...hell. they lost me when I had use pads with eight million buttons. I don't have the patience for that. I'm not sure what that's got to do with being a boy or a girl.
Its quite a jump from the "games don't have to be masculine or feminine" to something that implies they can't handle buttons.
I agree that is more a market that hasn't been tapped- the industry has no real comprehension of women as a market because it hasn't had to follow it.
Still, if gamers ever want the industry to get some respect, it'll have to. It can continue merrily occasionally railing that its not considered a viable medium that could be art instead of mere entertainment.
Its a Catch-22, it needs women to join to diversify the companies to produce stuff to get women interested in games, and then working in it...
"Guys like fantasy games. Women tend to like more "realistic" games, despite the fact that really, they're fantasy as well."
And not to pick too much, but that's the sign of the boy's club. I'm sure every woman who plays games knows well enough that its not real as well. That's not exactly the point is it? The "despite that" just sounds like low grade sniviling, oh, how silly they are. A decent point can get lost in there.
I liked the sims. So does my cousin (who's a woman). And I like management games (city/sports/etc...) and so does she. And story adventure games. The line I think is less about fantasy/reality, but the focus of the games themselves. Warcraft is a whole bunch of killing to me (and I did play it a lot)- but like all the people in the mmorpg who do trades and crafts instead of hunting and looting- you can be in "fantasy" just as well as "reality" games. If the distinction was just setting, counterstrike would have a lot more female gamers.
You know, I hate the stiff prices as much as anyone, and if I still role-played much (the group moved and so it goes) I'd gripe a bit more with you, but I'd say that for one, its no different than the completist attitude of all those side handbooks. I know my group collected mroe than a handful. As always, you can skip them if you don't want them. An experienced group can adapt old/new products pretty easily to whatever system you're using.
Aside from working in publishing now and knowing how much these things cost to make, just a glance at what other companies are making shows you that costs have risen across the board. Printing, paper- its excused a bit because its gotten better, but more than anything else the inflation of costs have sent it up.
Reminds me of the Bells suing the hackers for releasing info that was for sale from their own catalogs. Info that was worth $8.60 or something by mail was suddenly classified and stolen, and worth hundreds of thousands when the hackers were sued....I think it was Phrack...
I completely agree, a lot of people in academia, or even working, aren't just in it for the money. I'm in publishing myself, ask me what I think of IT salaries.
That said, what is a geography degree for anyway? Security issues aside, it doesn't sound like a terribly innovative topic for a PhD. useful, interesting, and not necessarily trivial, but a doctorate?
And to the geography fans out there, I honestly don't know what goes on in university level study for it, and therefore could be completely wrong.
Eh, more power to them. You're right, the timeline's probably too short, but if China's good at one thing, its committing itself to grandiose plans no one else considers reasonable. At least they won't have to displace villagers for it.
On the other hand, I think you're underestimating the gov'ts ability to turn sizable educated portions of their population to whatever project they want. Its not just cheap labor.
Besides, we need to get started on a moonbase to build the big laser. Or else the Martians are going to be able to just walk right in.
To the extent that the kid getting an a ridiculous sentence might get the people in control to change it, yes, I suppose so. Then again, that approach hasn't worked for the Rockefeller (NY drug) Laws either.
I was more reacting to notion that it wasn't worth any punishment, since it just incovienienced a game company and its players.
I don't know enough about the case to say the hackers will be prosecuted to extreme. Saying you'll push it to the "these individuals will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law" is more a stock phrase to me, but if true its not something I endorse either.
It'll either take some civil disobdience- pleading guilty but resisting transfer to a prison? Or a campaign to the companies involved to push for a reasonable penalty. The plaintiffs themselves saying the law goes too far will capture more media (and gov't) attention than a group of concerned citizens might.
This is informative? I'm not saying that the hackers ought to be sent to a labor camp over this, but letting it go is like not prosecuting the shoplifter 'cause they're murders in the world.
No one reasonable is asking for the cops to stop chasing terrorists to do this, but we as a society prosecute any crime (even stupid ones, to even stupider lengths) as a principle.
And just because other problems exist, doesn't mean you let the little ones slide. No one's time is that hard up.
I posted these things before, and as much as I love karma, I'm doing it again 'cause I'm genuinely interested if anyone had this take:
I think its strange in a movie with so many takes at the fallibility of perception and versimilitude that people don't take seriously the possiblity that Neo has gained powers outside the Matrix, and insist that what he emerges in must be a second matrix. If he is the 6th iteration of an anomaly that gets stranger every time, why not? (I do take the 6 as a reference to the Mayan world epoch calender, any version number will do honestly). He has a connection to Agent Smith- another anomalous intelligence (artificial or otherwise) with insight to the system as a whole.
