Slumdog Millionaire!

I hate it when movies get too much hype. It never lives up, with a couple exceptions. This was not one of them. It was a great movie, but it was a bit “lacking” as one of my friends said. This is the first Indian movie I’ve covered, or at least slightly Indian movie, so I’ll do it a bit differently.

Cinematography:
Pretty decent. I liked the locations and especially loved the exposure of the REAL India. The organized begging, “singing blind kids earn double” was something few in this damn country knew about for years. It also brought back a fair few memories of India. I was THERE. I was FUCKING THERE. Don’t ask.

Acting:
For an Indian movie, surprisingly present. Frieda Pinto was pretty good, as were her juvenile counterparts. A great portrayal of the shitty life of beautiful Indian girls who are also poor. Sexy henna too. The role of Jamaal was done best by the teenage version I think. Dev Patel didn’t have much acting to do, just stern faced and pissed, or happy. Also, I’m still pissed at Anil Kapoor. Don’t ask.

Randomness of Beatings:
It worked well this time. Usually its pointless fights all the time. Kinda gets boring. If you watch other Hindi movies, it’s mostly “You said hi to this girl I love. I’M GONNA KILL YOU!” It was a bit refreshing actually.

Music/Dancing:
Hmm… The first song was well done. Nothing to complain about. The finale wasn’t that great. It looked really rehearsed and robotic. And Dev looked really intimidated by Frieda. It was very awkward. Although the two little kid versions dancing was soooooooo cute. I missed the teenage versions dancing, but it wasn’t necessary.

Overall, great movie. Not a theater flick though. I was a bit disappointed. Rent it or buy it on DVD, but it’s a movie to enjoy.

Obama is NOT Magic, and A Dream of a Better Bailout

I hope that all of you who are reading this are smart enough to realize one simple thing. Obama is not magical. He will not magically cure the economy, end the war, or fix any of the problems we have. However wonderful he is, he is not this country’s messiah. Worst of all, his bailout plan will not work. Its going to be another trillion dollars added to the nation’s debt.

I have a plan though. I doubt its feasible, but I’ve been thinking about it for a while, and this will work better than the proposed one. I think… First lets examine the main problem behind most of the proposed bailouts that we will see in the future. The main problem with them is that they rely on the assumption that people will be going out and spending the money that they’re getting. Will this happen? Let’s put ourselves in the shoes of lower America, the ones who have the worst of this crisis. “I’ve just lost a large amount of money. The government is giving me money. Whatever will I do? Invest in something? Buy lots of stuff? Hell no. I’m going to save the money so that I have something to depend on when this happens again.”

How can this be fixed? The thing is, there is no way the government can do it without losing money. It’s simply the amount of money lost that matters. There are two groups of people that need help the most right now, small business owners and the unemployed. Giving out money to buy stuff seems to help the unemployed, but small business owners are still plagued with difficulties. My solution? Give them a tax break! How? I'm so glad you asked.

Give out, instead of checks, bills. Government guaranteed money that can be spent at stores that are classified (by tax bracket) as small businesses. SBO’s can put up signs advertising that they take those bills. When tax season comes around, SBO’s can use those bills to pay their taxes. The thing is that these bills must be inexchangeable for cash, only goods and services provided by SBOs. This way, the government gets the vast majority of the money that they gave out back, small businesses get a consumer surge, and people are forced to spend. Unless they really are idiots.

What do you guys think?

I Swerved, It Was All in My Head!

A Note to anyone who got tagged on FB. Or anyone here for that matter. I rarely update my blog. Usually if i see a show or movie or something. If I tagged you, or directed you here, it's because I care about your opinion, or at least, I think that you're cool.

This was a great concert, and it was really fun to be there. I got to see a bunch of new South bands, and listened to some great music. Here’s the review:

North Station/Zach Hausle and the Dangling Modifiers:
I wasn’t completely happy with them. They started out with a rap/rock song after the intro, which didn't really work, at least for me. The solo songs were great musically, but it was a bit hard to hear Zach sing because of the position of the mic. I loved when they did their other songs at the end. I suggest they just stick to the rock. Very good sound.

SuperFluid:
This time I will give a legitimate review of them. They were really good, and I definitely didn’t feel that they stole the show this time. We got a mosh pit going eventually, and it was really fun. They didn’t play any new songs though. Still loved their set.

Pajammin’:
I liked their music a lot. Did a couple covers and some original material. Kinda ska sound, but it wasn’t too chill, and wasn’t too hyper. A nice follow up for SuperFluid. It was unfortunate that they were having mic problems. Good for my first time seeing them.

