On the whole this lot of Super Bowl commercials were okay. Some of my favorites were…
This one made me laugh a few times but my buddy Dan roared when the two fun boys slaped each other.
Man, this must be the year of the furry, rodent like animal stealing the spotlight.
I love that this commercials cost nothing yet still managed to evoke emotions.
I got a chuckle out of the vampire joke.
Loved the song placed to the visuals but I played this PS3 demo and it’s just too gruesome for me.
And of course, in space, no one can hear you scream. Yeah, that one joke elicited the biggest laugh from me.
BTW, it was great to hear songs by Grizzly Bear and The Arcade Fire (did you know they donated all their profits from the NFL spots to Haiti relief?) but why are ad executives still using that Blur song? It’s what, fifteen years old? And what’s with repurposing all those YouTube videos? Here’s hoping the creators are getting a fat paycheck from this.
And with that I think I’m getting sick so I’m out and apologies in advance if I’m not blogging regularly this week.
If you’ve ever met me in a bar or seen me in a decent restaurant and asked “what’s a good beer” then you’ve heard me give an impromptu lecture on brown ales or how a pilsener is different from a lager. Yes, I’m a beer geek and it’s all because of a documentary called BEER WARS.
This week, that documentary is available on iTunes (and apparently my PS3 too but I can’t stop playing BORDERLANDS to check–help). Don’t believe me? Here’s the proof.
(that’s the documentary on the “iTunes->Movies” homepage sandwiched between NEW YORK, I LOVE YOU and some Hulk cartoon while I download the latest FRINGE).
Of course I’m biased (dear FTC, I worked on it for almost three years but I am not being compensated for this mention… but if the director wanted to buy me some tasty cupcakes I wouldn’t say “no”) but I think it’s a pretty damn good doc. Also, the “making of” was mighty interesting so I can’t wait for the behind-the-scenes book (hint, hint; nudge nudge).
Why do I want to hate him? Because I really want his career. I would have made those movies. Why can’t I hate him? Because he does his job really well.
Therefore, I don’t have anything bad to say about UP IN THE AIR. It’s very good. Go see it.
But there’s one thing about the ending that’s killing me.
[WARNING: SPOILER ALERT]
I don’t buy the ending. If Clooney has built his solitary life as a shark, why the hell does he decide to think of himself as a Labrador? And it wouldn’t happen during his big moment. It’d happen just before or just after. Plus I get how he’d fall for Vera but why the hell would he listen to Anna Kendrick’s advice? She’s clearly a selfish child so why would you listen to her? I didn’t buy that.
Also, John August, I think you’re being modest. One big reason that group shined that bright was because you were moderating that panel. Can you imagine THE CHARLIE ROSE SHOW without Charlie Rose? Right, and I couldn’t imagine that group being that interesting without you. Take the compliment.
Me, I’m not sure. I’d love to have a smaller, lighter version of my laptop, something less crucial to my work which is easier to transport; my life is on my laptop. I’d also love to be able to haul my media with me, have something where I could upload photos, take my writing with me (so I’d need some version of Final Draft and MarsEdit) and surf the web without worrying about leaving personal information on a public computer.
All that said, the iPad is almost there. I wish the OS were more robust and it cost about $200-300 less. So, what other options do I have? Why not a Hackintosh?
I could buy a cheap Dell and hack some OS X onto that sucker. It’s not a bad option but then I can’t upgrade and I’m always circling catastrophic disaster without a life vest because neither Apple nor Dell would be willing to offer me any kind of customer support.
So, what do you think? Should I look into an iPad or a Hackintosh?
Since I review all the other media I consume, why should my PS3 be any different? Exactly. Glad you agree. Therefore, let me introduce you to the first game I’ve completed on my new system.
One thing surprised me: I don’t remember Lara killing quite so many animals in her last outing. Seriously, they could have called this “Tomb Raider: Nature’s Worst Enemy”.
Not everything about a reunion is roses. The graphics are just how I remember them… which means they could have easily been so much better. No, wait, they’re improved, I know that, but I feel like I’ve seen the PS3 do SO much better. Also, occasionally the controls conspire against you (or maybe I’m still figuring out how to use all 20 buttons effectively). Lastly, the stupid camera often screws you more than it helps. When I’m standing against a wall, why is it only showing me rocks? Why?!
But that’s me being nitpicky. The levels were expansive but the game was short and that suited me just fine. It was a great introduction to modern gaming without taking over my life.
Ooh, I also wanted to say that of all the things you can do in the game the best parts are swimming. I don’t know why but these levels were incredibly fun to play.
To wrap it up, this was a fun and great way to get me gaming without intimidating me. Thanks ya sassy lassy.
At the start of the year I laid out my goals, some professional, some personal. I mentioned the importance of reevaluating them at least annually. Well, how about if I check my progress every month?
Gulp.
Okay, let’s go.
Finishing My Feature – This month I met with my editor and we put together a new schedule that has me looking at a cut soon. I’ll be checking-in with him to make sure we’re still on track to meet our deadline.
Write Another TV Spec – I’ve been consuming episodes of CHUCK (with 7 votes, the clear winner in my online poll which can be viewed on the right of the landing page) but I’ve also been catching up with FRINGE. I’d like to do both specs this year. Also, I’ve added MODERN FAMILY to my Hulu. Why? Cause I’m fucking Colombian and I detest some of the lame Colombian jokes they give Sofia Vergara. Baby, I’m coming to your rescue.
Get Hired to Direct – Yeah, that’s taken a backseat this month.
Get My Transmedia Project Up & Running – I’ve digitized 3 of the tapes we’ve shot and I’ve learned that using “Log & Capture” to convert HDV to ProRes takes 1h45m for every 50 minutes shot.
