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Nexus6BT
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Name: Bryan
Country: United States
State: California
Metro: Orange County
Birthday: 2/21/1978
Gender: Male
Interests: Film, Music, Books, Other Media, Technology, History
Expertise: The old "Jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none" routine. There are plenty of subjects on which I know just enough to get me in trouble. :)
Occupation: Student
Industry: Entertainment
Message: message me
Member Since:
10/4/2005
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| STILL LIT Carry that torch, man; go, go, go.
Got to keep up with the changing flow.
What were you waiting on; why so slow?
So many chances right in front of your face,
But just who else has entered this race,
Flying by so fast that you can't even place?
Patient and polite, but you've got to make a stand.
You know you can't always be just with the band.
And there won't always be a safe place to land.
You'd think by now, you would've been able to learn
That it won't always do to just wait for your turn.
Did you think all it took was to sit there and yearn?
You're stuck pretty good now; gotta let it play out.
Not much you can do, but don't just sit there and pout.
Can't stay all tucked away and lose out to doubt.
If this thing is right, then all will be good.
If that's right instead, it will be understood.
Or both could be wrong, and all will still be as it should.
So carry that torch, man; just carry on through,
And let the threads of this tale weave together as they do.
Just have your flame ready if that cauldron comes into view.
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| First of all, a moment to acknowledge the passing of Stan Winston, who died on Father's Day at the age of 62. Winston designed many of the creature and makeup effects for films such as Aliens, Terminator 1, 2, & 3, Edward Scissorhands, and Jurassic Park, for which he and his crew built full-size animatronic dinosaurs (they weren't all computer generated). He also recently worked on Iron Man. In his own way, he was probably as influential to the up-and-coming generation of fantasy, sci-fi, and horror filmmakers as Ray Harryhausen was to Stan's. He was a true creative genius. Ain't It Cool News has a really nice tribute up with remembrances from some of Stan's colleagues and friends, including James Cameron, Rick Baker, Joe Dante, and many others: http://www.aintitcool.com/node/37109 In other news, this is something that was very encouraging to me that I felt like sharing: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080622/lf_afp/kosovomediachildren_080622063806 Oh, why not; here's the text of the article: --------------------------------------------------------------- 'Sesame Street' unites Kosovo youngsters by Ismet Hajdari PRISTINA (AFP) - "Sesame Street" characters Elmo, Cookie Monster, Bert and Ernie are succeeding where politicians have so far failed -- by bringing together children from Kosovo's divided ethnic communities. For four years now, a Sesame Street workshop has produced a local version of the acclaimed US children's television show, known as "Rruga Sesam" in the Albanian language and "Ulica Sezam" in Serbian. A report on the impact of the project presenting everyday stories to children has shown the puppet characters are more successful than real-life ones in Kosovo, which proclaimed independence from Serbia in February. Belgrade and Kosovo Serbs reject the split, and the two communities scarcely interact across the landlocked Balkan territory, with youths attending separate kindergartens, schools and universities. Both Albanian and Serb children who watched the show "expressed greater willingness to help" youths from the opposite ethnicity than those who did not, according to the research by the Sesame workshop and its local partners. The former were also 74 percent more likely to demonstrate positive attitudes towards counterparts from different ethnic backgrounds, the survey revealed. Jon Mulliqi, an Albanian boy, likes "Sesame Street" so much that he says he even watches the Serbian version. "I don't understand everything in Serbian, but I keep watching. Cookie Monster is my favorite. I even try to eat cookies like him," said the seven-year-old. His mother, Shpresa Mulliqi, said she was relieved when "Sesame Street" began broadcasting in Kosovo. "It's a programme that fits with children aged from three to six, who were neglected by local TV producers," said the 45-year-old doctor. Her words were virtually echoed by health care administrator Mirjana Jokismovic from Radevo, a Serb-populated village south of the Kosovo capital Pristina. "Everyone around children is focused on politics, which is terrible. No-one pays attention to children's needs and the 'Sesame Street' series is just what they need," Jokismovic said. Her four-year-old daughter Ivana hoped to be chosen for a guest role in the show next season, following in the footsteps of her eight-year-old sister who appeared in a show presenting her secret for making strawberry jam. "Maybe I will not make strawberry jam but something with pears," Ivana said. The study also showed