tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-167297282012-02-03T07:21:27.100-07:00Natrix's blog--once a school project, it's now a monster of tales from my life, ACAD, and other such musingsNatrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.comBlogger1081100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-84052892078609913072008-04-05T00:45:00.002-06:002008-04-05T00:52:29.169-06:00Today after class, I couldn't help myself, and spent some time perusing the spring Show and Sale. See, I had resisted for so long, because I knew that I would be tempted to buy all the VC prints--in my opinion, the only items of real interest that are affordable ($10-$20). True, they may be copies, but you can never buy the original (as one man was complaining about by the table), because they're digital files. What, you gonna mount a screen on your wall, dedicated to showing it 24/7? Of course not; prints are fine with me, especially when they're uniquely signed.<br /><br />Anyhow, yeah, I bought a few things. How could I resist the great art?<br /><br />More significantly, however, is that I was down there with Lillian and Kevin, and we were lamenting that yet again, another Show and Sale is passing swiftly, and none of us had put anything into any of the shows. Argh, and all that.<br /><br />So...the three of us made a Show and Sale Pact. Next year, one of the shows, winter or spring, not even both unless we wanted to--we will keep each other on this goal, that we will put something out to sell. One item, two items, five thousand items--whatever. It always helps to have such mutual prodding, you know?<br /><br />Well, that's that!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-8405289207860991307?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-35020882815865015782008-03-25T00:22:00.004-06:002008-03-25T00:50:59.866-06:00You'd think I'd be able to do a lot in 4 days...<br /><br />Well, actually, I did, in a sense, but it's hugely lacking in variety!<br /><br />To recap: I advertised. Slept, ate. Advertised. <span style="font-size:78%;">(Did illustration)</span> ADVERTISED.<br /><br />What a way to celebrate Good Friday and Easter Sunday, eh? In a time of spiritual reflection and the commemoration of the Messiah's rebirth, I wallowed in the world of consumerism! I almost felt bad, but I didn't because I'm Pastafarian. ;)<br /><br />Anyway, when I say I want to do something, I'm serious about it. And I want, want, WANT to get an internship over the summer. I may not, but I'll try, dammit. Hence all the advertising. Plus, I figured it'd kill two birds with one stone, to use that horribly trite adage; we have a portfolio show Saturday where we can show our work to pros and ask for feedback, tips, and advice. This way, I'll have a lot to run by them.<br /><br />Including my homework for Tuesday, which would be 3 pieces of a campaign, I did 10 ads!! :) That would mean 7 of my own to bulk up a portfolio (SOON TO COME...having said it, I'll go all out to make sure it materializes...). Actually, it falls short of the number I set a goal for this weekend, but I'm still satisfied--ARGH, if only I could have Thursday back!<br /><br />See, I just sorta sat around, thinking as hard as I could but not getting much of anything. I wasn't distracted or anything, I had the time, too, just nothing came period. Add some personal skepticism into the mix, a sprinkle of minor despair that I have so much to do, and I was effectively stuck. The next day, I just up and did some--and then things just started flowing, thankfully. Whether they're all good, however, remains to be seen.<br /><br />But the lesson is, I really musn't think so hard. And never pause for any bit of self-doubt. <span style="font-style: italic;">Never never never never letting go, never giving up, never saying no, just go, go, never looking, never thinking, just do, do, do, do the right thing! </span>Haha, recognize that? Just a random snippet from one of my all time movies...<br /><br />Oh wait, I did find enough time to watch Lost! Gosh, I love that show! What thrills! What brilliance! What total agony until it comes back late April! :(<br /><br />But the upside to this is I'll have an extra hour every Thursday to get stuff done.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-3502088281586501578?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-15554675880150317232008-03-11T21:46:00.004-06:002008-03-11T21:57:03.177-06:00How stupid of me...<br /><br />I was thinking of just doing some very minimal get together at a bar or something for my birthday, see people, and take a little time to relax.<br /><br />Well, scratch that. I just remembered that going to Mia's birthday, I was ID'ed, and noticed that my driver's expired on my birthday. So, I renewed it--yesterday.<br /><br />But that means I only have a silly slip of paper currently, before they send me the new one within TWO WEEKS. The paper is obviously useless as identification. So anywhere I could go would require me to bring strange pieces of ID I don't want to be bothered with finding. What, like my passport? It's just to get into a friggin' bar!<br /><br />Never mind that, then...I'll just settle for a <span style="font-style: italic;">fontastic</span> day in Typography Thursday. :| Why must we celebrate aging? It should be a mournful thing, with eulogies and stuff, haha. 21's a good age to stay, though--while I'm not a huge drinker, it's always available to me now in the States, no?<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-1555467588015031723?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-52926150720976097382008-03-08T01:41:00.002-07:002008-03-08T02:28:15.991-07:00Great stuff again this year! And glad some of my friends could make it, including Jessica again, some VCers who unfortunately missed last year's, and a high school friend, now attending the U of C. But where was Kris? I didn't even get a reply. Everyone has told me he's dropped off the face of the earth, and I certainly believe it...<br /><br />Anyway. Initially, I expressed during the intermission that last year's event was better, but I'm not totally sure any more--the performances were generally superior in #7, but some of the themes and costumes I liked this year were better than the weaker ones last year, and vice versa. The only thing I can conclude is that it's a different and exciting show every year, and still well worth $10!<br /><br />I was glad to see that the show's design isn't stagnant, however--I appreciated the relocation of the stage this time around, offset from the very end of the walkway for a much better view for more people. Good thinking.<br /><br />Again, greatly impressed by everyone's talents. I am absolutely clueless at 3-D mediums, so something like fashion design just totally boggles me, whether the costumes are practical or not. I particularly liked:<br /><br />-<span style="font-style: italic;">Telling Stories Through the Body</span>; great, beautiful gowns, and an excellent performance. A top-notch opener. Even with only three models, it felt complete, considered, and thorough, and filled the space and time.<br /><br />-<span style="font-style: italic;">More Human Than Human</span>; OMG! Biology in fashion!!! XD I want it to start a friggin' Halloween revolution--enough with the black skeleton suits, people, how about being the nervous system for a night?? Or the digestive? Reproductive for the risque? Or the lymphatic if you're into representing fringe / obscure things? They were all sweet!<br /><br />-<span style="font-style: italic;">Burning Sensation</span>; waaay out there, and definitely in your face with bare breasts and bottoms (in Jessica's words: "very confident"--I wholeheartedly agree, and applaud them), and I can't deny the craftsmanship of the costumes. Just like the fantastic dresses he made for last year's (Chelsea modelled for him then), it's clear Nylund knows his stuff. And okay, honestly, I thought the mermaid in the wheelchair was brilliantly conceived, dressed, and made-up, and was the "tipping point" for me to include this set.<br /><br />-<span style="font-style: italic;">Reflections on the Dichotomy of Hope and Despair: The Musical</span>; the kite dresses! Very neat, very elegantly beautiful, particularly the white and gold one. Not a bad performance either, to sorta ballroom dance down the catwalk from one end to the other. The colourful kite dress may have been too much, but definitely stood out from the black and white ones.<br /><br />-<span style="font-style: italic;">R.O.Y.G.B.I.V. With a Touch of Black, Brown, and Pink, Oh, and Cupcakes Too</span>; perhaps the most functional and practical set of costumes, I thought the attention of detail in each coloured set to be astounding in its intricacy, and on the whole, it looked comfortable and well-made. It exuded happiness, looked great on all the models, and you could genuinely believe that they could be cupcake salespeople--it was warm and trustworthy, light, casual, and fun. Even the cupcake colours matched their costumes, and that they passed them out (not that I got one behind two rows of seats) is just...ahem, icing on the cake! :D<br /><br />-And the unnamed set that incorporated lights under the dress, and the crazy hood in the other costume deserves a side mention--great job, but I just wish there were more than only two costumes, you know? To me, the minimum is always three for a set.<br /><br />Can't wait for the 9th incarnation of this inspiring event!<br /><br />PS: As an aside to the previous line, I find it very, very difficult coming up with believable / appropriate / functional (or any combination of two, or all three!) costuming when I draw figures. I mean, when it's removed from the modern day, obviously--so something like fantasy, or dream-like, or sci-fi (it goes without saying I can clothe figures more or less competently in something like jeans, shirts, skirts, jackets, etc.) The artaWEARness themes and costumes, I find, are always carefully considered and believable within the context of the situations or worlds they've created. Meanwhile, if I need to make up costuming, I just go blank: "Uh...a belt? A pocket here? I don't know!!" So, it's always nice to see such ideas.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-5292615072097609738?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-28902523680198777222008-03-03T21:38:00.003-07:002008-03-03T21:57:01.190-07:00Yes, I'm going to talk about it again...<br /><br />Oh look! The PCs have won again in Alberta!<br /><br />I loved how there was so much hype and "excitement" surrounding this election. All the pundits were looking forward to some seats being shifted around, but I believed none of it.<br /><br />As a politically aware 20 year old, I'm already jaded. I always vote, but I've long accepted that I'll make no difference. Other provinces switch out their parties every so often, but Albertans are hilariously afraid of change--yet they'll keep on whining and moaning when Ed drags his feet. They knowingly claim there is no alternative, but they don't know what any alternative--ANY of the opposition parties--can do.<br /><br />As the most popular opposition, I voted Liberal. I would've loved it if any of the parties, including the Wild Rose Alliance, pulled an upset. But I'm more likely to win the lottery--and I don't even play the lottery!<br /><br />The PCs and the PC sheep seem to feel smug and entitled, which is a bad state for any governing body. I could dress a chimp in PC colours, and he'd win a riding.<br /><br />Don't think I'm bitter--ultimately, it overall affects me little. I'm just straight shooting here, being a realist. The fact of the matter is, I am not renting, I am not being taxed too much on income being an unemployed student, I don't have kids whose schools are closing down, and I'm not a frequent hospital / physician user. But I recognize many of my friends and acquaintances and even the average stranger are in related predicaments, and I feel for them, now especially.<br /><br />Bravo for stagnancy!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-2890252368019877722?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-23326961599477316632008-03-02T22:21:00.006-07:002008-03-03T00:52:27.634-07:00<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="350"><tbody><tr><td bg="" style="color: rgb(238, 238, 238);" align="center"><span style=""><strong style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">You Are a Comma!</strong><br /></span></td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#ffffff"><br /><center><img src="http://www.blogthingsimages.com/whatpunctuationmarkareyouquiz/comma.gif" height="100" width="100" /></center><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br />You are open minded and extremely optimistic.<br /><br />You enjoy almost all facets of life. You can find the good in almost anything.<br /><br />You keep yourself busy with tons of friends, activities, and interests.<br /><br />You find it hard to turn down an opportunity, even if you are pressed for time.<br /><br />Your friends find you fascinating, charming, and easy to talk to.<br /><br />(But with so many competing interests, your friends do feel like you hardly have time for them.)<br /><br />You excel in: Inspiring people<br /><br />You get along best with: The Question Mark<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://www.blogthings.com/whatpunctuationmarkareyouquiz/">What Punctuation Mark Are You?</a></div><br />What I found funny is that it's oriented the wrong way--I'm not quite an apostrophe (it needs to be flipped horizontally--EDIT: er, make that rotated 180 degrees clockwise), but one starting quote, actually. Maybe I only say half of what's on my mind? Because the last time I checked, commas pointed down.<br /><br />I do like that part about inspiring people, though. If it's true, it'd help with advertising, no? That's the thought, anyway. And I wonder what a question mark kinda person would be like that I would get along with so well. If the mark's any indication, they'd ask too many things, and just irritate me (which does happen, inside). So I'm left wondering...<br /><br />Besides resembling a comma every off day, I'm also feeling <span style="font-style: italic;">comatose</span>, lately. Like...indifferent, with a little bit of despair (but only a little). It's finally wearing on me--a little--that day in, day out, I wake up (if applicable), go to school, come home, do schoolwork, and sleep (if applicable). On the weekend, it's more or less schoolwork...just with more sleep. And small moments of general procrastination.<br /><br />I need a break. :( Or, failing that...how about some income? :) Despite still enjoying VC, I also can't sorta wait until I graduate...<br /><br />Meanwhile, swimming's nice. I suppose it sorta keeps me sane. I've been waiting and waiting for all the slush and wetness to clear away to hopefully start running again too, but it never fails to snow once a week and start the melting thing all over. With that said, forecast for Tuesdays says snow, and lots of it...at barely sub-zero degrees, so it'll melt by a few days. Hurry it up.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-2332696159947731663?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-77710941951342337682008-02-22T16:58:00.005-07:002008-02-22T17:43:23.635-07:00...and then he said, "Give it 80 or 90 years."<br /><br />Hehe, did I give anyone a start? He says he does that to everyone. I was in for a physical, and asked his read on the results, and that's what he told me!<br /><br />On the topic of life and death, I was reminded today from an article on Yahoo! news, about the total destruction of Earth slated to happen in some 7.6 million years, when it gets swallowed by the enlarging sun. The end as we know it (that is, life), however, would occur in about a billion years, when all the oceans will have evaporated and overheat the Earth in a way even our carbon emissions couldn't dream of.<br /><br />That linked to stories about the widely predicted "end" date of life on Earth--2012. More specifically, the winter solstice, that being December 21, 2012. Man, could it have at least been past Christmas? Jeez!<br /><br />Anyhow, I recalled then that I had heard about this like a decade ago. My cousins and brother had read this acclaimed book on the Mayans (or something), their abnormally accurate astronomy (given their relative primitiveness), and how their calendar ends--where every human-created calendar system does not, designed to be able to record into a potential eternity of history--and with various conversions from their complex system to our own Gregorian calendar, it translates to a termination date of December 21, 2012. Apparently, the I Ching (Chinese divination system and book) predicts also an end, or at least a time of momentous change, on that date. Hey, so does the Bible, but I'm discrediting that, because it has had a hundred doomsday dates that have already passed. It remains an interesting note, however, that so many cultures seemingly independently agreed on this date.<br /><br />For a quick breakdown (and a rather interesting, sometimes funny discussion) of projected disasters awaiting to spring 2012, check out <a href="http://www.msghelp.net/showthread.php?tid=74463">this.</a> Some are a little whacky (I don't think the particle accelerator should be anything to be worried about; it's really not the process of creating "mini black holes" and there are already some around, just not as big as the upcoming one), but it's a summary nonetheless.<br /><br />I thought the magnetic poles switching was pretty viable as well, until a quick read from Wikipedia (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geomagnetic_reversal#Future_of_the_present_field">here</a>) points out that obviously, life on Earth has already survived a number of polar reversals without notable consequences. Otherwise, there would be little spots of total eradication of all life during such switches, but that's just totally untrue.<br /><br />My views? I'm a little doubtful, but I always am. Look what happened with Y2K--absolutely nothing! Then again, I can argue with myself that no ancient civilizations much cared for the passing of that millennium. Some scientists thought Y2K would be disastrous with that whole computer thing, but they were wrong--this time, some scientific fields are backing up a 2012 end date. Are they wrong again? Maybe.<br /><br />Do I mention this to put a damper on your day? No, but it may have! :P I find it intriguing though, because it'll definitely happen within our lifetimes. It's odd to think that in a little more than 4 years, we could potentially either all be dead, dying, or...laughing it up on December 22! Hey, let's schedule a party for then!<br /><br />What do you people think? Yes, I'm asking you silent readers, if indeed you exist! ;) Uh, about this Armageddon business AND the party!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-7771094195134233768?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-86576217230573965982008-02-20T03:05:00.007-07:002008-02-20T04:25:33.416-07:00First off, on Sunday, the family went out to eat at The Coup at my insistence. Finally! I've wanted to try the damn place for over a year now, and came so tantalizingly close once with a group of friends during summer, but they had randomly closed for a break. That, and several weeks ago, it was re-reviewed in the Herald, and it was still touted as amazing.<br /><br />And it WAS amazing. Prior to that, my favourite vegetarian eatery had to be Buddha Veggie Garden--that's some yummy soy and gluten, so deceptively like meat! Now, I think I have to give up the title to The Coup on 17th Ave.<br /><br />Here's why. Buddha Veggie, while excellent, offers mostly fried food. Has anyone else noticed this? That, or it's pretty greasy, but you forgive it because it's still to an extent healthy. While excellent, I've always found the portions to be pretty small, especially in light of how expensive the dishes are. I've always given them a free pass here, though, because there was no other great vegetarian restaurant.<br /><br />Not until you try The Coup, at least. They have some seriously tasty stuff, and all undisguised--the veggies are what they are, not under a thick coating of fried batter and grease. Despite this, the food is ridiculously tasty--and the prices are quite affordable. The main courses were like $11 to $15 at most--I'm even thinking $15 is too high an estimate. The portions are also sizable, and I was definitely full. As a recommendation, the Field Trip MUST be ordered as a very large, shareable appetizer for $15--there's incredibly yummy stuff there.<br /><br />The cuisine I suppose is contemporary "Western" fare, and when I say that, I mean it from an Asian standpoint--it's not farm food. Here and there, dishes are Asian and Mediterranean influenced to great effect, and the presentation is beautiful as well. For the environmentally conscious, The Coup also tries very hard to limit its waste--you can read about some of the things they do at their site or on their menu, and it's impressive--so much so, you know other restaurants aren't doing it, but should. For example, all ingredients used are bought locally (if possible), and they compost everything they can.<br /><br />The biggest bummers for The Coup? Tiny, tiny restaurant that doesn't accept reservations. They seat a maximum of 32, and the largest group they'll accommodate is 6. We actually, as a clan of 5, waited for a long time for a seat--the place was packed, and there was a lineup outside, in addition to people waiting inside. So yes, it's a popular destination, and now I understand why! I also approve of their lounge-y music, but overall, the best thing that could happen is that they expand, or get a new, larger location. I get the impression that for a mini restaurant, they're doing well.<br /><br />The second part of this post...is a very, very brief review of the movie I saw tonight at Mike's pierogi party (no one brought Back to the Future as planned). It's very brief, because it's a documentary, so there's not much I can critique in terms of acting, storyline, etc., because documentaries are whatever they are, and that's that, for better or worse. However, I give it a hearty:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_ag6MMt8qHp8/R7wAbHFwd0I/AAAAAAAAAB8/dlrdqgVbOn0/s1600-h/5.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_ag6MMt8qHp8/R7wAbHFwd0I/AAAAAAAAAB8/dlrdqgVbOn0/s200/5.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169006938074150722" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The King of Kong</span><br /></div><br />I and the others were really surprised at how much we liked this--I had really low hopes and expectations, because the premise seemed so...of fringe interest, speaking directly and only to classic gamers.<br /><br />Because straight out, the film is about a guy trying to beat the record score for the very first Donkey Kong game, which existed on the original Nintendo, or possibly even an older system. Yeah--what you're doing now--that was my initial reaction: this is going to be pretty lame.<br /><br />We were thankfully proved wrong--it was engaging, even exciting, and not at all boring at any time, the problem most documentaries face (I've only really enjoyed Super Size Me, What the Bleep Do We Know?!, and Jesus Camp, but even in all of these, I have complaints). For various reasons I will not get into, you just really root for the guy you're following, the people you meet are riveting in their awkwardness / loathsomeness / awesomeness, and there is nothing I can think of to critique. Take my word for it, it's thoroughly enjoyable! Just sit down and watch it, and you'll find yourself engaged and fascinated at a level you wouldn't have thought possible given the documentary's topic. If you need more convincing, I just checked out Rotten Tomatoes, and it has a whopping 96% rating, a rare feat for any movie!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-8657621723057396598?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-55347721541232705742008-02-14T00:24:00.003-07:002008-02-14T00:34:14.556-07:00I'm only missing two figures from my collection. TWO!<br /><br />What eats at me is that it could have been ONE left...<br /><br />Because I was being cheap with a "Buy it Now" or "Best Offer" listing on eBay. I offered a little less, see, and it was about to end, so I figured it'll go through--better to sell it slightly cheaper than not at all, right?<br /><br />Well, a day later or so, someone else saw the deal (considering it is a highly rare figure, apparently 1/96 blind boxes) and did the "Buy it Now" thing to totally oust me.<br /><br />Thinking back, dumb move. I think the completion of the entire set of Series 1 figures is worth more than a few bucks (my two = missing one each from Series 1 and 2). Argh!<br /><br />Lesson learned, though.<br /><br />And I'm being purposefully vague here, to keep those that don't know about my first collecting binge in the dark. :P A picture will be up soon with the soon-to-arrive reading week, but I'm still holding out because while nearly complete, some figures still need to be sent to me. They're just considered because I've mentally crossed them off my list at the moment of purchase. The photo must be as complete as possible!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-5534772154123270574?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-80166830195461439402008-02-08T21:29:00.000-07:002008-02-08T21:55:01.923-07:00"Be a good citizen; don't take democracy for granted. Follow the news, get informed about politics, and vote whenever you can do so. Take an active role in the process."<br /><br />That's the gist of what all those Social Studies teachers have told us over the years in school. We have it so well here. We can't take it for granted.<br /><br />Whatever. I'm already jaded, and I'm only 20. Can you really blame me?<br /><br />This year more so than any other (at least in my view), there is much grumbling over bad governance from the provincial Tories. The complaints are endless, and there is little faith in "Steady Eddie" (how about "Dead Ed"?), at least in the cities.<br /><br />So what's going to happen?<br /><br />Without a doubt, they will be once again be handed an overwhelming majority come March 3. And then for the next few years, people will continue to bitch and moan and complain. With the discontent these days, I can see maybe up to a max of +5% popular support for the Liberals, and at the most 1-2 (if at all!) more seats for them. Congrats! They're still outnumbered more than 2 to 1.<br /><br />You know, it doesn't even have to be the Liberals that win over the PC. Yeah, I'm left-wing, but I would even welcome the newly formed, very right-wing Wildrose Alliance to wrest away the grip the PCs have on this province of bullheaded fools--just to even show the average Albertan can change.<br /><br />But we all know this isn't going to happen. After March 3, newspapers will ring in the 38th consecutive year the PCs will dominate the political scene. Frustratingly, a report in the Herald looking at many rural communities in Alberta shows without exception a portrait of folks who will continue to vote PC, even when they have many complaints. It's because they've been "raised to vote Conservative" all their life so they'll keep doing it; and there is "no other alternative." They're disenchanted with Dead Ed, but they'll still put him back on his throne. Not a single hick profiled in the paper expressed any doubt as to which party they'd vote for--Progressive Conservative.<br /><br />We are a province full of malcontents and fools who will continue to perpetuate this cycle of fools and malcontents. If any average citizen decided to run as a PC candidate, we'd all be set with what is essentially a free pass, to hell with credentials.<br /><br />Not caring, totally dissing the system, feeling that the process is thoroughly hopeless--I suppose this makes me a bad citizen. Does that bother me? No. Should it? No. I'm not the problem that needs to be addressed, here. Some would argue, "Go run for a seat," or "Go volunteer for an opposition party, then--do something PRODUCTIVE with your negativity!" And waste my time and effort? I think not.<br /><br />How is our transit system and our politics related? They're both lame, and it'll never change. That's two things you can depend on in this city.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-8016683019546143940?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-77877575581699594742008-02-05T23:30:00.000-07:002008-02-05T23:43:52.738-07:00I was reminded by a comment from a guy I bump into a lot while swimming about something I think we've all heard during...oh, junior high at the earliest, for sure high school.<br /><br />Today, it was how the hot tub, at something like 40 degrees, is not good for male fertility. Knowing the uh, biological details and science, I had to agree (though admittedly, I had never thought about it, and it's often a destination for me after a swim to "cool off"...).<br /><br />And then I thought, why do I care? Am I trying to get someone pregnant or something?<br /><br />Which led to the memory of those silly rumours way back then of Mountain Dew lowering sperm count. Whether true or not, the point stands out even more: why did guys care?? At junior high age, you really, really shouldn't be thinking about getting someone pregnant! Funny then, that this never occurred to me or anyone else then. How dumb was I as a kid?<br /><br />In fact, I had some Mountain Dew yesterday, a very rare pop consumption. I swam yesterday too, and in the process had swallowed a small amount of water...along with many tiny pockets of air. This somehow consolidated into a very hard, very compressed ball of air in my esophagus, and it kept coursing up and down my chest like a friggin' pebble. It was surprisingly painful, and I figured I needed some excess gas ASAP to make myself burp this lump out. It sorta worked, but it's still not all gone, and I wasn't happy at drinking pop. The bubble still bugs me, but it doesn't crush and hurt areas anymore that disconcertingly feel close to my heart.<br /><br />I'm sure it'll dissipate soon...<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-7787757558169959474?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-79957425526085770392008-02-04T00:37:00.000-07:002008-02-04T02:18:50.440-07:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...and Spring</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_ag6MMt8qHp8/R6bA9YHiMbI/AAAAAAAAABk/CIqcHA8EjXE/s1600-h/4.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_ag6MMt8qHp8/R6bA9YHiMbI/AAAAAAAAABk/CIqcHA8EjXE/s200/4.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5163026183505457586" border="0" /></a><br />This is a Korean film, directed by the celebrated Kim Ki-Duk. In a word, mesmerizing; I do believe this would be the very first truly Buddhist film I've seen, in that many of its philosophies, symbolism, and values permeate it. Taking place in a remote, floating temple in the middle of a large lake, the scenery and cinematography is astounding...and very Buddhist. A religion of patience and profound peace, the film is similarly slow--this, I think, would be the biggest obstacle to the typical viewer. I myself don't mind slower films, provided they keep my interest in some way--here, it is the gorgeous landscape, and the expansive intrigue I saw everything with.<br /><br />What I mean is, watching it is a thing of beauty; as things happen, as you witness such deeply Buddhist ideals, your mind kinda delights. "That's cool," you think, and then, "That's a great little detail," and so on. Their lessons are so simple, yet so encompassing.<br /><br />The plot revolves around the life of a young boy, raised and apprenticed to the wise, old master of the temple. The seasons in the title are not immediately consecutive, but a significant summer, for example, many years later after the first depicted spring in the boy's life; they are the largest developments in his life, following a general sense of youth, adolescence, maturity, and so on.<br /><br />It's more a fable than a storyline, because it can applied to how Buddhists would describe the world, and what they would expect of it, what they wish to achieve. The symbolism is very heavy, but does not distract from the movie--it's the kind of film symbolism that you pick apart after the film that grants greater appreciation and understanding, but does not require comprehension during (else it'd be pretentious).<br /><br />I've never seen a film so meditative in tone, so simple, yet speak so universally. It's a pretty neat experience.<br /><br />But worth another viewing? Probably not, or at least, not for a long time. It's heavy stuff, in the sense that it's a lot to ponder, and the pacing is more laboured than most would appreciate. Excepting that, I can't really critique anything else with this movie that manages to be so expressive and emotive without much dialog.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >The Bow</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_ag6MMt8qHp8/R6bFlIHiMcI/AAAAAAAAABs/CijfWSYQP_w/s1600-h/2.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_ag6MMt8qHp8/R6bFlIHiMcI/AAAAAAAAABs/CijfWSYQP_w/s200/2.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5163031264451768770" border="0" /></a><br />On that note, my dad recommended this one to me, another by Kim Ki-Duk, because I liked the previous. Seems he's seen a bunch of his work as well, and placed this one as his next favourite.<br /><br />I can't say I agree.<br /><br />Granted, this makes up only the second of the films I've seen of his, but I'm sure there would be plenty behind <span style="font-style: italic;">Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...and Spring</span> and this film (he's pretty prolific).<br /><br />Don't get me wrong; like the previous, it's just as sparse, yet mesmerizing. The soundtrack particularly stood out to me--what a great fit, for the secluded leads in the middle of the sea on his fishing boat. Again, a great lack of dialog, but you could get everything unsaid by the gestures, the actions, the gazes, the expressions. If this second film is any indication or part of the trend, I would say Kim Ki-Duk specializes in minimal dialog, but still emotive work.<br /><br />Anyhow, I was actually, once again, entranced--but this quickly unraveled for me in the last act. The story deals with an old fisherman, around 60 I think, who's raised this young girl since he found her 10 years ago. We start when she's 16, and the special day is approaching--they've agreed to marry when she turns 17 (the age of majority in Korea, then?). Yes, a little creepy, but she seems aware of this for a long time, and doesn't think much about it initially.<br /><br />Initially. Of course, she one day meets a young teenage boy, because every so often, the fisherman boats a couple of men who pay him to share his boat for a day or two to fish. Many of the other men she's met are creeps and pedophiles, groping her and making inappropriate advances and such. Always, the old man scares them off with his steely gaze--and his titular bow, which the girl also wields quite effectively. He also uses the bow as a sort of instrument, and<br />with the girl can create a bizarre divination ritual, whereby she swings on a swing beside a Buddha painted on the ship's side, and he shoots three arrows into the image. She takes them out, whispers him the fortune, and he whispers it to the person who asked.<br /><br />Anyhow, all's going great, and the teenage boy instills a sense of rebellion into the girl; as the wedding day approaches, the old man begins to lose the young girl, who becomes more defiant, and perhaps curious of the outside world, or at the very least, realizes that there is something lacking in her existence.<br /><br />Don't get me wrong, the old man cares deeply for her. While the setup is creepy given the huge difference in age, there is a certain tenderness he treats her, and he has a chivalrous (if misguided) nature. Does he abuse his position of power and trust? No. But are his motives unsympathetic? Yes.