Develop a TV Pilot – I’ve thought about it. Had a tiny breakthrough with the webseries idea.
Write a Feature Script – I’ve started outlining this bromance/romcom (can I shoot myself after using those terms?) that’s been brewing for a while. My goal is to start writing the script this month.
As for my other goals, I’m still looking for a sport, a class, a way to defy death, an acoustic guitar, a way to invest but I did pick up GLUE by Irvine Welsh and I’m hoping to finally finish it this month.
If you’ve known me for more than a moment you know that 1) I love music and 2) I love making mixtapes. I’ve made them for long road trip, short jobs, and girls that think I’m “really nice but…”. I won’t bore you with the “how I curate my annual mixtapes” so let’s just get to.
“Tony’s 2009 Winter Mix” which is a collection of song I acquired from the second part of last year. Want a copy? This is what you gotta do.
Drop a comment on my blog (not on Twitter, not on Facebook but on my Cinematic Arias blog) asking for the mix CD (be sure to leave the comment on this post’s page, not on another post’s page). I’ll email you for your mailing address.
The CD will arrive with no track names. This is purposeful. I believe a good mix has a narrative composed from the collected tracks. Resist the urge to spoil the surprise of “what comes next”. Jump in the car and listen to the whole thing at least once before you pull up Shazam on your iPhone.
By accepting a mix, you agree to come back to my blog and post your thoughts on at least one of the songs. It doesn’t have to be an essay, just a few sentences will do, but you do owe me your two cents.
But act fast because I only burned 10 of these guys and I’m not making more.
Speaking of which, a few of you owe me your thoughts from the last mix you received. Sean, Kate, Bella, Emily, I haven’t see your comments regarding the last two mixes you received. Come on, let’s hear what you got to say.
I didn’t quite make a deal with the devil but I did get a PS3 (it came free with another major purchase) so it’s kinda like I let a devil child into my home and he won’t stop wasting my time.
What’s worse, my buddy Pat warned me that I could spend years playing all the free downloadable demos from the Sony PlayStation Store. All I heard was “free downloadable demos.”
Argh! There goes my productivity. Now that I’ve downloaded a ton of demos allow me to share my abbreviated reviews.
Bayonetta – Um, this game is too… it isn’t for me. Plus I find it disturbing that you’re playing a gun-toting, uber-stacked version of Tina Fey that, when she performs certain combo moves, has all her clothes fly off. Very disturbing
The Simpsons Game – I think I can say the same thing about TV shows made into video games. It should have been more fun to play Homer and Bart but instead it was cumbersome. Plus it was difficult to figure out the level objective.
Wet – Think KILL BILL the video game. Yeah, I know, not very inventive but I kinda liked it. It might just be worth buying… if it were on sale.
Dead Space: Dismemberment – Not a particularly fun demo and after a couple of minutes I felt queasy. Just too gruesome for me.
The Last Guy – I tried this indie game based on a recommendation and while I kinda like some of the style and humor, it’s something I’d play for 5 minutes and then never play again.
Stranglehold – I am the target audience for this. Chow Yun Fat in a John Woo movie that I can play? This should be f**king awesome. Unfortunately, the demo loses sound halfway through and crashes. Boo! Still, I might rent this game (yes, I love John Woo that much and you should too. He’s easily one of the coolest action directors around.).
Iron Man – Did I say that the Lord of the Rings game was the worst? Well, it is, but this places a close second.
Trine – I heard good things about this 3D side scroller and they’re mostly right on. This pseudo-puzzle-game-meets-Castlevania is fun. I wasn’t addicted but I’d consider buying it for a discounted price.
The Bourne Conspiracy – You know what, I liked the simple brutality of this game. I’d buy it at a heavy discount.
Turok – I know folk loved the original but this incarnation is boring. How can killing dinosaurs be this tiresome? What a shame.
Red Faction: Guerrilla – I know some people love this game but it just didn’t appeal to me. It has a great premise and setting but after trying the first level and dying minutes later I wasn’t compelled to pick up the controller again.
Mirror’s Edge – This game gets big points for being a cool, different kinda game. I know, some of you are sick of Parkour but by moving the action into a FPS framework this game amps up the thrills. Absolutely worth a look
InFamous – All signs point to this being a great game. My only complaint was that I got killed so often that I grew frustrated with the game but maybe that’s just me. I haven’t owned a system since the original NES so I’m a terrible player.
Kane & Lynch: Dead Men – If HEAT were a video game, this would be it. Worth checking out, if only as a rental (I could see this getting monotonous).
Heavenly Sword – A decent hack ‘n slash (I’m not a huge fan of games with 200 combo moves, which this has, probably because I’m a terrible gamer; see above) but I do love Anna Torv. Therefore, I won’t outright dismiss this game.
Wanted: Weapons of Fate – What at first seems like the perfect comic/movie to port into a game gets butchered by lame controls and weak gameplay (hey, I almost sound like a real gamer).
God of War 3 – Now this is a crazy, bloody hack ‘n slash I could get into!
Phew, thank goodness I got that out of my system. Wait, not yet. I have one more demo to play but I got one problem. I really want to try the Army of Two: The 40th Day demo but I need someone to play with me. Want to play online? Hit me up.Want to come over? Just say when.
And I conclude this post with a trailer for a game that affected me emotionally. I… just watch it first.
I don’t know why that fusion of imagery and song hit me so hard but… ah, I know why. It’s been a hard few months and I’m particularly sensitive these days. I know, it’s kinda the anti-game, or game as art, but it looks like I’m gonna have to download it.
ANYWAY, what other games should I be checking out?
And it is on that note that I bid farewell to the east. By the time you read this, I’ll be flying over this land of ours on my way back to Los Angeles.
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