One thing that drives me nuts is when movie reviews judge and rate every movie according to one standard. Apocalypse Now should not be judged by the same standard Tommy Boy is judged by, it just does not make any sense. A reviewer should not say, " Tommy Boy will get no oscar worthy performances and the cinematography left something to be desired." Reviewers need to judge a movie based on whether not it was successful in it's goal. Apocalypse now has more of a message sending, make you think, win some oscars goal, while Tommy Boy had a lets make silly jokes and make my audience crack up goal.
That said, I liked Get Smart because it was pretty close to what it intended to be. It's summery and light, it makes you laugh and it makes you happy. I don't want to ride any actors about their performances, they're all good, although Dwayne Johnson doesn't always have the best comedic timing.
Don't go to Get Smart hoping to get the Oh My God I can believe they did that Superbad style laughter, think, well it reminds me of when Nickelodeon would make fun summery kids movies, like snow day. They were so enjoyable because they weren't shooting for greatness, just to get some enjoyment out of things. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it's ok that Get Smart is the way it is because it wasn't shooting for the stars, it has flaws. Some gags have been done a little too much, and Carell is Carell as you have seen him in most situations, but that Carell is funny. One of my favorite bits involved a rat climbing into Carell's clothing as he is going through a laser field. I must admit the original get smart is before my time and I may be missing out on some underlying humor, but it didn't make the film any less enjoyable. Go to good smart if you want a a quick good time and don't expect an epic. It's just enjoyable.
On the Fury Comparison scale, Get Smart is a Brendan Fraser movie, like the Mummy, it's an action movie that's not that great, there are tons more that did it better, but you know if you catch it on TV you are going to sit down and watch it, because really, you liked watching it the first time.
The Fury System
Sorry for the week hiatus folks. I got into a gangfight last friday, broke 198 bones and was decapitated. I'm all healed now though, they replaced my bones with pure solidified testosterone and my brain with a TI-89 calculator. I can now rock complex math equations with ease, also, if I shut my eyes and think hard enough, I can run super mario on my eyelids.
but enough of that, I promised you all reviews and you are going to get them no matter how long ago I saw the movies. I am going to rate all the films I see on a "fury comparison scale" whether or not my readers comprehend it is to be determined, but I plan to have fun with it nonetheless.
I will explain the fury comparison scale upon request, and if I receive enough requests I guess I can do a public post, but I think you all will catch on.
The Incredible Hulk
First I must preface this by saying I love the character of the Hulk, he is my favorite superhero by far, and if you want to argue whether he or another character will win a fight, I will defend the Hulk's undefeatability until my voicebox collapses.
Onto the movie. The casting of Edward Norton is brilliant, possibly the perfect actor to play bruce banner, Eric Bana, I hate to say it, was to masculine. Bruce Banner isn't a tough guy, he's a geek and so is Edward Norton. I'm not a huge fan of Liv Tyler but she holds her own in this one, hold for a few awkward scenes with her father. Tim Roth is always good of course, and William Hurt, meh, he's always mediocre.
The story is a good one. I love that it has returned to the hulk on the run storyline similar to the old Bill Bixby show. It is exciting, Hulk kills people, breaks things, blows things up, yells, and is in general Badass. But one complaint I have is that he is not badass enough. The movie shows Hulk being held back by soundwaves, and getting humilitated by an awkwardly agile aging army agent (that alliteration just happened, weird), and then in the abomination fight at the end (which is spectacular) the hulk just did not dominate as a hulk should have (there are cuts on his skin?!) but those complaints are just because I'm rooting for my boy.
Another complaint I have is of course, the special effects don't quite work all the time which is to be expected when full characters are cgi. Luckily the direction is good enough that I didn't notice it too often.
But, the best thing this movie does( besides make you jump from you seat, look over at whoever is sitting next to you and go, "DAMN, Hulk F*cked that Bitch up) is it constructs a universe to set movies in. The marvel universe is developing into a thing where a director could just say, the setting is within the marvel universe and it gives him permission to make a movie where sonic hulk claps blowing out fires are just fine and fun, and crime fighting teams in costumes aren't so awkward. It references Captain America, Tony Stark makes an appearance, the avengers are mentioned, all these people are starting to be developed in this same world and I am excited for what else can happen in this world.
Overall on the Fury comparison scale the Hulk is a John Cena, He's big and loud and tons of fun and all over badass, but occasionally a Shawn Michaels is able to get the slip on him and you go wtf, how'd that puny bastard take down the champ?
also if anybody can answer these questions for me
1. Is there going to be a Thor movie and do you think a god is believable as a character in this newly developing Marvel universee.
