thedriveintheatre

What's the story with TDIT?

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 10:26:37 -0400

Hellooo nurse! I mean, everyone. I’m back (for the mo). Lots of things have happened since my last appearance:

- I got a job with the biggest print organisation in Singapore. If you wanna look it up, it’s called ‘SPH’. I’m employed as a ‘journalist’, but I’m really a sub-editor. So the kinda tasks I do is proofread and tweak the reporter’s stories, do a little paragraph arranging, and basically be the last ‘line of defense’ to keep any mistakes out of the paper. The paper I work for is really a ‘mosquito press’ free tabloid that they give out at train stations and various distribution points, but hopefully I’ll be able to work my way up to the main broadsheet, ‘The Straits Times’. As an interesting note, this is one of only two media companies that publish newspapers (the other is Mediacorp). So really, we don’t have much in terms of media diversitfication or press liberties, and the hours (2 pm to 11 pm) are kinda odd, but I’m not complaining!

- I’ve resigned from my previous graphic designer job and said farewell to all my friends in Sydney. I also had the opportunity to meet up with Phileas aka Gabe in the city before my departure. Yes folks, he’s a truly remarkable person in real-life and every bit as cheerful and good-natured as you imagine him. We went to watch the (headache-inducing) battleship and hung out for coffee afterwards, so it was good to finally see him in-person. I also went for a family trip to Melbourne and with my friends to the Kiama Blowholes. I will miss the friends I made Down Under, but my siblings are still there, so hopefully I can catch up wtih them again in the future.

- I’ve moved back to Singapore, the country where I’ve spent my high-school years and half my life in. It’s kinda weird to be back in the same apartment from five years ago (although it’s a different unit) and basically play house-sitter for my parents (they’re moving back to our homeland, Malaysia), but hey, at least there’s no rent!

- I’ve got an iPad last Christmas, and an iPhone two months before that, both of which I’ve been eagerly downloading apps onto. These devices may not have the best specs (You should really go with Samsung or Acer for better value), but man, are there so many awesome games and apps to try! And nothing beats reading My Little Pony fanfiction on iBook!

- Speaking of which, I’ve been actively participating in the Brony community both in New South Wales and Singapore (the latter during my annual trip back). I’ve also appeared on EQD a couple of times (mostly cos’ I’ve been bugging Seth/pre-readers with my pony cameos in my former company’s magazine) and I hope to write some fanfiction or do some fanvideos over the next few months. Tonight I’ll watch Season 2’s finale, and then it’s many months of agony until the next season.

- My grandmother of 70+ years passed away on Monday in the presence of my parents. This is the wonderful lady who I will always remember giving me those cheek-sucking kisses and bone-crushing hugs as a kid and attempting to speak to us in Hokkien and broken Malay. She will be dearly missed, rest her soul.

So that’s pretty much it, a lot of things have changed, yet much of it has remained the same. I have big plans in the coming months - a relaunch of my Youtube channel (Prepare for a REALLY BIG REVEAL), some new video-editing programs I’ve been playing with, a couple of fanfics and fanart in the pipeline, and hopefully enough time and courage to pursue them. Here’s to a great summer ahead! :)

TDIT's Published John Carter Spoof + Rainbow Dash Cameo!

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 08:57:47 -0400

Those of you who follow my blog would’ve read my previous post on my spoof of The Incredibles in my magazine company’s publication. Now I’m proud to present to you my take on John Carter, which I successfully pitched to my boss as a new theme for that district.

As the movie was directed by Andrew Stanton, I couldn’t resist to throw in a few Wall-E references, which you can see below.

Also, I made a flash animation on the site where Rainbow does her epic Sonic Rainboom. You can see it in the link I’ve given below.

Cover - http://i44.tinypic.com/htfaxy.jpg

Rainbow Dash Closeup - http://i42.tinypic.com/mj1w8g.jpg

Eve Closeup - http://i39.tinypic.com/vrzmm0.jpg

Wall-E Closeup - http://i40.tinypic.com/npl4ps.jpg

Centrespread - http://i40.tinypic.com/144h1e.jpg

Axiom Closeup - http://i44.tinypic.com/rhtzcw.jpg

Web animation - http://www.nmags.com/fn/index.php

Equestria Daily Nightly Roundup #271

Halfway there, guys! Also, do check out my review of the movie itself!

TDIT's Published Incredibles Spoof + Another Pony Cameo!

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 08:19:18 -0400

I’m part of a design team for an advertising magazine, and I’ve managed to convince my boss to do a Pixar spoof for the district magazine I’m in charge of. Being a longtime Pixar fan, this was a great opportunity for me to finally parody one of their movies in a published magazine in wide circulation within the Sydney area.

We usually recycle titles that’s been run in other districts before, so I dug ‘The Edibles’ from the archives and gave it a 2012 revamp! Yeah, the title doesn’t make sense; this was made when they used to do themes according to businesses featured in the centrespread, so for the past edition, they had an F&B theme going on.

I’ve snuck in a real-life Remy from another Brad Bird masterpiece (Ratatouille) and the Pixar Planet logo onto a real-life recreation of the Pizza Planet Truck (the body is a Toyota Hilux, while the rocket is actually TinTin’s rocket).

And of course, being a massive My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic fan, I couldn’t resist sneaking in another of the Mane Six - this time it’s Drama Queen Rarity! It’s really the same horse I used for Twilight in the December issue for another district, but with a different mane (now it’s all wavy!). It was a rush job as I added her in at the last-minute, but again it managed to pass editorial checks because I doubt anyone in my office has seen The Incredibles besides my design team colleagues. Also, I made a flash animation on the site where Rarity explodes (once though, not twice).

Enjoy the following images of the cover and centrespread.

Cover - http://i41.tinypic.com/rc52qq.jpg

Centrespread - http://i43.tinypic.com/s6uq29.jpg

Remy Closeup - http://i42.tinypic.com/rtewbp.jpg

Pixar Planet Closeup - http://i42.tinypic.com/1rw8l4.jpg

Rarity Closeup - http://i39.tinypic.com/a9wi8j.jpg

Web animation - http://www.nmags.com/cn/index.php

Oh, and I made Equestria Daily’s Nightly Roundup again! I have plans to include the rest of the Mane Six in future editions. ;)

Equestria Daily Nightly Roundup 266

P.S. I’ve hidden myself on the cover, see if you can spot me!

John Carter Review

Sun, 11 Mar 2012 07:08:33 -0400

Looks like those little green men ain’t so little after all.

Andrew Stanton has a lot to live up to for his first live-action movie. Hot on the heels of Brad Bird, another Pixarian who also made his own live-action directorial debut in the specatcular Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, Stanton not only has to live up to the film’s reported $250 million price tag, but do the grandaddy of science-fiction tales justice.

John Carter has been a film in development purgatory for many years. Its first attempted screen adaptation by Looney Tunes director Bob Clampbett might have been stolen the title of first feature-length animated film from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, but it unfortunately failed with test audiences. Since then, it has gone through a number of notable film figures: animation legend Ray Harryhausen, producer Jeffrey Katzenberg who is now Disney and Pixar’s arch-nemesis, Robert Rodriguez and the late Frank Frazetta, and Jon Favreau, who would go on to direct another science-fiction blockbuster: Star Trek.

Eventually, though, the hot potato got passed on to Stanton, who had directed a personal favourite of this author which coincidentally, was also a science-fiction film. Wall-E, and his first Pixar film Finding Nemo, were one of the studio’s greats, and now he and Mark Andrews (also a Pixarian) have been tasked with this bringing Edgar Rice Burrough’s magnificent space opera to the big screen.

