dyrwen (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} dyrwen) wrote,@ 2006-12-31 01:36:00 |
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Bored and Movie Review Time
So many movies. I've watched quite a few this winter break, even more than I'm mentioning here.
I watched Children of Men, which I got a screener of recently and hadn't seen. It was a bit typical in terms of plot. It felt a lot like 28 Days Later, if only for the setting in England and how it just throws you into the story, with no explanation really, as to how everyone's infertile (since they don't know either) or who most of these people or organizations are. Clive Owen acted really well, and the main pregnant chick did a decent job. The Operative of Serenity, Chiwetel Ejiofor, was in this film and did a decent job as a prick. Beyond that, it had some surreal moments once or twice in the film, namely Michael Caine as a pothead hippie which was awesome. It's an okay flick, worth seeing I suppose, but it tied together an eerie sense of current political problems with a sci-fi demeanor of adventure rather well.
I watched One Flew Cuckoo's Nest, which I hadn't seen. It was decent, glad to see where all the "mental institution" films of today got their inspiration. It was interesting to see Jack Nicholson being thoughtful, or at least a good an actor as he was at the time of the film's creation. Danny Devito was also shown looking unusually short, I mean I know he's short, but sometimes ya just never notice due to the way he's shot in modern film. All in all a definite classic, with Nurse Rachet as probably the biggest bitch I've ever seen, surprisingly well acted throughout the film as someone who would not relent. I believe Jack's character called her an "unrelenting cunt", accurately so.
I watched Seven Years in Tibet, which I have seen before, but which I never cease to enjoy. It has Brad Pitt, whom I love in any film. It has part mountain climbing, part WW2 POW escapes, part survival amongst friends whom one cannot live without, and part war with the world which seeks to invade a peaceful land. All around an interesting film and based off a real person who lived and experienced what occurred in the film.
It would seem that the real Dalai Lama is an honorary citizen of Canada and the Ukraine, but yeah, that's my life recently. Tomorrow I get to call my mom, as I do each week, so that'll be a real blast I'm sure. I've got my contract worked out, mostly, just gotta bring it by academic advising for a once-over. And I've got to find, read: siphon, $50 or more to buy my newly added book list for next quarter, since my teacher apparently wanted me to read rather than just write a shitload. Fun fun.
after a brief walk, and thinking about Lama quotes relating to "Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values." and his thoughts on silence and solitude, that my only consistent value beyond subjectivism is this: Silence is not necessarily a value, but solitude is. Some things must be said, one way or another, but when it comes to existence, a moment with oneself in solitude can help one obtain peace. If one can remain at peace within, then one's world shall become peaceful, or at least insofar as one can alter it. One does not need to be happy, or sad, or any emotion, but peaceful, to remain able to remain alive and capable of survival.
If all were at peace inside, then the world would have peace outside. It is only through (mis)understanding oneself and the world around you through peace that one can expect to live life with fulfillment.
So many movies. I've watched quite a few this winter break, even more than I'm mentioning here.
I watched Children of Men, which I got a screener of recently and hadn't seen. It was a bit typical in terms of plot. It felt a lot like 28 Days Later, if only for the setting in England and how it just throws you into the story, with no explanation really, as to how everyone's infertile (since they don't know either) or who most of these people or organizations are. Clive Owen acted really well, and the main pregnant chick did a decent job. The Operative of Serenity, Chiwetel Ejiofor, was in this film and did a decent job as a prick. Beyond that, it had some surreal moments once or twice in the film, namely Michael Caine as a pothead hippie which was awesome. It's an okay flick, worth seeing I suppose, but it tied together an eerie sense of current political problems with a sci-fi demeanor of adventure rather well.
I watched One Flew Cuckoo's Nest, which I hadn't seen. It was decent, glad to see where all the "mental institution" films of today got their inspiration. It was interesting to see Jack Nicholson being thoughtful, or at least a good an actor as he was at the time of the film's creation. Danny Devito was also shown looking unusually short, I mean I know he's short, but sometimes ya just never notice due to the way he's shot in modern film. All in all a definite classic, with Nurse Rachet as probably the biggest bitch I've ever seen, surprisingly well acted throughout the film as someone who would not relent. I believe Jack's character called her an "unrelenting cunt", accurately so.
I watched Seven Years in Tibet, which I have seen before, but which I never cease to enjoy. It has Brad Pitt, whom I love in any film. It has part mountain climbing, part WW2 POW escapes, part survival amongst friends whom one cannot live without, and part war with the world which seeks to invade a peaceful land. All around an interesting film and based off a real person who lived and experienced what occurred in the film.
It would seem that the real Dalai Lama is an honorary citizen of Canada and the Ukraine, but yeah, that's my life recently. Tomorrow I get to call my mom, as I do each week, so that'll be a real blast I'm sure. I've got my contract worked out, mostly, just gotta bring it by academic advising for a once-over. And I've got to find, read: siphon, $50 or more to buy my newly added book list for next quarter, since my teacher apparently wanted me to read rather than just write a shitload. Fun fun.
after a brief walk, and thinking about Lama quotes relating to "Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values." and his thoughts on silence and solitude, that my only consistent value beyond subjectivism is this: Silence is not necessarily a value, but solitude is. Some things must be said, one way or another, but when it comes to existence, a moment with oneself in solitude can help one obtain peace. If one can remain at peace within, then one's world shall become peaceful, or at least insofar as one can alter it. One does not need to be happy, or sad, or any emotion, but peaceful, to remain able to remain alive and capable of survival.
If all were at peace inside, then the world would have peace outside. It is only through (mis)understanding oneself and the world around you through peace that one can expect to live life with fulfillment.
