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Notes On Film

Jeffrey — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 04:21:26 +0000

Last night, the wife and I watched Twilight: New Moon. Tonight we watched the remake of the classic arts school film, Fame. Two horrible movies in two days. New Moon had a few scenes that were enjoyable to watch just because...well, just because. Now, I feel like I need to perform some penance, like two La Dolce Vitas and a Godfather, just as recompense. I actually started watching La Dolce Vita on Friday, during the day, but fell asleep midway through (not the film's fault).

I have recently subscribed to the RSS feeds of quite a few film blogs because I'd like to increase my knowledge in the field. I've always appreciated film as well as mainstream Hollywood culture, but I've found myself increasingly disenchanted with the blockbuster hits and craving the independent and foreign film markets. It seems to me that the heart of cinema has checked out of big-time Hollywood.

A note on film critics. My two favorite film critics are Peter Travers and Roger Ebert. Travers because I typically agree with his assessments, and Ebert because of his imaginative and fanciful writing style. I envy the life of a movie critic, although I do realize that it is truly difficult to sit in movie after movie, even when you have absolutely no interest in the subject matter (or you know the film will suck).

I think the role of the film critic should be modified. Last year, the biggest box office draw was Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, which scored a whopping 20% on the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer. For the two people who don't know what the Tomatometer is, it is a percentage average of the major critical voices in the film industry. It's the overall critical opinion of any movie, and generally an accurate gauge as to the worth of a film. What does this say? No one is listening.

Well, that's not completely true. Those who care about film (not movies) are listening. Therefore, I hearby decree: movie critics should only watch and review movies worth reviewing. The Hannah Montana Movie and the new Twilight flick's audience turnout will in no way be affected by negative reviews, so why bother. The critics will have improved dispositions and the general public won't even notice the difference.

A note on collecting movies. I'm not going to get into a debate over whether you should be collecting DVDs or Blu-Rays (or anything at all, for that matter). With that said, I've decided that I might start collecting a particular style (although style isn't the right word). I'm considering collecting both foreign and classic films of note. Criterion collection films would qualify, foreign films, and hard to find treasures. The rest of my collection will continue to exist on external hard drives.

Watching next:

Revanche

The White Ribbon

Gonin 1 & 2

The Postmaster Always Rings Twice

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Fly On The Wall

Jeffrey — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 03:31:23 +0000

I always hear people say, 'Boy, I wish I was a fly on the wall for that conversation', which means they wish they could have surreptiously listened in on some discussion. I've always found this scenario lacked both imagination and common sense. I think a better statement would be 'Boy, I wish I was me with teleportation and invisibility'. Right? I mean, if we're playing in the world of fantasy with the only limitation being our imagination, then why not be a little more creative? Also, I hear the lifespan of a fly isn't very enviable.

Can you think of any other better ways to clandestinely observe other's conversation? Leave your ideas in the comments.

Sounded Like a Good Idea

Jeffrey — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:38:10 +0000

ME: I was thinking, after I student teach, I can just substitute teach and make some pretty good money.

WIFE: Really?

ME: Yeah, they pay like $120 a day. It's not certain you can get placed somewhere every day. I mean, I can make more substituting than I can teaching full-time.

WIFE: No, you can't.

ME: (after doing the math) Oh, I guess not. It was a better idea before I did the math. I guess this is why I'll be teaching English.

Not Ready To Make Nice

Jeffrey — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 05:24:31 +0000

I was walking through Borders today and was stopped cold in my tracks. I spotted an interesting book. I was drawn to this book like a Federation starship being pulled in by a Romulan tractor beam. Initially, it was the cover (see picture), but upon further examination, it was obvious that the book had been placed by the very hand of Xenu for my reading pleasure. It's a book written by a blogger. A famous blogger named John Scalzi. The incomporable Wil Wheaton wrote the introduction for this book, so it's definitely going to be right up my alley. I read the first page immediately, which included this disclaimer, which I've decided is a perfect fit for my own blog and personality

Everything here is my opinion, and mine alone.
Occasionally, I am completely full of shit.
Well, all right, fine, more than occasionally.
On occasion I will also opine on things I know little or nothing about.
Which is fine, because the US Constitution says I can.
So there.
I'm not interested in being fair.
I am occasionally petty, nasty, snappish and rude. I'm also occasionally a tremendously sweet guy. You never know which you're going to get.
Unless you have been told specifically by me otherwise, no, as a matter of fact, I don't care what you think about me or my opinions.
I do try to be polite when I tell you that.
But I can't promise anything.
This is done by me for the purposes of my own amusement, and exists and updates entirely at my whim. If I decide to go away for a day, or a week, or forever, then I will.
I think that's it for now.

As I've stated before, I reserve the right to be a walking contradiction. A few days ago, I wasn't nice enough. But the more I reflect on it, the more I realize that my idols are and were men who pull no punches. Christopher Hitchens, Penn Jillette, and Hunter S. Thompson top my list of heroes. All very smart, very opinionated, and seldom, if ever, apologetic. Maybe the Dixie Chicks said it best: 'I'm not ready to make nice'.

