*Side Note* 24 the tv show

I just want to say HOW RIDICULOUS this is...

Like, REALLY? I watch "24" and find it quite entertaining. Never before have I thought of it depicting a "right-wing" fanaticism in "getting the job done."

This idiot is espousing about how it's so right-wing and the subsequent responses make it a bit comical (although some make my blood boil JUST A LITTLE BIT).

I mean, I don't identify myself with either Republicans or Democrats (I am a registered independent), but I am glad one of the responders stated that it is ridiculous to classify a show as inherently right-wing or left-wing. I mean, C'MON!!

Reading THAT much into a show?? Just state right out that you find it exaggerated or whatever, but don't try to say it's against your beliefs! I mean, SHEESH!!

And if we're SO obsessed w/our 2-party system, I chanced upon this little insight into what our country's really like these days...

And, umm, just to put this in perspective, NOT that I am supposedly identifying myself w/ANY one side (although I do, admittedly, lean more left than right--I would say I'm a liberal, but just find both parties repugnant).

"24" has had a black president and most recently a female one. Where have we actually seen candidates with both those demographics? the democratic party

just sayin'...

UGHS put it just frustrates me. I mean, Yes, FoxNews is the poster child for right-wing propaganda and sometimes super-uber-crazy, and using opinion-as-fact that sometimes borders on slander, BUT--that's its news station.

Its shows are actually pretty interesting and have nothing to do with agendas.

THEY ARE JUST SHOWS.

FOR ENTERTAINMENT VALUE.

So, omg, that there are people like that on the internet (if you haven't clicked on my 1st link, please do so already!!) just irks me.

I mean, seriously? Let TV be the realm of entertainment, especially w/fictional shows... We have bigger problems.

Oh, and it's because I started watching Season 7 and needed kinda a refresher/recap on all the stuff that's happened.

I looked up the country of "Sangala" and yeah.... so enough said. Debate settled!!

And those responders that took that person's attack on their beliefs and tried to turn it around?? Well you can suck it, too. "24" is entertainment. No more, no less (but I will say I believe it leans more leftist but that's just me...)

Also, torture is over-rated. So are lie-detector tests. My bf and I have a disagreement on that, but I mean... I have had more sources on that. And that's all I'm gonna say on that.

What we see on TV--it's fiction. If REAL Law & Order and REAL CSI was THAT easy... Don't you think we'd have all the right criminals behind bars already??

The point is, our technology is nowhere near that--torture leads to eventual confessions from anybody, and witness statements are easily warped. The human memory is not as accurate as we'd like to think it is. Witnesses are, frankly, unreliable. Unless they have eidetic memories.

But I stray.

ANYwho. TV is entertaining. I love these action/crime/mystery/thriller shows. So let's just leave it to that.

EFFING eff.

THE END.

[or as one of my French classmates said, the fin]

"The Wall" (1998)

This was a movie I had to watch for a French culture class (of which I am actually cramming at the moment, and am churning out this review ASAP!)...

It is a bit satirical, but since I am really completely ignorant of French/Belgian history/culture/issues (yes, I suppose I am an ethnocentric, pig-headed américaine), I at first thought "The Wall" represented a TRUE wall that was erected à la the Berlin Wall.

"le mur" tells the story of a Walloon (French-speaking person in Belgium) man named Albert (Daniel Hanssens) who runs a fish and chips cart/stand that sits right on the border of Belgian Wallonia and Flanders--two (basically) warring factions within Belgium. The Flemish speak Dutch and the Walloons speak French, and they do not like each other!!

The female lead (Pascale Bal) resembles a Linda Evangelista/Milla Jovovitch-type look. She plays Wendy, a pretty, flirty, confident sort of free spirit.

The meet at a New Year's Eve Party and somehow fall in love.

The following events that transpire make up the reason behind the title.

I do not quite know what to make of the opening sequence between a man and woman that resemble (well, the actors are the same) Albert and Wendy--and they are a Walloon and a Flemish girl.

It seems that much of the movie could realistically be happening in Albert's head.

The military or the special squadron of "round-up" thugs are so power-trippy that they are reminiscent of Draco Malfoy and the Inquisitorial Squad in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. (Perhaps the way the Gestapo were in Nazi Germany)

Like Clive Owen's character says in "Shoot 'Em Up"--"I hate a pussy with a gun." or something along those lines.

Sorry.

Not to go off on a random tangent (And if you haven't seen "Shoot 'Em Up," WATCH IT!).

And that makes me think of WHAT HAS CLIVE OWEN BEEN UP TO LATELY??

More on that later (I'll post once I find out) (o;

BUT--"Le Mur" is interesting and has its comical moments. I think the movie is there as a message, but also there to entertain.

I enjoyed it, but it probably won't make it on my Top 10 List.

Overall, it gets a B/B- from me. (maybe closer to a 78%~81%, if that helps)

Enjoy!

[the following link may not work in a month's time, but I won't know till then... Hopefully it still works by the time somebody reads this!!]

LE MUR scroll down the list

Also listed are "Germinal" and "Michou d'Auber" which star everybody's favorite French actor---Gerard Depardieu.

Well, let's see... Jean Reno and Marion Cotillard are a couple of other names...

Another movie I'd like to check out (and have yet to do so completely) is the Canadian/American movie "Bon Cop, Bad Cop." When I was still taking French classes at De Anza College, we had some projects we had to do and one of the ladies in the class showed us the difference in accent between Canadian French and French French. It looked pretty funny from what we saw in class.

I also urge you to check out "Persepolis," another engaging and delightful French film.

I have yet to check out "The Triplets of Belleville" but will let you all know how that goes...

There are just SO MANY films!!

