Happy Halloween

Image credit to Makezine.com, with many more at their site here.

How Time Flies

Been a madhouse at my end, having picked up a new position at the company trying to get two new departments up and running, as well as moving apartment back in September to a condo out of Norfolk, just haven't been a bundle of energy after work lately.

But ManU leading the EPL table and their Champions League group have kept me sane, and some quality TV and movies lately now have forced me out of hibernation! Here's the (old) news I wanted to rave about for a bit..

Battlestar Galactica – Exodus Part 2

Brilliant episode, one of my favourites so far. They played the "planet-side" arc out just long enough to develop all the characters (including the Cylons), but not too long, as we really want to be them to be back in space with Adama & his titular ship. The Pegasus got it's heroic send-off (a somewhat telegraphed rescue, but still excellently executed effects-wise), and they even threw some wrenches in plot-lines we thought we could see developing in other ways (Kara's daughter). But best of all, they let the episode have a happy ending, and didn't feel the need to add a "Lost" style conclusion with too many unanswered 'hooks'. We got to enjoy the successful mission, the reunion of humanity, and can still look forward to the ramifications of the colonization, which will be raining down like ash on all, but will leave the most bitter taste with Tigh and Starbuck.

Doctor Who – The Man In The Fireplace

Growing up in Australia, had no choice but to be a Dr Who fan, and although I dipped a trepidatious toe into the first season of the new series, I was pretty unimpressed and never went back until they started playing this season right before Battlestar a few weeks ago. Overall, it has been pretty good. Like this Doctor for his flippant humour in the face of danger (he lives forever, of course he's seen it all before), and it may very well be the first Doctor who has some level of romanticism about him (or maybe I just missed all that as a kid). But this time traveling episode was not only beautifully written and plotted, I even got caught up in the emotion of the ending.

This episode has hooked me for now, and the Gorgeous Wife and I are both penciling it in as a must see series now.

So, to not appear like a complete sci-fi geek, let me just add the following...

The Departed

Leave your house, get in your car, buy a ticket and see this movie now. One of the best movies I have seen, especially in this genre, for years. Beautifully scripted (with credit to the Asian original, Infernal Affairs), magnificently executed, and one of the most talent-filled casts I have seen for ages. And the point about that cast is every single one of them is in top form. From the leads (Jack playing it 'not nice', and I'm not a Leonardo fan, but he and Damon are both pitch-perfect here), to the bit players (Wahlberg and Baldwin's interactions are hilarious) and the atmosphere held through the whole movie makes the near 3 hours fly by.

Some people didn't seem to like the ending, but it just made it a better movie (and less Hollywood standard) for me. Great stuff.

Looking forward to Nov 17 and the new Bond, which has one of the best trailers I have seen for Bond for years. Check it out here. Anyone see The Prestige? I am intrigued, and love the director, Chris Nolan. Leave me your comments on that one...

Quote

Credit for CNET.com for capturing this one from a hearing on diminishing media ownership diversity and its negative impact on creativity:

"Homogenization is good for milk, but it's bad for ideas."

Quippy quotes like that may explain why the speaker, one Patric Verrone, is president of Writers Guild of America, West.

Blast Em with Red!

Been post-less for a while now, lacking inspiration and free time. But rather than go into all that rot, lets kick it back into gear with Red, one of the most fun flash games I have ever come across.

Think Missile Command meets Asteroids meets mass x velocity. Give it more than a passing run through, because it gets better as you go, including extra's like auto-turrets. You can love on it here...