This Librarian Wants to Work for Google

So, as I mentioned in my last post, I was making plans to go see The Internship with my mum and last night was that night.  The movie was incredibly funny, like I figured, but what I didn't count on was that I had a lot more to learn about Google.

Back in high school, I dated a guy who's technological dream was to work for Google.  He told me about their pay, their on-site daycare, classes, etc.  But there were some things I had no idea about, like free coffee, awesome bicycle commutes, or all of the various nooks and cranies to work from.  If you think about it, wanting to work for them is not that much of a stretch.  When  graduate next May,  my degree will count me not only as a librarian but as an information specialist.  And that's what Google is, right?  There were many people in and around that building(in the film) for a reason; there's a lot to be done.  Before the film, I felt prepared to say I have an intermmediate level of efficiecy with their programs.  Think about the Google items you use on a daily basis.  If you're me, this included: GMail(Google Mail), Blogger(hello!), YouTube, Google Search, Google Drive(including document, spreadsheet, presentation, and drawing), Google Sites(where I am making my professional portfolio), and at least a few others.  But there was this one moment in the film where Mr. Chetty(Aasif Mandvi) is telling the class about the next challenge: to answer the Google Helpline.  Behind him is a display of all of the various Google products they have made.  I can't recall many(I was too caught up in the movie) but I did catch things like Wallet, which I have no idea about, and I am sure there are many others.  I could probably watch the film when it comes out of DVD, or Google search for the image once the film has more air time, and figure out what these things are.  

Despite my interest in thinking about an internship at Google, the film portrays a very interesting concept.  Watching it with my mother, she appreciated the film from Billy(Vince Vaughn) and Nick(Owen Wilson)'s point of view- slightly older people working in sales that find themselves amongst many tech savvy people.  I identified with Neha(Tiya Sircar)- a college student looking to land a financially stable job in an age where many people graduating from college cannot land jobs.  Stuart(Dylan O'Brien) was in this boat too, along with many other interns, but he connects to his Smartphone a lot more than I do.  Neha was also slightly eccentric, dressed a little loudly, and doesn't have the greatest luck in men- all things true of myself.  Anywaaays..

Without giving away anything from the film- nothing plot essential anyways- their challenges gave me a chance to see California and really make me want to go visit my cousin there.  Also, Google knows sports.  ( #hufflepuff  at heart! )  The actors were awesome and the film was refreshing.  I highly recommend this film, it is family-friendly, and a great "night out" choice.  

Man of 60/40

So let's make this quick and painless.  I wasn't that big of a fan of Man of Steel.  In fact, I am about 60/40 in dislike with the film.  I saw it Friday and have been mulling it over to see if my feelings would change, but they haven't.  Out of my friends and I that went, making three, 2/3 of us didn't have strong feelings, rather feelings of meh.  (The one that did like it has really poor taste in movies and TV generally..) As I have mentioned before, I have been re watching Smallville and I AMA super biased fan of Brandon Routh(the previous Superman movie star).  So let me break this down.

Things I did like:
1) the visuals were awesome. I didn't bother with 3D, as per usual, and overall the other worldly sets were really cool.
2) Russell Crowe makes a great dad.  He was a strong leader and I had a lot of believability in him.
3) the new guy looks like a good Clark Kent.
4) The Daily Planet will suffice.

Things I couldn't stand:
1) shaky cam OVERLOAD!  I wasn't sure if it was my lactose pills settling or if my eyes were actually feeling sick, but when I try to look at different characters or stills and the camera man has something he's trying to shake out of his pants, it isn't good!  I did not like the camera concepts and lack of focus.
2) I did believe in Clark's parents. Not. One. Bit.  They filled the shoes of their role, but I have seen better interpretations of these two characters.
3) the villain was annoying. And illogical.  It took Clark ages to adjust to his abilities, you'd think that'd give him a slight superhuman edge.  Nope, he is matched and trumped for a while by the villain go had breathed in Earth twice.
4) I hate that super hero movies have been bought out by name brand things. Smallville,Kansas didn't need a fight in an iHop or a Sears.  I knew from product advertisements at the stores that they were a Man of Steel sponsor.  Product placement is getting less and less creative and it bothers me immensely.
5) and the fight scenes, okay those sort of worked (especially the super human strength/I'm going to toss you through as many buildings as possible), but how many effing things can we blow up in one film.  I believe mr. Snyder set a new record.
6) Zack Snyder, director of 300 and Watchmen(movies I love and own) let me down.  A slow start, too many flash backs, and then brawl after brawl.  I remember watching the last Superman and feeling tons more satisfied leaving the theatre than I did this Friday.  I won't be buying this one and I certainly don't want to she'll out money to go see it again.  I just wasn't as impressed.  The only good element is that maybe a Justice League movie will happen after all, but to what cost?  Batman's Christian Bale's contract is up and no other super hero of DC has been accomplished yet.

So.  That's what I think.  I hope I don't lose readership, but I feel only meh about this film.

On the plus side, I will have a book review for Nerd Do Well by Simon Pegg and a film review for The Internship up within a few weeks.  Also also, This blog will be featuring a Londin edition admit will play host to my blog assignment for my British librarianship course.  Stay tuned!