Wednesday, November 12, 2008

The Websites of Both Country and Westerns Stars

So this morning I was checking out the websites of some of the larger country acts in order to get some ideas for a website I'm designing for a friend of mine. Keith Urban's site is quite good in terms of design. The photoshopping on his new DVD is a bit weak, but the concept is there. His fan club is called the Monkeyville Club. It's not clear from the site whether he means 'monkey' in an affectionate way or in a 'poo thrower' sort of way, but either way it's a stupid idea. Unless, of course, I came up with it. In that case it would be cool.

Big & GayThe site for Big & Rich is designed well in the sense that there is a lot of information (not to be confused with worthwhile information) which is all organized quite efficiently. The main header graphic (shown to the right) depicts Big & Rich touching guitars, achieving a not so subtle gay effect. Fellas, put those things away and get back to making your "80's Rock But There's a Fiddle and/or A Mandolin In There Somewhere So It's Country" music."

The website for Rascal Flatts is more than a bit shitty. Guys, you're making some good money now, stop getting your sister's kid to design your site in his basement and hire a pro already. Get the person who photoshops the singer to look less fat in the pictures. That person has a gift.

I could go on, but it's time for my leisurely walk to the library, so if you see any cool sites out there I could get some inspiration from, lemme know.

Monday, July 28, 2008

Movie Review - Sunshine (2007)

I was waiting to see this movie for some time. I finally received it from Zip.ca and all one can say is... wow (but not in a good way). The phrase breath-takingly shitty come to mind, but even that doesn't do it proper justice.

I'm assuming a lion's share of the positive reviews this film received are for director Danny Boyle, which I can see as I am a fan also. However, every director has his abysmal, flaming disasters and this one truly is Danny Boyle's.

Sunshine fails, and spectacularly so, on every level. I knew the story would necessarily have to stretch what we know about science and technology to insane proportions, so I made a conscious decision before watching the film to prepare for that. Nothing could have prepared me for the glowing disco ball of crap I was about to see.

While the cast itself isn't bad (at least one has to believe the screenplay was that awful) the story is so unbelievable it's laughable. The concept is truly funny and the movie takes itself so seriously it's actually kind of enjoyable in the sense that it's amusing to make fun of it.

I know it's boring to always pick out story holes and flaws in movies, but I defy anyone to get even quarter way through this little gem without uttering something out loud. Topic: a bunch of twenty year old (apparantly seasoned and specialist) astronauts have been put in charge of 'the future of mankind' by flying a space ship towards the sun and shooting off a made in the USA nuclear missle to regenerate it... discuss... xD

Above all that, the film is laboriously slow and takes forever to unravel. Just when you're hoping for the credits to roll, a twist of inane proportions begins. It seems like a 5 hour movie by the time you're done with it.

Considering the big budget, Sunshine is almost as galactically crappy as Stealth. Almost.

I reserve the 1 star rating for the absolute bottom of the barrel films that make me wish I hadn't wasted my time. With the exception of a few visually stunning scenes, Sunshine is in my humble opinion one giant blazing infernal ball of glorious failure.

Thursday, February 14, 2008