Archive for October, 2007
billboard »
Monday, October 22nd, 2007
She’s as beautiful as she’ll ever be. She is fit, active, and young. Her legs are smooth and toned, her lips are full, her hair is still flexible and smooth, and her breasts have yet to feel the molesting hands of gravity. Her boyfriend either worships her or hates her. She sits a couple rows behind me, listening to her iPod and reading her book. Unlike gorgeous celebrities, she is attainable, but I’m not interested.
Her seduction is naive and superficial. Instead of seeking a man’s respect she wants his affection and attention. She layers her face in cosmetics, ritualistically manipulates her hair, and displays her skin in excess to prove her attractiveness. None of these things matter. She uses bold exposure instead of insightful conversation to entice the opposite sex. She’s self-conscious, awkward, and unsure.
Soon her metabolism will slow and pockets of weight will develop. Wrinkles will appear, and her curves will sag, but she’ll become more attractive. She will learn what she wants, what she deserves, and how she can get it. Eventually the make-up may enhance her appearance, rather than fog it. Clothes she buys will make her look and feel sexy, rather than showing off as much as possible. Most of all she will learn that a man’s attention and the opinions of others shouldn’t govern her habits.
Or, as is the case far too often, she won’t. She’ll remain socially immature and find affirmation only in the shallow. She’ll stress of her outer appearance and never develop a sense of self. She will date unappreciative men and grow lonely or pathetic. She will pass onto her children the same superficial values. She’ll read Cosmopolitan to learn how to please a man, or better her life, from articles written by men. She’ll desire the ogling eyes of men as proof that she’s more attractive than she feels. She will perpetuate the patriarchal assumptions.
It’s too early to tell. Her brains could be betrayed by the flaunting of her temporary body. Her low-cut tank top and low-rise jeans could be material means to gain attention for an insecure child. I don’t have the patience or attention span to find out. For now she is just an audacious billboard for a product I don’t want on the traffic-jammed interstate that is my life. Eye-catching, but barely worth a second glance.
joyeux noel »
Thursday, October 18th, 2007
[merry Christmas]
This is a war movie, sort of. It has action and violence and battle. But it’s more than that. It’s the true—though probably slightly exaggerated—story of the human spirit. I was impressed. It was mentioned in passing by a friend of mine on our way out of another movie (Valley of elah). I wanted to take a look, because it’s a compulsion. The summary she gave me was exactly how the film played out, but there were subtle undertones, derived from the timing of its release, that make it fantastic.
In World War I, soldiers from Scotland, France, and Germany made a temporary truce in order to celebrate the holidays. Their commanding officers were in the dark on this ceasefire. The men traded drink, stories, and celebration. They came to know one another and then, as the holidays ended, were enemies again. It’s a story about a different side of warfare. The human element that is almost always lost in history and cinematic depiction.
The acting is great. The stories they act out are strong and layered. There’s a sense that the men know they are doing something against conventional wisdom, but genuinely good. The interplay of commanding officers, between the men, and, at the core, between enemies, drives the film. A commentary on war runs at a different, more subtle, level than the action. It’s a commentary on war, how it was and how it is now.
War has not changed. It is still a battle between people for the same reasons. Territory, defense, or freedom are still the root causes of a war. The soldiers are still pawns in the vicious chess game being played by their superiors. But a movie like this will never be made and the actions shown therein will never happen again. War is now a battle between cultures. The common ground of soldiers has been erased by propaganda and perceptions. We will never again have an impromptu truce on the grounds of common holidays.
That’s what makes this film so powerful. It’s more than a film of war, a film about soldiers relating across the lines of culture, and a film showing the humanity during violence. It’s a snapshot in time. I don’t know how the events really happened for those few days in France in 1914, but the story behind it is incredible. The film shows a reality of war that is rarely touched on. To say both sides are justified in any conflict now is to say the sky is down, be anti-american, or Iranian.
It’s a good film based solely on the story. The setting is good, the action is realistic, and the characters are solid. It’s not necessarily a Christmas movie, but it seems to fit the winter season very well. I’m throwing out a recommendation that you throw this in when you’re forced into a night in due to blizzard or excessive chill. It’s a fun show.
****
transformers »
Thursday, October 18th, 2007
Like I wouldn’t see it? C’mon. Let’s get on with it. This movie is ridiculous. It’s based on the cartoon about alien robots who visit us in an attempt to save their own planet. Half of them fight to protect the humans and the other half fight with no regard for them at all. They’re looking for the key to live on their planet that was sent here thousands of years ago. Then there’s the kid who’s linked to the key because one of his late relatives found it and has information about where it’s located hidden somewhere. Oh, and some hot chick placed as default love interest to said kid. I know, right? And that’s only the beginning.
The acting is fantastic. By that I mean exclusively in the case of Shia. His humor is spot on and he works well with the robots that were generated in post. The rest is sort of ish, at best. Megan Fox, not so much an actress, but fun to watch. Anthony Anderson isn’t my favorite, but he’s in this one in small doses, so it’s acceptable. The cast is sort of a who’s-who of “who’s that again?” Jon Voight and John Turturro stick out as veterans, but even they are B-list.
