JeffHorneWeb Blog - Reviews

When Bad Upgrades Happen To Good People

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 20:15:00 -0500

So the most popular social network on the internet, Facebook celebrated their sixth anniversary by rolling out a layout upgrade. Unfortunately for the millions of users, the layout was not all that changed. I and many others have been having trouble with the Most Recent News Feed. It used to be called the Live Feed but all I see now is posts from no more recent than two hours ago.

Oddly enough, I sometimes do see current news but as soon as I refresh the page, bang, back to two hours old. Hopefully they will fix their bug soon. Recent polls show that 94% of Facebook users are not crazy about the changes.

How advantageous for Google to debut their Social Network Google Buzz, tied to G-Mail. It's not live for the masses yet, but once it is, it will be interesting to see how many defectors it will take with it.

Aside from the lost News Feed entries I don't care for the hidden logout link. After some searching, I found it. The icons next to the loo are fine, I can live with. I can live with most changes. I can not live with the flaky News Feed. That is the reason I use the site. I do not play Farmville, Mafiaville, Horoscopeville or any other game that requires access to my profile info and that of my friends.

I use the Facebook to reconnect and stay connected with friends, old and new. Without that, it is a worthless website. The Social part of the Network is missing.

So far, Facebook's new upgrade gets One Billy.

Fanboys

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:40:00 -0500

Tonight we watched the film Fanboys. It tells the story of a group of Star Wars fanboys who are getting ready to see the release of Star Wars Episode 1 in 1999. Any of us who are fans of any particular films series, even one starring an oversized, radioactive lizard from Japan can relate to their tale.

The film has plenty of cameos and in-jokes that fans of Star Wars can appreciate. After looking into the film on IMDB, I learned that it was delayed over and over until it was finally released in a very limited run in a very small number of theaters in February 2009. Apparently The Weinstein Company and the dire straits of their films' repeated box office results caused them to reshoot several scenes a year and a half after it was complete in an effort to make a film that would appeal to non-genre fans.

As a result, any buzz for the film was lost. Petitions and protests were organized asking that the film not be recut or changed from the original vision of director Kyle Newman. After all the delays, any buzz that remained was gone. When it's theatrical run finished, it grossed just over six hundred thousand dollars.

We enjoyed the movie a lot. There are some very funny scenes. The cameos work very well and the characters are well developed and reminded me of the many friends I've met through conventions and comic stores over the years. While not a perfect film, it is made by people who respect the subject matter. For that reason, anyone who has seen Star Wars, has been to a comic convention or a comic store should see this film.

I give Fanboys three Billys.

Return of the Bunnymen

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:26:00 -0500

I have been a fan of Echo and the Bunnymen since Crocodiles in 1980. In addition to Ian McCulloch's raw, baritone voice, I have always been blown away by Will Sergeant's guitar. The melodies he weaves into the guitar breaks are things of beauty. The band broke up after the release of 1987's Eponymous album that spawned their beiigest hit, Lips Like Sugar.

After a modestly successful solo career, McCulloch, Sergeant and original bassist Les Pattinson hooked back up in 1997 with Evergreen (Original drummer Pete de Freitas died in a motorcycle accident in 1989). After a few albums, Echo and the Bunnymen were down to a duo, with mixed results. Then in 2005, they release the album Siberia. I was stunned at how strong this album was. It easily stood up against their earlier work.

As new that they were readying The Fountain for release, my personal expectation were high. Released this week in the US, The Fountain may be their strongest album since their heydays of the 1980s. I recently read an article that McCulloch has just the whisper of the voice he had in his prime. What singer doesn't lose something after he hits his mid-30s? Listening to the several live albums the band released earlier this decade, I was afraid the article was right. He constantly went for the lower octave rather than hitting the highs that moved the songs along in their original incarnations.

Well, something happened between the live albums and The Fountain. Hopefully, it was just a case of smoker's throat and he has quit because the voice is back. I've been watch an Echo and the Bunnymen show on DirecTV that appears to be from SXSW and he doesn't shy away. Good thing.

