The District (Nyócker in Hungarian) takes a classic Shakespearean love story, adds some interesting animation, and covers it with a load of obscenities and vulgarity. The result is a visually appealing, if somewhat silly, animated feature that includes lots of tongue-in-cheek commentary on modern politics.
We begin with an overview of life in a district of Budapest, complete with corrupt policemen, rivals between whites and gypsies, and kids who emulate their elders and want to be gangsters. Music ensues, and the kids begin some rapid-fire rapping and describe their situation in musical form.
Soon, a plot emerges: one of the kids wants to get money to win his true love, so he and his science friend build a time machine, and a bunch of the kids go back in time. There, they put a bunch of dead mammoths in a crater, and (flash-forward) you now have oil! Now, you can sell the oil in the world market and make money. Right?
If you have oil under you, people take notice. Enter folks like George W. Bush, Tony Blair, and Vladimir Putin and you have a political smorgasbord in animated form all wheeling and dealing to get a handle on that precious natural resource. If my review sounds scattershot, that's because the movie is as well.
Frankly, I think the most interesting part of this movie was the animation. The bodies of the characters were 3-dimensional and moved in a smooth fashion, while the heads where rapidly-changing still images, which changed to represent the characters speaking, staring, or smirking. The effect was quite captivating, and it waffled between the construction-paper effect of animation like South Park versus the fluid movements of 3D rendered animation.
The movie's fairly explicit, and definitely not designed for children. That said, if you're into animation, this one's unique (and funny) enough to warrant a viewing.
Overall rating: 6.0 /10.0
Details:
Runtime: 87m
Country: Hungary
Language: Hungarian
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Review: The Death Of Mr. Lazarescu (SIFF 2006)
Lazarescu is a movie that begins and ends in the middle of things, and focuses on the last day of a man's life as both his health and his familiar surroundings slowly decline. We open to see an ill-feeling Dante Lazarescu who, after feeding his cats, decides to call an ambulance to aid with his headache and stomach pain. We learn from the phone conversation that Lazarescu has had an ulcer surgery 14 years ago, that he drinks copiously (much to the dismay of the people on the other end of the line), and that he clearly needs some form of help (judging by the etched lines of pain in Lazarescu's face, and his fits of vomiting).
With the help of his neighbors, a paramedic arrives. At first, she is fairly indifferent, and attributes Lazarescu's problems to his drinking. She starts suspecting a more serious issue is at hand with his health, however, after witnessing his condition, and decides to take him to the hospital.
Thus begins a night of medical red tape and doctor-patient conflicts for Lazarescu and the paramedic. They get shuttled from hospital to hospital, in part because of a serious bus accident eating away at all available hospital resources, and in part because no one wants to deal with an apparent drunkard who just needs to sleep things off. As Lazarescu moves from doctor to doctor, we slowly learn that his condition is quite serious, and we watch him deteriorate to the point of needing emergency surgery. At which, the movie, rather abruptly, ends.
Death is certainly a main theme of the movie. The entire movie takes place at night, with on-again off-again rain smattering the windshield of the ambulance that Lazarescu and the paramedic use to drive from hospital to hospital. We witness the horrible aftermath of the bus accident as patients are shuttled through the hospital hallways. We learn that Lazarescu's wife has died several years earlier of cancer. And, we witness Lazarescu's own decline into apparent death.
However, another theme is the sarcasm of the modern medical profession, and the attitudes and behaviors between doctor and patient, and doctor and non-MD medical staff. We witness the paramedic initially being indifferent to Lazarescu and assuming he's just a drunkard having a bad night. But as she suspects something more serious is at hand, she becomes the voice of Lazarescu to the various doctors she encounters. The doctors are constant skeptics, and they purvey a caste system of "doctor knows right", despite the fact that the paramedic has been with Lazarescu all night and has a history with him (and with prior doctors). The doctors are portrayed very negatively in this movie, with their attention spent mostly on moving people through the medical machinery, making personal phone calls, and fetching food. I could hear the audience utter frustrated sighs as we witnessed doctor after doctor trying to hand off Lazarescu to someone else rather than really focus on him, his condition, and his history like you would expect a doctor to do.
