Monday, December 27, 2010

Movie of the decade: C.R.A.Z.Y. : un film Canadien




I first came across this film due to my interest in French cinema. As I stumbled through the vast archives of "les films français" I found it interesting to see a movie out of Québécois Canada. I thought to myself this may just be a breath of fresh air to the majority of depressing and angsty genres I was accustomed to with films from France. This gives me a whole new meaning to the term french cinema ( although technically since it comes from Canada I doubt i should term it french cinema). This movie was perfect in every way, showing the trials of family life, love, and being an outcast. I must warn you that some of the themes in this film may not sit well with some narrow minded people, who can't look past and see what this movie is truly about. Although being quite a long film, just over two hours, I can say that it was one of the best two hours I've spent in my life, I cannot see one scene being cut from it. This film I can say from just watching it once, is definitely my favorite movie for this decade, and probably my favorite movie of all time. This is one movie that can truly bring out all the emotions in a person.





Set in the 60's and 70's in Quebec, written by François Boulay, Jean-Marc Vallée, the movie delves into the lives of a suburban family living in Québec, Canada, telling the tale of a five brothers and their parents, revealing the social breakdown and the taboos facing that era. Je ne peux pas expliquer plus sur ce film, alors c'est le synopsis du site officiel






SYNOPSIS

Un film fou, magique, mystique, à la fois pudique et sexy, drôle et touchant.

C.R.A.Z.Y., c’est d’abord un portrait de famille qui dépeint la vie souvent extraordinaire de gens ordinaires à la poursuite de leur bonheur. C’est aussi une histoire d’amour entre un fils et son père. Le drame de celui-là qui, pour préserver l’amour de celui-ci, nie avec acharnement sa nature profonde. C.R.A.Z.Y., c’est l’histoire de Zachary Beaulieu, quatrième d’une famille de cinq garçons, né le 25 décembre 1960. Avec humour et sarcasme, Zac nous raconte les malheurs d’être né le jour de Noël, de se sentir différent des autres et de grandir dans une famille de gars auxquels il essaie désespérément de ressembler.C.R.A.Z.Y. est une fable mystique et fantaisiste sur l’âme humaine dans toute sa beauté, sa folie, sa poésie.



p.s. How could I forget, This movie has some really awesome music, the best in a movie since The boat that rocked aka Pirate Radio ( another awesome movie). Probably because both films share almost the same timeline with the likes of musical geniuses such as Pink Floyd, The Cure, The Rolling Stones and the one and only Patsy Cline.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Unity



This video shows not only the rich ethnical and cultural diversity of my beautiful metropolitian country of Trinidad and Tobago, but it shows the richness of our music and how we as a people live in unity and harmony with one another, despite "creed and race".

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Change..... contined

Going along with my decision to keep this blog fresh by using a new background per week, I have decided to go with one of my photos of a sunset in Paris.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Aung San Suu Kyi Freed finally!!!



It was just last year during my travels to Brussels where I saw protest for freedom in Iran, and banners around the European Union headquaters demanding the release of Aung San Suu Kyi,rightful leader of Burma now known as Myanmar, held in exile.

It has been quite awhile that I have been following the developments surrounding the house arrest of 1991 Nobel Peace Prize winner, who has been under house confinement for the past 15 out of 21 years by the suppresive military dictatorship of Senior General Than Shwe (tied winner of my international scum of the year along with North Korea's Kim Jong-Il), and I'm very happy to say that as of November 13, 2010 she has been released. This is the beconing of a new beginning for Burma, and a very bright day in this ever darkening world.

Her release comes just on the heels of the 2010 general elections results in Burma, a beutiful country tarnished by the selfish, stagnant, and repulsive rule by one of the world's top ten most evil dictators( why is Asia so prominant in the ranking of worst dictators? a la China and NK and Myanmar, well I guess that is the price you have to pay for progress, or what one deems progress ).



