Who Asked You...Movie Review - Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence

Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence

Directed By Mamoru Oshii

It is quite simple, "Innocence" (the Japanese title for 'Ghost in the Shell 2') is a beautiful movie.

Set in the 2030s, "Innocence" follows the exploits of a hard-boiled cyborglike detective as he attempted to solve the mystery of why several of the same model robot have murdered their owners. I say cyborglike because the distiction of how much of our hero is mechanical and how much is human is very blurred. Blurred intentionally in fact. The story, at its deepest levels, deals with a future society in which the line between man and machine has become so tangled that philosophers (or at least pontificating laymen) question if the line even exists anymore.

The first act of the film is a clear 'noir' tale not unlike "Chinatown" or "LA Confidential". As the film meanders on however, more time is paid to short-term brainwashing achieved through viruses over the invisble net that seems to connect all cyber-organics. If that last sentence didn't make sense then blame the filmmakers who fail to clearly explain the technologies of the 2030s and seem to expect the viewer to already know about them.

The fancy yet unrealistic technological advances that are conjured up in the film present the artists with countless opportunities to wow the audience with an almost seamless coalescence of classical hand-drawn Japanimation and hi-tech CGI. Landscapes in the film will make the architect dream. Hot rods will make the car enthusiast drool, and there is a parade that will make the Macy's crowd bow their heads in shame.

Most American audiences have still not embraced Japanese Anime, and this film won't cause them to either. While the visuals are a tapestry of shapes, colors, and imagination, the story remains convoluted and difficult to follow for those not well initiated in science fiction.

There have been many fantastically drawn Japanese Animes that have made it to America already. The common fault of these films is that while the art it stunning the plot leaves much to be desired. Eventually, I do believe that an Anime will come along with a story that would be compelling regardless of the technology used to portray it. Such a plot contained in a film as remarkably rendered to the screen as "Innocence" will undoubtably rumble the box-offices throughout America. When this happens, the artistry and brilliance of Anime will be experience by many people who can't right now stomach the idea of going to see 'a cartoon'. This film however does not contain such a story.

Movie of the week: Confidence

Movie of the Week:
"Confidence" Directed by James Foley, who also directed David Mamet's "Glengarry Glen Ross".
Starring: Ed Burns ("Saving Private Ryan"), Rachel Weisz ("Runaway Jury"), Dustin Hoffman ("Rain Man", "I Heart Huckabees"), and Paul Giamatti ("American Splendor", "Sideways")

Jake Vig (Burns) is a consummate grifter with a perfect plan. But when his most recent scam backfires he finds himself indebted to a mob boss (Hoffman).

A fun and twisting caper movie in the tradition of "The Sting" and "Ocean's 11".

Wow I made it to 24, who whould have thought?

Well here I sit the morning of October 25th, 2004, reflecting on the fact that I have survived 24 years on this planet. I guess at this time of the year different people wonder different things.

I'm sure some wonder whether or not the world is better for their being in it. That really isn't something I concern myself with. Not that I am so sure of my importance or anything. I just don't think that it is my place to judge that about myself. I don't see how one can be objective about their own life, and so you would certainly give your self too much credit for some things and overlook other things you've done to make the world better. (ala "It's a Wonderful Life")

Others I suppose wonder if they have achieved what they wanted to over the previous year. This is something I can relate to without a doubt. I am certainly not where I hoped to be at this point a year or a couple of years ago. At least not in terms of income, living conditions, career success, fitness level, heck even in what books I've read. But that's ok too. I can't say that I feel like I wasted the last year. I met some good people, generally had a good time, and been relatively productive with my time.

That being said, my question for the day is : "What is it that holds us in place? Particularly after organized education ends." I've seen, and have been (or am) an example of, some people who seem to just stop their forward progess once they're done with school. Essentially the same job, income, routine, education and life. I guess it is just much easier at school. You go in everyday do your work and each year your are advanced to the next level. No starting fresh no demotions. You do not have to start all over at grade 1 if you move to a new school etc. Not so in the "real world". It seems as though much more active effort, motivation, and drive is needed to advance in life.

Oh well I'm getting the hang of it. Maybe by age 30 I'll have figured this thing out. Until then, "Would you like fries with that?"

Who Asked You...Movie Review - Friday Night Lights

Friday Night Lights

Directed by Peter Berg ("The Rundown", "Very Bad Things")
Starring: Billy Bob Thornton ("Slingblade", "Monster's Ball"), Lucas Black, Derek Luke, Tim McGraw

People in Texas take high school football way too seriously.

At least, that's the impression you can't help but get from "Friday Night Lights". Now in my case it certainly doesn't help that I: 1) didn't grow up in Texas 2) didn't play high school football and 3) never found myself in a situation at the age of 17, where I might be at the pinnacle of my life.

That seems to be the great point of the film. The fact is that to these people from a small, low-income, working class town in rural west Texas, football is everything and the only thing. Not so much because the sport is so great, but because for these people there simply is nothing else. This is not a quietly implied point. In fact, it is flatly stated at one moment in the film by the often abusive and even more often drunk Charles Billingsley (Tim McGraw), the former state champion and father of the team's starting fullback.

The acting is good across the board, even if some of the characters are cookie-cutter and small. Derek Luke and Lucas Black both stand out in their roles as the team's star running back and quaterback respectively. Tim McGraw is much better (and much hairer) than most of his fans might expect. Finally, Billy Bob Thorton is also quite good as a football coach who, despite the typical stereotype of coaches, understands better than anyone else that football is just a game. As on might expect in a football movie, there are few female roles and even fewer of any substance.

One can't help but compare this film to the other football films that have come out over the years. Unlike movies about other sports, most football movies tend to be well made and quite good. With that high standard in mind, "Friday Night Lights" falls well into the middle of the pack of pigskin pictures. It certainly outdoes your standard high school drama but is not quite up to par with top football flicks like "Any Given Sunday".

If anything does set this game apart from its couterparts, its the 'realism' of the narrative. I'm not saying the hits feel more genuine, the gameplay is more accurate, or the "I" formation is properly used. However, the idealic glamour that exists in Disney efforts like "Remember the Titans" is absent here. As is the unrealisic brutality of "Any Given Sunday" or low-brow comedy of "Varsity Blues" or "The Replacements". Football is potrayed in a way that is much closer to the third edge of the sword. Not too rough, not too silly, not too clean, not too dirty. The sport is neither stuck in the muck nor put on a pedestal. It is merely allowed to be.

Well here it is at long last.

Well my long awaited (by about two people) blog has finally hit the void that is the web and things will never be the same. Actually I'm guessing they will but what can you do?

I need to set up some guidelines for readers of this blog right off the bat.

1.) I can't spell!!! ok? Not at all, not even close. Its the only subject in grade school I actually had to work at to get a 'B' or higher. So if I spell something wrong you may feel free to point it out, but just know now its gonna happen.

2.) Commas don't like me and I don't think them. They have a tendancy to show up in the wrong placed or not at all when I write. So again be ready for it and don't be shocked.

3.) The views expressed by the author of this blog are damn good ones even though they may turn out to be 100% (or 47.3%) wrong. If you wish to post rebuttals, attacks, opinions, comments, questions etc. please do. However this blog will be far from politically correct and at times shamefully full of bad taste and bad humor.


So let the fun begin.