Films of 2008

2008 is quickly drifting away and sadly, I only saw 17 films this year! I thought I might toss them up here to share with all. Frankly, after listing them and making a top 10 - I am a little sick. I really need to get out and see some good stuff.

Films of 2008 - from best to worst;

The Dark Knight: A
- Yeah, Chris Nolan did a fine job of following up Batman Begins. TDK moves and shakes and is filled with many wonderful moments that tower over its faults (of which it has many). I was entranced by Ledger's performance - really enjoyed how much Harvey Dent was a part of the plot... and tolerated the ending. I wish Nolan would go back and make this puppy a 3&1/2 hour epic that appropriately deals with Two-Face - but we will take this brilliant piece the way it is!

Wall-E: A-
- Pixar nails it again. Though I did hate that the humans were real live actors to start then turned into animated creatures... hmpf.

Iron Man: A-
- Solid - Downey Jr. Rocks!

Tropic Thunder: A-
- Solid - Downey Jr. Rolls!

In Bruges: B+
- I could listen to Colin Farrell talk all day in this flick.

Speed Racer: B+
- Shocked the hell out of me... the critics demolished it! Not very fair - I enjoyed this film a ton!!!

Forgetting Sarah Marshall: B+
- Pretty damn funny - thought it might be better... s'alright.

The Incredible Hulk: B
- Bit of a bummer - some good action sequences.

27 Dresses: B-
- Cara liked it, I did not hate it.

Sex and the City: C
- Cara loved it, I did not.

Step Brothers: C-
- Reign it in boys... 80% garbage.

Sex Drive: C-
- Too bad, loved the trailer.

The Bank Job: C-
- Nope - boring.

The Foot Fist Way: C-
- Funnier as a 5 minute video.

Semi-Pro: D
- Bad year for Ferrel, what the hell were they thinking here?

The Chronicles of Narnia - Prince Caspian: D
- Got drunk with Cara, Sara, and Jerry... and still hated this.

21: D-
- I love poker... I nothing'd this movie.

NOT MENTIONED: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull: No Grade
- Uh, I can't even really talk about this film... most of the experience has been erased from my mind.

That's all I got out to see! A little depressing. Nothing compared to last year.

Watch out - LOST is coming on January 21st!!!!

yo

The Amazing Race Game!

Tech Show 2.0: Techy Talk from Jed Findlay on Vimeo.

Frye Camp '08: Pics

Here is the last video and actually it is just still pictures from our journey. I hope you enjoy it.

yo


Frye Camp '08: Pics from jedfindlay on Vimeo.

Frye Camp '08: Tuesday & Wednesday

Another exciting video from Frye Camp '08!!!

No - really - these are good. Come on... watch it.

Please?

yo

Frye Camp '08: Tuesday from Jed Findlay on Vimeo.

Frye Camp '08: Monday

Here comes Monday! Watch out as some people have a blast catching fish... while others wait and wait.

yo


Frye Camp '08: Monday from Jed Findlay on Vimeo.

Frye Camp '08: Sunday

Here comes Sunday! It is not as long as Saturday's and there is not much going on - but at least you get a sense of why we love the place.

Enjoy,

yo


Frye Camp 2008: Sunday from Jed Findlay on Vimeo.

Frye Camp '08: Saturday

Howdy folks!

Well - we have returned from our annual visit to the cooler but perfect northern Minnesota - Frye Camp!!

I shot some video and took some pics that I will be posting this week (or next). Keep watching for some truly exciting stuff!!! Well... at least there will be lots of little Maddy to balance out my ugly mug.

Enjoy! BTW - Nass, eat your heart out!

yo



Frye Camp 2008: Saturday from Jed Findlay on Vimeo.

FILM REVIEW: "Why so serious? "

"Batman Begins" was a breath of fresh air for Batman fans - a film that at once, took very seriously the characters of the Batman world and also successfully created a believable and fascinating film around those characters. The movie was not without flaws (scripting - badly handled action - etc.) but overall, it was an astounding step forward for Batman fans.

"The Dark Knight" is another animal altogether. I am so thrilled to say that the film not only satisfied my Batman hunger - not only did it improve upon the first film... but frankly, this new film seems as if another director made it all together.


"The Dark Knight" is truly dark. There are some majorly horrifying moments with the Joker punishing his victims. There is also a lack of levity (something that "Begins" sometimes suffered for) - which I feel improves things. Each moment of the film is played as a very serious drama. That statement really doesn't explain what I mean... there is not a moment where you feel you are watching a film that is set outside of the world we know. The Joker is a TERRORIST! He is a demon - a killer who is out to prove that his beliefs are absolute and the world itself is damned.


