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Here is my impression of Tron: Legacy:

Taking a movie that is a pillar of computer nerd culture, revitalizing it and presenting a sequel with broad market appeal a generation later is a hard thing to do. The story itself was relatively weak, but easy to follow. But you’re not going to see Tron for the story. Thats like saying you wanted to see The Expendables for the acting. No, you go to see Tron for the special effects, and they were there in spades!
The graphics in this film were nothing short of spectacular. Between paying homage to the original and pushing the boundaries of what is currently capable, Tron: Legacy was all over it. You just couldn’t help but be in awe of the world that they managed to create. The fact that every frame of this movie was digitally enhanced is impressive. And yes, that has been done before, but where movies like the Star Wars prequels failed miserably, Tron succeeded.
All that being said, I think that Tron can also be seen as a bit of a social commentary. Here we are in 2010 and this movie all about a computer world is a major box office release that has garnered a lot of attention. Twenty-eight years ago when the original was released it was praised for its technological achievements, but generally forgotten except for by a very small group of people categorized as nerds. But now everyone is a computer nerd. Who doesn’t have a computer in their pocket? Who doesn’t get on the computer at home multiple times a day? Who doesn’t constantly get online to communicate with other people over vast distances? That is why Disney decided to make a sequel to Tron, because we now live in a world full of nerds, even if most people won’t admit it.
I’ll close with this fantastic comic from Scott Ramsoomair’s VG Cats which sums up my feelings with how society is now pretty well:

Back with another exciting installment of Auto Text! Eric and I discuss the Nissan Altima Coupe and the Hyundai Genesis Coupe.

Eric: Why can’t the Altima Coupe be RWD with a 2.0T and a 6-speed? Why Stephen? Why?

Stephen: Because the world hates you. Besides, just get a Genesis Coupe.

Eric: But the Altima Coupe is so much sexier. Kind of an awkward ass, but I can forgive that.

Stephen: Yeah, I know. But do you love what’s on the inside? I mean, she may be a pretty face but does she make you smile? The Genesis Coupe may not have the looks, but she’ll keep you happy.

Eric: Ms. Altima could make me smile in SR trim with a V6. But at that point she really let herself go with the weight and that gold digging $32k sticker. The Genesis accepts me for who I am in 2.0 R-spec trim for $10k less and she makes me laugh and feel young again. Do you know what it’s like to laugh like that?

Stephen: To laugh like you’re young and free without a care in the world? Son, I drive a Miata. I know.

Eric: How I long for that unbridled passion. How could I even think of that money grubbing Altima when the sweet Genesis is at my beck and…
OMG Integra what are you doing home so soon? I.. I was just looking at this C&D Genesis article for Stephen… No, it’s got nothing to do with you! Honey, come back here!

Stephen: Eric, you’ve got to man up and tell Teggy that you’re growing apart. That you have adult needs that she can’t fulfill. You want to do power slides and lay down insane patches of rubber. You want 50/50 weight distribution. You want boost! She needs to know it’s not her, it’s you.

Eric: I know. I’ve tried but she gets so angry and yells at me. Deep down, I’m scared to leave her.

Stephen: Some times, Eric, bold action is the only way.

Eric: Some day. But not today. Shhh… She might hear us.

Stephen: I’ll pray for you.

Eric: Thanks.

…Was a good night. The cork was popped the moment we heard the House had fallen on the Wicked Witch and toasts were had for every flying monkey blotted from the sky! Now we can look forward to everyone turning away from the mythical land of Oz and going back to Kansas.

Several of my good friends and I often lament that the ’80′s are long gone. Though we were but babes in that most luminous of recent decades, to us it represents the last of the golden age. When getting to go out and play with friends meant running around outside, not hoveling in the basement in front of a PlayStation. When music was unique and diverse, not all auto tuned mindless drivel. Before computers had taken over cars (and our lives) and the state decided to try to become everyone’s nanny. When political bickering ended at the water because we all had a common foe. Back when men were men and women liked it that way!
Now I have attempted to keep politics at a minimum on this site but I saw the following ad today, and though it is decidedly slanted one way, I think that it sums up how far our country has fallen in the last 26 years particularly if you juxtaposition it against the original Reagan campaign ad. Not just because of the current or previous administrations, but because of so many things in society that we have lost since the 1980′s.

Now am I saying that I want to go back to the 80′s? Fear of nuclear war, terrible fashion (shoulder pads? Mom, what the hell were you thinking?), no internet, ect. ect. The answer is no. And I’m not aggrandizing Ronald Reagan here either. All I’m saying is that the 80′s, love ‘em or hate ‘em, represented a period of innocence and simplicity that I sometimes long to return.

