Monday, July 30, 2012
Day 3 at the Olympics
Swimming: The "Star-Spangled Banner" played twice today for the US with Missy Franklin and Matt Grevers taking the Gold in the Women's and Men's 100m Backstroke. America's Thoman and Soni won the Silver in the Men's 100m Backstroke and the Women's 200m Breaststroke, respectively. All leaving the US with 4 medals in swimming today, 2 Golds, 2 Silvers. Agnel's France had another win, getting the Gold in the Men's 200m Freestyle. Japan won 3 medals, all Bronze, in the Women's and Men's 100m Backstroke and the Women's 200m Breaststroke.
Tomorrow's Swimming finals will be the Women's 200m Freestyle with Missy and Schmitt, the Men's 200m Butterfly with Clary and Phelps, 200m IM with Leverenz and Kukors. US will also be competing in the morning for a qualification in the 4x200 Meter freestyle Relay
Gymnastics: The US Men's came in 5th today, not getting a medal, while the Chinese won the Gold with Japan getting the Silver and Great Britain the Bronze. Tomorrow at 11:30 (EST) the US Women's Team plays with Jordan Wieber, giving her a second chance after failing to get into the Individual All-Around.
Basketball: (Will Update Later after US v. Angola game)
No Soccer games today but tomorrow the US will play the PRK in Women's Soccer at 12:15pm.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Day 2: France's Swim Team has good day; American underdog gives Chinese a good sweat in Table Tennis
France's Swim team had a good day winning a gold medal in the Men's Freestyle Relay and another one in the Women's 400m Freestyle.
The US secured one with Dana Volmer.
But the US beat France at Men's Basketball.
Now, one story that picquet my interest was the story of Ariel Hsing, a 16-year old girl from California playing Table Tennis* for Team USA. After defeated a world champ in her second Ms. Hsing, Ranking 115th worldwide, played her 3rd round and went up against the "second-seeded" player and 24-year veteran of the game, Li Xiaoxiao. A very mis-matched game and she did lose, but she lost after 6 rather close games in the match. If you are going to lose a game, at least make your opponent sweat. And it appears she did.
She will be going back home after this but she said she may want to come back in 4 years. So I'd keep an eye on her.
Link: http://www.mercurynews.com/california/ci_21187713/mark-purdy-san-joses-ariel-hsing-makes-most
Post-script: The US has never won an Olympic medal in Table Tennis while the Chinese are the undisputed masters. The Men's singles player Timothy Wang lost yesterday. The Women's Team plays later this week, not sure who will be on it. . . yet.
Congrats to all the members of Team USA. If you ever read this. not matter
*Table tennis=Fancy name for ping-pong
The US secured one with Dana Volmer.
But the US beat France at Men's Basketball.
Now, one story that picquet my interest was the story of Ariel Hsing, a 16-year old girl from California playing Table Tennis* for Team USA. After defeated a world champ in her second Ms. Hsing, Ranking 115th worldwide, played her 3rd round and went up against the "second-seeded" player and 24-year veteran of the game, Li Xiaoxiao. A very mis-matched game and she did lose, but she lost after 6 rather close games in the match. If you are going to lose a game, at least make your opponent sweat. And it appears she did.
She will be going back home after this but she said she may want to come back in 4 years. So I'd keep an eye on her.
Link: http://www.mercurynews.com/california/ci_21187713/mark-purdy-san-joses-ariel-hsing-makes-most
Post-script: The US has never won an Olympic medal in Table Tennis while the Chinese are the undisputed masters. The Men's singles player Timothy Wang lost yesterday. The Women's Team plays later this week, not sure who will be on it. . . yet.
Congrats to all the members of Team USA. If you ever read this. not matter
*Table tennis=Fancy name for ping-pong
Saturday, July 28, 2012
US Olympics, Day 1 (or is it Day 2?)
First there was the Opening Ceremony. Pretty good, over-the-top, but what Opening Ceremony isn't?
For me the highlight of the opening ceremony was watching James Bond and the Queen. Wow, just wow.
In the games today, US and Colombia played and Abby Wambach was apparently "hit" in the face. Here is the video:
The more I look at it the more it looks intentional but I haven't played soccer since elementary school, so, I'm probably not the best judge.
The US won the game by the way, 3-0 with Abby Wambach scoring the second goal after the hit.
Michael Phelps finished in 4th Place in the 400m IM with Ryan Lochte winning the Gold.
Kazakhstan's Vinokourov came out to win the Men's Cycling Road Race.
France beat North Korea in Women's soccer 5-0.
Our girls already played France Wednesday winning 4-2 and will play North Korea on July 31st.
Tomorrow:
-Women's Cycling Road Race at 630, airing on NBC
-Tennis continues at 630, airing on Bravo
-US plays France at 930, airing on NBC Sports
Once the Olympics are over, we'll be back to our irregularly scheduled stuff on movies and what-not.
GO TEAM USA!
Friday, July 20, 2012
Some Thoughts for Dark Knight Rises
I have been thinking about Nolan's Batman movies. and here are some thoughts on themes running through the first two movies.
WARNING! SPOILERS FOR BATMAN BEGINS AND DARK KNIGHT!!!
Being the Batman. The first movie, Batman Begins, asked the question "Why would any man choose to become the Batman to fight crime?" This question it answered by giving us a character study of Bruce Wayne, looking at the world he lives in and comparing him to men such as Ra's Al Ghul.
The Dark Knight expanded that question further and asked "What does it mean to be the Batman?" The movie's answer was you have to "be able to make the choice than no one else will face: the right choice."
I wonder how the Dark Knight will touch on "being the Batman" and what question it will ask.
An Overview of Gotham City. In the first movie the city was stuck in a world of crime, corruption, and fear. The city even looks dirty. Its grimy and filthy. Every scene in Gotham seems to be set in night. It is literally stuck in an abyss where there is no hope. Ra's Al Ghul and the League of Shadows wanted to destroy Gotham as they felt it was no longer worth saving but Batman disagreed and felt that it could be saved. And by the end Batman has shown that it is possible to fight crime in Gotham and that Gotham might be able to come back up. There might be a chance for Gotham.
By the beginning of the Dark Knight Gotham is starting to see that there might be a light at the end of the tunnel. Crime rates are down, the new District Attorney Harvey Dent has taken on the corrupt cops and has no turned his sights to the mob. Just as things are looking brighter the Joker comes in at the behest of the mob to bring down Batman but instead decides to bring down all of Gotham. The Joker manages to nearly bring Gotham City to its news until Batman stops him.
Fear. Throughout Begins and Knight fear is used by many characters. In Begins the city lives in fear of the criminal element with cops and prosecutors who are not bought off by the criminals are too frightened to stand up to them. The mob uses fear. In return, Batman uses fear to fight them. They put fear into the hearts of the "Good People of Gotham" so Batman uses the symbol of the Bat to put fear into them. Then Ra's Al Ghul and the League of Shadows use fear via Crane's Fear Toxin to try to destroy the city. The very thing which had been keeping the city in an abyss.
At the beginning of The Dark Knight the people of Gotham no longer fear the criminals like they did in Batman Begins. The Joker points this out saying "A year ago these cops and lawyers wouldn't dare touch any of you". The Joker then uses fear against a people who are very used to being afraid and have just now learned that they may not have to be afraid. That fear drives people to be willing to commit horrendous acts.
In the next movie it appears Bane will also use fear, but how remains a mystery.