2. What becomes of the scientist that trials to heal hulk, and ends up finishing blonksy's transformation to abomination?
but enough of that, I promised you all reviews and you are going to get them no matter how long ago I saw the movies. I am going to rate all the films I see on a "fury comparison scale" whether or not my readers comprehend it is to be determined, but I plan to have fun with it nonetheless.
I will explain the fury comparison scale upon request, and if I receive enough requests I guess I can do a public post, but I think you all will catch on.
The Incredible Hulk
First I must preface this by saying I love the character of the Hulk, he is my favorite superhero by far, and if you want to argue whether he or another character will win a fight, I will defend the Hulk's undefeatability until my voicebox collapses.
Onto the movie. The casting of Edward Norton is brilliant, possibly the perfect actor to play bruce banner, Eric Bana, I hate to say it, was to masculine. Bruce Banner isn't a tough guy, he's a geek and so is Edward Norton. I'm not a huge fan of Liv Tyler but she holds her own in this one, hold for a few awkward scenes with her father. Tim Roth is always good of course, and William Hurt, meh, he's always mediocre.
The story is a good one. I love that it has returned to the hulk on the run storyline similar to the old Bill Bixby show. It is exciting, Hulk kills people, breaks things, blows things up, yells, and is in general Badass. But one complaint I have is that he is not badass enough. The movie shows Hulk being held back by soundwaves, and getting humilitated by an awkwardly agile aging army agent (that alliteration just happened, weird), and then in the abomination fight at the end (which is spectacular) the hulk just did not dominate as a hulk should have (there are cuts on his skin?!) but those complaints are just because I'm rooting for my boy.
Another complaint I have is of course, the special effects don't quite work all the time which is to be expected when full characters are cgi. Luckily the direction is good enough that I didn't notice it too often.
But, the best thing this movie does( besides make you jump from you seat, look over at whoever is sitting next to you and go, "DAMN, Hulk F*cked that Bitch up) is it constructs a universe to set movies in. The marvel universe is developing into a thing where a director could just say, the setting is within the marvel universe and it gives him permission to make a movie where sonic hulk claps blowing out fires are just fine and fun, and crime fighting teams in costumes aren't so awkward. It references Captain America, Tony Stark makes an appearance, the avengers are mentioned, all these people are starting to be developed in this same world and I am excited for what else can happen in this world.
Overall on the Fury comparison scale the Hulk is a John Cena, He's big and loud and tons of fun and all over badass, but occasionally a Shawn Michaels is able to get the slip on him and you go wtf, how'd that puny bastard take down the champ?
also if anybody can answer these questions for me
1. Is there going to be a Thor movie and do you think a god is believable as a character in this newly developing Marvel universee.
2. What becomes of the scientist that trials to heal hulk, and ends up finishing blonksy's transformation to abomination?
Building and Rebuilding
So my last idea was a mediocre success. I had someone respond to my request for requests. AND I will be granting his request and writing on the recent midwest floods that affected both my hometown of Waterloo and my current town of Iowa City. Also I am going to announce my further future plans of this epic blog masterpiece, Movie Reviews. I have recently seen two new movies. The Incredible Hulk, AND Get Smart, so expect those reviews shortly.
ONTO THE FLOOD
So first things first, I kept making Halo flood references throughout flood week as jokes. No one got them. Dissapointing.
For me the flood didn't mean much besides not having to work for a full week, yet getting paid for both of my jobs. Which taught me in some ways how I deal with my free-time when it is unadulterated. But that is a topic of a later blog. Otherwise it was just kind of neat to have experienced first-hand a record setting event. Nothing like this has EVER happened before and I can say I was there. As my blog readers know, I'm all about having good stories to tell other people or my kids in the future. The thing is, my story will never be as good as any of the many people who were taken away from their homes or lost their belongings. They're story is one to really write about. My parents had to redo their basement. No big. My buddy's parent's were evacuated. Kinda big. Some people lost their house. That's big. So I am not even going to pretend like I have a good story to tell. I sat at home, drank, and played ps3 and got paid while tons of others were figuring out how to start their lives over. Support the flood clean up in any way you can. I've seen our campus, a fair amount is underwater, much of it in brand new buildings. I work at the University of Iowa Foundation's Telefund, the team that handles the majority of charitbale giving to the university. Visit http://www.givetoiowa.org/floodfund and see how you can help. I assure you it all will go to a good place.
ONTO THE FLOOD
So first things first, I kept making Halo flood references throughout flood week as jokes. No one got them. Dissapointing.
