Oct 16

Geek Actually Episode 10 – Where’s the Firewire?

Geek ActuallyJoin David McVay, Mirren Lee, Jacob Oberman and Nicholas “The Little Geek” as we return after our week off with a light hearted show about flowers, our nations capital and the Coen brothers.

David, Mirren and Jacob discuss the Floriade Flower Show in Canberra, its theme this year was Australian film. Mirren and David review the Coen’s new film, “Burn After Reading” (and the cinema we saw it in) and Apple announced their new line up of MacBooks and David and Jacob wonder if they are worth it.

David and Nicholas talk about the new film, “Beverly Hills Chihuahua” and the new video game, “Lego Batman : The Videogame”.

The episode carries an explicit tag for infrequent bad language.

Listen or download it here or subscribe to it on iTunes.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

(This post edited 25th May, 2009)

Oct 09

Reminder About Episode 10

Just a quick reminder that episode 10 is next Tuesday. As mentioned in the last show, we went to Canberra this week to see Floriade and could not record this week. The show next week should be a good one as we will discuss the trip to Canberra and Mirren Lee and I went to see a preview of Burn After Reading last night, so we will review the film and our cinema going experience. Positive for the film, negative for the cinema. We also have some follow up information about Michael Moore’s new film and the Presidential election heats up.

Join us Tuesday (14th of October) on iTunes for another episode of “…Geek, Actually”

Oct 09

US Kath & Kim Savaged by Critics

The US Kath & Kim

The US Kath & Kim

Well this was inevitable. The first reviews of the US version of Kath & Kim are starting and it is not looking good. The San Francisco Chronicle TV critic, Tim Goodman, was scathing in his review of the remake. “jaw-droppingly awful” he said and is asking if the American executive producer Michelle Nader had ever seen the “fantastically funny” Australian version. He asks if an apology to Australia is needed. But on second thought:

“NBC sent the first two episodes of Kath and Kim, and both were jaw-dropping in their awfulness. In fact, by the end of the second episode, a stray thought occurred: Maybe an apology to Australia is unnecessary because the American version misses the mark so badly that it’s barely recognisable as a distant cousin to the original,” Goodman wrote.

Maybe Magda Szubanski was right in her decision to bail out of this project and take her character, Sharon, with her.

The San Fransico Chronicle went on to say, “Molly Shannon, as the mom, Kath, who tries to make the most out of nothing, and Selma Blair, who’s completely miscast as daughter Kim, are light years removed from Jane Turner and Gina Riley, the Australian actresses who created and wrote the original series. Of course, actually creating and writing the series is part of the reason Turner and Riley nail their characters. They inhabit them.”

To read the complete article click here.

More on this can be found in The Advertiser

Sep 30

Geek Actually Episode 9 – She’s Hot And She Has High Powered Rifles

Geek ActuallyThis Week join David McVay, Jacob Oberman and Mirren Lee as they discuss Michael Moore’s new film, “Slacker Uprising”. This leads us old liberals into a deep and meaningful discussion about the US Presdential Campaign and other Michael Moore films. The panel also discuss Microsoft’s continuing ad campaign and David Reviews the film, “Eagle Eye”.

David tells us about the ATV Patchstick from Applecore LLC and Nicholas “The Little Geek” McVay tells us about going to the circus. All this and we find time to farewell Paul Newman.

This show carries an explicit tag for some infrequent bad language.

NOTE: A reminder that there is no show next week we will be back October 15th, 2008.

Listen or download it here or subscribe to it on iTunes.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

(This post edited 25th May, 2009)

Show Notes:

More info on Mirren Lee – mirrenlee.com
Jacob Oberman’s Short Films – Here, Here and Here
Trailer for Slacker Uprising – Official Site
Trailer for Eagle Eye – Official Site
The New Microsoft Windows Ad and Campaign – windows.com
ATV Patchstick Official Site – applecorellc.com

Sep 28

Slacker Uprising

Michael Moore's Slacker Uprising

Michael Moore

I just want to start this by saying that I think Michael Moore has done an amazing thing by releasing this for free to the North American’s via the web. However, I don’t think he went far enough. Even if he didn’t want it to be free everywhere in the world, he could have released a paid for copy simultaneously everywhere else. I would have paid for it! The DVD of this film is advertised on the site next to the free download, he could have made it free in North America and then released it on DVD and through iTunes rentals everywhere else at the same time.

Why do I concern myself with this? There are a lot of US citizens (myself included) living in foreign countries and  I think the film is important and should be seen by ALL potential voters before this election is stolen by the Republicans again!

Okay, the film. How is it? Well, that is the interesting thing, I didn’t think the film was actually as good as his previous work. It is more of a highlights reel of his tour in 2004 than a documentary, but that was his aim I believe. What I will say about the film is his passion. I don’t think I have ever seen Michael Moore so passionate in his speaking. This is a subject that he feels is very important and he shows it.

The film is worth seeing and makes a nice companion piece to Fahrenheit 9/11. As a film on it’s own it is not quite as successful. It is worth noting that the sequence when they applaud the soldier in the audience reduced my wife to tears and Rosanne Barr’s speech near the end had me roaring with laughter.

We will be discussing this film, other works by Michael Moore and the current state of the US election in this weeks netcast, it should be worth downloading and listening to this. You will be able to Listen to it here or download (and subscribe) it on iTunes or Podbean.com on Tuesday (30th September 2008).

Sep 28

Paul Newman, Dies of Lung Cancer at 83

Incredibly sad news today as we mourn the loss of Paul Newman. Newman was 83 when he finally succumbed to lung cancer.

Newman was an excellent actor (I should say Hollywood Legend) and an incredibly generous man, his Newman’s Own food label generating millions of dollars for charity.

Paul Newman leaves behind his wife of fifty years, actress Joanne Woodward (a great actress in her own right) and his three children.

Paul Newman will be sadly missed by this geek. Rest in Peace Mr. Newman.