<br /><br />What undoes the film is the ridiculous climax. In <span style="font-style: italic;">Spring</span>, you knew the whole film was steeped in metaphor that paralleled the real occurrences. Here, we are given a physical, realistic world, with a certain situation through 90% of the movie, and then by the climax, it's suddenly completely metaphorical and symbolic. And <span style="font-size:85%;">WEIRD</span>. Oh my goodness, was that weird. And awkwardly beyond belief. Let me just say...I will never see a stranger sex scene. Never. Of any human stripe and colour and identity...never, period.<br /><br />I felt the movie was very compelling in its own way, and so I'm very disappointed at the end. I think it could have been very interesting and pack more punch if...well, a whole number of things could have happened in place of what did, but they didn't, and suddenly, the credits were rolling. The only thing preventing a lower rating is, as I mentioned, that the other 90% was enjoyable.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Priest</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_ag6MMt8qHp8/R6bLk4HiMdI/AAAAAAAAAB0/DaXAen4SuOc/s1600-h/5.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_ag6MMt8qHp8/R6bLk4HiMdI/AAAAAAAAAB0/DaXAen4SuOc/s200/5.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5163037857226568146" border="0" /></a><br />As some may know, I get a lot of my "to-watch" foreign and independent films from looking through IMDB.com. One of their brilliant listing systems goes by country, and then you can sort by average vote; generally, anything above a 7.0 is great stuff, since the database's highest rated films are usually staggeringly in the 8 range (each film has its share of detractors and 0 votes, so nothing can get near 10).<br /><br />Well, I dug up this film, and a lot of the ratings kept gushing, "Like, the <span style="font-size:85%;">BEST</span> film <span style="font-size:85%;">EVER</span> made!" (uncommonly many, I mean, because I get every film out there has these kinds of comments). It's fairly old at 1994, although my sister claims to remember seeing the ads and hearing about it then (which I couldn't believe--I can sure remember films I could have seen in 1994 if you mention them, but I sure wouldn't remember their ads or hearing about it if I never saw it). But c'mon, I was 7 years old at most, then.<br /><br />After seeing it...I think I could see her remembering hearing about this movie. I imagine it would've caused quite the stir. This...is incendiary stuff. Actually, the first thought that came to me as the credits rolled was, "Gosh, if the Catholics hated <span style="font-style: italic;">The Golden Compass</span>, their heads would <span style="font-size:85%;">EXPLODE</span> here!" (it was a gleeful thought).<br /><br />And it's true. This British film very unabashedly deals with everything that's wrong with the Catholic Church. That's probably an exaggeration, but it tackles a lot of things. Mostly, celibacy and priests, and how it totally goes against instinctual human nature. To explore this is already pretty bold, but to make things even more riotous (when I say these things, I don't mean to me, hehe), the central character is gay. That in itself is almost a spoiler, so sorry, but it is definitely not evident until the reveal nearer towards the middle.<br /><br />The story follows Father Greg Pilkington joining a church with an already established priest who is very liberal and in his own secretive relationship. Greg is very uptight on morals, so it was surprising when his sexual identity was revealed; he's one of those tragic self-loathing-but-can't-help-it gay characters, maybe one of the first given the film's 1994 (!) release date. Another very important moral conundrum the film explores is Catholicism's confessional--to make a long story short (and vague), Greg is told something very, very horrendous, but is unable to do anything, bound by secrecy. How long can he stand it? Will he break his silence? The dilemma created here is pretty awesome.<br /><br />It's like a train-wreck going in slow motion: everything just starts to unravel, and the world shits on Greg. Poor guy--I mean it (as an aside, what initially attracted me to watch the Israeli film <span style="font-style: italic;">Broken Wings</span> was this crude summary that the world craps on a single mom's life...it was far less than I expected, actually. But here is where that description is spot on, even though <span style="font-style: italic;">Broken Wings</span> still ended up as a great movie).<br /><br />Tragically, of course, a lot of the crap thrown his way is not his doing, hence the controversy--much can be attributed to the Catholic Church, its structure, traditions, practices, and ideals.<br /><br />Anyway, a thoroughly engrossing, enjoyable, and moving flick. I'm not sure about the "perfect film" comments, but then again, I don't have complaints to nitpick, either. I just wouldn't label any movie that way is all. Actually, I just thought of something now I thought I'd edit in that wasn't so great to nitpick--the first few minutes of the film up until the title is shown felt very low budget, for whatever reason. And then after the big title, everything felt clean and considered again, oddly. So, a very minor flaw, but yes, I was afraid when I started that it would be suckily made, which I can't stand, because any film that looks shot amateurishly without that post-production polish makes me not believe in the film as a constructed world and story.<br /><br />I was also disappointed to read that the DVD is cut. That is, the VHS film (but why would I acquire such ancient technology?) is complete, but the only DVD release is not the entire movie. Apparently, they've done away with a few longer scenes, and extra character development, which is too bad. However, I didn't know that during the film, and I definitely didn't notice it--everything felt complete, whole, and resolved.<br /><br />As a funny note, I was surprised to see that Greg's love interest also played the father character in <span style="font-style: italic;">28 Wees Later</span>. It was for a bit slightly distracting--I kept wanting him to kill a zombie, or, failing that, go ballistic and bite and barf blood all over someone! "<span style="font-size:85%;">DON'T KISS HIM, GREG, HE'LL EAT YOUR FACE</span>!" XD<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-7995742552608577039?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-66593995087622458912008-01-31T00:14:00.000-07:002008-01-31T00:35:32.600-07:00So excited for the new season!<br /><br />There was an article in the paper Tuesday that so stoked me--not spoilers per se, but what's to come. I already knew that the actor who plays Michael, Harold Perrineau, is returning (I hope the sucker gets lynched--but then maybe Walt would go all freaky on them, mysterious freaky child that he is). But what I didn't know...Cynthia Watros is back as well--Libby! That already lays a whole network of possibilities--is <span style="font-style: italic;">Lost </span>going to go all loopy and resurrect a dead character? Will she appear as ghosts or visions like Boone or Yemi? Or will she appear in past flashbacks, finally working towards an answer to that old question: why was she in Hurley's mental ward, and what significance does it have to the plot, anyway?<br /><br />Is it a red herring? Or could it come back to blindside us, while we're distracted by things like Juliet's motives? Love her character too, by the way...sure, she may still not be one to be entirely trusted, but man, she helped off a lot of the Others with that bomb trap, eh? 'Twas pretty sweet, that!<br /><br />I hope the reveal (if they do answer it) is worth it--I liked Libby a lot back when the tailies were still alive. Or maybe it's because I like Hurley, and want good things for him? Either way, I was sad (and shocked, given how it happened) to see her go.<br /><br />But perhaps most exciting still, and why I had to say "past flashbacks" earlier is the promise that season 3's mind-bending finale was just the start of a new device--yep, there's going to more flash-forwards!! Intriguingly, fans can soon begin to try to piece things together from both ends...<br /><br />With a relatively lighter second semester...kinda sorta...it may just be possible to follow the show!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-6659399508762245891?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-27289592918971664972008-01-27T20:02:00.000-07:002008-01-27T20:11:34.367-07:00I went swimming today. It was later--I thought this would be a bad thing (because I'm usually in for an hour and a half or so), as I had less than an hour. Actually, it made me swim faster and harder rather than chill every so often. Maybe I should go later more often. :)<br /><br />Anyway, on my way back on the train...two guys across from me speaking loudly. The big one was saying how he ate 2 large pizzas by himself the other day. His friend was like, "Dude, that's not good."<br /><br />The first one goes on to say how nah, pizza doesn't fill him up ever. The only time he got full on pizza and slightly nauseous is when, and I quote, "I had 16 and a half large pizzas."<br /><br />O_O EW! Key phrase: "slightly nauseous." Only slightly??<br /><br />I really don't mean to make fun of obese people, but how could such a revelation <span style="font-style: italic;">not</span> garner a reaction? And the guy was proud!<br /><br />I'm still thinking about it (*shudder*). Please stop eating, sir. You jiggled every time the train jerked.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-2728959291897166497?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-26651832803184569982008-01-26T00:33:00.000-07:002008-01-26T02:16:51.559-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_ag6MMt8qHp8/R5rio4HiMZI/AAAAAAAAABU/UuBodzTpFu0/s1600-h/4.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_ag6MMt8qHp8/R5rio4HiMZI/AAAAAAAAABU/UuBodzTpFu0/s200/4.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5159685514992955794" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Endlessly quotable and surprisingly fresh<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;">As promised, I thought I'd put up a review for this little indie movie that could...<br /><br />Saw it a little more than a week ago, now, because I wanted to. And you know, when I put my mind to it, things usually happen. :)<br /><br />Honestly, I would normally have very little interest in such a movie, especially one drawing comparisons to <span style="font-style: italic;">Little Miss Sunshine</span>, a film I have not seen, and still have some odd reservation against seeing. I don't know why...maybe I find the premise too quaint or cute or something. But everyone was just raving about this one, and it had Ellen Page--I really don't follow the career of particular actors or actresses at all, because I acknowledge that just because a movie has actor A it doesn't mean it's any good (overall or performance-wise), but I must say she's quite impressive for someone my age. Yes, I can't believe she's only 20 either, and Canadian, and act so well...<br /><br />Anyway. Never thought I'd be so impressed by a comedic movie about teen pregnancy, but I was. From the get go it was clear this film was witty--the dialog is so sharp, its like a honed diamond. Like a diamond, Page's performance is flawless--along with such a normal, everyday sort of storyline, you really believe that you're witnessing some hip teen's life.<br /><br />Did I mention the dialog is golden? ENDLESSLY quotable, as I've already said--I've only seen it once, but many of those lines are still with me, or at least the gist of it, because they are so clever, charming, or utterly outrageous (or all three at the same time)! I mean, <span style="font-style: italic;">Juno</span> may be the only movie I've ever enjoyed a conversation where "fo'shizz" is used...here are some of my other personal favourites:<br /><br /><ul><li><span style="font-size:85%;">"You shoulda gone to China. You know, 'cause I hear they give away babies like free iPods. You know they pretty much just put them in those t-shirt guns and shoot them out at sporting events."</span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;">"My boyfriend wears them every time we have intercourse, it makes his junk smell like pie."</span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;">"Your eggo is preggo, no doubt about it."</span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;">"Thanks a heap coyote ugly. This cactus-gram stings even worse than your abandonment."</span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;">When Paulie, upset, argues with Juno and ends it off with "La la la..." Brilliantly funny, and you feel for him, too!</span></li></ul><span style="font-size:100%;">Why then, does it lack another full star in the rating? A few reasons...<br /><br />Jennifer Garner. I have never thought she could act well, and I'm of the opinion that she's the weakest link here as well.<br /><br />The plot line. While funny and very well-done, it is also very not extraordinary, in the sense that it's just a story of a pregnant, teenage girl. Anywhere else, this movie would not have been very special, and to an extent, this impresses me with <span style="font-style: italic;">Juno</span>, since they took something so mundane and did so well with it. But being more used to edgier or foreign fare that is more thought-provoking, provocative, or issues-oriented, this light stuff can't satisfy me the same way. Personal bias, I admit.<br /><br />And while it is the BEST thing about the movie, let's be realistic--who are really that hip to talk like that all the time? I acknowledge that there are exceedingly hip and with-it young people, but there are such a great concentration of them in every walk of life in this movie that it becomes unbelievable. Is this a bad thing? Not really, it's fiction. But, it's making some critics rave how relevant and reflective of the times this modern lingo is, and it kinda makes me roll my eyes, because they need to get out more to see that this sort of dialog is really actually not common at all. Modern and genius still, but if all of us young people spoke like that, we wouldn't find this film amusing or inventive at all if we conversed like that every day.<br /><br />Nevertheless, a spectacular, crowd-pleasing film that is surprisingly touching with universal appeal even to an average guy...so will this film pick up any of the Oscars it got nominated with (film, director, leading actress, writing)? I say no. The Academy is, as it's long been observed, wussy fools when it comes to awarding things to comedic films, only comfortable enough to give nominations.<br /><br />And I'm sure by now we've all read at least one of those articles that break down the complicated process of how a film gets nominated and the factor that heavily influence whether it wins, right? Well, it's disillusioning stuff that clearly suggests that a film or performance's actual merits, while they do of course to an extent matter, may certainly not be the main factor (when it should be) in determining Academy success. Which is too bad.<br /><br />If it can get anything at all, I hope Ellen Page nets the Best Actress. There's certainly a buzz for her, but rather annoyingly, Marion Cotillard (</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >La Vie en Rose</span><span style="font-size:100%;">) has been picking up all the awards preceding the Oscars. Now, I have not seen that movie, but I am </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >very firmly</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> of the camp that performances that mirror a real-life figure are inherently inferior!! It absolutely frustrates me that the Academy is of the other opinion, nearly consistently nominating and awarding those men and women who play real people, dead or alive, convincingly (Philip Seymour Hoffman for </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >Capote</span><span style="font-size:100%;">, Helen Mirren for </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >The Queen</span><span style="font-size:100%;">, likely Marion Cotillard as mentioned, Julia Roberts for </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >Erin Brockovich</span><span style="font-size:100%;">, Forest Whitaker for </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >The Last King of Scotland</span><span style="font-size:100%;">, etc.).<br /><br />Am I the only person that believes this is just mimicry and impersonation (and good makeup), what is viewed as a low form of acting?? I am </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >so impressed </span><span style="font-size:100%;">that you can observe and imitate the mannerisms, body language, and speech of that person from archived videos, interviews, and text resources. x_x Come on! If someone can, for the length of a movie, convince me thoroughly that a fictional character actually exists because he or she is acted so carefully, naturally, and believably where no reference material exists, then this actor or actress has done far, far more! It's like day and night to me, but I seem to be of the minority opinion, here.<br /><br />Anyway, to conclude, the idealism of the Oscars has since been worn away for me, as it has for many. Are they still significant? Yeah, but they're definitely not the be-all and end-all. I've long seen plenty of other brilliant films that got zero to little recognition. It's sorta like life, I suppose. The more you experience it, the more jaded you become as you learn about it more fully.<br /><br />Not to be depressing, or anything. ;)</span><br /></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-2665183280318456998?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-11613929422369349302008-01-24T00:11:00.000-07:002008-01-24T00:40:41.525-07:00Despite trying to be a generally agreeable, good person, I admit I'm a bastard now and then, for whatever reason. Let's just say it's an ongoing process to work out the kinks, eh?<br /><br />I think it's pretty clear to everyone (hopefully) that I strongly dislike and mock the prejudiced and judgmental. Free thinking and common good, and all that (well, I suppose then I've made an exception for myself to hate haters, the best place to direct negative feelings).<br /><br />It may seem very unrelated, but I learned something in, I must say, rather disrespectfully brushing off Heath Ledger's death Tuesday. I first heard it as my night class started at around 6 pm, and as an odd aside, I was half not there, and the instructor was just saying that he'd be cutting the lecture short today. At the same time, the ripple of this surprising and unfortunate news was making its way up to me from the back, where a friend had just found out on the Internet.<br /><br />I was told point blank seconds after the short lecture announcement that Mr. Ledger had passed away, and I stupidly thought and replied, "<span style="font-style: italic;">That's </span>why the lecture's getting cut short?" Er, my mind just kinda connected the two and made a hasty "logical" relationship...<br /><br />Anyhow, hearing that it was an overdose, I rather disrespectfully said something along the lines of, "Death by overdose? Typical Hollywood stars...if it isn't drunk driving or suicide, it's drugs."<br /><br />First, not respectful to the dead. At all. Sorry, sorry, sorry. Secondly...a full report with as much details as they know was in the paper today, and I read with chagrin that it's very, very likely that Mr. Ledger overdosed on his sleep meds--the kicker being that he was battling insomnia. Quoted in some interview, he was only getting some 2 hours a night, exhausted but thinking too much to sleep, already having switched meds because the first kind didn't do it for him.<br /><br />Well, shucks, I regretted my blatant remarks and harsh judgment right away...granted, it may still not be an accident, or not the only thing he took, but given these little details, it just seems like the poor guy was super frustrated with his sleeplessness, and likely combined with judgment impaired by days of inadequate rest (and I DO get this part, especially), overdosed on his medication, hoping for some reprieve.<br /><br />Again, it might not have been this simple, but regardless, I should have given the benefit of the doubt to the guy. I'm just a little cynical about fame and celebrities, you know? Now I don't see why I should be--many of their lives seem filled with unnecessary drama and silliness, but really, it's probably because so much of their lives are revealed and thus known to us. It'd likely be the same for many average people, if we knew.<br /><br />Anyway, it's just bad to have disrespected the dead, anyway. Apologies Mr. Ledger, you were a young one who had a lot going for ya, and likely a long and fruitful career. It's tragic this happened.<br /><br />..........<br /><br />PS: I can't resist. It may dip me back to that low point before this little lesson but...seriously. For the record, I've wondered for a while now when Ms. Spears is going to kick the bucket (to be cynical, again...). She is getting increasingly irrational and mocked for it, that I think (horribly) that I wouldn't be surprised to read of...you know. Self-inflicted.<br /><br />I'm horrible, aren't I?<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-1161392942236934930?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-7824411716551223812008-01-20T22:36:00.001-07:002008-01-21T00:05:19.907-07:00There was a small gathering of friends yesterday at a...friend's (haha, to be vague...it was supposed to be on the down low, methinks, out of desire for a small thing without offense to regular invitees).<br /><br />Thought it was very enjoyable. Lots of talking, laughing, stories and such among the six of us. A very comfortable atmosphere, 2 couples, myself and hostess (I'm always concerned with the engagement and interest of friends' significant others, as they are usually thrust into our groups of people they're unfamiliar with, but all seemed well, happily). The long conversations of great variation and interest spanned most of the night, until we cracked open the game Dirty Minds.<br /><br />To address my high school friends who may read this, yes, the exact game given to Kris that night. I mean, up until then, I hadn't even heard of it--but it seems many have (including our waiter that night), and it's a little notorious, in a silly way.<br /><br />Anyway: what a dirty game, lol! Which would be the point, of course! :) It was snide and full of innuendo, but it just peaked and I couldn't help but crack up when I read two clues to an opposing team...<br /><br />I read, "I was not a maiden for long," and "I was ripped open by something large and hard." O_o What a combination!! And finally, "1000 people went down on me." Not as riotous after the first two, but it seems I've had an...interesting life (oh, and lots of free time, it would seem). ;)<br /><br />Jokes and laughter ensued...the answer was evident after clue #3 as the Titanic.<br /><br />PS: the design of the game is a little shabby. Visual style and clarity, that is. I do appreciate the game overall for its devious cleverness, but it allows for very safe, conservative play while winning back big when riddles are solved (most done on free guesses), as a result never quite hindering advancement or creating challenge. And don't get me started on that whole "D-I-R-T-Y" hyphen thing!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-782441171655122381?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-8957107815549897572008-01-19T16:48:00.001-07:002008-01-19T17:00:17.714-07:00Tuesday's Theory course is the second course I have to endure that requires reading the work of "legendary" linguist and semiologist Roland Barthes.<br /><br />I acknowledge he did tons for the field. But he is a pretentious little twat whose writing is verbose, exhaustive (sentences can go well in excess of 7 lines), and rambling in all his little comments and 3-5 word tangents. Are there any theorists out there, dead or alive, who are not pretentious twats that write like some snot-nosed, monocle-wearing, more-evolved-than-thou nobleman? Why don't I ever read <span style="font-style: italic;">your </span>stuff?<br /><br />I want to summon the spirit of Roland Barthes, and tell him, "Your rhetoric sucks!" and punch him in the wiener.¹<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;">^1. Juno's dad.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-895710781554989757?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-61077918168123765702008-01-18T23:42:00.000-07:002008-01-19T00:07:16.624-07:00At least I'd like to think so.<br /><br />I think I've told a few people now some of my anxieties as I am approaching graduation from VC at ACAD. If I haven't it's basically personal doubt and a fair bit of feeling a little lost. It stemmed from an original conversation that I don't quite feel like a designer, nor obviously an illustrator. I am certainly more comfortable in design than illustration, but I'm definitely not a top player in my classes. I hate to use that as a basis of comparison, but it can't be helped--I greatly respect and appreciate all my peers, am friends with many of them, but that's the nature of such an education. We support each other, but you also gauge where you are in the pack.<br /><br />Long story short, my affinity lies in the design field--but I feel I'm pretty middle of the pack in the classes. Am I proud of some of the work I do? <span style="font-style: italic;">Hells yeah </span>(to quote either <span style="font-style: italic;">Juno </span>or Paul, or the general hipster, hehe...I'll review that some time later). I just simply acknowledge that even at my best, I'm behind many of the other great innovators and design visionaries in my various classes. Don't even start me on illustration...if I'm average in design, I'm not a pretty sight in illustration! Those that can competently do both--not to mention names--are pretty awesome, and set, I would think, for whatever comes.<br /><br />The conversation went on to conclude that I was still holding out on advertising--what I wanted to major in, but at that time not taken any classes for yet. Well, I'm finally learning about it, in two classes no less this semester, and I'm really enjoying both! We've got a textbook with sections I have to read, which I've done already, and I found it engrossing, and the ads inside were brilliant--some hedge on ingenious and unforgettable (if you've got the textbook Advertising Concept and Copy--the Play Land roller coaster ad! Atlanta ballet's Romeo and Juliet!! the naked rollerskater!!! XD) The text was also very educational, and I could literally feel my knowledge expanding at all the new ideas and considerations.<br /><br />See, I can see myself designing all day, and I think I'd be happy. But when I think I could maybe be advertising, I think I feel it's a better fit. Even above information design, I think, which I really took to last semester. I'd love to do that, too.<br /><br />Now, these are just initial impressions--it is very early in the semester, after all, and I'm just starting these classes--but so far, I'm feeling comfortable. This was the sort of thing I was holding out hope for, a clearer direction. Given that say, two months from now I still feel inspired and having fun, I think I'll have something answered for me, rather than just wondering...and wondering...and wondering.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-6107791816812376570?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-74703029799545661782008-01-11T23:51:00.000-07:002008-01-12T01:25:22.784-07:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_ag6MMt8qHp8/R4hkamSrWZI/AAAAAAAAABM/Ud6HwfSrsQg/s1600-h/4.5.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_ag6MMt8qHp8/R4hkamSrWZI/AAAAAAAAABM/Ud6HwfSrsQg/s200/4.5.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154480181643794834" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Creepy and richly realized<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;">Saw it tonight with a bunch of friends at The Uptown. As an aside--how much do I love that theater? Foreign and independent films, $7 for a student? The only downside is that the facilities aren't exactly cutting edge or state of the art--it's a little old, and the seating is not perfect, but I just love it. Sure, I'd love it if it was just as nice as the mainstream theaters, but it's not a big problem.<br /><br />First, a note. I was misled! I've since found out that the promotions for this film tricked many people (oh, advertising...) to believe that it was directed by Guillermo Del Toro, who of course brought us the excellent <span style="font-style: italic;">Pan's Labyrinth.</span> Actually, he produced it--and further attached his name more prominently to it by presenting it (as Tarantino presented <span style="font-style: italic;">Hostel</span>). Not that this was a publicity grab on del Toro's part (it was for the film's North American distributors)--actually, he used his star status to help out first time director Juan Antonio Bayona get this film out the door, because del Toro was so impressed by the script he helped produce it. Thanks to him, I believe Bayona will have the opportunity to make it really big--because this debut of his is very impressive.<br /><br />The film is intensely atmospheric. It's also intensely suspenseful--actually, by the end of it, I found myself a little tired. I reflected that while it had frightening moments, I was scared far less than I was left in a state of drawn out anxiety and anticipation. This in my mind is so much better than random cheap frights in your typical horror movie--as well, it lacked (thank goodness) the lame gore and obligatory loss of limbs and fountains of blood now seemingly common in "horror" these days. That to me is not terrifying--it's gross more than anything, shocking and repulsive but not chilling. In reality I think it serves to hide a bad horror "plot."<br /></div></div><br />But here...here is all the creepy, unsettling anticipation I've been yearning for! Half the time, I'm expecting something to jump out and just assault the poor mother, Laura (alas, standard Hollywood horror fare has trained me to expect such), but the lingeringly ominous camera shots and focuses that always seems to suggest an unnoticed spectator--and I don't mean the audience--are usually innocent. Not that I was let down--this drawn out tension was brilliant, if exhausting. She didn't have to go into creepy rooms or down rotting stairs for my heart to race--I was alert at every moment, and even more so when said situations occurred.<br /><br />For this genre of film, it was also surprisingly moving: the characters are deeply realized, and very convincingly acted. The protagonist is foolishly brave--but where in many movies it is obligatory for the guy or girl to advance the plot and make discoveries, Laura here is driven by the desperation of finding her son. As we all know, maternal instinct and love is universally bottomless, and a huge font of strength, and so her struggles were believable. Without giving anything away, the ending was at once satisfying, profoundly sad, and uplifting--a curious mix, but fitting.<br /><br />I have much to say about the movie, but I can't for fear of giving things away. Perhaps most pleasing is how neatly everything wraps up (well, except for one thing)--it's a movie of details. All the events we see have a logical conclusion, or appear again as a solution or explanation--nothing felt stuck in just to solve a problem. It's rewarding--you go, "Ah, this is happening / she's doing this because x had happened!" Am I being vague enough? Haha, this is frustrating!<br /><br />I can say the basic story is about the aforementioned Laura, a woman approaching 40 who grew up at a young age at an orphanage. Now, many years later, she returns with her husband to sort of revive the abandoned building, making it their home and a sort of refuge for a small number of special needs kids. They have a terminally ill son, Simon, who like her was adopted. Lonely, he has a pair of made-up playmates, and of course things start to get a little eerie when he "meets" a new one, Tomas, near this seaside home...<br /><br />Sound cliché? <span style="font-style: italic;">The Orphanage </span>had a hundred opportunities to dive headfirst into clichés, but for the most part, steers clear of them. The creepiness escalates quickly and has a heavy presence through the entire film, hence my comment on being exhausted afterward.<br /><br />It's a sophisticated film--on the surface, it is presented as a movie with ghosts and hauntings. But is it really? Like <span style="font-style: italic;">Pan's Labyrinth</span> (which this is getting many comparisons to), was Ophelia imagining things or did this fantasy realm really exist? Lines designating reality from fantasy were blurred very effectively in that movie, and it's just as expertly out of focus here. Thinking about it now, I think I can convincingly argue that everything can be explained rationally rather than supernaturally. To have essentially two films exist in one like this is a hard feat to accomplish, and is a joy to flip about in your mind. Another flick it's being compared to a lot is <span style="font-style: italic;">The Others</span>, which I also loved--not to mean <span style="font-style: italic;">The Orphanage </span>is a copy of both <span style="font-style: italic;">Pan's </span>and <span style="font-style: italic;">The Others</span>. They just have these similar elements, but stands uniquely on its own.<br /><br />Okay, I mentioned that everything tied up neatly by the end of the film--except one thing. Not a huge problem, but prevented the film from getting that shining five star pinnacle, because it seems like a silly oversight. In a movie so tight, you just can't have this...<br /><br />My problem rests entirely on the character Benigna. Her story makes sense--but her initial appearance does not. Why even try to trick Laura into thinking she's a social worker, and the interview? What does this accomplish? Couldn't she just sneakily poke around on the property without the meet and greet? It'd probably would've worked out better--Laura would then have no cause to suspect Benigna was up to anything at all. If she was discovered, then Laura could just think she was a loopy stranger or trespasser.<br /><br />To add to that, how did Benigna get access to Simon's files? These kinds of documents--papers detailing the adoptee and the adoptive parents--aren't exactly the easiest to unearth. Isn't there a certain degree of confidentiality around these things? Only certain people are able to get these things, like say, Laura and her husband, being the adopters. It'd also be in the records no doubt at wherever orphanage Simon must have come from, but like hospital records, you don't get them just by asking nicely. Staff wouldn't even show them to you, let alone allow a woman with no relation to the parents or the kid take them.<br /><br />Other than this detail, this movie was amazing, chilling, and thought-provoking--I'm very glad to have seen it, while it's still early in the semester. I don't think I'll get another good chance soon of seeing something of such quality when school's in full swing...<br /><br />Depressingly, <span style="font-style: italic;">The Orphanage </span>is already in the process of a Hollywood remake--c'mon guys, is this necessary? Do something original for a change, instead of endlessly adapting successful flicks from other countries as money grabs. Use the money to promote the original instead--it deserves it! I can already predict that the remake won't be as good as this Spanish original.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-7470302979954566178?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-69687477921310364932008-01-06T15:33:00.000-07:002008-01-06T15:46:55.801-07:00The best thing about yesterday's hockey junior's in the Czech Republic was not that they won gold...again (fourth time straight!). Actually, to as an aside, I thought it was lucky they won. Sweden was playing very well, and when they scored that tie goal less than 40 seconds in the third period...suddenly, it seemed eerily too reminiscent of their first meeting in the tournament, where pretty much the same thing occurred, same score, different times, ending up with them winning it. It especially seemed to be the case in the overtime period where they were just peppering us with shots--Canada did not create a lot of opportunities.