Film Review...

Caution: May contain spoilers, harsh language, and logical thought. Or maybe not.

"Avatar", the most recent James Cameron flick, could reasonably be subtitled "Dances with Wolves...IN SPACE". First-person narrative, our hero talks directly to the audience for at least some of the film, you have to read the bottom of a fair amount of it (unless you happen to speak Blue Space Kitty), and it's rrreally predictable. Certain major supporting good-guy characters even wear red shirts for your convenience.

All that said, the graphics are amazing. Cameron turns in a truly remarkable visual experience, particularly if you see the 3-D version. I sat in the first row so that the screen was literally wider than my field of vision, and the effect was incredible. You find yourself sucked into the action and graphics despite knowing what's going to happen next...kind of like "Apollo 13" except due to the visuals instead of the acting.

The acting is not bad either. Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana are very believable, and Sigourney Weaver is just plain awesome as the grouchy, old-yet-still-hot scientist. The supporting cast does a great job of starting with the audience's support and losing it during the course of the movie (this is entirely intentional).

More importantly, this movie answers the burning question, "What would happen if the Imperial Space Marines attacked the Dragonriders of Pern?" I know I've wondered that for years.

I'm kind of torn as to whether to give the automatic one-star deduction under the Joe Bob Rule. You see...well, it's too hard to explain. You'll just have to see for yourself.

3 (or maybe 4) stars. Ted sez check it out.

'Nuff Said

h/t to the good folks at Pundit Kitchen

Those Sneaky Invertebrates

Apparently octopi have been observed using tools. What's next, discovering that Atlantis really exists and is home to nuclear-capable molluscs?

Breast flasher run over by distracted driver

WELLINGTON - A teenager flashing her breasts in the middle of a New Zealand road paid for her drunken revelry when a distracted driver ran into her.

Cherelle Dudfield, 18, was dared to flash passing cars in the southern city of Invercargill after a night out drinking with friends.

She had exposed herself to a couple of cars from a strip in the middle of the road when the stunt went awry.

"I seen a car coming towards me on the centrelane, so I decided to run and I got hit," Dudfield told commercial television news.

She was taken to hospital but suffered only a few cuts and bruises after rolling over the bonnet of the car and cracking the windscreen.

The teenager was convicted this week of disorderly conduct and fined in an Invercargill court for her September exploits.

Dudfield said she had learned her lesson and had a message for anyone else considering a similar stunt.

"Don't be me, don't be stupid, don't get drunk and stand in the middle of the road and flash anyone because it hurts when you get hit."

as of 12/17/2009 9:38 AM

h/t to the good folks at ABS-CBN News

Personal Best

It took me until December 15th this year to get sick of hearing xmas carols. Specifically, I wanted to shoot the radio after the umpteenth rendition of "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus".

This may have had something to do with my avoidance of xmas carols until after Thanksgiving.

Which Makes for a Nice Christmas Present

Most of my loyal readers know about the Extreme Drama that has been going on with The Wife's condo. For those that don't, here's a quick recap.

Before we were married, The Wife bought a fairly nice condo (one of 11 units) in a nice little neighborhood near the lake. Shortly thereafter, a tornado removed the roof and then a major hurricane dumped (by my estimate) thousands of gallons of water into said condo. The condo is unlivable. The insurance payout was sufficient to cover the damage. Unfortunately, due to the fact that the rest of the condo assosciation are either incompetent victims of the Luzianne Pubic Skewl Sistim or greedy assholes (or both), the money has been tied up in arbitration for the past 5 years.

Until today. Thanks to the efforts of a court-appointed arbitrator and a particularly expensive lawyer the condo assosciation was required to buy The Wife's condo for approximately her purchase price. This means a few things: 1) we can afford to pay off all of The Wife's debts related to the condo; 2) even after the legal fees are paid we will come close to breaking even; and 3) no more mortgage payments on a condemned property.

So that's good.

Holiday Misgivings

It's close enough to Kwanzaa as makes no nevermind, and folks are starting to get depressed. As one of the many public services we offer here in the People's Democratic Republic of Insomnia, I give you the following words of encouragement:

It's going to get worse before it gets better.

Statistically speaking, you are liked less well and by fewer people than you think.

The cat just wants you to feed it.

The dog, on the other hand, thinks you're awesome.

And so do I.

Happy Holidays from the PDRI.

Discussion Time!

What's the best way to deal with holiday leftovers?