For many mediums of entertainment, I'm not one to get defensive. Don't like South Park or Arrested Development? There's no accounting for taste. Not fond of the movie scores of John Williams. Well, I can understand that. You found War & Peace to be too long? Yeah, I can see that.
Only when it comes to movies to I tend to get defensive, especially if it is a movie I really like. It isn't that I can't rationally grasp the idea that somebody doesn't see the movie the way I see it, because I certainly can. Its more of a emotional response that is built from a deep sense of insecurity about my personal tastes.
Although movies such as Little Miss Sunshine, Juno, and Stranger than Fiction* elicit this response from me, the three biggest movies that cause me to become overly defensive are Episodes I-III of Star Wars.
Yeah, I'm an apologist for lil' Ani's big Adventure. Big deal, you wanna fight about it? Its so bad I tense up and get snippy when watching any episode of South Park that defames The Phantom Menace, or that episode of The Simpsons where they break into a Lucas-like director's compound to pontificate on the value of a good story. I know its childish, and I get crap for it from my friends and siblings. But the fact remains that I still like the films.
I think its a desire to see these Star Wars films as my Star Wars, considering I wasn't born until a year after The Empire Strikes Back came out. I also think it is because people went overboard in their criticism (much of the problems with Episodes I-III are also present in the earlier films), and were unrealistic in their expectations. Most of all, I think The Phantom Menace, Jar-Jar and camel farts excepted, is a very solid film. **
As I get older, I do think I've mellowed somewhat on this issue. I mostly keep my mouth shut when I hear or see criticisms of the prequels, and I can certainly agree that maybe Lucas could have used some people who weren't afraid to challenge him on some of his decisions***. Besides, I think we all can agree that The Clone Wars movie was a forgettable piece of mediocrity.
* Pixar films can be included here as well, but I am sure that anybody who doesn't like Pixar are either Dreamworks plants or soul-less automatons (or both).
** Most of my defensiveness is about Episode I. I've come down a bit on Episode II (especially Natalie Portman's performance and some of the effects), and Episode III is well liked enough that I don't feel the need to defend it.
*** Like damnit, George, Jar-Jar? Really?
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Monday, March 2, 2009
Announcing a New Blog
No, not the one I promised in a previous post. My sister has blog titled "Sooner or Later Everybody goes to the Zoo", a blog about her life as an intern at the St. Louis Zoo. She's already been hard at work over there, so I hope you go check it out.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Deep Space Nine
Looking back through my archives, I realized that I haven't written about Star Trek: Deep Space Nine one of my favorite TV shows of all time. Although I only finished watching the entire series in 2008, I've been a fan since I started regularly watching the show towards the end of season 5 (1996-1997).
I appreciate Star Trek, especially some of the better episodes and the even numbered old school movies (II, IV, and VI). However, it was well before my time, and not very well syndicated in Central Illinois during my formative years. Star Trek: The Next Generation was the choice of my friends, and was a show I enjoyed as well (even if season 1 was ridiculously goofy). * However, ever since I watched the first few episodes my dad had taped, I was hooked.
Although the show certainly has its fans, and it did attract a modest following, it was nowhere near as successful as TNG. Part of this may have been it being located on a space station instead of a starship. It also was a much darker show than the hyper optimistic TNG, a tone that didn't fit quite so well in the internet boom heydays of the Clinton years.
Had Deep Space Nine premiered in 2004 instead of 1994, it probably would have gained a much larger audience, as many of its topics are even timlier in the post 9/11 world. Episodes such as "Homefront" and "Paradise Lost" dealt with overzealous "patriots" willing to sacrifice freedoms for elusive security. Other episodes dealt with racism, religion, torture, genetic engineering and even trans-sexualism (although in an easily explainable way involving Trill).
Yet as serious as many of the episodes where, the show also had its lighthearted moments. I anticipated every episode where Quark, Rom, or any of the other Ferengi played an integral part. Throw Odo into the mix, and you usually have one heck of an adventure. Despite the obvious difficulties, the time travel epsiodes were usually my favorite, whether it was the more serious "Past Tense" or the humorous retelling of the Roswell story in "Little Green Men", the writers knew how to do time travel right.
Although I have many favorite episodes, the best one by far has to be "Far Beyond the Stars". In this day and age, the episode still resonates, as Benny Russell would have been considered just as reckless writing about a black President as he was writing about a black space station captain. Although you should check out all 7 seasons, this is a must see.
Like everything, the show wasn't perfect. I groaned every time Worf and/or Jadzia went out on a mission with the Klingons, and the episodes with the lounge singer were mixed at best (although the Ocean's 11 type story was surprisingly entertaining). However, it was far more hit then miss.
