markbernstein

Movies, upcoming

2009-11-07T22:28:18Z

Two quick notes:

The trailer for Avatar is reeeal pretty, especially in HD. Even though the story only looks OK, I want to see it in IMAX.

I had absolutely no interest in seeing 2012, aka "Roland Emmerich destroys a whole lot of stuff - again". But now that I've read this review, I'm thinkin' MSTy party.

Movies, current

2009-11-07T22:20:35Z

Sharon's out of town for a few days, visiting a friend, so I treated myself to a couple of movies that I knew wouldn't interest her.

Zombieland is incredibly gory, very violent, over the top, and one f*ck of a lot funnier and more emotionally satisfying than it has any right to be. The cast strikes a perfect balance, playing people who were quirky even before the zombie plague hit, but playing them absolutely straight, without a single wink to the audience. The fight scenarios are ridiculous and inventive, the script as a whole well constructed. The pseudo-science behind the zombies is complete garbage, of course (mutated mad cow), but other than that the logic of the world works just well enough to keep the movie going. The biggest flaw, I think, is that the character arcs were awfully predictable. In the end, though, I gave in to it and laughed a lot. (BTW, the filmmakers chose - wisely, I think - to front-load the gore. If you can get past the first fifteen minutes, the rest is fairly easy to take.) The biggest WTF of the evening was seeing a trailer for New Moon, the new Twilight movie. Where exactly is the audience overlap between gory zombie comedy and angsty vampire romance?

Astro Boy has gotten mixed reviews, so I was pleasantly surprised. There's a real script here, with a plot that's more than a series of incidents, setups that lead to payoffs I didn't always see coming, plausible character motivations, and some nice plot bits. The CGI animation may not be state of the art, but it's close. The main characters are visually faithful to Tezuka's originals. The voice work isn't spectacular, but it's all solid. Good stuff, overall.

Spreading a worthwhile meme

2009-11-05T19:42:00Z

Because Matthew Shepard Can't, & I Can - THAT'S why.

Thanks to filkertom for the link.

Sysadmin humor

2009-11-05T14:00:19Z

From Not Invented Here.

Some of my friends will be interested in this

2009-11-04T19:32:40Z

The Stratford Shakespeare Festival has posted its 2010 Members Guide, with show descriptions, casting info, and a full calendar.

Our must-see is The Tempest. My mother wants to see Kiss Me, Kate, so we'll go to that. Others that may end up on our list include As You Like It, Dangerous Liaisons, Jacques Brel, and For the Pleasure of Seeing Her Again. (We see anywhere from four to six shows in one trip, depending on the offerings in a particular year.)

What looks good to you?

This week's SYTYCD thoughts

2009-11-04T13:45:33Z

It was a week for confounding expectations, especially from those who looked weak going into the competition. Legacy and Mollee, in particular, earned every bit of praise they got from the judges. I don't think anyone could have predicted how fast Legacy would improve. Nathan and Mollee are going to be this season's Evan and Randi, the cute couple the audience loves.

Fox did the right thing for both Billy and Brandon. Good for you, Fox.

Last week, I couldn't see why the judges were gushing so much over Karen. I thought she was good, but not outstanding. This week, I'm a lot more impressed.

Russell and Kevin were both great, but both were in their comfort zones. We'll see.

I successfully called all four of the bottom group in advance, but that was partly from hearing the judges' comments, not just from their dancing.

Then again, it was really obvious that Phillip was toast. Last night proved that he doesn't have the upper body strength to be an effective partner. I don't know if Peter will have the same problem, since his and Pauline's routine this week didn't have any lifts.

Victor survived, but I don't expect him to last much longer. As good as he is technically, he has no personality when performing. Of the remaining women, I think Kathryn and Noelle are the blandest, and most likely to be overlooked by the voters. (Overall, this bunch has many more interesting personalities than we saw in season 5.)

I was sorry to see Bianca go. I would have chosen Noelle, as one judge did. Bianca's was the one performance where I thought the judges were too harsh - it sure looked to me like she was into the spirit of the dance. I'll admit, though, that I don't think she could have gone all the way. There are too many who are better all-around dancers.

