Memoirs of a self-professed professional jaywalker
Today I had a brush with death - in the form of being nearly knocked into by a cyclist when crossing the short space between the bus stop seat and the bus. And I never even put one foot down on the tar.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Campion's Bright Star(s)
This just proves that if a teacher needs anything literary that has been made into a film, the BBC will have had a hand in it somehow. But still, this looks like a lovely portrayal of the life and love of John Keats. *rubs hands*
Friday, September 11, 2009
Poster Talk: 9
I apologize. Blogger is acting up and I can't attach pictures of anything, so you will have to do with another non-picture edition of Poster Talk again.
I want to talk about "9" - not "District 9", just "9" alone, the motion capture feature from fresh talent Shane Acker, who developed his award-winning silent short film into a longer adaptation with the backing of Tim Burton and a screenplay by Pamela Pettler (Corpse Bride). The cast features, among others, the voices of Elijah Wood, Jennifer Connelly and Christopher Plummer. With such luminaries backing Acker, it is a pity that the fluid and detailed animation (to rival Pixar's) is let down by a weak story.
Just look at the posters (which I can't put up) - they are bursting with potential. But, at just slightly over an hour, there is little time for anything but exposition, let alone for developing nine characters which had great potential. Mankind has been wiped out in a war against machines, and the last shred of humanity resides within the 9 little dolls that have been brought to life by a scientist to defeat his other creation, The Brain, which had been responsible for the destruction of practically everything living.
In Acker's defense, rather than let the characters do the talking, much can be gleaned from the landscape, the buildings and even materials as well. For example, it may be significant that Number 9 along with a few other dolls are made from burlap - the same material that is used to make sandbags - the material that form the last line of defense against the enemy. An architect by training, Acker is adept at infusing the scenery with symbolic meaning. As the "stitchpunk" (a term coined by Acker) dolls become divided over how best to deal with the mechanical threats in the post-apopcalyptic world, the more conservative and close-minded Number 1 opts for safety in the sanctuary of an abandoned church. Meanwhile, the others seek answers in a gothic-Baroque landscaped library complete with alchemical treatises and faded newspaper cuttings.
Having said that in favour of the film, it is still pretty annoying that the plot follows pretty much the convention of RPG games, going so far as to include some scenes that were shot literally like one of those mini sequences that accompany boss fights. A waste! A pity! Darn! Quality animation should never take the place of a good story. The premise of Acker's short film was, I feel, intriguing enough for it to be explored in much greater depth than it had been. An allegorical warning about Man playing God? Certainly. A warning against ambition and the corrupting force of greed and power? Duh. Science versus faith. Check. Going beyond this convention of sci-fi genre? Sigh.
All the same, a visual delight, bleak though the film's tone is for most parts.
Rating: 3.5/5
I want to talk about "9" - not "District 9", just "9" alone, the motion capture feature from fresh talent Shane Acker, who developed his award-winning silent short film into a longer adaptation with the backing of Tim Burton and a screenplay by Pamela Pettler (Corpse Bride). The cast features, among others, the voices of Elijah Wood, Jennifer Connelly and Christopher Plummer. With such luminaries backing Acker, it is a pity that the fluid and detailed animation (to rival Pixar's) is let down by a weak story.
Just look at the posters (which I can't put up) - they are bursting with potential. But, at just slightly over an hour, there is little time for anything but exposition, let alone for developing nine characters which had great potential. Mankind has been wiped out in a war against machines, and the last shred of humanity resides within the 9 little dolls that have been brought to life by a scientist to defeat his other creation, The Brain, which had been responsible for the destruction of practically everything living.
In Acker's defense, rather than let the characters do the talking, much can be gleaned from the landscape, the buildings and even materials as well. For example, it may be significant that Number 9 along with a few other dolls are made from burlap - the same material that is used to make sandbags - the material that form the last line of defense against the enemy. An architect by training, Acker is adept at infusing the scenery with symbolic meaning. As the "stitchpunk" (a term coined by Acker) dolls become divided over how best to deal with the mechanical threats in the post-apopcalyptic world, the more conservative and close-minded Number 1 opts for safety in the sanctuary of an abandoned church. Meanwhile, the others seek answers in a gothic-Baroque landscaped library complete with alchemical treatises and faded newspaper cuttings.
Having said that in favour of the film, it is still pretty annoying that the plot follows pretty much the convention of RPG games, going so far as to include some scenes that were shot literally like one of those mini sequences that accompany boss fights. A waste! A pity! Darn! Quality animation should never take the place of a good story. The premise of Acker's short film was, I feel, intriguing enough for it to be explored in much greater depth than it had been. An allegorical warning about Man playing God? Certainly. A warning against ambition and the corrupting force of greed and power? Duh. Science versus faith. Check. Going beyond this convention of sci-fi genre? Sigh.
All the same, a visual delight, bleak though the film's tone is for most parts.
Rating: 3.5/5
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
Mid-sem aspirations
When I grow up, I want to be able to write 4000 word essays and not feel a thing.
When I grow up, I want to meet a Zombie, a Ghost or an A** Student.
When I grow up, I want to eat Yong Tau Foo that tastes like it did before the canteen was renovated. Ditto the Western stall, the Japanese stall and the now non existent Cold Pasta and Deli stall
When I grow up, I want to be an A** Student.
When I grow up, I will have survived the Terrible October.
When I grow up, I will stop making an ass out of emails to professors.
When I grow up at the end of the semester, I will be academically enlightened.
When I grow up... ...
When I grow up, I want to meet a Zombie, a Ghost or an A** Student.
When I grow up, I want to eat Yong Tau Foo that tastes like it did before the canteen was renovated. Ditto the Western stall, the Japanese stall and the now non existent Cold Pasta and Deli stall
When I grow up, I want to be an A** Student.
When I grow up, I will have survived the Terrible October.
When I grow up, I will stop making an ass out of emails to professors.
When I grow up at the end of the semester, I will be academically enlightened.
When I grow up... ...
Thursday, September 03, 2009
Time is subjective
Time is subjective - to old age. What else. I am at week whatever and I have a terrible schedule. It'll be nice if time stopped last week. I'd have been really grateful.
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
iTweet.
And under the auspices of Ms PY, I am now on twitter. Believe it or not. I still think the name is highly charged grounds for lame puns though, such as "Hi twit", "I twitted today" and "You twit!".
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