So, this weeks internet appears to have been brought to you by the letter ‘Prometheus’ as pretty much every site or blog I go to has some opinion, or reference to an opinion about it.

I’m definitely a fence sitter in that I love pretty much every single technical/design aspect of the film, while finding the story and thematic concepts wholly underwhelming in contrast. I also just realised that on reflection, I could also be disappointed with the ‘science’/realism of the film (like the fact the entire plot revolves around journeying to a star formation that in all probability, has shifted position/alignment since being first painted 35,000 years ago); but now I’m slowly realising that my new understandings of physics has ruined the potential to ever fully enjoy another action (or sci-fi) film.

Anyhow, the online reactions and discussions have been quite illuminating; from literary analysis and theological allusions to simple hilarious hate, but my current favourite is probably this video where a group of friends decided to watch the entire Alien/Predator chronology of films and record their ratings before heading off the Prometheus itself. Good fun.

Must also add this short making-of featurette on the fantastic soundscape of Prometheus.

By now, you’ve probably seen this hilarious photo series by Lithuanian photographer Tadao Cern. Now see the slow-mo video version..

Thanks Colossal.

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Also, Conan teaching the blues to school kids:

Backpedaling slightly after having mostly posted article links during the last week or so. Inversely, its mostly video content at the moment, so here’s three more random lots of them.

First is fake supercut/recut trailer for “Chuck Norris: The Movie”.

Next, a rather smart fellas re-redition of the original Super Mario Bros. game in 3D:

And lastly, I’ve had no idea how to post this, but essentially, it’s like the many, many, many hidden camera gotcha! videos that’s all over youtube at the moment, but the appeal to this humourous video is that it’s really the lovely ‘host/prankster’ who is the most awkward subject as he tries to use Blink-182 lyrics as pick-up lines.

Terry Moore explains ‘x’ as an unknown‘s origins in this short, humourous talk. Plus it’s more trivial knowledge for those bar quizzes.

Video interview with illustrator, graphic designer and art director Christoph Niemann on his philosophy towards design, creativity and the visual language. Great stuff.

Nice.

More at thaeger

This site has been one of my favourites lately and a recent post highlighting Gene Wilder’s correspondence before commencing production on Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory is wonderfully insightful.

Prior to accepting the role, Wilder set out one condition to director Mel Stuart:

“When I make my first entrance, I’d like to come out of the door carrying a cane and then walk toward the crowd with a limp. After the crowd sees Willy Wonka is a cripple, they all whisper to themselves and then become deathly quiet. As I walk toward them, my cane sinks into one of the cobblestones I’m walking on and stands straight up, by itself; but I keep on walking, until I realize that I no longer have my cane. I start to fall forward, and just before I hit the ground, I do a beautiful forward somersault and bounce back up, to great applause.”

Asked why, Wilder explained: “Because from that time on, no one will know if I’m lying or telling the truth.”

It really is a great example of an actor whose thinking process works on multiple levels in creating and developing both a character and performance for an audience.

There’s also a second letter on his thoughts towards the costuming of Willy Wonka that’s equally fascinating, but I don’t want to post verbatim from such a great site, so check it out here.

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Say what you will about the newly released Prometheus (and pretty much everyone does), but this parody of the Happy Birthday David video by Joel McHale of Community fame is just great fun…