I watched the Matrix Reloaded on TV tonight since it was the best thing on (not saying much).
I hated it the first time - in comparison to The Matrix (which I rate highly) it was all style over substance, it looked as if the budget had gone to the directors' heads and it could have done with a bit of editing. I've always thought that the Matrix could have done without the sequels much as Star Wars could have done without the prequels (or at least Episode 1 which sucked in so many ways).
Well, on second viewing, coming from a totally different direction (expecting the worst instead of the best) it proved to be an enjoyable watch (certainly better than a lot of pretenders) although the Agent Smith(s) got on my nerves a bit ("come on, let's get on with the real story please!").
The acting was good (great support cast and give Keanu a break!), the effects have held up very well, the story actually was good...and it had Monica Bellucci (even if under utilised) ;)
I must have seen something in the first viewing though - I gave it a 7 out of 10 and I'd still stick with that (or even through in a half star if that was possible).
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
Apple isn't perfect at user interface
While I'm a huge Mac fan, I'm certainly not backward in complaining about faults in the Mac OS (even though Windows is more about complaining about what is right).
Here's a good example: Mac users should be well aware that to force quit an application, you go "Apple-Alt-Escape" (or "Command-Option-Escape" if you're a traditionalist). The Menu command shows the keyboard shortcut including 3 symbols that are on my Mac (Apple made) keyboard except for the last symbol which apparently means Escape (or "Esc" on my keyboard). In multiple revisions of OS X, couldn't Apple put a character showing "Esc" into the system font?
While I know the shortcut already, the lack of a correct symbol made using the handy "Complete" command in TextEdit (and many new text applications) hard until I realised what that symbol was.
What the heck is it anyway? A cross between a power button and the symbol for male?
Here's a good example: Mac users should be well aware that to force quit an application, you go "Apple-Alt-Escape" (or "Command-Option-Escape" if you're a traditionalist). The Menu command shows the keyboard shortcut including 3 symbols that are on my Mac (Apple made) keyboard except for the last symbol which apparently means Escape (or "Esc" on my keyboard). In multiple revisions of OS X, couldn't Apple put a character showing "Esc" into the system font?
While I know the shortcut already, the lack of a correct symbol made using the handy "Complete" command in TextEdit (and many new text applications) hard until I realised what that symbol was.
What the heck is it anyway? A cross between a power button and the symbol for male?
Friday, April 25, 2008
ANZAC Day 2008. Dawn service, London
This morning I went to the ANZAC Day dawn service at Hyde Park Corner in London.
It was the first time I'd been to a dawn service since I was in the cub scouts (as far as I can remember).
A thousand or so Kiwis and Aussies defied a stereotype by being both quiet and sober - but seriously, the ceremony was dignified, sober and certainly made you think.
It's a ceremony that has come to mean a lot to the people of New Zealand and Australia - probably (in NZ's case definitely) more important than our national days as the first expedition of the ANZACs (Australia and New Zealand Army Corp) pretty much defined our countries as countries in our own right.
The ceremony also remembers the dead without glorifying war or denigrating the opposition (a number of speeches mention the "enemy" casualties - many former enemies are now firm friends). It makes you hope for the future (and peace) while supporting our current soldiers and respecting their sacrifices and those of their families.
I arrived just after the speeches began (5am) and it was hard to hear the readings but I did see a program after the ceremony and got to read it - it had letters from soldiers - some who lived and some who died at Gallipoli (the battle of Gallipoli started on the 25th of March 1915). Sad but so touchingly human.
I'm glad I made it to the service - it made me also want to go to the service that is held every year at Gallipoli itself.
...although, it made me think (once again) that New Zealand needs a new national anthem. After the vaguely rousing God Save The Queen, and the upbeat Advance Australia Fair, God Defend New Zealand sounds dreary (and not particularly singable) and it is made worse by having it in Maori first (which fewer people know - although it does sound a much better anthem).
While we're at it, when are we going to get the Silver Fern as a flag? An argument has been made that people have fought and died under the existing flag - they fought for our country, our ideals, our people, their families and their lives - NOT our flag.
It was the first time I'd been to a dawn service since I was in the cub scouts (as far as I can remember).
A thousand or so Kiwis and Aussies defied a stereotype by being both quiet and sober - but seriously, the ceremony was dignified, sober and certainly made you think.
It's a ceremony that has come to mean a lot to the people of New Zealand and Australia - probably (in NZ's case definitely) more important than our national days as the first expedition of the ANZACs (Australia and New Zealand Army Corp) pretty much defined our countries as countries in our own right.