Visually, the style of this movie is similar to a documentary, with most of the camera work appearing to be hand-held. However, the lines are clearly scripted, with actors rarely interrupting each other or being at a loss for words as a "real" documentary would portray. Still, the movie does an effective job of capturing the moment without intruding into it, and without trying to be overly poetic or romantic about the situation (music is almost completely devoid from the movie, save for opening and closing credits and an ambient television here or there). Lazarescu isn't a feel-good movie and doesn't have a clear beginning-middle-end that a traditional story-arced film would, but it's nevertheless worth a viewing, if only to contrast those forms of filmmaking with an interesting alternative.
Overall rating: 6.5 /10.0
Details:
Runtime: 153m
Country: Romania
Language: Romanian
With the help of his neighbors, a paramedic arrives. At first, she is fairly indifferent, and attributes Lazarescu's problems to his drinking. She starts suspecting a more serious issue is at hand with his health, however, after witnessing his condition, and decides to take him to the hospital.
Thus begins a night of medical red tape and doctor-patient conflicts for Lazarescu and the paramedic. They get shuttled from hospital to hospital, in part because of a serious bus accident eating away at all available hospital resources, and in part because no one wants to deal with an apparent drunkard who just needs to sleep things off. As Lazarescu moves from doctor to doctor, we slowly learn that his condition is quite serious, and we watch him deteriorate to the point of needing emergency surgery. At which, the movie, rather abruptly, ends.
Death is certainly a main theme of the movie. The entire movie takes place at night, with on-again off-again rain smattering the windshield of the ambulance that Lazarescu and the paramedic use to drive from hospital to hospital. We witness the horrible aftermath of the bus accident as patients are shuttled through the hospital hallways. We learn that Lazarescu's wife has died several years earlier of cancer. And, we witness Lazarescu's own decline into apparent death.
However, another theme is the sarcasm of the modern medical profession, and the attitudes and behaviors between doctor and patient, and doctor and non-MD medical staff. We witness the paramedic initially being indifferent to Lazarescu and assuming he's just a drunkard having a bad night. But as she suspects something more serious is at hand, she becomes the voice of Lazarescu to the various doctors she encounters. The doctors are constant skeptics, and they purvey a caste system of "doctor knows right", despite the fact that the paramedic has been with Lazarescu all night and has a history with him (and with prior doctors). The doctors are portrayed very negatively in this movie, with their attention spent mostly on moving people through the medical machinery, making personal phone calls, and fetching food. I could hear the audience utter frustrated sighs as we witnessed doctor after doctor trying to hand off Lazarescu to someone else rather than really focus on him, his condition, and his history like you would expect a doctor to do.
Visually, the style of this movie is similar to a documentary, with most of the camera work appearing to be hand-held. However, the lines are clearly scripted, with actors rarely interrupting each other or being at a loss for words as a "real" documentary would portray. Still, the movie does an effective job of capturing the moment without intruding into it, and without trying to be overly poetic or romantic about the situation (music is almost completely devoid from the movie, save for opening and closing credits and an ambient television here or there). Lazarescu isn't a feel-good movie and doesn't have a clear beginning-middle-end that a traditional story-arced film would, but it's nevertheless worth a viewing, if only to contrast those forms of filmmaking with an interesting alternative.
Overall rating: 6.5 /10.0
Details:
Runtime: 153m
Country: Romania
Language: Romanian
Lameness Alert: BuyMyDesktop.Com
Sure, the Million Dollar Home Page was pretty ingenuous. But Buy My Desktop? Sorry, I don't think so.
Pay $25 to get a shortcut on one person's computer desktop. That's only seen by that person. Great, wow, awesome, thanks!
Just so everyone knows: I'm selling a cubic inch of space on my dresser for anyone who wants to place an item there ($10, must be non-volatile). Also, you can put a sticker on my computer mousepad ($20, no larger than 1" square) if you want, or even let me affix a sticky note to my computer monitor with whatever you want written on it ($50, not guaranteed to be sticky forever).
Pay $25 to get a shortcut on one person's computer desktop. That's only seen by that person. Great, wow, awesome, thanks!
