Month: January 2006

Ah, the return of Kate Bekinsale as the (meow) Selene.

Caught the sequel to Underworld at Silvercity on Saturday amidst a giant snowstorm. I especially like how Carol asked me if it snowed in Ottawa and I looked out the window and said no. This was, of course, totally wrong as I was looking into my backyard which has been full of snow for months.

Also, I was asked how old I was at the counter to the movie theatre. This has never happened to me. It was odd to think that this guy thinks I am under 18.

Actually, before I really start this review, let me talk a little more about the trip to the theatre. So, as you all know, Ottawa (and pretty well all of Ontario) was pelted with snow. I get to an intersection and notice across the street that there are two ladies with their car stuck in the ditch. Better sense prevails and I drive over to help them. Upon showing up:

Ladies: Oh thank you for coming over to help.
Me: No problem, let’s try and rock it back and forth.
Ladies: Do you think some cardboard under the tires will help?
Me (with this incredulous “God no, the cardboard won’t work, what are you thinking? You’re stuck in the snowbank!” look on my face): Well, I don’t know, you could give it a try.
Ladies: Alright, here you go!
(She passes me a piece of cardboard the size of my palm).
Me: Uh, thanks. (Shoves it under the tire, which is totally useless other than the fact that it’ll probably just impale me in the side of the head when she starts spinning).

Anyhow, I’m making headway and I was thankful that another gentleman stopped and helped me push the car out of the snowbank.

Thank you’s are passed around and I get back into my car and sit there plugging in my cellphone when I look into my rearview mirror and notice the guy is back again pushing the car out of the snowbank.

That’s right…they drove right back into the ruts they created into the snowbank.

Drivers of the world, heed my advice! Avoid the same freakin’ spot you just got stuck in.

Onto the movie…

So, the movie picks up literally right after the first one…if anything, a few hours later, nothing more. Selene and Michael are on the run and then Marcus shows up to kick some ass.

All in all, I liked the movie. Definitely not a rental. However, I must say that I would have preferred some clans of vampires vs. werewolves instead of the movie focussing on singular characters such as Selene, Michael, Marcus etc. That’s my only gripe. Very tiny gripe.

Last night in honour of Sena returning to the fold which is Ottawa, we watched a Hitchcock film. My first of the sort. Benoit suggested it.

The verdict is in – it’s a great flick!

I thoroughly enjoyed the film…it had suspense, it had a hot leading lady, it had a spy story. You can’t go wrong. Some people commented on how this could be a precursor to the Bond films.

My question about Hitchcock is this…as far as I know (I haven’t done much research), he is the master of suspense. Also known for his revolutionary film making techniques.

Well, here in 2006, the techniques aren’t exactly new to me. Heck, I couldn’t pinpoint which ones would have been revolutionary. What I need is a study guide to go along with the film to point out things that were in its infancy when the film was being made. I think I would appreciate the film more that way.

It’s like when you watch a film nowadays and you say ‘Hey great film, but where were the special effects.” and then people list off of a slew of them and you say “Holy crap, that was a special effect? No way!”. Supposedly that is the greatest compliment to a special effects person…letting them know that you didn’t even realize it was a special effect (unlike the Burly Brawl sequence in the Matrix Reloaded where it saddens me to see a computer generated face on top of Neo. OR, in Revenge of the Sith with all the Jango clones running around…their faces are kind of sad. With time, it will improve.)

Let’s talk about CGI for a moment…I predict in the future, that someone will have the nerve to make a new John Wayne film. Or a new Bruce Lee film. It will be the era of resurrected movie heroes. Technology can allow us to do that…the question is, will the public buy it? Who knows.

Quote of the Day – “I love watching old movies because it makes me feel young!” – Palmer while watching North By Northwest

iplaying: Infinite Sadness (outtake 93) – The Smashing Pumpkins – Mashed Potatoes

Hey, I’m not talking about no movie here, I’m talking a novel that I read. That’s right. Get off your lazy asses and read a book once in awhile. Regardless of whether or not I have to read books for my courses, I make it a point to read at least one chapter of a book a day. Now that I live in the boondocks of Ottawa, I can afford the time to read 10 chapters due to the commute. Nonetheless, for those people who walk to work, take the time before bed…read a chapter. Your brain will slowly transform from the mush which it is into some weird sort of super-brain with useless pop trivia and Napolean Dynamite quotes!

Onto the review. Pride and Prejudice. Romance. In the late 1800s. Boring? Nah. It was decent. I thought the language would be hard to read…it was not. I thought it would be a lame romance story. It was not. I thought it would have simple characters. They did not.

This is a snapshot of how it was to be in love in the 1800s. Gone are the days where you pick up the apple of yer eye at a dance club where you can’t even hear what they are saying (which is fine for us fine looking gentlemen, but for those uglies out there…heck, I’m sorry.) but you go to the ball to pick up the fine ladies. Granted, you have to be rich to pick these ladies up…they do not settle for no commoner.

So, here is the story of Elizabeth and her family of crazies trying to hunt down a man. Scandal ensues in various points of the story and I believe I may have heard fifteen times that I must watch the BBC Mini-Series with Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy (thanks ladies! I’ll get right on that!) and it all ends…well, I won’t ruin the story for you. Do yourself a favour, go and read it! It’s 200 years old! It can’t be a bad read if it’s lasted that long!

All in all, I’m glad I read it, but I wouldn’t say it’s my favourite book. But it wasn’t boring either.