So what are the highlights of The Fountain? The first single, Think I Need It Too leads off the album with a bomb blast of Sergeants trademark guitar wash. It is a driving song that doesn't sound like a group of late 40/early 50s post-punk, Liverpudlians trying to relive their glory days. Everlasting Neverendless could have easily been an outtake from Porcupines.

The Fountain is a great new album. It moves, rocks and makes you say Welcome Back Echo and the Bunnymen. This album will get plenty of playtime in my house.

Footnote: Unfortunately the band's 2009 US tour has been postponed until April of 2010.

This Couple Enjoyed This Retreat

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:08:00 -0500

Mary and I went to the theater last night and took in the Vince Vaughn ensemble comedy Couple's Retreat. It has received fairly unfavorable reviews that we both think are unwarranted. It received a paltry 12% fresh rating at Rotten Tomatoes. That doesn't speak very well for our taste in comedy, apparently.

The film tells the story Vaughn and his inner circle of friends, all of whom are married. All of the couples have relationships are in various states of stability. Jason Bateman and Kristen Bell approach their friends with a proposition to attend the couples getaway in an effort to repair their crumbling marriage. Although it's met with resistance at first, it obviously works itself out, otherwise the film would only be twenty minutes long.

The cast is great. In addition to Vaughn, it stars Malin Akerman, Jon Favreau, Jason Bateman, Kristen Bell, Kristin Davis, Faizon Love and Jean Reno. Constant Favreau and Vaughn co-hort Peter Billingsley makes his directorial debut.

I laughed quite a bit throughout this film. Favreau, Vaughn and Dana Fox share writing credit. My only possible complaint is that it could have been trimmed. I still maintain that a comedy should not be longer than 90 minutes. A body has a hard time sustaining laughter for a period over that length. To stretch it past 90 minutes is asking an awful lot. The film better be pretty darn funny to go beyond that point.

I also felt Jean Reno's character was weak. His performance seemed hollow. But there are enough strong characters around him to pick up the slack.

While the film is nearing the end of it's theatrical run, I recommend picking it up for rental when it hits DVD release.

I give Couples Retreat two and a half Billys.

Metal On Metal

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:25:00 -0500

The film Anvil: The Story of Anvil is a film that anyone who has been in a band should see. We can easily relate to the trials and tribulations this band goes through. We will find it depressing as we relate the the hardships they go through trying to keep their dream alive.

Anvil is a Canadian Heavy Metal band that apparently influenced a number of more famous bands like Metallica, Antrax, Twisted Sister and Slayer. The toured in the late 1970s and early 80s releasing several albums that garnered them plenty of interest. Unfortunately, that interest didn't amount to anything as bad managerial decisions and bad luck plagued the band pretty much ad infinitum throughout their 30 year career.

Anvil: The Story of Anvil tells the tale of the band and follows the current incarnation of the band, founding members Steve "Lips" Kudlow (lead vocals, lead guitar) and Robb Reiner (dums) as well as two hired guns. As I watched, I found the film very depressing as the core duo try to continue their dream only to have it come crashing down at almost every turn.

They are very likable guys but they are musicians who make music. They are not business men and do not surround themselves with strong businessmen who can manage their careers and look out for their best interests. Instead they stumble and bumble as they attempt to capture the elusive dream and spread the music that means so much to them to the masses.

The film has many redeeming qualities and I'm glad I stuck with it until the end, regardless of the emotional toll it took on my psyche.

Sometimes you just need a good rock and roll cry for your brethren.

God Speed Anvil. I hope you are finally able to capitalize in the business that has shat upon you for the past 30 years.

I give Anvil: The Story of Anvil three Billys.

Knowing Me Knowing You

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:37:00 -0500

Tonight's film was Knowing starring Nick Cage. Knowing is a thriller that tells the story of a school that places a time capsule in the ground in 1959. One of the students places a page of apparently random numbers in the capsule. When the capsule is opened in 2009, Nic Cage's son receives the page of numbers.

Nick plays John Koestler, a professor from MIT, who stumbles upon the secret of the numbers. After John discovers their meaning and becomes obsessed with unlocking the secret of the final numbers, he sets out to save people from the events yet to happen.

