Sunday, May 10, 2009

Stardate: 2009.5.9

  • Random Pop Culture:
    • There's something lately about re-imagining or restarting older series (think Batman Begins and Casino Royale) and the new Star Trek is no different. Using a plot device that may be a little cheesy, but gives J.J. Abrams and his writers poetic license, the back story is changed somewhat to give a compelling -- and more modern -- look at the beginnings of the Enterprise's crew. The action is fantastic and other technical aspects of the movie are very well done. Abrams deadens the sound effects during some of the space scenes to let the great score take over or sometimes to give a vacant feel to the infinite cosmos. It's a trick that Lucas used to great effect in the opening of Revenge of the Sith and it was perfected in Battlestar Galactica. The acting is solid, most notably Zachary Quinto who is perfect as Spock. It's a very good movie, but it feels more like a setup for a new franchise than a standalone movie in and of itself. Hard to explain that, but you'll know what I mean if/when you see it. Go see it in the theaters, the effects are too pretty to waste on a small screen.
    • Funny that Damon Lindelof produces this film that deals with time travel in a fairly straightforward way when his TV show is screwing up everybody with its weird, as-of-yet unexplained time travel theory.
    • There were a number of people in the audience who were men with long hair. No barbers in the basement of the science building? Also, the whole audience was white. It's possible that Star Trek is perfect for a white person... but not for a black person. It doesn't pass the Red House test.
    • New trailers for G.I. Joe (not sure about it) and Transformers (looks the same as the first, so think what you will) along with a new Mike Judge film that stars Jason Bateman, Extract. I'll be looking forward to that one.
    • What qualifies as the most anticipated movie of the summer. Is it Star Trek, Transformers, or G.I. Joe? Is it Harry Potter? Not sure.
    • Who you got in The Amazing Race? I have Tammy and Victor.
  • Random Hatred and/or Love:
    • The lack of hand-washing is horrifying, especially given how regularly we are being reminded as of late. It's very noticeable in cinemas because the bathrooms get so crowded. Best/worst thing I've seen lately: a guy standing at a urinal with his popcorn on top of it, eating popcorn while he went to the bathroom. Sorry, I know it's disgusting, but how do you not share that?
  • Random Music Video:
    • Tomorrow's Mother's Day. Who better to say "thanks for popping me out" than a sweaty, shirtless Glenn Danzig?

1 comment:

Betsy said...

Tammy & Victor ftw!