Today, 1/22/08, marks the release of the new Drive By Truckers album, “Brighter Than Creation’s Dark”. I bought it on iTunes this morning as soon as I woke up. I’ve listened through the first 7 songs, and I’ll tell you it’s as good as anything since “Decoration Day” or “The Dirty South”. But then again, I’ve always been a sucker for the southern rock.
Now I’ve gotta get ready for a dentist appointment, and then go to work. At least this day will have one bright point….
On this MLK day I’ve decided to leave the important topics to Oprah, and instead delve into a topic that i’m sure is plaguing the majority of my dwindling readership: “Should I or should I not give a crap about Cloverfield?”. Basically it depends on how big of an ass you want me to be. Because I guess what it really boils down to is how you review movies. If i were to compare the original godzilla with cloverfield, I would have to take into account godzilla’s social commentary, warning of the dangers of nuclear weapons and of the threat humanity poses to itself. In the movie, godzilla himself is a metaphor for man’s unleashed destructive potential. So despite all it’s cheezy guys in monster suits, and horrible japanese actors, the movie has a message at it’s core, and an important one at that.
Cloverfield, however, has none of this. It is a very visceral and intense movie, however, and keeps you at the edge of your seat. It does an incredible job of being a suspenseful movie. however, as far as message or meaning concern, the only discernable ones are about not being dicks to your friends, etc.. in the overall meaning department, i find it to be seriously lacking in scope.
So if I compare them side by side, godzilla stands as a piece of social commentary, and cloverfield stands as a movie that you will buy used out of the $4.99 bin at blockbuster 2 years from now. Was cloverfield a bad movie? no. It was an intense action movie, and if you were able to get past the shaky-cam style film making, it was an entertaining experience. Will it win an oscar for anything other than special effects? I certainly doubt it. Which one is the better movie? It all depends on what you value as a viewer. In my opinion, godzilla beats it hands-down. I’ll take a moral over raw suspense any day. But that’s just me
Am I a film snob? Yes. But I bet you get over it.
sorry i’ve been absent as of late. now that work is calming down, i should be able to post more. until then, enjoy this video from death cab for cutie. the song is “the new year”, off of their incredible album, “transatlanticism”
The homeland security advisory system always seemed like something we didn’t really need. I mean, people are paranoid enough as it is. But now that i have been temporarily reassigned to a store in western iowa (about 20 minutes away) I am starting to realize it’s merits….
sunday morning at 6:00am my terror level will most definitely be “BANJO”…. here’s hoping that 90 days comes and goes really really fast.
EDIT!
i don’t want everyone to think i’m so bent out of shape that all i can blog about are really round-a-bout iowa jokes, so let me take this opportunity to atone! seeing as it’s almost Halloween, i figure i’ll help get all of you in the mood with a video for what is probably the best john spencer blues explosion (JSBX, to the initiated) song of all time: She Said
enjoy!
this one goes out to my friend rob, a true fan of random comedy. this proves that slapstick isn’t dead. mad props to john for finding it on the youtubes!
pics of my last holdrege visit are up on my flickr. thanks for reminding me, roberta!
FYI, all of these newer ones were shot on my nikon f3, with a variety of lenses. for film i used my standard fuji neopan 400 b&w. negative scans done by the local lab.
there’s more on my flickr page. either click here or follow the link to the right.
enjoy.
p.s. Nick - all of these more recent b&w pics were shot on fuji neopan 400, through my olympus XA. i had rockbrook make a cd from the negatives because my scanner is really showing it’s age. i don’t think they turned out too bad.
because of this
sarah, i really like how one of your favorite musical genre’s is listed as “alternative country and fold”. i have never heard of alternative fold music, but i imagine it to be quite mathematical and precise. would you describe it as “origami-esque”, or more “laundry-like” ?? your input on this would be greatly appreciated.
i have survived las vegas. i have also survived a regional vice president visit. i am also surviving a nasty head cold. here are some pics from vegas, for all those curious! more later.
clark, roberta, and will, on freemont street.
jon and clark & hoover dam!
freemont street light show! the ceiling is actually a HUGE LCD monitor!!
clark & roberta @ hoover dam.
i’ve got a lot of packing to do before my plane takes off, but i’ll be there soon enough! i’ll give a real update (with a picture that’s mine and not stolen from the interweb) once i’m back in NE. until then, NV, here i come!