If we grudgenly accept the human as batteries thing, why can't Neo take his connection to machines wireless in the "real" world? Part of him still jacked into the matrix and therefore the system, and therefore the machines. Before you know it he can take them over...
Agent Smith can just as easily take over someone by taking over their code- the brain wiring. People are jacked in as brains, not bodies. When he envelopes the person in the matrix, he's refashioning their entire minds to fit his own. And when they wake up, they're agent smith. He should theoretically be disoriented in non-matrix real world, but if he maintains a kind of hive consciouness trhough a connect to the system (which he senses better than Neo, per their covnersations- a connection Smith acknowledges but Neo just likes to answer "I know" to everything. I don't think he does know.) perhaps he copes together as a Hive mind.
Considering the prophecy notions- taking the Melvigian (sp?) take on human behavior as pure human impulse through causality- you'd figure a lot of what anyone is planning ought to be able to be statistically predicted by the an architect, or any massive computer. Esp. if- more than being programs, as the Archtiect mentioned, even your checmical reactions in the body (DNA as source code) could be influenced. Its a fundamental paradox in the idea of an all-knowing Creator/God. What's the difference between an ineffable plan and predestination. And if there is a plan, which will always play out since God is an expert-what is the pt?
How it all pans out- choice vs. being controlled, is up to a personal view or the W bros. Considering the they're alive hopefulness of the Morpheus speeechs, I lean away from the Matrix within a Matrix/ Prisoner "Who is number one" take - though I admit its possibly. I just don't feel they'ed end it with a box inside a box endless loop of questioning.
neo is the first fully unpredictable person who manipulates the choices as well as the architect program. The no-win of the two doors turned into a win- or delay fo the endgame in the "real world."
I'm sorry that sex, mostly tastefully done i think was a disturbance to you, but it was an R rated movie...and since violence no longer matters (anyone notice Wolverine's kill count in X2? and that was PG-13)- the Matrix series is by no means lighter on violence than others.
Mind you, I was perplexed when the future became Rave nation party central- but I understand it thematically. The preceding speech by Morpheus emphasized the fact that Zion was about being human, and the joy of life. Now, they could've had happy people holding hands, but instead they show an orgy of people ecstatic intercut with Neo and Trinity. Its humanity in more primal aspect- but clean and natural. These are two people in love making love, the phsyciality of enjoying life that no machine can ever mimic, even if it manages to mimic impulses. you missed the bit with chocolate, but that could be more about the basic impulses that programs can influence, but not control.
T&A? Sure, but that reaction has more to do with movie prudishness with nudity (and the assumption that naked means humping on the ground)- in women in general and god forbid men.
There was a time when sex was still considered a sacred act, and not dirty. It is a temple that they dance in after all. There is a difference sexuality as sensuality and sexuality as something that amounts to pronography. I take the former as the intent... Salon has a pretty good review with this take on it.
I don't think they pulled all this off, but I do think the W bros intended the movie as more than sensationalism and spectacle. I do distinctly prefer this to juvenile takes on sexuality.
...were the upper torso's rounder and chunkier than most takes?
That aside, I loved the set pieces. So this is what Jet Li would look like with more money. Keanu Reeves scenes in particular really went up a grade. I think I've watched too many kung-fu movies, but I always find the non-trained actors (even ones as extensively trained as Carrie Ann-Moss and Fishburne) looking a bit slow, first Matrix included. But Keanu upped the ante a lot. he could cinematically face Jet Li.
Oh sure, the parent post is flamebaity, but he's right. Most of Lucas' ideas are high production serials or genre pics. This isn't bad just 'cause (but neither is it holy writ, or indicative of our cultural heroic subconscious whatsists). Indiana Jones, Willow, even Howard the Duck, all of that are pretty simple stuff (which for the most part I like- don't like the duck).
We love some of his work, you can argue he captured a zeigiest (sp) or something, but his track record is pretty skimpy the past decade or two as a creative force. And as a creative force he was never that innovative.
But he's grown an ego that matches his success, and that is embarassing. But so is the little fan cult glow. He can do wrong- and you are allowed to say that. you're even allowed to say you enjoyed it (even if it is crap). its not like he's apple...
I work near Radio City, where MTV hosts their awards show, and one afternoon I heard some tinny (speakres and distance, nto comment on her yet) voice being blasted out, and i asked my coworkers, what it was.
"Avril Lavigne."
"Who?"
"You know, blah blah, song title."