<br /><br />And then suddenly we won it. At first I thought it looked like one of those garbage goals, but replays showed some degree of considered effort. Or maybe desperation. While happy (and relieved) to have won, I couldn't help but feel bad for the Swede goalie. It was just not a brilliant play.<br /><br />Great, Canada won again! But what impressed me most was the sheer number of Canadian fans in the audience! It was a sea of red Canadian jerseys (sprinkled with some of the white variety), and there were only small pockets of Swedish fans here and there.<br /><br />Wait a second, here--we're in the Czech Republic! Sweden is ridiculously close by. Even if it wasn't, it'd still be on the same continent. And here they were, a rink full of Canadians that made a trip overseas to support the players. Undoubtedly a more expensive trip than from Sweden to the Czech Republic, yet by the look of it, totally worth it.<br /><br />Sure, winning was great. But sometimes you have to look at things besides the obvious to find something greater, you know?<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-6968747792131036493?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-61432647813702631732008-01-01T17:05:00.001-07:002008-01-01T17:05:47.163-07:00Huzzah!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-6143264781370263173?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-569049744171124412007-12-25T00:25:00.000-07:002007-12-25T01:02:21.904-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_ag6MMt8qHp8/R3CwxmSrWYI/AAAAAAAAABE/S2svLbFf3sk/s1600-h/4.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_ag6MMt8qHp8/R3CwxmSrWYI/AAAAAAAAABE/S2svLbFf3sk/s200/4.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5147808740223441282" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Hmm. I don't know how to justify not giving it 5 stars, actually; I just feel a little conflicted with the movie. On the one hand, I think it deserves its 5 stars, because when I seriously sit down and think about it, there is nothing wrong with how the movie was made, put together, acted, etc--everything was done excellently. On the other hand...haha, I'm not sure I'll ever watch it again!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">...okay, that's probably a lie. I'll probably watch it again some time, but what I meant is, it won't happen for a very long time.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">You see, it's probably the first musical I've truly appreciated--this isn't a sappy, weepy </span><em style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Moulin Rouge</em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">, nor is it the...whatever of </span><em style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Chicago</em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> (I don't know how to describe that film; the whole thing, overall, just never felt right or good to me). It's acted to perfection by a very macabre (and at-home) Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter. I especially loved Helena's singing--not only do I find her voice better suited to singing, but I found her songs more amusing, more clever, and more varied, from deadpan (about the quality of her pies), earnest (hinting her love to a very distant Todd), to wishful (fantasizing about their rich lives together). Before she's in on the whole thing, I found her more sympathetic to Depp's focused, bent-on-vengeance drive (which was also good). Even the kid acted well, and I expect little from unknown child actors (like Lyra in </span><em style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">The Golden Compass</em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">)</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">. The delivery of the lines are all expertly timed, and we (went with Jenny, her boyfriend, and sister) were all surprised and I think very amused by the appearance of that guy from </span><em style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Borat</em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">, Sasha-what's his name. He had a great segment in the story.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The mood is appropriately dark, grimy, and bleak--director Tim Burton is in top form, and right at home again, exhibiting confidence and vision. The palette is nearly a perpetually dour monochrome, and I don't mean in the stylish film noir style--it's gray because it's dirty and gross and twisted.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I guess I had issue with the gore in the movie--the blood is far too bright red, like poppies or something. And it sprays like mad, pumping out of bodies in a treatment similar to </span><em style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Kill Bill</em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> but less comical, because the mood is so heavy. Then again, if it were more realistic, darker maroon blood that seeped like it should...it could have been too much with how grisly the film is. So maybe this unreal blood was consciously to make it less horrific.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The worst I can say about the film is that the songs aren't terribly catchy or lyrical, but Burton based it on the original play, so it's not like he could have changed it. But really, I'm torn on this, too--if the songs were more memorable and sing-along, it'd degrade into something like pop or </span><em style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Moulin Rouge / Chicago</em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">-ish, which I cannot support, and besides, those films are decidedly more modern. The setting here is a dirty, developing, sprawling London, so it was appropriate.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So again, why only 4 out of 5? Nothing was done wrong, it was far from boring (the tension is great at many moments), but yes, I must admit to being by the end, slightly disturbed by the whole thing; I'm still a little unsettled, nearly 12 hours after the film. I mean, we're talking about murdering randoms and serving the bodies in meat pies here! That's what I mean by not watching it again in a very long time.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">But aside from that, quite enjoyable. And that I didn't know the story of the original play (beside the basic plot of murdering barber, cooking them up) was great--there are various great twists and revelations that keep the film very interesting, aside from the brilliant love / hate relationship you develop for all the main characters.</span><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-56904974417112441?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-65903743114693382032007-12-22T00:36:00.000-07:002007-12-22T00:53:38.742-07:00Final grades are up!<br /><br />Oi. It is definitely a downward spiral, heh. I mean, first year was nearly all A's (not to brag, but most of it being Fine Arts courses, and histories and Englishes...), 2nd year was a smattering of B+'s and A-'s, and now...<br /><br />Oh alright, it's not that bad. Still managed an A (Web Design, because it wasn't bad), got some B range (good and moderate range), and then...Typography.<br /><br />Yikes! Then again, I shouldn't be surprised. Rita's tough, and I mean tough tough tough <em>tough</em> TOUGH, but in my opinion, oh so good at what she does--I'm glad to have her as a teacher. Got a C+.<br /><br />I do wish, however, I knew where I screwed up, because we only did get one project back. A negative for sure in her class, because I couldn't track very well how I was progressing, excepting impressions I got whenever we discussed my projects.<br /><br />I know it doesn't matter, but to an extent, I do care about my marks--the Jason Lang scholarship. Pleasantly surprised to get it for this semester in the mail, another one of those soulless congratulations from my MLA, photocopied signature and all. Any amount of money is good, but I can't expect it to continue through the rest of my VC lifespan at ACAD.<br /><br />Well, at least I can say I got it one semester further than I thought I would. It requires a GPA of 3.2 or higher, so if I really work at it (and the teachers next semester aren't super stingy--and I hope not super easy too, that's silly as well--how about just "fair"?), I may be able to pull it off again.<br /><br />Actually, it's all rather confusing. It may only be for the Fall semester, so my GPA may need to withstand another 2 semester's worth of bungling. And you can only ever get 3 in your lifetime. This may be my second, I can't remember. I think so. Maybe. So, the goal: <em>get the third!</em><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-6590374311469338203?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-23225017904532347272007-12-13T12:29:00.000-07:002007-12-13T12:38:24.716-07:00...I don't think it's something to be proud of.<br /><br />Yesterday, after having handed in the graphic novel...I had been up since 8 am Monday (to go to Web Design class). I took a nap 6:30 pm yesterday, so that means...<br /><br /><b>58.5 hours!!</b> <em>NEW RECORD!!!</em><br /><br />I think my previous was somewhat less than 48 hours. Don't remember. Don't think I blogged that one, haha. But anyway, I felt I could go on forever. You know? It's that feeling, and I know that as soon as I stopped for a nap and thereby crash and all, that would be when it sucked. <br /><br />And that is just what happened when I woke up at 8:30 to do homework for today. After going so long without sleep, any small amount, adequate or not, kills ya. It's weird, isn't it?<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-2322501790453234727?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-14681358604790636272007-12-09T04:27:00.000-07:002007-12-09T04:41:13.923-07:00T_T<br /><br />This graphic novel project is killing me...<br /><br />Or at least, my health. x_x<br /><br />So tired. As of now, I have 1/4 pages coloured. ONE of BLOODY FOUR! And it's due Wednesday. WEDNESDAY! I can't believe it. I also have a website due not this coming Monday (thank goodness!) but next, a website plan for Thursday, and a shirt design for Friday. I just want to curl up and...hmm, sleep? Or just do nothing? Both are very tempting. I need some down time, but I can't get any until next next next week, when classes are OVER!<br /><br />It seems like such a short ways away...but I honestly can't see it, because this graphic novel is like a 1000 foot wall in front of the light.<br /><br />Ugh, I can't stop yawning. It may be prudent to sleep a while, at least. If I can finish page 2 tomorrow, page 3 Monday night, and page 4 Tuesday night (and then rush a print at In Source)...it'll be finished Wednesday. But, that'll mean only one evening to do Thursday's work before it's due, and then one evening after that to do Friday's before it's due. Monday's project, due after next weekend, will be a breeze comparatively.<br /><br />I mean, it all seems to work out on paper, but this doesn't factor in how tired I'll be, and how fast I can work. The best thing that could happen is that I finish the graphic novel by Tuesday, and not in the evening, leaving me time to work on Wednesday and so on, so it's not exactly all the work done the day previous to a due date.<br /><br />Sigh. Design is, bar none, probably the hardest degree you can get. Screw the doctors --they need like 8 years of school; design, I contend, is the most difficult 4 year undergraduate program ever. Damn university exams to hell. I can study for a long time, but multiple 100+ hour projects every few weeks? GAAAAAAH! That, and usually no matter how hard you try and how much work you put in, you end up with a B- to a B+. C's, even, for some.<br /><br />But the thought of quitting is the last thing on my mind...I'm a masochist like that.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-1468135860479063627?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-47830088579498549822007-12-01T22:40:00.000-07:002007-12-02T01:55:52.321-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_ag6MMt8qHp8/R1JF2nqgaoI/AAAAAAAAAA8/-nOMDvnvctY/s1600-R/4.5.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_ag6MMt8qHp8/R1JF2nqgaoI/AAAAAAAAAA8/-whBI-8_WKA/s200/4.5.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139246929445677698" /></a><br /><br />Here's a grand way to revive my blog, eh? Well, I thought so, at least!<br /><br />First off: relief. Whew, I was worried they'd screw this up big time. To some, maybe they did, but for myself, I'm quite happy with the film. Stands up very well on its own, yet is based pretty well in the novel...<br /><br />Tonight, I went to the special sneak preview showing of <em>The Golden Compass</em>, slated to open everywhere else Friday, December 7. I know I'm super busy with school ending soon, but in my defence, I just HAD to see this--I've been following it for a long time, I've read the books as a kid (recently reread 1st, will continue), and honestly, seeing it now will improve my work. My reasoning is, if I saw it Dec. 7, that's homework rush weekend! >_< Now I'm satisfied, and won't haunt the internet for the latest news and such--who cares? I've seen it now, dammit! :)<br /><br />I very nearly gave this movie 5 stars. I still feel like I should, but that could be more bias than anything, I dunno. I can justify 5 stars, and it feels like it should get it, but still... Anyway, to the review.<br /><br />First off as a warning, it will contain minor plot points and book comparisons.<br /><br />Best thing that just really shone to me in the movie from beginning to end--and I totally did not think this was going to happen from the clips, trailers, etc.--is that Dakota Blue Richards is *astounding* as Lyra! Seriously, my prospects were low for a child actress whose had no experience, and so I'm happy to report she holds her own very well against such stars as Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig. She has the sass, the defiance, the courage, and the impatience that the books' heroine clearly exhibits. If pressed, I could maybe come up with one or two instances where her performance may have slipped a little, but they are very brief moments--like a short line or something. Otherwise, I am so thrilled at her work.<br /><br />Nicole Kidman is brilliant--I was so pleased when she was first cast. Immediately, I had realized that they would then ditch Mrs. Coulter's brown hair, but I dismissed it a second later, because in my mind, Kidman could do the sweetly cruel nature of the character, screw the hair. And she does--so deliciously evil, but charming, so confident, so alluring yet repulsive. I'm not sure anyone else could have been better!<br /><br />Enough about the characters (but I must mention Iorek Byrnison was also fantastic; and Lord Asriel sadly too unimportant overall to feature much of an equally fitting Daniel Craig; and Sam Elliot as Lee is also a perfect match; BUT Eva Green as Serafina feels a little too...disconnected)--to the changes. I would roughly say that whenever the movie does follow the book (overall perhaps 60-70% of the time), it follows it pretty well. There were some not so great changes, and some changes I thought, surprisingly, improved on the novel. Let's get to the latter first.<br /><br />For instance, I wholly applaud that they left out the part with the children escaping Bolvangar, meeting the Tartar guards, and getting into...*ahem*...a snowball fight. In the context of how it's dealt with in the books, given the gravity of the situation, the desperation, and so on, it worked well. In a film, I can't picture it without it being ridiculously juvenile. I was pleasantly surprised to see them helpless before the guards (the far more natural reaction of scared children facing an army of fierce, full-grown men), and thankful Lyra didn't bend down to scoop up a handful of snow. By this point, the audience was captivated--something so silly would have been murder.<br /><br />I really enjoyed also the created, small scenes that show the connection of daemon and human. In the book, we are told firmly and often the rules and taboos, but you just can't keep butting in on a film to remind the audience. So instead, every so often, they'll show a unique situation justifying a comment about established human/daemon norms and consequences, for instance, Ms. Coulter smacking the golden monkey from a brief flash of annoyance. Very subtly, you can see the blow reflected in her own cheeks, for example. I also liked this scene particularly, because it made the mother-daughter connection between her and Lyra more believable, that something still remains. In the books, we are shown Lyra has a special place in her mother's heart, but I don't think we ever see it in Ms. Coulter's point of view, which is what happens here. Does it humanize her a little? Yes, but there is still no question from Kidman's performance that she is a cold bitch! ;)<br /><br />I also liked Lyra's convincing of the bear king (Ragnar Sturlisson or something--name change I don't mind because Iofur was deemed too close to Iorek) that she was a daemon. In the books, she asked to be alone in a room each time to answer his questions with the alethiometer. Makes sense, but this would tedious and a waste of several minutes for the audience, if also a little juvenile. That she does it in front of him and lies about the compass ("It's a daemon mirror" or something) was another good change: it emphasizes again Lyra's natural ability to lie, and it's of no consequence (like the king's name change) in the story anyway. So another good call.<br /><br />What I enjoyed most was the visual interpretation of Dust--it's not an addition, but it improved upon my idea of what it was. It looked GREAT in the movies--golden and glittery without being so over-the-top to be like fairy dust, still mysterious, and flowing so well whenever it was featured. And it's shown more often than not--when a death occurs, it is satisfyingly accompanied by a small burst and swirl of Dust when the person's daemon (soul) disappears. Trust me, it looks cool!<br /><br />I also did not mind that Billy Costa replaced entirely Tony Makarios, though I think most would be bothered by this. Think about it: Tony is such a minor character. To introduce him as well, his kidnap, a bit of his time in captivity...would unfocus everything. To make Billy one and the same character, it groups things easier, especially with Lyra's involvement with the Gyptians; Billy is Gyptian, therefore important, or at least identifiable. You don't also need a poor orphan boy, even if his character is so sympathetic and sad and enriching in the novel. Is it a sacrifice? I don't think so. In the movie, you wouldn't have enough time to appreciate Tony. I think it's a good shortcut.<br /><br />Lastly, I must mention the very first scene with Lyra playing with various children through Oxford. Completely made up, I still absolutely loved it--clearly, it's derived from the various rich playtime adventures we are shown of Lyra in the book, showcasing her natural ability to cow others and lead, her ease of lying, her competitiveness, her fierceness, her independence. This one scene brilliantly brings this all together, and the made up stories she tells and how she interacts with her playmates easily establishes the core traits of her character; I loved it. A very justifiable addition, in my mind.<br /><br />To the bad changes, then, in my opinion: Fra Pavel, for one. The character is completely changed--I'm not sure he's even mentioned in the first book, but in the movie, he takes on focused form as the main antagonist. I can see the reasoning for this--an audience likes a clearly defined bad guy. I just felt it was too much--he had a huge stick up his ass, and did far too much. I do not think this would have bothered someone who hasn't read the books--see, I don't think it's a horrible change per se, but it is so starkly different from the Fra Pavel in the novels that it cannot help but stick out to me.<br /><br />Lyra learns too quickly how to use the alethiometer. Again, understandable; can you imagine how bored an audience would be each time she frowned through the meanings? The first time, the symbols are more of a focus, but after that, the answers are just cool Dust-scape images zoomed into from the cogwork of the instrument. Very nice to look at, and it establishes an answer more clearly to a film audience than a drawn-out explanation of each symbol and each meaning it conveyed, but this was a fascinating point to me in the books, so intriguing and well done you felt you were learning it with Lyra. In text, riveting--in film, probably not so much, hence their compromise. I can't help but be disappointed though, despite it being a good choice.<br /><br />The Gyptians needed more development. In my mind, they're pretty significant, and I liked their culture and sense of loyalty. In the film, they felt to me like an excuse--it felt a little convenient here and there whenever they arrive when needed. I wanted that deeper connection with Lyra--her history with them, especially with Ma Costa, and how Lyra was raised by her unknowingly. Also, they seemed too much like pirates in-film to me. Yeah, I suppose they're a little more ragged like the books suggest, but I wanted more of their home-y, caring, snug feel, where they're down-to-earth, meat-and-potatoes kind of folk.<br /><br />Similarly, I felt the witches were even more undeveloped. From the moment you hear "witch," most would think they're bad things. And the way Eva Green plays Serafina, you'd almost probably think that too--she's so mysterious and disconnected, that to the non-reader, her motives would be unclear, and perhaps even sinister. I mean, from just the movie, I couldn't explain much to you about the witches: whether they had magic beyond flying, whether there were male ones, their abilities (like cold resistance), lifespan (just longer), and history, for example. Likewise, Serafina just appears when needed, perhaps most jarringly at Bolvangar, where one moment she was not there, and then she seemingly just appears. The other witches shooting bows are completely faceless, but as the important one, Serafina is hard to relate to and too alien.<br /><br />How Lyra finds out about Ms. Coulter and the Oblation Board. It was just an uninspired search of her room, rather than that suffocating cocktail party I imagined. To relate to that, I wish they spent far more time at Bolvangar--Lyra's there and done just like that, as if she planned it from birth. There was a palpable sense of dread in the books when she was there, a very sterile, clinical, bleached-white sort of fear as the layers unfolded; it was genuinely creepy. In the movie, it's not so bad--even showing them burning the childrens' letters home would be a nice touch. While I know this, the non-fan doesn't, but is left to assume it.<br /><br />EDIT: Just recalled perhaps the reason that prevented a 100% rating--I feel they failed at establishing just how precious the daemon/human relationship is, and how horrid and unnatural it would be to be separated. Yes, they communicate this--but no one's acting reflected this enough to me. Not even Dakota, who was again, delightful. For example, I thought Pan's fear when they approached the fish hut was far more moving and convincing. When she subsequently concludes what intercision is inside, I saw a frightened Lyra, but, **not a horrified, repulsed, in total shock Lyra. It was anti-climatic. Same thing goes for the Gyptian reaction to the boy--too easily accepted. I mean, we're talking about your soul here--actually, saying it now, I think it would've been much improved with a few more mentions of that word, "soul." It's in the intro, but I'm not sure if it's present later, so people might've forgotten this vital fact that needed to be struck home: it's your soul! It's like cutting away your SOUL! I mean, all they kept saying is, "Don't worry, Billy, we'll find your Ratter," as if losing a daemon is a common occurrence, that it was just misplaced somewhere (recall Billy=Tony Makarios). I definitely got that Lyra and Pan were close--but it didn't seem sufficiently strange or freakish enough to them regarding severed people.<br /><br />Strange additions--not even additions, more like details. Nitpicky things like...what's with their technology? Kinda cool to look at, but that is definitely not what *anyone* thought of ambaric energy. Swirly, futuristic, rotating blue things? I was not convinced, despite its look. In the same vein, what's with the green fire I glimpse here and there in fireplaces? That just looked silly. And maybe most annoying to me, because they never seem to do this properly in northern-setting movies--it's damn cold up there, right? As Canadians, we know, and most of us are pretty south of the arctic circle. So why the bloody hell doesn't anyone's breath fog in the air?? They huff and puff on dry, chilly air, but not a wisp is seen. So used to cold winters, this is super jarring.<br /><br />The bears need to talk more. It seemed that only Iorek and Ragnar could speak, but I know the real story. On that note, their fight was FANTASTIC! Wow. What action! Perhaps Iorek's trickery with his "wounded" paw is not obvious enough, though, but holy! You have to see the fight to believe it--and the audience definitely reacted at its climax, with a mix of horror and satisfaction.<br /><br />More consistent daemons--I felt that every so often, Pan would disappear whenever he was not important. Same goes for others' daemons.<br /><br />Absolutely my biggest complaint about the movie though is that it's too short. The pace was very quick to me, which is thrilling, but having read the book, I wish it'd slow down every so often. At just under 2 hours, I don't see why this epic fantasy couldn't get a little longer like its predecessors. 2:30 at most, but even 2:15 would have been nice, to see the inclusion of a few more elements from the book. The movie would have withstood this extra footage--there's no way you can get bored in this film as it is, a few extra minutes here and there would not kill this.<br /><br />And if you didn't know, the last few sections from the novel's ending has been cut to open the sequel instead. I regret not seeing such pivotal and amazing scenes, but can't deny that this will make for a pivotal and amazing beginning to <em>The Subtle Knife.</em><br /><br />And very lastly, I'll touch on the "controversy" this movie and series has generated of late: nonsense! Yes, religion is alluded to (actually, moreso than I thought they would), and the Magisterium is shown to be quite paranoid and controlling. No one seemed to care--it's another universe, people! And, it's just gentle criticism at best--it's definitely not suggesting the Catholic Church is cutting away people's souls. This "kill God" rubbish being spread is simply this, without giving too much away: it's a false God, an angel like Lucifer who convinces people he IS God after he successfully overthrows heaven in this world (where Lucifer fails). THIS is the "God" they kill, revealing the true one; if anything, Christians should be celebrating this whole-heartedly, but as usual, their extremists have quoted everything out of context and have built a smear and fear-mongering campaign against Pullman, who seems likes he's being attacked because he's atheist rather than what he's really penned.<br /><br />All and all, I thought this was a thoroughly enjoyable movie, with some improvements upon the original source material, even (along with less-great changes). Can I really complain? No one can expect a novel to film adaptation to be pitch perfect. I think this film will do very well, having the makings just as New Line hoped of their next great series. I can't wait to see what they do with this!<br /><br /><em>The audience: observations</em><br />As a sneak preview, it was jam-packed, as I suspected. The movie's had a large ad campaign, and you know, fantasy epics are still in its renaissance era thanks to Lord of the Rings.<br /><br />Definitely, it seemed like the crowd was riveted, whenever I cared to notice the audience. I didn't notice them because I was distracted or the movie was sagging--it was just one of those moments. Such as the bear face-off--the theatre was on edge, and then with that climax, there was just a rush of feeling. Very, very few people wandered out of their seats--the ones I did notice had a small child in tow. Can't help it then if they need to go potty, eh?<br /><br />With the movie's end (note: the...um, theme song? Is horribly sung, and musically dead. The lyrics don't seem organized, it just floats, there's no rhythm or great refrain, it's altogether not memorable and generic and dry), I definitely heard a share of "That was good" comments. This can only mean recommendations and such...I am convinced now that this film should do very well.<br /><br />On the other hand, in the far back row I suppose were some novel purists, from what I heard at least. They had a few joking negative comments about their depiction of technology and witches, and such, but I didn't hear a single outraged "That was BAD/TERRIBLE/HORRIBLE!" I think they grudgingly liked it, but definitely had some complaints among their group. I don't think that's a bad thing at all.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-4783008857949854982?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-29720204827486196002007-06-19T23:19:00.001-06:002007-06-19T23:20:35.598-06:00Finished my Sociology class today!!<br /><br />Art History's last class is Thursday!!!<br /><br />...there's a paper due Thursday that I'm very behind on. :(<br /><br />...there's an animatic for Rich Media due Friday that I'm very behind on. :(<br /><br />Well, as always, we take the good with the bad, no?<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-2972020482748619600?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-8428969872402154022007-06-10T14:39:00.001-06:002007-06-10T14:59:52.246-06:00I spent an ungodly number of hours on my animation, and it's still not done at this point. Almost, but not quite. I don't remember how long that working block was, but my back started to ache, and I was sure I was developing carpal tunnel on the spot.<br /><br />So, tomorrow is the critique. Yay. Forgive my lack of enthusiasm, but I don't think I've done anything of value since Rich Media started, at least according to my teacher. Let's just say I have yet not to be trashed in a major critique, and it's not just me being paranoid--friends have recently noticed it as well. Kevin is a very nice, crazy-hyper teacher that's super excited by everything--I can't help but like him, despite feeling I think a little justified in thinking he's out to get me.<br /><br />He keeps mentioning I should get his feedback. I try, you know. It's just that, sometimes, at 4 am in the morning the day it's due, I have suspicions that Kevin is not up awaiting my animation in progress sent as a .swf file. His feedback is excellent, although sometimes I think he whips them out without realizing the 10 or more hours it'll take to do, so it's just a matter of, "Try this, try this, and ooh, maybe this!" Easily said, but each thing nearly flashes my life before my eyes.<br /><br />Perhaps the most grating thing to me, however, is his blissful excitement at everyone else's projects, usually with not a problem in sight. I don't mean to say everyone around me is not good--they ARE. But, there's this one particular student. Nothing against him personally but the work...they're flagrant abuses of un-style, pasted images just floating and scaling from large to small, and too-short loops that are not convincing in trying to show what it means to show (film grain). But Kevin's all for it! And if anyone were to randomly come in and sit in on a crit and judge based on what was heard only, I'd be the bottom of the barrel student, which I do not feel I am. This isn't angst at having my work unappreciated...I take all crits very, very well, so it's more a genuine hunch that says I think I deserve better.<br /><br />Animation's a bitch. Something less than a minute long consumes all life. All due in part to Kevin, I doubt I have any talent here whatsoever, but the better part of me is saying, screw that, I'll do it on my own time, his collected bashings are just dead weights. At least, I've progressed from Flash to Adobe After Effects with a few of my friends, which fortunately is an amazing program that makes me want to keep going. If not for this project, then on my own--the program is so powerful, I'd definitely get into some tutorials or what have you to try and master it there. Because in terms of teaching, Rich Media is not very educational for programs, which is mostly learn on your own. Despite his useful feedback, I wish his class would have more instruction on using the programs.<br /><br />Back to animating. I'll be sending a preview to Kevin soon. Of course, I'll soon get a long list of what I've done wrong, and not be able to fulfill it all. Such is Bitch Media.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-842896987240215402?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-32901538109290743272007-06-06T22:14:00.000-06:002007-06-06T22:25:29.678-06:00Oh, Senators.<br /><br />You had a great chance at the cup. You played very well through the playoffs, so it's too bad you could only play okay during the finals when it counted. You did some brilliant things, mind, but against Anaheim, they were fewer and far between, and some silly things were also done.<br /><br />It's okay you didn't win, though of course I had hoped you would. It was a pretty good effort, but it felt a little like Calgary back when we had our famous cup run--a little out of gas, but you tried, eh?<br /><br />I just wish you didn't have to lose it by 4. x_x That's a bit...embarrassing, no? Lose by 1, sure, lose by 2 if you must. But 4? That crosses the painful line.<br /><br />So we lost to Anaheim, a place of perpetual warmth (seemingly), and little interest in hockey--but you couldn't tell with the crowd at their rink. They're an American team, yes, but just like most teams in the NHL, most are Canadian players anyway. It's not a huge deal Canada doesn't get the cup, because we win everywhere else as Team Canada, as we should, being able to work with the entire talent pool regardless of NHL divisions.<br /><br />Although it's too bad, we'll survive. With this being Anaheim's first cup, you could feel the frenzy. If anything, something great happened today--maybe the game's sparked some interest way down south. Okay--forget the maybe--it did. Winning any sport's top prize invigorates it for the region, so I must say, I think good has been done today, if at the cost of some hockey pride.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-3290153810929074327?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-48365049949224481532007-05-29T22:28:00.001-06:002007-05-29T22:58:52.027-06:00Just yesterday, I sort of got caught up in that new reality show, <em>On the Lot</em>. Don't get me wrong, I despise most talent contest type shows (<em>Dancing With the Stars, American Idol,</em> etc.), because I could care less about...well, dancing and singing. My finer sense of culture just does not extend to appreciating a flawless dance, or a certain voice.<br /><br />Well...okay, maybe the last a little. I do like certain singers / performers that just have this special voice that transcends the mundane, or possess a certain way of expression.<br /><br />Anyhow, so why the exception here? Because <em>On the Lot</em> is like <em>American Idol</em> for movies! And we all know I love a good film, eh? Best of all, 80% of the people know what they're doing, have a great style, good shots, good visual sense, pacing, etc. There are few bumblers where there seem to be too many in singing shows, mostly, I suspect, for our amusement and to inspire pity.<br /><br />It's fairly international as well, with a few aspiring filmmakers from abroad sprinkled amongst the largely American pool--among this an amazing Canadian contestant that by far got the best praise at yesterday's screenings of the 1 minute comedies.<br /><br />But of course, today I was reminded all too well of another reason why most of these shows and I don't get along: I tend to disagree with America. In fact, I think most would outside of the country, or at least, I sincerely hope so. I'm always left wondering, "How could they vote for <em>that??