Hard News by Russell Brown

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  • David Hamilton,

    There is boundless pleasure in not knowing about some social phenomenon. I too know nothing of Watchmen, other than it is a comic book which is has been made into a film. I know also that people who like this sort of thing take it very seriously. So I shall revel in my ignorance.

    It's "graphic novel". </shameless fanboyism>

    But seriously, it is a legitimately great literary experience (one of Time's top 100 books of all time).

    Is the version shown at midnight better and more interesting that the one that will be shown for the following month?

    Nope, but it's less of an event. If you love movies and the stories/characters/universe there is something cool about seeing it in a theatre packed full of like minded individuals. One of the coolest things I did in LA was go to an absolutely full showing of Attack of the Clones at Mann's Chinese Theatre. Arguably an average movie, but the cheer of the audience when Yoda got out his lightsaber was deafening. Very cool.

    Hamiltron • Since Nov 2006 • 111 posts Report

  • Geoff Lealand,

    How do you get the araldite out of your ears afterwards?

    I dissolve it with a quick squirt of mineral turps up the my left nostril! Obviously, the glue goes between the air bud and and the silicone thingy.

    Interesting comments on the latest Big Film. I was talking to a class of Year 13 NCEA students the other day, asking them about their film-going. Interesting when I compared their experiences to mine; I went to 52 films at the cinema last year ( a nice synmetry) , and not one of them was in the top five b.o. films in NZ for 2008.

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report

  • BenWilson,

    Ben: me too. I actually find it truly depressing that there are so few movies for which I'm not willing to wait until the DVD is available for $1 on Tuesdays.

    Pollyanna time. I find it heartening that there are so many movies to watch that I can wait until they cost $1.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • Dan Slevin,

    Is the version shown at midnight better and more interesting that the one that will be shown for the following month?

    The way that 35mm film deteriorates under use (shining hot lights through it, constant threading, less than clean-room standard projection booths) that may actually be true.

    Wellington, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 95 posts Report

  • Mark Harris,

    I know we're not supposed to link-whore, but I just put up a new post at On the Gripping Hand about some of the statistics being touted around "piracy" by RIANZ and others. Feedback appreciated.

    Waikanae • Since Jul 2008 • 1343 posts Report

  • Paul Williams,

    That Bruce Sterling presentation is one of the most fascinating reads I've had in years... years! I'll need years now to get my head around it.

    If nothing more of this calibre of genius is parlayed through PAS for the rest of the year, I'll happily pay my sub... oh wait... you can't monetise a blog right?

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report

  • BenWilson,

    you can't monetise a blog right?

    Surely if you can whore a link you can whore a whole blog. That would be a whore house, in fact.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • Stephen Judd,

    That Bruce Sterling presentation is one of the most fascinating reads I've had in years

    Really? I thought it was an incoherent jumble with few concrete statements, no valid conclusions, and quite a few errors of fact. I regret having wasted my time reading it. I bet it was entertaining as a sincerely delivered speech, but if you try to actually analyse it it's nuts.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Paul Litterick,

    He knows stuff all about Art Nouveau.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1000 posts Report

  • mark taslov,

    Thanks Mark, i was just too angry to finish that, but a necessary evil all the same. I'm just heartbroken that the concept of sharing and the barriers that the internet has broken down between individuals are being reclassified as piracy by selfish gravy trainers like this munter Smith.

    Te Ika-a-Māui • Since Mar 2008 • 2281 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    Nice detailed post, Mr Harris. One fix towards the end - it's Campbell Smith, not Cameron.

    And Mr Taslov, if you thought that was infuriating I can only presume you have not read the in-depth recent Q and A with Mr Rianz or Chris Keall's blatant misrepresentation.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    And no doubt it'll give Craig something to bitch about in relation to the people who came in costume (I'm presuming he didn't).

    I went to a party dressed as Margaret Thatcher. So, I don't really get to bitch people who want to engage in a bit of midnight cosplay. But the person at Warner Brothers who signed off on the license for the official Rorschach ski mask needs to be subject to a rigged piss-test and fired. What next, The Comedian Do-It-Yourself Rape Kit?

    First film in ages I've been genuinely excited about. let us know how it is - one word will do ('good', or 'rubbish').

    'Both'. Technically astounding. Have no idea WTF anyone outside the nerd herd will make of it though.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    cosplay

    lettuce?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    Lordy, you mean there's a word for that? Wonder if there's one for dressing up as a vegetable..

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • BenWilson,

    Technically astounding

    As in, good CG? Was nothing else good?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • mark taslov,

    And Mr Taslov, if you thought that was infuriating I can only presume you have not read the in-depth recent Q and A with Mr Rianz or Chris Keall's blatant misrepresentation.

    Thanks Sacha, yeah it was Mark's link to the Q&A that boiled my kettle, not sure if now is a good time to touch the Mr Kealls contribution. Best to take my meds first.

    Te Ika-a-Māui • Since Mar 2008 • 2281 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    And I'll take my memory pills.. :)

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    As in, good CG?

    It depends on your tolerance for full-frontal blue demi-God, I suppose -- but I do think you've got to acknowledge the production values across the board are wonderful. The cast, for the most part, are better than is strictly necessary... but the whole exercise ultimately felt like going to geek church.

    If it had been a little less faithful to the surface details, and more effort put into fidelity to the spirit of the original, it would have been more satisfying. Moore is often blamed for kicking off the 'Prozac' age of gloomy superheroes who feel really bad about being such bastards, but do it anyway. But, in a funny way, I think the rigorous formalism and intricate details of Dave Gibbons' art and Moore's writing forced you slow down and ask the questions -- what is the price of living behind masks, repeating the comforting (but ultimately poisonous) lie, for individuals and whole societies? Zac Snyder is so busy dragging you from one fastidiously realised set piece to the next, it ends up being nothing but masks.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • Mark Harris,

    Thanks Sacha. Changed

    Waikanae • Since Jul 2008 • 1343 posts Report

  • BenWilson,

    and more effort put into fidelity to the spirit of the original

    Sounds like a big ask.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • Ben McNicoll,

    My unsolicited verdict: I think you'd want to have read the book.

    But on the spectrum of comics/graphic novels that have been made into movies, I think it's at the worth seeing end.

    Gets points, in my opinion, for staying fairly true to the source material (or my memory of it), rather than just using a catchy name people recognise name as an excuse to make a (sub)standard hollywood movie, like so many of the other comic to film adaptations have proved to be.

    But, I'm not a fanboy, so weight my opinion accordingly...

    Grey Lynn • Since May 2007 • 115 posts Report

  • Steve Barnes,

    Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? .
    Craig, aparently.
    I just had to, for nostalgic reasons.
    ;-)

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report

  • Kyle Matthews,

    I went to a party dressed as Margaret Thatcher.

    I think Craig and I walk in different worlds!

    Though one my friends once had a great party along the theme of "a hand up not a hand out" where people dressed up as right-wing figures. Possibly more mocking went on at my party than at Craig's.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • Mark Harris,

    one my friends once had a great party along the theme of "a hand up not a hand out" where people dressed up as right-wing figures.

    We have no verifiable evidence that Craig was going to a dress-up party...

    Waikanae • Since Jul 2008 • 1343 posts Report

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