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Am I Still Interested?

2006-04-09T16:04:00.000-07:00

I guess this part of the blog just hasn't caught back on with me... I'm not sure exactly what's up other than I haven't felt a great burning interest in posting here, well, that and not posting on my other blog either -- see this post for details.

I need to give some more thought to what I want to do with this page. I have continued to maintain a local list of the books I've read and filmed entertainment I've seen, but that's about it.

Reefer Madness

2005-11-13T14:08:00.000-08:00

Reefer Madness -- While I can hardly await the release the of the forthcoming musical comedy based on this 1936 cult classic, I don't have a whole lot to say about this film except that it's an interesting look into paranoia and propaganda. The basic premise of the movie is that it serves as a warning of the evils of marijuana use -- it leads to addiction and all manner of social evils, unwanted sex and even murder.

I have to wonder if this isn't a terribly funny movie to watch if one is stoned, but other than that, it is so beyond real that it is laughable. Could adults really believe that young people were that dumb 70 years ago? Too bad the subject matter is so controversial because this would be an excellent film for educators to build a lesson on propaganda around.

Not recommended.

Rating: 5 out of 10 Buy from Amazon.com

Story of English, The

2005-11-12T07:37:00.002-08:00

Story of English, The -- This 9 part documentary was originally broadcast on public television. It appears old by today's standards of production, but it is still quite interesting. Robert MacNeil narrates and takes the viewer on a journey that started over a thousand years ago to introduce us to the roots of the language that has morphed into what we use today. It is interesting to see how much the language has changed not only through time but across the planet.

At times the series can move a bit slowly though as it seeks to provide examples of this or that accent. For some this will be enjoyable but others will find it irritating.

Recommended for those interested in the subject matter.

Rating: 8 out of 10 While the series isn't available in its entirety, check out the companion book at Amazon.com

Maria Full of Grace

2005-11-12T07:27:00.000-08:00

Maria Full of Grace -- Great and powerful movie about a young Colombian woman who hates her job, quits it, and then ends up 'interviewing' for a job as a drug mule. We get to go along on the adventure and see what happens. While cocaine addicts won't care, I can guarantee that everyone who doesn't use coke will be glad they don't use it when they see exactly how that magically little power gets here.

Well acted and written, this is a believable story which drives home an important message without clubbing the viewer over the head. However, it does take a bit more effort to watch since it is in Spanish with English subtitles. But get over that and watch this movie. Additionally, it is full of adult subject matter.

Highly recommended.

Rating: 8 out of 10 Buy from Amazon.com

Rowling - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

2005-11-12T07:16:00.000-08:00

Rowling, JK - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince -- Well I have finished the latest installment of the Harry Potter books and thoroughly enjoyed it! And while I won't even try to claim that it is great literature, it is an enjoyable read. Of course it makes the most sense to follow along through the series book by book because content continuously refers to the happenings in the prior volumes of the story. I eagerly await the next installment.

Overall I think Rowling has tightened up her prose as this book is thinner though it feels like more actually happens in the story. The characters are growing up and so is what is happening to them. We also learn quite a bit about who Lord Voldemort was and how he ended up where he is today. It's fun to guess along with the story -- oh that's so-and-so or I bet she did it. And best of all, no one is really safe.

But we have to remember these books are meant for a younger audience (than say, highly educated adults) and therefore it's not quite as complex as other pieces of literature. Still, if one is looking for some light reading, and especially if one wonders what all the hype is about, what better way than to dive in and find out first hand.

Recommended

Rating: 8 out of 10 Buy from Amazon.com

Tokyo Godfathers

2005-11-05T07:40:00.001-08:00

Tokyo Godfathers -- Absolutely one of my most favourite recently watched movies; this one blew me away. Not only have the creators used anime to tell a story in a way that wouldn't be possible with live action, they have pushed the level of quality up a notch or two. The amount of detail is incredible and even though the story is at times a bit fantastic, it's fun to believe that events such as these do happen in day to day life.

The story focuses around three homeless people -- a middle aged man, an aging drag queen, and a teenage runaway girl -- and follows them as they find an abandoned baby and try to reunite her with her parents. But beyond the simple story this is a grand adventure which also contains a deep look not only at characters who are homeless but at how society treats them. There are real emotions here and the story delves deep into the human condition.

