Avatar

I'm not even sure where to begin with in my review of this movie. Simply put, it was probably the most impressive, engaging, inventive pieces of entertainment I have ever seen. It was tremendous, and if you don't go see it you are missing out on something that will forever change the future of movies.

At the heart, Avatar is a great story. A crippled marine, given a chance to walk again through the use of an alien body (or avatar). One species, trying to overtake another in a perverted sense of entitlement and neverending greed. Another species, trying to live their lives and protect their homes. Emotional, exciting, heroic, eye opening - Avatar is a tale that will stay with you long after the credits roll.

But what about the blue people?

Well, I'll be honest, one thing I was really concerned about was watching a movie that was entirely CGI. I was very interested in seeing the results of this massive undertaking, but I was pretty sure that it would be vaguely uncomfortable the entire time, watching digitally rendered characters.

I didn't even notice.

Think about that. Think about watching an almost three hour movie (you won't notice the length either unless you drink an super large Coke), that contains no real locations or sets, and only a few human characters. Almost everything in this movie is created digitally, from the main characters to the landscapes and animals. And NOT EVEN NOTICING.

The true wonder of Avatar is that the CGI is so perfectly rendered, the characters so fully fleshed and expressive, that you never even realize you aren't watching real actors. It is possible this is a result of the new technology created for this film (real time digital effects allowed Cameron to see the completed CGI characters on play back even as the human actors were still performing in front of him). It is possible this is a result of the story being so engaging you become too engrossed to notice. it is possible this is simply a result of the incredible improvements made in CGI abilities. Regardless, it is amazing. You are watching digitally rendered 15 ft tall, blue people walking around, flying on giant dragon-birds, and all you see are people. Stunning.

Avatar may not appeal to everyone because of the obvious science fiction theme, and that is a shame. It is a masterpiece of filmmaking, and the message contained is one everyone should be exposed to. This movie will change the way you see science fiction, the way you view CGI, and every movie made from now on.

Go see it.

Just In Time For The Holidays Reebok Comes Up With A New Way To Call Your Woman Fat

Reebok Easy Tone sneakers are built to work the muscles in your legs so you get extra toning from just walking around. They are also apparently meant to be bought by men, because this commercial is like an issue of Maxim. I don't get it: these are workout shoes for women, but this commercial is so oriented to the male consumer it's not even funny (literally, it is NOT funny). So is their goal to get men to buy their girlfriends/wives these shoes? Because men aren't really into giving gifts of shoes. And frankly, as much as I love shoes of all types (and I do, oh I do), I don't want anyone else to buy them for me. I highly doubt my husband even knows what size I wear. Maybe the plan is just to get men to RECOMMEND these shoes to their wives/girlfriends? Nothing says I love you like " you should buy these shoes to tone up your flat, flabby ass." Good luck with that.

I'd Rather Have Diamonds

I'm not even sure what to say about this CBS Cares ad:



Seriously? I understand that you are trying to spread awareness or whatever, but gross. How do these guys even get through this without laughing? I know when I saw it I had a straight face, but that was in stunned shock; if I'd had to read those words and then actually SAY them, I would have wet myself in embarassment. And I actually have a pap to smear. Way to make health advocacy creepy, CBS. Note to everyone in my life: DO NOT GET ME A PAP SMEAR FOR CHRISTMAS! For real. Get me a card, or chocolates (or a Wii, wheee!), or nothing at all. Just stay away from my lady bits. Keeping your business out of my business will make for a Merry Christmas.

Jewish? Don't worry, it's a terrible Hannukah gift, too.

ps: Get a Pap Smear. Get a colonoscopy, mammogram and prostate exam, too. Do everything you can to screen for any preventable cancers. Just keep it away from the holiday festivities. Try February.

Imitation Is The Sincerest Form Of Flattery

If you watched last night's episode of Bones, you really need to see The King of Kong. The story of a real life Donkey Kong rivalry, it is crazy, funny, sad and enfuriating all at once. You'll love it. The writers on Bones obviously did.

Why Do I want Their Help?

There is a commercial airing for the Mastercard Priceless Gift finder, featuring Peyton Manning and Alyson Hannigan giving people terrible gifts. Taffy to an old man with no teeth, a mouth guard to an old lady whose tackling days are most likely behind her, etc. It is very funny and I enjoy watching it each time. but I think they may have shot themselves in teh foot a bit, because at the end it says you can win a chance for one of them to help you choose your Christmas gifts. And I can't help but wonder, after seeing how lousy they are at it, why I would want their help?

I Heart Sonya

Last night's So You Think You Can Dance was interesting. It started off so fast - they totally skipped over all the usual filler showing people picking their new partners and working with the choreographers, and it was a bit jarring. I usually only pay all that stuff the most minor attention, but it does serve as a great intro and set up and after 5 years you get into a rhythm and a routine and begin to expect it. So when it was absent I was all flustered and felt like everything was going too fast, I don't know who is paired with who, what's happeneing they're just dancing already? Whoa. But then we had the first solo, and with it a little vignette on the dancer, and a new rhythm was restored. A much better rhythm. I love when we get to this poitn and there are still a lot of people in the competition, but they are all dancing two pieces together and a solo, because you lose the blah blah blabbing and have lots of great dancing. Last night was no exception. There were several pieces I really liked, but one stood apart, not only from last night's performances, but from all performances. Sonya is a choreographer that you either love or hate - her style is very unique. I happen to love her, but I think anyone can appreciate the artistry in this dance. Oh, and Ellenore and Jakob are no slouches either.

Perception*

Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007. The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approx. 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.

4 minutes later:
The violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.

6 minutes:
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

10 minutes:
A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.

45 minutes:
The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.

1 hour:
He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.
No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.
This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities.

The questions raised:
*In a common place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty?
*Do we stop to appreciate it?
*Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:
If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made.
How many other things are we missing?


*I did not write this. It was sent to me as a viral email and it was so thought provoking I wanted to put it here. If you wrote it, or know who did, please let me know so I can give you proper credit.