I originally posted an article on Paradise Now, the 2005 Golden Globe Winner – Best Foreign Film, in 2009. With the conflict between the Israelis and Hamas, it might be time to revisit the movie. It allows you to consider the world from a point of view that is not often taken into account in the West, the Palestinian.
Disclaimer: One should not be necessary, tis not the world we live in, though. I have written a few sharply clever – IMHO – satirical pieces that a small number of folks took way too seriously. This led to a smattering of vile comments as they did not appreciate my finely honed sense of ironic humor. While I approve most comments, a few went across the line.
This article deals with a movie that tells the story of two young men from the West Bank recruited to become suicide bombers. I am in no way condoning terrorism or violence of any sort. There is never a valid reason for it, although many groups and individuals will jump through intellectual hoops to do so. The movie explores why someone would be so radicalized as to commit such an action. It is something that we need to think about, what pushes people over this horrendous edge that they become terrorists.
I don’t quite remember why this Continue reading “Paradise Now | Revisited”
I just finished watching a documentary, 
You can’t miss the trailers and commercials, so you know the drill. Ten foot tall blue folks don’t like it when humans invade and want to strip mine their world. Evil humans don’t care; they just want the goods. Sounds like ‘Dances With Wolves’ in space. Maybe so, but there is no new story, only new applications of stories. With that said, I liked it. I liked the wonder of a place that was like no other. Animals that were similar enough and different enough at the same time. The wonder of a damaged human who discovers his soul.
This movie has an all star cast that includes George Clooney, Kevin Spacey, Jeff Bridges and one of my favorite character actors, Stephen Root. It was released November, 2009. 
The Soloist.
Let’s just say I am somewhat fascinated by the Dalai Lama as a person and as a religious leader. To those of us that know little about Buddhism, he seems strange and somewhat exotic. From the prayer flags waving in the breeze to the remote barren moon-scape of a land that he once ruled, every thing about this man is foreign. This film is a tale of two journeys. The journey of a documentary film maker with a life long dream to interview his personal hero and the hero. The hero is at once a simple monk who lives on $10/day and only travels economy and the political and spiritual leader of a country and an age old people.