Me vs. the Tech Nation

"The Nerds Have Won!"

So I was on the train the other day and happened to noticed what has become the acceptable fad nowadays. At least half the people in the car had their nose buried in some kind of tech device. A few months ago a TV personality Chris Hardwick made a comment about this saying "the nerds have won!" I agree with this somewhat, but to what extent did we actually win?

Whenever I see someone toying around with their smartphones and/or blackberries (that sounds dirty) and/or tablets (i.e.: ipads), I can't help but think that 10 short years ago, showing just a remote interest in these kinds of gadgets would have been considered nerdy by most people. Think about how many people had internet access in their homes during that period, back in 2000, and think about how many people are on facebook today. But what really has me raising an eyebrow to all of this is how so long ago I would have been made fun of for being into all this techie stuff, and now I'm almost made fun of for not giving a shit about it.

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Mourning The Chicago Code

It is with a very heavy heart and saddened demeanor that I pass on this dreadful news. I don't know just how many of you had begun to watch or even heard of a nice little cop-drama by the name of The Chicago Code. It starred Jennifer Beals as Teresa Colvin, the first ever female Police Superintendent for the Chicago PD. Her main mission upon becoming the highest ranking police officer in the city of Chicago was attempting to take down corrupt Alderman Ronin Gibbons (Delroy Lindo). Curiosity peaked yet?

She assembles a secret and very small task force consisting of her former partner Jarek Wysocki (Jason Clarke), who has his own personal uncertainties at home, and Caleb Evers (Matt Lauria). They are given the green light by the Super to take on whatever and any cases they feel are the most important within the city. Also handpicked by Colvin, deep undercover officer Liam Hennessey (Billy Lush), tries to navigate his way through the corrupt ranks of Gibbons' evil empire in order to finally bring the city official to justice. The show is created by Shawn Ryan who birthed the show Terriers which was also removed from the air.

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Dexter: Tonight's the Night

A woman is walking out of her usual coffee spot while taking a small sip of a vanilla latte that she has just purchased. She climbs into her car and drives not very far to her empty apartment. She notices a couple holding hands walking along the sidewalk that leads past her building and pauses in the night air to appreciate this moment that she yearns she had in her life. What she doesn’t notice is the man that has stepped out of his car parked in the shadows who has followed her from the coffee shop. He waits impatiently beside his vehicle until she has finished admiring the couple to begin the climb of stairs to her apartment. His palms begin to sweat with anticipation as devious thoughts tip-toe through his demented mind.

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Television, how I’ve missed you so

            I used to revel in the idea of rushing home to watch cartoons after school as a kid.  Even more so about the notion of waking up early on a Saturday morning to flip through the abundance of animated entertainment that was on T.V.  I would provide you with a list of 'toons that I so coveted but that might literally take a week or so.  But amongst the top would have to be Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (the original one, even though I did watch the new one as well) and probably X-Men. 

To the disappointment of my parents, I allowed the glow of the tube to shower over me quite often.  I just loved to watch T.V.  You can imagine how the “school week” rule threw a monkey wrench the size of Kim Dash’s ass in my plans to watch all of my shows.  The rule clearly stated that during the week, no television was to be watched.  My brother and I could go outside and play after we finished our homework but no television watching.

Our way around this was to record every show that we wanted to watch during the week and play them back during the weekend.  After the amount of hours that we packed onto one tape was watched, we seldom had time to do other things.  Especially when Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers came out.  For some reason, we thought that show was pure gold.  ~Looks off into space reminiscing: *Pink Ranger*~  

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The Golden Network?

                I am aware that I am not on the committee that chooses the nominees and the winners of such award shows as the Oscars, Critic Choice Awards and the Golden Globes.  Neither are the insightful and film savvy amateur critics that I share my love of movies with.  But I can still put in my two cents where I see fit.

                I am not in dislike of the screenplay written by Aaron Sorkin for Faceboook origin story, The Social Network, nor did I dislike the overall film.  I actually enjoyed the movie directed by David Fincher by I don’t think it was the absolute best of last year’s big screen pictures.

                As everyone may very well know by now, the film took home four awards from the Golden Globes.  I did not stay up to watch the entire program but I was surely not expecting it to win so many.  I did anticipate it would capture a couple of awards in the major film categories, but 4?  Especially being placed up against another film that I personally thought was the Movie of the Year for 2010.

                You can probably guess which one that is without me even hinting at it but I’m going to tell you anyway.  The mind tingling project written and directed by one Christopher Nolan was well deserved of its numerous nominations.  I was hoping the committee which apparently is the Hollywood Foreign Press Association that chooses these things would also be aware.  Inception seemed to be shunned during these awards and was held without a win in any category in which it was nominated.

