Behold the world of tomorrow!

I expect to be busy this coming Saturday. I'm getting a ticket to see the Argonauts play the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the afternoon, and I'm going to go out touring afterwards for the annual Nuit Blanche event. I hear they've made it even less spread out than before. I'm a little worried this may mean big lines or bad atmosphere.

That should take up just about the entirety of my day and night. I'll also have to figure out how to get my camera working. Probably just for the arts festival, as I doubt the CFL or Rogers would let people film during a game.

I'll be coming home for Columbus Day weekend October 8th to October 13th. I haven't figured out which bus line I'll be using. I prefer Ontario Northlands which would allow me to arrive on Friday, but I don't know whether they give discounts for early purchases.

Peering into my Crystal Ball:

Grey Cup 2010

These ones:

Versus these ones:

Superbowl 2011

These ones:

Versus these ones:

You can take that to the bank... but not a bookie. That would be unwarranted and dangerous.

Save our Souls

I saw Soul of Sand on Sunday after Stephen and Dad left to back to Sudbury on the final day of TIFF. I saw it in the new Bell Lightbox theatre where TIFF is headquartered.

The theatre was small, tall, and clean. (The latter being expected since it's fairly new) The director of the movie suggested that his movie, about the social world in New Delhi would subvert expectations and would have a hilarious conclusion. I didn't reall agree wit the former, and I assume the latter was meant to be an in-joke that no one else there could get as they hadn't yet seen the movie. The ending was not funny.

The story is about a lower class watchman who works like a serf for a rich landowner. He has followed in his father's footsteps as a watchman of a now-shut down silica mine and he lives on site with his wife. Obviously there is some tension in this arrangement between the man and his wife. Meanwhile the landowner is trying to corral his rebellious daughter into marrying a very old man who could buy the defunct mine and help him with his monetary troubles. She flees with her lover and they cross paths with the unknowing watchman. Events spiral out of control and murder and death ensue for all.

The movie is very obviously about class conflicts and exploitation. I'm sure there's also supposed to be a strong inference made from the end where the landowner is killed by his servants and they in turn are killed by the assassin, who I'm presuming from his frightening and oft-covered visage is of the lowest class. There was a lot of tension as events begin to seriously heat up, and I really like the well designed characters. Most of them show a lot of depth, except for the hired assassin who seems more like what Javior Bardhem was supposed to be in No Country for Old Men. He is not at all a bad character, but he is less complete than he is enigmatic. The move was very good and the characters were sympathetic, but the the movie is also pretty bleak, and so it wasn't quite a 'fun' afternoon at the movies.

I'm headed to The Ward

TIFF is in town; and while I've only seen one movie so far, I have been walking around a lot. On Sunday I took a look at some of the free exhibits related to TIFF but was a bit disappointed. One neat sounding exhibit was seemingly buried behind the ticket counter of the AGO, and I'm not paying for admission to the entire museum to see it. I'm not that committed. (That'll be funny in a few paragraphs)

I did see the inside of the Bell Lightbox. The public portion is a three floor area, that's not quite an atrium. It's kind of cramped but yet also vertical --like a stairwell. There's a louge, a gallery, and theatre, and some viewing rooms. (I don't know what they'll do with those later) Honestly, I don't think it's a pretty interior.

I did a U-turn last night and decided after 10PM to go see the midnight madness screening of John Carpenter's The Ward. I had to go all the way over the Ryerson for the midnight screening which meant I got back a little before 3AM. I don't think I want to do that again as it was as bad for me in the morning as I'd worried it would be.

Since I didn't have an advance ticket, I had to wait in line. But I managed to get lucky and buy a ticket for below face from another person. The rush line was fair sized, but the ticket holders line was enormous. Yet, the Ryerson theatre didn't seem that much bigger than the Bloor theatre, (Or much louder) so maybe it's width is deceptive. I was annoyed that there are, (of course) a huge amount of reserved seats in prime position that no one occupied.

There was a video from John Carpenter about having jury duty which was a little funny, but I was disappointed he wasn't there. I decided that with the time and lack of the director that I didn't want to stay for the Q & A.

The Ward is the story of a girl committed to a haunted insane asylum where she and the other inmates are threatened by a ghost of a girl and their fears are ignored by the doctor and nurse...and yes, it is all in her head. How did you see that twist coming?

Predictable twist aside, this was pretty good. Jump scares, good acting, good technical direction. Nothing really unique though.


~~
The real horror.... I may have to cover someone else's desk again at work for another week. (How the hell are people on vacation this much and still off at Christmas? Someone explain this to me!) I'll have been back on my own desk a measly day or two... or less depending. I've been at my own desk for slightly more than a week in like two months. Files are actually starting pile up because other guys don't do it when I'm not there. This is f-------g ridiculous. ...and yes, this is in time for the busiest day of the month. How did you see that twist coming?