Downtown Collective:
I really really liked them this time. They were much less chill, playing faster music, someone commented on their ska-ness. They were a lot better. They played their two signature songs, and did their thing. I still stand by my opinion that, although they are great musicians, I'm not really there for their sound usually.

Band St. Cool:
They were great as usual. Slightly more chill than they usually are at shows, but I was much more in the mood for it this time around. I really liked the new Bel-Air cover they did, and some of their songs which I didn’t like at earlier shows are starting to grow on me. I really want to get an album by them now.

Last Train Out:
I’ve decided not to review these guys because of some things that happened at the show.

Sometimes Why:
As Will’s mic was working, I loved them. Great end, even though Cowboy Will got cut short. I can’t wait to see them perform again. Not much to say because the set was so short, but thankfully they played.

All in all, I had fun, and it seemed like most of the other people did too. Great start to the new year. 09!

Apparently i have a life...

SUPPOSEDLY if you've seen over 100 films, you have no life. Mark the ones you've seen. There are over 239 films on this list. Copy this list, go to your own Facebook account, paste this as a note. Then, put x's next to the films you've seen, add them up, change the header adding your number, and click post at the bottom. Have fun.



( ) Rocky Horror Picture Show
( ) Grease
(x) Pirates of the Caribbean
( ) Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest
( ) Boondock Saints
(x) Fight Club
(x) Starsky and Hutch
( ) Neverending Story
(x) Blazing Saddles
(x) Airplane

Total: 5

(x) The Princess Bride
(x) AnchorMan
( ) Napoleon Dynamite
( ) Labyrinth
(x) Saw
(x) Saw II
( ) White Noise
( ) White Oleander
( ) Anger Management
( ) 50 First Dates
( ) The Princess Diaries
( ) The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement

Total so far: 9
(x) Scream
(x) Scream 2
(x) Scream 3
(x) Scary Movie
(x) Scary Movie 2
(x) Scary Movie 3
(x) Scary Movie 4
( ) American Pie
( ) American Pie 2
( ) American Wedding
( ) American Pie Band Camp

Total so far: 16

(x) Harry Potter 1
(x) Harry Potter 2
(x) Harry Potter 3
(x) Harry Potter 4
(x) Resident Evil 1
(x) Resident Evil 2
( ) The Wedding Singer
( ) Little Black Book
(x) The Village
(x) Lilo & Stitch

Total so far: 23

(x) Finding Nemo
( ) Finding Neverland
(x) Signs
(x) The Grinch
( ) Texas Chainsaw Massacre
( ) Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
( ) White Chicks
( ) Butterfly Effect
( ) 13 Going on 30
(x) I, Robot
(x) Robots

Total so far: 27
(x) Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
( ) Universal Soldier
(x) Lemony Snicket: A Series Of Unfortunate Events
( ) Along Came Polly
( ) Deep Impact
( ) KingPin
( ) Never Been Kissed
( ) Meet The Parents
( ) Meet the Fockers
( ) Eight Crazy Nights
(x) Joe Dirt
( ) KING KONG - only the original

Total so far: 30

( ) A Cinderella Story
( ) Another Cinderella Story
(x) The Terminal
( ) The Lizzie McGuire Movie
( ) Passport to Paris
(x) Dumb & Dumber
(x) Dumber & Dumberer
(x) Final Destination
(x) Final Destination 2
(x) Final Destination 3
( ) Halloween
( ) The Ring
( ) The Ring 2
( ) Surviving X-MAS
(xx) Flubber (both versions)

Total so far: 38

(x) Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle
( ) Practical Magic
( ) Chicago
( ) Ghost Ship
( ) From Hell
(x) Hellboy
(x) Secret Window
( ) I Am Sam
() The Whole Nine Yards
( ) The Whole Ten Yards

Total so far: 39

(x) The Day After Tomorrow
( ) Child's Play
( ) Seed of Chucky
( ) Bride of Chucky
( ) Ten Things I Hate About You
( ) Just Married
( ) Gothika
( ) Nightmare on Elm Street
( ) Sixteen Candles
( ) Remember the Titans
( ) Coach Carter
( ) The Grudge
( ) The Grudge 2
( ) The Mask
( ) Son Of The Mask

Total so far:40

(x)Bad Boys
(x) Bad Boys 2
( ) Joy Ride
( ) Lucky Number Slevin
(x)Ocean's Eleven
(x)Ocean's Twelve
(x) Bourne Identity
( ) Bourne Supremecy
( ) Lone Star
( )Bedazzled
( ) Predator I
( ) Predator II
( ) The Fog
(x) Ice Age
(x)Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
( )Curious George