Friday, November 12, 2010

Larry Clark's Bully



There are movies that stick with you for a lifetime, then there are some that would haunt you. One such movie is Bully(based on a true story), which tells a tale of carefree young adults, teenagers that would leave you feeling disturbed and sick and enjoying every bit of it.
It's creator, Larry Clark, the genius, mastermind, sociopath behind this tantalizing tale of deciet, murder, vice,and lies spins a web of suspense that would keep you on the edge of your seats.

Mr. Clark is also famous for his equally deliciously repulsive works such as Ken Park and Kids



Photography

Well I'm not a professional photographer and I don't have a clue as in how to operate Photoshop but I do like photography, so here are some of my amateur shots and edits.




Thursday, November 11, 2010

METRIC



I know my posts these day's have become shorter and shorter, but that is due to me wanting to keep up with posts while juggling time spent with class assignments, facebook, and most important sleep. I just wanted to share one of the most amazing bands I have ever encountered

Change

Well change is in the air, no not political change as seen in the midterm elections recently, but I've decided to keep things fresh, every week I will change the background/theme of the blog.... this particular theme reminds me of the intro to Cw's awesome show 90210

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Epic Song From an Even More Epic Movie



click here for the full version

I must say that the movie Scott Pilgrim Vs The World was just an awesome mind blowing experience which one cannot afford to miss. The above is just a subtle hint at what's in store for you, the viewer, as you delve into the odd but wonderful and sarcastic world of this movie of epic proportions.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Save Sakineh


Sign the petition, send the letter: the Iranian Government has just given the go ahead for her execution tomorrow November 3



محضر محترم حضرت آیت الله . . . . دامت افاضاته

این عریضه را برای جلب توجه حضرت عالی و برخی دیگر ازحضرات آیات عظام به نقائص فاحش در پروندۀ سکینۀ محمدی آشتیانی، که به اتهام ارتکاب زنای محصنه درشهر تبریز درمعرض سنگسار قرار دارد، تقدیم می کنیم.
توضیحاٌ و با احترام به استحضار حضرت آیت الله می رسانیم که مجازات سنگسار مشارُالیها در سال 1385 از سوی دادگاه کیفری آذربایجان شرقی صادر شد. در پروندۀ تنظیم شده علیه مشارُاالیها نامی از طرف دیگر چرم زنا نا برده نشده است. علاوه براین، قبل از آغاز محاکمه سکینه محمدی آشتیانی تحت فشار محبور به اعتراف به ارتکاب جرمی شده که هرگز صورت نگرفته و مشاراُالیها در طی محاکمه با تصریح به اجباری بودن اعتراف ادعائی آن را پس گرفته است.
دو تن از بنج عضو دادگاه مذکور، با استناد به فقدان مدارک و اسناد مثبتۀ جرم و نبودن شاهدان عینی در دادگاه، به حکم محکومیت و مجازات سکینۀ محمدی آشتیانی رأی منفی داده اند.
اخیراً، به دنبال اعتراض های گستردۀ بین المللی به حکم سنگسار مشاراُ الیها، مقامات دادگستری آذربایجان شرقی ناگهان و به خطا ادعا کرده اند که حکم اعدام سکینۀ محمدی آشتیانی با قتل شوهر وی مرتبط بوده است و نه با اتهام ارتکاب زنا. معهاذا، با توجه به جریان و اوراق محاکمه، واقعیت مسلم آن است که حکم اعدام تنها به ارتکاب زنا مرتبط بوده و نه جرم دیگری. پروندۀ قتل شوهر مشاراُالیها در دادگاه دیگری پی گیری و در سال 1385 مختومه اعلام گردید بی آن که حکم اعدامی علیه مشاراُ الیها صادر شود. بازکردن مجدد پرونده ای که مدت ها از تعیین تکلیف و خاتمه آن گذشته است دال بر آن است که مقامات دادگستری آذربایجان شرقی تنها قصد داشته اند که افکار عمومی را از ناعادلانه بودن مجازان سنگسار در مورد اتهام به ثبوت نرسیدۀ زنای سکینۀ محمدی آشتیانی منحرف کنند.
حضرت آیت الله . . .
امروز معدود است شمار کشورهای اسلامی که در آن به سنگسار مجرمان دست زنند. در واقع در بسیاری از جوامع دنیا اعدام به عنوان یک کیفر قانونی برای ارتکاب جرم زنا لغو شده است.
ما با جلب توجه آن پیشوای روحانی به اِعمال فشار برای اجبار متهم به اعتراف نادرست، فقدان اسناد و بیّنۀ مثبتۀ جرم و غیبت شهود عینی ارتکاب جرم از جلسات دادرسی و به این واقعیت که سکینه محمدی آشتیانی سالیانی از عمر خویش را بی گناه در زندان به سر برده و متحمل آزار و ایذای بسیار شده است، با نهایت احترام از حضرت عالی به عنوان آخرین ملجأ تظلم و دادخواهی استدعا داریم که مقامات قضائی تبریز را به آزاد کردن سکینه محمدی آشتیانی تشویق و راهنمائی فرمائید.

