On complexity

On November 26, 2022November 26, 2022 By Luther M. SilerIn Geek, movies1 Comment

What you’re looking at here is the engine block of the Lego model for the Ecto-1 from Ghostbusters. I’ve had it for a little while and wanted to get it built this weekend, so I’ve been been coming back to it intermittently for the last couple of days and right now I’m about halfway through the build. I’ve been really impressed with it so far, and it continues to amaze me how much entirely unnecessary complexity Lego builds into their modern models. First of all, they modeled the engine block. I don’t actually know if the hood for this thing is going to be removable or openable or what once it’s finished (if there’s a hinge assembly for it, I haven’t built it yet) but it wouldn’t surprise me one bit if they modeled the engine block carefully enough that you can actually identify individual parts of the engine and then covered it with a hood assembly that wasn’t meant to be removed. The grille in the front? Each of those little silver rectangles is an individual piece. That yellow X-shaped piece in the back with the yellow circle around it is attached to the steering wheel, which is actually set up in such a way that turning the steering wheel turns the front wheels of the car. There’s a whole steering column and what appears to be a gearshift next to it. There are stickers in places on the car that you will never see. The engine has belts, for Christ’s sake– you can see a bit of one of them, the red band next to what is clearly meant to represent the battery.

Do I want to find out what model of Cadillac the Ecto-1 was supposed to be and see where the battery actually is? Yeah, I kind of do.

I’ve been kind of in a funk lately regarding writing and the internet and a few other things, so this has been a nice change for me to focus on for a few days. The problem is these sets are expensive and they’re starting to kind of build up around the house and I don’t really need one more fucking thing to figure out how to display. But fuck it, that’s a problem for later, for right now I’m going to continue enjoy building the car.

EDIT: The hood does open. Entertainingly, the hood is one of the few actual flaws with the build, as it doesn’t quite close as tightly as I like and wants to be no more than about 98% closed. That doesn’t sound like it should be an issue but it means a few things don’t line up. I just need to make sure to display the car with the passenger side facing out, I guess. 🙂

EDIT EDIT: The hoses from the battery were in the way. I shoved them deeper into the engine and it’s fine now.

In which bustin’ makes me feel good

On July 18, 2016July 18, 2016 By Luther M. SilerIn movies, Reviews7 Comments

aw3snei4begajpjm8agh … which, holy shit, that’s a double entendre, isn’t it? And it took me 32 years to notice it? Okay, now my childhood’s ruined.

Here’s the clearest indication that I enjoyed Ghostbusters: the main characters’ names are Abby Yates, Erin Gilbert, Jillian Holtzmann, and Patty Tolan. The receptionist’s name is Kevin, and I don’t think he had a last name.

I need you to understand this about me: I don’t remember the names of fictional people. I can read entire books and be able to describe the plot in close detail and have trouble recalling the main character’s name. I can almost never remember the names of any of the leads of movies. And I know all five of the major characters in this film. First and last names. That’s freaking amazing. It shouldn’t be the case, but it is.

I didn’t initially want to see Ghostbusters, not because I thought it would Destroy my Childhood– that’s not a real thing– but because I thought it was an unnecessary remake. The first film is sacred to me, but its sacrality has not led to me seeing the second film more than perhaps twice, so I can’t really pretend I have any loyalty to the franchise. And there are no Marvel superheroes in this movie, so ignoring it would be well within my established prior practice. Then I looked around and decided I’d rather change my mind than be on the same side of some of the people who agreed with me about not seeing it, and then I laughed my ass off at the first trailer. And then I saw the movie on opening night, a thing I haven’t done in, literally, years.

This movie’s funny as hell and you should watch it. If Kate McKinnon isn’t the funniest motherfucker alive– can I call a woman that? What if she’s gay?– I don’t know who it is, and Leslie Jones is funny as fuck too. Also notable is Chris Hemsworth’s performance; I’ve enjoyed his Thor but I seriously had no idea that the guy could be as funny as he is in this movie.

You may have noticed that I haven’t mentioned the putative leads yet, Melissa McCarthy and Kristen Wiig. I know little about Wiig, but I’ve seen McCarthy in other stuff and she has annoyed me. Honestly, I thought the two of them were among the weaker bits of the movie. They have their moments, certainly, but they don’t do “smart” as well as McKinnon does– she is the perfect mad scientist– and many of McCarthy’s lines in particular read like the kind of dialogue that dumb people write for smart people to say. “You did not disclose that the vehicle in question would be a hearse!” or whatever it was, for example. Wiig forgets that she’s supposed to be a physicist about fifteen minutes into the movie and there’s no real need for her to remember it since someone has to be the straight woman and be the butt of all the ghost-vomit jokes. I didn’t dislike her, but she’s not a reason to see the movie.