                No, the film wasn’t perfect, not many are.  But it was very well near to being so.  These two movies are slightly and vastly different on a couple levels.  One being that Inception is more of a film that challenges the mind.  It makes you think, makes you wonder and just simply forces you to pay attention to it.  It jumps around the screen screaming “Look at me, look at me!”.  The Social Network also demands your concentration but in a different way.  It’s a true story that depicts real life drama unfolding before your eyes.

                I respectfully disagree with these decisions but I suppose that is what award shows are all about, aren’t they?  I personally do not really care for the glare and glamour that they consist of.  Sure some of the jokes and antics are quite funny and amusing.  But I would simply like to know who won what and leave it at that.  But that’s just me.  How about spreading the wealth a little?  That’s all I ask, especially to those who really deserve it.  Now on the Super Bowl of film award shows, The Oscars.

And Now, Without further Ado...

I am very proud to announce the much long-awaited return of my fiction story, "Another Chance" Cafe.  As I stated before, I have moved it over to Movie Sense's sister-blog, Pointless Scribble.  I apologize for such the long hiatus.  So in order to keep up with the ongoing tale, just simply click on its link to the right over there, kick back, relax and feel free to become entrenched.  Take a sec to also follow this new blog as well and tell all of your friends and family.  I will continue to keep putting out film reviews and discussions on this one as well so do not fret.  I hope the next part of the story suits your liking.  Enjoy...

Movie Survey

Go take this survey and peruse around the website, Price Minister.  Seems based in the UK, so for all of you who are located on that side of the world, have fun.  Everyone else, have fun too.  Plus by letting them know where you linked to their survey from might help your favorite movie Blogger out; Me.  Have a nice day and enjoy your New Year.  I will be probably be asleep due to being scheduled to work New Year's morning at 5:30 in the morning.  Fun times.

Pointless Scribble

I am pleased and quite proud to announce and introduce the creation of my new blog, Pointless Scribble.  It will contain content of everything other than that of movies.  I have found that I sometimes have things to say that has nothing to do with film that might interest someone out there.  It will provide posts to whatever I feel like writing about at that moment or day.  I wanted to name it Random Scribble but someone whom it may seem is just as creative as myself has already claimed that title.  So I settled for "Pointless"; it has a certain ring to it, don't you think?  If you don't, sorry I'm not changing it. But I do encourage those of you interested to take a peek.

Right now there's not really much up on there because it's brand new.  But I have ideas a lot so it'll fill up over time just as how Movie Sense has.  This will in no way, shape or form defer me from my numero uno love of movies, however, so no need to fret.  You will still have access to all the reviews, movie news & trailers that I deem important enough to share with you all.   To everyone who has been following me thus far, I thank you and encourage those of you who haven't clicked the "Follow" button to do so immediately.  Thanks, 'preciate it.  Plus I have now developed a Facebook fan page, so you can "Like" Movie Sense and become a fan.  You can also follow me on Twitter, @SilentScribbler, if you especially like me.  Eventually I think you will. 

Oh and another thing, I will also be posting all of my random fiction stories, including the very popular "Another Chance" Cafe story that I will eventually turn into a novel.  Sorry for the long hiatus on it.  New chapters are on the way, I promise.  With that said, they will be removed pretty soon from this site's archive. So if you want more of "Patrick & Shea", you'll have to dip on over to the new one.  Sorry for any inconvience.  Hope you all enjoy this new project.

"HBL" Post Production Interview

Here's one of the post-production interview videos hosted by none other than yours truly.  Big stars are so difficult to work with.  I felt especially threatened by Mr. Ali-Baba but I maintained my professionalism. 

("HBL" is a You Tube motion picture written, directed, filmed & produced by St. Elmo, master filmmaker, check out his You tube channel link in my favorite links on the side)

Enjoy!!

2010: The Year in Movies

As the year draws closer and closer to a close and we find ourselves on the precipice of 2011, it can be more than understood that time is continuing to go on.  With it we all continue to age and look at some of our youth with the same confused expressions that our elders once gave us.  As we try to make sense of some of their styles, trends and sometimes erratic decisions, I'm sure that they also question some of their older peers' choices in certain things.  Film being one of those things some of the younger demographic might not be able to always agree on.  They could find it difficult to attest to just how great many of the movies released years ago were. 

I personally feel that there has been a slight resurgence in the quality of movies recently.  2010 can prove that.  There have been several films to hit the big screen that have delighted audiences and the box office.  In almost every genre, there were a couple of films that might make next year’s Golden Globe and Academy Award categories tough to decide.  From Shutter Island to The Karate Kid, The Crazies to Inception, Toy Story 3 to Despicable Me and everything in between.  There are still some potentially great films that are yet to be released but they can easily be included in the stand out bunch.

