News Archive - September 2004
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9-27-2004
Net Enigma. With the shape I'm in you could donate my body to science fiction.
Last Wednesday night Todd and I went and saw the new movie Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow. Overall, a very good movie.
Starring Jude Law as Joe the Sky Captain, Angelina Jolie as Franky and Gwyneth Paltrow as Polly Perkins, this film perfectly captured the retro-futuristic feel of a 1950's TV serial.
Shot in muted colors giving the feel of black and white (very film noir), the cinematography was, perhaps, the best I've seen since Lord of the Rings. With WWII era fighters, robots and plenty of Art Deco to go around, the movie was very fun to look at, even more so when you realized that probably 95% of the sets were computer generated.
There were plenty of nods to movies such as Star Wars, the Indiana Jones franchise and even Lord of the Rings. We meet Polly and the Joe as robots attack New York city. They are collecting equipment that the evil Dr. Totenkopf, played in archive footage by Sir Laurence Olivier, is using to build a spaceship to act as an Ark. Not only is he moving animals off the Earth but he plans to destroy the planet as he goes because he believes that humans are destroying their world.
The movie has tons of action and plenty of funny moments. Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow have great chemistry and they both have classic looks that add to the '50's feel. Giovanni Ribisi plays an underused character named Dex; a comic book reading, ray gun inventing engineer pal to Law's Sky Captain.
The story has a grand scale and the script has plenty of dialog to keep you interested. The action isn't over the top and the PG rating makes the movie perfect for a family afternoon. Director Kerry Conran, who also wrote the movie, pulled off a great feat in his directorial debut. I look forward to seeing more of his stuff in the future...including any sequel to Sky Captain that may be in the works.
The movie took a chance at being different than the other stuff Hollywood is pumping out and hit a home run. The character development, plot and effects all worked together to make a really fun movie. I'll easily recommend it to anyone and give it a well deserved 3.5 wheels of cheddar out of 4.
NAFTA At Work
One of the great things about the North American Free Trade Agreement is that every year Canada can export its greatest assets to the US. That being beautiful young women.
You can thank Canada for the likes of Shania Twain, Elisha Cuthbert, Emmanuelle Vaugier and Avril Lavigne. Today we wish Avril a happy 20th birthday and what better way for her to celebrate than to be on the cover of the newest Maxim Magazine.
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New TV Season
Been watching any of the new television series now that the 2004/2005 season has kicked off? So far I've only picked up about 4 new shows and I don't know how long I'll stick with all of them. I've been watching the new FOX show "North Shore" but I don't know if I'll keep with it, it's okay but it's no "The O.C." I need me some Rachel Bilson!
"Hawaii," "Lost" and "The Mountain" round out the other new shows I've been watching. "Lost" takes a try at the stranded-on-a-deserted island genre and it'll be interesting to see where it goes. And hey, if nothing else, being stranded with a hero of the War of the Ring has to be a good thing right? Heh. Dominic Monaghan, Merry in Lord of the Rings, is one of the stars.
"Hawaii" is notable for the return of one of my favorite actors, Michael Biehn, to TV. Plus, set a show in Hawaii and hot broads are sure to turn up.
"The Mountain" is the other show that I'm not sure if I'll stick with. Set at a ski resort in Colorado (or somewhere) this is another The WB soap with teen angst, hot chicks and too much dialogue. Oliver Hudson stars but I have to tell you, of the 10 main credits on Goldie Hawn's baby boy's resume, 3 of them are for The WB. That's 30% brother! I may be watching this show for the bitches, but Oliver, you are officially The WB's bitch. But, invite your hot-ass sister Kate over for a cameo and I'll let it slide
9-14-2004
Net Enigma. "Too many good docs are getting out of the business. Too many OB/GYN's aren't able to practice their love with women all across the country." - G. W. Bush on the campaign trail.
I wrote a full 3 page dissertation on why the expiration of the 1994 assault weapon ban is a non event that the media has blown out of proportion. Then I scrapped it because I started to sound like a sarcastic ass.
Instead, let me point out a couple things. First to John Kerry who said the expiration of this law will help terrorists buy assault weapons. Fuck you. I guarantee that terrorists were not sitting around waiting with baited breath for the law to expire so they could run out and buy a bayonet for their AK-47. Guess what, THEY ALREADY HAVE THEM. They usually keep them right next to their RPG and mortar tube in the garage...you know, beside the tank of ammonium nitrate, back behind the diesel fuel. Making that statement was as irresponsible as Cheney implying that a Democrat in the White House would lead to the US getting "hit" again.
