Video
Really Living With Less
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about reducing the amount of stuff I have. I’m guilty of accumulating a lot of things over the years, as many people are, but I’ve realized I can live with far less.
That doesn’t mean giving up everything, but it does mean trying to reduce what I have to the more like just the essentials. A good rule I’ve heard, and this may not be new to you, is that if you haven’t seen, used or played with something in a year, you should probably get rid of it.
I like the idea and am starting to consider many of the things I have in those terms. Of course, some people have really taken that idea to a whole new level.
I don’t know if I could live like this, but the concept and execution are still quite impressive.
[vimeo 55389782 w=525 h=295]
Shakespeare and Joss Whedon? Heck Yeah
In truth, this is one film I really wanted to see at SXSW. Sadly, due to other commitments, I won’t be going to Austin this year. Next year for sure. Of course, I said that last year too, so yeah, who knows?
Anyway, Joss Whedon has made an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. It’s got a great cast including Amy Acker, Alexis Denisof, Nathan Fillion, Fran Kranz, Jillian Morgese, Sean Maher, Reed Diamond, Clark Gregg and Tom Lenk, is in black and white and is based on one of my favorite plays. And yes, it’s Joss Whedon so I, of course, pay attention.
Anyway, here’s the trailer. Enjoy.
Steve Jobs and 'One More Thing'
I had the good fortune to be at several MacWorld Keynote events over the years, including the one in 2007 where Steve Jobs announced the first iPhone, so this video was a real treat for me. In it, the enterprising folks of YouTube’s Every Steve Jobs Video channel have compiled pretty much all of the times Steve Jobs had “one more thing” to share.
And his “one more thing” was usually pretty awesome. He would have been 58 this week. RIP Steve.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QQLyS0MnzM?rel=0&w=525&h=394]
The New 'Die Hard' and Some Amusement for President's Day
First off, I finally saw the latest Die Hard movie. This one, called A Good Day to Die Hard, was not terrible. It wasn’t great, by any means, but it wasn’t terrible. It just was.
I won’t get into a lengthy review here, mostly because Nat Almirall does a fine job of it over at The Flickcast. However, I will say I mostly agree with him and his review, but I didn’t dislike it as much as he obviously did.
I also didn’t have as much of a problem with following things as he seems to have had. Maybe it’s because I have a background in editing or have just seen so many rough assemblies of films that jump cuts and poor attention to scene geography don’t really bother me.
Perhaps it was all the coffee I had before I saw the movie? Or, maybe seeing the movie with Matt Raub made me stay on my toes and pay better attention in case of potential discussion later? I don’t know.
The movie did spark one thing, though, Matt and I have a terrific idea of what the next Die Hard movie should be. Maybe we’ll share that with the class if we ever do another podcast. Hey, it could happen.
Now this:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnM_tcDcZLE?rel=0&w=525&h=295]
The Doc 'Room 237' Looks Very Interesting
Even though they’ve already covered this over at The Flickcast, I also wanted to call attention to it here. As you know, I’m a big fan of director Stanley Kubrick. We’ve discussed this before.
So, when I hear they’re coming out with a movie about Kubrick and The Shining, I take notice. The movie in question is called Room 237 and a trailer for it has recently dropped.
Check it out below. Can’t wait to see this.
Video Friday: 'Super Mario Busters'
Today is Friday. I’m tired and I don’t feel 100%. Still, that doesn’t mean I can’t share a video with you fine folks.
Today’s is an example of mashups done right. I present to you: Super Mario Busters. A mashup of Ghostbusters and Super Mario Brothers. Yep. Love this.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srXN-1DUd3Q?rel=0&w=525&h=295]
(h/t to Nerdsworth for today’s video)
The Live-Action 'Star Blazers' Movie Is In the Wild(Star)
When I was a kid, I used to watch an animated TV show called Star Blazers in the morning before going to school. It was a great show and I really enjoyed it. Well, it was great to me at the time anyway.
Later, I learned it was actually called Space Cruiser Yamato in Japan (the Star Blazers title attached to it in the States to capitalize on the popularity of Star Wars no doubt) and in the years since I first watched, it has become quite popular in Japan and spawned several animated movies and seasons of TV.
More recently, they made a live-action version of the series. I posted a trailer for it awhile back. It was released last year in Japan and has now found its way online.
It’s also available on DVD and Blu-ray, if you can find it. I managed to order a copy from Amazon. We’ll see if it actually arrives.
Until then, there’s always YouTube (or the eventual American remake supposedly being written by Chris McQuarrie).
Enjoy. I did.
[youtube www.youtube.com/watch
Louis C.K. Is Absolutely Correct 'Everything Is Amazing'
Take a look at this clip. He’s absolutely right. We should be happier because the world is pretty amazing. I know it’s hard to keep this in mind when things are looking down, but try. In the end, you’ll be happier for it.
