Blue Man Group

If you ever get the chance to see the Blue Man Group, go get those tickets right away!  I just saw them this past Sunday at the Lied Center in Lincoln, NE, and boy, what a treat it was.  It's such a fun experience.  While they don't talk at all, everything is done through motions and reactions.  It was really funny.  The blue men are like a cross between cavemen discovering the world around them, and an expert musician.  They react to what the audience does, which is great, and they use some of the coolest instruments, with a wide range of PVC pipes at their disposal.  The paint they throw on the drums are awesome too, which they spray onto a canvas and give to an audience member as art.  It was a great visual and audio treat.

Architecture Conceptual Model

Earlier this week our class had to come up with a concept for our new architecture project, which is to create a park at Du Sable Park in Chicago, which is currently vacant, but once home to the Chicago Spire project.  Anyways, I built a LED circuit and hooked it up to some 9-volt batteries to show energy consumption.  I'm no electrician or anything like that, so I had some help from our friends over at YouTube, which, I have to say, is amazing cause you can literally find "how to built" videos all over the place.  After viewing some videos on LED circuits, I headed over the local Radio Shack.  They actually have some cool stuff there.  Like solar panels! Sweet.  Also, I learned how to solder, and didn't burn myself once.

Movie Review - The Green Hornet

This is one hornet you might want to be stung by

Director Michel Gondry (Be Kind, Rewind) and actor Seth Rogen (Superbad, Knocked Up) deliver an
above-average action/comdey flick, based on the Fran Striker character from the radio program of the same name in the 1930.  Having not been alive to hear those broadcasts, nor having seen the old television show as well, I went into the theater with little prior knowledge of the characters, let alone a bias. 

Jay Chou (left) as Kato and Seth  Rogen (right) as the Green Hornet

I can safely say that I enjoyed The Green Hornet, mainly due to Seth Rogen as the titular character and his trusty "side-kick" Kato.  The rapport between the two heroes are fun to watch, as they deal with each others' personalities and traits, not to mention moonlighting as masked vigilantes by night.  Rogen, having some stake in this film, since he not only acted in it but also wrote some of the screenplay, and heavily pushed the film to be made in the first place.  He does a serviceable as Brett Reid, a.k.a. the Green Hornet.  His character goes through the usual transformation process, where at the beginning he is a selfish jerk who parties all the time, but finally after the death of his father, wants to start doing something with his life.  I felt Rogen, while having nailed the "lazy part guy" character in his past movies, doesn't work as well at the beginning of the film.  I felt like I have seen that performance, multiple times, in the past.  Rogen is also known for his extensive improv skills in past movies, but here, it seemed to detract from the film, and didn't really fit as well as the filmmakers were hoping for, with a lot of hit-or-miss jokes thrown in.  Maybe he should reel it in a little, use the script a little more.  Jay Chou as Kato, for me, stole the show.  He was great to watch, despite mangling some of the dialogue to the point where I was wondering what he just said.  But that didn't matter, because he was fun to watch, especially trading quips with  Rogen, and par-taking in some kick-ass fight scenes.  Definitely a blast to watch.  Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds) plays a villain going through a mid-life crisis of sorts.  He seemed to be having fun with the role, and I enjoyed seeing his character freak out at little things, like people making fun of his suits.  I just wish he could have channeled a little more of the sinister character he played in Inglourious Basterds.  I totally forgot Cameron Diaz was in the movie until she appeared on screen, where she plays a reporter researching the Green Hornet.  She's fine, never really bringing anything of substance to the table, just giving our heroes some ideas on what to do next.

The Black Beauty

The effects were well done for the most part, with definite praise going to the designers of the Black Beauty, the Green Hornet's car.  Stocked with missiles, machine guns, and other fun gadgets, it was cool to see the car in action, especially during the films car chase sequence, which was one of the better one's I've seen lately.  "Kato-Vision", where Kato seems to slow down time and dispatch his enemies, was well done and definitely a highlight of the fight scenes.  Some of the CG with the car was questionable at best, with a couple scenes looking pretty noticeable.  The screenplay by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg was enough to get the film going, with some dialogue issues, mainly from Rogen's character.  The film overall was pretty funny, and I liked how they incorporated that humor into the action scenes.  The film was pretty predictable for the most part, showing the character turn into "the man he was supposed to be", as well as the cliche breakup of the heroes before fighting the main villain.

In the end, what mattered most was how much I enjoyed the film.  It was fun to watch, and Rogen and Chou are a great duo, giving some funny comedic scenes, as well as some well-choreographed fight sequences.  Despite some hiccups here and there, I am looking forward to seeing this Green Hornet again.