</em>"<br /><br />CLEARLY, the 3 that should have been given the boot were:<br />-the senseless taxi cab one, by Skater Boi, aka "I THINK I Can Make Filmz" guy<br />-screwing in a lightbulb, by New York Film School Graduate, aka "Education is Obviously Useless" girl<br />-peeing on the bus, by Generic Woman, aka "Peeing is SO Funny!"<br /><br />In fact, yesterday, I would have bet a LARGE sum of money that the 1st was going to be dismissed, like...for sure, for sure, *for sure!* It was that horrible: random, with horrible cuts, acting, and visual sense, and entirely devoid of story. It reeked, and it survived. Oh Skater Boi, truly skater boi culture out there is propping you up, because you're absolutely not fit to be a director. Had to be said, sorry. #2 made almost as little sense as #1, but was less irritating (can't believe she went to film school!!!), and #3 had a near home movie feel to it, with bad camera, acting, lighting, and ultimately, story. Totally agreed with Carole Fisher...so what was the point? She had to relieve herself, and her pee was stinky? Whoop-dee-doo.<br /><br />Kicked instead was:<br />-delivery of baby in hospital with a very busy / connected lady;<br />-blind date where the girl meets the man in embarrassing circumstances;<br />-dialing 911 only to get convoluted options and selections on the phone.<br /><br />These three I felt were safe. Maybe close to borderline compared to my 3 Stinky Picks, but all still very accomplished. They each had great visual style and cutting--they looked damn professional! #1 was not very funny, but a good commentary, and great shots. #2 was somewhat funny, but had a bold, stunning sense of colour, great angles, great flair, great vision. A shame, I say, a shame! And #3 was perhaps funniest of the eliminated, and also had great style--he particularly had such a command of thriller elements--it was so exciting before the bizarre set in. I was eager to see more work from him, particularly when it gets into an inevitable action short.<br /><br />Fortunately, my favourites were quite safe, with 2/3 ending up as top 3, including the Canadian. So maybe, just maybe, there is hope after all--provided of course that come the next results show, my Stinky 3 are swiftly thrown out.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-4836504994922448153?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-26705343354612368272007-05-17T16:49:00.000-06:002007-05-17T17:08:39.666-06:00Haha.<br /><br />For a while there, the blog seemed to only exist for Mr. Anonymous to air stutarded thoughts, and me to shut him down. But about that, it's been long enough since his last random outburst to conclude 2 things: one, that the coward has slunken off, and two--WIN (again)!! ;D <em>Further comments will be ignored and removed.</em> (Time's up; a competition in debate does not afford the opposition so much time to dawdle).<br /><br />ANYWAY.<br /><br />Back to life--it's busy, in a word.<br /><br />3 spring courses, which run double speed being 2 months rather than the standard 4 months, so I am told it's like I'm taking 6 courses. x_x But hey, I thought, no biggie--I just finished off a 6 course semester, and a VC semester is undoubtedly harder. Yes, it's busy now, but nothing I can't handle.<br /><br />There's very few of us doing all 3, most doing 2 of the following: Rich Media I (pretty much animation), History of Design, some kind of Sociology. But it'll be soooo worth it--pretty much the thing that drives me right now! To save 1 course come 3rd year, and then TWO courses in my final year, the most important--it'll give me time to hopefully make brilliant projects for the infinitely important portfolio show, where ideally companies will whore themselves at me. ;)<br /><br />Midterms are coming up...therefore, it's about halfway done. Come end of June, and I'll be good! The only sucky thing, of course, is that everyone assumes I'm on break, and complain that I'm not more available.<br /><br />Sorry. Can't help it!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-2670534335461236827?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-23783120277079783152007-04-07T17:10:00.000-06:002007-05-04T02:23:49.403-06:00Not a lot happens in Canada to make me write about it here in terms of beliefs--I don't want to infringe on anyone's faith(s), although if asked, I'll make it clear where I stand, don't try to convert me and such. Argue, and I'll argue back, and if I must say so myself, I'm relentless when pushed here, and have never failed to make fundies fall back on lame arguments they don't know hold no weight in debate. So in effect, I win. :P<br /><br />There was a letter to the editor yesterday in the Herald in response to a recent article arguing for more secular education. There were a bunch of dissenting opinions, which is fine, but one was SO...suffice it to say, it irked me. If you ascribe to a religion, I beg of you, please, please, PLEASE--can you maybe, just perhaps, you know, be <em>intelligent</em> as well?? Quoting an Edgar Nernberg, whom I wish has not reproduced, can't, or should be barred from:<br /><br /><em>"...dinosaur bones...when in reality, they drowned in Noah's flood."</em><br /><br />Simply: pray tell, where the hell did all the water go?<br /><br /><em>"Galileo had no scientific proof that the Earth revolves around the sun, but was only able to demonstrate that movement of the Earth was possible. There is no absolute scientific proof that the Earth moves."</em><br /><br />WOW. O_O Uh, so I guess in Mr. Nernberg's world, the sun rises and sets because the sun still revolves around the Earth. Never mind that, you know, we can observe other solar systems with planets orbiting a star, and satellites can show the Earth's journey around the sun. And never mind the inconvenience of seasons, eh?<br /><br />I can only hope this Nernberg caused peals of laughter across the city, as he unknowingly argued passionately for more secular education if only to banish such...STUTARDED thinking.<br /><br />Yes, I just made up a word. After some thought, I deemed no words adequate in our vocabulary to describe his theories.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-2378312027707978315?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-18209856980246812492007-04-04T22:40:00.000-06:002007-04-04T23:20:36.175-06:00Today, I did the customary groaning and complaining along with everyone else when our teacher Tim told us that there'd be another model in the afternoon. Why is it that in Figure Illustration class, whenever there's a project due real soon, they schedule a model to take up valuable class working time from 2 to 5?? He did the usual quip along the lines of, "What?! We have to draw *figures* from models in Figure Illustration class?!" in response to our usual negativity.<br /><br />Yes, I find it frustrating along with everyone else. Model afternoons are always draining--we're sitting there doing 5, 10, 15, to half hour poses until the day is up. It literally puts some of us to sleep, especially since we typically have so little rest each day. Well, maybe not sleep, because that's really hard--but definitely those fuzzy lapses in and out of consciousness. I hate that feeling...you're awake, and suddenly, you jerk awake, without realizing you nodded off for maybe 3 seconds. And it usually happens constantly later into model classes, starting off slowly before becoming frequent blank-outs.<br /><br />As you can imagine, many people take the lunch break, and don't return for such model sessions. I don't blame them. I haven't personally skipped one...because while I'm usually just as displeased at them as everyone else, I figure part of my tuition goes towards hiring these people to stand and pose for us. And, as Doug says, I can't deny that drawing the figure is always good for you.<br /><br />Every indication pointed at another typical, progressively drowsy model day when we started, but oddly enough, I wasn't too tired, despite not having had lunch to finish Thursday's project, or getting enough sleep. Here I was sketching along, and Tim sometimes comes around to check on our progress. My figures were the usual: not bad, not good, but my inking was definitely improving due to forcing myself for the past few weeks to render in pen with the small sketchbook assignments. I used to not mind ink, but much prefer pencil, because it's more forgiving. Now, however, I'm happy to report much more confidence and sensitivity with ink rendering, with or without an underdrawing to start.<br /><br />But anyway, Tim stops by me. We had previously talked about my facially inproportional people for the current project (honestly, I consciously made it more cartoony because I thought I could from various examples--I mean, of course by now I know the eyes are halfway down the face!!); he glances at my model studies, and tells me the same thing. Of course, this being life drawing, I was positioning facial features where they should be--our model was not strangely proportioned, and so I draw what I see--so I didn't get what was still incorrect!<br /><br />And then Tim dropped the simpliest piece of advice I've received from an instructor. Pointing at one of my drawings' faces, he said it was almost there, but still too big. I have never took notice of this, and no one else has ever mentioned this to me. Looking back now, it's probably due to the expressiveness of the face that causes me and others to do this--it's a focus, so we subtly emphasize it more than we should. His advice: draw the features smaller than you think they should be.<br /><br />That right there was instant epiphany. So easy, so straight-forward. I did it, uncertain of what it would do for me still at this point--and right away produced perhaps the very best figure I've done in a model session. I could not believe the world of difference it had, it was incredible! Did it some more with following poses, and they became a really well done set. There are better illustrators in the class, but I must say that I'm really proud of the my figures following Tim's advice. Instant improvement...I could see it, I could <em>feel</em> it; I was seeing the guy in front of me in a new way, going about the drawing differently.<br /><br />I did not nod off once this model afternoon. In fact, I quite enjoyed it. In fact, after his input, I was excited! I got into it in a way I never have, and am rather pleased with the results. It's a little something that makes me want to continue doing and exploring on my own...if only I had the time!<br /><br />Oh well. It'll happen in Spring, hopefully. Jenny and I will be pushing each other to do stuff, because we both know individual artistic initiatives tend to be left behind after a few days' attempts. A second person always helps--recognizing this, we've already agreed to do this. It'll go well...oh yes, it <em>will.</em><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-1820985698024681249?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-76294862116361326252007-03-30T23:43:00.000-06:002007-03-31T00:09:02.132-06:00Last Saturday, the aforementioned March birthdays extravaganza was held at Thalia's. What a week...finally a breather from the nightmares of the previous two weeks! There was only one project due, and it was the type you could easily put together within a few hours, so the turnout was very, very good.<br /><br />It was a potluck, and I brought extra sushi my mum made, because she loves doing such things, and especially loves how easy it is to make sushi. She makes it amazingly. One of the things my mom is always keen for is dining out, trying as many things she can from what we order, and if she finds something brilliant, she goes home and as soon as next day, copies it. Or at least attempts to, though she's often really, really close. She's one of those people who never work with recipes, whether it's a new or old dish. She's also one of those...I dunno, sense-ers that can eat something and come up with a pretty good inventory of what was in it. This all combines to make some pretty great sushi, as we most often eat out at a Japanese place. :)<br /><br />Much glowing praise from all gathered that had the sushi. She's good, but she never admits to it!<br /><br />Anyhow, the potluck was excellent--tons of food, as it's usually a concern that people are too conservative and there won't be enough to feed people. Hell, there were even FOUR cakes, a normal one, an Oreo one, carrot cake, and an ice cream cake. I had some of each after the mass of people sang "Happy Birthday Dear March People" (one of the cakes was even labelled that!!) with them all lit up with a total of 60-odd candles. XD It glowed like mad, offering great mood and warmth, literal and figurative for the last!<br /><br />Tanked some alcohol, too. A beer, a cooler, a mixed drink (vodka, sprite, OJ), shot of tequila (GROSS! 1st time. Why do people drink such stuff? Salt doesn't much help), vodka, Jack Daniel's, Sour Pus, Bols banana creak (tasty), and some orange-y tasting stuff. Not even the slightest bit tipsy. Needed to take a pee, though. ;)<br /><br />And today, I just attended our school's annual artAWEARness, in its 7th incarnation. I wasn't going to go, but this year was very hyped up, and more importantly, a class friend was a model, the ONLY participant from Design (she's super intense...works very fast, has an impressive social life, is my age and has already had gallery openings...). So I went, and invited a friend to join the ranks of what was surprisingly a very attended event by many I knew in class or in the other blocks, especially considering practically all of them (me too) had not attended last year's. No loss there, perhaps--the friend in this year's show is much classier, while last year's was slightly "smutty" with 4 instances of nudity. Which is of course fine, but considering the general public in the audience, not so great. The poster seemed a little exploitive for that one, too.<br /><br />But I'm very glad I went. Seriously, I was immensely impressed that students produced all these fantastic costumes, and made the accompanying performances! Honestly, I don't think I could see this stuff at a real fashion show--much of what we saw was definitely made to the quality of something you could see in a fashion show, but this stuff was crazy-conceptual. Very experimental, very beautiful--some extremely creative and well-thought out characters were brought to life (this is me applying this to VC Character Design). At a real event, I imagine the pieces are more appropriate for actual glamorous wear, so you wouldn't see some of this artaWEARness innovation.<br /><br />Well worth the $10, and will try to make it a point to attend next year's!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-7629486211636132625?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-76389506831650777482007-03-24T00:32:00.000-06:002007-03-25T16:25:16.178-06:00EDIT: Whoa, what happened to half my post? :( Corrected.<br /><br />...that's what I <em>wish</em> I said to the two idiots behind us when we were watching 300. >_< SHIT, they had the lamest, stupidest commentary for the entire film. "Duuuuuuuuuuuuuude, that guy's like immortal! Go for his head, go for his head, chop off his head!!"<br /><br />I turned around to shoot them a dirty look which helped for a minute, and I saw that they were obviously too young to have met the film's 18A requirement. Therefore, they had to be accompanied by an adult, and I figured it'd probably be parents, so I didn't want to mouth them off (despite the brilliant line I had devised) and cause a commotion.<br /><br />However, if their parents <em>were</em> with them, then it was absolutely shameful that they didn't shush them. Makes them just as idiotic to suffer through their very loud observations through the entire film, and I hope it makes them come to the peachy conclusion that their offspring are acutely irritating.<br /><br />A serious contender for the most grating thing this evening were 4 tweenagers sitting in the middle of our row (they friggin' shifted everyone left and right, us included to accomodate them), that <em>constantly</em> got up to slip by us, go to the bottom of the theater where it seems other friends were with their phones (texting), and slip by us again to return to their seats. This happened at least 8 times during the movie, and they left in 2's usually. In the end, I didn't even move out of their way. In fact, I purposefully barred their way with my kness, and 2 ran into them pretty hard, though it in no way hurt me. Bastards. You got off easy. I wanted to kick you down the stairs (I was by the aisle, 2nd row from top...many viewers).<br /><br />Or maybe my rage and bloodthirst the whole night was just inspired by the movie itself. XD Well, whatever. Even my mom and brother said later they wanted to trip the delinquents. Seriously--who pays the price of a movie fare to wander around and socialize in a theater? Pay attention to the movie!! Go to a cafe or something, and spend like $3 on a drink and talk your damn mouths dry. ARGH.<br /><br />But aside from that...amazing movie. Gorgeous visuals (the oracle scene....WOW!), great mood, insane action. Not much of a plot, but this connosieur of fine foreign and independent films aproves--there is a place for this as well, and so I went in without expecting something deep. And Spartans? I've always thought they were crazy awesome, because of my long interest in Greek things, particularly mythology. I'm not as versed in their history, but anyone with any amount of marvel at Greek society knew the Spartans, right? :) I'm glad that many will now know what I've long appreciated!<br /><br />For the interested, here are some cool Wikipedia entries about Spartans, because I can't explain any of this stuff half as thoroughly (that is, without spending far too much time on it...):<br /><br />-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laconic_phrase">Laconic phrases</a> (I had no idea the movie took so much actual dialogue from history! Very blunt, very witty)<br />-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Thermopylae">Battle of Thermopylae</a><br />-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sparta#Society">Spartan Society</a> (they really were that hardcore. Also interesting is the "Women" section a little later)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-7638950683165077748?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-84465722802640977812007-03-19T18:22:00.000-06:002007-03-19T19:09:40.123-06:00I love Kinko's.<br /><br />I really don't go often, but it's times like those of last night's (early this morning, actually) that reminds me--nay, <span style="font-style: italic;">all </span>of us--how badly they save the collective VCD students' asses.<br /><br />I worked all weekend on my vignette for Illustration I, composed, inked, coloured on the computer. It still took until Sunday, 12:40 am or so. Booked it to Kinko's, printed it out quickly, and was gone by around 1 am.<br /><br />On the way there, I was feeling pretty glum, convinced I'm the epitome of slow in terms of homework and such. I arrive...and moments afterwards, Mike and Marla show up! And then Graham! And then Mark! XD<br /><br />And apparently, many more would come--Mike told me that many people were at the moment still working in school, colouring in Photoshop madly, ready to skip on over to the conveniently close-by Kinko's as soon as they finished.<br /><br />I found out today that Sander had also just left by the time I arrived at Kinko's, as I wondered how he had his printed. So I'm sure there were tons of students going through the place before and after me.<br /><br />That is the obvious thing I contemplated during the crit--how many of these projects (everyone finished! w00t!) would not have been completed if it weren't for Kinko's? I don't know of anyone else who's open 24 hours...<br /><br />Seriously, saved all our asses big time, and my appreciation of them has grown even deeper. Love the place, in fact, and I'm sure I'm not the only one. :)<br /><br />On a related note, the lone guy working there that night was amusing. He was big, had a deep, gruff voice, and very, very dumb. Not to be mean or anything, or to look down on the guy, but he was such the epitome of the stereotype, it was amazing! Mike and I asked him for cardstock, or anything harder to print on, after having done an initial test on normal 11" x 17" paper.<br /><br />He told us we could do it on this glossy stuff, but it'd cost us double. We asked how much. He said, "Well, a normal sheet is $1.50, so that'd be....uh, let's see, ummmmm...." He wrung his hands, shifted around, and generally gave off very uncomfortable vibes. "That'd be $3.00," he finishes, rather far too late.<br /><br />We smiled tolerantly and said it'd be fine (after midnight is 1/2 off anyway, so no point in even doubling the $1.50). In fact, bringing up the worker man with Sander on the C-train, he instantly commented that the man was pretty slow, before I even mentioned it.<br /><br />Just kinda funny. Don't mean to come off as mean-spirited or anything. ;)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-8446572280264097781?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-7179837066106886232007-03-08T22:46:00.000-07:002007-03-08T23:42:14.333-07:00Oh my gosh. FUCK. Uh. Um....<br /><br />Ahahahahahahaha....hahaha....heh heh?<br /><br />This just happened several minutes ago. My goodness. GOSH!<br /><br />Ahem. GAH! Such a strange feeling--get outta me, now!! Eh...<br /><br />Er, so I'm doing my latest Figure Illustration project. Maybe you're one of those who've heard of it? Taking a children's story, changing it up, characters, setting, whatever. It does not have to remain a "children's" story--it can be made into anything. ANYTHING.<br /><br />Mine: Goldilocks and the 3 Bears. Think about it for one moment. Bears. <span style="font-style: italic;">Bears</span>. If you don't know the term...large hairy gay men. Goldi's a male escort (formerly a transvestite; some instructor input changed this, as he found the whole get up with the wig and such too silly, as I definitely played it up, so it was distracting).<br /><br />It's been good--I'm keeping it lighthearted, making it amusing and tongue-in-cheek rather than explicit and potentially heavy material if I kept it serious. Reaction is good, too--people think it's pretty funny ("You're too big! You're too small! You're just right!" XD), and no one is really against it. Not news in an Art and Design school.<br /><br />BUT. It's due very soon. Like all things, it's a lot of HOMEwork. So what happens? I've been casually going about my business as I always do at home, not particularly wanting attention. I mean, somewhat standard Asian parents, likely more open-minded than most, but not really when it comes to family and relationships (all kids of course awaited eagerly upon for grandchildren).<br /><br />Mom decides to take a look at one of my pictures. o_O Looks at it, to my perception, a touch TOO long. >_< Ste stares. No expression, no reaction (omg omg omg).<br /><br /> Puts it down...and then takes the second image...<span style="font-style: italic;">the one where Goldi and the bear have friggin' paused ACTIVITIES, the accusation, the sheepish look, the other bears laughing it up (one in fudging DUNGEON get up!!!)</span>... I admit, I blushed, and all the while, not a single word from her. She just...looks (DAMMIT, it'd be even better if something was said, rather than this horribly, indescribably excruciating awkwardness!).<br /><br />And then she goes through my pile of roughs to see the third picture. o_O All silently, of course. Me still feeling super weird, expressing my prolonged awkwardness with my sister on MSN (consisting primarily of OMG!s, GAH!s, uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh's, er's, um's, etc the moment mum had even picked up the first picture)...<br /><br />Shortly afterwards, things are normal, a little <span style="font-style: italic;">too</span> normal<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;">. </span></span>She tells me not to stay up too late as she always does, and proceeds to cut a package of some meat jerky to put into the fridge. "There's no more spicy ones," she remarks to me (I'm still all wonky inside, expecting any and all odd questions that would never come). She feeds me a piece.<br /><br />What does this all mean?? SAY something!<br /><br />She proceeds to go to bed, but stays a few minutes to watch the last bit of TV my brother has on. She leaves, remarking again on how I shouldn't stay up too late working.<br /><br />Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh. o_O There can be no other awkward moment to top this in my life, I swear it, and yes, before I turn <span style="font-style: italic;">two-oh</span> this has already been determined.<br /><br />GAH. Stupid feeling! BLARG-atsurxo;di,woz,tioqid-snotu!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-717983706610688623?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-40771131012319459242007-03-04T15:33:00.000-07:002007-03-04T15:54:34.358-07:00Can you believe there's only 7 weeks of school left?<br /><br />I can't. It was like yesterday that 2nd semester started, or just a few hours earlier, reading week ended. This semester has been an enigma to me; overall fairly unenjoyable as a whole compared to the 1st, making school life rather difficult and frustrating for me, yet feeling as if it's passed by faster than last. If I dislike it more (all I have to think about is Comm. Design II and my spark of life literally crumples and begins to sob in a corner), how could it have gone by so much easier? Works counter to that impression we all know as "time flies when you're having fun."<br /><br />Well, it's March, and it's a month with a number of birthdays in my class. I start things off on the 13th (I was born on a Friday the 13th, but alas, a TUESDAY of all days this year), and, as ridiculous as I <span style="font-style: italic;">know </span>it sounds, holy crap, can you believe it, I'm turning <span style="font-weight: bold;">two-oh.</span> I say that like that to emphasize the "two" so hidden in a word as inadequate as "twenty," because again, as absolutely silly as it is, it's still a big deal to me--I'm leaving my teens! And I'm never going back!! Never again will I have a 1 in front of my age (unless I reach the unfathomable and at this moment's interpretation undesirable age of 100 >_>). And if you're wondering whether my tone is amazement / excitement or uncalled for horror / panic, it's more the latter. ;)<br /><br />Gosh, I think I can already feel it. My back hurts, and I think I'm sagging away... XD<br /><br />Anyhow, I think the March friendlings in class have in mind to do a combined one day sort of celebration thing, because we never have as much time as we'd like socially. At this point, no one knows what's happening, but I'm already hopeful and looking forward to whatever may come...about the same time last year, I had a admittedly lonesome birthday, being steeped in that triple threat combo of Design Fundamentals, Design Colour, and Design Colour in my hellish 2nd semester of 1st year.<br /><br />Just remembered something. I'll be taking a spring course, possibly two but for the moment one. Too bad that the lovely 4 month break will be cut down to 2 again (last year with AHIS 120), but 4 months is a long time, anyway. Besides, I've survived well on over a decade's worth of K-12 with 2 months summer off, and no one can say they've never been bored once on those breaks, right?<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-4077113101231945924?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-80763619616164136552007-02-20T23:02:00.000-07:002007-02-21T00:54:05.321-07:00With reading week, I've sort of had time to myself. Still a lot of work, of course, but this week has allowed for me to indulge in one of my favourite pasttimes (aside from being with friends and such): movies! And you all know I love foreign films...<br /><br />I watched two recently, <span style="font-style: italic;">Bent</span> (British?) and <span style="font-style: italic;">Walk On Water</span> (Israeli). Both were quite incredible, and both had the added effect of educating and enlightening me, in different ways. You know, one of those things that make you go, "Wow, a few days ago, I had never thought / realized ________." <span style="font-style: italic;">Bent </span>was recommended to me as the most...different Holocaust film I'd see, and <span style="font-style: italic;">Walk on Water</span> I found because it is touted as the best film Israel has ever made. So here's me encouraging any out there appreciative of foreign cinema to check them out. Specifically:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bent</span><br /><br />I admit the Holocaust, while horrible, always makes for riveting movies for me. Who isn't at once repulsed by all the terrible cruelty and fascinated at how characters can face such inhuman odds and circumstances? People intrigue me, and such films never fail to remind me how pathetic neo-Nazis and Holocaust deniers are. They're either a) too stupid to be worth my acknowledgement, or much more likely (and unfortunately so) b) too blind and full of hate and shit to be allowed to exist. Contrary to that hate comment, I'd like to cut them up. :D<br /><br />This one features a famous face: Clive Owen, though I don't think he was famous then. How's it different? Well, the first scene starts with Mick Jagger in drag suspended above a stage. How's that? ;)<br /><br />After my initial "Huh??", I fell into it. If you've guessed, <span style="font-style: italic;">Bent</span> covers another group persecuted by Nazis that I honestly forgot about--homosexuals. I think we all forget them actually, not because we suck, but faced with the staggering 6 million Jews terminated, it's just difficult to see anything else.<br /><br />Again, very eye-opening, if only to remind you that it wasn't just the Jews persecuted. With how the men are labelled with pink triangles, I also suddenly learned where this icon originated from to become so synominous with the gay community. I think maybe it's a little disturbing to know now that it was the same thing used to label the prisoners (who along with the other groups, were likely gassed), but I suppose on the flipside, you could say they're turning something horrible into something positive, eh?<br /><br />At the risk of sounding a little strange, it must be said that the "sex scene" (if you watch it, you'll see why I feel I must put it within quotations) is the most brilliant I've seen. If such an activity could be described with this word, I'd say it was inspirational. It was so profoundly human, I think it'd take a pretty mean-spirited person to diss it. One of those, "chalk one up for the human spirit" moments.<br /><br />Anyhow, great film, if only to expand on your understanding of stuff.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Walk on Water<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></span></span>While an Israeli film, it slips into German, some Arabic (I think), and features a lot of English as well among the Hebrew. This film took on so many issues, it was surprising that things still sort of worked!<br /><br />The biggest thing I appreciated here was the intense culture shock. o_O Filmed on-location for every setting the story visits, I was most floored by Israel. Or maybe I'm just very, very ignorant? I'd hate to think that, because I'm all about an open mind...<br /><br />Anyway, the effect now is that I would one day love to visit Israel. Gorgeous place, and super modern / westernized. Like, I knew they were modern, but this is...MODERN. And forget all the misconceptions about armed violence erupting everywhere...life seems very normal there. I suppose because all the news we get about Israel is terrorist bombings, we think it happens tons. Sure, it happens, but not nearly as dire as I thought--when it does, life goes on. I was in fact so surprised by these revelations about Israel, I Wiki'ed the country, did a few comparisons, and one of the standout things was that their death rate per 1000 people is just 6.81--Canada's is 7.8!! Granted, we have more population, but we're not being terrorized. Our life expectancies are also comparable (less than a year less for Israel), but their tuition for higher education is far lower, despite a good number of world class universities. They're also a bastion of science, engineering, and education.<br /><br />Israel is also more ideologically progressive and liberal than Canada. o_O Seriously, people, in a place where the 3 big faiths converge (Christianity, Islam, Judaism), you'd think they'd be so conservative, their manner would be like people with giant sticks up their asses.<br /><br />Shows how much I knew. If for no other reason, I'd go because the country looks absolutely gorgeous. Haifa especially by the shore, although Tel Aviv seems like an exciting urban center. Man, days ago, I wouldn't have dreamed of wanting to visit Israel!<br /><br />But back to the matter at hand. The film was great--it felt very satisfying, although the ending seemed a little out of place. Appreciated the metaphor, though, in what is ultimately a film that makes you feel curiously hopeful, although it explores some pretty weighty topics like Israeli / German relations (never crossed my mind, but now seems blatantly obvious why this pairing is...awkward), Israeli / Arab relations, Nazi war criminals, gay / straight relations, guilt, prejudice, responsibility, empathy....pretty much 10 things more than your average movie! The genius is that it all works together to make a deep, sometimes funny, honest, and exciting movie (because there's just enough espionage to make it thriller-esque).<br /><br />Without having seen other Israeli films, I can see why this is reputedly the best.<br /><br />In terms of Hollywood films, I'll briefly say that <span style="font-style: italic;">The Prestige </span>is amazing. Go watch that, too! :)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-8076361961616413655?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-37562801984517127182007-02-17T03:46:00.000-07:002007-02-17T03:47:30.582-07:00Just got back from Whitney and Jess's party, the Block A initiative open to C that unfortunately had quite a low turnout... (Whitney, Whitney's bf Frank, Jess, Jason, Thalia, Kevin, Rob, Jen, Scott, Roxy, myself). Jen left early due to feeling sick, and Andy (!!!) and one of his friends showed up. Luckily, the rather lame and annoying Andy left earlier with his friend. -<br /><br />It was a good party. Wished more people showed up, but that's always the case. My voice is hoarse, after talking so much and loudly over the louder music, and it was awesome to get to know some of these people better, particularly Jason, Whitney, and Jess. Frank was cool too, because where I suspected him to be possibly sidelined by all the endless VC talk, it wasn't bad because he's a working graphic designer. I like it when no one is left out. :)<br /><br />Anyhow, my confusion. By the end of the party where few were left, Jason was quite helpful about the details behind 3rd year, his goals, and originally, what my plans were. The long and short of it was that he was surprised that I was going into Design rather than Illustration.<br /><br />You know, I was for a few months now comfortable with the idea that I chose Design, despite my enjoyment of drawing stuff, and even despite my original master plan for coming to ACAD in the first case to get into Illustration. It's just that in first year, after having been introduced to Design classes in Fundamentals and Colour, I totally embraced it, and what must be understood is that it didn't become a second option to me, but an equally enjoyable and interesting path to pursue.<br /><br />The decider came near the end of first semester, and the beginning of second semester this year. While I think my projects remained for the most part.....hmm, competitive in-class, I felt I was miles behind the great aspiring illustrators of Blocks A and C. Not convinced of my own skill and rather intimidated by the crazy work the prospective illustrators did, I decided on Design, again not as a second choice, but as something equal.