Media Monday : Top 5 SciFi Series and Movies

You may find this hard to believe coming from a giant nerd like me, but I don't really like Science Fiction.

I don't actively DISLIKE it, but where it seems that the stereotypical nerd lives for all things "space" and "future," I'm pretty lukewarm on them. The problem, from my perspective, is that more often than not the novelty of "space" and "future" are all that the show or movie has to offer. The writers figure, as long as they put things in SPACE, who gives a shit about things like characters, or plot? It's SPACE!

The other things i dislike about a lot of SciFi is how DARK it is. Not thematically, but literally - I can't fucking see what's going on. Throw in the fact that all dystopian visions of the future are inevitably cluttered and chaotic, and it just gives me a headache to look at.

So, with all of that, I'm always kind of surprised if I actually enjoy a SciFi offering, and a few on this list I REALLY enjoyed.

5. The Fifth Element - Way too fun and entertaining to fault it for being a bit too reliant on the usual sci-fi pitfalls of EVERYTHING having to be futuristic.

4. Stargate - the movie, not the TV show (which I never saw, so it may have been good). This movie kind of trails off about halfway through for me, but it starts out really good.

3. Alien / Aliens - These movies kind of suffer from my "too dark" problem, BUT they're also some of the greatest suspense movies of all time, so I can forgive that. Throw in the fact that, as my brother just mentioned to me last night, the first Alien was released in 1979... that just blows my mind. Those movies hold up better than any other movie I can think of.

2. Firefly / Serenity - I love everything about this series / movie (the movie was made after the series was cancelled, as sort of a swan song to a series that was abruptly ended). While it is set in a "futuristic / space" setting, it's all about the characters and the story and not reliant on wowing you with "future" and "space." If there's one thing Joss Whedon (who created the series, as well as Buffy, Dollhouse, and the awesome Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog) knows how to do well it's make characters that you almost instantly care about and enjoy watching. On top of that, the stories in this series were emotional but still fun, exciting... I think there's only 13 episodes, it's well worth your time to check them out.

1. Battlestar Galactica - the remake, not the campy 70's original. I know it sounds goofy, but it is truly a masterpiece of television. The ending of the series... well, left a lot of people flat, but, as with Firefly, this was all about the characters. For four seasons this show continually improved, really delving into everything from politics to spirituality but never feeling forced. Aside from an overuse of the swear-substitute "frak", you truly forget that you're watching a show about spaceships and cyborgs ("cylons"). Throw in some of the best acting performances I've ever seen, in particular by Edward James Olmos and Mary McDonnell, and this show became not just my favorite Sci-Fi show ever, but one of my favorite shows ever. Seriously, even if you're not into Sci-Fi, it's worth checking this thing out some day.

Honorable Mentions : Star Trek: TNG (I loathe the original Star Trek, but I got into the Next Generation for a while), Star Wars (some may consider it ridiculous that this didn't make the list but I'm convinced I only like it because of nostalgia, not because it was any good), Blade Runner (good flick, obviously, but suffers from the "too dark" syndrome), Futurama (doesn't really qualify since it's a comedy/parody but I considered putting it on there anyway cuz it fucking rules), Spaceballs (ibid).

I'm sure I forgot something, so let me have it.

Ugh, and just as I'm wrapping this up I thought of Total Recall, which could totally take the place of... say, Stargate above. Oh well.

Debate by Attack

I'm not talking strictly about "ad hominem" attacks, where one attacks the person rather than the issue. I'm more talking about debate where rather than giving any merit to your opponent's argument, you simply attack their argument as ridiculous. I'm sure this has some Latin name but I'm too lazy to look it up.

The most obvious examples of this happen every day in politics, but what actually brought this topic to mind was the new Apple Tablet, or iPad.

