Ultraviolet Update and iTunes

Since my last post on Ultraviolet, the company has added more features and more movie companies have jumped on board.  Here is an update on these new features, their pluses and minuses.

The Good:

• You can now download the movies and TV episodes to your computer for offline viewing which was not possible before.
• More movies are now available on the platform 
• To get more users, the companies are offering a lot of free movies when you sign up - Sign up with every company and get up to 35 movies free.
• VUDU (run by Walmart) lets you put DVD's you own into your computer and pay $2 each to have them converted to the cloud.  It is so easy and takes no time to do, it's legal and if you are like me and own tons of DVD's you don't have to spend a fortune to re-buy all of your movies in the cloud.  Best Buy's CinemaNow also has this feature and Flixster has it in beta.
• This is a legal way to have your movies in the cloud without torrenting which I don't believe is right

The Bad:

• Every company makes you sign up for your own account with them plus you have to have an ultraviolet account.  So each time you sign in, you sign in twice.  Pain in the butt!
• There are 5-6 different companies that you can sign up for to use this service and each company has different movies in their library that you are allowed to watch.  Even though the movies you bought are ultraviolet compatible, you can't watch them all with every service.  This means you have to have multiple apps on your computer to view all of your ultraviolet purchases.  Another pain in the butt!
• Copy Protection, UGH!

Now to iTunes...
 I really like the ease of the format and purchasing.  However, it still isn't perfect.

The Good:

• You only need one account and everything is stored in the same app.
• I can download purchases to view offline 
• This is a legal way to have your movies in the cloud without torrenting which I don't believe is right

The Bad:

• Certain companies that put digital copies in their Bluray's and DVD's don't give you a copy to store in the cloud for iTunes.  So you have a digital copy but it only works for UV compatible systems so in reality you have to use both systems.
• Copy Protection, UGH!

What I would really like to happen with these two formats is a combination of the two.  I want the movie studios to combine their catalogues and offer buyers the best of both worlds.  If you buy a Bluray, then you get the ultraviolet and iTunes codes with it and you can use both.  Some companies do that now, but it is very few.  If you have a movie you purchased in iTunes, it will show up in your Ultraviolet library as well and vice versa.  I am tired of consumers having to purchase and repurchase the films they love every time there is a format change or they buy a new device.  Lets put the consumer first for once!  Maybe if the studios focused on what their customers want instead of just trying to thwart piracy, they might not have as much piracy to combat.

Star Trek and J.J. Abrams do it again with Into Darkness

     I was a huge fan of the Star Trek reboot back in 2009.  Granted, I was already a Star Trek fan and had seen all of the films when they aired in theaters as well as most of the TV series, but still the reboot was fantastic and I didn't think it could get any better.  So almost 4 years later, the second installment of J.J. Abrams reboot appeared in theaters a few weeks ago and I loved it!  I have now seen it twice and I think my favorite thing about it is it's energy.  It is a non-stop roller coaster of a ride but there is still comedy infused through it all as well as tender moments of friendship and loss.  SPOILER ALERT coming in the next paragraph so don't read any further if you haven't seen the film yet.....
     My favorite character since childhood has been Captain Kirk, and Chris Pine plays the cocky young captain so well that at times I really feel like I am watching a very young William Shatner, but with a little more energy.  His mission this time, to save Earth and his crew from John Harrison (SPOILER ALERT... He is actually Khan!) is actually a sort of retelling of Star Trek II : The Wrath of Khan but in a totally different and creative way.  Some people didn't like the subterfuge since J.J. Abrams was quoted as saying that this movie was not about Khan, but I think he was trying to keep some of the mystery there for the audience.  Benedict Cumberbatch, who plays Khan, is definitely very different than Ricardo Montalban who played Khan in the original series, but I for one LOVE the change (and the lack of fake chest muscles).  He is a spectacular Khan and he is so sly that you keep changing your mind on whether he is good or bad.  By then end of the film, when Kirk sacrifices his life to save his ship and crew from the damage Khan has done, you realize his innate evil.  You also realized that just like Kirk, you were suckered in to Khan's lies.  In the original Wrath of Khan, Spock was the one to sacrifice himself to get the Enterprise back online and out of danger.  I really liked the switch here where Spock has to become the hero and go after Khan to avenge his friend's death.  By Kirk putting his life on the line, he is doing his penance for believing Khan and putting his crew and ship in danger. He has become like his dad who saved 800 lives even though he knew he was going to die.
     My only complaint about the film is that I wanted to see more of Scotty, Sulu and especially Bones. I love the cast of this reboot and I just wanted more of these characters along with Kirk and Spock.  Maybe in the next film....