"Nope"
Ever since I lost cable, what little ultra popular music knowledge I gleaned from floating by MTV has been lost.
I do know she read some grammy nominations, and mispronounced David Bowie's name (how, one can only guess, its not even a hard name.) and thats not a good sign...
You know, there are people (and rental establishments) that will only want a theatrical cut. There's something to be said for true collectors to only want theatrical cuts.
And not only is it unlikely that printing non-special editions that no one wants is actually wasting money, instead ofmaking money, I know quite a few people who wlike to preserve the illusion of a film, and not have any special features.
And here's the kicker, don't like it, don't buy it. You know better if you want extras, real extras that do happen after movies are made and released and take time to produce, that it'll delay special editions. The filming special filler, thats usually the premade marketing material that they have on hand and already used.
While in the main I agree with directing children away from the seductive internet and the time drain that tv is- the use of the internet, or anything, comes with basic customs that we as users learn to adapt to. I can find porn in the library if I want to. But you know what, I don't bump into it if I'm not looking for it.
At a certain age, people ought to be mature enough to handle these things and subjects without supervision-I have no idea what that age is. I like to think it was before 16 for me...
And I think you cousin wants to look at porn. No general use of the internet ever bombards me with pop-up ads, let along porn ones. I get chevy ads at best.
I also remember Hulk tv movies- may'be on the USA network? Now, this could be a hallucination, but I remember a couple of guest characters in a blind lawyer in black leotards, a pseudo-Daredevil- and a guy in furs that was supposed to pass as Thor.
And you know what, bad as that sounds- the Captain America movie was worse.
I don't think so. I can't think of any other Marvel characters who could carry basically wide appealing movies. Hoenstly, the Icon character in the general populace are done.
Ghost Rider is the only other one I can think of, or Iron Man or FF? But any other recognizable figures are under the X-men franchise don't lend themselves to niche markets or bad stories. Can you imagine the horror of a Captain America movie? Well- may'be I'm jsut flashing back.
Then again, Blade was pretty much a 2nd rung character- I would love a Dr. Strange pic.
I've never been able to really get into Anime since I watched Robotech as a kid. I loved that show, and still love watching it. It's not because I love Anime, but it reminds me of those cartoons.
Are you trying to convince yourself you don't?:P
I still watch the modern adult cartoons: South Park, KOTH, Simpsons, but don't really consider them cartoons. I have enjoyed some Anime movies, but to me, most seem watered down, or geared towards another culture and mindset. I can only watch so many cartoons with giggling girls, food jokes and the like. I enjoyed Ghost in the Shell, though I suppose that's qualified as Magna (I do not know the difference)
But they are cartoons, even if you don't consider them as such. The use of the word tends to confuse medium and genre-
I myself watch a lot of movies- but if I think it has merit beyond entertainment, I know that in conversation I'll refer to them as as a films instead, because it adds gravitas.
It happens in comics as well- when Maus came out, the term graphic novel popped up to give it more seriousness, because bookstores and serious types couldn't be seen dealing with comics. Anime is like any other medium- I'd imagine that South park, and your American made cartoons of choice play off weaker in foreign countries, just as anime does in the US. And this is after ignoring Sat. morning fare (which is the equivalent of what it sounds like you saw Animewise).
BTW, Manga typically refers to the Japanese comic style. Animated = anime. It gets blurred as comics turn to anime and vice versa, but thats the divide.
As for the other things, the Matrix rules, but it's just as much Sci-Fi as anything else.
As for the Matrix, its great sci-fi, and a hodgepodge of various sources, genres and styles, but I think you're confusing the movie with the Matrix related (and Anime influenced) cartoons the festival would be showing
So enough about comics...
on
Ask Warren Ellis
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· Score: 2, Interesting
We love your stuff, and I figure they'll be plenty of questions about them in general.
1) But whose work (outside of comics) are you interested/intrigued by? What's the last book or cd that you had to run out and buy?
2) And since your work is always seemngly so current, what do you use for your news? Anything you turn to first thing in the morning that you read first, or an assortment of things equally?
and alright, I can't help it...a straight comic question:
3) I really enjoyed your run in the Authority, when i picked it up in trade. I'm wondering what do you think about the direction that the Authority has taken and how much involvement you have if any with it? I never ventured further than one storyline and a few scattered issues after you left-- it just seemed to take a more juvenile power-mad posture instead of the fun?-but morally centered powered up version I felt your stories had...
That might be because he's the big man now, leader of the two man show. He's by far the best of big-name critics, with exposure and a wide range in his taste.
On the other hand, I do find I disagree with him more often now, but he lays out how his opinions form most of the time.