The story, if you factor in its appeal to child audiences, is decent. It’s a cartoon after all. It gets larger than life, but effectively brings enough elements in to portray it as a national emergency. There are a lot of things going on, but they work well together throughout. The love story, survival story, heroism story, battle story, and history all play off one another to a least keep it interesting. It’s a funny movie though, with a lot of visual humor and Sam has a lot of great lines. The humor helps drive the movie.
The directing is very Michael Bay. It makes sense, considering he directed it. Unwarranted slow-motion, explosions, and action. It doesn’t necessarily make sense, but he creates a good experience. None of his movies are really quality flicks, but he makes them fun to watch. Well, Bad boys and the rock are fun to watch at least. I’d add this one to the list, but with shoddy directing, a ridiculous story, and only one quality performance, it’s for just one reason.
That reason? Giant robots fighting it up all over the damn place. Unreal. The graphics are the main reason to watch it. The fight scenes are astounding. How often do you see a thirty-foot-tall robot on wheels burst through a ball of flames spewing from a bus he just split in half? Once. And that’s what I’m talking about. They’re not necessarily realistic, but they’re incredible. Their transformations are just damn fun to watch. The physical effects in order to give the robots a sense of environment are spot on.
Overall, I must concede that this is one is ridiculous. I did already mention that right? But it’s still better than you would think. It’s a good one to watch when you’re looking to tune out neuron activity. There’s not much to it, but what it does is done well. Fan of Shia? You’ll probably get into it. He fits the roll real well. Or how about a Charger transforming into a gigantic robot in the middle of a flying tackle? If you’re into that sort of thing you should peep it.
***
twenty years later »
Wednesday, October 17th, 2007
I wasn’t around when this thing went down. Technically I was, but I was four and a half. I was barely walking, much less caught up in the news of some one-year-old who took a nose-dive down a pipe. But the two-decade anniversary just passed yesterday so everyone’s talking about it. I, for one and I’m sure it will be just me on this, don’t get it.
She’s born to teen parents who were poor as hell. Her dad, if only in name, sounds like a character on the Simpsons. Is this purposeful? Get groening on the phone. She was unattended for only a few moments. She dropped down a dark shaft. She was rescued and twenty years later her parents are divorced and remarried, and she’s married at 21, with a kid, to a 34 year old. If you factor out the million dollar payday she has lined up in a few years, she’s just another W.T. wife waiting on her mans to get home.
What’s the big deal? Why is Lauer interviewing her? She’s had a tough go of it, with multiple surgeries, but everyone I’ve heard speak of her says she’s completely normal. She’s avoided the media for this long. Why don’t we interview the heroes of the situation: the rescue workers who worked to get her out of the eight-inch wide death trap?
Is it uncouth to interview them? Those men that are still middle-income poor and never had the benefit of a trust. Would asking them how they’re doing, and how the last twenty years have gone for them, be boring to American viewers? Instead we need to interview a socially stalled there’s a reference to lil’ bow wow in the video; hilarious, undereducated, young mother who was once too curious and clumsy to keep herself alive.
That’s callous, right? I have no feelings, right? Fuck that. In the articles I’ve seen, any photograph with her is captioned with “a rescue worker.” What happened to those guys? Without them she’d be a few months of rotten stink and a horrible memory for her family. How about an interview with the man that carried her from the yard to the ambulance? Or, better yet, the man that came up from the depths with her in his arms?
The fucking photographer who won the Pulitzer is mentioned more by name than the rescue workers. I realize it’s Texas, no one expects her to thank anyone but God for her rise from the circular grave, but maybe some recognition by the media or family? Shit, a thank you card or a group interview? They worked tirelessly for more than two days to save the life of some poor that’s right: double meaning; nailed it kid under the lights of the media. They were the men that high-kicked natural selection in the jaw. Wouldn’t it make sense to recognize that twenty years later?
Nope. This is America. We need to drudge up a heroic moment from when we used to have heroes, then interview the clumsy eighteen-month-old instead of those that saved her. Nice. Real. Nice. Let’s hope little Simon gets a new double-wide for him and his womans when his trust comes due. If only to prove that the rescuers did a great thing back in the day, because no one else seems to realize it.
Can someone please find me an article that gives props to the rescue workers or at least mentions them by name?
94 is a bitch »
Tuesday, October 16th, 2007
The plan was to bus down to M.K.E., chill for awhile, go to the game, and bus back. There was a lot of sleeping lined up and some reading whenever I couldn’t catch winks. But, I missed the bus apparently my cell phone didn’t understand the gravity of the situation and its alarm responsibilities and had to drive my ass down here. There was a packer game, some pictionary, a night out, and a long drive back. I’m wrecked.
Waking up this morning was not really like pulling teeth. It was more like dragging an offensive lineman uphill by one leg. My mood on top of it being Tuesday, and I really. really. really hate Tuesdays is less than bubbling. But, I caught up on some reading and the delightful and heavily depressing stupidity of our species is entertaining.
Some examples for your viewing pleasure and general enjoyment therein. for those new to this, every word is a different link; hope you’re keeping up.