skyline… stephen hawking warned you

Haven’t seen much press about this movie until just recently. I like how they refer to Stephen Hawking in the trailer. Anything with a bit of Hawking makes it better.

darth schwarzenegger

This just might be more entertaining than the Arnold prank calls.

An earlier casting of Star Wars IV: A New Hope saw Arnold Schwarzenegger put a juvenile, jealous and rather perverted spin on Darth Vader’s explosive personality. George Lucas had second thoughts and cast James Earl Jones instead. Enjoy these exclusive clips from the “lost tapes” archives of Skywalker Ranch.

Special thanks to Peter Arbour.

August 4: Featured on Attack of the Show

article source

food inc

Worth watching if you were ever curious about how the meat in your burgers and the food in the grocery stores actually gets there. My family and my wife’s family buy a lot of organic food, and watching this convinced me I should be doing more of the same.

You are voting every time you decide what to eat for a meal, so why not vote for something a little less unhealthy? Ultimately the supply of a market is determined by what is demanded by the consumer. The movie came out a couple of years ago, so it should be easy to find on netflix or blockbuster.

The current method of raw food production is largely a response to the growth of the fast food industry since the 1950s. The production of food overall has more drastically changed since that time than the several thousand years prior. Controlled primarily by a handful of multinational corporations, the global food production business – with an emphasis on the business – has as its unwritten goals production of large quantities of food at low direct inputs (most often subsidized) resulting in enormous profits, which in turn results in greater control of the global supply of food sources within these few companies. Health and safety (of the food itself, of the animals produced themselves, of the workers on the assembly lines, and of the consumers actually eating the food) are often overlooked by the companies, and are often overlooked by government in an effort to provide cheap food regardless of these negative consequences. Many of the changes are based on advancements in science and technology, but often have negative side effects. The answer that the companies have come up with is to throw more science at the problems to bandage the issues but not the root causes. The global food supply may be in crisis with lack of biodiversity, but can be changed on the demand side of the equation.

article source

l'ours (the bear): by jean jacques annaud: the cougar scene

Wow. Wow. Woooooow.
I’ve got to find this movie and watch it all the way through as soon as possible. The cougar scene is so gripping and filmed from the animal’s perspective. You get a sense of the raw tension between predator and prey in this clip.

The director of “Quest for Fire” creates yet another film in nature with almost no human dialogue in this picturesque story of an orphaned bear cub who is adopted by an adult male bear and must avoid hunters. Bart the Bear stars in this anthropomorphic fantasy

article source

the matrix: 1905 starring charlie chaplin

Silent films are something I’ve always enjoyed. The exaggerated acting and poses are what appeal to me the most.

So that leaves one to question, “How would a contemporary sci-fi picture translate into this medium?” An acting troupe from Asia has replied humorously, Russian subtitles included. That Charlie guy sure knows how to rough-house a multitude of baddies (with deadly pies).

video from Russian actor’s group “Big Difference” (Bolshaya Raznitsa). They specialize mostly on Russian TV show parodies.

up: the motley crew of carl, russell, dug, and kevin

Carl Fredricksen, an elderly man with a floating house traverses through an undiscovered world of flora and fauna, accompanied by a young asian cubscout, a technologically enhanced golden retriever, and exotically strange bird….and, it’s completely acceptable because of solid personality and character development.

carl russell dug and kevin

I just saw UP with my wife over the weekend. This has got to be one of my favorite Pixar stories, and they’ve already set the bar pretty high with all the other films. What always blows my mind about these guys is the surgical care they take to every iota of the what happens, and how it weaves into the overall theme that’s being communicated. Being a guy who’s married to a supportive, funny, and weird wife also helped me appreciate it in ways that weren’t revealed in any of the movie trailers.

I loved all the characters, but found myself cheering the most for Carl throughout the film.  He has this complicated yet simple personality arc, from childhood into the present day that is just….constructed so well!

I can’t say enough good things about this movie. Just go see it. :)
Oh, and if you have any grandparents or older folks you’re close too, take them to see it also.

where the wild things are

Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak was far and away one of my favorite books of all time. What’s better than that is the pairing of the story with one of my favorite directors, Spike Jonze. His visual style always had a nice blend of curiosity and imagination. This movie looks like it could be something fantastic! Wow!!

james kakalios and the science of ‘the watchmen’

I’m really excited to see The Watchmen this weekend. It’s one of my favorite comic series by far, delving deep into the social and moral underpinnings of a world inhabited by heroes. In many ways it set the bar of character development and comic book writing for generations to come. Although I am a bit apprehensive about the condensation of complexities native to the landscape of Alan Moore‘s writing, it should be exciting to see what is presented in abridged format.