Scott Pilgrim vs. Kevin

I saw Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, which I had been meaning to see before it left the theatres. Tuesday is apparently matinee night, but I couldn't take advantage of the discount because the labels on the self-serve ticket machine were confusing. (Adult package, Kids package, Ticket only T...wha?)

Scott Pilgrim is based off of a graphic novel series. In it, Canadian slacker Scott Pilgrim must battle the 7 Evil Exes of his new girlfriend. The comic and the movie are both littered with geek/slacker references and visual gags straight out of a cartoon or video game. If you didn't recognize these references you may think this is some kind of light-hearted Salvador Dali film.

The movie wasn't as quite as funny as I'd expected it to be. (Or maybe I just don't remember it all too well) It wasn't really a straight up comedy, so much as it was more of a well rounded action/comedy/romance. The visuals and soundtrack were excellent and integrated as well. The movie also featured a distinctive style of slacker humor which is quotable though maybe not laugh out loud all the time. (Verbal and visual pratfalls in context certainly are though) This movie features wackiness and dry wit.

The actors are all fun and for the most part are playing up some major characteristic giving the whole movie a very cartoon-y feel, but in a very good way that most other movies don't achieve when their actors just try mugging for the camera hoping for a similar feel.

Cera, (The titular character) is probably not a draw for this movie because he's so known for these roles, but he certainly fits one vision of the Scott Pilgrim slacker to a tee. Also, I found that he and his romantic opposite Ramona/Mary Elizabeth Winstead had some chemistry or at least good dialogue. So while their romance was shallow, it worked for me as a realistic relationship. In fact, the growing maturity of the leads in this wacky slacker cartoon was paramount to the story. Scott's platonic rebound relationship with a girl five years his junior is a great example of who he is when he starts out in this story; he's doing it for appearances both to his friends and himself, but also because nothing will ever come of it. I'm not going to go on about all of it though. There's a lot of depth here that may not be obvious at first glance.

The editing was occasionally really clever and eclectic. The special effects were also awesome. The action was inventive and unlike other action movies; it wasn't quick cut to death. There's a bass off, video game fighting, and great garage band rock.

On the topic of battles and video games references in the music and visual effects... it did seem weird in a way. Pilgrim and his friends are in a band. He has had girlfriends. He doesn't seem to do anything nerdy and yet all these in jokes are for geek culture. (He plays Dance Dance Ninja Revolution with his girlfriend and plays a theme from Final Fantasy but...) One character mentions video games once. What I'm getting at is that there doesn't appear to be any connection between the character and a lot of the reference jokes. He's not really a gamer, nor do his friends appear to be.

Also, the fighting does seem incongruous with the rest of the story. After all, every other cartoon effect we see may just be subjective, but the fighting is not and there's little else that people interact with that's as nutty. (I'm also wondering why Ramona references battling when she talks about the old days with her exes... who was she and her beaus fighting?) I feel that something should have been done to integrate it better.

Though the movie can be a little too inexplicable, it's a great example of a different kind of movie and one that can be both easily digestible and intriguing; and this kind of wackiness is right up my alley anyway.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World= slackers + coming of age romance story + live action cartoon + geek culture references + action + arcade feel = You win! Perfect!

Weekend at Kevin's

Me and Stephen did quite a bit over the weekend, perhaps more than I would usually do. On a somewhat temperate Saturday we saw Canada get spanked on home turf by Peru. The Canadian section was extremely vocal throughout the game, despite being outnumbered by Peruvian fans who I assume lived within the region. They were outshouted crucially on two major occasions when Peru scored. (Though I don't think that's a causational thing) Team Canada didn't give the locals much to cheer about spontaneously unfortunately. Even hopes for a surprise 49 yard field goal voiced by one fan were no realized. How shameful.



The Peruvian flag looks a lot like the Canadian one, which may have led to some trouble. At one point, with the score still tied one Peruvian fan came over to the Canadian stands waving his flag at what I'm sure he thought were fellow Peruvian supporters. Fortunately several incredibly level headed Canadians in wrestling masks came over to direct him back to his own stands. Then some security came by to help. Then another Peruvian. They enjoyed a very animated discussion about how great soccer was, then parted ways. There may have been some friendly punching as well.

After this incident, and with the Canadian team falling behind; the Canadian section began to turn their attention to the fans instead of the game. In the midst of one lively chant about Passports and who may or may not have them, Stephen leaned over and said to me, "You what I like about our country? The quiet dignity."

