So I saw Up a couple weeks ago with my wife and kiddies. It was typically Pixar which, of course, means it was a very good movie. While not on the same level as Toy Story 2 and The Incredibles, it was still quite enjoyable.
This got me thinking about the directors of the Pixar films and directors in general. I don't know about the rest of you, but when I hear about a new film and it sounds interesting I always look up the director. If the director has a good track record, it will be a movie that I might just see (assuming I like the director). If it's a piss-poor director or even one that's good but isn't my thing, I'll definitely pass on the flick. There are a handful of popular directors that I will absolutely not see anything from like Michael Bay (Transformers, Pearl Harbor, Armageddon) and Roland Emmerich (Independence Day, Stargate, 10,000 BC). I see those guys attached to a movie, I know the movie ain't worth seeing. On the other hand, if Clint Eastwood is directing a film, there's a pretty good chance it will be darn good.
That brings us back around to Pixar. Who is the best Pixar director? There are a total of ten movies, most of which were co-directed by two or more directors. Let's break 'em down:
Toy Story - John Lasseter
A Bugs Life -John Lasseter & Andrew Stanton
Toy Story 2 - John Lasseter, Lee Unkrich, & Ash Brannon.
Monsters, Inc. - Pete Docter, Lee Unkrich, & David Silverman.
Finding Nemo - Andrew Stanton & Lee Unkrich
The Incredibles - Brad Bird
Cars - John Lasseter & Joe Ranft
Ratatouille - Brad Bird & Joe Pinkava
WALL-E - Andrew Stanton
Up - Pete Docter & Bob Peterson
We can throw out guys who only co-directed one Pixar film simply because, well, they only co-directed one Pixar film. It isn't enough to rate 'em fairly. So Ash Brannon, David Silverman, Joe Ranft, Joe Pinkava, and Bob Petersen are out. That leaves us with five directors: John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton, Lee Unkrich, Brad Bird, & Pete Docter.
How do we rate them? Well, let's break down the Pixar movies.
To me, there are three levels of Pixar flicks: Great, almost great, and darn good.
The great: Toy Story, Toy Story 2, Monsters, Inc, The Incredibles. While very few of you would argue with my choices of Toy Story, Toy Story 2, and The Incredibles, I know there are many of you who don't feel Monsters, Inc. is one of the great Pixar flicks. You'd probably put Finding Nemo or Up (or both) in it's place. Fair enough. But it isn't your list. It's mine!
The almost great - Finding Nemo, Ratatouille, Up. Like I said, Nemo and Up would be in the great category for many, if not most, of you out there. And you'd boot Ratatouille down to the darn good category. But, hey, my list.
The darn good - A Bugs Life, Cars, WALL-E. Other than throwing Ratatouille in this category, I don't think too many of you disagree with what I have here.
Brad Bird has The Incredibles and Ratatouille to his credit. Not bad. That's one great one (in my opinion, the greatest Pixar movie is The Incredibles) and one almost great one in Ratatouille (a film I quite enjoyed).
Andrew Stanton has A Bugs Life, Finding Nemo, and WALL-E to his credit. He's a good director but, looking at my list, that's two darn good Pixar films and one near great one. Brad Bird is number one so far.
Lee Unkrich co-directed Toy Story 2, Monsters, Inc., and Finding Nemo. Two great ones and one almost great one. Okay, as a Pixar director, Unkrich now overtakes Bird. But just barely.
Pete Docter co-directed Monsters, Inc. and Up. Unkrich is still in the lead, Bird is second but barely ahead of Docter.
John Lasseter directed or co-directed Toy Story, A Bugs Life, Toy Story 2, and Cars. Two great ones and two darn good ones. I still think Unkrich wins with Bird and Lasseter tied for second.
Now I know Unkrich "only" has co-directing credits on all three of his Pixar movies while Bird and Lasseter have sole directing credits for The Incredibles (Bird) and Toy Story (Lasseter). I suppose I could come up with a points-based system that would give those who have directed more consideration over those who have co-directed but, hey, isn't that a bit much? Do I need to go into it that deep? Maybe. If I just look at who directed and co-directed what, I gotta go with Bird and Lasseter over Unkrich. So maybe it's a three way tie, really. Do we need some sort of tiebreaker? Yeah. We do. It's called Toy Story 3 to be released in 2010 and it's directed by Lee Unkrich.