Just so everyone knows: I'm selling a cubic inch of space on my dresser for anyone who wants to place an item there ($10, must be non-volatile). Also, you can put a sticker on my computer mousepad ($20, no larger than 1" square) if you want, or even let me affix a sticky note to my computer monitor with whatever you want written on it ($50, not guaranteed to be sticky forever).
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Start Your (SIFF) Engines
It's SIFF time! And, it's rainy, so I don't feel TOO bad spending some time seeing movies during Memorial Day weekend. Let's go!
This blog will take on a bit of a movie-review tone during the next few weeks, as we watch and then talk about some of the movies in the festival. Fear not, after the movie craze is over we'll return to regularly-scheduled programming.
This blog will take on a bit of a movie-review tone during the next few weeks, as we watch and then talk about some of the movies in the festival. Fear not, after the movie craze is over we'll return to regularly-scheduled programming.
Friday, May 26, 2006
Web 27.0 Is Mine!
OK, with all the controversy around O'Reilly's registration of "Web 2.0" as a service mark, I want to make a public statement.
Today, May 26th, 2006, I'm laying claim to the following trademark: "Web 27.0". Right around the time we're ready to release the 27th version of the Web (or at least proclaim the fact that we are), call me up before those conferences get scheduled. You're going to need to pay me some royalties!
No, seriously guys. Web 27.0. It's mine. Talk to my lawyers.
And no, you can have Web 26.0, Web 27.1, even Web 1897.948. 27.0 is where it's at. Seriously.
Today, May 26th, 2006, I'm laying claim to the following trademark: "Web 27.0". Right around the time we're ready to release the 27th version of the Web (or at least proclaim the fact that we are), call me up before those conferences get scheduled. You're going to need to pay me some royalties!
No, seriously guys. Web 27.0. It's mine. Talk to my lawyers.
And no, you can have Web 26.0, Web 27.1, even Web 1897.948. 27.0 is where it's at. Seriously.
Sunday, May 21, 2006
Cal Anderson Park Images
Cal Anderson Park is a great place to visit during these warm months. Formerly an above-ground, fenced-in reservoir, the city transformed the space into a public space complete with fountain, playground, and lots of grass to do with what you will.
The folks over at VRSeattle have posted some QuickTime VR "virtual" shots of the park. They've got plenty of other nice VRs of Washington up there, if you're looking for a virtual tour of the area.
The folks over at VRSeattle have posted some QuickTime VR "virtual" shots of the park. They've got plenty of other nice VRs of Washington up there, if you're looking for a virtual tour of the area.
Saturday, May 20, 2006
Seattle Pug Gala
We love pugs. We don't have one, but many of the folks in our neighborhood do. We see them getting walked and romping in the park all the time. We think they're some of the cutest dogs around.
And, who knew there was a Seattle Pug Gala on? It's a benefit for the Seattle Pug Rescue. Great pics on both sites, if you're a fellow pug aficionado.
And, who knew there was a Seattle Pug Gala on? It's a benefit for the Seattle Pug Rescue. Great pics on both sites, if you're a fellow pug aficionado.
Sunday, May 14, 2006
SIFF 2006
Yes, the Seattle International Film Festival is coming. Yes, just when the weather is warming up, Seattleites rush indoors to watch movies. Anyway, we're heading down today to purchase our tickets.
We're being a bit more reserved this year, scooping up on the order of 10 films (rather than our usual 16-18).
As with last year, I'll write up some reviews of the movies we watched, after the fact.
We're being a bit more reserved this year, scooping up on the order of 10 films (rather than our usual 16-18).
As with last year, I'll write up some reviews of the movies we watched, after the fact.
Gay Bingo Part Two
Last night was our second foray into Gay Bingo, that wonderful way to raise money for the LLAA. This time, it was a Golden Girls theme that accompanied the Bingo entertainment.
Beth, our table captain, scored us a Queens Table, which was quite the deal. Essentially, the regular Bingo experience, plus pizza, drink, cocktail, popcorn, bingo dauber, Cupcake Royale cupcake, waitstaff, and freebies, and you sit close to the stage, (for a bit more on the entry fee).
The theme this time around wasn't quite as exciting for us as last time (80's), given how near and dear that decade is in most of our hearts. Still, the event was fun. Glamazonia, the famed drag-queen emcee, gave a shout-out to Steven at our table during the event (he lives in the same building). No one won Bingo this time around, breaking our little streak. The table behind us one twice, however.