Read On...

Twilight Question

I have a question.  Yes I have asked many questions before and I feel that they are all of a shared importance simply becuase I have asked them and my curiousity is the only thing that matters in the world.  Well at least in my world.  Anyways my question is quite simple.  Its simplicty is simple.  Yet I am still without an answer.  I am hoping some of you awfully intelligent and very endearing readers will consider answering it for me.  It has to do with the gi-normous book & film franchise that the tweens and even some adults call Twilight.  It has gained about a ka-jillion fans and probably even more money and is still not finished with its plan at world domination. 

Yes I have posted about this mega-series before asking whether or not those of you who care think I should actually read the books.  As it turned out, not many of you did care but that's quite alright.  I understand your non-concern for my indecisiveness about what I read.  This time around I have a slightly different question.  I could answer it myself by actually reading the books but I really don't feel like it.  Well I mean I haven't had time.  So if you feel the need or even if you don't, I ask that you spare me that effort and answer my question.  For those of you who have actually read the books:

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How about...Dinner and a Movie?

             Going on a date?  More specifically a first date?  What should you do?  Where should you take her?  Food is always a good idea.  Feeding your date has got to be the number 1 thing to gain some kind of positive cool points with her.  With her stomach full, she just might forget the fact that you don’t drive a Mercedes.  Oh, and to those guys reading who actually own a Mercedes, news flash: she’s only paying attention to you for your car.  Ladies, where would you like to be taken on a date?  What would you like to do?  What do you like eat?  All great questions. Yes, fantastic questions.  But with plenty of different answers.

            Unfortunately for those of us on an actual budget, those different answers can mean many different price ranges for that evening.  Yes Nicki Minaj, I look at the price tag.  But although the cost of a date may be important on a certain level, a more important aspect is the actual date.  What to do while you spend time trying to get to know someone?  Being a gi-normous lover of film, quite frankly I can probably go to the theater every day if I could (again, my budget does not permit this, movie prices are not going down any time soon).  Whereas whomever I deem lucky enough to allow to hang out with me for an evening may not embrace my same desire.  One that lets me sit in a dark theater and either thoroughly enjoy or ridicule a film that Hollywood or an independent filmmaker has placed on the screen in front of me.  So what to do?

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Go...Vote!!!!

So as it would seem, enough of you have submited many nominations for little old me and my little old blog to make the Top 5 nominees for our category.  That category would be for Best Newcomer Movie Blog.  I always thought my mediocre number of followers was lack luster.  But you all have certainly proven that has always been quality over quantity.  Thanks to TheMovie411 for all of their hard work setting up and processing this online award show for us hard working and dedicated movie bloggers. 

It should really go without saying that you all should vot for my blog.  I mean you could choose any of the other nominess as well if you like them better, this is true.  But you are my dedicated readers that I try ever so hard to impress.  But the choice is all yours alas.  So all I'm saying is to choose carefully and very wisely.  I will now leave you to your voting or whatever it is you were doing before you stumbled upon this very well written post.  Voting ends on the 16th of December.  So go to it!  Again, because FranchiseSaysSo.

http://411movienews.blogspot.com/p/movie411-blog-awards-2010.html or click the little picture to your right.

Lovers of Poetry, take a trip over to Never Land!

Although still quite "wet behind the ears" when it comes to this writing thing, I have developed an opinion about it.  At first, I hated it, couldn't stand it.  I was very good at it in school, in fact English was indeed my best subject, well other than P.E. (if you want to count that).  I usually got decent grades, not always though due to laziness, but never really enjoyed it.  In fact one assignment we were given while in 11th grade consisted of a literary outline about the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck.  Great book but I forgot to actually do the assignment until it was almost too late.  It was due on a Monday and I suddenly remembered the Saturday afternoon before.  No one is thinking about doing homework during the weekend, especially not me.  That was my time for basketball and an awful lot of television. 

Not wanting to take yet another bad grade in a class that came easy to me, I sucked it up and followed the instructions our teacher gave us to a preciseness.  It must have taken me like half an hour to complete the entire thing.  I kind of just slept walked through it.  I really didn't care, it was better than getting a "0" and now I was free to waste my weekend anyway I saw fit.

Read On...

National Novel Writing Month 2010

Soooo, I've decided to place another challenge upon myself.  In addition to seeing as many films as I humanly can, working on my on-going romance fiction and holding down a full-time job, I've signed up to participate in National Novel Writing Month aka NaNoWriMo.  This "competition" was brought to my attention by a writer whose blog I follow. 

