This movie is about a near future where government agencies have nearly full access to everything there is to know about Americans. They monitor everyone continually (for our own good, of course).
The plot centers around a woman who is deeply involved in one of the alphabet soup agencies that runs computerized tracking of individuals. When her sister takes her to a party, the computer matrix she built crosses her profile with someone on the "terror watch list."
That someone is a one-time member of a militia group who's stepped away from the group and is now living in an RV behind the home of the person who held the party.
Things get dicey from there. Basically, the woman is a high priority and a "hit" is placed on her, as her death would (the militia groups believe) short circuit much of the security (i.e. domestic spy) apparatus.
The assassin, the former militia member who rejoins when his friend asks him to carry out this assignment, balks at the job once his finger is on the trigger. Shortly afterwards, the militia finds out that the woman has defected and put the entire security agency's code online to be hacked.
The movie itself is pretty good, for what it is, and the subject matter is definitely something that should be mainstream (but isn't). However, the film is not just low budget: it's horribly so.
Not because the production values were bad. They were extremely good for something of this scope with the limited resources I imagine they dealt with. What's wrong is the acting, the hack-job story, and the unconvincing outcome.
I think that the producers were aiming for a sort of real-life Matrix meets Enemy of the State. Like I said, the idea was great. The story line, however, falls flat and the acting is less than second rate from many of the players.
So I guess the movie is worth watching if you're into the whole Patriot movement thing (which is why I saw it), but don't expect to convince anyone of the plight of our civil rights using this movie. In fact, you'll probably find yourself ready to shut it off several times throughout. Once the o-so-obvious plot twist comes, you can safely do so.
I'm not recommending this movie to anyone. If you want to click my Amazon link up there and buy it, feel free. I won't turn down the money. :) But don't go out of your way to see this flick.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Son of Rambow
Yes, the title is spelled correctly. This movie, Son of Rambow, is about the making of a movie of the same title, by two boys somewhere in Britain. One is the class problem child--a thief, con artist, and truant. The other is an imaginative boy walled in by his mother (and dead father's) religious beliefs and the naive world they've given him.
The two meet, become master-slave (through a con), and eventually best friends. In their pursuit, they work on the film Son of Rambow, which they will be submitting to a local film contest. The plot line of the film their making is simple and direct, but makes perfect sense considering the two boys making it.
Enthralled by Silvester Stallone's Rambo, they begin work in earnest.
Scenes are at times cheesy, at other times poignant, and always thoughtful and even tear jerking. The two boys who play the main characters in this movie are extremely good actors for such youngsters.
This is definitely a great movie and worth watching.
The two meet, become master-slave (through a con), and eventually best friends. In their pursuit, they work on the film Son of Rambow, which they will be submitting to a local film contest. The plot line of the film their making is simple and direct, but makes perfect sense considering the two boys making it.
Enthralled by Silvester Stallone's Rambo, they begin work in earnest.
Scenes are at times cheesy, at other times poignant, and always thoughtful and even tear jerking. The two boys who play the main characters in this movie are extremely good actors for such youngsters.
This is definitely a great movie and worth watching.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Flash of Genius
Without a doubt, Flash of Genius is one of the best movies I've seen in a long time. My wife really wanted to see this one after seeing a commercial for it on another movie. We rented it and it was one of the best movies we've seen, bar none.
This movie, though, is very different from what the two of us usually agree on. It's a great movie about a man who has his idea stolen by the Ford Motor Company and fights to get his rights back. It ruins nearly every other aspect of his life, this pursuit of justice, but he finally wins in the end.
The movie causes you to question things on several levels. First, why is it that Ford figured they could just steal the idea and get away with it? Is this the evil corporation at work? Then, why does it take so much effort, time, money, etc. for the fight in the Patent courts to proceed? By the time the movie is over, he's gone from a not-quite-middle-aged man to a gray-haired guy with a slight limp.
Well, the two processes work in tandem to explain the situation. Ford thought that they could get away with stealing from this nobody professor because it would take years, piles of cash, and a lot of effort for him to take them through court and win.
