Violence in Video Games

Hey all, just browsing the good ole Internet and I happened to come across an article that was related to the violence in video games topic that we discussed last week.

http://www.apa.org/science/about/psa/2003/10/anderson.html

I thought it was interesting that like Dr. Alperstein said, even after all of the research (40 years in this case) they really still do not have a difinitive answer. Although I found those myths interesting, particularly the one about cartoonish violence. I agree that that type of violence is probably more destructive for children and young teens as it mixes something they normally embrace (cartoons) with unrealistic/fantasyish violence.

Anyways, that's all for now. Happy St. Patrick's Day.

Oscar Preview

Tomorrow are the Oscars, I figure since I'll be guessing anyway might as well put down my predictions for the major categories here. This is based on my opinion/what I've heard from the media, but it's all just speculation. * are for the movies I have seen.

Actor in a Leading Role
Jeff Bridges: Crazy Heart
George Clooney: Up in the Air*
Colin Firth: A Single Man
Morgan Freeman: Invictus
Jeremy Renner: The Hurt Locker

Prediction: Jeff Bridges. He took the Golden Globe, and there's really no reason to doubt that he will lose this either. Freeman and Clooney were good, but I've seen them both perform better.

Actor in a Supporting Role
Matt Damon: Invictus*
Woody Harrelson: The Messenger
Christopher Plummer: The Last Station
Stanley Tucci: The Lovely Bones
Christopher Waltz: Inglorious Bastards*

Prediction: Christopher Waltz. He essentially made this movie for me, so I'm giving it to him.

Actress in a Leading Role
Sandra Bullock: The Blind Side
Helen Mirren: The Last Situation
Carey Mulligan: An Education
Gabourey Sidibe: Precious
Meryl Streep: Julie and Julia

Prediction: Sandra Bullock. I have no idea on this one. No, I haven't seen Blind Side, yes I know I need to. I do know she beat Helen Mirren in the Golden Globes, so that's got to count for something, right?

Actress in a Supporting Role
Penelope Cruz: Nine
Vera Farminga: Up in the Air*
Maggie Gyllenhaal: Crazy Heart
Anna Kendrick: Up in the Air*
Mo'Nique: Precious

Prediction: Penelope Cruz. When in doubt, go with Penelope Cruz - (unwritten rule on Oscar guessing #13). Kendrick was really good, as was Farminga, but even between them, I couldn't choose.


Best Director
James Cameron: Avatar*
Kathryn Bigelow: The Hurt Locker
Quentin Tarantino: Inglorious Bastards*
Lee Daniels: Precious
Jason Reitman: Up in the Air*

Prediction: Quentin Tarantino. I, too, enjoyed Up in the Air a bit more than Inglorious, but I think that the actors made Air what it was while Tarantino's brilliance made Bastards.

Best Adapted Screenplay
District 9
An Education
In the Loop
Precious
Up in the Air*

Prediction: Up in the Air. This is a tough, but I'm going with the only movie I saw. Just call it a hunch.

Best Original Screenplay
The Hurt Locker
Inglorious Bastards*
The Messenger
A Serious Man
Up

Prediction: The Hurt Locker. "While the dialogue wasn't the strong suit of this movie, the suspense was. That wasn't accidental, it was written that way." - Brian Klein, fellow Oscar predictor. For me, this is a toss up between Locker and Basterds, but I'm swinging towards the Locker, just because it's my Best Picture pick.

Best Picture
Avatar*
The Blind Side
District 9
An Education
The Hurt Locker
Inglorious Bastards*
Precious
A Serious Man
Up
Up in the Air*

Prediction: The Hurt Locker. So many nominations, but in the end, I've got to go with the movie that I think the Academy is most likely to pick. Avatar was visually extraordinary, and Up in the Air was my favorite movie of 2009. But from what I'm told, Hurt Locker is better, which means I really should see it.

BTW - I was right last year with Slumdog... and I was right last month with Taylor Swift, not tooting my own horn or anything.