A Movie List, The Fun Way

Do you have a movie list in a notebook, in your filing cabinet, or on your computer? Many people do. Whether you simply like to keep lists and inventories, or it's necessary to keep track of a vast collection, keeping a movie list can be as simple as a list of titles, or it can be an elaborate database with tons of information about each movie. But the most fun way to keep track of your collection is with special software that does the hard work for you, and lets you simply enjoy browsing through your movie list.
If you're keeping a movie list written down somewhere, now's the time to transfer your list to the computer. Paper lists are easily lost, and though updating them is as simple as writing down something new, to re-organize the list you have to rewrite the entire thing. If you like any semblance of order to your list, a paper inventory doesn't have much to offer.
At the very least, you can type the list into your computer in either a text editor or a word processor. Then even though it looks just like a paper list, only typed, it's much easier to insert a movie where you want it and make changes without re-doing the whole thing. A better solution would be for you to create a database on your computer for your movies. Most office software packages offer database-making capabilities, so it's not difficult (as long as you know your way around your software) to create a movie list database. You'll just create headers for the title of the movies, the genre, the year of release, and any other headers you want.
If you create a movie list database on your computer, set aside a good chunk of time to type in all your movies and their relevant information. Depending on how large your collection is, how fast you type and how familiar you are with making and updating a database, this could be quite a project. But once it's done, then you can manipulate your list, sort it, and organize it any way you want, on the fly. Alternately, you can download some sort of list-making software that's generic in its approach—you can list anything. Then you won't have to make a database, but you still have to take the time to type everything in.
Or you could make a movie list the fun way, with software designed just for movies. The best movie list software does all the hard work for you—not just set-up, but filling in the movie information, too. You'll just use the software to search for a film. When it finds the right one, you're only a few clicks away from adding it to your collection complete with an image of the cover, and detailed information about each film. Forget those written or typed movie lists! Keep track of your movies the fun and easy way, with movie list software.

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Free on Line Movies: Are P2P Legal or Bootleg Movies?

When you download free on line movies, are you downloading P2P legal or bootleg movies? The answer to that question isn't as easy to answer as you might believe, since it digs into the murky depths of copyright law, and in the USA at least the term 'murky' barely covers it.
Let's get one or two facts right first, so we all know where we are starting from in this discussion. P2P, peer to peer, file sharing or network software, whatever you want to call it, is not illegal.

Although it is illegal to own Kazaa in Australia, the Supreme Court in the Netherlands ruled that Kazaa was not illegal because it was the way the software was used that was illegal, not the software itself. A similar judgment was given by a federal court judge in Los Angeles, who ruled that peer-to-peer firms Morpheus and Grokster were not responsible for infringements of copyright made using their software.

Hence, P2P legal software can be used to download free on line movies, as long as these movies are not protected by copyright. Some have pointed to Napster's demise in their original form as evidence that software is illegal, but those that do have missed the point entirely. There is a fundamental difference between Napster and the other P2P sites. The reason Napster was closed down, and had to be resurrected in a more normal format, was its central server.

To understand that you have to understand how peer to peer software works, and the difference between P2P legal downloads and bootleg movies. When a member of a P2P service downloads a movie or a music track, they do so from the hard disk of another member who is currently online. If you are searching for a particular movie, you will be given a list of those available and normally how many online computers have that movie on their hard disk.

When you download, you could be downloading packets from several hard disks simultaneously to speed up the process. Napster used a central server as a hub between the provider and the receiver of the file, every download passing through the server. Because of that, Napster was deemed legally responsible for every download made, since they in effect passed the illegal files on to their customers.

Current free on line movies are downloaded directly from the provider's hard disk, with no central hub. The download is a direct link between you and the computers that are collectively providing the download. It is purely software driven, so that the merchants of that software cannot be liable for the way it is used.

That is what annoyed the movie and music companies so much, because they thought they had the problem cracked when they successfully prosecuted Napster. But they were wrong, and suddenly found that they had to pursue each of the millions of users that were illegally using the software as opposed to the relatively simple task of tackling the software providers.