Dallas Comic-Con 2013 was AMAZING!

This year's Dallas Comic-Con was the best one yet.  Even with Nathan Fillion canceling at the last minute, it was still awesome!  I was most excited about meeting and talking to Richard Dean Anderson (of MacGyver and Stargate SG-1) so I bought a photo and autograph ticket for him at the event.  He did not disappoint and I fulfilled a childhood dream by finally meeting him and even getting to chat!  He has gotten a little older but the voice and mannerisms were the same.  Such a treat to meet him and he was really nice too!  It made my year!

I was also able to meet Adam Baldwin who starred in Firefly and Chuck among other shows.  He was so nice and signed everyone's autograph with a unique quote from one of his shows.  Mine said "with love and grenades" since I chose a Firefly picture for him to autograph.   Here is a picture of me shaking his hand.  

Another famous celebrity who made an appearance at Dallas Comic-Con was William Shatner (the original Captain Kirk on Star Trek) but because of the lines I was in and the way the panels were set up I never actually saw him in person.  I did see John Noble and Jasika Nicole from Fringe (Walter and Astrid) and Brandon Routh (Superman Returns) which was pretty cool.  

Even with all of the lines and people it was the best Comic-Con yet!  I'm already planning on going next year and hopefully Nathan Fillion will be able to make it this time!  

NCIS:LA Season 4 Finale - Loved It!

     I seriously love this show!  Just like last season, the episode left us on a huge cliffhanger and now I have to wait 4 months to see the conclusion.  ARGH!!!  This post will contain SPOILERS so read below at your own risk if you haven't seen the episode....
     Last season's finale left me wondering if they had changed the character of Callen as it appeared that he committed a heinous crime on live television, killing The Chameleon.  Turns out that was all an illusion (a nice trick by the writers that totally hoodwinked me) and Callen's morality was still intact.  Bringing back this nemesis from the season 3 finale and season 4 premiere was a genius move as The Chameleon already had a history on the show and with this team.  Turns out NCIS needs him to broker a nuclear arms deal with some of his contacts so Callen and Kensi retrieve him from Iran.  Meanwhile Sam and Deeks must be partners even though Sam really wants Callen watching his back.  Their conversation while playing chess in a park is hilarious, by the way and we find out that Sam just doesn't trust Deeks like he trusts Callen.  In previous episodes, Kensi and Deeks have been secretly pining for one another but neither one is willing to put their feelings out there in the open.  However, when Kensi and Deeks are covering Sam and Sam's wife Michelle, Deeks kisses Kensi!  It was so unexpected and so worth it.  You could tell from Deek's face that he really cares for Kensi and the tension they have had lately has really bothered him.   Of course, at that moment Kensi has to rush off to follow Michelle who ends up being caught by two operatives and Deeks has to rescue Sam who is drowning in a pool.  Callen, who has been watching the op now realizes that he has been outplayed by The Chameleon and that his ultimate plan was revenge on Callen and the people he loves.  He may loose the nuke as well as his friends if he can't find a solution.  At the end of the episode, Kensi is caught in a crossfire, Michelle is hanging out a window, Sam is strapped to a chair being electrocuted and Deeks is having his teeth drilled without anesthetic.  Fade to black...to be continued........................ in SEPTEMBER!

