Miss Geeky

Link Love: July 3rd through July 5th

Melinda — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 21:01:04 +0000

Interesting links for July 3rd through July 5th:

Blade Runner and Spike and Angel’s House For Sale - The real name of this place is the Ennis House, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, and it's just so weird and quirky.
Book Reviews (Sort of): Paradise Island, The New Mars, and The News Mars (A Family Vacation) by John L. Manning, Jr. - I got two of these books for review one and a half year ago, but they were just so bad, I couldn't even get past the first chapter. This review (although not really a review cause this blogger also barely made pass the first couple of chapters) explains exactly what's so bad about it.
The top 250 best movies of all time Map - Interesting "tube map" style visualization of IMDB's Top 250 movies; are those really all 250 movies listed there?
A Paper Craft Castle On the Ocean « Tokyobling’s Blog - Wow, now that's some serious origami!

Movie Review: Twilight

Melinda — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:00:49 +0000

Years ago back when I was in high school there was this book that my sister had to read for school (in Dutch, might I add) and she hated it. Because of that I automatically assumed it sucked and refused to read it. Not long after that it became a world wide hit, yet I remained saying it was an awful book (while never having read a word of it). Until I saw the movie and decided to give it a go anyway. Well, that book was the first Harry Potter (to be very fair I have actually read the Dutch translation now and compared to the original, it does really really suck).

I kind of had the same reaction to Twilight from Stephanie Meyers. I had read a bit of it, a couple of chapters, but my opinion was mainly formed by the many book review blogs out there. In my eyes, it seemed like a weak hyped-up rip-off from many other great vampire books. Now I haven’t read the book yet, but after seeing the movie I might actually give it a go (ah, history repeats itself).

Twilight is about Bella Swan, a teenager that moves to the small gloomy town of Forks to live with her father. As she starts her junior year in high school she becomes fascinated by Edward Cullen, a mysterious and captivating student. Bella soon discovers that Edward is hiding a secret, after he impossibly saves her life from a van with his super-human strength and speed. She is determined to unravel his secret, but the truth is more terrifying than she realizes. Edward is a vampire. Any normal person would just keep away from him, but Edward and Bella fall passionately in love with each other. And so begins the forbidden relationship between a human and a vampire.

Is Twilight a great movie? No. Not by far. It seems much more like a made-for-TV film or a regular TV show. The special effects are horrendously bad, the acting is bland, the editing seems choppy at times and the pacing is pretty slow. And yet, it’s turned out better than I expected. True, my expectations were very very low, but there’s something about this movie that makes me like it. It’s one of those guilty-pleasures type of movies, that I know will end up on the list of movies I can watch when I’m sick to my stomach lying on the couch from fever or flu.

Story-wise it isn’t original at all. Girl falls in love with a good vampire boy. Vampire boy is tempted by her blood and refuses to see her. Bad vampire boy finds out about girl and hunts her down. Good vampire boy saves her and realizes he cant live without her. Been there, done that. If the book is anything like the movie, I still remain convinced that there are way better vampire stories out there, with much more complex and interesting mythologies.

If you want a cheesy easy romantic flick for a summer afternoon, try Twilight. I liked it much more than I expected, and I’m even considering seeing it’s sequel New Moon in the cinema (not completely sure yet, depends if anyone else is interested in coming along).

Twilight is out now on DVD.

Fashion Focus: Disney Wedding Dresses

Melinda — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:00:04 +0000

Last year I blogged about the Disney Fairy Tale Wedding Dresses; some of them I loved, but others were just plain hideous. I’m not sure when these newest dresses were released, but I’d thought share the latest additions to the line.

Now one thing I just don’t understand is the ugly backdrop of all the photos. Unlike the previous batch, the quality of these photos just aren’t up to scratch, and the colourful backdrop really doesn’t help showing off the dresses. I still think some of these dresses don’t have anything remotely “princessy” or “fairy tale” about them, and certainly don’t have anything to do with the characters they were inspired by.

Cinderella

Once Upon A Time…

Not so long ago, one girl dreamed of going to the ball and finding her prince. This famous fairy tale begins with a single wish, an exquisite dress and the dream of a lifetime.

Today, the timeless Cinderella tale comes alive with classic glamour. Silk tulle and duchess satin make these gowns fit for a true princess. Stunning touches of scattered crystal and silver threading sparkle and shine like the midnight sky.

Sleeping Beauty

With a single kiss, Sleeping Beauty’s dream comes true. She finds her prince, falls in love and discovers that she’s already a real princess.

Here, this classic tale is retold in regal fabrics of satin, chantilly and netting. The theme of pretty romance rings true with beautiful touches of crystal and pearl embellishments — perfect for any princess.

Luminous, radiant, graceful, harmonious

Snow White

The Fairest Of Them All…

The first to show us that true love lasts forever, Snow White finds her prince and claims her kingdom.

This collection captures her gentle grace and beauty in exquisite silk, chiffon and satin. Beads, pearls and lovely appliqués tell the story of sweet elegance and enduring love as this fairy tale comes true.

