Rath's Reviews: Rise of the Planet of the Apes

There's always one surprise movie of every summer lineup. Last year it was clearly Inception, and in 2008 it was Iron Man. They are movies that most of the general public go into not thinking much about it and come out enthralled (for me, I knew Inception would blow my mind, but it still surpassed my expectations). With the summer movie season wrapping up in a couple weeks, I think it is safe to say that besides Green Lantern, Rise of the Planet of the Apes is this summer's surprise hit. While certainly not on the same level as Inception, only time will tell whether this movie becomes a classic, it certainly has the makings to be one.

I'll admit, the first time I saw a trailer for this one I had to laugh and roll my eyes because I was 100% sure it would be terrible and unnecessary. Looking back, the film's weak trailers are the main reason it is so phenomenal. The best parts of the film are no where to be seen in the trailers and for me, that made it so awesome. On a sidenote, I wish more movies would start to do this; save their cool parts for the movie and make the trailers less awesome. I dont want to attend Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol having already seen all the amazing action sequences. Alas, that will probably not happen, but truthfully that is what made this movie so successful. There are two particular scenes in the movie that could have been put in the trailers, but because they were not, they were made sooooo much better. The first scene (about halfway through the movie) silenced an audience like I have never seen before. Many of the audience members were laughing from a just-delivered nostalgic line and the retort that followed shocked everyone, including me. The second scene during the action scene on the Golden Gate Bridge features what could be the most iconic image of the summer. I dont want to spoil any of these moments, so you will just have to see it for yourself.

As cool as this picture is, this is not the iconic scene I was referencing.

As for the movie, it was not quite what I expected. There is really only one action sequence, but truthfully that is all the movie needs. The story is honestly as good and believable as they could have made it considering the subject matter, and the plot moves in a logical path instead of rushing to the uprising. The acting by the visible actors (Ill explain what that means in a minute) is decent, nothing special. James Franco does his part as does everyone else, but the movie could definitely use more Frieda Pinto (the gorgeous woman from Slumdog Millionaire). She seems like she is just in the movie because she is a female and it needs a female. Also, Tom Felton (aka Draco Malfoy in the Potter series) plays a fairly major hatred role towards the apes, but I expected him to spit out "POTTER!" at the end of every line.

The real star of the movie however, is the creature you see above, the chimp named Caesar. Believe it or not, Andy Serkis (famous for Gollum in Lord of the Rings and King Kong in the remake) is in that creature somewhere. Using the combination of motion capture and CG, all of the apes in the movie are actually a mix between human actors and computer technology. And I must say it is simply amazing. Serkis' performance is astounding, with just movements and facial expressions as his lines, we always know what this chimp is thinking (made super smart by a drug being tested by James Franco's character). There is already Oscar buzz surrounding the performance by Serkis, and it is much deserved. Caesar is probably the most developed character of the summer and by the end of the movie you are on his side, not the human's.

Clearly, I loved the movie. It does have its faults somewhat, and the logic is not completely there. I mean really, how do a bunch of super smart apes take over the planet? But is it fun? Hell yes. And just like the chimps in the movie, this film is smarter than it has any right to be. All hail Caesar.

Pros:

• Amazing performance by Andy Serkis. Caesar is the most memorable character of the summer.
• Special effects will definitely get an Oscar nomination. 
• The Golden Gate Bridge action sequence is smart and well choreographed. 
• That one scene...ohhhhhh my was it memorable.
• That other one scene....iconic. 
• I always love a good surprise when I go to the movies.

Cons:

• Should be re-titled Rise of the San Francisco Apes. At least in this film, they only make it across the Golden Gate Bridge. 
• I can't get over the fact that Draco...er damnit...Tom Felton didn't say "Potter!" at the end of each of his lines. 
• Frieda Pinto needs more screen time. She is a better actress than to be just a filler role. 

