Time for Elvis to woop some ancient Egyptian buttocks in "Bubba Hotep". Yeah, baby!
Now, you might be sayin' to yourself, "what in tarnation is a mummy doing at an east Texas rest home?" Well, it turns out he's writin' grafitti on the bathroom stalls about Cleopatra.
This here "Bubba Hotep" is about the funniest movie with Elvis and JFK in it, that's what I'm sayin'. I'll throw in a mummy just to be sure, 'cuz you might think Gump was funny or somethin'. But it ain't. Not this funny.
And, near as I can tell, the powers that be made this picture because they had nothin' better to do. That's a sound, ringin' endorsement, right there. If you're wantin' serious, art-house-type crap, then you can rule this one out, but you don't want that. You want The King vs. The King of the Dead with Kung Fu and wheelchairs.
I'll be fair and warn you that this ain't no family picture, what with a lotta swearin' and Kung Fu, and a moment of half-nakedness. I wouldn't want the younguns gettin' in on this.
The collector's edition DVD also features commentary by the King himself. Oh, yeah.
29.12.2005
26.12.2005
Hicks
The popularity of some shows staggers. Recently I was exposed to some episodes of "The Family Guy", a show that many people in my classes refer to often. That'd be the 19-23 yr old set. I guess that means that they don't have that much experience with stories, but the repetition of previous elements without significant alteration leads to ennui.
"Mad" recently ran a comparison of "The Family Guy" and "The Simpsons" with solid reasoning (go ahead, criticize that). While "The Simpsons" did repeat many of the same story elements as in the past, there was significant innovation to make it interesting to even the most jaded viewer... hence the long run of the series.
There are elements that I did like, such as the take on Death (the anthropomorphic personification), which was reasonably innovative and humorous. I'm sure the writers make an effort, and comparing them to Matt Groenig is hardly fair, but even outside of the animation field...
Let's look at Family sitcoms, such as "All In The Family". We see an intolerant, and largely ignorant father figure, a mother that tries to balance things and maintain peace, an antagonistic son(-in-law) and a daughter that sides with him and tries to enlighten the father. This has become a formula, and "formulaic" is seen as a *bad* thing. Still, even successful family sitcoms, such as "The Cosby Show" feature these elements (for the most part... the basic formula has been expanded to accomadate a 5th member, usually a very small, precocious, child).
Story elements are also pretty formulaic, and the problem becomes introducing these elements to the characters in refreshing ways, and resolving them in interesting ways. As time progresses it becomes harder to introduce these ideas in new combinations. Sometimes a new setting eleviates some of the problem. Space, a wagon train, underwater (actually, that one has never done well for some reason), and other unusual locales can allow new elements (subplots) that allow for different paths to, lets face it, the same resolution.
Many people have complained about the lack of depth for television programs, usually excerbated by the commercial nature of media.
I dislike the form, but television might see good use of the "tragicomedy". Tragicomedies start as tragedies, but end happily. Or they could invert that formula. Not that this hasn't been tried, I'm sure.
Damn stupid people, comfortable with sameness.
"Mad" recently ran a comparison of "The Family Guy" and "The Simpsons" with solid reasoning (go ahead, criticize that). While "The Simpsons" did repeat many of the same story elements as in the past, there was significant innovation to make it interesting to even the most jaded viewer... hence the long run of the series.
There are elements that I did like, such as the take on Death (the anthropomorphic personification), which was reasonably innovative and humorous. I'm sure the writers make an effort, and comparing them to Matt Groenig is hardly fair, but even outside of the animation field...
Let's look at Family sitcoms, such as "All In The Family". We see an intolerant, and largely ignorant father figure, a mother that tries to balance things and maintain peace, an antagonistic son(-in-law) and a daughter that sides with him and tries to enlighten the father. This has become a formula, and "formulaic" is seen as a *bad* thing. Still, even successful family sitcoms, such as "The Cosby Show" feature these elements (for the most part... the basic formula has been expanded to accomadate a 5th member, usually a very small, precocious, child).
Story elements are also pretty formulaic, and the problem becomes introducing these elements to the characters in refreshing ways, and resolving them in interesting ways. As time progresses it becomes harder to introduce these ideas in new combinations. Sometimes a new setting eleviates some of the problem. Space, a wagon train, underwater (actually, that one has never done well for some reason), and other unusual locales can allow new elements (subplots) that allow for different paths to, lets face it, the same resolution.
Many people have complained about the lack of depth for television programs, usually excerbated by the commercial nature of media.
I dislike the form, but television might see good use of the "tragicomedy". Tragicomedies start as tragedies, but end happily. Or they could invert that formula. Not that this hasn't been tried, I'm sure.
Damn stupid people, comfortable with sameness.
21.12.2005
Lather, Rinse, Repeat, Delete
Well, the verdict is in, and I failed O Chem. I'm not real happy about this, but I have 3 "repeat, delete" classes and this will be one of them.
What is "repeat, delete" you ask? It is a process wherein you retake a class (repeat) and the former class grade does not count against you (delete). If I'm in luck and get to pick the classes I do this for, then my GPA will greatly improve. If not, I'll learn while retaking CS153 this upcoming semester and I'll choose my final pattern more carefully.