youths who watched the series were "more likely to see children of a distinct race/ethnicity as being similar to them, to express acceptance of a child that does not speak their language." The poll was organised among 536 children aged from five to six. Half of them were watchers of either the Albanian or Serb versions of the show, while the other half were not. "These results give us hope that we are helping to provide Kosovo's pre-schoolers with the necessary tools to lead positive and more productive lives in their communities and beyond," said Charlotte Cole of the Sesame Street workshop. "Creating an effective, engaging and educational children's television series that makes a meaningful difference in the lives of children in a troubled region such as Kosovo takes creativity, humour, optimism and a strong understanding of local needs," added Cole. Dobrila Jankovic, who runs a kindergarten in the Serb-populated enclave of Gracanica, near Pristina, said one of the toughest tasks for her colleagues was to "keep children untouched from political events." "They watch television and in a way become participants of the process we are going through," said Jankovic. But Sesame Street with its "language of play and love is the most important for children to overcome reluctance towards other (ethnic) groups," she stressed. Launched on public television in the United States in 1969, "Sesame Street" has been widely recognised as a hugely successful experiment in educational children's programming, with its views on popular culture. But in Kosovo, Elmo and his partners have also had an impact on adults, according to both Mulliqi and Joksimovic. "It also affects adults, as three- or six-year-olds do not watch TV alone but with parents or relatives," Mulliqi said. "They keep asking questions and give their comments, so we also become involved and affected by the show," she added. Jokismovic agreed, saying: "It is better than listening to news headlines that go over and over again." But there was also an impact on local customs or necessary water preservation. Jon said he preferred "when a lake fish called a boy who spent hours brushing his teeth over a continuously leaking tap." "The fish told him: 'Hey, if you go on like that I will remain without water'," said Jon, carefully recalling the episode. And his mother immediately thought of the persistant water shortages in Pristina. "Seriously, I am ashamed of watering my flowers since that episode," he confided. | | |
| No doubt by now, you've heard the myriad opinions on the new Indiana Jones movie ("It's great;" "Worst thing I've ever seen;" "Good, but not as..."), and of course, I have my own, which I'll share presently, but I also think I've come to a bit of an epiphany about Mr. Spielberg and Mr. Lucas. Of course, it's just speculation, but it still might be worth considering. Overall, I really enjoyed the new movie. It's a good, solid action flick, with some nicely choreographed action sequences, and an even pace that's brisk without being too ADD. Indy's a little more grizzled, with a little less spring in his step, but I guess that's what comes with being two decades older than he was the last time we saw him (unless you count that "jazz" episode of The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles). For the most part, Harrison Ford does just fine, and he's in great shape. Shia LeBeouf is not nearly as annoying as everyone seemed to think he would be (I honestly don't have a problem with the kid; lay off him, everyone). Spielberg's direction is efficient as always, and John Williams is back with strong musical support, although the new themes aren't as memorable as some of the older ones. There also quite a few choice moments, such as Indy donning his hat in silhouette before his face is revealed, and the scattered nods to friends and events from the previous films. And again, the action sequences tend to be top-notch. Now, as I said, I thought it was pretty good overall, but there are a few things, not bad things, necessarily, but things you'll have to realize if you're expecting another Raiders (or even Last Crusade): 1. The originals were set in the 1930s; the new one in the 50s. It's just a different era, and it calls for a different style of plot, pace, and vibe. 2. The originals kidded the adventure serials that they emulated, but they hardly ever let on that they were doing that, so they allowed you to take them seriously if you wanted to. The new one is a little less subtle; it allows itself to become a little too silly and wink-at-the-audience self-aware at times. Perhaps there was no way to recreate the magical balance the originals had, and maybe that's no one's fault, but you still miss it. 3. Spielberg, Lucas, Ford, and everyone else are also twenty years older now, and try as they might to recapture the Indy spirit, their sensibilities are different now. This last point brings me to my aforementioned epiphany. Again, I have nothing to really back this up, but I think the reason that this new movie turned out the way it did (and this extends, probably to an even higher degree, to the Star Wars prequels) is that Spielberg and Lucas made it for their