Work Arounds

This post is going to be a twofer. First as a movie review and secondly on some Photoshop work.

REVIEW

Right up front you would think this is going to be a chick flick. Well... You would be right, but then I am not opposed to a good chick flick. Personally I have never been a really big fan of Meryl Streep but every movie I see her in she takes on a persona that is completely different than what I perceive her to be. Which in my book makes here a great actress besides my personal opinion.

The movie is a light hearted take on the lives of Julia Child, world renowned chef and Julie Powell, unknown writer producer. It is based on two true stories covering the lives of two people in two very different time. The dancing between time frames was blended very well and did not cause confusion or breaks in either story-line.

If I were by myself or with a bunch of other dudes, it is probably not going to be my recommendation, but with my wife I thoroughly enjoyed it.

PHOTOSHOP

I was in my room today in Atlanta looking through Photoshop User magazine and saw this cool movie poster marquee project by Corey Barker. I am only running Elements on my PowerBook G4 and had to work around some of the layer styles. Specifically the glowing lights. Without going into the gritty details of producing the marquee I have provided the layers pallet below of my marquee.

If you want all the details of the project, it is in the June 2009 edition of Photoshop User magazine, page 24.

Have a great weekend and I'll see what I come up with on Monday.

Cya... Doug

Live Long and Prosper

Yes I am a fan, No I am not a Trekie. I have seen all the original series episodes and all the theatrical adaptations but I do not have any Trek memorabilia in my possession.

Breaking my self proclaimed week off from blogging, this is worth the effort. Last night I went to see this movie with the family. It was absolutely worth the time. The producers held very much to the original cast in their mannerisms to the point that they were younger and just going through and coming out of the academy.

Special effects were amazing and the only thing that I can fault the production was the style of the Enterprise. Being a new and current movie I can understand how the viewing public would not accept an antiquated design such as the original enterprise and realistically it did not detract from the movie at all.

Great effects, great character development. great plot. Makes it a great and pleasurable movie. One last note is that we went to a normal screening even though an iMax version is out. I will definitely be sing this in iMax... Soon!

Cya... Doug

Movie Time

Once in a while if you have been sniping the blog you know that I will occasionally make a comment about a movie or two. Today is the day for Doug's Movie Review. Here are a couple of flicks that are both rated PG and are very family friendly.

Inkheart stars Brendan Fraser as an individual who when reads aloud, the characters of the story come to life. His daughter finds out she has this special gift and once the villain finds this out uses it to his advantage. It is a very entertaining good vs evil plot with the no doubt but less than obvious happy ending. There are some scenes that might be a little scary for the smaller kids but not out of bounds by any means. It was fun, entertaining, clean, and a good ending. 

I will give it an f/6.5.

This one I will admit as an adult you must be a dog lover. There was a lady walking in with a child ahead of us that said the boy was her neighbors child because her husband would not take her. First off I say shame on him for not accompanying his wife to a movie even if he had no interest in seeing it.

As far as the movie it is very much predictable but yet entertaining (it must be a dog lover thing). Ok, so talking dogs and an abandoned building being a rescue for dogs by a bunch of kids is a little far fetched (sorry). Don Cheadle stars in the movie as a social worker trying to protect a brother and sister that are in foster care (A.K.A. dog rescuers). So why does an actor who plays such heavy parts in movies such as Traitor, Hotel Rwanda, Traffic, and Hamburger Hill pull down a part in a PG movie. One of two possible answers exist. Either Cheadle owes someone big time or his kids are wanting to see daddy in the movies. I vote vote for the latter.

So the movie will not be long in the theaters but I say it will do well in video and the dollar theater (three now-a-days). I will give this one a rating of f/4.0.

Hey that is it for today. Cya tomorrow... Doug

Boooooring!

Plot: Butt ugly aged baby is born. Baby grows bigger but gets younger. Man gets older but grows younger. Now younger old man grows smaller and younger. Very old young toddler becomes baby and dies.

Hey, lets all hope the Academy can muster up an Academy Award for this one... NOT! 

Seriously this movie was way way too long. On a good not though, the period cinematography was very nice and the way they changed Brad Pitt's age was impressive. Really, the best part of the movie was a recurring theme of a senile old man that kept on saying "Did I ever tell you that I have been struck by lightning seven time?" with an associated black and white video clip of him getting struck by lightning at various occasions.  Other than that, there is not much to this movie.

I have to give it a big two DD

Take care... Doug

Movie Review

Most movies are just plain good because of their entertainment value. Others lack the quality in content and acting that really qualify them as box office bombs. The Day The Earth Stood Still fall into that unique category of suspenseful political science fiction movie. Foul language and sexual content was non-existent for once which mad the movie enjoyable on its own. From a science fiction and suspense standpoint it was a fantastic movie. From a politically correct movie... Well all I can say is that the Sierra Club probably has its stamp of approval on it.

