Archive for December, 2004

Review: Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events

Friday, December 31st, 2004

While technically a series (as you can clearly distinguish three episodes tied together to make one movie), it’s a slow series. The unfortunate part in the title though, describes how unfortunate it is again, that this is another movie totally geared towards children and not the total family. This means, no fun at all. Simplistic storytelling and no depth. Also the multiple roles of Jim Carrey aren’t that much fun to see, being too obvious and all. Being totally for children also means story ends do not need any tying up (hence, the “big” mystery to be solved turns out to be something sprung up the writer just so he can close the story with an easy way out, with no explanation of what happened previously). But even then, the pace is too slow, and I seriously doubt if children can muster the patience to sit through this movie. If you ever thought of going to see this movie (and you’re older than 6), think… How the Grinch Stole Christmas, or the evenly bad Cat in the Hat.4.

Well well well

Tuesday, December 28th, 2004

Well what do you know, a white fourth Christmas day, finally, albeit only for a short time. So, what have I been doing with those free days till know ? Not really much. Mostly play Counterstrike: Source online, ridding the world of terrorist, and hence keeping the peacedom alive. Yeah, why keep the spirit alive only on those first two days. 4 down, 361 to go. (Though, for variety, I do plant a bomb now and then)

US Box Office

Monday, December 27th, 2004

Not the typical Christmas movie, but still a family thing dominated the box office, as Meet the Fockers took in $44.7 million in the weekend.
Cosby’s Fat Albert has to do with the number 2 spot (formerly an animated TV series in the 70’s), starring Kenan Thompson, with $12.7 million. Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events drops to the 3rd place with $12.5 million.
Playing in half the number of theatres is The Aviator, but still flying in enough dough ($9.4 million) to end up number 4. Ocean’s Twelve also still doing well with $8.6 million, rounding off the top 5.

Review: Alexander

Friday, December 24th, 2004

You have those “BIG” movies once in awhile, and after watching it, you wonder what the fuss was all about. This is one of those again. Some two big battlescenes can be seen, but filling the rest of the 3 hours are some less memorable moments. Narrative looks strong in the beginning, as an old Anthony Hopkins fires off short history lesson. We then dive into the youth of young Alexander. The relationships between him and his parents are shallow, but well worded in semi-cliche babbling. Development from boy to Great Alexander is evenly lacking in depth, and friends and followers are explored along the same line. The conquest of many countries covers the rest, with unrest with the army leaders ending this so called myth. Reliving too many of the same dialogues, combined with the non-excitement waiting around the corner (unlike Troy’s lingering threat) makes this myth most people will not find interesting. Maybe recutting it to fit it in 90 minutes (that’s 50% of the movie) isn’t a bad idea. It’s actually a very good idea. Trust me.6-.

Spam me

Wednesday, December 22nd, 2004

Did you know I run my own mail server ? Actually, only 2 domains are configured right now. Point is, I’m ready to be spammed. And I’d rather have 10 million messages than 1 million.
Just so you know. I could use the cash y’know. Explanation here.

Sightings

Monday, December 20th, 2004

Like pulling a 7 o’clocker isn’t bad enough, on the late ride home I encountered:

– A tough guy, smoking and all, pulling out an ALL PINK MOBILE PHONE !!

– A lady, either on purpose or not (possibly, her pants were one size off), showing the crack of her ass for all people behind her to see. Big turn off.

So trying to find some lighter side to this, I only found one joke, and a lame one at that:

A man turns up at his doctor’s office, with a black eye and a fat lip.

“What happened to you?” asked the doctor.

“Well, I was at church on Sunday and sitting in front of me was this great big lady. When we stood up to sing the hymn, I noticed that her dress was caught in the crack of her behind, so I figured this must be uncomfortable, and I….”

“Oh, you didn’t!” exclaimed the doctor.

“Yes, I removed her dress from the crack of her behind and she turned around and belted me!”

“What an incredibly stupid thing to do!” said the doctor, as he patched him up and sent him away. “I hope you’ve learnt your lesson…”

But the next week, who should turn up again at the doctor’s office, with a second black eye and fat lip, but the very same guy.

“What happened to you this time?” asked the doctor.

“Well, I was at church and the same big lady was sitting in front of me. When we stood up to sing the hymn, AGAIN I noticed that her dress was caught in the crack of her behind. Well! After what happened last time, I knew she wouldn’t want me to fix it, so, ever so gently, I poked her dress even further into the crack of her ***. After all, I’m not stupid – I wouldn’t make the same mistake twice!!”

Yeah, this is no laughing matter.

US Box Office

Sunday, December 19th, 2004

No surprise that Jim Carrey opens a movie at number one, this time it’s kiddie movie Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events with a very fortunate $30.2 million. Ocean’s Twelve falls down one place, second with $18.3 million. Spanglish, starring Adam Sandler, opens third with $9 million, while The Polar Express is on a steady course at 4, with $8.6 million. Not so sharp anymore is Wesley Snipes’ Blade: Trinity, only $6.6 million in its second week, just enough to stay in the top 5.

How Messy is my Desk Today ?

Sunday, December 19th, 2004

Rate 1 (FR#^&% MESS !) to 5 (how very tidy !). Only rate the latest picture, otherwise I can’t keep track of the average.

