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Monday, March 31, 2008
Screen Tests
My new class doesn't start until next Monday. After last week's weird and wacky weather, things really started to look up today. In retrospect, even though it's only six o'clock, I cannot believe I spent so much time in front of this screen. I suppose I have to come to terms with the fact, I'm rather addicted to computers. As I'll be turning 49 years old in July, you'd think I would know myself well by now.
I guess it really wasn't a surprise to realize I am fascinated with PCs. I first spent hard-earned cash on a Radio Shack TRS-80 in 1980. The tasks I was able to do in those days weren't very inspiring by today's standards. I recall making a simple BASIC program that simply added one plus one and showed the result on the black and white screen. Then, it would add one more and print again. I let it run overnight and I couldn't believe the device had made it into the hundreds of thousands by morning.
Technology marches on. Today, I was playing with my computer, network, and PS3. I was using TVersity to make my PS3 into a media server. I downloaded video from the Internet through a BitTorrent. Moving around 600 megabyte files is probably something I wouldn't have thought possible when my Radio Shack had 16K of RAM. The fact most of these files were destined for a 16x9 format 42" LCD television screen, would've undoubtedly sounded like science fiction too.
Here's my belated tribute to the recently deceased futurist who lived his last fifty years in Sri Lanka:
This show is not a video file. It's a live program streamed through
the net from a Sri Lankan TV network to this aparment in
New Westminster, BC.
I guess it really wasn't a surprise to realize I am fascinated with PCs. I first spent hard-earned cash on a Radio Shack TRS-80 in 1980. The tasks I was able to do in those days weren't very inspiring by today's standards. I recall making a simple BASIC program that simply added one plus one and showed the result on the black and white screen. Then, it would add one more and print again. I let it run overnight and I couldn't believe the device had made it into the hundreds of thousands by morning.
Technology marches on. Today, I was playing with my computer, network, and PS3. I was using TVersity to make my PS3 into a media server. I downloaded video from the Internet through a BitTorrent. Moving around 600 megabyte files is probably something I wouldn't have thought possible when my Radio Shack had 16K of RAM. The fact most of these files were destined for a 16x9 format 42" LCD television screen, would've undoubtedly sounded like science fiction too.
Here's my belated tribute to the recently deceased futurist who lived his last fifty years in Sri Lanka:
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."
-- Arthur C. Clarke (1917-2008)
Profiles of The Future, 1961
This show is not a video file. It's a live program streamed through
the net from a Sri Lankan TV network to this aparment in
New Westminster, BC.
Labels: computers, Internet, PS3, sci-fi, Sri Lanka 2006, television
Thursday, March 27, 2008
I Like Sci-Fi.
Jay got a free, stay-home-from-work pass from the doctor yesterday. We didn't go anyplace though as it was not the nicest day.
I was reading IMDb a while back and noted discussion about Brazil (1985). We were overseas at the time of its release and I didn't think I had seen it. Even if I had it would've been a fuzzy, pirated video-tape copy. I put the movie on the Zip list but found it when at the library yesterday. It was a three DVD set with the 142-minute director's cut being the primary one we watched.
I liked it but I don't know why it arouses such an emotional response from so many. The cinematography was artistic and conveyed several layers of meaning. For example, I liked the scene above where billboards line a highway, so a driver isn't subjected the wasteland beyond. I also spotted the sign which read 'Consumers for Christ' at the mall a not so subtle comment about the society at Christmas. There were lots of short little memorable sequences some of which may have slipped by unnoticed. The cut-for-television version with an alternate happy-ending was included in the box. More than a half hour of the movie was missing from that version but I just wanted to see how the end was spliced together differently.
I was reading IMDb a while back and noted discussion about Brazil (1985). We were overseas at the time of its release and I didn't think I had seen it. Even if I had it would've been a fuzzy, pirated video-tape copy. I put the movie on the Zip list but found it when at the library yesterday. It was a three DVD set with the 142-minute director's cut being the primary one we watched.