I do think he plays to level of his partner, though, and when it was Siskel, they kept each other honestand pretty sophisticated, whereas Roeper- lets just say that if he likes something I do, I start rethinking it.
I like the Onion reviewers the most- they pan a lot, but usually its funny at least. They come as hard-core fans of any genre, so when they do come along to praise something, i always respect it.
One of the strongest parts of the series was its ability to built to this, why still being episodic (instead of arbitrary serial cuts) and having self-contained episodes anyway.
That said, I kind of prefer Vincent to Vicious. Besides having a less silly name, I understand him a bit better. Definately, Spike's motivations and interests are clear in the build up, but I think Vicious is pretty blank. He's jealous, interested in Julia, but other than that, hes just a really mean guy- a place holder for a villian that could have been fleshed out a bit more.
I quite liked it, it didn't blow me away, but I enjoyed myself. My biggest problem with it was the pacing- it was like a two or three parter in two hours. Paced in tv increments. At its length, I was hoping for a more unified ride. The bits of excitement all seemed to come at the same times for me.
But I was particularily pleased with the music. I always sort of dread their english language songs, I always feel like they're being sung by people who's english is the second language and it sounds awkward.
Visually, I liked it, and I'd like to give the creators credit by saying if the graphics didn't integrate to rest of the images, its cause they wanted it that way. The world is clear and smooth, and static, really, but people are lanky and awkward.
I say the 2 hour compression of the plot allowed for the series pseudo philosophies (anymore taoist buttefly references?) to come out stronger than normal, but everything criticized in the parent post was in the original series.
Ed has always been the rubbery comedic relief, and combined with Ein was clearly an audience favorite.
I'll give you the Faye's cut top as an unnecessary add-on, but like Jupiter Jazz (the only plot point nude shot in anime) it was done as tastefully as it could have been. She's always irritated me, but thats mainly because she's the overt sexuality that they like to inject into the show- mostly pandering to adolescent fans (to me, as I said, she irritates me, but hey). That said, her quiet episodes were the best, and they didn't have time for that, and I felt she got one action sequence, and captured and written out of the story.
Jet, much as I like him, never does much, even in the series. Its Spike's show, let's be honest here. A couple character specific episodes, a multitude of contacts and snitches, but not a really active role.
Spike came out more prominently because he was meant to be Vicnent's foil (I didn't it see it too much though). His interest in Elektra was uncharacteristic, I thought he flirted with women (Faye) at best, but only cared for Julia throughout the series.
And Vincent- I think he was supposed to have escaped before the grenade, but geez, now's not the time to get upset over people surviving explosions like that. Spike has been falling on concrete, water, and anything else fromhundreds of feet up regularily since the series started. He's always mystically up and running. Jet's shot in the last two episodes of the series, and suddenly medical supplies have run out?
His philosophy was amoral, or perhaps too insular, it wasn't exactly nihilistic or else he would've just killed earlier. I think they pushed it awkwardly, but he's meant to be the manifestation of Chuang Tzu's (sp?) parable about the man who dreams he's a butterfly or vice versa. With no past, he no experience, no proof of existence- he's a dream or a trick of light.
Lastly, the love story was hammy? And Morocco, or Native American wisemen with wolves hasn't been from the start of the series? Its a melodrama, from the outset. I'm back and forth on my appreciation of it, but its not a knock. I expect it. Since episode one...
I'm thinking that most projection failures today don't have anything to do with what software is running them. Cinemas, especially the multiplexs are businesses first run for money. As such, the trends have been to staff them with less and less people (except selling concessions) with more and more automated equipment. Its not unusual for there to be one guy or gal running from screen to screen tweaking the focus. There isn't someone sitting back there all the time anymore. So when there's a problem, expect a long wait-- but if it goes more digital, I consider that a good thing. And other companies can jump in and compete anyway.
And I know its digital, but I'd relish the idea of seeing the next Star Wars melt in a burst of flame. Just a little.
In the context of the Patriot act though, does Paypal itself know thats what the companies it services are using it for?
I don't know enough about how they register to say, but is it something like the post office, where I could very well be using them for any number of illegal things, paying gambling debts, ferrying contraband material of various sorts- and I would deserve to be punished.
Basically, is PayPal being charged for a betting crimes they knowingly let through or not?
I myself don't play too many of these games, online or not. But it sounds like they should add ref to games in their next incarnation. or something like a DM/GM/etc... in role playing games.
Or a couple of the players can sit out a game by getting fragged and ghosting around to keep the rest honest. Its like being goalie in pickup soccer games, the majority of people don't like it, but if you rotate the job between (reasonable) players I don't see the problem.
