My Review of Brothers

I found Brothers to be surprisingly good. I went into the movie theater not expecting a lot from the film, but I left with a tremendos amount of deep thinking and analyzation. It is definitely one of those common films that shows trailers that are nothing like how the movie and characters are really perceived, but it was definitely one of rare ones that were actually better than what it was going to be through the trailer.

The film is a remake of a 2004 Danish film, Brødre, which seems, if you look at the info about the Danish film, to have stayed very close to the original Danish plot. Without a doubt, Brothers' plot had a significant basis about the current war in Iraq and the conflict in Afghanistan (so much so, that I am still not fully decided if the movie was intended to be pro or anti-war--though, the answer should be obvious), but the war only plays a minor part in the theme, as the title of the movie suggests a great deal about the great underlining theme of the film.

The film starts off with Tobey Maguire's character, Capt. Sam Cahill, picking up his brother, Tommy (played by Jake Gyllenhaal), from prison. Sam is a Marine who is soon to be sent back to Afghanistan for another tour and is very well received by his family and has the bottomless love from his wife, Grace, who is portrayed by Natalie Portman, and his two daughter--not to mention the devote admiration from his father, a Vietnam veteran. tommy is the younger brother who was sent anyway for attempted bank robbery. When young he always felt like the shadow of his older brother, who he felt like received all the love and admiration and is quickly judged upon his release from prison from his father and Grace.

In the building climax of the movie, this all appears to change as it is discovered that Sam may have potentially been killed in combat (he, in fact, was a prisoner of war, being imprisoned and tortured for months). Tommy seems to be the person who steps up and helps fill the void for Grace and his nieces. He has even seems to have slowly gained some respect from his father as well and even having a brief intimate, but nonsexual, moment with Grace. However, all this will quickly change when Sam is rescued and sent home.

Though Sam is brought home, things would never be the same as they once were as he is suffering from his POW torture and, especially, from an event that will possibly forever haunt him, thus, bringing him to an eventual downward spiral and meltdown. The film's underlying theme is has a lot of elements rolled into one as it plays a huge part in sibling rivalry, as the case may be very well seen in Sam and Grace's daughter's. All actors and actresses played their characters very well, I was very impressed with this movie. If I had to give it a out-of-five star rating, I would give it a 4 (mostly because of the ending, which I thought couldn't have ended any better). I definitely recommend for everyone to see this movie, as it is very eye-opening, and you get to see actors play characters you've ever seen them play before

iPhone, Julie, & Julia

It's been a while since I last posted, but things have been incredibly busy lately (involving school work, work, and learning new songs--Yes, I know the last one is not a legitimate excuse, but, hey, it works for me). But, I'm here with a new post, and I'm back with a vengence--sort of.

Anyone have an iPhone (a 3GS to be more precise)? Ever crack the glass screen? Did you know that to repair it, it is $199? Sure enough, this is the predicament I am currently in with my iPhone. According to Apple iPhone limited 1 year Warranty it does not cover "accident damage", which is the category I fall under unfortanutely due to Kansas City's surge of extremely cold weather lately. The damage occurred from coming from a well-heated SUV to walking in the 10 degree weather towards work. In between, I decided to check a message on my iPhone and ,thus, read my message while witnessing a crack from suddenly appear (see image below). My story was so compelling that even the phone tech from 1-800-MYAPPLE was sympathetic and told me he was sorry numerous of times; however, not compelling enough to get a free replacement--I suppose I should be in raging tears next time--but he did tell me other "cheaper"' options to resolve my problem (like looking up Craig's List); however, if I did so, it would void the warranty. It's a tempting offer, but I think, for now, I'll just stick with my expensive-cracked-screen phone that has a really lame and questionable warranty, but it is still in effect! By the way, the option of buying a new one has come up, but that, my friends, would put me further in the hole as a new one cost $300. Go Technology!

On a better side note, things have been going extremely well with the band (as far as practicing and writing goes). I never thought we sound as good as we do, nor did I intend for us to go as far as we are or planning as much as we are. I thought we only be a simple jam band, nothing more. However, we are learning new songs, and writing some as well, and getting better everyday, and we are anxious to show to show everyone how much we have developed lately in our first show that will be in the spring. Yes! We will be performing live for the first time soon for everyone! Details will come ever soon, so start looking out for them!

