Link of the Day [7.31.09]

broderic on July 31, 2009

Vampires! Why does it always have to be about vampires?I can't stand them. Reading about them. Watching movies about them.
Even talking about them.Yet, here's an interesting op-ed co-written by the director, Guillermo
del Toro. He writes about the roots of the vampire. I didn't make it
to the end, before I decided to throw this up so that you can tell me of
how cool vampires are. They're no.Ghosts are my thing. The make the hair on my arms stand on end. Give
me a good ghost tale.http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/31/opinion/31deltoro.html

UPDATE: More for your vampire lusting.

(500) Days of Summer

broderic on July 29, 2009

At the beginning of (500) Days of Summer, the film makers intentionally allude to the fact that what you are about to see is a work of fiction, and the story is not about anyone real. While they played it as a joke, sometimes you can imagine yourself in the story. You may feel that you resemble a Summer Finn or you may feel that you resemble a Tom Hanson. There’s a little of both of them in all of us. Unless you are dead to love inside.

The movie is about Tom and Summer and their days in and out of love. The movie wants to avoid any romantic comedy clichés, but does pack some in. The meet cute: “I love the Smiths.” Awww. The fatefulness of love: it works not as you expect, but it does. The quirky sidekicks: no its the guys this time not the girl. The cliché are there, but inverted. I watch a lot and know about romantic comedies and these just jump right out at me. The film makers wanted to hide it but it’s there.

They also hide the tale of the relationship. Yes, they meet and then they break up. The why is harder to grasp. “We fight a lot?” Really? Show me. “I didn’t feel like I wanted to.” Really? Show me where you didn’t. If you put the scenes in chronological order will it show why they broke up? I felt like I missed it. They could’ve made it more clearer.

The writers did a good job at capturing love as seen by a sappy boy. I could be that sappy boy. I too have notions of ideal love. Perhaps looking for too perfect love. I’ll never find it. I credit the writers for making such a realistic story. I’ll not credit myself for feeling so like a Tom Hanson.

What’s there not to like about the film? I didn’t like the happy ending. I didn’t like that love can conquer all at least that is what I got from how Tom broke out of his funk. Yes. Breakups shouldn’t always be good for you. They’re bad. Why does his sister have to be so smart? During the opening credits, I couldn’t believe that a soccer player that young could like The Smiths and the Jesus and Mary Chain. No kid listening to that music looked like that when I was growing up.

What’s good? “She likes Magritte and Hopper.” Hmm-hm. I wish they all could be.

3 of 5 stars.

Yes. It is fun

broderic on July 29, 2009

Joy.

I haven’t ridden as much as I want to. It seems that I really want to share the fun with you, but since I can’t because you won’t enjoy this from the fatcyclist.

Dubbed

broderic on July 28, 2009

I didn’t know Andy was back as side-kick to Conan.

Mount Ventoux

broderic on July 25, 2009

So far, Le Tour has been slightly disappointing. It hasn’t been as exciting, because Astana has been making mince meat of the GC category. They’ve locked it down. No one else has come close, except for the Schleck brothers. They threw a wrench into the Astana train’s gears by climbing onto the podium on Wednesday, the last day in the Alps. It took the long individual time trial to dislodge the oldest, Frank, and Lance Armstrong, the old man, to show them how it’s done.

Today was the Mount Ventoux stage which would sort out the contenders from the pretenders. Usually, a mountain top finish would not be anywhere near the penultimate day of Le Tour. Usually. The GC contenders threw themselves up the slopes of the Giant of Provence. Andy Schleck showed that he was a young rider to contend with. He attacked, and attacked hoping to drag his brother back onto the podium. It did nothing. Lance Armstrong sat on their wheel all ride up not allowing them to breach the strangle lock that Astana has. The other top ten sorted themselves out keeping their places. Contador wins. Tomorrow will just be for the sprinters and the victory laps around the Champs Elysée.

And that’s why it was boring. The same things have happened as when Armstrong won his seven. The strong team goes out and locks down the GC, and the other contenders can only watch. More fireworks.

Afterwards, I went for a quick ride in the heat of the late morning. I should’ve ate breakfast, because their was not gas in my tank. Today was my own suffering on my Mount Ventoux.