Blippy is a website where people obsessively review everything they buy.
Level 3
Lon Harris
I'm the Editorial Director of Mahalo.com, the news reader on the "This Week in Startups" podcast as well as the host/writer/creator of This Week in YouTube.
- 20 reviews
- 708 unreviewed
Alice in Wonderland
What a crushing disappointment. It's very pretty, but Tim Burton doesn't really seem all that interested in doing anything with the world of Wonderland. Even his somewhat lackluster take on "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" belied his genuine and excitement at realizing the SETTING. He clearly loved getting to build and realize the chocolate factory itself.
He doesn't really seem to bring this same enthusiasm to Wonderland, which looks pretty much as you'd expect. No surprises here. Like Terry Gilliam, I think he works better when he's working with physical sets and costumes as opposed to computer-generated effects (which is surprising considering his background as an animator). Halloweentown or the Beetlejuice House or Gotham City just feel so much more lived-in and tactile and creepy and interesting than the Technicolor cartoon backdrops of Wonderland.
The film is also almost entirely free of compelling incident or conflict. I understand that, in the book, this is sort of the point. It's more of an elaborate game/joke/puzzle than a narrative. But the movie TRIES to insert a narrative in there, but it just winds up being a distraction that makes very little sense. (I also really hated the "borrowing" of the Jabberwocky concept to force the story forward.)
He doesn't really seem to bring this same enthusiasm to Wonderland, which looks pretty much as you'd expect. No surprises here. Like Terry Gilliam, I think he works better when he's working with physical sets and costumes as opposed to computer-generated effects (which is surprising considering his background as an animator). Halloweentown or the Beetlejuice House or Gotham City just feel so much more lived-in and tactile and creepy and interesting than the Technicolor cartoon backdrops of Wonderland.
The film is also almost entirely free of compelling incident or conflict. I understand that, in the book, this is sort of the point. It's more of an elaborate game/joke/puzzle than a narrative. But the movie TRIES to insert a narrative in there, but it just winds up being a distraction that makes very little sense. (I also really hated the "borrowing" of the Jabberwocky concept to force the story forward.)
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
Overall, it's a fascinating and, yes, hugely imaginative premise for a film, and some of the scenery and designs were clearly excuses for Gilliam to get lost in his favorite fantasy elements and visual imagery - like the juxtaposition of light-hearted fantasy elements and scenes of urban decay (see "Fisher King," "Brazil") and the inherent sadness of old men looking back on a life of free-wheeling adventure (see "Baron Munchausen").
But...but...but...the movie's just kind of a mess. The actual STAKES are never really made all that compelling, and the fact that the Devil is not a compelling or worthwhile adversary (he seems to be rooting for Dr. Parnassus to win the whole time) just makes the story kind of stillborn.
It gives me no joy to knock Terry Gilliam or the late great Heath Ledger, but this is a misfire, plain and simple.
But...but...but...the movie's just kind of a mess. The actual STAKES are never really made all that compelling, and the fact that the Devil is not a compelling or worthwhile adversary (he seems to be rooting for Dr. Parnassus to win the whole time) just makes the story kind of stillborn.
It gives me no joy to knock Terry Gilliam or the late great Heath Ledger, but this is a misfire, plain and simple.
I Think We're Alone Now
Deeply, deeply troubling documentary about two mentally unstable individuals who obsessively stalk '80s pop sensation Tiffany.
Jeff is a 50-year-old man from Santa Cruz with Asperger's Syndrome who believes that he is Tiffany's best friend and that he can communicate with her telepathically. Kelly is a 38-year-old hermaphrodite who had a dream about Tiffany as an adolescent and his remained fixated on her ever since. During the course of the film, they candidly discuss their compulsive need to get Tiffany's attention, and even meet up at one point to attend a Tiffany concert.
The film is disturbing, largely because director Sean Donnelly tells the story entirely from the perspective of these two troubled, delusional people. At first, we're tempted to laugh, but eventually, we come to fear the protagonists. Though it's unclear whether either of those poses a distinct threat to Tiffany, it's clear that they are a threat to themselves, and that it would not take much provocation to send them completely over the edge.
I'm not sure how I feel about the film. I can't deny that it's occasionally fascinating, as a very up-close, intimate look at the day-to-day existence of the mentally ill. But it also feels somewhat exploitative, and in an odd way, seems to condone Jeff and Kelly's obsession, just by studying it in such careful, loving detail.