There is one scene where there is a dialog referring to "our planet" and "it is not your planet". The point of the alien invasion is to eradicate humanity in order to protect the planet. This clearly fall into the humanist/environmentalist/tree huggers activists alignment. Must we really put a tree before man?

We as a society have slowly drifted into a belief that we are to decide what is moral and absolute. As we change these definitions change with the times. Unfortunately our mind has a slow degradation in its capacity to do the right thing when held to the ultimate absolute. That being defined by our creator. God clearly states in Genesis 1:26-29 the position in the "food" chain creation takes in relation to mankind. Having given man dominion over all the earth and its creatures does not abate mans responsibility to be wise and conserve the resources God has provided for us. Do we search for alternative forms of energy. Absolutely! Do we try and find ways to lessen the deforestation of many areas of the globe. Again absolutely, how about we start using aluminum studs in residential construction.

It is when we start to take what God has set in motion and make changes to it that we begin to see our small mindedness adversely effect our own well being. Is there any wonder why there are so many fires every year in Southern California when the state has banned the clearing of downed wood and under brush. BTW this stuff is just superb kindling for a nice fire!

Ok... Rant is over. Back to the movie. If you go into this movie with your eyes open to the PC environmental slant, it is a good clean and fun movie to watch. In other words it fits the bill for which the industry is named. Entertainment.

Take care all... Doug

Bonus Movie review Post

We just got back from the theater and I wanted to add this to an already Friday Movie Review.

Traitor is a must see for many Americans. I am not a believer of conspires by nature as I prefer to believe that people are basically good. I am a realist though in that basic goodness can be corrupted by disbelief, misunderstanding, poor communication and just plain old evil. It is the later that I believe brings people to fly airplanes full of innocent people into building full of innocent people. Don Cheadle' performance is exceptional in the inner fight between what is needed to be done and what the belief structure to which he has been raised.

I feel strongly as a believer in Jesus Christ that it is just as wrong for a an individual to blow up an abortion clinic as it is for terrorist to fly airplanes into buildings. Regardless of their faith. 

The movie does touch on radical islamic terrorism but also puts a man in between two sides that believe they are right. It was a very interesting movie with a very dynamic ending. The PG-13 rating was necessary for violence and some language but overall it was a very well done cinematic effort. Good show Hollywood!

Cya... Doug

Movie Review Friday

Ok... I know what you are thinking. "Doug, you didn't really go see Mamma Mia!" Well actually... I did. But I was not by myself. That would be just a little too creepy. Evelyn and I were out in Maryland visiting our kids and my daughter, wife and I went and saw the movie.

So what's with the movie? What I can tell you is that when you leave the theater, you feel good, funny, entertained, and weird all at the same time. If you know absolutely that you do not like musicals, then don't go near it. Otherwise it was a really fun movie with one exception. Pierce Brosnan just can not carry a tune. He tries (sometimes too hard) but I'm sorry Pierce, this is one Bond that should avoid the musicals.

The really coolest parts of the movie were when the actors started to sing in the nasty actor trying to sing really well voice. After a couple moments there was an audio transition that went from set to studio voice with all the enhancements that come with a really good mixer.

So by the title one would think this is a story about the band Abba. Well, the music certainly is! There was only one song that I heard that I could not clearly identify as an Abba hit. It was really interesting how the mix of music lyrics and movie subject came together in the film.

Recommendation: If you like Abba music, or musicals in general, go see it.

Have a great weekend. Cya... Doug

The Darkest Knight

Yes it is as good as everyone says it is. When I heard all the buss about how good Heath Ledger was in this movie I figured it was the typical self absorbed Hollywood crowd laying accolades on Ledgers performance because he had passed away by misfortune not long ago.

Well... I am big enough to admit I was wrong, Heath Ledger was outstanding in this latest portrayal of the Joker. This was the best worst bad guy I have seen in a movie in a very long time. He was creepy bad... In an eerie, real kind of way.

It has my two thumbs up. Great action, spookiness, creepy, and twisty... Makes a great couple of hours of entertainment.

Later Bat People... Doug

Get Smart

My intention is not to turn this into a movie review blog but to keep it a photographic blog. It is more importantly what I am from day to day. What I do and what I enjoy, so if I stray into aviation, my personal views on a subject , or even a movie review now and then. so be it.

A bunch of us after church on Sunday evening wen to see Get Smart and we had a blast. It was fresh, funny and very entertaining. Ann Hathaway and Steve Carell did a very nice adaptation of the original series on TV. The Rock and Alan Arkin had really good supporting roles also.

A bunch of action, slap-stick, and one liners made the movie. I will say that it would be just as funny and entertaining on the TV. Not to detract from the "big screen" effect, but you might want to save a few bucks and catch the DVD.

Cya... Doug