With the reboot of the Star Trek Franchise this summer, maybe more people will take the time to become acquainted with this show. Those that do take a trip out to the station by the Wormhole (or the Temple of the Prophets) will find something interesting.
*Yes, I'm aware of the other two TV shows. Please don't remind me.
I appreciate Star Trek, especially some of the better episodes and the even numbered old school movies (II, IV, and VI). However, it was well before my time, and not very well syndicated in Central Illinois during my formative years. Star Trek: The Next Generation was the choice of my friends, and was a show I enjoyed as well (even if season 1 was ridiculously goofy). * However, ever since I watched the first few episodes my dad had taped, I was hooked.
Although the show certainly has its fans, and it did attract a modest following, it was nowhere near as successful as TNG. Part of this may have been it being located on a space station instead of a starship. It also was a much darker show than the hyper optimistic TNG, a tone that didn't fit quite so well in the internet boom heydays of the Clinton years.
Had Deep Space Nine premiered in 2004 instead of 1994, it probably would have gained a much larger audience, as many of its topics are even timlier in the post 9/11 world. Episodes such as "Homefront" and "Paradise Lost" dealt with overzealous "patriots" willing to sacrifice freedoms for elusive security. Other episodes dealt with racism, religion, torture, genetic engineering and even trans-sexualism (although in an easily explainable way involving Trill).
Yet as serious as many of the episodes where, the show also had its lighthearted moments. I anticipated every episode where Quark, Rom, or any of the other Ferengi played an integral part. Throw Odo into the mix, and you usually have one heck of an adventure. Despite the obvious difficulties, the time travel epsiodes were usually my favorite, whether it was the more serious "Past Tense" or the humorous retelling of the Roswell story in "Little Green Men", the writers knew how to do time travel right.
Although I have many favorite episodes, the best one by far has to be "Far Beyond the Stars". In this day and age, the episode still resonates, as Benny Russell would have been considered just as reckless writing about a black President as he was writing about a black space station captain. Although you should check out all 7 seasons, this is a must see.
Like everything, the show wasn't perfect. I groaned every time Worf and/or Jadzia went out on a mission with the Klingons, and the episodes with the lounge singer were mixed at best (although the Ocean's 11 type story was surprisingly entertaining). However, it was far more hit then miss.
With the reboot of the Star Trek Franchise this summer, maybe more people will take the time to become acquainted with this show. Those that do take a trip out to the station by the Wormhole (or the Temple of the Prophets) will find something interesting.
*Yes, I'm aware of the other two TV shows. Please don't remind me.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
My Year in 2008 Movie-Going
Last year, I had intended to do a year-end review of movies for 2007. As it way my first year in which I had both the income and proximity to a theater, I watched almost one movie a week. It was a wonderful year to watch movies, with many great movies. However, I never got the post written, and my thoughts were left in the dark.
At the end of 2008, I again intended to share my thoughts on the year of movies. However, this presented a problem, as many of the year-end movies didn't appear in my area until the end of January, when they all came into the theater at once. Therefore, I had to delay my post due to going to the theater 3 or 4 nights a week. By this past Tuesday, I had finally watched Gran Torino, ending my year of 2008 movies.
Overall, I can't say 2008 was as good as 2007, especially when comparing the Oscar Bait movies of the years. Three of my favorite movies from 2008 (Ironman, The Dark Knight, and Wall-E) came out during the summer, and one (In Bruges) debuted about a year ago. Although I enjoyed movies like Rachel's Getting Married, Gran Torino, and Slumdog Millionaire, none of them entered my list of favorites like Juno, There Will Be Blood or Walk Hard did in 2007.
Still, there were some very good things about the films of 2008. Dreamworks finally made an animated movie worth a damn (Kung Fu Panda). Pineapple Thunder, Tropic Thunder and Forgetting Sarah Marshall made me laugh. Pixar showed us that it is possible to make a love story about two robots heart-warming, and also showed that it was possible to top Ratatouille in terms of ambition. Even a movie that looked like it would be a disaster (W) turned out to be a very competent surprise.
So where will 2009 take us? The first big movie of this year is coming out March 6, when we get to see if the fears of nerds everywhere will be realized when Watchmen comes out. Later in the year, new entries from Pixar, Harry Potter, and Star Trek come out, all movies that could be great, or be disappointing. I'm sure there will be more movies to get excited about, but for right now those are the four movies I am anticipating.
Until next time, enjoy the popcorn, and I hope to see you at the movies.
