Three Wise Men

District 9 – prelude to District 10

MNU Agent: MNU! We’re serving eviction notices.
Alien: What is “eviction”?

Story evolves around aliens. Aliens who visited our blue¹ planet. For a change they did not land on the American soil. Although first contact was forced on them they did not retaliate and obliterate the Earth. And for a change we were asked to help them.Intriguing plot and so I decided to watch it.

Egoistic nations of the Earth will help poor starving refugee aliens. Sure we will. Lock them in a slum in the middle of South Africa and act like you try to help them. Eventually gain their trust and win over their superior technology. Obliterate them as a thank you and as a notice to other aliens who might be passing by. Keep them in District 9, a slum near Johannesburg. If local population becomes tired of visitors reallocate them to District 10. There we will have total authority to do all the necessary expe…

And so it begins. MNU Agents storm the District 9 and start the relocation process. Lead by Wicus Van De Mere who is played by Sharlto Copley. He is really an unknown actor but from my perspective a rising star².  Movie will surely bring some fame to director Niel Blomkamp who was, with Terri Tatchell a screenplay writer. It was produced by Peter Jackson, you know the “Lord of the Rings” guy? Good part of the movie is shot as a documentary, the other part can be described as a sci-fi thriller full of action sequences and drama. Superb acting, good CGI³, interesting setting.

Simple 8 of 10((what can I say I like sci-fi with good CGI)).

Movie depicts a lot of violence, blood, body parts, aliens and human scum. R Rated so I don’t recommend that you allow your kids to watch it. Unless they have good stomach. As always here is the trailer.

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1. although it is not depicted as such [↩]
2. if the appropriate money grabbing managers will get their hands on him [↩]
3. all the aliens are CGI generated [↩]

The Hangover

About 3 weeks ago I had the pleasure to participate in bachelors party.  It was organized for one of the Three Wise Men. A beautifully executed ensemble of laughter, games, bonding, classical strip-tease and of course drinking. Finished successfully with him tieing the knot with his fiancée. Since I attended the wedding the company at my table gave me a tip to  see the movie which had similar theme as the bachelor party I attended.

Lets check some movie facts. It was directed by the same guy that directed Starsky & Hutch¹; Todd Phillips that is, and I must say he visualized the script; written by John Lucas and Scott Moore  in a funny and mysterious way so that the movie keeps the viewer in suspense till the end. But for your movie ticket you will also get 100 minutes of comedy. Actors Bradley Cooper portraying Phil, Ed Helms as Stu, Justin Bartha as the groom to be Dough and Zach Galifianakis as a brother in law to be – the bearded Alen start their four Musketeer last night in Sin City.

Movie starts 5 hours before the wedding with a call to worried bride to be? Phil is calling to tell her information about Dough, and then the roller coaster of memories starts…

I can easily rate the movie 7 of 10.

Through memories we discover what the Musketeers did on the last night. All the funny, gambling, nut and strip-tease memories are compacted into simple, yet unpredictable story.  Some of the movie scenes are obscene and the movie is rated R so you might think twice about viewing the movie with children. Otherwise I can recommend it if you are looking for a relaxing and thought free evening.

Here is a trailer; a sample of what you will be getting.

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1. the 2004 version [↩]

Geocaching or how to hunt a treasure using GPS

In the past maps were used to seek a treasure¹. Wooden chest full of gold coins and necklaces or rubies and crowns with gold chalices and guns filled with gun powder and don’t forget grog. Yes grog, with a feistful lass by your pirate alter ego and one eyed Poly with a cracker in her beak.

But alas, modern age brings complicated technology to seek different kind of treasure. You the new age pirate have to use your wits and your stamina for this outdoor activity, called Geocaching. It requires Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver or some other navigational method to hide and seek a case or a container with a treasure² anywhere in the world.

A waterproof container obligatory contains a logbook and a pen. If large enough it may also contain items for trading (toys, books, geocoins, travel-bugs…). As a geocacher bury a waterproof container with or without trade items somewhere on the globe and with the help of your GPS record the cache’s coordinates. Post the coordinates on a listing site, located for example here.

Other geocachers seeking the treasure, will obtain the coordinates from a listing site. They seek out the cache using their GPS handheld receivers. The seeking geocachers record their achievement in the logbook within the container and online. Trade objects are free to take (except the logbook and pen) from the cache, but something of similar or higher value should be left in exchange. In that way there is always a treasure for the next person to find.

Image via Wikipedia

The first documented geocache took place on May 2000 in Oregon. Since than geocaches are currently hidden in over 100 countries around the world on all seven continents, including Antarctica.

Most of the participants of GPS ”hide and seek” activity are adults, but even children find this modern treasure hunt very amusing. Some geocaching communities organize competitions with reward for your effort. But the main purpose of these competitions is getting people in contact with each other, kind of like Facebook but healthier. Why don’t you try it your self? There’s a treasure waiting for you too!

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1. who wouldn’t want one [↩]
2. cache [↩]

Dreaming of Windows 8

Not so long ago BigWhale wrote about Windows 7 RTM. Sure Windows 7 have some installation quirks, but which operating system does not have one or two of those? Some operating systems can live without the constant need for GUI updates. But not Windows. Their micro GUI developers are working hard. So hard that they have a new GUI concept ready even before Windows 7 accumulated some dust on the shelves. Now that is why I call ahead of time market.. – development.

If you want to see Microsoft dreaming machine in action read on and take a look at a possible future of Windows 8. READ MORE

Brüno – der Schnüfflermagnet

Zo … Zince Brüno ist ein fabulaisich man he is also … wait for it … *shocking faces* … a gay, somewhat in fashion, wannabe celebrity. He is also Austrian. Austria is a small mountain like European country north of Slovenian mountain ridge. You all know where that is right? If you don’t then Google it. Now!

Anyway Sacha Baron Choen which was accidentally also Borat has transformed into this fashion god called Brüno¹. Always looking to be in the center of attention. Until the fashion accident which transforms him into rear entering² still want to be famous, gay guy. Friends leave him, only his faithful dog Lutz played by Gustaf Hammarsten, escorts him as his ass-istent to the Los Angeles³. And the rollercoaster of gayness begins …

I can’t say that movie is CRAP. Because it is not. I also can’t say that the movie should be XXX rated. Because it is not. In weird way it is FUNNY. If you are open minded than you will laugh your ass off. But the movie struck me as superficial. The problems of the gay movement can be better explained with a well thought drama.

That is why I will rate it 4 out of 10.

I would not recommend it for minors, due to some penile scenes , some violent sex and just plain dumb shooting. Anyway movie is R rated so watch the trailer and decide if it’s for you. If embedding does not work look for it on youtube.

1. Borat, Brüno, hmm what will be the next one?!? [↩]
2. didn’t he also do that while he was famous [↩]
3. USA that is [↩]