Slashdot Mirror
...hell. they lost me when I had use pads with eight million buttons. I don't have the patience for that. I'm not sure what that's got to do with being a boy or a girl.
Its quite a jump from the "games don't have to be masculine or feminine" to something that implies they can't handle buttons.
I agree that is more a market that hasn't been tapped- the industry has no real comprehension of women as a market because it hasn't had to follow it.
Still, if gamers ever want the industry to get some respect, it'll have to. It can continue merrily occasionally railing that its not considered a viable medium that could be art instead of mere entertainment.
Its a Catch-22, it needs women to join to diversify the companies to produce stuff to get women interested in games, and then working in it...
"Guys like fantasy games. Women tend to like more "realistic" games, despite the fact that really, they're fantasy as well."
And not to pick too much, but that's the sign of the boy's club. I'm sure every woman who plays games knows well enough that its not real as well. That's not exactly the point is it? The "despite that" just sounds like low grade sniviling, oh, how silly they are. A decent point can get lost in there.
I liked the sims. So does my cousin (who's a woman). And I like management games (city/sports/etc...) and so does she. And story adventure games. The line I think is less about fantasy/reality, but the focus of the games themselves. Warcraft is a whole bunch of killing to me (and I did play it a lot)- but like all the people in the mmorpg who do trades and crafts instead of hunting and looting- you can be in "fantasy" just as well as "reality" games. If the distinction was just setting, counterstrike would have a lot more female gamers.
You know, I hate the stiff prices as much as anyone, and if I still role-played much (the group moved and so it goes) I'd gripe a bit more with you, but I'd say that for one, its no different than the completist attitude of all those side handbooks. I know my group collected mroe than a handful. As always, you can skip them if you don't want them. An experienced group can adapt old/new products pretty easily to whatever system you're using.
Aside from working in publishing now and knowing how much these things cost to make, just a glance at what other companies are making shows you that costs have risen across the board. Printing, paper- its excused a bit because its gotten better, but more than anything else the inflation of costs have sent it up.
Reminds me of the Bells suing the hackers for releasing info that was for sale from their own catalogs. Info that was worth $8.60 or something by mail was suddenly classified and stolen, and worth hundreds of thousands when the hackers were sued. ...I think it was Phrack...
I completely agree, a lot of people in academia, or even working, aren't just in it for the money. I'm in publishing myself, ask me what I think of IT salaries.
That said, what is a geography degree for anyway? Security issues aside, it doesn't sound like a terribly innovative topic for a PhD. useful, interesting, and not necessarily trivial, but a doctorate?
And to the geography fans out there, I honestly don't know what goes on in university level study for it, and therefore could be completely wrong.
Eh, more power to them. You're right, the timeline's probably too short, but if China's good at one thing, its committing itself to grandiose plans no one else considers reasonable. At least they won't have to displace villagers for it.
On the other hand, I think you're underestimating the gov'ts ability to turn sizable educated portions of their population to whatever project they want. Its not just cheap labor.
Besides, we need to get started on a moonbase to build the big laser. Or else the Martians are going to be able to just walk right in.
To the extent that the kid getting an a ridiculous sentence might get the people in control to change it, yes, I suppose so.
Then again, that approach hasn't worked for the Rockefeller (NY drug) Laws either.
I was more reacting to notion that it wasn't worth any punishment, since it just incovienienced a game company and its players.
I don't know enough about the case to say the hackers will be prosecuted to extreme. Saying you'll push it to the "these individuals will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law" is more a stock phrase to me, but if true its not something I endorse either.
It'll either take some civil disobdience- pleading guilty but resisting transfer to a prison? Or a campaign to the companies involved to push for a reasonable penalty. The plaintiffs themselves saying the law goes too far will capture more media (and gov't) attention than a group of concerned citizens might.
This is informative? I'm not saying that the hackers ought to be sent to a labor camp over this, but letting it go is like not prosecuting the shoplifter 'cause they're murders in the world.
No one reasonable is asking for the cops to stop chasing terrorists to do this, but we as a society prosecute any crime (even stupid ones, to even stupider lengths) as a principle.
And just because other problems exist, doesn't mean you let the little ones slide. No one's time is that hard up.
I posted these things before, and as much as I love karma, I'm doing it again 'cause I'm genuinely interested if anyone had this take:
I think its strange in a movie with so many takes at the fallibility of perception and versimilitude that people don't take seriously the possiblity that Neo has gained powers outside the Matrix, and insist that what he emerges in must be a second matrix. If he is the 6th iteration of an anomaly that gets stranger every time, why not? (I do take the 6 as a reference to the Mayan world epoch calender, any version number will do honestly). He has a connection to Agent Smith- another anomalous intelligence (artificial or otherwise) with insight to the system as a whole.