Ellenore firmed up her position as my current favorite. I love her personality, and that tango was flawless.

Geeky moment

2009-10-31T04:26:10Z

I was watching the second episode of White Collar, a new show on the USA network. They introduced a new character, FBI agent Lauren Cruz. She first appeared with her back to the camera. But as soon as she turned around and spoke, I said, "That's Wendy!"

TV ramblings

2009-10-29T20:52:39Z

It's been a pretty good week for stuff I like. The less good, which isn't that bad:

- Because of the World Series, there's no So You Think You Can Dance results show this week. That meant no viewer voting, so the judges chose who went home. I'm not too unhappy with their choices. And it meant more time to read last night. (Similarly, no Fringe tonight means more reading time.)

- I forgot to record Dollhouse while I was at OVFF, and online reviews say it's a good and significant episode. No problem, I'll watch it online.

- Dollhouse is being pulled for November sweeps due to lousy ratings, which almost certainly means it'll be over once the rest of this season's thirteen episodes finish airing. Too bad, it had gotten a lot better.

The good stuff:

- SYTYCD had a good first performance show. My favorite was Ellenore and Ryan's routine.

- I recorded and watched the pilot of White Collar on USA, and it was more than good enough to get my attention for a few more episodes. It's a classic buddy formula. A smart, charming, handsome art thief and forger is let out of prison in the custody of the FBI agent who caught him, in return for helping with cases. What makes it work is the scripting, especially that the agent is also very smart and well educated. He had to be, to catch this crook. The chemistry between them, and between the agent and his wife, is already good. I hope it can maintain.

- I also recorded and watched last Friday's episode of Monk. I hadn't done that in a while, hadn't even been watching consistently, since it had been going downhill. But this final season has marked something of a recovery, and this episode featured the return of Sharona. (Monk fans will know what that means.) It was even better than I'd hoped, with great character work, laughs, some unexpectedly serious moments, and the possibility of more to come. If you were ever a Monk fan, find this one.

- ABC just announced that my favorite sitcom, Better Off Ted, will be returning on December 8th. Strongly recommended.

Joining the chorus

2009-10-27T03:23:37Z

Like others who have posted, I'm home safe and happy. This year's OVFF was one of the best ever. Circles, socializing, performing, everything was . . . hell, it's late, and I don't have enough superlatives on hand.

One thing for sure, I'm staying over for the dead dog every year from now on. Going around the circle in my head, and apologizing in advance to those I miss, thank you Mary, Ed, Mary Ellen, Ben D., Brooke, Ben N., Seanan, Sooj, Tony, Vixy, Debbie, Merav, Elliot, Phil, Dave, and Heather for an incredible evening.

From OVFF: New parody

2009-10-24T15:43:20Z

Seanan has informed me that she's going to kill me with a knife.

TTTO: "Wicked Girls" by Seanan McGuire

We don't play fair; we're obnoxious and sneaky and pushy
We're tree climbing rats, but we're cute, with our tails so bushy
We're reavers and thieves and we never look back
We're always out searching for new yards to sack
We've pillaged the gardens and plundered each feeder we've found
Then scampered back up to the clouds, leaving shells on the ground

Debbie just wanted a garden that she could grow plants in
But when she saw what we had done there she started in rantin'
We ate every shoot; we left no trace of green
The things that she called us were really obscene
But we choose to be evil and sneer from our perch in the sky
Where flowers are fables and produce a fairy tale lie

Goldfinch and sparrow and robin and wren
We've stolen your food and we'll steal it again
And Ernie and Tink think we're awful, but then
Who listens to fairies and elves?
Millet and thistle and sunflower seed
These are the things that we crave and we need
So we're happy to be, although some call it greed
Wicked squirrels feeding ourselves
Yes we're wicked squirrels feeding ourselves

I'm only sorry Debbie wasn't there to hear it in person.

SYTYCD musings

2009-10-22T15:49:13Z

The auditions are over, Vegas week is done, and So You Think You Can Dance has chosen its top 20 finalists for season six.

