Fios install…
Verizon is scheduled to come out to the condo tomorrow. Despite being assured by three fios sales reps that the install will go off without a hitch, I have my reservations. My place is wired for cable tv, however since fios tv is not available in the city yet I am only going with fios Internet. So because of that verizon will have to lay down their own cable. And since the can't drill on the exterior walls I am not sure how they are going to do that. I am nervous that tomorrow will be a wasted day. We will see.
Update:
It was much ado about nothing. For non tv installs they go through the phone line not the coax lines. Might be a problem later one when and if Fios TV is ever available. For just internet it's cake. Up and running right now.
Closing…
Excited about today. I settle on my condo today. Moving in will probably suck, but once it is complete it will be pretty sweet. Pictures to follow.
Star Trek…
This was the movie I was most looking forward too this summer season. But it didn’t start out that way; the marketing campaign was straight up phenomenal. I have watched that third trailer over 100 times. I almost skipped work on Friday to go see a morning showing, even though I already had tickets for Saturday. The movie is extremely good; better than I could have imagine when they first announced it many years ago. Yet with every two steps forward there is one step back.
The alternate timeline makes things disappointingly too convenient for the writers going forward, as the entire canon can be thrown out the window, a canon that I have invested a good chunk of my life in. Yet there is no other more perfect way I could think of to reboot the entire franchise, so simple and elegant.
It’s pretty much non-stop action, with small gaps in between to let everyone catch their breath. Without a doubt it’s certainly the biggest trek movie in terms of spectacle. Hand to hand combat, ship to ship combat, chase scenes, sky diving scenes, and more, it’s packed to the gills. The funny parts are funny, the dramatic parts are dramatic, and the campy parts are campy (maybe just a little bit too much). And yet, despite a unified planet, where one would expect more genetic & social blending, Chekov’s accent is so thick, it almost sounds like he has a speech impediment. I don’t remember the first Chekov having such difficulty speaking.
My biggest complaint is that I wanted more from the academy. Kirk’s academy years are left out with the film showing just the last few days. I wanted to see the three years that were skipped. Did anyone at the academy like Kirk? Was he popular, or was he a loner? Did people gravitate to him or was his rebellious nature off putting? Did he have any friends beside Bones? How did he reprogram the Kobayashi Maru? Did he do it himself or get help? I never got to know Kirk, or the rest of the characters outside of the introductory 30 seconds that gets thrown in our faces. Sadly character development takes a backseat for the roller coaster ride.
First Contact is still my favorite Trek film, but this is a definitely number two. Although First Contact has something going for it that this one didn’t…seven years of emotional attachment to the characters. Star Trek didn’t have the luxury that First Contact had. All I know about these characters can be summed up in one line, probably the same one line used at the beginning of the script.
The action was big and loud, but I was never drawn in 100%. I never lost myself in the film, I was very much aware of my theatrical surroundings. I didn’t walk out of the theater saying “wow” just a smile on my face. Sure it’s an adventure on screen, and some of the fastest 126 minutes you will ever spend, but it’s just short of greatest. Star Trek is definitely the first must see movie of the summer season, for everyone, not just Trekkies/Trekker.
***
2008 TV Radar Recap…
So every year I take a look at the upcoming fall tv season. List all the new and returning shows that I am interested in. Now we see how well everything turned out.
Cuts:
Pushing Daisies: Never watched it this season. And now it’s canceled.
Dirty Sexy Money: I had such high hopes for this show. But it went to crap. I mean, it was already kind of crappy, but show just drove straight over the absolutely crazy line. It deserved to get canceled. Season score: *
Mid-Season Signing – Kings: Cool concept, but it got old really quickly. What is an America like country was ruled by a monarch? It’s more like…What if I remove it from my dvr schedule?
Marcus Banks WTF:
Heroes: Still sucking. I thought when Bryan Fuller came back things might change, but they didn’t change much. Toward the end of the season there were one or two nice episodes, but on the whole just a lot of crapola. Season score: *
The Bench:
Free Agent Signing – Smallville: I was sucked in last year when they introduced the “Justice League” this season for the most part continued to tease me with some superhero cameos and a drawn out Doomsday plot. It’s Superman, so it’s got built in longevity. Season score: *1/2
Fringe: It’s still on my dvr, but I watch it very sporadically. I enjoy it but I wouldn’t miss it if it went away. Season score: **
Knight Rider: I stayed with the show the entire time, but it was pretty bad. Yet despite all that I found it fun and enjoyable. It was my guilty pleasure after Dirty Sexy Money went to crap. Season Score: **
True Blood: Never watched outside of those 20 minutes, maybe some day. Please keep telling me it’s great.
30 Rock: This season has been hit or miss for me. Some of the eps were fantastic, others just so so. I usually let a bunch queue before watching them all. Not a good sign, since I usually can’t wait to watch stuff. Season Score: **
Dexter: It was like season two over again. The season was about 4-5 episodes too long. Still good, but frustrating. Season score: **1/2
Entourage: Just decent. The epitome of decent. Season score *1/2
24: This season has been just so so. Jack is still bad ass, but he’s slowing down. He constantly being berated for how he gets things done was extremely annoying. But he’s Jack and the show is still entertaining. Season score: **1/2
Saturday Night Live: The political stuff was good, and then it really started to sag. Some of the guess hosts were just horrible. Still some nice hits. Season score: **
Starters:
Californication: Season two was pretty good, a little drawn out, but still the same great formula. Season score: ***
House: Still not sure where this show is going. The original doctors under House are still around, but barely featured until recently, yet their names are still on the opening sequence. Was this just a little sabbatical for them? And what of the new ones? Kutner is dead, will something similar happen to Taub and 13? Season score: ***
Life: Great season, shame that it is it’s last. Nice that they were able to wrap up all the storylines. Season score: ***
Battlestar Galactica: The final season was soooo hit or miss. The first parts were great, then they started to stretch things out. The last couple episodes leading up to the finale were just painful. The first ¾ of the finale was fantastic then the last ¼ was just underwheleming. Season score: ***
Mid-Season Signing - Better Off Ted: Fantastically funny off the wall office humor. Even thought the jokes are so crazy, I can see most of them being rooted in my actual office life. Season score: ***
All-Stars:
Pysch: It’s still great and one of the funniest shows on TV. Season score: ***1/2
How I Met Your Mother: Fantastic. Best comedy on tv. Season score: ***1/2
MVP:
Chuck: My favorite show of the year. Really hope that it comes back for another season. Season score: ****
Adventureland…
Finally getting around to writing this review, I saw it when it original came out in the beginning of April. Adventure land is the coming of age based on the life Greg Mottola, the director of this little film. The Mottal based character, James (Jesse Eisenberg), is a recent college graduate who comes home to find out that his parent’s financial situation has changed. His summer trip to Europe has now been canceled and his post graduate education is in jeopardy. So to make money he takes a job at Adventureland, the local summer amusement park. And thus the story begins.
Going into the film, there was a lot of talk about how funny it was. And yes it had its moments, but the laugh at loud moments were few and far between, with Bill Hader being responsible for most of them, the rest of the humor merely just smile inducing.
Outside of the comedy element of the movie, the larger and much better part of the film is the drama end. The story of James figuring out what to do with his life after his plans come to a screeching halt is thoroughly enjoying. This is the reason to see this film, it’s the sole reason that this film succeeds to me. It’s not over the top, yet a little heartfelt (despite the fact that one of the films central messages is that adulthood is littered with disappointment, lol), it’s a definite renter.
**1/2