At the end of 2008, I again intended to share my thoughts on the year of movies. However, this presented a problem, as many of the year-end movies didn't appear in my area until the end of January, when they all came into the theater at once. Therefore, I had to delay my post due to going to the theater 3 or 4 nights a week. By this past Tuesday, I had finally watched Gran Torino, ending my year of 2008 movies.
Overall, I can't say 2008 was as good as 2007, especially when comparing the Oscar Bait movies of the years. Three of my favorite movies from 2008 (Ironman, The Dark Knight, and Wall-E) came out during the summer, and one (In Bruges) debuted about a year ago. Although I enjoyed movies like Rachel's Getting Married, Gran Torino, and Slumdog Millionaire, none of them entered my list of favorites like Juno, There Will Be Blood or Walk Hard did in 2007.
Still, there were some very good things about the films of 2008. Dreamworks finally made an animated movie worth a damn (Kung Fu Panda). Pineapple Thunder, Tropic Thunder and Forgetting Sarah Marshall made me laugh. Pixar showed us that it is possible to make a love story about two robots heart-warming, and also showed that it was possible to top Ratatouille in terms of ambition. Even a movie that looked like it would be a disaster (W) turned out to be a very competent surprise.
So where will 2009 take us? The first big movie of this year is coming out March 6, when we get to see if the fears of nerds everywhere will be realized when Watchmen comes out. Later in the year, new entries from Pixar, Harry Potter, and Star Trek come out, all movies that could be great, or be disappointing. I'm sure there will be more movies to get excited about, but for right now those are the four movies I am anticipating.
Until next time, enjoy the popcorn, and I hope to see you at the movies.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
A Note on Quo Vadimus
I'll have my 2008 movie wrap-up post later this week, but tonight, a quick note on the future of this blog.
No, the blog isn't going away, but it will be getting a new name (although the url will probably stay the same). Quo Vadimus will be getting a new mission, one which I have yet to completely determine. I will have more on that later.
Until then, you can still come here for my infrequent and semi-coherent rants about movies, TV, and sports. And after that, I hope you'll frequent both the new blog and the new and (hopefully) improved Quo Vadimus.
Until next time,
Your Friendly Neighborhood Blogger
No, the blog isn't going away, but it will be getting a new name (although the url will probably stay the same). Quo Vadimus will be getting a new mission, one which I have yet to completely determine. I will have more on that later.
Until then, you can still come here for my infrequent and semi-coherent rants about movies, TV, and sports. And after that, I hope you'll frequent both the new blog and the new and (hopefully) improved Quo Vadimus.
Until next time,
Your Friendly Neighborhood Blogger
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
The 2008 NFL Wrap up
To all readers who aren't football fans: I apologize for the 4th straight football post. Rest assured this is the last one that will done, at least until the Bears screw up the draft.
Well, how about the end of that Super Bowl, eh? Too bad the rest of the game was unremarkable.
I apologize for not giving my Championship or Super Bowl picks, but as you can see the simple rule with my picks is go against me, unless Pittsburgh and Baltimore are involved. Until the Super Bowl I picked both teams correctly, and certainly would have picked Pittsburgh had I known they were going up against the Cardinals.
Although they were a model of mediocrity during the regular season, I must congratulate the Arizona Cardinals for joining the real NFL. Now their fledgling group of fans can move from ridiculous irrelevance to painful memories. The Eagles , Bills, and Browns fans welcome you. Detroit and Houston, you're next.
And to Pittsburgh, I congratulate you. You now have one for your left hand as well. Also, considering you have to live with the Pirates, I'm not sure another title isn't deserved.
And so, another season wraps up, and the lights for meaningful games are out until next September. A sports hungry nation turns its eyes towards college basketball, just in time for the run to the tournament. And later this month, four of the sweetest words in the English language ("Pitchers and Catchers Report") will usher in the beginnings of another summer in the sun. For those in Cleveland and on the north side of Chicago, Dallas San Francisco, and yes even you in Kansas City and Pittsburgh, can be forgiven for having hope.
At least until after Opening Day...
Well, how about the end of that Super Bowl, eh? Too bad the rest of the game was unremarkable.
I apologize for not giving my Championship or Super Bowl picks, but as you can see the simple rule with my picks is go against me, unless Pittsburgh and Baltimore are involved. Until the Super Bowl I picked both teams correctly, and certainly would have picked Pittsburgh had I known they were going up against the Cardinals.
Although they were a model of mediocrity during the regular season, I must congratulate the Arizona Cardinals for joining the real NFL. Now their fledgling group of fans can move from ridiculous irrelevance to painful memories. The Eagles , Bills, and Browns fans welcome you. Detroit and Houston, you're next.