The ceremony also remembers the dead without glorifying war or denigrating the opposition (a number of speeches mention the "enemy" casualties - many former enemies are now firm friends). It makes you hope for the future (and peace) while supporting our current soldiers and respecting their sacrifices and those of their families.
I arrived just after the speeches began (5am) and it was hard to hear the readings but I did see a program after the ceremony and got to read it - it had letters from soldiers - some who lived and some who died at Gallipoli (the battle of Gallipoli started on the 25th of March 1915). Sad but so touchingly human.
I'm glad I made it to the service - it made me also want to go to the service that is held every year at Gallipoli itself.
...although, it made me think (once again) that New Zealand needs a new national anthem. After the vaguely rousing God Save The Queen, and the upbeat Advance Australia Fair, God Defend New Zealand sounds dreary (and not particularly singable) and it is made worse by having it in Maori first (which fewer people know - although it does sound a much better anthem).
While we're at it, when are we going to get the Silver Fern as a flag? An argument has been made that people have fought and died under the existing flag - they fought for our country, our ideals, our people, their families and their lives - NOT our flag.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Preparing for bad times?
The "talking point" the UK Conservative Party is throwing around these days is that the Labour Government has left Britain economically imperilled by "not putting aside money in the good times to prepare for the bad times".
Given the Conservative Party's only common policy in the last 20 years (apart from Europe being evil) is to cut taxes (or give back money to the voters) they wouldn't have either. To the best of my knowledge there hasn't been any concept floated of some kind of UK savings account.
The closest I've seen to something along these lines is the Sovereign Wealth funds (and similar things like New Zealand's Kiwisaver plan) where having a large investment fund works like an insurance policy for bad times - although Singapore looks a bit like they invested badly buying into failing banks effected by the "credit crunch" just to have them recapitalise a few months later.
Given the Conservative Party's only common policy in the last 20 years (apart from Europe being evil) is to cut taxes (or give back money to the voters) they wouldn't have either. To the best of my knowledge there hasn't been any concept floated of some kind of UK savings account.
The closest I've seen to something along these lines is the Sovereign Wealth funds (and similar things like New Zealand's Kiwisaver plan) where having a large investment fund works like an insurance policy for bad times - although Singapore looks a bit like they invested badly buying into failing banks effected by the "credit crunch" just to have them recapitalise a few months later.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Forbidden Kingdom
I went to a press screening of The Forbidden Kingdom today in London.
The film's claim to fame is it's the first time Jet Li and Jackie Chan have appeared in the same film together.
It's also based on the Chinese folklore of Monkey which a lot of New Zealanders and Australians grew up with in the classic TV series (queue singing of the theme song "Monkey magic, Monkey magic...") made by the Japanese and dubbed into English.
Despite all that, my hopes weren't high. The movie was actually an American production, with a lot of wire work, and with a (potentially) irritating kid in the lead with a plot aimed at younger people and kids. I went along expecting the worst.
I was pleasantly surprised. We have Jackie Chan back to his most fun - showing off his mischievous "drunken" style of martial arts. His "cheekiness" is superb. Here his age wasn't a liability (he's 54 now and even Jackie Chan needs a break) and he wasn't nearly as "square" as his recent American films. It was worth seeing the film just for him.
Jet Li's main role was quite restrained compared to recent roles but he also starred as the Monkey King - and had a lot of fun with that. I couldn't help wondering if they'd seen the Japanese TV series too.
Like most films of this type we had 2 beautiful Chinese actresses - both who could kick most people's asses. The bad guy was also well done and since it was obviously aimed at a younger audience, his "evilness" wasn't ramped up just to be gruesome (something that should be considered by the directors of most movies) but he did look very competent.
The movie did depend on the (potentially) irritating kid. At an initial look I thought we were going to get the equivalent of Samwise Gamgee trying to learn kung-fu but it turned out Michael Angarano (who has an impressive CV for a 20 year old) was able to act subtly and to look like he might stand a chance in a fight (I don't know how much he trained for this but he looked capable enough at the end). I also liked how his character's name was Jason Tripitikas - having remembered the buddhist priest from the TV show, although that's enough to screw up the sexuality of most kids - the (male) priest was played by a hot looking Japanese actress!
We fortunately didn't get the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe effect where the kids somehow can defeat professional fighters when they haven't got any tangible skills and have just picked up a sword.
The film was good - I'd give it a 7 out of 10 - and is worth going to see (or wait for the DVD). It's good for kids and adults. It made me pop into HMV to pick up a martial arts DVD (oddly no Jackie or Jet - I picked up Chow Yun Fat in Curse of the Golden Flower).
