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Star Wreck
I finally watched Star Wreck: In the Pirkinning (torrent) (IMdb) last night, a film which is self-described as the “first-ever Finnish science fiction adventure”, and declared by wikipedia to be “the most popular Finnish movie ever.”
Being a completely independent, home-made film, I certainly have to give these guys credit. They’ve done a wonderful job demonstrating the potential for grassroots artists to create media assets that not only rival more expensive productions, but also attract a strong, viral fan base. It’s excellent foreshadowing for the changes coming to the motion picture business.
As for the film itself, I found the story to be a bit odd (although after having seen the film and investigated a bit, I now realize that it is part of an on-going story, and I haven’t seen the previous segments.) What I found unique is that the main character is almost an anti-hero, but doesn’t actually do anything good. His motivation is to conquer the universe, but he has no plans or reasoning for doing so. By the end, I found myself not being concerned with the outcome of any of the main characters, neither rooting for or against them.
Even still, if you’re a fan of foreign cult and/or grassroots films, this one should be on your list. Especially if you visit Finland on occasion.
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A few books I'm reading now:
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Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High
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Watchmen
-- graphic novel (and an upcoming movie)
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What Got You Here Won't Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful
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The Unwritten Laws of Business
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The Simplicity Survival Handbook: 32 Ways To Do Less And Accomplish More
A few books I'd recommend:
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Naked Economics: Undressing the Dismal Science
by Charles Wheelan -- A fantastic overview of the field of Economics. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book.
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A Short History of Nearly Everything
by Bill Bryson -- a true tale of scientific thinking throughout history. You'll be amazed by how much we still don't know.
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Freakonomics [Revised and Expanded]: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything
by Steven D. Levitt, Stephen J. Dubner -- a fun read offering a somewhat different way of looking at society. Answers questions like "Why do drug dealers still live with their moms?", and what qualities in a parent matter for the success of a child later in life?
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Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity
by David Allen. I'm a bit of a GTD freak since reading this, but productivity == $$ (whether you can simply get more work done in a given time, or work less by focusing on the right tasks.)