I liked it but I don't know why it arouses such an emotional response from so many. The cinematography was artistic and conveyed several layers of meaning. For example, I liked the scene above where billboards line a highway, so a driver isn't subjected the wasteland beyond. I also spotted the sign which read 'Consumers for Christ' at the mall a not so subtle comment about the society at Christmas. There were lots of short little memorable sequences some of which may have slipped by unnoticed. The cut-for-television version with an alternate happy-ending was included in the box. More than a half hour of the movie was missing from that version but I just wanted to see how the end was spliced together differently.
Monday, March 03, 2008
Warning: Nerd Alert!
THE FUTURE: 1950 STYLE
Eventually, automated homes such as those described by Ray Bradbury will exist. As of today, I am one step closer to the part where the house plays music. Let's forget about the exact scenario of the short story from The Martian Chronicles as I'd rather leave the fear of nuclear devastation for another blog entry. Also it's important to note that he wrote this short story fifty-eight years ago. Smart houses are assuredly taking longer to come to fruition than my childish notions would've predicted.
SERVING MEDIA
I'm thinking about There Will Come Soft Rains, as I have thousands of .mp3 and .wma files on an external hard drive near my computer. I use it for the collection and backing up important info. from my main drive. As discovered on Saturday the new Playstation 3 will play these networked songs through the built-in
media server in Microsoft's MediaPlayer 11. My PS3 lacks a direct DTS output for stereo files, unlike my computer's sound card. However, there's something quite simple and satisfying about making a selection on the large TV screen. It just feels right to pick music with the same remote I use when watching a DVD.
GETTING IT TOGETHER
Many people already have some sort of home network today. Most are wireless and used just to get the Internet on a notebook computer without a plug. This could be a wonderful basis for a smart house. The problem is that most of our consumer electronics products do not get along. Most of the devices are not designed for interoperability. In order to make any of them work together one must work too damned hard.
TO KNOW ME IS TO LOVE ME
I envision a day when, as one walks into the house, all gadgets will ask permission to connect to the home's network. For example, I should be able to listen to a podcast on a visitor's iPod. If the system were clever enough, a graphic representing the temporary device would automatically appear on a screen showing the current technology environment. As well as the calling-card information previously entered by the visitor, the system would recognize the unprotected media on the device. I'd simply be able to direct the system to play the podcast.
FIGHTING IN A FUTURE
This is a little more complex than Ray Bradbury's circuits and tapes in the walls. However, I can easily think of a good topic for a new, short story. Let's assume that all the system devices on our imaginary network have a priority on the system. What if various devices started fighting for supremacy in the heirarchy? Every iPod Nano lusts for power, you know. Somehow, that'd make for an interesting read.
Eventually, automated homes such as those described by Ray Bradbury will exist. As of today, I am one step closer to the part where the house plays music. Let's forget about the exact scenario of the short story from The Martian Chronicles as I'd rather leave the fear of nuclear devastation for another blog entry. Also it's important to note that he wrote this short story fifty-eight years ago. Smart houses are assuredly taking longer to come to fruition than my childish notions would've predicted.
SERVING MEDIA
I'm thinking about There Will Come Soft Rains, as I have thousands of .mp3 and .wma files on an external hard drive near my computer. I use it for the collection and backing up important info. from my main drive. As discovered on Saturday the new Playstation 3 will play these networked songs through the built-in
media server in Microsoft's MediaPlayer 11. My PS3 lacks a direct DTS output for stereo files, unlike my computer's sound card. However, there's something quite simple and satisfying about making a selection on the large TV screen. It just feels right to pick music with the same remote I use when watching a DVD.GETTING IT TOGETHER
Many people already have some sort of home network today. Most are wireless and used just to get the Internet on a notebook computer without a plug. This could be a wonderful basis for a smart house. The problem is that most of our consumer electronics products do not get along. Most of the devices are not designed for interoperability. In order to make any of them work together one must work too damned hard.
TO KNOW ME IS TO LOVE ME
I envision a day when, as one walks into the house, all gadgets will ask permission to connect to the home's network. For example, I should be able to listen to a podcast on a visitor's iPod. If the system were clever enough, a graphic representing the temporary device would automatically appear on a screen showing the current technology environment. As well as the calling-card information previously entered by the visitor, the system would recognize the unprotected media on the device. I'd simply be able to direct the system to play the podcast.