And to Pittsburgh, I congratulate you. You now have one for your left hand as well. Also, considering you have to live with the Pirates, I'm not sure another title isn't deserved.
And so, another season wraps up, and the lights for meaningful games are out until next September. A sports hungry nation turns its eyes towards college basketball, just in time for the run to the tournament. And later this month, four of the sweetest words in the English language ("Pitchers and Catchers Report") will usher in the beginnings of another summer in the sun. For those in Cleveland and on the north side of Chicago, Dallas San Francisco, and yes even you in Kansas City and Pittsburgh, can be forgiven for having hope.
At least until after Opening Day...
Monday, January 5, 2009
NFL Playoffs: Wildcard Fever
1-3.
Yeah, that one has gotta hurt. With the same intuition that I exhibited in my preseason super bowl pick of the Cowboys (hah) and the Browns (urgh), I appear to have doomed the seasons of the fair Colts, Vikings, and Falcons.
In my defense, had I actually spent time researching the matchups and actually doing work on the picks, I probably could have gone 2-2.
Anyhoo, with as much foresight and skill exhibited in my previous week, here are my divisional round picks.
NFC
New York over Philadelphia
I have to go with the Defending champions on this one. The Eagles showed they could win on the road at the Vikings, but it was Tavaris Johnson after all. The Super Bowl road in the NFC will go through the Meadowlands.
Carolina over Arizona
You lousy redbirds picked a fine time to actually show up. Where were you against Minnesota, when the Conundrums of the Midway needed you to bolster their playoff hopes? So you beat Matt Ryan, eh? The Bears almost did that as well, if Robbie Gould could have kicked a squib kick, or the defense could have kept the reciever in bounds. Oh well, enough bitching. The Boringest Show on Turf continues on to face the New York Giants.
AFC
Baltimore over Tennessee
Of my picks, this is probably my least confident one (which means it will probably be the lone one to pay off). Tennessee looks vulnerable, one of those unpleasant #1 seeds that always seem to get picked off in the divisional round. Granted, one of those teams (2006 Bears) made it all the way to the Super Bowl, but they almost blew it against Seattle. However, the very fact they look so vulnerable has me second-guessing myself in this crazy NFL world.
Pittsburgh over San Diego
My confidence level for this game is about 50% lower is Rothlisberger isn't starting in Pittsburgh. Still, even without him, I can't see the Chargers making it to a second straight AFC championship. However, the prospect of an 8-8 team making the Super Bowl is an intriguing thought. Its like the mediocrity of the 2008 NFL season has come alive, and is tangibly trying to prove its title as most mediocre season ever.
NFL 2009! Catch the Fever. Or Don't.
Yeah, that one has gotta hurt. With the same intuition that I exhibited in my preseason super bowl pick of the Cowboys (hah) and the Browns (urgh), I appear to have doomed the seasons of the fair Colts, Vikings, and Falcons.
In my defense, had I actually spent time researching the matchups and actually doing work on the picks, I probably could have gone 2-2.
Anyhoo, with as much foresight and skill exhibited in my previous week, here are my divisional round picks.
NFC
New York over Philadelphia
I have to go with the Defending champions on this one. The Eagles showed they could win on the road at the Vikings, but it was Tavaris Johnson after all. The Super Bowl road in the NFC will go through the Meadowlands.
Carolina over Arizona
You lousy redbirds picked a fine time to actually show up. Where were you against Minnesota, when the Conundrums of the Midway needed you to bolster their playoff hopes? So you beat Matt Ryan, eh? The Bears almost did that as well, if Robbie Gould could have kicked a squib kick, or the defense could have kept the reciever in bounds. Oh well, enough bitching. The Boringest Show on Turf continues on to face the New York Giants.
AFC
Baltimore over Tennessee
Of my picks, this is probably my least confident one (which means it will probably be the lone one to pay off). Tennessee looks vulnerable, one of those unpleasant #1 seeds that always seem to get picked off in the divisional round. Granted, one of those teams (2006 Bears) made it all the way to the Super Bowl, but they almost blew it against Seattle. However, the very fact they look so vulnerable has me second-guessing myself in this crazy NFL world.
Pittsburgh over San Diego
My confidence level for this game is about 50% lower is Rothlisberger isn't starting in Pittsburgh. Still, even without him, I can't see the Chargers making it to a second straight AFC championship. However, the prospect of an 8-8 team making the Super Bowl is an intriguing thought. Its like the mediocrity of the 2008 NFL season has come alive, and is tangibly trying to prove its title as most mediocre season ever.
NFL 2009! Catch the Fever. Or Don't.
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