As many have heard, Ledger's performance is something to behold. Like Daniel Day-Lewis' Plainview, here we have an actor who demands the audiences full attention and dominates everyone is sight. Honestly, I had high expectations for the performance and I was still surprised.

What took me as well was the character - the Joker is a fundamental questioning of the idea of order. He wants to demonstrate that trying to make the world better (saving it - how ever you want to put it), is merely an act of aggression on a violent and desperately selfish being that will turn on you for the slightest advantage. He does not care about money... power... or anything... he just wants to pull out the legs of your chair and watch you swing.

That creeped me out.


Of course, being the big Batman fan I am, I cannot completely heap praise on the film. Two-Face gets a limited amount of time and thusly the dramatic arc of Harvey Dent is somewhat stunted. But again, the film surprised me; Harvey Dent may get more screen time than Bruce Wayne (hell, I think Gordon gets more screen time than Wayne!!!). Eckhart does an amazing job here, leading us into a character who should have been a simple flat device for the film... yet comes off very strong... Dent's ideals are the world we want... I completely was energized to see Bruce realize that he could relieve his own suffering by allowing Dent to become the face of justice. This gave power to Dent's role, thus making his fall all the more tragic.

But really - I wish Dent/Two-Face would have culminated in a 3rd film. There was far more ground to be covered with the character and it was sad to see them close it up (granted, it may be returned to in the 3rd but not in the way it deserves).


In the end, this film is brilliant. I applaud Warner Bros - the Nolans - the cast - everyone involved with production... and especially the marketing crew. They kept Two-Face out of the ads (it is gruesome!) and all of the great Joker stuff is in the film, not in the ads (wait to you hear the speech before he delievers "WHY SO SERIOUS?" - it will send chills up your spine).

I am really excited to see this again - and in IMAX!

THE DARK KNIGHT: A-

yo

The first Video Journal of Ragbrai

Video Journal: Thursday, July 17th from Extension Cy-Riders on Vimeo.

Vimeo Group Hubnub

Extension Cy-Riders on Flickr

Extension Cy-Riders test

Extra Wedding Pics

Just a quick note on a few wedding pics that we have received - I never get tired of looking at myself.

This one is up there for Jeremy's face though... classic awful moment.

The rest are all about Kreitner naughtiness!!


Oooh boy!


Hubba hubba!


Naughty Kreitner!!!

We are off to celebrate the 4th with Big K and the McCabes - more later... and maybe more naughty Kreitner photos from that!

yo

Sheriff is moving

The sheriff and his posse are moving on Friday! Just up the Street to 607 W. 4th Street. Bigger digs for kids, movies, drinkin and fun. Wish all of you could be there to enjoy...and help. Wish us well in our new home.

sheriff

DVD REVIEW : "Dan in Real Life"

I didn't have hugely high hopes for "Dan in Real Life." It came and went through theaters without much ado - I have not heard anyone really jump up and say "watch this!!" But, I did not dread it either. I love Steve Carell and the story itself sounded intriguing.

And actually... it is a pretty darn good film. The screenplay is the true winner here - Dan's 3 girls are represented very well, they felt completely real and definitely grounded the main character and emphasized his situation (wife has died).

The screenplay is a knockout and in the right hands - this film could have been a big winner. But sadly, there are some major defects.


Steve Carell did not cut it - I love the guy, but his performance here had the sympathy and sadness, but not the drive to change. He never earned the love and hope from the audience and therefor his actions sometimes came off odd and unsupported.

Dane Cook is awful - why does this guy get work?

Juliet Binoche is a great actress, but really she fails here. She is miscast and stands as the biggest change needed in the film.

I spoke with Cara after viewing, trying to find a name that could have made the film amazing - all I could come up with was Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan... and even Ryan did not feel right.

Rent it and see if I am wrong. The story is great (if not a little predictable, but that is not always bad) and the interaction and story with the daughters is really good (and a little frightening).

"Dan in Real Life" : B

yo

Testing Vimeo

Kreitnerpalooza cometh!!

Kern did a little poster for the celebration this weekend. That rascally punk has some talent.

Well done sir,

yo

Wedding Pics!!!

Here are some random pics from the wedding. Head on over to John Lee Photography, click on the view and order area, find Findlay Wedding, click on it and enter in an e-mail and the password (5308) to view all of our pics and order some if you please.

Here is a taste of the fun...













yo