So when is downloading legal and illegal? What is the difference between a PSP legal free download and a bootleg movie? It's a simple answer, but not so simple to follow. Basically, any work that is still protected by copyright law cannot be legally copied or downloaded without the owner's consent. You can be practically certain that all online music and most movies and games are protected by copyright unless the owners are permitting them to be downloaded.

Many do allow it. Particularly young artists wanting their names known, or wanting to test a new game or advertise a new album by releasing a copyright-free track for online distribution. Most don't, and if you try to understand the copyright law, particularly in the USA, it is very murky indeed. It's fairly simple with movies in the UK: music tracks are copyrighted for 50 years after it is generated, and movies for 80 years after the death of the last major director, author or composer.

In the USA the situation has been complicated by the Sony Bono Law, and it seems that no music is now free of copyright, and movies will covered for at least another 30 or 40 years, though some made before 1923 might be in the public domain. As I said - complicated.
Here, therefore, are a few tips on how to ensure P2P legal downloads of free on line movies and avoid bootleg movies:

1. Don't download anything from a P2P site unless you know that it is definitely copyright-free.
2. If you have a specific need for a particular movie, then rent it using an online rental service such as Love Films or Blockbuster.
3. Alternatively, if you like movies and are liable to want to download a lot, take a membership with a 100% legal download site. There are sites online that allow downloads of licensed titles for a monthly or annual membership fee. One even offers a 2-year membership with unlimited downloads. That sort of deal is very attractive, since why take the chance of a $150,000 fine if you can get what you want for a measly $40 every two years? That's less than $1.70 a month!
4. If something is completely free you can be sure it is also likely a bootleg movie, and therefore illegal. Unless it is monetized by adverts, no site can make money by giving away legal movies free of charge. The same is true of music. The reason for that is these movies and music tracks have to paid for by whoever is promoting them, so why give them away having paid for them? They must be illegal!

To sum up, then, it is possible to get free on line movies by paying a one-time membership fee for unlimited downloads. OK, they are not free, but two downloads a week would mean they cost only 19 cents a movie. Is that cheap? Bootleg movies will cost just the same, but you have the added complication of perhaps being caught. This is unlikely, given the untold millions that use P2P sites, but why take the chance if it isn't necessary?

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Movie Cars You Can Own Too!

Let's be real. How many times have you sat down at the movie theatre and seen a cool car that you thought you would love to have? You know you wanted that Batmobile. I know I did! Now, you can find those famous car replicas and can piece them together yourself! How cool is that?

Varying Degrees of Difficulty
Before you try to do this though, some of them are a bit trickier than your typical model car. So, know beforehand what you want to take on. This is especially so since the model car producers try to add some features that you must put together yourself. Sure the Batmobile looked cool on the widescreen with all it could do, but what about when you have to start gluing those pieces on? Don't get too far over your head now.

What to Look for
Just like you sometimes have to jump through hoops to get something you want, so it is sometimes the same for model cars. Some people use fake paint or paint that somewhat matches the color, but the whole idea behind replicas, let's face it, is to have it look just like the one you saw in that really killer movie. Look for ones that have licenses with the movie that you are looking for, and you'll be guaranteed to have the colors that match the color that they used for the beautiful car you saw on the big screen.

What else should you keep in mind while you're thinking about the car you want? Well, how much money you want to spend is another point that you need to consider, along with the scale. The harder the scale, the more money you're going to spend. Likewise, how popular was the movie. If it's a movie that everyone is lining up for or it's during the premiere of the movie, or even when the movie comes out on DVD, you will more than likely be paying way more than what you need to spend. Wait until the craze of the movie settles down before you run out to buy that model.

Keeping and Selling
These cars are great to do as you recall your favorite scenes from the movie. Some people have gone so far as to customize their cars on the inside with passengers based on character from the movie. I bet a few of you have been seen to be playing with these cars as you recount word for word what happened in the movie, because you have seen it so many times. The same is true for other models from movies. The sky is the limit. If you go to sell one of your models, depending on the popularity of the movie and how long ago the movie was made, you might have a good sale on your hand. You might have to go through some searches though. While many model car companies do create the replicas, not all of them create replicas of every movie ever made. So, go look for that car you said you'd never have, because it might be built just by you!