I have not read the source novels before, so I went in not knowing anything other than the cinema posters and Frank Cho and Frazetta’s renditions of the beautiful Dejah Thoris, Princess of Mars. In some aspects, the film succeeds in being the grand adventure tale it promises in the trailers and ads. The film takes a while to pick up, and one of my cinema partners almost fell asleep during the opening act. Once our hero arrives on Mars (or Barsoom, as the natives call it), the film kicks into high gear. It also features one of the most exhilarating and memorable scenes of the movie, when Carter discovers the extent of his strength and agility due to Mars’ reduced graviational pull. It managed to recapture the same childish delight of Wall-E’s first foray into outer space or the sea turtles whizzing through the East Australian Current in Nemo. The battle scenes also evoke the savagery of Frazetta’s paintings and a gladiator-style match is reminscent of a similar sequence in Star Wars Episode 2: Attack of the Clones.

Unfortunately, the film gets bogged down in tiresome exposition about halfway through, with Dejah Thoris explaining what the audience has already figured out if they have seen the trailers (that yes, he is in fact on Mars). Carter is also not so much a master of his own destiny as more of a pawn being conveniently rendered unconscious multiple times to meet the next character/go to the next setting.

Much like Finding Nemo’s Marlin, Carter has a tortured past and emotional baggage to carry with him on his journey. Unfortunately, this is hinted at early on in the film and much like Daniel Craig’s character in Cowboys & Aliens, I already figured it out way before the great revelation in the middle. Nemo does this better by getting us to empathise with the hero from the very first scene, but here it is executed in a very mauldlin and overly sentimental way. Dejah doesn’t fare better, as she is reduced to the typical damsel-in-distress-who-is-actually-capable-of-taking-care-of-herself. There’s nothing wrong with her being a stereotype, but it would’ve been much more intriguing if there was something more to her than just being the female badass.

Interestingly, it is the Tharks, who are the supporting characters in Carter’s quest, that prove the most interesting. Willem Dafoe (who voiced a fish in Finding Nemo) is Carter’s ally Tar Tarkas. His first interaction with Carter is another memorable sequence, bringing to mind Tarzan and Jane’s meeting from another of Burrough’s classics. His daughter, Sola is another empathetic character who looks out for Carter, despite his constant disobedience and ignoring of her advice. I kinda felt sorry with how much suffering her character goes through, often as a result of Carter’s nonchalant apathy and selfish desire to find his “cave of gold”. This was also another problem I had with Carter as a character; it is hard to admire him as a hero when he only looks out for himself, although this is somewhat redeemed towards the end.

Michael Giachinno, a longtime Pixar collaborator and composer of Ghost Protocol’s score, provides an entertatining, although somewhat forgetable soundtrack to Carter’s odyssey. I couldn’t remember any particularly outstanding track, and it felt very trailer soundtrack-ish. With his previous works like Wall-E, with its mechanical and etheral whines, or Up, with its classical strings and old-school adventure fanfare, or Cars, with is British surf-inspired espionage-y beats, there was a theme running through all the tracks. I can’t remember any from Carter. Maybe it will come to me on a repeat viewing, but for it to not linger in my mind, it must have been pretty unremarkable.

If you’re starting to think John Carter is a dud, either from this review or its current Tomatometer rating, I want to say it’s much better than that. When it fails, it’s mildly entertaining, but when it succeeds, much like the titular protagonist, it soars. There are unexpected moments of warmth and mirth when you least expect it. The side characters are rich and indelible (the little dog thing that chases Carter like the Roadrunner cartoons will no doubt sell Happy Meal toys faster than a White Ape). The twist ending involving none other than Burroughs himself delivers a huge payoff (my friends and I got a kick out of analysing it and the other possibilities that could’ve happened if it didn’t work out). And the final shot, when you see it, will remind you of another film which owes it a huge debt: James Camerons’ Avatar.

If you’re going in expecting something deep or insightful, you’re better off watching a George Clooney Hawaiian movie. But if you’re after a rousing pulp adventure that occassionally meanders but ultimately delivers, then suspend your disbelief and gravity and take a trip with Carter.

TDIT's 2011 Pixar Planet Awards 'Acceptance Speech'

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 08:00:51 -0500

On Saturday, February 11th 2012, TDIT won a record five Pixar Planet Awards for ‘Funniest Member’, ‘Most Informative Member’, ‘Best Critiquer’, ‘Best Video Maker’, and ‘Best Debater’. Here is his acceptance speech, posted 2 weeks later.

Sorry for the late reply, but better late than never! For those who don’t have the time or inclination to read this whole post, just skip to the last paragraph for a ‘TL:DR’ summary!

I’m so touched to receive so many awards this year, I don’t think I’ve had this many previously! To be nominated for Best Critiquer and Best Video Maker for the third and second year running respectively is just… woah. Being the inaugural winner for ‘Best Debater’ (I should be a politician, hurr hurr) and ‘Most Informative’ was cool too. I’m flattered to think I’m the ‘Funniest’, but if I make you laugh, I guess that’s the icing on the cake! Kudos to my fellow winners, you deserve your titles! And a big thank you to those who have voted for me and supported my fanwork all these years. You are the reason why I do what I do.

To those who didn’t win or weren’t nominated this year, I strongly encourage you to keep at what you do, and hopefully you’d improve enough to be recognised next year! There are some categories which I wished I had won, like fanfiction and fanart, which I have never achieved, but I don’t let that get me down. There are people who deserve this more than I do, and maybe someday, I can be as good as them, with enough courage and perseverance!

I’m proud to be a part of this community for close to five years (I joined in late 2008), and contribute to its rich history. Over the years, I’ve seen members come and go, events commence and conclude, and the fanworks of our dedicated Planeteers florish and bloom. I will never forget the old-timers and those nights (or mornings) we shared together watching our favourite Pixar films. I will also cherish the memories I have and will continue to have with the newcomers, and watch as they continue to bring the site into a brighter future.

I remember there was one time I did a rant about how the Brain Trust should move on and let the younger Pixarians take over and move the studio forward. I’m afraid now I’m going to have to live my own words, judging by the budding talents and hardworking staff we have on this forum. While this will not be the end of my contributions to the fandom, I’m afraid my ‘golden era’ is over, as I move on the next stage of my life and the responsibilities of adulthood.

I’ll still pop in here, though, from time to time. Well, I pretty much do every week, anyway. I’m not quite sure whether I will ever leave this place, but if some day I do, I just want y’all to know it’s been a great ride, and that you made it all the more awesome.

A big shout-out too, to TSS and little_chef for organising this year’s awards. I consider you both as two of my best buds here, and I’m thankful for all the love and friendship you have given me. Same goes to everyone else here; whether you realise it or not, you have shaped my life in one way or another, and I am grateful for that. It has been an honour.

TL:DR Summary - Thank you for the Awards, and congratulations to everyone for being a part of the greatest Pixar fansite on the Internet!

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic S2E17 'Hearts & Hooves Day'

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:32:32 -0500

A bit late here (especially considering the ep was prematurely released), but seeing it’s Valentine’s Day, I might as well put in my few cents on the recent ep.

Usually I enjoy the CMC eps, it’s sort of the ‘beta’ group of friends to the Mane Six, and this episode’s no exception. I thought it would be incredibly annoying to watch them basically try to force two ponies into a relationship, but their reactions somehow come off so precious and earnest that it ended up being adorable for me. Of course, the road to hay is paved with good intentions, and we eventually see the meddlesome trio get their comeuppance in the end. ;)

And of course, it was fun watching Big Mac and Cherilee going googly-eyed at each other. It’s also astounding how easy it is to make a ‘roofie’ in the pony universe, not to mention how ripped Mac is pulling an entire house (and one pony) with ease.