"Law and Order" and "Rule of Law". This is a long one. When people refer to someone as a "big law and order guy" they typically mean that person wants police on every street corner, harsh punishments for offenders, and really anti-crime. But I don't think that is all Law and Order is. To have Law and Order you must have "Rule of Law". The League of Shadows, if they use this phrase, likely interprets it as meaning that crimes are swiftly and quickly punished without any chance for recourse by men morally fit to pass judgement. I would guess that Bruce Wayne, and therefore Batman, however defines it as meaning that society is ruled by a system of laws and legal processes that ensure the orderly functioning of society and that though these legal processes may sometimes protect criminals from punishments also help to protect the innocent from mistakes and justice gone awry. If this system works well it allows to society to function largely without the need of a Batman. At the start of Batman Begins Law and Order and the Rule of Law simply do not exist in Gotham City. By the end we hear Gordon stating that "crooked cops are running scared", that Batman has "really started something". Gotham finally has the hope. At the beginning of The Dark Knight the city is looking better as Dent's prosecutions of corrupt cops and his election to the D.A.'s office as well as Gordon's work in the GPD brings in the Rule of Law. But the Joker threatens this as his moral tests push the people of Gotham to their limits and eventually brings Harvey Dent. Batman takes the blame for Dent's actions so that the people can believe in the Rule of Law, not Batman and his vigilantism. He'll be the bad guy so they can have the hero "they need": Harvey Dent.
Is Gotham Worth It? That is the recurring question of The Dark Knight Trilogy so far. Ra's Al Ghul does not believe it is worth saving. In his mind it must be destroyed like a cancer and that one of the reasons they can pull off their attack is because they were able to infiltrate every level of the city. Batman believed it can be saved and pleads with him for a chance to save it. Ra's Al Ghul refuses.
In The Dark Knight the Joker puts that question to the test and the question is asked throughout the movie, is Gotham worth it? It seems no. Throughout the movie Gotham behaves like a panicked mob eager to throw a hero they were recently praising under the bus just to save their own skins. This is why Gordon refers to Dent as "not the hero Gotham deserved". His ideals were too good for a city like Gotham. Yet Batman refuses to give up on them, even taking the blame for Harvey Dent's crimes so that Gotham can have a chance.
In the next movie it appears that Bane does not believe Gotham is worth it and wants to destroy the city as well.
WARNING! SPOILERS FOR BATMAN BEGINS AND DARK KNIGHT!!!
Being the Batman. The first movie, Batman Begins, asked the question "Why would any man choose to become the Batman to fight crime?" This question it answered by giving us a character study of Bruce Wayne, looking at the world he lives in and comparing him to men such as Ra's Al Ghul.
The Dark Knight expanded that question further and asked "What does it mean to be the Batman?" The movie's answer was you have to "be able to make the choice than no one else will face: the right choice."
I wonder how the Dark Knight will touch on "being the Batman" and what question it will ask.
An Overview of Gotham City. In the first movie the city was stuck in a world of crime, corruption, and fear. The city even looks dirty. Its grimy and filthy. Every scene in Gotham seems to be set in night. It is literally stuck in an abyss where there is no hope. Ra's Al Ghul and the League of Shadows wanted to destroy Gotham as they felt it was no longer worth saving but Batman disagreed and felt that it could be saved. And by the end Batman has shown that it is possible to fight crime in Gotham and that Gotham might be able to come back up. There might be a chance for Gotham.
By the beginning of the Dark Knight Gotham is starting to see that there might be a light at the end of the tunnel. Crime rates are down, the new District Attorney Harvey Dent has taken on the corrupt cops and has no turned his sights to the mob. Just as things are looking brighter the Joker comes in at the behest of the mob to bring down Batman but instead decides to bring down all of Gotham. The Joker manages to nearly bring Gotham City to its news until Batman stops him.
Fear. Throughout Begins and Knight fear is used by many characters. In Begins the city lives in fear of the criminal element with cops and prosecutors who are not bought off by the criminals are too frightened to stand up to them. The mob uses fear. In return, Batman uses fear to fight them. They put fear into the hearts of the "Good People of Gotham" so Batman uses the symbol of the Bat to put fear into them. Then Ra's Al Ghul and the League of Shadows use fear via Crane's Fear Toxin to try to destroy the city. The very thing which had been keeping the city in an abyss.
