When Movies are Still Three Hours Long

Ah.. the good old days, when they actually dared (though not always succeeded) to make a film that runs for more than three hours which is twice (or even more) the length of recent films nowadays. I felt contempt and disgust whenever my new friends asked about what kind of films i had in my collection, or what kind of films that i recently watched and liked. One of my friend had made a dire mistake when she said that Transformers is one of the best film ever made. Now, wait, one of the best film e-v-e-r made? I ignored her completely the next day when she proposed that we all go see a movie which was about the 16213rd films that told a similar story about duo police (Rush Hour 3). Yep, been there, seen that, and i won't waste my good money to see another 'Mi'-'Yu' gags again, we've seen too many of that already (considering that there was virtually no border to cultures, and countries worldwide nowadays, an oblivious knowledge to foreign names i would considered as rude, barbaric, pompous, and ignorant character), and sitting in the dark with a know-it-all girl (among others) who hadn't even interested a bit to see Gone with the Wind. I rest my case, there.

Now, let me back to the good old days, when movies are still three hours long. I recently watched Lawrence of Arabia, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (for a second time, and still a thrillingly pleasant experience), and Once Upon a Time in the West. All of which runs a slight minutes off the three hours mark (Lawrence of Arabia, however, runs a slight minutes off the four hours mark. Four). And strange but true, when sometimes i dozed off during a film that runs for shy 90 minutes, i rarely did for the longer experiences, ever savoring the experience in its earnest and loving them for what it's worth. Beautiful.

Back to reality, i had an experience once, quite recently, when someone asked about my collections, he said that 'You haven't had any good stuffs there, are you?'. Sigh, most of my new friends here considered that good films is where you see many slapstick jokes (you know, where actors tend to humiliate themselves?), and many explosions. They hadn't even know about Heat. That's blasphemy! How come an action film lover (as these snob people claimed themselves to be) doesn't even know about Heat?. Sigh. Times sure are changing. Fast.

Next iPod?

You really had to give a hand to those guys at Curpentino marketing team. They had consistently generated a buzz regarding their latest product. Well, of course, if they hadn't followed the buzz with worthy products there wouldn't be any consistency to the buzzes. Now, the next Apple event (quite possibly, a new iPods - a multi-touch iPod?) has been announced to be held on September 5th, Wednesday. The news has been circulated for weeks that Apple would release a new iPod soon. The Apple event on September 5th, would be the safest bet.

Burst of Visitors

This site usually generates 5 ~ 8 unique visits daily. Heh, i know, it's not something to be proud of. But, since last Thursday, i've seen quite a significant improvement. It generates 50+ unique visits. I thought that it was only last a day. Two at most. But no, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday also seen a 50+ unique visits. I was totally oblivious to what had caused it. Moreover since i had deviated a lot from the original course of this so-called "movie-blog-wannabe".

The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents (2001)

Review: The wikipedia entry about the Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents is that the book had won Carnegie Medal Winner 2001 and is a deconstruction to a familiar story about talking animals and of course, the Pied Piper legend.

As with his other works - Terry Pratchett is the best-selling author in UK before Rowling, and still the author whose works are most often snatched from the book-shelf - the story of the Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents sets in a Discworld. And as with his other works, it was funny. Even though there were references to death and dangers, but it still one hell of book full of funnies.

The premise of the book made a mocking reference to Pied Piper. You know, that guy who get rid of vermins from a town with his piper only to be let down by a Town Council and in turns had let all the children out of town. In this story, however, the Pied Piper was for a brief-periods of early chapters known as a stupid-looking kid. He was led by Maurice, a talking - and thinking - cat, who also led a pack or talking - also thinking, AND educating themselves, as they read books, and invented letters - rats into a scheme in resemblance of that the original Pied Piper. Owh, Mr. Pratchett describes how does the rats - and Maurice, which was so funny i couldn't able to resist my laugh whenever he struggles with his conscience regarding on how he got his ability to talk - received their gift. So, no cheating there. The shceme that had invented by Maurice was simple. He instructs the rats who led by a rough old-fashioned old warrior, Hamnpork to made the town believes that there was a plague happening to their town. And that's where the stupid-looking kid came in as he played his piper and the rats would then followed him out of town, to count their money.

The rats so organized they had the Trap disarming squad led by Darktan, a philosopher Peaches and Dangerous Beans, and a straw-hat wearer, tap-dancing rat whose responsibility is to led the citizens into believing that there's a rat-plague in their town, Sardines.