I half-expected the trio to fail the attempt to keep them apart and try something else, but when it succeeded, I realised the episode was ending already and that [i]was[/i] the climax! Just goes to show time flies when you’re watching ponies.

“Also did anyone catch that Twist and the chubby male pony were hugging? And that a female classmate gave Diamond Tiara a card and DT approved in the same short shot? Nice little details there. Plus Caramel has a girl friend! And “Doctor Whooves” was with a certain crossed eyed pegasus on a bridge too.”
- Quote by a Planeteer

I caught Twist pinning the tail on Cherilee, but all the rest… HNNNGGG :shock: I must keep my eyes peeled, perfect excuse for a rewatch!

I Just Don't Know What Went Wrong - TDIT on the Derpy Controversy

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:38:15 -0500

The following are two separate posts on Pixar Planet by TDIT in reply to several members’ opinions on Derpy Hooves’ recent portrayal in ‘The Last Roundup’, an episode from ‘My Little Ponies: Friendship is Magic’. The pivotal scene where Derpy’s name is canonized drew controversy and criticism when fans wrote in to object to the name and behaviour of the character, which they felt was offending to the mentally-disabled. The episode has since been removed from iTunes for unspecified reasons.

Post on January 24, 2012

“I did enjoy the scene, although I do agree with the points you’ve raised regarding how it might be regarded as insensitive. I’m sorry about your friend and the pain she had to go through being called names behind her back; everybody deserves dignity and respect. Like you said, I don’t think the creators intentionally set out to demean those with intellectual disabilities, but since this was (perhaps unfortunately) the name the fanbase went with, they had to go with it for the namedrop. Perhaps a more neutral name like ‘Bubbles’ or ‘Muffin Top’ or even ‘Silly Willy’ would’ve been more tactful instead. But then you’d have another round of whiners complaining about ‘Golden Harvest’ or ‘Hearstrings’. Besides, we could attribute her being referred to as “Derpy” to Rainbow’s callous personality, so it could simply be a nickname people call her.

I’ve given this matter some thought and realised that giving ‘silly’ characters silly names in animation is nothing new. Disney has Goofy, Warner Bros. has Daffy, Pixar has Bubbles, Dreamworks has Lord Farqhuad, etc. ‘Derpy’ can be seen as an intellectual epithet, but it was never meant as a mean-spirited jibe for the majority of fans, only as a term of endearment. Not that there aren’t cruel fans who delight in seeing Derpy getting into trouble, but that’s probably why she’s so empathetic to all of us - cos’ we all make mistakes and we don’t know everything. Unlike say, Jimmy from South Park or Scrat from Ice Age, who play Butt Monkeys, Derpy doesn’t necessarily have misfortunes happen to her as cause them indirectly. And deep down, she’s just well-meaning and friendly, from what we’ve seen so far.

It’s good that the episode writer is aware of the repercussions of making the name Canon, and even then, it might not be entirely her fault. Maybe some higher-up or lower-down suggested she throw the fans a bone and make their day, so she just wrote it in.

Overall I’m really happy the creators have finally acknowledged her fanon name and personality, but reading posts by mentalguru and a few others elsewhere about how the name and voice has upset them makes me feel bad somehow (not blaming y’all, just that now I see that scene in a different light).”

Post on Feb 07, 2012

“I listened to balddumborat’s opinion video (we can all comiserate together over why she wasn’t picked to voice Derpy, as unlikely as it would’ve been) and was about to post it here, but someone has beaten me to it. Curse you, you have foiled my well-laid plans (well, actually my plans are mostly badly-laid, but I digress)!

Personally, I feel that both sides have an equal point on the matter. On the one hand, the word might be ‘loaded’ and offensive to some, and it’s better to err on the side of caution and be polite. On the other hand, to treat the mentally-disabled in a special manner (pun unintended, honestly) is in itself reverse discrimination (or affirmative action).

I’m not saying that we shouldn’t treat everyone with respect, because we all deserve it. But as balddumborat pointed out, there have been silly characters in the show before - like Snails, and Pinkie Pie to an extent. And of course, the entire Mane Six are stereotypes personified. You don’t see tomboys, or nerds, or beauty queens getting outraged over the (sometimes) heavy-handed depiction of their personalities. Maybe it’s because it isn’t as controversial or culturally-sensitive as a mentally disabled person. It shouldn’t be that way, really. I’ve had friends and relatives with such conditions but I talk to them in a normal manner, just that sometimes I have to be aware that they may require assistance with some tasks (just like an elderly person or a pregnant woman, you talk, you joke with them, but you’re aware of their needs).

Again, I don’t think they intentionally set out to outrage the mentally-disabled community. Perhaps they were being insensitive, but again the interpretation of the word is subjective. Disney has Goofy, and Dopey. Warner Bros. has Daffy. Cartoon Network had Billy from Billy and Mandy, Ed from Ed, Edd, and Eddy, I.R. Baboon from I.M. Weasel, etc (The last three from CN in particular, are as Robert Downey Jr. from Tropic Thunder would say, “Full Retard”). There’s a whole legacy of silly characters with silly names, but because MLP has entered the cultural zeitgeist, the helicopter parents, special needs caretakers and sensitive people take notice. Why the double standards, the hypcorisy? Why can’t a googly-eyed, klutzy pony have a nickname in a kid’s show? You might as well take out Timmy from Southpark (whose portrayal I find waaay more offensive than Derpy), or never have Forrest Whitaker act in any movie, because we refuse to ackwnoledge the existence of wall-eyed people.

Nobody complained when Snails spoke in a slurry voice, or when Twilight and Pinkie briefly ‘lost it’ in [i]Lesson Zero[/i] and [i]Party of One[/i] respectively (at least, not to my awareness). ‘Brown Syndrome’ folks never said a word when they made her eyes her defining feature. But you get a mare acting clumsy (notice, she’s merely being clumsy and blissfully ignorant, but not incapable of coherent speech or thoughts) and people get up in arms about it.

All that said and done, though, the way how people who voice their objection to Derpy were instantly dismissed or derided is not fair either. We should respect opinions from everyone, whether we agree with them or not. Even universally abhorrent things have shades of grey in them, depending on the context and circumstance (and which moral philosophy model you support). So while I, on a personal level, am not offended, I can understand how others can be, and they have my sympathy (I don’t know if that came out right). We shouldn’t shoot someone down when they say “I’m hurt by this statement/remark/character’s name/etc.”, but rather try to find the reason why.

You ask my opinion, I think they should keep Derpy in. I don’t mind if they change her name to Ditzy and change that awful voice (Tabitha in fact admitted she thought she was voicing a stallion! See, people derp all the time). But please don’t remove her entirely; to deny her existence or character as a simple-minded but good-hearted pony is still discrimination in my books.

On another note, the line between affectionate parody and cruel mockery can be very thin. Most people don’t see a problem taking the Mickey out of Twilight movies or Justin Bieber (and believe me, it does get downright mean-spirited at times), but when they do it to Schindler’s List or Stephen Hawking, we get outraged. Does a movie having serious themes mean it is immune to criticism or reconstitution? In this liberal age where we have ‘Hitler Rant’ videos, maybe not now.