This is a special effects movie that allows the viewer to uncover the secret that Nick does. It moves fairly quickly and sets the viewer up for the ending. How one deals with the ending is approached from several angles. This is a film based on faith and how one's faith prepares them for the end of time.

I liked the film and found myself trying to solve the puzzle along with Koestler. The ending was an effects eye candy wonder to behold. Depressing eye candy but candy nonetheless.

Knowing was directed by Alex Proya, who also directed The Crow, Dark City and I, Robot.

I give Knowing Three Billys.

I'm Going To Zombieland

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 18:46:00 -0500

The makers of Zombieland followed the important rule of releasing a Halloween/Scary themed movie several weeks before Halloween so that people will see it prior to being burnt out on all things Halloween related. I decided to take full advantage of the opportunity as we near the mid-way point of October.

Narrated by Adventureland star Jessie Eisenberg's character Columbus, Zombieland is really a Woody Harrelson tour de force. It tells the story of survivors of a virus induced Zombie outbreak in the USA and their quest to reach "the place where there are no zombies." That place is different for each character as everyone has heard different information.

Zombieland is much like Shaun of the Dead and the original Dawn of the Dead. Dark humor reigns. The film clocks in at a relatively brisk 88 minutes. And that is just fine. It blasts off from the get go and never lets up.

Go see Zombieland before Halloween. I give it Four Billys.

It

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 20:44:00 -0500

Last night, we fired up PlayOn and watched some Hulu goodness. Turns out they have a number of old MGM SciFi movies. We decided to watch It! The Terror From Beyond Space.

It! is a classic 1950s Sci-Fi film but in all my years, I had never seen it. I had recently read that it was one of the influences on Ridley Scott's Alien but until I'd seen It!, I didn't know just how much.

Marshall Thompson, the pride and joy of Peoria, Illinois, plays Col. Edward Carruthers to great affect. He’s a very strong 1950s style hero/love interest. Yes, of course, the pretty female crew member, played by Shawn Smith, not only respects the Colonel’s authority but she falls for him in the end.

As for the alien itself, It’s not the greatest screen alien but Ray “Crash” Corrigan, in his last screen role, plays it to the hilt, portraying the seemingly unstoppable It.

How similar is this film to Alien?

Spoiler Alert…

We get explosives wired to the ventilation system, a creature who terrorizes the crew right outside the ship’s main deck and when it seems all is lost, the Colonel opens a door to the outside which creates a vacuum that sucks the creature out into space.

As I said, It! is a classic 1950s alien Sci-Fi film and It is sure a lot of fun.

District 9

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:22:00 -0500

I saw District 9 this weekend. Who stars in it? I have no idea. Who directed it? No idea either. Was it good? You betcha. It was the rare SF film that actually lives up to the hype.

It tells the story of aliens who are on Earth and have been interred at an area of Johannesburg called District 9. Playing at a brisk one hour and forty-eight minutes, it is clever, well paced and has an engaging storyline. District 9 is worthy film that brings a new and interesting twist to the alien vistor genre.

I give District 9 three and a half Billys.

Ponyo

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 19:47:00 -0500

We saw the latest entry in the Studio Ghibli canon, Ponyo, tonight. It is a typical, first rate experience that is strongly recommended for the whole family. The animation is wonderful. The backgrounds all have a colored pencil look that makes the whole experience other worldly.

I still appreciate hand drawn animation. Hayao Miyazaki is the master of it. Not just the look but the story and movement is solid. His ability to capture flight through animation has always been top notch. With Ponyo, he shows that he can capture underwater movement as well.

The voice actors are great. Tina Fey voices Sosuke's mother, Liam Neeson and Cate Blanchett voice Ponyo's parents. Lily Tomlin, Betty White and Cloris Leachman voice some older women. Ponyo and Sosuke are voiced by a Jonas and a Cyrus. They did a fine enough job. Disney is distributing the film and has advertised it enough, so if they want to put their own stable in the title rolls and it sells more tickets and brings this wonderful film to more US viewers, I'm fine with that.

Sadly, the theater was fairly empty but our showing was at 6:15. I really, really hope other showings do better. This film and Miyazaki deserve much better.

I give Ponyo four Billy's.