In other words, our crappy justice system encourages large corporations to feel they have the upper hand in these situations. When a multi-billion dollar company like Ford is faced with a lawsuit from Joe Schmoe, they can blow it off because all of the odds are in their favor. That's justice for ya.
The other level of this movie is the interaction between the hero and his family and friends. Things are strained, to say the least, in much of the movie. He nearly sacrifices his entire life, family, and more just to go through with this lawsuit. Most would have given up at the first offer of several hundred thousand dollars when Ford wanted to settle.
The underlying point of this movie is supposed to be one man's pursuit of justice against all the odds. But the rest of that premise is "and at any price." He gives up almost all that he has for this pursuit.
Was it worth it? Monetarily, maybe so, but he doesn't win those years back, just a pile of cash. Personally, I don't think his struggle was worth it. The movie, though is poignant, strong, and extremely well done.
I definitely recommend this movie to everyone. It's extremely good.
This movie, though, is very different from what the two of us usually agree on. It's a great movie about a man who has his idea stolen by the Ford Motor Company and fights to get his rights back. It ruins nearly every other aspect of his life, this pursuit of justice, but he finally wins in the end.
The movie causes you to question things on several levels. First, why is it that Ford figured they could just steal the idea and get away with it? Is this the evil corporation at work? Then, why does it take so much effort, time, money, etc. for the fight in the Patent courts to proceed? By the time the movie is over, he's gone from a not-quite-middle-aged man to a gray-haired guy with a slight limp.
Well, the two processes work in tandem to explain the situation. Ford thought that they could get away with stealing from this nobody professor because it would take years, piles of cash, and a lot of effort for him to take them through court and win.
In other words, our crappy justice system encourages large corporations to feel they have the upper hand in these situations. When a multi-billion dollar company like Ford is faced with a lawsuit from Joe Schmoe, they can blow it off because all of the odds are in their favor. That's justice for ya.
The other level of this movie is the interaction between the hero and his family and friends. Things are strained, to say the least, in much of the movie. He nearly sacrifices his entire life, family, and more just to go through with this lawsuit. Most would have given up at the first offer of several hundred thousand dollars when Ford wanted to settle.
The underlying point of this movie is supposed to be one man's pursuit of justice against all the odds. But the rest of that premise is "and at any price." He gives up almost all that he has for this pursuit.
Was it worth it? Monetarily, maybe so, but he doesn't win those years back, just a pile of cash. Personally, I don't think his struggle was worth it. The movie, though is poignant, strong, and extremely well done.
I definitely recommend this movie to everyone. It's extremely good.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Lexington & Concord
Lexington and Concord: The Beginning of the War of the American Revolution by Arthur Bernon Tourtellot - This is one of the most eye-opening accounts of the events before, during, around, and immediately after the battles of Lexington and Concord I have ever read.
This book is very well written and gives great insight into events as they unfolded. It shows the heavy role that people like Alexander Hamilton and Samuel Adams had to play in the gestation of our American Revolution and details the battles themselves with fine color.
This book is very well written and gives great insight into events as they unfolded. It shows the heavy role that people like Alexander Hamilton and Samuel Adams had to play in the gestation of our American Revolution and details the battles themselves with fine color.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
How To Hydroponics
How To Hydroponics is likely the best book I've ever read on this subject. Not because it's so full of information--which it is, but because of it's down-to-earth and very readable nature.
Other hydroponics books cover much more information with lots of scientific graphs and information. This one, though, focuses on the actual hydroponics gardener rather than the data-hound scientist type.
The science of hydroponics can be interesting, sure, but for those of us who actually want to use the information in a practical sense, most of that science is extraneous.
How To Hydroponics includes general information so you'll know how hydroponics works, why it works, and what you need to know to make it work. That's the first third of the book.
The second third is about the general uses of hydroponics, ideas for how it is used, where it is used, and so forth. The different types of hydroponics systems and what situations they're best used for are covered too.
