Anthony's World

I went to see Iron Man last night with the dudes at Cinerama... the movie is great! I was pretty surprised how well Jon Favreau directed the film and it was the right balance of comedy and action, yet still had plenty of character development and somewhat of a plot. The high tech-ness of everything was awesome, as well as the special surprise at the end. (stay to watch the credits)

Communication is key, and when there isn't any, its rather annoying. Arr.

The Seahawks kicked of training camp and things sound promising! I can't wait to be at the games this year, it's going to be a great season!

And finally, I'm still awaiting to get my GTAIV copy. It doesn't ship until May 5th.

Labels: life, sports, tv/movies

im popping in the Children of Men (HD-DVD!) and getting ready for a pretty tragically sad and depressing film. Of course, I've seen it before, it was my hype movie of 2006, and although it wasn't as glamorous as I had originally hoped, it was a pretty deep and moving futuristic film that's not really that far fetched.

I was thinking the other day of some other sad and depressing films, and I could think of a few that quickly came to mind: Science of Sleep, Munich, Syriana, A Clockwork Orange. Three of those are fairly new, and the other is a classic.

What's the point of this post? I'm not really sure, I felt like blogging something so that was really it. I guess the whole point of this "lonely" post is that I've been in that sort of mood lately; though it's at a time when I am being more social than I have ever been since college. There's so many things going on in my life right now that it's really overwhelming. I'm glad I'm fairly laid back, and calm, otherwise I think I'd be going more crazy than I already am.

Labels: life, tv/movies

Well I ordered a HD-DVD player the other day and it came pretty quickly... and its brilliant! I got the Toshiba HD-A3 player, and it came with 300 and Bourne Identity in the box, followed by 3 additional DVDs free from Amazon -- Top Gun, Face Off, and A Clockwork Orange -- and then 5 more free in the mail, which I haven't picked out yet. I also purchased BBC's Planet Earth documentary on HD and it's really the only HD content I've seen on the player so far... and its visually stunning.

Now I'm watching Flight of the Conchords (on DVD, not HD DVD) and its cracking me up big time. I've only seen a little bit of the show on YouTube, but now I can experience it all. I seem to like non-US television more lately... well US television has hit a pretty big wall since the late 90's so it's nice to have a refreshing alternate.... like this show, The Office, Ali G, Extras, etc.

Labels: hobbies, tv/movies

... These are the words to describe what I've been listening to and what I've been watching. No, I'm not sad. I'm not depressed, not really. It's the Holiday time of year and I can't wait to hang out with my relatives and eat eat eat...

but over the past couple of days, I've enjoyed the dark, gloomy side of life watching some rather depressing films of music icons; anti-heroes.

The first of which is the newly released Anton Corjbin film, "Control." The film was named after Joy Division's song, "She's Lost Control" which is terrifyingly what happened with Ian Curtis's life, the main character of the film, and lead singer and song writer for the influential post-punk band, Joy Division. For those who don't know of them, following Curtis' suicide in 1980, the three remaining members dissolved their band name, and started anew under the title of "New Order." Now, I'm sure you have heard of them....

Joy Division was the guiding light for the post-punk rock scene of the late 70s and early 80s, and the easily the main influences of today's popular alternative music from bands like Interpol, British Sea Power, The Hives, Franz Ferdinand, and the Killers, who cover Joy Division's "Shadowplay" for the film's soundtrack...

but the film isn't all about the band. It's about the life and dreams.... and depression of Curtis. On the outside, he's got a rising rock star career, a legion of devoted listeners, and even has been on John Peel's BBC radio... but on the opposite side is a normal Manchester kid who's battling epilepsy, suffering through a falling apart marriage and an affair, and all the guilt that it brings...

It's an interesting story, and Corjbin films it in film noir style which makes it even more captivating. There's plenty of good music, and Sam Riley not only looks like Ian Curtis but plays the role very well. He even sings... :)

http://www.controlthemovie.com/



Kurt Cobain

Labels: music, tv/movies

While the first ever Sigur Ros official DVD isn't out til later this month in the United States, their new EP/Live record Hvarf/Heima is out and it's fantastic. It is worth every penny you pay for, and I recommend everyone to buy it now!

The Heima DVD, which means "at home" is slated for release in 2 weeks and looks like its packed with visual and aural pleasures that'll be incredible. It's already received critical acclaim at various film festivals, and I just can't wait to get my hands on it. The best thing is that most stores will carry this DVD, including Best Buy and Circuit City.

Please also check out Screaming Masterpiece, which is another great documentary on Iceland's amazing music culture.