There seem to be two radically opposed camps on this product : those that think it's the future, and those that think it's a disappointment right out of the gate. While I find myself leaning toward the latter camp, I like to think that my reasoning is sound and I'm not just being a stubborn jackass. I at least recognize what Apple is trying to do, I just don't think they did it particularly well. But then I read this inflammatory piece of drivel that got a bevy of pageviews and comments on Gizmodo, and suddenly not only do I disagree with Apple's product decisions, I fucking despise them. That direct subversive attack turned me from a mild, reasonable person to an absolute hater.

The problem with being directly belligerent against someone is that all you do is reinforce their will to disagree with you. It's the same with politics : if someone is on the fence, a legitimate "middle of the road" person, chances are they're going to get attacked by the far right as being too liberal, or by the far left as being an evil Republican. As soon as that happens, the person being attacked immediately goes into defense mode - it's just human nature. Someone attacks you, even verbally, and you're going to defend your position. And that's where the real problem is - I read a study once that basically says that if you're forced to defend a position, all it does is reinforce your belief in that position. So if someone starts out on the fence but is forced to defend one side, they're probably going to end up more firmly entrenched in the side they defended. And the biggest irony is it's your forcing them to defend that side that put them there!

I find myself in this situation all of the time, and have to WILL myself to not fall prey to the effects. I really do consider myself moderate on a lot of issues, but if I see a radical statement on either side (even if it's not directed at me) I feel like I have to defend myself. It happened with the Scott Brown thing; I got into this giant debate with someone on Facebook because they were saying how stupid Massachusetts voters were. I'm not a fan of Scott Brown really, but I AM a fan of his throwing a wrench in the super-majority and causing Congress to have to at least THINK about what they're doing vis-a-vis health care. But the debate quickly turned into my defending Scott Brown somehow, and arguing against any kind of health care reform. How did THAT happen? I WANT health care reform, I just don't want THIS bill passing.

So anyway, look, I know it's easy to get passionate on topics. BELIEVE me I know. You've read the blog - I go way overboard on shit that doesn't even matter, let alone something like politics. I just wish we could all keep in mind that all our angry ranting is doing is causing a lot of people to get defensive, and ultimately it's having the opposite effect of what we set out to do.

Investigative Reporting

Is there anything worse than those smug assholes who you see on the local news as they badger some small business owner, politician, or random schmoe who happened to park in a handicapped space?

Let me be clear that I don't want to justify the actions of those who earn this type of coverage. I'd say about... probably half the time, the people being targeted in these spots deserve the treatment they get. Scumbags who scam money from the Medicare system, or trick old ladies into buying fake insurance.... they deserve whatever bad things come to them, for sure, and I'm glad there are people trying to uncover them.

But you KNOW a bunch of those stories are at the very least exaggerated, and at worst spun up completely by the jerkoff reporter doing the story. You've seen them, do they look any more honest than the swindlers they're supposedly investigating? I wouldn't trust that weasily douchebag on Fox 25 (pictured left) as far as I can throw him. And with my bad back, Ed, I really shouldn't be throwing anyone. FOX UNDERCOVER my ass. And while I understand that Fox in general isn't held up as a paragon of journalistic integrity, almost every local news team has their own version.

Honestly, even beyond investigative journalists, who I suppose are an easy target and have been maligned ad nauseum elsewhere, it seems like journalistic integrity just keeps getting worse. Every time someone dies under noteworthy circumstances, you see a news team camped out on the front lawn of some bereaved family, asking for answers. Imagine if someone in your family were murdered and someone shoved a camera in your face afterwards? I can't imagine how fast I'd be thrown in prison.

I understand the "rights" of the press, and I understand that they're just trying to produce a sellable product to the retarded public. I'm not one to hold the press up to some lofty expectations like they preach in journalism school, but the sensationalist garbage that news has turned into is just sickening to me.... and that's without even bringing papparazzi into the conversation.

Media Monday : Top 5 Desert Island Albums

I know, it's kind of a lazy topic, but in moving on from my January "month of movie top 5's" I figure I'd delve into the music realm with something simple.