To end this post, I want to talk about one last thing. I watched "Julie & Julia" last night, and loved it! Not only did it make me extremely hungry and want to go out and buy one of Julia Child's Cookbook (which I'm still considering to do), I found it be very inspirational in so many ways. No matter how many setbacks you may encounter along the way or when you feel at a point that you just can't do anymore, there is no better way to over come it then never quitting, move forward and keep trying! This is probably why I've posted today and have the need to keep writing and submitting my short stories. I shouldn't quit nor should I think negative, no matter the circumstances. Thanks, Julie Powell, you've helped me realize that.

Kurosawa, Samurais, and Spaghetti Westerns

So, I've finally finished Kurosawa's Seven Samurai, which (give me credit) is a 207 minute long movie! That's a long time to watch a movie that has subtitle (my eyes were killing me when I got to intermission). It was a great epic, samurai movie that I had a wonderful underlining theme throughout the movie, but you can't expect anything else from Kurosawa.

For those who don't know much about Akira Kurosawa he was a Japanese director who was often criticized in his own country for his movie being too "Western" but he was very influential through the world for his films (I believe he made over 50 films), especially for Seven Samurai and Yojimbo.

How influential you ask? Ever watch the movie a Western movie called A Fistful of Dollars directed by Sergio Leone starring Clint Eastwood? Not many know that A Fistful of Dollars was a Western movie copy of Yojimbo(it's considered to be an unofficial remake of Yojimbo), even my good friend Lee who is a crazy Clint Eastwood fan (sporting a "Man with No Name" poster on his bedroom wall). I dare you to check these two movies out and tell me that they are not exactly the same. In fact, check for yourself with these clips of the trailers:

Also, the Seven Samurai was the bases and huge influence for another Western movie called The Magnificent Seven. And one of Kurosawa's most acclaimed films was responsible for dubbing the phrase, "It's a Rashomon" or "The Rashomon Effect"

Either way, I'm in love with Kurosawa's films and would recommend them for anyone to watch, especially since he's remade some Shakespeare plays into samurai (what could be better than Samurai Shakespeare?). Rashomon is definitely a must see film before you die, as well as Ikiru and all the other Kurosawa films I've mentioned. Oh, and A Fistful of Dollars isn't a bad flick either--we are talking about Clint Eastwood, after all.

Afternoon Update and Status

Ever try to write a blog post with an iPhone? Wouldn't recommend it, especially if you're typing it with HTML text, but I needed to post and my iPhone is my only means necessary to do it; so, let's begin.

Work today is actually going very decently today. I didn't receive a very big shipment today, so my day should be able to finished on a good note. I plan on heading to Lee's today and have some band practice, preactice for us yesterday did not go so very well... I will keep you updated on those proceedings!

if anyone hasn't seen the Tomas Vokoun injury, you can see the $quot;freak" injury here. This is one the things I've feared most while I playing as a goalie, but it took me the longest time to figure out how he got a lacerated ear from that slash (the tip of the blade caught the cage and turned the helmet around to slice his ear), never thought that could happen.

this weather is not looking very promising, at all. Although, I cannot complain about it as the weather in KC has been actually very great this fall and just roughly starting winter season. Nevertheless, I must admit that I have missed and the snow and am excited it coming--since, if I was told correctly, we are to expect it with 18 degree weather tomorrow.

That's all I have for now, friends. I'll have more to say in my late night post!

Could Tiger Please Get Out of the Woods Now

I believe enough is enough already. It has been a little over a week since we have learned about Tiger Woods' accident and how there may be a "potential" marital issue. Yet, why is the media still coverage this, why is it still being widely talked about day in, day out? Has it really been such a slow news day that this is the only news worth covering, or is it really such a shock that Tiger Woods has committed adultery?

Yes, Tiger is a high profile figure (after all, he is the highest paid athlete ever) and is considered to be a celebrity is most cases as well, too. But does this make him better than everyone, more pure? Does it really have to be so scandalous that a person of such high stature in society is a "cheater"? He is human, and like every human he makes mistakes on the golf course and in life.

Yes, what he has done or has supposedly done with his ever growing list of "transgressions" is inexcusable and very sad to see and know to happen, but why must it be so important to know about his personal life failure when this is happening to most people as I type this now? Are we really a society that really only cares about top-profiled peoples lives than the normal-everyday-person that works for a living. Oh, yes, so clumsy for me to forget, that's not as entertaining--that is if it's not filmed in a reality series!

