So I’ve been “DVR’ing” the syndicated reruns of Angel from TNT-HD, the “HD” version of the TNT network, and have discovered that for some reason, TNT stretches the image to fill a 16×9 screen. My Angel episodes are all deformed horizontally. I can understand stretching commercials. (Who cares about image quality for a commercial anyway.) But, deforming the show I’m watching is not cool. I understand why they do it. The TNT channel, and the TNT-HD channel have the exact same programming. I figure that it’s a lot easier to run it that way. However, don’t screw up my watching experience on the HD channel by making everything by default (whether it was in 16×9 originally or not) fill my 16×9 screen. I would much rather they just display the 4:3 programming in it’s original “square” form. So sure, the image clarity is still pretty dang impressive on TNT-HD, but if it’s going to screw up 4:3 shows, I’ll just record those from the ol’ school analog TNT station.
King Kong Summarized in 2 Words : CGI Overload
From the title of this post you might conclude that I didn’t like the new King Kong movie, but you’d be incorrect. The movie WAS enjoyable. My only complaint is that usually when watching a 3 hour movie, your butt is what starts to hurt. In Kong’s case, it’s your EYES. While there are several great CGI action sequences in the movie, the constant bombardment on your optic nerves with super fast CG camera moves, motion bluring, and overly complicated environments starts to get..well…annoying.
I would venture a guess that about 50% of the movie has no dialog or character development. Half of the movie is nothing but visual stimulation by CGI environments and characters. This movie actually would have been better if several sequences were cut from the film. There simply wasn’t enough plot to support a 3 hour motion picture.
Let me iterate again however, that in the end I still consider King Kong to be an entertaining movie. King Kong was an excellent CG character. His facial expressions were top-notch. Jack Black did a good job portraying the obsessed film maker, and Naomi Watts did a great job expressing her character’s love of Kong.
The problem with King Kong is that the story gets a little lost with all the long action sequences. If the movie was shorter, and focused more on the characters instead of the computer created effects, I think it would have flowed better.
I give it a 3 out of 5 stars. * * *
No Firewire on the new Video iPod
I’ve known that the new video iPod didn’t support Firewire since before the new iPod was released but never gave it much thought until my brother brought over his. I own a G4 eMac, and a G3 iBook. Both use USB 1.0, and Firewire 400. Without thinking, I plugged his video iPod into my iPod firewire cable. (Which is the exact same plug BTW.) My eMac promptly told me that Firewire is no longer supported by the new iPod. That got me thinking …
If I were to buy a new video iPod, I would be forced to sync my MP3 and Video library using the painfully slow USB 1.0 connection. How lame! Essentially, if you don’t have a Mac with USB 2.0, there’s no point in buying a video iPod. If you’re someone who really wants the new iPod, and doesn’t have USB 2.0, I guess you’ll just have to buy a new Mac as well. Sure, spending an additional $1000 just so that you can use your new iPod makes sense. Sheesh. Bad move Apple.
An Interview with Joss Whedon
I came across this interview with the help of “Whedonesque.com” and thought it was pretty neat. Joss talks about Firefly, the last season of Angel, Buffy rumors, and even Alien : Resurrection. The interview also lends creedence to my opinion that Joss is a pretty nice guy. (Take that Justy!)
Apple Announces new Intel-based Macs
Apple announced today that the new iMac will use a dual-core Intel processor. 2-3 times faster than a G5, this new iMac gives the Apple product line a greatly needed kick in the pants in regards to performance.
In even more exciting news, Apple has announced a new laptop, the MacBook Pro. The MacBook Pro will also feature a dual-core Intel processor, with a 4x-5x performance increase over the comparable Powerbook.
Queensryche’s Operation Mindcrime II album – new release date
Queensryche will be releasing part 2 of their world reknowned concept album, “Operation Mindcrime” on April 4th. The album has been mixed and mastered, and a video is being shot for the album’s first single, “The Hands.” For more info, check out Queensryche’s official site HERE.
Fry frozen in 2003…thawed in 2006?
Variery.com :
“Futurama” may live to see the year 3000 after all.
Talks have begun at 20th Century Fox TV to revive the animated skein, which takes place in the next millennium, much in the same way “Family Guy” found new life after cancellation.
The studio is in early discussions to put “Futurama” back in production and create a limited number of episodes of the Emmy Award-winning skein — although it’s too soon to tell where those segs might end up. A rep for 20th Century Fox TV declined comment.
Full article can be found HERE.
Another Roth/Van Halen Rumor
In an interview, David Lee Roth has claimed that a reunion with Van Halen is “inevitable.” I just don’t know if DLR, and EVH could ever get along long enough to get an album done, let alone a tour. Anyway, the article can be found HERE.
UPDATE : Further discussion about the possible Roth/VH reunion can be found HERE.