While many write anime off as 'for children only' this is not a kid's movie. Sure, some parents will share this with one with older, more mature children, but this goes well beyond typical Disney fare though it pulls back from the overly graphic and gratuitous. This is a subtitled film though.

Very highly recommended! I want to see this one again.

Rating: 9 out of 10 Buy from Amazon.com

Oasis

2005-10-19T06:36:00.000-07:00

Oasisu -- This powerful Korean film is well worth the slight annoyance of subtitles because it opens worlds most can not even imagine. It is the story of a developmentally disabled man who meets a woman with cerebral palsy. Unlike everyone else in their lives, they accept each other as they are and a relationship develops. It doesn't sound like much, but we have to remember that because the individuals are not 'normal' in society's eyes, their relationship is not accepted on the participant's terms, instead, it is considered rape.

Even though it is easy to say, "oh, that's Korea. That could never happen here!" one must wonder. The key to understanding the movie is to know that the families of the main characters are in denial about who the main characters really are. We are all surrounded by those who deny the existence of mental illness or ignore the real emotions trapped inside an individual who is unable to express them in a way the rest of us can understand. There is a powerful lesson here for anyone willing to receive it.

One side note about the marketing of the film to American audiences -- the trailer calls the developmentally disabled man "a misfit" and the woman with cerebral palsy "an outcast." "She fell in love with him. Then their families found out. Love knows." It's almost like they want you to think it's something of a romantic comedy where the families don't approve, say, like Romeo and Juliet but this is at best misleading and more like an insult those living with such conditions everywhere. Furthermore, it's an absolute perversion of the fine work of those who made this movie.

Highly recommended, but keep in mind this is adult material which is intellectually stimulating but emotionally challenging. Some will be moved to tears while others won't get it -- "they should be locked up, or at least he should" will be their mantra. And that's where the morals can be found.

Rating: 9 out of 10 Buy from Amazon.com

Truong, Monique - The Book of Salt

2005-10-15T08:21:00.001-07:00

Truong, Monique - The Book of Salt -- I am always eager to find books and movies that open parts of the world which I do not have access to so when I stumbled across the listing for this one in the library catalog, I figured it would be worth a shot. While not a bad piece of work, I have to admit that it seemed to be more about the style of the writing rather than the telling of a story and thusly it fell short in my eyes.

This is the story of a Vietnamese homosexual who is basically banished after having an affair with the French head chef in a colonial household. He gets work where he can find it, first on a boat which lands him in Marseilles, and then finally as the personal cook to Gertrude Stein and her partner. It is something of a biography in that we are supposed to learn about who he is and how he has gotten to where he finds himself in life.

However what I found annoying and a bit confusing was the method in which the story was told. It seemed to jump around a lot between differing times in the past so that the reader felt something like a ping-pong ball. Yes, it may have worked in Pulp Fiction, but it wasn't as successful here.

The story is compelling and I'm sure it might be more meaningful to a reader who knows more about Stein, her life and her work. And the author must be commended for telling the story of someone who seemingly lacks importance (the cook) rather than just focusing on the powerful personality of the famous people.

Additionally, while the main character is an unapologetic homosexual working in a lesbian household, this book mustn't be confused with 'gay literature' since it is the story of folks who happen to not be straight, nothing more. There is nothing particularly pornographic in the story.

As for a recommendation, that is rather hard to offer. I find myself falling back to "it's not a bad book..." but that doesn't really say much. Then again, maybe it says more than I give it credit for. I guess I would recommend that those who might be interested in this novel read more about it and decide if they think it's worth the time. It certainly is a step up from mindless entertainment and can even provoke thought about lives in other parts of the world and at other times. I'm glad I read it.

Rating: 7 out of 10 Buy from Amazon.com

Queer as Folk, Season 4

2005-10-15T08:19:00.000-07:00

Queer as Folk, Season 4 -- And the soap opera continues. Yes, folks, that's just about the best way to sum this up -- it's a gay soap! Not that that's an entirely bad thing, but we have to put things into perspective and I'm sorry, but I just don't buy the "cutting edge drama" crap. But it's enjoyable fun even if I feel compelled to fast forward through the all too frequent sex scenes.

The one thing that I have to give this show, other than the obvious hard work folks put in to making it, is they have created a forum where issues affecting the gay community can be examined and played out like no where else -- crystal queens in recovery, queer-bashing, dating someone with HIV, occasional lapses into bisexuality, supporting the community, and body image leap to mind. While personally I wish the show was a bit deeper and more thought-provoking, I realize that the fanbase is looking for something that might mimic the lives they lead or at least wish they lead.