I do find myself wishing that Patty could have been an academic– either also or maybe flip her role with one of the other women. I think the idea of a Ph.D candidate in New York history working for the MTA could have worked, for example. But Patty is a fun character and the Sassy Black Woman stereotype we were all worried about is dialed back about as far as it can go.

Interestingly, this film shares its biggest flaw with Star Wars: The Force Awakens. TFA’s worst moments all involved the characters from the original trilogy. Similarly, Ghostbusters is at its worst when it’s trying to remind us that all of the actors from the original films (except for Rick Moranis, who quit acting years ago) supported the project. Other than the nice touch of putting a bust of Harold Ramis outside Erin Gilbert’s office, the only cameo that wasn’t insanely distracting was Annie Potts. Murray and Aykroyd, in particular, brought the movie to a screeching halt the three times they were on screen. And then once you realize what’s going on, and that they’re all gonna show up, you spend the movie watching for the next one, and it’s distracting as hell.

Other than that, though, and Paul Feig’s moderately annoying habit of cutting to Kate McKinnon’s or Leslie Jones’s reaction to every line someone else says (make it part of the drinking game) it’s a hell of a movie. The villain is interesting– he’s basically a GamerGater who has lucked into some supernatural physics– the effects are fun, and some of the shit they get up to with the proton packs and the other weapons Holtzmann comes up with are awesome fun. There’s a great stinger at the end of the movie, too, even if the film should have ended with the line “I love this town!” like the first one did.

(Yes, I know what I just said about the first movie. But they set up that line and then don’t deliver it. They shoulda, dammit.)

Also, this:

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I wanna marry Kate McKinnon, guys. I know; I’m married and she’s gay. Realistically, though, if you think about it, neither of those two things really have much of any effect on my chances, so I figure I’m free to dream on that point. Then again, I’ve never seen her in anything other than this movie, so maybe it’s the possibly-straight-but-I-doubt-it Jillian Holtzmann who I want to marry. She’s not real. That doesn’t affect my chances much either, I guess.

This movie is funny and you will like it so go see it.

The end.

Advanced warning

On July 16, 2016 By Luther M. SilerIn Uncategorized1 Comment

I am tired and taking the night off, but expect a rather effusive review of Ghostbusters tomorrow night.

NOBODY STEPS ON A CHURCH IN MY TOWN!

On February 26, 2014February 25, 2014 By Luther M. SilerIn Geek, Photography2 Comments

So, quick true story, because I was just reading my post about Harold Ramis and I remembered this: I’ve been to New York City once in my life, right? I was there to see somebody, and not to sightsee, and I think she was a little frustrated that I hadn’t come with a list of things I wanted to see.

One place. One only. I wanted to see the hotel and the church from Ghostbusters.

And here it is:

Greatest. Movie. Ever.

Let me state unequivocal fact

On February 24, 2014 By Luther M. SilerIn Geek, Teaching, Television11 Comments

harold-ramis-w-twinkie It is known; you are not allowed to argue the truth of this statement: Ghostbusters is the greatest film ever made. Period, point-blank, there is no discussion allowed on this point. Even if you can find somewhere where I championed some film other than Ghostbusters as the greatest film of all time, I was wrong and I can go straight to hell with my stupid stupidness. If Harold Ramis had done nothing else with his entire life other than either write or star in Ghostbusters, the world would be worse for his passing, and he did both. To say nothing of Animal House, which may be the only film from the seventies that is actually still funny. He will be missed.

(The second greatest film ever made is Jaws. This too is known, and not up for debate. After that we can ~~fight~~ have a reasonable discussion.)

While I’m here: If I ever again suggest that I might be part of a probation assistance team, you all have permission to kick my ass in the most merciless way you can manage until I come to my senses and find something, anything else to do with my time instead. My meeting today lasted from 12:30 until 4:30 and was nothing but pure pain for its entire duration. I’m a union representative; this does not mean that I do not believe that teachers should be able to be fired, it means that I believe there should be rules for dismissing people and that those rules should be clear and fair.

I am verging perilously close to the opinion that perhaps just this once we should forget the rules, because everything about the situation I’m involved in with this teacher is slipping between cracks for one reason or another. I know I’m vaguebooking, and I apologize, but I can’t be too specific for reasons that are probably obvious. I do not like anything about this and I would like it to be over now, thank you.

I have two TV shows to watch now, so g’bye.