Archive for March, 2005
Dinner after the BNI Conference
Esystems spent about two weeks preparing in full for the Business Networking International (BNI) Conference here in Indianapolis. It was a solid turnout, and the speakers were great. Five in total, the speakers topics ranged from spotting personality types to introverts vs. extroverts and the advantages in networking for an introvert.
It was an awakening for me. I had worked a 16.5 hour day prior to the event, and got five hours of sleep. So I felt a little off my game for my first major networking event since I stopped regularly networking just over a year ago when I got my job at Esystems.
After the conference we went up to the Blue Lake Lagoon restaurant up on the northside of the city. We met three other people there, seated from left to right in this photo; Glenn Antoine, Jill Bode from Designed Write Public Relations firm, Chris Antoine, Dawn Lyons (Keynote speaker for the event), and Hazel Walker who runs the Indiana extension of BNI.
It was a fun night, and those three women are a riot. Hazel and Jill are hilarious, and Dawn is very intelligent. She spoke about personality types at the conference, using broad terms to label the different types into categories of gemstones, etc. from pearl to ruby. Regardless of whether her content was groundbreaking or not, She is a great speaker. We met her the night before at a BNI networking prelim meet and greet at the Life Center on Washington. She is entertaining and captivating, and I didn’t once find myself having a hard time understanding what her points were.
Jarhead (2005)
Who’s in it
Jamie Foxx, Jake Gyllenhaal, Chris Cooper, Lucas Black, Peter Sarsgaard
What was good
This is a solid movie. I think it would resonate more with those who have experienced war, because I think it may really portray what war is like, a lot of waiting on politics. Some of the imagery towards the end is just amazing when the oil wells are lit up with that as a backdrop for the soldiers at night, wow. Plus, it really gets into the psyche of war and those that fight it.
What sucked
This is a solid film. It isn’t the most entertaining at all times, but that shouldn’t be what you rented it for. If there is anything, it may be that while they are waiting, the film feels as slow as I am sure it does for the soldiers when they are there, in Iraq, waiting for something to happen.
Who should go see this
Everyone. This isn’t what I would call a real bloody movie, the marines don’t even kill anyone. But you do see bodies of burned Iraqi citizens and you get to see some of the guy get branded with a hot iron. But overall, it has some humor, if you like movies about Marine’s, and less about the training, this movie only deals with the training and conditioning for a part of the movie. It deals with more keeping sharp when things are slow. I would recommend most people should see this, just with the idea in mind if you don’t like the subject matter, you probably won’t like it.
Spanglish (2004)
I almost gave this movie four and a half stars, but it wasn’t concise enough to be that good. But it was pretty darn close.
I like Adam Sandler. To date I have seen pretty much everything he has been in. And like most comedic actors, lately he has had the serious urge. Punch Drunk Love was a little too quirky for me, so this is a nice midway for me.
This movie is about Adam Sandler and Tea Leoni and their well to do family. They hire a nanny in the form of a beautiful young Spanish woman, (Paz Vega) and they soon all become enveloped in one big family. But not by choice.
Paz does not speak English and has deep cultural roots, and Tea is this borderline Obsessive Compulsive with no tack and extremely low self esteem that she projects on others. So, naturally, they butt heads. Adam Sandler is stuck in the middle. A world class chef that is understanding and loving, and trying to work with everyone around him, but getting walked over and is near his breaking point.
There is a short love affair between Tea and her real estate agent, and Adam Sandler is falling for Paz. But being a good husband, he mostly resists, and puts his children first.
All the while, Paz’s daughter Christina, is pulled in every direction. She is actually the narrator of the story. This is why I did not rate it higher.
I was riveted by the movie. But it was convoluted on who is was supposed to be about. You want some more resolve at the end of the story, but you don’t really get it because the story is about Christina. Or so they want. But the story focuses equally on many different relationships, so that is why you feel this tug of war as an audience member.
This movie has a lot of chick flick in it. If you like Adam Sandler, he does some funny commentary on what is going on around him, but is for the most part serious. But it has great acting from Sandler, Leoni, and Vega, so see this movie, just don’t expect everything to be completely resolved when you leave the theater.
Batman: Bruce Wayne Murderer?
Show of hands – who wants a Batman Review? You DO? Hmmm…you may want check out another blog. How many reviewers do you know who always get off track & criminally abuse the words: Like, Totally, Actually, So, Okay & Well?