Jasmine

Follow Your Heart…

A new world awaits Jasmine as she follows her heart and finds true love. Here, fairy tale wishes take flight and happily ever after becomes the greatest adventure.

This enchanting collection reflects Jasmine’s bohemian spirit. Gowns drape in chiffon and satin. Exotic details include clustered beadwork, appliqué lace and just a touch of wanderlust.

Ariel

Love Changes Everything…

…As Ariel soon finds when she places her heart above all else. Willing to cross oceans for true love, Ariel discovers the world beyond the sea all that she dreamed it to be.

This romantic collection pays tribute to Ariel’s oceanic home with touches of pearl beading and underwater imagery.

Silk cascades and drapes for a sultry look that transcends time and two different worlds.

Belle

The Heart, Like a Rose, Blossoms When Loved…

Open and true, Belle sees beyond the surface, making all that she casts her gaze upon beautiful. Guided by her heart, Belle finds her prince, breaks a spell and claims her destiny.

This story continues in stylish sophistication with ribbon and bands of satin. Here, taffeta and tulle blooms pay tribute to Belle’s gracious spirit. With elegant details like scattered beading and lovely lace, this fairy tale lives on.

I think my favourites are the second Cinderella dress, the second Sleeping Beauty one, and the first and the third Jasmine dresses. I really don’t like the Ariel and Belle dresses, while I just loved those lines in the previous collections (the Ariel Collection 2 and the Belle Collection 1).

Check out all the dresses at the Disney Fairy Tale Weddings website.

(Photos courtesy and copyright of Disney)

Video of The Day: Illegal

Melinda — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:00:56 +0000

Episode 122: “Where the hell is Carlos?”

Interesting short film about a happily married couple on the verge of realizing the American dream - Jessica is pregnant and Daniel finally gets the money to open a small diner. But when they hire Carlos, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, they find that they are targets of blackmail:

Turns out I can’t embed the video anymore (I could a couple of days ago, when I scheduled this post), so check it out at Vimeo.

Trailerrific Thursday: Invention, Inglourious, Informant

Melinda — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:00:47 +0000

Amelia: A look at the life of legendary American pilot Amelia Earhart (Hilary Swank), who disappeared while flying over the Pacific Ocean in 1937 in an attempt to make a flight around the world. I think this could put Swank as a contender again as Best Actress at the Oscars this year.Release Date: October 2009 (US), November 2009 (UK)

The Invention of Lying: A comedy set in a world where no one has ever lied, until a writer seizes the opportunity for personal gain. Starring Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner, Tina Fey, Rob Lowe, Jonah Hill.Release Date: September 2009 (US), October 2009 (UK)

Inglourious Basterds: There already have been a couple of trailers out for this Tarantino flick, but this French one has a completely different vibe to it. During World War II, a group of Jewish-American soldiers known as “the Basterds” are chosen to spread fear throughout the Third Reich by scalping and brutally killing Nazis. The Basterds soon cross paths with a young French girl named Shosanna who runs a movie theater in Paris that is frequented by soldiers. Release Date: August 2009 (US, UK)

Couples Retreat: A comedy about four couples who head to a tropical resort for a vacation. While one of them is there to work on their marriage, the others fail to realize that participation in the resort’s therapy is not optional. Release Date: October 2009 (US, UK)

The Informant: The government decides to go after an agri-business giant with a price-fixing accusation, based on the evidence submitted by their star witness, vice president turned informant Mark Whitacre (Matt Damon). Release Date: October 2009 (US), November 2009 (UK)

Planet 51: Because Ice Age is out in cinemas today, a couple more animation trailers have been released. This is the second trailer of Planet 51, where its inhabitants live in fear of alien invasion. Their paranoia is realized when an astronaut arrives from Earth. Befriended by a young resident, he has to avoid capture and recover his spaceship. Release Date: November 2009 (US), December 2009 (UK)

Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs: Another animation trailer! This time it’s the second full length trailer for Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs. Inspired by Judi and Ron Barrett’s children’s book, the film focuses on a town where food falls from the sky like rain. Release Date: September 2009 (US,UK)

Forbidden Reality (aka Smersh XXI, aka The Interceptor): Based on the novel by popular sci-fi writer Vasiliy Golovachev, the film is about an agent who is betrayed by his partner while transporting a new psychic weapon. Believed to be dead, he escapes and takes new identity so he can live in peace. But is later forced to return to Moscow to confront a secret organization. The trailer is completely in Russian (without subtitles) so it’s a bit difficult to follow what is happening, but the visuals look pretty cool. Release Date: unknown

Trailers courtesy of FirstShowing

How To Play Settlers of Catan With 2 Players

Melinda — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:00:30 +0000

One of the reasons I was so hesitant in buying Settlers of Catan, is that officially you can only play it with 3-4 players. It’s a great game if you’ve got enough players, but what if you’re only with the two of you?

I’ve found a couple of adapted rule set so that you can play it with two players, but none of them felt completely right. What we’re playing with now is mainly based on the rules from this website, with a small change.

