Neha Tiwari Pvt. Ltd.

Recently, I’ve been fortunate enough to be asked to be on a couple of podcasts. Along with some other projects that have been in the works, these savvy podcasters have kept me on my toes. Here are the happy trails I’ve made so far:

• Last week, I was a guest on the Slashfilm Afterdark podcast where we talked about The Dark Knight, Batman Begins, and the Tim Burton Batman films. Dave Chen and Devindra Hardawar were such great film-enthused hosts, and it was an absolute pleasure to be on. This week, they are having THE Kevin Smith on to talk more about the Dark Knight. To listen to us geek out about Batman, click here.

• I was interviewed on Brass Balls radio, which was a lot of fun. We talked a lot about the future of new media and television, Revision3, The Incredible Hulk, and Tech Tv. Mike Williams was really nice to speak to, and I enjoyed Wendy Sullivan’s commentary before and after the interview as well. You can listen to our rant here, and I thank both Mike and Wendy for having me on.

• Also, I did a podcast with Ed Giordano, a podcaster coming from Purdue University. It was short, sweet and to the point. Listen to it on his odeo site.

• Lastly, if you missed it, Dave Mora did a video podcast with me while I was down in LA. I tried Pinkberry for the first time, and we talked shop. Check it out if already haven’t.

As you can see, I’ve done all kinds of podcasts and really am flattered to be asked. I do sound a little sick on the first two listed there, since I was under the weather when they were taped. I also am still working on being a better podcaster myself as I am a bit rusty so the practice is very appreciated. If you think there is a podcast I should be on, Email me!

I am one of the few lucky ducks that got to catch an early screening of The Dark Knight this evening, and the verdict is in: It was dynamic.

Sure, we’ve all read the reviews and have heard of the late Heath Ledger’s stunning performance. As an avid DC comics fan, I can say that he is as frightening as portrayed in the comic book. Full of wit, comedic timing, and realistic sociopath behavior, Ledger speaks as if his words are measured. He spellbinds each character he comes in contact with and in turn, the audience as well. The kudos are shared; the entire ensemble cast had dynamic on screen chemistry and the interplay was notable. In prior Batman films, I feel that there has always been an unbalanced focus on the villain. Here, the time is well alloted between antagonist and protagonists.

After almost a decade of CGI effects, a la George Lucas and the Star Wars prequels, seeing good old fashioned stunts was a breath of fresh air. From turned over vehicles to colorful explosions, director Christopher Nolan knows how to approach an action sequence. Batman is known for his high tech gadgets, and The Dark Knight keeps with this by showcasing a number of his new toys. Batman also shows off his detective skills which is a nice nod to their namesake, Detective Comics.

For the first time, I feel like I know what life realistically would be if there were a caped crusader. The way the film is executed has a feeling of realism to it. The Dark Knight contained succinct dialog and it seemed as if there were no unnecessary conversations. Everything was well thought out and tied into another element. This was complimented by the tight editing which grips the viewer from one frame to the next. If you have read Batman comics, you know that Gotham is practically a character within herself; the Chicago-Gotham location captured the trademark dinginess of the DC universe excellently.

One issue that I had with Batman Begins was Christian Bale’s “bat-voice.” First off, I never understood why he needed to change his voice to a weird raspy tone when he was the Batman. Then, I read that it was so Bruce Wayne would not be discovered to be Batman, which made sense. This voice still makes me cringe in Begins, but it vastly improves in Knight. This could go along with the fact that TDK’s Batman is more confident and self evident than the fist Batman. It’s hard to remember, after all, Bruce Wayne is at the beginning of his hero lifestyle.

The bottom line is that it’s interesting to see how each character develops in the sequel. I dare say The Dark Knight is the Godfather II of comic book films, but I do need to re-watch it to solidify all my convictions. Go see it, and tell me what you think!

Living in the east bay sometimes alienates me from some of the “typical” city-dwellers. Sure, Berkeley has it’s breed of fashionistas and hipsters, but the greatest diversity of scenesters is in San Francisco itself.

A few years back, I remember seeing a sketch of the traditional emo kid diagramming every detail. From skinny jeans to a unique haircut, it was a pretty hilarious. A guy who must be a true character himself, Rob Dobi was the genius behind “How to dress Emo” and now he has a new and improved site.

Yourscenesucks.com has 20 updated types of scene-mongers, complete with diagram and descriptions. With vivid illustrations and equally witty copy, this site is one that deserves to get passed around the office. My favorite has to be the the “Popcore Dork:”

Also, “The Myspace Whore ” is pretty classic with her T-mobile sidekick and lack of pants. Overall, the site is not only entertaining, but almost an anthropological look at the trends of today. That is, what possesses a “Scene Queen” tp have pink-tips and metallic hot shorts?

I actually think I fit in somewhere between the “Williamsburg Hipster” and your “Traditional Emo Girl.” The guy I fall for: “The Orgcore Punker”…minus the smell. :)