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Dating And A Movie Again

Are you tired of the same old routine first dates? Need a change from the dinner and a movie routine? Why not do something that gives you some insight into each other’s personality and is interesting? Not that I’m totally against dinner and a movie as a first date or even a tenth date. There is the benefit that you don’t have to think about what you’re going to say next for at least 90 minutes (even longer if it’s a Kevin Costner epic). I just think that a change needs to occur when I’ve seen all of the movies playing this month at the local megaplex. Another downside to dinner and a movie is that it can be inconvenient for those of us who work the nightshift. So I am offering the following ideas to inspire you to get out of the dating rut, whether it’s your first or tenth.

For the romantic, a picnic is an ideal choice as long as the weather cooperates. For inclimate weather you may have to get creative in your location, but don’t give up hope. Traditionally, picnicking is something that established couples do, but don’t be afraid to suggest it early in your romance. In addition to having as simple or elaborate meal as you choose, you can bring along a Frisbee or ball to play catch. You can also take a walk. For the less ambitious or weather bound, you can people watch or share a paper (Sunday papers work especially well). Another benefit is that daylight dating adds a little bit of safety, and you can always have an escape excuse if things aren’t going the way you planned (Examples: I’m babysitting for a friend, I’m having my teeth cleaned, I have to have dinner with my parents – you get the idea.). People also seem to be more honest about themselves in the cold light of day, which is always refreshing. Finally, there is the benefit that you can always continue the date into the evening if things are going exceptionally well.

Another great date place is a theme park. If you live near one of the larger ones, like Disneyland, it can be expensive. Call and ask about local resident discounts, and if you have friends that work there ask if they can get you a passes at a reduced rate. Don’t overlook the smaller carnivals and festivals in your area. It can be significantly less expensive and equally entertaining. These sort of places have a little of everything, so you should be able to find something the two of you can enjoy. This is also a great choice for that first date with his or her children.

Sports and hobbies are also excellent dating opportunities. Are you a member of a club? Invite your next date to a club activity. Mountain biking, hiking, in-line skating, tennis, or any joint hobby can be excellent first date material. They provide an activity that you both have a common interest in. Also, there is no better way to bring out the dark side of people than competitive sports. Wouldn’t you like to see that up front? You can also impress your date with your skill, or get a few pointers from him or her.

The whole point though is to do something that is interesting and allows for you to get to know each other better. Even if you don’t click on a romantic level, you can always have an enjoyable afternoon that won’t leave you feeling like you should have done your laundry instead.

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Bootleg Movie Download: Are Bootleg Movie Downloads Really Worth It?

Ah, everyone wants a freebie or two, and since “everyone is doing it,” this gives us justification for ripping off movies from distributors and movie outfits alike. The Movie Picture Association of America or MPAA is not particularly happy with this turn of events. Millions of dollars are lost in potential revenues for the film corporate giants like: 20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures Viacom / DreamWorks, Sony Pictures, Universal Studios, the Walt Disney Company and Warner Bros.

If you are thinking that these giants are making too much money anyway, a little bootleg movie download should not hurt their money making ventures, then you ought to think again. Some of these big named studios are experiencing the pinch and though that sounds innocuous, this is a state that basically sends many of its production workers jobless and packing for home. These corporate giants are after all, employment providers that seek out the services of many blue collar personnel.

Not only that, but medium to small time movie production outfits like: independent movie makers, or out-house editing companies, or independent special effects developers, are not making even marginal profits anymore. Many of them have to close shop too, if they are lucky. If not, most of these establishments end up in the bankruptcy list because they could not pay off their operational bills.

These are the real long-term effects of the rampant practice of bootleg movie download. Other effects are still too miniscule manifest on the big-time scale, which is why many of us do not really feel the effects of what we consider “a little film pirating on the side.” Sure as shooting, it is the littlest people who feel the consequences of big movie outfits tightening their belts.