FIGHTING IN A FUTURE
This is a little more complex than Ray Bradbury's circuits and tapes in the walls. However, I can easily think of a good topic for a new, short story. Let's assume that all the system devices on our imaginary network have a priority on the system. What if various devices started fighting for supremacy in the heirarchy? Every iPod Nano lusts for power, you know. Somehow, that'd make for an interesting read.
Labels: computers, futurecast, Mediaplayer, podcasts, PS3, sci-fi, technology
Monday, January 07, 2008
On My Own Terms
Today, I met with my new class. As we often hit the maximum of 22 students, I was very surprised that for the next five weeks, I will have only 14. How great that is! The fewer the students, the more time I have with each one. It also frees me up to provide more extensive comments on writing assignments. As well as being small in number, they also seem very motivated. Even after just four hours with a group, it's easy to get an overall impression of how the term will proceed. This evening, I feel happy and optimistic. You may notice my entries are a bit shorter for a few days, as I get things organized for the new students.
I did want to introduce one topic today though. Thanks to the satellite PVR, I watch television programming on my own schedule. I bet in a few years we'll look back on at having to follow networks' dictates for a viewing schedule with a chuckle. Let's see if I can think of a similar example. Okay. In high school, I used to listen to BTO on an 8-track player I installed in my Ford Pinto. See, didn't that make you at least grin?
I sometimes lament the lack of creative, science fiction on TV. One new show that automatically gets recorded when shown is Torchwood. I watch on CBC, a co-producer of the series. The episodes seem a bit inconsistent but at least each one is a story unto itself. If you don't get Canadian programming, it can also be found on BBC. In the US, HDNet has bought the distribution rights and so chances are that it'll eventually show up there.
I did want to introduce one topic today though. Thanks to the satellite PVR, I watch television programming on my own schedule. I bet in a few years we'll look back on at having to follow networks' dictates for a viewing schedule with a chuckle. Let's see if I can think of a similar example. Okay. In high school, I used to listen to BTO on an 8-track player I installed in my Ford Pinto. See, didn't that make you at least grin?
I sometimes lament the lack of creative, science fiction on TV. One new show that automatically gets recorded when shown is Torchwood. I watch on CBC, a co-producer of the series. The episodes seem a bit inconsistent but at least each one is a story unto itself. If you don't get Canadian programming, it can also be found on BBC. In the US, HDNet has bought the distribution rights and so chances are that it'll eventually show up there.
Labels: sci-fi, television
Monday, December 24, 2007
The Bluest Skies in Seattle
'Twas the night before Christmas
and all through the Eighth Ave Inn
not a creature was stirring not even ...
Okay, so I'm not much up to my rhyming old self.
So far the trip has been nice. We left before breakfast yesterday and got all the way to Bellingham before eating in a Country Buffet in the mall. We walked around in the mall before flying down the Interstate in the rain. We got right into the city easily and arrived too early to check in. For some reason they wouldn't let us have the room available until 3:00. So we walked to the commercial section of downtown and even to the Pike Street Market. Incidentally, they do continue to throw fish in the winter. After checking into the Inn, we got a call from the Thomas family. Joel, Lynne, Ben and Whit arrived and whisked us off to dinner in at a Bippy de Peepo or something like that. It was an Italian, family-type restaurant right down here close to Lake Union. It was fun and filling. It's the type of place where groups order large dishes and then everybody takes some. Everybody took a lot but our waitress still packed up the extra for us.
Speaking of eating, there is a nice breakfast offered where we're staying. It's just continental but there there plenty of fruits, yogurt, as well as cereals and muffins. This morning, we took our coupons from Expedia and walked right to the Music Experience Project. It was interesting especially the hand-on sections. I wish I'd had access to something like that as a child. Who knows, I might've been a rock star. The science fiction museum, obviously another of Paul Allan's hobbies, was interesting enough. I couldn't help but hold my Samsung cell phone on the opposite side of the glass from the Original Startrek series communicator. It was life imitating fiction. We ended up eating in the Westlake Center after trying out the new trolley car that runs about a mile to the shore of Lake Union. How sort of European! Finally this whole part of Seattle is getting a makeover. If I had a million dollars I could probably buy a studio apartment that'll be worth three million in a few years.