Total so far:47

(x)Independence Day
( ) Cujo
( ) A Bronx Tale
( Darkness Falls)
( ) Christine
(x) ET
() Children of the Corn
() My Boss's Daughter
( )Maid in Manhattan
(x) War of the Worlds
(x) Rush Hour
(x) Rush Hour 2

Total so far: 52

( ) Best Bet
( ) How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
(x)She's All That
( ) Calendar Girls
( ) Sideways
(x) Mars Attacks
() Event Horizon
( ) Ever After
(x) Wizard of Oz
(x) Forrest Gump
( ) Big Trouble in Little China
(x) The Terminator
(x) The Terminator 2
(x) The Terminator 3

Total so far: 59

(x) X-Men
(x) X-2
(x) X-3
(x) Spider-Man
(x) Spider-Man 2
(x) Sky High
( ) Jeepers Creepers
( ) Jeepers Creepers 2
(x) Catch Me If You Can
(x) The Little Mermaid
( ) Freaky Friday
() Reign of Fire
( ) The Skulls
( ) Cruel Intentions
( ) Cruel Intentions 2
() The Hot Chick
(x) Shrek
(x) Shrek 2

Total so far: 69

( ) Swimfan
( ) Miracle on 34th street - only the original
( ) Old School
( ) The Notebook
( ) K-Pax
( ) Krippendorf's Tribe
( )A Walk to Remember
( ) Ice Castles
( ) Boogeyman
( ) The 40-year-old Virgin

Total so far:69

(x) Lord of the Rings Fellowship of the Ring
(x) Lord of the Rings The Two Towers
(x) Lord of the Rings Return Of the King
(x) Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
(x) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
(x) Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

Total so far: 75
( ) Baseketball
( ) Hostel
( ) Waiting for Guffman
( ) House of 1000 Corpses
( ) Devils Rejects
( ) Elf
( ) Highlander
( ) Mothman Prophecies
(x) American History X
( ) Three

Total so Far: 76

( ) The Jacket
( ) Kung Fu Hustle
( ) Shaolin Soccer
( ) Night Watch
(x) Monsters Inc.
(x) Titanic
(x) Monty Python and the Holy Grail
(x) Shaun Of the Dead
( ) Willard

Total so far: 80

( ) High Tension
( ) Club Dread
(x) Hulk
( ) Dawn Of the Dead
( ) Hook
(x) Chronicles Of Narnia The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
( ) 28 days later
( ) Orgazmo
( ) Phantasm
( ) Waterworld

Total so far: 82

(x) Kill Bill vol 1
(x) Kill Bill vol 2
() Mortal Kombat
( ) Wolf Creek
(x) Kingdom of Heaven
() the Hills Have Eyes
( ) I Spit on Your Grave aka the Day of the Woman
( ) The Last House on the Left
( ) Re-Animator
( ) Army of Darkness

Total so far: 85

(x) Star Wars Ep. I The Phantom Menace
(x) Star Wars Ep. II Attack of the Clones
(x) Star Wars Ep. III Revenge of the Sith
(x) Star Wars Ep. IV A New Hope
(x) Star Wars Ep. V The Empire Strikes Back
(x) Star Wars Ep. VI Return of the Jedi
() Ewoks Caravan Of Courage
() Ewoks The Battle For Endor

Total so far: 91

(x) The Matrix
(x) The Matrix Reloaded
(x) The Matrix Revolutions
(x) Animatrix
( ) Evil Dead
( ) Evil Dead 2
() Team America: World Police
( ) Red Dragon
( ) Silence of the Lambs
( ) Hannibal

Total: 95 Movies

Brisingr by Christopher Paolini

I never thought that I would like this book and im about half way through it now. I really really hate myself for trying to get through it. It’s really bad writing. I will say that when I first picked up the book, I was almost excited to see how bad his writing had gotten. It seemed to be an almost JK Rowling moment (You know who you are HBP) where the book was horrible but it at least advanced the plot. Brisingr is pretty damned bad though. A lot worse than any Rowling book. There’s a long fight scene in the third or fourth chapter where, for several pages, Eragon just stands there thinking about how great he is, watching Saphira and Roran get the crap beaten out of them. What the hell?
One thing I do like about it is that it’s much more about Eragon, and there are much fewer chapters where Paolini basically says “Hey look! Minor characters! They have lives too!” which overwhelmed Eldest. I would have much rather preferred a book purely about Eragon, and then at the end they meet Roran and he tells them all about it, instead of constantly dividing the story up. There are divisions, but less of them, and they are less long as well which is good.

