Bucket Mist

I watched The Mist last night.  I only had the single disc version, so I wasn't able to watch it in black-and-white.  Even still, I really liked it.  Very unflinching, very uncompromising.  Definitely wasn't a light watch.  And an earned tragic ending.  I thoroughly enjoyed it, even if I won't ever watch it again.

 I'm almost through all the behind-the-scenes and making-of featurettes for the Matrix trilogy.  The only one I have left is Revolutions.  Well, that one and the Matrix Experience.  I think that one runs about three discs.  There's a lot of good information on the production of the films, stuff that is very informative and enlightening, despite the failings of the finished product.

Real World Shmeal World

I really enjoyed The Matrix.  I was just about fifteen when it came out, which, of course, is the perfect age to see it.  Even now, I still really like it.  I think it's a cool little number, even though it's kinda dated, with all their super-cool black trenchcoats and mirror shades.  All in all, it was just a neat, fun movie influenced by anime, sci-fi, and kung fu movies.  All things that I was terribly into at the time.  Plus, it had Ted 'Theodore' Logan in it.


There was a lot of great things in the first movie.  The entire helicopter rescue scene is a clinic on cinematography and direction.  The only thing I didn't really care for in the first movie- and this carries into the sequels- is the score.  I just don't like it.  Too clangy and brassy and corny for me.

The sequels, while for the most part pure rubbish, also did a few things really well.  For instance, the cinematography in the action scenes:  YOU CAN SEE EVERYTHING.  No shaky-cam nonsense, no music video editing.  Just nice, steady, long shots.  Lovely.  Too bad that it's all bookended by a stupid story and horrible dialogue.

But, even when you think about it, the fights in the sequels aren't very exciting, anyway. It may be a product of my feelings on the style in the movies, but there's no emotion or danger or drama in any of the fights.  At no point does Neo seem to be in danger.  He's the One. He can shape reality to his will.  He can defeat Agents with little difficulty.  His fights end up just being showcases of cool moves and special effects.  Cool moves and special effects very well photographed, at least.

But, hey, it's not all bad.  One thing I noticed recently was how multi-gender and ethnic the trilogy is.  One main character is black, another is a woman.  That's pretty cool.  Granted, Morpheus becomes kind of a follower in the second movie, but he retains a lot of his power and integrity.  Trinity is essential the entire time.  Most of Zion seems to be made up of Pacific Islanders.  A lot of the major players and important characters are people other than white men.  I respect that.  I think it's important to recognize when movies like the Matrix Trilogy do things right.  

Of course, I could be wrong about all of that.  Wouldn't be the first time.

Oh, yeah.  And The Animatrix and The Path of Neo kick ass.

Made It

After a pretty exhausting few days, I have some time off.  In this recent spate of work, I believe I've driven about five hundred miles back and forth.  And had about twelve hours of sleep.  Of course, this is an exaggeration, but it was nice to be able to sleep in today.

Figure we might do some lengthy casting today, and tonight we'll jump into The Walking Dead.  I'm really stoked for that one, I've heard nothing but good things about it.  We just finished Silent Hill 2, which I thought was really cool.  It wasn't as terrifying as I'd been led to believe, perhaps more of a mistake on my part, but the story was definitely interesting and cool.

Blahblahblah, I worked a lot recently and now I'm going to cast.

Bleary-eyed and Wet

I wasn't going to post anything today, worn out as I am, but I realized that I'll never be able to write again if I let myself lapse.  That's how I got into this mess in the first place.  I stopped writing those stupid stories I was so fond of.  I stopped doing text-based roleplaying(laugh if you will, but it really helps.  And is also really nerdy and sad, I know).  So here I am.

I've been doing some work for a crewing company here in Florida.  They give me gigs with ESPN3 and Brighthouse and a couple other production trucks.  Which is really cool, I get to do camerawork and meet a lot of veteran operators.  And, unlike my current fallback gig, I don't have to shoot 4 games in a row.  Just the one.  So choice.   And such great pay.  A solid day rate plus mileage and OT.

The previous shoot, the one I did last night, I was even promoted to POC or crew chief.  That felt good.  Also means a nice little pay bump.  And, I'm being trained up in my fallback gig to a supervisory position.

So, it seems that things could be worse.  Here's hoping the momentum keeps.

Scranton party

So, in lieu of any real content, I've decided to just play with the settings and whatnots and whathaveyous of Blogspot.  Or is it Blogger?  I don't know, I can't tell the difference.  And, since we're all sure that no one will read this, I don't have to worry overmuch about meaningful thoughts or ideas.  Which is nice for me.

Slowly Going the Way of the Dodo

Welp.  If Tabulas shuts down for good, I might end up here.  Not that I blog, um, ever, but it's nice to have somewhere to spout inanities and other rubbish.