The final third is the meat of the matter and the culmination of the book's information. This is where Keith Roberto (the book's author) gets down to the nitty-gritty. He shows you how to build a variety of hydroponics systems to fit your situation. Ebb-and-flow, aeroponics, constant immersion, and more.
Totally awesome book and very highly recommended. Great stuff!
Other hydroponics books cover much more information with lots of scientific graphs and information. This one, though, focuses on the actual hydroponics gardener rather than the data-hound scientist type.
The science of hydroponics can be interesting, sure, but for those of us who actually want to use the information in a practical sense, most of that science is extraneous.
How To Hydroponics includes general information so you'll know how hydroponics works, why it works, and what you need to know to make it work. That's the first third of the book.
The second third is about the general uses of hydroponics, ideas for how it is used, where it is used, and so forth. The different types of hydroponics systems and what situations they're best used for are covered too.
The final third is the meat of the matter and the culmination of the book's information. This is where Keith Roberto (the book's author) gets down to the nitty-gritty. He shows you how to build a variety of hydroponics systems to fit your situation. Ebb-and-flow, aeroponics, constant immersion, and more.
Totally awesome book and very highly recommended. Great stuff!
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Idiocracy
Iodiocracy starring Luke Wilson is a movie that can be summed up with two words: Prophetic and Vulgar.
In the context of the film, both make perfect sense, though. The general idea is that Wilson's character is accidentally sent through time to the year 2500. There, he finds out that the average human IQ has dropped steadily to the point that Wilson, a totally average person, is now the smartest man on the planet.
The future is filled with idiots, vulgar speech made up of street slang and gibberish English, etc. The President of the United States is a former professional wrestler who got his office because he knew a few 2-syllable words, and he rides around D.C. on a huge, limousine sized Harley Davidson.
Long story short, the movie is funny, somewhat entertaining, and shockingly prophetic. It predicts that the dumbing down of people will continue and shows the eventual result of that.
If you don't mind a lot of trash talk and a fairly straight-forward, but still humorous plot line, then this movie is good for you. Honestly, though, you won't miss much if you skip it.
In the context of the film, both make perfect sense, though. The general idea is that Wilson's character is accidentally sent through time to the year 2500. There, he finds out that the average human IQ has dropped steadily to the point that Wilson, a totally average person, is now the smartest man on the planet.
The future is filled with idiots, vulgar speech made up of street slang and gibberish English, etc. The President of the United States is a former professional wrestler who got his office because he knew a few 2-syllable words, and he rides around D.C. on a huge, limousine sized Harley Davidson.
Long story short, the movie is funny, somewhat entertaining, and shockingly prophetic. It predicts that the dumbing down of people will continue and shows the eventual result of that.
If you don't mind a lot of trash talk and a fairly straight-forward, but still humorous plot line, then this movie is good for you. Honestly, though, you won't miss much if you skip it.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Wall-E
Disney/Pixar
I have to admit, I'm a sucker for Pixar movies. I have been since back when they were just featured shorts. This one is definitely one of their more creative in terms of cinematography. The story is fairly straight-forward and the animation is good, but not really great.
What makes this movie click, though, is the creative storytelling--there's almost no talking until nearly halfway through. The story is told through actions, sound effects, and flashes of written signs or video blurbs as Wall-E passes a TV screen on his daily routine.
To synopsize the plot: Wall-E is an automated garbage compactor. Something has gone wrong that caused all the others to shut down, but Wall-E is still running. So he's basically alone on the planet--him and his friend the roach, that is. The humans left long ago, having piled up so much garbage that the planet became uninhabitable.
Their original plan, you find out, was to leave the planet on a "space cruise" for a few years and then come back to a clean, rebuilt planet (thanks to the thousands of Wall-E droids left behind). That, of course, didn't happen, so they're still cruising space in their giant ship.
Lonely Wall-E eventually meets another robot, a probe droid sent to find out if there is life on Earth again yet.
The bad guy in this movie is not who you'd expect and the story isn't as "right foot, left foot" as you'd think. Nothing spectacular in the storyline, but it's well done nonetheless.