This is not for the squeamish or homophobic clearly, but like movies and other cable series, sex plays an enormous part in the show, even more so. For anyone who likes their porn soft core, then this is a great ticket. Personally, I'd prefer a bit less sex and a bit more serious drama.

This season is pretty much more of the same so if you didn't enjoy the first three then there is no sense in wasting the time or money but if you loved the others then you will probably find plenty to enjoy here. I must admit that few shows can evoke such laughter and downright enjoyment from me, even if they really don't mean a whole lot in the end. It's just fun.

Buy from Amazon.com

Osama

2005-10-15T08:17:00.001-07:00

Osama -- Don't let the title mislead, this is not about the infamous terrorist - at least, not directly. This is the story of a young woman, her mother, and grandmother trying to eke out a meager existence in the shadow of the Taliban. Again, it's a peek into a world few of us can even imagine.

Surprisingly, this movie has extremely high production values given the director and actor's lack of 'experience.' If the scenery wasn't so bleak, then we would call it beautiful, but instead it's a very stark, dusty, bland world in which the characters find themselves. The story drags a bit at parts, but that was the only noticeable weakness.

The story opens as the Taliban responds violently to a protest march by widows demanding to be allowed to work, after all there are no widow's pensions. With no men in the family, the mother decides to cut her daughter's hair and find her some work to support the family. The movie approaches it's climax when the Taliban rounds up the community's young men to begin 'teaching' them how to be good Islamic citizens. The daughter cannot pass for a boy forever...

This should be at the top of every American's must see list given what our government is doing in the bigger world. It offers no commentary on US policy but it does provide insight into what is at stake, especially for women at the hands of the Islamic fundamentalists. Don't let the sub-titles scare you off either since the movie relies much less on dialogue to tell the story than the actions of the characters.

I look forward to director Siddiq Barmak's next film.

Rating: 8 out of 10 Buy from Amazon.com

DenDooven - Portland's Best By Bus

2005-08-30T16:15:00.000-07:00

Portland's Best By Bus -- This is a really neat book! Unfortunately, the copyright is 1998 so it is a bit dated, but what better way to start to get to know the city than with the aid of this handy little guide and TriMet's comprehensive public transit system. Even the hard to please Willamette Week seemed to like this book.

If there was ever a book that needed a website, this would be it. Granted, updated TriMet information is on their expansive, constantly updated website. But what new things are there along the way and what has been lost?

Of course the uber-tourist will check out the Portland Oregon Visitor Assocation (POVA) website. I also stumbled across BootsnAll.com's Portland pages which are now a couple years old, but still offer a less conventional approach to visiting the city. But really, how many webpages are there and do we need that list the International Rose Test Garden, Pioneer Square, Powell's Books, and McLoughlin House? The Dirt Cheap Guide to Portland shows some promise...

So this book tries to fill the gap between too much of the same information but that's the problem with print -- it doesn't come with regular updates. For those visiting the city and who don't want to rent a car, this book is a great companion to whatever guidebook one might usually purchase. Check it out.

Buy from Amazon.com

Eye of Vichy

2005-08-13T05:40:00.002-07:00

Oeil de Vichy, L' -- First I have to admit that it's been a couple months since I saw this one - let's say I've been lax in writing my reviews though I've kept up the list of what I've been watching and reading. However, this one left an impression that's not easy to forget.

Composed of archival newsreel material, the movie tries to tell the story of the French government's Second World War. And yes, this is the collaborationist side of the equation and much of the footage was originally made and released to get the French citizenry to understand and support it's lack of opposition to Nazis. Clearly, this is powerful stuff in the sense that propaganda, when viewed from outside, is always powerful.

While less an indictment of collaborationist propaganda than one might suspect, this movie is more an allegory about the power of the mass media to shape and change opinions. This message can be applied to our own times as well as to that shown. Will our children and grandchildren wonder how we could believe the tripe we are fed daily on the evening and cable news the way we wonder how the French could believe what their government was telling them?

Still those who condemn French actions during the War and Francophobes in general will like this film because it seems to make whatever crazy message they desire to communicate, again illustrating the power of the propaganda even 60 years later and towards a different end. But if one can get past that, it also can ask serious questions about just how far one might be willing to go to avoid a war. Maybe it can even explain why certain French leaders followed the course they did.