<br /><br />I feel more confident doing Design work, though of course I'm learning the theory as it comes just like everyone else Plus, I feel that it'd be easier to personally illustrate on the side of Design (we all know what makes a picture gorgeous just by looking at it), rather than design no the side of Illustration (where I would be lacking some design theory and conventions to be effective).<br /><br />But Jason surprised me because he said he figured I would go into Illustration based on some of my projects he'd seen. >_< ARGH! Really? I lack so much confidence in Illustration, I never know the true value or worth of my drawings. To hear that he thinks that I could make it (in effect bringing back my original illustrative path to my head) throws me for a loop--which do I think is more fulfilling? Which do I like doing more?... I just don't know.<br /><br />Jason had another good point. He's going into Illustration as well, despite him essentially being the Design King in the other classes. But he just finds illustration more satisfying, despite the fact that he takes 20-30 hours more to do a project over someone else who ultimately produces much better work anyway--but he's learning plenty, being so challenged to keep up. His point was, there are lots of illustration that are not perfect (anatomically flawless, pose, composition, etc) that make it because of its specific style. And he's right again.<br /><br />So, where do I stand? Where should I go? What should I do? Most interestingly: could I actually get by?<br /><br />While I'm signed into Desgin, I still don't know! :( Am I doing the right thing...?<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-3756280198451712718?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-41051934385632127562007-02-08T14:04:00.000-07:002007-02-18T01:44:09.569-07:00Well, it's about the end of the day Thursday, which means all projects due this week have been completed and handed in!! Yep, all 4 of them. :)<br /><br />Uuuuuugh, gosh that was tiring. I'm exhausted and sleepy, and I'm glad Thursdays are relatively fun (Photoshop!). Things are finally looking up...the new projects coming up are pretty exciting, though of course, we already know they're going to kill us.<br /><br />Funny thing, yesterday. We were jumped with a model in the afternoon in Figure Illustration class. And who would it be, but once again the now notorious Tantoo Man?! By now, we've hyper-ridiculed / satirized him, and I must admit I've had a pretty large hand in this with my friend Jenny. We even created "The Tantoo," a dance that's sure to sweep the nation ;) (in all its hand-clasping, positioning, and silly poses).<br /><br />He sorta poked his head in during the afternoon and asked if we had a model. No one knew about this, and I was particularly jolted, because I mean, Mr. Tantoo has been parodied healthily for a week now, and look who comes calling?<br /><br />I'm glad to report that maybe the weather's taken its toll--the tantoo is quite faded now, hehe. Seems to actively trim that pubic Hitler moustache, though, for it still to be so defined.<br /><br />However, I must give him some credit, because his poses were *somewhat* different, although the clasping hands made their reappearance for sure. I dunno what to do here...perhaps Jenny and I will have to incorporate new moves for The Tantoo, particularly clutching at our knees (that happened a lot this time around). XD<br /><br />Silliness abounds. Sushi dinner tomorrow with most of class ppl, celebration of surviving. :) I'm so glad the weeks over!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-4105193438563212756?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-45802052389569501622007-02-02T02:39:00.000-07:002007-02-02T02:52:09.597-07:00What a pleasant surprise. :)<br /><br />After having another one of those typical heavy, work-laden days at school (with HELLISH PROSPECTS FOR THE WEEKEND--perhaps worst I will and the class will face thus far), I came home to find that I've received a package.<br /><br />It was a belated Christmas gift Carol got for me, sent from BC (already seems like such a long time ago...)! Highlight of my day, instantly--thanks so much for it, bud! :)<br /><br />Anyhow, it was a Spöka! IKEA has this set of cute, ghost-like lamps that come in green, blue, and red, depending on the character. They're squishy-feeling, a little too cute to resist (I thought it was Japanese for a moment, diminutive, very derived, simple face, and charming, until I noticed the Designed in Sweden, IKEA--who doesn't appreciate IKEA?), and now decorates my bedside. I'm glad you chose the green...I hope it wasn't simple fluke, that you'd remembered my inclination towards the colour. :D<br /><br />Thanks a lot, also of course for the movie. Can't say I have time to watch it, but it's available!<br /><br />Because the Spöka is quite the lil critter, I'll eventually put up pics of it here. :)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-4580205238956950162?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-333930900583714142007-01-27T01:59:00.000-07:002007-01-27T02:36:30.651-07:00On Wednesday afternoon, we had one of those model days in class where someone comes in, strips bare, and poses as we madly do gesture drawings, one in about half a minute. Usually a pretty typical event, very business-like, very mature, very sometimes annoying knowing this man or woman is cutting into my project work time.<br /><br />I've had good models (crazy yoga lady with crazy poses, kept quite still), bad models (friggin' CLOTHED, SEATED model that couldn't SIT on a chair for five minutes without moving and constantly rearranging her skirt!), and everything in between (creepy man that you find is staring intensely at you whenever you look up to refer to him, making you feel horribly voyeuristic suddenly, and look quickly away; all other models just stare into space nicely).<br /><br />And then there was Wednesday's dude. Not that he was particularly bad...but he wasn't great, either. But that's not the point. The point was, he was...unique. Some models had piercings galore and tattoos--no biggie. But this guy sported a <span style="font-style: italic;">tantoo</span>--this shape was clearly paler to what must have been tan-saloned darkness--a heart shape a little below his hip, no less.<br /><br />Perhaps most...different was his pubic hair. I suppose there's trimming, and then there's <span style="font-style: italic;">trimming</span>: seriously, this guy had a Hitler moustache atop his privates, a little dark rectangle, with everything else seemingly smooth around it. o_O I was so distracted...I stared a bit until I realized it was probably not proper to stare at his genitalia so dubiously.<br /><br />Aside from this, he was frustrating. His poses always consisted of his hands clasped, and then put: a) behind his head; b) on his hip; or c) behind him. That's all. While he kept pretty still, this was maddening...<br /><br />That, I just thought you'd want to know. :)<br /><br />Now, regarding tonight, I went out to dinner, Casino Royale, and then to a bar with friends from school! It was good fun, and the movie exceeded my expectations.<br /><br />About that, I have to highlight what I just loved about it:<br /><br />-Title sequence. So gorgeously design-y!<br />-The grittiness! The new Bond sweats, bleeds, gets very roughed up, and so altogether feels more human, vulnerable, and relatable. Everybody's right--best Bond character yet, so the Daniel Craig haters (strangely silent after the movie's first release) can go eat their prejudging words...<br />-Chase sequence with Bond and the African guy. Amazing!<br />-The total lack of cheesiness and gadgets.<br />-The torture scene...brilliant!<br />-A love interest with depth, rather than just a walking piece of meat to be enjoyed.<br />-Great action and twists.<br /><br />I just didn't appreciate the ridiculous last posker hands, and that Bond was so quickly capable of making out with what's her face, after having survived his ordeal with, I imagine, some seriously damaged goods! >_><br /><br />Anyhow, I was very impressed, and am actually looking forward to the next installment of Bond with Craig. This coming from a person that really didn't care about the other Bond films much before...I'm glad I've watched it!<br /><br />Lastly came the bar, Julio's Barrio, where we had snacks and a few margaritas, and I got to know Spencer's friends better. Once again, I realized how awesome it is to have smoke-free bars and restaurants!<br /><br />In short, I had a blast! :)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-33393090058371414?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-12460533520325674012007-01-23T20:26:00.000-07:002007-01-23T20:28:57.487-07:00Yah, I'm much better today, though the week still has some ways to go in its crappiness.<br /><br />Funny thing...apparently, yesterday was determined as the most depressing day of the year, as determined by some mathematician with a ridiculously complicated formula. I think he was right. ;D<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-1246053352032567401?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-55579303881454322072007-01-22T23:25:00.000-07:002007-01-22T23:49:16.149-07:00Sigh. :(<br /><br />That about sums up my overall feelings of self, world, and everything in between. :(<br /><br />Self-doubt abounds, and thinking ahead to the future makes me dizzy.<br /><br />Last semester was lots of work, but manageable. Now, with 6 courses in 5 days, there's...a pervasive feeling of dread. So much JUNK is piled on top of us, it's suffocating. I bet it's not even very bad yet, but it's already nearing the point where you just sort of shut down thinking of everything that needs to be done, rather than diving in head-first like last semester, where there was just enough light at the end of the tunnel to keep you going (that, and nearly all the projects were interesting--this may be a big factor in my ho-hum mood, right now).<br /><br />Again, I'll say last semester was no way near 2nd semester of my 1st year...so why all the bad feelings now? Last school year, I was driven to get into the VC Program. Any lack of motivation, and I'd just scare myself with the idea that I'd not make it! But now I'm in. I'm still driven to get through it all, no quitting, never, nuh-uh, but...UGH. It's just this semester. Just enough piled on me to push me from "dive in" mode to...something I'm not wholly proud of.<br /><br />Funny...we all kinda spoke of it today on a break, and I thought I was the only one. Seems to be quite pervasive, actually, with everything believing they were the only one. We all just hide it so well...after all, VC requires a certian type of projected (or real, sometimes) tough image and attitude, when in fact we're all more than a little drained inside. I'm totally in tune with what one of my friends moaned: "I don't wanna work anymore!"<br /><br />But what can I do but chug along? I shake my fist (in admiration) of people like Tanya or Chelsea, who maintain that VC is not bad at all. I mean, it isn't...it just requires an effort I just can't feel right now.<br /><br />Maybe I'm missing more in my life. I want someone to make me laugh more often. I'm often making the laughs at school, brought about by a combination of my intentional and unintentional remarks, jokes, puns, and cluelessness, but I'd like a few laughs too. Or just to talk, about anything and everything. I feel I'm desiring some social distraction from this wave of negativity.<br /><br />Am I sounding emo? I don't mean to be. I've been so generally chipper for so long, it's sort of expected. Sometimes I'm really not, but I don't want to be a downer for anyone.<br /><br />Dunno, just confused; when this week is over, I think I'll be okay...?<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-5557930388145432207?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-45881735098337323092007-01-17T20:23:00.000-07:002007-01-17T20:41:07.440-07:00Yes, I can already say this is going to be my best news item of the year, and January's hardly over. I'm just that much of a nerd when it comes to this. =3<br /><br />It's exciting to even think about. A friend has told me that HBO (not that I have that channel...oh well) has obtained the rights to making my all-time favourite series of books into a show (confirmed on Martin's own site)!! This would be, of course, George R R Martin's <span style="font-style: italic;">A Song of Ice and Fire</span> saga, beginning with <span style="font-style: italic;">A Game of Thrones</span>--fantasy at it's very best, in my opinion, rife with violence, sex, profanity, jaw-dropping twists, and characters all equal in the eyes of death (whereas most fiction seems to protect a huge cast of protagonists, you know, just because they're main characters). Not that the first three "qualities" I mention are essential to a good plot, but what I mean is, "At last! Mature fantasy fiction removed from fairies, elves, and dwarves!" Anyway, one book will = 1 season...I'm just salivating at the prospect of these books with the addictive properties of crack translated to TV!<br /><br />It must be said that Martin has long been impressed by HBO's many successful series like <span style="font-style: italic;">The Sopranos</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">Rome</span>; he once said that if his books are ever to be filmed, he would love for HBO to do it. That it will actually be the case is awesome!<br /><br />I'm getting ahead of myself because at this point, nothing's cast, designed, or written yet, and probably won't be for some while yet. But man oh man, it's going to happen. :)<br /><br />Whoo!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-4588173509833732309?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-62393331688190763762007-01-13T18:37:00.000-07:002007-01-14T01:14:44.298-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_ag6MMt8qHp8/RamKIOtlvuI/AAAAAAAAAAM/ALDDjy_qNBk/s1600-h/5.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_ag6MMt8qHp8/RamKIOtlvuI/AAAAAAAAAAM/ALDDjy_qNBk/s200/5.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5019695133674028770" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Friggin' scary shite</span><br /><br /></div> Just saw it today with family...<br /><br />And I have to say, that was one of the most terrifying, moving, and visceral movies I've seen recently. Of course, it's not even horror, but that's exactly what made it so scary--everything to me was very plausible, and all the details of how normal everyday existence has been affected also felt convincing.<br /><br />Don't know what I mean? The premise of the movie is simple, but the execution is quite the harrowing thing to witness: for reasons unexplained, infertility of women started to climb, until in the near future, 2027, birth rate is halted. It's even more frightening that it's a mystery--as mentioned, it could be anything we are currently facing today--pollution? Global warming? Genetic experiments? How about all our funky new gadgets, cellphones, plasma TVs, genetically modified foods...all the recent innovations that are deemed safe now, but we ultimately don't know the long-term effect of.<br /><br />Of course, I don't mean to suggest that these really are all screwing us over, and it'll be far too late in 20 years to fix anything. But it <span style="font-style: italic;">could </span>be true--it really is not much of a stretch.<br /><br />The vision of the future put forth by the movie is bleak and hopeless, opening with international mourning over the passing of the youngest person on Earth. The very idea is a little creepy. Much of society has gone to hell, and the only "safe" bastion we are aware of is Britain, though it's obvious it's a mess there as well with a semi-Fascist government in reactionary mode. You can imagine what sort of social / political scene that spawns.<br /><br />I mentioned detailing. From newsclippings to semi-heard news broadcasts, and looping propagandist videos, there are a swath of brilliant little things observed offered as enrichment to what has happened in this future 2027. It's amazing putting these small things together, and gives the world such scope and believability, and that much of it is just gravy to the main plot is quite rewarding. You don't need all the depth we glimpse, but it's there to appreciate if you're of the mind to. An example: I absolutely loved this piece of graffiti seen briefly on a wall. Something like, "Last person to die, please turn off the lights." Genius. Just as irreverent and hopeless as you would expect from such a world setting.<br /><br />It's been an hour or two now since I saw the movie, and after some discussion in the car and such, I can't see any holes; everything is airtight, has a reason, has a motivation. Things made sense as the characters progressed from each tribulation to the next. The acting was natural, an obvious fact as you realized you believed and really cared for some of these people. Clive Owen deserves a special note here; his performance was full of nuance and you really sympathized with this average guy put into extraordinary circumstances. His character's bravery and determination really shines through. Michael Caine, the hippie, was also a delight.<br /><br />But perhaps deserving of the most kudos is the acclaimed Mexican director, Alfonso Cuarón. He had a hand in writing the script and editing, too. In short, everything is handled masterfully at all levels, especially with cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki--their collaboration yielded thrillingly intense action sequences of which I've never seen the like. So much is happening on the screen, and there is such desperation that you'll find yourself rivetted. The shots are often cleverly staged, but the camera never feels obtrusive or presumptuous--it clearly follows Owen's character Theo, and everything he experiences, we do as well. This limitation of knowledge really works to the movie's advantage, because this avoids what many other films would degrade to: pseudo-science explanations for the infertility (where there is appropriately none to give), or perhaps the history of the Human Project. The last would have been particularly detrimental, because presented as a dim hope, it should remain so, rather than the ultimate solution for everything--nothing is assured in this chaotic dystopia.<br /><br />The score was uncomfortable and responsive, and I'm friggin' glad to have seen a sort of apocalyptic film that doesn't blame it on some wayward asteroid or nuclear accident. The reasons are biological, and that's as personal and true as one can get, but it never felt preachy or moralizing. It's a story first and foremost, and told so convincingly, it is a powerful one at that.<br /><br />Prior to hearing raves about the film in class, I haven't even heard of this film. Apparently, it's being carried by word of mouth, and is gaining broad critical and public acclaim. Good. I think <span style="font-style: italic;">Children of Men</span> needs to be experienced, and hopefully, it'll get some recognition as awards season again rolls around.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-6239333168819076376?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-9602914197547013122007-01-07T01:10:00.000-07:002007-01-07T01:15:05.963-07:00My gosh, I was so excited to get my laptop yesterday...yes, it FINALLY arrived!<br /><br />And it's gorgeous! So gorgeous I think my eyes bled a little!<br /><br />But seriously, it's piano black, slim, lightweight, and SO BEAUTIFUL IT HURTS! X)<br /><br />And I've just about spent the entire day transferring files, installing programs, and configuring the brat. :(<br /><br />Ah well. Perfection comes at a cost, no? ;)<br /><br />In other news, school starts tomorrow. Can't wait, really...I just don't feel like scrounging up everything again to bring back to school. Man, I hate that organizational step. I need a butler, or a French maid or something...<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-960291419754701312?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-7516857353776231472007-01-04T00:25:00.000-07:002007-01-04T00:38:52.223-07:00Break's coming to an end! :(<br /><br />Actually, I'm really looking forward to school again. Yes, I'm such a geek, eh? >_< I dunno, I guess I also use it as the ultimate distraction (though of course, I value it as so much more); I just feel a little...off. Disconnected. A rare, rare spasm of...not depression. I don't think I ever go that far. Just a little...sad, disappointed. I don't understand why?<br /><br />Here are some random things...<br /><br />-Sister left for home again. I miss her. :(<br />-I *still* don't have my laptop for school yet!! It had better arrive soon, or else...I dunno.<br />-Thanks for the comments on my posts, people. Hope your New Years rocked. :) Mine was a little strange, especially with the house party where the host's ultra-pissed-off mother drifted around (his fault).<br />-I miss my ACAD friends.<br />-I'll miss my high school buddies as they now all slowly make their way back to their respective universities in the next few days.<br />-Sis left. :( :( (deserves another mention).<br />-I feel unproductive. Break's about to end, and nothing significant was done with skills, unless you count further pursuit of German, which I think is really a thing apart from my design education (well, excepting Jello...)<br /><br />Anya needs to call me, because I haven't heard from her for...months?<br /><br />Random frustration: where the BLARG is Cory?!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-751685735377623147?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-19569892025917243972006-12-28T02:12:00.000-07:002006-12-28T02:15:18.697-07:00How much did I like my Comm Design I jellyfish?<br /><br />Enough that with the help of my mum and sister, I made another! XD Having my templates still and knowledge of how to do it, it only took 2 days.<br /><br />This one was named Jello, the first being Jelly. It has different colours of light inside. :) Hehe...oh man, my little army of jellyfish...<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-1956989202591724397?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-65953683203592655382006-12-27T16:16:00.000-07:002006-12-27T16:17:17.749-07:00Hope it was a gooder, peeps. :)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-6595368320359265538?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-48782299303844274092006-12-19T01:06:00.000-07:002006-12-19T01:18:22.044-07:00I can't believe it...I feel all squiggly inside. =3<br /><br />Just finished my last project for this semester. Technically, I'm not done until today's crit is through, but I could care less about that--I know I didn't do crappy enough to be slammed (I do always try), so it'll just be a matter of me attending.<br /><br />I AM DONE <span style="font-weight: bold;">VISUALIZATION PROCESSES</span>!! <span style="font-style: italic;">Up yours, Vis Pro!</span><br /><br />Damn you to hell, you poxy bastard of a course! I've kicked your sorry arse into the grave, and I'm going to bury you alive, as you scream such profane words as "Perspective!", "Vanishing traces!" and "Cone of vision!" XD<br /><br />I'll piss on your plot, I will, and dance atop it--hell, I'll call for a marching band and also send for Riverdance to collaboratively trample you further into oblivion!!<br /><br />Now stay dead, or I'll just kill you again.<br /><br /></deliriously crazed random victory rant><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-4878229930384427409?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-12159063874511075582006-12-14T14:43:00.000-07:002006-12-14T15:26:02.133-07:00Here ends Communication Design I. :( It was a fantastic course.<br /><br />But I love my jellyfish--I'm proud of it. =3 The crit went well, too, not that if it went bad, I would have hated my project. A picture of it with its lights on in the dark (DO click for a close-up!):<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/135/322504432_6ed398b451_b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/135/322504432_6ed398b451_b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></div>And, AHIS 210 controversy update:<br /><br />Talked to Alison, ever reliable Alison. :) In her words, she was "gobsmacked" at everything I told her. We took it up with Elaine, and it seems Bozenna never did follow through with all that, "Oh, I'll have to have a word with Alison and Elaine (and some heads, etc)." They'll bring it to head of Liberal Studies and put an end to it once and for all, rather than leave loose ends.<br /><br />It was reassuring to find that practically everyone else did not understand how I was in the wrong.<br /><br />But something sinister...hearing that Bozenna had insinuated that maybe it was because I was in Design that I didn't get why I was unethical (where I then told her that she was making a bad, sweeping generalization, before she accuses me more personally), Alison kept trying to think of how what I did could have been wrong, or what could have provoked this grudge against VC.<br /><br />The one thing she could come up with was that once upon a time, Bozenna also used to teach History of Design (next year for us), until they hired Alison. Apparently, Bozenna was quite peeved that the school handed the course to Alison, and <span style="font-style: italic;">tried to get Alison fired. </span>O_O<br /><br />I was shocked there, and then saw the twisted hypocrisy--before ending the meeting, Bozenna had reassured me that <span style="font-style: italic;">she </span>was ethical (the not worrying about my mark being affected thing). That's just petty, and <span style="font-style: italic;">far</span> from ethical. I highly, highly doubt that Alison tried to get the guy now teaching History of Design, obtained only (last? this?) year, fired for replacing her.<br /><br />That, to me, clearly confirmed that Bozenna is not what she seems, unfortunately.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-1215906387451107558?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-1165624120548612902006-12-08T16:58:00.000-07:002006-12-11T02:17:55.006-07:00Forgive the language. ;)<br /><br />First of all, thanks so much for the support, of course including the people who don't check here, because there's quite a few of those that deserve my gratitude.<br /><br />Unfortunately, I must say that things have turned for the worse. I met with Bozenna today after my exam as arranged per e-mail (Cynthia never got back to us and so didn't show up), and it went horribly bad.<br /><br />I was going in with many assurances that it would be okay, from dozens of peers and friends, and Alison, one of my teachers who used to teach Design history who thought the issue was nonsense, and not to worry because Bozenna's fair. So, it was quite a shock to face a pretty irritated Bozenna (I'm officially the most horrible thing that's happened in her 20-some years of teaching!).<br /><br />She confessed to me near the end that she thought the meeting would be a quick 5 minutes, where I would totally understand her points. I didn't, and I still don't, most don't, so I didn't pretend to--I disagreed and kept discussing, which is far more honest than if I faked the meek doormat (yet, she deeply questioned my integrity).<br /><br />She was, in the end, not even bothered that I didn't get permission to do the site (where no one even sees how I needed permission in the first place) , but she was hung up on two "unethical" points:<br /><br />1) I didn't inform her of the site (why? Why? WHY?! I just CAN'T understand how this is different from her slide carousel, personal flashcards, or a study group--you don't have to inform teachers of this! It's a study aide!)<br /><br />2) I mass e-mailed the students with it (I don't know which is more frustrating of the two...I could see <span style="font-style: italic;">no other way</span> of reaching all the AHIS 210 students with no other class day before the test, as I certainly <span style="font-style: italic;">do not </span>know everyone's names to give it to their ACAD mails personally! If it doesn't concern you, delete the message--that's always been the mantra!)<br /><br />Because I could not understand her point, she even insinuated whether it was because I was in Design (suggesting of course that we have a different idea of ethics!)--that really bothered me. She went on to accuse me of being unethical, surmised my work was as well, that I could probably take a little bit from here or there and never mention it, which <span style="font-style: italic;">really</span> offended me.<br /><br />So I told her so--I'm very ethical when it comes to my work, how could you say that? I bet she doubted me, because she asked why was it then that I could separate my Liberal Studies from my practice and be unethical here?<br /><br />I was pretty distressed, but I remained courteous. She was pretty heated, and even said that we probably needed a medium. In short, she emphasized she was very disappointed in me personally, especially because she thought she would remember me fondly as a good student, and that she still keeps friendly contact with many graduated artists and designers, and pretty much laid down the line that this would not be possible between us. She makes it a point to add that I have nothing to worry about my test I just wrote, however, because <span style="font-style: italic;">she </span>is ethical and won't let it affect anything. >_><br /><br />She says she'll take it up with other faculty and heads, but for now, is still unable to understand how I don't get her, how in the world I could think the issue is silly, and goodbye, good luck, we're done. I apologized again that I disappointed her so (did that here and there despite not getting why everytime she mentioned how she didn't expect this of me), but thanks, and pretty much bid her goodbye. Stony silence as she packed. I left.<br /><br />Alison mentioned Thursday that if it got any worse, she could go kick some butts for me. I didn't want to involve her, but she heard of what happened, and so I filled in the details for her. I never thought I would need to take her up on that offer, but I'm no longer sure now.<br /><br />Aw man, whatever, I need to do homework.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-116562412054861290?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-1165467769245343492006-12-06T21:22:00.000-07:002006-12-06T23:49:01.753-07:00With an Art History final coming up, I did what I always do--make myself a slide site (<a href="http://curio.freehostia.com/">here</a>). Because ppl always scramble to remember this stuff, I shared it through the general all students of ACAD e-mail.<br /><br />The response was very good--people were pretty darn grateful, which was enough to make it worthwhile to me. And then tonight, amidst the nice little notes, I got:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Dear Natrix,</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I understand that you are trying to help your fellow students, but I do feel that you are abusing our email system. I question the ethical nature of posting your slides & notes on a website from an academic standpoint. Having taken that course last year, I worked very hard to create my own notes and flash cards. I earned my mark in that class, I didn't have my notes handed to </span><span style="font-style: italic;">me from a website and I find it offensive that you are posting information that cost me hundreds of dollars in tuition, and many hours of my time in attendance on the world wide web. From this point on I would appreciate you removing me from your email list.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Best of Luck, Cynthia<br /><br /><br /></span>I can't deny that this was a tad upsetting--I mean, some time went into the site (not tons, but still considerable), and while it was for me to study, I thought it'd be nice to share. No skin off my back and all that--and she also CC'ed my teacher with the message along with my original. x_x This of course, has only one intention: to get me into trouble.<br /><br />More significantly, I definitely did not put up my notes. And all the slides with title, artist, and date are listed for us in handouts as "need to memorize"--the ONLY thing I'm doing is providing the picture that takes less than a minute to seach for in Google Images. If you don't have your own notes for them, you have no context, and the site won't be of much use to you anyway.<br /><br />You know, it's just that....you have this *idea* of people in general. Mine here was, "People would find this helpful, so why not share?" And then suddenly, WHAM!, you're reminded that there are always...<span style="font-style: italic;">those </span>types of people. >_><br /><br />Well, I responded, to everyone in case my site gets the big red X so they know, and contacted my teacher personally as well. If she has an issue with this, I'm taking responsibility, and taking down the site as well.<br /><br />It's been long enough now that I can say I'm feeling suitably avenged, despite how immature such a response can be interpreted as (but can you blame me?...). I'm feeling this because of some support I'm receiving--it's good to know that I'm not the lawless freak here, because obviously, I'm too biased to judge this myself.<br /><br />Anyway, just telling you of my awakening to those "exceptions" people.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-116546776924534349?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-1164442717441505602006-11-25T00:35:00.000-07:002006-11-25T01:18:37.506-07:00And that's really too bad. :(<br /><br />Saw it today with my family, and even with all the friggin' stuff I have to do and my general choice to skip outtings while Design is alive and well, I was waiting for this movie since the summer!<br /><br />But back on topic. Why do I think it will do poorly? The same reason as say, <span style="font-style: italic;">Solaris </span>did poorly, which I also enjoyed. The common thread between these two movies is that it takes intelligence to enjoy, and I'm afraid the general public is short on this, often equating slapstick humour, a hundred gunfights, explosions, and car chases to be a good time.<br /><br />Not trying to be holier-than-thou, turning up my nose and acting all superior, here. I enjoy those too, but I also go in knowing I'm paying for some junkfood cinema if you will, enormously entertaining, but probably not terribly memorable (I can't recall the first Spiderman, X-Men or X-2, Terminator, etc--the exception I guess are the Kill Bills, because they were unique).<br /><br />Hey--I actually realized my random example is more than fitting--<span style="font-style: italic;">Solaris </span>also deals intimately with life and death, and acceptance of it. And now that I think of it more, both end similarly. Not exact, but <span style="font-style: italic;">similarly</span>...interesting.<br /><br />Anyway, the movie was jam packed, but I think it's more because <span style="font-style: italic;">The Fountain </span>was just released. I think attendance will drop as soon as people hear the news from naysayers, and I think there will be plenty of those.<br /><br />Some people definitely left early, and you could hear them complaining that they didn't get it (this sorta thing always confuses me, because you know you'll find out soon enough if you just stuck around). The guy beside me told his wife midway, "I'm not getting this," to which she responds, "Me neither."<br /><br />At this point, I didn't understand the movie, either. However, it was still compelling, with so much to absorb and all these little visual and spoken connections, I was quite content absorbing everything. Speaking of visuals, <span style="font-style: italic;">The Fountain </span>is indescribably beautiful--I don't doubt that I'll remember some of those images forever (just so you know, a lot of it wasn't even CGI; they were chemical reactions filmed through a microscope, and applied to green screen). In addition to that, the acting from Jackman and Weisz is incredible--great chemistry, sensitivity, and emotion. Oh, and the score--it's done by Mogwai!! Love that group. =3 Since everything was working together so well, I was happy to let the answers reveal themselves.