These albums definitely do not reflect my current listening habits, but I would still consider them the albums I could listen to the most without truly getting tired of them.

I admit that this isn't the most creative list; lots of "staples" on here, but what can I say? You can't mess with the classics. I'm sure Jack Black's character in High Fidelity would lambast me for being predictable, but, well, fuck him.

A side note : it's kinda funny how irrelevant this topic is with the advent of MP3s. I can't remember the last time I listened to an album straight through rather than just songs on shuffle. A modern-day twist to this topic might be "albums I still bother to listen to sequentially."

5. U2 - The Joshua Tree - This is probably the one I struggled most with, just because of how much I feel that U2 has plummeted over the past few decades (basically since Achtung Baby). But still, the "B Side" (another downside to the CD / MP3 revolution is that we no longer have clearly defined "A Sides" and "B Sides"; where would this album, or Abbey Road be without a B Side?) of this album is a freakin' masterpiece, and however I feel about Bono and U2 in general in 2010 is eclipsed as soon as I hear "Red Hill Mining Town" or "One Tree Hill."

4. Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti - Because sometimes you just need to rock out, and Led Zeppelin is the greatest rock band of all time. Period. While Zeppelin II or Zeppelin IV might have been better choices, I can't imagine a world without some of Zeppelin's more epic songs. In My Time of Dying is my favorite, but Ten Years Gone and even In the Light deserve mention.

3. The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds - I never really got into this album until much later in life. I always liked some songs on it, but it still always had some weird stigma with me. Maybe because I had this image in my head of the Beach Boys just being a goofy surf music band or something, I don't know. But I like to think I'm older and wiser now... and Goddamn this album is a work of art. If it only had "God Only Knows" on it it might still be on this list, because I love that song.

2. The Beatles - Revolver - Choosing a single Beatles album at this point feel like Sophie's Choice, but for me it always comes down to Rubber Soul or Revolver. I go with Revolver because it was the first Beatles CD I ever owned, but it could still easily go either way (with several other Beatles albums close on the heels; hell, if you're taking the "desert island" thing literally, maybe you'd want the White Album because it is the longest).

1. Van Morrison - Moondance - I had almost forgotten that I actually said previously that this would be my number one. I'm glad I had it slated for this spot anyway. It may not be as deep or innovative as Astral Weeks, but it's just so damned enjoyable to listen to, and EVERY SONG is great.


Per the usual rules of the "desert island" game, I didn't put any compilations on there, but you better believe that I seriously debated having Legend on the list.

Other honorable mentions : Manassas, After the Gold Rush... and probably more but I'll leave those up to you.

You Don't NEED....

Did you ever hear this question from someone? "Why do you NEED so much horsepower in your car?" "Why does anyone NEED such a big house?" "Who NEEDS an SUV in suburbia?"

Ugh. Since when is everything in life based on need? Isn't that kind of the point of a modern society - so that we're not all struggling to meet our needs, but rather flourishing and going beyond our basic needs to the extravagances that we may WANT? It's the entire basis of our economic system - work hard, make money, afford the better things in life. Be able to afford more than you need.

I just don't get why people give a shit anyway. Is it just envy and jealousy? Why do you care if someone drives an expensive car, or lives in a mansion? If it's about the environment, then just focus on that aspect and don't go down the "they don't need that" road; it just makes you come off as either pathetic and jealous, or a pious douchebag.

Dishwashers

I don't understand the obsession with dishwashers.

This post does not apply to people with families, especially kids, who go through a thousand plates a day. This is more for my single, and even childless, friends and readers. How many dishes do you POSSIBLY go through in an average day that it is beneficial to use a dishwasher? I was all excited when I moved into my current place, as it would be the first that had a dishwasher. Two weeks later I gave up and just went back to washing dishes by hand. Here are some reasons :

1. I had to rinse everything anyway. Unless you're like some people I know who, when they're done eating, leave their plate immaculate, chances are you have some crap on there that needs to be rinsed off before going in the dishwasher. So taking your dish to the sink and dousing it with water, THEN bringing it over to the dishwasher and putting it in there, and then taking it out when it's done.... haven't you done more work than if you had just washed it when you first brought it to the sink? How long does it take to wash a single plate, or two if you're eating with someone?