A must-see for fans of documentaries about mental illness (or fans of shows like "Intervention" and "Hoarders.") But it's not really a fun time at the movies.
Jeff is a 50-year-old man from Santa Cruz with Asperger's Syndrome who believes that he is Tiffany's best friend and that he can communicate with her telepathically. Kelly is a 38-year-old hermaphrodite who had a dream about Tiffany as an adolescent and his remained fixated on her ever since. During the course of the film, they candidly discuss their compulsive need to get Tiffany's attention, and even meet up at one point to attend a Tiffany concert.
The film is disturbing, largely because director Sean Donnelly tells the story entirely from the perspective of these two troubled, delusional people. At first, we're tempted to laugh, but eventually, we come to fear the protagonists. Though it's unclear whether either of those poses a distinct threat to Tiffany, it's clear that they are a threat to themselves, and that it would not take much provocation to send them completely over the edge.
I'm not sure how I feel about the film. I can't deny that it's occasionally fascinating, as a very up-close, intimate look at the day-to-day existence of the mentally ill. But it also feels somewhat exploitative, and in an odd way, seems to condone Jeff and Kelly's obsession, just by studying it in such careful, loving detail.
A must-see for fans of documentaries about mental illness (or fans of shows like "Intervention" and "Hoarders.") But it's not really a fun time at the movies.
impulsebuyer
that's some creepy stuff. Might have to check this out
fnoo
It's a great title.
ThisWeekIn App
It's finally here!
There are still some odd little kinks which will be smoothed out soon in the next update, but still...ThisWeekIn shows! On an iPad! The future is now!
There are still some odd little kinks which will be smoothed out soon in the next update, but still...ThisWeekIn shows! On an iPad! The future is now!
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
I guess I shouldn't expect too much from a big-screen live-action "GI Joe" adaptation. Some of the action was alright, I guess. It's a peculiar choice to make the movie's signature effect - a nanobot weapon - a squiggling pile of boogers that eats metal. Not terribly impressive or imaginative. But it definitely could have been WORSE. This is, after all, the same guy that made "Van Helsing." I mean...WOW...
Bad Influence
This 1990 thriller's just weird. Not actually GOOD, but not lousy either.
From Curtis Hanson (the director of "LA Confidential") and writer David Koepp ("War of the Worlds," "Stir of Echoes"), it's the story of a friendship between two guys (Rob Lowe and James Spader) that takes a turn for the dark and twisted.
I sort of figured it'd be BIGGER. Just feels kind of slack, uneventful for most of its running time. And once the plot kicks into gear, it's almost been too long for it to really have impact. And Lowe is playing SUCH a ludicrous sleaze...kind of over-the-top and unrealistic, considering the rest of the film is basically going for realism.
From Curtis Hanson (the director of "LA Confidential") and writer David Koepp ("War of the Worlds," "Stir of Echoes"), it's the story of a friendship between two guys (Rob Lowe and James Spader) that takes a turn for the dark and twisted.
I sort of figured it'd be BIGGER. Just feels kind of slack, uneventful for most of its running time. And once the plot kicks into gear, it's almost been too long for it to really have impact. And Lowe is playing SUCH a ludicrous sleaze...kind of over-the-top and unrealistic, considering the rest of the film is basically going for realism.
Antrim Escape Full App
Meh. It replicates one of those "escape from this room" flash games on the Web on your iPhone, but without adding anything new to the formula. Only so-so.
Medieval HD App
Great, great game. Cool graphics, levels are challenging but rarely frustrating, near-perfect touchscreen controls and ceaselessly replayable. Get it!
The Duellists
I watched this movie years ago but it was way better than I remembered. Stunning cinematography reminiscent of baroque paintings. Two phenomenal lead performances from Carradine and Keitel. Exciting swordfights that feel true to life and authentic, not like the "swashbuckling" we typically see in films. And the final sequence is note-perfect. Definitely among the top tier of Ridley Scott movies (and it was his debut!)
Best part: IT'S ON NETFLIX STREAMING! WATCH IT!
Best part: IT'S ON NETFLIX STREAMING! WATCH IT!