It's only 5:42 but it's, of course, dark. I won't bother unloading photos until after we go back home. There's no rush but everything will surely be closed tomorrow. Maybe I-5 won't be crowded as we travel back up to the Canadian border during the late morning or early afternoon.
and all through the Eighth Ave Inn
not a creature was stirring not even ...
Okay, so I'm not much up to my rhyming old self.
So far the trip has been nice. We left before breakfast yesterday and got all the way to Bellingham before eating in a Country Buffet in the mall. We walked around in the mall before flying down the Interstate in the rain. We got right into the city easily and arrived too early to check in. For some reason they wouldn't let us have the room available until 3:00. So we walked to the commercial section of downtown and even to the Pike Street Market. Incidentally, they do continue to throw fish in the winter. After checking into the Inn, we got a call from the Thomas family. Joel, Lynne, Ben and Whit arrived and whisked us off to dinner in at a Bippy de Peepo or something like that. It was an Italian, family-type restaurant right down here close to Lake Union. It was fun and filling. It's the type of place where groups order large dishes and then everybody takes some. Everybody took a lot but our waitress still packed up the extra for us.Speaking of eating, there is a nice breakfast offered where we're staying. It's just continental but there there plenty of fruits, yogurt, as well as cereals and muffins. This morning, we took our coupons from Expedia and walked right to the Music Experience Project. It was interesting especially the hand-on sections. I wish I'd had access to something like that as a child. Who knows, I might've been a rock star. The science fiction museum, obviously another of Paul Allan's hobbies, was interesting enough. I couldn't help but hold my Samsung cell phone on the opposite side of the glass from the Original Startrek series communicator. It was life imitating fiction. We ended up eating in the Westlake Center after trying out the new trolley car that runs about a mile to the shore of Lake Union. How sort of European! Finally this whole part of Seattle is getting a makeover. If I had a million dollars I could probably buy a studio apartment that'll be worth three million in a few years.
It's only 5:42 but it's, of course, dark. I won't bother unloading photos until after we go back home. There's no rush but everything will surely be closed tomorrow. Maybe I-5 won't be crowded as we travel back up to the Canadian border during the late morning or early afternoon.
Sunday, July 08, 2007
X Minus One ... for Your Ear Buds
Now that I've made time for audio in my life, I'm discovering there's simply too much available. Although I selectively copied several gigabytes of music on my Creative Zen, it seems that I spend more time listening to podcasts. People think of iPods or mp3 players as music players. So it's a little ironic I spend most of my time listening to people chatting.
Another irony involves how well the concept of old-time radio fits into today's iPods or mp3 players. By the time I was growing up the large networks had already morphed into television and standardized on musical radio formats. I always thought older people who talked fondly about listening to radio drama were silly old fogies.
Unfortunately, I guess really classic radio used to be produced live. It wasn't until the 50's when networks relented to using recordings. Due to this, a lot of the old stuff is forever gone. What remains can can easily be made into mp3 files. I discovered a Sci-Fi series quite by accident.
I listened to only one episode but decided I want to listen to all the others. Even though it's available for free copying on the Internet, I wanted to automate loading into my Creative Zen on a weekly basis. Okay, I was curious to see how easy it would be to set up a podcast feed too. I set up a site to syndicate X Minus One. I'll post a new episode in sequence each week and you're welcome to follow along. Try the intial one and let me know if you successfully captured it on your audio device.
[LINKS ABANDONED}
Another irony involves how well the concept of old-time radio fits into today's iPods or mp3 players. By the time I was growing up the large networks had already morphed into television and standardized on musical radio formats. I always thought older people who talked fondly about listening to radio drama were silly old fogies.Unfortunately, I guess really classic radio used to be produced live. It wasn't until the 50's when networks relented to using recordings. Due to this, a lot of the old stuff is forever gone. What remains can can easily be made into mp3 files. I discovered a Sci-Fi series quite by accident.
I listened to only one episode but decided I want to listen to all the others. Even though it's available for free copying on the Internet, I wanted to automate loading into my Creative Zen on a weekly basis. Okay, I was curious to see how easy it would be to set up a podcast feed too. I set up a site to syndicate X Minus One. I'll post a new episode in sequence each week and you're welcome to follow along. Try the intial one and let me know if you successfully captured it on your audio device.