Au Revoir Simone "Sad Song"



music says more than outward emotions can ever express :/

Sunday, September 19, 2010

The Cardigans - Don't Blame Your Daughter



All I can say is this is one of the most underrated bands I have ever had the pleasure of knowing, just watch and you should see what i mean.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

METRIC - Help I'm Alive

So it's been awhile since I posted anything, but I think this song epitomizes my life this past month

Saturday, August 14, 2010

House Of The Rising Sun






^^^^^click above to play

This bluesy folk song from good ol' New Orleans, Louisiana tells the assumed story of a brothel and the consequences of it. This song gets you into a trance with its melodic rhythm and bluesy and jazzed up music and hypnotic organ accompaniment, this sweet tune will take your imagination back to those old days in New Orleans with its poetic and melancholic lyrics.

Lyrics:
There is a house in New Orleans
They call the Risin' Sun
And it's been the ruin of many a poor boy.
In God, I know I'm one.

My mother was a tailor.
She sewed my new blue jeans.
My father was a gamblin' man
Down in New Orleans.

Now, the only thing a gambler needs
Is a suitcase and a trump
And the only time that he's satisfied
Is when he's all a-drunk.

Oh, Mother, tell your children
Not to do what I have done.
Spend your lives in sin and misery
In the house of the risin' sun.

Well, I've got one foot on the platform.
The other foot on the train.
I'm goin' back to New Orleans
To wear that ball and chain.

Well, there is a house in New Orleans
They call the Risin' Sun
And it's been the ruin of many a poor boy.
In God, I know I'm one.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

La Chanson Du Jour/ The Song Of The Day: Arcade Fire - Haiti



This is probably the most heartfelt song I have seen written in recent times, an elegy sung by Régine Chassagne(one of the founding members of the group Arcade Fire) of her once beautiful homeland,from which she was driven out during the reign of Haiti's exiled leader Jean-Claude Duvalier.

I like the live version of this song best because its seems to portray the raw emotion, the sadness, anger, frustration in which this song was penned.

LYRICS:

Haïti, mon pays,
wounded mother I'll never see.
Ma famille set me free.
Throw my ashes into the sea.

Mes cousins jamais nés
hantent les nuits de Duvalier.
Rien n'arrete nos esprits.
Guns can't kill what soldiers can't see.

In the forest we lie hiding,
unmarked graves where flowers grow.
Hear the soldiers angry yelling,
in the river we will go.

Tous les morts-nés forment une armée,
soon we will reclaim the earth.
All the tears and all the bodies
bring about our second birth.

Haïti, never free,
n'aie pas peur de sonner l'alarme.
Tes enfants sont partis,
In those days their blood was still warm


Original album version

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Weeds returns




So it's that time of the year again, the return of the 6th season of the Showtime Original series Weeds. One of the most epic shows ever to grace television. And it's back with a bang with a murder and running from the law at the focus of this seasons plot.

Make sure to set your DVR's or TIVO and catch the season premiere of Weeds this August 16 at 10pm EST.

Also catch the series premiere of Showtime's newest dramedy The Big C





Friday, July 30, 2010

Song Of The Day: M. Craft - Dragonfly




I first heard this song when I was watching my favorite tv show Skins, the bestest most epic show ever created, with the bestest intro ever, and the inspiration of the Title image of my blog.




