Nonviolence is both the focus and antithesis of Mel Gibson’s current awards-worthy war film, Hacksaw Ridge. The bold and courageous display of heroic pacifism beams brightly within a backdrop of infernal violence.
If WB‘s new trailer for Mad Max: Fury Road is any indication of the dystopian final product that awaits us this summer, then fans of cyberpunk pulp can breathe easy.
Once upon a time, a dude named Tayne stole the honor of writing “Five Thoughts About Fast Five” from Sir Morpiedra himself. And, now, the tradition continues, as I – Sahar – have commandeered the Fast & Furious 6 mini-review from Tayne. (HAH! So, eat it!) Very graciously, I might add.
Film, Film Commentary, Music
Watch: Fjögur píanó by Alma Har'el (Music by Sigur Ros)
August 11, 2012
A couple months ago, a rather odd (viral) film emerged out of the Icelandic ashes of one Valtari* (XL; 2012), the latest soundtrack-friendly album by Sigur Ros — one of the seminal pre-millennial disestablishmentarian tilrauninas (Icelandic for “experimenters”) that helped define and shape the very landscape of what many music connoisseurs affectionately refer to as “post rock.”
Once upon a time, Morpiedra promised the editor a brief write-up about Fast5. A million years later, the article still hasn’t happened. Having recently gained access to HBO, I stumbled on this movie among the OnDemand choices and finally got a chance to watch it. I’m not ashamed to admit that I’ve seen all of the films in this franchise. Also, I’m unashamed to say that I like most of them. Maybe it’s because the films are popcorn fare, so they get a pass. Maybe it’s because I’ve always liked cars. I was never a tuner, but anyone else frequent New Carrolton Metro in the early 2000s? Maybe it’s because, as an Asian American man, I’m always hoping for more POC (people of color) on the silver screen. So while Morpie (pronounced more-pee) roams the great yonder doing his hermit thing, I’m taking the reins of this write up as well as stealing a page from his book (with his blessing) to scribble five thoughts on Fast5 (Justin Lin, 2011). Enjoy.
This piece intends to comment on Ridley Scott’s Prometheus movie and its allusions to deities, creation and religion. Being that I come from a Christian background, however, much of this article (unavoidably) relies on Prometheus’ apparent Biblical allusions — as it appears to have been Ridley Scott’s intention to draw from such themes. Still, because I axiologically write from a Creationist perspective, it is in no ulterior way meant to challenge secularist interpretations of the film.
The Cabin in the Woods represents a new, albeit peculiar, breed of twists to the horror genre. It’s a movie about a certain archetype of movie, and as such, it’s an especially difficult film to review.
Drive Yourself Morose with Ryan Gosling and Nicolas Winding Refn
After writing that Kentucky Fried Christianity piece, I told IHL Editor Richie that my next review/commentary would be for Justin Lin’s Fast Five (2011). Said piece has yet to be written. This is, in part, because I recently encountered and became enamored with another Lin film: Finishing the Game (2007). An article that addresses both will come eventually.
In the meanwhile, lest I become known as the dude who only likes to talk about old-ass films, here are my thoughts about a slightly more-recent film: Drive (2011).
Anime, Film Commentary, Film News
Warner Bros Pulls the Plug On Live-Action Adaptation of Akira
January 6, 2012
As I’ve fervently opined heretofore, the American studio adaptation of Katsuhiro Otomo‘s cyberpunk anime classic, Akira, was a fantastically terrible idea, particularly in how the studio was set to dumb down its stirring and cerebral philosophical underpinnings; as well as attenuate its inherently violent aesthetic to better suit mainstream, PG-13-friendly audiences in the Occident.
Imagine my schadenfreude when confirmed news of the adaptation’s demise leaked through the InterWebs yesterday, beginning with Borys Kit’s report via HollywoodReporter.com.
Kim Jong-il’s death made me sentimental. This is what I actually said to someone when recently asked about my feelings on his passing. Yes, sometimes, I’m rather inarticulate. In such moments, my temporal lobe probably grasps at lingering plumes of an alien language learned first and long since forgotten. Also, my friends don’t associate with many Koreans, it would seem. So I get asked things like this from time to time.
Okay, I have admittedly been posting quite a lot lately, but there’s plenty to occupy mindspace at the moment. And speaking of space, it’s about time we get a new, epic sci-fi movie that takes us to the skies and beyond.
Today, Twentieth Century Fox released the trailer for Ridley Scott’s latest, Prometheus.
I was perusing the interwebs, as I often do, and came upon a promotion by Gofobo to see early (and free!) screenings of The Dark Knight Rises – Prologue, which is basically a glorified 6-minute trailer for next summer’s blockbuster movie event. The screening was held in several theaters around the United States, thankfully on real IMAX screens (in case you haven’t kept up to date, there are fake IMAX theaters out there. Beware!). All of the footage shown was true IMAX, in a screen so big it made me question my significance on earth.