How do you rank the Pixar movies? Who is your favorite Pixar director?
Monday, June 29, 2009
Friday, May 15, 2009
4 movies that I used to think were cool but now realize are retarded.
4. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom - In Raiders of the Lost Ark, the humor flowed naturally out of the action. It was organic like when Indy shoots the guy with the big sword; it was natural, not forced. In Temple of Doom, it seems like all the elaborate action sequences are done so Indy can make a crack or two. And who the hell builds a roller-coaster in the middle of a mountain? Over yawning lava pits? Oh yeah, we had to have that mine-cart racing sequence to set-up Indy's funny crack about water. And he gets too much of it! Hilarious. I suppose one can still enjoy the movie if you see it as a parody of the previous film. Just view it like Spielberg's career since Raiders: it's not to be taken seriously.
3. Born on the Fourth of July - There's a lot of stupid things I believed when I was younger; that Vietnam was an unnecessary war and Tom Cruise could act were two of them. As many of you are aware, this Oliver Stone movie follows Ron Kovic's journey to Vietnam as a Marine, his subsequent injury that paralyzed him from the waste down, return home, fun with Mexican whores, and eventual anti-war crusade. As I've studied history, I've became aware of a few things about Vietnam: we were fighting the most evil ideology in the history of the world in communism and Ron Kovic (as portrayed by Oliver Stone) is a friggin' retard! The war was a noble one, mishandled by politicians, yes, but still noble. The defeat of America in Vietnam not only hurt us globally for decades to come but it cost the lives of literally millions of Vietnamese and Cambodians many of whom were tortured to death. Maoist communism is particulary vile and anyone who was against our efforts in Southeast Asia is either stupid or ignorant. Probably both. When I was stupid and ignorant, I loved this movie. And then I grew up.
2. Independence Day - I can't believe I used to love this film. I mean, for crap's sake, it's directed by Hollywood hack Roland Emmerich (who would later give us crapfests like The Day After Tomorrow and 10,000 B.C.). I like a good alien invasion story and I guess my hopes for the film along with the special effects blinded me to how bad this film really is. Repeated viewings only magnify the film's flaws. It's another big summer blockbuster that dazzles us with big explosions and alien motherships but gives us nothing in the way of character development.
1. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home - Most Star Trek movies are retarded: that's just a matter of course. But The Voyage Home reaches new depths of retardation by playing the weenie greenie, tree-hugging, self-righteous, holier-than-thou card (it is Star Trek after all). It's bad enough the crew have to save whales but, they tell us in the movie, those humpbacks are upset at humans for all those years of poor treatment. And while I agree that humpbacks have every right to be upset at humans, there isn't a whale in the oceans that thinks about this. Just like Klingons, whales are animals. Whales are only concerned with eating, reproducing, and trying not to be eaten. They don't swim around pondering existence (or anything else for that matter). I mean, I used to love the movie for it's humor. Now, with it's heavy-handed messaging, it's about as funny as Al Gore. Plus there's too much Chekov. Always too much Chekov. And yes, he is retarded.
3. Born on the Fourth of July - There's a lot of stupid things I believed when I was younger; that Vietnam was an unnecessary war and Tom Cruise could act were two of them. As many of you are aware, this Oliver Stone movie follows Ron Kovic's journey to Vietnam as a Marine, his subsequent injury that paralyzed him from the waste down, return home, fun with Mexican whores, and eventual anti-war crusade. As I've studied history, I've became aware of a few things about Vietnam: we were fighting the most evil ideology in the history of the world in communism and Ron Kovic (as portrayed by Oliver Stone) is a friggin' retard! The war was a noble one, mishandled by politicians, yes, but still noble. The defeat of America in Vietnam not only hurt us globally for decades to come but it cost the lives of literally millions of Vietnamese and Cambodians many of whom were tortured to death. Maoist communism is particulary vile and anyone who was against our efforts in Southeast Asia is either stupid or ignorant. Probably both. When I was stupid and ignorant, I loved this movie. And then I grew up.
2. Independence Day - I can't believe I used to love this film. I mean, for crap's sake, it's directed by Hollywood hack Roland Emmerich (who would later give us crapfests like The Day After Tomorrow and 10,000 B.C.). I like a good alien invasion story and I guess my hopes for the film along with the special effects blinded me to how bad this film really is. Repeated viewings only magnify the film's flaws. It's another big summer blockbuster that dazzles us with big explosions and alien motherships but gives us nothing in the way of character development.
1. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home - Most Star Trek movies are retarded: that's just a matter of course. But The Voyage Home reaches new depths of retardation by playing the weenie greenie, tree-hugging, self-righteous, holier-than-thou card (it is Star Trek after all). It's bad enough the crew have to save whales but, they tell us in the movie, those humpbacks are upset at humans for all those years of poor treatment. And while I agree that humpbacks have every right to be upset at humans, there isn't a whale in the oceans that thinks about this. Just like Klingons, whales are animals. Whales are only concerned with eating, reproducing, and trying not to be eaten. They don't swim around pondering existence (or anything else for that matter). I mean, I used to love the movie for it's humor. Now, with it's heavy-handed messaging, it's about as funny as Al Gore. Plus there's too much Chekov. Always too much Chekov. And yes, he is retarded.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Good arguments against same-sex marriage.
The main reasons to oppose same-sex marriage (incorrectly referred to as gay marriage by just about everyone) are:
1. Same-sex marriage will do irreparable damage to male/female distinctions. The great thing about marriage is that it combines a man with a woman. Women and men are very different and, since most marriages result in children, a child should have the best chance possible to have both a mother and a father. A mom and a dad each give something to children that two men or two women can't. But if the distinctions between male and female are torn down, then legally opposite sex couples cannot be favored by adoption agencies. Children who are put up for adoption should have the right to go, if at all possible, to opposite sex couples. The argument that denying same-sex couples from marriage is the same as denying inter-racial couples from marrying is silly. There is no difference between a black human being and a white human being; male/female differences, however, are huge.
2. No civilization in history, secular or religious, has ever recognized same-sex marriage. Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, the secular men of the Enlightenment, none of them have ever recognized same-sex marriage. And a "handful" of lefties think they are more wise than every civilization that has come before? That's hubris, folks. Conversely, every major religion in history have recognized inter-racial marriage. When many parts of the US banned inter-racial marriage, they were at odds with Christianity, Judaism and every other religion on Earth.
3. What do you think will happen in sex education classes if same-sex marriage is allowed? By law you will have to not only explain what a man and woman do sexually, but you will now have to explain, in graphic detail, what men and men do sexually and what women and women do sexually. Kids are confused enough about sexuality. This would only make it worse.
4. Religious freedom will be in jeopardy. Sooner or later, if same-sex marriage is allowed, someone will sue a religious institution because it discriminates against same-sex marriage. Heaven knows how such court cases would be decided. So much for the so-called wall of separation if this happens.
The media and leftist groups tell us homosexuals can't marry unless we redefine marriage. It isn't true. Homosexuals have never been prevented from marrying in this country. Any homosexual man can marry a woman (provided she's willing) and any homosexual woman can marry a man. When you go and get a marriage license, they don't ask your sexual orientation.
1. Same-sex marriage will do irreparable damage to male/female distinctions. The great thing about marriage is that it combines a man with a woman. Women and men are very different and, since most marriages result in children, a child should have the best chance possible to have both a mother and a father. A mom and a dad each give something to children that two men or two women can't. But if the distinctions between male and female are torn down, then legally opposite sex couples cannot be favored by adoption agencies. Children who are put up for adoption should have the right to go, if at all possible, to opposite sex couples. The argument that denying same-sex couples from marriage is the same as denying inter-racial couples from marrying is silly. There is no difference between a black human being and a white human being; male/female differences, however, are huge.
2. No civilization in history, secular or religious, has ever recognized same-sex marriage. Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, the secular men of the Enlightenment, none of them have ever recognized same-sex marriage. And a "handful" of lefties think they are more wise than every civilization that has come before? That's hubris, folks. Conversely, every major religion in history have recognized inter-racial marriage. When many parts of the US banned inter-racial marriage, they were at odds with Christianity, Judaism and every other religion on Earth.
3. What do you think will happen in sex education classes if same-sex marriage is allowed? By law you will have to not only explain what a man and woman do sexually, but you will now have to explain, in graphic detail, what men and men do sexually and what women and women do sexually. Kids are confused enough about sexuality. This would only make it worse.
