Forget all the hype, controversy, and hullabaloo surrounding the release of The Golden Compass. Just go see it. It’s an amazing tale, and, if there wasn’t so much focus on certain religious undertones in the movie THAT ARE SIMPLY UNDERTONES… I think more people would be seeing it. I’m refusing to further discuss this supposed controversy because it’s moot. Just see the flick, and you will understand. There’s never any direct connection made. Period.

Parents, families, everyone– don’t be frightened of this movie! Seriously. It’s a wonderful tale of fantasy that I simply loved. Be open minded, and think for yourself. Feel free to ask me any questions about the movie if you are concerned about its content. Just don’t blindly follow hype. This story is too good to be missed because of close-mindedness.

… and, yes, Blockbuster drools

So I just wanted to update any interested parties who’ve read my diatribes against Blockbuster Online. I decided to take the plunge and do a trial of Netflix while I was still a paying customer of Blockbuster Online. Well, it didn’t take long before I canceled Blockbuster and chose to stick with Netflix. All my complaints and problems with Blockbuster are non-issues with Netflix. And, holy hell, Netflix’s website puts Blockbuster to shame.

More details to come as they seem relevant. I just wanted to state, for the record, that I prefer Netflix to Blockbuster Online. So there ya go.

In the past couple days, I’ve watched two really amazing documentaries that I absolutely had to get the word out about. Both movies share some common ground and have a lingering effect on one’s psyche, but each flick stands on its own as a feature you should sit down and open your mind to.  Drum roll, please?  

The two documentaries endorsed by yours truly are:
- An Inconvenient Truth
- Who Killed the Electric Car?
And these two shall heretofore be referred to by acronym– AIC and WKtEC.

I am still in shock over WKtEC– mostly because it opens your eyes to the phenomenon of now-you-see-em-now-you-don’t electric cars.  YES– the time of the electric car has apparently already come and gone.  Were you aware?  Cause I sure as shit wasn’t.  

AIC is also a jolt to the system.  To this day, it amazes me that our government has deluded much of America into questioning the scientifically undisputed fact that global warming IS occurring AND, yes, its effects are detrimental.  The simple, scientific facts are there– increasing greenhouse gases heat the planet.  A hotter planet causes freakish weather– ahem, hello Hurricane Katrina and the lovely 70 degree (F) days of late December in Atlanta as of late.  Looking at the graphical charts of raw data on temperatures and Carbon Dioxide levels in the atmosphere, it’s almost comical to doubt that recent trends represent a vast departure from what’s been recorded in the past.  And, yet, we do nothing.  

I could go on, but I’d better go ahead and get ready for work.  Check these movies out ASAP.  They should be required viewing.

“We need not to be let alone.  We need to be really bothered once in a while.  How long is it since you were really bothered?  About something important, about something real?”
-Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451

So, I watched True Romance last night for the first time, and it’s earned a spot on my list of favorite movies. Tarantino wrote it, but he didn’t direct it. His spirit infuses the movie, however, and there’s no denying who was behind the crazy world that envelops you when watching this flick. The title is undeniably perfect, and even one as jaded as me was pleased with the outcome when the end credits hit the screen. There’s an all star cast, Elvis as a mentor, Kung Fu movies, guns, Gary Oldman, and all sorts of other great insanity. I highly recommend checking it out if you haven’t seen it. Now I need to watch it again…

Generally speaking, most people like movies that make them happy. I do like happy movies, and a good, happy movie will typically maKe it onto my radar. This afternoon, as I was lounging on my couch post 5-K race, I happened to stumble upon House of Sand and Fog. This is not one of the aforementioned happy movies. But it’s a new favorite for me. Why? Because it pissed me off when it ended. I was so emotionally involved with the movie that I was angry with the plot twists that were chosen and angry at the filmmakers for leaving so many unanswered questions. Here I mean angry in a great way… the movie had me emotionally involved. I guess that’s what makes a great movie, at least to me. I like it when movies piss me off… in a good way… by challenging me to accept outcomes that I did not foresee or wish to happen.

Here’s to good flicks… they piss me off!

World to Americans: You’re OK — it’s Bush we hate It’s a pretty interesting article. I have to say that I just love Salon. Sure, you have to watch an ad (well, I don’t because I got a subscription… but I once had to), but the news stories are always high quality, and they show a different viewpoint than a lot of the larger news sites. What can I say? I just dig Salon!

I’m gonna try and post some thoughts on the movies I’ve watched this week later this afternoon. Just FYI, I’ve been on a slight movie binge the past couple days, and I’ve watched:

• Eternal Sunshine of the Spotess Mind
• Saved!
• Super Size Me
• 21 grams (almost… I haven’t finished watching this one yet)

I saw it on Friday, and I’d like to post more about it soon… but for now, I just have to make the public service announcement– go see this movie. Sure, it’s biased. But it’s a bias that has not been presented yet. And I’m all about the drummer who takes to his own beat, Thoreau-style.

Until I can post more, fight the system.