Do we ascribe a greater human value to Stephen Hawking than Justin Bieber? Ignore the obvious answer that Stephen Hawking achieved more in contributing to the collecting knowledge of mankind than Bieber and that Bieber is able-bodied; what I mean on a fundamental level is why don’t we treat the two with equal respect as good-natured and law-abiding (as far as I can tell) human beings? Make a ridiculous parody of Bieber being blown to smithereens and nobody blinks. Do the same thing with Stephen Hawking (even though such a parody would have nothing to do with his disability) and you’re asking for trouble.”

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic S2E14 'The Last Rodeo'

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 08:27:20 -0500

This is the best day of my LIIIFEEE…!!!

Part of the reason why I enjoy being part of the My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic fandom is that the creators frequently acknowledge and interact with the fanbase. I don’t mean this in the patronising ‘sell merchandise and flog spin-offs’, although MLP: FIM does the former to an extent. I mean it in the honest sense of engaging with the fans on an equal level, as demonstrated by creator Lauren Faust’s replies to comments on her deviantART page, or current season 2 director Jayson Thiessen entertaining an interview by fan site Equestira Daily. Even amongst each other, we collaborate with our own fanartist-celebrities (I recently communicated with the legendary artist ‘Pixelkitties’ to ask her permission to use one of her characters in my fanfic).

The opening of this episode is the culmination of that auteur-audience relationship. What was once a vector error in the pilot episode has been shaped by the collective observation and imagination of Bronies (fans of the show) into a lovable mailmare who has a penchant for muffins and being endlessly accident-prone. Aptly dubbed ‘Derpy Hooves’, the dopey pony with bubbles for her cutie mark has been the subject of countless fanfics and fanart, but her canon name and voice have remained a mystery.

Until now.

For the benefit of those who haven’t seen the episode, I won’t spoil on what she does or how she sounds like - just that the result of her actions provide the ‘driving force’ for much of Applejack’s plot, and that she’s voiced by Tabitha St. Germain, voice of Rarity and a few other characters.

After the spectacular opening, the rest of the episode is equally breathtaking. Unlike ‘Find a Pet’ and ‘Baby Cakes’, in which I saw the moral and ending a mile away, this one actually has a pretty good mystery. Seasoned viewers might still be able to figure out what’s going on with Applejack, but I’ll admit I was thrown for a loop halfway with the introduction of Cherry Jubilee (who shares the name of a G1 pony). There’s lies, there’s deception, there’s cherry-changa and kumquat, and there’s a thrilling stagecoach chase before the tearjerking and heartwarming ending.

Oh, and taking a leak is now canon. But don’t worry, it happens off-screen.

Thank you, FIM creators, for making this one of the most rewarding and delightful all-ages show in recent memory, and giving us the canon-birth of Derpy.

Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol Review

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 12:35:41 -0500

Just another day at the office.

Ethan Hunt and his team of Impossible Missions Force agents are pulling off yet another ridiculously difficult assignment (breaking into the Kremlin undetected and stealing classified documents) when things go spectacularly wrong. A nuclear extremist called Cobalt detonates a bomb that destroys the Kremlin and escapes with the codes to arm Russia’s nuclear missiles, leaving Hunt and his team to be implicated in the disaster. Disavowed and branded as terrorists, the remains of the IMF must now stop Cobalt from starting World War Three, while sorting out each other’s alliances and differences.

This is Tom Cruise’s character’s latest mission in a nutshell. But for him and Brad Bird in his live-action directorial debut, the stakes are much higher: impressing longtime fans of the franchise and upping the ante from the previous instalments.

I haven’t watched the original TV show, but I’ve seen the previous three films and enjoyed each of them for different reasons. Well, okay, M:I:2 by John Woo was kinda disappointing, but at least it was set in Sydney, my second home. And I’m a fan of Bird and his movies: the traditionally-animated classic ‘The Iron Giant’, the superhero homage ‘The Incredibles’, and the inspiring tale of a rat who became a chef, ‘Ratatouille’. And now he can add another winner to his sterling resume; this is probably my second-favourite in the series (the first is still JJ Abram’s M:I:3).

Right from the first two minutes, we are thrown into an action sequence featuring Josh Holloway from Lost and the excitement doesn’t let up, even with its lengthy running time of 2 hours. Tom is clearly in his element as the lantern-jawed hero who doesn’t quit, while Simon Pegg’s Benji gets an upgrade from techie to field agent. Rounding off the crew is Paula Patton as Jane Carter, a beautiful agent with vengeance on her mind, and Jeremy Renner as William Brandt, an enigmatic analyst who shares a dark past with Hunt.

The setpieces are spectacular and brilliant; maybe it’s just me, but Bird’s experience in animation seems to have rubbed off on the film, from the spoiler-ridden ‘follow the fuse’ opening credits (unless you’ve seen the trailer), to the lifelike dust storm that swallows Dubai in one inventive chase sequence. But not surprisingly, it is the sequences sans the CGI that prove the most memorable. The standout scene of Tom scaling the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, deserves to be seen on the largest screen possible (I was lucky to catch it at the Lido IMAX in Singapore). The sight of Tom hanging by the tips of his fingers a thousand feet above the city is enough to make the strongest of viewers sweat their palms and clench their sphincters.

Michael Giacchino has interestingly worked on the last Mission Impossible as well as two of Bird’s movies. For this outing, he brings an international flavour, with clever variations of the theme in different cultural styles – from the chorus of a Russian marching band, to the percussion-driven rhythms of Arabic music. A Dean Martin favourite of mine also features in an entertaining prison breakout sequence.

The only qualms I had was that the villains were underdeveloped. Michael Nygvist gets decent screentime as Cobalt, but doesn’t really interact with Hunt as trade a few glances and punches. Vladimir Mashkov’s Russian Agent Sidorov is tasked with bringing Hunt in, but he does little beyond show up in Hunt’s wake and being an occasional annoyance. Aniel Kapoor’s arms dealer was surprisingly the most interesting to watch, as he attempts to (unsuccessfully) seduce Carter in typical Bollywood ‘tease me-tease you’ fashion.

Another letdown was the whole ‘rogue agent’ premise that was hyped in the promos and taglines. Even though they’ve been disavowed and denied backup and support, the team still get a cache of weapons and equipment, with Benji’s incredible hacking skills coming in handy during sticky situations. It’s not like Hunt had much backup in the previous movies anyway; M:I:3’s third act was more convincing in its impromptu plans and one-man-army desperation. I was expecting something along the lines of the Bourne series or Quantum of Solace’s simplicity, but the team still gets a lot of toys to play with and convenient modes of transportation. This wouldn’t be an issue if it wasn’t marketed that way, so if you’re expecting a stripped-down, bare-bones spy thriller without the fancy gadgets, this would be deceptive advertising.

So is it Mission Accomplished for Bird and his team? In my opinion, a resounding yes – it’s a character piece that manages to include emotional weight without becoming angsty, it’s a good old-fashioned spy flick without being overly reliant on shakey-cam or CGI shots, and it’s another stellar entry that takes the series in a new direction while still respecting its roots. In fact, it might even contend with Fast Five for being my favourite live-action film of the year.

Now your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to go see this movie and let me know what you think. Oh, and this blog post will self-destruct in 5 seconds.

P.S. Pixar fans will relish a reference to one of the studio’s inside jokes in the film. Let’s just say you’ll know it when you hear it.

TDIT's Season's Greetings

Sat, 24 Dec 2011 23:35:42 -0500

The following was posted on Pixar Planet, Christmas Day Singapore time:

Hello again, my fellow Planeteers! Been a long time since I’ve been here, but just wanna drop by and wish y’all a very Merry Christmas, Hannukah, Saturnalia, and New Year! :) If there’s one thing great about this day (besides the birth of a very significant historical figure), it’s the one time of the year where we spend time with our friends and family, and count our blessings.