Iron Man 3 and The Beginning of the Summer Movie Season

     I saw Iron Man 3 last weekend when it opened and I was pleasantly surprised.  I enjoyed Iron Man but hated Iron Man 2 so I wasn't sure what to expect for this third film.  Thankfully Tony Stark was back to his Avengers self with witty one liners and cool gadgets.  I know Robert Downey Jr. is nearing 50, but he sure doesn't look it.  I hope he decides to play his alter ego at least one more time in the Avengers 2 as I'm not sure I can accept another actor as Tony Stark.  I also liked the insertion of the precocious kid, Harley (played by Ty Simpkins), who saves Tony more than once and The Mandarin (played by Ben Kingsley) who was hilarious and almost stole the show.  Pepper even got a chance to wear the suit and become a superhero herself.  Overall, this was a great popcorn flick that is a great start to the summer movie season for 2013.
     Next weekend I will be busy geeking out over Star Trek Into Darkness and Dallas Comic Con so check back in to see my Star Trek review and get the scoop on William Shatner, Richard Dean Anderson and Nathan Fillion.  Can't Wait!!!

Silver Linings vs. Les Mis and The Oscar Race

     I have just recently seen two of the upcoming Oscar nominated films, Silver Linings Playbook and Les Miserables.  While they are both very different films, I am going to give my two cents here as to what I liked and didn't like about both as well as my Oscar predictions for each.
     Lets start with Silver Linings... Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and Robert De Niro were all amazing as the acting is what made this film shine.  The quirky story about a released mental patient who is trying to reconcile with his estranged wife and yet falls in love with another woman was a refreshing change.  The edition of a dance contest into the storyline at the same time as the championship football game created a unique and fun climax to this romantic comedy.  I really liked Bradley's character and while Jennifer Lawrence also did an amazing job, Bradley steals the show.
     Les Miserables is a wonderful musical but as a film I felt it was a little slow and at times boring.  The casting and acting were great but the film itself lagged and was hindered by the directors insistance to film all of the sound live instead of dubbing it in later.  This created an issue for the cameras as they had to be in a good position to collect sound as well as the picture and was therefore stuck on characters who were singing for very long periods of time.  Also the audio was still hard to hear in some places which is frustrating when the characters are mostly singing instead of talking.  In terms of singing, most of the actors were pretty good and could hold their own through most of the songs, but there were a few cringe moments with Hugh Jackman and Russell Crow on a couple of notes.  The sets and costumes were wonderful and the little boy who played Gavroche stole my heart, but overall it was a good film not a great one.
     Both Silver Linings Playbook and Les Miserables are up for Best Picture this year but I don't think either one has a chance.  The big prize will either go to Lincoln or Argo (my vote is Argo), but both films have a chance in some other categories.  Anne Hathaway deserves the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role as Fantine in Les Mis and might very well win it as her only competition is Sally Field from Lincoln.  Bradley Cooper, while amazing, will not win Best Actor and neither will Hugh Jackman as that prize will go to Daniel Day Lewis who was Abraham Lincoln in Lincoln.  He so embodies our former President that you hardly realize it is an actor and not the man himself come back from the dead.  Jennifer Lawrence has a better chance of winning for Best Actress than her co-star although Naomi Watts may pull out a win for her role in The Impossible.  In the Best Supporting Actor category, Robert De Niro is nominated for Silver Linings but I think that Alan Arkin should win for Argo instead.  Even though De Niro was great, Arkin was even better.

Skyfall, The New Bond Standard!

Skyfall is the best Bond movie I have seen in years.  While some are complaining that it is too action packed and strays too far from the original Bond films of the 60's that it pays homage to, I disagree.  Bond has developed and changed over the years based on the changes in society.  This most recent film reflects that with it's combination of traditional Bond characters along with modern technology and Jason Bourne type action.  To me it was thrilling!  The opening sequence of motorcycles on rooftops and then a fight on top of a moving train was exceptionally done.  I was on the edge of my seat.  The opening credits appear after this adrenalin burst with a haunting song by Adele that blew me away.  The song incorporates the traditional Bond theme along with a video sequence that  I could watch for hours by itself.  I won't give away the plot but the villain is quite creepy at times and the non stop action oriented plot kept me riveted throughout the entire film.  Daniel Craig has become my favorite Bond behind Sean Connery and I hope there is another film in the works to keep the thrill alive.