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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
Kick-Ass comes out on DVD/Blu-ray on August 3
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
Mark Millar licks goats
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)
Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World - Theatrical Trailer HD
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