Working for the Weekend
That title goes back a long way. Back to an ‘80’s pop band called Loverboy. Yes, I’m making a Loverboy reference. Deal with it.
Hey, they were pretty popular in the ‘80’s. I’ll bet if you think about it, or hear some of their songs, you’ll realize you know them and maybe even like them. Sure, they’re Canadian, but you can’t really hold that against them, can you?
I don’t. In fact, I have some good friends that are either from Canada or live in Canada right now. So there. I’m no Canada hater.
In fact, I’ll prove it by posting a video for one of the band’s most famous songs right here. That’s right, it’s “Working for the Weekend.” Did you expect something else? If so, you really haven’t been paying attention.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zL8G5pBZ5CI?rel=0&w=500&h=375]
And, as if that wasn’t enough, here’s some bloopers from Big Bang Theory. Why? Why the heck not? They’re funny.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULHHQiFfK9o?rel=0&w=500&h=281]
I’m not entirely sure what any of this has to do with anything, but if I’m being completely honest here (and I should be, right?) I’m really just stalling instead of working on the script I’m supposed to be writing.
I do that. Stalling, I mean. I’m really good at it. In fact, I’m really, really good at it. Really, really, really good.
Now I’m doing it again. Crap.
I’m hoping Loverboy references and Big Bang bloopers help get the creative blood flowing. Maybe I should have gone a different way?
The 'Evil Dead' Remake Looks Darn Good
I’m not always very receptive to remakes of classic movies I’ve enjoyed. Too often the remake isn’t very good and probably shouldn’t have been attempted in the first place.
Of course, even if there’s a remake, I still have the original to enjoy, so it really shouldn’t bother me. right? Well too bad, it does. . . sometimes. However, there’s also the occasional remake that can stand on its own, be enjoyable and not take anything away from the original. Some remakes even end up being even better than the originals.
I can think of a few at the moment: John Carpenter’s The Thing, which is an awesome remake of the original Howard Hawks film and one of my favorites; The Fly, directed by David Cronenberg and the Coen Brothers True Grit, a terrific western update of the classic John Wayne film.
This upcoming remake of Evil Dead just might make the list too. It has the virtue of being produced by Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell, so I’ll bet that helps.
Plus, I do like the trailer (which is NSFW, btw). It looks pretty cool. I think I’m gonna give this one a chance.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceBXUyuv4Q0?rel=0&w=500&h=281]
Interviews With the Original Macintosh Design Team
When I find intersting stuff, I drop it in here. Although, as I’ve not put up much lately, I guess there’s not that much interesting stuff to be found. Or, I’m just not looking hard enough. Meh.
Anyway, this is quite interesting, especially if you’re a fan of Apple and the Mac. Enjoy.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTtQ0l0ukvQ?rel=0&w=420&h=315]
First Teaser for 'Anchorman 2' Is Here and I'm In
Now this is happening.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39KxQrGwOGU?rel=0&w=525&h=300]
'Lazy Sunday 2'
The sequel to the great SNL Digital Short Lazy Sunday arrived last night and it did not disappoint. Watch. Enjoy.
Inside Where the iPhone and iPad are Made
As I’m the owner and user of many an Apple iDevice, I found this particular video quite interesting. ABC News got to go inside Foxconn, the company in China that makes the iPhone and iPad.
Conditions and such are pretty much what you would expect from a factory in China. In fact, compared to conditions outside the factory, the workers seem to have it pretty good.
Although, the nets around many of the buildings are a bit disturbing.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLuPtMvvwA0?rel=0&w=500&h=281]
The Joy of Books
I’ve read quite a few books in my time and I still enjoy reading them today. Over the last few years I’ve spent more time reading them digitally on the Kindle or iPad than reading actual, physical, bound bunches of paper.
It’s a trade off. I love physical books but I also love being able to take ten of them on vacation with me in a device a bit larger than one of them. I’m sure there will always be books printed and bound for collectors to purchase. I don’t know if mass market books are long for this world, however.
That makes me kinda sad. To cheer me up, I found this video made by a husband and wife who obviously love books even more that I do.
Enjoy it. I know I did.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKVcQnyEIT8&w=500&h=281]
And Now For Something A Bit More Uplifting
To help make up for the last post which, let’s face it, could have been perceived as a bit of a downer, I present to you something far more uplifting and, dare I say it, cute: Puppy vs. Robot. Enjoy. Once again, no need to thank me.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dneLQY6ZVk?rel=0&w=480&h=360]
I like This movie
I may have mentioned it before but I like this movie and especially this scene. If you haven’t seen it, watch this and then go watch the whole movie. It’s worth it.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCf46yHIzSo?rel=0&w=480&h=390]