Total: 1230 out of 391 votes > Average is: 3.146

desk pic

Review: The Polar Express

Sunday, December 19th, 2004

While it received plenty of mixed reviews, the critics failed to mention is was a children’s movie only. There’s only one theme going on, believing in Santa Clause, and keeping hammering on this will not retain any adult’s attention. You can’t fill a movie with sappy dialogue all the time, so in between, you’ll get the “adventure” feeling by all the mishaps that can happen on a magical train. By the third time this gets boring, but the visual galore that will ensue will have the kids gaping in awe. By now, still an hour to go, you’ve lost hope. No humor, no sensible dialogue, no depth. Even scrutinising the 3D animation, in this case called performance capturing, isn’t necessary, as the stiffness in movement reveals the capturing wasn’t that successful after all.
Even when I discard the skewed feeling I have towards this movie (a focus on the overall greater good, instead of just a plain white bearded Santa Clause would’ve been nice), it’s still a movie that falls short on every aspect of making it enjoyable.5+.

Lucky Seven

Saturday, December 18th, 2004

Yupz, that’s the little one’s age right now. It’s not easy to forget, as she was born was on a movie day, a Thursday, on which James Bond’s Tomorrow Never Dies opened here, one day before it did in the States. And as such, I got to see her after the matinee, logically. Easy enough to remember, right ?
But since this is my blog, I’ll continue to focus on just me. And the fact is, that I just received “The best uncle for the past 7 years” award of 2004 ! Howzdat ? Anyways, the (anonymous, but totally impartial) committee has disbanded already (they voted unanimously, by the way), so all you can do is react either at complaintsonthebestuncleofthepast7yearsaward@kimputer.is-a-geek.com or congratzwiththebestuncleofthepast7yearsaward@kimputer.is-a-geek.com

Oh, and before you want to send a complaint, read this first.

How Messy is it at my Work Today ?

Thursday, December 16th, 2004

Rate 1 (sucks) to 5 (cool). Only rate the latest pictures, otherwise I can’t keep track of the average.

Total: 666 out of 206 votes > Average is: 3.233

work pic
It’s Christmas time, people are buying PC’s again. Trllalala (sing according to Band Aid tune)

Review: Huff 101 – 106

Wednesday, December 15th, 2004

Showtime’s only new entrance this year was renewed for a second season even before the first episode ever aired. Headlined by Hank Azaria as a psychiatrist, it’s one of the few dramatic roles he’s had. Including producer credits, you could say this is THE true vehicle for him to show his talents (besides voicing for the Simpsons and walking the dog in Mad About You, he did have a nice dramatic role in Shattered Glass). The pilot had promise, a dark mix between humor and drama. The second episode was almost mediocre, churning out a few cliches, but the episodes afterwards showed strength. Building on characters, story archs, fleshing out the relationships, and a few dark themes along makes the way this series a drama series that has more potential than meets the eye (as the current dourly ratings will attest). Touching different aspects continuously (family, patients, friends etc.) combined with strong writing has kept me watching, and probably will for a long time to come.

Review: Battlestar Galactica 101 – 108

Monday, December 13th, 2004

In the sci-fi world, Ronald D. Moore is a force to be reckoned with. He turned Star Trek: The Next Generation into a fun episodic series. Moving to Deep Space Nine, he made it a character driven show that was fun, had depth and kept evolving throughout its seven years. And this year, he’s given us a Battlestar Galactica revival.
The original series was easy to digest, simple formula in a simple format. It was a nice setup from Glen A. Larson (who later on gave us a decade of TV fun with Magnum P.I. and Knight Rider), but the finishing touch that makes this one special is definitely from Ronald D. Moore’s hands. The magic trick is hard to describe. Just writing the characters like they are isn’t just it. He’s able to make every episode stand on itself, while part of a whole arch. Some episodes are filled with intrigue and moral dillemmas while others have action paced special effects and nailbiting suspense. Twists and turns has every episode pegged as special, nothing alike any other show, sci-fi or not, not even itself. It’s too bad we’re already passed the first half, with only a few more episodes to go this year.

Review: Bad Santa

Sunday, December 12th, 2004

It’s everything you’d expect from a movie with a title like that. Unsophisticated humor combined with some heavy shit swearing and a tiny tiny bit of a story. Fully predictable, but still a believable class act jerk of a Santa, played by Billy Bob Thornton, teams up with little man Tony Cox. The funny parts are of course, when they’re bitching at each other. For the rest, the middle part is somewhat slow, and as a whole, is only mildly entertaining. Easily digested and already forgotten.6+.

US Box Office

Sunday, December 12th, 2004

Some major star power makes a tidal wave at the box office, as Ocean’s Twelve’s second heist is worth $40.9 million in ticket sales. Second place is for not so bloodthirsty Blade: Trinity, opening with a less than succulent $16.1 million (compared to $32.5 for Blade II). Third is National Treasure with $10 million, currently totalling a proudly $124.2 million. Almost near it’s destination is The Polar Express, carrying another $9.8 million, bringing the grand at $110 million. Rounding off the top 5 is Christmas with the Kranks, despite suffering from humiliating critic reviews, it still manages to bring in another $7.6 million (total at $54.8 million).