4. Religious freedom will be in jeopardy. Sooner or later, if same-sex marriage is allowed, someone will sue a religious institution because it discriminates against same-sex marriage. Heaven knows how such court cases would be decided. So much for the so-called wall of separation if this happens.
The media and leftist groups tell us homosexuals can't marry unless we redefine marriage. It isn't true. Homosexuals have never been prevented from marrying in this country. Any homosexual man can marry a woman (provided she's willing) and any homosexual woman can marry a man. When you go and get a marriage license, they don't ask your sexual orientation.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Tortured values.
As the left continues to rape the word torture, i.e. remove from the word it's meaning (like they did/are doing to the words Nazi, marriage, and rape), I just have one question: If you guys on the left are against torture, why didn't you support the invasion of Iraq and the removal of Saddam Hussein? The former dictator of Iraq tortured his own people by the thousands in brutal ways most of you can't imagine and you don't care; our CIA waterboards three scumbags and it's the worst thing ever.
I just don't understand it. I guess when you look at the world from the point of view of George W. Bush haters, truth, consistency and intellectual honesty are pretty far down on your listed values.
I just don't understand it. I guess when you look at the world from the point of view of George W. Bush haters, truth, consistency and intellectual honesty are pretty far down on your listed values.
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
Name for new White boy.
Well folks, my wife and I have decided upon a name for our son (second son, third child) three months before she's even due: Elliott. Elliott was my wife's maternal grandfather; technically he was her step-grandfather. My wife never new her biological grandfather because he was killed in an accident years before her birth. So Elliott Randall was the grandpa she knew. He passed away in 2002 only one day after the birth of my first child, Bobby.
Elliott is a diminutive (short-form or nickname) of Elias which in turn is a cognate (a cognate of a word is a word in another language which comes from the same root) of Elijah. In Hebrew, Elijah means "my god is Yahweh". Everything you wanted to know about the name Elliott, right?
What about middle names, you ask?
You read that right: names. My wife and I have a thing about giving our sons two middle names: we like it! So I mentioned my wife's grandfather, the grandpa she never knew, earlier in this blog entry, remember? Well, his name was Edward. Now if you folks have been paying attention, my wife and I briefly considered Edward as a first name for this new baby due July. It didn't win but second place ain't bad! Elliott Edward--sounds good, we're almost done! My wife's paternal grandfather's name was--are you ready?--Emery. I know what you're thinking: "You crack-smokin' hooligan! Three 'e's? And short 'e's at that? You sonuvagun!" So the kid's name--and it's a mouthful--will be Elliott Edward Emery White. Heh.
Elliott, as stated above, means "my god is Yahweh". Edward means "rich guard", Emery, which is derived from the name Emmerich, means "work power", and White means, uh, "white". If you have a punchline for this, please share.
So anyway, there it it is. A name for number three!
Elliott is a diminutive (short-form or nickname) of Elias which in turn is a cognate (a cognate of a word is a word in another language which comes from the same root) of Elijah. In Hebrew, Elijah means "my god is Yahweh". Everything you wanted to know about the name Elliott, right?
What about middle names, you ask?
You read that right: names. My wife and I have a thing about giving our sons two middle names: we like it! So I mentioned my wife's grandfather, the grandpa she never knew, earlier in this blog entry, remember? Well, his name was Edward. Now if you folks have been paying attention, my wife and I briefly considered Edward as a first name for this new baby due July. It didn't win but second place ain't bad! Elliott Edward--sounds good, we're almost done! My wife's paternal grandfather's name was--are you ready?--Emery. I know what you're thinking: "You crack-smokin' hooligan! Three 'e's? And short 'e's at that? You sonuvagun!" So the kid's name--and it's a mouthful--will be Elliott Edward Emery White. Heh.
Elliott, as stated above, means "my god is Yahweh". Edward means "rich guard", Emery, which is derived from the name Emmerich, means "work power", and White means, uh, "white". If you have a punchline for this, please share.
So anyway, there it it is. A name for number three!
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
A few of my favorite things.
Favorite sports team - San Francisco 49ers.
Favorite athlete - Steve Young.
Favorite movie - Big Trouble in Little China.
Favorite actor - Robert Duvall.
Favorite director - Clint Eastwood.
Favorite American - John Adams.
Favorite living American - George W. Bush.
Favorite American president - (tie) George Washington, Ronald Reagan, and Calvin Coolidge.
Favorite Metallica song - "Whiskey in the Jar".
