Tag Archives: movies

Updates, Chrome, ChaCha, Netflix Comments

A brief update

  • I recently found myself some consistent employment working evenings at a candy shop. It’s a lot of fun; (almost) everyone who comes in is happy, because, you know, they’re in a candy shop.
  • This weekend I will be moving into my new apartment with three new room mates, one of which is a very old friend of mine, as well as a Modeus Designs collaborrator. The new place will be much closer to campus, and will have a higher bathroom-to-occupant ratio.
  • As I was planning out my classes for this quarter, I discovered I wasn’t as finished with my religious studies minor as I thought. I still need to take one more class. Luckily, I should still be able to graduate on time in the Spring. Good thing I double-checked! I’m actually happy about this, because I really wanted to take another religion class this year.
  • I’ve been playing with wikis lately. I set up two of my own, and have been learning a lot about how to work them. Now I feel I have something new to add to my resume.

» Continue reading “Updates, Chrome, ChaCha, Netflix”

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Published:
September 2, 2008 – 10:11 pm
Author:
By J. Mattocks

Plot Device Comments

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Cyanide and Happiness, a daily webcomic
Cyanide & Happiness @ Explosm.net

It seems like there’s a story in here. Some things just “pop,” you know?

If you had a “plot device” button, would you press it? Obviously there’s a high risk of danger. But if you find yourself complaining of boredom, why not?

I don’t know if this site is legal or not (and if it is, HOW it can be), but VirtualNES.com lets you play myriad classic Nintendo Entertainment System games directly from your web browser. I recommend Deja Vu, which is a really freakin’ cool Myst-style mystery game. The connection between this and the plot device is more emotional than logical, but it exists. I think maybe if you played the game you’d feel it, too. I just watched my character die by explosion when he tried started a car. Despite the setback, I’m far more amused than deterred; I enjoy a good mystery almost as much as I enjoy pretending to experience things that only happen in stories (and in the lives of others which, to him, seem only fantastic).

Last night, in preparation for the sexy new reboot with Edward Norton, I watched Ang Lee’s Hulk from 2003.  I found the experience thoroughly unenjoyable, yet I can’t quite dismiss it as a “bad” movie. There’s something else there that “pops.” It felt somehow like a candy-coated, subdued acid trip. I guess this can largely be attributed to the semi-surreal stylization reminiscent of an obnoxious art film. But this pop-ness suggests something else, something that works on the subconscious level. I don’t know if it’s worth watching just for the experience, but I promise analyzing the movie is far less mind-numbing than actually watching it.

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Published:
June 13, 2008 – 7:26 pm
Author:
By J. Mattocks

Casablanca Comments

After seeing the title pop up in every “best movies” list I’ve come across, I finally decided to watch Casablanca.

Holy crap, that was a good movie. I mean, wow. That was the most well written movie I’ve seen in a long time–possibly ever. I mean, the characters! It had real characters, with depth, motivation, and personalities! The lines were so unbelievably smart, and the plot was engaging and complex, cinematic and utterly human, theatrical while remaining completely believable and understandable. There were times during the film when I would actually say to myself aloud, “damn this is a good movie!”

Now that I’ve finally seen the movie, I’m thoroughly disgusted and repulsed by the thought that my father, of all people, thought “they” should make a sequel. While we’re at it, let’s add to the Sistine Chapel. You know, a painted floor might be a good idea. Since it was such a hit, let’s make it entirely out of brown patina!

Dad, come on. No way.

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Published:
January 4, 2007 – 3:40 am
Author:
By J. Mattocks