Jul 17

Hancock soars!

HancockHey everyone, saw “Hancock” the other night. I really enjoyed the film, it was light weight but an enjoyable romp.

John Hancock is a superhero with a twist, he hates himself and everyone else. He drinks too much and sleeps on park benches like a hobo. When problems arise, Hancock tries to help but because he doesn’t really care about anything, destruction usually follows in his wake. This drives everyone in the city to hate him, which fuels his self loathing and so he drinks more. Enter Justin Bateman, a humble PR man who gets saved by Hancock, so he decides that it is time to change Hancock’s image.

This film is a romp with a fairly unexpected twist. Will Smith is wonderful as Hancock, a role, it would seem, he was born to play. The cast is uniformly good and director Peter Berg (“The Kingdom”) handles the film well. Berg is much better suited to this kind of material (just as he was with “Very Bad Things” and “The Rundown” (“Welcome to the Jungle” for the Australian readers)) than he was to “The Kingdom”. For the film and TV buff, watch carefully in the ER scene to see a cameo by Berg looking very much like he did in “Chicago Hope”.

Buy your popcorn, disengage your brain and just enjoy it for what it is, a fun, loud, fantasy romp.

Jul 17

Still waiting for my iPhone

Okay it is now the 17th of July and I still don’t have an iPhone but progress has been made. I have left Vodafone and opened my iPhone account with Optus. My iPhone handset is now rainchecked and I should have one in a about a week. I have spoken to two Vodafone shops and to the company by phone twice, they just have no answers.

I was told to speak to the loyalties department at Vodafone before I close my account, so I did. When I told him that I was going to Optus, he asked why. I told him iPhone, and he had a resigned sound in his voice as he said “I see”. He then told me that Vodafone had the same $49 plan as Optus, I told him that I wanted the 250 gigs of data. He said yes, we have that too. I said but not at $49? He said no, on $69. You can see how this conversation led nowhere fast. (I purposely have not used quotes or put this in a speaking format, because a) these are not exact quotes and b) it is about as confusing as the conversation really was)

Here is the kicker, he finally said to me that Vodafone thought the phone was going to be cheaper! Even us civillians knew that the price that Jobs quoted in the keynote speech were subsidized prices because of AT&T. Vodafone’s lack of knowledge with this device has just floored me. Last friday I was told by Vodafone that it isn’t a good phone for internet and email and I should try another kind. WHAT!!! This phone was built for the internet and email you stupid morons!!!!

Anyway, I am away from Vodafone now. Optus so far has been very helpful and for a company I vowed I would never be with, they are changing my mind. But I haven’t got my phone yet, so anything could happen.

Jul 17

“The Dark Knight” Rocks!

The Dark KnightSaw “the Dark Knight” last night, what a great film. I thought director Christopher Nolan did an amazing job on “Batman Begins” a couple of years back, but now I see he was just warming up.

The original cast is back (sans Katie Holmes, she is now replaced by Maggie Gyllenhaal) and in fine form. A year has passed and Gotham is a changed place. The underworld is on the run and because of Batman, people are more willing to step up and stand against the criminal element. Enter The Joker (an absolutely mesmerizing performance by Heath Ledger) who has one agenda, cause chaos! How do you fight a bad guy that doesn’t seem to want anything? This is what Batman must find out. Along with Ledger we also introduce Harvey Dent who is the white knight district attorney and Gotham’s real hope of salvation. Anyone who has read a Batman comic or seen the 1995 film “Batman Forever” knows were this is leading and it doesn’t disappoint. If you don’t know, I won’t spoil it for you.

Okay, if you thought “Batman Begins” was dark, brace yourselves, “The Dark Knight” is darker and not a film for sensitive types or small children. it is violent, sinister and The Joker is downright scary at times. It deals with complicated moral issues of right and wrong and is all the better for it. My son, The 9 Year Old Geek, is disappointed as I have told him that he has to wait for the DVD. We will be able to watch it together, with the lights on and I can explain things as it goes along. I can also hide his face at some of the more disturbing scenes.

I highly recommend this film though, it is just a great ride and Christian Bale IS Batman and this time he has a villian that is his equal! Can’t wait to see this one again and please let there be more to come. The mission of Geek Actually is to bring fun back to cinema, Is “The Dark Knight” a good, fun time…. You bet! I’d see it again.

Jul 15

Dr. Horrible, Access Denied! – Why Joss, Why?

I am getting so sick of this North American lockout! Dr. Horrible, the new internet show that I have been promoting all week with their banners. I have blogged about it. I am proud to support a show that is pushing into the brave frontier of internet broadcasting! Yeah, all sounds good doesn’t it? Fuck that!

I just went to the site to stream this puppy’s first episode only to find out that it is only available for US viewers! What the crap!?!?! Aren’t we supposed to be doing it the new media way? Streaming for free for all to see? Why is it restricted for us Australian fans?

Joss, please explain. If it was produced by some big network and they were doing an international roll out I could almost understand (I wouldn’t agree, but I would understand), but this is Joss and a few friends. This was an experiment to show what could be achieved online … wasn’t it? And online is international … isn’t it?

I am very disappointed and Joss’ request not to pirate it may have just been the most stupid thing he could request because if we don’t pirate it, how will we be able to watch it.

Sorry Joss, I’m off to find a torrent and then I think I may have to take the banners off my site because it feels like false advertising.

UPDATE: I just followed the link again because I wanted to see who the server was and now I don’t get the message about not being available outside of the US, it plays! What the hell is going on?

Jul 15

“The Spirit” Full Trailer Hits (and it is a little underwhelming)

The new trailer for Frank Miller’s “The Spirit” was released today. I don’t know, what was original with “Sin City” now just looks derivative. I just feel that for Frank Miller’s second film (he co-directed “Sin City”) he should have tried something different. I am not sure I am very excited yet. At least the Full trailer is a little different from the teaser a few months ago. The teaser just looked like “Sin City 2”. I will wait and see before I pass judgement. I had originally had a link for the trailer here but it has just been removed from YouTube due to a copyright infringement. You can watch the first teaser at www.mycityscreams.com. I’ll try to find a new link to the new trailer when available.

“The Spirit” – Written/directed by Frank Miller and released on December 25. It stars Gabriel Macht, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Eva Mendes, Sarah Paulson, Paz Vega, Jaime King, Dan Lauria, Stana Katic, Johnny Simmons and Louis Lombardi

Jul 15

What’s with all the Dr. Horrible stuff?

I am a big fan of Joss Whedon and I really support what he is doing with this project. Follow the link and read the Mission Statement, I am looking forward to this.

All the banners will go after it is finished, promise.

David