Al's Brain

[CatraDhtem]

You can buy tickets when you get there- it's not like they ever really sell out.  The booths take all typical forms, cash or plastic.

Thanks, Kristine. That's everything I needed to know, as I don't plan on bringing too much cash with me that weekend (so if anyone at Al Fest decides to mug me, they'll be gravely disappointed).

[Diva]

I'll add my belated 27 cents on Thursday's preview. Jon has summed up the Overall experience quite well.

1. Nina has her mother's looks, but her father's laugh. Imagine Al's laugh but about 1 1/2 octaves higher and coming out of a 6 year old girl with braids. Priceless.

2. *puts on neuropsychiatrist hat* Al's Brain is truly outstanding and not just for the effects [which are excellent] and the entertainments [which is fun]. The script and the animation pack an amazing amount of detailed and fairly complex and sophisticated information about the brain and nervous system into a short, coherent, clear and funny 10-12 minutes. The same amount of material would take a typical college lecturer a couple of classes to at least to get across and it wouldn't be nearly as fun. [It is much easier to learn material when you are relaxed, of course.]



In fact, the single inaccurate thing in the entire film [which is corrected in the after-film displays once you leave the theater] was SPOILER the angle of the railroad spike in Phineas Gage's head. it didn't go crosswise but up and down through his frontal lobe area. It was a classic case study that showed some of the specific effects of localized frontal lobe damage. I guess it would have been much harder to do the fake spike on Al's head in the re-enactment from that angle, though.

Cheers, Diva
who just used the spoiler tag for the first time on something pretty banal, as opposed to SPOILER Jon's mention of Paul McCartney being in the movie

[TMBJon]

*puts on neuropsychiatrist hat*

Oh you all should have seen how excited Diva was during all of this - especially right after the educational film at the beginning. "I have to get a copy of this!"

[Orthography Enthusiast]

just used the spoiler tag for the first time on something pretty banal, as opposed to SPOILER Jon's mention of Paul McCartney being in the movie

Yeah, that was pretty non-banal. SPOILER Guess we know why Al went to Coachella now, don't we?

[Orthography Enthusiast]

Another blog mention. Not as good as a blog mention by someone who's actually seen the attraction, but still, a blog mention.

[Orthography Enthusiast]

I'm SURE this YouTube of the Al's Brain premiere party (with bonus shots of the fair, including Hercules the giant horse) must have been posted already (by Alejandra? Patti?) but it's great, so I'm reposting for the benefit of anyone else as unobservant as myself. BTW, Joan Manners, I find by a visit to the Mothership, was "Jovial Joan" on the good Doctor's show, and sang on Al's first album. Yup, people who become friends with Al Yankovic had better settle in for a long run.

[algonacchick]

Alejandra posted it on twitter first, then I retweeted because I really liked it. Thanks for posting it here. Yes, I recognized Joan, because she was on the "Behind the Dementia" video that Amanda Cohen and company put together back when Dr. D was the special guest at AlCon 2000. Clips from several comedy artists, including some from Al at his then bachelor pad were included, and Joan was featured quite a bit.

I love the little song and all the great images. Very nicely done.

[Orthography Enthusiast]

Educationing? Oh, well, it's a positive Al's Brain mention, so I'll take it.

[AlejandraDD]

I also suspect of the use of the word "horse" to refer to that giant Scooby-Doo doll. I don't think he was trying to make a joke there

[Squirrelygirl]

Aw, those were all such great reviews everyone. Thanks so much. Man, I wish I could have been there.

If you want to save a bit of money on food, just remember that there will be 3 cakes and ice cream at Al Fest, and I'm making plenty for everyone.