At the beginning of The Dark Knight the people of Gotham no longer fear the criminals like they did in Batman Begins. The Joker points this out saying "A year ago these cops and lawyers wouldn't dare touch any of you". The Joker then uses fear against a people who are very used to being afraid and have just now learned that they may not have to be afraid. That fear drives people to be willing to commit horrendous acts.
In the next movie it appears Bane will also use fear, but how remains a mystery.
"Law and Order" and "Rule of Law". This is a long one. When people refer to someone as a "big law and order guy" they typically mean that person wants police on every street corner, harsh punishments for offenders, and really anti-crime. But I don't think that is all Law and Order is. To have Law and Order you must have "Rule of Law". The League of Shadows, if they use this phrase, likely interprets it as meaning that crimes are swiftly and quickly punished without any chance for recourse by men morally fit to pass judgement. I would guess that Bruce Wayne, and therefore Batman, however defines it as meaning that society is ruled by a system of laws and legal processes that ensure the orderly functioning of society and that though these legal processes may sometimes protect criminals from punishments also help to protect the innocent from mistakes and justice gone awry. If this system works well it allows to society to function largely without the need of a Batman. At the start of Batman Begins Law and Order and the Rule of Law simply do not exist in Gotham City. By the end we hear Gordon stating that "crooked cops are running scared", that Batman has "really started something". Gotham finally has the hope. At the beginning of The Dark Knight the city is looking better as Dent's prosecutions of corrupt cops and his election to the D.A.'s office as well as Gordon's work in the GPD brings in the Rule of Law. But the Joker threatens this as his moral tests push the people of Gotham to their limits and eventually brings Harvey Dent. Batman takes the blame for Dent's actions so that the people can believe in the Rule of Law, not Batman and his vigilantism. He'll be the bad guy so they can have the hero "they need": Harvey Dent.
Is Gotham Worth It? That is the recurring question of The Dark Knight Trilogy so far. Ra's Al Ghul does not believe it is worth saving. In his mind it must be destroyed like a cancer and that one of the reasons they can pull off their attack is because they were able to infiltrate every level of the city. Batman believed it can be saved and pleads with him for a chance to save it. Ra's Al Ghul refuses.
In The Dark Knight the Joker puts that question to the test and the question is asked throughout the movie, is Gotham worth it? It seems no. Throughout the movie Gotham behaves like a panicked mob eager to throw a hero they were recently praising under the bus just to save their own skins. This is why Gordon refers to Dent as "not the hero Gotham deserved". His ideals were too good for a city like Gotham. Yet Batman refuses to give up on them, even taking the blame for Harvey Dent's crimes so that Gotham can have a chance.
In the next movie it appears that Bane does not believe Gotham is worth it and wants to destroy the city as well.
Friday, July 13, 2012
Singin' in the Rain on the Big Screen
SINGIN' IN THE RAIN ON THE BIG SCREEN
Went to the theatre with my dad yesterday evening to see TCM's one day theatrical release of Gene Kelly's classic musical Singin' in the Rain. Incredible fun. Gene Kelly's dancing was amazing, Debbie Reynolds was gorgeous, Donald O'Connor was perfect as the sidekick to Gene Kelly, and Jean Hagen was a great as the shrill, annoying Lina Lamont.
The dancing was great but between the dancing, Donald O'Connor's perfect vaudevillian slapstick, and Cyd charisse's long, gorgeous, sexy legs its very easy to forget about scenes such as the wonderfully shot "You Were Meant for Me". Compared to the title song "Singin' in the Rain", "Good Mornin'", "Make 'Em Laugh" and "Moses Supposes" there is very little dancing but the music, Gene's singing, lighting, and the amazing camerawork make it in my opinion an under-appreciated highlight of the movie.
But it is a comedy, which means there is laughter. A whole lot of it. I haven't laughed this much in a theatre in a long time. Funniest scene: The preview showing of "Dueling Caveliers" where the studio learns about the perils of filming with sound. Could not. Stop. Laughing.