Another thing that really stokes my nerdar about this movie is the science and logic behind the evolution of certain characters. Below is an interview with a physics professor who was tapped as a consultant on the film, most notably on the abilities of Dr. Manhattan.

University of Minnesota physics professor James Kakalios discusses how he was tapped to add a physics perspective to the upcoming Warner Brothers movie, Watchmen. Kakalios discusses how quantum mechanics can explain Dr. Manhattan’s super human powers in the film, and how he came to become an expert on the topic of the physics of superheroes. Check out Kakalios book at www.physicsofsuperheroes.com

godzilla 2000: filled with emotion and wonder

I’m a big fan of all the Godzilla flicks, so today the Mrs. and I thought it would be….wait, let me rephrase that. “I” thought it would be fun to finally watch the glory that is Godzilla 2000.

Just be happy you weren't around after the spicy meal....

The included party were quickly converted from doubting to disciple as the powerful drama unlatched itself along a humorously dubbed timeline.

I was quite satisfied with movie, which delivers on the familiar formula of humanity’s love/hate relationship with the radioactive-faced beast.

Something I still don’t get is how he is always attacked by those missiles early on in the plot, waving and bellowing to the heavens above. It seems that our species has a hard time grasping the numerous examples of Godzilla’s dispersing of aliens, mech doppelgangers, and other mutated monstrosities alike.

Thank you Godzilla…I remember, unlike those fools who barrage you with the latest in ballistics technology every other storyline.

The most exciting element of the viewing experience can be credited to Mrs. Jiovis, who broke down in tears during the climactic end battle between Godzilla and final boss. As we all know Godzilla must first sustain heavy attack before summoning shear willpower to overcome and win.

Without spoiling anything at all, I will be general:

The emotional moment crested as Godzilla was struck upon multiple times by an ultra combo attack which ended with a building collapsing on his rubbery cranium.

The cries made their way quickly to occupy the room surrounding my ear ducts.

“Waaaaaahhhhhh!! *sniff* *sniff*…..Godzillaaaaaaa!”

I responded quickly with assurance.

“Don’t worry Jiovis, Godzilla is going to win.  Count on it.”

…and win he did….but you’ll have to see the movie for yourself to enjoy the crescendo of the experience.

tony jaa in ong bak 2

When the movie is released in the country you’re reading this, I am not entirely sure.  I am avidly anticipating its arrival.  Tony Jaa is easily one of the most talented and incredible martial artists in the world today.

The action sequences in his previous Ong Bak film have no wirework, no stunt doubles, and no special effects. You are seeing all the skills, raw and uncut. Most impressive.

I’m hoping and expecting more of the same for this time around. In many ways the sequel sets to expand on Tony’s diverse knowledge of martial arts, highlighting his ability to shift from one style of fighting to another.

Like many of his contemporaries, he’s had an interesting story and many hardships to overcome to get to this point in his career. I like how the herds of elephants to bow to him also.

Don’t you wish elephants would bow before you?

hotel rwanda

During the year of 1994, Rwanda was a country torn by conflict between the Tutsis and Hutus.  The violence affected many and sparked an eventual genocide of over 1 million people. This story focuses on one real-life individual doing his best to manage in the eye of an ever-closing storm: hotelier Paul Rusesabagina at Hôtel des Mille Collines. Straddling the thin wire between tribal politics and professionalism for his work, Paul makes good of a progressively hostile situation whilst providing a shelter for both Tutsi and Hutu refugees from the mounting conflict.

Without giving away any details that would spoil the film, I’d say that it was one of the most intense and engaging movies I’ve seen in a long time.

The tension is further escalated in several scenes where he, as both father and husband, is forced to make incredibly difficult decisions and anticipate scenarios only present during war. The film has a brilliant way of posturing questions to the audience as well as Paul himself.  How far would you compromise your own morality to save those closest to you?  Under circumstances of potential death to yourself and loved ones, how would you plan and face it?  These are among the most sobering and humbling questions, and ones that Paul’s character answers in an inspiring way.

The acting is top notch, with all lead and supporting characters supplying ample amounts of believability, method, and honest emotion.  You often forget that the movie is a movie, and become entrenched in the unfolding story wondering what the consequences will be for Paul, his family, and his extended family of refugees.

You can read an NPR article on the real-life Paul Rusesabagina here.

The movie website is here.

toy yoda

Hahahaha. Oh man….this lady got OWNED. What is superb is the look on her face next to the toy. Insult to injury, a plastic Yoda can be.