Capitalism - Feudalism without the Kings
Tax the Rich
Movie Monday
Do you know that every website I visit, and I mean every one, has a knitting ad? Can you believe that so many websites are sponsored by knitting interests? And now, I'm noticing that there are ads for Kumon also on these websites? Wow! Knitting, an interest I've had for a long time and Kumon, a new found interest! These sites must be so prescient to know my interests!
OK, can you read the sardonicism in that last paragraph? I pity the poor kid who researches the growth of prostitution in the US. I can imagine the explaining he/she will be doing to parents. But I must admit, I like getting knitting ads. I guess that old saying: Everyone has his price is true. I am a sucker for knitting products.
Some shorter reviews today:
1. Revisiting vampires. I saw Let Me In and Let the Right One In again. Even not liking remakes, I think the first one (the remake) is just as good as the second. Both worthwhile viewing even with the gruesomeness because they don't pull their punches. The ending might seem unrealistically upbeat but any rational viewer knows there is no happy ending for these "kids." However, the ending does present a much wider question affecting humanhood: How do people with no hope survive?
2. Why Toy Story 3? Like why the "3", like in Aliens 3, Die Hard 3, etc.? Like why the obsession with numbers in Hollywood? (Though as a history junkie, I will get a kick out of the second Salt movie, Salt II.) Toy Story 3 stands on its own as a good living lesson for kids and parents. Kids growing up, abandoning their childhood, separating from the unreality and play lessons toy teach us. But it insists with its numerical sticker to shout: Hey, kids. Remember you liked the other Toy Story(s)? Well, we're trading on that popularity so we can keep our marketing budget down.
3. What wrong with Magic City? The new series on Starz that you must live in a TV-less hole in the ground if you want to miss its incessant promos? They can talk about the feel of the 1950's with the fashion, music and settings but when you have the "walk" of a TV show from the 1950s you're in trouble. Magic City moves like an early TV show. Static and boring. Cripes, there is one scene where the protagonist walks across the room. The last time I saw that was in an old Charlie Chan movie where, with swelling music, the camera follows Charlie as he leaves a building, walks down a large flight of steps and enters a taxi. When what it supposed to be a cutting edge modern series uses a variation of this time-waster, you know there's trouble ahead. I like watching Danny Huston because he can chew up the smallest of roles. (As King Richard in Russell Crowe's Robin Hood.) But even he can't save bad dialogue and direction. There's no magic in this city.
4. Midnight in Paris: A less acerbic Woody Allen examining the life and psyche of the creative person. The scenery is fantastic, the acting spot on (That was Hemingway!), and everything was delightfully tied in a bow by the end. But it wasn't Deconstructing Harry nor Crimes and Misdemeanors both of which I think described the essence of the struggle between the creative and the mundane with cutting edge, and over-the-edge accuracy. But watch Midnight in Paris, you won't be disappointed. Someone said that Owen Wilson really captured the Allen persona. See what you think.
That's it for this Monday. Now on to write an article aimed at "capturing" a new Social Committee Chair for our community. Wish me luck.
Do you know that every website I visit, and I mean every one, has a knitting ad? Can you believe that so many websites are sponsored by knitting interests? And now, I'm noticing that there are ads for Kumon also on these websites? Wow! Knitting, an interest I've had for a long time and Kumon, a new found interest! These sites must be so prescient to know my interests!
OK, can you read the sardonicism in that last paragraph? I pity the poor kid who researches the growth of prostitution in the US. I can imagine the explaining he/she will be doing to parents. But I must admit, I like getting knitting ads. I guess that old saying: Everyone has his price is true. I am a sucker for knitting products.
Some shorter reviews today:
1. Revisiting vampires. I saw Let Me In and Let the Right One In again. Even not liking remakes, I think the first one (the remake) is just as good as the second. Both worthwhile viewing even with the gruesomeness because they don't pull their punches. The ending might seem unrealistically upbeat but any rational viewer knows there is no happy ending for these "kids." However, the ending does present a much wider question affecting humanhood: How do people with no hope survive?
2. Why Toy Story 3? Like why the "3", like in Aliens 3, Die Hard 3, etc.? Like why the obsession with numbers in Hollywood? (Though as a history junkie, I will get a kick out of the second Salt movie, Salt II.) Toy Story 3 stands on its own as a good living lesson for kids and parents. Kids growing up, abandoning their childhood, separating from the unreality and play lessons toy teach us. But it insists with its numerical sticker to shout: Hey, kids. Remember you liked the other Toy Story(s)? Well, we're trading on that popularity so we can keep our marketing budget down.
3. What wrong with Magic City? The new series on Starz that you must live in a TV-less hole in the ground if you want to miss its incessant promos? They can talk about the feel of the 1950's with the fashion, music and settings but when you have the "walk" of a TV show from the 1950s you're in trouble. Magic City moves like an early TV show. Static and boring. Cripes, there is one scene where the protagonist walks across the room. The last time I saw that was in an old Charlie Chan movie where, with swelling music, the camera follows Charlie as he leaves a building, walks down a large flight of steps and enters a taxi. When what it supposed to be a cutting edge modern series uses a variation of this time-waster, you know there's trouble ahead. I like watching Danny Huston because he can chew up the smallest of roles. (As King Richard in Russell Crowe's Robin Hood.) But even he can't save bad dialogue and direction. There's no magic in this city.
4. Midnight in Paris: A less acerbic Woody Allen examining the life and psyche of the creative person. The scenery is fantastic, the acting spot on (That was Hemingway!), and everything was delightfully tied in a bow by the end. But it wasn't Deconstructing Harry nor Crimes and Misdemeanors both of which I think described the essence of the struggle between the creative and the mundane with cutting edge, and over-the-edge accuracy. But watch Midnight in Paris, you won't be disappointed. Someone said that Owen Wilson really captured the Allen persona. See what you think.
That's it for this Monday. Now on to write an article aimed at "capturing" a new Social Committee Chair for our community. Wish me luck.
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