Now, I suppose I have to put one of the big energetic dance scenes which have helped propel the movie to the top of many people's Best Musicals lists. this is a tough decision but I'll go with "Good Mornin'".
Why?
Because I think this scene should be shown to film students the world over. The camerawork is simple and never distracts from the dancing with non-stop cuts and clever movements (I'm looking at YOU Moulin Rouge!). The camera is there to capture the dancing, the editing is done only when needed. The purpose of the scene is to show off the dancing skills of Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, and Debbie Reynolds not the skills of the cameramen or the editor which means the cameramen and editor did their jobs right. Especially the editor. The less you notice the editor's work on the movie, the better.
Everything is focused on letting you see the incredible and energetic dancing of Debbie, Gene, and Donald. Anyone can cut like a maniac with lots of crazy shots at different angles to give a scene energy, but to do something like this takes skill.
Both in front of and behind the camera.
So here it goes! Good Mornin'!
Went to the theatre with my dad yesterday evening to see TCM's one day theatrical release of Gene Kelly's classic musical Singin' in the Rain. Incredible fun. Gene Kelly's dancing was amazing, Debbie Reynolds was gorgeous, Donald O'Connor was perfect as the sidekick to Gene Kelly, and Jean Hagen was a great as the shrill, annoying Lina Lamont.
The dancing was great but between the dancing, Donald O'Connor's perfect vaudevillian slapstick, and Cyd charisse's long, gorgeous, sexy legs its very easy to forget about scenes such as the wonderfully shot "You Were Meant for Me". Compared to the title song "Singin' in the Rain", "Good Mornin'", "Make 'Em Laugh" and "Moses Supposes" there is very little dancing but the music, Gene's singing, lighting, and the amazing camerawork make it in my opinion an under-appreciated highlight of the movie.
But it is a comedy, which means there is laughter. A whole lot of it. I haven't laughed this much in a theatre in a long time. Funniest scene: The preview showing of "Dueling Caveliers" where the studio learns about the perils of filming with sound. Could not. Stop. Laughing.
Now, I suppose I have to put one of the big energetic dance scenes which have helped propel the movie to the top of many people's Best Musicals lists. this is a tough decision but I'll go with "Good Mornin'".
Why?
Because I think this scene should be shown to film students the world over. The camerawork is simple and never distracts from the dancing with non-stop cuts and clever movements (I'm looking at YOU Moulin Rouge!). The camera is there to capture the dancing, the editing is done only when needed. The purpose of the scene is to show off the dancing skills of Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, and Debbie Reynolds not the skills of the cameramen or the editor which means the cameramen and editor did their jobs right. Especially the editor. The less you notice the editor's work on the movie, the better.
Everything is focused on letting you see the incredible and energetic dancing of Debbie, Gene, and Donald. Anyone can cut like a maniac with lots of crazy shots at different angles to give a scene energy, but to do something like this takes skill.
Both in front of and behind the camera.
So here it goes! Good Mornin'!
This Weekend's TCM Suggestions
What is TCM showing this weekend? (All times are Eastern)
Wait Until Dark: (Fri, 6pm) starring Audrey Hepburn plays a blind housewife tormented by ruthless criminals while her husband is out of town. I've seen it before on TCM and it is very suspenseful. Audrey Hepburn is amazing in her role and Alan Arkin is creepy as the villain.
Definitely a Must-See.
Fright: (Sat, 230am) Released in 1971, TCM describes says this movie is about "A baby sitter and her young charge are terrorized by an escaped mental patient." Never seen it but it is recommended by TCM Underground so I'll try to record it.
The Article
A Tale of Two Cities: (Sat, 830 am) Leonard Maltin gave 4 out of 4 stars to this 1935 adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic novel writing: "Dickens' panorama of the 1780s French Revolution becomes an MGM blockbuster, with Colman as carefree lawyer awakened to responsibility, aiding victims of the Reign of Terror. Stage star Blanche Yurka creates a memorable Mme. Defarge in her film debut. Tremendous cast in a truly lavish production. Written for the screen by W.P. Lipscomb and S.N. Behrman. Also shown in computer-colored version."
