Firstly, I finally saw District 9 last night. I liked it…A LOT. I’m going to copy here verbatim what I posted in the thread on the topic over in the Ars Lounge:
“I have to say I was really impressed. I went in not expecting much of a story (beyond a half-hearted condemnation of apartheid using aliens as stand-ins for native Africans). I went in expecting one-dimensional characters. I went expecting a bit of eyecandy but to have one of those “you don’t get to see the aliens until the end” experiences.
The story was fantastic. It managed to be a human story at the same time as being a criticism of apartheid, amoral global corporations and government cover-ups all at the same time. I could completely imagine a scenario playing out exactly like it did in the movie.
The acting was fantastic, at least on the part of the main character. Some of the peripheral characters were a little flat, but the main guy made up for it as far as I’m concerned. They even managed to make me care about a couple of CGI aliens.
The special effects were surprisingly good. Not too overdone, but not cheap-looking either.
The editing was great, going back-and-forth between documentary-style and action film without really making me notice it too much or taking me out of the moment.
I’ve seen movies that executed each of these elements better than District 9, but I can’t recall the last time I saw one that got so many of them right.
I’ll definitely be seeing this at least one more time before it leaves the theater. Color me surprised, impressed and eager to see what the director does next.”
I think that’s all there is to say about that.
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Work is going well, I’ve been feeling pretty productive this week and have gotten a fair bit done. I’ve got about a million different change controls in the fire, lots of activations going on. Good stuff. I hope to one day actually finish this seemingly-endless encryption project and be on to something different.
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My 30th birthday is tomorrow. We’re having a monster toga party at Hanson’s place up in Zionsville. I’m really, really looking forward to it. Jessi and I went shopping Wednesday night for costume stuff. I ended up with about six yards of red material for my toga itself (Roman generals often wore red togas when being honored with a triumphal parade), as well as a length of silver chain from which to fashion a baldric for the costume dagger I bought last week and a plastic laurel that I’m going to spraypaint silver.
Speaking of the dagger, I ordered a generic-looking dagger off of Amazon for $5…it said something like “admiral’s dagger” and it appeared to be real metal, but of costume quality (I didn’t want a plastic one, but I also didn’t want one that would actually be dangerous). I received it last week and was alarmed to discover that it was actually a very poorly-made replica of a Kriegsmarine officer’s dagger…complete with a pommel depicting an eagle grasping a wreathed swastika D:
The dagger itself looks great though, so I picked up some extra super glue and I’m going to fill in the wreath, file it flat and then paint over it in silver. My de-Nazified dagger will hang from the silver chain baldric to complete my “God Emperor” costume for Saturday night’s festivities :)
I’m also psyched because my little bro’s band, One Punch Knockout, is going to play a brief set during my party. They’ve even agreed to let me join them for a rendition of the Misfits‘ “Attitude” :D
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Tonight, as part of the pre-birthday festivities, I’m catching a showing of Quentin Tarantino’s latest movie, Inglourious Basterds. I’ve been pretty excited about this film from the first time I saw the trailers. A dark comedy about Allied agents behind enemy lines, scalping Nazis? Directed by Quentin Tarantino, master of the pulp, gory dark comedy? YES PLEASE.
Inglourious Basterds was supposed to be the entree for this week’s movie-viewing menu, with District 9 being the appetizer. Given how good District 9 was, I’m hoping Inglourious Basterds doesn’t turn out to be a disappointment.
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That’s about it for this week. Next week I’m prepping for Chris and Amber’s rehreasal dinner and subsequent wedding on the weekend. Then the weekend after that is our next LAN party, then the weekend after that I’m leaving for the Wisconsin Dells, then the weekend after that is the big Indy Arsmeet.
It’s a busy few weeks for yours truly! If you’ve got any spare energy saved up in a jar, send it my way! :P