It turns out that after next month's Gay Bingo, we won't have another one until January 2007. The reason: the roof of the venue (South Lake Union Naval Reserve Building) needs to be replaced.
Beth, our table captain, scored us a Queens Table, which was quite the deal. Essentially, the regular Bingo experience, plus pizza, drink, cocktail, popcorn, bingo dauber, Cupcake Royale cupcake, waitstaff, and freebies, and you sit close to the stage, (for a bit more on the entry fee).
The theme this time around wasn't quite as exciting for us as last time (80's), given how near and dear that decade is in most of our hearts. Still, the event was fun. Glamazonia, the famed drag-queen emcee, gave a shout-out to Steven at our table during the event (he lives in the same building). No one won Bingo this time around, breaking our little streak. The table behind us one twice, however.
It turns out that after next month's Gay Bingo, we won't have another one until January 2007. The reason: the roof of the venue (South Lake Union Naval Reserve Building) needs to be replaced.
Saturday, May 13, 2006
And Now For Something Useful: Laundry Care Symbols
I have wondered for a while now (and never really did my research to figure out) what those little laundry care symbols really meant. The formula is simple, thanks to this little graphical guide.
Wait, this site is full of symbol pages. And stain guides. And a little pamphlet that looks to be designed for kids heading off to college and needing to do their own laundry for the first time.
Wow, this must be one of the most boring web sites on the planet to maintain...
Wait, this site is full of symbol pages. And stain guides. And a little pamphlet that looks to be designed for kids heading off to college and needing to do their own laundry for the first time.
Wow, this must be one of the most boring web sites on the planet to maintain...
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
West Seattle Cupcake Royale Grand Opening
OK, I really don't want to make this the Cupcake Royale Appreciation Blog...but this is news, dangit: Apparently there's a grand opening on Thursday, May 18th complete with free 'cakes, coffee, and a DJ. From an email:
It's time for our grand opening in West Seattle!
We're almost ready to open the doors in West Seattle so we're going to throw a party to celebrate!Naturally you're invited, so plan on hanging with us from 6-9pm on Thursday May
18th. It's our treat, so there will be FREE CUPCAKES, FREE COFFEE and DJ E.R.
spinning the tunes. It happens one night only, so come on by or hear about it
from your friends afterward.
We'll be opening for official business starting May 19th. We'll be open in West Seattle from 6 am until 10 pm everyday. The store is right in the heart of the junction at 4556 California Ave. We're very excited to be part of the West Seattle community, so stop by and say hi.
Sunday, May 07, 2006
The Gin Fizz Is My New Favorite Drink
I tip my hat to the fine bartenders at Bleu Bistro and Chez Gaudy who have introduced me to my new favorite drink: the Gin Fizz.
The lemony flavor combines really well with the gin and sugar. Both Bleu and Gaudy serve the drink in a large stein, complete with a splash of fruity liqueur, a rim of colored sugar, and a straw. I think it's perfect for the now-finally-warm(er) weather here in Seattle.
The lemony flavor combines really well with the gin and sugar. Both Bleu and Gaudy serve the drink in a large stein, complete with a splash of fruity liqueur, a rim of colored sugar, and a straw. I think it's perfect for the now-finally-warm(er) weather here in Seattle.
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Seattle Immigration March
I wasn't there, but a lot of people were. Including J. Random and his excellent photographic skills. I especially liked this one:
Stop The Duck
If you've visited Seattle before, especially in the warmer months, you've probably seen a large white vehicle cruising the streets, with a bunch of tourists inside, all quacking or doing something other bizarre.
Chances are you've spotted a Ride the Ducks tour.
Well, if you have, and you're now all about raising awareness about this irritating tour company raiding our city, you too can Stop the Duck.
(This is further proof that Seattle is a CuteWeird(tm) city - that is to say, a combination of cute/silly and weird/strange).
Chances are you've spotted a Ride the Ducks tour.
Well, if you have, and you're now all about raising awareness about this irritating tour company raiding our city, you too can Stop the Duck.
(This is further proof that Seattle is a CuteWeird(tm) city - that is to say, a combination of cute/silly and weird/strange).
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