However, on their very last job, they came into a town known as Bad Blintz. And in this town, Maurice, his educated Rodents, stupid-looking kid, and local Major's daughter, Malicia, who was a great grand-daughter of famous story-tellers the Grimm Sisters, faced not only what would probably their last job, but also their last breath. I had thought that this book is strictly for children, but i was so surprised to read that Mr.Pratchett put his characters into a dire dangers, and even death (well, they're mostly rats, but still, death is death). But like i said earlier, this is one funny book to read. And it only made me even firmer to seek another Discworld series from Terry Pratchett into my collection (there were forty-more titles out there, and i've got only three of them as of now).

My favourite moment is when Maurice had a conversation with Death. "Yessssirr, no problem sir, as you said, sir."

Tragedy

At a glance, i won't seem like one with a remorseful empathy toward other's misfortune nor one with grudging envy toward other's lucky charms. That's merely because i considered myself a firm believer that everything that had happened in our life was already written (well if not all of them, a considerable portion of life, then), all of our tragedies and misfortunes, all of our luck (as i believed that no such thing as luck is actually exist) and fortunes, were already plotted. That been said, i've had also believed that some of the money i had made belongs to one of those 'unluckies'.

However, a recent fire in Bandung, West Java earlier today made me ache. At least ninety kiosk had burned. No life lost though, fortunately. But unfortunately, a considerable amount of books were burned. With estimated loss around 8 billion rupiahs, it saddens me to know all those books gone black, charred and turned to ash. And those books aren't mine. I can't start to imagine what would i feel if those books that had burned were mine. I would probably break down and went to the Cuckoo's Nest.

Autism

My new friends had said - largely with mocking tones that only good friends did (oh, and i made good friends rather quick, even my new Human Resource Manager had admitted it, well, at least to men, women frightens me, unless if they're pregnant, and my new female good friends, they whom i felt comfortable to had lunch with, were pregnant, or young mothers. Go figure) - that i had every symptoms of an autistic. Now, i don't know shit about Autism, nor about its behaviors, so i can't exactly tell why did my new friends said so. However, one of my new friend said, that i had some odd, curious, out-of-this-world behaviors, which of course qualify me as being weird. Another admired me for my wackiness (no kidding). Yet another gave up his throne as film appreciator after knowing (in a hard way, which satisfied me) that i had more knowledge in the field than him. Another who had commented on my thick Javanese accent, had a shock of her life (this one, a young rich girl, i don't like much, and i tend to avoid talking to) when she found me laughing to tears while reading The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents, reads my blog, heard my not-too-friendly comments on Harry Potter's seventh book, and ultimately, to learn that i kept my thick Javanese accent on purpose, as heritage. Another, a chinese descendant female (also young and rich, and also i tend to avoid as well) also shocked when she knew that i had some knowledge in Japanese (and Chinese) letters even without proper (nor formal) educations whatsoever.

Actually, i just did what everyone should did. I learn, i study, about things that interested me the most. For instance, films. I learned to read Japanese merely because i wanted to play un-translated Japanese Games (if it comes to Games, i'm a purist. All against dubbed Games). Therefore, i don't know how to speak or read Japanese properly, but i know enough those Kanji letters to understand the meaning. See, i'm not necessarily learn the language, but just enough to read the symbols. Give me a Kanji letter, there's a fair chance i would know the meaning. But not how to read them properly (either in Japanese or Chinese). If i'm not interested in a particular thing, i would know nothing of it. Just like everyone else. Well, even Sherlock Holmes, the greatest detective ever written, and arguably one of the brightest fictional character, doesn't know that the Earth was orbiting the Sun (i believe this fact was unearthed during his first moments with Dr.Watson in A Scarlett Letter). He doesn't care about it one way or another since it doesn't have any significance whatsoever with his job as a private investigator.

You know what i hate the most about people nowadays? They tend to judge the book by its cover. Well, not that i'm guiltless about it though, but, when i'm comfortable around people, i don't give a shit what they looked like, or how they behave. And really, it doesn't takes a lot to made me comfortable around people.

The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)

Review: In short words, The Bourne Ultimatum doesn't disappoint. If you liked The Bourne Supremacy (and i can't thought of reasons you shouldn't), you'll love Ultimatum. However, if you are one of those people who complained with how Paul Greengrass shots his scenes in Supremacy (and i say, go watch more movies, you dweeb), you'd found a little love to Ultimatum (blasphemy!).

As with previous incarnations of Bourne series, the latest installment still features Jason Bourne, a super-spy, a much-much more down-to-earth super-spy than the other JB super-spy who had last much longer than him, who suffers amnesiac and tries to unveiled his shrouded past.