For me the flood didn't mean much besides not having to work for a full week, yet getting paid for both of my jobs. Which taught me in some ways how I deal with my free-time when it is unadulterated. But that is a topic of a later blog. Otherwise it was just kind of neat to have experienced first-hand a record setting event. Nothing like this has EVER happened before and I can say I was there. As my blog readers know, I'm all about having good stories to tell other people or my kids in the future. The thing is, my story will never be as good as any of the many people who were taken away from their homes or lost their belongings. They're story is one to really write about. My parents had to redo their basement. No big. My buddy's parent's were evacuated. Kinda big. Some people lost their house. That's big. So I am not even going to pretend like I have a good story to tell. I sat at home, drank, and played ps3 and got paid while tons of others were figuring out how to start their lives over. Support the flood clean up in any way you can. I've seen our campus, a fair amount is underwater, much of it in brand new buildings. I work at the University of Iowa Foundation's Telefund, the team that handles the majority of charitbale giving to the university. Visit http://www.givetoiowa.org/floodfund and see how you can help. I assure you it all will go to a good place.
An Idea
I want this blog to become more popular than it is. It may only be relevant to young people who know me but I want it to be popular anyway. I want everyone who knows me to read my blog and tell their friends about it.
but that's not the idea.
I kind of want to do an "Ask Alice" sort of thing up in here. I want people to e-mail me (bryce-anderson@uiowa.edu) and request a blog subject, or ask me what I think of something or just give me something to respond to. I can write posts that say, "Little Timmy from South Bend, Indiana writes -Bryce, I liked your blog about kittens, but what do you think of turtles?"
to which I would respond
"Thanks Lil' Tim, I think turtles are great little creatures but would rather have a pet tortoise"
Also I am going to count on my readers (that means you Dave, Cody and Jonathan) to spread the word. I think if I had higher readership I would devote more of myself to this blog and it really would just be highly enjoyable to get e-mails or comments that I could respond to.
but that's not the idea.
I kind of want to do an "Ask Alice" sort of thing up in here. I want people to e-mail me (bryce-anderson@uiowa.edu) and request a blog subject, or ask me what I think of something or just give me something to respond to. I can write posts that say, "Little Timmy from South Bend, Indiana writes -Bryce, I liked your blog about kittens, but what do you think of turtles?"
to which I would respond
"Thanks Lil' Tim, I think turtles are great little creatures but would rather have a pet tortoise"
Also I am going to count on my readers (that means you Dave, Cody and Jonathan) to spread the word. I think if I had higher readership I would devote more of myself to this blog and it really would just be highly enjoyable to get e-mails or comments that I could respond to.
Regime
I really like the word regime. This is going to be a blog that is based on something I like, rather than some message I am pretentiously trying to convey. My Mac tells me there are two meanings. I already knew this, but love that I am able to verify it so easily by pushing F12. Random gripe, the 12 is shorter than the F, fuck this font. Back to the regime though. The first meaning has to do with a particularly authoritarian government. The second meaning refers to a strictly adhered to way of doing things. I like the second meaning but with the added touch of the authoritativeness of the first. I always tell myself I am going to go on regime, not A regime, but "regime," kind of in the sense that it is opposite of vacation. Lots of people go on an exercise or dietary regimen, I say regimen isn't militaristic enough. So far most of my regimes have only lasted about 3 days. At least I beat Joseph Goebbels, his regime lasted about 5 hours. The idea of a regime has just always appealed to me though and I figure if I keep attempting them, eventually the attempting will outweigh the not attempting. Regime's are just so absolute, so controlled, so unquestioning and strict. I am a man of the moment and just haven't had the self control to keep myself to a regime. Anything that can be that efficient, exact and fully intentional in everything it does is of great admiration to me. I want that. I want to be the best soldier in an army of ants whose entire existence is based around becoming a better soldier. I want to be the taxi driver. I want to be Hitler's army. There's something about a regime that's just unstoppable. The word regime has power. This may be why communism has always appealed to me. I always thought the russian in Rocky IV was a complete badass, or the killer in No Country for Old Man, or The fucking Terminator. Completely regimented, unquestioning and powerful. It's probably because it is just so unlike me that I kind of want that regimented power. It's not something I really desire, it would squeeze out so many other of life's joys. But there is just something in me that has an infinite interest in the Robotic life of improvement. I admire that man who becomes obsessed with his mission, and spends more time at his business than with his family, or the man who loses all social contact to spend 18 hours a day at the gym. The machine of a human on regime is just somewhere in me and I want to awaken part of it.
So yeah. As always, not fully fleshed out, I'm not that Nabokovian writer on regime shooting for perfection, I just have a deep interest in his type.
also, yes, I do occasionally do blog research on Wikipedia, so sue me.
