The last post I made is supposed to be difficult to understand. There’s only one way you’ll know what I’m talking about, and if you don’t please be content knowing it was not meant for you.

I watched Donnie Darko yesterday. It’s a confusing as hell movie, but I’d recommend watching it. Luebbe, I think you’d especially like it as it’s one of those trippy, confusing, pscyhologically baffling movies you can think about for the next two days and not run out of things to ponder. It’s about a kid named Donnie Darko who suffers from some pscyhological problems. The movie does an excellent job establishing the characters, the plot was well constructed, and the music is fantastic. Oh, and it goes kinda sci-fi. Not in the alien, technologically-advanced sense, but more philosophically. If you haven’t caught it yet, I recommend you do.

Work, work, work. In about three weeks, I’ll find out of I get _the other job._ So pray about that, please. Thanks.

I’m looking forward to a week from tomorrow. Why? Thanksgiving break starts for Kansas State students! Woo!

“Cal, you’re not a K-State student.”

I know. But Allie is. And she’s coming to Colorado. Woo!

“Awesome!”

Thanks!

…

You’re supposed to say you’re welcome.

Categories: Life, Movies
Tags: Allie, Donnie Darko

A brief bit of info about Mel Gibson’s upcoming film “The Passion” is available in an interview that will be aired Monday at 10 p.m. Eastern Time on ABCNEWS’ Primetime.

“I think I just hit my knees,” Gibson says. “I just said, ‘Help.’ You know? And then, I began to meditate on it, and that’s in the Gospel. I read all those again. I remember reading bits of them when I was younger.”

In regards to accusations that the film is anti-Semite, he sums up well his views and those of the Bible.

When asked who killed Jesus, Gibson says, “The big answer is, we all did. I’ll be the first in the culpability stakes here.”

Categories: Movies, News

The Passion of Christ is going to be released in theaters on February 25, 2004.

Of concern to myself and others in the area, it will be showing at the following theaters in Lincoln:
• East Park 6
• Edgewood 3
• The Lincoln 3

See the theater listing for your area.

Categories: Movies

A more complete version of this review and discussion is available here

I saw The Last Samurai Saturday night at a preview showing at the AMC Promenade in Westminster, CO. About 450 of us packed into the theater to watch the show.

Three word summary: I was impressed.

Visually, the movie did well. Mt. Fuji was included in some beautiful scenic shots, during the spring sakura trees are captured blooming, and the fight scenes show what’s important (the action).

The movie represented Japanese culture well. It hit on prevalent themes such as sakura blossoms, duty, honor, and shame. These things are demonstrated in the entirety of the plot and in one-scene chunks.

The characters are believable. Having studied Japanese history and the time of Japan’s opening to the West and the Meiji Restoration this semester, I would believe these characters could have been around back then. (Note: This movie is not drawn from history, but fits the time-period and has elements of history reflected in it.) Tom Cruise did a great job. At first, I was worried about him being in this film, but it’s one of the best acting jobs I’ve seen him do. He does a good job portraying a character who’s out of place and learning about a culture he’s had no prior interaction with.

The plot was good. (No spoilers here, don’t worry.) It starts off with Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise), an Army captain, getting a job invitation to come to Japan and train new conscript armies with western technology. Throw in a couple twists, and he winds up learning about the samurai way of life.

Conclusion
It’s good stuff and I’d gladly watch it again. Heck, it’s so good it’ll probably be the next DVD to join my small movie collection (I own about three American movies).

Categories: Movies

James Lilek’s has an enticing review of Matrix Revolutions. I love his writing, especially when it’s something he’s passionate about and has time to invest in writing about. In this review, he portrays his thoughts on the second movie and expectations on the third. He then goes on to shred another review of the Matrix for its poorly contrived analogies and ideas.

I don’t know what’s more frightening–the idea that anyone takes this boy seriously, or the idea that he’s right: an entire generation got their moral instruction from a Matthew Broderick movie about a computer named after a Burger King specialty.

One of the most intriguing thoughts in his conclusions about the movie is the following:

All three Matrix movies, seen in total, ache for a God. But they can’t quite go all the way. They’re like three movies about circular flat meat patties that can never quite bring themselves to say the word “hamburger.”

Read it for yourself. It’s worth the time. (Don’t read it if you haven’t seen the movie yet.)

Categories: Movies