Favorite AC/DC song - "Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution".
Favorite symphony - (tie) Dvorak's 9th symphony (aka "Music from the New World") and Beethoven's 9th symphony.
Favorite classical music composer - Beethoven.
Favorite television drama, all-time - The Shield.
Favorite television drama, current - Dexter.
Favorite Saturday Night Live cast member - Phil Hartman, rest in peace.
Favorite comic book - The Avengers, the classic comic book that ended a few years back.
Favorite comic book character - Captain America, the classic hero who was killed a few years back.
Favorite comic book artist - Georg Perez. He's still with us.
These are a few of my favorite things.
Favorite athlete - Steve Young.
Favorite movie - Big Trouble in Little China.
Favorite actor - Robert Duvall.
Favorite director - Clint Eastwood.
Favorite American - John Adams.
Favorite living American - George W. Bush.
Favorite American president - (tie) George Washington, Ronald Reagan, and Calvin Coolidge.
Favorite Metallica song - "Whiskey in the Jar".
Favorite AC/DC song - "Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution".
Favorite symphony - (tie) Dvorak's 9th symphony (aka "Music from the New World") and Beethoven's 9th symphony.
Favorite classical music composer - Beethoven.
Favorite television drama, all-time - The Shield.
Favorite television drama, current - Dexter.
Favorite Saturday Night Live cast member - Phil Hartman, rest in peace.
Favorite comic book - The Avengers, the classic comic book that ended a few years back.
Favorite comic book character - Captain America, the classic hero who was killed a few years back.
Favorite comic book artist - Georg Perez. He's still with us.
These are a few of my favorite things.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Respecting the president.
I try not to badmouth the president regardless of who he is. If I have disagreements with the commander-in-chief, I try to be as respectful as possible while being truthful at the same time. I don't act toward President Obama like the left did toward President Bush (which was disgraceful). So when my son and I talk about the current president, I am always respectful even though President Obama has been a disaster thus far (I don't want him to be a disaster but his policies are hurting my country).
We talked about President Obama last night. I was watching the news and the president came on and I said to my son, Bobby, "That's the president of the United States."
"I know." My son replied matter-of-factly.
"Do you remember his name?" I asked.
My son thought for a minute and said, "No. But he's the first black president."
"Yep. His name is Barack Obama." I replied.
"Oh, yeah!" Bobby exclaimed.
I went on, "You know I voted for the other guy, John McCain. But even though my guy lost, Barack Obama is still my president. I just don't think he's doing a very good job right now. I want himn to be a good president but right now he isn't a good president."
My son looked at me and said, "Why?"
I took a deep breath and said, "Well, the country is hurting right now because we, as a country don't have a lot of money."
My son, who is seven, surprised me with his reply, "Yeah, I know, people spend too much money."
"Yep," I said, "People spent too much money and got into trouble and now President Obama wants the government to spend even more money because he thinks it will help ."
"Well that doesn't make any sense." Bobby replied.
My son is right, of course, it doesn't make any sense at all.
When I discuss President Obama (as in the example above), I do so respectfully even though I think he lacks depth and his policies are hurting my country. We should all be respectful toward the president even if he isn't "our guy".
We talked about President Obama last night. I was watching the news and the president came on and I said to my son, Bobby, "That's the president of the United States."
"I know." My son replied matter-of-factly.
"Do you remember his name?" I asked.
My son thought for a minute and said, "No. But he's the first black president."
"Yep. His name is Barack Obama." I replied.
"Oh, yeah!" Bobby exclaimed.
I went on, "You know I voted for the other guy, John McCain. But even though my guy lost, Barack Obama is still my president. I just don't think he's doing a very good job right now. I want himn to be a good president but right now he isn't a good president."
My son looked at me and said, "Why?"
I took a deep breath and said, "Well, the country is hurting right now because we, as a country don't have a lot of money."
My son, who is seven, surprised me with his reply, "Yeah, I know, people spend too much money."
"Yep," I said, "People spent too much money and got into trouble and now President Obama wants the government to spend even more money because he thinks it will help ."
"Well that doesn't make any sense." Bobby replied.
My son is right, of course, it doesn't make any sense at all.
When I discuss President Obama (as in the example above), I do so respectfully even though I think he lacks depth and his policies are hurting my country. We should all be respectful toward the president even if he isn't "our guy".
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