The criteria seems pretty simple.  Participants have exactly one month, November, to write a 50,000-word novel.  From the 1st to the 30th.  What caught my interest was it doesn't even have to be good; just 50,000 words long.  I mean I'm not going to just submit some complete dog crap and call it a novel (maybe half dog crap/half bird crap).  But I'll try to pull something worth reading out of my pink (dark pink, sounds less girly), wrinkled, amateur writer brain.  For those of you who would like to follow me on my plight for 50,000-word stardom, follow that link above and search for my name.  There's also a link on the side under "Also Worth It" with a couple of other sites you should considering checking out.

Read On...

TheMovie411 Blog Awards 2010

Well, it would seem that someone actually likes me, or least likes my blog.  It's been nominated for TheMovie411 Blog Awards 2010 under the category of Best Newcomer Movie Blog Award.  Voting for this and all of the other categories involved begin on November 20th.  If you deem my blog worthy enough to possibly win this award, I first thank you for your generally superb intelligence and decision making.  Secondly, I direct you to the the award picure posted right underneath my list of loyal followers which I hope will continue to grow. 

The award picture is linked to TheMovie411 blog where you will be able to vote for your favorite blogsites.  Again, voting begins on the 20th of November, so for those of you who care, don't hesitate to join in and share your opinions on your fellow bloggers.  I know it sounds incredibly cliche, but it's quite an honor to simply be nominated.  Thanks again and keep blogging!

Romance Films ♥ N.Y.

             In the light of my ongoing romance fiction, I’ve decided to combine that genre with the backdrop of my hometown for my 100^th posting.  A feat that some might consider small but that I am personally quite proud of.

  With other popular cities such as Spain, Italy and some spots in the Caribbean which are known for their uber-romantic effect on unsuspecting visitors only seeking a cool vacation spot, New York is sometimes forgotten.  It’s probably just as special to get down on one knee in Times Square or Central Park as it is to do the same underneath the Eiffel Tower.  Yes, the Big Apple goes by many names and yields countless reputations for several different things, both positive and negative, but it is quite the romantic environment.  Not actually having done this myself because I am hip to the enchantment that can take over one’s mind, especially a love-sick female. I dare any guy to take their girl or one that they may be trying to impress into the city that never sleeps and leave without her staring at you with those googly eyes.  Especially if you take them shopping along Fifth Ave.  Better be toting a pretty big wallet if you want to do that.

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Comment for crying out Loud

Still quite the amatuer at this writing thing, I'm trying to grow and evolve to possibly one day even become pretty decent at it.  But I won't know if I am without any feedback.  Especially feedback from you, the wonderful take precious time out of your own important days to actually read my stuff you.  The readers of my work are the main reason why I continue to even consider a part in the writing game.  A small talent that I refused to even acknowledge I might have until this almost too late portion of my life. 

As it would seem, my ongoing romance story, "Another Chance" Cafe, has become surprisingly popular and developed a small fan base who are all threatening me whenever I take too long to create a new chapter.  Mostly friends, co-workers, family and a certain girl that I, or was, trying to impress have become loyal followers.  But I want to hear from those of you whom I don't know.  Die-hard readers who will tell me if I suck.  Be gentle with your words please.  My non-existent ego is quite fragile.  My many thanks to those of you who have provided words on stuff thus far and I encourage you to keep them coming.  To those of you who haven't, I push the same previously mentioned encouragement upon you ten-fold.  Maybe even twenty-fold.  I want to hear what you think!

This would be gladly appreciated.  So comment, comment, comment.  Or at least follow or simply tell your friends to check it out and then maybe they will comment.  Looking forward to discovering if I have a chance to run with the literature wolves or  whether I should chuck my pen out of the window (Because there's no way I'm going to throw my laptop anywhere).  Thank you all in advance.  And remember:

Comment!

It's good for the mind, body, and yeah the soul too.

Twilight Saga Poll

Unless you have lived under a rather large and comfortable rock the last couple of years, you have heard of a slightly popular craze known as the Twilight Saga.  First to arrive as a four novel story written by Stephenie Meyer about a girl who could be the poster child for self-brooding who falls in love with a pale, super-strong, super-fast and apparently dashing vampire who attends her school.  The "undeniably and irrevocably" loved book series eventually became a set of films with the same following.  Record breaking opening nights and about a ka-jillion adult/teen heartthrob crushes later, Twilight has become one of the most succesful movie franchises in film history.

Read On...

The Voice and The Boss

For the most part sports are sports, we cheer, we scream, we root for our favorite team or player. Sometimes we boo, we heckle, we shout obscenities, we throw things and we are heartbroken over a loss. But sometimes a loss in the sports world means something much more than just one less win. Sometimes it's losing a person and it can feel as if you have lost a family member or a good friend.

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