Headaches in 3D!

It started in 2009 the next "new" trend in movies: the 3rd dimension. The popularity became so big that TV manufacturers start to invest in this area.

I've visited recently the Sony showroom, where they have an interesting set of 3D-ready high definition TVs, which are going to be put on sale in June/July. I went there for the curiosity, of course, but it wasn't a totally positive experience.

One thing I must agree: 3D in high definition TV sets is very very good! Better than movie theathers but we still need to use 3D glasses. For me the big drawback is the movie and gaming experience.
I watched 3D TV with movie and video game trailers, but it's impossible to focus all subjects in an image. you have one car in a distant plan, then you have a person closer to you, then there's a moto coming in your direction.... ufff! What an headache trying to focus different objects with different depth fields in an action sequence or in an action game.

To make things worse, if you need to read subtitles, you also need to focus your eyes in a plan closer to you.
Honestly I don't see this technology with a big success. Just imagine watching movies, documentaries, sports and TV shows everyday or for long hours. And kids will get their eyes poped out with 3D animation movies and cartoons! eheh

I think after the influenza A virus, laboratories will get rich by selling eye drops and glasses to correct your vision! eheheh

If movie studios like Sony invest in 3D to put more people in movie theathers, why do they invest in TVs too? Well, I guess movie piracy will continue in 3D! :-P

Happy Saint Patrick!

To all the irish around the world: slainte! No, I'm not irish but I like to enjoy a special event with nice people!

So, let's grab a good pint of Guiness and celebrate the green day. Yes, specially now that everything is about being green, eco-friendly, nature respectful and blah blah blah.

I started the first round after work and now is time for the sequel!

The long Oscar night

Once again I kept my tradition: watch the Oscar ceremony live, sleep 2 hours and then go to work! eheh
After recovering from that "very difficult" experience, I'm back to post my last thoughts regarding the awards.

Some of my previous expectations were kept, but I believe there were a couple of surprises.

Avatar - a disappointment because it didn't get all the technical awards. And it didn't deserve the award Best Picture.

Inglorious Basterds - you have to watch the movie and enjoy the Nazi official played by Christoph Waltz.

The Princess and The Frog - it didn't get any Oscar but it was the BEST animation movie of the year. Period. Traditional handdrawn animation, with great jazz (!) songs and a very funny story.
"Up" is more of the same: computers, 3D and Pixar!

Sandra Bullock - for me it was the biggest surprise. I haven't watched the movie yet, but to get the Oscar for her first nomination is really a feature! Specially after winning the Razzie award for Worst Actress for the movie "All About Steve"! eheh

Nine - I watched this movie just before the Oscars and I regret it. It's a bad musical movie! Too many songs and no story! A waste of a great casting! Watching the movie is like watching the Broadway show: a camera filming a stage! "Moulin Rouge" is still the number one musical movie! Because we can can can

The ceremony was good, nothing extraordinary, without any special moments. The hosts Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin were great. I hope they stay for next year.
Once again Ben Stiller managed to surprise and present himself... differently. ;-)

Well, now is time to watch more movies and to make a diet plan after a long night of coffee and junk food! eheh

It was 4 years ago!

It was on a quiet evening, on 3rd of Mars 2006... that I arrived in France. And guess what, I'm still alive!! eheh With 2 suitcases, lots of hope and always very optimistic!

It sounds like the Star Wars opening credits: "A long long time ago in a galaxy far away"! My adventure started in Nice, south of France, a small city on the coast, with lots of sun, beaches, mountains and a "quiet" life. 4 years later, now in Paris, a big metropolitan city, some grey skies and the crazy non-stop life.

I wonder where will I be 4 years from now... maybe in another planet! eheh Ok, let's forget the 2012 end of the world theory. After all we all survived other theories like the year 2000 bug, the H1N1 "pandemic" virus, global warming (or cooling, as you prefer), the economic crisis... until the next big news headline shows up!
I won't even mention Haiti, Chile or Japan! It's the earthquake season!

One thing is sure, I hope you are all there in 4 years (and more!) so we can share our crazy life experiences! eheh

A big salute to those who I came across during my french adventure and abroad!

See you all soon...

Kitchen Lab

My last post made me think about my cooking experiences. Sometimes this blog looks like a movie review web site, because I like to share my movie experiences with you! eheh But besides movies, one thing that I do a lot is cooking but for some weird reason (yes, I'm always about weird things!)

I never talked about my cooking experiences (with one rare exception almost two years ago). I always leave this "hard" task of updating the blog for a better day... and that day never arrives! eheh

But today I said "enough is enough" so I've uploaded some pictures from my last cooking experiences. Yes, because usually eyes eat first, and besides cooking I like to take pictures of it... but I have to improve this skill.

My kitchen lab photo album

Bon appetit!

Carnaval!

Samba, feijoada and caipirinha! All the ingredients required for a real Carnival (spelled "Carnaval in Portuguese) before Mardi Gras... well, I would still need sun and hot temperatures, but I'll manage with the cold and grey sky!

For those who don't know, feijoada is a stew of beans and pork meat, very typical in Portugal and Brazil. Although beans are the main ingredient, the portuguese feijoada (which uses white beans) is different from the brazilian one (which uses black turtle beans).
As we are celebrating Carnival, the brazilian feijoada is a must.

As for the caipirinha, I believe you've already heard (and maybe drunk) this brazillian cocktail made with cachaça, sugar and limes.

Enough of chit-chat, now it's time for some brazilian sounds to cheer up your Carnival: batucada percussion

And the nominees are...

Yes, the Oscars are coming and we always start with the nominees. As always there aren't many surprises, but two: this year we have 10 movies nominated for Best Picture and we have... two hosts! eheh

Still, is curious to see a Quentin Tarantino movie, "Inglourious Basterds", nominated for Best Picture, along with "District 9" which was for me the best surprise of 2009.
There's once again an animated Picture, "Up", nominated for this same category and the Cohen brothers couldn't miss it too! eheh

Well, I'm not going to exhaustively talk about each nominee, but I'll leave you with thoughts:

Avatar - it deserves all technical awards and the best director for James Cameron (for putting it all together), but it's not the best movie.

Inglorious Basterds - if you watched it you may remember Col. Hans Landa, the evil german officer, but it deserves a good Oscar for best actor in a supporting role.

Best actress - Meryl Streep kicks ass in "Julie and Julia", but I believe the award is going to Gabourey Sidibe for "Precious" a very very heavy drama.

Coraline - usualy the Oscar for best Animated Feature Film goes to a Pixar movie, but I would like to see Coraline get the award. Good story with a dark side and a great stop-motion animation.

The 2010 Oscars ceremony will be hosted by Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin. Is it a good choice? Well, usually I watch the ceremony live and it's a fact that audiences aren't the same anymore. I believe it will be a funny mix ;-)

And the Oscar goes to...