise. The Empire Strikes Back had a profound effect on me that lingers to this day. Without being too sentimental or heavy-handed, it made me want more from my entertainment. Star Wars didn’t just raise the bar of action/adventure/science fiction movies. It attached two rockets on either side of the bar and launched it into the upper atmosphere. So when Empire came out, and the storytelling got deeper, the acting got better, the action got more intense, we knew we weren’t just watching another sequel. We were firmly planted in another universe.
Now imagine it as a 50′s 3D sci-fi flick.
Read MoreJedi A-holes to be exact. I find this video hilarious and really well done. I love these guys’ facial expressions. Very well acted. They really really come across as assholes. The white dude’s hair should get a lot of credit for that as well. But the music… the music is what puts it over the edge. Enjoy.
Read MoreI love videos like this. You know, when video game characters destroy a city. Awesome.
PIXELS by PATRICK JEAN.
Uploaded by onemoreprod. – Arts and animation videos.
I was a little disappointed last week when I couldn’t get my act together in time to go to SXSW. Even though my bosses said they’d pay for it. None of us really knew about the interactive portion of the annual conference. I thought it was a film festival with good music! I have always wanted to see Austin and the interactive portion kind of hit the big time this year. At least in my eyes. The sessions offered where really cool and totally what I’m in to. I picked the ones I wanted to go to, wrote up what I was going to get out of it and handed it in to my boss. Then I downloaded the official SXSW iphone apps and waited. But alas, I got the go ahead on a monday and had to leave that thursday. So I made a game-time decision to skip it this year. You can bet I’ll have my glasses and tight jeans ready for next year.
But had I gone, I would have been met with this sign from a local bar that wasn’t too thrilled by the unusually high traffic.
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?
Read MoreA little long, but worth it. Really pretty social experiment about chairs.
Blu Dot Real Good Experiment from Real Good Chair on Vimeo.
Read MoreJust finished watching my second documentary on love and relationships in as many weeks. Pull Out was made by my dear friend Jyllian about 6 years ago. I’ve known Jyllian Gunther for about 4 years now. We have worked together hundreds of times and she’s a super talented writer and free-spirited dame. I knew about Pull Out long ago. I’ve had the DVD. And for some reason, the DVD collected dust. I may have watched it once, but glossed over it. I was in a different place then than I am now and didn’t really take notice. Perhaps I was just mesmerized that someone I knew could make a feature length doc. I watched it tonight and realized what I was missing.
In the film, Jyllian goes back to her ex-boyfriends, interviews them, and tries to figure out what went wrong. Looking for answers. Closure perhaps. A taboo often not broached or spoken about in relationships. You have to wonder who out there wants to do this and who has the balls to actually go through with it. I saw the movie as one of self-discovery. It was coarse at times. Uncomfortable. But as much as I HATE to use this word when describing a movie, this one struck me as brave, even courageous. It is supremely personal and you as the viewer are left as voyeur, working out in your mind how the conclusions made in the film effect your own life. At least I was.
It’s on Hulu, but if you really like it, you should buy the DVD. It’s also on iTunes.
Read MoreA movie review? Well because of a case of the Swine, I got a chance to watch the film Paper Heart today. Kind of hard to pin down exactly what kind of movie this is, but I can report that it was quite charming. It’s part scripted romantic comedy and part documentary. The filmmakers have been calling it a “hybrid documentary”. I’m calling it a “romantic comedy”. And though I’d hardly claim to be an aficionado, I’ll say that it was my second favorite rom-com of the year, behind (500) Days.
It stars Micheal Cera and Charlyne Yi in a fictional romance that is supplemented by true documentary material as Charlyne travels around the country to discover the true meaning of love. The lines between fiction and reality are blurred as the narrative gets all twisted up and becomes more about the movie itself than anything else. At its heart though, is a cute (and yes, awkward) little romance between the two stars which ultimately keeps it from unraveling. The hybrid nature of this film, along with the very meta aspects of Charlyne and Michael playing themselves in a movie about their blossoming romance was also quite appealing given the reality TV and youTube-obsessed world we live in.
Even though this is one of the 150 movies Cera was in last year and he’s become a huge star, this is most definitely Chuck’s movie. Ms. Yi is a multi-talented writer, musician, comedienne, artist who along with Nick Jasenovec, was the driving force behind Paper Heart. She also co-wrote the screenplay and most of the music. Not too mention, she’s so adorable. Rent it on Netflix.
Of the highlights of the film was the music. Music, she collaborated with Michael Cera and others on. The most beautiful track in my opinion is Magic Perfume. Charlyne and Prefix Magazine had a Magic Perfume cover contest back in August for which you can check out the entries here.
The winning entry is quite good….
But I think I prefer this particular entry that did not win. Love those drums….
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