I’m grateful that I’ve started my first job out of uni barely two months after my graduation in this difficult job market. I’m glad my brother is back from his exchange in Paris and Manchester to spend the holidays with us. I’m relieved my dad made it through another operation and his back’s better (though he’s still grumpy as ever). I’m thankful to have met not one, but two Brony communities (New South Wales and Singapore) IRL and lived to tell the tale! I’m excited my siblings and I are gonna jump on the bandwagon and get iPads for Christmas, and this after I’ve already got a new iPhone 4S (Thanks, dad).

But most of all, I’m just happy to have known all of you for so many years, even though I’ve only met one in real-life and only a handful have ‘found me on Facebook. I really treasure the amazing times we had together, and I truly hope they last for many more years to come. Thank you everyone, for being my friend and fellow Planeteer, and may the Omniescent Deity Upstairs bless you all.

Season’s greetings,
Andre

TDIT makes the news on Equestria Daily's Roundup

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 08:03:00 -0500

Equestria Daily: Nightly Roundup #182

Surprise!!! Today I made the headelines for the ‘Nightly Roundup’ on Equestria Daily. I’ll let my email to ED from Monday explain it all:

“Dear Equestria Daily,

I’m a recent university graduate from Down Under and a self-professed Brony. Two months ago, I started my first job as a graphic designer at a Sydney-based coupon magazine company. Its Unique Selling Point is that its issues are thematic parodies of movie and TV show titles. Last week, I assembled my first magazine (the theme is the recent movie ‘Arthur Christmas’, which I successfully pitched), and I was in charge of the cover and centrespread of the clients as well as the spoof synopsis on the content page.

I was creatng the centrespread when I realised that there was some negative space between two of the clients. I had already used a reindeer, so just for the heck of it, I decided to insert a live-action version of one of the Mane SIx. I chose Twilight (although my favourite is Fluttershy) and rewrote the synopsis to reflect her impromptu introduction. I haven’t watched Arthur Christmas yet, but to my knowledge, there’s no magical teleporting unicorn in the film. Coincidentally, one of the main characters was conveniently named Bryony, which just begged the removal of one letter for her spoof name.

To my surprise (and utter delight), Twilight’s cameo in the content page synopsis and centrespread somehow passed the two editorial checks and the issue went to print! So right now, there’s 50,000 copies of this advertising magazine being distributed in the Fairfield district in Sydney with T. Sparkle waiting to surprise any observant Aussie Bronies! I’ve included a few links to pictures I’ve taken of the printed copy; I think I can safely avoid copyright issues as I didn’t actually refer to her by name, and I’ve made my version of the stars on Twilight’s cutie mark have five spokes, while the canon version has six.

Oh, and the magazine is also available for download online, where I also created a brief animation of Twilight at the end of the banner clip which plays on the homepage. The print and online versions will be available till the end of January, in case any Fairfield Bronies ask.

Do send me a link if you post this on ED, so I can share it with my fellow Bronies here and overseas. Thanks for reading this, and bringing such a great community fan site to life every day.

Your faithful reader,
Andre”

ED replied:

“Haha nice! Sneaky Twi. To the roundup.”

So I eagerly came back from work the next day to see if my story made the roundup, but it wasn’t there. Two more days passed before I decided to send them a reminder on Friday.

“Greetings Equestria Daily,

It’s been three roundups, did I miss it somewhere or are you saving this for the weekend? ;)

Yours derpfully,
Andre”

And they responded:

“Looks like it just got.lost! Added again..”

So I checked in a few hours later and there was a heading there, but no images or description.

http://www.equestriadaily.com/2011/12/nightly-roundup-181.html

ED said that “for some odd reason none of these links work anymore”, but it was still working on my end. Eventually though, after a reupload to my Flickr account, it finally showed up in the Saturday edition as you see above. Unfortunately, they didn’t link to a spoof synopsis I wrote that referenced Twilight in the contents page, but you can read it on the online version of the mag in the ilnk they provided, Or you can check it out below.

(references in 3rd and 6th paragraph)

Cover - http://flic.kr/p/aSLX5n (no Twilight in here, just to show y’all the magazine title)

Contents page - http://flic.kr/p/aSLXz8

Spoof synopsis closeup - http://flic.kr/p/aSLYaa (references in 3rd and 6th paragraph)

Centrespread - http://flic.kr/p/aSLYDK

Page of centrespread - http://flic.kr/p/aSLZbr

Twilight closeup - http://flic.kr/p/aSM3EF

Twilight closeup 2 - http://flic.kr/p/aSLZzk

Online version with web animation - http://www.nmags.com/fn/index.php (watch the animated banner till the end, after the speech bubble fades away)

If you live in Fairfield, Sydney, you can find copies of the magazine right now in shopping malls, local businesses, and maybe even your mailbox! Just follow the web animation link above and there’s an ‘Out of Mags’ button you can click to check out distribution points. And thanks to ED for publishing my story! ;)

The Lion King (In 3D) Review

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 11:00:00 -0400

The ‘mane’ cast just ‘lion’ around.

The Lion King has often been hailed by critics as one of the greatest motion-pictures of all-time, no small feat for a film back when the medium was still deemed by the average moviegoer as ‘just for kids’. Later animated flicks like Toy Story, Shrek, and Spirited Away began to change that perception, but this 1994 Disney feature continued Beauty & The Beast’s Oscar legacy by being the highest grossing 2D animated film of all-time in the United States and spawning two sequels and a Broadway adaptation.

The Lion King was one of my first unforgettable film experiences from my childhood. I remember watching it on VHS; the Elephant Graveyard sequence and the heartbreaking death of Mufasa brought me to tears as a six-year old. I remember my aunty, who watched the film with my siblings and I while babysitting us, desperately trying to cheer us up during the later ‘Hakuna Matata’ number. My dad later watched it on his own and became so enthusiastic about the Swahili expression, that he even wrote the phrase down and made my brother and I memorise the entire song.

This film holds a cherished place in my heart, and I haven’t seen the film in its entirety until now, sixteen years later, and in a theatre with surround sound, no less. Let’s get the most pressing question out of the way first - is the 3D worth the price of admission alone? Honestly, not really. There were a few great moments like the aerial shot of the flying flamingos during the opening sequence, or that iconic image of Scar leaping towards the audience with his claws out. But other than that, the added dimension didn’t really add much to the film, unlike movies like Avatar, How to Train Your Dragon and Legend of the Guardians, which had a lot of high-altitude flight sequences and multiple-planes shots.

But does it still stand the test of time? Unsurprisingly, yes. Unlike many contemporary ‘famliy’ flms like Transformers, Alvin & The Chipmunks, and Hannah Montana: The Movie, which will become dated within the next two months, TLK’s story is timeless, probably because it owes much of its plot to the epic Shakespearean play Hamlet. If you’ve been living under a rock for the past decade, here’s the story in a nutshell: A pride of lions rule an anthropomorphic kingdom of animals in Africa, led by the incumbent king Mufasa. His son, Simba, is next to ascend the throne, but Mufasa’s jealous brother Scar has other plans. There’s political manuevring, a love story, and a sweeping tale of redemption, betrayal, and destiny, all amidst the breathtakingly majestic plains and creatures of Africa.

As an adult, it is a real treat to rediscover a childhood favourite with new eyes. The subtext of Simba and Nala’s innocent game of ‘pinning’ as kids turning into something more as adults. The talented Nathan Lane’s wisecracks, Rowan Atkinson’s pun-laden morning report, or Jeremy Irons’ deliciously sardonic quips. The Zen-like philosophising of Robert Guillaume’s Rafiki. The gravity of change and renewal during the ‘Circle of Life’ exposition by Mufasa or the wildfire/thunderstorm climax.

