Avatar | Once Over Review

Today, I’m putting on my Sunday best, rolling up my sleeves, and stepping up onto my soapbox. I have a simple message, but one that must be heard by the masses, the bench warmers, the fence sitters. A word for the indecisive, the indifferent, and everyone else who has not seen Avatar yet...

“Leave your homes, leave your wives, husbands and children. Do not pack heavy bags which will burden you and likely be checked for food which you can’t bring on this journey for some reason. But food shall be provided. Popcorn shall rain down upon you; imitation butter and soda will flow like mighty rivers.

But Make Hast! For a time is coming when this land will disappear like the morning dew, here today and gone tomorrow. So rise up! Men and Woman, young and old, pretty and ugly. In this land surely, you all belong. In short....

Go see Avatar. Like... NOW!

Here’s your three reasons why you have to get off your ass and go see this movie, if you haven’t already. Even if you have, you should probably see it again at least one more time.

1.Breakthrough Technology. The 3D is stunning, mind-blowing, and beautiful. This is SO important because this movie has now redefined how a movie is experienced. It has done what sound did to the silent film, and colour did for black and white.

And you might be reading this thinking this guys out to lunch, 3D will never be the norm for movies. Well, you might be right. But, at the very least, I think it’s safe to say we’re going to be see a lot more movie’s being made in 3D, and Avatar has just set the standard. And since you can only see it 3D in the theaters, you have to go now!

2.Contrary to some critiques I’ve heard on Avatar, the story line is actually really solid. There’s good character development, some really heart wrenching moment, and it is quite thought provoking. Honestly, I would watch this movie again on DVD, even without the 3D. Now, I think it goes without saying that the special effects aspect of this movie is front and centre, but what I’m saying is that there is still a solid story line behind that.

3.And finally, you get to see you crazy alien people get freaky, jungle style.

Worth the price of admission right there if you ask me.

Avatar get’s an 8.5/10 fore groundbreaking, and breath-taking special effects with a respectable story. You absolutely need to go see this movie in 3D while you still can. And make sure you see it in a decent theater, or iMax if you can. You will not be disappointed.

Cheers

Malcolm Gladwell: Outliers | Once Over Review

Well didn’t I just think it was time to review a book! And who better than the great Malcolm Gladwell, known for such best sellers as ‘The Tipping Point’, ‘Blink’ and his latest, ‘What the Dog Saw’. But today, we are going to be looking at his last big hit...

Outliers!!

Outliers is such a great book for this blog because it so brilliantly encompasses the sort of thing I want to be reviewing. Something that you’ve probably heard a lot about, but have maybe never been convinced enough to invest in reading. Well, I did the ground work for you and will tell you if it's worth your time/money. And if you’ve read it, see what you think about my review. Am I out to Lunch? Or did I hit the nail on the head.

And if you haven’t read the book watching the clip up there will help give you the idea of what the book is about.

So, whats the deal with this book? Well, I’ve gotta say, Gladwell actually kind of let me down to be honest. I’ve read Blink and The Tipping Point and will probably read his newest book, But Outliers left me feeling kind of ripped off for three main reasons.

1. Maybe you’ve heard that this books talks a lot about the 10,000 Hours thing. Basically is says (chapter after chapter) that if you spend 10,000 hours doing something you’ll be a pro....



Which, you know, was shocking to me because I’m, uh... mentally retarded! Ya Gladwell, practice makes perfect, we get it. Is that really that ground breaking? Did we really need to read this book to know that? No. In fact, if you didn’t already know, you just read it a couple sentences ago. Now I just saved you about $30 on a sub-par book. 


2. The other main premise of the book is that people themselves have very little to do with whether they are successful or not. Rather, it's where and when you were born that will determine your success. Which A: is just a kick to the pants because I don’t know about you, but my parents last names aren’t ‘Gates’ or ‘Hilton’, so I guess I might as well not work that hard cause I’m destined to be middle class at best. But also B: Why am I reading this book then? Where the hell are my '10 Easy Steps to Success'? Because if you’re essentially telling me I’m SOL when it comes to success, again, you don’t need to tell me, I know. But thanks for taking my money. I’m was bound to get swindled one way or another. 


3. Finally, are we really so shallow of a society that we solely gauge success of financial gain??



Yes. 



But that kinda sucks doesn’t it? The truth is that I will never have a private jet, or own an island, but I don’t believe that means I wont be successful. I have a beautiful wife I love, a great job, and amazing friends and family. How is that not success?

Overall, I give Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers a 4/10, and I don’t think you need to read it. His other stuff is good, but this books is not really going to benefit you in any way. It does have a few entertaining stories, but not enough to make it worth while.

Cheers

Once | Once Over Review

It only seemed fitting that the inaugural post of the "Once Over Review" blog review something that had the word "Once" in it. Thus establishing, right out the gate, That I am a creative genius, worth following, even to the ends of the earth...

Right then, enough of that.

And for the record, I'm not going to go on and on about what I review here. If you want to know the nitty gritty details of this stuff go to Wikipedia. Here, you get the honorable mentions of the material, and most importantly, if it's worth a damn.

Once was a beautiful film, and I think everyone can get down on it. This painfully low budget piece of cinema doesn't have the outward glitz and glamor of your typical Hollywood Blockbuster, but what it lacks in looks, it makes up for in content.

Bringing solace to ugly people everywhere.

The strongest point of this film is simply is 'feel'. It's as unique a cinematic experience as Avatar 3D, or any other cutting edge movies of our time. Of course, its unique for entirely different reasons. It makes you forget you're watching a movie and makes you feel like you're just hanging out with some really cool Irish people.

Which come, who doesn't want to hang out with some really cool Irish People?

Finally, the soundtrack alone makes the movie worth seeing. Just powerful, heartfelt stuff. And they just play it, on the spot, real time. What other movie would you see that kind of thing happening?

Now if you're sitting there in a tank-top, belly hanging out, drinking a luke-warm Molson Canadian wondering why this horses ass would think you'd be into this movie, don't worry, I haven't forgot you. In fact, I'm reminded of you every time I look in the mirror. And yes, you might prefer to watch MMA and practice opening beer bottles with your lighter. BUT, if you ever have the need to convince someone you are cultured and sensitive, you can watch this movie with them and score.

So "Once" gets an 8/10. The only reason it doesn't score higher is because I think, as the title suggests, Once is enough with this one. I watched it 2 years ago and have never felt the need to experience it again. So that says something.

Well, there you go. Have you seen it? Am I out to lunch? If you haven't seen it why not? Whats holding you back?