The point is that Tiger is going through an embarrassing situation, and maybe, perhaps, he does deserve all of this publicity (like this hilarious SNL skit) that is exposing all of his bad choices, but just because he is an overpaid entertainer (yes, all sports athletes are entertainers now) this does not make him special nor does it qualify him to make him an instant target to show that he is like the rest of us "normal people". If the man wants his privacy, he should be granted it, but, as the price of his fame and stupid curiosity of people, this is not fortunately so for him.

I know that a lot that I have said is common sense, but this story about Tiger is a prime example of how out of touch we are about values and what is important to us. Now, I admit my short coming as well, I am not perfect, nor do I or will I ever claim to be (I know that I am far from it), but it's cases like these that make me wonder if common sense is really nothing but a myth now.

And for Pete Sake, can we please move on with the Tiger story now!

Finding the Truth in False Memoirs

We all remember the big controversy that one James Frey created from his, now considered to be, semi-fiction memoir, A Million Little Pieces once it was revealed by a probing article from The Smoking Gun called “A Million Little Lies” published January 8, 2006 and would later bring Frey to a second Oprah visit, as his memoir was selected as a Oprah’s Book Club, to admit his discrepancies of his memoir. If such a widely publicize memoir just like Frey's could get away with so many inaccurate notions and events, how can we as readers and consumers trust that many of the memoirs and biographies that are published are, or close to be, entirely true?

When Frey’s memoir was first published in April 2003, it was first met with mixed reviews with many critics and newspapers challenging the accuracy of the memoir. However, his memoir did not become widely known until it was largely advertised on Oprah Winfrey’s show through her book club selections. Unfortunately for Frey, with a widely-publicize recognition of his memoir, the “truths” of some of the supposed events that he wrote to have happened would be discovered to have been false, and would be widely-publicize as well. Because of this, Frey did not only embarrass himself, but to those who also pushed the book (his publisher Random House and Oprah Winfrey to be the most duly noted).

Unfortunately, Frey’s memoir has not been the only publication to come “under fire”, but his controversy was only the most publicized. Unlike A Million Little Pieces, there have been numerous titles of late that have been pulled off of bookstore’s shelves and publishers issuing refunds to customers. Some of the most noted are Misha: A Memoire of the Holocaust Years by Misha Defonseca (who’s real name is Monique de Wael and the “memoir” was actually written by a ghost writer named Vera Lee) and Angel at the Fence by Herman Rosenblat. Both of these memoirs are written about the author’s experiences in the Holocaust.

Defonseca’s memoir, also known as Surviving with Wolves, was published in 1997 and received static reviews eventually being produced into a French movie called Survivre Avec les Loups. Through the years of suspicion and claims of falsity, Defonseca finally admitted in 2008 that her memoir was fabricated, including her name, admitting that “Misha” was her very own fairly tale. To know more about the downfall, click on The Insider's linkhere

For Angel on the Fence, it represented a common feature with Frey’s memoir; they were publicized on Oprah’s show. However, Rosenblat’s memoir had caused instant controversy before it was even published. Slated for a February 2009 release, Rosenblat had appeared on Oprah a few times to promote his book and story until it was finally revealed that most of the events in the book did not happen. In December 2008, his publisher cancelled his book release indefinitely; however, through some bookstore websites, you can purchase the electronic reader’s edition (for example: Barnes & Noble).

So, the question is, why lie? Why fabricate a story and claim it to be true when it could possibly be published as a work of fiction? The answer is a matter of business and revenue. Working in a bookstore for a number of years, I can tell you what sales more over the other. It is tough to break into the fiction business, nonetheless, becoming a popular fiction author, as most fiction sales are accredited from current or past bestselling authors. In some cases, it is easier to write a memoir and have it published (and in some cases, the publisher will pay an advance to write a memoir like Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love). With the odds of a fiction writer stacked against a person, why could stop a person from writing a fictional memoir, call it a true story, and help themselves to getting recognized as a writer?

How are we as readers suppose to fully accepted what we are given as true events are true indeed? It appears to be as if we have no choice; after all, if it was good enough for publisher to be published and receive as much advertising as it does, it must be true, right? We have very few ways of knowing. We are only part of a business, marketing, and entertainment cycle that helps keep it going. If we, the reader (consumer) do not buy, they will find a means and publication that will makes us buy (which is why I have mentioned Oprah Winfrey as often as I have).