Today is my last day at work. My OPT has expired. I will be back working on Oct 1 (which in a neat coincidence happen to be on Monday) when my H1 starts.
I don't know what else to write. I wouldn't comment on my work life because I don't want to risk it. But then again, I should do some reflection. I like my company, my director and supervisor and my coworkers, couldn't have asked for a better place to start your first job. But I wish for more challenge, like a development job. But I haven't really worked that hard at my current job too. So I have to do something before I can get it. That's about it for my job now. Hopefully I can come back fresher than ever.
I'm going back to Singapore on Aug 1. Hopefully to Jakarta the next week to settle the H1B visa as early as possible. I will be all over the place in Jakarta, Singapore and Pontianak and maybe more because I want to visit many places too. Until then, I'll be here waiting for the Simpsons on July 27. That's the reason why I don't go back immediately.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Transformer Review and other stuffs
Last week, Independence Day night, I watched Transformers.
If there's such thing as Scariest Four Words to me, it would be "A Michael Bay Film".
Michael Bay is a talented and perhaps the best action film director today. However, he also carries with him a lot of baggages and contempt for the audience. Watching a Michael Bay film tend to be a painful Experience, especially since Pearl Harbor.
Thankfully, I am not a big Transformers fan in the first place. I didn't grow up watching the cartoons (although I did watch Beast Wars briefly). So, I won't be affected if Michael Bay bastardizes the property.
However, it's still a Michael Bay film and I still enter the Theater with fear...
Fortunately, the movie turns out all right, it was an enjoyable experience.
But make no mistake, this is still a Michael Bay film and he shows no sign of changing his trademark annoying filmmaking characteristics:
- Overly bright orangey sun in the background "cinematography". Check.
- Sweaty characters. Check.
- Strongly positive representation of US military. Check.
- Macho and manly US soldiers. Check.
- Camera that moves around so quickly as if it's nobody's business. Check.
- Fast cutting for ADD people. Check
and of course,
- Kickass action scenes that will blow away everyone else
and for this movie:
- Kickass special effects for the Transformation that has to be seen to be believed. I expect, no I insist, this film win the Best Special Effects for next year's Oscars. Pirates of the Carribean be damned.
Why do I enjoy this movie? Well, maybe after being familiar with Bay's idiosyncrasies, I am no longer annoyed much by it. Also, the premise itself is very corny and thankfully the film never tries to hide it and Michael Bay's bigger, flashier, louder is better approach actually works for the film. It's like there's so many things going on but you probably won't care and just sit down and marvel at the whole thing.
Problems with the movie? Excluding Bay's problems, the story is really too overly complicated (including Spider-Man 3 and Pirates, is 2007 the year of summer blockbusters with complex stories?), the integration of US military participation could probably be taken out (but perhaps the support of the military could be lost too). At times, the movie feel like a long commercial for the following products, if I recall correctly: The Hasbro Transformers toys, Nokia, XBOX, Ebay, Mountain Dew, GM Cars, etc. Worst of all, as exciting as the action scenes are when it comes to the robots fighting each other, things get so hectic that we never really know who's fighting who; depending on your tolerance for such thing that could be bad.
So verdict for what is essentially a robot movie, a US military recruitment, a long commercials and a Michael bay film rolled into one?
===================================
Miscellaneous Stuffs:
If you want to watch Transformers in US, make sure you get there early. You will see what is perhaps the best teaser trailer ever made:
http://www.apple.com/trailers/paramount/11808/
The film is still untitled. It's currently known as Untitled JJ Abrams Project or its fake title (Cloverfield). I really can't wait for this one.
After over 60 hours of Gameplay, I finally finished Legend of Zelda: The Twilight Princess on my Gamecube. Final boss battle wasn't that hard but it was quite frustating. For being the 1st Zelda game that I have ever played, I think it was a great but wasn't That Great experience. Now, as promised, it's finally time to sell the Gamecube and get a Wii.
I have contacted US Embassy in Jakarta for appointment for My H-1B visa. I was hoping to get 6-10 August appointment. They said it's too early now and they'll let me know.
Next? a short review of what I think is perhaps the best, if not the most important, film of the year.
If there's such thing as Scariest Four Words to me, it would be "A Michael Bay Film".
Michael Bay is a talented and perhaps the best action film director today. However, he also carries with him a lot of baggages and contempt for the audience. Watching a Michael Bay film tend to be a painful Experience, especially since Pearl Harbor.
Thankfully, I am not a big Transformers fan in the first place. I didn't grow up watching the cartoons (although I did watch Beast Wars briefly). So, I won't be affected if Michael Bay bastardizes the property.
However, it's still a Michael Bay film and I still enter the Theater with fear...
Fortunately, the movie turns out all right, it was an enjoyable experience.
But make no mistake, this is still a Michael Bay film and he shows no sign of changing his trademark annoying filmmaking characteristics:
- Overly bright orangey sun in the background "cinematography". Check.
- Sweaty characters. Check.
- Strongly positive representation of US military. Check.
- Macho and manly US soldiers. Check.
- Camera that moves around so quickly as if it's nobody's business. Check.
- Fast cutting for ADD people. Check
and of course,
- Kickass action scenes that will blow away everyone else
and for this movie:
- Kickass special effects for the Transformation that has to be seen to be believed. I expect, no I insist, this film win the Best Special Effects for next year's Oscars. Pirates of the Carribean be damned.
Why do I enjoy this movie? Well, maybe after being familiar with Bay's idiosyncrasies, I am no longer annoyed much by it. Also, the premise itself is very corny and thankfully the film never tries to hide it and Michael Bay's bigger, flashier, louder is better approach actually works for the film. It's like there's so many things going on but you probably won't care and just sit down and marvel at the whole thing.
Problems with the movie? Excluding Bay's problems, the story is really too overly complicated (including Spider-Man 3 and Pirates, is 2007 the year of summer blockbusters with complex stories?), the integration of US military participation could probably be taken out (but perhaps the support of the military could be lost too). At times, the movie feel like a long commercial for the following products, if I recall correctly: The Hasbro Transformers toys, Nokia, XBOX, Ebay, Mountain Dew, GM Cars, etc. Worst of all, as exciting as the action scenes are when it comes to the robots fighting each other, things get so hectic that we never really know who's fighting who; depending on your tolerance for such thing that could be bad.
So verdict for what is essentially a robot movie, a US military recruitment, a long commercials and a Michael bay film rolled into one?
===================================
Miscellaneous Stuffs:
If you want to watch Transformers in US, make sure you get there early. You will see what is perhaps the best teaser trailer ever made:
http://www.apple.com/trailers/paramount/11808/
The film is still untitled. It's currently known as Untitled JJ Abrams Project or its fake title (Cloverfield). I really can't wait for this one.
After over 60 hours of Gameplay, I finally finished Legend of Zelda: The Twilight Princess on my Gamecube. Final boss battle wasn't that hard but it was quite frustating. For being the 1st Zelda game that I have ever played, I think it was a great but wasn't That Great experience. Now, as promised, it's finally time to sell the Gamecube and get a Wii.
I have contacted US Embassy in Jakarta for appointment for My H-1B visa. I was hoping to get 6-10 August appointment. They said it's too early now and they'll let me know.
Next? a short review of what I think is perhaps the best, if not the most important, film of the year.
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