We are not even covering the losses and potential losses of other film productions outside the US. Smaller countries have a hard enough time maintaining a film industry, and piracy can certainly take a larger toll on them.

And just to make this issue clear, film piracy is not a flea market enterprise. This misconception stems from the fact that most of these pirated copies are seen in flea markets. The truth is: legally documented reports of copyright infringement issues have surged since ready technology for capturing movies in cinemas became available. Of course, no one blames the digital camera makers, but a tiny, high-def digicam is one of the tools commonly used in the illegal capturing of films.

Also, there are films that are “leaked” to pirates who make copies of films undergoing post-production clean-ups. These are the films that still retain screen shot editing numbers that run during the entire film. Although these “leaked” films are unpolished, they usually have better audio and visual quality than those captured “live” in cinemas.

It is now estimated that there are over half a million pirated films being reproduced and sold openly, and that is on a daily basis. And this head count does not take even account of all underground piracy movements (the ones that local governments cannot seem to trace,) the individual piracy practices, and music piracy issues to boot. Sooner or later, one or more of the corporate giants will succumb to loss of revenue, and this only means that there are more people who will become unemployed.

So the question remains, is the practice of bootleg movie download really worth it in the long run? The answer is a simple, “no.” If you want to have your own collection of movies, you may want to patronize legal movie distributors on the web like http://bootlegmoviedownload.ws. Websites like these offers back copyright payments for the distribution of movies.

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The Transformers Movie

What’s cool about the advancement of technology is that there are certain pieces that were simply made for advanced pieces of technology, but were created too soon. A prime example would be “Dark Side of the Moon” by Pink Floyd. The sonic landscapes and incredible details of the album were simply born to be enjoyed on the crisp, clean sound that a CD player could only provide. Even though “Dark Side” was released in 1974, its full appreciation couldn’t be discovered until the advent of the CD some 15 years later. Now, “Dark Side of the Moon” is the first CD you purchase when you grow out of your little crappy radio to a full-fledged adult, amazing kick-ass stereo system.

Which brings us to film; special effects have always been an integral part of creating worlds that moviegoers could believe in. From the colorization of Oz to Moses parting to Red Sea to being chased by the Death Star, special effects are just as important as the lead actor in some films. And while we’ve always been amazed at what was created for its time, it would be interesting to see what could be done then with the technology of today.

If there is one movie that’s destined for today’s technological and special effects advances, it comes out in July of 2007: the Transformers. For years, fans and enthusiasts would imagine what a real life Transformer would look like. How would the classic cartoon incarnation of Optimus Prime, Megatron and the other Autobots and Decepticons translate to a live action, big screen adventure? Well, this year, that question will be answered.

Forget about story or character or plot development for a second, and simply focus on big giant robots beating each other up. And then, in an instant, those big giant robots will transform into a truck or a plane and rip through the city at an incredible pace. In the early days of film, the concept would probably be impossible to place on the screen and do it justice. In the golden age of film, it would look interesting, but laughable. In the special effects era of movies, it would look passable, but not believable. But now, in 2007, with all the possibilities and abilities which special effects wizards have at their disposal, the Transformers, should, at the very least, look realistic.

A common source of debate for the upcoming Transformers movie is how the characters should look. The classic cartoon appearance, while iconic and nostalgic, supposedly does not translate that well onto a live action, big screen experience. Therefore, a whole new redesign of all the characters was necessary in order to make this movie appear realistic. And that is one of the main objectives behind this movie: it has to look absolutely real. In today’s age of special effects magic, there shouldn’t be too many movies that have cheap looking production values. But, in terms of scope and size, the visual challenges of the Transformers represent some of the biggest in moviemaking history.

Of course, because this is a big-budget adaptation of a classic 80’s cartoon and comic, the whole idea is to make this a trilogy. But, nobody is going to be interested in Tranformers 2 & 3 if the first one looks amateurish. This is one of those movies that could never have been made at any other time before this one, and it’s just as imperative that all the effects are done to perfection. There are some cracks at movies that you only get one shot at, with no remake really possible. This is one of those movies!

Can’t wait to see it!

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