[LINKS ABANDONED}
Labels: Creative Zen, podcasts, sci-fi
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Going Where Mankind Has Gone Before
Last spring in this blog, I made comments as to why the television program, Star Trek: Enterprise, had failed so quickly.
Recently, I came across chatter on the Internet about the original series. Since last fall, newly remastered episodes are being released more or less week by week. I have found them in high-definition on the ABC network and now my PVR records them. They rather quietly show up on the schedules on Sunday evenings after midnight!
The Original Series - Star Trek's Uhura (Nichelle Nichols).
She was a black woman in a position of authority. This may not
sound like much in today's world, but seeing her as a female
commissioned officer and part of the international cast on
1960's TV was extremely important for my generation.
Supposedly most of the space shots have been replaced with CGI. There's talk that even some live-action backgrounds have been changed with actors removed and replaced. The changes are not too invasive though as I haven't noticed a single one.
What I have noticed is how much better the close-ups are. Nowadays, Canadian William Shatner is a bit of a media whore and I devotedly watch him on every new Boston Public. He was, of course, physically more impressive but much less expansive 40 years ago. The colours and scenes are very detailed and bright. The backgrounds were never really the important part of the episodes anyway. The original series was successful because, however corny, each show left one with something to think about.
I've only caught two of the remastered episodes but have been left with real questions. Is it possible to have life based on silicon rather than carbon? Could Spock (with a beard) in an existing, alternate universe affect changes that would made that universe more human before he returned to his own? The only thing I considered about after Star Trek: Enterprise was how much power their phasers must have used.
Recently, I came across chatter on the Internet about the original series. Since last fall, newly remastered episodes are being released more or less week by week. I have found them in high-definition on the ABC network and now my PVR records them. They rather quietly show up on the schedules on Sunday evenings after midnight!
The Original Series - Star Trek's Uhura (Nichelle Nichols).
She was a black woman in a position of authority. This may not
sound like much in today's world, but seeing her as a female
commissioned officer and part of the international cast on
1960's TV was extremely important for my generation.
Supposedly most of the space shots have been replaced with CGI. There's talk that even some live-action backgrounds have been changed with actors removed and replaced. The changes are not too invasive though as I haven't noticed a single one.
What I have noticed is how much better the close-ups are. Nowadays, Canadian William Shatner is a bit of a media whore and I devotedly watch him on every new Boston Public. He was, of course, physically more impressive but much less expansive 40 years ago. The colours and scenes are very detailed and bright. The backgrounds were never really the important part of the episodes anyway. The original series was successful because, however corny, each show left one with something to think about.
I've only caught two of the remastered episodes but have been left with real questions. Is it possible to have life based on silicon rather than carbon? Could Spock (with a beard) in an existing, alternate universe affect changes that would made that universe more human before he returned to his own? The only thing I considered about after Star Trek: Enterprise was how much power their phasers must have used.
Labels: sci-fi, television
Monday, January 01, 2007
Not SciFi. It really is . . .
When I was small even the new millennium sounded so distant. I wondered if by now we'd be flying into Times Square with Jetson-type saucers.
On the SkyTrain last night, I realized those on the train who were twenty were barely teenagers in the year 2000. Don't get me wrong; I'm not complaining at all! The more New Years we see, the better! We did go downtown last night just for a glass of midnight champagne at the Duff before it becomes all upscale this year.
Actually, the Waterford-crystal ball is dropping in NYC right now. That's only thanks to the hard disk in the satellite receiver. It's the first time we've seen it in high-definition, so I suppose even if I don't have a flying saucer parked downstairs ...
Labels: sci-fi
Friday, September 01, 2006
The House Began to Die
I was inspired by this morning's inclusion of a viewing box. As well as a graphic, one can hold a piece of text too. I have decided to add a story that has helped to define me. I loved science fiction, even as a kid. I struggled with Asimov, but found Ray Bradbury's writing style approachable. We used to have Prize Speaking when I was in high school. I don't think I ever did especially well but when learning something by heart, it stays there. To be more accurate, it stays in one's head, I guess.