The film's claim to fame is it's the first time Jet Li and Jackie Chan have appeared in the same film together.
It's also based on the Chinese folklore of Monkey which a lot of New Zealanders and Australians grew up with in the classic TV series (queue singing of the theme song "Monkey magic, Monkey magic...") made by the Japanese and dubbed into English.
Despite all that, my hopes weren't high. The movie was actually an American production, with a lot of wire work, and with a (potentially) irritating kid in the lead with a plot aimed at younger people and kids. I went along expecting the worst.
I was pleasantly surprised. We have Jackie Chan back to his most fun - showing off his mischievous "drunken" style of martial arts. His "cheekiness" is superb. Here his age wasn't a liability (he's 54 now and even Jackie Chan needs a break) and he wasn't nearly as "square" as his recent American films. It was worth seeing the film just for him.
Jet Li's main role was quite restrained compared to recent roles but he also starred as the Monkey King - and had a lot of fun with that. I couldn't help wondering if they'd seen the Japanese TV series too.
Like most films of this type we had 2 beautiful Chinese actresses - both who could kick most people's asses. The bad guy was also well done and since it was obviously aimed at a younger audience, his "evilness" wasn't ramped up just to be gruesome (something that should be considered by the directors of most movies) but he did look very competent.
The movie did depend on the (potentially) irritating kid. At an initial look I thought we were going to get the equivalent of Samwise Gamgee trying to learn kung-fu but it turned out Michael Angarano (who has an impressive CV for a 20 year old) was able to act subtly and to look like he might stand a chance in a fight (I don't know how much he trained for this but he looked capable enough at the end). I also liked how his character's name was Jason Tripitikas - having remembered the buddhist priest from the TV show, although that's enough to screw up the sexuality of most kids - the (male) priest was played by a hot looking Japanese actress!
We fortunately didn't get the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe effect where the kids somehow can defeat professional fighters when they haven't got any tangible skills and have just picked up a sword.
The film was good - I'd give it a 7 out of 10 - and is worth going to see (or wait for the DVD). It's good for kids and adults. It made me pop into HMV to pick up a martial arts DVD (oddly no Jackie or Jet - I picked up Chow Yun Fat in Curse of the Golden Flower).
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
The MacBook Air revisited - with cookies
The MacBook Air reminds me a lot of the original iMac - revolutionary in what it keeps and what it leaves off, a little underpowered, and lacking a nice fast connection (the first iMacs had USB 1 and no FireWire).
The main issue appears to be how much you can keep on it (I do hoard files a bit but the main space fillers on my drive are my iPhoto photos), and if you're not keeping a lot on it - the speed you can access the stuff you have "offline".
I'm still not sure if you can actually boot off the USB 2 bus but the wifi is certainly not a great option for high speed, large data transfers. Booting from USB (or something like the FireWire Target Disk Mode) would certainly make me (a professional Mac troubleshooter - goodness that sounds pretentious!) happier.
The much talked about arrival of the Sun ZFS file system would in theory make a great advance for users of Desktop machines - run out of space, just add a FireWire drive and forget about the rest (no repointing iTunes libraries or shuffling files around). Laptops however are something different. Maybe we need something easy to say what we need on the run or not. Unplug and go - and leave your iTunes library on your attached drive/s knowing that that leaves plenty of space on your MacBook Air (and that your music is probably on your iPod/iPhone).
I like the Air (hard not to when you see it and hold it) but I'm not sure if I can currently dow without the FireWire and (less so) the optical drive.
The main issue appears to be how much you can keep on it (I do hoard files a bit but the main space fillers on my drive are my iPhoto photos), and if you're not keeping a lot on it - the speed you can access the stuff you have "offline".
I'm still not sure if you can actually boot off the USB 2 bus but the wifi is certainly not a great option for high speed, large data transfers. Booting from USB (or something like the FireWire Target Disk Mode) would certainly make me (a professional Mac troubleshooter - goodness that sounds pretentious!) happier.
The much talked about arrival of the Sun ZFS file system would in theory make a great advance for users of Desktop machines - run out of space, just add a FireWire drive and forget about the rest (no repointing iTunes libraries or shuffling files around). Laptops however are something different. Maybe we need something easy to say what we need on the run or not. Unplug and go - and leave your iTunes library on your attached drive/s knowing that that leaves plenty of space on your MacBook Air (and that your music is probably on your iPod/iPhone).
I like the Air (hard not to when you see it and hold it) but I'm not sure if I can currently dow without the FireWire and (less so) the optical drive.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)