And of course, the animation. You can tell the animators did their homework - the animals move naturally, whether they’re swinging through the trees, flying through the air, or beating the living daylights out of each other. With the exception of the comic-relief characters, there’s a certain theatrical quality to the acting that is not often seen in most animated movies nowadays, which tend to rely on Chuck Jones-style pose-to-pose movements. Not that the latter’s a bad thing, but the characters’ performance is more restrained and measured than say, Madagascar or Rio. It’s a reflection of a different era which lacks the hyperactivity and manic delivery of modern cartoon characters.

The score by Hans Zimmer is magnificent and evocative. ‘This Land’ was a highlight for me, as it is the musical representation of Simba and Mufasa’s father-son bond, and how that transcends even death. And of course, the catchy-as-heck musical numbers like ‘I Just Can’t Wait to Be King’, ‘Hakuna Matata’, and the evergreen favourite, ‘Can You Feel the Love Tonight’.

Did I mention the cast and crew list is a veritable dream team of animation and acting legends? Chris Sanders, Brenda Chapman, John Lasseter, Ed Catmull, Tim Rice, Elton John, Mark Mancina, James Earl Jones, Matthew Broderick, Whoopi Goldberg, Cheech Marin, and last but not least, Jim Cummings. Of course, I didn’t knew who on Earth these folks were as a kid, but many movies and a tertiary education later, I can now appreciate the immense talent behind this film. It is truly inspiring to see a few of these names with the knowledge that they will later go on to do great things in their subsequent years.

If there’s any criticism I have, is that some modern-day vernacular creeps into the dialogue such as “Jeez” and “fixer-upper”, as well as a few contemporary songs courtesy of Zazu. This might not seem remarkable in a movie where African animals talk in an American accent, but it does break my suspension of disbelief and ‘snap’ me out of the timeless quality of the setting.

In summary, it’s not like I would tell you to avoid this film. This is truly a motion-picture masterpiece that will be cherished for generations to come, and one that I fully admire even now as a grown-up. It was the glorious jewel in Disney’s crown during the Renaissance period, and still stands up to its revival now, despite the redundancy of the 3D conversion. Whether you liked it as a kid, or have never seen it before, or you just happen to be a fan of movies in general, go and see it on the big screen. I would’ve gladly settled for a 2D presentation, but it is just as amazing an experience with the clunky 3D glasses.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to re-memorise those snappy verses to Timon and Pumbaa’s catchphrase.

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic S2E1 'The Return of Harmony'

Sat, 17 Sep 2011 10:51:40 -0400

~ Discord: The Biggest Troll of All. ~

I’ve been a Brony since I started watching this wonderful animated series in March, so it is with great anticipation that I finally saw the first episode of the new season about an hour ago. If you haven’t seen it yet, I suggest you check it out on Youtube or a rerun on Hub first. There will be SPOILERS ahead.

The episode starts off nicely with the Cutie Mark Crusaders on a field trip to Celestia’s garden maze. Unwittingly, the trio will be responsible for unleashing a great terror upon Equestria, in the form of a mystical Frankenstein pastiche-of-creatures monster aptly named Discord. After a series of freak natural disasters involving chocolate rain (Probably an unintended reference to an infamous Internet meme), popcorn, and bunnies with stilt-legs, the Main Cast is summoned to Princess Celestia’s Canterlot castle for an emergency meeting.

Here, she gives the ponies and the viewer some background info of her history with Discord, and how they are to stop this diabolical villain. Unfortunately, Discord has removed their only means of defeating him (leading some Livestream viewers to remark “Trollestia just got trolled”). After a great introductory sequence and much taunting of our protagonists, he invites them to play a game. No points for guessing that he will eventually lead each pony into a trap and ultimately triumph in time for a cliffhanger ending.

This episode has definitely taken a darker turn, and it remains to be seen if this tone will be kept throughout the rest of the series (although since this is a children’s show, I highly doubt it). But it is one kicker of a season debut - Discord is a much better antagonist than Nightmare Moon, because although he makes the rules, he doesn’t follow them. Whereas N.M. passively sets up a series of (relatively) easy challenges to test our heroes, Discord proactively and systematically breaks each pony’s spirit and inner strength. There is a mood of despair throughout, and it is chillingly played out with surrealistic Dali-esque landscapes and the MC Escher-like labyrinth.

There were a few unbelievable moments - Pinkie being casually flippant about the gravity of the situation (“Eternal darkness… but chocolate rain!”), Applejack and Rarity giving in so easily, and of course, the untouchable and ever-lovely Fluttershy still cracking under Discord’s powers (He essentially ‘cheated’). Perhaps this is what so terrifying about this series’ opening antagonist - that he doesn’t play by the rules so much as ignores them. I sometimes felt he was too good a villain; he basically has unlimited power - from removing the ponies’ wings and horns, to mind-control, to even changing the weather. There just doesn’t seem to be any way to beat him. His nihilistic streak reminds me a lot of the Joker from The Dark Knight (right down to his pranks and attempts at sadistic humour, although not as violent). Speaking of Batman, Discord is voiced with sardonic relish by John de Lancie of ‘Batman: The Animated Series’, ‘Breaking Bad’ and ‘Stargate’ fame.

This season opener is a game-changer. For once, Twilight will have to face her foe alone and without the help of her friends. I’m pretty sure she will triumph in Part 2… unless they want Discord to be a permanent feature, in which case he will probably escape with an “I’ll get you later, Twilliiiight!” But I’m really excited to see how she gets out of this jam. A job well done, and here’s to an amazing new season of one of the best all-ages show around.

NOTE: It was an interesting experience watching the premiere on a Livestream and seeing fans on the Internet’s reactions to the live broadcast. There’s the typical complaints about Hub’s ads (“This is whiiiniiing…”), but there were some very funny remarks that I wish I wrote down, and it was great to be a part of the event. Even more curiously, some of the ads were even appropriate to the show - such as Tru Moo’s chocolate milk and Applejack Cereal. What beautiful occurrences of unexpected serendipity.

What do you think makes a person intelligent?

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 03:23:30 -0400

~ The following is TDIT’s reply to a thread on P Planet sharing the title of this post. ~

This is a very subjective but I suppose interesting question.

In my opinion, what makes a person intelligent is experience. This is closely linked to knowledge acquisition. Nobody is innately born knowing everything about the world. Even savants and geniuses need to undergo learning, just that they do it in different ways and a different rate.

You don’t become intelligent by sitting in a prison cell and doing nothing. Well, besides becoming very intimate with said cell and knowing every nook and cranny. You become intelligent by going out in the world. Talking to people. Trying new things. Reading books. Watching everything, from the birds singing in the morning, to some kick-*ss cop show on TV. Learning from different sources, not just taking your information from one channel. Questioning, always questioning, trying as much as possible not to accept the status quo if it could be improved.

A construction labourer can be intelligent in fixing a complex plumbing system that no white-collar office suit can. Similarly, an infant may be more intelligent in the sense that he/she is more inquisitive and straightforward than a cynical and world-weary adult. A person who lives in the African savannah may be more intelligent in gathering food and surviving in the wild than the pampered city-dweller who has everyday conveniences in the concrete jungle. A kind and loving child who grows up taking care of animals and fellow human beings is more emotionally-intelligent than a calculating and ruthless dictator who rules his country with intimidation and aggression.

Some people try to measure intelligence and pigeonhole it, but I feel that it depends on how one defines it.