<br /><br />In the end, there wasn't an answer, but a message, a bit of wisdom that anyone can and should understand, hard as it is. This was lost on some; when the credits rolled, the first thing aforementioned husband said to aforementioned wife was, "That was a total piece of crap," and she concurred.<br /><br />Sigh--did they get it? Maybe they got it and still hated it, which to me would be hard to fathom, but his reaction was so quick, I'd like to think not.<br /><br />Then again, someone behind asked "Is that the end?", to which the addressed sagely answered, "That is <span style="font-style: italic;">a </span>end." So there may be hope still, despite the fact that it should have been "an." ;)<br /><br />If you're into movies great for discussion and reflection, then <span style="font-style: italic;">The Fountain</span> is not only candy for the eyes, it's candy also for the soul.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-116444271744150560?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-1163827272571805292006-11-17T22:18:00.000-07:002006-11-17T22:26:31.060-07:00<pre><li><tt><tt><a href="http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/plush/6708/">Plushies<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif,mon,mon;"></span></a></tt></tt></li></pre><br />The descriptions are pretty amusing, and so are the bigger pictures of each (I say Flu and Stomach Ache are the cutest, though Bad Breath and Yeast are also great), but the people's "Action Shots" are the best! XD<br /><br /><pre><tt><tt><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif,mon;">My favorites:<br /><br />MMMM, steak. Wait a minute...<br />Kung Flu<br />I need brains!<br />Let the Games Begin<br />My culture got a bit out of control...<br />Awwww....<br />Macs are impervious to viruses<br />Beware! Paper turkeys are unclean!<br />Monostereo<br />Dirty Monkey<br />Epidemic<br /><br />Just had to share. :)<br /></span><span style="font-family:Georgia,serif;"></span></tt></tt></pre><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-116382727257180529?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-1162663669623308732006-11-04T10:36:00.000-07:002006-11-04T23:47:38.733-07:00Just yesterday was a nice little party organized by one of the VC kids. Too bad not many of the big list of invitees showed, because it was good. :)<br /><br />Good if only for the fact to have this one social outing for me (and others, apparently; I guess I wasn't alone in having no life with Design) to restore some energy for the rest of the semester. I mean, we're more than halfway through, and if there's any slump in energy, it has to be in the middle. To have this bit of fun wee late into the morning will just make it more okay.<br /><br />I'm a little hoarse, though. The night was loud, so conversations were semi-shouted. The first thing I hear upon my arrival is, "We have to get Natrix drunk!" so you can guess how the night went. ;) Actually, it wasn't that bad--my unknown resilience to alcohol surprised a lot of the ppl, as ppl were getting pretty silly, and had considerably less than I did (I seriously got full on liquid...kept mixing me stuff, but I stopped them later not because I didn't want them, but my tummy was sloshy. ^^; Trip to the washroom helped).<br /><br />Then it was on to further crazy conversations, a half-drunk breakdance showdown between Kevin and...uh, "Budi" (seriously, how is his name spelt?), Nick's queenly attitudes and impressions and advances on everyone (Marla: No! It'd be a crime against nature! XD), and a silly drinking game capped off the night.<br /><br />Finally, I crashed at Marla's--was and still am very grateful, as Transit wasn't running at that time, and didn't want the DD to take absolutely everyone back. Her home was toasty as an oven. =3<br /><br />Freaked out my parents, though (my bad, my bad >_<). They suggested not to stay out too late, so if I get picked up or something, the phone won't wake them up at an ungodly hour. I took that as if it's super late, don't wake us up, so didn't tell them about spending the night somewhere else. Phoned them in the morning, and they had understandably lost more sleep over my absence STILL than one call could ever have. >_< Mea culpa, as they say.<br /><br />Note to self: never again ask for a drink with, "Anything, I'm thirsty, just grab me something, please, surprise me if you like." Haha, that's when all the toxic drinks started, with everything containing the highest alcohol content mixed into a big plastic cup...tequila, vodka, malibu and another milky thing that started to curdle in a juicier poison (eww)...<br /><br />Another note: Jasmine's drinks are iffy. Some are good and decent, and others are bloody, burningly bad. I said if I lopped off a hand, I'd stick the stump into it to disinfect. >_><br /><br />Final note: absinthe is good. o_O Funny, because in art history, we went through a few days of van Gogh, and France's preoccupation with this drink back then, so everyone's like, "Let's be like van Gogh!" (LOL...a unique comment, if there ever was one, among artists drinking, don't ya think?)<br /><br />At 55% alcohol, you'd think it hurt pretty bad, far worse than vodka and all that, but everyone commented on the warm, fuzziness as it went down--it was comfy, and tasted faintly of black licorice (which I love, and a lot of ppl hated--yet, they all seemed to appreciate this).<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-116266366962330873?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-1161995310395097832006-10-27T18:20:00.000-06:002006-10-27T18:28:30.436-06:00I just spent $66 on gouache that I doubt I will ever use again. :(<br /><br />That's one expensive project, and given the project size, I won't even come close to using half a 15 mL tube. And gouache...is just not something people usually play around with in sketchbooks or such, given its heavy opacity, and high resistance to being mixed / blended well.<br /><br />Not a good day, except for the realization that from now until Christmas breaks, there's only about 2 more projects in each class! Massive, massive projects to allow us such time (a month or more), but still--I can see the light at the end of the tunnel! :)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-116199531039509783?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-1161158336569070632006-10-18T01:20:00.000-06:002006-10-18T21:04:59.763-06:00<div style="text-align: left;">EDIT: Here are 2 of the images I speak of...click for full size.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Voodoo: </div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/96/273562136_2434ff4b74_b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/96/273562136_2434ff4b74_b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>So here's an entry!<br /><br />I stayed up until 6:30 am yesterday doing my Vis. Pro homework. I was quite high on marker fumes, but I have found a new love in terms of media--markers!! Specifically Prismacolors, of course, not Crayola or something. :P<br /><br />First time using them seriously (mucking around with them for logo colour studies doesn't count...no blending and such), and in combination with marker layout paper, it is MAD awesome! I went nutso on my colouring, and I must admit that I was quite pleased with the results, especially considering my inexperience. I'm also indescribably happy at how this project came out--as anyone around me in my class can attest to, I had a TON of trouble and frustration with this. Just about tried a hundred ideas that never developed further, and was 2 weeks behind by end of our last work period.<br /><br />I thought that project would be my biggest hurdle...it would either net me an F (I could definitely see the not finishing scenario with where I was), or a crappy mark, because I told myself that as the time got critical, my last resort would just be to fall back on some glorified house / mansion. Boring, but it'd be something to turn in.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/112/273562139_f31c5b89c8_o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/112/273562139_f31c5b89c8_o.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Thank goodness for inspiration! However, with 2 sacrificial victims in my creepy underground temple, I was accused as being morbid and secretively an evil cultist under my peppy exterior, heh. ^^; This wasn't sudden, either--lately, I had done a few "interesting" little images. In Type, I did a bunch of doodles of voodoo dolls subjected to inhumane abuses, and on my own time a few weeks ago (I actually had time to myself!!), I painted a dying man in a dark, dark place (quickie; above left). </div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I really have no idea where these things are coming from. About a month ago, we were discussing that perhaps I may be too nice, and in defence of myself (how silly to think of it now--<i>defending</i> myself, claiming I'm not all nice?), I joked that all the negative stuff probably has an outlet somewhere in art. It wasn't true then, until suddenly it just started fulfilling itself...like by suggesting it, it was brought to life. Strange, huh?<br /></div><br />Anyhow: Entschuldigung sie bitte, aber ich bin wirklich müde. Später--ich brauche heute abend für morgen viele Schlaf! :)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-116115833656907063?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-1159855637956390472006-10-02T23:53:00.000-06:002006-10-03T00:08:19.906-06:00...it's a good sign--I'm having a blast in VC, for sure. German's fun, too. XD<br /><br />And other random things that come to mind:<br /><br />-The new Enigma album is such crap, I want to beat Cretu with a durian.<br /><br />-I absolute love the new Delerium album, <i>Nuages Du Monde</i>! I'd like to build a shrine to Bill Leeb and Rhys Fulber. ;)<br /><br />-I can't wait to see Aronofsky's upcoming film, <i>The Fountain.</i><br /><br />-I can't wait to see Tom Tykwer's upcoming film, <i>Perfume: The Story of a Murderer.</i><br /><br />-I HATE THE CLASS <b>Visualization Processes!!</b> I die a little each time Tuesday rolls around... (sigh...that's coming in several hours x_x)<br /><br />-My work quality and work speed is improving unbelievably thanks to <b>Anatomy For Illustrators.</b> How I love Mondays. =3<br /><br />-Art History is pretty easy. I'm glad I'm sticking with it, rather than dropping it right quick in anticipation of lots of pain with all my other courses.<br /><br /><br /><br />...And this one's separate because it rocks my bloody Wilson socks off:<br /><br />-I HAVE A BEAUTIFUL MP3 PLAYER!! =3 =3 =3 =3 =3 =3 etc.<br /><br />To Carol regarding the above: It's not an ipod. I love Apple still, but ipods soured on me--every 2nd person has one!! Actually, make that every 1.5 ppl have one, such is their proliferation. >_><br /><br />No, it's an LG MP3 / Video player, and it's only slightly larger than a Nano, it's a beautiful black, holds 8 GB, and has a max of 30 hours battery life, for $250!<br /><br />I'm happy. :)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-115985563795639047?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-1159238834837339902006-09-25T20:43:00.000-06:002006-09-25T21:18:10.826-06:00It's 403-467-3003. Just so either of you know, with those comments...<br /><br />Don't expect to reach me often, though. It's more for me calling other ppl, and it's off during class, which is most of my life! :P<br /><br />Also, just to say it, I've started to learn some German. No, I'm not crazy...yet. Lemme explain.<br /><br />My sis is on the last year of her Master's degree, and she plans to take off some time to travel. She insists the family must take a large trip through Europe, and kinda proposed, "Wouldn't it be nice if we each had one of the languages, too?"<br /><br />She's already doing Spanish, which is too bad for me, because it's supposed to be one of the easiest Western languages to learn (as discovered by our research). I thought about it, and just didn't want to get back into French, logical as it may be--I mean, I DO have a good basis there with several year's worth of courses in school, but UGH, I am forever soured to that language--annoying and totally inefficient (notice how many more bloody words you need to say the same thing in French vs. English, or how many more pages the French side of a manual has??), it was also for a long time the "only" 2nd language option.<br /><br />So German it is (Italian slipped my mind...I guess at the time of discussion some time ago, Europe consisted of mainly English, French, and German >_>). I also must admit that when I was watching a bunch of foreign films this summer, because I love doing that, I liked the German ones most. Besides, when I get somewhat proficient, I can kidnap a friend that speaks German (I've got several), and mangle the language with him or her. Do I know anyone who seriously speaks French? Not in a long shot.<br /><br />Anyhow, it's not a bad language. It's different, especially the pronounciation...I mean, actually, that's easy, but also not--unlike English (and bloody French with that STUPID string of silent -<i>ent</i>'s), there aren't exceptions to how letters should sound, so if I see it on a page, I can say it. It's the sounds that don't exist in English that's getting me.<br /><br />I've gotten down the ever-important, often occurring -ICH sound (sorta like, say the word "hue," and it's the very beginning of the word, the breathy part, before you actually say it...a lot of air trying to get past a narrow space at the top of your tongue). I think I've got umlauts down, too ("eyes" above the vowels a, u, o). But it's the bloody rolling r's....but not really. Not the French / Italian purrrrrr, it's like a deep, tongue-curling RUH. It sucks. <br /><br />And German makes me speak like Yoda. Their literal translations for things are waaay inverted...like, Hals und Beinbruch! (Break a leg!) -- "Neck and leg break!" o_O<br /><br />Do I really have time for this? No, but no worries. I'm accomplishing this whenever I have lapses of wasted time, like transit. >_> Or the can, lol. Whatever the hell works. :D<br /><br />I mean, <i>Warum nicht?</i><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-115923883483733990?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-1159080444692355922006-09-24T00:34:00.000-06:002006-09-24T00:47:24.703-06:00I'm having fun again at school. :)<br /><br />With the first few weeks gone and various CRAP projects out of the way (a teacher even informed us that our first, now finished project was the worst this semester, so no worries), I am feeling great!<br /><br />Yes, I'm not sleeping as often as I'd like, but I'm back on track, and my mind's on the right track again: this is what I <i>want</i>, dammit, this is what I want to <i>do</i>. It's friggin' hard: I was informed by a 3rd year that 2nd may be the hardest of them all, and we'll all at one point or another contemplate what must be the lovely peace of death; and a 4th year told us that they are <i>trying</i> to get rid of us, or at least the ones who don't truly have the heart--he cited stats they had that every year, 1-2 would drop before fee due date this month, and another 1-2 during winter break.<br /><br />I didn't believe it--I thought, man, we all worked hard to even get into the program, and to be allowed in, 1 of 60...who would quit?? And then lo and behold, the next school day, Monday, came and I find out one of my friends dropped. o_O It was simply too much for her, she said. I was so...shocked, disappointed, worried, and confused! What was she going to do? I don't what <i>I'd</i> do if I were no longer in Design.<br /><br />And then came Tuesday, and <i>another</i> person left our class. This had less effect, because it seemed no one in the class knew this person, but still, I had just recovered from my friend's departure. So already, Not even 3 weeks into the semester, and 2 people are gone, and strangely enough, only from our class--the other two blocks, A and B, are still full (though we all heard of someone in B having a breakdown in class, running out to sob and all that...but last anyone checked, that girl's still here. If anyone's to go, she's next, I bet).<br /><br />You know, I think this is doable. You just have to have the drive, determination, and killer work ethic. I think I have all three, and I am dead set on getting out of this semester successful and happy just to prove it, if only to myself.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-115908044469235592?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-1158034801423400962006-09-11T22:12:00.000-06:002006-09-11T22:20:34.580-06:00Argh.<br /><br />School has barely started (since last Wednesday), and I think I'm gonna be a goner. :(<br /><br />Having been spoiled by our first 4 month break after 1st year, it's been tough getting myself to do work. Stuff comes along...sloooooowly. And I just can't afford that, not now so early--if I fall now, I don't think I'll have the momentum to reach Winter Break with my sanity intact. It doesn't help, either, when VC students from the later years tell us 2nd year is absolutely deadly, maybe deadliest, and now here I am, with some silly resistant tug in my chest when I put myself to homework.<br /><br />Someone bloody wake me up!! >_<<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-115803480142340096?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-1157075071565695832006-08-31T19:31:00.000-06:002006-08-31T19:44:31.583-06:00So yesterday in Saskatoon, after my sister and I returned from the coin laundry at the top of her residence building, the parents and us were just preparing some final things before we headed out.<br /><br />I was fiddling with my shorts, being bored and restless and random, and rolled up the right side until it was a short ways from my hip. Standing, I proclaimed it the fashion of the future, asymmetric shorts! My left side was left unrolled, and went past my knee.<br /><br />There were hysterics and ribbing, and then as we approached the time to retrieve the laundry, my sister dares me to go out in public like that for $5. I bargain $10, so my mum says she'll put in the other $5, and the girls snicker, hoping to have a laugh at my expense.<br /><br />Not having much sense of normalcy, I did it, much to their chagrin, walking around with them while they shopped, pretending that nothing was wrong at all. XD Of course, people looked, and stared, and one older man who worked as one of those storeshop greeters was trying too secretly at looking to be secretive, and failing at killing his huge grin. When the girls kept talking about this, I just said I was glad to be spreading some joy. :)<br /><br />Ten dollars richer, I'm just regretting that they'll probably never bet me to do anything again. :(<br /><br />To conclude, I'm back in Calgary!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-115707507156569583?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-1156830892157402332006-08-28T23:53:00.000-06:002006-08-28T23:56:14.223-06:00Yep, going to Saskatoon 29th to the 31st to help my sis move back into a dorm at U Sask. 7 hour drive + restless person (me) = HELL! >_<<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-115683089215740233?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-1156147718393949332006-08-21T02:03:00.000-06:002006-08-21T02:08:38.393-06:00Right. Forgot to mention it...here since Friday last, and will be here until Saturday for a big family reunion (with people many of us hahve never even seen) that was pounced on all attendees 1 or 1 and a half months prior, so it was AMAZING the rave reviews the organizers have received, especially with the involvement of one workhorse uncle, and a small group of passionate and creative young people (it was a lot of work, trust me).<br /><br />You may have caught from this that it already happened...yup, just home from the main event, one more smaller thing tomorrow. Then, it's essentially over and this trip becomes just vacation / visiting the familiar relatives as the others have to leave. Perhaps will detail the success later. :)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-115614771839394933?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-1155800312198370632006-08-16T23:52:00.000-06:002006-08-17T16:51:11.883-06:00What a sad, sad experience. I don't care if this may be Calgary's first attempt at a Fringe festival, it was half-assed in every way, and disappointing is an understatement.<br /><br />I discourage everyone from going. It is not worth your time, unless you're into the pay to see shows, like the theater productions or films. There were a handful of very interesting-seeming stage shows, and of the one we caught, I think these things are probably your best bet, though it is not without a downside.<br /><br />Anyway, let's detail today's (mis)adventures, shall we? I invite you to read it, so maybe you too can scoff at the event vicariously, and while long, I don't think the writing is especially un-entertaining. ;)<br /><br />We arrived at good time by around 1:30 pm...and by 2 o'clock, I was giant, gaping hole of apathy--I just didn't care what we did anymore, and later, it would be accompanied by the heavy chill of despair.<br /><br />The Fringe Festival here was supposed to be all along 17th Avenue, from 6th Street, to 11th Street. Instead, it was essentially HALF A BLOODY BLOCK of 8th Street, and all the little tents were vendours out to sell something. There was no live anything, and from the map, the "food court" area consisted of ONE mini vendour selling hideously over-priced ice cream.<br /><br />We were more than a little confused and let down by this lack of street performers, so we asked the info booth. The lady told us that it usually starts at 4:00 pm (my god, what could we do until then?? We explored the half block in 5 minutes, and even went to either edge of the supposedly large festival borders in the desperate hope we missed something...nope), but she hadn't seen any performers out <i>since the Festival started anyway</i>. o_O Uhh...running the 11th to the 20th, and going today on the 16th, can you grasp just how depressing and deserving of mockery that is? In any case, we were left with an unforeseen, large chunk of time with absolutely nothing to do. So we perused the events listings we had, and figured out what we wanted to see.<br /><br />The only things available were all pay shows, and we were too late for a handful of them. So, we wandered aimlessly, and settled at a <i>playground</i> outside of Fringe, and had an unbelievably good time on the equipment (swings bring back such memories), discussing our pastimes as kids. That was a great time sink, but considering what there SHOULD have been set up for us to spend our time, it was not that great.<br /><br />So, the theater show we were keen on seeing was <i>Do You Bite Your Thumb At Me, Sir?!</i>, a crazy, entertaining romp through a great series of fight scenes in Shakespeare's various plays. It was at Epcor Centre, but the Fringe Festival thought it was so clever in renaming everything...it was "The Big Secret Theatre"; others included Cabaret, Sanctuary, The Motel, etc. The problem here is, in the "information booklet," they listed all these code names and what played where, but they failed to properly label what these venues really were, on the map or elsewhere!! C'mon people, how stupid is <i>that</i>?<br /><br />Next, all of these productions were usually $10, with some being $7 or $8, which is fine. This was listed in the booklet, and even on each event poster. Now, when we actually go to pay for the tickets, everything is more expensive!! Our show was suddenly $12 from $10, and another we were going to watch, some film festival thing was $11 from $10 listed everywhere. Not a HUGE deal, but it's still ridiculous--it wouldn't surprise me that every pay show was like that, and it's just plain FALSE ADVERTISING. Lawsuits have been born of less for the more anal, but it IS serious...what if we wanted to watch 5 shows? It just all adds up to a big rip-off, which I wouldn't feel if they labelled their prices correctly.<br /><br />To get to Epcor, there was a dedicated free shuttle running every half hour. The problem was, this shuttle was not clearly labelled, nor the location of where it stops listed ANYWHERE. What the bloody hell?! We were very regular customers to the Information Booth, and I'd bet other people there used it just as much.<br /><br />But <i>Do You Bite Your Thumb At Me, Sir?!</i> was pretty good, though I admit, probably not worth $12. There was good humour, great acting, fantastic fight sequences, and the three guys' personas were all endearing in some way, particularly Pat who I think everyone sympathized with, though the whole audience, as part of the play, was enlisted to forcefully crush his soul, heh.<br /><br />In any case, getting back from that play, it was about 7:00 pm, and by now, we figured there'd be SOME street performers out. There were a few...and they sucked worse than a Dirt Devil. This one guy, Aytahn Ross ("A gourmet fusion of theatre, comedy, and circus"), was so talentless and unfunny (he tried so hard), I seriously had to turn away sometimes out of pity. Prior to his show, he essentially did a running commentary on the passerby, trying to incite laughter ("OMG, it's a floating body riding a bike!" --the guy was wearing army camouflage pants >_>). When he started his act, the appreciation was less than enthusiastic--he juggled 1 crystal ball, then 2, then 3, then 4 crystal balls; his 5th was not even juggling, and then later, he lit a torch thing to balance on his chin (he did it twice earlier already). I'm not saying I can do any of this stuff, but that is just not very amazing. He had no stage presence, claimed to have done his stuff in 12 countries, for 2 governor generals, and "the next president." Huh? He made plenty of bad lies to be funny through the act. It was painful to watch.<br /><br />We retreated to see Body Art. It was basically 2 top-nude girls painted very cooly, doing interpretive dance to funky music. It was pretty neat for 10 minutes (but the show was to be 1 hour), and then it just kept going...they would pose, hold for about 8 seconds, and pose again, <i>sloooooowly</i>. I really appreciated the brilliant study in human anatomy with such dynamic, changing poses, but it still got dry. Then, one girl stalked about posing with the basket for donations...which is fine, the street acts run on audience support. Then later on, the other girl retrieves a net from the background and does the same. >_> There was also a fish and seahorse on the wall, and had we not left in frustration and boredom (and feeling like people were being <i>forced</i> to pay...come on, that's for the <i>end</i> of the show!), I wouldn't be surprised to learn they later took down what was really a fish purse, and unzipped the seahorse for even more money. >_< There is a point when it becomes a little desperate, girls.<br /><br />We tried to see a circus street act, but unlike all the other (bad) <br />street acts, we had to pay. We looked in. All of 2 people sat in the <br />bleachers. We left, annoyed at the fact that it was on 11th Street, <br />separated far from any other Fringe shows and performances.<br /><br />Next was our last pay show we wanted to see, at Melrose Cafe and Bar. Along the way, we caught a snippet of the most impressive street performer we saw that day, and it wasn't terribly awe-inspiring--he juggled blades, rode a unicycle, involved the audience, and had viewers toss him flaming torches to juggle (which was dangerous because they were so clueless and messed up often). But, he had great stage presence, and was entertaining, so we regretted not seeing the whole thing.<br /><br />Anyhow, the thing at Melrose was like a film screening of a series of <br />short, no doubt artsy, amusing, and impressive animations. We go, we sit, and we're checked for ID. 2 of the group didn't bring theirs, which was totally okay, but it had us wondering why it was set to show at a bar anyway. We got a refund, and decided to check out the next street performer before we left for good...<br /><br />WORST. GUY. EVER. Offensive and sucky, Jimbo was a tragic conclusion to a disappointing day. He did magic tricks that everyone's seen before--the rope thing, where a guy with a small length of rope would make it into a loop, make it into two pieces of rope, cut off ends with his fingers, etc, and the cups and balls (3 cups, 3 balls, they disappear and reappear and such). His jokes were abysmal, and audience reaction to them and his tricks were really, really low, and he made fun of it, which didn't help.<br /><br />Near the end of his act, he had a little girl up to help him, and he <br />did an insincere, unfunny plea for donations that just made you despise the guy. He suggested everyone give $5 average (you NEVER specify an amount like that--take what you get, the previous guy said he'd be <i>thrilled</i> with even a <i>dollar</i>, and was so enjoyable), and this incited some drunk dude to call out, "Oh, fuck me."<br /><br />Entertainers--I'm sure you've seen it all, and had to deal with it all. I'm sure many have performed for crowds later at night where people might be drunk, and face a few instances of heckling. If you're professional as I'm sure most entertainers out there are, you roll with the punches. You make a joke, ignore it, continue...again, you <i>roll with the punches</i>. He says, "Hey, this is a family show."<br /><br />He should have stopped there.<br /><br />I have no idea what possessed him to say the next thing, right out of the blue: "Do you know what 'fuck' means, little girl?" O_O She nods uncertainly. I forget his reaction. I was stunned. Later, he dismisses her from his performance area when she incorrectly guesses the number of balls under his hat by calling, "You're WRONG! (with a sense of mockery absolutely inappropriate for a little girl her age who cannot take such ribbing) Go back to your seat, you're a loser."<br /><br />I am NOT kidding or exaggerating here in the least; he called her a <i>loser</i>, and to me, looked pretty humiliated and upset going back into the crowd...hell, I would too! He later gives her a balloon dog and shakes her hand and says he was joking, but he had already gone too far.<br /><br />Some people in the back left, and he called out to them, "Hey, come back here, you cheap bastards!" expressing frustration that there was only 2 minutes left in the performance, and that of course they didn't want to donate. A group of 4 men left a moment later too, and he calls, "Hey come back!" When they ignore him, he pursues the matter, leering, "Did you know 1 in 4 men are gay?!"<br /><br />He deserved all the flack he got from the audience, and I had no respect for him at all when the show ended shortly after. With other performances, when people left, performers made no remark, but continued gracefully at whatever they were doing.<br /><br />Sickened, we left and headed for home. What a dismal Fringe Festival. I seriously felt hollow, bored, angry, and still in a deep despair. Our time at Calgary's Fringe Festival was largely uneventful, uninteresting, and unimpressive. Again: don't go.<br /><br />EDIT: After complaining to the appropriate people, I was informed by the director of the Festival that I surely wasn't the only one, and that he would have to speak to Jimbo to get his side of the story. I got a second e-mail later informing me that Jimbo would no longer be performing at the Fringe. Good riddance!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-115580031219837063?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-1155535176032681972006-08-13T23:08:00.000-06:002006-08-13T23:59:38.943-06:00So here goes! :) Ahem:<br /><br />DAMN YOU, BLOODY CALGARY TRANSIT!!<br /><br />I used to dislike your site as merely adequate, and being pretty ineffecient at getting the information someone might be looking for.<br /><br />Now...it's just....fan-FRIGGIN'-tastiKally USELESS! >_< What's with this new requirement of me inputting my travelling time? Why can't you just show me one of those charts you had before, that showed each stop, and the complete time the bus would show up in a typical day? Now I need to know which stop it is, too? I never knew the street locations of bleepin' bus stops, you're not a mall, not a store, not any place of interest--you're a BUS STOP! I know where you are relative to other things!<br /><br />You also used to have a simplistic page listing each bus number, and the area they serviced for the general idea of where they go. NOW, you have in place a drop down menu, so I can no longer use my browser to search something like, oh I dunno, Forest Lawn or something. So, I have to look through every number and description instead to find the right bus.<br /><br />Oh, and this was late, because it concerned the pseudo-ACADian evening we had. Lillian and I travelled together to Chianti's, and we both meticulously did the research on the routes from C-Train to bus. We compared, and we had both found the same information--everything matched.<br /><br />But that day, when we arrived...the actual bus stop DIDN'T PHYSICALLY EXIST!! We even checked the adjoining 3 streets, in the unlikely case that both are research was wrong, and we were mistaken of the location. Nope. Not a bus stop in site. As a result, we walked / half-ran to Chianti's that night, all from about 7th Ave and 3rd St or so.<br /><br />I hate you, Transit, and so I confess to feeling no remorse at cheating you at several times of a proper fare. There just isn't a word foul or strong enough in existence to describe you, but I'll try: you're like...you're like...like CILANTRO!! *puke*<br /><br />That felt good. :)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-115553517603268197?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-1155095581016587222006-08-08T21:28:00.000-06:002006-08-09T03:25:50.616-06:00Thanks to a random introduction and first session to Open Canvas from a friend a few weeks back (at like 2 am or something, no less), it's rekindled my creative spirit. So I've started to paint again--not acrylic or oil of course (what? I'll have to clean up and crap, and it dries, and I can't erase mistakes, and I actually have to MIX the colours?? etc.), but digital, in Photoshop.<br /><br />Figured I'm still not familiar with tablet painting, and it's true, only having got one this past Christmas, and finding little opportunity to use it with my Hell Semester. No reason not to try more seriously now, especially after that OC thing (thanks Cory, though I suppose the gratitude is mutual, seeing that it's got you back with painting).<br /><br />Now, it's unbelievably fun! XD<br /><br />...just not very good, haha. Eh....I'm learning, which is good enough, but looking around, I can't help but feel more than a little like a newbie! :D After some introspection, yes, I'm amused by this--I wonder sometimes when and how my exposure as a fraud will happen, lol. It's hard to get me down. :)<br /><br />Anyhow, contrary to some opinions out there, I do not, I repeat, DO NOT, draw terribly well!! True story: prior to VC 2, I was very dubious of and terrified (maybe not the right word...) of colour!! But I'll own up and admit now, to show honesty and such, that my craft is excellent, but for the last time, cutting perfectly is not going to get me anywhere in the world (that's for Diya)!! >_< And don't contest with me, dammit, I've had enough sugar-coated evaluations of where I stand. I'm not mad, just a touch annoyed. :P I'm learning though, so chalk one up for me there! BTW, I know it's late to say, but that night out with the ACADians / friends of ACADians was lots of fun! Which is a relief considering how many things went wrong with the plan....<br /><br />EDIT:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/59/210814630_b8eba5104a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/59/210814630_b8eba5104a.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />RAAAAAAAAAAWR!! Warning: crazed Alaskan <span style="font-weight: bold;">moose</span>...on the <span style="font-weight: bold;">loose </span>(classic)! Sighted in my home (omg!), attacking a model Barcelona chair. Presumed to hate all forms of interior design...<br /><br />Okay, okay, the story: friend of mine came back from a trip from Taiwan, and bought her friends souvenirs. She got me a mini, collectible model piece of influential interior design furniture, and of the 16 available, she flukily picked the ONE piece I knew--the Barcelona chair.