Thursday, October 26, 2006
Rating Community Web Content or "Look How Cool I Am!"
So hopefully everyone has noticed the trend in user-contributed web content, right? YouTube and Google Video being the big ones. I was struck recently by the harsh tone people take in adding their comments and reviews on these sites. It begs the question - what's the point? Is it to see who can be coolest by being cruelest? Anonymity provides a nice shield for immature idiots to vent, but surely that can't be the only reason? Well... I suppose it could be.
I think Digg has it right - if you like something, you flag it. If you don't like it, just move along.
So hopefully everyone has noticed the trend in user-contributed web content, right? YouTube and Google Video being the big ones. I was struck recently by the harsh tone people take in adding their comments and reviews on these sites. It begs the question - what's the point? Is it to see who can be coolest by being cruelest? Anonymity provides a nice shield for immature idiots to vent, but surely that can't be the only reason? Well... I suppose it could be.
I think Digg has it right - if you like something, you flag it. If you don't like it, just move along.
Monday, October 16, 2006
The Sentinel on DVD
I'm always tempted to call this "24: The Movie." Anywho - Michael Douglas as the Secret Service guy accused of being a mole, Keifer as the Secret Service guy after him. Pretty good idea, pretty good performances by everyone. This one falls apart on the story a little bit, though. A couple of gaping plot holes (Eva Longoria's character is one and the Secret Service guy who IS the mole being the other). First, why the heck is Eva even in this movie (obvious eye-candy reasons, but c'mon). Second, okay, the Secret Service guy made a deal with KGB 20 years ago... then he decides to walk away... then they threaten his family and he's back to being a mole. So, question... who cares about the 20 year old KGB deal? Why not just threaten his family in the first place?
No shocks or surprises in this one, but again, some good performances and entertaining to watch.
I'm always tempted to call this "24: The Movie." Anywho - Michael Douglas as the Secret Service guy accused of being a mole, Keifer as the Secret Service guy after him. Pretty good idea, pretty good performances by everyone. This one falls apart on the story a little bit, though. A couple of gaping plot holes (Eva Longoria's character is one and the Secret Service guy who IS the mole being the other). First, why the heck is Eva even in this movie (obvious eye-candy reasons, but c'mon). Second, okay, the Secret Service guy made a deal with KGB 20 years ago... then he decides to walk away... then they threaten his family and he's back to being a mole. So, question... who cares about the 20 year old KGB deal? Why not just threaten his family in the first place?
No shocks or surprises in this one, but again, some good performances and entertaining to watch.
The Island
Finally saw this one, it's on regular cable now, and I'm glad I saved the money from the theater. It's not a bad movie, per se, it's just not very good. The story unfolds at a disjointed pace - it takes a long time to ramp up, all of sudden it turns into The Matrix, then it winds back down again... sorta. The characters aren't really likable, which makes it hard to identify with their plight. Right about the time the escaped clones make their getaway on a rocket-motorcycle, you'll be asking yourself "where the hell did they learn to do that?" Super-clones, I guess...
Anyway, The Island is probably worth watching vs. reruns of Three's Company, but I wouldn't go out of your way for it.
Finally saw this one, it's on regular cable now, and I'm glad I saved the money from the theater. It's not a bad movie, per se, it's just not very good. The story unfolds at a disjointed pace - it takes a long time to ramp up, all of sudden it turns into The Matrix, then it winds back down again... sorta. The characters aren't really likable, which makes it hard to identify with their plight. Right about the time the escaped clones make their getaway on a rocket-motorcycle, you'll be asking yourself "where the hell did they learn to do that?" Super-clones, I guess...
Anyway, The Island is probably worth watching vs. reruns of Three's Company, but I wouldn't go out of your way for it.