I have already placed one of these memorized stories in this blog. It is Poe's The Cask of Amontillado. I recall trashing an entire section of that wonderful tale while in front of an audience. I'm sure I could do much better nowadays!
Now, I'd like to add this Bradbury classic.
Use the scrollbar in order to see the entire text.
I have already placed one of these memorized stories in this blog. It is Poe's The Cask of Amontillado. I recall trashing an entire section of that wonderful tale while in front of an audience. I'm sure I could do much better nowadays!
Now, I'd like to add this Bradbury classic.
Use the scrollbar in order to see the entire text.
Labels: literature, sci-fi
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Why There's No Star Trek
I have always been a fan of science fiction although I'm not a certifiable Trekkie. I did watch all the series: the original, New Generation, Deep Space 9, Voyager, and the short-lived Enterprise. It all began 40 years ago this fall. I find it sad that nothing from the franchise is currently under production. I could have offered suggestions and advice to the writers.
1) Stay away from over reliance on shoot 'em up sequences. Star Trek fans were always more interested in the science than phaser pyrotechnics.
2) Keep each episode a story unto itself. We were never interested in storylines that played out over an entire season.
3) Give us something to think about. We are more intelligent than most television viewers and could handle difficult concepts.
4) Keep it upbeat. We have a strong belief in technology and wanted to see a future that's better because of it.
There's not too much on TV. The only science fiction show that seems to be fulfilling a majority of these requirements is Stargate Atlantis.
1) Stay away from over reliance on shoot 'em up sequences. Star Trek fans were always more interested in the science than phaser pyrotechnics.
2) Keep each episode a story unto itself. We were never interested in storylines that played out over an entire season.
3) Give us something to think about. We are more intelligent than most television viewers and could handle difficult concepts.
4) Keep it upbeat. We have a strong belief in technology and wanted to see a future that's better because of it.
There's not too much on TV. The only science fiction show that seems to be fulfilling a majority of these requirements is Stargate Atlantis.
Labels: sci-fi, television
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
A Big T-Square and Long Legs
Some movies are good because they were good; whilst, some are good because they were so very awful.I got a kick out of an extremely poor quality, 1951 sci-fi flick called, Flight to Mars. The acting was nearly as poor as the special effects. There was no emotion when, upon landing on Mars, the crew encountered a civilization that appeared just like humans. The outside of the rocket ship looked like a cardboard-covered BIC lighter and the inside looked like an ordinary room with one round window. And to top it off, it had silly dialog and a terribly-unsatisfying conclusion but, hey ... it was in Supercinecolor! Here's my final observation:
It's perfectly okay to fall in love with a Martian gal as long as she's got an enormous t-square and legs that never end!
Saturday, April 02, 2005
Forbidden Planet
In 1956, it was a big-budget SciFi film. Some of the effects were, indeed, ahead of their time. Because I spent yesterday afternoon watching the DVD, I now know that people in space were using realistic lazer guns long before Star Wars. Of course I grew up with TV's Lost in Space, but how would I have known their faithful robot was a rip off of glass-covered, solenoid-head Robby? Even Star Trek creator, Gene Roddenberry, stole the concepts of "beaming" and "teleporting" from here. I guess the film's mildly-annoying electronic music was a real innovation as well. The most dated aspects of the film are the lone girl's dresses and the crew's chauvinistic attitude towards her.
Speaking of old things, this movie starred Leslie Nielsen (left) as Commander Adams. I generally think of him from Airplane! or the Police Sqad series. He was okay in this movie, but I still would rather think of him being funny. My goodness, Leslie's one Canadian-by-birth who's surely been kicking around Hollywood for a while!
Speaking of old things, this movie starred Leslie Nielsen (left) as Commander Adams. I generally think of him from Airplane! or the Police Sqad series. He was okay in this movie, but I still would rather think of him being funny. My goodness, Leslie's one Canadian-by-birth who's surely been kicking around Hollywood for a while!
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Being Centered
I love this movie. Although it's exactly my age, it must've often shown on TV when I was a kid. I am so thankful for DVD technology and the fact so much old stock now shines brightly in original, movie-threatre format. Many old films have been remixed to take advantage of Dolby Digital 5.1 too.
