Teapot Robot

James Cameron’s Avatar

I finally dragged myself to the theater the other day to check out Avatar in 3D. I originally had no intentions of seeing it because the “big bad military vs ignorant and honorable natives” plot has been so thoroughly overdone and never, in my opinion, done particularly well. But this is James Cameron! As I mentioned to my friend who similarly had no intention to see it, “It’s a James Cameron film. He made Aliens and Terminator and if this has been his Big Project for the past however-many-years, it has to be something worth seeing.” I have to say that I was right…

*Spoiler alert! I don’t think anything here will ruin the movie for you (honestly, if you’ve seen Dances with Wolves or The Last Samurai, you can figure this movie out), but for the surprise-sticklers out there, beware the following ramblings.*

The Downs

• Some parts were drawn out excessively. I mean, how much longer do you need to build up the “going to war” scene? I actually fell asleep because it was so generic!
• The big tree falling over is bad. We get it. There was an awful lot of buildup in the beginning describing how important it is. Watching so many subsequent scenes of crying and rending of garments was boring.
• The natives can shoot arrows through what was assumedly bulletproof windows? Sure they were some big arrows but I think the military force needs to reallocate their money on windshields that aren’t made of sugar glass. It just wasn’t believable that the Na’vi could take on such a heavily armed force of soldiers. Even the best intentions do not make good armor.

The Ups

• MY GOD, THE VISUALS. Absolutely awe inspiring! Everything glows, glistens, and glimmers. The alien environments are lush and verdant, and really take advantage of the 3D effects to pull the audience right into them.
• Colonel. Miles. Quaritch. This guy is like the Energizer Bunny of armed, unarmed, and mechanized combat. He is so ridiculous and over-the-top, it’s simply astounding. He’s a capital badass and that’s all there is to it.

So the bottom line is that if you like science fiction or fun action movies or even just bright colors, check out Avatar. I don’t know if “movies are never going to be the same” as the advertisements keep insisting, (in fact, the plot makes me think that “movies will always be the same”) but it is truly an experience. I can’t speak as to how it plays out in an Imax theater but I would strongly recommend it in 3D. The application of that technology is very well done and really enhances the movie.

The 5th of November

I hope everyone is doing their duty and, if not watching V for Vendetta, then going out and causing some sort of anarchy…

Artistic insights

I was reading through some Journal entries on DeviantArt and one of the artists was reflecting on the importance of eyesight for someone devoted to the visual arts. Surprisingly, for someone with absolutely terrible eyesight, I hadn’t really considered this and so I took some time to ponder what I would do if I were ever to completely lose my sight. This is what I came up with…

First things first, I’d immediately spiral into a deep deep depression. Then after months of attempting to look at the bright side (No more expensive prescription glasses! Ugly people hold no power over me! I’ll look directly into the sun any damned time that I want to, mom!) I would begin to draw again. I’m sure that none of it would be very good but I would sucker people in to giving me compliments by saying things like, “Hey, look at this sketch! Pretty good for a blind guy, eh?” And then if they were stupid and asked me what it was supposed to be, then I’d make them feel bad by saying something like, “Oh it’s a picture of what I remember dogs looking like… you know, BEFORE I LOST MY EYESIGHT, JERK.”

I know that some of you are thinking, “Why go through all of that trouble when you can just get bionic eyes with lasers and stuff?” I think it’s pretty obvious that I’d be getting laser eyes, even if they didn’t help me see any better.

People: “Argh! Stop burning us with your lasers!”
Me: “I’m sorry, I can’t see where I’m shooting them.”

*cough* *sputter* *hack*

I’m not actually dead. I can’t even say that I was particularly busy. I just… forgot… to update. Luckily it only took me four months to remedy the situation!

Misc. Thought #2

(Another thought from that same proposal defense. This was a fertile session.)

In my own opinion, one of the biggest difficulties in research (particularly in my own kind of research which amounts to “Oh wow that’s interesting I want to look at that”) is breaking into that really important group of people who are doing what it is that you want to study and are doing it well. It’s tough to know that these people are out there doing what it is you’re interested in but have no way to get involved with it. Contrary to popular [research] beliefs, many people don’t care about research. What’s in it for them? Enrichment of the field? No thank you. Even having done my own masters thesis, I’m not sure I would sit through a 30-45 minute survey and followup interview solely to help out that research area.

Upcoming changes

So I’ve been messing around with some different Wordpress themes, which is why the site design has been fluctuating recently. I’m trying to find one that I can eventually modify into the final Teapot Robot layout but nothing has caught my eye yet.

Also, I’m just getting back from a fun-filled weekend of drinking, debauchery, and marriage and I’ve got quite a few new ideas/doodles/designs kicking around in this noggin of mine. Let’s see what I can toss up here, all the while staying on target with my thesis schedule…