How to beat one of those claw machines

http://www.totallycrap.com/videos/videos_how_to_beat_the_claw_game/


(I suspect it's faked -- the hole seems to get bigger at just the right moment -- but it's still a nifty idea)

I sense a theme

For the second time in a week, I enjoyed real butter on popcorn while watching a flawed film.

This time, I was at The Brattle on Saturday, catching the latest (free) Elements of Film choice, Gun Crazy (aka Deadly is the Female), a ludicrously miscast film which makes up for its shortcomings with two great extended shots and some nice work by director John Lewis.

John Dall is MST3K-level awful attempting to portray the conflicted and insanely naive Bart, a man who loves guns but hates killing. Peggy Cummins is not much better off as circus gun act Laurie, who has no qualms about killing, but who wants (occasionally) to be good for Bart.

But the movie overcomes the acting, providing some nice sexual tension (especially for its time), and some amazing shots.

The winner, by far, is the single shot from the backseat that covers the drive to, commission of, and getaway from a bank robbery. It's just gorgeous. I can't find it on Youtube, alas, but it's worth renting the movie just to watch. Really.

The movie as a whole offers a lot, including tons of moments that laid the groundwork for films like Bonnie and Clyde, and the supporting cast is generally pretty solid. It's a B-movie all the way, but a fun ninety minutes, with enough good action and drama (including a surprisingly solid ending) to entertain, and enough B-moments to make group commentary worthwhile.

Happy Birthday!

To Max, who is now a teenager.

Pics behind the cut.

( Warning: Lots of large and cute image files. )

My annual KOL/Comic-Con request

Is anyone going to San Diego Comic-Con who is NOT a KOL player, and is willing to stop by the Asymmetric booth (1431) to snag me the annual free swag? I'll pay for postage, of course.

Stuff to read, Monday edition

1. Jim MacDonald's ongoing series of "Trauma and You" posts continues with "The Squishy Bits," covering sucking chest wounds, the tournequet controversy, degloving, and other stuff you'll hopefully never have to deal with.

2. A brief history of Hellboy, discussing where Mike Mignola's creation comes from, and where it's going (useful for me, as I'm a few years behind on the guy's comic-book adventuress).

3. Scrapple Fried Rice! If this isn't the greatest idea ever, it's surely in the top ten.

4. The return of Hepcats! Really. Actual new comic material, written and drawn by Martin, even.

5. Sarah Langan on why she writes horror.

And five short takes/items:

1. Jordana Brewster will be appearing on Chuck! As the infamous Jill!

2. Empire ranks the 50 Greatest Comic Characters of All Time. With a list this large, everyone can have something to bitch about (and there's plenty, including the "fun but not nearly in the top 200" Scott Pilgrim, although there are also some surprisingly accurate inclusions, not least of which is Deena Pilgrim (no relation)).

3. I know it's old news, but who doesn't want to see a housecat taking care of a baby red panda?

4. Top ten things an author should not do at Amazon.

5. Finally, in light of the summer heat, how about the Best Ice Cream in New England? JP Licks only gets a 3/5, but in light of they way they do ratings (like the NYTimes restaurant reviews, actually), that's not shabby, and Rancs gets a 4/5 (those two places cover about 95% of my ice cream purchases, not counting gelato, of course).

Once again, the real world mirrors science fiction

TSA gets pissy about a leak, instead of working to fix the actual problem (which they deny exists in the first place).

Don't even think about publishing the TSA's rejection letters.

The ongoing Sanders saga

I've come to the conclusion that William Sanders and Helix must actually be part of a massive, years-long viral marketing campaign for some still undetermined movie or internet site (maybe some elaborate piece of performance art?); it sounds far-fetched, but when he does stuff like this, it's hard to take him seriously otherwise.

That said, "The Waterheads" is my new band name.

ETA: No, I take it back. Pantiwadulous request is my new band name.

Feistgasm!

Feist's 1-2-3-4, on Sesame Street:

Done in one shot, just like the original video, too.