WD TV HD Media Player

About two weeks ago I purchased a WD TV HD. It was an impulse buy, but I have to say I’m happy I bought it.

Its not an ideal media center. I use a Mac Mini with Plex for that. However I’ve been wanting something ideal for traveling. A small contraption to play avi files on my TV. For that, the WD TV HD is perfect.

It’s tiny and lightweight. Its so lightweight mainly because it doesn’t have any hard drive space. So it’s necessary to have it connected to an external hard drive. But if you have a portable hard drive, and travel a lot, it is an ideal traveling companion.

The user interface is lacking. Completely lacking. While it does support thumbnail images, they all have to be added manually. I’m sure this is mainly because the WD TV HD has no way to access the internet. It has no wireless or ethernet port. The fact that it has no wireless is also irritating because to add data to the hard drive connected to the WD TV HD, you must disconnect your external drive and reconnect it to your computer.

The WD TV HD is definitely not the perfect home media center, but if you need a way to watch your video that is portable, it really is a great solution.

*Cinema — Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)

• Despite my many criticisms, I still totally enjoyed it.

• It was great to see Bumblebee kick some ass.

• The two twin autobots were just absurd. We need more autobots, but… autobots you can actually like.

• Same goes with the humans. I could have done without all the new humans, namely that college roommate.

• Some of the jokes were just incredibly cheap.

• Just about all dialogue was far, far too verbose. It was a bit exhausting. Even when someone was telling someone else to speak more clearly and concisely, the way the they were told was also way too verbose.

• Regardless of my nitpicks, I really liked the film.

*Cinema — The Good Shepherd

The Good Shepherd (2006)

• Much better than I was expecting.

• Much more interesting than I was expecting.

• Long, but not as slow as I imagined it would be.

• It might be the only time I ever see Angelina Jolie play someone with such a disappointing life.

• It’s also amazing how they can make someone so gorgeous look so… not gorgeous.

• Matt Damon did a good job. When does Matt Damon not do a good job?

• Though his character really needed to learn how to keep it in his pants. Or at least keep it in his pants long enough to think a bit first.

*Cinema — RocknRolla

RocknRolla (2008)

• Liked it much more than I thought I would.

• Gerard Butler is charming as hell.

• So were his two friends, Mumbles and Handsome Bob… just loved all three of them.

• Idris Elba plays Mumbles. You may know him better as Stringer Bell on The Wire. Best guy in The Wire, also one of the best guys in RocknRolla.

• You have to love a movie that names a character Handsome Bob.

• I found the guy who played Johnny Quid crazy annoying until the last ten minutes. After that he was great.

• Not really worth mentioning Ludacris & Jeremy Piven…

• My favorite scene? When Stella & One Two dance. Retarded but awesome.

Life Season One

• I should really preface this with the fact that I’m a sucker for crime shows. Seriously I’m willing to watch almost any crime show.

• Easily one of the cheesiest crime shows out there.

• As far as dramatic crime shows go, this one is certainly on the lighter side. In more ways than one.

• It is shot in a very light/bright way. Many crime shows seem to have some very dim and dark lighting to them. Even when indoors, this show is still very light. Its a nice change.

• I enjoy the creative ways murder victims die on this show. Not all the the time, but some of the crime scenes themselves are quite creative. It makes the show fun.

• I really like Reese, Crews’ partner. Her dark past is a bit cheesy, but I still like her chemistry with Crews. She balances him out.

(Read the rest)

*Cinema — Step Brothers

Step Brothers (2008)

• I’m ashamed of how much I enjoyed this.

• Bordered somewhere on the lines of funny and almost horrifying at times.

• Mary Steenburgen just kicked ass.

• Kathryn Hahn, who played the older brother’s wife, made the movie for me. I started liking the movie as soon as she showed up.

• I still can’t believe that I enjoyed this.

*Cinema — Baby Mama

Baby Mama (2008)

• It’s deeper that I expected.

• The trailers didn’t do it justice at all.

• Amy Poehler just kicks major ass. Also, she looks absolutely gorgeous in the scene were we meet her.

• Greg Kinnear’s part was pretty predictable and flat. There just wasn’t much going on there. I guess I just didn’t buy him.

• Steve Martin was fabulous.

• Romany Malco is just great in anything he’s in. However no one spends that much time with their door man. No one.

• Overall fun and I enjoyed it much much more than I was expecting to.

*Cinema — P.S. I Love You

P.S. I Love You (2007)

• Unavoidably, if not stupidly, sad.

• The whole letter aspect is a great idea though. Though the fact that the letters inevitably end is incredibly depressing.

• I may never really get Hillary Swank’s appeal.

• Jeffery Dean Morgan plays a decent Irish Guy.

• That whole rude Harry Conick Jr. thing was pretty annoying and definitely not attractive.

• That girl was just drawn to Irish guys. So silly.

*Cinema — Wristcutters: A Love Story

Wristcutters: A Love Story (2006)

• Loved the always funny Will Arnett.

• Enjoyed the idea that once you commit suicide, you end up in another world very similar to the old one you lived in… just slightly worse.

• I also liked Eugene’s song that played throughout the film.

• Not bad, not bad.

*Cinema — Pineapple Express

Pineapple Express (2008)

• Danny McBride was just plain fantastic. “Thug life.” He made the movie.

• Rosie Perez was great. She’s getting older, which weirds me out.

• Seth Rogan and James Franco were both good.

• Very very funny.

• Yet I did feel like it was a bit too much of a “stoner comedy” for me in general.

• Appreciated Kevin Corrigan & Craig Robinson as hit men.

• The car chase was easily one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen. Ever.