Highly recommended for those interested in the War and understanding propaganda's power though subtitles require a bit more work than the usual movie. This is a thought provoking work, well worth the effort to track down and would be especially useful in educational settings.

Rating: 8 out of 10 (though I must admit it feels a bit odd rating a compilation of propaganda films) Buy from Amazon.com

Lost Empires

2005-07-28T03:30:00.000-07:00

Lost Empires - I'll be honest, I expected this to be more like the Empires Specials series and less like As the Stomach Turns. But when I ignored all the soap-type sap, I found the Vaudeville and sociopolitical commentary fun and interesting. Clearly, the reprise of turn of the last century popular entertainment was well-done and very enjoyable. One is left wondering at the apparent differences between what they found entertaining and what we enjoy now. Additionally, the juxtaposition between an on-stage personality with off-stage perversion does seem to say more about the audience than the performers.

Of course, then there is also the insanity of World War I with it's ensuing patriotic fervor -- here too is a great deal of substance, but instead this mini-series (shown in the US on PBS' Masterpiece Theatre) seems mostly focused on the love relationships of it's myriad characters. Granted, there is much more than simple romance and there is value in showing love's abuses, but this just didn't keep me interested.

In the past when I've seen a program like this, that was not only well-reviewed and well-rated on IMDb but which has provided some substance, if thought, "well, maybe I just missed something important" and watched the show again. I have now done this enough times to know that in this case I don't think it is really going to be worth the time. This just isn't my cup of tea. I'm moving on...

Rating: 7 out of 10 (I'd prefer to give it a 6.5 but feel a 6 is unfairly low) Buy from Amazon.com

Rain Forest

2005-07-23T07:51:00.000-07:00

Rain Forest - An interesting though somewhat dated look a life in the rain forest of Costa Rica. Mind, by dated I mean that the film's image isn't quite as spectacular as more recent nature programming. Still, if one runs across this on the shelf and has an hour to spend, it's interesting and pretty enough.

Rating: 7 out of 10 (not available from Amazon.com, check your local library)

Nurse Betty

2005-07-23T05:40:00.000-07:00

Nurse Betty - description to follow.

Rating: 7 out of 10 Buy from Amazon.com

Thomas Jefferson

2005-07-23T05:37:00.000-07:00

Thomas Jefferson - This Ken Burns documentary provides a balanced look at who the third President of the United States most likely really was. Especially when approaching the topic of Sally Hemmings, the show seeks to provide the viewer with different viewpoints on the historical information and we are left to make up our own minds. Interesting and compelling, this is a great introduction to one of the creators of America's contradictory nature -- "All men are created equal" and yet he owned slaves is a good example. But don't worry, he's not made out to be the guy next door who probably would listen to rap and drink microbrews if here today, he's very much a man of his time and through this film we get a glimpse of what that meant at the turn of the 19th Century. I'd recommend this film to those interested in history, the President, and this country's founding.

Rating: 8 out of 10 Buy from Amazon.com

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

2005-07-23T05:33:00.000-07:00

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - Of the three films I've seen to date, this is by far my favorite. I have to admit that some of it now feels cheesy, but it's still fun and funny with the right combination of the kids and their surroundings. But my favorite is Dobby - where can I get a house elf?

Rating: 8 out of 10 Buy from Amazon.com

Marat/Sade

2005-07-23T05:30:00.000-07:00

Marat/Sade - This is probably one of the hardest movies/plays to comment on since it defies quick, off-hand comments. It's interesting, compelling, repulsive, wierd, you name it. It is definately hard-core art and was probably considered avant-garde in it's time. If you hate the ordinary, dispise the mainstream, and crave the peculiar, then this might be just the DVD for you. I don't regret having watched it.

Rating: 7 out of 10 Buy from Amazon.com

The Right Stuff

2005-07-23T05:25:00.000-07:00

The Right Stuff - While watching the first tape I was thinking, "wow, this is really a fun movie. Why don't I have it?" Then I watched the second tape. The first half is inspiring and hilarious! The second half, while bringing to life those earliest launches, just seems to lack most of what made the first part so endearing. Those who haven't seen it should but I guess I'll leave it to grab off the library shelf every couple of years.