Le Mur (1998)

--

The Planet of the Apes (1968)

SO-

Overall I feel like it did somewhat hold true to Pierre Boulle's novel, first published 1963. Although they changed some things, I have come to realize that--while some people want to find an excellent interpretation of their prized books on film--a movie is good as a stand-alone. As long as the spirit of the original novel stays intact. What do I mean by that?

Prime Examples:

The Count of Monte Cristo is an EXCELLENT book. An EXCELLENT read. It's smart, intelligent, and the interwoven story lines do not feel heavy. It is a complex story, most definitely.

The film that came out with Jim Caviezel and Guy Pearce started off all right, and then about the midway point, took a turn for the worst. Yes, it's a revenge story--yes everybody gets their just desserts. But the film lacked the spark and the wit--and the TRUE JUSTICE of the original story. Jail and death sometimes do not hit an emotional spot--do not break you in that way--that other methods may. I have yet to view the Laurence Olivier version, but I am sad to think that it may always remain a good story--for the pages. That proves unfortunate for those who do not enjoy reading...

Howl's Flying Castle--the film--seems to venture FAR from the original spirit of the novel (in fact, many of the facts are really quite different), but I enjoyed both--as their individual stories and art forms, and when I thought on it--it wasn't the "not following original story/plot line", but the way it was delivered. The spirit of the story remains intact. The characters are true to their attitudes and traits, and the novel and film move along in a similar fashion--masked in intrigue and magic.

Back to Planet of the Apes.

NOW- I just finished it with my boyfriend, who has seen the Mark Wahlberg version, so he semi-predicted some plot points. My mother (unfortunately) ruined the ending of the 1968 version, which is why I have never really found reason to watch it. But for my French lit class, I had to read the book (in French, of course--which shocked me; not to sound ethnocentric, but I assumed it was an American sci-fi novel--GO READ IT, even if you have to read a translation!) and compare to the 1968 film.

Many of my fellow classmates enjoyed the book more (there are so many more subtleties that can be woven into a book than a film), but when I think about it--the spirit DOES remain true.

I've seen the tail-end of the newer version--it's all right, but Tim Burton seems to be following the M. Night Shyamalan streak--his movies of late are falling a bit short--maybe because he's trying too hard.

Rod Serling was one of the screenwriters of the original 1968 film.

Now, we have to take into account special effects and make up (and to some extent--acting) were not what they are today, so please do not judge on that account. Remember what I said before--you have to get into the mindset of the period--the story.

Other than that, I found it true to the novel (again--some departures, but don't let that irk you!) and enjoyable.

The only issue was Charleton Heston's acting. OMG. Smug and overdone. I like the main protagonist in La planète des singes but Heston's Taylor is smug and frankly, a douche. With that said (I realized that I started to enjoy the movie when his character couldn't speak), I would give this moving a B/B+ rating. Not too bad. As I was telling my boyfriend--directing is a huge part of the acting and execution, so I'll credit his acting to that.

I'll leave you to ponder ... (or watch!)

Enjoy!

addendum

I also recently watched this movie called "The Thirteenth Floor" starring Gretchen Mol and Craig Bierko. Review coming soon (I'll start to abbreviate this to RCS). (o;

Oh and don't forget: I promised a "Dead Poets Society", even though most people have probably already seen it! Don't be afraid to leave comments.

In fact, PLEASE leave comments!!

<3

Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

Whew! My first movie blog EVER.

Everytime I think of this title I think of "Mr Magorium's Wonder Emporium" (which I rather enjoyed).

The first thing I always make sure I do is to get into the mood of the movie. I do this with books, too.

Otherwise, all your movie-going/movie-viewing experiences will be much less than they could be. Of course there are the occasional horrendous films (which shall not be named), but for the most part, movies are rather decent.

This one is no exception. It's not mind-boggling, jaw-dropping philosophical stuff, but it's enjoyable enough.

It's what you'd expect.

With a title such as "Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus", you're in for a weird ride. It's quirky and all over the place, but isn't that kinda the point of such a movie?

When you look past that it has Heath Ledger, Johnny Depp and co. in it, it's more for fun than it is for thought.

Now that you have that particular thinking cap on (you still need to think, b/c if you zone out, the movie will get confuzzling), just be ready for Tim Burton-esque eerieness and the bright eyegasm that such Tim Burton-esque movies give you. (Think "Alice In Wonderland" and "Big Fish")

It's on the tip of my tongue, but at the moment it escapes me... It reminds me of another film.

Oh well.

The point is--without giving away (well, anything so far), only watch this if you don't mind the weird, quirky and whacky movie types. Otherwise, skip it. You'd probably think it was a waste of your time.

On a lighter note, Andrew Garfield of "The Social Network" fame (who is soon to star as Peter Parker in a Spiderman reboot--man, are we at that age already??) stars in this film as well. Some surprising actors make cameos.

SHORT SUMMARY:

basically, the title character makes a deal with the devil (before the events of the film) and chaos and random happenings ensue.

I won't bore you w/the details. You either wanted to watch this. Or you didn't. Hopefully I helped tip you in one direction or another.

Oh--And to draw a comparison--"Alice in Wonderland" dragged a bit for me, but "Dr Parnassus" kept me interested enough.

Overall it gets an OK rating-- B-/C+ --from me.

However, if you're bored or want some stuff to fill your head and your moment--watch it.

At least it'll be something you can cross off your list.

NEXT REVIEW: "Secret of Kells" ; "Planet of the Apes (1968)" ; "Harry Potter and the Deadly Hallows, Part I"

If you want to know about a movie before you watch it--I'll do that for you! I'll let you know if it's a skipper, or if you should go ahead and waste 1.5-2 hrs of your life (let's face it--most movies aren't really productive, but it's a good way to blow of steam and enjoy yourself) ! (o;

I'm out. Until next time.

PEACE.