The Digital Aesthetic

For my Digital Aesthetics class, taught by Professor Havholm (above), we conducted an experiment in which we opened the lecture up to the world by allowing people to listen in and contribute to the discussion via cell phone, AIM, and a note taking software called Peanutgallery. In addition we videotaped the class and I took digital stills. Here are some of my favorites.

Sculpture #2: The Devious Happies

I have been really consumed by all my work, mostly my Senior IS movie shoot, so my post have been few and far between. I have been doing work, though, actually quite a bit. This is the second sculpture from my sculpture class. The requirement this time was to create an object with moving parts using wire. I decided to make multiple objects. These are monsters that are inspired by the work of Japanese artist Takashi Murakami. I think of them more as a beginning than a finished piece. Ideally this would be an army of monsters and I would make a playground for them to play on as well. So much I want to do and so little time.

Morphin' Time!

I recently began reviewing software for a website and one of the products I reviewed was a Morph animation creater called MorphBuster. The program is quite simple, but it produces some really cool results. I made an animation of James and myself and posted it on Google Video. Follow the link below to see it.

The Transformation of Joe and James

Safety Net

These are pictures from a sculpture that I installed for a class. I created the piece as part of a project that's goal was to activate space with string. The piece spans three stories and resides in the stairwell of the Ebert Art Center on the COW campus. It is entitled "Saftey Net."

Review of Underworld: Evolution

Underworld: Evolution D

If you go to the movies looking to see generic action movies with convoluted plots, sub par CGI, and action that is so fast and confusing that you have no idea what is going on, then Underworld: Evolution is the movie for you. I had absolutely no clue what was happening for the first third of the movie and that was because there was nothing to understand. This movie was utterly devoid of plot and relied solely on the first movie's development to drive it along. I went to this movie because James said that reviews were amazing. It became immediately evident that this was not the case. Upon returning we realized that those were user reviews and that the movie was panned by every critic. This is a bad movie, but not bad enough that you can enjoy its badness. The awful thing is that the movie took itself seriously while explaining nothing to the audience. I almost left this movie it was so bad, but I stayed hoping for some payoff. Was there one, you ask? Yes. There will be yet another sequel. So mark your calendars and make sure to miss what will hopefully be the final chapter in the Underworld series.

Pool Ballin'

This is Corey Eisenstein and my first attempt at creating an animation. We created it over winter break on Corey's Canon 20D still camera. Follow the link below and enjoy.


Pool Ballin'

Anyone Can Post Now!

So I went through the settings and now anyone who wants to can post. So, I encourage people to comment away and let me know what they think about the things that appear in my Blog.

Review of Syriana

Syriana: A

I'm going to start this film review outright by saying that this is an incredible film that will not be appreciated by everyone. Even though the film features beautiful cinematography, complex narrative, an all star cast and a gripping plot that is both confusing and intoxicating, it will not be enjoyed, or even viewed by half the population, because it deals with the conflict in the Middle East and doesn't support the views of Conservative Republicans. Well if you can look past that and be entertained by a socially and politically charged film that shows the perils and downfalls of a gas-guzzling capitalist economy, then this film can also be for you. I thought this film was poignant and brilliantly done. I left the theater with many thoughts in my head weeks ago and am still churning them over now. Any film that can do that to me is worth a second watch and my recomendation.

Review of King Kong

King Kong: C

Spoilers ahead....

My expectations for this movie were low... and they were barely met. What I was hoping to get from this film was lighthearted entertainment and maybe a couple of cool action sequences. What I got was three hours of gratuitous scenes that should have ended before they started. The first third of the film, and consequently the first hour, was all build up. This is what I think Peter Jackson does best because of his early career in horror flicks. He knows how to build up tension and he does this expertly. This was in fact my favorite part of the film. He concretely and beautifully build the world of the Depression and gives it the feel of an old 1940's film. Then there is a boat ride, which last quadruple the amount of time it should and finally in an unimpressive storm they are washed ashore Skull Island. My second favorite part of the film follows as the crew stumbles on tribesmen who are both creepy and perfectly costumed. It is after this first hour that we finally meet Kong, and the movie begins to go downhill. From here on out it is one over the top, unnecessary scene after another. First there is a fifteen minute Brontosaurus chase which is completely unbelievable. They have a herd of Brotosaurus being chased by tiny raptors who are not satisfied by catching just one, aparently want the whole herd and the humans to eat. Then there's a colossal T-rex vs Kong fight which is about twenty minutes and ridiculous. At one point there is a Tyranasaurus stuck in a slew of vines, unable to move his upper body, but still pushing off a wall in order to try to eat Naomi Watts. I think Peter Jackson gives these dinosaurs too much credit or else just really wanted to use a shit ton of CGI. And then there is the Kong/Naomi Watts love story. Peter Jackson has a knack for making cheesy scene to milk emotion and I feel like he throws then in to piss me off. No one in their right mind would buy into this crap I thought to myself in the theater, but as I was leaving, low and behold a woman in the back of the theater is sobbing her eyes out for poor Naomi who lost her Kong. So what did I get out of this film? I learned that people are stupid and gullible and will buy into any crap and that dinosaurs love to eat white people so much that they will do anything to get them, even if it means they have to die. If you are going to make me sit throught three hours of a film, make sure its all necessary and interesting.