Good Filly Hunting

Sun, 11 Sep 2011 10:01:12 -0400

Guess who’s TDIT?

So I crashed at one of my best friend’s place yesterday after a night out in the town (we had a steamboat dinner and sang karaoke to celebrate the Mooncake Festival). Another good pal of mine stayed over, and I thought it would be a nice occassion to introduce them to the fandom. The first friend, who I’ll call J, had already seen the first part of the pilot, but not the second, while my second friend, W, is a newbie and has a strong prejudice against it despite not seeing a single episode (He’s the typical macho-man who thinks the show’s for “little girls”).

So while J was cleaning his room, I forced them against their will to watch ‘Fall Weather Friends’, since this guide said it would be a good introductory episode for reluctant newcomers. They watched for awhile and ask rhetorical questions (“Can the orange one fly?”, “Why is the blue one’s wings tied up?”, “How can the purple one beat the other two?”).

After the first episode finished, W was still unconvinced. J suggested we start from the beginning, so we played the first part of the pilot ‘Friendship is Magic’. They chuckled at some parts and made more comments (“So many Apples in the family!”, “Who’s the dragon?”). We went on the second part since the first ended on a cliffhanger. Tough-guy W was actually rooting for Nightmare Moon (since he usually loves the villains) but was disappointed that the ponies defeated her and her challenges pretty easily.

Finally, I played ‘Dragonshy’, but by that time they were getting bored and distracted, only occasionally glancing at the screen and asking the odd question (“Why is the yellow one afraid of the dragon when she likes the baby one?”). At the end of the exercise, they declared themselves still-skeptical and promptly high-fived each other. I dejectedly played the ‘Know Your Meme’ episode to explain the phenomenon and they humoured me by watching most of it.

While I was disappointed I didn’t manage to win two of my best friends over to ‘joining the herd’, I consoled myself that I at least gave it a shot. I have no qualms about ‘coming out of the colt-set’ regarding my viewing of this series - I’ve been posting links on my Facebook and telling as many people I know how great the show is without coming off as too obsessed. A few of my RL friends have ‘Liked’ the official FB page, but otherwise, I haven’t really found anyone to discuss the show with in RL.

Tis’ a pity, but I know in my heart that there’s no shame in being a Brony, and that I can take comfort and solace that there are many like me who feel the same way.

Cars 2 Toys linked to Human Sweatshops & Child Labour Abuse

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 04:32:59 -0400

Disney’s best-selling “Cars” toys are being made in a factory in China that uses child labour and forces staff to do three times the amount of overtime allowed by law, according to an investigation by The Guardian.

“One worker reportedly killed herself after being repeatedly shouted at by bosses. Others cited worries over poisonous chemicals. Disney has now launched its own investigation.

It is claimed some of the 6,000 employees have to work an extra 120 hours every month to meet demand from western shops for the latest toys.

The factory, called Sturdy Products, makes toys for the giant Mattel company, which last month announced quarterly profits of £48m on the back of strong sales of Barbie dolls and Cars 2 toys. Sturdy Products, in the city of Shenzhen, also makes toys for US superstore chain Walmart. Among the brands produced are the Thomas the Tank Engine range, Matchbox cars, Cars, Toy Story, Barbie and Fisher Price products, Scrabble and the Hot Wheels sets.

The undercover investigation was carried out with the help of human rights group Sacom (Students and Scholars Against Corporate Misbehaviour), which helped to expose abuses in Apple’s Foxconn plant in China this year.

Sacom’s accusations against the factory include:

■ The employment of a 14-year-old. Staff also reported the presence of other child workers, according to the investigator.

■ Routine excessive overtime. Employees produced a “voluntary” document they said they had to sign agreeing to work beyond the maximum overtime legal limit of 36 hours a month, along with wage slips that suggested they were averaging 120 hours of overtime a month.

■ A harsh working environment in which workers complained of mistreatment by management. One worker injured on the production line was shouted at and ordered back to work despite needing medical treatment.

■ Concerns about the chemicals in use and poor ventilation. Employees claimed three workers had fallen ill. They said they had to hide pots of adhesive and thinners during audits of the factory by its client companies.

■ They also claimed that they were paid by the factory to give misleading answers during audits and that they were fined for failing to hit targets. The calculation of wages for different workers was described by Sacom as arbitrary.”

I’m fully aware that this has little to do with Pixar, as it is a film production company. The onus lies with Disney, Mattel and Walmart, who owe a duty of care to ensure they have a responsible and law-abiding supplier. But I thank God that I didn’t support this despicable practice by buying any Cars merch. I had half a mind to get a Finn miniature from K-Mart the other day, but this horrible expose just put me off completely.

I’m not saying that all toy suppliers are free from guilt. I bought a Rio and Kung Fu Panda Happy Meal toy of Rafael and Mr Ping respectively, and I’m not 100% certain they came from an ethically-responsible source. I’ve looked at the labels of some of the spoof T-shirts I’ve bought and they mentioned they were made in Mexico and Vietnam.

But we should all be aware of where our products come from, and do our best to ensure that they were made in a workplace which respects human rights and dignity. There’s an ongoing controversy in Australia over cattle abuse by Indonesian meat suppliers. Again, when these unsavoury practices come to the surface, we must do everything we can to ensure these horrible acts do not happen again.

In the case of Cars merch, I am not buying a single product from now on until I receive news that Disney, Mattel, and Walmart are not using Sturdy Products as a supplier and have taken steps to properly assess their manufacturers. Essentially, if the parties responsible are gonna sweep this under the carpet, I am going to boycott their product line, and encourage other fans to do the same (I’m telling all my friends on social media and RL too).

If we truly care about human rights and are abhorred by the idea of children working years before they should, or workers suffering ill treatment and abuse by their employers, then not showing our support until things change is the least we could do. I’m even considering writing in to Disney Australia. It truly hurts me as a fan to know that merchandise of one of my favourite Pixar movies is part of a disgusting systematic abuse of human rights in China.

We all need to speak out against injustice, no matter where it takes place.

Disney factory faces probe into sweatshop suicide claims - The Guardian

Rush Season 4 Begins 1st September

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 21:02:43 -0400

If anyone’s wondering what on Earth’s my forum sig’s on about, it’s just my way of plugging the return of one of my favourite Australian TV shows of all-time: Rush. Based on the real-life Critical Incident Response Team in Victoria, the fictional Tactical Response Unit fills an operational gap, handling cases deemed too dangerous to be handled by uniformed officers, but not warranting the attention of the Special Operations Group. Armed with the latest non-lethal weaponry and trained for crisis negotiation, this highly mobile and agile rapid response unit roams the streets of Melbourne, protecting its citizens from violent criminals and defusing volatile scenarios.

The show has run for three seasons. This year’s season will be a mini-series length of about 13 or so episodes, but while I’m disappointed about its shorter run, the events this season will be more exciting! The official synopsis describes the assassination of a Victorian premier and how a new boss (Outrageous Fortune’s Anthony Starr) is brought in to the team to handle a task-force investigating the case. Of course, there will be the usual kidnappings, armed robberies, and hostage situations throughout, as well as the usual on-off romantic dalliances between the members.

If you like shows like Hawaii Five-0, NCIS, or Flashpoint, this home-grown Aussie drama’s a must-see!

Check out the new 30-second promo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ER_NXHV94ok
And the official website: http://ten.com.au/rush.htm

The new season begins this Thursday with a two-hour movie-length premiere! I so freakin’ can’t wait!

P.S. Oh yeah, do watch my voiceover spoof of the promo ad and let me know your thoughts below!

