Watchatink?

Eh? Well? No? Hmmm.

Well, could be worse (see below).

Will Doug Bowman Make Google Beautiful?

diggnation alert: "Good news folks¦ Doug Bowman, uber designer has joined Google which means, a likely end to the mishmash, drab and boring user interfaces from Google. Yeah!"

I'm not sure if this is wise on the part of Google. I'm thinking it's going to be tricky -- jazzed up = slow loading vs. simple interface = saved precious time. One can imagine the buzz this has churned up with opposite camps saying leave well enough alone and hooray (well maybe not exactly in those words, let's just say they were a bit more "emphatic," took the liberty of saving you from the more colorful language used) with equal fervor. But I say let's give the guy (Bowman) a break eh? Let's come out with a verdict a posteriori.

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X-Men: Last Stand Post-Credits Scene?

Hey, it's showing here in the Philippines so let's listen to diggnation: "At the theater this weekend, when the credits roll, when the audiences begins to filter out of the exits... keep your seat. And then, perhaps, share this little secret with a few of your friends: the movie isn't over."

I'm not sure about this, it could be a prank or the bible truth -- there's something that'll come during the credits, that's for sure. Me, I try to stick around to sort of acknowledge the people behind the movie, not just the big name actors/actresses. The best grip boy is essential you know, he's best grip see.Ü

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The Station Agent

The Station Agent. This title has been with us for quite some time now but it was only lately that we got a chance to see it. Turns out, this is one of my bestest favorites. A solid, understated (or what Robin Williams might call subliminal) performance by Peter Dinklage (as Fin) tops this quiet yet powerful film with a brilliant story and equally brilliant cast. The movie shows a slice of life of the vertically-challenged Fin whose love for trains is equaled only by his preference for solitude. Perhaps by some stroke of bad luck, he inherits a property (an abandoned train station I think) which puts him near the hot dog stand of the effervescent Joe (played by Bobby Cannavale). This also puts Fin right in the path of Patricia (Patricia Clarkson) – a mother who is nursing the wounds brought by losing a child and eventually suffering much more – who literally almost ran him over, twice. What’s so interesting about this movie is the way Peter Dinklage portrayed his character: quiet, brooding, mysterious, exuding the presence of Bogey himself or Marlon Brando. This is coming from a guy half their size. It was therefore not surprising that the female characters in the story found him quite attractive, including the young and beautiful Emily (portrayed by Michelle Williams). An understated film, both funny and poignant (the latter adjective, you might have noticed, I usually use if I can’t really find another way to describe a film), the movie gives big lessons about love, friendship and overcoming the fear of acceptance – in suitably small, potent doses.

Sleeping on the Job: The life and times of a human guinea pig.

diggnation reports: For three months a woman has been lying in bed as part of a NASA experiment to study weightlessness. She even started her own blog to record her unique and frustrating experience. The Flickr account has great pics. This story gives a quick glimpse into her life the last three months lying down on the job.

Now that's a job that might come easy for some (although maybe not as easy when it's tagged as a job).

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Movies: Girl in the Café & The Station Agent

I’ve been doing a lot of watching and a whole lot less (read: zero) blogging lately. So here’s the consequence: my own reviews of two notable films I’ve seen. You might notice that I’ve mentioned seeing several movies which might have given you the impression that there were more than two (2) movies. Well you surmised correctly and are justifiably entitled to the quizzical furrowed brow and the “huh, only two?” ejaculation (I got the expression “ejaculation” from the Hardy Boys series and you can imagine the many pre-pubescent, undeniably infantile giggles I got from reading passages like: "'So!' she ejaculated, as the boys appeared." – teeheehee). I know, pathetic. Anyway, I digress – which I am wont to do – so before I wander again, here goes:

Part I - Girl in the Café

Let’s start with the film Girl in the Café. I’ll refer to it as an inspiring movie that breaks hearts to lift the spirits. It is so inspiring and uplifting that I was motivated to dedicate whatever dismal earnings I have been, well, earning from my Google Adsense and will try to have it donated to my favorite cause: Make Poverty History. That’s right folks, you now have a very good reason to click on them thar ads in this dang blog. So go ahead, click it, click it real good. I’m sorry? Oh yeah, yeah … the movie. Which one was it? Right, right. The Girl in the Café.

Well, the story is about a dreary old chap (Lawrence) played so effectively by Bill Nighy (Love Actually, contrast his portrayal here with that in Underworld: Evolution) who meets, Gina, a seemingly shy and unassuming girl, portrayed by the beautiful Kelly Macdonald (whom I thought I first saw in an episode of Alias only to find out that she was in Trainspotting and Finding Neverland). Where did they meet, you ask? What’s the title? The seemingly chance encounter develops into a blossoming romance that was soon tested by the politics of world charity. Huh? Well, yeah, quite unexpected and some would call it a bit of a stretch but I think the entire film more than makes up for this small glitch. Personally, I think it made the entire story a little more believable ironically. The backdrop is Reykjavik Iceland, home to Björk and some such oddities, where the 2005 G8 Conference was to take place. Should career take precedence over love, profession more than convictions, politics above aid to those dying from extreme poverty? In the end we learn that these are not really opposites but can and should instead go hand in hand. For a review click here. Here’s a decent synopsis.

Next: Part II -- The Station Agent (which will come hopefully soon)

P.S.: Oh, before I forget again, I'm reviewing only two because these are the films which I really liked from the slew of others I saw. The rest were what you might call eye candy. Here are Pinoy sayings that best describe my attitude towards movies: "Walang masamang tinapay." and "Walang mapait na tutong sa taong nagugutom."

Firefly Documentary

To my fellow browncoats -- diggnation reports: "The Documentary is hosted by Alec Baldwin, and featured interviews with many of the most important figures from the Firefly world, including creator Joss Whedon, several of the actors, and even some of the browncoat fans. the DVD will include more special features than the Firefly and Serenity DVDs combined."

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Color blindness - What things look like to color blind people.

Interesting digg: "Ever wonder what things look like to people with colorblindness? Check this out."

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