 Rath's Review Score: 9/10

P. Sherman 42, Wallaby Way, Sydney: Finding Nemo...

Before I get into to my blog about the aquarium, let me just start off by introducing you to my childhood. Legos. This man that I am standing next to

<------

is made entirely of Legos. And there were several other characters throughout the aquarium made out of Legos as well (though many of them were not as impressive as this guy). Lets just say that if my job was to put these things together, I would have my dream job. I cant imagine how accomplished the team that built this God of Brick feels. Kudos to them and their ability to still play with Legos. Because if I had to pick the #1 thing that I miss about my childhood, it would easily, without a doubt, be Legos.

Allrighty, now that I have reminisced, time to get into the aquarium. Here are some photos to get you excited:

Dori!!!!
*Disclaimer: If you have not seen Finding Nemo, please disregard all the film references*

The aquarium was such a cool place. I know that is a very cliche thing to say, but it was definitely the best animal-based attraction that I have ever been to. It was just so amazing to see all of these moving, colorful creatures that usually you only see in pictures. And the best part was that there were numerous examples of each. Unlike many aquariums where there are just two sharks in a tank, this one had twenty-two sharks in a tank...living with other fish...and rays. It was like being in the ocean.

In addition to sharks and rays, there were tons of other creatures and sea features (hey that rhymed) to observe. There was a ton of different coral, including neon and glow-in-the-dark, sea grass, sea cucumbers, starfish, sea weed, etc. They also had eels, sea snakes (so freaking cool!), octopus, jellyfish, bright fish, disguised fish, so-cute-I-bought-one penguins, and a dugong! But honestly words dont do it justice, so here are some more pictures!

Sea Dragon

Can you find Nemo?

Nemo! (in the center)

And for some further enjoyment, here are some videos that I took! Enjoy! If you want to see more videos and pictures of the aquarium and other Australia activities, go to my Facebook! Also, there have been several new posts in the last week so check those out if you havent! Just keep swimming!

Mile High. Well...Sort of

There are a few places around Sydney that bring back memories from the first time I was here as a Student Ambassador. The Sydney SkyTower is definitely one of those places. I feel like every city should have one of these viewing towers somewhere near the heart of their downtown. Not only would it be a money making tourist attraction (can you imagine the sunset and the mountains if Denver had a SkyTower?), but it is a great way to get a grasp of just how big the city is and see where everything is in respect to each other.


From the tower, it is easy to see virtually everything. I could basically map out where we had been out at night, what beaches we had gone to, etc. I could see the UNSW building, Bondi Junction, the Coca Cola sign at King's Cross, the Opera House, Cathedral, Harbor Bridge, Olympic Stadium, Anzac Bridge, and Darling Harbor. On top of that, looking straight down was a thrilling experience because you are literally out over the city, there is nothing obstructing your view of the sidewalk hundreds of feet below you.

Interestingly enough, this SkyTower is on top of what would be Sydney's Saks Fifth Ave. On the lower ground levels underneath the building there are some ridiculously luxurious shopping places. Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Armani, basically all the places that I model for...

Here are some of the awesome views:

Can you say vertigo?

The two tan buildings directly in the middle are UNSW, right by our house.

Rath's Reviews: Captain America The First Avenger

As the final "piece" to Marvel's humongous, world-altering, nerdgasm-inducing Avengers movie due next summer, Captain America comes so so close to being the best of the bunch (Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, and Thor).

Without giving too much away, lets just say that I was not expecting so much supernatural activity within the movie, especially concerning its main villain. This was not necessarily the main problem with the film, but I think the movie would have been better if the villain would have been Hitler himself or if it would have toned down the mythical aspects.

However, for me personally, the weakest part of the movie was directly after the beginning of the movie, once Steve Rogers essentially transforms into the Captain. This section of the movie seems slow, and while it is necessary to the story, there was just something about it that made me ask myself, "When is this movie going to get going?"