Why Can't I Just Be Nice?

Jeffrey — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 04:39:11 +0000

The fam and I were at the mall today shopping for a few things (mom needed a coat and Somer needed a pair of replacement jeans). We found ourselves in a particular store, which will remain unnamed, shopping for new jeans for Somer. My mother made a comment, or perhaps said nothing at all, at which I decided to comment about the store's selection of men's clothes. I stated that they were 'very Jersey shore, worn mostly by neckless, meathead douchebags', and then pointed out a random bald guy across the door befitting of my description. What is wrong with me?

I find myself in situations like this way too often. Situations where I'm not as nice as I would like to be. Often, these are moments where other people don't even get to experience my vitriolic tirades. In fact, the majority of times, I keep them in my head. The problem is the fact that they are occurring at all. I can't say that these episodes are any more or less so than the past, although I am more aware of them now than I may have been in the past. And that's a good thing.

I've picked up the book titled 'Anger' by Thich Nhat Hanh more than a few times while browsing the bookstore, although I don't think I ever cracked the damn thing open. Lots of help that's gonna be, right? I ponder the proper response in the clothes store. Mentioning that I'm not a fan of the clothes would have been sufficient enough. There's no need to berate and judge a bunch of people that I don't even know.

I need to remember the blog post I wrote on learning from others. Just because others are different doesn't mean you can't learn from them. In fact, the dumbest person you know can most definitely teach you something. Sure, it may not be the latest discovery in particle physics, but it may be some unusual insight on life from a different and rewarding perspective. This step begins by seeing others as being more valuable than yourself. It progresses with the ability to approach each situation as a learner and every person you meet as a master.

In closing, I'll leave you with a poem from Hafiz, a sufi poet from the 14th century*:

The small man
Builds cages for everyone
He
Knows.
While the sage,
Who has to duck his head
When the moon is low,
Keeps dropping keys all night long
For the
Beautiful
Rowdy
Prisoners.

Note to self: Build fewer cages, drop more keys.

*While in the process of writing this post, I ran across an excellent and timely post about empowerment by Chris Guillebeau. Credit to him for the poem and new mantra.

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Reflections on 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

Jeffrey — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:54:24 +0000

My fellow blogger Cobb wrote a post this morning about 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' and the comments Obama has recently made regarding its existence. The post is as follows:

The Great and Powerful Oz commands that homosexuals report front and center. You have lived in the shadows for too long and now must proudly show off your sexuality in military splendor. Why? Because we are not interested in your service, we are interested in your identity. By we, we mean the royal we. The Great and Powerful Oz has spoken.

Disgusting.

I left a short comment that I will elaborate on here. Cobb seems to assert that Obama's stance on 'don't ask, don't tell' is insisting he doesn't value homosexuals' service, only their sexual identity. I say Obama's goal is exactly the opposite. He is trying to give people, straight or queer, the opportunity to serve our nation without being pigeon-holed by their sexual identity.

Under the current policy, if you are found to be a homosexual serving in America's military, you are discharged after your sexuality has been paraded in front of your fellow servicemen and women in a military court. This is what Obama's proclamation seeks to change. He's not seeking to change 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' to 'Ask, Tell'. He's seeking to eliminate the stigma of homosexuality from service and make the two things independent and unrelated.

If you are gay and want to serve in the military, you don't have to broadcast it to everyone, but you no longer have to walk in shadows and meet in secrecy. You no longer can be brought before a military court and discharged for being who you are.

The integration of homosexuals in the military today is reminiscent of the integration of blacks into the military in the late 1940s. Although blacks served in our nation's military long before that, just as homosexuals have, they weren't officially integrated or given equal status until Truman's Executive Order 9981.

I watched the Joint Chiefs of Staff's reactions during the President's comments. They sat stoic and austere, showing visible disdain for removing 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' from their policy books. These soldiers looked glued to their seats and shaken to their core. The very definition of uncomfortable. It's funny to me that men who are used to and welcome danger and adventure in so many arenas of their lives are so obviously scared of gay people.

I just feel sorry for gays currently serving in the military. They're in a precarious position. If they come out now and Obama's dream comes true, it's all good. But what if it doesn't? What if the military decides to keep their prejudices for a little bit longer? Will bright, young soldiers like Lt. Dan Choi be forcibly kept from serving their country? I hope this isn't the case, but it very well may be. I wish them all the best of luck in their journey and want to personally thank everyone who serves in our military, especially the gay men and women.

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We're All Floating In Space

Jeffrey — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 22:42:11 +0000

Here's something that started out with something rather adorable, then turned into something tragic, then turned into something pretty awesome. Every morning that Somer and Milana, my 18 month old, wake up before me (weekdays), Milana typically takes my glasses off of my sidetable, and hands them to me so I can put them on before kissing her goodbye. Last Friday, she did this and I ignored her. The next sound was Somer exclaiming 'Oh no Milana!' Yes, after I ignored her, she went on to just play with the glasses and twist them into exciting new shapes. Tragic: she destroyed my glasses. Good: I get to buy new glasses. I got Tom Ford frames (pics as soon as they come in). I love Tom Ford, a perfect example of elegance and style to which I aspire.