Secondly, to the liberal media. If you don't fully understand something I don't feel you are qualified to report on it. I have yet to hear a news report on this topic where the reporter actually took the time to read the law and discover that, hey, it's asinine, it didn't work and in the end, NEVER did anything to actually remove weapons from the street in the last 10 years.
That's right boys and girls, the guns that you so fear will now be rampant on the street because this law expired have been here amongst you all along. And guess what? Violent crime is at a 30 year low and the murder rate of approximately 16,000 per year is at a 1960's level. You know, back when peace and love was the order of the day.
And finally, no matter what anyone tells you, fully automatic weapons will NOT suddenly become legal because this law died. Full auto weapons were illegal BEFORE 1994, stayed illegal during the 10 year assault weapon ban and will CONTINUE TO BE ILLEGAL in the future.
Finally, I invite anyone that thinks the expiration of the assault weapon ban will lead to higher crime rates, murders and the degradation of America to an open debate in the forums. Be forewarned, however, I've actually read this law and am fully prepared to factually tear down any and all comers. Come mentally unarmed to the forums at your own risk.
9-11-2004
I guess you've probably noticed that I haven't done many updates this month. For the last week or so leading up to today, 9/11, I didn't feel that anything going on was really worth cracking wise about. Nothing seemed relevant or important even with major events happening in places like Iraq, Russia or even Florida.
So for my update today, I ask you all to just take moment and reflect on what happened three years ago on a sunny Tuesday morning and everything that has come since.
Think about family, friends or those who have given their lives either on 9/11 or in the two wars that we've fought since then.
9-2-2004
Net Enigma. Hates a car.
The hoopty is headed for the shop tomorrow. After the torrential rainfall we had on Monday I checked out the trunk of my car, knowing I had a small leak. Well that leak was more than "small" as I have about an inch of standing water in the spare wheel well. Yay. Hope it doesn't cost too much to get it fixed. If it's going to be out of hand it might actually be cheaper to just buy a new car.
Sucks to be Russian
What's up with all the terrorist activity in Russia in the last week? Two planes a bus and now kids in a school? Someone is really trying to get a point across but I have to say that blowing up kids in school is the last place you're going to get any sympathy.
If it is Chechen rebels, as the news reports say, I think you're going to find yourself in a world of hurt after this. Remember Afghanistan after 9/11? A mere out-of-hand Fourth of July party compared to the fireworks that'll be going off if the halls of learning get torched.
I think that if those kids get our alive though, they're going to have flashbacks every time they see a "Stay in school" commercial.
Slam dunk
So Kobe Bryant isn't going to trial in the rape case. The case was dismissed on motion from the District Attorney because they didn't feel that the victim could continue.
Gee, ya think? I'm sure it didn't have anything to do with her name being released to the public...twice. Or the fact that her sexual history was emailed to the press. Nah, couldn't have had anything to do with that.
I have to say though, this judge, Terry Ruckriegle, is a total tool. Someone should investigate this guy and toss him out on his ear. I really hope in Colorado that not all criminal cases are handled this badly.
Just ignore the signed Lakers jersey, the team basketball and Kobe's championship ring sitting in the glass cabinet in Terry's den, I'm sure he got them on eBay.
In all fairness though, usually I tend to think the worst of "stars" when they get caught with their hand in young boys pants...Oops, that's Michael, sorry. Ahem, what I meant to say is that normally I think the worst when your ex-wife and boyfriend are stabb...Wait, that's not it either. I got it; I sometimes think poorly of stars when police accidentally find the body of a dead woman in the trunk...Crap, that's not it either!
Um, okay, here it is; usually I think that stars are automatically guilty when they get picked up for a crime but with Kobe I wasn't sure what to think. I mean, he's a good looking guy, he's rich, built, blah, blah, blah. I have a problem believing that he had to rape a 19 y/o Colorado hotel employee when he could get the P to drop anywhere. So Kobe; good on ya brother. Now slide the broad that fat payoff check and get back to playing some hoops. You need to get practiced up for Beijing in 2008.
What the hell
To celebrate September here's some Random Porn for y'all.
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