The Savant Speaks

Under discussion:

Babel  (2006)

I have this sense as well, that something was lacking from this film at least in comparison to Iñárritu's previous little opuses.  Maybe there is nothing lacking.  Maybe these movie is so true to its attempt to convey the disconnect between cultures, language, and lack of language that it cannot be completely understood until we can empathize to some degree with the different cultural and linguistic contexts the characters are in.

Maybe until we've herded sheep in Morocco (or wherever they were) or experienced deafness or been an illegal alien we can't really begin to understand Babel.  

But is that what Iñárritu intended?  Part of me thinks he wanted to portray characters that we all could relate to in some way, despite their and our differences.  I don't think he pulled this off though.

So maybe I am just making excuses for Iñárritu because I don't want to admit that he may have faltered in some way on Babel.  Maybe too much money and big stars was not a good thing.

Maybe.

Under discussion:

The 50 Worst Movies Ever Made  (2004)

Ok, yeah, I have actually seen this DVD.  Here's the story:

I teach at this little film school in the city I live in, Grand Rapids, Michigan. (It's where Paul Schrader is from, the guy who wrote Taxi Driver and the Last Temptation of Christ adaptation).  At this film school, there is this other teacher, D. Anderson.  D., was at Fry's Electronics in LA this week and he spotted, The 50 Worst Movies Ever Made.  He bought it and brought it home with him.

So Today, (wed, April 18) he is telling me about these awesome film history books he found at this book store, and how much these books will help with me with the classes I teach, but he can't remember the names of the books (he is getting kinda old), so that bums me out and I don't really hide very well that I am frustrated that he can't remember and then I feel bad for being dick.  Then, he hands me this DVD.  He says, "I think we can learn from this too."  I am intrigued, so I rip it open and start watching.

And it's actually pretty interesting.  It moves along quickly with fairly snappy and appropriately cheesy commentary on each of the 50 films.  Between film segments, there is this purposefully cheesy animation of theatre filled with a booing crowd who throw hotdogs, popcorn, soda and other sundries at the screen in protest of the horror just surveyed.  I would list the films out for you, but why ruin it, eh?

But here's the funny thing, in the end, I really want to see some of these movies.  So, I may have to being searching for them on Spout.com.   Maybe, just maybe I will start a group around the films listed on this DVD.  In the meantime, other Spouters should get their hands on the DVD and watch it.