To be fair, I went into this movie expecting a poorly made remake of a movie about a book. That is to say that while the original movie was good, they had to make some changes in order to make the movie a little more politically correct for it’s time.
This movie had me worried. Making a movie based on a really good book is dangerous enough, but making a movie about a REALLY good book is like pissing on a spark plug, just to see what will happen. I sit here to tell you that I was not too displeased with the results.
One of the first things that started me having high hopes for this was when I saw that Ridley Scott was involved in it. Pretty much anything that has his name on it turns out pretty good. OK… I will pretend that “G.I. Jane” was just that he woke up with a headache when he took that on.Â
The movie was well done, and except for about the last third, it stayed pretty close to the book. Obviously they updated things to make more sense in this day and time. The last third of the movie took on a little too much of that whole, “Kirk and Spock, shoot around the sun, time travel, paradox.” feel for me. Face it, the whole time travel thing thing has been beat to death, stomped on, thrown in the oven, rebaked and served to us with some other name. Like so much day old bread put in a new bag.
My main complaints are actually with the graphics and CGI work in the movie. You would think that since this is a A&E production, they might be able to afford someone like, say, Industrial Lights and Magic. If you want an example of the problems I am talking about, look for this one. Towards the begining, when the team is dropped of in Piedmont, as the Helo takes off, you will see that the overlay is all wrong and the perspective is wrong for the placement of the people in comparison to where the Helo is.
Sorry… I know I nit pick, but if I did not, then who would?
If you happen to see this on again, watch it. It really is not too bad and this is coming from a guy who, for the most part, really does not like movie adaptations of good books.
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Car shopping for the recently insane
By Samuel Wright
On April 16, 2008
In Commentary and Critique, Reviews and Critiques
I have recently purchased a car… Not a new car, mind you, but new to me. I can tell you one thing, though. This has been more nerve wracking that anything I have gone through in some time. My word of advice to everyone is this: If you are suicidal, have a tendency towards violent emotional outbursts, have been known to start speaking in tongues when in the presents of used car sales people or have uncontrollable fits and spasms when someone says, “Let me go talk to my manager.” If any of these describe your state of mind, then please do yourself and the legal system a favor and go pick yourself out a good ten-speed. As for the rest of you, please read on.
As any of you who might know me will understand, my last vehicle sucked. I drove a 1997 GMC Jimmy that had been nothing short of a money pit since I bought it. Luckily I also bought a warranty package, so much of the money that it has sucked, in the beginning, was from the dealer. This was my vehicle for eight years… and yes, I was surprised with I realized that I had had it that long as well.
Going into this process, I laid out three vehicles I was interested in, and kept it to that. In order of importance, here is that list: 1. Honda Ridgeline, 2. Chrysler Pacifica, and 3. Hyundai Sante Fe. Now I can already hear some of you out there groaning about the Hyundai, but let me tell you something. I was actually surprised to learn that they have come a long way and turned out to be a pretty good car maker these days. I was not, in the least, hesitant to look at a Sante Fe or a Tucson by them.
My final decision was based on the current market and the fact that I was made a very good deal on the car. It was the 2006 Chrysler Pacifica, touring edition. I wanted the Honda Ridgeline, but with the current credit crunch, Honda (and a few other dealers) are extremely tight on their policies and restrictions for whom they finance. I can accept this, as I will be the first to say that I have not been a saint with respect to my credit. I have had issues and events that have broken down my rating.
I can say, though, that my experience was not completely unpleasant. The only down side to the shopping experience was giving my cell phone and home address to Barber Honda. Even after I advised them that I was going with another dealer and not interested in them, I continued to get calls and letters from them. The place that really helped us with locating a car and the purchase process was a company called Autoland. Since my wife works with a credit union here locally, she got us in touch with a gentleman by the name of Lenny Garifo, who went out of his way to get us into what we wanted, and at the price point we were looking for. If you are a member of a credit union that uses Autoland, and get to the point where you are looking for a vehicle, then I suggest you look into them.
In the end, I think I ended up with a pretty good car that is very comfortable. Best of all… it is nice to enjoy driving again.