4 out of 5 Stars

Year in Review: Notable CD's of 2010

Alright folks, what follows is a couple of CD's I bought in 2010.  I don't really listen to rap or any of that kind of stuff, so what mainly follows is rock music and some others mixed in.  These are my favorites from last year, and I thought I'd let you in on what I was listening to.  Since music is mostly subjective, I am not going to give a reason for each CD, but rather 2 or 3 songs that compliment the CD they are from, and let you decide on what you like.  Enjoy.

Ludo - Prepare the Preparations

Notable Tracks:
"Too Tired to Wink"
"Skeletons on Parade"
"Safe in the Dark"
 --------------------------------------
Coheed & Cambria - Year of the Black Rainbow

Notable Tracks:
"Here We Are Juggernaut"
"Far"
"Made Out of Nothing (All That I Am)"
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The Graduate - Only Every Time

Notable Tracks:
"Don't Die Digging"
"Choke"
"Permanent Tourists"
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Scott Pilgrim vs. the World Soundtrack

Notable Tracks:
"We are Sex Bob-omb"
"Black Sheep"
"Threshhold"
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The Social Network Soundtrack - Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross

Notable Tracks:
"Hand Covers Bruise"
"In Motion"
"In the Hall of the Mountain King"
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Tron Legacy Soundtrack - Daft Punk

Notable Tracks:
"The Grid"
"Son of Flynn"
"Derezzed"

Analysis of an Intersection

For the uninitiated, click the following link: How Intersections Work

Earlier today I was driving out of my parking lot of my apartment.  I am represented by the black arrow on the diagram above.  I was actually going to turn out of the complex at the intersection.  Well, it seems the United States Postal Service had other plans for me.  They are represented by the red line.  The mail truck decided not to stop at the intersection, with the dotted line showing his continuing course of action.  Being the observant and cautious driver that I am, I usually go slow around this intersection, since people in my apartment complex just like to whip around the corner instead of stopping like they should.  Especially people in trucks, who are already at risk for flipping over, but decide they'd rather look "cool" drifting around the corner.  More like dumb, but I digress.

So I see Mr. Mail Man coming right through the intersection, where I slam on the brakes.  I start skidding since it's snowy here, and he does as well.  My brakes were better so he skids on by, almost to the curb.  Idiot.  He then reverses, while I throw my hands up, yelling "What the f*ck are you doing?" Not that he could hear me.  Then, he gives me the "ok" to make my turn out of the complex.  But here's the kicker: as I'm making my turn, he decides to pantomime "how to honk your horn".  I stared in disbelief.  How he thought me honking my horn would stop him from plowing through the intersection and skidding past the front end of my car is beyond my comprehension.  I can't fathom what he was thinking when he gave me the hand motion for "honk". Really? Honk my horn?  Will the sound waves from the horn deflect his car away from mine? Give it a little push?  Idiot. I knew the postal service delivered mail in a timely fashion, but I didn't know they'd take my life in a fiery crash just so my super loud neighbor could get her US Weekly.  I'm tired of dealing with the drivers of Lincoln, NE.

Year in Review: My Top Ten Movie Posters of 2010

Alright sorry it's been a awhile since I've updated.  I'm getting situated back into school mode so I've been dealing with that.  Anyways, here are my favorite movie posters of 2010.

#1 Black Swan poster set

It was hard to just pick one, since they all are similarly designed.  I love the vintage feel from these posters, and they give off a great vibe as to how psychologically emotional the movie is.  You have to do a double take every time you look at one because you start to see pictures in the negative spaces of the posters.

#2 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part One

The teaser for the new Harry Potter film perfectly showcased where the films were headed.  The haunting picture of Hogwarts burning on the hillside demonstrates how dark and hopeless the characters feel in the films.  It gave me goosebumps the first time I saw it.  It certainly grabs your attention.

#3 The Social Network

Using a simple picture of Jesse Eisenberg slapped with probably the year's greatest tagline, and you get an eye-catching poster that sums up the film to a T.  Also, the banner on the right side gives the feeling of being logged onto Facebook, which I'm sure grabbed someone's eye as they strolled through the theater.

#4 Buried

Simplicity seems to be a theme in 2010 for movie posters, and this one takes the cake.  It is very bold in showing only Ryan Reynolds, in a box, and that's only on the bottom part of the poster.  The rest is black.  It does a great job showing the claustrophobic nature of the film.

#5 Knight & Day

Despite middling reviews from critics, Knight & Day had a nice little poster to help market the movie.  The designer took a bold step in silhouetting the big stars of the film, Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz.  I also like the splatter effect behind them, giving off a messy vibe, like Cruise's crazy character in the film.


#6 Happy Thank You More Please

This colorful poster shows no characters, but simply the title of the movie.  On pieces of wood, I think.  It is definitely something different, and I like their cubic approach to the creation of the poster.  Reminds me of typing on a calculator, with all the letters squared off.

#7 Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

A great jam pic of Michael Cera rocking out on bass guitar, with the "S" flowing out like music.  The bright red splash background is appealing and the tagline is another great one, which is a nice play on words.  Definitely caught my eye in the theater, and gave me a good vibe while looking at it.