<br /><br />I knew it because my quote project for VC required some basic researching, and "Less is more," said by architect Mies Van der Rohe, had also caused waves by designing this chair back in the day. :) I think it's pretty adorable given how mini it is, and while it certainly can't seat a person (as so <span style="font-style: italic;">insightfully </span>pointed out by Carol, hehe), I arranged a scene where it could be used by other denizens, a mini Alaskan moose brought back by my parents from a recent trip.<br /><br />Random, I know, but it amuses me. :)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-115509558101658722?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-1153786147214221752006-07-24T18:00:00.000-06:002006-07-24T18:09:07.226-06:00I don't mean I'm bored.<br /><br />I mean, how does one in our field right now, as students of design, and not particularly any stream in design (not exclusively illustration and such), find the little commissions? I don't mean, draw my characters kind of commission, but real world work--maybe a group needs an ad for a newspaper, a small business wants a cheap logo to be fashioned, someone wants a small drawing or graphic for a project or website.<br /><br />Searching, all the "I need a logo / illustration / graphic / etc" are very, <span style="font-style: italic;">very </span>serious people, from business or whatever. They want at least 2 years professional experience in the field (usually lots more), an impressive portfolio listing and showing successes with other businesses or clients, and so on.<br /><br />Obviously, I'm lacking in the above. I think maybe we all are, at this point.<br /><br />Really, how does one start? Even getting one serious project (as opposed to friends or acquaintances), would be a wonderful first step. I'm in absolutely no rush to build that list of 20 logos fashioned for middle ground businesses, or 20 advertisements for whoever, but just that <span style="font-style: italic;">one...</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-115378614721422175?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-1153117136687614812006-07-17T00:01:00.000-06:002006-07-17T00:18:56.696-06:00Yes, how dedicated of me. >_< Gosh, I'm so sorry...I'd almost forgotten about this blog, and I've seriously lost contact with some ppl!<br /><br />Here's what happened since a long time ago:<br /><br />- I can wolf whistle, successfully and loudly now! Whoopee for me! XD And it's quite dry now...no more wrinkly skin and flying spit.<br /><br />- My sister came back for a week from doing her Masters in Saskatchewan. Good times and fun, indeed, and I spent as much time with her as I could.<br /><br />- Started my Art History 120 summer class. In fact, I'm studying for its midterm as we speak. I think I'm pretty good with everything...<br /><br />- <span style="font-weight: bold;">Got my schedule for the Fall semester! </span>For any of the ACAD fellow friends who check here anymore (don't blame you if you've stopped either...my fault entirely)...anyhow, I'm in <span style="font-weight: bold;">BLOCK C!!</span> Are you??<br /><br />- Between starting courses and such, I've gone through a lot of TV series, when I had the time to do so. See, I normally don't watch TV (don't have the time to during school), but with a 4 month break and the miracle of downloading... ;) Anyhow, went through <span style="font-style: italic;">Prison Break </span>(best show ever), <span style="font-style: italic;">Supernatural </span>(interesting in an X-filesy way), and almost all of <span style="font-style: italic;">Scrubs </span>(the only sitcom I can stand for an extended period of time).<br /><br />-----<br /><br />ANYHOW, I'm actually going to be seeing ppl again (more) as soon as my midterm is over. Because anyone who's wanted to see me, I've told to talk to me about it after Tuesday anyway. :)<br /><br />And JODIE, I promise, I'm so giving you a call that week. We need to talk. And meet, FOR REAL! Really, really.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-115311713668761481?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-1150356173090467352006-06-15T01:15:00.000-06:002006-06-17T23:59:40.036-06:00You read right...I'm doing it!<br /><br />Or at least, I'm trying to, with very sad results.<br /><br />I speak of course about "wolf whistling," that shrill sound the rare freak can produce by jamming fingers into his or her mouth and blowing. You know, the one you can hear a mile away.<br /><br />So, there are actually instructions on this, rather than proof that these people are genetically gifted. ;) Just Google the term, and it should be the first page.<br /><br />Why am I doing this? Because it amuses me. And because, I want to be one of those rare freaks, lol. Well...and I've always wanted to. Who hasn't ever seen a brilliant live performance of something, and someone whistles their appreciation, while everyone just roars and claps? You think, damn, I wish I could do that, cuts right through the normal cheers like...you know.<br /><br />At this point, though, I doubt I can ever master it, as all I'm getting is flying spit, and very wet fingers! Apparently, it can take people days to years...years is not an option. I'll either get it or give up, I know it!<br /><br />Wish me luck. It's a mission with an unlikely success rate I'm embarking on...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">EDIT: (June 17, 11:51 pm)</span><br /><br />I've been semi-successful in this "weird" pursuit! XD As of right now, I've hit the "sweet spot" several times, and I'm guessing I can do it about 50-60% of the time every time I stick my fingers into my mouth, lol.<br /><br />What I need to work on is consistency (obviously), length (it's somewhat shorter), and a little volume--it's louder than I can whistle normally, but dammit, it needs to be LOUD! :P I'm thinking this is very doable, now that I pretty much know what to do and how to do it.<br /><br />I'm proud. You should be, too. ;)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-115035617309046735?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-1149572760514787302006-06-05T23:34:00.000-06:002006-06-05T23:47:07.963-06:00...I've just been busy. XD<br /><br />One thing taking a good chunk of time...<span style="font-style: italic;">Prison Break</span>! Carol, how could you? You've got me hooked on another crack-fuelled show, me AND mum (and likely my sister and brother, too, in the future). Is this payback for giving you the LSD that is <span style="font-style: italic;">Lost</span>, back we were still in school? ;)<br /><br />And in conjunction with my Poor Flames post, here's the Poor Oilers moment: damn, there goes your chances. :P While I didn't cheer you on the bandwagon, I wouldn't have minded if you won the Cup...I'm not much of an "us and them" kinda person, as I don't bash the team either. But hey, for a Canadian hope for the Cup, you were really promising!<br /><br />And then comes today. I can't begin to imagine how devastating it must have been for the guys. To injure your goalie at such a pivotal moment, the start of the final series no less...you have my sympathies, and I doubt I'll be watching the inevitable crash and burn out of respect knowing you could have done so much better...<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-114957276051478730?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-1148169506941762782006-05-20T17:55:00.000-06:002006-05-20T17:58:26.953-06:00It was the hardest letter I've ever had to open.<br /><br /> In fact, I decided to eat instead, and read the paper, and then scrub toilets even, and then do the laundry before it just drove me crazier instead.<br /><br /> So I opened the letter afterwards, with something alcoholic close at hand.<br /><br /> Only to find out that...I'VE BEEN ACCEPTED INTO ACAD'S 2ND YEAR DESIGN PROGRAM!!! I need a new word--there's no word in existence to describe the relief I feel! I'm so ... so ...... <i>something! </i>=3<br /><br />Hot damn! 1 of 60 people, a dream come true, the way to my future opened. Gosh, now I only hope all my friends who also applied to VC to make it!<br /><br />There was so much pressure from friends and peers expecting nothing less than my acceptance that it made me beyond anxious. But it's all good now...no, <i>beyond</i> good! Again, I need a new word for this, but I'm going to shut up now. Still too addled for the moment to do much else!<br /><br />XD <3 =3 XD <3 =3 XD <3 =3 etc etc etc!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-114816950694176278?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-1146720825115875252006-05-03T23:27:00.000-06:002006-05-03T23:33:45.126-06:00We had so many great chances in-game, and in-series (I speak of course of the 6th game). So essentially, they had two chances to put it away, so it's disappointed to be knocked out so early. And who didn't want an Edmonton / Calgary series?? Damn, that woulda been sweet.<br /><br />But no sour grapes: though highly sucky to have lost, I admit to having been frustrated on more than one occasion on the way we played. The players often seemed unmotivated, making horrible passes, giving the puck away ridiculously, and watching their powerplay opportunities fizzle sometimes to no shots at all. So, I was relieved they made it as far as they did, and of course hoped against hope they would get their act together and totally own. XD<br /><br />Well, didn't happen, but let's hope it'll be a hard lesson learned to shape up, whoever's around for the next season.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-114672082511587525?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-1146005426506686502006-04-25T16:16:00.000-06:002006-04-25T16:50:26.516-06:00!%&(*@<br /><br />Stupid, STUPID (fellow, grudgingly) students!<br /><br />Why, why, why?? You showed great interest when it was just an idea--just a, "sign here if you would like these courses to run JUST THIS ONCE in the spring." Theoretical, nothing assured, yet you said with your signature, "YES! This would be great, and save me much sleepless nights next year."<br /><br />Come time to actually register...SEVEN people follow through (a sad THREE for another of the courses), and that includes me, who never even saw those signature sheets. Especially pathetic are you, you ungrateful graduating photography students, who wanted these to get a Design Bachelor's rather than a potentially dead-end BFA: you personally requested these so you could do this, and now you've let it fall through.<br /><br />You short-sighted, instant-gratification, dimwitted students. Many of you don't even plan to work, just plan to have an extended slack off summer, but oh no, that would've been two days a week, for two months of your FOUR month break of extra school? And some homework with no other courses to worry about? Scary!<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />You short-sighted, instant-gratification, dimwitted students: </span>didn't you get my mass student e-mail?? Make it into VC next year, and you'll have to take them anyway. Next year, when in second semester, you have to take FIVE Design studios, where THREE in first year at the same time is already killer. Are you daft? It would've meant a much needed extra day off, more time for the other FOUR studio's projects, where you'll be up working until you have to show up for tomorrow's class, and go home that evening and stay up until you're expected to show for the NEXT day's class.<br /><br />You'll be moaning and cursing and bitching throughout, and you'll wonder, why didn't I take one in the spring? And then I'll just roll my red-shot, bleary eyes at you, resist a sudden homicidal urge, and keep on working, scolding myself for having taken the 15 seconds to acknowledge your worthlessness.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-114600542650668650?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-1144463613348629562006-04-07T20:24:00.000-06:002006-04-07T20:33:33.366-06:00I can't believe it. This hellish (but still enjoyable--school's just fun nowadays!) semester is nearly at an end--I have my final VC 1 project, my final VC 2 project, the Humanities final is in 2 weeks, and Design Drawing is running out of material to dump upon me! :)<br /><br />It doesn't really matter that my Spring course starts May 3rd, 4 pm - 10 pm, and then once again Saturday 9 am - 4 pm until the end of June. Because, this will actually be manageable. And, described by Elaine as "a continuation of VC 1," I really can't wait--truth be told, despite all of 1st semmy's horror stories, VC 1 has been my most interesting, satisfying class. XD I really don't get all the negativity it gets. It's really not THAT bad!<br /><br />With everything so close to completion, there's just one last thing that's scaring the total crap out of me and practically everyone in a similar position: DESIGN PORTFOLIO, <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit! >_<</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-114446361334862956?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-1142287866684959412006-03-13T15:06:00.000-07:002006-03-13T23:02:40.483-07:00Isn't a birthday just one less year to live? :P<br /><br />I'd like to stay here forever, heh. As soon as I hit 20, there's no going back--what's that, there'll be a <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">2 </span></span>in front of my age soon?? Nah...really, it's not very old at all.<br /><br />Anyhow, it'll be the most uneventful b-day ever in my experience. This time, I just can't afford the time to celebrate. Well, I <span style="font-style: italic;">could</span>, but it'd mean more sleepless homework time. I'd just rather not!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">EDIT: </span>hey, coolness. So my mom tells me that today is not only my birthday according to the standard solar calendar we're all familiar with, but it's ALSO the case in the traditional Chinese lunar calendar. Due to the moon being entirely different (lol), these overlaps rarely ever occur--in fact, this happens to people every 19 years. And it just so happens, I'm 19 years old! o_O<br /><br />Before you scoff and say, well, that means it happens to everyone at age 19, not so! Obviously, it could have happened to me at say, age 5, and then 19 years later once again. So I was born just when the cycle renewed.<br /><br />This piece of random info was brought to you by me! :)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-114228786668495941?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-1141949669635135992006-03-09T17:07:00.000-07:002006-03-09T17:15:15.233-07:00For people who love and have seen a lot of the iconic movies of this world (and even if you don't but have seen just a few of these), you must check this site out: <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><a href="http://www.angryalien.com/"><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" ><strong><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The 30-Second Bunnies Theatre Library</span></strong></strong></span></span></a></span> , by Angry Alien Productions.<br /><br />As the site so concisely explains, they're cartoon bunnies in 30 second "spoofs" (more like tongue-in-cheek, but accurate, summaries) of famous movies. I wouldn't really recommend spoiling yourself for films you want to see but haven't yet, but it's up to you. :P Some movies, like Highlander, which I barely remember at all, is now hilarious on this site, because it's so random when you don't understand the plot anymore.<br /><br />By the way, the Star Wars reenactment is of episode 4, or so I am told! ;)<br /><a href="http://www.angryalien.com/"><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><strong><strong></strong></strong></span></span></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-114194966963513599?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-1141625509024134462006-03-05T23:07:00.000-07:002006-03-06T16:35:22.236-07:00<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I'm a little sickened right now.<br /><br />You know, back maybe in January, before the barrage of various awards shows, I was convinced Crash would win BP at the Oscars--not because I wanted it to, but I was (cynically) convinced that overriding homophobia and several rumoured movements by the Academy members would give BBM short change.<br /><br />But as we progressed into March, I was convinced with a new optimism--BBM by then had won practically every BP in all other major awards. Pundits everywhere predicted its victory, and I began to disbelieve the horrible allegations that perhaps African American Academy voters banded to give Crash the ultimate prize for its racial message; I even began to doubt Tony Curtis's assertion that he, and many other older members would not even see BBM, never mind give it their vote, due to moral reasons. There was proof and evidence everywhere--members overlapped between each society, writers, directors, and producers guilds, whatever, all these other organizations recognized Brokeback as tops--so, it was pretty much given that they'd likely vote the same way.<br /><br />Imagine my shock and horror when Crash won. The negative little ideas all resurfaced in my mind--truly there must be a mistake! Surely those rumoured movements, immature and spiteful at best in their goal to put Crash up top (a notable, but in no ways a good or great film), cannot be real! I trusted in the intelligence of people to award artistry and excellence in film, not purely entertaining, pandering fluff like Crash.<br /><br />Again: I am shocked. We've just witnessed the most controversial upset ever in Oscar history. And it has completely shattered my general respect for the Academy. I don't think we'll hear the end of this soon, and frankly, I'm embarrassed for Hollywood--I believe people the world over are just as surprised, and this just shows how tasteless America can be compared to international and foreign press.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">EDIT: </span>An amusing tidbit amidst the continuing storm of debate today...Google the sentence, </span><span style="color:#000000;">I'm so glad Crash won, and see what the top says about, "Did you mean?" XD<br /> </span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-114162550902413446?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-1141172388167182342006-02-28T17:17:00.000-07:002006-02-28T17:19:48.176-07:00ACAD just got $500 000 from a private donation by a couple from Texas (the Marions) who has long supported the college. Awesome stuff...and it may be matched by the government as well! :)<br /><br />Heh, hope some of it goes to improving the building. Seriously...for what is supposedly a great school (which I don't contest, really), we need a bit refurbishing...<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-114117238816718234?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-1140679052248624602006-02-23T00:11:00.000-07:002006-02-23T00:45:47.693-07:00Well, I think the first time went well. :)<br /><br />With that behind us, don't forget to watch the Awards March 5th! Well, if you can, that is. Some of ya are in claustrophobic dorm rooms, likely without access to your own mini TV. And forget the common areas...ppl all want to watch like...the OC or something, eh? >_><br /><br />I hope you all enjoyed it, and that you've all got a better picture of this year's films! Could this be the dawn of a new annual tradition??<br /><br />And take a look at these hilarious things that's been making the rounds!<br /><br /><a href="http://destinationdaniel.smugmug.com/gallery/1213678/1/56771253">Brokeback Lego</a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nECtez3RUs&amp;search=brokeback">Leno's Trailer</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-114067905224862460?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-1140250492430854962006-02-18T01:12:00.000-07:002006-02-18T01:14:52.430-07:00Well, I've watched this year's batch of Oscar-nominated Best Pictures, and have fully reviewed them in my posts along with my predictions for wins.<br /><br />It was fun, and of course, entertaining. Bring on the awards. I can't wait to see how things unfold!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-114025049243085496?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-1140229494601289172006-02-17T19:24:00.000-07:002006-02-23T01:31:42.540-07:00<p class="MsoNormal" style="">Ever since I started the pursuit of watching every Oscar nominated best picture last year (well...I still have to catch <i>Ray</i> sometime from '05), I have been endlessly astounded by the joys of profound, well-crafted drama. :) It's given me a new appreciation of film, especially when the fare is typically stuff I wouldn't watch out of personal interest--none of that "WhoalookscoolIwannawatchit!" silliness--but the Best Picture label would obligate me to watch it, in accordance to my objective. Its expanded my horizons, and so I couldn't wait for this year's nominations! Well, they're out, and here I am, discussing the categories I have an inkling of credible thought (arguable, of course) about, and reviewing what I have seen. First, the nominees I'll consider:<o:p></o:p></p> <u1:p></u1:p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">my pick</span></b><br /><span style="color:black;">** who SHOULD win</span><br /><span style="color:black;">(movie I haven't seen)</span><o:p></o:p></p> <u2:p></u2:p><u1:p></u1:p> <p class="maintext" style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: center;" align="center"><u2:p></u2:p><st1:place><st1:placename><b>Best</b></st1:placename> <b><st1:placename></st1:placename>Picture</b></st1:place><br /><b><st1:placename><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Brokeback</span></st1:placename> <st1:placetype style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Mountain</st1:placetype></b><i><br />Capote<br />Crash<br />Good Night, and Good Luck<br /></i><st1:city><st1:place><st1:city><st1:place></st1:place><st1:city></st1:city><st1:place>Munich</st1:place></st1:city><o:p></o:p></st1:place></st1:city></p> <u2:p></u2:p><u1:p></u1:p> <p class="maintext" style="margin-top: 0cm;"><i>Brokeback </i>should win this: it is hands-down the best of them all--understated, poignant, moving, showered with praise, and except for <i>Crash</i>, it's earned the most money. I know $$ does not of course mean a win, but this is truly the year of independent, low-budget films: I can't name any Best Pic win that didn't have some sort of clout at the box office. Besides, <i>Crash</i> has long ended its run in theaters in September, while <i>Brokeback</i>, only about $2 million behind it, is still enjoying its huge wave of unanticipated success in wide-release (<b>update: </b>at this point, <i>Brokeback Mountain </i>has surpassed <i>Crash</i> in the box office, and is estimated even to reach $100 million without counting overseas performance by the time of the Oscars). <i>Capote</i> is good, but very cold and predictable even if you didn't know about Truman Capote, and <st1:city><st1:place><i><st1:city><st1:place></st1:place><st1:city></st1:city><st1:place></st1:place>Munich</st1:city></i></st1:place></st1:city> was just...well, I'm posting my reviews of these 3 films following this Oscars update.<i><u2:p></u2:p> </i>To say the least, <i>Brokeback </i>just has the advantage of being the most memorable film--it stays with you long after the credits.<o:p></o:p></p> <u1:p></u1:p> <p class="maintext" style="margin-top: 0cm;">One other thing: I'm disappointed <i>The Constant Gardener</i> didn't get nominated here, as it did at the Golden Globes. I thought it was a terrific film, and I watched it under the assumption it would make it here as well. Well, it didn't, but I don't have any regrets at having taken the time...it was, again, wonderful.<br /><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <u1:p></u1:p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center;" align="center"><b><u2:p></u2:p>Best Animated Film</b><br /><i>Howl's Moving Castle</i><br /><i>(Corpse Bride)</i><br /><b><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Wallace & Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit</span></b><o:p></o:p></p> <u2:p></u2:p><u1:p></u1:p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><i>Howl's <st1:place></st1:place><st1:placename>Moving</st1:placename> <st1:placetype>Castle</st1:placetype></i> was okay. It was slow, and in no way measures up to <st1:city><st1:place><st1:city><st1:place></st1:place><st1:city></st1:city><st1:place>Miyazaki</st1:place></st1:city></st1:place></st1:city>'s superior effort in <i>Spirited Away</i> in terms of story, and I think, animation. <i>Corpse Bride</i> I've heard some disappointing gripes about, but that's no basis for anything, so I'll shut up! Anyhow, <i>Wallace & Gromit</i> was charming, clever, funny, and it leaves a good feeling long after the screen has faded to black. The claymation was also excellent, if perhaps rougher (but it's a style!) than <i>Corpse Bride's</i> look.<br /><u1:p></u1:p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center;" align="center"><b><br />Best Director</b><br /><b><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Ang Lee, </span></b><st1:place><st1:placename><b style=""><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><st1:place style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><st1:placename></st1:placename><st1:place></st1:place><st1:placename></st1:placename>Brokeback</st1:place></span></b></st1:placename><b style=""><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"></span></b></st1:place><b style=""> </b><st1:placetype><b style=""><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><st1:placetype><st1:placetype>Mountain</st1:placetype></st1:placetype></span></b></st1:placetype><br /><i>Bennett Miller, Capote</i><br /><i>Paul Haggis, Crash</i><br /><i>George Clooney, Good Night, and Good Luck</i><br /><i>Steven Spielberg, </i><st1:city><st1:place><i><st1:city><st1:place></st1:place><st1:city></st1:city><st1:place></st1:place>Munich</st1:city></i></st1:place></st1:city><o:p></o:p></p> <u2:p></u2:p><u1:p></u1:p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="">Interesting fact: this is the first time since ’81 that all the films here are also directly represented in the Best Picture category!<o:p></o:p></p> <u1:p></u1:p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><u2:p></u2:p>Anyway…the favourite of this category is definitely Ang Lee. Ignoring the actual film he directed, I think they'd give it to him just because he didn't get it for <i>Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon</i>. I dunno, I've noticed the Academy do this often--nominate something outstanding that's understood to be the favourite in a category (as Crouching Tiger was, that year), and when the favourite is upset...it seems at least he or she gets a foot in the door, or gets an IOU ticket. Bennett Miller for <i>Capote</i> is too much a newcomer, though he did an adequate job, and not everything Steven Spielberg directs is gold--<st1:city><st1:place><i><st1:city><st1:place></st1:place><st1:city></st1:city><st1:place></st1:place>Munich</st1:city></i></st1:place></st1:city> is decent in its own way, but in no way gold. And despite praise for Clooney, I appreciated his movie far too little to notice anything groundbreaking or worthy of attention to his direction of <i>Good Night, and Good Luck</i>. I think Paul Haggis did a decent job with <span style="font-style: italic;">Crash</span>, but it felt too...look he was really hoping and going for a reaction. Heavy-handed, I guess you could say. Going back to <i>Brokeback</i>, I really doubt another director could've done the job Lee did to make this movie such a narrative and emotional success--in other hands, it certainly could have turned out as nothing more than the "gay cowboy movie." The movie required subtlety, sensitivity, and attention to detail, an artistic eye, and this guy has it all.<o:p></o:p></p> <u1:p></u1:p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center;" align="center"><b>Best Actor</b><br /><b><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Philip Seymour-Hoffman, Capote</span></b><br /><i>(Terrence Howard, Hustle & Flow)</i><br /><i>Heath Ledger, </i><st1:place><st1:placename><i><st1:place><st1:placename></st1:placename><st1:place></st1:place><st1:placename></st1:placename>Brokeback</st1:place></i></st1:placename></st1:place> <i> </i><st1:placetype style="font-style: italic;"><st1:placetype><st1:placetype>Mountain</st1:placetype></st1:placetype></st1:placetype><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>**<br /><i>(Joaquin Phoenix, Walk The Line)</i><br /><i>David Straithairn, Good Night, and Good Luck</i><o:p></o:p></p> <u2:p></u2:p><u1:p></u1:p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">I cannot deny that Hoffman turned in a brilliant performance as Truman Capote--he was so in character, and so very different from his usual self to portray the author. Really, he's the reason the movie held together so well--otherwise, it would have been far less interesting, as the film is essentially just a lot of talking, and verbal manipulation. For this reason, I don't think <i>Capote</i> can win Best Picture based on one actor alone.<br /><br />However, when Hoffman takes his golden statue, I'll feel cheated for Heath Ledger. Not just out of personal bias that <i>Brokeback</i> is the better film, understand: because <i>Capote</i> is based on the real-life figure, it...I dunno, sorta lessens the performance for me. Researching his mannerisms would be far easier (archival footage, talking to his still living connections, etc), and then it'd just be a matter of time for any above average actor to impersonate him convincingly. Ditto for Joaquin Phoenix's depiction of Johnny Cash (and even David Straithairn’s depiction of newscaster Murrow)--I'm sure he was as outstanding as everyone says, but again, a non-fictional character.<br /><br />In contrast, Ledger's character, Ennis del Mar, is a walking, pent-up enigma of repressed feeling, fictional, and yet by the end of the film, I was convinced he existed. With <i>Capote</i>, I already <i>knew </i>he existed. Furthermore, Ledger's performance is unspeakably brave (what straight actor would not feel compromised with what <i><st1:place></st1:place><st1:placename>Brokeback</st1:placename> <st1:placetype>Mountain</st1:placetype></i> required of its male leads?), and most impressive of all, genuine. I mean, need I mention the flop <i>Alexander</i>? Now <i>there's</i> a character whose homosexuality/bisexuality was pathetically portrayed (by Colin Farrell).<br /><br />Anyway, Ledger's too young, which is a stupid reason, really, but it certainly seems to hold some weight at the Oscars.<o:p></o:p></p> <u1:p></u1:p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center;" align="center"><b>Best Supporting Actress</b><br /><i>(Amy Adams, Junebug)</i><br /><i>Catherine Keener, Capote</i><br /><i>(Frances McDormand, </i><st1:place><i><st1:place><st1:place></st1:place>North Country</st1:place></i></st1:place><i>)</i><br /><b><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Rachel Weisz, The Constant Gardener</span></b><br /><i>Michelle Williams, </i><st1:place><st1:placename><i><st1:place><st1:placename></st1:placename><st1:place></st1:place><st1:placename></st1:placename>Brokeback</st1:place></i></st1:placename></st1:place> <i> </i><st1:placetype style="font-style: italic;"><st1:placetype><st1:placetype>Mountain</st1:placetype></st1:placetype></st1:placetype> <o:p></o:p></p> <u1:p></u1:p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><u2:p></u2:p>Catherine Keener's Harper Lee in <i>Capote</i> is a wonderful character, the grounded, moral centre of Truman. However, she's largely useless in the movie despite these characteristics, and has little effect anyway on Capote, and partway through seems to disappear. Michelle Williams plays the achingly sympathetic Alma who just wants to be loved, and her performance blew me away with the force and honesty she did it with. But Rachel Weisz was outstanding in <i>The Constant Gardener</i>, which I didn't expect because she was dead so soon (so it's not really a spoiler). Whenever she was onscreen (in before death scenes, obviously), she exuded charm, but also possessed a deep, shady sophistication--it was thrilling to learn more and more about her character as the plot unfolded. While less emotionally outstanding when compared to Williams's performance, I think Weisz has the advantage of a more dynamic character.<o:p></o:p></p> <u1:p></u1:p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center;" align="center"><b>Best Supporting Actor</b><br /><i>(George Clooney, Syriana)</i><br /><i>Matt Dillon, Crash</i><br /><b><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">(Paul Giamatti, Cinderella Man)</span></b><br /><i><span style="color:black;">Jake Gyllenhaal, </span></i><st1:place><st1:placename><span style="color:black;"><st1:place><st1:placename></st1:placename><st1:place></st1:place><st1:placename></st1:placename><span style="font-style: italic;">Brokeback</span></st1:place></span></st1:placename></st1:place><i style="font-style: italic;"> </i><st1:placetype style="font-style: italic;"><st1:placetype><st1:placetype>Mountain</st1:placetype></st1:placetype></st1:placetype><i> **</i><br /><i>(William Hurt, A History of Violence)</i><o:p></o:p></p> <u2:p></u2:p><u1:p></u1:p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">I don't know much here at all, as evidenced by all the brackets... >_> I do know, however, that Giamatti, nominated for last year's pleasant <i>Sideways</i>, was shafted. And, like Ang Lee in the year of <i>Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon</i>, receives some special consideration. Plus, he did win the Golden Globe award here in an upset to practically everyone else, so it seems he has more than brownie points going for him. If it really does happen like this, it'll be such a shame for Jake Gyllenhaal of <st1:place><st1:placename><i><st1:place><st1:placename></st1:placename><st1:place></st1:place><st1:placename></st1:placename>Brokeback</st1:place></i></st1:placename></st1:place> <i> </i><st1:placetype><i><st1:placetype><st1:placetype></st1:placetype>Mountain</st1:placetype></i></st1:placetype>. Of the other supporting actors here, I'm willing to bet he had the most screen time--I didn't even see him as a supporting actor, but viewed <i>Brokeback</i> as if it had two male leads. The lives of both Ennis and Jack are given a lot of consideration, with a slight emphasis on Ledger's character. Screen time aside, with his importance to the plot, you better believe Jake did an outstanding job--he was just as believable in his role as Ledger. But again, the major thing going against him is his age. Rarely does the Academy honour 20-somethings (only Adrien Brody broke through as Best Actor in <i>The Pianist</i>), which is unfair to all the outstanding young actors and actresses out there.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">Regarding Matt Dillon's portrayal of a racist cop in <span style="font-style: italic;">Crash, </span>I thought he was decent, but it's way too easy to play such an ass. His epiphany in-film was also a touch...uh, too perfect, too optimistic, and far too hasty. In other words, unbelievable, and too obviously meant to be inspiring. All in all, a typical, low difficulty "bad" guy who finds redemption.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Update: </span>wow, I don't know what to think anymore. Jake has just taken Best Supporting Actor in the BAFTAs, and you could see it surprised him as much as it suprised us! Kudos to the BAFTAs for not being afraid of honouring the young but deserving!<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">So what does this mean? Could this possibly influence a win at the Oscars this late? Sadly, I'm thinking no. Most of the ballots are in by now, and people have to remember, the nominations were slightly different for this category in the Brit awards. George Clooney got TWO nods for his supporting roles in <span style="font-style: italic;">Good Night, and Good Luck</span>, and <span style="font-style: italic;">Syriana</span>; similarly, <span style="font-style: italic;">Crash </span>supporting actors Don Cheadle and Matt Dillon were also nominated. <span style="font-style: italic;">Crash </span>was too much an ensemble movie to highlight any one best supporter, but Clooney could have easily taken it. Lonely and unexpectant was Gyllenhaal, but he got it, BUT he's wasn't against this batch, especially Golden Globe winner Paul Giamatti, and as I said, the Academy owes him.