No Trading: Players may only trade with the bank. It’s rare that both players will agree to a trade anyway, so we just scrap that away completely.
Throw Dice Twice: At the start of each players turn, the player throws the dice twice and resources are collected for both throws. If a 7 is thrown on the first roll, the robber is controlled by the player with the least victory points (if victory points are tied, the player who rolled the dice controls the robber). If a 7 is thrown during the second roll, the control of the robber stays with the player who threw the dice.
#Victory Points is 12-15: This depends on how fast a game you want. If you want a reasonably fast game, go for 12 points. If you want a more difficult longer game, go to 15. With 15 points it’s really about making smart investments; you can’t win with only settlements/cities, you need the longest road or the largest army to collect that many victory points.
Card Limit is 9: Instead of holding a limit of 7 cards in your hand when the robber is thrown, you can hold now 9. This is because there is no trade opportunity anymore with other players, so you need more cards to obtain your goals.
Open Victory Points from Development Cards: Whenever you draw a Development Card giving you victory points, you must play it right away. This is because otherwise the first roll robber rule doesn’t make sense, giving control of the robber sometimes to the stronger player only because his victory points are “hidden” (besides most of the time you know that when a development card is lying for ages in front of a person, it’s a victory point).

For the rest the rules are all the same; you play with the same type of board and setup of the resources. There’s no difference there. I still prefer playing the game with 3 players (with 4 there is just no room to maneuver properly on the board), but sometimes we’re only with the two of us and still want to play.

At the moment we’re also playing a special scenario for two players with the expansion Seafarers of Catan which I like even more than this version, but I’ll blog about that next week.

Settlers of Catan is available for £29.99 at The Orc’s Nest (near Cambridge Circus), £33 on Amazon.co.uk, and $33 on Amazon.com.

Video of The Day: Web Site Story

Melinda — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:00:40 +0000

Episode 121: “Watch the adds and it’s almost like paying”

This newest parody from CollegeHumor of West Side Story is just pure brilliance. Twitter, Facebook, Pandora and eVite all get a mention, but it’s the way they weave it into the West Side Story songs that’s so great:

[Watch the video on MissGeeky.com]

I don’t think I’ll be able to listen to any of these songs anymore without thinking of this (”Pandora, I just found a site called Pandora.”)

Via /Film

Event: Firefox 3.5 Launch Party

Melinda — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:50:22 +0000

I’ve been asked by the great guys from Firefox to inform you all about their upcoming Launch Party here in London:

The Firefox 3.5 Launch Party London will be held next Monday the 6th of July from 7pm at the Shooting Star pub in Middlesex Street, near Liverpool Street station. Sign up on Upcoming if you plan to be there: http://bit.ly/ffldnpty

Firefox release parties have traditionally been for the whole geek community around the world - last time there were 865 of them, with over 6600 people attending. So even if you are just a Firefox user, do come along and have a drink with us

I’m still trying to figure out if I can make it myself, but chances are you’ll see me there.

Video of The Day: Café Serré

Melinda — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:00:25 +0000

Episode 120: “I’m standing on the corner”

Funny animation about a cop and a robber:

[Watch the video on MissGeeky.com]

Movie Review: Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen

Melinda — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:30:23 +0000

I’m a bit late with posting my review on Tranformers 2, but seeing how opinions on this sequel are so diverse, I thought I’d add my thoughts to the big melting pot that is the blogosphere. As a small side note first though: I booked my tickets a month in advance on the BFI IMAX site; the film was only being released in IMAX a full week after normal cinemas received it, but I thought it would be worth it to wait for the IMAX. Imagine my surprise when I later found out that somehow they had managed to get the movie earlier anyway, on the same date as normal cinemas. I’m just a bit pissed off that they failed to inform people about it. It would have been great to hear about it, and maybe re-allocate my tickets or something like that.

Transformers 2 reunites us with Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) and Mikaela Banes (Megan Fox), who are preparing themselves for a long distance relationship as Sam is moving away to college. But of course they get caught up again into the war between the Decepticons and the Autobots, as Sam gets affected by the final sliver of the AllSpark.

Transformers is a big stupid summer action movie franchise, and you shouldn’t be expecting anything more than that. Transformers 2 continues on with more gigantic robots, bigger explosions and more battles between gigantic robots. It’s far from being a “great” movie, but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad movie. It’s a typical Michael Bay movie, and sometimes that’s exactly the type of mindless entertainment we need.

The CGI is gorgeous, and unlike the prequel we get to see a bit more zoomed-out shots of the robot battles. We also get to see some new types of robots, including a robot jaguar, a set of female motorcycles, a mini radio-controlled monster truck and a duo of “gangsta” Chevrolets (there has been a lot of debate about this characters online. My thoughts: it’s a Michael Bay movie, do we really have to overanalyze everything?). The sequences are superb, although with so many different robots on screen it sometimes difficult to follow who is who (also I was never that much of a Transformers fan growing up, so I don’t recognize many of the minor characters or which side they’re on).

Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen is a fun summer action movie, full of robot battles and explosions. If you liked any previous Michael Bay movies, go ahead and see this one; there’s no doubt you’ll like it. If you hated the previous Transformers, there’s no chance in hell you’ll like this one.

Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen is out now in cinemas.