Gripes aside, the movie does pick up, and besides the first Iron Man, it has the most real characters of any of the other Avenger-to-be movies. I really believed that Chris Evans was a symbol for patriotism and that inside that ripped physique, he was still the small scrawny kid that is introduced initially. His love interest, played by the shockingly pretty Hayley Atwell, is by far the most real romance in the series of films, surpassing Robert Downey Jr. and Gwenyth Paltrow's easily. Also, I must make a shout-out to Tommy Lee Jones who is absolutely hilarious in the movie. As the gritty old general, his one-liners provide at least 90% of the film's laughs.

Another thing that I really like about the film is its style and aura that it creates. Their are two distinct time periods of the film: the present, and the past (during World War II). When the film is in the present the lighting is sharp and similar to most action movies today...just very crisp. But the film really shines when it is in the WWII era. The film's colors are softer, and there is a sort of "blend" between colors with a dimmer lighting technique. It helps to create the belief that this is an old movie, filmed with old cameras, and it really sets you in perfectly in the time period. The special effects, while no where near the best of the summer (that goes to Harry Potter and Transformers) are believable, and for some reason they seem to get better as the movie progresses.  The first action sequence I remember thinking that it looked pretty fake, and in the more-intense final action sequences, I was really immersed because of the effects.

Overall, Captain America does a good job of delivering the origin story of America's most patriotic hero and avoiding the "set-up syndrome" that plagued Iron Man 2 and Thor. It feels like a movie by itself, and besides the very beginning and end, you would really have no clue that it has to do with the Marvel Avenger movie. Just make sure to stay through the credits on this one ;-)

Pros:

• Great visual style, reminiscent of classics
• Real characters are focus of story, good romance
• Tommy Lee Jones' one-liners
• That costume...is so sick
• Avenger's trailer gets the major hype-train rolling

Cons:

• Weird middle section
• Weak SFX in first few action sequences
• Supernatural presence
• Hugo Weaving's German accent

Rath's Review Score: 7.5/10

Make Like a Tom and "Cruise"

Well its been 1 MONTH!! Four Fridays ago, I was tired as hell wandering around this new neighborhood trying to get my bearings. Now I am settled in, going to class, socializing and having fun!

For example, about two weeks ago, I got to go on a free nighttime cruise around Sydney Harbor, and despite the rain, it was a great time!

The cruise ship was two levels and had a dance floor on the bottom with a bar and a deck on top. We left from Darling Harbor, which is very near to where the famous Opera House-Bridge combo is located, and over the course of the next three hours we passed in front of all the sites and turned around and came back.

The sights were incredible, truly something I will never forget for the rest of my life. The Bridge, skyline, and Opera House at night time, in the pouring rain are really sensational. It was one of those very surreal moments where you are shocked that you are in Sydney, Australia.

After the cruise was over, the company that we took the cruise with, Backpackers World Travel, took us to a local bar for free entry and we got a free drink at the door. It was a really fun time to continue the dancing from the cruise ship (I have busted-a-move down here quite a few times so far) and socialize with some Aussies. The name of the cruise made me chuckle because it reminded me of my favorite drink back at our ULofts parties:

Its called the Scary Canary, and while not titled "Scary Cherry" the notion still came to mind! Overall, it was a very fun night, and a very memorable one.

I Put the "Stud" in Study Abroad

Now that I am in week 3 of classes, I am ready to post my first blog discussing my classes, schedule, and immediate differences between school in the U.S. and Australia.

The main thing that I notice while in class down here is the sense of "The Relaxed Australian", and trust me, that is not a good thing. My engineering class is mainly Australian and Asian students and I have noticed a few "habits". First off, tardiness is ridiculous down here. About half of the class is present to start the lecture and then the second half trickles in throughout the next 10-15 minutes. At least at DU, I have never encountered this before. In one of my 50-minute lectures, someone was even dumb enough to come into class at the 40-minute mark. Why even come to class? Also somewhat annoying in my engineering class is the amount of talking that is being done while the professor is lecturing. Really not surprising but the bulk of this chit-chatting is being done by Asian students. Also, in tutorials (where we are to review practice problems that we were supposed to do over the last week), only a few students and myself have even attempted the problems. I've put about 45 minutes worth of effort, not much by engineering standards, into these problems and it makes me look like a genius to the tutor simply because I have at least tried.  Lastly, there is a collection of students who believe it appropriate to yawn loudly during the lecture while the professor is talking. Needless to say it really ticks the professor off.

