I haven’t written one of these random posts where I talk about nothing for a while now. I guess I could do it today. What do you think? I’ll write it and if anything comes from it, I’ll keep it. If not, you’ll never know I had written it for Freedom Friday.
The first thing on my mind is the Apple EarPods I’ve been using for the past year. I’ve had the older model where the sound just didn’t quite make the cut in quality. The music sounded like it was playing through a tin can. I had wished a redesign of them since they came out with the first iPod I had purchased in the early 2000’s. Well, to say the least, these new ones are impressive. I love the warm sound they give, and I enjoy listening to things in the music I never heard before. Equally as great is the comfortable feel in my ears. I wish I had these years ago before I went out to buy expensive headphones that don’t nearly give the same awesome sound. Am I the only one who feels this way?
Next on my list of random things I’ve wanted to mention for a while is 3D in movies. I’m not sure, but is anyone else feeling 3D has had its day in the theater? For instance in Jurassic World, don’t worry I won’t spoil the movie, a few of the flyby scenes showing landscapes seem too clean and precise. Helicopters, especially, look like models. I’m not knocking the movie. I thought it was intense and I got my money’s worth. The thing about it though, 3D didn’t do justice to this film. That’s my opinion, of course. Avengers: Age of Ultron is the same. I saw it in 3D, but there really wasn’t a wow factor associated with the film. I suppose if the film is great, then the 3D is great, but that’s neither here or there. However, Furious 7, which I didn’t see in 3D, was awesome. It proves to me that story is everything, regardless how much studios would like to convince its audience 3D is better.
Movie trailers are on my list, too. When did all of a sudden movie trailers become mini movies? Even more so, why do trailers have to give away vital plot elements to lure the audience into seeing the film? Take the original trailer for Jurassic Park from 1993. Watching it, you’d declare an oath you saw all the dinosaurs featured in the film. If you think that, you are wrong. What you see is a foot, a paw, an eye. You don’t see the entire dinosaur in all its glory. That’s because trailers back then were cool. They didn’t reveal the film, but they did know how to entice an audience with sights and sounds much like Alfred Hitchcock did with his movies. He didn’t show the murder, but you knew it took place because you heard the screams, you saw the knife, and you saw the terror on the victim’s face. Trailers nowadays, reveal too much.
Last thing on my list is mowing the lawn. I agree, it is a weird topic. Hear me out, though. Doing the lawn is fun again. Last year, I bought one of these fancy schmancy lawn mowers that propels itself. Actually, that’s not true. I have to hold it, but I don’t have to push it to where I want it to go. I point the way and it travels on its own. It’s a marvel of technology. Considering my backyard is hill country, this lawn mower beats dragging my tail to get the lawn done. I’m telling you, it’s the next best thing since the invention of the fridge.
Okay, that’s all I had on my mind.
RANGER MARTIN AND THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE, on sale now.
RANGER MARTIN AND THE ALIEN INVASION, on sale now.
RANGER MARTIN AND THE SEARCH FOR PARADISE, on sale October 20.
What’s on your mind? Anything new and exciting you’d like to chat about?
Looking to God 
I agree a lot of these. 3D has felt pointless for a long time now and unless it’s used properly (like Avatar) then it just feels tagged on. The trailers issue really annoys me and I would love to see trailers return to their heyday of giving as little away as possible while still tempting you in with the film.
Self-propelled lawn mowers are THE BEST. Did you ever use the old school ones that rotated the blades as you pushed it? My grandmother had one–thankfully she also had a very tiny yard.
Jurassic Park was awesome! I don’t usually see movies in 3D because it doesn’t seem worth the extra cost to me. In an IMAX theater, perhaps. Otherwise, I’d rather just focus on the story.
Also, I desperately need a new set of ear buds. Mine are beginning to fall apart.
I hope you’re doing well, Jack!
I haven’t used those old school ones. Maybe one day I’ll take a tour of the hardware shops to see what all the fuss was about.
All’s well here, Kaela. Spring was awesome and I’m looking forward to summer! 🙂
I definitely agree about the 3D. Our employee screening was in 3D, which is the only reason I saw it in that format…and there was no point during the movie where I was like, “wow, that was even better in 3D!” I definitely feel like the format has made some movies worse…like The Hobbit, where there are scenes that would have been cut or done completely differently if 3D wasn’t in the minds of the directors.
I haven’t seen The Hobbit in 3D, so I can’t really say yay or nay. But I have to agree that some scenes are in the movie simply for showing it in 3D.
My Sennheiser earphones are starting to break up. I don’t think I’ve seen a film in 3D in all the years I’ve been going to the movies; and I nearly bought a ride-on mower a few months back (for a business that never got off the ground).
I’ve got to give J.J. Abrams props for keeping his trailers just enticing enough without giving away details. Though, I find myself going to movies lately not to be surprised, but to be taken on a good journey.
I agree that trailers show way too much. However, I’ve started to see a trend where movies show a lot when the studios still think they have to sell the movie to get the audience interested. When they are pretty confident the movie is going to do well, the trailers hold back some. Some, mind you. Still nothing like the trailers from back in the day.
I never had much experience with 3 – D save ” Prometheus ” ( The ” Alien ” prequel ). It was supposedly released in Blu – Ray 3 – D. Are we going to be able to keep up ? !
Movie trailers – Some can be more entertaining & engaging than the ACTUAL movie. 🙂
If I’ve seen the movie, then I’ll watch the trailer to see how close it was to the actual movie. Surprisingly with Jurassic World, the trailer gave a lot of the film away. The LEGO trailer was worse by giving away one specific plot point, which was the turning point of the movie.
I’ve never been able to watch 3D movies without getting sick, but I’ve noticed that they aren’t hyped as much as they used to be. I think the shininess has gone away, so they’re not designing many movies to work with a lot of 3D. Avengers and Jurassic World may have been aimed for at IMAX since I can’t think of many scenes that looked prepared for 3D. Totally agree with the trailers, but I think the worst are the articles appearing to reveal characters. Look at Captain America: Civil War and you’ll see there’s no surprise about who is going to be in that. Similar thing with Jurassic World where the big reveal for the final battle was practically handed to us in a few articles. It’s like nobody wants to be surprised any more.
Thankfully I stayed away from all print advertising for Jurassic World as well. I would have hated to watch the film knowing what would have happened at the end, which I figured out on my own about halfway through the movie.
Me too. Still a lot of fun. 😀
We take for granted certain things. Eventually the movie theater will have wind, smells and even moveable parts coming out you. You will feel danger as the dinosaur approaches you. You will smell its breath, you will feel the vibrations of its roar. And in the seats will be steely knifes to render your flesh. You will have to sign an agreement not to sue the theater for damages to your mind. Doctors will be available near the pop corn machine.
The technology is already there. Disney World has been doing this for one of their “immersive” rides for awhile now. An alien thing, where you feel the rumble in your seats, feel the mist of the alien’s breath on you, feel it’s drool, etc. So, you’re probably right. It won’t be long. However, that will be on the theater owners to pony-up for the technology. Considering how much it costs them to just show a movie these days, that might be prohibitive.
Good post. Some mornings my mind is blank and I like it! No thinking until noon!