There were about ten thousand in the stands, notably less than those who turn out for regular Toronto club games. After the non-sellout for the TFC v. Crux Azul game, I concluded that season ticket holders were not likely to buy additional tickets for games not contained in the Major League Soccer package. But Saturday's game showed that the Canadian national team may be even less of a draw than international club competition.


Me and Stephen also went to see the Expendables, which didn't live up to it's awesome name with some kid of modern Dirty Dozen story, but was a great eighties style ensemble action movie. It was fun, there was action, but it perhaps wasn't memorable except in that it got so many big stars together. A few have been in the same movie before, (Jet Li/Statham, Lundgren/Stallone, Mickey Rourke/Alcohol) but it had a lot of charm. The good guys and most of the bad guys did have character, but several of them didn't have much to do in the film. Incidentally, I find that with modern fast editing, gun related action plays out much better than hand to hand fighting.





I think the best thing we did was on Friday, when we went to the Late Horror Improv show at the Baddog Theatre. We took a streetcar and subway to Broadview Station, in the east end of the city. When we got out of the subway, I was a little worried because I hadn't brought a map or an address. I just remembered from the site's directions that we wouldn't have to cross a street. Fortunately, we did find it in fairly short order as the theatre was just around a corner but pretty close to the subway. I was also a little concerned that we may have to leave early since the subways and streetcars don't operate past 2AM, and the show was starting at midnight. But that wasn't the case fortunately.

I was expecting a little more audience particpation from the description I'd read in the Globe, but the only thing the audience was asked was to provide a subject for this monster-themed improv play. A lady in the front responded to the question, "What were all expecting in the past to have had by now?" with, "flying car!" which was exactly what Stephen and I were thinking of as well. The story featured a group of tourists stranded on an island where time had no meaning, (As the players could not remember the chronology of events) and where new characters just seemed to keep popping up when necessary, (This was the island from LOST I guess) but worse, was terrorized by a mutant flying car. It was pretty funny, but I think it also helped that the production was very cheap too. (Only 5 dollars plus TTC fare) It wasn't the most memorable of stories maybe, (What with it being made up on the fly) but it was fun.



Cheap improvosational theatre halfway across town after midnight makes me feel bohemian.

Fakery

I was going about town to try and secure tickets for the upcoming World Cup qualifying match between Canada and arch rival Peru, (crickets) but I seem have been temporarily stymied in my quest to avoid paying ticket master an eight dollar commission on a twenty three dollar ticket.

First, my attempts to get to the BMO field (aka Beemo field) box office were prevented by the Ex, which would require me to pay a deposit to get through the carnival to pick up tickets. (Presumably, if I didn't get tickets I would get my $16 deposit back)

Second, I attempted to get discounts from the concierge that services a building that I'm not in, (RBC plaza) but he didn't have tickets for that game on offer. Or TIFF tickets, (Understandly, since it's a more complicated system) ... and he was out of discounted Cineplex passes until next week. He did have a friendly demeanor and a great mustache though. I also checked out the online concierge service for the RBC Center, (Where I also don't work) but they don't seem to be on offer on their website.

Note: For those wondering, the concierge service is run by the real estate owning company which provides various services for tentants, which in the case of these two buildings I don't work in, includes discounted tickets to various attractions. Fortunately, they aren't too picky about proving you actually work in the building.

Now I'm trying to arrange a deal through the TFC fansites, where fans offer resale tickets at face value, and include some at discount value as well. Failing that, I'll just purchase through ticket master. (Maybe tomorrow so I can avoid paying any deposits at the Ex)







The other thing that was on my mind last night was the spectacular vistas of space. I talked with Steve about Hubble telescope images which aren't exactly what they appear to be.

Not Sauron

These pictures are taken in black and white representing light at different wavelengths. Each filter is a certain wavelength of light which corresponded to an element. But the colors actually selected to assemble the color picture were driven by nothing more than aesthetic qualities and ease of differentiation. Some of the pictures will even show and give pretty colour to light that isn't in the visible spectrum.

I'm not saying there's not scientific value of course, but this image is not what a person could see with their eye unless they were a futuristic cyborg... who's computerized eye also happened to make the same colour picks and filtered out the same light as the scientists have.

No, that's not a Cyborg's eye either.

From what I understand though, wavelengths seem to correspond with colours anyway. So there is in fact a place on the spectrum that matches with some of the filters that they've used; they're just different colours than utilized.

But it also occurs to me that as less different wavelengths of light are filtered out, that the shapes would change and the colours/elements would appear more distinct. (Subject the nature of the present elements mind you) Is that not accurate? So if more filters could be used and combined to present a more accurate version of the visible spectrum, it would appear as a different shape and probably much brighter and indistintive. Like a blob of light.

Does that sound right? It's kind of disappointing.

You're not fooling anyone whitey.