So yeah. As always, not fully fleshed out, I'm not that Nabokovian writer on regime shooting for perfection, I just have a deep interest in his type.
also, yes, I do occasionally do blog research on Wikipedia, so sue me.
Knapsack
I thought of a pretty decent analogy the other night, but it was like two in the AM, I was kind of drunk still, and I had work at 8 AM the next day. Needless to say I didn't flesh it out then. Why not take some time out of my busy schedule working here at my desk in Jessup Hall to write a blog? It began with me thinking about how I felt I hadn't kept up with my friends from my hometown well enough, or even people I have just met along the way for that matter. That led me to the saying my parents always told me, "Don't burn bridges because you may need to cross them again someday."
So there's friends you had in the past that you hold on to and stay in touch with and theres ones you kind of forget about but rarely is there a friends in the past, at least for me, that you intentionally torched the connection to. So really the phrase shouldn't be so much about not burning bridges, but constantly working to repair them. Here's where I get to my brilliant analogy. Life, of course, is like a journey into the wilderness. The keen and prepared wilderness explorer brings supplies with him so that the journey is slightly less difficult. Nobody wants to be like Bear Grylls stuck in the wilderness with nothing to get them by, so you bring your knapsack. Well in this analogy the knapsack is like the people and friends you have in life. You can carry a light knapsack, and dump supplies out after you think you are done with them. I already built the rope bridge, don't really need that rope anymore, lets just ditch it and keep going. Or you can think ahead, spend some time untying and rerolling the rope and keep it with you for the journey. It's like people you meet. I can think, "this was a fun dude to hang out with while I was in highschool, but heck I'm in college now, don't need him anymore." or the alternative is, I can recognize what type of valuable person he is, spend some time to keep him in my knapsack and keep on trekkin'. Of course, his extra weight in the knapsack is worth it if in the future you find out you need him, have to backtrack and fix any damage in order to get him back in your sack. The thing is, along the way, if you keep everyone that you meet in your knapsack, that thing is going to be a bitch to carry, and all those people are going to feel pretty cramped in there. So we have to carefully pick and choose who is most important to us to keep along our journey and we have to analyze our strength to correctly gauge how many people we can carry along with us. You have to decide if you are strong enough to drag an immense load with you through the forest or if you would prefer a lighter load and some more puzzling troubles along the way.
I am going to edit my phrase, and possibly edit again later, but for now, lets change it to, "Don't empty your knapsack too soon, you might need that rope later."
also this may sound like I view other people as to be used, and in a way I do. But I use the term use very loosely in the sense that a person providing quality friendship is in a way being used, but it's a reciprocal thing and in no way bad.
So there's friends you had in the past that you hold on to and stay in touch with and theres ones you kind of forget about but rarely is there a friends in the past, at least for me, that you intentionally torched the connection to. So really the phrase shouldn't be so much about not burning bridges, but constantly working to repair them. Here's where I get to my brilliant analogy. Life, of course, is like a journey into the wilderness. The keen and prepared wilderness explorer brings supplies with him so that the journey is slightly less difficult. Nobody wants to be like Bear Grylls stuck in the wilderness with nothing to get them by, so you bring your knapsack. Well in this analogy the knapsack is like the people and friends you have in life. You can carry a light knapsack, and dump supplies out after you think you are done with them. I already built the rope bridge, don't really need that rope anymore, lets just ditch it and keep going. Or you can think ahead, spend some time untying and rerolling the rope and keep it with you for the journey. It's like people you meet. I can think, "this was a fun dude to hang out with while I was in highschool, but heck I'm in college now, don't need him anymore." or the alternative is, I can recognize what type of valuable person he is, spend some time to keep him in my knapsack and keep on trekkin'. Of course, his extra weight in the knapsack is worth it if in the future you find out you need him, have to backtrack and fix any damage in order to get him back in your sack. The thing is, along the way, if you keep everyone that you meet in your knapsack, that thing is going to be a bitch to carry, and all those people are going to feel pretty cramped in there. So we have to carefully pick and choose who is most important to us to keep along our journey and we have to analyze our strength to correctly gauge how many people we can carry along with us. You have to decide if you are strong enough to drag an immense load with you through the forest or if you would prefer a lighter load and some more puzzling troubles along the way.
I am going to edit my phrase, and possibly edit again later, but for now, lets change it to, "Don't empty your knapsack too soon, you might need that rope later."
also this may sound like I view other people as to be used, and in a way I do. But I use the term use very loosely in the sense that a person providing quality friendship is in a way being used, but it's a reciprocal thing and in no way bad.
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