A week and a half ago, I damaged my wrist re-racking a weight in Crossfit. I actually missed the left side while hitting the right, and jerked my left wrist downward in a not-so-good way. It's been a rather rough recovery time, and I got x-rays taken while I was at the doctor last Friday (I also might have high blood pressure, unfortunate genetics).

I had a few extra minutes on the way to a job interview last Wednesday, and stopped at an anime store. Nothing but anime. Fascinating. I had a chubby, 17 year old employee, most likely an outcast at her school, spend fifteen minutes explaining to me what series are for beginners, which are for experienced anime, and whatever else she could teach me in fifteen minutes. I enjoy seeing individuals so excited about anything. Other people's passions make me smile. I also have an incredible interest in subcultures, and anime is one of the biggest in existence.

I've had an idea for a book for about two years now. I finally started to do research and found that it's already been written. Well, maybe the world needs two books like this. A book about subcultures, or perhaps even microcultures. Anime would be a good choice, but perhaps it's too large a subculture. I've picked up the magazine 'Rue Morgue', which is for horror aficionados. I'm a film buff, and I haven't heard of the majority of the films in this magazine. A few of the other cultures I've considered pursuing are raves, gothics/vampires, and hackers (maybe a little too close for me to view objectively).

As for my new years resolutions, I've been working out regularly, although I couldn't go to Crossfit for a week because of my wrist injury (bummer). I've been eating extremely well, cutting out soda almost completely, and rarely eating sugar or processed foods. I'm basically following the Primal Blueprint. I'd say I'm about 75% compliant, which is actually my goal. I've written a bit more regularly, but still want to write more.

I'll be visiting Houma, Louisiana the week where March meets April, so if you live there and want to see me, let me know, and we'll try to make it happen.

Go Saints!!!!!

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Gun Control Compromise?

Jeffrey — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 02:37:22 +0000

I was at the bookstore this weekend, and I noticed a book in the True Crime section titled 'More Guns, Less Crime: Understanding Crime and Gun Control Laws'. I am by no means an expert on the topic of gun control, but I've given it at least five minutes of intense thought, so I'll give my half-cocked (pun intended) opinion.

By nature, I am a libertarian. I believe people should be allowed to do what they want, when they want, as long as it doesn't interfere with another individual's freedom to do the same. Rather simplified, but you get the gist. I fully support any individuals right to own any type of firearm, from pistol to bazooka, but I understand both sides of the gun control argument.

I've read about the city of Kennesaw, GA, which in 1982 unanimously passed a law requiring all heads of household to own at least one firearm. Their crime rates have dropped drastically. The basic premise of 'right to carry' advocates is 'if we take away the right to own a firearm, only the criminals will have firearms'. This argument makes sense, in theory. However, I think this solution and example will only work in a small town like Kennesaw.

Here's my problem, on a practical level: I'm not a gun guy. If the laws on gun ownership became less strict, I still wouldn't purchase a firearm. It's just not my thing. Most people who live in cities or suburbs (with a few exceptions I'm sure) feel the same way. That's why most gun control advocates reside in major metropolises. Most people who haven't handled a firearm can't imagine handling a firearm.

Assuming the majority people in cities who want guns are criminals, it makes sense to have stricter gun laws in major cities. Leave the small towns the ability to adopt less strict laws, which fit with the community cultural standards. It seems to me that stricter laws in cities will reduce crime (using the UK as an example), while lax laws in small towns would reduce crime (Kennesaw being the model here).

Although I fully support a person's right to own a firearm, it seems that it is a complicated and intense topic for the majority of Americans. Because of this, I suggest a compromise. Thoughts?

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Lactose Intolerant

Jeffrey — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 15:04:27 +0000

And I thought I was lactose intolerant..LOL

(Click on image for fullsize version)

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'The Bachelor' Double Standard

Jeffrey — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 03:44:05 +0000

It's funny to realize high school mentalities still exist in the adult world and are often played out on prime time television. In high school, a guy that sleeps with a lot of girls is often revered by his classmates, sometimes even keeping 'score' of his conquests. If a high school girl does the same thing, and sleeps with multiple guys, she's considered a slut.

I don't watch 'The Bachelor', but I've seen some news reports about a recent incident. The premise of 'The Bachelor' is for a guy to go through a selection of 25 or so women and select the best one to be his bride. This season, one of the female contestants was booted off the show because she either flirted with, kissed, or had sex with a producer. The producer was fired and she was kicked off the show. She was treated with utter contempt by the host, and she was kicked up with a dramatic 'how dare you, you little slut' send-off. This is such a double standard.

The bachelor can flirt, kiss, and sleep with any girl on the show until he finds the right one, yet the girls are expected to remain chaste and focus all of their attention on the one special man. How is this not a double standard? It most certainly is, and it's just a simple continuation of silly high school ways of thinking.

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