For those wondering, there are a few pointers for physics:
Kinematics: know the formulas, love them. (although you can derive 2 from the other, if you've taken calculus and know what it all means).
F=m*a This one is useful all through life... especially when you have kids. You going at even 1/3 the speed of a given child, can still deliver a world a hurt upon arrival. Suddenly, mass is your friend.
g=9.81 Don't let those bastards try to shove that, "but you can round it to 10," crap down your throat. It's a lie. Three significant figures, baby.
Circular motion is just kinematics over the radius... don't let it intimidate you. (You didn't think I'd make a "torque" joke, did you?)
What is "repeat, delete" you ask? It is a process wherein you retake a class (repeat) and the former class grade does not count against you (delete). If I'm in luck and get to pick the classes I do this for, then my GPA will greatly improve. If not, I'll learn while retaking CS153 this upcoming semester and I'll choose my final pattern more carefully.
For those wondering, there are a few pointers for physics:
Kinematics: know the formulas, love them. (although you can derive 2 from the other, if you've taken calculus and know what it all means).
F=m*a This one is useful all through life... especially when you have kids. You going at even 1/3 the speed of a given child, can still deliver a world a hurt upon arrival. Suddenly, mass is your friend.
g=9.81 Don't let those bastards try to shove that, "but you can round it to 10," crap down your throat. It's a lie. Three significant figures, baby.
Circular motion is just kinematics over the radius... don't let it intimidate you. (You didn't think I'd make a "torque" joke, did you?)
20.12.2005
Two by two
By request, I am updating my blog. I'll have you know that it isn't easy. My social calendar says that I'm booked solid for various horsemen, demons, imps, etc for the next little while. I must say that I was relieved to see
Death: He actually only phoned in to say that he'd removed some woman from torpor, a 4 year long coma, and that I needn't concern myself with sending my son to Satan for a few days. Satan confirmed, and asked if some future arrangement could be made. So it is that I made a deal with the devil. Damn it.
Disease: Myself, I was ridden by Bronchitis during finals week, a lovely time to feel like you're going to constantly wretch sandpaper. I did, however, manage to pull through on at least 2 of the 4 courses, for a total of 8 hours over 5 that are certain passes (C or better). Organic Chemistry, a pox be upon it, along with several other long chain molecular structures, is the hold out.
War: I was recently touched by a bizarre tale given me by one of the frequent bus passangers. This touches me far less, but I consider the implications and what I could've responded with. Owing to the above, things would've gone poorly. At any rate, a recent veteran, someone returning from the conflict in Iraq (a minor set of scraps barely worthy of the title "war") shot his wife and himself, leaving a small child in the wake of this calamity (age:2). He was the lead singer for a band, and, owing to my spirited vocalizations on the bus, I was approached by the guitarist for an audition. I turned it down.
Famine: As you've no doubt heard, my wife lost her job in September. Well, December is the month in which the wire is laid, and we are marching across it step by painful step. I believe we'll make it through Christmas without incident, but January will be the lean times indeed.
At one point, and I must relay this to you, I was surrounded by young folk, all tattooed and pierced, dressed in black, all in that rebellious fervor that only the young can muster with such blind stupidity. Each seeking to be an individual by following people who are clearly individuals, instead of being themselves. As we stepped off the bus one evening, I lead the pack yelling, "free thinkers, follow me!"
It'll probably take years for them to get that one.
Death: He actually only phoned in to say that he'd removed some woman from torpor, a 4 year long coma, and that I needn't concern myself with sending my son to Satan for a few days. Satan confirmed, and asked if some future arrangement could be made. So it is that I made a deal with the devil. Damn it.
Disease: Myself, I was ridden by Bronchitis during finals week, a lovely time to feel like you're going to constantly wretch sandpaper. I did, however, manage to pull through on at least 2 of the 4 courses, for a total of 8 hours over 5 that are certain passes (C or better). Organic Chemistry, a pox be upon it, along with several other long chain molecular structures, is the hold out.
War: I was recently touched by a bizarre tale given me by one of the frequent bus passangers. This touches me far less, but I consider the implications and what I could've responded with. Owing to the above, things would've gone poorly. At any rate, a recent veteran, someone returning from the conflict in Iraq (a minor set of scraps barely worthy of the title "war") shot his wife and himself, leaving a small child in the wake of this calamity (age:2). He was the lead singer for a band, and, owing to my spirited vocalizations on the bus, I was approached by the guitarist for an audition. I turned it down.
Famine: As you've no doubt heard, my wife lost her job in September. Well, December is the month in which the wire is laid, and we are marching across it step by painful step. I believe we'll make it through Christmas without incident, but January will be the lean times indeed.
At one point, and I must relay this to you, I was surrounded by young folk, all tattooed and pierced, dressed in black, all in that rebellious fervor that only the young can muster with such blind stupidity. Each seeking to be an individual by following people who are clearly individuals, instead of being themselves. As we stepped off the bus one evening, I lead the pack yelling, "free thinkers, follow me!"
It'll probably take years for them to get that one.
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