MOD-BLOG REVIEW: Transformers

Movie: Transformers
MPAA Rating: [PG-13]

The Short Version: A loud, brash movie which is a lot of fun, but contains very little in the ways of plot, character, or coherence. But if you want to see giant transforming robots fighting, this is the biggest and best way to see it. Just be sure to check your brain at the door.

The Long Version: The Transformers - toys that transformed from vehicles, gadgets, or animal into humaniform robots and back again - were as much a part of my childhood as Star Wars. I met my best friend while playing with Soundwave, and shared my love for the changeable toys with most of my male friends until sometime in high school when I outgrew the toys... officially, at least. I still kept buying the toys and enjoying changing them back and forth.

Now, Michael Bay and Steven Spielberg have brought these mechanical behemoths to the big screen in a live action/CGI extravaganza. The plot of the movie - such as it is - is based on the "All-Spark", the robotic source of life. This giant cube has fallen to Earth, and is being pursued by two sides in an ancient war: the heroic Autobots and the evil Decepticons. Both are capable of transforming into seemingly common devices like cars and jet planes to hide in plain site. They first trash a base in Qatar and then come to America where they destroy most of an unnamed American city.

Overall, it is a fun movie. We saw it with a large crowd that laughed, cheered, and applauded at the end of the film. Many of the big names from our childhood are back, and many of them appear to have grown up with us as Megatron is even more vicious than anything in the cartoons or comics. The only negative to this spectacle film - aside from no real attempt at characterization, plot, or logic - is the rapid-fire editing and many cuts which make it very hard to follow the action at many points. Still, if you want a classic Big Summer Movie, this is the one for you.

Reader Reactiom: Long-time reader Bowhuter also wrote in with these comments: "...the death of American soldiers, the downing of black hawk helicopters, and the crashing of planes into buildings. After seeing what my father and my friends went through emotionally on 9/11, I may forever be of the opinion that showing a plane crash into a building is, “too soon” after the event to portray on film. That being said, the movie starts in Iraq with a bunch of soldiers. Throughout the movie there are references to real life events like, “we lost that chopper in Afghanistan. I am sure, my friend was on it.” We are constantly reminded of our soldiers in the Middle East the entire movie. The worst part is that too many soldiers die in the movie in similar ways to how they actually die in the “War Against Terror”. ...I felt like I was watching “Black Hawk Down”, not some light and fun cartoon-made-movie. ...the simulated loss of life is very disturbing and too close to real life."

Happy Independence Day!

(Picture from the Shelton, CT Fireworks 2007 fired on July 3. Click on the image for all the pictures taken that night.)

OK, I'll give Ron Paul a mention

I think he showed himself to be on the fringe at the debates, and showed himself to be the next candidate that will self-destruct in the Howard Dean mold. But also in the Howard Dean mold, you have to admit his campaign is creative. Consider these two interesting ways to get his point across:

• The Liberty Dollar: a fake currency backed by copper, silver, and gold
• An iPhone Ron Paul Website: A website specifically added to be viewed on portable devices.

Here is hoping a few of the more mainsteam campaigns catch onto these innovative ideas.

Nomad's Mobile Links

Technically, this is NOT an iPhone post. It is a "mobile websites" posting. But feel free to rank on me for it anyway. I Have put together my personal collectio of mobile links (inluding Mod-Blog Lite) into a single handy-dandy website. If anyone is interested in using any of these links on their iPhone, Sidekick, Palm device, Blackberry, etc. feel free to click thru.

I will try to maintain this list, but no promises. To suggest more links or report broken links email me.

HOW TO: Contract-Free iPhone

They said it was possible, and now we have the "official" how-to on getting a contract-free iPhone using iTunes for activation. It appears to be reliable, and entirely legal. And it appears to be far safer than the other way - trying to appeal to an AT&T salesman who only gets paid by contracts.

I can't promise anything, but I will try to make this my last iPhone post for a while.

Fun With Fire

Mrs. Quizwedge showed me this and I found it quite interesting. The guy uses fire to show sound waves!

Human Nature and the Apple iPhone

It was really funny yesterday at work. Every conversation went through the same stages.

1. Nomad pulls out iPhone - Conversant says "Hey, is that an iPhone? Can I see that?"
2. Conversant takes the iPhone in their had and asks "How much was it?"
3. Nomad says "About $600"
4. Conversant says "I would never pay that much for a cell phone!"
5. Conversant plays with the iPhone, sees the internet, phone, photos, and iPhone functions.
6. Conversant says "Wow, that is SO worth $600."
7. Conversant asks "So, do you think they have any left where you bought it?"

Fair warning to all Mod-Bloggers who may want to play with it. The power of the iPhone to tempt is extreme!