Can you guess which movie this scene is from? A group of four men, a woman, and a goose are in a gigantic-mushroom forest. Look closely and you will spot the face of a dinosaur-sized lizard lurking in a back cave. After not too long, the humans take a saucer to the surface. I'll post the answer tomorrow . . .
Can you guess which movie this scene is from? A group of four men, a woman, and a goose are in a gigantic-mushroom forest. Look closely and you will spot the face of a dinosaur-sized lizard lurking in a back cave. After not too long, the humans take a saucer to the surface. I'll post the answer tomorrow . . .
Monday, January 10, 2005
What a Rush!
It's not as profound as suddenly grasping the concept of the circle of life, but I do enjoy when isolated occurrences seem to merge.
What we've got here is a classic, 50's sci-fi thriller called, It Came from Outer Space. I have to admit a weakness for these adventures and blogged about When Worlds Collide just about a year ago. This genre of film served as an inspiration for many future educators and scientists, I would presume. In one blog entry, I even tried to relate some societal implications of science fiction on film.
Today, I want to relate how two separate streams from my strange taste in movies seemed to coalesce due to one actress: Barbara Rush. She won the 1954 Golden Globe for the MOST PROMISING NEW COMER (FEMALE). Yet, I'd come to know her in my oft-cited, favorite early-80's exploitation flick, Summer Lovers. In that great period-piece, she portrayed the mother of the character played by Daryl Hannah.
I found this connection interesting.
What we've got here is a classic, 50's sci-fi thriller called, It Came from Outer Space. I have to admit a weakness for these adventures and blogged about When Worlds Collide just about a year ago. This genre of film served as an inspiration for many future educators and scientists, I would presume. In one blog entry, I even tried to relate some societal implications of science fiction on film.
Today, I want to relate how two separate streams from my strange taste in movies seemed to coalesce due to one actress: Barbara Rush. She won the 1954 Golden Globe for the MOST PROMISING NEW COMER (FEMALE). Yet, I'd come to know her in my oft-cited, favorite early-80's exploitation flick, Summer Lovers. In that great period-piece, she portrayed the mother of the character played by Daryl Hannah.
I found this connection interesting.
Tuesday, November 23, 2004
Move Over, Brad.
"... Everyone enjoyed the movie, Polar Express. Our school had done the story as a play some years ago. I was a little bothered at one point when the characters broke into song, in what had not appeared to be a musical up top that point. The computer animation is definitely a new "best" and seeing humans animated so real was a bit disturbing. Last movie that I saw there was the Matrix. Canada will always be where I go to see breakthrough movie technology!"
- Joel Thomas
I will look forward to seeing that movie. Ebert talked about it perhaps becoming a 'Christmas-time classic'. Other critics have said it's a bit 'creepy' which is probably not the best adjective with which to market a Christmas movie. At what age group do you think it's aimed?
Oh, regarding earlier attempts at human animation, did you ever see Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within ? It's science fiction with a Japanese anime undercurrent. It is now over three years old, but I thought the characters were quite convincing even then.
In the future we'll be able to 'bring back' dead actors, or perhaps make 'a star' out of anybody. Hum .. would I be willing to pay extra bucks to see a movie where I had a leading role? My avatar is uploaded to the studio and a personalized print of the movie is sent back to me ... watch out Brad Pitt!
- Dennis Hurd
- Joel Thomas
I will look forward to seeing that movie. Ebert talked about it perhaps becoming a 'Christmas-time classic'. Other critics have said it's a bit 'creepy' which is probably not the best adjective with which to market a Christmas movie. At what age group do you think it's aimed?
Oh, regarding earlier attempts at human animation, did you ever see Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within ? It's science fiction with a Japanese anime undercurrent. It is now over three years old, but I thought the characters were quite convincing even then.
In the future we'll be able to 'bring back' dead actors, or perhaps make 'a star' out of anybody. Hum .. would I be willing to pay extra bucks to see a movie where I had a leading role? My avatar is uploaded to the studio and a personalized print of the movie is sent back to me ... watch out Brad Pitt!
