Well, dear readers, I am writing these here notes in a new version of Word on a new iMac computer and it’s all just too too (oot oot, spelled backwards). I made the decision to upgrade last week based on two things: My old computer was behaving somewhat erratically and I found a buyer for it. I was also two operating systems behind the times and many versions of Word behind the times. With what I was getting for my old computer it was simply worth it to do the upgrade. The idea was that I’d go there today, do the deal, and have with me my old computer so they’d do the data transfers, as I’m sure I would muck up something along the way. So, I trudged on over there and did the deal and left my computer. They tell you it’s twenty-four to forty-eight hours to do it all so I just assumed since it’s the busy time of year that I’d get it on Wednesday. However, a mere five hours after I left the store I got the call that it was done, so I trudged on over there again and picked up both old and new computers. We spent about fifteen minutes going over things and making sure everything was working and all my stuff was there. He showed me some of the nifty things the computer does, and recommended I come by for a couple of tutorials to see everything it can do – I don’t normally do that sort of thing, but I may just do it this time.
So, I brought the new beast home and it’s a beauty. I was, of course, worried about everything – setting up the new Time Capsule, having the Internet work, and all that stuff. But within a half-hour I was connected to the Internet, my track pad was recognized and working as was the wireless keyboard, which, believe it or not, has no wires. All my passwords seemed to have carried over perfectly and all my documents open and work as do pdfs. When I opened mac mail for the first time it looked completely different – and was only showing one e-mail address. But after nosing around I found out how to have it show them all and all was well. So, as of now, the only things that don’t seem to be working as they should are the wireless printer (it’s showing up but is not “recognized” and will not print – I fired up the old computer and it wouldn’t print from there either so something has happened and I’m sure we’ll figure out what it is), the Time Machine backup (I think we have to select something but I have no clew as to what or how), and I can’t seem to get iCloud working – this has to do with my iTunes username and password – I spent time on the phone last week going over that but it still isn’t working. My username and password work fine for apps and iTunes stuff but when I put that in for iCloud it’s just not accepting it. So, in the morning I shall call Apple Care and get these few things sorted out.
Thus far, the most significant change is how fast this beauty of a beast is. To launch anything happens instantaneously, whereas on the old computer it would take a bit of time. The new keyboard is quite friendly and the track pad, which replaces the magic mouse, is something I need to get used to but I’m already loving the fact that there’s no mouse to move around. You do everything with your finger or fingers, depending on what you want to do. So, it’s unlearning some stuff and learning some new stuff but I’m already getting pretty handy at it.
Prior to the beauty of a beast, I’d gotten another good night’s sleep. I was lazy, didn’t do the four-mile jog and just played and then unplugged the old computer and did all that Apple stuff. Then I came home, ate the rest of the tuna pasta salad and sat on my couch like so much fish.
Before I tell you about my viewing, the night before I saw two new motion picture entertainments. The first motion picture entertainment was entitled War Horse and was the story of a horse and war. I have always been a Steven Spielberg fan, even though I didn’t care for him when I read for something he was directing long before he hit it with Jaws. But, even with Duel and Sugarland Express, it was clear that he was a born moviemaker – he simply had the gift and it was obvious in every frame of those two very different films. But Jaws was the one and from then on I looked forward to every film. I loved Close Encounters, but then he just hit a major wall for me with the excruciating and overblown 1941. But then it was ET and Poltergeist (I refuse to think of that film as anything but Spielberg’s), both great films, and from then on he’s had, for me, hits and misses. The misses miss by a mile and the hits really hit, at least they do for me. AI, even though lambasted and reviled, was, again for me, a great movie and I said then that in years to come people would come to see that it was a great movie and to a certain extent that has already begun to happen. Minority Report had its moments but just missed. I refused to see Saving Private Ryan for many reasons, and I enjoyed Catch Me If You Can, even though it was slight. War Of The Worlds was horrible and his return to Indiana Jones was not too memorable, although I enjoyed some of it.
