Spock Potholder – Flickr Thursday
OMG! Look what I found this week! This brilliant Spock potholder was made by kailand. Perhaps the greatest part of it is the caption “Because I could.” What better reason for this geekery?
Movie Review: Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon
Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon (2011)
Director: Michael Bay
Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Josh Duhamel,Tyrese Gibson and John Turturro
Voice actors: Peter Cullen, Hugo Weaving, and Leonard Nimoy
157 min
Rated PG13
You might think that crazy-awesome special effects, a pulsing soundtrack and GIANT FIGHTING ROBOTS would be enough to guarantee an summer blockbuster. And you’d be correct – in terms of box office sales. In fact, Transformers 3 is currently the 47th highest grossing movie of all time.
But if you think the same formula would guarantee a movie worth 2-1/2 hours of your time…not necessarily.
The latest installment in the movie series based on Hasbro’s toy line of yore, Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon, has all the elements of a sure-fire Hollywood hit. Tested director of notable action movies like Armageddon & Pearl Harbor, Michael Bay? Check. Fan-boy favorite producer, Steven Spielberg? Check. Score by Steve Jablonsky, composer of the two previous Transformers film scores? Check. Voluptuous love interest? Check. Mighty morphin’ robots in disguise? Check.
Strong storyline told in logical progression…not so much.
Don’t get me wrong – I know that any Transformers movie is not exactly meant to have an Oscar-worthy script. I’m not expecting rich character development, or to be able to relate to the story on a deeply personal level. I know it’s a summer blockbuster that’s meant to be eye candy. And on that criteria, the movie did deliver. The transformation from vehicle to robot was as flawless as in the previous movies, with all the whirling cogs & gizmos, and usually while in motion. Visually stunning.
But the story seemed all over the place. It was like they just thought up a bunch of scenes, filmed them, and just threw them together. It felt very abrupt and disjointed, and was generally distracting, even with the impressive special effects.
Also distracting was the newly-introducted love interest – Rosie Huntington-Whiteley took over for Megan Fox in this installment. Her role was completely gratuitous to the story, though perhaps that’s to be expected, too, especially after the first two movies. Giant robots and a pretty girl, and fanboys are typically content. (oh I’m sorry, did my bitter resentment show?)
That said, a delightful surprise (for me) was the voice acting by Leonard Nimoy (need I say he played Spock in “Star Trek“?), and the “sidekick” part by Alan Tudyk (“Wash” from “Firefly“) as a rather flamboyant German assistant. So there was a little something for the geek girls – at least THIS geek girl. ;)
Overall, I’d say Transformers 3 is a renter, if anything.
LINKS OF INTEREST:
Fascinating Quilt
I love quilting, but I tend to stick to more traditional patterns. But maybe it’s time to change that! Funthreads made this Spock quilt for the Spring 2011 online Blogger’s Quilt Festival?. It was intentionally made so the image is difficult to see up close. But step back and there’s Mr. Spock! Funthreads said she usually gives away or donates her quilts, but this one she made with her husband in mind. Nothing says “I love you” quite like Star Trek. She started with a pumpkin carving template, and designed the whole thing from there. It’s 58 x 82 inches, so I can only imagine how long this took. But it was obviously worth all the effort. She details the whole process on her blog and it’s…fascinating (Sorry! I couldn’t help myself!) Good luck with the festival!
Spock Felt Gadget Case
Help your electronic gadgets live long and prosper with this highly logical wool felt case featuring Star Trek poster boy, Spock.
Made by a mother-and-daughter team, Sarah and Luiza, the talented pair offers numerous geeky gadget cases through their Etsy shop Nokomomo.
Star Wars fans can rock a Stormtrooper design, while Nintendo loyalists can show their pride with colorful Super Mario Bros. motifs. If I had an iPhone, though, their awesome David Bowie case would be mine in a heartbeat.
Mr. Spock Altered Antique Plate
I first spotted Angela Rossi’s “altered antique plates” in the pages of BUST magazine, when her “Dear Ol’ Chunk” plate made their 2010 must-have gift guide.
The Los Angeles-based artist takes flea market finds and thrift store treasures and transforms them into unique pieces of pop art. These plates infuse the classic charm of china with an edge of media-age irony, and range from the merely kitschy to the deeply creepy.
Plenty of geek icons have graced her plates, from Frankenstein’s Monster to E.T. Not to mention, plenty of zombies.
One of my favorites is this one of Star Trek‘s Mr. Spock, which has, alas, sold. But there are many other weird and wacky plates available on the Beat Up Creations Etsy shop, so check it out.
12 Best of 2010
Here are my choices for the 12 best geek crafts of 2010:
January – Super Mario Vest by The Happy Seamstress
February – Minimalist Take on Star Wars by Justin Van Gendern
March – Tiny Harry Potter Paintings by JennaDickes
April – Periodic Table of the Elements Table by Abigailscrafts
May – Buffy the Vampire Slayer button by ButtonBettie
June – Tardis Schrapnel by Irishdaydreamer
July – Crocheted Spock Head by Amy
August (we didn’t have anything, so here’s one I like from May) – Origami Dinosaurs by essemde
September (we also didn’t have anything, so here’s another one from June) – Mario Mushroom Grill by Greg.Matta
October – Darth Vader Princess Costume by mayamagination
November – Tardis Star Quilt by Wendy
December – Steampunk Cthulhu Goggles by RobinRed
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