The song dragonfly epitomizes the emotion one felt watching Skins, the joy, the sadness, the melancholy and the feelings of nostalgia when reminiscing on series 1 & 2 of the show.

DVD Spotlight: Kick Ass

18+

Todays DVD Spotlight features non other than the movie Kick-Ass. A movie so awesomely epic, you can tell by just looking at its name. This film will blow your mind with its disturbingly enjoyable gory violence, crude humor and outlandish expletives.


Kick-Ass comes out on DVD/Blu-ray on August 3

Buy it here on:

MARVEL Spotlight: SPIDER-WOMAN Motion Comic: Episode 1



Probably the best thing to happen MARVEL since the introduction of digital comics, these new motion comics plunges the reader into the seemingly noir adventure set in modern times, a breath of fresh air among this genre.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Song Of The Day: Her Morning Elegance - Oren Lavie



The music video for this song by Oren Lavie is as enchanting as the song itself, utilizing motion capture animation to entice the viewer into the dream-like setting of the video.

The Machine breathes on

Yup I'm talking about the one and only Florence + the Machine.... A British singer which I fell in love with way back 2008, long before she had the stardom she is privy to nowadays, who's style of music was as enchanting as it was heartfelt, who's lyrics were sweet but yet still deep. This new found love caused me to buy their debut CD Lungs right in their hometown London,England....an experience I will always cherish.

This is the first song I ever heard by Miss Florence Welch:



Mark Millar licks goats

I haven't read this title yet, but hell it sure is on my to do list.


It's an all out parody against conventional comic storylines,and hell if a book can say Mark Millar licks goats on its cover page, and is awesome enough to have its own theme song I'm sure its a good read as everyone else said.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010


So I just finished reading Ultimatum, a 5 part series which looks to conclude the storylines of The Ultimates (Avengers), Ultimate Spiderman, Ultimate Fantastic 4 and Ultimate X-men all which are part of MARVEL's Ultimate Universe....And after finishing reading it, it was like a train just ripped straight to your brain...I must say it was a series finale that went off with a bang....taking a few lives along the way.





Then I began to think back to my favorite show when I was younger, X-men Evolution. Here are a few vids from when televison was a whole lot better, and when the big mouse didn't sign Marvels paychecks:



Song Of The Day : Edward Maya & Vika Jigulina - Stereo Love (OFFICIAL VIDEO)



I first heard this song on my vacation in 2009 in Mykonos, Greece, where the video for it was actually shot.

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World - Theatrical Trailer HD




As you know I'm a big fan of comic books and their movies, and after seeing Kick Ass earlier this year and being blown away by this new genre of comic book movie adaptions being explored on film I am highly anticipating the release of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.

Toy Story 3



So I went to the cinema today and saw Toy Story 3, the third installment of the famous franchise about the wonderful adventures of the "animated inanimate objects" by Disney.PIXAR. A film that I have anticipated since the release of Toy Story 2, a mere 11 years ago, and I can only say one thing, it was well worth the wait. Not only was it a cinematographic masterpiece, it was as perfect as a movie can get, the animation was spot on, the voice acting was spot on, there were the laughable moments and even the tear jerking moments.

Even after 15 years since the first movie came out in 1995, one can still feel an attachment to the characters of Woody, Buzz and the gang during their capers to find a way to return to Andy, their owner who is now 17 and is off to College (just like me) while trying to escape a gang of very nefarious toys.

This show brings out true emotion, depth and character of storyline as it seeks to wrap up the trilogy of Toy Story. In conclusion all I can say is That I give raving reviews to this movie, two thumbs up and just leave it to the creators behind Pixar animations to make the perfect ending to a fifteen year long trilogy that will make even a grown ass man leave the cinema a bit teary eyed.

IMDB site
Rotten Tomatoes site

First official post

I would like to dedicate this my first post to my dear friend Lakshana (http://flamingleaves.blogspot.com), who inspired me to take this unforeseen journey into the world of internet blogging.