War Horse did not sound appealing to me at all – so, surprise of surprises, I pretty much loved every minute of it. It’s Spielberg doing what he does best, and it tugs at the heartstrings, it tells a good story well, and it’s beautifully shot and directed. Variety, which has turned into a total dung heap in terms of its reviews, heavily criticized the John Williams score. I’ve found much of Mr. Williams’ recent output less than stellar, but sorry fellas at Variety, it’s a real return to form for Mr. Williams and it suits the movie perfectly. But unfortunately we’re in the era of droning and ambient sounds and pad – “music” that literally sits on TOP of the movie and does nothing but add a sound dimension. In other words, the music does not function WITH the film, as all great scores do. But that’s the way it’s going to be for a while and it’s rather sickening. If they released To Kill A Mockingbird today, the score would be panned roundly simply because it IS a real movie score. No, it’s going to take another Star Wars to turn things around and a movie will come along and it will do just that and then THAT will be all the rage again. In any case, the cast is terrific, the title character’s performance is actually astonishing, and if you like a good yarn told well this is highly recommended by the likes of me.
The second motion picture entertainment was entitled Hugo. I wish I could rhapsodize about this film, because I should have loved it – it’s about children, the movies, and the past, all things I love. But right from the get-go, Mr. Scorsese is trying to be all hip and with it with his swooning and swooping camera doing the impossible thanks to CGI and, for me, it was contrived and got the movie off on the wrong foot. Also getting it off on the wrong foot almost immediately is Sacha Baron Cohen’s character, who is a meanie by way of Inspector Clouseau. The first time we see him it’s as if Scorsese has decided to channel Blake Edwards, but that’s not the movie we get and so every time Mr. Cohen is on the screen I found it absolutely excruciating. It’s not Mr. Cohen’s fault, although I do not care for him – it’s the character and the way the character is presented. The magic of the film is the boy, the girl, the grandpa and the grandma. I don’t need the other stuff, especially in the arch way it’s presented here. When they finally get around to the point – that the film is about the forgotten and bitter filmmaker Georges Melies, then things get better and there are many wonderful sequences throughout, along with some lovely performances. It looks good, and the score by Howard Shore, while not exactly classic movie music, does get the job done. It’s certainly worth seeing.
Yesterday, I finished watching a motion picture on Blu and Ray entitled Tokyo Drifter, directed by Seijun Suzuki. It is a sublimely weird film and one I really am fond of. Everything is slightly off-kilter – the performances, the direction, the script, the bold lighting and color choices – and somehow it’s all just wacky enough that it works. The transfer is miles ahead of the non-anamorphic DVD release of many years ago. It really looks splendid. I then watched something very interesting. I was given a homegrown DVD taken off a 16mm print of a TV show called Lucas Tanner – I appeared in one of its episodes and this was what was on the DVD. I hadn’t seen this thing since it was first aired and I had almost no memory of it other than the little anecdote I tell in my book. And, yes, Virginia, there I am wearing glasses (that’s the anecdote – but read the book if you want to know what it is). Guest star Lee Purcell was gorgeous and really good, and it was fun to seem pals Alan Abelew (I believe we shot this just before Nudie Musical) and Trish Soodik (she sadly died a year ago), along with Kimberly Clark. I had absolutely no memory of any scenes – we shot at a school and I was surprised to see we shot on a trail with a lake somewhere. I had more to do than I remembered and it was really interesting to see it after all these years. Great music by David Shire – who knew? After that I watched another Maigret movie – one of the best so far.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because she of the Evil Eye is coming tomorrow rather than Saturday so I must be up early and out the door jogging early and hence must get some beauty sleep.
Today, I must arise early, do the four-mile jog early, have Apple Care talk me through what’s not working, then hopefully pick up a package or three, do some banking, pay some bills, eat something very light but amusing, and maybe write some liner notes. Other than that, I’m just takin’ it easy.
Tomorrow will be more of the same and I think I may deliver the old computer to its new owner and help said new owner set it up. I now have to nuke all my stuff off of it and hope I can figure out how to do that easily. The rest of the week is pretty light and then, of course, Saturday night is our annual New Year’s Rockin’ Eve partay right here at haineshisway.com – the best, safest, and most fun way to ring in the New Year. Lurkers, here’s your chance – register (and drop me a note saying you’ve registered – we’re getting so many spam registrations that I just automatically delete them unless someone alerts me that theirs is real) and come to the partay. You’ll be glad you did.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do the four-mile jog, talk to Apple Care, hopefully pick up some packages, eat, maybe begin some liner notes, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite films of Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy this beauty of a beast is up and running and working splendidly save for the things that Apple Care will hopefully have working apace.