#8 I'm Still Here

Sure, we can sit here all day and mock Joaquin Phoenix and his miserable attempt at becoming a rapper, despite retiring from acting during the peak of his career.  This is his return to acting, so to speak, and this simple look of "I've just woken up from drinking all night" really gets one wondering what he has been up to and where he has been the last couple years.

#9 Toy Story 3

Bright and full of life, the Toy Story 3 poster looks like an invitation to a huge celebration party, where toy was invited.  It just screams "let's all have a good time watching this movie".  Leave no toy behind!

#10 Inception

This M.C. Escher inspired poster for Inception is a great way to tell the audience about it's dream stealing plot and impossible architecture shortcuts.  It might be one of the busiest posters on the list, but it does not suffer from it. With a clean view of each character standing on their own plane, it is very interesting to look at and figure out what's going on.

Year in Review: My Top Ten Movies of 2010

Alright, it's that time to start picking favorites.  This is a list of my favorite movies of the past year.  Keep in mind these are my favorites.  Also keep in mind that I haven't seen every single movie that came out last year, since I am in no way an official movie reviewer.  This means there will obviously be some omissions, but hey, we can't all be perfect.  Let's get started.

#1 Inception

Hollywood's most original and thrilling piece of cinema in 2010 came from the mind of Christopher Nolan, hot off his box office monster and critically acclaimed The Dark Knight.  Inception was a great film to get movie goers thinking about their dreamscapes and their subconscious.  Expertly paced, amazing action pieces, and great performances by A-List actors gives Inception the top spot in 2010.

#2 The Social Network

From David Fincher, the director of Fight Club and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, comes a film that gives a perfect snapshot for the recent generation and the strive for instant gratification and connection online.  The impeccable script, lead by an Oscar-worthy performance by Jesse Eisenberg, is absolutely riveting.  Scorching dialogue, great performances, and outstanding direction from Fincher make The Social Network a perfect tale for the last decade.

#3 Black Swan

Darren Aronofsky's psychological thriller Black Swan is backed by an amazing script, full of twists and turns, and a lead performance by Natalie Portman that deserves an Oscar nod.  The striking visuals supplement the already fragile mind of the characters, giving a sense of confusion, with audiences trying to piece the puzzle together alongside the characters in the film.

#4 Toy Story 3

The culmination of 15 years since the original Toy Story hit theaters shows the maturity and perfection of the craft that animation studio Pixar has honed since it's creation.  Toy Story 3 is like a love note to every fan of the series.  The film introduces real-world moments, like what happens to toys after a kid moves on to college.  Surely to bring tears to your eyes, Toy Story 3 is a delightful film, full of nostalgia of the earlier parts of your life.  You'll want to save every toy you own after this one.

#5 Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

While not the most critically acclaimed film, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World brings the comic book its based off of to life.  Striking visuals reminiscent of the Batman show during the 60's, the WAM! and KAPOW! feel right at home here.  The film is like nothing you have ever seen, or probably ever will again.

#6 Shutter Island

Martin Scorsese's switch from mob-drama to psychological thriller turned up aces this year, with lead Leonardo DiCaprio showcasing one of his finest performances.  The film plays on atmosphere and the erosion of the main characters ability to perceive their surroundings, including who they are themselves.  Gripping and tense, Shutter Island is sure to keep you guessing, even after the credits have rolled.

#7 Buried

A whole movie based solely on one character trapped inside a box? Are they nuts? Actually, yes.  Buried follows an outstanding performance by Ryan Reynolds, who stretches his dramatic skills instead of his usual comedic roles.  Sometimes, simplicity is better, and in this case, it definitely works to the film's advantage, giving viewers a suspenseful story of rescue and hope, despite the claustrophobic nature of the film.

#8 Kick-Ass

Forget your Friendly Neighborhood Spiderman.  This one calls for the random kid down the block with no powers whatsoever to start fighting crime.  A great cast of wannabe superheroes fight for justice in this action packed film from Matthew Vaughn, which is just as hilarious as well.


#9 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

The darkest and most emotionally charged film in the series debuts the first of two parts, which, while feeling like a prelude to the inevitable conclusion in the summer, still manages to bring the best parts of the books to life.  Beautifully shot and well executed, Part One is a great set-up piece filled with impressive visual effects and a bleak ending to tide people over until the finale.


#10 The Book of Eli

Lead by an amazing performance by Denzel Washington and filled with saturated visuals, the post-apocalyptic wasteland never looked so good.  The ending alone gives viewers a reason to re-watch to look for certain details deemed trivial until the end.  Gary Oldman is a great as the menacing bad guy trying to steal the book, while the pacing is spot-on.  Themes of hope and religion abound, it never feels preachy, getting audiences to stand behind Eli on his quest.