For those of you who've never watched:

This is my current favorite show on TV. The dancers, and the choreographers they work with, are amazingly talented. Best of all, there's none of the back-stabbing and mean-spiritedness associated with most reality shows. The contestants, the judges, and the host all seem to like and respect each other, and focus on the quality of the performances.

Next week is a great jumping-on point. On Monday, they'll be broadcasting a one hour special introducing the contestants, something they've never done before. I Expect a bunch of biographical material, interviews, and audition footage, along with some group dance numbers. Tuesday is the first live competition show of the season, where the 20 contestants form 10 couples, and each couple performs one dance. This is the heart of the show, and the performances range from very good to jaw-dropping to moving.

For those already watching:

As much as I liked season five, I think this one will be better. While the dancing in season five was technically great, there weren't as many standout personalities, or as much star quality, as in previous seasons. (I found Joshua, Katie, Twitch, and Courtney a lot more interesting than Jeannine, Brandon, Kayla, and Evan. Well, OK, I loved Evan, but I have to admit that he wasn't as good at picking up other styles as most finalists.) There are already people in the season six pool who've caught my attention.

As always, some of the contestants have gotten more air time than others, so it's not fair to pick favorites yet, but the ones I'm already following with interest include (in no particular order) Ellenore, Bianca, Mollie, Channing, Billy, Russell, Legacy, Nathan, and Phillip.

Who do you have your eye on?

Grocery Store: The Musical

2009-10-21T18:31:32Z

Improv Everywhere strikes again.

Thanks to Terence Chua, on Facebook, for the link.

Things that make you go "Hmmm . . ."

2009-10-21T17:51:45Z

On the road earlier today, I spent a few minutes driving behind a big, white, mostly windowless van. There were no markings on the sides, but on the back I saw this, in neat black letters:

IGOR DISTRIB. CO.

What would Igor distribute?

Little pleasures

2009-10-20T13:38:44Z

Tuesday through Friday, my project team has an 8 AM status call with the customer. Today, I dialed in to find that the 8 AM was canceled, because we have a 10 AM call on another topic. So far, so good.

I headed downstairs to have breakfast (one of the perks of working from a home office), which was the remains of the excellent omelet (chorizo chili cheese) that I had when we went out to brunch Sunday. Also a glass of fresh apple cider.

As the omelet was heating, I turned on the TV for a little background noise, and found that Comcast just added a dozen new HD channels, including Cartoon Network, Travel Channel, IFC, Spike, Biography, and MGM.

Not a bad way to start a Tuesday, all in all.

Python alert!

2009-10-18T16:57:19Z

If you get the IFC cable channel, you want to know this. Over six nights, October 18th (tonight) through 23rd, they're running a new documentary, Monty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyers Cut). Advance reviews have been excellent. I've set the DVR.

How to fill a commercial break

2009-10-17T15:53:11Z

What news anchors do when you're not watching. Thanks to Terence Chua, over on Facebook, for the link.

Review: Where the Wild Things Are

2009-10-17T15:42:04Z

Director Spike Jonze and writer Dave Eggers have crafted a movie version of Maurice Sendak's "Where The Wild Things Are" that's divided viewers and critics. Some say it's dull and overly serious. Others say it's a masterpiece.

I don't know about masterpiece, but I do think it's very, very good. Jonze (the director of "Being John Malkovich" and "Adaptation") has chosen a naturalistic look, with odd and intimate camera angles that draw you into close contact with the characters and a subdued color pallet. Jonze and Eggers have chosen, wisely I think, to leave a lot unsaid, to let the audience figure things out for themselves. And what they've ended up with is definitely not a Hollywood studio film, and may or may not be a good children's film, depending on the child.

Instead, it's more of an art film, using Sendak's simple story to explore what it's like to be nine, sensitive, imaginative, and troubled. Those more psychologically inclined might speak of "acting out" and "abandonment issues". I'd rather just say that this is a remarkably honest portrait of a kid faced with more than he can comfortably handle. There isn't much of a plot, just a series of events. There's no villain, just personalities in conflict. (Or perhaps I should say pieces of personalities, as I've seen reference to either Jonze or Eggers saying that they saw the Wild Things as representing Max's jumbled emotions.) But there's plenty of characterization, all of it good.