Rating: 7 out of 10 Buy from Amazon.com

Wilde

2005-07-23T05:22:00.000-07:00

Wilde - After watching this one the main thing on my mind was "I want to get C-33 tattooed on my back to show my solidarity with my brother, Oscar Wilde." It's hard for most anyone who doesn't fall into the "God Hates Fags" crowd to watch a movie like this and find persecution of private, consensual sexual acts between adults, let alone love and friendship, totally reprehensible. And for it to happen to such a thoughtful, caring, feeling individual and brilliant artist, it's all that much more heartbreaking.

This movie was fun, funny, moving, and enjoyable but I felt that maybe it portrayed Wilde's last years with too light of a hand. Maybe the makers didn't want to totally depress the viewer, but my reading of what actually happened to Wilde, his family, and those he loved and cared about (and those that returned his favors) is much grimmer than what is shown. Some might argue that this decreases the movie's powerful message - that persecution of sexual minorities is morally wrong and apprehensible. However, it does a magnificent job of humanizing this larger than life literary personality who seems more like a character in one of his novels than an author.

I'd recommend this film but not for those who like movies that explode or find man-on-man love emotionally challenging.

Rating: 9 out of 10 Buy from Amazon.com

Cecil B. Demented

2005-07-23T05:20:00.000-07:00

Cecil B. Demented - I have so enjoyed John Waters mature work (post-Polyester) and was actually somewhat hopeful this was just a sleeper. Well, the audience were the sleepers, let me promise you, since you get the gist of the movie in the first 5 minutes (15 if you are slow or just slow to jump to conclusions). A couple of the jokes were funny the first time, but it just got very repetitive even if the whole idea of guerilla cinema (freeing us from Hollywood Korporate Domination!) is somewhat attractive. No, you have to be a pretty hardcore Waters fan to really get into this one - everyone else should not bother wasting the time or money.

Rating: 6 out of 10 Buy from Amazon.com

Hildegard of Bingen

2005-07-23T05:14:00.000-07:00

Hildegard of Bingen - I'm unclear if this was so brief because it was only allotted 60 minutes of running time or because real details of the live of Middle Age Abbess Hildegard of Bingen are scarce. I enjoyed the presentation though I felt I hungered for more and felt the storyline a bit disjointed more than once. Still, for major media (BBC) this is a compelling look at spirituality (and heresy) and it's nice to know that women have been standing up for themselves for a since the 40's -- 1140's that is. Observant viewers will enjoy Patricia Routledge (Hyacinth Bouquet/Hetty Wainthropp) continued versatility. However, this one is probably of very limited appeal and even more limited availability.

Rating: 8 out of 10 Buy from Amazon.com

On the Beach

2005-07-23T05:11:00.000-07:00

On the Beach - An interesting if depressing look at life after the last war - not WWII mind you, but the one that luckily never came. Most of the story is told from Southern Australia where the Nuclear Winter has been held off by winds and currents. Unlike the Mad Max films, this one deals with how people react to change that will eventually lead to death. This is also an interesting film to remember the 'good ole days of the late 50's Cold War.' I would recommend this one to those who like thoughtful, if unspectacular, movies.

Rating: 8 out of 10 Buy from Amazon.com

Papillon

2005-07-23T05:05:00.000-07:00

Papillon - I'm not really sure what to say about this film. Interesting story made during that shift away from studio films but certainly it lacks the feel of cinema verite. A very interesting look at human nature and just what one is able to cope with. Oh, for those unfamiliar with the story, it is an adaptation of the true story of a French criminal who is sent to Guyana to do his time -- and from the standpoint of a look into prision life, this is certainly not romanticized. Still, it's a bit long and I had trouble staying awake. This is probably not going to please 'average' video watchers but is worth seeing if you are looking for something out of the beaten and abused mold.

Rating: 8 out of 10 Buy from Amazon.com

The Eyes of Tammy Faye

2005-07-17T08:41:00.000-07:00

The Eyes of Tammy Faye - Boy, it sure was fun to watch the media frenzy that surrounded the Falwell coup that ousted Bill and Tammy Faye Bakker from PTL Ministries but watching a light documentary like this makes it hard to hate Tammy Faye or call for her blood. In some ways, one has to admire her for being who she is and she's sure not afraid to be Tammy Faye. Fun, funny, poignant - you know, I think I might actually like to be friends with Tammy Faye. I think this was a great pick and more fun than I've had in quite a while.

Rating: 8 out of 10 Buy from Amazon.com

PS - And did I mention that even as a Christian, she loves gay people!?! Now that takes balls! Get a clue, Falwell, you moron!