Review of Chronicles of Narnia

Chronicles of Narnia: C+

It is rare nowadays that when I dislike a big Hollywood Blockbuster, that it had nothing to do with the crappy CGI. Interestingly enough, the Digital animation is one of the only redeeming qualities of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. Therefore, let me begin this review by praising Disney for once again doing an excellent and believable job of blending live action and CGI, (save for a few cheesy green screen shots). So with no further ado, the criticism. I understand that the storyline was written for children and this is the main drawing audience for the film, but come on. I think that we should give more credit to children and write screenplays that are more engaging and have more complicated dialogue that is not so explanitory and doesn't rely on modern one liners for entertainment. The result of these oversights was a very boring film that built up to the battle with slow and deliberate pacing. So naturally I was waiting eagerly for some showstopping action that would knock my pants off and blow me out of my seat. That did not happen. It was almost the opposite, in fact, as there were moments where I felt my eyelids droop and my conscience flutter to more interesting things than the movie I was watching. I am sick and tired of large scale battles in movies where the viewer can not even tell what is going on and thus is forced to create the battle in his own mind. If I wanted to do that I would just read a book. This is essentially just another epic akin to Lord of the Rings with more of the same corny music, fluff for a plot, and bad kid acting. Of course I am an overcritical person and my experience was slightly jaded by the fat couple sitting next to me who, despite all my shushing, continued to comment on the movie with such gems as "Azland... I bet that's the Lion. You, know like in the title." Many of you will go and see this movie and be mezmerized as my roomy James, who I can't fault for being able to let his guard down, but as I see it this is just another piece of generic crap with some beautifully executed CGI.

Amazing Commercials

So I have an appreciation for well done commercials. They can often be even more entertaining than the show you're watching. These are a few of my favorites.

Singin in the Rain

Photos for an Imperfect World

Imposssible Field

Angry Chicken

Portraits

Cheating the Mrs.

This is the film that I made while I was in Prague durring the summer of 2004 with Corey Eisenstein and Ashley Beecher. The quality of this post is not as good as the original, but at least it is now viewable. So enjoy and let me know what you think. Follow the link below.


Cheating the Mrs.

About Joe

About Joe
By James Riviere

I have known Captain Pickard since the first day of College. Being his roomate freshman year and now senior year, and best friends in between, I can confidently say you all should take my words seriously, as it was written in stone.

Joe is.... See, the thing is that Joe is not easily described. His personality is not the type to be to put in a box. Fuck boxes. But in the limited space I have, I will attempt the impossible.

Albert Einstein once said: "Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocrities. The latter cannot understand it when a man does not thoughtlessly submit to hereditary prejudices but honestly and courageously uses his intelligence."
Joe loves life and all it posesses, yet hates, and I man HATES, stupid shit. Lesson #1: Dont say stupid shit around Joe, because its stupid and he doesnt tolerate stupid people.

Albert also said: "You can never solve a problem on the level on which it was created." Joe doesn't see the world as we do, nor should he. Lesson #2: Don't be up in his grill about realism and accepting shit as is. You know why? Because shit aint that simple to Joe. Get out of here with your simplistic pee-brains!

Anatole France said: "To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe." Joe aint afriad to dream. Lesson #3: All you sucker mc's who sit and dream and never act about how the world should be and surmise to the notion of how things "have to be done," you too...get out of Joe's biznass. This boy is gonna dream. And when all you suck-a-ducks are asking "why?" Joe will look you dead in the eye and say, "why not?!"

So next time you wake up from a bizarre dream, or all of a sudden see the world in absurdities, or have an idea that goes against all rational thought, DON'T repress it like you usually do...drop Joe a line. For all you other 9-5 biatches looking for picket-fences and 3 kids with a shit dog named Rocko, peacie weiss, you ain't ready for Joe...trick ass hoe.

Satanic Tucker

Antonia Vitols

The Missing Leaf

Bustin' Out

Review of The Weather Man

The Weather Man: A-

I left this film confused and content, a bizarre combination that must mean that it was a success. Nicholas Cage delivers a stunning performance, similar to his role in Adaptation, as a pathetic loser weather man trying to find meaning in his life. I can attribute the majority of the success of this film to the screenwriting which is cleverly crafted and insightful. Cage's narration is side-splittingly funny at times, revealing his fears and shortcomings. The dialogue mixes perfectly with the obscure, offbeat plot to create a depressing yet comical slice of David Spritz's (Cage) life. We follow him as he is confronted by not-so-adoring fans, hit in the head with fast food, and see him as he struggles to gain the love of his family who sees him as a failure. I found myself ultimately relating to Spritz, despite how pathetic he was, because he was real and his failings and self-questioning nature were real. At times he made me laugh and at others he frustrated me to no end, but this is what a good character does and I appreciated that. Gore Verbinski scored big with me on this one. I would say more, but I don't want to ruin it for anyone.

Review of Jarhead

Jarhead: B

This was a higly entertaining film with superb acting. Though set in the Gulf War, this film is a commentay on the current war in the Middle East, and a poignant one. This film just shows how history repeates itself and how what we do has little impact on the world. In the style of Full Metal Jacket, this film follows one soldier, played flawlessly by Jake Gyllenhaal, through boot camp and off to war, where he struggles to keep his sanity and find meaning in his life. The film succeeds in the way that Vietnam war films succeed in that it presents a group of people who are confused and scared striving to fight off boredom while keeping their sanity. The images in this film are striking and brilliantly composed. This film, though, is really nothing new. It is very well done, but really covers no new ground. On the other hand, you will leave the theater with a head full of thoughts. It was enjoyable, and often comical, but there is no need to rush out and see it right away. I say wait for DVD to be welcomed into "the suck".