I DO actually (see there I go!) have a minor in “Comp Lit” from IU. That’s where they hid the film studies program back in the day when I went there. I got a certificate & everything. *giggle* I guess that makes me a certified critic – of movies at least.
But I’m keenly aware that I’m no expert – I still have truckloads of things to learn about comics. And I struggle to do REAL critical writing – I’m just too yakkity. I swear if I had a super power I would be “Easily Distracted Girl”.
So if you want a professional in-depth review, you are going to have to go somewhere else. If you want fun feedback from an honest-to-goodness happy fan – welcome to my world.
Oh! And that, of course, is the last line in the inaugural Batman Beyond. It’s a killer closing tag line to be sure. Got me all ready for more… However nothing can beat the original Batman: The Animated Series from the 90’s though. The girls & I are watching that on DVD right now. I’d forgotten how innovative & superbly done that show was. Mark Hamill is the BEST Joker!
Sorry!!! Do you think if I draw you a roadmap we can find our way back to the original topic?
Let’s talk about Batman: Bruce Wayne Murderer?
If you want to make a case for waiting for the reprint in trade rather than trying to get all the issues – this is a good example. This story arc was covered in, like, what? 10 different titles? Okay, that’s an exaggeration, but point made. The story just wouldn’t have the same impact if told out of sequence or with parts missing.
It could be just me, but when DC & Marvel do these mega-gi-normous crossovers I have a heck of a time getting all the issues, and then getting them in the right order. I know they are trying to promote readership of other titles, but to me, it’s just a big hassle. Does that make me a bad fan? Or just a complete moron?
Nah, I think it just means I have a full & rich life outside of comics (I’m sure I’ll have more to say on THAT someday). I DO love my single issues, but there are times I want my continuity & I don’t want to hunt, gather & forage month to month for it.
When all the pieces are pulled together in paperback form – “Bruce Wayne Murderer?” makes for one gripping murder-mystery.
Anyway…..on to the story… The tale takes place a while after Gotham went to heck-in-a-hand-basket in No Man’s Land. Batman is patrolling with bodyguard turned crime fighting partner Sasha Bordeaux. Upon returning home one night they discover the savaged body of Bruce Wayne ex-girlfriend, Vesper Fairchild.
The frame is flawless – police arrive just in time to catch the scene at its most incriminating. Bruce & Sasha are immediately arrested. And that’s really all I want to say about the plot. As you might suspect the rest of the voyage is about finding out what REALLY happened at Wayne Manor that evening & what happens to Bruce & Sasha. So I’m going to jump into what I think makes this a top-notch story.
First off – throw aside the notion of this being a comic, this is just a good mystery period. It’s got it all – A brutal, despicable crime, the loyal unwavering gal pal, our dark hero, friend turning on friend as the clues are revealed. It’s juicy!
There were two aspects of the story that intrigued me – one, Bruce & Sasha’s stay in prison & how it affects them & two, how solving the mystery unbalances Bruce’s protégés (current & prior).
First – Bruce in jail. This just killed me! WE know he’s Batman – HE knows he’s Batman, but caged & with the world watching his every move – he is utterly TRAPPED as Bruce Wayne (which totally sets the stage for how this particular trade ends – but I’m not telling-nyah!).
What an interesting psychological dilemma for a man so driven to control the situation around him. This is a guy who’s bent on never again being a victim. The extreme effort it takes for him to maintain self-control & show restraint is so palpable it practically jumps out of the book. Man! I think I wanted Bruce to go all Batman on folks as much as he did.
And Sasha’s frustration was JUST as tangible for me. Not only did she have the same survival issues as Bruce, but layer into that her struggle against an encroaching sense of abandonment.
Her devotion is absolute. But isolated in prison her loyalty exists in a vacuum. For a long time she has NOTHING to cling to but her own visceral belief that this man is not a killer. She relates that at some point every bodyguard must decide if they can “take a bullet” for those they have chosen to protect. And, though beaten down physically & emotionally on all fronts, she stands firm.
Now compare her attitude with what’s going on outside the prison walls. Take the people close to Batman – Barbara, Dick, Alfred, Tim et al….individuals groomed by a master detective – and provide them with facts & clues that are pretty darn incriminating. It is fascinating to see not only WHO has doubts but the shades & degrees of doubt that creep into Bruce’s comrades.