kids, rather than for the kids within themselves. Crystal Skulls is a competently made, entertaining action/adventure movie, but the previous three films were trendsetters, full of passion and energy. Yes, I know they were inspired by dozens of other things, but as with Star Wars, the blend was new. This is going to get a little SPOILER-ISH, so consider yourself warned. There's nothing in Crystal Skulls to match the excitement of that first idol/boulder sequence in Raiders, the bridge scene from Temple of Doom, or even just the sheer joy on Indy's face when he discovers the knight's shield in Last Crusade (but there is a moment that actually comes close to that one). Also, although Crystal Skulls' villains do get their comeuppance, nothing creates the same unexpected thrill as seeing faces melting, hearts being ripped out, or somebody just decomposing right there in front of you. And the main disappointment for me is that there is nothing truly supernatural about the climax. Although the script cleverly navigates around the expected origin of the skulls, it's just a little too sci-fi (I can't believe I'm writing those words, but there they are) for Indiana Jones. Again, this probably came out of the necessity of setting the film in the 50s, but it still takes some getting used to. I'm sure the numerous preteen kids in the theater with us thought nothing of such things and just had a good time, and maybe it's just that I was a kid in the 80s, and that's why I so fondly remember the originals. Again, overall, I enjoyed the movie, and if today's kids have no problem with everything I've just mentinoed, then I'm glad. But I'm also glad it was Last Crusade that came out when I was 11. | | |
| A few weeks ago, a customer at the store asked, "Which was better, The Omega Man or I Am Legend?" One of my co-workers replied, "Well, I think Will Smith is a better actor than Charlton Heston, so I liked I Am Legend better." I didn't say anything. Now, this is not to say anything against Will Smith, who has proven himself to be quite a capable and versatile actor (his performance is a big reason that I Am Legend worked as well as it did), but I'd love to see him try to deliver The Player King's monologue with as much fire as Heston did in Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet a few years back. And then there is the little matter of parting a certain historical body of water for a few thousand folks to cross. Okay, so that was the visual effects team, but part of the reason that I believed it was happening on screen was the utter conviction on Chuck Heston's face, and the thundering "BEHOLD HIS MIGHTY HAND!!!!!" that came out of his mouth. Heston was just from a different era of film acting, and if his work seems a little over-the-top today, that's part of what made it work for its time. Even the incredibly hokey dialogue at the opening of Planet of the Apes ("Does Man, that marvel of the universe that sent me to the stars, still make war against his brother?") kind of works because of the way it was delivered. As for his politics, I disagree with some of them (though not all; the guy marched with Martin Luther King for crying out loud, and he was just a few feet away from him during the "I Have a Dream" speech), but I hate politics anyway, and that's never stopped me from appreciating someone's work or his or her status as a human being. Bill Hunt, the editor of thedigitalbits.com, posted this tribute to Heston the other day: http://www.thedigitalbits.com/#heston, which pretty much sums up my feelings on that matter. At any rate, I wish Heston's family, friends, and fans peace and the recognition that he left an idelible mark on his profession that will be remembered until the Statue of Liberty lies in ruins and the apes take over the planet again. Right, so I promise to quit with the obits of people I've never met and actually write something about myself next time, but at the moment, the work waits! | | |
| Just a quick note to report that Sir Arthur C. Clarke, author of 2001: Space Odyssey and dozens upon dozens of other books, short stories, and essays (and one of my all-time favorite writers) died earlier today at a hospital in Columbo, Sri Lanka, where he'd lived for about the past 50 years. He was 90.
At some point, I'm going to have to write a little about the impact Clarke's work had on me, particularly during my preteen and teen years, but at the moment, I've still got a movie to cut together.
In the meantime, here are a couple of obits:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/books/03/18/obit.clarke/index.html
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23697230/
And I've also posted a short video that Clarke sent out last December on the occasion of his 90th birthday, in which he talks a little about his long life and the things he's seen over the course of it. He's a little slow, and it's obvious that he's reading off a teleprompter, but what he has to say is interesting. The video is now the first one on my MySpace profile page, right underneath Chewbacca: http://www.myspace.com/shadowfax9000.
 Sir Arthur Charles Clarke 1917-2008 | | |
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