In addition to the...hmm what should we call it? Rudeness? In addition to the rudeness, the only main difference so far in my engineering class is the priorities. For example, at DU, we are expected to know why things work the way they do and how to solve problems, and we are provided with equation sheets for the exams. Here, apparently memorizing equations is worth my time because there are no equation sheets provided for the final. In total, I will probably have to memorize something like 40 equations. Also, there is a lot less work week to week here. I only have one problem a week that I have to turn in, but that is because so much emphasis is placed on the final which is worth 60%. Yes. You read that correct. 60% of my grade is based on the final. If you wanted to take the words out of my mouth, you would be currently saying, "I miss DU engineering." not because it is easier, its definitely a lot more work, but its easier to get a desirable grade.

Now that I have released my deep-buried, Negative Nancy tirade, I can get on to describing my schedule and classes/professors. Here is my day to day schedule which, compared to my typical DU schedule, is fairly easy.

MONDAY:
3pm-5pm -- Advanced Thermodynamics Lecture
5pm-6pm -- Advanced Thermodynamics Tutorial

TUESDAY:
11am-12pm -- Heat Transfer Lecture
12pm-1pm -- Heat Transfer Tutorial
3pm-6pm -- Business, Ethics, and the Law Lecture

WEDNESDAY:
12pm-2pm -- Australian Legends Lecture

THURSDAY:
12pm-1pm -- Heat Transfer Lecture
2pm-4pm -- Marine Environment Lecture
4pm-5pm -- Australian Legends Tutorial

FRIDAY:
NO CLASS!!! YAY!! I have always wanted to say that...

Now an overview of my classes and professors:

- Advanced Thermodynamics: other than the chatty-Kathys, a pretty standard engineering class. Has to do with mainly heat, work, and energy/exergy of systems like steam turbines, pumps, etc. I have already seen most of the material before so the lectures can get pretty dull. The professor is somewhat grumpy, and apparently paranoid but not really any different than DU professors. During the last class period, one Asian student was taking pictures of the lecture slides and the professor requested that he stop doing that because his lectures are "basically copyrighted" and that "there are people here, at this University, who would steal this lecture". It was all I could do to not burst out laughing after he said this. 9 times out of 10, professors download the PowerPoint presentations provided with the textbooks, and I am pretty sure this professor has done just that.

-Heat Transfer: another engineering class which I have already seen much of the material, this one is kept more interesting by the professor. A good-natured guy who genuinely likes teaching, he effectively gets his point across with less derivations of equations and more examples and explanations of how and why things are the way they are. Still a ton of chatty-Kathys though...

-Business, Ethics, and the Law: probably my favorite class and professor at UNSW so far. The topics are essentially what the title of the class dictates, but the class is made extremely entertaining by the professor, Frank Zumbo. The first day of class, and I quote him, he told us to, "Take out your computers right now and add me on Facebook. I am trying to get to the 1000 friend mark and I promise I wont creep on your profile, except for your pictures." Now, that sounds creepy, but he is just one of the guys that you can tell really easily when he is joking and when he is serious. My group has a presentation next week in which we are doing a gameshow that discusses the pros and cons of Australian businesses doing business with unethical international corporations. To give you an idea of the nature of the course, in our gameshow, the first person to squirt Zumbo in the face with a watergun gets to answer the question. So much fun.

-Australian Legends: an interesting class that discusses the history of Australia and how their national identity is viewed around the world, and how it is constantly contested and changing. The professor for this class is a nice lady who is definitely a expert on the material, but her presentations can be a little dry. Probably the most interesting part about this class is the opportunity to compare aspects of the U.S. with Australia.