If we grudgenly accept the human as batteries thing, why can't Neo take his connection to machines wireless in the "real" world? Part of him still jacked into the matrix and therefore the system, and therefore the machines. Before you know it he can take them over...
Agent Smith can just as easily take over someone by taking over their code- the brain wiring. People are jacked in as brains, not bodies. When he envelopes the person in the matrix, he's refashioning their entire minds to fit his own. And when they wake up, they're agent smith. He should theoretically be disoriented in non-matrix real world, but if he maintains a kind of hive consciouness trhough a connect to the system (which he senses better than Neo, per their covnersations- a connection Smith acknowledges but Neo just likes to answer "I know" to everything. I don't think he does know.) perhaps he copes together as a Hive mind.
Considering the prophecy notions- taking the Melvigian (sp?) take on human behavior as pure human impulse through causality- you'd figure a lot of what anyone is planning ought to be able to be statistically predicted by the an architect, or any massive computer. Esp. if- more than being programs, as the Archtiect mentioned, even your checmical reactions in the body (DNA as source code) could be influenced. Its a fundamental paradox in the idea of an all-knowing Creator/God. What's the difference between an ineffable plan and predestination. And if there is a plan, which will always play out since God is an expert-what is the pt?
How it all pans out- choice vs. being controlled, is up to a personal view or the W bros. Considering the they're alive hopefulness of the Morpheus speeechs, I lean away from the Matrix within a Matrix/ Prisoner "Who is number one" take - though I admit its possibly. I just don't feel they'ed end it with a box inside a box endless loop of questioning.
neo is the first fully unpredictable person who manipulates the choices as well as the architect program. The no-win of the two doors turned into a win- or delay fo the endgame in the "real world."
I'm sorry that sex, mostly tastefully done i think was a disturbance to you, but it was an R rated movie...and since violence no longer matters (anyone notice Wolverine's kill count in X2? and that was PG-13)- the Matrix series is by no means lighter on violence than others.
Mind you, I was perplexed when the future became Rave nation party central- but I understand it thematically. The preceding speech by Morpheus emphasized the fact that Zion was about being human, and the joy of life. Now, they could've had happy people holding hands, but instead they show an orgy of people ecstatic intercut with Neo and Trinity. Its humanity in more primal aspect- but clean and natural. These are two people in love making love, the phsyciality of enjoying life that no machine can ever mimic, even if it manages to mimic impulses. you missed the bit with chocolate, but that could be more about the basic impulses that programs can influence, but not control.
T&A? Sure, but that reaction has more to do with movie prudishness with nudity (and the assumption that naked means humping on the ground)- in women in general and god forbid men.
There was a time when sex was still considered a sacred act, and not dirty. It is a temple that they dance in after all. There is a difference sexuality as sensuality and sexuality as something that amounts to pronography. I take the former as the intent... Salon has a pretty good review with this take on it.
I don't think they pulled all this off, but I do think the W bros intended the movie as more than sensationalism and spectacle. I do distinctly prefer this to juvenile takes on sexuality.
...were the upper torso's rounder and chunkier than most takes?
That aside, I loved the set pieces. So this is what Jet Li would look like with more money. Keanu Reeves scenes in particular really went up a grade. I think I've watched too many kung-fu movies, but I always find the non-trained actors (even ones as extensively trained as Carrie Ann-Moss and Fishburne) looking a bit slow, first Matrix included. But Keanu upped the ante a lot. he could cinematically face Jet Li.
Oh sure, the parent post is flamebaity, but he's right. Most of Lucas' ideas are high production serials or genre pics. This isn't bad just 'cause (but neither is it holy writ, or indicative of our cultural heroic subconscious whatsists). Indiana Jones, Willow, even Howard the Duck, all of that are pretty simple stuff (which for the most part I like- don't like the duck).
We love some of his work, you can argue he captured a zeigiest (sp) or something, but his track record is pretty skimpy the past decade or two as a creative force. And as a creative force he was never that innovative.
But he's grown an ego that matches his success, and that is embarassing. But so is the little fan cult glow. He can do wrong- and you are allowed to say that. you're even allowed to say you enjoyed it (even if it is crap). its not like he's apple...
I work near Radio City, where MTV hosts their awards show, and one afternoon I heard some tinny (speakres and distance, nto comment on her yet) voice being blasted out, and i asked my coworkers, what it was.
"Avril Lavigne."
"Who?"
"You know, blah blah, song title."