Labels: music, tv/movies

Tonight I watched Michel Gondry's The Science of Sleep which is one crazy imaginative ride in the most literal of ways. The premise of the film is about Stephane, a guy who dreams and dreams and dreams, and "inverts his dreams with reality" as his mom says. He meets his neighbor, ironically named Stephany... and the lucid dreams continue like no other. He's in a constant battle between what he dreams and what's actually happening in the real world, all the while trying to hook up with his neighbor, who shares some of his out of this world creativity and cookyness.

The movie shares alot of similar traits to Gondry's big hit Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, but the surrealism is about it. The movie hits on different ideas and all of which is outstanding. I don't know what to feel in the movie, as it seems like it's fun and imaginative, and comedic at times, but it has such an awfully sad and melancholy mood to it through out. You feel so sorry for Stephane and for me, I can almost relate to so much of what he's going through all the time. It's one of those movies that make you sit back and think about your own life, I guess. Maybe it's cause I'm alot like him, one who dreams about wonders, thinks of things I want to build but sometimes may never really do it, and just wants to play play play and then can never figure out what to say at the right moment or any moment for that matter.... ya.

Labels: life, tv/movies

Finally... after 20+ years, ROBOTECH is back, and hopefully to stay! Harmony Gold released the first "new" Robotech animation since 1986's Robotech II: The Sentinels with an all new full featured film, "Robotech Shadow Chronicles."

Woo! I had to get it right away after work and although it has a different feeling to it, its still wetting my appetite for more! If you're a Robotech fan and haven't heard the news, this is the story following the end of the Third Robotech War when the Invid leave Earth. It recaps alot of that war and then goes on to the search for the SDF3 and Admiral Rick Hunter.

The CGI addition is a bit weird at times, and works real well other times. I think they would be better off doing all the transforming mecha in standard cell-based drawings, but it does work OK in computer 3D form.

The story answers some things that were always question marked at the end of the show, but theres plenty more question marks to think about too. Hopefully this is just the beginning of either another (set of) movie(s) or an entire new television series.

Exciting! yay!

As you can see, I am a big time ROBOTECH nerd, and this was, by far, my most favorite and memorable cartoon/anime/tv show of my childhood and early teen years. Heck, it still is.

Labels: tv/movies

Alright, I must admit, The Office was a wonderful television series on BBC. I enjoyed every single minute of the 14 episodes I watched (2 seasons and a 2 part special). Quite a genious method of making a television show and being able to put a plot buried in-between the reality tv-like style. The main draw of the show was the hidden romance and that was exceptionally well done and I'm actually really interested now in buying the box sets of the American NBC version of this show cause I've only seen random episodes here and there of the one on network TV here. It'll be my next fun purchase.

The Seahawks play the poison pill Vikings tommorow. I'm so freakin excited cause I am going to the game!! I found this one out earlier today with Prashant gave me a call cause his roommate Corey couldn't go. Yay! Also, if the Vikings lose, theres a strong possiblility I may be a Viking for Halloween, otherwise I already have most of my pirate costume ready to go.

Ghostland Observatory show was excellent again. I think I lost some of my hearing though temporarily. My ears were still ringing the day after. Adria and I got a nice spot right in front of the lead singer so that was awesome.

Ok, I'm done typing for now. I've drank way too much bier this weekend already...

Labels: tv/movies

Yay! I got my Office DVD box set (series 1 and 2 and specials) in the mail today! Its the BBC original series, and I'm excited. Scared actually cause the building they work in looks alot like the Boeing Materials Technology building I do alot of work in, at least exteriorly. I've never seen the UK verison so this will be neat.

One of these days I have to get Season 3 of Arrested Development too, and its funny cause I own Season 1 and 2 box sets and I have never even see the show before. I will have to have a marathon on both of these shows soon.

I also need to get Twin Peaks DVD sets too...

Labels: tv/movies

I've been stoked to see Wicked for a while now, and I finally was able to see it on Thursday, Sept. 28th at the Paramount Theatre with Adria. After hearing so many good reviews, and hearing about the awards this musical has won, and then some first-hand praise, I was pretty psyched-up to see it. I also learned that the show was sold out and had a very high demand for scalpinage on the internet so just being able to go was pretty darn exciting.

And the show did not disappoint. There was plenty of fun and entertaining moments, and the story adapted by the novel by Gregory Maguire made complete sense with the original Wonderful Wizard of Oz storyline. I really liked the massive use of colors and lighting, and the sets were vivid and imaginary - making it a very enjoyable experience. The music and vocals were far better than I expected. Shoshana Bean, who plays the lead role of the Wicked Witch Elphaba, has a majestic pop star voice, while Megan Hilty, who plays the Good Witch Glinda, has plenty of comedic sass and humor to fit the typical blonde role. It was just a good time, and I'd recommend it to everyone, who has a bit spare change anyway.

Yay!

Labels: events, tv/movies