- Dennis Hurd
Labels: Christmas, futurecast, Joel, movies, sci-fi
Monday, March 15, 2004
Freedom from Master Control
The entry yesterday made me think of things from that era. Kind thoughts of the early 80's might be due to my age. I mean hair was big if not awesome, wasn't it? More importantly, I consider it as the beginning of a paradigm shift in society's relationship with electronic communications.
In order to capture that feeling of a time when personal computers were new, I went to the video store and rented Tron (1982). Before that movie, I don't think I had ever seen cyberspace represented on the silver screen. Even on the re-mastered, 20th-anniversary DVD edition, the effects were interesting. The dialog was extremely awkward, silly, and stilted. Though it must be pointed out that most audiences wouldn't have had a clue about the vocabulary references in the year of its release. For example, you'd have had to know a little about binary theory to appreciate the orphaned, floating bit which could only respond by saying, "Yes," or "No."
Even though the words might not inspire, in 2004, the audio still rocks thanks to a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack.
In order to capture that feeling of a time when personal computers were new, I went to the video store and rented Tron (1982). Before that movie, I don't think I had ever seen cyberspace represented on the silver screen. Even on the re-mastered, 20th-anniversary DVD edition, the effects were interesting. The dialog was extremely awkward, silly, and stilted. Though it must be pointed out that most audiences wouldn't have had a clue about the vocabulary references in the year of its release. For example, you'd have had to know a little about binary theory to appreciate the orphaned, floating bit which could only respond by saying, "Yes," or "No."
Even though the words might not inspire, in 2004, the audio still rocks thanks to a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack.
Sunday, January 04, 2004
Space, Sci-fi, and Societies
One of yesterday's entries was about an old, science fiction movie. It got me thinking: Could the United States of America have realized a manned mission to the moon in 1969, had it not been for the cheesy, space sci-fi films of the 40's and 50's? In other words, do dreams of a future actually help create one?
I was introduced to Hindi movies when I first worked in the Persian Gulf in 1981. India has a tremendously prolific film industry. Bombay (now Mumbai) cranks out over 1000 films annually. The term Bollywood combines Bombay plus Hollywood. By the way, the production of Tinseltown, USA cannot match that rather ambitious number of titles. Typical Bollywood plots can be rather predictable though. There are a frighteningly small set of characters, topics, and situations. Nearly all contain obligatory dance numbers, and in recent years these inevitably seem to take place in front of landmarks in foreign countries. (Is this so the cast and crew get free holidays?)
One missing genre has always been science fiction. What does the future hold for a country without celluloid sci-fi? Here are two interesting details that I found while searching the web:
Number One - Others have considered how sci-fi films might affect Indian society.
Number Two - Times are changing! The biggest hit of 2003, Koi Mil Gaya, featured a mentally challenged boy who makes contact with an alien!
I was introduced to Hindi movies when I first worked in the Persian Gulf in 1981. India has a tremendously prolific film industry. Bombay (now Mumbai) cranks out over 1000 films annually. The term Bollywood combines Bombay plus Hollywood. By the way, the production of Tinseltown, USA cannot match that rather ambitious number of titles. Typical Bollywood plots can be rather predictable though. There are a frighteningly small set of characters, topics, and situations. Nearly all contain obligatory dance numbers, and in recent years these inevitably seem to take place in front of landmarks in foreign countries. (Is this so the cast and crew get free holidays?)
One missing genre has always been science fiction. What does the future hold for a country without celluloid sci-fi? Here are two interesting details that I found while searching the web:
Number One - Others have considered how sci-fi films might affect Indian society.
Number Two - Times are changing! The biggest hit of 2003, Koi Mil Gaya, featured a mentally challenged boy who makes contact with an alien!
Thursday, October 23, 2003
Asimov at the Theatre
In July 2004 the movie I, Robot will be released. It will feature Will Smith as Detective Del Spooner.In the middle of this summer, I took this from the third level of the downtown parkade. This location will be used right at the beginning of the film as this represents the neighbourhood where the detective lives.
The area is really New Westminster's Front Street and usually known as "Antique Alley" because it has a number of those shops. It is about a block from this apartment.
Locate additional information at the my eJournal and images blog site.