"Nope"
Ever since I lost cable, what little ultra popular music knowledge I gleaned from floating by MTV has been lost.
I do know she read some grammy nominations, and mispronounced David Bowie's name (how, one can only guess, its not even a hard name.) and thats not a good sign...
You know, there are people (and rental establishments) that will only want a theatrical cut. There's something to be said for true collectors to only want theatrical cuts.
And not only is it unlikely that printing non-special editions that no one wants is actually wasting money, instead ofmaking money, I know quite a few people who wlike to preserve the illusion of a film, and not have any special features.
And here's the kicker, don't like it, don't buy it. You know better if you want extras, real extras that do happen after movies are made and released and take time to produce, that it'll delay special editions. The filming special filler, thats usually the premade marketing material that they have on hand and already used.
While in the main I agree with directing children away from the seductive internet and the time drain that tv is- the use of the internet, or anything, comes with basic customs that we as users learn to adapt to. I can find porn in the library if I want to. But you know what, I don't bump into it if I'm not looking for it.
At a certain age, people ought to be mature enough to handle these things and subjects without supervision-I have no idea what that age is. I like to think it was before 16 for me...
And I think you cousin wants to look at porn. No general use of the internet ever bombards me with pop-up ads, let along porn ones. I get chevy ads at best.
I remember it- it sucked indeed.
I also remember Hulk tv movies- may'be on the USA network? Now, this could be a hallucination, but I remember a couple of guest characters in a blind lawyer in black leotards, a pseudo-Daredevil- and a guy in furs that was supposed to pass as Thor.
And you know what, bad as that sounds- the Captain America movie was worse.
I don't think so. I can't think of any other Marvel characters who could carry basically wide appealing movies. Hoenstly, the Icon character in the general populace are done.
Ghost Rider is the only other one I can think of, or Iron Man or FF? But any other recognizable figures are under the X-men franchise don't lend themselves to niche markets or bad stories. Can you imagine the horror of a Captain America movie? Well- may'be I'm jsut flashing back.
Then again, Blade was pretty much a 2nd rung character- I would love a Dr. Strange pic.
I've never been able to really get into Anime since I watched Robotech as a kid. I loved that show, and still love watching it. It's not because I love Anime, but it reminds me of those cartoons.
:P
Are you trying to convince yourself you don't?
I still watch the modern adult cartoons: South Park, KOTH, Simpsons, but don't really consider them cartoons. I have enjoyed some Anime movies, but to me, most seem watered down, or geared towards another culture and mindset. I can only watch so many cartoons with giggling girls, food jokes and the like. I enjoyed Ghost in the Shell, though I suppose that's qualified as Magna (I do not know the difference)
But they are cartoons, even if you don't consider them as such. The use of the word tends to confuse medium and genre- I myself watch a lot of movies- but if I think it has merit beyond entertainment, I know that in conversation I'll refer to them as as a films instead, because it adds gravitas.
It happens in comics as well- when Maus came out, the term graphic novel popped up to give it more seriousness, because bookstores and serious types couldn't be seen dealing with comics. Anime is like any other medium- I'd imagine that South park, and your American made cartoons of choice play off weaker in foreign countries, just as anime does in the US. And this is after ignoring Sat. morning fare (which is the equivalent of what it sounds like you saw Animewise).
BTW, Manga typically refers to the Japanese comic style. Animated = anime. It gets blurred as comics turn to anime and vice versa, but thats the divide.
As for the other things, the Matrix rules, but it's just as much Sci-Fi as anything else.
As for the Matrix, its great sci-fi, and a hodgepodge of various sources, genres and styles, but I think you're confusing the movie with the Matrix related (and Anime influenced) cartoons the festival would be showing
We love your stuff, and I figure they'll be plenty of questions about them in general.
1) But whose work (outside of comics) are you interested/intrigued by? What's the last book or cd that you had to run out and buy?
2) And since your work is always seemngly so current, what do you use for your news? Anything you turn to first thing in the morning that you read first, or an assortment of things equally?
and alright, I can't help it...a straight comic question:
3) I really enjoyed your run in the Authority, when i picked it up in trade. I'm wondering what do you think about the direction that the Authority has taken and how much involvement you have if any with it? I never ventured further than one storyline and a few scattered issues after you left-- it just seemed to take a more juvenile power-mad posture instead of the fun?-but morally centered powered up version I felt your stories had...
That might be because he's the big man now, leader of the two man show. He's by far the best of big-name critics, with exposure and a wide range in his taste.
On the other hand, I do find I disagree with him more often now, but he lays out how his opinions form most of the time.
