Lazy Sunday Short Ends: Computer a Troublin, New Photo and Pirates BOFFO BOX OFFICE! Because that's all that matters.

Well, Lazy Sunday wasn't much of one, as I was working. An anti-Lazy Sunday if you will.

At your left is a picture that I took from a moving bus on my way into Victoria last weekend. Pictured is a neighborhood gas station near the Dean Park area, where I grew up. The weekly quotes I enjoy to glance at on my ride into town every week.

Prior to that, I had a brief power outage last night and I couldn't get this lousy computer of mine to work properly. Which is partly my fault as this current PC is an absolute mess thanks to years of downloading, writing and burning archives and I look forward to getting it restored -- or possibly replaced -- soon.

Aww, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. You didn't break Spider-Man 3's monetary record, but you came close. Watch as Disney will tabulate the weekend numbers and say it's "The Biggest Pirates of the Caribbean Opening on Memorial Day Weekend Ever!"

And what a sluggish movie it is! Unbelievably overlong at 168 minutes, there were so many zigs-and-zags, far too many characters and pacing problems that had me checking my watch for nearly half the running time. It looks great, of course, and you can never take your eyes off of Keira Knightley, but this was dull and forgettable as Dead Man's Chest was, just in a different way.

Before the film, I was blown away to see that there's an upcoming sequel to one of the worst films of 2004, just in time for the holiday season! Not even the radiant Diane Kruger will get me into the moobyplex for this one.

Already this summer season is a dreary and boring one. Why can't people flock to some better movies in their area instead?

Jason
efilmcritic.com

Short Ends: Look at the new Look!

As we're about to embark on a weekend of trying to figure out which screening of Pirates of the Caribbean 3 is the least busy (hint: if you're living in Victoria, BC, might I suggest going here this weekend), I thought I'd update and mention the nice new look of the blog which so far I'm enjoying.

Utilizing the new Blogger software, the columns are widened just a bit, there are new tag and link sidebars on the right, and you might have noticed that new banner on the top! I'm still working on THAT as well, so you may see a new one later this week.

(For now, the left-to-right includes me pointing a camera at you, friends of the VIFF group, Fergus The Dog pictured at the beach, dad and me at VIFF together, a wacky shot of myself dancing at the VIFF gala and a shot of my friends at SxSW this spring.)

My new camera is wonderful and I'm still working out some of the kinks. Not every photo I'm taking is flawless but that's understandable given the nature of the beast. Hopefully when the sun comes out later this week I can grab some new outdoor shots for my next Lazy Sunday contribution.

The reopened National Westwood (formerly Mann National, now run by an independent) is playing one of my favorite films, Paris Je'Taime, so if you're anywhere in the area, go line up and enjoy Paris beauty on one of the biggest screens in the world. The place also looks like it's turning into showing art house, foreign and independent, so if it turns out to be successful, then that might take the bite out of it getting redeveloped.

Some funny new updates on Laura's Funny Celebrity blog, and I'm hoping that she puts up a future post on why a particularly famous, former Alcohol Anonymous members probably shouldn't have Svedka Vodka as a sponsor for your next birthday party.

Also, coming soon to efilmcritic is a discussion on why you should watch The Fountain on DVD. Goss, Brian, Rob and myself will all be ordering you to run out and rent it, because you were too silly to miss it in cinemas. You silly bean.

Jason
efilmcritic.com

Short Ends: Broom! Ragweed! Pollen! Mann National re-opens!

I think I need to move. As some of my older posts have stated, I have allergy problems, especially in the spring/early summer when all the dust, broom, pollen and other outdoor terrorizers mess with my system. Oh, I've had my allergy attacks in the past few weeks. NOT fun.

Where would I move to? Well, I'd make a move to a city where it's cinema that just had its tenth anniversary and is moving to a new home in a few months.

Yeah, that would be a good place to move to, wouldn't it? Queso fries and Porky's Pepperoni Pizza while I go nuts watching Weird Wednesdays and Terror Thursdays. Maybe one day.

In other news, the Mann National has surprisingly re-opened (debunking my original article) to show a godawful Zach Braff comedy. But it may not be open for long, as there are rumors of redevelopment for retail, in an area of town that already has enough of it. To which I say...fuck that! Keep the damn cinema open!

Say it to yourself, people: The National Drafthouse. The National Drafthouse....

What else: Goss and myself also are over at efilmcritic.com talking about why you should run out and rent Todd Field's gem of a flick, Little Children. There's also a piece on the end of the Gilmore Girls, but since I still haven't watched the series finale yet (I should be watching my tape tonight after work) I'm being VERY careful on where I surf to avoid spoilerage.

Jason
efilmcritic.com

Short Ends: Lazy Qualicum Beach Sunday

Yay, I was sick again. After getting back from Austin and then getting a cold, I found myself trying to get back to the swing of things by going to movies, being an extra in a music video (see below post) and working hard again. Allergies kept me from updating this blog (yeah, another excuse, I know) but I've still been keeping busy.

So right now I'm sitting in my lazy jogging pants and my Issac Hayes Badass Cinema T-Shirt, drinking tons of coffee as I'm going between blog updating and talking with the parents. Relaxing in good 'ol Qualicum Beach on a beautiful and lazy Sunday morning.

New reviews on efilmcritic.com: The #1 movie of the weekend, Disturbia, as well as Grindhouse, doco We Feed The World & the godawful Canadian picture Love and Other Dilemmas. I also have an upcoming SxSW review of The Unforseen and the recent Canadian doco Sharkwater.

Also my pal William Goss and myself posted an article on why the North American populace doesn't get the recent, amazing Grindhouse experience. With a underwhelming first-weekend box office take, I am truly saddened that this great experience and love letter to cinema is going ignored by easily led automotons that would rather see Will Ferrell and Jon Heder skate gay and PG-13 horror films than inexplicably play on the first night of South By.

What else: Laura Kyle has an interesting new blog that's worth checking out (it reminds me a bit of Go Fug Yourself). Also, if anyone has thoughts on this kickass new camera from Canon, do let me know as I'm obsessed with getting a new camera prior to this year's VIFF.

I also still have an article on the Alamo Drafthouse experience to be posted this week, a bit delayed due to the fevers and coughing. Hopefully the exposure will help open up a few of these up north. *Cough* Vancouver *Cough*

Until next time,

Jason
efilmcritic.com