Ice Age: Continental Drift Cast Announcement

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 08:30:03 -0400

‘Ice’ knowing you.

Well, 20th Century Fox has just announced the cast for Ice Age 4: Continental Drift. [b]Minor spoilers[/b] about new characters ahead, although they’ll probably be revealed in the next trailer.

Jeremy Renner plays Gutt, “a master of the high seas determined to make Manny, Sid and Diego part of his crew,” pirate Wanda Sykes Sid’s stowaway granny, and Keke Palmer plays Peaches, the now adolescent offspring of Manny and Ellie, Aubrey “Drake” Graham as Ethan, a “handsome young mammoth who has eyes for Peaches”, and Jennifer Lopez as Shira, a “sabretooth tigress who melts Diego’s heart”.

But the most intriguing newcomer is Aziz Ansari, “a prehistoric rabbit who fancies himself a tough guy.” Coincidentally, he’s the co-star of Jesse Eisenberg (from Rio, another Blue Sky film), in the action-comedy 30 Minutes or Less, which opens today!

Plenty of promising newbies, along with the principal cast returning, and a lot of character development and interaction potential in store. And yes, Chris Wedge is back as the unstoppable and indestructible Scrat, although it remains to be seen whether his love interest Scratte (Karen Disher) will return too. I was quite bitter with Blue Sky over how they ruined the Scrat x Scratte romance which I was looking forward to in the third movie, so hopefully they don’t mess up the two romances they have in the next one. If they can repeat the cuteness of Manny and Ellie’s courtship in the second movie, or the ‘bromance’ camaraderie of the first, then we might have a winner next year. If not… then I guess we get something along the lines of Lethal Weapon 4 - fun, but forgettable.

What do you guys think of the lineup? Getting warmer? Or still frigid?

‘Ice Age 4: Continental Drift’ Gets All-Star Cast”

30 Minutes or Less trailer

A Retrospective Look at Bruno

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 04:15:35 -0400

A cheekier title would’ve been a “A look-behind at the gayest movie of all-time”

Ach, Brüno… I remember a news report about his fiasco in the Milan fashion festival a few years before the film’s release. Kinda disappointed with this movie because unlike Borat, he doesn’t actually capitalise on his character’s homosexuality to ‘test’ people’s prejudice and homophobia.

Basically, he is unlikeable regardless if he was gay. No person can put up with the amount of sexual harrassment he puts on, even if that person was gay. He’s just unlikeable - period. Whereas with Borat, he ‘baits’ racist and prejudiced Americans with his naive ignorance. There are, of course, obvious pranks which no sane person would be so tolerant of (like his bringing out his poop in a sandwich bag to a dinner party, for example), but there are others like his singing of “Throwing Jews Down the Well” or his singing of the Kazakhstan national anthem (fake, of course) at the rodeo which brilliantly brings out the worst in humanity.

“In a recent interview with Rolling Stone magazine Sacha Baron Cohen discussed Borat’s anti-Semitism, “Borat essentially works as a tool, by himself being anti-Semitic, he lets people lower their guard and expose their own prejudice, whether it’s anti-Semitism or an acceptance of anti-Semitism”
- The Unofficial Borat Homepage

And of course, there are touching moments in Borat like when he has to say goodbye to his chicken companion - my brother’s heart and mine went out to him! He was an endearing and sweet-natured character, even if he was an ignorant, anti-Semitic, misogynistic racist who didn’t know better.

Bruno, on the other hand, is just offensive and he knows he is, but he doesn’t care. There is one saving grace though, and it is the climatic cage battle. That must singlehandedly be Sacha Baron Cohen’s magnum opus of dangerous stunts, even more so than his meeting with the terrorist leader earlier on in the movie. The crowd could have simply walked out (and some of the more reasonable ones did) if they were offended by the performance, but their aggressive reaction (verbal slurs, throwing of projectiles, attempts to demolish the set) was unwarranted.

Be aware though, that while the reaction was authentic, the ‘setting-up’ was precisely calibrated to get the maximum response. The participants were allegedly lured to what they thought was a real wrestling match, and given an open tab to drink as much as they like. Plus, openly-homophobic T-shirts were distributed to sort of ‘prime’ them into an anti-gay mood.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2009/07/09/how-real-is-br-no.html

BUT that is NO excuse for the kind of behaviour they displayed. If I was tricked into seeing two gays kissing instead of a smackdown, I would simply walk out and demand a refund. Maybe I’d keep the homophobic shirt as a souvenir (since I paid for it, but I wouldn’t wear it), but I wouldn’t go and get p*ss-drunk or throw bottles at them. The crowd exhibited no self-control or restraint. It really goes to show how some people can be so filled with hatred to the point of retaliating with violence simply because they saw two men kissing. And the sad thing is, this also happens to real-life homosexuals without the fancy bait-and-switch cage match setting.

Oh, and I enjoy Da Ali G show (almost at the end of the 2nd and final season), and I plan to watch the movie. :)

My experience as a student film reviewer

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 14:57:00 -0400

The following was posted in reply to a P Planeteer’s enquiry about the nature of my prolific film-watching:

As most of you who know me online and in real-life would be aware of by now, I am a student contributor to my university magazine. Essentially, we contact the editor and enquire if there’s anything that needs reviewing in the office. Sometimes, she will tip us off if there’s a concert or gig ro attend, or a DVD screener or book sample that needs previewing. Usually I grab the film premieres and advance screenings. :)

I watched Rango at Paramount Studio’s theatrette and watched an advance screening of Hoodwinked Too! and Justin Bieber on their behalf. Most of my published reviews though are unsolicited (ie I wanted to submit a review of a film I recently watched with my own money). So basically all the films you see on my list except for the ones I mentioned, as well as Season of the Witch and Big Mommas (which I saw through my friend’s illegal copies while staying over at their place) are all paid for with my own money and seen in cinemas with my friends or alone. Oh, and Water for Elephants was a free redemption with a voucher I got from a loyalty programme.

I’ve even seen Rio and Cars 2 twice legitimately (with my 2nd viewing of Cars 2 in IMAX) and Kung Fu Panda 2 and Thor twice uh… illegitimately (theatre sneak-ins with friends after watching the first movie). So you can imagine how much cash I’ve spent in one cinema chain alone, especially since tickets typically go for $15 on weekends there.

I’m aware some people (like Harry Knowles, Peter Travers, or a Pixar blogger whose name I won’t mention) are invited to attend press screenings by the studio and they write glowing reviews to promote the movie. Of course, sometimes they may feel honest about their opinion, but then there’s always the possibility that they were simply impressed by the fact that they got to watch a movie before everyone else and hence rave about it.

I’m not that kind of person, if I hated a movie, I’ll say I hate it, whether I got a free pass or not. I gave Bieber 6/10 and Hoodwinked 4/10, for example. I’ve priased other movies like Kung Fu Panda 2 and Cars 2 which I forked out ridiculous amounts of my own cash (or to be exact, my parents’) to attend the premiere screening or see in a large-format like IMAX. If I like a movie, I will still try to think what aspects could be improved on. And of course, I try my best to remain objective. On a personal level, I enjoyed Hoodwinked Too! thouroughly because I dig spy movies and spoofs and parodies and mash-ups, but if I want to be professional, i’ll have to say it was an abysmal movie with sub-standard CGI and storytelling.

I think as reviewers, we must be confident in the knowledge that our opinions can’t be bought. We have to have that sort of integrity and conviction in our assessment of a film, and not be swayed by a studio giving you a free pass, or your university for that matter. A critic is not a PR-spokesperson.