Gone to the MOTHERLAND

Sooooooooooooo I’m in India now, and since you guys are people that I like to talk to, please keep in semi contact. I’ll be back before December, but not until then. So send me emails etc. Facebook and email I will get. Phone stuff I won’t, and don’t bother calling me in India. It’s like a dollar per minute unless you have a plan. Thanks!

Haha Niiiiiiiice Benny Lava Rip-off

The original:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZA1NoOOoaNw

Then:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBZej5qSIwU

Check em out.

Fall Season Review

So here’s my take on my fall shows and how they’re going so far, as the season has elapsed more than a month. If you’ve been tagged in this, then I’ve discussed at least one of these shows with you and know you watch it.

Prison Break:
Honestly, half way through the third episode I felt disgusted. They stooped to a new low with this one. Speaking as one of the few that stuck with it after the writer’s strike, I feel pretty unhappy with the new plot. Seriously? They’re searching for six data cards that MAGICALLY have every bit of evidence they need to take down the company? WHEN DID THIS STOP BEING ABOUT PRISONS? The first season: breaking out. Second season: staying out. Third season: breaking out… again. Fourth season: Whistler was good all along and so was Gretchen/Susan? No. Also, they kept Bellick. And the casting is bullshit. And the Chinese guy is an idiot while also being so poorly written it’s insane.

The Office:
I was completely taken aback by the first and third episodes. Seriously, I thought they would wait a bit longer for the “major story developments” that occurred. I’m happy about it though, because now the only thing left is to be completely surprised by what’s to come, and that’s what The Office does best. Also, more Dwight/Jim craziness is the only thing that could make this season better.

House:
I was sad that Wilson left, even though it almost wrought the end of JH’s obsession with House/Wilson love. I do like the P.I. guy a lot though, and I kinda wish he had a bigger part in the show, but after the developments of the last two episodes (Wilson’s back) it seems unlikely. Also, 13 was starting to feel like a jaded character until the last episode. She was almost Cameron, but that completely changed. Now, I don’t know what to think of her. Still the best show on television.

Heroes:
The season has had it’s ups and downs, namely bringing back Isaac as a crazy painter in Africa who calls Parkman “Pacman.” Also, the fact that Arthur Patrelli is not dead? How many slightly dead people are there? Is Niki dead? Jessica? Alejandro? Seriously. And what’s going to happen to Peter now? I kinda want to see what Sylar does too. This season has a lot of potential, but they seem to be wasting most of it. I’m staying hopeful, because they don’t always disappoint.

Entourage:
I like the new direction the plot is going in, especially Ari being head of Warner Brothers. Though I doubt it will happen, it is an interesting plot device that will pit Vince and Ari in an emotional conflict, which will be good for them. I want to see what happens with E’s management business much more than anything now, but I doubt he’ll get many more clients this season. I love the endlessness of the show, and how it really can’t die.

Help Plox

Hey, so I started listening to the Gorillaz song “Every Planet We Reach is Dead,” and I got the idea for a playlist full of chill music. I went through my Gorillaz music today, and I picked out a few songs. I was wondering if any of you musically inclined people knew where I could get more songs.
Heres what I have so far:

Every planet we reach is dead
Ghost Train
68 State

Anything like those would be good. I might add some Beatles stuff, so don’t list those.

I can't Believe I'm Saying This

I have never ever dreamed that I could possibly say these words, especially after the last five years, but here I am saying them. As those of you who know my political stances well, or have spent any amount of time with me this summer, should know I can’t stand Senators Kerry and Edwards. They have done horrible things to the good name of the Democratic Party.
Again, I can’t believe I’m saying this: it seems that they are *shudder* not the worst offenders of party besmirchment.
After watching the last two debates, I have surmised that John McCain should not have put off his campaign to deal with the bailout, he should have put off Sarah Palin’s campaign. Never before have I seen one person make such a fool of themselves in the political scene as Gov. Palin has. Tonight itself, she has stated countless times how her policies now are not only against party interests, but against her and McCain’s expressed interests. The McCain/Palin ticket is such an insult to the republican party, I am almost speechless. I pity all of you who are forced to share a gender with the good Governor, and hopefully, you’ll be forgiven for it. Her inability to deal with issues, and her complete idiocy in front of cameras has been shown time and time again. I have tried so hard to be neutral before the debates, but her acts were so pervasive that it was impossible.
Also, someone should teach her how to properly pronounce nuclear. And maybe learn to shut up.