(If it is computer-colored I'm not watching it. I'm a purist that way)
Also on Saturday 3 Green Hornet serials are showing at 12pm.
Then at 8pm The Essentials is airing Alice Adams (1935), a comedy starring Katherine Hepburn and Fred MacMurray (Double Indemnity). It is, according to Leonard Maltin, about a "social-climbing girl finally finding love in person of unpretentious MacMurray." After that they are showing a slew of comedies starringFred MacMurray with The Princess Comes Around (1936) at 945pm, No Time for Love (1943) at 1115pm, A Millionaire for Christy (1951) at 1245am, and Kisses for My President (1964) at 230am.
Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House: (Sun, 430pm). Cary Grant comedy about a city couple that decides to move to the country and has to re-build a worn-down house. Leonard Maltin gave it 3 out of 4 stars. Might give it a look.
The Thief of Baghdad: (Sun, 8pm) This weeks Essentials Jr. airing. TCM describes the plot as "A young thief faces amazing monsters to return Bagdad's deposed king to the throne." Disney's Aladdin borrowed heavily from it. My must-see for Sunday.
So there they are! Some TCM look-outs for this weekend. The only one I've seen is Wait Until Dark.
Wait Until Dark: (Fri, 6pm) starring Audrey Hepburn plays a blind housewife tormented by ruthless criminals while her husband is out of town. I've seen it before on TCM and it is very suspenseful. Audrey Hepburn is amazing in her role and Alan Arkin is creepy as the villain.
Definitely a Must-See.
Fright: (Sat, 230am) Released in 1971, TCM describes says this movie is about "A baby sitter and her young charge are terrorized by an escaped mental patient." Never seen it but it is recommended by TCM Underground so I'll try to record it.
The Article
A Tale of Two Cities: (Sat, 830 am) Leonard Maltin gave 4 out of 4 stars to this 1935 adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic novel writing: "Dickens' panorama of the 1780s French Revolution becomes an MGM blockbuster, with Colman as carefree lawyer awakened to responsibility, aiding victims of the Reign of Terror. Stage star Blanche Yurka creates a memorable Mme. Defarge in her film debut. Tremendous cast in a truly lavish production. Written for the screen by W.P. Lipscomb and S.N. Behrman. Also shown in computer-colored version."
(If it is computer-colored I'm not watching it. I'm a purist that way)
Also on Saturday 3 Green Hornet serials are showing at 12pm.
Then at 8pm The Essentials is airing Alice Adams (1935), a comedy starring Katherine Hepburn and Fred MacMurray (Double Indemnity). It is, according to Leonard Maltin, about a "social-climbing girl finally finding love in person of unpretentious MacMurray." After that they are showing a slew of comedies starringFred MacMurray with The Princess Comes Around (1936) at 945pm, No Time for Love (1943) at 1115pm, A Millionaire for Christy (1951) at 1245am, and Kisses for My President (1964) at 230am.
Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House: (Sun, 430pm). Cary Grant comedy about a city couple that decides to move to the country and has to re-build a worn-down house. Leonard Maltin gave it 3 out of 4 stars. Might give it a look.
The Thief of Baghdad: (Sun, 8pm) This weeks Essentials Jr. airing. TCM describes the plot as "A young thief faces amazing monsters to return Bagdad's deposed king to the throne." Disney's Aladdin borrowed heavily from it. My must-see for Sunday.
So there they are! Some TCM look-outs for this weekend. The only one I've seen is Wait Until Dark.
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Bob Hope and James Cagney Dancin' Like Nobody's Business!
I watched Singin' in the Rain tonight in theaters and will be posting on it tomorrow. But for anybody who happens to read this blog here is a little something to hold you over:
Bob Hope and James Cagney dancing in The Seven Little Foys.
Why don't we see dance scenes like THAT anymore?
Bob Hope and James Cagney dancing in The Seven Little Foys.
Why don't we see dance scenes like THAT anymore?
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