The Haunting in Connecticut
To be fair, I watched about 30 minutes of this and then turned it off. Just another stupid, boring PG-13 "Amityville Horror" retread where people walk through basements and something POPS OUT AT THEM, after which they wake up with a start in their beds. If there's nothing inherently scary about a situation, such that you have to insert constant dream sequences in order to add tension...maybe don't make a horror film about it?
foursquare App
I dig FourSquare, and use it pretty much every day, though I can think of probably 20 ways I would improve it if I were in charge. A few big ones:
- Make the point system make sense or abandon it. I earn points, but it's so easily game-able, and I'm not sure after all this time what behavior will actually maximize my points. So it's kind of pointless. (Hey-o!)
- Make sure if you're offering special deals that the businesses know about it. The one time I've earned a coupon was at CPK, and neither the waiter nor manager knew what I was talking about. (I ended up getting the discount anyway, but it was more to shut me up/keep me happy than anything else.)
- Make it snappier. It's kind of slow on my iPhone and it's slow on my girlfriend's BlackBerry as well. Checking in shouldn't take more than 30 seconds to a minute TOTAL.
- Stop telling me tips for places that are more than a block away from where I'm at or that offer the same services that I'm currently enjoying. It's annoying to check in at a restaurant and get tips for another restaurant half a mile away. That's not really all that useful.
I probably have these sorts of issues BECAUSE I'm such a FourSquare fan...If I was never on the service, most of these sorts of issues wouldn't occur to me. But still, worth noting. I'd still recommend people use it. It's a good way to learn about places in your neighborhood you might not know about, and it's fun.
- Make the point system make sense or abandon it. I earn points, but it's so easily game-able, and I'm not sure after all this time what behavior will actually maximize my points. So it's kind of pointless. (Hey-o!)
- Make sure if you're offering special deals that the businesses know about it. The one time I've earned a coupon was at CPK, and neither the waiter nor manager knew what I was talking about. (I ended up getting the discount anyway, but it was more to shut me up/keep me happy than anything else.)
- Make it snappier. It's kind of slow on my iPhone and it's slow on my girlfriend's BlackBerry as well. Checking in shouldn't take more than 30 seconds to a minute TOTAL.
- Stop telling me tips for places that are more than a block away from where I'm at or that offer the same services that I'm currently enjoying. It's annoying to check in at a restaurant and get tips for another restaurant half a mile away. That's not really all that useful.
I probably have these sorts of issues BECAUSE I'm such a FourSquare fan...If I was never on the service, most of these sorts of issues wouldn't occur to me. But still, worth noting. I'd still recommend people use it. It's a good way to learn about places in your neighborhood you might not know about, and it's fun.
The Hurt Locker
Great movie. Brutal, intense and provocative, it really puts you into these guys' troubling, increasingly warped perspective for 2 hours. But aside from the visceral rush of experiencing the actual act of dismantling an Iraqi bomb, "Hurt Locker" is also about the small, quotidian details of a soldier's life; the way that even facing death by shrapnel-heavy explosion becomes a job after a while, and how some people get hooked on the adrenaline in spite of themselves.
The Art of the Steal
Provocative documentary on the intersection between art, politics and commerce.
I grew up in Philadelphia's Main Line, a few miles away from the Barnes Collection, and I think I had vaguely heard about it being some impressive art collection nearby. But I had no idea about the drama going on behind the scenes, so this was of particular interest to me.
Anyway, the filmmakers do a good job of taking material that could have been fairly dry - the war over where to house a massive collection of Impressionist and Early Modern paintings - and making it gripping, like a suspense thriller. Recommended.
I grew up in Philadelphia's Main Line, a few miles away from the Barnes Collection, and I think I had vaguely heard about it being some impressive art collection nearby. But I had no idea about the drama going on behind the scenes, so this was of particular interest to me.
Anyway, the filmmakers do a good job of taking material that could have been fairly dry - the war over where to house a massive collection of Impressionist and Early Modern paintings - and making it gripping, like a suspense thriller. Recommended.
su
This movie kept popping up on my suggested list. After reading your review I added it to my queue.
The Office - The Surplus
I loved this episode, particularly Michael's obsession with Burlington Coat Factory.
The Haunted World of El Superbeasto
Really wanted to like this one. Fun animation. Great voice actors. And I love dirty cartoons for adults. But it's just not funny at all. The jokes are terrible. Disappointing.
Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths
James Woods as Owlman...Sweet!
Break HD Free App
Even for a free app, this is pretty poor...
The Stepfather
HUGE fan of the original. I hear the remake sucks, but I'm still gonna give it a whirl.
