A quick thought about the Olympics.

Concerning the equestrian events. Now, I don't usually follow the Olympics that closely, but before this I didn't realize the Olympics had equestrian events. And to me, it seems kind of unfair. The Olympics are supposed to be about human athletes, and with this equestrian stuff, the horses are doing most of the work. Now, I've never ridden a horse before, so maybe it does take a superb athlete to ride one. But it looks like the horse is just following instinct (in the races jumping hurdles), or training (like that weird dancing competition). I don't know how much the human is doing in those cases.

Come to think of it, one might say the same thing about the bobsled, but at least there there's a bit more direct control (I would think).

Also, do the equestrians bring their own horses with them, even with all the headaches about importing fauna across international borders? Or are these rented Chinese horses?

Labels: equestrian, Olympics

posted by Tim at 1:03 AM

2008 Summer movie reviews, part 2

The Dark Knight

The movie, like everyone said, was great. Although I think I'd need to see it at least a second time before I could say I really enjoyed it. I spent a lot of time on edge, because I didn't know what was going to happen...especially with Heath Ledger's Joker and the creepy suspenseful horror-movie music they played a lot during his scenes. You would've thought that I might have already gone and seen it a second time, especially considering I paid to see Iron Man twice. So maybe that says something.
Heath Ledger was admirably creepy, but really, I wanted to see more of Eckhart (Two-Face). I was just completely fascinated by the special effects they used with him. More so of a super-villain that just "a crazy guy in makeup". It was also great that the movie just kept going after his transformation; by the time it got to that point, it felt like the movie ought to be over and save Two-Face for the sequel, but as you all probably know, the movies 2 and a half hours long, so there was plenty more to go.
It's a shame Two-Face won't be back, so of course the speculations are on for the villains of the next Batman film. My hope is, now that the Joker has been capture and likely taking residence at Arkham Asylum, that they could introduce Harley Quinn.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars

I questioned the release of this film, especially when there was already an animated series depicting the Clone Wars on Cartoon Network a while back. But apparently this is kind of a tie-in to lead to a new season/series for the fall. And that's just what this movie feels like: more of a extra-long pilot to a TV series rather than a canonical Star Wars film. That is to say, not as epic as any of the original saga movies. Still, it's an enjoyable movie. I just wish there was a bit...more...from a theatrical release.
Which of course begs the question, why a theatrical release? I suppose there's money to be made!


I also wanted to review the latest Mummy movie, but I haven't gotten a chance to see it yet. Maybe I will before the end of the summer, but otherwise it'll have to be a rental or something.

Labels: movies, Star Wars the Clone Wars, The Dark Knight

posted by Tim at 12:49 AM