Across the Universe by Beth Revis

This book seems to have received some good reviews, but I really can't see why. The first third of the story moved along nicely and I was totally into it--a ship headed off to a new world, the people cryogenically frozen for the trip. Then the characters started doing illogical things and the science of Beth Revis' world retreated in some places and completely fell apart in others. (If you're going to write science fiction, you should probably understand that ships don't just slow down in space.) Then parts of the end of the book seemed not just emotionally illogical, but completely rushed.

Did anyone else read this? Were you impressed?

Across the Universe

Hunger Games Rocks!

I've watched it twice so far and plan to go again before it leaves the theaters. The movie-makers did a great job of translating most of the major emotional points of the book onto the screen. Of course, how could you go wrong with Suzanne Collins writing the first draft? I had my doubts about Jennifer Lawrence--I didn't think she made a great Mystique in X-Men: First Class--but she converted me. Josh Hutcherson really impressed me. He's come a long way since Journey to the Center of the Earth. He always plays the spoiled kid with a chip on his shoulder; I'm glad he got a chance to spread his wings. Who's Liam Hemsworth? Never saw him before. What has he been in. His part was pretty small but he did alright. I'm sure we'll see a lot more of him in the next two movies, of course.

As always, what did you think? Did Hunger Games live up to its hype? To the book?

Hunger Games movie.

In Time

I wasted six hours of my life on this movie. Oh! You say it was only a two hour movie? I guess it just felt like six hours. It was a fantastic premise--a society where your life clock is used as currency, so the poor live short lives and the rich live forever--but it was soooooo poorly executed. The fact that Justin Timberlake was in this movie I assume was the only reason it made dollar one. None of the characters had any motivation to do any of the life-threatening things they did and apparently the director thinks that even in a ghetto where everyone is twenty-five, being twenty-five somehow means everyone is a supermodel. I was twenty-five once, and I was not a supermodel. The director also assumed that in the future there would be only one car manufacturer--a company in love with 1970s Chargers. Shall I speak of the cinematography? Okay, I will. The look of the film was trying too hard to duplicate the amazing cinematography of Gattaca, but came far short. In fact, you want to see In Time done right? Rent Gattaca. I didn't believe any of In Time for one second. If you value your time, don't see this flick.

Of course, I'm just one man. Anyone else have a different opinion?

Gattaca Link
In Time Link

EON

I'm right in the middle of reading this  book by Alison Goodman. I'm totally engrossed. My thoughts to come.

http://www.eonbook.com/

Star Wars Episode 1 - 3D

Episode 1 is typically considered the poorest of the six films, and so I was slightly reluctant to shell out the money to see it in 3D. But let me tell you, it was worth every penny. Seeing all those familiar images in three dimensions was a whole new experience. I felt like I could reach out and touch the universe that has been such a part of my life since I was nine. Especially cool is seeing the inside of all the ships in 3D. It was like I was standing there next to Ben, Anakin, and Padme.

I'm soooo geared up to see the other movies now. I hope they don't spread them out over too much time, because I can't wait to be right in the middle of that first battle scene in Episode III.

Anyone else see it?

MUPPETS ARE BACK!

I finally went to see the new Muppet movie (The Muppets) this weekend. I actually had to convince my wife to go because she just remembers the Muppets being sad when she was a little girl. But it was hilarious--okay, there were some really sad parts--but we laughed out butts off for most of the movie.

In the movie, Walter (the world's biggest Muppet fan who coincidentally looks remarkably like a Muppet) helps bring Kermit, Miss Piggy and the rest of the gang get back together to save their Muppet studio after a long hiatus. There are plenty of dance numbers, singing, and montages! For those of you who need a human face to look at, it also stars Jason Segel (How I Met Your Mother) and Amy Adams (The Fighter, Julie and Julia).

I know the Muppets are supposed to be for kids, but they've always seemed to be able to reach way beyond the age barrier. What do you think, do the Muppets transcend age?

Star Wars and Good Ol' George

I've been watching the Blu Ray release of the Star Wars saga over the past couple of weeks. My wife got it for me as a Christmas present and she said she almost didn't get it because the reviews were so bad. I wanted it anyway. The revues are mostly bad because good ol' George still hasn't released the original movies in their original theatrical release forms. I don't exactly get why, I think he should give his audience what they want. I mean, what would it hurt?

That being said, I can't understand why so many die-hards were up in arms about the "fixed" versions of the films. They're still the stories I grew up with, still fun to watch, and I'm digging all the extras on the discs. And I say this as someone who watched the original film over forty times IN THE THEATERS! I even had all my original Star Wars toys in pristine condition up until a few years ago. I think we should all just relax for a moment and realize that these are movies, not holy scriptures.

What are your thoughts?

http://starwars.com/