Movie review: The Departed (2006)

  • October 22, 2006
  • James Skemp

Since I'm not going to be able to write the article(s) that I wanted to tonight (since one is going to require research, and the other is going to involve thought) I figure I'll write up a quick review on The Departed, which I had the pleasure of seeing today.

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Movie review: Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

  • October 13, 2006
  • James Skemp

Grave of the Fireflies is a fairly (read: very) depressing story. Supposedly, this film was named Best Animated Feature at a children's festival, yet I don't know that the intended audience is children. Nonetheless, even though it's depressing, I think it's a good film, showing the hardships some people (have) face(d).

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Movie review: Ran (1985)

  • October 12, 2006
  • James Skemp

There are a number of movies out there that seem like they go on far longer than one would have thought. Two hours long, but it feels like it's over four. Ran is one of these movies, but in the best possible light.

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Movie review: Bowling for Columbine (2002)

  • October 10, 2006
  • James Skemp

The first thing to always keep in mind, while watching any documentary, is that the producers always have an agenda in mind. That said, this is the second Michael Moore film I've seen (Fahrenheit 9/11 being the other), and the time I've reminded myself to take everything with a grain of salt.

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Movie review: Being John Malkovich (1999)

  • October 6, 2006
  • James Skemp

It's unfortunate that I didn't watch Being John Malkovich, my third movie through Netflix, sooner. Unfortunate because it's one of the most interesting films I've seen in a very long time ..

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Movie review: Seven Samurai: Criterion Collection (1954)

  • October 3, 2006
  • James Skemp

My first Netflix movie was Urusei Yatsura Movie 2: Beautiful Dreamer, and my second was another Japanese movie, albeit one a little more well known, Seven Samurai.

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Movie review: Urusei Yatsura Movie 2: Beautiful Dreamer (1984)

  • September 28, 2006
  • James Skemp

At their best, the Japanese are one of the few groups that can create, again and again, movies that touch upon great philosophical questions and ideas. Urusei Yatsura Movie 2: Beautiful Dreamer, is one of those great philosophical movies that you could watch again, just for the dialogue.

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Netflix shipping, for Madison WI

  • September 26, 2006
  • James Skemp

Over the next couple of weeks, at least, or over the next couple of months, if I'm happy with Netflix, I'll be posting here information about where I received my Netflix movies from, what kind of turn-around I've received, and etcetera. My hope is that this information will be beneficial to other Madison folks who may be interested in Netflix.

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Wacom and Digital Innovator

  • June 2, 2006
  • James Skemp

Some time ago, I purchased a Wacom Graphire (the larger 6 x 8 model) direct from Wacom (since the local shops either didn't carry or were sold out). Since then, I've completed two surveys and received two DVDs from the Digital Innovator series.

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House of the Dead (1978/1980) really isn't that bad

  • May 3, 2006
  • James Skemp

One of the most commonly used hooks in scary stories is the idea that the main character is deceased, but doesn't know it. As soon as I read the description for the movie The House of the Dead, I pictured the three young boys from Tales from the Hood (1995) and Clarence Williams III (all-around great actor for this genre - see also his role in Miami Vice (in season one or two)).

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