Dick served as an excellent focal point for a lot of the great discussions in the book. His heart to heart with Barbara, the impassioned wrestling of loyalty between to the former & current Robin & the ultimate throw-down between Nightwing & Batman all contribute to making this a substantial story.
Here’s the catch – the story in this book ends without finding out whodunit. ACK!
Jeff & Sarah got this book for me as a gift (Thank you guys! XOXO) I brought this for reading during my daughter’s basketball tournament (lots of sitting around between games you know). When I got to the end & realized the pages were over but the story wasn’t I darn near called Jeff on the spot to curse him for getting me hooked on this great mystery.
I showed some restraint (I waited until I got HOME to call *smile*) & found out there was more to the story. If you prefer not to hunt down the single issues – and my hat’s off to those of you who do fancy the hunt – you can pick up the trail in “The Fugitive” which tells the rest of the saga in three parts. (The Rothes got me THOSE books for my birthday – aren’t they too good to me?)
I am soooo glad I read the rest, but I’ll throw on a tiny disclaimer. When you set up a mystery that well; when you build a frame that tight – it is nearly impossible to come up with a TOTALLY satisfactory way to explain everything.
But ultimately the pleasure of this read for me was the journey, not the destination (I think I just stole that from an 80’s rock ballad – Oh No Wait! It’s Aerosmith, right?). The first part is totally worth the read. As for the rest – I guess that’s up to you….
Thanks for listening!
Later!
COMING SOON! I went to a small con in Chicago with the gang this weekend – hope to have something written about our adventures soon. We had a great time as always!
The Incredibles (2004)
I saw the previews for this last year, and I remember thinking, “The previews for these Pixar films haven’t been good for a couple of movies now.”
The humor in the preview was more situational, and I wasn’t laughing out loud.
But when it came to the movie, that all changed. As you can see, I gave this my highest rating. This movie was hilarious. Situational and traditional humor. I love it’s subtle commentary on marriage and the daily grind. But this is just a start. This movie’s richness just keeps going from there.
If you thought Nemo was spellbinding how realistic it was, here is my argument. Wow, realistic and pretty. But really, I want to be taken away to a world of many different textures and colors that is created, and not based on reality. A fantasy world. This it, and brings it good.
Granted, I had like no expectations for the movie, but what an adventure. From start to beginning I was riveted and entertained. I never had to think once, everything made sense, and it was just so entertaining, and beautiful. So beautiful, from the glass and mirrored surfaces, to the jungles and trees, to the grandiose rockets and designed battle fortresses, to the water, everything was so amazing. The design of all the sets and characters and the sequences, I could go on and on, and get lost in adjectives about great this movie is. Even the retro final scenes with the flat graphics with how colorful and inventive, down to the last drop this movie excelled.
See it. If you don’t like it, you stink. I am not biased here because this is super hero based, this movie is just amazing and is Pixar’s best movie to date.
Blade Runner (1982)
Oy, this movie. Jeeze. How stupid.
The only reason I didn’t give it a half star, was that Christine said that this movie was enormously popular when it came out, and it was cool too.
I can imagine, and that is about all I can do.
A Ridley Scott film, starring Harrison Ford, this movie is about Harrison, who is this cop guy, set in the future that kills these things called “Replicants” or fake humans. The Replicants were used for slave labor on other planets before they because too smart and started causing trouble. Well, the whole movie kind of revolves around, “If one of these replicants wanted to live beyond its set lifespan, what would it do?”
Anticlimatic, hard to empathize, really really dated story and effects, and a really stupid ending, I can’t think of one reason to recommend this movie. I just hope some more people will leave comments and bash it a little.
Wil Eisner (1917-2005)
Considered by most to be the father of comics, Wil Eisner invented the graphic novel, and has been the most influential artist to the medium of visual storytelling with only Stan Lee appropriate to mention in the same breath.
Wil Eisner gave a job to Jack Kirby and a number of other great artists, and created the Spirit, which ran in circulation of up to five million for over 11 years.
Wil’s work was most influential to me via his “Comics and Sequential Art” book, which really shows how an artist that lives and breathes the medium does not see it’s limitations but always looks for new visually exciting ways to tell a story. I still will pick that up and read it from time to time.
Wil passed away from complications of a quadruple heart bypass surgery. He was 87.
