Epic Film School

At the local museum, I've taken several film classes. They usually center around a theme--Films From Spain or Independent Films from the 90's or Middle Eastern Comedies. OK, I'm kidding about that last one.

Well, the head honcho of these series happens to be in my yoga class and I asked him what was next, theme-wise. His response was to ask me if I had any ideas. STOOPID question. I told him my favorite thing to do would be to show an alphabetical survey of some of my all-time favorite movies, with the attempt to include every single film genre. Epic, I know. It's true that I wouldn't get the thrill of seeing films I haven't seen before, but I would be giving others that opportunity. And that's just the kind of selfless person I am.

So, even though I'm not a list person, here's mine, by movie title and genre.

And please, if the muse strikes you--what would be your idea for a film class?

A--A Midnight Clear: war
B--Baraka: spiritual documentary
C--The Cruise: documentary
D--Dirty Filthy Love: british romantic comedy
E--Elizabeth: historical drama
F--Frankie & Johnny: romantic comedy
G--Grave of the Fireflies: anime
H--(I) Heart Huckabees: comedy, independent
I--The Iron Giant: family animation
J--Jesus's Son: drama,independent
K--Koyaanisquatsi: experimental
L--Little Dieter Needs to Fly: Werner Herzog doc
M--Miller's Crossing: gangster drama
N--Nights of Cabiria: classic foreign
O--October Sky: biographical drama
P--The Princess and the Warrior: contemporary foreign
Q--Quiz Show: drama
R--Renegade: western/thriller
S--Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...and Spring: foreign, eastern
T--Tully: independent
U--United 93: real life drama
V--V for Vendetta: political thriller
W--Waking Life: independent, animation
X--
Y--Young Mr. Lincoln: classic
Z--

Non Campus Mentis

At a family friend's house last night, Hermione and I were turned on to this. Here's an excerpt from an actual college essay:

Zorroastrologism was founded by Zorro. This was a duelist religion.

The three gods were "Good", "Bad" and "Indifferent". These beliefs later resurfaced among the Manatees.

It's revisionist history by the mentally challenged.

You know, like what we've had to put up with since the republican takeover of all that was democracy.

Duck and Cover for the New American Century

Watch this video. It's a corporate response to the very real issue of global warming. The ending is my favorite part. The caption to the video goes like this:

The Competitive Enterprise Institute has produced two 60-second television
spots focusing on the alleged global warming crisis and the calls by some
environmental groups and politicians for reduced energy use. The ads are
airing in 14 U.S. cities.

I love that they call themselves "The Competitive Enterprise Institute". It says so much. To me, it says we will deny the fact that our industry hurts the environment so that we can keep our competitive edge in the global marketplace. It says, let's keep the focus on whether or not there is a global warming crisis or not, instead of what are we going to do about it. Fish these people out of the gene pool RIGHT NOW please!

I'll take my social responsibility with a large dose of inconvienent truth any day.

Whooooo Are YOU?

Take the 100 Acre Personality Quiz!

Fast Food Ration

Taking a break from here to devour this book, which I just found out is going to be a movie by my favorite director in the fall. Trailer is here.

This news is like getting free popcorn with the movie, because A Scanner Darkly , also Linklater's, comes out in July.

Go ahead--click on the links. You know you want to.

President Al Gore

Too bad its a parody but...

This is not to be missed.

Caption, Please

Bad Skin & Bad Hair

What you don't see in the above screenshot is that all of the people attacking this character in the movie "Silent Hill" are long-haired ghouls with slimy or unkempt hair. Which prompted this conversation while watching the trailer:

P: What is it with horror films since The Ring and women being pursued by girls with greasy hair?

Me: I think it's all about fear of bad hygiene.

P: So, these horror films are just over-funded health classes for teens?

Me: Exactly.

In a Parallel (Parking) Universe

Maia and I are looking over a book at the bookstore with funny signs like this, erupting in loud chuckles in the monastically quiet setting. Some of the gems include a sign saying , "Make Three Left Turns to Go Right", "Caution--Pedestrians Slippery When Wet" and "Barf Bed & Breakfast"--which I guess would be a B & B & B.

After pouring over the images of sign puns for over a half an hour, we head into the grocery store and at check-out, after greeting our cashier, the first thing she says to us (as she points to our bag-boy) is, "His name is "As-if".
In unison, we turn to look at the bagger's name tag, which reads "ASIF".
And we just laugh, and laugh, and laugh.

Globalize This

Always after a stretch of Bush-bashing, I start to see the futility of the blame-game. Not that I don't now deify Steven Colbert. And not that Bush doesn't deserve it. It just ultimatley leaves a bad taste in my mouth, and I start to instinctively focus on solutions.

So here's a couple.

• This is a great flash of the 7 Deadly Social Sins according to Gandhi. Much wisdom there.

• There is so much quality in these videos, I've just begun at this site. I went for the Julia Butterfly Hill clips, but on the sidebar, you can find Nelson Mandela, Jerry Mander, Robert Thurman...and many more.

This is part of my own organic process to find and be inspired by some real, human leadership.