It also alleviates the user of the burden of carrying around fifteen hundred dollars per node (meaning per CPU you want it installed in).  Now however NVidia released a new “flavor” of Gelato; it’s basically a toned down, base-model version that still has some kick in it.  The best part is it’s free, and available for download at NVidia’s website.

        I plan on checking it out myself, once I finish downloading Quicktime files of cars and X-MEN 3: The Last Stand.

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        Speaking of X-MEN 3: The Last Stand, I sadly admit that, as of this writing, I have yet to see the movie.  I hope to see it tonight with my friend Christopher whom I started collecting comics with almost fifteen years ago.

        I received mixed reviews about it, ranging from “great!” to “badly written” but I’m reserving my judgment till after I see it for myself.  By all accounts however the movie is a fanboy’s dream, with the classic X-Men move the “Fastball Special” finally coming to the big screen; and the movie is also a special effects smorgasbord. It isn’t surprising then that the movie had nine visual effects companies working on it, including Framestore CFC and the Moving Picture Company.

        I can say right now that I love the way the make-up people reworked Kelsey Grammer into Hank McCoy, a.k.a. the Beast.  That is one situation where I’m glad the effects people did not go the way of a fully CG character, like the Hulk (although with the Hulk’s proportions, I doubt the guys working on him had much choice).

        A Wolverine solo movie with Hugh Jackman has been announced, which promises to be a sight to see.  I can already imagine an appearance by Sabretooth.  How can they make a movie of the ol’ caknuckle ­head without Sabretooth?  It’s like taking away Logan’s cigars or not having him say bub at least twice.

        They should send him to Japan, to trace his roots if they follow the comics; and maybe have an appearance by Mariko and the Silver Samurai.  One can only hope and dream right now, as it’s still in the scripting phase.  Until they announce the effects companies working on it, it’s still pretty much up in the air.

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         On the topic of other effects movies (don’t you just love how I’m segueing from one topic to another?  Much like the hyperlinks you click on while surfing to bring you to a completely different but related site) there is a whole bunch of Computer Graphics-riddled movies that we should all be on the look out for.  Aside from the expected Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Spider-Man 3, there’s also a sequel starring the world’s favorite lasagna-slurping feline, Garfield.  Yep, Garfield 2 is coming out soon.

        Also jumping on the bandwagon of successful superhero films of the past six years or so, Ghost Rider, starring Nicholas Cage, is coming up next year.  The flames are obviously too dangerous to be done as a practical effect, and will most likely be CG.  My friend had a point when he said: “Can you imagine how much fun Nicholas Cage must have had? He could have been making faces all throughout filming and no one would ever see it after the CG flames were put on.

        For the gamers out there, Halo is set to come to the big screen in all its alien-blasting glory, doubtless enhanced by CG aliens and effects.   There haven’t been that many really successful computer-games-turned-films lately, with Resident Evil, Silent Hill and Doom not doing all too well critically or financially.

        And possibly the most anticipated movie for the geeks and those who grew up in the 80’s like myself, TRANSFORMERS the Movie, is set to be released in mid 2007.  I just hope they do justice to Optimus Prime and Bumblebee.