Continuing our often slightly off color automotive texting, Eric and I discuss the Ferrari 458 Italia:

(Photo © 2010 richebets; used under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license)

Stephen: Outside of our usual area of interest, but what are your thoughts on the 458 Italia (aside from being flaming hot)?

Eric: Makes me pretty hot in my pants. Prettier then the F430 and I didn’t think that was possible. Way hotter than the 360 Modena. Puns not intended.

Stephen: I think between the California and the Italia the Italia is far more attractive. And let’s face it, for folks like us who cares about the performance of a Ferrari. All we ever get out of them is eye candy. Just like freshman coeds. That’s not to say I wouldn’t flog a 599 GTB like the naughty exchange student she is.

Eric: Well put.

Car & Driver has launched an ambitious campaign to Save the Manuals! And since I am a proponent of the manual transmission and all it merits, I wholly endorse it.

My friend Eric and I are members of the automotive enthusiast fringe. The weirder, harder to find the better. This is an absolutely hilarious text message exchange we had the other day regarding one of my favorite websites, Bring a Trailer.
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Eric: Dude, what have u done? Bringatrailer.com is cocaine. I Keep telling myself I have it under control.

Me: Yes… Yes it is. That Cosworth gave me a redwood.

Eric: Oh yeah! and the 953 Rally! Boing! I can stop any time.. I can stop any time.

Me: Snooort.

Eric: Oh yes… (wipes blood from nostril) thats it right there

Me: Rusty pipe? Been awhile since you thought about buying a 30 year old 25k garage find?

Eric: Apparently. I usually fap to the stuff on hemmings site, but this stuff is more kink… I mean unique

Me: Its kinda like 8mm snuff films, I know. The stuff on Hemmings is so pedestrian and clean. You have to be really out there to like BaT.

Eric: Oh yeah. It makes me feel so dirty.. and I love it. I also love our seemless transition from drug to sex innuendo

Me: Sex, drugs and rusty cars baby!

I’m proud to announce that I have just launched a new website called Import Relics. Most who read this site are surely aware of my near clinical obsession with the automobile and in particular imports. Import Relics is where I intend to collect my photographs, musings and research regarding significant or interesting imports from our past.
Check out the first post on the original ricer, the Datsun 510.

Those that know me and frequently tolerate my futurist rants know that for many years I have mused about the end of television as we know it. That eventually everything will be distributed free online. Yes, I know that you can already go to Hulu or YouTube and watch your favorite sitcom or webisode, but even there, it’s not free. You have the website littered with ads and there are still those annoying commercials. No, the day is nigh where people with an idea, passion and desire will create high quality entertainment for the masses and distribute it freely without the confines of the studio system, advertisers and Nelson ratings.

The most recent in this burgeoning market is Pioneer One. A sci-fi web series that is rather X-Filesesq, but with a much more interesting twist on the extraterrestrial life part.

Not to spoil the whole pilot episode, but basically an unknown object enters the atmosphere over Montana and leaks radiation on it’s way down. The Department of Homeland Security suspects a dirty bomb and investigates only to find it was an old Soviet spacecraft. What is in the spacecraft is the mystery.

This show plays to all my loves. Sci-fi, Cold War intrigue, the possibility of life on other planets (notice, not aliens) and mystery. The quality of the show is good for a totally independent production. And when I say totally independent, I mean totally (stuff it Sundance). The project is completely funded by public donations. They filmed the pilot episode for only $6,000, and its pretty good for that. The picture is high quality, the acting by the main characters is good and they keep the effects to a minimum, letting the lighting, music and dialog carry the show. Something that is so rare in sci-fi today.

If you’re interested in taking a chance on something a little different, I would highly recommend downloading it over at VoDo.

There are few bands that just wow me. Early Guster, The Sounds and Tally Hall are the short list. About a month ago I discovered another band that I can add to that list:The Indelicates.

Wonderful guitar rock mixed with brilliant lyrics shared between Simon Indelicate (Clayton) and Julia Indelicate (Clark-Lewis). Simon’s voice is just angry enough to make you feel like perhaps what he has to say is important even though it’s laced with humor and Julia’s dreamy voice takes you back to when female vocalists knew how to do something other than just scream.

Their first album American Demo is one of those perfect albums, where every song can be listened to multiple times without finding it boring. Stand out songs are “Julia, We Don’t Live in the 60′s” and “The Last Signifigant Statement…”.

Their second album Songs for Swinging Lovers is good, but not quite as thoroughly perfect. “Sympathy for the Devil”, a twangy countryesq number, is the standout on that album.

If you want to take a chance, pick up their albums over at Corporate Records where you can pay what you feel like (awesome), you won’t be sorry. Here is a sample of what you can expect: