Pumping Iron - Gem of a Doc

Watching Pumping Iron was a fascinating experience for me, and brought back memories of working out with the cousins at Gold's Gym in Provo. This is a doc about Arnold Schwarzenneger's final defense of his Mr. Olympia (bodybuilding) title. The doc follows Schwarzennegger juxtaposed with Lou Ferrigno (T.V.'s The Hulk), who is hungry to win the title and beat Ahnuld. This is entertaining, funny, reflective, and suspensful documentary filmmaking. I highly recommend it.

And if only we would have known about this when we went to Golds! It would have taught us true techniques of how to conduct effective flexing sessions after lifting. Also, this film is motivating ; making me want to get out and lift and exercise.

And, the making-of bonus features are really insightful, where the filmmakers reveal how Schwarzennegger was an integral part of the production and how much of his outrageous dialogue was fabricated to make the movie a success. The movie really illustrates the fine line between reality and fiction in documentary film.

Here's a mash-up of Pumping Iron someone put on youtube; they put clips to the Gladiator theme song and called it AVL (Arnold vs. Lou). Enjoy

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Colbert Interview on Persuasive Video Games

Here's a funny interview by Mr. Colbert with Ian Bogost, a Georgia Tech professor I was fortunate to meet, and whose workshop I attended at the Games Learning & Society conference. Colbert voices the misgivings most people probably think when talking games and learning, and Ian voices some key game-learning affordances with skill. Is Ian convincing that video games can teach things worth your while?

Pretty good

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Logical

Y'all know Sylar (THE Villain, played by Zachary Quinto) from "Heroes"? He's been cast to play the young Spock in J.J. Abrams's new Star Trek movie, to begin shooting in November!! First, I love that this may mean the cast may primarily be made up of non-mega stars. Secondly, Leonard Nimoy is going to be in the film! This is exciting when you consider that he turned down his role in Star Trek: Generations because of what he thought was a poor script (and, as it turned out, he was right). He's apparently enthusiastic about this movie, and, boy, I can't wait. There are too few good Star Trek movies...

More can be read about this here, the AP's report of the announcement made at San Diego's Comic Con. I can't see the Rumbler in the picture, but I'm sure he was there.

Conference Time!

Well, two days from now I'll be feasting on the words of game, media, and learning scholars from around the globe at the Games Learning Society Conference. I'm fortunate enough to be volunteering with the GLS committee, so I'll be armed and ready with my walkie talkie and official nametag.

I'll also be co-presenting with my advisor and another faculty member on cultural representations of games and short films (a.k.a. how Muslims are represented and received in games and short films in a post 9/11 world). I'm discussing the entertaining and adept "Rules of Engagement." Since I was invited after the proposal was submitted, etc., and I'm relatively new at this, I didn't even think to ask for my name and bio to be included in the conference publications. Oh, well, at least I get to help out, present, and attend this awesome conference at the beautiful Monona Terrace.

Among those I'm excited to hear, and hopefully talk to, are him, him, him, and him.

Movies

Ian's movie post, and selections inspired me, so we went on a movie blitz during the last few weeks, and it was so refreshing.

We all got to see 'Ratatouille', and I loved it! First, it's a rare original story; not a sequel or adaptation. But was it good? I thought the movie snowballed, getting better and better, really hitting it's stride in the third act. It also has one of the best monologues on criticism I've ever heard. 3.5 stars

We rented Rocky Balboa, and watching it for the second time was better than I expected. I love how the movie takes it's time, and has dialogue both inspirational and satisfying to Rocky fans. I thought it was as visually interesting and symbolic as the first (notice the meat plant reflecting Pauly's life). And I liked how the steadycam and high contrasts made the film feel authentic like the first. (Rocky was the first feature film to use steadycam). 3.5 stars

We rented Casino Royale also. I really liked the first scene, the last scene, the poker games, and Daniel Craig. I didn't love the length, and thought it felt crammed with too much. 2.5 stars.

Lastly, we saw a Benji sequel. The 70's costume design and music was awesome. Mary gives it 3 stars!