However, i assured you that previous experience to the Bourne series aren't immediate necessity. However, if you'd liked to know why was Jason Bourne limping in the streets of Moscow at the beginning of the film, feel free to watch The Bourne Supremacy again. And it's actually good to know that the final scene on the Bourne Supremacy is actually happened at the near end of the Bourne Ultimatum.

Matt Damon had said that this is the last Bourne, although that it was hinted that he would likely to return should the next Bourne (if any) still directed by Paul Greengrass. Thus, the film should delivers a bang with style. And even though, if compared to the Bourne Supremacy this film still fell short, this is one of the best film i've see this summer, and it's worth the wait.

Just like the predecessor, the film's pace is incredible. It moves so fast i had barely a time to draw breath. However, as i've said earlier, if you didn't like the way Greengrass shots his scenes at Supremacy, you'd have little love for Ultimatum since the camera always in constant movement even if the sots was actually a static close-up shots. Alas, i believe that such direction strenghten the tension it generates. Thus, i had no objection whatsoever with it.

With Matt Damon who plays Bourne perfectly, and one of my favourite actress, Julia Stiles as his damsel-in-distress, also David Strathairn, this film would most likely in my 2007 top-10, and is certainly my #1 summer 2007 film.

Ultimatum was not without its flaws, there are some scenes, and decisions made by characters (whom mostly CIA officers) that made me frown. And i found myself dragging my attention toward the film's end where the conclusion was about to be given. After all, after being entertained with superb consistent action sequences, the slowing down was rather unwelcomed.

One side foot-note: Why the trilogy's best is always on number two? Well, that's what i think anyway.

My Rating: ***1/2 / ****

New iMacs

I had a day-off yesterday (due to Jakarta's Governor election) and so i just had the news regarding the newest release of Apple's desktop line this morning. And yeah, i definitely want one.

Brushed Aluminium case, glossy 20-inch (and 24-inch) screen, oh-my-god-that's-so-cool ultra-thin keyboard, if i want a desktop, that would be my choice. Further, i would chose the middle tech-spec one that costs about US$ 1500. However, since i'm rarely at home, and yet, i don't have a home that could be called as my own, i would stick to my MacBook right now. But, of course, you're more than welcome if you want to give me one.

Actually, i'm more excited about the update on iWork software line. I've been using iWork '06 and loving it. And has been longing for its spreadsheet application. iWork '08, the next update of iWork '06 has been shipped with Numbers, a spreadsheet application. Now, for US$ 79, that's a true bargain.

Write the Goddamn Book Already

So said the Procrastinator.

Windows Troubleshooting

My job description are including but not limited to computer's troubleshooting. Which means, that if the average user in my office can't connect to an internet, can't connect to a network printer, can't access their mailbox, et cetera, they called my extension. It's by far the most humiliating job that i've ever had. However, given the circumstances, it's also the easiest job that i ever had.

Okay, most of, well, everyone but me (proud Apple user) in the office were using Microsoft Windows. And one lesson i learned (in a fast and a hard fashion) that Windows needs to be restarted. That's all. One day, one user can't find a brand-new network printer. I tried to connect it from my Mac, in three minutes the printer churning a colorful image from my Mac. This user, who uses Windows XP, tried as he (and i) may, still can't find the same printer even though that i had given the correct parameters to it. Minutes later, i learned that if you feel you did everything in your book about troubleshooting and still the response was nowhere near your expectation, restart the goddamn machine.

In days to follow, i still believed that there's still a logic way for these misbehaviours, i.e, it should work when it should work. However, the experience proved au contrarie with my assumptions. For instance, one day, a user said that he can't connect to a network using wireless. What did i do? I was mulling over the settings, the switch, and various other methods only to find that the solution was a mere button away. Yes, restart. Also, once a user said that the Microsoft Outlook he used to read his mails refused his password. I tried using mine, and worked, so i said, restart. And yes, it worked. One of the mysteries of the computing world. When your Windows misbehave, restart, most of the time, it worked. If not, then it's really the time to call your IT Department.

That's why i didn't miss using Windows at all, in fact, the Toshiba Satellite that was given to me by the office was mostly unused. I prefer, much prefer, using my MacBook which i never shut down for about 12 days and counting as of now.

Ugh... The Tension

After a disappointment of this year's summer's number threes (yes, Pirates, Spider, i'm talking to you), i simply can't wait any longer to see this film since i loved number one (great) and number two (even better) so much. And my heart leaps and beats faster whenever i saw the trailer. Every single time. Honestly, i can't remember when was the last time i had greatly anticipated a film... i just hope that i won't be disappointed. Now, this film had scheduled to hit the theater at 7th. That's Tuesday, which means that there's a fair chance that the film would be screened this Saturday mid-night. I just can't wait.