I do think he plays to level of his partner, though, and when it was Siskel, they kept each other honestand pretty sophisticated, whereas Roeper- lets just say that if he likes something I do, I start rethinking it.
I like the Onion reviewers the most- they pan a lot, but usually its funny at least. They come as hard-core fans of any genre, so when they do come along to praise something, i always respect it.
One of the strongest parts of the series was its ability to built to this, why still being episodic (instead of arbitrary serial cuts) and having self-contained episodes anyway.
That said, I kind of prefer Vincent to Vicious. Besides having a less silly name, I understand him a bit better. Definately, Spike's motivations and interests are clear in the build up, but I think Vicious is pretty blank. He's jealous, interested in Julia, but other than that, hes just a really mean guy- a place holder for a villian that could have been fleshed out a bit more.
I quite liked it, it didn't blow me away, but I enjoyed myself. My biggest problem with it was the pacing- it was like a two or three parter in two hours. Paced in tv increments. At its length, I was hoping for a more unified ride. The bits of excitement all seemed to come at the same times for me.
But I was particularily pleased with the music. I always sort of dread their english language songs, I always feel like they're being sung by people who's english is the second language and it sounds awkward.
Visually, I liked it, and I'd like to give the creators credit by saying if the graphics didn't integrate to rest of the images, its cause they wanted it that way. The world is clear and smooth, and static, really, but people are lanky and awkward.
I say the 2 hour compression of the plot allowed for the series pseudo philosophies (anymore taoist buttefly references?) to come out stronger than normal, but everything criticized in the parent post was in the original series.
Ed has always been the rubbery comedic relief, and combined with Ein was clearly an audience favorite.
I'll give you the Faye's cut top as an unnecessary add-on, but like Jupiter Jazz (the only plot point nude shot in anime) it was done as tastefully as it could have been. She's always irritated me, but thats mainly because she's the overt sexuality that they like to inject into the show- mostly pandering to adolescent fans (to me, as I said, she irritates me, but hey). That said, her quiet episodes were the best, and they didn't have time for that, and I felt she got one action sequence, and captured and written out of the story.
Jet, much as I like him, never does much, even in the series. Its Spike's show, let's be honest here. A couple character specific episodes, a multitude of contacts and snitches, but not a really active role.
Spike came out more prominently because he was meant to be Vicnent's foil (I didn't it see it too much though). His interest in Elektra was uncharacteristic, I thought he flirted with women (Faye) at best, but only cared for Julia throughout the series.
And Vincent- I think he was supposed to have escaped before the grenade, but geez, now's not the time to get upset over people surviving explosions like that. Spike has been falling on concrete, water, and anything else fromhundreds of feet up regularily since the series started. He's always mystically up and running. Jet's shot in the last two episodes of the series, and suddenly medical supplies have run out?
His philosophy was amoral, or perhaps too insular, it wasn't exactly nihilistic or else he would've just killed earlier. I think they pushed it awkwardly, but he's meant to be the manifestation of Chuang Tzu's (sp?) parable about the man who dreams he's a butterfly or vice versa. With no past, he no experience, no proof of existence- he's a dream or a trick of light.
Lastly, the love story was hammy? And Morocco, or Native American wisemen with wolves hasn't been from the start of the series? Its a melodrama, from the outset. I'm back and forth on my appreciation of it, but its not a knock. I expect it. Since episode one...
Adios, cowboy.
I'm thinking that most projection failures today don't have anything to do with what software is running them. Cinemas, especially the multiplexs are businesses first run for money. As such, the trends have been to staff them with less and less people (except selling concessions) with more and more automated equipment. Its not unusual for there to be one guy or gal running from screen to screen tweaking the focus. There isn't someone sitting back there all the time anymore. So when there's a problem, expect a long wait-- but if it goes more digital, I consider that a good thing. And other companies can jump in and compete anyway.
And I know its digital, but I'd relish the idea of seeing the next Star Wars melt in a burst of flame. Just a little.
In the context of the Patriot act though, does Paypal itself know thats what the companies it services are using it for?
I don't know enough about how they register to say, but is it something like the post office, where I could very well be using them for any number of illegal things, paying gambling debts, ferrying contraband material of various sorts- and I would deserve to be punished.
Basically, is PayPal being charged for a betting crimes they knowingly let through or not?
I myself don't play too many of these games, online or not. But it sounds like they should add ref to games in their next incarnation. or something like a DM/GM/etc... in role playing games.
Or a couple of the players can sit out a game by getting fragged and ghosting around to keep the rest honest. Its like being goalie in pickup soccer games, the majority of people don't like it, but if you rotate the job between (reasonable) players I don't see the problem.