2. I'd run out of bowls and cups The only things I reliably use every day are bowls and cups - morning cereal and a glass of OJ. A week's worth of bowls and cups doesn't come close to filling a dishwasher, even with a few plates in there, so I'd either run out of bowls and cups or have to be wasteful and run a cycle of the dishwasher with the thing only a third full.

3. Some things wouldn't come clean This may be a failing of my dishwasher itself, but inevitably I'd have a few things that would have to be re-washed after being in the dishwasher. They fell over during the cycle, or got wedged up against something else, or just decided to be stubborn; whatever the reason, there'd always be something to be re-washed, so not only would I have to inspect everything before putting it away, but also re-wash the offending pieces. Seriously, HOW IS THIS SAVING ANY TIME?

Some people claim the dishwasher gets things "cleaner"... what are you eating, toxic sludge? Your dishes aren't being used for surgery, how clean do you want them? Why not just buy an autoclave and sterilize everything?

The vast majority of things take 9 seconds to wash in the sink, and the things that don't (pots and pans) usually can't be put into the dishwasher anyway.

Again, if you have kids... I've seen what those monsters go through in a single day, I can TOTALLY understand a dishwasher. But if you DON'T have kids... really evaluate the time you're spending with that dishwasher and whether it's worth it.

Media Monday : Top 5 Movies That Improve on Multiple Viewings

I've really been slacking on the blog lately. I have lots of ideas jotted down but just not much time to write them up. Apologies for all the late or half-ass entries, if anyone actually cares.

There are a bunch of movies that I've seen that I was either ambivalent about or outright did NOT like the first time I saw them, but for whatever reason decided to watch again and liked much more. Usually on the advice of friends or general consensus that a movie was awesome. I like to think that I still made up my own mind about the movie but it's possible that my opinion changed just based on external forces alone.

5. Fun With Dick and Jane - The newer one, believe it or not. I still don't think it's great, or even all that good, but I outright HATED it on first viewing and at least didn't hate it the second time I saw it (after being repeatedly told it was hilarious by a friend). I still have yet to see the original though. This isn't one that is necessarily deep and requires multiple viewings, I just happened to change my mind on it.

4. Memento - A lot of people give this movie shit because it's a "gimmick," and I suppose it is, but God damn if it isn't a well-executed gimmick. But there's no way you can get it on the first time through. Even if it's for no other reason than your head is swimming by the end.

3. There Will Be Blood - This one only vaguely qualifies for this list, since I really liked it on first viewing, but Goddamn I LOVED it on subsequent viewings. And that's saying a lot since the movie is like 3 hours long; I swear I've watched it half a dozen times.

Also, everyone loves the "I drink your milkshake" line, but from that same scene, I think "DRAAAAAINNNAAAGGGGEEEE" is the far better "Daniel Day Lewis being insane" line.

2. Mulholland Drive - This movie is MEANT to be watched more than once, one would assume. I had to not only watch it a half dozen times, but also go online and read plot explanations and then watch it again knowing what's going on. I'm not particularly good at symbolism, and this movie is basically a two and a half hour master clinic on symbolism. And honestly even if you don't get it, it's a haunting film.

Don't read the plot explanation until you've watched the film two or three times and really sat down and THOUGHT about it, but unless you're a smart cookie chances are you'll still need some help.


1. Fight Club - I'm actually mad at myself that I disliked this movie so much on first viewing, since it is obviously awesome. I don't know if knowing the twist made it better on subsequent viewings, or if there was just something I was able to appreciate more... I don't know. It's a great movie though.


How about you? Any movies you had to see multiple times to truly appreciate?