I enjoyed the movie and recommend it to everyone. It's a good family movie with just enough action to keep the little ones interested.
I have to admit, I'm a sucker for Pixar movies. I have been since back when they were just featured shorts. This one is definitely one of their more creative in terms of cinematography. The story is fairly straight-forward and the animation is good, but not really great.
What makes this movie click, though, is the creative storytelling--there's almost no talking until nearly halfway through. The story is told through actions, sound effects, and flashes of written signs or video blurbs as Wall-E passes a TV screen on his daily routine.
To synopsize the plot: Wall-E is an automated garbage compactor. Something has gone wrong that caused all the others to shut down, but Wall-E is still running. So he's basically alone on the planet--him and his friend the roach, that is. The humans left long ago, having piled up so much garbage that the planet became uninhabitable.
Their original plan, you find out, was to leave the planet on a "space cruise" for a few years and then come back to a clean, rebuilt planet (thanks to the thousands of Wall-E droids left behind). That, of course, didn't happen, so they're still cruising space in their giant ship.
Lonely Wall-E eventually meets another robot, a probe droid sent to find out if there is life on Earth again yet.
The bad guy in this movie is not who you'd expect and the story isn't as "right foot, left foot" as you'd think. Nothing spectacular in the storyline, but it's well done nonetheless.
I enjoyed the movie and recommend it to everyone. It's a good family movie with just enough action to keep the little ones interested.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian
The Original Adventures of the Greatest Sword and Sorcery Hero of All Time! by Robert E. Howard and edited by Patrice Louinet.
I've read a lot of Conan. I have the movies on DVD. Conan used to feature regularly in our Dungeons & Dragons sessions back in the day. For most of us, Conan is both a comic book sword-and-sorcery hero, a caricature of barbarism and bravery, and the ultimate in "boy books" heroes.
Conan was undoubtedly Robert Howard's greatest character in terms of success and likely the most well fleshed-out hero in all of his writing. Conan has muscles, native wit, and a focus and fury that denies all fear. At the same time, he is rather aimless, somewhat the scoundrel, and nearly always suckered by the women he meets.
No matter your views of Conan, you must agree that the works of Robert E. Howard will forever be remembered as classic renderings of the barbaric hero and the greatest of fantasy swordsmen in literature.
This collection is one of the best I've seen: perhaps the best. Not only are the stories in chronological order by publication (rather than some editor's guess as to "time line" in-story)--as they appeared originally--but they are completely unedited and unchanged from their original published versions.
A few that didn't make publication for one reason or another (usually because Howard wasn't sure if he'd "gone over the line") are also included at the end. The enlightening forward written by the editor is also extremely valuable for its insight into Howard's career and life.
This book comes with the highest recommendations I have to give.
I've read a lot of Conan. I have the movies on DVD. Conan used to feature regularly in our Dungeons & Dragons sessions back in the day. For most of us, Conan is both a comic book sword-and-sorcery hero, a caricature of barbarism and bravery, and the ultimate in "boy books" heroes.
Conan was undoubtedly Robert Howard's greatest character in terms of success and likely the most well fleshed-out hero in all of his writing. Conan has muscles, native wit, and a focus and fury that denies all fear. At the same time, he is rather aimless, somewhat the scoundrel, and nearly always suckered by the women he meets.
No matter your views of Conan, you must agree that the works of Robert E. Howard will forever be remembered as classic renderings of the barbaric hero and the greatest of fantasy swordsmen in literature.
This collection is one of the best I've seen: perhaps the best. Not only are the stories in chronological order by publication (rather than some editor's guess as to "time line" in-story)--as they appeared originally--but they are completely unedited and unchanged from their original published versions.
A few that didn't make publication for one reason or another (usually because Howard wasn't sure if he'd "gone over the line") are also included at the end. The enlightening forward written by the editor is also extremely valuable for its insight into Howard's career and life.
This book comes with the highest recommendations I have to give.
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