As Max, Max Records never hits a false note. I believed in him, and that's not an easy thing to accomplish.

The Wild Things are marvels. A combination of voice acting, people in costumes, and CGI faces, they're every bit as believable as Max. This may be the most sophisticated CGI I've seen all year.

"Where the Wild Things Are" will stay with me. I recommend it.

Ah, the joys of home ownership

2009-10-17T15:21:07Z

Two guys are currently in our basement, installing a new furnace. One of them is the fella who was here Thursday. Turns out he was wrong about one thing. The problem with the heat exchanger was bad enough that after the blower died Wednesday, the heater never came back on. It's currently 60 degrees in the house.

They wouldn't have been able to get a replacement heat exchanger until Wednesday. Sharon and I talked it over, and decided to go with a new furnace and humidifier. Heat exchanger issues are a known problem with the furnace model the builder installed - our next door neighbor had the same problem. And there are a few ameliorating factors:

- Since we're having the whole furnace replaced, they're not going to charge us for the blower motor replacement they did on Thursday. (They'll be able to re-use the motor, but that still saves us the labor cost.)

- Next year, we'll be able to get back 30% of the cost as a tax credit.

- Technology has advanced. The old furnace claimed 90% efficiency. The new one claims 96%. So our gas bills this winter should go down.

It's been an interesting couple of days. Last night, we went out to dinner and a movie just to get out of the house for a while, watched some TV wearing coats and blankets, then put extra covers on the bed. (I slept in sweat pants, heavy sweat shirt, and socks.) Today, we're working in shifts, so there's someone in the house while the installers work. I went out to breakfast and the farmers' market. Sharon just left for lunch and errands.

If all goes as planned, we'll have heat coming out of the vents in another hour or two, and have a warm house by this evening.

Sadly, we aren't quite done. The furnace replacement uncovered a leak in the air conditioner. We'll have to replace that in the spring.

For those in the Chicago area

2009-10-16T18:45:44Z

There's a new stage version of Peter S. Beagle's "The Last Unicorn" about to open in Chicago. Peter will be there for the opening.

Furnace update

2009-10-15T21:02:56Z

Remember this? (Yes, I know, this morning was a long time ago.)

The repairman showed up about 3:30, and just left. He quickly determined that the blower motor had burned out. And yes, that would account for the burning smell.

This, however, is not my favorite way for someone to start a conversation with me: "I've replaced the blower motor. But I found another problem, and it's not a good one."

It seems the heat exchanger is badly clogged, to the point where we need to either replace the heat exchanger or the whole furnace. The good news, such as it is, is that we had the warranty papers for the furnace on file, and the heat exchanger is under warranty for as long as we live in this house. The bad news is that we'll still have to pay for labor.

Ah, well, at least the furnace is working for now, however inefficiently.

Muttermuttermutter . . .

2009-10-15T13:12:07Z

A couple of days ago, the house started to smell like, well, Sharon accurately described the smell as being like when you leave the iron on too long and it scorches the cloth. Last night, we agreed that it was time to call someone in to look at the furnace.

This morning, I woke to no smell . . . and no heat. The house, thankfully, is new enough to retain heat well. The thermostat is set to 70, and we're currently holding steady at 65/66. (Pretty good, considering it's currently 38 outside.) So I showered, got dressed, and picked a furnace repair business out of the yellow pages. The repairman will be here some time between noon and 4.

I'm just hoping this will be a three-figure visit, not four.

Cultural awareness quiz

2009-10-13T14:56:47Z

Read this entry from Mark Evanier's blog.

Did you laugh?

If not, you need this.

I like it, I like it!

2009-10-13T14:04:50Z

A pointer on Facebook led me to this anagram generator. I fed it my full name, and got:

Mark Leslie Bernstein's anagram name is MAN-LIKE TERRIBLENESS

It explains so much

2009-10-13T12:36:12Z

Toy Story 3 trailer

2009-10-12T20:16:48Z

This looks great. Watch it in HD if you can.