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">If Jake wins the Oscar, though, I'll shut up--it will be the ONE thing the Academy can do that'll destroy my cynicism that they award sometimes not the better performance, but for a previous snub.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b><u2:p></u2:p>Best Original Score</b><br /><i>Brokeback Mountain</i><br /><b><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">The Constant Gardener</span></b><br /><i>(Memoirs Of A Geisha)</i><br /><st1:city><st1:place><st1:city><st1:place></st1:place><st1:city></st1:city><st1:place>Munich</st1:place></st1:city><br /></st1:place></st1:city><i>(Pride & Prejudice )<br /><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /><!--[endif]--></i><o:p></o:p></p> <u1:p></u1:p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><u2:p></u2:p>This is personal opinion only, but while <st1:place><st1:placename><i><st1:place><st1:placename></st1:placename><st1:place></st1:place><st1:placename></st1:placename>Brokeback</st1:place></i></st1:placename></st1:place> <i> </i><st1:placetype><i><st1:placetype><st1:placetype></st1:placetype>Mountain</st1:placetype></i></st1:placetype> had a stirring, lovely (in a melancholic way) score that never fails to bring back some of the movie's sadness, much of it is too country. I’ll admit it effectively stirs the emotions, but I just don't take to that musical genre, although some of the songs were pretty listenable (but they're short in-film). And <st1:city><st1:place><i><st1:city><st1:place></st1:place><st1:city></st1:city><st1:place></st1:place>Munich</st1:city></i></st1:place></st1:city>? That movie had <i>music?</i> Really, people were so fixated on the violence (and in several cases, too disinterested) to notice the score at all. But I bet it would've sounded...heavy, and full of tension. Meh. Now, <i>The Constant Gardener</i> had a score with cultural flavour! I loved the African beats, the tribal singing, the soaring, soulful, wordless voices. At times dark, sad, but always inspired (and inspiring), it really fit the film well, and was easy on the ears.<o:p></o:p></p> <u1:p></u1:p> <div style="text-align: center;">---------<br /></div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="">So, I was hoping to cheer on both <st1:place><st1:placename><st1:place><st1:placename></st1:placename><st1:place></st1:place><st1:placename style="font-style: italic;">Brokeback</st1:placename></st1:place></st1:placename><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><st1:placetype style="font-style: italic;"><st1:placetype><st1:placetype>Mountain</st1:placetype></st1:placetype></st1:placetype></st1:place> and <span style="font-style: italic;">The Constant Gardener</span> come Oscar night, but sadly, <span style="font-style: italic;">Gardener </span>is left out of many significant categories. Oh well...it'll pretty much sweep the heavily UK-biased BAFTAs, or at least, that's the thought! :)<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-weight: bold;">Update: </span>What a shocker! <span style="font-style: italic;">The Constant Gardener </span>bombed at the BAFTAs, despite leading in nominations, and leading in expectations. This is good and bad: it pissed off some purist Brits, of course, but it's absolutely refreshing to know (and show) that the BAFTAs are now capable of looking beyond national boundaries to award the films most deserving, so even more kudos to them!<br /><o:p></o:p></p> <u1:p></u1:p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="">That’s my Academy Awards post for now… following this are the reviews for <i><st1:place></st1:place><st1:placename>Good Night, and Good Luck</st1:placename></i>, <i>Brokeback <st1:placetype>Mountain</st1:placetype></i>, <i>Capote</i>, and <i><st1:city></st1:city><st1:place>Munich</st1:place></i>, soon, <i>Crash</i>. Whenever I get around to that, I’ll update this and anything else I may have to add in terms of comments and considerations to the winners in my certain categories. Heck, you never know, <i>Crash</i> may even change my picks, who knows? ;)<o:p></o:p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-114022949460128917?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-1140225657451252032006-02-17T18:09:00.000-07:002006-02-18T01:05:52.753-07:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Crash<br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Entertaining melodrama blindly plunges forward</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2104/1596/1600/3.5.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2104/1596/320/3.5.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a></div>__________<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">In terms of entertainment value, I'm torn between wondering whether <span style="font-style: italic;">Crash </span>or <span style="font-style: italic;">Capote </span>was more entertaining. <span style="font-style: italic;">Capote </span>has the advantage of really engaging me more fully, as I strove to pay attention to the finer details and the deeper layers built by character interaction; <span style="font-style: italic;">Crash, </span>however, was more full of action (although often gratuitous), and is completely shallow, engaging only my basest need for something exciting or dramatic. To make matters worse, both quickly faded after the credits started rolling--neither had huge impact or effect, so what best to put a rating on?<br /><br />I decided it would have to be the acting, and more importantly, the plot. <span style="font-style: italic;">Crash </span>has a huge ensemble cast that does do a fair job (worthy of the Screen Actor's Guild award? No...that was the result of great lobbying, and making sure everyone voting had a DVD), but each role requires no particular tact, subtlety, or mastery--every character is borderline angry, and prone to make mountains out of mole hills. Meaning, anyone could have sufficiently performed these characters. All it took was often a raised voice, a derisive look, and all the necessary grit to occasionally spout a string of profanities or something racially hurtful. The characters were flat--you could easily categorize each with one adjective, be it frustrated, desperate, abused, or whatever. I was put off by the lack of subtlety in anything.<br /><br />Plot-wise, there is not much to say. There is no real plot, actually--<span style="font-style: italic;">Crash </span>is just the interconnected stories of a large cast of people in a day or two in LA. With this premise, it is sometimes ridiculous how serendipitous events unfolded. Because the story is about how all these people in some shape or form meet or clash, it often felt manipulated to do so. Come on, what are the chances of say, Dillon's cop character meeting the same African American woman like <span style="font-style: italic;">that</span>? LA's huge! But as I said, this film is all enjoyment--it's junk food, satisfying, but they're empty calories: suspension of belief is a must.<br /><br />I also found <span style="font-style: italic;">Crash </span>to be sort of hypocritical. For a film that I imagine is hoping to bring forward the issue of race relations, they play up a ton of negative stereotypes, so I can only imagine how firmly these perceived racial characteristics are further reinforced. If you weren't convinced that most Asians are illegally smuggled into North America, or that they're obnoxious and loud, or that Mexicans can't drive, or that black people are all gangsters, or that white people are all greedy or snobby, you'll be convinced by the end of this film. Not the greatest thing, to say the least.<br /><br />But, I cannot deny this film's appeal. Stepping back like this, I can more easily see its many faults, but to a more general, mass audience, the manipulation will work its wonders. With blatant overacting, emotion that clubs you over the head, and enough hateful dialogue to numb you, <span style="font-style: italic;">Crash </span>is blind, shallow entertainment that we all appreciate once in a while, but never seem to recall.<br /><br /></div> __________<br /><br /><b>Good Night, and Good Luck<br /></b><o:p></o:p><br /></div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center;" align="center"><i>Time better spent watching paint dry</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center;" align="center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2104/1596/1600/0.5.1.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2104/1596/320/0.5.1.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2104/1596/1600/0.5.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="75" preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"> </v:formulas> <v:path extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" connecttype="rect"> <o:lock ext="edit" aspectratio="t"> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2104/1596/1600/0.5.gif" style="'width:48pt;" button="t"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Natrix\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image001.gif" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2104/1596/320/0.5.gif"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--></span></a>__________<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">While Brokeback is understood to be the most probable receiver of the Academy's Best Picture pick, <i>Good Night and Good Luck</i> is the 2nd place resounding favourite among critics who wistfully think it deserves the top prize. This made me curious, and besides, as mentioned earlier, I'm to see each nominated film anyway.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:black;">Having seen this now, I just don't understand the fuss! The only thing that prevents this flick from getting a zero star rating is </span>David Straithairn's performance of the Murrow character, whose pioneering, relentless-in-a-calm-and-patient-and-honest way news reporter was <i>periodically</i> riveting. <span style="color:black;">Call me artless, but this movie was so dry! It was visually uninteresting, slow, uninvolving, and anti-climatic. In short, it was not entertaining. Now, that sounds pretty childish, but hold on...how can movies expect to forward any sort of issue to the audience, make them care about free speech or whatever, if it is not first and foremost engaging? Movies should entertain first, and anything else it accomplishes is a huge bonus, case in point being <i>Brokeback</i> and the small but certainly notable change of hearts and minds regarding homosexuality. </span><br /><br /><span style="color:black;">What am I missing? <i>Good Night, and Good Luck </i>has such an aura of acclaim about it that I feel so immature and unsophisticated criticizing it for being boring. I just didn't care for the real-life events all that much (read: at all), and it didn't help that every so often, an attention-diverting jazz singer would belt out a sort of interlude that served no purpose other than to further drag the movie longer. Actually, to tell you the truth, the singing was a </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="color:black;">high point</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="color:black;"> for me...she was good, she had the voice, she was silky smooth, she had soul--everything this film lacked. In the end, I was surprised it was only about an hour and a half...it felt longer than </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="color:black;">Munich</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="color:black;"> (never thought this day would come!), and between <i>Brokeback</i> and <i>Capote</i>, I placed it last. <i>Good Night, and Good Luck</i> now has this dubious distinction--I doubt Crash can take its spot from what I hear.<br /><br />This review seems too short and full of nothing, but what else can I say about this sparse, uninteresting movie? The only thing it did was annoy me, being so heaped with praise--is this indication that my tastes are still quite unsophisticated? Damn, that bugs me. <i>What is so great about this movie?<br /><br /></i><b>Update: </b>upon reading some discussion I generated about what I missed that was so staggering about this movie, I think I understand better its appeal. Firstly, it seems that you typically have to be American to really appreciate this flick--the issues discussed really hit home for Yankee viewers, even more so if they lived through what happened. Americans also pointed out how timely this is, referencing the controversial Patriot Act in their country, which essentially strips people of their rights if they were even suspected in any way to be a terrorist. So, it's like the censorship <i>Good Night, and Good Luck</i> deals with, how if you raise any voice of dissent (not even with the issue, but merely about the methods used to address it), you may land yourself in deep trouble.<br /><br />I have no great interest in American history or politics, especially with their paranoia at that time against all things communist. The Patriot Act does not particularly worry me here in </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="color:black;">Canada</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="color:black;">, either. And we all know how enamoured the common American citizen is with his or her freedom of speech. To everyone else, it's nice to have, but it's only defended when challenged, rather than being invoked at every opportunity.<br /><br />In conclusion, this film does not seem to have universal appeal. If it only plays well to one country of the world, in my opinion, it stands to remain a crap film, thank you very much.</span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><br />__________<br /><b><br /></b><st1:place><st1:placename><b>Brokeback</b></st1:placename><b> </b><st1:placetype><b>Mountain</b></st1:placetype></st1:place><b><br /><br /></b><i>The little film that could...<br /></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2104/1596/1600/5.1.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2104/1596/320/5.1.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center;" align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2104/1596/1600/5.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="75" preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"> </v:formulas> <v:path extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" connecttype="rect"> <o:lock ext="edit" aspectratio="t"> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2104/1596/1600/5.gif" style="'width:48pt;" button="t"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Natrix\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image001.gif" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2104/1596/320/5.gif"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><span style=""></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>__________<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I've already written a review on Yahoo! Movies, so I can't be bothered to write another! :P A few words before the link...<br /><br /><st1:place><st1:placename><i>Brokeback</i></st1:placename><i> </i><st1:placetype><i>Mountain</i></st1:placetype></st1:place> is truly a historic movie with what it has done, the interest its generated, and its entrance into mainstream consciousness. Most important thing to remember is that this is a <i>love</i> story, never mind the same-sex aspect. >_> I've never been much of a fan of romance (this is more drama, actually), because I've always found them...too much. All the frenzied "I love you's!", all the flying at each other in unrestrained campy-ness, all the contrived weeping...here it is visceral, it is unflinching, and it is understated...meaning, it's completely fresh.<br /><br />For those who know me and may read this, let me come clean and say I actually feel a lot more than I sometimes show...it's likely because I'm sensitive and receptive to others, as some have so kindly attributed to me. :) Anyhow, if you're not open to the unknown, or are content to be limited in your world view without reviewing the other side, then this movie is definitely not for you. It can only disgust and freak these types of people out.<br /><br />Anyway, here's my review that I'm a little embarrassed to share, because I was so frank with the experience >_< ...Uh, not a link, actually, just tried and I can't link to it to Yahoo!, because it's with my e-mail account, and the public doesn't have direct access via the huge, encrypted, wonky URL the review has...so, to see it in its true form, it'd require finding mine out of over 4000 reviews. >_> Instead, here's the pasted text:<br /><br /><b><i style="">If this has no effect on you, you're not human</i></b><i style=""><br /><b><br /></b>I have never before seen a movie that compelled me to write something like this. I've seen a ton of movies; some were great, some were good, some were pretty terrible. In the end, they all just became another film I saw. Brokeback was the surprising--and I suppose long awaited--exception that I never thought would come...I am incredibly thankful to have seen this. Honestly, and it's a little shameful to say now, I'm not sure I would have seen this if it didn't get all the attention it did. Thank goodness for all the awards! :)<br /><br />In 4 words: blew me away--completely. Go see it now...run if you have to! Not convinced? Then let's continue this review, eh?<br /><br />I have never felt so devastated by a film, so alone, so heartbroken. I can't remember ever crying all out in a movie (a few lumps in the throat for others that would quickly pass), but this did it. So many of those scenes...their power and emotion, they were just simply too much.<br /><br />Forget all your pre-conceived notions about this movie: it is NOT a gay cowboy movie, and there is not an instance where the supposed "gay agenda" is promoted. It simply presents to you a raw slice of a few tormented lives, and leaves all the conclusions for you to consider. And think you will.<br /><br />I was haunted by this film. Not really noticeable at first, it faded, even the feeling that accompanied the burst of tears in-film, so I assumed Brokeback was just another great film that, in 10 year's time, I would only recall that I had watched and liked thoroughly. But suddenly, yesterday in bed, images came unbidden, dialogue echoed up from my abruptly aching heart...and to hell with how guys should act, I cried a little more!<br /><br />What insires all this praise for Brokeback? Never mind the flawless scenery shot here in Alberta in the Rockies, never mind the sublime story it is based off of by Annie Proulx, ignore even, if it is possible, Ang Lee's masterful direction: it is the acting that carries everything, hands down. Heath and Jake are absolutely convincing in their depiction of two people utterly in love, and the supporting women are just as nuanced in their performances.<br /><br />There is such a great emphasis in this film in the importance of what is not said and what is not done; movies typically garner reactions based on what happens. Here, the most poignant moments are what could have been, because it is ever the sadness of regret and missed opportunities that tear most deeply. Here, silences articulate more than any words could, whole stories can be written about each glance, and each little gesture carries immense weight.<br /><br />This is a movie of subtleties that beg for discussion afterwards. It deserves all the accolades and awards, and deserves more. Brokeback Mountain is a landmark film, yes, mainstream in its appeal, universal, honest, and best of all, unforgettable.<br /><br />In summary: this is a film made for repeat viewings. Open your mind, and give it a shot--there is nothing to lose, but so much to gain! :)<br /></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="">(Story, Acting, Direction, Visuals, and my Overall: A+)<o:p></o:p></i></p> <i style=""><o:p></o:p></i><i style=""><o:p></o:p></i> <div style="text-align: center;"><br />___________<o:p></o:p></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center;" align="center"><b><br />Capote<br /><br /></b><i>A mastermind discovers his heart<br /></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center;" align="center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2104/1596/1600/4.1.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2104/1596/320/4.1.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><b>______</b><b>_</b><b>___<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">This is a wonderful human drama that's pretty much c</span><span style="">arried all the way through by the excellent acting of Philip Seymour Hoffman--in fact, this is exactly why he'll likely take the acting Oscar, and why <i>Capote </i>lacks one star from being "perfect." Frankly, without Hoffman, or with someone less adept at the characterization of Truman Capote, this film would fall flat. Yes, Catherine Keener is perfect as author Harper Lee, but she would have been so much less if you couldn't compare her with the likes of Hoffman, with all the qualities he brings to his character.<br /><b><br /></b></span>Hoffman's performance is such that the film becomes intriguing, and instead of just hearing all the endless talk that occurs through the film (that's really the majority of the action), I really <i><span style="">listened </span></i><span style="">as Capote deftly lied, misled, and manipulated other people--that is, Perry mostly, a prisoner on death row. And if you appreciate the ease in which Truman controls others, you really do begin to appreciate the film in its simple deviousness.<br /></span><br />That's not to say that if you find talk tiresome, you'll not enjoy the film by the end of it. Take last year's <i><span style="">Million Dollar Baby</span></i><span style="">, for example. To me, it was thoroughly uninvolving--I really didn't understand how a movie entirely about a boxing woman could garner so much attention. But I stuck with it, trusting in all the critics, and was floored by the unexpected and powerful ending. <i>Capote </i>is much the same--you may not find you care early on, but it quickly warms up to you, and the conclusion is thoughtful and provocative. Because I did come to like all the discussion in-film, I found it far more enjoyable than<i> Million Dollar Baby</i>, though that movie's ending made it all worthwhile!<br /></span><br />In the end, other things that prevented this movie from reaching its full potential is its inherent, almost irredeemable coldness (as in, while he's smart and amusing, Capote's hard to like), and the sheer predictability of it. As soon as you see the general direction Capote uses to deal with his problems, you can pretty much guess how everything will turn out. It was easy for me, and because I knew nothing of Truman Capote prior to seeing this, I'm guessing it'd be easy for everyone else, too. It was the aftermath that was rewarding, and ultimately makes the movie worth the time.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p> </div> <font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><br />__________<br /><br /><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Munich</span><br 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style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: normal;">Violence begets violence...ad infinitum</span><br /><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br 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style="font-weight: bold;"></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2104/1596/1600/3.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2104/1596/320/3.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a>__________<br 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</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">(</span><span style="font-style: italic;">Edited paste of previous blog post</span>)<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span>Good, but disappointing, to tell you the truth, considering the initial praise and acclaim thrown at <span style="font-style: italic;">Munich</span>. See, <span style="font-style: italic;">King Kong</span> was 3 hours long, and <span style="font-style: italic;">Munich </span>was 2 hours 45 minutes...but in the latter, I really felt the time, wondering when it'd end. It's just...the tension is involving (most of the tmie), but if you know the premise and the plot starts going maybe 1/2 hour in, you just wait for it to end. The Israeli athletes are killed by 11 Palestinians, and assassins essentially take revenge. So, once it begins, you've got it about 75% figured out (minus other developments), and it just becomes a matter of when and how the others are done in. Yes, we get it--violence begets violence, but the movie clubs us over the head with this message over and over and over.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">And the violence...was disturbing, and I'm always good with this. It was too cold, calculated, and merciless...just...alright, another down, next up is... As the story progresses, there's really no one to cheer for. It does, however, manage to give terrorism a face, touching on either side and its motives. It just could've been done in 2 hours, though, or less.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Despite the dire political situation, I almost wish Spielberg would've taken a side. It would have made the movie more interesting--as in position papers, you should stick to one view, because sitting on the fence is boring and solves nothing. Yes, I know that whatever side, if taken, would have enraged a billion people, but where's the compelling interest in neutrality? It's just the wrong type of film to do like this, and even Eric Bana's gutsy, semi-tormented (he really could have been more remorseful, as the movie poster suggests) portrayal of his character is not enough to make the time pass more quickly.<br /><br />In my humble opinion, </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Munich </span>is <span style="font-style: italic;">not </span>a significant film on the social scene (which seems to be such a theme in this year's Oscars). Instead, it appears to have managed to piss off people on either side of the political spectrum (far more detractors on the right, though), so it's nothing more but a confused action flick that stepped into something it really shouldn't have, especially when it refuses commit to anything.<br /><br />Again, I'll recommend it for its ability to put a face on terror, but you're better off renting it.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-114022565745125203?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-1136446669674528772006-01-05T00:17:00.000-07:002006-01-05T00:37:49.683-07:00Watched Munich the other day. Good, but disappointing, to tell you the truth. See, King Kong was 3 hours long, and Munich was 2 hours 45 minutes...but in the latter, I really felt the time, wondering when it'd end. It's just...if you know the premise and the plot starts going maybe 1/2 hour in, you just wait for it to end. The Israeli athletes are killed by 11 Palestinians, and assassins essentially take revenge. So, once it begins, you've got it about 75% figured out (minus other developments), and it just becomes a matter of when and how the others are done in. Yes, we get it--violence begets violence, but the movie clubs us over the head with it over and over and over.<br /><br />And the violence...was disturbing, and I'm always good with this. It was too cold, calculated, and merciless...just...alright, another down, next up is... As the story progresses, there's really no one to cheer for. It does, however, manage to give terrorism a face, touching on either side and its motives. It just could've been done in 2 hours, though, or less.<br /><br />I went with friends to see it, and I'm always amazed at what I learn about this certain group. I've got a few circle of friends, because they just would never gel. One guy--I was never particularly close to him, he's better friends with my other friends--starts to talk about our upcoming election. He petitions me to "vote conservative, so we don't become a gay nation." o_O Uh...wow. What a retard.<br /><br />You may be of the opinion that same-sex couples shouldn't marry. That's fine. Whatever, that's your problem. But, do say: "you should vote conservative to protect the traditional definition of marriage." Canada did not become a "gay nation" because of our extension of rights to this minority group. That's totally disrespectful, and offensive. It's already done...it's a non-issue now, as many have noted. Don't like it? Get out.<br /><br />He even talked about the movie Rent. He absolutely hated it, because two men kissed onscreen. Never mind the whole movie, now. Just that one part was enough to turn what I thought to be at least a semi-sensible person into a tard. He's quite religious, by the way. I often have to remind myself that there really are decent Christians out there...he just makes it hard.<br /><br />Honestly, how full of insecurity can a person get? Maybe I'm just too idealistic? Can't we all just get along? Apparently not. When this was an issue several years ago, I was more neutral. But as I saw the moronism from the right leaning population (i.e., society will crumble! we're all going to hell! next up: marriage to animals! and then marriage to objects!), my support quickly went the other way.<br /><br />Ugh. At least I don't see him often...he needs to grow some sensitivity, and a whole lot of empathy, and get off his high moral authority perch based on a book thousands of years old.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-113644666967452877?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-1136273313706627302006-01-03T00:18:00.000-07:002006-01-03T00:28:33.720-07:00Wow, what a year it has been! :) I've had such a great `05 that I can only hope this year can live up to my previous. It'll be hard-pressed to be even greater, but hey, you never know...<br /><br />-graduated from high school with so many great folks, friends especially<br />-Art IB<br />-family trips<br />-went to ACAD--never had so much fun getting educated XD<br />-everyone who left comes back for the break--gawd I missed them<br />-had many events and get togethers...always something to do<br />-went to the 6-5 New Year's Eve Flames game--crazy awesome! =3<br />-FIREWORKS! *snicker*<br />-stayed up til 6 am New Years<br />-drinking game, more late night parties...<br /><br />...and so on. Maybe they seem a little generic, but all the little details made everything unforgetable. :)<br /><br />Hope everyone else had an outstanding year, and best wishes for the new!<br /><br />Cheers!! ^^<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-113627331370662730?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-1135023118593460532005-12-19T13:02:00.000-07:002005-12-19T13:11:58.603-07:00Heeeeeey. :)<br /><br />So, I decided maybe I'll update this now and then, despite MADT being over and done with. Maybe to just type something, but mostly in the hopes I'll be haunted by some of the people who may drop by now and then. :) Hint, hint: do leave a little note!<br /><br />So I've finished 98% of my Christmas shopping...UGH. x_x I hate to be so easily typecast as your stereotypical guy, but boy do I hate shopping, lol! I went, I bought, I came back. No lingering. Friends sometimes ask, "Wanna go shopping?" No. No. No. And just in case you have any lingering doubts: No. And this is for the next time I'm asked: No. >_><br /><br />Haha...well, I'm not entirely hopeless. I do hang out, but that's when someone had something in mind to buy to begin with (vs. random wandering), or we catch a movie somewhere later, or grap a small drink or a nibble. That's fine. :) Call me. ^^ Don't idle me in a mall, though!<br /><br />So. That other 2% I haven't bought for. You know those people you just can't buy for? The ones that when you plead for a pointer or a clue, they give you more vagueness? It really couldn't suck more for someone none too fond of shopping. And, someone specifically requested a painting from me. x_x Gawd, the due date is the 25th, and I'm out of ideas. "Of what?" I ask. "Anything!" comes the blissful reply.<br /><br />Ah, vagueness...<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16729728-113502311859346053?l=jinxtnatrix.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Natrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14555024257736881929noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16729728.post-1134614648652259972005-12-14T19:11:00.000-07:002005-12-14T20:49:47.966-07:00<p class="MsoNormal">Heh, maybe ignore my previous post--I think I should doubt my work less...at least, doubt my media projects less, because I gauge other assignments of mine fairly accurately. I suppose it all teaches me something, and encourages more confidence in this area. So, if you haven't gathered from the above, the critique of my remix went well. :)<br /><br />My fear of sowing boredom was not realized, which was a relief! For now, I'll only document my project, the files I used and where I got them, because despite all the many <st1:place><st1:placename>Creative</st1:placename> <st1:placetype>Commons</st1:placetype></st1:place> and free sounds I used, there are several that may not be share-able. They're organized by where I found each, and an artist in brackets if one was listed:<br /><br /></p><li><a href="http://www.ljudo.com/"><b>Ljudo</b></a></li><b><br /></b>drum1a<br />fire1b<br />fire2a<br />heartbeats1a<br />heartbeats1b<br />thunder2a<br />water2f<br />wind1f<br />wind2b<br />wind2d<br /><br /><li><a href="http://www.soundtransit.nl/"><b>Sound Transit</b></a></li><br />0203.Anna_Fritz.Montreal.silo_sound (Anna Fritz)<br />0439.John_Hopkins.Akureyri.Danish_angels (John Hopkins)<br />0481.Nick_Mariette.Bhaktapur.Snake_charmers_in_Bhaktapur (Nick Mariette)<br />0490.Abinadi_Meza.St_Paul_Minnesota.Rainfall (Abinadi Meza)<br />0528.LasseMarc_Riek.Mont_Sainte_Oldie.birds_in_forest (Marc Riek Lasse?)<br /><br /><li><a href="http://www.quietamerican.org/"><b>The Quiet American</b></a></li><br /><st1:place>antarctica</st1:place> (Jules Bernstein)<br />backgarden (DJ Flywheel)<br />Gyantse_nuns (Aaron Ximm)<br />Moscow_bell_ringer (Elena M.)<br />virtual_chimes ("fluffy Pennyfeather")<br /><br /><b>Others (Likely Under Copyright)<br /></b>(whispering) - (sampled: Delerium's <i>Flower Become Screens </i>in album "Semantic Spaces")<br />chains (sampled twice from Ray Shulman's soundtrack for <span style="font-style: italic;">Silver</span>)<br />InterPt2 (sample from Ray Shulman's soundtrack for <span style="font-style: italic;">Silver</span>)<br />MushPt1 (sample from Ray Shulman's soundtrack for <span style="font-style: italic;">Silver</span>)<br /><br /><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Free Adobe Audition Sound Files<br /></span>AcousticOne01<br />AcousticOne02<br />AcousticOne03<br />ArcoEb03<br />DrumBellJingles02-51bpm<br />GngCym07-79bpm<br />LushEb02<br />LushEb03<br />LushEb04<br />LushEb05<br />StrngPad03<br />Yang80-A01<br />Yang80-A02<br />Yang80-A05<br />Yang80-C03<br />Yang80-C06<br />Yang80-C07<br />Yang80-C09<br />Yang120-SingleA<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">That makes for 43 unique sound files I used, and doesn't consider my own files created in the remix based off of originals. For example, I created 4 additional altered files from 0439 from The Quiet American that I used as part of the remixing process.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Roughly, the elemental themes run for 4 minutes, fire and ice meet for a chaotic 2 minutes, and water is introduced and spans 1 minute or so. Fire sounds darker, heavier, claustrophobic, more random, demonic (it also has a holier, cleansing flipside sung by the church choir in the very beginning), destructive; ice meanwhile sounds pure, light, wide open, and orderly--ice was arranged in a tight beat structure. The clash is wild, and the life-giving, gentle side of water that results is explor