Over the weekend, I caught a movie that I've been aching (really, aching) to watch, Avatar. Not to be confused with some air bending cartoon, this was the big release by James Cameron, a movie that took a long time to make and bring to the big screens.
Sure, there were financial issues, as well as technology ones as well. James Cameron being James Cameron, he just built new crazy hardware and came up with software to go with his vision (stereoscopic 3D and God only knows what else).
There's even a video game (for the PC, consol and maybe even the iPhone) but since I don't own either one of those (no gaming PC, sadly) lets not go there.
The movie was an amazing feat for the eyes. Seriously. Even if you're not a Sci Fi fan, this movie looks pretty as hell.
This is from the game, instead of the movie, but you get the idea.
On to plot and nit-picking!
The movie reminded me so much of the wild west. Cowboys ride into the new frontier, find gold, silver, diamonds what have you, and start to mine the hell out of the local geography. Just so happens that you've got a bunch of semi-peaceful, tree hugging religious indigenous people on the same plot of land. So what do you do? Pretty much blow them out of the sky.
Hey, come back here, we just want to be friends.
(I love the tech and weapon arsenal in the movie by the way, just love it!)
At one point, the humans even decide to use a space shuttle to act as a bomber. Why? Why? If you asked anyone to commit to using a vehicle that's specially designed to get off the planet safely, and probably costed a bajilion dollars as a simple bomber, you'd get laughed out of the military academy! Just stay back, and lob missiles in over and over, job done. Don't go in with ground troops, you don't want anything left alive, shot the jungle up first! Jebus, if I had to take over one more godforsaken jungle country . . . .
The only grainy screenshot from the actual movie, ha ha!
Minor gripe, if you log off your Avatar, and it goes 'dead' like that, how does it stay alive? What keeps the Avatar unit biologics going? Sure, Autonomic nervous systems can keep it breathing, but what about nourishment etc? Huh? Riddle me that Mr Science Space guys!
Edit: Found a good gameplay video on YouTube, just thought it would be great to share it out.
But I jest. The movie was great. A little long, but an amazing movie nevertheless.
Six thumbs up (watch the movie, some animals have 6 legs).
The Internet is such that you should be able to find anything (well literally anything)on it. The powers of Google knows no bounds!
So imagine my surprise when I tried to load a link to a YouTube video that someone sent me, and was told that I could not view it, since its not available in my country.
Wait, we're on the Internet, but we're still being restricted by countries?
No, seriously, I'm on the Interwebs, whats this country stuff about then?
We're supposed to come together as a global village, one mankind and all that, but someone thinks its better to sort and group us by our physical location.
Updated my lists of things to accomplish. Best accomplishment so far, has got to be Paintball. I've been yearning for a game of paintball ever since I saw an advert for it over here, but I never had the chance (or the funds) since all the places that had them charged an arm and a leg.
We had a company sponsored game of paintball, and I must say, this game just looks easy. Cardio. Seriously, do some cardio or something a few weeks before you even get into the paintball field. Oh, and it does hurt up close. Not as much at the start, and then it starts to bruise and hurt some more. I got hit on the knuckles and the back of my hand, and it actually drew blood. I'm not trying to scare you, but this is an extreme sport for a reason.
Did someone order a big can of pain?
Back to the list. Sorted the one's I've completed down, and left 'Take over the world' as the last item. I'm pacing myself here.
I took the evening off on my busy hectic weekend to catch the latest flick from Bruce Willis, Surrogates.
This sir, is a movie poster.
The movie is basically about how science comes up with a way for humans to remotely control robots remotely. The technology then advances; I'm sure with some suited guy in a corporate office the size of a basketball court, into technology that lets everyone strap themselves into a control couch and instead let their surrogate robot body go out and live life. Living life via a robot. Life. Robot. I digress.
Am I the only one who thinks that technology that allows humans to remotely control, sense, feel and manage a humanoid robot has gone to waste, just because we have the crazy need to play a real life version of the Sims?
I can come up with at least a hindered hundred uses of the Surrogate technology, of which only 1 is showcased in the movie. Surrogates in the military, brilliant, that was my first choice.
But what about space exploration? It makes so much sense! Having people here on Earth remotely controlling a robot on the Moon, building our first real off-world habitat.
Get lost bub, this is a job for us robots, see?
Why stop at the Moon? Heck, lets aim for Mars. Strap the largest, fastest rocket you can build on and watch that baby burn its way to Mars. We wont have to factor in issues on G-Forces or anything, these are robots for god's sake! Heck, we can even toss out O2 tanks, and a whole load of logistic issues, both on the way to Mars, and when the robots get there.
Sure, there might be a lag issue (I don't see any in the Earth versions!) but I'm sure we'll be able to iron out the kinks.
Hi, I'm a robot. I've been here toiling for years to build you a condo on Mars.
Seriously.
Oh, the movie? Eh, was not the best movie from Bruce (I get to call him Bruce, we're just that close) but it wasn't all bad. Very thought provoking in regards to humans loosing their humanity when technology that should have been used to further progress our lives gets used for an awesome MMORPG instead.
I personally couldn't live in a world where everyone looked perfect. Who would we make fun of then?
No, I did not just sign up for the Dr Seuss Class for Rhymes, I really have issues with my shoes. I can never get anything I like in my size.
I'm a UK 11. Depending on the cut of the shoes, its sometimes a UK 12. I have 2 pairs of leather shoes I wear for work, but even those were from the UK.
I need a pair of canvas of loafers. Woes me, none of the local stores seem to carry any sizes above 10 UK over here.
Sure, there are some 11 and 12 UK sized shoes, but most of them are sneakers (Nike / Rebook etc) for basketball.
Call me crazy, but I don't want to be chilling out in shorts with a pair of basketball shoes on. You just cant do that man, its against the very fabric of space and time.
Also, I'm going for the sock-less look for 2010.
Wish me luck with my shoe hunt!
Dav out
PS: Do NOT like the new way Blogger pushes images into the blog, sure, there's left / right / center etc but its hell trying to format the post.
