Get Rich, or Die Tryin'

50 Cent, gets to tell his tale in this movie. I remember hearing him and Lil' Kim singing Magic Stick and jsut being totally entranced. He has such a powerful sound the way he strings words together.

When this movie came out a bunch of people were upset, saying it glorified violence. people who think this clearly didn't see the movie. It is a movie about a hood trying to find a way to live in a world of violence and crime.

So while violence and crime are a part of the movie, they are not the point of the movie.

Best line:

50 Cent: "I'm going to kill him"
[waves off a gun that is offered to him]
"not that way...I am going to humiliate him"

Aeon Flux

In contrast to Ultraviolet, Aeon Flux is a really good example of a sexy acrobatic warrior dancer woman kicking but movie. The difference is that between all the flashy eye catching graphics and over the top stunts there lies a mysterious plot.

What happens to people who have disappeared in the Utopian city of Aeon's existance? What happened to her memories? Why does she remember flashes of being a lover to the man she was sent to kill?

Ship of Theseus

In many ways it is like Ghost in the Shell. It explores the notion of identity, and changing identity. I think this is a very popular theme in Science Fiction now, I call it Ship of Theseus theme. At what point do we change so much that we are no longer the same? How can technology preserve the essence of what we are beyound our normal years, and what will we become when it can do this?

Ultraviolet

How could a movie with a hot babe twisting around in acrobatic martial arts moves fail so badly? Oddly enough utltraviolet and Aeon Flux are both on right now and I diecided to compare them. My DVR cut off Ultraviolet right in the middle of the fiftieth scene of her killing 400 men.

These video game special effects are only interrupted by the cheesiest dialogeu ever written.

Bad Guy: "I have 400 men around me, what are you gonna do about it?"
Hot Chick: "Kill them!"

Do yourself a favor, when you see the one star on this film...don't believe it...its much worse.

Gothika

I screamed like a girl when the ghost appeared in the pool! Halle Berry is so hot in this movie. Going from sexy psychiatrist to vulnerable victom.

It has every element of a good psychological gothic thriller. Set in an old castle like mental institution where Berry flees psychotic inmates, people with odd motivations, and of course, a ghost.


Well worth the watch, but a real screamer.

Benders Big Score

This movie is insane! If I tried to explain the convuluted time travel-nudist beach-spammers reposses the world-Leela the Narwhale plot it would only confuse you. But somehow the writers of Futurama manage to bring all this together in a nice little bow tied by mass murdering Santa Clause and the Kawanzabot.

But who am I kidding, I didn't watch it for the plot....that Leela WHAT A HOTTIE!

Mississippi Burning - A movie about Whites

I first watched this movie when I was about 16 with my grandparents. It is a powerful movie based on the true story of two FBI agents who are investigating the murder of three civil rights workers.

This movie set a lot of my mindset on where I stood for race relations. As I rewatched it I realized just how much my values were aligned with the producers.

The first thing that struck me was how the movie was all about white people. There were no significant parts by black people. The heroes of the movie were two white men all of the villians are white. Black people (in this movie) are caught in the middle of a struggle between the FBI and a bunch of local Klansmen.

From my perspective I came to admire the idea of being like those FBI agents. They were strong and powerful men going up against a bunch of bullies. There is an underlying struggle between the two heroes. One is a cool by the book Northeasterner (William Dafoe)who plays it by the book. He is outraged at the oppression he sees, and the sheer brutality of violence. But he is somewhat inneffective at getting an arrest. Everything he tries just invites more retribution on the black people. If he asks a black man a question the Klan grabs the black man and beats him senseless.

Hackman plays a former Tennessee sherriff who left Mississippi to join the FBI. He thinks like these people, but is also outraged at the injustice he sees. His approach is far funner to watch in the movies. In one scene he walks into the KKK headquarters, grabs a thug by the balls and twists until the guy collapses.

The tension between these two good men is probably the best thing about this movie. They both believe in the same thing, but their disagreement over how to take down the Klan causes frequent arguments; in fact, at one point Defoe almost shoots Hackman.

In the end it is a very rewarding movie. You see these people who have been oppressive of blacks, spreading fear and hatred get their just deserts...outsmarted by two shrewd FBI agents. It is also kind of bittersweet when you see a bunch of murderers getting convicted for violation of civil rights (7 years); but in context, this case truly began to change the way people thought

As I said, the movie is about white people. Blacks in the movie are largely potrayed as victoms...often bravely standing up, but still unable to stop the oppression of the system.

Black people often speak with pride of their achievements in overcoming this oppression. This pride is well deserved. But for the white man in America it is more complex. I have ancestors that fought for the South, the Confederacy, and relatives today who never miss a chance to say the "N" word.

But I also take a great deal of pride in the way we fought, even within our own race, to ensure liberty and justice for all.

This movie truly captures my way of thinking and gives two strong role models for anyone who wants to be on the side of equality and freedom.

The Secret

I think the Secret is pretty fascinating. I noticed from the start that it was very well done. It artfully combines computer graphics with narration to make it's point.

I also am really impressed by the viral marketing techniques they used. I heard about this movie from about 6 people in three different circles. I have never seen an advertisement, ad or even gotten an e-mail. Just pure word of mouth, telling me to view it on-line. This is a new and very good way to promote a documentary.

Now as to the point. The movie makes the claim that you have caused drawn everything you experience into your life. It then goes on to tell you how to think positive thoughts about what you want in your life. The makers then GUARANTEE, you will get it.

Think of $100,000 dollars and it will come to you.

So the secret is to ask the universe and you will recieve. They then go through how to apply the Secret to your money, life, job, relationships and health.

I like the idea. I may not believe that you are 100% in charge of all you experience and that you could visualize anything and have it come your way. But I do believe there is a great deal of power in picturing what you want and moving towards it.

There is one point where they compare moving through life like having your headlights on at night. You may only see a few hundred feet ahead but you can drive hundreds of miles seeing only 200 feet at a time. I truly agree with this concept. When you are trying to reach a goal, go for it. Don't worry about how you will get there, just focus with single minded attention. You will reach it.

Another point I agree with is the idea that you should focus on what you want, and try not to focus on what you don't want. I realized that I think frequently about my "lifelong struggle with weight". What am I bringing on myself? How am I seeing myself?

A better way to think of it is "I am heading towards a healthy, slim and fit body" and better yet "I AM healthy, fit and strong" Out of this belief I will eat better, exercise more and avoid unhealthy habbits that are adopted only by people who struggle with weight issues. That's not me anymore. I am healthy fit and strong.

I also decided to focus on a goal of $500,000 in funding for the Zero Waste Network. So watch here and see if it happens.

My only complaint is the sloppy science. For instance, one person says "It has been scientifically proven that positive thoughts radiate 10 times stronger than negative thoughts"....RUBBISH. The movie is not, and should never be seen as a scientific movie. But as a philosophical and inpirational framework it is quite good.

Borat

I had the fun of watching this on a zebra skin bedsheet at the Kimpton Hotel in D.C. I almost hurt myself laughing so hard. This movie is F U N N Y!

A Scanner Darkly

A very original movie, not suprised it wasn't a big hit. It uses an advanced form of rotoscopins which allowed a creative range of subtle effects in shading, coloration and changes to the actors. This film gets into one of my favorite themes of late...what is real and what is unreal, and is there really a difference. It also addresses the idea of identity. The primary character is an agent of the government whose job is to spy on his undercover self and the drugged out underground of L.A.

Such a strange movie, hard to describe, but well worth a watch.