-Marine Environment: honestly, this class reminds me of a high school class. It seems pretty easy, with short assignments, and picture-filled lectures. But you know what? My brain still hurts from engineering last year (mainly Integration I and II) so I welcome the pictures of sea-critters. We have three field trips throughout the quarter, and it should be a good time.

Well, hope you enjoyed that synopsis of the Study portion of Study Abroad!

The Rugby Game!

Wanna see a cool picture? Well look no further:

This is a picture of the rugby game that I attended at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Stadium! It was the Australia Wallabies vs. South Africa (the team that the movie Invictus  was based on) and the Wallabies killed em so it was a really good time to say the least. What was so interesting was both the similarities and the differences between U.S. sports and Australian sports and the marketing/commercialization of each.

Interestingly enough, the price for this game was relatively cheap (only $40 AUD) and we were sitting literally 8 rows up from the field as you can see in the picture. For a Bronco game, which would most likely be far less entertaining these days, that price wouldn't even get you a nosebleed seat. Relative to everything else in Australia, their food and drinks inside the stadium were priced well too. Beers were $6 which is a pretty common price around here, I half expected them to be $12 in the stadium. Food was also pretty much the same price inside the stadium as it was outside.

Other than the rules of the games being played and the pricing of entertainment, the differences seem to end there. There were ads all around the stadium for insurance companies, beers, etc. and the colors/jersey of the teams could be seen on almost every fan. Whenever there was a South African fan cheering, they were quickly hushed by the rowdy Australian crowd (resulting in a pretty interesting rivalry for a couple guys behind us). Referees were booed, the crowd reacted to big hits, and cheered loud when their team in green and yellow scored. It was truly an awesome experience and one of my favorite of this trip so far. Granted it wasn't as intense as some of the Nuggets games that I have been to (I'm still having heart palpitations from the Spurs game and J.R. Smith's dunk last year) but what made it so enjoyable was the environment and the participation by all of the fans.

The stadium itself is really pretty, I remember seeing it my first time I was here, and it hasn't changed much, but it is still cool to think that this is where the Olympics were!

In addition to a great, high-scoring game with a final score of Wallabies 39 and South Africa 27 (I think), we also got to meet the players. As soon as the game was over the players went over to the sidelines and started greeting their fans, also something I dont think you would see in the U.S. (cough LeBron cough cough).

Well that's all for now! I'm finally starting to catch up on these things. I have a couple more ideas, specifically one with an update on my classes and the University coming up so keep an eye out. Also, I uploaded several videos to Facebook today so feel free to look at those. Adios!

A Day at the Beach? No. A Day at the Cliffs!

On one of my first days here, Ian and I decided to trek down to Coogee Beach and take the scenic walk to Bondi Beach. We never made it all the way to Bondi, it was a lot further away than we thought, but regardless it was an amazing experience on a bright, sunny day.

I was impressed by just how high the waves were getting, and the transition from the smooth beach sand to rocky cliffs. It provided for some really cool photo opportunities with splashing foam and clear skies. Walking down from Randwick (where I live) to Coogee Beach was interesting because there were a lot more shops the closer we got to the ocean, and the final road down to the beach, Coogee Bay Road, is lined with restaurants, beach shops, and bars. The beach was pretty standard, but that didn't make it any less impressive. There were people laying out in the sun, surfing, body boarding, etc. Making our way along the beach we came to a cliff that had a staircase down near the water so naturally, being a guy, I climbed down onto the rocks to take a picture and had a GREAT time climbing on rocks under the cliffs. Trust me, it was not as dangerous as it sounds, but you'd be amazed just how much exploring around on rocks can make you feel like a little kid again!

And then I saw this sign:

So naturally I did this:

And specifically for my mother's enjoyment ;-) I videotaped this:

Well, sorry there wasn't much beach in there, but the cliffs were way cooler. Not to mention, once the weather gets nicer Ill be at the beach a lot! Talk to everyone again soon, I still have a lot to blog about! Oh, and just a reminder, go check Facebook for some additional videos and pics that you wont find in this blog! G'Day!