Robin Hood: the review

OK, I like sushi.  I mean, I really like the stuff.  I also can dig tacos, a couple of times a week and I’m one happy coyote.  But.  When I order the taco platter, the waiter nods ‘si’, and then hauls out a damn plate full of artfully arranged dead fish, it’s a little disconcerting.

So what does this have to do with the new Ridley Scott / Russell Crowe movie?  It’s a good movie, I was completely entertained, the swordplay made for fun watching, the deeper themes about human liberty were good, and movie’s take on the proper treatment of traitors masquerading as rogue tax collectors was, uh, pretty much on target.  So what’s not to like?

Well, the name.  Says “Robin Hood” right there on the label, when in fact it should have been titled “Kingdom of Heaven 2: The Scouring of Sherwood Forest” or some such.  It was a good story, but it just wasn’t a Robin Hood story up until right before the credits rolled.

Well, I enjoyed it anyway, and maybe you will too.  But just remember to expect chop sticks with this taco plate.

Two stars, but that’s mostly a problem with title.  Renamed along the lines suggested above and it’d rate three.

Back to the Regularly Scheduled Blog

Thank you for your patience folks (all 2.3 of you).  Back to some semblance of regular blogging.

Nuke that Balrog!

Too bad Gandalf didn't have a tac nuke under his robe.  Coulda nuked that sucker, and put out the fire, Soviet style.

Balrog's Breath

Moria!  Moria! Wonder of the Northern world!  Too deep we delved there, and awoke the nameless fear." – Gloin the Dwarf

Macondo!  Macondo!  Too deep BP drilled there...  and now the stink is thick on the beach.  Like dirty, used oil with a slight sour note to it, inescapable here tonight.  More on it here.

Printing Ironman

Turns out, the manufacturing process for Robert Downey's costume was more advanced than the manufacturing process for Tony Stark's power armor.  Read about it here.
Too bad the underlying tech for the costume isn't quite as awesome as that of the Ironman suits, but I can still love the cool stuff we've got in the 21st century.

Ponderable for the day

Or maybe for the week, at the rate I've been posting lately.
Jerry Pournelle's Iron Law of Bureaucracy.  
Ponder well, as the test will be be administered on your next visit to the DMV.

Roger Ebert hates 3D movies

And you should too.  Read why he hates them here.  Best of the nine reasons he lists:

8. I CANNOT IMAGINE A SERIOUS DRAMA, SUCH AS UP IN THE AIR OR THE HURT LOCKER, IN 3-D. 

Yep, that pretty well sums up Avatar: not serious fare at all.  Personally, I think 3D best serves you-are-there extravaganzas and little else.
Off the wall thought: given the recent trend in hyper-realistic but still serious war movies started by Saving Private Ryan, could 3D actually enhance these?  Or would it even be ethical to plunk an unprepared audience down on Omaha Beach or a hot Mogadishu street?  Maybe the 3D version would rate an R, while in 2D just a PG-13.  Something to ponder, because I have the feeling that it won't be long before we see something along these lines.